D'mok Revival 4: New Eden

by Michael Zummo

  Toriko shook her head. “We have to help him. He’s one of us.”

  “No he’s not. You sayin’ that thing that attacked us in the asteroid base—he was one of us? Or how about when he attacked the Coalition ship, and made you go nuts? It doesn’t matter whose kid he is. He’s dangerous, and I’m ready for a rematch.”

  Naijen and logic, who knew? But he had a point, Kiyanna thought. Was capturing the boy best, or ridding the universe of a horrific threat?

  Jask already shown leadership qualities. In all the encounters, he appeared to lead the other Nukari beasts. If the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, if Jask was a leader like his father and not some pawn in Kajlit’ga’s forces, he would become an even greater threat.

  But what if Jask wouldn’t surrender? What if they couldn’t get him to submit? They couldn’t allow him to just fly off to come back later with reinforcements. They’d be forced to take him down. “We have one chance to get this right—to take him alive.”

  “Say, um …” Allia said, then hesitated.

  Kiyanna looked back at Allia. She looked so timid and unsure. A moment of self-doubt filled her. Mencari certainly had his flaws, but no one felt uncomfortable presenting ideas. She needed to learn from him: about that anyway. “What’s on your mind?”

  “I know they’re not here right now … but if we had Cerna, we’d be able to minimize, maybe even redirect Jask’s attacks. And if we had Cogeni here, he has the Demas Beads that could maybe contain Jask. Maybe even Niya could do something to help protect us?”

  “But they ain’t here,” Naijen said.

  “But they could be,” Eyani added. “I can send Una out, it wouldn’t take that long to get them, no matter where they’re located.”

  “Cogeni and Niya are still on Argosy,” Allia said, brightening. “Cerna’s out recruiting for Weun Academy. We should be able to find her easily enough.”

  “So, Raitr to nullify Jask’s abilities,” Speru said, musing, “Cogeni to contain him, Cerna to redirect and absorb any attacks he gets off, Siana and Katen to mind-strike him. That seems redundant enough if talking fails.”

  “All that for one person?” D’abar said. “Don’t you think that tells you just how dangerous a threat this boy is?”

  “But if he can be saved, think of the ally he’ll be,” Allia said.

  Unconvinced, D’abar replied, “You’re betting a lot on ‘if’.”

  Leaders were burdened with making the tough calls—the right calls—when situations were unclear. Kiyanna didn’t like this trial one bit. Attacking a child felt wrong, even if he wasn’t just a defenseless whelp. “We’ll try reason first. Those same forces can be used to beat him if we need to. Eyani, dispatch Una for Cogeni and Cerna. Everyone else, prepare yourselves. Twelve hours from now we’re going after the Aloan kids and Jask.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Eclipse of the Son

  “They should be here soon,” D’abar said, floating out of the New Eden vessel’s airlock. For the first time he felt good. Better than good—strong. His golden aura radiated with the confidence he felt inside. Even traversing bodily space seemed easy again, thanks to Osuto’s patience and lessons. Though in Osuto’s present state, it seemed one of the few things the frail, elderly Warrior could do. “While we’re here, I’d like to examine these vessels.”

  Effortless, he flew to the nearest ship, two large saucers connected by a tubular body. Curiosity drove him to reach out and touch the hull. His fingers left a streak in the space grime. It felt like the same metal used in the New Eden space station and in other ships he’d seen. All around them, for as far as he could see, old wrecks and discarded crafts floated about like an artificial asteroid belt. “We didn’t have anything like this on Alo. Somewhat wasteful, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Most don’t have abilities like we have back on Alo,” Speru said, coming up behind him. “They have to dig inside rocks to find metals, then make things.”

  “It’s very different,” D’abar said. “But curious and interesting. What other possibilities are out here?” He turned to Speru. “Did you ever consider what people like us could do here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Our abilities. They need ships to travel. We simply walk out an airlock. They need weapons to fight, we are the weapons.”

  “Yes, but I don’t understand your point.”

  “We have an opportunity, a responsibility, to help other races. We should protect them, help guide them on a path that leads to prosperity.”

  “But that’s what we’re doing. The D’mok Warriors, New Eden and SETI, the Nomads, the Coalition. We’re working together to do that,” Speru said, confused.

  The boy didn’t understand. He’d never sat on the Council of Alo. The burdens of leadership were great, as were the risks that faced civilization. “We can do more, Speru—far more that you can imagine.”

  A universe of peace and order, following laws for the betterment of beings of all kinds. He and other Aloans could offer protection, and direction to leap over their infantile understanding of civilization. But he’d need more D’mok Warriors to accomplish this incredible vision.

  Weun Academy, Cerna’s pet project, named after their fallen matriarch Seigie Weun—that was the answer. He’d help gather and train more from every accessible corner of space.

  He saw a gleam in Speru’s eyes. “What is it?”

  “I … I can feel them.”

  “Feel them?” He glanced out into the star-filled space and watched in silence. In moments, he felt it too. Warmth, like the embrace of loved ones you hadn’t seen in years. He couldn’t help but smile. “I do too. They’re close.”

  His old heart pattered. It would be a wonder to see them. Would they be all right? What kind of trials had they been through? Or what did Kajlit’ga do to them?

  His senses reached out for the three Aloans among those approaching. Immediately he could feel them. Raitr, Siana, and Jeyla felt like themselves, uncorrupted. A cool sensation prickled his mind. An empathic touch? Could Siana be reaching back with her abilities? As much as he wanted to embrace it and talk in mindtime with her, much was at stake.

  The plan—he needed to stick to the plan. Cerna and Cogeni waited together in one of the floating derelicts nearby. Naijen, Kiyanna, Allia and Ichini, Katen and Decreta, were hidden in the asteroids surrounding the Graveyard of Ships. When the time came, if they couldn’t convince Jask of his true heritage, they would strike. He hoped the boy would resist. If he was anything like his father, one less of them in the universe would be a good thing. For the moment, he and Speru had to put on a good show. “Remember, we’re not supposed to know they’re coming. Siana was instructed to make the others believe there was information about you harvesting components off the ships here.”

  “I’m ready.”

  “There are two groups of three approaching your position,” Minea said through the communicators. “I’ll be monitoring the entire time. If you need help, ask and everyone will come.”

  “Understood,” Speru said. His face beamed with excitement.

  With a grave tone D’abar said, “I need you to be a good actor right now, Speru. We need to control what happens and when it happens. If Jask or the other Nukari beasts react before we’re ready, all our friends will be in danger.”

  Speru’s smile disappeared and he nodded. “I will be … and they’re close.”

  Indeed they were. Looking just over Speru’s shoulder six comets of light streaked toward them. Some were gold, one orange, the others muddy blue. He motioned for Speru to turn. As he did, the comets slowed and beings emerged from the light. Each one radiated the aura of their respective comet color. None of them looked like Aloans.

  “I see Jask,” Speru said. “It looks like there’s three others in suits similar to his.”

  The one in the orange aura, and two with golden auras, floated toward them, while the other three remained a distance behind.

  He nudged Speru. “Remember we�
�re not supposed to know them. Take up defenses.”

  “Right!” he said, drawing the hilts from his back. Spheres attached to the base flared with red energy before gleaming blades of firelight erupted.

  D’abar focused, reinforcing his own golden aura, ready to attack if needed.

  The three approaching stopped, hands outstretched, palms open. It was the universal sign of peace and nonaggression. For a brief moment they appeared to be talking to one another. Then, with great caution, they took off their respective headgear.

  Squared jaw, strong chin, high cheekbones, scarlet-orange locks, and orange aura—it was the trainer’s apprentice from Alo, Raitr. The second had light-brown hair streaked with splashes of blue and laced with shimmering crystal threads. Her beautiful blue eyes gleamed with excitement. No denying this was his assistant and Aloan Museum curator, Jeyla. The last one had short raven-black hair and brilliant amber eyes. A small device over the bridge of her nose seemed to replace the glasses he’d become accustomed to seeing on Siana.

  “Speru! D’abar!” Jeyla cried out.

  He telepathically reached out to Speru’s mind. Let them come to us.

  “Who are you?” D’abar yelled out.

  Jeyla’s face crumpled in confusion. “Don’t you know who we are? It’s us: Jeyla, Siana, and Raitr. I could understand if you forgot Raitr, but come on, this is us!”

  The girl wielded levity like a master.

  “You look the part, now prove it!” he snarled.

  The three exchanged glances and whispers. Jeyla’s glow radiated, and data from the museum appeared. An image of the massive Skill Tree appeared, along with the exhibits spotlighting the development of abilities on Alo. With both him and his mother mentioned in the exhibits, Speru knew these well.

  In moments, from Siana’s glow emerged images of their world. Memories of discussions they shared replayed before them. All were irrefutable evidence of who they were. Satisfied, he motioned to Speru to approach them.

  Within moments they were tangled in an embrace.

  “I can’t believe you came after me!” Speru said.

  “Why didn’t you tell us what was going on before you left Alo?” Jeyla said in a mixture of relief and annoyance.

  “I didn’t have time. Everything happened so fast, and …” Speru stopped and looked back at D’abar. “Once my abilities were unsealed, I had to leave. It wasn’t safe anymore.”

  “It was never safe for you to begin with,” D’abar added while drifting toward the group, who also embraced him.

  “D’abar—how are you here?” Raitr asked.

  “I was exiled beyond the protective field that hides Alo. They blamed me for the breaches in the shield, including the disappearance of you three. They said I killed you and disposed of the bodies. D’gorra’s in power now, and Alo is a place none of us wants to be.”

  “D’gorra? My dad?” Raitr said, pained. “I couldn’t believe he tried to have you killed, and now exiled? I’m really sorry.…”

  “It’s for your father to apologize not you,” Speru assured. “And you’re not him.”

  Siana broke from the group and embraced D’abar.

  “I’m glad you guys are safe too,” D’abar said.

  “You should meet Jask!” Jeyla said. She waved him over.

  The burn of fear ignited in his chest as Mencari’s son and his entourage approached. What was this weaponized child capable of doing? Would the boy remember Speru from the encounter at the defunct Nukari base?

  In an awkward and bashful tone the boy said, “Hi.”

  Timid? Not what he expected.

  “Jask, this is Speru … and D’abar,” Jeyla said with perhaps too much enthusiasm.

  “They talk about you a lot,” Jask added with a nod of greeting.

  “It was his idea for us to wear these suits,” Siana said.

  “The encounter suit helps me fit in with the others—look more like them,” Jask said. “It helps me focus my abilities too. They also help absorb hits when sparring too. Some of the others can hit pretty hard.”

  Absorb hits? So he’d be a harder target with the suit on, D’abar realized. “Look more like them?” he said. “I thought … what do you look like, then?”

  “I’m not really supposed to remove the armor during a mission.”

  “It’s okay,” Siana said. “You can put it right back on. He looks a lot like us actually, D’abar.”

  Jask fidgeted with something on the back of his neck. The suit hissed as a valve released, and he removed the helmet. Dread filled D’abar as he looked into the boy’s chocolate-colored eyes. A square jaw and lower cheekbones, almond eyes, tanned skin; the boy looked exactly like a younger version of Mencari. No further proof of his lineage was required. An idea came to him. “You look Human.”

  “Human?” Jask said. “I’m a Nukari Beast Warrior. We’re birthed from the Womb Mother.”

  Womb Mother? What type of monstrosity was that? The very name conjured horrific images in his mind. One issue at a time.

  “No, you look exactly like a Human. Here, I’ll show you. Minea—bring up information about Human beings,” he said. Holographic images appeared in the space between the group. The planet Earth revolved with profiles of various Humans and ethnicities.

  Minea’s voice rang out. “Humans originate from the planet Earth in the Milky Way galaxy. After developing space-travel capabilities, they expanded initially within their solar system.”

  “You certainly look like a Human,” D’abar said.

  “They even have the same skin tone as you,” Jeyla said.

  An image of Mencari appeared before him, along with his wife Anaka. Jask’s eyes beaded, jumping between the two people.

  “Hey, you look a lot like that one,” Raitr said, pointing to Mencari’s picture.

  Minea continued. “Most recently, Rhysus Mencari has led an expedition force exploring deeper space, establishing relationships with new alien races.”

  “Rhysus Mencari?” Jask said, dripping with vitriol. “Did you say Rhysus Mencari?”

  Does he recognize himself in that image? he wondered.

  “What’s wrong?” Jeyla asked.

  “That man, that’s the one Master Kajlit’ga talks about. He’s the one who killed my mother! But …” Jask looked to the other image. “That woman, that’s my mother.”

  “How could that be?” Speru said. “That’s his wife, Anaka.”

  “No she’s not. He killed her. I saw my mother die. He did it.”

  “If that’s your mother, then you’d be his son. There has to be some kind of mistake,” Raitr said.

  Jask’s face contorted with confusion. “That’s my mother, and he’s not my father! He’s a monster—a murderer.”

  “I know that woman is not dead,” Speru countered. “She was captured by the Nukari, but she was recently rescued. They’re back together now.”

  “Hey, are you sure you’re from that womb thing?” Jeyla asked.

  “How would you know that?” Jask cocked his head to the side, looking at Speru. A gleam of understanding sparked in his eyes. “Wait, I’ve seen you before. You were with him—Rhysus Mencari—at that defunct station of ours.”

  “I remember you,” Speru said. “I am not your enemy, Jask.”

  “If you’re part of his group … then everything you say is a lie! Master Kajlit’ga warned me of this.”

  “Of what, the truth, Jask? Think for a moment,” D’abar said. “She’d only tell you these things so you would doubt what you eventually discovered. Rhysus Mencari is your father, and your mother is alive.”

  “Lies! He killed my mother!” Jask shrieked, putting his helmet back on.

  “Jask, it’s okay. We can figure this out,” Siana said.

  “No, it’s not. You can’t trust these people, Siana.”

  “We know them, Jask. They’re from our world—from Alo,” Jeyla said. “They wouldn’t lie about this.”

  “Minea,” D’abar said.

&n
bsp; The projections disappeared around them, replaced by a green checkmark.

  A brilliant golden aura flared around Jask, and the two beasts that waited in the distance flew toward him.

  Two flashes of light streaked through the darkness, striking the approaching beasts. The attacks ripped through their bodies, rending them apart.

  “No!” Jask shouted, his hands blazing with light. D’abar saw the rage in the boy’s eyes as he unleashed his attack. There was no way to avoid being struck. Instinct drove his hands up. A radiant orange light flashed. When the attack didn’t hit, D’abar looked out. Raitr had erected a defensive wall between him and Jask. The orange field absorbed the energy from Jask’s perpetual attack.

  Jask’s beam grew anemic, then atomized into spheres of light that wafted toward Cerna’s glowing body. Beside her, Cogeni clutched a necklace of plum-sized beads. His voice echoed around them. “Walk with me in my hour of need, and smite those that shadow your holy light—DIVINE SEAL!”

  A shower of colored radiance poured over Jask, then his golden aura snuffed out.

  “What are you doing?” Jask screamed.

  “You’re going to be okay, we’re going to take you home to your mother and father,” Speru said.

  “My mother is dead! Let me go,” he screamed.

  “Katen, Siana,” D’abar said. “Calm his mind.”

  As if forming from the darkness, Katen and Decreta appeared beside him. “By your command,” Katen said.

  * * * * * *

  “Get out of my head!” Jask bellowed. The sound echoed demonically across the unnaturally manicured mindscape.

  Katen, Fio’tro, and Fia’ra stood fast, weapons drawn. The boy stood defiant, donned with impressive body armor. Gesturing, he raised thick walls of radiant red light.

  “Even impaired, he’s creating shielding!” Siana cried, using her abilities to stunt the mental walls erected by Jask’s powerful mind.

  Black energies swirled about Katen and Fio’tro. Combining their energies into a single attack, they blasted through the red walls of light. Jask lurched and dropped to his knees.