by Ross Buzzell
As the portal closes a wicked grin forms over Xero’s lips. He picks up his armor and begins to put it on. As he does the blue stone touches his bracer and fuses with it, the yellow energy of the Emissary is drawn into the bracer. As Xero begins to walk back toward the scanners, he catches a glimpse of himself in a reflective surface. His beard and hair had grown; it had been three months with him so focused on his task he had forgotten to shave. Xero presses his thumb and pointer finger together; a blue flame connects the two. Starting at his neck Xero slowly draws the beam up his face burning all of the hair from his skin. The stench of burning hair fills the laboratory but he does not mind. It was something he had been doing since boyhood. After shaving the prince looks at himself in the reflection. He looked stronger. The energy coursing through his body gave his eyes a slight glowing feature. He felt faster. He takes a closer look at himself and places a finger lightly on his slightly protruding brow. Xero shakes his head and opens a portal to the streets of his city. He steps through and the portal snaps shut behind him with a loud CRACK. Something they never had done before.
Xero stands on the streets of the crystalline capital city of Boron which buzzes with life. People walking here and there, to and from work going on with their daily lives. Xero’s arrival catches some of them off guard. They pause and smile at their prince; some even approach him before they stop. Looks of anguish fall on their faces. They begin to drop to their knees and groan in pain as they collapse to the ground. Anyone not affected by Xero turns and begins to run, screaming from the one who is supposed to keep them safe.
“My people, do not flee! A grave threat approaches, and only I may stop him from destroying this planet!”
A miner runs by. His skin rapidly turns to stone as he tries to escape Xero. The once noble High Prince, now corrupted by power and the influence of the figurine puts his hand out. The stone begins to glow as an earth toned aura flows from the miner. His skin gradually turns from stone to a peach white as he falls to the ground. As the last of the aura enters Xero, his skin shifts ever so slightly to a gray stone tinge. The sensation of power from the miner fills Xero. His body twitches slightly as he grows in strength. He looks down at his hands. Smiling to himself as a euphoric high begins to bombard his mind with the desire of more power. The stronger he would be the easier it would be for him to kill the Dark Titan once he arrived.
A low rumble fills the streets, Xero tilts his head, listening intently. Behind the rumbling he hears the faint flapping of wings. A loud whistle catches Xero’s attention; he looks up and sees an artillery projectile flying at him. Xero looks around for a moment. He sees dozens of people he’d affected collapsed but still alive around him. Xero puts up both his hands. An energy dome forms around them as the artillery shells hits, exploding in a mess of shrapnel and energy. The dome holds firm. A pleasant surprise to Xero as an impact of that magnitude would have shattered his shielding previously had it been stretched so thin. Xero’s shield protects both him and his victims.
Xero lowers the shield as he looks at the cannons being pushed down the streets toward him. Xero puts both his hands up as he cries out.
“Cease fire! You are going to harm civilians!”
The sounds of the wings flapping grow louder as Xero begins to approach the cannons. But he stops in his tracks as the flapping ceases. Xero slowly turns to see his brother standing aside his mount with the other five kings of Boron. Medics take the victims of Xero and pull them to safety as the streets clear for what everyone expects to be a bloodbath, Ro approaches his brother.
“Xero, my brother, what are you doing?”
“I am trying to get the strength needed to protect my people.
Xero responds in a cold, almost calculating tone as he remembers what his father said, that sometimes there needed to be sacrifice if the universe were to be kept safe.
“But you are hurting them, Xero. My brother please stop.”
Ro pleads.
“You are not evil.”
Xero takes a step back and puts his hand out; this causes Ro to stop and all of the kings to reach for their weapons. Each similar to that which Xero wields.
“I heard you coming from ten miles out Ro; I am getting stronger than ever. I have not turned against my people. All I wish is to save them.”
Xero’s voice is earnest, yearning to only do what is right by his planet. But the corruption he has sustained prevents him from seeing that he is inflicting massive casualties upon his people..
“Save them from what! You are the only thing that threatens them!”
Ro retorts.
“I am not! The Dark Titan is on his way and like him I must be the embodiment of all of my people as the Dark Titan is the cumulative strength of all his people. So must I be to destroy him!”
“So you steal their powers? Xero that will kill them!”
Xero shakes his head as if trying to get his mind right. Something in his brother’s words rings true to him. Ever since he started his work with the book, his mind had become increasingly clouded as the itch placed there nearly a year ago gradually became all-consuming. And since picking the stone up it had gone dark side.
“No, they will last long enough for me to complete my mission. Then I will return to them their strength.”
Ro looks at one of the medics who is scanning one of the victims of Xero. The medic shakes his head.
“My king, they are rapidly destabilizing. At this rate they won’t last three days.”
Ro looks at Xero and indicates to the sick.
“You see, you are killing them. Return their power now and this won’t get any worse. Do it for me, do it for Shey…”
Ro begins to walk toward his brother, his voice pleading.
“Xero, do it for Konner!”
Upon hearing the name Xero pauses for a moment. He looks at his brother and smiles.
“You and Shey?”
Ro nods with joy as hope reignites to stop his brother before it is to late.
“A baby boy, your nephew.”
Xero begins to think. His mind clears just enough for him to dwell on another object than his goals. He takes a step towards his brother. The stone flairs in his bracer and Ro’s face turns to that of the Dark Titan’s. This snaps Xero back to his single minded goal.
“All the more reason to stop the Dark Titan!”
Xero swings at his brother. The contact between the two is so great the royal families are pushed back from the force. Ro flies into a building smashing through the crystalline wall as if it were glass. The five kings draw their weapons which each project a different colored energy rifle. They unleash a barrage at Xero, kicking up dirt and causing explosions with each impact. Xero puts an arm up in front of his face as the rounds do nothing but slightly rattle him. Each explosion feeling like a tiny gust of wind to Xero. The only thing stopping him from returning fire was the lack of sight lines toward his targets. Blinded by dust Xero does not see Ro climb from the rubble and draw from under his cloak their father’s crystalline sword. Xero calls out to the kings as they cease fire.
“We absorb energy. What makes you think your puny weapons will harm me!”
Ro looks over at the paramedic who now lies on the ground coughing as well. Ro looks up at his brother.
“They weren’t trying to hurt you brother.”
Ro dashes at Xero. Xero gets himself grounded.
“They were just buying me time.”
Ro swings at his brother who dodges the attack; Xero draws his blade as a result of the attack.
“I’m the better fighter Ro. Please don’t make me kill you. I have spent the last three months mourning the day of your death. Please do not let it be this day.”
Ro shakes his head as he engages his brother.
“You have not. You have been researching in a book forbidden even for us!”
Xero deflects Ro’s attacks as both men dance in sword combat.
“And I have learned many great things.”
; Ro and Xero lock blades. Xero smiles at the increased skill of his brother.
“Like I see you have!”
Ro shoves off his brother and regains his footing. He calls out to his brother.
“Xero, we are different from the rest of our people!”
Xero puts his bracer up for Ro to see the stone.
“I know. Our genetics allow us to take the power of those around us.”
“Why can you not see that some powers are not meant to be unleashed?!”
Ro charges his brother. Xero puts out his hand and unleashes a storm of energy both through the High King and ripping energy from him. Screaming in agony Ro fights against the attack and continues to press on. Pushing back against the force of the blasts Ro moves closer to his brother with each labored stop. Xero’s heart races, exhilarated at the rush of power coursing through him. So blinded by the intoxicating power he does not see that Ro’s skin begins to wrinkle, that he begins to weaken.
Closing his eyes Xero takes a deep breath. Intoxicated by power, the corrupted part of him pushes him on to the point he is blinded to the fact that Ro had fought his way up to Xero. With a single swing of their father’s sword Xero’s bracer is cut from his body, the blue Boronite falls to the ground with the bracer. At the sensation that his source of unlimited power had been cut, Xero opens his eyes to see the hilt of his father’s blade slam into his face. Everything goes dark.
“My king, we must execute him.”
The sound of the Emissary’s voice is frantic and weak. It sounds as if it were far away as consciousness begins to creep back to the prince. Xero slowly opens his eyes. Everything is blurry.
“No, out of the question. We have never executed our own kind. We cannot start now!”
‘Ro, is that you?’ Xero tries to speak but is unable. Something seemed different about his brother’s voice. It was still his but different. It sounded weaker, older. Slowly Xero blinks the world into focus. As he does Xero attempts to rub his eyes but his hands are jerked to a sudden stop and the sounds of chains rattling fills the room. Looking down Xero sees his hands bound in chains. Slowly his senses return to him. The smell of the room is wet and moldy, the floor cold. Bars are on the far end of a tiny cell too short for him to stand up fully. The feeling hits Xero like a ton of bricks. He is in a cell, an ancient cell that has not been used in a thousand years. Slowly Xero stands up, hunched over as to avoid the ceiling. He approaches the gate, his head throbbing with each shuffled step.
Peering through the bars he sees the Emissary, pail and sickly leaning against one of the walls. Across from her is his brother, appearing to have aged fifty years. The once young, strong man was now much frailer. The sound of Xero approaching the gate catches both Ro and the Emissary’s attention. Tears fill Xero’s eyes as the knot in his stomach grows, his heart breaking for what he had done. Not only had he betrayed his people, but also destroyed his brother, the one who had stood beside him his entire life.
“Ro, please, I am so sorry.”
Xero speaks while choking back tears. He falls to his knees.
“I am sorry for what I’ve done to you, to our people. I can restore you. I can restore them all; just give me a chance to redeem myself.”
Xero looks up at Ro, tears burning his eyes and streaming down his cheeks with regret for what he had done.
“Let me fix this my king. Then I will accept any punishment you deep worthy to bestow upon me, even if it is death.”
Ro approaches his brother and places his hand through the bar.
“Be careful my king!”
The Emissary cries out. Ro turns and shakes his head at her. She quiets herself. Ro addresses his brother, his words, gentle yet stern.
“You can’t. We tried to use the stone to restore those you drained which only made the plague worse. It’s spreading like wildfire. One in every ten are already becoming ill. We had to destroy the stone.”
Xero looks at his brother fervently and shakes his head.
“Please tell me you didn’t.”
Ro nods reluctantly.
“We sent it into the heart of our day star. If it survived, no one will be able to use its power again.”
Xero slowly stands to his feet, looking his brother in the eyes. He glances at the Emissary; his heart breaks for her as well. Furious she clenches her jaw and growls at Xero.
“The only reason I am still alive is because I absorbed that book. You tried to kill me!”
“Emissary!”
Ro interrupts her.
“Go and oversee the construction of the pad. Make sure it will be ready for tonight.”
Reluctantly she obeys and leaves the jail. Xero looks at his brother, confused.
“How long have I been out?”
“We kept you under for three weeks. While there may not be a cure we have found a planet, nearly uninhabited where this sickness will not have such a potent effect.”
Four guards enter the prison. Three in gold and black armor, the fourth, their commander in crimson and black all armed with spears. They approach the cell. Xero looks at his brother in panic as Ro steps back from the cage.
“Ro, what are they doing here?”
Ro shakes his head, the guilt of banishing his only brother weighing on him heavily.
“I’m sorry Xero, but as High King, sometimes difficult choices must be made.”
Ro turns and begins to leave. Xero’s panic is quickly replaced by anger as he slams himself against the bars.
“You would disgrace me like this?!”
Ro stops. He shakes his head.
“No brother, your armor has been melted down. I forged it myself into the ring of the king’s. So while you will leave with the sick, your legacy here will survive.”
Ro turns and disappears up the stairs. Xero grabs the bars and begins to pull on them. Slowly the start to bend under his strength.
“YOU CAN NOT DO THIS TO ME!”
He roars. The guard in the crimson armor jabs his spear into Xero’s side. A jolt of energy surges through Xero’s body causing him to seize up and fall to the ground. The guards open the door and move Xero’s cuffs to lock around his neck, hoisting the giant to his feet. All four point their spears at Xero’s neck as they begin to escort the former prince out of his cell.
The sense of betrayal from his brother was so overpowering that Xero’s guilt was quickly replaced by rage. Being lead out of the prison’s basement and onto the streets, Xero sees the true devastation that he had caused. Tens of thousands of people are all lined up and walking onto a pad one group at a time. All of them are sick from the plague Xero had unwittingly released. Having gone from just a dozen to this many in three weeks must have been the Dark Titan’s plan all along. As the fact that he was just a pawn dawns on him, the rage inside begins to grow even more. As Xero’s group is put onto the platform and the guards back away, Xero looks down at his brother who has only sorrow in his eyes for Xero. Shey stands beside him, supporting him, her belly beginning to show with his nephew growing inside. Ro reluctantly reaches down to his bracer and presses the coordinates for the planet where this batch was to go. The royal crest begins to glow on the bracer and with an indecisive movement, the High King hesitatingly presses the glyph. A bright flash of white light consumes not only Xero but those who are ill around him.
Chapter: 15
The blinding light slowly fades around Xero and the infected. Xero’s eyes shut tightly at the brilliance of the teleportation pad. A soft wind kisses his skin, the rustle of grass fills his ears, but most notably there were no coughs, hacks or wheezes coming from those who were sick. Xero opens his eyes slowly. Around him stood a group of Boronians who were no longer ill. The ailment he had started seemed to be cured. The former prince looks around at the blue sky, the golden fields and the white sun. He takes a deep breath as he feels his body begin to grow stronger from the light of the nearby star, after being unconscious for three weeks. After a brief moment he begins to pull on the chains that bind hi
m. The Boronians around him scatter in fear. With one final heave the steel holding Xero captive bends to his will before breaking entirely. Xero rips himself free from his bonds and looks around at his people. The ones he is responsible for their fall from grace.
For a moment Xero feels sorrow for his people. The sorrow is rapidly replaced by the rage he feels for his brother as the darkness in his mind swirls. He begins to walk away from the crowd which causes one of the men to fall and gash his hand on a rock. The Boronian puts a hand up and pleads to Xero.
“P-please don’t kill us.”
Xero looks down at the man. The sight of blood was interesting to say the least, for on his home world his people did not bleed unless it was in battle or because of medicine.