Escape From Redeem, Rise of an Emperor

Elfandar: Elfan Home World

On the other side of the Galaxy, an ancient being that had also been ascending, opened his eyes.

The beings name in his tongue was Tanandil. He was of a race known as the Elfan. A long lived people of fay wanderers, whose home Elfandar was once at the heart of a great Empire, that spanned great swathes of the Galaxy. But now Old Elfandar was a planet infested with the green skinned monsters known as the Orkra, who were the sworn enemy of the entire Elfan race. They had swept across planet after planet like a plague.

They killed and conquered with numbers that even the sophisticated and mighty Elfan armies could not hold. Now all that was left of the Elfan was scattered and hidden from their terrible foe. That hunted them down to near extinction. It was the green tide of carnage that resulted in the fall of this once great Empire. Tanandil, who was old even for his races definition, stood from his meditation matt and paced the room to contemplate what he had seen in his dream state.

Many of his kind could ascend, but even the most skilled could not comprehend Tanandil’s feats of lore. Most could go miles from their bodies or even communicate with someone continents away from them. His skill however, dwarfed all of his own kind. There was other Mages of course. But for him, to float around star systems in other Galaxies, were not beyond his abilities.

His mind had been trying to find new planets to inhabit for his people, when he felt the ascension of a being of great power that was faint at first. Then gradually the aura was as bright as a new star being born. He had often noticed various alien races achieve the ability to ascend, but only beings that would show an aura like this were few to count. He excitedly honed in on the source and was surprised to find that it did not belong to an old race at all. Instead he found it was one of the younger species, who called themselves Humans.

He had not really taken much notice of them, over the thousands of years he had wandered the Galaxy. It was only two hundred or so cycles ago that this race had discovered the ability to travel to other stars. He had then watched as they started colonies of their own. It was remarkable for a race to be so primitive for so many millennia, to then achieve so much a millennium.

And now there was a being amongst their young race that had a mind and aura so powerful. It could be felt even to where Tanandil now dwelt, in the chamber of dreams on the holy moon of Ghale. He had been drawn to this power like a beacon. With an effortless move through space, his mind journeyed to the planet where this powerful being resided.

He floated over the form of a human adolescent. Curiously the child seemed to be a prisoner of some sort on a planet of ice. He had found him exhausted on a bed, after what Tanandil assumed to be his first ascension

He made up his mind quickly and decided not to tell the council of elders, until he had learned more about the Human boy. He did not know why, but he felt that there was something significant about him. He would only watch for now and hopefully he would reassess the human, for either being a threat or an ally to the Elfan people.

***

Earth: Planetary Defence Building, Geneva

Defoe had been dismayed at first when his number two man Kruger, had told him that Master Kam had some information on the Bruce family’s disappearance. But after careful consideration he decided he could turn the situation into an opportunity. Kam was at this very moment waiting to be seen by Kruger. Defoe hoped to find out if the meeting would be yet another problem to tie off towards his eventual rule of Earth and its colonies.

He watched the Palace from the Planetary Defence Building. If it turned out that Kam knew nothing, then they would still have to eliminate him, before the time came to take over the world. But if he knew too much, then they would have to deal with the troublesome Master Immediately.

He sipped at a fine brandy that was warm and comforting and let it slip pleasingly down his throat. Turning to place the brandy glass down on his antique mahogany desk, he heard an expected explosion from the direction of the Presidential Palace.

Defoe did not turn to see the carnage, but instead smiled a sly grin and drained the rest of his drink in a toast to himself. He would have a lot of work to do, blaming the entire disappearance of the Bruce family and the explosion on the now expired Master.

As expected the com announced Kruger and he was patched though to Defoe’s secure line.

‘It is done General.’

‘Good work Guy. Go to the President and illuminate him of Master Kams treachery.’

***

Kam had been made to wait outside the situation room that was located on the top floor of the Presidential Palace.

This seemed unusual to him, to be made to wait when he had information as important as this. His danger sense, which had saved his life on countless occasions, was screaming at him. It should have felt like the safest place on the planet? But it did not for some reason.

The door opened and Guy nodded to his fellow Master Guardsmen.

‘It is good to see you Kam; I would have seen you sooner but circumstances have been difficult of late.’ Kruger sat at the head of a large table and motioned Kam take the other seat available.

‘I have grave news about our friend Guy, and I think General Defoe may be involved.’

Kruger’s eyebrows rose in mock surprise and he let Kam continue. The Master started his tale, about being told not to investigate the disappearance on Defoe’s orders. Then he continued honestly, that he felt it necessary, to disregard those orders. He told him about the spot of Dorn’s blood that must have been seen by investigators and the satellite imagery that led him to the burned out incinerator plant. Finally he told him of the transport to the prison colony that he suspected Caleb had been sent to.

‘You are right, this news is grave indeed, but to point the finger at the General with this amount of evidence would be foolish my friend. What would you like me to do with this Kam? Go to the President?’ It was a strange response from the one man who should now be at least asking to see the satellite imagery.

Kam had taken precautions in fear of the fact that Defoe had not acted alone in this. Tristan was at this moment, sitting in a small warp capable space craft, with enough weapons and amour to start a small war. He also had the evidence on a data disk on board the vessel. If Master Kam did not return from this meeting, then Tristan was to go to Redeem and try to find Caleb.

Kam was still not sure about Kruger, but decided he would not decide his loyalties just yet.

‘I would like this evidence shown to the President at once Guy, I am surprised you have not even asked to see it.’

Kruger’s usually unreadable face, betrayed the very slightest indication of irritation. It was not enough for Kam to jump to conclusions, but he did not feel as comfortable as he should have felt, with his fellow Guardsmen. The emotion was gone as quick as it had appeared.

‘As you wish; I will take this information to him. You also correct Kam that I will need to see this evidence. Have you got it with you now?’

‘Yes.’ Kam indicated to a section of his lightweight armour that acted as a secure pocket, during combat missions. ‘Wait here my friend. I’ll go and set up an audience for you, so you can show him yourself.’ Kam inclined his head in acknowledgment, as Kruger got up and left the room.

His instincts were screaming at him to get out. He could not really say exactly why. Maybe it was Kruger’s reaction to the news, or maybe it was just a suspicion of everybody since Defoe was put in the frame. Those instincts had saved his life on many occasions. He had always listened to them. Kam had taught others at the Academy to do the same. He calmly walked to the window, opened it and stood on the ledge and waited for the return of Kruger.

At that moment the door to the room opened and a destroyer grenade was thrown inside. The door closed sharply and Kam could hear the person who had thrown it run down the corridor. He shook his head in disgust at how far this betrayal had gone. Then he jumped out of the window, just as the destroyer grenade incinerated the room he had been moments before.

He could feel the incredible heat singe the hairs on the back of his head as he fell from the top floor of the Presidential Palace. The Five Hundred story building whizzed by and Kam activated a jump shoot at the very last opportunity, which was housed within the back plate of his amour. His fall rapidly slowed and he guided himself over the Palace wall and down into a nearby park, hitting the ground lightly and tumbling like an acrobat.

His shoot wound itself back into his amour and he casually walked to a spot where he had left a bag for just this type of emergency. Planning for all scenarios was bred into a Guardsman. Reaching into the bag, he removed a black cloak that he swiftly threw around his armoured body. This only took him a matter of seconds. He then holstered twin pistols under his armpits. If anyone was foolish enough to stop him, then they would get a nasty surprise.

Kam attached a communication bead to his ear and started to walk toward the main street where thousands of people were now looking up at the explosion. Blending in with the crowds he initiated a secure com link, with the only person he could trust right now.

‘Tristan; Kruger’s involved. Are you still with the ship?’ He knew he would be waiting for him. It seemed this betrayal went deeper than they first realised. ‘Yes Master, I’ve just seen the explosion on the news; I feared the worst. Are you ok, do you need extraction?’

‘I am unharmed. Extraction would be unwise my friend. I think Kruger will believe me dead after that explosion. Let us go dark for now. Wait for me in orbit and I will come to you. We need to get away from here and find Caleb.’

‘Very well, Master.’ He wanted nothing more than to stay and fight his friend’s murderers. But finding Caleb had become the priority now. It was what Dorn would have wanted. Going to the President would have been folly. Kam would not even make it through the Palace entrance now. The fact that they believed him dead and acting alone might play to his advantage though. ‘Tristan do you have Dorn’s Weapons and armour on board?’

‘I do; all of it.’

Tristan must have found it difficult to get everything Kam had asked for. They needed to start a war on a traitor and for that purpose, he had gathered arms. Kam also had Dorn Bruce’s weaponry. He hoped to be able to reunite the heirlooms with young Caleb. They would be important and symbolic in the hands of another Bruce. Once they returned with Caleb, they would demand to see President Black with both their evidence and a testimony from an eyewitness.