by Paul Ormond
“I think you mean surrender,” SoHee shouted after she smashed a massive fist into the side of the Chronath. “I know what Mother’s plans are for me. She told me herself what she intends to do. I will never be her slave.”
“We are all slaves to the Gods, one way or another,” the priestess shouted while she lashed the chronath.
“You go ahead and be a slave if you want to,” SoHee said. “I’ll take my chances with chaos.”
“Horamus has no strength here. If you think you can disobey the Gods, you will learn soon enough of their wrath,” the priestess shrieked as the chronath struck SoHee and knocked her backward.
“I think you shouldn’t concern yourself so much with the wrath of the Gods,” SoHee said while a streak of white light bore down on the priestess from behind. “It looks like chaos keeps finding a way to seep into your plans.”
“This blasphemy will not go unpunished,” the priestess shrieked before Kalis slammed into her from behind and knocked her from the chariot.
“That’s the problem with religious types,” Kalis shouted, pausing before SoHee before diving after the priestess. “They spend too much time talking about the Gods and not enough time watching their backs. Take control of the beast. I’m going to show this priestess what I know about the deities.”
While kalis dropped to the ground, the chronath lashed out at SoHee again. Dodging the strike, SoHee launched into the air and circled over the creature. She fired several enormous orbs into its back, and it whirled around to face her, slamming into several pillars on the edge of the plateau with its tail.
The chronath lunged toward her again, but her orb compacted after she evaded its swipe, and she directed herself toward the chariot above the creature’s head. As the chronath struggled to find her, she landed at the helm.
Realizing where she had landed, the creature roared again and spun in a rage. Fighting to keep her balance, several thick strands of light pulsed out of SoHee’s orb and lashed themselves to the chariot while more tentacles wrapped around the Chronath’s head.
A pulse of light burst into the air before a green glow filled the creature's eyes.
“Easy, girl.” SoHee said, soothing the Chronath before driving the creature across the battlefield. “Let’s go see if we can put an end to this.”
“There is another option if you’ll only listen to me,” KiGuan shouted as he struck at Mitch. “But if you keep this up, the only way you will leave this battlefield is as a corpse. You are outnumbered and there is nowhere to run.”
“You know damn well that I don’t turn away from a fight,” Mitch said, deflecting KiGuan’s attack. “And I know what will happen if I surrender to you. I don’t want to live in a multi-verse run by a bunch of power hungry lunatics. I know you’ve fallen for Mother’s crap, but I won’t be fooled by her again. I will fight until the end to stop her plan from coming into effect.”
“It looks like nothing will sway you,” KiGuan said while more soldiers piled out of the portal behind him. “If you’ve made your decision, then I have made mine. I will not regret bringing you down. Resistance to the Emperor’s will can only result in death.”
“Then you better hope you kill me, because now matter what, I’m going to keep resisting,” Mitch said as the soldiers bore down on his position with orbs at the ready.
Bracing for impact, Mitch watched in shock as the monstrous form of the Chronath smashed into the attacking forces and swung its mighty tail, cutting down a host of enemy soldiers. After the creature whirled around for another pass, Mitch spotted a green glow atop the Chronath’s head.
“You always need me to bail you out,” SoHee shouted from the helm of the chariot.
“And you never cease to surprise me,” Mitch shouted before the Chronath let loose a mighty roar and stomped down more opponents.
“They’re retreating, but we won’t be able to hold them for long,” SoHee shouted while the horde of orange and black pulled back to the edge of the plateau.
“Any plans for making a hasty exit?” Mitch asked as Gerald and the others pulled back to the opposite side of the circle.
“We’re going to have to come up with something quick,” SoHee said before she spotted Kalis battling in the air against the whirling form of the priestess. “If anybody knows a way out of here, it’s going to be Kalis.”
“Go to her. I think I see somebody that could use my help,” Mitch said as he watched Robert struggling against Commander Holrathu and a pair of Masters wielding bejeweled weapons. “When you get free, pull back to the edge. We’ve got to get out of here quick.”
“You’re only delaying the inevitable,” Holrathu shouted, striking out at Robert with his enormous ax. “There is no good outcome for you if you continue to fight. The Emperor has forgiven you, and your sacrifice was not in vain. Although it may have appeared to be a disaster, our venture on Jarkadu was a success by all accounts. We managed to drain enough energy from the planet to fuel our next conquest and we didn’t lose any valuable assets. I was certain you would be killed during the process, but your strength has exceeded even the Emperor’s expectation.”
“Exceeding expectations is what I do best,” Robert said as he ducked under Holrathu’s ax and avoided the lunging attack of Master Sulvaney. “And just like I did before, I will find a way to keep succeeding until I bring you down. No one double crosses me and lives to speak about it.”
“If only your dedication matched your confidence,” Holrathu said while he blocked a strike from Robert. “As much as you would like to believe it, divine intervention will not save you from your ultimate fate. If you choose to defy me again, I will have no choice but to destroy you once and for all.”
“It’s a funny thing about fate,” Robert said after he swung his blade. “It doesn’t seem like it knows how to make up its mind. And just cause it seems like you’re winning doesn’t mean you’ll be victorious.”
“Faith in the Emperor is all I need,” Holrathu said before he hammered the ground at Robert’s feet and knocked him backward. “And now my faith will provide me with yet another victory.”
Raising his ax in the air, Holrathu readied himself to strike, but as he brought his ax down, he was leveled by a torrent of green energy streaking out of the sky.
“Thought you could use a bit of help,” Mitch said after he landed beside Robert. “I think this is the second time I’ve saved your life. One day you’re going to have to repay me.”
“That day might be today,” Robert said, leaping to his feet. “Those guys aren’t done yet. We should pull back with the others. Things are about to get out of hand.”
“I hear that,” Mitch said as he launched into the air alongside Robert.
“Fallen sister of light,” the priestess shrieked, firing an orb at Kalis. “Why do you choose to disgrace yourself before the Gods? End this madness and we can pray for your salvation.”
“I’m not the one who has gone mad,” Kalis said while cutting through the orb with her sword. “All this power has gone to your head. The Emperor betrayed me. I was made a tribute to these Gods you mean to appease. And now it’s time they beg me for salvation.”
“How can you possibly think you can win this fight?” the priestess shrieked before sending a torrent of white light in Kalis’s direction. “You are hopelessly surrounded and more soldiers arrive by the moment.”
“You don’t quite understand your opponents, do you?” Kalis said as the Chronath reared up behind the priestess. “Our Goddess makes her own fate.”
“That is where you are wrong,” the priestess said, turning to face the enormous creature. “This animal worships me just as my human followers do. The Chronath knows its place in the universe, unlike you and your wretched cohorts infused with the poison of Horamus.”
“If I were you, I wouldn’t tempt fate,” Kalis said after the Chronath roared again.
“Don’t lecture me about fate,” the priestess said, raising her arms in the air. “My fate has been seal
ed through my devotion to the Gods. Bear witness to the power of faith.”
The Chronath reared its head over the priestess as she hovered in the air. Looking down from the head of the creature, SoHee leveled a cold gaze at her opponent while the rebel forces and their civilian recruits retreated past the statue of the Jushkoo queen.
“You’ve come too far to end things so foolishly, my child,” the priestess said to SoHee while she kept her eyes fixed on the monster before her. “Your little trick may have worked for now, but the Chronath is no dumb beast for you to mount and ride about. As we speak he is plotting to consume you, but if you release your grip, I can assure you that no harm will come to you.”
“I’m not sure if I’m the one who should be worried,” SoHee said, rising above the monster. “You are not the only one capable of communicating with the Chronath. I have learned much in my short time with him. Through deception and subterfuge you have managed to keep this beautiful creature in captivity underneath your stadium, but now that she is free of your yoke, she can make her own decisions.”
“Then it is time for you to meet your doom,” the priestess shrieked as SoHee leveled off against her. Manifesting a lash along her arm, the priestess cracked her whip before she sent a wash of crackling energy in SoHee’s direction. “Consume this vile imposter. She has blasphemed the Gods, and she deserves to die. Great Chronath, servant of Joru, I order you to attack.”
The chronath’s huge eyes watched the two women face off against each other, but it didn’t budge after the priestess commanded it to attack.
“It appears you’ve fallen out of favor with the Gods,” SoHee said without breaking her gaze on the priestess. “You are right, the Chronath is not some dumb beast to be ridden for your pleasure. She has told me herself that the only thing she wishes for is freedom. You have kept her as a slave for long enough. It is time she is released from her bonds.”
“You will not live to speak another word,” the priestess shouted as she cracked her whip again. “The Gods do not take kindly to those who speak against their will. You have poisoned the Chronath with the lies of Horamus, but I will remedy that.”
Raising her whip in the air, the priestess lashed out with her whip, and a torrent of energy struck the creature across the nose. The Chronath pulled back and roared as it was stung by the blow while pulses of rippling energy passed over its body.
“I have cleared away your poison from the Chronath, and now it is time for us to end this awful game you insist on playing,” the priestess said, cracking her whip. “Great and mighty Chronath, let this enemy of the Gods feel your wrath. Send her to back to the realm of Horamus where she belongs.”
The Chronath let loose another terrifying roar after the priestess whipped its nose again. Slamming back to the ground, it charged forward and swiped at the priestess with all its might.
“What kind of witchcraft is this?” the priestess shrieked before the Chronath lunged for her again. “The Gods will punish you for your evil deceptions.”
“There is one thing the Gods and I agree upon,” SoHee said while she dodged the wild swing of the Chronath’s tail. “The truth doesn’t lie.”
As she pushed away from, the creature seized the priestess with its enormous paws and with one swift chomp, the Chronath swallowed the priestess whole.
As it raised its head into the air, the plateau shook from the impact of an enormous explosion.
Looking over her shoulder, SoHee watched the statue of the Jushkoo queen crumbled before an enormous hole opened in the ground.
“I think it’s time we made our retreat,” Kalis shouted as more explosions took place around the altar.
“I’m not going to argue with that,” SoHee said, following after Kalis.
A spire of lava burst through the hole, followed by a thick plume of smoke. As molten rock covered the edge of the pit, several forms shot through the smoke and hovered at the lip.
A chorus of buzzing howls erupted from the creatures as they spotted the Chronath at the center of the plateau. Without hesitation, the jushkoos rushed toward the monstrous creature while it let loose a bloodcurdling howl.
More jushkoos poured out of the opening and rushed toward the Chronath as SoHee and Kalis dove into cover alongside their companions. The enormous animal struck at its attackers with ferocious swipes, but an endless stream of jushkoos poured out of the hole. Another explosion to the left of the sink hole shook the plateau and two thick claws grabbed the edge of the crevice. Letting loose a guttural shriek, a jushkoo queen pulled herself to ground level while its brood poured out of the gap she had pried open.
As the plateau was overrun with the flying creatures, the Master’s forces fired on the attacking jushkoos, but they only managed to draw the attention of the swarming insect-like animals. With one swift push, a swathe of winged creatures changed their course and descended on the firing soldiers. As the creatures neared, the soldiers unleashed a thunderous volley of fire to fend off their attackers, but the sheer volume of jushkoo fighters quickly overcame their weapons.
The Chronath swatted the air in a desperate attempt to keep the jushkoos at bay, but there was little it could do to defend itself against the swarm. More queens appeared in different openings across the field, followed by torrents of their offspring flooding the plateau.
As the enemy fighters retreated down the hillside, an unfathomable explosion occurred within the main sink hole where the statue of the Jushkoo Queen had stood. More smoke and lava flowed out of the hole before a pair of massive clawed limbs rose into the air above the pit and stabbed into the ground. With one swift and terrifying movement, a gigantic Jushkoo Queen rivaling the chronath in size landed with a thud on the battlefield.
Emitting an ear-splitting roar, it charged toward the Chronath while more jushkoos flooded the battlefield.
“If anyone was looking for a cue to leave, this would be it,” Gerald said from cover as the Chronath stuck at the enormous queen.
“I think that sounds like the right move,” Mitch said. “But where do we go?”
“I think I know the right place,” Drak said, crawling from his hiding spot. “Let’s cut away before we draw any attention.”
“You heard the man,” Davis said as he followed after Drak. “Let’s get the hell out of here before we get eaten alive.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
ANGLING TOWARD THE ground after he emerged from a cloud bank, Drak guided his companions toward a narrow gap cut into the rock beneath two jagged peaks rising out of the desert.
Mitch glanced at SoHee as they descended into the gorge. Catching his eye, she forced a smile, but she had barely enough energy to keep herself in the air. He moved to her side and took her hand. Squeezing it tight, she kept her eyes focused on the path ahead.
As they traveled down the narrow canyon, Mitch spotted an opening ahead, golden rays of light cutting through evening shadows. After a few snaking turns, they emerged into a large cauldron set between towering cliffs.
Leading the way, Drak made a direct line toward the center of the opening. As he followed after his friend, Mitch spotted a circular structure set into the stones. Several pillars rose from the solid rock, forming a wide circle. At the far end of the formation sat a thick black stone, much taller than the pillars.
Drak dropped to the ground at the center of the circle while the others approached. From above, Mitch saw the figure of a woman standing before the stone with her back to Drak.
As Mitch landed General Varalis turned away from the enormous rock and stepped to Drak’s side.
“There is not much time,” Varalis said as she looked to the sky. “We may have forced our enemies to retreat, but they have not been defeated.”
“What is our next move?” Mitch asked while SoHee sat on a rock next to him.
“Your next move will be to exit as quietly as possible,” Varalis said after she looked over Mitch’s companions. “Your presence here only compounds the situation. Unfortunately, the pri
ce on your heads is too much of a burden for us to bear.”
“So you are just going to cast us aside?” Mitch asked. “That’s just typical. Without us, you’d still be hiding in that cave. You told me if I help you, you’d help me, so much for all that.”
“Hold on,” Varalis said. “Nobody said anything about abandoning you. I have every intention of helping you as much as I can. The people of Chalthantar will be forever grateful for all that you have done to assist us in our struggle for freedom. But this fight is far from over. Although we may have turned the tide, the UAFC has not been defeated in any stretch of the imagination. Bringing down the shield was only the first part of our plan. Freed from their bondage, the people have risen up in defiance of the UAFC, but we must band together in order to complete the revolution.”
“So where does that leave us?” Mitch asked.
“In precisely the same position you were before you arrived, except now you have allies on Chalthantar,” Varalis said. “In fact, I’d say your stock as a villain in the eyes of the Masters has just doubled since you knocked out their control grid.”
“So that’s why you want to wash your hands of us? I do your dirty work, and this is how you repay me?”
“Would you stop. That is simply not true. You will forever be a hero in the eyes of Chalthantar, but we all know you cannot stay here. If the Masters know you are still on this planet, they will concentrate all their effort on Chalthantar. Our revolution will be crushed, and you will be captured and dragged before their Emperor.”
“That’s a fair point, but where the hell are we supposed to go?”
“We are gathered here in an ancient site held sacred by my tribe. It is said that in this location the Gods opened the door for humanity to enter Chalthantar from the womb of heaven.”