Trojian Horse

Thick clouds of dust floated in the corridors obscuring the exact source of the tumult. Reeger slowly crept forward through the pillars of smoke and dust his sword drawn and ready to strike. The mangled bodies of Dracien lay lifeless along the corridors visible next to a large gaping hole in the hull of the ship. He could smell explosives. Not far from where he stood were the prisoners’ cells whose doors stood ajar, blown open using more explosives he presumed. It all seemed to be coming together. A melting of tragedy and destruction waiting to happen.

He looked around him as he walked down the corridors past the open prison doors. More lifeless Dracien bodies littered the floor, many with thick metal shrapnel sticking out their chests. They had not been expecting the blast and judging by the size of the hole it was a very strong blast, maybe two. There was blood splashed on the walls of the corridors past the prison cells, the bodies of the dracien here showed signs of being shot clean through. Many were shots fired at close range, from various directions. Most of the dracien had barely drawn their weapons, and he thought the manner of their deaths was a fitting reward for their lack of vigilance although it caused a surprising amount of discomfort at seeing his own slain in such a manner. If he had to guess there was more than one assailant, possibly three apart from the prisoners. They moved quickly and efficiently striking with precision. Who could possibly have known about the prisoners though? And why risk coming after them? Why would they be so valuable to whoever dared to strike his ship?

If it was the Vulpeculae who attacked him it would mean they were aware of his presence and that would throw his plans in jeopardy. Surprise was crucial to success. He wondered though how they would know about his prisoners and especially where they would be kept. Roue, of course. He was the only one who knew the layout of the ship although he was sure they had taken pains to prevent him discovering the prisoners even by accident. Maybe this was all a distraction to slow the attack on the Vulpeculae settlement. It was a pathetic attempt. The damage on the ship would only temporarily halt interstellar travel but not nearly enough to ground the ship from flight within the planet’s stratosphere. He heard a very slight noise from several floors up distinct from the normal noises on a dracien ship. He was grateful for the improved hearing he had obtained from the Cypothera race.

He sped toward the source of the noise, up this corridor, up that flight of stairs turning down this corridor until he eventually reached the platform just above the observation room. Distinctly different voices were shouting at each through the din, coordinating their movements. The voices were distinct. He could make out Reinon’s voice as well as Roue’s. This was a pleasant surprise. It was as he had initially suspected. He had severely overestimated Roue’s intelligence. Increasing his speed, he raced past a group of startled dracien that had been returning fire with the strangers hiding behind some containers. The dracien stayed their weapons and watched. The escapees and their helpers were hidden behind some equipment and containers that had been placed on the platform for repairs. He licked his lips. They seemed to be edging closer to the edge of the ship probably waiting for a means of escape.

“Come out, come out,” he shouted. “There is no way off this ship except through me.” He smiled in anticipation.

He heard shouts of “Reeger” from the dracien much to his delight. He jumped over the containers, swinging his sword wildly as he landed almost catching one of the escapees in the neck. They all scrambled away as he stood watching them hiding behind other containers nearby. Their demise could not be too quick, he had to relish it, draw it out, watch the pain in their eyes as he destroyed their hope and watched the horror in the faces as they realised their end was near and they would never again taste freedom. He was waiting for them to all come out into the open but they remained hidden. Cowards. He motioned for the Dracien around them to just stand and watch.

There were three trying to help the prisoners escape. Roue he recognised immediately, then another nimble-footed brown skinned creature who had been skilfully slashing through the Dracien that attacked her and the last was the Ser-ooit boy he assumed Maloch had told him about. The fear in their eyes when they looked upon him was delightful. There was a strange tingling sensation when he looked at them, as if he was feeding on their fear and it was making him stronger than he already was. He felt invincible.

Those eyes seemed familiar to him. The eyes of the Ser-ooit boy reminded him of something, a time, a place that seemed as if from a dream but he knew it was very real. Those eyes. The Ser-ooit boy looked directly at him and though he could see the fear in his eyes, there seemed to be no acknowledgement, no memory of their time together, no recognition of the part that he had played in the boy’s destiny thus far. It seemed the boy barely knew who he was. However, the look in the boy’s eyes confirmed what he was already thinking. He had every intention of making sure the boy and his friends would never leave the ship alive. His sword was raised ready to swing when the raspy voice of Reinon broke the silence that had descended on the platform.

“Reeger, you can’t keep us here.”

A heavy swing landed on some metal containers that split apart as if of their own free will. The sword effortlessly cut through the metal. The group scattered and hid behind different sets of containers.

“Boy, show yourself.” he shouted.

There was no answer.

“Do you know I killed your mother? I watched her die with my hands around her throat. I enjoyed it. As I always do. I gutted her with-”

“That is a lie!” came the reply.

“It is you,” Reeger said receiving the confirmation he had been looking for. “But how? How is it that you ended up here?” There was an uneasy silence among the group. They were obviously trying to avoid aggravating him but that would do them little good. Reeger continued his soliloquy.

“Of course. Where the Vulpeculae are things of importance seem to follow them. I should have known the reason for their abrupt departure was your presence. Their position as the leaders of the resistance made them the best candidates to train you in preparation for this day. I wonder if they know how close they were to losing you. If only I had another moment and I would have had finished this long before it started. Do you know how your mother squealed for mercy?”

The boy gave no reply.

“You liar!” screamed Reinon. “You told me he was dead.”

“No matter. He soon will be. I hear you narrowly escaped your death at the hands of one of my soldiers. You seem to have a knack for escaping death, Zibulo.”

“I know you didn’t kill her. I know everything.”

“Hardly. Believe me. There is so much more you do not know and will never get to know because this will be your last day. Show me then what they have taught you. How long have you been hiding from me? Come champion of the Vulpeculae and show me what you can do. You know nothing boy. Now come out and let’s see if that Thalios is of any use to you.”

Roue and his companions were stunned at the mention of the Thalios. It was very clear to Roue that Turo and Arien were not surprised by the declaration. Reeger found this quick exchange interesting.

He ran at the boy, slashing his sword desperately, wildly, looking to maim him before killing him. To end the fight before it even began. The other members of their party quickly intervened firing shots at him while Mato-Rayo swung a large fist at him which narrowly missed its target. He swung his talons at Mato-Rayo catching him square in the face sending Mato-Rayo sprawling into a container clutching his face. That was the last thing Mato-Rayo contributed to the fight. Energy blasts were landing all over Reeger’s body and though his armour would protect him eventually one of those shots would make it through. This had to be ended quickly.

Swinging his sword again, he jumped at the boy who deftly dodged the blade. The boy ducked and rolled away from him. It was clear the boy was fast but it was also evident the boy had nowhere near the level of power anyone in possession of the Thalios should have. Either the boy did not have the Thalios after all or he did not know how to use it. He would kill him today. No, he would murder him right here and now, and there was no prophecy that could tell him otherwise. He had spent so long gathering the necessary power for this moment and it seemed after all it would be pointless because the boy was nowhere near as threatening as he hoped. The boy was fast but Reeger was faster and more experienced in battle.

He swung his sword again shifting his feet under him to get closer for the next blow. The boy ducked and landed what had seemed a tame punch right in his abdomen. Nobody was more surprised than the boy himself when he sent Reeger flying across the platform. Reeger smiled and got to his feet. There was strength in the boy but it would not be enough to save him today. A shudder spread throughout Reeger’s body forcing him to fall on one knee. The boy scrambled away and stood at a safe distance watching him. The rest of his group watched discussing between each other an alternate plan of escape.

Reeger got back up and smiled at the boy, charging him down with his blade lifted high above him. Zibulo was quick to duck away from the swinging blade but Reeger had been ready for this. He swiftly changed direction and the blade flew into his left hand then swung out at the boy slicing his shoulder open. Zibulo was stunned and before he could react Reeger switched the blade back into his right hand and drove the blade into the boy’s leg with all the venom that he could muster. His claws wrapped around Zibulo’s throat. Fear overflowed from Zibulo’s eyes much to Reeger’s pleasure. This was their champion and he had so easily overpowered him. So much time. So much effort. For nothing. Reeger pulled out his sword and thrust it into the boy’s stomach and left it there. Blood came gushing out of the boy’s abdomen as Reeger watched the life drain out of the boy’s eyes.

“Arien!” Turo screamed as she ran toward him.

The other members of the group joined her concentrating all their fire on Reeger. One of the shots penetrated his armour. His job was done and he quickly withdrew heading down an adjacent corridor and watched them carry the boy’s body down the side of the platform. He had decided he would let them take his body back to the Vulpeculae. They jumped off the platform while Reeger motioned for the dracien to let them escape. They would get back to the Vulpeculae and share their experience destroying them before he had started his attack on them.

The escaped group landed on the Rogue which had been camouflaged rendering it invisible in the bright light and scrambled into the ship before zipping off at terrifying speed toward the eastern horizon until they disappeared from Reeger’s view. He made his way back to his quarters after instructing the dracien soldiers to repair the hole in the hull in time for the attack which would happen shortly. His wound would heal shortly. Another gift from his many genetic additions. This was a better outcome than he had hoped for. Nobody could stop him now. The Thalios would be lost once again but the next time it surfaced he would be stronger and wiser.