The console bleeped a little tune, just s wake up chime. Kovacs shut it off with a swipe of his finger. Groaning as he stretched in the chair, he checked the status of the repairs; they'd done all they could with Jet's ship, and what they couldn't use was set aside in the hangar for crew discretion. He spun around, standing up. He reached for the ceiling, glad that he stretched after the impromptu spar.
Deciding to go check on Jet, he grabbed a datapad, loaded some information about the ship and a roster of the extra from Jet's ship. They were his things to do with as he pleased.
Arriving on the crew deck, he smelled fresh antiseptic and polish. Then smiled. Wiping a finger along every crevice of the hallway up to the PT room he found no grime. He expected that; every inch of his vessel was sterilized. But he did find traces of the cleaner that Jet used, and he felt the pride swell in his chest. Perhaps something did get through to him, after all?
Kovacs found Mr. Jackson three seconds later in the gym, straightening the elliptical into alignment with everything else. The whole room had been reorganized, and while it was no longer how he had it, it was optimised. And it was still within regulations.
"I must admit, I am impressed." Kovacs walked up to the big man, head encased in his Remlok helmet. "Here. There's a copy of all Federal Armed Forces regulations, as well as crewman expectations for the Silver Hawks. I also took the liberty of provided unclassified schematics of the ship, and there's a manifest of all the things leftover from your ship. Once you've gone through that and selected what you want to keep, meet me on the bridge. Every thing else is getting jettisoned."
Deciding to go check on Jet, he grabbed a datapad, loaded some information about the ship and a roster of the extra from Jet's ship. They were his things to do with as he pleased.
Arriving on the crew deck, he smelled fresh antiseptic and polish. Then smiled. Wiping a finger along every crevice of the hallway up to the PT room he found no grime. He expected that; every inch of his vessel was sterilized. But he did find traces of the cleaner that Jet used, and he felt the pride swell in his chest. Perhaps something did get through to him, after all?
Kovacs found Mr. Jackson three seconds later in the gym, straightening the elliptical into alignment with everything else. The whole room had been reorganized, and while it was no longer how he had it, it was optimised. And it was still within regulations.
"I must admit, I am impressed." Kovacs walked up to the big man, head encased in his Remlok helmet. "Here. There's a copy of all Federal Armed Forces regulations, as well as crewman expectations for the Silver Hawks. I also took the liberty of provided unclassified schematics of the ship, and there's a manifest of all the things leftover from your ship. Once you've gone through that and selected what you want to keep, meet me on the bridge. Every thing else is getting jettisoned."
"Thanks Kovacs, you can jettison everything, I have all of my stuff in my bag" Jet said as he watched the television in absolute fascination. "Hey why aren't you traveling with anyone else? I mean you have crews quarters, and wouldn't it be easier to protect yourself from pirates if you had a full crew?" questioned Jackson with his eyes still glued to the movies he was watching. Turning off the television and walking to the kitchen (He now knew the ship from top to bottom because of his recent deep clean of the place and the schematics) , Jet looked around for anything that could quarrel the raging hurricane that was his hunger. "How far away are we from the nearest planet or space station, I'm craving some food, and a little adventure. Maybe when we get to the station, we go to the casino? Maybe do a bit gambling...Think about it! We could win big, and we could get this ship looking like a Royal Cruiser from Yanhoai! Nothing too risky, just a bit of fun..." Jet gleefully exclaimed.
"You're doing it again, you're thinking irrationally, really gambling? You turn over a new leaf and the first thing you do id gambling!?" thought Jet, "Wait...wanting to have some fun and be irrational are two different things. All I have to stick to my morals on this one and I will be fine. I don't want a repeat of Space Station #34223 of the Caldoinam System." Jet thought as he looked through the fridge in the kitchen.
"You're doing it again, you're thinking irrationally, really gambling? You turn over a new leaf and the first thing you do id gambling!?" thought Jet, "Wait...wanting to have some fun and be irrational are two different things. All I have to stick to my morals on this one and I will be fine. I don't want a repeat of Space Station #34223 of the Caldoinam System." Jet thought as he looked through the fridge in the kitchen.
The Kingsbane
First, she saw the ancient, wrinkled face partially obscured by goggles that moved and flickered with colorful runes.
But it did not comfort her – for wasn’t that man the one who had activated the terrible weapon that would then slice her in half and send her into an eternity of unbeing?
She didn’t hold it against him. Clearly it was because she had done something wrong, and clearly she deserved what she got for it. But that would not stop her from welling with terror at the sight of him. The smile on the old man’s face failed to register at all.
But then – then the one who swung the blade entered the room – and she could not contain herself. It was going to happen again. For some sick and twisted reason, she had returned from Hell to this place – a place where she was surely not supposed to be – and now it was going to happen again – and she was far too frightened to try and fight back against the coming fate.
But…
But the old man was smiling – and it was a warm, welcoming expression – the kind of which she had only fantasized about having directed at her. People did not smile at her.
So, a trick, then? No – why manipulate her? She already existed solely to serve the purposes of real people – there was no need to lull her into false security. She knew that much. So then, was it possible…?
These people were not like her. She needed to remember that. These people…She suddenly thought she knew who these people might be – but the revelation was fleeting and quickly lost in the fear. The fear which might be eased by this old man?
Then, he spoke – and the girl froze. Mostly. The word made her jump slightly, and stifle her sounds.
Had he really said that? To her?
There was a long moment that she stayed curled up – but silent now – and then, at last, she moved again. First, it was a simple matter of rubbing at her eyes with the heels of her gloved hands, clearing tears away so that she might be able to see better. Then, after an eternity, she timidly, timidly peered up at the old man. There were still tears, and the lithe body still trembled something fierce – but she managed to look up at him with those wide, unreal eyes that were filled with hesitant curiosity. She blinked. She sniffled a little.
Really? You mean it?
Then her eyes moved down from the goggles to examine the man’s outstretched hand. She blinked again. Sniffled again.
She looked up to the old man again. Then back to the hand. Then again to him, then to his hand.
What was she supposed to do?
She squirmed – still curled up in a ball seated against the wall of the desk, still trembling, but looking now – alert – and doing everything in her power to avoid looking at the barbarian standing at the other end of the room.
The old man had apologized.
To HER!
Had there been some misunderstanding? Clearly – but where? When? She was too frightened, too flustered and upset to think it over logically – but clearly he was saying ’sorry’. To HER! Her, of all people. Her.
Well, these people were different than she. The girl knew that. Maybe it was possible that, for some reason or another, he had not intended to have her executed for her transgressions? For speaking out of turn, for saying a forbidden word – for daring to be so bold, to step so far out of line as to suggest that she might belong to any other people.
But it did not change the fact that she had no idea what she was supposed to do with that hand.
So, after a few billion years of subjective time, the girl slowly, hesitantly, nervously also extended a hand…but she did not reach for his.
Instead, she extended her hand in the opposite direction – as though pointing to the other side of the desk, but not really. Just holding one arm out uselessly where the old man wouldn’t even be able to reach it – not easily.
He had extended a hand. So she also extended a hand, in a different direction – with no idea of the concept that they were supposed to make contact. Because that would be preposterous. And, of course, all the while her own white eyes stayed locked on his goggles – uncertain, confused, terrified, despaired, and just a little bit hopeful. A questioning in her look.
Like this?
After all. She had returned here because, whether she knew it or not, it was here that she felt safest.
The HMS Skadi
They go’em!” Tsuan mumbled frantically, sounding drunken in the half-sleep that he was suddenly stumbling out of. Eyes half-open, he managed to get into a sitting position, rubbing his face and trying to get his vision back into full-color. ”Knew I shouldn’a pass’out he’s gone them sonnofabitch!”
”Rin got up and left a few hours ago.” T’yzfir said patiently, returning from the bathroom off the side of the quarters. ”Presumably of his own free will.”
Muttering something unintelligible, Tsuan went about getting ready for the day – this included changing into a new set of identical white and ice-blue fatigues, and dunking his head under the sink for a few seconds.
They entered into the hangar bay some minutes later. Though it was a slightly later start than they had anticipated, the day’s activity had yet to fully ramp up, and so there was a sense of calm about the hangar. Only a few people milled around on their early-morning duties.
The yacht was small, but comfortable – not a luxury ship by any means, but sizable enough to comfortably house five, plus ample cargo space. Impressive stealth systems, mediocre offensive and defensive capabilities – and very fast – but with an older style artificial gravity that meant excessive speed would require the crew to sit in crash-couches to avoid passing out from high g-forces.
Somebody had birthed the brilliant idea to install a dedicated robot autopilot – rather than simply programming one into the computer. As a result, there were two pilots’ seats – one occupied by a blocky contraption called WASHBOT 9000 Which was likely to make any time spent in that particular control room thoroughly unpleasant.
Tsuan, refusing to get aboard a ship with no name, immediately set about acquiring a can of spray paint. In a matter of minutes, he had sprayed the words KOOLEST BOAT U KNOW across the side of the otherwise sleek, icy-blue yacht in black paint.
As he was finishing up this meaningful task, Sands and Dallen were standing with crossed arms in the gaping door to the newly christened Koolest Boat U Know’s cargo bay, looking upon an ancient, cobbled tank with mixed expressions of impression and apprehension. ”Huh.”
Ty was knocking on the hull of the Nemesis, then proceeding to let himself in. He gave another knock, and peered around the corner to where Rin was at the moment. ”Good Morning.” He said, looking at the armor Rin had been working on, clearly impressed, but lacking in the technical knowhow to truly appreciate it.
First, she saw the ancient, wrinkled face partially obscured by goggles that moved and flickered with colorful runes.
But it did not comfort her – for wasn’t that man the one who had activated the terrible weapon that would then slice her in half and send her into an eternity of unbeing?
She didn’t hold it against him. Clearly it was because she had done something wrong, and clearly she deserved what she got for it. But that would not stop her from welling with terror at the sight of him. The smile on the old man’s face failed to register at all.
But then – then the one who swung the blade entered the room – and she could not contain herself. It was going to happen again. For some sick and twisted reason, she had returned from Hell to this place – a place where she was surely not supposed to be – and now it was going to happen again – and she was far too frightened to try and fight back against the coming fate.
But…
But the old man was smiling – and it was a warm, welcoming expression – the kind of which she had only fantasized about having directed at her. People did not smile at her.
So, a trick, then? No – why manipulate her? She already existed solely to serve the purposes of real people – there was no need to lull her into false security. She knew that much. So then, was it possible…?
These people were not like her. She needed to remember that. These people…She suddenly thought she knew who these people might be – but the revelation was fleeting and quickly lost in the fear. The fear which might be eased by this old man?
Then, he spoke – and the girl froze. Mostly. The word made her jump slightly, and stifle her sounds.
Had he really said that? To her?
There was a long moment that she stayed curled up – but silent now – and then, at last, she moved again. First, it was a simple matter of rubbing at her eyes with the heels of her gloved hands, clearing tears away so that she might be able to see better. Then, after an eternity, she timidly, timidly peered up at the old man. There were still tears, and the lithe body still trembled something fierce – but she managed to look up at him with those wide, unreal eyes that were filled with hesitant curiosity. She blinked. She sniffled a little.
Really? You mean it?
Then her eyes moved down from the goggles to examine the man’s outstretched hand. She blinked again. Sniffled again.
She looked up to the old man again. Then back to the hand. Then again to him, then to his hand.
What was she supposed to do?
She squirmed – still curled up in a ball seated against the wall of the desk, still trembling, but looking now – alert – and doing everything in her power to avoid looking at the barbarian standing at the other end of the room.
The old man had apologized.
To HER!
Had there been some misunderstanding? Clearly – but where? When? She was too frightened, too flustered and upset to think it over logically – but clearly he was saying ’sorry’. To HER! Her, of all people. Her.
Well, these people were different than she. The girl knew that. Maybe it was possible that, for some reason or another, he had not intended to have her executed for her transgressions? For speaking out of turn, for saying a forbidden word – for daring to be so bold, to step so far out of line as to suggest that she might belong to any other people.
But it did not change the fact that she had no idea what she was supposed to do with that hand.
So, after a few billion years of subjective time, the girl slowly, hesitantly, nervously also extended a hand…but she did not reach for his.
Instead, she extended her hand in the opposite direction – as though pointing to the other side of the desk, but not really. Just holding one arm out uselessly where the old man wouldn’t even be able to reach it – not easily.
He had extended a hand. So she also extended a hand, in a different direction – with no idea of the concept that they were supposed to make contact. Because that would be preposterous. And, of course, all the while her own white eyes stayed locked on his goggles – uncertain, confused, terrified, despaired, and just a little bit hopeful. A questioning in her look.
Like this?
After all. She had returned here because, whether she knew it or not, it was here that she felt safest.
The HMS Skadi
They go’em!” Tsuan mumbled frantically, sounding drunken in the half-sleep that he was suddenly stumbling out of. Eyes half-open, he managed to get into a sitting position, rubbing his face and trying to get his vision back into full-color. ”Knew I shouldn’a pass’out he’s gone them sonnofabitch!”
”Rin got up and left a few hours ago.” T’yzfir said patiently, returning from the bathroom off the side of the quarters. ”Presumably of his own free will.”
Muttering something unintelligible, Tsuan went about getting ready for the day – this included changing into a new set of identical white and ice-blue fatigues, and dunking his head under the sink for a few seconds.
They entered into the hangar bay some minutes later. Though it was a slightly later start than they had anticipated, the day’s activity had yet to fully ramp up, and so there was a sense of calm about the hangar. Only a few people milled around on their early-morning duties.
The yacht was small, but comfortable – not a luxury ship by any means, but sizable enough to comfortably house five, plus ample cargo space. Impressive stealth systems, mediocre offensive and defensive capabilities – and very fast – but with an older style artificial gravity that meant excessive speed would require the crew to sit in crash-couches to avoid passing out from high g-forces.
Somebody had birthed the brilliant idea to install a dedicated robot autopilot – rather than simply programming one into the computer. As a result, there were two pilots’ seats – one occupied by a blocky contraption called WASHBOT 9000 Which was likely to make any time spent in that particular control room thoroughly unpleasant.
Tsuan, refusing to get aboard a ship with no name, immediately set about acquiring a can of spray paint. In a matter of minutes, he had sprayed the words KOOLEST BOAT U KNOW across the side of the otherwise sleek, icy-blue yacht in black paint.
As he was finishing up this meaningful task, Sands and Dallen were standing with crossed arms in the gaping door to the newly christened Koolest Boat U Know’s cargo bay, looking upon an ancient, cobbled tank with mixed expressions of impression and apprehension. ”Huh.”
Ty was knocking on the hull of the Nemesis, then proceeding to let himself in. He gave another knock, and peered around the corner to where Rin was at the moment. ”Good Morning.” He said, looking at the armor Rin had been working on, clearly impressed, but lacking in the technical knowhow to truly appreciate it.
- N O T S P A C E -
The Stella Viventium
How long had it been since such urgency violated the halls of the Living Star?
We stand untouched by the Universe, disconnected from everything and everyone – and yet here we are, sprinting through the dead-silent halls of this ancient place with sinking guts and terror in our soulless husks.
Something was happening.
Something that had, in the history of that greatest of colony ships, never occurred before. Something that was unthinkable.
The Stella Viventium had been breached.
Had the shepherds so allowed the sanctity of their flock to be penetrated by so strange and alien a force? The great ship had never before failed to obey its masters. Beyond hard-coded – it was as if a fundamental truth of the Star that the ultimate masters of it were the black-eyed ghost and his wife. No being could override their authority in this flying city that constituted their undisputed domain.
The hallways seldom used, and then only by that innermost sanctum of souls that interacted directly with the enigmatic Captain and wife. Halls that echoed with silence, that beckoned with wordless tales of the ages long-past. Hallways which held within them the secrets to the Universe and the keys to Everything, and the truth of it all. Hallways which could not speak – where the spectrum of history was that scant medium time could play on the lies of men and monsters. Hallways lost where souls called out from infinity to unhearing ears.
The great blast-door that refused their entry from afar began to slide up for them as they approached, heaving and out of breath, sliding to a halt to watch in perplexity as the ship seemed to operate upon its’ own volition. They ducked beneath it, and the cavernous vista of the Notspace Drives spread out before them. That massive, domed chamber where towers of ancient power rose to high peaks and deep ravines. The narrow catwalk that extended as though over a black abyss to meet the centralmost spire where the too-simple controls were mounted – where keyboards and monitors dictated the operation of what was possibly the most powerful machine in the Universe.
Light poured from hidden sources to illuminate the narrow pathway, steeping the remainder of that vast cavern in shadows darker than the origins of the Universes. Mysterious places, just beyond the reach of mankind – in the place where ambition spurned reality to reach ever closer to the stars.
They were not alone.
The too-tall figure before them, standing, looming over the controls with limbs that seemed juxtaposed on his barely-composed form. Hunched shoulders and long, long white-blonde hair. The couple came to a gradual stop halfway across the bridge to stare in fury and growing dread at the figure of impossibility.
And he turned around slowly to face the couple; and behold, inky black eyes with suns at their centers met infinite pools of cyan light that seemed to go on forever within the deformed skull of their host. The tall man seemed to flicker slightly, seemed not to exist, seemed to exemplify the surreal and dreamlike moment that they shared now. With Alexia silently in tow, the undying Captain of the Living Star stepped slowly toward the figure that beckoned in wordlessness.
The tall, grey-suited man stood like a monolith – expression only possible in the mouth, and that a thin line of concern across his unreal countenance. But as the Captain approached, that line morphed to a wide, toothy grin – then a smile that bordered on sadistic madness.
And for the first time, the undying Captain Petrovalyc felt the pang of terror within him. A deep pit, blacker than his own evil eyes – a well of blood and shadow that clawed at his mind with ceaseless, wild precision. Terror. The animal fear that had been lost to him so long as he could hope to recall – it fell upon him and imploded from within all at once. His face was a mask of fury and dead-awe – of terror and disbelief and the faintest beginnings of revelation all at once. It was a mask that the Shadow Man who stood at the controls of the Last Drive seemed to relish – he might have burst into terrible, bellowing laughter, but did not.
Alexia wanted to speak, to say something – but the words would not come. She merely strode beside her ancient companion, completing him with presence alone as she always had.
The Captain halted to stand before the grey Shadow Man with eyes of sky and lapis and power and death, and knowledge beyond the wildest dreams of Men. He gritted his teeth, willing the words to come when they would not – unaccustomed to the presence of this terrible fear within him. He had never felt so small – but standing before the imposing stature of this too-tall man, with his too-long limbs and his too-long hair – Aelyn-Paeryc Petrovalyc felt the horror of helplessness for the first time in his own too-long life. The expression of the Man unreadable save for the wide, toothy grin – he knew something that the Captain did not.
He knew many things that the Captain could never have dreamed.
This Man knew the secrets that Aelyn-Paeryc had spent his immortality searching for. All of it stood before him, simply waiting to be breached – and yet he was wordless – frightened beyond words at the prospect of learning that which he, of all people, was never meant to learn.
But after an eternity of silence, he uttered a meager demand, growling, forcing himself to talk at this looming monster who watched with eyes like the sky. It was barely a husky whisper.
”H…how…”
The Shadow Man merely widened his grin in a knowing mockery of the Captain’s confusion – then shook his head slowly as if to marvel at the myriad hidden nuances of the Universe in which they all existed.
“F͏a̵s̴c͞i̕n̶at͟ing. M͟y̢ Ĺ͍̱̮͍͊͐̍͢á̹̒̆̒d̨̺̖͉͍̜y̽ͦ ̨̫̮D̯͍͇̓u̼͖̖̇́ͅl̦̜̭̫͎ͧͭ̔̍̌ͅc̪̜̫͙͉̼͇̏ͭ̕i͑ͤn͆͆ͬ͌ͨ҉̗̜ë̞̻͉̳̘̤́ͥḁ̜̙̣̤͙̺͑̆ d̷̺̻o̧̝̳̬̪̦̲̩͕e̵̛̗͉̱͇̹̖̕ͅs̫̫̠̲͠ ḩave a se͠nse of̶ ͜h́um̸o͜r.̧ T͖͇̻͢o̝o҉͔̤ b̶̤̹̤̺͚a̧̺̝̣̥d ̲̹̣͙͓̝͢I̡̞̻̟̱͙̘͙'̵̳̥̼̞m ̴̮͔̼n̡ơ̺̩̹͚̱t̟̣̬̻̖̥̗ ̲̦͈̲i̮̳̹͇̙̫̘n̬̣̯ ̨o̧͍͚ņ̻ ̞̺̲̥̮̠t̘̻h͔̲̝͖e̵̺̰̰ ͚̟̗̘̯̱jo͍̳k͉͙͓̯e̜̭̝̘͙̯̤.”
But it was all too possible that even she couldn't know the punchline.
One long arm swung slowly around, and ghoulish fingers massaged thoughtfully at the chin. The white-blonde hair shifted in its silky cascades, and the cavernous eyes behind glowed, and glowed. A withering, scrutinizing, alien stare that looked down on him with the weight of worlds.
“̴Y̨où…̕.̧y͝ơu d͜on’͜t͘ ͘kńow a̢̳̱n̫͇̠̟̩͖y̶͙̘͙͍t̙h̴̠̯̠̙̲̺i͈̖̣̘n̡̼g̷, do ͡yơu?͡”̶ There was something approaching bewilderment in the ragged-silk voice then – and it gave way to a burbling laughter that rose to the surface of his throat in waves. The deep cackling of madness that echoed through the great central chamber with nowhere to go but infinity.
Infuriated, fists balling into white-knuckled stones, the indignity overwhelmed the terror and the Captain was forced to cry out amidst the howling.
”How. How did you get them! How did you get those scars!”
Aelyn-Paeryc Petrovalyc looked into a mirror of himself – inconsistent in detail and deeply changed – but of the pattern of the scars there was no variation. Gauged in the cheek, raking up the side of the face, over the lip – but parodied, in hues deeper, but hearkening to the cyan eyes. There was a light within this Shadow Man who did not exist – something glorious and wonderful – as if the flesh was merely a vessel for the constitution of power within him. The eyes had been blown out of the sockets and the skull deformed with great, glowing cyan craters where eyes had been – but the scars were the same. On the opposite side of the face, but the same. There was no doubt.
The Captain and The Shadow were one in the same. Each a grotesque parody of the other, each so far from human that the other might have been an original piece – each a monster in their own right, neither deserving of the title of ‘Man’.
“Tell me! Tell me you son of a bitch!”
And The Shadow Over Himself merely laughed away the Captain’s anger, shaking his head as though disappointed for the ignorance of the unknown. Aelyn-Paeryc’s voice was lost amidst the ocean of roaring laughter.
“̸It ̷al̛l͜ ćo̶m̶e̕s t͝oge̴ţh͞er̀! ̷Yet t̵hès͞e̛ ̷ḿy͏st҉eri̕eś ṕl͡a̵g҉u̢e̡ ͏us ̷still!̶ ͘Not̢hìng makes̛ ͢se͟nśe͏ ̴– ísn͠’t ̀it͢ b̀eautif̨ul͏!”҉
He could take no more. Thoughtlessly, Aelyn-Paeryc lunged at the Shadow Man – and struck.
The realization of it took him by surprise and he faltered, but with redoubled passion he grabbed the collar of the Shadow Man’s grey suit and slammed his back against the wall of the control terminal with all the force he could muster.
“You son of a bitch! Tell me! who are you!?” Aelyn-Paeryc screamed – and yet, he did not flicker. His own voice was hoarse and desperation seeped from the tone – but he did not flicker. It was only then that the Shadow Man’s laughter at last died down, and he returned his unreal gaze to meet the inky black pools of the Captain.
The Shadow roared suddenly – but the now psychotic, beaming smile remained. Abruptly, the Captain found himself once again incorporeal, falling through the Shadow Man and collapsing forward onto the controls – only to scramble back up and make another lunge.
But before the attack could land, he was struck down by a vicious blow to the head as his ghoulish opponent swatted him aside like nothing. The Captain went clattering to the floor, only to scramble and stand once again and stare down the apparition from afar.
"̸̢T͜he̕͘͠ G̷̵͢h̕͢o̕s̵t̸͝͝ ̧ó͟f ̀͢͝ţh҉̨͢ȩ́҉ ̸L̨ì͘vi͝n͘͟͞g͝ ̧S͞tar҉.̴͞ Ḥ̳̬̫͖͎̖̥̂̽͗ͩ̓̌̐̕A̡̞͚̪̓͑̆ͬͫ̓̽ͬ̚!̼̋͞ Y͝et you̷ ręa͝lly͜ ̴d͟on’t̕ k͘no͜w͟ w̸h̶át͏ ͠thįs̛ ͏m̶ąc͘h͘ine įs c̈ͦ͊̂̄́a͠p̈̇͂͂ͮͨ͒a̔́ͫb̓ͨ͊̆̾̃͢l̛̐̇̐̍ͯe ̈́ͥõͨ̔̅ͨͪ͠fͩ͗, d̥̩̖̣o ̣́y͚̖̯͇̯o͈͝u̬͔͔̼ͅ!̕”̩̥̬̠̝̯͚
His voice became a scream now – madness and power bursting at the seams of his unreality.
“҉D̵o̕n҉’̛t͟ ͟y͢oų se͏e?! ́Y͜ou̵ ͜s̵t͜and҉ ͡with͡in th͜e͠ ̵bowel̸s o͟f ̴t͘h́at ̸w̸h͡ic͘h̕ ͟can cre҉a̛t͝e l͘iͫ̾͠f͂ͥeͯͦͮͫ̓̓́ ͟f͘rom ͝the͏ f̧u͞ǹda͠m̛e͜n҉t͝aĺs of ex͟i͞st͢ȩǹce!̴ ̵Ỳes͏, yes̀ i͝t͜’̷s̀ ̀begi̡n͘ni̧ng to̴ ̷ma͟ķe sȩnsè,̷ ͠i̷s͠n̢’̵t ͟it͢!́”̛ A wild and feral voice, his presence seemed to swell and contort there like some image of the infinite and impossible.
“͏And̴ ́w͡h̕ile̶ B͙a̺̰͔͙̺͘’͎̮̝̝a͚̠̻̠͎̥l̬̗͍͙͕ c̛͢l̨ą̷̢w̢͜s̢͜͜ a͏t̴ ͡thę ̛g̕a̢t̛e̷ş o͝f̛ r̍êͮ̚̚aͦͫ̅́l̛i̾͗̅͂t̿̃ͧ͐͐y̆̐́̃͘ ͘– w̸hil͢ȩ Ţ̰̞̭̓̽̐̈́͛ͪh̃̈́͋̎̽҉̞̙̘̜e̮͈ͅ ̬͉ͣ̑̀̃ͨ͗̚S̮̹̝͔̜̲ͪ̄͂̌͂̚͡e͈̯̼ͭ̋ͣ̍̇̆ͅŕ̼̯̗pͭͣ̃̓eͬ̆ͨ̈̌͑̔҉n̴̰̘͙̘̳ͅṱ̰̹̐ w͜҉r͞i̶̕͜t҉̧͡h̡͞e͟s i͘n̸ ̛w̶ai͜t҉ing͟ f̧o̡r t̷h͟e m͡o̕m͝e̛nt in ̵ẃh̸i̕ch it͜ ̷w҉i͜ll a͢t̢ last҉ break ͡f̵o̴rth ͏i̵nto̡ ou̶r Un͝iver͡ses҉ ̵t̢o ̢w҉réak t͝hé ̨havóc o͟f ̕t́he dàm͟ne̛d – yo̕u sta̛re ̨u͞nto ̀t͢he fa̕ce̛ of ̧G̢̱̭̖̹̥͈̩̤̅̑͂ͤ͂̃̀ͅo̢͍̺̞̖̙̪̟ͣ̋́͆ͭ͂ͩ̔̀͟d̖̜̮̺̯͛͛̉ͦ͊́ ͜a̢nd͟ w̷̤̤̼͊̒̓ī̛̜̤̣̼̬͌ͬ̅ͩt͎͇͗ͣ̌̅͛h̳͝e̦̿̐ͣ̉̽̅͡r̩̦͖̮̿ͤ͡ ̢be̛ǹe͠at̨h͘ ̛th̢e͢ bl̷įnd͠i͠n͟g̴ ̕gaźe̵ o͢f̛ i͞n҉fin̢ity͝!̢”͘
"Make sense, you @#$%ing monster!”
“͏Ì have ͡see͏n in̵to tͯ́̍ͬͣh͙̘̜̮̜̞͕̀̎͑̅͝e̋͂͑ ͉̺̲͚͉͙̯̂̀͆̓̈ͬV͚͚̱̪̼̪̣͋ͪ́̇̽̇͞ŏ̵̦͇̝̹̲̾i̵̗̱͖͚͖̪̔̉̎d̆͋͌̿̅͢, A̶̤̹̫̳͍͉e͏̻̗͖͈ͅͅl̬̙̻̯̘̘̱͠y҉̣̪̳̖̝͉n͙̫͔̻͜-̳̮̬̤͓͓P̼͎̮̳a̲͔͈e̬̱̜̩̲͎̕ͅr͚̮̦̩̯y̰͈ͅc̶ Ṕ͖̪e̕ͅt̕r̘͎ov̢a̮̬͉͖l̺̯̼̝͚̤y̨͓̠̞̙c̛͕̯͙̤̪̣͇!͖̻͜ ̸Ì ha͞v͟e҉ s͘èen ̕p̕ast ҉in͟f͝in̕ity͟ a͘n͏d̛ ̕t̡hròu͟gh̶ ͏th͟ę ̡U̵n͠iv͠ȩr͜se̕s – ͜I ha͘v͜e͜ ͞lo̸st͜ m̵y̵ ̸m͠i̸ńd ̕t͢o͘ G̟̩̙̻͖͕ͧ̓̂̊ỏ̮̬̔ͮ̃͂ͫ̄dͩͭ͏͙̩̝͔ten t̵h͜o̷ús͘an͢d̡ ti͠mes! I h̀ave̕ h҉eld Cŕe̶ation i͡n̡ m͜y h̷a̷n̨d͝s ͞a͝ǹd ̧w͞i͠tn͡e͘s̀s҉e͠d ̨th͜e͞ ̢e͢n̡d of͜ ̨i̸ţ all! I ̀h̢av̸e seen E̬͚̤̠̦̫̒̀d̴͙̦̫̬̠̆ͤe̲̦̠͙̎̑͛̇̒̿͋͟n̫͙̦̻͕̥̳͒̇̈́̂͟ a҉n̛d it̕s’ ͟c̵h͏ildren com͡e͏ ́fo̸r̀th ̴f̢r̀o̴m ͏t͢h̡e͠ n͏o҉t͜h̶i͠ng͞n͝ess̵ b҉e̷f́orȩ t͞i̧m̧e ̷a͢nd dié ͝in ̕ţh̵e҉ firés̶ ͠o͠f͡ de͘st̛i̷ny̡!̶”
Abruptly, The Shadow Over Himself went quiet. He let his arms fall back to his sides – but the smile never faded. He took a step toward the Captain. Then another. Slowly, methodically – cyan fire burning within him. The air was thick and dreamlike – this unreal creature looming before the Captain, a thousand layered, flickering men all with the same haunted, soulless face.
"You…You’re the one on the Spear.” Aelyn-Paeryc growled, refusing to step back even as the cyan monster stepped ever nearer. Teeth gritted, he forced himself to speak. Words came out jagged and uncontrolled. "How. How is it that an ancient Martian warship is out there right now?”
The Shadow Man did not answer, only stepped closer still.
"What. Are. You.” The Captain demanded, voice trembling slightly with the fury and terror welled within his chest. As if for all the times he had called for it, this would be different.
“I͏ a͡m̵ ͝mąny t̷h͟ings̷,͏ A͞elyn҉ ͞Pȩtr͝o͞valy͞c. ͝I am a ͠pŗoph̢ȩt.̵ A͢ ̡w͠oưld-̶b̸e̡ god͠. ̕A m͟a̶dm̢an͞.͘ A s̕ęrvant.” The illusion of him seemed to gain height as the multi-faceted figure grew nearer still. The Captain backed up against the railing of the catwalk – the only barrier between him and a deadly plunge into the heart of the Notspace Drives.
“͜Bųt̡ ab̧ov̵e̛ ̛a͏l͝l ͞e͢l͢s̡e?͢ I͞ ̵am ͏a̧ h̑uͬ̄͋͒s͌k͌́͏. ͜I ͟am͟ ̀á de̸͟a͟͝d̷ ̢́th̕in̢͝g͝, r͠i͠p͏p͠ed ̕f͟ro̵m ͢thé ͠ǵr̨a̧ve̕ ̢b̧y͡ ͟t͡h̴e Lor̨d ̀o͞f̸ Deat̀h͘ a͘nd ̀Sh͏adows͜.́ The̢y͢ ͏say͡ ͘t́ha̵t ͡my ͠bod͟y ̸wąs ͏once that͏ ͝of ͠a̛ ̀Por͠tu̸gu͞e̛sę s̷c̀hola͘r on̸ ol͜d Ea̛r̨t̴h it͜se̕lf͜. I am̢ ̕a s͏o̡u͢l ̛st͟itch̛ed ͟t̡o͏g͢et͢h͜er ͟fr̴om͟ ͜b͟e̸y̸ond ̕ti͏m͢e. A m͡on̢şt̵er҉ ̛b͞rou͠ght͘ ͘int̢o̢ ҉u͜n͡d̀e̢at̕h to̶ ͝s̶erv̕e ̕t́h́é ͜p̧e͞t͘t̴y ͠pur̛p͏o̷ses҉ ͜o̶f ̧L͜ord͢s and̷ ̸Ladi̢e͝s̕. ҉But…”͏
He stopped again, only paces away from the pinned Captain. The wide, Cheshire-Cat grin disappeared to be replaced by an expression of brave solemnity. “But ͠I͜ a̕m̶ n̘̝͈͙̖͉͇͝o̼̬̖͖͚t͍̖̘͉̻h̙ị̜͙̲̞ͅn̞͝g̠͝, A̷e̶lyņ ̕P̀etrova̕l̵yc. ͜Don̛’t̡ y͢o͟u ̵s̴ee? Y̸o҉u̸ a̵nd͏ I̛… ͞W̵e̛ are ǹ̮̱̳̪̤̙̟o̸̩͎t͟h̗̳̲͈̻͔͚͡i̫̟̬̘n͍̘͓g͚͈̫͈̗.I̸ d̨o͘ no̷t͜ ̀k͏no̸w ͏w͠h͠át͘ y҉o̷u a̧r̢e̵, G̰͇ḩ̭̺o̥͔̲̜̤͙͕͢s̨͖̻͎t̜̜ ̳͎̝͕̬̮C̩͞a̝͔̝̤p͚̲͚͈͚t̥̭͇a̱͓͍̯i̼̳n̰͍̱̯̹̠̕ ̦o͚f ̫t̠̥͇̫̘͢ͅh͈̜͘e͇̟ ̳͚͢ͅL̴͕̦i̴͍̱v̵̱̬̜i͖͚͠ng͞ ̠̺͢S̹̬̲̻̖t̪a̭r̮̫̩̪.̤̪̩̫̙̜ B̸ưt͏ ̨I ḱn̵ow͞ that ̧eve̡ryt̛h͞ing̢ ̧t̢hat͡ ev̷e̡r͏ was̴ d͕̲͖̞͡w̘̰̕i͏̠̠n͎d̗l̼e͞s̸͕̠̹ͅ in̸ ͞the ̀aby͘ss͢al V͇͎̲͖̼͈̯͑̍ͦ̚͠o͍̦̺ͅḭ̵̝̤̽̀ͥd̝̖͆͗ͪ beyón͞d͟ t͏ha̸t͡ w͢hįch͟ n͞o ḿan, ͞n̶o̡r͝ bein͡g co̴u͞l͜d͜ ̧e̶v͝er̨ d͠e͝f̶il̕e͢ ͝wi͏t͟h͟ thei̕r̀ ͟pre͘s̵ence̷.҉ Y͘o҉u a̛n͝d͘ I, ẗ̟̤́ͣͣ̐h̡͕̜͇͓̯͉ͩ̆͛̎̄é͕̙̼̬͓͇͍ͭͮ̿ ̯̞̲̙̫͂ͫ͋͒̄͌͜L̜͍͚ͯͧ͆̓ͯ͑̂́ǫ̙͓̖̬̖͈̣͂͑ͩͯ̌ͨr͎̼̟̠d͉̃͌͒̂s̡͓̠͙̯͎̟͎̅́̓, all nothing! Anḑ.̷..͝y̷e̶t͠…̛Į ca͟n͡ fee̸l̴ ̡it̀! ͡I ca̡n ̷f͜eel͠ iţ!̸ C̞̼͉͕̪̟ͮͧͭa̙̹̰͈̭̬͒̋͆̎̓ͪn̳̘̗̝̯̼͇͋’͉͕͘t͙̻̯͕̩̝̉̊́ ͉̱̟̖̎ý̷̩̟̜̩͍͍̪̃͌̎ͤou!ͮ̓̋̊͒̓?̫̮̰̰̖̘̠̏̍̎͟”͖͌̓͑́
Desperation and ravenous lunacy was returning gradually to the Shadow Man’s ethereal, ragged-silk voice.
“It̴ is̛ B͇͖͇̀a’͇̖͇ͨ̾̋ͪ̂ͪ͡a̙̞̺͔̥ͧͬͦ̄̓l͚͚ͨ̾̃̌̊̃́͡ th̶a͝t̴ ̶claws̡ ̛a̛t̡ ̧the ͟g͡ate͢s̸ o͏f r͜eal̵itỳ.͠ But the͏s͟e̴…t͝h̨ȩse G̖̝̯͇͌ͦ̋̄̚ͅọ̋ͤ̋̇d̰̻̲̃̓͋̈́ͅsͣͮͥ̆ͬ a͜n͘d ͞D̳̟͑̊̏ͅë̪̞̤͔͉̫̰́̐͂m̉͗̐̓̿ͬͫo͔̼̭̘̰ͧn̛͈̗̫̖̭̭͛̃͛ͦ̄̓͆s̨̮͚̮̟̠̈́̋ are Ṉ̴͎͚̥͍̤̟̙̱͌͋ͣ̓O͈͇͎̙̟͊͒͞Ť̬̬͑̓͛̾̈͝H̬̮ͩ́I̖͔̠̼̗̪͇ͦͮ́N̓̅ͥ͝͏̭G̶̼ͫ̎ͬ̑̒̊̽͐!̸͌ͩ͐̇ͮ̏̄͡҉͉̩̟̦ D̀͞o̷n͜͢’͏̛t yo͢͏u̷͢ ̛s̕e͞҉e?̀ ҉͠D̨͙̼͉̦̑oͪ̌͐҉͖̣͉̳n͕͕͙̓̀͢’̪ͦ̒̃ͪ͞t̵̘͚̰̗̓̈̈́ͅ ͚̘͉͚͇ͣ͘yͨ̂̉҉̥͉͎̖͖ọ̜̠͖͍̯̇͐͋̌u̎ͭ̄̾͑̊ͥ͏̰̫̰ ̷̞ͤ͌͋̽͋͂̊s̥̰͍̥̎̈́͝è̫̮͉̲ͯe̻̮̱͇̼̒͂ͫ̃̉̕?̩̱̰̠̳̾̄͌̈́͛̇͟!̨͍͚͉̩̻̅͛ͩͤ”̝̲̗̱̆̿̂̈̋̇ͅͅ
Great arms raising toward the domed ceiling, white gloved hands gripping at invisible reigns – but the gaping craters that were his eyes never left the Ghost Captain’s own gaze.
Thunder cracked through the cavernous chamber.
The Shadow Man’s head split apart, scraps of half-existent viscera splaying out over the expanse of the Drives. He froze there – head half-gone – where glorious, cyan light poured from within him. It was as though his flesh merely contained the light – and the flesh had been torn away, bone shattered and tossed aside. His screaming ceased – and as he turned slowly to face the source of his apparent destruction, still more and greater thundercracks lit up the room with unreal blue-white flashes from beyond the Universe. Bits of him flew apart, disintegrating as they sprayed out into infinity.
Behind him, the small woman in the grey sweatshirt with the long, braided hair held straight and true the aim of a gold-plated handgun.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
There was murder in her eyes. Fury in the steadiness of her stance. Again, and again, the short, stocky muzzle flashed and sparked with thunderous death. With each step forward, another explosion of unreality pierced and shattered the Shadow Man’s ethereal form – until at last he was barely a gossamer, shredded mass that hung in the air in the vague semblance of human form.
It was in that last moment that what little remained of the head tilted back in realization – as sanity returned to the scraps of mind which remained, and another piece of the infinite puzzle clicked into place.
“I̕ see͡.̴”̨ The voice was faint now, and seemed to come from nowhere. “͘I ̷h̢a̧ve̴…͢m͠uch…̶tơ ́d҉o̢.”
The scant remnants of one lanky arm glided loosely to the control panel, where a bony finger tapped at the screen.
“̶See̢ ͟you͘ ̕so̕on͞, Ì ҉thíņk.”
And like so many wisps of cobwebs and threads of white smoke, the last remnants of the Shadow Man dissolved into nothingness.
Outside, the stars returned – but only the scant few allowed in observation domes would have any reason to notice. For the countless thousands that dwelled within the gigantic Stella Viventium Command Module, nothing had changed. Fort them, nothing had changed from the beginning. They went about their lives, none the wiser to everything that had happened – and would happen in the days to come.
Exiting out of Notspace, the great Stella Viventium appeared in a vastly different position in the Galaxy than it had started. The Kingsbane was nowhere to be seen. And while the Spear too, and the remaining Dendril warships and tugs had also exited the paradoxical dimension – they too were far from either of the opposing vessels. The three titans had been scattered across the Galaxy – separated by the interstellar gaps.
The lost, dead world of Isandril was never seen again.
How long had it been since such urgency violated the halls of the Living Star?
We stand untouched by the Universe, disconnected from everything and everyone – and yet here we are, sprinting through the dead-silent halls of this ancient place with sinking guts and terror in our soulless husks.
Something was happening.
Something that had, in the history of that greatest of colony ships, never occurred before. Something that was unthinkable.
The Stella Viventium had been breached.
Had the shepherds so allowed the sanctity of their flock to be penetrated by so strange and alien a force? The great ship had never before failed to obey its masters. Beyond hard-coded – it was as if a fundamental truth of the Star that the ultimate masters of it were the black-eyed ghost and his wife. No being could override their authority in this flying city that constituted their undisputed domain.
The hallways seldom used, and then only by that innermost sanctum of souls that interacted directly with the enigmatic Captain and wife. Halls that echoed with silence, that beckoned with wordless tales of the ages long-past. Hallways which held within them the secrets to the Universe and the keys to Everything, and the truth of it all. Hallways which could not speak – where the spectrum of history was that scant medium time could play on the lies of men and monsters. Hallways lost where souls called out from infinity to unhearing ears.
The great blast-door that refused their entry from afar began to slide up for them as they approached, heaving and out of breath, sliding to a halt to watch in perplexity as the ship seemed to operate upon its’ own volition. They ducked beneath it, and the cavernous vista of the Notspace Drives spread out before them. That massive, domed chamber where towers of ancient power rose to high peaks and deep ravines. The narrow catwalk that extended as though over a black abyss to meet the centralmost spire where the too-simple controls were mounted – where keyboards and monitors dictated the operation of what was possibly the most powerful machine in the Universe.
Light poured from hidden sources to illuminate the narrow pathway, steeping the remainder of that vast cavern in shadows darker than the origins of the Universes. Mysterious places, just beyond the reach of mankind – in the place where ambition spurned reality to reach ever closer to the stars.
They were not alone.
The too-tall figure before them, standing, looming over the controls with limbs that seemed juxtaposed on his barely-composed form. Hunched shoulders and long, long white-blonde hair. The couple came to a gradual stop halfway across the bridge to stare in fury and growing dread at the figure of impossibility.
And he turned around slowly to face the couple; and behold, inky black eyes with suns at their centers met infinite pools of cyan light that seemed to go on forever within the deformed skull of their host. The tall man seemed to flicker slightly, seemed not to exist, seemed to exemplify the surreal and dreamlike moment that they shared now. With Alexia silently in tow, the undying Captain of the Living Star stepped slowly toward the figure that beckoned in wordlessness.
The tall, grey-suited man stood like a monolith – expression only possible in the mouth, and that a thin line of concern across his unreal countenance. But as the Captain approached, that line morphed to a wide, toothy grin – then a smile that bordered on sadistic madness.
And for the first time, the undying Captain Petrovalyc felt the pang of terror within him. A deep pit, blacker than his own evil eyes – a well of blood and shadow that clawed at his mind with ceaseless, wild precision. Terror. The animal fear that had been lost to him so long as he could hope to recall – it fell upon him and imploded from within all at once. His face was a mask of fury and dead-awe – of terror and disbelief and the faintest beginnings of revelation all at once. It was a mask that the Shadow Man who stood at the controls of the Last Drive seemed to relish – he might have burst into terrible, bellowing laughter, but did not.
Alexia wanted to speak, to say something – but the words would not come. She merely strode beside her ancient companion, completing him with presence alone as she always had.
The Captain halted to stand before the grey Shadow Man with eyes of sky and lapis and power and death, and knowledge beyond the wildest dreams of Men. He gritted his teeth, willing the words to come when they would not – unaccustomed to the presence of this terrible fear within him. He had never felt so small – but standing before the imposing stature of this too-tall man, with his too-long limbs and his too-long hair – Aelyn-Paeryc Petrovalyc felt the horror of helplessness for the first time in his own too-long life. The expression of the Man unreadable save for the wide, toothy grin – he knew something that the Captain did not.
He knew many things that the Captain could never have dreamed.
This Man knew the secrets that Aelyn-Paeryc had spent his immortality searching for. All of it stood before him, simply waiting to be breached – and yet he was wordless – frightened beyond words at the prospect of learning that which he, of all people, was never meant to learn.
But after an eternity of silence, he uttered a meager demand, growling, forcing himself to talk at this looming monster who watched with eyes like the sky. It was barely a husky whisper.
”H…how…”
The Shadow Man merely widened his grin in a knowing mockery of the Captain’s confusion – then shook his head slowly as if to marvel at the myriad hidden nuances of the Universe in which they all existed.
“F͏a̵s̴c͞i̕n̶at͟ing. M͟y̢ Ĺ͍̱̮͍͊͐̍͢á̹̒̆̒d̨̺̖͉͍̜y̽ͦ ̨̫̮D̯͍͇̓u̼͖̖̇́ͅl̦̜̭̫͎ͧͭ̔̍̌ͅc̪̜̫͙͉̼͇̏ͭ̕i͑ͤn͆͆ͬ͌ͨ҉̗̜ë̞̻͉̳̘̤́ͥḁ̜̙̣̤͙̺͑̆ d̷̺̻o̧̝̳̬̪̦̲̩͕e̵̛̗͉̱͇̹̖̕ͅs̫̫̠̲͠ ḩave a se͠nse of̶ ͜h́um̸o͜r.̧ T͖͇̻͢o̝o҉͔̤ b̶̤̹̤̺͚a̧̺̝̣̥d ̲̹̣͙͓̝͢I̡̞̻̟̱͙̘͙'̵̳̥̼̞m ̴̮͔̼n̡ơ̺̩̹͚̱t̟̣̬̻̖̥̗ ̲̦͈̲i̮̳̹͇̙̫̘n̬̣̯ ̨o̧͍͚ņ̻ ̞̺̲̥̮̠t̘̻h͔̲̝͖e̵̺̰̰ ͚̟̗̘̯̱jo͍̳k͉͙͓̯e̜̭̝̘͙̯̤.”
But it was all too possible that even she couldn't know the punchline.
One long arm swung slowly around, and ghoulish fingers massaged thoughtfully at the chin. The white-blonde hair shifted in its silky cascades, and the cavernous eyes behind glowed, and glowed. A withering, scrutinizing, alien stare that looked down on him with the weight of worlds.
“̴Y̨où…̕.̧y͝ơu d͜on’͜t͘ ͘kńow a̢̳̱n̫͇̠̟̩͖y̶͙̘͙͍t̙h̴̠̯̠̙̲̺i͈̖̣̘n̡̼g̷, do ͡yơu?͡”̶ There was something approaching bewilderment in the ragged-silk voice then – and it gave way to a burbling laughter that rose to the surface of his throat in waves. The deep cackling of madness that echoed through the great central chamber with nowhere to go but infinity.
Infuriated, fists balling into white-knuckled stones, the indignity overwhelmed the terror and the Captain was forced to cry out amidst the howling.
”How. How did you get them! How did you get those scars!”
Aelyn-Paeryc Petrovalyc looked into a mirror of himself – inconsistent in detail and deeply changed – but of the pattern of the scars there was no variation. Gauged in the cheek, raking up the side of the face, over the lip – but parodied, in hues deeper, but hearkening to the cyan eyes. There was a light within this Shadow Man who did not exist – something glorious and wonderful – as if the flesh was merely a vessel for the constitution of power within him. The eyes had been blown out of the sockets and the skull deformed with great, glowing cyan craters where eyes had been – but the scars were the same. On the opposite side of the face, but the same. There was no doubt.
The Captain and The Shadow were one in the same. Each a grotesque parody of the other, each so far from human that the other might have been an original piece – each a monster in their own right, neither deserving of the title of ‘Man’.
“Tell me! Tell me you son of a bitch!”
And The Shadow Over Himself merely laughed away the Captain’s anger, shaking his head as though disappointed for the ignorance of the unknown. Aelyn-Paeryc’s voice was lost amidst the ocean of roaring laughter.
“̸It ̷al̛l͜ ćo̶m̶e̕s t͝oge̴ţh͞er̀! ̷Yet t̵hès͞e̛ ̷ḿy͏st҉eri̕eś ṕl͡a̵g҉u̢e̡ ͏us ̷still!̶ ͘Not̢hìng makes̛ ͢se͟nśe͏ ̴– ísn͠’t ̀it͢ b̀eautif̨ul͏!”҉
He could take no more. Thoughtlessly, Aelyn-Paeryc lunged at the Shadow Man – and struck.
The realization of it took him by surprise and he faltered, but with redoubled passion he grabbed the collar of the Shadow Man’s grey suit and slammed his back against the wall of the control terminal with all the force he could muster.
“You son of a bitch! Tell me! who are you!?” Aelyn-Paeryc screamed – and yet, he did not flicker. His own voice was hoarse and desperation seeped from the tone – but he did not flicker. It was only then that the Shadow Man’s laughter at last died down, and he returned his unreal gaze to meet the inky black pools of the Captain.
“Ǐ͕̙̫̙͔̯ͯ ̢̹̤̰̳̰̜̪͛ͭ͋̚Ā̛͈̻̦̎̉M̸͉̫̫͇̳ͦ̌ L͔̺̼͓̰̰͈͆͌̃͛̇̏̍̎͐Aͨͯ͋͏̨̲̮͉̥̩̕Ż̸͖͚̲̣̄̑Aͮ͠͏̗̳̳͕̖̫̞Ṙ̠̣ͬ̈́͒͘͢Ŭ͚̦̣̣̱̰̠̍ͥͮ̌ͦ̔ͣ͡S̛͍̼͕̟̜̎ͩ̄͐̒ͮ̈̕!̝͇̹ͥ̊ͫ!ͭͬ̈͑͂̆͏҉̖͖͉̮̬̣̺”̶̦͖͉͉͇̩̰̐̌̍̋̈́ͧ
The Shadow roared suddenly – but the now psychotic, beaming smile remained. Abruptly, the Captain found himself once again incorporeal, falling through the Shadow Man and collapsing forward onto the controls – only to scramble back up and make another lunge.
But before the attack could land, he was struck down by a vicious blow to the head as his ghoulish opponent swatted him aside like nothing. The Captain went clattering to the floor, only to scramble and stand once again and stare down the apparition from afar.
"̸̢T͜he̕͘͠ G̷̵͢h̕͢o̕s̵t̸͝͝ ̧ó͟f ̀͢͝ţh҉̨͢ȩ́҉ ̸L̨ì͘vi͝n͘͟͞g͝ ̧S͞tar҉.̴͞ Ḥ̳̬̫͖͎̖̥̂̽͗ͩ̓̌̐̕A̡̞͚̪̓͑̆ͬͫ̓̽ͬ̚!̼̋͞ Y͝et you̷ ręa͝lly͜ ̴d͟on’t̕ k͘no͜w͟ w̸h̶át͏ ͠thįs̛ ͏m̶ąc͘h͘ine įs c̈ͦ͊̂̄́a͠p̈̇͂͂ͮͨ͒a̔́ͫb̓ͨ͊̆̾̃͢l̛̐̇̐̍ͯe ̈́ͥõͨ̔̅ͨͪ͠fͩ͗, d̥̩̖̣o ̣́y͚̖̯͇̯o͈͝u̬͔͔̼ͅ!̕”̩̥̬̠̝̯͚
His voice became a scream now – madness and power bursting at the seams of his unreality.
“҉D̵o̕n҉’̛t͟ ͟y͢oų se͏e?! ́Y͜ou̵ ͜s̵t͜and҉ ͡with͡in th͜e͠ ̵bowel̸s o͟f ̴t͘h́at ̸w̸h͡ic͘h̕ ͟can cre҉a̛t͝e l͘iͫ̾͠f͂ͥeͯͦͮͫ̓̓́ ͟f͘rom ͝the͏ f̧u͞ǹda͠m̛e͜n҉t͝aĺs of ex͟i͞st͢ȩǹce!̴ ̵Ỳes͏, yes̀ i͝t͜’̷s̀ ̀begi̡n͘ni̧ng to̴ ̷ma͟ķe sȩnsè,̷ ͠i̷s͠n̢’̵t ͟it͢!́”̛ A wild and feral voice, his presence seemed to swell and contort there like some image of the infinite and impossible.
“͏And̴ ́w͡h̕ile̶ B͙a̺̰͔͙̺͘’͎̮̝̝a͚̠̻̠͎̥l̬̗͍͙͕ c̛͢l̨ą̷̢w̢͜s̢͜͜ a͏t̴ ͡thę ̛g̕a̢t̛e̷ş o͝f̛ r̍êͮ̚̚aͦͫ̅́l̛i̾͗̅͂t̿̃ͧ͐͐y̆̐́̃͘ ͘– w̸hil͢ȩ Ţ̰̞̭̓̽̐̈́͛ͪh̃̈́͋̎̽҉̞̙̘̜e̮͈ͅ ̬͉ͣ̑̀̃ͨ͗̚S̮̹̝͔̜̲ͪ̄͂̌͂̚͡e͈̯̼ͭ̋ͣ̍̇̆ͅŕ̼̯̗pͭͣ̃̓eͬ̆ͨ̈̌͑̔҉n̴̰̘͙̘̳ͅṱ̰̹̐ w͜҉r͞i̶̕͜t҉̧͡h̡͞e͟s i͘n̸ ̛w̶ai͜t҉ing͟ f̧o̡r t̷h͟e m͡o̕m͝e̛nt in ̵ẃh̸i̕ch it͜ ̷w҉i͜ll a͢t̢ last҉ break ͡f̵o̴rth ͏i̵nto̡ ou̶r Un͝iver͡ses҉ ̵t̢o ̢w҉réak t͝hé ̨havóc o͟f ̕t́he dàm͟ne̛d – yo̕u sta̛re ̨u͞nto ̀t͢he fa̕ce̛ of ̧G̢̱̭̖̹̥͈̩̤̅̑͂ͤ͂̃̀ͅo̢͍̺̞̖̙̪̟ͣ̋́͆ͭ͂ͩ̔̀͟d̖̜̮̺̯͛͛̉ͦ͊́ ͜a̢nd͟ w̷̤̤̼͊̒̓ī̛̜̤̣̼̬͌ͬ̅ͩt͎͇͗ͣ̌̅͛h̳͝e̦̿̐ͣ̉̽̅͡r̩̦͖̮̿ͤ͡ ̢be̛ǹe͠at̨h͘ ̛th̢e͢ bl̷įnd͠i͠n͟g̴ ̕gaźe̵ o͢f̛ i͞n҉fin̢ity͝!̢”͘
"Make sense, you @#$%ing monster!”
“͏Ì have ͡see͏n in̵to tͯ́̍ͬͣh͙̘̜̮̜̞͕̀̎͑̅͝e̋͂͑ ͉̺̲͚͉͙̯̂̀͆̓̈ͬV͚͚̱̪̼̪̣͋ͪ́̇̽̇͞ŏ̵̦͇̝̹̲̾i̵̗̱͖͚͖̪̔̉̎d̆͋͌̿̅͢, A̶̤̹̫̳͍͉e͏̻̗͖͈ͅͅl̬̙̻̯̘̘̱͠y҉̣̪̳̖̝͉n͙̫͔̻͜-̳̮̬̤͓͓P̼͎̮̳a̲͔͈e̬̱̜̩̲͎̕ͅr͚̮̦̩̯y̰͈ͅc̶ Ṕ͖̪e̕ͅt̕r̘͎ov̢a̮̬͉͖l̺̯̼̝͚̤y̨͓̠̞̙c̛͕̯͙̤̪̣͇!͖̻͜ ̸Ì ha͞v͟e҉ s͘èen ̕p̕ast ҉in͟f͝in̕ity͟ a͘n͏d̛ ̕t̡hròu͟gh̶ ͏th͟ę ̡U̵n͠iv͠ȩr͜se̕s – ͜I ha͘v͜e͜ ͞lo̸st͜ m̵y̵ ̸m͠i̸ńd ̕t͢o͘ G̟̩̙̻͖͕ͧ̓̂̊ỏ̮̬̔ͮ̃͂ͫ̄dͩͭ͏͙̩̝͔ten t̵h͜o̷ús͘an͢d̡ ti͠mes! I h̀ave̕ h҉eld Cŕe̶ation i͡n̡ m͜y h̷a̷n̨d͝s ͞a͝ǹd ̧w͞i͠tn͡e͘s̀s҉e͠d ̨th͜e͞ ̢e͢n̡d of͜ ̨i̸ţ all! I ̀h̢av̸e seen E̬͚̤̠̦̫̒̀d̴͙̦̫̬̠̆ͤe̲̦̠͙̎̑͛̇̒̿͋͟n̫͙̦̻͕̥̳͒̇̈́̂͟ a҉n̛d it̕s’ ͟c̵h͏ildren com͡e͏ ́fo̸r̀th ̴f̢r̀o̴m ͏t͢h̡e͠ n͏o҉t͜h̶i͠ng͞n͝ess̵ b҉e̷f́orȩ t͞i̧m̧e ̷a͢nd dié ͝in ̕ţh̵e҉ firés̶ ͠o͠f͡ de͘st̛i̷ny̡!̶”
Abruptly, The Shadow Over Himself went quiet. He let his arms fall back to his sides – but the smile never faded. He took a step toward the Captain. Then another. Slowly, methodically – cyan fire burning within him. The air was thick and dreamlike – this unreal creature looming before the Captain, a thousand layered, flickering men all with the same haunted, soulless face.
"You…You’re the one on the Spear.” Aelyn-Paeryc growled, refusing to step back even as the cyan monster stepped ever nearer. Teeth gritted, he forced himself to speak. Words came out jagged and uncontrolled. "How. How is it that an ancient Martian warship is out there right now?”
The Shadow Man did not answer, only stepped closer still.
"What. Are. You.” The Captain demanded, voice trembling slightly with the fury and terror welled within his chest. As if for all the times he had called for it, this would be different.
“I͏ a͡m̵ ͝mąny t̷h͟ings̷,͏ A͞elyn҉ ͞Pȩtr͝o͞valy͞c. ͝I am a ͠pŗoph̢ȩt.̵ A͢ ̡w͠oưld-̶b̸e̡ god͠. ̕A m͟a̶dm̢an͞.͘ A s̕ęrvant.” The illusion of him seemed to gain height as the multi-faceted figure grew nearer still. The Captain backed up against the railing of the catwalk – the only barrier between him and a deadly plunge into the heart of the Notspace Drives.
“͜Bųt̡ ab̧ov̵e̛ ̛a͏l͝l ͞e͢l͢s̡e?͢ I͞ ̵am ͏a̧ h̑uͬ̄͋͒s͌k͌́͏. ͜I ͟am͟ ̀á de̸͟a͟͝d̷ ̢́th̕in̢͝g͝, r͠i͠p͏p͠ed ̕f͟ro̵m ͢thé ͠ǵr̨a̧ve̕ ̢b̧y͡ ͟t͡h̴e Lor̨d ̀o͞f̸ Deat̀h͘ a͘nd ̀Sh͏adows͜.́ The̢y͢ ͏say͡ ͘t́ha̵t ͡my ͠bod͟y ̸wąs ͏once that͏ ͝of ͠a̛ ̀Por͠tu̸gu͞e̛sę s̷c̀hola͘r on̸ ol͜d Ea̛r̨t̴h it͜se̕lf͜. I am̢ ̕a s͏o̡u͢l ̛st͟itch̛ed ͟t̡o͏g͢et͢h͜er ͟fr̴om͟ ͜b͟e̸y̸ond ̕ti͏m͢e. A m͡on̢şt̵er҉ ̛b͞rou͠ght͘ ͘int̢o̢ ҉u͜n͡d̀e̢at̕h to̶ ͝s̶erv̕e ̕t́h́é ͜p̧e͞t͘t̴y ͠pur̛p͏o̷ses҉ ͜o̶f ̧L͜ord͢s and̷ ̸Ladi̢e͝s̕. ҉But…”͏
He stopped again, only paces away from the pinned Captain. The wide, Cheshire-Cat grin disappeared to be replaced by an expression of brave solemnity. “But ͠I͜ a̕m̶ n̘̝͈͙̖͉͇͝o̼̬̖͖͚t͍̖̘͉̻h̙ị̜͙̲̞ͅn̞͝g̠͝, A̷e̶lyņ ̕P̀etrova̕l̵yc. ͜Don̛’t̡ y͢o͟u ̵s̴ee? Y̸o҉u̸ a̵nd͏ I̛… ͞W̵e̛ are ǹ̮̱̳̪̤̙̟o̸̩͎t͟h̗̳̲͈̻͔͚͡i̫̟̬̘n͍̘͓g͚͈̫͈̗.I̸ d̨o͘ no̷t͜ ̀k͏no̸w ͏w͠h͠át͘ y҉o̷u a̧r̢e̵, G̰͇ḩ̭̺o̥͔̲̜̤͙͕͢s̨͖̻͎t̜̜ ̳͎̝͕̬̮C̩͞a̝͔̝̤p͚̲͚͈͚t̥̭͇a̱͓͍̯i̼̳n̰͍̱̯̹̠̕ ̦o͚f ̫t̠̥͇̫̘͢ͅh͈̜͘e͇̟ ̳͚͢ͅL̴͕̦i̴͍̱v̵̱̬̜i͖͚͠ng͞ ̠̺͢S̹̬̲̻̖t̪a̭r̮̫̩̪.̤̪̩̫̙̜ B̸ưt͏ ̨I ḱn̵ow͞ that ̧eve̡ryt̛h͞ing̢ ̧t̢hat͡ ev̷e̡r͏ was̴ d͕̲͖̞͡w̘̰̕i͏̠̠n͎d̗l̼e͞s̸͕̠̹ͅ in̸ ͞the ̀aby͘ss͢al V͇͎̲͖̼͈̯͑̍ͦ̚͠o͍̦̺ͅḭ̵̝̤̽̀ͥd̝̖͆͗ͪ beyón͞d͟ t͏ha̸t͡ w͢hįch͟ n͞o ḿan, ͞n̶o̡r͝ bein͡g co̴u͞l͜d͜ ̧e̶v͝er̨ d͠e͝f̶il̕e͢ ͝wi͏t͟h͟ thei̕r̀ ͟pre͘s̵ence̷.҉ Y͘o҉u a̛n͝d͘ I, ẗ̟̤́ͣͣ̐h̡͕̜͇͓̯͉ͩ̆͛̎̄é͕̙̼̬͓͇͍ͭͮ̿ ̯̞̲̙̫͂ͫ͋͒̄͌͜L̜͍͚ͯͧ͆̓ͯ͑̂́ǫ̙͓̖̬̖͈̣͂͑ͩͯ̌ͨr͎̼̟̠d͉̃͌͒̂s̡͓̠͙̯͎̟͎̅́̓, all nothing! Anḑ.̷..͝y̷e̶t͠…̛Į ca͟n͡ fee̸l̴ ̡it̀! ͡I ca̡n ̷f͜eel͠ iţ!̸ C̞̼͉͕̪̟ͮͧͭa̙̹̰͈̭̬͒̋͆̎̓ͪn̳̘̗̝̯̼͇͋’͉͕͘t͙̻̯͕̩̝̉̊́ ͉̱̟̖̎ý̷̩̟̜̩͍͍̪̃͌̎ͤou!ͮ̓̋̊͒̓?̫̮̰̰̖̘̠̏̍̎͟”͖͌̓͑́
Desperation and ravenous lunacy was returning gradually to the Shadow Man’s ethereal, ragged-silk voice.
“It̴ is̛ B͇͖͇̀a’͇̖͇ͨ̾̋ͪ̂ͪ͡a̙̞̺͔̥ͧͬͦ̄̓l͚͚ͨ̾̃̌̊̃́͡ th̶a͝t̴ ̶claws̡ ̛a̛t̡ ̧the ͟g͡ate͢s̸ o͏f r͜eal̵itỳ.͠ But the͏s͟e̴…t͝h̨ȩse G̖̝̯͇͌ͦ̋̄̚ͅọ̋ͤ̋̇d̰̻̲̃̓͋̈́ͅsͣͮͥ̆ͬ a͜n͘d ͞D̳̟͑̊̏ͅë̪̞̤͔͉̫̰́̐͂m̉͗̐̓̿ͬͫo͔̼̭̘̰ͧn̛͈̗̫̖̭̭͛̃͛ͦ̄̓͆s̨̮͚̮̟̠̈́̋ are Ṉ̴͎͚̥͍̤̟̙̱͌͋ͣ̓O͈͇͎̙̟͊͒͞Ť̬̬͑̓͛̾̈͝H̬̮ͩ́I̖͔̠̼̗̪͇ͦͮ́N̓̅ͥ͝͏̭G̶̼ͫ̎ͬ̑̒̊̽͐!̸͌ͩ͐̇ͮ̏̄͡҉͉̩̟̦ D̀͞o̷n͜͢’͏̛t yo͢͏u̷͢ ̛s̕e͞҉e?̀ ҉͠D̨͙̼͉̦̑oͪ̌͐҉͖̣͉̳n͕͕͙̓̀͢’̪ͦ̒̃ͪ͞t̵̘͚̰̗̓̈̈́ͅ ͚̘͉͚͇ͣ͘yͨ̂̉҉̥͉͎̖͖ọ̜̠͖͍̯̇͐͋̌u̎ͭ̄̾͑̊ͥ͏̰̫̰ ̷̞ͤ͌͋̽͋͂̊s̥̰͍̥̎̈́͝è̫̮͉̲ͯe̻̮̱͇̼̒͂ͫ̃̉̕?̩̱̰̠̳̾̄͌̈́͛̇͟!̨͍͚͉̩̻̅͛ͩͤ”̝̲̗̱̆̿̂̈̋̇ͅͅ
Great arms raising toward the domed ceiling, white gloved hands gripping at invisible reigns – but the gaping craters that were his eyes never left the Ghost Captain’s own gaze.
“Í̷͡T́ I͢S̵͟͠ L͋ͦ̎͌ͥ͏̭̮̝̟̮Ȉ̧̢̮̱̳ͫ͒ͬ͠V̸̧͓̩̹̻͈̱̊̂̕ͅI͐ͦ̓͗̓͛̃҉͏̪̻̬̗ͅN̬̠̘͎͓͕͇͉̾ͤͦ̀G̷̛̖̙̖̩̘ͪͧͫͬͯ͗̚͜!͕̻͍͇̩̰͈ͫ̎̿̑̑̐̂͢ ĮT͏ ̧I̴S̶̛͡ ̀Ẃ̵IT̨ḨI͏͢͟N̴ ̢͞Y̴̶͜Ò̷Ų̴ AN̷͏̷D ̛͠͡I̴̡̕,̸̸ W̸I̢͞T̷͠H̀͡I̶͞N T̢HE̵͞ ̶͢H̡E͜ARŢ̧̡Ś̴ ̨̕͟OF͏ ́͠Ś͝T̛͘A͢R͢S̴͡ ̨̀A̛Ņ̷D҉̷̧ ̧͜͟D̴̡̡E͘PTH̴̛͢S̡ ̴̡͘O͡҉̶F͢ V̦̩̻͍̠̖͈̪̅͐ͨͩ̊͂̚͢͞O̥̤̗̭̻̿̓̅͐ͩ͝͠Ị̥̗̙̹ͭ̑̃̋̾̑ͥ͋Ḍ̶̖̰͈̪̩͈̆ͭͩ̾̄͋̾̚!̷͕͓̤̪͚̤̙͕͋ͧ͗ͪ̇͑ͯ̒͟
T̸̡̗͇̘̦̞̰̳͕̃̂̍̽ͯ͛̎̒ͨ̎̔̇̀͢H̷̞̻̱̝̆ͧ͊ͭ̑ͩ̓ͦ͒ͥ̂ͨ́́͠E̡̖͚͚̳̟̪̣̳̻̽̅ͩͦ͊̓̎͒̽̃̑ͮ̑͌ͮ̂̚͝ ̛̛͎͕̲̘̘̆̐́͛͒̀͂͂ͮ̓̍̅̉ͩ͒A͊̆̊͗͌̂͌ͨ҉͏͏̧̺̱̤̥̫̬̳̹̲͉̖̝L̷̗̣͓̦͓̫͈͇̰̣͉̦͕ͭ͐̏͌ͬͪ͌ͯ́ͧ̎̃̄ͭ͡͠L̜̳̦͉͖̏ͦ͗̃́ͣ̍ͬ̉ͩ̋͌̋͋͞͝ͅ-̸̱͇̙͈̑̈̌̀̑ͤ̌̀͛̚͜͜M̶̦̫͖̤̥̮͎̖͐̓ͣͥͮ̓ͨ͆ͩ́̒̃̒̅ͦͦ̀̕͟͞I̜̞̱͉͙̤̘͚̞̮̩̬͈̪̼̲̞ͯ̒̊͒ͮͬ̽͋́̾̀ͮ̒̉͌ͯ̕͜͞ͅN̨̯̞̙̱̭̘̗̫̩̥ͧ̿́̐̎̏ͤ́ͭ̄ͪ̒͂̌͌ͪ̓́̚͡ͅḐ̷̤̣̻͙͇̦̝̣̲̺͊͒̾ͩ͆̓̀ͣͣͧ̒̈ͨ̃̎͋̚͘͞͡ͅ!̡̨͓̟̘̼̙͎̜̖̩̗͉̮͚͕̱̖̤͕͇͛͆̊̄́̀͞!̴̧̘̜̳̞̠̜͍ͨͬ̐̋͗͂ͯ̎͌ͦ͑“
T̸̡̗͇̘̦̞̰̳͕̃̂̍̽ͯ͛̎̒ͨ̎̔̇̀͢H̷̞̻̱̝̆ͧ͊ͭ̑ͩ̓ͦ͒ͥ̂ͨ́́͠E̡̖͚͚̳̟̪̣̳̻̽̅ͩͦ͊̓̎͒̽̃̑ͮ̑͌ͮ̂̚͝ ̛̛͎͕̲̘̘̆̐́͛͒̀͂͂ͮ̓̍̅̉ͩ͒A͊̆̊͗͌̂͌ͨ҉͏͏̧̺̱̤̥̫̬̳̹̲͉̖̝L̷̗̣͓̦͓̫͈͇̰̣͉̦͕ͭ͐̏͌ͬͪ͌ͯ́ͧ̎̃̄ͭ͡͠L̜̳̦͉͖̏ͦ͗̃́ͣ̍ͬ̉ͩ̋͌̋͋͞͝ͅ-̸̱͇̙͈̑̈̌̀̑ͤ̌̀͛̚͜͜M̶̦̫͖̤̥̮͎̖͐̓ͣͥͮ̓ͨ͆ͩ́̒̃̒̅ͦͦ̀̕͟͞I̜̞̱͉͙̤̘͚̞̮̩̬͈̪̼̲̞ͯ̒̊͒ͮͬ̽͋́̾̀ͮ̒̉͌ͯ̕͜͞ͅN̨̯̞̙̱̭̘̗̫̩̥ͧ̿́̐̎̏ͤ́ͭ̄ͪ̒͂̌͌ͪ̓́̚͡ͅḐ̷̤̣̻͙͇̦̝̣̲̺͊͒̾ͩ͆̓̀ͣͣͧ̒̈ͨ̃̎͋̚͘͞͡ͅ!̡̨͓̟̘̼̙͎̜̖̩̗͉̮͚͕̱̖̤͕͇͛͆̊̄́̀͞!̴̧̘̜̳̞̠̜͍ͨͬ̐̋͗͂ͯ̎͌ͦ͑“
Thunder cracked through the cavernous chamber.
The Shadow Man’s head split apart, scraps of half-existent viscera splaying out over the expanse of the Drives. He froze there – head half-gone – where glorious, cyan light poured from within him. It was as though his flesh merely contained the light – and the flesh had been torn away, bone shattered and tossed aside. His screaming ceased – and as he turned slowly to face the source of his apparent destruction, still more and greater thundercracks lit up the room with unreal blue-white flashes from beyond the Universe. Bits of him flew apart, disintegrating as they sprayed out into infinity.
Behind him, the small woman in the grey sweatshirt with the long, braided hair held straight and true the aim of a gold-plated handgun.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
There was murder in her eyes. Fury in the steadiness of her stance. Again, and again, the short, stocky muzzle flashed and sparked with thunderous death. With each step forward, another explosion of unreality pierced and shattered the Shadow Man’s ethereal form – until at last he was barely a gossamer, shredded mass that hung in the air in the vague semblance of human form.
It was in that last moment that what little remained of the head tilted back in realization – as sanity returned to the scraps of mind which remained, and another piece of the infinite puzzle clicked into place.
“I̕ see͡.̴”̨ The voice was faint now, and seemed to come from nowhere. “͘I ̷h̢a̧ve̴…͢m͠uch…̶tơ ́d҉o̢.”
The scant remnants of one lanky arm glided loosely to the control panel, where a bony finger tapped at the screen.
“̶See̢ ͟you͘ ̕so̕on͞, Ì ҉thíņk.”
And like so many wisps of cobwebs and threads of white smoke, the last remnants of the Shadow Man dissolved into nothingness.
Outside, the stars returned – but only the scant few allowed in observation domes would have any reason to notice. For the countless thousands that dwelled within the gigantic Stella Viventium Command Module, nothing had changed. Fort them, nothing had changed from the beginning. They went about their lives, none the wiser to everything that had happened – and would happen in the days to come.
Exiting out of Notspace, the great Stella Viventium appeared in a vastly different position in the Galaxy than it had started. The Kingsbane was nowhere to be seen. And while the Spear too, and the remaining Dendril warships and tugs had also exited the paradoxical dimension – they too were far from either of the opposing vessels. The three titans had been scattered across the Galaxy – separated by the interstellar gaps.
The lost, dead world of Isandril was never seen again.
Kovacs sent the command to the limpets to throw everything out, and return to their berths. "Station #12987 in the Carracks System. It's a G-type yellow star, so ww cam refuel once we're done." He followed into the mess, thinking that he might grab some chow.
"If you're looking to eat, the food printer is over there. Just stick in a food cartridge, and select your meal, and it'll be made in five minutes. You get six cartridges per day, use them wisely." He fished out a small box from the storage locker, no larger than a book, and tossed It over to Jet.
"We have a limited supply, gotta make it last." He stuck in his own cartridge, chose the Texas Breakfast option, and waited.
"If you're looking to eat, the food printer is over there. Just stick in a food cartridge, and select your meal, and it'll be made in five minutes. You get six cartridges per day, use them wisely." He fished out a small box from the storage locker, no larger than a book, and tossed It over to Jet.
"We have a limited supply, gotta make it last." He stuck in his own cartridge, chose the Texas Breakfast option, and waited.
Rin blinked, looking up and squinting at the person who just came in. Once he realized it was Ty, he blushed- which faded quickly thankfully. "Uh- good morning?" He opened his mouth, stopped, then blinked in comprehension. "... Oh... is it time to go already...?" He glanced at the digital clock, winced, then brushed slightly damp bangs out of his face. "... I took longer than I thought..."
He set down his new helmet, satisfied with the systems. He was just checking if the basics were working at this point, anyway- he'd finished actually working on it around an hour ago, which was when he took a short break, trying to look for the room he slept in before. After managing to ask around, he'd taken a quick shower, and dressed in some of the new clothes he'd bought- a nice robe composed of thin, tan-grey layers, exposing the arms, and dark leggings. Tan-grey arm warmers and boots completed the look, a black belt holding his knife.
He took a hair tie from the floor, which was still somewhat scattered with pieces of his new armor. "I guess I'm ready," he said, a tad nervous, quickly pulling back purple hair into a small ponytail. He took a deep breath...
Once they would leave the Nemesis, Rin's face would quickly morph into a surprisedamused expression.
KOOLEST BOAT U KNOW
"... Tsuan did that," he would say. The tone would be in a fond deadpan.
He set down his new helmet, satisfied with the systems. He was just checking if the basics were working at this point, anyway- he'd finished actually working on it around an hour ago, which was when he took a short break, trying to look for the room he slept in before. After managing to ask around, he'd taken a quick shower, and dressed in some of the new clothes he'd bought- a nice robe composed of thin, tan-grey layers, exposing the arms, and dark leggings. Tan-grey arm warmers and boots completed the look, a black belt holding his knife.
He took a hair tie from the floor, which was still somewhat scattered with pieces of his new armor. "I guess I'm ready," he said, a tad nervous, quickly pulling back purple hair into a small ponytail. He took a deep breath...
Once they would leave the Nemesis, Rin's face would quickly morph into a surprisedamused expression.
KOOLEST BOAT U KNOW
"... Tsuan did that," he would say. The tone would be in a fond deadpan.
"I'm waiting till we get the station so I can go pick up some chips and you know, hand made food. I've heard that the Carracks system is home to some of the best Giant Leechworm soup in the galaxy! Man I can't wait to get some real food" Jet said as thoughts of the incoming savory dish danced across his mind. The mere mention of the words 'handmade hot meal' made Jet salivate. "So what's cool nearby place we could go huh? To be honest, it's kinda boring on this ship, I mean we got movies but that's about it, oh and a gym." Jet asked as he inspected the food cartridges. "This is what you eat? Man that just degrades the animals, the best food is the food you kill yourself. I'm not talking about using guns either, that's cheating. You have to fight the animal bare handed and it must be the strongest animal, that is the only way I feel hunting should be done, not by some cowards killing the sickly ones." Jackson explained as he waited by the door, reading his legs for a mad dash towards the food court area of the space station they were approaching.
Kovacs sat down with his plate of food, the meal consisting of scrambled eggs, thick cut bacon, two large pancakes, and hash browns. By the time Jet finished his little rambling, he had already scarfed down the eggs and potatoes, and had gotten to work on the pancakes. "Space in general is an interesting place. But we'll find out what we can do on the station."
When he was done talking, Kovacs had already finished the rest of his meal and slammed the Orange juice down his throat. Getting up, he stuck his tray in the sanitizer and began wiping down the table. Walking past Jet, beckoned the man to follow. "Come with me. You're about to see something amazing."
When he was done talking, Kovacs had already finished the rest of his meal and slammed the Orange juice down his throat. Getting up, he stuck his tray in the sanitizer and began wiping down the table. Walking past Jet, beckoned the man to follow. "Come with me. You're about to see something amazing."
Finally, thought Jackson as innumerable amount of guesses as to what Kovacs was about to show him, flew threw his mind faster than Star Cruiser. The need for adventure that Jet had been harboring since in boarding the White Death had finally come to its climax. As Jet followed Kovacs, he silently fist pumped in the air in anticipation. Could it be an exotic form of matter? Maybe a pirate crew? Or maybe a hellish creature from an outer rim planet. Or maybe a creature from an outer rim planet that is a pirate looking for exotic matter! The possibilities were endless and Jet was ready. Plus, Jet was running out of movies to watch.
Kovacs and Jet arrived on the deck in no time at all. The energy of the big man was palpable as they made their way over to his chair. He could practically feel Jet's disappointment upon discovering that they had not moved one micron. "Go man the nav," the commander pointed to the seat on his left.
Once Jet had managed to squeeze himself into the chair, Kovacs pressed a few buttons in his haptic interface. "Watch," he pointed out the transparisteel window.
"FRAME SHIFT DRIVE CHARGING." The computer announced it, and a meter appeared on the supercondensed aluminum. Deftly handling the controls, Kovacs brought the corvette around to align with his destination, the system highlighted on the HUD.
"FRAME SHIFT IN 5..." the computer started counting down as the space in front of them began to warp, a Jump Rift taking precedence over the viewport. Streaks of black, green and blue started swirling around the vortex as crimson lightning crackled in the cloud for a full second.
Easing the throttle forward, Kovacs accelerated into the High Energy Wake, and they shot through deep space at tremendous speed. Stars and clouds of all colors sped past the starship, scraping and whispering across their shields. It almost sounded like a demonic choir, the unnatural howling filling the bridge before it suddenly ended. A bright yellow star filled the cockpit, the corvette far closer to the star than would be comfortable.
To anyone but a pilot.
"There. One hundred and three light years in twelve seconds. Welcome to the Carracks system."
Once Jet had managed to squeeze himself into the chair, Kovacs pressed a few buttons in his haptic interface. "Watch," he pointed out the transparisteel window.
"FRAME SHIFT DRIVE CHARGING." The computer announced it, and a meter appeared on the supercondensed aluminum. Deftly handling the controls, Kovacs brought the corvette around to align with his destination, the system highlighted on the HUD.
"FRAME SHIFT IN 5..." the computer started counting down as the space in front of them began to warp, a Jump Rift taking precedence over the viewport. Streaks of black, green and blue started swirling around the vortex as crimson lightning crackled in the cloud for a full second.
Easing the throttle forward, Kovacs accelerated into the High Energy Wake, and they shot through deep space at tremendous speed. Stars and clouds of all colors sped past the starship, scraping and whispering across their shields. It almost sounded like a demonic choir, the unnatural howling filling the bridge before it suddenly ended. A bright yellow star filled the cockpit, the corvette far closer to the star than would be comfortable.
To anyone but a pilot.
"There. One hundred and three light years in twelve seconds. Welcome to the Carracks system."
Kingsbane
Erica merely saw how the captain acts, not one of calmness and sensible decision but that of a mad dog. Her face became irradiated as she see's his actions towards her. As the Kingsbane and everyone else involved made the jump towards the so called "overuniverse" out of Notspace, her connection was cut and she can comfortably can see that her forces where also separated as well. In the back of her head she says to herself "I'll deal with him later"
On approach to Trekmere station
She nods at them and says "That's good to here, because we are about to land inside the port" soon the entire ship jutted to a stop as it landed and the ship's door to the outside open. She put away her tablet and walks towards the door and beckons them to follow. As she steps out, she looks at them and says "The common area is that way, you can talk and interact with others there as well as get some stuff for yourselves if wish" as she tosses them both cards that have good amount of credits on them. "Those are prepaid cards that you can use to buy things here since I doubt your currency is any value...consider it on the house and as a sign of friendship. Just remember to be back here within an hour, okay? Any questions?" she asks them as she looks at them with a raised eyebrow wondering if they had any questions or not.
Erica merely saw how the captain acts, not one of calmness and sensible decision but that of a mad dog. Her face became irradiated as she see's his actions towards her. As the Kingsbane and everyone else involved made the jump towards the so called "overuniverse" out of Notspace, her connection was cut and she can comfortably can see that her forces where also separated as well. In the back of her head she says to herself "I'll deal with him later"
On approach to Trekmere station
She nods at them and says "That's good to here, because we are about to land inside the port" soon the entire ship jutted to a stop as it landed and the ship's door to the outside open. She put away her tablet and walks towards the door and beckons them to follow. As she steps out, she looks at them and says "The common area is that way, you can talk and interact with others there as well as get some stuff for yourselves if wish" as she tosses them both cards that have good amount of credits on them. "Those are prepaid cards that you can use to buy things here since I doubt your currency is any value...consider it on the house and as a sign of friendship. Just remember to be back here within an hour, okay? Any questions?" she asks them as she looks at them with a raised eyebrow wondering if they had any questions or not.
Laurent woke up from his stupor and hoped off his beloved toy and walked out of the open cargo bay door and walked over to see what all the commotion was. He was still slightly sleepy but was still curious on what was happening and so he came to Rin, purred against his leg and then jumped onto his shoulder elegantly, being lightweight, being on Rin's shoulder wouldn't be too much of a problem and looked at what the little group of solider boys and girl did to the yacht. As he read the name of there new ship, he looks at them and says "I am impressed by the creativity of the title, but could you by chance have used something slightly shorter? Like The fun boat? or something?" as tail slightly brushes against Rin's back as he looks at them and back at the name of the ship.
Knowing that they would just ostracize him, he jumps down and with his tail up and his head held high, he just says "Well I least I named my little toy we are taking...under the Queen's orders" as he walks back to his tank in which the tank was kindly named "The King of Derp"
Knowing that they would just ostracize him, he jumps down and with his tail up and his head held high, he just says "Well I least I named my little toy we are taking...under the Queen's orders" as he walks back to his tank in which the tank was kindly named "The King of Derp"
The disappointment was oozing out of Jet's brain. The air around him became a thick, cooled, and congealed soup of crushed hope and dreams. Jet tried to force out the word "cool" and tried to crack a half smile, the type of smile that you would make when your senile grandma gives you socks for your birthday. You know you have to be grateful because she is approaching her last years but you don't feel grateful, so you just fake it till you make it. It was that type of smile. After awkwardly smiling, Jet tried, for 5 minutes, to wiggle his unnaturally large hips out of the chair he had corkscrewed himself into earlier.
After getting up and stretching, he went over to the bathroom to freshen up. He combed his hair into a thick weave, he made sure that his shirt had no stains, and finally, checked if he had an crumbs in his chest hair. Before walking out of the room, he gave a good strong flex into the mirror, flashed the pearly whites, and raced to the door. After being disappointed once, he was ready for the space station. He pulled out miscellaneous Standard bills and coins, counting them to see if he had enough for Giant Leechworm soup. "If that soup is more than 50 Standard, then I better be blown away." grumbled Jet.
After getting up and stretching, he went over to the bathroom to freshen up. He combed his hair into a thick weave, he made sure that his shirt had no stains, and finally, checked if he had an crumbs in his chest hair. Before walking out of the room, he gave a good strong flex into the mirror, flashed the pearly whites, and raced to the door. After being disappointed once, he was ready for the space station. He pulled out miscellaneous Standard bills and coins, counting them to see if he had enough for Giant Leechworm soup. "If that soup is more than 50 Standard, then I better be blown away." grumbled Jet.
Kovacs frowned. Looks like the other things that impress Jet are combat related. The commander mourned his ally's sense of wonder, which seemed to have been strangled in the mass of muscles he had become.
"Note to self, Mr. Jackson is to be barred from the bridge until further notice. He will also not be trained to pilot the Condor fighter in the hangar."
"NOTE TAKEN. STORING. REMINDER SET FOR 24 HOURS." Ahh, the ever so helpful ship computer. A highly advanced VI, as it was difficult to procure any discharged AIs. Every AI in the Federation was either the Superintendent of a metropolis on a core world, or a capital ship's EWar suite. They each had a seven year term of service before they were granted full rights as citizens, where they could do whatever.
However, since the oldest military AI was only six and a half, they weren't found in the populace. And while Superintendents were used since the 27th century, they all enjoyed their jobs too much. Some of them, like Virgil from New Mombasa on Earth, had been Superintendents for centuries.
The fuel scoop disengaged with a clunk that shuddered through the ship, and the freshly refueled corvette sped of towards its destination 120,000 lightseconds away. Or in layman's terms, fifteen minutes.
"Note to self, Mr. Jackson is to be barred from the bridge until further notice. He will also not be trained to pilot the Condor fighter in the hangar."
"NOTE TAKEN. STORING. REMINDER SET FOR 24 HOURS." Ahh, the ever so helpful ship computer. A highly advanced VI, as it was difficult to procure any discharged AIs. Every AI in the Federation was either the Superintendent of a metropolis on a core world, or a capital ship's EWar suite. They each had a seven year term of service before they were granted full rights as citizens, where they could do whatever.
However, since the oldest military AI was only six and a half, they weren't found in the populace. And while Superintendents were used since the 27th century, they all enjoyed their jobs too much. Some of them, like Virgil from New Mombasa on Earth, had been Superintendents for centuries.
The fuel scoop disengaged with a clunk that shuddered through the ship, and the freshly refueled corvette sped of towards its destination 120,000 lightseconds away. Or in layman's terms, fifteen minutes.
Before she could say anything, Vaxur hopped a little. "Nope! See ya!" he cried, practically skipping off to who knows where.
"Vaxur!" she shouted- oh my gods, why- she groaned, ambling off after him in a steady and reasonable manner.
It only got worse from there. Because a few minutes later...
Wyr stared down at the Aksen, lips in a straight line, eyes trained religiously at him for any suspicious movement.
Vaxur winced.
"Okay, not the best idea," he admitted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"Of course not," she said matter-of-factly. "What made you think that yelling at the top of your lungs- in the middle of a space station, no less- would get Rin to come to us?"
He gave a tiny smirk. "So he could shut me up with a blade to the throat?"
She resisted the urge to groan. She glared instead.
He flinched. "Nevermind!" he squeaked, holding his hands up in surrender.
She let out a brief sigh. Honestly. The boy had too much time in his hands since their teammate disappeared, and was quite angsty over said absence. If she had to drag him out to train one more time-
"HEY!" Vaxur wildly waved his arms around, nearly slapping a person in the face. "ANYONE SEEN A NYRAN?! LIKE, THIS SMALL-" he gestured to around his chest, "WHITE AND PURPLE ARMOR? BLACK AND PURPLE HAIR, THESE REALLY CUTE PURPLE MARKINGS UNDER THE EYES?" He took out a (admittedly well-drawn) poster of Rin with a flourish, shoving it in front of people and forcing them to stop for a second to look.
"OH! THE EYES ARE GOLD BY THE WAY, AND HE HAS AN EPIC RESTING B*TCH FACE- HEY!" Vaxur made a snatch for the poster which was now raised high in one of Wyr's hands. "GIMME! WE NEED TO FIND RIN!"
"You are acting like a child" she stressed, exasperatedly holding the paper out of reach. "Cut that out, Asken."
"FIND RIN."
"NOT LIKE THIS."
"YES, LIKE THIS!"
"Vaxur, no."
"Vaxur, YES!"
"Stop."
"Vaxur!" she shouted- oh my gods, why- she groaned, ambling off after him in a steady and reasonable manner.
It only got worse from there. Because a few minutes later...
Wyr stared down at the Aksen, lips in a straight line, eyes trained religiously at him for any suspicious movement.
Vaxur winced.
"Okay, not the best idea," he admitted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"Of course not," she said matter-of-factly. "What made you think that yelling at the top of your lungs- in the middle of a space station, no less- would get Rin to come to us?"
He gave a tiny smirk. "So he could shut me up with a blade to the throat?"
She resisted the urge to groan. She glared instead.
He flinched. "Nevermind!" he squeaked, holding his hands up in surrender.
She let out a brief sigh. Honestly. The boy had too much time in his hands since their teammate disappeared, and was quite angsty over said absence. If she had to drag him out to train one more time-
"HEY!" Vaxur wildly waved his arms around, nearly slapping a person in the face. "ANYONE SEEN A NYRAN?! LIKE, THIS SMALL-" he gestured to around his chest, "WHITE AND PURPLE ARMOR? BLACK AND PURPLE HAIR, THESE REALLY CUTE PURPLE MARKINGS UNDER THE EYES?" He took out a (admittedly well-drawn) poster of Rin with a flourish, shoving it in front of people and forcing them to stop for a second to look.
"OH! THE EYES ARE GOLD BY THE WAY, AND HE HAS AN EPIC RESTING B*TCH FACE- HEY!" Vaxur made a snatch for the poster which was now raised high in one of Wyr's hands. "GIMME! WE NEED TO FIND RIN!"
"You are acting like a child" she stressed, exasperatedly holding the paper out of reach. "Cut that out, Asken."
"FIND RIN."
"NOT LIKE THIS."
"YES, LIKE THIS!"
"Vaxur, no."
"Vaxur, YES!"
"Stop."
Erica rolled her eyes as she see's Vaxur run off and then Wyr after him. She went the opposite way towards the Stations control room. The reason why she picked this station because of the heavy influnce of the Mercon Merchant Guild in which she has really good relations with and so having access to the control room was a piece of cake and went to work scanning the relative data. Since it was going to be a specific search among millions upon millions of stations its going to take awhile.
Of course, Vaxur's antics caused one of the patrons of a bar on the station to spill his drink and got really mad. This person was a literal bipedal cockroach that stood tall as Wyr as it looks down at Vaxur, its wings fluttering in agitation as it goes to grab Vaxur by the throat and shake him around "Alright kid, its obvious no one as seen your damn boyfriend! Know I'm going-" his speech was cut as he felt a tab on his thorax and turned around to see a half woman, half spider being towering over him with a freakish grin on her eight eyed face. He cockroach gasped and let go of Vaxur and ran off screaming for his life...of course spiders eat insects. She then looks at Vaxur and says in almost snake like tone, "Ohhh how a cute man you are! As one of her eight legs came closer to Vaxur as the other hand went to caress his cheek. "I don't think I ever seen such a...interesting specimen" as she goes to lean in forward a little,showing more of her generous bust towards him that seems like it would pop out of her vest in moment.
Of course, Vaxur's antics caused one of the patrons of a bar on the station to spill his drink and got really mad. This person was a literal bipedal cockroach that stood tall as Wyr as it looks down at Vaxur, its wings fluttering in agitation as it goes to grab Vaxur by the throat and shake him around "Alright kid, its obvious no one as seen your damn boyfriend! Know I'm going-" his speech was cut as he felt a tab on his thorax and turned around to see a half woman, half spider being towering over him with a freakish grin on her eight eyed face. He cockroach gasped and let go of Vaxur and ran off screaming for his life...of course spiders eat insects. She then looks at Vaxur and says in almost snake like tone, "Ohhh how a cute man you are! As one of her eight legs came closer to Vaxur as the other hand went to caress his cheek. "I don't think I ever seen such a...interesting specimen" as she goes to lean in forward a little,showing more of her generous bust towards him that seems like it would pop out of her vest in moment.
Vaxur grinned, eyes darting to the side as he rubbed his neck. "Yeeah, aha, not from around here," he said, voice smooth. Those who knew him well would be able to see the nervousness in his eyes, the way he straightened to his full height because of caution- and how he leaned slightly back. He felt Commander Wyr step a bit closer, and the tightness in his smile vanished.
"You're pretty interesting yourself," he said, tone a bit more relaxed since Commander Wyr was there and got his back. "But enough about that, I'm sure you get many compliments-" he didn't even sound sarcastic, it was like a fact- "do you recognize him?" He pointed at the poster Commander Wyr was currently holding above him.
"You're pretty interesting yourself," he said, tone a bit more relaxed since Commander Wyr was there and got his back. "But enough about that, I'm sure you get many compliments-" he didn't even sound sarcastic, it was like a fact- "do you recognize him?" He pointed at the poster Commander Wyr was currently holding above him.
The spider woman gave a slight frown and says "I'm sorry, hon, but I never seen him before, but I am flattered by your words though" as her frown turned into a heart warming smile. "I would love to help you, but can you help me, dear?" as she goes to lean towards Vaxur, aware of the insect woman behind him looks rather delicious but she does her best not to go into her instincts. She goes ahead and whispers into his ear "Would you be a dear and follow me to an area and help with my clutch of eggs...no one wants to fertilize them on my world, so would you like to fertilize my clutch of eggs? It's simple I lay the eggs and you just...you know do your thing on my eggs and we are done" as she continues to smile at him waiting for his response towards him.
As soon as she saw Vaxur's eyes widen in alarm, she took action. "Excuse me, but I am afraid we must go," Wyr said. Her double toned voice sounded more pronounced, disconcertingly so, though her tone was still calm.
"Yeah, sorry," she heard Vaxur say, pulling back. Her arms twitched.
"Yeah, sorry," she heard Vaxur say, pulling back. Her arms twitched.
"Aw come on, it'll be quick and there's no responsibility on your part!" she pleads with Vaxur as she goes to grab his hand. But before anything makes a wrong turn, Erica yells out "Ellen!" as cup of water hit her head which caused the Ellen the spider to let go of Vaxur. She turns around and see's Erica with two Meracon guards and there square helmets and space like suits.
She looks sternly at Ellen and says "I don't care what you do on your spare time but those two are with me and unlike last time I can't have you eat them" as she approaches her to face her off. Ellen's face got read as her eyes shuffled from side to side nervously and says "What eat them? What are you talking about?" Erica's eyes squinted and responds "Uh huh, yeah after he fertilizes his eggs, you then was going to bite his head off, hmmm??? Then eat the insect lady???" Ellen gave a nervous chuckle as she backs away from Erica and says "Uhhh well when you put it that way it looks bad" the nervous wreck she was since it was all true. She turns around towards Vaxur and adds "Okay, uh, let me put it to you this way, just fertilize my eggs and I won't eat you?" she then collapses on her forward legs causing her human half of her body on the floor and begs to Vaxur "Please! I beg you! No one wants this old spider half-breed!" as tears came down her multiple eyes as she looks up at the small male.
Erica rolled her eyes and says "Ellen get a hold of yourself, he's not going to do it. Just leave him alone, all three of us have a flight to catch" as she walks past her and gestures Wyr and Vaxur to follow her and the Mercon's back to the ship as Ellen continues to cry at Vaxur's feet.
She looks sternly at Ellen and says "I don't care what you do on your spare time but those two are with me and unlike last time I can't have you eat them" as she approaches her to face her off. Ellen's face got read as her eyes shuffled from side to side nervously and says "What eat them? What are you talking about?" Erica's eyes squinted and responds "Uh huh, yeah after he fertilizes his eggs, you then was going to bite his head off, hmmm??? Then eat the insect lady???" Ellen gave a nervous chuckle as she backs away from Erica and says "Uhhh well when you put it that way it looks bad" the nervous wreck she was since it was all true. She turns around towards Vaxur and adds "Okay, uh, let me put it to you this way, just fertilize my eggs and I won't eat you?" she then collapses on her forward legs causing her human half of her body on the floor and begs to Vaxur "Please! I beg you! No one wants this old spider half-breed!" as tears came down her multiple eyes as she looks up at the small male.
Erica rolled her eyes and says "Ellen get a hold of yourself, he's not going to do it. Just leave him alone, all three of us have a flight to catch" as she walks past her and gestures Wyr and Vaxur to follow her and the Mercon's back to the ship as Ellen continues to cry at Vaxur's feet.
Vaxur couldn't help the tiny sigh of relief as Lord Erica straightened everything out- though he looked somewhat sorry for the other alien female's dilemma.
He crouched down. "Hey," he whispered. "I'm sure you'll find someone who likes you for who you are. There's so many alien species out there... and who knows..." he tapped her gently in the forehead. "Maybe you won't hafta eat the guy." He gave her a sympathetic smile, a solid pat on the shoulder- and got up, walking next to Commander Wyr.
... He could feel her curious and wary look burning through the side of his face. "Whaaat?" he said exasperatedly, turning to face her as he walked. "Is just... kinda sad, yanno? No one deserves to feel unloved," he asserted- then paused.
"... Except for maybe that Laurent guy," he muttered. He felt more than heard Commander Wyr snort softly in amusement.
He crouched down. "Hey," he whispered. "I'm sure you'll find someone who likes you for who you are. There's so many alien species out there... and who knows..." he tapped her gently in the forehead. "Maybe you won't hafta eat the guy." He gave her a sympathetic smile, a solid pat on the shoulder- and got up, walking next to Commander Wyr.
... He could feel her curious and wary look burning through the side of his face. "Whaaat?" he said exasperatedly, turning to face her as he walked. "Is just... kinda sad, yanno? No one deserves to feel unloved," he asserted- then paused.
"... Except for maybe that Laurent guy," he muttered. He felt more than heard Commander Wyr snort softly in amusement.
You are on: Forums » Sci-Fi Roleplay » The Galaxy Wide
Moderators: Mina, Keke, Cass, Claine, Sanne, Dragonfire, Ilmarinen, Darth_Angelus