by Nyk Nova
“Firing!” Lyra said as she squeezed a trigger.
Nothing happened.
“My friends, whatever the plan, might I suggest a new one,” Roland said.
Kade looked down at Roland who was pointing to the ABU, its guns no longer turned upward at the aerial attacker. It was turning its sights to them.
“Lyra!”Kade yelled.
“Firing left guns!”
The left side weapons spun, finally firing. The other pilot strafed out of the way and returned fire. Roland ducked behind one of the non-functioning legs for cover while Kade covered his head. A futile effort in the face of their opponent.
The Vesper Haste was nowhere to be seen. Whatever Tare’s plan had been, it had left them alone, again, facing an impossible challenge.
Lyra tried following the mobile ABU. She fired off rounds at it, keeping themselves just off target.
Finally, a series of shots hit one of the shoulders, taking out the right side weapons. The playing field felt a little more even with both machines only having one side of weaponry.
“Shoulder rockets?” Lyra asked.
“No. This is a no kill target.”
The damaged ABU maintained a steady stream of fire, allowing for little return fire from the fortress guardian which had taken to the air.
Lyra sighted in on the right side but instead of the shoulder, she shot at the crook of the ABU’s elbow. The effect was the same, taking out the gatling guns.
The fortress guard dropped to the ground, still fully mobile but without guns or rockets.
“Well done,” Kade said. “I saw it fire off all its rocket stores, too. We should be able to make a run for it.”
“Then let us make our way into the fortress,” Roland said.
The familiar sound of the Vesper Haste broke through the air. Kade looked up to see the ship traveling toward them, already firing its guns at the weaponless ABU.
Sparks flew off the back of the armored machine as Kade tried to wave the ship off. There was no need to attack anymore.
“Kade!” Lyra yelled.
In his distracted state, the general did not see the fortress guard ABUs core laser as it ignited. There was no time for anything and the blue beam of the weapon shot forward, striking Kade and punching him off the ABU.
As Roland dropped down to tend to Kade, the last of the fortress guards lit up in a brilliant flash before exploding into countless pieces. Kade never saw the pilot jump out before the world went dark.
25
Roland and Lyra sat on the floor of the Vesper Haste as it traveled upward and off planet. Lyra rubbed at her sore shoulder as the ship’s medic fixed a sling around her head. Roland looked over himself for any injuries that went unnoticed in all the excitement.
The medic offered her services but Roland waved her off. Anything short of mortal injury was just another scar. For him, such was a reminder of what he truly was.
They both looked at Kade who laid on the floor, his head rocking back and forth as he entered and exited consciousness. The hole in his stomach did not bleed, cauterized by the laser blast. It kept infection from being of great concern but there was still a hole in him and the medic could only do so much to keep him alive until they could get him to proper facilities.
“I’ve been thinking,” Lyra whispered to Roland. “We had every opportunity to warn our people on Tagle.”
“We must trust our general,” Roland told her.
“We don’t even know him.”
“I knew his father.”
“I’m sorry, Roland, that’s not enough for me.” She winced at her pain. “I understand there’s a plan of some sort. But following him has only caused the death of three of our own. He knew those ABUs were there and still he had us face them head on.”
“Speak your mind, Lyra.”
“What if—And I’m not saying this is the case— but what if he’s really switched sides?”
“This quickly?”
“He killed the Emperor. Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Miniaturization is…I’ve never seen it work. Even when invading the Administration Guild’s files. If he’s really switched sides and we see this through, we’ll be branded as traitors.”
“Did our banishment not brand us as such, already? Calm your mind. We do not yet know what it is we’re seeing through.”
“Isn’t it obvious? Jer’ren’s takeover of Osceria.”
“Perhaps to the Empress, that is exactly what this is supposed to be. But for Kade…”
The two looked on as medics tended to Kade’s wound.
His eyes opened and closed as Kade fought to stay awake. His eyes widened upon hearing words like ‘lost,’ or ’dying’ and his jaw tightened at the phrase ‘Oscerian trash’. He tried to rise but was pushed back down with more force than was customary from someone trying to save his life. He’d never been in a Lugazian hospital and had no interest in the experience. Trusting them with his life was not high on his list of values.
“Well done,” Tare said, looking down at Kade. “You’ll forgive my lack of faith in trusting you to handle things on your own.”
“How did you find us?” Lyra asked.
“Simple trackers in your uniforms,” Tare told her. “After all, you are assets of Lugaz are you not? We take great pains to make sure such things are well looked after. And I have to say, good shooting on taking out that ABU.”
“I didn’t do that!” Lyra yelled, trying to rise to her feet. One of the medics pushed her back down, injecting a syringe into her neck. She turned to Roland who received the same.
“What was that?” Roland demanded.
“You’ll want to stay seated for a moment longer. We’re about to start the Wave Engine. And you’re right. That was me. It has only been a few days since I’d spilled Oscerian blood. It’s not a feeling one loses.” His smile was sinister and repulsive. It was the last thing either of them saw before succumbing to unconsciousness.
“Wave Engine igniting,” the pilot called to the back. “In three…Two…One. Ignite.”
Kade looked on as the front of the ship blasted away from him much the same way his feet did. His eyes crossed but not before he saw a blurry shape step up to Tare. It looked as though whoever it was had handed the Lugaz general something.
“Well done. I knew we could count on you.” Kade’s ears caught up to Tare’s words.
“Just remember—” The voice was unfamiliar in Kade’s haze.
“We keep our promises.”
The rest of Kade’s vision stretched out just before the world turned dark again.
26
The Oscerian sky was clear, only the twin mini suns hung in the air, shining their light on to the copper fields of grass. Each blade reflected the sunlight in cross shaped diamonds.
The breeze tousled the green leaves, making them rub together. It was a satisfying sound. One that was rivaled only by the voice next to him.
Korren’Tor Lorenth, his father sat with his arms on his knees, watching the same scene that Kade watched.
“It is not just your home, son. It is all our home. And it must be guarded.”
“But why do we have to fight?” Kade asked.
Korren sat in silence for a long time, pondering the right answer to his son’s question.
“I wish I had a good answer for you, Kade. The truth is, we do not have to fight. We could lay our weapons down and let our enemies in. But then what?”
“Couldn’t we be friends with Lugaz?”
“I have always hoped but we have warred with them so often, I fear there is no other way to peace except…” Korren’s thought trailed off.
“What is it father? Except what?”
“You have maintained your studies in combat. You will make a fine soldier one day, Kade. But tell me; what do you know about Unification?”
“Father!” Kade burst up, his hand out. The pain from his wound was excruciating and the very hand that reached out, quickly g
rasped his bandaged wound. He fell back in the bed, its white dressing had flecks of red on it. Stains from where his blood seeped through.
“You must not move about, my dear,” Ler’ren said from the side of the bed. “The surgeon did all he could.”
“What? Where am—”
“Your wound had been cauterized. The burns had to be removed, letting the blood freely flow again.”
Kade glanced around at his surroundings. The room was large with dark colors and bright lights. It wasn’t at all what he would have expected to see in the dreary stone cities of Lugaz. The bed had four posts on it and a white and purple silk cover held between them.
“Where am I?” Kade asked.
“You’re in my chamber.”
“You’re Jer’ren’s daughter.”
“Now you are reminding me of that truth?” She said it both playfully and hurt. As though it was something she regretted. Her hand was warm as it touched his head, easing him back to the softness of the pillow.
“Why am I here?”
“Mother says I am to practice magics if I am to one day rule Lugaz. She has forbidden me to further my study of aggressive spells so I am studying the healing arts.” She hovered her hand over his wound and a white glow came from it. The glow was faint and did not extend very far from her hand. “How does that feel?”
“It tingles. What is it?”
“A numbing spell. To help with the pain. It will be some time before I am able to heal you completely. Until then, this will have to do, darling.”
“Darling?”
The glow from her hand stopped and she rose from the bed. “Perhaps that was too forward of me.” Ler’ren walked to a wardrobe against the stone wall. “I have read as much of you as I can, Kade’Tor Lorenth. Your strategies in combat are very direct. It is as though you wish to be seen by your enemy. You are very forward in attaining what you want.”
“Is that what this is?” Kade asked, trying to lean on his side. Without Ler’ren’s magic, the pain was too great and he instantly fell back to the pillow. “You trying to attain what you want?”
“Would you deny me?”
“You’re Lugazian.”
“You hurl the word like an insult, Oscerian.” Her words had a bite to them as revenge for his slanderous use of Lugaz.
Kade sighed. There was no one trying to kill him at the moment and so far she’d only attempted to help him. “My apologies. I am not used to whatever this is—”
“Do you not have kindness on Osceria?”
“What? No, of course we do. I just wasn’t expecting it from a…”
“Lugazian.”
On the battle field there was no reason to feel shame for the derogatory way in which either side spoke to one another. Words meant little and had even less repercussions when laser fire was passing overhead. But in his new surroundings, he was being shown care by one who was traditionally his enemy. And a greater one at that, as Ler’ren was the daughter of the Empress.
She opened the wardrobe and pulled out a black and purple soldier’s uniform. “I conjured this one myself. I hope it fits.” She laid the clothing on the foot of the bed.
Kade stared at it. It wasn’t something he was at all prepared for. There was a fear that as soon as he put it on, he was fully committed to Jer’ren and the takeover of his people. An act he was still trying to avoid.
Ler’ren sat back on the bed and set again to providing him relief from the pain. His eyes went from the glow in her hand to her eyes. They locked for a moment and in that brief amount of time, Kade thought he felt something. A pull of some sort. She averted her eyes, trying to hide her interest. It might have worked if her sly smile had not given her away.
“Why are you helping me in this way?” He asked, trying very hard not to sound accusatory.
“You fight for our side, now. I am merely helping a fellow Lugazian.”
“I am not Lugazian.”
“What if you were?”
Kade shook his head. “I was born on Osceria. I will always be Oscerian.”
“What if you could be both? At the very least be tied to one who is both?”
“You talk about a myth that no one on either planet wants. Unification will never happen.” Kade’s eyes dropped back to his wound. “Not unless the fighting stops.”
“Unification is the way to end the fighting,” Ler’ren said with hope in her words. “It is the only way.”
“Why does Lugaz hate us?” Kade asked.
The glow from Ler’ren’s hand stopped. “Is that what you’ve been taught? What your elders have always told you? Were you not there when mother pronounced her love for the scarred one? Could it be that Osceria hates us?”
“Osceria doesn’t attack Lugaz?”
“No, it only readies neutral planets for conflict, placing armies and weapons in places that have no hand in our conflict. But through Unification, we can bring our worlds together. No more attacks. No more war. Isn’t that a goal worth pursuing?” She leaned into him.
Kade’s pulse quickened and his hands reached for her. There was a light inside her that was familiar. Something that seemed impossible on Lugaz.
A sudden warping of the space in her room snapped Kade from the moment. Ler’ren turned to see Epok appear in her room. The sorcerer took one look at the two of them in her bed and forced a smile. One that hid his disdain at the sight.
“How dare you enter my chamber unannounced and without permission!” Ler’ren said, her hand lighting into the faded green flame.
“Now, now. You would not wish to go against Our Lady’s wishes. Aggression will not be tolerated,” Epok said.
“An intruder comes into my private space and you think I will not be aggressive?” She launched from her bed and made a line straight for the sorcerer. “Mother will have your head when she hears of your affront!”
“You,” Kade said, halting Ler’ren from what he considered a dire mistake on her part. Her magic was not strong enough to use against Epok. Kade has seen magic users. Many in the Guild on Osceria wore similar to what Epok wore. It was more than just a robe. The garb was a sign of hierarchy. Those who wore it were of higher degree than those who did not. And while he did not know the extent of Epok’s ability, he did know— by her own admission— that Ler’ren was still a student.
“You suggested to Jer’ren,” Kade tried sit up. This time the pain relief lasted longer. “Told her to send us on a mission. You knew it was the Spirit Ignition Stone. Why does she want it?”
Epok laughed. “I do not answer to you, Oscerian trash.”
“Appease his inquiry, sorcerer,” Ler’ren demanded.
Epok stared at her for a moment then relented. “Of course. Anything for the daughter of my empress. She seeks the stone to bring her ultimate victory over Osceria.”
“It won’t be enough,” Kade said.
“Do you speak with the pride of your people or is there more to your words? How well do you know your history, Kade’Tor Lorenth?”
“The stone is worthless without the sword. And no one knows where it is. Not even Dom Argus knew.”
“Then you shall simply have to be content in what little knowledge of hidden artifacts you do have, won’t you?”
“What does that mean?”
“Your questions keep me from my empress,” Epok said. “Ler’ren, your presence is requested by the Empress.”
Ler’ren glared at Epok then turned and softened as her eyes met Kade’s. “You will wait for me?” There was such a caring in her voice. More than just mere concern for an injured patient.
Kade forced a smile as the pain returned.
She turned back to Epok. “Stay out of my room, Epok.”
He bowed. “Of course.”
A portal opened in the same space as before with Epok beckoning her to enter it. Ler’ren stepped around and made her way to the door, uninterested in traveling with him.
As the door closed, Epok looked back at Kade. “I do not know what your i
ntentions with her are, Oscerian. But know this, should you sully her with your filth, I will eviscerate you in ways that no war field ever could.”
Kade had no retort. He also had no doubts that the sorcerer could do as promised. The two only stared at each other in a silent battle of wills before Epok smiled. They both knew who had the upper hand in that instance.
Epok stepped through the portal, disappearing to the other side and leaving Kade alone.
The general powered through the pain and reached for the uniform. The black top had purple shoulders and front pockets But there was something different about it. Something extra. A sight that actually made him smile.
From the right shoulder to the left hip was a white and gold sash. It was the color of Osceria.
Epok’s open hand slammed against the wall outside of Ler’ren’s chamber. “He dares look at her in that lecherous way.” His other hand balled into a fist, fingernails digging into the soft flesh and drawing blood that dripped to the floor. “None may touch you, Ler’ren. You are reserved only for me.”
27
“Send a first wave to Rearlon,” Pan said. “If they do not comply within a day of arrival, start sweeping their cities. I want that planet under Oscerian jurisdiction.”
“Rearlon is a neutral planet, Emperor Temporea,” an advisor said. “One which we have excellent trade dealings with. You are ordering an invasion force.”
“Trade dealings imply permissions, Advisor Flint. Permissions that take time to allow. If we want our people to be cared for in the best of ways, we need access to certain resources sooner than later.” Pan said, trying to keep his temper down. He didn’t like being questioned by those who were subordinate to the Emperor. “Unless someone knows of a faster solution?” Pan glanced around the room, waiting for an answer.
His advisors looked at one another, concerned. The new bearer of the Mantle was forming plans much faster than they were comfortable with. Plans that had consequences no stable Emperor would demand much less enact.
“Send the first wave, then.” Pan looked back down at the data feed on the war room table. The information was coming in at an alarming rate. It was more than he had bargained for. Certification requests for public meetings. Complaints from both Guilds about each other and the hold up of certain spells and technologies. It was all becoming too much, too soon. “Is it always like this?” Pan muttered.
