Surreal

A.N.: Yes I'm still around, I got no feedback for months until a week ago so didn't feel there was any urgency to finish this one, though I had every intention of doing so. This chapter does end with a cliffhanger which means the story is not finished yet.

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Arabel regarded the unconscious form of his now healed cousin. Although Ja’el appeared to be out of the woods, he had been so close to death that his body hadn’t conjured the will to return his mind to them as yet. The recent memories that Dascos had gleaned from the blond Talion and then transmitted to the others still played over and over in Arabel’s mind. This man whom Ja’el had loved and trusted had proved he wasn’t deserving of either emotion.

Arabel wasn’t quite sure how this situation would play out. From what he gathered, the crew at the invasion point were now questioning Erik. Perhaps it would be determined that the Relic had been working against his will. Either way, much depended on Ja’el’s lucidity when he woke up. His cousin had been through a traumatizing experience, it was very possible he would not be the same Ja’el they knew when he returned to them. It was far easier for the Suvians to heal physical injuries than those of a mental nature.

Arabel was reminded of how his own unconscious mind had dealt with the initial death of his sister. He’d unknowingly blocked out all recent thought and memory of his tragedy, he didn’t even realize Anata was gone. It was the failsafe that attempted to hold off insanity; the term ‘ignorance is bliss’ could certainly describe that period of short-term memory loss. When the truth was finally revealed to him, it was as if the sky had shattered and his whole world came tumbling down. His downward spiral would have continued, if not for one man. That man stood next to him with reassuring hands on his shoulders. Arabel didn’t want to think what he’d do without Devo but it was very possible that Ja’el would have to survive without Erik.

//He’ll be fine, both physically and mentally. We have to believe that.// Devo sent his private thoughts to Arabel before planting a soft kiss on his mate’s forehead. He’d barely done so when his eyes widened and his body stiffened.

Dascos had also sensed the same thing Devo had. “By the One…”

“Mother…” Devo was incredulous as he realized what was happening out in the Atikan forest at that very second. Sokan had somehow managed to enter their world and was now attacking Gillian’s weakened barrier. He knew the very second when Sokan’s attack broke though that barrier and felt real fear clutch his heart.

“Arabel, please stay with Dascos, I have to go.” At the confused expression on Arabel’s face he continued. “Don’t worry, everything will be alright.” He hoped his last words didn’t turn out to be a lie. Wasting not another second he quickly teleported out of the chamber.

~*~

Gillian could always count on Suvian resourcefulness to get them out of sticky situations. As soon as her barrier broke, her teams scattered to avoid serious injury from Sokan’s blast wave. She then quickly fixed her gaze on the offender who hovered above them no doubt preparing another attack. Well, she wouldn’t give him the chance to. Calling forth her latent energies golden wings sprouted from her back and with several powerful flaps, her large wing span propelled her into the air directly at Sokan. She expertly avoided another static energy blast he sent in her direction and quickly summoned a large cleaver opting for a physical attack instead of a magical one. Sokan raised one hand to parry with twin blades that had retracted from the base of his arm.

//Thank you for being so predictable,// Sokan chuckled at her before a dark energy barrier began to encompass the both of them. The Suvian’s below didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late.

“Gillian!” Stafon prepared to attack the barrier when Kenlan quickly stopped him.

“It’s too dangerous, even if we can penetrate that barrier you may hit the Queen,” Kenlan informed him.

Stafon noticed that the barrier was opaque black. It had blocked out all view as quickly as it had formed. “We can’t see a damn thing.” But that wasn’t the only thing the Suvian found alarming. “By the One, our mental link with her has been severed!”

Devo arrived at that moment, his golden gaze riveted on the black orb hovering above them which held both his mother and the dreaded Sokan. “Kenlan, there has to be a way to get her out of that thing.”

“I’ll go to my lab and see what I can figure out, meanwhile we just have to trust in Gillian’s abilities,” Kenlan replied.

“I’ll go with you,” Jubek offered.

//Can she win?// Devo switched to non-vocals. Everyone present knew Gillian could hold her own in just about any battle; as an offspring of the One she was also a goddess. But she was up against a god of old who had been around possibly almost as long as the One itself. Devo was having a difficult time not being able to tell if she was in pain or even winning.

//We have to trust her.// Those were Kenlan’s last words as he and Jubek left the area.

Devo had been so preoccupied with what was happening to his mother that he didn’t notice Erik was still there. He glanced to his left and saw the injured man slowly come to his feet. It had been relayed to him what Sokan had said before his ambush. So, Erik had been a mere distraction allowing Sokan the time he needed to store up enough energy for the attack.

A scowl crossed Devo’s handsome features before he shadow-stepped to Erik’s direction and quickly slammed the former Relic up against the bark of a nearby tree. “This is all your fault.”

“No,” Erik shook his head at the furious Suvian currently glaring at him. “He deceives you.”

“And why should we believe anything you say?” Devo asked through clenched teeth.

“If I were working with him, would he have left me exposed to your wrath?” Erik found it increasingly difficult to speak but realized the dire situation he was in. His body told him he should lie down and sleep, rest, but if he did that it was possible he’d never awaken. No, he had to make it up to Ja’el before it was all over there would be no rest until then.

“Perhaps dear old daddy doesn’t care about you as much as you thought,” Devo replied.

“I always knew this; therefore I’d have no reason to help him.”

“You almost killed Arabel’s cousin! YOU, no one else!” Devo was at his limit with this man.

Suddenly, Erik felt the skin where Devo held him began to get very warm. It didn’t take long before he realized his skin was being burned by the Suvian’s fire power. A scream escaped the former Relic’s lips as the full force of his agony hit.

//Devo stop, he may still prove useful// Woen sent his thoughts to him. // Until Gillian is safe, we aren’t to kill him.//

Devo reluctantly ceased his fire assault. “One last thing,” He switched to vocals before balling his right hand into a fist and allowing it to sail forcefully at Erik’s left cheek.

The force of the punch lifted Erik off his feet and sent him flying several yards away. He landed in an unceremonious heap against a small rock formation narrowly missing the soft patch of grass that would have cushioned his fall.

“That’s for Ja’el,” Devo stated as he watched the man clutch his injured back while writhing on the ground. He couldn’t help being surprised that the former Relic remained conscious despite all the injuries he had already suffered.

Erik’s left cheek felt as if it were on fire. The Suvian may as well have used his fire power on him again for all the difference it made. At least a couple teeth in his jaw had loosened from the blow, and blood now poured from his lower lip in a steady stream. He attempted to get to his feet and realized he couldn’t. The pain in his back where he had struck the rock wasn’t ready to be tested to its limits quite yet.

Erik wiped away the blood at his lips and fought for composure. It wouldn’t do to dwell on the fact that these people could kill him at any second. His current weakness came from his desire to save Ja’el. He had no regrets over what he had done. He just wanted to stay alive long enough for a chance at reconciliation with the Talion. He could only hope that the Suvian’s would hold off on ending his existence but if one of them decided he wasn’t fit to breathe the same air as them; there wasn’t a single thing he could do about it.

~*~

Almost immediately, Gillian realized she could not communicate with the Suvian’s outside Sokan’s barrier. //What is the meaning of this Sokan? What do you want? Tell me now or I swear I will gut you!// Gillian held the cleaver toward him as if to reiterate her threat.

//You show such disrespect for someone far above your rank, your sire was far more courteous,// Sokan replied with a smirk on his scaly lips.

//You speak of courtesy yet plan a sneak attack in the dark of the night,// Gillian was incredulous.

//Did you not also plan to attack me.//

//You knew we’d be coming if you didn’t return Ja’el, there was no secret about that.//

//You interfered in the business of two lovers. Best to stay out of my son’s affairs.//

//Ja’el is Arabel’s cousin, which makes it my business!// Gillian glanced at the opaque barrier as a thought occurred to her. //And aren’t you concerned about your son’s welfare? There will be no escape back to your dimension; the portal has been sealed from this side.//

//You wish to use my son against me? And here I thought you were honorable. It only proves that you don’t believe you can win against me in a fair one on one fight.// Sokan held his arms aloft as two more arms sprouted from out of his side. He then summoned four long swords, one for each hand.

//Not that any of that matters; your people may go ahead and dispose of my traitorous son. The moment he betrayed me he was marked for death. I think he almost had you convinced to save his life, but now your people will do the job for me.//

//You underestimate my people’s faith in others. I will tell you this day Sokan, your son will outlive you.//

//I will defeat you and turn the Suvian’s into mindless minions.//

//That will never happen.//

//Oh yes it will, they will do anything to spare the life of their precious Queen.// An evil grin spread across Sokan’s face as he suddenly launched himself in attack.

~*~

The Suvian army was gathered beneath the opaque barrier which held their queen and the enemy. No sights or sounds escaped the structure that would indicate which way the fight was going.

As much as Devo believed in his mother, a part of him dreaded the barrier being removed to find that Gillian was not the victor. He could sense D’ken’s concerned thoughts in his head but was grateful that his father took his advice and remained in the fortress. At this point, there was not much any of them could do.

Devo physically breathed a sigh of relief when Kenlan contacted them with news
that both he and Jubek had found a way to lower the barrier’s intensity. It should be enough for them to see and communicate with Gillian while not being able to physically penetrate it. It didn’t take long before the mystic did as he’d predicted.

Devo could see his mother engaged in a heated battle with Sokan. //Mother, are you alright?// As he watched Gillian she continued to fight with no response. Was it possible they could only see but not get messages through?

As the fight progressed, Sokan got a blow in that left a slender red gash on Gillian’s left cheek. Devo clenched his fists when he saw her injury but could not feel her pain through the barrier. It seemed the weakening spell Kenlan and Jubek had used needed a bit more tweaking. It soon became apparent that Sokan had the upper hand in this battle when Gillian suffered another injury to her right shoulder. One of the beastly god’s weapons slashed deep and tore right through her armor.

//Mother, please be careful,” Devo was having a difficult time watching Gillian get kicked around in this fight.

//Don’t worry my son.// Gillian’s voice filtered faintly towards Devo.

//She can hear me, I got through,// The prince informed the others present.

Erik who had struggled to a kneeling position so he could better view the battle taking place above him couldn’t wait to see if Gillian would eventually be victorious. His position here depended upon it so he had to do something.

“You must tell her to aim for beneath his left eye.”

“Why should we trust you?” Woen wanted to know.

“Because if I’m lying, then he can kill me,” Erik nodded in a furious Devo’s direction. “And he’ll have a clean conscience.”

Devo was ready to dismiss the man’s proposal, but the look in his steadfast green eyes told the prince not to be so hasty. It was clear to him that the information he got through to Gillian would be spotty at best. Should he use what limited chance he had of communicating with her by trusting a man he had no reason to?

Erik had begun to believe that the Prince had ignored his advice when Gillian continued to do poorly in the fight. He couldn’t blame him if that were the case. He knew he wouldn’t be allowed to live if the Queen died, but at least he had given it all he had.

Suddenly, all present in the Atikan forest were stunned in silence when Sokan got what looked to be a fatal blow on the Queen. A deep red gash opened up her armor, just above her right hip. Gillian stumbled backwards and fell to one knee.

It was all Devo could do to keep the innate fear in his heart from reaching his facial expression. It was very possible he was about to witness the death of his mother. He saw when Sokan moved in for the final blow, which prompted him to send a desperate thought to Gillian. He hoped against hope that she heard him.

Time seemed to slow down with what happened next. Gillian feinted to left to avoid the fatal blow of three blade strikes while hurling herself at her attacker; she used a fireball blast to deflect away his other three blades before aiming her cleaver at his left eye.

Sokan’s scream echoed for miles across the landscape as his barrier was finally shattered. Gillian didn’t wait to see what would happen next before taking her weapon she quickly decapitated him. This ended his death moan as she slowly began to float to the ground beneath them. Sokan’s headless body remained standing for what seemed to be an eternity for one recently departed.

Erik watched with hopeful eyes as Gillian arrived to greet her loved ones. He noted that her wounds had already begun to heal. He spared one glance at Sokan’s suspended body and noticed it now began to deteriorate. He hadn’t been looking at it for more than a few seconds when he felt an extreme pain invade his chest.
An involuntary scream burst across Erik’s lips as he drew the attention of everyone present. He clutched his chest in an attempt to ward against the pain but it was useless.

Gillian was instantly at Erik’s side and noticed when black spots began to appear all over his body. A feeling of dread crept into her as she realized that although Sokan was dead, he wasn’t finished with them yet.

“Listen to me!” Erik yelled through pain-filled gasps as he attempted to focus eyes consumed with agony to the Suvians. “This is Sokan’s parting gift. This disease will spread from me to every human on the planet. You must save them – please, save Ja’el.”

It seemed those words had taken all of Erik’s remaining strength as Devo noticed the former Relic’s eyes begin to roll up in his head leaving only the whites visible.

No one present was aware that Boden had taken immediate action when he realized what was about to happen. His eyes were closed as he recited a silent chant. It took only a few seconds of which there were none to spare. He had to complete this spell before Erik died.

All eyes that were focused on Erik saw when the illness Sokan had departed on him appeared from within as a wispy dark cloud. Gillian was the first to realize what was happening and turned to Boden just as the cloud darted towards the Suvian and entered his body.

“Boden, no!” Woen cried out once he realized what their comrade had done.

Black spots immediately began to sprout across Boden’s bronze skin as he fell to his hands and knees on a grassy mound. He glanced up at his allies and forced a smile even as pain began to eat its way through his body. “This was the only way, to save those we care about.” The humans in danger of this disease were not only the Talion’s, but Commander Soiph and Captain Dian, a man he was beginning to realize he loved dearly.

“I’ve contained the disease within me,” Boden was now sweating profusely as he fought to remain conscious. “Once I expire, they will be safe.”

Gillian wasn’t surprised when Boden’s remaining strength dissipated as he fell against Stafon who was supporting him. She tore her gaze from the dying Suvian to spare Erik’s still body a glance. No breath came from him, and soon Boden would mirror the same. If she healed Boden of the disease, it would once again escape into the atmosphere to kill their human companions. The disease was so fast acting that there would be no time to portal the humans to another world or find a way to isolate the disease cloud before it killed Boden.

What could she do, how could she stop this? If Sokan’s death gift would succeed not only in killing his innocent son but those she cared about as well, then the god would have indeed had his revenge. This was something Gillian simply could not allow.

~*~

Soiph had received the news that Sokan had been slain, yet the team within the forest had not as yet returned to the fortress. Something else was wrong. She could feel it in her bones. She entered out onto a nearby balcony and stared off in the direction where she knew her allies to be. A part of her wanted to leave the safety of the fortress to find out for herself what was going on. Right as she had made up her mind to do just that, a bright light shone down from the heavens into the forested area. It lasted no longer than a few seconds.
Soiph couldn’t help herself, she knew Woen would be preoccupied but she had to know what was going on. She immediately contacted him via communicator. “Woen please, I need to know that everyone is alright.”

There was silence on the other end of the communicator for almost a minute which felt like an eternity to Soiph. “Woen,” she began to fear the worse, until finally she heard his familiar voice through the communicator.

“We’ll be returning to the fortress now Soiph, I’ll talk to you then.”

Woen was all too brief in his response and Soiph wanted to question him further but realized he had already disconnected. She decided waiting was simply not in her nature, so she went in search of Jubek whom she knew had returned to Kenlan’s lab with the mystic sometime earlier. Perhaps she could get the information she needed out to him.

~*~

Devo went immediately to his father upon his return to the fortress. He found the older man within the spacious chambers he shared with the Queen. Devo wasn’t certain what mood he’d find his father in upon his arrival here, considering Gillian’s recent sacrifice in the clearing.

“How long?” D’ken asked before he even turned to look at his son.

“That will be the decision of the One,” Devo replied.

D’ken turned dry eyes to Devo. “You will have to lead.”

“But Father, you are our King,” Devo protested.

“I am in no position to rule, not without Gillian at my side.”

Devo shook his head in denial. “Now is not the time for my rule. She can still come back.”

“The One has wanted your mother on its eternal plane for some time now. It will not let her go so easily, not after her sacrifice.”

Devo didn’t want to believe that this would be Gillian’s ultimate penance. She had defied Sokan’s death wish to eliminate all those human on the planet by in turn removing the disease from Boden after his attempt to counter it. While that should have released Boden from all ill effects it would seem that his mind had yet to fully recover from the trauma and he remained unconscious. Devo expected Boden to eventually recover, but he couldn’t be so certain about his mother’s return to them. Her interference had broken a cosmic rule; one she had broken in the past that was never to be repeated. She had saved those who should have died by law of the cosmos and thus had to pay for it. Regardless of the rules Sokan had broken, the severity of Gillian’s retaliation could not go unpunished.

All Suvians knew of Gillian’s sacrifice, but it was now up to only two who would decide the ruler in her absence. Devo knew if he accepted the position, his father would vanish into obscurity. He may even leave Atika. It was the last thing Devo wanted, to lose both parents in so short a time. He had to convince D’ken to remain their King at least for the time being.

“I owe so much to both of you, the man I’ve become. But I am not as yet ready to be handed the reigns. I need you, father.”

“You haven’t needed me for some time now, the strength you gain from your mate is astronomical. And then, there are my grandchildren. You are as ready to lead as you ever will be. Take heart my son; I know you will make your mother proud.” With those words, D’ken turned to leave the room.

“Father please, don’t go!” Devo pleaded with him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be around, trust in yourself Devo.” Those were D’ken’s last words before exiting the chambers.

~*~

Rais stood sentry as he stared at Boden’s unconscious form in one of the many recovery sectors located in the fortress. He’d been practically the last to learn of what took place in the Atikan forest one day prior. Finally, his Commander had found him and filled him in. He knew what Boden had done to try to save all humans on the planet including him. And now his slow recovery was as a result of that deep trauma. But that wasn’t the end of it, for the Suvian Queen had committed the ultimate sacrifice and as a result was taken away from all she held dear. Devo was now the intermediate ruler for it seemed King D’ken had also vanished. Rais didn’t have to know these people long to realize it was the end of an era.

Despite the pain that had brought him to their world with Chav’s death, Rais realized he was among a great people. Yet something Soiph had said during her explanation of the events bothered him. Why had Boden done what he did? He could have waited for the Queen to save them all as she did eventually. But something had spurred the brawny Suvian into action or as Soiph had hinted -- someone.
Was it possible that Boden’s actions had been executed with Rais in mind? Did the man really care that much for him? Rais certainly hadn’t made things easy for him after their initial incident. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this. But a familiar emotion that always seemed to surface when he was around this man took precedence.

“Why would you do something so stupid?” Rais balled his right hand into a fist and punched the bed right next to where the Suvian lay. “Don’t say you did it because of me.”

“Then I won’t.”

Rais’s eyes widened when he saw Boden’s lips move but he had yet to open his eyes. “You bastard, have you been pretending to be asleep this whole time?”

Boden finally opened his eyes to take in Rais’s outraged but still handsome face. “Is that any way to address a man who was very recently on his deathbed?”

Rais narrowed his blue eyes at him. “You’re lucky I don’t climb atop this bed and start pummeling you.”

“Please, do climb atop the bed and straddle my hips right here.” Boden motioned to his narrow waist.

Rais’s eyes were drawn to his hand movements and couldn’t help but notice the tent that was forming in the sheets at Boden’s groin area. The big loaf was aroused and he’d just come out of a coma. Distracted by this, Rais didn’t notice until it was too late. Boden quickly grabbed him by the shoulders and brought their lips together.

Boden managed to delve his tongue between Rais’s sweet lips for a quick, wet kiss before he withdrew. He noticed when a blush stained the Captain’s cheeks and he wondered how he’d managed that.

The brief kiss had caused desire to flame to life within Rais and he wasn’t quite sure as to the correct response. This man had risked everything to save not only him, but Soiph and the other humans living on the planet. What he should be feeling right now was gratitude, yet desire and anger seemed to want to get in the way. “I should go.”

“So soon?” There was a sparkle in Boden’s eye. “Why did you come here?”

“I just wanted to be certain you were alright,” Rais replied.

“I’m more than alright. In fact, I’d very much like to have sex right now – if there are any takers.”

Rais scoffed before shaking his head. “Well, it’s not my job to find someone to see about your needs.”

“Do you have any needs of your own? Because I’d be happy to accommodate.” With those words, Boden left the bed and came to stand directly before the shorter man.

Rais had suspected that Boden was completely naked beneath those sheets, but now that the Suvian was standing before him, all doubt was removed. “I – I…”

“Don’t talk.” Boden quickly pulled Rais into his arms and planting a drugging kiss on his lips. His hand instinctively reached to the Captains’ clothing and began to remove them. To his surprise, Rais was eagerly helping him discard the interfering garments as well. Soon they were both naked, and Boden easily lifted Rais in his arms allowing the Captain’s long legs to wrap around his waist. He quickly took him back to the bed.

Suddenly, Boden paused his ministrations to lock eyes with Rais. “Say, you’re not under the effects of any drugs are you?”

“I’m clean,” Rais replied in a breathy whisper, his blue eyes clouded with lust.

“Good!” Boden wasted no more time before resuming their lovemaking.

~*~
Arabel couldn’t help the anxiety that clutched his chest when Ja’el awoke bolting upright in bed. His cousin’s eyes seem to be staring off in space as his breath came quickly in soft pants.

“Erik,” was the first word out of Ja’el’s lips. He then turned and looked at Arabel as if he were seeing him for the first time. “I’m back on Atika.” He stated the obvious. “What of Erik?”

“He’s the one that brought you back to us,” Arabel explained.

Tears of joy immediately filled Ja’el’s silver eyes. “So it worked, he did remember. My Erik has returned.”

Arabel shook his head and lowered his gaze. “Ja’el…” He couldn’t finish his sentence.

“No,” Ja’el felt his heart begin to pump furiously within his chest. “You said he came back!”

“He did, but there was a battle with Sokan and...” It was killing Arabel to relay this to him. “I’m so sorry Ja’el, but Erik is dead – his body is in the morgue.”
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ATTN Readers: I would like to thank everyone that read and reviewed this story. It always warms my heart to receive constructive feedback from satisfied readers. However, I'm here to inform you that work on this title has been postponed because I am currently working on a brand new title to be published sometime early next year. Surreal will be completed but at this time I have no ETA. Thank you for your understanding. ;)