by Mia McKimmy
“Yes, Father,” they said simultaneously.
“Some reports are coming in now, and we’re meeting Oz in the command center.”
They followed him off the ship. At the back of the hangar, they entered a large room with row upon row of monitors lining the walls. Some of them showed maps or graphs, and some showed different parts of Sivadia where cameras had been placed.
“Cieran.” Oz motioned to one of the monitors. “This is outside of the open markets downtown. We issued an order for the merchants to close well before the invasion started. Most didn’t listen.”
Cy cringed as he gazed at the screen. Hundreds of people lay dead on the streets, their bodies blood-soaked. He looked closer, some had been decapitated. This was bad, much worse than he’d ever imagined. What kind of monster could tear someone’s head off? The thought had no more entered his mind before a huge image appeared on the screen. It opened its long muzzle and roared, revealing large canine tusks dripping with blood. Cy clenched his fist to keep anyone from seeing his hands tremble. A man on the ground tried to crawl away and hide beneath a shrub. The Haagon’s head jerked in his direction. One long stride later, it lifted the man off the ground, clamped its muzzle around his neck and pulled. The man’s head fell to the ground and the Haagon lapped the spurting blood from the stump where it had been. The monster took another huge bite and chewed the neck down to the shoulders. Bile rose in Cy’s throat. He looked away and clasped a hand across his mouth.
“Is he eating him?” Vind asked, his eyes wide with excitement.
“That’s what they do,” Oz said. “They are carnivorous scavengers, who will try to eat everything they kill, even if it’s only a bite.”
“Did one Haagon kill all those people?” Cy asked.
“I’m not sure how many there were, but I have a feeling we’re going to find out sooner than we want.” His father looked at him and narrowed his eyes. “Boys, I believe you’ve seen enough for one day. It’s getting late. You can return to your room.”
Cy nodded and turned to leave. He must have looked pale. He sure felt pale. He glanced back and Vind wasn’t following. He seemed to be getting off on all that gore.
Cy managed not to throw up until he reached his room. Afterwards, he brushed his teeth, and then climbed into his bunk and covered his head. All he wanted was to sleep, and forget this day had ever happened.
***
Cy woke from a fitful sleep, almost as tired as when he went to bed. He had dreamed all night that the Haagon he’d seen on the monitor was after him. He would run and trip over dead, decaying bodies until he found a place to hide, and when the monster came closer, he’d run some more.
He had to get a grip. A future king who showed weakness wasn’t a very good prospect for king. For the last four years, Father had spent time with him, adding courtly duties to his already heavy study load. He had never once complained though. He wanted to learn everything he could, and one day become as great a leader as his father.
Oz had spent the same amount of time with Vind, teaching him the skills he would need once he becomes general of the army. Vind was much more suited for that kind of stuff. If he had ever known fear, he hid it well.
It’s good that I was first born.
Twins were not unusual among Sivadians. When they were successors to the throne, it was customary not to tell anyone who was born first until their tenth birthday. That way they weren’t treated differently by others during the early formative years. Cy was glad they weren’t told. Vind’s attitude toward him changed that day. He became bitter, and the older they got, the worse it became. At seventeen, Vind could start basic training in the army. Hopefully, it would provide him with an outlet for all that anger.
Chapter 7
Cy turned over in bed and glanced at the clock on the vanity. Seven thirty. He jumped down from the top bunk and froze as Vind’s eyes opened. Seconds later they closed and he turned over to go back to sleep. Cy released a breath. When they used to share a room, Vind always got mad if he was awakened too early. He didn’t need a repeat performance from their childhood reminding him how hateful his brother could be. Why couldn’t they just get along like normal brothers?
He grabbed some clean clothes and went into the tiny bathroom. He turned the shower on and prayed he would fit in the small space, not to mention the non-existent water pressure. Ten minutes later, he headed to the small kitchen on their ship in search of breakfast.
“Good morning, Master Cygan,” Alpheus greeted. “Your parents have already eaten. May I fix you something?”
“Do we have fowl eggs?”
“We most certainly do,” Alpheus said.
“Eggs and bread would be great.”
After breakfast, Cy went to explore the other ships. Theirs carried the royal council, scholars, scientists, the technical and medical staff, along with enough servants to keep everyone happy. He wasn’t sure who was on the other passenger ship, probably the military personnel. The three ships filled with Sivadian artifacts only carried the flight crew for their journey to the new planet.
Every time Cy thought about Earth his stomach churned. He hated the thought of never ruling over Sivadia. What if the new planet was awful or ugly? Father said it was nice, but he only had the word of those who went on the expedition ships in search of a survivable planet.
When the Haagons first began destroying planets within their galaxy, it had taken years before they found anything remotely survivable. They ended up with only two possibilities, Candorp and Earth. Candorp was populated by a species with red and blue mottled skin. They had brought back pictures of both planets and its inhabitants. Earth’s species looked almost identical to Sivadians. They were called homo-sapiens or humans. So Earth it was. The pictures of the planet looked nice enough, but it was nowhere near as beautiful as Sivadia.
Cy looked in the command center for his father and Oz. They were both there, staring at the monitors. They wore the same clothing as when he had left last night, just a little more wrinkled; their eyes were a little redder and expressions a little tighter.
Cy stopped next to Oz and glanced at the screen. “Have you both been here all night?”
“We left long enough to have breakfast,” his father said. “Where’s your brother?”
“He was still in bed about half an hour ago.”
Cy glanced at the row of monitors. The unbelievable display of destruction was massive. He recognized a community west of the capital. Its citizens were fighting a group of Haagons, and the number of lives lost was high.
Oz reached and flipped on a communication link.
“Commander Holden,” a voice echoed throughout the room.
“Commander, this is General Ozeus. I need for you to take as many men as you can spare and get over to the community of Palastarr immediately. There’s a group of civilians barely holding back four Haagons.”
“Yes, sir,” the commander said.
Cy continued to watch the screen. A girl, who appeared not much older than him, ran from a house. A large gun hung from a strap around her shoulders. An older man and woman were fast on her heels, both carrying similar weapons. All three opened fire on a Haagon who was trying to break through a side door. This one appeared larger than the other three ravaging other houses on the street.
The Haagon roared and leapt toward the man, evidently seeing him as the biggest threat. The raining bullets never fazed, or even slowed the massive beast. It grabbed the man by the neck and twisted. His head flung side to side as the Haagon shook him. It slammed him to the ground where his body remained in a broken, twisted heap.
The woman screamed and ran toward the man as if she didn’t see, or care that a beast stood between them. As she neared the Haagon, it brought back one leg and kicked, lifting her into the air. Her body hit the house and landed on the ground.
The girl reloaded her gun and opened fire. The Haagon swatted the bullets like pesky insects. As he got closer, the girl turned and ran, but his long
stride soon caught up to her. The monster grabbed her waist length braid, jerked her back, and held her above the ground by her hair.
A guy, around the same age as the girl, ran down the street toward them. “Let her go!” His bayonet glinted in the muted sunlight. Sivadian steel…the shiniest and strongest metal known. The Haagon pulled the girl toward him. As he opened his massive mouth and tore a huge chunk from her neck, the guy leapt onto its back. Blood spurted; covering the guy as he repeatedly buried the bayonet to the hilt in its neck and shoulders.
He needs to get away before the Haagon's blood makes him pass out.
Cy’s muscles tightened as if he were trying to help the young man defeat the massive beast.
The Haagon slung from side to side, trying to knock the guy from his back. He maneuvered to the center and brought the blade straight down, slicing through its vertebra. It’s massive head fell forward, and the rest of its body followed. The guy held on and rode it to the ground. He sliced the blade through to the front, completely severing its head, and then collapsed onto the ground next to his kill.
Oz and the king looked at each other with wide eyes. “I can’t believe what we just saw,” Oz said. “I know from experience how much strength it takes to kill those things. We need more people like him in our forces.” Oz punched a number into his com-link. “Commander Holden. How far are you from Palastarr?”
“We are there, sir.”
“Go to the last house on Main street. There’s a young man lying next to a dead Haagon. He’s covered in its blood and has passed out from contact with it. Find him and bring him to the launch facility. He just killed that thing with nothing but a bayonet.”
“Yes, sir. I have eyes on him now. I’ll have one of the men transport him to you.”
“Have them take him to the infirmary.”
“I’ll go check on him,” the king said.
“Father, may I come with you?”
“Sure, son. This recruitment will be good for you to witness.”
Cy followed his father through the hangar and onto the ship that housed the forces. They entered the infirmary and the guy they had watched kill the Haagon was lying on a stretcher. A doctor stood over him listening to his chest with some type of instrument. Every inch of the young warrior was covered in blood.
The king stopped beside the doctor. “How is he?”
“His heart is strong. I believe he’ll be fine once we dilute the Haagon blood-toxins in his system.” The doctor cut the boy’s clothes off, and then tilted the table and turned on a handheld shower. After the blood was scrubbed from his body, a nurse placed an IV in his arm and turned the fluids wide open.
“How long will he be out?” Cy asked the doctor.
“I haven’t had much experience with Haagon blood, but the fluids should flush the toxins quickly. If there are no internal injuries, he should come around within a few minutes.”
Cy watched him for signs of awakening. With the blood gone he looked much younger than he had on the monitor. His hair was as dark as black tourmaline, and his skin was tanned as if he worked outdoors. Moments later, his eyes blinked open and he sprang up in bed, glaring around the room as if he were about to attack.
The king placed his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Take it easy, son. You’re safe. You were unconscious and we brought you here for medical attention. What’s your name?”
He relaxed and leaned back against the pillow. “Miles, sir, Miles Mancuso.”
“Do you remember what happened?”
Miles closed his eyes and nodded.
“Was that your family you tried to save?”
“I’m an orphan. It was my life-mate and her parents. We were to be married next spring.”
Miles stared at the king for a moment. His eyes widened and his head tilted forward. “Your highness.”
The king sat on the edge of his bed and laid his hand on Miles’ arm. “What you did to that Haagon was very impressive.”
“I barely remember what happened after…” A sob caught in Miles’ throat. “It killed the only girl I’ve ever loved.”
“I can imagine how hard this must be. You fought like a seasoned pro. There’s only one other person who has stood alone against a Haagon and survived. And he’s the most decorated warrior on Sivadia.”
Miles’ brows pulled low. “The General?”
“Yes. With a little training, you will be as confident a warrior as he. I had you brought here, to the facility where we are staying until the Haagons are defeated. I would like for you to stay here and join our troops. We need a lot more men like you.”
Miles looked the king in the eye. “Thank you, your highness. I’d be honored. The more of those monsters I can kill, the better.”
“You rest today. When you’re up to it, we’ll start your training.” The king rose from the bed to leave.
“Your majesty,” Miles said. “I would prefer to get back out there as soon as possible.”
“I know, son, but you’ve suffered a devastating loss, and we still don’t fully understand the effects that Haagon blood has on us. Once the doctor releases you, you’ll be free to return to duty.”
Miles nodded and the weight of the world reflected in his dark brown eyes. Cy’s heart ached for him. If only there were something he could say or do to make Miles situation better.
Chapter 8
Cy headed over to the ship that housed the troops. He wanted to stop in and see Miles before he left for patrol. It had been two weeks since he was brought to the facility and joined the army. Cy made it his mission to take Miles’ mind off the pain of losing his life-mate. Mostly they talked and played cards, or worked out in the gym. Some times they would go to the shooting range and target practice with guns, knives, and bows. Late at night, they practiced fencing for hours, until they both were ready to drop.
Miles was a good guy, but if something didn’t come along to give him a purpose, he wouldn’t be around for long. He volunteered for every dangerous mission that came along, as if he didn’t give two shits whether he lived or died.
During the past two weeks, the war had only gotten worse. Each day, they watched the army fighting the enemy. The more Haagons they killed, twice as many were sent to take their place. The cities were overrun by them, and Sivadians who’d survived this long had done so by hiding in remote, outlying areas of the planet. If it could be called surviving. Most of those areas were unfit to grow food, had little water, and experienced subzero temperatures.
Cy knocked on Miles’ door.
Miles opened it and then pulled a shirt over his head. “What’s up?”
“Are you headed out?”
“Yeah, I volunteered to go on a mission to check out some old slaughter houses up north.”
“Man,” Cy said. “I wish I could come along.”
“No, you really don’t. I’ve seen some really bad stuff out there.”
“I know. Watching the monitors is not the same as seeing it in person.”
“The smell is the worst,” Miles said. “Rotting corpses are bad enough, but they smell great compared to a Haagon. They have a combination stench, somewhere between a dead animal, sulphur and ammonia.” Miles pulled on his combat boots and grabbed a jacket. “Gotta go, Cy. I’ll see you on the flip-side.”
“Okay, man. God-speed.”
Cy went to the monitor room so he could watch via Miles’ helmet-cam. It was the next best thing to being there.
Miles was one of about two dozen troops that materialized in a wooded area at the base of a hill. Three long buildings sat on top. No one appeared to be around, at least on the outside. They separated into two groups of twelve. Miles’ group kept to the tree line and made their way to the first long building. The troop leader busted the padlock on a set of double doors, and then motioned Miles and a small group of men through. The other group leader did the same on the opposite end.
As Miles went inside, he came to an abrupt stop. Cy’s breath caught in his throat. What he
saw through Miles’ head-cam was the making of nightmares. Hundreds of headless Sivadians hung from large meat hooks pierced through their feet. The blood draining from their bodies ran into long troughs that met at the end of each long row and collected into large vats. Every person on Sivadia would eventually meet the same cruel death in order to feed the Haagons…and there were millions of them. Sivadia was rich in resources, and they would stay until every last resource, and every living thing was gone.
Cy glanced at his father. A muscle ticked in his jaw, along with the tendons running down the sides of his neck.
“Let’s search for those survivors reported in the out-lands. If they’re still alive, we’ll make room for them on the ships, even if we have to leave some of the artifacts behind. Our people are more important than things.”
“I’ll send troops to investigate immediately.”
The king released a heavy sigh and then looked at Oz. “The time is upon us to leave. I’m calling a meeting of the royal council this afternoon. I’ll need you there to help me present the evidence for our departure.”
“Cy, will you go find Vind? I told him he needed to be present for this war, so he will know what’s going on. He can’t do that playing video games in his room.”
“Yes, sir.”
A loud explosion came from the monitors. Every one stared as two consecutive explosions followed. All three slaughter houses were in flames, with parts of them crumbling to the ground.
Oz spoke to the commander leading the raids on the slaughter houses. “I’m sending you the locations of every slaughter house we have. Gather enough men to destroy them all, just be sure there are no survivors being held at these locations.”