Annals of the Keepers - Rage

by Christiaan Hile

  It didn’t take long.

  “Sir, you’re correct,” Kansec stated. “It looks to be a main Legion Flag battle group in that sector.”

  Parejas looked down at the Keeper. “Take no chances, Keeper.”

  Parejas turned back toward the center of the bridge. “Kansec, prepare all battle stations.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Data Cell 53

  The challenge of the Humans could not go unanswered.

  Today, Lintorth Sar will take another ranother step in reclaiming his honor by capturing, and killing, more of these Reavers. Doing so with enemies that had evaded the entirety of the Domain’s forces at all turns would prove Lintorth the most capable of Xomes Si’s generals.

  It was a wonderful opportunity for his plans to become the preeminent advisor to the Red Throne.

  But now, a single Reaver threatened his chance to earn this honor.

  The Human walked out of the shadows towards Lintorth and his Korin Shai battalion. His helmet turned as he looked each Korin Shai in the eye with quiet challenge. His posture and gait – standing tall and walking with steady, purposeful strides – attested to Kason’s honor in the eyes of the Kryth warriors.

  The rumors were true. This was a true warrior.

  Despite this, his steps were silent and, had they not been watching him walk amongst them, they would not have believed him to be there at all.

  Neither Lintorth Sar nor the Korin Shai moved as Kason approached.

  He walked between the twin lines of Kryth, slinging his rifle across his back as he shrunk the distance between himself and Lintorth who stood at the end.

  Snarling, Avog gnashed his razor-sharp teeth as the Reaver drew near.

  The glowing yellow eyes of the Reaver’s helmet scanned the contingent of Kryth, calculating, before settling on the noisy aythra.

  “That’s the animal that killed Jens Dryden,” he said in a hard tone to Lintorth, ignoring every other Kryth in the antechamber. “Kryth.”

  The accusation hung in the air.

  A few of the younger Korin Shai shifted, attempting to move into defensive stances without notice. Lintorth returned the Reaver’s gaze, not moving except for clenching his hand tighter on Avog’s tether. His mocking smile intended to calm some of the nervous, new Korin Shai.

  “Avog has killed many of my enemies, Human,” Lintorth retorted, standing tall, resplendent in his regal armor and crimson cape.

  Beckoning past the Reaver with his spear, towards the others he knew were present behind him in the shadows, Lintorth continued. “And he will undoubtedly kill more. He is one of my finest breeds, after all.”

  “Are these also some of your finest breeds, Lintorth Sar?” the Reaver said in a mocking tone. “Do you mean to bring us to heel with your dogs?”

  Ignoring that, Lintorth continued, “I have brought you and your Reavers here, Kason Bender, for a reason; one that you have likely figured out.”

  The yellow eyes in the helmet were not capable of betraying any emotion, but Lintorth saw Kason shift his weight, ready to fight. “You are honor-bound to come and rescue your comrade from our grasp, just as you stole your large Reaver from that fool, Sontar Jal.”

  “Only a fool tests the water with both feet,” Kason quoted.

  Lintorth grew silent and glared at the Human, who was standing close enough to attack before any of his Reavers could aid him. He felt his ire growing, vexed by the petty insults and dishonoring him in front of his own Korin Shai.

  A deed that inferred insult or dishonor must be returned in kind a factor greater than received. If a Kryth hurled insults at another, he could expect a greater insult to himself or his family. A struck blow could be reciprocated by a mortal wound, if one deemed it necessary to maintain his honor. Such things would escalate, until the weaker Kryth submitted.

  Situations could become complicated and intricate in repercussions if two Kryth were well-matched.

  The Kryth Mahr Domain itself had been plagued by the Human incursions and attacks for many cycles. Ever since the opening attacks on Dalyth Station, the Humans had maintained combat initiative and had kept the Kryth on the defensive. Always reacting to raids, attacks, and sabotage, the Kryth were unable to gain control or to bring the fight to the unrelenting Humans. The Kryth had been struck again and again, unable to retaliate in any meaningful way.

  It infuriated Lintorth. The Domain’s iron grip on their subjugated races was weakening. The unchallenged power wielded by the Red Throne had kept loyal citizens and malcontents in check, but could not control the Humans and their cursed interference. Their interference would spark rebellion among the lower races and rogue Kryth, throwing the galaxy into a civil war against the dominant Domain.

  The Reavers were the beginning of all of this.

  These Reavers, he admitted, lived up to his subordinates’ ghost stories. They were said to strike without warning and disappear like shadows. Dalyth Station was a calculated target, meant to taunt the Kryth as much as to embarrass them. The Humans flaunted their power, leaving Kryth destruction in their wake and the entire galaxy to whisper of Reavers and their ferocity. Some said the Reavers were vengeful spirits, come back from the dead to haunt the Kryth for the destruction of the Human home world. Lintorth meant to be the warrior to best them and reclaim honor for the Kryth. He shall be the architect of the destruction of the Humans once again. This time, he will leave nothing left of them. Not even ghost stories.

  ∞∞∞

  Taking in the details of the Korin Shai, Kason noted the fine, customized armor crafted to fit each Kryth for maximum efficiency of movement and protection; much like his Reavers. Their visible weapons, spears of various lengths that hummed with energies, were unadorned. Weapons meant to kill, not for show.

  Their faces were hidden under plain metal masks, betraying no facial movements. Their eyes were hidden behind red lenses, much like his yellow ones.

  Kason brought his gaze back onto Lintorth.

  Lintorth’s brow was furrowed; in thought or frustration, Kason couldn’t tell.

  “I came to resolve a matter of honor for a fallen friend, Kryth,” Kason said to Lintorth, then raised his voice. “Jens Dryden is dead,” he proclaimed, addressing the Korin Shai and the rest of his Reavers across the command channel, dashing any small hope that their comrade was still alive. He raised his his hand and pointed at Lintorth. “You may still possess his body, Kryth, but I have come as my…our honor requires.”

  Kason scanned the assembled Korin Shai, his eyes again resting on Lintorth and down at his waist, where a tattered but familiar Reaver sash hung limp. “I’ve come for that.”

  “Of course you have, Human,” Lintorth taunted. “I hope your jouney has not disappointed you.”

  “Hardly, Kryth. I have an opportunity to rid ourselves, and the galaxy, of another Kryth commander after all. Your kind will suffer as long as I draw breath, Lintorth Sar,” Kason challenged.

  “My kind…” Lintorth’s composure faltered for a moment as he shifted his weight before falling away as his voice boomed with rage, “My kind saved the galaxy from monsters beyond your imagining, Human!” He slammed the butt of his spear into the ground. “My kind, Human, drove the Gashnee from the galaxy at great cost. My kind fought when all else surrendered! It is because of my kind the galaxy has known peace!”

  “I know your histories, Kryth,” Kason hissed. “The Vrae Javril’s too. You both speak of how you fought for peace as you subjugated as many races as you could in a race for supremacy.” Kason felt his voice rise to meet Lintorth’s. “Do not speak to me of how the war cost you! You did not save the galaxy, you enslaved it!”

  Lintorth and Kason stared at one another for a few moments, the shuffling Korin Shai eyeing the statuesque Reavers.

  It was a long silence before Lintorth spoke. “We all suffered under the Gashnee, but we did what was necessary to defeat them, Human.”

  “And in your rebellion, you found Earth, which the Gashnee had mere
ly visited. I do not care how you fought the Gashnee. I care what you did after they were gone.” Kason took a breath. “You exterminated entire species for the birth of your empire!”

  “The Kryth Mahr waged total war to rid the galaxy of the Gashnee and their influence, no matter the cost. We would and shall do it again, Human.” Lintorth said with cold resolve.

  “I know. But just as you fought the Gashnee, so we will fight you. You did not eradicate the great evil in the galaxy. You became it. We will fight until Dranneous Kor burns.”

  Lintorth bared his teeth at the open threat.

  “Come then, Human,” Lintorth taunted. Lintorth turned, spitting the next words out of his mouth at the assembled Korin Shai. “The Humans have threatened the Kryth Mahr Domain! Leave none alive!” he commanded. “We will hang their corpses on display behind the Red Throne.”

  Kason watched as the aythra thrashed against the tether in Lintorth’s iron grip. The Korin Shai activated their spears, sending crackling tendrils of energies washing down the hafts and across the stone floor. They all crouched into fighting stances and began to spread out behind their leader.

  “Korin Shai! KILL THEM ALL!” Lintorth roared as he released the aythra.

  Data CELL 54

  “Were those explosions?” Shawna gasped between breaths.

  The two were running along a dense tree line.

  An orange glow flashed in the horizon in the far distance in which they were headed.

  “I think so. Maybe the Kryth are attacking the base camp,” Madilay panted.

  Brush was thrown aside as the women made their way through the darkened Colorado foliage.

  Shawna slowed and paced behind Madilay.

  “Come on, Shawna. Don’t slow down.”

  “I have to…I…I need to rest.”

  Madilay stopped and went back to be with her.

  The director sat on the ground near a large tree. She was catching her breath.

  “We can’t rest long,” Madilay said, resting her hand on Shawna’s shoulder. “We need to keep moving. I’m sure they know we are missing by now.”

  “How far do we have to go do you think?” Shawna choked out between breaths.

  Madilay looked across the open meadow towards the glowing light. “I would say about eight kilometers, maybe.”

  “It would be easier to run in the open than in the forest, Madilay.”

  “Yes, but we’d be sitting ducks. The moon is full. We’d be easy targets for them.”

  “Okay, give me a moment.”

  As they sat, a faint noise could be heard from where they had come from.

  “Shhh,” Madilay cautioned.

  They waited a moment. Holding their ears to the air.

  Madilay was the first to hear it. “It’s them. They’re coming. Get up now. We need to move.”

  She helped Shawna up and they continued their run along the tree line.

  Branches bent. Twigs snapped. The rustle of leaves and foliage flashed as they ran through.

  Madilay continued to glance back.

  She could see some lights farther behind their location.

  The lights meant Kryth.

  What she heard though is what frightened her the most.

  The growls and barks of aythras.

  “We need to get to higher ground. Move up near that spur,” Madilay voiced as the women altered their course away from the tree line for higher terrain.

  As they made their ascent, the Kryth tracking noises grew louder.

  They were moving slower, going uphill, while the Kryth stayed lower along the tree line, gaining ground.

  “I can see them,” shawna blurted out.

  “We need to get higher, across that ravine.”

  The moonlight illuminated the forest floor below.

  Madilay spotted a fallen tree over the ravine they were trying to cross. “Here.”

  Shawna stopped and shook her head. “I’m not going across that.”

  “We have to.”

  “It doesn’t look safe,” Shawna said, petrified at the thought. “We can find another way.”

  “No. We don’t have the time. Look.” Madilay pointed.

  Shawna turned to look down the hillside they had just climbed.

  Crashing noises were heard below and three sets of glowing green eyes pierced the forest canopy.

  “I can’t,” Shawna repeated.

  “Here. Crawl like me. Get down and crawl.”

  Madilay went first on her hands and knees.

  Shawna inched her way behind.

  The crossing of the log was ten meters. The ravine below fell at least twenty-five.

  As Madilay approached the other side, the log shifted from the weight.

  Shawna screamed.

  “Stay still,” Madilay hissed.

  The log slipped again from the edge it rested upon, sliding down to a ledge a few centemeters below.

  Shawna fell forward and off the side, catching a side branch. “Help!”

  “Hold on. I’ll come back,” Madilay said, scampering back across the log.

  She got to Shawna and reached down her hand.

  Shawna grabbed it.

  Madilay pulled her up as Shawna caught one left leg on a branch closer to the top of the log, making her effort a bit easier.

  “Take it slow. We need to get off this thing. They’re getting closer.”

  Shawna nodded, out of breath from the ordeal.

  They both made it to the other side.

  Madilay grabbed a large branch that was laying on the ground.

  She wedged it near the ledge where the tip of the log rested.

  She pushed with all she had.

  The log creaked and broke off the ledge, crashing down to the ravine below. The boom of its contact echoed and rock and dust billowed below.

  As Madilay threw the branch aside, Shawna screamed out.

  There, across the ravine, was an aythra snarling with drool. Its blazing eyes fixated on its two Human prey.

  The glowing green eyes soon became four, then six, as two other aythras joined the first.

  “Can…can they jump?” Shawna’s voiced trembled.

  “I don’t know.”

  The two women stood motionless, cold sweat tracing lines in their backs as their lungs burned with held breath.

  The three Kryth beasts paced along the side, trying to gain access to their prey.

  Soon, they began to bark out their location to their handlers.

  Madilay reached for Shawna’s hand, pulling her back into the trees and rushing toward the horizon.

  Data CELL 55

  “What will it be, Rels Sentel? Emvel grinned, walking around our group within the temple chamber. “Will it be everlasting life within stardust for your own self-preservation or will you choose death?”

  I didn’t say a word to the traitor.

  “And what of you, Cuukzen? What will you choose?” He asked of Mistuuk.

  Mistuuk glared up at him. “If I knew who you were earlier, you’d be dead.”

  Emvel laughed. “Not from you, Cuukzen, but I could see it from your beautiful Vrae companion.” He turned to Kayasa who was next to Yren. “She has the skill to murder. Don’t you, Kayasa?”

  “Let me show you, Human cacrum,” she spat.

  “Hey, I’m still here,” I said as if the sleight was meant for me. “Watch the ‘Human’ part will ya.”

  That got her going.

  “You are no better than him, Human Rels. You got us into this and you tried to escape and save your own life. You are both sacrum.”

  Fair enough.

  “Wonderful. Each against the other,” Emvel remarked. “I think this will help the Insight make the final decision on what to do with you. This might be fun to watch.”

  Emvel turned to a Glyphtern who was against the wall near a large dangling chain that ran to the ceiling and into the floor.

  “We all say…forever our Gashnee.” Emvel bowed, gesturing towards the Glyphtern
.

  Chanting began within the chamber from all the Xty guards.

  The stone behemoth ratcheted the chain down, pulling it from the ceiling opening.

  My eyes were getting heavy. My vision began to blur once more.

  The tellurium was in effect for sure. How long I could hold out before seeing the exploding moths was anyone’s guess.

  The center pyramid began to rise from its base. The blue glow was intensifying.

  The water bubbled underneath.

  I could feel a…pull.

  In my head.

  Something was in my mind.

  The pull turned into a kind of warm, coursing energy. The blue glow was probing, searching, and trying to control my thoughts. My head felt heavy, as if I had just woken up from a deep sleep but wasn’t quite awake yet.

  It wasn’t the serum. It was coming from the blue light.

  I tried to peer through the glow at the being which sat on the floating base. Was that the Insight? I couldn’t tell.

  After all this time and space, the being we had come to for answers just turned out to be some mind-reading stranger behind a big blue light.

  My mind whirled.

  I had to block whatever was trying to get in.

  I looked over to the others. They were already under the influence like Yren was.

  Their gaze was caught up in the light, all looking mindless, staring away into nothing.

  Mistuuk drooled a little.

  I must remind him if I live through this.

  The serum was helping me fight off the mind manipulation. I have our friend Emvel to thank for oozing that little nugget back in the hallway.

  My little gamble paid off with taking the potion Yren made. This stuff was interfering with whatever power this thing was using. Mind control verse psychedelic elixir, because whatever was reaching deep into my psyche was having problems taking root.

  I still had my own thoughts and control of my body.

  I think.

  Emvel approached and stood in front of me.

  His face began to warp and swirl around.

  Was I losing it? I don’t need the exploding moths now. Not yet.