Chapter 27. Battle of the Titans
Ashra-Doom is the God of the land, when he walks the earth shakes and when he speaks the mountains tremble. Do not trend on his shadow for he will blot out the light from the sky and the stars from the heavens.
Law of the Earth Shaker.
Many days had come and gone, the heavy rains had made large pools in the landscape, bringing out dozens of Burrow Babies from their underground homes. With them in the morning light, Valen sat on his mound, watching the steel monster below. When he slept, he dreamed of his revenge, when he woke he saw his dreams slipping away, the iron beast that had killed his clansmen, was growing once again.
The Caladon Warrior, could see many new growths on his enemy's body, huge appendages that he could not understand. They seemed like great arms, with giant metal shafts running to even larger round containers. Adding to the strange appearance, were the massive bones that once lay about the graveyard, they were fixed all over the creature, giving it the appearance of some long dead titan. There were also two great arm-like extensions that hung from the sides of the monster, each one had a huge steel claw at its end. At the back of the metal creature, were a series of titanic containers. They had great wheels under them, like some kind of wagon. The most strange thing about them, was the fact that they were being filled with Eul.
Why would Atos need Eul? Valen thought. For now, he called his enemy by the name of the war God; what need does a God have for the burning rock? It was indeed a question that vexed his mind, he had watched the small metal creatures that were the servants of the God, gather up the black rock and load it into the huge Karacks. He knew that Atos, had his minions forge weapons for the Gods to wield in battle, perhaps the Eul would be used as fuel, to heat the forges of eternal iron workers? Whether that was the reason or not, did not matter to the Outlander, all he cared about was finding a way to destroy his hated enemy.
What did not concern him, was when the iron beast sent out several long feelers from its body, it began to suck up the water from the many pools around it. They reminded him of the tentacles of the Cry Leaf; all creatures must drink; he told himself. The young warrior sat and continued to watch. He was well rested, for he feasted on Burrow Babies, and drank deeply from a small pool of water that filled an indention in a large rock nearby. His Whiptail had also eaten well, Valen had managed to drag enough of a rotting Trofar's remains, back to the hungry animal and now its belly was full.
The suns were high in the sky and there was a soft breeze, blowing from the North, it brought no comfort to the Caladon Warrior, his heart still burned with vengeance.
I must find a way to kill it; he thought; if I come near it, the pain will start once more. He sat beating his war-ax on the hard ground, and gazed at an enemy beyond his reach.
“All systems are at maximum and repairs are completed”, the Task-robot said, as it stood before the glowing orb, “we have sufficient combustible materials, to maintain an adequate speed to the next vantage point. H20 consumption is calculated at point one nine percent, with a maximum speed at level one”.
The sphere hung in its chamber, evaluating information supplied by the small Task-robot . Although there was no need to recycle the data through its memory systems, it did anyway. It took only a matter of a few seconds for it to satisfy itself that there had been no errors in the calculations.
“Commence activation of alternative locomotion drive unit’s, in point seven six time units”, the glowing light said.
Without further words, the Task-robot moved to the main console that filled one corner of the chamber. It reached out with one of its slender tentacles, attaching itself to a small access port in the machine. It waited for a moment then began to speak, “interface command, report level one, repair work completed, restore all power to secondary command mechanisms”.
There was a flickering of light in the room, then a soft humming sound, three other metal units began to glow with power. They were smaller than the first machine, and it looked like, they had been pieced together from other machines. Without doubt, they were now fully functional.
“Weapons at minimal working levels”, said one of the machines.
“Both solar and internal power supplies are at maximum levels, awaiting interface with alternative locomotion”, said another.
“Directional heading will be based on topographical information, and mind-link coordinates”, intoned the third.
The Task-robot removed its tentacle, “understood”, it moved to face its master, “all systems are now working, commence locomotion, in point seven five time units”.
There was no response from the Orb, other than, an intense glow.
The Darkman, had completely recovered from the pain that overcame him, when he tried to reach the Nomad on the Mount. He sat near the opening to his metal home, and continued to stare at the human, who was looking down on him. All around him, scurried the small metal Spotters and larger Repair-bots, carrying out last minute tasks, rechecking fittings and plating. The human paid them no heed, he had long grown use to their activities. What did concern him, was why the Nomad had not gone?
He should have returned to his tribe and told them of what he had seen; then he realized that the Outlander could not return, because he was an Outcast, this made him smile. He has no tribe and no home; he thought; he will die alone and forgotten. After that thought, he no longer smiled, he knew that his fate, would be the same. He too was an Outcast, scorned by his people and without a home.
It was then that his mother spoke to him.
“You will not be forgotten”, she said.
The Darkman looked to his left, standing there was the woman who gave him birth, this time her face was young and full of life. He knew it was only a phantom, come to taunt him once more, “you are not here, you are nothing”, he said turning his face away from hers.
The vision came closer to him, “look at me, am I not your mother?” she asked.
The Darkman looked at her face, and although his right eye told him that there was nothing there, his left eye, saw the smiling features of a young Nomad woman. Why does this demon come to me? He turned away, “leave me, leave me, as you did before”.
The phantom rose to her feet, “very well, before I go, I have a gift for you”, she held out her hand to him.
He looked into the hand before him, he saw the black crystal called Tral; she offers me death once more; in anger, he struck out with his metal arm. “LEAVE ME!” he screamed, the image vanished and he was left to himself again. He sat there for a time, alone, his melancholy did not last. He suddenly saw that all the metal creatures had vanished into the Iron God, and he was alone. With a last glance at the Nomad, he rose and returned to the Orb's chamber, and the dim home that was now his.
As Valen looked on, the air filled with a loud roaring sound, it came from his enemy. For a moment he thought the creature was dying, forgetting that a God is immortal, he began to jump up and down, waving his war-ax over his head. He shouted and cried out for joy, “lay forever with the bones of the dead!” he screamed. “You were a weak God, and you will not be remembered!” Then his contentment turned to horror, as he saw Atos begin to move.
He lowered his weapon and stood wide-eyed, as the huge metal monster emitted a great cloud of white smoke. Slowly its titanic wheels began to turn, there was a grinding sound and cracking of metal, as hot gasses came in contact with cold steel. From the sides of the beast, came a blast of flame and black smoke, and more grinding sounds. It shuddered like a new born Rimar, then it moved again.
“This cannot be!” the warrior thought; it has no Trofars to pull it, no sails like the wind ships of the Western Sea!
The Outlander had no knowledge of steam power, he was only a small boy, when his mother and father traveled to the land of the Norgonie. If he had been a bit older, he might have recognized that the same magical power that moved the pumps and gates of the Forest-dwellers, was now, being used by Atos.
Vale
n knew that his quarry was getting away, so he ran quickly towards the broken shelter, and his Whiptail. You will not escape me; he cried out in his mind; I WILL have my revenge!
Deep inside the steam-powered machine, the Cyberman felt the shaking, and he knew that his God had risen once more; we cannot die; he thought; we will live forever!
His laughter filled the chamber of the interactive brain, it echoed in the great mind; we cannot die, thought the Orb; we will live forever!
The Task-robot said nothing, as it continued to monitor information from the Central Command mechanisms. Power, Weapons, Directional coordination, were all functioning at peak levels. “All systems normal”, it finally said, “heading, on course”.
There was more shaking, and some connecting information suppliers, shorted out. The small Repair-bots moved quickly to restore them, soon all was, as it should be. Once or twice, there was a loud booming sound, it did not cause damage, or stop the great machine, moving away from the Toys of Isarie.
Valen sat upon his Whiptail, watching the iron creature, leaving the playthings of the Gods. He felt new strength surging through his veins now, he was once more, where all Nomads wish to be, mounted on a war-beast, hunting the enemy.
“You will not escape me”, shouted the Outlander. “I am Valen, the last of the Caladon, and you will die before me!”
Digging his spurs into the flanks of his Whiptail, he began to follow his prey once more.
All that morning, the young warrior followed the metal creature over the Sirolian plains. Its pace was fast, and he was hard pressed, to stay within sight of his quarry, he refused to rest and continued to urge his mount on. They headed South across the green pasture lands and rolling hills. As they raced on, they saw great herds of Rimar, thundering away, in panic as the steel monster approached. It did stop now and again, to fill its belly with water from small lakes and pools, once it gathered more Eul. It did not stay in one place for long, and kept moving ever onwards to the South.
When night came, it continued moving, even though it had no eyes, it did not crash into the fallen lightships, and other broken machines that littered the Greenland’s. All the while, the Nomad continued to follow, never stopping, never sleeping, always watching his prey, with revenge burning in his heart.
With the coming of day, the God entered the Land of Ashra-Doom.
It was a clear morning, with only a few wisp’s of cloud, marking the sky. On the air, were faint traces of odor, like rotting leaves, or bits of food left out too long in the sun. To a Nomad that scent was as clear, as a still pool, to the Orb it meant nothing.
“All systems report maximum efficiency”, the Task-robot said, “there was a two percent pressure drop, in pump number six, it has been rectified”.
“Very well”, replied the Orb, “continue monitoring all systems, and remain on course”.
The robot moved away from its master. As the Darkman approached, it noticed that there was a small leak, in the right arm of the human. “There is a loss of power to your extremity, if you wish I will have repairs made”.
The Shadowman looked at the Task-robot, after lifting his metal arm up and down a few times, he said, “very well, make your repairs”.
The machine reached out with four of its tentacles, wrapping them around the arm of the semi-human, with a twist it removed the appendage, there were a few sparks of electricity. “Repairs will be made”, it said, then hurried off, carrying the defective mechanism.
Ordinarily, seeing his arm being removed from his body, would have caused the Darkman fear, but he had grown accustomed, to having himself worked upon, by the strange machines, so he thought no more about it. He moved over to the glowing Orb and looked up at it. “Forgive me Great God, where are we going?” he asked.
The Shadowman knew, they were moving southward, to what end he did not know, so he waited for a reply to his question, it soon came.
“We have many enemies”, the Orb said, “They must all be destroyed”.
It was a simple answer, one that pleased the half-human; we are even stronger now; he thought; nothing can stand in our way.
The Darkman had forgotten that long before Atos fell to earth, there was another God that ruled the Outlands. A God that slept beneath the earth, and had a power that no one dared to wake.
Valen rode to a top of a hill, and saw that the Iron God, was moving towards a large cluster of tall Balbar trees. It seemed to be, a quiet oasis where a tired Nomad, could rest and refresh himself, on sweet fruits and fresh water. Nearby he could see the remains of a gigantic war machine, it had lain there for thousands of cycles, its huge steel hull, was corroded with rust and pitted from the wind and rain. The Caladone had seen enough cycles, to know the ways of the Outlands. When he saw that his prey was going towards the small forest, he smiled.
“Atos may be the God of war”, he told his Whiptail, “ but he has a lot to learn about the Greenland’s”.
The great metal monster rolled onwards, oblivious to the danger laying ahead. Its huge treads and wheels dug deep into the earth, Burrow Babies rose out of the ground, to sniff the air. When they saw the huge creature drawing near, they abandoned their earthen homes, and raced away, making loud squeaking cries as they ran. There were also several Rimar, grazing lazily on the succulent grasses, when the giant intruder lumbered towards them, they also raced away grunting in anger.
The Caladon warrior, pulled back on the reins of his mount, and waited at the top of the mound. He watched the Iron God approaching the cluster of greenery, and waited for what was to come. As he waited, he remembered the prayer of the Handmaidens.
Hear our prayers, oh Gods of the soil.
Forgive our passing, on endless toil.
Sleep in the earth, were peace is found.
Wake not from slumber, and break the ground.
He did not speak the words, he hoped that the Gods would not intervene, in what was about to happen.
The Darkman was not sure, why he suddenly felt very uneasy, something was gnawing at his brain. An image of danger that took no shape, filled his mind with a feeling of great danger. He did not heed its warning; why should I fear; he thought; Atos is the God of war and none can stand before him.
The Task-robot continued to monitor all mechanisms, because it was made of metal and circuitry, there were no feelings, to warn it of the danger that lay ahead. “All systems working”, it said, “course change, only point one nine percent”.
It was then that the Task-robot returned with the human's repaired arm. It moved to where the Darkman sat, quickly reattaching the metal appendage. “Repairs have been made”, it said, “power is at full strength”.
The Shadowman moved his arm up and down, it made him feel better, knowing that, he had full use of it once more. His mind still told him that danger was near.
The Orb continued to glow with a soft blue light; I am Atos the God of War; it told itself, none could stand before me.
Valen saw the Arrow birds flying out of the oasis' Balbar trees and he smiled, “now the end comes”.
He watched as the small forest began to rise out of the ground, with it rose rocks and a flood of water. Something was breaking out from below, forcing itself into the light. Seeing this, the young warrior smiled again.
“Ashra-Doom awakes”.
The God of the Outlands, slowly emerged into the sunlight, its long sleep had been disturbed and now, it would take revenge on the creature that had dared to waken him. With a great rumbling sound, the Earth Shaker began to fill the sky.
It was hundreds of meters in height, its enormous shell back, was covered in a thick layer of earth and vegetation. From its huge belly, hung great tentacle like tubes that reached all the way to the ground. They waved about, feeling for anything to grasp in their strong coils. Its enormous armored head, had no eyes, there were a dozen or more, long pink tongues, protruding from a toothless mouth. It moved on four gigantic legs, whose footprint could crush a Whiptail, and its rider like a man cou
ld crush a Blaze-ant. As it turned towards the Metal God, it emitted a tremendous roar that shook the ground.
“WARNING. WARNING”, screamed the Task-robot, “there is a creature directly ahead, bearing nine one nine, awaiting orders”.
The light from the Orb, began to change from a soft blue glow to a reddish one, “deploy all weapons, destroy it!” said the great mind.
The Darkman heard the words of his master; only a God can kill a God; he thought; and Atos is a strong God.
The Task-robot, quickly interfaced with the Weapons Console, “deploy all weapons, destroy the creature”.
“Understood”, said Weapons Command.
The Command Robot reached out with its tentacles, plugging itself into the Power and Directional interfaces. “Set power to maximum, divert secondary energy to weapons”.
“Diverting all secondary power to weapons,” said the Power Console as it obeyed the Command Robot's orders.
“Coordinate directional heading with weapons”, said the Task-robot.
“Understood” was the reply from the Navigator.
The Orb glowed brighter; I am a strong God!
The two monsters met head on, one made of flesh and bone, the other built of steel and circuitry. Each the God of its realm, each one unstoppable. Even though. the creature that the Nomads called Ashra-Doom, had no eyes, it knew exactly where its enemy was. It roared out a challenge and lumbered forward, its many tentacles reaching out to grasp its prey.
The Iron God, also had no organic vision, but its sensors and directional course correctors, could pin point a sand flea in a windstorm. The beast that now attacked, was the size of a small lightship. With a great billowing of steam and smoke, it moved forward, as it did, the two appendages that once sat close to its body, began to move outward. They unfolded like two petals of a meadow flower. At the end of each arm, there was a great claw like thing that could easily grasp a Nomads wagon and crush it to pieces.
With a great thundering sound, the two monsters embraced each other. The Earth Shakers titanic bulk, slammed against the steel hull of the Orb, sending a shudder throughout the great machine and shaking it to its core.
Inside, the Darkman felt the shaking of the chamber, he grasped an organic support pillar near him, and held fast to it with his arms. His mind flashed with images of the thing that had struck his home, “Earth Shaker”, he said softly, and although he tried not to be afraid, he was. Ashra-Doom is the God of the Outlands; he heard his mind say, he gripped the pillar harder.
Valen gave out with a loud war cry, as he saw his enemy engulfed in the power of the great beast “nothing can stand before Ashra-Doom!” he called out. He grasped the reins of his Whiptail tightly, hearing the din of battle, it roared out, wishing it could join the fight.
The Earth Shaker was immune to the mind pain of the Orb. The force barrier that the great machine was sending out, could not halt its titanic strength. It continued to roar, and using its gigantic feet, it tried to stomp its adversary into the ground. The Iron God would not be defeated so easily, it reached out with its two great claws, and began to rip at the huge beast. Again and again, it grasped flesh. Using its powerful steam driven grippers, it tore away great chunks of the monster. In response, Ashra-Doom reached out with its body tentacles, then using its massive strength, it pulled away one of the drive motors that, propelled the Orb's fortress.
“Damage to level one propulsion motor”, the Task-robot reported, “secondary backup motors compensating at half level”.
“Continue attack”, the Orb replied calmly, “destroy the enemy”.
Obeying its master, the robot instructed the three Main Consoles to continue at all cost.
The cost was becoming greater.
The Earth Shaker, now began to scream in pain, as more of its mottled flesh, was torn away, but still, it did not turn and flee. It continued to stomp, pull and beat itself, against its steel adversary. It was beginning to weaken, as great rivers of a purplish blood, flowed down its towering legs soaking the ground.
Ashra-Doom took its nourishment from the soil, imbedding itself in soft earth, then soaking up minerals and fluids. For all its massive strength, it was not a creature of anger and hate, like the Sagar Cats. When it felt its body being torn asunder, it struck out in defensel rather than in anger but that defense was powerful. Again and again, it pulled at the outer skin of the Iron God, each time it did, more of the steel monster's mechanical propulsion mechanisms ceased to work.
“Propulsion is failing”, reported the Task-robot, “solar power is diminishing, maneuvering capabilities at sixty percent and dropping”.
“Continue attack”, the Orb replied. The great mind, had never encountered an enemy like the one it now faced, all its battles had been in the stars, and not on the surface of a planet. It knew that all enemies have a weakness, and when that weakness is found, it could be destroyed. So it focused all its tremendous mind power on the creature, as it did, the Darkman cried out in pain.
“Do not kill me great God”, he screamed clutching his head, “do not kill me!” Suddenly he felt a great weakness in his legs and he fell to the floor. At the same time, his right arm no longer functioned and he could only see from one eye. He lay on the floor of the chamber, and again cried out to his God, “why do you, do this?”
The Orb did not reply, it needed all its power, to reach into the thick skull of the creature, to find the one weakness that would give him victory. Very soon he found it. Hidden deep in the primitive mind of the Earth Shaker, was a group of neurons, they were connected to the part of the monster’s brain that regulated its hibernation patterns. Ashra-Doom, was ruled by the cycles of the world in which it lived, and now the Orb used those cycles to defeat his attacker.
It commanded the beast to sleep.
Valen had watched the Ruler of the Outlands, as it challenged the God that fell from the heavens. He had seen the metal monster, being crushed and torn. He cheered as he saw his enemy, breaking under the weight of Ashra-Doom. Now he watched, as the Earth Shaker lay down upon the ground.
What has happened? He thought, then he saw the Iron beast reach out with one of its great claws, to rip at the head of the now sleeping giant. The beast gave out one last roar, its many tentacles thrashed about, sending up a great cloud of dust and debris, then, it laid still.
Inside, the Darkman no longer felt pain, he could again stand up, and his right arm moved as it was commanded. The darkness in his right eye began to lighten, soon he could see once more, he stood there for a moment, letting the strength return to his body, then he heard the Task-robot speak.
“The enemy is no longer functioning, victory has been achieved”.
“Understood”, replied the Orb, “can we continue?”
The robot stood there for a moment interfacing with the Consoles then it spoke, “report” it said.
“Energy is insufficient to continue”, the power console said. “Damage to main propulsion drives must be repaired”.
“Damage to weapons, loss of main defensive claw and armament”, reported the Weapons Array.
The last to report was the Navigation Console, “loss of H20 extensive, combustible materials need to be replenished within six point nine intervals, or shutdown of locomotion will take place”.
The Orb responded quickly, “understood, shutdown all unnecessary functions and begin repairs”.
The Shadowman, could hardly believe that his master had defeated the great God of the Outlands, then he remembered, just who had rescued him, and in whose presence he now stood. I was wrong to doubt Atos; he thought; his power comes from the stars, and all things, great and small, live under them.
The words that the half-man spoke to his mind, were true. for all things live under the stars. What he did not understand, was that stars are just suns, shining in the firmament of the heavens. Beyond those suns, other stars, burn bright, and beyond those, yet more stars, an endless expanse of light and shadows. When you reach the end of those gr
eat points of light, it is still just the beginning.
Now as those very same stars began to shine in the evening sky, Valen sat on his Whiptail and looked at the fallen Earth Shaker. He could not stop his tears from falling, he had never seen a God die.
Nomads The Fallen God Page 28