Annals of the Keepers - Rage

by Christiaan Hile

  The green glowing lines got closer as well.,

  Stepping from the darkened recess of the room was a large stone giant. A Glyphtern.

  It stopped before the light.

  Emerging next to the behemoth, out of the shadows were a dozen Xty warriors with lances.

  “Not good, Rels.”

  Kayasa got into a fighting stance. “What now, Human?”

  I had no idea, but we all were about to find out one way or the other.

  A figure moved from the darkness out behind the Glyphtern.

  It was our good ole friend, Emvel.

  “Surprised to see me?” Emvel asked with a grin.

  “No. I thought I could smell something foul.”

  Emvel bellowed a joyous laugh.

  Data Cell 46

  The planet was hot. It wasn’t oppressive heat like the desert planet Yoja, where the massive yellow sun blasted the surface with unrelenting waves of heat and unbearable radiation, but a steamy climate that bred damp misery and hostile flora. In short, it was uncomfortable.

  A hazy fog rose from the wet soil, soaked from the last downpour, as the sun beat down and evaporated the moisture, making the air thick and heavy.

  The dense jungle loomed in front of the Reaver teams.

  A veritable wall of towering trees, scrubs, and colorful vegetation was covered with tendrils of vines that radiated in every direction. Every plant surface was covered with spikes, knots, or barbs that oozed saps and other fluids, most laced with some form of poison. Everything looked like it would cut, slash, infect, or otherwise hamper movement in some excruciating manner. Such was nature’s ways of warning interlopers away.

  Kason’s feet sank several centimeters into the wet, loamy soil as he marched towards the edifice that towered over the tallest of trees, several kilometers in the distance.

  His fellow Reavers followed, past the cacophony of howls, shrieks, and rumblings of the jungle creatures. They pressed forward, unconcerned by the nascent threats from local wildlife, but keeping watchful eyes on the canopy of trees and rugged, thick undergrowth.

  His scanner had locked onto Jens Dryden’s signal while in low orbit aboard the Mercador. It was weak, the icon inside his heads-up display flickering in and out, but enough that it could be followed.

  Kason watched the signals from his scanner that tracked Jens’ signal, fearing he would lose it at any moment. Something was interfering with the signal. Three-dimensional readouts shifted and blurred. It didn’t make the information useless, but it was harder to process.

  No matter, thought Kason. Jens was still dead, but his body would be recovered to be interned in the Sacred Grove on Mydian.

  Any chance to rescue a Reaver was paramount, just as they had rescued Ramek from Sontar Jal. No Reaver would be left behind. That solemn promise was repeated in training but, in the realities of war, it was sometimes impossible to fulfill. This mission would not be one of those painful exceptions. The sacrifices of Shou Hassard and Nabil Vetter at the Montis conference still stung Kason’s memory with regret.

  ∞∞∞

  The smooth surface of the structure loomed over the jungle. The huge walls must have been over a hundred meters high and were covered by strange flora. Purple vines spread up and across the rocks like veins from the jungle that resented its intrusion.

  The HUD inside Kason’s helmet beeped, displaying the movements of his two Reaver teams.

  His Reaver Assault Suit was at maximum operating capacity. The nanite reserves were at one hundred percent. His assault rifle was functioning at optimum parameters. It had a manufacturing capacity which granted the weapon the capability to create and produce ammunition of various functions. The weapon would receive commands, requests for type of round, yield, sequence, and number. It was then created out of base elements suspended in a biochemical solution within the magazine and munition nanites, referred to as nano-sprew by the Reavers. The technology was a Human-Gashnee hybrid, had incredible and versatile destructive power, and was a perfect weapon in the hands of a Reaver.

  His pre-combat systems check complete, Kason stalked through the dense jungle growth towards his prey.

  Data CELL 47

  The door to the dark room opened.

  Shawna squinted her eyes as radiant light poured in.

  Madilay’s silhouette appeared in the door frame along with another. She was struggling against her Kryth captor.

  “Let her go!” Shawna yelled out.

  The Kryth guard threw Madilay to the floor inside of the small holding room.

  Screeching metal slammed behind the Kryth as he departed, sealing the room in darkness once again.

  The only light was the silver outline of the door.

  She could hear Madilay breathing heavy. “Madilay. Are you okay. What did they do to you?”

  Disoriented from the sudden light and just as sudden darkness, Shawna felt her way to her daughter.

  The young woman sat up and put her finger to Shawna’s pushed lips.

  After a few minutes of silence and blinking to clear her vision, the director was shocked to see Madilay’s cuffs on the floor.

  Madilay crawled over to her whispering, “I blocked the hole with mud. I also put a handful in the door lock.”

  Shawna shook her head in bewilderment.

  “What?” she hissed.

  “That’s why I was struggling there. I smashed mud I had in my palm against the three locking holes.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “I think I found a way out of here.”

  “How?”

  Madilay reached into her pocket and pulled out a pin-key.

  “Where did you get that?” Shawna inquired.

  “I took it off the guard. I think we can make the gate at night. There is a pass-device that hangs near the door. I’ll unlock you later. I’m going back and putting my cuffs on in case they come back. We’ll leave when they’re asleep.”

  Shawna reached up and kissed her on the forehead. “Excellent work, sweetheart.”

  “Thanks,” Madilay said as she crawled back to a corner, put her restraints on, and slumped back against the wall with her head down.

  Data Cell 48

  “The northeast corridor is blocked, Reaver Lead,” reported another Reaver team without preamble. “It’s beyond our ability to pass, sir.”

  “Corridors three, five, and seven are the same, sir,” Kercy reported.

  Kason noted the frustration in her voice. “It’s not something that surprises me, nor should it you. We expected this.”

  Kason formulated a few scenarios in his head.

  Both Alpha and Bravo Reaver teams were bottlenecked in a course that funneled them into a large central room in the center of the complex. The third Reaver team was outside the complex, surveying the surrounding jungle for possible threats. Communication had been lost after a series of explosions had collapsed and sealed the corridors as they had entered the structure.

  The trap had been sprung.

  Kason was not surprised. He had been suspecting the Kryth of using Jens Dryden’s signal as bait. Lintorth Sol knew that Reavers would always come for one of their own. Their daring rescue of Ramek from Sontar Jal was plain evidence of that.

  Lintorth Sar. Kason grinned as he corrected himself.

  Flexing his fingers sheathed inside his assault rifle, he keyed through various ammunition loads with three of his fingers, his HUD displaying his options and selections.

  “They were nice enough to invite us this time, brothers,” Kason said. He wasn’t disappointed. The rumbling laughter from the rest of his team and the second was full of mirth.

  Many Kryth had fallen before them. Numerous raids and infiltrations had been the death of thousands of Kryth. The Reavers knew they were a thorn in their side and savored the notoriety.

  Festooned with weapons, they were all poised for a fight.

  Kason and both teams of Reavers continued into the belly of the beast.

  ∞�
�∞

  “They proceed this way, sir,” Tslar said, looking up from the scanner’s screen. “The Humans move with bold caution. I believe the detonations alerted them to the trap.”

  “The Humans knew long before that,” Lintorth said to the Korin Shai. “The signal sent out was part of their armor and transmits the location of each Reaver. Sontar Jal was a fool, but he did gain some useful information when he had the Reaver in his custody.”

  “I surmise they must have quite a powerful sensor system to track such a weak signal,” Tslar added.

  “Correct, else they would not have come.”

  “Surely the Humans must know that their Reaver…is dead.”

  Lintorth’s hand caressed the haft of his spear as he thought for a few moments before responding. “They may hold a sense of hope that their comrade is still alive,” he responded, contemplating. “Some of them seem to have more optimism than others,” Lintorth explained to the unspoken query on Tslar’s face.

  “Optimism?” The Korin Shai’s hand chopped the air as one did when warding off spirits. “False hope makes a fool of oneself,” he declared.

  “That is true. But hope can also drive one to desperation and great fury,” Lintorth’s large fingers tapped a rhythm on his spear. “Hope can drive one forward when all other strengths – and options – have been exhausted.”

  Tslar paused to think about what Lintorth had said, then nodded his comprehension. He looked at the scanner screen once again. “The Humans near the central chamber.”

  “Then make ready.” Lintorth barked, eager to commence. “Helm, bring us to the eastern wall of the compound at seventy meters.”

  The Kryth gunship rose from its hiding place in the jungle. The engines lifted the ship as the thrusters hummed, the foliage above it cracked and broke as the ship rose out of the canopy, causing a cacophony of surprised yelps and screeches as the wildlife fled the vicinity.

  The gunship cleared the canopy, spun on its axis, and flew towards the horizon.

  ∞∞∞

  The four banks of of the Kryth gunship’s tri-cannons pulverized huge chunks of the stone edifice into raining pieces of rubble. The avalanche of debris and the pulsating roar of the ion cannons were deafening.

  Selato, leader of the third Reaver team outside the complex, was thankful he could dampen his audio input. The inhabitants of the jungles weren’t so lucky and had to endure the bombardment of energy blasts.

  He heard roars, screeches, and howls of terror from the jungle animals in the direct vicinity of the collapsing wall.

  “The Kryth sure are in a hurry, aren’t they?” Lasko commented, keeping his weapon trained on the gunship’s thruster ports, searching for an opportunity to engage a hostile target. “Figures they would sneak in and wait for us,” he said. “Doesn’t matter much though. Kason will kill them either way.”

  Selato found himself in agreement with the oldest member on the Reaver team. He assumed Kason’s team would be a little stealthier. He watched the sky, scanning for more Kryth vessels. Seeing none, he looked back at Lasko. “I suppose he will at that,” he agreed.

  “That one is cold,” Lasko continued, still scanning the Kryth gunship, waiting for permission to engage. “He hates the Kryth more than anyone I’ve seen.”

  “Reaver Lead, this is Reaver Charlie,” Selato relayed over the command channel. “Kryth gunship, Class Beta, breaching eastern wall with cannon fire.” A subchannel relayed multiple confirmations from the rest of his Reaver team. “Team reports no other hostiles.”

  Silence.

  “Reaver Lead, this is Reaver Charlie, come in.”

  No answer. Their comms with the Alpha and Bravo teams had been neutralized.

  “Now what?” Lasko asked.

  Selato thought for a moment. “We guard the LZ for possible evac and patrol the perimeter. Teams of two.”

  Lasko nodded and squatted next to him. The other Reavers broke off, two to guard the landing zone and two to patrol. Zooming in, Selato watched as gunship hovered outside the wall and the hole it had created with its barrage. It was now large enough to fly through. The whole Kryth ship entered the structure.

  ∞∞∞

  “Land now,” Lintorth ordered the younger Kryth at the helm. “Very competent gunnery, Jaogat,” he complimented the weapons officer. “Enough of this sulking, Tslar,” Lintorth continued, clapping the Korin Shai on the shoulder. “Let us go meet the Humans in battle.” Shouldering his way past the rest of the twenty-three Korin Shai detachment, carrying his spear in one hand and the leash of Avog in the other, Lintorth Sar rolled his thick neck and broad shoulders to loosen them as he disembarked from the gunship. The aythra let out a deep, guttural growl. “Soon, my friend. Soon.”

  Data CELL 49

  The star shown bright against the speckled black curtain of space from the Cerothnak command cruiser.

  Sontar Jal stood on the bridge of his ship looking out towards the Sol system. “What is the update on the device?”

  A seated officer next to him responded. “The Blight Apparatus is positioned around the host star.”

  “Good. Send communique to Generals Kar and Ti letting them know it is time to get their fleets ready. The trap is set.”

  “Yes, General.”

  The general smiled while taking in the stars, especially the one he’d come for.

  “Lintorth toys with their soldiers. A real general obliterates one’s enemy without hesitation. No matter. He will soon know his place…under my rule.”

  Sontar Jal approached the viewing window with an air of deviousness about his face.

  His white cape swayed behind him. “Also, have Captains Nron and Kolek begin their bombardment of the Human base camp on Earth. Make sure they know not to inflict too much damage. We just need to get their attention, cause panic, and draw their fleets in.”

  “What about the small orbiting station they have?” the officer inquired.

  Sontar smirked. “They can destroy that. What’s a couple more Human deaths before the grand finale? They will all die soon enough.”

  Data CELL 50

  “What’d they give you, Emvel? Eternal life or something?” I asked through clenched teeth.

  “Something like that,” he said with a sneer. “Guards, take their armaments away from them. They should have three knives, a Cryst gun, and one crude grenade.”

  That was about it.

  The Xty approached and removed what little items we had for weapons.

  I was not pleased. “Is Yren in on this?”

  Emvel laughed. “No. She thinks she’s helping the resistance. Now, come. We shall take you to the Insight.”

  “That’s where we want to go, Rels,” Mistuuk whispered so only I could hear.

  It looked like we were going where we intended to go after all.

  Although, considering the circumstances, I wasn’t so sure if this was a good thing.

  They began leading us out of the chamber and back into the large hall.

  There were three Xty to our front while the rest were behind us, including the stone giant.

  Emvel walked up alongside me. “Don’t worry about Yren. She will be joining us in a moment.”

  “Why did you wait this long to capture us? We showed right up on your doorstep?”

  “So many questions and so close to being in time, Rels. You see, it all must do with the future vison the Insight saw. It just wasn’t the right time to capture you, that’s all.”

  “They can see the future?” I asked.

  “Well, parts of it. You see, they can envision the major conjunction points throughout time, and some in between. They just can’t see the finer points or minor details; but, no matter, for you are here nonetheless. How splendid.” A grin split his face.

  I wanted to shatter those teeth with my fist. “So, the resistance was just to make sure we made it here in one piece?”

  “Exactly. We could take out the Xty resistance that broke off with Yren if we wanted to, but
the Insight saw that if they could believe they were fighting the good fight, all to obtain our goals, they would be valuable. Now, their insurgence is no longer needed.”

  “You killed them?” Kayasa asked.

  “Most of them. The ones that didn’t want to be reinstituted back into the main cell of the Xty were dealt with. You Vrae should know a thing or two about dealing with similar internal affairs. Am I correct, Kayasa?” he asked, his eyes blazing at her behind his broad smile.

  That seemed personal. I wonder where he was going with that comment.

  It wasn’t long before the other one joined in.

  Mistuuk sauntered up to us. “What about Yrontik?” he asked.

  “He was wise. He decided to come back into the cell and take up his position back with the temple sentinels, but not before going through some much-needed rehabilitation.”

  “You tortured him?” Mistuuk’s big eyes awaited the answer.

  “Rehabilitation – torture – call it what you want, Cuukzen. We have our methods here. The Insight has a way with the mind. Easy to influence.”

  “And what’s that?” I asked our wonderful host.

  “Loyalty, of course. Loyalty to the Gashnee above all else.”

  “Sounds like a fun club, Emvel.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. All of you will get the same opportunity to join our cell. It’s just mind over matter when you’re in the presence of the Insight.”

  “Can’t wait.”

  “Fortunately for you, we’re almost there,” he said.

  I saw the large guarded stone doors up ahead. There were two Glyphterns on opposite sides.

  I didn’t know what we were going to do, if anything.

  Then, it came to me.

  I ran.

  I bolted straight around the three guards in front of me and towards a side corridor.

  I knew I wouldn’t make it and they wouldn’t kill me, but that’s what I wanted.