Kalin stood at a podium, meticulously running his fingers through the holo as he made the final adjustments to the REM. He watched the left wall form jagged stakes out of the rock face. His eyes focused on Vorkis, unconscious on the floor. Kalin was surprised he was still breathing. The kicks and punches had been exhilarating and his heart leapt at what was to come.
He dragged Vorkis by the arm and flung him against the wall, watching a bloodied stake break through his right shoulder. He had to be careful not to kill him just yet; mutilating torture was first. Kalin straightened the limp body and rammed the remaining stakes through his arms and legs, impaling Vorkis on the wall.
He stepped back and leaned against a podium across from him, gazing at the red blood soaking Vorkis’ gray tunic and black pants. It had been a long time since he’d felt this good. Vorkis blinked his eyes open. Kalin lifted the Norin Blade from his boot.
“It’s me and you,” he said, twirling the glowing blade in his hand. “What do you think I should do to the man who killed my family and people?”
“I would let him go and fight him to the death,” said Vorkis in a weak voice.
Kalin nodded. “I could do that. Or I could slice him up and laugh while he bleeds to death.”
Holding up the fully erect Blade, Kalin lunged at Vorkis’ face and pointed the tip of the Blade at his left eye. Vorkis groaned as the searing heat began singeing his eyelashes.
“How about I cut out your heart and let you watch it stop pumping?” Kalin smiled. “Now that’s a great idea.”
He rammed the Norin Blade into the stone next to Vorkis’ neck. The hard rock exploded into fine black dust. Vorkis cringed in pain as the blade sizzled through his skin, cauterizing the veins in his neck. Kalin stepped back, coughed up a wad of phlegm and spit it in his face.
Vorkis’ roared as he squirmed to free himself. “I will kill you!”
Kalin smiled. More. When he yanked out the Norin Blade, he noticed Rina’s pendant around Vorkis’ neck. He ripped it off and held it up.
“This belongs to a friend of mine,” he said, before stuffing it in his pocket.
Deep growls came from behind him. Vorkis’ eyes opened wide. Three Oridians were standing twenty feet from them. Kalin stepped to the side, allowing the Oridians a full view of Vorkis. The creatures hobbled toward him, hissing and snarling, their mouths drooling, their bodies moist.
“What do you want?” Vorkis shouted nervously. “I can’t undo what’s been done.”
“I want your life,” said Kalin, backing to the door. “Nothing else.”
“We can rule this galaxy together. You’re my cousin, my family. Don’t do this.”
“You were never a part of us!” yelled Kalin. “You slaughtered your own people like animals.” The Oridians were almost to Vorkis. “Now you’re going to die like one and I’m going to watch.”
A loud rumble came from all directions and the cavern shook. Rocks and debris tumbled from the ceiling. Two giant pillars of black stone came crashing up through the floor near the wall, throwing tables in the air. Kalin and the Oridians fell onto the roiling floor. Sparks and mini-explosions blasted through each wall terminal. Kalin latched onto a leg of the secured Bio-Table just as the flat glass burst into flying shards. He huddled on the floor and curled his body, wrapping his arms around his head.
Suddenly, it stopped. Everything was still. Ten of the twelve lab stations were ablaze. The two spires of black stone were tilted against the rock wall. Vorkis was sitting on the floor, pulling a spike from his thigh. Kalin jumped to his feet, ready to fight, when the three Oridians leapt onto Vorkis. His screams echoed throughout the complex. Another violent quake shook the ground, forcing the ceiling to crumble and fall. Kalin leapt away and rolled into the hallway just as huge stones and rocks tumbled down, blocking the entrance to the cavern. The ground settled to a mild, continual tremor.
There isn’t much time, he thought, gazing about. I hope Rina and Marante work this out or it’s over.
He heard the muffled cries of a man being torn apart. Vorkis. A wide smile came to his face. Justice was being served.