Vanguard by Percival Constantine

Author:Percival Constantine [Constantine, Percival]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pulp Corner Press

8

In the real world, J’Karra narrowed her eyes. “M’Lak,” she said with a hiss. Shift was a few feet away from her, slightly disoriented. She was trying to shake off the remnants of J’Karra’s psychic intrusion. When Shift fully recovered, she raised the staff and charged, bringing it down on J’Karra’s head.

J’Karra held up her arms and caught the staff between her palms. She pushed it to the side, wrapping her fingers around it and trying to wrench it from Shift. The two women stared each other in the eyes. It wasn’t the first time J’Karra had fought Shift, but what she noticed was that there was something different in those yellow eyes now.

“I know M’Lak is controlling you,” said J’Karra. “If you fight it, I can help you purge him from your mind. But only if we get out of here together.”

Shift’s fingers extended, wrapping several times around the staff to give her more leverage. “You…have…to die!”

J’Karra didn’t try and pull the staff away, instead she tried aiming the tip closest to Shift. The Kotharian’s eyes flashed and a sudden burst of psionic energy flew from the staff, striking Shift square in her chest. Her grip on the staff loosened and J’Karra retrieved it, activating the switch that converted it back into a bow.

Shift stumbled back in the snow. Slowly she stood, looking at J’Karra and tipping her head slightly to the side. Now her eyes were different—full of fear.

“Wh-what the hell’s going on?” she asked, looking around. “Where am I? What are you doing here?”

“You found me, under orders from M’Lak,” said J’Karra.

Shift scoffed. “Yeah, right. That’s a pretty lame trick, would’ve expected better of you.”

“It is no trick. M’Lak has taken control of you. Now if you do as I say, I believe I can help you.”

“And I should trust you? That’s a laugh. For all I know, you probably lured me out here and then messed around with my head.”

“I promise you, I do not wish you any harm, Erin.”

“You are in my head!”

Shift’s legs coiled and sprung her forward. As she sailed through the air, her arms formed into long pikes. Shift extended one forward, and J’Karra leapt to avoid it. Once Shift hit the ground, she swung her other arm in J’Karra’s direction, transforming it into a scythe.

J’Karra drew back the string and psionic arrows formed. But before she released, she sensed something more. “Oh no…”

Energy signatures appeared in a circle all around them, fading to reveal armed Kotharian soldiers surrounding the pair. J’Karra turned her bow from Shift, aiming at the new arrivals. Her eyes fell on the leader, the same sergeant who killed Q’Rynn. But now his insignia carried the rank of lieutenant.

“J’Karra, by order of the Matriarch, you are to be executed for treasonous crimes against the Kotharian Empire,” said T’Rell. “Surrender now, and your sentence will be carried out swiftly and free of pain. Resist, and I will see to it that your agony lasts until you beg for death.”

“And what treason have I committed, Lieutenant?” she asked with a sneer.

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