Core of Confliction Read online

  Keeping them separate during the battle was Ganna’s intuition and Chardon had to concur.

  “Enough.” He didn’t yell and it was just as effective. “I will trust you as much as you trust in me.” Chardon got up to leave.

  “What if we don’t?” Talas was just being hypothetical but he still didn't like it.

  “Then we have a problem, don’t we?”

  “We do trust you, Chardon. Talas is just being, well, Talas.” Kelin shrugged.

  “It’s not funny.” Chardon left.

  Kelin shook his head at Talas. “Again, why?” There was no reason for it, the way he antagonized Chardon by throwing distrust around.

  “I wanted to see how far he would let go. Relax, he knows I was kidding.” Kelin's face said he wasn't so sure. “That frontal assault still bothers me. We know that throne room and even with Modas with him, it will get more than a little hairy.” Kelin raised an eyebrow. “No pun intended.”

  “You were on Earth too long. A pun, really?” Kelin settled back down to scan the hologram again. “You’re right though. It is a bold maneuver. So bold that it makes me wonder if Chardon has an ulterior motive.”

  “Your theory again?”

  “Something about the negotiations did not sit well with me after the fact. To destroy an entire world and its race on a whim because its leader would not submit is extreme. Chardon is hiding something and Modas knows what it is.”

  **~**

  Jaron could not believe that another one her children lay in a cryochamber almost completely regenerated. Her daughter, Mara, whose body had been scorched black on the entire right side, was asleep with new skin. She watched her bare bosom move up and down, wishing she could reach into the chamber and feel the warmth of her body. Her daughter’s light brown hair was splayed around her head like a giant fan, her long body lean with muscle. She was nearly as tall as Mota minus two inches. The air from her partially opened pink lips fogged the glass.

  On the opposite side was her eldest son’s vessel also in a cryochamber but, she could not bear to watch his regeneration. His body had been blown apart so the medics arranged the pieces as best they could to resemble a full body. The regeneration was nearly complete with only a few body parts needing to reattach themselves. It hurt to see it, especially as his mother.

  Mota strode in with Trinon wrapped around his arm, the little one's tiny teeth were embedded in Mota’s forearm. It was obviously in retaliation for whatever torture Mota had subjected him to.

  “Is my sister not ready to grace us with her presence?”

  He reached over his mother and rapped the glass. Trinon disengaged for a moment to view his older sister then resumed trying to inflict pain on Mota who just laughed at him.

  “What have you done to him?” She pulled Trinon off of Mota’s arm. “And don’t hit the chamber!”

  “I am sure she doesn’t mind.” He glanced over at Trinon. “He's just sensitive. I didn’t do anything that I haven’t done already.”

  “That’s the problem.”

  “He’s getting bigger, you know. You can’t treat him like a baby beast much longer.”

  Jaron held Trinon to her and he immediately found his way into her robes and latched on a breast to feed, his tiny claws just barely sinking into her flesh.

  “He’s a little greedy, too,” Mota laughed.

  Jaron rolled her eyes at him. “So were you.” She saw even Trinon gave him a woeful look between suckling. “Why just him?”

  Mota stood up straight still staring down at his sister. “Because, he’s stronger than you think.” He walked off and yelled over his shoulder, “Tell the lazy one to wake up already.”

  Jaron sighed and tickled Trinon behind his ear. He did have a strong grip, maybe too strong. In another year he will be walking and trying to climb that behemoth of a mountainside. She was amazed that it had also been transported from their home world.

  Looking down on Trinon, she knew he would need training to curb that urge to outdo everyone. She remembered assisting with her daughter’s training and how the poor girl tried too hard by conjuring up energy to impress the elders.

  The smell of sea water and beast invaded her senses. Modas had been meditating by the waterfall earlier and must have just finished. He was damp from misty sprays that made the outline of his body shimmer in the sunlight. Jaron felt the pull of lust but refrained from showing it even a little by glowering at him. As usual, Modas was not convinced.

  “Finally came to see how your children are doing?”

  “We have more than three now,” was all he said.

  “If it were up to you, we would have four or five litters running around.”

  “We’ll have another soon enough.”

  “What makes you think I would have another litter with you?”

  Jaron tried to sound angry but it came out in a quivering voice. She cursed herself. Modas did not answer.

  Instead, he went over to the other side to check on their eldest still regenerating. It didn't bother him at all to see his son like that. Jakar was just as strong as his father so she assumed that’s why Modas had no worries. A small chunk of flesh merged into a body part near the ribcage and healed the skin, leaving no marks. It was only a matter of time before he awakened.

  Trinon’s soft mewing could be heard throughout the room and Modas swung around in his seat just in time to see Trinon falling asleep in Jaron’s arms. Of the five, he was the fussiest, angriest, most sensitive and the strongest. Jaron knew Modas was playing favorites but he also had great plans for this one. Unlike, Mota, who was just tormenting the little one, he was going to train him properly. On those few moments that Trinon fell asleep, Jaron became filled with love and affection.

  Feeling her mate’s stare she tensed up. She had let her guard down. It was so easy to do when she was nursing one of their young. With not much fanfare, she wiped the excess milk off the breast Trinon had been suckling as if disgusted and covered herself back up. Looking up, she saw a wall of fabric as Modas leaned down to kiss the top of her head softly. She did not even hear him move from across the room.

  “You should rest.” He could somehow always tell when she was tired.

  “I will.” Jaron began to stand but faltered from fatigue. “I guess I need a little help.” She did not fight him. He picked her up while she still carried the sleeping Trinon and took her to their chamber.

  Regrets

  So many, Chardon spoke in his head as he combed the memorial site for the dead. Whole families had been annihilated with no one to remember them, making the count inaccurate. Out of the corner of his vision he spotted Modas carrying Jaron to their housing. The one thing Chardon regretted most was that someone knew his secrets. He wished they had been buried in the memorial with all the other lost souls.

  “I’m so sorry,” he whispered to the dead.

  “Why should you be sorry?” Kelin startled him. “There was nothing you could have done to prevent such a tragedy.”

  “True, but I like to think that I could have in some way.”

  Chardon’s expression changed and he realized too late it was a mistake to let Kelin notice. He could tell by the way Kelin stared at him that he was thinking yes, maybe it could have been prevented regardless of their foolish stunt opening the gate.

  “Whatever Halfar promised was all lies. You were right not to submit to his demands. We would all be slaves right now.”

  “Maybe.” Chardon turned and walked away from the memorial grounds.

  **~**

  Rass was already walking faster than normal to keep up with Halfar who nearly sped down the hall to the battle room where Kur was waiting for him. The large entourage also struggled with Halfar's pace. He could tell just how angry his lordship was by the exposed half formed exoskeleton sections protruding from his skin. He had to do something, quickly.

  “My lord!”

  “I will not be made a mockery of by my own subordinates!”

  “My lord!” H
alfar was about to turn the corner that led to the battle room’s hallway. “Stop!”

  Everyone in the entourage halted, the enforcers stunned, Halfar incredulous. He turned slowly and walked back to where Rass stood in the middle of the hall.

  “Did you just command me to stop?” Halfar had one arm formed into a claw.

  “Please, my lord, come walk with me.” Something in the way he said made Halfar pause. “I need you to listen to me right now before you go in there.”

  “Everyone stand and wait.” He ordered and went for a walk with Rass.

  “I know how frustrated you are with Kur and his solo antics, but that is what he wants. The more riled up you get the better his case to eliminate you. I know why you are stalling and I wish you success.”

  “Do you?” Halfar stopped walking and face him. “My success would mean leaving the Armada behind to live on whatever world she is in.”

  “Conquering Earth was not your idea, it was Kur’s and now not even he wants to be on this wretched rock. The invasion will grind to a halt and then we leave.”

  “So, if I were to storm into the battle room in a rage.”

  “Kur would have his enforcers cut you down without so much as a witness to his treachery. It would be…glorious. His words, not mine.”

  “Then what would you have me do?”

  “I can handle Kur. You just need to focus on your agenda.”

  Halfar relented and slapped a hand on Rass’ shoulder.

  "Even if I give you the reigns of the armada, he would fight you to the death for it.”

  “And I will make sure that I win so you can return our race to its true calling.”

  “You loved him once.”

  “But, he loves himself more than he ever loved me.”

  “Now what?”

  Halfar removed his hand and there they stood alone with no guards while Kur waited for a fight to come to him.

  “You go to your chamber and I will inform Kur of your displeasure.”

  “Can you really defeat him?”

  “You, more than anyone, know of my power that I keep hidden.”

  “That is not what I mean, Rass.” He probed his face for acknowledgement.

  “I know. Yes, I can, if it is the only way to stop him from pitching our race into ruin.” He headed towards the battle room. “Go, my lord.” He bowed deeply mid stride and continued on.

  Halfar began to realize just how deadly the situation had become. Kur was now the enemy and there was no letting his guard down for a second. It always bothered him that Kur was near whenever he didn’t want him to be. There was a way to avoid him and that meant going out into the streets incognito. He knew Rass would help him with the logistics of it.

  “Well, Kur, let’s see how well you fare against me.”

  A small troop arrived to escort him to his chamber hall. As they marched onward, Halfar had a vicious plan in store for Kur when the time came. No one defied him and got away with it. He slowed his walk as he thought about it and how that logic applied to Chardon. No, that was entirely different. His bond with Chardon was eternal, his connection to Kur was based on military might.

  In his chamber, he stripped off his battle gear and robes to stand naked in the middle of the room. The cool air engulfed his body and he stretched upward. Crawling onto the bed, his thoughts drifted to Chardon on a faraway world he had yet to find.

  **~**

  Somewhere off in the distant fields, Kelin attempted to clear head mind by hunting small game with an archaic handmade projectile weapon likened to a crossbow. Although the creatures on their new home were a bit strange, the meat was somewhat similar in taste to what he was used to. Keeping his thoughts away from the topic of battle plans and Chardon was his goal for the day.

  He saw something scurry on his right and swung the weapon towards the sound, releasing the metal rod. A soft squeal and a thump came right after. It was the fourth one today which was enough for Talas and himself. Each chamber had to fend for themselves food wise twice a moon cycle. Evening meal captured, Kelin headed back home.

  Talas was waiting for him as he entered the chamber. His long dirty blonde hair was slightly wavy from being damp after bathing without Kelin. He sat cross legged on the bed with a hologram of the revised battle plans in front of him. The look on Talas’ face made Kelin want to turn around and go back into the fields.

  “This is not looking like an easy exit for our little groups,” Talas blurted.

  “Please. I just want a quiet evening with you and not talk about any of this or Chardon for that matter.” He plopped their supper on the cutting block in the kitchenette.

  “Why are you bringing up Chardon?” Then he remembered. “Ahh, your theory.”

  “A bit more than a theory. I think Chardon feels far more responsible for what happened than we do. I just can’t seem to figure it out and there is no way Modas will ever tell me what he knows.”

  “Modas,” Talas climbed off the bed to stand by him, “will never tell you anything, let alone speak to you unless it was necessary.”

  “I know.”

  “Then let it run its course. You will find out what is really going on, soon.”

  "Yet, I get the feeling you already know what's going on. Why are you feigning ignorance?"

  "Because there is no point. And I know you would rather find out on your own as opposed to me just laying it out for you."

  "True, but I still think you could at least give me a hint."

  Talas eyed Kelin’s bundle of dead meat and smirked. “And what are we having with that?”

  “That is your duty, I hunted them.”

  “I don’t think hunt is the word for such tiny creatures.”

  Kelin washed his hands in the basin behind the changing curtain then flopped down on the bed exhausted. The topper molded around his body and he started to drift off into sleep when Talas whacked him on the thigh.

  “You’re filthy! Go bathe at least!” He forcibly pushed Kelin out of the bed. They both laughed.

  **~**

  A loud screech filled the chamber forcing Jaron and Modas to wake from their midday slumber and run to the sandbox that housed the little ones. One of the male baby beasts, Und, had Trinon by the face with his tiny claws and a look of frustration. The screech had come from him as a battle cry. Trinon had Und by the mane, refusing to let go until his opponent yielded.

  “Stop that!”

  Jaron could not believe the scene before her. The others just laid there in the sandbox watching with disinterest like this was an everyday ordeal, and it was to some degree. Modas had stopped at the edge of the sandbox and knelt down on one knee. He too had the same look as they did. She reached in and tried to disengage them.

  “Let go this instant!”

  Mota came from behind her, flicked both of them hard on the head and drew Trinon out. Both of the little ones wailed loudly, tears and blood on their faces. It was clear who the aggressor had been. Trinon wiggled all over the place in an effort to get out of Mota’s clutches without success. When Mota turned him over, Trinon bit into the meat of his bicep. It didn’t hurt him in the least.

  “Why is this happening?” Jaron demanded. She turned to Mota knowing he was to blame. “And why are you doing nothing?” This was directed at Modas who just glanced up at her.

  “Have you forgotten what it was like when I was a baby beast?” Mota smiled.

  “That is not the issue!”

  Modas picked up Und by the back of his mane and turned him so they were nose to nose. Und stopped crying and mewed at him. “Good.” He set his son back down in the sandbox with his other siblings. “He’s a fighter.”

  Jaron was on the verge of imploding with rage. She leaned over towards Modas and slapped him in the back of his head then turned on Mota doing the same. They both were stunned into submission as she stormed out of the chamber.

  “Father, I believe we must start training them sooner than later. Mother is not about to tolerate much mo
re disobedience.” Modas nodded in agreement, holding the back of his neck.

  **~**

  Halfar was not lounging lazily on his throne today as Kur had anticipated. It seemed to him that the great ruler avoided him at all costs, always sending Rass to do his bidding. Kur made a grunting sound of disgust. Ever since he had rejected Rass’ affections, his counterpart had become one of Halfar’s lapdogs, confirming his initial thoughts about him. Wiping that out of his mind he focused on Halfar seated on his throne looking as menacing as he once was tapping a clawed finger on the arm rest.

  “Are your enforcers in place?”

  Kur nearly stepped backwards at the onslaught of the question. “Almost, my lord.” Halfar was not in the mood for games. “We are positioning a small team on their blind side to ensure coverage.”

  “That’s good to hear. And?”

  “My lord?” Kur was confused.

  “Why have you come here? Surely it was not to report that you are in fact not ready? What other reason did you have to see me at this time of day?”

  Kur had in fact come to irritate him for the pleasure of it but now that he had been called out on it, he was not too confident in doing so. “I was worried since you had not been to the battle room in some time and sending Rass with your instructions.”

  “Is not Rass a General such as yourself?”

  “Of course. I was not questioning your motives.” He bowed low. “I shall take my leave to finish the preparations.” As he left cursing under his breath, he made a detour to the battle room.

  “Well, that went smoothly.” Rass came out from behind the double doors of Halfar’s hallway.

  “I wanted to rip one of his limbs off.”

  “As you said, he is one of your Generals.”

  “Why is he, all of a sudden, so insubordinate? I don’t understand.”

  “Simple. He is just as bored as you are and wants to engage in a real fight.”