DarkLight - Commando Inc. 1

A voice of horror which brought dread, and usually death to all but a few who heard it. "My lord, we are ready."

Donar turned to face his war chief. Modok was a horror even to his own. Primate in form but with huge crustacean-like claws at the end of muscular arms, Modok struck fear and terror in even his own troops.

"Good, Modok. Time is short," he said as he walked back into the chamber.

"My lord?" Modok asked hesitantly. "What of the old man?" Donar turned quickly. His eyes drilled through the mutant creature -down to the depths of his dark soul. "I still have need of him. We will leave him his little helpers, but remember he must remain here alive and unharmed."

"But lord, if you have the knowledge, why must he be kept alive?" Modok realized his mistake as soon as he finished the question, but even that was a fraction too late.

Wrapping a long tentacle around Modok's muscular neck, he pulled him up level to his long scaly muzzle and the sharp teeth they contained. "You will not discuss Atlo with me again. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Modok whispered hoarsely; he was using as much air as Donar would allow him. His point made, Donar threw him down to the hard stone floor. Modok, rubbing his bruised throat, stood slowly with his head down and walked back to his master.

The next time Modok brought the subject of the old man up, he would kill him. If his creations knew that he was not omnipotent, his own life might be in jeopardy. The old human had taught him almost all his many secrets-but for one. Even after he subjected him to torture, Atlo would still not reveal the final mystery that would make him all powerful. In time though, he felt confident that he would. It was only a matter of how many had to die before Atlo would talk. It would not save any of them, but Atlo didn't know that. Donar stepped to the far wall where he laid a tentacled arm onto a small inset console. The wall quietly slid aside to reveal an assortment of deadly weapons. Modok lumbered over and chose a huge battle ax. He hefted it over his huge misshapen head and grinned in anticipation of what was soon to come. He and his master had done this a number of times in the past and he looked forward to it each time.

Donar moved to the other side of the long inner chamber where he picked up a strange silvery metallic object. The object resembled three tubes of different lengths, welded together to form one unit.

"That's a very good choice my friend," Donar said, a bell sounding as he pushed a small button on the side of the console. In answer to the signal an emaciated young humanoid female walked in with a serving tray. Dressed in frayed rags, the elflike servant turned toward Donar with her head bowed, her eyes pointed to the floor. Her beauty repulsed him. She was a genetic misfit. An early experiment of Atlo's, she was a failure without many uses-but one. Donar pointed the metallic object in his tentacled hands at the servant who stood just outside the weapons chamber. "Child, come to me," he said almost fatherly. The servant came closer and turned to face her master.

"Yes, my lord?" Her voice quivered in fear as she approached. A beam of blinding light leapt out of the collection of tubes and struck her. The spear of intense energy pierced the young girl's body, almost cutting her in half.