by Paul Ormond
“Scan complete,” Christine said as she looked over her panel. “The device is fully functional and all systems are online.”
“You see, XiaoFan, we take safety real seriously in this unit,” Ramon said while Christine scanned his body.
“That’s because of what happened to Ramon in that cow field,” Sanchez said with a laugh.
“What happened in the cow field?” XiaoFan asked as Christine scanned her device.
“We don’t need to talk about that right now,” Ramon said.
“Ramon ran out of power and crashed into a herd of sleeping cows when we were testing out the units. Started a stampede,” Sanchez blurted out. “Christine and I had to rescue him. It took us all our strength to get him out of there.”
“That sounds terrifying. Were you scared?” XiaoFan said, looking to Ramon.
“This is not the time or the place,” Ramon said as he snapped his mask down over his face. “We’ve got a job to do. Let’s get it done right.”
“Ok Ramon, Let’s stampede,” Sanchez said.
“That’s enough out of you,” Ramon said. “You’re frightening XiaoFan.”
“It’s actually quite amusing,” XiaoFan said while she led Ramon to the corrugated steel door leading out of the shack.
“I’ll show you the video feed I recorded when we finish the job,” Christine said while XiaoFan opened the door. “It’s hilarious.”
“I cannot believe you guys are bringing this up right now,” Ramon said, peeking his head out the door. “We’re about to pull off our biggest job yet, and you two are blabbing on like a couple of comment trolls. Get your heads in the game. XiaoFan, is this courtyard sealed on all sides?”
“Yes, no one else has access.”
“All right, everybody move outside, but keep quiet,” Ramon said before he stepped through the doorway. “We’re going airborne, and we need to stay focused.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“THE LOCATION WILL appear as a beacon on your panel,” Captain Juvius said as he handed Mitch his spear. “We have already given your weapons and devices security clearances allowing them to operate within our network. But should you choose to turn against us, we can easily revoke that status. You wouldn’t turn against us, would you, Mitch? Of course not, because then we would have to execute your friends, and you wouldn’t want that.”
“No, I wouldn’t want that,” Mitch said, holding back his words. “I’ll get the job done. Just leave my friends out of it.”
“That’s the can do attitude I would expect from the Most Dangerous Man In the Multiverse.”
“Is that what they’re calling him now?” Kate said with a laugh. “Back on Earth they call him #epiccrotchshot boy.”
“Just can’t let it go, can you, Kate?” Mitch said without looking at her.
“That is an interesting name, but it doesn’t quite have the same weight as the Most Dangerous Man in the Multiverse,” Captain Juvius said while he looked at Kate from across the hangar. “Your companions have received the same weapons status, but they also should be forewarned. If anything goes awry, we will be revoking that status immediately.”
“We got it,” Gaelin said, inspecting the contents of his backpack.
“I know how to follow orders,” TaeJun said as he leaned against a wall.
“Let’s just get this over with,” Mitch said.
“Splendid,” Captain Juvius said. “We’ll be underway then. I’ll have you board the transporter, and a unit will accompany you to the borderlands. You’ll find your mission objectives filed on your control panel. But I don’t think it is too complicated. Locate the RGC and eliminate them.”
“Yeah, I understand you want me to murder your enemies.”
“It sounds gruesome when you put it in those terms, but you must understand these are savage individuals, and as a group they have been terrorizing our planet for sometime now. The mayhem they have caused has only made the situation worse.”
“It’s a moot point, and it doesn’t matter. We’ll do what you say. Just don’t hurt our friends,” TaeJun said.
“You’ve chosen a wise companion, Mitch,” Captain Juvius said.
“You wouldn’t let me bring SoHee, and the others are keeping an Eye on Chapman and Kalis, making sure they don’t get any ideas. As much as I hate to admit it, Kate is probably the best person to have at my side on a suicide mission like this. If TaeJun is as deadly as they say he is, I’ll be glad to have him too. And Gaelin has proven time and again to be a valuable asset on any mission. ”
“TaeJun is as deadly as they say he is,” Kate said with a laugh. “And he’s got a cute butt.”
“What is wrong with you, Kate?” Gaelin said, zipping up his pack. “Nobody wants to hear that kind of stuff right now.”
“But, it’s true,” Kate said, concealing a smirk. “Look, he’s blushing. He’s even cuter when he blushes.”
“I’m not sure, TaeJun,” Captain Juvius said as TaeJun dropped his head. “But I think she likes you.”
“So now I’m caught in the middle of a romantic escapade,” Mitch said, exhaling in frustration. “Can we just get going?”
“I’m looking forward to my romantic escapade,” Kate said while she sauntered toward the transport sitting in the middle of the hangar. “Come along, TaeJun. This is going to be so much fun. Murder and Mayhem and making some love. Sounds like my idea of a good date.”
“This was already bad enough, and now I’ve got to deal with this,” Mitch said under his breath while he walked toward the transport.
“You know she gets off getting under your skin,” Gaelin said, striding past Mitch. “The more you react, the worse it will get.”
“Yeah, I got that, but what a pain in the ass,” Mitch said before following after Gaelin.
“You all remember Unil? She apprehended your company in the caves,” Captain Juvius said, gesturing toward the same white cloaked woman who captured them earlier.
“We haven’t been properly introduced, but I remember,” Mitch said.
“We’re taking you four to the border. After that you’re on your own,” Unil said before she climbed into the transport. “We’ve got supplies and uniforms for you on board. Get in and we’ll get you outfitted on route.”
“You heard the lady,” Captain Juvius said. “Best of luck. And remember we don’t want anything bad to happen to your friends, so stay focused on the task at hand.”
“I got it, you’re holding our friends hostage. You don’t have to keep bringing it up,” Mitch said, stepping onto the ship.
“Buckle up, people,” Unil said. “We’re got a lot of ground to cover, and I want to get back before a dust storm rolls in.”
Watching the sand dunes roll by under the transport, Mitch felt the texture of the cloak assigned to him by the soldier standing guard. They were nothing more than rags, but the soldier had assured him it would help them blend in if they looked like locals. The mask fitted over his face pinched into his skin, but the lenses cut the glare and the filtered air felt clean against his throat compared to the harsh dryness of the desert.
Laid across his lap, the staff glinted under the hot Chalthantarian sun. He picked it up and felt the weight of the device in his hand. KiGuan’s face flashed in his mind and he felt a pang of guilt knot his guts.
“Your supplies are in these packs,” Unil said after she tossed a rucksack made of some kind of animal hide in his direction.
Catching the pack, Mitch placed it at his side and fumbled with the straps.
“There’s food and water inside. Be sure to ration everything. There’s no telling how long you might be wandering around out here. The RGC camp is not far from where we're going to drop you, but it might be awhile until you make contact. Have you got your stories straight?”
“Take us to your leader,” Mitch said without cracking a smile.
“And you are on the run from the Masters,” Unil said. “They are sympathetic to outlaws. But do not strike until you come
face to face with General Varalis. If she doesn’t die, this whole operation will be a waste of time.”
“It already is a waste of time,” Mitch said as he looked out over the dunes again.
“What did you say?” Unil shouted over the din of the transports humming engine.
“I said: sounds like a good time,” Mitch shouted.
“I hope you enjoy yourself,” Unil said. “We’re coming to the drop zone. Get your packs on and be ready to jump when I say. We’re not gonna have any time to discuss things when we get there. I don’t want to risk being detected. But know this: the territory you are about to enter is extremely dangerous. The RGC chose this land because of its hostility. In a moment, we will pass out of the desert and enter into a low-alpine region. There you will find an assortment of loosely spaced vegetation. There are tall trees and shrubs. All of which should be considered dangerous. But the plants will be the least of your worries. A host of wildlife calls this lowland home and they are known for their territorial natures. Although your weapons will be able to handle an individual attacker. The creatures you are likely to encounter prefer to swarm their prey, and your weapons will not be able to fend off on an onslaught of this nature.”
“Are these the same creatures we encountered in the cave?” Mitch asked.
“The Jushkoos will pale in comparison to what you will encounter,” Unil said while a mountain range appeared on the horizon.
“What do you call these things?”
“We call them tondoorons and very few live to tell of their encounters with such creatures.”
“And you are dropping us off to go for a hike in their territory.”
“Stick to the ridges and avoid anything that smells acidic.”
“That seems easy enough.”
“Would you rather you didn’t know?”
“I’m much happier knowing there are creatures that will swarm us and tear us to shreds waiting for us on this mission. No wonder Captain Juvius sent us instead of his own soldiers.”
“If you follow my instructions, everything will be fine,” Unil said as she looked to the pilot. “You won’t be anywhere near known tondooron territory. I’m just letting you know in case you do come across any. You’ll find everything you need to know about the vegetation, and wildlife listed on your index. Scan anything you encounter and your device will let you know what you are dealing with.”
“Wow, sounds like a Girl Scouts expedition,” Kate said, bugging out her eyes.
“Hard to believe you were a Girl Scout,” Mitch said.
“I was, but I got kicked out when I teamed up with a local drug dealer to package my cookies with his products. I made a killing until I got caught,” Kate said before she grinned at Mitch. “That was the second time I went juvenile detention.”
“Glad to have you on the team, Kate,” Mitch said, watching the terrain rise beneath the craft.
“It’s time for you four to load up,” Unil said. “Masks on and make sure you’ve got everything. We don’t want this mission getting botched because you forgot something in the transport.”
“We got everything,” Mitch said before he adjusted his mask.
“These masks will protect you when a dust storm rolls through,” Unil said.
“It sounds like you are dropping us off in hell,” Gaelin said.
“Well, close enough,” Unil said as she looked out of the bay door. “Welcome to Grungin Heights, the buttcrack of Chalthantar.”
“Sounds lovely,” Kate said. “What to do you think, TJ. Will it be suitable for our first date?”
“I am at a loss for words,” TaeJun said.
“That means he’s excited,” Kate said while she made another face.
“I’m sure it will be delightful,” Unil said before the pilot made a gesture with his hand. “It’s time. You’ve got your supplies and you know your target. Keep your heads up and stay clear of danger. It is less than a day's travel from here to the RGC camp. Keep moving until you find an outpost. Surrender to the guards and ask for an audience with General Varalis.”
“And then slaughter them all,” Kate said, adjusting her pack.
“Wait for the right moment to strike. You’ll only get one shot at it, so make it count,” Unil said before the craft dropped to the ground. “It’s time to go. When the bay doors open, get to ground and make your way to the tree line. Once you’re out, we’re going to hit the gas and split. Like I said, we don’t want to get detected and blow your cover.”
“I’m glad you are so thoughtful,” Mitch said, fighting to keep his balance as the transport dropped to the ground.
The bay doors opened, and a blast of wind burst into the cabin. A bleak rocky surface stared back through the opening, and Mitch found himself stumbling forward.
“Remember, don’t engage your devices unless it is absolutely necessary,” Unil shouted.
Landing with a thud on the hard surface, Mitch heard the transport rising into the air. He looked to both sides and found his three companions flanking him while the ship vanished over a rise.
“Push for the tree line,” Mitch said as he broke out of his crouch and charged toward a stand of trees perched over a mound of rubble.
“Mitch Mythic, taking charge,” Kate said, following close behind. “What do you think TJ? Should we allow him to chaperone us on our date?”
“You are completely insane, Kate,” Mitch said before he leaped from a boulder onto an overhang of dirt next to a tree.
“I think I’m going to enjoy our first date,” TaeJun said, pulling himself up. “It’s not samgyeopsal, but it will have to do.”
“You did promise me samgyeopsal,” Kate said as she crawled past a clump of underbrush.
“No, no more date talk,” Mitch said, pressing his back against a tree. “This is bad enough as it is. Gaelin and I don’t want to march through hostile territory while listening to you two fawning over each other.”
“Yeah, I’m gagging over here watching this play out,” Gaelin said, crouching behind a tree.
“It’s just so fun to rile them up, isn’t it, TJ?”
“It is rather enjoyable.”
“Don’t force me to execute you both,” Mitch said while he looked through the forest for a path. “Keep your mouths shut and your eyes open.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
PRODDED FORWARD BY two guards in white, Drak found himself before a large set of metallic doors.
“Prisoner coming through for trial,” the guard to the right shouted as he pounded his staff into the ground.
Upon command, the doors swung open and Drak was shoved into a round hall lined with columns. A crowd of Chalthantarian people dressed in exquisite robes sat on stone pews lining both sides of a slopping aisle. Drak could feel their cold stares while he marched past with the soldiers staffs pressed into his back.
At the far end of the immense chamber sat a dais backdropped by an intricate stone carving depicting a multi-limbed figure rising into the air. Bursting out of the flesh of a distinctly human torso with feminine attributes, each limb of the sculpture boasted different animal qualities, and a set of sharp mandibles formed a diamond over an insect-like head. Embedded into the eye sockets were two dark jewels illuminated from within the skull.
Nearing the pulpit, Drak felt the eyes watching him as he was forced down a short set of stairs and into a tiled circle. In the center of the open space, a stone square housed a single chair. As the guards pushed him into the box, the glowing bonds around his wrists and ankles lashed him to the chair. Unable to move, his head swiveled in both directions, and he noticed a group of onlookers seated at the tables looking down on him with cold and indifferent eyes.
“Drakon Trendago, you have been charged with the crime of high treason against the Free Republic of Chalthantar,” a man seated at the table said for all to hear. “How do you plead to these charges?”
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Drak shouted.
“You acted in accordance with
a group identified as a terrorist organization. The Revolutionary Guard of Chalthantar, otherwise known as the RGC.”
“I acted for all the people of Chalthantar. None of us should live under the yoke of the Masters.”
“These are the words of a terrorist,” a woman seated on the opposite side said.
“That is precisely the case,” another man said. “It is well known that the RGC wish to impose their views upon all occupants of Chalthantar without any regard to our laws.”
“Now, Minister Ruscomo, We must keep this trial focused on the charges at hand,” a heavy-set woman sitting near the end of the table said. “Although the RGC wishes to turn our planet into a wasteland as they wage a futile war against our trading partners, I must insist that we follow due process when considering this case. The one thing that separates the Republic from the savages that threaten our way of life are the institutions we uphold. This court of law is no exception.”
“I wholeheartedly agree, Chancellor Andahar,” a pudgy man with a graying beard said after he stood from his chair. “We have fought hard to broker a deal with the Masters, and now that we have achieved that goal, prosperity has returned to the Republic. From this experience we must realize that it is in our best interest to pursue peace at all costs, and it is our respect for the law that protects the fragile truce we have secured.”
“Minister Jorhalan speaks true,” another woman said. “Law and order are the key requirements for a healthy state. The Republic of Chalthantar is functioning because of this fact. But there are those among us that seek to fracture this peace and drag our world into chaos. One of them is sitting in this very room. Let us present our evidence to the High Priestess. The Gods do not judge unfairly. It is through their will that we have erected our grand state. Therefore, we must let the punishment of our enemies fall into their hands.”
“Yes, the High Priestess will know how to handle these allegations and how we should punish the guilty,” a thin man wearing a bland coat said while tossing back a wisp of hair.