The Man Without Hands

by Eric Malikyte

  What were they doing to her?

  If the Shar were able to project and speak directly into his mind, they must also be able to shut others out from hearing their voices when they wished to.

  It became clear once they reached the top of the stairs that the shouting was coming from within the court chamber. Takarus controlled his breath, taking care to step lightly up to those stone steps, just as he’d done in the third trial. Kirana did the same, falling in close behind him.

  Takarus looked in horror through the open vaulted door into the court chamber. Panic seized his limbs once more as he stared at the two horned silhouettes perched over a lump of black and red robes.

  Had the Shar not heard his father smash the doors in?

  Fearing for his life, Takarus scrambled to the edge of the door. His breath was short, his heart crawling into his throat.

  Kirana followed him, glaring into the chamber, clenching her teeth. To hear Geidra openly admit defeat was probably not an easy thing to stomach. Still, she should have been more fearful.

  Go on, children, the Shar said.

  Takarus screamed, backing into his sister.

  “You fool!” Kirana shouted, her voice a mix of anger and terror. “You’ve given us away!”

  Come on out, it said.

  This one sounded...it felt different from the others when it spoke into his mind.

  We know you’re there. Join us, why don’t you. If you give us what we want, we won’t kill you.

  Takarus looked back to Kirana. She shook her head, fear ghosting her face.

  Don’t bother cowering behind that doorway, the Shar said. There is no escape.

  He had to make a decision—and hope his father knew what he was doing. He stood up and entered the court room, fighting the fatigue and fear that threatened to cripple his legs. The altars and seats where the other Elders would have sat were smashed to pieces. Blood and limbs littered the chamber. A remnant of the short, pointless battle that Geidra and the other Elders had fought.

  That’s why they came here? Takarus thought. To kill the Council?

  The two Shar stood glowing in the center of the spherical room, lit by putrid violet auras that corrupted the air around them. One was seven feet tall, and built like a mountain, while the other was closer to their height, and very thin. Elder Geidra lay helpless beneath them, blood oozing from a wound in her chest. There was something protruding out of the skinny arm of the Shar that crouched over her, pinning her to the stone floor.

  Kirana cursed and rushed past Takarus, flaring her barrier, but the other Shar was too quick; with a simple swipe of its claw, the stone floor in front of Kirana exploded and crumbled. She skidded to a stop, teetering over the edge momentarily.

  Don’t do anything stupid, children, the Shar said. Or I will retract my bargain.

  “You said that before,” Takarus said, fighting through his terror. “What do you want?”

  “Do not listen to these creatures, children!” The Elder reached out, squinting her battered left eye, blood staining her teeth. “Malo’thul’s Seed deal in lies, and they will kill you regardless of—”

  The Shar that had her impaled twisted the spiked protrusion that came from its forearm. Elder Geidra screamed.

  She has exposed us, the big one said.

  Sickening laughter pierced the very ether of the chamber.

  If Malo’thul’s Seed weren’t Shar... What the hell were they?

  Kirana wasn’t listening; she looked like she was about to leap over the gap in the floor to defend the High Elder. Takarus placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. He imagined that the horn, or blade, that protruded from the creature’s arm to pierce Geidra, was retractable. Whatever the creature was, it had complete control of the Elder, and it was even possible that keeping that spike in her body was what was keeping her alive.

  “Speak, Shar,” Kirana said. “We’ll hear your offer.”

  Did you not hear your Elder? I am not the Shar, girl. My name is Auren, the smaller creature said, the air around its body rippling as if it were on fire; the illusion fading into a putrid mist. What crouched over High Elder Geidra’s body was indescribably horrific. A creature which stood on eight segmented, stabbing legs, like some kind of giant sea scorpion, with a thrashing spiked tail. Its aura sent violet arcs of light over its rough, shell-like exterior, and revealed the large spike as a protrustion from one of its front mandibles, lodged in Geidra’s chest. Its glowing, golden eyes, set on an immense, bulbous cranium, peered through him, through his very soul, crippling Takarus and bringing him to his knees. And I am one of Malo’Thul’s Seed. I have great influence. We can offer you amnesty and immunity from the crimes you’ve committed.

  “Crimes? What crimes!” Kirana jabbed her finger out at the creature. “You’re the ones who attacked us!”

  Where was Father?

  This is not so. The creature named Auren gestured outwardly with one of its appendages. You have been sending your spies into our territory for hundreds of processions, breaching our borders and killing our drones.

  “Your ‘people’ nearly drove us to extinction!” Kirana’s aura was ablaze, lighting the greying darkness and clashing with Auren’s own putrid violet aura. “We did what we had to to ensure our survival!”

  We were in a war; this is what happens in wars, little girl. Auren chuckled. Would you not have done the same to us, had you the chance?

  “We’re not monsters like you,” Kirana said.

  Malo’thul created both our peoples, and you slapped your creator in the face by revolting. What choice did Malo’thul have but to create the Shar to hunt you down?

  “Malo’Thul created us?” Kirana shook her head. “That can’t be. It deceived usit came down from the shadow of Aula’kar to offer us gifts, but the gifts were poison in our mouths. It promised us the world, and then gave it to the Masku instead!”

  “Malo’thul is not a god,” Geidra said, gripping the horn that pierced her. “Do not listen to them!”

  You are also the ones who are about to be wiped out of existence, Auren said. Think carefully on what you say, Elder. It returned its glowing yellow eyes to gaze upon Takarus, who felt tears spilling forth from his eyes. Malo’thul gave you promises, yes, but saw the treachery in your hearts. Even then, you planned to betray us. What is it to beings as old as us to crush you lot?

  “I think we’ve heard enough of Malo’thul.” Kirana’s aura was raging, betraying her intentions, her righteous anger. “Tell us what you want so we can consider your bargain.”

  Ah, yes, to the point. How I admire the spirit of youth. We desire the locations of the mines where you procure ore used to create amplifier weapons, as well as the locations of all the mines your people used in this region during the war so long ago. Auren’s massive head tilted, eyes hovering over Elder Geidra. Your Elder refuses, but perhaps you may be more accommodating, yes?

  “They don’t know anything,” Geidra said, coughing up a wad of black and crimson fluid onto her robes. “You’re wasting your breath.”

  “We don’t use amplifier weapons.” Takarus shook his head. “It is forbidden.”

  “We don’t know how to give you what you want,” Kirana said.

  You’ve forbidden them from using amplifier weapons? Auren laughed again, a laughter that seemed to give the shadows in the court a sickening weight. Your people were so proud of your discovery too!

  The bigger creature stomped forward, creating great tremors in the floor and rattling the pillars, its illusion finally fading to reveal a creature that was still a seven-foot mountain, but its true skin was a brown-and-white film, like the flesh of a worm, its chest covered in hideous black eyes with white pupils, and a head that was nothing more than a mouth agape and filled with blackened teeth that jutted up from the concave portion of its open maw. You will tell us where the mines are, or these children will die now!

  “It is a thing we keep closely guarded, creature,” Geidra said, grinning. “Besides. The
mines here were bled dry of the ore you seek eons ago. You’ve come all this way for nothing.”

  A pity. Auren lifted its other claw into the air, ready to strike down the High Elder. She closed her eyes, accepting her fate. We’ll just have to settle with the extinction of your species!

  Then the walls on either side of them exploded with a light so bright that for a moment it blinded Takarus. When his eyes adjusted, he saw his father burst through the falling rubble, a wave of blinding-white energy trailing behind him as he charged at the one called Auren.

  Father stopped several feet in front of the creatures, then thrust his arms out, sending the wave of light out like a curtain, or a sheet tossed out to cover the room. Even as he did, Auren created a barrier around itself and Geidra, and the energy washed over the creature’s body like raging river water crashing over a boulder.

  Ah, so like your ancestors, Auren said. We extend a generous bargain, and you lie waiting to betray us!

  Auren stood its ground as Father faced the two creatures. The big one began to pace around him, flanking him. The feeling coming off of them...it felt like Sulen! Just being in the presence of it made the room feel like it was spinning, like reality itself would come apart from the sheer force of their power.

  What a foolish action you pursue, Valier, the big one said. We hold the life of your High Elder in our hands, and you attack blindly. There was a time when your limited numbers were to be feared for your brilliant strategy. Is it possible that hiding in these caves has dimmed your wits?

  “I do not attack blindly,” Father said. Something was wrong. Sweat was dripping over his brow, soaking his cloak and clothes. He couldn’t have tired himself out so much from scaling the side of the tower, could he? “My Elder, what are your orders?”

  Elder Geidra smiled. “Whatever you have planned, do it. It’s pierced my heart. Once it removes that blade, I will die anyway.”

  His father nodded gravely. “As I suspected. I’m sorry we did not arrive sooner.”

  “You’ve done your duty, Valier.” She closed her eyes. “Nothing more can be asked of you.”

  His father nodded again, then relaxed his posture and closed his eyes.

  What are you planning—

  The entire tower shook violently. Takarus fell forward on his hands and knees, and he saw Auren retract the strange protrusion from Elder Geidra’s chest—it coiled like a snake back into one of its front appendages, yet it gleamed metallic in the light of their clashing auras. Geidra fell limp on the floor. His sister screamed.

  He could feel the floor shifting, his feet sliding. He rolled into Kirana and grabbed onto her as down became up. His father was running toward them, Auren chasing after, all eight of its legs scurrying across the crumbling stone floor as its horrible mouth opened.

  Auren fired out a blast from its maw that hammered into father’s back as he leapt and tackled them both.

  “You two must survive at all costs!”

  The last thing Takarus remembered was his father shielding them as the ceiling and the tower came crashing down on top of them.

  Then it is death that you choose, Auren said. So be it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CORY

  The base was some distance up the slope, cleverly disguised as an abandoned ski resort. The sentries and snipers that camped out at the top of hidden guard towers told a different tale, however.

  “Fuck.” Sal hissed and dropped to the ground when he saw the first sniper. He was far more nimble than Kurt would have thought. “Nobody said anything about guns. Are we hitting a goddamn black site?”

  Linda was hiding behind a tree, gripping her chest as though she were having a heart attack.

  “And nobody asked you to participate, Masku,” Kurt said, walking past the two cowards. “Allow me to take care of this predicament.”

  Kurt left Sal and Linda behind, strolling calmly into the center of the ski resort. He made no attempt to disguise himself, appearing just as he was. None of these men were going to live anyway.

  A bright neon dot of light appeared on his chest before long, followed by three others.

  “Stop!” came a voice from a place high above him. “Turn your ass around and go back the way you came!”

  Kurt could see three other men from where he was. He smiled deeply. It had been so long since he’d gotten exercise. He spread his stumps out and formed barrier hands over them.

  “If you do not back away, I will open fire!”

  Kurt did not move. He smiled. “I am waiting.”

  “CRAZY MOTHERFUCKER, OPEN FIRE!”

  The first shot rang off his barrier and ricocheted through the false entrance of the ski resort. There were more shots, followed by frustrated curses and confused shouting. Kurt bent into a crouch and poured Sulen into his legs, preparing for the jump.

  He sprang through the air, up to the first perch, where the sniper who had threatened him now stood. The man was in white body armor, lightly stamped with camouflage markings. He tried to run before Kurt landed next to him, but by then it was much too late.

  Kurt dropped his barrier and grabbed the soldier by a toughened piece of Kevlar on his back, then tossed him clear across the shooting gallery. His body cracked against a tree, landed in the snow with a thud and did not move again. Two more shots rang through the air, one catching him in the shoulder, another hissing by his left ear. The bullet did little more than bruise Kurt’s skin. It was an amusing feeling, in fact. He barely even needed his barrier technique to deal with the weapons these Masku were so proud of.

  With a wave of his hand, Kurt lit the air ablaze, catching the other two snipers on fire. They fell to their deaths, screaming and flailing. One made friends with the concrete below, and the other impaled himself on a pole.

  Kurt jumped down. His feet made craters in the snow.

  “You can come out now,” Kurt said. “They’re dead.”

  Sal and Linda came out of hiding, staying low to the ground.

  “What the fuck was that, man?” Sal asked.

  “An example of what will happen should either of you cross me,” Kurt said.

  Linda said nothing, only stared at Kurt. Her eyes were poisoned with fear. He’d seen that look before. The first time he’d seen it was when he revealed himself to a group of Masku in his youth, right after he’d blasted their Elder’s head to a bloody mess. When they saw what their Elder had really been, they had been less willing to hurt him, but they’d always feared him from then on out.

  That was when he learned that there is power in fear.

  From here on Linda would do exactly as he said, when he said.

  “Come, there will be more of them inside,” Kurt said.

  “Those guys aren’t wearing military uniforms,” Sal said. “They’re all in white. No identifiable markings.”

  “I think you were right,” Linda said, looking to Sal. “This is a military black site.”

  Kurt turned around and headed toward the false front doors of the ski resort.

  They appeared to be boarded up, featuring an orange contamination sticker plastered across every one of the slabs of wood. Kurt kicked them in, revealing a stone facade within; the stone gave way beneath his boot as well, until an opening appeared.

  There was a guard station within. The sound of crashing stone had alerted more armored soldiers to his presence. They rushed forward, pistols and rifles drawn on him. This time Kurt decided to save his stamina.

  For if a weakened Sulekiel could be harmed by daggers and swords, then the same could happen with their bullets. Eventually.

  His barrier hands vanished, his legs found a broad stance, and he thrust his right stump out at the fools. His stump flashed, and a single lightning bolt struck through every soldier in the room. They dropped dead, their flesh seared and smoking, filling the room with the distinct aroma of scorched flesh.

  The next wave of soldiers were dealt with in a similar fashion. It was like squishing insects with the heel of his
boot. Before long, they neared a sealed door that read RESTRICTED AREA with a strange device and a keypad next to it.

  “That’s a retinal reader,” Sal said. “You’ll need the security card and the commanding officer’s eyeball.”

  Kurt glanced back at Sal and Linda and said nothing. They seemed to get the point and hid around the corner.

  He reached back, and, before long, thrust his hands forward at the wall. A blinding white light filled with pure Sulen incinerated the door in front of him. The hallway behind was filled with smoke, and what remained of the wall pulsed with a crimson glow.

  Sal and Linda followed him closely, their steps increasingly more reluctant, filled with pauses.

  Before long, the lights cut out along the white corridor they traversed.

  “I don’t know who the hell you think you are.” A voice echoed through the hall, probably a sound system similar to what they’d had in the asylum they had kept him in. “But you’re not going one step further.”

  “And you seem to think that turning out the lights is going to impede my progress?” Kurt said. “What is the phrase I’m looking for? Ah, yes. How quaint.”

  “I think it gives us a chance to talk.”

  “He’s stalling,” Sal said.

  “You think I don’t know that?” Kurt brightened the corridor with his own aura.

  The soldiers who had tried to flank them ducked back around the corner.

  “How amusing.” A wicked chuckle bellowed from Kurt’s throat. “Thinking the dark would conceal your movements. What other tricks are you going to employ here?”

  “What in the Sam—” The speakers cut out briefly. “—I’m curious, stranger. Where did you learn to do that?”

  Kurt sighed. “I really don’t have time for your inane questions. Clear out of my way or I’m going to kill every last one of your men to get what I want.”

  “And what is that, exactly?”

  “Your Dark Pyramid has something that I need within it.”

  “Another goddamned conspiracy wacko! There is no dark pyramid, you idiot! This is a top-secret training post—”