The Scelks’ faces expressed nothing of what they felt. Then again, the shadow from their hoods partially dissimulated their features. But not enough that we couldn’t see the large, black eyes devoid of sclera similar to the Warriors’ or the two slits on the small bump that served as their noses. For having interacted on a number of occasions with Varnog, I recognized the slight pinching of his very plump human lips. We could barely see the black, chitin scales along his cheeks and forehead, hidden as they were by his hood.
Ignoring the skittish reaction of the crowd, Chaos and Legion took turns explaining the reason for our presence here.
“As you are aware, we are only a few months away from what we hope will be the final battle against General Khutu and the long overdue end of the war with the Kryptids,” Chaos said, immediately eliciting some cheers from the crowd. “This time, we aren’t defending some planet getting invaded, or fighting a battle somewhere out in space. We are taking the fight directly to the bugs on their homeworld. This means, they have a significant home advantage that could be devastating for us.”
This sobered the early enthusiasm, and a few more whispers could be heard, acknowledging the threat.
“Three months ago, Bane came up with a brilliant idea, which the Scelks and the Mimics have been hard at work implementing,” Legion said. “They have undertaken the colossal task of recreating an accurate Dream Walk of all the main sectors of Kryptor. All the main units of the Vanguard that will be battling on the ground and all the support units of the Coalition are expected to train regularly over the next few months through a series of scenarios of escalating difficulty. Four Scelks will be running the simulations, and adapting the challenge based on your responses, to give you as realistic and unpredictable an experience as possible. A proposed schedule has already been put together and will be shared with all unit leaders. We can sort out any conflicts.”
Tension in the room rose with each of his words. Many faces displayed dismay, disbelief, and even outrage. Someone I didn’t know, but clearly coming from one of the Coalition outposts judging by his uniform, raised his hand. Legion slightly frowned but acknowledged him. The man stood up, activating the microphone from his seat.
“Do I understand correctly that four Scelks will be mind-controlling us during those ‘training’ sessions?” the man asked, the sliver of disgust in his voice as he said ‘Scelks’ unmistakable.
“You will not be mind-controlled,” Bane answered in Legion’s stead. “Surely you are familiar with Dream Walks. They create the simulation. You enter or leave it of your own free will.”
“Yes, but you can be trapped in such Dream Walks,” the man argued. “Isn’t that how many of them killed countless Warriors and Soulcatchers on Janaur?”
Far too many in attendance nodded their agreement at the fool’s comment. This time, an unmistakable anger flashed through Varnog’s alien features. It was brief, and I couldn’t help but admire how quickly he regained his composure. In his shoes, I wouldn’t have made any effort to hide my ire.
“First off, Varnog and Tremak have not killed a single Warrior or any of our psychic females. Nor have any of the other Scelks that now live on Khepri,” Bane said in a frosty tone. “Second, after the events on Janaur, Raven and his mate have provided extensive training protocols to break free of a mind trap. They were to be followed by everyone in the Vanguard and all the fleet members of the Coalition. You should therefore have no reason to fear.”
“Most of us in the outposts are only rank three psychics,” the man insisted. “We have done the training. But even with that, we won’t stand a chance against those bugs when they decide to fuck with our heads.”
As one, the twenty or so Dragons in attendance all jumped to their feet to glare at the man with a menacing stance. The naked anger on Bane, Chaos, and even the ever-stoic Legion made the idiot realize he had gone too far.
“They are not bugs,” Chaos snapped, advancing one menacing step towards the man. “They are Scelks, and they are part of the Vanguard. They have fought and bled by our sides without ever faltering.”
“You tell him, baby,” Sabra whispered, staring proudly at her man.
That made all of us snort, lightening some of our collective anger.
“The leadership of the Vanguard still stands today thanks to them,” Legion added with an angry tone while gesturing at the Scelks. “On Janaur, they were the ones who eradicated most of the Kryptids AND the parasitic embryos the General planned on unleashing on your homeworlds. On Zekuro, we would have lost to a permanent death hundreds of Warriors as the Kryptids overran us. But the Scelks controlling the throngs gave us the first of many large-scale battles where not a single Vanguard member died.”
“It is thanks to Varnog, my friend, my brother,” Bane said, turning to look at the Scelk before pressing his shoulder in a grateful gesture, “that my Queen still lives, that Chaos’s newly found mate is still with us, and that many other of our finest females escaped the clutches of the General who intended to condemn them to the same fate my mother and far too many of the first Soulcatchers were subjected to. So, you do not get to disparage them.”
“My man,” Tabitha whispered proudly.
The men’s words resonated deeply with me. I had been at every single one of those battles, each of which almost led to Wrath’s permanent death. But the battle on the Moon of Melibos had forever scarred my psyche. It had been too close a call being held captive by the General Khutu himself. Although I didn’t speak of it, I still had nightmares about that confrontation. Without Sabra and Varnog’s combined powers, I didn’t even want to think about where we would be right now and in what state.
It suddenly struck me that, in the mayhem that followed our escape from Khutu’s dragonfly ship, I had never properly thanked Varnog for saving my life. For a reason I couldn’t explain, I always found myself tongue-tied in his presence.
“And we are all grateful that they were able to provide you with such assistance,” the man said begrudgingly.
He cast a few uncertain glances at the Coalition members around him, many giving him encouraging glances that he should continue. The psychic energy swirling in the room confirmed many of them were discussing the matter. You didn’t need to be a mind reader to know those ‘whiny bitches,’ as Tabitha had so eloquently put it, would not be convinced without a proper spanking. A part of me almost felt sorry for that idiot who was obviously being used as a mouthpiece for the others.
“However, many among us would feel more comfortable, at least for the time being, if we could perform that training on a holodeck instead,” the man added nervously, clearly expecting a tongue-lashing from our leaders.
Chaos, hiding none of his anger, opened his mouth to answer the man, but Varnog took a step forward, stopping him.
“If I may,” Varnog said with that incredibly eerie voice of his, “I will answer the man directly.”
The sliver of worry that flashed through Legion’s, Bane’s, and Chaos’s faces would have been comical under different circumstances. Still, all three males nodded their assent. The entire audience, yours truly included, held its breath, waiting for the Scelk leader’s response.
“You may use a holodeck if you so wish,” Varnog said in a terrifyingly calm voice.