“
How many do we have to send?
”
“
We created thirty from this last round of raiding. As I said, almost completely submissive. We still don
’
t know what is causing the twenty percent to enrage and turn on the handlers, or anyone within their field of vision for that matter.
”
“
How many handlers do we currently have available?
”
“
Handlers aren
’
t an issue. You forget we are preparing for a war that we expect to end quickly. Currently, we have far more handlers than we do these monsters.
”
Sarah thought long and hard. She envisioned how it might go. She realized that there was a chance he would be killed by a renegade solider. She also came to the conclusion that this was their best opportunity. If she waited for another raid, he might be killed there too.
They had been unsuccessful at capturing him because he never backed down. He never surrendered. Once, when they had him encircled by thirteen men and they thought they had him, he managed to kill six on his own before his reinforcements had arrived.
It was coming to be the final hour. They had to capture him as she wanted or do away with him completely. She regretted not telling him the plan the day they took her. She knew it was a
pick
up
, that she would go peacefully, but he would never want anything to do with
Fa
ther
’
s plan.
As far as he knew, Mother and Father were both dead. That was only the
half-truth
, but still
,
she knew if he had any inkling of what was really going on, who was behind the Faraza, he would probably fight it with the same or even more viciousness than he currently displayed.
He was a danger to the cause. Even if she did take him alive, the treatments would change him so much that he would no longer be himself. Her selfishness and her desire to have her older protectorate brother back in her life had clouded her vision for many years. Finally, she saw that and she saw that he had to be dealt with, one way or another.
“
Okay then, send all thirty of the Ilithids along with thirty handlers. I want one on each one. If we can take him alive, do so. If not, kill him.
”
Her voice was stern and cold.
* * * *
“
So we let him go? Just like that?
”
asked Zax.
“
We really have no other option. We can
’
t make him join us, he doesn
’
t seek us destroyed, and for now
,
we have a common enemy,
”
Badger replied.
He was annoyed at how the events of their meeting had played out. He didn
’
t like hearing no as an answer. Especially since he had at his every beck and call a large army of psychics, ever loyal and always connected to the network of his mind. They always carried out his orders, never said no, even the ones he had left with a degree of free will.
But he knew
,
sooner or later
,
he would have control over Zarfa. The signals he transmitted weren
’
t strong enough yet to be linked to the network. But he had only had one treatment. He knew in a matter of weeks, he would complete the injections from the bots. At that moment, Zarfa would be vulnerable, open to his manipulations, and then he would have what he wanted.
“
We will have him in due time, but for now
,
we should send Surge to keep an eye on him,
”
Badger stated, looking dismissively at Surge.
The escort crew had
recently
left with Zarfa to take him downtown. He knew that anyone who had honed their psychic abilities as well as the three of them could at least pick up a faint signal at the radius of two miles or so and be able to follow him.
“
You got it, boss. Shall I take my axe?
”
Surge questioned.
“
Yeah…we don
’
t know how this will all work out; don
’
t go unprotected. Also, be discreet. As we know, the Faraza have infiltrated Alexarien, but Ilyeion is their base camp. You are going to be deep into enemy territory, so be sure to not draw undue attention to yourself. They would love to get their hands on you.
”
“
Understood. You can trust me. Plus, the three of us know that I am the best fighter in this army. They won
’
t kill or capture me, you can be sure of that.
”
“
Don
’
t get cocky, you idiot,
”
Zax said, annoyed and speaking out of turn.
“
It is not your place, Zax!
”
Badger snapped.
“
But he is right, don
’
t get cocky. It would be a shame for us to lose our best fighter before the war begins.
”
Surge smiled and looked at the other two with a glimpse of defiance.
“
You know how I operate. I
’
ll take my best weapon, but in case I run into a spot where I can
’
t use it, I
’
ll carry a plasma long sword as well as a dagger…perhaps a gauss pistol too just to be on the safe side. Satisfied?
”
“
Take two of our top ranking soldiers as well. It isn
’
t much, but if the event arises where it is safer to flee than to fight, leave them. Better to lose some subservient than to lose you. You know I left both you and Zax with free will not only because you are my friends, but also because you are generals. In the event of our separation from the psychic network, or in the event of my demise, you both have authority to command the army when the war starts. Let
’
s hope that never happens, but if it does, I trust you equally.
”
“
They will probably slow me down, but if it makes you feel safer, then I
’
ll take them. I wouldn
’
t want you losing any sleep, boss,
”
Surge said with a tone of sarcasm.
At that, Surge stood, bowed his head, and dismissed himself. He knew he would have to act quickly to pick his companions and prepare his weaponry without losing the signal of Zarfa.
“
Now we have the matter of our little thorn, Crimson. Zax, I shall leave it in your care to crush her and that little doctor she recruited to her side. I want them both dead. I am still uncertain of what she is planning. The fact she was trying to recruit Legion Nine tells me that she has a serious plan and could prove to be a hindrance later. Like a cancer, she should be dealt with before she has time to spread.
”
“
Agreed, she is crafty, dangerous, adept… How would you like this handled?
”
“
I shall leave that to your discretion. You are quite capable;
but
understand I don
’
t want failure by any means. Take her out, annihilate her; do it so maliciously that anyone she may already have on her side will fear us so much that they don
’
t dare try to continue her revolution.
”
“
Understood, it will be done.
”
* * * *
The train was uncomfortable and bumpy. Zarfa had purchased the cheapest ticket, which only provided a seat barely large enough for him to sit in. The recliner button on the arm rest was broken and his legs were in such a cramped position that it was causing him severe annoyance. He leaned his head back and tried to sleep, but was unsuccessful.
Two days on this thing like this? Crap.
He unzipped his backpack that was resting on his lap. He had grabbed some crummy tasting meals from his home. The most common type claimed to have some sort of flavor such as
“
turkey dinner
”
or
“
salmon and potatoes,
”
but they were really synthesized protein mixed with vitamins and minerals to keep one alive and healthy.
He shook
his head in disbelief. None of these
“
meals
”
tasted anything like what they claimed.
He rummaged around under the bars and found one of the vials containing another treatment of the Psyker Scream nanobots. He held it up to the light and looked at them all. They
appeared to be liquid they were so small, rolling around on top of each other in the jar
.
I wish I had known. I would have found another way. But now, I
’
m stuck. I don
’
t want to finish the treatments, but my men deserve justice as much as I do. As their leader, shouldn
’
t I sacrifice myself so they can have their day? I don
’
t know. I
’
ll let them have their say. This is no time to be selfish.
Zarfa shoved the vial into the pack and leaned his head back onto the seat. He was as uncomfortable as ever, but he
folded his arms in his lap and rested them on his backpack. He closed his eyes and he hummed a little tune he remembered learning as a child.
Oh well, two days of this. I
’
ve suffered worse. I can
’
t wait to stretch my legs back in Ilyeion.
* * * *
“
They
’
re grotesque!
”
Sarah exclaimed as she entered the room that housed the Ilithids.
Each one was in its own cage with a bed and a toilet. The cages were small, but not too cramped. The beds were adequate, but still, she could tell by the way they paced as she passed by, they weren
’
t happy being in there.
“
Obviously, by looking at their heads, they can
’
t speak our language, but can they hear us? Do they understand me?
”
she questioned.
“
Of course they can. How else would they follow orders? They understand but are incapable of complex abstract thoughts. Too much of the
c
anine
DNA
that we used to provide the submissive quality scrambled their brains too heavily. Not to mention the
t
euthida
DNA
. They are barely human any longer. But as you can see, they are still bipedal. The mutations
provided a
simple
ear hole rather than them having an aural appendage,
”
Ghast said.
The Ilithids ranged in size, some as short as five foot, four inches up to about six foot, eight inches. They had giant squid-looking eyes and their heads were cone-shaped. Instead of mouths with lips, they had a series of twelve tendrils all about a foot long that could each move independently draping over their chin.
Under the tendrils was a large beak, roughly eight inches in size, most certainly a deadly weapon. Their arms looked as normal humans, but instead of hands with five fingers, there was a dual tentacle appendage that split in the shape of the letter Y. Each of the tentacles that branched from the wrist was roughly fourteen inches and covered in suction cups.
Each of them looked more muscular than any average human; their skin was an almost translucent off
-
white. It appeared slimy, as if covered in a thin mucosal membrane. They smelled awful and distinct. Their torsos looked the same as any human, but the skin was that same translucent off-white. They stood upright on two legs and moved almost identical to humans.
“
They look awful, they smell gross, and they appear to be incredibly slimy. Couldn
’
t we bring out a little more of that canine
DNA
and cover them in hair?
”
she questioned.
“
If we were to do that, we would lose the suction cups. We are working within tight parameters with the
DNA
as it is. We really only isolated one strand of the canine genus that we call the
‘
loyalty
’
gene. It is what causes those creatures to be so companion driven in nature. Thus the old adage for centuries of
‘
man
’
s best friend.
’
You can kick a dog and trea
t it awful, yet for some reason
it always goes back to its master when called. Though they may get apprehensive, it was always a rare day that the more docile breeds such as Labradors would turn on their master or owner. It is only this gene that we used. Otherwise they would lose their suction cups and the ability to shoot ink.
”