Sunlord (17 page)

Ashian was speechless. "Fascinating...but how can a
soul come from an animal? How can you say that your race came from
mammals? I don't see you scratching fleas and bounding from one
tree to another."

"Remind me to explain the theory of evolution to you
sometime," said Shaun.

But Ashian's curiosity was stirred, and he could not
let the matter rest. "What you say goes against the teaching of
Abas, for He sculptured us from His own flesh."

Shaun looked the native up and down, studying him.
"I'd say you evolved from some sort of half-insect, half-mammal
animal. From what I have seen of this planet, there are very few
reptiles, so I would guess that in prehistoric times you little
guys had no real competition."

Capac was taken aback. "Insects? Why you - "

Shaun made apologetic motions, grinning at the same
time. "I mean no offence." He grunted. "It's funny - three races
evolving through totally different paths meeting upon the one
planet. Anyway, I said you may have evolved from insects, not are
insects."

Ashian looked down upon his own hands and flexed his
many jointed fingers. He raised his glinting emerald eyes and fixed
them upon Shaun. "You've got some weird ideas."

Capac was more serious. "There are more important
matters to be dealt with. For one, you were telling us about the
Sunlords."

Shaun mused in silent thought. "Avoid them in close
combat, for when they close their fists a claw extends from the
back of their hand - a claw that can tear you open from throat to
arsehole if you're not careful. Their hearing and sight is far
superior to my own, not to mention their sense of smell. So like I
said before, shoot them to hell before they get wind of you...or
you've had it."

Sleep gradually descended upon the camp as the storm
overhead picked up in ferocity. In the sheltered rock hollow the
small band of dwellers settled in, huddled tight to conserve
warmth.

Despite his weariness Ashian could not rest. His mind
seemed to be working overtime and despite all efforts he could not
relax. The Currach rolled and stared up into the moonlit clouds
that blew overhead, and watched as the first few specks of snow
began to fall. He caught a glimpse of narrow fire high in the sky
not unlike a shooting star, and his mind wandered back to the
Sunlords. From here their ship was invisible against the
interstellar backdrop, but their presence could be felt. The
Currach knew that even now the Sunlords raided his precious world,
their huge machines rumbling and spitting out dust as they mined
for minerals.

Ashian swivelled his head in the darkness and studied
the vague outline of Shaun Lowry. His thick helicasuit flickered
and snapped loosely as the wind pulled at the durable material.
Ashian found himself wondering if they could trust such an
alien...

The screaming stopped abruptly, only to be picked up
immediately by a mournful wailing. Myshia was startled to realise
that the noise was emanating from her own throat, her chest heaving
with wrenching sobs.

Myshia saw her child's limp form impaled upon the
gleaming wooden stakes moments before the raging fire licked over
its newborn flesh.

There was another form upon the burning bonfire, its
dark outline fading slowly into the flame. As a log crumbled the
body twisted and fell deeper into the red hot ashes, and as it did
so Myshia saw it was Huso. The stout Eloprin hunter's shadow flaked
into dust and was gone.

A group of ten or more men clothed in bizarre
clothing danced about the ring of the fire. The insidious creatures
wore carved masks in the likeness of wolves and falcons, red and
yellow saps and resins painted glaringly over the surface.

A knife flashed in the firelight, and with a strange
sense of certainty Myshia knew it was the same knife her own mother
had toyed with. The image of the knife flashed again, and Myshia
knew the full story even though the Elder had never told her. She
knew now that her own mother had almost attempted to abort her
pregnancy with cold steel to avoid the abomination she foresaw. The
child, of course, had been Myshia.

Myshia drew further back into the limbs of the
ancient tree, hiding herself from the unearthly precession below.
Her mind quivering with shock she seemed to float backwards and
away from the horrible scene.

The Eloprin female looked up as the dark heavens
cleared suddenly, a humanoid form drifting down from the blazing
white light of the moon.

A word involuntarily escaped her mouth as she stared
up in awe at the figure.

"Mo'shai."

She knew not what it meant; it was as if another had
spoken the word from her mouth.

The next instant the floating figure had taken her up
in his arms and bore them away. The blazing bonfire receded into
the distance as they climbed up through a layer of soft dark
clouds.

Myshia turned to stare into the face of her rescuer
and gasped. His face was drawn and haggard, dark shadows etched
below the cheekbones. He looked immeasurably tired, but his
gleaming deep green eyes reflected a confidence that inspired
command and leadership. It was unmistakably the face of Ashian
Bire, the city Vizier.

Myshia opened her mouth to speak but no sound
emerged. An incessant high pitch cry had arisen from the very
bowels of the earth, drilling into her mind and soul and scattering
the clouds into wisps of moisture. It climaxed to a crescendo,
blanking out everything in expanding ripples of destruction.

The wings on Ashian's back beat smoothly, carrying
them higher from the noise, but still it did not relent. It was as
if the sound waves were ringing the life from everything, shaking
flesh from bone.

She knew it was her daughter screaming for
revenge...

Myshia awoke with a start, not knowing where she was.
Then the dream came back to her, and she cursed silently in the
darkness.

She felt physically exhausted, as if had been running
through the jungle. Remnants of the dream kept flashing in her
mind's eye, and she rubbed her forehead hard as if to clear it. Her
strange dream haunted her, and every night she feared going to
sleep.

If only the Elder were here, she thought. He would be
able to tell me what my Dream Teacher is trying to say. But without
the small wizened Eloprin leader, Myshia felt lost in a strange,
terrible world. It was almost as if something was baring down upon
her, every night growing closer until...

Myshia shook her head and pulled her fur cape firmly
up over her shoulders. The storm was raging above now, and a thin
layer of white snow reflected the feeble moonlight.

Myshia knew she had to get some sleep, for a lot lay
in front of them. But she could not sleep as the terrible dream
kept coming back every time she closed her eyes. Only when the moon
was high in the stormy sky did she at last fall into a light
slumber. Thankfully it was devoid of dreams and she slept for a few
hours.

Shaun heard the sound of footsteps approach from
behind but did not turn. He was intent upon the beacon in his
hands, his face close to the screen in the howling wind. He raised
Ashian's night vision telescope and peered along the horizon of
darkness and storm.

The approaching footsteps stopped and a voice sounded
in his ear.

"Have you found something?"

Ashian drew his cloak tighter about his form in order
to ward off the chill wind. The rain had stopped, pools of water
lying in hollows and fissures in the slippery moss covered rock. To
Ashian a storm of such size was not uncommon on his planet, for
winter was fast approaching and it was well-known blizzards could
last for days on end.

Shaun answered the Currach's question almost
absently.

"I picked up a transmission a few minutes ago, coded
of course." He at last turned to face Ashian. "But what I can tell
is that someone is after us, and they are very close."

"Should I wake Capac and Myshia?"

Shaun nodded. "We move out immediately. From what I
can gather, our foe is at the bottom of this hill and keeping
himself well hidden whilst approaching. At a guess I'd say there's
a least one android with them, and they've got radar cloaking
devices. Yes, they're good. And they're going to be here before the
hour."

Myshia awoke with a start. Her world of terrible
dreams shattered, to be replaced by Ashian's concerned face
overlooking hers.

"Myshia, are you all right? You seemed to be in a
very deep sleep. I was worried you were in some sort of a
coma."

Myshia shrugged of his attentions. "I'm fine." Seeing
it was still dark, she asked; "What is it?"

"Shaun has spotted a Sunlord group headed our way.
We're running, while we still have the chance. Don't roll your
sleeping furs up yet, either - it's a chilly night out there."

Myshia awoke quickly, forcing the images of the
tribal bonfire of her dreams from her mind. In a moment she stood,
her few possessions tucked into her belts and pouches and her short
bow slung over her back.

Shaun quickly briefed the Eloprin of what had
transpired.

"I had hoped we had shaken the Hartrias troopers, but
it seems they are still with us. We won't stand much of a chance if
we stand and fight - their firepower if far superior to ours. One
mortar shot in this hollow we call a defence and we're history. So
we must rely on speed and stealth. Once further away I hope to set
up some sort of trap to swing the odds in our favour. So in the
meantime we must move on."

There were no disagreements, and the group clambered
from between their shelter in the rocks and were immediately
blasted by the full strength of the storm. Shaun scanned their
immediate surrounds with the aid of Ashian's telescope and was glad
to report no Sunlord was in sight.

Deciding upon a direction they set off up the rocky
face of the hill. They moved silently and did not speak lest the
phenomenal hearing of their android pursuers should pick it from
the wind. The soft slapping of leather against stone was shrouded
completely by the fury of the wind, although behind them in the
thin layer of virgin snow their tracks could be easily
distinguished.

Shaun just hoped fresh snow would fall and cover the
trail before the Hartrias found it.

The crunch of footsteps upon snow approached, and out
of the darkness stepped two forms shadowy forms leaning heavily
into the wind. Their forms etched as black upon blackness, they
approached the fast disappearing trail of footsteps.

Gurhuin turned to the android and gestured abruptly
at the trail. The A-squad warrior's face bent with mirthless
satisfaction as the battered android examined the shallow
impressions in the snow.

As the android stood the full extend of the damage it
had endured became apparent; its entire midsection was a solid mass
of melted plastic and wires were the right side of its rib
structure had caved in and multiple indentations marked where Capac
had shot the machine gun into its armoured flank at point blank
range.

Gurhuin spoke through his radio microphone situated
at the base of his helmet. "What do you think, Lazarus?"

Gurhuin had given the android 87-DE its name -
Lazarus. Gurhuin was amazed the android had managed to take the
beating it had and still survive - indeed, it had arisen from
death.

The android swung its red-eyed gaze to the
trooper.

"Two hours and fifteen minutes."

"Lets move. We may be able to catch them by
dawn."

Without further comment the battle armoured future
warriors stepped back into the night and storm, the whipping snow
quickly cloaking them from view.

Chapter Six

Mantrap.

A fly, Sir, may sting a
stately horse, and make him wince;

but one is but an insect, and the other is a horse
still.

- Dr Samuel Johnson.

Ashian held his breath as Shaun put the final touches
to the device he had rigged between the trees. Strung like a
spider's web, it was almost invisible to the naked eye.

Capac whispered in the Currach's ear.

"What is he doing?"

Ashian shrugged. "He told us to wait here." The
Currach cast an eye skywards. The morning sun had long since broken
the horizon, and a cold light filtered down through the high
clouds. No rain was imminent, thankfully, and it seemed the
previous nights storm had blown over.

Capac squirmed uncomfortably upon the rocks, eager to
be down in the grassy clearing below to help Shaun set his
mantrap.

Myshia saw her companion's desire.

"He said it was too dangerous if we went down there.
We would just get in his way."

Grumbling, Capac acceded and sank back behind the
finger of rock they hid behind.

At last Shaun's figure, small in the distance, began
the steep climb back to where the natives lay in wait. Capac was
first to greet him.

"Is it done?"

Shaun nodded, handing back the knife he had borrowed
from the Eloprin hunter. "I've rigged up the stabilisation belt
between what trees I could find. After splicing it's very difficult
to see."

Ashian was curious. "You haven't told us what exactly
you've done. What is this 'stabilisation belt', and how can it help
us?"

Shaun motioned them up the slope. "We'll head for
that rock outcropping - its a good strategic position if anyone
comes into the valley. I'll fill you in as we walk."

They gathered together their packs and began the
precarious scramble up the rock face strewn with loose pebbles that
slipped underfoot. "A stabilisation belt," began Shaun, "is used by
space station engineers when they are working on the exterior of an
orbiting craft. It is a mass of thin superconducting wires strung
together like a belt about the waist of the space helicasuit. When
desirable, a current is set to flow about the loop, which produces
a torque as it interacts with a magnetic field. If the space
station is close enough to a planet, the belt will align itself
along the magnetic field lines of the world below, giving the
mechanic a direction up and down. It can make work easier if the
stars are not spinning wildly about one's head and reduces the
chance of nausea."