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Ra’al

Istand on the palace walls, looking out at the city. It is alive. Laughter, yells, conversations, all flowing upwards.

The flags are at half-mast. They will remain thus forever.

If we didn’t come, the buildings would still be standing. They would be tombs. It would be as Abascus, and the silent screams would fill my ears. They’re quiet now. They’re quiet, now that I saved a planet. They have no rest, those dead men, women and children, but they no longer torment me.

The streets would be filled with baby Scorp now, scuttling around, killing and eating all life, growing strong as their Queens wove the cocoons around Orbs to take off and threaten the next planet.

My smartwatch blinks, and the three of us turn in silence. We don’t speak now, except necessary phrases. There’s no need to. We all feel the same thing.

Loss. That is all. We were whole, for a brief moment.

We walk over the reconstructed bridge and into the conference room, where a triad of technicians open the video link.

Obsidian is before us. He is no longer in his palace on Obsidious. He is on the bridge of his flagship. He is surrounded by technicians manning the weapons system.

“General Ra’al. General Kriz. General Orr. I heard the news. We are filled with sorrow for your loss.” He walks, and we look up at him through his smartwatch. His twin shadows wait on the bridge, two huge, hulking beasts of men with black, shadowy flesh that ripples and becomes hazy in the corners of your eyes.

“Thank you, my Lord.”

He takes us through the back door of his bridge and down a hallway. I can see through a doorway rows and rows of soldiers in black robes. Most of them have the second brand on their foreheads. Ancient priests bless them, putting black waters on their brands.

“You have readied the troops, General Ra’al?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“There has been a change of plan.” He takes us into a viewing deck. He is alone there, and through the window, I see trillions of stars.

“Whatever your command.”

“The Aurelian Empire was not expecting to lose three of their planets. They are preparing a counterattack, but they are weakened by their fear of the void. They cannot Orb-Shift. Only the crown princes brave the rift. Queen Jasmine’s eldest sons have harried our forces endlessly, destroying reinforcements.”

“Are they coming?”

“We do not know. Our spies have recorded troop movements.”

“Shall we reinforce the ground forces of Elsinor?” Orr’s aura pulses with feeling for the first time since our Mate left. Despite everything, he’s eager for battle. It is war that we could forgot our agony, for a moment.

“All defenses will be in orbit.”

My brows furrow. Kriz is thinking at a rapid pace. “My lord, won’t they counterattack with ground troops?” asks Kriz, trying to piece it together.

“The Emperors and Queen are bringing in flagships. They were closer than we expected. They may have been prepared for the attack. We have reason to believe she may even mobilize the Planet Killers.”

“No!” My voice booms out. The silent screams of Abascus come back, drowning my being. I imagine Elsinor’s streets filled with magma as the planet is bombarded from above.

“We do not yet know their intentions. We fear she would rather raze Elsioner than let it fall into our hands. My advisors have run the simulations. They plan to sacrifice one planet so that every Aurelian-controlled populace knows they must fight to the death instead of surrender. You must stop this before it happens.”

Kriz shakes his head. “We do not have enough troops to stop flagships. We can’t get there in time. Can you bring in more forces?”

“I do not yet have the strength to move enough ships through the rift to stop this. We will move Reavers behind enemy lines.”

“Reavers cannot stop them.” I watch Obsidian carefully. His black eyes glow and sparkle, as if they hold the universe.

“Gather your men and find volunteers. This is a one-way trip.”