Chapter 9:The Ravens Cry

"How is she Ivan?"Justice asked the IMA representative. After escaping from the dark underworld and Edgegar's crazed experiments, Justice, and his three companions stumbled across one of the IMA's new military outposts. Ivan, who they met in Windoa, happened to be there. Justice had asked their healers to take a look at Celine. Although she seemed to be recovering he felt they couldn't trust anything Edge had given her. Finally, after an hour of waiting, Ivan returned to report her condition.

"She's fine,"He shrugged"We can't fine a thing wrong with her outside of some bumps and bruises. Whatever substance was used on your dryad did the job. I still can't believe your story, I mean, an army of monsters that have been living undiscovered for years? Everyone knows, all breeds have already been accounted for, if the IMA can't find it they don't exist."

"Think what you will,"The durahan said,"But if nothing is wrong with celine then we must be on our way."

"Wait!"Ivan grabbed his steel arm. Justice turned and saw a cunning grin on the humans face."Hold on...we have not discussed payment..."

"But you said you'd do it for free,"Beatdown complained. Stone claw gave the human a threatening glare."You tricked us?"

"No trick,"Ivan smiled"You should learn hare, nothing is free in life. I said I'd check the health of your friend and I have...now I want something in return. Not unreasonable is it?"

"I have nothing in the way of gold,"Justice held out his hands to show he had nothing to offer. But Ivan only shook his head, his gaze dropping to the warriors blade.

"What I want is your sword,"Ivan said"That is, I want you to wield it in service of the IMA. We are preparing to attack one of Moo's training camps. I need a monster with considerable experience to act as our generals second in command. You don't have to, but you do owe me something...."

"Yes, agreed."Justice shook the humans hand,"I will do as you ask."As ivan walked away Justice saw Claw staring angrily at him. Not wanting to get into an argument over humans the durahan turned and walked away to prepare for battle.

"Will he ever stop being their puppet?"Claw asked after the durahan had left. Beatdown was snacking thoughtfully on a mango she'd gotten from the mess hall. After a few bites she spoke.

"Maybe he likes them,"She suggested taking another bite of sweet mango."Muhb eh musus es massar."

"Don't talk with your mouth full."Claw scolded.

It was quickly approaching 3:00 when the IMA army began it's march. The day was pleasent, cooler then usual, the land was featureless except for the patches of woodland doting the horizon. Justice walked alongside Loveless who had been named general. Strangely Ivan also was there. It seemed the committee wasn't comfortable without sending at least one human to oversee the monsters. The army was composed of five thousand monsters of different types including Zuums, pixies, gaboos, katos, jells and baku's in many sub breeds.

Something was bothering justice as they approached their destination. Loveless, in his personal opinion, wasn't intelligent enough to lead an army against anyone, let alone moo. His tactic was so simplistic one could hardly call it strategy at all. His plan was to attack head on and hope to overwhelm the enemy with sheer numbers. All because he believed they greatly outnumbered moo's troops in this base...but what if they were wrong? It didn't make justice feel any better that his three companions had insisted on coming when loveless could be leading them into the gaping jaws of death.

Finally, on the edge of a dark swamp, they saw their target. It was a large training center that looked big enough to hold six thousand monsters. It was rectangular in shape, each corner rose up into a tall watch tower. The walls looked well defended and ready to resist any attack the IMA could hurl it's way. Loveless gave justice command of a squad of zuums and told him to scout the base.

"You've got to be kidding,"Justice said"I thought you'd already gotten all the information you needed? This is not just some little training camp, those watch towers have probably spotted us by now. I'll be walking right into an ambush."

"Well,"Loveless said annoyed"If your too 'over the hill' to get the job done there will always be younger warriors to replace you."

Justice could have killed loveless just then, instead he angrily called his squad and commanded them to follow. The durahan had taken only a few steps forward before he saw it, a huge shadow in the afternoon sky. Clouds covered it, blocking the view, then it emerged. To those whom first witnessed the parting of the clouds swore they saw a great raven. Utterly huge yet sleek in it's design, few even realized it was a machine. No sunlight reflected off it's smooth, black metal surface as it slowed to a hover over moo's base. A beam of energy was fired from what appeared to be the things head. A brilliant explosion followed as moo's base was engulfed. When the dust raised from the tremendous blast began to settle only a crater still remained. Suddenly, like a bird of prey thats spotted it's next meal, the raven turned toward the IMA army. Energy began to surge at it's head.

"Scatter!"Loveless screamed as Ivan ran up to him. Justice retreated, his squad of zuums still following. He searched for the others and spotted Stone claw heading toward the swamp. At that moment the raven fired into the center of the fleeing army. Justice ran toward the swamp, looking back he saw Loveless and ivan get vaporized by the blast. The explosion that followed sent the durahan and his squad flying.

He landed hard, slamming into a tree before falling on his back. Justice was in pain but was more fortunate then most of his squad...or the most of the army for that matter. The blast was devastating, charred bodies lay everywhere. Many were still alive among the thousands upon thousands of dead monsters. Some had managed to flee into the swamp, but most were just waiting for death to claim them. Justice preyed his companions had all survived.

"What now sir?"Said one of the four zuums not killed by the blast. Justice, with difficulty, pulled himself up and looked at their surroundings. The swamp was dark, putrid odors rose from the ground which bubbled for some reason, most of the trees were dead.

"We look for the other survivers,"Justice said"I saw others come in here before us."He looked back and saw the raven hovering silently. Metallic arms coming from it's underside were gathering the bodies of the fallen, raking them up like dead leaves in autumn.

They spent sometime in the murky swamp before he found the other survivors. Claw was there as well as beatdown and celine, they'd all escaped. Nearly a hundred other monsters had also barely eluded death. Everyone was confused as to what was the next course of action.

"Old man,"Claw called out to him,"What now? We've got to get out of this swamp!"

"Leave him be Stone claw."Celine said"Can't you see he's hurt? Let your friend get a breath or two first at least."

"He's in charge now since loveless has gone to the scrap heap. It's his job to get us outta this mess hurt or not!"Claw said, then added coldly."And who said he was my friend?"

"Your cruel."Celine gave him an angry glance.

"Thats what they say."Claw returned her look.

"Enough,"Justice said knowing what claw said was true, dispite the tridents arrogence."Listen, all of you!"His voice rose above the confusion and all looked to the durahan warrior. But before a single command could be issued the sky became black. Silently, the raven hovered directly over them sending fear into the hearts of all who beheld it. Justice looked up and saw a symbol painted to it's underbelly, the symbol of the eye.

A small hatch opened and something was dropped from the raven. They couldn't see it, and knew only by the loud splash of swamp water that something had fallen. Then, they watched in horror as a gaboo was ripped apart by an unknown force. Something was there, clawing and tearing it to death. A baku was the next to fall, as the invisible creature clawed him to death as well. Silence followed, the monster huddled together as if that was some protection. Then, a pair of single toed footprints appeared in the mud. Carefully celine began to step forward.

"I think I see something..."The dryad said curiously when she was suddenly pulled back by Stone claw. She felt air against her face, as if something had swiped at her. At this point Justice came to his senses and sounded a full retreat. They ran, but one by one monsters began to fall, cut down by the unknown creature. Finally, after watching seven more of them fall he stopped, raised his sword, and challenged whatever it was.

"Claw,"He said"I'm placing you in charge. Get the others out of the swamp in piece." The trident nodded and slid off. Beadown and Celine remained."Go with him!"

"We can help,"Beatdown put up her fists and began to box at nothing,"Come on! Show yourself! We know you there!"

Something was there, and it hurled itself at justice. By instinct alone the durahan guarded himself with the shield and began to swipe at the unseen enemy, all the while the raven cast down it's shadow from above. Meanwhile his two friends attacked in every direction but never hit anything. Suddenly beatdown was assaulted from behind, the little fairy hare was slashed across the back. But the attack didn't register at once. With lightening speed she turned around grabbed the invisible assailant and hurled it into a nearby puddle. The creature became smeared with mud and thus visible, a quick thrust from the blade of justice was all that was needed to slay the beast. It became visible, a horrible monster liked he'd never seen before. A short but very muscular body it had, each hand had two long claws and a thumb. It's head was long and oval shaped with a single hengerlike lens for an eye. Each limb had some strange implant, each with a strange lens as well. On it's chest, the creature bore the symbol of the master.

"Are you alright?"Justice asked his injured friend.

"Yeah, just a scratch,"Beatdown said"My trainer made me fight alot! I can take a hit."

"We'd better get out of here,"Celine said as the silent raven flew off. They expected some form of retaliation, but instead the masters flagship left quietly."I've never heard of this breed. Have you?"

"No...this is no existing breed,"Justice said kicking the creature."This thing was created, if it hadn't gotten muddy it probably would have killed us in the end. Who the hell is this 'Master' anyway?"

"Justice!"Beatdown cried"I'm(ouch!)pretty sure there's a city not far from here! The big thing is headed straight for it!"

"Not again...."The Durahan said stareing out into the distance. What would it take to stop the Master?

-- Black Razor (Allanmontalvo@mindspring.com), May 19, 2000