Chapter 38
Melric rode down the long elevator to the floor of the Council Chamber. His two soldiers waited for him at the gazebo at the far end of the garden. Once the elevator landed he ran to them:
“Quickly, bring the trigger. We are leaving…” He was interrupted by the sound of the elevator returning upward; someone else was entering the chamber.
His soldiers raised their weapons toward the source of the noise; the elevator began to head back down. They both pulled the trigger and fired, the glass front of the elevator shattered, the pieces of glass did not rain down, however. The shattered glass remained still, as the elevator lowered. Melric strained his eyes to see Miles, Lalia, and Garth behind the shattered glass; Miles raised his arms and the shards cut through the air towards Melric and his soldiers. They dove for cover behind the crystal gazebo. A beep signaled that the elevator had landed.
Melric pounded his chest and jumped up and down a few times, releasing a roar; he was prepared for a fight to the death. He fired his gun rapidly, but none of the shots connected. The whiz of a plasma bolt cut past his ear, but both of his soldiers fell to the ground. He spun to face them; singe marks on their foreheads, two shots had been fired at the same time, and he turned back towards the elevator. The human approached, flanked with Lalia and Garth at his side, the two lowered their guns.
“Die!” Melric screamed, firing the Admiral’s gun at the three of them. Even the shots that did connect with Miles seemed to do no damage; they continued to walk towards him.
“Die! Why won’t you die?” Melric screamed, as he tried to scurry across the garden to the far side of the Council Chamber.
Miles’ lifted with the raise of his hand a boulder and flung it towards Melric who was slammed into a crystal pillar. Miles raised the boulder again, but Melric jumped from his position in time to dodge the attack.
Melric raised his gun to fire again; Miles’ hand glowed brightly the gun was knocked out of Melric’s hand. “My turn.” Miles glared.
Melric jumped from his position on a boulder to a small ravine hidden by yellow grass reeds and large purple thorny plants, the grassy hills obstructed view of the towering walls of the Council Chamber. Miles jumped down into the ravine as well, the gravel crunched beneath his feet.
Melric tried to charge at Miles, but Mile’s batted him away with a glowing hand; Melric tumbled several feet away into the rocky hillside.
“You’re a monster, such power is unnatural.” Melric screeched, “You threaten the Convoy’s way of life, but you don’t even realize it.”
“I threaten the Convoy?” Miles asked angrily, “Do you see where you are? This is the Council Chamber; the hall of the sacred clergy who regulated the worship of your planet deity Phlasia.”
Melric threw another punch at Miles; Miles caught his fist and slammed a knee into his gut. Melric brought his leg up for a kick, but Miles punched at his knee breaking it backwards. Melric fell to the ground writhing in pain.
“The Callos and the Aurrus are sister species, but differences in theology set the two apart, the Callos abandoned their faith in light of science, even then they are oppressed by lies. The Callos are constantly in pursuit of the truth, a pilgrimage that literally never ends; because of the selfish decisions of Callos like you. They deserve the truth, the truth you have been hiding from them; there is more beyond Phlasia. You limit them, they have always been limited. By attacking Phlasia you attack their heart, but you know what else?” Miles explained.
Melric hissed: “Thanks for the sermon.”
Miles stooped over him: “You are the real enemy to the Callos.”
“Kill me then.” Melric spat.
“You’re not worth it.” Miles dismissed him, “I learned that vengeance isn’t my call. Revenge only spills more blood. No, you’ll live to fix your own mistakes.”
Melric lunged at Miles, and dug a blade into his chest. “No! You made a mistake!” He licked maliciously. Standing back to appreciate his work.
Miles stifled a pity laugh, tearing off his survey suit to reveal the shielding system beneath, “I didn’t take it off this time.”
Miles shot a pulse and blew Melric out of the ravine and through a crystal column and into the gazebo, the structure quivered.
“I meant for it to be more theatrical.” Miles mocked him.
“No.” Melric had time to say before the structure collapsed on top of him.
“It is done.” Garth explained, he typed three, two, three, one, three, six, nine into the keypad, deactivating the weapon. The vessel stopped rattling, the garden became silent.
“It is done.” Miles sighed.
“You knew more about the Callos than Melric did, I’m impressed.” Lalia admitted, crossing her arms.
“Now for Phlasia.” Garth said excitedly.