THE JOINING: The Cycle of the Shards Book One

The shrill ringing of the fire alarm sounded out through the hallways almost as if there was an air raid imminent. Accompanying the loud constant alert was a voice announcement to calmly exit the building, and a slow flashing strobe light that seemed like it could cause a seizure to an afflicted student, which would be problematic if it had happened during an actual fire. Used to these type of things being drills, and sometimes announced ahead of time, the students obeyed the calm message, following their teachers instructions, save for one. The teacher that had exited his classroom at the wrong time and witnessed Pt’ron’s rampage simply and quietly walked to his door and turned the door lock, thinking correctly that if this was a legitimate emergency, it was certainly not a fire.

In all other cases, students were led by their teachers to the doors of their respective classrooms in straight and orderly lines. Most of the controlled exodus went without incident at the beginning as they entered the hallways and proceeded towards their exits. The first issues began when the other classrooms in the upper west hallway opened, releasing the students into the hallway to witness the unmoved bodies of Brian and Travis, obviously killed quite recently and horribly. Nobody paid any attention to the students and the teacher in the middle of the carnage, especially when every sprinkler in the school came to life, erupting from the ceilings to literally rain upon the scattered groups.

It was just one student that started the rush, a small girl that nobody paid a whole lot of attention to. When she saw the bodies of the boys she didn’t know, she screamed, and the screams spread throughout the hall. Now fearing for her life in addition to her annoyance at being drug out of class for another fire drill, she started to back away from the bodies, and backed right into a large football player, who was near throwing up at the blood splattered on the floor. It was then when the sprinklers opened, and that was the needle that broke the camel’s back. As the screams echoed throughout the hallways, she began to run, and seeing her run just inspired others to flee as well. Two students were already dead, what else was going to happen! From there, the chaos spread. Students running into friends from other classrooms spread the word of the deaths, and the screams and panic soon encompassed the entire school, both students and teachers alike.

While the normal order in the school was breaking apart, Pt’ron exited the office area, satisfied that he had made his point to the monkeys that had encountered him before. Running away was the only future they had left, after all, best for them to learn early. He had no intention of taking part in the mad rush outside. Now that he knew who his adversaries were, he wanted no part of leaving them behind. He wanted them to see his ascension. After all, they had come from the other side of the universe to find him and see the Shards for themselves, why should he deny them this opportunity? So instead of following the panicking crowds that were rushing the doors to freedom, he began to climb the stairs, pushing his way past the teenagers that were moving down them.

In the hallway that started everything, Critock was only momentarily in a standstill. Here, in the middle of chaos, he was in his element. He made his way through the flowing mass of students to where Claire was still hanging onto Phelps desperately. “HEY!” He shouted to be heard over the shouts and screams.

Phelps turned to him, as Tom flew down and Shanna followed in his wake. “WE NEED TO COVER THE EXITS. FIND ME IN THE MAIN LOBBY IF YOU SEE HIM. TAKE WEST.” As the teacher attempted to extricate himself from Claire’s desperate arms, Critock turned to Shanna. “GO EAST.” She nodded and began to head off, still wearing Kyle’s backpack. Critock didn’t notice, and glanced at Tom, and then yelled at Jim, who was separated from his sister by the crowds but was not brave enough to move forward to her. “JIM.”

“WHAT?” There was a slight whine to Jim’s voice, betraying the fear he felt that he hoped had been covered up.

“I NEED YOU AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE LOOKING FOR DANIEL.” Critock wished the seemingly never-ending rush of students would quiet down, but there were at least two thousand people in this school, and while the early screamers had been able to run out, eventually the crowds became too dense, especially with people falling down and a few disabled teenagers in the mix.

Jim shook his head frantically. “NO WAY! HE DID THIS!”

“AND WE HAVE TO STOP HIM FROM DOING IT TO ANYONE ELSE. IF YOU SEE HIM, DO NOT ENGAGE, I’LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE.” Jim stood still, shocked, and looked at Claire, who had half-heartedly attempted to follow Phelps, but froze up again at the sight of a dead body.. Critock sighed as he heard renewed screams from those that had made it outside only to be faced with the third bully’s body. It wasn’t fair to ask these kids to become soldiers. But unfortunately the situation had forced them to grow up in a hurry. “I’LL TAKE CARE OF CLAIRE, YOU NEED TO MOVE NOW!” He bellowed, and Jim suddenly was startled out of his shock. Taking a last look at his sister, he nodded, and began to join with the masses as the rush carried him to the lobby. Critock made his way over to Claire as quickly as he could, putting his arm around her. If she noticed he was there, he could not tell.

“C’mon, Claire, in here…” He steered her to a now empty classroom. As they entered, she crossed immediately to the window and stared outside, down at the parking lot where hundreds of students were now gathering around the parked vehicles. Critock didn’t follow, but he attempted to reassure her. “You’ll be safe in here. Try and catch your breath, okay? It’ll all be over soon.” He backed out of the room, closing the door behind him, muttering under his breath as he did so. “One way or another.”

“What’s the plan, boss?” Tom had flown down and placed himself directly in front of Critock. He was still speaking loudly, but the crowd noise had lessened somewhat as the students thinned out.

“Outside, do a couple orbits around the school, if he’s gotten outside we need to catch up with him.”

“Gotcha.” He started to fly off, but turned back. “What are you going to do?”

Critock started to walk towards the stairwell. “Check his locker! Maybe he doesn’t have the Shards yet. Main lobby when you’re done!” The wisp flew off, and Critock hopped down the stairs as quickly as he could, being careful not to run over anyone who had fallen or been pushed and were having trouble getting back up.

Now he was operating directly from Kyle’s memory, and he happily received no resistance. Daniel’s locker wasn’t that far off from Kyle’s, so there was no trouble finding it. He knew there was little chance that Pt’ron hadn’t retrieved the Shards before he had started killing people, but it was still worth a look. It was too late for the plans they had developed to work, now it was on to another phase, one where the best course of action was to contain the situation. The Shards had not activated yet, and the missiles had not arrived. There was still time to save both this world and his own, to say nothing of their lives. He knew praying would do nothing, but he did so anyway to whatever deity ruled this planet, in hopes that something, somehow, would start to go their way.

The pandemonium had lessened in the main lobby, but there was still a large crush of people pushing and shoving their way towards and through the main doors, half of which were locked for security from the outside. Jim had been operating on autopilot to get down here, but now was gripped with fear. He didn’t understand why he had obeyed the alien masquerading as his friend anyway, who’s to say he didn’t actually kill Brian? After all, it was him the bullies had run afoul of lately! As well, he had left Claire with him! What had he been thinking? Even after all those thoughts, he still glanced around him trying to get a glimpse of Daniel. He wasn’t sure what he would do if he did see him. Scream and run away himself? Tackle him and try to play the hero? This wasn’t anything he had ever been prepared for. All he wanted to do was make it through the day! Was that so bad!

“JIM!” He was startled by the yell, and thought for a moment that Daniel had found him instead, and then would probably end him just for hanging around Kyle! But as he turned automatically, he was relieved to just see John Clarkson moving towards him.

“What the hell is going on! Someone said like ten kids are dead? The school’s actually on fire this time?” John was panicking from the misheard rumors, and Jim felt a little better that he at least had some idea what was going on, even though it sounded insane even to himself.

“Three. Brian, Travis, and the girl that hung around with them.” John put a hand to his mouth in shock as Jim continued. “And dude, the rest of this you aren’t even going to believe.” He quickly looked around, not seeing the source of his search. “Have you seen Daniel?”

“No! I’ve been looking for you and him and Kyle and Claire and Shanna! Have you seen him?”

To try and calm him down, Jim put two hands on John, one on each shoulder. “Ok, just listen to me for a second. We’re all in a lot of trouble.”

Empty. Critock knew it would be, but that one little stretch of hope that still dwelled within him wouldn’t be quiet. Well, now maybe it’ll shut up, he thought as he started to walk away from the locker. He noticed that the halls were almost completely empty by now, and assumed the main lobby would be well on it’s way. Behind him, Phelps ran up behind him.

“Anything?”

“Empty locker. Hopefully someone’s got something at the lobby.”

They were silent for a moment, but Phelps could not pass up this opportunity. “You’re really an alien?”

Critock sighed. “Yes, on this planet. And if we all live through this I’ll be happy to answer all the questions you have.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve been waiting my whole life…”

“And now here I am, and I might not be able to stop a would-be-God from killing everything on this planet. Honestly, I’d suggest another dream. Something involving enjoying your life here and not up there. Up there kinda sucks, honestly.” He winced, knowing that some of Kyle’s vernacular was starting to pervade his speak, but didn’t think any further of it as they moved into the main area, by now only populated by a few dozen students still trying to escape, being shepherded by the few remaining brave teachers, who themselves were anxious to get out. In the center of the lobby stood John and Jim, John staring bug-eyed at Critock, while Jim had regressed into a state of shock again.

“Find anything?” Critock addressed Jim, who shook his head.

“Daniel didn’t come out this way! We both looked! Can we leave now?” Jim asked frantically.

Critock looked at the speechless John. “’We’. He knows?”

Jim quickly defended himself, not knowing if Critock would suddenly become some kind of horrifying monster. “I had to! I needed help! Please…Where’s my sister?”

Critock looked at him strangely, then realized that it wasn’t the situation that Jim was scared about, but it was him. “It’s fine, it doesn’t matter now. Claire’s good, she’s in a classroom upstairs, she’s got to process this. Good job both of you, you can get outside with the others.” Jim quickly nodded and began to head off, while John stood stock still, finding his voice.

“You’re an alien.”

Critock sighed as John walked up to him and poked him with a single index finger. “Yes.”

“But…You’re…You’re an alien.”

Critock shook his head. “YES. Now get out of here, because there’s another one and he’s a lot less tolerant than I am!” He yelled at John, who was quickly pulled by the arm by Jim, who had headed back once he realized he was at the door alone. Together, they moved out to the parking lot, as Shanna joined Critock in the center of the now empty lobby. They could hear student’s yelling and crying from inside, but otherwise all was quiet.

“Anything?” Shanna sadly shook her head. Phelps looked at the ceiling in thought as they heard a door open slightly. Tom came flying in and shook from side to side, confirming his lack of discovery as well. Critock pinched the sides of his forehead as he thought.

“Ok…So he’s still in the building somewhere. Why? Why stay in? Shanna, peek in the office real quick.” As she jogged off quickly, he turned to Tom. “I really don’t want to have to go classroom to classroom in here. This isn’t like him.”

Tom sighed. “Couple thousand years in this place could change a man.” They were interrupted by a sharp scream, and Shanna backing up out of the office. “What? What is it?” Tom flew over to her side.

“It’s…Principal Tompkins! He was frozen or something and…”

“And shattered.” Critock confirmed the horrifying news. “So the Icer still works. That’s good.”

Suddenly the fire alarm shut off, and there was a harsh squeal over the school intercom, which was replaced by an even harsher laugh, a laugh that only one of the group could identify. It was not Daniel. It was fully Pt’ron.

“WELCOME TO EARTH!” The voice bellowed out into every room and hall of the empty school, and Shanna drew closer to Critock, Phelps slightly behind, and Tom off to their right. “I have to say, whoever you are, you’ve done an absolutely terrible job at blending in. I mean, starting fights? Destroying property? I’ve been here for years and I haven’t so much as squashed a spider!”

Critock whispered back to Phelps. “Where’s this coming from?”

Phelps shook his head. “Could be anywhere. The intercoms are wireless. He’s probably got a microphone from the office.”

“But still, you’ve come all this way! Don’t worry! The Shards have been safe with me. More than I can say than they would be with Marconia, or with the Mandragora, or anywhere else! I’m happy that Marconia could send what is undoubtedly their finest soldiers to witness this glorious day! Thousands of cycles of waiting all for right now! Just wait right there, if you please. I’ll see you soon!”

Critock nodded. “I knew it. He’s a diva. He wanted an audience. He still doesn’t know which one of us is here to get him. Well, that’s about to change. Shanna?”

Her heart pounding from the just-delivered message, she replied shakily. “Ye-Yeah?”

“Give me the sword.”

It took a moment but she soon came to her senses, and she unzipped Critock’s bag and reached in. She picked the thin, light cylinder up with a few fingers to pull it out, but grasped it fully in her right hand to bring it the rest of the way, in order to give it to Critock. What was intended was, as with anyone else that would have grabbed it, the sword would stay unrevealed until Critock could hold it. That was not what happened.

As her hand closed around the handle, the sword erupted into life, no different than if Critock would have held it himself. As they looked on with astonishment, the blade fit into it’s familiar pattern, somehow being held together and assembled with magic older than the universe itself. Instead of the orange arcing electricity and glow that occurred when Critock held the Sword of Kon, a light green aura surrounded the weapon.

Critock took an involuntary step back as Tom floated stock still, shocked at the sword activating. Phelps’ eyes were wide and he looked at Critock. “Was that supposed to happen?”

Critock shook his head. “No. No it was not.” Tom flew down to Shanna, who, already spooked from the sword coming to life, jumped when the wisp suddenly appeared in front of her face.

“HOW DID YOU DO THAT? HOW?” Tom frantically asked the cheerleader, who shook her head.

“I don’t know! I just grabbed it! That’s what happens when he grabs it!”

Critock, trying to regain his composure despite being internally freaked out, took a step back to her. “Shanna, the only person that’s ever made that sword be able to do anything besides be a paperweight is me.” Their eyes met, and for once it was Critock’s that were filled with awe.

The moment was broken when there was another loud sound of laughter, coming from the west hallway up above, but moving closer. “Give me the sword.” Critock whispered quickly, and she obliged. As soon as Critock had it, the sword changing colors from blue to orange the instant he took ownership of it, he twisted his wrist slightly, and the sword reformed back to just a handle. He tucked the handle in the back of his jeans, then turned and looked up, ready to face his enemy.

The laughter stopped, and the group followed Critock’s gaze to the top of the stairs. They heard his footsteps before they saw him, and all of them tried to mentally prepare themselves for whatever was about to happen.

He ran a hand across the upstairs banister as he came into view, walking slowly, deliberately. To anyone who had known him before today, there was no difference in his look now and his look any other day, save for two ripped holes in his shirt where Critock supposed his arms had ripped out of. His hair was a little more wild, but only when you got closer did you realize there was something different about him. His face had the look of maniac, with a wide toothy grin that had come out for no reason and eyes that darted to and fro. This was him. This was the man he had been looking for. Not the student with a rough past and a unique point of view, not a friend, but someone who belonged in an asylum rather than a school.

Pt’ron stood at the top of the steps , his hands outstretched. “Welcome, friends.” He announced loudly, and raised both hands to the sky, praising the day.

His time had finally come.

The two paired missiles had not deviated from their path, and they still were on target. They had not yet automatically activated their tandem systems that would eradicate all life on the planet’s surface, as they had just crossed the halfway point between Jupiter and Earth. It would be another full fifteen to twenty minutes local time before the first would reach its goal. Which was unfortunate, as the first Shard’s awakening was imminent.