Read Government Men Page 67


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  On the home world of the Ra, Jun'Ca, High Priest and Ca'Ra of the First Order, entered the hidden heart of the Forbidden Temple, and called respectfully for his Dark Master. The dark empty center of that vast vaulted cavern became darker still, as it became filled with mist and the malevolent presence of the Dark One. It wasn't just the Master's hidden and possibly formless appearance that was frightening, it was the thoughts of hate, and the hunger for death and destruction that bombarded Jun'Ca's mind that most disturbed but also most intrigued him. He could sense somehow that his Master was the very anti-thesis of life. Despite a lifetime of training, Jun'Ca had to fight the impulse to run or to cower. Of course that would be useless anyway, since there was no place in the Universe that was beyond the reach of the Dark Master.

  "SPEAK!” thundered the Master.

  "Word from Ren'Ca, Master. The deed is soon done. In one Ra sleep time your great enemy will die, and the humans will also parish."

  "THE HUMANS ARE INSIGNIFICANT, AND THEIR DESTRUCTION AT THIS TIME INCIDENTAL, FOR THEY WOULD HAVE PERISHED ANYWAY IN A SHORT TIME, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHERS. IS THE PLANETOID ON A PATH TO STRIKE MY ENEMY DIRECTLY? ONLY THROUGH A DIRECT HIT WILL HE PARISH."

  Jun'Ca shuddered. What kind of being could only be destroyed by such a weapon? Decades ago the Ra had proposed using the nuclear weapons of the humans on the sleeping enemy of the Dark Master, and the Black One had laughed at the notion, and said that a much more powerful weapon was needed. "The planetoid is exactly on target Master; this has been confirmed by our agent Ren'Ca."

  "IS THAT ALL NOW, JUN'CA?"

  "Yes Master."

  "Inform me when this deed is confirmed as complete."

  "Yes Master."

  "And, Jun'Ca?"

  "Yes Master?"

  "Do not fail, or that failure will be upon the Ra!”

  Thankfully, the mist disappeared, and trembling Jun'Ca was again alone.

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