Minea appeared in a holographic flurry of cherry blossoms. “Sorry to interrupt. There’s a priority-one distress call coming out of Naldes.”
“Your ‘problem’?” D’abar asked, his tone like that of a displeased teacher.
“Display it,” Eyani said.
A host of projections spanned above the table: video footage, audio broadcasts, and text communications. Osuto reached out with a grabbing gesture. A set of the projections floated over to him. Eyani did the same. They feverishly pored through the data as more bulletins appeared.
Putting aside the potential intergalactic incident, a different fear gripped Osuto. “Is Rhysus okay?”
“We don’t know,” Kiyanna said.
“Head to the rendezvous location as planned. We’ll have the medical team waiting,” Eyani said, not looking away from the bulletins before her.
Her tone ominous, Kiyanna said, “No, you don’t understand, it’s not just medical. Something odd happened. I think it’s a new ability.”
“He manifested something new?” Osuto said, curious but concerned.
“Affirmative, sir. It seems he can, apparently, rip the power out of us and use it as his own.”
“Rip power out?” Osuto said, ending in a coughing fit. He knew of only two people that had ever done something similar: the great D’mok himself, and one other. Lend me your power, he recalled Seigie saying through telepathy. Even in his unconscious state he’d heard her plea. Neither D’mok nor Seigie survived the ordeal. “But Rhysus is alive?”
“Affirmative, sir.”
That was a start. This meant Mencari had done something no other D’mok-empowered being had ever done—survived wielding power taken from others. It occurred to him how similar Cerna’s ability was, yet others had to direct their power to her. This, evolution, was far superior. No voluntary provisioning was required.
“We need to talk when we get back,” Kiyanna began.
Eyani looked up from the Naldes bulletins. “It says there’s been a collapse of one of their polar installations. I only see a minor communication from the area your team operated.”
“Then they’re covering it up.” Again Kiyanna turned and yelled at those out of view.
“We’ll have resources waiting to receive the wounded,” Eyani added.
Kiyanna shook her head. “I’m not taking chances with New Eden medical tech. We need them back up now. I’m taking them to Argosy.”
“Cogeni?” Osuto said, coughing.
“He can heal people instantly….” A ruckus behind her grew. Her teeth gnashed. “I need to deal with the fallout here. We need to talk about everything soon.”
* * * * * *
Every part of Mencari’s body ached, though he floated weightless in a sea of black. Confusion plagued him. Could he not see? Where was he? Wide-eyed, he searched for the slightest pinprick of light. Nothing?
He tried to summon his golden glow, but failed. What is happening?
Narrik’s voice haunted him from the darkness. “You have to do better if we’re going to survive this!”
The phrase touched a jaded vein within him. It was easy to call out problems, much harder to be the architect of a solution. In that moment, a lucid awareness struck him. This darkness—he’d been here before. Many times, in fact. It was his own personal hell but, ultimately, it meant this wasn’t real. What was it he needed to learn this time?
A chill permeated the darkness. How would he work his way out of this one? He felt lost, aimless, floundering in the dark. The blunt metaphor certainly reflected what he felt. He didn’t feel much like a leader, or a husband, or a father. Sometimes it seemed the harder he tried the worse everything became, or the further he felt from rescuing his family.
So where to go from here? The same direction he always went when he felt this way: forward, until he found himself somewhere.
“Going to start all over?” a voice from the past echoed around him. “You’re pretty good at that. Too bad you keep messing up.” A face flashed before him. A blond-haired youth with piercing green eyes that glared his way, then vanished. Eisah. A cool wind gusted from ahead. Icy pricks skittered across his skin.
There was only one way he could move—forward. He knew from experience that when his mind screamed to stop, he was headed in the right direction. Doing the right thing always seemed the most unpleasant to do.
I’m not turning back.
The gust blustered, but he fought on. With each passing moment, the resistance grew. He nearly came to a standstill when a gentle golden glow broke the darkness. It came from the stone set in his wrist-guard, the gift from Lady Weun, charged by Seigie Weun before her death. The gusting winds broke around him, no longer able to slow his progress.
Beneath his feet, the dark space congealed into a soft surface that gave a slight squeak as he tread upon it. The energy from the bracelet snaked down his body. Spreading out from his feet, a muddy path stretched for yards before disappearing into the darkness. With each step, that much more became visible ahead.
Voices from the past rang from the dark, spouting from every direction.
“But we can’t just leave them!” Allia shrieked.
Wails of those the lost rang like a demonic choir. More casualties of the Nukari’s cruel endeavors. He had no choice but to leave the prisoner behind—that, or risk losing members of his team. Someone had to make the hard calls. Either way, people were going to die. Which would be the ones to survive? He had a greater responsibility to his team—the ones who defeated the Nukari to begin with, and continued to defend their region of space. In the end, he had to pick their lives first. Maybe he should feel more guilt about it, but he didn’t. In fact he felt little, outside of empty. How had his soul grown so cold?
“Bit of a spot you’re in,” the Nukari Beast Warrior youth said with a snicker.
All he wanted was to get some tip that could lead to his wife and son. The worst thing about the Nukari youth’s comment was that he was right. He had led them into a bad situation. In his desperation to find his family, he took unnecessary risks. With New Eden’s resources, there wasn’t a good reason to take their primary team on nonessential side missions. But it made him feel like he was doing something toward finding his family. How could he live with himself, carrying on with his D’mok Warrior duties when his own family suffered, captives of his enemy?
Though, what did leading that mission to the Nukari station get them? A few captives were saved. No additional information about their operations was gained. No clues to his family’s whereabouts found. And they were nearly killed. It all felt like a sick game, one he couldn’t win. He hated the Nukari—all of them.
The mocking voice of that beast warrior youth echoed around him. “Oh, I’m so scared.”
In that instant, something unhinged inside of him. A seething, unforgiving rage consumed him. Whatever manner of beast was inside that black armor, it wouldn’t get away again. One way or another he’d get answers about the Nukari out of it. Whatever method needed to be used, would be.
Scared?
“You should be.” His voice rattled with anger. As if in response, the darkness flooded with stars. A massive gateway appeared, and within it a swirling portal to another region of space. His gaze ensnared, he couldn’t look away.
His stomach knotted as the mighty Nukari ship, the Leviathan, appeared. Not this. Not again. Its cannons emerged from hidden locations along the hull, and unloaded against the allied fleet. Not even halfway emerged, and it unleashed devastation. Its appearance spelled their doom. His own voice rang out. “Fall back! We have to fall back!”
A deep, gravelly voice cried out, “Rhysus!” moments before a point of light appeared beside the gateway. Seigie Weun’s voice. “Lend me your power.”
No.
His golden aura flared and the point of light bloomed into a small sun, which blazed against the darkness.
Please …
“We will stop the Nukari together,” she added.
A deep-seated guilt snuffed out his rage. A well of sorrow drowned him. This was his fault. Seigie was gone because of his failure as a leader.
Not again.
“Goodbye,” she said as the brilliance cycled every color in the rainbow before exploding in a massive eruption.
Numb. His entire body had gone numb. Debris of metal, bodies, and flame spread before him. The gateway and the Leviathan were gone, as was Seigie. The destruction turned to dust and transformed before him into a beautiful universe of nebulas, star clusters, and planets.
A blazing path of light stretched out from his feet, on into infinity. The first sensation to erode the numbness was a burning doubt. Did he make the right calls? How many had perished from his leadership? How many were yet fated to die by his command?
He never asked to become what he did, to have things end up as they had. Not once did he profess to being the answer to anyone’s prayer, or proclaim that people had to follow him. He did what he had to, what everyone expected of him. He didn’t want it—any of it. Now all he did want was his family, the very people he seemed incapable of saving.
Glimmers of distant light drew his attention. Trails of light spurted out then exploded like fireworks. Cautious, he walked along that path of light toward the spectacle. Drawing near, he saw the streaks were people. Gold and silver auras danced in fits and starts with muddy-blue auras. Nukari Beast Warriors were attacking his allies—his friends.
Swiftness came to his step and with it his golden aura. He ran faster, and faster, light pulsing from his body. Engulfed in power, he took flight. He closed in on the enemy. With outstretched hands, powerful beams of energy leaped toward them. Faceless Nukari beasts howled as his attacks tore through their bodies.
As the last one fell, a soft whimpering drew his attention. He followed it, and was brought back to the path of light. There, balled up tightly, he discovered a small boy crying—his boy.
“Rhyiel,” he said tenderly, kneeling down to comfort the child. “I’m here, son.”
The child uncoiled just enough to wrap around his leg. He looked on with a mixture of disbelief and happiness.
“I’m here, Rhyiel. I’m right here.”
The boy continued to cry.
“They can’t hurt you anymore, I’ve killed them all.”
He went to hug the child when a firm hand gripped his shoulder. With glowing fists he turned to attack, but stopped when he saw a Human, unarmed and smiling warmly. Deep brown eyes stared into his. He had to be about twenty. The boy seemed familiar. Did he know him?
“Father,” the boy said.
Father?
“It’s me, Rhyiel.”
A chill ran down his spine. “Rhyiel is just a boy.”
Sadness came to the boy’s eyes. “I’ve grown. I’m not the child you remember.”
Was this a trick? It didn’t feel like one. Could this be his boy? Even though his son would be older, he wouldn’t be this old yet. The child clinging to his leg disappeared. Only the older boy remained.
“There’s so much I want to say to you, but there isn’t much time,” the youth continued.
“How could you be so grown-up?” This must be a dream. Compelled, he stood and hugged Rhyiel. The warmth felt real. “I’ve been searching so long for you both.” A dam of sadness broke, flooding his eyes. “Are you and your mother okay?”
“We will be.”
Will be? A gasp escaped him.
“I know. You have to stay strong, Dad. Rest is coming.”
Is coming? What is this?
“Tell me where you are! Help me find you. Give me some type of clue.”
“Just keep doing what you’ve always done—what you think is right. And it will lead you to us.”
“I’m sorry … for being such a failure to you both.”
“You’ve never been a failure … you’ve saved so many. You’re a hero, Dad. My hero.”
“I’m going to save you—and your mother. I swear it.”
“I know—and you do—soon.” Rhyiel paused then added, “I was so confused, so scared. I didn’t understand. Just don’t give up.”
* * * * * *
Katen opened his eyes. The ornate carvings of the Demassen temple replaced the haze of the mindwalk. Dane, Narrik, Nikko, Kiyanna, and Tal stood anxious, waiting for his report. Decreta stood quietly beside him. “He’s sleeping, mind chaotic, but intact.”
He didn’t need to be near Mencari to touch his mind. Though being in the same temple helped. The drone of melodic chants filled the air. An odd sense of empowerment and calm filled him here. If he were to believe in Cogeni and Niya’s beliefs, perhaps the great Demas desired them to heal?
“He didn’t look fine,” Dane said. “When we left him I thought I saw little sparks of light flashing around him. What were those?”
“Probably our power,” Narrik said. “No one said anything about him being able to suck the energy out of us.”
“That’s because we didn’t know,” Kiyanna said. “From the looks of things, he didn’t either. He certainly didn’t know how to control it.”
“Does that mean you could clone that ability too?” Dane asked Tal.
“I felt my body burning when I copied just his beam attack. I could barely handle that.” Tal rubbed his arms. “I’m okay thanks to Cogeni, but I won’t attempt that again.”
A powerful presence drew near. It felt masculine, powerful, and more ethereal than physical. It was the same sensation he felt whenever Niya was near. Being female, it couldn’t be coming directly from her. Perhaps from the Great Judicator she spoke of?
Niya and Cogeni called their benefactors “gods.” But what were they really? He couldn’t sense minds to touch, yet he could feel their presence—even when not visible to the others. Perhaps this Demas and Anthies were cosmic parasites that bonded to corporeal hosts? Stranger still, rituals and sacred objects could summon these so-called gods. What beings would ever desire such a thing? What an intriguing puzzle.
“Niya’s coming.” He felt the tension oozing from Nikko. Her body even shuddered. He noticed her step back as the door opened.
After a courteous tip of her head, Niya said, “Naijen is healed and resting. Speru said he’d stay to watch over him. Cogeni is still working on Rhysus. Though he said there didn’t appear to be anything physically wrong with him.”
“You mean, outside of taking our power and using it to rip through the crust of a planet, blowing us into orbit?” Narrik said.
She clarified. “It didn’t appear to have left permanent bodily harm on him.”
“Nor on his mind,” Katen added. “And yet he remains unconscious.”
“How’s Cogeni doing? He’s not pushing too hard, is he?” Nikko asked, her voice tentative.
“He’s fine, and being careful. And who are you again?” Niya asked.
“I’m Nikko.”
“Oh.”
An awkward silence filled the room.
“Well, welcome home—to a free Argosy,” Niya said, breaking the tension.
“Thank you. It’s very different from when I left.”
“It is—and for the better,” Niya said, her tone blunt.
Katen didn’t need to read their thoughts to know what was happening. How delicious and entertaining. If nothing else, remaining with the D’mok Warriors proved endlessly amusing.
“Can Cogeni maintain a barrier around Mencari, in the event whatever happened back on Naldes starts up again?” Kiyanna asked.
“The Demas Beads are already taking care of that,” Niya said. “Cerna is also with him, as backup.”
Minea appeared in a flurry of holographic cherry blossoms and floated over to Kiyanna. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but Eyani has initiated an urgent call to you.”
Kiyanna nodded. From a fountain of light before her, Eyani appeared. “Commander Kyoda.”
“Captain Wayrena,” she said, hand snapped in a tight salute.
“We have a situation that needs your atten
tion.”
“Now, ma’am? We are dealing with wounded.”
“You’re the closest ship, along with the available D’mok Warriors, so yes. It’s also the first time we’ve heard from the Coalition in a while. I’m hoping we can capitalize on this to reestablish contact with them.”
“What’s going on, ma’am?”
“Get to your ship. Una already has the coordinates. A Coalition vessel is under attack by mercenary forces. They won’t be able to hold out much longer. Tunnel there and neutralize the threat. Then help the Coalition in any way you can.”
“Affirmative, ma’am.”
“Keep me posted,” Eyani said, her image exploding into tiny balls of light.
Kiyanna turned to the group. “Let’s move it.”
“Come, pet,” Katen said to Decreta.
“Good luck,” Dane called out.
Kiyanna skidded to a stop. “Get moving!”
“I’m staying with Tal.”
Kiyanna’s voice boomed. “Some of best warriors are down. We need everyone we can spare.”
“I’ll get Cogeni,” Niya said, already in motion.
“No, he’s going to get our people healthy,” Kiyanna said.
“Then I’ll go in his stead,” Niya said. Katen noticed the sour expression on Nikko’s face, but no one else saw it.
Kiyanna motioned down the corridor. “Let’s move out!”
CHAPTER 21
The Aloans
“Two minutes before the release window,” Una said.
Katen relished the moment. Tension wafted in hot waves from their newest members. The cruel delight tingled his senses. It felt comforting, like a full belly after a good meal. He watched the swirling eddies of tunnel energy rip open, revealing an endless starscape. A sensation of gravity embraced his body, along with a tingled chill. He felt a smile cross his face. He knew this feeling well. “There are beast warriors here,” he said, drawing the attention of the others. Still gazing out the window, he extended his senses beyond his body. To his surprise, the beings cast more than the traditional muddy-blue auras. Some were golden, one was red. The oddities felt much like those from the D’mar homeworld. He cosmically reached out to their minds, but met an electrified resistance. He snarled. “There are others like you out there—and they have a telepath.”
D'mok Revival 4: New Eden Page 22