Sectaurs Issue# 7
Story Title: The Hyve!
He is Prince Dargon, Mightiest Warrior on the Planet Symbion, and this day he seeks his world’s greatest secret!
Elsewhere,
Spidrax has had just about enough of the Hadji villager’s “guidance.” He
snaps his venom whip at one the Hadj guides to remind them of their purpose. One
of the guides tells the evil General that the Hyve will soon be at hand. But
Spidrax’s patience is at an end, and he wraps his whip around the neck of the
Hadji guide lifting him into the air. “It has taken far too long already…to
the point where I suspect a trick!” Spidrax glares, “Could it be you are
delaying me in revenge for my destruction of your village?” But the Hadj guide
faints from the intense pain. Undaunted, Spidrax looks to the guide’s
companion, reasoning that perhaps this one is made of “sterner stuff.” Then
Spidrax freezes in his tracks. Just ahead of them, a large structure looms out
of the mist. The Hyve! Spidrax tosses his victim aside and urges Spider Flyer
and his Winged Warriors forward. He warns his soldiers he’ll have the
Hyve…or their heads. Unbeknownst to Spidrax, Hadji villagers lie in wait in
the crevices above. The rebel leader instructs his fellows to wait until Spidrax
and his men have entered the gorge, and then they will strike. In this way, they
will bide time for Dargon to reach the Hyve while simultaneously gaining revenge
over Spidrax and his soldiers.
Back
in the Shining Realm, Belana runs from the conspiring Royal Lancers. She curses
the knowledge she has and continues the ceaseless, unrelenting debate. Should
she warn Galken of the conspiracy or should she stay silent? If the exile of
Dargon was indeed a deception, then the coup could upset whatever plan was
hatched between Royal Uncle and Royal Nephew. And yet if the coup takes place,
perhaps Dargon would return. “…I should rejoice in Galken’s overthrow
because that would mean my beloved Dargon might return home!” thinks an
agonized Belana, “But there my heart betrays my duty, for I am betrothed to
Zak- - Dargon's best friend!" In debating with herself, Belana has given
the conspirators ample opportunity to find her. She flees in an attempt to evade
them, but it is no use. She is unfamiliar with the streets of Prosperon and ends
up trapped in a cul-de-sac. The treasonous Lancers face Belana with swords
drawn, determined that she will not escape to warn Galken of their plans.
Unaware
of the doom facing her whom he secretly loves, Prince Dargon closes in on the
Hyve. “It is built like a
fortress!” observes an astonished Dargon, “What enemy did the ancients who
built it fear?” Mantor suggests that beings who possessed power like the
ancients would have no one to fear. “Except perhaps themselves!” Stellara
offers. Zak comments that it was the Ancients who were responsible for the Great
Cataclysm. Pinsor concurs, suggesting that the Hyve “reeks of evil magic,”
and that the structure should be destroyed before its power destroys them. Zak
mocks Pinsor’s superstitious fear, and likens him to Old Galken before they
convinced the Regent of the Hyve’s necessity. The cocky young warrior
confesses that he likes the idea of having power on his side of the battle.
Mantor cautions Zak’s boldness. Assuming the power of the Ancients is not
something to joke about. Zak claims he’s not joking. When on the verge of war,
why not end it before it begins? The conversation is interrupted by a
threatening voice, “Who dares intrude upon the guardians of the Hyve…?!”
Without warning, a great beast lurches from out of the rocks and attacks the
heroes. The creature calls itself the Naurr and threatens to destroy all those
who invade the Hyve. Dargon gapes at the latest unknown monstrosity that
challenges them. Mantor states that he should have known that the Ancients would
not have left their secrets so easily out in the open. “Couldn’t you have
dropped a hint to the rest of us?” shouts Zak as the Wing Thing tips over.
Both Stellara and Zak fall to the ground. Pinsor, frightened for Stellara’s
safety, goes after her. Dargon watches as Pinsor charges ahead to rescue
Stellara. “Even in battle Pinsor leaps to Stellara’s defense with words of
love upon his lips,” the Prince observes as he fires his Vengun at the Naurr,
“Does she return his love? I fear not. Stellara regards Pinsor as the father
she never knew, while he would have her call him…mate. I pray his unrequited
love will not end in sorrow.” Suddenly from out of the rocks, a second
“guardian” lurches forward and attacks Dargon and Dragonflyer head on. It hisses out it’s name as the Vipex, and knocks Dargon off
his loyal insectoid. Mantor rushes to his pupil’s side and asks if he his
hurt. Dargon mutters that the only thing damaged is his pride. The Warrior
Prince rises up on his side slowly and fires another shot at the attackers.
While firing Dargon questions how these creatures could still be alive when the
Ancients have been dead for so long. The only answer Mantor can think of are
legends of undying Guardians of the Hyves…yet there were no guardians at the
first Hyve. “How can brutes so brainless fight us to a standstill?” yells a
frustrated Stellara. “Brainless? Compared to who old Pinsor?” jokes Zak,
“I’d describe these creatures as paragons of intelligence.” Pinsor is hurt
and infuriated by the slight, but not nearly so as Stellara who tells Zak off on
the spot. She calls his “joke” malicious and reminds the thoughtless young
warrior that Pinsor would lay down his life for any of them. Zak puts up his
hand defensively and assures his friends that he would do the same. Stellara
suggests he do so by apologizing, yet for now, they have a battle to win. Zak
curses his overactive mouth that has once again gotten himself in trouble. He
wonders when he will learn self-control. Bitaur growls a comment, to which Zak
telepathically snaps, “No one asked you, Bitaur!” As his friends fight on,
Mantor finally notices something. The Naurr fights to guard the Hyve, yet the
Vipex seems to fight to protect the Naurr. The wise old counsel decides to use
the creatures unusual bond against them. Mantor orders Raplor to fire his web
line at the Naurr. As the web line encircles the Naurr, Mantor charges the line
with his staff, making the filament unbreakable. The Vipex rushes to the
Naurr’s aid trying desperately to free him. While distracted, Dargon orders
his friends to go forward and quickly take the Hyve.
Spidrax
and his soldiers have been jumped by the Hadji, but the poor Hadji villagers are
not trained warriors and are quickly dispatched by the Skull Soldiers. As
Spidrax reaches the Hyve, he sees the entangled Naurr with the Vipex still
trying desperately to free him. Obviously Dargon has been here, but there is
still time to wretch the prize from him.
As
the Sectaurs of the Shining Realm reach the Hyve, there appears to be no
entrance in sight. Or at least, no entrance in obvious sight as Mantor raises
his Power Staff to reveal a massive doorway that opens before them.
The heroes enter the Hyve and are once again surrounded by wonders beyond
their reckoning. Pinsor still regards the power surging around them as a source
of considerable evil while Mantor continues to assert that it is the one who
wields the power that makes it good or evil. “Guess which Spidrax intends to
use it for!” comes Zak. Mantor answers that it is not necessary to guess what
Spidrax’s (or Empress Devora’s) true interest is in finding the Hyves. That
dark horror will never be. Mantor turns to Pinsor, Stellara, and Zak and orders
them to search the Hyve for more guardians while he and Dargon attempt to
unravel the mystery before them. Zak
is pleased with the order and is eager for adventure at last. Dargon gazes at
the technological vastness before him and begins to drift into thoughts of his
father. King Markor disappeared while searching for the Hyves, and now Dargon
wonders if he and his friends will share his fate. Mantor points to a platform
which, he theorizes, the Ancients used to attune themselves to the environmental
forces of Symbion. Dargon realizes the impact of Mantor’s statement. Whoever
controls the weather controls the planet. Dargon motions Mantor to the platform,
citing that the old teacher has more knowledge in such things than he did. But
Mantor disagrees. No one on Symbion is adept enough to wield the Ancient’s
power. By birth right, it is Dargon’s position to assume such power, and
Mantor’s place to counsel him on it.
Outside,
Spidrax and his Skull Soldiers launch their assault on the Hyve, but Pinsor,
Stellara, and Zak are waiting for them. Stellara mans the Power Pulsor and in
mere seconds learns how to use it. She fires without discrimination at the
attacking Skull Soldiers. “You’re at ease with any weapon Lass!” shouts
Pinsor with pride, “Just as I trained you.” Pinsor
swings a mammoth wrecking ball and with it sweeps his enemies from the Hyve!
Zak somersaults through the air evading enemy fire. He revels in the battle
saying he'd prefer to stand and fight versus all the searching. Spidrax
approaches him and makes a mockery of Zak’s gymnastics. Spidrax flicks his
whip at Zak who successfully dodges it but is gravely concerned. Spidrax has
come close to defeating Dargon in combat. Zak is a skilled warrior but not that
skilled…and proceeds to run from his attacker.
Mantor
configures the controls for the platform while energy begins to surge through
Dargon. Dargon is taken aback by what he begins to experience. He can sense the
power of the planet Symbion itself, the ebb and flow of the oceans, the subtle
movements of the crust, shifts in the environment…everything. “I have become
like a…god!” Dargon declares in numbed shock. The Prince reaches down into
the planet and unleashes a volcanic like explosion within the vicinity of
Spidrax, knocking him away. As the terrific power swells through him, Dargon
expresses that such power could enable the user to wield it as wished. They
could do anything, destroy anything, and nothing would stand in the user’s
way…at least until the user lost all control and unleashed the cataclysm.
Dargon announces aloud that he rejects such power, and upon doing so, the power
rejects him and throw him across the room. Mantor rushes to his aid. Just then,
Zak stumbles onto the scene. Mantor explains to Zak that Dargon rejected the
power of the platform and will need time to recover from the shock. Zak is
confused as to why Dargon would reject the power especially with Spidrax
pounding on the gate to the Hyve. Zak leaps onto the platform to absorb the
power himself despite Mantor’s warning. The young warrior relishes the power
he now finds himself able to wield. He causes the skall to grow and ensnare the
Skull Soldiers outside. He then creates a Hurricane to sweep away Spidrax and
his remaining Wing Warriors. Down below, the surviving Hadji watch as the
Meander Mist is swept away by the powerful winds, leaving them exposed and
visible to their enemies. Zak is thrilled with what he can do, though Mantor
doubts that he can distinguish between his friends and his enemies. But Zak
claims to see everything very clearly! “What’s this? Symbion lies exposed
before my eyes, every Sectaur’s soul laid open! And I see writ on every one of
those pages unending strife! Each breath…each step that every Sectaur takes
destroys some aspect of his environment! I – I must cleanse Symbion of these
creatures!”
Back
in Prosperon, a huge wave washes away the Royal Lancers who were chasing Belana.
Belana clings to a pole for dear life and watches in horror as her pursuers are
swept away.
Dargon
tries to reason with Zak, but realizes the power has warped his friend’s
senses. Zak is more concerned with the survival of the planet than he is with
the souls living on it, and is about to unleash a second Cataclysm. Dargon
wrestles with the thought of having to take out his best friend, but to save
Symbion and countless other lives, he has no choice. The Prince throws Symator
upward slicing one of the power cables to the platform, and prays that his
friend will survive the shock. Mantor absorbs the remaining power with his
staff, and decides that it is far too great for anyone to brandish, be they
Ancient or Sectaur. Upon absorbing
all the power, Mantor sends it streaking upward and back into the planet that
generated it. Dargon attempts to recover from the sudden release of energy and
weakly calls out to Zak. But Zak lays motionless on the platform. Frustrated,
Dargon looks to his friend with tears streaming down his face. Cursing the
Ancients, he wonders if he just had to sacrifice his best friend to save the
planet. “Put me…back on the platform…and charge it up again…and I’ll
ask ‘em…for you…,” responds a battered Zak who can barely speak. Dargon
is thrilled that his friend can still joke through such seriousness. The Prince
lifts his friend up and carries him outside. Dargon prays that a day may never
come when Zak wouldn’t be around to lighten their lives with his humor. If it
did, surely all of Symbion would be in mourning.
Commentary
This was another issue that was hard for me to pick up again after the first reading, but eventually grew on me. Zak is definitively one of my favorite characters in this series, and it was kind of hard to watch him trip around in this issue. First he ticks everyone off when he cracks a very hurtful joke at Pinsor’s expense then he literally almost destroys Symbion over his own short sighted cockiness. Not what I would call a good day. I think when you have a favorite character, you start empathizing with them on some level, and when you see Zak in this issue, you not only end up feeling sorry for him, you almost feel embarrassed for his actions. But the story is quite good. There is an allusion made to the cause of the Great Cataclysm, that it was in fact a compassionate mistake. In feeling empathy for the planet’s suffering, the Ancients inadvertently swept all life away (interesting concept of empathy switched around. In feeling the planet’s suffering one forgets the suffering of the beings on the planet. Scary thought). We’re also introduced to two “characters” that came with the Hyve play set…one being the Naurr and the other the Vipex. I thought it was kind of an appealing play to have the Naurr guarding the Hyve and the Vipex guarding the Naurr. As always Stellara is in awesome form, figuring out how to use the canon to quickly defeat her enemies (You just had to know that was coming ^_^). Unfortunately, this is Issue #7 of an eight issue series. It was supposed to be 12, but only lasted 8. But we’ll talk more about that later…
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