“You?”
Kendra giggled soft. “Yes.”
“That's several hundred paces! Where did you get
that weapon?”
“This Boua was handed down from my father, from his
father before. He taught me from a small child--” “Where are you from?”
“The NorBay Longclaw clans.”
Damus shook his head. “They were all taken by
Corporate--the sky children--several Shola Si ago.” “Not all,” Kendra’s voice trembled for a moment. She
straighted up and held the Boua close to her side. “I am
needed here now.”
“I agree, but we need to get everyone over here, on
this side of the river, back over to the other side, safe
from Cain's men and their weapon. You've seen the
damage from their weapon in the trees, yes?”
Kendra nodded, with a sick feeling. She had witnessed
the effects personally on three other guardians earlier-
the tingling, and buzzing in her ears.
“Have you seen any other guardians over here?” “Yes. Master Wirch and Cyan, along with Quaid and
Abrem from the coast clans.” Kendra pointed through the
trees.
“Good, they're all safe. Now go to the ridge on the
other side of the river, by the cave entrance.”
“There is little advantage there...” Kendra started to
argue.
“You will make NEW advantage with your Boua, where
we can be safe, now GO! I will get the others and we'll all
be right behind you.”
*** “Cap, some of the interference has eased. I have several contacts showing just beyond the coordinates of our forward encampment,” the WEPS operator announced.
“Charge the WEP!”
*** Kendra did not like leaving a good advantage. Her Boua provided her plenty of opportunities for a safe long range attack. A purpose designed for hunting the Longclaw and Longtail back at her home clan. But Damus was well known among the clans, and she, as did many others, held a deep respect for him. She would continue to prove her worth, and follow his orders.
Her skills topping the tree line helped her gain some distance with ease, but she soon felt, a familiar, tingling all over her skin, and a loud buzzing in her ears. She turned to look back in time to see a large portion of a stand of trees disappear in the light of Luna'Rai, followed by a brief scream and the sound of many disconnected tree sections collapsing to the forest floor.
“No--” the air rushed from her lungs. For the first time this night, Kendra felt a chill in the breeze.
*** “DAMUS!” Novia screamed out. She felt the loss of life once again, possibly several this time.
“The distortion of the scans cannot be taken literally,” Presley1477 stressed. “The weapon was discharged, but we don't know if those spots that vanished were guardians or night-singers. There's simply no way to tell if any of those indicators were Damus.” Presley1477 tried to console Novia's outburst.
Novia stood and took a deep breath, but everyone could see she was still trembling. She collected some composure, turned from the holographic displays and walked over to a pile of animal skins, used for a temporary sleeping area, and knelt down in a prayer pose.
Reed started to follow, but Presley1477 stepped up, and held his hand out. “Give her some time.”
***
“Where is Keja?” Huir demanded an answer from Captain Roth.
“I have seen no indications,” Roth answered with little
emotion. “I have been busy with the sensor alarms
indicating unauthorized access for several transport beam
substation air locks.”
“Casualty count?” Huir requested.
“A rough count of several hundred so far, on sixteen
transport beam substations, throughout Mars solar
system, Alpha Centuri system and transport hubs, Three
and Six,” Roth reported.
“I want answers. Find Keja and bring him here!” Huir
ordered.
“He may be affected by the lack of protocols as so
many others. Are you sure you want THAT back?” Huir turned from her holographic data sphere and
glared at Roth for his answer.
“Yes, sir.” Roth came to attention, before leaving.
*** “The Gods of Drelund smile upon us this day,” the Cap remarked to the K'nal, seeing the thick layer of clouds that had moved into the canyon at first light. “The men will be protected from the sun and the NorWes warriors hiding in the trees.”
“Their entrance?”
“The cave entrance was spotted during the night. Many men lost their lives to bring back that scouting report--but we have a location now,” the Cap relayed.
“Very good. Sound the signal to advance,” K'nal Lluxi ordered.
*** Ayden was growing concerned. Still no sign of Damus, Cyan and a few others, and now at first light, thick, lowlaying clouds had rolled up into the canyon, obstructing his view below to the clearing. Several of the guardians stood by waiting for their orders and attempted to see into the clearing as well.
Without warning an odd long whistling noise echoed up the canyon, followed by a loud rustling disturbance below. In a brief moment of cloud thinning, Ayden could see Cain's men beginning to advance into the clearing, heading straight for the cave entry below. He was awestruck at their uniform appearance, each wearing light metallic armor across their chests upper arms and upper legs. Their pale white arms and lower legs were exposed, showing many scars and strange growths. Every man had long bright orange-red hair, braided tight down their backs. The men yelled and screamed as they ran forward, the fierce roar announcing their advance, echoing throughout the canyon.
Ayden turned and pointed to a guardian. “You--go now to the entrance, it's time for the Elvonians to form up their force field! The rest of you take cover and send your Hunters’ shafts to their targets and protect the Elvonians and the entrance! May Shola Rai bless and protect us all!”
*** “You have lost control,” Li taunted. “You have nothing, no one to rule. The protocol channels have been destroyed.”
“You know NOTHING! You are a figment, a shadow!” Cain curled his fists in growing rage.
“I have been watching. You are weakened--” “I AM STRONGER!”
“You are nothing!” Li goaded. “Even your loyal guard
cower from you--they have failed you.” Cain turned to see K'nal Ja'Nier waiting outside the entry to the Great Hall, protected from the immense heat Cain's body produced. “I COMMAND YOU TO BRING ME TRIBUTE!”
The K'nal stepped out and knelt. “My Lord, there is none. They have all left the building!”
Cain's rage grew stronger still. “YOU HAVE FAILED ME FOR THE LAST TIME!”
“There is nothing more you can do,” Li continued.
“I AM COMING FOR YOU, LI!”
Cain threw his hands out, and his entire body became engulfed in a blinding blast of energy, exploding outward, destroying the entire top portion of the Great Hall building and several levels below. K'nal Ja'Nier and the two remaining loyal guards disappeared in an instant from the blast. The structure collapsed within seconds, expanding, then imploding in a continued brilliant ball of energy, as the shock wave tore outward through building after building on the Corporate Home Office campus, leveling the entire campus and surrounding structures for kilometers.
*** Although Li was waiting, and felt quite prepared, she was startled the moment Cain actually arrived inside her crystalline chamber, his glowing body and armor appearing as though molten rock. She turned for the chamber entry, but Cain used the increased powers of his mind and flung Li away, across the room, slamming her high into the wall on the far side, before allowing her to fall hard to the floor.
“You won't be needing this exit--you won't be leaving any time
soon,” Cain growled, adding a smirk of pleasure. To accentuate his point, he walked past the opening, dragging his hand across the wall of the chamber and above the entry. The crystalline surface and rock structure beneath turned molten, oozing where Cain's hand had touched, sealing off the entry, then cooling into a solidified, distorted black rock mass. “There will be no one to interfere.”
“As Mother intended,” Li agreed.
“MOTHER was a malfunction!”
“You are the malfunction, Cain,” Li asserted. Cain thrust his hand at Li, releasing a bolt of fiery
energy, but she rolled out of the way, and stood in a defensive posture, learned well from Master Wirch's training.
“You would dare challenge me?” Cain declared with skepticism, then stepped closer with a swing of his arm. Li dodged, and used his bodily momentum, along with her own mental force, to throw Cain toward the far wall. Cain stopped before striking the wall, turned and thrust another burst of fiery energy toward Li. This time she was able to put her hands up and deflect the blast. “You have indeed grown strong,” Cain admitted, regaining his stance and composure. “But you cannot defeat me!”
“I won't have to defeat you. You will defeat yourself. You are your own worst enemy, because you are weak. You need ME.” Li reset her defensive posture in defiance.
Cain's irritation grew. “I AM NOT WEAK! I WILL DESTROY YOU!” Cain rushed toward Li attempting to grab her, but she deflected his momentum. Cain was quick to recover and countered with a spin and side kick maneuver rooted deep in his memories from Dravon and even Hyak. Li spun to deflect, redistributing his attack-force away. Continuing around, Cain directed his energy again, with a strong and precise back-kick, catching Li at her midsection, and sending her flying into the far wall, then slumping to the floor. Cain followed with another blast of fiery energy from both hands, but Li rolled out and away from the burst.
“You need me,” Li continued, breathing hard. “You cannot destroy that which you so desperately need!”
Cain's body grew brighter and hotter with fury. He flung his fists out, and filled the room with a burst of flaming energy, screaming in rage. Li held her hands up, forming an invisible deflective shield, protecting her from the blast. When he stopped, Li could see that she had been moved closer to the black rock that closed the entry to the chamber.
Cain noticed Li's glance toward the blocked entry. “YOU are no match AGAINST MY POWER. You WILL NOT escape my WRATH!”
Li walked past the blocked entry, gliding her hand over the black rock with a light touch. The distorted stone reshaped and crystallized. Where once there was an entry closed by black stone, a glass-like, crystalline wall reformed, matching the rest of the walls in the chamber, but without the slightest evidence that an entry had ever existed. The room was resealed in glowing crystal.
“You are correct on one point. There will be no escaping,” Li assured, with a determined glare.
*** “I am unable to get a clear view of the area, my K'nal, the low cloud layer is too thick, and there is too much interference for the scanners,” the Trupe declared, still trying to adjust the visual.
“Ready the floating platform! I will personally witness our victory and capture of the woman, Li,” Lluxi ordered.
*** “Whatever that blast was from the Corporate Home office campus, at least the impact to the shuttle was minimal,” Alex offered. “I think we were far enough away to avoid sustaining any real damage from the shock wave.” She continued maneuvering the Corporate Security shuttle out of the upper atmosphere, and into low Mars orbit, while she plotted navigation for their return trip to Earth.
::I concur with the results of the general diagnostics,:: Sid agreed. ::As long as Alex continues to operate the vessel within recommended guidelines, the shuttle appears to be operating safely.::
“That last explosion, do you think Cain could have survived?”
“I doubt if ANYONE within the radius of the Corporate Home office campus survived,” Alex replied. She was beginning to feel the impact of the potential loss of so many lives for her miscalculation. This was Io all over again, only so much worse. No one to blame but herself this time.
Kutch noted Alex's tone. “What is our ETA for return to Earth?”
“Sixty-six hours, give or take,” Alex gave a rough calculation as she made more adjustments at the control panel.
::That would be an incorrect assessment within normal operational conditions. Recommended flight settings indicate an ETA for return to Earth from our current solar location to be seventy-eight hours, thirtyseven minutes. Alex is currently making adjustments taking this vessel beyond recommended parameters. Damage will occur,:: Sid stressed.
Kutch gave Alex a questioning glance.
“What?”
“Sid says--”
“I've done this before, we'll be fine,” Alex assured.
Kutch continued to give Alex a look of skepticism. “Are you going to believe me, or Sid?” Kutch thought a moment. He really didn't want to hurt Alex's feelings. He could see she was still shaken up over all that had just happened. “I think I will believe Sid’s evaluation...”
::Thank you,:: Sid replied.
“Pinhead.” Alex scowled.
“But Sid, I believe I will TRUST Alex's skills.” Alex smirked her approval. “You’re still a pinhead.”
*** Thirty Elvonians gathered outside the main cave entrance, interlocking their PPDs to create an
impenetrable force field as Cain's men charged at the entrance. Guardians stationed at key positions on the cliffs above aimed their Hunters’ shafts into the mass of men pressing hard against the unseen force.
The Elvonian's remaining inside the cavern kept a steady flow of nutritional supplements and energy bars moving forward, to boost against the drastic draw of energy the PPDs pulled from each host. There was a great potential for debilitating cramps if their energy reserves got too low, which could lead to a collapse of the PPD generated force field.
Cain's men pressed hard against the unseen force, thrusting their plasma-covered long-blades in as far as possible, stopping only at the handles. The tips and cutting edges, slipping through the force field due to the plasma covering, were often only centimeters away from their intended targets.
As the guardians began to hit their targets with their Hunters’ shafts with deadly results, Cain's men hoisted up the bodies of their fallen warriors, holding them above their heads as shields to protect those pressing against the unseen force.
After only a few moments, the unyielding pressure created by Cain's men, began to take a toll. First there was one Elvonian, screaming in agony from full-body cramps, unable to eat enough nutritional supplements to keep his PPD energized. His PPD force field began to attack his own body for more energy, and weakened. With a forced thrust, one of Cain's men was able reach close enough to pierce the Elvonian through his chest. The cocoon formed in place, and another Elvonian moved in to take the position and interlock his PPD.
Elvonian after Elvonian fell due to the pressure and draw of energy required to keep Cain's men from getting through, and still more moved in to take their place. Cocoons were pulled out of the way, and piled on the inside of the cave entry, as more energy bars were distributed. The Elvonians stood their ground, but their numbers were dwindling.
*** Li was flung through the chamber with another fiery blast of energy from Cain. She thudded on the floor, and was slow to gather herself up once more in defense. Cain approached and grabbed her around her neck in a choke hold, pulling her up.
“Like Mother, you are nothing,” Cain growled from behind, into her ear. “Your time is up.” Li pulled at Cain's arm, but he only tightened his grip. “Mother created you, then created me to correct that mistake,” Li choked through Cain's arm grip. Cain was not, at first, aware of lighted bands of energy beginning to swirl around the inner edges of the crystalline chamber, encircling them both.
“Mother was flawed. I am already PERFECT! I am--a God!” Cain sp
oke close to Li's ear, as though tender with compassion. “I have defeated you. Give yourself to me and I may have mercy and draw your life energy without suffering. Continue to fight me, and I will make you languish for an eternity in such pain as you could not comprehend.”
Li grasped at Cain's arm and reached his hand. With a firm hold and quick maneuver, she broke free of his choke hold, but Cain was too fast and grabbed her once again, facing her with both hands at her throat, holding her to the floor on her knees.
The swirling vortex of energy was growing stronger, creating a tremendous rush of wind as well. The walls of the crystalline chamber glowed with a brilliance along with the spinning vortex, that appeared all were becoming as one. Cain noticed the phenomenon for the first time, and gained confidence, feeling energized. His own body was glowing in a way similar to the vortex and the surrounding chamber.
“Give up! I have defeated you. My plan has come to pass at last--after all these years. I am draining you of your life energy as I speak. You are--finished,” Cain commanded, increasing his grip around Li's throat. His hands glowed bright.
Li was indeed feeling Cain's crushing powerful strength. She grasped his hands with hers, and pulled to relieve any amount of pressure, but could not. She felt her mind wander, even as the swirling vortex grew brighter, stronger and more turbulent. She was drifting into a sound sense of peace.
Li thought of her first moments of consciousness, the wonder of self-realization, then on to her assignment to Kutch, and his first moments of thought in the birthing center. How she helped him with his training and encouraged his curiosity, even to the point of allowing Kutch to go beyond the normal boundaries dictated by Corporate Security. Li's memories filled her mind.
She remembered her own strange metamorphosis, developing feelings and eventually love for Kutch. Then her transformation within the Other Realm, and the lessons of the Tutela-Animus, along with Anaua, Utahia and Novia, learning kindred relationships and deep friendships, with the likes of Alex and the clansmen of the NorWes. She thought of her experiences within her own body, and coming to understand being alive. She recalled her experiences with traversing multiple dimensions and meeting so many entities like Kyrios and even the very consciousness of the universe--the I AM.
Birth Of A Goddess Page 46
