IMPALA (Farside Saga: Book One)
Epilogue: Home Front

Invisible to the naked eye, a small golden void, about the size of a baseball, floated down through the clouds over a warm and calm Indianapolis Indiana. It circled around the tall buildings of downtown, then headed north along the main I65 highway until it reached a small town called Lebanon. It floated through the city streets finally stopping at a white and black house.

The house looked new and modern as the luminecent door disengaged and two children, followed by a tall slender light skinned woman walk out and got in the silver taxi waiting at the curb. After a few seconds the car left.

The orb then floated to the house and entered through the front wall next to the door. A small brown spotted white terrier started barking, following the orb as it moved to the right and went up the wooden stairs. Reaching the top, the dog suddenly stopped barking and sat down with a soft whimper before turning and going back downstairs. The orb then floated past two rooms before entering the third on the right.

The dimly lit room barely showed the slow breathing old man laying in the bed. He slowly sat up with little strength and adjusted his pillow before settling back down a little higher up on the headboard.

"Nice to see you old friend." He said as he looked in the orb's direction.

"It is time. Im afraid it's bigger than you think. All of the ancients are being called in..." The orb said in a frequency only the old man could hear as it revealed itself.

"...You are the last of your race to serve as the key. I've been sent to escort you." The orb finished as it got bigger.

The old man sighed heavily. Then threw his legs off the bed. He slowly stood up, then stretched as he stepped into his slippers.

"Can I at least grab my coat? I don't think these old bones can handle the cold like they used to." He said with a smile as he headed towards his closet.

Deep in the depths of infernious sun, a swirling black mass circled around in the plasmatic fluids. Electrical discharges igniting all around it like a massive lightening storm. Clouds of dense ion particles twisted and twirled around in pockets of eddies as they moved around the black mass.

"Azelmuth!" A soft but deep voice called out.

"Yes my lord." The black mass responded in a whispery voice.

"Do you know what to do?" The voice asked gently.

"Corrupt the life on the planet and draw out its life force. While its distracted, go in and destroy the guardian. Easily done my lord." Azelmuth said with a smile in anticipation of it's task.