Kitreena exited the transport behind him, followed by Damien. Twenty-five armed soldiers followed, racing past the three to form a perimeter of brown around the clearing. To either side of the ship, additional soldiers poured from two more transports, bringing the entire landing force to nearly eighty. They stood with rifles raised, eyes fixed on the forest, awaiting further orders. They were all Damien could spare; with the Black Eagle in orbit along with an assortment of Vezulian ships, sending any more Aeden soldiers to the surface would've left the Refuge practically defenseless in the event the Armada decided to launch another assault. The ship had sustained a great deal of damage during their last encounter, and the Alliance would need every man available to protect it if more missiles were exchanged. While the Aeden High Council had ordered additional escorts for Damien's starship, they barely matched the two battleships and starcruisers that flanked the flagship of the Vezulian Armada. An Aeden battleship, a single cruiser, and a squadron of assault transports surrounded the Refuge, each damaged in their own minor ways from the tussle at the Outpost. Whether or not they could stand up to the Armada's forces remained to be seen, but like Damien, Arus wasn't really interested in finding out.
The clearing they had picked as a landing zone had been chosen more out of necessity than preference. The transport's energy shields had deteriorated with each lightning strike, and it became imperative that they get out of the air. Less than half as wide as Trader's Square, the area where they set down was little more than a bowl of grass and leaves. The surrounding trees were wider than most, full of a wide array of colored leaves that had yet to fully turn before falling. Crisp air tainted by a smoky film gave early warning signs that something was terribly wrong.
Not that they hadn't already surmised as much. Billowing plumes of smoke had caught their attention during the descent through the clouds, grey and black towers that rose from multiple sections of the forest at the base of a monstrous mountain. Occasional streaks of light burst through the smoke, curved lines of red and purple energy that exploded into the trees with such intensity that solid portions of trunk were sent sailing into the air amidst the rest of the debris. Damien had said that no natural phenomenon recorded on any other planet had ever resembled anything like what they were witnessing, nor had any of it been detected on Arynias before Kindel's arrival. That sank Arus' heart right into the pit of his stomach, but Kitreena continued to insist that Thorus couldn't possibly wield that kind of power. Even the most powerful sorcerers across the universe couldn't disrupt a planet's ecological balance in that manner. The idea of using magic to such a dramatic extent sounded more like something out of a legend rather than reality, she said. Arus prayed she was right.
"There's no wind," Damien noted, pointing at the distant smoke. "It's rising straight up." His eyes turned to the clouds momentarily. "There was certainly a good deal of wind during our flight. How could it just . . . stop?"
Kitreena's whip was already flipping back and forth in her hand, though she hardly seemed to notice her own movements. "I don't know," she said, scanning the surrounding woods. "Let's just find Kindel and get out of here."
Damien seemed reluctant, but he nodded anyway. "Agreed. Arus? Can you scan the area for life forms?"
The implant's sensors activated immediately, bringing up the circular radar in the corner of his vision. For a moment, the circle wavered, flickering on and off again, showing different readings each time it appeared. Then it was gone, replaced by a message that read "Unable to complete scan. Atmospheric conditions unstable." He frowned as the words faded. "I don't think I can," he finally told them. "It says the atmosphere is unstable. Why would that matter?"
Damien sighed and shook his head. "I suppose I should've expected that. I guess the intense atmospheric energy impairs your sensors' ability to scan the terrain. Whatever is happening to this planet seems to be creating such a powerful feedback of energy that it distorts the scanning waves sent out by the implant. It didn't happen on the Refuge because we weren't in the middle of it, and we were only scanning the atmosphere, not the surface. But here, I guess the energy field is much too intense. I'm afraid it doesn't look like your scanners will do us any good."
"Finding Kindel is going to be much harder without something to guide us," Kitreena said. "What do you suggest?"
The Zo'rhan's eyes drifted back toward the towers of smoke. "He's got to be over there," he murmured. "But how do we approach safely?"
"You aren't going out there at all," she snapped. Her injured wrist, still bound by the exoskeleton device, slid behind her back as she spoke. "You are in no condition to be facing Kindel or anyone else in combat.
"What about you?" he asked with raised eyebrows. "Your injury hasn't healed, either."
Her chin rose indignantly. "I can handle it. I've got full mobility. It's just a little sore, that's all."
Damien snorted. "It's sore because your bones haven't knitted completely yet. You are no more fit for battle than I am."
She crossed her arms and pouted, turning away from him. "If you would just order more troops to come down and locate Kindel for us, we wouldn't need to be here at all."
The creases of Damien's forehead condensed into a wince as he folded his arms across his chest. "I told you, our forces suffered major losses at the battle of Outpost Twelve, and we've still got the rest of the Vezulian Armada—not to mention Truce and the Kyrosen!—to deal with, regardless of whether or not we manage to defeat Kindel. I'll not leave the Refuge and her escorts defenseless to capture one man, even if that man is Kindel Thorus. We can't afford it right now. I've brought too many soldiers with us as it is." A long silence followed as Kitreena kicked her feet in the dirt uncomfortably. "Besides, I'm the one he wants."
Something about the way Damien spoke left Arus feeling as though there was more to the decision than just the safety of the Refuge. Specifically, the word "capture" stood out. Damien was intent on taking Kindel alive, no matter how much of an impossibility that was, and he likely worried that the presence of Aeden troops would jeopardize that goal. Regardless, the suggestion that Kindel only wanted to fight him was certainly not true. "No, he wants me," Arus told them. "It's the implant he's after. And the stones."
"It doesn't matter," Kitreena said with a shake of her head. "I just don't know what we're going to do when he find him. If he is the cause of all this . . ."
The despair was evident on Damien's face. "I know. But our options are limited. We must do the best we can with the manpower we have."
"So," Arus began, turning back toward the smoke, "what now?"
A tall shadow streaked to the right behind the trees less than a hundred paces away, fading into nothingness as it moved. Rifles shifted as the Aeden troops saw it, but the image was gone before a single laser was fired. Arus instinctively reached for his sword as a bone-chilling whisper echoed in the air. "Come." The word repeated over and over in different tones and volumes, sometimes overlapping upon itself. Kitreena and Damien had heard it as well; that was clear by the way their eyes were suddenly darting about. It ceased as abruptly as it began, leaving the band of soldiers in an eerie silence.
"What . . ." Kitreena trailed off as her attention returned to the spot where the image had been. "What was that?"
As if answering her question, black motes of dust swirled and converged not ten paces away to form Kindel Thorus himself. Blue light poured from his eyes like inverse waterfalls, and the angles of his face and knuckles were tinted with a sickly mixture of orange and brown. His appearance lasted only seconds, long enough for him to raise a beckoning finger and utter his command again. "Come." He was gone in burst of dust that shattered like millions of pieces of glass, and a sharp thunderclap cut through the air. But it wasn't his appearance or disappearance that had stopped Arus' heart cold. It was the sword he'd held in his hand, a blade consumed with the same black light that poured from the swirling clouds above. His eyes had only rested upon it for a portion of a second, but its evil power radia
ted so strongly that Arus had to plant his feet firmly to keep from fleeing.
"By the Maker!" was all Damien muttered.
Kitreena, just as wide-eyed, looked back at the two of them. "Was that . . . Was he carrying what I think he was?"
Sudden recognition flashed in Damien's eyes, and he looked up at the sky briefly. "It can't be! It's not possible!"
"It isn't." Kitreena's voice was firm, but her eyes gave away her concern. "It can't be. It was a trick. He's just trying to frighten us, right? That's all."
"Do you think it was a replica?" Damien asked. Neither of them gave Arus a chance to get a question in.
"Had to be," she said with a satisfied nod. Though she acted as though she was sure, Arus didn't think she was even convincing herself. "The story is nothing but a legend. And even if it isn't, that sword was taken by—"
Kindel appeared over her shoulder in a flash, his lips mere inches from her ear. "Oh, it is very much real, I assure you," he said softly. His voice echoed as it had a moment ago. "If you wish to see for yourself, you must come." Again, he was gone, and the whispers died soon after.
"What are you guys talking about?" Arus growled, clenching his fists. "What is so special about that sword?"
"There is too much to explain right now," Damien responded, sealing the door to the transport. "We have to find Kindel. My initial thought was that we'd be able to locate him if we followed those streaks of energy by the mountain, but apparently he isn't restricting himself to one area. We've got to find him and pin him down somehow."
Kitreena's brief moment of confidence appeared to have subsided. "But, Damien . . . I mean, don't you think . . . If he really has it . . . We won't stand a chance, will we?"
Damien's voice couldn't be more grim. "Kit, if that sword is the real thing, then not even the largest army in the universe will be able to stop him. Regardless, we have to find him." Moving to the center of the clearing, he raised his voice to a commanding level. "All right, men! Pay attention! We're going to split up into three teams and search the forest, but don't stray too far. I will accompany those of you who came down in transport number one, Kitreena will go with number two, and Arus will join the third. Call us on the communicator if you come across any trace of Kindel whatsoever. If you haven't found anything within an hour or so, regroup back here and we'll start again. Understood?"
The Aeden troops acknowledged with an emphatic shout. "Yes, Sir!"
As the soldiers scrambled to organize into their respective groups, Damien turned to Arus. "Be careful out there, all right? I brought you with us because I believe you can be a great asset, but we both know that Kindel is after you for more reasons than one. I have confidence that your mere presence will help to lure him out, but be wary; he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals."
Arus looked down, trying not to sound afraid as he spoke. "My being here will make it easier for him to find me. Not that I don't want to help, I just . . . I wonder if we've made the right decision."
"No matter what decisions we make in life, we inevitably look back on the bad ones and wonder what could've happened if we'd chosen differently," Damien told him. "But don't fret. Remember, during our last encounter with Kindel, you were the only one left standing. If not for you, Kitreena, myself, and even Muert would probably be dead right now. That makes me believe that our chances are better when you are with us. You are more helpful than you realize."
"I'll try not to disappoint." Arus forced a smile to counteract his fluttering stomach.
Damien patted him on the back as he headed for his group. "Just do your best, and you won't. Regardless of the outcome."
Kitreena was at his side as soon as Damien joined his detachment of troops. "Take good care of yourself, all right?" she said in a near whisper. "Don't hesitate to call any of us if you need anything. I think Briggs is in charge of your squad. Trust him; he's been training soldiers longer than I've even been a part of the Alliance. He's a good man and a wise teacher." She kissed him softly on the cheek. And don't hesitate to speak to me this way if you need, she added telepathically. Got it?
Got it, he responded. Thank you, Kitreena. You be careful out there, too.
"Group one will head west," Damien called over the crowd. "Group two to the east, and three to the south. Steer clear of the mountains up north until we've explored the rest of the land. Stay alert! Kindel could appear at any time, and we have to be ready for him! All right, men! Move out!"
Arus rushed over to the southern edge of the clearing to join his squad. Various races and species composed the unit, including everything from Zo'rhan to Svodesian to Thanai to human. Lieutenant Briggs had arranged them in a circular formation with himself in the lead. The Lieutenant, a scruffy middle-aged man with a creased face and streaks of white in his thin beard, motioned for Arus to move to the center of the ring. "You'll be safest there," he said. "No reason for us to make it easier for Thorus to capture you."
Suppressing a frown, Arus followed the instructions wordlessly. Briggs hadn't said it, but the comment made it seem as though his presence was unwelcome. The risk in facing Kindel was obvious, but the risk in leaving him to wreak havoc on the galaxy was even greater. The more Arus thought about it, the more he began to think that his presence could be viewed as an asset. Kindel wanted the implant intact, and he surely wanted to know what had become of his precious stones, but if he were to harm Arus, neither of those goals would be achieved. There were many ways to exploit such an advantage.
"Squad three!" Briggs voice cut through his thoughts. "March!"
The soldiers followed the lieutenant south, most carrying their rifles ready as they eyed the forest. Aside from the dull swishing of their uniforms and occasional crackle of leaves underfoot, they did little to shatter the dismal silence of the woods. The Keroko Forest was a jungle compared to this, full of bushes and animals and insects, warm and humid, green and breezy. There was a unique beauty to both, yet the foreboding stillness of Arynias cast a shadow over its allure. Arus would've given anything to hear a cricket chirp. A bird twitter. Even the howl of a wolf. I thought this planet was supposed to be heavily populated.
They had traveled for perhaps a quarter of an hour when two life forms, gangly little creatures with a ring of holes around their heads and glowing antennae, appeared behind two trees. The little beings popped their heads out briefly, pointed noses glowing with the same color as their antennae, before drawing back. Judging from their translucent skin, they had to be the natives of the planet that Damien had mentioned, the Ayaans. One had a flaring white beard that lined the entire edge of its jaw, and the other had a long brown column of hair that descended from its chin and dragged along the ground. They wore rags for clothes, tattered white and brown garments that didn't look as though they'd ever been washed. Again, their heads slid into view, antennae tips glowing with a red light.
Lieutenant Briggs ordered a halt as soon as they first appeared. Several soldiers had their weapons raised and ready, but Briggs seemed more curious than anything. "Ayaans," he murmured. "Locals. Perhaps they can tell us—"
Something happened that Arus couldn't quite explain. It was like a flash of light, but dark instead. A red streak burst through the lieutenant at the same time, incinerating a head-sized hole in his chest. Briggs collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from the gaping opening. Two soldiers stepped forward to tend to their fallen leader, and simultaneous slashes of red and purple ran through both of them, severing their bodies in two at the waist. In a moment so brief it would've been missed by a blinking eye, Kindel Thorus appeared less than two feet from Arus, his teeth bared in a sadistic grin that sent chills of ice rolling through the boy's body. Two more flashes of dark, and two more soldiers were severed. Panic ensued.
The Aeden soldiers unleashed a fury of laser blasts in all directions, clearly aiming at anything and everything. Arus fumbled in a nervous frenzy to release his communicator from his belt, only to be met with silence when he finally activated it and called
for help. He kept pleading into the device as he drew his sword with is free hand, fingers quivering around the hilt of his father's weapon. Someone, help us!
The sound of Kitreena's voice was like a whisper from heaven. What's wrong, Arus? What's going on?
Kindel! He's here! More streaks of light. More Aeden deaths. He's eliminating my entire squad!
We're on our way! Use the communicator to call Damien!
A streak of purple slashed just over Arus' head, decapitating the soldier beside him in a sickening burst of blood. It won't work!
For a moment, there was no reply. Panic began to well up within Arus. Whatever power Kindel had suddenly come upon, it was greater than anything Damien or Kitreena could've possibly anticipated. I can't get my communicator to work either! Kitreena's voice called out to him. It must be the same energy field that is disrupting your scanners!
Gathering all the courage he could muster, Arus shouted to the remaining soldiers. "Everyone, listen to me! I want you all to pair off and position yourselves back to back! Keep your eyes open ahead of you, and your partner will watch your rear! Do it! Get moving!"
Surprisingly, the Aeden troops followed the command, doubling up so that they would only have to cover half of the area they had watched before. The woods were momentarily silent, but Arus had a feeling the bloodbath wasn't going to end that easily. "Watch yourselves, men! Stay alert!" Several soldiers acknowledged vocally, while others simply nodded. Why they were following his orders was beyond him, but he'd certainly watched Master Eaisan run drills with the Keroko Militia enough to know a few things about battle formation. And since no one else had stepped up to take Lieutenant Briggs' place, it had seemed necessary to take matters into his own hands.
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