Kalon

Chapter One-Hundred-Thirteen: Alakin Dom Jukora

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: Research Facility

Tracing through the rubble, withered faces like mine stare back. They whisper words as I walk by, touching the fabric of my clothes.

Ralia helps me move forward. I fear without her, I could not continue. How weak I have become under their torments. Even freed I am not truly free of it. Not yet. But I will be. We all will be.

Her eyes trace into mine, seeking answers about what the people whisper. Answers that I do not wish to give.

"Kada," a voice says to my right. Relief washes over me.

It is Haki, and his brother Daki. Each holding the other up. Both as gaunt as they were before Fennec fed and clothed them. Such an injustice. They have suffered much because of me… all that are here, because of my strange body. Because they brought them here.

"Haki," Ralia says, eyes broadening.

"Ralia," he says, he looks relieved to see her.

Daki shifts his weight, coming to me now so the two of them can embrace.

"Where is your sister?" Daki asks her.

She shakes her head, "I don't know, that… that freak, he took her. Said he wanted to see if twins could see each other's pain."

Daki flinches, his eyes tracing to the floor. Salia was the one he was smitten with.

"We will find her," I say, leaning against a half-broken wall, "And Fennec."

"Fennec is…" Daki pauses, pushing through memories of pain, "He is likely dead. He purposefully took Mallock's abuse before they separated us to different rooms."

"Fennec tried to protect people?"

Ralia nods, and so does Haki.

My eyes travel downwards, I did not take him for a courageous man. Smart, yes, but sacrificing himself for others, perhaps there is more to him after all.

***

We are in an abandoned Kuwathi city, this much is certain. There are more areas where we have found prisoners. Most were beyond saving. For those that were close to the changing, we have begun work to fix them with the stores of Etherium we found. People are whispering still as I walk by. Bowing their heads to me in deference. It sickens me to think that I am the reason they are all here. The reason that they have all suffered.

Ralia and Haki hold me up still. However, I am finding my balance better after eating a ration bar. It was not bitter like the ones they give my people, yet my tongue could not enjoy it. Daki stumbles from a room in front of me with a few of the other survivors, eyes wide and glowing lightly, what did they see beyond the door? More and more people file out of the room. Limping, missing appendages and parts of their flesh. None of them are whole. All of them appear broken in spirit. Barely moving, even with the support of others.

For someone to bring Kuwathi this low, after a lifetime of becoming hardened. I can scarcely imagine what was done to them.

Daki approaches me as others move by us, his eyes are troubled.

"Kada, he wants to die," Daki says, eyes falling low.

"Who?"

"Fennec."

My arm tightens. It is hard to imagine Fennec seeking death openly. What have they done to him? Haki and Ralia help me to the door, there are people standing in front of something… no, someone.

"Leave us," I say loudly to the room.

Eyes turn and heads lower as they leave the room. I feel Ralia's body go stiff before she gasps, holding her hand over her mouth.

"Kada, is there anything you can do for him?" Haki asks me, holding Ralia in his grasp.

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I look down at my hands. They were forged to kill, not to heal. What can they do? Breath falls and rises before I speak.

"Go and find her sister, I will do what I can for him," I say, eyes taking in the horror before me.

Daki grabs my shoulder, "If you can't help him, make it quick. He deserves at least that, Kada."

I nod.

A few moments later, the door slides closed. Leaving me alone with Fennec on the other side of the room. He hangs from hooks that hold his flesh. His body is laid bare, his arms gone, legs removed. Like the man turned dog, Mallock had begun turning him into the next one. Even his genitals are mutilated. Just like Mallock had intended for me.

I manage to walk forward without falling.

"I did not break…" he says, his voice hoarse, eyes hollow from months of torture.

My stomach turns at the sight of him, at what he endured.

I approach him slowly, placing my forehead against his.

"I did not…" his eyes widen, a single tear falling, "Kill me… please."

Like a knife, his words cut me. Deep and twisting.

"Please… Kalon… kill me."

I fight back the tears. From the folds in my clothes, I pull out an injector, pain medication that we found earlier. We've been using it for the severely wounded while we search for more people. It's the only thing that calms them. None of us are healers, none skilled in the art of restoring bodies.

I stick the injector in his neck.

"Thank you…" he says, closing his eyes.

My face grimaces, it is not strong enough to kill him. But it will subdue his pain for now. I slide down to the ground beneath him. My legs are as weary as my heart.

There is no telling when reinforcements may arrive. This was a hidden project, so perhaps it will be some time. Even still, eventually, we must leave. Fennec is the only one who can bypass a ship's security system. Ralia told me as much. She can fly, but we need him to guide us.

I stare at his body, deep scars upon his flesh. A body wrought from defending others. He is more courageous than I thought. More self-sacrificing than I believed.

I think back to the words that are whispered by the ones who have been freed. The same words that Amara once wrote, and Leora has said. Words that I once resented.

I look at my hands again. They are not enough as they are now. I need help. Help that only they can give. The words they spoke fill me, Alakin Dom Jukora… the meaning finds me… Chosen by the Gods.

My pride relinquishes itself as I call her name, "Leora."

The air stirs, and almost instantly I feel her presence at my side.

"Will you help me?"

She moves into my perception, stepping next to his mutilated frame. Her voice finds my mind.

He belongs to another Goddess, I…

"I do not care who thinks they own his flesh, will you help me or not?"

She stares back at me for a moment, measuring my tone and my intention before speaking into my mind.

Why should I help one that does not worship me?

My head tilts down at her leveling my eyes in hers.

"Am I not kneeling? Have I not called upon your name?"

You do not kneel to me, nor any god. You seek to use me.

My legs find balance as I rise to meet her eyes directly.

"Do not think that I have not felt you pulling at my strings. I tolerate you because Luna does. Give me a reason to trust you. Give me a reason to say your name not in anger. Do this, and we can speak about worship."

She moves closer to Fennec, tilting her head and peering past the sundered flesh.

I will need Amara's help. His Goddess will likely fight against it.

The one who did not come when I called last. The only god that my mother worshiped.

"Fine," I growl, "Come, Amara, show me your worth."

The air stirs again. Time slows to a crawl for a moment. A hooded figure appears on my other side, their face obscured in the shadow of it. Their eyes must be closed, I cannot see the glow of them like Leora. Their hand though, silver skin, and nails dipped in gold, just like the last time I saw them. Intricate runic lines play across her hands.

"She does not speak still?"

Leora looks at her, and then back to me.

She is a Death Goddess, to hear her voice is to know death itself.

"I have known death's whispers many times," I say, looking at her now, "Yet here I stand."

Amara does not react, only her runes move. Her presence feels stronger than Leora's. Yet, somehow it also feels strangely familiar. Comforting even. Pressing the thoughts away, I step forward toward Fennec.

She does not think it is wise to anger Ravena. Those of her house, we cannot heal. We can only help you heal the others with the Etherium which has been gathered. This is all we can give. Anything else will be too costly.

"Cost?" I seethe, "Do not speak to me of cost."

You do not know the way of gods, nor the consequences of defying one as powerful as her. There was a time before the fall when we would have laughed in the face of her power. Not anymore. She has thrived while we have withered.

"Perhaps you would not have withered if you protected your people," I say, turning my gaze back to her with spite in my throat, "My people who worshiped you, where were you when they needed you the most? I have seen visions of the fall of my people's empire. Your sister showed me. You were not there for them then. But you can be there for them now."

Her face twists at my words.

You speak of things you do not understand.

I shake my head, the golden eyes flashing in my mind, resonating with the anger, "No, it is you who does not understand."

She tilts her head.

"When this body of flesh becomes ashes, my spirit will seek vengeance upon all the gods."

Amara turns to look at me now too.

"I do not care the cost, nor the burden to my soul, all of them will be held to answer for the crimes against my people."

Leora's eyes narrow at the threat. Though she does not speak against it. I can feel it in the quiver of her presence, she is afraid of me, or more accurately, the one I carry with the golden eyes. I saw it in her eyes when the thing within me stripped her power. Whatever it is… whatever I am. It is among the things they seek to use for their own plans. This much is clear.

"Help me, and avoid the wrath which comes, this is my offer."

Amara places a hand on my shoulder, turning towards Fennec. I sense only warmth from her still, even against the threat. Why is she so familiar?

Leora looks conflicted, but her hand finds my shoulder. I sense muddled intentions in her. Unlike Amara.

"Guide me."

Leora glances at Amara again. Her expression shifts, I think they are speaking to each other, in a way that I cannot perceive. I hear Leora's voice after a time, both of the goddesses removing their hands from me.

We will need the Etherium.

I nod, turning to the door. There is work to be done.

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