Chapter 44
FORTY-FOUR
Dragek and Tarak stood at the edge of the lake, looking out across the dark, calm surface.
It was cold enough to solidify most liquids, but for some reason, the water here wasn't frozen over.
Dragek reached out with his ka'qui and peered through the water.
"Anything interesting?" Tarak asked. He'd replaced the sword he'd given Dragek with a shorter one and added a long, powerful-looking gun to his arsenal.
Dragek was surprised at how comfortable he'd gotten with Tarak. He hadn't expected the former general to be so reasonable. His calm, no-nonsense demeanor was like a salve for Dragek's internal state of chaos.
He got the feeling Tarak would back him up no matter what.
Powerful and abundant, seeking release, his energy surged forward. He used it like an extension of his physical body, like touch, feeling across the depths of the lake, over its deep, rocky, undulating surface.
"There's energy at the deepest point. Particles of light emanating from a discrete source. There's a platform and a tunnel that rises into a cavernous, air-filled space. There are two submerged individuals guarding the entrance and several more inside the cave. I can't make out the exact number. A dozen, perhaps. And there are unknown structures inside. I suspect they are the mechanism for the portal."
"They aren't expecting us at all," Tarak observed. "Otherwise, they would have put a proper perimeter guard on. It seems Amun has done us a real favor."
"Hm." Dragek cast his senses out across the surrounding landscape. A snow-topped, curving mountain range surrounded the lake. The general's forces were hidden somewhere in that bleak, icy landscape, heavily cloaked and ready to go on the offensive if anyone should threaten their position.
Duxuth's climate was pleasant. Familiar . It reminded him so much of Kythia.
He wasn't homesick, though.
The only memories he had of the Dark Planet were bleak.
And now…
Everything was about to come full circle.
"Between the two of us, we should be able to handle them," Tarak said quietly. "I'll take care of the guards on the outside. You shoot through and activate your qim. Go into the cave. Take out as many of them as you can. I won't be far behind.
"You make it sound so simple," Dragek said wryly.
"I can assure you, it is. I've accounted for every single member of the Kordolian Imperial Military, even those who didn't come over to our side. No warrior amongst them could pose a threat to us. However, there are a number of Silent Ones that are unaccounted for. I don't believe any of them are as proficient as you or Ashrael, though."
"Individually, no." Dragek was fairly certain he was amongst the elite, second only to Ashrael. And with the Mating Fever running rife through his body, enhancing his ka'qui to unheard- of levels, he might even be stronger than Ashrael. "But if they were to come at us in formation, that might present a problem."
"They won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Ashrael has scanned the area. He'll cover the perimeter around the lake and up into the mountains, taking care of any potential approach. We already have one in captivity—the one he caught onboard the Caelix III. Unless there's another that's capable of using qim like you and he do."
"We can't be certain."
"If anything unexpected happens, I'm certain you'll be able to handle it." Tarak's voice grew taut with anticipation. "Let's go. We don't have much time to spare. Follow me. Let's make this quick and silent."
"Fine." Dragek watched as the man who once held the highest position in the Kordolian Imperial Miltiaries activated his nanite armor-helm and dove into the dark water, disappearing without a trace.
Without missing a beat, Dragek followed.
He slipped into the frigid water, immediately comforted by the cold and the silence.
With long, powerful strokes, he swam behind Tarak, moving through the water with ease.
His energy felt limitless.
Even Tarak's big sword, strapped to his back, felt light.
As he descended, he reached for Jade. She was always with him now, a gentle presence at the edge of his consciousness. Sometimes, when he had to do grim, serious things, she faded into the background—seemingly aware that he was occupied.
But he always felt her, and he fervently prayed he always would.
You seem calmer. Her mindvoice penetrated the depths of his soul, just like it always did. Almost serene. Where are you?
Underwater, he replied, pleased at her innocence, at her sense of pleasant surprise. It's cold and dark and quiet. I like this kind of environment.
You're an interesting one, for sure. What are you doing underwater?
Dragek decided it was time to tell her the truth. He couldn't bear to allow himself to think it, but there was a very small possibility that…
He wouldn't…
No.
As long as they were together, as long as he had this chance to carve out a different existence, to be reborn anew…
He would not let the alternative come to pass.
For some inexplicable reason, Tarak and the Goddess had placed the entire fate of the Universe in his hands. It hardly made sense—after all, he was merely a trained killer, one who had come so close to destroying the life of one of Tarak's prized humans.
They could have— should have—taken his head off there and then.
But at the same time, it made perfect sense, for Tarak and Ashrael had seen.
They'd known.
That he was trapped.
That he'd never been capable of making his own choices.
After all, they were all hewn from the same stone.
They'd held him until the Mistress was killed—until he was free.
What would have happened if they hadn't been so benevolent? Would he have chosen this path?
Back then, he'd been at a turning point. He could have slipped so easily… becoming a cruel and vindictive being.
But deep down, he knew.
That she'd saved him.
Jade, I'm about to embark on another mission. It might turn out to be easy, but my instinct tells me it won't. Just… no matter what, make sure you stay with me.
I… need you.
The entire fate of the Universe depended on his bond with a human, but Dragek didn't care.
He was selfish like that.
I'm not going anywhere. At least, I don't intend to. They gave me a thing… an ancient device that allows me to talk to you across this amazing distance. I don't know how it works. I don't even know how to use it, really. All I know is that I can talk with you right now, and that's good enough for me. I really want to see you again, Dragek. I hope I will. Soon.
Tension entered her voice, and Dragek understood perfectly well. It was the Mating Fever. She felt it, too. The thought was enough to make him aroused all over again.
He both cursed and exulted at the fact that the powers that be had pulled him away before he'd gotten the chance to consummate with her and relieve the curse of the Mating Fever.
But would he have felt like this—his senses enhanced, his fighting instinct stronger than ever, his ka'qui overflowing—if he wasn't in the grip of the Mating Fever?
There's no way I won't come back to you, he said fervently.
How ironic that this bond between them underpinned everything.
Tarak had moved further ahead. They were close to the entrance now.
Suddenly, the water was clouded with blood.
Tarak had already dealt with one of the underwater guards. He was utilizing the advantage of confusion to go after the other.
Sometimes, it was easy to forget that the general was every bit as ruthless as his reputation told.
Dragek swam ahead, tasting the bitterness of Kordolian blood in the water. He reached into the deep well of his ka'qui and pulled it across his body, letting it ripple over the seamless saladin fabric of his skinsuit.
Even though he was underwater, the same principles applied. He slid into the dimension between worlds—the void.
You're the only protection I have against myself.
You remind me of all that is good.
He closed off part of his mind, shielding it from her—hiding the fact that he was about to cause a lot of death.
How selfish he was. He needed her to be with him, but he didn't want her to see this part of him.
He swam through the blood, past a drifting body, leaving Tarak behind to deal with the other one. He entered the tunnel, a narrow passageway through ancient rock. Particles of light filtered through him from above—he was invisible, after all.
He swam toward the surface, kicking silently, one hand reaching for the long sword at his back.
The ones that were about to fall… maybe they were the way he'd been—subservient, with no knowledge of the outside Universe, no control over what they did.
Maybe.
It didn't matter. The stakes were too high.
He would do what he always did, even if it meant he had to follow them into another dimension entirely.
After all, he would rather risk losing himself than have her entire existence wiped out.