Core of Confliction Read online

  Punching in coordinates, he saw something peculiar. Kur’s signature was not with his forces off the southern coast. Instead, it showed he was near the rear of Halfar’s army on the Northern border near Canada. Kur would not have noticed Halfar missing at the front due to it being heavily guarded as if he were. Although it disturbed him how far his general was taking this, he grinned and relayed a message to Rass.

  “How clever of you,” he spoke to the blinking red dot representing Kur on the screen.

  **~**

  Newly devised and barely tested weaponry was being rolled out against the alien enforcers and seemed fairly effective at holding them back. Jaron was almost proud of the human race but knew those same weapons would be turned on each other sometime after this battle died down. Humans were a double edged mystery to her.

  As both sides retreated from the other, she made small explosions with her energy spheres to coax the enforcers into an isolated area away from the Earth forces’ view. Once there, her group went into a full assault.

  The Asian front was a lesson in brutality and strict methods as Jakar witnessed the streamlined attacks from their defense forces. Had he known humans were capable of this, he would have brought fewer warriors. Nonetheless, he needed Mota to draw the enemy away from the Earth people and into their combat zone. To do that, an immediate threat had to be present. He was able to lure the enforcers to an opening in the Asian forces and waited for them to retreat. It worked. Jakar's group came up from the behind the enforcers and started to take them down from there.

  Chardon was having a hard time trying to keep the Earth defense forces in his region from assisting. His group had been noticed and after the human in command decided they were friend not foe attempted to negotiate. He explained to the commanding officer who he was and why his race was helping but the man insisted his forces defend their own planet. He was right but Chardon knew they were no match for the enforcers Kur dispatched. It was also dangerous because when Chardon unleashed a ball of energy, it decimated a large chunk of the area. Friend and foe were not discriminated against in its path.

  It was no better with Modas carving gashes into the air as he sliced up nearby enforcers. There were too many and that seemed odd. He landed from one of his high jump assaults next to Chardon and they stood back to back. Even the humans could see there was a huge disproportionate amount of enforcers for this area. Something was amiss. Chardon realized it almost in an instant.

  “Kur is keeping us busy for a reason.”

  “He is not here, but his army is.”

  “Halfar.” Chardon had a feeling this might happen. “Let’s get this cleaned up.” He turned to the commanding officer. “Are you ready?” He scanned over the dead and wounded spread across the battle grounds but the commander nodded. “Good. Here we go.”

  Halfar had seen enough from the view station of the mother ship’s command center. Setting up such an unbalanced battle for the sole purpose of mass slaughter was a bit much for his taste. He liked being on equal ground in a fight. If it was a battle Kur wanted, then that is what he will get.

  Rounding up a few more soldiers, he headed to the transport room. No matter what the consequences, he wanted to keep Chardon from harm. He had no faith in the manbeast’s abilities to do so.

  A bright red beam the color of blood shot down from the sky and hit the planet surface near the advancing forces in the Northern region of the Americas. On impact, a two mile radius of infrastructure and anything else in the vicinity was destroyed. The beam waned in appearance until it was gone and in its place stood Halfar and his personal guards. They marched to intercede with his forces ahead, paying no attention to the debris left in their wake.

  The front guards opened up to allow Halfar and his entourage into the fold and reclosed ranks, strengthening their formation. As it moved forward, they were moved further back into the lines until Halfar and his guards were in the middle, protected on all sides. This did not go unnoticed by the rear guards some three miles away.

  Kur could not believe what he had just witnessed. It never occurred to him Halfar was not commanding his own army. His rage hit a whole new level and he thought of tearing his ruler’s body apart instead of just the quick death blow he had planned. The battle still in the beginning stages, he felt it was the perfect time to be rid of him. Signaling his small group of enforcers who had infiltrated Halfar’s army with him to step out of ranks they headed into position.

  Up ahead, a vortex opened in front of Halfar’s army letting Rass and a handful of his enforcers through. He wasted no time in rushing towards the middle to grab hold of Halfar and pull him out. On his side view he could see Kur advancing from the rear.

  “What are you doing?” Halfar was about to break free.

  “Did you not command me to deal with Kur myself?” Rass was desperate and angry.

  Halfar jolted still and raised his head to Rass who made sure to convey his frustration and rage in his stare. It seemed in his rush to deal with Kur his ruler had forgotten that part of the plan. Chardon and Modas were capable of defeating the army of enforcers against them. Halfar had let his emotions get the better of him.

  “Then do it!”

  Rass did the unthinkable in front of his ruler’s army. He threw Halfar behind him and into the vortex leading to Chardon’s location. It closed shut right when Kur came through the middle of the formation, cutting down enforcers as he advanced. At the clearing he nearly ran into Rass standing there waiting for him.

  “Disappointed?” Rass cocked his head to one side. When Kur sneered, he went into an attack stance. Kur laughed.

  “Are you going to stop me? You can’t defeat me.”

  A vortex opened behind him and more altered enforcers spewed out unleashing death on the unsuspecting army near the middle. Rass called out an order to have the remaining forces regroup away from the vortex as it closed. Kur smiled.

  “My victory is secure and when I am through with you I will go after Halfar and kill him as well!” He jumped backwards five hundred feet to let his enforcers charge Rass.

  Rass was quite calm and didn’t move an inch until the first wave of enforcers were in his perimeter. His whole body lit up with a red glow and with one swipe of his arm, a giant arc of red haze from his longsword sliced through them. Black blood flew in all directions sizzling as it landed on the ground.

  The second wave stopped advancing. Kur stood in shock behind them while Rass repositioned himself back into his attack mode, his long sword back behind him.

  Pieces of his enforcers rained down around Kur as he stared at Rass. This was not the same easily unhinged, ragtag soldier he had been provoking and manipulating the past few decades. No, this was something far more dangerous. It occurred to him that Rass had been holding back his true power all this time. That angered him even more but solidified his resolve.

  “There is no need for me to hold back then?” He questioned Rass. The other did not answer or move. “Very well.” He drew his claws to their full length. “I’ll make this quick.”

  It unnerved him when Rass did not have any clever jokes or got angry, making him unsure in his ability to defeat him in one blow. He leapt towards him.

  A flash of light signaled the impact of their claws ramming into each other. Rass used the back of his legs to push upward into Kur’s body and sent him flying with a small gash in his torso. As Kur landed, some of his enforcers moved to defend.

  “No! Do not interfere!”

  He looked to Rass. That same blank expression remained. Had he been wrong all this time? Could he have mated with him to produce powerful warriors?

  “Why won’t you say anything?” he demanded.

  “There’s no need."

  Rass was by his side with lightning speed and it took all of Kur’s strength to torque his body out of range avoiding a fatal blow. He could see Rass was dying inside but he had no choice. He could not let any emotions get in the way of defeat. Just as Kur cleared himself, Rass attacke
d him again from behind. One of his claws ripped through the back of his shoulder blade and exited out his chest in the front. He was going to go deeper and severe the entire arm but Kur spun around and pushed off of him.

  Bleeding and breathing heavily, Kur held his arm together and forced the wound to congeal shut, stopping the blood flow. Even from this distance he could see the hurt in Rass’ eyes. It went away as they stared at each other, the blankness returned.

  “Don’t you see? Halfar is making you suffer by doing this because he’s a coward who refuses to face me.”

  Rass tried not to frown, the struggle showing on his face. He was not going to be manipulated this way and Kur understood that the moment Rass let his guard down, Kur would strike and that would be his end. Rass raised his claws and resumed his attack stance. One death blow was all he needed to land and Kur would be no more. He watched Rass' claws start to shake.

  At that moment, Kur realized that he could not win this battle. The council had coerced him into this plan and were probably laughing at how foolish he was; here about to die at the hands of someone who once loved him, on a battlefield of his own doing.

  He dropped to his knees and rose his head to the blackened sky scorched with red, not able to remember why he had come to this planet for conquest and why he had involved Halfar. Ah, yes. The council wanted a foothold in an uncategorized solar system. It was a random judgment and was now costing them everything.

  Rass had not made his move just yet when a vortex opened behind him, and from above, a body shot out and struck Kur where he knelt on the ground. Blood gurgled up and a strangled sound came from his lips as he heard Rass screaming. It took him a moment to realize what it was.

  “NO!”

  The manbeast, Modas stood towering over him, removing his claws out of Kur's flesh to turn a puzzled look towards Rass but the distraught general. Rass came at him, knocking him out of the way. Kur's vision faded just as he felt Rass' arms wrap around him.

  Halfar came out of the vortex and saw the tragic scene. He had a suspicion that Rass could not do it. Just as he regretted the destruction of Lassa and almost losing Chardon, he knew Rass was not capable of killing the one he loved. It made it all the worse when he saw Rass snap his head around to face him and scream.

  “Why?” He had Kur’s body hanging like a ragdoll in his arms.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Halfar motioned his army to regroup with a signal of his hand and they commenced to destroying all of Kur’s modified enforcers. It was like hell on Earth tenfold. The sounds, scents and black blood everywhere would make even the most fanatic of gore cringe.

  “Can you get him to your healers?” He asked Modas, gesturing to Kur.

  “What for?” Modas was not amused. His talons flexed.

  Chardon stepped onto the battlefield taking in the horrors of the scene. This was too much to bear. “Take him to Ganna!” Modas frowned at him. “Now!”

  Modas complied by plucking Kur’s body from Rass’ arms and jumping into the vortex. Chardon went over to Rass and literally dragged him through the vortex, Halfar in tow.

  “Was that really necessary?” Chardon referred to the massacre going on behind them.

  “Believe me, it is. Those things were never meant to be. Whoever authorized it will have me to deal with shortly.”

  “The Armada?”

  “I left orders to depart as soon as the modified enforcers’ numbers reach zero.”

  “Very thorough.” Chardon closed the vortex. Modas would have to go through three more to arrive back on their world. “What about Rass?” They both looked down at the catatonic general. His limbs dangled like rubber from his body, eyes in a blank stare.

  “He can recuperate on New Lassa before I send him back to our world as the leader for my armada.”

  “New Lassa? Did I say we were staying on that world?”

  “I said I would fix it.”

  “Hmmm.” He nodded towards Rass. “What makes you think he will obey you this time?”

  “I have my reasons. He will be just fine. Plus,” He smiled wickedly, “this will give him a chance to nurse Kur back to health.” Charon shook his head in disbelief.

  Mara heard the cheering and cries of relief as she led her small group out of the vicinity littered with pieces of modified enforcers. They had successfully rid the area of them without getting noticed by the Earth forces who were engaged in the battle. She made sure that her group blended in somehow so no one was the wiser. Thinking of the clean up almost made her gag. She did not envy the humans for that task. Finding an inauspicious corner off the battlefield, she opened a vortex that led back to their world. Her mission was done.

  The same was true of the other sites as humans celebrated their triumph over the alien enemy unaware that it was an internal fight between two alien factions and had nothing to do with them. Chardon returned to the Northern region to speak with the commanding Earth forces officer, reminding him and his men not to tell a soul about how they were helped by another alien race. It would just complicate things. He watched the humans, too tired to celebrate, start to pack up their gear and move out. Whether they kept the promise or not was of no concern since the gate would be sealed for eternity.

  Halfar returned to the mother ship and assessed the data on all modified enforcers. When the counter reached zero, he ordered the remaining troops back to the ship and prepare for the trip back to their home world. He had some government tasks to deal with before going back to New Lassa. His scientists needed to assemble a planet bomb to inject life into the planet and another one for its weak sun. Seeing Farin was at top of that list but that would have to wait.

  Explanations

  Kur could hardly move but forced his body to obey him. Although his wounds were closed, he could still feel them. He watched Ganna for a moment immediately registering her as a threat. Ganna hummed to herself softly while examining the cultures she had collected from him before closing up his wounds and reviving him.

  Getting her hands on other races biological system made her juices flow. He was sure it had been a long time since she had access to such specimens. The last being when Sestis still lived.

  So fascinated and engrossed in her studies she did not hear Kur stirring on the operating table. She had not ordered his body moved to the recovery chamber because, as he heard for explain, she planned on reopening him for more tests before Chardon came back.

  Sitting further up until upright, he tried to extend a talon. The pain was excruciating forcing him to hiss loudly which made Ganna jump out of her seat in fear. He saw her reach over to her right grasping for the weapon that lay near her fingers.

  “And that will be enough.”

  Chardon entered the chamber in female form. Kur could tell she had a feeling that Ganna was going to try something unsavory with him.

  “I believe your work is done. Why is he not in the recovery chamber?”

  “I was waiting until he was stable.” Ganna moved her hand back and answered sweetly.

  “That was not her intent!” Kur held his torso trying to breathe through pain. “Where am I?”

  “A world we acquired after the destruction of our home world.”

  Kur made the connection from hazy memory.

  “I always wondered why he kept your cores when he was the one responsible for your race’s demise.” He swung his legs over the table and rested his head against the wall. He felt disoriented.

  “There is someone who will be glad to see you are awake. I’ll lead you to them.”

  “I can barely walk,” he snapped but pushed himself off the wall and set his feet on the cold floor.

  It became known to him that he was wearing his battle pants and nothing else as his body shivered. Chardon threw a long sleeved robe at him along with some leather boots. “You could use these, yes?”

  As he dressed, he kept an eye on Ganna who stared at him with an unnatural lust. It was not mating that she wanted his body for and made him dress
quicker. Standing up, his vision blurred and he barely caught himself with one hand bracing the wall. It cleared finally and he was able to stand at his full height of seven feet.

  Ganna pressed back into her desk seeing him like that. His slender frame must have deceived her into thinking he was smaller than Modas when in fact he was taller and menacing. It satisfied him a little to know she was afraid now.

  “Come with me.”

  Chardon swept an arm towards the door at the same time giving Ganna a look of poison. If they did not need that woman, it would be so easy to rid themselves of her.

  Mixed emotions swam around inside Kur's head when Chardon led him to a small living chamber with the bare minimum of furnishings. On the bed curled up in the fetal position was Rass looking small and vulnerable, unlike his usual self. His breathing seemed ragged and certain parts of his body twitched.

  “What’s wrong with him?” He whirled on Chardon, not sure why he was so angry.

  “He’s in a state of shock. Last time he saw you, you were presumed dead.”

  “I don’t understand, he was ordered to kill me. Why would…?”

  “Do you really think it would be easy for him to murder someone he holds dear even if they do not feel the same?” Chardon interrupted him. Kur’s mouth clamped shut. “I will leave you alone. Surely, there is much to clarify.” She exited the chamber.

  Kur moved slowly to the bed and eased as painlessly as he could next to Rass. Memories of how badly he treated him when they were still intimate so long ago filled his head. Hands shaking, he reached down and caressed his hair. Rass did not stir. Kur’s chest began to hurt and he lay across Rass’ body to ease the pain. It should not have turned out this way.

  Battle scars were a cherished form of storytelling and it gave Mota a sigh of relief to see the wounds he received from the last battle disrupt the smooth new skin he had when revived. They made him feel whole again while he boasted about them to his young siblings. Und was not impressed and just stared disinterested at them. Trinon was inspecting each one with intensity and listening to every detail.