Call of the Watch Crow, part-10

Recap: Kall-Ku found the cavern of The-Well-of-Slaves, hidden deep beneath the temple ruins of the beast-god, Taranis, where he was first baptized years ago in the ways of a warrior; the well was fouled by the body of Elana, the very woman who recruited him to escape the planet and join an army of contra-imperial soldiers to fight a war against stellar oppression. She had been tortured to death  by Ravennian Guard, Bioroid soldiers designed to over throw the standing government of V’Lusia.

The V’Lusian world was gripped by chaos, as violent attacks threatened to destabilize existing governments; all the while two powerful star faring nations were clashing for reasons of their own. The Consortium and the Black Sun Empire could both easily destroy V’Lusia with their massive armies and navies; they may do just that in the wake their indifferent violence. In the midst of the bloodthirsty tide, a call has went out across the world, signaling that now is the time to change it all, and reclaim their world from tyrannical evil. This signal is the Call of the Watch Crow.

Kall-Ku stood on a ruined dais, trapped, between the bioroid beast-god Tarranis. and five Ravennian Guards, armed with power staffs. His battle brother, the War-shuck, a large black bioroid war dog was nowhere to be seen. His subdermal chip analyzed the scene, giving near constant updates to the Mercenary-Slave. The question of what to do now, demanded an answer, an answer that he did not yet have.

Many years had passed since the Mercenary-Slave laid eyes on the beast-god Taranis. The carnivorous, three eyed ape was thrashing about, beating its chest and howling just beyond the door Kall-Ku had arrived through.

Four Ravennian Guard approached from the direction of the breach, as their leader dropped from its perch, clinging against the high wall, softly landed among them. As their leader landed in a crouch, the power staves sprang to life in their talon grips; the upper third of the weapons glowed with a hot, white light.

[Situational Awareness Update: Kall-Ku, you only have moments before your arm and shoulder fail. If it that happens, you may not regain its use, ever again. When the Ravenian guard they will attack with their numbers, pitting you against the full force of their Unkindness.] The voice sounded like Elana’s but was, in fact, the subdermal chip, analyzing and reporting on the battle.

Kall-Ku squinted his eyes, bask in the strong, supporting tones, of Elana’s voice. He could not afford to lose focus on the real world, as the Unkindness of Ravenians closed on his position. Even knowing that her voice was artificial, he found comfort. Elana was with him. Deep Inside, she always would be, even if that would only be for a second or two longer.

Taranis roared and beat his chest at the arched entry. Its tones were furious, savage and portended meat being sloughed from bone and blood slurped. It wouldn’t matter what killed him. Something certainly would. At this moment he had nothing left but the poison pulsing through his veins.

“You must tell me what the woman died to protect. Where is your starship located?” Demanded the leader of the Misery as the group fanned out around the Dais. The Ravenian leader clenched one talon rapaciously as he spoke. “The beast at the door is the least of your problems.”

The Ravenians didn’t seem to know what this place was or what the monster was howling at the doorway. They each seemed mildly distracted by its insistent cries.

[Situational Awareness Update: An attack by the Ravenians is eminent. The roaring of Taranis will only speed its coming. You have no clear avenue of escape except into the well or directly backward to Taranis, which is ill-advised.] The subdermal implant suddenly took on the inflections of Elana, as well as the sound of her voice. [Kall-Ku, you must make a decision fast. If you don’t choose…the choice will be made by another. You were trained here to be a warrior. Show them what that means.]

Kall-Ku swung his head toward the Ravenian and locked eyes, as he moved, crouching low, and shifting his weight to spin with the axe held, two fisted by the haft toward the Ravenian’s head. The torturer murdered Elana. If he could defeat no one else, he would send that remorseless spirit from this world.

The Ravenian leader was caught off guard by the suddenness and ferocity of Kall-Ku’s attack. The axe head chopped him through the center of its head, dividing it with all the ease of smashing a melon. The other four screeched in pain as their leader’s body crumpled lifeless to the floor, and fell on Kall-Ku with their talons and power staves.

A monstrous howl echoed through the great hall of the Well of Slaves as Taranis leapt from the doorway clear across the chamber, coming to rest on the nose of the salvaged star fighters. The Ravenians moved back from Kall-Ku, withdrawing from the perch of the beast god.

The Mercenary slave stooped under the weight of terrible wounds; the power staves had cracked bones and murderous talons had cut away deep ribbons of flesh. Runnels of blood trailed down his arms and shoulders, His weapons drug by their chains on the ground. The infection had run its course; the limb no longer throbbed with pain; in truth, he could not feel it at all. Kall-Ku winced at the condition of his flesh, and just as quickly dismissed it. What good was worry now? He quietly marveled as the Ravenians backed away, frightened by something behind him.

Turning, he looked on the powerful Taranis, leaping down from the nose of a star fighter. It was a mass of muscle and grace, though it was marred with trophies of age and battle; Two of its eyes were buried in a scar and had turned white. The third eye, alone seemed to operate. Battle scars crisscrossed its heaving chest. As it roared even its crooked maw was filled with uneven teeth. Some seemed cracked; some were missing, which only accenting those that remained. Its robe had lost its color and been reduced to rags. Something had happened here. Taranis had certainly not been the temple-god in sometime, just a desperate dweller, clinging to the only home he had ever known.

Taranis moved menacingly up to Kall-Ku. It roared when it came close; spittle rained across the Mercenary-Slave’s face and chest.

Kall-Ku felt the thunderous volume of the cry reverberating in his chest. He resigned himself to receive the fatal bite that was coming next.

[Situational Awareness Update: The War-Shuck has entered the room Kall-Ku. It is snarling at the Ravenians and not moving to engage Taranis. I do not understand its motivation. Perhaps its allegiance with you has dissolved.]

The new Ravenian leader shrieked, “Now you will be a juicy sacrifice for that decrepit old ape-god.” The Unkindness now stood in eager anticipation of the violent execution of the Mercenary-Slave.

Kall-Ku felt hot breath on his forearm. He looked down to see the great beast preoccupied with his wrist. Kall-Ku slowly turned his back to Taranis and faced the Ravenians, anxiously waiting on the far side of the Dais.

[Querry: What are you doing Kall-Ku? This seems unwise.]

“You don’t really know what this is. You are interlopers and not familiar with this place.” Stated Kall-Ku as he straightened as much as possible, glowering at the Unkindness of Ravenians.

“You are foolish—your words meaningless!” came the heckles and jeers of the cruel Ravenians.

“No!” responded the Mercenary-Slave. “I am from here. I am part of this machine.”

Taranis looked up from the slave tattoo on Kall-Ku’s wrist and snarled at the Ravenians who suddenly seemed afraid. Hatred literally oozed from its mouth in the form of long strands of drool that seemed to pour through its broken teeth.

Kall-Ku looked at the far side of the room where the War-Shuck stood poised and growling. The War-Shuck found and brought Taranis here, because they are both bioroids and designed to be battle brothers.

The Ravenians screamed and charged Kall-Ku desperately, but had not cleared half the distance before Taranis leapt into their midst, suffering their talons and power staves, answering with its unfathomable might and primal savagery.

[Situational Awareness Update: You have only one chance to leave, and this is it. I am locked onto the location of Elana’s star ship. You have to hurry Kall-Ku. You must waste no time. You are dying. You won’t last an hour without Elena’s medical supplies.]

Kall-Ku ran as best as he could. He released his weapons and abandoned them behind as he went. They could only slow him down. He still had the pack of first medical supplies he salvaged from the hovercraft slung over his shoulders. The War-Shuck ran out beside its battle brother.

As they escaped into the dark folds moving to lay claim to Elana’s starship, Kall-Ku heard the victorious cries of Taranis. The Ravenian battle had ended.

The trees above Kall-Ku began to sway. The Mercenary-Slave stared up as a shadow passed overhead. A familiar engine sound moved off into the distance.

[Situational Awareness Update: A second hover platform is moving in the direction of Elana’s Starship.] stated the subdermal chip.

His long march to freedom was not yet over.

[End of part ten…look for part eleven, next week]