As he walked out he heard the Alpha call to him repeatedly. "Critock! CRITOCK!" It didn't matter. Whatever this problem they were having was, it was not something he was eager to waste his time on. Was this just some kind of apology that they were finally getting around to giving him? Or something to make the high and mighty Qua'roti think they could still order him around after all this time? Regardless, he had work to do. Tomkari's arrival had threatened his contacts. He was going to have to find another section of space to work in, probably for another fifty cycles or so before people forgot his name again. He had just reached the outskirts of the orbs when he heard Qua'roti Alpha call to him again, but this time sounding more tired and defeated than he had ever heard him before.
"It's Pt'ron." Alpha's words caused Critock to come to a dead stop. His body went cold as a chill emanated from within. He had to have misheard. When he thought he could control himself, he turned his head.
"What did you say?"
"It's Pt'ron. Pt'ron is the madman on the planet."
Critock turned fully and began walking steadily back to Alpha. "No. No, that's not true. Pt'ron's dead. I froze him in an ice field that's almost as large as the empire. His body is not retrievable, that's why I'm where I am today." He stopped right back at Qua'roti Alpha's face, and Critock was sweating. "So you tell me again, what did you say?"
"There is no doubt, Critock. He lives, and on this planet." Critock stood shaking his head as Qua'roti Alpha began walking away, his back to the bounty hunter, and his hands clasped behind him. "The Katron Ice fields are vast, mostly unable to be breached, and they go on for light years. But they are subject to the laws of the universe like anything else. The portion of the ice fields that Pt'ron was in drew too close to a star's gravitational field, which sent him and a large portion of the crystals into deep space, and then through a charted wormhole. The other end of the wormhole brought him to a system with one populated planet, through at that time primitive even in comparison to today. Out of the fields, he thawed quickly, and hid his ship there." Alpha sighed. "All intelligence points to him having joined with one of the native population, and has been living there as one of them ever since, jumping from one body to the next."
Critock clenched his hands into fists. "So the historical items..."
Alpha nodded, and turned back to him. "The Shards. Two dormant shards that are preparing to come to life. If he is in possession of them when they wake, he will have unlimited powers. You know this better than anyone, Critock. That is why we called for you."
Critock grimaced, now knowing the truth. He had let Pt'ron live out of spite and anger. True, he had been his best friend, his partner throughout the academy, and his witness to the betrothal between himself and his beloved, now long since dead. His betrayal had been absolute, however, and while the universe thought that he had let Pt'ron live out of a kindness, he wanted nothing more than to see his former friend suffer forever for what he had caused and done. For that anger, he had cost his planet a victory and now risked igniting another great War of the Shards. "Destroy it." Critock whispered, the words difficult to get out.
"Excuse me?" Even the great Qua'roti Alpha thought he had to have misheard.
"Destroy it. Destroy the planet. The Military Corps can burn their atmosphere. Neither Pt'ron nor the shards can survive a firestorm that large."
Alpha shook his head. "That isn't our way." Critock started to speak but was cut off as the Alpha continued. "That isn't our way...Yet that was our first thought as well. We went to the Military Corps secretly with our findings. The awakening of the Shards give off ambient radiation that we can use to detect their approximate location, right down to what building they’re in. But we don't know exactly which humanoid that Pt'ron is inhabiting, nor do we know exactly where the Shards would be. We cannot invade without Pt'ron going into hiding until they become active, and then he will be stowed with their power. No invasion force we have can withstand a being with that kind of power." Alpha found the next parts difficult to say, Critock could tell that he was struggling. "And worse, if we plan a large scale offensive, certain...parties...would find out about it."
Critock shivered. "Pt'ron's mistress." He would not say her name.
But Qua'roti Alpha would. "The Mandragora." Critock grimaced again. "She hasn't made any major strikes against Marconian territories, or anywhere else. We actually haven't heard from her in quite some time."
"Maybe she's dead." Critock added, hopefully.
"A blessing to the universe, but more likely she's in search of Shards in a realm that does not concern us. May the Five protect us if she ever finds more of them. Regardless, she would certainly stake a claim if she caught word. So whatever had to be done had to be kept at the utmost secrecy."
"So burning the atmosphere..."
"Would solve one problem, but would create problems very close to as horrible. We cannot hide the strike, Critock. And burning the atmosphere of a sovereign unaffiliated planet would look bad enough, but when it is undeveloped and wholly unable to defend itself? The outer territories would revolt. The Empire would tear itself apart. Civil wars would ignite. The Marconian Empire would cease to exist in a matter of cycles. Trillions dead, starving. Who is to say what would be worse, Critock? A new war of the Shards, or the end of the Empire?"
Critock was silent. A choice between his worst fears and the annihilation of everything he knew. He knew the answer, but again, he had to ask. "Why me?"
"Despite all of this, the Military is going to send two missiles to strike at the planet. Within two of their days, they will strike at the exact locations of the activated Shards. If one hits, it will create a sizable explosion. If both do, then the world and it's six billion inhabitants will die in a storm of fire and death. But why you? Consider that we have two of that world's days to find Pt'ron."
"...He could be anyone. He could be anywhere."
"As I said, we know the Shards' approximate location. In or around a school for their adolescents, roughly seven to nine cycles of age. Pt'ron is likely one of these children. A perfect disguise that no one there or looking for him would suspect."
"If the intelligence is right."
"Monitoring the movements of the radiation being given off means there can be no doubt. While we are guessing he is in a child's form, it is also possible that he could be an instructor. And before you ask, wiping out the school would again likely ignite the same war that we are trying to avoid.”
"I wasn't going to suggest that! Better all of the planet than deliberately targeting children!" Critock was mildly offended at the accusation.
"So we have one real option to avoid the end of that world and the end of our Empire. It is to you, Critock, to correct your wrongs. You must go to the planet that they call 'Earth', to that school, and find Pt'ron and the Shards. Destroy him, destroy the Shards, and return home. For your valor, you shall return to Marconia a hero. Your rank will be reinstated, and your honor restored. And the First War of the Shards will finally end."
He didn't have to sweeten the deal, but Critock appreciated it all the same. He was sure he hadn't misjudged the Qua'roti, as throughout his history in dealings with the Religious leaders of the Marconian culture they had always been standoffish at best and typically only interested themselves in the common people when their goals aligned. This was one of those cases. The continued existence of the Qua'roti depended on the survival of the Marconian Empire. Critock doubted heavily that they cared one iota about the future of 'Earth'. In comparison to the Empire, in sheer terms of how many lives would be lost either way , it would be inappropriate to put one small primitive world first. But circumstances being what they were, and it meaning the return of Critock's honor, then there would no problem acting as one of the primitives.
But in truth, it was Pt'ron that was the reason for his choice. His one act so long ago had caused everything that had happened to him since, and while he still hated Pt'ron with all his being for what had transpired, he now wished
he would have fired the one shot that would have annihilated him and the Shards in one brilliant flash of light. Prophecies and Qua'roti and Shards be damned, he was finally going to have the chance to redeem himself, and prove to the galaxies once and for all that Critock was not a traitor!
Critock raised his head and looked Qua'roti Alpha in the eyes. With no hesitation, he simply said: "I'll do it."
Kyle snapped out of sleep in an instant. It wasn't a dream or a nightmare that had woke him, or really anything in particular. He rose from his bed as his eyes adjusted to the night, and stumbled through the hall to the bathroom. He moved as quietly as he could so as to not wake his father, who slept just down the hall. There was a momentary creak of the floorboards under his feet, but his father's steady breathing did not change. The light that suddenly came on by flicking the light switch in the bathroom temporarily blinded him, but he was able to do his normal business without really being able to see. Afterward, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. Dark circles under his eyes were a given, but the dried tears on his face from before he fell into sleep were an uncommon addition. The thoughts of the night before filled him, as well as the worries of the day ahead. It was now Wednesday, and only a few hours separated him from what he thought could be one of the worst days of his life. He sighed heavily, and moved back to his bedroom. As he fell back to sleep, he wished for a miracle, and prayed to a God he wasn't sure he believed in to help him out. There was no answer before he slept.
6
"Yes, you're coming with me." Tomkari was very confused, yet slightly honored as Critock explained the request that Qua'roti Alpha had agreed to. "I'm going to be one of them, and I'm going to have to act like one of them. That means I'm going to need someone there whispering in my ear the things I need to know."
"Well that's all well and good, but I'm not a spy! The Qua'roti gives me tasks, and I do them! This isn't part of what a tender does!"
"If this doesn't work, then there's no Marconian Empire, Tomk. There'll be no Qua'roti, and you're going to need a new line of work anyway. Might as well get a head start."
"No, I don't understand, why me? Surely there are other tenders, other soldiers..."
Critock smiled. Just a few minutes ago, it was him asking the same questions. The pair, Critock walking and Tomkari floating alongside, were being led by Qua'roti Beta, a slightly younger and absolutely silent member of the religious sect. After Alpha had finished, he had quietly spoken to his second in command, who had gestured for the two to follow. Leaving the Qua'roti chambers behind, they had moved deeper into the compound. As they moved, Tomkari was blindsided by the sudden demand. "You're coming with me because I neither know nor trust anyone else the Qua'roti have to offer. Anyone that Marconia or the Qua'roti themselves actually want to send is someone I don't want with me."
"But...I'm nothing. I was just doing a job. How do you know you can trust me?" There was no accusations or challenge in the wisp's words, just genuine questions, and Critock could detect a lack of self-confidence. He turned to face Tomkari, while the Beta continued moving.
"You're devoted to your beliefs as a soul, which I can respect. You're devoted to the Qua'roti, which typically isn't something I can really endorse, but you're sincere. And you're the first person in a hundred cycles that actually was excited to see me. I'm not looking for a spy, and I'm not looking for a soldier. I'm looking for someone to give me a hand that's not looking to make a name for themselves." Critock started to walk, and Tomkari followed. "You're not in any danger there, you can shift your wavelength to match my optics. I'm the only one that'll be able to see you. You'll just have to be quiet, if you can. Besides, I need to keep an eye on you if I'm going to get my ten thousand."
Tomkari sighed. "I should probably have told you..."
"I know, no money. I assumed I would have heard the Alpha say something about it to add to the pot. Nice bluff."
"No, there's money. I pay my debts. Just need a little time to get it out of my vault."
"Your debts?" Critock shook his head. "The ten grand is yours?"
"I needed to get you to the Qua'roti. You can see how important it was." The Beta nodded to the left, and then moved down a hallway. Critock walked faster and followed him, with Tomkari slightly behind.
"Well, I'm here now. Save your money, and come with me. I don't know a damn thing about this planet, and it looks like you're about to get an info dump." Critock pointed towards the door at the end of the hallway where the Beta had disappeared. In it was a small machine that neither Critock nor the beta could fit anything but their head into, surrounded by two souls and three female Qua'roti. Tomkari groaned as Critock continued. "You're going to be my eyes and ears of Earth. Makes sense they'd want to load you up before you go."
Tomkari shuddered. It wasn't the first time he had been in one of the machines that Critock had elegantly referred to as an info dump, and while it wasn't the worst sensation in the world, he would have preferred to never undergo the procedure again. Designed as a quick way to train soldiers on infrastructure and etiquette when visiting foreign worlds, the machine beamed an entire schools worth of education directly into the learning center of the brain. It was the only thing that could still give the soul a headache, and left him dazed for a time afterward. "Why can't you go through this?"
"Because I'm not going to convert myself until it's time. I'm going to need all the time and energy I can get to plan this out. You're staying in that form, so you're going to have to make yourself useful. Not like you can lift too much, so you get to be the little voice in my head."
Tomkari sighed as he moved ahead. Best to get this over with. As the soul entered the orb-shaped machine, and it's external white bulbs began to illuminate, Critock felt someone walk up behind him. He bristled defensively, even though here in the holdings he should be safer than anywhere else in the galaxy.
"Calm yourself, General." The older voice of Qua'roti Alpha sounded low and tired, but as he turned around Critock could see that the religious leader still had some energy to move around.
"You know I'm not a General any more, right? They took that away from me when everything happened."
"They took many things from you Critock, we are well aware. But things can be restored, even things we have removed ourselves." Alpha gestured and began to walk, and after a last look at the machine where Tomkari was currently being updated with the latest information the Marconian intelligence community had on Earth, Critock followed.
"Your tender is strong. When he's back you should give him a raise. Or do you even pay him?"
"Tomkari is a fine soul. One of the best we have. If the need was not so great we would not have lent him out to you. But he will be a good ally, and it is best not to be alone on such a task." Where they had gone now was only slightly lit, and there were no other workers or tenders around. The hallway became narrow, and while he couldn't make out exactly what was at the end of the hall from this distance, he could tell it was well lit. "But helpers are not all you will need. I doubt strongly that Pt'ron can be destroyed without a fight, let alone with the Shards to protect him. You will need the help of the Five."
Critock shook his head. "Ok, look, with as much respect as I can still muster, the Five aren't exactly around any more, and they haven't made themselves known for trillions of cycles. Even if I still believed in your bedtime stories, I don't think they're going to choose this fight to jump in."
Alpha wasn't effected by Critock's blasphemy. "The Five are always around, Critock. The Prophecies have made that clear." He paused for a scoffing noise from the bounty hunter. "What form they choose or how they will help you is what is not clear. But when the Shards are near, so too are their power." Critock, as well as all Marconians and those they had colonized or converted, knew all too well the unending sermons about the Five. A soldier, a doctor, a bodyguard, a nurse, and an engineer had created the Shards, according to the stories, to bring an end to suffering and hatred throughout a dying universe. With
the promise of the power the Shards provided, they had brought an end to their reality and had began the universe anew, creating the first world, Marconia.
"And how exactly is that going to help me?"
Qua'roti Alpha smiled, knowing that they were now near enough to see clearly what was illuminated at the far hallway. "Sometimes, it is necessary to help yourself, and the power of the Five will be shown through your actions."
Critock’s first impression of the item that lay before him on the pedestal was of familiarity. He had seen this before, felt it, used it. It had been a willing partner with him in battle and to be honest he was not sure if he could have accomplished half the things he had done without it. He knew the history of it, had memorized every word of every scripture that had mentioned it. He had always been struck by its shape and abilities and once he had earned it he had never felt more alive. He found his voice, but even saying its name he could not raise above a whisper. “The Sword of Kon.”
Qua’roti Alpha gave a sly smile. “The general finds his reverence. The weapon of the soldier. Crafted in a time long ago, for a fight long since past. For the defense of the Shards, for the defense of the Five. It’s been waiting for you, Critock.”
Critock spoke to Alpha without looking at him, though he was standing next to him. He simply could not take his eyes off of the sword. “You’re giving it to me?”
Alpha chuckled. “As before, lending. It is best to be prepared for any eventuality, and I’m sure that you will have no disagreement.” Indeed, There was no argument to come from Critock, who had been stunned into silence.
The Joining: The Saga of the Shards Book One (The Cycle of the Shards 1) Page 9
