Sunlord

by Ronan Frost

  A word involuntarily escaped her mouth as she stared up in awe at the figure.

  "Mo'shai."

  She knew not what it meant; it was as if another had spoken the word from her mouth.

  The next instant the floating figure had taken her up in his arms and bore them away. The blazing bonfire receded into the distance as they climbed up through a layer of soft dark clouds.

  Myshia turned to stare into the face of her rescuer and gasped. His face was drawn and haggard, dark shadows etched below the cheekbones. He looked immeasurably tired, but his gleaming deep green eyes reflected a confidence that inspired command and leadership. It was unmistakably the face of Ashian Bire, the city Vizier.

  Myshia opened her mouth to speak but no sound emerged. An incessant high pitch cry had arisen from the very bowels of the earth, drilling into her mind and soul and scattering the clouds into wisps of moisture. It climaxed to a crescendo, blanking out everything in expanding ripples of destruction.

  The wings on Ashian's back beat smoothly, carrying them higher from the noise, but still it did not relent. It was as if the sound waves were ringing the life from everything, shaking flesh from bone.

  She knew it was her daughter screaming for revenge...

  Myshia awoke with a start, not knowing where she was. Then the dream came back to her, and she cursed silently in the darkness.

  She felt physically exhausted, as if had been running through the jungle. Remnants of the dream kept flashing in her mind's eye, and she rubbed her forehead hard as if to clear it. Her strange dream haunted her, and every night she feared going to sleep.

  If only the Elder were here, she thought. He would be able to tell me what my Dream Teacher is trying to say. But without the small wizened Eloprin leader, Myshia felt lost in a strange, terrible world. It was almost as if something was baring down upon her, every night growing closer until...

  Myshia shook her head and pulled her fur cape firmly up over her shoulders. The storm was raging above now, and a thin layer of white snow reflected the feeble moonlight.

  Myshia knew she had to get some sleep, for a lot lay in front of them. But she could not sleep as the terrible dream kept coming back every time she closed her eyes. Only when the moon was high in the stormy sky did she at last fall into a light slumber. Thankfully it was devoid of dreams and she slept for a few hours.

  Shaun heard the sound of footsteps approach from behind but did not turn. He was intent upon the beacon in his hands, his face close to the screen in the howling wind. He raised Ashian's night vision telescope and peered along the horizon of darkness and storm.

  The approaching footsteps stopped and a voice sounded in his ear.

  "Have you found something?"

  Ashian drew his cloak tighter about his form in order to ward off the chill wind. The rain had stopped, pools of water lying in hollows and fissures in the slippery moss covered rock. To Ashian a storm of such size was not uncommon on his planet, for winter was fast approaching and it was well-known blizzards could last for days on end.

  Shaun answered the Currach's question almost absently.

  "I picked up a transmission a few minutes ago, coded of course." He at last turned to face Ashian. "But what I can tell is that someone is after us, and they are very close."

  "Should I wake Capac and Myshia?"

  Shaun nodded. "We move out immediately. From what I can gather, our foe is at the bottom of this hill and keeping himself well hidden whilst approaching. At a guess I'd say there's a least one android with them, and they've got radar cloaking devices. Yes, they're good. And they're going to be here before the hour."

  Myshia awoke with a start. Her world of terrible dreams shattered, to be replaced by Ashian's concerned face overlooking hers.

  "Myshia, are you all right? You seemed to be in a very deep sleep. I was worried you were in some sort of a coma."

  Myshia shrugged of his attentions. "I'm fine." Seeing it was still dark, she asked; "What is it?"

  "Shaun has spotted a Sunlord group headed our way. We're running, while we still have the chance. Don't roll your sleeping furs up yet, either - it's a chilly night out there."

  Myshia awoke quickly, forcing the images of the tribal bonfire of her dreams from her mind. In a moment she stood, her few possessions tucked into her belts and pouches and her short bow slung over her back.

  Shaun quickly briefed the Eloprin of what had transpired.

  "I had hoped we had shaken the Hartrias troopers, but it seems they are still with us. We won't stand much of a chance if we stand and fight - their firepower if far superior to ours. One mortar shot in this hollow we call a defence and we're history. So we must rely on speed and stealth. Once further away I hope to set up some sort of trap to swing the odds in our favour. So in the meantime we must move on."

  There were no disagreements, and the group clambered from between their shelter in the rocks and were immediately blasted by the full strength of the storm. Shaun scanned their immediate surrounds with the aid of Ashian's telescope and was glad to report no Sunlord was in sight.

  Deciding upon a direction they set off up the rocky face of the hill. They moved silently and did not speak lest the phenomenal hearing of their android pursuers should pick it from the wind. The soft slapping of leather against stone was shrouded completely by the fury of the wind, although behind them in the thin layer of virgin snow their tracks could be easily distinguished.

  Shaun just hoped fresh snow would fall and cover the trail before the Hartrias found it.

  The crunch of footsteps upon snow approached, and out of the darkness stepped two forms shadowy forms leaning heavily into the wind. Their forms etched as black upon blackness, they approached the fast disappearing trail of footsteps.

  Gurhuin turned to the android and gestured abruptly at the trail. The A-squad warrior's face bent with mirthless satisfaction as the battered android examined the shallow impressions in the snow.

  As the android stood the full extend of the damage it had endured became apparent; its entire midsection was a solid mass of melted plastic and wires were the right side of its rib structure had caved in and multiple indentations marked where Capac had shot the machine gun into its armoured flank at point blank range.

  Gurhuin spoke through his radio microphone situated at the base of his helmet. "What do you think, Lazarus?"

  Gurhuin had given the android 87-DE its name - Lazarus. Gurhuin was amazed the android had managed to take the beating it had and still survive - indeed, it had arisen from death.

  The android swung its red-eyed gaze to the trooper.

  "Two hours and fifteen minutes."

  "Lets move. We may be able to catch them by dawn."

  Without further comment the battle armoured future warriors stepped back into the night and storm, the whipping snow quickly cloaking them from view.

  Chapter Six

  Mantrap.

  A fly, Sir, may sting a stately horse, and make him wince;

  but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse still.

  - Dr Samuel Johnson.

  Ashian held his breath as Shaun put the final touches to the device he had rigged between the trees. Strung like a spider's web, it was almost invisible to the naked eye.

  Capac whispered in the Currach's ear.

  "What is he doing?"

  Ashian shrugged. "He told us to wait here." The Currach cast an eye skywards. The morning sun had long since broken the horizon, and a cold light filtered down through the high clouds. No rain was imminent, thankfully, and it seemed the previous nights storm had blown over.

  Capac squirmed uncomfortably upon the rocks, eager to be down in the grassy clearing below to help Shaun set his mantrap.

  Myshia saw her companion's desire.

  "He said it was too dangerous if we went down there. We would just get in his way."

  Grumbling, Capac acceded and sank back behind the finger of rock they hid behind.

  At last Shaun's figure, sm
all in the distance, began the steep climb back to where the natives lay in wait. Capac was first to greet him.

  "Is it done?"

  Shaun nodded, handing back the knife he had borrowed from the Eloprin hunter. "I've rigged up the stabilisation belt between what trees I could find. After splicing it's very difficult to see."

  Ashian was curious. "You haven't told us what exactly you've done. What is this 'stabilisation belt', and how can it help us?"

  Shaun motioned them up the slope. "We'll head for that rock outcropping - its a good strategic position if anyone comes into the valley. I'll fill you in as we walk."

  They gathered together their packs and began the precarious scramble up the rock face strewn with loose pebbles that slipped underfoot. "A stabilisation belt," began Shaun, "is used by space station engineers when they are working on the exterior of an orbiting craft. It is a mass of thin superconducting wires strung together like a belt about the waist of the space helicasuit. When desirable, a current is set to flow about the loop, which produces a torque as it interacts with a magnetic field. If the space station is close enough to a planet, the belt will align itself along the magnetic field lines of the world below, giving the mechanic a direction up and down. It can make work easier if the stars are not spinning wildly about one's head and reduces the chance of nausea."

  Ashian was fascinated. Although he understood little of the Earthman's words, he managed to grasp the concept. "The city alchemists and scientists have discovered this strange interaction between current and magnets...It is amazing this knowledge can be put to such use."

  Shaun seemed surprised at Ashian's quickness. "You understand new concepts very quickly, little one. You have a quick mind."

  Capac impatiently interrupted. "How is this belt going to help us?"

  "Simple. I had a belt in the vacuum helicasuit I wore, and it didn't take much to remove the insulation and splice it into a long thin wire. I cut the battery that powers the belt from the leg padding of my suit, and buried it amongst a pile of leaves. I put it on full setting, so that more that a thousand amps will flow through the super conductive wire."

  Ashian caught on and finished Shaun's thoughts. "When the android following us bumps into it he will be fried!"

  Capac was still not sold. "How do we know that will blunder into it? They've been pretty careful to keep out of our sight so far."

  "We use bait," replied Shaun simply. "Me."

  Stunned silent followed.

  "Are you mad?"

  Shaun smiled but said no more.

  They had reached the rock Shaun had indicated and as they fell in behind it. The morning sun was warm on their backs as they worked. Shaun, with the aid of the sturdy Capac, heaved and rolled boulders atop larger rocks.

  "Move this one here," said the human. "That way, if dislodged, it will roll straight down between those rocks."

  Capac's eyes lit with understanding. "Yes, I see. If the Sunlord walks between those boulders you'll release this thing."

  "No, you will release it. I'll be down in the clearing, trying to lure them up here." He paused as he bent his back and began to prise the large stone free.

  Capac quickly came to his aid. "I admire you courage. What assistance do you need from us?"

  "You're going to watch my back. I'll take the miners rifle down - its long barrel will give me a bit of range. You are to keep the Auras machine gun and give me some cover fire incase I find myself on the back foot. As a last resort I will race up this slope and between those rocks, and that is when you will release these rolling boulders."

  "What about you? Won't you be crushed too?"

  "I can look after myself. I'll be expecting them, and the Hartrias won't." Shaun glanced irritably at his watch. "We are overtime. The troopers will be sitting in our laps pretty soon if we don't hurry up."

  Shaun pulled the beacon from the leg pocket of his helicasuit and punched in a code sequence. He looked up sharply and turned to the Eloprin hunter.

  "I've got a reading. Quickly, pass me the Scavala."

  Capac raced to where the rifle had been stowed and passed it over. His large green eyes betrayed a hint of emotion. "Be careful."

  Shaun nodded curtly. "Watch my back, and stay under cover!"

  Ashian saw the human make his way down the slope, bounding from boulder to boulder like a mountain goat. Turning to Capac he asked;

  "Now what?"

  "We wait. Ashian, move over that outcropping and stay hidden. You can see where Shaun and I have set up the boulders...? Okay, I want you to release them on my command. Myshia, stay close to me and keep you bow at the ready. I want to be prepared incase Shaun fails. The instant the Sunlords appear we fire with everything we've got."

  Ashian watched silently as Shaun's figure receded into the distance. "Do you really think he'll fail?"

  "We're not going to rely on his wild scheme. Just be ready."

  Ashian saw the wisdom of the skilled hunter's words, but deep within refused to accept Shaun could fail. From the instant they had met, the human had seemed a quick-footed individual somehow capable of sidestepping death itself.

  But Ashian knew the coming encounter would test even Shaun's skills. The Sunlords were heavily armoured and fiercely determined. On the other side of the coin, the natives were prepared and held the element of surprise.

  Ashian knew it would be a terrible and bloody battle.

  * * *

  Gurhuin stopped in his tracks and lay a hand on Lazarus's arm.

  "Something's wrong."

  The android stopped and looked about. They stood in a small valley, following the scant trail of their prey between the rocks. A small stream trickled through the rocks nearby, giving rise to a clump of trees and shrubbery. To either side a sheer cliff face confronted them, and the ground before them cambered up in a gently slope.

  Lazarus's thorough check reported negative, and he continued to move onwards. The computer had given the android greater authority and it took no heed of Gurhuin's warning words.

  Gurhuin's brows furrowed behind his silver reflective face mask. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he attempted to pierce the wall of trees and rocks with his gaze. His instincts told him something was wrong, that a trap had been set.

  Suddenly deciding, he set off at a run on a path tangential to Lazarus's, aiming to curve around behind the clump of trees. Already his computer aided vision was picking a way up the cliff face that avoided the sheerest of the slopes. His Auras rifle slung into its slot on the back of his armour, the A-squad warrior clambered up the stone wall.

  Lazarus continued on oblivious to its companions departure. Its only duty was to seek out and destroy the natives any way it saw fit.

  A shrill buzzing alerted itself to Lazarus's mind. For one-hundredth of a second the android paused as the whining grew louder and identification was confirmed. The android ducked just in time to avoid the bullet as it whizzed overhead. Another shot followed in quick succession but Lazarus' evasion systems were unbalanced and the bullet caught the android in the thigh. It ran forward awkwardly, bringing forth its deadly weapon as the trajectory plot pinpointed his prey.

  Lazarus did not see the microscopically thin wire. Strung about ankle height between a pair of trees it caught the android unawares. A split second later its outer layer of flesh shivered like jelly as thousands of amp's of current earthed itself through its metal frame - relays and circuit boards blowing instantly. Twisting Lazarus fell and with a final convulsion it spasmed upon the ground before exploding in a shower of metal parts and fire.

  Gurhuin had heard the shots and used his telescopic sight on his Auras to zoom up on the scene below; just in time to see Lazarus burst apart as if the metal man had swallowed a rocket detonator.

  Lights flashed on his heads up display as the heat detecting scanner picked up multiple life forms. The A-squad infantryman bounded over the rocks in easy silky motions, his Auras rifle steady and level against his eye as he quickly closed upon
his unsuspecting prey.

  Two hundred metres down the slope Shaun shot a final round into the motionless heap of scrap iron that had been the android. His ploy had worked perfectly, for the android had been too busy avoiding Shaun's gunfire to avoid the line of wire. Shaun lay behind a large boulder, the cross-hairs of the long barrelled rifle scanning the terrain. The ancient weapon was elevated about ten degrees so that it could make the range, but the computer-aided sights were still straight and accurate.

  Shaun allowed himself a moment of congratulation before standing warily to scan the rest of the slope.

  The beacon was in his hands, scrutinising the landscape for any other Hartrias troops.

  The light flashed one affirmative blink as Gurhuin's radio pack relayed a signal back to the Urisa. The small beacon, enhanced with the chips Shaun had installed, traced the source of the intercepted transmission.

  "Behind?"

  Fear flushed Shaun's face. He picked up the Scavala and leapt from his shelter, heedless of danger to himself. His worn leather boots slipped and skidded on the mossy rock and he fell, soaking his helicasuit in the pools of dirty water.

  Capac saw the human approach and waved broadly. Nearby Ashian had emerged from behind a rock.

  Shaun waved them down, and shouted at them.

  "Get down! Look behind you!"

  But the wind carried his words away and were lost in the distance. The natives now wore bemused expressions as Shaun waved furiously at them.

  Capac was first to catch on. He pivoted quickly, his quickness of instinct saving them all from certain death. The place were he had stood moments before was showered in splinters of rock as he rolled away. Myshia and Ashian hugged the ground at the sound of gunfire from behind them. Myshia's sharp eyes made out a flicker of movement darting from one shelter to another.

  "They're coming from above!"