Ch12: Pressing On

Copyright © 2013 by P.A. Lackey

All rights reserved.

No part of this story may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. 

Chapter Twelve: Pressing On

Dust billowed in the air, and tree limbs cracked from their trunks before crashing to the ground. The treetops whirled overhead as the rotors of a flying machine beat the air with fury. Heated shells fell from the machine’s guns which unloaded its chambers into the trees.

Arius hunkered beneath a rocky overhang where he hoped the machine wouldn’t be able to see him. The group had been scattered in the night due to the air ambush. The leather clad soldiers must have been using infrared vision technology. Otherwise, Arius knew not how they tracked them in the dark, but if this were the case, then they would stand out like flares under the forest canopy.

Arius could feel the vibrations from the machine, and the flurry of leaves beneath it. The guns stopped their thundering, and soon the machine moved on. The dust settled, and Arius didn’t know where the others were, but he feared to move from hiding. Exposing himself could attract anything from the air, but he knew there were foot soldiers in the area. He had seen them, and even now could feel them among the surrounding trees.

Moving forward he risked it. All he had was the assault rifle he stole from the soldier in the building earlier that day. It fell cool against his clammy palms, and he swept it back and forth against the trees ahead.

His eyes were attuned to the dark, but he wondered if the darkness would conceal him from the ground troops. If they too had infrared, then his camouflage was useless. He had to find safety, but where upon the island could he go?

He felt a soldier a few yards to his right. Taking cover behind a wide oak, Arius prepared to attack if needed, but he could identify three soldiers together. He would have to attack with cunning.

“They could be anywhere,” one of them said, in a rough voice. “Stick close and we’ll fare the better.”

“They can’t hide forever,” another one said, while sweeping the perimeter with its rifle. “They have no place to run, and the commander is certain that we will scour this island until they turn up. He thinks they’re from the outside world, perhaps spies.”

“They’re not from the outside,” the first one nearly barked. “These things came out of the shadows like ghost. Whatever they are, they’re not human.”

“Then what?” asked the third.

“I don’t know, but they ghosted me before I had a chance to fight back,” the first one replied before letting out a curse. “I’ve died enough this month, and I’m not going to die again. Next time, I’ll be ready.”

Arius felt a chill down his spine. Were these soldier immune to death, only to rise again after death? It would explain their hideous appearance if it was due to death time and time again. These were soldiers who saw the horrors of battle unto death several times over. Their scars would bear testimony of the fact.

The three moved on, and Arius stepped past the tree. He could see their back’s glistening in the soft moonlight which his eyes could pick up. Surgery had changed his eyes to mimic those of the planets residence, but in the dark they reverted back to their original light sensitive state.

A tremor brought him to spin to his right where he spotted a leather soldier twenty feet off. Its infrared scope glistened under the moonlight, and its rifle aimed for him. Arius sprayed the surrounding trees with the pull of a trigger while return fire pelted the tree behind him. The soldier sought cover, but took several hits to the chest before tumbling back.

Spinning back around, Arius knew that the other three would return, and thus they were through the bushes. Spraying the area with his rifle, Arius moved for cover back behind the tree as return fire shattered the other side. He knew more would be closing in, and he had to get out before they surrounded him.

Another rifle thundered several yards up the hill from the three soldiers, and Arius identified a fourth figure. The three soldiers took cover as one of them fell wounded. It was an ally, and Arius stepped around the oak, thundering the remainder of his clip toward the enemy. They scattered further, one taking a mortal wound to the head, and the second finding himself pinned behind a tree.

Arius sought cover behind another tree to reload while the soldier fired toward the other figure. With a click Arius hurried forward to press the soldier back. The fourth figure descended the hill and planted a knife into the wounded soldier, before Arius finished off the final one.

More were coming as he could feel them bearing toward them. The fourth figure made for Arius, before grabbing him by the arm. It was Brockumus.

“We must head for the harbor,” he said.

“What of the others?”

“They will take care of themselves. We must find safety and regroup later.”

The night pressed on as did they, but Arius felt the makings of a trap. 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out my book, Ground of Oam, here. It can also be found in paperback on amazon.com 

Ch11: Stories Told of History's Day

Copyright © 2013 by P.A. Lackey

All rights reserved.

No part of this story may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. 

Chapter Eleven: Stories Told of History's Day

Night had encroached upon them, and the five found themselves a few meters from the Gray Tower. A starry sky seemed to move above the trees as the planet continued its rotation, and the moon had for a short time been up. No fire stirred before them, as they wished to avoid attention. Thus they ignored the cold which impinged their bodies.

Naturally the tower would have provided ideal shelter for the five, but it would have left them cornered if the enemy were to come upon them. Therefor Thorim thought it wise to keep a distance, though no one felt comfortable by it. There was a killer among them, and Arius knew that the others distrusted him. Even Thorim who was reluctant to accuse him, remained suspicious. Arius could tell by the way he behaved. Wary glances, and uncomfortable silence were a giveaway.

Gruegon and Brockumus kept watch for the night, though no one slumbered. Camus was the fifth mercenary among them, and even more than Arius, was probably the quieter of the bunch. He had over the trip developed a bond with Gruegon just as Rie with Grem, and Jayvolni with Dueson and Ruekrow. Arius supposed that Brockumus was his new friend during the trip which left Thorim as the loner. He didn’t seem to have any one friend among the mercenaries, but acted as their leader alone. Arius could only wonder what their commander was thinking.

A sharp clicking sounded in the camp, and they all reached for their wheel. A palm sized device that clicked off an encrypted message. The shape of it was a wheel, and engraved symbols ran around the rim. The top part of the wheel turned to press upon the bottom part, and a message was dialed from Jayvolni. It was their method of communications, as they had no radio or com. The wheel operated by a type of magnetism which only the corresponding devices were linked to, thus they were able to communicate no matter what their distance from each other.

“He has found a boat by the docks,” Thorim spoke aloud. “but it’s condition is in need of repair.”

“If he succeeds in repairing it,” said Camus. “Will we leave with him?”

“Our priority is the mission, but he is right to say that staying is dangerous,” replied Thorim. “We will go if we must.”

Another message clicked through the wheels, and Arius noted it as from Grem. The two had nearly made it back to the crash site, but there were many leathered savages there. It would be dangerous, but they dared to proceed in hopes of finding the ships transmitter.

Thorim replied with a warning, but they refused to take heed from their old commander. They were on their own now, and only communicated to remain informed. All became silent as soon as communication was over.

The insects upon the world had taken to their chirping for the night, and now Arius’ mind began to wonder. He thought of his future wife, and despaired for the great distance between them. Could he ever get back to her, or was his destiny there among men who did not trust him. Was all this really a ploy of his future father in law of riding him forever? Heat flashed through his body as he looked back upon his gullibility. Yawen Waid, the father of his future wife, had tricked him. Arius had trusted the man, and at one time considered him as a father he never had, but now he realized the usury.

Arius’ thoughts soon turned to the mission which Thorim thought so highly of. It was true, they were there to make history, but perhaps it was their demise they would find instead. They were hunting a man of legend, long thought dead. What would his business be there, and what was he planning?

Arius recalled the stories taught to him as a child. A plague that devoured worlds, turning brother against brother, son against father. The great Plaigeanic Wars led by the Lord of Plagues, as the adversary called himself.  Worlds were in peril against his corrupting hand, and plague like armies, but a deliverer came to free them from the Lord of Plagues. Archaies was his name, and by his hand the adversary was put to death, the plague done away, and peace restored. Now here they were several hundred years later, hunting the man they once adored. The man Archaies, the one they once called deliverer. 

Thanks for stopping by, and sorry for the late post. Be sure to check out my book, Ground of Oam which is available for both Kindle and Paperback on amazon. 

Ch10: Five for Now

Copyright © 2013 by P.A. Lackey

All rights reserved.

No part of this story may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. 

Chapter Ten: Five for Now

The room seemed to go dead as an uncertain silence overtook it. No one reached for their guns, though Arius could see how they prepared themselves just in case. Verbal accusations held back, at least for now, but the mercenary’s eyes did enough of the talking.

“This doesn’t look good, Arius,” Thorim said, as if Arius failed to comprehend it.

“I’m not responsible for this,” he replied.

“No one’s accusing you,” said Brockumus, who glanced around the room full of mercenaries.

“You speak alone,” replied Rie. “This looks suspicious enough.”

“Do you think I would leave my dagger behind for all to see?” Arius shot back, with more anger than intended. “I didn’t do this.”

“Wel,l someone did,” replied Rie, unappreciative of his tone.

“We know the ship was sabotaged,” added Grem. “And someone in this room is responsible for that, and whoever it is, is likely responsible for this too.”

“Let’s not rush to conclusions,” began Brockumus, but Ruekrow cut him off.

“The conclusion is obvious. We have our daggers, and I have heard the rumors. Arius’ allegiance is questionable.”

“Rumors that I am sure you started!” Brockumus barked.

“Silence!” came Thorim’s voice with a boom. The room grew dull once again.

“We must think this through,” he continued. “When could this have happened? We have been together since the crash.”

“I wouldn’t be sure of it,” Dueson replied. “The night of the crash when we sought shelter under the rock. Someone could have sneaked off then, only to return unnoticed.”

“But we had two at watch every few hours,” said Brockumus.

“It was dark,” said Dueson. “Anyone of us could have sneaked off, and besides that, the dagger is ours. It couldn’t have been here before the crash which means it has to be one of us.”

“Then someone is setting me up,” said Arius.

“We don’t need to hear it,” hissed Grem. “The evidence is clear if only we look at it plainly. What are we going to do about it, commander?”

Thorim hesitated a response.

“Setting Arius up would be easy to do,” Brockumus said, taking advantage of the pause.

“Are you volunteering?” asked Ruekrow.

Dueson grabbed his younger brother by the arm as if to ease his accusations. Jayvolni only observed in the background.

“Sir.” Arius had a dry mouth.

He could only plea for his innocence. Anger began to rage as he pondered his framer for he knew someone there was setting him up. Brockumus had warned him to be careful, but the conspiracy against him was already set in motion.

“Quiet,” Thorim nearly hissed. “There are too many possibilities. I can’t accuse you of anything, but the evidence before us is plain. Perhaps too plain.”

“Excuse me, sir,” Grem said with disbelief. “Too plain?”

“This could be a set up!”

“Or carelessness upon the culprits part!” Grem barked at his commander. “How can you dismiss the obvious? Do you wish to see us all dead?”

“No!” Thorim rebutted. “But we need further investigation.”

“We don’t have time,” Jayvolni finally spoke. His calm but stern voice effortlessly broke the heated commotion. “This island will soon be swarming with hostiles. We need an exit strategy if we wish to live.”

“So what?” asked Rie. “We should just forget about this?”

“I don’t care what you do,” replied Jayvolni, “but I’m going back toward town. Perhaps there’s a boat or something.”

“No,” said Thorim. “We need to investigate. Otherwise this mission is over.”

“This mission is already over,” replied Jayvolni. “Now it’s only a matter of survival, and the best way to do that is to get off this island.”

“We can’t,” replied Rie. “Our ship dropped a beacon before it crashed. If we leave this island then we’ll have no chance of getting home. We should find the beacon first. Perhaps it’s washed ashore by now.”

“I bid you well with that,” said Jayvolni. “I’m heading to town, and if anyone wants to come along, follow me.”

Jayvolni glanced toward Dueson and Ruekrow as if to give a special invitation before turning to leave the room.

“Jayvolni,” Thorim said. “You can’t do this.”

“I’m am, sir,” he replied. “And I suggest you figure your end out before you follow. There’s a traitor among us, and we can’t act like it’s not obvious. I’ll keep in touch through the wheel.”

Jayvolni cast a glance toward Arius before he left the room. Ruekrow and Dueson hesitantly followed, leaving the rest to make up their own minds.

“We can’t leave without the beacon,” Rie said. “I’m heading back to the crash. Anyone who wants to go home come with me, except you.”

Rie pointed his finger toward Arius with eyes that threatened harm if he were to follow. Grem went along with his friend leaving the last four of the group. Arius questioned his next move and wondered what Thorim would have done to him. Surely Brockumus would come to his aid.

“And just like that the group is no more,” Thorim said, under his breath. “That’s what I get for working with brutes.”

Looking to the other two mercenaries he asked, “What of you? Do you wish to desert your commander as well?”

“No sir,” one of them replied, Gruegon was his name. “We are vulnerable if we split up.”

“Then it’s us five for now,” Thorim said. “And we stay for the mission, if you are capable of it.” 

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Ch9: Cursing in the Tongue

Chapter Nine: Cursing in the Tongue 

A caw broke out over the dark forest canopy as a black colored bird fluttered among the jagged trees. This side of the island was unlike the other. While the other side had been full of color bursting from every crevice and rock, this side was nothing more than bland grey bark and faded leaves which hung from the trees and layered the gently sloping ground.

It was dark within the forest which was good since it provided enough shade to stay cloaked, and even if they couldn’t cloak, the canopy would prevent any aircraft from spotting them. Arius kept this in mind, but still questioned the situation with skepticism. They were on a small island with hostiles soon to be combing the land for them, and yet they expected to find their contact there. Something just didn’t seem right about it.

A stone wall was ahead of them, and the mercenaries moved through the open gate which looked old and unused. The Gray Tower was just ahead of them, and seemed to be surrounded by maze like walls which kept them away from the entrance. Soon they made their way through however, and Arius wondered at the purpose of the tower. It didn’t appear to be a lighthouse of any kind, but it was tall enough to be.

Thorim led the way, taking pause at the entrance. He motioned for Jayvolni to take the door which he did. The door opened with a snarl as the bottom of it scrapped across the stone floor. The mercenaries rushed in to clear the first room which consisted of half of the bottom floor. The next room was the other half, and a rounded staircase circled up to the second floor. The place was old and clearly abandoned. Could their contact really be there, Arius wondered.

Dueson led the way up the wooden stairs which creaked under their weight. The higher they climbed the more skeptical Arius became. Their contact was like them and would surely be aware of their presence now, but no one showed.

The door at the top was open, and Dueson headed in first followed by the rest. A round table was at the center of the room and a single chair beside it. Its back was toward the door, and a figure sat upon it. They slowed when they saw it, and Dueson carefully moved around it to get a better look. Arius took to the other side and soon they were all before it.

“We have a problem, sir,” Dueson said, as Thorim entered the room.

Arius eyed the corpse which was slumped forward. A dagger was in its gut, and florescent blue veins could be seen traveling up the corpse’s neck and face where they accumulated around the eyes. A deep blue substance lingered within the figures eyes, and Arius recognized it for what it was.

“Someone got to our contact before we did,” Dueson said.

Thorim moved in for a better look, pulling the head back to see the eyes. He cursed in his own language when he saw it.

“It’s one of ours,” he said, grabbing the dagger.

Pulling it out, he examined the blue edge of the dagger. It was definitely theirs as the blue substance coating the knife was known as Suedoth. It was a poison they coated their knives with. Once the Suedoth reacted with the blade a simple cut would infect the blood stream where it would make its way toward the brain.

“How?” Grem asked, casting a glance across all of them.

“Who’s missing a dagger?” Thorim asked with regret.

Everyone began to search their bags and belts to show themselves innocent. Arius started for his bag where he had put his, but his mouth turned sour as soon as he remembered earlier that day. His dagger had been missing from his bag, except for the blue Suedoth stone which was used to line the knife. His stomach grew heavy as he watched everyone else present their daggers. Soon their eyes were upon him, empty handed.

“Arius, where is your dagger?” asked Thorim.

“I don’t know, sir,” he stuttered. “I don’t have it.”    

Thanks for reading chapter nine, and be sure to stop by next Saturday for chapter ten. I'm not sure how many chapters this story will have though I am sure it is near the halfway mark. 
Meanwhile, be sure to check out my book, Ground of Oam, here.
Also, check it out in paperback here.

Ch8: Leather Clad Soldiers

Chapter Eight: Leather Clad Soldiers

Everyone moved in as Thorim undid the mask from the figures head. Four buckles traversed down the front side of the mask which he had to undo individually before pulling away the leather flap. A lifeless face starred at them, but it lacked the familiarity of the planets traditional inhabitants. Or at least it failed to match the description of what they had been lead to believe the inhabitants looked like.

The figures face carried a resemblance to the planet’s inhabitants, but it looked mutilated and deformed. It wasn’t necessarily due to deformity at birth, but rather due to battle. This creature carried battle scars which would have left most beings Arius knew of incapable of combat. An incorrectly healed jaw, butchered nose, and plenty of scars added detail to the face.

“He’s been through a lot,” Brockumus commented.

“Is it a native?” asked Ruekrow. “Or is it the biological entity that our intel mentioned?”

“I’m going to take a guess,” replied Thorim. “It’s probably not the original inhabitants of this world. Rather, it’s the thing responsible for throwing this world into a dystopian age.”

“What do you think they are?” asked Dueson. “Where did they come from?”

“All I know is what our intel gave us,” Thorim replied. “We should find our contact. He will be able to give us more answers.”

“We’ll have to move fast,” Jayvolni said. “This place will be brimming with these things as soon as they discover them dead.”

“Then we head for Gray Tower now,” Thorim said. “Take their weapons and any ammunition you can carry.”

The group broke off and began to strip the bodies. Arius grabbed several more clips for his newly obtained rifle and placed them into his bag. Moving back to one of the bodies down the hall he grabbed a handgun from its side as well as its leg holster. He had lost all his supplies except for his bag during the crash, so he found a certain kind of relief once he was armed again.

They left through the front door and past the cruiser with only a moment’s glance. Cruiser would provide fast transportation, but it would also be easier to spot. They would continue on foot as they had been; keeping to the shadows where they could easily hide.

By noon they were following the forest line across the hills which swell up from the earth east of the building. The map they had seen earlier depicted Gray Tower toward the southeastern corner of the island which couldn't be more than a couple miles away. The island was small; the building being at its highest point had revealed the entirety of it. As soon as these unknown entities discovered their dead team, there would be hardly a place to hide. Arius realized the seriousness of the situation, and knew they would have to find a way off of the island soon.

“Sir,” Grem called, from ahead. He pointed to the building which lay far behind them.

They looked to the west where the sun now bore straight upon the house. Shadows would be short at this time of day. A distant hum began to roar across the distant hill where the building sat as a large aircraft settled past the house. Arius could see the grass under it dispersing outward as the gust from the double rotor machine neared the ground. It looked heavily armored, a rotor disk was to either side of it, and a door slid open upon its side. A dozen leather clad soldiers hit the ground and hurried to the building. It would only be a matter of time before the island was overrun by them.

Across the next hill the group found themselves in a shallow ravine. The building could no longer be seen, but over the next ridge the tip of a Gray Tower emerged from the distant trees.

“There it is,” someone announced.

“Make haste,” Thorim returned.

They started over the ridge before descending back into the trees, and only Arius halted at its edge. He peered toward the Gray Tower which was now visible. Could their contact really be there?

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Dueson said, coming up from behind him.

Arius glanced toward him before returning, “As do I.” 

Thanks for reading this weeks chapter, and be sure to stop by next Saturday for Chapter Nine. Also, check my book, Ground of Oam.

Buy Ground of Oam on Kindle here, 

Buy in paperback here.

Short Story Announcement

My weekly chapters for the short story will now be appearing on Saturdays, so tomorrow's chapter will be this Saturday instead. This is due to some changes in my marketing strategy so hopefully Saturday will be a better day for everyone.
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Oam's Cry trailer

It's the weekend now, which means more writing for me! (that's a good thing too). Currently I am working on my third installment to my series within the larger Oam's Cry series while I anticipate my brothers future installment of his sub-series. Oam's Cry is developing well, and now we have a book trailer to go with it.

                        

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