James Somers - The rise of Lucin

Tiet looked at the display as the information appeared. The scans showed indeterminate life readings across the plateau to the north of Sayir.

"It doesn't say whether or not it's human," said Tiet.

Wynn chimed in on the conversation and said, "It wouldn't at this distance. I've seen large animal herds that appeared similar on scans, but I doubt it in this case."

"I agree," said Grod. "The plateau would make a perfect launching ground for an attack on forces in the valley."

"Then we'll assume the worst and hope for the best," said Tiet. "Let's push our speed a little harder-I'm increasing to three point five of sound."

Wynn and Grod followed, "Copy, three point five of sound."

Tiet had to hold the controls a bit tighter as the fighter began to vibrate. It strained to reach the higher speed setting, but soon reached three point five of sound.

"The others should already be landing at Sayir by now," said Wynn. "Let's hope we're on time."

LUCIN sat in his private transport shuttle, locked away in his suite. The room comprised the normal area for a troop compartment that could hold over one hundred men. It was lavish; fit for a king. He knelt on the floor. His human body was completely free of any clothing. Now, was the time for real transformation-time for his inward self to come out. Lucin's body sweated profusely, but it wasn't the normal human mixture meant to cool the body. His pores were oozing a dark brownish black substance. Every area of his skin, from his neck down, was changing in color as the thick liquid crept across the surface of his body, like a shadow eating him alive. Every muscle appeared to be in tetanus. Lucin's eyes were squeezed tightly shut and his lips were pursed in a mask of pain.

The inward symbyte form covered him everywhere from his neck down. He began to look more and more like a Baruk warrior, possessing the same morphing exoskeleton. As the inward part finished encasing his form, Lucin's human eyelids opened up to reveal the same blackness completely covering the whole surface of each eye. The windows to the soul of a man, in Lucin, revealed only a void of hate and evil intent.

Lucin stood in his new exoskeleton armor and strapped on the Barudii blade located next to his uniform on the bed. It was time for war, and time to claim his glory.

KALE and Juli walked through patches of wild flowers growing everywhere on the valley floor. Merab and Jael were bringing up the rear of the group heading toward the area where a great many transport ships were already landing. Kale's best estimate was well over one hundred ships, each carrying a compliment of rebel fighters of varying number. So far he could not see his father anywhere among those disembarking. He was supposed to be coming with Wynn and Grod in old aerial fighters, but nothing so small was seen yet.

Kale looked for the Maelstrom among the bigger ships that were already down or landing. He needed to find Captain Viche. All of the rebel forces needed to get organized quickly before an attack could be launched against them. The prophecy was very clear-Lucin would be attacking in the valley at some point. He needed Viche to get the other group commanders together by the time his father arrived.

Juli was the first to spot the ship. "Isn't that it over there, the big one, where those people are disembarking?"

"Good eye."

They ran the one hundred yards to reach the Maelstrom. Several men were gathered around another very distinguished man. He appeared to be the leader among them. The man looked worn by battle. His hair was gray, but it gave him a wise appearance and only added to his strength.

"Captain Viche?" asked Kale.

"Yes young man," said Viche. He gave Kale a once-over look.

Kale suddenly felt like his age was factoring into this man's first impression of him.

"Are you, Kale Soone, the king's son?"

"Yes, sir. We need to-"

"Where is your father, boy?"

Juli gave Kale a sideways glance at the boy on the end of the question. Kale noticed it also and he didn't have time for this man's disrespectful attitude.

"Captain Viche, until my father arrives, I am in command here," his tone was polite but firm. "We need to meet with all of the commanders of these groups immediately. An attack is imminent on this valley and we've got to be ready or no one is going to survive this day. Do you understand?" Kale felt a little heavy-handed with the last question, but he just didn't have time for games. Every fiber of his being told him an attack would come very soon. Lucin's forces had been dogging their heels and it was unlikely he had just given up.

"Come with me," said Viche with a little more concern in his voice. "We'll round up the other commanders and try to get this thing organized."

The Captain led the way down the makeshift row between the landed ships pointing to various men as he walked along. They responded as though they understood his desire to meet with them, and they began to follow after them. Juli squeezed Kale's arm as they walked, a playful show at her approval of his bold handling of the older Captain Viche. He shot her a quick sarcastic grin. It was typical for the elder men to disqualify a young man such as himself on appearance only, but he was a king's son and officially a man of proper age according to the Barudii customs. He just wasn't going to stand for the disrespect under such dire circumstances.

Armed men and women were gathering in large groups outside of the vessels they had traveled in. More ships could be seen coming from the southwest. They already had a number of larger vessels on the ground and at least a few thousand armed rebels in sight with more pouring out of the bellies of the ships.

Kale was sizing up the various commanders as they made their way to join their group. They all looked seasoned by what they had faced in their fighting against the Agonotti. Some had visible scars on their necks and faces and one had a noticeable prosthetic hand. He fought the notion that was creeping into his mind-I'm not worthy to take charge of these men.

Here he was, only a child in their eyes. Most of the men were giving him stares comparable with the look Captain Viche had set upon him. They were obviously thinking, who are these kids with Viche?

When they had reached the last man, Viche was trying to gather to their group, he turned to gain their attention. Viche began to talk about the king being in transit to the valley and was saying something more about Kale being the king's son, but it was all fading-something else had caught Kale's attention.

Juli was getting used to showing Kale her affection for him more openly in recent days. She liked him for more than a friend and believed the feeling was mutual. They were young, but Kale was already considered a man by his clan. Juli had caught hold of his hand and it was growing sweaty and tense. The thought had occurred to her that he was either nervous for her to be touching him that way, or apprehensive about having to address all of these rebel commanders. His hand tensed more and she shot a sideways glance to his face. He was staring at the ground just beyond Captain Viche. Kale wasn't paying any attention to her or the meeting going on around him. His eyes were darting from the place behind Viche to various points on the valley floor around them. She saw sweat dripping down his temple in sixty degree weather and she became worried, what's wrong with him?

Kale eyed the shallow grass around the valley, something was making the hair stand up on the back of his neck but he couldn't see it-Danger!

Juli was holding his hand. She leaned in to Kale's ear whispering, "What's wrong?"

Kale wasn't sure if someone else had heard her question, but something changed. Patches of the ground shifted in color for a fraction of a second and Kale instinctively grabbed his blade from his back. Suddenly, he was pulling the weapon from the sheath on his back and the men, still engaged in the meeting, reacted as though threatened by the young man.