by Nick Braker
“Sir?” Caiden said again. “Something bothering you?”
Troy shook his head.
“This entire situation,” Troy lied. “Stay sharp, Caiden. Keep--”
Troy snapped his head around, bringing the weapon’s light around with it. Both Lakin and Geoff had fallen and Chance was leaning against the rock wall struggling to stand. Their abrupt fall and the subsequent noise they had created had caused his body to react to the commotion behind him. Troy was on edge and every one of his senses were heightened. He took in a deep breath but it didn’t help.
“I gather you three aren’t going to be able to keep up?” Troy asked.
All three of them told him where he could go.
“Caiden, stay with them,” Troy ordered. “Cienna and I will get Septima.”
Caiden and Cienna exchanged places as Caiden struggled to walk back to them. Cienna moved easily over the slippery path exactly as he expected. Troy turned back, continuing on without giving his friends another thought.
“You’ve come a long way, little human, from the weakling you were when you arrived,” she whispered.
“I’m not human anymore, not entirely anyway,” Troy whispered.
“Agreed. You are more and more like Tohmas each day. As Alta told you, soon the parasite will finish and you will be a better Troy.”
“Yeah but will I be Troy?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course, simply a better version,” she said.
Troy wasn’t entirely convinced she was telling the truth. He and Cienna were now out of sight from the others and the thought of forcibly extracting information from her crossed his mind. He knew Tohmas’ skill was greater than hers but would that be enough to beat someone who actually trained in Rohku versus someone given the ability?
“So, why did Alta choose Tohmas as the template for my conversion?” Troy asked.
“The original Tohmas had no equal, little human. He was what you humans would call a Grand Master. He trained in many different forms of martial arts from a multitude of planets in this galaxy, Earth included. He brought the best that each form offered and molded them into Rohku, making sure not to change the foundation of our art. Did you think the term Toma was accidental?”
“Toma?” Troy asked.
“Seriously, you don’t know its meaning?”
“I know what it means. It means more than one step from the opponent but I don’t know what you are getting at.”
“Toma originated on Earth, little human.”
Her little human insult grated on him, which was probably by design. She enjoyed pushing his buttons. Tohmas had spent time on Earth? Troy had no memories of that, though once the parasite finished perhaps he would. There was a lot he didn’t know and his paranoid side was telling him it would get him killed.
“How did you know about Toma? I only spoke about that with Agaria,” he asked.
“You know I’ve been following you under Alta’s orders. I hear very well,” she said. “As do you.”
She knows about my enhanced senses. Well, that explains my hearing and likely some of my other new talents.
Cienna and Tohmas’ Rohku training was responsible for their physical skills in fighting, but how could that increase their hearing? Again, he felt as if something fundamental to him understanding the bigger picture was missing. Why couldn’t he see it?
They continued their progression along the stony path.
“So,” Troy said, changing the subject, “when she learned that a human who looked like Tohmas had been found by you and Septima, she hatched a plan to convert him and then use him to save Pira. Does that about sum it up, little bitch?” Troy said.
Her eyes flared and for an instant, Troy thought her weapon raised a fraction of an inch as if she wanted to kill him that very second.
Okay, don’t poke the bear or, in this case, the snake that bites.
“Actually, she wanted to help you be better than you were while saving Pira at the same time. She’s a sweetheart underneath the facade she maintains,” Cienna said. “After all, we are at war. She has to look and act tough.”
Cienna believed what she said, but Troy didn’t. He still hadn’t forgiven any of them.
“Why not make a better Cienna or a Septima?” he asked.
“None of us wanted to be the guinea pig. Besides, it’s no coincidence that you look so much like him. Your presence gave Alta the idea in the first place.”
Troy furrowed his eyebrows and then nodded.
“Experiment on the little human? Eh?”
She smiled but it had a wicked edge to it.
“Yes.”
Troy turned back to the path. It continued on but a large drop off that reached from wall to wall stood in their way. Troy didn’t hesitate as he handed his blaster to Cienna. If she wanted him dead, she had easier opportunities before now. He took a few steps back and launched himself over the hole, landing easily on the far side. His momentum caused him to slide forward on his feet but he quickly slowed himself, returning to the edge. His new agility still surprised him but that part of the change was a welcome improvement.
“Throw me the gear,” Troy ordered.
“You’re very trusting. I could put--”
“Save it,” he said. “You aren’t going to kill me and we both know it. You’re trying to get a rise out of me.”
Cienna smiled at him again. He could see a hint of malice in it. She truly despised him and the thought crossed his mind that she may not be totally rational. Troy covered his reaction. He had not considered the possibility until that very moment. Cienna might be going insane. She appeared lost in thought for a moment but then tossed her gear over to him, hurdling the hole as he had done.
She landed, sliding forward and directly into him. He slowed her forward motion but the effort brought them face to face, their bodies touching intimately. For a brief moment, Cienna’s eyes told him an entirely different story. He remembered her scream when she saw him hurt from Kelit’an’s shot. She wanted him, and his presence against her had broken her self-imposed barrier. It faded quickly, her features turning hard again. She pushed him away.
“I’ll have to bathe now,” she said, disgusted.
Troy wanted to pursue her reaction. Was it jealously? Did she care for him too? Was his relationship with Septima, her best friend, eating her up inside? His gut answer was no. Something else was going on inside her and she fought it like Troy did.
“Let’s get moving,” he said.
Cienna’s brow was drenched in sweat and her jumpsuit showed dark spots near her armpits. He could only imagine he looked the same. The heat had increased, dissipating Pira’s winter cold. They both removed their gloves, stowing them away. Troy took a breath, nearly coughing on the drier air. He swallowed trying to moisten his throat while looking back at Cienna who nodded that she felt it, too. While the stony path between the mountainous walls continually sloped downward, its width increased, opening into a large cavernous area. It was still covered by the rock wall that jutted out over it, nearly encasing them completely with the wall on the other side. The smell of dung and animal sweat grew stronger as they descended. The wild hounds were near and daylight was ending. He had to hurry. Where was she?
The path ended and leveled out. Several veins of metallic material wound its way through the gray rock both on the ground in front of them and the walls around them. Troy’s eyes widened and his heart raced. It was lustrous like silver but its darker color seemed juxtaposed with its reflectiveness. His weapon’s beam reflected off every part of the material’s surface and the cavern exploded in light.
“Reminds me of a disco ball,” Troy said.
“I have no clue what that is, but its effect in here is mildly pleasant,” she said.
Mildly pleasant? He’d never seen anything this amazing. The room was brighter than anything his weapon’s light could possibly generate. The material wasn’t simply reflecting the light; it was increasing it. The word Imagium came to mind.
<
br /> “This is Imagium, isn’t it?” Troy asked.
“No, Imagium is a solid, not a liquid. Though this material does resemble it.”
“Could there be a liquid form?” Troy asked.
“I guess, but I’ve never heard of it before.”
“Is this why the Reptaurans attacked?” he asked.
“No, I told you,” she said. “Imagium does not exist as a liquid.”
“I meant Imagium in general.”
“Yes, it is the very reason. Both us and Pira.”
Us?
Troy’s temples started pounding as his headache surged, full force. Troy dropped his weapon, grabbing the sides of his head. At the same time, the pain flared in its intensity, forcing him to his knees. Tears streaked down his face as he looked up at Cienna, who now stood in front of him.
“Tohmas, are you okay?” Cienna asked.
There was no emotion in her voice but her eyes told a different story. She grabbed his hands that were already holding his head. Her face was inches from his. She yelled at him, trying to tell him something. His vision faded and distorted, leaving him partially blind. Troy couldn’t understand her. Why did he hurt so much? She was pointing ahead of them, toward the far side of the cavern.
Get out, now. The hounds are coming. Are you really this inept? Make sure you get Septima out at any cost and don’t use your weapons.
The pain eased, letting him take a deep breath. Troy relaxed his shoulders, feeling relief flood through him. He was still in a daze when he heard short bursts of blaster fire around him.
Now, why would someone be firing their weapon without my permission?
Troy jumped up, forcing himself to ignore the fading migraine.
“Cease fire,” he ordered, yelling the command. “Ignition source nearby.”
Cienna pulled her weapon up.
“The hounds would have killed her,” Cienna yelled at him, “and they still may.”
Troy followed her eyes. There across the cavern was Septima. She was running full speed, hurdling the lava-like material, trying to outrun a pack of wild hounds. She wasn’t going to make it. They were simply too fast. She was dead.
Dead? No! Not while I can do something about it.
Troy launched himself toward her. He hurdled the lava flows, sprinting the distance between them.
“Tohmas, are you crazy?” Cienna screamed from behind him.
One of the faster hounds had caught up with Septima. It lunged at her from behind but she sidestepped, letting its momentum carry it past her. She somersaulted over it, the creature snapping its jaws at her as it jumped up. It missed, but Septima’s move had slowed her down. The pack gained on her. Troy didn’t slow as he rushed to save her. The creatures were too close for any of them to outrun and the Imagium was too close for them to fire their weapons. He had to fight and take them on while the girls got away. The one that had charged at her before was on her again. Troy dove at it, hitting the creature midair with his shoulder. It had focused on its prey not realizing another predator was about to attack it. Troy slammed the beast into the rock floor, breaking its back. He stood, putting his heel into the beast’s head. The creature’s skull broke open, spraying blood and brain over the rock.
The other six leapt at Troy from different directions, their weight taking him down. One of the hounds bit deep into his lower left leg as he snapped the neck of the hound that had gone for his throat. The hound’s weight kept him from getting up but not from grabbing another by its muzzle. Troy twisted hard with his hand while kicking out with his right heel on the one shaking his left leg apart in its mouth. Both creatures stopped moving, dead. Troy let loose a guttural scream as two other hounds found purchase on his right arm and foot. The remaining hound had missed his face by inches. He could still move his injured left leg, so he struck out with it and his left fist. Troy hit both creatures simultaneously. The one on his leg yelped and stumbled backwards. The one on his right arm released its bite but struck out at him again.
Troy heard two laser blasts and the creature on his face and the other on his right arm dropped, unmoving. He rolled over managing to get his feet underneath him. The remaining hound still moved but Troy’s blow had stunned it. He lunged at it, putting his weight into a shoulder butt. He pushed it with all that he had left and the creature flew backwards, landing in the molten Imagium. Its yelp lasted only an instant before the searing hot metal ignited the creature’s body and it sunk below the surface.
Troy staggered, falling to his knees. Blood poured from his wounds. Troy knew he was minutes from death. He wouldn’t be able to stop the flow of blood from all three bites. He would die here but at least Septima would make it.
“You two need--”
“Lay down, now,” Septima ordered.
Septima forced him down onto his back. He lay there looking up at her. Troy started to tell her again that he wouldn’t make it and that they should go on without him.
“Shut up and lie still,” Septima said, “this is going to hurt.”
She had her winter gloves on and a glowing rock in her hands. The gloves steamed and smoked where the rock touched them. Tears flowed down her cheeks and he could see her cringing in pain. Cienna wrapped his right arm tightly in a tourniquet and then pushed a piece of cloth between his teeth.
“Troy, don’t move,” Septima ordered.
Septima pushed the rock hard into the wound on his left leg. The flesh sizzled and smoked. He took a deep, rushed breath, holding the scream his instincts told him he should make. His vision exploded in white light as the pain overwhelmed him. She lifted the rock off carefully and then pushed it into his right arm. This time he screamed.
“Shut up,” Cienna told him. “The hounds will hear you. You scream like--”
“This is not the time for your shit!” Septima said.
The smell of his burning flesh sickened him and his stomach roiled. The pain and smell were too much and he emptied his stomach. The liquid chunks landed on Septima but she ignored it, pressing the rock onto the last wound on his foot. He flinched and his leg began to tremble but he managed to hold it in place.
“Let’s get him up and out of here,” Septima ordered.
Cienna started to protest but Septima’s eyes never wavered from her. Cienna changed her mind.
“Troy, you are very heavy. We’re going to need your help to make it,” Septima said.
His hearing and vision faded in and out. His body rebelled against his mind telling him to move. They both fell forward under his weight. Hounds barked in the distance.
“More are coming,” Cienna said, alarmed.
“Troy, you’ve got to get up,” Septima said, yelling at him.
Her face was a blur in front of him as it shifted back and forth. Troy could hear the fear in her voice.
“I... can’t,” he whispered, struggling to keep his head up, looking at her.
“Troy, you have to or we die,” Septima said. “I won’t go without you.”
“Sep, hurts, so bad... weak.”
There was nothing left in him. Troy couldn’t move, he couldn’t think, he wanted it to end. He had endured pain for too long. He was tired of hurting, tired of all of it. Troy simply wanted to rest and let the dogs find him. He didn’t want to fight anymore.
“Troy! Part of you is Tohmas so use that part,” Septima screamed at him.
Troy opened his eyes again, trying to raise his head. That simple act overwhelmed him.
“Use your Rohku abilities,” Septima continued. “Concentrate and push the pain aside. You can do it. It’s part of our training,” Septima told him. “More hounds are coming.”
Training? Did she say training? What training? I’ve never trained a day in my whole life. I have. Look deep inside.
Troy searched within himself, looking for memories, any memories that Tohmas possessed of Rohku. Was it some kind of Rohku technique?
Technique? Is there really such a thing? Yes.
Septima was right. It
must be similar to the way he knew how to kill with his hands and feet. There was something within him that would show him how to control his pain. Did he need to find his center as they did in the movies? Was there some mystical chi that he needed to channel? He would have laughed, but the torment throughout his body yanked his concentration away. He receded into his mind again and grabbed hold of a memory.
Tohmas sat motionless in the middle of a room, the backs of his hands on his knees as he sat in a lotus position. The hard granite of the floor was cushioned by the mat beneath him. The air surrounding him was still and warm. There were no sounds here, not even his breathing nor his heartbeat. The quiet peacefulness within the room was mimicked inside him, coming together, merging into one. It was a meditation technique Tohmas had taught himself long ago, one that would let him override the world around him. Troy had found it. The key he needed to push the pain away. Troy held onto it, used it, and the pain faded.
Troy stood up.
“I don’t believe it,” Cienna said, staring at him. “No fucking way. He should be dead.”
“Grab an arm,” Septima ordered.
Troy had found strength enough to stand and, with one of them under each arm, he shuffled forward out of the cavernous room and up the path. Only with their combined effort were they able to get him over the hole. The world around him was a blur. He could barely think and, though there was no pain, he struggled to control his movements. He was weak from loss of blood. Was he in shock? It didn’t matter, he had to keep going. Septima and Cienna helped him cross the endless distance between here and there. Here meant the cold and the death that surrounded him. There meant the warmth and the life that awaited him. He needed to keep fighting, keep moving. Troy remembered feeling hot, then warm, and finally cold. It was several hours later when Troy collapsed into the snow as they entered the north gate shield wall. He was home.