Sedom flinched when she noticed the change in their conversation. “I doubt it. I wish I could. Unfortunately, half the galaxy is still hunting me. I wouldn't risk my life or those of your guests, but thank you for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome. Well, it looks like I have six science vessels to call back. I'll make sure to clear any Narkoy matters with you first in the future. Good night.”
The screen blanked, filling with the reflection of Zion. “We've got trouble up top.”
SEVEN
The sky darkened with the haunting outline of a Marisheio battle cruiser. The cruiser lowered from the sky, so close Sedom could almost reach out and touch it from her tree tower. The ship’s powerful engines released a puff of air, sending Sedom flying across her tower. She landed footsteps from the stairs, hitting the back of her head against one of the railings.
“Trasgoola!” she screeched. Her shaking hand reached to the back of her head, feeling a small trickle of her blood.
“Sortec!” Zion called over the sound of the ship’s engines.
Rosanheer and Zion ran up the stairs to the tower, searching for any sign of Sedom. She blinked several times, attempting to clear the fog that enveloped her head from the impact. She reached over, grabbing Rosanheer’s ankle.
“I’m down here. Help me up,” she requested.
Rosanheer helped Sedom to her feet. “What happened?”
Sedom pointed to the ship that was now approaching the city of Crowarl. “That happened. The invasion has begun,” she called out over the sound of the ship's engines lowering from above.
The ship landed just outside the city of Crowarl. The back of the ship opened, revealing fifty armed Marisheio soldiers.
“We knew this was going to happen, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon,” Rosanheer called out.
“I’m not letting this happen, not again,” Sedom cursed. She reached for the pistol on her belt, making certain she had it easily available. She then grabbed hold of a close branch and hoisted herself into the tree.
“Sortec, what are you doing?” Zion called out.
“Someone has to help them. Stay here and protect the city,” she called back then climbed down the tree.
Rosanheer leaned over the side railing, watching Sedom scurry down the tree to the ground. “There's too many of them!”
“I can handle this,” she called back as she disappeared into the maze of trees below.
“Damn it!” Zion screeched. He peered over the side of the lookout tower, knowing full well he couldn’t take the same route down. “Go to the tunnels and help anyone she sends back. I’m going after her,” Zion ordered.
On swift feet, Sedom ran to the edge of the city. Pandemonium had already begun as the citizens of Crowarl took to the street, fleeing from the Marisheio invasion. The screams of the city's people and explosions of Marisheio weapons filled Sedom's ears. The smoke of burning buildings filled her eyes and nose. She grabbed a shirt from a clothesline, ripping off a piece large enough to cover her nose and mouth.
From all around her, she could just make out the images of the city’s citizens running, or was it a Marisheio? It was hard to tell from the smoke. She grabbed one woman, forcing her to face her. Thankfully, she was Crehail.
“Go to the forest and head to the river,” she ordered the woman. “Go, and take anyone you can find with you.”
She released the woman with a hard push. The scream of another woman turned her attention to a small dwelling to her left. She rushed inside to find a Marisheio male holding down a woman and was about to force himself upon her. There was no way she could shoot him without possibly injuring the woman. She crept inside further, searching for anything she could use as a blade. She found a small paring knife sitting on the table next to some vegetables the woman had been slicing. She grabbed the knife and tiptoed over to the two.
“Um,” Sedom cleared her throat, causing the Marisheio to turn to her. As he did, she slit the man's throat from left to right. He released the woman, taking hold of his throat to hold back his blood.
Sedom kicked him aside, offering her hand to the woman. The woman looked at her, her eyes wide with panic and filled with tears. “Come on. You’re not safe here. I need you to run to the river,” she said, helping the woman to stand. The woman crawled to her feet, hurrying out the door.
“Run to the river, near the rock mounds in the forest. Take anyone you can find with you and don’t look back,” she instructed as she pointed to the doorway. As she spoke, she watched out the open door as two more men carried another man down the street. The man’s leg was half severed from a pistol wound. She called her demand again as she pointed to the forest. The men agreed without question.
With no time to waste, Sedom jumped from house to house, hurrying the occupants into the forest, killing any Marisheio that stood in her way. When she reached the last house, nearly forty Marisheio had perished by her small paring knife.
She glanced down at the knife, seeing it covered in Marisheio blood. “How many people did the Marisheio kill?” she asked herself as she stared down at a Marisheio man whose neck she had just sliced from shoulder to shoulder. The man fell to his knees, then flat onto his face on the ground. From his belt, she removed a much larger hunting knife. She tossed her own knife aside and took his. His blade was nearly the length of her forearm and far easier to use.
Just ahead on the road, her eyes instantly grew heavy as she watched three children lying in a mound of bodies. A young woman’s body lay beside them, her left arm severed and lying across the children. Sedom hurried over to the children, realizing no one was moving. She moved the bodies aside, finding the youngest of the children, a small boy, gasping for air.
“Sortec!” Zion called, running over to her.
She gathered the boy in her arms, handing him to Zion. “Take him back to Gathow!” she demanded.
Zion took the child, glaring at Sedom. “We will talk about this later.”
“Fine. Save his life first,” she demanded, pointing back to the forest. He hurried off, disappearing into the smoke.
In the distance, she could see a large group of people being loaded into a Marisheio ship as another ship flew off. Only ten Marisheio stood guard over them. No one realized what happened to their comrades.
Sedom snatched one of her kill’s weapons, aiming it at the shadows around her. The streets were eerily silent as she grew closer to the ships.
“No talking!” yelled a Marisheio man near the ship.
Sedom circled the ship to gain a better view. She counted twenty, all young women, were being forced on board. She could only guess why they chose them to take. She cautiously stepped in line with the women, keeping her head down. As she approached the first Marisheio guard, she raised her weapon. The shot shattered through his body and through his comrade who stood behind him.
“Get down!” she yelled to the women.
The remaining eight Marisheio opened fire on her. Sedom ducked behind the north side of the ship as pistol shots rung out against its’ hall. She looked around the corner, seeing all the women on the ground, face down.
One woman looked up at her, fearful tears clouding her eyes. Sedom held up three fingers to the woman, who understood immediately what she wanted. She tapped one woman beside her, pointing to Sedom. That woman tapped three more and so on. Soon, all of the women watched Sedom.
One by one, Sedom lowered her fingers, ready to hold off the Marisheio’s fire. When her last finger dropped, the women made a dash for the forest. Sedom jumped out, drawing the Marisheio’s fire. One woman flew to the ground, a pistol wound scorching her lower back. She screamed out in terror, causing two of the women to turn back. The two women grabbed her by the arms, dragging her along with them into the forest.
Sedom jumped inside the ship, killing the two who were hiding inside. Three managed to return fire, but all ended up dead by Sedom's stolen rifle. The last two ran for the cockpit. The ship’s engines rumbled to life,
forcing Sedom to jump from the ship as it rose from the ground. The ship sped off into space, creating a dust storm in its wake.
Sedom turned back to the city. Just beyond the smoke, she could see hundreds of bodies lying on the ground, their blood staining the white pavement of the street. Some moved slowly, but it was unclear who would live and who were going to die. The moaning of the dying mixed with the crackling pops of the fires surrounded the city as the cold wind howled through the trees.
Her eyes turned upwards towards the moons where three scout ships were descending. She had no time to check for survivors. The ships dropped down, raining fire over the city.
Sedom ran back to the forest, taking shelter in the trees. She watched from afar as the flames engulfed the city. The screams of the injured filled her ears with painful horror, forcing her to hold her hands to them to block out the cries.
She watched as a man crawled from the flames, half his body burned. “Help,” he cried out, holding his bloody hand out to her. She grabbed him, pulling him free of the path.
“I’ve got you,” she whispered as she cradled him in her arms. He looked up at her, painfilled tears rolling down his cheeks. Half of his face was burned so badly she could see his charred bone. He struggled to breathe, every breath agonizing. “I’ve got you.” Tenderly, she took up his hand. His body quaked with her touch.
“You’ll be alright,” she soothed. With a gentle touch, she placed her hand on the back of his neck, relaxing him from his pain. Her mind connected with his, forcing a wave of his memories to wash over her. “I promise,” she gulped, nodding. “For now, sleep,” she whispered. She held her breath, making him do the same. Slowly, darkness flowed over his mind as he gasped his last breath. “I’m sorry,” she continued to whisper as her hand slipped away, tears clouding her eyes.
Zion grabbed Sedom’s arm, forcing her to stand from the man. “Come on!” he demanded, pulling her from the man’s body.
A short distance away by the river, a large group of Crehail waited for them. Zion called to them, waving for them to follow. He led them through the forest to the tunnels where Rosanheer stood guard. Rosanheer wore a scarf over his face so as to not cause their guests any alarm.
“Inside, quickly,” Rosanheer called, waving them into the tunnels.
Sedom stared at the group of Crehail, her mind fuzzy from the memories of the burned man. She started to sway, having to hold onto Zion’s shoulder to remain upright.
“Rosanheer!” Zion called out to his friend, motioning for him to take Sedom.
Rosanheer hurried over to Sedom, wrapping his arm around her. “Time to go home, Chadon,” he whispered to her. “Good work,” he complimented.
She gulped hard, nodding. “How many did you count?” she asked as he guided her through the tunnel.
“We’ll know soon enough,” he spoke low. “Keep going. You’ll see a light soon,” he called out, his voice echoing within the tunnel.
A group of twenty orbs quickly surrounded the group, their domes red and their lasers charged. Sedom forced herself away from Rosanheer, her hands raised to beckon one of the orbs to her.
“I'm allowing level one, limited access to those currently not registered. Scan and attain any information on them. If any of them are considered a risk, contact me immediately and detain. Stun only if necessary,” she ordered low.
“Command accepted,” the orb announce sending the group of orbs back to the ceiling.
She continued to an area near the opening of the tunnels and raised her hands up to gain everyone's attention. “Everyone relax. You are all safe here. The Marisheio can't find us here. There are beds available as well as food, water and medical aid,” she pointed in the distance, seeing Lolum, Cidele, Noral and Evolanc fast approaching. “You have nothing to worry about,” she called out.
“My son,” called a woman. “Where is my son?”
“I’m sorry to say, but those you left behind are no more. The Marisheio have incinerated what’s left of your city. The odds of their survival…” Sedom called back, pausing to hold back her own tearful emotions. Her words brought many to instant anguish. “I’m truly sorry for your losses and my heart bleeds for you all.”
Rosanheer stood next to Sedom, keeping an eye on her in case she started to sway again. She motioned him forward, whispering to him. “Find Hasapoi for me,” she requested. He nodded, understanding why she wanted him.
A man stepped forward, taking the mound next to Sedom. “Have hope. There may still be survivors. We will arrange a search party in the morning. For now, we should do as our host says and settle in for the night,” called the man.
“What about the Marisheio?” Another man called out from the crowd.
“The city of Gathow is far beneath the surface. They won't find us,” Sedom called. She pointed to the ceiling to the orbs. “And they will protect us.”
“You will protect us,” a woman declared, pointing to Sedom.
“You saved us all!” called another woman.
Cheers filled the air, causing Sedom to shy away from the crowd. “Get your people settled in for the night,” she demanded of the man next to her. In her eyes, it was obvious he was the city’s leader. With a quick nod to him, she hurried off towards the cafeteria.
Lolum and Zion met Sedom near the cafeteria. The look on Lolum’s face was of concern and contempt dwarfed only by Zion’s expression of panic and outrage.
“Sortec, have you gone completely mental?” Zion began, his voice irate. “I'm getting tired of your half-cocked sanity, ego trips. You could have been seriously injured or killed!”
Lolum watched as all the people filed by them. “What are we going to do with all of these people? We can't keep them here,” he spoke in a low, exacerbated growl.
“You are a stupid, reckless child!” Zion screamed. “What if something happened to you? You should have asked for my help. That’s why I’m here,” he yelled, pounding his finger into his own chest to show just how upset he was with her.
Sedom forced a group of people out of her way. “I never asked for your protection! You have no right to question my choices! I am Chadon and you will respect my decisions or you can leave,” she yelled back to Zion. She turned to Lolum, whose gaze was nervously on his own hands. “That goes for anyone here in Gathow, even you.” She brushed past them both, her adrenaline still pumping hard.
Rosanheer hurried beside her. “Chadon,” he called softly.
“I couldn't let them become slaves.” She turned to Rosanheer, looking him directly in his eyes.
“I know, Chadon. You did well tonight,” he complemented. He forced her to pause. “Take a breath,” he said soothing. Sedom nodded, taking in a deep breath. He took her hands, squeezing them. “Now, tell me what your orders are?”
She shook her head, unsure of what to do. “Take care of our guests. I need some air.”
“Get some air. We’ll handle things,” he offered.
Sedom turned back to Lolum then calmly walked back to him. “They're Crehail, what do they know about Gathow? For now, they are our guests. See that they’re taken care of.” She waited for rebuttal, which neither Lolum nor Zion could produce.
She continued to the surface and to her lookout, curious of the condition of the city. When she reached the tree post, all she could see was the smoke from the city. There was no more city, no more threat of the Crehail finding her, she had found them. Had she done the right thing by bringing the Crehail to Gathow? Wasn't that the very thing she wanted to avoid?
Sedom rubbed her tired eyes, her brain unable to make sense of her own actions. She remained watching out towards the city until both moons were solid in the sky. Behind her, creaking up the steps to the platform, she could hear the sound of heavy boots. Sedom pulled her pistol from her belt, but still made it seem that she had not noticed the intrusion.
The gray head of the man that joined her on the mound appeared. Seeing her pistol, he raised his hands, but his demeanor remained calm.
<
br /> “I am Nokinil, the city of Crowarl's leader,” he introduced.
Sedom slipped her pistol back into her belt and motioned for the orbs that hovered above her to stand down. She slowly turned back to the city. Nokinil lowered his hands as he watched the orbs move aside. He joined Sedom by the edge, his long cape blowing in the draft of the high trees. His eyes widened, then filled with tears as he watched his city burn.
“Why us?” He cried a stern man's tears.
Sedom hesitated to speak, how much should she say? “There was talk of a new base. Your city was an ideal location; hidden yet still accessible,” Sedom spoke hushed.
Nokinil looked to Sedom shocked by her appearance and youth. “How did you... you're so young? Back in the city, I thought you were much older.”
Sedom grimaced. “I'm sure you're not the only one,” she smirked. “Get some rest. There will be plenty to talk about in the morning.”
He showed no signs of relenting as he stood waiting for Sedom to turn to him. “I'd rather talk now if it's no different. This is the welfare of my people we need to discuss.” Nokinil insisted. “Our city is in ruin. I need to know―”
Sedom swung around, her eyes enraged. “I have done enough tonight. Don't ask any more of me until the morning,” she warned.
Nokinil backed away, frightened by her demeanor. “And I speak for the city when I say we are in your debt. Without your help, we would be facing enslavement… or worse. But understand our predicament now. We’ve been given safe haven for how long and what then?”
Sedom turned back to the forest, a deep rumbling from above made her grasp on to the railing. “Safe? Not quite. We're not out of danger yet.” She pointed to the distance as another ship descended over the forest and into the burning city. “They'll want to know what happened to the rest of you and then they will come looking. We'll need an army if we are to survive.”
“An army?” Nokinil laughed. “Forty-seven able-bodied men survived from my city. We have no army. It took a child to rescue us… that should be proof enough that we can’t defend ourselves.”
The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 Page 11