James Somers - The rise of Lucin

"What's that-a meeting with the resistance leaders?" asked Tiet from inside the chamber.

He appeared at the doorway behind Mirah, stripped to the waist and bearing a number of monitoring electrode pads.

"You three, go tell Alec that I'll be along shortly, okay?"

They nodded and headed back out of the complex obediently.

"Now, how do we get back to the place where Alec is supposed to be?" asked Kale.

"Over here," said Juli. "These signs will lead us back."

"We need to get to the war room, I think."

"Follow me," said Juli as she headed off ahead of the boys.

Kale spotted another sign of interest on the marker and said, "After we relay the message to Alec, we need to go to the library mentioned on this sign. I want to look up some of the details of the prophecy of the empty hand that Aija was talking about."

LUCIN'S troops were already beginning to take the necessary steps to move the encampment out of the plains area they had initially landed in. They worked like insects with a singular task in mind; a singular thought to guide them. They still had personality of their own to a small extent, but they were all completely bent to the will of the Mithrial-man.

Lucin walked back to his temporary command quarters. He passed the other expandable metal shelters that made up his communications and coordination center as soldiers moved about the camp disassembling the other portable structures of the camp before boarding the Vorn cruisers hovering overhead.

His control over the multitude was growing stronger and stronger-a noticeable difference from the desperate situation that threatened his total loss of control when they were back on Castai. Lucin could only assume that it was the result of being so near to his fellow Mithri that resided on Draconis as the Agonotti.

After the reception he'd given his brethren earlier and the impressive show of his power over the human thousands he had ferried to the planet, he wondered how long it would take before a proper delegation from among the Agonotti was sent to welcome their glorious leader back into their ranks. So far, there was no word, but it wouldn't be long. His body was unrecognized by his brethren, but they would soon realize that he was indeed the same glorious spirit that had led them in open rebellion against The Eternal One.

Lucin made his way to the portable building setup for his own personal use. He passed his hand over the bio-signature reader to the right side of the door and it allowed him to enter. As the door slid back and he entered the twenty foot by twenty foot structure, he sensed something not entirely foreign to him. Lucin walked cautiously on, into the room as the door slid back into place. He was trying to perceive any movement as the lights came on automatically; but there was nothing.

Then Lucin noticed something he had not before. The air was heavy with a mist. Suddenly the air became clear and someone was behind him. A coalesced figure, from the fog, sprang into action against him, wielding a large blade in his right hand.

Lucin retaliated, spinning back to catch the weapon hand with his left and following through with a right palm up under the jaw. With great strength, far more than his host body would normally have possessed, he hoisted the dazed attacker over his head. Lucin had quickly seized the advantage and thrust the dazed assassin through the front wall of the temporary building. The dark clad figure landed among the debris outside as the rest of the structure collapsed on top of Lucin.

Lucin burst upward, sending the debris into the air and then he shot toward the mysterious attacker. The man became mist again, allowing Lucin to pass through. He materialized again at Lucin's back with the Mithrial-man in a headlock from behind. Lucin buried several rapid elbow jabs deep into the assassin's ribcage and his grip loosened enough for him to get free.

Lucin took the opportunity and sent a right back-hand followed by a quick left jab into the attacker's face. He stumbled backward and tried to dematerialize again, but he was prevented. Lucin, using his growing Mithrial power, seized the man with his thoughts and stopped his evasive maneuver. "Not so fast, my friend."

The Agonotti attacker was clearly dumbfounded that he could be held in his physical state this way. "How did-?"

Lucin thrust a quick hand to the man's chest and caught him as he tried to pull away from further attack. "Leaving so soon?" he asked sarcastically with a devilish grin on his face. "Haven't you time for your master anymore, Vock?"

The Agonotti assassin was more puzzled now. "How did you know me?"

"It's me Vock," he said drawing nearer to his attacker. "I know I look terrible in this flesh puppet's body; nevertheless, it is Lucin which stands before you."

Vock looked him over; unsure of how to proceed. He had intended to kill this boastful human, but it was proving more difficult than he would have imagined.

Perhaps my thoughts would convince you?

I've met humans with telepathy.

A lack of faith, Vock? How unsettling.

Suddenly, the human army, which had obediently remained still, began to take aim on Vock. Firing bolts locked into position in waves all around them as Lucin called out to his minions with his thoughts.

"Did those humans with telepathy control thousands of soldiers with their thoughts as well?" Lucin asked confidently.

Vock was convinced. "My master," he confessed as he knelt before his former Mithrial leader.

"Rise, my brother. We have much to discuss."

"But I don't understand. How did you come to control these humans and to be confined to this body?"

"It's quite a story and one I may share at a later time, suffice to say, The Eternal One cursed me to a low form and I have triumphed over the condition he left me in to seize the minds of his beloved humans. Since coming to this planet, I have only seen my powers grow exponentially, until now I feel almost invincible."

"My fellow Agonotti have been experiencing the same thing recently," said Vock. "Perhaps it was your coming again to us which has caused the return of the power we once knew?"

"Perhaps. Whatever the reason, we must seize this opportunity to gain full control of the humans."

"Of course, we are at your disposal my lord," said Vock. "Our brethren are waiting nearby and we shall assemble the other groups spread across the continent as soon as possible." It was easy to relinquish his new authority over the Agonotti to his former lord, Lucin. Just being in his presence again was an intoxicatingly evil thrill. Events were changing so rapidly in their favor, that it just seemed right that he had returned to them. "I should inform you that there are rebels working against us on this planet, my lord. We have been working diligently to root them out, but they have proven very resourceful."

"I've encountered them as well. Don't worry, Vock, I've recently sent some new allies to flush out the prey for us. We should see them appearing very soon and we'll be prepared to greet them properly this time."

KALE, Emil and Juli walked into the Sector city base library. There were not all that many people in the place. Half of the lighting was shut down and of the few people occupying chairs and couches; Kale thought most appeared to be sleeping. As the trio passed the attendant desk they saw that no one was even working behind the counter.

"Doesn't look like this part of the base gets much use," said Emil.

Kale made his way over to a group of computer displays stationed on long rows of tables. Juli sat down next to him.

"I'm going to look around a little," said Emil as he walked past them.

Kale tapped the display and it responded by blinking on. A symbol for the base library appeared in color, but there was no keyboard to utilize.