Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

The survivors of the battle in Alligator Bay had all been stuffed into one twelve-foot square room that contained no furniture, toilet, or supplies of any kind. There was not enough room for the thirty humans to all stretch out to sleep, so the survivors were forced to take turns lying down while the others stood or squatted. For Ensign Jerry Klein, the cramped living quarters had driven him to the brink of insanity from claustrophobia. Adding to his discomfort was that his alien captors had not once provided any food or water, forcing him and the others to rely on what few stores they had been permitted to keep.

Klein was squatting in a corner, scratching at his thin, week-old beard, when the door to the room finally opened. Klein recognized the huge alien in blue armor, it had plucked him out of the water after he had been shot and dragged him to where the other unconscious humans were piled. The alien’s orange eyes, burning like those of some demonic spirit, turned towards Klein. The alien motioned to two other soldiers with him, pointing towards the human helmsman, the two soldiers dragging Klien from the room by his arms. Klein could also see Lieutenant Susan Sanders being taken from the room and tried to shout something to her, but felt something heavy hit him in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.

When Klein awoke, he was sitting in a chair, held fast by magnetic restraints. Two aliens, the big one in blue armor and a much smaller one, were standing over him. Glancing to his right, he could see Sanders also strapped into a chair. The big alien growled something, which the smaller alien repeated. “He says that he has lost patience with your people. You are dishonorable worms and he will not tolerate you any longer. Tell him the location of your home planet or he will kill you both.”

“We won’t tell you anything!” Sanders shouted, looking to Klein for support. Klein gulped, the big alien’s eyes boring into him. Without a word, the alien pulled out a sword, the blade slicing open Sanders’ midsection. Sanders screamed, unable to do anything but watch blood and entrails ooze slowly from the wound.

The little alien turned towards Klein. “Tell him what he wants to know or you will be next.” Klein shivered, watching the life drain from Sanders as blood accumulated at her feet. The big alien growled something to the smaller one, who translated, “We will give you time to contemplate your choice.” Both aliens strode quickly from the room, leaving Klein alone with Sanders’ dying body.

“Jerry…don’t tell them…anything,” Sanders whispered, her face turning a ghostly shade of white as her blood emptied out onto the deck. Klein fought against his restraints, trying desperately to free himself to help Sanders, but the restraints held him in place as Sanders let out her final breath.

“No!” Klein sobbed. “You bastards!” Klein struggled against his restraints until he was out of strength. Looking over at Sanders’ corpse, her dead eyes pleaded with him to help her, the stink of death filled his nostrils. Sweat beaded on his brow, visions of the green crystal blade tearing her open filled his brain until at last he could take no more, screaming incoherently until his throat was raw and he passed out.

***

Arsa Veranda could feel her life slipping away. The flood of memories shooting past her in the darkness was now only a trickle, each precious moment slipping her grasp bringing her one step closer to nothingness. No, I can’t let this happen! Her mind screamed. Her hands clawed madly for any memory, trying to keep just one from fading away so that she could remember who she was, so that Arsa Veranda would not die. Please, just let me keep one! She urged her fingers to reach higher, until they finally touched one streak of light, her entire arm starting to glow.

She awoke to someone gently nudging her in the back. Rolling over, Veranda opened her eyes to see the smiling face of her mother. “Come on, Arsa, today is your big day,” her mother said cheerfully.

Veranda sat up, scratching her head as she tried to think of what her mother was talking about. Looking around the tiny, two-room house, Veranda remembered what her parents had told her weeks ago. A family from England was coming to take Veranda to their home so that she could go to a good school. Veranda had no idea where England was, but she suspected that it was far away from Kenya.

“I don’t want to go,” Veranda protested as she crawled out of the bed she shared with her five brothers and sisters.

Scrambling through the battered set of drawers that held all of the family’s clothes, Veranda’s mother replied, “I don’t want you to go either, but you have to go to a good school if you want to make something of yourself.”

Veranda’s mother tossed her a faded pink dress, which Veranda began to dutifully put on. “Aren’t there good schools here?”

Veranda’s mother tousled her curly black hair, saying sadly, “No, there aren’t. Now be a good girl and pack up your things.”

“All right, Mother,” Veranda replied. She searched through the house for the few toys her family had either made for her or been able to buy, tossing the toys into a sack, she saw her father appear in the doorway. “Father!” Veranda blurted out, rushing into his arms.

Veranda’s father scooped her up, putting her on his broad shoulders. “Is my little girl ready to go?” He asked.

“Yes,” Veranda replied, without enthusiasm.

Her father placed her on the ground, squatting down to look her in the eyes. “I know this isn’t easy, but we want what is best for you. From the tests you took at school, you are much too smart to stay here, you need to go somewhere you can have a future. Don’t worry though,” her father stopped, wiping the tears from Veranda’s face. “When you’re old enough, you can come back here to visit, or to stay if you want. All right?”

Veranda sniffled, “All right.”

There was a crunching sound outside, Veranda’s father picking her up and taking her outside to where a black hoverlimo waited. A man and woman exited from the rear of the limo, the woman’s eyes lighting up as she saw Veranda. “Is that her?” The woman asked excitedly.

“This is Arsa,” Veranda’s father replied. “Arsa, this is Mr. And Mrs. Schumaker.”

Veranda pressed closer to her father, fresh tears coming to her eyes. “Oh dear,” Mrs. Schumaker breathed. “Have I upset her?”

“She is a little scared of leaving her home,” Veranda’s father replied.

Mr. Schumaker shifted nervously, running a hand through his thinning brown hair. “If it’s going to be a problem, maybe we can come back later.”

“No, no, it’s better to get this over with,” Veranda’s father said sadly. He turned his head, looking Veranda in the eyes. “Arsa, how old are you?”

“Six…and a half,” Veranda sniffed, her vision blurry with tears.

“That’s right, that makes you a big girl now. I want you to be a big girl now and stop that crying. These are your new parents, they won’t hurt you.”

“No, I won’t go!” Veranda protested, wriggling free from her father’s grasp. She took off down the old dirt path leading out of the village. Her legs pumped as hard as they ever had, her mind thinking only of escaping from her “new” parents, so that she would not have to go so far away from her family. As she ran, everything seemed to be getting larger while it was harder and harder to keep running. Her legs suddenly gave out, sending her toppling into a puddle.

She tried to stand, but her legs would not support her. In the murky water, she could see the reflection of a tiny chocolate-colored infant, wispy black curls covering its scalp. Reaching out with a tiny hand, Veranda touched the surface of the water, sending ripples through her reflection. She felt arms scooping her up from the ground, her mother’s face dominating her entire world. “Arsa, my little gazelle, how did you get here?” Her mother asked, playfully tickling Veranda’s nose.

Veranda tried to ask her mother what was happening, but all that came out was a gurgling sound. Her mother’s kind face faded from her vision, Veranda reached out to try to hold on to her mother, but her tiny fingers could latch on to nothing. In frustration, in sadness, in desperation, Veranda let out a high-pitched wail, finding herself alone in the darkness.

Her small body was shaken by violent spasms, causing her to scream incoherently intot he dark, but no one could hear her, no one could help her. She pleaded with the emptiness around her for someone to save her as her flesh began to change to a dark green, its texture becoming scaly. She wanted to cry, to scream, to laugh, she wanted to do anything, but could only watch as her humanity slipped away.

She heard a familiar voice calling out to her like a lullaby, its tone easing her fear. The voice started to fade, blurs of light streaking over Veranda’s head. She reached out with a small hand, squealing joyfully when her arm started to glow as she came into contact with one of the lights.

Veranda suddenly found herself in a shallow pit of mud, staring up at an olive sky laden with thick gray clouds. Aliens towered over her, a tan-skinned alien plucking her from the nest she was sharing with five other miniature S’Parnians. The tan-skinned alien hummed a soothing tune, then turned to face a pair of gray-skinned aliens.

One of the gray aliens spoke, “Your son has reached the age of acceptance. By orders of the Grand Council, he is to be remanded into our custody, so that he may learn the skills he will need to serve his people.”

Veranda was set on the ground, one of the gray aliens grabbing her roughly by the arm. “What is to become of my son?”

“He will be placed on one of the collection vessels, where he will be trained by warriors until he has reached maturity.”

“Tell the Grand Council I am humbled by the faith they have in my son.”

“Of course. We will tell them of your generous sacrifice.” A hatch of the wheeled vehicle opened, the gray aliens shoving Veranda towards it.

“No, I don’t want to go!” Veranda screamed. She fought against the aliens, kicking one in the leg. She felt the grip holding her loosen, allowing her to break free. She ran away from the three aliens, streaking down a muddy path, until she fell face-first into a pool of water.

She tried to rise from the water, but her tiny legs were not strong enough. The tiny, hoodless face of a hatchling stared back at her from the water, mocking her. Veranda growled something incoherently, weakly splashing the water with a clawed hand, trying to destroy the reflection, but all she did was send a few puny ripples through it.

Something plucked her from the water, turning her so that she could see the face of the tan-skinned alien, her mother. “S’Amleng, you will be a great warrior some day, you will save our people from this curse.” The tan alien rocked Veranda back and forth, her face slowly fading. Veranda reached out with her small fingers, not wanting the kindly alien to disappear. She tried to scream, but it came out only as a pitiful wail, then she was left in the darkness.

There were no streaks of light around, no voice calling to her, she was all alone, the weight of the blackness suffocating her. Her entire body was wracked with sobs, her mind unable to create any rational thoughts. She could only feel that everything she was had been taken, everything important stolen from her.

Out of the darkness, she saw a being made entirely of white light, except for orange eyes that stared at her soothingly. “Do not be afraid, your journey is only beginning. You are the hope for the entire universe, the light that will erase the darkness for all time. Do not fear your destiny, embrace it.”

“But who am I?” Veranda stammered, feeling naked and dirty in the presence of the light.

“You will know, in time,” the light being replied, then its entire body seemed to expand, until there was an explosion of light brighter than a thousand stars exploding. Veranda’s eyes opened, unable to see anything except a thick blue gel. She opened her mouth to scream, but the gel smothered the cry, choking her until she was unconscious.

***

The planet’s moon was high in the sky when Davis finally signaled for the others to halt. Even S’Amleng seemed grateful for the chance to rest, silently moving into the brush to create a small nest in the mud to sleep in. After he had regained consciousness, the alien soldier had stayed apart from the humans, seemingly in shock over what had happened. Thornton dropped her heavy pack to the ground, shivering in the cold while Davis searched the brush for flammable materials to make a fire with.

Thornton rummaged through the pack Flanders had given her, pulling out the thermal coat, although she did not dare activate the heating fluid in the coat until they had actually climbed into the mountains. Donning the gloves that were in the pack, Thornton couldn’t help but wonder what they were going to do when they reached the mountains. They had only one set of equipment for all three of them, and who knew how a reptilian creature like S’Amleng would react to the colder climate of the mountains.

Davis returned, dumping an armload of plants and tree branches into a heap on the ground. Looking at Thornton he grinned, “I guess you don’t have much faith in my fire-making abilties.”

“I just didn’t want to freeze to death before you came back,” Thornton replied, trying to keep her voice light. “I’ve been wondering, though, what are we going to do when we get to the mountains? We only have one set of climbing claws.”

Davis shrugged, clearing a small circle of dirt for the fire. “We’ll have to go up one at a time, or maybe I can climb up and drop a line for you and Sam. We’ll worry about that later, right now let’s deal with one crisis at a time.”

Thornton nodded wearily, “I guess you’re right. So what do we do with Sam?”

“He comes with us,” Davis replied firmly.

“You saw what he did to his own kind back there, how do we know he won’t suddenly turn and do the same to us!”

Davis sighed wearily, “I know that you don’t trust him, but what’s going on with him seems to defy any kind of logical explanation. If we can find out what is happening to him, maybe it can give us some clue about their weaknesses, some way we can fight back against these aliens. Or at least we might be able to get the information to Earth, so they won’t meet the same fate as the Explorer.”

“There’s no way to talk you out of it, right?”

“No.”

It was Thornton’s turn to sigh with exasperation. “Just like my father, once he made up his mind, no one in the galaxy could change it.” Her face darkened sadly, “that was the reason I had to get away from him, because he’d made his mind up on my future.”

Davis stopped building the fire, turning to look at Thornton, “What did he want you to do?”

“Have you ever heard of Thor-Tek Industries?”

Davis shrugged, “I never had a need to read the business reports.”

“It’s the company my family started almost a century ago, founded by my great-grandfather. Upon my great-grandfather’s death, my grandfather took over, then my father took over for him when he retired about twenty years ago.” Thornton paused, wiping away a tear before continuing. “I’m an only child, so it was only natural that when I turned eighteen, he wanted to send me to some snooty business school so that I could start to follow in his footsteps. But I got the last laugh, right after my high school graduation I ran away to Vancouver and enrolled in the Alliance Academy, the one place he could never touch me.”

Davis was stunned, not knowing quite what to say. He had seen his share of runaways in his time, most ran away because of abuse at home, but he had never imagined that someone like Thornton would be a runaway. “I’m sorry,” Davis stammered. “I’m sure he only wanted what he thought was best.”

“He wanted what was best for his company, his own personal interests, not what was the best for me.”

“And this is better?” Davis asked sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood. Instead, Thornton started to sob, burying her face in her hands. Feeling responsible for the emotional outburst, Davis put his arm around Thornton’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.”

“No, you’re right. This isn’t better. When I signed up, I thought I would just be working on a ship, I didn’t think I would have to play soldier.” She stopped, trying to dry some of the tears streaking down her face. “I’m not a warrior, not like you, that’s why I’ve been so useless.”

“No, you haven’t been useless…” Davis started to protest, but she cut him off angrily.

“I couldn’t help Ramirez, and I couldn’t help Private Flanders, that’s why he had me run away, because he knew that’s the only thing I am good at!”

Davis took Thornton forcefully by the shoulders, his eyes boring into her with cold fury. “Stop this self-pitying crap right now! There was nothing any of us could have done for Private Ramirez, he was beyond our help. I’ve known Private Flanders for a while now, he’s a smart soldier, and if he told you to run, it was because it was what was best for everyone, not just for you. Now maybe you didn’t sign on with the intention of fighting a war, but that’s what’s happened, and we all have to do our part.” Davis’s voice changed, becoming softer, more fatherly. “I’m going to need your help to find those ExoArmors, I have to be able to count on you, all right?”

“All right,” Thornton replied weakly. Davis let his hands slip off of her shoulders, turning his attention back to the fire. He used the lighter in Thornton’s pack to set fire to the brush he had collected, smoldering ashes gradually giving life to roaring tongues of flame, a thin trail of smoke boiling into the dark sky.

“Why don’t you get some sleep, the fire should keep you warm enough,” Davis offered. Thornton nodded numbly, rolling onto the ground, her back facing away from Davis. The weary sergeant waited a few minutes, then crept over to where Thornton lay, seeing her eyes closed tightly, her soft breaths creating wisps of steam in the cold air. For a moment, shivering against the frigid breezes, Davis wished that he had not lost his pack during the battle, but there was little he could do about it now. Taking his pistol from his belt, Davis went to check on S’Amleng, then, seeing that the alien was fast asleep in his mud nest, Davis started to prowl the perimeter, making sure that no alien patrols were approaching or waiting in ambush.

When Thornton awoke, the fire was all but out, just a few tiny flames still burning in the dim predawn light. Thornton thought she heard a sound coming from the brush, but she could see nothing. She rolled onto her back, staring up at the few stars still visible. She thought about what Davis had said, trying to tell herself that he was right, that she was just feeling sorry for herself. I should never have run away, she thought. I should have done what Dad wanted me to do, instead of throwing a tantrum like a little girl, acting like a spoiled brat because I couldn’t have my way. If I ever get back, Dad and I are going to have to have a serious talk.

The stars above her were suddenly blotted out, replaced by two brown eyes, burning with hatred. “You, it was you! You did this!” She heard S’Amleng growl, his clawed hands wrapping around her throat, cutting off any scream for help.

Thornton fought against his grip, but it was like a titanium vise slowly closing on her throat. “No,” Thornton managed to wheeze. “Sam! Stop!”

“No, give me back my life!” S’Amleng hefted Thornton to her feet, hurling her into the brush. Thornton lay dazed in a tangle of weeds, trying to catch her breath. She could hear S’Amleng’s footsteps coming, but she could do little more than roll onto her knees and crawl a few feet, before his hand caught hold of the back of her jacket. “I don’t want to hear your lies, I only want you to undo what you have done to me!”

S’Amleng flung her back towards the fire, this time Thornton managed to roll to her feet and grab a thick, smoldering branch from the fire. She swung the branch wildly at S’Amleng, but he grabbed hold of the stick, violently tugging it from her hands. His eyes glowed with murderous intent, the muscles in his legs and tail coiling in preparation of pouncing on Thornton to finish her off. As he was about to spring, S’Amleng stopped, turning to face something, but Thornton could only see empty air.

“Help me!” S’Amleng pleaded with the emptiness around him. “Who am I?” He roared, his arms reaching out tentatively. The S’Parnian was suddenly wracked with violent spasms, collapsing into the dirt. Thornton heard something crashing through the brush, turning to see Davis skidding to a stop, his mouth agape.

“What the hell is going on?” He demanded.

“I don’t know…” Thornton stammered, fresh tears coming to her eyes. “I was sleeping and then…then he attacked me. He tried to strangle me, and just before he was going to kill me…he stopped and then started to shake.”

Davis took Thornton into his arms, gently stroking her hair. “It’s going to be all right,” he whispered, taking out his pistol. He let Thornton go, moving silently towards S’Amleng. The S’Parnian was still twitching on the ground, his eyes closed, tail lying limply between his legs. Davis put the pistol at the base of the alien’s neck, hoping that it would not take more than one shot to finish S’Amleng.

Davis tightened his finger on the trigger, hesitating for a moment, until he looked back at Thornton. With renewed determination, he was about to squeeze the trigger, when he was blinded by a flash of white light. The pistol fell from Davis’s grasp as he collapsed to his knees, his hands going to his eyes in utter agony. “Davis!” He heard Thornton shout and felt her hands on him, trying to roll him over onto his back, then he blacked out.

When he finally blinked his eyes open, he found himself looking up at Thornton and S’Amleng. The S’Parnian offered a hand, which Davis batted aside, rising to his feet under his own power.

“You monster!” Davis shouted, hands going for S’Amleng’s throat, but Thornton imposed herself between them.

“Davis, stop! It wasn’t him!”

“What do you mean it wasn’t him? How many other aliens are there around here?” Davis demanded angrily.

“No, I mean that it wasn’t him, not in spirit. He was possessed or something.”

“It’s true,” S’Amleng said slowly. “I heard a voice calling to me, then I felt this flood of strange, alien emotions. I felt…I felt like I was watching myself from outside my body, I had no control over what I did.”

“And you believe him?” Davis asked Thornton skeptically.

“At first I didn’t, but then it all began to make sense. The spasms, the way his eyes would change, how he could speak English one moment then not know a word of it the next. The only explanation that makes sense is that something, or someone, was controlling him.”

“You wanted to kill him back in the swamp, why the change of heart?”

Thornton shrugged, “I still don’t trust him, but yesterday we could only communicate him with crude hand signals, and today he can speak English as fluently as you or I. It has to be some kind of sign.”

“A sign? What about him attacking you, what kind of sign was that?”

“I don’t expect you to understand, but just as he was about to kill me, something stopped him. Something that only he could see.”

“It was a spirit, a messenger from the gods, sent to quell my madness,” S’Amleng interjected.

Davis groaned, “Did you two lose your fucking minds while I was out?”

“I am sorry about what happened, but the spirit told me that I must continue on the path I have started. I must stay with you if I am to achieve the great tasks the gods have set for me.” S’Amleng stopped, his voice turning sad. “My own people will not want me back now. They will interrogate me, study me, take my mind apart, and then kill me to make sure that whatever disease has infected me does not spread. Please, let me come with you, I have nowhere else to go.”

Davis looked at Thornton, sighing loudly. “All right, you can come, but if you touch her again, I’ll rip your heart out with my bare hands.”

S’Amleng nodded fearfully, then Davis went to gather up the humans’ equipment and snuff out the fire. Thornton took S’Amleng’s arm, smiling, “Come on, you’re one of us now.”

***

There was nothing around Rosaro, only darkness. She had no idea if she was alive or dead, if she was moving or still, if she was unconscious or awake, she could feel nothing. She tried to scream, to cry out against the darkness, but she had no voice. Her mind was filled with confusion, calling out silently for someone, somewhere to help her, to tell her what was going on.

From the darkness came a single point of brilliant white light. The light seemed to expand as it came closer, until it finally surrounded Rosaro. In the light, Rosaro could make out the form of a woman, a tall, beautiful woman, whose luminous body seemed to be the source of the light. In the harsh glow of the light, Rosaro could only feel dirty and shameful, unfit to gaze upon such a wondrous sight.

Orange eyes, as bright as twin suns, bored into Rosaro’s soul, transfixing her. A voice, its tone as melodious as the greatest symphonies ever composed by humans, said, “The time of convergence is at hand. The seeds of destiny have already been planted in the past, but now they must be nourished in the present if they are to be reaped in the future. Are you ready to receive your destiny, Amanda Rosaro?”

“I…I don’t understand,” Rosaro stammered.

“A great destiny lies ahead of all people, all races, but to achieve this destiny, the price must be paid with the blood of three: the Guardian, the Savior, and the Preserver. For it is these three who will pave the way for the ultimate transformation, when the entire universe will be filled with nothing but light and joy. If the sacrifices are not made, darkness will continue to smother the light until all corners of the universe have become tainted with its evil. You, Amanda, must choose.” The voice stopped and the light dimmed, allowing Rosaro to see the storage container of the alien ship where her own body lay bleeding and broken. Rosaro gasped, finally realizing that she was dead. “You have been spared from the cold prison of death because you are the only one worthy to protect the Savior and the Preserver until their work is done.”

“The Savior? The Preserver? Who are they?” Rosaro asked skeptically.

“You will know them, you will hear them call to you, for your fates are interwoven.”

“Why me? I couldn’t save my own men, how can I save the entire universe?”

“Why is not important. You must make a choice: accept your fate and its consequences or you will be returned to your body to complete the last moments of your existence. Be warned, though, the duty of the Guardian comes with grave consequences. You will face hardship, pain, and ultimately death. It is time to decide if you are worthy of the destiny thrust upon you.”

Rosaro stared at her own body, lying on the cracked surface of the alien container. The shattered remains of her face were locked in a scream, her unseeing eyes staring up into infinity. She thought of S’Olonny standing up on the pipes, watching her fall to her death, the look of delight on his face as she plunged to her end. A fury filled her, her mind filled with hate for the alien who had intentionally thrown her off of the pipes, mercilessly savoring the look of terror in her eyes.

“I want to go back,” Rosaro announced.

“You are prepared to accept your destiny, no matter the cost?”

“I am ready,” Rosaro replied solemnly.

“Then go, meet your fate.” The light intensified once more, wiping away the image of Rosaro’s corpse. The orange eyes of the woman disappeared, swirls of colors forming around her body. The colors danced around Rosaro, blending together in a maelstrom of light, until she was blinded. The lights came closer and closer, finally touching Rosaro’s skin, her entire body beginning to glow. Unimaginable pain shot through Rosaro, the colored lights seemed to burn into her soul, into her being. She felt as though she were being dissected, then reassembled cell by cell. She finally collapsed, falling through space, through time, through eternity until her eyes snapped open.

Rosaro found herself on the alien storage container, staring up at the pipes maze of pipes far overhead. She held her hands in front of her face, looking for signs of injury, but her body was completely healed. A strange clear gel, a rainbow of lights seeming to swirl around in the substance, coated her hands. Rosaro wiped her hands dry against the tattered remains of her clothes, as she got uneasily to her feet, and saw the S’Zai she had been given lying a few feet away. The blue crystal sword had turned orange, as orange as the luminous woman’s eyes had been in her vision.

Other than the sword, there was nothing different about Rosaro. Seeing her reflection in the clear surface of the container, she could see that her eyes were still brown, her hair was still black, her skin was still the same tan color it had always been. So what do I do now? She wondered, but stopped herself. She sensed something, a distant voice crying out to her. Looking around the container, she found a support strut leading to a maintenance tunnel. Crawling through the tunnel, Rosaro was left to ponder the strange things she had just witnessed. Had it actually happened or had she imagined it all? Closing her eyes, she could feel the orange eyes upon her, burning into her soul. “Go, meet your destiny,” the voice intoned.

***

The S’Parnian scouts walked cautiously through the empty streets of Telle, amazed at the technology all around them. There was no sign of the fugitives, so S’Revlar had sent one of his scouts up ahead in an attempt to flush out enemy resistance. While impressed by the city, S’Revlar would not let it distract him from his true purpose. He would kill his quarry and then report the city to S’Olonny so that S’Parni could benefit from the technological wonders of Telle.

S’Revlar’s communicator beeped, the scout he had sent ahead reporting his findings, “Sir, I have scouted seven blocks ahead, there are no signs of enemy forces.”

“Excellent, but I want you to remain sharp. Just because the enemy did not fire upon you does not mean they are not here. They may merely be waiting to ambush us all.”

“I will be watchful…” The scout was interrupted by the sound of gunfire. “I am hit…sir. One alien…species unknown.” There was then only the sound of silence, telling S’Revlar that the scout had been killed.

“Come on!” S’Revlar shouted, running for the scout’s last position, hoping to find some sign of the fugitives. He skidded to a halt, seeing the corpse of the scout lying in the street. S’Revlar saw a shadow against the side of an octagonal skyscraper, obviously the assailant trying to flee.

S’Revlar signaled for his troops to halt, examining the dead scout. A single shot had burned through the S’Parnian scout’s armor and deep into his chest, killing him instantly. “It appears that our prey is heavily armed, we should approach this situation with caution,” S’Revlar said. “Split into pairs and keep your eyes open for any sign of a trap.”

The scouts nodded, although S’Revlar got the sense that they were shaken by seeing what had happened to one of their comrades. S’Revlar took the point, his eyes searching for any indication that he was being led into a trap. Following the path he had seen the alien take, S’Revlar entered a dark alley between two enormous buildings. His sensors indicated that there was nothing in the alley, but S’Revlar could not help but feel that he was being hunted. Looking up, S’Revlar thought he saw a shadow move on the walkway between the two buildings.

The alley led to a wide street surrounded by metal sidewalks. As the S’Parnians stepped onto the sidewalk, the left side came to life, briskly moving the scouts northward. S’Revlar motioned for his scouts to be still, unsure of whether this was some kind of trap set by the aliens or if the sidewalk was merely responding to the stimulus of the scouts stepping onto it. There was no danger as far as S’Revlar could tell, at least not yet.

The moving sidewalk stopped at stairs leading to a wide black platform. Placing one foot on the stairs, the steps began to move. S’Revlar was carried up to the platform, where he saw a set of silver cylindrical vehicles, then a flash of dark blue disappear into one of them. Looking for an entrance to the cylinders, S’Revlar touched a hand against the side of one, jumping back as a hatch suddenly opened. He checked his weapon’s charge, cautiously entering the vehicle, determining that it was some kind of passenger transport by the rows of gray chairs against the sides of the vehicle. Once the other scouts had entered the vehicle, he heard the hatch seal.

“You have come seeking the blood of innocents, but it shall only be your blood that is shed,” a voice mewed from behind S’Revlar.

Turning, the S’Parnian scout saw a tall creature clad in dark blue robes that was wildly different from the two fugitives he had been chasing. “Who are you? How do you know our language?”

“I am the last Rygan, I long ago learned your tongue in preparation for this moment, when we come to the end of the circle.” The creature had a weapon in its hands, from the size of it, it seemed impossible that the weapon could have blasted through S’Parnian body armor.

“If you are the last, then it is time that your people are wiped from existence,” S’Revlar snarled, but before he could fire a shot, a translucent barrier separated the enemy from the scouts. The entire transport shuddered, slowly grinding forward. As the transport began to move faster and faster, S’Revlar could sense what his opponent’s plan was. He tried to blast the barrier between himself and the strange creature, but whatever the material that separated them was, it resisted the laser fire.

Frantically looking for some way out, S’Revlar finally spied a small hatch on the roof of the vehicle. The hatch looked just big enough for S’Revlar to fit through if he took off his armor. Shedding the armor quickly, S’Revlar commanded the other scouts to do the same. He took a utility belt off of the armor, fastening it around his waist, he jumped on top of a row of seats. S’Revlar’s sensors told him that the transport was moving past the speed of sound and still accelerating, but S’Revlar could not feel the increased gravity in the car, as though something in the train were somehow thwarting the laws of physics. Although there were no windows in the passenger car, S’Revlar could sense that the transport was nearing its destination. Looking through the translucent divider between the cylinders, S’Revlar could see that the enemy being was preparing to make his escape. Swinging himself through the hatch, S’Revlar could only regret that there would not be time enough to save his troops.

Lothgamm punched the button separating his transport car from the others, immediately he heard the squeal of metal pushed to the breaking point as the thrust reversers struggled to slow the car. The Rygan watched as the rest of the transport train continued on course at maximum speed, going too fast to make the turn ahead, it smashed through a barrier before plunging a dozen stories to the empty street below. Lothgamm’s car came to a halt, inches from the end of the transport tube, then slowly began to move backwards to the platform.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lothgamm thought he heard a noise above him. Before he could react, something crashed through the small hatch on the transport’s roof. Lothgamm fired a shot at the tan shape falling from the roof, but it missed. Quickly getting to its feet, a naked S’Parnian pulled a knife from its belt, the blade plunging into Lothgamm’s chest before the Rygan could move. Stumbling backward, Lothgamm slumped to the floor, dark blood staining his robe. “I don’t know what you are, but you killed four of my scouts, now your blood will pay for their deaths.” S’Revlar waved the bloody knife in front of Lothgamm, but the Rygan merely laughed. “You dare to laugh as I hold your death in my hand?”

“You do not understand, S’Parnian. From the moment the universe was conceived, it has been leading up to this time, a time when the blood must flow in order to save everyone. Everyone! S’Parnian, human, dozens of races you have not even encountered yet, all will be brought together. As my end draws near, I can see it all,” Lothgamm coughed, spitting blood onto the floor.

“Lothgamm?” A human voice called out.

“Lisa, no!” Lothgamm shouted weakly. S’Revlar whirled around, charging towards the hatch. Before Shaw could raise her weapon, the S’Parnian scout bowled into her, both human and S’Parnian hitting the deck. Shaw’s weapon fell from her hands, clattering to the floor just out of her reach. S’Revlar pinned Shaw down, bringing up his knife, a triumphant snarl fixed on his face. Looking around desperately, Shaw could see no help. Lothgamm was trying in vain to drag himself the length of the transport car to come to her aid, but he could not make it in time. Laurants was down below, inspecting the wreckage of the train to make sure all four scouts were dead. Trying to free herself with all of her strength, Shaw watched as the blade drew closer and closer. Her eyes grew wide, a scream escaping her lips as the knife plunged into her midsection.

S’Revlar took the knife from Shaw’s body, dashing out of the car just as Laurants reached the platform, alerted by Shaw’s scream. A shot sizzled past S’Revlar, but the alien scout leapt from the platform to the street below. Laurants stood at the edge of the platform, firing a few more shots before he darted into the transport car. Immediately, he saw Shaw lying on the deck of the transport, blood spreading across her shirt. “Lisa!” Laurants shouted, kneeling down beside her, taking her hand in his.

“Jack, did you get him?” Shaw asked weakly.

“No…I missed him. I’ll find some medical supplies, I’m sure the Rygans have technology that will make you as good as new.”

Shaw squeezed Laurant’s hand, shaking her head. “There’s no time. You…you have to stop him before he tells the others…of the city. If that happens…all is lost.”

“No, I can’t just leave you here to die!” Tears came to Laurants’s cheeks. “I love you, I can’t just let you die here!”

Shaw cracked a tired smile. “I love you too, Jack, but this is how it has to be. Go…stop him before it’s too late.”

Laurants nodded, leaning down to kiss Shaw on the lips. “I won’t forget you.”

“I won’t forget you either,” Shaw replied. Laurants could see that the life was quickly fading from her. Picking up his weapon, Laurants felt a rage fill him, more intense than anything he had ever felt before. Letting Shaw’s hand drop, Laurants tore out of the transport car, allowing his hatred to guide him to wherever the alien had fled to. No matter where he goes, I will find him. I will find him and tear his heart out for what he has done to her.

Shaw’s breathing was ragged, her vision starting to dim as death closed on her. “So this…this is how it ends,” she whispered. “I failed them…I failed them all.”

She suddenly saw Lothgamm leaning over her, his voice barely audible. “Lisa, you must hold onto life. You…you are the one.”

Shaw’s head lolled from side to side, asking in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“You will find out…someday…when it is time.” Shaw felt Lothgamm’s hands grab her side, his weakened body heaving to roll her onto her side. Shaw turned her head, watching as claws sprang from Lothgamm’s fingers. She screamed in pain as he jabbed the claws into her spine, then her entire body went numb. Lothgamm’s pupils grew until his eyes were almost entirely black, his body quivering in pain.

Shaw felt a warmth flow through her body, watching in amazement as the wound in her chest sealed up without so much as a scar. Her vision returned to normal, air filled her lungs, strength came back to her limbs, her body miraculously healed.

Craning her neck, she could see that Lothgamm’s eyes were glowing a bright green, his body racked with spasms. Shaw cried out as her mind suddenly felt like it was on fire. She saw billions of images fly past her vision, images of beings and places she had never seen before. She could hear voices, billions of voices all talking at once, until they overlapped to become unintelligible noise. Her eyes began to glow the same color as Lothgamm’s, more and more sounds and images filling her mind until she screamed in agony. Unable to withstand any more punishment, Shaw passed out, her head slumping against the deck.

Finally, Lothgamm pulled his claws from Shaw’s back, wearily reaching into his robes to pull out a small, silver cube. He tucked the device into Shaw’s hands, then rolled onto his back. Staring up at the ceiling, he allowed himself a moment to think of his people, a people that were now dead. “I have done what you asked of me,” Lothgamm said quietly. “I can do no more.” His eyes closed, his head lolled to the side, his last breath left his lips, then, the Rygan people were dead forever.