Rash'Tor'Ri (Soulguard Book 4), page 3
The tolerance for the Source present in the body of a Soullord is all that makes us able to do what we do. With enough supports, I have no idea what the limits of a Soullord's power would be. Hopefully, we'll never have to find out.
Chapter 4
I sat at my desk looking at list of numbers in front of me. Logistics was definitely not my strong suit. I was just glad it only needed my signature. I tried to read all put in front of me but some of it just made my eyes cross.
I signed the spot I needed to sign. I could do this because the particular group in charge of the logistics were completely trustworthy. Sandy and Randy Quincy, the twins, had done a spectacular job with Knoxville and had been promoted several times. Each job they had done with skill and I had suggested them for the position to Gregor.
Gregor was the one who ultimately made the choice. He was the guy who really performed as the Executive Officer of the Soulguard. I'm the sharp edge of the sword, Gregor is the hilt. Without the hilt the sword would just be a pointy piece of metal. With his guidance, I've learned much about the nuts and bolts of running an organization as large as the Soulguard. When the fighting begins, I am much more useful.
He also gave me more time to work with the other projects I needed to be a part of. Like the trip to China that was scheduled for later that week. We knew where a Gate was located in China, and we intended to reinforce a certain valley with so many guns and Source weapons that the Kresh would never break through. I smiled as I thought of that. It would be glorious.
A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts of dying Kresh.
"Enter."
The man who opened the door and stepped into my office was no stranger, but I had only met him once. Alan Stanbridge was the political campaign advisor of Samuel Deacons.
"Mister Rourke," Alan said, "I thought, perhaps, we should speak."
"You look worried," I said. "What is it?"
I already thought I knew what Alan was here for, and I wasn't wrong.
"I am worried about Sam's personal ties to you," he said. "I mean no offense to you, but recent developments may have repercussions that truly endanger his successful campaign."
"I was worried about that myself," I said. "I got the approval of the representatives to classify the information. Frankly, I'm a little disappointed that you even know about it."
"This is just proof that your secret will not remain secret, Mister Rourke," he said with a frown. "There would have been a chance if this wasn't the year of the Presidential election. They'll dig deeper for anything they can use against him."
"What can I do?"
"Not be offended if we have to distance him from you."
"Whatever you need to do, as long as it doesn't malign the Soulguard," I said. "If you attack the Soulguard when we need to recruit more to face the next wave, I'll be truly offended. You don't want that."
"That, we don't," he said.
"How is he doin'?"
"He's in his element," Alan answered. "He was born to do this. An honest man as Commander In Chief is something America has been needing for years. He pulls no punches. He forbade me to come here and see you. He won't hide behind lies. I came to enlist your aid in this. He may need to do this to win."
"If he needs to distance himself from me, he can do that without lies. But you must know why he and I are friends. We are both believers in truth. My secret has been secret because I don't talk about it. If asked, I won't lie about it either. I doubt you'll succeed in convincing him to lie either," I turned to look at the map on the wall showing the numbers of dead throughout four countries in Africa. "I would suggest a different way to meet this, if you can find one."
"You know him well," he said. "He said much the same to me, but I had hoped you may convince him to change his mind."
"I can talk to him, but I doubt he'll change his mind."
"That's all I can ask, Mister Rourke."
"Maybe we'll get lucky, and the facts will remain classified," I said.
"Perhaps," he said as he stood up. "I have strong doubts about that. It may be even worse if it does."
"How so?"
"Then they can make up what they want. To prove them wrong, you'd have to come clean with a story that may be better than their fabrication. It would still be out. One sure thing, people know something major happened, and they know you were part of it. They'll dig for it."
"It was probably a pipe dream to think I could keep my lineage hidden."
"It was feasible until you took control of a million Kresh with the power of your mind. Probably could have still kept the secret if you hadn't sent them home. Much better to have killed them."
"That's because you don't know what was done to them when they were marked. They became my responsibility. They became my people. Would you go home and kill a million people in America to hide this secret?"
"Of course not…"
"Yet you just suggested I should have done that very thing."
"But they're monsters…"
"They're people," I said. "They look different and they have a completely different society, but they are people. They couldn't help what they had become. Now there are a million of them with a whole different future ahead of them. They will become more like humans and a little less like Kresh."
"Not that being more human is a good thing," I continued. "They're have been some pretty despicable things done by humans to other humans. Some, no worse than what the Kresh had in mind for us."
"They would have killed everyone if they had succeeded."
"Yes," I said. "Some of them are monsters. And many of those monsters are the ones in charge of their society. A percentage of them have changed, and some have even joined our side in this war. Most people don't understand that Earth is just one front of a war involving fifteen worlds. We need allies, not dead Kresh. There will be plenty of those to satisfy the most bloodthirsty. I can't use that Mark on Earth. It had to be used on Kresh."
"Why not?"
"It would Mark human and Kresh alike," I said.
His face slowly changed to one of horror as the words I had said sank in.
"You could…?"
"Yes, I could," I said. "And you wondered why I hid what I am from those around me."
"I see," he said.
"Even if my bloodline becomes public knowledge," I said. "There are things we need to keep secret. If I can go public with part of it before it blows up, what are the odds we could contain the rest?"
He was quiet for a moment, "I think we can make this work for you. There will still be massive blowback from the public, but it wouldn't be as severe as letting the last bit out."
"So we can make a plan for this if the news leaks out?" I asked.
"I think so," he answered. "Do you trust your press liaison?"
"I trust Jennifer Alstead."
"The reporter?"
"Yes."
"She's much higher than I feel comfortable with," he said. "We couldn't pay her enough money to keep this quiet."
Alstead's career had gone stellar after her on the scene coverage of Second Kansas. She had gotten caught in the middle of that one and had the footage from the battlefield. She and her cameraman had been able to name their price for that one. Thus her career had sky rocketed.
"I'm a Soullord, Alan," I said. "I've seen her Soul. I know who to trust. I've seen yours, and if I didn't trust that you had Sam's best interests, you wouldn't be here. You want him to win because you are a patriot, not just because he's your boss. You also know that our interests are aligned with his, so now you know what most don't and never will. If we go public with anything, it will be through Alstead."
"You're sure about this?"
"Definitely," I said. "If we have to do it, I want her. She knows me, she knows the Soulguard, and she knows what's at stake. She was in the middle of it."
"I will set it up as soon as I can, then," he said. "I doubt she would decline something like this."
"I suspect no one would decline to cover this story," I said. "She's the only one I know that would sit on it 'til it was needed though."
"I can probably set something up by the end of the week."
"It'll have to be in China," I said. "I'm leavin' Thursday. We found a Gate and we're gonna set a trap."
"A trap?"
I smiled, "You've seen what's at Kansas?"
"Yes."
"We're gonna put that around the gate in China."
"I see," he said. "I'm glad we talked Mister Rourke. This may not be the tact I would prefer, but it may be the best we can do. I will contact Alstead and see if she is willing."
"Let me know, in case we have to go a different route."
He turned to the door, "I pray we don't have to change our plans. This is the best of the choices available."
"That it is," I agreed.
Chapter 5
It seemed that circumstances were swiftly making things more difficult for me. I had spent the whole day in meetings with people who looked at me as if I had caused the whole war myself. My rage was barely contained under the surface. This didn't bode well for a future where my lineage would be public knowledge.
I needed to tame the rage. While I worked on that, I had to use it when I could. Prada and Rostov had set me up a place to work out. It was an old farm where a battle had gone down. There were ripped hulks of tanks and the terrain was already destroyed.
"This should be interesting," Prada said.
"I'm trying to work the Mage weapons into the Dance," I said.
"That should be interesting indeed," Adaya said. "Will we be joining you?"
"Let me run through what I have, first," I said. "I want you guys to see it before we go into training."
Stepping forward, drawing the pair of swords from the sheaths crossed on my back, I settled into the stance that would begin the Dance. The world seemed to slow as I plunged my awareness into the focus of the Dance of Blades. Focus is the key to everything we Soulguards can do. Our enhanced speed require enhanced techniques to think as fast as we move.
My movements looked to me as if they were normal speed, but the world had ground to a snails crawl. A bird flew across the field at such a slow pace, I could see every detail of its plumage. The yellow feathers blending with the various other colors.
My swords began the intricate patterns I had trained for from the time I could hold a small practice sword in my hand. Flowing from stance to stance, I released the rage from inside and the flames engulfed my body, burning a deep red.
I leaped forward with an over hand swing of the blade on the right. As the blade descended, I opened the right four disc launchers. Disks of Soulfire slammed into the first tank. My body turned with the Dance as that move was finished. The discs stopped as my body spun to bring the left blade down on a rear stroke. When the right came back up the disks began firing again. Power ripped through the torn hulk in front of me.
I switched to another stance and the power came from the Soullance. I watched with a savage glee as another hulk was ripped apart. Then I bolted forward onto the battlefield, and lost myself for a little while in a dance of rage and destruction.
There were eighty three destroyed tanks. I attacked the hulks with an abandon I rarely get to feel unless we are in the midst of a horde of Kresh. After some time, I stopped. The rage had subsided, somewhat. It was still there, but not as close to the surface as it was before.
I'm not sure if I could do this enough to truly bleed away the rage inside of me. How had Kil'Sin'Deres tamed his rage? It probably had to do with living two thousand years. My paltry thirty years hadn't made a dent in it. It just seemed to get worse.
I saw the others crossing the burnt battlefield toward me. Prada, ever at my side, as she had been since long before Rictor had been taken. Rostov, who had tried to fill Rictor's shoes and done quite a decent job of it. Adaya, still haunted by what occurred in Cairo. Asante Xhosa was the final of my guard today. He remained quiet most of the time but solid as stone. Dependable as they come. The others were off on a rare time off duty. There was so much left to do in Egypt but our time here was almost done. The rest would be by the various governments while we Soulguard would move to places close to the functioning Gates.
Many of us were going to China to begin preparing the defenses around the Valley that the Kresh had revealed as a Gateway.
"That was good, boss," Prada said. "It should be real interesting with the whole squad."
"True," I said. "But for now we need to run it with the five of us for a few hours."
The four of them lined up in formation and we settled into the beginning stance. I turned my MP3 player on, and the grinding music of Seether boomed in my ears.
"Go."
We began to move.
***
"I felt you blowing up some tanks my love," Lyrica said as I entered the hospital tent. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Immensely."
"I'll be done here in a couple of minutes," she said. "They re-opened a few restaurants in Cairo. What do you think of a dinner in the city?"
"That sounds great."
"Gather the normal suspects while I finish up here, and we'll make an event of it. We won't be in the area in a couple of days, we may as well enjoy an evening out."
"I agree," I said with a smile. "We all could use some down time. Especially a certain healer."
"I know, I know."
"I'll gather the troops," I said and slid close to kiss her. "I love you, Little Angel."
"And I love you," she smiled.
I left the tent with a goofy smile on my face. I don't understand how, but she loves me. I'm constantly on the verge of turning into a monster, and she is just the opposite. How someone so good could love something like me will always be a mystery to me. But I can't even imagine my life without her in it.
Opening my inner eye, I scanned the area to locate Prada. I knew she would be close. Hicks was out with his platoon on a mission. Prada spent most of her time, when he was gone, shadowing me.
"We're goin down into Cairo in a little bit for dinner," I said as I approached her. "You wanna gather a few folks and come along?"
"Is that a trick question?" she asked. "Of course I do."
"I know Jacobs is here," I said. "He's in for a few days to work with the planes. Kharl is here somewhere but Kyra is back in Kansas with the new trainees."
"The Kid just flew in," she said. "He's supposed to go with Paige when she goes to Edinburgh."
"I'm not sure we can pry him away from Paige," I said with a chuckle. "Unless we can get them both to come. I'll check with 'em."
"I'll get Jacobs and our squad," she said. "You see if the Archmage is too busy for dinner."
"Sounds like a plan."
We parted ways and I headed for the command building. Paige would be there, she was always there. Some had reservations when Paige became the Archmage of the Soulguard. The Council had made many changes after she was placed in command. There was talk of an election for the position of Archmage early in her tenure. After a while, it just seemed to fade away. She was good at her job. Better than any Archmage that had been in place in any recent times. She took her job seriously and didn't take advantage of the position, as the previous Archmage had done.
It wasn't surprising to find Paige in a C-130 with the troops, flying from one place to another. She could keep the jet for her purposes, but she would send it out if it was needed and ride with the Guards.
She was so different from any previous Archmage, many feared a revolt of the Guard if she was voted out and replaced. Her joining me in the Assault on Cairo just further cemented her into the good graces of the Guard. The greatest thing was the fact that she didn't even know it. She was just doing what she thought was right.
"Sir," the sentry greeted me.
"How are you, David?" I asked.
I could see his surprise as I remembered his name.
"Fine, Sir."
"The Archmage here?"
"Of course she is."
"I know," I smiled. "She's always here."
"That she is, Sir."
"Have a good one, David," I said as I entered the door.
"You too, Sir."
The front office was empty. Most of the personnel were off duty at this time of night. I passed Gregor's empty office while approaching the stairs up to Paige's office.
Greg was back in Kansas. There had been some issues with the training schedules for the newest Mages that he had needed to take care of. He was supposed to meet Paige in Edinburgh later this month.
I climbed the stairs to the next floor. Paige's office was the closest to the head of the stairs. I saw both her and Kevin Graves' auras in the room ahead of me. I knocked and heard Paige answer.
"Enter."
I stepped into the room. The first thing that caught my eyes was the Kid. He'd had a hell of a scrape in Los Angeles and there was a streak of grey where the scar across the right side of his head had been. I was sure it was under there, but the grey streak caught the eye. I could still see the haunted look in his eyes, but it was much less than it had been. His first real command had been LA. He'd lost men and it had plagued him. I understood it. It still plagues me that I lost so many in my command. When the losses don't bother me, I'll be the monster I have always feared I would become.
"Kid," I greeted him with an outstretched hand.
"Colin," he returned the handshake. "It's good to see you again, Boss. It's been too long."
"True enough," I said, turning to the Archmage. "Paige, how's the job treatin' you today?"
"As well as could be expected, I suppose," she answered. "All they want to talk about is the classified information we discussed at the last meeting. They talk a lot more when a certain individual isn't anywhere near."
"They still agree to keep the information classified?"
