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By now she had lost track of how many large towns she had tromped through. This one was more of a city and the home base of the 9th Battalion. They were next on her list. She had assumed multiple Norgoth personas during her trek. She had obtained a list of the various military bases that were within walking distance. For her, that meant about 30-50 miles. She could cover the distance within a couple days with time to rest and be refreshed each time she punished the troops.
If she had her way, she would manage to disarm and destroy every military base in the Insenium, but she was limited to this one planet. So, she decided, she would do as much damage as she could.
She had acted in the first instance out of instinct and shock. She hadn’t known consciously that she could do this thing. She had heard of something called a shout, but she didn’t think this was that particular ability as she had not been knocked out when she did it.
This had been something primal and vicious; something she should have always somehow known was within her, and yet, something totally unexpected to her reasonable mind.
So, as she neared the city, she licked her lips in anticipation. She allowed her anger to build and build to the point that she felt she must be glowing by now for everyone to see. However, Norgoths passed her on the street without even paying any attention to the nondescript fellow Norgoth with a small pack on her back. She passed under an archway between buildings and glancing around, changed into her corporal persona, to allow her easy and unnoticed access to the military base.
Again, no one paid her any mind and she passed through the city, controlling strictly her desire to scowl and growl at every Norgoth she passed. As she finally neared the gates to the base, it was all she could do not to cut down the guard who stood, eyes glazed, watching the various people come and go through the wide boulevard that led into the base proper. In an emergency, the path would be blocked by a wide portcullis that could be dropped instantly by the guard at any time.
She was gratified to discover she wouldn’t have to wait for an assembly of soldiers, as she had sometimes had to do.
The parade ground was full of rank on rank of Norgoth soldiers in their best uniforms. This was obviously some sort of ceremony. In the military these were held often and for sometimes seemingly trumped up reasons to boost morale and to give soldiers something to do besides the usual drills and training. There they all were, a complete battalion, flags flying indicating the Insenium, their city and the battalion designation.
Sam couldn’t believe her good luck. The battalion flag indicated that this was indeed the 9th Battalion. Had it not been, she would have waited patiently, finding some obscure thing to do that she might appear to be busy and then attacking there first. This particular battalion was the first layer in her final plan to pay them back tenfold for what they did to her people. Her parents!
She made her way to the stands in the back of the assembled dignitaries and waited, allowing her anger to build once again. She would know when it was high enough. She listened with only half an ear while some general droned on and on about the glory of the empire. Glory! Phah! She would show them glory. The battalion stood at attention, from where she stood no more than little toy soldiers. They would pay! They would pay in blood and conflagration!
Suddenly she swelled again to four times her normal size, her disguise falling from her. She was Engoza the destroyer. She was death. She was destruction. THEY WOULD PAY!
The surging power struck from her mind like the forward wave of a tsunami. She watched with satisfaction as everyone within a thousand foot radius toppled and dissolved to fine black ash. Once again she changed back to her uniformed persona, exclaiming in a loud and panicked voice: “She killed them all! Beware Engoza the Destroyer! She is death! Flee! Flee for your lives!”
She imagined as she went, finally changing personas to a common Norgoth, what tales were beginning to circulate about these events. Would they think the Alliance had developed some kind of new and potent weapon? Would they think it was sorcery? What of this Engoza? Would they know she was Fleistian? Would the general public have any idea what their government was doing?
She beat herself up mentally over and over again for falling for the line “order in the multiverse”. Why couldn’t she see they were nothing more than interdimensional bullies? How could she have been so blinded by their flattery and impressive speeches? How had her parents been deceived? How many other government leaders of other cultures had been similarly deceived, handing over their planets without a shot having been fired? When she realized how she had been used, it fired the flames of her anger even higher than before.
She decided she needed more speed if she was to create the path of destruction she so desired. Word would get out. Security measures would be taken. This suited her just fine. Let them panic into error. Let them spread rumors and misinformation that she would gladly provide in every inn and tavern on her way. She bought one of their two wheeled conveyances as she couldn’t take the chance of stealing something. This would give her the ability to make the next base in about a day with time to rest along the way and spread her rumors, the wilder the better.
The next town already had some rumors flying around, although the people spoke them in whispers to their neighbors. Rumor-mongering was considered a punishable offense in Inseni culture and by their laws. Sam went to the marketplaces, the inns and other public places and watched for those most susceptible to her message. She then would assume a new face and new rank. No need giving them a vital clue by being the same panicked corporal every time.
She fell into a pattern from town to town; spreading rumors to the common folk and then creating devastation on the military base. Each time she did it, it took less and less effort to destroy the masses of troops and others in the radius of her destruction. The idea that she might also be destroying innocents never occurred to her. In her opinion, they were all guilty and needed to be punished. Each time she fled the scene as a panicked soldier or commoner, yelling her message about Engoza the Destroyer, creating panic and disorder in her wake.
Within a week, she had destroyed five more battalions and she was beginning to feel invincible. Something in the back of her mind told her not to be so self-assured. The Inseni were idiots but not stupid. They would eventually begin to up security to the point that it would take longer to get into a place to create the most possible destruction.
Unlike the shout, it didn’t seem to matter whether people were in earshot or not. Reports she had heard said that even people in buildings surrounding her target and in a 360-degree circle were turned into fine black ash. She had taken joy running through the ashes, the dust accumulating on her shoes. She didn’t even bother to wash it off, as it gave credence to the stories she told in every city and town she entered.
During her last foray she had encountered a military courier and assumed his identity, including the uniform he wore. Couriers often were allowed to pass guards, even when they scrutinized everyone else. She had blithely “acquired” the message from his message bag as she had bought him a drink and slapped him on the back good naturedly.
Now with her bicycle and her uniform, it might be easier to get through security, especially since she could wave an official-looking document in their faces as she passed.
The path of destruction she had plotted out would bring her to the capitol city in a little over a week from now. Her plan for that city was a little different, but for now she just needed to keep moving.
