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 Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:59 am
heart Here I will be posting character introductions and small pieces of the content to give an idea for the feel of the story. I am reviewing the proofread copy as of now. So the actual release date shouldn't be much longer after that. In case any of you want to know what the cover will look like it's located on my siggy razz Enjoy! heart
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:03 am
The starlit blue of Zen’s eyes shimmered with thoughtful
intelligence. More than that, however, was their sense of uneasiness.
The faint glow of her pale skin and silk-white hair
softly illuminated the shuttle’s interior, revealing her status as
both a Kristic and a member of the Protectorate.
Seated across from her, safely strapped against the shuttle
wall, was her partner, Sefira. Slightly older than Zen, she
seemed no more than twenty by Human standards. Her golden
hair lay long down her back, her black eyes storming with
power and purpose unlike any other. In the silver-gray of their
combat dress uniforms, they looked toward one another, sharing
nods of reassurance.
The cargo hold shook with vibration as a series of explosions
sounded somewhere close by.
“Sorry about that,” a voice called over the intercom. “O. N.
E. forces are picking up the trash.”
“Zen, Sefira,” an older voice—male—chimed in, “I need
you both to get ready.”
Disengaging their restraints, both of them stood fast, detaching
black boxes from the walls that opened with a variety
of armaments and individual equipment. Both slung their rifles,
attaching belts holding bullets made with diamond-etched tips,
imbued with astral essences from the heart of Kristia itself.
“Remember,” the voice added, “you are to proceed to the
extraction point and retrieve the package only. Under no circumstances
are you to deviate from the mission.”
“We’ve had the brief, Leanus,” Sefira reminded him, securing
her communicator.
“Well,” he replied, “it’s my duty to remind you—ETA in
two minutes.”
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:15 am
The rain outside began to blanket more heavily. Fortunately,
the red gleam from their enemies’ eyes still made them
easy to identify.
Something landed hard above them, but as the dark, armored
figure reached down toward them, Zen withdrew a single
step before blasting it with astral energy that consumed its
body.
Another made the corner where she stood. Richter shifted
to the left, gunning it down.
The Endeavor was struck, knocking Richter flat against the
floor. The wall panel beside Zen was torn away. In that very
instant, a massive hand reached inward, clutching her tightly as
it withdrew.
Richter rushed to his feet, blasting two Axephulum as he
turned the corner.
The one that had taken her was three times the size of the
others, dragging her toward several others that were rushing to
intercept. Though armored, the exposed portions of flesh
looked rotten and molded, the muscles twisting between torn
layers of skin.
Richter fired successively, three shots that dismembered the
gruesome creature, causing Zen to drop to the ground. She
barely had time to rush back into the shuttle before a team of
Axephulum flooded the entrance.
Richter emptied his clip, loading the last. He withdrew, taking
out four—and two more thereafter.
The sound of engines ripped through the air as the armed
escort arrived. Composed of four small ships, the centermost
descended to a hover no more than a meter from the ground.
With suppressive fire, the armed escort cleared a route between
them and the Endeavor, as Zen carried Sefira, as well as the
package, en route.
“Extract!” the order was called.
With Richter nearly surrounded, he fired his last shot, exchanging
the rifle with his own.
“Wait,” Zen called as she boarded the ramp, handing over
the package as well as her partner. She shouldn’t have, but something inside her clicked. Her mission was clear—retrieve
the package and extract. But she couldn’t leave behind the very
man who’d just saved her life.
“Ignore that,” called a green-armored lieutenant. “Extraction
is complete. I say again—extraction is complete. Move
out!”
The ship began to ascend, the ramp closing fast.
Abruptly, Zen rolled outside and the ramp was forced to
reopen.
Richter felt the fire of pain sear through his body as fiery
bolts of energy charged toward him, slashing his legs and
piercing his torso. Suddenly he began to loose grip of his
senses. Everything became a haze in what he felt sure were going
to be his last moments.
The figures that had gunned him down quickly overcame
him, their dark shadows looming within an instant of death.
But then they fell back, withdrawing from a sudden volley of
bright-lit fire.
Above him now was something light, touching him softly.
Even in the haze, he could see the piercing blue of her eyes.
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Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 8:24 am
In the beginning there was Gaia. Gaia was love. Gaia was
perfection. There was never a world with such incredible
power. If only we could have seen the truth for what it was. In
trying to take that power for ourselves, we lost everything we
ever shared in its name. Gaia might have fallen, but it isn’t
dead. We just have to find it where it sleeps—then we must
awaken the sleeper.—Shaper Tallir, Exodian archives.
Merkava, Outskirts of Levius
Kether stood along the white sandy beach of Levius watching
the tide as it rolled in. As an Exodian, his hair and eyes
were black as pitch. The pale of his skin was soft to a glow, all
but his face shrouded in a long, black coat. His expression was
one of peace and contemplative serenity. The wind blew gently
against him as he looked at the stars, their light cast in bright
orange and fiery red clusters.
This was Exodus, and it was home. It was also his dominion
through which he exercised both his power and control.
Behind him was the last forest to survive the exile, its life
force slowly ebbing. The planet was dying and without a
means to renew its essence. It was only a matter of time. The
Axephulum had served him with undying loyalty, and they
would follow him to the very end of oblivion if needed; he was
sure of it. Reflecting on the events of the past, present, and future
sure to come, he felt certain—he was no longer alone here.
Glancing over his shoulder, his suspicions were confirmed,
“Koutoriaux.”
The Exodian resembled Kether but with longer hair, his expression
slightly more softened. His coat was brown and buckled,
rugged by design. He was also much younger.
“It’s almost time,” Kether announced.
“I know,” Koutoriaux looked up to the stars. “I came as
soon as I heard.”
“She’s been there the whole time, and we didn’t even know
it.” Kether’s eyes flashed crimson fire then returned to black as
the moment elapsed.
“Did you see her?”
“I did.”
“What was she like?”
“Almost like us,” Kether smiled, “They were right about
her: half Eneyan, half Exodian, and quite the spectacle of interest.”
“Is she really the one?” Koutoriaux’s voice rose with excitement.
“Can the heir of Eneyas be part of us as well?”
“At this point, there’s no explanation for it. But she is most
certainly the heir.”
“I see,” Koutoriaux’s eyes misted over with unrestrained
curiosity.
“They’re using her against us,” Kether’s tone hinted at frustration.
“I want to meet her,” Koutoriaux sounded hopeful, his eyes
cast over the coated glow of the open sea.
“If that suits you, I don’t have a problem with it; so long as
you stick to the plan.”
“I don’t want her to get hurt,” Koutoriaux sounded
strangely concerned.
“A little premature, don’t you think? You don’t even know
the girl.”
“Xias tells me,” Koutoriaux began, “the Humans captured
Netsaria.”
“It will never reach Kristia,” Kether said simply. “I’ve arranged
a contingency. Dragons make the worst of enemies, but
they also make powerful friends.”
“I thought they were adamant about staying out of this.”
“So they say.”
“Did they change their minds?”
“Not yet,” Kether answered. “I’ve given the task to Xias.
His methods are slightly more effective where these matters are
concerned.”
“Sounds like you’ve got everything under control.”
“Almost,” Kether said simply. “There’s nothing perfect after
all.”
Koutoriaux smiled, looking up to him, “The Promised
Land?”
“Gaia–” Kether sharpened his gaze toward the stars afar
“That . . . we’ll have to see for ourselves.”
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Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:12 pm
With a spray of unearthed soil, the weapon recoiled.
Predecies had complete mastery of his chains, whipping,
cracking, and cutting the air with powerful strokes, all aimed
with lethal precision toward his quarry.
Zen averted her own death through nimble focus, dodging,
ducking, rolling, leaping. And each time she did, he was there.
Predecies was relentless, carving away at her body bit by bit,
the teeth of his weapon tearing into her kanni. She continued to
form barriers to shield herself, but they were no more effective
than her lithe defenses, draining her essence even further.
Now a matter of survival, Zen leapt forward to gain ground
between them.
Predecies hurled the end-spike of his chain, cracking it to
snatch her from the air. Impaling her body, he anchored her by strength, pulling her toward him as she hit the ground once
more. She was moving much slower now, her essence taxed.
Zen fought to gather strength, but as she pushed herself up,
the plated foot of the dark lord drove flatly against her brow,
nailing her to the earth. More of her kanni was torn away, exposing
more of her flesh that was even slower to heal. Never
had she lost so much of herself so suddenly, her strength ebbing.
“Pathetic,” Predecies growled, grinding his plated foot
against the side of her face.
“Get off me!” Zen struggled beneath him.
Predecies reached out with a single, solid hand, grasping at
her lower jaw. He pulled her close, the fire of his eyes roasting
the air between them, “This is the end.”
There was no fear in Zen’s eyes.
Lifting her body from the ground, secure in his grasp, Predecies
hissed.
Abruptly the ground shook with quaking force.
Predecies looked back. Zwei-Cross had landed behind him.
It was the first and only opportunity she had. Igniting her
essence in a sudden burst of light, Zen enveloped herself, as
well as her assailant, in a glistening white veil.
Instantly the dark lord withdrew, hissing in anger, blinded
by pain.
Zen stumbled back just as Zwei-Cross hammered its fist
upon the dark lord, smashing his body into a heap of metal and
air-seething shadows.
With the ground shaking once more, the Paladin was
grabbed from behind.
Hurling its attacker, Zwei-Cross afforded a moment to observe
Zen’s wounded figure.
Within the unit, Richter returned to his senses, but only
those concerning her. He could see her looking up to him. Zen .
. . hold on.
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