'I would caution against it, the gravitational disturbance is building in intensity. If it keeps up it will destroy their ship and pull in anything within a range of one thousand kilometers.'
'Gunner, continue trying to punch through. Maybe we can help them on their way,' said Estall.
WYNN could clearly make out the forms of the Baruk warriors as they began their charge across the battlefield toward their position.
'Ready your guns!!' shouted Wynn to his troops through his com-link.
The Baruk were running hard at them now, shouting a war cry as they advanced. And then suddenly, many began to slow and stop.
What's happening?! he thought as he peered through his data-scope lens.
Suddenly a number of monstrous worm-like beasts broke through the ground from within the group of Baruk warriors and began to attack them.
'Sonders!'
'Yes, Sir,' said the soldier as he ran to Wynn's side.
'Aren't those the same creatures that were spotted entering the city before the attack on Tiet's group?'
'Yes, Sir, the same. But why are they attacking the Baruk?'
'I don't know but their group is within the range of our guns… Fire!!'
The Baruk warriors were caught in between their own creatures attacking them as the mental domination of the Lucin was released, and the rain of fire coming against them from the Castillian army. Many of the warriors ran in various directions to escape, while others tried to kill the Hurutai that were trying to kill anything within their reach, and still others tried to fire back at Wynn's forces.
'Should we charge them, sir?' asked Sonders.
'No, not yet… Let's allow those creatures to finish off as many as they will first. Something is finally going our way in this fight. Let's not give up the advantage we've been given.'
TIET'S steps were beginning to get heavier and heavier as he ran toward the place where he hoped the transgate would still be open to escape through. The Baruk ship's computer was counting down the last minute. Tiet was still supporting the weight of Kale's body with his mind but he was struggling as the gravitational forces began to build aboard the doomed vessel.
Lucin's symbyte form began to recover itself from the spicor disc explosions. Pain coursed through its body, but that only fueled his anger and desire to escape the ship that much more. The Barudii had seized Kale's body but had left the chamber open as well.
With only precious moments to escape, Lucin's monstrous form moved quickly through the opening in the chamber door.
The computer was counting down and there was no time to reach any of the escape pods. Then he saw a trailing glimpse of a man with another across his shoulders running from the area; blood trailing behind them on the floor. However they got on the ship, there must be a way they were planning on leaving.
The gravity was causing intense pain in Tiet's legs as he tried to continue his pace toward the transgate, which he could now see up ahead. Nagon-Toth looked like home sweet home in comparison to this place now. Then he heard something approaching fast from behind.
He could sense the same creature that had been trying to kill Kale back in the chamber. It was coming up fast on him, but there was no time for a fight; only seconds remained before a complete collapse of the containment field surrounding those gravity weapons.
The symbyte gained rapidly on Tiet as he continued to run. Lucin moved quickly, contorting his terrifying symbyte body to reach for anything he could and pull himself along the corridor. His morphing appendages sprang outward, several at a time, to find anchors with which to pull his body along at a swift pace. He could now see the same portal that Kale's rescuer was running for and his pace quickened as the computer counted down the last ten seconds.
The portal was within reach now. Tiet ran through, with Kale still across his back. His brother's blood could be felt across his bare neck and was beginning to soak through his own uniform; but he was still breathing, still alive. As he ran through the portal he saw Grod waiting.
'Close the gate!!' he shouted as they ran through.
The technician punched the button as the symbyte monstrosity reached the field and began to come through. The transgate snapped shut like a light going out. A piece of the symbyte creature burst away as the field separated it from the rest of the body still aboard the Baruk flagship. The lump of tissue landed on the floor smoldering, but did not move.
THE Baruk flagship began to crumple inward upon itself as the containment field fully collapsed around the store of massive gravity weapons within its core. Ranul and Estall watched with their bridge crew as the whole superstructure caved inward.
The numerous escape pods trying to jettison into open space were quickly succumbing to the gravitational pull and being cast back upon their mother ship to join the imploding mass.
The other Baruk ships, many of which were already drifting or damaged were now pull toward the implosion. Then, without warning it burst outward again, destroying or damaging nearly all of those ships being pulled to it.
The bridge crew of the Esyia howled their approval as the whole conflagration went up before their eyes. Only three ships of the Castillian army remained and they were nearly out of shield power, but the fight appeared to be over; they had won against the odds.
'GET the medics in here!' shouted Grod to those monitoring from the control room.
Tiet laid his brother on the floor as gently as he could. Kale's expression was fixed on his face. His face was a mask of blood as he tried to speak to Tiet.
'Forgive?' he asked through the pain.
Tears welled up in Tiet's eyes as he watched the brother he had only recently known, dying before him. He could not hold them back as they fell upon the damaged body.
'Forgive?' Kale strained again.
'Kale, I forgive you all, my brother,' he said through the lump in his throat.
And with that, Kale's expression turned from anguish to peace. He stopped his struggle and laid his head back to the floor and was dead.
The Horva medics rushed into the chamber, but Grod bade them to hold with a wave of his hand. The Barudii warrior was dead and they could not have saved him.
Tiet moved away from his body as the Horva prepared to remove him.
'I am sorry for your loss,' Grod said genuinely.
He only looked at the General. He had no words now.
'My men will show you where you can rest awhile. I will contact your people in Baeth Periege and we will arrange transport for you back to the city.'
Tiet nodded as he choked back his emotions. He followed one of the warriors out of the room as the medics loaded Kale's body onto a carrier.
'What do you want to do with this tissue that came through the portal?' asked the transgate tech.
'Have it taken to the incinerator, that way it will be completely destroyed,' said Grod as he followed the medics out of the room.
The transgate technician left his controls after shutting down the control board and went to find a suitable container to remove the tissue. He found an old metal box and scooped the symbyte flesh into it. With the lid shut he headed for the incinerator to dispose of the specimen.
THE trip back to Baeth Periege was lengthy but uneventful. Tiet did not speak to anyone and no one attempted conversation with him. General Grod sat behind him on the shuttle flight, along with a contingent of his warriors; a proper escort for the Barudii King.
When they arrived within the city, Wynn was there to meet him at the port, along with seemingly thousands
