The Rise of the New Resistance
Chapter 14
Racine raised the ‘special’ night vision binoculars to his eyes again and went back to watching the fourth floor window of Covenant House; Alonmon moved on to the next checkpoint. In another place and time when this planet was still called Terra Prime the walled city was known as ‘The Fortress’, home of some of the most powerful yielders of Majick in all the Worlds and Headquarters for the Resistance. For years this was a place of refuge for the Followers of The All Mother then The Dark Lord came among them. What was a bastion of refuge became a prison. The Resistance finally managed to bring it down releasing the captives, and killing the Dark Lord’s followers. The Fortress was burnt to the ground and the place lay barren for long ages until The Goddess sent the lightning to cleanse the land and The House of Fire rose from the ashes. Again the people enjoyed peace and prosperity under The All Mother but The Dark Lord did not rest. He spread corruption and hate secretly among the peoples and the other majickal creatures of the lands and eventually managed to sway factions within the Royal House itself. When he became strong enough he destroyed the palace and killed the children of Araidea but the Goddess managed to save one and hid her among the inhabitants of the Enchanted Forest. For many life times this land lay barren while Alonmon’s family fought and died to keep Majick and The Resistance alive, standing always with the flame haired decedents of The Goddess and dying for them willingly when asked to. Millenniums passed and the people quit believing in magic. The ways of The Goddess were being overshadowed by science so the Covenant was formed to keep the Old Ways alive and again the land where the Fortress had stood was built upon. For many lifetimes Majick was protected. Then The Dark Lord appeared at Covenant and over time the good was destroyed. Now the Guardians have stepped forward and raised The Resistance again. Covenant must be brought down. A-Naku walked up. “I’ll take over, go get something to eat and check in with the Council. Maybe get some sleep. Anything I need to know before you leave?” “Yes, the room seems to be ‘darker’ then usual and another Elder seat has changed hands. When I get back to home base I’ll see what they know. In the mean while keep well hidden and stay alert – make sure there are at least a dozen pairs of eyes on that place at all times.” Marie and Gandoff were in the Command Room when the buzzer sounded to let us know one of the gateways had opened; by the time we got downstairs Alonmon was already there. We talked for a few minutes then he went to the officers’ quarters to eat and take a shower while we waited for the others to arrive. “Welcome Alonmon. Are you here on leave or have you come only to speak with the Council?” Creedance asked looking up from the dossier and reports in front of him. “The latter, Chairman; this world is too technologically inclined for my liking. The news that I bring however seemed far too important to trust to a carrier.” “Ten of the Elder positions are now in the ‘Hands of Darkness’ only Hespeth and Nadine remain of those we know and there is a grey shadow surrounding the entire building – nothing has come out in days and only two have gone in; One was a friend. We await six days longer for her message then we take the next step, regardless.” “I am but a humble soldier and do not presume to tell you how to conduct your war against The Dark Lord but I do know we need all of the peoples –Human, Four Leggeds, Elfin, Wytche, Feathered, and others to win. These need to be contacted and asked for help. We also need to keep the gates open and bend time and space if necessary to ensure they arrive in time. Covenant must fall first if we are to have any chance of winning this war.” “We have your full report; you shall have your answer within two hours. Is there anything you need to add?” “No.” “I will be in the barrack awaiting your command.” Said Alonmon taking his leave. “We have reached a decision and agree with you that the gates between the worlds and dimensions should be kept open at all costs. The Family of Man should do everything in their power to bring us all closer together and unite us against the Dark Forces. The only thing that we would suggest would be that a Guardian and a Wytche accompany the Warriors when they meet with the Resistance contingencies and that each group is committed before you make your move.” Alonmon left the next morning to return to Covenant taking four Shadow Warriors with him. Phoenicia, a Shape-Shifter and Guardian Wytche from The House of Time and Space went through the gate with them to represent Guardian House. On her left hand she wore a Ring of Power. She was but the first; in the next twenty-four hours all the gates had been opened and twelve more ambassadors had been sent out to other worlds and dimensions. Andy and I arrived at the camp hidden in the forest outside Covenant. As soon as we were settled in Andy went to meet with Creedance and the Field Commanders who had come through the night before while I went for a walk. A little way into a deep thicket I came on a Gateway that had the feel of something ancient. It wasn’t one of ours and I was equally sure it didn’t belong to Covenant House. I put my hand out and touched nothing; it was a Ghost Gate – a gate that did not exist any longer. By the time I returned to camp Amber and Anwar were there and as if that weren’t surprise enough they’d brought some natives from the small moon they had been excavating and a tablet even more ancient then the one found on Rav 4 with them . I forgot all about everything else including the ghost gate. Anwar introduced the beings they’d brought with them. “These are the KA- direct descendants of the Otlindiwesoa, the ones your stories call The Watchers. “Nana says legend tells us they were here before life on the third planes began and do not inhabit physical bodies or live as we understand the term, but rather exist as light and energy. They are part of The All Mother.” Then one of the KA came forth and without saying a word continued the thought. “When The All Mother created the worlds She sent Her Sons and Daughters, lessor Gods and Goddesses, to walk the lands and breathe life into the inhabitants. Then She went among the Otlindiwesoa and offered them a choice.” “Some became Watcher/Scribes; those who recorded everything they saw or were told by the others, never interfering or coming into direct contact with the inhabitants. These are The KA.” “Legend goes on to say others chose to become Rememberers, scribes who were usually Seers. They kept the Old Ways alive by remembering the histories, myths, and legends as they happened; they were the teachers of the children of the worlds they could instruct but not interfere.” “There were also The Guardians.” “These beings did just what the name implied; they guarded – often with their lives. They carried within them the inherent abilities of all the Otlindiwesoa plus the strength, endurance, and skills of a Warrior. In time the bloods began intermingling and the lines between the species became blurred but the KA remained separate and pure while we waited for the chosen one of the OTSOA clan to return and fulfill the prophecies.” When he’d finished he stepped back. “We’re pleased to meet you all but I don’t understand, if you’ve kept yourself separate since the time of The Beginning why make yourself known now and how did they find you I thought that moon was uninhabited.” “Actually we didn’t find them; they found us.” Amber interrupted. “Yes, we had gathered, awaiting ‘The Summoning’ when the chosen ones returned. We were expecting to be called through the gate into the Enchanted Forest but the OTSOA touched the Key and summoned us through; we knew it had to be the Chosen One because the key would not have been activated otherwise. It took the key to find the key but once the key was found it was no longer necessary, everything was understood. Now we need to find the opening on this side and let the others through.” One of the Ka transmitted. “I’m guessing you are the key the Ka are referring to since prophecy says the Otsoa will play a major part in bringing things full circle back to the Beginning and the Worlds back to the Glory of The Goddess and that would also explain the derelict gate I saw in the forest earlier, but I didn’t notice anything enchanted about it.” I said looking at Anwar. “You would be right in your assumptions, Spirit Guardian but the gate you saw must be awakened so the enchantment may return. Would it be convenient for you to show us where you saw it?’ When we got to the clearing where I thought I’d seen the gate I stopped; it wasn’t there. “It just needs to be awakened again. You must have stumbled upon it at the exact moment we arrived and our collective spark was enough to make a shimmer; this is good now we do not need to search the entire forest. We simply need to get within a few feet of the gate for it to awaken completely. This will save much time. Thank you.” The Collective gathered itself and slowly began circling the clearing, a few seconds later a shimmer of light appeared and grew; the gate materialized. They gathered around it as the first of the enchanted creatures appeared.
