Operation Desert Storm <Void Quest — Gate in the Dunes>

[Enel]

It’s a mutually beneficial exchange.

I power their machines, fuelling the sandcrawler with my powers. We’ve already rigged up a huge rechargeable battery.

I protect them from larger predators. The wastes are harsh, and Jhen Mohran has many smaller cousins. They make good practice for the confrontation to come.

In exchange, they work for me.

I stand atop the sandcrawler, at my throne. I’ve already modified the roof to be my mobile canopy; a lavish bedroom that looks out at the stars, and a throne affixed to the head of the vehicle where I can sit and give orders. A small hatch leads down to the vehicle proper. My right-hand jawa, One, is standing above it now, barking orders at the worker drones.

Before us, a cliffside looms. I can see several gaps in the rock, and as we approach, the glint of glass. I grin. “Better get down, One,” I rumble.

He understands, ducking into the hatch. As always, he lingers for a moment to watch the sparks build around my body. He thinks I don’t see. But God sees all.

Every night I meditate, and I feel my power returning to me. It is still a foul business, that I must lower myself to mortal methods. As far back as I can remember, even before the awakening of my true power, I have always had the ability to sense the things around me – a natural extension of my godlike will – and so to have it removed was heretical. I understand that Omni wishes to put all of his … ‘participants’ … on a level playing field for his … game. But one shouldn’t handicap the naturally gifted in order to give weaklings a chance. There will always be those who are strong, and those who are weak. It is the natural order of things. Even here, that order reasserts itself given enough time. Case in point.

I relax into the ritual, letting my instincts take hold. The first sniper bullet comes, and I duck under it. Thus begins the first stage of the dance.

I pound one of the drums on my back with my Nonosama Bo. The beat rings out, and I feel my pulse stir. I spin the staff before hitting the drum on the opposite side. More bullets come, and as they do, I step around them, feeling the flow of my enemies’ intents and continuing to charge my power. The jawas begin to hoot and cry from within their armored fortress, and the tribal sounds lend a primal edge to my ritual. I’m enjoying this. Being involved with my subjects directly, for the first time in a long time. It is humbling, but … freeing.

Finally we’re close enough to see the attackers individually. It’s time.

I lead the gathered electricity out through the conduit of my staff, in a great beam. For effect, I form the lightning into the shape of a dragon’s head. They must be made to fear me as God.

They’ve only a moment to appreciate my glory before the dragon’s head crashes into the cliffside, exploding and taking out a huge chunk of it. As the rubble falls I spy four of five humans falling to their probable deaths.

The hole into the bandit’s lair is now open. I spin my staff before returning it to my side and taking off towards the entrance.

The lair is disgusting. Even I don’t know how long they’ve been here, but it looks like too long. The stone walls are lit by torches, and in the dim light I can see rubbish, bones, scraps of meat and …. Is that … fecal matter? I keep my feet floating a good few inches above the ground.

I could fry them all to hell, but I’ve become rather fond of a good beating lately. It’s … electrifying to let them come at me with their sabers and knives, waiting for the moment before they strike to dodge. One of them tries to feint me; it’s adorable. For his trouble, I break his neck with an elbow.

They come at me in their droves. Dozens turn into over a hundred corpses. When it’s over, I’m panting and my body feels tingly and numb. I’ve ended up somewhere in the bowels of the den. I may have gotten a little carried away.

I spin up my staff again, digging deep for one more Lightning Storm in order to break a hole back out through the wall. By this point I’m covered in dirt, and I’m more than happy to step out and let the jawas swarm in.

They’ll take anything of value. Generators, oil, scrap metal and food. Nothing I’d touch, of course, but the jawas will eat anything and they’ll trade what they don’t eat. More omnilium for me. More power. The best part? I don’t even have to deal with the local populace. The jawas don’t try to make conversation with me either. It’s mutually beneficial, as I said.

But though the last few weeks have seen my life take on a routine of sorts, I’ve not forgotten my ultimate goal. Hell, it’s all I can do to stay away from it. Marching into the desert showed me that I couldn’t approach this as I might have normally. If playing Omni’s game is what he wants, that’s what he’ll get. For now.