Free The Terran Mandate by Michael J Lawrence Page B

table, gently grinding it's dried clay against the green
plastic. "I just need to be a better Marine."
     

 
     
    Guardians
     
    Shoahn'Fal struggled up the last rise
between him and the valley where the Pyramid stood. Its blue aura of light rose
just above the top of the rise, promising him his prize. Driven on by the
seething hatred growing inside him and his unslakable thirst for revenge, he
dragged the case through the sand as he pushed down on his walking stick to
take another aching step towards the top. His mind was fully immersed in the
forbidden as Dren'Vil consumed his very soul. He had already lost control of it
all and seemed to be more a servant of its will rather than his own. But it
seemed so right, that he gave into it now and swam freely in its currents. The
forbidden told him to take another step even as his body screamed for rest,
just a moment of respite from the searing pain cutting through his muscles. He
dug the stick into the sand. He dragged the case along. He took another step.
    Cresting the hill, he fell to his knees
as he looked down into the valley and saw the Pyramid standing as he had left
it so many years ago. It was as if time had not passed. The blue glow permeated
its surface, telling him it was still alive. His eyes wandered to the base,
where he saw the shallow alcove etched into its side leading to a sealed
portal. Nobody had ever really known what was behind it. Until now, they hadn't
known how to open it, either. Until now, nobody had even thought of doing such
a thing. It was forbidden. His parched throat croaked when he scoffed at the
thought. The forbidden had become a gateway to a newfound power he never knew
existed. Why he had believed it was something to be hidden and controlled he no
longer understood. He now knew that the forbidden made his the true heart of a
Shoahn'. This is who he was. This is who his people had been long ago. A twinge
of sadness ran through him when he realized this is all they would ever be and
that it was too late to save the rest. For that, the humans were going to pay -
all of them.
    His eyes scanned the ground around the
Pyramid and his heart sank when he saw them. Eleven of the human walking war
machines stood neatly in three groups next to the pyramid. Humans were
scattered around them, working under the lights they had erected on thin poles
to look down on the machines. Another group with weapons slung over their shoulders
walked past the portal he had come to open and then turned to walk along the
side of the Pyramid.
    He was suddenly aware of how tired he
was. The pain that had consumed him now became a dull numbness that made him
feel so heavy he didn't know if he could stand back up. He let go of the case
and reached into the ragged sack slung over his shoulder. He pulled out the
last morsel of clay root that he had brought with him and gnawed its tough hide
to release the scant juice inside and let it trickle down his throat. A part of
his old self flickered inside him, thankful that the Shoahn' could extract far
more strength from a bit of clay root than the human invaders. What they needed
to live for a day would carry him for seven. Next, he pulled out the plastic
bottle of water that he had stolen from the Terran Guard compound before
entering the Fallen. This, too, would last him far longer than it would have
for any human. The bottle was nearly empty, but he only drank half, saving the
rest for the next day.
    He turned away from the Pyramid and sat
quietly in the sand, letting the nourishment revive him until he felt strong
enough to stand up. As his strength returned, the glimmer of his old self faded
and the Dren'Vil returned, stoking his vow to kill every last human left on his
world. But it told him something else, as well.
    He needed them to help him do it.
     

 
     
    Allies
     
    General Godfrey stopped in front of the
door to the interrogation bunker to smooth over the front of her utility dress
blouse. She glanced at her boots,