Chapter 14- The Light

Cale stood in an empty room. There was black surrounding him. It was a deep, dark void that one could figuratively touch. Cale turned around in confusion, seeing nothing but the night. There wasn't any floor or ceiling. It was as if he was standing on night itself. He ran into the dark, looking around helplessly for anything that could lead him out. He ran faster and faster until he tripped and fell over his feet. He hit the ground that was not there, violently. Stumbling to his feet, he gained composure of himself and stood up.

Cale paused as he heard a sound and saw a familiar, blue glow surrounding him. The buzzing noise was coming from behind. He slowly turned around, head first, and faced the magnificent glow. It was a deep blue that permeated the darkness in strings of electricity. In the center of the dim glow was a blue, round object. It appeared to be very similar to the Orb, but this wasn't it. It seemed, somehow, different, as if it wasn't a tangible object.

Cale walked slowly toward it, taking caution with every step. He gazed into the dim light blankly and yet, he was amused by it. As he crept closer, the dim light began to transform his body into shades of blue. The light reflected off of his eyes as he gazed deeply into it. He seemed mesmerized by it, as if it had consumed his mind. He grew closer to it and held out his hand, slowly, with his fingers extended. He held it out as far as his arm could reach.

A blue bolt came out and reached out to his hand. It searched around and explored his hand's anatomy as it stretched out from the light. The blue string of power began to go into his hand. The hairs on Cale's arm stood on end as the energy merged into him. It was warm and tinkled his fingers like one of the electricity balls that they used to sell in earth shops.

As Cale pulled his hand away from it, a low whispering voice could be heard. "Cale..." the voice called. He looked around in search of an origin for the noise, but all around was night. The blue ball illuminated the section where he was, but this place didn't seem to have sections; it was all dark. When no origin for the voice was found he gazed back at the Orb. Cale's lips quivered as he saw the light. He crept still closer to it, making slow steps.

He reached out again to touch the ball of light itself. This time, no bolt surged into him. As he reached out with his hand, the light stayed still, almost welcoming him. He touched the blue spectacle and it engulfed his hand. Then, he felt a tugging coming from the ball and it began to suck him forward. Cale screamed as he tried to dig his heels into the nothing of a floor, but it still drug him into it. His forearm was already inside the light and it continued up to his shoulder. He pulled on his arm with his other to try and free it from the light, but before he knew it, he was completely in. He couldn't move and it stung him all over, like a thousand knives ripping deep into his flesh. Cale writhed, screaming in total torment for his life.

Cale sat up and screamed at the top of his lungs. "Cale!" a voice came. He continued with his painful hollering until he felt a pillow hit his face. The softness of it was a comfort, even if it hit him in the face. "Cale!" Akima yelled, "are you all right?" She started caressing his back as he sat up, panting from his dream. "Are you okay?" she asked again. Cale, now becoming calm, wiped the sweat from his face and turned to Akima.

"Yeah. I- I'm fine." he replied with a sigh. She sat up next to him in a white nightgown. It was really just a large shirt, but it covered her while the baby grew inside.

"You sure, baby? You look like you've seen a ghost or something." Akima asked, still caressing him, trying to give him comfort and warmth. "Was it a bad dream?" she whispered.

"I... I don't know. It seemed too real, too smart." Cale quietly replied. "I felt... alone... and yet, in the midst of evil itself."

"It's all right, dear, it's all right." Akima hushed as she allowed Cale to rest his head on her shoulder. She looked into his eyes, searching for fear. His light, hazel eyes grew to be like black marbles in the dark. As she looked, she noticed something. Something she didn't notice from far away. As Akima gazed into his eyes, there was a small, blue glistening in the pupil of his eye. It was bright against the darkness, but it was only a speck. "Come on, honey, it's time to sleep again." Akima said as she held him and laid him back beside her that he might get rest.

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It was about midday according to earth time. The chronometer read 13:24, or 1:24 p.m. Korso was with Gune in the navigation. The Valkyrie was on it's way back to New Earth as they were busy talking about building a weapon to combat the Drej. Gune sat at his table with several of his tools on the it as Korso stood over him, leaning on the edge of it. Gune had a blueprint that he was drawing before him as Korso discussed the characteristics of what they'd need. Cale came in to see what they were up to.

"It needs to be as big as you can get it. We are talking about a Drej mothership, here." Korso explained as he pointed to a section on the blueprint. Cale walked up behind them and surveyed the table.

"Whatcha doin'?" he asked as he stood beside Korso.

"Designing a bomb. We're deciding to use EMP since it hurts the Drej and not us." Korso said as he pointed at the design. It was a cylindrical object that had a picture of an EMP generator on it. "I'm letting Gune use one of my EMP grenades so he can copy them into a larger scale model. Hopefully, it will be big enough to take out a Drej mother ship."

"Really? Sort of like an EMP nuke?" Cale asked.

"Sort of. We thought that EMP was the best choice since biological weapons don't work on them and explosives aren't destructive enough." Korso explained.

"Oh, okay. Well, I'll be seeing you around." Cale said as he left the room.

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Later on in the day, Gune was busy working away at building the EMP bomb. He had it basically assembled. It was a spherical generator that was held by frames of metal. It was very raw, as in it didn't have a shell yet, or any buttons to turn it on. Gune had both hands on the model as he checked to make sure it was supported correctly. "I put the magnification shield over the generator and that should-" Gune mumbled to himself. He held the generator close to him that he might see every little detail with his binocular-like eyes. He was inspecting it circumspectly when Cale once again came into the room.

He came up and crouched down next to Gune while resting his elbows on his knees. "How's it comin'?" Cale asked, the small, blue light still in his eyes.

"It is coming along as planned." Gune answered without taking his concentration off of the weapon for a second. He squinted as he brought it close to his face. Cale nodded and stood up and walked around the weapon that was built so far. He stepped behind Gune, who still didn't seem to notice that he was there. Gune kept on muttering as he worked whole heartily on the project.

Then, Cale paused. His eyes grew large and his expression blank as he froze. The blue light in his eyes seemed to grow. From deep down, he could hear a voice. It was raspy and quiet, yet it caught his attention. "That weapon will destroy us," the voice whispered, "it must not be built." The blue light began growing inside his pupils until, all black of it was consumed. Cale felt numb, as if his body was dead and yet his mind were still alive.

Cale screamed as he picked up Gune, who was heavy enough, and threw him into the wall. Gune screeched as he flew through the air and hit the wall violently. He fell to the floor with a thud once it had stopped him. Gune whimpered as he pulled himself up onto his knees. "Wha-?" Gune said as he held his aching head and was baffled by Cale's intentions for the throw.

Cale picked up the weapon and threw it into the wall as well. Gune became frightened when the blue light came glowing like flashlights out of Cale's two eyes. He yelled in a fit of rage as he walked toward Gune. Gune sat by the wall and assumed the fetal position, hoping Cale wouldn't hurt him further.

"Don't build any more weapons against the Drej!" Cale yelled as he punched Gune's shoulder. His voice sounded as if there were multiple people talking through him. It was still Cale's voice, but several different tones at the same time. Cale ripped Gune off the floor and stood him up. He flung Gune to his side and kicked his hip, sending Gune crashing on the floor. "Don't do that!" Cale yelled again.

Korso came running in with Stith and Akima following him. They were all surprised to see the situation that was taking place. "Cale, what are you doing?!" Korso asked as he grabbed Cale on the shoulder. Cale quickly turned around and gave Korso an uppercut. Korso fell back near Stith and Akima from the blow and moaned as he held his stomach.

"I'll take care of him!" Stith announced, now getting angered at Cale's blind rage. She approached Cale and grumbled in a threatening way as she held her fists clenched, ready to go. Stith sent her long leg at Cale in a kick, but ended up missing him as he ducked below. Her mighty kick dented the metal wall that was behind him. Cale sat on the floor beneath her large leg and grabbed it to pull himself up. Stith thrust her left fist forward and struck Cale on the face. Cale stumbled back and crashed into the holographic map.

His eyes grew brighter with an evil glow as his eyes became completely white. He gathered himself and gave a battle cry as he ran forward into Stith. She was sent back from his assault and fell on Gune's table. He ran to Stith and raised his fisted quite barbarously when he felt something restraining him. He turned his head to see Akima holding his hands, trying to keep him from hurting Stith. "Cale, please, don't." she cried, struggling to keep him under control.

"Akima," Cale's now multiple voices said, "I don't want to hurt you, for I have plans for you." She was taken back by the sound of his voices and let go of his arms. "That's what I thought." he added, turning around to finish off Stith. He was surprised to see that she had her legs constricted and facing him.

"Take this!" she said as she sent both monstrous feet into his face. Cale gasped as he was thrown back and hit the wall. He stayed on his feet though and stumbled to try and keep his balance. With that, he fell to one knee and crashed onto the floor unconscious, face down.

"Lock him up before he hurts anybody else." Korso groaned as he stood from the floor. He held his chest that Cale had hit so hard, too hard for his strength.

"I'll take care of it." Stith said, picking a limp Cale up from the floor and carrying him over her shoulder.

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Cale found himself in a small room. He noticed that it was his own room, the one he'd stayed in while searching for the Titan. He was laying on the bottom bunk of the two beds that were embedded in the wall. He sat up and let his legs over the side. The blue light was still in his eyes. It only went away when he blinked. He stood up and walked toward the door. When he put both hands on the wheel, he began turning it, but it stuck. It was locked. He groaned as he shook the door, trying to get out.

With no avail, he gave up and went back to the bed. He sat down and rested his head on his hands, which he propped on his knees. Cale sank his face into his hands and blotted out the light from view. Then, he heard a noise. Footsteps were coming from outside. They were close together and grew in volume as they came nearer. "Cale?" a voice came from the outside. Cale matched it to Akima. "Cale? Are you awake?" she asked through the door.

"I am." he replied. She held her face close to the door so Cale would be able to easily hear the sound better. Cale's voices answered monotonously.

"Why did you hurt Gune like that?" she asked. Cale looked up at the door, almost trying to imagine her standing there.

"I can hear them, Akima, I can hear their voices." Cale responded. He stood and crept closer to the door. "It's the most haunting experience in a person's life, hearing things. It is frightful, but once you get past it, the voices begin talking to you, urging you to do things." Akima was beginning to get worried. Cale didn't have a huge vocabulary, but he was using words in a way she'd never heard him use before. It was as if something, or someone, was speaking through him.

"Cale," Akima began, pausing to recap the last night, "the dream you talked about last night, do you think this has anything to do with it?" She listened intently, waiting for his response, but there was none. Then, Cale spoke up.

"Yes," he whispered. "It was the Drej. They're speaking to me. They made me turn on you." he quietly added.

"Cale, do you still have consciousness?" she quickly asked from his explanation.

"I am speaking to you out of my own free will. They have showed me what it is like to be one of them. To have that much power." Cale replied. This worried Akima. If he made clear decisions when he hurt Gune, then that meant that it was Cale who tried to hurt them; not the Drej. They had made Cale volunteer as one of their own. "It is so very addicting." Cale added.

Akima grew quiet. She was silently shuddering behind the locked door. He was starting to frighten her. This was incomprehensible to her. Her own husband, now with the Drej? This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. He was going to love her and care for her and protect her for the rest of his life, but now all of that seemed remote. "It's the light, Akima, I'm afraid of the light." Cale said.