GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Hammer Fall: Genesis Project

GENESIS PROJECT

SECOND AGE OF THE KASNA

HAMMER FALL

AARON MICHAEL SMITH

Copyright 2019 Aaron Michael Smith.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

Genesis Project: Second Age of the Kasna: Hammer Fall is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Cover Art By Patrick William Eugene Smith

Ravania Entertainment and the Ravania Entertainment logo are Copyright 2019 Aaron Michael Smith.

-GENESIS PROJECT TIMELINE-

SECOND AGE OF THE KASNA- (0 BTC-1970 AC)

-THE HEAVEN’S GATE SAGA-

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Curse

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Survivors

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Broken

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Shards

-THE DEMONS HANDS SAGA-

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Hammer Fall

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Abyss

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: The Dying Light

GENESIS PROJECT: Second Age of the Kasna: Hands of Evil

-CHARACTERS-

Ahryah Emahra; Emahra Warrior (Female Emahra-kin)

Azal Kidfar; Vong’s Mother (Female Kasna)

Bazz Sammon; Policeman (Male Kasna)

Black Hunter; Bounty Hunter (Male Unknown)

Deslor Nakoo; Kalek Learner (Male Kasna)

Gimig Kidal; Kasna Senator (Male Kasna)

Gorr Dan; Starchaser (Male Fasu)

Gorvoz; Kalek Adept (Male Gossk)

Imae; Slave Girl (Female Kasna)

Imon Kench; Student (Male Kasna)

Kane; Mykyn’s Inner Circle (Male Devil)

Kevik; Kal’sek Lord (Male Kasna)

Korov; Dark Lord (Male Unknown)

Lah Moss; Kalek Learner (Female Kasna-Jex)

Lara Troyuz; Kalek Warrior (Female Folorian-Emahra Kin)

Lillith; Mykyn’s Inner Circle (Female Demoness)

Mandoran; Butler (Male Remem)

Mandragora; Shadow Traveller (Female Shadow Traveller)

Mykyn; Lord of the Darkones (Male Darkone)

Myly Kidfar; Vong’s Grandmother (Female Kasna)

Nell Sorrow; Shadow Traveller (Male Shadow Traveller)

P’Xayer Ravyn; Dark Lord (Male Unknown)

Rakeen; Dark Lord (Male Rakee)

Ravania Emahra; Last of the Emahra (Female Emahra)

Rhoul Kamish; Kalek Learner (Male Kasna)

Rocky Bluestar; Student (Female Kasna)

Ryal Kidal; Kalek Learner (Male Kasna)

Sersa; A Seeker (Female Kasna)

Sheki; Kal’sek King (Male Kasna)

Sorrd; Kal’sek Warrior (Male Kasna)

Soshoo; Scientist (Male Darkone)

Van Del-Himnor; Kalek Adept (Male Kasna)

Vong Kidfar; Kalek Learner (Male Kasna)

Weldro Beeg; Shadow Figure (Male Kasna)

Yancy Bafgo; Policeman (Male Pantantog)

Zanth Nakoo; Kalek Warrior (Male Kasna)

Zept; Kalek Adept (Male Nol-Duggun)

GLOSSARY

Dorash: The mystical power that people in the known worlds can harness

Emahra: Ancient mystical warriors who fought in the eons past Hell War, most people believe they are just stories

Hyperion-space: A subspace corridor accessed by many spacefaring people, which allows starships to go faster than the speed of light

Kalek: Warriors who defend the Kasna Republik

Klacmetru: The common Fundamental word for kilometer

Metru: The common Fundamental word for meter

Myno: The common Fundamental word for minute

Mystral: A female Dorash-user of great power who harnesses and controls the powers of Dorash

Mystic: More powerful and mysterious than a Wystral or a Mystral

Shadow Travellers: People with the ability to travel to parallel and alternate Universes

Urrh: The common Fundamental word for hour

Voorith: A living organism bonded to a sword, giving the owner greater senses and aide in his or her duties

Whisper-image: A three-dimensional image used in communication

Wystral: A male Dorash-user of great power who harnesses and controls the powers of Dorash

Yehv: The common Fundamental word for year

Before time was recorded

Beings of light walked the stars...

Then one day they breathed life into the Universe...

It was their Legacy…

A great Project…

GENESIS PROJECT

-SECOND AGE OF THE KASNA-

(0 AC – 1970 AC)

The Second Age of the Kasna is the era of the Kasna Republik that spans the cycles from the Kasna Curse to the Keeper of the Undead’s declaration of war against the Kasna Republik in 1970 AC. During this time, the Kasna Republik is the leading power in the Four Galaxies, and the Kalek are its noble warriors and protectors.

This is the first part of the Demons Hands Saga.

The events in this story take place two weeks after the Heaven’s Gate Incident…

PROLOGUE

Battlefield

‘Sometimes, our greatest enemies are ourselves... it is in the battlefield of the heart where our most important, and life-changing, battles are fought...’

-The Wisdom of Zug Twill

DAHMOR’ZOZ – FIRST GALAXY

The grey and black starcruiser spiralled down, toward Dahmor’Zoz. The planet spread out below; green and blue. Swirls of white cloud painted the atmosphere. Red pulsar blasts snarled past the ship. Gorr Dan cursed as the blasts cut close, ripped at his shields, and rattled his ship.

‘Blasted Bounty Hunter!’ he snarled, goading some more speed out of his over-taxed engines as he rocketed toward the surface.

It was always stupid to get on the wrong side of a Cruug’Hu’rot’Zar, and Gorr had gotten on the bad side of the Mother of all Cruug’Hu’rot’Zars. They were greedy, selfish, and they held grudges like a Son of a Bog.

An alien forest was rushing up to greet Gorr as he streaked across Dahmor’Zoz’s sky. He gritted his teeth and pulled back on the controls, his ship howling over the bluish treetops as pulsar blast struck down in the woodland behind him. Great, rolling, fireballs of destruction blossomed up behind him and his ship rattled.

‘Blast, blast, blast!’ he swore as the shock-wave pitched the nose of his craft too far down; it got caught in the thick canopy and he was dragged into the trees, spiralling out of control. His crash-webbing kept him from flopping around like a doll, but his ship still flipped and rolled and bent and tore, before it came to a shuddering stop.

Darkness took Gorr Dan.

When he snapped back to himself, gasping, he found that he was hanging upside down in his seat. The cockpit of his ship was in shambles, smoking, sparking. The window in front of him was broken. Purple and blue underbrush seemed to be growing up through the holes.

Gorr shook his head.

He tasted blood in his mouth.

He reached a purple hand up to his harness and unhooked it. He dropped to the ceiling, landing hard. He groaned, cursed, and then stood up. He drew his pulsar from its holster and looked toward the hatch at the back of the cockpit.

The Fasun turned his flat face toward the cockpit window again. One of the shattered holes was big enough. He hurried to it and manoeuvred his lanky form through. The forest was hot and humid, numberless concourses of birds sang loudly. Gorr looked around with wide, black eyes, scanning the trees for the Bounty Hunter.

There was no one about.

He was alone.

Gorr Dan smiled.

‘Not today, Bounty Hunter,’ he said to himself and turned, darting away from his ship.

Out of the thick underbrush in front of him, a black from rose up. The figure was dressed in demonic-looking Xioon armour – the diving V-shaped mask, the glowing red visor; it struck terror into the hearts of people in the Galaxies. A pulsar gun snapped up, and before Gorr could do anything, an energy bolt slashed forward and through his right shoulder. He cried out, fell backward, and dropped into the underbrush.

The pain was searing.

His vision blurred as he stared up through the canopy, at the blue sky.

‘Blast,’ he growled.

The Black Hunter stepped up to Gorr. He grabbed the Fasu by his arm and hefted him to his feet. Gorr stared into that evil mask, and he knew there was no mercy behind it.

Not from this man.

‘Well, you got me,’ Gorr said. ‘How much did Brudah of Styx pay you?’

‘I was paid enough,’ was the simple, growled response.

‘And you’re going to take me to her now, yes?’

‘No.’

Gorr furrowed his rubbery brow. ‘What?’ he asked.

‘She didn’t hire me, and the one who did, wants you dead. All I need to do is show the body.’

‘Dead?’ Gorr gulped.

The Black Hunter pressed his pulsar gun against Gorr’s forehead.

‘NO! PLEASE!’ he cried out.

It was the last thing he ever said.

-HAMMER FALL-

Few knew it at the time, but what was happening to the Universe – with the release of Mykyn – was the beginning of something that would, one day, fulfil prophecy and change the face of the known Universe. Few fully understood the importance of it – as with most beginnings in history, they are quiet, and few people are aware of it. Then, many cycles later, the hammer falls and people wonder why they never saw it coming.

With Mykyn, the hammer had fallen already – in a sense – but it would not connect for many, many cycles. However, when it did, the repercussions would span generations longer than the hammer fall itself…

-From the Journals of Ravania Emahra

PART I

-SEEDS OF SACRIFICE-

‘Who decides who lives and dies? You? Joren, this is madness!’

-Nong Kidfar, to a Kalek defector during the Xioon War, one hundred years before the Kasna Curse

KASNATIA – FIRST GALAXY

KALEK ACADEMY

Vong Kidfar advanced on his opponent. Then he lunged. Ryal Kidal did his best to block Vong’s vicious attack. Despite being larger and older than Vong, he was driven backward by the younger Kalek. Vong’s light brown face was all determination. His silver eyes were cold. With a quick movement, he knocked Ryal’s wooden practice sword out of his hands. The sparring blade flew high, flipped twice, and clattered loudly to the wooden floor of the large dojo – the noise echoed off of the walls and the high ceiling.

‘Frash, Kidfar! Give me a bleeding chance!’ Ryal Kidal growled.

The boy had angry purple eyes, a dark-skinned face, and was the Son of a Kasna Republik Senator who’d helped Vong’s Father and Grandfather get the funding they needed to build the Heaven’s Gate, and execute the deadly attempt at storming the Gates of Heaven.

Two weeks ago everything had gone wrong. A lot of people had died, including Vong’s Dad and Grandpa.

Bauji... Dadaji... I miss you.

Since then Vong’s surname had become a curse and a byword among the Kasna Republik. Vong’s family had been harassed. Vong himself had been personally assaulted. Ryal had been part of the gang of boys who had beaten Vong unconscious.

After the attack Vong had promised himself that Ryal Kidal would never get the upper hand on him again. No one would!

Since the Heaven’s Gate Incident, Vong had been training almost non-stop, pushing himself to his limit, and beyond. It had only been two weeks, but already his hard work was starting to show.

Vong growled in his throat. Then he turned, looking toward his trainer. Van Del-Himnor was a tall Kasna man with short, dark hair that was combed neatly. His skin was pale. He had black eyes. Van was dressed in a Kalek Raiment – which was the standard uniform of the Kalek; black slacks and boots, a deep blue leather breast plate. Beneath the breastplate, was the padded grey shirt of kimo cloth. Finally, there were brown vambraces, and a long, black, sleeveless leather overcoat.

‘Adept Del-Himnor,’ Vong snapped, in his distinctive Hiin’Yi accent, glancing Ryal’s way, silver eyes searing with hatred. ‘I need a new sparring partner, Ryal is shi’kee!’

‘Frash you, Kidfar!’ Ryal spat.

‘Gentlemen,’ Van said serenely, holding up his hands in a calming gesture. ‘Language, please.’

‘Sorry,’ Ryal grumbled.

Vong said nothing.

‘Ryal take a break,’ Van told the boy.

Ryal nodded. He started across the gym, picking up his wooden sword. Then he grabbed a towel and a bottle of water. Throwing a vicious glare back at Vong, he left the gym.

‘So, about that sparring partner?’ Vong demanded.

‘How are you doing, Vong?’ Van asked gently.

‘I need a sparring partner,’ Vong retorted, knowing full well where this conversation was headed.

Van was a good man, he’d given Vong some good advice after the death of his Father and Grandfather... but after what had happened with Ryal, and with Rocky... after all that had transpired with Dragon... Vong hadn’t talked much to anyone. He knew he was mourning... his Grandmother said his attitude was unhealthy.

Vong just didn’t want to talk about it.

What was there to say? They were dead. It was stupid how they’d died, but they were dead... There was no bringing them back.

‘I mean since your Father’s death,’ Van pressed on, unwilling to beat around the bush. ‘I’ve been watching you since the whole thing with Rocky. You’ve been throwing yourself into your work like mad. I know you want to get assigned to a Kalek team, but you need to slow down.’

‘No I don’t!’ Vong growled through clenched teeth. ‘The Raath are still out there. They are moving inside the borders of the Kasna Republik. Maybe the Kal’sek were beaten... but these Raath pre-date them and are just as bad – if not worse – than the Kal’sek. I’m a Kalek. I want to be out there, helping!’

Van sighed.

‘I know,’ he said. He considered Vong for a moment. Then he said, ‘Okay, maybe I’ll let you go to war.’

Vong’s face brightened a little – it quickly faded.

‘What’s the catch?’ he asked.

‘No catch,’ Van assured. ‘Warrior Zept is heading to the new battlefield on Rokina, in the Gudell Sector. He’s taking a new Kalek Learner, Ahryah Emahra, and your friend Colt, with him. They’ll be joining Kalek Adept Chim’s army.’

‘You’re serious about this?’ Vong asked, feeling hope for the first time in fourteen days.

‘As you said, you’re a Kalek... you should be fighting,’ Van agreed.

Vong smiled. ‘When do I leave?’ he asked.

‘Tomorrow,’ Van told him, ‘it’ll give you time to prepare yourself... and say good-bye to your Mother and Grandmother.’

Vong nodded. ‘Okay,’ he said.

‘Off you go.’

Vong hesitated for a moment. ‘Why are you doing this?’ he asked, narrowing his eyes.

‘People learn in different ways, Vong. I think you have much to learn on Rokina.’

Vong considered his Teacher for a moment.

With a quick nod he turned and walked away.

*

Deslor Nakoo, a tall, lanky young man, of twenty-two yehvs, hurried down a long hallway in the Kalek Academy on Kasnatia. The walls were pale and decorated with pictures of warriors and scenery. There were statues. Gilded lamps hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting honey-coloured light. The academy was warm, comforting. As Deslor ran, his black overcoat flapped out behind him. With determinations sparkling in his hazel eyes, he pressed himself a little faster. He was late – later than he’d ever been. He was sure Warrior Gorvoz wasn’t going to be impressed.

When is he ever?

Deslor turned down another hallway, on the east. It was lined with tall, brown doorways that led to offices. There were narrow windows between each office. The pattern continued to a junction that spurred west. Deslor ran past, toward an office door closer to the north end of the long hallway. When he reached the door, he threw himself against it, bursting into Gorvoz’s office.

The ceiling of the room was tall, arched, and detailed in gold, leafy patterns. A desk was set between two tall windows at the far end of the room. A short arched one was placed higher, between them. There was another tall, narrow window on the left and right sides of the rectangular room. There were towering bookshelves, all filled. A glittering chandelier hung from the ceiling. The carpet underfoot was blue, bordered in pale gold. The walls were light blue panels, bordered in dark wood.

Gorvoz stood in the middle of his office, dressed in a Kalek Raiment – different from the usual High Council robes he wore. He was a tall, purple-skinned Gossk man. His domed head was hairless. He had large yellow eyes under thick, hairless brows. He had a short, yellow beak for a mouth. Dangling, thin, outgrowths of wormy flesh grew on either side of Gorvoz’s stern face, flanking his beak, hanging past his chin. The ends were capped with gold decorations. Gorvoz’s face was narrow, his cheeks sunken, his expression grim.

He seemed frozen with the dour, determined look – as if he’d been carved out of stone to forever appear that way. In all his yehvs of Kalek training, Deslor had never seen Gorvoz smile.

And he wasn’t smiling now.

Deslor had seen other Gossks smile.

‘Nakoo?’ Gorvoz grumbled, raising an eyebrow.

Aside from Gorvoz, there were two others in his small office. Rhoul Kamish was Deslor’s age. He had black hair, grey eyes, and was often smiling. The other in the room was Lah Moss, a seventeen-cycle-old Jex girl with red skin and long blue hair. Her eyes were purple.

‘I’m sorry I’m late, Warrior Gorvoz,’ Deslor apologized, running a hand through his brown hair. ‘I had urgent business to attend to.’

‘You have urgent business here,’ Gorvoz growled, taking a step toward Deslor, clicking his beak in irritation. ‘What was it this time?’

Deslor didn’t want to tell Gorvoz that he’d been saying good-bye to his Girlfriend. Gorvoz would think it trivial and berate Deslor in front of his friends... but it had been important to Deslor. He was heading to the front lines of the Raath conflict after all. Deslor knew that he might not be coming back.

‘It’s not important,’ Deslor grumbled.

‘Hmm,’ Gorvoz said. Then he turned away, grumbling, ‘We leave for Rokina in an urrh. We’re joining the Kadji Task Force. We will land on Rokina’s northern continent – where the heaviest fighting is taking place.’ Gorvoz considered his Kalek for a moment.

‘I’ve trained you all as well as I can,’ he said. ‘Whatever has been said about curses on the Kasna recently – and the air of