by Al Shield
They willed the second largest one to hunt and find food and it shortly returned to the group with a bloodstained furry creature dead in its jaws.
+More. Again.+ The crown urged.
Over the next few hours the hunter returned with more dead prey and a small still bleeding pile was building up right next to the head of the injured Jorzan.
+We sense our guards are facing a strong hunger.+
+Perhaps we should feed them?+
+And if we don’t?+
+Suggesting their power will not be as strong. Instinct could also take over and weaken our power of suggestion.+
+Hunger will become sole drive.+
+Jorzan could ultimately be seen as a food source.+
+Noted. Suggest guards eat now before that happens.+
Willed to feed on some of the offerings, the wolves happily gorged on the bodies of the slain rabbits and other woodland creatures until they were satisfied. Once done the three lay beside the body and remained on alert throughout the night for other predators.
Over the next ten days Jorzan would awaken briefly for minutes each day, feast on just a small section of the food offered and then fall to slumber again as his body slowly began to repair itself. Each night the crown would will one of the wolves to hunt again to refresh the pile while the others kept watch.
By day twelve he felt strong enough to attempt to sit up but was knocked out by waves of pain in the attempt.
By day twenty he could just drag himself to attempt to sit up but drained of all energy, he couldn’t do much else and shortly returned to lying down again, breathing heavily.
+He is getting stronger.+
+Slowly.+
A full month of recovery had passed before he could sit up without tiring soon after and it was then that he tried to speak. But instead of the booming commanding voice, just a dry barely audible gasp emerged.
+His throat is dry from disuse.+
+He will need fluids.+
+Suggestions?+
Through the eyes of each wolf that had hunted, the crown was aware of a nearby stream of some liquid not far away and not seeing evidence that it was dangerous to the local wildlife, had deemed it safe for use.
+How do we get him to it?+
+The guards are not of a number to drag him there.+
+Not while he is still recovering.+
+We shall bring the liquid to him.+
The crown probed the woods again and came across a rabbit nearby who was instantly willed to approach the stream and consume as much of the flowing liquid as possible. From there, now heavy with a full stomach, it slowly made its way to the group where it remained completely oblivious to the wolves on watch, instead happily hopping to it’s own doom at the hands of Jorzan. The control of the crown was so strong that the rabbit didn’t make a sound as it was crushed in his hands and drained of all life and fluids.
As the mixture of water and blood flowed down his throat, the croak became and whisper and slowly over the course of the day with more creatures willed to sacrifice themselves so he could drink, the whisper became a voice.
‘I ...yet... live.’
+You do.+
+You will fight again.+
+You will rule again.+
Jorzan ran his fingers lightly over his burnt facial features, wincing still as even the lightest touch still sent a shock of pain through his skull from the tender flesh.
‘I...am maimed.’
+But you are healing.+
+You are getting stronger with each passing day.+
+You will rule again.+
‘Am...am I unrecognizable?’
But the crown didn’t answer him.
‘Tell me!’ He growled. ‘Am I unrecognizable?’
+You have been injured.+
+Your face and part of your body badly burnt by the explosion.+
+But we rescued you.+
+Helped heal you.+
+Saved you.+
+You grow strong.+
+You will be strong again.+
+Forever more.+
+You will rule again!+
It took another five days before Jorzan found the strength to stand but slowly he regained his movement and some of his strength. The entire time the crown continued to give him the confidence to face each daunting task like gingerly learning to walk again, even after the what the bomb had done.
Soon as he was able to walk for a short time before tiring. Then came longer periods of staying awake. He could take longer walks now and learn more about his strange surroundings, the sea of green, the trees that were brown here instead of a blood red or deep black in his world. Eventually one night he hunted briefly with the pack, the crown rejoicing in his delight as he fought and mauled a thick growling hairy creature with claws. Using his own sharp claws he had skinned this beast and wore the fur over his chest as a trophy. Step by step, he was regaining his mantle of Jorzan the Magnificent.
Until the day came when he felt strong enough to step out of the area and into the surrounding world. He rewarded his loyal guards by slaying them without protest and feasting on the three before he left, their gorged carcasses and a big pile of rotting rabbit skins left in his wake.
He was on the cusp of ruling the world where he had come from. He wasn’t going to miss that opportunity again with this strange new world.
‘That was roughly 300 years ago now.’ He hissed as he recounted his story to his enthralled captive. ‘For a while I studied these pitiful creatures and their strange ways and came to learn as much as I could about this new world. I witnessed how fragile and how limited their life spans were but they still came to my call and over the centuries, I built up an empire!’
‘You encountered no resistance?’
‘None that couldn’t be swayed to my cause or destroyed if they were too strong willed. I worked in the shadows and kept my existence a secret only know to a loyal few. You’d be amazed at how susceptible they can be to my command..’
‘Oh I don’t doubt that at all..’ Dar’Kannag nodded in the direction of The Nameless One who was watching on in glee.
‘Oh actually I do this with my own free will.’ The man gloated. ‘I am one of the most powerful and richest men on the planet thanks to my wonderful lord Jorzan here. Who knows where I would be if he didn’t provide me with the opportunity to grow?’
‘And you will provide plenty of meals for his next feast when he gets tired of you too’ Dar’Kannag sneered. That suddenly changed the look of immense glee on the man to a deep frown.
'At first they were unmotivated, unfocused and scattered. But over time, I helped sharpen their focus and my small empire grew. The rate of technological expanse...it was wonderful. They seemed to be as hungry for knowledge and ultimately power as I was which was a change from the bloodthirsty zealots I surrounded myself with before. I waged wars with most of my forces completely unaware of who they truly fought for. But even with this great power...I felt a piece of me was missing. Left behind in the rubble of the temple.’ He continued.
‘So you can just imaging the elation I felt when the reports came in that after three centuries something else, something unknown had somehow crossed over. I secretly hoped it was you..’ Jorzan continued ‘So I could thank you personally for providing me with the opportunity to rule. What joy it brought me when Nameless told me how you reacted to the gauntlet I sent. There was no doubt then, it was you I was seeking.’
‘To thank me personally for helping you find your way here? Because you were too pathetic to rule anything outside a building of worship?’ Dar’Kannag cruelly joked. Jorzan ignored the barb.
‘Oh no, I have much grander ideas for you dear Dar’Kannag’ Jorzan smiled, the fissures in his cracked flesh opening up further as he smiled. ‘As much as I have spent countless nights dreaming of skinning you alive and putting your hide next to the first creature I slew on my trophy wall, what kind of general would I be if I wasted the opportunity to turn you and have you become my greatest we
apon?’
'And still after all this time, you are as cowardly as you when we first met. Having me detained and chained the only way to defeat me and foolishly believing that I could be convinced to walk by your side ..’
Jorzan lunged forward and clamped his hand over Dar'Kannags throat. Given the size difference it was more a display of speed than anything that could damage the larger chained beast. As he squeezed slightly he leaned in and whispered.
‘Do you really believe you have a choice? Crown! Make him mine!’
And with that the melted crown sent out a burst of energy right into the deepest part of Dar’Kannag’s mind.
+His mind is strong+
+We are strong+
+We are all+
+He will not resist+
+He will not..+
Even with the feeling of thick fingers roughly squeezing his mind and causing searing pain with every probe, Dar’Kannag chuckled.
‘I am not yours. I will not be yours’ He spoke.
+He fights us.+
+He is strong+
+But we are strong+
+But we are..+
‘What is happening here?’ Jorzan demanded. He willed the crown to work harder. More probes emerged and lashed into the bigger beasts mind. But Dar’Kannag kept fighting.
+His will is too strong+
+We are strong+
+We have never failed+
+But his will is strong+
+And we are damaged..+
+The fusing, it has made us wea-+
‘Enough!’ Jorzan roared as he relinquished his grip and ceased his mental attack. ‘This matters not! I will break your will over time and you will follow my orders to my very last!’
‘But how Jorzan the confused? Are you going to find another lost relic somewhere and hope for the best? Maybe you should give Egg the crown and see if he can do any better. Maybe you’ll talk me to death? You seem very good at that! Anything other than facing me like a true soldier would’ Dar’Kannag jested.
'I care not for your moans of how I do what I do. It has kept me alive and thriving here on this blasted world for so long now that I am not going to change my ways just for your pathetic sense of honour.’ This close up Dar'Kannag could hear the crowns whispers wrapped around every word he spoke.
‘But know this if I cannot sway you to my cause. Before I satisfy my ultimate desire of sawing your vile head off personally, I am going to make those who came over with you burn first. I am going to melt down your wagon machine into slag, with your machine creature in it. I'm going to drag your son's corpse in personally and have my men use it as target practise until there is nothing recognisable. And then...’ he grinned savagely. 'I will bring in the female and cause her to suffer...greatly. you will watch without being able to lift a finger to h-’
While busy boasting, Jorzan hadn't noticed Dar'Kannag's head gradually leaning backwards. So it was a complete surprise when he slammed it forward and smashed it into Jorzan's causing him to grab his nose while howling in pain.
Angrily he lashed out with his clawed fingers and raked bloody lines across Dar'Kannag's face.
'You foolish beast!’ he hissed. 'You will see what your insolence has brought upon you!’
He turned to the assembled guards watching on.
'Enough waiting, bring the prisoners to me!’ he yelled 'Let this one know true agony before I rip out his heart!’
'And the others on the base?’ The Nameless One asked.
'Destroy them all, down to the last. No witnesses..’
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
It was exactly five seconds since the first armoured soldier stepped carefully through the double doors weapon raised when the explosives around the frame exploded blasting her and the other two directly behind in support back into the room in large bloody chunks.
When he was ordered to leave, he had very quickly and quietly lined up the bomb to a remote arming device, just in case. When Jorzan gave the execution order, he armed the door by remote. He also hit the alert button for the base causing flashing lights and the wail of alarm sirens to fill the rooms and corridors. Now everyone on base was on high alert to whatever came next.
A hail of return gunfire was sent through the blasted hole where the twin doors once stood but Omega was long gone, continuing to lay traps as he retreated further into the complex. If they were going to take the base, he and everyone on site was going to make it an absolute nightmare of a task.
Jorzan was more irritated than surprised by the trap. His face still throbbing from the wicked headbutt, he still wore an angry sneer but secretly applauded he Omega’s cunning. A move like that was vicious and dirty, like a sneaky predator should be. More soldiers that like wouldn’t go astray on his side he mused.
He motioned to the bodyguard.
‘You have wanted to end this one haven’t you?’
‘Since we first met my lord.’ he rasped.
‘Take a team with you, bring back his head.’
‘But my lord, I am more than cap-’
Jorzan stopped him with a look signalling that the matter was not up for discussion. With a curt nod the bodyguard gave his leave and motioned to a group of four soldiers to follow. They carefully stepped through the opening on the lookout for either more traps or soldiers in wait and ventured forward.
‘The base, is it cut off from the outside world?’ Jorzan asked.
‘Yes my lord.’ The Nameless One spoke holding up a small box - a signal jammer. ‘The only communications going anywhere on this site belong to us. They can call but no one will hear them.’
‘Good. And the guards outside?’
‘I gave the signal a moment ago. Our snipers positioned offsite have taken care of them all.’
‘Well then.’ Jorzan turned to soldiers he had entered the room with ‘It is time to go hunting. Bring back the ones I want, destroy the ones I don’t. You have your orders, now go!’ and he waved them off.
The new arrivals with weapons readily marched out of the room to begin the extermination while the exo soldiers continued to stand guard.
‘It begins.’ Jorzan said to nobody in particular as he smiled brightly.
Sgt Hendricks had fought some tough enemies before but nothing like the fully armoured soldiers that had recently arrived on base. He and his small team had erected hurried barricades in the hallway to fire from behind and his group of eight was having a tough time trying to slow the trio that had appeared only minutes ago.
‘Aim for between the plates! Small bursts!’ he yelled over the gunfire. Most of the shots had bounced right off the armour with barely a mark left and the hail of bullets hadn’t seemed to slow down the pace of the soldiers as they made their way up the hall.
‘Eat this!’ Steps yelled and one of the bullets from his third burst managed to make its way through the slight gap in the plates of one of the enemies inner elbows as he was attempting to reload while walking. He cheered as he saw blood spray from the hit and the lower half of the man’s arm suddenly go limp and hang there uselessly, letting go of the new gun clip. However to Steps’s horror the wounded man didn’t pause to take stock of the situation or even register any pain, instead dropping his rifle and using his good hand in one fluid movement to quickly withdraw his pistol and take careful aim before managing to nail Steps right through the front of his skull.
‘Fuck! What does it take to stop these guys?’ Rawiki called out frustrated.
‘Let’s try one of these!’ and with that Hendricks lobbed a grenade down the hallway. ‘Fire in the hold!’ he yelled as he hit the floor with the rest of his team following suite.
The grenade landed just in front of the middle attacker who went to reach for it just as it exploded. He caught the majority of the blast in a direct hit but all three were thrown back from the shockwave.
As the booming sound subsided, the soldiers peered out from behind their barricades for any sign of movement.
‘I think that did it sarge, I can’t s
ee anything moving past the smoke. I-’
His words were cut short but the bullets that screamed out of the blast zone and into his neck, his body convulsing before toppling over.
‘Look!’ Alec screamed.
From the smoke emerged the three soldiers. Damaged by the blast but still very much alive. One was down to one arm. One was dragging his twisted and blasted leg behind him, blood pouring out of cracks in his armour and the third had only blackened stumps where his hands and lower arms once were. Even crippled as they didn’t pause for breath or fall from injury. They kept firing and marching onwards to the absolute terror of the soldiers who were now completely out of options.
The large and heavy tool cabinets the engineering team had dragged behind the entrance doors were absorbing most of the gunfire hurled at it but deep down they knew that it was an eventuality that they would breach the barricades. The return fire from the friendly soldiers camped outside had ceased - their last orders to the scared group was not to move the defenses under any circumstances, even if it sounded like the defenders had the upper hand. That had been a tense five minutes ago. The firing and screaming began shortly after that.
Murphy heard the whine of one of the gatling guns winding up and yelled at the group to move right behind the protection the wagon. Most of them had dived for cover just in time however Mary the apprentice didn’t move fast enough and was shredded by the cannon fire as it ripped through the doorway, the tool cabinets and the wall.
‘Have we got anything...anything at all that can slow them down?’ Terry urged. The guns the soldiers had supplied and armed for them in the room, normally high powered rifles in their own right seemed paltry in comparison to the firepower that was tearing the room to bits with every passing second. There were also a handful of grenades on a table but on the other side of the room and now cutoff due to the deafening salvo.
Murphy shook his head.
‘Short of a massive fookin wrecking ball with a dirty great swing, I don’t see what’s gonna...’
He stopped as he suddenly looked at his palm against the cold metal of the war wagon. It was a complete lunacy of an idea but in less than thirty seconds when gunfire had taken the remainder of the wall away and the enemies soldiers marched in, he wouldn’t have time to think of another of even get off a quick prayer. He spun to face his crouching team.
