Prologue part 2:

Redan Fin-Va:

I stare at the One in horror. He looks just like my father. My father who is dead.

"Good, I hoped to find another meal." My father's image leers. "You Phalanx are a rare treat, but I was beginning to wonder if there were any of you left."

My breath comes in quick heaves and my hearts are racing. I want to scream. That evil creature looks just like my father.

Just like my father, but for those glittering red eyes and that cruel smile. I cannot look at that smile; it is a perversion of my father's laughing features.

I look at the ground, at the lifeless bodies of my people instead—at the body of my dead father. I reach out and squeeze his cold hand and it gives me courage.

When I look up the One is watching with sick amusement. "Does this form bother you?"

I clench my teeth and say nothing. I will not give him the satisfaction.

The One chuckles. "Perhaps this is better?"

As I watch the One seems to melt. My father's features dribble down the face in slimy green droplets. Another face slowly takes form. I recognize the nose first. Then the strong chin. When the eyes take shape, my breath stops and for a moment I convince myself that it is my mother I am looking at.

But I am not. Those glowing red eyes, that wicked smile, blemish my mother's gentle form.

My mother's mouth twitches into a smug grin. "You do not like this form either?" The One asks innocently. "How very particular you are Redan Neo-Va."

"How do you know my name?" I ask shakily.

The Soul-Eater takes one step towards me.

I back away. I must not let the One near me, if he touches me, he will kill me.

"How do you know my name?" I repeat.

"Your father told me." He replies.

I stare at him incredulously. "You have not talked with my father."

My mother's form moves another step forward. "Oh, but I have Redan." The One purrs. "I have talked to your mother also. She has told me things."

"You lie." I snap. "My mother would never converse with you Soul-Eater!"

"Not freely," he agrees. "But she pleads that I spare her beloved son. She begs that I do not harm Redan Neo-Va."

The One glides ever closer to where I stand, but I do not flee. I cannot. I feel rooted to this spot. It is as if, time has slowed, and the entire universe watches this one moment.

"No," I say hotly. "No! My mother is dead, you ate her soul!"

The One is a meager arm's length away. "Yes, and she is now part of me. As are the others. As you shall now be!"

The One lunges at me.

I quickly sidestep him.

As the One regains his balance, I turn and dash madly the other way. Away from the heart of battle, away from the body of my dead father, away from the Soul-Eater.

I hear One's laughter from close behind me. "I shall enjoy dining on your life-force, Redan Neo-Va."

I ignore him.

"Why do you run, Phalanx?" The voice echoes throughout the silence of She-dan plains. "I will catch you. Resistance is futile."

The voice sounds closer than before. I steal a glance behind me.

My mother's form is striding purposefully after me. Her pace is faster than possible!

Playing on reserves of strength, I force my own pace to quicken. I must get to the ship. I must lure the One inside, lock the door, and send him into space.

I look straight ahead of me. I realize that I am off the She-dan plains, now. The rolling purple grasses have disappeared.

I sight the Wanderer's Road and turn a sharp left.

"I will have you Phalanx! Surrender!"

The voice is almost upon me.

Out of pure panic, my speed increases. I glide down the road, running faster than I ever have. Trees rush by me in a bright blue haze, and every now and then, a reddish blur alerts me to lurboc bushes.

I am running so fast, that I almost miss the fork in the road.

Almost.

I turn a hard left and continue down the road.

A crashing noise behind me assures me that the One has turned also.

Good. The One must follow me.

My lower three legs feel heavy and my breath comes in ragged heaves, but thankfully I see it now.

There, a few paces in front of me, is the ship hangar.

The hangar is quite small, not very impressive. But at this moment, it is the most welcome structure I have ever seen.

Glancing behind me, I see my mother's figure moving steadily towards me. The One is within throwing distance.

Blanching, I race for the hangar. The metallic door slides silently open and I dash inside.

Inside the hangar is a large room, empty, but for the one ship. I race for it, my footsteps ringing throughout the building. A second set of footsteps alerts me to the One's presence.

"Begin launch sequence of ship, Trapli, by the authority of Redan Fin-Va." I scream to the empty room as I sprint for the ship.

I hear soft grinding noises as Trapli obeys my command.

I reach the ship and whirl around to face the One.

I must trick him into entering the ship.

"Come and get me Soul-Eater!" I taunt.

The One grins. "I shall, Redan Neo-Va."

"Fin-Va," I correct him coldly.

My mother's form laughs in amusement. "Very well, Redan Last Life." With her upper arms she strikes out at me.

I dodge her, but she throws another blow.

I dodge this one also.

I am worried. The Soul-Eater moves so fast. I must not let him touch me or he will kill me.

"I am the One who is Many. The One who is all," The Soul-Eater chants. "Join me, Phalanx."

My mother's form swings at me again.

I twist my body and her fingers narrowly miss my torso.

I am not going to survive, I realize with sudden clarity. The One will have me.

I know what I must do.

I run away from my mother's form, away from the One and inside the Trapli.

"You wish me to join you, Soul-Eater?" I ask bravely. "Then come and get me!"

My mother's form laughs maliciously and then steps onboard the Trapli. "I shall enjoy eating your soul, Redan Neo-Va."

"Fin-Va." I correct her coldly.

Fin-Va.

Last of the Phalanx.

"Ship, Trapli, secure outer hatch and lift off. Disregard any and all subsequent commands!" I scream. "Authority Redan Fin-Va."

My mother's red eyes flash in shock as the only escape from the ship is sealed.

Rumbling noises signal its departure from the Phalanx home world.

"You shall never escape this prison, Soul-Eater," I laugh. "This ship is programmed to avoid large gravitational fields. You will never land on a planet. You will never destroy another peoples." I pause before finishing. "You will never leave."

The One stares at me, digesting what I have said. "I may never leave," he snarles. "But neither shall you!"

The evil thing lunges at me and its hand makes contact with my own.

Pain.

Indescribable pain.

It feels as if my very essence is being scraped clean.

It hurts so badly that I cannot move.

I cannot think.

I can only watch, and the only thing I can see is eyes.

Glittering red eyes.