Ivar-Anoon had spent an all but sleepless night for his dreams were dark and filled with images of fire and death, ordinarily this would not have been a problem for the Mac-Mar General for war was his life and death a constant companion, but something was different for he found himself faced with an enemy he could not defeat.
There is no such enemy, he thought as he lay on his hard bed, the Mac-Mar have never lost a battle and never will.
This did ever little to settle his mind and he rose up and began pacing about in his sparely decorated quarters, he moved to a small table near his bed and pick up an information screen and began checking over the deployment of his unbeatable army.
Everything is in readiness, he thought.
And indeed it was for his trooper were supplied and waiting for orders, the Landmovers were charged and ready, Flyers patrolled overhead and the surrounding area for many parcels and they had found the formation that Servant had warned them about, a mass of rock with a pyramid shape structure jutting out from the ground. Far above the planet massive warships targeted what they thought were an enemy stronghold and if all else failed there were always the Rippers as a last resort.
I cannot fail, Ivar told his mind, why should I wait?” but before he could answer a voice spoke to him.
“The time is now”.
Turning he saw Servant standing a few paces from him, how could he get passed my guards? So seeing he was alone Ivar moved to his bed and removed a Hand-blaster from under his pillow and pointed it at the tall creature.
“You would kill your savior?” Tark said with a smile, “I have come to tell you that your enemy awaits you”.
Reluctantly the General lowered his weapon but kept a tight grip on it, “They have come out from hiding?” he asked.
“They will meet you in the place that I have said”. The Ergan-Mar replied.
“Then I will defeat them and this planet will be mine” the General smiled as he turned to lay his weapon on his bed, “When all is done you can tell your master that….” As he turned back to face Servant he found that he had gone.
Captain Romar had also slept badly not because of dream but knowing that he would soon face those who gave him shelter in battle. Must I kill those who cared for me? He thought as he sat in a chair in his small quarters, Anais and Kela could have killed me but they didn’t, can I return death for the life they gave me?
That and a thousand more questions moved through the soldiers’ mind but he could find no answers.
Wearing the dark armor of the underground army Arn and Cian managed to make their way into the heart of those they once called friend. The King’s face was covered by the heavy helmet he wore as was the leader of the Akuna but it did not matter for they were not challenged and passed by the warriors with ease for they seemed in a trance as if their minds had been taken from them. In their hands they held the powerful weapons they took from the men they had defeated and after hiding their naked bodies in a dark corner Arn quickly explained their workings to his comrade for he was familiar with chamber rifles having fought the Talsonar, but Cian hoped that he would not have to use them for it all seemed like the work of demons and not a fit weapon for a true warrior to use, Arn was of the same mind and tucked the strong dagger he had into his belt. It took them some time to transverse the floor of the huge chamber but at last they reached the other side and began to move into it but they stopped for the great chamber was coming alive with activity. Arn stood still but kept his hand on the trigger of his weapon, I heard no signal horn? He thought, but never the less the great army began to march to an unseen call to war. Cian also watched as the warriors moved passed him, they follow no leader yet they move as if they do.
The once immobile warriors began to march away into the tunnels, the heavy tread of their feet shook the air and the King was sure that they would be found but they moved passed the two imposters without turning their heads. Arn could not be sure but he thought he caught glimpses of others who had fought by his side or he had fought against in the many conflicts with other tribes, men and woman alike but with their helmets covering most of their faces he could not be certain.
After a time, the marchers passed and the Nomad and the Akuna made their way further down the passageway, Arn was certain that he was going the right way but why he thought this could not be said, it was as if something pulled him, perhaps the bond that he and his mate was returning?
She is near he thought, I will find her.
Cian also wished to find Andra but his heart was troubled for he wished to keep her for himself rather than see her in the arms of his boyhood friend.
Can I betray our friendship? he thought, if I take what I want I will have to kill him.
Andra had no way of knowing for certain if her mate was coming for her but looking into the cold eyes of Servant was enough to hope that he would and together they would slay this arrogant creature.
“Your King is very near now” Tark said as he toyed with bits of flesh taken from the dissection tables near him, “He brings another with him, a man you know a man that you betrayed you mate to”.
“Cian” and knowing that the creature spoke the truth made her hate him all the more.
“Do not fear me” Servant said as he put the mangled skin back on the table, “If it were not for my Master and I you would be dead by now at the hands of the invaders who think they can take what does not belong to them.”
“Who is this master?” Andra ask, “And why does he hide his face from me?”
“Do not be in such a hurry to see him,” Tark said, “He is not like you or I but something far greater, a being that has seen worlds come and go, civilizations rise and fall, his kind were old when your species howled at the stars in fear, but soon you will meet him and then you will know what power really means and you will know that Gods do exist.”
Andra never really believed in all powerful beings but at the same time she had seen many things that she could not explain by logic or science but she would not admit that to herself let alone her egotistical jailer, but one again Tark could read her thoughts.
“No, you do not believe” the Ergan-Mar said, “Yet, there is someone who does”.
Without saying a word two large humans appeared from the darkened corner of the room, they were naked but bore the unmistakable markings of the Outlanders, they pushed a heavy upright table before them and as the light grew brighter Andra could see the body of Egmar bound as she was and it made her heart cold for she once bore a great love for the Holy Mother and although it was in a false life before she knew the truth it still did not lessen the pain she felt at seeing the helpless old woman treated in such a way.
“I know you can read what I’m thinking” Andra words were filled with hate, “So, I’ll say this out loud so there won’t be any mistake, I will kill you, do you hear me, I will kill you, and your master!”, and she pulled at her binding with renewed fury but she could not free herself.
Tark remained calm for her bonds could hold a dozen like her, “Perhaps it is time you see with your own eyes and come to know what you face”.
And saying this the chamber began to change, the walls began to melt like Bark-bee wax in fire, the light grew dim, the tables holding the ruined remains of captives dissolved into slabs of crystalline rock covered in gore and entrails, the shimmering pillar began to glow with a light that was so painful Andra had to closed her eyes to blot out the painful vison, the air swirled about her head like the beating of Sundropper wings and a sickly aired smell filled her nostrils, echoing sounds like countless voices could be heard mixing with animals cries, the floor was now littered with the remains of innumerable mummified humans of all shapes and sizes like cast off works of some demented sculptor and in their hands they held an evolution of weapons starting with primitive bone through steel and beyond and those mixed with shards of green crystal fallen from ceiling all glowing with some kind of inner light, after a time the Selcarie girl opened her eyes and look upon a thing that b
rought terror into the darkest corners of her mind.
It hung in the air supported by unseen hands before an enormous obelisk of glowing green crystal surrounded by hundreds of smaller pillars, it was the size of a normal man but with an enormous oversized head, its deformed body was stunted with twisted limbs that were useless for walking or picking up objects, the delicate hands were long and clawed and opened and closed in a peculiar way as if griping some unknown object, the swollen body was naked and covered in ragged scales like a dead fish and it seemed to secrete a vile slim that made it shimmer in the pale greenish light, it had no genitalia of any kind so knowing if it was male or female could not be determined, it breathed in and out painfully and emitted a mewing sound like a wounded Burrow-baby but the most ghastly thing about the creature was its face for it was a thing of nightmares, it had no nose only a slit where one should be and below that was a mouth of sorts but it had no lips or teeth only drool that dripped endlessly down the misshapen chin, the eyes were the color of Rimar milk, without emotion of any kind but they seemed to burrow into your thoughts with images of your most excruciating memories.
Looking at the thing made Andra’s flesh crawl for it seemed like a thousand spiders were moving across her body and she bit her lower lip in an effort to stifle a scream for her hated of those many legged creatures was deep and painful.
Servant remained were he stood and uttered a small laugh; “Are you content to meet you master” he said coldly, “Is it all you hoped it would be?”
Andra said nothing and holding in her scream as long as she could it finally tore out from her mouth and filled the chamber with pain.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Arn heard the cry from his mate for the tunnel that he and his companion occupied was very near the chamber where Andra was held captive, so without thinking the King raced forward followed closely by Cian, their heavy armor did not lessen their speed and soon they came to a large steel door and driven only by the thought that he might at last find the woman he loved the Outlander beat his hardened fist upon the massive steel portal.
“Let me in!” he shouted, “face me if you dare!” and much to his surprise the door began to move on its rusty hinges and soon there was an opening large enough for a man to pass through and holding the unfamiliar weapons in their hands Arn and Cian entered the chamber.
At first it was dark but as they moved forward a light began to grow and soon they were face to face with the same ghastly creature that only a short time before had revealed itself, and like his mate the King was shaken by what he saw.
What demon is this? He thought and raised his weapon to kill the monstrous thing but his arms would not move and he found himself bound by a force his prodigious strength could not overcome. It was the same with the Kandrac of the Akuna for he tried to move but his body would not obey, what madness is this? He asked his mind, but try as he might he was helpless.
It was then that they both saw the tall slave of the monster turn to them, “You have come at last” Servant said, "Here is the woman that you seek”.
A cloud seemed to clear in the mind of the King and he saw the bound body of his mate, “Let her go!” he shouted and once more tried to free his limbs for the invisible force holding him but like before he could not.
Andra could also see the man she loved and seeing him so close yet beyond her reach drove her into a fury but her bonds held her tight.
“It is useless to struggle” Tark said calmly, “You are held by your minds and your minds are controled by my master, you are where he wishes you to be at last”.
“Set me free and I will battle this master of yours” the King called out.
This made the Ergan-Mar laugh once more, “Nothing holds you, your bonds are an illusion and soon you will bend to the will of the Overloard”.
“I will bend for now one” the King said his face dripping with sweat from the effort as he tried to move.
Servant moved closer to the Outlander and looked into his eyes, “you already have weak human, my master was with you and your people when they journeyed from the ice and snow and came to the land of Jedar, he traveled with you into the land of the Akuna and filled their dreams with his visions, he molded you and your mate to his will and soon you will lead his army into the Outer-Rim and conquer all the worlds that circle the stars, it is what you were bred for, you are a warrior who’s heart is filled with killing and nothing more”.
“Isarie will not let that happen” Arn replied with hatred in his eyes.
The Ergan-Mar shook his hooded head, “The Goddess you call Isarie is nothing more than a weapon that my master and his kind created from nothing, but her life-force is failing and as she grows weaker my master grows stronger”.
Andra had listened to the words of her captor and knew he was speaking the truth but she still did not give up all hope, “Your master is a monster and so are you!” she called out.
Servant turned to her, “To him you are the monster, a weak emotional creature without power or purpose other than to serve”.
Hearing this Arn called out loudly, “We are the children of Isarie and we will defend our lands!”
“Is there nothing that will change your mind?” Tark said with a smile and raising his hand the naked body of Egmar came into his view, her eyes were still closed but the King could see that she was still alive.
“Mother” he said without thinking and then he turned to the robed figure before him, “if, you harm her you will pay!”
Servant moved to the old woman, “There is no need to harm her I simple wanted to show you that serving my master has its rewards” once more he lifted his hand and the chamber began to glow with a strange light whether it was real or an illusion the King could not tell but what he saw next made his heart leap for standing before him was his brother Agart and his sister Seeda dressed in the armor of the Almadra but his refused to believe what he saw for he knew were dead.
What dark magic is this? The King thought, “Another lie, both of you have passed into the Afterlife and now you sit in the Golden Hall at the side of the Goddess”.
His sister moved closer to her brother, “Yes we have died but we can live once more, serve the master and I can return to you”.
Then his younger brother spoke to him, “I died before my time, bring me back and we can ride the open lands of Sirolian Plains once more”.
Arn turned his head way, “This is a lie, a trick of the mind, they are dead and the dead cannot return to the living”.
Servant shook his head once more, “What small creatures you are, yes their organic forms have perished but they can be remade and their memories placed into new bodies, all this and more you will have if you will lead my masters army”.
The King turned back to his tormentor, “You can walk in my mind why not take my body and lead them yourself?”
“That can be done as it was completed to your people but you have been bred for leadership and your mind is strong” Tark replied, “Erasing that mind and replacing it with my masters could be accomplished and his army would still be strong enough to defeat his enemies but with your will to survive it would add to that power and power is what my master desires most”.
Arn looked at Andra, “What of my mate, have you kept her alive to torment me?”
“No” Servant said, “She will be at your side and together you will be Moric-Kan once more, think of it, all the Outer-Rim will fear the name of the Twin-Dragons and bow down before you and her, you can sit by the side of my Master and live forever!”
For a moment or two the King said nothing then he shook his head, “No, we are no one’s slave and Moonbud and I will not bow down before any creature of this world!”
Servant turned to Cian and Andra, “Is that your will also?” he asked.
“I stand beside the King” Cian replied.
“We are Moric-Kan” said Andra, “Together we cannot be defeated”.
Tark moved away from the King and the images of Ag
art and Seeda vanished like the morning mist, “If that is your choice then pain will be your reward”.
The chamber filled with the screams of those that refused to bend.