Chapter 14

RAVAGER

JUTURI PRIDE COMMAND SHIP

“ ... needs to be within the next twenty-four hours.” Kalis told Koguth and Ceale as they sat looking at him in the crystal-clear transmission.

They were in the command lounge of the RAVAGER viewing him on the COM device that he had built for Ceale when she had come over to the ship. He was squatting beside Serale in what appeared to be his private quarters and they could see Danim in the background putting items into several backpacks that were in front of him on the floor.

Koguth leaned forward in his chair and looked at the Marshall’s oldest son. This was the fourth time they had communicated in this fashion in the last two days and each time they did it made Koguth feel more and more comfortable that Kalis was on their side one hundred percent. Kalis was risking quite a bit by his actions and after seeing how Ceale’s daughter acted towards him there was no way it was staged. Pusintin would never allow Kalis to treat Serale in such a fashion or allow her to act as she did with him. Ceale was not as convinced it seemed, but she was an extremely intelligent woman and Koguth believed it was more because of how she was acting with his own son that caused her to have misgivings about Serale. Mani had told him how Ceale would not go anywhere on the ship without Nedoni by her side now. It wasn’t so much that she was afraid of the crew as she had grown comfortable with him beside her. She ate with him and several times Mani had seen her laughing at something he had said. Not a forced laugh, but a laugh of genuine humor while she touched his hand or arm. It was not something Koguth had expected in any way considering what had been done to her over the last weeks, but Ceale was showing she was a strong-willed woman and one who was very resilient. He hoped for his son’s sake that Ceale’s affection towards him was genuine for Nedoni had never shown such intense interest in a woman until now.

“That is not far off Kalis?” He spoke.

Kalis nodded his head. “I know sir, but it will correspond exactly to the time when the Task Force conducts its Fleet Wide Tri-Cobalt Engine venting. The massive dump of Tri-cobalt residue into the surrounding area will blind all sensors out to five million kilometers. It will give us the time to clear the field and jump before they know what is going on. It’s our best chance sir.”

“He’s right father.” Mataen spoke now. “The Tri-cobalt venting is usually done in space dock or a staging area where ships are protected. This is the perfect opportunity. The sensors of every ship will be blind for the entire time.”

“As will ours.” Koguth said.

Kalis shook his head. “We will have already plotted an escape and evasion course out of the field into the LEUGERS computers before the vent begins.” Kalis spoke carefully. “And with what we talked about before ... that will only add confusion and hopefully take out several ships as well.”

“Why now?” Koguth asked. “Why not wait until we draw closer to the Lycavorian King? It would be much easier then.”

It was Serale who spoke, placing her hand affectionately on Kalis’s arm. She looked at Koguth and her mother in the transmission. “Kalis believes his father will send for you after they are done with this venting mother. He will make them return you to this ship so he can...”

“I am not going to allow that!” Kalis spoke as Serale choked up and turned her head to the side, resting it on his shoulder. “I made an oath to you Lady Ceale! I will keep it!”

“You are different young Kalis.” Mani spoke slowly. In the previous transmissions, he had spoken to her with great respect and given how it was publicly known how he had treated his own mother it was surprising. “You are different from all the reports we have read about you. You have ... you have a rather violent reputation to be honest. You are extremely skilled, there is no doubt about that, but it is known you have been prone to ... violent and emotional outbursts. What has changed you so?”

“Mani ... it matters not now.” Koguth spoke.

“I think it does.” Mani answered looking at him and completely unafraid to disagree with her husband. “We are placing our fates in his hands.” She turned back to Kalis. “How has such a change come over you in these last weeks young man? You ... you act more like one of your Uncle’s family than you do a Kavalian. You act more like a Lycavorian Spartan. Why?”

Serale looked up and gazed tenderly into his face. She lifted her hand and drew her fingers gently across his cheek, Kalis turning to look at her, a motion that Ceale took note of intently. “Tell them Kalis.” Serale spoke softly but they heard her anyway. “If we are leaving ... there is no reason to hide it anymore my love.”

Ceale’s eyes grew wide at this and she leaned forward. “Serale!” She hissed. Her eyes glared at Kalis. “You have taken my daughter against her will!” She snarled angrily. “I will...” Mani’s hand reached out and covered hers and Ceale looked at her. “Mani ... he ... he has raped my...”

“No!” Kalis’ voice barked drawing their attention back to him. “Never! I would not do such a thing! Never!”

Serale looked at her mother with wide eyes. “Mother! You have no right to ... he has not done this!”

“Ceale knows you only by your reputation Kalis.” Mani spoke calmly and evenly looking at Kalis in the transmission. “She knows only of your violent tendencies and your Puma Bane instructors. You see now why this is all very strange. We see something else within you now and it is confusing. Tell us how this came to be.”

Kalis took a deep breath and moved closer to Serale in the transmission. Ceale quickly noted her daughter did not move away in the least and actually leaned further into him. “On ... on Enurrua ... my uncle gave me something. A very special item that I have been learning from since that day. He ... he spoke words to me. Words that echoed within my head for days after. Words that echo still.”

“What words were those young Kalis?” Mani asked.

“He told me that he could ... that he could gaze within me.” Kalis spoke passionately now. “That he could see within me and recognize my true self screaming to come out. He told me there was a cancer within me ... a cancer that only I could stop. I have since come to see that cancer was my father, and the only way to stop it from consuming me was to see everything that my fool father never showed me! That he never taught me! My Uncle ... he told me I could open my eyes and make a choice to leave that cancer behind forever. That I was on a collision course with fate if I did not.” Kalis looked at Ceale. “He gave to me the means to discover this Lady Ceale. He gave to me the means to discover who I truly am and who I want to be going into the future that I want to have. That is who resides within this body now and into whatever future I may have. And I want my hope and my future to include Serale. If she will have me. I would die for her without the thought crossing my mind for a moment. I want the life only my uncle and my Lycavorian blood can give to me! That is what drives me now! And if I have to work for decades to prove to you that I love your daughter with every breath that I take, then I will do so! Happily!”

Ceale saw Serale’s face beaming in the transmission and she watched as Serale took his arm in her hands and leaned over to brush her face against his cheek.

Mani leaned back in her chair quite astonished at this, but her eyes showed that she didn’t doubt one word of what he had just said. She stared at him for a long moment. “The spirits of those who came before you sing out in your words young Kalis. I will doubt you no longer.”

“We can see the truth in your eyes young Kalis.” Koguth spoke softly. “The resolve. That is good. Where do you propose we go when we have departed the Task Force?”

“I know how he is tracking Queen For’mya.” Kalis spoke squeezing Serale’s hand in his. “I can re-align the sensors on our LEUGERS to detect the signal as well. We jump ahead of the Task Force by several light years, acquire the signal and continue jumping until we reach him. The transports are smaller and do not need as much maintenance between jumps. We can remain ahead of my father easily.” Kalis spoke. “Jumping the Task Force in order to chase us is a hazard even he won’t risk.”

“Do you know where he has gone?” Koguth asked. “He is no fool ... your uncle. He has a destination. He would not be out here among unknown and uncharted space just to simply draw Pusintin away to kill him. He knows where he is going.”

Kalis shook his head. “No. I don’t know where he is.” He answered honestly. “I ... I may have a means to send a message to him ... but I do not want to try this until we are away from my father. If we die ... better we die out there ... by our own actions and deeds ... than by his hand.”

Koguth nodded. “On that we agree young Kalis. On that we agree.” He spoke. “We will prep our LEUGERS as well. Ten minutes before the venting begins I will send you a message that we are ready.”

Kalis nodded. “We will be waiting.” Kalis spoke. “I will contact you again in twelve hours with any last-minute details. While I have been very careful ... my father is not stupid. I am taking every precaution.”

“As we will.” Koguth spoke. “We will talk again in twelve hours.”

Kalis nodded and they watched as he reached up to end the transmission. Koguth leaned back in his chair and looked at Mataen and Nedoni. “What he risks is no small feat.” Koguth said. “He is not acting as a Kavalian now ... he is acting as a Lycavorian Spartan.”

Mataen nodded his head and looked at his brother. “Nedoni ... we can do what he says yes?”

Nedoni nodded quickly from where he stood behind Ceale. “Easily. Kalis has kept it simple ... but complex at the same time. The timing will have to be just right but Corsa and I can easily fly the LEUGERS in the manner they need to be flown.”

“Does Kalis have the necessary piloting skills?” Koguth asked. “I was not aware he was even a pilot.”

Nedoni nodded again. “I know he has skills. I have heard of his flying abilities ... but to what extent I don’t know.”

“Serale can help him.” Ceale spoke quickly. “She’s been flying since she was seven years old. She’s an excellent pilot.”

Koguth nodded. “Then we need to prepare.” He stated. “Whatever path young Kalis is following now ... I certainly do not want to be in front of him while he blazes it. He will turn his training on any in his path.” Koguth looked at Mani. “You saw the determination in his eyes Mani? The devotion? He is on a mission and he will no doubt trample anyone in his way.”

Mani nodded. “It is etched across his face like the lines in a mountain.” Mani answered softly. “He is no longer Pusintin’s son and I fear any who attempt to get in his way will see a very different Kalis.”

“Training?” Ceale asked.

Koguth nodded but Mataen was the one who answered. “He’s been trained as a Puma Bane Commando Ceale.” He answered her quickly. “His instructor was one of the oldest and most respected among our people. Kalis’s reputation for physical prowess is well known. His intelligence not so much. I think that has changed considerably now though. Whatever he says happened on Enurrua has changed him. Changed him for the better.”

“And Serale?” Ceale asked. “Danim?”

Mani looked at her. “At this point Ceale ... I believe your children are in the best possible place they could be. He will let nothing happen to them while he lives and based on what I have seen and heard from this young man so far, his father has no clue about who he has become. I believe it will be far easier for him to get off that ship than any of us realize. He has also just become the best chance for us to find Iama.”

Nedoni moved closer to Ceale’s sitting form and gently rested his large hand on her shoulder. “You will see them soon Ceale.” He spoke softly. “Both of them.”

Everyone saw her slim hand reach up and grip his larger one without hesitation and Ceale nodded as she squeezed his fingers tightly. Her head instinctively leaned over and her cheek pressed against the soft fur on the back of his hand. This was not something that could just be dismissed and all of them in the room knew it. Ceale looked up at Mani. “What can I do to help?” She asked.

“Whatever medical supplies you think we may need must be packed quickly.” Koguth spoke. “We will take two LEUGERS but our cargo space will be limited so only pack what is absolutely necessary to compliment your skills Ceale.”

She nodded. “I’ll get on it right away.”

“Mataen ... light weapons but heavy on the ammunition.” Koguth said. “We don’t know what we will encounter after we leave.”

Mataen nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”

“This action will take us closer to finding your sister.” Koguth said softly. “That is why we are out here. Now we have two additional reasons to move forward with resolute care and purpose. Ceale wants her children back ... your mother and I want our daughter back. You want your sister back. Let this drive you as we go forward.” Koguth came to his feet. “I will feel my daughter in my arms again before darkness claims me into the void. No matter what I have to do.” He took a deep breath. “Let us get ready.”

PRIDE OF PUMAS

Kalis looked at Serale when the transmission ended. “I don’t think your mother believes me.” He said softly.

Serale kissed him softly. “We believe you.” She said running her fingers along his cheek.

Kalis allowed a small smile to split his face and he rubbed his nose against her cheek in a show of affection that was part of his newly discovered wolf blood and emotions. He squeezed her hand and turned back to Danim who was looking at them.

“Almost done.” Danim spoke.

Kalis moved over in front of him and helped him to put some additional items within the pack. He drew something from under the bottom of the couch as Serale settled next to her brother and he placed the bundle on the small table. He unwrapped it and they saw the two ARSOC sidearms and two data pads. He looked up at them and held out the two data pads.

“I have preloaded the schematics of the ship into these two pads and have linked them to the P1 my Uncle gave to me.” He said. “Once we set out we will stay together, but if we get separated for any reason just follow the path I have marked on the pads. It will lead you to the hanger bay.”

“Nothing will happen Kalis.” Serale spoke confidently as she took the pad.

“Better safe than sorry.” Kalis spoke as he lifted first one ARSOC and then the other. He held them out to them along with the thigh holsters. “I have modified them to suit each of you in weight and balance. I know ... I know you have never taken a life ... but if we are discovered you must not hesitate.”

Serale reached out and took the ARSOC first. She had a firm determination in her eyes and she held it and nodded. “I won’t.” She stated.

Danim nodded as well. “Neither will I.”

Kalis looked at Serale. “If anything ... if anything happens to me ... take my P1 and get to the ship Serale.”

“Kalis you...”

He reached out and took her hand. “Listen to me!” He insisted. “If I fall ... take my P1 and go! When you get off the ship follow the pre-plotted course and activate the last code in the P1. With any luck ... with any luck it is a direct communication link to my uncle or at least his current location. Follow the instructions you receive.”

“I will do this.” Serale said softly. “But nothing is going to happen to you Kalis.”

Kalis nodded. “I will try to make sure that is the case.” He said with a smile. “I would like to actually discover and live this new life I have found. With you.”

Serale smiled brightly and nodded. “So would I.”

“Get whatever you believe you will need from the room.” Kalis told her. “We should finish the packing now.”

Serale nodded and got to her feet moving towards the small bedroom. Kalis reached out and gripped Danim’s arm tightly. Danim looked at him surprised at the strength of his touch. He saw Kalis’s eyes bore into him. Danim was no fool and though only fourteen, he was rapidly gaining skills he would not have gained on Hadaria. It was Kalis who taught him to bury the hate for his father deep and not let it control him. The times they had talked these last days showed Danim that Kalis and he were very much alike. Kalis had given him some rudimentary hand to hand instruction as well as the knowledge to fire the weapon he now held. He trusted him.

“You are only fourteen Danim ... I know this. But no matter what happens to me ... you must get your sister off this ship. No matter what takes place ... if I fall ... don’t let her try and save me. Get her off the ship.” Kalis told him softly.

Danim met his eyes and dropped his hand over Kalis’s. He knew how Kalis felt for Serale, how his sister felt in return. He had watched it blossom these last weeks and he had watched how Kalis had changed. How his sister and whatever he had been reading on that pad had changed him. “I will ... I will do as you ask Kalis.” He said softly. “But ... you have to promise to not do anything stupid. I don’t think you realize just how much you ... how much Serale loves you now. We stick together ... just as you have told us.”

Kalis nodded his head. “Together.”

ONTEROM

SCIENCE STATION ZERO ONE FIVE

“ ... can’t possibly be the same one!” Sashan declared as he looked at Delnash.

Delnash met Sashan’s eyes and then glanced at Lorendo who had said nothing since he returned and told them of his conversation with Teniri and the larger dragon Arzoal. He nodded his head. “You have associated with Teniri as much as any of us Sashan.” Delnash spoke. “She is not one to make mistakes. This is the dragon Elder Mother she sent us looking for all those years ago. The one we told her was dead and lost when we did not find their ship or any sign of them on Elear.”

“We all saw the logs from the ship’s scans Delnash.” Sashan spoke. “Lorendo was there himself!”

Delnash looked at him. “I know. I tried to tell her that but she would not listen.” He sighed heavily. “You were not mistaken in some way Lorendo?”

Lorendo shook his head quickly. “Impossible.” He said. “We found no ship and certainly no dragons on this planet.”

“According to this Arzoal ... their ship returned some nine thousand years after Teniri dispatched it. It was damaged and it’s computer banks were wiped completely.” Delnash said.

“Nine thousand years?” Sashan said. “From where?”

Delnash shook his head. “She doesn’t know.” He replied. “She then used the ship to take the remainder of the dragons off Elear. At least that is what she tells me.”

“What she tells you?” Lorendo spoke. “This coming from one of our people who used a PTC for something it was not intended just to extend her own life!”

Delnash shook his head. “There is more to it.” He said. “Something she is not telling me. Something that Teniri is not telling us.”

“Dragon Kind has fought beside us...” Sashan spoke. “Stood beside us for millennia. I refuse to believe Teniri would willingly keep information from us. Especially information that has to do with a threat to us.”

Lorendo looked at him. “You are too trusting Sashan.” He said.

“And you are too quick to dismiss those who would be friends to us.” Delnash hissed at him. “Our relationship with Dragon Kind almost never came to be because of your words.”

“I was only looking out for our interests.” Lorendo spoke.

“Our interests are the interests of Dragon Kind.” Delnash snapped. “Now she has threatened to return to Artaaya and speak with her council. There is a good possibility she will decide to take her kind and leave.”

“Leave!” Lorendo popped. “Leave to where? Back with the primitives?”

Delnash nodded. “Yes.”

“Refuse to transport them.” Lorendo snapped.

“This Union of Lycavorians has ships that can transport them.” Delnash said. “Many ships built strictly for transporting dragons. This Arzoal sits on their ruling body and has a hand even in decisions that do not directly affect their kind.”

Lorendo huffed. “What does that tell you?” He snarled. “Dragon Kind helping to rule Lycavorians. What a joke.”

“Do not be so quick to dismiss this Lorendo.” Delnash told him. “Dragon Kind is an essential part of the defense of our people and your willingness to just dismiss that after so many years is quite troubling.”

“Then don’t let them leave!” Lorendo snapped again. “Refuse to let these ships come close to our worlds. Besides ... they are probably built with our technology and should be impounded as well.”

Sashan looked at him. “Are you saying we force them to stay?” He asked aghast. “Do you have any idea what kind of destruction they could wrought among our cities and people if we suddenly turned on them? They have been valued allies for millennia and now you suggest enslaving them! This is too much Lorendo!”

“So you will let these animals remove them!” Lorendo barked. “That is your solution?”

“They would be going willingly.” Delnash said.

“Teniri would not do that!” Sashan spoke quickly.

“Teniri is not the Elder Mother.” Delnash answered. “This Arzoal is according to Teniri and she will abide by whatever decision she makes. This Arzoal is more militant and forceful than Teniri and apparently the Lycavorian leader and the dragon he is bonded to are some sort of religious icons within Dragon Kind history and culture. Talon Guardians she called them. They have been gifted with a small portion of the Etheric essence of nine dragon Elders.”

“What?” Lorendo exclaimed. “How?”

Delnash shook his head. “Some sort of Etheric ritual known only to Dragon Elders. I’ve never heard Teniri mention this before in all our conversations. This adds to the power that the Lycavorian leader can drawn upon.”

“Delnash ... you don’t believe he is a Praetorian do you?” Lorendo gasped.

Delnash met his eyes. “What I believe does not matter.” He stated. “You were witness to what he can do Lorendo. He almost ended your life without so much as blinking. Even the Etheric essence of nine Dragon Elders could not give him the power he displayed. How else do you explain it? Over two dozen of our men could not stop him and these people with him are lethally trained and far more experienced than we first thought it seems.”

“He is an abomination!” Lorendo snarled. “That is how I explain it! Pralors ... breeding with these animals! How can we even consider looking at them as equals? Sumar and Wayonn, everyone one with them that agreed to this, they should be expunged from our history as traitors to our people!”

“Regardless of what you think ... the fact is they have Pralor blood within them and...” Delnash hissed angrily, his patience with Lorendo growing very short given everything that had happened so far. He stopped talking when he saw the Persian red haired Queen exit the station quickly, followed by Avatar 41 and many others, including Radra and both his daughters. The woman Lorendo struck was named Anja, that much he remembered, and she did not appear in the least bit happy.

His gaze caused both Lorendo and Sashan to turn and face them as they were quickly surrounded by other Lycavorians who all had their weapons out and ready to use. Delnash watched as Anja stopped in front of Lorendo, her jade green eyes now encircled by a thick black ring and the tips of her wolf fangs protruding from beneath her full lips. He watched as the Pralor Security Forces came to their feet from different locations, but none of them made any effort to intervene. The two elven and one cross breed vampire Queens burst from with the station next, followed by Wayonn, Valael and the woman Helen.

“Melyanna no!” Dysea barked out as she leaped the railing and moved quickly towards her. Of all of them, Dysea knew first hand what Anja was capable of. So many different people dismissed her or misjudged her because of her diminutive size, but Dysea had seen her rage in full and unrestrained action. Dysea had watched her beat a man three times her size to death when they were first building Eden City and Anja Leonidas had only grown far more dangerous since that day.

Anja turned to look at her quickly, her Jade green eyes softening every so slightly as she heard the concern in Dysea’s voice and her aura reaching for her. “I am ok Dysea.” She spoke back to her before turning to look at Lorendo once more. “I’m just going to have a talk with Mister Elder here.”

“What is going on?” Delnash asked quickly moving up beside Lorendo.

Anja pointed at Delnash but didn’t move her eyes from Lorendo. “You ... shut up!” Anja snarled at Delnash causing his eyes to go wide. “You ... you bastard!” She pointed at Lorendo now. “Your computer! Give it to me! Now!”

“I don’t answer to you woman!” Lorendo snarled at her.

“I will ask nicely only one more time!” Anja growled at him exposing her fangs as her eyes narrowed. “Then I will beat it out of you!”

Delnash looked at Lorendo surprised. “You have your P9?” He asked.

“I always have it!’ Lorendo barked.

“Give it to her! Now!” Delnash ordered him.

“Delnash they...” Lorendo began to protest.

“Give it to her Lorendo!” Delnash barked at him. “There will be no more violence among us! Do it now or I will have our security troops do it!”

Lorendo’s eyes darkened and he reached behind his back pulling the portable notebook sized computer from a carrying pouch he had on under his cloak. He tapped on it several times, a blinking red light appearing on the surface and then he held it out to Anja. “You will not be able to access it!” He growled. “You do not have the intelligence to do that! You can admire it however!”

Anja snatched it from his hands and then smiled. “I don’t want to access it.” She barked. “I want to use it for something.”

“What is that fool woman?” Lorendo growled.

“This!” Anja snapped before she cocked her hands back with the computer in them and then let fly the blow with perhaps half of her wolf strength directly into Lorendo’s sneering face. She didn’t want to kill him after all. Dysea had moved up beside her and did nothing because she felt Anja was in full control of what she was doing.

Given the beating he had taken at Martin’s hands, one would have thought Lorendo had perhaps learned to be more wary. Unfortunately for him, he still considered himself superior to everyone they had met. The edge of the computer impacted his jaw and snapped his head to the side with tremendous force, causing shooting pain to lance through his neck and shoulders. It also carried enough force to spin him completely around and drop him to his knees. Delnash, Sashan and most of the Pralor Security force gawked in astonishment at this display of strength from a woman who was easily half Lorendo’s size and weight.

“You motherfucker!” Anja screamed tossing the computer to the side where Avi’s large hand snapped out with blinding speed and caught it before it could shatter on the floor. Anja stepped closer to Lorendo and grabbed his full head of hair with her left hand and slapped him viciously across the face with her right. The stinging pop resounded within the vehicle bay like the pop of a firecracker driving his head back down into the floor of the vehicle bay. “Those were my patients!” She screamed at him. “My patients and you killed them!”

Anja kneed Lorendo powerfully in the chest and sent him sprawling across the floor where she pounced on him like she a female wolf going for the kill. Anja began to pummel him with her small fists, not bothering to try and aim the blows because of the speed and strength with which she was throwing them. Five foot three and only a hundred and fifteen pounds soaking wet when not in wolf form, Anja Leonidas’s body was ripped in the fashion that female wolves half her age envied her for. Years of training and fighting beside the man she so adored had honed her petite frame into a deadly machine and this was something that no one expected from the foremost Hadarian Healer in all the Alpha Quadrant.

Stunned, Lorendo brought up his hands and arms, trying to fend off the extremely painful blows that were hitting his face and head with lightening like quickness. Helen was the first to react, though the Spartan woman in her wanted to let Anja kill him for what he had done, and she stepped forward.

“Dysea! For’mya! Stop her!” She barked out coming up beside Wayonn.

Cirith had already been moving, more for the purpose of protecting Anja than saving Lorendo. She gripped Anja’s right hand as she prepared to smash another blow into his head and held it tight.

“Anja ... enough!” Cirith gasped as Dysea and For’mya appeared next to her and took Anja’s arms.

“Melyanna ... no more.” Dysea rasped out as they struggled to pull Anja off Lorendo’s inert form.

Anja may have been the smallest of Martin’s Queens ... but she was nearly an equal to Aricia in strength and it was a struggle even for the three of them to pull her off Lorendo as enraged as she was.