War for the Iron Planet

Chapter 13: Shrump's Cairn

Vanbrook's gun turned towards the Squad, and he couldn't stop it. Despite Vanbrook's height and large frame, he was off balance as he fought Traelby's influence, and Raivyn was able to grab his collar and drag him into the cover of the boulder looking him dead in the eye. Fear rose in Vanbrook's mind, but so did something else.

Van, I'm going to fight him but I need your help. Can you feel me? The thought was clear, but it wasn't his own. It was Raivyn's.

Y- yes. He thought, not sure if she could hear him.

Okay. Focus on me, okay? Don't fight him. Focus on me.

If I stop fighting him I'll kill you.

No. I won't let that happen. Focus on me. My influence will overpower his if you focus on me.

Vanbrook obeyed, the split second drawn out into an eternal agony, filled with fear he was about to kill this woman he admired so much, fear of the "BANG" that would ruin everything.

But the bang never came. The gun flew from his hand as Raivyn's psychic presence kicked out Traelby's. In the cave, Traelby reeled back. A well placed shot from Doc's rifle took out the last soldier standing in the cave entrance. By Doc's count that left two additional soldiers within the cave.

Then something truly strange happened. The two remaining soldiers, a male and a female, rushed from the back of the cave, clamping something around Traelby and pushing him to the ground.

They stood up, each with a foot on Traelby's shocked, prostrate form.

"Triflin and Kiflin, at your service," said the male.

"He's Triflin and I'm Kiflin," said the female.

Traelby looked at them with wrath in his eyes, only to receive a shock from the device he was being held by, which looked like a set of insect legs holding his arms against his sides.

"These T-shackles are specially bred to resist psychic powers and deliver a little bioelectric shock to the wearer if they try," said Triflin, grinning.

"Uh- thanks," said Reclan, at a loss.

D'Jarric stood aloof, still ready to fight. Doc's rifle was still up. Raivyn came around the side of the boulder, taking the situation in.

"What's this about?" she asked.

"We're turning ourselves over," said Kiflin. "We don't believe in the so-called Kingdom. We want to be free like you are, and we're willing to be prisoners first if that's what it takes. Consider Traelby here as a kind of... bargaining chip."

"That's Sir Traelby, you traitorous scu-OOF!" Triflin cut Traelby off with a swift kick.

Vanbrook was still sitting behind the boulder, the after effects of the psychic attack still wearing off. Trembling, he scooped up his pistol and stood up, rounding the boulder and kneeling by Traelby in an instant. He pushed the muzzle of his pistol into the back of Traelby's head, crushing his face into the ice.

"Vanbrook!" shouted Raivyn. "Enough!"

"This monster needs a bullet in his head," he said, seething.

"Agreed, but he's our prisoner now, so he'll get what's coming to him after a trial, okay?"

"Fine," said Vanbrook, standing up slowly and holstering his pistol. "Of course you'd stick up for a fellow freak."

Silence reigned for a moment. Then Traelby cackled.

"Enough!" shouted Raivyn again. Her voice was strained. "Reclan, you and Vanbrook go north. Find the coordinates. Doc and DJ, you're with me. We're going to help Drixen and secure these three. Triflin, Kiflin, you're up front with Traelby. You watch him, we watch you. Any funny business and you die. Understood?" They nodded.