Kalon

Chapter One-Hundred-Five: Eka Dun Ula Nudu

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: Tarvashal, main hangers

Ralia and Salia move to be further back, taking position behind Fennec.

"Such a pleasure to finally meet you, CS7447943-SK143," each letter and number said with intent, he knows the identifiers they assigned me at birth, he knows who I am.

Where do I know him from?

"Or should I just call you dog?" he pulls his arm in front of him lazily, pretending to be bored, "I'm easy, which do you prefer?" he asks, there is a sickness in the way he looks at me, a longing of some kind hidden beneath the mask of boredom.

This is not a random encounter. What does he want?

"You don't know who I am, do you?" the man asks.

My eyes trace the soldiers with him, twelve. Each wearing heavy armor. Yet, there are gaps that can be cut, places that a blade would sing for. My head turns to Fennec, he is wary of this man and his soldiers. So wary that his stance shifts slightly, almost unnoticeable, I hear a whirring of servos beneath his suit jacket. Something I would never have heard before breaking the boundaries.

Looking back at the man, golden locks of hair with glacial blue eyes, "Should I?" I ask. There is intent here with this game that he is playing. What does he want? Why set us up for an ambush?

The man scoffs, reaching his hand into his jacket pocket. He pulls from it a small case, opening it from a hinge, a dim light dancing out from it. I can feel it already, calling to me… Netherium, a small shard, but my body feels the craving.

"Do you know what this is?" the man asks, stepping forward now a single pace, still more than twenty from me, "You should recognize it."

Why would he show me Netherium? Does he know that my body is strange? How would he know? He must know something, but what?

He leans down and slides the case toward me, stopping it with my boot, I peer down at it. There are cracks in it, black streaking cracks. I have only seen Netherium do this with my blood. He knows… how much though? I lean to pick it up, and the soldiers rifles raise giving me pause. Not for myself, but Haki and Daki, they are in the line of fire. Sekat.

They all know that I can channel Netherium then, so, they are prepared? Looking at the exposed skin of their bodies, not prepared enough.

"Amazing isn't it—I traveled from the other side of the star quadrant and found you on this bleak and barren frozen wasteland of a planet," he holds a hand out, pointing to the case, "Just because of a tiny little shard of Netherium. Marvelous really."

My skin crawls at his mannerisms.

"It took a lot of greased palms, and an immeasurable amount of slagging mental taxation trying to find you, even had to make a rather unfortunate deal, but here we are—here we are."

What have I done to earn his depraved attention? He seems to know me well. Yet, I still can't place his face. Who is this man?

"You seem to be confused, perhaps a refresher?" the man asks, a grin growing across his face as he snaps his fingers, "Come doggie."

There is a sound of scurried metal scraping the floors of the hanger bay.

"Woof, yes master." A very strange sounding voice says from behind the group of soldiers. Almost like their mouth cannot form words properly.

A figure moves through the soldiers now, low to the ground. My face scrunches for a moment as my stomach churns. It is a man wearing a chain around his neck, there are deep horrific scars riddled across his body. His limbs have been replaced with metal legs, shaped like a dogs. On his lower back is a crudely installed contraption that wags back and forth like a tail. It is repulsive to look at, his teeth are removed and parts of his jaw is reduced so his tongue hangs from the side of his mouth.

Haki and Daki take a step back, now in line with Fennec and me. Ralia and Salia are behind us. I hear boots moving from the shuttle loading bay door. We are effectively surrounded. Behind there are soldiers, in front there are soldiers, to my right is a thick wall of metal, and to my left the shuttle. There is only one direction to leave. Plow through them. But not yet, not with them having advantage of rifles and distance. Not when they might slay the others.

"Still not jogging your memory?" the cold-eyed man asks as he pets the head of the man turned dog.

My mind thinks back… until it finds memory that can explain this man.

"You Kuwathi are very thick," the man sighs, his grin sliding back, a tone of annoyance in his cold voice. He flicks his wrist and a holo appears in between us.

My blood turns to ice as I see myself on it, holding the black box. Luna, behind me on the ground. The gears in my mind begin to turn as I fully realize who the man is. I see myself throwing the black box into the air, the perspective of the holo is from Betran... the Arasha merchant I slew. Right after Luna's ship fell, causing ours to crash also. I see myself closing the gap and killing him. Hearing the last word that was spoken to him… woof.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Oh—you're finally catching on," the man says, his grin returning. He swipes his hand and replays me saying woof again, and again. Each time the grin on his face grows deeper "So satisfying, isn't it?"

Looking at the man turned dog on the floor, now remembering that Betran, the man who bought me from Nekam kept talking about his cousin having a Kuwathi for a pet. He must be the cousin that Betran would not stop talking too, I could barely see his face in the holo, but now it is making sense. He is the one who turns Kuwathi into dogs and fillets them for fun… something bubbles in me. Something that wishes to carve the eyes from his head and force them down his throat. Eyes that have watched the suffering of my people and found joy in it.

"I am…" the man says, giving a fake bow, "Mallock."

He leans back, a sinister grin on his face as he says "You killed my cousin Betran Cotras. And we Cotras don't take kindly to people killing our blood, no matter how much of a disappointment they are."

Mallock looks at the man turned dog he tilts his head, "Do we doggy?"

"Woof—No—No—No, Master you don't."

"That's a good boy. Now sit. Give me a paw, roll over." Mallock says, not taking his eyes from me as I watch the disturbing exchange. He pulls something from his waist.

My eyes narrow as I see it is a knife in Mallock's grasp, he stabs it into the man turned dog, again and again. Blood sprays all over him as he laughs in the shower of gore of his own making. The soldiers take a few steps back to avoid it.

The man-turned-dog yelps in pain, gurgling on blood, unable to stop it, until he becomes still. Yet Mallock stabs him more, as though it was not enough... as though it is never enough. Fennec moves his hands behind his back slowly, giving some kind of signal to the twins.

Haki and Daki change stances. Palming blades quietly.

"Not yet," I whisper to them, they nod without looking. Eyes fixed upon the pooling blood that rolls across the floor.

Some of the soldiers have looks of horror on their faces. Their eyes are not accustomed to the cruelty that people can inflict upon others. They will fall last, while the others clutch at their throats, these ones will fumble to fire. I can feel it in them. The lack of resolve.

When Mallock finally finishes, he stands slowly, wiping his face with his sleeve.

"Would you look at that!" he yells, somewhat manically, "How fortuitous, a position's just opened up!"

He takes a step closer, I do not change my stance yet. The time is not here yet.

"When I heard that sweet and beautiful woof of yours—I just knew I had to have you."

I look around the room once more. Ensuring there is no escape… for them.

"Way I see it, you've got one good option—obey," Mallock says, then coming one step closer "Are you going to be a good little doggie and obey?"

He does not understand yet. There is no reservation in me for killing him, nor any that stand with him. The only eyes that would dull my blade are Luna's, and she is not here to look upon the tapestry I shall paint with their demise. The chords begin to play as he takes another step forward.

"If I'm being honest though," he says, pulling back his blood slicked hair, "I do hope you'll do it the hard way."

My shoulders are slumped, my posture like Haki, Daki and Fennec is weak. We are Ulima, we do not fight by showing our strength first. We fight by using our wits, by being underestimated. Even when we are not, even when our enemies prepare more than us… it does not matter. A blade honed among the suffering of my people is sharp. My eyes trace to the dead man, what a life of suffering he must have led. He is free now, yet the affront is not forgotten. Not by me.

"Well?" Mallock asks, tilting his head slightly back so he's looking down on me, "What's it going to be?"

They are far from me, I need to draw them in. My shoulders slouch more and I blink fast, pretending that the fear has taken root in my bones.

"I will go willingly," I lie.

The man's smile falters, disappointment on his face.

"Shame," he says, waving his hand dismissively.

Six of the twelve soldiers come forward, my hands raise from my side, still showing them weakness.

"Take the ones behind," I whisper to the brothers and Fennec.

Haki and Daki shoot me a glance, measuring my intent, a flicker of bioluminescence from my eyes makes them nod, changing their stances.

"You can take twelve?" Fennec asks, shooting me a disbelieving look.

"They are already dead, their bodies just don't know it yet."

He sighs, but nods.

Six more paces, almost there.

"Eka Dun Ula Nudu," I say when they approach within three paces.

Some of the soldiers stop moving immediately, as though they understood my words. Perhaps they are Kuwathi. Good, I want them to know what comes. There is no mercy for them. I am not the same person I was before I left Naro City. I am stronger now. Faster, more lethal. Without Luna to dull the echoes of my blade's song, I feel it coming to a roar. Seeking prey, those who deserve its edge.

"What does that mean?" Mallock asks, the hint of a grin blossoming in the winter chill of his face.

"Those who seek death, shall find it."

All of the soldiers pause.

"Frag," Fennec sighs, the sound of mechanical things growing louder from him now, "I just made this suit."

One of the soldiers takes a step back, but it is too late. The six of them are in my domain. My legs move, the gap closed in a single stride. Barely a shriek rises from the first's throat as it slashes open, blood becoming the sacrament of my offering to their gods. The next stumbles back, again too late.

In one breath four are dead, each face more fearful than the last. The rifles fumbling in their hands. Just as I thought.

Energy pulses from Fennecs arm as it shifts into a massive cannon shaped weapon, splaying his fingers outwards, they fold back and a barrel extends. A gust of air as plasma rips into the six that are behind us. Haki and Daki have already turned to help the twins.

The ones with Mallock raise their rifles in time. I could dodge, but then the plasma may strike those behind me, so I stand firm as the first shots slap against the shield that Kotina gave me. It ripples, but it holds, better than she said it would. Giving me just enough time to close the gap. They all fall with barely a whimper. My speed is ferocious, unnaturally so.

Mallock is laughing hysterically, "I knew you were the one! The doggie I've always been searching for!"

He steps back quickly, pace barely beneath a backwards run. The last soldier falls, my head turns, the others have succeeded as well. Fennec is moving to the shuttle with the twins, Haki and Daki are ensuring each are truly dead. My eyes level with Mallock now, my steps filled with purpose and intent.

"I just love that look on your face," Mallock says, his grin parting blood, "I can't wait to…"

My hand throws my blade towards his chest, giving him pause. My eyes blink… the blade does not strike him, a swell of Maka in the air rises, pushing the blade's trajectory. My eyes trace toward the source. Coming from where the others were fighting. A sinking feeling rising in me as I whip my head around fully and see someone standing there. Looming over all my allies on their knees. Suddenly Mallock's confidence makes sense, with a person like this backing him. Whoever they are. Power ripples from them, coming in waves. They are at least as strong as Kotina, this much I can feel.

"Run!" Daki manages to yell. As though the air itself has changed around him. Galing winds form above them, so forceful that I feel it more than thirty paces away. Daki's eyes bulge as he slams from his knees to his belly on the ground.

I cannot win against the person who holds them all down, I know this, instinctually I can feel this much. Still, I am not dissuaded to try. My hand reaches down to the ground, finding the Netherium shard. Netheric Maka spurring into me, the cool of the calm flowing over me. My eyes catching in theirs.

"Let them go," I growl.

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