ON the northern plateau above the Valley of Sayir, an army gathered, an army of dark mind and dark purpose. The human soldiers poured from their transport vehicles. Hundreds of the ships scattered across the land like a swarm of insects, unloading their young from their bellies. They moved as one, for one mind controlled them all.
Lucin stood out in the open air. The sun shone upon him, but it did not bring light into his darkness. He held a thin pad in his hand. On its flat display, Lucin watched the live feed coming from his orbiting battle cruisers. Their eyes brought him the location of all of the rebel transport groups as they made their way to the Valley of Sayir, according to the prophecy of the empty hand.
The ancient prophecy might have caused Lucin to fear, but he had abandoned the fear of Elithias long ago, before men walked the paradise of the old world. Now, his power from old was returning, even his fellow Mithri could feel it. The Agonotti were united with him again; his Mithrial brethren. His mind and power were well beyond the Barudii he had tried to capture. Lucin had supposed there was a necessity in having one of them so that he would have the mental stamina to control the great assimilated host he had secured on Castai-Rex. There was simply no need for it now. He was well able to control them all now.
Lucin looked away from his data pad toward the masses assembling behind him. He was mesmerized by the number of them, all at his beckoning-they would willingly die for him. How poetic, he thought, these beings created in His image, serving me; dying for me. This is justice of the grandest sort of irony. His eye turned to Mithrium. You should have allowed me my glory, when it would have cost you much less. Now, they will pay for what was rightfully mine.
A familiar wind crossed the area, bringing a dust that was living and yet, not. From the air, a being formed and began to walk toward Lucin. Vock gave a slight bow, conveying his allegiance and respect as he approached, his garments blowing in the breeze behind him.
"We are ready, my lord," said Vock.
Lucin beamed through the human eyes of his host body. "How many, Vock?"
"All of them, my lord."
A smile parted the human lips Lucin spoke through, revealing the teeth, like a predator that is ready to seize the prey for rending.
"How can He stop us now, my brother?" asked Lucin
"But…what of the prophecy?" asked Vock with a measure of concern in his tone.
Lucin dismissed his words saying, "What of it?" He turned to gaze upon his accomplishment; the army of humans that were readying themselves for conquest, his conquest. "Look, Vock. Look at what I have already been able to do, and where is He? He has not come to stop me-has not forbidden me my due from on high. Perhaps we have been fools all along, tricked into believing we were powerless against Him."
Does he really believe what he is saying? Vock felt more apprehension creeping into his thoughts.
"Do you intend to turn from following me now, Vock?" Lucin asked the question with his back still toward his Mithrial brother.
Vock was surprised by the question; it shocked him back to the now. "Of course not, my lord. I have always been loyal to you and will continue to be. I was merely-"
Lucin cut him off, saying, "Good, then go back to our brothers in the valley. When the transports are all on the ground, attack and spare no one."
Vock acknowledged the command with a nod of submission. He could not dismiss the prophecies with so much ease. In all of his time walking among men in his cursed form as an Agonotti, he had never seen a prophecy fail. Fighting his reservations, he did according to Lucin's will and proceeded back toward the valley where the Agonotti waited to strike. The wind took his form again, leaving Lucin standing on the plateau, still poring over his data sheet.