Core of Confliction Page 16

  “Bonding with your new cousin?”

  His mother shook her head in warning as she went to check on Trinon who was asleep in the sandbox. “He is quite vicious so be careful.” Jakar frown at that and glance at her with doubt. “Just ask Ganna. She’s probably in the process of sealing that wound he gave her.” He looked back at Farin with admiration.

  “You didn’t do anything drastic, right?” Mara asked Chardon.

  “Your mother stopped me.”

  “I am relieved. I never knew she was capable of something like that. Does she feel that way towards manbeasts too?”

  “Yes, she does.” Jaron replied. “She hides it well enough for most but I knew long ago what she really thought and of me, who mated with one.”

  Bringing Farin back down, Jakar handed him over to Chardon. “He does smell of blood.”

  “I rinsed his mouth out with some of the spring’s water. He ended up swallowing some of it though.” Mara leaned over him to check again to make sure she had not missed any.

  Seeing Trinon was indeed comfortable, His mother left, probably to find his father. He could tell by the way his mother looked that she had found out more about Sestis and her disturbing deeds. Was everything their race had endured really all leading up to her actions? As angry as he was with Talas and Kelin, it was clear they were nothing but gears in a giant machine.

  Modas was meditating by the waterfall near the mountains so Jaron approached him quietly but it was in vain. He opened his eyes and glanced over at her. The look on her face told him whatever she wanted was serious enough to need his undivided attention.

  He didn’t stand up but motioned for her to sit in front of him. She told him what happened at the medical chamber.

  "Ganna decided in her infinite wisdom to snatch Farin from the sandbox and do some experimenting. Chardon went to the medical lab and was about to murder the conniving scientist. I had to stop her."

  Modas shifted uneasily on the slab of rock. He too knew about Ganna's obsession with dissecting manbeast like creatures for her scientific research.

  “Chardon had hinted about Sestis’ role in torture. I have some theories on what they could have entailed. You know something, don’t you? Why won’t you tell me?”

  “Would it matter?”

  “Stop keeping secrets from me! You and Chardon always have something only the two of you know. Why is that? Tell me!”

  He sighed and cleared his throat.

  “She had a thing for learning how other species functioned. Her and Ganna devised ways to ‘procure’ specimens. It came to a head when Sestis learned of Chardon and Halfar’s affair. She threatened to expose them. I decided to protect them from her and she turned on me.”

  “What?” Jaron reared back.

  **~**

  Lassa: Over 100 Years Ago

  Modas watched from the chamber door cracked slightly open as Sestis admired herself in a seven foot tall viewing glass she had brought back from one of her interplanetary meetings. She was quite beautiful with chestnut colored curls kept piled high on her head and deep blue eyes. Her pale skin had a sheen to it, giving the illusion she glowed. At a little over six feet all, she was statuesque.

  The door made a loud creaking sound as Modas entered her private chamber, causing her to look towards it. She turned, moving the bottom of her golden embroidered robe out of the way. No one on their planet dressed as such so it made her stand out. She had said it made her feel regal whenever she wore it. Some seedy merchant on one of her many well solicited planet excursions had it made for her in exchange for company.

  “Come for a mid-evening tryst with your leader?” Her smile was wide and sinister.

  “You are not my leader.”

  “Really? Because I am the one who rules this world, not Chardon.”

  “Our world has no ruler. This is not a dictatorship.”

  “I beg to differ, you monster!” She leaned on the banister attached to the viewing glass. “Because of me our reach spans across the galaxy.”

  “That is not what we wished for. We want to be left alone. If the people knew…”

  “What? That their leader is a changeling mating with some disgusting off world creature? I could expose that truth!”

  “No, but I will tell them about you.”

  “You will do no such thing, manbeast!” She hissed then laughed. “If you so much as attempt to speak one word I will have you torn apart by a Razznian, your body parts tossed into the meat pile for processing. How would your mate like the taste of her beloved manbeast roasted with herbs?”

  Modas moved towards her but she was quicker and rammed him into the wall, pinning him there.

  “You are not special, monster. Chardon will be obedient and so shall you. Are we in agreement?”

  “Understood.”

  She released him and waved her hand, signaling him to leave. He left to check on Chardon who no doubt had a similar run in with her.

  **~**

  Jaron was more upset by this revelation than she thought she would be from the outcome of his explanation. If Sestis were alive today, she would kill her herself. The manipulation she had engaged in was counterproductive to their race. Their race! Jaron recalled what Halfar said about trying to repair the damage caused by her with the interplanetary councils.

  “What has she done? We don’t want interference from other races. Are we now considered some galactic power?”

  “Not anymore because as far as the councils know, our race was destroyed. We no longer exist.”

  Thinking of the implications of that, Jaron put her hands to her face and gasped. No one knew of their settlement on this planet so there was obviously no help coming from others which is why their resources were so low. She stared at her mate and they both silently agreed once and for all to not double cross Halfar as planned but to help him.

  “We need to find out how to open the gate to the other worlds.” Jaron suggested.

  “Halfar knows how to access them.”

  “Can we really fix what she has done?”

  “All we can do is try.”

  Chardon sat in her chamber breast feeding Farin, his tiny claws latched into the flesh of her skin. This was the only time she unwrapped his hands. Because her skin healed fast, his tiny claws were of no concern. He gurgled and kept on drinking.

  She was amazed he never cried and stared at everyone with such conviction. It seemed as though he was analyzing what kind of person they were. Chardon did not want to be overly protective but after the incident with Ganna, she had to consider a guardian for him. Maybe Mara or Und would be willing to take on the task.

  The gate opened at the far edge of the fields and Halfar hurried through the vortex and onto the planet’s soil. He nodded at the guardian and walked hastily towards the housing commons to see his son. His stride slowed as he reached the entrance. Entering Chardon’s chamber seeing mother and child silently sitting on the bed, Farin asleep with his claws still hooked into his mother’s breast, made his chest tighten.

  “I never thought you could be any more beautiful than before, but you are.”

  “Don’t start with that. I’m trying to keep him from waking up.”

  Halfar raised an eyebrow at what she was implying. Mating would be a great release for the anxiety he had pent up inside.

  “That is not what I came for.” He sat down next to her and kissed her shoulder, careful not to jostle Farin. “Maybe another time.”

  “He’s sweet.” Chardon blurted out.

  “It must be from your race.”

  “He’s also vile when he attacks.” Halfar leaned away, curious. "Ganna snatched him while he was asleep so he bit a chunk out of her. All for her research, I suppose."

  “Shall I give her what she wants and dissect her instead?” He was furious but remained calm. “I had a feeling she was up to something sinister when she suggested slicing you open to retrieve Farin.”

  “I wanted to murder her right then and there but Jaron
stopped me.”

  “Your cousin is more level headed than you think, because she was correct.”

  Chardon turned to him. “How did you know we were cousins?

  “Because, I asked long ago why your names were so similar. Modas speaks when he wants to.”

  “Ahh. Well our parents were not very original when it came to that.”

  Halfar tucked his hands gently under Farin and pulled him off of her, cradling him in his arms. He didn’t stir as his father laid back on the bed with him.

  “I want to stay.”

  “Then stay.” Chardon crawled onto the bed to lay next to him.

  “I can’t, not yet. Not until this is done.”

  “Then get it done, quickly.”

  “Don’t treat me like baby!” Trinon snapped at Mota. Some of the warriors still in the battle arena hurriedly grabbed their gear and exited into the surrounding fields. Domestic quarreling between manbeasts could get ugly.

  “You need to let your hands heal!” Mota flicked him in the forehead.

  He had found his little brother at the training site for combat maneuvers learning to use his legs and feet in a fight. Trying to keep Trinon in one place for more than an hour was proving to be a challenge. At the same time, he knew getting back on schedule was a good thing for him.

  On instinct, Trinon punched him in the stomach with both fist and regretted it. The pain made him suck in too much air and he swooned from it. Mota caught him and let him struggle.

  “Please, just rest for the day.” He felt Trinon slump and little hands wrapped around him.

  Not far from them, Modas and Jakar stood watching the two brothers bond. It was unclear if Mota would be a hindrance or an asset to the coming mission. His demeanor suggested a mind too soft for combat but they both knew he could snap out of it at any moment and be just as deadly as any other warrior.

  “If you need me to deal with Kur, let me know.” Jakar offered.

  “No need. Halfar will take care of that.”

  “Then I can focus on the enforcers stationed near North America.”

  “Just be careful. Those enforcers are not normal, as Halfar explained.”

  “Not to worry,” Mara came up behind them, “I will back up the old one.” Jakar made a face. “Yes, I am referring to you, and not our father.” She flung an arm over each of their shoulders and focused on what they were observing. “Ahh, that makes me wish I were still a little one. You were so nice to me then.”

  “I still am.”

  Jakar grabbed her arm off his shoulder and flipped her over, but she had not let go of their father so he came tumbling down as well to one knee. He made no apologies to either as he stepped away from them.

  “Father, sister.” With that, he walked off.

  “See? Even you get sucked into his ill manners.” Mara brushed dirt off her robes.

  Modas, still on bended knee started to smile a little then a chuckle came out of him. Mara’s eyes went wide with disbelief. She saw her mother in the distance and beckoned her.

  “Come quickly! Look!” Jaron tripped as she neared them seeing the silent giant, Modas, having a brief laugh at his children’s expense. “He’s actually laughing!”

  He stopped and made a serious face as he stood up to tower over his mate. “That was not a laugh.”

  “Oh, but it was.” Jaron grinned. She jabbed him in the rib. “You should do it more often.”

  **~**

  Halfar watched the holoscreen floating in front of him while he marched towards the center of the palace with his personal army in tow. Arriving, he made sure his entourage was securely positioned in the circle carved on the floor. The entire outer ring rotated around making the center ascend up to the ceiling opening above. Wind swirled down through it like a tornado as it gaped wider to let the platform through. He took his attention from the holoscreen to look up. It was about to begin.

  From information leaked purposely by Rass, the military Earth forces created a unified front to engage the enemy. Makeshift underground bunkers had been made to evacuate as many civilians as possible while military guarded encampments popped up in regions furthest away from the warzones for those who refused to go under and face their fate head on. He found that part rather asinine on the humans' part. There was an eerie silence around the world.

  Rass relayed orders to his troops via commlink as well as to Halfar. He sent one of his troops, who had been recruited into the plan to kill Halfar by Kur, into a hostile region heavily armed by Earth forces. It would be a slaughter. Another troop he positioned to lay in wait for Kur’s third wave on the Asian border.

  Once Jakar arrived through the vortex, they will rendezvous together and work with the Earth’s military forces to destroy Kur’s modified enforcers. Rass would command the remaining troop himself to Kur’s location off the southern coastline of North America. This time, he won’t hold back his power. Kur deserved nothing less.

  Knowing that Halfar was never unguarded on a battlefield, Kur had to make sure he separated him from the main force midway in the melee so it would seem like an accident. He was not to be positioned anywhere near Halfar’s troops but his plan demanded it. A lowly enforcer was no match for their ruler. His main army would be elsewhere but four enforcers and he would blend into Halfar’s army.

  He smiled to himself at the brilliance of his plan. Soon, the cherished almighty Armada would be his to command. His smile faded remembering Rass, also a General in line to take the reigns as well. The smile returned. He would get rid of that one too. Checking the number of modified enforcers under his command, he was satisfied he could win.

  “Come, my warriors! Let us strip this planet to its core and see what lies beneath!”

  **~**

  Mota used his teeth to tighten the leather strips around his wrists, flexing his fingers to make sure they had ample movement. Trinon watched him from a seat directly below him. The sandbox was empty due to Chardon implementing a state of isolation. It was a precaution just in case the enemy somehow got through one of the gates. Sighing, Mota looked down at him.

  “Well, I guess I’m off to rid Earth of some nasty enforcers.”

  “You’ll be right back?” Trinon asked in barely a whisper.

  “Of course I am!” Mota threw his head back and laughed loudly but stopped short as he noticed Trinon was not amused. The little one just sat with a downward stare. “Look at me.” Trinon obeyed. “There is nothing that would stop me from coming back.”

  “Except death.”

  “I am not dying on that miserable rock and neither is anyone else. Understood?” Trinon nodded. “Good!” He bent down and ran his fingers through Trinon’s mane. “No training until I get back.”

  “It’s time.”

  Jakar startled them out of their moment. He waited for Mota to join him at the edge of the field and they left together.

  Battle Cries

  At the gate console, a small army of energy users and manbeasts were lined up in groups ready to deploy. There were nine groups in all, the main one being the largest, which included Chardon and Modas. Back in male form, Chardon was ready for battle. Jaron, Jakar, Talas, Kelin and four other warriors led a group for the assault on Kur’s enforcers. The army was small enough to maneuver the landscape unnoticed yet deadly enough to cause major damage to the enforcers without any casualties of their own. Talas planned to keep his promise.

  Chardon went over the rendezvous points for each group via holoscreen while Ganna input coordinates on the gate console. A virtual map of Earth's entire planet surface was floating in midair on display. The whole operation was going to be tricky since Earth defense forces had no idea they were getting assistance from them. He shut down the holoscreen in front of him with a wave of his hand and turned to Modas.

  “I don’t have to stress that we get in, get out and sever the entrance to that planet forever.”

  “No.” Modas flexed his fingers. He was itching for another fight with the enforcers.

/>   “Do we really have to close it for good?” Ganna addressed them. “We could do some business with them. Maybe even help them with repairs in exchange for…”

  Chardon did not let her finish. “We will no longer interfere with that planet and its people. They are not ready and won’t be for at least another century.”

  “I think gauging their readiness is premature…” Ganna started.

  “Someone else had the same theory and look where it got us.”

  There was deafening silence as all knew who he meant. Ganna frowned and returned to her duties of opening multiple vortexes. Chardon did not trust her. He motioned to Jaron signaling her to hurry with Talas’ backup plan. There was no need. He noticed Talas had seen the look on Ganna’s face and already started moving up the timetable in his head.

  The first vortex opened for Kelin’s group to arrive on the European front. He bowed to Talas then led the way through. Next was Jakar and Mota to the Asian border. Every group went in sequence as planned with Chardon’s being the last to arrive in the North American region. They would rendezvous with Halfar’s troops hoping he had a plan to defeat Kur. He was the last person they wanted to deal with on the battlefield.

  **~**

  From the command deck on the armada’s mother ship, Halfar watched cities burn across the planet called Earth. He wished it had not been so but it was too late now. This was something Kur put into motion and had to be seen to the end.

  The council members, who had backed Kur on his little plan to send his armada, were executed when found on the ship. They apparently wanted front row viewing of the massacre and proof of Halfar’s demise. This is why he hated politics of any kind. Not once, did his now former council think to poll the inhabitants of their world to see if they were dissatisfied with Halfar as ruler, which he knew that was not the case.