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CHAPTER 3
On the second day there was a sense that something was wrong. A feeling they were being followed. Corden thought of a plan and informed Aaron what he was going to do. He would stay behind at the camp site in hiding to see if anyone showed. Aaron and the others took off and Corden waited. Only one hour later did something turn up. A night haunt in broad daylight with a rider. By Blake!
Corden formulated a plan and he needed to take the rider alive. He aimed at the night haunt's leg joint and fired his mauser 1200. The night haunt reared up on its legs in pain and the rider fell off. It searched for the source of its pain had come from and Corden revealed himself from beneath the memetic cloak. Seeing what just appeared the night haunt started at Corden.
Corden went to a knee and took aim at the same leg. This time he unleashed the full charge of his laser rifle. CRACK! Tendon and muscles separated and the night haunt came to a crash. It hissed and screached at Corden. In response he fired the underslung grenade launcher. The grenade landed in the night haunts mouth and detonated. Blood and visera carpeted the camp site.
Corden approached the rider. He was wearing black leather and had pulled a night haunt dagger. He came at corden swinging wildly. Corden noted this was an experienced fighter and moved against the slashes. Batting away the mans knife hand he moved into the close quarters, caught the knife arm under his arm pit, and pushed him down. Myomer muscles quickly dislocated the man's shoulder and he screamed. The knife clattered to the ground.
"My name is Cordon of the Word of Blake. You must already know that to be in this place. You are going to awnser my questions one way or another..."
-----
Aaron and the guides heard the explosion in the distance. Corden's instruction were to turn back once something happened or he would catch up with them the next night. They rode back in the direction of the old camp and could hear screams in the distance. Aaron noted they were not of Corden's. The screams went on for a long time and then eventually stopped.
As the arrived, they saw the carnage. A night haunt missing its head and a broken man. His arms, legs, and head were at angles they should not have been. Corden simply sat waiting for them.
"What is going on here! Who is that and what have you done!"
"That, Aaron is a handler of night haunts. He was trying to locate us and was a scout. It seems mankind has figured out how to tame these beasts and it is a brutal process according to this dead man. From what I could gather they inflict pain and suffering to a youth and young night haunt. Torture to bind them. The documents I found on him tells us that they will kill us on sight. We must make haste and get the dropship faster than ever."
"You did this to him? You tortured him?"
"Yes I did, I did what must be done to get anwsers I sought. He would not talk until I broke his bones. Only until I was satisfied did I end his suffering."
"Corden you are a monster!"
"I am Manie Domini Aaron. My sinful flesh has been sacrificed in order to save mankind and I will do what must be done. Instead of arguing and bickering we must make haste. We must travel at night. I will watch for any night haunts and guide us around them. We leave. NOW!"
They traveled fast by night and day. Corden was able to guide them quickly and safely to the mountains. They made it into the pass and into the valley. There it was harder because the night haunts were bigger. It was then Aaron felt the prescense of them being followed, but yet they pressed on. When the dropship came into view, the guides were awe struck. Their hopes and dreams made manifest. By the time they got there it was night time and they were exhausted.
Corden approached the door and entered his code. With a whir the door opened and they entered. The horses not so much. By the time they got in, corden could see five pursuers in the distance. Without thought he knew what he would have to do. The door slammed shut and he addressed them.
"Stay here and do not touch anything. You do not know what will do what. Await for my return. Aaron, attend me."
They entered one of the bays, lights came on and Aaron saw the battle armors lining the walls. Metal suits of armor that looked like demons ready to do battle. Corden disrobed exposing his complete naked metal form next to a Se'irim battle armor. He climbed in the hatch and activated the machine. It was then he plugged in his VDNI and they became one. The inner myomer formed to him and adjusted to his body size. It was then that Corden asked Aaron if certain parts of the battle armor moved. Arms, hands, torso, etc. When the checklist was done, he engaged the weapons. The SRM 5 rack armed, the medium recoilless rifle whirred, and the search light showed green. Finally Corden flexed his left hand and the vibro claw did in turn. With a thought the hatch closed and Corden disconnected from the charging station. He sent a mental command to the outer dropship hatch and it opened.
--------
Five night haunts and riders were waiting for him outside. As he left the door slammed shut. Corden took measure of the riders and noted one that looked important. He wanted him alive and maybe a few others for more intel. He was not able to extract the information where they were based out of from the last rider.
The night haunts started to circle their prey and Corden noted two lesser ones were crossing his targeting reticule. As they passed, he fired the one shot SRM rack. Five short range missiles instantly launched and connected with only one of the night haunts. Two hits gored it and the rider. The other three landed on the ground exploding causing the other night haunt to rear up dropping its rider. Corden raised the recoilless rifle and ended the night haunts life. As he turned around to face the other three a night haunt had made it up on him. It bit down and teeth embed into the battle armors head. Warning lights came on showing damage and Corden starred into a maw the could have been his death. The battle armor should not have been damaged at all, it should not be!
Corden turned on the search light and blinding light poured out on the night haunt. It screached and let him go. For its trouble Corden punched his vibro claw into its chest. Then he extended the claws and pulled. Viscera came out of the hole and the night haunt started to convulse and die. Then a 'tink' caught Corden's ears and damage indicators came on. Corden spun around. The rider he wanted to take alive had tried to stab him with a night haunt dagger! As he turned around the dagger was pulled from the riders hands and the search light beam came into his face blinding him too. For his reward, Corden bashed the recoilless rifle into his chest and the rider crumpled onto the ground unconsious.
Another night haunt assaulted him, but from the back. Claws dug in and tried to pull him down. Corden prayed to Blake on a quick idea and ejected the spent SRM rack. The weight dropped and he was able to move out from under the pull. He was free! Spinning he fired at the creature killing it and its rider. Two more remained. Switching off his search light he located the other two near by. They hestitated seeing the fight Corden had put up. But it wouldn't last as their instincts would kick in. Corden acted first, raised the recoilless rifle, and gunned them down. Those riders did not survive. Taking stock of the fight, Corden pulled up two unconsious riders and entered the dropship.
----
As Corden came back into the bay, he dropped the two unconisous bodies on the ground. Upon exiting he found he was bleeding. From his previous wound and from the little pricks around his neck that the teeth had penetrated the armor. Corden went to one crate and pulled out a med kit. Directing Aaron to his back wound, he instructed him how to put the anti coagulants in it, antibodics, then the skin sealer. Finally the myomer patch kit to completly seal the hole. Satified with the work, Corden stopped the bleeding from the teeth marks, then donned his robe.
They bound the two handlers in chains. Aaron voluneteered to take first watch for six hours as guides had been trained to stay up as long as they had. Corden directed the other four guides to quarters used by the missing crew then went to his own quarters. He blacked out and fell asleep. When he awoke, he took Aaron's shift and directed him away. Turning down the lights in the bay, he put down a mat, and lit some candles. There he sat in silence, praying, contemplating his future. Ever since arriving here, he had been cut off from The Master. He was rudderless, without a true direction other than this war. He thought about the conversion of this world to the word.
He knew what the others in his order would say. Convert them or they would die. No, that would not be right in this case. These people had suffered by not their own hands. He would guide them like a father, save them like he had pledged, bring them to the stars. Like he was saved, created in The Master's image. He opened his eyes, raised is right hand, and starred at it as the constant reminder of what he had become. Then something hit him. Iron hands. Iron. He was starting to become a father to this world. He was... The Iron Father.
A murmor from one of the prisoners came. Corden broke the silence.
"Welcome back to the land of the living. I am Corden of the Word of Blake."
The handlers eyes shot open and looked at Corden.
"And who might you be.... We can do this the hard way or an easy way. Your NAME."
"Mantle."
"Mantle, just Mantle? You must have a title just like everyone else on this planet. Why not just tell me... handler!"
At this time the other handler woke up.
"Ah, so another joins us. What might your name be."
"I am Deback the...."
"Shut up Deback!" came a cry from the other handler.
"So, I was right, you must be the master. That means this one over here is either a slave or apprentice. By the time I learn what I need, one of you will be dead. The other I am not sure yet. So who will talk first."
Corden then moved to a crate and searched thru it. He pulled out two syringes and some special drugs. Going back he pulled out two measured doses and administered them to the two struggling handlers. It took effect immediately. Thru fevered dreams, hallucinations, trickery, and deceit, Corden pulled information from them. Mantle was truly the master of this expedition. The order was to kill them all and it had been handed down by the Nobles as per the documents he had saw earlier. The other, was an apprenctice of age 15. It was his first outing and would be his first blooding.
It was then and there that Corden learned fully of the process of binding to a night haunt. Pain, suffering, and agony were inflicted. Night haunt and young man were treated inhumanly in sight and hearing range of each other. Whipped together, starved together, burned together. In pain they were molded into a bonded couple. It was completely disgusting to Corden. On top of that, the youths that were to be bonded had been kidnapped and given to the handlers by the nobles. Their payments to keep the charade of night haunts attacking the towns and thus keeping the nobles in power. Yet still the location of the handleres lair eluded him.
An hour later the two came out of the trance and it was immediate. Corden then came up with an idea. He released the apprentice to both of handlers surprise.
"Deback, come with me. Do not try to escape as you will not make it. Follow."
He led Deback up to the upper levels where the bridge was. He connected his VDNI and turned on the computer.
"I am from an order called the Word of Blake. We believe in the mission set down by the blessed Saint Jerome Blake to save mankind. You have suffered what should not have been suffered. Let me show you something."
He called up the scans of the planet, the star, and the land scape. First he put up the planet on the screen.
"This is your home Deback. I..."
"Shut up sorceror, you killed my ride and... and..."
"I was defending myself! You damn well know you were going to kill me and the others. Do not preach to one that has seen wars of a magnitude you can not comprehend. I am not a sorceror. What you see is technology. What I did out there, what you see in here, and right before you now was created by mankind. This here is your star. This here is your world."
Corden zoomed in on the planet. He could already make out the thirteen towns and also what he suspected was the handlers liar. Awe was in the youths face. Corden then saw something in the youths eyes and Corden was about to take a leap of faith.
"Mankind has been stranded here for centuries. I am now here to escort mankind back to the stars. The handlers and nobels are standing in that way Deback. What you have suffered should not have happened. You were kidnapped, taken away from your parents, brutally tortured to a sick perversive ruse. You do remember your parents? Do you?!"
Deback was utterly silent. Starring into space. Looking at the monitor of his homeworld. Stuck in a confusing maisma of memories of his past.
"There are other apprentices who are going under the process you have been thru. They do not have to suffer like you have. I will break the chains of this world by Blake. I pledge I will free all the apprentices if you help me find the handlers lair."
The youth looked conflicted. Corden could see something was missing in the youth and more inspiration came to him.
"Deback, join me, join the Word of Blake. I can bring meaning to your life. What you have suffered no one should have suffered. I will treat you as a human being. You will have truth, compassion, and a purpose you have been denied. There will be no beatings, no pain, no hurt."
"How can I join you when I have no other choice. You have already stated that one of us will die. If I choose no, you will just kill me."
"After learning what I have, I can not just do that. If you choose not to join me, then you will remain here till I have completed what I have set out to do on this world. Let me do something for you. I want you to listen"
With that, Corden pulled out a copy of the Word of Blake and started to read aloud. His words would attract awaking guides. They would come in and listen. Others would just peak in and then go about their business. Corden did not care. He had a possible convert here. Someone that would be invaluable to the cause and bring some light into this youth's world. He took care to explain things to Deback when he asked questions. Explained the events that the Word of Blake covered. Two hours later...
"Yes..."
"What Deback?"
"Yes Corden, I will join you."
Corden looked into Deback's eyes. Something had connected. He then handed the book to Deback who then opened it. Symbols and lines that he knew were writings met his eyes.
"I can not read."
"Then I will teach you. Adept Deback of the Word of Blake."
A tear started to form on the youths face and he crumpled. Corden did something he had never done since he became manei domini. He got down on the floor with Deback and hugged him. The youth broke, the pain came out in wailing, and Corden held him in am embrace of metal. He was the Iron Father. He would save all who could be saved. He then began to pray out loud to Blake. Asking for direction, forgiveness of this youth's sin, bringing humanity to him, and to appease his suffering. They sat there for an unknown length of time while Corden spoke aloud in prayer and supplication. Deback later made a motion that he was ready to stand.
As they got up, Corden took off his pendant and handed it to Deback.
"You need new clothes, follow me."
Upon returning, Mantle showed utter shock in seeing his apprentice.
"What in hell are you doing Deback!"
Corden then produced a pistol. He turned it and offered it to Deback.
"This man will die by my hand. I offer you the option to do so. You do know how to use this?"
Deback nodded. Then he remembered his treatment from years at the hands of the handlers. The utter pain and torture. Part of him did not know if he should do this. The temptation, the hate, the... something broke in Debacks's mind and he grabbed the pistol. Then he aimed it and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He pulled harder and strained.
"Deback NO!!!!" screamed Mantle.
"There is button on the side Deback. If you push it, the pistol will be able to fire." Corden whispered.
There was an audable click and gun went BANG! Mantle looked at his chest in shock. BANG! Another hole appeared in his chest. BANG! Mantle's head went back as a bullet entered his brain painting the floor red. BANG BANG BANG! THe gun went on and on till slide lock. Deback kept pulling the trigger trying to fire the pistol. His pain was washing away in a baptism of blood as he remembered everything. Corden put his hands on the pistol and took it away.
"I would have done this. You did not have to Deback."
Deback turned to him with determination in his eyes. Corden could tell he had needed to do this. He simply nodded.
"The shock of revelation will come to you Deback. I suspect this is your first time killing someone. It is not easy. I will help you in your turmoil as you come to terms with this decision."
Corden turned as noise came from behind him. It was the guides coming in the bay to see what the noise was all about. They saw the executed handler and the new convert to the word.
"Behold! Tonight the cleansing of this planet begins! I will bring forth justice upon those who seek to keep mankind in the mud!"
Corden then made for the other bay. Later Deback would point to exactly where the lair was and it was exactly where Corden had expected. His conversion to the word was well on its way.
-----
The bay doors opened and lights came on. Inside all but Corden froze. His archangel mech awaited him. At the base of its feet, he derobed and donned his cooling vest. He ascended the stairs 12 meters high. There he entered the cockpit, plugged in his VDHI and vest cooling lines, then he started up the fusion reactor. The omnimech was in the invictus configuration. A heavy PPC, plasma rifle, and retractable blade as weapons. They started to show ready status as other parts of the machine warmed up.
To Corden's right, he saw that Aaron and Deback had ascended the stairs and looked at him. He smirked then spoke.
"Aaron, you have permission to start going thru the dropship. Read everything that you can. Do not touch anything on the bridge though as you might activate the engines. Also please start teaching Deback how to read if you can."
Finally the security protocols called for him to say his security phrase.
"Mankind and the Word walk step and step."
The machine came fully alive, weapons showed charged, and he was fully in control. The cockpit clamped fully shut and he then flipped on external speakers.
"I go forth to cleanse the valley of all night haunts. By the time I return everyone will be able to be outside unafraid of the lurking death. Blake's will be done!"
With that the outer bay doors opened and the archangel stepped out into night. What greeted him were six night haunters eating the carrion from the previous battle. These were the bigger variety and they immediately hissed at him. In response, Corden fired a heavy PPC at the furthest one. The weapon was over kill as it would normally slag a ton of mech armor. Man made lightning and particles streamed forth and punched a hole in the night haunt crumpling it. He quickly repositioned, turning the mech and increasing to walking speed. He fired the plasma rifle. Super heated plastic streamed forth in a plasma jet connecting with another night haunt. It boiled and cooked within it hard leather skin dying in brutal agony. Then he waited for the weapons to recharge and the other night haunts were on him.
He grabbed one by the back of the neck as it tried to latch onto his mechs leg. He willed the mechs hand to squeeze and ten tons of force crushed down on the night haunts neck breaking it. One night haunt had latched onto one of the legs and was scratching divots in the armor. Corden released the carcass and punched the night haunt in the head. Then activated the retractable blade. It entered the beasts head killing it and dislodged it from his leg.
Corden then activated the mechs jump jets and ascended into the air. The heavy PPC showed charged, he fired it, and a night haunt died. One was left. At the apex of his jump he directed the mech over top the last night haunt that looked at him in confusion. The jump jets cut and 100 tons of metal fell fifteen meters toward the earth. The archangel landed on the night haunt, crushing its spine and bursting its innards out. Myomer strained as Corden fought to keep the mech upright.
There were no more night haunts near him and he set forth into the night to rid the valley of the menace.
-----
From Baltmare, people could see the mountains lit up with lightning despite no rain nor clouds. Some called it omens of doom. Others noted that it had started up since Corden had disappeared. Panic came here and there, but word spread via Tim the guard. Hope was coming, Corden would return. The ones that quaked in fear the most was Bert the noble. No word had come from the handlers that had been sent out. The only thing he could do now is wait. The lightning storm lasted two days.
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