Rise of the Defiant: Book Two of the Warpmancer Series Read online

  ‘A long, long story…’

  ‘Well, we want to hear it,’ a Trooper piped in.

  James immediately gazed around and found that they were completely circled by a group of black and red clad Troopers. All of them were from Zona Nox.

  ‘I saw you on the net-screen back in the fort! How did you take down that craft?’ another Trooper asked.

  ‘Were you the one who found the tank?’

  ‘Did you really meet Marshal Rekkie?’

  ‘How did you get off the planet?’

  Question after question came flying at James. He couldn’t catch enough time to answer a single one, until he heard one different from the rest.

  ‘What happened down there? Why’s the sky black?’

  ‘Don’t be stupid, Mahone. He don’t know that.’

  James’ stare seemed to silence every Trooper in the circle. Nathan also felt it. A pang of coldness biting up his neck, drawing his attention to James.

  ‘I know what happened there,’ James said quietly, yet somehow loudly as the rest of the room seemed to turn towards him.

  ‘Xank?’ a Trooper shouted.

  ‘No, the Xank were merely a distraction. They always have been,’ James replied.

  ‘We know that the Imperials were involved,’ Nathan added.

  James turned to Nathan.

  ‘But how involved? They were not merely a side enemy in this war. The Xank were the true decoy. Do you remember that Immortal that I apparently killed in Galis?’

  A few of the Troopers nodded.

  ‘It was no Immortal. What I killed in the escape from Galis was none other than an Imperial scout. They were plotting the invasion the entire time.’

  Worry seemed to permeate into the crowd.

  ‘Why’d Imperials invade Zona Nox?’

  ‘Because,’ James’ voice grew in volume, ‘Zona Nox wasn’t their true target…’

  A loud beep echoed throughout the room, drawing James’ speech to a close.

  At this moment, the crowd of Troopers realised that every hallway was blocked by the yellow Troopers. Murmurs erupted until a regal figure appeared on a platform at the end of the hall.

  Dedelux was a tall man sporting a dark grey goatee and sleek, oily hair. His Trooper armour was pitch black and streaked with the ceremonial red of Mars. His cape held a strange yellow emblem, looking somewhat like a crown of nails with a yellow rose in the middle.

  The murmurs continued until a woman wearing the yellow armband shouted. ‘Silence!’

  All murmuring stopped and Dedelux seemed to smirk. He took the microphone away from the woman and spoke in a voice reminiscent of a priest crossed with a drill instructor.

  ‘Troopers of Zona Nox! You have made an exodus from your planet without warning or order from High Command. Your Commanders and Generals have not arrived and I fear that they have been waylaid by Xank. I fear this but do not despair. You have come to safe harbour. This is not a barbaric world like that which you have left. We are civilized and advanced. This is Nova Zarxa, the jewel of Extos III. It is unfortunate that your Planetary General Luci Kareon was unable to be here today, but you will find that I am a passable leader. I am the highest authority here on Nova Zarxa, besides that of our corporate allies in Grag-tec. Officers, you will answer to me. Platoons will be reshuffled and one by one, you will be sent back to the homeworld for reassignment.’

  There was some coughing in the crowd, but no response. It seemed reasonable enough to Nathan. General Kareon was a somewhat laissez-faire general but Nathan had fought under stricter commanders before. He was used to military orders.

  Then Dedelux’s tone changed.

  ‘Many civilians have arrived on my planet. Many of them came months before now, fearing Xank occupation but the more recent, those to arrive by corporate ship or by your earlier vessels, claim to be survivors of what they call a ‘dead world.’ These refugees have been corrected, of course. The planet, Zona Nox, is not dead but merely conquered…’

  ‘Skite-eating rubbish!’ a Trooper from across the room shouted.

  As many turned to look at him, already two yellow-banded Troopers were restraining him. Murmuring and tensions were growing alongside the swearing of the man.

  ‘Enough!’ Dedelux shouted, immediately quelling the crowd with his overly loud voice amplifier.

  ‘Enough,’ he repeated, more quietly. ‘Let the Trooper speak. We are all brothers here. He deserves a voice.’

  The Yellows, as Nathan now referred to them, let go of Lt. Frank McGraff. The Lieutenant straightened himself and then spoke loudly enough so most could hear him. The acoustics in the room were designed to shift according to speaker, so an audio spotlight was now being shone on the irate officer.

  ‘I saw the clouds. You can’ tell me otherwise. They was black clouds. No – not clouds. A blanket of darkness covering the sky. General Kareon told us to evacuate and we did. She told us that they were Imperials in Titan. Terra-damn Imperials! You mean to tell me that the sky went black, with Imperials at our gates, and it ain’t a dead world?’

  Everyone was thinking it, but nobody had the guts to say it. Thank the Tribal for having guts! Everyone from Zona Nox was nodding in agreement. The yellows didn’t make a move.

  Then Dedelux laughed. It sounded good natured but the situation was inappropriate. Its condescension was palpable.

  ‘Imperials? This close to the Outer Reach? I think not. Zona Nox was always a backwater. Don’t let the superstition of all-powerful cults rub off on you. The sky didn’t go black and the Imperials didn’t invade. Our scouting fleets have surveyed the planet and have found that it has been completely taken over by the Xank, but it is still liveable. What we need now is not fear of some empire light-years away, but vigilance against the enemy at our doorstep. I implore you, Troopers of Zona Nox, to remain rational. Only reason and dedication to the Trooper banner will keep Nova Zarxa safe! And obedience! Do not forget obedience. Our might comes from our unity. Do not stray from the Trooper creed. Remain loyal to humanity and obey your superiors.’

  Lt. Frank shook his head. ‘You expec’ me to believe that? I saw it with me own eyes. I don’ doubt what I see.’

  ‘Lies permeate the soul and eyes, Trooper. I care not for lies or deception. I also hope that you will not spread this lie to your brothers.’

  ‘I will spread the truth as I want, guvna. Trooper creed and all dat.’

  ‘So can I say that you are disobeying a direct order?’

  ‘You can say what ya want. I saw what I saw.’

  Dedelux turned to the yellows flanking the lieutenant.

  ‘Arrest him for suspicion of conspiracy to commit mutiny.’

  The yellow lunged for the lieutenant who was too stunned to react.

  Outrage erupted throughout the hall and many Troopers made an aggressive move not only towards the yellows but to Dedelux himself.

  ‘Silence!’

  The room stopped once again.

  ‘Do not forget, Troopers, that this is not your parish. I am your host and you are my guests. You are here by my charity alone. Lest you forget – I, Triguim Dedelux, am your current master and will be so until you are sent back to the homeworld.

  ‘Dismissed!’

  

  Many a Trooper turned to James as Dedelux spouted lie atop lie. Some of them had pleading eyes. They had expressions which told more than their lips ever could. They were afraid. Afraid of the unknown but, above all, afraid that they were to be relegated the title of liar. Only minutes before, James had claimed that Imperials were the cause and now everything he had claimed was being disputed by a Trooper leader. The Troopers didn’t know whom to choose. A decorated commanding officer, or someone who deserved to be decorated?

  Many stares almost brought him to speak, but the actions of the accented Trooper made him think better. Dedelux, for all his talk about Trooper creed, was a zot. He preached allowing ‘brothers’ to speak but at the same time stated his superiority while chastising an
d arresting said brother. Dedelux was scum, but James knew that some of the biggest scum in the world were also the most powerful. James was not stupid enough to risk his neck. He could not afford interrogation. He had too many secrets to risk revealing.

  As the Troopers shuffled out after being dismissed, Nathan sidled up to James and whispered.

  ‘I heard from a boy named Tim that you met Marshal Rekkie.’

  ‘Tim?’ James asked, truly astonished. ‘Did he make it back?’

  ‘Sure did. I saved him myself in Red Sand. He was with a tank and a Vacaraptor. The Vacaraptor saved my life at Fort Nox. But tell me, how did you meet the Slayer of Ganymede?’

  ‘Accident, really…one of the men with me was shot in the leg by him and he felt apologetic. We did a favour for him and he did some favours for us. He’s a very good man.’

  ‘Did he help you off the planet?’

  James hesitated. ‘That is a story I want to tell you but can’t risk being overheard. He did help but I will have to leave it at that.’

  Nathan frowned but then smiled. They were in separate lines for registration and they were about to part ways.

  ‘That can be a story for another time then. I’m glad you’re okay.’

  They were about to part ways completely when James put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder.

  ‘I’m glad you’re okay too…and…and thanks for saving me in Galis. I will never be able to repay you for that.’

  Nathan smiled sadly. ‘You won’t have to.’

  “Our existence has reached a peak where almost all we need to know can be known. As a result, the most terrifying thing in the world is something we don’t know.” – Henry Urlog, Martian Philosopher

  Chapter 7. Knives in the Dark

  Danny wasn’t scared of the dark. Mob bosses and criminals were not allowed to fear where they belonged. Sure, many gangsters did fear the shadows. The leader of the Purgers, for instance. Danny had reliable intel to suggest that he slept with a night light. That would also account for why the Purgers were seldom allowed out at night.

  Even so, many lied about their fears, Danny did not. He feared what any reasonable person did. He feared death, he feared pain and he feared obscurity. Yet, he knew that for one in a career such as his, the first two were inevitable.

  Danny did not fear the dark and even the sounds of scuffling in the unseen corners of the room.

  He was tied to a chair; that much he knew. He had been knocked out again once the vehicle had stopped. He did not know where he was – if that would help on this planet – or who had taken him. All he knew was that his life was not in his hands anymore. He had his doubts that Aegis would come to save him, but Big Momma had come to surprise him in the past.

  Danny’s eyes felt as if they had popped as a bright white light shone directly into his face.

  Memories of a past interrogation of this nature came back to him. Of course, it had been him giving the interrogation, not taking it. He remembered what he had ordered back then and he couldn’t help but shudder now.

  The light was too bright for Danny to see. It was for the torturer’s benefit, not his own.

  ‘Danny Marzio…crime boss of Galis City. Capital of Red Sands, northern hemisphere of the now dead world…Zona Nox.’

  The voice was ominous and possessed the grainy undertones typical of radio intercoms. Its deep tone was obviously the product of a voice modulator. Danny would have no idea who his captors were.

  The voice said nothing afterwards until Danny realised that it was in fact a question. He chose not to respond.

  Danny heard the zap before he felt it. A zap, a spark and searing vibrating pain shooting through his entire body. He felt as if his bones were seeking to tear out of his skin. He would have screamed if his muscles weren’t so tired from the pain.

  ‘You will respond when spoken to…are you Danny Marzio?’

  The electricity had stopped and Danny was breathing heavily. With a stutter, he answered. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why are you on Nova Zarxa?’

  ‘I am a refugee…’

  Shocks travelled through Danny once again. Like knives piercing his inner flesh, he could only shiver with pain. This time he did let out a scream. It came out as a stammer as his teeth clattered together.

  ‘We do not appreciate lying, Mr Marzio. We can shock you all day without killing you. This torture will only end when you give us the information that we need.’

  The electrocution halted and Danny once again fell into frantic panting as his body felt the relief of not having gods know how many volts running through it.

  ‘Let’s try another question. Did you kill Planetary CEO Mark Dresner of Zerian?’

  This was something that Danny was not afraid to admit.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘He collaborated with rival gangs to bring down both my gang and the gang of my cousin.’

  Danny heard some mumbling over the intercom.

  ‘Another question. Do you know a Gloria Maryan? Codenamed “Big Momma”.’

  Danny did not respond, at first. He knew what was coming but somehow felt that this was some of the information he needed to keep secret.

  Before his interrogators could electrocute him, he replied.

  ‘I have heard the name. She was spoken about at the moot in Titan.’

  ‘Our intelligence suggests that she was at the moot. Are you lying to us, Mr Marzio?’

  Skite, they had someone inside the Titan gangs. Danny needed to watch what he said from now on.

  ‘There was a big black lady at the meeting. I was not sure if that was, or was not, the fabled Big Momma.’

  That answer seemed to satisfy them.

  ‘Let’s go back to an earlier question – seeing as you seem much more willing to answer. What are you doing here on Nova Zarxa?’

  ‘I was given passage by the Titan City Conglomerate as they were escaping the planet.’

  ‘That is a how, not a why.’

  ‘I did not really have a choice in coming here…’

  The shocks seemed to echo each other. It was not like being shot or stabbed but rather like one continuous pressure being applied to all his nerves.

  ‘You are in the possession of Aegis bonds as well as seen entering orbit from the Aegis flagship Athena. Are you, Don Marzio, working for the Aegis Corporation?’

  Danny did not reply.

  His jaw ached. He wanted to scream. He could not.

  The shocks continued. Then there was black.

  “The use of Warpmancy is both scientific and spiritual. It is based off scientific laws and physics but possesses and requires the will of spirit. While scientists believe they have mastered the theory of the Warp, they have not come close to understanding its use by Warpmancers.” - Anonymous

  Chapter 8. Training

  ‘You need to focus your energy. Exert your will and dominate it in such a way that you can never lose control.’

  James did as he was told but this only added to his excruciating headache. It did not come as easily to him as on the Lector ship. In fact, he could hardly lift a mug.

  Krag-Zot didn’t seem surprised. He said that James’ power was because of stored energy. Without the reserves, he had to rely on Warp crystals – which he currently had none.

  It had been a day since James had deserted the Zona Nox Troopers. It was not hard to see that the Zonian Troopers were not welcome here. He had utilised the remainder of his Warp reserves to cover his retreat before registration. From there, he had retreated to his Grag-Tec accommodation among the silver-clad towers of this world’s corporation. The next morning, Krag-Zot had appeared once again. James did not attempt to argue with the Areq and agreed promptly to begin training.

  ‘How can I use my power if I have none?’ James panted, trying to distract Krag-Zot so he could take a break.

  ‘We all have latent power,’ Krag-Zot said, as if he had said it a thousand times before (and from what James could tell, he pro
bably had), ‘With enough willpower, we can summon up even the smallest reserves into storms.’

  This sparked James’ interest.

  ‘Besides telekinetic and manipulating gas, what else could I possibly do?’

  Krag-Zot thought for a few seconds, creating a mental list.

  ‘Warpmancy is the manipulation of the matter. You can use it to manipulate almost any element if you have some sort of understanding of it. You can also use it as direct power, turning it physical. Imperial energy weapons use the Warp to generate heat. With enough Warp power, you could possibly change the fabric of a world.’

  ‘Terraform it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Even remove Blight?’

  A shadow seemed to rise over Krag-Zot.

  ‘No…well…technically yes. But the cost is too great. Much too great.’

  James was curious but didn’t press. This was an issue they both were victims of but Krag-Zot had lived untold years feeling bitter about.

  ‘Now, Boymancer,’ Krag-Zot announced, yet again back in the role as mentor, ‘let’s create a spark.’

  James focused his mind and held his Conduit glove in front of him. He sensed the energy all around him. Warp was everywhere. In the air, in the furniture, walls and even in him. It was everywhere, like moisture in humid air. It was not enough to start a flood, but James would have to try. He had never had to rely on such a miniscule amount of energy at his disposal.

  He let out his will, seeking to dominate the energy around him – just to have it slip out of his fingers.

  ‘Don’t just grasp at it without purpose. You’re not some barbarian fisherman in a stream. Figure out your goal. Order the powers of the Warp. Give it purpose!’

  James stopped grasping. Purpose? How do you give objects a purpose? Then something clicked.

  With a mental shout, James commanded the energy around him. ‘Ignite!’

  A spark bellowed into a ball of fire right in front of him. Defying all laws of logic, it stayed motionless in the shape of a sphere, exactly at the point where he had ordered it to.