EHYEH-ASHER-EHYEH (I AM THAT I AM): An Elena Duran/Corazon Negro
Vi Moreau (vmoreau@directvinternet.com)
Tue, 24 Sep 2002 07:17:52 -0400
Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh (I am that I am) 27/34
Julio Cesar divad72@prodigy.net.mx
Vi Moreau vmoreau@directvinternet.com
Even though the night was almost gone, it was cold, star filled, and
moonless. The lights of the complex on the faraway island shone like bright,
twinkling stars that framed the blackness of the sea.
The Ancient Gathering was sitting inside the cockpit. Five seats exactly.
Obviously, Heru-sa-aset had conceived the plane for this particular mission.
Heru-sa-aset frowned and surveyed the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI's instruments,
making sure everything was in perfect working order. On the radar, straight
ahead, was the Island of Nod. The line of surely huge bonfires stretching
out to the main complex seemed like blinking eyes because of the wind. Or
perhaps they were moving; it was so slow that the Egyptian Prince couldn't
see it from their current altitude of seven-hundred feet, even with the
monitors.
Behind him, Aylon studied other screens. And in the following three seats
back, Methos, Zarach and Myrddin waited. Shortly after they had taken off
Mexico once they left the pilot, Methos had taken out his sword and slowly,
meticulously, sharpened it. The flight had been tensely silent.
"All right," Heru-sa-aset said, "there's the island. I'm taking us in." He
took the jet down quickly, almost in a straight dive, dropping to just two
hundred feet over the sea and skimming along in silent mode.
"Jesus! Take it easy, would you?" Methos said as he gave a sour eye to the
Prince.
Heru-sa-aset glanced back and smiled wryly at the strained expression Methos
wore. He was gripping the armrest tightly. "Not a good flyer, huh?" he
asked.
"I can't remember," Methos said, breathing softly.
"Got me, too," Zarach admitted.
"Sorry," Heru-sa-aset said, still smiling. "I'll warn you next time. Going
to tactical," he announced.
The cabin's windows seemed to darken slightly, then, as if it had turned to
daylight, the view of the surrounded area shifted to starling clarity.
"Amazing stuff," Methos said.
"Highly advanced version of infrared night vision," Heru-sa-aset said.
"Makes darkness a thing of the past."
"I'll say," Methos commented.
Heru-sa-aset monitored the controls. The situation seemed normal. Then all
hell broke loose as an entire wall of instrumentation lit up. Warning bells.
Flashing lights.
Aylon frowned. "What is this?" he looked troubled-and confused.
"Our welcoming committee," the Egyptian Prince announced after looking
carefully.
"I thought you'd said they couldn't detect your aircraft," Methos said
frowning at Heru-sa-aset. "I've got a very bad feeling about this," he
murmured. "If they shoot us down-"
"They didn't detect us," the Prince responded, the haughtiness gone from his
face. "Lilitu felt us and warned the Hunters."
At least a half dozen combat jets raced toward the Ancient Gathering at
breakneck speed.
Through the cockpit window, Heru-sa-aset watched a bandit accelerating out
of the darkness coming straight at them. The Hunter pulled the trigger. The
Prince did the same thing.
Both aircrafts flew against each other. At the last second the Hunter pulled
up slightly, riding over the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI. Its sonic boom rocked
the Prince's jet.
Instants later, another Hunter intercepted the Ancient Gathering and a
missile was detached, sliding toward them. The Prince commenced to deliver a
steady flow of retaliatory fire. Without warning the bandit erupted in an
incredible flash of multicolored light, throwing a billion bits of
superheated metal to every direction.
Heru-sa-aset acted one more time. The YF-25 Serpentarius-VI tucked into a
tight little roll. The missile missed barely flying over their rolling
wings. Then the Prince pulled his plane into a monster climb.
The Prince whirled and gave Methos a victory wave. Then turned back to his
weapons as yet another Hunter stormed over them, firing.
"Are you having fun?" Methos asked.
"Yes," the Prince responded. "This is the real thing. Let's fly and fry."
The Hunter targeted at the Ancient Gathering. Heru-sa-aset was forced to
break off, as the bandit seemed to materialize out of nowhere. The Hunter
cut his speed as he lined up his shot. Got a lock.
In his cockpit, Heru-sa-aset had foreseen such move. The YF-25
Serpentarius-VI banked left into a dive.
As the Hunter fired his missile, the Prince shot a laser blast. Heru-sa-aset
swung the weapon's puzzle minutely, his fingers tightening convulsively on
the fire control. The bandit turned into a rapidly expanding cloud of
phosphorescing dust. The energy bolt took the missile as well. They were
clear... for the time being.
But two more Hunters flew toward the Ancient Gathering.
"We got two on the loose," Heru-sa-aset said.
"It only takes one to get lucky," Methos murmured.
"Luck, technology, and superior skill are on our side," the Prince said.
The two Hunters locked onto the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI. Each fired a missile
at the Ancient Gathering's plane before breaking in opposite directions.
A red buzz flashed on the cockpit. "They fired at us," the Prince announced
calmly. His gaze flew over the tactical countermeasures computer as it
tracked the incomings missiles. The screen showed: 'heat seekers-launching
flares'. Brightly burning flares launched from either side of the YF-25
Serpentarius-VI 's wings and descended toward the sea.
The missiles followed the heat of the flares, plummeting harmlessly into the
ocean. In front the aircraft, another bandit was coming. "You're mine,"
Heru-sa-aset whispered between clenched teeth. He fired. The shock wave from
the Hunter's explosion shook his plane.
One more Hunter came up and opened fire with his cannons. The bullets were
reflected by the surface of the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI. The bandit swooped
past the Ancient Gathering and jerked into a vertical.
But Heru-sa-aset broke left, lined up at the Hunter and fired. He nailed the
aircraft. A moment later, the buzzer sounded in the Egyptian Prince's
cockpit. He'd been locked on. Without wasting time, he put his plane into a
triple canopy roll, and then slammed on his airbrakes. The Hunter shot but
Heru-sa-aset let loose with his cannons. The bandit pulled up and
disengaged. Nevertheless, the plane exploded ahead at one o'clock.
Two more Hunters came at once. Heru-sa-aset frowned.
Along the belly of the aircraft, two hatches pivot opened, revealing a
series of missiles. The tactical computer displayed: 'offensive counter
measures activated-launching missiles'. "Good bye," Heru-sa-aset said.
The YF-25 Serpentarius-VI launched two missiles. The Hunters released
flares, but the missiles didn't flinch. A second later, twin fireballs
erupted in the sky as the bandits evaporated.
But from the fireball, a missile emerged coming right at the Ancient
Gathering. Closing fast. From the Island, five other surface-to-air missiles
had been detached as well from the main building, their tails ignited.
The tactical countermeasures computer sprang to life again. High-tech
readouts, risk analyses, schematics, and assessments. The radar tracked the
incoming objects, and identified them.
Heru-sa-aset looked at the screen. "SAMS missiles. Hold on."
The YF-25 Serpentarius-VI banked into a dive. The screen announced
'activating countermeasures'. The airplane went into a sharp sloping dive.
The missiles followed a wide arc toward the Ancient Gathering.
Methos' eyes opened wide. "What the hell's going on now?"
Myrddin looked at him. "They fired at us from the island."
Methos looked out the cockpit window, and saw the brightly burning tail of
the missiles closing on them.
The tactical countermeasures computer announced 'missiles closing: metallic
chaff burst standing by'. The computer counted down from eight... seven...
The missiles screamed toward the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI.
Five... Four...
"Do something!" Methos said.
"Don't worry. Isn't it funny? They fired just five missiles at us,"
Heru-sa-aset answered calmly.
Three... two....
Small bays doors slipped open below the aircraft. A cloud of small metallic
articles sprayed out of the bottom of the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI.
Methos watched as the missiles came right at them. But then the missiles
veered downward. The tactical countermeasures computer announced 'missiles
neutralized'.
The missiles dove into the swarm of descending chaff and detonated, lighting
up the sky. Red flames were reflected against the sea. The shock wave hit
the aircraft. Lights flicked and the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI rocked side to
side.
"Relax," Heru-sa-aset simply said.
They reached the beach, and Heru-sa-aset slowed the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI
down, almost into hover mode, moving slowly toward the shore. There was no
point in trying to save a few seconds at this point. He knew the attention
was on them. It would have been far better to haven gotten there without
being seen at all, but that moment was over now. This was going to be a long
night before it was over. A very long night. "Take your places," he
suggested.
"Remember Heru-sa-aset," Zarach said. "If we fail, you must nuke the
island."
"No problem," the Prince responded.
All but Heru-sa-aset left their places and moved toward the back of the
airplane. Before leaving the cockpit, Zarach stopped and said over his
shoulder. "One in blood."
"One in Quickening," the Prince responded. "Die well, or not at all. Good
hunting, brother."
Zarach nodded solemnly and then turned to join the others.
The YF-25 Serpentarius-VI floated. A bluish glow. Then twice more, rapidly.
Inside the advanced war-armored car M-7 Chimera, Aylon, Methos and Myrddin
were field stripping light weapons with precise movements-Pulse rifles. Hand
held Gatling guns with laser sightings. Oblong grenades. The latest in death
delivery systems. Around them, in racks, was an arsenal of advanced personal
artillery. Zarach joined them.
Methos liked the feel of the Pulse rifles, the weight... the authority. For
the moment, he felt as he had when he'd been a Horseman, powerful,
unbeatable-but this time his motives were better, and he was acting on his
own. He was no longer a puppet of an unrelenting mistress-instead, he was
here to destroy her. His hands moved without hesitation. They would drop
already strapped into their ground vehicle for rapid deployment. They took
their places.
Aylon ran rapidly through the switches. They heard Heru-sa-aset's voice
through the intercom. "Initiate release sequencer on my mark. Three. Two.
One. Mark!"
Zarach, stalking the aisle, snatched for a handhold. Myrddin and Methos
groaned at the sudden g's. Zarach closed his two-colored eyes... this was
the point of no return.
The YF-25 Serpentarius-VI extended the loading ramp. The M-7 Chimera hit the
ground a moment later, pulling away from the aircraft as it leaped up in a
cloud of spray and peeled off, circling.
The M-7 Chimera pulled into the beach. The armored car machine leaped
forward. Aylon saw smoke pouring out of the complex ahead as Heru-sa-aset
gave them some cover from his aircraft. From the YF-25 Serpentarius-VI the
laser beams hit everything.
On the beach, the Hunters screamed out their orders to make themselves heard
above the gale-force attack of Heru-sa-aset's plane. The mortals hurried to
carry out their commands, running with bazooka-like weapons on their
shoulders, and lodging those death rays along the rims of the trenches. Many
explosions sprayed sand and mud around the Hunters. Heru-sa-aset already had
them within range. The Prince knew his job was to divert attention while the
Ancient Gathering advanced through the island.
Brilliant billows of orange and yellow flames exploded from Heru-sa-aset's
armaments. Nervously, the Hunters aimed their weapons at the Prince, each
mortal feeling icy, unseen fingers piercing their bodies. They knew it. All
of them would die tonight.
Inside the armored car, Aylon slammed the left and right drive-wheel
actuators viciously, spinning the machine in a roaring pivot. The M-7
Chimera roared into the smoky island, tearing away the Hunters who shot at
it.
The armored vehicle roared forward and slammed into a mass of conduit. In
front the resistant machine, a remote control turret cannon, a 20mm
chain-gun, swiveled toward it in a curt arc. The Hunters ahead were blasted
away into a million pieces immediately. The M-7 Chimera advanced forward,
smashing over the Hunters, whose bodies were crushed under the massive
wheels.
Explosions rocked the M-7 Chimera, tossing it about violently in the
enveloping flak. "Trouble up ahead," warned Aylon unexpectedly. "Looks like
there are barricades set up."
Zarach peered over Aylon's shoulder. A line of smashed furniture, oil drums,
and barbed wire stretched from one curb to another. Several heavily-armed
figures prowled behind the barrier. Mentally, Zarach tried to scan the area
ahead, but with no luck. Lilitu's presence in the island voided his
telepathic powers.
"Smash through it," Zarach said. "We can't waste the time backtracking."
"It might be a trap," Aylon answered. "There could be metal spikes planted
in the ground right beyond the barrier. It's a sucker trick from centuries
back. We'll be moving too fast to stop."
"Chance it," said Zarach impatiently. "We must reach Lilitu. Do you see the
complex ahead? We must reach it. This carnage of mortals has to stop, has to
be brought under control. After all, they are puppets, just actors in the
drama orchestrated by her."
"I know the feeling," Methos murmured under his breath. "But puppets can be
quite effective killers."
Aylon pushed the accelerator to the floor. "Hold on."
The armored car shuddered and leapt forward. Motor roaring, it hurtled like
a meteor straight at the barricade. It struck the piles like a hammer. The
M-7 Chimera seemed to hesitate for a moment, then with a growl of mechanical
fury, was through the obstructions. Wheel screamed as they fought for
traction. The muscles in Aylon's arms bulged as he fought to keep the
steering wheel straight. Then, glancing ahead, he cursed in frustration.
Caught in the glare of the headlights, less that twenty feet away, were a
row of steel-tire shredders-that could not be avoided. His suspicions had
been correct. They had been lured into a trap.
Instinctively, Zarach acted. Drawing upon the core of molten energy burning
deep within his brain, he exerted the full force of his will. The
two-colored eyes Immortal focused on the metal spikes ahead. It required an
incredible amount of mental energy. Right now, his mind could only maintain
such energy for a few brief heartbeats before he collapsed. It offered a
brief respite from impeding disaster. In front of the armored car, the
shredders broke.
The M-7 Chimera crashed onto and over the broken shredders, and then
continued speeding, leaving behind the corpses of the Hunters. "Nice trick,"
Aylon said.
"Not so nice," Zarach said with tired voice. "I'm almost empty."
A sound like bolts dropping in a meat grinder was coming from the M-7
Chimera's rear end. Methos looked at Aylon. "Sounds like a blown transaxle.
We're just grinding metal."
Aylon nodded. "Get ready." The M-7 Chimera pulled to the edge of the
complex. The crew door opened. The Ancient Gathering hit the ground running
and spread out. They dropped behind immediate cover.
Zarach scanned the area. A spray of weapons fire overhead and everyone hit
the ground. They were caught in the torrent of bullets.
"Where the hell is Lilitu?" Methos yelled through the sound.
Zarach looked ahead. As if response to Methos' words, for a moment a figure
of pure shadow took shape ahead him where before there'd been nothing. It
rose from the ground and took on human form, but it was darkness through and
through. Then the darkness coalesced, taking on more identifiable hues and
substance, and Lilitu appeared for a brief moment. Then she disappeared
again.
"We need to move forward!" Myrddin yelled. "I can't use my fire! The Hunters
are wearing some kind of armor!"
"Leave them to me!" Zarach answered as he walked toward the Hunters.
Normally, Zarach shielded that part of what he was really. Not now. As he
walked through the yard, his body blazed with unnatural energy. His anger
and frustration made him deadly. As the bullets hit him, his mind focused in
his hate for Lilitu. More than likely he was going to die trying to kill
her, but he had faced death so many times already that it made very little
difference to him. He had promised, and he was going to do his best to keep
that promise.
"Let's go!" Aylon said as Zarach started to kill the Hunters. "We can take
this army!"
"They're not an army," corrected Methos, bristling slightly. "Soldiers have
discipline and obey orders. These bastards are mindless rabble. They are
worthless cannon fodder!" he yelled opening fire at the Hunters who
surrounded Zarach.