[Antioch Zero][Chapter II]

Written by ZeusLegion. Edited by Auspex Turmalis.

Table of Contents

Chapter II

In the Province of Scion, Sevorak kneeled at an altar in reverence of his new masters.

"You see, Sevorak? They will never release that which we seek. You must take it from them by force," came a disembodied voice.

"The Baphomet awaits you, prodigy. Seize it! Slay the fools who stand in your way and you will know power undreamed of!" came another.

"I... I cannot do this... I am..." Sevorak protested.

"Weak? Yes. You are. But we will help you to become powerful."

"This province you oversee is but one pitiful scrap of land on a pebble in the Aether. There are entire galaxies to conquer! Thousands of worlds for you to dominate and enslave!"

Sevorak rose to his feet, revitalized by the energies of his masters. "Yes! The Judicators will give me the knowledge, or I will slay every last one of them and bathe in their blood for nourishment!" he declared.

"Good," one of the voices hissed. "You will teach them that Sevorak is a name that should be feared!"

"Your name shall forever be burned into the chronicles of history!"

"Yes," Sevorak said. He reached for a psimitar from a rack of weapons, and twirled the deadly blade in both hands. "Let the bloodbath begin!"

"Jepok? What brings you here this fine day?" Laurioch mumbled as he dug through a crate of components, in search of something.

"I need to requisition a number of Observers you received from the Furinax, my friend."

Laurioch looked up to see the giant Judicator and three Zealots standing at the entrance to his office in the Observatory. "Observers? Hmm. Although most of our technology is being teleported directly to the Auriga Fleet these days for use in exploration, I do have several available. Your thanes may retrieve them from Archive 77."

"Good. I will have them loaded aboard my Arbiter," Jepok said, waving his hand to the three Zealots. They left the office and Jepok sat down. "Tell me, Laurioch. What are you searching for?"

The old Templar looked up again from the crate. "Hmm? Oh yes, I am assembling a portable Archive recorder. For personal use, mainly. What are you going to do with the Observers?"

"Sevorak called an assembly today and asked for the knowledge of the Ancients to be released... or else."

Laurioch scowled, his eyes yellow. "Or else nothing! That knowledge has been protected by the Shelak tribe for centuries and for good reason! I hope you and the others told him where he could go with his request!"

Jepok's eyes turned dark blue and he let out a deep and hearty laugh. Laurioch put his hands on his hips and tilted his head, a sign that he did not understand.

"I am sorry, my friend," Jepok said. "It is rare that I see you so excited over anything but your Archives or the toys of the Furinax. Indeed, we denied the request. Many of us are troubled by Sevorak's bizarre behavior. I wish to send the Observers to conduct remote surveillance in Scion and find out what he is up to."

"Hmm. A good plan," Laurioch said. He picked up a component that had been on his console and swore under his breath. "Finally!" he grumbled. "But what if they are discovered? I don't need to remind you that it is illegal to spy on another Judicator, Jepok."

"I am well aware of that, but I will have to take that chance. I am not the only one who suspects Sevorak of treachery. If whatever he is hiding there is dangerous to the people of the outlying provinces, it is my duty to put an end to it before it escalates."

"Hmm. I suppose you are right." Laurioch inserted the device inside a flat, rectangular object and it powered up with a backlit display. "There. I am all set to accompany you and record what is about to unfold."

"Accompany me?" Jepok asked, uncertain of what Laurioch meant.

"Surely you don't think a Shelak tribesman like me would let others fight his people's battles alone, do you? We must make certain that Sevorak gives up this ludicrous idea. I will give him a good talking to and straighten this out."

Jepok's eyes flashed orange, uncertain if such a thing would be a good idea at all. "Hmm. Very well," he decided at last. "We will go, but... wear some armor... just in case he decides to gut you while you are talking to him."

Laurioch's eyes became yellow in surprise. "You... do not really think he would do such a thing?"

Jepok stood. "These days, I am not certain if there is anything Sevorak would not do."

"What do you know of this Sevorak, Kuldarus?" Moloch inquired as he loaded an Observer aboard a hovercart.

"Master Taeradun once told me he thought of him as a wise Judicator. He does not say much of anything to me these days, but in all honesty, I have been spending more time listening to Laurioch's tales of Adun and the Dark Templar than meditation at the Citadel with Master Taeradun."

"Do not speak of the Dark Ones, Kuldarus. You should not be listening to such stories," Moloch warned.

Kuldarus nodded and gave Moloch a sad look but said nothing more on the subject.

Sinar waved an arm and closed his fist. "Hmph. Master Jepok will crush Sevorak in one hand!" he boasted.

Ignoring Sinar's usual violent declaration, Moloch turned to Kuldarus. "A fortnight ago, Master Nannoth told me that Taeradun tried to reason with Sevorak," he said.

"Indeed? I was not aware. What happened?" Kuldarus asked.

"I do not know. One night while I was in meditation, I heard shouting coming from Master Nannoth's chamber and when I burst through the door, Taeradun was there, arguing with him. I went to intervene and Taeradun struck me unconscious with a psionic storm. When I awoke, Master Nannoth was meditating and did not wish to be disturbed. Neither of us has spoken of the incident since."

Sinar laughed. "If it had been me, I would have taken Taeradun's head off in a single blow!"

Kuldarus laughed. "You couldn't take the head off a Rhynadon, braggart!"

Sinar scowled. "Oh? I can do well enough against you, Krythla-face!"

"As well as you did against Aldaris' student, Verana?", Moloch asked.

Sinar's face flushed in embarrassment and the other two Zealots laughed.

"I was only trying to test her skills!" Sinar protested weakly. "How was I to know Aldaris had taught her the art of Nin-hassa?"

"Looks like she taught you a few lessons the hard way," Kuldarus chided.

"Next time she won't fair as well!" Sinar barked.

"Yes, next time she'll just tell Aldaris you asked to court her and he'll brand you a heretic!" Kuldarus said. "That is heresy! You are a traitor to your people! Blah blah blah!" he said, mimicking Aldaris' voice.

The Zealots laughed together, continuing to poke fun at each other and telling stories as they loaded up the last of the Observers.

They did not realize it would be the last time they would be able to do so together.

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