The phantom rose to her feet, “very well, but before I go I have a gift for you”, and she held out her hand to him.
He looked into the hand that was before him and there he saw the black crystal called Tral, she offers me death once more, and in anger he struck out with his metal arm. “LEVE ME!” he screamed but the image vanished and he was left to himself again. He sat there for a time alone but his melancholy did not last for he suddenly saw that all the metal creatures had vanished into the Iron God and he was alone. So with a last glance at the Nomad he rose and returned to the chamber of the Orb and the dim home that was now his.
As Valen looked on the air filled with a loud roaring sound, it came from his enemy and for a moment he thought the creature was dying, and forgetting that a God is immortal he began to jump up and down waving his war-ax over his head. He shouted and cried out in joy, “lay forever with the bones of the dead!” he screamed, “you were a weak God and you will not be remembered!” then his contentment turned to horror as he saw Atos begin to move.
He lowered his weapon and stood wide-eyed as the huge metal monster emitted a great cloud of white smoke and slowly began turning its titanic wheels, there was a grinding sound and cracking of metal as hot gasses came in contact with cold steel. From the sides of the beast came a blast of flame and black smoke and more grinding sounds, it shuttered like a new born Rimar then it moved again.
“This cannot be?” the warrior thought, it has no Trofars to pull it, and no sails like the wind ships of the Western Sea?
The Outlander had no knowledge of steam power, for he was only a small boy when his mother and father traveled to the land of the Norgonie. If he had been a bit older he might have recognized that the same magical power that moved the pumps and gates of the Forest-dwellers was now being used by Atos.
Valen knew that his quarry was getting away so he quickly ran towards the broken shelter and his Whiptail, you will not escape me, he cried out in his mind, I WILL have my revenge!
Deep inside the steam-powered machine the Cyberman felt the shaking and he knew that his God had risen once more, we cannot die, he thought, we will live forever!
His laughter filled the chamber of the interactive brain and it echoed in the great mind we can not die, thought the Orb, we will live forever!
The Taskrobot said nothing as it continued to monitor information from the central command mechanisms, Power, Weapons, Directional coordination were all functioning at peak levels. “All systems normal”, it finally said, “heading on course”.
There was more shaking and some of the connecting information suppliers shorted out, but the small Repairbots quickly moved to restore them and soon all was as it should be. Once or twice there was a loud booming sound but it did not cause damage or stop the great machine from moving out of the Toys of Isarie.
Valen sat upon his Whiptail and watched the iron creature leaving the playthings of the Gods, he felt new strength surging through his veins now for he was once more were all Nomads wish to be, mounted on war-beasts and hunting the enemy.
“You will not escape me,” shouted the Outlander, “I am Valen of last of the Caladon and you will die before me!”
And digging his spurs into the flanks of his Whiptail he once more began to follow his prey.
All that morning the young warrior followed the metal creature over the Sirolian plains, its pace was fast and he was hard pressed to stay within eye sight of his quarry but he refused to rest and continued to urge on his mount. They headed South across the green pasturelands and rolling hills, and as they raced they saw great herds of Rimar thundering in panic as the steel monster approached. It did stop now and then to fill its belly with water from small lakes and pools and once it gathered more Eul, but it did not stay in one place for long and kept moving ever onward to the South.
And when night came it continued moving and it even though it had no eyes it did not crash into the fallen lightships and other broken machines that littered the Greenland’s. And all the while the Nomad continued to follow, never stopping, never sleeping always watching his prey with revenge burning in his heart.
And then with the coming of day the God entered the land of Ashra-Doom.
It was a clear morning with only a few wisp’s of clouds marking the sky, on the air was a faint traces of odor like rotting leaves or bits of food left out too long in the sun. To a Nomad that sent was as clear as a still pool but to the Orb it meant nothing.
“All systems report maximum efficiency” the Taskrobot said, “there was a two percent pressure drop in number six pump but it has been rectified”.
“Very well”, replied the Orb, “continue monitoring all systems and remain on course”
The robot moved away from its master and as the Darkman approached it noticed that there was a small leak in the right arm of the human, “there is a loss of power to your extremity if you wish I will have repairs made”.
The Shadowman looked at the Taskrobot and after lifting his metal arm up and down a few times he spoke, “very well, make your repairs”.
The machine reached out with four of its tentacles and wrapped them around the arm of the semi-human, and then with a twist it removed the appendage with a slight sparking of electricity. “Repairs will be made” it said then hurried off carrying the defective mechanism.
Ordinarily seeing his arm being removed from his body would have caused the Darkman to fear but he had grown accustomed to having himself worked on by the strange machines and he thought no more about it. Now he moved to the glowing Orb and looked up at it. “Forgive me great God but where are we going?” he asked.
The Shadowman knew they were moving southward but to what end he did not know so he waited for a reply to his question, and soon it came.
“We have many enemies”, the Orb said, “They all must be destroyed”.
It was a simple answer but one that pleased the half-human, we are even stronger now, he thought, nothing can stand in our way.
But the Darkman had forgotten that long before Atos fell to earth there was another God that ruled the Outlands, a God that slept beneath the earth and a power that no one dared to wake.
Valen rode to a top of a hill and saw that the Iron God was moving towards a large cluster of tall Balbar trees, it seemed a quite oasis were a tired Nomad could rest and refresh himself on sweet fruits and fresh water. Nearby he could also see the remains of a gigantic war machine, it had lain there for thousands of cycles, and its huge steel hull was corroded with rust and pitted from the wind and rain. But the Caladone had seen enough cycles to know the ways of the Outlands so when he saw that his prey was going towards the small forest he smiled.
“Atos may be the God of war”, he told his Whiptail, “but he has a lot to learn about the Greenland’s”.
The great metal monster rolled onward oblivious to the danger that was laying ahead, its huge treads and wheels dug deep into the earth and Burrow babies rose out of the ground to sniff the air. But when they saw the huge creature drawing near they abandoned their earthen homes and raced away making loud squeaking cries as they ran. There were also several Rimar grazing lazily on the succulent grasses but when the giant intruder lumbered towards them they also raced away grunting in anger.
The Caladon warrior pulled back on the reins of his mount and waited at the top of the mound, he watched the Iron God approached the cluster of greenery and waited for what was to come. And as he waited he remembered the prayer of the Handmaidens.
Hear our prayers oh Gods of the soil.
Forgive our passing on endless toil.
Sleep in the earth, were peace is found.
Wake not from slumber and break the ground.
But he did not speak the words for he hoped that the Gods would not intervene in what was about to happen.
The Darkman was not sure why but he suddenly felt very uneasy, something was gnawing at his brain, an image of danger that took no shape but filled his mind with a feeling of great danger. Bu
t he did not heed its warning, why should I fear, he thought, Atos is the God of war and none can stand before him.
The Taskrobot continued to monitor all mechanisms and because it was made of metal and circuitry there were no feelings to warn it of the danger that lay ahead. “All systems working” it said “course change only point one nine percent”.
It was then that the Taskrobot returned with the repaired arm of the human, he moved to were the Darkman sat and quickly reattached the metal appendage, “repairs have been made”, it spoke, “power is at full strength”.
The Shadowman moved his arm up and down and it made him feel better knowing that he once more had the use of it but his mind still told him that danger was near.
The Orb continued to glow with a soft blue light, I am Atos the God of war, it told itself none could stand before me.
Valen saw the arrow birds flying out of the oasis Balbar trees and he smiled; “now the end comes”
He watched as the small forest began to rise out of the ground, and with them rose rocks and a flood of water for something was breaking through from below and forcing itself into the light, and seeing this the young warrior again smiled.
“Ashra-Doom wakes”.
The God of the Outlands slowly emerged into the sunlight, its long sleep had been disturbed and now it would take revenge on the creature that dared waken him. With a great rumbling sound the Earth Shaker began to fill the sky.
It was hundreds of meters in height and its enormous shellback was covered in a thick layer of earth and vegetation. From its huge belly hung great tentacle like tubes that reached all the way to the ground; they waved about feeling for anything to grasp in their strong coils. Its enormous armored head had no eyes but there were dozen or more long pink tongues protruding from a toothless mouth. It moved on four gigantic legs whose footprint could crush a Whiptail and rider like a Blaze-ant, and as it turned towards the Metal God it emitted a tremendous roar that shook the ground.
“WARNING. WARNING”, screamed the Taskrobot, “there is a creature directly ahead, bearing nine one nine, waiting orders”.
The light from the Orb began to change from a soft blue glow to a reddish one, “deploy all weapons, destroy it!” said the great mind.
The Darkman heard the words of his master, only a God can kill a God, he thought, and Atos is a strong God.
The Taskrobot quickly interfaced with the weapons console, “deploy all weapons, destroy the creature”.
“Understood”, said weapons command.
The command robot reached out with its tentacles and plugged itself into the Power and Directional interfaces. “Set power to maximum, divert secondary energy to weapons”.
“Diverting all secondary power to weapons,” said the power console as it obeyed the orders of the command robot.
“Coordinate directional heading with weapons”, said the Taskrobot.
“Understood” was the reply from the navigator.
The Orb glowed brighter; I am a strong God!
The two monsters met head on, one made of flesh and bone the other built of steel and circuitry, each one the God of its realm, each one unstoppable in its power. Even though the creature that the Nomads called Ashra-Doom had no eyes it knew exactly where its enemy was, now it roared out a challenge and lumbered forward its many tentacles reaching out to grasp its prey.
The Iron God also had no organic vision but its sensors and directional course correctors could pin point a sand flea in a windstorm and the beast that now attacked it was the size of a small lightship. So with a great billowing of steam and smoke it moved forward and as it did the two appendages that once sat close to its body began to move outward. They unfolded like two petals of a meadow flower but at the end of each arm there was a great claw like thing that could easily grasp a Nomads wagon and crush it to bits.
With a great thundering sound the two monsters embraced each other, the Earth Shakers titanic bulk slammed against the steel hull of the Orb sending a shutter throughout the great machine shaking it to its core.
Inside the Darkman felt the shaking of the chamber and he grasped an organic support pillar near him and held it fast with his arms. His mind flashed with images of the thing that had struck his home, “Earth Shaker”, he said softly, and although he tried not to be afraid he was. Ashra-Doom is the God of the Outlands, he heard his mind say and he gripped the pillar harder.
Valen gave out with a loud war cry as he saw his enemy engulfed in the power of the great beast “nothing can stand before Ashra-Doom!” He called out then grasped the reins of his Whiptail hard for it roared out hearing the din of battle and wishing it could join the fight.
The Earth Shaker was immune to the mind pain of the Orb, and the force barrier that the great machine was sending out could not halt its titanic strength. It continued to roar and using its gigantic feet it tried to stomp its adversary into the ground. But the Iron God would not be defeated so easily, for now it reached out with its two great claws and began to rip at the huge beast. Again and again it grasped flesh and using its powerful steam driven grippers it tore away great chunks of the monster, but in response Ashra-Doom reached out with its body tentacles and using its massive strength it pulled away one of the drive motors that propelled the fortress of the Orb.
“Damage to level one propulsion motor”, the Taskrobot reported, “secondary backup motors compensating at half levels”.
“Continue attack”, the Orb replied calmly, “destroy the enemy”.
Obeying its master the robot instructed the three main consoles to continue at all costs.
And the cost was becoming greater.
The Earth Shaker now began to scream in pain as more of its mottled flesh was being torn away but still it did not turn and flee, it continued to stomp, pull and beat itself against the its steel adversary. But it was also beginning to weaken as great rivers of a purplish blood flowed down its towering legs and soaked the ground.
Ashra-Doom took its nourishment from the soil, imbedding itself in soft earth and then soaking up minerals and fluids and for all its massive strength it was not a creature of hunger and hate like the Sagar Cats. So now when it felt its body being torn asunder it struck out in defense rather than anger but that defense was powerful. Again and again it pulled at the outer skin of the Iron God, and each time it did more of the mechanical mechanisms that propelled the steel monster ceased to work.
“Propulsion is failing”, reported the Taskrobot, “solar power is diminishing, maneuvering capabilities as sixty percent and dropping”.
“Continue attack”, the Orb replied. The great mind had never encountered an enemy like the one it now faced for all its warfare had been in the stars and not on the surface of a planet. But it knew that all enemies have a weakness and when that weakness is found it could be destroyed, so now it focused all its tremendous mind power on the creature and as it did the Darkman cried out in pain.
“Do not kill me great God”, he screamed clutching his head, “do not kill me!” suddenly he felt a great weakness in his legs and he fell to the floor, at the same time his right arm no longer functioned and he could see only from one eye. So he lay on the floor of the chamber and again cried out to his God, “Why do you do this?”
But the Orb did not reply for it needed all its power to reach into the thick skull of the creature and find the one weakness that would give him victory, and very soon he found it. Hidden deep in the primitive mind of the Earth Shaker was a group of neurons and these were connected to that portion of the monster’s brain that regulated his hibernation patterns. For Ashra-Doom was ruled by the cycles of the world in which it lived and now the Orb used those cycles to defeat his attacker.
It commanded the beast to sleep.
Valen had watched the ruler of the Outlands as it challenged the God that fell from the heavens, he had seen the metal monster being crushed and torn. He cheered as he saw his enemy breaking under the weight of Ashra-Doom, but now he watched as the Earth Sh
aker lay down upon the ground.
What has happened? He thought then he saw the Iron beast reach out with one of its great claws and rip at the head of the now sleeping giant. The beast gave out with one last roar and its many tentacles thrashed about sending up a great cloud of dust and debris, then it lay still.
Inside the Darkman no longer felt pain, he could again stand up and his right arm moved as it was commanded to do. The darkness in his right eye began to lighten and soon he could see once more, he stood there for a moment letting the strength return to his body then he heard the Taskrobot speak.
“The enemy is no longer functioning, victory has been achieved”.
“Understood”, replied the Orb, “can we continue?”
The robot stood there for a moment interfacing with the consoles then it spoke, “report” it said.
“Energy is not sufficient to continue”, the power console said, “Damage to main propulsion drives must be repaired”.
“Damage to weapons, loss of main defensive claw and armament”, reported the weapons array.
The last to report was the navigation console; “loss of H20 extensive, combustible materials need to be replenished within six point nine intervals or shutdown of locomotion will take place”.
The Orb responded quickly, “Understood, shutdown all unnecessary functions and begin repairs”.
The Shadowman could hardly believe that his master had defeated the great God of the Outlands but then he remembered just who had rescued him and in whose presents he now stood. I was wrong to doubt Atos, he thought, for his power comes from the stars and all things great and small live under them.
The words that the half-man spoke to his mind was true for all things do live under the stars but what he did not understand was that stars are just suns shining in the firmament of the heavens. And beyond those suns other stars burn bright, and beyond those yet more stars, an endless expanse of light and shadows, and when you reach the end of those great points of light it is still just the beginning.
But now as those very same stars began to shine in the evening sky Valen sat on his Whiptail and looked at the fallen Earth Shaker, and he could not stop his tears from falling for he had never seen a God di
The Fallen God Page 40