The River of Time (The Shiva XIV Series Book 4)
Page 29
“Pei!” he shouted. “Hold off the drones as long as you can! I have an idea!” He then ran toward the Tirleni ship while swerving past random gunfire and thrown bodies. “Sterek!” he yelled into his com-link. “Open the hatch!”
The hatch door lowered, and Ayn ran into it. Jumping onto the bridge of the ship with his Viha in hand, he startled the crew, especially Lady Kiyana.
“Shiva Ayn!” she quickly addressed him with a bow. “What are you doing here?”
“I need one of those plasma-bikes. They don’t just work underwater. They fly, right?”
She looked confused, then nodded and said, “Yes, but… why?”
“I’ve got a plan to take down these monsters!”
“But they’re not monsters,” she replied with sad eyes.
“Tell that to them! Now, please, give me a bike!”
Sterek got up from his control-chair and said, “I’m remotely sending the bike to the hatch area. Go and you’ll find one waiting for you, Your Majesty.”
“Thanks, Sterek! Remind me to give you a medal of honor after this - another one!”
Sterek smiled as Ayn ran off toward the hatch.
“He doesn’t understand…” said Kiyana quietly. “They are Her children.”
Sighing, she sat down and watched as Ayn zoomed away from their ship and up toward the drone in front of them.
Armed with only his Viha, Ayn flew on his bike - right up next to the creature’s left eye. Carefully, he stood on the seat of his bike and aimed his Viha in between the drone’s bulging, dark-purple eyes. Focusing all his might on the plasma within him and Adin’s ancient sword, he thrust his Viha directly into its brain. Momentarily stunned, the monster swayed, and then plummeted toward the beach’s floor.
Soldiers nearby, Ohrian, Tah, and Krian alike, fled in panic to avoid being crushed by the weight of the giant squid-like monster. When the creature fell, everyone soon realized it was dead, and they loudly cheered across the beach.
Pei looked up at Ayn, who was still balancing on his bike, and smiled at him. Ayn smiled in return. There was no time for congratulations, however, since another drone was coming up from behind.
“Ayn! Look out!” yelled Reese. She saw the approaching drone faster than anyone else had, and so she threw her Viha as hard as she could at the spot between its eyes. Ayn turned around just in time to see the attacking drone stop short in its tracks. Once Reese’s sword had hit its target, the drone was done for, and fell backward into the ocean.
Ayn sat back down on his bike and said into his com-link, “Thanks. I owe you one, General Reese.”
She shook her head and replied, “You’re damned straight, Your Majesty. You owe me a new sword!”
Ayn was about to reply, but he noticed the remaining drones were now doing something strange. They seemed to be gathering around him in a circle. Were they taking their fallen brethren personally? Were they planning to attack Ayn all together?
“Sterek?” Said Ayn into his com-link. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, go ahead.”
“Why are the drones ignoring us? What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure,” replied Sterek. “Zin was able to temporarily control them, but he lost the link. However, they don’t seem to be under Vax’s control either. They seem like they’re reacting on their own to some kind of large sound wave that’s emanating from the depth of the ocean - about fifty feet below.”
“On their own? How is that possible?” Sputtered Ayn. “Aren’t they artificial intelligence?”
“I thought they were, but… we can’t be completely certain until we study them. As soon as I have more information, Your Majesty, I’ll alert you immediately.”
“You must leave now, my king,” Zasaban interrupted, speaking directly into Ayn’s mind. “I sense Her coming… and you aren’t ready.”
“Huh?” said Ayn as he flew around on his bike, trying his best to find a way out of the circle of drones around him.
“They are calling Her,” said Zasaban. “Ayn, you have to get out of there - now!”
“Alright! I’m going!” he replied as he flew upwards and over their giant, black bodies. As Ayn flew back toward the beach, he saw from overhead that Zasaban was standing with Pei and Reese, and the rest of the allied soldiers in a semi-circle, keeping the thousands of Ohrian soldiers away from the Tirleni ship. They were outnumbered now that the drones seemed uninterested in attacking those on land, and Ayn knew he had to help them win the fight.
He flew his bike as fast as he could and landed on the sand, skidding into it messily.
“Ayn!” yelled Pei. “These Ohrian bastards are everywhere! And they’ve got armor made of Linthil! Our own Linthil swords aren’t breaking through it!”
“Hold on!” shouted Ayn as he jumped up from the sand. “I’m on my way!”
“No!” said Pei. “Stay back! Go somewhere safe! Zasaban! Take him out of here and-”
Unable to hear the end of Pei’s sentence, Ayn assumed the com-link went dead for some reason. Running to reach them on the beach, he was surprised to see a flash of bright light, which emanated a rainbow prism of color. That has to be from Zas! thought Ayn. He’s fighting the Ohrians off! We will win this battle yet! he reassured himself as he ran.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t from Zasaban. He had used as much energy as he could fighting the drones, and all he could now do was fight with a sword like the rest of the soldiers. In reality, the prism of light was coming from a new type of Ohrian sound-gun that had been specifically created to fight the Tirleni. Using a pulsating frequency that was made to weaken the Tirleni senses, the Ohrians were able to push through their enemy’s stronghold.
Ayn began slashing with his sword from his side of the battle and took down as many Ohrians as he could. Their armor was indeed hard, but not impossible to penetrate. After about the twentieth soldier he fought, Ayn suddenly felt surprisingly ill. Losing his balance, he swayed and got slashed on his left arm from an Ohrian soldier’s blade. He quickly fell to his knees. What the hell is happening to me? he silently asked.
“You’re taking in too much plasma from your sword,” said Zasaban, who helped Ayn to his feet. “The same thing happened to Adin. But, as I told you, we have a bigger problem. Osha is coming, Ayn, and you can’t be like this when you face her.”
Throwing Ayn over his shoulder, Zasaban headed for the safety of a large rock that stood near the shore. “Drink, Your Majesty,” he said as he gave Ayn a bottle of water. While Ayn drank from the bottle, his mind raced with a vision from the past: Adin was tired, blood-soaked, and miserable. He was dragging his Viha on the ground, crying to the heavens for guidance.
Watching Zasaban tend to his arm’s wound, he said, “I… Adin… gave this Viha up for a reason, didn’t he, Zas?”
“Yes, Ayn,” replied Zasaban, sealing the large cut with a small burning fire that came from his forefinger. “If I recall, you hated the pain and death that the sword’s energy took from its victims. That kind of plasma filled you with remorse, so you left it behind for a life of compassion and wisdom.”
“But… that’s why I wasn’t able to save anyone! That’s why I was murdered!”
“Hush, Ayn, you will save everyone now, and you won’t need your Viha to do it. You’ll see.”
Shaking his head, Ayn felt like bursting into tears.
“Just rest,” cooed Zasaban. “When my mother comes, you will need all your soul’s strength.”
“You won’t leave me, will you, Zas? Siya?”
“No, my beloved king, I will never leave you.”
“Thank you, my friend,” said Ayn as he closed his eyes, praying that Pei and Reese would be able to fend for themselves for the time being.
“We can’t hold them off much longer, Ayn! Save yourself!” screamed Pei as he hacked and slashed at the attacking Ohrians with his Viha. “Damn it, he can’t hear me!” he said, looking at Reese who was fighting just as fiercely by his side.
“He’ll be fine!” she yelled as she finally cut through an Ohrian soldier’s armor, stabbing her enemy in the chest. “And so will we! Don’t give up, General!”
Pei looked at her and felt an overwhelming rush of love. He hadn’t gotten over her, and he knew it. “If we survive this,” he yelled, “will you have my baby?”
“WHAT?!”
“Don’t get distracted, General,” yelled Pei. “Just think it over.”
“You’re crazy!” she shouted in a laugh, “But sure! It’s a deal!”
Pei laughed as well, though he was actually quite serious about his offer. Feeling confident and full of love for the strong woman by his side, Pei slashed and twirled and slashed again. He then sliced deep into the armor of his opponent and struck him down.
“Their armor can indeed be penetrated by our swords!” he yelled to his troop! “Cut them to pieces!”
Reese smirked at his words, amused at how such a mild-mannered priest had turned into a rugged, virile warrior. If he really does want to give me a child, she thought, I wouldn’t hesitate.
She turned to look at Pei, planning to give him a knowing wink, but was horrified by what she saw coming up to him from his blind spot to the side. It wasn’t an Ohrian, nor was it even alive. It was a creature she couldn’t explain: dead, yet moving, and with seaweed coming out of its gaping, frothing mouth.
“Pei!” she yelled! “Look out!”
It was too late, unfortunately. The bizarre, undead man stabbed Pei’s side with a large fish-hook.
As Pei groaned in agony, rage swelled up in Reese’s heart. She quickly slashed through the Ohrian soldier in front of her, then rushed to Pei as he fell down onto the sand. Catching him, she gently lowered him down while his blood poured freely from the large gash on his side.
“It stings, Reese! It’s unnatural!” he yelped.
“Hold on, my dear General,” she lovingly spoke into his ear. “I’ll get you to the ship to be treated. Just hang on for me, honey.”
Ripping off a strand of her arm-band, she held it against his skin, securing it firmly to his wound. Getting up, she looked at the undead man and growled, “I don’t care if you’re the ocean’s own devil, you’re going to pay for hurting the greatest man I’ve ever known!” Thrusting with her Viha, she jumped and yelled, “Die, you freak!”
Grabbing her sword without fear of being cut, the undead man growled and gurgled, sounding as though he were underwater.
“Wait!” yelled Sterek through the com-link he had just fixed. “Don’t let that man touch you, Reese! I’m getting bizarre readings from him - he’s somehow covered in Undaniasis! And there are others like him coming from the shore, headed your way!”
“Undaniasis?!” she yelled as she struggled to yank back her sword from the undead man’s clutches. Finally freeing her Viha, she took a step backward and looked ahead of her. Sterek was right; about a hundred undead creatures were approaching from the shore. She stood in front of Pei and took a protective stance, prepared to guard him with her life.
As the undead army came at the soldiers on the beach, Reese watched them attack both Ohrian and her allies alike. No one was safe.
The Ohrians, realizing they now had a new and more threatening enemy, ran up toward the Tirleni ship and found themselves side-by-side with Tah and Lirhan soldiers. Reese found it humorous, but she was too worried about Pei to laugh.
“Sterek!” she yelled. “This is getting serious. I need a medic and a stretcher for Pei - RIGHT NOW!”
“Damn it,” said Sterek, “I’ve been trying to fix the shielding of our ship, but I’m here. I’ll get you help right away!”
Not sure who else to ask, Sterek turned to Lady Kiyana who was sitting, hunched over, looking terribly sick. “My Lady, I’m sorry, I know the sound waves of the drones are affecting you, but we need medics to help the wounded out there.”
She looked at Sterek, pale and withered, and said, “I am the only healer on board.” Slowly, she got up and took the first-aid box off the wall, then headed for the hatch doors. “I’ll help Pei and the others. You stay here, Sterek, and fix the shielding at all costs. This ship is the Tirleni’s last vessel, and the people on board are the remaining survivors of our hunted race.”
“I understand,” said Sterek. “But I can’t let you go alone.” Putting the ship on standby, he grabbed his Viha and helped her through the hatch area.
“But, I…” Kiyana muttered.
“With all due respect,” said Sterek, “you are not my queen, and I am in charge of this vessel right now.” Throwing a folded stretcher over his shoulder, he aimed his plasma-gun with his remaining hand, then opened the hatch door with his elbow. “Let’s get Pei!” he commanded, leading her out into the battle.
The Tirleni ship was resting, cloaked by the forested part of the beach, so they used the other parked bike to reach the heart of the fighting. However, it wasn’t hard to spot where Reese was in the battle. Protecting Pei, she stood out with her red hair flying and her Viha hacking off various heads and limbs of the undead. Even the Ohrian soldiers kept a distance from her as they now fought alongside the Tah and Lirhan against a greater common enemy.
“There he is!” shouted Kiyana, pointing to Pei who was lying on the ground, moaning on his side.
“He has some strange form of Undaniasis, so be careful,” said Sterek while shooting at the undead creatures who approached them. “Reese?” He said into his com-link.“ We’re almost there. Hold on.”
“I’m holding!” she yelled as she sliced off yet another head. “But Pei isn’t doing so well!”
Shooting a plasma-gun with his left hand and swinging his Viha with his right, Sterek came to Reese’s aid, allowing Kiyana to rush to Pei’s side. She took out her medic’s kit and looked at his wound. It was yellow and blue, with blood and pus oozing out. She felt his head, and knew he had a fever. “Pei, please hold on,” she said as she placed a cooling gel-pack on his head. She then took out a bandage and covered his wound. “Sterek!” she shouted. “We need to get him to the ship!”
Busy with the fact that the undead creatures’ limbs had the annoying habit of re-connecting themselves, Sterek shook his head, then shouted, “I’ve got this, Reese! Get Pei on the stretcher, and help Kiyana heal him!”
“Are you sure?” replied Reese. Sterek nodded while fighting with all his might alongside the mix of Tah, Lirhan, Tirleni, and Ohrian soldiers around him. “Just go! I’m right behind you!” he yelled.
Reese nodded, then grabbed Pei and put him on the stretcher. “Here,” she said, handing Kiyana her gun. “Aim for their brains,” she added.
Kiyana looked like she might empty her stomach. Regardless, she held the gun with a shaking hand and aimed ahead of her while Reese dragged Pei across the sand.
Sterek wasn’t far behind, trying his best to protect Kiyana and his generals. As they reached near the bike, Reese struggled to pick Pei up from the stretcher. Kiyana noticed, leaning in to help, and together, they slumped him onto the seat.
Just then, Sterek saw one of the creatures do something shocking. It grabbed the neck of an Ohrian soldier, squeezing the life out of him. In a matter of seconds, the Ohrian came back to life, appearing like one of the undead creatures as well. No wonder we can’t make a dent in their numbers! he thought. They’re multiplying! I don’t understand it. This isn’t scientifically possible!
Before Sterek had time to think about it, he saw one of the undead attacking Reese as she hopped onto the bike. “Reese!” he yelled as he threw his Viha into the head of the creature, which then fell forward onto Reese.
“Gross!” she said with a grimace. Shoving the undead person away, she started up the bike and zoomed off toward the Tirleni ship. Sterek breathed a sigh of relief, but only for a moment before he felt a sharp, stinging pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a large hook piercing through his heart.
I’m sorry, Fola, he thought before falling to his knees. I hope you can forgive me.
--
Smirking, he replied, “Because this isn’t your fight. Plus, I can pay you far more than that Deiusian fool you have for a king. I know he doesn’t give much reward for his Tah warriors. Come work for me, General Fola, and I will give you a life of luxury beyond what any Sirini has ever known.”
Fola smiled, then gave a slight laugh. “Is that what you think Sirini warriors care about? Money? Ayn is not the fool. You are!”
About to pull the trigger, she heard Miara scream at something behind them, causing her to shoot the crystalline wall instead of her target.
“Lod Enra!” shouted Miara as she bowed low. “Your Majesty!”
Stunned and confused, Vax looked behind his daughter and saw the visage of the king he thought he had killed. The man even wore the green and blue robes from when the king ruled at the palace, though they were now torn and covered in bits of seaweed.
“What in the heavens?!” cried Vax with a gasp. “You died! This can’t be! Guards! We have an illegal clone on the roof! Come at once, and seize him!”
“I am not a clone,” gurgled Lod Enra. Looking extra pale with patches of skin missing from his forehead, the previous king of Ohr looked like he had been rotting in the ocean for days. It disgusted, but intrigued everyone who saw him.
“No, Kurin, you see… I am Osha’s chosen,” he added, “and I’ve been granted new life so that I can fulfill one last wish before she destroys this world.”
“Osha?” Said Vax with a nervous grin. “So, you’ve finally become a believer.”
“Oh, yes,” said Lod Enra as he slowly walked toward Vax, pushing the prime minister back against the roof’s ledge. “I am more than that, however. I am one of her chosen - a child of hers now - and she let me have the chance to do one thing more. I will kill you, Kurin Vax, the way you killed me. It is your destiny.”
“No!” Yelled Vax, backing into the ledge. “Osha will forgive me! She must see all that I’ve done in her honor!”