Sectaurs Issue# 8
Story Title: Battle and Betrayal!
From a chariot draped in the honor colors of the Shining Realm, Regent Galken calls out to his soldiers to march forward to war. In front of the ancient Hyve, two warring factions come to meet. The Royal Army of the Shining Realm against the Imperial Guard of the Dark Domain. On seeing the approach of the Shining Realm forces, Skulk sounds an alarm exclaiming to his stepmother that the Shining Realm has broken the treaty with the Dark Domain. “As if we hadn’t broken it first, Skulk!” states an annoyed Spidrax. The Empress concurs with Spidrax but adds that it is interesting to see Galken oppose them openly. It was the last thing she would have ever expected from the Regent. After all, wasn’t it his renegade nephew that had control of the Hyve?
On the opposing side, Galken expects that Devora has finally realized that Dargon’s exile was nothing more than a ruse. Belana is riding beside the Regent and she confirms that all Sectaurs of the Shining Realm know the truth about Dargon’s and Galken’s plan. Both are honored for it. Belana sits back on her mount, excited at the prospect that Dargon will soon be returning to the Shining Realm, and that she may walk beside him again. But what would be the point? She’s betrothed to Zak and could never reveal to Dargon what her true feelings are.
At the top of the Hyve’s battlements, Dargon and the others watch the two armies as they face off. Mantor wonders if there is still time to avoid a battle through negotiations. Zak asks why they would wish for talk over battle. Manning the Power Pulsor, Zak momentarily wishes the Hyve still had power, “I’d blow the Empress away before she could even open her lying mouth!” Dargon turns to his friend and suggests that he be thankful that the Hyve no longer has power…for both his sake and the planet’s. Zak hangs his head at the memory, admitting that at the time the planet seemed to need purifying. "Yes- -of all living things. . .including us Sectaurs!" comes Stellara turning her head. Mantor adds that such is the loss of perspective that comes with absolute power. Thinking to himself, Mantor reflects that Zak would've made a poor god. The old Keeper wonders if he will make a better deity. . .once he studies the portion of the Hyve's power he managed to secretly store in his staff. As he glances down at the two armies below, Pinsor wonders aloud what they should do now. Dargon reasons that both armies will expect them to unleash the awesome power of the Hyve. . .power which they no longer have in possession because Dargon rejected it. Will his Uncle be able to understand and forgive his reasoning? Will his people think him a coward and traitor after all? Mantor tells the Young Prince that he can no more affect his Uncle's thoughts than he can stop the war about to begin. Stellara looks at the two warring factions and asks helplessly if there is nothing they can do. Pinsor affirms her worst fears.. .there is absolutely nothing they can do, but watch the horror unfold before them.
Lying in her Imperial Litter, Empress Devora snidely looks over Galken as he stands defiantly before her. "You surprise me Galken!" the evil woman says with a sneer, "I thought you do your fighting with a pen, not a broadskall." With his hand resting firmly on his sword, ready at any moment to unsheathe it and unleash its fury, Galken boldly stares Devora down and reminds her that once he was a warrior. Devora throws her head back and laughs. Yes, she sarcastically recalls remembering a time when Galken was a warrior. . .back when the Empress was a child. She also recalls something about Galken being overshadowed by the brilliance of his older brother. "Where is the King of the Shining Realm these days?" the Empress asks feigning ignorance, "Leaving his bureaucratic brother in charge of his kingdom while he went a questing- -suggests that he was as incapable of ruling as you are of waging war." Galken casts aside the statement saying that he had hoped to avoid a war, but it was now quite obvious there could be no peace maintained with a sadistic, power hungry creature like Devora. Galken raises his sword and points it directly at Devora, and then calls on Dargon to unleash the power of the Hyve upon the whole of the Dark Domain forces. In a fit of panic, Skulk suggests the Dark Domain plead for mercy. Spidrax silently agrees with Skulk. The evil General has already been on the receiving end of the Hyve's power, and he would rather surrender than face it again. Irritated by their cowardice, Devora wrenches away Spidrax's whip and lashes it at Galken. Galken, however, allows the whip to wrap around his broad skall. "Old I may be, Empress. . .," he tells the wicked monarch, "but you do me wrong if you think age has made me forget how to fight!" With a strong tug, Galken yanks the whip, ripping Devora out of her litter and face first onto the ground. Galken stands over Devora as she lies on the ground, and claims that a loss long ago set him on the path to seek peace. But, if battle requires him to take up the sword again, he would be more than glad to do so. Enraged, Devora tells the Regent and the Shining Realm Army to prepare for their final battle. When it is all over, Devora would rule Symbion supreme. Waspax and Skulk rush to suck up, er, assist Devora back onto her litter. The Empress sees through their brown nosing and casts them away, remarking that Galken is twice the warrior Waspax and Skulk were. The dark monarch commands Spidrax to ready for the final, massive assault. "Yes, my Queen," mutters Spidrax as he bends down to pick up his whip while keeping his eyes set squarely on the Shining Realm Forces. Suddenly Spidrax looks up the side of the Hyve. Why didn't Prince Dargon release the power of the Hyve when Galken commanded? The dark General considers the thought for a moment. . .and realizes that the Hyve may no longer have power. Then there is NOTHING to stop the Dark Domain. "Skull Soldiers- -shoulder arms," the evil Warlord shouts, "Wing Warriors- -mount your insectoids! Let the battle begin!" A temporary moment of silence swept over the two opposing sides as reality set in. This was it, war was HERE! The silence was finally broken by a bugler from the Dark Domain, who sounded the charge to attack. It was issued a reply by the bugler from the Shining Realm, who called his troops to arms. In an instant, both sides fell upon each other. The final battle of Symbion had begun. Galken immediately took to the battle feeling a sense of release he had not felt in years. "Let the battle be the stuff of legend!" he shouts to his troops. Waspax is taken back by the ferocity with which the Shining Realm Forces fight and comments aloud that they "fight as if possessed!" Spidrax dismisses the concept; the Shining Realm Warriors are nothing but weaklings to be crushed under the mighty foot of his army. Spidrax turns to face Galken head on. The Regent is confused. Why hasn't Dargon unleashed the power of the Hyve yet? Spidrax lashes his whip toward Galken, but the Regent smartly catches the attack with his shield. Spidrax taunts the old warrior, saying there is no hope of Dargon using the power of the Hyve to defeat the Dark Domain forces. If there was any power left in the Hyve, the Prince would have used it by now. Nearby, Belana overhears the exchange and wonders if what Spidrax says is true. Is the battle, the quest, the death of every brave Shining Realm Soldier on the field all for nothing? The young Handmaiden decides to find out for herself. Telepathically bonded to a flying insectoid, Belana flies to the top of the Hyve to confront Dargon and learn the truth.
From the battlements of the Hyve, Dargon watches in anguish as his soldiers fight to the death. Without the power of the Hyve to aid them, he laments that can do nothing but standby and watch the death of his kinsmen. "No power? How can this be, my Prince?" comes a beautiful voice from behind. Dargon turns around and finds Belana standing near him. Belana confronts Dargon with the truth: the Hyve no longer has power and the forces of the Shining Realm are doomed. A tear gently falls down Belana's cheek, but Dargon tenderly wipes it away with his hand. He tells Belana not to despair, the Shining Realm will overcome this desperate hour. Zak watches Dargon and Belana interact, and for the first time, suspects that Dargon loves her deeply. Stellara pouts and looks away. Why did Belana have to show up? She had Dargon all to herself. Belana looks up into Dargon's face and asks if Dargon and the others will enter the battle. Dargon mounts Dragonflyer and prepares to dive into the fight to save his Uncle. In a fit of anger, Mantor slams the bottom of his staff onto the ground, releasing a blast of energy. "Are you insane?!" the old counselor shouts at the Prince, "Have you no conception of what is at stake?" Mantor corroborates Dargon's assertion. . .yes, the Shining Realm may indeed fall, but there is a greater danger facing them. Devora may defeat Galken this day, but if the wicked Empress gains control over the Hyves, the entire planet of Symbion will fall into darkness. Dargon protests Mantor's claim. The Royal heir can not stand by and watch his friends and family die. Mantor insists that the young Prince must. If Galken falls, the future would be dark. "But if the Empress seizes the Hyves, there will be no future at all!" Mantor concludes. The old teacher insists that King Markor knew this to be true, which is why he set out to seek the location of the Hyves. Dargon glances down at the ground and is startled to see his father's symbol carved into the stone of the Hyve's battlements. King Markor had been there and left. Mantor suggests that the King went on to locate the other Hyves and destroy them before Devora could possess them. The royal advisor drives the point home that neither kings or kingdoms are important. Symbion is the ultimate value and must be protected for all future generations to come. Dargon counters that he is warrior in approach to problems while Mantor is a philosopher. But Mantor confronts Dargon saying that he is more than a warrior. He is a Prince, and the fate of the entire planet is in his hands. Pinsor, Stellara, and Zak dispute Mantor's concession and insist on fighting. Belana turns to Zak and tells him that if he fights with the Shining Realm he will most likely die with it. But if they leave now and find the other Hyves before Devora, they could save the planet and everything the Shining Realm stood and fought for. Dargon is in agony. He must choose between his people and his planet. With his head sunk into his chest, the defeated Prince tells Mantor to lead him to the next Hyve.
Down below on the battlefield, one of the Shining Realm officers directs Galken's attention to the Hyve. Galken looks up and sees Dargon and the others leaving. The Regent assumes that Dargon is abandoning them and keeping the power of the Hyve for himself while he leaves his kinsmen to die. A betrayed Galken shouts "Traitors" after the departing Prince and companions.
Not so far away, Dargon's departures catches the eye of Devora and Skulk. Skulk wonders if Dargon is heading to destroy the Dark Domain while they are embattled here with the Shining Realm. Spidrax calls Skulk's reasoning foolish. If Dargon had any power, he would of used it by now. Devora countermands Spidrax's point. It may be possible that Dargon has some of the Hyve's power, and if so, she wants him destroyed before he can use it. But Spidrax complains that the only way to do so would be to split up their forces. . .such an action could cost the Dark Domain victory. Devora thinks the real reason is because Spidrax is afraid of facing the Hy've's power, "Do you think it's escaped my notice how you quiver with the mere thought that he might command the power of the Hyves?" The Wicked Empress tells Spidrax to either conquer his fear or concede authority over the Dark Domain forces to another Sectaur. Spidrax reluctantly obeys and splits up his forces to pursue Dargon.
Galken's attention is once again turned to the sky and he sees half of the Dark Domain's forces going after Dargon. He now wonders if that were his nephew's plan all along; divide the Dark Forces to give the Shining Realm a chance at Victory.
Dargon's feelings of guilt get heavier and heavier the farther away he travels from the fighting behind him. He knows he made the correct choice, but he feels for those he left behind who are about to lose their lives. "If only death could claim me, for I can not live with myself!" he says. A voice from above says he would be more that happy to grant Dargon's request. Stellara looks up to see Spidrax and his Wing Warriors diving right on top of them. Mantor questions why Spidrax would pursue them, unless, Devora believes they are escaping with the power of the Hyves. In a tough final decision, Mantor decides to release the Hyve power he stored in his staff at their pursuers. A crimson blaze strikes down at the surface of Symbion, startling both good and evil Sectaurs alike. . .from the surface emerges the skeletal remains of huge prehistoric creatures, walking and moving as they had when they were flesh and blood. Dargon, Belana, Stellara, Zak and Pinsor look on in disbelief as the ancient predators turn their fury on the Dark Domain troops trailing them. The result of the conflict is one sided. The reanimated monstrosities quickly make short work of the Wing Warriors. The Dark Army is at a loss as to how to attack something that is already dead. "It's horrible," shudders Belana. Mantor admits that the power of the Hyves has a terrible potential in anyone's hands. As he looks down, Mantor discovers another of King Markor's markers. Dargon wonders if his father was destroyed before he could finish his mission. Belana suggests that the only way to find out is to follow the path laid before them. The Prince agrees. After betraying their own kingdom, they have no choice but to move ahead.
Spidrax cracks his whip at one of the attacking skeletons. So Dargon had some of the power of the Hyve after all, and now he's going off to find the other Hyves. If the Shining Realm Prince found them, there would be no where on Symbion where the evil general can feel at peace. That settled it. Spidrax decides that the Hyves must belong to him and him alone.
Dargon glances down at Mantor's staff and makes mention that the powerful glow it once had has grown weaker. Mantor confirms that the little bit of the Hyve's power that was stored in his staff has been expended. But the old teacher looks to the path ahead and points to the unseen wonders that lie before him and his companions.
Spidrax prepares to lash out again at the skeletal predator plaguing him. Suddenly, with the power of the Hyve expended, the skeletons fall back to the ground a pile of bones. Relieved, Spidrax gets ready to take off after Dargon when he hears a bugle call. . .it is the Dark Domain sounding the call for retreat. Spidrax flies back and confronts Skulk. They had the Shining Realm outnumbered, how could they have lost. Skulk whimpers that the Shining Realm fought back with terrific strength and courage, and with the Dark legions split. . .. "Cursed Woman," Spidrax shouts, 'Tis exactly what I warned the Empress would happen!" The Empress holds her hand to her head as if fending off a headache. She acknowledges Spidrax was right and she was wrong, and gives total authority over all her forces to Spidrax. Skulk begins to protest but the Empress coldly commands her son to shut up. Waspax looks on in disdain; once again he has lost a chance of command to a barbarian general. Spidrax leads his Wing Warriors to attack the Shining Realm, enabling his ground forces to retreat. When the grounds troops have made their retreat, Spidrax finally orders his aerial troops to turn back. Galken finally relaxes and thanks the gods it is finally over. The Shining Realm has survived. Draymor turns to the Regent declaring the victory as theirs. Galken questions such a victory. So many soldiers were lost, including his dear nephew. Dargon has set out to find the power of the Hyves. Will he return as a savior of the realm, or will he never return like his father? Dargon seems lost to him forever. As Dargon and his companions walk into the twin setting suns of Symbion, Galken's voice echoes out to them; "The fate of our world rests in your hands Dargon!" the Regent says, "Be true to your heritage, my nephew! May the gods of Symbion be with you- -where ever you go!"
And whether Dargon's quest for his lost father and the secret of the Hyves ends in success or failure is a tale for some future time. . .for herein our story must end. . .
Commentary
This was a short, sudden end to a great story. Originally, the Sectaurs comic was supposed to be a bi-monthly series 12 issues long, but sadly, it only lasted 8. I can imagine what the writers had to deal with. The series has been cancelled, wrap the story up. And wrap it up they did! A desperate final battle between good and evil, more dramatic Hamlet style angst played out by our favorite Prince, and an open ended finale (probably set in place in case the series could be resumed at some point). The artwork, especially the melodramatic Hamlet scenes, were excellent. It's amazing how emotion itself can be drawn in such a powerful way (one of the reasons I love comics so much). The only complaint I have (and it should be obvious right about now) is the whole love triangle thing (or in this issue, it's probably a love parallelogram). Zak loves Belana (we think, or does he take her for granted?), Belana loves Dargon, Dargon loves Belana, Stellara loves Dargon, Pinsor loves Stellara. . .I can't deal with this! This is why I don't watch soap operas. God help them as they walk out into that sunset. Jealously will probably kill them before the Hyves do. For all you romantics out there, you're probably wondering, why do I have such a problem with this scenario? All right it had to come eventually, it's time for my soap box (no I'm not going to shove morality down your throats, and I'm going to attempt a philosophical point). As the saying goes, war is hell. A lot of people look at series like Sectaurs, or Transformers, or G.I. Joe, or any other "violent" series, and think it's glorified killing that attracts viewers and readers alike. Being a fan of such "violent" series, I can say that, that is not why I watch or read. War is the ultimate evil. . .it has no earthly match. Everything, and I mean everything, is annihilated. The only way to match and defeat a level of evil that intense is with an equal level of good. The intensity, power, and loyalty between soldiers in arms is unlike any relationship ever formed on this planet. It's the power of that relationship that enables a soldier to do battle and defeat that evil head on. That is why the loss of such a relationship is so powerful when your comrade dies. That's why you see grown men crying at the Vietnam War Memorial or the graves at Normandy. And that is why you see Veterans stand up first and salute when the National Anthem is played before the start of games. That power and strength is what I see in the characters of the various shows and comics I once enjoyed (and still do). Seeing things like the Belana/Dargon/Zak triangle, where a best friend has the hots for another friend's girl, that's the antithesis of everything I hold dear in these different series. But in spite of the "romance dysfunctions," this comic series was excellent and would've had a great run if allowed to live.