Elyon

Beginnings

There was time to kill while the Irken outposts in sector 7-o-9 searched for the android. It had probably already deposited its information and flown off by now, it always had by the time the drones reached the area. Red turned and called up the declaration Purple had been working on to a nearby computer screen. It stated that the only authority which superceded the Tallest's was that of the Control Brains. Notions of any higher authority would be considered treason. Mentioning it positively or questioningly would be punishable by torture. Spreading the idea would be punishable by death—"WHOAH!"

Red jerked back. The screen began dripping green liquid over its surface. A sweet stench wafted toward Red, and he recoiled further. "Drones! I need a cleanup drone in here now!"

Instantly three janitorial drones flocked to the room. One stepped forward. "My Tallest, what are your orders?"

Pointing to the computer, he swallowed, "There. All that green liquid on the screen. It's obstructing my view of the document."

The drone hesitated. "My Tallest?"

"What are you waiting for?" Red shivered. The sickly sweet smell of blood increased every passing second. "Clean it off!"

Exchanging looks with each other, they hurried to the screen, pulling out sanitized towels to drag across the glass. He breathed easier as it cleared up.

"Will there be anything else, My Tallest?" The drone asked, forehead wrinkled.

"No, that will be all. Dismissed."

The drones hurried out, and he turned back to stare at the declaration. The screen gleamed back, clear and clean. Uneasy, he turned from the computer back to the map and frowned. The dot had disappeared as well... he peered at sector 7-o-9. Tapped the console a few times. Then picked up a communicator. "Have the squads reached the sector yet?"

The speaker crackled. "We're here, my Tallest. Reporting now. The android had only landed five minutes before we did. They must have been expecting it's arrival if someone called it in to you. We'll light up the sector on the map now." As he spoke, the blue dot reappeared.

Slowly, Red poked the dot. "Soldier, are you telling me this area wasn't lit up already?"

"No, My Tallest. Just now."

"There must be a mistake. Check with your teams. Ask them if anyone lit it up, even for a few minutes, then erased it."

"Yes My Tallest." The line murmured with static for a moment as the soldier conferred with the other teams. "No My Tallest. None of them tagged that sector."

Frowning, Red asked absently, "The droid landed five minutes before you, and then what?"

"It saw us coming and flew off. One of the patrols is trailing it now, but it's too fast."

"Keep on it," Red scratched his arm. "If it only landed for five minutes, it didn't have a chance to refuel. If we can keep it flying and unable to refuel, we might be able to catch it."

"Yes My Tallest."

"That will be all." He flicked off the communicator.

....

It is the same as before. All is dark. All is silent. His mouth is open, screaming, but nothing is heard. His arms are flailing... or are they flailing? No motion is felt, no movement, no brush of skin against cloth, movement can't be discerned. There is not even a sense of self.

Light... tiny light flickers... it burns. It's reaching out toward him. He raises an arm... something is weighted on his arm... cold metal wrapped around his body. He can't move.

The light draws nearer. He looks down to see what holds him back. Dimly, he sees the reflection of the light on metal bands that encircle his waist, his wrists, his arms, his legs, his ankles... he can even feel one around his neck. Each band is connected to a length of ancient chain, three times as thick as his spindly arms...