Domina Alia Lahidan stood proudly in her full dress uniform on her reviewing stand. Across the vast field some 30 meters below stood more than 100 thousand warriors, the honored victors in the Griffon's recent months-long competitions for perfection. They were the best of her two million warrior army. A seemingly small force to conquer a universe, but enough, given the power of the weapon she now possessed.
To the left in perfect formation stood the Division of Red-heads, and to the right the Division of Blue-heads, each named for the distinctive coloring of their respective head gear. There had been two other divisions, White-heads and Black-heads, but these had been squeezed out of contention and decimated in the fierce competitions, costing thousands of lives. Never mind, Lahidan thought. The survivors were well worth having and, following ancient tradition, already had been incorporated into the two victorious divisions.
She had just finished her stirring keynote speech, ending with an inspiring crescendo: "Now, Griffons! The Human Expanse is OURS!" The responding roar from her warriors had been deafening, and she had smiled as cheer after cheer echoed across the valley. Now, she simply raised her hand; and the perfectly disciplined formations fell quickly silent. She nodded ostentatiously to Army Chief Commander Exart Cloita, who stood facing her on the field below. With a sharp about face, Cloita turned and barked a curt command: "PASS IN REVIEW!" Other commands by other commanders echoed through the ranks, following precisely laid out timing: "Division...," "Group...," "Section...," "Forward ... MARCH!" One by one, each section of each group stepped off smartly turning first to the right, then marching in a broad square path that would bring each section before Lahidan, approaching from her left.
Commander Cloita came first with her staff, marching behind the colorful flags of the Griffon nation and smiling broadly. She had been with Lahidan for decades and virtually worshipped her as their leader. As Cloita passed the reviewing stand, she performed a sharp and precise Griffon salute: tight right fist struck once on the chest, then arm sharply extended forward with fist above shoulder level. Lahidan smiled as well in response and returned her own sharp salute. She would need Cloita's skill-and more importantly her loyalty-for what was to come.
Lahidan remained standing to return the salute of each section of two thousand warriors as they marched by. Section after section of the army marched past, each one proudly led by those who had won the most honors in the competitions. Lahidan never tired of these parades and ceremonies. They were ancient tradition, clear measures of Griffon prowess and pride. And power. She could feel it as each section passed: the rhythmic tromp, tromp, tromp of the warriors' march pounding into the soil, into the stand, and into her soul, matching, then accelerating, the beat of her heart. There was nothing better.
Except for one thing. As she saluted each passing section, she thought again of how easily she had killed him. And the total, unmitigated pleasure. She had possessed one of the crystals for a long time now. It had been discovered by her predecessor some decades past, but the fool had not known what she had. But Lahidan knew, and knew how to use its power. That is how she became Domina, and how she now had killed him. Alone in her quarters, Lahidan had taken out the crystal, about a half meter in diameter, and held it out in her left hand. It was perfect in every facet and a beautiful pale blue, permeating the whole room. It also was surprisingly light, almost weightless as she stretched out her arm.
Holding the crystal in her hand, it seemed to glow brighter; and she could begin to see multi-dimensionally. First, her arm glowed blue; and, like an X-ray she could see her own bone and sinew, blood coursing red through her veins, then each individual cell, pulsing life in a constant fluxing rhythm. She closed her eyes and allowed her mind to extend through the crystal and her arm into and across space and time itself and into the thoughts of the half-breed, the Illian, the perfect breed to receive. She did not know him, this half-breed; but he had been selected and placed there as a recipient, as had been the others. Junior Domina Chohoa Awda usually was very good at what she did, and indeed had been exceptionally so in placing this recipient. Now it was as though his mind was hers, as though they were the same person; and she could see through his eyes. She smiled at her power. To get him so, so close, reaching across light-years of space and time. Control. Absolute control.
He awakened when she touched him as though she were right there with him, yet light-years separated them. Time compressed, as though it didn't exist. In a condensed moment, he arose, was traveling with his superior, and was there to visit him. Perfect. They are alone now. You are alone now. Focus. Yes, place it. Place the weapon. Place it there. Perfect. The meeting ended. They returned. All you need is to actuate it. Yes. It is done. Perfect. Murgatroid is dead.
She opened her eyes and returned from her reverie to watch the continuing review again. She smiled. The act was so sublime, so simple, so easy. An almost orgasmic pleasure. No. Better.
H. T. Murgatroid gone. Yes. And Magnus. Lahidan had watched Awda as she used the crystal against Magnus in the same way, and it was clear Awda had felt the same thing. Lahidan had seen it in her face, and was very pleased. Awda's similar attempts against Gregory and Argyle had been...less successful. Both had survived. Not sure why. Maybe Awda was not as adept as she should be.
Or...maybe there was something else. The attempts on Gregory and Argyle had been made after Awda had failed at Belli...no, it wasn't Awda. It was her team that had failed. Yet, the Belli failure was still Awda's responsibility. She tried to remember when she and Awda had been cadets together, and best friends. A long time ago. Now, she was Domina. The Domina. Was she being too easy on her? Awda suddenly had changed after the failure; she was more reserved, never meeting her eye anymore, especially since First Officer Calista was killed. An unfortunate thing. Calista had been intelligent, a promising officer. But an example had to be made. It was a question of results, not excuses. Awda should know that.
Lahidan shook her head slightly to loose herself from this line of thought: she did not want to think of the implications. In any event, things were still moving quite well. Awda had now brought her the precious second crystal from the planet Belli, which was now totally destroyed with all its inhabitants. That act in particular was satisfying, vengeance for our lost team. Gregory and Argyle probably had just been lucky. It happens, but not for long. Now they are thrown off balance, uncertain as to what is happening. What is about to happen. Once the new recipients are in place, Lahidan decided she would complete the second attempt on them herself. Some things one simply must do oneself, she had decided. And she would succeed. There was still Short, of course. Somewhere. We are still not sure even where he is, but it doesn't matter. With the others gone, he can do nothing alone.
Two crystals, Lahidan thought. Together they would allow her to reach well beyond the North System with this power. We also know now of the third, which we will have soon. The three will make us nearly invincible. Soon, too, we will have all five and with them we will have total mastery. I will have total mastery. And the Human Expanse will be dead. It is time.
"Awda!" she barked.
"Yes, Mistress Domina," Awda responded from behind her.
"Both crystals are now in place?"
"Yes, Mistress Domina."
"Then we are ready," Lahidan said, still surveying the pageantry of the review. "When this is done, order the warriors to their ships. It is time to strike."
Now, they would be unstoppable, thought Lahidan. Yes. Control. Power. Total power.
"Yes, Mistress Domina," Awda said with conviction. She bowed and turned to make the necessary arrangements. She hoped Lahidan did not realize that the second crystal she had brought to her had not been the one from Belli.
To be continued.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
