Chapter 36

“Whoa! Whoa, you hairy excuse for an elephant!” Norm awkwardly shifted himself atop a woolly mammoth. Zalee, perched gracefully on her mammoth, guided the army of animals through the underground toward the tunnels.

“Norm! Shh! At least until we pass the last guard post,” Zalee whispered. “The animals are making less noise than you. Just relax and let him take you. If you must, ask him to slow down. His name is Horuth.”

“Horuth? Horuth?” Norm patted the giant creature, mocking a lisp. “Tho nithe, to meet you. Pleath thlow down, Horuth?”

Zalee shot him an irritated look.

As they approached the main tunnel, Zalee guided each animal one by one through the narrow pathway. “There are four separate exits that come out on the side of the mountain at different elevations. You’ll take one group and-”

“Wa-wa-wait-a-minute!” Norm shook his head, ducking under the entryway. “Did you say you’ll take? As in, me?”

“Yes, Norm. For my plan to work, we must divide our efforts. I know this mountain and these creatures better than anyone. I believe you called it… home-field advantage.”

“Yeah, but-” Norm nodded.

“We must use the strengths of each animal. A woolly mammoth running up the mountain is not going to be effective.”

“Yeah, but-”

“You will take the mammoths, mastodons and giant beavers to the East tunnel. Lyca will accompany you. Take position above the Terovian camp. From there, the larger animals will use their size to strike downhill. They have been instructed what to do.” Zalee sounded like a Brigadier General commanding her troops. “I will take the wolves, cats and badgers to the south exit. We will take position below their camp and use their speed and catch them in a crossfire, of sorts. The goal is to create a distraction while we rescue Alaris and retreat to the south tunnel.”

“Wow!” Norm exclaimed, thoroughly surprised. “That actually sounds like it could work. Do you attack alien camps regularly?”

“Not in this lifetime.”

“Come again?” Norm’s face twisted.

“A discussion for another time.”

“I’ll bring the popcorn.”

Zalee led the procession of animals through the corridor before coming to a split in the path. “This is where we part ways. When the tunnel splits again, stay to the left. Once outside, hold your position in the tree line. I will send a signal.”

“A signal? Is a bunny going to come and tell me it’s go time?”

Zalee’s face tightened. “Norm, rabbits do not engage in warfare. The beavers know the plan.”

“Well, I’m certainly glad the beavers know what to do, because I’m really not sure,” Norm said as a serious look washed over him. “Just to be clear, I’m not afraid of anything… except failing.”

Zalee smiled. “Dylan has chosen his friends well.”

“Thanks, Z. You sure I can’t call you, Z?”

“Please, no.”

“How about Z-bo?”

“Absolutely not.” Zalee cringed. “If something should go wrong, the animals have been told to follow your instructions, as they would mine. Follow the voice inside you. Let it guide you.” Zalee clasped her hands around Norm’s, squeezed tightly, and whispered a prayer. She handed him a racket ball sized purple gem. “This is a blush-stone. Strike it and it will glow for a few moments.”

Norm studied the stone, humming in his hand, before putting it in his pocket. “Thanks, Zalee. I promise, I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will, Norm,” Zalee touched a hand to his cheek. “I’ll see you on the mountain.” Wasting no time, she sprinted down the tunnel, leading a posse of saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, diatryms and badgers.

Norm and Lyca took the mammoths, mastodons, and beavers up the inclined tunnel. Balanced atop Horuth, he wondered if he would survive to see his Dylan, Lucy or Weird again, but his job at hand was more important. Dylan’s mom.

He thought of his own mother. He would do anything to save her. So would Dylan. But that could never be. His thoughts shifted to his father. Or rather the hole where his feelings had been and found the place where he existed now, a place filled with purpose for someone, something other than himself.

The corridor leveled out. He tapped the blush-stone on the wall. A soft indigo light emanated from its center. “Well, Horuth, thith lookths like another fine meth you’ve gotten uth into.” They reached the cave opening, the rain tapping the ground outside, a waterfall cascading over the entrance. “Wish I had my poncho. By the way, any of you bring anything to eat?” Lyca cast an annoyed sideways glance, reminiscent of Zalee, before she trotted off ahead of him.

“Tough crowd.”

Zalee and her brigade exited the tunnel, the rain, woods and darkness providing them cover. “My friends, I would never ask you to risk yourselves if the cause were not just. Your future, the future of your young and our world, depends on the Scion. His family has sacrificed so much for all of us. Can we do the same for him? You are the most noble of Earth’s creatures, jewels of a time forgotten. Yet, you are the champions of today. Fare thee well and may the light guide you.”

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Zalee gave last instructions to the dire wolves, their ears pricked, snarling before the pack charged into the night. The saber-toothed cats, diatryms and finally the badgers received their orders and set out in different directions. She whistled a pitch too high for humans to hear. A gray owl landed on her forearm. She whispered into the side of its feathered head, its eyes darting. It cooed in understanding, spread its wings, and soared into the trees with Zalee close behind.

Norm and Lyca found a level ridge below the tree line and crept up to the ledge. “Hold up, everybody.” He peered through the falling drops. “Lyca, I see a light. That must be where the Terovian camp is.”

Lyca snarled, pacing, readying herself.

“Maybe I should get a closer look.” Norm slid off Horuth and lowered himself over the ledge. Lyca mewled, clearly unhappy with his decision, pacing faster. “I’m just going to get a little closer. There’s too many trees to see past.” The burly wolf mewled again, hopping anxiously on her front paws. He an angled for outcropping with a clearer view of the camp.

“C’mon, Wilder, you can do this,” Norm flattened out against the cold, wet rock face. Shards of earthen debris pricked his skin when the rain suddenly turned into a relentless downpour. He shimmied to his left and found a foothold to- a rock broke loose. Norm slid on his belly, picking up speed. The unforgiving slope tearing at his torso, shredding through his shirt to his skin. He tried to roll onto his side and took a rock to his ribs before finally landing in a blurry circle of light. Stunned, Norm heard the crunch of armored boots on wet gravel.

“My luck must be changing.” Vorgan’s guttural voice rolled like thunder through the other raider’s laughter. “First, the Praesidium… and now the fat one falls from the sky. What have I done to deserve this?” The giant stalked around Norm, swinging his twisted metal mace.

His ribs hurting with every breath, Norm squinted defiantly through the deluge. “I wanted to show your sorry ass who’s in charge.”

Vorgan stomped a metal boot into Norm’s chest. Another crack. “I would kill you now, but you may be of value to Bane. Bait for the Scion. Schmire!”

“Yes, Vorgan?” Shmire leaned out of the probe.

“Take him to Bane. Immediately,” Vorgan stormed back toward the probes. “I have a Praesidium to split in half.”

Between losing his glasses and the sheets of rain, Norm’s vision was beyond bad, but he could hear the gravel crunching toward him.

“On your feet, meat!” Shmire poked him with the spiked tip of his prosthetic forearm.

“Ow! I’m goin’.” Norm struggled to his feet, holding his side. Schmire poked him again. Norm wheeled about, fearless. “Do it again and we’re going to have a problem.” Norm’s voice was icy cold.

Shmire grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulling his head tight to his. The raider’s acrid breath bathed Norm in a mix of sour, stinging foulness. “I can skewer you right now and I won’t even lose rank.”

“Lose rank? How much lower can you be than you…. Shmire?” Norm mocked his name like a first grader, pushing his nose into Shmire’s face. “Did you eat road-kill for lunch?”

“Do not tempt me.” Schmire pressed the pointed tip firmly into Norm’s neck.

“Do it, you gutless punk!”

The raider snarled, surprised to find no instance of fear in Norm’s eyes, knocked him to the ground and secured his hands in solid metal clamps. “Move!” With a spike poking him in his back, Norm moved toward the center of the camp, taking in as much as he could without the aid of his glasses. The camp was more spread out and substantial than he originally thought. Bunkers, hover jets, shuttles and various sized guns, set in rows as if they were preparing for war. Clusters of Terovians moved throughout the camp and already numbered at least a hundred.

Schmire shoved Norm against the entryway of the largest shuttle craft.

“Bane, I have something for you,” Shmire said, awaiting permission to enter.

“Vorgan said you were bringing me…ahh, a gift.” Bane’s voice was like poison silk. Schmire magnetically hooked the restraints to a pole in the middle of the vessel. “Thank you, Shmire. You may go,”

“Sir, I thought, I mi-” Shmire winced nervously.

“Your smell is making me ill.” Bane waved his hand. “Leave before I rid the galaxy of your foul stench forever.” Shmire scurried out of the shuttle without another word. “Now… Norm, is it? Is you being here an attack, or an accident?”

Norm stared silently at the floor, concocting a plan, the rain echoing off the shuttle outside.

“If I want to get in your mind again, I will. However, it is not as painless as entering your dreams.” Bane smiled and sneered at the same time. Norm lifted his head, maintaining his silence. “Oh yes, that was me in your dream, and yes, I was trying to persuade you to help me. I suppose you’re happy Dylan receives all the attention, the power, and even Lucy’s affection.”

“He was never even interested in her, scumbag!” Norm turned away, angry with himself for letting him get under his skin.

“Touch a nerve?” Bane waltzed back and forth in front of his captive. “Keep believing that. But my offer stands. Help me and I will grant you power beyond your comprehension.”

Norm scowled, tired of Bane’s attempts at manipulation. “What are you offering?”

“Power! Power to rule, to control.” Bane’s eyes flashed with lust. “The girl, Lucy, at the very least, would be yours to do with what you please. What else would you want?”

Norm bit his bottom lip, pondering the offer. “You give me Lucy, an island and maybe a spaceship. We can start to talk.”

“Necromanos will provide all things I request.”

“Well,” Norm paused, “how can I get that stuff if Dylan is already dead?”

“What?” Bane’s eyebrows furrowed, perplexed. “The Scion is dead?”

“That big space-pirate stabbed him. We tried to save him, but he was-” Norm shook his head, feigning sadness, wondering to himself if he deserved an Academy Award for his performance. “I came here to get revenge, but if you give me Lucy, I-”

“I wished to kill the Scion myself. Bring me his body and I will grant you your requests.” Bane waved his hand, knowing he would provide nothing to Norm but a painful death.

“Just let me outta here and I’ll take that Shmire guy with me and come right back.”

Bane scratched his chin as he pondered the idea. “You will take at least three Raiders and be-”

“Bane!” The com link in the shuttle interrupted.

“What is it?”

“The Scion is near the peak. He has already destroyed six of the hover jets. Should I send more?”

“The Scion? He’s alive?” Bane turned to Norm, his eyes roiling with evil intent. “You will pay for your deceit! Save the jets. I will deal with this.”

“Sucker.” Norm grinned like a poker player after winning a bluff.

“You lied.” Bane seethed.

“Like I would trust a sleaze like you. I trust Dylan, and he trusts me. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with you scumbags is you don’t even trust yourself, much less each other.”

“Necromanos rewards those who are loyal. I will reward you for your lies.”

“Yeah, well, friends reward each other with trust. Your master of blackness or whatever rewards you with misery. He’s a fraud, like you.”

“You dare insult Necromanos!”

Norm smirked, “I dare.”

Bane backhanded him and pressed his nose against Norm’s bloody cheek, jabbing his scepter into his broken ribs. “You’ll toil in the eternity of the black hole.”

“I’m gonna shove my foot so far up your black hole-”

“Defiant?” Bane walked toward the doorway. “I could kill you now, but time and suffering are perhaps the worst torture a soul can bear.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Bane grinned. “First, I will behead the Scion.”

“So, what else is new?”

“New? Well, even though you thought to deceive me, I will tell you one small truth. I left one void behind, in your town, in case I needed a special something… or someone.” Bane moved closer and whispered devilishly into Norm’s ear. “My void is going to tear your sweet Lucy’s soul from her tiny- broken- body. And she’ll know it was you who caused it.”

“You’re gonna burn in hell.” Norm gritted his teeth.

“I already am.” Bane smirked. “I would love to watch your hate for me grow, but I have a Scion to behead. And a tiny girl to kill.”

Norm yanked at the magnetic bonds, seething, struggling to free himself. Alone, he slid down to the floor and, for the first time since his mother died, Norm prayed.