The Sword of Rakash (Chapter 5)

In the depths of the Great Ocean, a great trench consumed the mass of waters unleashed upon the land of Rakash. When the chasm sealed itself by the hand of Procrustus the Great Ocean settled until existed not a land, but another expanse of water called the Sea of Rakash. Over a millennium when man walked upright once more the planet Eternos exited the Trans-Eternian age. The Gar-Shan had endured on a continent far off on the Ocean of Gnarl called Anwat -Gar. The Gar-Shan was saved during the Great Flood unleashed by the God Koklon by a mercival Red Dragon that was awakened from its slumber atop a dormant volcano.

During the millennium after the Trans-Eternian age the Gar-Shan advanced in first magic which eventually caused a great catastrophe which split their continent in two where the darker half sank into the Ocean of Gnarl. Though that was a story for another day...rebuilding their society once more the Gar-Shan advanced in science until it was their gestalt religion.

Ahktar then closed the Royal Archeological book so that Endo his son could listen to the recordings of information sent over to him in his study behind the secret consul while preparations were made for their departure.

While elsewhere under the Ocean of Gnarl where the encoded messages where being retrieved in a delicate operation led by Ahktars controller Tech-Leader Kiro who was actively in communications aboard a specially designed sub-aquatic vessel that was built as a giant crab on stilt legs.

Kiro was reading on his computer the output interfering with the encoded data being fed into an enormous golden disc atop his table. Kiro looked above to see a large tele-screen which showed three divers in operation outside of the crab suite as it were. Then Kiro looked ahead in front to see at the consul another tech who was in communications with the divers.

Kiro shouted at the technician at the large oval panel who was speaking into a telescopic mic," Akiro, what is going on down there?"

"As you can see from the outside front mirror, we've had to stop laser drilling around the ice covering our receptor cables.", Akiro was referring to what was a red glow being emitted outside the ship a side effect from the laser drill in action. Akiro continued to explain," The energy surge is intensifying rapidly...melting the ice as well as the cables...", Akiro then notices something rather miniscule on his radar screen, noting that as it comes in closer the power surge beneath the icy trench begins to intensify as well," There is an unidentifiable object approaching very fast!"

"Shut down retrieval operations...take evasive actions...train the Crabs optic lasers on the approaching object...", Kiro commands.

Then on the tele-screen, the object of Mer-Man is shown in his yellow scaled armor approaching like an underwater comet though instead of fiery gas a trail of blasting bubbling water is left in his wake!

"A lone Merphibian sent to attack us...impossible!", Tech-Officer Akira boasts most assuredly to his commanding officer.

"It is him...the Mer-Man!", Kiro shouts then he commands." The Mer-Man must be attracting or is attracted to this power surge...though it cannot be what I think it is...can it?"

The younger Tech-Officer asks, "What do you think this energy surge to be commander?"

A blank look washes over Kiro's face as if he wants to wipe the idea from his thoughts before he commands, "Open fire! We must prevent this invader from disrupting our excavation at all costs!"

In a flash of crimson light, the Crabs telescopic eyes shoot their lasers at Mer-Man!

"Aaaaargh!!", Mer-Man screams as the beams strike his left arm! The warlord instantly clutches his left arm with his right as he grits his teeth in a display of pure aggression while holding in his pain! All the fish in the area are called upon by Mer-Man to camouflage him. The body slowly fades away inside the kaleidoscope of colors surrounding him before Mer-Man darts downward towards the rocky terrain below! Then more fish cover Mer-Man as he seeks out a nearby giant Ray fish to use as a canopy for more cover against the Crabs laser fire.

The many varieties of fish are then sent by Mer-Man to cover the Crab from its spindly legs all the way up to its eye stalks! While inside the control room Kiro shouts at Akira," Is there any way to get these fish from blocking our visuals?"

"I am trying, there are just too many of them!", Akira explains as he manipulates two controllers on his console which in turn allow him to operate the Crabs front claws! A voice from one of the divers on the intercom states, "We cannot enter safely into the ventral opening if you keep flailing the Cani-Mekks arms in the fashion that you are doing."

Far below the so-called Cani Mekk, Mer-Man peers out from underneath the Rays blue shroud to see a giant piece of machinery being pulled upward towards an opening where light pours out from within. Mer-Man concentrates to allow the fish obscuring the view of what was happening to oscillate into a pores whirlpool to see into. In this way once done, Mer-Man sees more clearly that two adjacent lines are bent over towards the machine drill as if something was pulling them there. The power of invisibility was nothing new to Mer-Man, who knew instantly that there were Gar-Shan divers attached to those lines being drawn upward.

"Tech-mate Akira! Please halt our assent towards the opening for a moment.", One of the divers asked as he explained," Orro has spotted some Giant Rays down below while scanning with his thermal imaging to spot a figure underneath the Rays themselves. If you allow Orro to activate his laser drill to take a shot, we may be able to defeat our assailant."

Instead of Akira it is Kiro who answers back, "Permission granted! Power up the laser drill then take your shot! Obliterate that Mer-creature!"

Orro is unseen in his cloaked invisible suit as he slowly powers up the laser drill which glows red. Upon seeing the laser drill recharge itself, Mer-Man swims in-between the Giant Ray towards the opening of the trench. The power from the Sword of Rakash was alive within him all the way from his skull to his coccyx.

The beam was fired from the laser drill! Immediately the beam eviscerated three Giant Rays with its intense heat! In the aftermath, the laser drill needed to re-charge as it wasn't fully charged to begin with though Mer-Man was seen at the excavation site by where the Gar-Shan were drilled at the trench.

Mer-Man waved his arms in anger at the Crab Mekka for its assault on him. Then as he did so a rumbling shook the entire floor bed which caused the laser drill to spin around away from where Mer-Man was lying on the ground having fallen!

"We must take evasive actions! I must jettison the Golden Disk away from here towards Ahktars position!", Kiro shouted.

Then in the glass showing the outside above the oval control panel now also showed a giant figure rising from the trench! The fish which once blocked the view had scattered from the colossal figure rising up!

The enormous beast towered over the Crab as well as minuscule Mer-Man who shouted from below," I can feel that I can control you...as I do my minions of the ocean!"

The elephantine head of the creature trumpeted with its snout in agreement with Mer-Mans preposition!

The sound emanating from the giant sent shockwaves through the Crabs carapace as well as within the control room!

Kiro locked on his black helmet as well as diving apparatus with the golden disc in his arms. Then as the Tech-Leader proceeded to exit down below through a latch Akira called to him," I will take evasive actions once I have hauled in the remnants of our crew!"

Kiro never acknowledged Akiras sentiments or looked back at him before diving out of the Crab then allowing himself to turn invisible before launching off with his Golden Disk!

Mer-Mans saucer shaped eyes grew wide upon spotting the jet stream of bubbles left behind the craven figure as they fled away!

"Loxodor, I command you to attack!", Mer-Man shouted at the anthropomorphic giant with the head of an elephant!

The ventral shaft had finally shut itself having received the rest of its crew along with their laser drill. Though not before the Loxodor attacked it head on! In anticipation of the battering arms of the giant mekk, Akira was able to block both the giants attack with its front arms! The power from the Mekka was forcing the Crab down until its eight legs scattered backwards to break free! The Crab zig zagged away backwards from the Loxodor as if dancing in victory before firing off from its body hundreds of tiny missiles!

The Luxodor used its immense trunk to create a vortex of water which not only acted as a shield against the oncoming missiles but repelled them back at its launcher! While some missiles avoided the watery vortex the majority blew up from hitting the vortex or the Crab itself! The Loxodor raised its arms up in victory as the Crab began to fall over having all but two of its eight legs still intact from the barrage of missiles turned back on it!

The carapace of the Crab was shed a little but was hard enough to withstand the barrage along with its arms. The Loxodor began to advance on the Crab which detached the two broken legs from its body where it became a floating piece of armor. The Crab clacked its mighty pincers as if challenging the Loxodor which did not need the encouragement. The Loxodor advanced forward while the more maneuverable Crab launched itself upwards as well as away! The Crab continued to clack its claws at the Loxodor who was now much further away. The Loxodor stopped to wait as it noted the Crab was but taunting it.

Mer-Man doubted that there was much fight left in the Crab until it saw its eye stalks begin to extend from its head once more. Mer-Man felt that the next time the Crab fired its eye beams it would be against him again. Mer-Man began to swim up towards the back of the Loxodor who's own metallic frame was still covered in cold Icey shard fragments as well. The Loxodor was also patched in cold seaweed where parts of his body were tourn apart. Mer-Man then saw the hilt of the sword imbedded in-between the shoulder blade of the Loxodor.

The Crab now tried to jettison around the back of the Loxodor to aim at Mer-Man! Though as it did, the Loxodor would turn to face it. Then Mer-Man grabbed onto the hilt of the sword where he began to pull on it!

The eye beams glowed from the stalks of the Crab in preparation to fire at the form of Mer-Man atop the back of the Loxodor! Then as Mer-Man strained to free the sword from the Loxodors back the twin beams where once more fired upon him!

The beams only hit the giant palm of the Loxodors right hand! The beam scalded the Loxodors hand but not enough to melt through it.

Mer-Man was determined to withdraw the sword as he pulled on it with all his undersea might...until...at last it began to pull free!

Once the sword was pulled free, Mer-Man raised it as he swam above Loxodor. Mer-Man now taunted the Crab with the sword, waving it at them. The Crab zig zagged during the face off as it clacked its claws. Then Mer-Man communicated with the Loxodor to toss him towards the Crab like a guided missile!

Mer-Man's first use of the Sword of Rakash would be against this absurd machine!

On commanded with extreme control as well as accuracy did the Loxodor grab a hold of Mer-Mans waste to then suddenly launch him towards the Crab! The Crab stayed still as it locked onto Mer-Man with its glowing eyes as he torpedoed towards it! The sword was held like a spear when the red beams struck the blade! Mer-Man deflection of the laser was as fast as the right claw of the crab that reached to grab him though even faster was Mer-Man's lithe muscular body as he avoided the claw then speared through the thick glass window and into the control room!

Mer-Man was atop the control panel as water rushed inside the room within the Crab! The three divers had long spear guns trained onto Mer-Man who held Akiro up with one arm by his throat holding his ground as the water breached the room! Mer-Man was holding back the force of most of the water entering the room not with his body but with the power of the one true sword of Rakash in his hand!

"If you shoot at me this room is rushed with sea water!", Mer-Man shouted, "Lower your weapons or I will decapitate this fool!"

Akira, who was being choked was unable to say anything accept gargle incoherently as the three divers lowered there spear guns.

Mer-Man cooed," Good. Now tell me why you scavengers were defiling the site where I defeated your great gift to Ganoesha? Tell me the truth or I will unleash a flash flood in this room!"

Orro spoke as fast as he could to compel Mer-Man to be mercival," We were trying to retrieve the data from our Mekka that is all. The conditions of the generated ice surrounding Loxodor were not only hazardous to us but impeded our data retrieval."

"Where did the other one go? ", Mer-Man sneered.

Orro spoke nervously, "Anwat Gar..."

"You are lying!", Mer-Man shouted before insisting, "You have one more chance to be truthful to me! If not, then this ship will become your tomb." Mer-Man saw the fear in the Gar-Shan divers faces before asking them again, "Where did the one retreat towards? I will find out either way. Now tell me."

One of the divers shook his head before Orro soke again as if to stop him. The diver was too late as Orro answered more assuredly though still with a hint of deception," Anwat Gar...he is headed there I promise you."

Mer-Man shouts,"You lie! I told you to tell me the truth! Now you will suffer for your deceit!"

Mer-Man then points his sword down at the floor where the driver's door latch leading below as well as spearguns are to unleash a blast of cold which hits the flooded floor where it begins to freeze! A helpless look washes over the faces of the divers as Mer-Man drops Akiro before raising his sword! The water comes fast and hard! It washes over everyone in the room, pushing them towards the rear of the Crab ship! The pressure from the onslaught of water implodes the Crab ship from within which slowly sinks it to the seabed floor. Only Mer-Man escapes the force of water against his body by using his sword to cut a path against it current.

A figure emerges on the Andreenid shore near the humble house of Ahktor. The figure is wearing a black wet suit with helmet, breathing pack attached by red hoses to the helmet. On the sandy beach behind the figure is an open piece of equipment with a bubble dome to see out off of which was most likely a personal diving vehicle. The figure has a concealed circled object strapped to his belt around his waist. The figure is walking with purpose towards beach house on the hill.

"Father, where are we traveling to?", Endo asked as the man before him locked a large suitcase.

"We are first heading to the marketplace where hopefully I can catch a lift for us.", Ahktar tells his son.

"To where?", Endo asked again.

"We are in grave danger ...the longer we stay here. We have to get to Eternos Palace by way whatever which way we can find. Now go fetch two kettles of fish so we can, hurry!", Endo's father instructed.

As Endo entered to the back do from the study he saw the figure in black standing in the kitchen with a long black stick. The figure was holding a red ID disc in his other hand.

"Take me to your instructor.", the voice from within the black helmet told Endo.

"Please come inside!", it was Ahktar from in the study.

"Turn around and move boy.", the figure told Endo who was concerned about that ID Disk being planted on his own helmeted head.

"We are in grave danger the longer we all stay here.", Ahktar said in the guise of an old man with a white beard and wig.

As soon as Ahktar made his presence known did he step in-between himself and his son.

"You trained that Mer-Man on us!", the black helmeted man accused as he pointed his rod towards Ahktar.

"I want you to place it in the boys head.", the man ordered as he held out the ID Disc for Ahktar to take.

Unseen by either man was Endo clenching both of his fists tightly near his stomach.

Once the ID Disk was handed off to Ahktar the man held aloft his wand to let out a pulsing sound before training it on his target once again.

"Scattershot.", Ahktar said to delay his enemy.

"A pulse wave to sound the alarm. We need a pickup out of here, don't we? Now hurry before I use a more lethal setting on you.", the man warned.

Aktar had no choice except obey Kiro for as soon as his reinforcements arrive, they can all escape this house.

There was something wrong when Ahktar turned to face his son. Endo was bent over in pain, though Ahktar proceeded to try to place the ID Disk atop his head as he was in no position to...fight back!

Endo's face as well as his veins were green in color as he tossed his father to the side!

"I am sorry father!", Endo growled with sharpened teeth.

" This should knock you out!", Kiro relished as he pointed his wand at Endo! The green monster child lashed out at Kiro! It was no use however ad the sonic blast felled Endo to the ground! The sonic wave was intended to knock the child creature out. Kiro stood over the half unconscious child as he shouted to Ahktar," Place the disc on his head before I blast him with a higher frequency!"

"N0000arrrghh!!", Endo shouted as he lunged at Kiro unexpectedly!

Kiro tried to use his wand on Endo who grabbed his wrist to prevent that from happening!

Kiro gave a sharp cry as his wrist was squeezed by Endo! This allowed the wand to fall out of his attackers' hands. Ahktar was able to retrieve the wand in order to turn it on Kiro himself though before he could use it he told his son, "You must remove that helmet if I am to use this on him.", Ahktar was referring to the sonic wand.

Kiro fell to his knees, holding his limp right wrist with his left hand, wincing in pain.

Ahktar communicate the helmet by pointing to his head. This action was understood by Endo who first ripped off both red hosses attached to the backpack. Then Endo clutched the helmet with both his ahnds in ordert o pull it off! Kiro was forced upright as Endo pulled on fiercely on the helmet! After some cracking was heard, the helmet was starting to get pulled off! Until Endo finally detached the helmet from Kiro's head!

Endo then grabbed the blue ears of Kiro and started pulling his head back!

Kiro screamed in pain from the pressure being exerted on his ear lobes!

"You can let go Endo. It's over now, we have to leave." ,Ahktar told his son was breathing les heavily.

"...leave where?", Endo asked as the greeness faded from his lips.

"Eternos Palace.", Ahktar replied as a loud crash was herd outside.

"My ears are wringing...I feel sick.", Endo asked as himself once more as his adrenaline surge had ended in part because the first sonic attack left him almost unconscious. No, Endo was attacking on a double shot of adrenaline which was fading fast.

Ahktar had to scramble as he guessed the crash outside was either the reinforcements Kiro had sent for or Mer-Man returning to fulfill a promise.

Akhtar had to scramble with the minimum of baggage in his arm as well as an unconscious boy slung across his shoulder. Once outside of the house Ahktar hurried as best he could. It was a far trek to town area though once there he had connections. Then an object rose up from the ocean it toward over the house in the distance.

"The Loxodor...", Ahktar gasped.

Ahktar resumed his escape up a hill where there was some brush to hide behind. Ahktar felt the bushes tremble from the lumbering footsteps on the shore. Then the Loxodor was seen directly over his house. Unable to believe what he was seeing was Kiro exiting the front door! Then as the giant leg of Loxodor lifted itself before crashing down...Ahktar started off again. This time he would never look back as he hurried with Endo and all their positions.

The first sound from the crashing house echoed for a long while. There was some other rumbling as the demolished house was trampled over a couple more times. Ahktar still had a worry about the reinforcements called in by Kiro though maybe that problem would resolve itself soon. As soon the Merman discovered the wounded Tech-Commanding officer. Though he could not recall it as his life had been in danger for so long now that Kiro had a disc attached around his waist side.

"What are you offering me?", Mer-Man asked the fallen Kiro as he offered off his Golden Disc of data in exchange for his life.

Mer-Man snatched the disc from the feeble hand of his enemy.

"You made the ...right decisio...", the exhausted Kiro's bargain was never agreed upon nor his final remark finished as Mer-Man drove his hungry sword deep into the stomach of the Gar-Shan Teck-Officer.

"I will now wash my sword in the sea as I claim victory this day. Where I will offer up the blood of my sacrifice to Koklon.

Loxodor made a trumpeting sound indicating to Mer-Man that two others escaped from the house.

Mer-Man gave a soft warning, "You have picked up the scents of those that lived here prior. For their sakes they better hope that our paths do not cross again. Or they also will be sacrificed to the sea. As I will never relinquish the Sword of Rakash again!"