Everyone Forgets the Beginning (BattleR Saga Story 1)
Ninth Chant

At Fall of the Horizon

“Sir! Mission accomplished!”

“Any survivors?”

“No sir, not a single soul leftalive.”

“Just as planned. Fall the fleet backto next system.”

“And the Mother?”

“Stay here to finish them. We’lljoin you shortly captain.”

“Understood sir. Good luck sir.”

“I need no luck. I have ‘time’.”

“Of course sir. See you later then.”

“Yea, yea, don’t go nice on me now. Tothe stars…”

“…and behind them, sir.”

Every commanding officer left thebridge leaving Commander alone with his crew. In few minutes whole fleet, shipafter ship, entered worm-tunnels and left the HaScor System. Huge battle shiphalf as big as the planet which it flew around was all that’s left.

Commander stood up from his chair andwalked to the flahric cannon controls.

Important not, flahric cannon is an advanced weaponry specially developed touse external elements as its own long range massive projectiles.

“Is the fleet out of range?”

“Yes’sir, captain Lelaki confirmed itjust now.”

“Get ready for the Slowed Mode.”

Few officers in external commandmentdivision rushed to graviton room.

“Ready to enter the SM, sir.”

“We have one shot. Don’t miss it.”Commander put his hands inside the holes of flahric cannon control panel.“Entering SM, fire boys!”

Dark green light covered thebattleship and small blue spherical object slowly got closer to the gray,lifeless planet. The moment the blue sphere hit the atmosphere, the ballenlarged thousand times, covering the planet, and continued to grow.

“Sir, what now? Retreat?”

“FULL SPEED! Enter the worm-tunnel!The Slowed Mode won’t last much longer!”

“Engaging the dematerializationsequences. Entering worm tunnel in Slowed Mode in 3, 2... Worm tunnel open.”

“Fall Back! I’ll try to slow timemore. We mustn’t be caught in the flahric blast at all costs!”

As the huge blue blast was closing in,the Mother ship was sucked inside the tunnel. After few seconds they passed thehyper-time zone and left the passage to join in the rest of the fleet.

When they stopped Commander ordered toturn the ship around and whole crew watched bright blue light eating planetsfrom neighbor system.

The light disappeared, the space became empty with red toned dust spreading inthe wide nothingness.

“Sir! This was the last one!”

“I know… And there’s still no sign ofRaida or her ship.”

“Sir, captain Lelaki want to speakwith you. He says it’s urgent.”

“Bring him to my quarter.”

“Yes sir!”

Callyps took down his hood and mussedup his long past shoulders hair.

“Destination Therra. I don’t want tosee that filthy blue globe by tomorrow so no need to hurry.”

“Ye’sir!”

And Callyps left the bridge and betookto his chamber. He sat on the bed and took of his mask.

“Where are you?” he started mutteringto himself and leant his back against the wall…

Knocking on the metal doors woke himup from the nap few minutes later.

“Sir. It’s captain Lelaki. Pleaseallow me to enter.” slightly muted male voice came from behind the double layeredmetal covered crimson doors.

“Permission granted, Buaya. Come onin.” without moving a muscle Callyps lied still.

Tall young looking man, not older thanCallyps himself, entered dark chamber with no lights. Without a word sat on thechair next to black wooden desk full of papers piled in chaotic order. He tookoff his hood and sighted unnoticeably.

“So, my friend, what do you have for metoday that you had to see me face to face?”

“It’s bad. Really bad. Looks like wefound the technomian ship nearby solar system.”

“Crew?”

“None.”

“Monitoring working?”

“Yes, and...” Lelaki paused for amoment. “And this is where the problems starts.”

“What do you mean?” Callyps opened hiseyes and looked at shadowed figure looking through the papers.

“Apparently there are no records ofwhat happened with the ship or the crew. But there is single record,unfortunately without sound, which you should see.” Lelaki took out smallholoplayer from his inner coat pocket and turned it on.

“This is…”

“I know… Ellementall scum…”

“It happened not three years ago.”

“So just before we came to thisGalaxy.”

“Correct, and one more thing.” Lelakifast forwarded the record “They came with 4 men, left with 5.”

“Is there any way to replace out anythingmore?”

“No, only this camera was able torecord, other worked but couldn’t save anything.”

“Let’s just hope those fourEllementall scum and that Technomian brat they took with them are still alive.”

“What now? Therra?”

Callyps smiled and tied his hairbehind his head.

“Full speed. I’m going to head onfirst. I hope you’re better at controlling your time now?”

“Hey! Don’t make fun of me justbecause you trained with awesome master…”

“My father wasn’t awesome. He was weakand easily corruptible.” Callyps stood up and put on his mask. “And the onlyproof of his so called power is hidden behind that mask now.”

Callyps left the room leaving Lelakialone in the darkness.

After few minutes of sitting in complete silence, Buaya took piece of plainpaper from the desk and a pen from inside of his coat.

“Foolish Apo, if only he’d knew whatis going to happen to him. To us.” he scrubbed something on the paper and hidit in his pants pocket. “Well, probably he would still do the same foolishthings, so what’s the point in telling him the truth anyway?”

He looked around and closed thecrimson doors which Callyps left wide open. In total darkness Lelaki reachedout front his hand with palm turned into fist.

“WhiteLady Darkness, lend me your hideout for unseen collision. Let light fade beforeus and shadow cover us until the destined meeting ends. Shadow element. Chant#2. Informant of Chaos.”

And surrounding darkness consumed himcompletely, transferring him to void dimension.

With nothing around him Lelaki knew hewasn’t on Callyps’ ship anymore. He took few steps forward and small green firelit his way to the place where 4 other figures awaited him.

“Master Lelaki, welcome back.”

“We’ve been expecting you.”

“Is everything going according to theunspoken prophecy?”

“Are Callyps’ moves predictable?”

Each of four shadows asked withoutwaiting for others to stop, making chaotic impossible to understand logorrhea.

“Please, not at once. It’s nice to beback, too bad that in this body though…

Anyway, Callyps acts according to theprophecy, no need to worry in this matter. How are things with our littleAkhi?”

He risen his hand before him and fromthe shadow came out a chair. Lelaki sat on it and looked around. Sighted, alittle disappointed.

“Akh! Akh! Where are you?! Where didthat big kid took of this time?” Meg searched whole house for him but he wasnowhere to be found.

“So where is he?”

“I have absolutely no idea Rokki.”

“You should know how to make himreturn fast anyway…”

“Well, there is one chant he told me touse in emergency situations…”

“This IS emergency… Just do it!”

“Fine.” she sighted and opened thewindow. “Forgotten element, fate. Chant#2. Soul derivation.”

White lightning struck down from clearsky a second after Meg named the chant. Glowing figure showed up in the window.

“What is it Meg? You know that this isdangerous chant for you right now. And supposed to be used in REAL emergencysituations… No offence Rokki.”

“Not taken bro, but it is crucial foryou to return to the Chronostary. The Council ask for your immediateattendance.”

“I think I told them that unlessCallyps returns, I’m not going to put everyone in danger.”

“I know, I know. But Ken figuredsomething out about those numbers. And he wants to talk directly to you.”

“Then let him come. I know that asnon-Ellementall he have to be guarded 24/7 but nothing’s wrong to let him leavethe city once in a while.”

“He’s just 13, and he’s not like you.”

“Still, I refuse to return. I haven’tmastered the chant to defeat Callyps yet. And I can feel him getting close.”

“Fine, but it might be too late whenCallyps come.”

“When the Time comes, I’ll be ready.Until then…” white glowing materialization of Akh instantaneously stood before Rokki.“…Do. Not. Interfere. I’m not coming back yet, and if Ken’s discovery is a realbreakthrough then let him come to me. Otherwise, leave us alone.”

“When are you planning to return…physically?” Meg asked and sat on the nearby chair. Lately she was losing allher strength very often.

“Before sundown. But try not to overdoit again.”

And without a word with single paleglance at his best friend his spirit flew out of the window with lightningspeed.

“That settles it, Rokki, he’s notcoming back till sunset and I think he won’t be happy to see you here when hedoes.”

“Ok, just don’t let him freak out likelast time okay?”

“You know more than anyone that it’snot his fault.”

“Yet, to use 12 elements at once tocreate ultimate chant? It’s insane, you shouldn’t let him do it alone.”

“Oh, silly. He’s not doing it alone.He is never alone.” she opened the doors

“So you don’t have to worry about hissafety. If someone can do it, then it’s only him.”

“It’s just…” he started the moment heleft the house. “I don’t want his kid to live without parents like he wasforced to.”

“I can assure you, it’s not going tohappen.”

“Then say hi to Ehvi from me…” helooked around with consternated face

“Speaking of little devil, where isshe?”

“Probably spying on her father.”

“Yes, like father like daughter…”

He turned around, hooded up and flewaway back to Chronostary City.

(end of part 1)

part 2

Buaya stood up from his chair andsmiled.

“Gentlemen, lady, Callyps will reachTherra in less than a day, should I slow his actions more?”

“No. Akh seems ready to face thedestiny you brought on him…” said one of the shadows.

“Good. I’m tired of surpassing wholefleet this much. Be happy I managed to make them think only 3 years passed, notthe real 15.” Lelaki bowed slightly and snapped his fingers “This is farewellmy friends. You know what will happen now. Take care of yourself and ourpeople.”

“Farewell, General.” shadows answeredjointly.

Lelaki covered in darkness disappearedfrom their sight and appeared inside Callyps’ room like he never left.

He took out the piece of paper he hidbefore leaving, crossed something out and hid the note back.

Meg was in the kitchen waiting forwater to boil. She couldn’t use elements for 2 more months anyway. She grewtired of waiting and went outside to breath in some fresh air. Positive aspectof living in the mountains.

“Ehvi! Lunch time!” but there was noanswer. “Ehvi!”

“Up here mom!” young girl jumped offthe roof behind her mother causing her to jump from surprise.

“D-… Don’t do that! I told you to stopscaring me like that. Where’s Akh?”

“He flew off saying he felt some kindof disturbance on the other side of the planet. Should I fly for him?” withsparks in her eyes young Ehvi clasped her hands. “Pleeease!”

This instant water boiled and kettlewhistled. However before Meg or Ehvi could react, the whistling stopped.

Someone was in the kitchen.

“Mom.”

“I know, go look inside, but don’t fight.You promised to your dad.”

“All right.”

Ehvi slowly approached the window tothe kitchen. Huddled up to the wall, she looked inside. But the kitchen wasempty.

“What are you doing?” male voicestartled her from behind. “And why were you both outside anyway, I thought itwas a lunch time.”

Ehvi slowly turned around wonderingwho it might be. Friend, foe? How to take him down easily? And why couldn’t shesense him at all? But she was more surprised than covered with fear when shefound out who the man was.

“Dad!” it was no one other than me,Akh Dhamm. “Don’t do that!”

“Huh? Don’t do what exactly? It’s youwho act strange.” and I sipped from huge cup of tea. “Is it this teenagerebellious age already? I thought 13 years aren’t that much yet.”

“Akh, what happened, where were you?”Meg asked while going in to the house. “One minute you were here, the next Ehvi say you flew away on the other side of the planet.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really.” I answeredstill sipping tea and standing above my little girl. “And I still want answerwhat were you up to here.”

“D-dad… It was… Eee…” she slowly movedtowards the front doors. “You see… Mom! Tell him!”

“We just heard the some rumor in thekitchen and it turns out it was just you. Hahaha.”

“Okay, hahaha, I believe you for now.”

We all entered the house. I looked upin the sky, sipped some more tea and closed them behind me.

So you are ready to return, Callyps?But why were you so slow anyway? With your mastery of time element you shouldbe done in no more than 3-4 years. Why then?

As I was teaching Ehvi new windcontrol trick I sensed something. Or more correctly someone. A person, verypowerful. Not as much as I am now, but definitely on the level of otherGenerals. Who could it be? It’s not evil presence.

“You keep pushing the leaves like that,Ehvi. I’ll be right back.”

I went to the bathroom. Good thingthat Meg can’t use elements now that she’s pregnant. She’d scold me fordividing my soul in the bathroom.

I closed the door, opened the window and whispered.

“Soulelement. Chant #3. Tama Bunshin. (Doubled Soul)”

From inside of my chest small lightblue ball flew out of the window and turned into other me.

“Go check that source of energy. It’snear Chronostary, you must not be seen.”

“I get it. Shadow element. Chant #5.Hidden Monk.” and the clone disappeared in his own shadow.

“Hurry back.”

I left the window open, flushed thetoilet just in case, washed my hands and returned back to the room. Ehvi wascheerfully having fun with leaves floating above her head.

Not long after that my doublereturned. I went upstairs cuz Meg already closed the window in the bathroom.

“So? Who is it?”

“No one. The person disappearedshortly after I got close to it. But that person was definitely in the

New Generals Building. And it feltlike…”

“I know how it felt. Okay.” I reachedhand to second me he did the same.

“Chant#6. Modoshi. (Soul Return)”

Few hours later, after Ehvi finallyfell asleep, I approached Meg to talk to her about the day she hoped will nevercome.

“I want you both to stay here no matterwhat. He will approach above Chronostary. No need for you to worry about himcoming here.”

“It’s not what I’m worrying about.”

“I know. But I managed to finish thechant few years ago now, and thanks to our little devil, I have couple otherchants in my arsenal.”

I smiled and hugged her like neverbefore. I could feel her tears dropping from her still young face on the springgreen grass.

She seemed safer when I was close toher, and I felt calm when we were together. That’s more than enough for me.

I looked at stars and almost fullmoon. I took a deep breath.

“Don’t worry… I will defeat him forsure this time. I won’t let General’s death be in vein. Your father will beavenged. I just wish there was more time.”

“Why? You just said you were readyto…”

“Not for me to get stronger, I shouldbe as strong or even stronger than Callyps as I am now.”

“So what do you mean?” she asked stillhuddling to my chest, listening to my calmly beating heart.

“I mean that if there were more time Icould replace a way to revive your father.”

“I thought bringing the dead back tolife was impossible even for the best Ellementalls.”

“It was. But with the 13th element Icould do it. Give part of my soul to bring him to life once again.”

“No. Soul exchange is too dangerous,you know it.”

“That’s why I said I wish there wasmore time…”

We stood silent in the dark, watchingat rising moon. I was thinking about the next day. The fated day. The day theTaimu will disappear from our Galaxy and

I will probably die.

“Sir.” Callyps risen his headapprovingly. “We reached the destination. Planet Therra is at our feet.”

“So, do we eliminate it from hereagain, or kill all the inhabitants first like with the last one?”

“Take me down to those scum. And besure the fleet is outside the atmosphere. Those low-lives can control manyelements, but their reach is limited.”

“Yes sir. The teleportation beam is ready.Are you going alone, sir?”

“No, I will take all four my riderswith me…”

“They are in their chambers, sir.Should I call for them?”

“Yes, immediately. We leave in 5minutes. And we won’t teleport, we will fly there old-fashion way.”

“Ye’sir.”

“GENERALS!! THE TA-IMU HAS COME!!”

“Where is Great General Dhamm?”

“He notified us not to interferewithout his permission. He’s already on the meeting point.”

“Good. Send the special unitimmediately. Someone have to be eye witness to the events driven by the wheelof fate.”

“Yes ma’am! They’re already on theirway!”

“Where will the fight take place?”

“Central-North Sector 12. 500km fromhere.”

“Will the city be affected?”

“Probably not. Do we raise thesafe-wall developed by Young mister Kenul Oial.”

“Not yet. Let’s just hope Akh will winquickly.”

I landed on the cliff near the northernsea. I saw whole armada of Callyps, it grew even bigger in those years.

Five ships flew above me and landedfew kilometers away from me. I moved there with lightning speed in a singlejump. I flew up few kilometers above the space ships. One was twice bigger thanthe other four. It must be Callyps. But why isn’t he alone? Did he managed toget some allies from his Galaxy?

I looked far west. Meg and Ehvi aresafe there, no matter what kind of attacks I had to encounter here, those twowere safe many miles away.

I looked down, the four smaller shipsopened their hatches and few people with capes, hoods and masks arrived on thesurface of Therra.

“Hey, are you sure we can kill whoeverwe want however we want here?”

“Yes Ferus, and remember they aren’tweaklings like all the previous ones.”

“Good, I need some decent exerciseafter so much time.”

“Me too. I’m starting to feel dull inthis Galaxy.”

“Quiet. All three of you. There’ssomeone above us.”

All four looked up at me. I flew downto them slowly and stopped few meters away from them still midair.

“Welcome to Therra. Who are you?”

“We are those who will kill all scum onthis pathetic little planet.”

“Oh really?” I landed on the ground.“You have to go through me first.”

“Very well!”

Tall buffed guy with left side of hisface hidden behind the mask rushed in my direction.

So the war has resumed at last.