by James Somers
The chances of successfully landing on one of the small transports without serious injury were not very good. Then he spotted a large bus transport. It was still moving pretty fast but the margin for error was more acceptable. Laser fire was eating away at the wall as the soldiers approached; they weren't taking any chances. Wynn leapt away and guided himself over to the bus. The transport's speed jerked his feet out from under him and he rolled backward and landed hard, but he was still on board.
The soldiers came to the top of the wall looking for him, but he wasn't sure whether or not they actually spotted him on top of the transport. It was going the right direction to get him to Tiet's home, but it would take about ten minutes. He hoped it would get him there in time to help them.
"WHAT is it?" asked Emil.
"Don't you feel it?"
"No."
"Don't worry, that will come in time. Grab some real weapons and follow me."
Kale headed for the main room of the house with Emil in tow close behind.
Mirah went to the door to answer the chime. When she opened it soldiers were all over the place. They raised their weapons as she turned to run for cover. The blasts caught her full force and sent her flying across the floor under her own momentum. The soldiers at the door poured into the room after her.
"How is she?" asked one of the soldiers as another knelt to check her.
"She's alive."
"Alright. Let's retrieve the boy. All weapons on stun, men. The boy is not to be harmed."
The soldier kneeling beside Mirah stood to his feet again and went to raise his weapon. A flash of light severed half of the rifle from the rest and took off his head. Kale was a blur. His thoughts brought the door slamming shut on the soldier standing in the doorway. He slumped down the wall with cracked ribs and sternum as the door released him again. Soldiers from behind kicked it back open and rushed in with their rifles blazing. They ran into the room but couldn't find anyone.
Kale looked down on them from his suspended position against the ceiling. He dropped right into the middle of them with twin sticks blazing. He cut down several before they could fire a shot. But more were rushing in as they saw him engage the others. They fired their rifles right into the crowd taking down their own men in an attempt to get him. He used the soldiers still standing around him as a shield to get away.
More soldiers began to file through the door. Then a number of live spicors flew at them from Emil's hand on another side of the main room. The discs exploded, cutting down most of the soldiers coming through the doorway.
Kale used Emil's attack to take the opportunity to scoop up his mother. He hoisted her to his shoulder and headed back toward his own training room with Emil coming through the room to follow. They shut the door behind them.
"What's going on? Those are our soldiers out there."
"I don't know. Something doesn't feel right about them. Maybe the Vorn council has decided to stage a coupe against Father."
"Too bad he's not here now."
"Maybe there's a reason for that. Right now we better get Mother out of here. I think they've only stunned her; they must mean to capture us."
"The transport!"
"Let's go. You drive."
"Right."
They headed out of the other side of the room into a garage area that housed the transports. Emil raised the canopy on the transport they had planned on using to go on their post-trial outing.
"Hey, look," said Emil pointing to another ship across the hangar.
"The Whiplash! We'll take that instead."
"Do you have access codes for your father's ship?"
"Are you kidding? Father had me flying this thing as soon as I could reach all of the controls."
Kale opened up a hatch behind the navigation area of the two man cockpit and slid his mother inside. The compartment was used to carry a wounded person and have them better protected beneath the ship's thicker armor plates. He closed the compartment and keyed in the code to raise the canopy. He and Emil jumped inside.
"I'll fly this one," said Kale."
"I thought you might say that."
"You take the weapons console up front."
"Aye, Captain."
The canopy came back down again as Kale fired up the engines and other systems came on line. Emil placed the targeting lens on his head and adjusted it to his eye. The targeting icon blinked to life as the forward cannons began to track his head movements.
"Here they come," said Kale looking toward the access door from the house.
Soldiers began to file through it with their weapons trained on the ship.
Emil activated one of the wing turrets which immediately tracked with the lens toward the soldiers. The cannon blazed to life with fast repeating laser blasts from the rotating barrel assembly, cutting the soldiers down in a moment.
"Let's get out of here," said Kale as he raised the ship off of the platform and began to move it toward the hangar opening ahead. A Vorn troop transport came into view ahead of them, trying to come into the garage bay.
"Shred it!"
"I'm on it!" said Emil as he activated the forward cannons.
Rapid laser fire filled the troop transport's cockpit causing it to burst outward. The transport dropped out of the way as Kale moved the Whiplash out of the garage bay and punched it-they sprang away from the area fast.
"Where do we go now?" asked Emil.
"We'll head for Wynn's and see if he knows where Father is and what's going on."
WYNN heard a familiar engine sound as the airbus continued to carry him toward the Soone home. He could see Tiet's ship blasting away from their home fast. The Whiplash came around hard and sailed by overhead as Wynn flailed his arms to flag them down. Apparently they did not see him.
The airbus brought him into view of the hill where the Soone home was and he could see smoke billowing off of a smoldering pile of wreckage just outside of the garage bay entrance. It appeared to be a troop transport or what was left of it. Must have got here too late, he thought.
It was likely that Tiet was coming to see if his home had come under attack as well. He needed to get back and meet up with him and find out if he knew what was going on.
Wynn sent a thought to open the bus door as he grabbed the ledge along the roof and swung down and inside. The driver looked surprised as Wynn adjusted his garments and produced a transit card to slide along the reader.
"Sir, this bus has been commandeered by the military," said the driver meekly.
"What?"
He turned to see a group of soldiers, both Vorn and Castillian, beginning to rise with their weapons drawn as they realized who he was.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding."
Laser flashes erupted between the soldiers and Wynn as he intercepted several blasts with his kemstick. With a thought he sent all of the soldiers crashing out through the airbus windows. They fell a hundred feet down to the pavement below the airway lanes; leaving only Wynn and the shocked bus driver on board.
"Alright sir, turn this bus around and head back to these coordinates," said Wynn punching them into the driver's navigation system.
"Y-yes sir."
Wynn sat down in one of the chairs as the driver brought the large vehicle around and headed back toward his home.
DAOOTH waited as the intercom chimed for Teman's reply to his message.
"Yes?"
"Councilman, I was informed something has happened to Councilman Licoure; what's going on?!"
"Your king killed him. I told you he was no good, but you wouldn't listen. We'll be lucky if he's not already organized the Horva against us."
"That's absurd!"
"And yet Licoure is dead; killed with Tiet's own blade."
"I can't believe it, there must be another explanation."
"Believe it, Daooth. Estall has arrested him and put him into a special containment chamber. He's not going anywhere until he is tried by the Council."
"When is that taking p
lace?"
"The Council will be meeting in emergency session in several hours to decide what action to take."
"May I be present at that meeting, Sir?"
"If you want. But don't expect to sway our decision by your love for the man. We will have justice in the matter. Be at the council chamber in two hours; the meeting will be a closed session."
The transmission was cut by Teman before he could reply further. He immediately punched in the transmission code for Wynn's home. The screen returned a "No Reply" signal. That was odd. He knew that Wynn was supposed to be at home this evening and he hadn't said anything about Tiet's involvement in the murder when he had talked to him hours before. He tried the secure band that fed to Wynn's personal com-link.
On board the airbus, Wynn's com-link beeped at him from his collar pin.
"Wynn here."
"Wynn have you heard what's happened to Tiet?!"
"I know our troops have turned on us. I was just attacked by a full squad at my home."
"Councilman Teman told me that Tiet has killed High Councilman Licoure, but I don't believe it."
"Of course he didn't, but where is he now?"
"Teman said that Estall has arrested him and placed him in a special containment chamber of some sort, but I'm not sure where."
"I know where it is. But why did the council order the attack on me?"
"I'm not sure; Teman didn't mention anything about you at all. Something is happening, Wynn, something behind the scenes."
"When I was under attack I sensed what I believe was the presence of the symbiotic creature that inhabited the Baruk years ago. I wouldn't trust anyone at this point. Anyone associated with the council or Estall and the military should not be trusted; in fact I think we should meet up at Nagon-Toth until we can decide what to do."
"How could those things have survived? I thought we wiped out the Baruk?"
"I don't know; it just doesn't make any sense."
"I have a meeting with the Council in two hours; they say they're going to decide what to do with Tiet."
"Skip it. It's not safe to be around them now. It could be a trap. They know you are affiliated with Tiet. Just meet me at Grod's compound as soon as you can."
"Alright, Daooth out."
Wynn wasn't going to the detention facility now. He had no chance of breaking in or out of it with the military guarding Tiet and looking for him. He needed Grod's help. He had one device that could get them in and out without a problem.
"Driver, change course. I want you to head for the compound at Nagon-Toth."
"But that's where the Horva are!"
"It wasn't a request," said Wynn leaning to the ear of the driver.
"Yes, Sir."
XVII
THE Whiplash skimmed above the highest airway lane alone. It was only moments before they had reached the hill where Wynn's home was located. All that remained of it was a large heap of smoldering debris and one retaining wall. Kale could see the military presence all around it. They had already attacked, but they were still dispersed around the area like they were looking for something.
Kale hovered at a distance but the word must have already gone out to look for them. An armored carrier lifted off and was headed in their direction.
"What do we do?" asked Emil.
"What else, blow it out of the sky!"
Emil locked all guns and fired on the carrier. Sparks and fire billowed across its surface as it continued to come at them.
"It's still coming!!"
"Armor's too tough. Hold on!"
Kale brought the Whiplash around and fired the thrusters. The ship gunned away toward the city with the carrier lumbering on behind them. On the scanner several targets came into view.
"We've got company!"
Several faster ships took up pursuit as the Whiplash shot into the maze of tall skyscrapers. Kale buzzed around one of the buildings and full throttle came around on one of the pursuing ships. Emil took the initiative and blasted away at the military viper fighter, shredding its rear and midsection. The other three vipers reorganized and took up the pursuit again as the Whiplash spun away from the kill.
A symbyte controlled pilot locked on the Whiplash and fired a homing beacon. It attached to the hull undetected. Their orders were not to engage the ship, just place the homing beacon. The remaining fighters disengaged and the Whiplash burst away from the city toward the wilds beyond.
Normally it would have been a good place to hide with all of the huge trees and jungle area; it was easy to lose a ship in all of it. Most people were lucky to get out alive because of the vicious wildlife that dwelt there, including a large number of the feral Horva. But the tracking device would allow them to find that ship no matter where it went on the planet.
WHEN the airbus arrived at Nagon-Toth, Grod was already waiting on the platform.
"You might as well stay for a while," said Wynn to the driver.
He nodded nervously as he looked from Wynn to the gathering entourage of Horva on the platform.
The door opened and he descended to his old friend.
"My friend, Daooth has already briefed me on the situation with Tiet. I'm confident you have a rescue in mind, yes?"
"Absolutely. We'll need the best team you can put together,"
"Of course,"
"And we'll need to use the transgate to get inside the compound where Tiet is being held."
"At your disposal, anything you need to set him free," said Grod. "Daooth told me about some setup for murder."
"It's not so much about that, Grod. It's those symbiotic creatures that controlled the Baruk. They've survived somehow all this time since the war; apparently taking up host among our people. They're behind this plot. I was attacked at my home by scores of soldiers, some under their control and others who have been caught up in this plot unknowingly."
"What about Mirah and the boys?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I did see the Whiplash running and gunning toward the outskirts of the city, and Kale is the most likely to be flying it."
"You're probably right. We'll concentrate on Tiet and hope for the best."
"Grod, the boys are well-trained, both of them. They'll be alright."
He smiled through the obvious worry he was feeling. "I'm sure you're right. Now let's get to work."
LUCIN walked into the monstrous hangar bay of the main city complex in the form of Estall. Assembled before him was a huge mass of symbyte-controlled soldiers and civilians, at least one hundred thousand of them; all under the influence of his angelic mind.
In all of the twelve cities, groups of symbyte-controlled soldiers and civilians from among both the Castillian and Vorn population were assembled. Lucin spoke to the assembled masses in every city through video feeds and satellite uplink.
"Now is the time. We are ready to ascend to complete power. It is time to assimilate all of those who are not part of my body. Arm yourselves and use stun on our prey if possible. Dead people are of no use to us. However if the warrior Wynn Gareth is found or any of the Horva who might come to his aid, they must be eliminated immediately. The special legion of warriors I have chosen will be with me as we follow the tracking signal and search the wilds for the boy, Kale Soone. Once we have him added to us we will be ready to move beyond this planet and conquer again. Our special envoy is to remain at the detention center guarding the King. He will serve as the bait to lure the Horva into a rescue attempt. Then we will end them. Go now and add to my body."
The legions in every city moved on command and prepared for the night of conquest to come. Every symbyte-controlled man, woman and child headed out into the cities armed for capture or kill. No one would be spared. All would be liberated from their miserable individual existences to the serenity and power of Lucin's collective body. What was taken from the Baruk would be restored more gloriously in these peoples and the Lucin would rule again. The boy was the key. The people were obedient at this point but somewhat disconnected. Kale's powerful m
ind was what Lucin still needed to connect the people to one another and to him; then they would truly be one.
WYNN watched as the schematics for the detention center scrolled by, until he found the one he wanted. He motioned to the transgate technician to highlight one spot in particular.
"I think this would be a good location to get our team in," said Wynn. "It's a large hall that's behind most of the security barriers and should give us pretty easy access to the chamber where Tiet is being kept."
"What about going into the chamber itself?" asked the technician.
"If Tiet can't get out of there from the inside then we won't be able to either," said Grod. "What about the shield controls for the chamber?"
"We'll have access from the panel in this room," said Wynn as he pointed to a place on the schematic.
"Alright then, load up the destination and prepare to activate the gate."
Grod and Wynn left the console and returned to the jump area. The rest of the strike team was already assembled in the designated area on the chamber floor. There were twenty top notch warriors from among Grod's elite guard, fully outfitted with plasma weapons, blasters, spicors and E.M. shields. The best of the best to rescue the one man they all still considered to be their king.
Wynn and Grod took up positions in the front as the transgate hummed to life. The technician locked the coordinates and punched the controls to establish the gateway. Before them, a wall of light snapped into place between the gate posts. The team all readied their weapons as the light faded and the destination came into view.
"Lets go get our king back!" shouted Grod to the team as he ran through the field with the others following.
Within the assembly hall of the detention center at Baeth Periege a wall of light snapped into existence. The two guards looking on readied their weapons. Two kemsticks whirled out of the energy portal into the symbyte guards before they could make a sound or fire a shot. The kemsticks flashed shut and then rebounded back to Wynn's thigh clips as he ran through the portal. The bodies fell as the team began to come through behind Wynn and Grod.