Part 5:
When Evil Comes
Evilynn and Triklops entered the bridge of the battleship, officers and crewmembers working at their assigned stations all around. Before reaching halfway across the bridge, Evilynn was cut off by a large cyborg with a massive cybernetic right-arm, his lower jaw replaced by a heavy robotic one lined with razor-sharp pointed teeth.
"Evilynn!" the cyborg growled with a hint of static in his voice. "What took you so long? Have you brought Eternia to its knees on your own?"
"Get out of the way, Trap-Jaw" Evilynn snorted, barely even offering the cyborg a glance.
The bottom tip of a fierce trident was slammed against the floor as an amphibious monster of a humanoid hindered Evilynns advance towards the far end of the bridge. "Sssso" the vicious sea-creature hissed, its gills and fins, riddled with tiny thorns, shook as it spoke, "what nnnewsss thennn frommm King Rrrandorrr?"
Evilynn came to a halt before the creature. "General Mer" she acknowledged with distaste. "I wasn't aware we would be honored by your... smell. I thought you had more pressing matters to attend, fighting the Speleans?"
General Mer hissed as he lowered his head threateningly. "Mmmy forcesss cannn hannndle that onnn theirrrr ownnn. Sssskeletorrrr sumonnned meeee here himsssselffff."
Evilynn frowned with contempt for the creature and its vile stench. "A true mystery to me" she said and wrinkled her nose with yet another frown.
"Do not question my judgment, Evilynn."
Before the vicious looking amphibian had time to reply to the witch, the sinister voice had caught all their attention from the fore of the bridge. Everyone turned to watch the hooded man up by the vast view-ports as he spoke with his bone-chilling voice.
Turning, ever leaning against his staff crowned by a rams skull, soon a golden mask depicting a human skull could be seen under the hood. "We need General Mer and his Myrmidon here, for Eternia, and her king, is not to be underestimated."
"But Lord Skeletor" Evilynn said, "Keldor is dead, as is King Miro. This Randor is not even half the man his father or brother was. With our combined powers, my master, Trap-Jaw and Triklops would overwhelm their defenses."
Skeletor merely chuckled. "Your pride and arrogance will be your downfall, Evilynn" he said. "No. We need to be swift and ensure a quick victory on Eternia, so we do not risk spoiling such a rich prize with prolonged conflict."
General Mer was somewhat confused by this. "But therrre issss nnno ssstrrrategicalll immmporrrtanccce to thisss pllllanet. It isss a smalllll annnd innnsssignificannnt worrrrllld that onnnllly drawssss resssssourcccesss frommm the mmmmainnn fighting forrrr nnnno apparennnnt rrrreassssonnn."
Skeletor chuckled, a most diabolical cackle, as he left the view-ports and the magnificent view of the gathered armada. Walking further into the center of the bridge to join the others, his staff struck the floor in unison with his steps. "Oh, this planet has more worth than you give it credit, general. The famed library of Eternias royal palace guards many of the universes most well-kept secrets."
"According to legend" Evilynn pointed out concerning the famous library found on Eternia, well known across the galaxies. "But what is it you expect to find there, master?"
"Legends" Skeletor answered, glancing at Evilynn from behind his golden skull-mask. "Legends is what I hope to find. Legends I can turn to facts."
"Concerning what?" Trap-Jaw inquired, the cyborg by now intrigued by his masters mysterious plot.
Skeletor came to a halt a few steps away from his most trusted allies. Looking at them from out under the rim of his hood, even his golden mask could not hide the devious smile he was unable to hold back. "The secret location of Castle Grayskull."
Evilynn was not sure she believed it herself. "Grayskull is lost and forgotten. The Templars died and took that ancient place with them into obscurity."
"But the powers said to be found there..." Trap-Jaw said eagerly, knowing full well the myths and legends concerning the ancient headquarters of the mighty Templars and their Grand Master; He-Man.
"Is worth the effort and the manpower wasted" Skeletor filled in as he briefly glanced at General Mer and then Evilynn. "If we manage to locate Castle Grayskull, and harness its ancient power... I will become, Master of the Universe."
Skeletor burst out into sinister laughter, all too pleased with himself and his plan, not to mention the idea of wielding the mythical powers of the Templars, and the dream to unleash it on his enemies.
"Sssso how willlll you forccce King Rrrandorrr to ssssubmit?" the amphibious monster, ever armed with his trident, asked.
"Cunning shall herald the arrival of your forces, general" Skeletor revealed and then turned to Triklops. "Is Webstor and Beast Man in position on the planet?"
Triklops confirmed it with a single slow nod.
"What?" Evilynn said, slightly offended it seemed. "I was not informed that they were to be released on Eternia."
"No" Skeletor replied, short and to the point. "I did not want your arrogance to risk revealing that I already had my forces on the planet. Now, King Randor prepares for an invasion from outer space, not knowing my allies have already landed on his precious rock."
Trap-Jaw began to chuckle, a mix of malice and confidence. A low, pleased, growl escaped from General Mer as the terrifying amphibian turned to look at Evilynn and Triklops; the witch allowed a cocky smirk to form on her lips at, while Triklops ever remained a statue of controlled emotion.
"Now" Skeletor said, "Eternia shall feel the full wrath of Skeletor!"
XXX
Men-at-arms were on the move all over the palace despite the late hour. Gunships and attack-craft patrolled the skies. The noise was too much to allow Adam any sleep. Tossing and turning in his bed, eventually it was all too much and ripping his sheets from him, the prince got out of bed frustrated and tired. Pulling on a pair of pants and a shirt and vest, he headed for a window and looked out over the palace; everywhere he could spot the squads of men-at-arms moving, overhead gunships flew past, floodlights searched both land and sky around the palace. Up in the sky multiple dots of light moved among the sparkling stars, the Eternian fleet in low orbit easily spotted by the naked eye. Prince Adam of Eternia sighed, shook his head and decided to find something to do since he could not sleep with all the commotion outside. Leaving his chambers, he headed down the corridors of the palace on his own.
In the command-center of the royal palace, a dozen or so men-at-arms were manning the consoles, watching an untold number of screens and holographic projections that gave them a perfect overview over the palace and its surroundings. Duncan, the commander of the palace guard, drank a steaming cup of brew as he watched his men work, co-ordinating patrols and squads on both ground and in the air.
"Deep space satellites haven't spotted anything yet, all green across the board" one of the men informed.
"All patrols have reported in" another added, "the perimeter is secure."
"Airborne object on the inbound" a third said and everyone felt the tension heighten at the report.
"Location?" Duncan asked and moved over to the man-at-arms that had called out the unknown flying object.
"Sector four, five miles out, altitude of three kilometers... biological."
"Send a Battlecat to investigate" Duncan said, sipping some of his hot brew.
A lone Battlecat gunship left its position among the patrols of the royal palace and with full thrusters headed to intercept the incoming entity that had been spotted on scanners. As the Battlecat found its target, the pilot took his vessel in a tight u-turn around the creature that was the size of a small shuttle-craft.
"I got visual" the pilot reported over the airways back to the palace command-center. "Its a griffin... a large bull" even though it was pitch black and it was difficult to make out the large beast in the sky, the pilot could still, despite this, spot the thick mane of a griffin male.
"Alright" Duncan said over the comm-link, "head back home. We´ll keep an eye on it, in case it turns hostile."
"Affirmative" the pilot replied, "heading back."
The gunship ignited its thrusters once more and shot away with a thunderous blast as it returned to the royal palace. The giant beast let out a fierce shriek after the vessel, soaring lazily on its vast wings, chilling winds pulling and tugging on its feathers and fur. A hulking gorilla-looking creature, its thick fur rusty-red in color, sat himself upright having hidden by leaning forward into the griffins massive mane. As the ape-creature watched the Battlecat vanish in the distance, its thrusters two hot embers in the night sky, a second rider sat himself upright behind the red-furred hulk.
"The palace is over there!" the hulking beast growled with raised voice to be heard over the winds, pointing at the easily detected lights of the Eternian palace.
The arachnid creature behind him stretched its neck to watch for himself with his three pair of eyes. Holding on to the flying monster, the arachnid was not about to fall off with his three pairs of spider-legs and the clawed hands of his strong arms securing him in place on the griffins back.
"They did not suspect us!" the red furred gorilla monster growled over his shoulder, winds screaming in his ears. "I will take us in over the palace! They wont suspect a thing!"
"You better be right about this, Beast!" the arachnid replied, the four thick fangs of his mouth moving as he spoke, revealing his terrible oral cavity and gullet. "We are awfully vulnerable!" he added as he noted the many aerial patrols circling the palace.
"Do not worry, Webstor!" the hulk known as Beast grinned with a growl, unhooked a long whip from his belt and let it crack over the griffins head, making the griffin speed up with a couple of powerful strikes with its huge wings.
In the palace command-center, Duncan decided it was time to get some sleep. Leaving his now empty cup on a table he let his trusted men-at-arms continue on their own, leaving the security of the palace in their able hands. Nothing was going on tonight, not in space, not in the air and not on the ground; save for one griffin bull crossing the skies in search for prey. Duncan left the command-center and headed for his personal chambers.
Prince Adam was crossing the courtroom, now all abandoned and empty, his footsteps echoing loudly between the high walls and ceiling kept aloft thanks to two dozen pillars. He found himself standing in front of an old painting of his grandfather, King Miro; the bearded, aging king was dressed in full armor, armed with nothing but the royal scepter of Eternia as he was mounted on a fierce-looking Battlecat standing on the edge of a cliff, the beast itself clad in traditional armor-plating and maille; the banners of Eternia flowing in the background of the piece of art. In the past, that painting had only seemed like a thing of vanity to Adam, portraying and old man as a hero or legend. But now, all Adam could do was imagine his own father leading the men-at-arms of Eternia into battle. Now, he could see his own father in that suit of armor, holding the royal scepter, riding the Battlecat towards the promise of glory or death; it was a sobering thought to say the least for a young and spoiled prince.
Beast took the griffin in over the palace; all around gunships circled, down below troops patrolled and floodlights scanned the area. Webstor was looking both left and right, nervous over the close proximity of the gunships.
"Get ready!" Beast shouted back at Webstor and pointed down at two distinct towers of the palace.
Webstor noticed them easily enough, as well as the bridgeway connecting the two high above the ground. Beast angled the griffins flight to cut between and above the two towers, cutting across the bridge-section between them.
"Now!" Beast growled over his shoulder.
Webstor pushed away with all legs and arms and jumped off the griffins back, free falling towards certain death. Beast urged the griffin on and it increased speed to get out of harms way as quickly as possible, the creature shrieking frighteningly as it did, the cry echoing over the palace. Webstor dived with his head first straight for the ground, only seconds away from getting crushed upon hitting the surface. A line shot out of his back, from a large disgusting fist-sized gland between his shoulder-blades; the line, covered in sticky goo, struck the bridgeway between the two tall towers and stuck to the structure instantly. Webstor used the organic line to swing in between the towers and underneath the bridgeway, cutting loose from the line with his gland at the right point in time and flight to send him flying on his own towards a nearby building. Landing on all six limbs, Webstor took a quick look around to make sure he had not been spotted; satisfied he had not been spotted, the arachnid proceed with climbing down the wall of the building.
Adam sighed as he stood leaning against the railing of a balcony. Bored, frustrated that he could not sleep and anxious over the possible invasion of his home, all combined to keep him awake even at this late hour. Spending time watching the gunships circle overhead was only so interesting for so long, though the sudden and unexpected arrival of a large griffin, Adam guessed it was a bull judging from its exceptional size, flying past was a highlight; unfortunately one that only lasted a brief moment and then the creature was gone again, its cry echoing far and wide. Adam came to think about the Qadians, why he did not know, but he did; he figured that Eternia had to find allies if they were to stand any chance against the evil forces of Skeletor. Maybe if he went there, the prince thought, he could persuade the Qadians to join with Eternia, after all, not all heroes carry a weapon; many heroes in history had been diplomats who preserved peace without military means. Adam was shaken out of his thoughts as he spotted something out of place; something moving down the walls of the palace command-keep. Something that appeared to be climbing even, roughly human-sized; as Adam saw the thing enter the keep via a window, he knew something was wrong and hurried to warn someone in the command-keep of the intruder.
