Empire Friends (Part 1):  Written by Exodus, Original Story by Exodus  

In the Evalon Fortress Grand Hall, Iyaxxl had organised a meeting with the staff 
that his soldiers had picked up in the towns and villages.  
Up above, in the ventilation system, was Rob Ruwin, he held a laser tool to cut 
halfway through the side of the iron bar, he then attached a bug in it, which 
then camouflaged itself to look like the bar had never been touched.  
Snide noticed a glint of light from above, and left the hall briefly to alert 
guards to the area.  
Ruwin leapt up and hid up above, clinging to two poles with his hands and feet 
proved difficult with the distance between them, but he held it until the guards 
looked around and left.  
“Mission complete.” said Ruwin quietly on the way out, “You’re on the air, we 
can hear everythin’ you say...”  

“Welcome new members of the Evalon Empire.” said Iyaxxl pleasantly, “I invited 
you here to tell you about my cause, to clear any problems up, and to assign you 
your jobs.  First of all, I wish to inform you of what truly happened here on 
the tragic day I was forced to assume command.  There was a traitor in Edward’s 
midst who murdered him and many in this castle, as his advisor, I was asked 
personally to continue the rule of this kingdom.”  
“Before I agree to serve you.” said one of the scientists from Rolem, Trevor 
Griffin, “I need to know why landmarks in the nearby kingdoms have been attacked 
recently, at the same time your men were out recruiting people from areas close 
to them, was that your doing?”  
Trevor and Anaka Griffin were top scientists, both growing old with signs of 
grey in Trevor’s short hair, and Anaka’s long flowing hair, they also had a 
daughter, but she had disappeared right around the time of the empire’s 
beginning.  
Helena, one of Iyaxxl’s best in such a short time, smiled and turned to Iyaxxl 
to hear his reply.  
“Those misfortunate acts were of the same traitor’s doing, I understand that 
some of my soldiers were seen in the incidents, but please understand that the 
traitor can corrupt people for a short time, we will find that monster someday, 
and when we do, we shall perform a trial and sentence.”  
Helena sighed, disappointed.  

It took some time to assign everyone to a job that suited their abilities, and 
lasted a couple of hours.  

Back at Spybase, Ruwin smiled confidently as he rested in a chair, with his feet 
up on the table.  
The room was filled with associates, eagerly listening to the meeting through 
Ruwin’s bug, usually someone would be assigned to listen in on the headphones 
but Ruwin wanted the first trial run to be special to his group, plus he got a 
lot of attention for his bravery.  
Nick assured everyone that he had designed the bug so it could only pick up the 
empire’s voices and not theirs.  

“... Kirie Jay, Lucia Corelle, Anaka and Trevor Griffin.  You shall also be 
working in the labs alongside Professor Morn Ridley.” finished Iyaxxl.  
They left with him, and Iyaxxl continued, “Finally, Turok Adulen and Eddy Snare.  
You shall be assigned the role of defenders, guarding the front entrance of 
the Evalon Fortress.”  
Joe and Moe escorted the two away.  
The new people had all been assigned roles, and guards closed the doors of the 
grand hall so that only Iyaxxl’s finest warriors that knew the truth were 
present.  
“Now the real meeting begins.” said Iyaxxl confidently, “Helena Corelle, I am 
pleased with your immediate transfer to the Elite Forces, you were a great help 
to my warriors in overrunning the kingdom of Grandulen and I’m sure you shall be 
a great asset to us.”  
“Me too, but with respect Sir...  If I may, why do you hide your true self away 
from the world, surely the kingdom should see the beauty of your evil, and cower 
under it.”  
“Well Helena, if I were to do that, people wouldn’t flock in quite as easily, 
the simple truth is that an empire needs people to run it, and we are currently 
short.  The closer the people are to me, the easier it is to corrupt them.  I 
also hear that you and Victor Snide have conquered the second nearest landmark 
in Scion:  Vialon Town.”  
“Yes Sir.” said Snide, stepping up proudly, “If only you saw us, those who would 
not give in to our cause were obliterated.”  
“That’s very good.”  
Helena frowned a little and spoke up, “Actually Sir, Snide failed to kill all 
the opposing people, about a quarter got away by boat.”  
“That’s disappoints me.” frowned Iyaxxl lightly, “If too many people see our 
true nature and escape, then they might gather together, fight back and 
overwhelm the troopers I have collected.  Make sure it doesn’t happen again.” he 
said, to Snide in general.  
“Stupid girl.” thought Snide, “If she’d just kept her mouth shut, Iyaxxl would 
have promoted me to a great rank for sure!”  
“I shall take this information and consider which ranks you should be promoted 
to.  You are dismissed.”  

Outside the hall, Snide shouted at Helena.  
“You there! Crazy chick!”  
“What?! My name is Helena!”  
“How dare you humiliate me in front of the emperor!”  
“I just believe a person’s true nature and deeds should be seen, I killed 
everyone who opposed me, if you failed such an easy task then you don’t deserve 
to be promoted.”  
“You stupid girl, if you ever badmouth me in front of Iyaxxl again, I’ll kill 
you!” shouted Snide, before storming off.  
“Bring it on you loser!” she replied.  
“’elena.” said Krytus quietly, “You want me ta do ‘im in?”  
“I don’t need your help for that, I don’t rely on you.” she replied harshly.  
“’ow’d the meetin’ go?”  
“Very well, I’m sure to get a good position in the next meeting.”  
“’elena...” said Krytus surprisingly nervous, “If you, you know, ever need ta 
talk ta anyone, Oi’ll be there fer you, okay?”  
She looked into his face and replied, “You weakling! What makes you think I want 
to talk to you?! I’m not a child, nor a person in need of therapy! Just back 
off!” she shouted, storming off.  
Krytus stared in dismay, “Damn it! ‘ow’s an evil goi supposed ta get a girl ta 
loike ‘im?!”  

Days later in the dining area, a group of friends met up.  
They weren’t friends before the empire was forged, but were brought together 
because of it.  
Each one of them forced in some way, since they soon became so detached from the 
world, they needed trustworthy people they could call friends.  
“... And they won’t even let me go home to see my sister!” moaned Turok.  
“Give it time, once this place is sorted out, they’ll let you see Tanya.” 
comforted Kirie.  
“I don’t know why they’re so reluctant about me going home to Grautz.”  
“Hi guys.” said Angus softly, for once he wasn’t wearing his black helmet, and 
his short curly ginger hair could be seen.  
“Hey Angus.” said Turok.  
“How are things?” asked Kirie.  
“Bad.” he replied, “The troops are acting out o’ line an’ Ah’m supposed tae be 
their commanding officer.  Still, its a step closer tae becoming a great 
general.”  
“Good for you.” smiled Kirie.  
“Kirie, Ah’m sorry Ah dragged ye intae this.  Ah’m sure ye would have preferred 
tae have a normal life in yir village.” apologised Angus.  
“Don’t apologise.” she replied, “Its actually a relief to be away from home.”  
“How come?” asked Turok.  
“Ever since... my mother went crazy, I’ve been treated differently by the other 
kids.  But I think things may be better for me here.  I’ve got a nice job, and I 
met you guys, my true friends.”  
“Aye, but still...” groaned Angus, “... Ah don’t know about this place.  Ah 
joined hoping tae spend more time wit’ mah big brother, an’ tae serve the king, 
but then Ah heard that he was assassinated, an’ Brutor’s been acting so 
strangely.”  
“I can’t stand that Snide guy.” added Turok, “He bosses everyone around like he 
owns the place, and he’s so suspicious and...  ...  ...”  
Turok had stopped his sentence and was staring at something.  
“Beautiful...”  
“Ye think Snide’s beautiful?” questioned Angus strangely.  
Kirie followed his gaze to a cute young lady with long blonde hair and two long 
pig-tails, apparently lost.  
“Lucia! Over here!” she hollered.  
She smiled and came towards the table.  
“You know her?” said Turok excited, “You have Got to introduce me to her.”  
“No problem.” she replied.  
Lucia approached Turok and brushed some hair to the side, “May I sit here?” she 
asked softly.  
“It would be, I mean, any time, I mean...  Of course.” said Turok nervously.  
She smiled at him, easing his worries before sitting down, Turok couldn’t 
believe how much more beautiful she looked to him when she smiled.  
“So how are things in the science department?” asked Kirie.  
“Its okay.” Lucia replied, “Everyone’s treating me okay, but I haven’t got any 
real friends.”  
“You can rely on me.” smiled Kirie.  
“Thanks Kirie.”  
This was Turok’s big chance, “Um, I’ll be around, I mean, if you ever want to, I 
mean...  Me too.”  
“Oh...” she said a little confused.  
“Lucia, this is Turok.” introduced Kirie, “He works on defender duties, he’s a 
decent guy so maybe you should become friends, maybe even-”  
“That’ll do Kirie.” interrupted Turok politely, he couldn’t let her know he 
liked her in that way, not in front of everyone.  
“Angus! You’re needed!” called a trooper.  
“Ah’ll see ye later guys.” said Angus rushing off.  
“Shoot! I’ve gotta go too.” exclaimed Kirie, “I’ll leave you two alone.”  
She scurried out towards the lab.  
“Are you going to go any time soon?” asked Lucia.  
“Uh, I would never, I mean, Of course I, I mean, I mean...  No.”  
She giggled a little, getting used to this, “Don’t be so nervous, loosen up a 
little.  I’m as normal as anyone else.”  
“Of course you are.” Turok said, without mixing up his words at last.  
“Hey!” shouted Helena, banging her hands against the table and making Lucia 
jump.  
“Oh, its you.” she replied.  
“If you’re not gonna eat, then get back to work!”  
Turok knew instinctively that the two were twins, but he didn’t see the beauty 
in Helena, the differences between them were that they had different hairstyles, 
plus their personalities were definitely different.  
Turok was able to stare at Helena, and observe why he went crazy for Lucia but 
not her sister, he didn’t put the scars on Helena’s cheeks into the equation, it 
was her expressions and nature that put him off her.  
“I was... just...” said Lucia nervously.  
“Leave her alone!” shouted Turok, standing up, “She wasn’t doing anything 
wrong!”  
Helena smiled wryly, “Hey boy, why don’t you leave my little sister and hang out 
with a real woman.”  
“No thanks, I’m fine with Lucia, I don’t think you’re my type.”  
Helena exhaled in frustration and stormed off.  
“I brought you here to be unhappy and to become shadowed by my reputation, you 
will not make it with this guy...  I’ll steal him from you.” thought Helena.  
“Turok, you didn’t have to stand up to her, she’s dangerous...” said Lucia.  
“I wanted to, someone had to stand up for you.”  
“Oh Turok, thank you...”  

The two ate their lunch together, questioning each other and getting to know 
more about each other.  
“We should do this again sometime.” said Lucia as they left the table, “I’d 
better go now.”  
“No wait.” spluttered Turok, grabbing her hand gently.  
“I’m not going to be nervous.” he told himself, before speaking out loud, 
“Lucia, I don’t want to risk never seeing you again, and risk you meeting 
someone else.  From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special, I 
really like you, and I’d like to see you again... on a... date?”  
She was slightly shocked, and looked into Turok’s hopeful eyes.  
“Turok, I don’t know what to say...  You stood up to my sister when I backed 
away, and you seem like a genuine decent guy, and you must be if Kirie trusts 
you, but I don’t know about a relationship...”  
“I’m sorry, you taught to me to seize the moment, I just thought...”  
Lucia took another look at Turok, he was so disappointed, what reason did she 
have not to want such a nice guy apart from-  
“Alright, alright, I’ll do it, I’ll go out with you.” she said suddenly.  
“Really?!...  Oh Lucia, you’ve made me the happiest guy in the empire.” said 
Turok, grasping her hands gently.  
“Not so loud.” she warned, “Don’t draw so much attention, I’ll meet you here, 
same time tomorrow to discuss the date.  See ya...  Wouldn’t wanna be ya...”  
“You what?”  
“Oh sorry, its my catch phrase, deal with it.”  
Turok smiled as she left, and then clenched his fists in excitement, before 
strutting away happily.  

Unknown to them, Krytus had been watching them carefully.  
“So that’s the way ta do it, ‘it on Lil’ Sister an’ ‘elena will troi ta steal 
you from ‘er.  All Oi have ta do is do away with the kid, then Lil’ Sister will 
welcome me in ta comfor’ ‘er, and ‘elena will snatch me roight up.  Perfect...”  

Meanwhile in the labs, Kirie and Morn were working on a delicate experiment.  
“What next Professor Ridley?”  
“Morn.” he stressed, “And I’d like you to charge the rays onto the Euridium 
crystal, if I’m right, it will change the crystal into a higher source of power 
than it already is.”  
“Okay Sir.” she replied, and activated the ray.  
The crystal started glowing red, and suddenly exploded, Kirie fell back with a 
scream.  
Morn rushed to her, she was alive, but had a few shards of crystal in her arm.  

Later, Kirie was bandaged up.  
“I’m sorry Sir.”  
“Never mind, I must have miscalculated, I guess I’ll have to X-ray for internal 
damage.  Standard procedure.”  

Upon looking, Morn noticed something.  
“It can’t be...  But it is.  Her D.N.A, its just like... Hers...  Kirie is half 
Gaian, but she appears not to have any of her ancestors’ magic.  This is too 
perfect, Kirie could be the missing link to all my problems...”  

Outside, Turok and Eddy were on duty.  
Above them, work was being done on the first floor lookout section, Krytus was 
there and stepped forward.  
“Take a break boys.”  
“Thank you Krytus.” the workers said, and left.  
He stepped up to the edge and saw Turok below.  
“The firs’ step ta ‘elena’s love...  No ‘ard feelin’s, kid.”  
He jammed his claws into the bricks so that a huge chunk cracked and crumbled, 
and would undoubtedly crush Turok, if not both defenders.  

To be continued...  

Back to “Mercenary’s Dream”:  Part 2
Part 2
Back to “Past Heroes and New Beginnings”
Back to the Library