by James Somers
TWENTY-THREE
AIJA stood with Kale next to the newly prepared gravesites for Tiet and his wife. The whole company of soldiers that had survived the battle was assembled for the funeral of the king. Those that had been led there by Lucin under the domination of his mind-bending parasitic symbyte seed had been freed by the same Mithrial cavalry that had destroyed the Agonotti. There were far fewer rebel soldiers among the congregation, but some had survived.
Kale stood silently as Aija spoke to those assembled. It was very odd to him; he felt nothing. Only being near to the beginning of his fourteenth year, he had expected to be more emotional about all that had happened and especially the reason for their being gathered here. His parents were gone, but at the same time, he knew that they really weren't. Had he only had hope of them living on in his memory alone, he would have been sobbing at this point. But he had the assurance from a prophet of Elithias that his parents were now safe in His arms-there was no reason to weep for them.
Kale was only half listening to what Aija was saying to the people. He was looking at the graves where his parent's mortal bodies had been placed. Kale was wondering what they must be feeling now, for the Logostus was plain that believers would receive a new body to dwell in. His father had been seriously wounded when he had come looking for his son on this planet the first time. Lucin had used Kale to nearly kill the king during his rescue attempt. Those injuries had continued to plague his father ever since. Now, he would be free from all of it and enjoying a body that could not be pained or suffer death-these thoughts were far more comforting than the words being spoken by the prophet.
One thought was heavy on Kale's mind. Without a king, this army would need new leadership. He was the natural choice, but would the people want him? And once they were settled on that matter, there would be the issue of Lucin himself. The Mithrial-man had escaped. A careful search of the Logostus showed it to be in the plan of Elithias after all. This army would have to face the Wicked one again.
When Aija was done speaking, he nodded to Kale. It was time for him to give the final farewell gesture. Kale stepped between the freshly covered graves of his father and mother and gathered a handful of dirt from the top of each one. When Kale stood again, he cast both handfuls to the wind and said, "The Eternal One took man from the ground and to the ground he must return, but the faithful shall dwell in the house of the Elithias forever."
A cascade of "Alum" swept quickly through the crowd and the service was concluded.
Kale looked at Aija and asked, "What do we do now?"
"The people God has assembled here must confront Lucin on Demigoth. You must be the one to lead them."
Kale had thought that was what he was going to say.
0
THE constant low pitch hum of the large Vorn Cruisers stretched across the entire plateau. It had been a full week since the burial of King Tiet Soone and his wife Mirah down in the valley of Sayir and thousands of people were gathered to be a part of the ceremony taking place today. The majority of those in attendance had been under the direct control of Lucin, only days before, but Elithias had freed them completely from his influence, cleansing their minds and bodies of the symbyte organism.
Only about half of the rebels that had assembled for battle in the valley remained alive. Captain Viche was among them and his ship, The Maelstrom, was in a line among other vessels including the few remaining rebel ships and the abundant number of troop transports Lucin had used to carry all of the mentally enslaved Castillians to the planet in. The wall of ships stood proud behind those congregated for the coronation of the new Barudii king.
Kale watched the crowd below from his seat inside the shuttle. He was nervous about what was about to take place in the ceremony. Not since King Isic, had one so young been anointed as the king of the Barudii. Few people were onboard the shuttle with him: Wynn, Grod, Juli, Ramah, Emil and Aija the prophet, who sat directly across from Kale's seat. The prophet carried a horn of special oil that was dangling from a cord on the belt of his robe.
"It's alright to be nervous," said Juli, sitting in the seat next to Kale.
"Of course it is," added Aija. "This is one of the greatest days in your life, young master."
Kale looked at them kindly, but did not speak. His mind was still on his parents. He had never expected to lose them in this war. The trials were meant to show one was ready for independence and responsibility, but Kale had never expected all of this to be thrust upon him so suddenly. And he missed his mother and father terribly.
"Your father and mother would be very proud of you," said Juli. "And I'm proud of you."
"You know what I'm going to say," said Aija.
"Yes…but maybe you should tell me anyway," said Kale.
"Your mother and father are safe with Elithias now. It's perfectly alright to miss them, but don't pity them. They're better off than any of us."
Kale and Juli looked at the prophet, taking in his words. They may have been cold and hard, but they were truth.
"Do you remember what your father said just before he died?" asked Aija. "He said, 'yes, Lord, I do want to go.' Tiet was ready to go and be with Elithias."
"I know what you're saying, Aija. I just don't know if I'm ready to handle this kind of responsibility."
"The will of The Eternal One must be accomplished and you are his chosen vessel," said Aija.
"And I want to be that, but-"
"No. There is no 'but'. You are his chosen and the Lord knows what he is doing. If he has chosen you then he will prepare you for the work."
"And exactly what is that work?" asked Juli.
Grod and Wynn leaned into the conversation from their seats across the aisle.
"We have to go to Demigoth, the Vorn home-world," said Kale.
"Exactly," continued Aija. "This army has been assembled according to the prophecies. You must lead them to Demigoth where Lucin has retreated."
"But he went through the transgate," said Wynn. "Do we all follow him through the gate?"
"No. You will need your ships for this battle," said Aija. "So, my young king, how do we proceed?"
Kale thought about it for a moment. "It will take approximately a month to get our cruisers all the way to Demigoth, but we need to know what's going on there before that time. We should send a covert team through the gate as soon as possible to ascertain the situation and precede the fleet. We'll need to know what we're walking into."
"Very good," said Aija. "Then that is how we shall proceed."
The shuttle touched down before the congregation of Castillian and rebel soldiers. Kale and the others disembarked and headed for an informal platform. Kale and Aija ascended the modest riser alone.
Aija stood before the people to address them and said, "The Lord Elithias has freed you from the control of Lucin and has caused you to be assembled here this day to witness the anointing of a new Barudii king. If you will turn from yourselves to serve Elithias, then let every person make his own choice to surrender their hearts by the pajet."
The prophet turned to Kale and removed the horn of oil from the leather cord at his waist. Aija removed the cork from the end and held the horn aloft. He poured the contents over the head of Kale, saying, "As the Lord's anointed over this people, I charge you in his name to go forward and serve Him with all of the strength he gives you."
"I accept the Lord's charge," said Kale confidently.
A growing wave of praise began to sweep through the thousands of people assembled on the plateau. The shouts of joy grew until it became a deafening thunder. The oil flowed over Kale's head and dripped down over his body and he felt a peace washing over him unlike anything he had known before-Father would be proud.
0
A week's time elapsed as certain scientists and technicians from among their army went about the task of transferring the transgate technology over to a cargo hold onboard Captain Viche's large warship, the Maelstrom. The Equinox was too badly damaged and its power source to
o unstable to maintain the equipment and they needed it. Kale and Wynn were the only Barudii warriors left and the task of reconnaissance would be theirs on planet Demigoth. Whatever Lucin was doing on that world, they needed to know about it before they engaged him again.
Demigoth was still a well populated world and the exclusive home of the Vorn clan. It was unknown what kind of a reception they would receive from the natives when they arrived, but Wynn was anticipating a hostile one. "After all," he said, "The Vorn military still have a presence there and they were not a part of the peace that was reached between the Vorn civilians on Castai and King Tiet.
Kale checked over his supplies and the weapons on his uniform one last time. Wynn was ready also and it was time to go.
"Grod, we'll wait two weeks before we signal you," said Kale.
"We'll be there," said Grod.
"I still say I should be going with you," said Emil. His face was looking much better after the surgery aboard one of the Vorn cruisers.
"And you would be if I didn't know what kind of injuries you were recovering from. Another week of osteoblast therapy and you'll be as good as new, but you need that week," said Kale.
"Well-"
Grod put his hand on his son's shoulder and said, "Besides, I need you here to help me do the transgate installation aboard one of the cruisers."
Juli came into the transgate control room of the Maelstrom carrying a small bag full of data discs containing scripture files. She handed them to Kale saying, "They're all here."
"Thank you, Juli," he said.
She hugged Kale's neck whispering in his ear, "I'll miss you. Please stay safe."
"I'll do my best," he replied.
Kale nodded to Aija and the prophet returned the gesture of confidence. Grod activated the gate utilizing the same coordinates that Lucin has left loaded in the system during his escape to Demigoth. The field snapped into place with a bright light that faded into a blurred view of the unknown location on planet Demigoth.
Kale and Wynn looked at each other and stepped through the dimensional portal onto a planet neither of them had ever been to before. But they were confident that no matter what challenges they were soon to face, the spirit of Elithias was with them.
0
IT was dark on this new world that Lucin had stepped into. He was surrounded by lush vegetation, but beyond the hill ahead of him a vast cityscape was lit up. It had taken him over a week to reach the edge of the jungle on foot. Now, the entire horizon for as far as he could see was illuminated by the mega city. Demigoth was the home-world of the Vorn clan and despite the losses they may have sustained from the sphere doomsday weapon, he could see they still appeared to be a thriving culture. This would be the perfect place to start over again. Lucin had escaped Elithias again, and he would rise again.
He sensed something and the brush could be heard rustling somewhere behind him in the dark. Lucin turned to the sound and it was increasing. Whatever was out there was watching him and he was able to perceive one overpowering thought in the minds of the creatures beyond the visible foliage-Prey!
One thing caused him alarm. He was there in full symbiotic armor with weaponry at his disposal and these creatures felt absolutely no fear whatsoever. Lucin was definitely outnumbered and more predators were joining the others out there in the night beyond his physical sight. His instinct was to run and he followed it.
Lucin was sprinting away at top speed. It may have been a reaction brought on by his human host body; nevertheless it seemed the most rationale course of action. Lucin didn't want to make his start here on Demigoth with his host body chewed to bits and digesting in the belly of some indigenous predator.
He was heading for the city. The terrain was uneven making it difficult to run effectively and the vegetation was course and whipping at him unmercifully as he tried to make his way through. Lucin could sense the predators behind him and they seemed to be gaining. It was difficult to determine the number, but he could hear their breathing and the ravenous growling they produced while on the hunt.
Lucin spotted some taller trees up ahead as he came out of the undergrowth into a clearing. He thought for a moment that he might climb one of the trees, but he would only be trapping himself. As Lucin ran near to one of the trees, a creature leapt out of it and pounced on him. It took only a second to realize that it was a Horva and one of the brute unintelligent late generation types of clone. Anger flooded Lucin as he grappled with the creature; the others were closing fast. He had to get off of the ground or they would be piled on him killing his host body.
Lucin quickly turned the fight in his favor and laid into the Horva with several well placed strikes that nearly incapacitated the creature. He snatched the feral clone up by its throat and held the naked man aloft. Tendrils from his symbyte skin latched onto the Horva as the others became visible at the edge of the underbrush surrounding the clearing. It was time to give these brutes a dose of fear and respect for the angel-man.
Lucin crushed the trachea of the feral Horva struggling uselessly in his grip. In moments the body went limp and he deliberately tossed the body out in front of the others. If they didn't understand his speech, they would certainly understand that the stronger rule the weaker.
His perception of the creatures appeared to be accurate-they kept their distance from him, but seemed in awe of the one that had so easily vanquished one of their own. It occurred to him then, that these Horva would be his new army. Once he assimilated them, he would easily be able to conquer their primitive minds and control them as he had hoped to do with the normal humans back on Castai. And if cloning technology was still readily available it wouldn't take him long before he would have a sizeable fighting force to command. He would begin the systematic takeover of Demigoth with one of its most valuable assets-clones.
TWENTY-FOUR
AFTER a week of hiking through the jungle area surrounding the jump point left in the transgate memory by Lucin, Kale and Wynn entered into a shining megalopolis. This was the massive Vorn city of Gaj. The Barudii had waited until nightfall to enter the city. But a problem quickly became apparent as they walked the crowded streets.
"We stick out like a sore thumb," said Kale in a harsh whisper.
"We are wearing robes and hoods, young master," replied Wynn.
"Yes, but we're the only ones wearing them," said Kale-he was clearly agitated. "Everyone is looking at us."
Wynn glanced around from beneath the rim of his hood. Everyone they passed was clearly eyeballing them. "I see your point. Perhaps we should take a more covert approach."
The pair ducked into an alleyway. Kale tore away the cloak in the shadows. "I think our lack of melanin is a dead giveaway here."
"Calm down, Kale," said Wynn. "Let's take to higher ground and use the shadows."
Wynn removed his cloak and leapt the distance to a high ledge above them. Kale followed the elder Barudii, finding a perch next to Wynn on the ledge.
The city was monstrous in size; much bigger than any of those they had left back on Castai. None of the twelve Vorn-founded cities left during his father's reign was even remotely comparable. As far as the eye could see was a technological landscape, complete with massive electronic displays proclaiming various news, updates and entertainment options. There were huge buildings reaching for the sky in every direction where the two men looked. If the city had suffered during the attacks of the sphere weapon unleashed so many years ago by the Barudii of the twin Castai before their ultimate defeat, it was not apparent now.
"How are we supposed to find Lucin in all of this?"
"Patience, Kale," said Wynn, "Remember, Lucin was not in a dark skinned body when we last saw him on Draconis. He must have the same problem that we have being here."
"But he can switch bodies at will and only the Horva appear to be immune to him."
Wynn was trying to be the optimist, but he was beginning to wonder if they had been overzealous in their plans to follow Lucin to this planet in
this manner. Clearly it would have been easier for Grod to make the trip and he could have blended well with the native populace.
"I wonder when the sunrise will come," said Kale. "When that happens we had better be hidden away somewhere."
"You're right. We probably wouldn't receive a warm welcome from anyone here whether influenced by Lucin or not. The peace your father achieved with the Vorn and Horva did not reach this planet to my knowledge."
Kale sat to one side of the building's corner on the high ledge while Wynn stood just beyond the corner on the other side. He was watching some of the news reports, at least the visuals that were being broadcast to the large monitors on the sides of many of the buildings, to see if he might catch something related to Lucin's arrival in the area. He surmised that the archenemy of Elithias and man would not go unannounced for very long and Lucin had been on the planet for nearly two weeks prior to his and Kale's arrival. That gave him plenty of time to do something.
0
A fierce looking dark skinned man with multiple braids running off of his head and down his back watched as two light skinned males positioned themselves on a high ledge across the airway lanes from the building he was hidden on. He watched the pair through a telescopic site from the shadows cast by the large video monitor adorning the face of a high rise apartment complex. The targets had been spotted earlier on the streets below and when they appeared nearby, he had expected a more difficult shot as the strangers walked among the civilian populace. To his surprise they had made his job easier by separating themselves from the crowds and now they were at a more level height with him, making his shot easier to obtain.
The dark skinned sniper adjusted the cross-hairs to fix on the older of the two men. The white haired man was on the ledge facing him while the younger sat in the shadow of the building just around the corner. The white haired man was quite visible in the light of the massive video monitor. With its light shining in his face, there was no way he could see the attack coming from the shadows just beneath the monitor.
