“Then it was you who crushed the vent tube?” Orin asked.
“Yes, using the Way. I tracked you and thought you could use some assistance. I have a friend on the inside. I’m able to monitor what General Grod and the Horva are doing.”
“That was some amazing fighting on the rooftop.”
“Master Soone, you may have noticed that on this side of the rift the Way is greatly enhanced beyond what we knew back home on Castai. There is something about being on this side of the rift that increases our power.”
“We began to notice it after we passed through the rift two days ago,” Orin said.
“I have been on this twin planet of Castai for twenty years and there is much that you and our people back home don’t realize about what has been happening in this war with the Vorn. Also, the forces that overlapped into our dimension through the rift have a much more potent effect on our abilities than you are probably aware of.
“Back home, the power of the Way seemed as if we were receiving the misting rain from a far off storm. Here on this side of the rift, we are in the eye of a hurricane. What you may have thought amazing back at the compound is within either of your abilities. With proper training you will also be able to control the energies that are in play on this side of the rift.”
“But what about the Vorn and these Horva?” Orin asked.
“Orin, things are not as they may appear to be. But no more questions now. I will explain the situation after you have refreshed yourselves. Come, there is food and drink.” Wynn began down a path through the cavern. Fueled torches lit the way as they made their way deeper.
It had been while Orin was still in training as a warrior that he had studied some of the fighting techniques of Wynn Gareth. He had been a formidable pilot, but was studied for his mastery of the Way. However, the skill Wynn had been known for all those years ago back home paled when compared to the display they had witnessed today.
Orin was curious to learn what Wynn was referring to with the war and the greater abilities that were within their reach. But the older man was right. They did need to eat and rest and prepare for whatever lay ahead.
HIDDEN
Daooth Pasad stepped in front of the retina scanner located near the exit of the lab facility. He was an assistant to one of the head scientists located within General Grod’s compound and there were very important goings on of late. He had proven himself to be trustworthy to the Horva while they were fighting the oppression and rule of the Vorn military, giving Daooth the privilege of leaving the compound at will despite being Vorn.
The scanner cleared him for exit. The computer-controlled door opened, allowing him to pass through to the outside. While some of the Vorn scientists had been captured and put to work under the General, others had come voluntarily-hoping to find safety and protection, as they allied themselves with the Horva commander. Among them was Daooth, and he was well-favored in his occupation at the compound and his liberty was a result of that favor.
The tall, slender-framed Vorn clansman made his way to his transport carrying supplies from the compound. He loaded them into the storage compartment then climbed into the cockpit and closed the canopy. Daooth brought the engines online.
The compound had not been built to house civilians, so many of the Vorn loyal to Grod and his campaign were allowed to live in a nearby area that was close enough to the base to enjoy the protection of the Horva. Recently, the Vorn military had become preoccupied with defending their interests on many fronts. The Vorn were in need of reinforcements for the twin Castai across the rift and there were terrible losses because of the Barudii Sphere. Many deaths had also been sustained at the hands of General Grod and his Horva army. The Vorn military was very near collapse, and it seemed nothing would be able to prevent it.
The transport flew away from the building perimeter and passed through a security portal in the shield, heading for the wasteland. The settlement given to the civilians was far from luxurious, but its location underground provided a better weather environment and added protection.
After several miles, the transport came to a large protrusion of rock in the desert that lay to the west of the compound. A metal door opened in the rock-the entrance to Daooth’s residence.
Daooth brought the vehicle inside and shut down the engine. He retracted the cockpit canopy, gathered his supplies then went into his home. He made his way to a closet inside along the main corridor and triggered a switch inside. The back wall released and moved aside.
Daooth proceeded through the portal, leading into a large cavern beyond. The closet wall waited a moment and then smoothly slid itself back into place. He hurried down the cavern to a place where another smaller tunnel intersected with it. Daooth took the passage and came to a room. Inside this room were three men. They were eating when he came into the entrance of the hollowed out chamber.
Tiet spotted the tall Vorn man first as he appeared in the entrance to the chamber where Wynn had served them their meal. Tiet instinctively launched out of his seat with his blade in his hand.
Daooth deftly dodged the first strike and parried with a strong fist blow to Tiet’s side. Tiet recovered quickly, ready to deal a death blow to the man. Suddenly, Wynn was next to him, disarming him with ease. Tiet was astonished and angry. Had he and Orin been led into a trap by a traitor?
“Stop it!” Wynn demanded. “Daooth is a friend. He is a civilian I have known for many years. He saved my life shortly after I came to the planet, when I was captured by Grod and his Horva.”
Tiet and Orin stood down and listened to what Wynn had to say.
“Forgive my startling of you,” Daooth said in a broken Castillian dialect.
“I told you things are not what they appear here,” Wynn said. “There are those among the Vorn who would gladly live at peace with us, but the military has control over them-just as they do on our home world. Daooth is one of many who want that control to end. General Grod is the leader of the Horva armies you saw at Vaseer and at their main compound at Nagon-toth. Grod and his clones are of a breed which was discontinued due to the threat they began to pose to Vorn control.
“They were engineered to be stronger, but it became obvious to the military-as well as to Grod-that these Horva were capable of rising up against their Vorn masters. Grod quickly took the opportunity to lead them in revolt and that rebellion has been building in strength steadily since before I arrived on the planet.
“Grod had been capturing important cloning scientists from the Vorn cities while on raids. He began to conquer entire cities as his power increased. Not long after I arrived, I was captured by the General. He took samplings of my DNA to use in a new experimental process by which he could regenerate his clone body and splice my Barudii DNA with his own in the hopes of gaining our kinetic abilities.
“Daooth helped me to escape and caused an accident which destroyed the genetic material Grod was going to use. He has hidden me here all these years since. It is my hope to somehow free his people from the control of the military and Grod.”
“Why haven’t the civilians risen up for their freedom against the Vorn,” Orin asked?
“My people have not fighting skill to face these armies, and they are not the only threat,” Daooth said. “Baruk clan is also our enemy and are more fierce than Vorn military or Grod. Now they control Vorn military from distance. Vorn do what they want, further Baruk interests, they leave them alone. But now Vorn nearing defeat by Grod’s forces and Baruk are sure to come.”
“Yes, and Grod knows that as well,” Wynn said. “That’s why he’s so desperate to complete his DNA experiment so he can power up his clones with the Way.”
“But you said that Daooth destroyed the sample of your DNA that Grod needed to do the experiment,” Tiet said.
“Yes, but now he has yours,” Daooth replied.
Tiet was taken aback. He had no idea what had occurred before he awoke within the confinement field inside Grod’s compound.
“Then we have to infiltrate Grod’s compound and destroy the samples,” Orin said.
“It not so simple anymore,” said Daooth. “Grod already moved out with scientist for project and samples. He going to Baeth Periege.”
