Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius

by Marcus Johnson

  “I’m glad you have faith in me.”

  * * *

  Valis walked into the main dining hall of the Kein estate alone and noticed everyone save for her grandmother had left. Next to Veda was a place for Valis with wine and food ready. Veda stood up and smiled. “It’s good to see you Valis.” She walked over and hugged her. “I’m sorry about what happened. Our agents usually aren’t off target.” She went back to her seat and took up a glass of wine, taking a sip. “Please, relax and have something to eat.”

  Valis went to her place at the table. “Tell me grandmother, why were my ship and the others sent to Kalmar?”

  “We can’t let our rivals gain any advantage on us,” Veda said with a serious tone in her voice. “This failure is not something I anticipated.”

  “I hope you’re not blaming me,” Valis stared angrily at her grandmother. “I’m a damn good tactician, but if I’m not given the proper intelligence reports I can’t do a thing.”

  “No one’s blaming you. But if we don’t take care of this mess quickly our financial future will be compromised.”

  “So what we’re fighting for is wealth? Is it prestige? Or something else?”

  “All of those things, you know that. We fight because we must in order to survive.”

  “Isn’t this the same as when we lived on the homeworld? Constant fighting, never ending battles, life lost. Isn’t there anything better than this?” Valis asked.

  “I’ll admit that his words are moving,” Veda paused, “But the freedom he speaks of isn’t for us, at least, not on Dega Jul.”

  “How can you say that? You’ve heard the reports from home. The House of Commons is close finally opening. Our economy is stabilizing and recruitment for the military is booming. With a few words he changed a world. Why can’t we do that here?”

  “The Merchant Council would never allow such a thing.” Veda sighed. “All they ever do is bicker about whose trading rights are whose and such like that. Money rules this planet and the people you seek help from are forced to work just to survive.”

  “But you agree it’s at least worth a try?”

  “Yes, I do.” Veda stood up and looked to the stars. “I’ll see what I can do Valis,” she said as she turned back to her granddaughter.

  Valis said a prayer before turning the glass aside and pouring out its contents onto the floor.

  “For him I suspect?”

  “For Brian, for Kivi, and for all those who died in my name,” Valis said before leaving.

  * * *

  Brian crawled out of the Mjolnir’s front hatch and made his way to the thick, grassy ground. Kivi stood nearby, stretching once more. Short palm trees filled the area with a pond of open water at the center.

  “This doesn’t look natural to this planet at all,” he said as he joined her.

  She smiled. “No, this looks like vegetation from Kalaidia,” she touched one of the palm trees, “This system was probably ours a hundred years ago.” She took a deep breath before removing her sea serpent styled armor, revealing her uniform underneath. “I need to take a bath. Would you care to join me?”

  Brian blushed. “No, I don’t think so.”

  She smiled as she walked away, “Your loss.” Kivi went to the pond and checked the water temperature. She noticed Brian was standing behind a palm tree. She removed her clothes and took a step into the water, submerging all the way and then sitting with her head and shoulders above the water.

  “Tell me, what is the difference between the others and a southlander like you?” Brian asked while staring in another direction.

  “There are no genetic differences. But physically, southlanders tend to be taller with dark skin. Why do you ask?”

  “I’ve noticed a bias towards the northerners. There’s virtually nothing about the southern continent or its people in the Avoni’s database.”

  Kivi let out a sigh of frustration. “A thousand years ago the Obrils submitted to the worship of Kali. It was at that moment the Southlanders were subjected to the priestesses of Kali. Our old ways were to be forgotten and the worship of the Goddess was to replace it.”

  “What were your old ways?”

  “The things taught to us by Raulno.”

  “Wait, I thought Raulno was the god of sun that the southlanders worshiped.”

  Kivi laughed. “No, Raulno was a great Maigar banished to the southern continent nearly fifteen hundred years ago. His actual name was Raulno Daeva.”

  “That sounds familiar.”

  “That’s because it’s the archaic form for the Daevon family. Raulno taught the people of the ancient southlands the ways of the free spirit. He was very similar to Gaelic Kein.”

  “Do all Southlanders know this?”

  She rolled over in the water. “No, only a few of us know as much as I do. When I was a young girl my mother raised me to be the Vleani of my tribe. The Vleani are the high priestesses of the tribe.”

  “So you weren’t going to be a soldier?”

  She gazed at the blue sky. “When I was thirteen some officers came. I was an impressive specimen back then so I was drafted.”

  “By gun point you mean.”

  “Yes. But if I hadn’t I’d still be walking the deserts for oases like this one.” She stepped out of the pond and put her clothes back on. She walked up behind Brian and took his hand. “In the days of old it was custom for the Vleani to entertain a traveling Maigar for the evening.”

  He blushed as he saw Kivi’s deep crimson eyes and dark, mystical complexion. “But I’m not Kalaidian.”

  “Why should that matter? You’ve been with a number of my kind in that way.” She smiled, seeing something was holding him back. “Am I too much woman for you?” She asked as she walked around him.

  “Back on Dega Jul one Ick-Tckt asked if you were my mate. He mentioned size as the factor.”

  “I am rather tall.”

  “That’s true. If it weren’t for those ears you’d look exactly like a short human woman.”

  “Short?” she asked. “Just how tall are they?”

  He held his hand above her head by a few inches, “About right there for those living in my country.” He looked into her eyes. “You’re like a desert goddess and I’d be happy to show you the pleasures of the flesh you seek, but,” he said as he pointed off in the distance.

  She closed her eyes. “Shandi, fifteen or twenty I’d say.”

  “Get your armor on,” he said as he pulled out the rakna from behind his back. “I always carry a spare for times like these.” He handed it to Kivi.

  She nodded and ran to her armor. Brian put on his helmet and scanned the area for heat sources. Thirty vetres away there was a band of Shandi on foot, dressed in full body armor and carrying pulse rifles. He drew his rakna and took up position behind a thick group of bushes. It looks like fun time is over. He thought as they moved towards them.

  Chapter 18 - Oasis Battle

  Kivi ran over to her exoskeleton armor and jumped inside. With a quick flip from the rakna Brian gave her she took her helmet and locked into place. She turned and saw the Shandi surrounding him in a half circle formation. Turning again, she saw a similar formation entering the oasis from the opposite direction.

  “Brian, can you hear me?” she asked into her com.

  “Well, that’s pretty handy,” he answered. “I didn’t know our suits could communicate with each other.

  She hid behind a pair of trees. “Can you get back to the Mjolnir?”

  “Not at the moment,” he said while checking their formation. He picked up a heat source in the sky. “It looks like this contingent has air support.”

  Kivi looked overhead and saw the same thing. “I’ll act as a decoy. Get to the Mjolnir and take out their air power.”

  “Of course,” he said as he reached behind his back and pulled out a pair of pulse grenades. When the Shandi closed within ten vetres he threw two grenades at them. As they exploded he ran to the Mjolnir. Hearing the grenades
go off, Kivi pulled out a pair of her own. She rolled into plain sight of the Shandi coming at her. With a pair of tosses, another set of explosions filled the oasis. Seeing her, the Shandi quickly took up defensive positions and began firing pulse blasts. The Shandi chasing Brian began circling around behind Kivi, who flipped out her rakna and ran into the scattered formation behind her. Seeing Kivi acting as the decoy, Brian made his way into the Mjolnir and stood the invisible mobile suit up. Checking the radar, he was found two aircraft and twenty seven ground troops. As the Mjolnir flew a number of the Shandi on the ground looked up. In doing so, Kivi took the opportunity to slash a pair of the snake men in half while rolling back into the trees. The Mjolnir flashed visible for a second as it slashed and destroyed the first Spit. A few seconds later, Brian bore down on the second aircraft as it tried to escape. The Mjolnir quickly overtook the Spit in a chase. With another quick slash of the mobile suit’s massive sword the second fighter was destroyed.

  * * *

  El Kar entered Shiken’s chambers. “Our seventh ground patrol has encountered resistance my lord.”

  Shiken nodded, “Finally. It was only a matter of time before we found them.”

  “My lord, why haven’t they escaped?”

  “Our surprise weapon likely damaged the mobile suit more than expected. Prepare my ship and mobilize all of our ground forces. There’s a massive storm heading into that region in a few hours and I want to pin them down.”

  * * *

  Kivi noticed the Shandi were surrounding her with pulse fire. She scanned the area and saw no way out. As she did so, a small object rolled on the ground near her. Kivi evaded as best she could as she felt a surge of pain. Shaking her head, she rolled to her feet as the Shandi closed in with grins on their faces. Kivi’s eyes started glowing blue as she gripped the rakna blade tightly. Time slowed down as she made her way quickly into their ranks, slashing them with a lightning speed. A dozen fell as fast. The remaining dozen retreated. She smiled wickedly under her helmet as she spun the rakna, gathering energy in the blade’s twirling. After a moment she stopped and slashed the blade towards the retreating Shandi, blasting them with a ray of red energy. Five fell from the blast while another two writhed in pain as they burned to death. She laughed under her helmet, repeating the energy attack as she chased down the last retreating Shandi. As they burst into flames the Mjolnir flew over her head and landed. Brian left the mobile suit and saw the carnage Kivi had brought down onto the Shandi troops. She walked out from the trees with a bloody sword and blood soaked armor. By the aggressive way she walked towards him he could tell something was wrong. She’s in the berserk and she can’t control it! He thought as he put up his shield just in time to block a blow from her sword.

  “Kivi, snap out of it!” he shouted as he stepped back and drew his sword. Kivi stood still for a moment, no expression showing because of the helmet on her exoskeleton. He saw a faint blue light shining through the helmet, and a strange sound, like laughter. “Have it your way,” he said flatly as he slashed at her. He blinked and she was gone. Turning quickly, he managed to avoid her slash at his left leg and retract his shield as he rolled away. She disappeared again. Brian barely put his sword up in time to stop her from hacking off his head. I guess learning how to control the berserk isn’t going to be put off any longer. He blinked his eyes as they started glowing blue.

  * * *

  Mira stood at the entrance of the main cell. A pair of guards came down the elevator, flanked by Shiken Ka. He deactivated the barrier. “Come with me Lieutenant Mira.”

  “Why should I?” she asked.

  “Your Terran friend’s life may depend on you. If he’s wounded, who will treat his wounds?”

  “Why would you care what happens to him?” she asked.

  “Before I kill him there are a few questions I need answered,” he held out his scaled hand, “I ask you come along so that I may do so.”

  “Only if you promise not to kill him,” Mira said defiantly.

  “Very well young lady, I will do as you request. Now come, we have little time before my forces pin them down.”

  Mira turned to her fellow Kalaidians. “I’ll be back soon.”

  * * *

  I must stay focused. Brian struggled to keep control as he and Kivi fought. They had battled for hours with no end in sight. I must find a way to keep my mind from falling apart. He blocked another slash she delivered from an impossible angle near the ground. He focused and staved the madness.

  He began to chant a song to keep focus; it was Mary Had A Little Lamb. “Mary had a little lamb; its fleece was white as snow,” Brian sang. It’s working! Is this the secret? He sang that line over and over again, feeling more and more in control.

  “Kivi, can you hear me?”

  She backed away, exhausted. “Why are we fighting?”

  “Kivi, focus on a song and sing it out.”

  She held back. He heard her sing the same thing he had. As she did so, she started feeling under control. She backed off and removed her helmet before dropping her sword. Her eyes glowed blue. She shook her head as the glow faded. Brian did likewise, removing his helmet and dropping his sword. His eyes returned to their natural color.

  She fell to her knees, panting and laughing. “So that’s the secret? Singing a song or repeating a line to keep the mind from wandering.”

  He laughed with her. “I know, I didn’t think that it would work, but it does.”

  After a few minutes of rest they headed to the Mjolnir.

  “We’d better get out of here as soon as we can,” she said. “I have no doubt Shiken Ka knows our position.”

  He looked to the sky as the pair entered the Mjolnir’s front hatch as a number of Spits flew overhead. “Yeah, and it looks like they’ve got everything targeted on us.”

  * * *

  Mira stood with her hands clasped next to Shiken on his warship. The vessel glided over the sand dunes with ease and looked like a floating double pyramid. They stood on the bridge, with El Kar and a number of other officers. El Kar stood over an array showing the terrain around them.

  “Our forces are in place on the ground,” El Kar reported. “In addition, our allies in orbit are ready for bombardment if need be.”

  “Good.” Shiken paused, watching the storm kick up. “Have them commence with a bombardment immediately.”

  “Didn’t you say you’d let him live?” Mira asked.

  “I will keep my word,” Shiken said. “But first we have to knock him out of the air. Once the Mjolnir is grounded it won’t be able to escape the sheer number of soldiers and air support. Your Maigar isn’t a fool is he?”

  “No,” Mira answered.

  Chapter 19 - Dust In the Wind

  “Things are not looking good,” Brian said. “Even in orbit there are ships ready to fire on us.”

  Kivi sighed. “Such a simple strategy that I wish I was on the other end of it.”

  He checked the power levels. “Dammit! All we need are two drive converters to get us into space!”

  “I suppose you didn’t bring any spares?”

  “No,” he answered. “The Mjolnir’s shielding is supposed to be impregnable.”

  “What if we convert to ship form?”

  “We’ll still be overtaken.”

  “Then what if one of us acted as a decoy again?” she asked.

  He laughed. “There are forty Spits, a small ship on the ground and five ships in orbit. That’s not counting the ground troops they’ve deployed. All the Mjolnir has left is the sword and a few HV missiles. On the ground neither of us is fast enough.”

  Kivi saw the desperation in his eyes. “Why don’t we charge up our armor to full capacity?”

  He scratched his head. “I’ve never done that before; there’s no telling what may happen.”

  “How powerful would it be?”

  He checked his armor. “We’re currently charged to twenty five percent. That’s the level the Degan authorities allow us to ha
ve them at. At eighty percent or more I’m not sure what will happen.”

  “How about using the HDS?” she asked.

  “Then I’ll be the one who gets out.”

  “No, as mission commander I can’t allow that.”

  “I’m sorry Kivi, but you don’t remember one important thing.”

  “And what is that?”

  “Your suit can’t use the HDS right now.”

  “I don’t want to leave you behind!” she shouted before banging her fist.

  “I don’t plan on dying today,” he said solemnly. “Just make it to an outpost quickly and get the converters. If I play my cards well I’ll evade capture.”

  “How do you plan to do that?”

  He shifted the cape and revealed the folded dragon wings on the armor’s back. “These aren’t for show.”

  * * *

  Shiken stood quietly while watching his forces tightening their search.

  “Sir, we’re picking up a bogey flying away from the Mjolnir’s estimated position,” an officer reported.

  “Can you identify its mass?” Shiken asked.

  “Just a moment sir.” the officer scanned the bogey a number of times, surprised with each reading. “Sir, there must be a mistake.”

  “What is it?” El Kar asked as he double checked the console.

  “What’s the issue?” Shiken asked.

  “My lord, the bogey weighs a hundred and twenty five videns,” El Kar answered.

  Shiken turned to Mira. “Tell me, what are the specs on the Maigar’s exoskeleton?”

  “I know nothing specific,” she answered.

  “Shoot it down,” Shiken commanded. “This must be a decoy. Have our Spits engage the bogey. Also move half of our ground troops in that direction. El Kar, call our allies in orbit. They’re to bombard the Mjolnir with impunity.”

  “Yes my lord.”