torg 03- The Nightmare Dream (22 page)

"Stop that," she whispered. "Please stop."

After a moment, the hand calmed and she again had control of it. Perhaps it was only a reaction to the newly opened pathways between it and her brain. Or maybe she was just tired. Yes, that was it, she decided. She was just tired. She promised herself she would get a few hours of sleep after she finished the minor adjustment.

She worked on through the long plane trip, soon forgetting the incident as she buried herself in her work.

74

On the continent of Jister, on the world of Takta Ker, a tribe of Jakatts were camped at the base of a huge jungle bridge. The bridge was a wide path of growing vines, thick branches, and twisting roots. It was a main thoroughfare, leading from Jister to the Living Land realm on the world called Earth. The Jakatts, faithful followers of Lanala and their Saar, Baruk Kaah, waited for the signal that would call them down bridge to the conquered realm.

176

Edeinos were engaged in rituals, preparing for the coming battles they would be called upon to fight. Some were storing up animal rage that could be released in the heat of combat. Others performed ritual dances to ensure heightened dexterity, hearing, sight, or strength. As the edeinos prayed, benthe mingled among them, helping them build their emotions to a fevered pitch. Even the stalengers were involved, using their ability to fly to herd the dinosaurs into controllable groups. It was a wonderful day, filled with intense sensations and the anticipation of even stronger feelings.

Then the storm began.

It started as a dark shadow moving up the jungle bridge at frightening speed. Lightning heralded its approach, and thunder announced its arrival. It moved with purpose, in direct opposition to the usual flow of weather from cosm to realm. What the Jakatts saw went against the natural ways, and so they became afraid.

It was a tower of black clouds, riding up the bridge on winds of fetid air. Illuminating streaks of jagged light danced across the surface of the cloud formation, and a deep, rolling thunder sounded from within its black interior.

Edeinos looked to the optants, shaking with excited questions. What sensations did this ominous storm hold, they wondered. What would the black rain feel like as it splattered across their scales? What would it taste like as they tilted their heads back to drink? They were afraid, but they reveled in the emotion. Fear was a rare treat for them, and they were willing to experience it to the fullest.

"Listen to the thunder!" a young edeinos yelled above the increasing wind.

"Do you smell that?" another asked. "What is that smell?"

An optant lifted her head, sniffing the air to catch the scent. A shiver went through her body. "It smells like death," she yelled.

A great horn sounded, echoing out of the rolling cloud like distant thunder. As the horn continued to resound, the cloud touched down upon the top of the bridge and split open with a lightning-accentuated whip-crack of noise. Swirling eddies of cloud dislodged from the main formation, and these quickly shifted into the ravens, wolf hounds, and horse riders of the Wild Hunt.

Caught up within its own frenzied current of destruction, following the raging scent of the hunt that drove them mad, the huntsmen and their beasts tore into the Jakatt tribe with unrestrained fury. Swords, claws, teeth, hooves, and serrated beaks ripped at the edeinos, slicing them apart as the storm swept through their camp.

When the tower of cloud moved on, it left a terrible pile of bodies in its wake. Edeinos, stalenger, benthe — none could stand against the Wild Hunt's fury. Even udatok, baragon, tressir, the beasts of the land, fell before the savage rage of the storm riders.

It was a truly glorious, experience-filled way to die, and the Jakatts met their fate happily, thanking Lanala for granting them such sensations.

75

Angus Cage worked in the Royal Library, dusting the tables where the court scholars unrolled scrolls and studied tomes of ancient knowledge. It had been almost twenty-four hours since he had given the information to the Guardian, and while he wondered how the Mystery Men were faring, he found himself wondering more and more about Clemeta. Whenever his mind started to question the strange hold she had over him, he would instead find himself thinking about her eyes, or her lips, or the curves of her body. He was so caught up in the memories of their night together that he didn't notice the activity around him. Not at first.

He became aware of the shocktroopers after they had ranged out around the chamber, cutting off all exits. They were traditional Nile soldiers, bare chested, wearing white skirts and colorful, stripped headdresses. They carried Nile Schmeissers, and there were at least two squads of them. Cage, on the other hand, was only one man, and an unarmed man at that.

"Is there some problem, masters?" Cage asked, trying to appear as harmless as possible.

One of the soldiers, whose headdress marked him as an officer, laughed, "No problem at all as far as I can see. And they told us to be careful, that you were one of the famed Mystery Men. Ha!"

Cage flashed them a winning smile.
"A
Mystery Man? Now whoever gave you that idea?"

Cage moved then, faster than the soldiers anticipated. He grabbed the machinegun of the nearest shocktrooper, using it to batter the man senseless. Then, before the others could react, he fell backwards, rolled behind one of the massive study tables, and came to his feet firing. The machinegun cut down five of the shocktroopers before one of them rushed up behind Cage and smashed the butt of a Schmeisser into the back of his skull.

The blow caught him by surprise, and wild colors exploded before his eyes as the pain registered. He started to fall, and the colors muted to gray. Then to black.

Angus Cage was unconscious before he hit the floor.

76

Clemeta had seen the Royal Marshall issuing orders to two squads of shocktroopers in the main hall, and she had become deathly afraid. She had been too far away to hear the exact nature of the orders, but something deep within her told her that they had to do with Cage.

Now she was hurrying through the back corridors usually reserved for the servants, running to find Cage, to warn him before the shocktroopers caught up with him. As she approached the Royal Library, several slaves ran passed her. She stopped a young maid, grabbing the girl by the arm and spinning her around.

"Speak, girl," Clemeta demanded, "what are you fleeing from?"

"Shocktroopers, my lady," the young girl stammered. "They have entered the library with guns drawn!"

Clemeta released the girl's arm. Not waiting to be dismissed, the maid bowed and ran down the corridor, away from the library.

Clemeta stood for a moment, considering her options. She could walk away now and leave Cage to his fate. He was an adventurer and all. He knew the risks involved in the game he was playing. Or she could go forward. Perhaps she could use her station and authority as Royal Escort to trick the soldiers into releasing Cage into her custody. Then the two of them could flee the palace and disappear into the streets.

She started forward, telling herself that the path to true power would be easier to follow at Cage's side rather than with Mobius. After all, how long did she think she would be able to manipulate the Pharaoh with only her natural charms. He was immune to the effects of her perfume, unlike Cage. She told herself all of these things, but she couldn't quite understand why she was

The Nightmare Dream

worried about the man called Angus Cage.

She heard shouts now, and the sound of machinegun fire. Quickening her pace, she pulled a pistol from the folds of her dress. Reaching the door, she watched as Cage was battered to the floor.

"How dare you!" Clemeta screamed, taking aim with the pistol at the shocktrooper standing over Cage.

Before she could squeeze the trigger, however, powerful arms wrapped around her from behind. They were too strong for her, choking the life out of her. After a moment, she ceased struggling and let the pistol fall from her hand.

"Bring her here," the Royal Marshall said, and the man holding Clemeta forced her into the chamber.

She was shoved to the floor, falling beside Cage. She glanced at him, saw blood above his eye where his head hit the stone floor, but also saw that he was breathing. Then she turned a fierce look upon Teth-Net.

"How dare you handle me like this!" Clemeta raged. "Do you know who I am?"

"You are the Royal Slut," Teth-Net said, offering Clemeta a mocking bow. "And you are a traitor to the Empire."

Clemeta could barely contain herself. She tried to rise, but a sandaled foot pushed her back down. "When the Pharaoh hears of this, he will..."

Teth-Net cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Save your threats, my lady. The Pharaoh is already aware of the situation. He returned this morning and I informed him of your little meeting with the Guardian. It was the Pharaoh who ordered this operation."

Clemeta swallowed hard, trying to maintain an air of indifference to the Royal Marshall's words. "So what happens now?" she asked.

"That is up to the Pharaoh," Teth-Net smiled coldly. "Take them to the Audience Chamber."

77

The Guardian watched the airfield through a pair of binoculars. It was a small base, consisting of a number of pre-fabricated metal buildings surrounded by a barbed wire fence. He saw a number of guards stationed about the fence; others walked the interior of the base. Workmen, armed with belts full of tools, entered and exited the buildings at a regular pace. The largest building stood open. It was built at the head of a canal, and a PBY seaplane waited within, rocking quietly upon the water.

He lowered the binoculars and turned to the rest of his strike team. The first member was Rocket Blue, one of the famed Rocket Rangers of Terra, wearing the battle armor of that elite corps of soldiers. Although he had never seen Rocket Blue out of the armor, and even though the soldier's voice was heard through a distorting microphone, he was quite sure that Rocket Blue was a woman. But whether the Rocket Ranger was male or female, Rocket Blue was someone to have around when the going got tough. The Guardian had an idea that this mission was going to be as tough as it got.

Second was the Golem, a super-strong giant of a man whose body was covered in protective rock. Unlike Rocket Blue, however, the gray stone was not a mechanical device. Somehow, the Golem was actually able to transform his flesh into stone.

The third member of the team was a super-fast speedster who called himself Wind Whirl. He was young, with a sharp tongue and a quick wit. He fancied himself a comedian. The Guardian considered him a fool, but Dr. Frest had assigned him to the team. Until proven incapable of helping them, the Guardian would give him the benefit of the doubt.

The fourth team member was Raven Wing, dressed in a black outfit that revealed more than it covered. Her powers included flight and a billowing cloak of darkness that could spread out to obscure a limited area. She was also an expert at hand-to-hand combat, which made her good looks even more of an anomaly. Heroes should not be cover girls, the Guardian thought. It somehow tarnished their images.

The fifth member of the team was Earthwave, who was able to manipulate solid ground in some amazing ways. The Guardian wasn't sure if this ability sprang from the gadget-covered costume that Earthwave wore, or if it was a natural ability, or some combination of the two. He decided it was the latter, for he had seen Earthwave cause concentrated quakes, ride waves of flowing rock, and even erect walls of dirt in front of fleeing bad guys. His powers would come in handy in this operation.

Finally there was the Guardian himself, dressed in black coat and hat, wearing a black mask. He carried a diamond-tipped cane, his trademark and a weapon to be reckoned with. In addition, he was stronger than most normal men, and he was an excellent fighter. But more, he was a leader, and that put him in charge of this team of Mystery Men.

"The base appears to be quiet, just going about its regular business," the Guardian told them. "That will all change once we arrive. There are twenty guards from my count, but that does not include any that may be within the buildings. Before we take this place apart, I want to get a closer look at that seaplane."

He looked over the group, then issued orders. "Rocket

Blue, take the Golem and wait near the main gate for my signal. When you get it, take down the generator building. Earthwave and Raven Wing, station yourselves at the south fence. When you get my signal, I want you to trash those guard barracks before the general alarm can be sounded."