Lights Out — Save Mankind (Ghost Corps)

Join the Ghost Corps, they said. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save mankind, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first he had to die.

When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on the space station Enderium Six.

He's facing his most dangerous mission yet, the very reason the corps exists.

Tornahdo must take out the one man responsible for every war between humans and Ultras since the origin of the Ultra bloodline: the immortal king, Pietas.

If he succeeds, the war is over. If he doesn't, the Ultras will rule mankind for another thousand years.

Either way, he must face an unbeatable, unkillable enemy, and this time--somehow--find a way to keep himself alive...

The Ritual of Strength for Pietas

Ritual of Strength performed by Nik Nitsvetov
Voiceover performed by Zack Black
Images courtesy of: Nik Nitsvetov and @by_cosphoto
Video editor Zealot6
Based on the Sci Fi series Bringer of Chaos by Kayelle Allen
Music: Coming of Time by Orchestralis, licensed via Dual Horns Studios Ltd

Ritual of Strength

I am Pietas.
First Conqueror.
War Leader of the Ultras.
As fire has victory over life, so I have victory over my enemies.
I am powerful, as fire is powerful.
I own the wind -- I prevail over the breath of my enemies.
Water submits to my presence the way enemies submit to my will.
The blood of my enemies trickles into the pool of time, is absorbed, and forgotten.
My body submits to my will.
No pain defeats me.
No fear touches me.
My will is absolute.
I am bigger than any fear.
I prevail in every circumstance.
I face every foe.
I vanquish every enemy.
I overcome.
I am indomitable.
I am invincible.

Pietas on Facebook
Pietas in the Bringer of Chaos series

Go home. This is your last chance #SciFi #MFRWhooks

Ravenstongue sauntered toward him. "Why you here?"

Tornahdo kicked back in his chair. After stretching out his legs, he crossed his ankles. "Why do you care?"

"Big ops tomorrow. Lights out in ten. Time for you to go home and go to bed."

Behind the bar, the keeper closed up shelves and battened down doors.

"Yeah?" Tornahdo flicked a hand toward the door. "I'll follow you out."

"I'm not leavin'. Didn't you hear? We passed inspection with the highest scores. Got a free night out." Ravenstongue jabbed a finger toward Tornahdo. "But you gotta go home like a good boy."

In no kingdom in the galaxy would that happen.

Ravenstongue lifted two fingers, signaling his cohorts.

The keeper ducked behind the bar while the goons flanked their wannabe boss, imbecilic grins in place.

A pair of demons usually sat on Tornahdo's shoulders. The bad demon laid out strategy while the good demon discouraged action. Tonight, the good demon flipped a middle finger toward Ravenstongue with a not-so-subtle suggestion to kick his ass.

Tornahdo took his time rising, slid his chair under the table. "What did you say?"

"I said, 'You gotta go home like a good boy.'"

Hanging his thumbs in his belt, Tornahdo gave him a slow smile. "Go back to the bar, finish your drink and we'll pretend we're all friends and leave together. This is your last chance for a peaceful end."

"Peaceful." With a scoff, Ravenstongue jerked his head toward Short Goon. "You hear that?"

"Yeah. Maybe we oughta do what--"

Ravenstongue jabbed him with an elbow.

"I mean, yeah! I heard that." He leaned closer to his boss. "We gonna?"

"No, you idiot. Shut your face and back me up."

How did these hotheads enlist? Ghost Corps must have been desperate for bodies. Literally. A fighter's corpse they could reanimate. Which was a sobering thought.

Was that what the corps thought of him?

Lights Out by Kayelle Allen

He can save mankind. After he does one important thing. Die.
Join the Ghost Corps, they said. You'll live forever, they said. You'll save mankind, they said. They didn't say that to do it, first he had to die.
When Tornahdo signs on the dotted line, he puts his life into the steady hands of the mighty Ghost Corps. Three grisly deaths and three agonizing resurrections later, he's assigned duty on the space station Enderium Six.
He's facing his most dangerous mission yet, the very reason the corps exists.
Do they expect him to win? Fat chance. Tornahdo and his team are already dead and this mission is codenamed "Lights Out." No, there's more to this than he can see.
To discover the truth, he must face an unbeatable, unkillable enemy, and this time--somehow--find a way to keep himself alive...
Lights Out is in the Science Fiction/Space Opera anthology The Expanding Universe Vol 4, edited by Craig Martelle out Sept 17, 2018
https://kayelleallen.com/lights-out-save-mankind/