Chapter 29

Alaris’ eyes flickered, sunlight burning, unable to focus or fight being dragged by the feet across the mountainside. Paralyzed.

“Still alive, Praesidium? Not for long.” Vorgan grumbled, effortlessly tossing the helpless knight against the base of his probe ship. “The inhibitor bonds are composed of black matter steel. A gift from Bane designed to negate your star-born energy.”

“Too late, Terovian,” Alaris groaned. “The Scion escaped. He will find his way and become more powerful than anything you can comprehend.”

“Your confidence is admirable, but does not serve you.” Vorgan pulled an oversized spiked mace from the probe and smashed it next to Alaris’ head, leaving a deep gouge in the ground. “The Scion may already be dead by my hand.”

Alaris tensed with the words. “You don’t possess the power to kill a Scion.”

“Perhaps not, but that is no longer my primary objective. Bane has granted me another task. You.”

“You serve him like a slave?” Alaris mocked.

Vorgan hauled Alaris up by the neck. “Terovians are no one’s slaves.” He slammed the knight over a ridge, ribs cracking.

“Obey your master. Slave.”

“You seek to anger me, Praesidium. My only task is to rend your armor from your flesh. Something I will take great pleasure doing.”

“My armor is impenetrable.”

“Perhaps. Shmire! Bring the rest of my tools.”

Shmire stumbled out of the probe. “I apologize, Vorgan. I-”

“Retrieve my weapons.” Vorgan scowled, inspecting the head of the mace.

“But they weigh more than-”

“Now!” Vorgan roared, spit flying from his mouth as Schmire scurried toward the probes. “Be glad you work alone, Praesidium.”

Shmire and three other Raiders arrived with a triangular rack of weapons. Cleavers, blasters, torches, hammers, spikes. Too many to count. A device for seemingly every form of torture one could imagine.

“Praesidium,” Vorgan swung the mace like a batter in the on-deck circle. “I am going to enjoy this.”

“I’m going to enjoy watching you fail.”

“We shall see.” Vorgan spun the mace, building speed, and smashed it across the Praesidium’s face mask, shattering the knight’s jaw.

“Is that- your best?” Alaris’ vision blurred. The mace spinning like a tornado until another crunch cast the world in black.

“The bleeding has stopped, but he still has a lot of healing to do.” Ra’Nelle ran her hands above his torso, perceiving his life force in her own way. With the blood washed away, the wound nearly closed and color returning, some hope bristled within the den.

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“Will there be enough time?” Zalee asked.

“Adama is coming. Perhaps you should ask him,” Ra’Nelle said, dutifully tending to Dylan’s wound.

Norm knelt beside them. “With all those spaceships and other planets, I can’t believe Dylan is the one who will make the difference.”

Ra’Nelle looked thoughtfully at Norm. “The power of the Scion is the power of the Earth itself. It is immeasurable. But destroy one Scion, one planet, and the entire galaxy will suffer as a warrior who has lost a limb.”

“Are there any ships left?” Norm said, watching Ra’Nelle perform her craft. “I want to help if I can.”

“Perhaps you will.” The voice immediately lifted Norm’s entire spirit like a cool breeze on a hot, stagnant afternoon. Norm turned, eyes filled with wonder, like a kid about to sit on Santa’s lap.

“Hello, Norman Wilder.” Adama said, entering the room. Over seven feet tall, the white robed Lemurian resembled a giant angel. Waves of blond hair, tinged with silver, fell gently around his broad shoulders. Wide amber eyes, like ancient jewels, penetrated Norm’s, sensing his journey, his life, his loss, his pain and sorrows, down to his very soul.

Adama glided slowly across the room, carried on the currents blowing through Telos, and set his hands on Norm’s shoulders. His touch tingled all the way to Norm’s center. “It is good to finally meet you.” Norm’s mouth fell, absorbing the moment, a lifetime of fears replaced by a peaceful serenity.

“Where did you come from?” Norm asked, glancing at the doorway he had been facing.

“I am everywhere in Telos. I apologize for surprising you.” His voice, like waves rolling on an empty shore.

“What did you just do to me?” Norm shook like a dog who just got a bath.

“I was getting to know you. And your soul.”

Norm’s face contorted. “I think you like, went inside me.”

“I interact with all in Telos.” Adama said, his gaze locked on Norm as if he were the only person in the universe. “And you, my new friend, do every human a great service and represent every bit of evolution I had hoped to see.”

“How’s that? I’m just a smart-alecky kid.”

“Perhaps, though you have acted selflessly, made sacrifices, faced truths about yourself and most of all, have given your fear back to itself. It is no surprise the Scion has chosen you to be his closest, most trusted friend.”

“We grew up on the same street. Dylan really didn’t have a choice.”

Adama let out a full laugh. “Indeed, though, your friendship may be more than chance. Your humor is contagious, even in the face of destruction.”

“Well, my life kinda sucks at home, so I figure it’s better to laugh.”

“Your life has built you strong for the ordeals you will face.” Adama’s face became more serious again. “Zalee-”

Zalee folded her hands together, bowing. “Adama, I am sorry for disobeying you.” She spoke quickly, defending her decision. “It was wrong. I was forbidden to go to the surface, but Dylan- the Scion, he’s my-”

“I understand, child. I do.” He touched a hand to her cheek, instantly calming her. “I assumed when I instructed you, you would not obey me.” Adama shrugged. “I would not have obeyed me. Though now I must know everything you have learned. Open your mind, child.” Adama closed his eyes and placed both hands on her temples. She fell into a trance, wavering back and forth, her eyes fluttering. The room fell silent, Adama taking in hours of information in seconds. “Thank you, child.” Zalee’s eyes snapped open. She hugged the Ascended Master of Telos with the affection one would a parent. “I saw the Praesidium come to your aid.”

“He rescued us, though I fear he may have been captured.”

“Shasta has confirmed this to be true.”

“Do you need to check me for anything?” Norm asked, trying to be helpful.

Adama smiled. “Your mind is still open to me, as are all humans. Zalee must grant me permission. I apologize, but my intentions are pure, and time is short.”

“Seriously? You looked inside my brain?”

Adama nodded. “In a matter of speaking.”

Norm winced with embarrassment. “You didn’t see anything I keep hidden under my bed in a box, did you?”

“That was not my intent.” Adama couldn’t help grinning.

“Do you have to check Dylan’s mind, too?” Norm asked, standing beside his still unconscious friend.

“I have been with Dylan since he arrived in Telos.” Adama walked next to the table, his eyes trained on Dylan.

“You have?”

“I have. I have also known him since he was an infant. He was, after all, born in Telos.”

“Wait- what? He was born where?” Norm looked down at Dylan, then back to Adama. “Wow, just when you think you know everything about a guy, you find out he was born in an underground city.”