by James Somers
“They’ve gone,” Lucin said to his Lieutenant as he broke off from his mental probing of the aerogore. “They are not here, at least not where we can get to them.”
“Shall I stay our squadrons then?”
“No. Have them move throughout the city and secure its perimeters. We will move our legions out of the plains though. And we will move all of the cruisers away from the area except one. We wouldn’t want to intimidate our prey too much. They won’t poke their heads out from their holes if we standby guarding them.”
☼
Tiet and his son materialized right back in the place he had departed from, inside one the Sector city base transgate portal chambers. When he looked around to find the faces of Wynn and Grod waiting for them, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Grod?! I thought you two were caught in that blast,” said Tiet.
“You’ll not be rid of me that quickly, old friend,” he laughed as they shared mutual relief at each others safe return.
Tiet hugged his son tightly despite his passing into the age of manhood.
“You keep getting away from me—”
“And you keep coming after me,” replied Kale happily.
“When will I ever learn, huh?” he said playfully as he panted, trying to get his breath back.
“Are you alright? Your injuries—”
Tiet placed his hand on Kale’s shoulder to reassure him. “I’m alright. Its worth a little pain to get you back safely.”
“I think I can help you with that,” said Mirah as she entered the room.
He wasn’t going to argue with her. The pain was causing his whole torso to ache considerably.
“You hold down the fort here with the others while I talk with your mother,” said Tiet.
He went on with Mirah, following her out of the transgate control room. She wasn’t very talkative, despite her obvious relief at seeing them safe again.
“Is everything alright?” asked Tiet.
“I was able to save the girl.”
“Do you mean the one that was hemorrhaging?”
“Yes, she’s been nearly starved to death and has old injuries that may have been aggravated when she escaped,” said Mirah.
She smiled and leaned over to kiss his cheek as they walked. He was in noticeable pain, especially to her trained eye. “This place has remarkably good medical facilities; far better than I would have expected. I may be able to do some therapy to increase your healing and get you feeling better without the pain meds.
“That would be much better. Lead the way, doc.”
☼
Alec approached Grod in the chamber as he stood talking with one of the transgate technicians and said, “Grod, you’ve all gotten back safely then?”
“Yes, Tiet has gone with his wife to the med-lab, but we’re all fine,” said Grod.
“Good. I’ve been in contact with the other leaders of our resistance and they would like to speak with the king about our situation. I expect them to support our efforts, but I think they want to have a face to face with the king himself before they commit to helping us.”
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem. I once had a face to face with the young king and he was quite persuasive when seeking a treaty between him and my people,” said Grod.
“Good. If you wouldn’t mind informing him, the video conference will take place in our war room in a little over two hours.”
“I’m going to our ship with Wynn and the boys. I’ll be sure that we get the message to Tiet,” said Grod.
“Thank you. I’ll see you in two hours,” said Alec and they parted company.
☼
Kale, Emil, Wynn and Grod boarded the Equinox docked in the subterranean hangar bay of the Sector City base. Many other vessels, some even larger than their ship, were also housed in the underground facility. They had a descent sized army in this base, but it wasn’t near the number of the enemy waiting out in the plains beyond the city.
As they came up the ramp and into the ship, Juli was waiting anxiously for them. She bypassed the others and threw her arms around Kale’s neck. “I didn’t think I would ever see you again,” she whispered.
He reciprocated the affection; hugging her tightly. “Don’t worry Juli, Emil took care of me.”
The others proceeded on toward the armory, leaving the couple there in the foyer. Kale was glad to see Juli as much as she was. Since losing her parents during their escape from Draconis months earlier, Juli and Kale had become very close. Kale felt the need to care for the young girl. He felt sorry for her loss, but deep down he knew it was more than that. Juli was beautiful and caring and she made no pretending about her feelings for Kale. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone else, but the obvious fact was, he loved her too.
☼
“Alec would like for us to meet with him in about two hours,” said Grod.
“Tiet may still be in their med-lab in two hours,” said Wynn.
“We’ll have to make sure he is available. Alec is planning on a conference between the regional commanders of their resistance through the communications uplink. Tiet will need to present our plan of action at the meeting.”
“I could go over to the med-lab and make sure he doesn’t begin any treatment that would hold him up?” asked Emil.
“Go ahead then,” said Grod. “I know he’s probably hurting again, but tell Mirah that he doesn’t need to be sedated right now.”
Emil grabbed a few spicors to replace what had been used and a blade for Kale before heading back out of the room and down the hallway. Tiet and Juli were still in the foyer talking as he started past.
“Where are you going?”
“To the med-lab to tell your father about the meeting Alec has arranged with the other resistance fighters.”
“Can we go too?” asked Juli. “I’m dying to get off of this ship.”
“Sure, come on.”
The trio headed back down the loading ramp and ran across the bustling tarmac. Everyone was busy prepping their ships for the impending battle—a battle they prayed they could win.
At their hurried pace, they were able to reach the medical facility within a few minutes. They proceeded inside and headed back to the procedure chambers. “Mother!”
A chamber door slid back and Mirah peeked out to see the young group searching for her.
“What are you guys doing back here?”
“We needed to tell Father about a meeting he has to attend with the resistance leaders—it’s in two hours.”
She sighed and said, “They always schedule something when I’m trying to treat my patient.”
“What’s that—a meeting with the resistance leaders?” asked Tiet from inside the chamber.
He appeared at the doorway behind Mirah, stripped to the waist and bearing a number of monitoring electrode pads.
“You three, go tell Alec that I’ll be along shortly, okay?”
They nodded and headed back out of the complex obediently.
“Now, how do we get back to the place where Alec is supposed to be?” asked Kale.
“Over here,” said Juli. “These signs will lead us back.”
“We need to get to the war room, I think.”
“Follow me,” said Juli as she headed off ahead of the boys.
Kale spotted another sign of interest on the marker and said, “After we relay the message to Alec, we need to go to the library mentioned on this sign. I want to look up some of the details of the prophecy of the empty hand that Aija was talking about.”
☼
Lucin’s troops were already beginning to take the necessary steps to move the encampment out of the plains area they had initially landed in. They worked like insects with a singular task in mind; a singular thought to guide them. They still had personality of their own to a small extent, but they were all completely bent to the will of the Mithrial-man.
Lucin walked back to his temporary command quarters. He passed the other expandable metal shelters that made up
his communications and coordination center as soldiers moved about the camp disassembling the other portable structures of the camp before boarding the Vorn cruisers hovering overhead.
His control over the multitude was growing stronger and stronger—a noticeable difference from the desperate situation that threatened his total loss of control when they were back on Castai. Lucin could only assume that it was the result of being so near to his fellow Mithri that resided on Draconis as the Agonotti.
After the reception he’d given his brethren earlier and the impressive show of his power over the human thousands he had ferried to the planet, he wondered how long it would take before a proper delegation from among the Agonotti was sent to welcome their glorious leader back into their ranks. So far, there was no word, but it wouldn’t be long. His body was unrecognized by his brethren, but they would soon realize that he was indeed the same glorious spirit that had led them in open rebellion against The Eternal One.
Lucin made his way to the portable building setup for his own personal use. He passed his hand over the bio-signature reader to the right side of the door and it allowed him to enter. As the door slid back and he entered the twenty foot by twenty foot structure, he sensed something not entirely foreign to him. Lucin walked cautiously on, into the room as the door slid back into place. He was trying to perceive any movement as the lights came on automatically; but there was nothing.
Then Lucin noticed something he had not before. The air was heavy with a mist. Suddenly the air became clear and someone was behind him. A coalesced figure, from the fog, sprang into action against him, wielding a large blade in his right hand.
Lucin retaliated, spinning back to catch the weapon hand with his left and following through with a right palm up under the jaw. With great strength, far more than his host body would normally have possessed, he hoisted the dazed attacker over his head. Lucin had quickly seized the advantage and thrust the dazed assassin through the front wall of the temporary building. The dark clad figure landed among the debris outside as the rest of the structure collapsed on top of Lucin.
Lucin burst upward, sending the debris into the air and then he shot toward the mysterious attacker. The man became mist again, allowing Lucin to pass through. He materialized again at Lucin’s back with the Mithrial-man in a headlock from behind. Lucin buried several rapid elbow jabs deep into the assassin’s ribcage and his grip loosened enough for him to get free.
Lucin took the opportunity and sent a right back-hand followed by a quick left jab into the attacker’s face. He stumbled backward and tried to dematerialize again, but he was prevented. Lucin, using his growing Mithrial power, seized the man with his thoughts and stopped his evasive maneuver. “Not so fast, my friend.”
The Agonotti attacker was clearly dumbfounded that he could be held in his physical state this way. “How did—?”
Lucin thrust a quick hand to the man’s chest and caught him as he tried to pull away from further attack. “Leaving so soon?” he asked sarcastically with a devilish grin on his face. “Haven’t you time for your master anymore, Vock?”
The Agonotti assassin was more puzzled now. “How did you know me?”
“It’s me Vock,” he said drawing nearer to his attacker. “I know I look terrible in this flesh puppet’s body; nevertheless, it is Lucin which stands before you.”
Vock looked him over; unsure of how to proceed. He had intended to kill this boastful human, but it was proving more difficult than he would have imagined.
Perhaps my thoughts would convince you?
I’ve met humans with telepathy.
A lack of faith, Vock? How unsettling.
Suddenly, the human army, which had obediently remained still, began to take aim on Vock. Firing bolts locked into position in waves all around them as Lucin called out to his minions with his thoughts.
“Did those humans with telepathy control thousands of soldiers with their thoughts as well?” Lucin asked confidently.
Vock was convinced. “My master,” he confessed as he knelt before his former Mithrial leader.
“Rise, my brother. We have much to discuss.”
“But I don’t understand. How did you come to control these humans and to be confined to this body?”
“It’s quite a story and one I may share at a later time, suffice to say, The Eternal One cursed me to a low form and I have triumphed over the condition he left me in to seize the minds of his beloved humans. Since coming to this planet, I have only seen my powers grow exponentially, until now I feel almost invincible.”
“My fellow Agonotti have been experiencing the same thing recently,” said Vock. “Perhaps it was your coming again to us which has caused the return of the power we once knew?”
“Perhaps. Whatever the reason, we must seize this opportunity to gain full control of the humans.”
“Of course, we are at your disposal my lord,” said Vock. “Our brethren are waiting nearby and we shall assemble the other groups spread across the continent as soon as possible.” It was easy to relinquish his new authority over the Agonotti to his former lord, Lucin. Just being in his presence again was an intoxicatingly evil thrill. Events were changing so rapidly in their favor, that it just seemed right that he had returned to them. “I should inform you that there are rebels working against us on this planet, my lord. We have been working diligently to root them out, but they have proven very resourceful.”
“I’ve encountered them as well. Don’t worry, Vock, I’ve recently sent some new allies to flush out the prey for us. We should see them appearing very soon and we’ll be prepared to greet them properly this time.”
ASSAULT
Kale, Emil and Juli walked into the Sector city base library. There were not all that many people in the place. Half of the lighting was shut down and of the few people occupying chairs and couches; Kale thought most appeared to be sleeping. As the trio passed the attendant desk they saw that no one was even working behind the counter.
“Doesn’t look like this part of the base gets much use,” said Emil.
Kale made his way over to a group of computer displays stationed on long rows of tables. Juli sat down next to him.
“I’m going to look around a little,” said Emil as he walked past them.
Kale tapped the display and it responded by blinking on. A symbol for the base library appeared in color, but there was no keyboard to utilize.
“It’s probably voice activated,” posed Juli and she spoke a command to the display. “Show library database, please.”
The computer responded by changing screens to a catalog of possible selections and said, “Please, state or touch category.”
“Religious texts,” said Kale.
The screen changed again to another menu of categories. Many religious documents were listed that Kale did not recognize, except for the one he was interested in. “The Logostus,” said Kale and the computer responded again.
“What are you looking for specifically?” asked Juli.
“I’m not quite sure,” said Kale, “I would like to see something about this prophecy of the empty hand that Aija spoke of.”
The computer captured phrases from his statement again and the separate sixty six documents that comprised The Logostus were replaced by specific scriptural references to “prophecy”, “empty hand” and “Aija.”
This thing is a bit sensitive, thought Kale. He noticed that many of the references were from subheading books of The Logostus that he recognized and quite a few were simply the names of those prophets which had authored them. Under the reference for “empty hand” was the subheading title “Book of the Kingdom Two” and a verse reference with it. Kale tapped the screen to access it and the scripture appeared on the screen. He and Juli studied it carefully. Evidently it was the only reference to the prophecy in the entire Holy Book.
“It says, the fallen shall be taken and reserved in chains unto the great day of Elithias’ judgment, and also—“
The comput
er threatened to take phrases and shift the displayed information again. “Computer, touch interface only,” said Juli and then she continued reading the passage as Kale read along with her.
“—on Draconis the Mithrial sons shall fall in Sayir to the one with no weapon in his hand. The fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.”
“What is Sayir?” asked Kale.
“It’s a mountain, to the west of Sector City,” said Juli.
“If the Agonotti are these Mithrial sons, being referred to in the Logostus, then it looks like they are going to be destroyed at that mountain,” deduced Kale.
“The reference sounds a bit like prayer does them in, doesn’t it?” asked Juli.”
Kale tapped the scripture reference for “Aija” that appeared on the screen. The computer brought up several scriptures where the man’s name appeared along with a commentary reference that gave general information on the subject. Kale could quickly see from the commentary reference that the prophet they had come to know recently had this person as his namesake.
“This commentary says that Aija was a prophet during the time of Elithias, when he appeared on Castai,” said Kale. “Apparently this Aija was a forerunner to Elithias’ appearance in human form when he came to provide a pardon to mankind.”
