Darkon chuckled softly. It wasn't as if he really cared about right and wrong, but what was the fun in a game if you knew the outcome? Since his mind was more powerful than it had ever been, Darkon decided to block his othersense.

He had never tried anything like that before; his sense of future events was as natural to him as his sense of hearing. But for this game, Darkon wanted to play with a handicap. It could only make things a little more entertaining. After all, what was there on this world that could stop him?

Seven weeks later…

Teknoman Gunnar, who had once been Fritz Wallace and was now the guide for the most dangerous creature in several galaxies, walked through the woods alone. He had been noticing that he had been getting faster, and also that he was stronger than he had ever been before. It was a small consolation for not being human anymore, and he still wished that none of this had happened.

Gunnar kept going, staring at the leaf-litter on the ground as he walked. He didn't know if anyone cared that he and his only remaining family member, as well as all of his closest friends had disappeared some time ago.

Gunnar.

Gunnar shuddered, still not used to having Darkon's voice inside his mind. Darkon didn't seem to care if he made Gunnar uncomfortable, though, and the Tekno-Warlord continued talking.

I have detected another group of humans in this forest, similar to the one you were part of. However, this one is significantly smaller. It appears to be only one family. You can leave the parents, as I highly doubt that they would survive.

Gunnar didn't even take a step. He was not going to subject any more innocent people to this kind or horror.

Oh, so you're going to defy my, are you my guide?

Yes, Gunnar said smugly. I am.

Well, that is your choice of course, Darkon purred, sounding supremely unconcerned. But you should know that defiance has a price.

Gunnar didn't know what Darkon meant by that, but in a minute he'd wish he never found out.

It started with a sharp pinprick in his right temple, and then Gunnar felt as if someone with a malicious sense of humor was shoving burning daggers deep into various places in his skull. And then, as if that kind of pain wasn't bad enough, the next time Gunnar tried to take a breath, he couldn't.

Gunnar had fallen to the ground when the pain had started getting worse. Tears of pain sprang to his eyes, as Gunnar dug his fingernails into the bark of a tree to try and keep himself somewhat upright and anchored in reality.

The pain went on for what seemed like an eternity, and Gunnar had almost passed out from lack of oxygen by the time Darkon saw fit to release him from that torture.

Keep this little lesson in mind, my guide. I don't like to repeat myself.

Taking large, deep breaths, Gunnar didn't answer. He didn't want to risk pissing Darkon off again.

End Prologue