Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War (72 page)

“The Shenkar are distracted, all forces immediately moved forward and engage!” commanded General Leonid.

All around him human and Lykaan alike surged forward, all firing at once at the Shenkar defensive perimeter. It gained them a few moments of surprise before the Shenkar shook off their surprise. Once again the battle intensified but the new addition changed the momentum of the battle.

The mysterious figure continued the deadly assaults, burning down Shenkar by the dozens. As the figure came to the outer wall of the mining facilities main building a massive bolt of lightning lashed outwards. The wall exploded inwards, in which the figure passed through and out of site.

Antonio did not have any time to think of their mysterious help as the Shenkar’s return fire intensified. From the looks of it the Shenkar had gained reinforcements which effectively staunched the human forces assault.

February 1
st
, 2014 9:08 am EST

Lykaa

              Steve had just about moved forward with Sergeant Robinson’s plan when he heard explosions from the area where the Shenkar defensive perimeter was. All at once all the Shenkar that were located just outside the tunnel, grabbed their weapons and ran full tilt towards the sounds of battle.

              “What the hell just happened?” Steve wondered aloud.

              “I think we just got the signal to move,” stated Sergeant Robinson from behind Steve as he peered out over his head.

              “Yeah I would say so, pass the word, we move NOW!”

              Steve was not sure what was going on but something had just given them the opportunity to get his group out of the tunnel safely. The word passed quickly and soon four hundred humans and Lykaans poured from hidden tunnels into the area directly behind the facilities. As soon as all forces were out and got into position they would be able to attack the Shenkar from behind and with that they should be able to finish them once and for all. He only hoped they would be able to rescue Tim and Alyssa in time.

February 1
st
, 2014 9:10 am EST

Lykaa

The building shook trembled beneath Viero’s feet from a nearby explosion near the facility.

“What is going on out there!” Viero demanded of no one in particular.

              One moment the reports had been flowing in that his forces were slowly destroying the human forces then nothing. He had just sent a runner to find out how the battle was faring when something had struck the building.

              If this battle did not go the way they had expected then he would need to escape with the two remaining humans. He would need to take them to the Akron research facility. Perhaps the Akron scientists would be able to determine a way to exterminate these humans. Turning, he waved over the inquisitor who had remained here with Viero when the fighting had started.

              “Go to the holding cells and take the remaining female prisoner to the gunship. If we lose this battle then it could spell doom for our cloning capabilities. If that happens we will need to find another way to defeat these humans. The technology within these humans could possibly be the answer to that. I will join you soon, if I do not, then take the gunship to the Akron facility and deliver the human female to the scientists there,” Viero explained in a low voice so as not to be overheard by the prisoners.

              The inquisitor saluted and Viero watched him quickly head off in the direction of the holding cells. Turning he headed over to where Shizta and the human male were kneeling. Standing before the pair, Viero debated one what he would do with Shizta. Should he execute him now or bring him to the Shelecore? Deciding it would be better to execute him he reached for his plasma sword.

              The sound of an explosion suddenly caused Viero to look up. That explosion was from within the facility, which should not be possible. This would mean the humans had penetrated the defenses and were now making their way here. He looked at the forty Shenkar warriors that were stationed within the room and debated sending them to engage the humans. His thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and in staggered the runner he had sent. The warrior was bloody from several wounds and smoke rose from a burned section of his uniform. His arm dangled at his side, mangled and clearly non functional. The warrior staggered up, managed a shaky salute before he spoke.

              “Overlord, I fear I was unable to complete your orders. I was attacked within the facility by a human that almost killed me. It was only by chance that I survived and this was due to he was engaged combat with other Shenkar warriors.”

              “One human did this?” Viero asked incredulously.

              Before the warrior could answer he collapsed to the floor, either unconscious or dead, Viero was not sure. The sounds of fighting grew louder as Viero looked down at the warrior.  This could not be possible, he thought to himself, no
creature
is that powerful. It was clear he underestimated these humans but he would make sure he did not pay the price. Turning he addressed the warriors throughout the room.

              “Every one is to move and engage the human! He is not to make it here! Whoever kills the human will be rewarded beyond measure.”

              All but two warriors exited the room, moving off to engage the human that was headed in this direction. Viero could not help but notice that more than one Shenkar did not have the look of confidence that was typically found upon a Shenkar warrior’s face.

              “Lock down the doors, no one is to breach this room!” Viero ordered of the last two guards that remained behind.

              The doors locking mechanisms sounded throughout the room as the heavy bolts secured the room from the outside. Silence soon descended over the room for a moment as Viero debated whether he should simply take the remaining human and head for the gunship. He would need to take one of the back routes, it would take longer but it would guarantee he would not encounter any humans.

              He turned to the human only to find the human looking up at him, a smile upon his face. The smile, unsettled Viero more than he would like to admit.

              “You are dead and you don’t even know it,” the human male said in a soft voice.

              “In case you missed it I just sent nearly forty warriors to kill your human friend out there,” said Viero, although his voice held no real confidence.

              “No, you just sent nearly forty warriors to their deaths,” countered the human male.

              Viero was about to say something when the sounds of fighting grew much louder along with the screams of the dying. This continued for several minutes until silence descended outside the doors. Did his men succeed?

              A thunderous boom sounded throughout the room from something slamming into the secured doors. It was so loud and sudden that Viero thought his heart would jump out of his chest. A few seconds passed when another boom slammed into the door. It sounded as if something was trying to batter the doors down.

              A small laugh from behind Viero made him look around. The human male was laughing to himself.

              “What is so funny?”

              “Someone’s knocking at your door and wants to come in,” the human said, laughing a bit more before continuing. “Actually, that makes me think of a famous piece of literature from human history…although slightly altered in this case.”

              “And what would that be” Viero asked without thinking.

              “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. Whose that knocking at your door? That is death and he is coming to settle the score!”

              As the human finished a massive explosion sounded behind Viero. Whipping around Viero saw the doors had exploded inwards and in floated a human surrounded in light. The two remaining warriors moved to intercept him but they both stopped suddenly, as if hitting an invisible wall. Neither moved as their bodies seemed to contort backwards. Their heads bent backwards as well.

              Viero could not help but notice that as the warriors bodies twisted, the human’s fingers were slowly curling into fists. The sounds of bones breaking sounded loudly throughout the room over both warriors screams. The screaming ceased suddenly as the human’s hands closed quickly and the warriors bodies snapped backwards, folding them in half. Both warriors were clearly dead, blood flowing from their mouth and noses.

              Viero tried to turn to flee but found himself unable to move. Every fiber of his being was screaming for him to move but he seemed to be locked in an unseen vice. The figure floated closer, the light surrounding him was almost blinding but Viero was able to make out the human with in…it was Commander Brennan. The anger that shown on this humans face was clear and Viero experienced something he was not used to…fear.

“Overlord Viero I presume? In case you do not recognize me I am Commander Liam Brennan. I believe I said I was coming for you and now you will feel the pain I feel for what you have taken from me!”

Viero opened his mouth to speak but he could not seem to even move his tongue. Then it came in a sudden sharp pain, pain throughout his entire body. It was a pain he could never have put into words nor could have imagined. It was as if every fiber of his body was coming undone as if he was being pulled apart. The pain intensified as the human stood by watching, his face an emotionless mask. Viero became aware of a tearing sound from within his ears but did not realize it was his eardrums tearing free of his body until all sound ceased. He felt the hot spray of blood in the back of his throat, the pain was beyond measure yet he still was unable to scream.

              To Viero this seemed to go on forever but in reality the entire experience only lasted less than a minute as his body was tore apart, exploding into a mist of gore, blood and bone fragments.

February 1
st
, 2014 9:17 am EST

Lykaa

              Tim was speechless as he watched the overlord torn to pieces before his eyes. Liam had never once touched him yet he somehow was able to grab onto the very fibers of Viero’s physical being and completely tear the body to pieces. Tim looked to Shizta but he only sat there, a look of shock and awe upon his face at what Liam had just done. The remains of Viero piled upon the floor, blood spreading out across the floor.

Turning back to the scene, he saw Liam was no longer glowing nor floating. Instead he stood there as he gazed over at the female body that lay upon the floor a short distance away. With slow deliberate steps, Liam walked to where the body lay and knelt down beside it. Tim could see the look of anguish upon Liam’s face as he slowly took the headless corpse into his arms, hugging it to his chest. The sound of sobbing broke the silence as Liam finally broke down and began to cry.

They remained here in relative silence for roughly twenty minutes until someone arrived. Steve, Granshianka and Sabrina ran into the room followed by a squad of Praetorian Guard. Sabrina spotted her father and immediately ran to his side. She did not speak, only quietly undid his bindings, as Steve undid Shizta’s. Liam continued to hold Leah’s body but his sobbing had stopped. To Tim, he looked like a broken man, the light within had gone out.

Tim stood, flexing his joints to work out the stiffness from being in the same position for so long. Once he had worked the kinks out he slowly walked over to stand beside Liam. He stood there a few moments before he softly laid a hand upon Liam’s shoulder.

“Liam, I am so sorry, I tried to get him to execute me instead. I should have protected her and I failed.”

Liam did not look up nor did he answer for several long moments, when he did speak it was in a low soft voice, the sound of defeat heavy in his voice.

“I failed her. No one else did. I should have been there to protect her. I should have made her stay on the Kraken.”

Tim knelt down beside him.

“Liam, she chose to be with you and the Leah I knew would never have listened to you to stay behind. She was one of the most stubborn and headstrong woman I knew. While I am sure she would not have wanted to die I know she would not want you to give up. You must keep going, you are still going to be needed.”