Fear Incarnate

Fear Incarnate Portion 5

"The Horde is assaulting our southern border again, but it seems they are also launching an assault against our western border." The queen said, the hololith in front of Innoak hummed slightly while projecting an abstract map of Bright Moon. He already noticed several weak points, either by purpose or ignorance the Horde had not exploited them. Perhaps they were simply incompetent, incompetent enough to not crush a pitiful rebellion like this. Innoak sat at a tall chair next to the general, around him were arrayed the various command staff of the Rebellion. They were meager, and any regimental command of the Guard would decimate them. Innoak sighed, attracting looks from the princesses and his target. The She-ra. He chuckled at the name, it was childish. He decided to eschew his psychic speech so that he wouldn't appear threatening. "I will take the south, let the 'She-ra' and the princess glimmer assist with the west." The She-ra looked uncomfortable with his presence, perhaps because he was probing her mind for information. He found little he had not learned from the child, Bow, only more insight in the current affairs he was not interested in. "Very well, I will have Bow accompany you Innoak." the queen said softly, and with a moment of hesitation Innoak nodded.

"He can't just do that! Walk in all big and strong and steal my mission!" Adora said as she paced around furiously in Glimmer's room, Bow and Glimmer watched her mad pacing with curious expressions. Finally she stopped and looked at them. "Uh, sorry Adora but you didn't have that 'guy' in your mind. The things he showed me made the Horde look like toddlers. I think he can handle himself well enough to steal at least a feeeew of your missions." Bow said, Glimmer to his side interjected as well. "Adora, I get it. But look at the guy! He could eat Horde for breakfast!" Adora scrunched her face up with frustration and sighed, admitting defeat. "Yeah, I guess. I still don't like him though." Her friends both nodded.

Bow slowly padded down the hallway leading to Innoak's chambers. As he grew closer it felt like the temperature was dropping drastically, he rubbed his arm and watched his breaths grow into puffs. He continued to do this until a looming form popped out of nowhere, Bow stopped and looked up. Straight into Innoak's red eyes, looking into those hateful slits made Bow dizzy and his head span. When as suddenly as it happened it receded, then a voice rang across his brain. "Do not worry, it was only a slight mind scan. I was testing your health and vitality." Bow was perplexed, Vitality? As though sensing Bows apprehension Innoak cocked his head and spoke out loud, "You passed." Bow felt small relief. He decided to stay silent, falling in behind Innoak as they both walked towards Bright Moon's bridge.

The trek to the south border of the Whispering Woods was short but hard and fast, and bow found himself using all his knowledge about the woods to keep up with Innoak. Finally, they reached a Rebellion outpost that was only half manned and under heavy fire from a squad of Horde soldiers and a few tanks. Bow stopped to survey the area first but found Innoak just walking to the center of the conflict. Bow decided he would let the big man sort this out, the comment on vitality still ringing in his ears. Innoak barely budged as Horde laser bolts smacked against his armor, the energy dissipating before it even reached the plate. With what sounded like a dry laugh, Innoak let a bolt of lightning run through his blade. The tanks now turned from their quarry to face the new threat. Bow shook his head and drew an arrow to fire and disable the turret of the vehicle when he felt the temperature drop again.

Innoak was amused. The "Horde" soldiers were pitiful, every one was a poor example of humanity. He knew they were pawns for a xeno but he still despised their incompetent weakness. Innoak looked back at Bow, deciding that through the child he could prove his might. Perhaps earning time with the legendary "She-ra." Innoak, despite himself, laughed. And let a grin spread across his face, it was time to show the true might of the Soul Haunters. Innoak reached out with not only his hand, but his mind. He drew on the power of the warp that coursed through this world, he found the outline of the tanks in the roiling currents of the warp. He seized them with his power, Innoak brought a massive exhortation of force on the vehicles. Armor buckled and rivets popped as the floating masses broke. And oh they broke. They truly crumpled like tinfoil, folding into themselves and annihilating circurty and crew. Once the threat was sufficiently exterminated Innoak turned to the soldiers. He cast a stream of lightning into each of their heads, casting a Tenebrous Curse into their feeble craniums. He watched with a small amount of delight as they screamed, the curse he cast made them think their shadow came to life. The shadow demons born of their own nightmares clawed and scratched, it was purely psychological though. No demon actively tried to consume them. Innoak nodded to Bow, "Restrain them. Your rebellion does not kill, does it?" Bow nodded, eyes still fixed on the writhing Horde soldiers. "Yeah, we're the good guys." He said, and Innoak noticed reservation in his voice.