by Paul Ormond
“It’s not crazy,” Gareth said. “We talked about this in Ms. Pitchford’s class. This Spanish guy was able to conquer the all of Mexico with only a couple thousand guys.”
“His name was Pizarro, and he conquered the Incans with three hundred soldiers,” Candace said.
“Easy there, encyclopedia Mcallister. It doesn’t matter how many it was.” Gareth said. “But they were able to do it because they had guns and the Incans didn’t.”
“And they also had a bunch of diseases too,” Candace said. “Most of the indigenous people were wiped out by smallpox, not guns.”
“That’s exactly my point,” Gareth said. “Those people were killed off because they didn’t have any guns.”
“And they weren’t immune to smallpox,” Candace said.
“So as long as we’ve got the technology that is in on par with the invaders we’ve got a chance,” Gareth said.
“Unless we all get space pox,” Sage said.
“If that happens then we’re probably screwed, but we’re all still alive right now and the solution is sitting right in this room,” Gareth said.
“And all we have to do is form a resistance army and fight off a horde of alien invaders,” Candace said. “If any of this is even real.”
“If it isn’t real, then this is a pretty elaborate hoax,” Sage said. “And if Edwards is slapping her name across this, then there has to be something going on here.”
“And we don’t have enough information to make a call on it,” Candace said.
Before anyone had a chance to reply, a flash of light filled the room and the holographic image of Mitch Mythic manifested itself on top of Shaundra’s coffee table.
“Greetings freedom fighters,” Mitch Mythic said as he bowed his head.
“This never stops feeling creepy,” Candace said. “Who the hell is controlling all of this, anyway? Is somebody watching us right now.”
“This program is designed as a mass communication system,” Mitch said. “Several blockades have been put in place In order to deter any attempts to track the source of the signal. Therefore, a direct attempt at communication is impossible. This signal you are receiving is an interactive update. I am here to inform you of the next stage of your mission.”
“Since when did we have a mission?” Candace asked as the holographic turned to face her.
“Your mission began before you found the egg,” Mitch said. “You sought the truth and now it stands before you.”
“How can you prove to us that any of this is true?” Candace said, crossing her arms.
“I don’t need to convince you, Candace McAllister. For you already know the truth which lies in your heart. If you didn’t believe any of this, you wouldn’t be standing here,” Mitch said.
“How come you know so much about us?” Gareth asked. “And what kind of program are you?”
“The program you are speaking to is an interactive artificial intelligence program designed to dispense information in a more human fashion,” Mitch said. “To answer your second question, your personal information is easily obtained through a variety of established sources. It is not difficult to gather a reasonable profile of an individual possessing an online identity.”
“Who is the brains behind this operation?” Sage asked. “If we commit to all of this, I’d like to know a little more about what or who I am taking orders from.”
“Everything will be revealed in time,” Mitch said. “The plan we are putting into action has been in the planning stages for years. Acquiring the information necessary to build these units accelerated our operation. All of this was made available by Mitch Mythic and his companion.”
“Drak,” Sage said. “He’s the guy that started all of this. If not for him, we probably wouldn’t be in this mess.”
“If not for him, we would already be enslaved. His contributions are great and numerous, but his most significant act was making the information available to all,” Mitch said. “The device before you is the result of his effort. You should be praising him instead of heaping scorn.”
“You know that isn’t what I meant,” Sage said. “I get that he did a lot. I’m just not all that excited about having to go to war against a bunch of aliens.”
“No one is excited about the prospects of war,” Mitch said. “But we must prepare for the worst. Based on the activity of the powers that be, we must assume that their plan is already in motion. We have also received information from a source that indicates a great deal of activity beneath the surface of Kingsford. It is believed that our enemies will use this location as a forward operating base on the surface.”
“That is just typical,” Gareth said. “What is it about Kingsford that they like so much?”
“It is difficult to say exactly, but the best guess is that the energy the enemy needs to power their devices is concentrated at a high level beneath your town,” Mitch said.
“And you want us to go in there and kick some ass?” Sage asked.
“At this point in time, any attack would be suicide,” Mitch said. “For the time being, we want you to focus your efforts on making contact with other operatives active on DeathWorld.”
“After Mitchapolooza you want us to go back in there?” Shaundra asked. “They just told everybody to go hunt down anyone that seems suspicious and report them to the government.”
“This only exposes how desperate they are to control this situation,” Mitch said. “Although it appears that the powers that be have the upper hand, our network is vast and ubiquitous. We have distributed over 10 million units globally and those have all been received by individuals loyal to our cause. But they are scattered and isolated. On their own they can be easily dealt with, but together they will be a force strong enough to repel an external threat. We need you to help unify our cause. This situation is about to escalate, and we have several plans ready to come into effect that will disrupt our opponent's strength and rally our supporters under a common flag. But we need experienced soldiers to lead the way.”
“I’m not sure if you haven’t noticed, but we are all teenagers here,” Candace said. “Do you really think a bunch of kids stand a chance against all of this?”
“They have been using kids as cannon fodder since the dawn of time,” Gareth said.
“Kids in the army?” Candace said.
“Not little kids, but kids our age have been fighting wars for old men forever,” Gareth said. “If anybody is going to win this fight, it is going to be us.”
“So you want to go along with all of this insanity?” Candace asked.
“If things keep going the way they have been, I’d like to say I was on the right side of history when it’s all over with,” Gareth said. “It would be a little different if this was our first time. Maybe then I would be more skeptical, but I know what I saw when we fought against MindHIve, and I know my friend is missing. Mitch told us everything he knew, even though he was aware that we all thought he was crazy. If we didn’t listen to him then, who knows what would’ve happened. And now he is standing in Shaundra’s living room telling us to join in the fight again.”
“You know that isn’t him, right?” Sage said.
“I’m not an idiot, Sage,” Gareth said. “But I’m just saying, Mitch was right last time.”
“But this isn’t even Mitch,” Sage said.
“It doesn’t matter,” Gareth said. “The evidence speaks for itself. I’m not going to stick my head in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening. When it all goes down, I’m going to be standing right at the front lines because I know that is what Mitch would do.”
“I said I wanted to get to the bottom of all this, but I’m not sure if I like the direction this is taking,” Sage said. “What happens if we are getting played? They could be luring us into a trap.”
“Then we’ll fight our way out of it,” Candace said. “But Gareth is right. We can’t stick our heads in the sand. We’ve come this far. We’ll see it through to the end.”
<
br /> CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“THAT DOES NOT look like the welcome committee,” Mitch said while peering into the valley below.
“It’s not like it is some kind of surprise,” SoHee said. “Kalis did say that the planet was occupied by the Masters’ forces.”
“According to the agreement with my father, the Masters have a small contingency of soldiers stationed here to monitor activities,” Kalis said, watching a pair of orange and black soldiers patrol past an arched stone opening. “Unfortunately for us, they set up their base adjacent to our target.”
“That’s the Constronominum? I guess I was expecting a huge building or something,” Mitch said as he looked down on the crumbling pillars arranged in a wide circle at the center of the valley.
“It’s an ancient structure much like the location where we opened the portal on Chalthantar,” Kalis said.
“I get that, but the name ‘Constronominum’ kind of made it sound like a big deal. It just looks like all the other piles of rocks we keep running into,” Mitch said.
“The Masters seem to think it is quite a big deal,” SoHee said. “And we’re going to need a plan to get past those soldiers.”
“If I can find a way to make contact with my father, I will inform him of your plight,” Kalis said. “I’m sure he will be sympathetic to this cause. He still doesn’t know what happened to us on Jarkadu. Once he finds out that Holrathu violated their arrangement and attempted to sacrifice me, he will have no choice but to bring up arms against the Masters once more.”
“Although your father has a right to be angry, I don’t think an overt attack is wise at this moment,” SoHee said. “It is no coincidence that we arrived on Thylocene on Ancestral day. We will make tonight's festivities one to remember in many ways. Tell me more about what this ceremony entails.”
“It is a very elaborate ordeal focused around the sacrifice of the Malwut at footsteps of the gate,” Kalis said as she dropped down behind a rock. “People from all over the kingdom will travel here to pay their respects to the gods. As we speak, they are preparing for the procession of the Malwut in the city of Trenu. This city is the home of the royal palace, the house of my father. All the people will gather at the steps of the palace at nightfall, where my father will give the royal blessing to the malwut. After he speaks, the priests will lead the malwut to the Constronominum followed by flocks of people.”
“And the Masters just let this all happen?” Mitch asked.
“The Masters have a high respect for my peoples’ traditions and they believe the Constronominum is a source of great power,” Kalis said. “But we should expect a heavy security presence accompanying this procession. There have been attempts to disrupt the proceedings in the past by terrorists and rebels. This Master Brogun those hunters spoke of is supposed to be a particularly brutal overlord. I’m sure he will be watching this ceremony with great interest.”
“Then we will have to give him a show to remember,” SoHee said.
“What are you planning to do?” Kalis asked.
“As I said told those hunters earlier, this malwut of theirs has been blessed by the Goddess. Therefore, they can expect to be visited by the Gods on this special night,” SoHee said. “How difficult will it be for you to get word to your father?”
“I know several passages into the palace that are only accessible to those of royal status,” Kalis said. “I will have to deliver the message to my father directly because I fear we cannot trust the guards. What message do you wish to deliver?”
“He must have soldiers loyal to him,” SoHee said. “Tell him to prepare a squadron he trusts and disguise them in the crowd. When they receive the signal, they must attack the Masters forces.”
“What kind of signal?” Kalis asked.
“The kind of signal that is hard to miss,” SoHee said. “When this malwut reaches the altar, something unexpected is going to happen. In the chaos that follows, the soldiers must attack.”
“What will you do after that?” Kalis asked.
“With my powers I’m going to attempt to open the gateway.”
“This will bring war to our doorstep for sure,” Kalis said.
“It is only a matter of time before they bring the boot down on your people in retaliation for your escape. Therefore, it is better to strike first in these situations while their guard is down.”
“But that will be suicide for my people,” Kalis said.
“Not exactly,” SoHee said. “Although the Masters seem like an unstoppable force, they are limited in their resources just the same as any army. They are currently engaged in a fight on Chalthantar, and they are planning a conquest of Earth. An uprising on Thylocene will only stretch their forces thinner. History has shown how difficult it is to fight a war on multiple fronts. Once other systems learn of our actions, those dissatisfied with the Masters rule will join us in our revolution.”
“So now you’re calling this a revolution?” Mitch said.
“What would you like to call it?” SoHee asked.
“I hadn’t really thought about that,” Mitch said. “I know it sounds selfish, but I’d still like to get home.”
“That’s just the thing,” SoHee said. “The home you long for is a thing of the past. If we return to Earth, which I am sure we will, you may not recognize the place from when you left.”
“That’s what I am afraid of,” Mitch said. “And that’s why I want to hurry back there.”
“Rushing back to Earth is not going to solve anything,” SoHee said. “We are not fighting for the past anymore. We are fighting for the future.”
“And what kind of future is that?” Mitch asked.
“A future free of the Masters for one,” SoHee said.
“I’m all for that, but I’m not sure if that’s possible,” Mitch said. “We may have all of these fancy powers now, but they’ve got a massive army that spans across universes.”
“Now is not the time to lose hope,” SoHee said. “Nothing in this universe, or any other, is permanent. A great change is coming. I can feel it in everything I touch. Things are going to accelerate very quickly as we progress, so we need to stay focused on the task at hand. And that task is opening the gateway at the center of the Constronominum. Kalis you have your mission, Mitch and I will take care of the rest. Go to your father and convince him to attack. If he wants his people to be free of this terrible yoke, there is no other way. Do not return to us. Join in with your father’s soldiers and participate in the battle.”
“As much as I want to disagree with you, I don’t see any other way,” Kalis said before she moved away from the rock. “I will get it done. We will await your signal.”
“It will be impossible to miss,” SoHee said, watching Kalis move into the brush on the hillside.
“Ok, you can stop being vague now,” Mitch said after Kalis disappeared from view. “What the hell are you trying to pull off here?”
“Oh Mitch, I thought you liked surprises,” SoHee said, rising to her feet. “But you should stop arguing and save your strength. You are going to need all of it when you take on Master Brogun.”
“That’s just typical, send me in to duke it out with some metal head, while you put on a show,” Mitch said.
“Somebody has to be the muscle in our operation,” SoHee said before she dropped into the tree line. “As soon as we make our move, Master Brogun will surely ascend on the altar with all his wrath. You’ll have to fend him off while I open the portal.”
“Sounds like fun,” Mitch said. “But I still don’t understand what the hell it is you plan on doing.”
“You’ll see soon enough,” SoHee said as they made their way past the thick blue tree trunks on the slope of the hill.
Stepping over a pile of sludge, Kalis edged her way along the drainage pipe toward a set of rungs embedded in the stone wall.
“Still here,” she said under her breath while mounting the ladder and ascending into a dark passage overhead.
As she
reached the top of the ladder, she leaped onto a ledge on the opposite wall and shuffled to her right. Reaching out with her left leg, she found the footing she was looking for and stepped onto a wooden platform without making a sound.
After catching her breath, she made her way down a darkened passage before stopping at the base of a spiraling staircase. The sounds of people toiling away echoed down the passage along with the smell of food. The staff of the palace were busy preparing for the feast that would be offered to the festival goers after the sacrifice at the mount. Familiar scents wafted up her nose, and she allowed herself to salivate for a moment as the smells brought back a buffet of nostalgia.
Shaking herself free from her sentimental day dream, she crept up the spiral passage and stopped at a landing. A sliver of afternoon light streamed through a slit on the wall and cut across the staircase. She leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the narrow crack and heard another pair of voices within.
“This whole thing feels like a sham,” a man’s voice said. “How are we supposed to attend these festivities with beaming faces when we spend our day under the boot of those mechanical lunatics?”
“We must keep up appearances, or the people will suffer further, your highness,” the voice of another man said.
“You don’t have to explain it to me like I’m some kind of idiot Prince of little consequence, Dormund,” the man said. “I am Prontus, the King of Thylocene, and this whole situation is my making. Perhaps I agreed to this insanity, but now I’m starting to regret it. It would have been better if we had’ve fought to the death when the war first broke out. At least then I could’ve died with honor and not be trotted out in front of my people to spoon feed them lies.”
“It is the duty of a king to ensure the safety of his people,” Dormund said.
“It is the duty of a King to fight for his people. Because we didn’t fight, no one is safe. My daughter has been lost and I am standing here preparing myself to suffer another humiliation,” the King said. “You can leave me now. I can handle the rest of it. I may be a king, but I can dress myself.”