The other side of beyond, p.30
The Other Side of Beyond, page 30
part #2 of Mitch Mythic Series
Although no ill will had surfaced on either side, Mitch felt like it was only a matter of time before the situation came to a head. It would be best if they were to exit the scene as soon as possible and beat a hasty retreat back to earth. At least that was what Mitch hoped the outcome of the situation would be. Mother had proven herself to be a well intentioned host and she would certainly do her best to get them out of trouble. She seemed to value SoHee most of all having regarded her as a goddess earlier.
As curious as Mitch was about Mother’s prophecy, he was far more anxious to get out of that god forsaken place. It seemed like the entire planet was going to hell and the faster they got going the better. All mother had to do was open the portal and send them on their way. She could probably save all of her people with ease if she acted quickly enough. Mitch wondered what exactly was taking so long. It seemed like precious time was slipping by while they waited for the giant metallic chamber to arrive and deliver on her promise.
They were nearly brought to their knees as another tremor rocked the tower. Drak caught Mitch’s eye for a second. Be ready, Drak seemed to be saying. Mitch couldn’t help but agree with his friend. This situation was about to go sideways fast unless something happened quick.
They were rocked again by a tremor, but this one was stronger than the last. A crack appeared on the floor beneath Mitch’s feet and it became apparent to everyone there that the situation was fast becoming untenable.
As the tremor subsided a shadow passed over the two groups facing off against each other. Mitch looked up to see Mother’s form lowering down to the deck. Her delicate legs extended out as her head emerged from the round hole at the base of her chamber. She dropped to the deck with a sublime grace and stood for a moment as a tremor shook the deck. After the tremor subsided, her spindly legs began moving in clockwork precision over the large stone tiles which made up the surface of the open space at the top of the tower.
She came to a stop a few feet from Mitch and SoHee, pausing for a moment to look them all over as if she were eyeing them up for breakfast. Mitch felt her deep black eyes digging into his soul again, hooks pulling back the layers he had built up around himself.
“The time has come, has come. The threshold has been crossed. No going back now, no going back,” Mother said as she crept closer. She neared SoHee and the Jarkadian soldiers pounded their staffs into the concrete and began to chant again. Bringing her face up close to SoHee, she eyed her up and down with quick, staccato movements.
“The goddess has come a long way, a long way and much has changed since you started your journey, much has changed. All things are fluid you see, present, past, future, all part of one thing,” She said as he moved away from SoHee and came to Mitch again.
He gulped as her face came within inches of his own and her eyes tore into him with an unseen malice. “The universe, as you call it, is in constant flux. It feeds on chaos and destruction, chaos and destruction. The fuel of the universe.”
She moved onto Drak and continued to speak. “For the universe knows no order or harmony. These are foolish ideas dreamed up by foolish people. But we see what we want to see, want to see. This desire for unity is what caused the whole mess we are in now, the whole mess. But the goddess can right what was wronged, fix the damage. She has the power to do this and this has been prophesied,” Mother said as she stepped back towards the looming stone. The soldiers quickened to chant at a more rapid pace and the circle at the center of the stone began to vibrate.
“This world is crumbling, but it does not have to die. The Goddess can end it all, but only through sacrifice, through sacrifice,” Mother said.
“I told you somebody was getting sacrificed,” Kate said from behind Mitch.
“Will you be quiet,” Mitch said over his shoulder. “We’ve got a chance to get out of here, don’t blow it by acting ridiculous.”
“I’m not being ridiculous,” Kate said. “I just heard her say sacrifice again. She keeps talking about it, in fact, that’s all she talks about.”
“Just keep quiet cause you’re not helping,” Mitch said again.
“Aye, Aye, Captain Crotchshot,” Kate said as Mitch rolled his eyes. “But don’t say that I didn’t try to warn you when one of us gets their throats slit.”
“What are you asking me to do, mother?” SoHee asked as Mother set her eyes on her again.
“I’m asking you to save this planet, save this planet and all that I have worked to build and protect,” Mother said.
“How can I help you? I will do all that I can to help,” SoHee said.
“You already have,” Mother said as the portal began to open wider.
A flash of black and orange shot out of the opening and Mitch leaped back in shock. He watched in frozen horror as a flurry of figures rushed through the opening causing pandemonium before the open portal. SoHee immediately unpacked her orb as the black figures began to open fire on the Jarkadian soldiers. Drak dove in front of Mitch and blocked a shot that had been leveled at his friend.
“Mitch! Pull your self together we’re under attack,” Drak shouted as he fired back at the swarm of black and orange foes flowing out of the portal. Drak dragged him back away from the opening and they found cover behind a stone staircase. Mitch watched SoHee rise up into the air. The orb of energy swelled around her as she shielded her companions from the attacking horde.
“What the hell is going on here,”Gerald shouted as he found some cover behind a pile of stone.
“It looks like the enemy of these people has infiltrated their world,”SoHee said as they saw KiGuan and his soldiers engaging with the black and orange attackers in ferocious combat.
“Which side are we fighting for?” Davis shouted as he activated his suit and prepared himself for battle.
“None, we retreat now. No one is attacking us at this point. It’s best for us to cut and run,” Gerald said. “If we start picking sides now we could wind up on the wrong side of a war we never wanted to be a part of in the first place.”
“Got a point there,” Mitch shouted out in agreement as he fired up his own suit. “What’s the best way out of here?”
“These are the Master’s soldiers. This is the same army that enslaved my people. We must go. Up and over is the only way,” Drak said from beside him. “We should find safe ground and as far from this place as we can and make a plan to escape.”
“Yeah, but where to?” Babcock shouted out. “This whole planet is caving in on itself.”
“Not entirely,” SoHee shouted over her shoulder as she continued to deflect any incoming fire. “From what I can gather it is only this region that is experiencing all the seismic activity. Although the planet as a whole is growing more unstable there are still plenty of regions that are relatively stable.”
“And she does all that while defending us from alien attackers,” Kate said from nearby Mitch. “She really is a goddess.”
“Can you lead us to one of these regions? I think we need to get out of here ASAP,” Gerald shouted. “Unless anybody want’s to stick around and join in the fight.”
“I think a retreat is the wise decision, if we can get out of here without causing to much of a scene.” Drak said as KiGuan and his soldiers continued to battle against the horde of enemies.
“We better move quick,” Mitch shouted out. “There’s more and more of those guys streaming out of the portal and it doesn’t look like Mother can shut it down. If we don’t get out of here soon, we’re going to be badly out numbered.”
A distant horn caught everyone’s attention and they all looked back at the open portal to see a blue skinned woman brandishing a long instrument emerge from the portal. She woman blasted her horn again and the battle seemed to pause for a moment. Mitch watched as the woman’s eyes narrowed on SoHee. From behind her emerged three large and imposing, metallic figures . Mitch’s heart missed a beat as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing.
“Are those what I think those are, Drak?” Mitch shouted out.
“Yes, it’s them. The Masters. This is bad, really bad. Need to go, now,” Drak shouted out as he sent a volley of fire at the open portal.
The call of the horn and the emergence of the figures drew the attention of the black and orange soldiers. As if on cue they began to close in on SoHee’s position. The Jarkadian soldiers continued to battle against the attacking foes while back up forces arrived from below. The blue skinned woman and the masters leapt into the air and moved towards SoHee. Seeing that she was in trouble, he jumped into the air came to her side.
“Come on, we’ve got to get out of here,” He said as he grabbed her by the hand. “I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like those guys are here for you.”
The blue woman sounded her horn again as she advanced and a dazed look came over SoHee’s eyes. She seemed oblivious to what was happening around her while she hovered in the air. Mitch pulled her towards him to protect her as the blue woman and the Masters narrowed the gap closed in.
“We’ve got to get her out of her,” Mitch shouted at Gerald, Drak and the others. “Those horns are messing with her powers somehow. They are going to take her.”
“It looks like we know who the enemy is,” Davis shouted and opened fire on the Woman in blue. She dodged the shot and sounded her horn again and Mitch felt SoHee’s hand grow cold. Feeling her drop beside him, he tightened his grip on her hand as she fell. She hung limply a few feet off of the deck. Pulling her up, he slung her limp body over his shoulder. He was surprised at how light she was. Feeling a sense of fragility as her weight rested next to his head, he had forgotten that she was actually a slight little girl despite all of her immense powers.
“Get out of the way,” he heard Drak shout from beside him and he swung around to see one of the Masters charging towards him. Mitch quickly pushed upwards into the air above the deck and then dodged to his left to avoid the assault of the menacing figure.
Their conversation earlier that morning flashed through his mind as he whirled around to face his attacker. There was no way he was going to let them take her away. The gleaming form of the attacking master closed in. Mitch was taken aback by the cold red eyes and the stony face scarred from what seemed like a lifetime of battles.
“Hand her over, there is no escape,” The Master said with a snarl.
“Not a chance,” Mitch said as he shot a ball of energy at the imposing metallic brute.
“This is child’s play,” The master said as he deflected the shot. Mitch began to retreat, but he saw that the blue skinned woman and her two other metallic companions had flanked him on either side. He knew he was badly out gunned and he looked around for a way to escape.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the legendary Mitch Mythic,” the blue skinned woman said as she hung in the air before Mitch. “I know what you’re trying to do and it is really noble and all, but you’ve got to agree your actions may seem a little foolish at this point, don’t you think?”
Mitch looked around and he saw he was surrounded. Below him he saw Drak and the others battling against The Master’s swarming minions alongside KiGuan and the Jarkadian soldiers, but they were badly outnumbered.
“You know you can’t escape, Mitch,” the blue skinned woman said. “And I know that you are feeling pretty hopeless right now. It’s in these kinds of situations that it’s usually best to talk with someone that you are familiar with to help you see the big picture. We brought along someone that cares a great deal about you and I think he can help you get through this.”
Mitch was baffled. What was this lady talking about, he thought to himself before he saw a chrome blue figure shoot through the portal with a short and chubby soldier in tow. Kalis beckoned the figure over and Mitch felt his heart stop in his chest as he realized who was fast approaching.
“You just can’t stop getting into trouble, can you, Mitch,” Robert Chapman said as he joined Kalis and the Masters circling around Mitch and SoHee.
“So now you’re working for these lunatics,” Mitch shouted back. “It suits you, you know. I thought you were dead, but you know what they say about cockroaches.”
“Still with the sharp tongue,” Robert said with a laugh. “It never ceases to amaze me, the lip and the attitude I get from you. But I guess I’m to blame for all this. You grew up in the world that I created and I let you and everyone else that fell for the bait believe you had some kind of power or some kind of choice. I guess that’s where you get the attitude from, that sense of entitlement that makes you think you can talk back and rebel against your superiors. Now look where its got you. You may have though you won last time, but all you did was go and make an even bigger mess. A mess that I have to go and clean up.”
“So that’s how you see it, huh” Mitch said as he eyed the perimeter. “I screwed up your plan to enslave humanity and I’m the entitled one.”
“You may call it enslavement, but on the other side of the fence we consider it elevation,” Robert said. “Just take a look at your little girlfriend here. If she could talk she’d be the first to admit she couldn’t do what she can now without all of the developments myself and our benefactors, the Masters, have made possible.”
“That’s what you’d like to believe,” Mitch shouted back. “You may be right, she didn’t plan on any of this, but at least she wants to do what’s right. I know you and your metallic friends are frothing at the mouth to get your hands on her so you can get on with your plan to screw over the universe. But the truth is she’ll never help you and there’s no way I’ll let you get your crooked paws on her.”
“Mitch, you’re acting delusional. Look around, this world is crumbling. Even if you could escape, where would you go?” Robert asked.
“I’ve got some friends that can help me,” Mitch shouted back.
“Is that so?” Robert said. “Are you referring to these little ant men that are currently getting their butts kicked by our soldiers?”
“This fight ain’t over yet,” Mitch shouted back.
“Are you sure, Mitch,” Robert said again and from behind Robert Mitch saw Mother’s massive metallic chamber rise up and over Robert and the Masters. The blue skinned woman hardly flinched as she watched the chamber circle around them. An eerie silence came over the battlefield and Mitch could see an unspoken cease fire had somehow passed between the soldiers as Mother made her presence known.
She circled around Mitch and SoHee and eventually came to a full stop in front of them. Her head popped out of the hole in her undercarriage and Mitch could feel her black eyes eating into his soul again. She made a motion with her head and Mitch understood she wanted him to follow her down. Mitch nodded in response and Mother slowly began to descend to the ground while Mitch followed closely beside her with SoHee over his shoulder. Robert and the blue skinned woman along with the three metal suited Masters descended along side them and they all came to rest on top of the tower. Mitch kept SoHee over his shoulder as he eyed Robert alongside the imposing masters glaring back at him. He could see Drak and the others stepping forward with confused looks on their faces as they tried to assess what was going on. KiGuan dropped onto the deck on the opposite side of Mitch while his soldiers hovered in the air behind him. He looked upon the Masters with contempt. On the other side of the tower, the horde of black and orange soldiers hovered silently. Smoke and ash began to rain down upon the deck as distant spires columned towards the sky.
Mother stood silently on her spindly legs assessing her foe. With Mother standing there Mitch felt a sense of relief, he had no idea how they were going to get out of this situation, but at least Mother was on their side. After a long moment she turned to Mitch and he saw her face soften.
“Hand her to me, to me,” Mother said as two claws extended from portals that opened alongside her head. “Everything is fine. Don’t worry I will care for her, care for her.”
Mitch pulled SoHee off of his shoulder and laid her torso across his arms. He looked down at her face as her head slung back. She moaned unconsciously and he saw her wince in pain. Through Mother’s spider like legs he could see Robert standing alongside the metal Masters and the blue skinned woman.
Mothers claws extended forward and Mitch hesitated for moment. He remembered what SoHee said to him as they embraced only an hour before and the promise he had sworn to her. Looking back at Mother again, an uneasy feeling came over him. Mother’s face twitched for a second and Mitch saw her lips quiver, her tiny grandmotherly teeth flashing before him. The two claws reached out and snatched SoHee from his arms. Mitch felt a pang of remorse cut through him as he watched Mother reel her underneath her immense metal chamber.
“This child, this special child is dear to me, dear to me,” Mother said as she looked out at her audience. “It was not long ago that I first felt her presence in the network, felt her close to me. What strength, what power in such a young girl, such a young pretty girl. The network tells me things, shows me things. Things others cannot see, things others cannot know, cannot know. The past, the future, things that cannot be, endless possibilities. What I learned of this child gave me hope again, hope again for unity. For we know this planet is dying, dying right before us. When it dies all will be lost with it, not just this planet, but all we have worked for and built, the network and the worlds we have settled, the worlds we have brought together. But this child, this gifted child has a power born from the very thing that gave birth to the network, gave birth to the forces propelling us into the future. She has the ability to save us all and bring harmony to our network once more.”
“Help her then,” Mitch blurted out.
