{"id":2459,"date":"2018-06-02T07:14:42","date_gmt":"2018-06-02T12:14:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2459"},"modified":"2018-06-09T07:32:51","modified_gmt":"2018-06-09T12:32:51","slug":"master-of-violence-part-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2459","title":{"rendered":"Master of Violence – Part 18"},"content":{"rendered":"

Master of Violence<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 18<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Toncor activated the screen seeing Hakkas appear on the screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWant to tell me what happened?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 \u201cThings got real tense there for a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dark Race appeared here,\u201d Toncor said seeing the panic on Hakkas\u2019 face.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do we do?\u201d Hakkas asked confusing Toncor for a second.\u00a0 What was there to do with the engines down?<\/p>\n

\u201cDo?\u00a0 Do nothing.\u00a0 They were beaten back by the humans,\u201d Toncor replied back to him.\u00a0 Hakkas went silent for several seconds before finally saying anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeaten back?\u00a0 That sounds impossible,\u201d Hakkas stated, his voice sounding stunned by the events which happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how you feel, but it\u2019s the truth, it\u2019s what happened out there,\u201d Toncor replied.\u00a0 \u201cI watched the events unfold as the humans fought back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they won, what\u2019s next?\u201d Hakkas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the real question.\u00a0 Our ship will be repaired in the next couple of days,\u201d Toncor stated giving it some thought.\u00a0 \u201cHowever, we might be able to settle down here, or close by instead of traveling through space forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was something he had recently given a lot of thought to.\u00a0 He knew they were just starting their journey through space in their attempt to flee the Dark Race.\u00a0 However, how long would it take before something really broke down and the Dark Race found and enslaved them?\u00a0 At least here they had a chance of freedom again.<\/p>\n

He paused going over his thoughts wondering when those ideas came to him.\u00a0 Perhaps he had been around humans too much lately.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least we\u2019re free,\u201d Hakkas said and Toncor realized it was the very thing he said to the humans when they arrived.\u00a0 The idea Yissffer said as well upon reaching Earth.<\/p>\n

\u201cLimited to a spaceship,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 \u201cIs that really freedom, or are we deluding ourselves as to what freedom really is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would not be slaves,\u201d Hakkas said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the debate about,\u201d Aviella asked as she joined in on the conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea of staying here, the humans defeated a fleet of Dark Race ships,\u201d Toncor said to her.\u00a0 It was obvious the news was a shock to her as she heard the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dark Race was here?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere and beaten back already,\u201d Toncor said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t inform us they were here?\u201d she asked him, sounding a bit disappointed in him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no time, I was called to a meeting where they told us they might arrive, and the next thing we knew they were here,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 \u201cI was watching the battle here, and what could I have done, informed you so the entire ship could panic?\u00a0 Our engines were in no condition to do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s right,\u201d Hakkas said seeing Aviella wanting to debate the point.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, we should have been informed,\u201d she said back to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I was going to inform the captain, but not the rest of the passengers,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 \u201cIt would have been better if they did not know.\u00a0 Panic could have broken out and in the panic people might been injured.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched as she seemed to think about that and formulate some sort of counter argument so instead Toncor pressed on.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur engines will probably be repaired in a few Earth days, the problem is what do we do after that?\u201d he asked them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue on our journey,\u201d Aviella replied, and it appeared Hakkas seemed to think the same thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen if so, you\u2019ll do it without me,\u201d Toncor finally said shocking them both with his decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d stay?\u201d Aviella said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese humans are different, they have something unusual among the universe,\u201d Toncor said to them.\u00a0 \u201cThey understand the violence, but they also understand the peace.\u00a0 It\u2019s an interesting mix and one I\u2019d like to understand more.\u00a0 I also think the Dark Race has never encountered any race like theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cViolence doesn\u2019t solve violence,\u201d Aviella said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they understand that as well,\u201d Toncor said.\u00a0 \u201cI get the feeling they want peace, but unlike so many others, they are willing to fight for it when someone threatens them.\u00a0 They would rather die fighting for that freedom than be enslaved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Toncor paused having recalled some conversations he overheard in the hallways.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, even if they were to be enslaved, I doubt they would do so willingly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d Hakkas asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means, they are already thinking of ways to fight even if they are enslaved,\u201d Toncor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are that organized?\u201d Aviella asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not the government, individuals, talking amongst themselves about how to fight back, subtly as they put it,\u201d Toncor said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019ve been among them too long,\u201d Aviella finally stated.<\/p>\n

Toncor didn\u2019t reply considering he had been thinking about that earlier in the conversation.\u00a0 But he had made up his mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can help them,\u201d Toncor finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, they appear unstable to me,\u201d Aviella finally said while Hakkas remained silent.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Angie watched as Jack made his way back as she looked on.\u00a0 So far they had found out a few things they didn\u2019t know before.\u00a0 They had a name of the aliens, and the fact the invaders had brought in some other alien slaves as a way to placate those they captured.<\/p>\n

Jack\u2019s friend had no news of Angie\u2019s family which, while she had hoped for, wasn\u2019t surprised about.\u00a0 They also learned that there appeared to be other groups out there still on the run which was why they went out on patrols.\u00a0\u00a0 It was surprising they had not encountered any of them in their travels.\u00a0 But it appeared most were still trying to lay low.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said to her.<\/p>\n

Angie was a bit concerned that Earth had been invaded as well by this alien species.\u00a0 They were hoping to find out something from her uncle about what might have happened, if anything.<\/p>\n

She waited a bit until they were far enough away before saying anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, any news?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but I didn\u2019t read it,\u201d Jack replied.\u00a0 \u201cOnly waited to get the connection for a bit before leaving.\u00a0 Thought I heard something nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t see anything,\u201d Angie replied.\u00a0 \u201cYou think the O\u2019krad attacked Earth? What is they lost?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Jack answered honestly.<\/p>\n

Angie didn\u2019t think she could live they had for the rest of her life.\u00a0 There had to be something they could do?\u00a0 After a bit further they stopped and looked at the messages on the phone at least.\u00a0 Her uncle had replied and the news was better than she expected.\u00a0 They had beaten back the attack and destroyed an enemy warship in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than I expected,\u201d Jack stated making her wonder what he meant.\u00a0 \u201cI figured their tech would be much higher than ours.\u201d<\/p>\n

She had no reply to that.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, now what?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re uncle expects another attack, but beyond that, I imagine they\u2019ll be building up their military and if possible coming here to free Sierra,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think so?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, typical military tactics, free your people, and then they\u2019ll go on the attack against O\u2019krad positions,\u201d Jeff said.<\/p>\n

Angie shrugged her shoulders not really understanding military tactics but the idea they might come to free them, that idea would keep her going.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are going to need intelligence,\u201d Jack said.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s where we come in, and I think its time we go looking for anyone else out there still free from enslavement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that wise?\u201d Angie asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll need more than two people,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

Angie wondered how they would even find anyone in the forest when they were trying to hide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere would they go?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have an idea,\u201d Jack said finally.\u00a0 \u201cCome on, let get moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

She followed along wondering where they might be going.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Angie followed Jack, who had the O\u2019krad weapon for protection, as he suddenly stopped and motioned for her to be quiet.\u00a0 She crouched low watching him and glancing around not making any sound, fully expecting to see the aliens pop up.\u00a0 Instead Jack seemed to be looking around for something else.<\/p>\n

He moved on motioning her to come with him as they moved quietly forward.\u00a0 Angie concentrated on being quiet and following.\u00a0 He stopped again and this time raised the weapon as a figure rose up in front of them as well.\u00a0 Even as she looked on she spotted two more dropping from trees to surround them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHold,\u201d Jack said, lowering his weapon as Angie finally got a better look at the group.\u00a0 They were humans, and appeared to be two males and one female who she didn\u2019t recognize at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019d you get that,\u201d one of the males said looking at the weapon Jack held.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey dropped it when one of their comrades stepped into a fire ant mound,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFire ants, yeah, those are deadly to them,\u201d the male said.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d Jack replied, and it was an answer Angie had not expected either.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeen two die from ant bites so far,\u201d the man said eyeing them closely before speaking to Jack.\u00a0 \u201cYou, too tall to be one of them, but her, how well do you know her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKnown her for seven years,\u201d Jack replied quickly, it was something Angie had to think about before realizing they were in Junior High together.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou sure it\u2019s her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m sure,\u201d Jack replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019d you survive?\u201d the male asked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas on Sixth Street when the attack happened, just out for some night air, couple of bad games of Star Marines, needed to get out before I punched my screen,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGamer?\u201d the other male said, a bit older than Jack.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, have, well had, the latest Gamebox,\u201d Jack replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get the platinum version?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yeah, how could you not,\u201d Jack replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, guys, not to interrupt your love fest here, but moving on,\u201d the female said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight, well, was passing Angie here, who was walking home for work, and noticed the sky light up,\u201d Jack said surprising Angie that he knew where she worked.\u00a0 \u201cThen everything started exploding, Angie was tossed into the trees and I made a decision to carry her away from the devastation going on.\u00a0 What about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Ben were camping,\u201d the older male said referring to the younger one, and now that Angie looked there appeared to be a resemblance between them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas supposed to be a fishing trip to the lake,\u201d Ben said as Angie and Jack looked towards the female.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was over in West Wilds when the attack occurred, ran into the forest.\u00a0 Met up a couple of others who fled into the forest.\u00a0 We decided to make our way to the lake, but were caught by a patrol, the other two died, they didn\u2019t see me and I stumbled into Charlie and Ben\u2019s camp,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you\u2019re human?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe volunteered to be bit by fire ants, passed easily,\u201d Charlie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not doing that,\u201d Angie said crossing her arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny others?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few more, we keep to ourselves, avoid detection at the moment,\u201d Charlie replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me talk to them, I have a lot of information you might like to hear,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well, no sudden moves,\u201d Charlie said as they moved on.<\/p>\n

Angie wondered what they had managed to get themselves into now.\u00a0 She also was a bit fearful that as the group got larger it would attract the attention of the O\u2019krads.\u00a0 She now wished she had gone to Earth for a vacation instead of working.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow have you survived?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a regular boy scout growing up,\u201d Jack said.\u00a0 \u201cSomething my dad forced upon me when I was younger.\u00a0 And I still read up on the outdoors and such.\u00a0 Never expected it to actually be useful.\u00a0 Bet my dad\u2019s laughing right about now as he looks down at all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angie said nothing even as they seemed to stop and she noticed several others, quickly counting about a half dozen people.\u00a0 It was more than she expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cAngie!\u201d<\/p>\n

End part 18<\/p>\n

Continued in part 19<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Master of Violence by AJ Marks Part 18 Toncor activated the screen seeing Hakkas appear on the screen. \u201cWant to tell me what happened?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 \u201cThings got real tense there for a moment.\u201d \u201cThe Dark Race appeared here,\u201d Toncor said seeing the panic on Hakkas\u2019 face. \u201cWhat do we do?\u201d Hakkas asked confusing Toncor […]
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