Blade Of Reckoning by Chris Harris (the red fox clan TXT) 📖

Chapter 2: Dark Deception

Tahkshi

The Watchman touched down in the landing bay of the Musun. The landing bay on this hemisphere of the museum protected by nought but a force-field and a generated atmosphere, was almost empty, due to the fact that it was officially closed for business, being that it was night there. The Enforcers, however, were allowed inside due to their government levels of access. A security guard approached the ship as the ramp descended. Tahkshi approached the Guard.

“What's wrong?” Tahkshi asked.

“I've been informed to tell you that the Pyrkagias and the robot can't enter the museum.” the guard said in gruff tones. Tahkshi looked at him: he was a Wervian, meaning that he was twice as large as Tahkshi was and covered in thick hair. Whilst being twice the size of Tahkshi, the Wervian's muscle density was a lot higher than the average human's, meaning that they are a lot stronger and hence a good choice for a security guard.

“Why not?” Tahkshi asked angrily.

The guard shuffled uncomfortably. “It's the policy, I'm afraid. The Pyrkagias are fine with it, 'cus they could accidentally damage the exhibits.”

This much was true. In all of the Pyrkagias' colonies, very few historical records remained, due to the plasmatic nature of their bodies. Pyrkagias have reflexes and twitches like humans, and their bodies can go awry. And when this happens, things are destroyed. Tahkshi had forgotten the agreement that no Pyrkagias can set foot in the Musun; an agreement set up by the Pyrkagias government itself.

“What about the machine?” Tahkshi asked.

“Standard policy, I'm afraid.” The guard said, “No outside AIs are permitted, as they could corrupt our own AIs.”

“Fine.” Tahkshi conceded. “Viretta, with me. Incarnate, get some rest.”

“Ok.” Incarnate grunted, still clutching his side: the ships that The Other had thrown at him had almost shattered his rib cage, and no amount of time in the medical bay with VEX-TE will get rid of the pain quickly, even if the injury itself is healed.

“Good man.” Tahkshi said. He turned to Foton. “Go find another suit of armour.”

“You sure?” Foton asked, “You could probably use some backup.”

“We'll be fine,” Viretta reassured him.

“Fine.” Foton turned and went back inside the ship.

“So, why'd you want to visit at this time?” The guard asked as they began to walk towards the elevator.

“That's classified.” Tahkshi said quickly.

“Where do you want to go?” The guard asked, feeling a bit awkward.

“The Lost Legend exhibit.” Viretta answered, before Tahkshi could say “that's classified” again.

“Ah, the Olympian display.” The guard explained, “Most of what we found there, we got from Earth.”

“Why?” Tahkshi asked irritably.

“Because otherwise, we'd only have burnt Adjeti ruins.” The guard said uncomfortably. “Anyway, in the elevator, the co-ordinates are 374, 587, 12.”

Tahkshi walked off over to the elevator. Viretta sighed, and said, “Thanks.” to the guard, before following.

“What are you doing?” she hissed at Tahkshi. “He was only trying to help.”

They stepped inside the elevator and Tahkshi entered the co-ordinates onto a small keypad on the wall. “He was asking too many questions.” Tahkshi said.

“That's no reason to be rude, is it?” Viretta said, annoyed.

The elevator began to move now. It was what is known as a “3D-elevator”, as in it moves in X, Y and Z co-ordinates, to access any point in the Musun's eastern hemisphere.

“I wasn't being rude.” Tahkshi said defensively. “I can't just tell him why we're really here, can I?”

“No,” Viretta conceded, “But you could've at least apologised. We are kinda wasting his time.”

“I guess.” Tahkshi agreed. “I'll apologise to him later.”

“Good.” Viretta smiled.

Tahkshi smiled as he saw her smile. “You really are beautiful, you know that?”

“Yup.” She replied cheekily, but the blush gave her true feelings away.

The elevator doors opened with a hiss, and they stepped out of the elevator. Tahkshi led the way and walked over to the Olympian Exhibit, signposted by a large sign that said “Olympians!” in more than twenty different languages. Tahkshi entered the exhibit and strolled past the statues of Zeus and other gods before reaching the Lost Legend display. The legend itself was encased in an alarmed glass cabinet. Tahkshi squinted to read it aloud.

“Eons ago, the Greek god of the underworld, Hades hatched a daring plan to steal the powers of all of the other Olympian Gods in revenge for him ruling only the dead. This plan was so sudden and brilliant, that it almost worked.

Almost.

Wishing to gain the powers of the gods, he forged an item called the Cornopticus. Then, he gathered a DNA sample from all of the gods. Hades got the DNA necessary from the skin flakes on the beds of the other Olympians. He then transferred the DNA into the Cornopticus.

But, there was a fatal flaw in his plan. Helios, god of the sun, witnessed Hades telling his most faithful servant and son, Blue Cloud, about the Cornopticus. He hurried to tell Zeus. After gathering an army of demi-gods, he set them on Hades under Helios’ command. Hades, with no extra power, slaughtered the demi-gods in an outburst of rage. Hades turned on Helios, and cast him out into deep space. Hades then stole a hair brush of each of the female gods, leaving him only without Helios' powers.

This was too much for Zeus. In order to stop Hades, he held a communion with the other gods. However, Hades, believing that the Cornopticus had granted him the powers of the gods, interrupted the ritual and turned on the gods. Firstly, he faced his own brothers, Zeus and Poseidon. When they started using their god powers, Hades realized that something was wrong. Eventually, Zeus and the other gods defeated Hades and sealed him inside the Hades Gate. However, in a last ditch attempt to escape, Hades shattered the lock on the Gate: the Blade Of Olympus into Four Swords. As he shattered it, the Four Swords were scattered throughout time and space. The Hades Gate sealed, but slowly began to unlock. Without the Four Swords being gathered and forged back into the Blade Of Olympus, Hades will one day be free. His last command was to Blue Cloud, ordering him to stop the gathering of the swords.”

“Sounds... different.” Viretta noted.

“Yeah...” Tahkshi said thoughtfully, “But it covers all of what The Other said. The Four Swords, the Demigod. It all fits.”

“You don't think it's true, do you?” Viretta asked sceptically.

“I don't think it's true,” said Tahkshi slowly and carefully, “But I think that The Other thinks it is.” Tahkshi pointed at the display marked “Cornopticus”. “There's some proof already. Intricate detailing was likely not a strong point of humans back then.”

“Looks like an overly large shell.” Viretta commented, “Like a fossil or something.”

“Could be.” Tahkshi conceded. “We should probably get back to the ship.”

They walked together back to the elevator. “Where are we going?” Viretta asked, “After the ship, I mean.”

“To Buena.” Tahkshi said, “Check on the war situation.”

The elevator doors opened before they reached it.

And then the lights went out.

*

Cinradahs

With the Musun's eastern hemisphere officially closed, Cinradahs crept out of the secluded corner. He smiled. Controlling shadows is great,

he thought. The control of shadows was Cinradahs' main power, enabling him to create soldiers from the darkness, and to shroud himself in darkness. He walked from his corner over to the elevator double doors, pressing the “call elevator” button.

“Hey, you!” came a call from behind him.

Cinradahs turned, hand outstretched. The shadows on the ground leapt up in spikes and skewered the Wervian that had previously been running at him. Cinradahs slowly stalked over to him, long steps closing the distance quickly. A chuckling erupted from Cinradahs' lips as blood spurted from the Wervian's. As Cinradahs stopped in front of the Wervian, it drew its head away in fear. “Are you afraid?” hissed Cinradahs.

The Wervian opened its mouth to speak, but Cinradahs pushed its jaw back upwards. “Hush now.” Cinradahs hissed, “Don't speak. Are you afraid?”

The Wervian shook its head slowly, wincing in pain.

Cinradahs moved away from the Wervian, turning around and walking back to the elevator which had now arrived. “You should be.” he called as he entered the elevator. As the doors closed, he heard the screams of the Wervian as the shadows tore him apart. Cinradahs sighed, before typing in the co-ordinates for an exhibit. “ 374, 587, 12.” he whispered to himself.

When the elevator travelled and eventually reached its destination, the doors flung open, Cinradahs saw two people and cast a shadow over them and the room, plunging it into total darkness.

*

Tahkshi

Footsteps penetrated the darkness, and as they grew louder, Tahkshi grabbed Viretta's hand and pulled her close. “Who's there?” he called.

A chuckle greeted him. “It doesn't matter to you, does it?” Cinradahs spat. “You can't see me, can you, murderer?”

“Murderer?” Viretta shot back.

“Imagine my surprise,” Cinradahs continued, ignoring Viretta's comment. “When I found out you lead your Enforcers in the field, as well as in the office, Tahkshi.”

How did he know? Tahkshi thought, No-one outside my main advisers know that, not even most of the senate. “I'll imagine your surprise when I catch you.” he quipped back.

Cinradahs laughed. “You'll have to for evermore. After all, I'll soon be off with what I came for.”

“What did you come for?” asked Viretta, as Tahkshi drew his blade.

“None of your concern.” Cinradahs spat back, “However, your antics at the Church Of Cloud earlier-”

“Church Of Cloud?” Tahkshi asked, glancing at Viretta. “That was the name of the church?”

“Of course,” Cinradahs hissed. “And the Authorities are going their right now.”

“And?” Tahkshi asked carelessly.

“There's evidence to suggest that you and your Enforcers killed all of the church-goer's.”

Tahkshi's jaw dropped and he felt Viretta's hand tighten. “What?”

“Foton's armour. Cinders left by the Pyrkagias. Incarnate's blood.” Cinradahs gloated. “And to top it off, you're stealing the Cornopticus artefact from the Musun.”

“You bastard!” Viretta yelled. “You can't do this.”

“Ah, but I can.” Cinradahs said, “No security cameras work at this hour in this hemisphere, to save on utility. And no-one knows I'm here, except you.”

“I know your voice.” Tahkshi said slowly.

“You do.” Cinradahs said.

“Cinradahs.” Tahkshi revealed. “Always thought you were a bit of a bastard.”

“You beat me in every poll, Tahkshi.” Cinradahs spat, “And this is my revenge. I will get your position, because there is no-one else willing to take over. You will be branded a wanted criminal, as all your little group shall.”

Tahkshi gulped, moving forwards, but the darkness seemed never ending, even though he was sure the exhibit itself was only a small room.

“I'm sorry, Viretta.” Cinradahs said, “But you threw in with the wrong crowd.”

“Fuck you.” Viretta spat, aiming a kick at nothing in particular. Her foot connected with something and, a fraction of a second later, a shattering sound came from the ground.

“And now,” Cinradahs said, “Your downwards