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

spiral begins.”

Glass shattering.

Alarms blaring.

Hurried footsteps.

The darkness cleared to reveal the elevator doors slide shut and red, flashing lights illuminating the exhibit.

“They'll believe us, won't they?” Viretta asked, looking up at Tahkshi.

“I doubt it.” Tahkshi said. “Cinradahs expects us to fight our way out of this.”

“Why?” Viretta asked.

“Because we have no time to explain.” Tahkshi said, his eyes drifting and looking at a small box. “Look.” He pointed towards the box.

Viretta pulled her hand out of Tahkshi's grip and jogged towards the box. Atop the box were four digital numbers: 02:35. Counting down. “It's a bomb!” she yelled, eyes widening with fear.

“We need to go.” Tahkshi insisted. When Viretta did not move, Tahkshi pulled on her arm and assertively said, “Now!”

They ran to the elevator doors and looked at the call-elevator button. It was sparking and smoking. Won't be doing that then...

Tahkshi thought. Footsteps came from down the corridor and Tahkshi turned his head to see a team of Wervians running down the corridor, security batons at the ready.

“Stairs!” Viretta called frantically from down the corridor.

Tahkshi looked over to her and saw the stairs, marked with the label “Teleportation Booths” with an arrow pointing upwards. Please yes.

“Stop!” came a voice from below.

“Go!” Tahkshi yelled to Viretta as she turned to look to see behind. From his pocket, he took out a communicator device and spoke into it, “Foton, meet us on Buena.”

Foton's voice echoed through the small speaker on the device. “Why? What's going on?”

“We've been framed for killing those people at the church,” Tahkshi said, “And for stealing an artefact here and planting a bomb.”

“Damn...” Foton said, no other response coming to mind.

“The guards will probably come for you.” Tahkshi said, jogging up the steps, “So go. We'll be there soon.”

“Good luck.” Foton said, before signing off.

Tahkshi caught up to Viretta as she gestured to the Wervians chasing them up the spiral stairs, “Why don't they just shoot us?”

“No guns allowed,” Tahkshi said, racing up the stairs, “Might damage the exhibits.”

“They're headed for the teleportation booths!” yelled a Wervian.

“Cut the power!” came a yell from another guard.

“Shit...” muttered Tahkshi as the lights turned themselves off with a flash.

Viretta tugged on the booth door as she reached it. “It's locked!” she yelled.

Tahkshi kept running, increasing his speed. He lowered his shoulder and charged into the door, which shook on impact, before falling open. The room was dark, but he could just make out the cylindrical booths.

“Buena!” exclaimed Viretta.

“Where?” Tahkshi asked, looking around. But the darkness ate into his vision and clouded his senses.

“They're in there!” came a Wervian's call.

“We got them now!” another yelled.

“Over here.” Viretta said, grabbing Tahkshi's arm and pulling him over to the booth marked “Buena”.

“Can you power it?” Tahkshi asked.

“Of course.” Viretta said, slipping off one of her silver gloves. These gloves were made of a steel-fabric fibre, that acted like silk, but allowed the conduction of electricity, which flowed from a micro-generator which sat in the palm of the glove, and could be activated by just a touch to the palm. She touched the palm and placed it onto the booth. Electricity flowed out of the glove and into the booth's backup generator, usually used in case the power cuts whilst someone is being teleported.

“We'll have to leave it here when we go.” Viretta said, “The generator doesn't seem to be able to store enough energy.

“Shit...” Tahkshi said, “Cinradahs planned this. More evidence against us. Not only is the Watchman fleeing the scene, but your DNA will be left behind.”

“It can't be helped.” Viretta said, “The sooner we get to Buena, the sooner we can convince the Council that we're innocent before Cinradahs gets there.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Tahkshi conceded, “Is it charged yet? The guards are getting closer.”

“Probably.” Viretta said.

A Wervian appeared in the doorway, blocking most of it.

“Go!” ordered Tahkshi, pushing her into the booth.

“Get them!” the Wervian yelled, obviously the one in charge.

Viretta disappeared, and Tahkshi jumped into the booth afterwards, his vision clouding, before being whisked through infinity.

*

Foton

Foton put the communicator down and looked at Incarnate and Devilclash behind him. “Did you hear that?” he asked.

Incarnate nodded, “We should go.” Now”

“Of course.” Foton agreed.

“Wervians forming a perimeter around the Watchman.” came VEX-TE's drone.

“Damn!” Devilclash hissed.

“VEX-TE, get us out of here!” Foton yelled.

“Ship designated Watchman.” came a voice from outside the ship. Foton looked out of the viewport and saw Wervians being led by a human with a loud-speaker. “Please lower the boarding ramp and allow us to board.”

“Engines are ready.” VEX-TE stated. “Ready for take-off.”

Foton noticed the guards flinch back as the engines roar. “Stop!” yelled the human guard. “Stop or we will fire!” Some of the Wervians were carrying heavy weapons, Foton could make out.

“Go.” Foton ordered.

The Watchman rose into the air and hovered in the air, before propelling itself out of the docking bay and into open space.

“We did it!” Devilclash exclaimed.

“Not yet.” Incarnate pointed out the viewport.

Out of other docking bays along the Musun, small fighter craft emerged like bullets from their barrels. Although it was difficult to view colours in the darkness of space, the crafts were illuminated by the blue streaks they left behind them, a by-product of the antimatter drive-core that powered them.

“Stinger-class.” Foton muttered, before calling to VEX-TE. “Switch to manual drive!”

“Switching to manual.” VEX-TE's monotone confirmed. As it said that, the control panel in front of Foton came to life, splitting in two, revealing the ascending panel containing the controls for piloting the Watchman. Foton took control of the roller ball guidance-control and pushed his hand forwards, the ball and ship both mimicking the movement.

An explosion rocked the ship. Incarnate lurched forwards, descent halted only by the ship lurching to the right. “I thought the ship was undetectable.” Incarnate protested.

“Only to scanners.” Devilclash replied as the Watchman lurched from side to side to avoid getting hit by the Stingers' lasers. “If they can see us, we're screwed.”

“VEX-TE, calculate light-speed jump to Buena!” Foton ordered. “Now!”

“Calculating.” VEX-TE confirmed.

The Watchman darted forth, the Stingers following closely. The Watchman started curving to the right, gradually increasing its speed. Laser burns pockmarked the Watchman's hull, although it avoided the brunt of the fire-power.

“Calculated.” VEX-TE stated.

The Watchman swerved, gradually avoiding yet another barrage by performing a barrel-roll, before disappearing through space as VEX-TE initiated the light-speed jump to Buena.

*

Tahkshi

Tahkshi fell from the teleportation booth in the Council lobby as his knees gave way. The lobby was empty, due to the early time. Golden pillars were placed around the lobby to structurally support the ceiling, and also act as elaborate decoration.

“Viretta...” Tahkshi groaned.

She turned around and helped Tahkshi up. “What's wrong?”

“I think my injuries The Other gave me are kicking in again.” Tahkshi groaned. “Let's get to my office.”

They walked through the corridors until they reached Tahkshi's office. Viretta went to grab the door handle, when Tahkshi grabbed her hand and hissed, “No.”

“What?” Viretta asked.

“Keep it down.” Tahkshi hissed, “The light's on in there.”

The light in all of the offices in the council building automatically come on when a living organism is in the room.

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

“I don't know.” Tahkshi murmured, drawing his sword. The weight of the sword caused his leg to buckle beneath him and he fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

The door opened, and a tall, wizened man stood in the doorway. He looked at Viretta, before looking down at Tahkshi, and proffering a hand.

“Naarl?” winced Tahkshi, allowing Naarl to help him up, putting the sword back in it's sheath.

“Looks like you're in a spot of bother with the Authorities, Tahkshi.” Naarl said sternly. “Viretta.” he nodded.

“Naarl.” Viretta responded. Naarl was the head of the Council that advised Tahkshi on any proposals.

“Cinradahs got to them already?” Tahkshi asked.

“I knew it wasn't really you, and he always seemed...shady.” Naarl said, “So, it sure looks that way. We need to get you out of here. Now. Where are the others?”

“They'll be along soon.” Viretta explained, “They just got off the Musun.”

“You were out the Musun?” Naarl snapped.

“Yeah.” Tahkshi groaned. “Why?”

“That's the reason I was waiting for you so early.” Naarl explained. “I arrived early and went to the canteen to watch the news and -by gods Tahkshi- the Musun's gone.”

“Gone?” Viretta asked.

“Destroyed.” Naarl reiterated.

“The...bomb.” Tahkshi winced. “Must've been more powerful than we thought.”

“No bomb that I know of can destroy a planet.” Naarl said.

“Cinradahs managed it.” Viretta said, “The proof is there.”

“Actually,” Naarl said, “The evidence points to you and your Enforcers, Tahkshi. For the destruction of the Musun and the murder of a religious cult.”

“How do you know about that?” Tahkshi asked.

“As the Head Of The Council,” Naarl explained, “The Authorities contacted me about all this. So, I went to your office to wait. You arrived less than a minute later.”

“What else did they say?” Viretta said cautiously.

“They said,” came a voice from behind them, “that they're on their way.”

Tahkshi turned to face the figure behind them. “Cinradahs.” he said.

Dressed head-to-toe in flowing, black robes, Cinradahs was no ordinary human. From a distance, he merely looked pale, but look closer, and the ivory exoskeleton is truly visible. Beneath hair like a veil of darkness, bright blue eyes shone from within ivory caverns and a thin, lipless mouth twisted into a mocking smile. “Tahkshi.”

“You won't get away with this, Cinradahs.” Viretta warned.

“With what?” Cinradahs asked, an air of mock innocence about him. “Alerting the Authorities to your crimes?” His grin grew wider. “They'll be here soon.”

“When?” asked Naarl.

“Ah, Naarl.” Cinradahs said, turning to face him, “Do you side yourself with these outlaws, or with the Galaxy?”

“I serve the Overlord.” Naarl said.

Cinradahs chuckled. “But I am the Overlord now. Tahkshi's crimes are punishable by death. The Authorities shoot on sight.”

“When will they be here?” yelled Tahkshi.

“Soon.” Cinradahs said, “And be warned: you run like outlaws, or you die like criminals.”

Tahkshi looked at Naarl. “Naarl. Side with him. Please-”

“No.” Naarl interrupted stubbornly.

“Naarl.” Tahkshi grabbed him by the shoulders. “I don't want you to die with us and-”

“Three.” muttered Cinradahs.

“-What?” Tahkshi turned to face Cinradahs, drawing his pistol and holding it to Cinradahs' face.

“Shoot me.” Cinradahs said, “See how much good that'll do you. Two.”

Tahkshi's eyes widened. “It's a countdown! Run!” he roared, pulling the trigger. The bullet dented Cinradahs' exoskeleton, but no lasting effect remained. He then turned and ran behind Naarl and Viretta. “Naarl, no!” Tahkshi yelled.

“One!” called Cinradahs

“It's not your choice, Tahkshi!” Naarl yelled back.

Glass shattered as Officers of the Authorities rappelled down the building and entered