"What about the children!" Crinnan shouted, "They depend on you, you asshole! Get moving!"
Garb looked in the children's direction and sighed. "What a clever lad. You are right." A Govian soldier slid down the rope and pointed his rifle at Garb. Garb looked at him and chuckled.
The soldier opened fire. Blood splashed from the holes in Garbs chest as the bullets hit him and he fell backward, screaming. Crinnan raised his own rifle and with a single shot, took out the soldier. He turned to run, having given up on the Toraan, but stopped when he saw Garb standing back up.
"In all my years I've never gotten used to that!" Garb shouted. Blood soaked bullets pushed themselves out of the Toraan's chest and landed on the dirt beneath him, "It is truly painful!."
Crinnan did not have time to think about what had just happened. He grabbed Garb's arm and ran toward the children.
"What the holy fucking Hells was that?!" Crinnan shouted as they ran, "How did you survive that?"
"NaNe!" Garb replied, "My tissue heals almost immediately. It feels really great." A bullet whizzed past the two and Crinnan looked back to see four Govian soldiers chasing them. Crinnan raised his rifle and returned fire.
"Can you fight?" Crinnan yelled.
"No!" Garb replied, "I can run, and I can hide. That is it!"
They were gaining on the children, which Crinnan saw as a problem. It meant that the rest of his party was not moving fast enough. Sage was doing his best to keep them running, but most of the children were too exhausted to do anything.
Crinnan watched as a child tripped over his own tired feet and fell face first into the ground. As he ran past, the boy reached up for Crinnan's help, but Crinnan knew that if he stopped then, the Govians would catch up and litter his body with bullets. While he wanted to go back for the child, he felt there was no time and had to keep going.
"Stop running asshole!" Eshan shouted into Crinnan's head, "What in the Hells is wrong with you!"
"Be quiet Eshan!" Crinnan rebuked, "There's no time; I have to stay alive!"
"Not at the expense of a child's life you selfish fuck!" Eshan shouted furiously, "Go back for him you piece of shit hypocrite!"
Crinnan glanced back and saw that Garb had stopped and was helping the kid up. He groaned, realizing that he had made a bad call. He tried justifying it in his head; he told himself that if he died, then everyone would die. He knew he was wrong, that Sage could protect everybody, but he could not shake the thought that it was not his job to risk dying for any of those children. He, of course, did not wish any of them dead, but his job was not to be a hero. He was a soldier; he killed his enemies for a living and did everything he could to avoid dying.
His conscience finally got the best of him, and he stopped running. As he turned to help Garb, however, he heard rustling in the bushes near him. As Crinnan looked toward the source of the sound, the stock of a rifle slammed into his face right between the eyes. He crashed backward into the ground and felt a gloved hand wrap around his neck just as everything went black.
***
"Crinnan get up!" a child's voice beckoned, breaking through the darkness. Crinnan opened his eyes and stared up at the clouds as they floated through the blue sky. Sounds of cars driving by could be heard in the distance and the smell of smog filled his nostrils.
Crinnan looked over and saw his brother kneeling next to him.
"Get up!" his brother encouraged, "We are surrounded by the Empire!"
Crinnan groaned and rubbed his eyes, "Come on Rubii!" He whined, "Kiersen hit me too hard. I am going home to tell daddy."
Rubii reached his hand out and flicked Crinnan between his eyes and then helped him up off the ground. "Kiersen ran away with Sayraa," he dusted Crinnan's shoulders off, "We need to go rescue her!"
Crinnan groaned and shook his head, "I'm tired of this game Rubii," Crinnan pouted, "I want to go practice real sword fighting with daddy."
"Stop being such a baby," Rubii replied, "We have to beat Kiersen. It's our mission!"
"But I am tired of playing!" Crinnan shouted, slumping back down on the dead yellow grass, "I do not want to be a little kid anymore." A tear ran down his face, and Rubii knelt down next to him.
"But we are kids," Rubii chirped in a comforting tone. He put his arm around Crinnan, and he started to cry.
"Kiersen and Sayraa are so mean sometimes," Crinnan buried his head into his brother's chest, "We do not deserve it."
"They just play rough," Rubii replied, "They love you. You are their little brother. They would do anything to protect you and me. They would never hurt us." With tear-filled eyes, he looked over at his twin brother and smiled.
"Would you ever hurt me?" Crinnan asked, "Would you protect me if I needed it?"
"You can count on me!" Rubii smiled wide, "We're brothers forever. Nothing will tear us apart."
"Ok," Crinnan picked up his toy sword, "Let's go finish our mission."
***
"Welcome back," Sage beamed as Crinnan opened his eye, "We were wondering when you would return to the world of the living."
Crinnan sat up and immediately felt an intense pounding in his head, "What happened?" He asked as he lowered his aching skull into his hands.
"You were knocked unconscious by a Govian," Sage replied, "You managed to slow us down quite a bit I should say, but I was able to dispose of your attacker and a few more." Crinnan saw the HAPT that had engaged them had crashed into the trees behind Sage. It was smoking horribly, and bodies of Govian soldiers littered the ground.
"Everyone appears to be fine… for now," Sage said as Crinnan groaned and got to his feet.
"We need to keep moving," Crinnan stubbornly mumbled as he darted forward, "We do not have time to waste."
"You really do seem to enjoy pushing yourself I should say," Sage walked closely behind him, "You need to rest for a minute while your NaNe takes care of your concussion."
"My NaNe or whatever can take care of my concussion while we are running," Crinnan walked dizzily, disregarding Sage's advice, "I need to get back to my squad."
"Sit down dammit," Sage placed his hand on Crinnan's chest, "You are not a god. Hells, you are not even a full NaNe user. You need to rest."
Crinnan fell down to a knee and looked at the ground. He was gasping for air, and he did not know why. He put his hands down and rested on all fours for a minute.
"Why is all this fucking happening to me?" Crinnan asked finally, "The kidnapping, the dreams… what the Hells is all this?" He felt his eyes well up with tears, and he quickly turned his head. He did not want to let Sage see him lose it.
"I wish I could tell you," Sage gently answered, "But what happens in life sometimes is out of your control. Unfortunately sometimes the variables of other people's lives, the decisions they make or do not make, spill over and create a nasty chain that somehow, someway affects you. The conscious and active pursuit of ‘why' will usually lead you to dead ends… Only in random times of personal revelation, and sometimes through coincidence, but mostly just when the variables are all met, will you figure out the ‘why.' Or you could always check the interweb if you can find it. Either way, 'why' is something that should be avoided altogether I should say."
"I have always tried…" Crinnan growled, "To live in the here and now, to forget the past and to ignore the future, to not worry. It sounds like such a wonderful way to live, carefree, happy…"
"Happiness is overrated," Sage mused, "You do not need to be happy to live a life worth living."
"Then what is the point?" Crinnan dug his fingers into the dirt, "If it is not to be happy?"
"That is a question that the philosophically minded have wrestled with for ages I should say," Sage pursed his lips and placed a hand on Crinnan's shoulder, "I have asked myself the same question many times. Do you want to know what I have come up with?"
"Sure," Crinnan answered as he stared blankly at the ground.
"I surmise there is no point to life," Sage sighed, "Perhaps we
are all a part of something bigger, perhaps not. We can never know. I have seen the universe. It is big. We are not. To think that we mean something in a universe so large is laughable. I think that our only 'purpose' is to live, to live as much and as hard as we can. And then, our purpose is to die. That is what I have come up with in all my years of living." Sage paused and cracked his knuckles. "The only true purpose we have is the purpose we assign to ourselves. What other people hope or expect of you does not matter, unless of course, it matters to you. All that matters is you."
Crinnan sighed and pushed himself up. He looked over at Sage and couldn't stop the smile from forming, "Do not give me a reason to like you," He scratched the back of his head and had Sage light a cigarette for him, "I feel better. We need to get moving because all that matters to me right now is getting back to my squad."
Chapter Twelve
Eon II
22nd of Ramlia – 346AG
10:00 – Canruusi Wasteland
"Awaken and arise my children!" Eon declared, amplifying his voice to a thunderous level through the local NaNe. His orders could be heard throughout the entire camp. Everybody stopped what they were doing as he broadcasted his words, and as they listened, they all fell to a knee, "For the final Demon has come! Our time is at hand!"
The devil-masked being emerged from his tent and stepped out onto the dead and dried orange ground. He allowed himself the enjoyment of feeling the cool air blow through his hair and from behind his mask, he grinned with the mouth he had borrowed from his host.
"Claim your arms," he shouted as he walked, "Adorn yourselves in the regalia that will strike fear into any who may cross our path… Hoist the banners of Eon, for our mighty crusade, has begun!"
Eon could feel his host stirring in him. He felt uneasiness emitting from him and stopped walking for a moment.
"What ails you, my child?" Eon asked, returning his voice to a normal volume, "What reason have you to despair?"
"Just shut up," Rubaan replied, trapped within his own mind. His body had become a prison, and he wanted nothing to do with Eon. He simply wanted to remain silent, and hoped by doing so his family would be safe, "Stop tormenting me."
"Why child," Eon purred, "Though you may feel tormented, and though it is quite likely due to what I have put you through, I assure you I have yet to intentionally bring any pain down upon you."
"You need to leave my family alone!" Rubaan hissed, "My brother, my wife, and child, they have nothing to do with you!"
"Rest," Eon produced a syringe from a pack at his side, "And enjoy the forgiveness I provide. For I, Eon, am merciful, and you one day you will grow to understand." Eon injected his arm with the syringe and Rubaan fell silent.
"Oh, the peace that accompanies a silent mind…" Eon muttered as he cracked his neck. His voice returned to the thunderous volume it had been before, "To war my beloved followers. Prepare yourselves to bring truth and exact justice upon all those who may stand in our way!"
Eon's encampment had become alive with activity. The sounds of engines roaring blasted throughout the area, and the dust that stirred from the motor pool formed a cloud over the entire camp. You could hear the bikers whooping as they mounted their machines and revved their motors. Eon's army was preparing to move.
"Sir Heklaar, I request your presence," Eon ordered, "Come to me at my tent; we have great things to accomplish."
***
Ema'as, the young Vampre female lay naked and writhing in pain on the floor of her wooden cage. The early stages of her transformation had set in quickly. All she felt was hunger and pain. Her entire body burned from the fever caused by her condition; all she desired gushed through the veins of everyone that passed through her tent. She could not help but wail.
"Be quiet!" the other Thirst-stricken Vampre shouted, "Screaming will not help!" Ema'as responded by looking directly at him and screaming louder. The other Vampre threw his hands up and dropped down onto the filth-covered floor of his own cage.
"Feed her, please!" The Vampre demanded, hoping someone would hear, "Shut her up!" He grabbed the bars and rattled his cage violently, "Do not rid me of my Thirst only to throw me into torture!"
"You did this!" Ema'as wailed, turning her attention to the other, "You stupid fucking bitch!"
"Don't be rude, girl," the Vampre replied calmly, "We cannot help ourselves. We are blinded by this sickness, controlled by it. You will soon see! Feed her!"
"Quiet in there!" someone yelled from outside their tent, "She'll be fed when we find our enemies!"
"And me?" the other Vampre shouted, "My Thirst will return soon, when will I be fed!"
"I don't know Yarik," the voice from outside replied, "Now shut the fuck up!"
Yarik growled and angrily sat back down. The floor was wet with his own piss and stank of old shit and blood. He had learned to accept the filth, for that was the least of his worries.
"Fucking Eon." He grumbled as he thought about what his life had been reduced to.
His body healed rapidly. Sickness and infection did not take to him, but he was still weak. His masters fed him only once a week, though he had learned that all he required to keep his sanity was just a bit of blood. When he did not have it, his body ached and withered, and his mind left him. The compassion that still lived inside of him hated what he did to the girl. But… he had no choice, no control. He was a slave to the Thirst.
"I'm sorry for infecting you...." Yarik mumbled as he stared down his knees and tried to block out the noise. He did not bother looking at the convulsing, screaming wretch of a girl in the cage across the tent, "But this is your life now."
***
"Bring me to my children," Eon commanded Sir Heklaar, who had joined his side, "Let me see them before I send them to battle."
"Yes, Lord," Heklaar replied, taking the lead. His massive body cast a shadow on Eon, "If you would follow me."
"I would be delighted," Eon licked his lips in anticipation. Heklaar's towering form led his king past multiple tents, most of which were in the process of being taken down to move. Eon took great pleasure in watching his army follow his orders, and delighted in how quickly they dropped everything to do his bidding.
"How are they developing?" Eon inquired, "My children, are they prepared for battle?"
"We believe so, Lord," Sir Heklaar replied, "They are vicious, relentless… none of our slave warriors have stood in battle against them for more than a minute."
"Slave warriors…" Eon spat, "Bah. You show me the prowess of my creations, Sir Heklaar, show me theirs or show me yours."
"…As you wish, Lord," The rest of the walk was short, and Sir Heklaar characteristically remained silent. Eon could not intercept his thoughts due to the fact that he was a Gaian, and thus, incompatible with the NaNe. This left Eon quite interested in what was about to ensue.
"Behold," Sir Heklaar announced as they came to a stop. He extended his hand outward as the two stood before a clearing, "Your creations."
The area was mostly empty save a wide tent that stood before a circle made of loose stones. Eon and Heklaar were the only ones visible, as everyone else was busy packing for the campaign. Eon stopped just short of one of the stones and looked to Heklaar.
"A great warrior you have proven to be thus far, my dear Heklaar," The king reached out and brushed a bit of dried blood from the Gaian's shoulder, "You have brought me much glory, and slain many of my enemies. Do you wish to continue serving me?"
"Until my final breath, Lord," Sir Heklaar answered unwaveringly.
"Your devotion pleases me," Eon praised his favorite Judge, "Let us see if you are strong enough to face the new Demon alongside me." Sir Heklaar nodded and pulled the giant maul from its sling hanging across his back. He and Eon turned toward the tent and watched.
"Bring forth the Maas'Eon!" Heklaar shouted.
Eon stood unmoving with anticipation. He listened to the sound of rustling coming from within the tent and heard a low animal-like growl emerge from t
he darkness. He looked up at Heklaar for a moment, and then back to the door of the structure.
"Awaken and observe, child," Eon summoned the conscience of his host Rubaan, "Observe these creatures, the realization of centuries of development. Understand that all that stands between them and those you love is your cooperation."
Rubaan awakened from his drug-induced slumber. At Eon's behest, he silently and fearfully observed.
"Maas'Eon," Eon whispered as Rubaan watched, "A name borrowed from the common tongue of the Age of Blood. Children of Eon… these are my creations, hewn from the bodies of the weak that they may know power."
One of the flaps that led into the tent was pulled aside by an unseen slave. For a moment nothing moved except for Sir Heklaar's torso as he steadily breathed in and out. All were silent. Everyone present was drenched in anticipation, and finally, the Maas'Eon emerged.
There were three of them. Each was naked and terrifying, and had the build of a toned Elf, though all had been surgically rendered genderless. Their skin was grey and smooth, save for the patch of scales that adorned their foreheads, and the scars left behind from their surgeries. They had no hands at the ends of their arms. Instead, they had half of what were once forearms, appendages that turned into shining curved serrated blades.
"Let this test of strength begin," Eon declared, as he fell back into a chair that a slave had brought him.
Sir Heklaar walked out into the circle of stones. He held his hammer tightly with both hands, keeping his eyes forward. Through his helmet, he watched the Maas'Eon and waited for any sign of movement. He felt his heart pounding from within his chest, and though he felt fear, he knew he had to repress it. He did not want to die that day.
The middle Maas'Eon stepped forward and twitched its head, never breaking eye contact with Heklaar. As it stared at him, Heklaar began to side-step around the beast. He was testing its ability to track him. To his dismay, it seemed fully and completely aware of his position and movements.
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