by Ross Buzzell
Konner climbs to his knees as the dizziness from the blow to the back of the head wears off. His vision slowly returns just in time to see two boots, one from each twin, soaring toward his face. Konner hears the ‘crack’ of his own skull followed by a ringing in his ears as his head is whipped backward from the powerful kicks. Shattering pain radiates throughout his entire head as the prince slides backward before coming to a violent stop as he slams into a tree. Konner tries to right himself as quickly as he can; his blurred vision makes it difficult. Through vision blurred by both the stun of the kick and the sting of blood as it drips into his eyes Konner sees two blurry outlines charging him. Offense is out of the question. Between these two and being weaponless, getting back up at this instant would surely kill him. Without clear vision his speed would do him no good as he could not perceive the world around him, Tal and Fi get closer. As the ringing in his ears subsides, he hears the battle roar of the twins as they move in for the kill. Konner opens up his left hand, immediately an azure blue field of energy forms around him and not a moment too soon. Milliseconds after the shield closes, the muffled ‘clang’ of Tal’lak and Fi’rans’ weapons echoes around Konner.
“Shield integrity, 12%. Energy stores at 25%.”
“It’ll only hold out for one or two more hits. That’ll be enough.” Konner thinks to himself as his vision gradually returns to normal. They slam their weapons into the shielding one more time causing it to both flair and crack. Konner shakes off the kick to the face as his vision returns; he wipes the blood from his brow and sees his weapon behind the attacking twins.
“Shield and energy level failure imminent.”
Konner’s bracer informs him. Standing up the prince puts out his hand and focuses on the piece of him left at the far end of the ravaged battle field. Konner concentrates on the hilted weapon. Quickly it flies off the ground and begins to soar to its owner’s hand. Konner looks at Tal’lak as a wicked grin forms on his lips. She and her brother swing one last time and shatter Konner’s shield. Tal’lak moves in, mace held high, before Konner moves his wrist toward her. The soaring cylinder piece of Energynium finds its mark in the same place she had struck Konner. The weapon hits her with such force; Tal’lak is thrown forward and slams into the same tree Konner was pinned to. She falls to the ground unconscious. There is no time to relish that tiny victory for Fi’Ran’s axe slices through the air aimed at Konner’s head. The soldier ducks and rolls under the attack. He grabs his weapon before it hits the ground and attempts to ignite it. Nothing only a slight fizzle of azure blue sparks. With the energy reserves in his bracer so low without tapping into his own energy, which would most likely kill him, the weapon would not ignite. Fi’ran pauses for a second; he smiles as he notices the lack of energy weapon.
“You’re out. Goodbye, false king.”
Fi’Ran charges Konner and begins a relentless torrent of strikes with his axe, fluidly mixed with kicks and punches. Konner dodges each attack with unparalleled grace and delivers a number of punches into Fi’Ran’s torso, all the while speaking between attacks.
“I… am not… a king.”
Fi’ran swipes low to knock Konner’s feet out from under him. Leaping over the attack Konner spins and extends his foot. The prince’s foot finds its mark on the right side of Fi’Ran’s face which causes Fi’ran to stagger away from Konner. As Konner land, Fi’Ran steadies himself. The traitor wipes his mouth from blood that had found its way out before spitting out a tooth onto the ground. Konner smirks and charges back into the fight. Weaponless and shield-less. Konner relies on his training and skill to outperform and maneuver the higher ranked Cryptea member to which he does with ease. Fi’ran grows impatient and angry at Konner’s’ evasion technique and begins to lash out in rage. A black trail of energy begins to follow his now bolstered axe as Fi’ran pours more power into his energy weapon.
Still unable to strike down his target, Konner sees Fi’ran open up both hands, aimed directly at him. A blast of black light rockets out of Fi’Ran’s hands. Before Konner can move, he is engulfed in a percussive heat that slides him back three meters.
“Power levels risen to 10%”
Konner smiles, while the attack was rather hot he is able to absorb enough to power his armor once again; being a night mission, the moon does not provide enough radiation to fuel Boronian’s absorption abilities. Konner looks over at Tal’lak who still is unconscious on the ground. He points at Fi’ran.
“Once I’m done with you. I’m going after her. Neither of you will see the inside of a cell!”
Konner growls, knowing that if he lied about killing his sister in cold blood it would push Fi’ran even further; it works. Fi’Ran unleashes another massive torrent of dark energy into Konner.
“Power levels risen to 25%”
Konner holds his ground as he is pushed back even further this time. He feels a wave of refreshing energy pour over him. With his renewed vigor Konner charges Fi’ran. With swift side steps Konner dodges Fi’Ran’s energy attacks. Konner instantly absorbs the heat being irradiated off of Fi’Ran’s attacks. Fi’Ran aims at Konner once more and with a rage filled roar unleashes everything he has at the charging prince. Swiftly Konner ducks under the attack. Pushing himself from a tree, he slides under Fi’Ran’s beam, of energy and finds himself at Fi’Ran’s feet. Before the traitor has a chance to react to Konner’s movements, the young prince shoves himself off the ground as hard as he can. Konner’s fist finds the bottom of Fi’Ran’s chin and slams into it with such force, a deafening crack, similar to that of a whip, echoes through the entire battle field. The punch rattles Konner’s arm as a dull pain throbs within his fist. Fi’ran soars through the air and slams through three trees. Each is hewn in half by his body before he slides to a stop.
With his enemies defeated, Konner, panting to catch his breath, looks over the battle field. Konner’s team had taken his advice and divided up the Cryptea. As a result over half of them were broken on the ground or dead. Many more are injured and the few who still fought, quickly dropped their weapons as Fi’ran soared past them. Terror grips Konner like never before. Not in the form of fear but of sorrow, like a hand reaching into his chest and gripping his heart. The prince stands in horror of what he and the OWS were forced to do. He had seen the horrors of battle but the sight of his own people fallen by his own hand is agony for him. As Konner surveys the nightmare before him a gut wrenching pit forms in his stomach. It strikes him with such force that tears well in the prince’s eyes. His legs instantly go numb and give out under him. He drops to his knees. Clear pools of water stream down his face as they carve a path through the dirt that is matted from battle.
Konner’s eyes meet where the village once was. Now a pile of burned ash with only two living beings in the center, Na’era and Bara’Helor. Surrounding them, frozen in fear, statues of coal that were once the villagers that dwelled there; Konner lets out a primal scream that is filled with such sorrow and anguish that even his team is deeply affected by the sight of their leader on his knees in such emotional pain. Konner’s lungs burn as he runs out of oxygen. He falls silent as his eyes are fixed on the sight of such drastic failure and loss of life. In war, sometimes the loss of life is acceptable, but never so many and never by his people, which makes the pain all the more worse. An object passing mere millimeters in front of Konner’s face brings him back to the field. Quickly he looks for the source as he readies himself for anything, only to see Disa’ani standing with his hand out-stretched. A loud ‘CHUNK’ from behind Konner turns him around to see Tal’lak drop her weapon as Disa’ani’s spear pins her to a tree through her shoulder. Konner marches over to her. She tries to grab her weapon but the prince, shaking with rage slams his foot down on her wrist, immobilizing her.
“Why did you do this?!”
Konner growls from behind gritted teeth his jaw clenched so tight it hurts; it takes every fiber of his being not to take Tal’lak’s life. She looks up at him with defiant hate in her eyes. K
onner grabs Disa’ani’s spear. He gives it a hard twist and pushes down. The groan of the tree can almost be heard over the cries of agony that emanate from the injured traitor.
“WHY!?! And I don’t want to hear ‘to overthrow you.’ There is more to it that that!”
Konner roars mere inches from her face. Clearly Tal’lak could see the unbridled rage that is beginning to boil in the place of anguish, although the prince would never go so far as to kill her, she needed to believe that he would. It works, and Tal’lak begins to speak.
“It was the order from our master.”
She manages to sputter out through the blood pooling in her mouth.
“My father is your master. Are you saying he commanded this?”
Tal’lak begins to laugh in the face of pain. There is something about the laugh that is not right. It is the laugh of someone who has lost their mind. She begins to speak through the psychotic cackles as they fill the dark forest air.
“Your father? Hahaha, if he only knew what was coming. A tide swells in the Darkness, Konner Lorian, using his blue light he will wash over this universe like a wave and will wipe it clean!”
she begins to laugh once more. This time with unbridled psychosis; Konner takes a step back.
“Uh Konner, you’re going to want to see this!”
Disa’ani’s voice draws his attention. The prince turns to see Fi’ran, broken but alive and leaned against a tree. Light begins to emanate from him as he joins his sister in laughter. His body wrenches violently as the light tears down his body. Konner’s eyes widen as his heart begins to race.
“EVERYBODY TO NA’ERA NOW!”
Konner begins to sprint toward the princess. They had been sent to rescue, followed closely by Jil, Disa and Man, Disa’ani holds his hand out and pulls his spear to him as they run. Konner does the same. This causes him to turn slightly. He catches a glimpse of all the other surviving Cryptea members glowing with energy as it violently rips open their bodies. Konner throws his hand forward and opens up a portal less than a meter in front of Na’era, whose look of terror could only mean one thing, a’ Mass Crack’. Na’era grabs Bara’Helor and throws her into the portal, Konner stops at its edge. He holds it open and waits for his team to pass him, all of which do and enter the portal one right after the other. Immense heat, something that Konner has never felt before, engulfs the prince as the Cryptea disappear in a massive wave of light. The light illuminates the surrounding forest like a star would do on the surface of a planet. The light reduces everything to ash as it rapidly expands toward Konner. Quickly Konner turns and dives into the portal just as the blast was about to reach him. As he passes through he closes the portal behind him. A sudden stop makes Konner open his eyes. He is back in the palace. His armor smoldering with heat as he slowly stands up.
“Off World Squad, sound off.”
“Jil’Thorin, still here.”
“Man’Sanfur, still alive.”
“Disa’ani, in need of a shower.”
Konner looks before him. He sees Na’era holding Bara’Helor. Na’era nods to Konner.
“She’s still alive, but barely.”
Without a moment’s hesitation Konner pulls up his bracer while sprinting to Bara’Helor’s side. He presses a few glyphs on it and speaks into the bracer as he slides next to his injured teammate, concern for her swirling within him like a storm. Konner takes Na’era’s place and holds his hand on Bara’s wound all the while focusing to maintain the energy field.
“This is Konner Lorian in the palace ballroom. We need paramedics here right away! Convene the high council! Tell my father we need to talk!”
Immediately an alarm rings throughout the palace and within moments doctors arrive to aid Konner and his team. Three paramedics move in to check out each one of Konner’s team. Three more arrive to tend to Bara’Helor. Konner, too distracted by his injured team mate, pays no attention to his surroundings, only the faint echo of footsteps and voices rings muffled in his ears. Two strong hands grab Konner and pull him away from Bara’Helor so the medics have room to tend to her. The sudden jerk brings Konner back to the present.
Catching his bearings, Konner sees his team being checked over. Their armor is in heaps on the ground around them as paramedics tend to scrapes, burns and bruises. After a brief moment, the prince sees the one who pulled him up, a familiar face he had not seen in some time. The face of the doctor who had examined him as a boy; time has hardly touched him although it had been fourteen cycles since they had last met. A flash of light fills Konner’s vision as the doctor examines him; he hears a kind voice come from the other side of the light.
“Pupil response is normal. No sign of serious concussion.”
The light clicks off. Konner blinks away the residual dots that dance within his field of vision. He rubs his eyes for a moment and as the effects of the light wear off the Doctor begins to clean the wound on his forehead.
“How is my team doctor?”
With a swift side glance both men watch as Bara’Helor is carried out on a levitating stretcher with her three paramedics. Na’era places a gentle hand on Konner’s shoulder as she passes him. She studies his face for a brief moment before speaking.
“I will go with her, my lord, and give you updates on her.”
Konner nods, as his adrenalin wares off his skull begins to throb from the beating he had taken.
“Thank you.”
The words are soft as they leave his lips. He feels Na’era give a gentle squeeze to his shoulder before she turns and runs after the paramedics disappearing behind the doors as they shut. Konner’s eyes stay locked on the door, not out of determination, but exhaustion. Having burned through so much energy so quickly, Konner’s body screams for rest as every atom in his body aches with debility. The prince shakes his head to snap himself back to reality once again. His eyes catch the doctor having moved to the paramedics that were treating his team. Konner walks over to them. He looks at his burnt out team, covered in dirt, blood and charred earth.
“Report.”
Konner speaks softly. His voice is weak from fatigue. The doctor turns to him with a re-assuring smile.
“All scans are clear for major injury. There are a few scrapes and bruises with mild heat damage and a few flesh wounds, but they will be fine. Go home. Get cleaned up and get some rest, all of you. Get some rest and in a day or two you will be fine. If you will excuse me, I must attend to Bara back at the Healing Center.”
“Thank you doctor.”
With that the doctor turns and leaves the ballroom. Konner turns his gaze to his team, all of whom look just as exhausted as he felt.
“You all did well today. You kept your heads. You fought well and most importantly we all came home. Follow the doctor’s orders. Go home and get some rest.”
“What about Bara?”
Jil’s voice is filled with concern for her friend; the prince looks at his teammate and shakes his head.
“There is nothing we can do for her now. We leave it to the doctors to take care of her. Tend to you, by that time we may be of use to her.”
Konner turns and begins to feebly walk toward the balcony of the ballroom.
“You are her commanding officer. Will you not go to her!”
Jil’s voice is full of frustration and concern Konner knows she cannot argue with his command but maybe by rendering guilt on him with his sense of duty, she could get Konner to go see her first. Consumed with the expenditure of energy and the fact that the night sun is raised high in the sky making recharge difficult, Konner turns to Jil, who by this point is the only one left in the room.
“I must attend to the matter of the traitorous Cryptea first. I will go by as soon as possible. In the meantime… go home, that is an order.”
Reluctantly Jil obeys her commanding officer. She picks up her armor and leaves the ballroom. The cool night air kisses Konner’s sweaty skin as he pushes the balcony door open. The crisp, cool night air fills his lungs. A wave of relie
f washes over him as there is no stench of burned flesh or fresh blood to sting his nostrils here. Konner looks up at the mountain face above him. He closes his eyes for a brief moment before, taking one more deep breath only to be greeted by a sky full of stars when they reopen. Gently Konner presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth, allowing his lips to part ever so slightly. He pushes a gust of wind from his mouth. A high pitched whistle echoes from his lips and reverberates up the mountain face.
