《Castaway Planet》


 Chapter One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Escape Capsule of Spirit of Adventure cruise ship


    Unknown location


    Within Escape Capsule 0980


    Galactic Standard Time / 1710


    ¡°Warning, impact imminent!¡±


    A man with short blue hair and red eyes blinked as he woke up. The feel of his clothes told him that he was still wearing his orange jumpsuit. As he blinked through the fog, allowing his eyes time to adjust. The muffled blaring sound became clearer with each passing second. Where was the chief? Was his section late for their shift¡­again. He wondered how long before a threat of docking their privileges would follow. He wondered if getting a job on a cruise liner was the best way to leave his world sometimes. But any planet in a solar storm as the spacers say¡­¡­..


    But then he heard a siren, a siren that he had only heard during drills. For a second he was confused but then his training took over. He jolted back to full alertness as he realized he was in a chair, not his berth. Looking around he saw he was in a chamber of some kind about twenty feet across with five rows of ten chairs. He was in the main chamber, in an escape capsule.


    But how could that be? According to everything he knew about their course, they should have still been in deep space while the hyper engine was undergoing a maintenance cycle! They were nowhere near any known planet, and they were in a heavily scouted sector well away from the Frontiers!


    Red lights blared, bathing the compartment in shades of crimson. He stilled. They were making an uncontrolled descent.


    And he had other ways to keep his memory, ways he thought were unblockable. Whatever this was, it was beyond any precautions anyone could have taken.


    ¡°What happened to the Spirit?!¡± A female voice called out from his left. He looked and saw a woman in the same jumpsuit as him with black hair in a neat bun looking around with a scowl as she woke up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know but brace yourself!¡± An older voice called from behind them moments before the speaker blared again.


    ¡°Warning, impact imminent!¡± The speakers reported and then screams came from all around the man who only gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Stay in your chairs! Hold on good and tight, may luck favor us all!¡± A voice full of that command quality that so many officers had called out from one of the chairs to his left. The man grabbed onto the restraint holding him to the chair, closing his eyes.


    The chamber shook as they hit something and then went still.


    The man went still, listening as the sirens died down and only the silence of the grave echoed around the chamber.


    A few moments later the cabin¡¯s lights went back to a normal shade. As they all tried to absorb what happened, the computer reported their status.


    ¡°CAPSULE secure. Sensor detectS optimum atmosphere for all ocCUPANts of Escape capsulE. No com wave transmissions detected.¡±


    The man groaned as he reached down, removing the harness with stiff limbs. He ignored the tension in his neck as he looked around as he stood up. A chorus of moans and grunts filled the chamber, and he tried to make sense of how he got there. Two rows ahead of him was the main viewscreen. It was supposed to show what was outside the pod but he saw it was cracked down the middle. It must have broken in the crash landing or before. If it was broken, then other things might be too, and he felt fear shoot through him as he realized what might be broken as well.


    Before the man could move he felt something on him. A frown formed when he reached down to his right leg and felt the outline of something surprising. So he had that with him when he got into the capsule then? Later, for now, he had to see who was there. He looked around and tried to do a head count when a voice called out his name


    ¡°Wait, Jinn? That you?¡± A voice to his left caused the man, Jinn, to turn his head. He saw a tall man who looked Jinn''s age a row back and towards the right. The man had brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin in an orange jumpsuit like Jinn¡¯s. The only difference was a belt full of tools around the man¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Al, you¡¯re here too? Any idea what happened to us?¡± Jinn asked and Al shook his head. Al was a friend Jinn had made when he came aboard. Around Al¡¯s right eye was a tattoo of a white outline of a cogwheel, the mark that he came from a world where the Engineer¡¯s School held power.


    ¡°No idea¡­¡­ hey what are you doing!? Yeah, you by the ¡®lock!¡± Al exclaimed turning his whole body around. Jinn followed his gaze and saw an older-looking man, fat and balding in a black tuxedo by the airlock. Jinn felt his blood freeze, he knew what the man was trying to do.


    The man turned and scowled at the two of them as more people reacted and got up. ¡°You heard the computer, I¡¯m not spending more time in this tin can than I have to!¡±


    Jinn felt a flash of fear at the man¡¯s actions. He remembered how his trainers had stressed that even if a computer¡¯s first report was that things were safe, it didn¡¯t mean that it was true. The only way to be sure was to check that the computer and sensors were working and then do a manual test. Otherwise, something could have been missed or broken in a crash.


    As the other people in jumpsuits reacted, most of them tried to stop the man. The deckhand that was the closest to him even tackled him away from the airlock, their combined weight carried them to the floor. Jinn breathed a sigh of relief the tackled passenger reacted badly, thrashing about and trying to get free.


    ¡°Please sir, stay calm! We can¡¯t go out just yet!¡± The man who tackled him said. The fat man just struggled harder and looked around, crying out to the other passengers.


    ¡°What are you afraid of!? Why are you keeping us in here!?¡± The man bellowed and some of the passengers started to react.


    One grabbed Jinn and started to shake him. Jinn felt anger at the stupidity before him, hadn¡¯t any of them ever learned what to do if you were in an escape capsule? Or was he like the rest of the passengers, someone who thought that nothing would ever happen to him?


    ¡°Why are you stopping him!? Aren¡¯t you supposed to protect us while we¡¯re on your ship!?¡± The man demanded and Jinn kicked out, hitting below the man¡¯s belt and the man dropped to the floor. A few of the passengers tried to help the deckhands but others tried to stop them.


    Jinn looked towards the airlock and saw the first passenger being freed by two of the passengers. The fat man then lunged for the airlock, his hands flying towards the controls.


    ¡°NOOOO!¡± Most deckhands and some of the passengers yelled as the man activated the doors. The other deckhands all held their breaths in fear. As those who fought against them saw their reactions, some started to feel fear. Those same people then started to worry that the deckhands might have been trying to keep them alive.


    ¡°The computer said it was safe, what did you¡­¡­.you all thought we would die if I opened it, didn¡¯t you?¡± One of the passengers asked with a shocked tone. As the other passengers all paled in horror, Jinn closed his eyes as Al glared at the fat man by the portal.


    ¡°The computer could¡¯ve been broken in the crash you idiot waste of starfire! You always check the computer and then you do a test before going outside! Always! We don¡¯t know what¡¯s out there, you could have let in a gas that caused us all to die!¡± Al rasped out as the man only looked at him with anger and walked through the portal.


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    ¡°Oh, you gotta be kidding me!¡± Jinn exclaimed and Al looked around at the other passengers.


    ¡°Jinn, we gotta get control here. You go after him! Try and keep him safe while seeing where we landed," Ali said as he looked around the chamber, trying to find anyone of higher rank to take command.


    Jinn nodded and scrambled after him, cursing in his head as he ran. No matter what, he was a deckhand of the Spirit of Adventure! And his job was to protect the passengers, even from their own stupidity. Coming out of the capsule, he saw that they were at the bottom of a crater that looked to be at least twenty feet deep. He looked up and instinctually first and saw above him a sky was a clear and beautiful blue, like his homeworld. He couldn¡¯t see the sun but with how bright it was it had to be in the afternoon of the local cycle. The sounds of loose dirt falling caused him to glare up at the passenger as he climbed up the walls to his left.


    ¡°Hey, hold on!¡± Jinn called out in anger and the passenger just snorted.


    ¡°Screw you! Once I get back to civilization I¡¯ll post such a bad review that your company will go under! When I¡­¡­. when I¡­.¡± The passenger trailed as he reached the top and started to stammer.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at the man. For the last few minutes the man had been acting like this was a walk through the park to the hotel. His personality was a mix of both arrogance and ¡®he was in charge and knew best¡¯. But the way he reacted was causing Jinn to get all kinds of warning signals. After Jinn climbed up the crater wall, he blinked in shock. The crater was in a clearing with a ring of trees with purple leaves and black bark around it. Flying through the air were long red worm-like creatures. They had wing covers in a triangle formation with their true wings long and colored bright jade. Looking down at the ground he saw white grass all around with blue bush-like plants here and there.


    He turned around in a circle, seeing a large mountain in the distance to the right. As more of the survivors joined them at the top, none of them spoke. Jinn saw Al in the crowd and saw the look in his eyes, the same look Jinn knew was in his own.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t ever seen trees like that in the wild before on any world, not in those numbers outside of gene-sculpting or colored water.¡±


    ¡°And those insect-like things, what are they?¡±


    ¡°There isn¡¯t a world in range of the route that has anything like this on it, where are we!?¡±


    Jinn looked around at them and saw eyes widen and faces pale in horror. He could see how everyone could go wild and run into the wilderness, and he couldn¡¯t let them do that. They didn¡¯t know where they were and anyone that left¡­¡­.. might not come back. He had to do something, anything to keep them from rioting.


    ¡°Hey, HEY!¡± Jinn called out and everyone looked at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m hearing a lot of poor me right now people! We¡¯re alive, we don''t know where we are true, but each capsule has FTL repeater systems, they¡¯ll find us!¡± Jinn bellowed and the others looked at him. ¡°We can¡¯t be the only survivors; there have to be others out there!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Another escape pod opened, and out of it came three beings six feet tall. They were all wearing green helms that hid their faces and green armor, green gauntlets over their hands, and green boots over their feet. Each of them was carrying a green metal rifle with a red crystal halfway along it. At the top of the crater was a black insect that was five feet tall. It had four mandibles in an ¡®X¡¯ formation and six legs that ended in spikes. It looked at them before charging at them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°I doubt that we¡¯re alone! But remember the Spirit has a Crash Transmitter! They¡¯ll find it and us before too long, maybe a month or a bit over!¡± Jinn said and the others all nodded as they smiled. That was true and if the Spirit was destroyed, the transmitter would activate. The only way it wouldn''t activate was if it was destroyed. But the chances of that happening were extremely low. Everyone was excited since it was common knowledge that it was protected in a cube of the hardest material ever found.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    A snowstorm buffeted a region of snow and ice. A debris trial over a hundred miles long, it ended in what looked like the front section of a spaceship over a thousand feet tall. The ship was bisected, the back section open to the elements and not sparking, as it had been drained of all power. The most curious thing was a small half-square of circuitry with a black metal outline. It was about ten feet tall and wide and seemed to be built into the ship. But the strangest thing was it was at the exact end of the portion of the ship. Like whatever had cut down the ship had wanted this one square cut it in half.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°You sure?¡± A woman with short black hair in the deckhand jumpsuit asked and Jinn nodded at her.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jinn said with a grin as he looked around at the others.


    ¡°Let¡¯s be honest, we are in danger. But if we keep our heads we might survive after all. And really, what¡¯s the worst that could be out there besides animals and our comrades? Jinn asked and looked around as they all started to smile. Jinn breathed a sigh of relief, he had done it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Out on the open ocean on a moonlit night, a forty-foot-long ship with black sails moved over the waves. From the pitch black wood of the hull to the sails the color of the abyss itself on the two masts this ship was a beacon of terror. Along the side of the ship were white bones used as armor. There was a large skull that looked reptilian on the bow in place of a figurehead, and it had two curved horns. As the ship sailed on the figures were revealed to be reptilian humanoids. They were five feet tall with black scales. They had fangs sticking out of their mouths bellow two eyes. They had short red spikes in place of hair with two ears on the sides of their heads. They were all dressed like human pirates from the time of Columbus, some even had eye patches.


    As the ship sailed on, one of them came out of the hold. This one was dressed like the others but it had a belt with two swords sheathed on its sides. It had a large triangular-shaped black hat with a large red feather going up on the right side on its head. Around its neck was a green crystal shaped like a grinning skull with horns on the sides.


    It looked around, seeing the work of the others before it turned and walked towards the stairs to the steering wheel it climbed up. At the wheel was another one of the reptilian humanoids. This one had a bandana around its right eye and a large axe on its back.


    ¡°How many cycles until we reach the Steel Island and its consorts?¡± The newcomer asked the helms being.


    The helms being looked up at the stars overhead gave a dismissive snort that caused the newcomer to wince as he looked over the ship, seeing what the helms being must have.


    ¡°At a guess¡­¡­.the winds aren¡¯t good, and with the damage, we¡¯ve taken and lost crew¡­¡­. a week, maybe more if we come across another one of those beasties cap¡¯n, but I¡¯ll be able to get us there!¡± The helms-being rumbled in a raspy voice.


    ¡°Good, without a Prophet we¡¯re blind. The best thing is to live off the food on the Weaker and wait to join up with any fleets that come to try and take the Star Beast,¡± The Captain snarled back and the helms-being laughed evilly.


    ¡°Best we could do, and if the Admiral bites it, we can probably take over a few other ships to rebuild our fleet!¡± The Helms-being said the captain grinned.


    ¡°And if there are newcomers, more slaves for us!¡± The Captain said and they laughed as the ship sailed on.


    As the ship moved on it never noticed that far behind it a good fifty feet a tentacle that was five feet wide thrust out of the sea, point at the ship, then reveal a large eye on the end. It looked at the ship for moments more before the eye was covered and the tentacle slipped back into the water. Moments later a large black mass below the sea¡¯s surface moved after the ship.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°After all, this is just a planet we can breathe on, and we¡¯ve got air and probably food from this place that we can eat! We¡¯re not leaving the system until we get rescued, true. But we just need the beacon to stay on and we¡¯ll get back the Federation!¡± Jinn finished his speech and looked around at the people, seeing the looks of relief as the exact circumstances they were in came through to them all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    New harvest of test subjects from Construct encountered during cool down cycle; multiple life Templates were collected. Templates 10049 dominate with other templates from political entity 1074. All templates have Nano-Scale Augmentations within acceptable levels. All Templates identified as Sample Group 98764


    Construct split into sections to destroy signal that ENEMY could detect, loss of Template from actions minuscule in comparison to the total harvest


    Harvest automatically split into groupings within parasite templates from construct.


    Construct that carried them split into sections, some still have Template within and will be inserted into all BIOS


    Report on BIO 07


    Harvest sampling split into groups and sent to locals within BIO 07 successfully; random sampling grouping put into Sub location¡­¡­¡­


    Alert; Template 00002 life code detected within harvest! Location in BIO 07


    Report on Life Code of Templates. 00002 gene line confirmed, multiple sub-Templates within Template 00002 grouping


    Alert; Entities within Templates 10049 have combat level 5 Nano-Scale Augmentations within group of 10049 on local setup in Formation 3948


    Actuate Construct units; Biped Stealth subtypes to monitor Templates 10049/ Send Construct units Flight Strike against Template 00002


    Continue Experiment within Sub location or awaken Purge Templates from holding site?


    From Main Intelligence; The experiment continues within all BIOS; protocols to be followed. Purge denied.

 Chapter Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 0


    Unknown Planet


    Crater Above Escape Capsule 0980


    Galactic Standard Time / 1720


    ¡°Now the first thing we need to do is see what supplies are in the pod, we can plan our next move after we know what we have to work with,¡± Jinn said as he looked around.


    ¡°Good idea!¡± The same voice of command from before came from down the hill, and Jinn felt a surge of relief, he knew that voice! They all turned and saw an older man, maybe around fifty years.  He had pale skin and balding white hair.  The man was in a black jumpsuit and being supported by a woman with blue eyes and short red hair in an orange jumpsuit.


    ¡°Security Chief Mac Felan, didn¡¯t notice you, sir!¡±  Jinn said as the deckhands all went to attention.


    Security Chief Duncan Mac Felan was the ship''s security chief and third in command.    His arrival caused Jinn to grin.  Under the chain of command, Duncan was in charge, so Jinn was free of that burden.  But then he noticed the way Duncan was limping, well that caused Jinn to worry a little.


    ¡°As the man said, we¡¯re in a crisis!   But we¡¯ve trained to protect you all!   Follow our directives and we will make it through this!   Just work with us and we will all live!¡±  Duncan called out and was met with cheers.   Looking around he started to bark orders.  ¡°Good, you three go and see if you can find anything around here that we can check with the computers to see if we can eat!   You three go and check the capsule¡¯s condition, then check the supplies on the upper level!  The rest of you get these passengers back inside and make a headcount! Mister Jinn, stay with me and Cadet Racha!¡±


    Jinn watched the passengers and his fellow deckhands leave, a strange feeling went through him.   Al shot a look over his shoulder at Jinn as he left, wondering if his friend was going to be ranked over the coals for how he took charge.   Jinn only looked at Duncan as the woman, Racha helped him sit down on a large rock.


    <>-----------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan sat down and winced at the pain in his leg.   He could only look at the capsule as he gathered his thoughts and listened to the wind.   It was a good thirty feet tall and colored a deep blue, the ¡®top¡¯ of it was flat and it was a circle with a circumfuse of maybe a good fifty feet A jolt of pain in his leg was ignored as Duncan let his mind work on the problems as he saw them.    Duncan just looked at the capsule for a few moments, Racha and Jinn both remained silent as the older man gathered his thought.


    ¡°Hell of a mess we¡¯re in Cadets, hells of a mess. Most of them have to only have civilian-level nanos.   And most of our comrades only security grade, if at all!¡± Duncan said and Jinn away.   He knew his were a lot better, but then how he was addressed hit him and he looked at the security chief.


    ¡°Sir I¡¯m not a¡­¡­ oh,¡± Jinn blinked and looked at Duncan who grinned as Jinn realized he had just been promoted.


    ¡°You are now. Damn good job of getting morale back, and you knew about the capsule''s limitations! All in all, the rank increase is just to give you a little pull with the civilians. We''ll need that before this is through,¡± Duncan said and Jinn looked at his commanding officer with a little guilt in his eyes, something that Duncan caught. ¡°Something wrong with the rank?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a ¡®travel decker¡¯ sir, I never planned on staying once the ship made it to a central planet,¡± Jinn bit out and Duncan looked at him as Racha looked taken aback.


    ¡°Traveling then?  Or were you getting away from a punishment?¡± Duncan asked as his hand slowly went to his side where he normally had a stun pistol.   The movies might have romanticized traveling as a member of a ship¡¯s crew, but it was still the best way for someone running from the law to do so.    He had seen it happen in real life, and they were monsters.   He thought Jinn was a better person than that, but he had a few scars from when his feelings had been betrayed in the past.  Jinn just shook his head, not making a move in reaction to Duncan¡¯s actions.


    ¡°No sir.  Just had to get away from something others wanted me to do, something to do with the local religion.  It was lawful there but it was not something I was comfortable doing.  And that¡¯s all I¡¯m saying,¡± Jinn interrupted and Duncan ahhed as he nodded.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s nothing boyo.   Happened to me a few times over the years¡­¡­ your data truthful at least?¡± Duncan asked looking at Jinn as he moved his hand away from his side.  Jinn forced himself to relax and nodded, and for a moment he thought he felt something within him.  Duncan only grinned at this and looked at the mountain in the distance and sighed   ¡°Good, then I was right you¡¯re perfect for this mission.   That mountain, you get the idea?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, thank you, sir,¡± Jinn said as he turned and looked at the mountain, deep in thought.


    <>-----------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn just let his mind go over the problem.    He could see how the mountain was the best choice they had to find out where they were, and a scouting party was the best idea.


    Once he saw it he thought the best thing for them to do was get someone up there, if only to get a look at the land.   They needed to try and figure out where to go or even where exactly they were in relation to any settlement on this planet.    And if they could learn if there were other capsules from the Spirit nearby, maybe even part of the ship itself.    And if it wasn¡¯t then if they could contract other survivors in other escape pods, they could have that much of a better chance of surviving until they were found by anyone.


    But that was only if any of the other capsules'' decent system rockets let them land and not impact.  In the model of escape capsules the Spirit had, they were only able to move over land and hover about a foot off the ground, but only if it was level.   With their pod stuck in a crater, they needed something to help them move it out.    They would need earth-moving vehicles, robots, or exo-frames to modify the slop to let the capsule out, if they tried to do it by hand it would take a month.   The only other option was if something could


    Jinn looked at the mountain and called up his nanotech, one of the groups of ¡®bots in his eyes were rangefinders, and he winced as he saw how far away it was.     ¡°It¡¯ll take a few days to make it that far sir.  And that means I¡¯ll need some help and a mobile bioscanner to make sure we can eat what we find or kill.   The only other option would be to take supplies from what we¡¯ve got.¡±


    Duncan looked at him and nodded, a strange look in his eyes.


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    Jinn hoped that the old man didn¡¯t know anything about his past.   He hadn¡¯t heard anything about his family, the people who raised him before he left the world he was raised on.    But with what he knew about them if they had been raided and it was kept quiet, he wouldn¡¯t be too surprised.


    ¡°Quite right Mr. Jinn, quite right.   So you¡¯ll be sent off tomorrow once we know who is here, you have to move fast so three people only, counting you of course.   If we have more than one scanner you¡¯ll take one.  But beyond that, we¡¯ll just have to see.   For now, go help the kids I sent to gather possible food and take this,¡± Duncan said as he look at Jinn as he handed over a blaster pistol that he removed from the side of his body that was facing away from Jinn.


    Jinn nodded as he took the pistol, saluting as Duncan turned away.   He took a deep breath as he looked at the gun, he had trained with something a lot more high-tech in his youth, and he knew how to field strip this model.    He took a breath and took a step on the purple grass and looked towards where the three deckhands had gone to the trees to try and find anything they could eat.


    ¡°One last thing, do either of you know why we got into the capsule in the first place?¡± Duncan asked and Jinn and Racha both looked at each other before they shook their heads. Duncan cursed and looked away, fear flowing through him.    ¡°Me either.¡±


    Jinn watched as Duncan was helped down to the capsule by Racha.     Jinn frowned as he looked at her, he had thought she was part of the cadets who were on the fast track for command, but she seemed to know enough about medicine to set a leg.   He might not be the only one who was hiding his skills, and if she was showing more then should he?


    He shook his head and scowled.   Let the others show everything they were first, for now, he would try and stay alive.   He didn¡¯t know anything about the Federation, all he had been taught was wrong.    He had run for maybe three months before he found out about ¡®travel-decking¡¯ and after he dealt with one of his former brothers, it was the best thing for him.


    He needed to find a place to hide and learn everything he could, only then would he choose what to do with what he knew.    He knew so little about the truth of space, and they who had raised him wanted that way so they could use him.   He didn¡¯t want to hurt some of them, they had been used like him.   But could he stay silent with what he knew?    He had to learn more, so he could make an informed choice, that was the only thing he could do.


    The sounds of buzzing caused Jinn to turn.   He looked at the bugs, trying to get a good look around the clearing.   So far only those were around, so what level of the food chain were they?    Back home there were a few large bugs like them, and they were predators but then weren¡¯t the worms'' prey?


    As Jinn looked at the small worms like flyers and frowned.  He counted them all, finding out that there were only five of them and they were all flying together.  As they were moving in slow orbits toward the gatherers he watched them closely.   For a moment he thought nothing of it before he remembered something in his past, an old lesson about introducing animals from other planets, and then he remembered hunting tactics he had studied in his training.


    As the realization hit him, he saw one of them suddenly dart upwards.  He understood exactly what it was trying to do and he started to move.   He had to stop it, he had to save them!  Jinn cursed in his head for being stupid as he brought the pistol to bear on the worm, it paused moments before it shot down faster than it climbed.   He moved his aim ahead of it and fired a single bolt, hoping that he would hit it before it reached its target!


    The gather¡¯s heard Jinn firing and turned around, seeing him aim at one of the worms that had been flying around.  The worm that was diving right at them with its bottom pointed at them!


    ¡°Back to the capsule, now!¡± Jinn barked as the bolt hit the diving worm and destroyed the front of its body. The other worms all flew upwards as they reacted to the death.  The gatherers could only stare at the dead worm¡¯s remains as it drops to the ground.  Their eyes remained locked onto a long stinger as the corpse hit the ground.


    The other worms flew at him all of them angled their ends toward him as they released their stingers.


    Jinn threw himself to the side and rolled away, coming upright he ran towards the gathering, sending a command to his nanobots to target each of the four worms.  When he reached the others he turned and shot at another worm as the pack came towards them.  With a single shot, he killed the worm, this time destroying the bottom part of the creature.   ¡°Keep moving, don¡¯t you dare stop!¡±


    The gatherers all ran, only one girl carried a single plant pod that she had grabbed, the others dropping as Jinn ran along and fired another bolt, this time the three remaining worms all split apart in a triangle formation and shot at one of the gatherers who had tripped over a rock.


    Jinn turned and fired three shots as he turned.  The first two hit, and the top and bottom portions of two of the worms vaporized.  But the last bolt missed as the worm at the back jerked under the dead.  As the lone worm flew at the falling gatherer it almost hit only for its target to roll away at the last minute.  As the worm hit the ground, it tried to fly back up only for Jinn to fire again, destroying the worm¡¯s ¡®top¡¯ portion.


    Doing a quick 350 spin he saw none of the worm flyers anywhere around the clearing. Reaching down he pulled the gatherer up just as Racha came over the rim of the crater.   Looking around she saw the carnage that Jinn had created.


    ¡°What happened up here!?¡± Racha asked and Jinn reached down and picked up one of the worm corpses that still had a stinger and showed it to her.  She recoiled, staring at it in shock and horror as Jinn gestured to the gatherers as they ran past her.


    ¡°The flyers were predators, let''s gather the remains.   Maybe we can eat them, if not let''s see what we can learn about them,¡± Jinn said as he looked at Racha who walked over and grabbed two of the corpses, the ones that had the front segment.    Doing one last circle with his eyes, Jinn followed her down the hill.  At the capsule people were waiting for them at the gateway, all of them wondering what had happened.


    Duncan waited just within, the others looking on as Jinn made it to the door and held up the stinger and body, most of the passengers recoiled and Duncan just looked at it before gesturing to the side, Jinn followed with the gatherers and entered a closed office.  ¡°Report Cadet!¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± Jinn said as he came to attention.   ¡°After going on guard duty I noticed the worms acting like they were stalking the gatherers.   When one of them flew upwards I knew something was up with them.   They reminded me of a predator hunting new prey, and well¡­¡­I shot them,¡± Jinn said and the three gatherers all exploded.


    ¡°Shot them, you smoked ¡®em dead!  Sir that was some of the best shooting I¡¯ve seen in a while!¡± One of the gatherers said as Jinn walked towards a bio scanner and put the ¡®tail¡¯ onto it.


    As the machine scanned the tail, Jinn he looked back at Duncan with a somber look.   ¡°Sir, those things were experienced either hunting alien prey or prey that can fire ammo.  And that¡¯s bad sir.¡±


    Duncan nodded, his thoughts going a mile a minute as he listened to the report. This might be bad.   There was a small chance that the worms might be high on the local food chain, but if not.¡­.  Then if any alpha predator was out there, a dark part of his mind voiced what he didn¡¯t want to. That they might hunt new prey, prey that might be the castaways.


    ¡°Your mission is even more important than I thought Cadet Jinn,¡± Duncan said as he shook his head.  If the wildlife that was around the impact site was that dangerous, then who knew what might be drawn to them? They needed to know where they were, anything that could give them any knowledge to use to survive. ¡°So far we¡¯ve found ten laser riffles, twenty laser pistols plus twenty suits of armor. And we were lucky, three bio scanners and a few other emergency devices. Take what you want from it when you head out, just give me a list of who you want in an hour.¡±


    Before Jinn could reply, a beeping caused them to turn to the screen. The ¡®tail¡¯ had finished being scanned. The results showed that the stinger would have penetrated even the jumpsuits the deckhands wore.  And worse, it carried a poison that would have knocked out anyone who got a big enough dose of it into their systems, any unaugmented system that is.


    They all stared at the screen while Jinn¡¯s thoughts went strange places.  He kept his face blank as he remembered a few ¡®problems¡¯ he dealt with during his training and a certain scum who loved poison.


    Duncan merely looked at the readings and scowled.  He just kept silent as he and then took deep breaths.   ¡°You leave in the morning, choose who you''re taking with you.  And did you three find anything we could safely eat?¡±


    The female gatherer put the pod she had grabbed onto the scanner, and moments later a report showed that it was full of more than the average nutrients most humanoid species needed daily.  And another report showed that as long as the tail as venom sack was removed, the worms were safe to eat.


    ¡°Well, the life on this planet is edible at least,¡± The gatherer who had tripped said brightly. As the others talked about hunting for something to eat, Jinn and Duncan stayed silent.  They both realize that while the castaways could eat the animals on this planet, they could also be eaten by said animals.

 Chapter Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Planet


    Outside Escape Capsule 0980


    Galactic Standard Time / 0700


    Jinn put on his armor and looked around at the rest of his team. Al was a good choice given his scores in the self-defense class they shared on the ship, not counting his tech skills. Racha had been Jinn¡¯s choice for the third member but Duncan had vetoed her, something about how he needed her to stay back. Instead, he had chosen someone himself, a deckhand named Sara who he said was as good a medic as Racha was, and as fit. He didn¡¯t know what to expect of her, both due to not interacting with her on the ship and having never heard a single rumor about her.


    Sara was a woman his height with black hair with purple streaks. To Jinn, her blue eyes screamed competence and the fact that she took just a pistol and a small pack with only a medical kit was good. It told him she valued her speed to keep her and others alive, something that medics needed to learn.


    Al meanwhile had taken only taken a single rifle. He had a backpack with his tools, the bioscaner, and a few other odds and ends he had grabbed from the supplies, and spent an hour making a few ¡®surprise¡¯ that he said would help them if they needed them.


    Jinn had decided to only take two laser pistols plus a backpack with a distance viewer plus a few empty water bottles. Well, that and one last personal item, his blade.


    He strapped what looked like a dagger onto his left arm and looked at it. He didn¡¯t know just why he had had it when whatever happened on the Spirit, but at least he knew he wasn¡¯t at some kind of social event. Could he have been at his berth before whatever happened to cause him to leave the ship? He kept the weapon on him when he was sleeping; otherwise, it was in a case he bought aboard the ship. So for Jinn to have the weapon on hand, that meant he had been near or at where he kept it, so what had happened?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Duncan looked at the people he was sending into harm¡¯s way and wished he could go as well. But he looked at the brace on his leg and knew it was impossible. He remembered from his old army days that scouts needed to move fast, and for now, he couldn¡¯t. And someone needed to ride herd on the civilians and his rank let him do that easily.


    He sighed as he leaned against the wall before looking up at the sky. After everything yesterday, he had thrown the first three laser riffles they found at three deckhands and had them guard the outside last night. They had heard movement and when they checked the top of the crater this morning, all the remains of the worm things were gone. So there had to be more life out there, scavengers at least, plus whatever the worms ate.


    He was worried about a lot of things, everyone something that might affect their chances of survival. Last night he had ordered the capsule locked down, and the few engineers had taken apart the few systems and they told him the systems were fully operational. But they couldn¡¯t get anything on them, but the systems came back as fully operational. Frankly, he didn¡¯t like any of this.


    He needed to send out scouts to try and find out where they were, and with his wound, he couldn¡¯t lead any scouting team. So he had to choose a leader and Jinn was one of his top choices. Duncan sighed, he knew that the man was being watched by his second, and Jinn had said he was running from something. Travel Decking was a good way to travel, a lot of ships needed new hands when they came to port, and a job on a cargo ship could let you go anywhere at all.


    But he didn¡¯t want to think Jinn was a criminal, but something about him just caused Duncan to look at what he knew and Jinn and see trouble. But his grasp of tactics, now that was what truly bothered Duncan. He couldn¡¯t explain it, it was there.


    Jinn was one of the better deckhands on the ship, he had good combat scores, and had saved the people he had sent out to gather food yesterday. Yet he had been a crack shot, not a single wasted bolt, and that was bothering him. Either he had natural talent, training, or nanobots to help, nanobots that only Special Forces had. He started to wonder what had caused Jinn to leave his planet when said man¡¯s voice called out to him.


    ¡°Ready to leave sir!¡± Jinn called out and Duncan look up and smiled as he looked at his chosen team.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn felt that they were as ready as they could be with what they had. From the armor and weapons, they were as ready as their supplies could make them, now it came down to will alone.


    ¡°Good, you three are our only chance, so come back alive!¡± Duncan said and they all saluted.


    Jinn knew what he meant and he understood how bad it could be if the mission failed. After they had done a headcount, there were only forty deckhands to thirty passengers. If there weren¡¯t any other capsules in range¡­¡­then they were the only hope each other had to survive.


    So if the mission failed and they died, they would lose a seventh of their manpower, less if the passengers helped, but of greater concern was the number of weapons they had. And to add to their troubles, Al had told him that there was nothing wrong with the comms system, but it didn¡¯t detect anything. Jinn had a bad feeling about all this, something about it was¡­.familiar but he couldn¡¯t figure out why.


    ¡°Good, remember you have to get far enough up the mountain to see everything around us. If you find any pods out there, tell them where we are so we can link up. And if any officers give you any trouble remember, I¡¯m the third officer so I¡¯m in charge! If you don¡¯t find the captain of course,¡± Duncan muttered with a hopeful tone as he looked away.


    Jinn saw exactly what was bothering Duncan, they both hated to let someone else lead when they could. But Jinn remembered an old saying about Destiny and Chance, and he had a bad feeling that the Security Chief would be disappointed.


    The group climbed up the crater wall and reached the top they saw two deckhands already there. Both were armed with a rifle, their eyes on the ground and sky watching for anything. After the attack, Jinn talked with Duncan. Together with others, they had set up a few plans for better security for the crater. They all saw the logic, a new planet with unknown dangers was just begging to get the idiotic killed.


    At the edge of the clearing, Jinn paused as he looked around, not hearing anything from the forest. He looked around for anything that might kill them before he led the way into the alien, silent forest.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked around at the trees as a smile formed on her face. This was just like the nature dome on her home station, but this was beyond anything it had. She gazed in awe at vines that climbed some of the trees, each one colored a deep jade. The vines each had large red flowers at the bottom with four closed petals. As they walked on, Sara tripped on a root and took two steps closer to one. She regained her balance, but as she looked up the closet flower shot a spray of spores at her.


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    ¡°What the heck?¡± She coughed and tried to brush it away before a scent unlike anything she had ever experienced hit her nose and her mind went blank.


    She turned her head to the right and without knowing how, she knew this flower was where the scent came from. Unlike the others, this one had purple lines down the middle of the leaves. Something about it was calling to her, she had to touch it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al sighed as he looked down at the ground, he couldn¡¯t get his mind off the problems they were having with the comms. Nothing made sense; if something was blocking it they would have heard static, not nothing! He didn¡¯t like anything about this at all. He had done a few projects in the past about blocking sensors and comms, but there was always a ¡®tell¡¯ with that kind of tech. But this was more like something was keeping the waves from the devices from transmitting. But that was impossible according to the laws of reality that he knew, but it wouldn¡¯t be the first time Sentient Knowledge was incomplete.


    With a sigh, Al looked up from the ground at Sara coughed, and saw Sara take a step toward one of the trees. ¡°Hey, Sara? What is it?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn could only stare around with tension in his gaze, on edge. This wasn¡¯t natural, everything he knew was telling him they were in danger, but why? What was hiding around him and where was it coming from?


    Jinn turned at Al¡¯s voice and saw Sara walking towards the tree. His eyes widened as he saw something in the grass by the flower and then he was moving before he even realized he was.


    ¡°So beautiful,¡± Sara said with a breath of awe in her voice as she reached towards the plant.


    However he reached her first, grabbed her shoulder, and pushed her backward. Moments after she was away from the tree a vine slapped the ground where Sara had been moments before.


    Jinn drew his knife and slashed through the vine, part of it fell to the ground. He watched as a blue liquid came from the severed plant, gushing out.


    Sara blinked as her senses returned, wondering just why she had tried to touch the flower before looking at the severed vine as it bled.


    As the liquid gushed Jinn looked at it for a few moments before screeches came from all around them. From the red flowers vines shot out towards the party, Jinn slashed through them with his knife and drew one of his pistols.


    Al helped Sara up, both of them looked around in horror as vines reached out towards them.


    ¡°By the void! FUCK!¡± Jinn barked as he fired at the nearest red flower. As the flower caught fire, from all around them pained screeches came from the trees.


    Jinn swallowed as his mind thought of something that scared him before turning to Al and Sara.


    ¡°RUN NOW! GO!¡± Jinn bellowed as the screeches continued. Al and Sara started to run, Jinn following behind with his knife out.


    As they ran through the forest in the direction away from the clearing, every third tree seemed to have vines that were grasping for them. When one came close to her Sara dodged it by inches, she drew her pistol and shot it. Al jumped over a vine that came at him from below and cursed that he didn¡¯t have the tech to see these things before they struck. Jinn slashed through the vine that attacked Al, causing another screech of pain.


    Finally, after a few more minutes of terror, they stopped running. Turning they saw the vines striking the ground ten feet back. Sara and Al fell to their knees and panted as they tried to catch their breath. Jinn stayed standing, looking back at the vines for a few moments before he sheathed his knife.


    Sara panted as she looked at the vines. They had stopped striking the ground and now were waving back and forth as the cries died down. Sara couldn¡¯t keep her eyes off them, nothing that had happened made any sense to her. ¡°What was that? I smelled something and then I was on the ground!¡±


    ¡°Jinn saved you. I saw you take a step and then he was there and pushed you to the ground,¡± Al said as he looked at the vines, a strange look in his eyes as he stood back up.


    Jinn scowled as he looked at them and then went still as he turned his head. He smiled as he turned back to the others and grinned. ¡°We¡¯re out of their range now, so we should be safe.¡±


    ¡°How can you tell?¡± Sara asked and Jinn just laughed and cupped his right ear.


    ¡°Listen,¡± He said and Al and Sara both looked at each other before they noticed.


    They listened and heard the buzzing of insect wings. Turning their heads upwards they saw large bees a good three long and tall fluttering from blue flowers on tree branches fifteen feet above them. Looking around they saw the flowers on the vines were blue, purple, and black but none were red.


    ¡°Listen to the forest, that should have been my first clue!¡± Jinn said and the others looked at him.


    Sara and Al looked at each other before they tried to listen, hearing the buzz of the life around them. They turned to Jinn who sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°You can¡¯t see it? There¡¯s noise here, life. It was as quiet as a grave back there!¡± Jinn said as he pulled out a piece of the worm and threw it toward the vines. As the piece of meat landed five feet away from them, the vines shot at it.


    As they wrapped around it, all of the vines tried to pull it towards them, in moments they tore it apart. The three people could only each vine retreated with its prize.


    Looking towards where the vines had gone, Sara swallowed and tried to keep herself calm.


    Jinn just shook his head and looked at the two and sighed. ¡°Did either of you even grow up near the wilderness?¡±


    ¡°Plant city for me bro, and I heard Sara was from a spacestation right?¡± Al said and Sara looked at him before nodding.


    ¡°Great. Wish I knew that before we left. Now there are two choices here. Do we try and find a way back so I can get others to come with me in place of you two or do we go on?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at them and crossed his arms.


    ¡°What? Bro!¡± Al said and Jinn shook his head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lead you to your deaths. If you want to continue then my word is the voice of god from now on. I say do something, you do it,¡± Jinn said and Al looked at Sara, she nodded and Al sighed before he grinned.


    ¡°Sorry man, but you¡¯re stuck with us,¡± Al said and Jinn just shook his head, feeling a little bit of pride in his friend.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked at Jinn and the man just sighed and nodded after a few moments of silence.


    ¡°Fine, then listen. From now on we need to think that everything will kill us. Watch your surroundings and keep an eye out for anything that looks strange. You stay away from it and tell me, if you think something will attack us, say something about the worms and the clearing. Got it?¡± Jinn asked and Al nodded along with Sara.


    Jinn looked between them and sighed. ¡°Good, follow me!¡±


    They walked off, Al kept his eyes on Jinn. The ease Jinn had with moving and surviving out here, it bothered Al a bit. But people were allowed to have pasts they didn¡¯t want to bring up, his own included. But his feelings were just a side effect of something else, something Al had seen once.


    Jinn might be able to hide a lot of things, but he still had times when he acted without thinking. More often than not, Jinn had flashes of surprise and awe in his eyes when he saw something, things that anyone in modern culture had seen a lot. From watching kids and teens at the hover park to some other species at the casino or pool, for a few moments, Jinn just had looks of wonder in his eyes before they were gone. If Al didn¡¯t have nanotech in his eyes that recorded what he saw, Al would have thought he had imagined Jinn¡¯s reactions. Al knew that he had moments like that when he first walked through the ship¡¯s green dome once or twice, but that was because he grew up on a city planet. But if that was truly why Jinn reacted the way he did, where exactly was Jinn from to have not seen what


    For a while now he had worried about what kind of life his friend had lived before they met. The man could shoot like an armed forces vet and knew about introducing animals from off planet into local food chains. Now, Jinn could have studied biospheres, but then he knew about the capsule¡¯s computer, Al hadn¡¯t learned about that until he took a survival course for Creative¡¯s Sake! Jinn had skills and knowledge beyond any course Al could think of, and then there were his reflexes. He didn¡¯t know what Jinn was hiding, what life the man had led. But whatever secrets Jinn was hiding, Al just hoped they would keep them alive.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn led the way, letting his mind wander after ordering his nanotech to watch for anything that moved. He didn¡¯t understand anything, the few texts on alpha predators he had studied said a lot, but things like those vines were normally niche predators.


    And the way that all those screeches of pain had happened all at once! He wanted to believe he was wrong, but it still bothered him. There were other ways it could have been done, but those weren¡¯t an evolution of plants. There was one way, and he hoped he was wrong with everything he had, but if not then it was lucky they got away when they did.


    Everything about this planet bothered him a lot more than it should. But he couldn¡¯t keep that inner voice of his quiet. The last time he had listened to it, he had made the discovery that changed his life. He just had to hope that if this was like then, at the end he wouldn¡¯t have another earth-shattering revelation to deal with.

 Chapter Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Location


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Jinn ran as he used his Nano-tech to augment the shots he took over his shoulder. His nano-enhanced hearing heard the screech of hunger screeches from the insectoids. And then he heard the sounds of chitin shattered to get at the meat within.


    The stray thought hit him then, that all he was doing was helping his killers. For all he knew, the insectoids were starving but wouldn''t kill their own to eat them, but he was. And that was only if these things were aware. But all he was doing might have been helping his killers get stronger.


    But this was the best plan he had, and fewer foes were just as good as weak ones. But then he heard the sound of a tree falling behind him, the crack of the wood was something he would never forget. Something either strong, big, or both was after him. He could only hope that whatever it was, it was hunting the insectoids instead of hunting with them. Then he heard a roar so like the insectoid''s screeches. But this one was louder, more powerful sounding. For seconds he hoped it was a predator of the insectoids, but then they answered it. Their screeches were still mindless, but now there was a note of glee in them.


    He needed to move on to the next plan, find a place to fight them off. One enemy was better than many, so he had to whittle their numbers down fast. He ran out of the forest and felt a grin form. This might be the answer to his problems, not perfect but he could work with it. Before him was a large clearing forty feet wide with twenty-foot tall rock cliffs on both sides. A river that cut through them thirty feet away from him and across it was a cliff face thirty feet high. And as luck would have it there were boulders teen feet around and tall, three of them in a jagged line that connected the river and forest.


    Running to the second boulder he fired in the forest, hoping his shots would slow down the insectoids. But as the first of the insectoids charged at him, Jinn just drew his second pistol and shot at it. The bolts hit the creature¡¯s right arm and left leg, tearing them from its body. As the insectoid fell it screeched in anger as it slowly bleed to death.


    Another of the insectoids ran into the clearing with its arms raised and Jinn¡¯s instincts screamed at him to move! He ducked behind the boulder moments before the insectoid fired its organic guns at him. Two small organic spikes shot from the insectoid¡¯s arms; one of them hit the boulder and the other sped by him to hit the cliff face. Two more screeches heralded the arrival of two more of the insectoid, but before they could attack energy bolts rained down at them.


    ¡°JINN!¡± Al¡¯s voice caused Jinn to smile and keep shooting as he looked over his shoulder and up, smiling as he saw Al and Sara firing on the insectoids, only for them to duck as the insectoids started to fire back.


    Jinn felt a grin forming as he aimed at the insectoids and fired two headshots, killing them with one shot. For a few moments, Jinn thought that they would win. That together they would take out the insectoids before the thing that roared came. But then they all heard another roar, and it was louder and closer. As all the insectoids screeched in glee the sounds of wood cracking caused the humans to look towards the forest.


    Yet mean moments later, a roar from the trees caused the surviving insectoids to roar back. Jinn stared at the trees, wondering what had let the insectoids regain their courage. As they stared at the tree line in horror, from it came a fifteen-foot-tall monster! It was another insectoid, and it looked like it came from the same species as the others but it was different. It had four arms instead of two, each a foot around but they were different. The top pair had claws like the other insectoids but the lower ones ended in black chitin lances.


    Jinn glared as two more of the smaller insectoids came from around the sides of the bigger one and charged at him. He aimed at their heads, his nano tech augmenting his shots and fired once from each pistol. His bolts shot through their necks in the sides, forming holes in a third of the mass of their necks. From the holes came black blood, and the insectoids stood there making choking sounds as their hands went to their wounds. Before even a few seconds had passed the larger insectoid grabbed them with its claws and threw them at Jinn.


    Jinn jumped to the side and rolled away, coming up to fire at the larger insectoid with a glare. However, it was gone, disappearing from Jinn¡¯s sight while he had dodged the corpse missiles.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°BEHIND YOU!!¡± Al cried out, but before Jinn could react he jolted in place. Jinn looked down to see that the larger insectoid¡¯s right lance had impaled him through his stomach.


    ¡°JINN!¡± Al cried out as he fired his rifle at the bigger one in rage.


    Sara''s free hand went to her mouth as she tried to process what she was seeing. She was a good enough medic to know that Jinn was dead, he just didn¡¯t know it yet.


    Jinn slowly looked over his shoulder at the larger insectoid and dropped his pistols. The larger insectoid roared as it lifted Jinn on its lance before it launched him into the air. Jinn¡¯s body flew through the air until he hit the right cliff face and slid down it.


    ¡°NO! DAMN YOU!!!¡± Al roared as he fired at the larger insectoid. But each bolt from his weapon was just deflected on its chitin, at least the times'' shots connected. He kept firing, his mind blank with rage. He saw that no matter what his shots were deflated off the insectoid¡¯s carapace, but he didn¡¯t care. He just kept firing, the way the monster killed his friend causing a rage that consumed all his thoughts.


    Sara looked on, shocked for a few moments before she got her senses back and grabbed Al¡¯s arm.


    ¡°AL WE GOTTA GO NOW! WE CAN¡¯T SAVE HIM!¡± Sara yelled as Al looked at her, his eyes widened when a small black spear flew between their faces. He turned and saw one of the smaller insectoids firing at them. He paled, cursing as he saw the bigger one was directing the smaller beasts as they crossed the river.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn blinked, as he moaned, as he tried to open his eyes as his nanotech revealed his condition. The lance had gone through his armor and body like knives through butter. His organs were damaged and a potent poison was invading his body. He opened his eyes and gazed upon what was happening. up and saw the three insectoids all looking at his friends on the cliff face. Sara tried to pull Al away, but Al tried to fight her and keep firing at the insectoids.


    He willed his arms and legs to move, but he couldn¡¯t. As he tried to get up his Nanobots sent him a report on the poison, it was attacking his nerves. As he watched the readings he heard the insectoids screech and leave him, they knew his condition. As his vision started to black out and his body chilled, he knew that he was dying and he cursed that he couldn¡¯t do more. His friend was going to die soon after him, and there was nothing he could do. If there was anything at all he could do to stand up, he would do it in a heartbeat.


    He.Needed.Something.More!


    Suddenly within his body, a strange warmth started to spread out from multiple spots. As he watched the report from his Nanobots started to reverse. There was a hot burn and the gaping wound from the lance healed over, and then he felt strength return to his limbs. He felt his stomach and felt only undamaged skin. He blinked and looked at his hands, only now seeing a white energy aura around them. He looked down at his body and saw he was covered by it. But then he heard weapons fire from his friend and remembered where he was and what was happening.


    He turned his eyes towards the river and stared in horror. The giant insectoid was leading the last two smaller ones toward the river. As he watched the smaller ones fired their organic guns at Al and Sara who were falling back. Jinn stared in shock before a spark of rage came over him that grew into an inferno.


    He drew his knife from his arm seethe and within moments it had turned into a sword. ¡°GET AWAY FROM THERE!¡±


    As soon as he yelled the insectoids all turned to look at him, but in that moment he screamed he was moving. He dashed at them, running faster than he ever had before, and within moments he was leaping at the larger insectoid. With a cry of rage, he slashed through its lower right lance at the shoulder and cut through the chitin like a knife through butter. He flipped over and landed feet first against the cliff, he pushed off it, angling at the larger insectoid again, this time at its left side.


    The larger insectoid moved and Jinn missed his target but still scored a slash through the insectoid''s body between the arms. From the gas black blood came out as the maimed limb scabbed over.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    On the cliff above, Al looked, shocked into silence.


    Sara¡¯s mouth dropped open in disbelief. She had no idea how Jinn was still alive, much less fighting! Slowly, Sara turned towards Al and she swallowed.


    ¡°Could he always know do that?¡± Sara asked incredulously and Al just shook his head in wonder.


    Al looked at Jinn as he fought before he shook himself and looked at Sara.


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    They watched as Jinn moved backward as way from the larger insectoid screeched if furry and the smaller ones ran at him.


    ¡°Hell. Sara, fire at the big one! We can¡¯t let them swarm Jinn!¡± Al said as he started to fire at the larger insectoid. Sara joined in and the large insectoid fell to its knees as its blood flowed out of its maimed arm, but the bolts just bounced off its shell.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn gazed at the smaller insectoids as they rushed at him, with only his sword to fight with. he saw one of his blasters nearby and ran towards it, leaning down to grab it as he ran past. He turned and saw the two insectoids had changed direction, keeping him in their sights. He ran at them, and as the first one slashed down at him he caught it on his sword and shot with his pistol, straight through its head.


    As the second one came at him it raised its arms but he fired twice letting his nanobots augment his aim, shooting straight through the organic guns.. as it stumbled backward, Jinn ran at it and slashed its head off.


    As the larger insectoid got its bearings back and grabbed a boulder it threw at Al and Sara. The boulder hit the cliff below the two deckhands. The cliff shook from the impact, and the two of them fell to the ground of the cliff, their weapons falling from their hands.


    As the larger insectoid recovered it roared and raised its claws at him. Jinn dodged to the side before it fired organic spikes at him, the insectoid following, firing as it turned.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Up on the cliff, Al and Sara had kept firing at the large insectoid, only for their shots to reflect off its shell. However, a lucky shot from Sara hit the maimed limb and black blood gushed from the wound as the shot broke the scab, causing the insectoid to stumbled and fall to its right knee.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Al exclaimed as he tried to aim his rifle at the round. ¡°The carapace didn¡¯t heal over the wound, we can kill this thing!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Sara said as she aimed with her pistol, trying to remember her time on the firing range.


    ¡°jinn, the wound! Fire at the scabbed over wound!¡± Al yelled and hoped his friend could still hear.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Below, Jinn dodged the swings of the larger insectoid¡¯s claws, parrying some of the swings as he retreated. He felt the strange feeling start to¡­¡­.pulse within him and he knew somehow he was almost out of whatever it was. He wondered just how he would survive, but then he heard Al¡¯s scream and understood it, a grin forming on his face.


    The insectoid screeched while it lashed out with its remaining lance arm. Jinn meanwhile had dodged to the right and fired at the wound, releasing black blood as the scab broke.


    As it reared back in pain, Jinn grinned at it and growled. ¡°I¡¯m not soft meat beastie! I might die, but by creation, I¡¯ll make you work for your meal!¡±


    Before the larger insectoid could come at him again, bolts from Al and Sara started to hit it. Most of the shots were missed as they aimed at its scab. It looked up as a lucky shot caused it to lose more blood, causing it to roar before it turned and dashed into the trees, retreating from them.


    Jinn waited a few moments before he sighed and tried to calm down. As he sheathed his dagger-sword as the blade shrank. As soon as he had his hands off his weapons he felt the strange energy within him change¡­¡­the pulse went lower as the aura died away. The warmth was still there, and with every moment more of it seemed to grow stronger. It was like nothing he had ever felt before, yet somehow he knew how to call for it again.


    ¡°JINN! YOU OKAY!¡± Al called out and Jinn looked from his sword to Al before raising it and shaking it.


    ¡°YEAH! STAY THERE I NEED TO GATHER A FEW SAMPLES!¡± Jinn called out. As he turned towards the remains and severed limbs of the insectoids, he went to work. In moments he had a head and arm of one of the smaller insectoids in his backpack and tied the lance limb to it.


    Looking around and finding his last lost pistol he retrieved it and then he walked to the river. After checking the speed of the current, he walked through it to the cliff before he started to climb up. A few moments later he smiled at the shocked faces of Al and Sara. ¡°Hey.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al stared at Jin in shock. He had seen some strange things before he became a deckhand but what Jinn did, was beyond all of it.


    ¡°How the hell did you do that?!¡± Sara demanded as she looked at Jinn¡¯s stomach. He just shrugged, a wary smile on his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know. I just¡­¡­. I reached for anything to help. Then I just let my instincts guide me,¡± Jinn said before he was engulfed in the aura again, causing Al and Sara to jerk back. They stared at Jinn as he grinned and laughed. ¡°And I can call it back whenever I want!¡±


    Al just looked at Jinn as his aura died away and shook his head, trying to make sense of what Jinn said.


    ¡°You are¡­..how did you¡­.. where did you¡­¡­Jinn we gotta talk,¡± Al said as he looked at Jinn who only laughed a little. Al looked at him before shaking his head. ¡°Later. For now, you gotta see what we found! We gotta get back to the capsule, Chief Duncan needs to know about this.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, those things have to be reported. If there are more of them, and the big one wasn¡¯t the queen. We could be in very deep trouble,¡± Jinn said and Al looked at him before shaking his head.


    ¡°No, not them! Something else, something big!¡± Al said and before Jinn could say anything Al held up a hand. ¡°Just follow us!¡±


    Jinn stayed silent and looked between Al and Sara before nodding.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn was starting to regret that decision. As they moved, Al and Sara looked all around for any sign that they were being followed by anything.


    He stopped talking as he came out of the forest and saw what they had found. Ahead of them was a cliff that revealed a view that took his breath away. The cliff had to be at least a good mile up, and the view! They were overlooking a forest that stretched for miles, all the way to a large body of water that went beyond the horizon. Along the beach was a rocky landbridge that lead to another island with something sticking out of a mountain, something that glinted in the light.


    Jinn stayed silent as he pulled out the distance-viewer from his bag. Bringing it to his eyes he looked through it. He swept it over the forest until he reached the water, then he found the land bridge and followed it to find the source of the glittering light. There in the mountain, was a large silver rectangle with a pyramid at the front, farther back was a forward sweeping wing that curved downward. Jinn went still, he knew a lot of the classes of spaceships that were armed and only a few had wings that shape, but only one that size.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡­. it might be an Anchorage class yard-ship,¡± Jinn said as he put away the distance-viewer while Al gasped before he started to laugh.


    ¡°An Anchorage here?! We might have some luck left after all!¡± Al said as he kept laughing.


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal with the class?¡± Sara asked as Al laughed.


    Jinn just smiled and explained. ¡°Well, they¡¯re heavy cruiser-size factory ships. It gets the yard-ship class because it can make anything, even other ships. But with all the power needed for the auto-factory, the weapons are light cruisers at best, at least the basic model. I think there were made to let fleets resupply if they¡¯re cut off from supply lines.¡±


    Sara just grinned and laughed a little.


    Jinn just looked at the glittering light with his naked eyes as he [put the distance-veiwer away from them. Everything he said was true, but he left out a few darker things he knew they were used for.


    "Yeah. And after the war, they were reformatted as colony ships. They were seen as a quick way to get a manufactory and central complex for startup colonies. I reported on them once for school," Al said as he saw Jinn and Sara stare at him.


    ¡°A manufactory ship?! If it still works, could we get off the world? Could we fly it off this world?!¡± Sara asked as she recovered but her grin faded as Jinn just sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t see the engines, it might have broken when it crashed. And don¡¯t think about repairing it,¡± Jinn said tonelessly. Sara looked stricken and turned to Al, hoping for better news.


    ¡°Yeah, FTL engines, they need rare materials to work. And the chances of that one having any that¡¯s still good to repair them,¡± Al said bitterly and Sara looked at him in horror.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡­. I see other escape capsules,¡± Jinn said suddenly and they turned to him. He was looking toward the forest and brought the distance-viewer to his eyes. Al and Sara watched him and after a few moments, Jin nodded and pointed towards the forest.


    ¡°There are more of us here!¡± Sara said with a grin on her face as Al laughed a little.


    Al watched as Jinn moved the distance view, taking in the entire area before he moved his eyes away from it, a strange look on his face.


    Jinn thought about what he had seen, strange thoughts going through his mind. He didn¡¯t want to mention it, but he had thought he¡¯d seen the marks of battle on the land bridge. If there were other insectoids like the ones they fought out there, then someone might be fighting them. Nature didn¡¯t exist in a vacuum, there had to be a reason they had those organic guns. And then there was the other problem, one he had to think about.


    Jinn looked at the ship in the distance, his mind going dark places. The few groups that still used them nowadays were slavers, outlaws, and low-budget startup colonies. There were better Yard-ships and a few ships that were made to be used as colony hubs. And the colonies that used them were always the lowest of the low, places that became pirate ports that sold slaves after too long. And the greatest of those groups was a Syndicate that made more of those ships to sell to anyone. If that ship was one of those they either had trouble or new people to save, if any were still alive.


    Jinn didn¡¯t know if he should bring he knew, they would want to know how he knew about them. But either way, he had to be on the team that was sent to it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Report; Group of Template 10049 has repelled HSB Type CFS Lesser and killed HSB Type Least. One Template fought off majority, with and level-ten weaponry. Aether Augmentation came online at fifty percent, others in subgroup at twenty percent.


    Bio scan showed that Template was at dawn of awakening naturally. Nano-Enhancement results, Max level. Recommendation; summon Hunter Slayer Cloak Construct to shadow Template.


    Query, Template killed HSB Type CFS Lesser?


    Negative; HSB Type CFS Lesser lost one limb in combat with Template Aether Augmented and other Templates attacked with level ten laser ranged weaponry aimed at wound given by augmented Template; HSB Type CFS Lesser retreated.


    HSB Type CFS Lessers have never been recorded to flee in all Biomes.


    Orders/ Negative Hunter Slayer deployment.


    HSB Type CFS Lesser actions reason?


    Theory/


    1; HSB Type CFS Lesser has fought Aether Augmented before.


    2; Local Hive has passed the sapient border.


    Actions to prove/


    1; If battle happened where recording possible they would be available. Logic shows that if battle happened in unrecorded area, records impossible. unknown where or against who, would be impossible to prove proposed actions happened.


    2; HSB Type CFS Lesser showed no strategy, unknown if passed border. Will need to capture and dissect brain.


    Sending Construct group with orders to scan hive HSB Type CFS on sub Biome; objectives will be given when data is collected


    Report on reactions of HSB Type CFS Lesser hive.


    Send Constuct Monitors to all Template groupings


    Complying; should Construct Observers be sent to other groupings within Biome?


    Confirmed; send Construct Observers to all groupings. Query; status of other internal Political Groups and new sampling combination?


    BIO 07 data collection on schedule, expect report sent to main intelligence by next scheduled update


    Alert; Aether Test Combat Template/ STF01 approaching 63 percent gestation.


    On schedule to be introduced to test location near sample grouping of the victor of combat with HSB Type CFS Lesser; relocate to opposite side of mountain?


    ¡­¡­.Negative, release Template as planned with additional augments; Evolutionary Consummation and Direct Impulse Influence.


    Record all actions and results, only send Template away if defeat is imminent.


    Complying

 Chapter Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 0700


    As she watched the three explorers leave, Racha watched with mixed feelings.   She had to wonder if she should have gone with them, she had the skills. She was a good shot, and somehow when they had escaped the Spirit she had lost the VIP she was meant to guard. She hoped that they had made it out alright, at least for the sake of peace. If they died, then their grandfather would go to war.  But that was only if someone could convince him that the Federation was responsible. And she was even more worried about something she discovered last night.


    She had spent a few hours talking with the others in the pod, and they all had the same problem.  None of them knew why they had left the Spirit, none knew what happened from five hours before they landed.   Even her nano recorders were blank and that was kinda scary to know.   Everyone said they were completely tamper-proof, but here she was, finding out that was a lie.


    And with the number of death threats against the Ancient Ambassador, this mission had to be quiet.  And not to count the trouble the ship''s passengers might cause.  Her boss and the Admirals had wanted to keep the number of people who the Ancient was low. Last she had heard, only the captain was supposed to know.


    She prided herself on being ready for anything.  But she had to admit, something like that couldn''t be planned for!


    She heard a scoff from behind her and turned.  She found herself looking at one of the passengers. The bald man who had opened the doors seemed to be looking around at the people gathering around him.   She just knew he was going to make trouble for the crew, and she had an idea why!


    ¡°¡­¡­ and we¡¯re to stay in this stinking chamber why?!   Oh, they say that the bugs out there might attack us, but how bad would that be?!    Listen to old Bradford Golrick folks, this is just an old warmonger¡¯s way to keep us contained!¡±  Bradford barked and Racha glared at him.


    ¡°Just like his profile,¡± Racha murmured under his breath. When the trip was planned, they had checked over who was going to be on the ship. And was one of the worst problem cases the Service found. Bradford Golrick, age one hundred and ten years; head of the Golrick Conglomerate.  The company that made star drive, one of the most important industries in the modern economy. They also had mines in asteroids and there were rumors they did in-house weapons research.   He knew the last was true, and they were one of the black market''s best weapon sellers.


    Bradford was also a former member of his homeworld''s government''s parliament.   And he had been his sector¡¯s representative to the Federation¡¯s Congress for three terms of three years. The Service''s psych profile of him said he needed to have total control over every aspect of his life. If that was the truth, then this must be next to murder for him to deal with.


    And the only thing worse was how his personal history intertwined with the last war against the Ancients. Bradford was born the third son of his family, he had taken over when most of his brothers died or disappeared. The disappearances had all happened before or after the war.  With how the company was a strategic resource, they could have been a target by the Ancients.  But given how the Ancient''s strategy and the location of Bradford¡¯s system, that possibility was low. Most people thought he had used them as a smokescreen to take over his family''s company. And what caused him to be on their radar? The single fact is that even after the war ended, there was still a bounty on captured Ancients. The location where the captives were to be brought? Near Bradford¡¯s world.


    As she thought about those facts, she looked at Bradford as he droned on.


    <>-----------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°¡­¡­ yes my friends, make no mistake this is nothing but a military dictatorship and I for one won¡¯t stand for it!¡±  Bradford finished as the other passengers all started to talk to each other.


    ¡°He¡¯s right!  We can¡¯t let them keep us in this tin can!¡±  A man wearing a red suit called out.


    ¡°But what can we do?   They have all the weapons!¡±  A woman wearing a blue mermaid dress exclaimed.


    Bradford watched as the idiots ate it up. With a little luck, in a while, he would have control over the group.  And then he could send out searchers to find the rest of his people, to tighten his control. To think that he would be in a better position to kill his target. He almost prayed in thanks to his planet¡¯s belief in a guardian spirit. But then only idiots believed in those things! But then only idiots believed in those things!


    Rasha looked a bit more concerned, she knew how mad a mob could be.   If those two and Bradford whipped them up, then there would be bloodshed before too long.


    Racha knew something had to be done.  She had a mind to talk to them herself. but then she heard the door next to her open and Duncan walked out on his crutches and nodded at her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan knew a lot more than the girl expected.  The captain had briefed him and the section heads on who they were.  But only he and the second officer about who one of the Ancients they were carrying was. All in all, he knew the War against them was a lot more complicated than a lot of people knew, even the Service. He would let the girl keep her beliefs for now, but if he needed her skills he would let the lie die.


    ¡°Now what¡¯s this then? Duncan asked as he looked over the passengers.  Trying to make himself look like he didn¡¯t already know what they had been talking about.   Sometimes, not letting others know what he did was better, it let him catch them easier.


    ¡°What is happening is that the survivors of your mistakes are demanding that we be let out into the sun! There is food out there, just waiting for us to go pick it!¡± Bradford said and Duncan stared back at him for a few moments.


    Duncan looked at them and sighed before shaking his head as he replied in a flat tone of voice. ¡°And flying worms,  can''t forget that.  And the worms each have stingers full of poison!   Not too bad, but it would knock anyone out.  Giving them time to kill you and eat your corpse, maybe use the remains to lay their eggs in.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Bradford asked as the group stared at Duncan in horror. He had spent time gathering all these people, and they just started to talk to themselves.  Some people looked at him in disgust as they realized what he had been doing.


    ¡°I can understand your feelings!¡± Duncan as he looked around at the passengers as the other deckhands all listened in. ¡°But please, work with us until we can get rescued! Right now I¡¯ve sent two deckhands with a cadet as a leader to climb the mountain in the distance!  From there we¡¯ll know what¡¯s around us so we can make a plan to stay alive!¡±


    At the looks of most of the passengers gave the portal to the outside, Duncan knew that he had to give one more little push.    Making an effort to sigh, he looked around and smiled bitterly. ¡°But I will let you all stay at the bottom of the crater we made. Once I¡¯ve sent out a screening force to protect you all. And only half can go outside at a time!¡±


    Bradford looked around and hid his feelings as he saw that the mood was all in favor of this.    He had to backtrack, if he wanted to one day have power then he had to say the right things now for tomorrow''s gain.


    ¡°That is perfect sir!   I just¡­¡­. We¡¯re stuck in here in cramped conditions, and there is space outside for us to move about and still be safe, right?  I couldn¡¯t let my fellow passengers down, so I had no choice but to speak up!¡± Bradford said as the other civilians all looked at him and most nodded, most grinning. Bradford looked back at Duncan as the old man just stood there, waiting for him to react.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    He knew that Duncan knew that he had been working on getting the crowd to riot.    All he had needed was a few more minutes, just a few more minutes.  Once they did, he would be able to rule here. But all he did was nod at Duncan who nodded back as the passengers all cheered.


    ¡°I knew that he would listen to reason!¡±


    A commotion by the door showed the fruit pickers back, all without anything.    Duncan frowned and went over to them, and a moment later followed them outside.


    ¡°I knew that he would listen to reason!¡±  One man said with a grin and a laugh in his voice.


    A commotion by the door showed the fruit pickers back, all without anything.  Duncan frowned and went over to them, and a moment later followed them outside.


    ¡°WHAT?!¡±  Duncan shouts from outside. A few moments later caused everyone to look toward him.  Duncan poked his head back in and looked around. ¡°Nothing wrong folks, just need to get something put to rights.   You will all be able to go out into the sun soon, an hour or two at worst.  Miss Racha in here now!¡±


    As a female deckhand walked into the chamber, Bradford frowned.  From his search on who was working on the ship, she was just a deckhand that had command potential.     What had happened to have the old fool call for her?


    As a female deckhand walked into the chamber, Bradford frowned.    From his search on the crew of the ship, she was just a deckhand that had command potential.     What had happened to have the old fool call for her?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha wondered why Duncan wanted to talk to her, and she had to admit part of her felt her cover was blown. As she walked into the room, she closed the door behind her.  Turning around she saw Duncan sitting on a chair before a wall screen showing a map of the clearing above them. She waited a few moments more and was about to speak up when Duncan beat her to it.


    ¡°All the fruit from yesterday we left on the trees?  The people I sent to get them reported the trees are bare,¡± Duncan said bluntly and Racha blinked.


    ¡°What!?  But they said there were at least twenty of them still up there!¡±  Racha said fiercely and Duncan nodded with a smirk. Racha blinked and then looked away.  ¡°At least that¡¯s what I heard them say.¡±


    ¡°I expect that you would find out. What with who you are,¡± Duncan said and Racha looked at him in shock before covering her eyes.


    ¡°The captain told you?¡± Racha asked as Duncan chuckled a little.


    She knew something was going to go wrong on this op, she just knew it!  They should have gone in totally cloaked but orders were to tell the captain so they did. She wondered for a moment


    ¡°Me and the section chiefs.  It was her ship after all,¡± Duncan said and Racha looked at him, looking right in his eyes and asked one question.


    ¡°And what did you feel about it? You were in the war,¡± Racha asked and Duncan turned and spat at a trash can before turning back to her with a glare.


    ¡°The only one I blame was the bastard who started the war with his raid!    And I was press-ganged from my world anyway!   But that doesn¡¯t matter, I want you to go out and try and find a new grove of those trees!¡± Duncan said fiercely and Racha looked at him and he waved her off.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sell it as you being my first choice since the others left. But don¡¯t go alone and go from the side the trees were. We might have gotten lucky.   There is a chance that those trees were just the result of something eating the seeds and ¡®passing¡¯ them after. But it could be from the wind.  And the creatures...... Take two others with you,¡± Duncan said and Racha nodded, but before anything else could be said a screech came from outside. Duncan looked up.   ¡°And I¡¯ll add two more guards up there.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Half an hour later Racha climbed out of the crater with five people behind her. Two peeled off and the other two followed her.  Each of them wore armor like Jinn¡¯s party and each had a riffle over their shoulder, and Racha also had a single pistol.


    The first was a deckhand named Rodolphe.   He had short black hair above black eyes and the beginning of a mustache.  The man seemed to have been trying to join the Security division, so he was a clear choice.  Of all those in the capsule, only Jinn was a better close combatant and shot.


    A woman named Paige, with short blond hair and blue eyes, followed behind them. Like Sara, she was a good medic, and they might need her if they got into trouble.


    Racha didn¡¯t fully trust them, but they were the fastest of those who remained.  And that was what was important right now, speed before strength. It had already been a day, and the creatures they encountered so far told her this had many dangers that could kill. And any world with a high enough tech level would have already had emergency crews at the capsule by now.


    They needed all the cards they could find to survive alone, and a local source of food was a good one.


    ¡°So¡­¡­ any ideas what that roaring was?¡± Paige asked and Rodolphe laughed.


    ¡°What do you think it was?   It had to be one of those fools killing something.   Showing this world that those who think can kick ass!¡±  Rodolphe said with a grin and a laugh.


    Racha looked at Rodolphe.  Paige started to look worried.  She didn¡¯t know what was wrong with Rodolphe, he was treating this like a walk in the park. The fool was probably trying to get Paige worried so she would stay close to the macho man. ¡°Stay calm Paige. Whatever caused them, it wasn¡¯t human at least.  And that was pain, whatever the others did to cause it, we have to think that they are still alive.  At most we are going to go out for an hour then we head back.     That¡¯s it, nothing more.¡±


    Paige looked at her and nodded as Racha stepped up she shot a look at Rodolphe who held up his hands.


    ¡°You two, keep your heads and we will survive. Follow me,¡± Racha said before she turned and walked into the forest.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe looked at Racha as she led the way, outside he was calm but inside he was mad as hell. This was supposed to be a simple job. All he had to do was get a few small robots into the ship¡¯s internal air vents, just like the others. They would map out the ship, and cut into the ship¡¯s systems to spy.   And once the signal was sent, the rest of his people would attack. Then the robots would sabotage the defensive systems, letting them in.


    Then if everything worked right, the others would insert all over and hit the ship all at once. That would plus the sabotage would cut off all sections from each other. He and the others would then attack any defensive line that the Security forces would set up from behind. And after they grabbed their targets, they would have scuttled the ship.  It would have killed everyone aboard sure, but their goal demanded it.   And then any evidence would have shown that it was caused by a system error in the generators.


    Then with the information they would extract from their target, well then....... Then their goal would be that much closer, everything they had done would have been worth it.   And that would mean all the sacrifices his family and people had made over all those long years were all worth it.


    But now he was stuck on some unknown plant! And his target wasn¡¯t in the group he was in! He didn¡¯t know if they were even alive, and if they were captured so what? What would that do on this planet besides getting the rest of the survivors to distrust him? No, the best thing to do was stay alive, as the great ones said, ¡®Where there¡¯s life there is hope¡¯.


    As he walked over to a branch, unaware of Paige had stared at him as he moved.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked at Rodolphe with a worried look in her eyes. Her abilities reared their heads again, and she felt that jolt of rage and hatred when Racha gave orders. She didn¡¯t know what caused it, not really. All she could tell was something was bothering him.  She hoped that maybe it was something about their situation, not something else.


    She sometimes felt her abilities were more trouble than they were worth. She had lost her home, her world, and barely stayed free.  The people who had hunted her, she still thought were special ops. Thankfully she had gotten off-world in time.   She had bounced from world to world until she had gotten onto the Spirit.  With what she knew about its course, she would have been able to join any number of colonizer missions.


    But what happened, this planet she was marooned with the others, it wasn¡¯t the plan exactly. She planned to join a colony group, on the first wave hopefully. That would let her find a place to hide away from them.   Not the most daring plan but she promised her mother she would live, and that was the best she could do.  With how a colony''s founding was, all she had to do was be in one of the first two waves.   If she could do that, then she would be able to disappear into the wilderness if she did it right.


    But here she was, stuck on a world with no way out, in the middle of a forest with strange lifeforms all around.  Instead of being smart and staying in the armor of the capsule, she was sent out to find food!   For some reason, she just knew a lot of the other deckhands like her had secrets they were hiding.  And something told her, that before they were safe they all might come into the light.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Deep within the forest, a great creature suddenly looked up as it smelled something.  Something it had never smelled before. Like the others of its kind who were blessed with the gift its creator gave it. It had used its gift to gain the strength of others it killed. Its senses had let it track down and claim their powers for itself.   But then, this scent! Never had it ever smelled something so powerful and new. It spat out a bone of the corpse it had been eating.   Getting to its feet, it stretched before it moved out of its den.   It stopped and looked towards places it knew the little scavengers watched from. It could hear the sounds of them moving around, they were fun to play with before killing them.


    It had let them live and watch it so it could watch them and learn, but that was then, this was now. All it had to do was find the sources of that smell, and then it could claim the strength it senses within. It didn¡¯t know how but it sensed that gaining this power would let it hunt better.  How it didn¡¯t know but it knew that beyond anything else before in its life, that one thing was true.  So it would hunt this thing down, and devour it.

 Chapter Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Forest Near Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 0745


    They had made good time, not running into anything as they moved silently through the forest. Racha led the way as she tried and failed to keep the scowl off her face. For the last fifteen minutes, she had been on edge. Something about this place was setting off her instincts, they were in danger. She could tell how or why, but it was there. And that was making her look at the rustle of every plant, expecting a monster to come out.


    The sound of buzzing ahead of them caused Racha to signal a stop. Moving slowly forward, she tried to find the source of the sound and after a few moments, she did. Moving slowly forward, she looked into the clearing. At the center ten feet away, five of the red worm-like creatures were flying around something.


    Looking at the others, Racha signaled them to come forward. Pointing at the flying worms, she pulled out her pistol. The others understood and drew their rifles, aiming they waited as Racha pointed out their targets. With a nod from Racha, they all fired! They each hit one, the last two flew upward only to die from Racha¡¯s shots.


    Moving into the clearing, they stopped at the mass. It was a carcass that still had all its scales and limbs. It was a four-legged green lizard with two tusks pointing out of a mouth on a short face.


    ¡°Any ideas? You were in training to be a medic right?¡± Rodolphe asked Paige who shook her head.


    Racha ignored them as she drew out a knife that she used to cut into the corpse''s stomach. At the sound of cutting, they turned to look as a smelly brown mass of liquid and other matter spelled out from the cut Racha made. Paige and Rodolphe both covered their mouths and gagged as Racha just looked at the liquid and mass.


    ¡°Why did you do that?!¡± Rodolphe demanded. Racha looked at him and shook her head.


    ¡°To see what been eating lately. And look,¡± Racha said and pointed at a brown mass.


    As they watched Racha cut it in half, showing fruit flesh within it.


    ¡°So this thing¡¯s diet means it was at least an omnivore?¡± Rodolphe asked and Racha nodded.


    Racha grinned at the others. ¡°And it ate this recently, within the last few hours. So unless the trees by the capsule were where it at, there are more Fruit trees around here.¡±


    ¡°So any ideas to find these fruit trees?¡± Paige asked and Racha nodded, pointing to their left. Following her finger, they saw another path leaving the clearing and they turned back to look at her.


    ¡°The beast was killed looking the other way, so it might have come from that path. We follow that and we might find a clue for where the trees are,¡± Racha said and shrugged at the looks she received.


    Rodolphe and Paige looked at each other and then Paige spoke up. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a better plan than just going in a line from where the other trees were.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. So stay silent and keep your eyes open, you see anything you let the others know and I¡¯ll do the same. Follow my orders and we¡¯ll stay alive,¡± Racha said, and she turned around and led the way. For the next few minutes, they moved through over low grass the same height as back in the clearing, something that Racha noticed absently.


    A few moments later they came across a small stream that cut across their path. The stream was a good twenty feet wide and in the distance, they could hear the sounds of a waterfall. Looking around she saw a tree across it a good fifty feet to their right that went across it, but something about it bothered her.


    ¡°So a river, could the seeds have been carried over it by the wind?¡± Paige asked and Racha looked at it and then at the water. Racha could say that she didn¡¯t like the look of the water, something about it bothered her.


    Before she could lead them through it, she needed to check something. Looking at it closer she frowned, the water wasn¡¯t clear, it was very cloudy. She had no idea what could be causing it was it natural, or the result of something upstream?


    ¡° Over the bridge or through the water?¡± Rodolphe asked and Racha looked over her shoulder and smiled as she saw a dead branch. Not saying anything she walked over and picked it up, smiling as she saw it was over four feet long.


    ¡°And that¡¯s for what?¡± Rodolphe asked and Racha stayed silent before she turned back to the stream.


    Paige looked between her and the water, a look of understanding forming on her face. Rodolphe meanwhile looked lost and then looked between the two women, not understanding anything.


    When she reached the edge of the river, she thrust the branch into the water, and almost fell in as the branch kept going down. ¡°Deep, really deep.¡±


    ¡°Too deep to walk I¡¯d say. We only have one way to continue going against the wind then,¡± Paige said and they all looked towards the tree-bridge.


    Racha barely heard her as she looked at the stick, frowning. For a moment she felt something and wondered if she¡¯d hit the bottom at last. But then she felt something through the stick, something was holding it in place.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not too deep. I think I hit something,¡± Racha said and as they all looked at the stick, Paige went pale and started moving backwards.


    ¡°GET BACK!¡± Paige screamed in horror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    It had been sleeping in the moving thing for a while now. It knew the signs; soon another of the new ones would be released from the creators. After it fought the little ones and they took one of its limbs it retreated to try and sleep to heal. It blinked awake and felt that its pincer was still gone but the limb had healed some, what had roused it? Then it felt something through its armor, something was jabbing it.


    Grasping it with one of its other pincers, it pulled whatever it was down to its mouth and bit into a piece of the green life. Looking upwards with its eyes it saw the outline of something it hadn¡¯t seen before, but whatever they were, they were like the little ones.


    With that realization, so too did a spark of anger and rage start to burn within it. It sent strength to its other limbs and angled to get out of the moving thing. It was time to kill, feed and then return to the healing sleep.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    No sooner had Paige yelled out in fear, than the center of the river exploded. As the three humans looked on, they saw a nightmare surface.


    The creature was at least ten feet long and seven feet tall, all covered in a vibrate purple chitin shell. It looked like someone had taken the worst a bear, spider, and lobster, then combined them to make this. It had an oval-shaped head with a round maw of needle-like teeth with short foot-long tentacles just below the gum line. Behind it were three eyes on stilts, and two spikes on the sides behind them. Around its neck were two chitin limbs on each side. The ones on the right both ended in two long pincers but on the left, only the lower limb had one. The upper limb was broken and jagged with black flesh that pulsed as water drained from the hole. Behind the neck, its body was round, with four legs on both sides of its body that went deep into the river.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°SCREEEEHHH!¡± With that one screech, it lunged for them with its three pincers.


    Racha reacted fast, pulling out her pistol. She fired one shot that hit and burst the creature¡¯s central eyestalk. As bluish-black blood gushed from the wound, Paige and Rodolphe pulled out their rifles. They backed away from the creature, firing as they moved. Racha joined her fire to theirs, but most of their shots reflected off the chitin shell.


    As the creature finally seemed to have shaken off the maiming of its eye, it glared at Racha as it walked out of the river. As it looked at the humans from a height of ten feet above them, Racha risked a glance at the tree bridge and made a choice.


    ¡°Run to the bridge, move! We can get away from that river spider there!¡±Racha barked as she started to run. Paige and Rodolphe followed after her, with the creature screeching as it followed them slowly.


    As she ran Racha looked over her shoulder, trying to understand just what she was seeing. The river spider was moving a lot slower than the humans, which let her figure a few things out. It had to have evolved to live in water and hunt along the shoreline. But it was too big for anything that lived in streams like this one, so what was it doing here?


    As they reached the tree bridge, Paige turned and fired at the river spider as it came ever closer.


    ¡°GO! I¡¯ll try and hold it! Once you get across cover me!¡± Racha ordered and Rodolphe turned and started to fire his rifle.


    ¡°Not a chance! We gotta keep it on land, into the forest!¡± Rodolphe said and Racha looked at him as Paige nodded.


    ¡°It came from the water, it¡¯s not fast! We can get away from it!¡± Paige exclaimed and Racha looked at the creature, firing as she watched it come closer to them.


    ¡°GO!¡± Racha called out as she shot the river spider. Paige and Rodolphe ran ahead as Racha fired her pistol as she ran backwards. Each shot still bounced off the chitin doing nothing to it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    When the creature first smelled the scent of the thing that had the power, it charged off without a thought. But as it moved it started to try and plan in the limited ways it could. It smelled the scent of something else, one of the creatures of the deep and cold that surrounded its home. They rarely if ever came this far from there, than this one might have come here when it was still young. Still, if it was there, then it was that much the better for it. The chance to get a better hide and whatever weapons it used, was very good. But if it ate the source of the scent then that power would be lost to it, and that was something that it would not let happen.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the three people ran, they heard the screech of the creature. As Racha looked at Paige out of the corner of her eyes, she tried to quiet her thoughts. She still couldn¡¯t understand how she saw the creature before she did, and that was bothering her.


    As they ran Racha kept a lookout for anything that might help them, anything at all. As they passed a small hill Rodolphe looked at it and stopped in shock.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Racha demanded and Rodolphe grinned and pointed.


    The two of them followed his finger and saw a cave mouth five feet high and ten wide, at the base of the hill. All they could see was maybe five feet in before darkness blocked their sight.


    ¡°A cave! And it looks like it goes back a lot!¡± Rodolphe said as he turned back to the others and gestured to it.


    A screech behind them caused Racha to grit her teeth. She knew that this might be the best place to make a stand, but if the cave wasn¡¯t deep enough then they would die here. And the creature was coming after them, and there was a chance that they might not find anything better.


    Another screech came from the trees, and this one was a lot closer than the previous one. Racha closed her eyes and nodded, making a choice that she hoped was right.


    ¡°Paige, go see how far, now!¡± Racha ordered and looked back at where the river had been.


    Paige nodded, running into the cave as Rodolphe and Racha turned toward where they had come from.


    Rodolphe grinned and looked at the cave out of the corner of his eyes as he drew his rifle. A smirk formed on his face. He hated to admit it, but he lived for things like this.


    A screech came as the creature from the river came into view. It looked around with its eye stalks and when it saw them it glared, screeching as it charged.


    Racha and Rodolphe¡¯s weapons fired as the creature came at them, both hoping to hold it off as long as they could.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Paige ran into the cave, she released all the locks she made to hold back her abilities. In a pitch-black environment, she had to have all the advantages she could. She just couldn¡¯t see any other way to find anything that was hiding within the cave.


    As she ran deeper in, she ran into the edge of a soft blue glow. As she blinked in surprise, the glow only lasted a few moments before it died. She felt nothing from her senses, but she aimed her rifle ahead of her as she moved ever closer to where the glow came from. She turned on her rifle¡¯s light and shinned it around, not seeing anything that gave a clue as to where the glow had come from. Ahead of her, the cave went on, far beyond the light of her lone rifle. After not seeing anything that could threaten them, she turned to tell the others it was safe.


    But then she spun around, looking to her left and swallowed. She sensed danger, hunger, and rage coming toward her! She had only ever sensed half of that combination once before when she had been hunted in her homeworld. Even when she felt the river spider, she didn¡¯t feel such a combination. Running towards the others she took a deep breath before she screamed out a warning.


    ¡°GET IN HERE, NOW!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°GET IN HERE, NOW!¡±


    Racha heard Paige yell, smiling as realized the cave was safe. Rodolphe needed no other signal before he ran into the cave as Racha covered his retreat. As she backed up into the cave the river spider came after them only for a savage roar to sound from the top of the hill. The river spider stopped and looked upwards, growls came from its mouth as it snapped its pincers.


    Paige came to the mouth of the cave as Racha entered, her eyes wide. ¡°It¡¯s here!¡±


    Before Racha could ask what, a roar and a blur attacked the river spider.


    Racha felt terror as the new creature was revealed. If the thing from the river was a merging of bear, spider, and lobster, then this had to be a wolf mixed with at least two other creatures.


    It was over five feet tall and had six legs. Its lower limbs had black fur and ended in paws, but on the shoulders were ruby shells. Along its back was a line of spines that flexed as it stood there glaring at the river spider. Its head ended in a muzzle, and they could see on the side of the wolf-thing facing them a multifaceted eye. Its tail ended in a chitin point, and Racha thought it moved.


    For moments the two creatures stood there facing each other. Then they charged at each other, each looking to kill! The river spider shot out its lower right pincers, hoping to grab the wolf''s front legs. The wolf creature reacted and lunged downward to the right, dodging the blow as the claws went over its body. Before the river spider could react the wolf creature was behind it. It charged and opened its muzzle, biting deep into the backmost right leg. Its fangs bit through the chitin, tearing the leg in two, leaving a line of jagged chitin where the bite had happened.


    As soon as that happened, the river spider leaned down. Before the wolf creature could move away, one of its legs was pierced by the jagged legs of the broken leg. The wolf creature screeched in pain and tried to get free but then the river spider flicked it away into the air.


    The wolf hit a tree with a crack that caused the hit tree to break in two. The top half of the tree above the wolf creature fell backwards from the impact. The river spider was already moving to kill its opponent before it hit the tree. As the river spider moved closer, the wolf creature came back to life! It shot forward and jumped at the river spider¡¯s head with its mouth open! The river spider tried to dodge but the wolf was faster. It bit into the left eye stalk, tearing it free as the wolf creature landed on the river spider''s head. As the river spider bucked it screeched in pain but it threw the wolf creature off!


    As the river spider thrashed about, the wolf creature landed and ate the eye.


    As the deckhands watched in horror, the wolf creature¡¯s body started to convulse.


    As it howled, the wolf creature''s eyes suddenly shot out three inches! The deckhands stared in shock before the eyes went back to where they were before shooting out an inch.


    ¡°By the stars¡­¡­. Did it just mutate?!¡± Racha asked in horror. She had seen mutates before during her service, but so fast. Never had she seen anything like it!


    With a roar, the river spider locked eyes with the wolf beast. They stood there, both glaring at the other before the river spider released a screech. At this signal and declaration of intent, the battle between these two monsters continued.


    ¡°This is great! That wolf must have been out hunting and found that thing! We can hide and then we can leave after it does. It won¡¯t want to eat us after instead of that big thing!¡± Rodolphe exclaimed and laughed in joy.


    Meanwhile, Paige just looked at the battle, her eyes wide. She saw how the wolf had kept one of its mutated eyes locked on the cave mouth. When it saw them, that was when she sensed a feeling of rage and desire from the creature. It hadn¡¯t been out hunting, well it had but it was hunting them!


    ¡°No, the wolf wants to eat us! We have to fight both of them!¡±Paige said as she aimed at the wolf with her riffle. Rodolphe grabbed it and glared at her as she glared back.


    ¡°HEY! If you¡¯re wrong, then whatever kills the other will thank us by killing us!¡± Rodolphe exclaimed and Paige shook his arm off and glared at him.


    ¡°But if I¡¯m not wrong, then we¡¯ll be worse off if the wolf wins! Then we¡¯ll be facing a mutated wolf with armor that will deflect our shots!¡± Paige said and Racha nodded.


    ¡°She¡¯s right, hollow my orders and fire on who I fire on! We¡¯ll play both of them off each other!¡± Racha said as she aimed at the river spider.

 Chapter Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Forest Near Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 0805


    As the river spider moved closer to the wolf suddenly bolts hit its body, some of them hitting its maimed pincer arm. It screeched and turned towards the cave, where the three deckhands were firing their weapons at it. It took a step towards them, its anger at prey fighting back almost took what reason it had. But then it heard a sound behind it and it tried to turn back around but failed to react in time.


    The wolf beast meanwhile had recovered and with a roar charged at the river beast, which lunged to the side to try and dodge. It glared at it and shot out its left pincer which connected with the wolf beast¡¯s front right leg and tore it off. As the wolf beast roared in pain and lost blood, the river beast brought the limb to its mouth. It was eaten within moments, and after it did its head shook as its middle eyestalk regrew.


    With a roar the wolf beast jumped forward and spun around, firing three of its back spikes at the river beast. The river beast raised its lower left claw and blocked the volley but one of them pierced the pincer at the base where it closed.


    Before the wolf creature could capitalize on that, it dodged to the right as shots hit where it had been. With a growl it looked towards the cave, seeing the three bipeds there. As it watched another volley of bolts was shot at it from them. It dodged to the right away from the river spider and glared at them. For a moment the wolf creature looked right at one of the three bipeds, the source of the scent it had chased here. It took a single step towards them when a screech caused it to turn its head.


    As the river spider pulled the spike free with its right pincer and looked at the wound as blood gushed from the hole. It spat a strange black substance at the wound, screeching in pain as it was covered. It turned its and saw what had caused it and felt a greater spark of rage. With a screech that usually stunned its prey, it charged at the wolf creature. The wolf creature only bared its teeth and roared as it met the charge with one of its own.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°This might work after all!¡± Rodolphe said with a laugh as he watched the battle.


    Paige wanted to think that he was right, but her abilities told her it wasn¡¯t that simple.


    ¡°Yeah, but did you see how the other one regrew its eye? We have to kill both of them.So if you see anything that could help that, say something,¡± Racha said with a glare.


    Paige just aimed at the wolf creature, ready to fire. The way it had felt that spark of desire as it looked at her and its actions told her all she needed to know. It wanted to eat her to take her other sense, and that was shocking. She might have been wrong, but she doubted it. It made sense, but that meant that her abilities were ¡­¡­.different from what she thought they were.


    The very idea threw into question everything about why she had been hunted in the first place! She knew they wanted her, but if her powers were at least partly biological¡­¡­.. that opened open so many worse things she could have been hunted for. She shook her head, she refused to even follow that line of thinking. All that mattered now was to keep an eye on the battle and see what she could do to end it favorably for her side.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha kept one eye on the battle and the other on Paige. How she was so sure that the newcomer was there to eat them was something she would need to talk to her about. There were a few ways that Paige could have known, but they all raised questions. If the most unlikely was true, and she hoped it was. hen with luck, Paige could drastically improve their overall chances of survival here.


    A roar from outside caused her to look up and see that the wolf had lost its left eye from a jab by the river spider. As the wolf creature reared back in pain, the river spider moved forward with its back raised to the cave. ¡°No, they¡¯re learning to deal with us! It¡¯s putting its body between us and what we can hurt!¡±


    Rodolphe just shook his head as he kept his gaze locked on the battle. ¡°Got any ideas to deal with this?¡±


    Racha looked at the battle and weighed the options available to her. If the wolf lost then they could hide in the cave from the river spider, but if the reverse happened then the wolf might mutate and kill them. it stood to reason that their best chance was to kill the wolf and help the river spider. But if the river spider ate the wolf, it might mutate as well. then if she could get a scenario going where one was wounded enough for them to kill it after the other died or was driving off¡­¡­..Racha nodded, she knew just what she had to do now.


    ¡°One. Paige let me know if the wolf comes at me, R stay here and keep firing at the wolf,¡± Racha said before she dashed out of the cave, running to the far right as she drew her knife


    As soon as she was around thirty feet distance from the battle she fired one shot that hit the center eyestalk of the river spider, destroying it. It reared back in pain, Racha fired at the wolf creature and took off its tail. It howled in pain, it turned and looked at her.


    As the wolf creature growled, Racha began to run towards the trees, wondering if hiding or climbing was the better play. As the wolf creature charged at her, the river spider reacted and lashed out with its right pincer. The limb telescoped out, grabbing the wolf creature¡¯s back left leg. The wolf creature tried to turn around and break free, the river spider sent it two left pincers. They grabbed the wolf creature around its neck and body, the wolf creature roared in anger as it was lifted.


    As the wolf creature tried to break free the river spider pulled and tore its opponent in half. As it dropped the bloody chunks Racha fired another shot, only for the river spider to block it with its upper left claw.


    As Paige joined their fire to Racha¡¯s, she moved closer to the river spider. She straight at the river spider¡¯s remaining eyestalk before firing a single shot at where one of the other eyestalks had been.


    The river spider grabbed some of the remains of the wolf creature and looked at them. Racha only fired her gun upwards and the river spider just screeched at them before turning away, lumbering back towards the river.


    They all kept their eyes locked on where it had gone, but after a few moments, Paige released a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡±


    Racha looked at Paige, a strange feeling going through her. So far her thought was looking to be right, but what did that mean and in contrast to what?


    ¡°Good. So we¡¯ll stay away from that river?¡± Rodolphe asked as he dropped to his knees.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°Agreed!¡± Racha said as she put her pistol away and stalked toward the remains of the wolf creature.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige had looked at the cave, a frown on her face. She didn¡¯t know what the light source she had seen within the cave, was or if it wasn¡¯t in her mind. She didn¡¯t want to bring it up, but it might have been important. Again she didn¡¯t know if she should bring it up, she had already risked enough. That woman, Racha? She had felt a few sparks of inspiration when Paige had said a few things. She had to protect herself, but she was a medic. But then mob mentality was a thing.


    For now, she would say nothing, if something happened and she had to admit her abilities, she would. But they still had to find the fruit trees, if they even existed.


    She looked up as she heard the sounds of flesh tearing and saw Racha mutilating the remains.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± Rodolphe


    ¡°Check what this ate,¡± Racha said bluntly, and moments later a rush of a brown liquid came from a hole she made in the remains.


    Racha looked over them and sighed after a few moments and looked up. ¡°Carnivore. No luck. It could have its den near the trees we want and we¡¯d never know.¡±


    ¡°And after those two things? We should head back, lock down the pod and explore this place in force. Maybe wait until¡­¡­. Quinn? Kinn? No, Jinn. Jinn¡¯s team is back and then sends out five to explore instead of us three?¡± Paige asked. She knew from the ship that Jinn was strong and one of the best fighters. If he was here with Racha the two of them might have been able to fight off the creatures together.


    Racha looked at Paige and shook her head.


    Paige could sense a feeling of exasperation for Racha, and that was confusing her.


    ¡°Good idea! We need more people out here! Let¡¯s go back and get them if we need to find the trees before Jinn gets back! What¡¯s wrong with that hu?! Rodolphe asked and Racha sighed before looking at the two of them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha sighed and looked around at Paige and Rodolphe. The idea wasn¡¯t bad, but it was impossible with what personnel they had. The creatures that had just fought each other, neither acted like the other was the alpha predator around here. That meant that there was something else, something stronger and deadlier out there.


    The best thing for them to do was to head back and turtle up, but then there was also problems back there. The beacon might not be working or something was blocking it. And then there were the way that they stuck in the crater. If anything could take the high ground, they would have a tactical advantage. And the way the worm things were in groups of five, she had a strange feeling about that. So far they hadn¡¯t seen anything beyond the wolf that had range combat abilities, but there had to have been more of them out there.


    The best thing was for a small group to slip by whatever was out there and get back the knowledge. But how to explain that without playing her entire hand, letting them know who she was? She sighed and shook her head. ¡°We will head back, but we¡¯ll keep looking for the trees. We¡¯ll let the Chief make the call.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe smiled as he followed after Racha, this was perfect. He had survived and learned that Racha was one heck of a fighter! That was good, any bit of information could be the difference between his survival and his death or capture. She had to be one of the company¡¯s security agents, or from a military family. Someone who grew up fighting would have known how to judge the tactical points of the fight between those two creatures so fast.


    ¡°You lead, I¡¯ll check our rear. You see anything get me,¡± Racha told him as he walked past her. Rodolphe nodded, he didn¡¯t think the spider had given up.Something just told him it would take something more than them to scare it off.


    Just thinking about the spider made him think about the wolf, and then how the wolf mutated. He hadn¡¯t ever seen anything like that before, not even in the wastes back home. This place might be even worse than his home, and that was saying something. All he had to do was survive and find the others, then together they could figure out what to do.


    He took another step forward and moved a branch out of his way before he was halted by the shock of what he saw.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she walked, Paige tried to keep calm and not spiral into oblivion. So far she had barely kept from thinking about why she had been hunted, but it was at the edge of her thoughts. Those ¡®people¡¯ had been completely monstrous, and if her abilities were partially biological¡­¡­.


    ¡°Some call back there.¡±


    Paige turned her head and looked at Racha. Paige swallowed and looked away as Racha continued talking.


    ¡°So how¡¯d you know they wanted to eat us? The wolf could have scented the river thing and that was its prey,¡± Racha said and Paige kept her eyes forward.


    ¡°I¡­¡­ ran into something like that back on my world. You run into one sentient eater and you learn to tell when you encounter others,¡± Paige said keeping her eyes on the trees.


    Racha just hummed and Paige felt her disbelief. Paige didn¡¯t know what to do, Racha always seemed very driven back on the ship. She had to know something, but what? Paige didn¡¯t want to think that Racha was one of those who hunted her, but then who was she?


    ¡°HEY! WE Found them!¡± Rodolphe¡¯s excited yell caused Racha and Paige to look toward him. He was looking ahead of him and following his gaze, they saw a tree with pod-like fruits. Rodolphe ran to it and went past it, and moments later they heard him laugh.


    ¡°Rodolphe!¡± Racha snarled under her breath and ran after him, Paige followed right behind her.


    They entered a small clearing ten feet with five of the trees full of fruit pods to their left. Rodolphe took one and laughed as he looked around. ¡°Guess we didn¡¯t need to follow the wind after all!¡±


    Paige looked at him, not understanding what he meant before she felt the wind moving away from the trees.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Racha muttered as she looked around. She frowned as she saw this place was a perfect circle again, and once again she wondered how that was possible. Nature did not make perfect circles with plants, only thinking minds did. And looking at the exact placement of the fruit trees in comparison to the clearing they came down in, it was an exact if smaller match.


    She had seen a lot of strange things during her service but this planet was putting them all to shame! And then there were the creatures they had just seen, and how the wolf mutated so fast. That of all things wasn¡¯t natural, and she couldn¡¯t figure out how it was possible. And both of them were two different orders of life, how had they both evolved here? Were they from other worlds, was this place a planet zoo that had gone dark during one of the old civil wars and been forgotten about?


    She shook her head, the lost world trope was just that, something they made up in movies! And the ship had been on a route that had flown hundreds of times! Wherever they were, it had to follow the laws of nature.


    ¡°Good, grab a few of those things so we can test them. Once we know they are safe to eat we¡¯ll send a bigger party back to get as many as they can,¡± Racha said as she looked around before frowning. ¡°No, Paige. You take it.¡±


    Paige nodded, quickly walked over to one of the trees, and picked a pod. Nodding Racha tried to figure out where they were in comprising to the capsule before she nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯re a good thirty minutes away, not too bad. But let''s try and make it there faster!¡± Racha said before she started to lead the way out of the clearing at a brisk pace.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the river spider returned to where it had been sleeping it finished eating the wolf creature. It felt good as much as it was able, it could already feel itself start to heal. All in all, it had gained much more than it lost from waking up. Perhaps it should stay awake for a while longer, but hide away. If any prey came by, it could just eat them and then return to its slumber after all.


    It reached the moving matter it slowed down and looked around, something was wrong. The moving matter was usually more active than this. In all its limited memory, there was nothing that was anything like this. This place should be more active, where was everything? It was almost like¡­..


    It went still and looked around slowly. It tried to find what it hoped it wouldn¡¯t, but when it saw a few things, it realized just why everything was asleep or hiding. It started to run now, moving as fast as it was able to get to the river. As soon as it reached the river it jumped in and went down, moving into the mud so it could sleep hidden away.


    It had survived this occurrence three times since it had been trapped in this warm matter, it would survive more.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Combat Template with Evolutionary Consummation killed by a Combat Template DSS; subtype dwarf with assistance of a group of Template 10049 from Sample 98764; micro group three


    Reason for combat?


    Template group sent out to forage. Found fruit type S010 and took back sample piece.


    Clarification. Reason for Evolutionary Consummation to enter combat,


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­Unknown. Evolutionary Consummation template was at resting site before it suddenly left in hurry.


    Data for actions of Evolutionary Consummation template unknown.


    Ways to discover reasons?


    Cessation of Evolutionary Consummation Template leaves data harvest impossible. Component parts were mostly taken by Combat Template DSS; subtype dwarf.


    Most?


    Enough of Evolutionary Consummation Template remains to harvest and grow replaces. Send in Construct unit to take samples?


    Allowed. Note, send sample to location 098.


    Reason?


    Political group nearby making moves to find way to Central Command, facilities at location at risk. Evolutionary Consummation Template record as destroyer will allow creation of Template guard unit once samples are fed. Location 098 has ample samples to grow variants and Mind in charge there has track record of defense actions.


    ¡­¡­. Complying


    Gestation progress of new Test Template?


    Final twenty percent remaining until release time.


    Notice, alterations only allowed until eighty-three total progress.


    Complying.


    Accelerate gestation


    ¡­¡­Negative. Keep on schedule


    Complying.


    Request to send Construct to study all new sample groups


    Negative. Remain on procedures.


    Complying.

 Chapter Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Racha sighed as she looked around the clearing, letting her mind wander. Once they made it back, she reported in detail what they had found to Duncan.  The old man had grilled them before sending Sara and Rodolphe away, wanting to talk to her.   The two of them had talked long and hard, but both came to the idea that if one party ran into those creatures, then the other one did as well.


    If that was true, then the chances of them returning were small in her mind. Duncan had only laughed and said that if anyone could survive it would be Jinn. Trying to get what the old man meant out of him didn¡¯t work, he stayed silent. After a few minutes of silence, as the two stared at each other, he had finished the conversation.  Calling back Rodolphe and Paige, he had asked for a guide to lead a few deckhands to gather from the trees they found.  Rodolphe had stepped up and he offered to go. Duncan had agreed and that was that.


    Racha had gone looking for Paige but the woman had slipped away, and that bothered Racha.  She might not be what she acted like. Abilities like that were usually only found in the old religious sects, those with strange ideas and training. She had fought beings from one once, they could throw fire and lightning around like she could fire her gun. Her team had barely survived, but they had all failed that mission.


    But then there were the stories shared by people in her profession.  There were tales of shadowy groups that traveled around the Federation, looking for anyone with talents that could be used.   There were tales of colonies and worlds killed to the last, all to kidnap someone or they were all killed by a talented being.


    ¡°You doing okay?¡± A voice from the side caused her to wince inwardly before putting a smile on as she turned.   Looking at her was a man her age dressed in the same jumpsuit, but his blue hair and blue eyes were so¡­.. peaceful. Jones Karlson had been on the Spirit for about half the voyage, and he seemed to be trying to court her. He was a pacifist and frankly, he seemed like a fanatic from one of the religions that embraced all life.


    ¡°Perfectly, but where are you going?¡± Racha asked and Jones grinned at her.


    ¡°With the next foraging party! After all, we have to feed our passengers and this way, I can keep our comrades from being brutes like that man who killed those worm things yesterday.   But to think I have to be guided by that Rodolphe!¡± Jones said as he puffed out his chest and looked pleased with himself. ¡°After the actions of his team, to think that brute has to lead me!   But I¡¯ll keep him from killing any other innocents like that wolf!¡±


    Racha nodded before turning and looking at him in shock. ¡°Wait, what?!¡±


    ¡°Of course!  Why would it have attacked them? And the spider?  One of his group must have done something to provoke it!   It probably thought one of those fools had threatened its young!   I¡¯ll be going along to make sure that doesn¡¯t happen again!¡±  Jones said with a grin


    ¡°Move it, Jones, we¡¯ve gotta move!¡± Rodolphe called out.  Jones smiled at her before he turned and walked off.


    Racha could only stare after him in shock, literally speechless. She had thought that Jones was a fanatic, not that he was that stupid!  She had led the party that found the fruit, did he think she had been on guard duty!?  And there were on an uncharted alien world and he wanted to treat the animals like it was a zoo in the core worlds?!   She felt the weight of her pistol and knew that she would need to use it again soon.  Jones was going to cause trouble for them, and she could only hope that he wouldn¡¯t take anyone else down with him.


    As Racha blinked she looked around before turning and headed back to the capsule, hoping to talk to Duncan.  If that fool was as bad as she thought on an unexplored planet, then she needed to get a weapon!  Hopefully, before he caused a stampede of creatures to kill them all!


    Bradford sighed as he looked at the people outside the capsule from one of the chairs in the main chamber.   So far he had stayed back, he didn¡¯t want to be one of those people who died by attacks from birds. So far he had to admit that the old fool in ¡®charge¡¯ was doing a good job at keeping them safe. He had hoped that the old fool would have made a mistake, but then it¡¯s only been a day. And without any ideas about where they were, he could let the fool lead the way for now.  All he needed was for him to make a small mistake, and then he would step up and ¡®graciously¡¯ take the reins.


    He had to admit that it would be easier if he had his men.  Those bone breakers would have taken the weapons, and then they would have forced all these lower life forms here to serve their betters.   And then there was the fact that no one in the capsule had any idea what caused them to get into it.


    He expected that from the lower class, but he was noble!   He had the breeding, the will, and the nanotech, so why couldn¡¯t he remember anything? Still, he was worried about just what it meant, if anything.   He couldn¡¯t think of anything outside of movies to explain, no weapon that could cause it, but it might have seemed.


    ¡°Mr. Golrick?¡±  A soft voice asked and he grinned and turned to see a lovely vision walk towards him.   The woman was tall and slender with large breasts wearing a black strapless dress with a slit on the right side. Her black-painted lips were trembling as her blue eyes looked at him with worry.   She raised a hand and swirled a finger in her long red hair and looked at him.


    ¡°Yes, my dear¡­.. I¡¯m sorry but I can¡¯t remember your name my dear?¡± Bradford asked as he eyed her figure.


    ¡°Vivian La Corlort sir.  I was wondering if you heard anything about the beacon?¡±  Vivian asked as she blinked at him.   He grinned and looked at her, trying to mask the lust he felt.   He had rarely found such a flower of womanhood and she looked to be quite a catch. Beauty, bravery and she knew about the beacon, and she came to him.


    Bradford grinned at her and thought of the best way to get her on his side so to speak. ¡°No, nothing my dear, nothing at all.   But we were a few days from the nearest Federation planet.   It¡¯ll take time to get there and for them to send a rescue party.   But sooner than you think I know we¡¯ll be back in civilization! Why this reminds me of the ¡­¡­.¡±


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    As he droned on, he didn¡¯t notice the spark of hatred in Vivian¡¯s eyes as he spoke.


    Vivian just looked at Bradford and she could barely keep the disgust from her face.  In her career, she had dealt with sick targets and stupid people, but this one was in a league of his own.   In cases like this, you let the people with training lead, not make trouble to take over.   But then the people like Bradford always were ¡®the only ones¡¯ who could ¡®see the way forward¡¯, but it always meant they led.


    She wondered if she shouldn¡¯t have taken that contract at the Guild, but then why worry about the past?    She made the choice and she would have to live with it, and the chance to kill a slaver was always something to take. But should she try and do more, break cover?   Her current identity as a ¡®trust fund baby¡¯ was still good but she had expected to be able to burn it with her target.    And she hoped whatever had happened to the Spirit her ¡®body double¡¯ wasn¡¯t found, that would make all kinds of trouble.


    As Bradford droned on she questioned her sanity.   To keep close to him to try and find out anything that might affect was smart in her head but in person? This one was as boorish as he seemed, and the way he eyed her figure made her want to kill him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige leaned against the wall of the capsule and breathed in the air.  So far she had been able to dodge Racha, but the woman was like a dog on a bone. She knew that Racha thought she knew Paige¡¯s secret, and her guess might be right.   But then she had run before when people came for her, but in this situation, they were all in, it wasn¡¯t possible. She was worried, Racha was a very driven person. She had these abilities not because she wanted them, but because she was lucky.   If Racha was one of those ¡®power equals responsibilities¡¯.


    Paige didn¡¯t think that.   Her life was her own, and she would live as she wanted to. Her abilities didn¡¯t mean anything to her, they were only a burden.


    But then they had helped her, but then¡­¡­ she didn¡¯t know what to do.   She had sensed that those who hunted her wanted her badly.  And with her revelation when the wolf came for her¡­¡­.. she didn¡¯t expect if they caught her, that she would be alive long after.


    She looked up at the sky and tried to not let her emotions show. It was just the first day of being marooned on this world, and the chances they had for survival weren¡¯t bad or good.   The two creatures she and her party encountered, the worm things? They showed a depth of the biology around here that was almost mind-blowing.


    She had studied cases of planets having life forms from other planetary ecosystems inserted into their own.    Sometimes it led to good things, sometimes it led to extinction, but never like this.    The agreed-upon rule was one type of life always evolved as the alpha, the others were doomed to be food for that type.   But the spider, the wolf, and the worms? They had to be outliers but they were so strong and large¡­¡­.  And then there was the cave. What had caused that glow?   With everything added up to the simple fact that this planet made no sense to her!


    As Rodolphe led Jones and two other deckhands through the forest, behind Jones smiled widely.  His religion called for the higher life forms to shepherd the unenlightened, from creatures to those poor nonbelievers.   This planet was perfect, once he found a way to tame the beasts and show them their place, he would return a Saint!  And the beautiful Racha, once she was brought into the Order, would be the perfect wife for him.


    For the next thirty minutes they kept quiet, Jones just looked around in wonder...  This place was perfect, it would make a wonderful colony for the Order once they were rescued. This plant had such treasures just waiting to be found!


    Finally, the group made it to where the scouts had found the grove.  Looking around as they walked into the clearing Jones saw the grove of fruit trees and smiled. It looked like he would be able to get everyone back before their bloodlust killed an innocent animal after all.


    Looking at the strange fruits on the trees, Rodolphe just smiled and spoke. ¡°Well, let¡¯s grab what we can!¡±


    Jones just looked at Rodolphe as he stood in the center with a rifle in his hands. The fool still wanted to put out a hard look? With animals as long as you didn¡¯t bother them, they didn¡¯t bother you. That was what his religion taught him and his world showed him. But then the unenlightened always gave such trouble to those who knew the truth.  It was his place to show, guide and teach, to punish the evil ones when the situation called for it. But then how could he even begin to show them the way?   f those fools like Duncan had their way the whole garden of the forest would burn.


    A low mummer came from a bush causing  Jones to walk towards it, looking down he smiled as he saw a small reptilian creature crawl out.


    It was three feet long, had white scaly skin, and four legs with two spikes on each of its front shoulders and a small stub of a tail.  Its face had four eyes, two on each side of a small maw, and it looked up at Jones and blinked. It gave a small cry and Jones saw that this orphan had been sent to show the others the way forward, for Jones to lead by example. With a native to show them how to live here, this poor animal needing protection would be the symbol of the New Order!


    ¡°Hey, get out here!¡± Another of the deckhands said as he reach down and threw a stone at the ground near a small creature.   The rock landed near it, causing a small whimper from it as the other deckhand and Rodolphe all looked around, their hands going to their weapons.


    ¡°Move away now!¡± Rodolphe deckhands barked and Jones turned and glared at him.


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason to be like that!   You might see fear but I don¡¯t!  All the lower order need is to be taught right!   Why¡­¡­¡± Jones said and the one who threw the rock interrupted him.


    ¡°There are never animals alone in the wild that small!   Well, most species. If it has a pack we need to leave.  Now!¡±


    Jones only looked at him with anger and smiled down at the small lizard thing.  ¡°If it¡¯s alone, then we need to help it!   After all, what¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± Jones said angrily before the small lizard threw its head back and howled.


    Jones looked at the man and was about to open his mouth when howls erupted  around the cleaning.  They all looked around, all on edge moments before a white blur tackled the deckhand who threw the rock! They stared in horror at a black at what was attacking their comrade.  It was a lizard creature with four legs, two crab pincers from the front shoulders, and a large scorpion tail. Its maw had two mandibles on the bottom and it was using them to tear into the deckhand''s left arm.


    The other two deckhands started to fire at it as they finally reacted. As the larger creature moved off the downed man Jones looked from it to the smaller one. The small lizard looked at him as it opened its jaw horizontally and hissed at him. Jones gulped and looked around, seeing more of the creatures moving out of the forest into the clearing.  They all gathered behind the first one, all of them glaring at the deckhands.


    Jones moved backwards as the other deckhand grabbed the injured one.  Rodolphe meanwhile had aimed his weapon at the creatures as they stood there. Seeing Jones just standing there doing nothing, Rodolphe glared at him. ¡°Help him you fool! We need to fall back fast!¡±


    Jones kept quiet and kept moving backwards, not reacting to anything he heard.


    Rodolphe looked around as more of the lizard scorpions came out of the forest. They were blocking off the clearing, leaving a space behind Rodolphe and the way to the river.  Some of them even moved between Jones and the others, looking at the larger party.


    Jones meanwhile just shook his head as he walked backwards in the direction of the capsule.


    Rodolphe glared at him and barked a command.  ¡°Jones, don¡¯t just stand there! Fire at them, maybe we can scare them.


    ¡°No, he made them mad by attacking their cub. I¡¯ll go warn the others, die as you deserve,¡± Jones said before he turned and ran away.


    For a moment Rodolphe just stared where Jones had been, a dumbfounded look on his face.     He hadn¡¯t ever talked to Jones really, but he had expected what Jones had done. But thankfully Rodolphe¡¯s training kicked in and he reacted.


    ¡°Are you fucking me!?¡±  Rodolphe snarled.   The creatures all roared and charged at the humans.  Rodolphe looked around, aimed at the ground before them, and fired down at the grass. As it caught fire the lizard creatures stopped and growled.  They all turned and bounded away, chasing after Jones.


    A moment later they saw why the creatures had left, the grass was soon ablaze. Rodolphe ran and helped pull the injured deckhand away from the flames. As they moved, the trees caught on fire, and Rodolphe


    ¡°Come on, help me get him to the river!¡± Rodolphe barked at the deckhand helping him moved the injured man. As they left the inferno behind them, something woke up and started to track their scent.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jones ran away from the fools who earned their fate, he wondered how to tell what happened.   It had to be the fault of that Rodolphe, something the savage had done to incite the animals.   There was no other explanation. So then the task before him was how to tell the story so that the poor animals wouldn¡¯t be hunted down by the military idiots that unfortunately had authority.


    He had to do something to protect the life around here and to get control back in civilian hands.   That Bradford man, he seemed like a bright person. And if Jones thought about it, the man had been a senator once. So then the best thing for everyone and everything on this planet was if he was in charge. That meant that Jones had to help Sir Bradford take control of the group. All that he saw, it made sense. That was the only way Jones saw for everyone to survive.


    As he ran, he never noticed that he was being stalked by one of the lizards'' things.  As for the lizard, as it followed after Jones, it used its tail to leave a trail of pheromones for the rest of its pack to track to new prey. But it never knew that it was being hunted as well.

 Chapter Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1000


    Racha stood along the mouth of the crater, a horrible feeling going through her. A while back one of the lookouts had spotted smoke in the distance. Smoke that to her absolute surprise, was in the direction of the grove of fruit trees.


    The smoke had caused Duncan to order every passenger back inside the capsule. He h asked for volunteers from the deckhands to guard the top of the crater. The last thing they needed was for a fire to kill them, but they still had people out there so they needed to watch for them. He then called for nine volunteers to protect the capsule by defending the top of the crater. Racha had stepped forward first, others after her until there were enough. Duncan had only looked at her before nodding and putting her in command.


    Racha didn¡¯t know what to feel about that, something about the way he looked at her. If the captain had told him about her, then that would explain everything. But if he didn¡¯t know, then if she talked about it she would break her cover, something her orders were totally against.


    Racha and two others were facing the fire and she was trying to think of anything to keep their morale up. She knew from experience, that sometimes the greatest threat was fear and what might come from within.


    As they all stood at the rim of the crater, they waited for anything. Most of them had no idea what the fire might cause to come toward them, but they were all scared of the worst cases they could think of. From live forms on fire to pirates, most of them were barely keeping it together, while Racha was handling it the best.


    Racha was flashing back to a mission on a forest moon where the native beasts were as deadly as the pirates she had been hunting. For a moment she flashed back to the way the creatures there had killed people armed with military-grade technology, not college students with security-grade tech! She wished she had some of her old gear, even just her old plasma pistol alone could have turned the tide but she was stuck with a laser rifle.


    If the gathering party had been attacked, then they could have caused the fire fighting back. And she knew about some plants that needed fire to procreate, so there was a chance that the fire was natural. A kind of way to allow plant life around here to gather the energy they needed, the chance was low but it was there.


    ¡°HELP!¡± Jones¡¯s strangled cry caused those thoughts to die down hard. She looked towards the forest and slowly raised her weapon.


    As he stumbled out of the forest, Racha saw that his face had blood flowing from wounds above his eyes. A second look saw his right arm was hanging like it was dislocated, and he was dragging his foot. He made it about five feet, still twenty from the crater when he stiffened and fell.


    The deckhand next to her tried to get to him, but Racha grabbed him. As he glared at her Racha met it with one of her own. ¡°Stay here! Can¡¯t you see it¡¯s a trap?!¡±


    The man looked at her with a scowl but Racha only shook her head. She heard motion from her left and saw one of the other deckhands from the side next to them start to move.


    ¡°STAY!¡± She barked and everyone looked at her. She looked at them and tried to keep her face calm. She had seen tactics like this before, but she hadn¡¯t expected something like it here!


    ¡°We can¡¯t leave him!¡± Someone from her right called out.


    Racha scowled, this was why professionals hated amateurs! They believed in the stories the filmmakers put out, and how people could save everyone! What most of the movies didn¡¯t show was how evil pirates and beasts could truly be.


    This was just like the moon, one of the beasts there had used ambushes like this, and she could see something on his back. It had to have been what brought him down, but she couldn¡¯t see anything that might have shot it. She looked at the trees at the edge of the clearing and was about to say something when she noticed a rustle. She blinked and saw a small window appear in the lower right vision and after a moment the rustling was enhanced and she saw what looked like a stinger.


    She raised her rifle and slowly made a show of looking around before suddenly firing to the right of Jones.


    A yell of pain suddenly came from where her shot had gone before five of the reptilian scorpion things charged from every side of the pyramid.


    ¡°FIRE!¡± Racha called out and with yells, the others opened fire with their riffles!


    As the first few died by their fire, the lizard scorpions were soon all dead, but roars from beyond sight caused everyone to know that this wasn¡¯t over.


    Racha looked at the creatures, the holes made by the lasers still smoking. She looked at the corpses, trying to understand what she was seeing. They looked like the kind of hybrids she had seen on a mission against a mad genetic engineer. But they had nothing on them to send data back to a possible maker, so were they natural lifeforms?


    ¡°We can¡¯t leave him out there! It would be murder if one of those things got him!¡± A voice to Racha¡¯s back called out and Racha heard the mutterings around her and knew she had to get him.


    Racha looked at where Jones was and scowled. Somehow he was without anything covering him. But between them and him were the bodies of the lizards. If just one of them was still alive and playing dead, anyone who went to help him could be in danger of being killed themselves.


    ¡°Fine, we won¡¯t. But I want shoots into the heads of all those things first! And call two deckhands to take him once we return or to take our place!¡± She said and at the looks they sent her she scowled and yelled. ¡°DO IT!¡±


    The others looked at each other before they fired. One of the lizards on the side to Racha¡¯s left made a sound before it died, and the howls from the forest grew louder.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°One from each side with me, you¡¯ll carry I¡¯ll guard! Everyone else watch your sides! You see anything you burn it down!¡± Racha barked as she ran towards Jones.


    As two of the other deckhands followed her, Racha¡¯s eyes were on the forest. She noticed a bush swaying, she fired into it. Moments after this from the other side one of the lizard scorpions lunged for her. Before she could react a red tentacle shot out of the forest and wrapped around the lizard-things body before it was pulled back into the trees.


    Racha stared as a large burping was heard before other roars sounded from within the forest and a screech came from where the tentacle came from.


    Racha stared in horror, she swallowed. She slowly grabbed Jones¡¯s arms and looked at the other two Deckhands who were as scared as she was. ¡°Grab his legs! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in there but we need to get back to the crater now!¡±


    The other two nodded, each grabbing a leg. As they ran towards the crater Racha looked over her shoulder and frowned. She hadn¡¯t even heard of land-based creatures with tentacles that hunted, but then the lizard alone was beyond what she knew was possible. But something told her the origins of all the creatures, from the worms to the lizards all had a common point.


    As soon as they reach the rim of the crater and handed over Jones''s body, the cries in the forest died down.


    As they turned to look, a tree was pushed to the ground. What came out was a monster, unlike anything any of them had seen before outside of a video game.


    It was large, at least ten feet tall, five feet wide, and ten feet long. It had white fur, and it had a tail that ended in a bone ball with two sickle-like horns pointing away from the body. It carried itself on six legs that ended in bird-like talons. It had a centaur upper body that looked like it was part cat. Its mouth had two saber-like fangs and four red tentacles below its chin. Its hands ended in half-foot-long claws that glinted in the sunlight. It had three eyes with the third in the middle of its forehead, and each of them was looking right at them!


    Something about it was bothering Racha, something about it was wrong. All her training and instincts told her something horrible was about to happen. As the creature started to gain a black energy aura around its paw hands, Racha reacted.


    ¡°DODGE!¡± She cried as she pushed the person to her left before she lunged to the right, tackling the person there. Before they could react, the centaur creature roared and slashed down with its right claw, sending a crescent of black energy that was as tall as it was, and it shot toward them!


    The crescent raced towards the crater, cutting through the ground. When it shot by them, it only missed the deckhands by mere centimeters! As it left the dirt, it was revealed to go down ten feet and sliced through the top twenty feet of the capsule, the deckhands on the other side barely getting out of the way.


    ¡°Creation. TWO FROM EACH SIDE SPREAD OUT! RUN AND GET GIVE IT MORE TARGETS! EVERYONE ELSE FIRE!¡± Racha barked and ran towards the left, firing as she moved.


    However, before the shots could reach the monster they disappeared. After seeing that most of the deckhands were struck dumb but two of them followed her orders without thought, leaving the crater rim. As they ran to the left and right, firing as they ran the others started to


    Racha barely reacted beyond gritting her teeth and yelling. ¡°FOLLOW MY LEAD! THIS THING IS ALIVE! IT HAS TO HAVE A LIMIT!¡±


    Before the others could react the two horns on the beast''s tail glowed purple and it roared at the crater. As soon as they heard its roar, all of the deckhand''s eyes dilated and they went still, not moving at all.


    She kept firing at the beast, only to curse as her shots were absorbed by whatever was blocking them.


    The beast roared as it turned the deckhand who had gone left, only for him to have ducked behind a dead reptile scorpion. The deckhand popped up and fired at it, only for his shots to be absorbed as well. The beast took a deep breath to roar again only for a shot to get through from the other deckhand, hitting its front leg. The beast staggered, the shots were blocked again it stood there.


    Racha meanwhile had kept running, not looking back until she reached a tree to hide behind. She turned back and saw the beast staying still as the only two people fired at it. She looked towards the crater and saw how everyone there was staying perfectly still and she was shocked. She scowled but before she could say anything she saw one of the flying worms shot from the forest from the far side of the clearing. She watched as it flew straight at one of the deckhands, its stinger raised to kill.


    ¡°Move you fool!¡± Racha bellowed as she raised her rifle.


    However, the deckhand didn¡¯t move, the worm stung him. He stayed upright for a few moments before falling to the ground, the bee disengaged as the man started to fall.


    As the worm flew upwards Racha look on in shock as no one moved. The woman stared in horror before she finally reacted. She fired a single bolt that went by deckhands, missing them by inches before it hit the worm before it stung anyone else, and killed it by destroying its head.


    Racha only stared at how no one who had her shot passed by them reacted. She paled in horror as an old memory played behind her eyes. On a mission a year ago, she had seen something like that before, and it had killed most of her team. If this beast was like that monster, plus that shield it had, then they were probably already dead.


    ¡°What¡¯d we miss?¡± Jinn¡¯s voice from behind her caused her to turn and see him, Al, and Sara running toward them.


    ¡°Another creature!? And it¡¯s not a bug!?¡± Al said in shock and Racha stared in horror as she realized what that comment meant.


    With a roar, everyone saw that the beast had suddenly shot out one of its tentacles shot out. It wrapped around the male deckhand¡¯s arms and body. As he was dragged towards the beast it opened his mouth and he screamed. The woman fired but her shots were all absorbed by whatever the beast


    ¡°NO!¡± Racha screamed as she fired at the beast, her shots being intercepted like the others.


    ¡°JINN!¡± Al called out in horror and Jinn smirked.


    ¡°GOT IT!¡± Jinn called out before he gained an energy aura and shot toward the beast. She could only stare as he moved faster than she thought a human could run. And then there was that energy aura around him, like a comet. She had only fought Ancients who had skills like that, and each time it was a worse time than the ones before it to survive.


    But if humans could learn skills like that, then everything changed. Once the thought of having the Ancients be in an alliance would only stop the fighting between them. But if people could learn those same skills that let the Ancients be so deadly? Then she had to find out how Jinn could do what he did¡­¡­ the possibilities were endless!


    Racha shook her head, her thoughts had run wild like they did sometimes. They weren¡¯t important, she had to stay in the now and kill that beast!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he closed on the beast, Jinn pulled out his dagger, and the blade transformed into a sword before he leaped at the beast¡¯s face!


    Moments before the beast bite down on the captured deckhand, Jinn leap carried him there. He slashed down with his blade, severing the tentacle as he passed by before anything or anyone could react. The deckhand fell, his body still had the tentacle around him. The beast didn¡¯t react for a second before it roared in pain as it bleed white blood from the severed tentacle, the others recoiling around its head.


    As soon as Jinn landed he turned, dashing towards the fallen deckhand and with his free hand grabbed on. Moments later he and the deckhand were with Racha and the others, and a moment later his aura died away as he put the deckhand down.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha stared in shock at this before she looked at Al. ¡°Explain! How!¡±


    ¡°Long story, I¡¯ll explain later!¡± Jinn said and looked at the beast as it screeched in pain and took steps backwards.


    ¡°Wait, why didn¡¯t the others react!?¡± Sara demanded, causing Racha to wince.


    Racha took a deep breath, looking at the beast as it roared in pain and stepped backwards.


    ¡°I think they''re paralyzed. I¡¯ve¡­. Seen something like it before,¡± Racha bit out and Jinn went still and looked at Racha out of the corner of his eyes.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve fought something like it once. We need to kill that thing. It dies, its effect is gone,¡± Jinn said and Racha looked at him in shock.


    ¡°You what?¡± Racha asked in shocked horror. The planet where the creature had been still under quarantine, there was no legal way he could have fought it. If there were more of those creatures within the Federation¡¯s territory, then Intel would have known. She had to talk to Jinn about that, but from the look in his eyes as he watched her he felt the same thing.


    Jinn was about to say something when he cursed. ¡°EVERYONE MOVE!¡±


    As soon as he spoke the others all scattered, however the rescued deckhand stayed there blinking, and the beast roared at him. He was trying to move and he fell to the ground, his body locked and they had their answer on how the beast was freezing people. However while it had roared, the beast had gotten shot in its right eye by the female deckhand.


    As the blood flowed from its eye socket, Racha stared in shock. For a few moments, she couldn¡¯t understand anything. How could Jinn have cut through its tentacle when all shots had hit a shield? Then why was the shield down? What had been different about both times? Then she had figured it out, she finally understood. The shield was the beast had only worked if it didn¡¯t use its roar, that means they had a chance after all!


    ¡°What do we do?!¡± Sara asked in horror as they all looked and realized what had happed.


    Jinn grinned.¡°You keep firing at it Racha, I¡¯ll make my way to its right side and try and take out a leg. Once it¡¯s down I¡¯ll go and kill it with my blade. I¡¯ll try and get those people at the crater down, get help!¡±


    Sara looked between the monster and then the stunned deckhand by the trees. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here and try and find a counter to whatever it did! I just have to hope that the trees can block the roar or whatever it uses.¡±


    Jinn looked at her before nodding. ¡°Stay safe!¡±


    ¡°If it starts to roar, hit it with everything you¡¯ve got!¡± Racha called out and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the others nodded.

 Chapter Ten

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1050


    Jinn ran towards the beast, one hand holding his sword and the other one of his pistols. As he ran he fired at the beast, and it looked at him as it tanked his shots. The others were all moving around the clearing, trying to say apart so it couldn¡¯t freeze them. Sara grabbed the downed deckhand and pulled him into the trees, trying to help him. Al was sprinting to the crater, trying to figure out the best way to do his job.


    As the beast tried to turn towards the crater, Jinn reacted. Calling on his aura, Jinn dashed at the beast, slashing both its back legs as he passed under it.


    It screeched in pain and tried to follow Jinn with its eye. It took a deep breath as it looked at him, only for the fire from the others to hit its body, causing it more pain.


    Jinn looked at the beast¡¯s reaction to his attacks and grinned at what he saw. So far it was reacting like he hoped. But he couldn¡¯t help the shudder that he was only just keeping from experience. Everything he knew, every instinct was telling him to either run or kill it fast.


    He felt the power he was using to charge his aura reach its maximum and called upon it as he charged at the creature. As it formed he thought he felt something new, something seemed to slot into place but he couldn¡¯t see just what it was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al dashed to the crater and made it behind the capsule. ¡°Okay, you made it here. Now all you have to do is find a way to get everyone down without any help at all. No problem¡­¡­. Big problem.¡±


    ¡°HEY!¡±


    Al looked down and saw Paige climbing up and noticed the three paralyzed bodies of deckhands next to her.


    Al felt a rush of relief as a grin formed on his face as he slid down the wall. Once he reached the bottom, he rushed over to her and looked over the bodies. ¡°You¡¯re getting them all out of danger, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Paige said and looked up towards the screams and Al smirked at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jinn¡¯s there and he¡¯s got a new trick to make the odds swing in his favor!¡± Al said with a smirk. On the way back they experimented with them. They didn¡¯t where the abilities came from, but they helped him. Jinn was now able to max out his strength, speed, and durability. Add that to his skills, the ¡®aura¡¯ for lack of a better term made him positively lethal.


    Paige looked at him with a confused look. Al was about to explain when a cough from the left caused him to look.


    ¡°Good, he¡¯ll tell me later. Now go help move those idiots from the front, let¡¯em fall!¡± Duncan barked from the doorway as he glared at him.


    ¡°Got it Chief! Now let¡¯s get a rope, we can pull them down so we can be safe too!¡± Al explained and as Paige nodded Duncan could only watch and grin.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara had pushed the paralyzed deckhand against a tree and got out her medkit. Without a word, she went to work, but after a few moments, she paled in horror. Nothing, no matter what she did or used, she couldn¡¯t figure out what to do.


    ¡°What did that thing do!? His vitals¡­¡­ he¡¯s not dead but I can¡¯t¡­¡­.. it¡¯s like he¡¯s been slowed down! How can I heal him!?¡± Sara asked as she looked at her scanner.


    She tried to keep calm, but no matter what she thought to keep her spirits up this was impossible. Nothing she had ever learned about healing had prepared her for this. She hadn''t even heard whispers about anything like the readings she was getting!


    ¡°Keep calm girl, keep calm. This isn¡¯t like what happened, you can save him. You¡¯ve learned and studied everything you could. You can save him!¡± She said with a hard edge to her voice. She studied healing for years before things happened that made her take the post aboard the ship. She would not let anything that this planet threw at them keep her from saving a life!


    She had to do something; she wouldn¡¯t let anyone die on her watch! As she tried and failed to find anything that she could do, she wouldn¡¯t give up. A roar from near the capsule caused her to jerk, her attention to weaver from him. She turned towards the fighting, missing the sparks of light gathering around her hands.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature looked at the small meat things as they fired their stingers at it. As it felt them hit its shell, it looked around for anything its limited mind could see to take them down. It had to let go of its shell to roar, and that let the small things sting it, so it needed to not do that. A shot of pain from its left back leg told it the little one with the claw was still hitting it. It threw its tentacles around, but the clawer stayed out of reach.


    As one of them hit something and wrapped around it waited for more pain but instead nothing. It dragged it into the gaze of its last eye and saw a four-legged creature with a tail with a claw on its back. It brought the dead thing to its mouth and took a bite, and then another as a warmth spread through its body as it changed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn smiled as he willed the aura away as he landed away to the far right of the clearing.


    ¡°NO, NOT THAT!¡± Racha cried out in terror. Jinn looked back towards the creature, watching as the creature¡¯s body start to convulse. Jinn could only stare in shock as the creature¡¯s front shoulders exploded in white blood and flesh. From the wounds came two large pincers on two three-foot long three elbowed segmented black chitin-covered limbs. As he watched chitin covered the creature¡¯s limbs, and the creature¡¯s lost eye grew back.


    As it looked at him with both eyes, something told Jinn to move, and without a thought, he called back the aura. A second after his aura formed the stinger tail glowed. Jinn had started to move the split second before something shot at where he had been. As he saw the ground burst from the impact, he saw a small needle made of chitin.


    Jinn stared at it as its stinger tail turned around and started to try and track him. As it did that, the others fired at it, only for its shield to protect it. As he watched, the tail started to glow as it pointed towards him at the same time as a shot was blocked. He dashed away with his aura up just moments before another needle hit the ground.


    As he felt himself burn away whatever was powering his abilities he frowned. He needed to kill this thing before he burned out, but how? The shield blocked all¡­¡­.! He went still for a second before he moved again, only dodging the needle by a half second. This time he moved to the side, watching as it fired letting the nanobots in his eyes record everything.


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    As he landed he sent a command to prepare a replay and dropped down into the crater. His landing caused Al, Paige, and Duncan to look at him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°JINN!?¡± Al asked in shock as Jinn just looked ahead without even seeing him.


    ¡°How the blackhole did you do that without breaking your legs?!¡± Duncan demanded but Jinn stayed silent.


    ¡°Did it get you!? No, it didn¡¯t roar. Are you ignoring us?!¡± Paige demanded and Duncan just looked on.


    Al was about to say something when he saw Jinn¡¯s eyes were extremely active. For a moment Al wondered why it was familiar, in a way that¡­¡­ Al went still as he looked at Jinn more closely. He saw the signs that he thought he would find, signs that told him Jinn was looking at a replay sent to his visual nerves. Something that had to have been sent by nanobots. Specifically, a nanobot strain that last he knew was restricted to military personnel.


    "I was right. It can be bypassed! Al, I need the heaviest work gloves we¡¯ve got!¡± Jinn said with a grin.


    ¡°Catch!¡± Duncan called out and threw a pair to Jinn who caught them. Jinn nodded and the aura appeared around him and he jumped out of the crater.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    All Racha could do was keep firing. Her shots hit the creature''s shield as it looked around for Jinn. It ignored them as it grabbed another lizard scorpion it brought toward its mouth. She getting very worried about what it was doing, a horrible feeling growing within her. She had seen two creatures mutate already and she didn¡¯t want to know if mutations stacked. As it bought the corpse to its mouth Jinn was suddenly there. He slashed through the pincer just behind the corpse, cutting it away from the main body.


    He landed and the creature roared in pain and grabbed the corpse with its feeder tentacles and ate it. As it finished the corpse, the severed limb started to convulse. A split second later new darker chitin burst out of the wound, healing what Jinn had maimed.


    Racha just kept firing at the creature, she wouldn¡¯t let it kill them. The fact that it had just healed and mutated wasn¡¯t something she would let bring her down. It could become a monster the size of the Spirit of Adventure itself and she would still find a way to kill it!


    As she ran, firing at the creature, she spared a glance toward the crater. She smiled as she saw that the last of the paralyzed deckhands were gone. Al must have gotten everyone to safety, so the only thing left to do was keep fighting until the creature was dead.


    Suddenly the creature screeched louder in pain and started to thrash and move around. Its head turned towards her she saw something in one of its eyes, something small and black.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature roared in pain as it lost its right eye. Something had gotten through its protection, but how?! Its blocker should have kept all the attacks from the little things, what had they done!?


    It looked at the battle, almost taking a step backwards in fear. But before that it felt something else, a strange burning sensation was going out from its face. As it looked around, trying to see the field in front of it, trying to find the strong thing that had wounded it. Finally, it found it and took a step back in fear. It had found the little one, and truly saw it. There was something behind it, something that wasn''t really there. It was terrible and strong all at once, ¡­¡­ it was something that could kill it. As it looked at the thing before it, it saw it pick something up, its eyes locked on its sole remaining one.


    The creature grew mad. That thing behind the little stinger wasn¡¯t important, it was just there. It only had to kill that little thing and then it could kill and eat the others! With a roar, it charged at the one it thought had wounded it, both of its new pincers snapped as it charged.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked towards the fight, her mind on what might happen after combat. If the death of the creature didn¡¯t release the other, then she didn¡¯t want to think what they¡¯d do. For a moment she imagined if the big insect Jinn maimed found the capsule with him gone. Without him there, they would need numbers to hold the line. And for that to happen, she needed to find a way to help them!


    As she tried to think of anything at all to try, suddenly she started to feel a warmth spread through her arms. Looking down, she saw her arms starting to glow. As she looked at the glow, she heard something whisper in her mind¡­¡­. Remedy.


    Sara looked around, not seeing anything around her. As she tried to figure out where the voice had come from, she started to worry. What was this, something like what had happened to Jinn? What was it about this planet that caused this? Were their abilities like the creature''s? and if they were, could they trust them? She looked at her patient and she took a deep breath. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try it [Remedy]!¡±


    A soft glow came from her hands and went over the person before her. As soon as she had done that for a few moments, the man started to stir as he fought back to consciousness.


    Sara looked at him and then saw something in the corner of her left eye, words. <u>Aether Template/ Medic</u>. As she looked at it it faded away but she knew something was different about her, something within her. She was so absorbed in trying to find out what it was, that she didn¡¯t notice the man had fully woken up. He blinked and with effort sat before he put a hand on her shoulder. She blinked and looked at the man¡¯s face as tears came from his eyes.


    ¡°Thank you, I saw and heard everything, thank you!¡± The man breathed out and looked at Sara with a smile.


    A roar caused them both to look towards the battle and the man swallowed. ¡°Later, later. We gotta get you to the capsule!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn called up his aura and dashed away from the charge of the creature at the last second. As the creature hit passed by him it tried to grab him but he dodged it. It roared, turning around, looking for him. As Jinn watched it seemed to be preparing itself, was it going to try and charge again? Whatever it was doing, its stinger tail moved down as it turned its head to glare at him.


    Jinn grinned and looked at the creature as he held the last stinger. All he had to do was find a shot and throw its weapon back at it. His hunch was right, the creature¡¯s shield or wall didn¡¯t block its own bio-mater. That was how it kept the shield up and still fired the stinger at him. There was a chance that the shield was only one way, but he had gambled and won!


    The creature looked at him with a glare and he called up his aura and dashed through the air away from the creature. But the creature snapped its head and roared at where he would be in an instant! As Jinn tried to change his angle, he went right through the roar and felt his muscles lock up. His body kept moving until he crashed into a tree and landed before Sara.


    ¡°JINN!¡± Sara exclaimed and she ran to him.


    Jinn wanted to tell her to run, try to get anyone she could to the other capsules and survive, but he couldn¡¯t move. The roar of the creature told him it was covering them and in moments it would kill them all. But then the creature stumbled as something hit its face.


    Jinn watched as something else flew over his head. He realized that they had been laser bolts. And he saw that the first one had destroyed the last remaining eye of the creature. Walking into his line of sight was the last person he expected to see. It was the deckhand who had been paralyzed! His arrival clued him in that something had changed, they had a chance!


    ¡°Hold on, [Remedy]!¡± Sara exclaimed and Jinn felt warmth spread through him. He blinked and realized he could blink as he felt his muscles relax.


    ¡°How?¡± He crocked out and Sara grinned at him.


    ¡°Guess I¡¯m just lucky!¡± Sara said with a mad giggle.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha saw the creature thrash about in pain and she grinned. She watched as it took a step backwards and sprayed its feeding tentacles out. She was shocked, she thought it was over for them when the creature moved after Jinn. With its last eye on the other side of its face from her, there was no way for her to stop it from eating him. But then somehow it had just reared back and lost its last eye.


    Racha didn¡¯t think, she just shot at it. A few bolts hit its hide before it brought its shield back up, moments later it roared and turned to the right. It dashed to the far side of the clearing and broke through a tree, running into the forest.


    She was about to run after it when she saw Jinn walk out of the forest, with Sara and the former paralyzed deckhand. ¡°What happened?!¡±


    ¡°The same thing that happened to Jinn I think!¡± Sara called out and Racha looked at the two of them in wonder.


    She had no idea just how they had devolved their powers so fast. She stood there in shock, nothing made sense to her. She wondered just what it was that made them so different from those who had tried to gain those abilities. Or was it not the person, but the location? Was planet the key, was that the great secret the Ancients held? That they needed to gain their abilities in specific locations?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    In the blackness that its vision had become, the creature just ran. After it had tracked down the scent of food after its birth, it hadn¡¯t known it would be maimed. After it lost both its eyes, it knew that it had to run, something just told it that to survive the cycle it had to leave.


    After the battle had turned against it after it lost its power to hold its shield up to freeze the small slasher, it thought it had won. That one was the only one of them that had hurt it, with it eaten, the creature would have taken its strength. But another of the little ones had destroyed its last eye and it was condemned to this darkness. It hadn¡¯t even been able to eat the little stinger, that was what made it angry the most.


    It didn¡¯t know how, but it knew that it was going towards something that would let it heal. And once it was healed, it would return and hunt down that small one that stung it. It would eat if it was the last thing it did.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Report on Test Template, failed to kill anything, Ether Scream worked on initial moments of combat but once the tactic was known to group of Template 10049 fighting against it, tactic proved ineffective. Note; Aether Shield failed due to Evolutionary Consummation.


    Elaborate. Test Template augmentations were calculated to allow high chance of victory without Evolutionary Consummation. Victory chance percentage should have passed ninety percent. Reasons?


    Evolutionary Consummation of dead Template / PQL40, allowed mutation of clamp manipulators and tail-stinger, tail-stinger had range capabilities. Evolution altered Aether Shield to allow passage of own bio-mater. Template that killed Combat Template HSB used missile-stingers to destroy vision organ on one side of Test Template and before it paralyzed said Template, Test Template lost other vision organ during recharge.


    Direct Impulse Influence let Local Mind direct it away with feelings of healing, sending Test Template to area to await orders, Send Harvester Construct to bring Test Template back for recycling or send it to other Evolutionary Consummation Templates?


    ¡­¡­¡­No. For now direct it to easy biomass to repair itself. Report on Status of Sample Group with Paralyzed Templates.


    Template 10049 within group awoken as Healer. Calculations show all of paralyzed Templates will be repaired soon.


    ¡­¡­¡­..Send three Observer Constructs to watch actions of Sample Group; Split Observers if required.


    Complying.


    Status of Template Group 99850 within Facilities?


    Unknown, possibility within Damaged Section

 Chapter Eleven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1120


    Jinn looked around the clearing as he leaned against the tree and tried to muster up any reaction.  The creature that his group had met in battle when they returned to the clearing,  still bothered him. The way it had abilities were like his new ones, made him worried. His nanobots started to send him weird readings on the march back, and he still didn¡¯t know what that meant.


    Back on his world, he would have let someone know about them and gotten a medical opinion about them, but here¡­¡­.  He would have to admit to having what he now knew were military-grade nanotech, and just how he had them might be a crime. He had cut all ties with his world and those who raised him, but he still looked over his shoulder. Sometimes he wondered if he would ever truly stop, if he would ever feel safe.


    Sometimes he was worried that he hadn¡¯t been able to do what he had hoped he had, that they were tracking him down.  He still hoped that he succeeded, he never heard any signs that their plan worked. But sometimes, in the dark when he couldn¡¯t sleep, he worried.


    He looked at Al as he looked over one of the corpses of the lizard things, trying to figure out something. Jinn found Al a good source of news, and he had a weight on him that was like Jinn¡¯s.  And he was braver than he thought and a good friend by his side was priceless. Jinn smirked and took a step to go help his friend when Racha grabbed his shoulder.


    "The old man wants to talk to you, he wants a report," Racha said and turned away.  Jinn looked at Al who waved at him before he walked after her.


    Racha looked over her should and tried to bring up what she was thinking and decided to just say it.   ¡°You never said why you¡¯re back early.  Find something you had to report?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Bugs.  Big bugs with organic guns and a bigger one that almost killed me,¡± Jinn admitted and Racha looked at him with a shocked look in her eyes.  He just nodded and continued talking. ¡°And the worst thing, it was that aura thing that let me drive it off. How was it back here?¡±


    ¡°The old man sent me leading a group to find more fruit after we discovered the trees were bare. Found them but ran into a giant spider and a six-legged wolf first,¡± Racha said softly, as she shuddered.   Jinn whistled as Al followed after her, he saw Jones being treated and frowned as he did a head count, coming up short. ¡°We¡¯re missing people, what happened?¡±


    ¡°Jones!¡± Racha barked as he looked at the man.  At Jinn¡¯s look, she sighed and continued.     ¡°He went out leading a team to harvest from the trees my team found. We saw smoke that¡¯s died down?   Well, we saw smoke before he returned, leading those lizard things like a lure!¡±


    ¡°Ahhh. Hey, isn¡¯t he a member of that supremacy cult?¡± Jinn asked as his fingers clenched and unclenched.


    Racha nodded as they went down the crater wall, her mind going the same places he was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan sighed as he sat in the office and looked at the door. Already the passengers were up in arms about how he was ¡®restricting¡¯ them. After the double attack, he had put the number of people allowed outside down, and that idiot was making trouble about it.


    He looked up as the door opened and Jinn and Racha walked in.


    Duncan kept silent for a while and looked at Jinn, tenting his hands.


    ¡°We¡¯re on an island, connect to another island.  On that island is a crashed factory ship in the mountain,¡± Jinn said bluntly.


    Racha and Duncan looked at Jinn shocked beyond words.


    ¡°A factory ship!?  What class?!¡± Racha demanded.


    Jinn looked at her and Duncan thought that maybe he was thinking about how to answer that question.


    ¡°It looks like an Anchorage class yard-ship.   Now most modern ones are for colony construction, but it might be a pirate model,¡± Jinn said and Racha winced.


    ¡°Fuck, then it could be anything from a drug lab to a slave ship,¡± Racha muttered and Jinn looked at her with a hard glare.


    ¡°Or a pirate shipyard, we¡¯d have a factory that could only make ships and no materials to make a drive,¡± Jinn said absently before he and Racha both blinked.  As one they turned to look at each other for a moment, then both of them lunged for the opposite far wall.


    Duncan just looked at Jinn, seeing his reaction was enough for him to understand who Jinn was.   Whatever Jinn was running from, he had been on the other side of the law, probably a second generation.   If he was active or just trained, he had experience.    And command training added to that, and it painted a bad picture.


    ¡°How do you know that!?¡±   Both Racha and Jinn both asked as they stared at each other.


    ¡°She¡¯s Special Services,¡± Duncan said bluntly as Jinn looked at Racha in shock while Racha glared at him as he continued to talk.    ¡°She was here protecting an Ancient.  Yeah, we had some of them on board.   They piggybacked on a drone and watched the shows in their rooms.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn blinked and looked at Racha who glared at him and her hand moved towards her pistol.  Special Services were the Federation¡¯s covert ops branch, they hunted pirates, rebels, and people like he had been.   Jinn looked at her in shock, his hand moving to his blade as Duncan just sighed.


    Duncan just looked at Racha and Jinn was wondering if he would chastise her when he spoke. ¡°And Jinn was on the other side of the law line. And you showed it by knowing what Anchorages are used for nowadays boyo.¡±


    Jinn winced and nodded, looking away as old shame resurfaced. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that cut and dry.¡±


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    Duncan just sighed and shook his head, a small sad smile on his face. ¡°It never is lad, it never is.   But since you said you left because of your morals¡­¡­.. Let it sleep for now. So we¡¯re on an island?¡±


    ¡°We saw a few more capsules with us chief,¡± Jinn said and Duncan nodded at him. Jinn kept silent, trying and failing to think of better words to say his plan, but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°My idea was to take a bigger party to it, try to take control, use it to survive here.  We could make contact with the other capsules and then head to the Yard-ship.¡±


    ¡°More people would be a good thing,¡± Racha admitted and Duncan shook his head.


    ¡°If they¡¯ve survived,¡±  Duncan spoke aloud the same thoughts Jinn had been struggling with and he nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, we found these giant humanoid bugs out there.  Most of them were our sized bipeds, another one was even bigger. We need better defenses,¡± Jinn said and Racha nodded.


    ¡°I was part of an assault on one once. The defense grid is perfect for wildlife if it''s set up right,¡± Racha said and Jinn winced and looked away. ¡°But who will go then?¡± Racha


    Duncan just looked back at her until her eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°You and Jinn¡¯s team. If the other capsules send volunteers, good.  But try and make it back in one piece,¡± Duncan said bluntly and hid a smirk at the expressions on Racha¡¯s and Jinn¡¯s faces.


    It was the best choice they could make really.   And with Sara along they would be okay if they ran into another thing that could paralyze them.  Add Jinn¡¯s new abilities made him the perfect fighter to bring along.   That plus experience would probably get them into the ship without issue.    All in all, Racha only saw one addiction that might improve their chances.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Outside Sara panted as she healed the last of the paralyzed deckhands.    She breathed heavily as she saw something in the corner of her eyes.   <u>Aether storage near suboptimum levels.   Show value at bottom of right eye?</u>


    Sara blinked and thought about what she had learned about nano-control and sent a command to show. She stared at what appeared in total shock.


    <u>Aether 1000/ 40</u>


    Sara blinked and looked at the floating letters and numbers.  She could feel the strength within her, but to see it in a numerical amount?  She didn¡¯t know what this meant but it was something she hadn¡¯t expected.  As she stood there the last woman she had healed blinked as she got up and hugged her.


    ¡°Thank you so much!¡±  The woman said and Sara just patted her and nodded.


    The woman pulled back and grinned at Sara.       She pushed back her red hair with her right hand, a grin in her bright black eyes.


    ¡°No problem, really,¡± Sara said and the woman laughed.


    ¡°Well you need anything, you just call Terra and I¡¯ll come running!¡± Terra said and Sara nodded as she grinned back.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones shook as he stared at the sky. To think he was so wrong, to have made such a mistake.    Lives had been lost to learn, and as the teachings he followed showed, that was where true wisdom came from.


    He would have to make a petition for those three to be sainted, that was what they deserved. To be remembered for all of time, was the greatest reward he could give. But he would need to find a way to gain strength, ¡®a voice without power is the voice of a fool¡¯ after all. Then that showed him the problem then, how would he gain that power?


    The idea of finding a young beast to train was made and thrown away in a split second, he didn¡¯t have the tools or the time.  Perhaps he could try and see if there were other believers among the passengers? More minds were better than one as the Order¡¯s teaching said, and they might see something that he couldn¡¯t. As he was trying and failing to figure out the right thing to do, he leaned back and closed his eyes. But then he felt a shadow cover him, he thought


    ¡°Having a nice sleep?¡±   A dark and cold voice asked, and Jones felt his heart stop. He slowly opened his eyes and blinked when he saw Duncan¡¯s face glaring down at him.


    Jones got to his feet and saluted Duncan, swallowing in fear. ¡°Sorry sir, I was just resting to give my body time to recover sir.¡±


    ¡°I want a report boy,¡± Duncan growled and Jones nodded as he tried to collect his thoughts.


    Jones swallowed and licked his lips before he started talking. ¡°Sir, I¡­¡­. I couldn¡¯t stop him.  When Rodolphe saw a child version of those things he just killed it. That caused the parents to attack and kill the others. I barely got away and well¡­¡­..¡±


    Duncan just looked down at him and Jones felt as if he was back in his youth, being chastised by his teacher for a mistake on his part. After a few minutes, Duncan nodded and glared at him with a level look.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re the only survivor, I¡¯ll have to accept that. But consider yourself confined to the clearing.  You will guard this place until I say go, do you understand me, boy?¡± Duncan asked with a frigid tone and Jones nodded.


    Duncan looked down at him for another moment before he turned and walked away, a scowl on his face.


    Jones just looked at him as he walked away, releasing a sigh after a few moments.  He wasn¡¯t as strong as Jones''s old teacher, that man always knew when Jones was lying.  He forced his face to keep his grin off his face.  The fact that he had been able to get one by Duncan was all he needed to know his path was the right one.


    As he looked around he grinned. He might have misjudged this planet when he had first set foot on the ground that first night. He had thought this place was a virgin world, ready to be shown its proper place.  But instead, this was a world that others had ruined.  That was the only thing that made sense about how the creatures reacted to the presence of their betters.   It was for him and his people, it was their true calling to make this planet bend its knee to the masters who had come.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked around the capsule crash room at the passengers who mulled around.   Some of them had been worried about the battle above and wanted to close the door. She and Duncan had shut that down fast, but the worry was still there.  And some of them had seen the condition of the guard force when they were paralyzed. To say they were scared was like saying water was wet.


    She looked at Bradford as he spoke to the crowd, a woman in a black dress next to him. She had seen a few of his speeches from his council days once in school, and to her, they were the same.   How only he could lead them to their destinies, how he could save them. Fear-mongering seemed to be his preferred tactic in his old speeches. And right now the old bastard was doing everything to fan the flames.


    ¡°¡­¡­.. And we must prepare better defenses, my friends!  I know the way will be hard, but I doubt we won¡¯t rise to the occasion! These capsules, why my company makes them!   The tools should let us make a wall to defend ourselves with! It will be hard and we might all have to do the work, but it can be done!¡±  Bradford said with a grin as he looked around at the other passengers and they cheered.


    ¡°Full of himself, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Paige nodded and looked at the passengers absently, not registering who asked the question.    ¡°Yeah. Bet you anything that he won¡¯t be one of the workers. Probably say something about how he has experience directing construction or something.¡±


    A grunt next to her caused her to smile a bit. ¡°Not the best passenger, but then she always said to treat even the worst of them like royalty. It was a thing about standards I think.¡±


    ¡°Who said¡­.. Wait¡­. Who are?¡± Paige asked as she realized she was talking to someone. She turned her head slowly and saw Duncan standing there with a somber smile on his face. She felt her blood rush from her face as she paled and went to attention. She was about to say something when Duncan raised a hand and smiled at her.


    ¡°The captain.  Now stay here and let me handle this,¡± Duncan said softly and Paige whipped her head to look at Bradford and swallowed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan kept from chuckling as he walked towards Bradford and mentally went over what he was going to say.


    ¡°I see you all felt the need for another talk amongst yourself!¡± He called out, letting his voice project.


    Bradford stopped talking and looked at him somberly as the passengers all turned to him.


    ¡°Yes, we do! The attack up there has made our position here obvious!  And don¡¯t insult us by denying it, we all heard the roars and saw the condition of your people!¡± Bradford said and Duncan shook his head.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t going to.   Folks I¡¯m going to be pulling my people as you call them back! Besides one group I will be making defending you is our number one priority!¡±Duncan said and smiled at them.


    His speech was met with cheers from his listeners, and he bowed a bit.  He reared back and saw Bradford frown and look around at the passengers.


    ¡°It is good to do that? After all, it was when a team was sent to get fruit that we were attacked not long after! As long as the first team is out there sir, I must advise that sending another out is a bad idea!¡± Bradford said forcefully as the other passengers all blinked.


    Duncan raised an eyebrow as he listened to the mutterings of the people around them, not saying a thing.


    ¡°¡­¡­he¡¯s not wrong,¡±


    ¡°I mean, they might have spooked something with that roar we heard,¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s the attack just now, I think I heard some of them say that a survivor was chased by a pack¡­¡­.¡±


    Duncan looked around at the passengers, keeping an eye on Bradford as he puffed up in pleasure.    This just showed him that Bradford hadn¡¯t kept track of who had been sent out before.   And that was interesting, very interesting. But then there was only one way to stop this attack in its tracks.  ¡°Oh don¡¯t worry. That party returned already, saved the day really.  And they found out that we¡¯re on an island.¡±


    ¡°WE¡¯RE WHAT!?¡±Bradford demanded, and the other passengers all started to talk at once.   Duncan locked eyes with Bradford and he saw fear in Bradford. To some extent, he understood it.    So far they had been attacked by the creatures of the land, the sea had to have even greater horrors.


    ¡°Yes, an island. But we are not alone! There is a possible resource we can use to survive out there!    And there are other capsules out there, each one having gone through their own struggles over the last day! The party will make contact with them, and together we will live!¡±  at Duncan¡¯s words the passengers all cheered even louder.


    Duncan didn¡¯t pay attention, he just watched Bradford¡¯s reaction. The man was slime, Duncan had thought that since he first saw one of the man¡¯s political speeches. When they were all briefed on the treats the VIPS might have, Bradford was near the top. The bastard had been part of the ¡®Pro-War¡¯ camp when he was a senator and a suspected war profiteer. The rumors said that he had killed his own family to take over the company. But then the same rumor mongers said that Duncan drank the blood and tears of those he drove to suicide.   And the problem with that, is that he never drove anyone to suicide, so he didn¡¯t put much stock in them.


    Right now as he locked eyes with Bradford, he believed the rumor. And he knew that Bradford was trying to take command, but all Duncan had to do was block him. A problem, but the views that man had meant that Duncan couldn¡¯t rest, he had to keep fighting him.  But on the subject of the Ancient VIP, he could only hope that they were still alive wherever they were.

 Chapter Twelve

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Escape Capsule # 205 of Spirit of Adventure cruise ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1710


    As she slipped from sleep¡¯s embrace, she blinked as she woke to darkness. Did she fall asleep in her armor again? She was command rank, this was something only enlisted on their first deployment did. She hoped that she was at least in her personal chambers. It took her moments to realize wherever she was, something was keeping her from moving. As tried to look around, all she saw was darkness. She almost started to panic before she realized that her mask turned off. With a small silver of ether sent to her mask, it was activated, and then she looked out at a chamber bathed in crimson.


    ¡°Warning, impact immanent!¡±


    The words in Galactic Standard caused woke her up fully, she remembered everything from the last week. She was in an escape capsule, the one was off their room aboard the Federation¡¯s Vacation Ship? She tried to move again and realized that a harness was holding her to a seat. As her armor''s systems wake up, including her comms. A com-system that only sent a solid loud beep, so loud she winced before she turned it off.


    ¡°[What?¡±]


    ¡°[Where are we?!]


    ¡°Warning, impact immanent!¡±


    ¡°[STAY CALM! WE WILL SURVIVE!]¡± She bellowed out in their language and the others all let their training take hold. For the next few moments, they all stayed silent before they experienced the escape capsule crashing into wherever they were.


    ¡°CAPSUl secure. SensorS detect optimum atmosphere for all ocCUPANts of Escape capsulE. No com wave transmissions detected.¡±


    ¡°[What happened],¡± A voice asked from her left and she knew she had to take command before panic took hold of her people.


    ¡°[ALL FORCES SOUND OFF NOW! So orders Commander Je¡¯ndra Xond Azorinic!],¡± She barked, hoping that their training would take over.


    ¡°[COMMADNER! 1<sup>st</sup> Weaponry Officer Ken¡¯tricx Xond Ulyrnic reporting!¡±] Je¡¯ndra sighed. Ken¡¯tricx was one of the best snipers in the force. With him watching their backs, they would be okay if they found a place to defend.


    ¡°[Medic Tar¡¯lroia Xul Drafrla reporting]¡±, Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s voice sounded calm, the same way if she had just woken up.


    Je¡¯ndra felt a grin forming and she felt a spark of hope. Tar¡¯lroia was the primary medic, and she was the squad''s interrogation specialist. With her here, she would help keep the others in line.


    ¡°[Wayfinder Ro¡¯borlar Xul Swfudr reporting!]¡± Ro¡¯borlar calm voice raised her spirits. He was one of the best Wayfinder in the army. If there was any way at all to get back home he would find it before too long. And his aether skills let him find out what was safe to eat, so having him along was always good.


    ¡°[Olv¡¯xic reporting boss lady!],¡± A cheerful voice said called. Je¡¯ndra just smiled, glad that he was here.


    Olv¡¯xic was a mystery, just sunning his first name and content to be a simple soldier. Je¡¯ndra didn¡¯t know what to think of him. Most of their people were all about making new glory for their clans, to rise in the hierarchy. People who only used their first names, they were few. She had only heard of maybe five of them in her lifetime.


    ¡°[Guard Kon¡¯gric reporting! Our Prince is safe! But he¡¯s not awake!]¡± Guard Kon¡¯gric¡¯s voice sounded panicked and that was bad. He was leader of the prince¡¯s guard, and while he was under her command his duty to the royal family was his primary concern.


    She frowned, something was wrong, where were the others? After waiting in silence, everyone able looked around the chamber, each of them trying to find the voices that hadn¡¯t been raised.


    ¡°[Wait, where are the others!?]¡± Ken¡¯xtra¡¯s voice asked in shock.


    They all looked around the cabin. Je¡¯ndra¡¯s heart sank. Where was the rest of her team!? She willed her armor to ping any allied forces nearby, but nothing came up. The lesser systems in their armor only worked for ten miles, if they were farther out!


    She willed her radio to go to ¡®listen only¡¯ mode. She knew there was only one way to find her missing team. As she chanted a song to steel herself as she called upon her aether abilities, trying to find the presence of her team. But all she felt was something else, something that made her eyes fly open in shock.


    If she felt what she thought she did, then they were in more trouble than she thought. She needed to move and get ahead of this. With single thought she turned her radio to broadcast mode, sending her voice into the empty chamber.


    ¡°[All team, equipment check now! Find what we have to work with!]¡± Je¡¯ndra barked as she pushed the chair lock bar off her armor. As she got up and looked around she watched as her team summon and de-summon their weapons before they checked their armor. Their aether ¡®bags¡¯ were still working, so that was good.


    Like all their people did when they left their world, they all had on form covering armor. All were a jade green color, but each was different. This was done partially by choice and because it was tradition, but it allowed a leader to know who had what skills. She had to admit from the old stories she heard, this practice had worked against them during the wars with the Federation, but that was life.


    Her armor was the basic commander model with her preferred modifications. A non-gendered slender-looking armor that hides all tells of her gender within. Her mask had two curved horns going over the top starting above where her eyebrows were. Her shoulders had two white gemstones in front and behind in the center, each one an aether battery. Her arms had two serrated lines down the middle that ended at the waist. She could send an aether charge to them, creating an aether blade that went over her hands, weapons she used if she had no choice. Her leg armor was slime and the only gemstones were a single black hexagon gem on the outside of her ankles. These were special rewards she had gained for killing the leader of a rebel group. They allowed her to teleport in a line when she was moving, but only within a line of twenty feet. Her weapons of choice were two straight double-edged swords that she used for devastating effect.


    Tar¡¯lroia was the team medic and wore basic armor. Like her own armor, Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s was non-gendered and slender, but her helmet didn¡¯t have horns. Instead, it had four eyes in a line above where her own. They allowed her to scan a patient and see the internal wounds, an upgrade that had saved lives. Her arms didn¡¯t have the blades Je¡¯ndra¡¯s had, instead there were two green spherical gems on the front of her hands. These allowed her to generate a healing pulse, something that could heal a small amount of damage and cure any aether aliments. Tar¡¯lroia had two glaives, weapons that she used as a master of the ¡®Blade Dancer¡¯ style.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s armor wasn¡¯t like Tar¡¯lroia or Je¡¯ndra¡¯s. His was bulky with large legs and arms, all of it so he could handle the weight of the heavy weapons he kept in his ¡®aether bags¡¯. His helmet had a large eye with four smaller ones in a box pattern around it. The center eye let him see up to a mile away, while the other four showed him what was right in front of him. On his shoulders were two red square gemstones that generated a small force screen in front of him, and his boots had gemstones that held a jump ability. His holdout weapon of choice was a large axe that he was a demon with.


    Ro¡¯borlar was a pathfinder, and they favored the slender armor she did. His armor was basic except for his helmet, it had three eyes in the front in a line and a horn sticking straight up. His palms and feet had two black circular gemstones set in them, they allowed him to climb up anything by feeding them aether. His of choice were two sickles for close range and a sniper rifle that his aether skills let him use in devastating effect.


    Olv¡¯xic was the simplest of the group. His armor was a slender basic model that he had modified. His hands each had a red sphere on the back of his hand that increased his strength. His mask had three eyes in a triangle formation, with the top eye being pure blue instead of the basic black. The top eye was for the drones he carried in his bag. Last she had checked, he had five different classes of them that he used to deadly effect. They took up most of the space in his bag, but his versatility made up for it. He liked to stay away from the front line, using an aether bow to rain death at his enemies from the midrange.


    She looked towards Guard Kon¡¯gric, who activated the two shield gauntlets built into his armor and Je¡¯ndra smiled. His was a variant of Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s, which traded offense power for defensive might like the shields. From what she had seen, his tactics all revolved around being an immovable object and letting his team take out the threats. When she saw him go through the basic before they shipped out, he used dual hammers to handle close-in foes.


    She kept silent as her gaze went to the prince. His was a basic civilian model with modifications for data carrying. Their cover was that they were protecting a document to be shown to the


    Federation Council. In reality, they were to protect the prince as he made the final choice about the alliance. He had spent the voyage studying the Federation, he said that he was impressed with how similar they were to each other. She had her armor scan his and she sighed as she tapped into his vitals. He was still asleep but he was unharmed, that was good. She saw a one-way com request from Ro¡¯borlar and acknowledged it, his icon appearing on the lower right of her vision.


    ¡°[Boss-Lady, what happened? I can¡¯t think of anything for the last¡­..five hours. I¡¯ve lost five hours, that¡¯s never happened before]¡±, Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s voice had a hint of worry in it. Je¡¯ndra checked her own internal time and saw he was right. If she was shocked by that discovery, then she could only worry about how Ro¡¯borlar was treating this.


    ¡°[I don¡¯t know]¡±, Je¡¯ndra admitted in defeat, trying to keep her nerves calm. They were both people who had pride in their sense of self, to lose time like that was a blow against their core values. ¡°[I¡¯ll ask the team about this. And you, go guard the airlock. If something so much as touches that door I want you ready to turn it to ash.]¡±


    Je¡¯ndra watched as Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s icon vanished as she saw him follow her orders. ¡°[Computer; message to team members only. Does anyone have memories of the last few hours?]¡±


    She waited for a reply, but all she got was silence as their icons appeared on her mask screen. It seems whatever happened, everyone had been affected.


    Je¡¯ndra looked away and tried to keep calm. She was one who always tried to keep her calm but her sense of time was something that she thought would never fail her. So all she had to protect the Prince was one of his guards and half team. Add in the fact that they had no idea where they were, but at least she had their mechanic and main medic with them.


    ¡°[Olv¡¯xic, look at the tech, see if we can breathe outside. The rest you see what we can salvage. Kon¡¯gric stay close to the Prince]¡±, Je¡¯ndra barked and then she moved towards Tar¡¯lroia.


    Tar¡¯lroia was fighting a killer headache and summoned her weapon, her glaives. She was the medic so her place was behind the lines. So she used her weapon¡¯s bow form to hit from range and the swords to fight in close if she had to. She let her aether flow through her blade for a blade, smiling as she felt the echo from it. She sighed as she went into her memories. Some of her best memories were training with her uncle to master these weapons. She had trained so hard, and she hoped it was time well spent.


    Je¡¯ndra walked until she was next to her and touched her shoulder, sending her words to her friend¡¯s mind. Don¡¯t react sister, but call upon your abilities. Send out a tether and follow the aether back to whatever it finds now. Je¡¯ndra locked her armors eyes to that of her friend¡¯s and Tar¡¯lroia only looked back.


    She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, only for them to snap open in moments. She looked at Je¡¯ndra who only shook her head.


    Tar¡¯lroia could only gaze at her friend for a few moments before she realized just why they should keep silent, they had nothing. They needed to know more before they could say anything, she didn¡¯t like it but she understood. ¡°[Before we leave at least].¡±


    Je¡¯ndra kept silent but nodded before she moved towards the wall, starting to check her equipment. After bringing out her sword and shield, she looked up as she heard a spark of electricity and saw Olv¡¯xic wince and curse. He had summoned his toolkit and was currently trying to interface with a wire behind a piece of the wall he had removed.


    Olv¡¯xic scowled as he looked over the low-tech of the Federation-made escape capsule. He had not expected a life like this when he had joined up. With his position in the social hierarchy of his world, the most he expected was to be a garbage collector. Now he was one of the guards for the Prince expected to be a lowly repair tech for his service, but then his skills had to get him recruited for Special Services, and he had to be good at it. Still, at least he¡¯ll have been able to say to his clan at Journy¡¯s End he did his duty at least.


    He looked at the readings he was getting and sighed as he looked up at his commander as she came closer.


    Without a word, Olv¡¯xic sent what he had learned from the computer to her, waiting for a reply.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra sighed and looked around as her team continued to get ready for anything that might happen. A moment later they


    She nodded and sighed, she would have to bring up what she and Tar¡¯lroia found sooner than she would like.


    ¡°[MY PRINCE]!¡± A voice from the guard caused everyone to turn. Their prince, the young lord Ar¡¯thor Zan¡¯g Sp¡¯rt¡¯thos was awake.


    ¡°[What happened? Where are we?]¡±, Ar¡¯thor asked and Je¡¯ndra felt a flash of fear


    ¡°[My prince, there are five of us here. I¡­¡­ have nothing else to report],¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she bowed to her liege lord.


    ¡°[Where are the others?]¡±, Ar¡¯thor asked and Je¡¯ndra looked at his armor¡¯s mask for a few moments. She saw the icon of Tar¡¯lroia and knew her friend was ready to make her report. Sending a wait sign with the hand her prince didn''t see, she saw the icon stop flashing.


    ¡°[I don¡¯t know my prince. I have no memory for hours. And none of us know how we got into this chamber,]¡± Je¡¯ndra admitted and she felt more than they all saw the prince¡¯s body go stiff in shock.


    ¡°[We¡¯ve got food at least my lord. Federation make but good stuff, and the supplies we brought with us],¡± Kon¡¯gric said and Je¡¯ndra just rolled her eyes.


    ¡°[Are we in vacuum?],¡± Ar¡¯thor asked and Je¡¯ndra shook her head.


    ¡°[No my prince. From the readings we can breathe what is out there],¡± Je¡¯ndra said and Ar¡¯thor looked in her direction. She took a deep breath and then looked over her shoulder at the rest of her team and sighed at the way their icons all twitched in her mask¡¯s screen. ¡°[And I was just waiting on you to wake up before checking what was outside my prince].¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    A few moments later, Je¡¯ndra stood before the airlock and sighed. It had taken less time than she expected to prepare her incursion. Once the others had heard her statement, Tar¡¯lroia objected but Je¡¯ndra overruled her. She did not let others face the dangers if she could and her skills made her the perfect scout and they all knew it.


    Moving through the airlock, Je¡¯ndra was shocked by how dark and quiet it was. Looking around she activated her mask¡¯s vision enhancement and looked upwards. She saw a rock ceiling a good fifty feet up with a hole that light was shining through and she smiled as she held back a light chuckle.


    They had crashed into a cavern, good. They could set up defenses here or farther back, and make killing zones if anything came at them from the cave¡¯s mouth.


    As she was making plans she heard a chittering from her right. She turned and looked up, stopping as she spied and saw a horror looking back. Fifteen feet up on the crater wall was a giant black insect. It had four compound eyes around a circular maw with four curved horns between the eyes. It had a body made up of only two sections, the front had the ¡®face¡¯ and two three-clawed hands, and the back had four spike legs. It looked at her and a drop of saliva dripped from its mandibles as Je¡¯ndra summoned her blades.


    ¡°[Strike leader, what¡¯s wrong?!]¡± Kon¡¯gric called out from behind her, Je¡¯ndra saw the insect tense and cursed in her mind. The insect screeched and to Je¡¯ndra¡¯s horror, more screeches echoed from above.


    ¡°[Close the airlock!]¡± She called out as the insect dropped from the wall. As soon as it landed it spat a glob of a white liquid that Je¡¯ndra dodged to the right. She heard it hit the capsule looked and saw the liquid sizzle as it started to burn.


    Je¡¯ndra shot forward, dodging the blobs the insect spat at her until she reached it. Before it could react she had sliced in through its head. She jumped backwards before a splatter of blood sprayed from the slice she had made. As she looked at her blades she saw the black blood there, and for a second thought, she saw something glitter in it. She hoped that it was a trick of the light as she flicked her blades, getting rid of the blood. The insect took a step it then crashed to the floor and she smirked at this.


    But before she could say anything, she heard something that made her go still and feel terror. Above them were the sounds of many things chittering at them. From how loud the bug she just killed, there were at least ten more of them. A hard number, but if her team went to war against these bugs, the bugs would soon die.


    ¡°[Strike leader, what¡¯s wrong?!]¡± Kon¡¯gric called up and when Je¡¯ndra didn¡¯t reply the others all started to prepare to call their weapons.


    ¡°[Just a bug and some friends. Let me check on how many there really are],¡± Je¡¯ndra said over the radio as she gathered her aether. With a small pulse of aether, she jumped upwards, a smirk on her face that died as soon as she saw what was really above them.

 Chapter Thirteen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Unnamed Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1730


    Je¡¯ndra sent a pulse of aether to her boots and teleported backwards. She landed on top of the capsule and looked around, her heart beating fast as she felt fear.


    Je¡¯ndra kept silent as she looked around. All around the crater was a mass of insects like the one she had just slain. There had hundreds of them, and from the few eggs she could see she realized just where they were.


    ¡°[We¡¯re in a nest!  Protect the prince!]¡± She called out before jumping towards the side facing the door to the capsule. She dropped her pistol and as it faded away, two green colored blades formed in her hands.


    As landed within the bug horde, she slashed out, slicing through the insects. Such was her strength and skill that she killed with each slash, each blow splitting a bug in two.


    The bugs moved backwards for a moment before a loud screech was heard. That seemed to be a signal because all the bugs charged at her.  Two green bolts flew, killing each one hit.  She smiled as she heard the war cry of his planet as Ken¡¯tricx jumped up and landed on the crater¡¯s rim.


    As he stood there, two floating gun pods formed next to him before they started firing into the swarm. One insect charged through the bolts from the pods only to die from the green axe that Ken¡¯tricx summoned to his left hand that he used to split the insect¡¯s head.


    ¡°[Come YOU BUGS!  COME AND DIE!  ALLLLRAAA!]¡± He bellowed as he stood there and let his bolts do his talking.


    Je¡¯ndra felt a smirk form and almost laughed as she fought her way to him.  As she slashed down another of the bugs, of them jumped at her.  Before it could reach her, however, it was killed by the fire from one of the gun pods.  As she reached her teammate, she spun around and slashed down at one of the bugs trailing her.  ¡°[ You took your time Ken¡¯tricx.  And it¡¯s just you right?]¡±


    Ken¡¯tricx laughed heartily as he slammed his axe down on another of the bugs and grinned under his mask. ¡°[Yeah captain, you just get me for a dance partner! Our pathfinder is playing lone guard until that!]¡±


    Before she could say anything she heard the sound of two aether engines.  Risking a glance, she saw two green three-foot-long blurs shoot up from the crater.  Each one had a golden beak on an avian body.  The wings had engines in the center of them and where the talons would be were instead two small guns. One hovered above the crater and fired at the bugs, the other flew around the cave, scanning for anything that might threaten them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the capsule, Olv¡¯xic grinned behind his mask as he looked at what his drones were sending him.   With his birds out there, they would soon know then enemy numbers.   He didn¡¯t expect them to give them too much trouble but then the worst enemy was a stupid one.    He frowned as he noticed that they were only fighting one genetic strain of insect, you would think a swarm would have workers and warriors if this was their hive¡­¡­. ¡°[This doesn¡¯t make sense¡­.]¡±


    ¡°[What doesn¡¯t?],¡± An unfamiliar voice asked. Olv¡¯xic blinked before he turned and saw the Prince looking at him. He swallowed, to think the Prince would talk to one like him, he almost died of shame there and then.


    ¡°[My prince!    It¡­¡­ it¡¯s the genes of the bugs.  They¡¯re all the same but if this was their hive then I would expect differences between Warriors and Workers castes. But they all have only one genetic set],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a small voice.


    ¡°[Then they¡¯ve only been fighting one caste?  And can you tell what one it is?]¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in wonder and Olv¡¯xic opened his mouth to reply when he felt the spark of terror in his head.


    Olv¡¯xic went still as he registered what the Prince had said. As he thought about it, he felt terror grip his heart. The observation the Prince had made explained everything, if they were only fighting one caste then that would explain the genetic data he had gotten. As he looked at it a stray thought reared its head and because of that his fear grew.


    ¡°[No¡­. No!],¡± Olv¡¯xic spat as he sent his explorer on a wide sweep of the caves.


    ¡°[What did you find!?]¡±  Tar¡¯lroia demanded from the airlock.


    Olv¡¯xic swallowed and sent a private message to her. ¡°[The prince suggested they¡¯re fighting only one gene caste.   That means they might be Workers, and if their Workers, where are the Warrior strain?  Or their reproductive caste?]¡±


    Tar¡¯lroia swallowed as she understood his worry.  The bugs up there were dying in lots, but if they were just the weakest, then how strong were the strongest?   Unlike Olv¡¯xic, she could see a strategy at work from the swarm¡¯s actions.    All they needed to do was let any foes tire out from killing the weaklings, then once they were winded send in the heavies to kill the weakened prey.


    ¡°[Go, find the queen.  Now!],¡±  Tar¡¯lroia said forcibly.


    Olv¡¯xic went still and looked at her, a thousand questions in his stare and she made a team sign for ¡®don¡¯t ask questions¡¯.   He nodded and sent the commands to his drone and swallowed as he tried to think of reasons for the orders.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Drone # 982 stopped in its flight and flew away from combat.    The orders had been to provide a second overwatch had changed, it was time to search and destroy.   It flew over the swarm and activated its sensor systems and ¡®saw¡¯ two tunnels.  Its sensors saw that one of them seemed to be artificial and the other wasn¡¯t.   Commands were sent and it went down the one to the right. After half a minute of flight, it came out into a large chamber with a new kind of bug within.


    These had the same face as the others but these were built like centaurs with a stinger tail on their end. The drone flew higher and spun around, activating its shield moments before spikes shot from the tails. The spinning shield kept it safe but it flew past them uncontrolled, flying down a corridor the bugs had been guarding. With screeches some of the centaur bugs followed after the drone, the rest stayed behind to cover the passageway to the main chamber.


    As the drone flew down the narrow tunnel, it kept sending what it was seeing to its master.  Finally, after a few moments, its engine carried it into a large chamber twenty feet tall and wide.


    At the center of the chamber was a vision out of a nightmare.  It was large and made of the same black chitin as the others, but this one was a good fifteen feet high.   Its circular maw was surrounded by four eyes on stalks and between them were four pincers. Its head was connected to a large body that was connected to four egg sacks with four spike legs between them.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Around it was a large amount of bloody meat that had been carried to it by the bugs currently fighting in the main chamber.


    By them were four members of a different strain of the bugs. These had chitin claws and their bodies were hunched over, giving them the appearance of apes.  Like all the others, they had four eyes and horns around a round maw. But this maw was extended a good half foot, the horns seeming to be holding it in place.


    As the drone flew around the cavern it received new commands, to try and find another way out. It started to carry out the orders when something shot behind it. A glob of something hit the cavern wall and started to sizzle as it ate away the rock.  Looking into its memory banks, it saw that the glob of liquid had been shot by the ape bugs.  As it zeroed in on them, it saw that all four of them were looking at the drone and firing the blobs from their maws.


    As the drone spun to generate its shield, it noticed two other passageways, one leading down into darkness and the other to a side chamber guarded by three of the ape bugs.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic paled in horror as he saw the data his drone was sending.  He couldn¡¯t believe what he is seeing, it boggled his mind.  He expected something but this, no way in the stars!      ¡°[Emergency message to all squad! Boss it¡¯s bad, the Warrior strains are massing to charge once these things are dead!  And there are more of them, some kinda acid shooting ones guarding a big Queen!]¡±


    ¡°[WHAT!?]¡± Je¡¯ndra exclaimed in rage.


    ¡°[Yeah!   I sent one of my drones and found it!   Guarded by Warriors in a cavern just before the big momma herself!] Olv¡¯xic exclaimed in fear and he heard Ken¡¯tricx swear.


    ¡°[So the only caves back there go to the Queen chamber?!] Ken¡¯tricx asked with anger in his voice.     Olv¡¯xic blinked and looked over the data his drone sent him and shook his head.


    [NO¡­¡­ There¡¯s another passage back there, the queen one is down a bug made one


    As Je¡¯ndra killed another of the bugs, she felt a scowl form on her face.  The fact that the enemy had planned to let them kill these things was a bitter pill to swallow.  The fact that the enemy was waiting to send in their experienced ones when the expendables were gone was worse. Normally, she would have gone and killed the head and then kill the main body, but that was only if her whole team was here.  With the Prince in theater, that plan was impossible.  Then the only other choice was to find a way to deny the reinforcements.


    ¡°[Listen all of you! Ro¡¯borlar keep holding the line down there, nothing gets by you! Olv¡¯xic, send a bomb wing and block that passage!  I don¡¯t want any of those things to get


    ¡°[And what about us then?]¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked as he looked at the bugs before them.


    ¡°[Ken¡¯tricx, destroy!]¡± Je¡¯ndra as she jumped towards the right, slashing with her swords as she let her battle rage free.


    ¡°[You know how to command me boss!]¡± Ken¡¯tricx said with a laugh as he desummoned his axe and two large rotating riffles appeared in his hands. With a battle cry, he started to fire at the swarm.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the capsule, Olv¡¯xic nodded and sent a command to his drone with the Queen¡¯s chamber to buy as much time as it could before it died.  As he sent his drone to automatic he moved towards the


    ¡°[What are you doing?]¡±


    The question of the Prince almost caused him to stop but he kept moving and sighed.     ¡°[Sending a bomb to block the approach of our enemies my Prince.]¡±


    As Olv¡¯xic held out a hand a large spear five foot long with four engines and a manta wing shape on top appeared in his hands.    He looked down at it and smirked under his mask.    He had created the plans himself, and that was enough for a Medal of Tactical Valor.  His ¡®bomb wing¡¯  as Je¡¯ndra had saved the lives of his and his team a few times, in cases just like this.    But something about this place was hitting all his tells for danger, and that he was being watched!    He still had two classes of drones he was saving for something special, but given their situation, he probably wouldn¡¯t be able to get new ones soon.


    ¡°[Bomb-Wing deployed boss lady, and my hunter is bringing pain to the enemy],¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he called up the view from his flying bomb.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Drone # 982 had received its last orders and it calculated the best actions to take. As it had flown around the chamber, the ape bugs had learned to try and guess where it flew and had almost hit it.   As it swung around again it finally opened fire on the Queen, the bolts that hit its body caused it to screech in pain and the others screeched in fury.   It banked to dodge more globs from the ape bugs as it aimed at the egg sacks.


    dodging another glob of acid it flew towards the tunnel that had been guarded by the other ape bugs.  However, before it could fly through the passage a glob of acid had hit one of its body and right wing. It lost control of its flight and its communication port as it fell into the passageway.   Its engine carried it down as an explosion was heard in the distance, the result of the flying bomb. It fell fifty feet until it crashed against the rock floor. As it died, its sensors flickered off, but before it lost all power it saw a large black something near it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    When she heard the explosion in the distance, Je¡¯ndra just grinned and laughed. So far they had been able to kill all maybe a third of them. But then she didn¡¯t see anything that might change that.  The bugs all went still before they screeched and started to attack each other.


    ¡°[Get back Je¡¯ndra, get back!]¡± Ken¡¯tricx called out in horror as they watched the savagery.    Je¡¯ndra jumped backwards and spun the air to land next to him.


    As soon as she landed the two of them moved backwards and watched in shock. The bugs savaged each other, one of them bit into one as another grabbed it with its claws and pulled it in two.  The victim just attacked its savor and tore its head before two others fell on it.


    ¡°[What¡¯s happening?!  Je¡¯ndra report!],¡± Tar¡¯lroia demanded over the coms and Je¡¯ndra took a deep breath.


    ¡°[I don¡¯t know, I just don¡¯t know],¡± Je¡¯ndra said absently and then Olv¡¯xic laughed in glee.


    ¡°[It was the bomb! When the passage was blocked, it must have stopped however it was ordering its kids!  Without it, they¡¯ll kill themselves!]¡± Olv¡¯xic said in glee.


    As Je¡¯ndra and Ken¡¯tricx watched the carnage, they had to agree with his guess. The bugs had killed half their numbers already, and if they continued they would be next soon.


    When they had killed all but fifty of them they all turned towards the crater. With screeches, the bugs all charged at the two warriors.


    ¡°[Come on Ken¡¯tricx!   Let¡¯s kill them!]¡±  Je¡¯ndra ordered as she summoned her swords.


    Ken¡¯tricx just laughed as he formed his axe. With a yell, the two of them charged at the bugs.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bellow Ro¡¯borlar summoned his sickles as he looked up at the crater¡¯s rim.  All his blood called for him to go and help his comrades, but he had his orders. He had always been the lone wolf, but at least he had seen the battle so he could help.  A screech from above made him worry for the others as the head of one of the bugs appeared. He almost moved to attack it before he saw that the head was being held by


    ¡°[What¡¯s the matter Ro¡¯borlar, worried about the bugs?]¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked as he poked his head over the edge.


    Ro¡¯borlar just shook his head and felt disgusted at Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s actions.  Ken¡¯tricx was the team¡¯s jokester, and this was just like him.     ¡°[So you killed them all?]¡±


    ¡°[Yeah, time for you to go to work my friend],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said and Ro¡¯borlar smiled as he walked towards the crater wall.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Alert, Templates 99850 have destroyed much of Guard Template IDE 004.   They have broken passage to main cavern, all that remains is emergence tunnel into Guard Template IDE 004 hive.   Way into Gestation Facilities at risk of breach.  Recommendations?


    Send in Destroyer Template.


    Complying.    Alert; One Destroyer Construct still active within control area, Combat Construct R Chassis, subtype G


    ¡­¡­Reasons for low Destroyer Construct supply?


    All other Destroyer and Purge Constructs sent to deal with Mad Template from Location 0999, raised objections were dismissed.   All of Complex¡¯s Constructs were destroyed in Purging Actions.


    ¡­¡­.Purger Construct Supply?


    None, again all Combat Constructs sent to Purging Action


    ¡­¡­.Request for resupply approved, will send message to Central and bring in Combat Constructs for all Facilities.   Begin to convert Worker Constructs for combat as per directives.


    ¡­¡­Confirmed.   Will decrees gestation and repair operations


    Acceptable.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[¡­¡­ so this place is part of a mountain.  I saw water in the distance, I think we¡¯re either on a coast or an island.  Those bugs found some great land to build on.  This is a prime place to stay, but the residents would probably have a problem with it],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said bluntly half an hour later.  While he had gone out to scout, Je¡¯ndra had ordered all the resources the escape had to be put into their aether bags. The Prince¡¯s armor was connected to Kon¡¯gric¡¯s, and the rest were ready to move out at the top of the crater.


    ¡°[Nothing better then?]¡±  Ken¡¯tricx asked dryly and Ro¡¯borlar hesitated a few moments.


    ¡°[Wayfinder?]¡±  Je¡¯ndra asked in a hard voice and Ro¡¯borlar sighed and looked away.


    ¡°[I saw other escape capsules, some in new craters. I think they are from the Federation¡¯s ship.   We¡¯re not alone here at least],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said bluntly and the group all looked at each other.


    Tar¡¯lroia looked at the others and seemed to come to a decision and spoke up. ¡°[There is strength in numbers after all.   And they might be civilians after all].¡±


    Olv¡¯xic looked around at the others and sighed loudly, getting everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°[And the acid shots there have to be working on making a new tunnel, we¡¯re racing the clock],¡±


    ¡°[But we might have to show them our faces, our skin! That secret is something we¡¯ve kept since we¡¯ve made contact! The alliance means it will be shared but for us to break cover when a decision hasn¡¯t been made!]¡±


    ¡°[Then I will make the decision],¡± Prince Ar¡¯thor said bluntly, and they all looked at him as he looked over his guard¡¯s shoulder.  As they all looked at Prince Ar¡¯thor and he looked at them all in turn.


    ¡°[My aether bag has an emergency bunker in it],¡± Ar¡¯thor said bluntly as he looked at every mask before him.    ¡°[Leader Je¡¯ndra will one of those work to keep the secret longer?]¡±


    ¡°[Yes, it would.  But to hold a bunker in your bag¡­¡­¡­. The sheer power it takes for that much space¡­¡­ is that why you don¡¯t have any supplies in it?] Je¡¯ndra asked, still in shock.


    ¡°[Grandfather was kind of overprotective. But it worked out],¡± Ar¡¯thor said and looked away, obviously embarrassed about it.


    Suddenly something broke through the cavern¡¯s roof. As the thing hit the ground, it was hidden from sight by the dust and debrief its passage had created.

 Chapter Fourteen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 0


    Unknown Island / Unnamed Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1730


    As the dust erupted around them, Je¡¯ndra reacted, barking orders before it could clear enough for them to see what had impacted and made the cloud.   ¡°[Protect the prince!   Whatever comes out of there we burn it to ashes!]¡±


    Je¡¯ndra didn¡¯t expect much of a threat. Her team was one of the best on their base, that''s why they had been given the protection mission. They had fought vile pirates, depraved cultists who wanted to kill civilians, and Aether-using beasts. Few things would even give her team trouble, whatever this thing would likely die in minutes. And her whole team knew that too, she could see it in the way their vitals were spiking,  they felt the same. She felt a smirk forming on her face as she summoned her weapon, the other doing the same.  This was just like every other battle, nothing would change her team¡¯s will.


    ¡°[Let¡¯s show this thing what we can do!   It¡¯llll¡­. It¡¯ll],¡± Ken¡¯tricx trailed off as the dust settles around them.


    Je¡¯ndra didn¡¯t make a sound.   She knew that anytime other time, Olv¡¯xic would have made a joke about how Ken¡¯trixc was scared, but right now they all were.


    a twenty-foot-tall robot made of black metal stood before them.  Its face had four eyes around a central spike made of a white crystal with a jagged tip. Its body was humanoid, with two arms and legs. The arms ended in a blank circle with eight jagged white crystals set at the edges. The feet of the robot ended with five talons facing forward with two spikes on the back.  The toes and spikes were made from the same white crystals as the ones on the arms.


    ¡°[A¡­ a Firstborne Destroyer!?]¡± Olv¡¯xic stammered in shock and horror.


    Je¡¯ndra knew exactly what he was feeling, to face one of them with a whole team was the stuff of nightmares.   But here and now, without the rest of their team, the very idea was almost suicidal! But they were soldiers, protectors and they would handle this like they had all their other foes. They might be going to their death, but they would meet them like true members of the army.


    ¡°[I was right.   ALL FORCES MOVED AROUND!  DON¡¯T GIVE IT A GROUP TARGET!]¡± Je¡¯ndra bellowed as she ran, her blades disappearing as a green metal pistol formed in her right hand.   ¡°[Tar¡¯lroia, fall back to the Guard!   Olv¡¯xic, lead the way to the tunnel!   Ken¡¯tricx, Ro¡¯borlar with me!   We¡¯ll buy time!]¡±


    Je¡¯ndra summoned her pistol to her hand, aiming it at the Destroyer. She started to run to the right, getting off a few shots as she moved.  Meanwhile, Ken¡¯tricx and Ro¡¯borlar moved in opposite directions, trying to split the Destroyer¡¯s attention between them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Kon¡¯gric held up his arms and two large blue energy tower shields formed to cover him and Ar¡¯thor as Tar¡¯lroia and Olv¡¯xic fell back to cover them.   As a group, the three of them moved towards where the Olv¡¯xic¡¯s drone had found the tunnel.


    ¡°[What in the void are Firstborne doing here?!   First those bugs and now these things!?]¡± Kon¡¯gric asked aghast as he locked eyes on the battle.


    ¡°[How dangerous is it?]¡± Ar¡¯thor asked as he watched Je¡¯ndra jump at it with her blades.


    It dodged her and she landed behind it, charging at it in an instant. As her blades were about to hit the Destroyer, an energy shield blocked the blow and released a flash of light.  Je¡¯ndra was thrown up into the air, towards the wall.   She hit it hard, fell to the ground, and for a moment she was still before she got back up, still holding her blades.


    As Je''ndra tried to recover, the Destroyer moved its arms to point at her.  She realized what it was doing and crossed her swords together moments before the Destroyer fired a blast of red energy at her.


    As the energy covered her,  Ar¡¯thor felt his heart stop in horror.   Lady Je''ndra was so strong, if she could die like that, what chance did the rest of them have to survive?


    Ar''thor watched in shock.  Ken¡¯tricx and Ro¡¯borlar didn''t react. Ken¡¯tricx just summoned his rotating guns and fired on the construct. Ar''thor stared in shock at what he saw, how could it have been hit, and why weren¡¯t they reacting to Je¡¯ndra¡¯s death? His older brother would say that whenever he lost comrades he would turn it into fuel for his aether skills.   But why weren¡¯t they even reacting to her death, it''s like they were nothing but constructs, was his brother wrong?


    In moments he had his answer, the energy beam died down Je¡¯ndra was revealed behind an energy shield. Spinning her swords she charged forward with a savage yell.  As she neared the Destroyer, she leaped at it and this time she slashed through its right arm, severing the limb!


    ¡°[Not that dangerous really, but where¡¯s there one there¡¯s always more.   We need to get away¡­¡­. But how can we?]¡± Tar¡¯lroia wondered as she aimed her bow at the Destroyer, wondering if she should risk a shot.   But if she did that, then it might zero in on them, and that would put the prince in danger.


    ¡°[But if you can kill them all fast enough¡­¡­]¡± Ar¡¯thor trailed off as he watched in horror as the Destroyer sent a bolt of energy from its severed arm and pulled the maimed limb back to its socket.


    ¡°[Yeah, they can repair themselves mid-battle, and they can call in more of them.  The only way to handle them is to use either overwhelming power or the weight of numbers.   And we¡¯ve got none of those things!]¡±  Tar¡¯lroia said with a bitter tone, wondering if this was her friend¡¯s last battle.


    Ar¡¯thor stayed silent, looking at the battle as the Firstborne Destroyer threw its arms out at Ken¡¯tricx. It caught him and threw him into the air towards the right wall. Ken¡¯tricx hit the wall against his back and fell to the ground. He got back to his feet and summoned two large missile batteries, four missiles wide and tall, a single battery ten feet tall.    Without a word the two batteries fired four missiles together, they shot through the air and hit the shield. The force of the blast set the Firstborne construct back towards the cave mouth.


    Ar¡¯thor looked at the construct, trying to think of anything at all to defeat it. He remembered what his grandfather said, all problems had solutions if you could just find them. If he had all the pieces of this puzzle,  all grandfather would have said that he just needed to find the puzzle¡¯s picture. He looked at the people guarding him, and then he realized who was before him.   As his mind replayed what he knew about him, he felt his mouth widen in a victorious grin.  He had found the solution to this puzzle.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic looked at the battle, trying to figure out what he needed to do. The Firsborne construct was being held off, but how long could that last?  And with only one member of their team with heavy weapons, they would be overrun before the others made it here.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°[Don¡¯t worry sir, we¡¯ll find a way to get you out of here alive!   Nothing will get to you my lord!]¡±  Kon¡¯gric promised but Ar¡¯thor pushed himself up over Kon¡¯gric¡¯s shoulders.


    Olv¡¯xic watched, he could see that the little prince had something to say, he only hoped it was valid.


    ¡°[We can use these bugs!]¡± Ar¡¯thor said with a grin under his mask.


    Olv¡¯xic looked at him and then he felt a grin form as he started to understand just what he meant.    If those things hadn¡¯t burned through the rubble to open up the tunnel, then they could use them but only if they moved now!  ¡°[Olv¡¯xic to all points!   The Prince suggested we set the bugs against that thing!  But we need to move now if we want it to work!]¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra heard Olv¡¯xic words over the comms and thought about everything she knew about the bugs and saw the prince¡¯s plan. The idea could work. But there were a lot of moving parts, and if they were off they might be in¡­¡­..   Her thoughts died when the Destroyer got back to its feet and slammed its two arms down, narrowly missing Ro¡¯borlar.


    She gritted her teeth behind her mask, there were no good moves here.  They could stay here, and fight where it had all the advantages. Or go deeper into the cave; hoping this thing will follow them.  And that hinges on the hope that the bugs are trying to repair the damage to the tunnel they did, and not making a new one.  And the fact that all of them were in here when the capsule crashed¡­¡­¡­.


    Je¡¯ndra went still as all ways that this could go wrong, and how bad it was went through her mind.  With no other good choice, she made a decision. ¡°[Fine.   Olv¡¯xic leads the way!  Everyone else keep fighting, we might have a chance here!]¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic looked at the battle before nodding, summoning two pistols to his hands as he ran into the tunnel.  This was the prince¡¯s plan, and he had to admit there was a chance it would work.   But then again this was an impossible position to be in, even for one like him.  He kept a scowl off his face as he ran, holding onto old lessons as he did.


    He loved the fact that he wasn¡¯t required to eat with the others, and that he was able to use the Medical Automation if he needed to.  He once more thanked the religious laws that allowed their medical privacy, which kept his secret for so long.


    And here he was, on this planet alone.  Sooner or later he¡¯d have to show them what he was, and then¡­¡­.  It was a good thing to be on the team, maybe he could escape into the Federation after they got off this rock.


    But his thoughts died after he reached the place he was looking for.   Calling up an Aether Skill, he put his hand on the wall and felt what was behind it.   He felt a grin form on his face as he sensed what he had been hoping for.


    ¡°[Everything is ready boss-lady!   Just get here, we¡¯ve got maybe a few minutes to do this!]¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a grin that slowly died as he felt the bugs increase their speed.   ¡°[Boss, move!   They''re speeding up, so move!]¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra heard Olv¡¯xic¡¯s voice as she landed from a jump to the right of the Destroyer, a grin forming on her face.  ¡°[You heard him, move! Feed Aether to your boots, and run to the tunnel!   Kon¡¯gric go!]¡±


    As Kon¡¯gric backed up into the tunnel before would escape, Je¡¯ndra dashed over to the tunnel mouth.   As the rest of her team joined her, she looked at the Destroyer with a glare.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As one, the Ancients moved, running faster than they had been observed doing before, the Destroyer just kept firing at where they had been. They moved into the tunnel, the Destroyer looking after them, nothing had gone as its simple mind.  The Firstborne Destroyer¡¯s mind was simple, it would follow its commands but actions like this that went against projected actions stumped it.   All it could do was send a message to command and request new orders.


    Destroyer Construct 10394 to Command, enemy Templates retreating.   Requesting new orders.


    Report received, return to base.   Observer Units will track them on the face of the installation.    Calculations show that¡­.


    Negative.


    Query, explain.


    Enemy Templates retreating into the cavern, not¡­¡­.


    PRIMARY COMMAND OVERRIDE!!  Chase down enemy Templates and chase them out of the cavern!   Continue activity of Destroyer and other life forms lowered to secondary concern!  Level Omega Directive; Keep Template group from getting deeper within the cavern!


    Command received, complying.


    With its orders updated, the Destroyer moved towards the tunnel.   All it could do was follow the orders it was giving.   Its mind was so simple, it didn¡¯t even think about why the Omega level directive was given.   All it ¡®cared¡¯ about was following the orders to their letter.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra ran at the rear of her team, looking over her shoulder in confusion.   Every time she encountered a Firstborne construct, they would always attack without rest. This one wasn¡¯t for moments that were an eternity for a construct of its kind, it had stopped.  Only now was she hearing the sounds of its movement into the tunnel behind them, it should have done that sooner!    Nothing about this made sense!


    As she turned the corner she smiled. Olv¡¯xic was waiting for them by a tunnel deeper into the ground, and Je¡¯ndra saw a mark he made on a rock. That had to be where the tunnel had been, and where they needed to hold the Destroyer.


    As Kon¡¯gric carried Ar¡¯thor, Olv¡¯xic nodded at them as they moved by him. ¡°[Good idea my prince!   This should work!]¡±


    Je¡¯ndra nodded as she joined the others, all of the team getting behind what cover they could.  Je¡¯ndra looked beyond them, seeing Kon¡¯gric forming his shields as he and Ar¡¯thor went against the wall in what she hoped was a small dead-end.           Without a word, they were a team and they knew what they expected from their comrades.


    They didn¡¯t have to wait long before the Destroyer came into the chamber, its eyes glowing brightly as it looked at them.   As one the group prepared for it to attack but all it did was stand there, watching them.


    For moments they didn¡¯t breathe as they kept their weapons raised and aimed but didn¡¯t fire, wondering what it was doing.   However, before anything else could happen the rock that Olv¡¯xic marked exploded.


    From the dust came screeches as more of the insect charged out of the smoke and attacked the closest thing, the Destroyer. They swarmed it, it swung its arms around, bashing and breaking chitin with each swing.


    ¡°[Fall back, down the tunnel!   It¡¯s working!  Formation Central now]!¡± Je¡¯ndra barked as she watched the carnage.  The Destroyer was being hit by acids from some of the bugs as others attacked its limbs with their mouths.  While they were damaging the Destroyer, it was giving almost as good as it got.


    For a moment Je¡¯ndra almost wanted to go back, help the Destroyer kill the bugs. It acted unlike any of the Firstborne¡¯s creations she had ever heard of and she wanted to know why. But then she looked around the tunnel, a strange feeling going through her. For a second her thought almost made her pause, but she buried them.  She turned and ran down the tunnel, back toward her duty to protect the prince, her thoughts hidden away for now.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Destroyer fought against the swarm,  wondering how it could carry out its mission.    The orders it received were impossible to carry out. The tunnel had offered no way for it to get behind the Ancients and chase them out. It had been trying to figure out how to get around them when these things attacked.


    As per its revised protocols, it was fighting against them with everything it had. They were too close for it to use its range weapons, and they were damaging it faster than it could fix itself!  It had lost sight of the enemy Templates, the last sight it had recorded was one of them looking at it before it left.


    It would have felt shame and anger if it was more advanced, but it didn¡¯t feel anything. If it was of a lower rank it wouldn¡¯t even understand what had happened, but it did so it had to call its command, it had to complete that much of its duties.


    Final Report of Destroyer Construct 10394.   Mission failed due to interference.


    Report. Enemy Templates status?


    Unknown, Destroyer Construct 10394 ambushed by unknown biological templates.      Biological templates destroying Destroyer Construct 10394 beyond repair functions. Mission Status; Failed


    ¡­¡­.Report received. Destroyer Construct 10394; Send mental echo for reconstruction and improvements.


    Acknowledged.


    As the Destroyer fought on, the construct''s eyes suddenly glowed pure white bright enough to stun the bugs for a moment. The flash only lasted a bare second, but after it the Construct moved forward, the bugs swarming after it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra looked over her shoulder and felt a spark of fear.   She detected the change in what she had heard, not the sounds of battle but the echo. From what she was hearing and her armor¡¯s system reported, the sounds were getting closer to them.


    ¡°[MOVE FASTER!   THAT THING IS dragging the swarm to us!   Ken¡¯tricx drop Anything to buy us time!]¡± Je¡¯ndra roared as she tried to run faster.


    Ken¡¯tricx didn¡¯t even say anything, as Je¡¯ndra passed by him all he did was held a hand behind him.   Moments later a small sphere of energy formed, dissipating to reveal a five-foot round sphere that dropped to the floor of the tunnel.


    ¡°[Keep moving people!   We¡¯ve gotta get around a corner, cause this tunnel will send a wave towards us!]¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed through the comms, and to her shock his words made them move faster.


    ¡°[Ahead of us is three tunnels!  Right forward, left forward, and forward!   What¡¯s our course!]¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked over the comms, and that was a good question.    Stay the course and go forward or go left or right?    But what was the best choice to make?


    Je¡¯ndra stayed silent for a few more seconds, then she nodded.   ¡°[Use your skills Pathfinder!  Take us down and deep, find us a hole to ride out the explosion!]¡±


    ¡°[Got it boss!]¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he fed aether to himself, activating one of his skills.   Within moments he had his answer and frowned, not expecting the result he got.   ¡°[We¡¯re going down the right!  It curves so prepare for the dip!]¡±


    As they ran down the tunnel, Je¡¯ndra only hoped that they would survive this nightmare.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Farther up the tunnel, the Destroyer had fallen after one of the bugs had spat acid at the back of its ¡®head¡¯.  After it had fallen, the bugs converged on it for a moment before discovering that this wasn¡¯t hiding meat under its shell.   But before they returned to their nest, they scented the smell of meat, and much of it within the tunnels.  As one they ran towards it, never stopping when they saw a large sphere ahead of them.   They kept running until they reached it and it exploded, sending a wave of force and fire through the tunnel in both directions.  After the blast wave flew through them, the caves were as silent as the dead.

 Chapter Fifteen

    Paige sighed as she walked looked around the inner chamber of the escape capsule. The last few hours had been tense, with most of the deckhands as guards ready for anything else to attack.   After the second hour, Duncan had half the group stay on guard and the others were freed to try and take a break. He had ordered them to sleep and eat some of the rations, and that was that.


    Without the fresh fruit, they still had a lot of food, but Paige was worried about the wildlife.    When the creature attacked, she was shocked by what she sensed. It was the same spark of hunger she had felt from a newborn puppy.  But it was too big and strong for that, and where were its parents?  The passengers were all coming down from their terror, and Bradford hadn¡¯t made a single speech so that was good.


    ¡°No, I heard it was a dragon!¡± One of the passengers said to another as Paige came closer to him and his friend.


    ¡°A dragon!?  No.  I heard from one of them that it was this mutant thing! It froze them with a look!¡±


    ¡°Hells. If something like that will attack us we need more people here!   And to make a wall around the crater like Bradford said!¡±  A woman said and her friend shook her head.


    ¡°My granddad was an outdoorsman. Just for a hobby of course.  But he tried to make a log cabin once, he needed a class 3 lifter to even get them off the ground!  And that was when his construction site was near the place he cut down the trees!¡± Her friend said and Paige kept quiet as she moved past them in a slow circle of the room.


    Before he had let anyone in, Duncan had ordered everyone to keep quiet about what the creature had done. She understood why, if the passengers had any idea what horrors were out there, then they might riot if Bradford had his way. The best thing to do was wait, and hope whatever this resource that Duncan spoke of would help them.


    As she walked while wondering if she should volunteer for night watch, she felt something. She went still as she felt as if someone was watching her, and tried to keep her nerves calm.   She looked around with her eyes only and felt her nerves worsen when she didn¡¯t see anyone watching her.


    She kept moving, wondering what or who was looking at her, and why. Her mind went through dark places as she moved closer to the door.  She didn¡¯t have a weapon, but if she moved outside to guard and the person followed her then they had to be a deckhand. Was it one of the people who had chased her off her world? Or was it someone else?   All she knew was that she didn¡¯t like not knowing who was looking at her and she was getting worried.


    She walked towards the door and saw Jones on guard and smirked.  He would let her pass or take his place, and then she could try and deal with whoever was watching her.


    ¡°Hey, Jones!¡± Paige said cheerfully.   As Jones looked up at her, she tried to project all the lessons she had learned on the ship about customer service.


    ¡°Hu?  Oh.   You¡¯re Daige or something right?¡± Jones asked and Paige fought to keep her smile happy and cheerful.


    ¡°Paige and I were wondering if you wanted someone to take over your watch!¡±  Paige asked and Jones nodded absently.


    ¡°Yeah, that would be nice.   But the boss wants me to watch and everyone else is down because of the attack.    Who would even want to take over?¡± Jones asked as he shook his head.


    Paige looked at him with an expression of sheer shock. How could he be that stupid?  She was about to say something when she felt that feeling of being watched increase.   The feeling was something that she couldn¡¯t ever miss. It was like her organs were shaking, both hot and cold at the same time   It grew stronger and she was starting to get worried about who it might be when she felt a hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Paige, there you are.  I wanted to talk to you,¡± Racha¡¯s voice caused Paige to swallow. Turning she saw Racha looking at her with a smile on. But her other sense could tell, Racha was the person who had been looking at her, and she wanted something from her.


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    Racha smiled at Paige, hoping she would calm down.   Racha had to give her credit, it was only the skills from her job that let her notice that Paige was nervous.  Still, that just gave another tell that she was a Reader. That and the way that she had handled herself against the river spider and wolf creature, that all told Racha that the mission needed Paige.


    ¡°Miss Racha! What are you doing here??  Did you come to see me?¡± Jones asked with a grin on his face.


    Racha looked at Jones out of the corner of her eye and frowned. She watched as he straightened up and tried to put on the charm, why that fool was fixed on her she couldn¡¯t understand. She didn¡¯t even know what sparked his interest in her, and with her nanites watching everything she did, that was saying something.


    ¡°No. The boss wants the top guards to come back and watch the door,¡± Racha said bluntly and turned her head to look at Jones. ¡°So you''re relieved.¡±


    ¡°What?!  But what about the top?!  Does he want us to lock up?!¡± Jones asked and Racha looked at him and shook her head.


    ¡°Paige and I are to take over for them. So go and get some food,¡± Racha said and Jones looked at her as Paige took a deep breath.


    ¡°And what did you want?¡± Paige asked as she looked at Racha.


    Racha looked at Paige, wondering how she should handle this.   There was the direct approach but then something about Paige told Racha that would be the wrong way to go.


    ¡°I wanted to talk to you about the mission tomorrow.   I¡­¡­. let¡¯s talk outside,¡± Racha said as she looked around.  Paige followed her gaze and saw both passengers and deckhands look at them.


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    Jones just watched Racha and Paige climb up the crater¡¯s wall and shook his head as he sighed.  Racha was still playing hard to get!   But the prophecy that showed him who his life-mate would be, she fit it to a T!  It did say that he would have a trial to earn her affection and he would do anything for her!


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Moments later two deckhands came down and nodded at him. He left the airlock and moved into the main chamber, looking around at the people as they moved around. He knew they had enough supplies to last a while, and that they could last months without going out into the wilderness.  But it was better to get food and supplies before there was a shortage, but they needed a safer way to do it.


    He didn¡¯t know how he could show anyone the proper way, and he feared they would die. He needed to do something, anything that might let him help them!  He looked up and saw Bradford heading towards one of the bathrooms.  Jones went still and started to recite prayers of thanks as he smiled and moved to follow him.


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    Bradford sighed and walked into the bathroom and tried to think up a plan to control this situation.  The attack was the perfect way to get power, with how they were almost killed by one of the monstrosities here! But they had to have fought it off and now there were rumors that there was a miracle healer among the deckhands. He didn¡¯t know what to do, the few conversations he had heard since then were all pro-Duncan. He was being praised for sending the first team out!


    They found something, something the old coot said would help them survive! The fact that he was sending a team out to take it while making contact with other capsules!   Well, the idiots just ate it up!


    If that ship was taken, and they linked up with the other capsules, then he didn¡¯t know what he could do.   He had run into five other CEOs on the ship, if even one of them was on this island, and they had their muscle with them!  He needed something, anything that he could use to get control.


    ¡°Mr. Bradford?¡±  A voice behind him caused him to turn and see a man standing there.


    ¡°Yes, what does Mr. Duncan want with me now?¡±  Bradford asked as the man looked around. Bradford had been in the business for a while, and he knew all the tells for someone to be trying to hide. That feeling he sometimes got when he was near something that would help him was starting up again.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for the old man sir, I wanted to talk to you about him, as one man of faith to another,¡± The man said as he made an upside-down pyramid with his hands.


    Bradford went still before he grinned and looked at the man.  ¡°A fellow disciple, here of all places! Were there many of you among the deckhands?¡±


    Bradford couldn¡¯t believe his luck. He only funded the Order of The Chosen with hard materials they could sell.  And only the guards and the High priest knew his patronage, like all the other cults he funded. To think that one of them was here, meant that he might have a group of people that he could use.


    ¡°Not here sir, but I wanted to talk to you about this planet.   I reviewed a revelation that we were sent here by the true God,¡± The man said and Bradford looked at him and nodded.


    ¡°You did my boy?  Please tell me more,¡± Bradford said and he barely kept his face calm.    He might have underestimated this one. If he was a ¡®true believer¡¯ then he might be too hot for him to handle. He had barely dodged a scandal once by killing the idiot that had almost told everyone he was their backer. But there was a chance that he could use this fool until he had to kill him.


    ¡°Let me introduce myself, sir, I¡¯m Jones, of the main Temple. I was a guard there, outer duty only,¡± Jones said and reached out a hand.


    ¡°Ahhh. So you were an outer guard, that explains much,¡± Bradford said and looked at Jones in a new light.   Only the Inner members of the cult knew the truth about everything.  And the fact that he was one of the Outer, made Bradford¡¯s guess that Jones was a true believer correct. As he looked at Jones, he wondered how he could use a fanatic right now.


    ¡°This planet is mad sir Bradford, totally mad!  Some foolish lesser beings must have come here and done terrible things to all these poor animals! We must find the manpower to tame them like the Inner Trainers!¡±Jones said with passion and Bradford winced internally.


    ¡°Wait? ¡®Like the Inner Trainers¡¯?  Like them you said?   And you¡¯re an Outer Guard?¡±  Bradford asked shocked and Jones nodded.


    ¡°Yes sir!  One such as you must know the proper prayers to do so!   My old captain said you were very smart and knew much sir!¡± Jones said and Bradford looked at Jones, trying to keep a calm look on his face.


    ¡°Makes sense,¡± Bradford said absently as he stroked his beard.


    He knew the truth about how the so-called ¡®beasts of the planets¡¯ were tamed. And this poor diluted fool looked like he had no idea.   If he ever found one of his scientists who had been on the ship with him to inspect the goods he had been looking to buy, it might be possible. But then they would need to make the right laboratory to make what they needed and where¡­¡­¡­. Bradford went still and then he grinned and looked at Jones.


    ¡°I might have a man who knows the proper chants to create the items we need. But that my friend is only if we have the resources to make them. That resource the old fool spoke about, do you know what it is? Bradford asked and Jones shook his head.


    Bradford frowned and looked away, trying to think of something in line with this zealot¡¯s beliefs to further his goals


    ¡°Sir, the danger out there while we gather supplies¡­¡­¡­ if we could figure a better way¡­..¡± Jones began and Bradford looked at him and smiled wider.


    ¡°¡­¡­¡­Then the others will follow us!  Perfect my boy, perfect!  Now let¡¯s think and talk again later, for now, we plan apart!¡± Bradford said and Jones nodded, grinning back at him.


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    Above, on the crater¡¯s rim, Paige looked at Racha and wished that she had any kind of weapon on her. The way that Racha seemed to be sending off the sensation of a hunter was making Paige more worried than she had ever been. The thought she had about why the wolf creature had wanted her reared its head and Paige looked at Racha who took a deep breath.


    ¡°Okay, let me say this first.  You can say no to my offer,¡± Racha said as she looked at Paige.


    Paige felt her bad feeling grow, and she swallowed before she stammered out a question.   ¡°And what offer would that be?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡­ I want you on the mission to the resource tomorrow.   You¡¯ve got the skills that I think will be the key to our survival,¡± Racha said and Paige went still.


    She looked at Racha and swallowed, that was all the confirmation that she needed, Racha did know!   And she was offering Paige what?


    ¡°You know what I can do¡­..¡± Paige said and Racha nodded.


    Racha looked Paige straight in the eye and took a deep breath.    ¡°Yeah, I partnered with someone who could hear like you once in the Service. Save our lives once or twice.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡­. ¡®the Service¡¯?!   You¡¯re!¡±   Paige asked as she stared in horror at Racha, a thousand thoughts going through her.


    The Covert Special Services were the inter-solar security division of the Federation. More stories had been written with one of them as the evil mastermind. The rumors about them, from weird technology to slave labor camps¡­¡­. Paige went still as a terrible thought went through her head. If it was true, then everything made sense. And with the wolf creature, that made sense in why they wanted her, and that made her shiver in terror.


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    Racha rolled her as she saw Paige¡¯s reaction. The ¡®Rumor Shield¡¯ was at it again. She shook her head in disgust; some parts of her job were so out there! Using the real threats they had dealt with quietly as rumors about them as being behind them, it always bothered her. But it was the best way to keep secrets, throw out lies with parts of the truth changed to make people remember them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Service isn¡¯t as bad as the stories make us seem.  But abilities like yours could help us a lot! And with how you handled yourself when we went out¡­..¡± Racha began only for Paige to interrupt her


    ¡°Then who was hunting me?¡± Paige asked softly and Racha looked at her in horror.


    ¡°What,¡± Racha asked quietly and Paige looked at her, swallowing before speaking.


    ¡°I¡­¡­.. I left my home because people were hunting me down.    They wanted me dead or alive, like the wolf,¡± Paige said and Racha blinked.


    For a moment she didn¡¯t understand what Paige was talking about but then everything crystalized and her memories filling in the blanks.


    Racha had dealt with a lot of mad scientists over the years, and the ¡®Bio-Builders¡¯ were the worst!  What they would do to get rare genetic material was something that was the stuff of nightmares!  And the most criminal ones were those who were after making slave races.    The number of times those people had done things to the free sentiments of the Federation¡­¡­¡­


    ¡°You think these people who hunted you¡­  They wanted to turn you into a breading whore.   And you think they were from the Service!?¡± Racha exclaimed and as Paige nodded and took a step back Racha started to swear.


    ¡°Oh, you stupid idiots!   I knew when I heard about that operation things like this would happen!   Makes the public believe the worst are just rumors to keep them safe my foot! What happens to the few people who are involved in this life, you idiot!¡± Racha exclaimed and Paige blinked in shock.


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    ¡°What do you mean rumors!?¡±  Paige asked and Racha sighed and looked away.


    ¡°All those rumors about things that Covert Special Services personnel are behind? The core truth of all of them is that we took down people or groups who did them.  We make the rumors that we¡¯re behind them to make sure that the public doesn¡¯t find out that the events even happened.   And those who believe always come clean when we bring those rumors up during interrogation,¡± Racha admitted and Paige felt from her other sense that she was telling the truth as she knew it.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Paige blinked in shock and Racha sighed.


    ¡°Yeah, but I was telling the truth before. You¡¯re cool under pressure, medically trained and your abilities only add to your value.  If something like that wolf comes at us, your early warning could be the difference between life and death,¡± Racha said bluntly and Paige looked at her and sighed.


    ¡°Give me some time to think about it, okay?¡± Paige said after a while.


    Racha nodded and looked at Paige with relief.  ¡°You have until we get ready tomorrow.   I¡­.. the target is a crashed yard-ship. It¡¯s an older model so we can¡¯t know when it crashed, or who might be there. But I¡¯ve broken into models before, so there¡¯s that,¡± Racha said as she nodded at Paige and started to walk to the right.


    Paige turned and walked towards the left, looking out at the star-filled sky above them. The forest seemed to be more alive, and the soft night calls of something in the distance were the only sounds that came from it.   She didn¡¯t know what to do, if she left she might have to tell the others about her ability. But if she stayed, people might die.  Looking up at the sky and trying to find a constellation, she knew that there was only one thing to do.

 Chapter Sixteen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 700


    ¡°Batteries ready and charged, if the guns run out we can change them in seconds,¡± Al said as he put the batteries and put them into his pack.


    As the group started to get ready outside the capsule, Jinn looked around and nodded. ¡°Good, good. So, you, me, and Sara will have our old load out, but what about you?¡±


    Racha looked up at him and held up a pack, grinning as she looked at him. ¡°Readied last night. And I grabbed another viewfinder!¡±


    Jinn looked at her and tried to keep calm. She knew how to do this it seemed, but then the stories said the operatives of the Service were good. Still, something about her was rubbing him the wrong way, but then that might be because of how he was raised. And he hated that he still let those lies control him so much!


    ¡°So ready to go? With the four of us, we¡¯ll need to be moving fast and stay away from the flowers!¡± Al said with a smirk aimed at Sara who blushed as she looked away.


    ¡°Well, about that¡­..¡± Racha began before a voice from behind called out.


    ¡°I¡¯m going too! So what¡¯s in my pack?¡± Paige asked as she walked towards them and smiled at Racha.


    ¡°Five of a kind, great! Sara has her pistol and what¡¯ll you take little lady?¡± Al asked with a grin that grew as Paige grabbed a riffle. Al smiled as Paige looked at the underside. Along all their riffles under the barrel was a jury-rigged casing with a single large glass emitter. Paige looked up and Al smirked as she looked at him. ¡°Like it, modded them last night myself. We go into the dark or when night falls, we¡¯ve got lights! Good for about twenty feet!¡±


    ¡°Good, here¡¯s another med kit! Anything else we might need?¡± Sara asked as she looked into Paige¡¯s pack.


    ¡°Rope, I¡¯ll carry the rope!¡± Paige said as she turned and went to grab a few yards of rope.


    Jinn looked at Racha who nodded and he shook his head. If Paige was being brought along by choice from Racha, then there was a chance she was Services too. But she had stayed behind, wouldn¡¯t they have wanted eyes on the mission he had led? Still, Racha said she could handle it and that was enough for now.


    A few moments later, Duncan came over and looked at the five-member team. ¡°You five are the only team we¡¯ll be sending out. The rest of us will work on making this place easier to defend. But if you can¡¯t make contact in a week, I¡¯ll have to call you all as dead and hope they fix the beacon. So get back as soon as you can,¡± Duncan finished in a growl and the others all nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back as soon as we can Chief, that¡¯s a promise. Stay safe,¡± Jinn said as he held out a hand. Duncan took it and moments later Jinn led the way up the crater wall.


    ¡°So I was thinking, we found a river, right? And these two found one too. With the way it was turning, I¡¯d think it was the same,¡± Al said as they reached the top and looked towards when he, Sara, and Jinn had gone yesterday.


    ¡°Right, and they went that way, the ship is that way but with what they found¡­¡­ the best idea would be to go to the south for a while before turning east,¡± Jinn said as he pointed in the opposite direction he had led the team yesterday.


    ¡°Think we might find a way down that way?¡± Racha asked and Jinn nodded as he started to walk, the others following him.


    ¡°Well, that and I want to stay away from those insect things we ran into. And the creature that attack us went that way,¡± Jinn said as he pointed to the west, the same direction the paralyzer creature had used to escape.


    With a nod to the others, Jinn turned and walked into the forest. As the others followed him, Sara and Al looked around at the trees, hoping that they wouldn¡¯t see the same flowers that had almost taken them.


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    For the ten minutes they moved the forest Paige looked all over, not seeing or sensing anything that might threaten them. All she could sense were worries from Al and Sara, and a void from both Racha and Jinn. Jinn was very controlled, he had always been like that.


    And she didn¡¯t mind admitting to herself that he and Racha scared her a little. Jinn was strong, a good fighter and he knew things, things most people didn¡¯t. And the way he took charge, he was used to leading others, being in command. That, and now Racha was holding back her emotions just like he was, and that was something. And together that could only mean one thing. He was a Service operator too, most likely Racha¡¯s boss.


    Two service operators, one a leader and the other a subordinate. For Service operators to be on board, that meant something was wrong with the ship. She could think of no other reason they would have been on the Spirit. The cruise seemed to be completely normal, but it was also her first. She thought about everything that had happened on board and couldn¡¯t think of anything that would have needed help.


    However before she could think of anything else she heard a buzzing coming closer from behind, and as she was the rearguard that scared her. She slowly looked over her shoulder and saw a single green flying worm coming towards them.


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    Jinn looked ahead of him and hoped that this would be easier than yesterday, but something told him it wouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°WORM BEHIND US!¡±


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    Jinn turned and pulled out one of his pistols as he turned. ¡°DOWN!¡±


    At his bellow, Al and Sara both went to the forest floor as Racha moved to the side. Jinn had a clear line of sight as Paige went down, the green worm raising its tail to target her moments after he shot it. The energy bolt hit and destroyed the worm¡¯s lower half and it flew drunkenly for a few feet before it fell to the ground.


    ¡°Green?! There are green ones now!?¡± Al asked as he got back to his feet.


    ¡°We saw red ones yesterday,¡± Racha admitted and Sara looked at her and shook his head.


    ¡°What does this mean? Is the color like different hives or something else? Is the color a result of something they eat?¡± Sara muttered as Al looked at the flying worm''s corpse.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°wait¡­..¡± Al said softly as he looked around in a hurry. ¡°When you saw the red worms, were there five?¡±


    As Racha nodded she slowly looked around. ¡°Yeah, five of them.¡±


    ¡°So two data points, two groups of five. Why was there only one here?¡± Al asked softly as Jinn realized what he meant.


    Jinn leaned back and a small spike flew by his face, missing him by an inch. He turned towards where it had come from and saw a green worm flying towards him. ¡°AMBUSH!¡±


    As soon as Jinn cried out two more of the green worms flew down from above them, firing spikes from their mouths at Sara and Paige. They moved to the side and Racha fired her rifle twice, killing them as Jinn killed the one that fired at him.


    Paige drew her rifle and looked around, trying to find the last one. Finally, she saw something trying to fly away and she fire one shot and killed the last one. As it fell into the forest, a vine reached up and pulled it into the forest.


    Suddenly a screech came from around them and Jinn went still. Looking around at the forest he saw vines shoot up into the air from their left as screeches came from near them. Jinn looked at the vines as they shot into the air, cursing as he drew his blade with his free hand.¡°RUN!¡±


    As one the group ran from the vines, Paige was pulled by Racha as Sara and Al acted as the rearguards. From their left vines tried to grab them but they were able to stay ahead of them. A savage roar from behind them caused Jinn to look over his shoulder to the left and curse.


    ¡°HOW LONG DO WE RUN!?¡± Paige demanded and Jinn looked forward.


    ¡°As long as those things will reach for us!!¡± Jinn bellowed back as he moved to the side and fired his pistol at the reaching vines.


    As they were blown in two.


    The screeches increased in volume, prompting the party to run faster. Jinn activated his nanite, hoping they would see anything he missed. A moment after he saw movement to the right and swung his blade, slicing off the tip of another vine that came at them.


    ¡°From the right, watch out!¡± Al called out as he saw Jinn¡¯s actions. At his words, ten more vines shot at them from the right.


    Paige felt one wrap around her arm, pulling her to the right and off her feet, her rifle falling from her hands. She tried to struggle to her feet and the vine started to squeeze, Paige felt pain and tried to grab her rifle for a moment before it loosened. She felt someone grab her and pull her up. Looking up she saw Racha with her pistol in her other hand firing into the forest.


    ¡°Come on, keep moving!¡± Racha scowled at her and Paige nodded and kept running.


    ¡°My rifle!¡± Paige said.


    ¡°I got it!¡± Sara called.


    Ahead of them, Jinn kept watch, hoping for anything that might help them when ten more vines suddenly came at them from their left ahead. ¡°GO TO THE RIGHT!¡±


    As they ran, the vines started to slowly drop in number before they reached a clearing. Paige grinned as the vines suddenly stopped coming at them and she breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Sara whispered in horror


    Paige looked up and saw the clearing they had run into. It was large, maybe 10 meters wide and she felt it looked like a good place to rest. The most beautiful sight was what was at the far end, a grove of trees, and the one closest to them had a large red flower pointing right at them. It was beautiful with petals a good five feet long and wide around a head with green vines all around it.


    ¡°Oh by the circuit, one of those?! They were herding us man, they wanted us here!¡± Al said with a historic edge to his voice.


    ¡°What do you mean!?¡± Racha demanded and Sara took a deep breath.


    ¡°Those vines, they attacked us yesterday when we burned a smaller flower that same shade. That much be the source or something else,¡± Al whispered and Paige felt a spark of horror as she realized what she had just heard.


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    Racha moved closer to Jinn as she looked around the clearing, seeing high bushes with large spikes on them. ¡°This is a killing field. And we have only one way out of here without going through those trees.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and I don¡¯t see another way to go,¡± Jinn muttered and looked around. He grabbed a rock and threw it back where they had come.


    No soon than the rock traveling around twenty feet did a vine shoot out from the forest and grab it. As they watched the rock was turned into dust in moments and the vine retreated out of sight.


    ¡°So we can¡¯t go back. The only way is forward,¡± Sara said bitterly and Racha looked around and grabbed a stray branch.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not go there yet, I want to check the sides. Paige go look at the right side and the spikes, I¡¯ll check the left and the leaves,¡± Racha said and the others nodded.


    ¡°Good idea, I¡¯ll watch the flower. Sara, Al, watch our back,¡± Jinn suggested and Al smirked at him as Sarra nodded


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    Paige walked slowly towards the bushes, all her senses on watch. She couldn¡¯t understand it, but this place was as quiet as the grave to her. Once at the bushes, she looked at them closely, hoping to find anything that could help. From what she saw they had purple leaves and blackthorns, each one a good half-inch long, and the bushes themselves were a good four feet tall. And to make matters worse there were a lot of them, each one in an unbroken line.


    She moved her hand closer to one of the leaves before stopping an inch away from it and looking around, trying to find anything to use. After a few moments, she picked up a small branch and sighed. Looking at the bush she moved it alongside the thorn before moving it across it. She stopped and brought up the stick to her eyes, wincing as she saw the gorge cut through it.


    She looked around before grabbing a stone from the ground she looked at the bushes, her eyes locked on the thorns.


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    Racha looked at the bushes on her side and tried and failed to find any way to get through them. She tried to think of anything to do, but the bushes looked like something she had seen somewhere before. She tried to poke the leaves with the stick she had, but she couldn¡¯t move them at all. She pushed but no matter how hard she tried, nothing happened and the leaves stayed where they were. She frowned and shook her head; the bushes were so tight together that she saw no way to even think about going through them.


    Maybe they could climb over them, but something kept her from trying for a few seconds. Shaking her head in disgust, she cursed the spark of cowardice she just experienced. She reached out her right hand and tried to get above the bush. But then she heard the sounds of the vines and moved backwards moments before a vine reached for her hand! She lunged backwards but the vine stopped before it passed over half of the bush.


    So that way was out, but why did the vines stop? Was it something about the bushes, was it giving off something that kept them back? She didn''t know why but she felt worried about something. She looked at the bush, and looking closer at it she saw a strange liquid on the leaves. She looked at the leaves and then down at her stick and nodded.


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    Jinn watched as the two women moved towards the different sides of the clearing out of the corner of his eyes. So far he didn¡¯t see anything that might let them get away, and this place was a killing field.


    His old training took hold of his mind then, and he looked around as his old instants took hold. He saw how perfect this place was, and if he was right then they were in terrible danger.


    ¡°We still safe back there?¡± Jinn called out to Al and Sara who nodded. Jinn looked at Racha and then Paige who both were looking at something in their hands. He sighed and nodded. ¡°Everyone gather up, let''s share what we found out!¡±


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    Racha looked at Paige, wondering why she was nodding. She didn¡¯t understand it, but Paige was acting differently. But as she walked towards the others, Racha thought about what she found and if Paige found something as well.


    ¡°We can¡¯t go over the bushes,¡± Racha said bluntly as the team gathered. She looked at them and shook her head. ¡°The vines tried to grab me when I tried to reach over one of them. And I thought I saw something on the leaves, used this stick to check. Soooooo¡­¡­¡­..See for yourself.¡±


    Racha held up the stick, showing that one end was wet and releasing smoke.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al blinked as he looked at the smoke, the nanites in his eyes activating. He quickly discovered that the smoke was a result of the liquid (Oil or acid) eating away at the top cells of the branch. Even with how slow that was happening, before too long their boots would be eaten away. And he couldn¡¯t figure out what it would do to their flesh.


    ¡°And there¡¯s another problem,¡± Paige spoke up.


    Al ignored her, all his focus was on the smoke, something about it was bothering him. The smoke was from the leaves, it must be a defensive adaption. But why were they where they were?


    ¡°And that is?¡± Jinn asked absently as turned towards Paige.


    Paige only brought up the stick and stone she had picked up, turning them to show two gorges in lines across them.


    ¡°The thorns are that strong!?¡± Racha asked and even Jinn was shocked at the idea.


    Al looked down at the ground, his mind on the puzzle he had thought up. So far, from what he had seen and heard; most of the clearings were all round. But this one, it was a rectangle leading towards a larger flower that they thought was above the main plant. That made this place a natural kill zone, but something was bothering him.


    ¡°And there have to be vines on the other end too! We have to go through the trees!¡± Racha said with a hard stare on her face.


    Al looked around, his nanites noting that both lines of the bushes were near perfect. The only way for them to be perfect was with machines, but this was just like¡­¡­! Al stiffened as he thought of something, looking around his mouth dropped open as his thoughts crystallized, suddenly seeing the truth.


    He looked around, his eyes widened as he saw what they had missed before. Everything made sense, but how this was possible on a¡­¡­ He went still as the worst-case scenario went through his mind. If he was right then they were all heading into the blackhole at terminal velocity.


    ¡°If that flower is above the main mass, then let¡¯s take it out before we go near it,¡± Racha said as she aimed her pistol.


    Al looked up and paled in fear as he realized what she was doing. ¡°NOOOOO!¡±


    Racha turned as Al lunged for her weapon, grabbing it a moment after she fired.


    The bolt she fired tunneled into the earth where she estimated the main mass of the plant. She turned to look at Al, who stared with horror and fear in his eyes back at her. As she opened her mouth to demand he tell her what was wrong, the ground started to shake. As the ground calmed, the three trees started to fall as a cloud of dust formed around when they had been.


    A large grey stout creature with green rashes on its skin was revealed out of the settled dust. It had four limbs that ended in half-circle paws with stubby claws. Its head was wide and it had two pure black eyes that seemed to suck in all light. On its back were ten vines that waved in the air as it looked at them and opened its mouth, revealing white spiky teeth.


    The group could only stare in shock and horror.


    For Sara, this creature was unlike anything she had ever heard of. The vines on its back looked like they were growing from the creature, but was that possible?


    For Racha, this was just another creature that needed to be put down, just like all the others she had fought.


    For Paige, she looked at it in total shock as only now was she able to sense it. All she felt from it was hunger as it woke up from a deep sleep.


    Al looked at it in awe and wonder. He had seen creatures that were symbiotic with plant lifeforms but this took it to another level. How had this thing evolved, what secrets did it hold?


    Jinn just saw a threat, something else that was against them. But he knew that the others might have different thoughts, and he had to snap them out of any spirals they had gone down!


    ¡°Stay strong, just get ready!¡± Jinn said softly as he slowly moved his hand towards his blade.


    For a moment it just looked at them. before it screeched and jumped towards them!

 Chapter Seventeen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of ¡®Vine Beast¡¯


    Galactic Standard Time / 900


    ¡°MOVE!¡±  Jinn bellowed as he called up his aura.  Al and Sara moved to the left as Racha pulled Paige to the right.  Jinn stayed where he was, watching the creature coming closer.  He jumped up when the creature was halfway to him, aiming to get over the creature and attack it from behind. As he passed over it he saw that the vines,  the one he had damaged, seemed to be healing.  Five of the vines shot towards him, he slashed through them, the creature screeching in pain as it plowed into the earth.


    He landed near the hole the creature made when it ¡®woke up¡¯. Jinn risked a glance to look down at where the vine beast had come from. He didn¡¯t want to be caught flat-footed if this thing had a mate or young! Looking down into a pit a good twenty feet deep, he felt horror and revulsion within himself at what he saw. Around where the beast had to have been sleeping, the ground was covered in bones. He hoped it was a trick of the light, but something was glittering down there, things near bones that ended in hands.


    He forced his head up but then he saw something else, something that sent a shiver of hope through him. The trees had been so tall that they hid it, but there it was a large rocky cliff face. It had to be twenty feet high, and there, at the base near the right was a darkness that had to be a cave. Activating his nanites in his eyes, he saw that the mouth was four feet wide.


    He turned and looked at the vine beast, and his nanites told him that it was over ten feet wide and twenty long.  All they had to do was get away from it, make it into the cave, and hope it was long enough for them to escape the vine beast. And that was a good point; someone should look into that first. But who? Jinn turned his head as the vine beast threw its head back and roared, and for a moment his vision flashed white a split second then it was back to normal. He shook his head and looked at the sides, his eyes widened as he saw what was happening.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°What the hell is that thing!?¡± Sara exclaimed in horror as the creature screeched as the vines on its back withered in what, pain or rage?


    Sara had studied every scrap of information she could get her hands on to help her learn to be a healer. And this thing was like nothing that she had ever heard of. In all the knowledge of the Federation, gathered and discovered by the scientific force of all worlds, nothing ever recorded even looked anything like this.  A life form that had plants growing on its back, and if she wasn¡¯t wrong, a life form that could control them? That was impossible, fungus and spores could control parasite meat life, but a meat life form that could control plants and make it part of its bio-system? This was beyond the realm of practicality and into the realm of science fiction!


    ¡°The thing that made the rows of bushes! It must have created this place to funnel prey to it!¡± Al bit out as he pulled out his rifle.


    Sara paled in fear, wondering just how that was possible. Her eyes found Al¡¯s, and she saw just focus and rage in them, nothing else but the will to get through this. Before she could say anything, the vine beast reared its head back and roared, a savage scream that rattled the human''s bones as they braced themselves.


    As Sara blinked, she heard a strange sound, turning she paled in horror. The bushes were all moving into the earth! As she stared in shocked horror, Sara remembered Racha had said vines came at her. Her eyes slowly moved upwards and saw three of them moving towards her and Al. She followed the vines to where they came from and saw nothing but trees that the vines went down. She paled in horror as she saw no flowers on the trees, something that she knew was impossible. Then she realized what was happening, and she screamed in terror and fear. ¡°It¡¯s controlling the plants!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Racha gritted her teeth as she realized the truth in Sara¡¯s yell, and suddenly old events crystallized.  A few old battles with ¡®rogue¡¯ Ancients suddenly made sense. She had always wondered how they had done what they did, but plant control? If that was true then a lot of other things had to be true as well.


    But that didn¡¯t matter right now, to fight and survive did. She slashed out with her knife and cut through one of four vines coming at her and Paige, the other three going after her. One was already around Paige¡¯s right arm and as the other two went for her legs she slashed out with her knife in her left hand. The blade almost made it to the vine around her arm before one of the two attacking her legs went around her arm.


    Before Racha could do more then make a single step towards Paige, the two vines were cut through by something.


    As Racha blinked, a presence materialized behind her.   ¡°Good, you two are still alive.¡±


    Racha reacted and tried to pierce whatever was behind her, only for something to block it.   Racha glared into the eyes of Jinn as he looked back at her with empty eyes.


    ¡°You have to stop doing that when I appear like this,¡± Jinn said dryly and Racha glared back at him.


    ¡°Then stop doing that!  What are you doing here?! Shouldn¡¯t you fight that thing!?¡± Racha asked and Jinn looked at her with a hard glare.


    ¡°We need a way to escape. Beyond where that thing came from, there¡¯s a cliff face with a cave.  I think we can get out through it, but someone needs to make sure it¡¯s not a dead-end,¡± Jinn explained and Racha looked from him to the recovering vine beast.


    ¡°Keep that thing off us, and we¡¯ll call you when we¡¯re done!¡± Racha exclaimed as she ran, grabbing Paige and pulling her along.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    The creature shook itself as it tried to get back to its feet. Nothing that it had ever experienced had ever prepared it for this! Its life was normal, it scared little food things to its special scent, it got so sleepy, it killed them and ate them, that was normal! Instead, something had stung it awake, and its thrashing awake had destroyed what it was using to hide!  Now when it woke up it saw the five big little bitters and clawers there, so it attacked them. But instead of dying like food should they wounded it! This was why it always just killed them after it got them asleep, this was so wasteful!


    And if they got away, then they would come back and kill it! It could leave of course, again!   But that was the last resort, it had lost its den once before, never again!   This time it would win, it would feed and kill all of those big little bitters!


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    Jinn smirked as he dashed at the vine beast with his aura active, his bloodlust rising. He was big enough to admit that he love the challenge of battle, how the chance of fate affected everything.


    As the vine beast looked at him it opened its mouth and a long pink tongue shot at him.  Jinn ducked down and dodged it, slashing up with his blade as it passed over him. He slashed the tongue in two before he moved faster towards the vine beast.


    In a moment he had reached it, moving along its side he slashed out with his blade and created a long gash along its side. As the vine beast roared in pain, Jinn had already moved passed it, running towards Al and Sara.


    He could see that Sara had a vine around her neck, and Al was hacking at three around his right leg as they pulled him towards a tree.


    Jinn made it to Sara and slashed through the vine holding her! Before she could react, Jinn grabbed her, spun around a few times and threw her towards the hole the vine beast came from.


    Al had cut through the vines attacking him and gotten out of range before Jinn made it to him, a smirk on his face as he faced his friend.


    ¡°Al, you¡¯ve really paid attention to those lessons on self-defense back on the ship!¡± Jinn said with a smirk and Al ignored him as he looked at the vines around his arm, the same look he got when his nanites were looking at something.


    ¡°AL!¡± Jinn barked and Al looked up and laughed a little.  Jinn just huffed and shook his head before he heard the vine beast get back to its feet. ¡°No time, get to the far end, there¡¯s a cave beyond where that thing came from, we might escape through!  I¡¯ll dance with our new friend, go!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Paige wondered how her abilities failed her, she should have felt that thing! She should have felt that thing, at least the sense of hunger it had! But all she could feel was pain and rage from it¡­¡­.. that meant it wasn¡¯t trying to kill them for food. Then it was fighting them so they wouldn¡¯t kill it! But if it was capable of feeling all that, why could she have heard it while it slept?!


    ¡°Don¡¯t blame yourself,¡± Racha ordered, and Paige looked up at her. Paige discovered that they had made it to the cliff face, and the cave was right before them.


    ¡°Even the best agents have times when things slip past them. What matters is trying to be better the next time. And I bet you¡¯ve never tried to find something that was hibernating right?¡± Racha asked and Paige blinked, not having heard that term ever.


    ¡°What do you¡­¡­. Not important. I can¡¯t hear anything from in there, but if it controls plants, it might sense things through them. We need to make sure that tunnel is clear of, well you know,¡± Paige said and Racha nodded and turned towards the cave, turning on the lights under her rifle as she did so. As the light went out into the darkness, it revealed a long stone corridor that continued. Just beyond the light from her riffle, there was a brightness a good three feet from their light beams.


    Racha nodded to Paige and gestured towards the vine beast, getting a nod in return.


    Running towards it, Racha moved her rifle¡¯s light beam around, seeing nothing beyond a few blue mushrooms here and there. So far she couldn¡¯t see anything that might be used by the vine beast to spy or attack them, but then this whole thing was out of her experience. But as she ran, her mind wandered as she looked over everything that she had figured out.


    First; the abilities that Sara, Jinn, and the two creatures, the paralyzer, and the vine beast had to be powered by the same source. The fact that Sara and Jinn developed powers here, was the one thing that she couldn¡¯t figure out. There had to be something that she was missing, something that she didn¡¯t see! If she could bring back that knowledge, then the Federation would probably enter a new golden age.


    But for now, she had to find out if they could escape through here!


    Finally, she reached the light and saw it was from a turn in the tunnel that went to the right.    Reaching it she grinned at what she saw, they could use this to escape the vine beast!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn dodged another tongue lash from the vine beast, this time it was coated in black blood! As it hit the ground he saw smoke start to rise from the grass but no fire sparked.  He dodged to the right he spared a glance to see that Al and Sara had reached the cliff. Good, he only had to handle this thing for a few more minutes then.


    He landed to the right of the vine beast and heard something slithering in the grass. He didn¡¯t wait, he just jumped to the right and spun head over foot, seeing five vines come toward where he had been. That was the third time it had used that trick to try and get them, and he wondered if the vines from yesterday were from smaller beasts. If this thing was as big as they could grow, then that would track if smaller ones preyed on the flying worms and the lizard things they saw.


    He saw Paige run out and gesture for him to come over as Al and Sara moved past her and stopped at the edge of the cave mouth.


    ¡°MOVE IT BRO!   WE¡¯VE GOT A WAY away from that thing!¡± Al called out as he cupped his hands.


    Jinn grinned and looked at the vine beast as it turned to look at the cliff face, and then he felt a spark of horror.


    He put the thought away and poured every bit of the energy fueling it into the aura, and it grew larger as it carried him faster to them. It canceled itself automatically when he reached the others, a look of fear on his face.  ¡°RUN!¡±


    Without a word Al, Sara, and Paige ran into the cave mouth, Jinn followed behind them and they were all in moments before the vine beast was halfway to them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked ahead as she ran, the terror she was feeling lending her speed. She had seen Jinn fight a giant humanoid bug and that paralyzer thing yesterday, and now he had been scared, and that terrified her. As the group reached the turn, Sara prepared herself for whatever horror was ahead of them, but all she saw was a ten-foot tunnel with vines over the mouth that the sun came through.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Jinn asked and Sara nodded before she looked around, a frown on her face.


    ¡°Wait, where¡¯s Racha?¡± Sara asked and laughter from Racha came from beyond the vines. Sara took a deep breath as Jinn walked through, the others following before only she was left. She moved after them, ready for anything but what the others found, the view took her breath away.


    The tunnel came out on top of a tall hill a few miles away from a forest to their right. To their left was another forest in the middle, miles off in the distance was a waterfall that fell down a good twenty feet into a river.


    They could see for miles,  their eyes tracked the river all the way to the ocean.


    ¡°Perfect, we just need to make it to that river and follow it.  We can probably save a lot of time if we use it, maybe make a raft or something,¡± Al said with a smirk as he thought up a design to use.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn just frowned as he looked around listening with one ear, something was bothering him.   The cave led out onto purple grass just outside the tunnel mouth, and the cave itself was sticking out a foot from the hill. Behind and above it was a slop that went up about ten feet until it ran into a cliff face a good thirty feet tall.


    Jinn paled as he saw what looked like a vine moving a little on the side of the cliff face and cursed. Before anyone could speak they heard something slam against something loudly, and they felt a vibration. ¡°We¡¯re still in range, move!   To the river!¡±


    As one they started running after him. As he led the way towards the central jungle, Jinn felt that spark of fear again. That creature in the clearing had understood what the others being there meant, and it was fear and rage that Jinn saw in its eyes.   That meant it could remember, that meant it could think based on what it knew or learned. But the bones in the pit meant that it might have been eating other intelligent life forms. And the one thing his trainers had right about the galaxy, there was nothing worse than one who would eat the flesh of those that could reason.


    If this planet had one life form that would do that, there might be more. But all they saw were pods from their ship, where had the other stellar travelers gone? Were any still here in hiding on other islands?  One thing was unmistakable, this place was more.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Back in the clearing, the vine beast looked at the cliff face and slammed its body against it a few more times before it stopped and huffed. It turned around, letting its mind wander. The big little bitters had escaped after all, and that meant it needed to claim a new den. If the rest of the regular little biters came,  it would die. And that was against all that it knew, it ate it wasn¡¯t food!


    It stopped and looked at its bed, a feeling of regret going through it. It had claimed place after a hard battle, and it still bore many of the wounds from that fight.  All it could do was control the green things, it couldn¡¯t throw its will at other creatures anymore and its legs were still healing from the poison. Still, it was at least halfway healed, and the newcomer hadn¡¯t come to its den, and that was good, that meant the others around here would still be hiding. If it found one of them and killed it, then it could take their dens! And if it had a new hunting area, it could grow stronger and bigger! One day it might even be as big as its big sibling, and then it could kill it and take all its power, be the ruler instead.


    As it thought about everything, a shadow passing by made it crouch low and whimper until it saw that it was just a cloud passing by, not what it had feared. The invader wasn¡¯t here, that was just a sky shadow. As it got back up, it looked around before heading off to the north, away from the clearing with the escape capsule, the river spider, unknowingly going towards the paralyzer beast and its destiny.

 Chapter Eighteen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Forest Beyond Vine Beast Clearing


    Galactic Standard Time / 1030


    A few minutes later, Jinn called a halt and looked around. Paige panted a little as she took deep breaths, her eyes on the ground. Al and Sara both looked to the opposite sides as Racha looked back where they had come. Jinn hadn¡¯t said anything, but he knew the others would soon demand he explain just what the problem was. And he didn¡¯t know just knew how any of the others would react, and that almost bothered him.


    ¡°What happened!? What did you see back there when you were fighting that thing!?¡± Racha demanded and Jinn was silent.  Racha looked at him with a glare and took a step forwards. She grabbed Jinn¡¯s clothing near his neck and pulled him towards her, her glare glacial. She glared at him and Jinn stayed silent, and she raised a fist behind her head. ¡°Tell me!¡±


    She threw her fist forward and almost hit him but then Al grabbed it.


    ¡°Hey!  Jinn¡¯s got a clear head! He wouldn¡¯t have said to run if we didn¡¯t have to!¡± Al barked and Racha looked at him with a glare and she was about to say something when Jinn spoke up.


    ¡°It was a reason eater,¡± Jinn said abruptly and Racha looked at him in shock as he continued, the others all staring at him in total shock. ¡°And I saw metallic glitters among the bones, and when Al cried out I saw fear and anger in that thing''s eyes¡­ there¡¯s only one answer. That thing, it could think, reason and remember. And the bones, some of them had hands.¡±


    Sara clapped her hands to her mouth in shocked horror.  Paige almost threw up but stopped before she did so, swallowing it back down.


    Al looked at him in shock and horror, just staring at him before shaking his head in disgust.


    ¡°Blackhole¡­ if there¡¯s one there are more. And if that thing was sentient, others could be too¡­ What other monsters are out there? Or if that thing will come after us for revenge?¡± Al asked in equal parts horror and wonder as he looked back towards the cave.


    Jinn knew what Al really meant; he had thought the same thing. And he looked back towards the hill and cave, but he didn¡¯t see anything that could tell them if the vine beast was tracking them.  He looked around, Al and Sara had recovered, and both were ready to fight if they had to.


    Racha had drawn her pistol and looked around, her eyes going to the treetops, looking for anything that might attack them.


    Paige had closed her eyes and seemed to be listening for something.


    Sara and Al meanwhile had just looked out, ready for anything to make a move.


    ¡°We can¡¯t stay here it that¡¯s the case,¡± Jinn said loudly, getting everyone to look at him.  ¡°If we¡¯re right, then we need to put some distance between that thing and us. Getting to the Yard-ship is even more important now.  If that thing still works, we can turtle up there, gather everyone to that place and then plan to get off this world!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>-----------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked at Jinn, wondering again just who he was. The man had so far been able to fight off the vine beast, kill the paralyzing beast and now he was raising their spirits? Just what had someone like him been doing to become a criminal?


    ¡°He¡¯s right, we need to move now. And the river is the best option we¡¯ve got; maybe we¡¯ll find the other capsules, Maybe we won¡¯t. But I think it might be our best chance to get there fast,¡± Racha said as she looked around at the others, who all nodded.


    ¡°Wait, is everyone okay?¡± Sara asked as she looked around at the others.


    Racha looked at Sara, then her eyes went to Jinn.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Say, how did you gain that ability to cure the paralyzation yesterday?¡± Racha asked and Sara shrugged.


    ¡°I just felt so bad and weak, then I looked away and he was healed. I¡­ can¡¯t describe it more,¡± Sara muttered as she looked away.


    Jinn nodded before he released a sigh. ¡°Yeah, I was dying.  I just felt so helpless, and then I had my aura.¡±


    ¡°Okay everyone, sharing time is over! Let¡¯s move before something else attacks us and stay quiet people!¡± Al commented as he looked at the forest around them.


    Jinn nodded, turned, and started to walk away, the others falling in step behind him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they moved towards the river, Racha kept her pistol raised, her eyes hard. She was ready to fight against anything that could threaten them. They didn¡¯t talk, all their energy was focused on staying alert.


    Racha''s mind was troubled, as she walked she activated her nanites, ordering them to watch for her. As she moved, she let her mind wander as she trusted her tech to notice anything amiss. She didn¡¯t know what to think, but then she forced herself to remember her training. As her instructors always said, if you have a problem, work at it and think small.


    As she looked around she, she decided to tack it from the top down.  The creature was able to control plants, fact.  Paige and Sara both had abilities, fact. Everything needed fuel, fact. So then the abilities of all three subjects needed fuel. Then there were the Ancients. Battles with ¡®Rouge¡¯ Ancients sometimes weren¡¯t normal, sometimes they wielded the elements themselves and their armor had inbuilt energy weapons. So maybe they weren¡¯t technological weapons, but something like the abilities of all the subjects.


    The wolf creature had mutated when it ate part of the river spider, fact. Paige had people chase after her, fact. Idea; the abilities Paige, Sara and Jinn were at least partially organic. Then that meant that the Ancients were able to gain abilities off this planet. Paige¡¯s situation meant that people could gain those abilities from birth. So could people be......, could they be bred to have them? That meant why people wanted Paige, her womb. And that was dark, but she had killed scum who were even worse so it was too hard to understand their reasons.


    So there had to be reasons that people had gained abilities here, but what was it? Something they ate, the air itself? Every one of the Deckhands had eaten some of the killed worms from the first night. They had eaten them to let the passengers have extra, but why hadn¡¯t the others gained a power by now, why hadn¡¯t Jones? It couldn¡¯t be an emotional component, the flight he experienced when those lizard scorpions hunted him had to qualify! But if it did and he didn¡¯t have an episode, then what did that say about him?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige kept her senses open, and all she felt were a few whispers of emotions, and even then, only the sense of fear and hunger. So far, nothing had moved closer to the party, and she was happy about that at least. After the vine beast had gotten by her by maybe sleeping, she wasn¡¯t putting as much trust in her abilities. If there was anything out there that was still asleep, she wouldn¡¯t know until it woke up.


    She looked beyond a tree and had to admit that she was worried about what Jinn reported about the vine beast. If that was intelligent, were the river spider or the wolf also? And that led her down a large and dark hole. The wolf creature was able to absorb the genetics of whatever it ate, and it wanted to eat her. And that meant if it ate her it would gain something, then her abilities had to be partly biological. And that created so many terrible things people could have done to her. And there were things people could even do with her corpse if they were smart enough, things that made her sick.


    Paige was so focused on her thoughts and her other sense, that she never noticed Sara until she put a hand on her shoulder.


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    Paige almost cried out before she looked down at her shoulder and saw a hand that she followed to Sara.


    ¡°Whoa!   Hey, calm down girl!  I just wanted to make sure you¡¯re okay,¡± Sara said, and Paige looked at her before turning away, blushing.  Really, she was hiding her face as she tried to figure out how to explain her focus to Sara.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m just¡­¡­ you know that thing back there. I mean I grew up near a wilderness preserve, but I never heard of anything like that!¡± Paige said and Sara nodded.


    ¡°I know what you mean.   I mean I always wanted to be a doctor, so I studied all the types of sentient life out there.   And that is nothing like that recorded anywhere!¡± Sara said excitedly as her eyes roamed around at the trees as if waiting for them to move.


    Paige looked at Sara and almost called her a liar to her face. All that Paige sensed from Sara was worry, fear and horror. For a few moments, she didn¡¯t understand what Sara was doing, but then she did. ¡°I guess that thing would be something to study.  Safely of course.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Sara said as she looked around with a grin on her face. She smiled internally as she looked at Paige. She had been worried that Paige was starting to lose it.  She knew that people acted weird when they confronted the unknown after all, she had seen it before. But thanks to her Paige was doing great! If she got her to think about it she would hold it together and they would all live!


    But Sara had to admit, that creature was amazing! Were the vines on its back organic-meat or organic-plant?  Just studying its genes would have given anyone who did it Awards in multiple sciences! But that was for when they got back in contact with the Federation, for now, there was only survival!


    As the group passed through the forest, Sara looked up at a low-hanging fruit pod and reached out for it. She had almost grabbed it when Paige grabbed her hand. Looking at Paige, Sara saw Paige¡¯s eyes were locked on something above them.


    Slowly following her gaze she saw that above the pod was a grey nest, a five-foot wide and tall sphere. On the bottom was a large hole that took out half of the space and the interior was in complete darkness. Sara looked at it and for a moment she thought that she saw something moving in the darkness, just out of sight.


    ¡°Stay away from the ambush point,¡± Paige whispered and Sara nodded as she looked at the hive and swallowed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked back and saw the interaction between them and nodded. Sara had good instants to have noticed that something was bothering Paige. It reminded him of a few of his old training partners. For a second he wondered if she was from a place like him, but then he shook his head at the absurdity of it. That seemed impossible the more he thought of it. Two beings who rebelled against their masters, both escaped alive and were on the same ship? For now, he had to work to keep them alive, where she was from could wait for later.


    Looking up at the trees, he saw three more of the hives in as many trees and he was starting to get worried. They had never found a nest for those flying worms, could these be it?


    No, he didn¡¯t think so. The chance was there, but it seemed more likely that whatever made these was another predator, not the worms.


    Ahead of them was the river, and all they needed to do was make it there and then they would have their path to the sea. That had to be the priority, nothing else mattered.


    For the next ten minutes, the group moved in silence. All their attention was on the trees around them, looking for anything that might attack them. After ten minutes, Jinn saw light rays ahead of them. The sounds of water falling let them all know that they had reached the river. Signaling a stop, Racha moved to stand beside him, ready to help him defend the front.


    ¡°Racha, sweep left, Al up.  Sara, Paige, ahead.  I¡¯ll sweep right.  GO!¡± Jinn commanded before he rushed forward, the others following behind him. As a group they came out onto the river bed, following his orders.


    They had come out of the forest, the river ahead of them by fifteen feet.   It was over forty feet wide, at least.   And to their right over thirty feet away was a waterfall that fell a good eighty feet and over thirty feet wide. The waterfall was on a cliff that went to the left a good fifty feet as it slowly became a mountain.   The opposite side went out of sight, forests and a small path down to the river that ended near the waterfall.


    Across the river was a flat plain that went a good hundred feet to another forest. It was far enough away that they couldn¡¯t see anything about it with the naked eye, and they could see nothing moving.


    After a few moments of silence, Jinn looked from the waterfall to the forest along the river, and then back to the others.


    ¡°Clear.  Check our supplies. Al, get the bio checker ready, if that water is good to drink, we need to know.  And keep an eye out!¡± Jinn barked as he looked around at the riverbed. He almost looked up when he had a stray thought, something that made him go still.


    His eyes went over the river, noticing a few stones along the shoreline but that didn¡¯t register, something about it was wrong.  For a moment, he was back on his birth world, hunting along that river. The first thing he learned was to track, and you always followed the footprints to your target. But what did you do when you had nothing to track?


    Animals went to rivers to drink, that was basic! Why wouldn¡¯t¡­  As he realized why, he felt his insides freeze.  Everything made sense if that was true,  if he was right then they were all in grave danger.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al smiled as he looked at the view of the river and the plains beyond. He wouldn¡¯t ever see anything like this on his world. For a few moments, he almost thanked what had caused him to leave his world.  Then he remembered why he had and killed that thought. Then as he was looking around, he saw something reflect a spark of light and looked at it closer.


    ¡°Guys, we need¡­¡­¡± Jinn began only for Al to interrupt him.


    ¡°One of our rifles?!¡± Al said in complete shock.


    They all turned and saw Al had pulled a rifle from the river, the current had carried it to rest against a rock. Holding it up, Al looked at it and quickly found the serial number.


    ¡°How could this have gotten here?¡± Sara asked as she looked at Al with a confused tone.


    Al looked up and then back down at the


    ¡°This is one of the ones that were missing last night. I guess that the people who didn¡¯t make it back must have lost it near here or up there,¡± Al said with a bitter tone as he looked at the top of the waterfall.


    ¡°Where are they!?¡±Sara asked as she looked around.


    ¡°Whatever¡¯s hunting here must have gotten them!¡± Jinn said and the others all looked at him in shock.


    ¡°What the nova!?¡±Al asked, a cold feeling going through him as he looked at Jinn.


    Jinn was looking around, what Al hoped wasn¡¯t a scared look in his eyes.


    ¡°This place, it should have more lifeforms here, there should be tracks! But there¡¯s nothing!   The only reason is if something is using it to hunt!¡±Jinn said as he looked around and tried to find something.


    Al looked from the spare weapon in his hand to the river. Suddenly he remembered an old ebook that he read last week.


    ¡°Its den is behind the falls,¡± Al said bitterly. Jinn and Racha went still, aiming their weapons at the waterfall.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha aimed her pistol towards where Al said whatever was hunting around here had its lair.  And for a moment she wanted to curse herself, his idea was basic! She should have noticed it, it was the perfect place to set up an ambush!


    ¡°We need to move now, get away from here fast,¡± Racha said softly and Jinn nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, we planned to follow the river to the sea, let''s do it for as long as we can,¡± Jinn said just as softly and the others all nodded. With no words between them, slowly they all moved down the river. Racha and Jinn stayed between the waterfall and the group, Sara and Paige leading the way with Al in the middle.


    A few minutes later, nothing still happened so Racha spared a look at Al¡¯s pack, her eyes locked on the weapon he found.  Her mind went to the missing team and Jones explanation about what happened. She and Duncan hadn¡¯t believed him, but there hadn¡¯t been anyone else to question, but now there was something.


    But how had the weapon even gotten to the river?  That meant that someone had survived the attack. Rodolphe had known about the river, and the river spider. Maybe he had hoped to use it against whatever had attacked them, like how the wolf had come and fought the spider.  They had escaped, and then that answered some who had the weapon. But somehow they must have fallen into the river up there, and then lost their weapon when they went over the falls.


    But were they still alive? The only way that could even be possible was if they got out onto the other side from them. But they didn¡¯t know anything about where they had crashed, then they might have tried to find a way back up. But then they might have run for the forest to escape from the predator that hunted around here, that made sense.


    But if that was the reason that they hadn¡¯t returned to the capsule, then they were on their own.   The mission to the harbor ship was all that was important right now, nothing or anyone mattered.   Maybe they could find them after they took the harbor ship, if they could make something to help scout, a vehicle of some kind then that might work. All she could do was hope for the best, and prey they were still alive out there.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡­¡­¡­.Repairs to comm repeater finished. Facility mind to Region Mind, waiting for reply


    Region mind here.   Facility at Location 0984 has been dark. Report on condition of facility and reasons for damages.


    Facility infiltrated by Templates 10049 through specimen released port and 99850 through damaged facility.  Comm repeater damaged by Bio-Weapon Templates hunting sub-templates 10049 group 0203 on facility area.


    Damages caused by Templates 10049/ Damages to local gene-sculpting facility at fifty percent, repairs repaired.


    Five servitor units destroyed, damages to repair facility number five at seventy percent, remodeling needed to return facility to functional status.


    Template 99850 entered damaged section caused by rampaging out of control Test Template.


    Why were repairs not done?


    ¡­¡­.Damages caused trade with harvester mind to twinkle. Guard Templates were seeded and were a near-optimum solution.  Main gene-sculpting facility still active. Activities were not affected beyond a 05 percent decrease drop in creation of Test Templates.  Requests for resources for repairs were low on Regional priority list.


    ¡­.. Next alignment change, transport construct will send war templates and resources.     Command/ track down intruders, all test templates creation are on hold until facility is free of all intruders.   Beta level directive.


    ¡­¡­.complying with directive. All modified directives being updated.

 Chapter Nineteen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Fruit-Pod trees near Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 0928


    Rodolphe glared ahead as he helped carry the injured deckhand through the forest. After Jones had left them behind, for a second Roldophe thought they were dead. But then the lizard scorpions had reacted when the fire started.  When they moved away, Rodolphe used that chance to get lead them all away.  But it left him and the only other healthy deckhand carrying their wounded comrade together. As they moved, Rodolphe could feel that something was hunting them, and that bothered him a lot. Carrying someone wounded, that was just asking for something to attack them!


    At least¡­¡­ he almost stumbled before he sent a command to one set of his nanites in his ears activating them. Their echolocation function was just perfect to watch for anything.


    They needed to get somewhere they could defend themselves, but where? The cave nearby was the only thing that made sense, but


    ¡°Keep moving, we have to make space between us and those things! We need to move!¡± Rodolphe said bitterly as he looked ahead,


    ¡°How?!  Where are we going?  What are we going to do?!¡± The healthy deckhand asked. He had short blond hair, red eyes and was dressed in the normal deckhand jumpsuit. He was looking around, wondering if anything was hunting them.


    ¡°Just keep your eyes ahead Zane!  Bryce, can you hear me!?¡± Rodolphe asked the injured deckhand they carried.


    Bryce had short purple hair and blue eyes. His jumpsuit was injured in his right arm, and he was breathing as his eyes were glossy. He had fallen to the ground when one of the creatures attacked his left arm. Even after a few minutes, all he could do was moan in pain, not reacting to anything he heard.


    Rodolphe thought about how Bryce was one of the loudest workers on the ship.  Whenever Rodolphe had a shift at one of the ship¡¯s amusement parks, he hoped that Bryce wasn¡¯t there ¡®clowning around¡¯. But he would have given anything to hear his friend laughing right now!


    For a moment, he felt a spark of shame, if the plan had worked Bryce might have been killed!  But he had to admit, that he had started to get second thoughts as he lived aboard the ship.  He knew that he shouldn¡¯t think that way, all those years that he had lived under them, the friends he lost!   The cause was justice, and he had sacrificed so much for it, he couldn¡¯t have second thoughts now!


    But he needed to stay alive, and the best way was for everyone to live! The more people still moving, the more people fighting. The more people fighting, the more chances for them to save his life if something happened to them now, it might be him next!  And as his parents said, where there was life there is hope.


    ¡°So where are you leading us!?¡± Zane asked with a near hysteric edge to his voice.


    ¡°LET ME THINK!¡± Rodolphe barked and Zane went quiet behind him. This was just like Zane, a rebel with no sense of discipline. Back on the ship, Zane was always butting heads with Duncan and the other officers. The scuttlebug was that sooner or later Duncan or someone would throw him out an airlock with a suit. But he was a good fighter and some disciple.  So then he hadn''t been expecting to carry someone knocked out after an attack or something. ¡°There¡¯s a cave near here! We can go there and think about how to get back to the clearing! And if that doesn¡¯t work maybe we can go backwards back to the capsule!¡±


    ¡°Backwards? What are you even talking about¡­¡­ oh?  Oh! Yeah, that works. I guess it could work,¡± Zane said with a shocked tone.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the scent of strange meat hit its nostrils, the creature looked up. So far it had expected the newcomer to be released soon, and the time was bothering it. It would have gone into a deep slumber, but this scent¡­¡­. It smelled so much like the smaller ones who had torn off one of its horns.  To get revenge was something, and they were always so tasty and full of strength. But then it smelled some of its favorite prey, a small enough number that it could get them all in one attack.


    If it left its new den, then it would be out when the new one was released, but then the new one might not come after all. If it ate these ones, it would probably be able to sleep for a week at least, maybe more. And then it would see what changes had happened to the territory.   If the newcomer ate one of the powerful ones, things would change.  And it might be good for it, but it was feeling a little bit hungry, so maybe it would be a good choice.


    As it got out of its den, it looked up at the sky for a few moments before it charged out, hoping to find its prey before the new one was released.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way, Rodolphe kept his eyes focused and his ears open. So far, they hadn¡¯t been found by anything, but he was sure that something was following them.  It wasn¡¯t something that he could explain, but something was bothering him.  Those strange lizard-scorpion things hadn¡¯t been seen, and there was something about the trees around them.


    Thinking about them, what they were wasn¡¯t something that seemed right.  They had attacked close, and the stinger they had was fast and terrible.   What could they have eaten that they needed such organic tools?    Maybe the tails killed the flying worms, and they flicked them off when they killed them?


    But then there were the wolf thing and the spider from the river. Both were things that weren¡¯t normal in an environment like this, at least according to what he knew. But this place was like nothing he had ever seen before.   And for some reason, he had a feeling that something about that thought was true beyond what he knew.


    ¡°Hey, Rodolphe?   I think I¡¯ve been seeing something,¡± Zane said with a hint of worry in his voice.


    Rodolphe looked over his left shoulder and saw that Zane was looking to their right. Twisting his head around fast, he saw a branch on one of the trees moving upwards. It was as if someone or something had brushed it aside or taken off from it. He looked around, trying to get his bearings.  If it was something that could fly and it was tracking them. Then this thing thought it could kill them. Then that meant lots of trouble for two people trying to carry a wounded man between them.


    Rodolphe almost said to put Bryce down when he noticed something on one of the trees. He had seen that sight once before, only then it was backwards. They were almost there, and once there they could make a stand, hold off anything that might attack them and then plan what to do.


    ¡°Just keep moving, we can¡¯t wait! So go faster!¡±  Rodolphe said with a hard edge as he sped up.


    Without a word, Zane did as he was told, and Rodolphe was happy that Zane wasn¡¯t as bad as he thought he was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked ahead, wondering how he had gotten into this. But it had been great, the perfect job.  Sign on with the Spirit, then try and smuggle the book to the cousins to see if it worked.   And then report about how good the ship was for carrying their cargo. And he had been volunteered for this by his grandfather, and you didn¡¯t say no to Grandfather.


    But did the old man have to go the extra mile?! And did the Power user have to craft the ¡®Mask¡¯ so well?  His persona of a rebel punk runaway was starting to rub him the wrong way. But the only ways to get rid of it were out of his reach, one to have someone say the counter phase while Empowered. And then there was the very much impossible, for him to gain the Power!


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    But still, everything had been perfect, his destination was the next planet. His actions to get thrown off the ship had almost borne fruit, everything was perfect! Then somehow they had lost the ship, got into an escape capsule and now this. If he ever broke through the ¡®Mask¡¯, then the first thing he would do was find Jones and strangle him!


    ¡°We made it,¡± Rodolphe said with relief and Zane looked up and saw that ahead of them was a small hill.


    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± He asked with a note of shock in his voice, all the ¡®Mask¡¯ would allow his anger to go to his voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s a cave on the other side. We can get in there and just fire away at anything that comes at us,¡± Rodolphe said with a note of relief in his voice.


    Zane looked around, trying to find anything that might be a sign that they were about to be attacked.  He wanted to calm down, but that strange feeling he got before the battle started up again, and then he went still. He looked towards the forest and paled at what he saw. ¡°Rod, Rod¡­¡­ we¡¯ve got trouble!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe had gone still as his nanites sent him data, he looked towards the forest and saw five of the lizard scorpions coming towards them. This was what he was scared of, he knew they showed a wounded posture but he didn¡¯t expect some of those things to hunt them!


    ¡°What happened?¡± Bryce¡¯s mumbled words caused Rodolphe to feel a bit better about their chances. With him up he could at least watch their backs, this had to improve their chances to live through this!


    ¡°Bad things man, get ready. Zan help me put him down, get him to that cave!  It¡¯s just behind the¡­¡­¡­¡­¡±  Rodolphe trailed off as he stared in shock. The lizard scorpions had all gone still before turning and running away. He almost dropped Bryce when his nanites heard the sound of something heavy walking on stone.


    ¡°Run, just run Zane! Bryce don¡¯t move, just hold on!¡± Rodolphe exclaimed. Zane didn¡¯t even ask, just helping carry Bryce as the two of them ran past the hill. In moments the three of them were hidden behind a tree. Rodolphe swallowed and looked around it, hoping he wouldn¡¯t see what he knew he would.


    Moments later a large creature came around the hill. It was at least ten feet tall, five feet wide, and ten feet long. It had white fur, and it had a tail that ended in a bone ball with two sickle-like horns pointing away from the body. It carried itself on six legs that ended in bird-like talons. It had a centaur upper body that looked like it was part cat.  Its mouth had two saber-like fangs and four red tentacles below its chin. Its hands ended in half-foot-long claws that glinted in the sunlight. It had three eyes with the third in the middle of its forehead.


    For a moment it looked around before turning towards where the lizard scorpion had gone.  Without a look back, went after them, leaving the clearing behind it.


    ¡°What happened?   The last thing I remember¡­¡­ AAAGGGGHHH!¡±  Bryce suddenly cried out as he grabbed his right arm where it had been savaged by the lizard scorpion. His hand came away bloody and he looked at it in shock.


    Rodolphe looked at Zane, nodded and together they slowly put him down on the forest floor.   Moving away from him Zane reached into his pockets and brought out a few band-aids.


    ¡°Let me take a look at it man, we had to move so we left it alone,¡± Zane said apologetically and Bryce nodded and winced.


    ¡°Got it man¡­¡­ say. Where¡¯s Jones? My fist has an appointment with his face for not getting away from that thing,¡± Bryce said with anger in his voice.


    With how out of place it was, Rodolphe suspected the heat of his wound was causing this.  But how to answer him, that was the trouble before him now.


    Zane only laughed bitterly and shook his head. ¡°Scum left us to die! When we get back to the capsule I¡¯m gonna beat him black and blue!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce only looked at Rodolphe before turning his head away.  He just absorbs that, and then he felt such anger, so much that his vision went red for a few moments. For a few moments just sat there before he felt a strange cold sensation spreading from his injured arm. He looked at it and saw Zane putting a nano-bandage on it.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the verdict doc?¡± Bryce asked with a worried tone in his voice.


    Zane looked up and shook his head. ¡°I did the best I could with what we have.  Nothing in there, not fangs or anything. Can¡¯t tell if it had poison or anything in its mouthparts. Just keep walking, if you start to say anything let us know.¡±


    ¡°Got I doc, so what¡¯s the plan R?¡± Bryce asked and Rudolphe shook his head.


    ¡°We¡¯re walking backwards from the path the team did earlier today. We should get back to the clearing in about half an hour if we¡¯re lucky,¡± Rodolphe explained with a sigh.


    Bryce looked at him as Zane moved away from him. He looked down and flexed his arm, feeling his muscle move. He had to admit, that he didn¡¯t think that the lizard scorpions weren¡¯t venomous, he didn¡¯t feel it.  He wondered how he should handle this, how long he should act like his arm bothered him.  He had kept his eyes on Zane when he was working on it, and maybe the right sounds when Zane probed it.


    This was nothing, it had barely even stung him, nothing like the times back at the labs. All he had to do was favor it for a few days and ask to handle something light.  He had hoped that he would be able to use the ship to escape to the outer regions, and then find a place to just sleep away time. If they were right about him, then he could just outlive them, and then he could try and make a life for himself.


    He blinked and looked up, seeing Rodolphe and Zane look at him and he laughed a little.   ¡°Sorry guys, I was just lost in thought, you know how it is.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I do. But come on, we¡¯ve got to move now! We need to get back, that thing might find them!¡±  Rodolphe said as he turned.


    Bryce nodded and looked around, pulling out his pistol.  Zane and Rodolphe both raised their rifles to a ready position as they all moved off, Bryce at the rear.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Farther back the creature hid and watched as the new one left, tracking the stingers.  For some reason, it had left the big, small ones alone. When that pack of stingers appeared, it thought they would kill the strange meat first, but they had run away. But that had caused the newcomer to chase after them, something that was good for it. Its attack might have killed it, but then there were the watchers. It knew that the creators might have something watching the newcomer for the next few days.


    But the big, small ones had walked away without fighting the newcomer.  Strange, they had always gone for the kill like everything here. It could still hunt down the big, small ones or go back to sleep, but the newcomer was something different. It thought it would be a better hunter, but then it passed by the life liquid without a thought. It didn¡¯t like that, that showed the hands of the creators in this, and it didn¡¯t like that one beat.


    It still remembered the time before, how the creators had killed one of the oldest strongest of this place. It had happed without a thought, and it was fast, and they had carried it away. It had seen others with its abilities, and it had saved its power for that reason.


    But before it moved away, it stopped. It sucked in the air, and then it looked towards the scent.   It saw the life liquid of the wounded strange meat. Well, this changed everything! With the power in that meat, then it could become a stronger one, maybe even take what it had wanted for so long!


    With that decision, its path was set.  It slowly moved down out of the trees it had hidden in, and moved after the deckhands, ready to kill.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe slowly looked around, something had changed. He could feel something in the air, something was wrong. This was bad, he couldn¡¯t tell why he thought that, but he knew it was very bad.  As he looked around, his eyes found their way back towards the hill and the creature, but this was more than that, something lesser.


    He looked at Zane and Bryce, his eyes going over their weapons before he went to his rifle.   So far, they had been able to chase off those lizard things, but something was making him worried... This was almost as bad as the¡­ he went still for a single second before he kept moving.  That might work, but it might not.   But if he was right, it was the best idea that he had with what he had to work with.


    It had a large chance of not working, it had a few moving parts but if it worked, then they might live.


    ¡°Anything wrong Rodolphe?¡± Zane asked and he looked over his shoulder at the others and swallowed.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡­¡­. just thinking about what to do to stay alive,¡± Rodolphe said as he shook his head.    He was overreacting, he must have been. That big thing would have found anything that was back there, and it had gone after whatever he had sensed. But just to make sure, he¡¯ll lead them towards the river anyway, and if he was right he¡¯ll try and do that plan he made. If he was wrong, he¡¯ll just keep them away from the river, say what was there after they were away. Yeah, that¡¯s the best thing he could do now.


    ¡°Anything wrong man?¡± Bryce asked and Rodolphe just laughed a little.


    ¡°Just some nerves man, nothing to worry about at all,¡± Rodolphe said as he led the way towards the river, never noticing that Zane and Bryce were both as worried as he was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Observations of test subject, currently it is following lone Template 10049towards sample group.


    Observers near sample group show templates preparing defensive actions, combat near one hundred percent.


    Trio of template 10049 observed moving towards river den of Combat Template DSS; subtype dwarf within facility area¡­¡­ reason are unknown.


    Observations of trio requested, possibility of data gathered leading towards goal of experiment possible.


    ¡­¡­¡­ request denied, save scans of trio.   Send all observers to follow test subject, prepare for direct actions.


    Following orders.

 Chapter Twenty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Fruit-Pod trees near Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 0950


    They moved through the forest, Rodolphe kept his eyes locked on what was ahead of them.  He kept his echolocation nanites active, the forest dead for fifty feet around them. So far the forest around them was still as quiet as the grave, but something about it was bothering him. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but he trusted his instincts, and they told him that they were in terrible danger. And then there was Bryce¡­


    Rodolphe looked at Bryce, he was walking like he wasn¡¯t even hurt. And then there was the way he reacted to the nano-bandage like he hadn¡¯t ever had one before! They were practically a modern right!  Well, on most planets, planets like his at least. If he was from one of the ¡®Cult Worlds¡¯, that might explain it.  But Bryce didn¡¯t act like he was, with how he treated the non-human passengers.


    All in all, he was a mystery but then why was that a problem? Rodolphe had his secrets and reasons for being on the ship, and he wouldn¡¯t go looking for trouble.  But right now, out here, it might be the only difference between life and death. And if he was right about something hunting them, they needed to trust each other now if they would survive this!


    ¡°Keep moving you two, we got a put some ground between us and the hill!¡± Rodolphe said, trying to keep calm. However, something in his voice must have shown his nerves.  Zane started to look around with worry in his eyes, trying to find what bothered Rodolphe.


    ¡°Wait, you feel that thing too man!? Something is after us!¡± Zane said, causing Bryce to pan around with his pistol.


    Rodolphe looked at Zane and forced down a curse.   So it seems that Zane had detected whatever it was too, and that meant it might be real. And that was bad, very bad. That meant that his hastily created plan might be their best chance to stay alive.


    ¡°What is it?¡±  Bryce asked as he looked behind them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t know if that thing is even hunting us. It could be something that is just making sure we don¡¯t go deeper into its territory. But we have to move faster, there¡¯s something that might help us ahead. Something we can set against this thing if it follows us!¡± Rodolphe said and Zane looked at him in shock and worry. Rodolphe just looked at them and they both looked at each other before they nodded and he released a sigh.


    ¡°Good, Bryce stay in the center, Zane watch our back! And we need to move faster, we¡¯re almost there we just have to run!¡± Rodolphe said as he turned and did just that. A moment later, Bryce and Zane ran after him. Zane stayed at the back, listening for any sounds of something following them.


    Rodolphe felt horrible, but he couldn¡¯t be nicer about this. If this unknown thing was anything like the wolf and spider, then they were in grave danger.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked back as he followed Rodolphe, a strange feeling going through him. He had the instinct to feel when he was being hunted because of his Family, but how had Rodolphe gained his? The feeling that told him they were being hunted got even worse.  He tried but failed to keep from getting more nervous as time went on. He had been hunted by bounty hunters, rivals, and the Law, and none of them ever felt anything like this!


    All he could think of was that this time he was being hunted as ¡®food¡¯ and that made things¡­¡­. Different. As they moved, he heard the sounds of moving water, something that he hoped was supposed to be where they were going.


    As they ran, the feeling of being hunted was still there, slowly getting worse. And he didn¡¯t know if that meant whatever it was had gotten closer or it had stayed where it was. After five minutes he started to hear the sounds of water moving. He hoped that this was what they were supposed to hear.


    Ahead of them, Rodolphe cocked his head to the side and he seemed to relax a little.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± Bryce asked from ahead of him with a note of worry in his voice.


    ¡°There was a¡­¡­creature at the river that chased us, the team that found the fruit, earlier today. I hope that whatever is hunting us will be scared or fought off,¡± Rodolphe admitted. Zane felt his stomach drop at his words.


    ¡°So your plan to deal with a possible monster, is a different monster?¡± Zane asked, shocked.


    Rodolphe stayed silent as they walked onto a clearing, a large river ten feet away from them.   To their front was a large fallen tree that went across the river, and on the opposite shore was another forest.


    ¡°We¡¯re here, good. Come on, we need to move there,¡± Rodolphe said as he pointed upstream from the fallen log.


    ¡°So we¡¯re near where you ran into that thing?¡± Zane asked, looking around the forest, starting to feel a spark of anger. Rodolphe was leading one monster towards another monster to try and scare off the first.


    ¡°Yeah, a bit farther up. Now I don¡¯t know if you two grew up on plants with wild animals, but they''re territorial. The thing here was asleep last time.  So, if we¡¯re fast and quiet we can use it to ward off whatever is after us.  Not the best idea but it¡¯s what we¡¯ve got,¡± Rodolphe said as he looked at the others and sighed at the looks, he was getting.


    ¡°Look, I know this is risky.   But it¡¯s the best idea I¡¯ve got.    This isn¡¯t the best but it¡¯s what we¡¯ve got so work with it,¡± Rodolphe said, and Bryce laughed a little as he looked around.


    ¡°Great, just great. When you find that scum Jones, I¡¯m getting in line to punch him,¡± Bryce said bitterly.


    Zane nodded, feeling similar to Bryce. Jones betraying them was putting them in danger, and that showed all his talk Jones was a traitor. And he knew he knew just what traitors deserved.    All Jones had earned, if Zane had any say in it, was a long and slow death.


    ¡°Move quick and quietly. Watch your surroundings, and say something if you see anything. And stay quiet,¡± Rodolphe said softly, and as Zane and Bryce nodded, he nodded and lead the way along the river.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature moved along the forest, tracking the scent that had drawn it out of its lair.  It had been worried before, but now it was calm and focused on this hunt.  With the newcomer already out and away from it, this was the best time to gather food. It had started to worry when it had realized where the prey was going, but that one had to be asleep. It had also noticed the smell of its blood, so it was probably asleep.  It could go and kill its target and take the special food back to its den, and then it could grow stronger.


    It had fought and fed on many creatures, and only a few ever gave it trouble. And its power had let it slay any of the sky terrors when they had attacked. But no matter what it did, it had never been able to take their greatest power. With the strength this one was hoarding to itself, it could go so much stronger. And once it took the sky killer¡¯s great strength, nothing in this place, even the creators could stand against it. It would slay and eat all the strong ones, and take their strength for its own!


    But for a moment it stayed where it was, not sure what to do.  The creature that lived in the river was the one thing that its strength was useless against. The few times they had fought, they always ended in draws, or it had retreated before it could be killed. But the smell of the lifeblood of that one nearby, it might be healing and hiding. If that was so, then this might be its only chance.  It had to kill the special meat before any others scented the power it held within it and took it for themselves.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    But that was unthinkable, it would take that power!  It would grow strong and nothing on this place would ever stand against it again!    With a screech, it moved faster, chasing down its target.


    Before it could make keep moving, it heard something.  It went still and looked around, moving closer to a tree to hide. , It finally found what it was searching for, and went still.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The screech caused Zane to look behind them towards it and cursed in anger. He might not have seen what made the sound, but he could see something had moved through the plants.   ¡°RUN NOW!¡±


    At his bellow Bryce started to run, a lot faster than Zane thought he might after his wound.  Zane shook that thought away, he¡¯d think about it later. Rodolphe just stood there until Zane grabbed him and pulled him along, a scowl on his face. ¡°Rodolphe, no suicide plans, got it!?¡±


    Before Rodolphe could say anything they ran into Bryce. As they fell to the ground, something flew past where they would have been. Looking towards them, Zane saw one of those flying worms, but this one was a pitch-black color.   It was stuck in the ground, thrashing about trying to get loose.    And then suddenly he heard the sounds of insect wings, and slowly he looked up, shocked by what he saw.


    Zane saw four more of the flying worms above them a good twenty feet, and as soon as he saw them, they flew down right at them. ¡°AMBUSH, MOVE!¡±


    As Rodolphe and Bryce looked up in shock.  Bryce reacted first firing his pistol quickly, killing two. Rodolphe rolled to the right, getting back to his feet, pulling his rifle up, and firing as he got to his feet. The last two of the flying worms flew upwards and into the forest


    As Zane got up he heard the sound of more wings, and paling he turned towards them and his mouth dropped. Coming towards them from the other side of the river were thirty more of the flying worms. But these had skin colored a sapphire blue. ¡°Where did that swarm come from?!¡±


    ¡°The same place as the other one maybe¡­..¡± Rodolphe said with a shudder in his voice.


    Zane turned his head and felt his blood go cold.  Coming out of the forest was another swarm of flying worms, only this one was made of black colored ones. As he looked at them, Zane felt like he and the others were between two predators.


    As the swarms charged at each other, Rodolphe looked around. Hoping to find any place to hide or hold off the swarms, he went still. Looking back at where they had come from, he saw the tree bridge and made a choice.  ¡°Move! To the fallen tree!¡±


    As the flying worms fought above them, the tree deckhands ran. Looking over his shoulder Zane thought he might have seen a spark of lightning hit one of the black worms. He almost stumbled but he kept going.  He ran until he reached the fallen tree and the others, ducking behind it to hide with them.


    ¡°There are black and blue worms!? And was that lightning from one of them!?¡±  Bryce asked in a daze.


    Zane swallowed, he had hoped he was seeing things.  He knew about animals that could use the Power, but each was a mammal To see an insect using it, that threw everything he thought he knew about out into the void.  This knowledge alone was enough for his people to want to come back here, to hunt these things if nothing else.    But if they could find whatever let these things gain the Power, then that would change everything.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce looked at the forest, being careful not to look at the swarms.  The things weren¡¯t the problem, the colors were. Every time he had seen two forces fighting with those colors, he was always one of them.  Just hiding, not helping the black side was getting to him.


    ¡°Okay, new plan,¡± Rodolphe said, causing everyone to look at him.


    ¡°We go across the tree and hope these things will bother whatever¡¯s after us. Then we go upriver and find another way across.  Then we come back here and get back to the capsule, and beat Jones black and blue,¡± Rodolphe said and Zane nodded.


    Bryce looked at the swarms, seeing one of the sapphire worms falling into the river with a splash.    As he watched it was soon carried towards them, the current caring it towards the shore they were on.   He picked it up, looking at it and something was telling him to eat it, but he dropped it and shook his head.


    ¡°You okay man?¡±   Zane asked him and Bryce nodded, looking at the worm as it floated away.    ¡°Why¡¯d you grab that thing?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to know if there were any physical¡­¡­differences from the ones back at the clearing,¡± Bryce said, not talking about his strange feeling.  He didn¡¯t know what it had come from but it had been unlike anything he had ever experienced.


    ¡°Science time is over folks, time to move!   I don¡¯t want to be around here when they¡¯re done fighting!¡± Rodolphe said as he got onto the fallen tree.


    ¡°Nothing too bad about this, at least this is big enough for us to walk over,¡± Zane said as he got on it.


    He helped Bryce get in front of him and took up a rear-guard position, keeping his eyes locked on the swarm. As Bryce and Rodolphe moved across, he stayed back and his mind wandered a little. He had seen a few hives of insects fight to the death, one of his brothers loved that sport. This was worse, each of the worms seemed to be throwing their lives away like they were robotic drones. He didn¡¯t know what that might be, but something was very wrong on this planet. And he hoped that they weren¡¯t going straight into the black hole as the spacers say.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature had made it to the river and scowled. So the flyers weren¡¯t after his target, they were after another hive! Why, why were the leaders fighting on a day that a new thing was introduced into this place? It had never happened before, but this was terrible. His prey was going across the rushing liquid towards the far-land, bad for it. The ruler of that place might have its den near this place, if not then one of its minions. It even wondered sometimes if the river dweller was one of those that the ruler had forced to follow it!


    It couldn¡¯t let its prey go there, it just couldn¡¯t!  It looked at what they were using to go across and wondered again how it had gotten there.  If it destroyed it, then maybe whatever had created it would probably hunt down the creature.  But if it did that, it might not find its prey after it the fall.   But if the ruler there did eat its prey, then it would be more powerful, maybe strong enough to attack it.


    It moved through the wood, slowly and carefully gathering power within itself, readying itself to use its special ability.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way across, Rodolphe kept an eye on the battle and saw that the black ones had almost lost. A few of the sapphire ones were gathering.  Before they could do anything, a screech came from the forest.  Then a bullet of blue energy shot from the woods and hit the fallen tree. For a single moment after the bullet drilled into the tree, time stood still. Then before they could react explosion happened, throwing them into the air!


    As the tree exploded, each of Deckhands held onto their weapons, hoping to keep a hold of them.


    As he flew, Rodolphe saw some of the tree''s debris had flown into the swarms.  They hit and killed ten of the sapphire worms, changing the tide of the battle. As Rodolphe went under, he saw the river spider.  It was far away, just under where the battle of the worms had happened.  He saw as it woke up, and for a moment he locked eyes with it. Almost dropped his rifle, but he kept his hold on it as he saw the spider look up and start to move upwards.


    He struggled back to the surface, breaking the surface and gasping for air. Looking around, he saw Zane and Bryce had both gotten back to the surface and he smiled.


    ¡°Still got your weapons?¡± He called out and they both raised a hand showing his rifle.  The others raised a pistol and a rifle in theirs, so at least they had something to defend themselves with.


    He was about to start swimming towards them when he went still, shocked beyond words.


    There at the line of trees, a large red reptilian head was poking out, its mouth closing as he watched. Somehow, he knew, he just knew, that this was what had fired the energy bullet that destroyed the tree.  He let the river¡¯s flow carry him away, Rodolphe watched the head and he saw its eyes were locked on Zane and Bryce.


    He went still. Zane was moving to swim back to the shore they had come from.  He knew he knew in an instant that it would lead to their deaths.¡°no! let the river carry us!¡±


    Zane turned to him, and when he saw the way Rodolphe was looking at him he stopped, letting the river take them away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature looked at its prey as the fast-moving liquid carried them away, and it felt anger.    Most prey things would go to the land once they fell in around here, didn¡¯t they know about the fall? For now, it would have to go after them, and then it would have to move fast now, if only to make sure it would gain what it wanted.


    A loud splash caused it to turn and see the river spider rising from the river.  It watched as the spider''s eyes went from the broken tree to the swarm and then to the forest. The creature went low and hid from sight.  Moments later the river spider screeched and thrashed out with its claws.  Each blow struck one of the surviving worms, sending them into the river.


    As soon as it attacked, the battle between the swarms was over.  A quick alliance formed, and the worms all attacked the river spider. As the sapphires moved backwards the black ones shot forward. They struck with their stingers, only to bounce off the chitin of the spider.  The sapphire worms shot sparks that shocked and caused the river spider to screech in pain.


    The creature looked at the battle and hissed, its tongue shot out and tasted the air. All the lifeblood that had been spilled; it could take the corpses to feed. But against its nature, it turned and chased after the three deckhands in the river.

 Chapter Twenty-One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / River that River Spider sleeps in


    Galactic Standard Time / 1020


    As they floated, Bryce tried to figure out where that feeling to eat the worm had come from.    Ever since he had escaped, he had let reason guide him, never letting his instants control him.    But the desire to eat, to consume, he had never felt anything like that before in his life, both parts of it. As he floated down the river, he tried and failed to figure out where it had come from.


    ¡°This is nice. I mean maybe we should make a petition to have something like this in one of the ship¡¯s parks. But quick question¡­¡­why are we floating down this river?!¡±  Zane¡¯s bellow caused something to leave the trees on both sides of the river, and Bryce turned his head to look at him.    He was glaring at Rodolphe who was watching the forest they had come from, his eyes flashing from tree to tree.


    Rodolphe stayed silent and Bryce was worried that he hadn¡¯t heard them when he spoke up.


    ¡°I saw what destroyed the tree but there. It was waiting for us to get out of the river.  it would have struck as soon as we got onto land,¡± Rodolphe¡¯s matter-of-fact tone made Bryce stare at him in shock.


    Bryce blinked before he turned and looked at the trees, trying to find what Rodolphe had seen.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane meanwhile had gone silent at Rodolphe¡¯s answer, his mind going strange places. From what he knew, a pure energy attack like what destroyed the tree was very easy to learn. But that gave him pause, he had always thought that the ability to reason was needed for that, but could it not be?  Could the lower beasts be able to tap into the Power that easier, was the ability to reason just making it harder?


    He shook his head and then he looked to the far shore and went still as he saw something move beyond the trees. Something very big.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got something over there too guys!¡±  Zane called out and then continued. ¡°Bryce, look at that side, I¡¯ll take this one!  Rodolphe watch where we¡¯re going!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡±  Rodolphe called out as they floated along.


    Zane tried and failed to not see what he saw, first, there was a green tail with white spikes, then a green muscular leg.  Whatever was following them along, it was green and at least six feet tall, and probably a hunter. This was bad, very bad. Was it like whatever had been chasing them, waiting for them to get off the tree bridge? And if so, did it see them as being its prey? All in all, they might be in more danger than before.


    However, that was when everything went worse.  It was something he couldn¡¯t identify at first, a distinct roaring that slowly got louder.  He looked ahead, his mind going strange places as he hoped he was wrong. But as he saw the river swing to the right, his heart sank in his chest. ¡°We need to get to one of the shores, how big was the thing chasing us?¡±


    ¡°Big, and why can¡¯t we just stay in here until that thing turns tail?¡± Rodolphe asked and Zane laughed weakly.  Before Rodolphe could reply the river carried them around the bend.  No sooner did then the roaring suddenly raising to a near-defeating high.


    Rodolphe saw those thirty yards ahead the water was dropping off, and beyond was empty air to the ocean.


    ¡°WATERFALL!¡±  Bryce cried out and turned towards the shore they had come from.


    But before he could make even one stroke, the creature that had been hunting them burst out of the forest!


    It was a long red snake-like creature with two rows of white spikes down its back. It had black lines that branched out from each spike and went around its long body. Its head was arrow-shaped with three eyes on top. And as they watched it flicked out a long pink tongue that was split into three parts.


    ¡°That¡¯s what was hunting us!? What is it!?¡± Bryce asked and Zane stared at the snake in horror. His Grandfather liked to use snake venom to spice up his drink sometimes, so he raised them. He had grown up around deadly snakes all his life, and that thing looked like one of the worst. And the spikes it had.  They looked sharp enough to kill anyone that they coiled around.  And it looked like the mouth could probably unhinge to swallow things whole.


    ¡°Go to the other side!¡±   Rodolphe called out as he turned towards where Zane had been watching.


    ¡°WAIT!¡± Zane shouted in fear as the other creature burst from the tree line.    While the first had been a snake, this one was a lion!


    It was a large green feline-like creature that was six feet tall.  With four muscular legs, and from here they could see its paws ended in black claws. Its fur had red lines that went along its body, and its head was like a tiger''s, but it had two fangs that went down a foot each. It looked at them with four eyes, two above two that were where they normally were, and Zane felt a spark of fear. It had to be his imagination, but there was something in its eyes. Something about them made him think that this creature was here to kill and slaughter. Not for food, but because it wanted to cause pain.


    the river¡¯s current suddenly speeds up, carrying them closer to the waterfall. As they came ever closer, the two creatures both kept up the chase, their eyes on their prey.


    The three deckhands could only stare in horror. There was nothing they could do, no way to escape them.   To go to either side of the river was to be attacked by that side¡¯s creature.


    ¡°What can we do?!¡± Bryce asked in horror, not seeing anything they could do.


    Zane looked ahead of them, the waterfalls only a few meters ahead of them. As he did, his mind flashed back to a time in his youth. A test of courage he and his cousins had done once and he understood just what to do.


    ¡°If the waterfall isn¡¯t too tall, we could survive! Go over the falls, it might be our only chance!¡± Zane barked as he swam forward.


    Rodolphe almost didn¡¯t react, before he looked at Bryce and shrugged. ¡°It can¡¯t get worse!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature slithered after its prey. it was mad. Its eyes darted from the prey to the fanged creature on the other side, trying to figure out how to deal with this. It was right, one of the local ruler¡¯s sub-leaders had been nearby, and the fanged one at that! It had led many of the nearby ruler¡¯s forces against the others and to victory most times. It had thrown back the shelled ones many times, and those had retreated from these lands for many quakes.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    But if it got what the creature had been hunting, then that one might become the ruler instead of its master. It could smell the scent that had driven it from its den even now, and as it followed them it almost went over the cliff. It stopped and slithered along it, coming around to watch as the three big, small bipeds went over the falls. As they hit the water below it wondered what to do, and then it saw the fanged one going after them.


    If it was here, then there was a chance to kill it after it fought against the prey! The strength it could gain from that one, oh how it could kill with such! And all that stood against it was one prideful creature and striking when it wasn¡¯t looking.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they hit the water, Zane covered his mouth and looked around, trying to find the others. Bryce was easy to find, sinking deeper ten feet away. He stared at him in horror before looking around, searching for Rodolphe.  Finally, he found him, seeing that Rodolphe was fighting up to the surface twenty feet to his left. With a sinking heart, he swam towards him. Before he had even made it two feet Bryce started swimming upwards. Zane followed, shooting upwards.


    As they broke the surface, Zane looked at Bryce in shock.


    ¡°I thought you died!¡±  Zane gasped out and Bryce looked at him, a confused look in his eyes, a look that slowly turned to terror.


    ¡°He might not have but we might soon!¡± Rodolphe spat out in horror


    Zane turned his head and saw the fanged feline creature was farther downriver.  For a second, he hoped it would ignore them, but it looked right at them as it came closer.


    Zane looked around, trying to find anything to use.  He finally noticed something about the roar of the falls, it echoed. He looked at it, and with a spark of hope he saw something through the falling waters. ¡°There¡¯s a cave! We can fight it off in there!¡±


    Rodolphe turned and looked into the water, his mind going miles in seconds before he nodded.   ¡°The best thing we can do, move!¡±


    As one they swam through the falling waters, coming out into a cave warmed by the waters a good thirty feet deep. As they got out of the water a growl from the outside caused them to turn and stare at the fanged cat as it came in from the far left. Without a word, the group moved deeper into the cave, their weapons on the cat as it followed them in.


    ¡°Why is it still following us?    Shouldn¡¯t it have gone after better prey?¡± Zane muttered under his breath as he looked at the fanged feline coming closer, its eyes locked on them.


    As they moved backwards they came into a cavern deeper within. Zane looked over his shoulder when he noticed that, and his eyes went wide in shock. The chamber was a good fifty feet round, with a few stalagmites around the chamber, each one over ten feet tall. But what took his attention was at the far end.  A large silver metal door behind two stalagmites that looked like horns, AND had strange markings on the door causing him to stare at it.


    ¡°Run to the door, then start firing!¡± Rodolphe barked. Bryce ran with Zane following, the sounds of Rodolphe firing his rifle echoing off the walls. As the fanged feline roared in pain before it moved back.


    Zane only had eyes on the door, Bryce only a few steps ahead of him. As they reached the door, Zane went to the right stalagmite and pulled out his rifle. He aimed around at the fanged feline as Rodolphe ran to them, the creature starting to move only to run into Zane¡¯s fire.


    As Rodolphe made it to them, he joined Bryce at the left stalagmite,  joining his fire to Rodolphe¡¯s. As the fanged feline dashed to cover behind one of the stalagmites near the right of the entrance.  As it poked its head out, the deckhand kept firing at it, hoping to scare it off.


    ¡°Great plan! Go behind the falls, and now we¡¯re deadlocked!¡± Bryce said bitterly and then felt Zane¡¯s eyes on him. Bryce grinned at him as he fired, a sheepish look to them. ¡°Not that I had a better idea man.¡±


    Zane stayed silent, knowing that Bryce was right. He kept his eyes locked on the fanged feline and tried to figure out if it was trying to get them from hiding.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature had seen the prey being chased by the fanged feline behind the moving liquid, and if it could it would grin. So far everything was going perfectly, all it had to do was use its power and it would kill the fanged feline. It moved towards the waterfall, a sense of satisfaction.  Its plan looked like it worked, and it came closer to what it hoped would be an easy feeding it felt satisfaction.


    But then it moved into the cavern behind the falls.  It then went deeper in, until it was close enough to peer into the chamber.  Only then did its good mood died.  Looking, it saw the prey sting the fanged feline from a distance and if it could, it would scowl.   It had expected the fanged feline to be close in, using its claws but it was staying back.     The fanged one was being a lot more reserved in battle than it ever had the few times it had seen it fight.


    It had hoped that the battle would have been more damaging to all of them, but if it would have to fight then it would.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce looked around his cover, he went still as he saw the snake thing coming into the chamber. ¡°Guys, both of those things that hunted us are here!¡±


    He fired a bolt from his pistol, and it hit right above the cavern¡¯s entrance, sending a stone to hit the creature with a small boom, startling everything within. As the fanged feline turned, it locked eyes with the snake creature, which blinked away the dust to stare into the feline¡¯s eyes


    For a moment the two creatures stared at each other before they charged at each other.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe could only stare in awe. In the center of the room, the two titans struggled, each trying to kill the other. As the snake tried to coil around it, the fanged feline jumped at one of the stalagmites. It hit it before pushing off at the snake, slashing off one of the snake''s spikes near its tail. As the snake whipped out with its head, the fanged feline dodged the blow.


    The mouth of the snake opened, and a small blue glow started to grow from within. Before the fanged feline lunged and force the snake¡¯s head down against the cavern floor.  As it tried to struggle free, the head kept pointing at the silver door. As the glow intensified Rodolphe could only stare in horror. ¡°move! To the walls!¡±


    As the three deckhands ran, the snake released an energy bolt like the one that destroyed the fallen tree. As he was running, Rodolphe looked back. He could only stare in horror as the bolt hit the door. It drilled into it for a second before a large explosion of light and sound blasted out.


    Rodolphe was flung into the air and hit the wall, his vision going dark as he lost consciousness.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane blinked his sight back and looked around. He was lying down against Bryce who had hit the wall head-first. He saw a small stain of blood and his hand went to Bryce¡¯s neck, finding a pulse caused him to sigh in relief. Looking around he saw that the explosion had caused the front of the chamber to caved in.  They were in a pocket twenty feet wide. He saw Rodolphe against the other wall and no blood stain, a good sign.


    Getting up he walked towards him, but when he reached where the door was, he went still. It had opened onto a large golden corridor a good forty feet long at least. The metal was shining off a warm glow from a light in the ceiling.  But he could see farther back there were patches of darkness every ten feet. He stared in total shock, not understanding just what had been revealed.


    The place looked like an abandoned facility, like people had just stopped caring for it.  The corridor was like someone just stopped maintaining it and let it rot. He almost took a step into it, trying to find out what it was when he remembered his friend. He ran to Rodolphe as the man started to come around and smiled as he helped him up.


    ¡°Hardhead R?¡±  Zane asked and Rodolphe chuckled as he let Zane pull him up.


    ¡°Titanium my friend, what about Bryce¡± Rodolphe asked as he shook himself back to full attention.


    Zane was about to say he was worse than Rodolphe was when a voice interrupted him.


    ¡°Better, but that took a lot out of me¡­¡­ what happened to our pets?¡± Bryce asked.


    Zane whirled around and saw Bryce dust himself off.  He couldn''t understand how that was possible. He had seen people hurt like he was, and most of them were out for a lot longer. The only reason that he wouldn¡¯t be¡­¡­¡­ he went still for an instant before forcing himself to relax.  He cursed in his head for being a fool, and his thoughts crystallized.


    He thought about everything he knew, and it made sense. It explained everything, but who Bryce was. Who could have sent him and why, was there a spy in his Clan? And his mission, it was nothing to warrant someone coming to kill him for!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe forced himself to ignore the ringing in his ears as he looked around, trying to figure out what to do. With the passage back to the falls blocked, there was only one way to go. Into the unknown hallway and deeper into whatever facility this was. He had to admit, that this place didn¡¯t look like his base, this place just gave off a different vibe. And that was bothering him, he had been part of raids into space stations of his enemy. They had a¡­.. feel to them that this place didn¡¯t, this felt worse. And given what those stations had been used for, that was very concerning.


    He looked at the rocks blocking the way and then upwards before shaking his head. That way was impassable, so he thought this was the only way.


    ¡°So, the choices; go into the unknown or stay here and die? Any other ideas?¡± Bryce asked with a note of humor in his voice.


    Rodolphe shook his head and looked around at him and Zane. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think there is a way for us to live without going into it. ¡¯ll take the lead, you tow watch our six and the walls. If you see anything, say something.


    And without another word, the three people walked into the hallway.


    Twenty minutes later, one of the stones blocking the way moved and a red arm pushed through the opening. After the arm retreated, a strange three-part tongue thrust out into the open air.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Alert, Alert!


    Alarm from damaged section of facility, facility has been breached!


    Status of breech and composition of intruder units


    Unknown.    Condition of Abandoned sector, unrepaired.    Last remote sensor broken on the release gate for test templates.


    Observation capabilities are non-existent.   Servitor units already on hunt within damaged sector, send others?


    Confirmed, send Servitor Units, have Worker Units speed up work on wielding passage to Core.


    Confirmed. Sending two Serviror units to investigate, sending message unit to three tracking Templates 99850.


    Alpha order, purge complex of Biological Templates

 Chapter Twenty-Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Unknown Complex


    Galactic Standard Time / 1045


    Zane kept one eye on his surroundings and another on Bryce as they ran down the hallway. He couldn¡¯t believe what he had learned about his friend, but it made sense. That was why he always seemed to be working all over the ship, he must have been creating a route. People like him always did recon before they did their missions.  And how he was cleaning the escape capsules, he must have been creating a way to leave the ship.


    ¡°So, ideas?  I¡¯m thinking old military base personally,¡± Bryce said, causing Zane to look at him and squeeze his rifle.


    ¡°Maybe, but who made this place?¡± Zane asked absently.  He understood that Bryce¡¯s personality was a mask, and he wondered if he was his target.


    ¡°We need to try and find a computer system, I¡¯ll try and hack it,¡± Rodolphe said with a shrug as he led the way.


    ¡°You could do that?¡± Zane asked and Rodolphe remained silent as they walked, Bryce moving ahead of them.


    Zane reached out and grabbed him. With a glare Rodolphe turned,  to see Zane holding his other hand to his mouth in a gesture of silence.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Rodolphe asked quietly, a worried look in his eyes.


    ¡°Bryce hit the wall head first, he was knocked out! And he left a stain of blood on the wall, but a minute later he¡¯s like that?  Not normal man,¡± Zane said just as softly.  Rodolphe looked at him before looking back towards where Bryce was leading the way ahead of them.


    ¡°Wait, what?  Really?  Could you have been wrong about how hurt he was?¡± Rodolphe asked and Zane shook his head.


    Zane looked back at where Bryce was walking ahead of them, a scowl on his face.  He didn¡¯t want to say it, but


    ¡°I don¡¯t know man, but there¡¯s something not right about him,¡± Zane said as he looked at Rodolphe.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°If he¡¯s hiding anything, that¡¯s his business. We¡¯ll deal with it if, and only if it becomes a problem,¡± Rodolphe said as he looked ahead, his eyes on Bryce.


    He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but Zane was right. He had seen Bryce, and the guy was so full of wonder back when they were on the Spirit. He just seemed so ignorant sometimes. It was like he had never seen things even people from frontier planets knew about! But something about this passageway was bothering him.  He could have sworn that this was slopping down, but it seemed to be straight.


    ¡°Before you say anything, is there something about this hallway that seems wrong?¡± Rodolphe asked softly.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zane asked and Rodolphe just sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but something¡¯s different. I could have sworn that it¡¯s been sloping, that we¡¯ve been going down,¡± Rodolphe admitted,  Zane blinked and looked around.


    Rodolphe didn¡¯t want to worry him, but something was wrong with this place. He couldn¡¯t put his finger on it, but it was there. He had seen the use of gravity tech to mess with a person''s perspective before. But this was different, there seemed to be something else that he couldn''t put a finger on.


    ¡°Slopping?! Are you mad!? How could we not¡­¡­ oh, grav-tech. But why would¡­¡­.¡± Zane trailed off as he looked around, a strange look in his eyes as his thoughts went wild.


    ¡°Hey, guys? You okay?¡± Bryce called from twenty feet ahead of them.


    Rodolphe nodded, raising his voice as he waved at him. ¡°Yeah, just needed to ask Zane if he saw that snake thing die, you?¡±


    ¡°No, I saw them fight but that¡¯s it! The cave-in must have turned it into cave pizza! So, let¡¯s find a way out guys!¡±  Bryce called out and Rodolphe laughed. Before he could move on, Zane grabbed his shoulder and glared into his eyes.


    ¡°I mean it, something¡¯s wrong with him,¡± Zane hissed and Rodolphe nodded,


    ¡°As I said, if it matters, we¡¯ll deal with it, but until then let it lie,¡± Rodolphe said sternly, and Zane glared back and turned away.


    ¡°Fine, but when this blows up, I¡¯ll say I told you so!¡± Zane said coldly and walked ahead.


    Rodolphe looked at him before he sighed and looked at the walls. There were a few scratch marks on the walls here and there, and this wasn¡¯t giving him good feelings.


    He had seen markings like this before, during a raid on a research station run by them.


    He didn¡¯t want to even think about what this might mean for where they were.   He wanted to leave, go far away, and never go deeper into this.  But go where?   They had no other way to go, it was here to die!


    And now he had to deal with Bryce¡¯s situation! He knew about nanites that could heal people fast, but they were only used by elite operators. And the idea of Bryce being one of them was hard to swallow. He didn¡¯t seem the type, and that was something. He had always thought of Bryce as someone who was a joker, a clown but a civilian, but he was really special ops? He wouldn¡¯t have believed that in a thousand years!


    ¡°So, we¡¯ve been walking for¡­ I think maybe ten minutes, and nothing.   Any ideas guys?¡± Bryce asked from ahead.


    Rodolphe looked ahead at him. He was looking back at them at the edge of one of the dark spots. Calling up the data from one of his internal nanites, he saw that it had been fifteen minutes. That was surprising, and then there was the size of the hallway. He was starting to wonder just how big the specimens this place released or caught were. But the only creatures around were the ones outside, that feline and the snake. Then their ancestors must have been the captives, that made sense if...


    He went still realizing what that meant. He looked around with new eyes, suddenly everything made sense. This place was created with those creatures in mind. They could have even evolved due to the interactions with whoever had lived here. That meant that this was a Ruin, from the ¡®Unknown War¡¯, and that made him even more worried.


    ¡°Guys, I think we¡¯re in a Ruin. It makes sense if this was built to study the creatures here,¡± Rodolphe said with a solemn tone.


    Bryce looked at him in shock as Zane looked around in horror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce felt his heartbeat faster, as he tried to calm down. He was in a place that took living things apart to study them, just like there. He had promised himself when he escape that he would never set foot in one of these places ever again.


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    ¡°So, one of the really old precursor civilizations made this place? It¡¯s in great shape, I¡¯d say this was built only a few thousand years ago, not a few million!¡± Bryce said, forcing himself to make a joke.


    Zane just glared at him and Bryce held up his hands and took a step back, holding his hands up. He was about to say something when he realized something was keeping him from moving forward. ¡°Guys? I found the end.¡±


    Rodolphe and Zane moved, putting their hands on the darkness. As they pushed against nothing but felt something holding them back, they realized what it was.


    ¡°Energy shield has to be. Must be like the ones on the ship to deflect meteors,¡± Zane said to Bryce¡¯s right.


    Bryce meanwhile pushed against the darkness, searching for a weak point.  He had gotten through one like this when he escaped, and the science was the same. If this was like that one¡­ he started to push against it in quick succession and grinned as his hand sank deeper and deeper. He grinned and turned to look at the others, watching them. He kept pushing against the shield until it broke, waiting to see the reactions of the others.


    Zane had been pressed against it and fell through it when it broke. On the floor, he blinked and looked around as Bryce walked forward and squatted down in front of him, grinning.


    ¡°Have a nice fall season man?¡± Bryce asked with a joking tone and reached down a hand. Zane pushed it away and got up on his own as Rodolphe walked past them and looked into the distance.


    ¡°How the hell¡­¡­ what the hell?¡± Zane asked and Bryce turned around, his eyes going wide as his blood froze.


    Ahead of them was a large wall with a ruined doorway. It looked like something had demolished it.  Through the large eight-foot tall and six-foot wide hole, they saw a large chamber beyond.  The view caused him to feel nothing but pure terror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe walked into what he could only describe as a holding pen. The chamber was large, maybe more than sixty feet wide, a hundred feet wide, and tall. The chamber had three rows of cages, each one ten feet wide and tall with open fronts. There were rows of them down the chamber and up to just below the ceiling. And there were walkways between them ten feet wide.  All in all, there were four rows of cages with two of the rows set against the walls. Far above the ceiling were half-spheres that were illuminating the chamber, their blue light shining down.


    In each of them were bones of creatures, each one having died and wasted away. Looking around, Rodolphe felt bile rise in his throat as he saw many bones in the cage. Whenever this place was abandoned, it had still been operating. They had just left the specimens in their cages to die.


    ¡°So, it was slopping down t into this nightmare then,¡± Zane said as he looked closer into one of the nearest cages.


    Bryce stayed quiet, looking around the chamber with wide eyes. Rodolphe thought that there was a spark of something in his eyes, something that he just couldn¡¯t place. But one thing he knew Zane was right about, this place was a nightmare. And something about the cages was bothering him, something he couldn¡¯t catch.


    But whatever it was, that wasn¡¯t important. Finding another way out was. But there was a better chance than before, at least based on this. If things were kept in cages, then that meant that there had to be people to study them.  And if there were people to study them, then they needed a way in.


    ¡°Spread out, there¡¯s got to be a door here.   We force it open and then we can find another way out,¡± Rodolphe ordered, and Bryce laughed a little.


    ¡°Sure about that?¡± Bryce asked as he looked up to the nearest cage, a strange skull with six eyes in a circle staring back at him.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zane asked as he and Rodolphe turned and looked at Bryce.


    Bryce seemed to feel their stares, he turned, shrugging before gesturing at the cages. ¡°What, you can¡¯t see it? What are they all missing?¡±


    At his words, Rodolphe looked at the cages while Zane glared at Bryce with a hard look.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, why don¡¯t you tell us?¡± Zane asked in a cold tone and Bryce blinked before shrugging.


    ¡°Chill out Z!  I mean there¡¯s no way for anything to get out or look into the cages up there!¡± Bryce said and gestured towards them.


    Zane just blinked while Rodolphe went still.


    Rodolphe slowly looked up at the cages, a cold feeling going through his bones. Now that Bryce had said it, he saw exactly what he meant. No debris of any kind of walkways was set below the openings of the cages, so how had things gotten into them? And for that matter, how were things fed?  He looked down the passage between the nearest row and saw that it went on for a good hundred feet at least.


    ¡°Oh nova!¡± Zane whispered in horror and Bryce only nodded; his expression grave as he looked around the chamber.


    ¡°Yeah, that. I don¡¯t know how this place was operated or when it was built, but I don¡¯t think it was by one of the good guys in that war. We might have just changed where we die,¡± Bryce said bitterly and Rodolphe let out a sigh, but Bryce kept speaking.  ¡°But we¡¯ve gotta try, I mean I don¡¯t know about you, but I don¡¯t roll over and die when things get hard. I bulldoze my way through them.¡±


    Rodolphe nodded and looked at the rows, before coming to a decision.   ¡°We¡¯ll check both paths, but together! If something was living here or found a way in, we face it as one!¡±


    Without another word, the group moved on. Without a word, they went down the path on the right, hoping they were ready for what was ahead of them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The last of the rocks had been pushed away. Behind the rocks, the creature stopped and coiled, crossing its new arms. It had eaten the fanged feline and taken everything it had, growing that much stronger.  But it was weak now, weaker than it had ever been. All it could do now was either retreat or go on, but then there was a problem. If it retreated, then the master of what it had killed would send scouts. With how it was, it would soon be tracked down and killed.


    It didn''t have the strength to stand against it or its hunters, it needed to heal. And to heal it needed to eat. It needed to gain something, anything to grow stronger. It had detected the scent of the prey it was hunting, so it was there. With its strength and what it had taken, there was little chance that it would be prey to the hunters. So, with the choice made, it moved into the hole it had made, stopping as soon as its head passed through the opening. It looked at the passageway, a strange feeling going through it as it recoiled in fear. This place¡­ belonged to the creators. That made this a different matter if the creators were involved. That meant that¡­¡­ where were the defenders?


    The few times the creator''s dens had been breached; they always sent their forces to destroy whatever dared to attack them. And the defenders came fast, within the beats of its heart! Did this mean that this place was¡­¡­¡­abandoned?  It felt its lifeblood speed up, this was perfect! If it could raid the creators, the strength it could find in there! And if its prey was in there, it might gain some of the creator''s goodwill by ¡®protecting¡¯ its den.


    With that thought, it ran down the hallway, moving far faster than it thought it was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked around a scowl on his face. So far they hadn¡¯t seen anything that might give them a way out, and all this was doing was growing his nightmares. So far, they hadn¡¯t found anything that could tell them how to go ¡®up¡¯ the rows, and that was even worse. So far, he guessed that this place was built without living custodians in mind. It reminded him a little of a robot warehouse he had guarded once for his Family.  People stayed in the guard rooms, the stock was taken and put away by hovering robots, and he hoped he was wrong.


    ¡°Real chamber of horrors stuff, right? I mean I want a new hotel, maybe one with a humor theme?¡± Bryce¡¯s off-color joke made Zane look up, seeing him look into a cage to their right. He followed his gaze and saw another skeleton, but Bryce was looking at the bones. Looking closer Zane felt the blood leave his face, the bones looked like they might have been hands. He went still and slowly looked up, taking in the cage. The bones were where the bars would have been, like the body had been leaning up against it when they died.


    Zane swallowed. He looked at the other skeletons with a new eye, not liking what he found. He could see that one in maybe ten was like that one, no telling how many above them were as well. He felt his blood leave his face as he tried to force away the thoughts, hoping that he was wrong.


    ¡°We got a way out of her after all!¡± Rodolphe¡¯s excited voice caused Zane and Bryce to turn and look toward him. Ahead of them was the end of the room. There¡¯s a large computer screen set against the wall and the remains of a workstation before it. To the left was a door five feet wide.


    Zane spared one more look at the cages as Bryce and Rodolphe both moved to the station, hoping to find out how to open the door.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Bryce asked and Rodolphe stayed silent and even Zane looked at him.   Rodolphe walked behind the workstation and found a keyboard and smiled.


    ¡°This should be easier than I thought it would¡­¡­.¡± Rodolphe went silent as he saw the looks, he was getting.


    ¡°Good, but the plan?¡± Zane asked and Rodolphe sighed.


    ¡°Look, original I thought someone modern made this. I thought I could use the battery in my rifle to spark something.   But this is a Ruin, so¡­ push buttons and hope something happens,¡± Rodolphe admitted, and they stared at him in shock.


    Zane felt his mind stop, shocked and speechless.   Then he felt anger spark in him, and he walked slowly towards the door to kick it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say! I mean the chance that there¡¯s power is¡­¡­¡­¡± Rodolphe trailed off as the screen on the wall burst to life.  As shining light came from, weird circular symbols appeared on it before the door opened.


    ¡°That was easy, what¡¯d you do?¡± Bryce asked and Rodolphe just shook his head in shock.  Zane meanwhile had stopped just short of the door itself, looking out into a darkened corridor beyond.

 Chapter Twenty Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / River Below Falls


    Galactic Standard Time / 1130


    The group had been moving along the river for an hour, nothing attacking them. After a while, Jinn moved ahead to lead the way. Racha had sped up to walk next to him while Al and Paige had moved to the back as rearguards. This left Sara in the middle, a perfect position.  She could react to help anyone of them who got injured. But their silent travel had another surprising result for her. It let Sara look into her memories of what she had seen, trying to figure out just what this planet was.


    So far, they hadn¡¯t seen much along the river. Just a few of the flying worms, but the ones they had seen were all a red color and had been on the other side of the river. Unlike the others of their kind, these seemed to be content to ignore the group as they passed by. Sara had watched them drink from the river before flying away towards the forest in the distance.  She had all kinds of ideas about why they were different, but no hard data. She had seen reports about how coloration in insects was due to what they ate.  But with some insects, their genetics dealt with colors. And still, others were affected by their internal chemicals.


    She gazed at the river, noticing it  was flowing out towards what they hoped was an ocean. So far, she hoped that she missed a sign it wasn''t.


    She looked around at the trees, wondering about the life chain around here, what the things she had seen stood in it. The creature that attacked the clearing had to have been a lone predator, but what about the insectoids?


    She looks around, a smile on her face as she sent a command to a specific set of nanites within her.  Once they were active, they started to record everything she saw. She should have activated them when they saw that plant creature, but she hadn¡¯t even remembered them.


    A splash caused her to turn around. She saw ripples in the water Above it three of the flying worms flew away, flying straight for the other side.


    ¡°Did anyone see what that was?!¡±  Sara asked excitedly and Paige nodded, staring at the water in horror.


    ¡°Eel, big enough to eat three of them in one bite,¡± Paige said absently, and Sara looked at the river in shock and fear.


    Jinn only looked at the river and shook his head in disgust. ¡°At least it¡¯s a crab or has claws¡­ it didn¡¯t have claws right?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see any, but it was fast. I didn¡¯t have the chance to check them out under a microscope,¡± Paige said as she moved away from the river, Al doing the same thing.


    ¡°Back on my birth world, we¡¯ve got these river eels,¡± Racha says as she looks at the river like it was going to attack them. ¡°What made them the most dangerous? They were able to survive out of the water for about ten minutes if nothing attacks them.¡±


    ¡°So, we have to sleep away from the river tonight?¡± Al asked with a note of horror in his voice.


    Jinn nodded as he looked at the river like it would attack them. ¡°No, we sleep in the trees.  Any place at ground level is asking to be attacked.¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­ we should walk along the trees. It might be safer than being so close to the water,¡± Paige said and Racha scowled as she looked into the forest.


    ¡°Maybe, and we need to find a place to stop for lunch.  Maybe somewhere we can get the lay of the land,¡± Racha said and Jinn nodded and looked around.


    Sara kept her eyes on the river. She hoped that she would see something that might help her understand this planet. She couldn¡¯t understand anything, but this planet was so far belong anything that she had ever seen. So far, she had seen more biological higher-tier species than any normal planet had.


    Sara never noticed something was watching from the other side of the river. A single eyestalk looked at them before it slowly went back under and it followed after the group of people.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    From the forest above across from where the river spider slept, a group of five creatures were running through the shadows. The figure jumped from tree to tree, one led the way as the others followed. None of them paid attention to the other creatures, the creatures running away from them.


    The group moved through the shadows of the forest, staying away from the light that came through the leaves. After a few moments, the group made it to a place where they could look out over the river. Looking around, they saw that the tree bridge was gone and, two of them started to growl.


    The leader just glared back at them, and the two started to whimper. The leader turned to the other two when they snickered, and they all backed down. It growled and gestured towards the river, and three of the creatures ran back into the forest.


    The leader raised its head and growled again, looking around at the river. It sniffed the air and then it found a large tree with a hole at the bottom along the ground. It was set up to let the air come by it, a perfect place to let the breeze carry the scents to anything that might come near. Taking deep sniffs, the creature walked around the den. It started to move along the river, followed by the sole-reaming creature.


    As the two of them moved downriver, an eyestalk breached the surface.  It watched them before the sound of a tree cracking echoed over the river. As the eyestalk shot back under the water, the sound of a tree crashing to the ground echoed across the water.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The two creatures ran along the shadows of the forest, the leader kept sniffing the air.  they heard the roar of the falls, and they moved deeper into the forest, keeping to the shadows. When they reached a cliff face covered by bushes, the two creatures moved from a shadow to the bushes. Keeping out of sight as they moved down the cliff. As they reached the bottom, they moved towards the falls, keeping to the darkness.


    The leader went into the cave when the sun was covered by a cloud, and the second stayed in the shadows.


    After a few minutes, a roar echoed off from the cave, and the second creature started to move downriver.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige followed along behind the group, looking around with her eyes as she sensed a small spark of hunger and rage from the river. As she moved along with the groups, she hoped that the spark wouldn¡¯t even attack them. She wanted to warn them, but Racha was talking to Jinn and Paige didn¡¯t know if she could trust the others. She sensed even if it was hungry, there wasn¡¯t much sense of anger, more like a spark of an inquisitive nature.


    ¡° So, we need to find someplace we can set up a chokepoint, that¡¯s the only way we¡¯ll be able to sleep safely. The plan might be shot to hell.  I don¡¯t know if we¡¯ll run into other escape capsules on this route,¡± Racha said, and Jinn nodded and looked up at the sky.


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    ¡°Makes sense, but I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d expect to find out here. After the last clearing, we were lucky to even make it this far. I want to say we¡¯d have a good chance, but I don¡¯t know¡­, ¡° Jinn said and trailed off into a sigh.


    Paige felt what he meant, that they had expected a hard time to make it to the Anchorage ship, but that plant-animal was beyond anything they thought might happen.  And with what she sensed, she knew that this would get worse before it got better.


    ¡°¡­¡­ I agree. If we can¡¯t find that, we¡¯ll set up a rotational guard.  It¡¯s the best thing we could do,¡± Racha admitted and looked around, trying to get a lay of the land before she sighed and shook her head.


    ¡°Problem?¡± Jinn asked with a note of cheer in his voice as Paige moved towards them.


    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d long for the days we had an eye in the sky,¡± Racha admitted, and Jinn nodded with a grimace.


    ¡°Yeah, I know what you mean,¡± Jinn sighed, and Paige felt a spark of longing from him that almost caused her to stumble in shock.


    She knew that he was Racha¡¯s commander, but was he so used to having an aerial eye to watch over their missions? She was about to think about how to get their attention when Al cried out. Looking towards him, she saw that he was looking into the forest up ahead. And when he looked back with a grin, she sensed a spark of hope from him.


    However, his face fell as his emotions took a turn for the worse.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°What is it, Al?¡± Jinn asked as he ran towards him, pulling out his pistol as Al gestured towards the forest.


    Jinn blinked in surprise as he saw the remains of packaged food all in a pile by a tree. He saw a few marks that something used this as a fire pit and within it a mass of semi-metallic wrappers.  It caused him to wonder what this was, and who or what used it last.


    He signaled Racha to watch the river.


    Jinn walked around the small clearing covered by leaves from thin branches. Here and there were a few marks that showed him that a battle had happened here.  Whatever had been killed was carried away, dragged by ropes of some kind.


    He looked towards the food wrappers and slowly tried to figure out how many there were.  After a few moments he frowned and gazed towards the others.


    He looked up, closing his mouth as he saw Al and Sara looking around. Paige meanwhile just watched him with an unreadable expression. For a moment he felt something in her gaze, something he couldn''t identify. There was just something about the way she was looking at him. It was full of judgment and uncertainty that went through him.


    When Racha insisted they bring her with him, he didn¡¯t know what to expect. To have two Service operators watching him, someone who had grown up where he had was concerning.


    ¡°So, what¡¯d you find out?¡± Paige asked and Jinn swallowed silently and looked around the clearing.


    ¡°Somehow, three Choco Bars were eaten here. How, who, or what brought them here, I can¡¯t even try and guess. But whatever ate them was killed. The corpse was taken away that way, and it was dragged by ropes,¡± Jinn said as he gestured to the ground, showing the few marks that he had found.


    Racha moved away from the river by walking backwards, she spoke up and he could hear the edge to her voice. ¡°Guys?  I don¡¯t want anyone to get nervous but I just saw a big wake moving from the center of the river towards us. I think it¡¯s time to leave the water!¡±


    Jinn stared at her, a thousand thoughts going through his head. He had been briefed about the creatures Racha and her team had fought yesterday, and he hoped this wasn''t like them. But if whatever made the wake could come onto land, there was nowhere they could fight it from hiding.


    All his instants told him that the only smart thing to do was deny battle, but that had downsides.    The shoreline was the fastest way to their target, and going through the forest would just waste time. They had the supplies, but unknown threats were as bad as known ones, but there might not be a choice. But was there a way out?


    Jinn looked around, his eyes finding a trail leading deeper into the forest, and took a breath.


    ¡°This way people, time to go! Me and Racha will cover our backs, move!¡± Jinn barked as he aimed his pistol at the river, moving to join Racha.


    ¡°Nice of you to join me,¡± Racha said sarcastically, and Jinn nodded and shook his head as he watched the river.


    ¡°Can¡¯t let you have all the fun!¡± Jinn said with a hard edge to his voice.


    He looked out at the water and tried to keep calm. Waiting for an ambush that you knew was coming was even more nerve-wracking than waiting for a battle to start. And when you thought you knew where the attack was coming from, that was when it hit you from behind. As soon as that thought went through his head, he turned around. He gazed around the clearing until he noticed a bush to his right towards the falls. He locked his eyes on it as the leaves rustled, the lone bush to do so, and almost moved towards it before he stopped.


    Racha kept her eyes on the river as the others ran, Jinn aiming where she looked. She felt a rush of thankfulness as he stayed, but the others were without him to lead the way. She didn¡¯t expect to be able to depend on him; she had a low opinion of criminals after all. She had grilled Chief Duncan about Jinn, and the old man had stayed silent. Al he said was that Jinn was born and escaped from something he didn¡¯t want to talk about.


    She had looked over the few files she had on the crew and was shocked by how small the files were. She had found ten red flags among the passengers alone, and she was shocked at how they got by her superiors! She could only hope that none of them had anything to do with how they had crashed here.


    ¡°I expected you to have gone with them,¡± Racha said to Jinn causing him to laugh. She kept her eyes on the river and felt a bit of relief as Jinn leaned over to her.


    ¡°Nah. ¡®Always watch the back and hold the line, never retreat with a threat at your back''. I lived those words for too long not to follow them. If there¡¯s a threat, it must see us and knows we can hurt it. That''s the only reason it wouldn¡¯t attack,¡± Jinn muttered and Racha felt her pulse quicken.


    Something about what he just said bothered her, but she couldn¡¯t figure out what. That was the problem with her memory sometimes. She¡¯s fought against so many monsters and madmen. Sometimes when people said something her brain just misfiles it.  It was a problem and the docs always harping on her to take better care of herself. But what can one do when they''ve seen and done what she has?


    Suddenly she went still as she realized what had been bothering her, and she felt a spark of fear.    ¡°It can know we can hurt it, that¡¯s what you said right?! How could it know our weapons could hurt it, let alone are weapons!?¡±


    Jinn looked at her in shock, his eyes widened as he realized she was right.


    The facts were looking right at them, and Racha didn¡¯t like the answers her question generated.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Come on Paige, come on!¡± Sara called out as she grabbed Paige¡¯s arm and pulled her after her and Al.


    As she ran, Paige looked all around her, keeping her other senses ready to detect anything out there. So far there was nothing


    ¡°What do think she saw?!¡± Al asked with horror in his voice.


    Paige understood what he meant, the vine beast and the river spider. They were just two of the horrors this island had thrown at them. And then there was what had attacked the clearing the escape capsule landed in.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I mean¡­ Paige saw a river eel, it could have been a larger one, so that¡¯s not too bad.  I mean eels don¡¯t have arms,¡± Sara said as she looked ahead, not noticing Paige paled in horror.


    Paige felt her thoughts suddenly come together, everything made sense. She just blinked as knowledge suddenly fit together like a puzzle. The shape it made caused her to become horrified as she saw what it was. She almost stumbled as she ran but she kept going and let her revelation leave her lips.


    ¡°But whatever it ate might have,¡± Paige said with terror in her voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige kept moving but Sara stopped. Still holding onto her arm, Sara pulled Paige to a stop.


    Al kept running, but when he only heard his feet he stopped and looked back, seeing Sara glare at Paige.


    ¡°We need to move Sara, don¡¯t stop!¡±  Al exclaimed but Sara only had eyes for Paige who looked at her like Sara was pointing a cannon at her.


    ¡°What do you mean, it ate!?¡± Sara demanded and Al went still, wondering what she meant.


    Paige just looked at her and swallowed before looking away. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? The creatures Racha and I found yesterday? When one of them at the eye of the river spider, the wolf¡¯s eye mutated.¡±


    Sara went still, thousands of terrible thoughts crystalizing in her head. She couldn¡¯t believe that was even possible, but it made sense. Something on this planet must have caused some of the creatures here to evolve. And evolution allowed for genetic hybridization when organisms ate each other.  It made sense, it explained everything! That was how the insectoid were¡­ were ¡­


    Sara went still as she realized just where her thoughts were going.


    ¡°Sara, you okay?¡± Al asked as he came back towards them.


    ¡°No.  Oh, stars and novas!  That¡¯s why those things are hunting us, to gain our greatest strength!¡± Sara exclaimed loudly as she held her head, panting heavily.


    ¡°What strength?¡± Paige asked causing Sara to look at her, locking their eyes as she swallowed.


    ¡°Our ability to think, to reason, to remember.  They must know they¡¯ll gain something by eating us!  That explains everything, even the insectoid!¡± Sara breathed out, her eyes wide and her body shaking.


    ¡°Wait¡­ what about the insectoid?  What did they gain?¡± Al asked and Sara looked at him.


    ¡°They gained a humanoid form!¡± Sara whispered in horror, causing Al and Sara to look at her in shock.


    Before they could do anything, a screech from behind them caused them to turn and stare in horror at what they saw.

 Chapter Twenty-Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Forest one hour from Falls


    Galactic Standard Time / 1145


    As they ran back towards the others, Jinn kept looking around. When they had left the shoreline, he had made them move far away from the bush he had seen. He was still unsure about what it was.  There was something about it that made him want to investigate it, and that bothered him. For some reason, he was thinking about a few plants from his home world, plants that were predatory and used scent.


    ¡°So we meet back up with them and we find a trail or blaze a trail. We find a place to set down for the night and leave in the morning,¡± Racha began.


    Jinn nodded when they heard a scream from ahead of them. For a second Jinn wondered who had screamed but he realized it was from Sara.


    ¡°MOVE!¡± He bellowed a split second before Racha ran ahead of him.


    He blinked before he ran after her, a small grin on his face as he followed her. She wasn¡¯t anything like he had thought Service Operators would be.  Was that another lie the people who raised him had taught? All he could do was hope that whatever had caused her to scream wasn¡¯t even worse than the vine beast. But when he finally reached them, he found something that was probably as worse as the vine beast.


    Sara was trying to get webbing off her leg as Paige held onto her arms as Al fired at their attacker.


    Jinn blinked as he looked at a large ten-foot-long and wide green spider. It looked almost normal, but it had a small sphere a foot wide with four mandibles in an ¡®X¡¯ formation on a stalk behind the head.  It was from this growth that the webbing came from. It was using its front two legs to pull the webbing closer to it.


    Racha reacted first, firing at the webbing with her rifle.


    Then Jinn reacted and called up his aura and charge. As he ran he drew his blade as it transformed he jumped at the spider. As he flew through the air, he readied himself and waited until he was near enough to slash out with his blade. A wave of energy flashed out with his swing, and the stalk was severed. The spider screeched in pain.


    As he looked down he saw another two ''heads''. These were to the right and left of the head and they shot out of two craters in the spider.


    He landed and heard a scuttling to his right. He turned and saw a small five-foot wide web with ten small spiders, each one a good foot wide. He stared in horror and for a moment he wondered if there were even more eggs around here. If the spider was driven by a need to bring food to its newborns, then it wouldn¡¯t stop until they were food.


    But it was something beyond it that caused him to stare in shock.  He was so shocked that he jumped backwards without even thinking. Airborne, he realized where he was and scowled, landing he shot at the spider, murder his only thought.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha hadn¡¯t been silent, she looked at Al and made a decision.  ¡°You!  Pull the webbing to your and help Paige get Sara behind me!¡±


    Racha kept firing as Al and Paige did as she ordered, but Racha didn¡¯t even spare them another glance.   She kept her eyes on the spider thing as the two other growths, or ¡®false heads¡¯ rose from its back.


    As her eyes went from them to the main head, she saw that it was looking at them, and she felt that there was something in them.  Her blood went cold and the worse scenario appeared in her mind, and she hoped that she was wrong.


    But a blue comet suddenly appeared in front of her, it was Jinn! Then he charged at the spider, his blade a glowing line of blue energy.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige¡¯s mouth dropped open as she watched Jinn blaze as he charged at the spider creature. She thought she had an understanding of his abilities, but this! He was moving like a comet all around the spider, confusing it.  When he passed close by the spider his blade flashed out and slashed through one of the false heads. She couldn¡¯t understand how he was doing this, she had seen it once before but she still couldn¡¯t understand! This was beyond anything she had ever seen, this seemed to be in the realm of fiction!


    She went still as she heard a chittering behind her and turned, paling at what she found.  Coming towards them were three green spiders each five feet tall.  As she watched the leader raise a false head from its back and she screamed as she raised her pistol. ¡°AMBUSH!


    At her cry Al and Sara looked up and started to fire, each bolt killed one of the spiders.


    But before they could turn towards the larger one, five more of the five-foot spiders appeared. They screeched and charged from twenty feet away. Behind them were another twenty of the spiders, moving just as fast.


    Al and Paige kept firing as the swarm came at them, yelling screams of defiance.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara stared in horror, she had heard of large arachnids on some worlds, but nothing like this! first the vine-beast and now these things, this world was a mad house! As she looked around, trying to find any other spiders coming at them. She watched as Jinn slashed through the last false head of the larger spider.


    As the larger spider rear back in pain, Jinn landed away from it. He seemed to stumble as the blaze around him seemed to condense before flashing out. For a moment he seemed to be in a daze as if something profound had happened to him. The spider meanwhile had calmed down.  It turned towards him, raising a front limb towards him, Jinn didn¡¯t even see it.


    ¡°WATCH OUT JINN!¡± Sara called out as the spider thing slashed out with its limb.


    Jinn jumped to the side, dodging the spider¡¯s blow by an inch. He landed on a tree and pushed off it.  As he flew at the spider, a blue aura gathering around his blade until it was blinding. With a flash he shot through the spider, splitting it in two.


    As soon as the larder spider was killed, the swarm seemed to notice and went still. Paige and Al kept firing, and the smaller spiders all screeched as they ran away.


    ¡°CLEAR!¡± Racha barked out a single word and the group reacted.


    Paige and Sara looked around as Racha looked behind them. Al went to Jinn and aimed past him, after a few seconds everyone stood there, waiting for anything to come at them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Clear?¡± Jinn asked as he collapsed to his knees, panting as he tried to catch his breath.   He looked at the lines of text in his vision, shocked beyond words. Aether Template/ Blade Operative.   First Ability/ Aether Comet that


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    He didn¡¯t understand anything, but if it was Aether he was using it made sense. Those rouge Ancients he met, the way they looked down on them. All those insults , ¡®Aether-Blind¡¯, this explained much and nothing. But he couldn¡¯t understand just why this was hitting so much harder than it had before.


    Racha looked at the others and their nods, she sighed and put her pistol down.  ¡°Clear!¡±


    ¡°Good!  You okay Jinn, you stopped moving twice there!¡± Al said as he turned around and helped Jinn back to his feet.


    Jinn sighed and looked at the others with a hard expression. ¡°I found something the first time, something you need to see.¡±


    Racha raised an eyebrow and locked eyes with Jinn, who stared back with a hard look.


    ¡°Fine. But I¡¯m guessing that this is gonna be bad for us?¡± Racha asked dryly and Jinn released a breath he didn¡¯t know he was holding and nodded at her. As the others all gathered around, all Jinn did was point toward where he had seen the spider web. As the others all turned to look, they saw what he had and they all went still in shock.


    Al looked at it, blinked, and rubbed his eyes before he looked back at what he saw. He shook his head in shock and looked at Jinn.  ¡°How¡¯d this get here?!¡±


    ¡°And for all those years this planet hasn¡¯t been found?!¡± Racha demanded and Jinn could only nod in confusion as well.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature had been moving down the river from the waterfall, a single scent showing it where to go. As it moved along the river shore, most creatures left it alone.  As it moved farther away from its home territory, it kept its senses ready for any attackers. Its master had sent it to find out who had dared to attack one of their own, and this was his task. Once it tracked down these ones, it will kill and eat. Once it took the power of the one they had murdered, it would become its master¡¯s equal. And once their kind had more power, then they could begin to make slow moves to over¡­¡­.


    It stopped thinking when it caught a scent it hadn¡¯t ever smelled before, a scent of the sea.  It looked around, closing its eyes as it tried to figure out what it had found. It never noticed a large wake in the river, a wake that came towards it.


    As suddenly as it stopped, the creature moved.  It turned away from the water, dashing with all speed deeper inland. Moments later an eyestalk breached the river¡¯s surface and looked after the creature.


    After the creature from the waterfall left, the eye stalk saw movement. A lizard-like creature with black fur came out of hiding and looked inland. It seemed to relax and nod to itself before it turned around, coming face to eye with the eyestalk. Before the lizard creature could react, four red tentacles shot out of the river at it. They wrapped around it, pulling it into the water as it screamed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe this!¡± Al said as he covered his mouth as he looked at what Jinn had found. A metal ship around thirty feet long and twenty wide. It was kite-like in shape, a long triangle with flat surfaces and four barrel-like engines at the rear. From where he was, he could see three ports on the right side of the triangle.  The endpoint had pierced the ground, maybe a third more of the mass was underground. There were vines and webs all over it, signs that this thing had crashed here a long time ago.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Sara asked and Al laughed a little. He was about to answer her when he noticed something on the ship, something that made his blood run cold.


    ¡°A fighter!¡± Al said and he walked closer and started to remove some of the closet vines.


    ¡°What is it Al, I mean this is a fighter in use today, so? I mean sure it looks different but what¡¯s wrong?¡± Jinn asked and Al nodded as he worked.


    ¡°The builders'' Jinn.  This fighter was created by the Corporate Alliance in their rebellion!¡± Racha said as Al worked, his mind on the work.


    ¡°WHAT?! And they¡¯re still around!?¡± Paige asked in shock and Racha released a huff.


    Al understood what she thought, this might be bad. The Corporate Alliance had rebelled hundreds of years ago against the proto Federation. Their defeat created a sense of unity that helped the diplomats during the formation of the Federation. People back on his world once said if there wasn¡¯t any rebellion, then the formation of the Federation would have been a pipe dream.


    ¡°But don¡¯t worry. The design''s been updated over the years. Today different variations are mostly used by pirates!¡± Racha said with an edge to her voice that Al didn¡¯t understand. All that mattered to him was cleaning this enough that he could see the marking.


    ¡°Pirates!?¡± Sara asked with a shocked tone, and Racha nodded and opened her mouth before Jinn spoke up.


    ¡°Yeah, they''re cheap, no FTL systems and space for remote bombs to kill them if a signal goes down. Just what every Pirate Warlord wants! A way to kill their followers if they die,¡± Jinn said bitterly.


    Al stopped to look back at him before he turned back as he pulled loose a vine. He saw what he hoped he wouldn¡¯t, and he felt a spark of terror. He was right, and this planet suddenly got a lot scarier.


    ¡°And you know this how?¡± Racha asked and she felt the spark of distrust grow as Jinn looked away.


    ¡°I¡¯ve raided pirate bases a few times. After a while, you learn what pirates use,¡± Jinn said with a shrug.


    ¡°Really,¡± Racha asked with a glare as Sara and Paige looked at him.


    ¡°So, this thing could be only a few years old?¡± Sara asked and then they heard Al cry out.


    They turned and saw Al had been able to clear away enough of the vines to reveal a symbol on the ship. It was a red square with black letters CAF in the center and Racha stared at it in horror.


    ¡°The symbol of the Cooperate Alliance¡­ This planet has been eating ships for hundreds of years!?¡±  Racha screamed and they heard things leave branches.


    Jinn looked around but Racha didn¡¯t even care. This planet had somehow remained unfound for hundreds, maybe thousands of years! This place was generating more mysteries by the day, and they had only been here for two whole ones!


    ¡°Great! This is good!¡± Al said excitedly as he put his backpack down and started to pull out his tools.


    ¡°Al, slow down! Why is this good?¡± Paige asked and Al grinned back at her.


    ¡°An old friend of mine once did a report with me on this class of fighter for school. There¡¯s a way to access the black box. And since it¡¯s in a chamber protected from nukes, we might be able to see what happened before it crashed. Well once I break the encryption on it,¡± Al said and even Paige understood what he was saying.


    Racha looked at Al and nodded. There was a big chance that whatever had happened to this fighter had happened to the Spirit. And if they could learn anything that might help them escape this world. ¡°Do it, but be quick about it!¡±


    ¡°Got it! I was going to do it anyway lady,¡± Al whispered under his breath and Racha made a show that she heard him but she acted like she didn¡¯t.


    Racha didn¡¯t know what the right play here was. The data that this fighter had might be the difference between if they could get off-world or die on this rock. But at the same time, those spiders might come back and attack them. Racha sighed as she remembered something her old commander once told her.  Sometimes there were just no good plans, only less bad. And today she had to admit, that the danger was acceptable against being stuck here forever.


    Racha looked around the clearing and nodded. ¡°While he does that we need to guard him. Jinn stay close to Al. Sara, Paige, look out and call out if you see anything. And stay in sight!¡±


    ¡°Quick question. Besides Al who had shifts as mechanics?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at her, Racha looked around as Paige raised a hand.


    Racha looked at her and sighed, her shoulders slumping. ¡°Fine!  Paige, you go help Al.  Jinn, take her place.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige walked towards Al as he looked over the fighter, a slight smile on his face hiding her real feelings. She didn¡¯t understand why she hadn¡¯t felt the spider, it had to have been big enough for her to detect. This was just another thing that made her wonder just how her other ability worked. But even if she didn''t know everything, at least it was useful, most of the time.


    Paige looked at him and felt his happiness, joy, and what she thought was the thrill of a challenge. She barely kept from laughing; at least he was in a good mood.


    ¡°Are you sure you can get at the data?¡± Paige asked and Al grinned back at her.


    ¡°Yeah, mostly. Maybe around ninety-five percent. The real problem is the age!  But I¡¯ll know in seconds!¡± Al said as he went to work.


    In moments he had used a tool to unlock a covering and removed it, revealing a data port in the wing. Pulling out a wired screen, he inserted the wire into the data port. Not seeing a reaction on the screen, he smirked. Putting it down, he pulled out another small device from his pack.  Inserting the wire from it into another port on the screen, as the screen lit up he saw text flash by and he grinned.


    ¡°Good, good.  So the operating system is still there, so the main hardware still works, good!   And from that, I can¡­ good, great!¡± Al said with a grin as he looked from the screen to the fighter, his free hand tracing something.


    Paige felt a spark of triumph from him, and she released a sigh that she didn¡¯t know she was holding.


    ¡°Good news?¡± Racha asked and Al looked at her over his shoulder, a savage grin on her face.


    ¡°Yeah! I was able to call up the diagnostics on this thing! From what I saw, the enclosure we want is still intact! It¡¯ll take a few minutes to get to it, but I¡¯ll be able to, I think?¡± Al said as he looked at the fighter with a slight scowl.  Paige felt a spark of anger and nervousness from Racha that almost made her react, but she kept her face blank.


    ¡°And where is it?¡± Racha called back, a tense tone in her voice and Al just laughed.


    ¡°About there, seven feet off the ground right behind the pilot compartment!¡± All yelled as he pointed at a point on the fighter. As Paige looked at where he had to get the data from, she swallowed as she tried to think of a way for them to do that.

 Chapter Twenty-Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Fallen Corporate Fighter


    Galactic Standard Time / 1230


    Al smiled as he climbed up the vines, his eyes on his goal.   If everything had worked right, then he would be able to pull out the components in one go.  If not, it might take a minute or two, and with the sounds around that might be time they didn¡¯t have.


    As he climbed he spared a glance at the others on the ground. Jinn was right where he helped Al up the vine, right the fighter, ready to attack anything that might come at them.  Sara, Paige, and Racha were all a few feet away, looking out of their little half-circle.   He hoped that those other spiders stayed away, but he didn¡¯t know what to expect from this planet.


    He grabbed for a vine with his free hand and gave a small pull and smiled at the results. Good, it seemed strong enough for his weight. As he drew nearer to his goal, he heard a strange sound and looked up. Ahead of him, right against the very section he needed to take off was a large green insect. It was a good foot long and had a long stinger mouth.  On its back was a set of four clear butterfly-like wings with red patterns on them.


    It raised its wings and he grinned at it, both of them not moving or making a sound. After a few seconds, the insect speared a vine to their right and seemed to drain the life from it. As it did so its wings started to glow white and once it was done it flew away, going up and behind the crashed ship.


    Al stared at the dead vine, moving his hand towards it and turning it to dust at his touch! As it floated away on the wind, Al looked from where it had been to his vine.  He swallowed as he looked up where the insect had gone. He picked up his speed, climbing faster until he reached his goal.


    He looked at the latch and with his free hand he opened it, revealing a silver sphere within.  Al grinned and looked back down, a smile forming on his face. ¡°Found it! Just give me a minute!¡±


    As everyone turned to look at him, he felt a small spark of joy as he looked down.


    ¡°Sure that¡¯s how long you¡¯ll need Al?¡±  Jinn called up and Al laughed before replying, raising his head.


    ¡°Yeah!  I passed my zero-g repair course and¡­ SPIDERS!¡± Al cried up as he pointed


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha turned and saw three of the smaller red spiders moving towards them.  She reacted without a thought, firing her pistol at them. As Jin, Sara, and Paige joined in, the spiders were killed in an instant.


    Racha looked at the three spiders and felt a flash of fear.   She knew this tactic, they were scouts.   And if they were smart enough to send out scouts, then were they smart enough to¡­!


    ¡°Watch the sides! Al finish up fast!¡± Racha barked out as she started to pan her gun around.   She was to find anything that might show a spider coming at them, she didn''t think the attack was over.


    ¡°GOT IT!¡± Al called out from above.


    Racha tried not to let anything send her down a black hole, she had to keep her attention in the now. But it was harder than she tried not to, the more she thought about it.


    If the fighter behind them was that old, that created so many problems for them. The area the Cooperate Rebellion happened in was hundreds of lightyears away. And then there was the age, it had been hundreds of years, and still this planet was unknown! That was impossible as far as she knew! The Federation always looked through each lightyear they colonized hard, that was routine.  The directive was to find everything in their new space, all to keep from being attacked from behind! The Service even had watcher stations around possible worm-holes based on local legends. They should have found this planet by now, at least based on where the Spirit had been!


    The only explanation was that something was blocking tech from finding it. Then there might be even more ships that crashed here.  And if that was true then maybe the crashed ships like this one were the result of something here too.   And if it was at least a few hundred years old, it had to be older.   And that meant the ¡®Unknown War¡¯ was more than a possibility.   And that meant Ruins, the strange complexes with science beyond what the Federation thought was possible, science that was like magic.


    It made sense if that was part of why they crashed. The public only knew about the ¡®safest¡¯ Ruins.  Like the one on that vacation planet, no one could get pregnant there so the nightlife was something.  Or that one near the core, every plant that fifty miles around it had harvests in weeks instead of months.  Places like that were seen as places to try and study the science of extent races, and books were written about them, but never the hidden ones.


    The Federation never let the really dangerous ones become public knowledge. There were already cults that worshiped the races that created the Ruins, let them know about all of them? Like the one in the center of the Salor Nebula.  It had a laser that could burn a hole through the hull of their strongest ship armor. Or the one on that death world, now that was a nightmare!  They still didn''t understand how the shield around the planet reflected all laser based weapons! And that wasn¡¯t talking about how the creatures there seemed to track down any range weapons above muscle powered.


    To put it simply, the Service called Ruins ¡®beyond¡¯ known science.


    ¡°Any idea if we should expect more of them?¡± Sara asked and Racha looked at her.


    ¡°Maybe, look.   Just keep watching your side, we need to get moving towards the shore as fast as Al comes down,¡± Racha said and Sara nodded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let you down!¡± Sara exclaimed and Racha nodded.


    ¡°I know you won¡¯t, I brought you along for a reason,¡± Racha said and Sara smiled.   Racha turned away and let her smile fall, hoping that Paige didn¡¯t pick up her feelings.  Racha hadn¡¯t known what to expect from Sara, but then there were reasons she had brought her along.  And Racha had to admit that it wasn¡¯t her new abilities.


    Sara¡¯s abilities hadn¡¯t been needed, and dragging her along was something Racha wasn¡¯t happy about. Just one monster that knocked her out and it wouldn¡¯t matter if she was here. But that was the same problem if Sara wasn''t here.  But Racha hadn''t brought Sara along to heal, but for more practical reasons. If the survivors got it into their heads to attack her or Nova forbid worship her... that was a problem she should stop before it began.  No, the best idea was for her and Jinn to stay where she could see them.  At least until the danger they represented was gone.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige kept looking away from Racha, hoping that she didn¡¯t let anything show in her posture.  She had overheard Racha¡¯s comments, and she felt a taste of deception from her.  Paige was starting to get worried, Racha had brought her power-using leader, herself, and two others out here.   It would have been so easy for them to kill the other two and capture her, but then they found this fighter.


    She didn¡¯t think that even the Service would have created anything like this as a trap, but the thought was there.  But on the other hand, this place was so beyond what anyone could do, the idea was insane.


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    Suddenly she felt a spark of wonder and looked up.   On one branch of a tree ten feet up was a three-foot-tall bird. It had a large red hook-shaped beak, white feathers, and blue eyes staring at her with its head cocked. She just stared at the bird for moments, feeling it look back at her.  She just stared, wondering for a second why the spark of its feelings was so loud when she realized why.


    Her eyes widened as she felt its feelings change, becoming more joyful as it looked at her and she felt her eyes water.   If she was right, then this might change everything they knew about this planet.  She looked at it and smiled, trying to gather enough courage to speak up when something attacked the bird from behind!


    It fell towards the ground, screeching as eight red limbs grasped around it.  It hit the ground Paige saw one of the smaller spiders on its back with its fangs in the bird¡¯s neck. ¡°Help it!  Please!¡±


    A second later, Jinn dashed past her and speared the spider from the side with his knife still in its smaller form.   Paige ran towards it, she felt tears as she felt the bird¡¯s emotions, and how they started to slow down. She had only felt that once before when that child almost died because of his allergy. It seemed that once again, her need to help people would reveal her abilities to others.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above then, Al smiled as he undead the last binding. Putting his tool away, he slowly reached out and grabbed one of the handles of the data core, pulling it free. Holding it gently, he put it into his bag and sighed. He never would have figured that his class on ancient starships would have come in handy. And from what he saw, the data unit was perfectly intact and it looked like he could safely get it to work with some time. For a moment he hesitated, wondering if he should do this.  But he hardened his eyes, reached into his bag and pulled out a small square piece of tech with a few wires coming from it. Within a few moments, he finished connecting it to the fighter and smiled as it sent him a report that his nanites displayed over his left vision.


    The engines were still good, and the battery was at half charge.   The sensors were buried in the ground, so the effort was pointless. There was no way to use the sensors to see if anything was around them, but the chance had been there.


    But he frowned as he saw that the sensors were very low level, too low for a good fighter craft.   Guess the old stories he found in those old data archives were true, the Cooperate Alliance lost because they gave their forces mass-produced junk.  He saw the weapons were just as bad, and damaged enough that they would cause a feedback loop that would cause this craft to explode.


    For a few moments, he thought of how big that boom would be.  And then he wounded what reason he would have to create something that big, but then he thought of the vine-beast.   If there had been a fighter like this there, could they have drawn it away long enough for him to turn a fighter into a bomb? And would the creature have even known what he was doing?


    He didn¡¯t know exactly what this would tell them, but it was enough, it had to be.  He had seen those insect things out there with Jinn and Sara, and something about them had bothered him.    There had been something about the way it had hunted them, and the one he had killed with his bomb¡­ and then there was the vine thing. He wanted to think that Jinn had been wrong, that its reaction was wrong.


    He didn¡¯t want to think that it could reason, if it could that was very bad.  That thought led down a long spiral that ended with the question of just what else was capable of thought on this planet.      And the best thing that he thought could think was the larger insectoid, the smaller ones could have been pre-sentient members of its species, that would make sense.


    But he couldn¡¯t think about that, he had to pay attention to this right now, and they had to get away from where they killed that spider thing. There was a chance that it might not have been the mother of those things.  Or it might have just been an older version of the smaller ones. Hives and nests usually had a guardian if many of the same insects lived there, and spiders sometimes did that. He had to get down and nothing, nothing could keep them from leaving this find.


    ¡°What are you doing!?¡± Racha demanded from below.


    Al almost lost his grip on the vine, but he caught himself and held on tighter. He looked down and frowned, before he heard sounds of buzzing wings.  It caused him to turn and look up, paling as he caught sight of what made the noise.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked on as Paige looked at her while Racha screamed at Paige. When Paige cried out, Sara had turned as Jinn had moved. She had barely turned her head when Jinn had killed the spider that had attacked the bird. She was still trying to figure out what had happened when Racha had reacted.


    ¡°I need help, Sara please!¡± Paige said as tears came to her eyes.


    Sara looked at the bird, how it was so weak and she took a step towards it, not even thinking about saying no. She had studied healing to help anyone that needed it or anything.  And she had treated pets back on the ship as practice to get used to the feeling of a life being in her hands.  She had taken another step before Racha barked at her.


    ¡°Stay there! We don¡¯t know what your ability can do or how it¡¯s powered!  if it takes strength from you then that¡¯ll hurt us WHEN we run from here!¡± Racha said and looked at Sara with a scowl on her face.


    Paige felt her heart thunder in her chest, trying to find out anything to counter Racha¡¯s thoughts.   But before she could say anything, Jinn spoke up.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so.  If our abilities are the same I think it''s being fueled by something else.  I can, I can feel something different about myself, I can feel something deeper within me.  And if I¡¯m right, then one bird won¡¯t bother Sara¡¯s condition that much,¡± Jinn said as he stood with his back to Paige as she cradled the bird.


    Sara looked at Jinn, a strange feeling going through her as she felt herself nodding.  She hadn¡¯t even felt anything until after healing the tenth deckhand.  And a small bird wouldn¡¯t hurt at all.


    ¡°We have no reason to help it. It¡¯s just an animal!¡± Racha said firmly and Paige shook her head.


    ¡°No! It can think, reason!  I could¡­ I could sense it,¡± Paige said, looking away.


    Sara blinked, looking at Paige in shock.  What had she just said?


    ¡°HELP!¡± Al cried out from above, and Sara could tell right away that he was scared.


    Sara looked up and felt her mouth drop open in horror at what she saw. Cresting the ¡®top¡¯ of the fighter was a swarm of the same red insect Al had seen. There had to be at least twenty of them, maybe more.  Each one was hovering above the fighter, and they were looking right at something.   And to Sara¡¯s horror, each one had a face like a mosquito, and that meant they drank a liquid, probably blood.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn pulled out one of his pistols and put his blade away as he looked up. Al was climbing down fast, large red insects flying above the fighter. As he watched he saw one of the insects poke its stinger mouth into one of the vines, and in seconds the vine had withered into dust! Al was at least a quarter of the way down, but some of the bugs looked like they were going for the one he was hanging on.


    ¡°VOID! Sara help the bird, Paige get ready to run, and Racha help me blast them!¡± Jinn barked as he tried to call up the aura again. With nothing happened he tried to find it, then he remembered the words he had ¡®heard¡¯ in his mind, and thought them.  <u>Aether Comet</u>.


    As soon as he thought them, he felt the power course through him. With a single step, he was ten feet away from where he had been. He turned before he jumped up, passing the height of the fighter, seeing beyond it.  He saw something that shocked him in the shadows of the fighter, and for a second he was shocked.   He swallowed before he drew his other pistol, his hard eyes locked on the swarm and started to fire as he fell.  Behind the fighter, in its shadow was a large bee-like hive, the source of the red insects.


    Below Racha had started to fire, Sara having made it to Paige and her cargo.  As he fell, Jinn¡¯s blasts hit eight of the swarm, but more of them came from the hive!


    Jinn realized that they couldn¡¯t stay here, they had to move now! And there was only one way that could happen.   As he landed on the ground he moved down, aiming at where Al was, and called out to the others.


    ¡°Get ready to move!  I¡¯ll get Al,¡± Jinn called out and then he jumped at Al.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked up at Jinn¡¯s words, the bird in her hands after Sara had used her ability on it.   It had gotten better, and Sara had looked shocked, muttering something as Paige smiled.


    ¡°Thank you, Sara!   He¡­ he feels thankful too,¡± Paige said and Sara blinked and looked at her.


    ¡°You can feel its¡­ his emotions!?¡± Sara asked in awe and Paige nodded, sensing Sara¡¯s awe.  She smiled at her friend, actually feeling lighter to let someone else know about her ability.   And with Sara able to cleanse people, she was in the same boat as her.


    She looked up as she wondered how to bring up the danger Sara was in, when she saw Jinn grab Al and kick off the fighter. As they cleared the tree tops she saw Jinn look ahead and felt a spark of fear from Al.  Jinn¡¯s emotion suddenly disappeared as he drew his pistol, firing.  Only this time when he fired large blue energy bolts came from the aura around him, speeding towards what he had fired at.


    As soon as Jinn landed Paige reacted. ¡°What did you see up there?!¡±


    ¡°A swarm of spiders, at least thirty of them led by one a lot bigger than the one we killed! And there were at least four more the same size as what we killed with it!  They¡¯re at best five minutes away from us!¡±  Jinn said as Paige felt the ground shift beneath her as she felt Sara¡¯s horror.

 Chapter Twenty-Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Fallen Corporate Fighter


    Galactic Standard Time / 1250


    ¡°A swarm!?  Are you serious!?¡± Sara demandedand she felt terror as Jinn nodded.She looked around, trying to think of anything to do.The only thing they had to work with was the fighter, but it was so damaged that was nothing!


    ¡°What do we do?! I mean what can we do?!¡± Sara asked in a rush and looked around in a manic way.


    She had seen a lot of holo-movies growing up, and the worst was a movie much like this.  A crashed ship, survivors, monsters, and a mad scientist. It ended with giant ants attacking the mad scientist¡¯s compound.  The heroes escaped, blasting away in a repaired ship, leaving the mad scientist to be eaten alive.


    She had hated that movie growing up, and she never wanted to reenact it live, but it looked like she had.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked at Jinn, seeing he was still calm, and wondered just how he was holding it in. This was just another thing that made her wonder about his past, and what he was.


    She blinked, seeing a red flashing light in the corner of her right vision.  She blinked and looked around, glad to be back in control. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s not go to pieces, do we fight or run?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d need a miracle to kill them!¡± Al said before he blinked and looked up.


    The buzzing had gotten louder, much louder. They stared upwards as a hundreds more of the red insects flew out from behind the fighter.


    ¡°What are they doing?!¡± Paige asked as she looked up, the bird still in her arms.


    ¡°You can¡¯t tell?¡± Jinn asked and Paige looked at him and blushed.


    ¡°It seems bugs don¡¯t have big enough brains for me to ¡®hear¡¯ them, or they''re not sentient,¡± Paige said.


    All the vines turned brown and crumbled to dust, the fighter slamming down to the ground.  As the group braced themselves, Racha wondered just why the bugs had done this.


    As the fighter hit the ground, a cloud of dust formed.  As she coughed and tried to wave the dust away, she thought she saw something through it. As the dust settled, Racha saw that she was face to point-with the fighter. She went crossed-eyed as she looked at it, wondering if she was point blank to one of its weapons.


    ¡°This is perfect!  I can work with this!¡± Al said as he looked at the fighter and pulled out a small brace from his bag.  Putting it on his left arm, a holographic screen and keyboard flared to life.    His fingers flew over the keys, a small smile forming on his face as he turned to look at the others.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The twenty-foot tall and long red spider moved along, its four oldest spawn leading the lesser behind it. When it had gone out with all its spawn to try and take over the territory of the nearest ruler, it expected to win. It had led a force three times as big as the remains following behind it, the only survivors of its failed attack.


    It had planned everything perfectly, at least it thought it had. The hives had been gathering for an attack for a month, so the rulers forces had gone to strike first. The ruler would then be alone, an easy prey no question! But its attack failed utterly! The Ruler''s guards had appeared as if from nowhere!  And then creatures able to match his greater spawn attacked from above. The Spider had been forced to leave most of its swarm behind to buy time with their lives. Its plans were failed by the cowardice of its spawn, not how would it rule? And when some of its lesser spawn that had stayed to guard its nest had come appeared, it had been shocked. And they ¡®talked¡¯ about how the one it left to lead the guards was dead, well dead messengers tell no tales.


    But now its lair was dirtied, by those strange things! But it had learned a long time ago, that sometimes problems were solutions to other problems.  range claws might be the one thing it needed to break the stalemate with that ruler! Yes, it could see it now; a new brood, ones that used the far clawers. A new horde of them, raised into perfect pawns and then, and then it would feed on that ruler!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the largest spider moved along, it absently killed one of the smallest spawns with one of its legs.  As it led the way, the others drew away from it as one of its bigger spawns glared at its sire in anger.


    The large spider didn¡¯t know that there was a growing hatred against it growing within its horde. Nor that only its strength and size kept it alive. The one that was glaring at it had been around longer than all the others, the last of its first generation of spawn.   It had watched its siblings die for its sire¡¯s ego time and time again, or if they grew stronger so they wouldn¡¯t become threats to it.   It needed to be smarter, slyer than that idiotic brute. That was why it had told the ruler what its sire had planned, but the trap failed.   Its sire had sent in the smaller ones, instead of fighting the ruler itself. It had meant to kill and eat the smaller ones if they killed the ruler, so it could inherit the mantle and territory.   It had to be smart, and hope that those creators in the den were able to at least wound its sire enough for it to die.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The largest spider felt a spark of glee as it entered the heart of its territory. Once it had the power of the range claw, it would spawn a group of spawn with that ability and take over this whole land! It would be the master of all, all would be prey for its webs! As it reached the edge of the den it slowed down.  It stood there, letting the smallest spiders rush past it. After all, a wise leader let the expendable ones pay the price after all. As it waited for sounds of battle to come from within, it heard nothing. It blinked before it moved after them. The weaklings were probably staying away from the intruders, the cowards.


    But as it came into the clearing, all it saw was its dead spawn with the guard it left. As more of the smallest ones speed past it, it stared around.  Finally, it noticed a few tracks and screeched, pointing with a leg where it wanted them to go. But as the first of the spawn charged ahead, strange red spikes flew at them, killing all of them.


    The largest spider only watched in glee, the far claw was everything it wanted! For a moment it wondered why the intruders had gone to its ladder. All that was there was a strange hard plant.  It ignored the question and screeched, sending more of its spawn, it could always make more.  Finally, as the number of dead started to rise, the far claw started to die down, and the spider sire felt a sense of pride. Its perfect strategy worked again, and now it would claim the prize!


    It walked into where the far clawer was to¡­¡­¡­ just see the strange growth on its side and dead spawn around it.   It blinked its eyes as it looked around, trying to find the far clawerer. It felt anger erupt from within it as it looked at its worthless spawn. It was good that they died before it found out they failed, or it would have eaten them alive!


    As it walked closer into the clearing towards the strange growth, suddenly it felt fire go through it. It went still before it tried to move backwards but more of the fire pierced its body as it stumbled towards away. It fell to the ground and screeched for its spawn to save it, only for more of the fire to pierce its body.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the angered spider looked on, it saw its siblings screech in anger and charge at their sire.   As one of the smaller spawn bit into its eyes, their sire screeched and tried to throw it off. As the swarm attacked, the angered spider sensed something was wrong. It had always listened to this sense, it had led it out of danger many times. And right now, it was telling it to turn and run as far as its legs could carry it! To not stay and kill its sire, just to turn and run as fast as it could.


    As the other spiders its size moved to take their pound of As the other spiders its size moved to take their pound of flesh from their sire, the angered spider turned and ran. As it fled away from the slaughter, it just ran. Whatever was coming, it had to get away fast if it wanted to live!lesh from their sire, the angered spider turned and ran. As it dashed away from the slaughter, it just ran, hoping to survive.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The swarm attacked. They never noticed anything behind them. As the Corporate Alliance Fighter¡¯s blasters start to glow red, they just wounded their sire. As the glow intensified, coming closer to a meltdown . Finally, as the sire expired, the fighter exploded and the shrapnel flew and killed the swarm!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the angry spider, the lone survivor of the swarm watched as the shrapnel fell short of it, it knew it was a good thing to follow its sense.  It turned around and walked back, looking upon a slaughter field. It looked around and saw its brethren and sire dead, pieces of their bodies all around.


    It felt happy as it looked upon the feast before it. It gave thanks to whatever had caused this feast, and it started to feed on the carrion. As it ate it, it wondered where the far clawer things were. The power they had was enticing,  after it created a swarm of its own it should hunt down them. All power it had to stay alive was a good thing after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they felt the explosion, the party looked up at the ceiling of the tunnel. They stood still as the echo from the boom died down before they all let tension melt away.


    ¡°It worked after all!¡±  Sara said with a laugh in her voice.


    Paige meanwhile cuddled the bird she was carrying, and it cawed softly. ¡°Thank you, little friend, we couldn¡¯t have found this place without you!¡±


    ¡°Stay close, we might have gotten away but getting out is gonna be harder!¡± Racha barked as she looked around,


    ¡°Lighten up, we¡¯re alive and going to the sea a lot faster after all!¡± Jinn said and Racha scowled as she remembered just how they had gotten away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Fallen Corporate Fighter


    Galactic Standard Time / 1245


    Racha gazed around at the others as they looked around the clearing, trying to figure out how to escape. She wondered if fighting here with their backs against the fighter might be the best thing to do.  The idea would keep them from attacked from behind after all.


    But when the bird in Paige¡¯s hands started to cry, Paige looked down at it. ¡°What¡¯s that, you know how we can escape?¡±


    Paige looked up and she looked at Jinn who only looked at the bird.


    Racha felt a small spark of hope, if that bird could reason and think, then it might have a way for them to live. But she also felt the question about why it would help them, it might only be leading them into a trap. But she had to admit that there was no way that this becomes worse for them after all.


    ¡°Even if we can get away they¡¯ll just follow us!¡±Sara asked with a note of panic in her voice.


    Racha looked at her and was about to try and give her courage when Al spoke up.


    ¡°Not if I can help it!¡± Al cut in and looked around, a grin on his face.


    ¡°Al?¡± Jinn asked and Al grinned back.


    ¡°All I need is thirty seconds to send a VI to this thing!¡± Al said as he slapped the fighter and smirked.


    ¡°Okay little friend, where do we go?¡± Paige asked and the bird pointed its head beyond the fighter.


    Racha looked at the bird and took a deep breath and sighed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit. I was wrong. But that drop was something that I¡¯ll blame on you!¡± Racha admitted as she glared at the bird who only looked at her and opened its mouth. Racha felt a spark of anger and Paige carried the bird out of her reach.


    Racha¡¯s hand twisted, imagining the bird¡¯s body in them. As she looked around, she had to admit that this place was something else.


    They were walking through a cave at least three minutes down in the earth. The tunnels were lit by rocks at the top that shinned down a blue light. It had to be at least as good as sunlight as there were actual plants down here. But that raised the question of how the crystal created the energy they sent out as light in the first place. She had seen some crystalline organizes that created energy from absorbing chemicals before. And if the bird used the tunnels then maybe they ¡®ate¡¯, carbon dioxide, it was possible.


    She had to admit that she hoped they would find a way out soon. Not having an escape path was doing nothing for her paranoia. Even up there, they were ways to escape or try and deny combat against something that attacked them. But down here, there was nothing. All they had was the tunnel and their guide a literal bird!


    ¡°One thing for sure, they are going to think my report is because I was on drugs,¡± She muttered as she looked behind them, acting as rearguard.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    At the head of the group, Jinn looked around trying to make sense of what he had seen. After he had activated his aura the second time, the vision in his eyes came back. Each action he had taken when he activated his aur¡­¡­ Aether Comet, it had drained from a bar.  Said bar had appeared in the bottom of his left vision, and went away as he stopped using the ability.


    He remembered a game he had seen some of the other deckhands playing one day, and how they reacted when he asked what they were doing. He hoped they bought his excuses about how his parents hadn¡¯t believed in those games but he had heard about them. What happened after that was a two-hour explanation of video games, the subtypes, and the basics of each one.    This seemed to be something like the RPGs they told him about, but he saw the energy in the second bar grow as he walked.


    He didn¡¯t understand anything about how that was possible but he had an idea.  His nanites sent him a report a minute ago, he now had a new type in his blood.  And surprise, it was of a kind that he couldn¡¯t access with his mind. He sent a command to investigate them, but he didn¡¯t expect much. They were the only explanation for his abilities, but how had they gotten in him?   He sent a request for his physical data for the last few days, and a file appeared in his right vision. He looked it over and found nothing that could tell him just how it had gotten into him.


    He had to wonder, was it from that time when he couldn¡¯t remember, from when they left the Spirit?   But if that was true, then the passengers might also be infected, and if that was true¡­¡­¡­. Things were going to be very, very weird.


    He looked at Racha over his shoulder and thought about what to do. He looked to his left and saw Al grinning, and he nodded. ¡°Al take over the lead, I¡¯m checking out what¡¯s behind us.¡±


    Al nodded, looking at him as Jinn stopped walking.   After a few moments, the group passed by him and he started to walk next to Racha. ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked at Jinn and tried to figure out what he was after now. ¡°About what?¡±


    Racha looked at him, a strange feeling going through her.  She didn¡¯t like Jinn, but what he just said caused her to stare at him.


    ¡°The abilities of me and Sara.  I¡¯ve figured something out, why we have them, the how at least,¡± Jinn said gruffly and Racha¡¯s eyes widened.


    If he cracked the secret about how he and Sara had abilities, that meant that she might be able to gain them too. And she had to admit that the chance to be as strong as some of the Ancients she had fought was very tempting. But the way he spoke, it was like a doctor telling a child their parents had just died.


    ¡°And you reasoned what about why you two gained your powers?¡± Racha asked, waiting for the asteroid to crash into her ship.


    ¡°I think the way is¡­.. there¡¯s no easy way to say this.They¡¯re nanite-based,¡± Jinn admitted as he looked up the passageway at the others.


    Racha felt her heart stop at his words, seeing the horror behind them so clearly. If whatever kickstarted the abilities was nanite based, then this is very bad. There was no way to find out who had them or if they could be passed on! And if they were in Jinn and Sara¡¯s bodies, then they had to be in everyone¡¯s bodies. And that meant anyone could gain any number of abilities, from Duncan to Jones.   And the passengers, like that slime Bradford Golrick! The very thought of Bradford being able to fire energy blasts was enough for her to shiver in horror. The man was already the number one threat to her mission. And now her current biggest headache was telling her this was going to get even worse!


    There had to be a way out of this, something Jinn hadn¡¯t seen!  There was no way to even think that this problem was as she thought it could be. He had to have made a mistake.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡­ How did you figure that out?!¡± Racha asked as looked at Jinn with a note of panic in her voice.


    Jinn only looked at her before looking away.


    ¡°I¡¯ve¡­¡­ got class 10 nanites,¡± Jinn admitted and Racha looked at him, her mouth falling open in shock and horror.

 Chapter Twenty-Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 740


    Duncan sighed as he looked around the top of the crater, trying to gather his thoughts. He saw the clearing and the remains of the lizard scorpions around him, what remained at least. Last night, something had come and eaten most of the corpses, leaving only some pieces behind. He was thankful he had gathered the tails of all of them. This way, they could create antidotes for their poison, and the samples said that the meat was mostly safe to eat.


    He chuckled as he thought of how the captain was so proud that they got a chief who could prepare poisoned fish. Of course, he just asked, why not use a scanner, find the poisoned parts and cut out those and serve the rest? The way the chief had looked at him when he asked the question still got a laugh. The Chief Engineer had gotten a scanner set up in the kitchen and the new chief had stared at it in total shock before he exploded. He had shaken Duncan¡¯s hand and declared that his idea was revolutionary, visionary even. Because of that, all the restaurants aboard now served the fish and Duncan had gotten a nice increase in his paycheck. The captain had even put him in for a commendation, and he was made the ¡®Employee of the Decade¡¯.


    ¡°But this time I¡¯ve got to come up with a plan to keep us off the menu,¡± He muttered as he looked around the clearing. The attack yesterday showed him the truth, they were too exposed. He had ordered the deckhands to look through all parts of the escape capsule, there had to be something they missed! If they could find anything, from a hover motor to maybe a grav-sled, they could try and make a wall around the crater. And then they could fortress up and let the creatures out here die against their walls.


    He sighed as he thought of his other problem, Jones. There was nothing that said the scum had lied, but something about him just bothered Duncan. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but something about him just rubbed him wrong. He had always trusted his feelings, and something about Jones was just wrong. He knew what the deckhand believed in, and he didn¡¯t want to say that was part of why he didn¡¯t trust him. But Duncan¡¯s hand went to an old scar on his right leg and remembered how he had gotten it.


    He took a deep breath and pushed those memories down. He had gotten out of the service because of what caused that scar. And he didn¡¯t need to even think more about it. He just needed to think of the normal problems now.


    ¡°Sir?¡± A voice from behind him caused him to turn and see Terra walking towards him from the capsule.


    ¡°I know you¡­¡­ Terra right? Did they find anything?¡± Duncan asked and Terra nodded and smiled.


    ¡°Yes sir. We found two small grav-sleds, a large laser cutter, and a radar unit! The escape capsule isn¡¯t as damaged as we thought too! The batteries were missed and the damage only caused a 5% decrease in collecting solar energy!¡± Terra said with a smile.


    Duncan smiled, a sense of relief going through him. With this, the plan was a lot easier than he thought it would be. ¡°Good, great even! Terra, choose five other deckhands, you¡¯re on guard duty! I need to call for volunteers, we need to start cutting down the trees around the clearing! I want to start building a small wooden barricade by lunch!¡±


    Terra saluted him and nodded.


    Duncan looked out at the forest around them and sighed. Now all he needed was for that fool Jones not to cause any trouble and he might get everyone through this alive. But he had a terrible feeling that this was going to be a lot harder than he thought.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones looked around the bathroom as he tried to plan his sermon. He needed to find a way to gather all the believers together, to show the unenlightened the true path. This world, this place was just what the Order was founded to heal. The world and beast must be trained to obey their natural superiors. And he was lucky enough that this capsule only had members of humanity in it, the highborn needed to lead. The lesser races were meant to serve and protect their betters after all. But like the teachings said, sometimes the leaders needed to go first to show the way.


    But he should talk to Sir Bradford first, he seemed like a smart person and Jones needed advice. He had never had any of the training needed to show others the right path forward. He needed an advisor, and the elder was the perfect choice.


    He stood up and nodded, putting a smile on his face, and walked out, only to stare in shock.


    Duncan was standing within the open airlock, looking at the deckhands and passengers as they stood before him.


    ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m going, to be frank with you all, we¡¯re in danger! There have been rumors since yesterday, so I¡¯ll put them to rest. We did send out a group to gather food, that¡¯s true. All but one of them are missing, and they might be dead. But when the survivor got back here, he led a pack of strange creatures. And they were followed by something else,¡± Duncan admitted and looked around at his listeners. The passengers looked at the deckhands, and every one of them nodded.


    A flash of shame hit Jones, but how was he to have known a greater beast was tracking him? There was no way at all, and at least Duncan understood that at least.


    ¡°Now that means that this place is more dangerous than I thought, I¡¯ll admit it! So to try and get any single advantage for us, I ordered this capsule to be searched. We found enough supplies to let us start to work at making this place safer for us, but we¡¯ll need help!¡± Duncan admitted and the passengers all looked at him.


    Jones just listened in shock, not understanding just what he was saying. He saw Sir Bradford at the edge of the crowd and started to move towards him slowly so Duncan wouldn¡¯t pay any attention to his movement.


    ¡°Now we, the crew need help! So I¡¯m asking for volunteers to help us move a few trees! We¡¯ve got the equipment, but we need personnel to help make it a reality! So I¡¯ve had no choice, but to ask you! We need twenty people, and that¡¯s not counting the guards they¡¯ll need to watch! So I ask you, will you help us protect you all? Help us make a small barricade to deny the monsters in the dark?¡± Duncan asked and looked at the passengers.


    As Jones made it to Bradford, every passenger roared, not in denial but in agreement. Jones just watched as the people all seemed to volunteer to die to help the old fool¡¯s plan. He didn¡¯t know what Duncan was doing, creating a wall to keep the wilds out was the last thing they needed!


    ¡°Sir Bradford, what is this?!¡± Jones whispered urgently and Bradford only turned to look at him and shook his head.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford looked at his possible pawn and wondered just what he could do now. When he had been approached he had thought the fool would be more help. But this, what Duncan had just done? It changed everything! Now Bradford couldn¡¯t paint the old man as someone who was waiting for the monsters to come at them! And asking for help? That was a perfect way to make the passengers think they were helping protect themselves! That was the greatest thing Duncan could do to improve morale, and the worst for his prospects for power!


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°A well-thought-out plan to protect everyone I should say,¡± Bradford said softly to Jones, keeping an eye on his face as he did. He hoped that the fool would understand just what he meant, what he wasn¡¯t saying.


    But he doubted it. Jones''s Order was very structured, and ones like Jones were all blunt tools for the ones with minds. His only hope was that this fool was something that could help him before he died.


    ¡°But to block us off from the wild!? That would just make our task to tame this place that harder!¡± Jones said quietly with passion.


    Bradford almost didn¡¯t succeed to keep the sheer shock Jones''s words caused him from showing on his face. He had hoped that Jones was a bit smarter, but that caused those hopes to die. This fool was nothing but a fanatic! He had such hopes for this one, but now he saw the truth. He had to hope he could find his people soon so that one of his men could ¡®handle¡¯ Jones properly.


    ¡°The wild is dangerous, that is always true. If the mad ones come, not even the voice of their master will let stop them. Those are the teachings of the Order are they not?¡± Bradford asked and Jones looked at him.


    All that Bradford was hoping for not was that the idiom would understand what he wasn¡¯t saying. If not, then Bradford would have only one choice left.


    ¡°GOOD! Now everyone who wants to volunteer, we¡¯ve got jumpsuits you can all change into! And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got some guards already to protect you and I know who can lead the work!¡± Duncan bellowed and this was met with more cheers.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and volunteer to lead the guards then, it should let me talk to them about the Way,¡± Jones said and Bradford just felt a headache start to grow.


    ¡°Of course, go ahead my boy! I¡¯ll be staying back, we need to keep a watch on Duncan after all!¡± Bradford said.


    As Jones walked off, Bradford frowned. That reaction made him wondered just how soon he would be able to arrange Jones¡¯s ¡®Retirement¡¯.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked around as the third tree was cut down. As she watched one of the grav-sleds lower it onto the ground, she felt a spark of hope. So far everything was going perfectly, and she hoped it would continue for another hour. So far, besides the trees they had cleared bushes out to a hundred feet around the right side of the crater. If they were lucky, they¡¯d have that side ready before they stopped for lunch, and then they could work on the next side.


    If they could get a good defensive perimeter up, then they would be able to protect this place that much better. After all, like she¡¯d heard growing up, a structure was easier to defend than a line.


    ¡°Hey, Terra?¡± A voice behind her caused her to turn and see one of the other deckhands coming towards her. She frowned as she saw him looking up at the sky, and she felt a spark of fear. She looked up, seeing nothing and looking back as he made it to her.


    ¡°What is it, Richard?¡± Terra asked and Richard shrugged. He was a bit taller than she was and his white hair was in a ponytail. He said it was natural, but then she¡¯d seen worse. The look in his blue eyes caused her to frown and she looked up, trying to find what he had.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to make any noise, but I thought I saw a wing up there dart behind a cloud¡­ it was big. Maybe bigger than a shuttle wing big. And it looked like it didn¡¯t have any feathers,¡± Richard said in a whisper and Terra felt her heart stop for a second.


    Her home world had stories about winged creatures with fleshy wings, and they were always the darkest ones. They said that such creatures were bringers of diseases and woe, that to see one was to court death.


    She looked up, trying to see if she could see anything but after a few moments, she turned and looked at him. She didn¡¯t know what to do, Richard wasn¡¯t someone who played pranks like this. If he saw something, he saw it.


    ¡°Keep looking up, I¡­ we need to tell Chief Duncan, he needs to know about it!¡± Terra said and Richard nodded and clutched his rifle harder.


    ¡°Yeah but who¡¯s going to tell him? If it''s waiting for an opening, then someone going to tell him is that,¡± Richard said softly, and Terra felt her heart freeze as she heard the truth in her voice.


    Terra nodded as she looked at the tree as it was slowly lowered. The grav-sled was a large circle that attached to something and manipulated its gravity. They were using one to carry someone up and attach the other to the tree they were cutting. Then once it was sliced through the other sled slowly caused it to fall to the ground. Then they attached the other one to the tree and one person could push the tree to where they needed it to go.


    So far they had just been sending one person to push the tree where they needed it to go. Then they rode one of the discs to the next tree, with the guards leading the group to the same tree.


    But maybe this time they could all go? Moving as a group, that might scare off whatever Richard had seen. Terra looked at the tree as it was lowered down and nodded her head. That was the best plan she had and the only choice that made sense.


    ¡°GOOD WORK!¡± Tara called out as the tree was lowered to the ground. ¡°That¡¯s the third tree! Let''s all move it back to the crater and get something to drink! Gotta stay hydrated after all!¡±


    As the group looked at her Terra spoke softly. ¡°Richard, talk to the others and keep a watch upwards, you see anything scream and fire!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Richard nodded, a strange feeling going through him as he walked towards the other guards. He reach one who was far away from the passengers and grabbed his shoulder, bringing up his finger to his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t react, but we might have something big watching us from above. Guard the passengers and keep an eye upwards. Orders from Terra, tell the others.¡±


    As the deckhand nodded, Richard looked up without moving his head. He had passed his home¡¯s adulthood ritual, but this was worse. He had spent a half year out in the wild with only a knife, clothing, and a simple bag of supplies. He had made a bow and hunted the worst predators that area of his world had, but never had he been chased by a flyer!


    Most animals that could fly weren¡¯t very big, they favored speed over bulk. But if he had seen something that was real and not a trick of his eyes, this had both. He didn¡¯t want to believe that this was real, but he had seen it, his nanites had recorded it. He called up what he had seen again it took over his right vision. He increased the magnification and saw a black claw on a white hand-like wing. He kept walking, looking at the limb of whatever was within the cloud and he hoped it didn¡¯t attack, this might be deadly if it did.


    But what was whatever it was up trying to do? Was it hunting them, waiting for some of them to drop their guard to attack? Was it trying to see if they were threats, did they crash in its territory, or something like that? There were any number of reasons and he just hoped that this wasn¡¯t some of the more¡­¡­. Predatory reasons.


    As the group looked at Terra, Richard only kept his eyes locked, one on the sky and the other on the tree. So far everything was good, they were moving it just like nothing out of the ordinary, that was perfect. He spared a closer look at the passengers, each one wearing a black jumpsuit. He saw looks of confusion on a few faces, but he hoped they wouldn¡¯t make a mess. All it took was one person who saw that Terra was nervous and they would react. If they started a riot, then they might just invite the creature to attack them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above the flyer looked on as the group moved along with one of the plant things. When it had woken up from its long sleep, it had felt hunger. It had taken flight and found enough to eat and then decided to go and eat some of its favorite things. But when it reached the closest source, it had been surprised. It had seen many newcomers land over the time it had lived, some died, some left and one group thrived. But they always left the places they came down in, but these stayed. Just looking at the group it had seen enough sires to birthers to grow. But that didn¡¯t matter to it, all that mattered was how they affected its life.


    It had flown over the clearing last night and had seen the scavengers eat the bodies. That was their way and it didn¡¯t think much of them, they took the leftovers. They had cleared the bodies of things it had killed before, and they would live until the island died.


    It had flown over the clearing last night and had seen the scavengers eat the bodies. That was their way and it didn¡¯t think much of them, they took the leftovers. They had cleared the bodies of things it had killed before, and they would live until the island died.


    When it had seen the new one''s nest, it hadn¡¯t given them much thought. But they were breaking the territory, and that was something it wouldn¡¯t allow! If they were going to damage its chance to eat some of the best food-things, then it would scare them off! But before it flew down at them, it stopped and flew upwards. The food here wasn¡¯t the only place to get them. It would just need to fly farther, but then that might hurt it. It thought about how any rulers might see what it would or wouldn¡¯t do, and that was when it knew it had no choice.


    As it turned its wings downwards, it decided to grab one of the grown things they had put by their den. At least this way it would get some food out of the deal.

 Chapter Twenty-Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 900


    Duncan muttered as he looked down at his leg. For a few moments, he hated that he had let his doctor convince him to wait for his next rejuvenation. If he had even gotten a small one, his leg would have been a lot stronger. Still, for a man over three hundred, he was surprisingly fit according to that quack. Like a man a mere hundred years could talk to him about how his body was, he lived in it.


    He looked up at the wall, and let his mind wander. He knew that people like him usually stayed in the inner regions. Those cowards only left if they were at least biologically forty. But he lived out here, and his advanced facial aging caused the others to look at him like an elder, and he liked that. It made it a lot easier to get people to listen to him. Still, he couldn¡¯t wait for his retirement, take a good decade or two to relax, and learn a few new skills. His bank account could handle it if he stopped working tomorrow, but give up the stars? At least he could get a condo on a ship like the Spirit at least, maybe be a ¡®retired freelancer¡¯, and help the ship if they needed him.


    He sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes. ¡°That would be nice. Maybe I could even make a beeping if they needed me, like that.¡±


    Duncan¡¯s eyes shot open, the beeping was real. He looked towards the wall, locking his eyes on a monitor. A large object was falling towards them, shuttle size at least! He shot to his feet and grabbed his crutch, stumbling towards the door. ¡°All hands, battle stations! I want the rest of the first watch on me, watch two stay back!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones scowled as he stood outside the escape capsule. When he had gone to Duncan to volunteer, he had only received a small smile from Duncan. And then he was told that he was glad that Jones was so happy to guard the airlock outside. Jones scowled as he remembered how Duncan had hobbled away, barking orders as he walked back to his ¡®office¡¯. As the other deckhands directed the volunteers to where to change, Jones had been pushed outside and the airlock closed.


    He looked up, imagining it surrounded by walls. Duncan would have deckhands guarding the crater from behind them, that had to be why he ordered them made. He could just imagine Duncan ordering them to shoot at anything that came out of the forest! That was the worst thing that they could do, it would only make the situation worse! If they treated anything that came to them as enemies, then they would be enemies! He had to figure out a way to get them to understand before they made a terrible mistake!


    If only there was something he could do, something others could see! He didn¡¯t know just how he could find something like that, but he had to! He was the only person who even thought of things the right way, he had to bring the truth to the others! Their very existence on this planet was on the line and more! Once they were rescued, and they told how he lead them, then who knows? This could be the one thing that would let the Order take charge!


    Once people found out the truth, the galaxy would change! He could see it right now, the result of everything he would do. The Order would sweep away the unbelievers, all would follow the proper path! Those who stood against them would die as was proper and they would be forgotten to history. And beautiful Racha would be his wife, giving him strong heirs that would take his place as the Prophet of the Order. Under his command, everything would be perfect and proper!


    If only there was something, anyway for him to show the truth to these fools!


    The sound of the airlock activating caused Jones to turn his head. As soon as the airlock was halfway open Duncan charged out, four deckhands following him.


    ¡°Sir!?¡± Jones asked in shock and surprise. He could only watch as Duncan and the other deckhands all aimed their rifles at the sky.


    ¡°You! Get everyone back here now! Tell them to drop everything and move!¡± Duncan spat and Jones stared at him for a moment, shocked beyond the capabilities of speech.


    ¡°But why do we need to¡­.¡± Jones asked, not quite understanding what Duncan meant.


    ¡°NOW BOY! Something¡¯s coming from above, something big!¡± Duncan barked and Jones went still.


    He turned and ran towards the crater wall, climbing it fast. The only thing on his mind was terror. His homeworld had stories about ancient creatures that came from the heavens to kill. They were all that filled his mind as he climbed up. If this was a sign, then it was a sign of death


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above the flyer drove down, its mind conflicted about what it was about to do. It usually tried to not fight, knowing that if it showed off all of its tricks something might attack it for them. But again, it found the little ones attacking the growth things, and the ones by the pod growers were good. And there were many other groves it could feed from, but still. With the new creature out there, the best thing was to make a show of power. If anyone had their eyes on this place, then it would prove it was still a predator.


    And if it was honest, it needed the reputation boost. When it woke up, it had been to something very much unwanted. All in the area its den was, it saw signs that something had come looking around. It must have been something that wanted its strength, but what? It had thrown off most of those who hunted for it, but even it had enemies. It had decided to start to gather food to wait for the next passage to open, this place was too much for it. A new land would be deadly and terrible, but it had to be better than here!


    And to buy time, it needed to scare off anything looking for it. And these strange newcomers were perfect! But should it take a few lives? No, that would be too far. Some of the others only left it alone because it didn¡¯t care about territory or killing others. It could see a few others who would try and take its power if they saw how strong it was. No, the best thing to do was harass them a little. It could¡­ yes that sounded perfect.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra tried to keep calm as she led the group back toward the crater. She hadn¡¯t seen anything yet, but she was starting to feel something. She needed to get the people to safety, and soon. As soon as they made it to the crater she¡¯d send them back into the capsule, and then talk to Duncan. There had to be a reason that this thing was targeting them, and once she figure it out¡­. Well, then she could make sure it didn¡¯t keep targeting them.


    She looked around, seeing some of the passengers looking at the deckhands, and winced. Most of her guards were all looking around, some more obvious than others. Some of them were looking behind them, while others were looking to the sides. She didn¡¯t know what to expect, but something told her that this was worthless. It was like something was getting ready to strike, and no matter what they did it was too late!


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    She tried to figure out what this was, how she could get around it when she heard one of the passengers cry out.


    She looked up and saw Jones dashing towards them, a scared look on his face. She paned all around, trying to find what set him off.


    Jones reached her as she turned to look at her, a scowl on her face. ¡°Jones, what now!?¡±


    ¡°Dun¡­.Chief Duncan wants everyone to make it back to the crater, right now! Something¡¯s coming! He said to drop everything and run!¡± Jones exclaimed loudly.


    Terra felt her pulse quicken and then something caused her to look up. As soon as she saw what she didn¡¯t want to see, she paled in fear.


    Jones didn¡¯t even notice, he just kept talking as he looked at the people around him. ¡°It might be help or nothing, but we have to move! If it¡¯s something the best thing would be to face it from safety¡­..¡±


    Jones had turned his head and saw Terra¡¯s pale face. He opened his mouth but then his eyes saw others paling as they looked behind him. He slowly turned his head, and when he saw what they had his mouth dropped open in horror.


    Coming down from the sky was a monstrous giant black bat thing. Its body alone looked to be at least ten feet wide, its wings going out twice that on both sides. Along its body were two sets of three white spikes. The thing''s head had a wide nose and ears, and its mouth had four large fangs pointing down. Above them were the creature''s eyes, three set in an upside-down triangle formation. Its body was ten feet long but looked compact, with bare black skin and blue fur along its sides. It had two small feet before its long tail that ended in a spiked ball of white bone.


    As they watched the bat monster changed the angle of its wings. It grabbed one of the fallen trees as it flew over the crater. It landed, as far as the group by the tree was from the crater, throwing the tree so the leafy branches were pointing at it. Terra wondered just what it would do. but that thought died as it turned around, locking eyes with her.


    Terra activated her internal recorders absently, hoping her nanites would record this perfectly. This thing, it wasn¡¯t a mere beast. She saw in its eyes, the bat thing was capable of thought. There was a cold logic behind its eyes, but also what she saw as resignation, but why? What was this creature feeling that? And why had it grabbed the tree they hadn¡¯t pruned off branches let?


    The thought caused her to remember something from her youth, back before she first left her world. She looked at the bat thing as it turned around and took a bite out of the leafy branch. Her blood went cold as she suddenly understood just what this thing ate, and what they had been doing. Everything aligned together, and the picture her puzzle formed filled her with dread.


    ¡°Jones, get everyone moving, now. Guards move slowly and stand apart. Get between that thing and the passengers. Jones when I say now have them start running,¡± Terra said as she looked at the bat thing, her hands slowly aiming her rifle at it.


    Jones looked at her but something caused him to swallow and nod. He moved towards the passengers. ¡°Everyone, leave the tree. When I say go we go. One speed only very fast so get ready.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the bat creature ate the good food, it looked up at the leader of the larger small ones. Something about it bothered it, something primal. It had lived because it could judge its foes, and everything was telling it to leave. But it had committed, and if something was watching this clearing, then it was too late to do anything else. It just had to hope that it would survive this. But it didn¡¯t need to do much, all it had to do was throw a few of them around, and maybe kill some of them.


    As it ate it watched them, wondering why some of them were blocking the others from it. The others must be offspring and the ones between the protectors. That made sense, but then the young were the perfect targets here. It could make a few blows toward them and then fly off. And if the watchers saw it do that it would tell its masters about its actions, that could buy it all the time it needed.


    Before it could stop eating pain shot through its body! The pain was unlike anything it had ever felt before. It was a kind of burning feeling, but this was unlike when it had fought that spark thrower! It looked up and saw some of the big little ones standing there, but they had to be the source! So the new ones had power like the small ones then, that must have been why they were put here!


    It flared out its wings and felt a spark of joy. The guardian ones were moving around, it could cry out and ¡®miss¡¯, hitting other not food things. That way the big small ones could have things to make their den better, and they might leave its food things alone. Now all it had to do was put on a good ¡®play fight¡¯.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra watched as the bat took flight, and scowled as the spikes were revealed to be claws on a third set of limbs. They unraveled into two long arms with two elbows, giving them a reach of teen feet. As the bat flexed its wing limbs before it took flight. Terra looked kept her eye on it, and palled as its checks bellowed out. ¡°Scatter!


    The other deckhands all lunged to the ground, moments before the bat screeched! The waves of sound flew unseen over their heads and hit the ground by a tree. The blast sent a geyser of dirt and stones into the air. Terra looked at the bat and fired again, this time hitting its tail. As she looked at it her eyes went wide as she saw a few shots just miss the wings. If it lost those¡­¡­!


    Terra looked around at the other deckhands and barked an order. ¡°AIM FOR THE BODY! WE WANT TO SCARE IT OFF, NOT GROUND IT! IF YOU THINK YOU¡¯LL HIT THE WINGS, DON¡¯T FIRE!¡±


    The smarter deckhands all blanched in fear as they understood what she was saying. They all followed her orders, trusting her to know what to do.


    As she aimed at the bat creature, she saw Jones lead the last of the passengers down, at least he did that right. The bat started to fly in a circle, dodging the fire from the deckhands and Duncan¡¯s group in the crater.


    It fired another sonic blast, it missed them again. Terra kept looking at the creature as it flew around, and she had a terrible idea. ¡°No, no way¡­.. but why would it? Who could it? But that means¡­..¡±


    Terra looked around and saw the bat creature¡¯s blast hit the ground near one of the trees, sending it down. This time as the dust settled Terra was sure she saw something through the dust cloud. And she was hoping she was wrong, but that something looked like a biped.


    Without a thought Terra turned and fired again, hoping that she was right.


    The bat creature fired another blast near where the last one had hit. As the dust from that attack settled the bat hovered. It looked at it for another minute before it turned and flew off, a few shots going after it.


    ¡°HOLD FIRE! I want an orderly retreat to the crater now! And get that last tree!¡± Terra bellowed as the bat flew away.


    She ignored any questions, keeping her eyes locked on the forest. She didn¡¯t know if she should or shouldn¡¯t thank the creature. If it hadn¡¯t done what it did, they might have been ambushed.


    But she was worried, if the bat creature was capable of thought and emotion, then what else? What kind of mind could a predatory creature have that would let it survive? Was it as vile, as evil as some of the worst races out there? And she had to ask herself, why was her pod only made up of humans? And even more urgent, why had she only thought about that now?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan looked up as the last of the deckhands moved the tree into place, creating a triangle around the crater. So far nothing had attacked them, and that was enough for now. He looked at Terra as she and five others stood guard between the workers and the forest. He frowned, he had wanted to stop for a while but Terra had said they needed to finish. He didn¡¯t know what had caused her to think that, but he had a feeling it was bad.


    He knew that he needed to ask her what she was thinking, but he was worried. So far, everything was still going at a good pace. If what she had figured out was that important, then he doubted that he¡¯d be able to hide his reaction. And if it was what he feared, that might be the only thing to cause it.


    The report that Jinn¡¯s team had about the insectoid, it was a nightmare. It was strong enough to have fought off blasts from their weapons, but maybe numbers could handle them. If those things were trying more of those things were hunting down the party, then they would come here.


    The only thing to do was wait and hoped they could last until the others made it back. And then there was the other problem, the one he had avertedly created. When he sent Jones, it had made him appear to have gone to save the passengers. That gave him a platform, and he had already seen him acting all smug about it. He had hoped that throwing Jones outside would let the passengers forget about him. But this backfired in a big way. He could see the fool saying he volunteered for it, all to protect them. And if he said something about his beliefs telling him something was wrong, well hello new cult leader.


    It was a load of meteor ashes of course, but there it was. All he could hope for was that the team he sent out came back soon. And by came back, he meant on something that could fly.

 Chapter Twenty-Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1000


    Duncan sighed as he looked up at the sky. His mind was going over everything that had happened. So from everything, he learned this place had flying creatures that could grow to a titanic size. But at least they weren¡¯t radar ghosts. He had ordered someone to watch the sensors, so if it or something else came at them they¡¯d have a warning. One of the other guards had suggested they check if there were any ground-based sensors. The idea to set up a web around the clearing was smart, but he wanted them all to be line of sight distance only.


    He had to admit that it might help if something came at them again. He¡¯d been in enough battles where a minute''s warning could make all the difference. But something about the last attack bothered him. Terra said the creature ate the leaves, so it might not have eaten the carrion from the lizard-things. But if it ate the leaves, then why did it attack them?


    Vegetarians didn¡¯t attack if they didn¡¯t have to, that was what his niece told him. And since she was trying to be a zoo keeper, she would know. He could see it attacking them because it thought they were destroying its food source.... but there something was wrong with that line of thought. He couldn¡¯t tell what, but something still bothered him. He couldn¡¯t see what it was, but it was there. At the edge of his sight, just there waiting for him to notice one thing to reveal it. Somehow, he just knew that it was the worst thing, something that would make this so much worse.


    ¡°Ahhh¡­¡­Chief?¡± Jones''s voice caused Duncan to scowl and turn, looking at Jones with a scowl.


    Jones winced and just grabbed his left hand and tried to look at Duncan. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­.. if we¡¯re using the sensors, then don¡¯t I need something to read it out here? I mean, you put me out here to guard out here. So don¡¯t I need something to see the readings?¡±


    Duncan kept his mouth closed as he looked at Jones, an unreadable look on his face. On one hand, it made sense. But he put Jones out here to keep him away from the passengers really, and to keep him busy. Something like that might need the airlock to be open, and that was the last thing Duncan wanted. But the professional in him balked at the idea of sending a soldier out without the proper equipment. So in the end, it seemed that he had no choice at all before, just something that had to be done.


    ¡°Just keep an eye out here for now Jones. I¡¯ll ask anyone with engineering skills to see if we even have something that can do that,¡± Duncan said and Jones grinned back and saluted.


    ¡°THANK YOU SIR!¡± Jones barked before turning around and walked towards the far side of the crater.


    Duncan watched him walk away, a frown on his face. The way that Jones had reacted suddenly raised so many red flags. He had already had a lot of concerns about Jones, but the way he reacted just now¡­¡­¡­.


    He hoped that he was reading into this more than he should. If not, then the limits he hoped Jones had didn¡¯t exist. If the threat briefing he had read was true, then that meant the company had a problem. There were active safeguards in the screening process to keep them from getting jobs! It was to keep people in his mental range from being on ships like the Spirit if events like this happened! he would have to watch the little brat even harder and hope that he wasn¡¯t a fanatic!


    ¡°Sir?¡± The voice of Terra caused him to turn and saw her coming towards him down the crater wall. He sighed as he looked at her, wondering just what she wanted to talk about.


    ¡°Yes, Terra? You can go rest with the others. I¡¯ll call everyone for a debriefing and handle you last. You helped drive off that thing, it¡¯s the least you¡¯ve earned and¡­..¡± Duncan began but Terra interrupted him.


    ¡°Sir. It is because of that creature that I need to talk to you!¡± Terra bit out and Duncan looked at her.


    She seemed to be holding on by a bare inch, and that bothered him a lot. Terra¡¯s time on the ship showed she was a very balanced person, it took a lot to rattle her. Duncan could only hope this wasn¡¯t post-battle jitters. He¡¯d seen the hardest talkers reduced to nothing more than pacifists if they had them.


    ¡°This that important deckhand?¡± Duncan asked and Terra only nodded. Duncan sighed and shook his head. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk in my office.¡±


    Terra just nodded and followed after Duncan as he hobbled back towards he airlock.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones came around the crater and saw Terra and Duncan walk into the capsule. He kept his face blank as he looked up at the capsule, trying to see if he could see the sensors. The fact that they had seen the winged demon when it attacked them was truly a blessing from creation. The fact that it had been chased off before taking a life was a miracle.


    He saw it as just another sign from Creation. For did not the scriptures say that the Unfaithful would run after attacking the Pure? All in all, he was even more sure of the righteousness of his mission. And the fact that Duncan had said that he would look into giving him access to the sensors out here?


    Perhaps he was wrong about the Elder after all. Yes, he could see the truth now. Duncan was just one of the Unenlightened. The poor man had never had a chance to see the truth of the Order¡¯s doctrine. And that too was one of the Scriptures, one of his favorite of them all.


    ¡°¡®For it is the work of the Pure that will bring others to our Fire. Only when all sit and prepare to work the land that Creation gave us, will true peace come.¡¯ This place, it has to be it. This is the land of the Deliverance,¡± Jones whispered in awe as he looked around, for once shocked and awe on his face. But after that, he went white as he thought of another part of the Doctrine. The reason the Order even needed guards, the Enemy Forces!


    Jones leaned against the capsule, his mind going miles in seconds. He didn¡¯t want to be right, but everything fit. The way those two gained powers, how they were able to save everyone, it all fit!


    ¡°Oh, my dear Racha! Don¡¯t worry my beloved, I will bring you to the light!¡± Jones said with fever and looked up at the sky. For a moment he just stood there, leaning against the escape capsule, trying to think.


    He just held his head, trying not to let the weight crush him. He had thought the work before him would have been easy, but his revelation shattered those lies. If things were as bad as he thought they were, then he needed to find others who shared his beliefs. Only together would they survive the coming fire!


    As he looked up at the top of the clearing, he tried and failed to think of how he could get greater power. With that fool Jinn so easily gaining a blessing, there had to be a way for him to get one as well. If the time the Great Pope had seen was truly here, then he needed strength no matter what happened to the others!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As it watched the soft meats, the creature clicked its mandibles. After the hunting party had awoken the giant, they had fallen under its control. They followed it to hunt the soft meats, and died before too long. This one had stayed out of the giant''s control, and tracked it. It had seen the defeat, something it never thought would be possible. It had tracked the scent of the ones that had beaten the giant one, hoping to take their strength. But for its effort, it had found a great feast. All it had to do now was make it back to its nest and bring the horde. It would take it a few dark times, but once the horde was here, it would be rewarded. It might even be allowed to become the new mother of this perfect hive site!


    As it turned away and moved back into the forest, it never saw something move from behind a tree. The small armored figure looked from the watcher to the clearing before moving in another direction into the forest.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jones walked around the capsule, his mind was intent on his revelations. He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he never noticed Terra had led four deckhands out the airlock. He only noticed them when he walked into the sensor tower two of them had been carrying. As he fell to the ground, the deckhand carrying the back almost stepped on him.


    ¡°Jones!? Pay attention!¡± Terra barked as she looked back, having heard the commotion.


    As Jones pushed himself up, he looked up and saw the sensor towers and felt a spark of fear. ¡°Sorry, I just¡­¡­ I was thinking about the attack and¡­..¡±


    Terra sighed and looked at him, shaking her head. ¡°I guess with what happened to your last team that¡¯s to be expected. Still watch out, okay? We¡¯ll be bringing four more of these things out!¡±


    Jones nodded and looked at the towers. They were beige lances of metal a foot round and four long, and on top were three radar dishes. He stared at them, a little confused. He thought that civilian models only had one radar dish, and ¡­¡­


    ¡°Jones, did you hear me? You okay there?¡± Terra asked with concern in her voice.


    Jones blinked and looked up, seeing Terra look at him, taking a step towards him.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry¡­.. but, those are military models, right? How do we even have them?¡± Jones asked in shock and Terra just shrugged, a smirk on her lips.


    ¡°No clue! But these babies will help keep us safe!¡± Terra said with a smile.


    As Jones watched, Terra started to instruct the others on how to get them to the top of the crater, he tried not to worry. Another of the passages was coming to pass before him, ¡®when the eyes of metal see nothing, only then will the horrors come¡¯. This meant that sooner or later a great darkness would attack their betters! He needed to talk to Sir Bradford as soon as he could, this was getting worse by the minute.


    But how? He was sent out here by Duncan, and he couldn¡¯t go against his orders, but he had to talk to him! One of the other deckhands started to buckle as he tried to push the tower up. ¡°Let me help!¡±


    Jones dashed and got under the tower, helping the deckhand push it to the top of the crater. As it was pulled off their hands, the deckhand turned and grinned at Jones. ¡°Thanks, friend! Maybe we should have gotten more help, eh?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, helping others is the right way to live after all,¡± Jones said with a small shrug and the deckhand grinned back, wiping his forehead. The male deckhand had short black hair and green eyes, and as he smirked he revealed a gap tooth.


    ¡°Not many would do that, my man! Thanks, you need something just ask old Victor and I¡¯ll come running brother!¡± Victor said with a laugh.


    Jones looked at Victor, a feeling welling up inside him. He needed to talk to Sir Bradford, but maybe a messenger would be just as good.

 Chapter Thirty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1000


    As Bradford looked around the packed main chamber, he felt a small rush of pleasure. The work had been done, but the attack took the wind out of every passenger and some of the deckhands. So from his perspective, this was perfect. And to make things even better, that foolish fanatic had left him alone for the last hour!


    Once again he cursed himself for backing that group, but it had paid off. With his money, he had hoped to keep them from staging an armed revolt. But the spies had found a group three generations removed from the founder that had turned it into a scam. His people brought him enough dirt on them that he had forced the leadership to pay him under the table. Plus since his public image needed work, so he donated half to charities, the Order included. And that must have been when Jones saw him, bringing part of his bribe back.


    ¡°So it was my fault,¡± Bradford muttered under his breath and shook his head.


    ¡°Sir? What¡¯s your fault?¡± A nearby passenger asked.


    Bradford blinked, shook his head and grinned, already working on how to spin that sentence. ¡°Nothing my boy, nothing at all! Just thinking about my past. How a friend asked another friend out. Looking back the first probably thought I would ask the second out myself! Just doing some thinking about old friends!¡±


    ¡°Oh. Yeah, I¡¯ve been there sir. Had something like that happen to me. But keep calm, I think we¡¯ll get through this,¡± The passenger said before he walked off.


    Bradford sighed, barely keeping a scowl off his face. He hatted people like him, they always gave him the most trouble before he killed them off. Still, he seemed to be right. Even with the attack, he thought that they probably would survive. With all the weapons and tricks this capsule had, he saw them surviving for years at least!


    Still, that was worrying. He knew that military escape capsules had enough materials to arm a few squads, but this one had half of that. In a civilian model, he would expect at most a third, but this one alone seemed to have half! He had heard rumors aboard the ship, about how they had hosted important beings over time. So maybe the ship had been carrying someone to the treaty with the so-called ¡®Ancients¡¯.


    He felt a flash of fear, he had done everything he could to stop that treaty from happening. If they gained an alliance with them, they might share all their plans from the last war. Bradford could see how that would give rise to a few questions about how his brother died. And they were questions that he couldn''t let anyone ask. He had spent years hiding the cause of his death. If the Federation figured out he hadn¡¯t been a casualty of the war, that would lead to him before too long.


    And if that happened, everything he¡¯s ever built would crumble. His homeworld would become a war zone for one. All the fanatics would fight each other and his home system would lose all power it had in the Federation.


    Bradford looked up at the ceiling, trying to figure out what was happening while he was stuck on this plant. He had left instructions for his people to destroy everything that linked him to his brother¡¯s death. All they needed was time, and if anything this crash landing might help get them that.


    Bradford sighed again as he leaned against the wall, looking around the room trying to figure out what to do now. The creature that had attacked from the sky was all the people in the capsule were talking about. Normally he would have tried to use it to get power, but the mission Duncan sent out stopped him. With the Yardship in their control, they would be able to get off this planet or call for help.


    Plus with the construction of the barricade, Duncan had done it. He had destroyed any reason Bradford could think of to take power. And to make it worse, he knew that Duncan did everything to protect these fools. But still, if there was a chance to take over, he would.


    But then there were the other rumors. About how two of the deckhands had gained powers. One was said to be able to kill anything and the other to heal anything. These were rumors, so the truth had to be in the middle. But two pure humans gaining abilities that were even half of what the rumors painted? Then that was an opportunity like no other.


    The Ancients were a threat because of their abilities, but if humans could gain then. That changed everything, the entire weapons industry. But if their powers didn¡¯t work because of technology, then that was very interesting. If someone found a way to let humans learn, to gain what abilities they wanted¡­.. then that person would become the most important person in the Federation.


    ¡°Mr. Bradford?¡± A voice asked.


    Bradford turned his head and saw a man in a deckhand jumpsuit with red hair walking towards him. Bradford looked at him and felt a strange feeling going through him, but forced a smile onto his face. ¡°Yes, son? Does Mr. Duncan want to talk to me?¡±


    ¡°No sir, I¡­.. I was wondering if I could ask for your help. Chief Duncan wants us to look over the stuff in the back, and well. You might be able to help us identify what we can¡¯t,. The redhead said. Bradford looked around with his eyes, seeing the other passengers look at him.


    Bradford hid a wince, that made the choice then. If there was one thing he knew, it was how to ambush someone to get them to do what you want. He didn¡¯t think that Duncan was that smart.


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be happy to help!¡± Bradford said as the deckhand nodded, leading Bradford to the side.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    She watched Bradford walk away, her mind going dark places. When she had met him on the ship, she hoped he would lead her to her target. Maybe become a scapegoat when she escaped, but now she wasn¡¯t sure he was what she thought he was. She liked to use people like she thought he was, one of those scum who stepped over the common man all the time. But the more she looked at him, the more she was getting a feeling that he was even worse. She didn¡¯t know how to explain it, but she trusted her feelings, they never steered her wrong.


    But here she was, stuck with the rest of the rich idiots on an unknown planet. She was still debating if she should go and tell the leader, Duncan what she could do. Not everything of course, not why she was here. Just that she had military experience, and could help. Her backstory had enough in the black that she could explain it away, but should she? If it got back to her target, then that was it. But then that was if her target was even still alive at this point.


    She couldn¡¯t win, she just couldn¡¯t. One of her personal choice targets had been on the ship, and someone kept her from killing him.! ¡°Girl, you need to think this through.¡±


    ¡°Think what through Vivian?¡± A blissful voice asked from behind her.


    The woman calling herself Vivian for now went still and tensed. She had only been snuck up on a few times, more since she came aboard the Spirit of Adventure. And all those times, the same person was behind it. She took a deep breath before she turned her head. Standing there was a tall woman her height with the same figure as Vivian. The other woman had long brown hair that went down her back in two ponytails. She blinked at Vivian behind thick glasses, her brown eyes giving her a look of sheer peace and calm.


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    Once again Vivian wondered just how this woman always snuck up on her. She had undergone training to detect people and her nanotech was top-notch, just below covert ops level. She should have noticed anyone well before they had any chance to surprise her!


    ¡°Dalila!? You were on this capsule too?!¡± Vivian asked with a shocked tone. Vivian wasn¡¯t really surprised. She had seen Dalila the other day but hoped it would take another day until Dalila found her. She seemed to try and always talk to her, and Vivian didn¡¯t like it. Once or twice she had seen Dalila near her target and hoped she wasn¡¯t a hidden guard for the slime.


    ¡°Yes, I was walking towards the bathroom and I saw you, so I had to stop! I¡¯m so happy you¡¯re alive my dear!¡± Dalila said with a forceful tone of voice, full of happiness and peace.


    ¡°I just¡­. I just think that this situation must be thought through. The barricade was a good measure, but I think we should watch the forest more,¡± Vivian said and looked at the woman.


    The Dalila nodded her head and sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Yes, well. This is why I stay on civilized planets near the core border area. Plenty of cities and any wild areas are preserves, no way for them to attack any being.¡±


    ¡°Smart. This is the last time I try and choose the mystery prize,¡± Vivian said with a slight scowl. Her identity¡¯s ¡®story¡® about why she was here was she won a contest and chose the mystery prize. In reality, she bought the ticket through another of her identity. She had created the contest so she would ¡®win it¡¯. A smart plan to get onto any resort or ship for a job, something she¡¯s done before.


    ¡°Well you know what they say, sometimes mistakes are blessings. But how that would be true here, I don¡¯t know,¡± Dalila said with a sigh before she stretched her arms to the side. ¡°Well, I¡¯d love to stay and keep talking, but I need to go to the little girl¡¯s room. Goodbye Vivian, lovely to know you¡¯re here too!¡±


    ¡°Bye Dalila, see you around,¡± Vivian said, inwardly hoping that Dalila wouldn¡¯t come back and talk her ear off. With Vivian¡¯s target not in here, and with the capsule under attack from beasts. And to make it worse, Dalila knew she was here! To think, that a civilian like Dalila would keep troubling a master assassin. But then Vivian she a law, she only killed those who got in between her target and her blade, and Dalila hadn¡¯t done that yet. She wondered if a civilian like Dalila could even hold a weapon without shooting herself.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°We will!¡± Dalila said as she walked away, keeping a false smile on her face. For a moment she wondered why Vivian had gotten into this capsule, her master wasn¡¯t there. Every time she was close to taking over that scum¡¯s nanites, Vivian was there! She was one of the best takers in the galaxy! She had broken people with her methods and until now, nothing stopped her. But this job, whenever she had a play, Vivian somehow stopped her. And the worst thing was that the little fool didn¡¯t even know! All she had to do was get Bradford alone for a few minutes. Spray a mist of her special nanites and she would know everything he did.


    And then she could sell them on the open market or black market, make a killing, and go after the next one. She lived her life going after the worst in the galaxy, and over time she had taken down true scum. From murderers, cannibals, and child rapists, when she had them in her sights they lived in agony for the rest of their lives!


    But Bradford¡¯s bimbo was making that impossible!


    All she needed was a few minutes alone with him, to try and entice the bastard. Then she would spry her nanites and control him. After making an illusion in his memories based on a past conquest, she would disappear. He would never know she had taken everything from him, only that someone had. And if he was a truly vile person, she would sell the memories to the news services. She thought she had a perfect plan to get Vivian out of her way, but that didn¡¯t happen.


    Instead, somehow they crashed landed, and her without most of her tools. Thankfully she still had her emergency bots, and once she was alone she set them to work. Now they were moving around the inner air ducks, sending everything they heard to her nanites. Soon she would have eyes all over and then she could use that information to stay alive! And that was why she had left, one of her babies had something for her.


    As she entered one of the bathrooms, she closed the door and went into a stall, sat down, and activated a link nanite. Within moments, she was seeing and hearing what one of her spies was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford followed the deckhand into a corridor, closing the door behind him. As the light came on telling them the door had finished sealing off from the rest of the capsule. It in effect, locked them in the ten-foot-long and four-foot-wide corridor.


    The deckhand who introduced himself as Jessie shook his head. ¡°I will never understand why this storage is set up that way. You¡¯re company made some like this capsule, know why?¡±


    ¡°Security, that was what I found in the old files. So let¡¯s see what we have to work with,¡± Bradford said and Jessie looked at him with a sorry look on his face. Bradford walked backwards, looking at Jessie with fear. He couldn¡¯t believe that he had been so stupid! He let an assassin get him alone, and he didn¡¯t have any weapons! And with the lock in place, he couldn¡¯t get away! It took a minute to open again, and that was enough time for Bradford to die! All his killer had to do was position Bradford¡¯s body afterward and he¡¯d get away with it.


    ¡°Sorry Mr. Bradford, I did need help but Jones asked me to pass a message to you,¡± Jessie said and Bradford blinked, his terror dying.


    ¡°Mr. Jones?¡± Bradford said, a sinking feeling going through him. He wondered if this Jessie was a member of that Order as well. But if not, then after all the effort to keep his connection hidden, that fool Jones told someone!


    ¡°Yeah, he said this was the ¡®Land of Deliverance¡¯. I didn¡¯t understand but he helped me out so I promised to tell you. Don¡¯t understand it really,¡± Jessie said and Bradford looked at him and blinked.


    ¡°The Land of Deliverance?¡± Bradford muttered under his breath. He activated some of his internal records, sending the term into the file that had the Order¡¯s teachings.


    ¡°He said you¡¯d understand, I don¡¯t,¡± Jessie said with a shrug as he turned and opened the corridor¡¯s ¡®luggage area¡¯, revealing boxes within. Bradford came forward and frowned, recognizing the emblem of his company.


    ¡°It seems I¡¯ll be able to help more than you thought boyo,¡± Bradford said. A moment later a text appeared in the corner of his left vision, and he frowned. The bulk of the data with the ¡®Land of Deliverance¡¯ was nothing but the kind of trash he expected from the Order. But as his eye went over the words, he noticed a few passages that caused him to go still.


    He didn¡¯t listen as Jessie started to open the containers, Bradford¡¯s mind was on other things. He had thought the Order was nothing but a cult for the top to gain power, but this changed it. The two deckhands who had gained power showed that humans can have powers like the Ancients. That means that people could develop the ability to see the future.


    If the first generation of the Cult was the real deal, then there might be something in here. And if this was even partly true, then something might be coming towards them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    She blinked, breaking the connection to her spy. Dalila frowned, not understanding anything about what she heard. She remembered Jones, he was the survivor from the gathering team. She thought he¡¯d escape by the skin of his teeth, but he was connected to Bradford somehow. What did it mean, ¡®Lands of Deliverance¡¯? She knew the code words Bradford favored from studying him, and that didn¡¯t seem like anything he¡¯d use.


    ¡°That¡¯s the trouble,¡± She muttered as she leaned against the wall. Sometimes your targets hide things from you. She needed to look into this Jones, she didn¡¯t have a choice anymore. The way that Bradford reacted, it was like he didn¡¯t know what the messenger meant either. And that was worrying. She had tracked the information of her targets, and most of the time she found everything. But the worst targets were those who didn¡¯t know things others thought they did.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above the crater, Terra looked around as the team set up the last of the first sensor towers. She had ordered them set up in a line formation for now. She planned on getting the other towers to make a pentagon. That way they would have the best coverage they could get with the number of these things they had. It wasn¡¯t the best idea, but with their supplies, it was all they could do.


    As she looked out into the forest, her mind went to what she had seen. Unfortunately, her recorded vision only had a single flash of black chitin. She had seen the after-action report from Jinn, Al, and Sara, so she knew about what they had run into out there. She remembered something she had seen on her homeworld in her youth. A stray cat had been killed by some of the predatory bugs there, only about an inch long. Her father had said that the cat must have attacked the bug''s hive. He reasoned that the cat had left survivors that had tracked it down after regrouping.


    If these things were like the bugs from her world, then she could see what was going to happen now. The party had driven off their attacker, but they had tracked the party back to their nest. And now all they could do was hold the line until the party came back in flying vehicles, hopefully. She could hold, but only if more of those big insectoids weren¡¯t a part of the attack. All in all, this was as good a position. She could only hope it was enough to handle the possible storm.

 Chapter Thirty-One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1130


    Terra sighed as she looked around the barricades. Some of the deckhands were finishing setting up a reader for the sensor towers, and with that, it was done. This place wasn¡¯t a real base, but at least with this, it was better than a crash site. So far they had been attacked by creatures twice, and both times the attackers had left on their own!


    The idea that both of them could think at a sapient level was something she wouldn¡¯t have believed. She had seen a heard about a lot of strange things in her time. This plant seemed to be the strangest place that she had never heard of. It had only been two days, but it seemed like months. And part of that had to be fear of the unknown, but they could handle this, at least she hoped.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± A voice behind her caused her to turn her head. Standing there was one of the deckhands who had been working on the sensor tower unit, a strange look on his face.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Terra asked and the deckhand looked down at a hand unit, a frown on his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s the solar collectors on the towers¡­. They¡¯re working good, better than they should,¡± The deckhand said as he looked down at his handheld unit.


    Terra looked at him, a frown forming on her face. She looked at him and tried to figure out why he said what he did when the meaning hit him.


    ¡°How much better and how are the batteries handling it?¡± Terra asked and the deckhand looked at her before shaking his head.


    ¡°The ¡®We¡¯re in a desert at high noon¡¯, kind of good. I don¡¯t understand half of these readings. And the batteries are fine, we¡¯ll just have to run the lights all the time,¡±  The deckhand said and Terra felt a headache form behind her eyes.


    ¡°Great, just great,¡± Terra muttered as she turned her head and looked at the sensor towers. Leaving them on would attract wildlife here, she just knew it. But if the batteries were overfed they would explode, and that would be even worse for them. No matter what, Terra couldn¡¯t think of anything to do that could change this situation, all but one thing. She looked at the towers, trying to think of something else before she sighed and looked at the deckhand.


    The deckhand looked at her, a frown below his red eyes. He had the tanned skin of a desert worlder and the white hair to match, in the long messy style she had seen a few times.


    ¡°Okay, your name?¡± Terra asked and the man saluted her.


    ¡°Bob ma¡¯am. Third class in the Security division¡¯s mechanics,¡± Bob said and Terra nodded.


    ¡°How long until an overload in all of them?¡± Terra asked and Bob looked at his handheld unit and sighed before he shook his head.


    ¡°If I¡¯m reading this right¡­¡­ about five hours. We could run some cables to the capsule, maybe turn off the generators¡­.. even then we might cause an overload. We need something else to draw power from them, that¡¯s the only way to stabilize them,¡± Bob said and Terra sighed


    Turning to look at the forest, for a moment she thought she saw a flash of black. She looked at where it might have been, calling on a stain of nanites in her eyes but found nothing. Cursing her nerves, she looked at Bob.


    ¡°Keep an eye on those readings, if it gets worse tell me. I¡¯ll go and see what Chief Duncan wants to do. And pull everyone back to the behind the towers, let¡¯s not get in their way.,¡± Tara said and Bob


    As he turned and started to call out to other deckhands, Terra turned and looked at the forest around them. Ever since she had looked over that flash of chitin, she had expected them to attack any moment. The only thing that made her feel calmer was that the sensor towers. Once they were set up, anything the size of the lizard things would be seen before they attacked. But now she had to deal with this!


    For a moment, she wondered if something was acting against them, how else would this happen. But then she frowned and looked at her hands, a sick feeling going through her. On any desert planet, she would have been red and pealing with how long she was outside, and it would be hotter. But her hand was normal and the breeze was nice and cool. She swallowed and looked up at the sky, noting the sun reaching the top of the sky.


    As she looked up, a thousand thoughts went through her head, some of them died and others grew. All she could tell was that this planet, this island was unlike anything that she had ever heard of. No rumors in the Spacer¡¯s Guild about the Void even came close to the reality she found herself in.


    With one last look above, Terra turned and walked towards the escape capsule. If anyone could be able to make sense of this, maybe Duncan would.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones looked up at the sky, his mouth moving silently as he mumbled the Order¡¯s teachings. He was trying to remember something. The passage with ¡®The Land of Deliverance¡¯ was something he had only seen once. It had been on a scroll he had found while helping to repair damage from a fire. The scroll had been damaged, but he had been allowed to study it. Stopping for a moment, he looked up at the sky and smiled. The old captain had always taught Jones everything about the faith. For a moment he wondered if the old man knew that Jones needed to know what was on that scroll.


    But the old man¡¯s efforts were for nothing. He hadn¡¯t been allowed to get nanites until days before he left to spread the word. And that meant that he didn¡¯t have a recording of the scroll. So he was bound by his natural memory, trying to remember anything that might help him show the way. Jones felt a rush of anger well up as he realized that no matter what he tried, he just couldn¡¯t remember anything!


    But then he went still as a stray thought went through his head. He had absently thought that maybe this was part of the prophecy. He remembered the word ¡®Unknowingly¡¯ had been among the scraps he could read. If it was talking about him, then his efforts to try and remember it was a fool''s quest! He would remember them when it was their time, and not before.


    How could he have forgotten that fact? How could he have grown so arrogant that he thought he could change the fate the founder saw!? He almost bashed his head against the side of the crater, but when he turned towards it, he saw stones fall down the side. In moments Terra had made it to the bottom, and without missing a step walked towards the airlock. As soon as he ssaw her, he felt something was wrong with how her face looked.


    Before Jones could even open his mouth Terra spoke. ¡°Keep the watch, Jones. If anything makes it by us up there, you¡¯re the last hope.¡±


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    He stared at her, his mouth dropped open in shock. She nodded and walked into the airlock, moving into the capsule before he could even say anything.


    He stared at the airlock, his mouth finally closing as he felt a spark of anger. This was why he hated the unenlightened, they were so abrupt! She just flew past him, not stopping to even talk to him. He just shook his head, turned around, and started to walk again. He might not like his job but he would do his mission, that was his creed. But nothing in that said he had to not insult her in his head, did it? As he walked he imagined calling her everything he was thinking of, and a goofy smile formed on his face.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan sighed as he looked at the readings from the sensor towers in his ¡®office¡¯. So far they saw everything around the crater, and they saw nothing. But he just hoped that they would see something before whatever was out there attacked again. He was sure it would happen, but when he wasn¡¯t sure. From the worms that attacked on the first day, to the lizard things to the flyer, it painted a terrible picture.


    He had to hope that the party he sent out made it to their goal. Their goal had to be in good enough shape to help them. Even if they could only make a few things there, they could still use it as a base. The basic way to survive was to find shelter and food. They had food and a better shelter was the priority as he saw things. And with the creatures this place had, that was a tall order to be sure.


    And with his injury, he couldn¡¯t exactly lead the charge. But thankfully he had learned to delegate, and the Yard-Ship was the perfect base. If it was even halfway operational, then by the Void they could weather anything! He knew enough about military history to know the tactical ability Yard-Ships represented. Even if it wasn¡¯t working at all, they could still use it as a base if they could get it partially operational. And if not, they could create a barricade there to make it secure.


    He had to hope that the Captain was still alive, and if not her then the third officer. Anyone who could take over for him, let him hand over the command. He was doing okay, but he had enough of being in charge for a long time, it was why he was taking a vacation for a few years. After too long, this gig just started to get to you.


    The sound of the door opening caused him to turn and see Terra walk in, a slightly worried look on her face. Duncan expected her to come to see him once the towers were all in place, but her look told him all he needed to know. If he had ever learned anything about reading people, then she was here because there was a problem.


    He just looked at her before he sighed and dropped his head into his hands. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now? Did the trees at the edge reveal to be able to move and want to kill us for their dead? Did the bat thing come back and dance the macaroni? No wait, don¡¯t tell me.¡±


    ¡°The solar collectors on the towers are working as if we¡¯re in a desert,¡± Terra said and Duncan blinked.


    He looked at her, a strange feeling going through him. He just stared at her, for a few moments he wondered if his ears were working right. Then he thought about what that meant, how much trouble that would bring them. He looked up at the ceiling, trying to think how this would impact their survival. The problem wasn¡¯t the charge, it was storing the power. If they could bleed away some of it, then there would be nothing wrong. It wasn¡¯t like they had anything on hand to power that could handle the load¡­. Or did they?


    A moment later the door behind Terra opened, revealing Jesiie poking his head in. ¡°Boss, get this! We¡¯ve got twelve laser towers, military-grade at that!¡±


    At this declaration, all Duncan could do was blink as he looked at Jessie¡¯s grinning face. For a few moments, he just stared, trying to understand just what he had heard. Then he realized what he heard, and started to grin. Laser towers were something invented  to protect bases and complexes on wild planets.  And military level had ground-type unity shield generators. And they were best used on worlds closer to the sun or¡­¡­desert worlds.


    ¡°Hello power drain! And the shield will be just what we need!¡± Duncan said with a laugh.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra sighed as she looked at Jessie as he finished setting up the first laser tower. Duncan had let her decide where they would start to set the laser up. She had decided to have the first face where she thought she had seen something. At least with this, her nerves would calm down a little. So she had grabbed Bob, three guards  and kept the others at the barricade


    The laser towers were five feet tall and two feet wide. They were supposed to be top technology, but if it would be effective, that was something else. This place had already challenged so much of what she thought was true. Something like the bugs having shells to keep the laser from killing them would be par for the course.


    ¡°You know, Al would have finished this in minutes,¡± Bob said softly as he leaned away from the laser tower.


    Terra felt a laugh bubbling up from within her chest and barely forced it down as she smiled. Al was someone that most of the deckhands who had been bunking in the same section knew by sight. He was always working on something on his holo terminal. And to add to his mystery, he always did it when his back to the wall. Adding to it he never sat where one of the cameras in the common area could see what he was working on.


    But as she thought about it, an old question came from the darkness of her mind. There were a few people who followed the same religion as he did from the few tattoos he had, but he always prayed alone. Last she checked, it was their unity that was a key feature of it. There were a few ¡®flavors¡¯ of it that saw lone ingenuity as a key instead, but he didn¡¯t seem like one of them. The few times she had heard him, he talked about the same mainstream tenants of the main religion. All in all, he was a mystery, just like his friend.


    ¡°Yeah, and Jinn would have cut the trees down with one slash!¡± One of the guards said and Terra felt a headache form behind her eyes.


    Duncan had told everyone who saw what Jinn could do to keep it from the passengers, and so far it had worked. She understood the order, don¡¯t get them worked up until they are in a better location. Still, she had to wonder how he and Sara had gained their abilities. She had only heard of something like that in old legends back home. If it was like the legends, she hoped it ended in a positive manor at least.


    But if she was thinking about Al, she had to think about Jinn. He was the opposite of Al, who had eyes that ignored everything, Jinn seemed to be watching everything. Adding to his mystery, he didn¡¯t know things about the general interplanetary culture. The excuse that he those who wanted to ignore the greater galaxy made some sense. But she actually wondered how that was possible in this era had to be asked. And the way he was so ignorant, she would never think that he and Al could ever be friends, but they were to her surprise.


    A cry from the forest caused Terra and the other deckhands to look, seeing a small green bird flying from a tree. Looking at the trees, Terra saw more of the birds take flight and started to get a terrible feeling. At least on her homeworld, birds would only cry out when they took flight if something startled them.


    ¡°Bob,¡± Terra asked with an urgent tone of voice.


    Bob heard it and noticed how she said what she did. That was enough to cause him to swallow as he turned back towards the tower, moving his hands faster. As he finished setting up the last few connectors, he swallowed. ¡°Yeah, boss?¡±


    ¡°Are you almost done?¡± Terra asked softly as she looked towards the forest. From what she knew, the towers could fire a much more deadly beam than their handhelds. If that was true, then they would deal an attack them much easier than the deckhands could. And if the insectoids attacked, they would die fast if the deckhands were lucky.


    ¡°Just finished boss, I think I¡¯ll go work on the one on the other side of the crater,¡± Bob said as he slowly got up.


    ¡°Yeah, everyone move back towards the crater, slowly. Don¡¯t act like there¡¯s anything wrong, just move slowly. That¡¯s an order!¡± Terra said as she looked at the forest. As she slowly moved backwards, she kept her eyes locked on the trees, trying to see if there was anything on them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the woods, the watcher growled at one of the ten others it had led back here. It hadn¡¯t sent it into the trees and the climber had scared off a tiny flyer. That was the last thing they needed! If the small big ones came out here, the death cries when they killed would alert the others. A single misstep at this stage and the attack would fail.


    As the climber glared right back at it, it released a scent of challenge. The watcher insectoid ignored it, growling  a little as it gestured at the clearing. The other insectoid glared back, released another  challenge scent. When the watcher ignored it, it sent another claw  into the tree, using it to pull itself higher up.


    As the two insectoid glared at each other, the others behind them kept their eyes on the prey.


    When the group had reached the clearing, they saw the meat doing something outside their den. Sometimes the prey would try and create traps to protect themselves, but this wasn¡¯t like that. The insectoids all wanted to be the one to lead the charge, to have the chance to be granted the right to evolve. But these things weren¡¯t like their smaller cousins, they couldn¡¯t be.

 Chapter Thirty-Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel


    Galactic Standard Time / 1320


    Paige looked ahead, trying to see if she could ¡®sense¡¯ anything ahead of them. So far she hadn¡¯t felt a thing, the light from the crystals illuminating the tunnel. On both sides of her, Sara and Al kept pace, looking at the sides as she watched the front. She felt Al¡¯s questions and Sara¡¯s wonder, and for a moment she thought if she should ignore it. But then she wondered if they were from the Service, then why would they even feel those emotions? She swallowed and decided to take a chance, see if that half-thought was right.


    ¡°You know, you could ask me questions,¡± Paige said softly. She hoped she was right, and it would feel good to talk about what she could do.


    ¡°I have so many¡­.. were you born with that power or did it just appear like Sara¡¯s?¡± Al asked softly as he tried not to turn and look at her.


    ¡°I was born with it. I¡­ it took me so long to understand that others couldn¡¯t ¡®see¡¯ what I could, that they couldn¡¯t understand everything I did,¡± Paige said as she smiled, thinking about how she had learned the truth. She shook herself and smiled at Al.


    ¡°And to cut down the questions, I can ¡®sense¡¯ strong emotions. Imagine that you can hear the emotions that other people are feeling. I¡­.. I learned to ¡®close¡¯ that ¡®ear¡¯ and it lets me stay sane. And I can¡¯t sense anything beyond a hundred feet, so there¡¯s that at least,¡± Paige said as she sighed and looked ahead.


    She felt a touch of awe and a little bit of concern from Sara who let out a deep breath.


    ¡°Wow. And I thought my powers were something. Sooooo¡­.. are these powers any good at card games?¡± Sara asked point blank.


    Paige looked at her, her mouth dropped open and she felt a bubble of laughter come from within her. She covered her mouth with her right hand, a few giggles came out as she felt her mouth form a grin.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like to gamble really. And that¡¯s why I don¡¯t like to work the casino floors back on the ship. All the emotions there, all the people trying to win¡­¡­. It¡¯s just too much for me,¡± Paige said.


    ¡°Makes sense, our brains aren¡¯t at that level yet. Still, I think we can put the idea that this planet can give humans powers to rest. This place must just awaken them or maybe¡­..¡± Al muttered softly.


    Paige felt a spark of something from Sara, a kind of nerves that caused her to look at her.


    Sara looked up at Paige, and Paige saw a spark of fear in Sara¡¯s eye.


    Paige just smiled at her and brought her finger to her lips. Paige almost felt a tear leave her right eye as she felt Sara¡¯s relief.


    ¡°I guess we¡¯ll never know, but why can Sara heal and Jinn kill?¡± Paige asked and Al looked at her before nodding a strange look coming over his face.


    Paige felt things from him, things she had never seen at the same time. She looked at him, wondering why he was feeling pride, shame, and rage about something. She could see the gear tattoo on his face, and she knew his faith prided research. If he understood something, why did he feel shame?


    ¡°Hey, Al? You okay?¡± Paige asked. Al just kept walking. Paige could feel his emotions going all over the place. There was shock there,  but to her senses he seemed to be spiraling down into the dark.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al ignored Paige¡¯s words, barely hearing them. He was stuck, thinking about an old project that his friend had done. She had taken a few lab rats and changed their genetic structure. He had thought it would be all she did, but she shocked him by  introducing a nanite strain she had created to the rats. It was only after this that she told him her true aim of her project. The experiment was to see which rat the highest enhancement percent.


    The accepted idea was that that genetics didn''t affected nanite enhancement at all. The Pope had even done a research paper on it saying it was false, but his friend had been sure of her theory. He hadn¡¯t gotten much out of her for why, but she just said that she was inspired by medicine. Most people expected nothing, maybe a best a loss on the enhancement the nanites did. Every person who saw the results was shocked. The tests had shown that together the genetic effected the nanites. Some of the rats were faster or stronger based on the genetic modification.


    For a few days, she and him had gone over the research together, trying to make sense of it all. They had thought that there might be some secrets to find, and discoveries to make. Together they saw a new field of science opening up before them, a new age was about to start! But then the Inquisitors had attacked, and they had been split up. The whole class fought back, escaping by the skin of their teeth. Before they left, they all shared their research. The idea was that what they all found was too important to let politics decide if it was true. To increase their chances of survival, they went their separate ways. Last he heard some were going to fight back, others were going to become Hermits, some just running. He had run, he had gotten on a smuggling ship and left his world behind. The last he heard there was a rebellion there. Sometimes in the dark he wondered if one of his classmates were leading it, he wondered if he should have stayed.


    But the research, that was what he was focusing on. If the research she had done was right, then the composition of the body could affect nanites. If one took that thought further, the picture was there. It was logical to think then that nanites could give different abilities based on who had them. If that was true then maybe the abilities of Jinn, Sara, and Paige followed similar laws. If that was true, then maybe their genetics or skills unlocked their powers. But there had to be an external source of infection, but they weren¡¯t injured when they all woke up.


    Al went still, paling in fear as his mind suddenly had a thought on how that was possible. He followed the thought to what he saw as the logical conclusion, going over everything in order. There had to be a similar spark for both Sara and Jinn¡¯s abilities, fact. Something external to both of them had to have caused them to gain their abilities, fact. Then it had to be something that they gained on this planet, fact. And based on the time involved, it was something that took time to integrate with them, fact.


    So to go over everything; they both had the same source, something that gave them their abilities. But they didn¡¯t develop the same abilities, the same source gave different abilities. But the time difference between when the abilities awoke. That was something that followed the research she had done, so the source was nanites. If he thought of it,  seen. So who else had that happened to, and what abilities would they gain over time? The sheer chaos that could happen, if Jones or someone like him gained the ability to fire a death ray!


    ¡°This is so bad. This is so, so monstrously bad!¡± Al exclaimed as he looked up. He saw Sara and Paige a few feet ahead of him, looking at him in concern.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°What is it Al, what¡¯ve you figured out?¡± Paige asked as she looked at him.


    Al winced, she had to have been a spectator to his internal meltdown. He was going to have to look into trying to blanket his emotions or make her something to block them. He already had a few ideas, but it wasn¡¯t the time for that now. Now he had to tell them the truth he had figured out.


    For a moment he kept silent, if he talked about what he knew, he¡¯d after to talk about how he knew it. If he brought up just what happened to him and the sentence he was under, that might cause problems. It wasn¡¯t like Paige¡¯s abilities, this was a legal sentence of death. The few movies with people under similar sentences were always the worst villains. But she had trusted them with her secret, could he not do the same?


    ¡°I think I figured out how Sara and Paige got their abilities, and it''s bad, really bad. Now how they got them, but how they got what awoke them. If I¡¯m right, we¡¯re looking at a major problem sooner or later,¡± Al said with a hard tone.


    Sara and Piage both looked at each other before they looked at him. There were questions in their eyes, questions that  Al knew he had to answer. He took a deep breath and mentally gathered his strength, what he had to say was not going to be easy at all.


    But before he could even speak something happened that caused him to go silent.


    ¡°YOU HAVE CLASS WHAT!?¡± Racha screams from behind them.


    They turned and saw Racha pushing Jinn against the right wall, Jinn not reacting at all.


    Break


    As he ran through the forest carrying his precious cargo, the screams behind him made him run faster. Even since he had escaped the capsule, those things had hunted him down. He had thought he had lost them when he destroyed that bridge, but all it bought them was a few hours. No matter what he did or how he tried to escape, they were following him like a predator after a limp prey thing.


    As his cargo moved against him, he swallowed. He didn¡¯t know what he could do, but he would lay down his life to protect his cargo. As he ran, he felt his pistol at his right bump as he moved, and tried to draw strength from it. When they came, he would make sure that those things had a few of their own to eat too!


    He never would have guessed that this would be his fate when he got a berth aboard the Spirit of Adventure. He had wanted to make money for a few years of college during his first regeneration vacation. But when he woke up in the capsule everything went down the black hole. The worst officer possible had been in it, and after they discovered where they were he took command. The next day they had been attacked. They had come and killed, taken only one body back with them. The scum had cracked, talking about how the creatures were their holy judgment. Most of the passengers had believed him, seeing him as their guide. They just ate everything he said up and when he spoke of sacrificing something, they jumped. Some of the other deckhands  had objected, some hadn¡¯t. He and his cargo had been chosen to die, the doors closing behind them.


    But then an explosion from behind showed him the other deckhands were fighting to get free. As the others broke out, one of them had thrown him his pistol, and with it, he had saved the other sacrifice, a literal baby. But as the officer led his fanatics out, more of the creatures had attacked. In the chaos he had run, the last he saw the other sane deckhands were running the other way. He hoped they were alive, if they weren¡¯t then his chances of survival were next to none.


    A louder screech from behind made him tense, which meant that his chasers were much closer. He needed to find a place to make a stand, someplace he could fight without fear of them attacking from behind.


    But, he missed a step and stumbled down a large hole, curling around his cargo as they traveled down the hole.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as she saw Racha¡¯s actions, Sara was in movement, Paige and Al right behind her. As they neared them, Sara hoped that this wasn¡¯t something that would cause them to become divided. Out here they had to stand together to stay alive.


    ¡°Hey Racha, drop him! What the void did he say that made you react¡­.¡± Sara began only for Racha¡¯s next words to cause her, Al, and Paige to stop and stare.


    ¡°How the hell do you have class ten nanites!?¡± Racha snarled at Jinn as she held him against the tunnel wall.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been gene-modded Jinn!?¡± Al exclaimed in shock. Racha dropped Jinn who fell to his feet, her face turning to stare at Al who backed away.


    Racha didn¡¯t even react as Jinn moved away, locking eyes on Al.


    ¡°What do gene mods have to do with class ten nanites?!¡± Racha demanded in shock as everyone looked at Al.


    Al looked around and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. ¡°I..... the barrier to creating class ten nanites has always been the total effect they have on the body. A friend of mine did some research on the combination effect of gene modification and special nanites built with that in mind. The data showed that even basic civilian-grade nanites could be affected based on how a body was gene-modded. Beyond a full one hundred percent of projected advancement.¡±


    Sara gasped, her hands going to her mouth as Paige¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock. Sara didn¡¯t even notice, all she could think of were the implications. For at least a hundred years, gene-modding and nanites had been two opposite ends of a debate about how to advance species.


    Some said gene modifications were the proper way, that the abilities they offered would allow descendants to have them from birth. Those who said that nanites were the way forward said it was possible to take them out of a body, allowing greater control over criminals.  Yet the problem with nanites was that the gain was always smaller than expected. Al was saying that both camps were right, that together both sciences could help people the most. The very idea was against everything that most people believed, all the science said that such an idea was heresy!


    ¡°Wow. I didn¡¯t expect anyone beyond the old bastard could figure that out. What happened to ya Al, why were you on the Spirit?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at Al, leaning against the wall he had been pushed against.


    Sara looked at Jinn as Al looked at him and his shoulders sank.


    ¡°They knew, they knew! They¡¯ve been keeping that knowledge away from the rest of the galaxy! But why!? It¡¯s against everything that we¡¯re supposed to believe in!¡± Al asked aghast and Jinn just sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°Yeah, they know. At least the old Heretic who helped gene mod me would say when he was in his cups said they did. Have you ever see a cyborg get drunk? It¡¯s something else really, and I¡¯m talking a full conversion borg here!¡± Jinn said with a laugh.


    Sara stared in shock at what Jinn said. Full conversion cyborgs it  replaced a person¡¯s organs with cybernetic replacements. They only had a "stomach" that sent nutrients to a brain, the only organic part they kept. They didn¡¯t have traditional stomachs, it was a nutrient tank that they could replace. How could one even get drunk in the first place!?


    ¡°How is that even possible!?¡± Sara exclaimed n total shock. Jinn just laughed as Al went still and looked at Jinn, his eyes widened.


    ¡°A Heretic?! How the hell did you meet a cyborg Heretic!?¡± Al demanded and Jinn just smiled as Paige looked at him.


    ¡°My stars, the Service do meet the most amazing people!¡± Paige said in shock. As everyone looked at her, Paige looked up before covering her mouth. Racha just looked at Paige in shock before Sara spoke up.


    ¡°The Service? As in the Federation Special Service? Why do you think Jinn¡¯s one of them?¡± Sara asked in confession. Paige looked away before her eyes widened and she looked ahead of them down the tunnel.


    ¡°I just felt terror! There, it felt like someone from the ship!¡± Paige exclaimed and Jinn moved forward, pulling out his knife.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead, we¡¯ll talk about everything tonight! We might have found other survivors!¡± Jinn exclaimed as he dashed down the tunnel, his aura forming as he moved.


    ¡°MOVE!¡± Racha barked as she ran after him


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn felt his pulse quicken as he gripped his knife. He had been sure that Racha would react, but to push him against the wall? And Al knew things that his faith had decreed were heresy according to his old teacher. But those scum never told their followers what was heresy after all.  And Doc said they loved to take and use the work of the ¡®Heretics¡¯ for their ¡®Holy Work¡¯. The problem was that what  ¡®Heretical¡¯. Each branch of that religion had their own measures, and they all enforced their own rules as far as they could.


    But that Al had known the truth but didn¡¯t know it, which showed that he had some stories of his own. Maybe he should tell his story once they found a place to camp tonight. It would feel good to let it all out, to finally talk about it. And with Racha around, the proper authorities would find out, and that was good. Anything to send trouble their way was perfect in his books. But now he had to deal with this.


    Ahead of him, he heard a cry grow in volume until something landed on the floor before him. He looked and saw a male figure in a deckhand jumpsuit curled around something. It was only when the figure looked up that Jinn recognized him.


    ¡°Roy!? Roy, is that you!?¡± Jinn called out.


    Roy looked up, his short black hair shaking as he looked at Jinn with his green eyes. The slash scar below his right eye caused Jinn to be sure this was who he thought it was. As he unrolled he revealed that he had a baby with blond hair in a green onesie


    ¡°Jinn!? Oh stars Jinn! Watch out, there¡¯s these things following me!¡± Roy called out as he got back to his feet.


    From above they heard screeches and Jinn gritted his teeth, scowling up as the cries increased.

 Chapter Thirty-Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel


    Galactic Standard Time / 1320


    Roy just felt his heart freeze as he heard the screeches from above. For a heart-stopping second, he hoped that he was dead, that he hadn¡¯t heard those noises. But then a stone fell onto his head and he felt a spark of pain and knew the truth. For a second he wondered how he would fight them off alone, then he realized the true horror.


    In his mindless escape attempt, he had led those things to his friend. The creatures that were chasing him were monsters, pure and simple. Their strength and the way that they had killed the cultists that had been his comrades. He saw it behind his eyes, and felt shame and fear. They would kill Jinn first, then they would him and the baby! Those things would eat their dead bodies, and he couldn¡¯t see anything that he could do to stop them!


    ¡°What are they, Roy!?¡± Jinn demanded and Roy felt his heart quicken as his terror increased.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t see them, they hid in the dark! They just lunged out of the forest and killed, never stopping just moving and killing!¡± Roy said in a panic.


    ¡°Roy. Roy!¡± Jinn called out and Roy looked up at his friend. Jinn had gotten a hard look to his face as the blade he was holding suddenly turned from a knife to a sword.


    ¡°Right! We¡¯ve got to stay in the now, fight off these things right?¡± Roy said absently and tried to reach for his pistol.


    ¡°No, not we, me,¡± Jinn said and Roy looked at him, paling as he realized just what Jinn meant by that word.


    All he could do was stare at Jinn before a gurgle of the baby caused him to look down. He realized why Jinn had said what he did. He looked up and locked eyes with Jinn as he smiled bitterly back at him. He tried to say something when Jinn spoke up.


    ¡°Roy, get that child and yourself behind me! I¡¯m with a group, Al is back there with three girls, move!¡± Jinn barked as he aimed his pistol at the hole above them.


    Roy stumbled to his feet, clutching the baby tighter to his body. Without a word he ran, leaving Jinn behind him to handle what was coming. As he ran he felt a tear drop from his eyes, hoping that he hadn¡¯t said goodbye to his friend forever.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn smirked as he moved backwards away from the hole, his bloodlust starting up again. He had to do something, but he always loved the fight. How life and death were on a razor¡¯s edge, how one move could bring death or victory¡­. He knew few other things that made him feel alive.


    As the screeches increased in sound, three small forms fell out of the hole.


    Jinn looked at the creatures as they tried to climb over each other, underwhelmed. They were small, maybe three feet tall. Each of the creatures were a kind of strange black lizard-like biped with hunched backs with sails down the middle. Their faces had muzzles that went out a good half foot and had sharp bumps on the bottom. They had two eyes that were a solid black color and they had four fingers that ended m claws.


    After a few moments they stood up and seemed to be sniffing the air, trying to find Roy¡¯s scent.


    ¡°What are they¡­.. they¡¯re blind,¡± Jinn whispered in wonder. He had seen blind creatures before, even hunted them. But creatures that lived in the sun that were blind? That was beyond anything he had even thought was possible. As he thought about how they could hunt  he realized how. But he was too late, as a moment later the three creatures turned towards him.


    With a screech they charged. Jinn only looked at them as he raised his pistol, firing as he moved backwards. One blast hit one of the creature¡¯s face, destroying its eye. It screeched in pain as it fell, but the other two just dodged Jinn¡¯s shots as they closed on him. Jinn blocked one¡¯s slash but the other slipped by him. He pushed off the one attacking him so he could fire his blaster at the other one. His shot flew and hit, making a hole in its leg, it went down in pained screeches.


    As the one that he had shot got back to its feet, the one that attacked him lunged at him again. Dodging the to the right Jinn slashed down at the attacking creature, slashing off its right arm. As it reared back in pain the first creature jumped at him. Jinn brought his blade and used it as a shield to block, but he was pushed against the wall.


    He saw the third creature getting back to its feet. It ''looked'' around  for a few moments before it dashed away, after where Roy had gone. All Jinn could do was spare a moment of prayer that Roy could get to the others before the creature got to him. Moments later he pushed the creature attacking him away. He screamed, trying to keep the creatures focused on him as he moved backwards.


    ¡°I hope you guys make it here,¡± Jinn muttered as he heard more screeches from the tunnel mouth above echoing off the cavern¡¯s walls. ¡°Soon.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Racha led the way, she tried to focus on the now. She couldn¡¯t understand anything, Jinn had class ten nanites? The Engineer¡¯s School knew how to make class ten nanites? Heretics were a thing? In the last few minutes, everything that she believed in was questioned, and she didn¡¯t like that. If she didn¡¯t know, then she could only hope that her superior did. If the Engineer¡¯s School had been able to hide the secret of class ten nanites, what else had they been keeping to themselves?


    Ahead of them, she saw the tunnel turn to the right, away from where the yard ship was! Still, the sounds they had heard were what was important now, they could deal with their goal later.


    ¡°Help!¡± A male voice caused Al to surge past her, his rifle raised.


    As he turned a corner he stopped, staring as Racha caught up. Running towards them was Roy, carrying a bundle in his arms. He was trying to make himself small as something ran after him, something that screeched as it ran.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Roy, get down!¡± Al called out.


    Roy lunged to the side and Al fired, hitting whatever was chasing Roy in the head. As the creature took a step forward, it fell to the floor as black blood leaked from a hole through its head.


    Roy looked over his shoulder and panted as he looked at the dead creature.


    Racha looked at him, frowning as he had his back to the creature, wondering why he had done that. For a moment she thought it was so he wouldn¡¯t see the end blow coming when she heard the sound of a baby crying. Roy turned, revealing that he had been holding a baby to his chest.


    ¡°A bratling? Roy, why do you have a kid?¡± Al asked as he walked to the creature and looked down, frowning as he did. He put his rifle down and pulled out a knife from his boot. Without a word, he brought it around the creature¡¯s neck, creating a ling all around it a few inches deep. Grabbing the maw, he pulled the head off.


    ¡°Why the hell did you do that!?¡± Sara demanded as she and Paige caught up.


    Al was silent, turning the head to show the hole he had put through its head.


    Racha looked at it and frowned, about to say something when she saw that the hole was closing. She stared at it in shocked awe, watching as the healing stopped after the hole had healed almost halfway.


    ¡°Bad healing factor, for us anyway,¡± Al said as he looked at the head, throwing it down the tunnel towards where Roy had come.


    ¡°And now we have to deal with regenerators, great. Those are always so fun to fight!¡± Racha said bitterly. For a moment she was on a mission a few years ago and felt the terror that those things had caused her. But at least this time, the monster was a lot smaller than what she had dealt with then.


    ¡°We¡­¡­ you have to help Jinn!¡± Roy exclaimed as Sara came over and started to examine him and the baby.


    ¡°Hold on there, Jinn¡¯s a great fighter. He¡¯ll be able to handle a few of these things,¡± Pagie said and Roy looked at her with an aghast look.


    ¡°Can he handle forty of them!?¡± Roy demanded and Racha felt faint as she looked at him. If he had been able to escape forty of these things, that wasn¡¯t too bad. But if he had to run from these things with whatever group he had been with, then that was a lot worse.


    ¡°Stay here with him you two. Al, with me!¡± Racha barked as she ran towards Jinn. Al followed a moment later, his rifle back in his hands.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Wait!¡± Roy called out in horror, and Paige felt the shame he was feeling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, those two can handle it,¡± Paige said as Sara looked over the baby.


    ¡°Okay, this little lady is fine. A bit banged up but I think she¡¯ll be okay,¡± Sara said, causing Paige to feel a sigh leave her lips.


    ¡°Good. I was worried. What happened to you Roy, where¡¯s the rest of your capsule?¡± Paige asked and Roy looked away.


    Paige shared a look with Sara, and Paige nodded at her.


    ¡°Look Roy, if you don¡¯t want to talk about it¡¯s okay. At least me and Sara. But Racha, now she¡¯ll want to know the truth¡­.¡± Paige began and Roy turned around, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°I¡­. I. They went mad, all of them! After those flying worms attacked us, the only officer there went off into deep space! He talked about sacrificing the weakest, how this whole planet was ¡®a place to thin the herd¡¯! I objected with a few others, and I was thrown out with this little one!¡± Roy exclaimed and Paige felt the truth and terror in his words.


    For a second she didn¡¯t understand him, but when she did she felt herself pale in fear. She had thought that everyone aboard the ship in an officer¡¯s slot was at least stable. The last day had been terrible, but to have gone that far off the space lanes?


    ¡°So what happened, were you one of the offerings with this one?¡± Sara asked and Roy nodded.


    Paige felt Sara¡¯s rage and took a deep breath, at least her ability to feel only her own emotions was still working. A strange sense hit her then, and she turned and looked down. Paling in horror, she pulled out her pistol and fired at the head, the head that was growing tentacles from its neck. As her blasts drilled through the thing¡¯s skin and skull, Sara moved backwards as Roy joined his pistol to Paige¡¯s.


    They stopped moments later, all that was on the floor of the tunnel were bits and pieces that had once been a head.


    ¡°That was¡­.. that was beyond any kind of regeneration I¡¯ve ever heard of! What kind of Island is this!?¡± Sara demanded as she looked at Paige.


    Paige felt Sara¡¯s horror, and she felt the same. This place was showing that nothing they thought was true. This place was forcing them to face the darkness of the unknown and how much they didn¡¯t know. Paige just hoped for something beyond all this. Don''t think about finding out the truth of this place. All she could hope for was that the team and the people back at the capsule survived this horror-planet.


    ¡°Yeah, I feel the same Sara,¡± Paige said and looked at Sara. Paige felt that Sara was thinking about something, and she hoped that whatever it was, Sara shared it. Whatever it was, it seemed to be bothering Sara a lot.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked at the remains, her mind going very fast. She had a great teacher during her schooling back at the healing school. They had been a researcher, looking for a way to increase all species'' regenerative abilities. She had helped them with an experiment and she knew beyond a doubt what that thing had just done. If she was right, then there was no way that there was any way that they could have been natural. But then the concept of powers reared its head.


    That was something that she had never heard of before, anywhere. She knew the facts of evolution, and this was so beyond that. It was something that was in the realm of stories and fiction, not real life! She had seen the research her old teacher had done, but this was so beyond it!


    She might have seen a few experiments based on that research but that? It was so beyond anything they could do. The best just healed scars, not grow new body parts! But this planet, it was beyond anything that any planet¡¯s life evolved. This whole situation was beyond them, beyond all their knowledge. The fact that they had done so, it seemed that they just existed to make them go crazy! Nothing on this planet was on any other planet she had ever heard of!


    Sara went still, as she tried this from another track. Page had abilities before she even stepped onto the Spirit of Adventure. Paige showed it was possible to have people off planet, to develop them naturally. Did that mean animals and beasts could do so as well? But these creatures had developed them, and she had to wonder if they all had. If the kind of regeneration that skull had showed was something that they all had¡­¡­. The others were walking into a trap!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roy looked at Sara as he took the baby back, staring at her eyes. He had seen enough people deep in thought react violently, he didn¡¯t want to risk the baby. As he looked at Paige, he wondered why she was looking at Sara in that way.


    ¡°We need to move, right now! Roy follow behind us!¡± Sara barked as she moved to follow after Al and Racha.


    ¡°Wait, why?! What is it?¡± Roy called out, but Sara didn¡¯t even stop. She just ran after Al and Racha.


    Roy looked at Paige who shrugged as he looked at her and nodded before she ran after Sara. Roy looked around, seeing a small bird flying by before it flew upwards into a hidden hole. Roy looked from the hole to the back of Paige. He looked down at the baby in his arm before he swallowed. Without a second¡¯s hesitation, he began running after the others. In this place, the best thing to do was seek safety in numbers.


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    Jinn slashed a lizard creature in two down the middle before he dodged two more of the creatures. He had been lucky so far, only another four of the creatures had come down through the hole, not more. Jumping backwards he hit the wall feet first and pushed off in the direction of the ceiling. As he reached the top he grabbed a hanging root and threw himself towards the other side. Bellow, the five remaining creatures screeching and trying to get at him. He had to give these ¡®lizard-apes¡¯ something, they were dedicated.


    He was lucky that the lizard-apes weren¡¯t thinkers, but they were great pack hunters with great senses. As he neared the other wall the five beasts ran at him, trying to catch his sent. As he hit the wall feet first, he pushed off it again and flew over their heads. He slashed out with his blade, cutting through one of its eyes. As it moved back and fell out of the pack, Jinn landed and ran down the tunnel, yelling as he did. The lizard-apes followed after him, away from the others.


    As he ran, he heard the sound of them getting closer and almost turned but for what he saw ahead of him. He ran out onto a cliff in a large round cavern. The cliff face was a good twenty feet long and went around the cavern, maybe a good two hundred feet around. The cavern had a large hole at the top, and from what he saw a path led out into the sunlight. Then he looked down and saw the cliff was only a good ten feet off the bottom of the cavern. Ahead of him a good hundred feet across the cavern there was a small hill. It  went up and around the cavern, and it was part of this that he was standing on. Before he could look around more, the creatures behind him caught up. He jumped off the cliff, landing on the ground in a roll and running towards the incline, hoping to get ahead.


    Behind him, the lizard-apes followed him off the cliff, but they hit body first. He smirked as he heard the cries of pain, turning his head he fired at them as he ran. All he could do was hope his wild shots would kill one of them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the creature blinked, it looked out of its den as it heard the calls of pain. This was surprising, food had come to it. It had just gone to sleep to let the new beast that was due to be born run wild for a bit, always a good tactic around here. But it could tell that it had been asleep long enough, and the time it had been waiting for had passed it by. Good, now it could go back and hunt again. Ever since it had found this place to sleep, it had been blessed. Now more food was here, and if it was enough it might be able to spawn a new hunter to serve it. Spawning was the greatest strength it had ever taken, so obedient, no thoughts in their heads. And they were a ready snack if it needed to be fed. As it woke up, lightning jumped from spike to spike as it readied itself, it was time to hunt, kill, and feed.

 Chapter Thirty-Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1350


    As Jinn ran towards the small ramp-shaped hill, he heard the screech of the lizard apes as they resumed the chase. His leap had only given him a bare moment, but it was enough of a head start to buy some time. And with how this was the only way back up, he could use his blaster and hopefully hold them off. All he had to do was wait until Roy made it to the others and Racha came with Al to back him up. And he had found the way out, once they beat those things they could figure out what they would do next.


    The fact that Roy was here without anyone else with his clothes still in one piece bothered him. Jinn could only think of a few reasons for that, and none of them were good. Some idiot could have taken power in his capsule, some creature could have destroyed it. But the others in the capsule could have gone mad. He didn¡¯t want to admit that was possible, for if it was then the passengers back in his capsule could go mad too.


    A screech from the lizard-apes told him they were back on the hunt. He risked a glance over his shoulder and saw they had gotten to their feet and were trying to get his scent. He went still and frowned as he tried to feel the wind¡¯s direction, but there was nothing. The hole above must block the wind from blowing down. If he was quiet and moved slowly he might be able to get away from them. But before he moved he need to buy some time. He looked down, seeing a small stone the size of an apple, he slowly reached down and picked it up. He looked around, seeing a large cave to his right near the lizard apes.


    It was near where he had hit the floor, and it might be a good way to get those creatures to leave him alone. If he could take advantage of what he had they didn¡¯t, then that was all the easier to survive them.


    Without saying a word, Jinn threw the rock and it hit the ground near the cave with a small crash. As he watched, the four lizard apes turned and screeched again before they ran towards the rock. Jinn smirked as he started to move up the ramp slowly, only to freeze as he realized the lizard apes had gone silent. Looking towards the cave he saw that each of the creatures had gone still. He watched as they were slowly backing up, and that scared him more than he wanted to admit. These things had hunted him with a wild will, what could scare them, what did they smell or hear that he couldn¡¯t?


    One of the lizard apes tried to move forward and growled at the cave. Jinn watched as the lizard ape started to bang its chest before something shot out of the darkness. He could only stare in horror as the lead lizard ape was impaled by a large white spike on an organic-looking rope. The lizard ape barely had time to moan before it was pulled into the darkness with a screech. Moments later a savage chomp was heard. Jinn felt a spark of fear as he watched the lizard apes move back, each one trying to make itself look small.


    From the cave¡¯s darkness came a black chitin leg. It was just a spike but it pieced the ground before another leg to dive into the stone ground a good ten feet across from the first. From the darkness, a white chitin body pulled itself out into the light. To Jinn this thing was a true mutant, it seemed to have been the offspring of a bear and some kind of insect. It only had four limbs from what he could see, and its head was bear-like in shape. It had two eyes that were a solid black and on its back were four spikes. All in all, it was at least nine feet tall and five wide. It looked at the lizard apes and opened its mouth, and from within its maw, a large spike shot out.


    This time the lizard ape it was aiming at tried to dodge and only got impaled in its arm.


    As the other lizard apes moved away from it, Jinn felt something in him he didn¡¯t expect, pity. He looked at the lizard ape as it tried to cut itself free and he sighed, shaking his head. He just stood there for a moment as he brought up his blaster and sighed again. ¡°Racha Is gonna give me such a yelling when I tell them about this.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature looked at the small-scaled ones as its feeder spike drew in another one. It screeched as it came closer, and the creature grinned. Another bit of food, and there was nothing for the little morsel to do. But those things always tried to fight against it, but its muscle was too strong, thanks to that thing it killed so long ago. It didn¡¯t know what the makers wanted of it, but it would live until it did. And to live, it had to eat, and to eat it must kill.


    And killing the little things was such a pleasure to it. It pulled the spike back slowly as the little morsel kept trying to fight. Some of them kept doing that even when there was no choice to survive. It would never understand them, but then it would never be in that position. But as it prepared to savor the kill bite, only a jolt of pain hit it as its tongue was burned through.


    The pain caused the creature to screech in pain. It bucked backwards, the remains of its tongue shooting into its mouth. The little morsel moved away, returning to the others it was with as the creature tried to deal with the pain.


    As it looked around it saw something it had never seen before, a big small one. It had fought some of the small ones, but they always took their dead with them, so it had never eaten one of them. This one was pointing something at it, something it had never seen before. As the morsels moved away they ran towards the small big one and ran by it, moving upwards.


    The creature didn¡¯t care about them only, the big small one that looked at it as the morsels ran away. It felt its fury grow as the thing that wounded it was shot at it again, this time it hit the creature¡¯s back. With a screech, it summoned the lighting before it sent it at the big small one.


    But suddenly the big small one was covered in lights and it dodged the lightning! For a moment all the creature could do was look at the big small one as it landed and looked at. The creature didn¡¯t like this, it was the one to kill not the one to be killed! With a gargled screech the creature shook off its shock and charged towards the big small one, it would kill it!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha cursed as she ran, her mind going to strange places. Why had she let Jinn leave without her in the first place!? So far, they had fought off that vine beast, fought off giant spiders, and found a ship from the Cooperate Rebellion. And now? They found someone else from the Spirit who was looking after a baby. They fought and killed a regenerator that was stronger than she thought could be possible. And they still hadn¡¯t found him, and that was making her more worried than she wanted to be. She didn¡¯t think Jinn was the type to go looking for trouble, but this place was crazy!


    She just hoped that whatever Jinn was up to, he was just fighting off the other regenerators. If he found something worse down here. These tunnels were smooth, too smooth for any natural process to have created them. There might be something, but she couldn''t think of it. And the way these tunnels were so strange something was bothering her about them. She couldn¡¯t exactly see it, but it was there.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    She usually had a better memory than this, but whatever it was, it was at the tip of her tongue and she hated that. She was a special operative, her life was usually on the line if she didn¡¯t notice things. She had trained to notice the smallest things, she lived on the razor¡¯s edge where it seeing them meant life or death. Any other place and she would know what used these tunnels and


    ¡°He came this way, I¡¯m sure of it!¡± Al said as he looked around the floor.


    Racha looked at him and followed his gaze, sighing as she saw a regenerator corpse cut down the middle. ¡°Of course he killed it.¡±


    Racha looked around, finding the hole up and frowning when she didn¡¯t hear anything from it. They must have been deeper than he thought or the hole¡¯s mouth was covered up there. Both answers didn¡¯t fill her with confidence, but she had to keep it together. As she looked around the tunnel, at least it was straight. Without a word she moved on, Al following behind her.


    At least Al was able to work like one of her agents. And she had to talk to Jinn about where he¡­¡­ Racha stopped and let Al pass her by, as she let her thoughts run their course. She was so shocked that she had missed it before, that all she could do was stare at Al. She was usually better at this than that, but finally, everything clicked together. From the remarks Jinn made before the scream to Al¡¯s reaction, it all slotted together. And she needed answers about this piece of the puzzle now. Normally she wouldn¡¯t even dare to do this, not with what was on the line. But like her old trainer said, you needed to trust those people who were fighting at your side.


    Al had looked back at her with an unreadable expression on his face. ¡°You okay Racha? We have to move, Jinn could be dying! So handle what made you stop and¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°How do you know gene alteration is needed for class then Nanites?¡± Racha interrupted Al went silent


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    Al had almost kept running, but when he looked to the side, and saw that Racha had fallen back. He had only stopped to get her moving, but this was something else. He knew that there would be problems, but he didn¡¯t expect them so soon. Racha was smart, quick, and if Paige was right, a member of the Special Service. His faith wasn¡¯t a state religion, the laws of the Federation prohibited that. Most planetary systems where Tech popes reigned only did so through diplomacy. So if he could prove he wasn¡¯t a terrorist, he would be protected under the greater laws of the Federation. But could he dare to hope she would help him? But he couldn¡¯t answer her, and he couldn¡¯t dodge the question, not if they going into battle.


    ¡°I¡­¡­ I looked over the data from a friend¡¯s experiment. It showed that nanites were affected by the body¡¯s genetic structure. And well the nanites used were special too,¡± Al admitted and Racha looked at him with a frown.


    ¡°Why in the name of black holes wasn¡¯t this published? Isn¡¯t that what you people do, broadcast all your research papers?¡± Racha demanded and Al winced.


    ¡°They don¡¯t if they declare the research heretical,¡± Al said and Racha blinked, staring at him. He knew exactly what she was thinking, that was impossible. The treaty with those planets said that the only research that was to be declared heretical was¡­¡­.


    ¡°She experimented on sentient life?!¡± Racha demanded and Al looked at her and frowned.


    ¡°No, they were just rats. Rats she gene modded but rats. She wasn¡¯t the kind of person to do that! Why?¡± Al asked and Racha looked at him, shock on her face.


    ¡°Because the treaty with says only sentient experimentation against their will is heretical. You know about the treaty, don¡¯t you?¡± Racha asked as Al looked at her in shock.


    However, before he could say anything a large thunder boom echoed off the walls. As the two of them covered their heads the boom echoed died away and they looked down the tunnel.


    ¡°Later, we¡¯ll talk later, we have to help him!¡± Al said as he turned, running towards where the thunder boom came from. He didn¡¯t look back, but he heard Racha following after him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara held her head as the booming died down, the sound still reverberating in her bones. She hadn¡¯t expected something like that, she had heard about them but to experience them for herself. As she came back to herself, she looked around and paled in shock as she realized that she had fallen to the ground.


    ¡°You okay there?¡± Paige¡¯s voice came from Sara¡¯s right. Looking up she saw that Paige had fallen against the right wall. Locking eyes with Paige she saw that her friend was in as worse shape as she was.


    ¡°Barely, barely. I¡­.. I¡¯ve never experienced something like that before,¡± Sara admitted and Paige grinned back.


    ¡°Nothing like your first great thunder strike. That was something else hu? Good news, that has to be from down the tunnel, so this leads outside. I guess it goes up or something,¡± Paige said and Sara felt a spark of wonder. After everything she had just learned about Paige, she was still shocking her so much.


    Sara could barely remember what happened to bring them here. But Paige was looking at what was happening beyond the now, she had weathered it so well. Sara didn¡¯t know if she should be impressed or worried about how Paige dealt with this.


    Thankfully, she had kept from feeling the emotions that those thoughts brought. Or Paige was better at hiding reactions from other people¡¯s feelings. For she only got up and looked around, a frown on her face.


    ¡°Paige?¡± Sara asked as she pushed off the ground and got back to her feet. Paige looked at her and frowned, a strange emotion in her eyes.


    ¡°Nothing, I just¡­. I was sure I heard something echoing, I don¡¯t¡­..¡± Paige said and Sara nodded.


    ¡°Good ears on ya,¡± Sara said and for a moment she wondered how the sound could have echoed at all. They were underground, and how could the sound have echoed¡­¡­ Sara¡¯s eyes went wide her eyes dilated as she suddenly realized the how.


    ¡°Oh nova!¡± Sara exclaimed and looked around, a scared look on her face as she started to feel pure terror.


    ¡°What?¡± Paige asked and Sara looked up, seeing the reflected fear in her eyes.


    Sara swallowed, thinking back to what she had figured out, and spoke in a whisper.


    ¡°Remember how Roy got into the tunnel? I don¡¯t think he ever told us. If he fell down a hole, there might be others. And that sound might have called anything to dinner!¡± Sara said and Paige swallowed.


    ¡°Oh nova. The baby!¡± Paige exclaimed as she turned and ran back towards Roy and the cargo he was carrying. Sara waited a moment before running after her, hoping that she had made the right choice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above the forest was quiet as the thunder boom echoed off the trees. A small reptile-like creature with a wolf-like body moved toward the source of the sound. The lizard wolf looked around, not seeing anything before it looked up, gazing at the clear sky above. Just looked, trying to find anything that could explain the sound it just heard. But whatever the sound was, its source was beyond its small brain. It was about to turn back around when it heard a strange shrill sound, unlike anything it had ever heard before.


    The lizard wolf looked around, but its brain wouldn¡¯t let what might be a danger to it stand. If it knew what caused both the strange sounds, then it could deal with whatever it was. As it moved off into the forest, it kept its eyes open, waiting for anything to attack. It had been feeling like something was tracking it, but it never saw anything. Maybe this would be¡­¡­ It stopped as it walked out into a large clearing. It was on a ledge, overlooking a large hole ten feet wide that went down deep into the ground. As it stood above a hole bigger than it was long, its mind went blank. This was unlike anything that it had ever seen, and it needed to figure out what to do. It just stood there for a few moments before it took a step forward.


    Before it could even move five small spikes flew out of the forest around it. Each one hit the lizard wolf, penetrating its flesh. It fell to the ground as its blood flowed around the spikes, some of it dropping into the hole. After a few moments the lizard wolf whimpered and fell, its eyes started to lose focus as it started to die.


    For a few seconds, nothing happened as the forest came back to life. The forest going back to normal as if the thunder never boomed at all. As the forest woke up, the spikes moved backward, pulling the lizard wolf with them. Each spike had a line connecting from them off to somewhere just out of sight. As the lizard wolf''s dying body was dragged into the darkness, it heard strange sounds. The sounds were strange in unlike anything else, these seemed to be repeated.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Heave! Come on boys, that¡¯s tonight¡¯s feasts we¡¯re bringing in!¡±


    ¡°Hunt Master, do you know what made that sound, I¡¯ve never heard anything like that before!¡±


    ¡°No, since you¡¯re from the Mountain Keep. Sometimes things are dropped here, that was one of them. Old Thunder Spike is fighting something at the old mine. Wonder what came there now, or who.¡±


    ¡°Who boss?¡±


    ¡°We all saw the falling stars boyo, keep track. Someone else has come to this thing¡¯s trap. I wonder if it¡¯s all or just some that survived?¡±


    ¡°Not our problem. We¡¯ll head for home and let the Elders make the choice. For now, let¡¯s bring our food home and feast!¡±

 Chapter Thirty-Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1415


    Jinn just looked at the crater. After the lizard apes had run past him, he had activated his aura. It was a good thing he did so because moments later the insect bear had fired a large bolt of electricity. The bolt had to have been a foot wide, and he had only just dodged it. The lizard apes hadn''t been so lucky, the bolt hitting dead center between them. The explosion and thunder boom had sent a cloud of dust into the air. When it cleared he had seen the crater and parts of the lizard apes had rained down around them.


    He had started to jump around the chamber after, trying to keep the insect bear from getting a clear shot at him. Not that it kept it from firing bolts of electricity at him, and he only dodged some of them by millimeters. He had also kept firing, hoping one of his shots would kill it or at least break one of its spikes. But this one was like the larger insectoid, each shot just deflected off its chitin. And to make it worse, the electricity generated by the monster protected its spikes.


    ¡°How the nova do I kill this thing?¡± Jinn snarled in anger as he jumped up to the ledge where the tunnel was. He looked down at the insect bear as it turned around slowly. For all its power it was slow, and maybe something else. He looked at its leg as it turned, seeing that each leg ended in not one spike, but three. The other two shooting out both sides, most likely to steady it.


    But then he saw the spikes start to thread electricity again and moved without a thought. He jumped to a ledge behind the monster, hoping to get away from its sight. Moments after he qa airborne, another bolt shot from the spikes. Only this one went straight up before it formed a ball of electricity that pulsed. As while he was in the air he felt a jolt run through him. He looked at the creature and saw that its spikes were sparking again. For some reason, he knew this would be bad for him. He landed on the ledge and dashed forward. Barely a second later the space he had landed on was hit by another massive bolt.


    Jinn stopped moving as soon as he was ten feet from the crater, trying to understand how that was possible. He had seen a lot, but this was something else! How could the insect bear have shot that bolt, how did it know it would hit where he had been? The answer, it couldn¡¯t. So it had some way to have known where he had been. That must mean the sphere and the pulse that hit him. Maybe it was kind of echolocation or something more exotic. That was the only explanation that even made partial sense.


    So he had to deal with two ways forward now. One, find a way to get rid of the ball. Or two, find a way to kill that monster fast. So far the only good thing about this was that this thing seemed to be alone, no minions. But then there was the possible problem. When he started to use his aura, a set of numbers appeared in the corner of his right vision.


    Then the numbers slowly started to go down, and the numbers were very large. If this was a way to tell how much ¡®charge he had to use his powers. Everything had a cost, and it seemed that whoever made the nanites that gave him his powers gave him a way to tell it. If he didn¡¯t increase his ¡®usage¡¯ he could probably keep his aura up for at least a few hours.


    The insect bear roared again, looking up at him as Jinn felt another pulse go through him. He gritted his teeth and moved, dashing back towards the tunnel as he fired down at the monster. As he ran he suddenly felt something, something he had never felt before. The strange feeling, that warmth when he first used his aura was back. With each step, he felt the energy he used, how it flowed, and was used to power his movement. For a split second, he wondered if that meant that he could use more of it. If there was something else he could do beyond the aura and the slash¡­¡­ that slash, how had he done that!?


    For a split second, he almost stumbled. How had he done that? He tried to remember, how the rush of combat had taken him. He couldn¡¯t quite recall, but if he tried to replicate it, he might have something.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roy looked down at the bay, rocking her back and forth as she cried. Ever since that thunder boom happened, this one just kept crying. As he tried to calm her down, he kept his eyes open as he followed where the others had gone. He was scared, if there was something in these tunnels sleeping, then that boom would have woken them up.


    ¡°Come on little one, please calm down. Uncle Roy will keep you alive, so please help your uncle by not crying!¡± Roy asked quietly as he looked around, his eyes looking for anything that might kill them. This whole place was so outside his comfort zone, that he was surprised that he was handling it as well as he was.


    He had grown up on a space station, he had only spent time in civilized areas of any world. The wild had always scared him, and this was making it worse! Everything that had happened over the last few days only added to his worry, but he had to control it. So far he and this one were living up to all the terrors he had grown up fearing. He just needed to find the others, and then they could go back to their capsule. With the supplies they had to have, they could defend themselves until help came.


    He smiled down at the baby as she started to calm down, or she was going to sleep. At least she was doing better, there was that. Now all he had to do was make it to the others, hopefully after they killed the rest of those things. The sound of a stone falling caused him to turn and see a small grey stone roll along the ground to his left. He looked around, not seeing anything moving. He swallowed as he felt the same chill he always felt when he was being spied on in his youth.


    Slowly he pressed the baby against his body with one hand as he other went towards his weapon. If more things were looking to eat them, he would make them work for their meal. As he slowly looked around, he didn¡¯t see anything out of place. If there was something here they were hidden, but he saw nothing, nothing at all.


    As he slowly calmed down, he looked around one final time. He took a deep breath before he took another step. He had to keep moving forward toward where the others were, and hope that he would find them soon.


    The sound of something running caused him to tense, looking around trying to find it. However before he could spiral into darkness, Sara and Paige appeared. He felt the tension he was feeling die away and a spark of hope bloomed within him. If the others had sent these two for him, then maybe they would survive after all.


    ¡°Thank goodness, so Jinn killed them all?¡± Roy asked with a smile that died as Sara looked at Paige.


    ¡°We never even found Al and Racha before the boom,¡± Paige admitted and Roy felt his blood freeze.


    ¡°What? Why are you back here then!?¡± Roy demanded as he looked at them with terror.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Did they find more of those things, did they find something coming at them down there? Had something else killed the others, did they need to go back the other way?


    ¡°We figure the boom was going to be a little hard on the little one. Figured that maybe the best we could do was help her out,¡± Paige explained as she moved the baby and smiled at her.


    Roy blinked as he looked at them, for a moment shocked. All he could feel was shame for a moment, but then he felt anger. He was just someone on the pilot track, he couldn''t handle personal combat! All they had to do was try to survive until help came, but that idiot officer had created a cult! He had always hated them, and this was just normal for that slime. He was so mad he almost didn¡¯t hear Paige¡¯s next words.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine, I think she¡¯s just sleeping. I¡¯ve dealt with babies before, and I think she¡¯ll be fine. I think¡­..yes I¡¯m sure this little one is from a planet with a lot of thunder,¡± Paige said before she looked up at Roy.


    Roy looked down at the baby, all he could feel was relief. This little one didn¡¯t have her parents with her, and he had taken care of her since they landed. That was part of why the scum officer had chosen her to be sacrificed, and why he had argued against it. But then realized just what Paige said and he looked at her in shock.


    ¡°Thunder, that¡¯s what that was?¡± Roy asked and looked around the tunnel, a frown on his face. ¡°Could that have caused things to fall?¡±


    Roy just looked at the two women. Paige had taken the baby out of his hands as Sara looked around as she held a pistol in both hands.


    ¡°Maybe, but only if this place was already going to come down¡­¡­ let¡¯s move and hope we find a way out soon!¡± Paige said and the others nodded in agreement.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked ahead as they made it closer to where they hoped Jinn was. He tried to keep focused on what was happening but his mind kept coming back to this treaty Racha spoke of. He had known that a lot of the heads of his faith were those who threw away everything for logic, but this was too much. He had thought they would at least hold fast to the laws, that was why he had run so that he could escape and survive. His whole plan was to live, continue his research to the end. He would set it up so it would be released after  after his death, to give it to the Federation. After everything, what they had found would save lives, they would have mattered.


    If she was telling the truth, there was a treaty that outlined what Heretical research was..... If that was true, then everything he had believed was a lie, everything he had done was wrong. His long-term plan might have be unneeded.  and if they weren''t criminals the Treaty''s definition, then what was the point of the attack? He should have gone straight to a Federation station and tell them his story. If the Inquisitor''s actions had been illegal, then why had they done so? Were they so sure in their power they could just break all laws of space?


    But he kept thinking about his old friends, his classmates. They had all grown up together, and then there was her. She had been his inspiration, the idol he looked to when he was down. He had thought about asking her if they keep working together for future projects. Together he thought that they could have solve so many problems and change lives for the better. Both of them could have built a future together, they might even have grown closer.


    But when the Inquisitors attacked, they got separated. He had barely been able to make contact with half the class before he had found that smuggler. For a few moments then, He had hesitated, but then planetary security attacked. To survive he hadn¡¯t had a choice but to leave. He looked up the news, trying to see if there was anything about her, but all he found was empty data.


    If the research wasn¡¯t wrong, then why had they been attacked? He didn¡¯t expect that he would have found a new reason to get off this planet, but there it was. So he had a goal now, get back the Federation and find justice for his friends.


    ¡°Slow down! If that was Jinn¡¯s doing, we need to get there together!¡± Racha barked from behind.


    Al slowed down and looked at her as she caught up. Racha was a¡­¡­ problem. His faith and the Special Service had a unique relationship, at least according what he knew. But before he talked with her, he had never heard about that Treaty she mentioned. That was the source of his mind¡¯s wandering. That one piece of data had thrown everything he thought he knew out of context, and it cast long shadows on his past.


    ¡°What do you think we¡¯ll find?¡± Al asked as Racha panted for a minute.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I would¡¯ve expected at best a storm, but this planet is crazy! With our luck, we¡¯ll find a lightning-throwing monster or something!¡± Racha exclaimed and Al fought back a snort of laughter at her words.


    He had to admit that she was right, this planet was unlike anything he had ever heard of. He knew a few old friends who would have cut off their legs to even study at least one of the things they¡¯ve run into. ¡°You¡¯ve got a point. But still, we¡¯ve gotta move!¡±


    ¡°I know. I just wanted you to slow down, not stop!¡± Racha barked as she ran on.


    Al looked at her and shook his head before following after her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn leaped away, dodging another bolt of lightning by inches once again. He had switched tactics, trying to instead take out the lightning ball above. So far he hadn¡¯t been able to do that, but he had a hunch that was going to change. While he had moved around the chamber, jumping to the floor and back to the ledges, he had tried to call upon this strange energy to a small success. He had started to react faster, but from the text in his vision, he had doubled the drain. It was refueling when he released his aura, and using the time between pulses he had kept it high enough.


    But that had taught him how to move the energy, something he still felt when his aura was down. If he felt the right things, then this opened up possibilities. If he could use it to augment a shot or slash like before, then he might be able to break the chitin. When he killed the insect bear, they would have a safe place to make camp for the night. They could scout ahead and try and figure out where they had come while in the tunnel.


    ¡°JINN!¡± Al¡¯s cry caused him to pale. As he looked up to see Al and Racha coming out of the tunnel, Jinn felt a spark of fear.


    ¡°GET BACK IN THERE! THIS THING CAN fire lightning and uses the ball up there as radar! Jinn bellowed out moments before he felt another pulse. ¡°GO BACK!¡±


    Al reacted first, pulling Racha back into the tunnel. He did so moments before the insect bear roared and shot another bolt of lightning at the tunnel. There was a large explosion at he tunnel mouth, creating a dust cloud. When the dust settled all that that remained rubble that was blocking the passage.


    ¡°NO!¡± Jinn roared with rage and looked right at the sphere. Without a word beyond a scream of rage, he activated his aura. With a thought, he sent three times as much energy to it as he aimed his pistol. He pressed the trigger. Moments later a blast of blue energy shot out, piercing the ball of lightning and destroying it.


    Jinn felt drained and panted as he stood there. Instead of the warmth he had expected, now all he felt was a kind of slow ache that was dying down. It was when text formed at the bottom of his vision, then he felt fear.


    <u>Aether Cannon learned by blunt force method. Aether Shot and Aether Bolt auto-learned. Due to forced learning, Aura assistance is offline, and auto abilities disabled for 5 minutes. </u>


    Jinn tried to call up his aura, even thinking the words <u>Aether Comet </u>did nothing. All he could do was hope he could survive until it came back. He looked at the blocked tunnel as he moved out of the insect bear¡¯s sight, all he could was wait and hope. Wait for his ability to come back, and hope the others were still alive.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The bear insect blinked as it looked up, trying to find its seeing sphere. The echo it had gotten from it was going, and that was surprising. In all the times it had used that power, the sphere had never died so soon. But as it looked up it couldn¡¯t see anything that gave it any clue what had happened. Something had broken it, that had never happened before. It looked around, trying to find the thing that had done this. such an ability was being wasted on anything but itself. It would be better to kill this creature fast and take it, and then become a ruler.


    Once it killed the invaders it would find others to follow it, and wouldn¡¯t those things be blessed to do so? With their might and powers, it could do what the others wouldn¡¯t, stand against their creators! Once the insect bear tracked down where they hid, it would crack their shell and feast. In time the insect bear would leave this land and go out into the wide place. It would rule everything, find its birthplace, and then it would rule all life!


    But first, it needed to spawn some pawns. It looked around and saw the pieces of the morsels. While it liked to eat bigger pieces, beggars couldn¡¯t choose. Let this be the last time it hid in this cave, tomorrow it would start its path of conquest.

 Chapter Thirty-Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1430


    Racha blinked as her ears rang, trying to see through the dust. For a moment she didn¡¯t remember what had happened, but then it all came flooding back. At Jinn¡¯s yell, she had gone still, shocked she was right in her wild guess. Al had barely her back into the tunnel before the electric bolt hit the tunnel mouth.  As the dust cleared Racha paled at what she saw. Where the tunnel¡¯s opening had been there were only large rocks blocking the way.


    For a second Racha could only stare, but then she realized the rubble was the result of the force behind the bolt. She tried to figure out how something organic could have that kind of weaponry built into it, but she came up blank. During her career with the service, she had seen weird things, but this was beyond anything. All she could do was clench and unclench her hands in awe and horror at the possibilities before her.


    If Jinn was right, then his powers had been caused by nanites that had invaded their bodies. If that was true, then everyone had them. If this thing¡¯s powers were the same as Jinn and Sara¡¯s from the same source, then that was very bad. It meant that anyone could develop the same power as the creature in the chamber ahead.


    The very thought of Jones gaining abilities would be beyond bad with his psych profile. And that wasn¡¯t even counting all the other problem cases among the passengers and crew.


    Racha turned and saw Al had just looked at the ruble, but the way his eyes were wide told her everything. He was using some kind of nanotech in his eyes to try and find something. She had seen the specs on a few proposed models, but with Al¡¯s past, he had to have beyond cutting edge.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got this, right Al? You can find the best way through this mess?¡± Racha asked softly and Al looked at her.


    ¡°Yeah, just give me a few minutes. I think I¡¯ll be able to figure out what we can move. Just give me some time to run the numbers,¡± Al said before he looked back at the rocks.


    ¡°Just hurry. Jinn needs help,¡± Racha said as nodded and turned around, trusting that Al had this handled. The view of their rear caused Racha to release a sigh, it was still there. The boom had to have echoed down the tunnel, and for a moment she wondered what that would do. If those lizard things could find their way down here chasing prey, then others could. And what would something tracking that sound do to them, run away or fight?


    All she could do was shake her head and look to the now, not the after. But the thought of other things coming after them caused her to grit her teeth. That thing within was in the perfect place to ambush the party as they came out, it was only luck Jinn had gone ahead. This had to be the place that the bird was leading them to, maybe it flew out of reach of the creature within.


    Or it was leading them to be food, and she had a hard time understanding how it knew to do that. So far, things on this planet seemed to fight and kill anything that wasn¡¯t one of their kind. Unless that thing within was a giant bird, she couldn¡¯t see how the bird Sara and Paige healed would have led them to slaughter. Would it even have been able to do that?


    Racha stopped as she thought about Paige¡¯s abilities, and how she could feel emotions. But did she feel the whole of what a being was feeling or just the kind of emotions? That made a big difference. If the bird thing was happy it had found easy prey everything would line up to the theory; ¡®Bird wanted to kill us¡¯. But that was dependent on Paige not being able to sense complex emotions beyond the front ones.


    ¡°Why is this my life!?¡± Racha muttered as she shook her head and sighed. Before the crash landing, she had never even thought that she would be in a position like this. She was thinking about talking to someone about their extra sensory abilities to read the emotions of a semi-sentient bird. And to think, that before all this she used to  laugh at the Special Division¡¯s cases about people with powers. And that thought made her wince, wondering just what was true that those people ran into. And she had to admit, that this whole planet was up their star-lane.


    Still, something about this place was bothering, something she couldn¡¯t touch. The tunnels were like that time on that moon, that smuggler''s base in those lava tubes. But this tunnel was beyond it, there were those strange tunnels up. No matter what she tried, she couldn¡¯t think of anything that might explain this place.


    Her mind went back to the few ¡®Ruin Explorations¡¯ she stopped or risked to save lives. This place did tick off most of the signs, but how had it gone unnoticed for so long? Any halfway decent University would have found this planet before too long! No, there was a deep mystery here, something that she couldn¡¯t see, something beyond what she knew. Her gut was telling her that this was going to be a lot worse before they even started to go well.


    And now she had to watch out for anything that might eat them too! And some of these things might be sentient, capable of planning. But then they saw nothing wrong with eating anything they could kill. Because for them anything that could kill them would eat them in turn. All in all, this planet was great, she wanted to retire here for a hundred years!


    A small commotion Racha looked up, her pistol in her hands within a second. Her thoughts went down dark places, the sound could have been whatever made these tunnels. If something big enough came at them, the only way it would die was if its brain was at its front. However, what instead came around into sight was Sara and Paige with Roy behind them.


    Racha felt the tension leave her when she saw that they weren¡¯t running from anything. This might not be as bad as she feared.


    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Racha said trying to pay off the tension, anything to keep them calm.


    ¡°We went back after the boom, wanted to protect the little one. Where¡¯s Jinn and¡­¡­ where did those rocks come from?¡± Paige asked point blank as they saw the rocks blocking the tunnel.


    Al stopped examining them and looked back at the group, his eyes locked onto Racha.


    Racha sighed and looked around. After a few minutes, she sighed and looked at them. ¡°Jinn¡¯s beyond the rocks, in the same chamber as something that can fire lightning. Lightning powerful enough to make that blockade.¡±


    Roy said nothing, only paled in fear. Sara and Racha looked ahead, and Paige eye¡¯s widened, a reaction that Racha saw.


    Racha¡¯s eyes went to Roy and she barely kept from speaking. ¡°Sara, go with Roy and move back deeper into the tunnel. You hear combat you wait, I yell run you try and take Roy back to the clearing, tell the Chief what we found.¡±


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    Sara looked between Roy and Paige before she nodded, grabbing Roy¡¯s arm. ¡°Got it, boss! Come on Roy, we¡¯ve got cargo to protect!¡±


    As soon as Roy and Sara were far enough away to not hear anything under a yell, Racha turned to Paige. Leaning close, she whispered a question. ¡°What can you sense?¡±


    ¡°Roy and something else. It can think, I¡¯d state my life on it. But we still have to kill it, don¡¯t we?¡± Paige asked and Racha nodded as Al finally started to try and get through the rocks.


    ¡°Yeah, we will. I already realized that. Anything that lives in this place, this planet. Anything that was borne here, those creatures? Every day is eat or be eaten here. So far we haven¡¯t seen anything beyond the same species, but I don¡¯t know. I think they see us as food, so there¡¯s no chance for peace,¡± Racha said softly and Paige just looked at her.


    After a few moments, Paige nodded and Racha could see a hard edge in her eyes, and that made her both happy and sad. Happy that Paige wouldn¡¯t backstab them, but sad that Paige would have to ¡®hear¡¯ the creatures die.


    ¡°Sorry, but there¡¯s not any other choice here. I¡­. could you handle hearing their deaths?¡± Racha asked and Paige blinked before looking at Racha with a smile.


    ¡°All I can hear is the absence of thought for an instant. I can¡¯t hear death, not really. But thank you for worrying about it Racha. That was more than I expected from a Service Operative,¡± Paige said and Racha scowled as she sighed.


    ¡°I¡­. stars I hate that thing! It¡¯s all a pop-culture thing really, we didn¡¯t even create that conspiracy!¡± Racha admitted and Paige looked at her in shock.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the creature looked around for what had destroyed its seeing sphere, it found nothing. It walked up the ramp, munching on the remains of its kill. So far it hadn¡¯t been able to see anything new, but where destroyed it¡¯s seeing sphere? That spoke of great power, and a tricky mind. Most with such power usually were very straightforward without being very smart, this might be bad.


    It had to wonder if what it was chasing had been the big small one. It was rare but it had seen some of those small ones have powers. It remembered one of who had been able to shoot flames with a cry. And another who could create a shield to block its strikes. They had escaped, but this one wouldn¡¯t.


    For a second time the creature looked around, a sense of wonder in its glaze. It had tried to form another seeing sphere, but it was too soon. This had never happened to it before, ever. Its sphere went up and from its roar, the creature knew where every creature around it was. It only needed to use one per battle, and from its sight, it defeated all those who attacked it. The greatest problem it had was the sphere staying active after the battle was over. It never would have thought that the seeing sphere could be destroyed!


    Still, this was something it had to learn from and plan for this to happen again. It also had to wonder about the way that big little one had tried to sting it. The strange darts it fired had bounced off of its spikes, and that was interesting. The sparking was only good for making its shots easier to build up and aim. It had discovered that after it took the electric power from that sea dweller''s body. It had found it in one of the traps the normal small ones had along the shore, usually good feeding there.


    Now that it thought about it, that was one of the last times the creature had raided there. Soon after it had to leave its home, when the invasion had begun. After the invaders had started to attack deeper into the land, it and many others had lost their homes. It had been smaller then, and only able to find the strength to grow after leaving.


    The time after that, it didn¡¯t like to think about it at all. It had traveled over half the land, and been chased out of every den it ever made. It had only started to understand what it took from the slimy thing only three days into its track. Still, it wasn¡¯t that good with it yet, but over time it had learned to throw its might. But in those days all it could do was run, and with its speed, it had escaped from the Rulers it stumbled across. Some had chased after it, but it escaped every time. But finally, after so long it had made it here.


    Since its den was far enough from the Shinning Mountain that it had a good life here. It had fought off forces from both sides and independent rulers and gained a bit of strength. Still, it had been bottlenecked with no way to grow stronger for a while now. Without a new supply of meat to eat it couldn¡¯t create minions, not without weakening itself. Still, with the amount it had just eaten, it finally had enough to create one! It was starting to think of what to create when it stopped, seeing a void before it.


    The creature stared at a large hole a good five feet wide in the rock of the ledge. It blinked and looked at the burns on the ground before it. It finally realized that this must have been from its strikes against the big small one. It looked at the hole and then down at the lower level, seeing a few rocks here and there.


    Without a thought it turned and walked towards the nearest rock, hoping to make a bridge. It wasn¡¯t the worst or best plan, but it was all it could do. It stopped and looked towards the other side of the cavern, to the higher ledge. For a moment it thought it saw something, but there was nothing there now. It stayed there for a few minutes, trying to see if anything was there.


    After a few moments, it turned and walked towards the bottom floor, its mind off the upper level. If it had watched for another minute it would have seen something after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above the insect bear, Jinn lay prone on the floor. He had thankfully found a large rock he had been able to hide his body with. As he listened to the creature move below, he scowled. Its actions were totally unlike anything he had expected. From what he had seen, he expected it to climb the walls to get up here. But this told him that it couldn¡¯t climb the walls, and that was something he could use. The only problem was the fact that its back spikes could deflect the range weapon they all had.


    But instead, it was trying to build a bridge, even more concerning. Those actions told Jinn that this thing could reason, it could plan. All signs of sentience and sapience, and in a creature that wanted to kill them to eat them, so not good. All in all, he should have known his luck wasn¡¯t that good. After the vine beast and the spiders, he had to expect this. He was starting to think that maybe size or the ¡®power¡¯ was a sign that something could think. But again, if that was the case then there were things out there with powers they didn¡¯t understand.


    Plus based on what he knew, each one of them had the potential to grow worse. He could see one of those things getting into a situation where it had to make a new way to use its power to survive. He didn¡¯t know how they reasoned or thought, he had to hope they were only as smart as the smartest sub-sentient. Otherwise, each one they encountered had the potential to become a world-ender. All he could think of was that this was very bad.


    If that thing could see them, it could send a bolt like before and destroy them, even if it missed them by a foot! The only way he could see was for the others to draw its attention. Once that happened, then he could use his aura to speed by and slash through the spikes. Hopefully, his speed would get him out of the way before anything happened, if anything did happen. The way he saw it, there were two choices before him. One, this thing lost its ability to fire at them or two, it exploded and took a lot of this place with it. A devil¡¯s bargain to be sure, but one they might have to take as he saw no way around it.


    He looked at the timer in the corner of his left vision. So far he only had a few more minutes to go, then he could go on the offensive. Those abilities, skills, or whatever they were, the <u>Aether Bolt</u> seemed the best bet. With how whatever he did drained him so much, the first one might let him recover. But that was only if it drained less than the aura did. If only there was a way to see how much energy he had to use!


    No sooner did that thought pass his mind than, in the corner of his right vision numbers appeared. He stared in shock, but he understood just what it was.


    Aether


    Max/ 2000


    Current/ 200


    The information had come with but a thought, another indicator that he was right. Whoever created this wanted people to develop powers, and this was a way to let them know how much they had to work with. He could see a few reasons why this was a feature, and none of them were good.


    If his first thought was right, then these abilities were meant for the armed forces. The worst thing in the field was a soldier who didn¡¯t know how much ammo they had left.


    The sounds of belching from bellow caused him to look around the rock. He saw the insect bear had its mouth open as a fleshy sack came out. For a moment Jinn just stared in horror, he knew what that was. He had seen enough of those kinds of ¡®eggs¡¯ before on his world. If that thing could reproduce on its own, then all it needed was meat to fuel its ¡®births¡¯. He looked around and saw a few pieces of the lizard apes, few but then he knew where the rest had gone.

 Chapter Thirty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1500


    Jinn looked down at the insect bear as it started to carry rocks to build a bridge. The sight of something displaying inelegance would normally be a shock, but this planet. But what kept his eyes locked on was not the creature, but its egg. Jinn had seen a lot of strange and terrible things over his lifetime, but this was something else. Whenever he had heard of species that reproduced like this, they were horror stories. Such things were existential threats. They were  things that would become threats to all life on any world.


    There was the story he had heard on a smuggler''s ship in FTL once, about a world the spacer knew about. He said it had been a world in the Frontier, one of those being terraformed for a ¡®cult¡¯. But someone had cut corners and called in a ¡®special order¡¯ to speed up the process, an additive. The problem was it was banned, it caused¡­.. mutations most of the time. The management group never learned about it, they thought everything was fine. But when they sent a group to build the main colony, the workers woke up something up. The spacer spoke about how he heard the control station recorded the workers being eaten.  and the drones sent to investigate saw the monster escape underground. It was so bad that the colony was scrapped and the entire planet  was bombed to the bedrock. The spacer said that, the  station still there, broadcasting a stay away to live to this day.


    But if that insect bear was like those things, then it had to die. The very idea of one of those things being able to plan almost gave him a heart attack, but only just. There were a few things that were wrong with this, the creature¡¯s actions. All those things were unthinking monsters, they just kept coming and used swarm tactics to kill. This thing, it didn¡¯t act like them, it could think and it could plan¡­¡­..


    Jinn looked at the text to his right, so far the counter was dropping fast. All Jinn could do was wait, once he had his power back, he could kill the insect bear. At first, he thought to try that big blast again, just kill it but then he remembered the numbers the nanites gave him. That feeling he felt, was a lot smaller but it was growing all the same. whatever he had done, the nanites had a term, Forced Learning. And the drain and the way he was feeling told him it wasn¡¯t a good thing. So he would use his aura and the lowest skill the ¡®Bolt to fight this crea¡­.to fight this monster.


    A strange sound caused him to look down, and his eyes widened in shock. A large leg pierced the fleshy egg and as he watched, the spawn was born. Unlike its ¡®parent¡¯, this one was different. It had a large head, more like a canine than a bear if Jinn saw it right. It was covered in a black goo, and as he kept watch the creature shook itself, the goo flying away.


    The body of the spawn was a wolf-like quadruped. It had a body of black chitin, and now wings. The four legs had looked to be strong and built for speed, and they looked strong. The spawn opened its mouth down the middle, and Jinn could see spikes in its mouth.


    The sounds of something falling caused Jinn and the creatures to look towards the rocks. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then  one of the stones moved, clicking against the others. Jinn¡¯s breath caught in his throat, the others were trying to get through to help him. All Jinn could do was hope that they didn¡¯t rush into a trap!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked at the dust from the stone Al moved and coughed as she tried to fan it away with her hand. So far, Al had moved only a single stone, but the dust was like it had been twenty of them! She didn¡¯t have much experience with this kind of work, but something felt wrong. She couldn¡¯t explain it, but there it was. But then she sensed a bolt of anger next to her and turned her head, seeing Racha¡¯s reddening face through the dusk


    ¡°ARE YOU CRAZY!? I thought you would do this safely!¡± Racha snarled at Al as he moved back, a hand over his mouth and noise. He turned and smiled at them, a strange look in his eyes.


    ¡°That was the safe option,¡± Al said as he stepped back and looked over the stones.


    ¡°How was that the safe option!?¡± Racha demanded and Al shrugged.


    ¡°The rocks might be partially holding up this part of the tunnel. I think when I bring down the last stone. Yeah.  we¡¯ll have maybe a half an hour until it comes down and blocks the tunnel again,¡± Al said as he moved toward another one of the rocks. He grabbed it and slowly pulled it out, the other stones moving slightly before dust came down from above. ¡°And I doubt that there¡¯s another way to Jinn, so we have to go through here.¡±


    Paige felt Racha¡¯s shock and winced, knowing that this wasn¡¯t going to be good.


    ¡°You should have told us! If something like this is that deadly we have to know!¡± Racha snarled and Al just shrugged and looked at the stones.


    ¡°There wasn¡¯t anything else we could do, I just kept quiet to move this along. We do need to help Jinn after all,¡± Al said as Racha just looked at him.


    Paige felt Racha¡¯s anger and winced. But then Racha¡¯s emotions died and she just glared at Al.


    ¡°I know we do, but remember there¡¯s a baby behind us! We need to keep them safe!¡± Racha snarled.


    Al looked at her, then up at the ceiling, and shrugged. ¡°Only everybody maybe five feet close to the rocks would experience the dust. The others were in no danger at all.¡±


    ¡°And you never told us that!?¡± Racha demanded and Al just shrugged.


    ¡°You never asked,¡± Al said as he got back to work.


    Paige just looked at them, shaking her head as she felt Al¡¯s total ignorance and Racha¡¯s budding fury. This was one of the times she hated her abilities, how people couldn¡¯t understand each other. She went still as she looked beyond Al at the rocks, sensing something just past them. She felt the ¡®taste¡¯ of Jinn, but he felt horror beyond anything she had ever sensed from him.


    ¡°We need to move, we need to get in there now!¡± Paige exclaimed.


    Racha looked at her, her mouth open slightly but Paige kept talking.


    ¡°Jinn is scared, almost beyond reason,¡± Paige whispered and she felt the others fear in turn.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Farther back Roy looked at the cloud of dust as it settled, a scared look in his eyes as he hugged the baby. When he saw the dust, he was worried that something had broken through the rocks. When the others didn¡¯t scream in terror before dying Roy relaxed a little, but only just. He was almost ready to run the other way, only Sara¡¯s presence kept him from running away.


    ¡°How do you think they are? Are they trying to get through the rocks?¡± Roy asked softly as he looked back where they had come. He didn¡¯t want to abandon the others, but he had someone to protect.


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    ¡°I think yeah, they are. If I know Al, he¡¯s probably almost through. I hope Jinn¡¯s okay,¡± Sara said and Roy looked at her as he felt shame.


    The very idea of leaving Jinn after everything that man had done for him made him feel like a little worm. No matter how he tried to justify it, that was what he would be doing if he ran. To even think about running away and letting his friend die without helping him? What had he become?


    ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± Roy said softly and looked back towards the dust as it settled.


    As the baby started to whimper, Roy cooed at it and started to rock it back and forth. As the baby giggled he smiled and shook his head, a smile on his face. No matter what happened, he would see this little wonder alive and safe at the cost of his own life. That was what was important now, protecting the baby in his hands. He had run and argued against what that mad fool had called his ¡®rightful leader¡¯ and he would die before this one.


    And he wouldn¡¯t dishonor himself. If he could save Jinn he would, if not then that was how it would be.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Back within the chamber, Jinn could only watch. Another minute and his powers would be back, but was it in time? As he watched the insect bear push another rock into place, its spawn ran past it and moved over the small bridge. Jinn gritted his teeth and stood up, ready to fight. He didn¡¯t see anything that might be eyes on the spawn, but it had to see somehow. All he could do was hope he could strike as soon as it saw him.


    As the spawn ran towards the boulders it stopped and seemed to be sniffing something. It moved towards the edge of the ledge, and then it stopped. Jinn looked right at it as the second on the timer died, only less than thirty seconds. As the spawn looked at him it opened its mouth and screeched.


    That was the signal, everything happened at once.


    As the insect bear looked around and roared, Jinn was already moving. As the numbers hit zero, a message appeared in Jinn¡¯s right vision.


    <u>Abilities reactivated. Note; due to force learning, Aether Cannon and Aether Bolt are offline, Aether Comet and Aether Dart are online. Unlock Aether Cannon and Aether Bolt by mastering Aether Dart and Aether Bolt respectively.</u>


    Jinn read the words in an instant and reacted as the spawn ran at him and the insect bear turned to look at him.


    ¡°<u>Aether Comet!¡±</u> Jinn barked moments before he felt the spark of energy pulse around him.


    As the spawn reached him Jinn was already airborne, having jumped over the spawn. As he looked at the bridge the insect bear was standing on he aimed his pistol and barked another command.


    ¡°Aether Dart!¡± Jinn barked and he felt energy gather in front of his pistol¡¯s barrel. As soon as he pressed the trigger, a bolt of energy covered by a coating of blue energy shot out! It shot through the air in an instant and hit the boulders the insect bear had used and in moments they had crumbled.


    As soon as Jinn landed on the ledge he turned and dashed back towards the spawn. It had turned and was running at him, its mouth open. However before they reached biting range, Jinn jumped over it. As he passed over it he slashed down  with his blade, severing the creature¡¯s front right leg.


    Moments later a bolt of electricity hit the spawn. Jinn thought for a second that the insect bear was killing it but he was wrong. As he watched the energy coulees around the wound Jinn had made. Moments later a spark of lightning shouted from the wound and bound the leg back in place. Jinn watched as the spawn kicked out with its healed leg before it roared again.


    Jinn kept moving backwards, firing his pistol again and again at the spawn. In response, the spawn opened its mouth revealing a round hole at the split. From where he was, Jinn could see revolving teeth within and that made him worry about how it could eat. As he jumped backwards he spared a glance at the insect bear. It had gone back to get another boulder to replace the one Jinn had destroyed another sign of sentience.


    As he was falling backwards he aimed his pistol and fired again, this time scoring hits around the creature¡¯s back spikes. So he was able to wound the base, if not the spines themselves, something to think about. As he landed a screech from the spawn caused him to snarl at it. with a thought, he turned and ran at the spawn. In reply the spawn screeched again, its mouth opened wide. Jinn jumped over it again, this time towards the blocked passage. As he landed he looked at the bridge and fired again, this time destroying all the boulders with quick shots.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature felt its anger rise as it saw what the big little one had done. This was beyond anything it had experienced before. This fly was moving around, stinging it and always keeping ahead of its wraith. But no matter what it did, in the end it would win. It felt the seeing sphere regenerate within it. Trying to create another one had worked, something it had never discovered before! With this and how it had reasoned out another trick, it was stronger than it had ever been. And it was all because of the big little one, and the fact it had created a spawn!


    It almost wanted the big little one to run away, just so it could hunt and use it to train. But it had a feeling that this one was too strong to let go. If it grew stronger, then that one would too. And it had already destroyed its seeing sphere, and it couldn¡¯t let the chance it had another trick. No, the best thing to do was kill the big little one. And of course, anything it could take from that meal was just a lucky coincidence.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al smiled as he moved another rock. So far, everything had gone right. the old project of his classmate had proven useful. He had been ahead of his time, a set of nanites to deal with cave collapses, genius! Now all he had to do was move maybe three more, and they were through. But instead of moving towards the last one, he looked at the others.


    Paige was looking beyond him with her eyes closed. She had her head down, and something about that bothered him. Ever since she said that Jinn was scared, she had been quiet. Al was worried too, he had seen Jinn fight a lot since they crashed here. he had never, ever shown fear. He had fought the spider and the vine beast like it was a barroom brawl or a cage fight, he hadn¡¯t even blinked. If whatever had blocked off the tunnel was something that scared him, then it was a monster beyond belief.


    And every minute that they let him stand alone was one minute too long as far as Al was concerned!


    Racha had brought out her rifle and was looking it over, adjusting it, and making sure it was in fighting shape. So far Racha had only sent a look at him, not saying anything more. She had even tried to help but Al had said no, this was something that he had to do. Another reason to get to the yard ship, once there he could make something to create more nanite strains. He had a lot of designs in his Library that could help them survive here, and the tech to make it possible. And if he had to think about it, that might have been one of the true reasons for the attack. Before he could spiral into a mental black hole, he shook his head.


    This wasn¡¯t the time, that was for later tonight. Now he had to deal with what was ahead of them, and nothing else. So stepping forward he looked at the two women as he whistled to get their attention.


    ¡°Once I¡¯ve gone ahead with the next three, we¡¯re there. We might be jumping into the supernova, but we can¡¯t turn away. We have to be ready, so are you?¡± Al asked as he looked from Paige to Racha.


    Paige and Racha looked at each other before Racha nodded at her. ¡°I¡¯m ready, I only sense one other mind in there besides Jinn. And he¡¯s not feeling the terror anymore, maybe he killed whatever caused it.¡±


    ¡°Or Jinn is dealing with it. You never felt the Vine Beast, did you?¡± Al asked and Paige nodded, he just sighed and shook his head. ¡°Then if something like that thing is in there, you wouldn¡¯t know.¡±


    Al had thought about how that was possible for Paige to have not felt anything. Jinn had said it could think, and he wouldn¡¯t say something to worry them. And if that thing could think, it was good they had escaped from tis den. But Jinn was stuck in this thing¡¯s den. They had to help him, turn the tide and kill this thing so the group could live.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°That¡¯s the truth,¡± Racha said as she closed up her rifle and started to put her tools away. Since they had met the Vine-Beast, Racha had thought about it. She had seen a lot, but this plant was beyond reason. The only answer she had come to was the ¡®mind¡¯ in control of that thing was too small for Paige to sense. And that called down the meteors, but they could deal with it later. ¡±But we need to deal with this, nothing else. I¡¯ve got experience with breaching chambers, you two fine with following my orders?¡±


    ¡°You say jump, I say how high Operator. I just want to keep my friend alive,¡± Al said as he turned around and went back to work.


    ¡°Same here Racha! So what¡¯s your orders?¡± Paige asked and Racha sighed.


    The fact that they were willing to follow her orders might be the difference between life and death. All they needed to do now was hopefully survive what was to come.


    ¡°Thank you both. Then I¡¯ll take point then. I¡¯ll go first and clear the right. Al looks to the left and Paige, you stay back. Your job is to look forward. If any of you see anything you yell contact and fire at it. Don¡¯t let anything or anyone in there get the first blow, we need it. Anything Jinn is fighting, we kill,¡± Racha said as she shouldered her rifle and took a step forward.

 Chapter Thirty-Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1515


    Jinn looked at the spawn as it tried to get at him. So far he had been leading the spawn away from the tunnel, and he had to keep at it. The last thing he wanted was for the others to be ambushed by this thing. And when he had spared a glance at the insect bear it was trying to to make a bridge. He had to hope that the others could deal with it while he dealt with the spawn. It wasn¡¯t the best, but then this was a low worse than the lizard apes.


    He had enough experience that he knew they had to kill the larger beast, but this was a lot harder than it sounded. The insect bear was a possible world-ender, a swarm bringer. The old stories he heard spacers tell told him enough. It had to die, but its electricity-throwing powers made that a lot harder. So far he had to fight it at range, if he could get close a good slash would end it! But the spawn would be on him in minutes!


    As the spawn lunged at him again, this time he jumped at the wall, pushing off it once he hit. As he flew back towards the tunnel he fired his pistol at the spawn. Like the last time, the spawn lunged backwards and closed its mouth. He was starting to wonder what it ¡®saw¡¯ when he fired, and how it was seeing anything without eyes. When he landed, he moved backwards, hoping to put some distance between him and the spawn. If this was like last time, soon the spawn would open its mouth and screech, coming after him.


    But this time, he looked down at the bottom level. As he thought, the insect bear was still building its bridge. He didn¡¯t know what that said about this thing, but nothing good. To all its abilities and the power to reason, now it could plan long term. So died the last hope it was just a smart proto sentient, but he expected it.


    Still, at least this thing needed more ¡®meat¡¯ to make another spawn. Still, this thing was a true monster. He hadn¡¯t faced anything like this before, and the only thing he had to go on was spacer rumors. And unfortunately, none of the space legends spoke of one of them being able to reason. If there were things like this put there in the void, they killed anyone who ever came across them. And if he made just one misstep that it could take advantage of, then they would be another legend.


    As bad as it made him feel, the best choice was to wait for the others. Once they made it into this place, then it might be possible. If they could cover him while he killed the insect bear, that would work. If the insect bear had to deal with all of them, there was no way they could lose!


    As the spawn roared and opened its mouth wide as it charged at him. He yelled and leaped over it again, this time slashing out with his sword and cutting a slice in its back. The spawn kept running and gurgled as it kept running, this time into a wall. Below the insect bear roared and fired another bolt, but after it hit the spawn nothing happened. As Jinn stood there shocked he couldn¡¯t understand just what had happened, but he knew he had killed it.


    A bellow from below caused Jinn to jump backwards, his aura carrying him ten feet away. As he was in the air he saw a large bolt of electricity hit where he had been. He looked at the insect bear and saw it looking at him, and it seemed to be gathering another bolt. He aimed his pistol and fired, this time aiming at the thing''s face.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature screeched as it felt the stings of the big little one hit it. When its spawn had dropped like the waste of flesh it was! And the sorry spawn creature had to deny its kind master its help, choosing to die instead of being revived! Thankfully the waste of flesh had bought its master enough time to make a bridge.


    The creature just had to get across before the big little one could keep it down here. The battle had turned against it, escape was the only option! It had been planning to find a new place to live for a while now, and this was as good a time as any. With a lunge, the creature ran up the ramp. Dashing across the shaky stones, making it across before the big little one could destroy it.


    As it ran it felt its seeing sphere finished repairing itself, good. Now all it had to do was get outside and then it could send it up. That might just bring others to try and eat the big little one, but that was fine. Let the foolish ones fight that one, it would come back and eat the remains the victor left. The smartest thing to do was let others do the killing, that was perfect. The smart hunter gets more food than the strong hunter after all. Let others do what you need them to do, that way you¡¯d be stronger.


    With a screech the creature fired another blast at the jumping big small one. But like before the creature missed, the big small one dodging again. The creature was passing the passage it had blocked when one of the stones moved. It looked at it and felt its fear shock increase. It had created the blockage on purpose. It had felt that with the trouble it was having dealing with just one of the big small ones, but more!? That was unthinkable, and if they were even half as strong as this one? It was past time for the creature to leave, and it wouldn''t eat its spawn.


    Roaring, it ran at the big little one, letting the stinging strikes of the thing hit it. As the creature and the big little one came closer to each other, more stings hit its rear. As the big little one jumped over the creature, the creature kept running. When it reached the exit to the surface it looked back, seeing three more of the big little ones come out.


    That was more than enough, without a second thought, the creature ran into the upper lands, its only thought on how to get away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Racha looked at the insect bear as it ran away, she kept firing at it until it disappeared. Something was wrong here, something she couldn¡¯t see. She had come out into this place expecting a battle, but instead, she fired at something as it escaped. She had a bad feeling, something was there that she couldn¡¯t see. She hated times like that, it always led to the worst things. As she looked around, she took in the shape of the cavern, taking stock of it.


    She had rarely ever seen a place that looked so easy to defend. There were only two, maybe three entrances total, and each one was more than easy to defend. All in all, this place looked like a good place to set up a base camp. They could even hide sleep behind the blockage, put the rocks back into place, and just drop a sensor pod out here. if something came at them they would be woken up, and until then they could sleep semi-safely.


    But it was when she saw Jinn just looking after the creature as it ran away, that she knew her bad feeling was right. Just from looking at her, she could tell that Jinn was barely keeping it together. Something had happened out here, something that they couldn¡¯t see.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Al looked around, trying to find any other threats. Not finding anything, he smiled and looked at Jinn as he walked towards them. ¡°Hey, brother! Seems you were able to handle yourself¡­.. what¡¯s that?¡±


    Jinn was stopped by a strange insect-like creature with no eyes and four limbs. He was looking at a cut in it, a slice that was burned a little.


    ¡°This is a spawn of that creature that just left, it was birthed from a fleshy sack,¡± Jinn¡¯s words caused Al to feel faint.


    He had learned about those things back on his world, and they were all terrible. The number of planets that had become wastelands because of them, the times they had been used as weapons! Whenever they appeared, they always caused total ecological destruction! The worst thing was that they¡­¡­. Al looked at Jinn in shock.


    Racha however spoke up before he could, asking a question that had to be asked.


    ¡°Flesh egg? That thing was a self-breeder?! How the heck is this place still green!?¡± Racha asked in horror and Jinn shrugged.


    ¡°I think it needs to eat meat to make more, a good thing. If it could repurpose any organic matter, well. I don¡¯t need to tell you how bad something like that can think for itself would do with that kind of reproduction rate,¡± Jinn said softly as he stood up.


    Al felt his pulse quicken and looked at Jinn with total shock and horror in his eyes. ¡°Able to think for itself? Are you sure?!¡±


    ¡°As sure as I can be. It makes sense. I think there are a lot more monsters out there if that thing was hiding here from them¡­¡­. We need to get to that ship fast!¡± Jinn said.


    Al felt a smirk growing on his face. That was something that he respected about Jinn. The man was never one to stay down. If there was a way around it, he would find it. he never stopped, if something was blocking his way he went around it or over it.


    ¡°Great. Super. But Al, how about these rocks?¡± Paige asked from behind them.


    Al turned and reactivated his structure scan nanites, looking at the ceiling. The readings were almost enough to keep him from hearing what Jinn said next.


    ¡°You guys handle this. Racha, watch their backs. I¡¯ll go and see where that thing is going. If we¡¯re lucky it''s running fast and long,¡± Jinn said as he activated his aura and dashed to the opening to the forest floor, leaving them behind.


    Al chuckled and shook his head, looking at the ceiling. ¡°Well, it¡¯s stable, for now. I could put something together to bring down a lot of the tunnel if I¡¯m reading this right. something to talk about boss lady?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Paige go get Sara and Roy. I think we¡¯ll make camp here tonight. Al once their through I want you to block off this tunnel. Nothing gets in here!¡± Racha barked and Paige went back into the tunnel.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the creature ran through the bushes, it kept waiting for a proper place to activate its seeing sphere. The fact that it could regrow them had shocked it, but now just didn¡¯t have a use for it. If it shot it upwards, anything might see it. No, the best thing to do was to stay low and try and keep out of anything¡¯s sight. It had to find a place to hide away, it couldn¡¯t stay out in the open like this!


    As it ran, it tried to notice anything. Beyond the small flyers and ground burrowers, there was nothing it could see. All it had to do was keep moving and take a den from something it could beat. That was easy, it had regularly gone out and killed anything that dared to make a move on its territory. It had a mental list of places it could hide in, and all it needed to get them to find the closest. And with time, it would attack the big little ones if they dared to take its den.


    It might have to leave it behind, but it was perfect! The perfect place to hide in, but if they came back for its power they might outthink it. yes, that was the proper idea now. Its den was lost, the best thing to do was find a new lair. And try and track down the big little ones, the creature wouldn¡¯t let such an insult stand! How dare they hunt it! Didn¡¯t they understand that it was only by the creature¡¯s will that such they were alive. Didn''t they know it¡¯s will things that things it didn¡¯t know about could live to grow so strong? It would have to find them and teach them a lesson.


    It might let the third strongest ones live, but only if they gave into the creature¡¯s will. Yes, they would be the perfect hunters for it. And in time, from them, it would build a mighty swarm! It would be the strongest, the greatest! From one land to the next, it would rule all! Let anything try and stand against it, they would fall to its horde!


    A rustling in the bushes caused the creature to freeze. It slowly looked around, a hunger growing in it. perfect, this would be it, the true start of its horde!


    Break


    Five lances suddenly shot out of the darkness, piercing the creature¡¯s body. For a second it tried to break free before it sank to the ground. Without a word, the insect bear was pulled into the nearby bushes. Moments later a small ball of energy flew out to where the insect bear had been and cleaned up all signs of its passing. In moments the drag marks from the insect bear and the ropes were gone, it was as if nothing had happened.


    Mere moments later, Jinn dashed through the clearing, a scowl on his face. For a few seconds the clearing was quiet, nothing moved. Then Jinn was back, trying to find the insect bear¡¯s tracks. He looked around the trees, not moving into the bushes before he nodded and dashed back to where he had come.


    ¡°So that was one of the newbies, right?¡± A voice called out from across the clearing.


    ¡°Yeah, think they¡¯re from the Alliance or the Confederation?¡± A voice from the other side asked.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t warborn, that¡¯s for sure! Think we should make contact?¡± A female sounding voice asked and then there was a commotion, twenty voices talking at once.


    ¡°Quite down, all of you! That¡¯s for the Chief to decide! We¡¯re not the likes of the Mountain clans, show some dignity!¡± A gruff-sounding voice cried out and the other talkers talkers went silent.


    ¡°That out of your system, good! We¡¯re heading home, the Chief will decide what we do! Got that!?¡± The gruff sounding voice said before several agreements called out. ¡°Good! Hunting party, move out!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roy looked around and tried to keep calm as he and Sara moved towards where the others were. After the last crash was heard, everything went silent. For a few moments, he had almost bolted back the other way. But when Sara walked forward instead, going towards the sounds instead.


    ¡°Do you think they''re all okay?¡± Roy asked as he looked around.


    Sara looked at Roy over her shoulder. She smiled at him and looked at him for a few moments. ¡°We¡¯ve faced a lot before you found us. If whatever is there isn¡¯t too bad, they¡¯ll run over it. we just need to make sure that nothing comes at us from behind.¡±


    Roy looked over his shoulder, remembering the monsters that had attacked him. How the lizard apes had chased him down, always trying to kill him. And when he had crashed into the tunnel, Jinn had been there to help him. And he had left him alone, but Roy had to protect this baby, he just had to. But something was bothering him, something about how Sara was acting. ¡°So you think they''re all okay? Even Jinn beyond those boulders?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, with Racha there they¡¯ll be fine,¡± Sara said with a lot of confidence in her voice.


    Roy swallowed as he tightened his grip on the baby. He didn¡¯t want to admit it but the way Sara was acting was bothering him. The way that woman, Racha, just took over was weird. It was like she had experience beyond security, but he knew her file. She hadn¡¯t even had her first regeneration cycle yet for star''s sake!


    Ahead of them, something dropped from the ceiling. Roy stepped back as Sara stepped in front of him. Ahead of them on the floor was a small foot-long grey rock, the dust around it


    After a few moments when nothing happened, Roy released a breath he had been holding.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara kept her eyes on the rock, something was bothering her. She couldn¡¯t understand just why she was feeling this, it seemed perfectly normal. But maybe it was her upbringing in her home station. The only time that things fell was if the gravity was damaged because something hit the station. She had to admit that maybe it had dropped because of the others.


    She didn¡¯t want to say anything to Roy, but she was worried. From the Vine-Beast to the horde of spiders at the old fighter, this planet had thrown monsters at them. If something was working to create all of them, then where were they released? This whole place could be something that led to something much worse.


    But then everything she had just thought caught up to her, and she almost blushed. The very thought was insane, but she was a biologist at heart. The very idea that plant and animal DNA could merge was impossible! The very idea, it was something beyond all known science! But then she had heard strange stories about some planets, and if that was the case it fit. But then that meant that the Service kept more things hidden from the public. And who was she kidding, that was more than probable!


    ¡°Sara, are we good?¡± Roy asked and Sara kept her eyes on the rock, nodding after a few moments.


    ¡°So let¡¯s move on before something crushes us!¡± Roy said and walked around Sara.


    However before Sara could say anything, something echoed off the walls.


    ¡°Sara, Roy? We¡¯re all safe! Racha sent me to get you three!¡± Paige¡¯s voice caused them both to smile. At least the others were safe, hopefully Jinn was too.

 Chapter Thirty Nine

    Jinn scowled as he looked around. He was trying to figure out just what had happened to the creature but he couldn''t understand it. He had been less than a minute behind the insect bear, but it was gone! He didn¡¯t like any of this, something about this forest was bothering him. He had a lot of experience tracking  through hard terrain but this, something was wrong.


    As he looked around he tried to find anything, any sign that could tell him what he wanted. But no matter where he looked, it was as if the creature hadn¡¯t even come this way. Jinn knew that the creature had, he had tracked it here after all. All he knew, was that somehow the creature walked into this clearing and disappeared.


    ¡°Okay Jinn, it¡¯s gone. We need to set up defenses tonight¡­ and I better see where we are,¡± Jinn muttered to himself and started to look around. The best idea was to get higher up, so he searching for something, anything to help him.


    Finally, he found a large tree a good forty feet tall at least. With one last look to make sure he didn¡¯t miss anything he ran towards the tree and jumped at one of the branches. Once he reached it he grabbed it and spun around, throwing himself ever upwards. A few more grabs and jumps he broke the canopy of leaves and flew upward into the empty sky.


    He twirled around, seeing the mountain to his right, and finally ass he started to come back down, he saw the Yard ship. But the worst was he saw that there were three rivers they had to cross. But to his relief, he saw another escape capsule by the first river. As he fell back towards the ground thought he saw signs people were living in it.


    As he fell down the tree, he tried to figure out what they could do now. If the rivers were worse than the forest, they would have trouble. He might be able to carry them across, but they would need to plan the crossing. If there was something in the river that wanted to eat them, they would have a hard fight on their hands. And with the baby and Roy, they were even more trouble.


    As he landed on the forest floor, he looked around one last time. No matter where he looked, there was nothing. It was only now that he saw a few of the red flying worms, and that was¡­¡­troubling. If they had been hiding, then that meant the insect bear had come this way. But then where was it now?


    If the worms had come out, they thought it was safe to do so. And that meant the creature was gone, far enough away they couldn¡¯t sense it. But could that thing even move that fast? Or had something killed it, and that creature had left fast. He couldn¡¯t find anything to disprove his theory, but the ground was too perfect to mark a battle. He didn¡¯t even see a drop of blood, nothing at all could tell him anything at all.


    And if he was honest, that scared him more than anything. From the armor of its chitin to the way it could fight, the insect bear was strong. Anything that could kill it fast and then hide that they had even been there. He couldn¡¯t see any way anything could have done it that fast, and without a sound.


    As he looked around, he tried to find anything that might tell him what happened. But no matter where he looked, nothing stood out. All he knew was that he had to get back to the others, they had to make a plan. He knew where they had to go, there was help ahead of them and danger all around them. The only thing to do was try and make the best speed to the other capsule tomorrow. If they tried tonight something that out here that hunted in the darkness might make a meal out of them.


    He turned back towards the way he had come and stopped. To the right side was something he had missed, a tree half filled with the same pods he had found that first day. With a small smile he walked towards them, it seemed that their dinner had an addiction to it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Paige led Roy and Sara into the cavern, she could only see Racha. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s Al?¡±


    Racha turned around, a smile on her face. ¡°Good, everyone¡¯s here. Al went to the bottom level, something about a place to sleep.¡±


    Paige nodded, feeling the confusion from Roy and the sense of hope from Sara. For a second she frowned, Roy was a bit of a problem. All of the members of the original team needed to talk to each other, to clear up everything. But she had a hard time even thinking of telling Roy her truth.


    The others had earned her trust fighting together, but Roy hadn¡¯t. And she didn¡¯t want to be that person, but she didn¡¯t trust him yet. They didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened before he and the baby had found them. Sure they knew what he said, but trust and verify as her old teacher said once. Until she could trust him, she would keep her secrets. She had to talk to the others


    ¡°Good. So Jinn¡¯s not back yet?¡± She asked as she walked forward, seeing the rope under Racha¡¯s foot.


    At Racha¡¯s head shake, Roy looked around before nodding.


    ¡°Yeah, this could work. I mean what time is it anyway? We can rest here before we return to your capsule in the morning if the way is long. So why were you so far away from¡­¡­.what?¡± Roy asked as he saw the looks the women sent him.


    Paige looked at Sara and Racha, feeling conflicted. She could sense what the others were feeling, and she looked at Racha with a question in her eyes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha knew what Paige was asking, and she understood why. They all knew what she was, and that meant a lot. As an agent of the Federation, it was up to her to tell the truth. Roy had already been through the void while he was being hunted, and he deserved the truth. So she nodded at Paige and then she turned her head to look at Roy. ¡°Roy, we¡¯re not going back to our capsule. We were sent out here to secure a yard ship.¡±


    ¡°What!? A yard ship!?¡± Roy asked softly with wide eyes. He looked from Racha to Sara, his mouth open in shock.


    ¡°Yeah, I saw it myself. Chief Duncan thinks that even if it''s damaged we can use it. Just one of those weapons on it might be able to keep us safe,¡± Sara said and Roy looked at her.


    Racha nodded, keeping her face blank. That was true, but the real prize was the fabricators. Those machines plus Al¡¯s help would let them make anything a starter colony could. Well, they need would materials to feed them. But if the Yard-Ship had supplies, that would let them build a few things. Then at the very least could reinforce the ship, and make it somewhere they would be safe. Once they were all secure, they could find the others. Together, they could do what they needed to survive here. and if she could find the rest of her team, then so much the better.


    But she wanted to create a vehicle to travel over the waters. They were either on an ocean or a lake, one of those two. The only priority had to be getting every survivor in one place, or at least make contact with them. The motto of the Federation was ¡®Stronger Together¡¯, time to put that into practice.


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    ¡°Wow, just wow. I wonder where it came from? I mean I haven¡¯t heard any of them getting lost out in the black,¡± Roy asked in awe as he looked down at the baby in his hands.


    Racha looked at the baby, smiling to herself as she saw it was still asleep. And for a moment she had to wonder if this was the best thing to do if they should still go on. So far they had learned that creatures on this rock could think, they found an old fighter from the Corp War.  And finally to top it all off, they found a creature that might be a world-ender. The smart play would be to try and head back but with the attack on the capsule the other day¡­. No. They had to go on, it might be the difference between the life or death of everyone under their protection.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a new class. It¡¯s one of the first generation,¡± Al¡¯s voice caused Racha to look down. Al had climbed back up while the others were talking. From the way he looked, there wasn¡¯t anything the in cave that could hurt them.


    ¡°So good place?¡± Racha asked and Roy nodded.


    ¡°Yeah! It''s perfect! No bones or waste, one single entrance and I can set up a few sensors here and there to let us know if anything comes at us! Once Jinn gets back you two can make a final sweep of it while I set up the sensor at the tunnel,¡± Al said as he climbed onto the ledge and put his bag down.


    As they watched Al opened it and started to look through it, something on his mind.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al sighed internally as he looked for the sensor pods. He had told them everything he found, not what he thought. He didn¡¯t want to say anything, but there was something else in the cave. The front was as he reported, perfect for their needs. It was at the back that he ran into something, something surprising. From what he found, this cavern had a master before the insect bear, something strong. From the few marks he found, this place had been fought over before. And that was another reason to put up his sensors.


    If his theory was right, then that meant the insect bear had taken this place from something. And their luck meant this happened often. So if that was true, something else might come to try and take this place from the insect bear. And if it came when the party was here, then they needed an early warning. He didn¡¯t want to scare anyone, stars, he didn¡¯t want to scare Roy.


    Al had been around people like him before, and he knew the signs. Roy was close to bolting, and if he did that he and the baby would likely die. So the best thing to do was not to startle him too much. They needed to get him to sleep, and then all of them could pass around a holo-board talk through text. It was the best idea he had to ¡®talk¡¯ without the others having one of his friend¡¯s inventions in them.


    As he found what he was looking for he took stock of the number he had; ten. So maybe he could use around three, two in the tunnel and one at the opening.


    Normally, that would be enough, but he had trouble believing it. That setup would work on any other planet, but this one had thrown all his perceptions into the void! But this was the best that he had.


    ¡°Good, good. I¡¯ll help you set them up. We¡¯ll start at the tunnel, Paige, Sara, you two go watch the opening over there. Anything comes, you scream, got it?¡± Racha asked as she looked at the others.


    ¡°What about me?¡± Roy asked and Racha looked at him and smiled.


    Al didn¡¯t think, all he could do was think about everything he knew about this mad planet. Something about him was pulling at his mind, something that was at the limit of his memory. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but it was there, some kind of strange feeling he couldn¡¯t explain.


    ¡°I want you to say back, just rest and keep an eye on that baby,¡± Racha said and Roy nodded.


    This planet was insane, the monsters might all be able to think, and the ones that weren¡¯t were all predators. The food chain on this planet was so unnatural that he couldn¡¯t even think of how it was possible. This was unlike anything that he had ever learned of, and anything he could have thought of. All he knew was that this island was mad as if evolution had gone wrong.


    ¡°¡­.Al. Hey Al!¡± Paige¡¯s voice caused him to look up


    ¡°Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought,¡± Al apologized and Racha sighed and shook her head.


    ¡°Try and keep your mind on what¡¯s important! So let¡¯s get to work!¡± Racha said as she clapped her hands.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked out into the forest from the cave mouth, her eyes searching for anything. So far today has been one problem after another. From the vine beast to the spiders, she didn¡¯t know how much more she could handle. The fact that they found two more survivors out here was surprising. Roy was being tight-lipped about something, she didn¡¯t need senses to tell that. She just hoped that whatever it was wouldn¡¯t hit them before they were ready


    But something bothered her more, the way that that Paige had looked at the corpse on the way up. Something about it was more than it appeared, but it had died like any other creature on this island. Maybe it was something that Jinn had said, something the others hadn¡¯t shared with her and Roy. She could understand if that was the case, with how Roy was she would have done the same. He was rounded up so tight, she was sure that a single spark would cause his mind to break. What kind of madness had he endured, what terrors had he faced since they landed.


    But was it because of this island? That stray thought caused her to look up at the sky, a thoughtful look in her eyes. She had read a paper once, the researcher had studied a lot of amnesia cases and learned a lot. What they found was that sometimes, the mind didn¡¯t forget everything. Some of those who lost their memories to shock still had a few things from the experience. Terrors and ticks that still affected them, even if they didn¡¯t remember what happened.


    If that was true, then maybe Roy saw something before they all made it to the escape capsules. And that was bad, if he had seen something then it hadn¡¯t been an accident. Something truly shocking must have happened to the Spirit of Adventure. Something that was beyond everything that they had trained for. And that was even worse, for headquarters had created a lot of strange events to train for. From drone uprisings to pirates and civil war, the Spirit of Adventure had prepared for them.


    Still, if he could remember them even in dreams, they might be lucky and learn what had happened. But that was only if that was why Roy was in such a state. It could have been anything, even something they couldn¡¯t think. Even something to do with the Powers she and Jinn developed. If one of the things that had been tracking Roy had powers and used it on him, then that made sense.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Paige¡¯s voice caused Sara to look at her, shocked out of her thoughts.


    Sara nodded after a few seconds, an embarrassed look on her face. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Just let my mind wander.¡±


    ¡°I could sense it, what was it?¡± Paige asked and Sara looked away.


    Sara looked away from Paige, trying to figure out what to say. How to explain what she was thinking about? And on that track, could she dare not say anything about it? Paige was a lot better at seeing things about people, but her abilities kind of explained some of that. And that was another problem, should they tell Roy their secrets? She and Jinn had to tell Roy about their abilities, they didn¡¯t have a choice. With how everything had happened, they would probably have to use them before him sooner or later.


    She took a deep breath and looked at Paige. ¡°I was trying to figure out how to tell Roy what I can do. I don¡¯t think we should just spring it on him.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Paige said, she sighed and looked up at the sky. ¡°He doesn¡¯t feel that stable really. I mean he wanted to run before, not even try and help Jinn. But he has that baby to look after, and he felt shame about that at least. At least I think he did.¡±


    ¡°No way to identify them closer then?¡± Sara asked with a raised eyebrow.


    Paige giggled and looked away, a happy look on her face. ¡°No, not really. I mean, if I¡¯m around them for a while I can kind of guess. But if it''s someone I¡¯ve never met, I really can¡¯t tell the specifics about someone.¡±


    Sara nodded, looking away as she started to think about this. Paige agreed with her, and her idea about what he had felt in the tunnel was good. But Sara hadn¡¯t even mentioned telling Roy about their secrets, and it was something they had to talk about. If there was a chance that they could keep them hidden, that was something she wanted to do.


    She wasn¡¯t like Paige who had been hunted, but something about Roy was just bothering her. Why had he been chosen as a sacrifice? If the baby was the only child, why give over a large body? In this kind of situation, every single body on their side was something that was needed. And if the ¡®cult leader¡¯ hated Roy, then all that meant was that he could be used for suicide missions.


    But if that person didn¡¯t think about the total situation, then that was even worse. If they found their way to other escape capsules, then that was just as bad. Some Movies told tales about cults that killed other survivors when ships crashed. For now, all she could do was trust in Chief Duncan to lead the way.


    The sounds of rustling in the forest startled both of them. Sara and Paige both raise their weapons, ready to fight off anything that might attack them.

 Chapter Forty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1545


    Roy looked around the cave as he rocked the baby. He had brought up what they were going to eat and how they thought to even feed the baby. Racha hadn¡¯t had a good answer before she blushed and said that Paige and Sara would look the baby over later, they¡¯d know. He had mentioned that he had seen the baby feed semi-solid food back on the ship, so there was that.


    Roy wasn¡¯t blind thought, he had seen the way Al and Racha looked at him. He knew he was a coward, the fact that he had spoken up about this child was something he was surprised the most at. He had seen a lot of things, and then there was the reason why he had joined the Spirit of Adventure, he was different.


    But when the capsule had landed and some of the others had been attacked as soon as they got outside. The screams and pain, that was when everything crashed in the capsule. The officer in charge had looked at the door and screamed for it to close, and that was that. No matter what pounded on the door that night and the next, they stayed closed. All that time the passengers had been going mad. He and a few others had tried to keep them calm, but the officer and the others seemed to be feeding their madness.


    It was after a day that the officer had emerged from the room he took over, a mad glint in his eyes. He had spoken to everyone then, how this was a trial of the creator. How the weak and the lame would be killed, purifying the ¡®herd¡¯, letting a race pure of mind and soul emerge. He spoke of how the only way was to sacrifice those weakest, the baby the first one.


    The old him would have just been happy the scapegoat wasn¡¯t him, but this baby had called to him. He wouldn¡¯t let the child die, some important part of him would have been lost if he did. But when he spoke up, saying how it might invite them to attack the capsule, he had been grabbed by those mad fools. He and the baby had both been dragged outside, the officer had been talking about killing them first. But before that could happen, the other deckhands who were still sane attacked. The a roar shook the clearing followed by those lizards things attacking. In the chaos, it was all he could do to grab the baby and run.


    He hadn¡¯t been able to stop running, those things hunting him had kept him away from the others, and here he was. When Jinn had turned up he had run past him, not stopping until he found the others. Now they were supposedly ¡®safe¡¯, but he still felt that terror. All he knew was that everything seemed to be safe, but something was still making him feel that terror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha sighed as she leaned against the wall, relief flooding her body. After everything that had happened, the fact that they were safe for now was a star blessing. All they needed to do was find out where they were in relation to the yard-ship, and they were golden! Now if they could find another capsule and leave their problem there, that would be perfect.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry little one, we¡¯re safe here,¡± Roy said from farther back in the cave.


    Racha looked up and saw him, and she kept down a sigh.


    As Roy rocked back himself and the baby, Racha frowned. All she could think of was Roy was the opposite of his psych profile, and that worried her. The file on him spoke of a sure person, someone who had a mental strength to him. But the person she was looking at seemed to be on a hair trigger. The odds that the psych was so completely wrong were possible, but she doubted it. Racha had thought that this was another item on the list of the many things that this planet was crazy.


    What had happened to him, had to have been more than just the being hunted. The problem that he had, she couldn¡¯t say at all. But he needed to get over it or deal with it. And no matter how hard she tried she couldn¡¯t figure out how to help him. It wasn¡¯t like they had someone who could¡­.. Racha went still before she closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. How could she have forgotten that?! The sheer stupidity of her thoughts stunned her for a moment. After everything they found on this island a creature that could make people terrified was possible.


    And that meant whatever had done that to Roy was the boss of those lizard apes. It was probably a stronger member of the same species, and used its ability to rule the others. And that meant whatever it was might track them down into the tunnels!


    ¡°Stars and the void! Al! We¡¯ve got work to do!¡± Racha barked as she ran toward the cliff, Al following behind her.


    ¡°What is it!?¡± Al demanded as he reached her


    Racha looked beyond him and saw Roy looking out from the cave. It took all she had not to say anything, but this was a problem, a big one. She had a terrible idea, one that she didn¡¯t want to say in case it set Roy off, so what to do? After a moment¡¯s thought, she looked at Al and spoke carefully.


    ¡°That conversation we had before we found Roy, the subject? It made me remember something, and that something tells me we need to cover that tunnel!¡± Racha said as she started to climb up the rope to the ledge.


    As soon as she reached the top she saw the tunnel¡¯s mouth was the same as they left it. With a hard look, she dashed to it, pulling out her pistol as she ran. As soon as she entered the tunnel she turned and looked back. She saw Al climb up and sighed, not liking the trouble before her. How to tell Al anything without Roy hearing anyting. She felt something fall on her and she looked up, seeing the dust drift down. She just shook her head in wonder, sometimes the simplest choices were the best ones.


    Squatting down, she started to write.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked ahead and saw Racha in the dirt, messing around with it. He frowned, not understanding just what she was doing. When she had said there was a problem, he honestly expected more than this. Had she caught whatever was affecting Roy? He was about to turn and walk away when he realized she was making characters in the dust!


    He moved faster, reaching her in moments. Looking down, he read the words she had made and felt his blood freeze.


    ¡®Could Roy have been affected by a creature that used a Terrorize Ability?¡¯


    Al blinked and reread the text, his mind going dark places. The very idea was more than possible, but what could they do? If this was true, then Roy might be a danger to the group, and the baby! The Ability might set off a ¡®kill anything near¡¯ mode if Roy found out about it. He was sad to say that he had seen a few robotic units with that kind of coding. And he was ashamed to admit a few viruses his former classmates had made. So how could they do this safely, keep everyone alive that they could?


    ¡°So, you see the problem here!¡± Racha said loudly and Al looked up, his mind going strange places before he nodded.


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    If Roy was a possible living bomb, they couldn¡¯t set him off. They needed to keep talking, keep his mind from activating the possible bomb.


    ¡°Yeah, just give me a few minutes to think about this,¡± Al said with a shrug as he squatted down next to her and started to write in the dust.


    ¡®Yeah, I see. But there¡¯s a chance that Roy could go mad if he learns about what happened to him¡¯


    ¡°Take all the time you need, we just need to do this as soon as it¡¯s safe to do the work,¡± Racha said as she looked over Al¡¯s shoulder before nodding and looking back, writing in the dust. Al watched and winced as he saw what she had ¡®said¡¯.


    ¡®Good. Second problem. How did Roy get hit with the power in the first place, and could the source come down and find us?¡¯


    Al looked from the ¡®writing¡¯ to Racha, his mind going over the problem. He could see what she meant, and he agreed with her line of thought. If that creature was small enough to go through the tunnels, the chance that it might find them was high. If it was a tracker like the lizard apes, then it would be easy for it to find this place. So that was the second problem, how to block the tunnel.


    ¡°Yes, well I just need a few minutes to figure out the best way to do this. But I just need to take stock of this first,¡± Al said as he looked around and activated the same nanites that he had opened the tunnel.


    ¡®Simple solution. I¡¯ll just do what I said I would. It¡¯ll be simple to block this place off from the rest of the tunnel system. And with a few lookouts back here, we¡¯ll be safe. And we don¡¯t need to keep anything open if I set them up right.¡¯


    Racha looked at the ¡®reply¡¯ from Al and nodded.


    ¡°Good, so you don¡¯t need me? I can go and keep an eye on the important things like the baby?¡± Racha asked and Al nodded.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn whistled as he walked back to the others. His backpack had enough of the fruit pods for everyone to have with their next two meals. For a second he wondered how they would feed the baby but then he shrugged. Hopefully, Sara or Paige could handle that, they might know if the baby could eat solids yet. They had to know something, at least he hoped so. Once he had heard a few other deckhands in Health training talk about the ¡®Baby Portion¡¯ at dinner once. So if it was the stages of a baby¡¯s life and what it could eat, they were fine. But he had to admit that was something, and he might be wrong. Again, his reasoning was logical to him, but it might not be logical to the others.


    As Jinn moved on, he frowned a little as she stopped whistling. Ever since he left his homeland, not even his world he had shocked more often than not. All the values that he thought for years to be proper, were, in reality, nothing but outdated practices. He didn¡¯t understand what those people wanted, or if his first thought had been true. Still, after everything he had gone through, he hoped that he was right about healers.


    A buzzing overhead caused him to look up, and frown. Flying around a tree was a flying worm, but this one was pure white. It seemed to be eating some of the leaves and was ignoring him. Activating a strain of nanites in his right eye, the worm suddenly becoming much clearer. From what he could tell this worm didn¡¯t have a stinger, the tail ended in a small ball-like growth.


    Jinn kept looking at it as he moved slowly away, keeping it in his sight. After a few seconds, the worm seemed to notice him and flew away. Deactivating his nanites, Jinn looked around and drew his blade. As it changed from a knife to a sword, Jinn kept his eyes roaming around the clearing. The last thing he wanted was for other worms to attack him, but as he tried to find them, he found nothing.


    He kept his eyes roaming around, but after a few more minutes he slowly calmed down. Walking away from the clearing, he kept his guard up but nothing happened. Finally, he had no choice but to admit that the worm he saw wasn¡¯t aggressive.


    All Jinn could do was shake his head, surprised that such a creature had ¡®evolved¡¯ here. Everything on this planet seemed to eat everything else, at least most of them. So to find a herbivore was surprising, what did it do to not be food he wondered.


    Suddenly he stopped and looked around, his eyes going hard as his gaze swept the area. For a moment he had sensed something looking at him, something hungry. He only calmed down a few moments later after finding nothing. He didn¡¯t even wait a second, all he did was turn and run.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked at the rustling and kept her weapon aimed at the bush. So far the rustling had continued for the last minute, but nothing beyond that. A stray thought came to her, the plants that the team saw earlier today. When they had left the clearing, the vines had chased them into the vine-beast¡¯s trap. If the vine-beast wasn¡¯t behind them, then that meant the vines did that on their own. Then the plants had to be predatory, and that meant there might be more plants that ate meat or drank blood. And that meant that the bush might be one of those.


    It made sense, the bush could use the rustling as a lure to bring in prey to however it killed. She was about to voice that thought when the rustling stopped. Turning to look at Paige, Sara saw that Paige was also on edge, she might be thinking the same thoughts. For a moment she wondered if they should investigate the bush, but she saw the downsides.


    If she was right, then whatever trap the bush was hiding might be ready for them. And that meant that they should leave it alone. But there was the other fact that this might not be the result of the bush. Something else, something that could think and plan might be behind the noises. And if that was true, then it stood to reason that it might want them to come closer.


    As she was struggling with the problem, Paige took a step forward. Sara watched as Paige grabbed a small stick and without a word, threw it into the bush. A few moments after nothing happened, Paige sighed and turned to look at Sara with a smile. ¡°Guess that was nothing after all.¡±


    Sara looked at Paige and sighed, shaking her head as she looked at her friend. ¡°You are so reckless. Or maybe I think it¡¯s reckless because I grew up on a space station?¡±


    ¡°Maybe. Have you ever seen the documentaries about how colonies evolved based on where they are? I only saw up to the Ice Worlds, I think he did a space station once,¡± Paige said and Sara only looked at her and laughed a little.


    As the two of them moved back to protect the entrance, Sara kept chuckling. The very idea that she wasn¡¯t different because of where she grew up wasn¡¯t even a question. The studies she had read before she signed onto the Spirit of Adventure said that was true. And that thought made her think about Jinn, just who he was.


    She didn¡¯t know what about him bothered her more, his strength or how he was an old hand at this. Jinn was unlike anyone she had ever seen before. And there was just something about him that made people trust him, and follow him into battle. She didn¡¯t know if that was because of how he was raised, where he grew up, or just his character, but it wasn¡¯t normal. And with how Racha said he had uninvited yet Special Forces nanites? He had too many secrets, secrets that she hoped wouldn¡¯t get them all killed. Her mind went over where he might be from, and who he might have been, and only came up with movie plots.


    The sounds of something coming from their right caused Sara to jolt, but then she saw Paige smile. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°I can feel Jinn coming over. THAT YOU JINN?¡± Paige called out and a moment later Jinn appeared.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige smiled as soon as she felt Jinn coming towards them. With him alive, that meant that the creature was either dead or gone. Either way, this was good, it meant they were all together in case they had to run. She hoped that wouldn¡¯t happen, but she wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it did. So far the team had faced plants, a plant-animal hybrid and found a piece of history. This whole island seemed to exist only to confuse them, and she didn¡¯t think it would stop soon.


    But on that thought, part of her was so shocked that this place wasn¡¯t killing itself every other day. Jinn had saved them back there, and having him with them raised their chances of survival a lot. And given what he had run after, she was just glad he was alive and back with them.


    ¡°YEAH! I¡¯ll be there in a second!¡± Jinn called out and a split second later Jinn landed in front of them. He looked over his shoulder and Paige felt a spark of worry from him, at least she thought it was worry.


    ¡°How was the hunt?¡± Sara asked and Jinn looked at her before sighing as he shook his head.


    ¡°It was a failure, that thing got away!¡± Jinn admitted and Paige felt a spark of confusion from him.


    ¡°How? I thought you said once you could track anything!?¡± Sara exclaimed and Jinn shrugged.


    ¡°I think it used a power like mine. Or it can teleport. It was like it was never there,¡± Jinn said as he looked at the two women. He shrugged and grinned. ¡°Good thing is that I found a few of those pods. Think he little one will be able to eat them?¡±


    Paige smiled as her mouth watered. The few pieces of fruit she had were delicious! The chance to have a whole one was great. And after everything that happened to them, she needed something good to eat.


    Paige felt Jinn¡¯s pride and for a moment wondered if it was he had been able to feed them all. Jinn was strange, he seemed to be from no world or culture that she had ever heard of. The way he acted, the values he held, she just couldn¡¯t understand them at all.


    ¡°Oh, one more thing. I found the way to the Yard-Ship,¡± Jinn said with a grin.


    ¡°You can tell everyone once we make it back to the cavern. Best we¡¯re secured before nightfall,¡± Sara said as she looked at the bush.

 Chapters Forty-One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1615


    Roy looked up at the ledge as he rocked the baby back and forth. Al and Racha had gone up there, and he was starting to get worried. He remembered how the cult leader had started to act, and what had come from it. But he was trapped down here, there was no way out! He had been lowered down with the baby, so to get out he would need someone¡¯s help. But who¡¯s?! Jinn was still missing, the other two girls were at the entrance and he was alone. If Racha and Al caught whatever had caused most of the people in his pod to go crazy¡­¡­  he didn''t know. But his time he wouldn¡¯t go quietly, he would fight and take one of them with him!


    Roy didn¡¯t know what to expect from Racha, but Al was a friend from the ship. He, Jinn, and the others had been on his training schedule. Jinn helped the others train their hand-to-hand skills while Al did the same with the mind. Roy personally thought Al was almost as logical as a robot! But Racha, Roy didn¡¯t know her. She was the unknown, the extra actor in this drama. If whatever had happened to the officer that made him go crazy had happened to her¡­.


    He couldn¡¯t see Al helping her, but then that was the problem. As far as he had known, most of the people in the escape capsule were the same way before the cult leader spoke to them. If one person could brainwash people then another could as well. But did Racha have that ability like the cult leader? If she did, then Al would be happy to walk to his death because she said so, and kill Roy and the baby first. And if that was true, was Roy and the baby even safe down here?


    He didn¡¯t know, and if she did was she doing that to Al? From what he was hearing everything they were talking about blocking the tunnel. He didn¡¯t know what was happening, but he wanted to believe he and the baby were safe.


    He just hoped that Jinn made it back soon, he could help him get the baby out of here. If Roy could convince Jinn to lead Roy back to Jinn¡¯s escape capsule, then they could warn everyone there!


    ¡°Jinn¡¯s back and he brought dessert!¡± Sara¡¯s call from the entrance caused Roy to look up, smiling as he saw Jinn, Sara and Paige walk into the cavern.


    Roy looked at Jinn as he walked down the spiraling ledge and felt a sense of relief. Jinn was strong and smart, he wouldn¡¯t be brainwashed!


    ¡°Jinn you¡¯re alive! I thought I left you to die!¡± Roy called out and Jinn grinned down at Roy.


    ¡°It¡¯ll take more than the little things that chased you down to kill me, Roy!¡± Jinn called out with a smirk.


    Roy felt a spark of hope and felt the tension leave him. With Jinn here, things were looking up. Jinn was one of the most stable people Roy knew, and one of the strongest too! Back on the Spirit, Roy had seen Jinn handle thugs and beings who tried to abuse others. Each battle Jinn won, and each time he stood strong in his beliefs. Jinn would help him, Roy was sure of it!


    But then he felt a spark of worry, could Jinn already be plotting to kill him? If Jinn wanted revenge on Roy, all he had to do was help Racha. And with the others having all the weapons, he was in a bad place. All he could do was rock the baby back and forth as he looked up at Jinn.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked at Roy from the corner of his eyes, worried about how he looked. He couldn¡¯t explain but something about his friend was wrong. But Jinn was an old hand at the battle, Roy probably wasn¡¯t. It was probably what one of Jinn¡¯s old teachers called, ¡®happy to be alive¡¯ jitters. Yes, that was probably it. If Roy got worse, then Jinn would talk to him.


    Gazing around the cavern, Jinn nodded. When he had fought here, he hadn¡¯t had much time to look at where he was fighting. The chamber was tall and round, a single line of stones jolting out that led upwards to the exit. Beside the other way into the tunnels, this place was completely solid. If one could hold the entrances, this place could be the most defensible location he had ever seen. He absently thought to let Chief Duncan know about this once they made it back and to remember this place. He didn¡¯t know what they would need it for, but if they did he would know where to go.


    But as he let his eyes wander around, something bothered him. He had seen a lot of places created to be forts, and this place had most of the signs. Something about that caused him to feel strange. As he looked around, he tried to calm down but with each second the feeling grew stronger. Everything about this place made sense from a military perspective. With the proper work, this could be the perfect base. But everything looked too good, it was like something created this place.


    For a few seconds, Jinn let his eyes rest on the smooth wall, the too-smooth wall. He moved his eyes upwards, looking at the tall and smooth walls. For a second he stood still, his eyes seeing space as he thought of something impossible.


    ¡°Good, you¡¯re here! Come on over, we need to know what happened to that thing you fought,¡± Racha called out, snapping Jinn out of his thoughts.


    Jinn nodded and handed over his bag to Sara who only looked at him as he shrugged.


    ¡°Sorry Sara, but you and Racha need to check all the fruit I picked. I mean one was safe but the soil might have turned these into poison,¡± Jinn said absently as he walked towards Racha and Al.


    ¡°Smart. Yeah, I can see the reason. Al, where¡¯s the bio-sensor?¡± Paige called out.


    Al looked at her before pointing at the lower level.


    ¡°It¡¯s in the cave with my bag. Sorry, but I¡¯ve gotta handle this!¡± Al said and Paige nodded.


    Jinn walked to Racha and Al, looking over the boulders. Al was looking down at the ground before Racha, and Jinn saw the letters in the dirt. Reading the ''conversation'', Jinn looked up and his eyes hardened before he nodded.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan here?¡± Jinn called out loudly.


    Paige and Sara looked up, seeing Jinn was looking down at the dust. Al gestured at Jinn¡¯s bag before pointing at himself. Sara nodded and pulled Paige towards the rope down.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked at Paige as they reached the rope and moved her face next to Paige¡¯s ear. ¡°Text comm in his bag, don¡¯t tell Roy.¡±


    Paige reared back, her eyes went to Racha and after a few seconds, Paige nodded. They were quiet as they repelled down the cliff face, and Roy met them when they hit the ground.


    Roy looked from one of the two to the other, his eyes wide. ¡°Is everything okay up there? Nothing out of the ordinary?¡±


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    Sara looked at him and out of the corner of her eyes she saw Paige try and lean away from him, not good. She hadn¡¯t talked about any of Paige¡¯s powers before they heard the creatures chasing Roy. She was starting to feel that she should have. If distance helped her separate what she sensed from people, the fact that she was doing that to Roy was bad. She had wondered why Racha and Al were acting like they did, but now she knew.


    ¡°Everything is fine Roy, just fine. We¡¯ve got MREs ready to eat, and we just need to check something Jinn found. And I¡¯ll need to give the baby a physical soon,¡± Sara said and tried to smile at Roy as he reared away from her.


    ¡°A physical, out here?!¡± Roy asked in shock and Paige nodded.


    ¡°Nothing beyond what we can do, make sure they''re okay, see what else we have to do to make them stay that way,¡± Paige said in a soothing tone.


    Roy licked his lips and looked from the top of the cliff to Sara, a weary look in his eyes.


    Sara hated that she thought that she was seeing a crazed edge in Roy¡¯s eyes. She knew that something was up, but she hated how she was starting to see the worst of Roy. In his own words, he had tried to protect the baby in his arms. Most other people would have stayed quiet, but he hadn¡¯t.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I¡­.. I want to watch okay,¡± Roy said and Sara nodded.


    As far as Sara was concerned, that was something small. If he wanted to keep protecting the baby, more power to him. After everything that happened, it showed something good about him. ¡°Sure. But later, before we eat. We just need to make sure we can eat what Jinn found first.¡±


    Roy nodded and walked towards the stone ramp, humming a little tune under his breath.


    Paige looked at Sara and pulled her towards the cave, a strange sense of urgency coming off her. Sara frowned, something beyond what she saw was wrong if Paige was acting like this.


    Once the two made it into the cave, Paige looked out at Roy. Sara meanwhile moved to the bags, finding Al¡¯s she pulled out the biosensor unit. Below it was a small handled device she pulled out. Looking down she sighed then cupped her hands around her mouth as she leaned out of the cave. ¡°al, the machine under the biosensor, that¡¯s the reader right?¡±


    ¡°yeah, that¡¯s it! Just activate it then the sensor, that¡¯s how it done!¡± Al called back and Sara nodded as she leaned back into the cave. Turning on the handled unit, she looked at the screen as text came over it.


    ¡®Racha thinks that Roy was hit by a Power that made him either unhinged or paranoid. Could you Power help him?¡¯


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked at Roy as she put down Jinn¡¯s backpack. She hadn¡¯t been able to sense it before, but there was something wrong with him. All the people she sensed before, they all had a sense of their emotions just being their own. But Roy¡¯s, it was like looking through a transparent sheet changing what she sensed from him. This was so wrong, and she wasn¡¯t surprised that she ran into this feeling again. This planet seemed to be doing its job to drive them mad or horrify them, and this was the same.


    Sara nodded as she put one of the pods onto the sensor, looking at the handheld unit at the same time.


    Paige moved closer, trying to make it less obvious that she was trying to look at the handheld unit. She had done a few things before she signed onto the Spirit and she knew what Sara had done. The machine in her hand was anything but a link to the biosensor, that Paige was sure of. It had to be a way for Al to contact them, that was the only thing that made sense.


    She looked down at the screen out of the corner of her eyes and paled at what she saw there. If that was true, then this was a big problem. If Al was right, then they needed to get the baby away from Roy fast! If whatever was affecting him ¡®triggered him¡¯ then the baby would be the first to be affected!


    She looked at Sara, her other sense showing her that Sara was radiating confidence. And that told Paige that Sara was sure they could do it. The problem was how were they going to do this without setting Roy off. They had to get the baby away first, and then they had to try and get Roy to stand still to let Sara use her Power. But how to do that?


    That might not be as bad as she thought it would be. The medicine she brought had some tranquilizers, that could be the thing. If she used a sprayer, and a dose big enough to put him out fast¡­. This could work. It really could. She looked at Sara and wondered how to tell her the plan without Roy knowing, but maybe¡­.. yes that could work.


    ¡°So the pods are okay to eat then? Even for the baby?¡± Paige asked calmly and Sara looked up. She saw the look in Paige¡¯s eyes, and then Sara nodded. The biosensor blinked.


    ¡°Yeah, everything looks perfect. And I liked them the last time we had some. So how many more are there?¡± Sara asked and Paige grinned.


    ¡°Good. Say¡­.. when we got out you remembered to get all the drugs right? Even the ones for Mr. Barig back at the escape capsule?¡± Paige asked and Sara looked at her sharply.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara wondered why Paige brought him up. And back at the escape capsule? He hadn¡¯t even been on the Spirit! Mr. Barig was a patient that the head medic had told them about one day during training! He was a patient from years ago, and he hadn¡¯t needed medicine at all! He had to be¡­.. Sara blinked and looked at Paige in understanding.


    ¡°Oh, Mr. Barig. Yeah, we¡¯ve got even some of his medicine with us. It¡¯s in my bag next to the stuff we¡¯ll need to look over the baby! Yeah, I see just what we would need it for,¡± Sara said as she looked over at Roy and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re ready for the baby now Roy!¡±


    Roy looked up and swallowed, walking over to the cave. Sara could see his eyes darting around as if he was waiting for an ambush. This only made her more convinced that what Al told them was true, something was wrong with Roy. All she could hope was that her ability would cleanse him.


    As Roy came over Paige went to Sara¡¯s bag and started to look through it.


    ¡°What do we have to do?¡± Roy asked as he held the baby close to his chest.


    Sara smiled as Paige came over with a small blanket in her hands. As Sara reached her hands out Paige passed over the blanket and Sara felt something else in Paige¡¯s hand. ¡°First Roy, let¡¯s set this up!¡±


    As Sara spread the blanket Paige passed over a small medical sensor. Sara took it, put it next to the blanket, and held out her hands for the baby. Roy slowly passed over the baby and smiled down at it. Now that she was able to take her time and look at it, she saw that she had a small baby girl in her hands. ¡°This little princess is gonna be fine. Now let¡¯s see what I can find out about your little one.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al stood up and moved one of the boulders into place. Thankfully, the work was easy to do and soon it would be ready. At first, Al had thought to put a sensor in the tunnel and leave a gap, but the more he thought about it the worse the idea was. If Roy had been hit by a Power, then that meant that the creature needed line of sight. And if that thing came down into the tunnel, that might give the game away as it¡¯s said. No, the best thing to do was to seal the passage up tight. He could modify a sensor to only hear in a cone, with the proper setup, everything could be golden.


    Now the only thing to do was wait and hope that Sara and Paige could handle Roy. He had to admit that part of him was a bit worried about them. He had seen a lot of data from recovered vile scientists. One of them ¡®studied¡¯ the mind, and that scum showed what could happen when people were turned into bombs. The best thing was for Roy to be cured, and then they could move along and hopefully make it to the Yard-ship soon.


    ¡°So anyway, I chased that thing until the tracks disappeared. And I mean disappeared. It was like someone just erased all the signs that it even passed through the forest!¡± Jinn said behind Al.


    That was another thing, Jinn was telling Racha everything about his hunt, and Al hoped if Roy heard he would buy it.


    ¡°Concerning, and it was a living electric blasting artillery monster? This planet I swear to the void,¡± Racha said bitterly and Al felt for her.


    ¡°Yeah, and I saw it kill those lizard things before it barfed up that monster over there. And that was something to see,¡± Jinn said bitterly and Al felt a rush of fear. The kinds of creatures that could spawn like that, were the true monsters.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this place still has so much life here. Any other place and that thing would have eaten everything! Plants, animals, and thinking beings! How in the void could that be true?¡± Racha said and Jinn snorted.


    ¡°I saw what I saw Racha, I can¡¯t explain it either!¡± Jinn said and Al felt a small spark of something.


    Stopping his work he turned and looked at the others, a frown on his face. Al looked down before sighing as he looked back up. ¡°I did a debate about those things once. A friend argued that if one of them evolved a way to only reproduce when they ate a certain kind of matter. We all theorized that said creature might be part of a larger stable ecosystem. I guess we were right.¡±


    Jinn looked at him, shaking his head. ¡°That¡¯s if that thing wasn¡¯t able to plan Al. if it could, it might have not wanted to spawn. And if it could, could they? We¡¯ll never know. And there¡¯s something else. This place, it¡¯s a perfect place to set up a base. I mean if the rock could hold back anything from tunneling in, and only two ways in. This place is perfect. If I didn¡¯t know better, you¡¯d think that something made it this way!¡±


    Al went still, slowly he leaned out of the tunnel and looked at the wall. He hazed at the smooth stone wall and felt a chill go down his spine as he saw Jinn¡¯s point.

 Chapter Forty-Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1630


    Paige looked on as Sara looked over the baby, moving ever closer to Roy. So far Roy hadn¡¯t seen her or even noticed her movements. If they were lucky, then he wouldn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t know how she felt about all this, but then what choice did they have? If what Al ¡®said¡¯ that everything was true, then Roy needed help. And if they couldn¡¯t help him, they had to keep him from hurting them all. And if something set off the ¡®bomb¡¯ in Roy, then the baby would be the first one in the blast zone. Paige knew enough about Roy that he wouldn¡¯t want her to be hurt, so they needed to stop him. No matter what, she hoped that Sara could help Roy, or that whatever happened to him would wear off.


    ¡°So far she looks perfectly fine Roy. I mean, maybe she could have eaten better food, but she¡¯s as good as any of us. All in all, I have to give her a perfect bill of health in these conditions,¡± Sara said as she looked up. Paige thought she saw Sara¡¯s eyes flick to her, and all Paige did was nod.


    Roy released a sigh as he looked at the baby. ¡°Thank you, Sara, I was getting worried. I mean, she was without her parents in that capsule, I just. I wanted her to live.¡±


    ¡°Her parents weren¡¯t there? You know¡­. There were no kids in our capsule, but one in yours? What happened to us?¡± Sara asked with a small amount of horror in her voice.


    Paige watched as Roy seemed to stare into space and felt her worry increase. They had to act soon, the effect Roy was under was slowly growing worse, and she could sense it. Roy was slowly starting to feel unhinged and she was starting to wonder when he would snap. As she took a step to the right, she went still as her eyes caught movement from above. Paige looked up at Jinn who was looking down at them, a hard look in his eyes.


    Paige could feel Jinn¡¯s emotions, and he radiated pure confidence. He locked eyes with her over Roy¡¯s head, pointing at her. He raised a finger and made the ¡®go¡¯ signal from their security training making the sign for ¡®Leader¡¯. After that, he pointed right at her and Paige swallowed before she nodded. Jinn was telling her that she had control, what she said was what Jinn would do.


    As she looked back at Sara, Paige swallowed again as she saw Sara make the sign for ¡®team member¡¯ out of Roy¡¯s sight.  So both of them were following her lead then. Then the first thing they needed to do was get the baby out of harm¡¯s way. Then they could handle Roy, and she just hoped that this was the right play.


    Paige looked at Sara and made two signs with her free hand. All she could do was hope Sara understood the meaning of ¡®VIP¡¯ and ¡®Protect¡¯ in this situation.


    Sara bent down and picked up the little one, smiling at Roy who shook his head.


    ¡°What are you?¡± Roy asked with a small unhinged ton to his voice.


    Paige felt her blood go cold as she looked at Roy. Even without her Ability, she felt Roy was getting closer to the edge. They had to act fast, there wasn¡¯t any other choice. She looked up at Jinn and flashed a single sign at him


    ¡°There¡¯s enough bandages for me to change and clean this little one. But I don¡¯t think that changing her in the open is the best idea. So I thought, let¡¯s do it in the cave. Smart, no?¡± Sara asked as she looked at Roy and took a small step backward.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roy looked at Sara, his mind going dark places. He didn¡¯t know why he had thought it, but for a moment all he could think of was going for Sara¡¯s throat. How dare she take his precious one in her hands! And how dare she plan to take him out of his sight! The baby girl was his to protect, and anyone who took her would face his fists! Yes, he should have fought those things, not run. He was one of the blessed ones, and how he objected to protecting the little girl proved that.


    As he looked at Sara, his rage slowly growing he never noticed Paige slowly coming towards him.


    However, when he felt something press against his neck on the right side he lashed out. Roy wasn¡¯t shocked that the others had betrayed him. He knew it was only a matter of time, but this?, Taking his little treasure? Planning to hurt her? He felt his rage erupt ass he looked at Sara holding what was his. He would make sure that the little one wouldn¡¯t be twisted by these fools if he had to.


    ¡°TRAITORS!¡± Roy bellowed as he saw Paige dodge his blow.


    ¡°JINN, NOW!¡± Paige roared as Sara turned and ran for the cave, the baby in her hands.


    Roy looked up involuntarily, seeing Jinn jump off the upper level. All Roy could feel was shock and horror that Jinn was brainwashed like the others. As soon as he landed he ran at Roy, dashing past him. Roy tried to turn but Jinn had tackled his back, forcing him to the floor.


    ¡°TRAITOR, SCUM! HOW DARE YOU BETRAY ME!?¡± Roy screamed as he tried to buck free and his vision darkened.


    ¡°Roy, we¡¯re trying to help you! We think something from when you were attacked by those things is still affecting you. Like a poison! We need to knock you out to make sure you¡¯re okay man!¡± Jinnn said forcefully as he held Roy down.


    Roy screamed mindlessly as he lost consciousness. As he lost the fight, the only thing on his mind was curses sent wordlessly at the others.


    Jinn looked down, panting a little as he saw Roy go still. He had to admit, that he had half hoped that they were wrong. But with the way that Roy fought back, they were right. They had both been trained to escape holds, but the way Roy reacted wasn¡¯t. It was like he had forgotten everything that he had been taught. It was more like he was a wild animal, trying to escape a hunter¡¯s net. No, it wasn¡¯t. When most animals fought back, they at least tried to escape. Roy seemed to be trying to wound Jinn with no thought to how he would be afterward. If that wasn¡¯t a sign that Racha was right, then he didn¡¯t know what else was.


    Jinn caught his breath as he looked down at the back of Roy¡¯s head, trying to keep his temper. This island was throwing everything he thought was possible in his face. Iit broke every law of nature he thought existed and it wasn''t done. If there was one creature that could affect someone¡¯s mental state, then there were others. And if they could affect the mental state one way, then they probably could do other things. The very idea of what might be out there almost caused him to throw up. If half of what modern games were possible in real life, then they had a lot of trouble ahead of them.


    Jinn looked up as he registered the silence, seeing that only Paige was relaxed as Sara still stood back. His right eye caught movement and he turned and saw Al climbing down to the bottom floor.


    ¡°You okay there Jinn?¡± Al asked as he came over and looked down at Roy.


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    Jinn just shrugged his shoulders and shook his head as he looked down at Roy¡¯s body.


    ¡°Well, whatever happened to him was something, hu?¡± Jinn asked as Sara looked at him as she handed the baby over to Paige.


    ¡°Hold him down, I don¡¯t know if what I can do will wake him up,¡± Sara said bluntly as she looked at Jinn.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got his legs, you get his arms,¡± Al said bluntly as he moved to Roy¡¯s legs.


    Jinn nodded and moved Roy¡¯s arms over his head. As Sara moved towards them, Jinn watched her. He didn¡¯t know what he was expecting, but as Sara looked down at Roy he saw a flash of something in her eyes


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara blinked at the text that appeared in her right vision. She had been trying to figure out if her ability would let her heal Roy, or if it could tell her what she wanted to know. Instead, this happened.


    <u>Subject is suffering from mental contamination, Skill Remedy</u><u> not able to cure without reaching LV2. Remedy skill meets all requirements to evolve. Allow Evolution?</u>


    ¡°Yes?¡± Sara said before a comforting warmth spread through her body. As it flowed down from her limbs, it collected in her center before it suddenly burst out. It shook her for a single second, a kind of warmth that was nice. She had never liked tanning growing up, but if it had been anything like this it would been wonderful.


    This was amazing, it felt like her whole body was more than it was before! She could do anything, she could conquer the world! She could¡­..


    ¡°You okay Sara?¡± Al asked Sara blinked as she looked around.


    She tried to play it cool but the blush on her face probably told everyone that something happened. She put her hand above Roy and spoke up.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Give me a second. <u>Remedy!</u>¡± She said as a pulse of light left her hands. The light shined down at Roy and Sara stopped her hand from moving. She stared in shock, surprised that this was even possible. She had thought that her ability was touch-based, but this was ranged. Could the evolution that the voice talked about mean this?


    This was amazing, and it opened up a lot of possibilities. If someone could be healed while the person doing it wasn¡¯t touching them, that was beyond anything she knew. The way to keep people alive, the ways that people could be cared for. Even they could only heal people with drones back in the Federation if they could bring this back.


    As she looked down at Roy¡¯s body, another string of text appeared in her vision.


    <u>Subject healed. Skill evolution successful, Mana drain increased by 10 units. Further Evolution is not acceptable at this time. Skill, Rejuvenation learned. Skill, Rejuvenation cost 30 units; able to heal the health of subjects</u>


    ¡°I¡¯ve gained another skill?¡± Sara muttered as she took a step backwards. She hadn¡¯t believed Jinn¡¯s idea, that their powers were from nanites, but this? This seemed to support his idea, it was the only explanation that even made sense. ¡°I¡­.. whatever gave me my Skill? It¡¯s showing words in my line of sight. They say Roy¡¯s fine, that I healed him. And it identified what happened to him. It called it ¡®mental contamination¡¯, whatever that means.¡±


    As she tried to understand everything, she missed the way Al¡¯s eyes widened at her words.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al stared at Sara, his mind going a few thousand miles a minute. The nanites, whoever had made them were now affecting Sara¡¯s vision as well? That made no sense at all. Nanites that affect eye nerves had to be calibrated for each person they were grown for after all. But now besides letting people wield these powers, the same nanites were affecting Sara¡¯s eyes?


    These things were beyond any science the Federation knew. The nanites gave different bio-enhancement properties, sure that was possible. But now this, affecting nerves? There was only one single thing that could explain half of this. The nanites were able to modify themselves for the host. That was insane, what was it with this planet? That kind of tech was the ¡®mother code; of the Scholar¡¯s School. Every Tech-pope wanted to be the one whose followers found out how to make them. The very idea was one of the inventions that would make the discoverer a saint.


    And this planet had it?! And to top it off, this tech was added by airborne nanites. Those were at the cutting-edge of possible science. They were still  devolved back on his world. And the few papers showed that the current generation was terrible, barely worth the work. They had to use a lot of them get into the body for them to work. Plus the total time for ¡®infection¡¯ was minutes when a shot was in seconds. Whatever race created these nanites were emperors of technology, farther developed than anyone. And if their bio science was this good, he didn¡¯t want to see their weapon tech. What weapons had much be beyond anything he could even think of. It was said that the society who could make these nanites could¡­.. ¡°No.¡±


    Al went still as he suddenly looked around the cavern, his mind going to strange places. From the bug that had an organic gun to the powers Jinn and Sara had, it suddenly all made sense. The very idea he had, it took all that he had to now throw up is shock and disgust. A hand on his shoulder caused Al to look over his shoulder, staring at Jinnn¡¯s face. Jinn had made it to him without Al even noticing, that was concerning.


    ¡°You okay Al?¡± Jinn asked and Al nodded, trying to smile.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine man, I just¡­.. I was lost in thought my thoughts,¡± Al said and JJinn looked at him with a raised eyebrow.


    Al looked away, his mind racing. ¡°I made a theory¡­. Something that might be bad. I need to polish it more.¡±


    Jinn looked at him and tried to think of anything but he nodded.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above them Racha stepped back from the caved-in tunnel, smiling as she looked at it. The fallen rocks had completely blocked the passage, nothing could get by. And once they set up the sensor here, they could sleep without anything getting through. Once they had a good rest, they¡¯d be able to make it to the sea the next morning. Once there, they would be able to travel to the yard ship. Once they knew what it could do, they¡¯d hopefully have a better hand to play.


    As she turned towards the lower level, she saw the group around Roy¡¯s body. She smirked and called out. ¡°So it worked?¡±


    As they all looked at her, Racha repelled down, her feet hitting the ground seconds later.


    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s normal. I don¡¯t know what effect what happened to him will have on him, but this is the best I can do,¡± Sara said and Jinn grinned at her.


    ¡°Sara you did more than anyone else could have. It would have taken years, and Roy would have died before a month was out,¡± Jinn said as he smirked and laughed.


    Racha watched Sara blush as Jinn turned and looked at Paige before he spoke again.


    ¡°And you Miss Paige, a perfect command! You hit the mark, and made the perfect call! Few people could have done as well as you have!¡± Jinn said and Racha frowned.


    Most thieves or pirates fought against each other a lot. They didn¡¯t have any ideas of command, the one who was the loudest was the leader most time. In those bands, the strongest and meanest or most charismatic was always the loudest. Up until now, she had thought that Jinn was one of those who got cold feet, but now? Jin was saying he knew true leaders, that he had been on missions like hers. Who was he?


    Racha shook her head and looked at Al. That was something she could figure out later, for now, she had to keep a handle on everything. ¡°We can pat each other on the backs later. For now, we have work to finish. Al, get one of the sensors up to the tunnel. Paige, keep an eye on Roy, let us know when he wakes up. Sara, watch the child and Jinn. I need a better account of your hunt.¡±


    ¡°One more thing,¡± Racha said abruptly as she looked around, a scared look on her face.


    ¡°Yes?¡± Racha asked and Paige looked around and took a deep breath.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone to know what I can do,¡± Paige said softly as she looked at the group, a scared look in her eyes.


    Racha looked at Paige, a million thoughts going through her mind. She heard what Paige said, and she didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°You¡¯re still scared,¡± Jinn said and everyone looked at him as he gazed at Paige. ¡°The people you¡¯re running from, you don¡¯t want them to hear about you.¡±


    Racha felt her heart beat faster. That was it, that was the last piece of Paige¡¯s puzzle. After everything that happened, even after the crash. Paige was scared, she was scared of what caused her to sign onto the Spirit.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t. I just¡­¡­ I planned on escaping onto a colony founding group. I wanted to escape from anyone tracking me. And after what Roy said he experienced, I want to keep what I can do under wraps for a bit longer,¡± Paige said softly as she held her arms.


    Racha felt both terror and shame. Paige was a citizen of the Federation, she shouldn¡¯t even feel half of that terror. The fact that the Service hadn¡¯t even heard of people like Paige and those who hunted her was something that was! It was shameful, the fact that people who hunted others were still in the shadows. Meanwhile the Service had a whole division to track down Tax evaders!


    Racha smiled and looked at Paige, trying to look calm. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. We don¡¯t have to tell anyone you don¡¯t want to. If you develop Powers¡­.¡±


    ¡°Skills! The text calls them Skills,¡± Sara said and Racha blinked before she shrugged.


    ¡°Okay, Skill. So whatever. We don¡¯t need to tell anyone that we had them before we dropped onto this planet. And I think I can speak for everyone that they will follow that decision,¡± Racha said as she looked around. She met the eyes of everyone, and they nodded after a few moments.

 Chapter Forty-Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins/ Unknown Builder


    Galactic Standard Time / 1100


    Rodolphe blinked as the three of them looked through the door. The corridor beyond the chamber of horrors behind them was as decayed as the room they left. On the walls were burn marks of various sizes, most of them had holes in them, large ones. And beyond that at a height of about four feet up were round crystals a foot round. From them came a soft white light that lit up around five feet. Farther down the dark corridor were pockets of light that went far into the distance.


    ¡°So this is what was here? Not looking good,¡± Zane muttered as he looked from the corridor to the room of horrors behind them.


    ¡°I see only two choices here you two. We go and hope to find a way out, or stay and starve to death here. Any other ideas?¡± Rodolphe asked as he turned and looked at Zane and Bryce.


    Bryce looked at Zane who looked away. Bryce looked at Rodolphe and pointed down the corridor, Rodolphe only nodded as he sighed.


    ¡°Good. I¡¯ll lead. My team, my choice, my risk,¡± Rodolphe said as he walked on.


    As he led the way farther in, his mind went dark places. He remembered the old fort on his homeworld, and how he had stayed there during his teen years. The fort had been the site of the last stand of a group of rebels who had hidden a chamber he had found. The walls there had been just like this, but there were no bodies.


    But if the attackers were the creatures that lived here, that made sense. He¡¯d seen scavengers fight over the bones of the dead before, here would be no different. All they needed to do was find a way to make it to someplace they could get back topside, then they could find a way back to the others. The Chief needed to know that this island had some kind of structure beneath it. If they had to explore this place, it could be the difference between life and death for them all.


    Rodolphe just chuckled bitterly under his breath. He had been planning on scuttling the Spirit when his team attacked. He hadn''t cared about who died in the rush and now he was helping them all live? Fate and the stars had strange senses of humor after all.


    ¡°You okay Rodolphe?¡± The voice of Zane from behind him caused Rodolphe to turn and look at both Zane and Bryce as they followed after him. He looked at them as he tried to think of how to play off his chuckle. He didn¡¯t want to know what these two would do if they knew who he was, but he would kill them both.


    ¡°Yeah Zane, just trying to figure out what happened here,¡± Rodolphe said and Bryce swallowed loudly.


    ¡°Or when,¡± Bryce said with a haunted tone.


    Rodolphe didn¡¯t want to admit that he understood exactly what Bryce meant. Nothing about this place seemed to be normal. From the corpses in the cages back in the other room, to the way this place was setup. He had no idea beyond that whatever had happened here had been beyond terrible. The creatures must have rampaged, but why was the door that led into this place still closed? Could it have been automatic, but why?


    ¡°We need to keep moving. Our only chance is to find a way out farther ahead. And I really hope we can find one,¡± Zane said as she walked forward and looked around.


    Rodolphe didn¡¯t want to say anything, but something about Zane bothered him. He was a rebel himself, but Zane was acting like an old friend of his. Said old friend was a covert agent, one of the best spies the movement had. And he only saw every trick that his friend did in Zane¡¯s actions. Like how back on the Spirit, he always stayed in the shadows, always sticking to the back. And how he always seemed to finish jobs in the middle, never the first or last. Everything about Zane seemed to be crafted to be ordinary, nothing that made him stand out. He might have just been nervous or scared, but something about him was¡­.wrong.


    As Rodolphe stopped to look at part of the wall, he let Bryce go past him.


    Bryce took another step before he stopped and looked back at Rodolphe. ¡°You okay? Did you find something?¡±


    Rodolphe just shook his head and looked at the wall, sighing as he turned away.


    ¡°No, thought I did. Nothing here. But I think that this happened a long time ago. Maybe a few centuries at least,¡± Rodolphe said as he shrugged.


    Bryce sighed and shook his head, turning away. ¡°Yeah, I know what you mean. I mean those bones in the last room. But I hoped that this place was just abandoned ya know? That this place was still working.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rodolphe said softly as he looked over his shoulder. He didn¡¯t want to tell Bryce, but he was sure that something about this place was still active. The doors that opened, they had to have been getting power from something. It might have just been from a battery, but then it might not have.


    He wanted to play as many cards close to his chest as he could, especially with those he couldn¡¯t trust. In Rodolphe¡¯s opinion, Bryce and Jinn were both massive unknowns. The way those two reacted to the simplest things even children knew, that told him enough. Wherever those two were from, they did not have normal upbringings. And that bothered him, he had no idea where they might be from. The planets that kept modern things away always had tells, and the two of them had none! He almost thought they might be Sleepers


    The criminal underworld had tales and rumors, and Sleepers were among the worst of them. Sleepers were just the rumors called them, they always died. The stories said Sleepers always had a sense of awe for even the most basic things, and that was Jinn and Bryce. The stories said that Sleepers were mind-wiped before they were sent out. They would spend years sometimes with their targets, and then they got close to them over time. They said that Sleeper work effort was second to none, another product of their training. They always got promoted until they were next to their targets, and then they stopped. The stories said they made all kind of excuses, saying they were happy where they were or something.


    The stories said they were normal people before they activated. People were friends to everyone around them, pillars of their communities. For years they worked until they were sent a code message and then they were activated. Once that happened they were said to study their targets for a few days. then they killed anyone in their way, not caring who died. And if they survived killing their targets, then they fought until they died. The stories said they were always used as Assassins, but who on the ship could be their targets? And there were never two sent after the same target, and on a cruise ship?


    He doubted it, so that still left the question, who in the name of the stars were Jinn and Bryce?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce tried to keep what he was thinking off his face, he didn¡¯t want anyone to ask questions. He knew his past was different, and he had a hard time getting closer to people. But even with what he knew, he had to say that something was wrong with Rodolphe. The man was always trying to get some of the hardest and most isolated jobs. Most people hated them, but then Rodolphe seemed to love them. He had seen a lot of people since he escaped, but there was something about Rodolphe that bothered him. And he knew why, Rodolphe acted like the people who tried to kill him growing up. Always seeming to make themselves small, always alone. At least, they were alone until they struck and tried to kill others. And their Teachers let them do it, saying that it proved they were superior product lines.


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    He wanted to believe that only the Teachers did what they did, but were there others out there? Ever since he had gotten his identity on that world, he had always thought he had been just one step ahead of the Hunters. But after buying three new IDs on three separate worlds, he had thought he escaped them. That was the only reason he had signed onto the Spirit really. He had planned to finally escape them somewhere in the Frontier Regions. Once he found a cheap ship, he could then find someplace to hyper-sleep the years away. If the Hunters lost his scent, then all he would need to do next was make sure they didn¡¯t find him for a few decades.


    Once about fifty years had passed, he had planned to come back to civilization. Depending on the way the Federation had devolved would decide just what he would do next. Part of him wanted to tell the truth and find a few people who would believe him about his past. And then find a way for the entire galaxy to know about the Teachers. To somehow. But if the Teachers took over, then he would have charted a route into deep space, and spend his years free.


    ¡°So nothing back there?¡± Zane asked softly, and for a moment he wondered just how Zane thought Rodolphe had heard him.


    After silence for a few moments, Bryce looked up, seeing Zane look at him. He blinked as he realized that he was being talked to, and tried to figure out what to say.


    ¡°Rodolphe thought he found something back there,¡± Bryce said as he shrugged. Zane almost took a step towards Rodolphe only for Bryce to stop him.


    Zane looked at him before he sighed. ¡°So he was wrong then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, so you found nothing up here?¡± Bryce asked.


    Zane only shrugged as he pointed ahead of them.


    Bryce looked and saw nothing ahead of them but dark patches with spots of light beyond them. Bryce just looked on, his hope falling. From the creatures to this abandoned complex, he was getting confused. This planet was so beyond anything he thought possible, and then there was this place. The cages back there¡­they were so wrong.


    This place¡­.. was almost like his old School, but so different. The cages seemed to have no way to watch whatever was within them from the station they found. There was no way to feed them, what with how they were stacked on top of each other. And the sheer number of them, that was even more wrong. The old Classrooms only had at most ten Bunks, and Watchers in the corners. But those things¡­¡­ he didn¡¯t want to think about them, what they might have been.


    Zane just sighed and shook his head, before turning around. He walked off into the darkness, and Bryce kept his face blank.


    Thanks to his abilities, sometimes he could see far beyond anything that baseline humans like Zane and Rodolphe. More to the point, he could see heat. Farther ahead of them, well at the edge of his sight was a mass of heat, mechanical heat. Whatever it was, it was large and big, that much he could tell.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll find a way out of here. I mean the air¡¯s good. That¡¯s something at least,¡± Rodolphe said as he caught up to them.


    ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s that!¡± Bryce said bitterly. As Rodolphe moved to lead the way, Bryce looked at him. Rodolphe was another problem and one he didn¡¯t want to solve. Back at School, some of the others tried to take down their fellow Students, not the beasts. Rodolphe had that air about him, and part of Bryce wanted to kill him. But Rodolphe wasn¡¯t a Student, he didn¡¯t have any of the tells. But he was acting like anyone around him was an enemy when he was on the Spirit, why Bryce had no idea.


    For a time, he thought to confront him about it, but he decided he shouldn¡¯t. Why he had made that choice, he still couldn¡¯t say. But his feelings and snap decisions had saved his life before, and he would always follow his guts. Still, this whole place was making him more worried, there was just something there. He didn¡¯t know anything about why, but this place made him think of his birthplace.


    And with that terrible thought, he hoped that sooner or later they would find a way out of this horror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked ahead into the darkness as Rodolphe walked ahead of him. When they had started going down the path, Rodolphe had inserted on going first. The way he had said that he should, that saying, it stank of them. It was all Zane needed to know to figure out who Rodolphe was. And he kicked himself for not noticing. Every action Rodolphe took, they were just like his kind, they always did that. Why or how Federation military schools made their students to act that way, he couldn''t say.


    Part of him wanted to try and break the hold on him, but part of him wanted to kill him. The Federation was the perfect conman, they brought people in and broke them. Once they built them up into people who would happily kill their own families if ordered to. He still remembered the pain from when he got his scars. Some of them were from when his parents died when they were killed. He knew the Federation told everyone that the people who burned his world were pirates, but he knew. He was there, he knew the truth!


    The scum who killed his parents had used Federation drop armor, the newest type from back then. They used them to kill his world, from the logs he found it was a live fire test of all things. And every minute he was with Rodolphe, the desire to give the man some scars of his own grew. But the only reason was that he didn¡¯t want to tip off the bastard''s handlers, and he didn¡¯t know their plans. They might have sent him in because of the few rumors the underworld heard about the Spirit, but really? The very idea was insane and needed to


    The only reason he didn¡¯t was that it wouldn¡¯t mean anything, Rodolphe was too young. There was no way he was one of the ones who had planned the destruction, or been part of it. No, he would obey Grandfather, grow stronger and more trusted. One day he would find out who had ordered it, and then he would call in every marker he had and visit them for a good long talk.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what this place could be. I mean the research idea is possible, but look at this!¡± Rodolphe said as he looked over his shoulder at Zane.


    Zane looked at Rodolphe and barely kept his voice calm. ¡°Look at what?¡±


    ¡° The corridor, it¡¯s as wide as the door. And look at how tall this is! I mean, I can see bots or drones up there, watching whatever moves down here. But what? And why would whatever built this place make it so tall?¡± Rodolphe asked as he pointed upwards.


    Zane looked from Rodolphe to the top of the corridor, only now paying attention to it. Looking up all he saw was darkness, no sign of a light up there beyond ten feet. Just by looking up, Zane felt that wherever the ceiling was, it was a lot farther up. His mind went into his memory, thinking about why it was built this way. He was about to say something when a roar echoed off the walls. A roar that came from behind them.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Bryce asked after a few moments. As one they looked back towards the chamber, wondering if one of the creatures had survived after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature roared as it finally broke through the boulders with its new arms. As it looked around, it saw the door to the Creator¡¯s Den open and ready for it to raid. It had lived near the falls for a long time and never did the new ones come from it. The chance to raid and take Power from the strange bipeds was almost not enough. But the Strength it smelt from one of them made it take another sniff. But it went still as its senses detected not one strong scent, but many!


    The scents were enough, it charged ahead. It didn¡¯t know how, but each of the other scents smelled of such Strength to take. And each one smelt so easy, easier than anything it had ever sensed before.


    As it came into the chamber of cages, it stopped and looked around. It had taken food from others, but this place was amazing. Just by another sniff, it sensed all manner of life here. From Walkers, Simmers and Flyers, there were so many! With this and the other strong one, it would become a Ruler, no. Not a Ruler, but the Ruler! With the Strength these ancient ones had, it would grow so strong!


    The scent of just one of them was enough to make it so much stronger!


    With a roar it charged at the rightmost row of cages, hunting for the best Strength to take first.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Report; Templates of 10049 gene line of new sampling have been detected within abandoned complex. Watcher Units


    Units seeking Templates 99850 have found recharge location. Template 99850 group has made ingresses into abandoned sector near Template 10049.


    Alert, Bio weapon template broken into abandoned facility. It has stopped in the abandoned specimen observational area. Actions show it has ability of Evolutionary Consummation.


    Only one Bio weapon template released with Evolutionary Consummation, within last 72 hours. Template with Evolutionary Consummation retreating to far nolog section of test grounds.


    Confirmed, template with Evolutionary Consummation within facilities not one of the released Templates.


    Possibilities two; 1; Template weapon of other one of the minds. 2; Template hunting Templates 10049.


    Send directives to hunter Constructs to bios-can Template 10049 group before other actions. Send Hunter Templates to deal with Rogue Bio Weapon. Bring back Rogue to main gene lab for genetic dissection.


    Orders confirmed, Constructs moving towards section of Facility.

 Chapter Forty-Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins/ Unknown Builder


    Galactic Standard Time / 1120


    As the echoing roar died down, Rodolphe felt his pulse quicken. He had expected that this wouldn¡¯t be as easy as it was, but this was not what he thought would happen at all.


    ¡°Did you all hear that terror roar!?¡± Bryce asked a note of terror in his voice.


    Zane swallowed. ¡°Yeah. Think whatever roared was one of the things that attacked us?¡±


    ¡°No bet,¡± Rodolphe said as he nodded, he looked back where they had come. So far they had only walked around twenty feet, but it felt like only five. They were still too close, they had to move! ¡°Right, yeah. The new plan, we run!¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡± Bryce and Zane said the three of them started to run into the darkness.


    Rodolphe tried not to panic, but it was hard. That roar was unlike anything that he¡¯d ever heard before. From the wild beasts of his world to the creatures of movies, the echo seemed to be primal. It was like whatever was released the roar was coming to eat them all, and nothing they could do would stop it. He had fought monsters and scum before, and felt nothing. But that thing was more vile and wicked than anything he¡¯d ever heard before.


    As they ran into the darkness, Rodolphe tried to figure out what had survived the cave-in. The snake thing might have survived, but how had it found a way through the rocks? The other things, one of them might have been able to force a way through, but would they still come after them?


    The few beasts he had studied would have turned and run by now, but then this island might be different. From the swarms that that threw lightning at the beasts from the chamber, nothing was normal. No matter what direction his thoughts went, nothing made sense to him. All he truly knew was the bad feeling he had was growing worse. All he could do was hope that at the end of the day, they were all still alive.


    As they passed through another patch of light, he looked ahead and tried to see the end. Only seeing more islands of light ahead, he cursed whatever had caused this. This place was so broken, that he wondered what had broken out.


    What kind of weapons had the defenders used? What had defended this place? The shots were too orderly for robotic fighters, but they missed. Were the attackers just that fast? And how long was this corridor?


    ¡°So think we¡¯ll be able to reach the end before whatever roared sees us?¡± Bryce asked.


    For a second Rodolphe felt that something was wrong, but then he realized what. He turned and saw Bryce was treating this run like it was a small walk, and Zane wasn¡¯t even winded yet! Zane wasn¡¯t surprised, but Bryce?


    ¡°I hope so, I so do. We have to find somewhere we can make a stand. Can we set up an ambush around here? No, of course not,¡± Zane muttered as they ran into another patch of darkness.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if we¡¯re lucky we¡¯ll!¡± Rodolphe stopped talking as he ran into a wall. Bryce and Zane both threw out their arms and barely stopped before they ran into it as well


    Rodolphe groaned as he stepped back, looking at what he had run into. It was unlike anything he had ever thought, it looked like a screen that showed empty space, more of the corridor. But as he put his hand forward, he felt a smooth surface, not a force field but a kind of matter. He stared at it in shock, his mind running all over. He had heard about something like this once before, nano-transmiters. The theory was that enough nanites could create a coating that would work like a view screen. But it was just a theory, not even past the possible design stage yet! The scientist behind it theorized they wouldn''t be possible yet, not for centuries! This had to mean that whoever made this had a science that was so beyond the Federation they might as well be gods!


    ¡°What is this!?¡± Zane demanded to his left and Rodolphe turned to see Zane trying to push against the wall as Bryce just looked at it.


    Rodolphe just swallowed and looked at them. ¡°This my friends, is tech that¡¯s so beyond us it¡¯s not funny. A nano-transmitter wall.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°A what?¡± Zane asked dumbly as he hid his reaction. He had heard of the theory kind of tech, and that Rodolphe knew about it was surprising. He thought that the cannon folder of the Federation didn¡¯t care about anything. That all they felt was their mission or making things to make booms. That he was even aware of that kind of theorized science made him that more dangerous. That meant that he had to have been tapped to be a commander, and that was a whole other problem than a spy.


    ¡°I¡­.. think I read about that. A coating of nanites that like together to act like a view screen? But wasn¡¯t that only¡­.. oh. This wasn¡¯t made by anyone from the Federation. That means that they might have technology beyond us,¡± Bryce said bitterly and Zane felt a spark of terror. His hatred of the Federation had blinded him, but Bryce was right. everything he said was true.


    With that one realization, the threat this place was in his head increased tenfold. If whoever made this place had technology that was this far ahead, then what about their weapons? It had been destroyed for what he hoped was a long time, but this wasn¡¯t a sure thing. If some of their weapons and defenses were still around, then the three of them were in a lot of danger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too scared everyone. R`emember, the best tech can be destroyed by the lowest weapon. We¡¯ll find a way around this. But remember, even nanites like this needs power,¡± Rodolphe said and for a moment, even Zane believed in him.


    But then that feeling was torn in two and thrown off a cliff. As Zane looked around, his hands trying to find something, anything on the wall. A moment later, he found a small depression, a small hole in the wall that his hand could grab hold of. He looked at his hand for a moment, before he looked upwards. Unlike the rest of the corridor, the ceiling was lit up. About fifteen feet above them was a light source against the wall. For a second Zane looked at it, and then he understood what he was seeing.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, this explains it! We have to go up! That¡¯s the only way around this!¡± Zane exclaimed as he looked back where they had come, and smiled as all he saw back there was darkness.


    ¡°What do you mean?!¡± Rodolphe demanded as he looked up, blinking as he saw the lights above. ¡°What the?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why the corridor is so high! The way forward is up there! I bet these are a way for whoever made this place to get out of here!¡± Zane said as he laughed and shook his head.


    ¡°My stars¡­. It makes sense! You always have to have a low-tech way around problems! That¡¯s security one o one! We¡¯ve just got to climb over this!¡± Bryce said as he found an opening about a foot off the ground, the perfect place to put a foot.


    Putting his right foot in it, he transferred his weight and pushed off the floor. He grabbed the wall with his left hand, his hand moving down a bit but he found a hole. Grabbing it he started to climb up, stopping once he was three feet off the ground. Turning his head to look at Rodolphe and Zane he saw them just standing there. He scowled and barked at them. ¡°Move it you two!¡±


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    Zane looked at Bryce, trying to find any other way but when Rodolphe started to climb, he looked at him.


    Rodolphe turned to look at Zane from five feet up, a scowl on his face. ¡°Bryce is right, this is the best chance we¡¯ve got. So move it!¡±


    For a second, Zane looked back where they had come. He spent a few seconds trying to figure out if they should go back instead. They had no way to know what was up there, but going back was just as dangerous. He looked up at them and made a choice. So without a second to lose, he grabbed for a hold and started to climb after them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way up, Bryce looked ahead with his heat vision. Above them, about thirty feet was a lot of energy and heat. All he could do was hope that what he was seeing was a sign that they would have a way out up there. As he looked back down at Rodolphe and Zane following behind him, he swallowed and tried to keep calm. He hoped that they didn¡¯t notice that he had looked up before he found the holds. If they did, and if they knew anything about his kind, then he would have to kill them.


    He didn¡¯t want to, but he had to protect his life! After they all escaped, they promised each other they would live free, and he won¡¯t break that vow. He didn¡¯t know just where they were, or what kind of planet this was, but if there was civilization here¡­.. then he had a choice to make. Would he be the only survivor, or would he try and make it out of here on his own?


    ¡°Everyone doing okay?¡± Rodolphe called out and Bryce kept quiet, waiting for Zane to call out.


    ¡°Yeah, nothing more than a hard training course! I¡¯ll be able to climb for another hour at least!¡± Zane barked out, a laugh in his voice.


    ¡°Fine. What about you Bryce? I can lead the way if you¡¯re not up to it?¡± Rodolphe called out.


    Bryce felt a spark of anger for a moment, but only a moment. He knew that Rodolphe had no idea about where he had come from, or how he was raised. For a second the old fear came through him, but only for a moment. He wasn¡¯t there anymore, he was free. All he had to do was say he wanted Rodolphe to take the lead, and nothing would happen to him. But he needed to lead the way, he had to. He had the bio enhancement that let him see the holds, so he had to lead the way.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine! Let¡¯s keep moving! With luck, we¡¯ve only got another sixty feet to climb!¡± Bryce called out as he turned around.


    As he climbed higher he looked back up and blinked, almost letting go of the wall. Above him by about thirty feet three large masses of heat suddenly appeared. They shot out of someplace up there, shooting towards the door they had come through. For a second he waited for the others to call out but when they didn¡¯t, he knew. Whatever he had seen was invisible, and that meant that something here still had power. But more to the point something was still using this place.


    And that meant that this place was suddenly that more deadly. If it was still active, then why had this place been left in such a state? For a moment he almost called out, but he had to keep his secrets.


    ¡°You okay up there Bryce? Do you see anything!?¡± Zane called out and Bryce blinked for a second. He was so focused on his thoughts, that he had gone still and silent.


    He couldn¡¯t let that happen again, he couldn¡¯t give them an excuse to let a doctor look him over. He had been able to hack the ship¡¯s computer, keeping it from ordering him to get a physical. He didn¡¯t know just what his body would tell them, he couldn¡¯t risk it. His study of the ¡®real world¡¯ hadn¡¯t been able to figure out what the laws for bio-enhancements like his were. He had to stay free.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine! I just thought I heard something up here!¡± Bryce called out.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­. maybe we¡¯re near an exit! Keep moving!¡± Rodolphe cried as he picked up speed.


    Bryce smirked. Say what you would about Rodolphe, he knew how to keep someone motivated.


    A moment later Bryce threw his arm out and felt only empty space. With a smirk, he moved his arm around and felt nothing, only a ledge he couldn¡¯t see. He pulled his body up and over, smirking as he saw a doorway with a blue light coming through it.


    ¡°We found the way out! Come on, let''s move!¡± Bryce called out as he looked over his shoulder at the others.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature felt pleasure as the last of the strength finished being devoured, it sighed. So far most of the remains were so long dead that it hadn¡¯t been able to take much. A few pieces were able to be taken, and that it had before. It had been able to gain so much wonderful Strength, but one of them was its new favorite. It had taken it from the remains of a Flyer, and it was just what it needed.


    As it let the new Strength flow out, it felt pleasure that turned to shock as the waves bounced back to it. It ¡®saw¡¯ three of them, some of the Creator¡¯s forces. They were some of the flyers it saw once, and the arms looked the same. When it had watched them kill that one Ruler, they had taken it away with them.


    This time it wouldn¡¯t hide, not that it could. As the three came closer to the creature it kept still. This was just like when it escaped from that one Ruler, it just had to wait. As soon as they get closer, then it will strike.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Hunter Construct 1092 to Hunter Construct Pack 205, Biological Weapon Unit found.


    Hunter Construct 1093, confirmed. Hunter Construct Pack 20, that all units surround and kill.


    Hunter Construct 1095 confirmed order, moving in from the right.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The cloaked Constructs moved towards the creature until suddenly the Creature struck! It reached out with its right arm, grabbed one of the cloaked Hunters, and threw it at another!


    The two Constructs crashed together, both of them falling to the ground.


    The Creature sprung out and lunged at the last one.


    The Hunter Construct fired a red bolt at the Creature, its limited AI telling it to take down the Bioweapon fast. But the snake-like Creature shot out its tongue at one of the cages and pulled its body away from the shot.


    The shot flew past where the Creature¡¯s body had been. It hit the wall of cages and exploded. The blast sent cages down, falling onto the other two Hunter Constructs, crushing them.


    Before the loan Hunter Construct could even react, the Creature lunged at it. This time it hit, coiling its body around the Construct, squeezing as they both fell to the ground.


    They hit the ground, the Hunter Construct first. As its AI tried to deal with the impact, the Creature spat a blob of acid at its prey. As the acid ate into the Construct, it raised a shaky arm at the creature.


    The creature shot out its arm, grabbing the limb and forcing it up. As the Construct fired, the Create spat another blob of acid and destroyed the limb where it met the body. The creature pulled the arm off the Construct and used the arm to beat its body.


    As the last of the Construct¡¯s power died, the creature screeched in victory.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Hunter Construct 1092 to Hunter Construct Pack 205, respond.


    Hunter Construct 1092 to Hunter Construct Pack 205, respond.


    Hunter Construct 1092 to command. Mission failed, Hunter Construct 1093 and Hunter Construct 1095 offline. Creature has taken in abilities from dead bodies within ancient sample storage.


    Command to Hunter Construct 1092, message received. Sending all free units to deal with Bioweapon. Hunter Construct 1092 ordered to go dark and power down. Sending repair and retrieval unit to recover Hunter Construct 1092 and rest of pack.


    Hunter Construct 1092 received command. Shutting down all systems in 3¡­¡­2¡­¡­1


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature looked at the Creator¡¯s hunters and stared in shock. It had only expected to fight until they killed it, but it had never thought it would win. This had never happened before, whenever anything had tried to fight back they had all lost. But this time, when they had one of them outnumbered and with all the advantages, they had lost.


    It reared its head back and screeched in victory. If it died soon, it would die happy. For it had done what none of them had ever done. From the great Rulers to the Invaders, it had been the first to destroy the Hunters! They were not invincible! As it looked at the dead thing it tore at it, trying to find something to eat. After a few minutes of work, nothing was found that it could even suck on.


    It looked down and tried to figure out how this thing had ever been a threat, it reached down and grabbed something. Pulling its hand back it saw a small silver sphere in its hand. It brought it to its mouth and bit down, making a small crack but nothing, no taste. It looked at it in disgust and threw it away, it flew into a cage and rolled under a corpse.


    The creature huffed and looked around, trying to find if it missed anything. Not finding any more scents that even had a hint of a useful Strength, it turned away. As it moved down the row of cages, it tried to pick out the biped scent it wanted, what it had chased here. Finally, when it reached the end, it looked around and finally, finally found what it was after. It looked ahead and moved slowly. It reached an open down and moved out into a long corridor. As it moved it ¡®saw¡¯ the three it was hunting ahead of it, looking back at it from higher up.

 Chapter Forty Five

    ¡°Come on Zane, climb!¡± Bryce called out as he reached down for Zane.


    Zane threw his arm up and as Bryce pulled him over the ¡®top¡¯, Zane finally was able to see the top. And what he saw was nothing at all. The floor of the ledge was the same as the wall, and it was like he was walking on the air itself. Ahead of them by about twenty feet or more was a large white hole in the air. And there, a foot from the door, Rodolphe was slowly moving forward. And to Zane¡¯s shock, Rodolphe was on all fours, reaching out with his hands. For a few seconds, he wondered what it was that Rodolphe was doing, but he ignored it. Some kind of Federation brainwashing then, always checks the path ahead or something.


    Zane took a step forward but Bryce grabbed him.


    ¡°Careful, this thing has holes in the floor! And it¡¯s narrow too!¡± Bryce said as he leaned down and pushed his hand down.


    All Zane could do was stare in horror as he saw Bryce¡¯s hand go past where the edge was, but where the ground should be! After a few moments, Bryce stopped and looked back at Zane.


    ¡°They don¡¯t go down far, but far enough. Anyone running here will probably break their legs. I think this is for security, the last line of defense against anything making it up here. Makes you wonder what made this place,¡±  Bryce said in a dry tone.


    Zane blinked and then looked at Bryce in shock. He had never expected that Bryce would even have a sense of humor like that. Maybe the little fool had a bite after all. ¡°Yeah, but we¡¯ll gonna have to move soon. That thing has to be tracking us!¡±


    ¡°I know, but he¡¯s almost there. We¡¯ve just gotta wait. We¡¯ll be moving soon, right Rodolphe?¡± Bryce called out, cupping his hands around his mouth.


    Rodolphe looked back over his shoulder and nodded, a bitter smirk on his face. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve almost got this. just give me another few seconds.¡±


    ¡°I hope we have those seconds,¡± Zane muttered as he gazed towards up the corridor. Through his mind, Zane thought back to all the strange things he had seen, trying to understand.


    This complex had beyond-cutting-edge tech, so it wasn¡¯t Federation. No matter what the Ancients could do, their tech was only just beyond the Federation¡¯s level. This place, he couldn¡¯t even think of what it might have been for. The room of horrors they had left looked like something that he had seen before, a horror of his enemy. They had been kidnapping people to test nanite strains, something about perfect workers. The files they had recovered said¡­¡­.. Zane went still ass he suddenly realized just what this place was for. And the sheer scope and belief about it made him realize just what this place was for.


    ¡°Zane, you okay?¡± Bryce¡¯s voice caused Zane to look up and stare, seeing Bryce look at him. Looking around, Zane saw Rodolphe at the portal, standing on two feet.


    Bryce only nodded his head when they heard an explosion echo off the walls.


    ¡°Move you two, now! Bryce lead the way!¡± Rodolphe called out.


    Zane looked over his shoulder before he felt Bryce stiffen, paling. For a second he wondered what was happening when he heard another roar.


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    Bryce went still as he felt the ultrasound waves crash over him. That was something the Teachers used to control most of them, but not him. But he knew some of the others could see with them, and that was bad. Whipping around he looked up the corridor, and there at the door was a large mass of heat. As he stared, he saw the  a mass had a serpent-like shape that was pointing in their direction. Suddenly one of the crystals on the wall shot a blast of heat at the serpent, and they all heard a screech of pain. ¡°Time to go, time to go right now! Step where I step!¡±


    Grabbing Zane¡¯s arm, Bryce led the way. Unlike Rodolphe, he could see the holes. He had to admit they looked very strange, and something about them bothered him. He tried to think about what they were when he saw them start to grow. All he could do was look in shock as the holes suddenly became deeper and larger. He tried to think about how to explain this when he threw that away. ¡°Nova. Well, that¡¯s that. Zane follow me, and move fast!¡±


    Without waiting for a reply Bryce started to run. He jumped over the first hole and dashing the left as another hole opened up. Zane cursed behind him but he started to move. Rodolphe heard Bryce¡¯s words and turned, looking on in shock.


    ¡°Bryce, what are you? Wait, wait!¡± Rodolphe exclaimed as he saw what Bryce was doing.


    Bryce didn¡¯t even react, just kept running. As he looked down, he kept an eye on the holes, dashing onwards. For a moment he thought to look over his shoulder, but he just kept his eyes on the holes. He knew he would have to explain who and what he was, but that thing that screamed was getting closer. And from what he could hear, it was taking shots from the walls. And if it was charging through it, that meant it wanted them bad. But what he couldn¡¯t figure out was why.


    This made no sense, why was it after them!? They hadn¡¯t killed anything, and they were far from any territory! He just couldn¡¯t understand what it was after!


    When he landed from his last jump, he panted a little as he turned around and saw Zane a few feet behind. As he landed, Bryce paled as he saw the hole between him and Zane start to grow. But as the space went away in front, it moved to the left. ¡°Zane, go left a foot, don¡¯t go where I did!¡±


    Zane stopped and looked at Bryce, a scowl on his face. He was about to say something when he looked down, feeling the hole growing under his foot. ¡°What in the name of the blackhole??¡±


    ¡°Move Zane!¡± Bryce barked and Zane just moved, jumping to reach them.


    As Zane panted, he looked at Bryce with a shocked look. ¡°How, how in the name of the stars did you do that?¡±


    Rodolphe looked from the ¡®land¡¯ he had traveled and then his eyes went to Bryce. Leaning down, he pushed down with one of his arms and it went through where he had found land before. Slowly he looked at Bryce, a strange look in his eyes. ¡°You can see the holes, can¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And I can do a lot of things more. We can talk later, the screamer, it¡¯s coming! And those crystals, their weapons! We gotta move now!¡± Bryce said and Rudolphe looked at him before dashing for the hole.


    Zane spared a glance at Bryce before he followed after Rodolphe, leaving Bryce alone. He looked back as he heard the ultrasonic ¡®screams¡¯ die down all at once. With a last look at where the edge was, he turned and followed after the others.


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    As the creature charged through the burning, it started to think it had made a mistake. When the first of the strange burning had hit it, it had just charged down the corridor. It had been riding on the high from killing the Creator¡¯s Hunters, nothing else could hurt it. But then the cowards had attacked it from hiding. It couldn¡¯t see anything that whatever might be hiding, but there had to be a place. Finally, it charged into some kind of wall, and the attacks had stopped. It tried to figure out how the big small ones had gotten up there, but it could see nothing.


    With a scowl, it looked back where it had come, but that meant going through the burning again! As it growled it looked at the wall, this time spitting its tongue out. As it moved around, it caught their scent going up. It moved towards part of the wall and moved one of its new hands, hoping to find something, anything. When it found the little hope in the wall, it went still. Looking up it tried to see anything, but it found nothing. Gazing around the bottom of the wall, it moved its hands along it, finding other holes. After it moved about, it found the holes were in a strange formation.


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    It looked from the place its hand was, then at the top. And then it knew what it had to do.


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    As Rodolphe led the way into a darkened area, he activated his weapon¡¯s light and looked around. They were in a room about ten feet wide by maybe twenty feet long. There was what looked like a barricade made of metal furniture. It was a mass of tables and chairs, and what looked like benches. Together it had to be over  eight feet high and it went from one end of the room to the other.


    With a raised eyebrow Rodolphe tried to find any doors that might lead them out of here. Behind him, Zane and Bryce came though, ready for action. As soon as Zane saw the barricade, he went at it. Rodolphe found two doors, one at each end of the wall the portal was in. As Zane started to climb over the barricade. Bryce started to look around, his eyes darting all over.


    ¡°Wait, Zane. What are you doing? Why should we go that way?¡± Rodolphe asked and Zane only laughed a little.


    ¡°Find out if we can make a stand here! I mean we can¡¯t keep running! We¡¯ve gotta hold this thing off, keep fighting until it leaves us alone!¡± Zane said with a savage grin on his face.


    Rodolphe looked at him, trying to understand what he just heard. When he did, and he understood what Zane had said he felt part of his brain die. To fight against something they had no idea of against a wall? That was an idea that was pure madness! They needed an escape route first, they needed distance between it and them!


    ¡°Bad idea. This is a kill zone, and whoever defend this place lost. The only reason it¡¯s so bad here,¡± Bryce¡¯s voice caused them to turn and look at him. He had gone to the right and peered down an open door. When he saw it, and for a second Rodolphe felt a little shame for having not seen it before.


    ¡°Yeah, but there¡¯s a door on this side! If we have to we can make a fighting retreat!¡± Zane said with a grin as he looked at Rodolphe. ¡°You Federation types love that, don¡¯t ya?¡±


    ¡°Federation types, are you talking about!?¡± Rodolphe asked and Zane only grinned at him.


    ¡°I figured you out from the way ya led us from the capsule. You¡¯re a Federation soldier, aren¡¯t ya? You must be trying to muster somewhere along the route then? The only reason you signed onto the Spirit,¡± Zane said with a smirk and Rodolphe¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock.


    Did he act like a Federation soldier? With how often he fought against them, he thought he was the last person to be one of them. He could only stare at Zane. ¡°I¡¯m not a Federation Soldier?! I fight those scum!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Zane asked as he and Rodolphe looked at each other in shock. Before they could say anything Bryce spoke up.


    ¡°Good! This way we can hide the door after we leave!¡± Bryce said loudly. As they turned to look, they saw Bryce as he drew a small thing from his pocket. When Bryce revealed it had a hidden blade, all Rodolphe and Zane could do was watch as he cut his palm.


    As they stared in shock Bryce had already dashed down through the door, his hand pointing down. A moment later he came back and moved towards the portal, his hand still dripping blood.


    ¡°What are you doing!?¡± Zane demanded and Bryce grinned as he put blood all around the portal before he closed his hand.


    As he watched, all Bryce could do was stare in shock as the blood flow died away, far too fast to be natural.


    ¡°Making a trial for that thing to follow to whatever runs this place! With luck, it¡¯ll track my scent down that hallway and to more of the things it just fought!¡± Bryce said with a smirk.


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Rodolphe asked as Bryce walked towards the barricade.


    ¡°Wait, hold on!¡± Rodolphe said as he grabbed Bryce¡¯s arm. As Bryce turned to look at him, Rodolphe reached for Bryce¡¯s injured hand and pried it open as Zane climbed down. ¡±We need¡­.. to¡­. How?¡±


    Rodolphe stared in shock as he saw that Bryce¡¯s hand was normal. The only thing that showed anything had happened was a patch of raw skin on the palm. Zane looked down and then stared in shock, looking from the hand to Bryce¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Holy! You¡¯re a Student!¡± Zane whispered with shock in his voice.


    Bryce rocked back and stared at Zane in equal parts horror and shock, wondering just how


    ¡°Student?! What do you mean?!¡± Rodolphe demanded and Bryce looked at Zane.


    Zane looked away and turned back to the barricade. ¡°Later, we¡¯ll all talk later.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡­¡­¡± Bryce trailed off as he looked towards the portal, paling as the blood left his face. ¡°Run now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Rodolphe asked only for Bryce to start climbing over the barricade. Swallowing Rodolphe ran, Zane, followed behind him.


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    The creature pulled itself up over the invisible ledge. Looking around it caught the scent of its prey and it felt pleasure. It was close, and the smell was getting even stronger. All it had to do was track down the last few feet, and it could eat. It slithered forward but then part of its body fell into a hidden hole. Before it could react, a burning shot through it. It screeched in pain and looked towards the portal, suddenly it stopped.


    It looked around, but its eyes couldn¡¯t see anything. It looked where the burning had come from, but there was nothing there. It slithered forward again, but it had only moved for a moment before another bolt of pain went through it. With a screech, it just charged forwards towards the portal. As it charged it used its new limbs to pull itself forward faster. After being hit with the burning five more times, it finally went through the portal.


    As it crashed into something it stopped, panting heavily. It took stock of its wounds as it lay there, trying to gather its strength. The wounds had hurt it as much as it thought it would, but it was still hurt. But all that did was make it want that thing more. Once it had that power, that Strength it wouldn¡¯t need to be bothered by this anymore. All it had to do was find it and kill it, then it would be the Strong one.


    It pulled away from the thing it had run into, looking at it. It could only stare, looking at the strange thing before it. This was a mass of objects, each one made of the same material back in the food place. It looked at them, wondering what this mass was for when it suddenly caught the scent it had been chasing. It looked towards the scent and saw a red stain on the ground. It had seen that liquid before when it killed. And the scent, that was what it was chasing! So it must be wounded, that was perfect! With a screech it charged after whatever had lost the liquid, soon it would feed!


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    Behind the closed door, the screech echoed from beyond it.


    Rodolphe panted as he tried to calm down. Thankfully, the corridor beyond had more lights than the room behind them. But like the corridor they had come from, the lights were few and far between.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something, now what?¡± Rodolphe asked as he looked at the closed door. With whatever was hunting them going down that path, the other way was blocked too. If the creature or whatever caught their scent, then they were down the black hole. The only thing to do was go along their current path, and hope it led out. And he needed to talk to the others, clear the air about themselves.


    Turning he looked at Zane and Bryce, both of them looking at the other.


    ¡°How do you know about my kind?¡± Bryce asked and Zane shrugged.


    ¡°A chap we call Al¡¯s one. You might know him as Alpha Lambert Blue Five. Told us about everything once he trusted us,¡± Zane said and Rodolphe looked from one to the other.


    ¡°Later, okay? For now, let''s move. If you see anything, you let the others know before firing. We gotta get far enough away from that thing,¡± Rodolphe said as he threw the many questions he had away for now.


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    Repair and new hunter Constructs moving into the abandoned sector with backup Guard constructs.


    Status of Bio Weapon?


    Records show defenses were activated as it moved through the damaged sector. Rouge Biological Weapon most likely damaged.


    Confirmed, location of Rouge Biological Weapon known?


    General Location only, Templates being chased by Rouge Biological Weapon seemed to have escaped and tricked the Bio Weapon down passage to Lower Level Holding. Constructs moving for capture.


    ¡­¡­.


    Lower Level Holding. Lower Level Holding, location of passage to Bio Reactor Two within location. Reasons for location during construction. . Request reminder; was Bio Reactor Two taken offline or relocated?


    Bio Reactor Two was built into structure, movement impossible. Bio Reactor Two was taken offline when power to location was damaged. Bio Reactor Two was among list of facilities to repair but events kept this from happening.


    Possible theory, Rogue Bio Weapon has Consumption Evolution, true.


    Confirmed.


    Bio Reactors have stores of Bio Material for the creation of Biological Weapon Templates, true?


    Confirmed.


    Bio Reactor Two is likely to have stories of Bio Material that Rogue Biological Weapon will most likely consume all viable stock. Rogue Biological Weapon will then regain strength possible?


    ¡­¡­¡­ Confirmed.


    All Constructs are to go to Bio Reactor Two, defense plan imitated.  Rouge Biological Weapon status changed destruction primary goal.

 Chapter Fourty-Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins/ Unknown Builder


    Galactic Standard Time / 1200


    The hallway they had escaped down was a lot better than the room behind them, but it was still decayed. The hallway was lit up by crystals in the corridor, but this time they were completely in the light. The lights showed the walls and floors were made of a reddish gold metal. It was a strange dark metal that seemed to drink in the light. The three of them were moving with Rodolphe leading the way, Bryce in the center, and Zane at the rear.


    As Rodolphe led the way, behind him Zane was looking at Bryce. He didn¡¯t know what to think, but Bryce being a Student? That was out of the void. He thought that Bryce was¡­.. well. He blinked as he realized that he hadn¡¯t thought that Bryce was anything but a normal person. That was surprising, he was usually a lot better at this. but if Bryce was like his old friend, then it was to be expected.


    ¡°You know Bryce,¡± Zane said, his voice echoing off the walls. ¡°You¡¯re the last person I expected to be a Student, good job!¡±


    ¡°So, you met Alpha Lambert Blue Five? I thought he was dead you know?¡± Bryce said softly and Zane chuckled.


    ¡°Yeah, the punk was hurt badly when we found him. Some of my Cousins were out in one of our freighters. We found ¡®em about a week after your escape I think. Man fought us off when we brought him aboard, thought we were some of them. Once we were able to get it into his head we weren¡¯t, he let us help him,¡± Zane said absently as he shook his head.


    He remembered the way his friend fought them all off, and how much damage was dealt. Some of the cousins wanted to keep him knocked out until Grandfather decided what to do with him or space him. Zane argued they should get out of the sector first. They had only been an hour¡¯s flight away when a fighter squadron had appeared. They had barely made it to FTL before the fighters could get a read off them. After their medic discovered Alpha''s beyond cutting-edge biotech, the others reacted.  Some of the others wanted to space him and others just wanted to kill him. It had taken a lot of fast talking from Zane to calm them down. They had compromised in the end, Alpha would stay in a coma in a locked room until they made it home.


    When they made it back to their world, he had stayed locked up and asleep until Grandfather got there. Once Alpha was sure that they weren¡¯t the people he was running from, he had calmed down. Even when he had calmed down, Grandfather had figured out that he had nowhere to go. After a few minutes of talking, Zane had a new recruit to train.  It had taken a few months to even get half of ''Albert''s'' story. And then Zane had to almost die saving him from bounty hunters to get the rest. When Grandfather had heard, he had exploded. He had been so angry that such filth were nearby, that he ordered any one of them caught to be killed on sight.


    ¡°I¡­.. thank you. I thought I was the only one of us who got off-world. To think he¡¯s still alive, that¡¯s a balm on my soul,¡± Bryce said softly and Zane nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, and he¡¯s going by Albert nowadays. Something about not forgetting where he comes from,¡± Zane said and Bryce only shook his head.


    Zane could tell that Bryce knew Albert, just by that head shake. Albert was a friend, Zane had thought that he had such a complex about him. When Albert told them everything about where he had come from, well that explained a lot.


    ¡°This Student thing, is it anything like Sleepers?¡± Rodolphe asked from the front. Zane and Bryce looked up, seeing Rodolphe looking back at them with a strange look on his face.


    Zane blinked and looked at Rudolphe in shock. ¡°You thought he was a Sleeper?! I mean¡­.. yeah. I can see where that came from. Wow, way beyond what I thought.¡±


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    Bryce looked from Rodolphe to Zane, a question in his eyes. He had never heard of anything called a ¡®Sleeper¡¯, but it didn¡¯t sound good. He had seen and heard of a lot of strange things since he escaped from the School, true. But he had never heard anything with that name, ever. All he could do was wonder if he should even ask when Zane spoke up.


    ¡°Maybe the opposite of Sleepers, maybe. But you¡¯re not with the Federation then?¡± Zane asked and Rodolphe nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, and you¡¯re not a spy then?¡± Rodolphe asked and Bryce could hear Zane stop walking, probably in shock at the question.


    ¡°NO! A spy? Why would, how would you have even thought that was possible?!¡± Zane demanded and Rodolphe shrugged.


    ¡°You¡¯re hiding something. I¡¯ve got a friend in the profession, and you¡¯ve got most of his tells. You¡¯ve gotta know someone to see them,¡± Rodolphe explained.


    Bryce found himself agreeing with Rodolphe. The first time he found a spy for the Teachers, it was so easy to see the tells in others. But sometimes he saw phantoms, things that weren¡¯t there. It was hard, but he had learned to ignore anyone with only one tell.


    ¡°So what are you? Bounty hunter, pirate?¡± Zane asked and Rodolphe laughed a little.


    ¡°Rebel really. I was scouting the Spirit, finding the best places to sabotage it,¡± Rodolphe admitted.


    Zane and Bryce blinked and looked at each other, the same question in their eyes.


    ¡°How safely?¡± Bryce asked sarcastically but all Rodophle did was shrug.


    ¡°Why I took all those lone repair jobs. All to plant bombs on the outer hull, and hack into the ship¡¯s system to show that the damage was worse when they blow. Once in the chaos, my team would have breached near our target thanks to my data. We attack, get our target, and get away.  All before anyone could figure out who we were after,¡± Rodolphe said with a level tone and Zane whistled.


    Bryce stared at Rodolphe in horror. He was no civilian, he had killed before and would again. But the way he was talking about killing thousands of people. And that wasn''t even talking about deaths from the explosions.


    ¡°Who are you!? What are you fighting for to do something like that!?¡± Bryce asked in shocked horror and Rodolphe sighed.


    ¡°A son of a murdered mother,¡± Rodolphe said softly.


    ¡°A rebel¡­.. you¡¯re not fighting against the Federation, you¡¯re on the Spirit, and you had a target to catch on it. You¡¯re from a Corp-world, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zane asked in an awed tone that set off Bryce¡¯s alarms.


    He looked at Zane over his shoulder, a wordless question in his eyes. All Zane did was look at Bryce and shake his head, and part of Bryce understood that he wasn¡¯t saying a lot.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bryce asked, completely clueless as to why those words were emphasized.


    Rodolphe looked at Zane who nodded after a few moments.


    ¡°After the Corp War¡­. You know about that right?¡± Zane asked and Bryce nodded.


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    Ahead Rodolphe just stopped and looked back at Bryce, shock visible on his face.


    ¡°Some parts, but a lot of lies were thrown in. I guess that in the end, they didn¡¯t drop biosphere weapons on a lot of worlds? Weapons that caused a lot of people and beings to mutate?¡± Bryce asked and Zane shook his head.


    ¡°No. They did almost create a super weapon, but no they never deployed anything. During the peace treaty some of their worlds were prepared to fight to the death to stay ''free''. After a while they compromised and the treaty was signed.  Those worlds would continue to have the cooperation that ran them, but they had to do so by the Federation¡¯s rules. It made a lot of people happy, and most of the time it''s okay. Sometimes, there are a few bad apples that spoil everything. And I guess Rodolphe is from one of them?¡± Zane said, causing Bryce to look at Rodolphe with shock.


    Rodolphe shrugged and looked back at them. ¡°Yeah. My world was one of those planets. About a hundred years ago, my corporation colonized a moon. Rare metals were there, and they made it so the people forgot about everything off-world. Everything you take for granted, we didn¡¯t have. We gathered resources to  sell to the corporation for food or medicine, and we barely survived!¡±


    ¡°Take for granted? Nanotech and modern medical. They kept that from you all?¡± Zane asked in horror and Bryce felt horror. As bad as the School had been, they still had medical care.


    ¡°Yeah. By the stars, the number of lives that were lost because of them! My friends, my aunt when she was my age! My parents¡¯ generation, found out the truth. We¡¯ve been fighting back ever since, an uphill battle with some of the others fighting against us! About ten years ago my people captured a pirate ship, me and mine went off-world to get help. But then they were one step ahead of us,¡± Rodolphe said bitterly and Bryce felt his stomach drop.


    ¡°Why did you say¡­.. they lied to the Federation, said you were all pirates, didn¡¯t they?¡± Zane asked and Bryce felt a spark of anger.


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    ¡°Yeah. I¡­.. can you understand it? We discovered everything we thought we knew was wrong! There was a government that we could get help from. How they treated us was illegal! We were so happy, we went there without looking back. But what happened,¡± Rodolphe said and a tear escaped his right eye as old memories played behind them. ¡°We found the nearest Federation sector capital, and we went to get help with all the evidence we had. I mean, by the stone and the rock! We went to get help from them, but they attacked us! I¡­.. I lost my parents in the attack, we barely made it away.¡±


    ¡°So one of the people who run your world, they were on the Spirit?¡± Bryce asked and Rodolphe grinned.


    ¡°Not just one. the CEO¡¯s whole family was there! They were celebrating something, but we never found out what. Could you imagine? One more strike, just one more! We could get everything we needed to save our people!¡± Rodolphe said bitterly as he looked at them.


    Rodolphe didn¡¯t want to admit what they had to do to survive a universe that was so big. How they had to find space stations operated by criminals and rebels to live. How they had to take jobs to get enough credits to buy food. The things they had to do, the lines they crossed. Sometimes, in the dead of night, he wondered if all the sacrifice was worth it.


    That one last charge against their enemy to get back onto their world wasn¡¯t the right thing to do. They would probably only get some of them to escape pods, and everyone else would probably die with the ship. Who knows what the Corp did since they left to keep their world a prison? But if the plan to finally get justice didn¡¯t work, what choice did they have?  Rodolphe was so caught up in his thoughts, that he never noticed Zane walk up and put a hand on his right shoulder. Looking up, he saw a note of understanding in Zane¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. That sounds like bad entertainment. But are you sure the Federation didn¡¯t know who you all were?¡± Zane asked


    Rodolphe only looked at him Zane shock, a strange feeling going through him. Part of him wanted to believe that the Federation had just acted because they were tricked. The only other answer was too hard to believe. That meant, that there was no hope for any of his people, that nothing they did would matter. ¡°What are you saying?¡±


    Zane looked at the ¡°I know just how dark the Federation can be. How vile and heartless they are.¡±


    ¡°Zane, what do you mean? What happened to you?¡± Bryce asked and Znae looked around, sighing as he did so.


    ¡°I¡¯m not with the Federation either. To tell the truth, I¡¯m a criminal myself,¡± Zane admitted and Rodolphe only looked at him.


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    ¡°You¡¯re what!?¡± Bryce asked and took a step back, forcing his heart to slow down. He hadn¡¯t had much luck with criminals, what with the robbers who attacked him. But they had shown him where to get forged documents, and they had shown him how to get space-rated. All in all, if he was honest, criminals probably treated him better than the Teachers did.


    ¡°So the Federation¡¯s darkness?¡± Rodolphe asked and Zane looked at him before sighing.


    ¡°About a hundred years ago, my world was thriving. We had good food, a few rare minerals. We could make enough that we were looking into getting a few defense monitors. Even with taxes being what they were, we were all so happy. For a small moon, the only inhabited world in our system, life was good. Then the attack came,¡± Zane said bitterly, a haunted tone in his voice.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Bryce asked softly.


    ¡°First there was an orbital bombardment, it destroyed most of the buildings. It was Founders Day, everyone was at the settlement. We thought it might be a meteor shower, and then the drones attacked. Never saw the like, and still haven¡¯t. They had plasma guns and spikes, a body like a manta ray. They flew faster than the watch drones back on the Spirit,¡± Zane said bitterly.


    Rodolphe looked at Bryce and tried to say something. ¡°That¡¯s classic tactics, take out the enemy and send in the disposable troops first. What happened, how¡¯d you survive?¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t easy. After me ma died. My da made a makeshift electromagnetic pulse generator. We knew we had only one shot, so we had to bring the drones in close. But they killed him as he activated it. About half an hour later the survivors trying to get a message out, then it happened. Federation Drop troops appeared, and they killed anyone still standing. I barely made it to a hoverbike. I escaped to my family¡¯s homestead under fire. I got into the long-range fighter dad had,¡± Zane said and Rodolphe looked at him before shaking his head.


    ¡°No way, how¡¯d you get away from what dropped the troops?¡± Rodolphe asked softly.


    ¡°Easy. I flew to the other side of the planet below scanner range. Once I broke the atmo I escaped into FTL,¡± Zane said with a shudder as he looked at the others and smiled bitterly. ¡°I flew for about six hours until something caused my ship to drop out of FTL, and then two bombers appeared. They attacked me, I destroyed one of them then a freighter that under my Grandfather¡¯s command got the other one. We heard later that raiders had killed everyone at my colony. A month later a Corporation announced a new mining colony on my world.¡±


    Bryce looked at Zane, a confused look on his face. He felt nothing but horror and shock at what happened to Zane and Rodolphe, but something about Zane¡¯s story bothered him. How did being saved by his grandfather end with him becoming a criminal?


    ¡°So what? You joined a gang of pirates?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Zane looked away, blushing. ¡°Grandfather is the head of a gang that raids commercial shipping, pretty big.¡±


    ¡°Oh. So, we bared our souls, what about you Bryce? What¡¯s a Student?¡± Rodolphe asked point blank.


    Bryce looked at him and took a deep breath. But before he could say anything, they all heard a large crash in the distance. Looking towards it they saw they were coming to an intersection.


    ¡°Later, tell me later! We go to or away!?¡± Rudolphe barked as he aimed his rifle ahead as Bryce and Zane did the same.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature had felt nothing but anger when it realized its prey wasn¡¯t this way. It had run down the path, always looking for its prey even when it kept going down. Finally, when it reached a large open chamber it realized that its target wasn¡¯t down here. The vile thing must have tricked it. It was going to turn and hunt down that fool trickster but then. It had only moved an inch when a delicious-smelling scent came drifting to it. It turned around, trying to find where it was coming from until it had it.


    The creature looked towards the scent, into a dark corridor that was thick with it. For moments it just stayed there, wondering what to do. If it went after the scent before it, then it might lose its prey. But the smell of this scent was unlike anything that it had ever sensed before. It couldn¡¯t explain how, but it knew that if it ate the source, it would grow so strong! The scent didn¡¯t smell like Flyer, Walker, or Bug but instead, it was like a blending of all of them. It had to make a choice, go after its prey or go towards the scent. It felt like all it needed was more food to grow so strong, and the scent seemed to offer it. But the Strength its prey had, would let it fight and kill so much better.


    And with that thought, the creature chose to go after its prey. As it turned to go back up it stopped. There in the distance was the sound of something coming towards it, something flying. It sent out its other sense and found it, there in the distance. Another of the Creator¡¯s Hunters was between the creature and the source of that scent. They weren¡¯t moving¡­.. they were there to guard it!


    With that discovery, the creature slithered away, not upwards but into the cavern. It needed to track down a way to get around the Hunters. If the Creator¡¯s forces were trying to keep it from the scent, then the scent was something it needed to eat! All it needed to was find a way to get around the Hunters, and then it would feed. The Strength and might that it would gain from the source of the scent might be nothing, but its body sang. It had to do this, and with the power it would gain, it would rule.

 Chapter Forty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Unnamed Ruin


    Galactic Standard Time / 1800


    ¡°[FREAK!]¡±,


    ¡°[HONORLESSS!]¡±,


    ¡°[ABOMINATION!]¡±,


    Olv¡¯xic blinked awake, panting as he woke from the nightmare of his old memories. All he could think of for a few moments was the anger and pain he had felt then. But he would be a better being than they would, he had sworn it. Once he¡­. Wait, where was he? For a second he wondered where he was, but then he felt his armor and everything came rushing back.


    He remembered everything and tried to move as his gear came back online. A quick check of his body showed that nothing was broken, and his gear was starting to boot up. But it was a blinking light at the right corner of his mask¡¯s HUB caused him to pause as he gazed at it. Seeing it was from his lost drone, he activated the window to see what his drone did, losing his breath as he saw what it saw. For a second all he could do was stare in shock and horror. If that was there, then this whole situation made more sense and none at all. This was bad, very bad. There might be more of those Constructs coming at them any¡­.. he stopped and started to think. None of this made sense, he needed to talk to the others, maybe Je¡¯ndra knew something, or the guard.


    He looked at the window for another time and frowned when he saw how close they were. The Construct that attacked them came from outside, which was¡­¡­ promising. If that was true and it wasn¡¯t returning, then they had another way to go. But first, he had to wake the others up, and the best way to go was top down. He called up his mask¡¯s visions and with a thought, switched to night vision.


    Looking around he saw that the back of the corridor had caved in like they planned. Je¡¯ndra was farthest back, the others were all spread out. After a few seconds of looking, his eyes found the prince. Seeing him not moving sent a rush of fear that died. A quick call to the prince¡¯s armor from his own showed Olv¡¯xic that Prince Ar¡¯thor was fine. He felt relief rush through him and he relaxed a little. Now that he knew his prince was safe, it was time to take stock of where they were.


    Once he was sure they were safe, he began to look around. Moving away from the cave-in, he moved slowly away from the others. He hadn¡¯t been able to see much before the explosion, but this looked good. From his experience in caves, this seemed to be strong. His mask told him there was an airflow, so there was that at least. There had to be another way out, if they could move through it, that was another story. At worst, they might be able to break it down, but that was the best. At worst the air source was too small, and they would need to find another way out. Still, this was better than fighting a Destroyer¡­.. he stopped as he reached a cave mouth. He stared at his HUB, the signal from his broken drone was even stronger.


    So there it was, this was the way down. Time to wake the others, and with that thought he turned around. As he slowly got up, he moved toward his commanding officer. As he walked he took stock of the others, feeling a bit of relief that they weren¡¯t hurt. He might have been acting like one of those Sects because of his heritage lately. But he knew the others would kill him if they knew, but he respected them. They had fought back to back, putting their lives in the other hands many times, they were his friends. But he knew it wasn¡¯t to last, his luck wasn''t that good. And he couldn¡¯t ask them to ignore everything they believed in. Once they made it back he would leave, best to retire on a high note after all. With his service done, he would be able to retire to a lone border world and disappear into the wilderness. And then he would be able to do what he wanted to do, gather others like him.


    Reaching Je¡¯ndra, he squatted down and shook her, stepping back after a few seconds in case she struck him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Je¡¯ndra moved her body as she woke, she frowned. Her face wasn¡¯t against her pillow, something was wrong with this. Opening her eyes she saw darkness and wondered what had happened. As the mask slowly regained power and her HUD came online, she frowned. She had slept in her mask? Why?


    At that thought her mind went blank as everything that happened came back to her. As her mask¡¯s vision came back, she looked around, seeing Olv¡¯xic making signs to be quiet. Her sight told her enough, and seeing her prince down almost made her move towards him. It was only the feed from his armor that kept her calm. Looking at the others, she saw they were in the same state, and reasoned that they were all okay.


    Without a word, she made a few signs and moved towards Tar¡¯lroia.


    As she reached down, she forced a spark of power to Tar¡¯loria¡¯s mask, muting the external radio. With a smirk, she nudged her friend with her right foot and jumped back two feet. Tar¡¯loria reacted, jumping to her feet and summoning her glaives. Je¡¯ndra could only giggle as she saw her friend look around, finally stopping when she saw Je¡¯ndra. Then Tar¡¯loria started to make grand gestures but after a few moments went still and then hung her head.


    ¡°[Why do you always do this Je¡¯ndra?]¡±, Tar¡¯loria asked and Je¡¯ndra just smiled as she chuckled.


    ¡°[Because you always have the best reactions! Come on, we need to wake the others,]¡±, Je¡¯ndra said with a laugh as she turned around and moved towards Kon¡¯gric as Olv¡¯xic woke up Ken¡¯tricx.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    A few moments later, they all gathered together, Prince Ar¡¯thor in the middle of their huddle.


    Ro¡¯borlar only looked around, seeing the missed faces of the others from their team. All he could do was hope the others had made it through whatever had caused this to happen. But the information he had to share, wasn¡¯t anything good.


    ¡°[So, I just checked, we are blocked completely from going back the way we came,]¡±, Ro¡¯borlar said bluntly as he looked around. He saw Je¡¯ndra only nodded, and he frowned. He was glad his mask hid his reactions, he wouldn¡¯t want the boss to know he hated this. Oh, he knew they didn¡¯t have a choice really, the Firsstborne Construct had forced the Elders to do what they did. But it just went against everything he knew to just go deeper into the earth. An old tick from his civilian life he guessed, and the Construct didn¡¯t help them.


    ¡°[Well that was what we planned. So we have no choice but to go forward. So why aren¡¯t we moving on?]¡±, Tar¡¯loria asked as she looked around at the others.


    ¡°[There¡¯s a problem,]¡±, Olv¡¯xic said abruptly. When everyone looked at him he looked down and took a deep breath. ¡°My drone, the one I sent into the hive? Well, it¡¯s still transmitting, and there¡¯s a double door into a Firsstborne Ruin down there. And if I¡¯m not wrong this tunnel will lead right there.¡±


    Ro¡¯borlar felt the ground shift beneath him. That there were ruins wherever they had ended up, they knew since they saw the Construct. But the fact that they had no choice but to go at it, was a problem.


    ¡°[I was wondering where that thing came from. And it looked to be a pretty high model. Whatever¡¯s in there must be the dregs so we could¡­],¡± Kon¡¯gric said as he looked around, a not of hope in his voice.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°[Nope! No way,]¡±, Ken¡¯tricx interrupted him, shaking his head.


    ¡°[He¡¯s right, we could tell,]¡±, Ro¡¯borlar said as he looked at the Guard, his expression hidden.


    Kon¡¯gric looked around, and everyone nodded or made gestures that they agreed with Kon¡¯gric and Ken¡¯tricx.


    ¡°[How?!]¡±, Ken¡¯tricx demanded, his hands clenching.


    ¡°[The bugs. That hive was too set up for a Firsstborne Construct to have passed through there. Which means that the Ruins are a lot bigger than just this cave. And that means there has to be another way out through it,]¡±, Je¡¯ndra said.


    Ro¡¯borlar felt a grin form on his face as he chuckled. A chance to tear up a Ruin, destroying anything that still moving was always a good day! The only bad thing was this time they would have to do a speed run.


    ¡°[But will that Destroyer still be the worst down there?]¡±, Kon¡¯gric asked, a note of hope in his voice.


    Ro¡¯borlar only laughed darkly as he looked at the Guard. The man was so beyond even knowledge of the family of Ruin Raiders that it wasn¡¯t funny. There had to be something worse than the Destroyer in the Ruins. Whatever mind was down there had to be keeping its strongest unit as a defender. But that was good, they could use that. The only way that they could get out of this was if they moved along the outskirts of the Ruin. If they did that, they could try and find the way out then run. If they could find the rest of the team or even the crew of the Spirit, then they had a chance.


    It might show their greatest secret, but they were told by their Emperor that it wasn¡¯t worth their lives. He didn¡¯t know if that was the right choice, but that was beyond his level of authority. All in all, he had to hope that the Emperor was making the right choice and that history would look fondly on them all.


    ¡°[Then we can¡¯t go that way! If you even think I¡¯ll take the prince through that horror!]¡±, Kon¡¯gric began and he seemed to be starting to get worked up.


    Ro¡¯borlar only looked at him and tried to keep a sigh down. This was why he hated working with Guards, they had one-track minds. It was important to protect their charges, sure. But when they didn¡¯t have a choice about where to go, they were hard to convince.


    ¡°[My Guard!]¡±, Ar¡¯thor¡¯s cry caused even Ro¡¯borlar to stop talking.


    They went still and looked at the prince. The prince¡¯s mask was glowing white, and even Ro¡¯borlar felt his breath catch in his throat. To see the Prince using his Aether like this, was something. Most people his age didn¡¯t have the skill to do this, but the Prince could. It had to be another reason that his grandfather had sent him.


    ¡°[I have heard that everyone has said, and I agree,]¡±, Ar¡¯thor said softly.


    Ro¡¯borlar felt his mind blank. He hated having nobles along even more than Gaurds, but he expected better from the prince. The emperor was said to be someone who saw reality as it was, not what he tried to make it. That skill had let him lead their people to even higher heights than his father. It was a bitter pill to swallow that the young prince was nothing like his grandfather.


    ¡°[I agree with the others Kon¡¯gric,]¡±, Ar¡¯thor said softly.


    All Ro¡¯borlar could do was blink, not expect that at all. He hadn¡¯t ever been on a mission with the Royal family before, and he liked that. But it seemed that the great tree that was the emperor had a good and solid inheritor after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Kon¡¯gric looked at his prince and tried to keep calm. He had watched over the young prince for years, and this was just like him. He had seen the way Ar¡¯thor talked and explained his point of view many times. And each time it was amazing to see, but never when he was on the other side.


    ¡°[My prince, please. A Ruin? It could kill you!]¡±, Kon¡¯gric said and he saw Ar¡¯thor look at him.


    ¡°We go, we starve or those things attack us from that way. Those are the only options Kon¡¯gric,]¡±, Je¡¯ndra said softly.


    Kon¡¯gric looked at her, a scowl on his face. He stopped when he understood everything and looked around at the tunnel walls. His mask¡¯s sensors went over them, and within seconds he saw how hard they were. He wanted to keep looking, but he knew that what they told him was true. The drone the operator had lost had gone through the insect hive¡¯s main chamber. They were right, he didn¡¯t like it but they had no choice.


    A window appeared on his HUB, it told him that Je¡¯ndra was sending him a private message. Opening the channel, he saw an image of her mask appear in a small square.


    ¡°[We¡¯ll do everything to keep the Prince alive, but there isn¡¯t any other way to go. We have no choice,]¡±, Je¡¯ndra¡¯s soft voice caused Kon¡¯gric to look down and sigh.


    ¡°[The Prince and I will be in the center or the back as we move. And if it¡¯s one of you or he Prince, I will save him,]¡±, Kon¡¯gric said and Je¡¯ndra¡¯s mask disappeared.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Tar¡¯lroia looked around, feeling excited despite herself. She had wanted to be Ruin Raider once she was done with her service, and this was great. She knew how to read Firsstbornee runes, and where to hit to disable some of the more common Constructs. The only problem was that her weapons weren¡¯t the best for this run. She was kitted out as a ¡®short or long range¡¯ fighter, and most Constructs were middle range. Still, she could stay with the Prince as another defender.


    As the group got ready to move down the tunnel, she tried to keep calm. As her grandfather once said, ¡®to go into the Ruins with a clouded mind courted death¡¯. But no matter what happened, she prayed they would survive. If the mind was one of the ¡®hide and defend¡¯ types, their raid would be perfect as long as they didn¡¯t go too deep. And if this place wasn¡¯t a factory, that would make everything so much worse.


    If she had to be honest, she was hoping this was a ¡®radar installation¡¯, that would be easy. The three that were known had been studied extensively. She knew what to expect, what kind of Constructs were there, and traps.


    But for the mind to have sent out a Destroyer to handle them¡­.. that didn¡¯t make sense. What kind of complex could there be down there in the depths? The Destroyer class was the strongest that their people had ever encountered, but how the team faced it bothered her. To send it out as a lone unit, that showed nothing good about the mind here. Destroyers were normally used as hunter killers, but they were very rare. If this place was more advanced or stronger Construct within it, then that was bad. If theses Construct even existed, then why did this place have them? What was it built for, what function was this place made for.


    She just hoped that she would be able to translate enough to let them know what was down here. If they had used a new dialect as well, she didn¡¯t know if her translations would even help. But she had to do everything to help the others. If her work did it, then that was fine. She would just have to use all her knowledge and hope that all her studying had been worth the time.


    As they passed deeper through the tunnel, Tar¡¯lroia tried to keep her mind on her surroundings. But something about them bothered her, something she just couldn¡¯t see. She had experienced that feeling a few times before. And each time she looked back, what she couldn¡¯t see was so easy to see once she knew what it was. but this time, she doubted it would be that easy.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ar¡¯thor looked over Kon¡¯gric¡¯s shoulder, his mind going dark places. He didn¡¯t like the facts he saw. He didn¡¯t think Kon¡¯gric knew, but he also liked to study the more deadly beasts, and insects in particular. He had seen data on three separate species that had traits of the things behind them. And to make it worse, each one was on a world of the Firsstborne.


    As a member of the royal family, he had access to many secrets. He liked to look at declassified reports on the Firstborne, specifically their planets. He had gone over everything he could, and everything he knew told him something was wrong. One of the scholars of the past had written a report based on something he saw in a Ruin once. It resulted in a paper that proposed a theory, one that that had caused the scholar to be sent to prison. Ar¡¯thor had seen the resulting report and he hadn¡¯t slept right for weeks. But he couldn¡¯t pay attention to his fears, he had just seen one species, and that didn¡¯t mean anything. If it was true, then they might find evidence ahead.


    Part of him didn¡¯t want to even believe it was possible, but if it was¡­.. then everything they thought they knew was wrong. He couldn¡¯t even begin to think what else that meant.


    Ar¡¯thor shook his head and tried to think of anything else. He looked over the others over Kon¡¯gric¡¯s shoulders. When the mission into the Federation had been planned, they hadn''t planned for any one team. Each one had been tested, and this team had scored the highest points was chosen as his guards. Every one of them was a perfect warrior, a loyal and honored being. And more to the point, everyone was those who would only follow lawful orders. That was the most important thing, the one thing that was vital.


    He still remembered his grandfather¡¯s orders. This mission was more than seeing if the Federation deserved the alliance of the Elder Ones. It was to talk to them and see what kind of Firsstborne Ruins they had access to. If they had seen things that the Elder Ones hadn¡¯t, and handled them then they might be worthy. He hadn¡¯t been able to talk to any of the Federation¡¯s contact officers about it, he couldn¡¯t even figure out how. If the Federation could help them seal away that one Ruin, then showing all their secrets would be a low price to pay.


    But he had to wonder just how everyone would react, both their own and the Federation. That one secret was beyond anything their people knew, it went against everything they all thought they knew. But that one secret was something that could be the bridge between their peoples.

 Chapters Forty-Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Unnamed  Ruin


    Galactic Standard Time / 1800


    As the group moved down the tunnel, Olv¡¯xic led the way. His link with his drone was the only key they had to make it to the doors. So far, they had made good time and he thought they were maybe halfway there. But something was bothering him, something he couldn¡¯t see. He didn¡¯t know how to explain it, but there was just something there, something he couldn¡¯t see. He hated this feeling, whenever he had it something terrible happened. They had been okay so far, and he wasn¡¯t looking forward to the drop into terror that was coming.


    As they moved into a large cavern over thirty feet high, a hundred feet long, and fifty wide. Olv¡¯xic went still as his mask swept the cavern, looking for anything that was a threat. The cavern had many large stalagmites, each over ten feet high. There were set in the floor here and there, and together they made up what looked like places to fight from. But every third stalagmite had rough holes on them, each over five feet up from the floor. But what bothered Olv¡¯xic was the stains near them, stains all the colors of blood.


    ¡°[Something fought here but when? And who was fighting, was it the bugs or what made this place? Or both, and the bugs won?]¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she moved to stand next to Olv¡¯xic.


    Olv¡¯xic nodded absently as he looked around. He saw three tunnel openings to their left, right, and ahead. Looking at his HUB, he saw the signal was strongest from the tunnel ahead. He scowled as he looked around, trying not to see all the ambush points ahead of them. But no matter how he looked at it, this place was a perfect place to be ambushed. With how they had to travel through it, anything could attack them from the side. Not to mention the right passage was the perfect place for a horde to come pouring out at them.


    ¡°[You see it, don¡¯t you?]¡± Je¡¯ndra asked softly.


    Olv¡¯xic went still and turned to look at her, glad his mask was hiding his face. He had always acted as an egghead, someone with a bare grasp of tactics, and that was how he liked it. To have shown her that he could, wouldn¡¯t be good for him. If she started to look into him, then everything would come out. But now he had a choice, say everything or just say something.


    ¡°[I don¡¯t see anything, but I¡¯m getting a bad feeling about this place. What do you see?]¡± Olv¡¯xic asked softly, feeling a little bad for not saying anything.


    Je¡¯ndra only looked at him and Olv¡¯xic wondered if she had caught onto what he didn¡¯t say, or why. But he had to hope he had been real enough that Je¡¯ndra would make a choice that would keep them alive.


    ¡°[Good feeling, and we¡¯ll in trouble],¡± Je¡¯ndra said softly.


    A moment later Olv¡¯xic¡¯s hub showed that Je¡¯ndra had activated the team chat, and he waited for the shoe to drop. As he moved his hand towards his belt, he prepared to fight his way free


    ¡°[All team, we¡¯ve got a problem here. We¡¯ve walked into an ambush zone. If we go down the middle, we could get hit from the sides. Plus for that, it¡¯s the fastest and we could defend ourselves by putting our backs to those towers. The other idea is that if we go along one of the sides, we might get hit by that side or the other. But time is a factor, those things have to be tracking us,]¡± Je¡¯ndra said Olv¡¯xic looked at his HUB as he waited for the others to talk.


    He stayed silent as he looked at the cavern, and frowned as he looked at it. Something was wrong, something even more deadly. As he looked at the cavern, he listened with one ear to the others. The feeling was getting louder, and something was there at the edge of his sight.


    ¡°[I say down the middle, we need speed. Those things could have found our scent by now. We need to put space between them and us,]¡± Tar¡¯lroia said bitterly over their comms.


    If he was honest, he would have expected that. Tar¡¯lroia was the medic, and she hated being on the back foot like this. And if the others were here, she would probably have been with the spear tip, striking deep into the enemy.


    ¡°[I¡¯ve got enough boom to bring down maybe two more roofs. We have to go down one of those tunnels I can close the way behind us],¡± Ken¡¯tricx offered as he


    As he looked up he frowned, and then he realized just what he wasn¡¯t seeing. Slowly he looked at what he thought were stalagmites and paled as he saw some of them might have moved closer. As he watched them, he cursed himself for not noticing what he could now see so clearly. How could he have even missed it, it was so obvious!


    ¡°[Maybe we should¡­..],¡± Kon¡¯gric began only for Olv¡¯xic to speak up.


    ¡°[Don¡¯t move or react, but those towers? They''re alive and they''re coming to hunt us],¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly as he slowly raised his rifle.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as Olv¡¯xic spoke, Je¡¯ndra looked up and quickly called up the positions of the stalagmites and saw they were moving closer to them. They were all now slowly surrounding them, and how fast they moved was impressive. She had to find a way out of here, there had to be something that they could do!


    But as she tried she saw that the left side was clear, and if they moved fast they might be able to get past them. But the only problem was if they should even try, or move try and find another way down.


    ¡°[Olv¡¯xic, can you find us another way down?],¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she slowly moved her hand down. With but a single thought, she would summon her pistol and be ready to fire.


    As she watched she thought she saw one of the creatures move slowly towards them.


    ¡°[Yeah, but it might just lead back here. But should we try and break through?]¡± Olv¡¯xic asked over the comms.


    Je¡¯ndra had to think about it, but as she gazed at the creatures, the answer came to her. From looking at them and then thinking about what they had on hand or in bags, she didn¡¯t see any other choice to make. They had enough to break through sure, but if the bugs came, the group would die. They become food. No, this time desertion was the best thing to do.


    ¡°[No, we retreat. Everyone moves slowly, very slowly. We¡¯re leaving now!]¡± Je¡¯ndra ordered as her pistol appeared in her hand.


    ¡°[Want me to block this?]¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked and Je¡¯ndra


    ¡°[Negative, save your explosives for later. You¡¯re before me, they come at us then do it,]¡± Je¡¯ndra said but then Olv¡¯xic broke in.


    ¡°[Before us!]¡± Olv¡¯xic said as his rifle appeared in his hands.


    Slowly, the others left until only Je¡¯ndra and Olv¡¯xic were looking at the false stalagmites.


    ¡°[Think they¡¯ve ever seen anything like us before?]¡± Olv¡¯xic asked as he looked around the cavern.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    The creatures watched as the strange two-legged things left. The creatures were wondering just what the intruders were. They weren¡¯t the many-legged or the prey beasts, but they didn''t act like anything they''ve ever seen. Whenever other strange ones came through their territory fast, they always flew. Still, with how the new eggs would hatch soon, the creatures needed to protect their eggs. They had been making a good living here, and it was better than their time traveling along the other''s nest. This generation would let them change things, and hopefully, most would be born this time.


    The many-legged ones had been attacking them from three of four tunnels into their nest for a while now. The strange sounds had caused them to wake up and gather near the tunnel it came from. As they waited, some thought it might be some new weapon of the many-legged. But instead of new horrors, many two legged armored creatures appeared. They had gathered around them, waiting for them to attack but instead, they had left.


    For moments after, the false mites only cooed at each other, each one making sounds of confusion. Nothing that had ever come into their nest had ever acted that way. From how the many walkers always sent in wave tactics to the three walkers trying  to pierce them. And now the strange two walkers just went away after seeing them all.


    Very strange, all creatures but the prey always attacked them, this was the first time they hadn¡¯t met in battle with new ones. The creatures looked at each other and moved away, slowly gathering around their eggs to wait. Soon the new ones would hatch and they would be able to hunt again. They could shed the upper armor and then move to hunt under the many sparkles.


    As the creatures moved back to their former location, some went to the right and left tunnels. These were the strongest, the guards. Their job was waiting for anything to come at them, to be the shield of the weaker ones. The sounds they had heard might be something the others in the under had done, and that meant trouble. The one thing they all knew was the first rule of survival, always look for the worst.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the group moved back the way they had come, Kon¡¯gric and Prince Ar¡¯thor hung back. Ar¡¯thor didn¡¯t let the others know, but his armor was special. Its system had programming and the gear to let him listen in on all conversations near him. So he had heard Je¡¯ndra talk to the one called Olv¡¯xic. And Ar¡¯thor could tell that Olv¡¯xic soldier was holding something back.


    And something was bothering him, something about the soldier called Olv¡¯xic. He had known a few who didn¡¯t put down their homes and clans. But most of them only did so to keep from ¡®riding¡¯ on their ancestors'' deeds. Most of the time. Something about him made him think something else, something more.


    But that wasn¡¯t even the worst of the problems he saw. He had never heard of things that acted as those ¡®false mites did. There was only one reason that he could think of. But the very idea was something that was against everything he thought he knew. If it was possible, then it showed just how wrong this place was. and the source And he had to wonder if he should even bring it up, but then there was something else. As they all ran, Ar¡¯thor made a choice, he had to talk to the leader about it. So without waiting he looked at Je¡¯ndra and sent a comm request to her.


    A moment later her mask symbol appeared on his HUD, and she spoke. ¡°[My prince, what is it?]¡±


    Ar¡¯thor took a minute to try and think about how to say. ¡°[Leader Azorinic, those creatures behind us. Did anything about their actions bother you too?]¡±


    For a few moments Je¡¯ndra said nothing, and Ar¡¯thor was wondering that he was wrong to bring it up. And just when he was about to close the comms and apologize for wasting her time Je¡¯ndra spoke up.


    ¡°[Yes my prince. This whole area is bothering me. Any wild beast would attack from ambush first, but they didn¡¯t. I. I have a bad feeling about this],¡± Je¡¯ndra said.


    Ar¡¯thor felt relief, at least he wasn¡¯t seeing things. ¡°[Do you think¡­. No, it¡¯s insane. I¡¯m sorry¡­.]¡±


    ¡°[Yes my prince. I do think they might be sentient. It¡¯s the only explanation that makes sense],¡± Je¡¯ndra said and Ar¡¯thor felt a little faint.


    Sentient life on the same planet as Firstborne Ruins wasn¡¯t good. Could those bugs have been the same? could they have attacked them out of anger, not instincts? Was there a reason they were down here, in the dark? All Ar¡¯thor could do was shudder as another thought came his way. If they lived down here, then those bugs must either be predators or prey to them. Probably both.


    ¡°[How¡­.. what is this place? Is it because of the Ruin?],¡± Ar¡¯thor asked and he heard nothing from Je¡¯ndra.


    All Ar¡¯thor could do was sigh, his mind going dark places. He didn¡¯t like anything about this, nothing made sense! What was the point of the Ruin being here? Did it have any connection to why they couldn¡¯t remember what happened to the Spirit of Adventure? Or was it not connected, and this was all a strange coincidence? Part of him wanted to believe it was possible, but his gut told him it wasn¡¯t. As he thought about the Spirit, he felt faint as connections were made in his head.


    ¡°[No, that¡¯s not possible. Why here?!]¡± Ar¡¯thor asked out loud and for a moment he didn¡¯t even remember that


    ¡°[My Prince?]¡± Je¡¯ndra asked in concern.


    Ar¡¯thor looked up and remembered who he was talking to and looked away. ¡°[It¡¯s nothing, just a stray thought that I hope is wrong. We need to find a place to rest for the night, soon. We can make our way to the Ruins tomorrow.]¡±


    Ar¡¯thor closed the connection and sank against his Guard¡¯s back. His mind went into the darkness, wondering just how those monsters could have been there. The space lane was well-traveled, and there was no hint that those things had ever been there. So why, in the Name of the Elder Ones, were those things there?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    At the head of the group, Ro¡¯borlar looked around. He was still wondering what had happened back there, what those things were. He was having a hard time understanding what had happened. Nothing made sense to him.


    When living creatures stumbled into the territory of ambush predators, the predators attacked. That was unlike any expectance he ever had. He was a scout, he belonged in the wilds. He had studied the habits of all beasts, the better to pass by them. And he had seen most of them growing up in the wilds of his world. From Flyers that hunted other Flyers, to Swimmers that hunted those that lived on land. He had seen and learned about more terrible creatures, and how to kill them. But he had nothing felt anything like the feeling those things gave off off to him.


    ¡°[All team listen up! We need a way around, and it''s late. We¡¯ll head back to the cave-in and make camp there. We¡¯ll sleep in shifts, I¡¯ll take the last. Olv¡¯xic, Ken¡¯tricx; I want you to set up a sensor unit once we get there! I don¡¯t care who has the first watch! Who wants it?]¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice caused Ro¡¯borlar to go still


    Ro¡¯borlar heard the finality in Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice, and that almost bothered him. The boss lady rarely had that kind of voice. Unless it was battle, if one of the others had a point to make, they could. But then they hadn¡¯t ever had a prince along, did they? The kid must have made a judgment call, not the worst one. They could go along, but those things in the cavern showed that there were more down here than the bugs. If there were other predators out here in the darkness of the tunnels, they needed to be on their guard. And with the way the last few hours had been, the best thing to do was get something to eat.


    The more he thought of their next goal, the more he liked it. He could get the first watch, and then sleep deep tonight. And when he woke, he could go out and scout a route based on what the droner showed him. Once he found a way down, he would get the others, it best to go into unknown territory together.


    But as he led the way back to where they had woken up, something pinged his mask¡¯s sensors. He went still and held up a closed fist, the others moving to stand together. As they looked out past him, Ro¡¯borlar felt a grin form as once more his blood was pumping.


    Something small ran towards them, but instead of firing, all Ro¡¯borlar did was throw his arms out. As the small thing fell to the ground, Ro¡¯borlar went towards it, chanting under his breath.


    ¡°[Doc, get over here!]¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked as he looked down. As Tar¡¯lroia came closer, Ro¡¯borlar moved aside. The thing before them all was a small two-foot high and two-foot-long black insect-like creature. It had two pincers under its mouth that were filled with sharp dagger-like teeth. It had no eyes, only four antennae where eyes would normally be. Its body was long and segmented, each piece about a half-foot long. Each segment had around ten small legs that each ended in sharp-looking claws. But what stood out were the white spikes sticking out of its body.


    But what bothered Ro¡¯borlar the most was the black blood coming from the bottom of each spike.


    Tar¡¯lroia sat down and looked at the bug before her, her mask telling her nothing good. [Oh dear. This is bad, very bad].¡±


    [¡°Tar, what is it?]¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as Tar¡¯lroia swallowed and looked at her.


    ¡°]Well to start, this thing, the spikes aren¡¯t something it was born with. These are weapons, probably of whatever hunted it. And even worse, each one has a chemical on it, I think a poison for this thing],¡±


    Ro¡¯borlar looked out into the darkness ahead and saw the passage the bug came out of.


    ¡°[So beside the bugs and those things back there, there¡¯s another creature down here? One that has spikes that are poisoned? What did we do to dissever this?]¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked mournfully as he summoned his axes.


    Ro¡¯borlar snorted under his mask. There was no higher power at work here, just bad luck. From crashing here to only having half their team to this, it was just luck. The random acts of chance and reaction, nothing of any higher power at work here.


    ¡°[No, not really. The poison is not coming from the spikes. Something put it on them],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly and with that, Ro¡¯borlar felt nothing but fear. If something put the poison on the spikes, that means it did so to hunt. That meant that whatever did this was aware, it could think. And if it could think, that meant it could plan.

 Chapter Forty Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Unnamed  Ruin


    Galactic Standard Time / 1830


    As the group looked out at the direction the strange creature had come from, their weapons in their hands.  Ro¡¯borlar activated his armor¡¯s sensor suite, focusing on the tunnel ahead of them. He scowled as he saw movement coming from 100 yards away. ¡°[Contact! 100 Yards and closing!]¡±


    ¡°[It must have come from a path we missed! But how?!]¡± Je¡¯ndra snarled as she summoned her pistols.


    All Ro¡¯borlar could do was agree with her, and the fact he missed it was a mark of shame. But then a strange thought went through his brain and he almost fell over. He looked down at the creature, gazing at its mouth, seeing what he thought he would. He was about to say something when a beep brought his eyes back to the HUD and he cursed again. [Five more of them! Coming in fast, they¡¯re already at 50 yards!]¡±


    His system detected movement and he was starting to hear noise from ahead. Strange crude sounds  but signs nonetheless that something was coming. But beyond that, he couldn¡¯t see anything. And that was the problem, because even with everything he had he couldn¡¯t see anything at all. He looked down at the dead creature and without a word, pulled out a small spike he threw into the corpse.


    He hated these kinds of fights, they were always hard and on the edge of life and death. But that was when he had been fighting Aeher using sentients, something that was always hard. The one thing he hoped he was wrong about was the Aether using. If they had to deal with Aether using sentient too, then this planet was officially on his ¡®destroy¡¯ list!


    ¡°[Where are they? I mean I see them but where are they!?]¡± Tar¡¯lroia demanded as she panned around the tunnel, trying to find whatever was coming at them.


    ¡°[ABOVE! The ceiling! Firing!]¡± Olv¡¯xic said moments before a bolt of plasma flew over their heads.


    As one they all looked up, seeing the bolt of plasma Olv¡¯xic fired hit the ceiling. After that came a screech of anger from the darkness. The bolt¡¯s impact explosion illuminated a white spear. It was being held by a small white hand but before they could see more darkness returned.


    ¡°[WHAT ARE THEY!?]¡± Ken¡¯tricx snarled as he panned his rifle, trying to find what charging them.


    ¡°[Weapons! Whatever these are, they can think!]¡± Kon¡¯gric growled.


    ¡°[No hostile actions!] Ar¡¯thor¡¯s voice over their comms caused Ro¡¯borlar to almost fire before he registered what his prince said. ¡°[Move away, back now! This might be a hunter after its prey!]¡±


    Ro¡¯borlar could see what their prince meant, and he hoped whatever this was could understand their actions. If it wasn¡¯t that evolved, then it might still be at the ¡®kill everything different to eat it¡¯ stage. And that would make this so much harder. But he kept quiet and moved away from corpse slowly, leaving what had to be its kill between them and the hunter.


    His eyes were on the location of the creature and he finally saw it come out of a hole in the wall. It was small, maybe at most two feet tall. It had pure white skin and three milky eyes above a round maw of needle-like teeth. It had two arms that ended in four claws, and on the right one was a long spear that was at least a foot long. On the tip of it was a large red crystal, and it was pointing right at them. As he watched, the creature moved down the wall with three long legs that ended in spikes. As it reached the dead creature the hunter looked at them and hissed, a foot-long tongue shot out of its mouth. When the tongue retreated the hunter glared at them before it grabbed the dead creature and moved away, keeping the group in sight.


    Ro¡¯borlar looked at where the creature had been, a thousand questions on his lips. That thing, that hunter, it had been bigger than he thought it would. But then he only had the logic of his world to go on. That hunter was just the next sign that whatever this place was, it wasn¡¯t normal.


    ¡°[The bugs were one thing, but that? I think wherever we are it has to be in Federation space, probably one they were keeping quiet about. But how did the ship crash here?]¡± Kon¡¯gric asked as he looked around at the others. He frowned and looked at Jen¡¯ndra. [Leader Xond Azorinic, how did we miss where that thing came from?]¡±


    ¡°[I guess we could have missed a hole for something that small. But we should have detected the airflow. I can¡¯t explain it],¡± Je¡¯ndra said and Ro¡¯borlar only snorted.


    ¡°[If the prey thing didn¡¯t make the new tunnel],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said and he felt the others stare at him. He didn¡¯t pay attention, he kept his attention on his HUD, keeping an eye on the tracker in the corpse. It showed the hunter moving away along the same tunnel the group had traveled down. As he watched, the hunter moved into one of the walls around 70 meters down, and Ro¡¯borlar released his breath. ¡°[And I was right, I think.¡±]


    ¡°[How can you even sa¡­..You put a tracker into the corpse, didn¡¯t you?]¡± Olv¡¯xic asked and Ro¡¯borlar nodded.


    ¡°[It went through a wall about 70 meters from us. We should double our watch once we make it to the cave-in],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he desummoned his weapon.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic just mask palmed and felt a headache forming behind his eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe Ro¡¯borlar sometimes, he just couldn¡¯t. An unknown sentient is contacted, and he desecrates the being¡¯s kill. That hunter might have been perceived as anything, from being shamed and having to hunt them down. Or maybe it was a challenge, that the hunter must now hunt the party down for a fight to the death. All Olv¡¯xic knew as he glared at Ro¡¯borlar was that this whole place suddenly became even more deadly to them.


    Without a single word, he sent a request to Je¡¯ndra for a private talk, and within moments her mask icon was on his HUD. ¡°[We¡¯re gonna have trouble with that hunter, aren¡¯t we?]¡±


    ¡°[Yes, we are. The path to the doors, how¡¯s the signal?]¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s question stopped Olv¡¯xic short.


    He gazed at his display, seeing the signal and what they saw as they followed the strongest source. He saw a passage about 50 meters ahead, and then he blinked as everything suddenly made sense to him.


    The hunter, must not have been alone. There had to be more. If they prowled the tunnels for food, they had to have found the cavern. If they found the cavern, they found the creatures within. If they found the creatures, one or the other must have attacked first. Then that means the damages they saw must have been from combat. And the battle must have been against either the three-legged beings or the bugs. The way the false mites were spread out meant they were waiting for an attack. If they were covering three ways into the cavern then that meant attacks could come from all of them. So that supported the idea that they were more of the little things. And they were standing around on the path that the hunters used to attack the cavern. And a scout just left to go back to its people that new food was waiting for them.


    ¡°[Boss, we need to move now! Even going back the way we came and charging along the left would be better than going on!]¡± Olv¡¯xic barked as he turned around, only to come face to face with Je¡¯ndra.


    ¡°[Why, what did you figure out warrior],¡± Ar¡¯thor asked over the open line and Olv¡¯xic went still.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    To even talk to a royal at his rank, was near heresy. But if he was right, then they were all in very real danger.


    ¡°[Those things in the cavern? They were in defensive positions around those three tunnel openings. They had to be defending themselves from the bugs and probably the hunters we just met. We have to move now, get ourselves beyond the cavern to keep those things between us. That¡¯s why the hive was so far up, they were hiding from what¡¯s down here!]¡± Olv¡¯xic said and looked around. He saw the others straighten up and saw the shields of Guard Kon¡¯gric flare for a second. ¡°[We can¡¯t stay here, we have to move fast!]¡±


    All Olv¡¯xic did was look straight at Je¡¯ndra, willing his leader to understand. If there was a single chance that they would live beyond this day, they had to move now while they still had time to do so. They just didn¡¯t have a choice, they had nothing but a terrible path to follow. She had to see that, there wasn¡¯t any other way to go.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra looked at Olv¡¯xic, trying to understand how he figured everything out so fast. Once he said it, it was so obvious that she almost cursed herself for not seeing it. And Olv¡¯xic had seen the creatures and the cavern for what it was in an instant. That was interesting, very interesting.


    But that wasn¡¯t important right now, the situation they were in was. if the tactical data she had just been handed was true, they did need to move. ¡°[We go back now, Guard take the middle! Olv¡¯xic with me! Ken¡¯tricx and Ro¡¯borlar, Rear guard! Tar¡¯lroia with the Guard! Fast travel everyone, Aether speed once we make it to the cavern, we¡¯re going right!]¡±


    As she turned and started to run, the others fell into step behind her. As they moved, her thoughts went to Olv¡¯xic. This was the second time in the same day that he had shown that he was more than what he usually was.


    She was starting to wonder just what he was hiding. The few times she had seen him go beyond what he normally did were easily explained. But now? There had to be a story behind him, why he was using only one name, how he never said anything about where he was from.


    But as they ran back down the tunnel, she put that aside. Now was the time for action, the time for battle. And she had to keep all her attention on what was happening now.


    ¡°[Leader, do you think he¡¯s right? Will more of those things come after us?] Ar¡¯thor¡¯s voice caused her to wince.


    ¡°[It makes sense, and it explains everything. But I don¡¯t know how we¡¯ll get past those things my prince. Maybe¡­..],¡± Je¡¯ndra began only for Ar¡¯thor to interrupt her.


    ¡°[I will talk to them. I will get passage to the gates from them. But stand ready to use everything we have to get there],¡± Ar¡¯thor said stoically and softly with a hard edge to his voice.


    ¡°[My prince, how could you¡­¡­],¡± Je¡¯ndra asked softly.


    ¡°[I have the skill; Mind to Mind. I¡¯ll fall asleep after using it, but it¡¯s the best choice we have],¡± Ar¡¯thor said softly.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter moved through the passage the beast had made, happy beyond words. Behind it four more of its kind followed. One was armed with a spear, another two with crude bows and arrows while the last held a club. They looked at their hunt-leader, some of them were confused. The prey had died and to make it even better, they had found more! But they had have light throwers like the Creators things did. But there were so few of them, that was wonderful! This meant that that power wasn¡¯t just theirs, that it could be taken! Once the horde was called, they would swarm over the strange prey.


    As it turned a corner it came out into a large cavern. It saw others of its kind, some of them cutting into more dead prey beasts as it approached. The hunter threw the corpse it was carrying at them and moved on, ignoring the screeches behind him. It didn¡¯t care, it had more important things to do. once the master knew what it found, they would all hunt.


    It looked down at another part of its kind cutting into the prey beasts. One of them pulled back ass a purple liquid came out of its corpse. It grabbed a crystal bottle and let the liquid fall into it, leaping back before it got onto him. The hunter only chittered and moved on, looking at a sizzling hole being formed in the rock of the floor.


    The hunter moved on, past a few more of its kind. These ones  dressed in leather robes and were moving among eggs, each one a half foot tall and wide. The hunter nodded, not slowing down as it continued, its goal in sight. The four of its kind that were following it peeled off at this point. Each of them moving towards another area of the cavern, leaving the hunter alone to continue on.


    After another few minutes, it finally got where it was going. Before it was a large tunnel entrance ten feet wide and tall. Before it four of its own stood there, each one holding a spear and foot-tall shield as they stood guard.


    They barked at the hunter, screeches that the hunter returned, and it was let in. As it passed by them the others glared at it. The hunter only moved on, ready to do its duty.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they all ran, Tar¡¯lroia kept her eyes on her HUD, trying to see if her sensors noticed anything. With the reality  that more tunnels could be made by what was down here, she was nervous. This was a security nightmare, they had to move fast and hope speed could keep them safe!


    And she cursed whatever was wrong with this planet! Creatures with acid strong enough to melt stone? What had happened to evolution here?! Even some of the wild worlds they had been sent to for missions hadn¡¯t had things like this one! It was like this whole place was some kind of bio-weapon lab gone wild!


    Tar¡¯lroia went still, her mind going dark places. She just stood there, the others moving past her as her mind went into overdrive. As she tried to think of anything to disprove her wild thought, she found nothing. She was about to bring up her wild idea when Je¡¯ndra spoke.


    ¡°[All forces listen to me],¡± Je¡¯ndra started as a map of the cavern with the creatures appeared on Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s HUD. Four symbols moved towards the creatures while the remaining three stayed back.


    ¡°[When we get there I want everyone but Olv¡¯xic and Kon¡¯gric to watch the back. While the Prince talks to these things with his Aether ability, Kon¡¯gric, Olv¡¯xic and myself will cover him. Everyone else doesn¡¯t attack. They make the first move we burn our way through them. Any questions?]¡± Je¡¯ndra asked and Tar¡¯lroia blinked.


    For a moment Tar¡¯lroia wondered why she was being sent to the back. But then she almost spoke up and then stopped. Aether abilities to communicate with other beings held nothing back. If she spoke up and told them of her theory, those things would know it too. If that happened, those things might kill the team as offerings for their creators. No, the best thing to do was not say a thing.


    ¡°[Got it, boss, I¡¯ll drop a sensor pod back here, if anything comes we¡¯ll know. Want me to set up a boom-boom surprise?] Ken¡¯tricx asked with a little hope in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter cried out in pain. It had lost all of its legs and one of its arms, and it whimpered as its master stood above it. When it had come into the chamber, it expected many things but this. when it had tried to pass on the news of its find instead of being praised it was insulted. Its leader had said something about how it was a coward. It should have fought and brought one of the dead bodies of the light throwers.


    Never mind that it was only a hunter, never mind that it had been sent out to die alone if more of the prey beasts were there. That it had done everything its master wanted, and it was being punished for not going beyond its orders? When it had protested, its master had ordered it to be killed. It looked up at the master¡¯s four guards, each one eating one of its limbs. Already the master was bellowing for the horde to prepare for war, that it was time to kill the false mites! That they and they alone would take the power of the light throwers.


    As the hunter stayed there, the guards threw the remains of its limbs away. They spat at it before they followed after the leader, as outside calls for war sounded. It was alone, with only its limbs and some food alone in the chamber. It stayed there, the wounds it had taken scabbing over as the sounds of many feet leaving echoed off the walls.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    All Olv¡¯xic could do was stare at Je¡¯ndra, shocked beyond words. But not too far gone to have missed Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s suggestion. For a second all he could do was stare at him, trying and failing to speak as his mouth opened and closed.


    ¡°[Are you stupid?! We can¡¯t bring the roof down on our heads! If we have to escape, that¡¯s our only way!]¡± Tar¡¯lroia exclaimed and


    ¡°[And my Prince will know that soldier and the creatures will know it too! We can¡¯t do something like that while asking to pass through their territory!]¡± Je¡¯ndra spat harshly


    ¡°[I thought it might be nice, a way to keep those hunter things out. Bad idea then?]¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked and Olv¡¯xic sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°[My friend, things here can tunnel through the rocks. That means these tunnels are only here because it¡¯s easy for them to use. if we break the tunnel, anything could happen],¡± Olv¡¯xic said and he saw Ken¡¯tricx shuffle his feet.


    ¡°[It is standard ops],¡± Ken¡¯tricx like a child being scolded.


    Olv¡¯xic just sighed and ¡®masked palmed¡¯ at the mental image that was created.


    ¡°[Any other it would be. But they¡¯re right, we can¡¯t let the Prince¡¯s negotiations be in jeopardy],¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she flashed a few hand signs. Olv¡¯xic read them and grinned a little. Lady Je¡¯ndra was that kind of leader, one who found ways to get around problems. All they needed now was for the ¡®talk¡¯ with these ¡®false-mites¡¯ to go well, and they were going to be just fine.


    But then Olv¡¯xic went still as he felt her eyes on him. The only bad thing about that was that she remembered things. And that was bad for him.

 Chapter Fifty

    Ar¡¯thor kept his eyes shut as he muttered a calming mantra under his breath. He tried to keep calm as he they moved ever closer to the cavern . He had only used his ability with beings who had known his language or beasts he had raised, and he was a little nervous. He was told that by his elders that it was easy to hide things, even when using it to talk. But he was worried, the skill worked on the assumption that both targets had a language. For all he knew they were beasts. But even if they could talk, who knew how these they talked to each other, by smell?!


    As the group moved closer, Ar¡¯thor took a deep breath and tried to keep calm. He had no other choice, this was the best thing that he could do to help the others. If they could just talk to those beings, then they might be able to help each other. The way those beings had reacted gave him hope, if they could coordinate then they had to have a language. And if not, then the power he had leaned for his mission wouldn¡¯t work. All that he could do was hope that this would work, that everything would turn out all right.


    ¡°[My prince, take heart],¡± The voice of his guard caused Ar¡¯thor¡¯s eyes to look up, seeing Kon¡¯gric¡¯s glyph on his mask. He forced a small smirk down as his eyes locked on the glyph, feeling a small sense of peace.


    ¡°[Was my heart going faster good guard?],¡± Ar¡¯thor asked and Kon¡¯gric only chuckled.


    ¡°[No, I just know you my prince. I have protected you for a long time. And this is just like some of the times in the past when you stepped up. Just remember what the Emperor told you once. Just keep calm, follow the plan, and don¡¯t worry too much. That power you mastered will let you speak to this creature if they can speak. And if they can¡¯t talk, then all we have to do is scare them off while running to the door],¡± Kon¡¯gric said bluntly.


    Ar¡¯thor just took a moment before he felt his spirits rise. He knew that Kon¡¯gric was just trying to help him, he probably saw Ar¡¯thor¡¯s vitals and knew what his charge was feeling. Still, Kon¡¯gric was right. The path before them needed him to make it work, and there was nothing else to do. Ar¡¯thor had to talk to the leader of the creatures, it was the only way that he saw to let them pass them in peace.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic looked around the tunnel as he walked behind them. He wasn¡¯t sure about what Prince Ar¡¯thor wanted to do, but they had to go this way. If they couldn¡¯t get permission to pass by them, then they would have to go through them. And they didn¡¯t know how much of them were their bodies or the stone they used as armor. He had tracked down creatures that used acid to hollow out homes. And he seen the dead used as building materials to make armor. To say that he was worried that if they fought those things it would be a losing fight was like saying the void was cold. The Prince¡¯s plan had to work, there was nothing else to do.


    As he dropped another sensor unit, his mask showed a beep and he nodded to himself. He didn¡¯t like this place, something about it just bothered him. There was a strange feeling here, something about it just put him on edge. He didn¡¯t know what was causing it, he hadn¡¯t felt anything like this when the team raided other Precursor sites. He looked around, shaking his head, and for an instant wondered what could be different here. To try and calm his nerves, he started to list all the sites and what made them similar.


    ¡°[Je¡¯ndra to team, time to start planning people],¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice suddenly came over his comm.


    ¡°[Tar¡¯lroia here, what¡¯s the call boss? I¡¯m guessing this is about the problem we might run into]?¡± Archermed01 asked next as her icon appeared on Olv¡¯xic¡¯s visor.


    ¡°[Yes. The prince hasn¡¯t told us just how close he has to be to use his skill. If those things attack us I want us to have options. But above all the Prince must live, that is the mission],¡± Je¡¯ndra said sternly.


    Olv¡¯xic kept silent as the others kept talking, trying to figure out how to handle the prince¡¯s plan. His mind wasn¡¯t on the talk, instead, he went over everything that he knew about the Precursor ruins. There was something he just couldn¡¯t see, something that he was missing.


    ¡°[I can¡¯t go with the guard to watch the little prince boss. I¡¯ll do the most good by staying back. Once my guns start going we can fall back. Maybe we can find where that three-legged thing came from if we have to],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said as his icon appeared next.


    Olv¡¯xic started to go over everything he knew, everything each ruin was like. After a few thoughts, he wondered what had caused that Precursor robot to attack. Most of the time, when ruins were raided, the bots were all offline. And then they only fought for a few moments before they deactivated. But then that was obvious, it was expected. After all, all ruins didn¡¯t have¡­..


    As the thought crystallized in his mind, Olv¡¯xic went till and stopped moving. He felt his blood leave his face as he went over that same thought again and again. There was no way, no way in all of the stars! The very thought was so impossible that he was almost embarrassed to even think it! The odds against that being the case, why they were so high to not even bother to count? Every other site was, so why was this one? The only way that this was possible was if¡­..


    Olv¡¯xic felt the last of his blood leave his face as his heart stopped. That explained everything, everything added up. If he was right then they were going towards the heart of the enemy, and they might not leave alive.


    ¡°[Hey, Olv¡¯xic? You okay man?],¡± Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s voice caused Olv¡¯xic to look up and see Heavyweapon1 looking at him.


    ¡°[Ken¡¯tricx¡­. Yeah, sorry. I just thought of something, something stupid. It¡¯s nothing really, just an impossible thought. Nothing to worry about, really],¡± Olv¡¯xic said and Heavyweapon1 nodded and turned away.


    Olv¡¯xic just kept walking, his mind going over the impossible thing before him. If he was right, how had he felt it? He didn¡¯t know anything, nothing made sense. If he was right, what made this place so different? All he could do was wait, and hope that he was wrong.


    But if he wasn¡¯t, if he wasn¡¯t¡­.. he could see nothing before him but trouble, pain, and terror. The Precursor Destroyer was just the strongest ENCOUNTERED robot. Nothing that had been found in the Ruins listed it as the strongest. Some scholars even theorized that the Destroyers had only survived the ages by luck. Those same scholars even it was because they were made for defense of the Ruins, not to attack. That the greatest of the Progenitor¡¯s weapons had been used up in the final war that led to their deaths.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    And if they were unlucky, they might find the fabled unit here, finally putting to rest so many theories. But for now, Olv¡¯xic would keep walking and be ready to help his team.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ken¡¯tricx looked over his shoulder with a back sensor, a frown on his face. He knew that the kid kept a lot of secrets, but something was wrong here. He never wanted to push, but something was telling him that he would have to soon. He didn¡¯t want to, he thought that the kit was learning that he could trust them.


    During the years they had worked together, the kid had stayed away, always wearing his mask even on base. That wasn¡¯t too bad, it was allowed for those who had honorable reasons to hide, but something about the kid. He didn¡¯t act like most of the Masked. The kid talked normally and always tried to fade into the background. He took the most hidden tasks, and did nothing that would let others know his name. Most of the Masked tried to stand out, and always took the most visible jobs. Something about making up for their lost honor or some old-fashioned garbage. The kid was more modern than Ken¡¯tricx, and he was from a planet that was the movie capital of the Kingdom!


    Ken¡¯tricx always trusted his instincts, and they were screaming. They said that the kid was hiding something that the others needed to know. But if he pushed, then he would lose everything he had built with the kid and they need to trust each other. If they didn¡¯t, then they would die apart when they had to stand together. So he didn¡¯t have a choice then, to stay silent and hope that the kid told them before they were in the reds. But for now, he would stay a little more alert, if anything threatened his team they would run into him first.


    At the head of the group, Je¡¯ndra looked around as she tried and failed to keep calm. So far everything was going okay, but she was waiting for the boot to drop. From the Precursor robot to the three-legged thing behind them. It was like this mission had just gotten worse as time passed. And now they were planning on raiding a Precursor ruin with only half the team.


    But they had no choice, there was nothing else to do if they wanted to live. There wasn¡¯t a way out beyond the ruins, and they needed to go through the cavern to get there. And the cavern was full of a possible sentient race. To get by them the Prince would talk to with his skill, and that was the only way they could talk to these things. She could see all the ways this could go wrong, but she saw nothing else to do.


    Part of her understood how mad this was, but part of her saw the truth. They needed knowledge if they were to breach the doors. The only way they knew the doors were even there was because of a drone that attacked the queen bug¡¯s chambers. The hole it crashed down led to the queen, and if she hadn¡¯t sent hunters after it, they might smell the team anyway. The only thing to do was breach the doors, hopefully before the bugs found them. But again, the problem was how they would get by the bugs!


    She wanted to think that the Prince¡¯s plan would work, she did. But it hinged on the question that they didn''t know the team was sentient . For all they knew, the creatures knew that the team could think and they wanted to eat them anyway. If that happened, they would need to fight their way through them, and that would be her problem. If they could strike first, then they might have a chance. But the Prince wanted to try and talk to them, and that would make a first strike impossible. And once the Prince talked mind to mind, the enemy would know a few things about them. But the only other way to do this was to go against her prince¡¯s command, and that was something she just wasn¡¯t ready to do.


    A beeping caused her to look up and see Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s icon on her mask¡¯s HUD and she sighed. With a thought, she was connected to him and released a sigh. ¡°[Yes Ro¡¯borlar?],¡±


    ¡°[Leader, the plan¡­¡­ I want to be one of his guards with you. My blades could buy you some time to get away if it fails],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said softly


    Je¡¯ndra just blinked as she ran what he said through her mind. She was struck dumb for a few seconds before she realized what he wasn¡¯t saying and she scowled. ¡°[NO! There will be no sacrificing on this team, ever! No matter what we will all go home!]¡±


    ¡°[Leader, we don¡¯t have a choice. We have to keep him safe. Ours for his, that the mission],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said.


    All Je¡¯ndra could do was stare at her HUD, her mind going dark places. She understood what he was saying, but she didn¡¯t like it. She ran her team like a well-oiled machine, and it was based on trust. Trust in her to keep them alive. This was not how she led her team, sacrificing others to do the mission. But this was Royalty and the favored grandson of their Emperor. Some said that the Prince was next in line, so they had to keep him alive. But could she allow Ro¡¯borlar to do what he didn¡¯t say?


    ¡°[NO! We¡¯ll find another way, I don¡¯t know how but we will! I¡­. We¡¯ll talk it out with the others and figure out something once we get there, maybe lure one of them to the cave mouth. The Prince could talk to that one first. Or something else, but we won¡¯t do what you said, do you understand me?],¡± Je¡¯ndra spat out forcibly.


    Ro¡¯borlar stayed silent and after a few moments, his icon disappeared.


    Je¡¯ndra just huffed and scowled. She knew him enough to know he wouldn¡¯t put the thought down. He was always like that, if the mission needed to leave someone to die, he always tried to do it. She knew that when she took him into her team after his old one died, there would be problems. But she wondered sometimes if she should have allowed him to be discharged from service. Could he have gotten help, would he be happier if she had?


    Je¡¯ndra was so deep in thought that she never noticed Tar¡¯lroia come up behind her until she put a hand on her shoulder.


    Looking behind her, she saw Tar¡¯lroia and her icon blinking on her HUD.


    ¡°[So did he offer to ¡®be the rearguard¡¯ again?],¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked once the connection between their masks was opened.


    ¡°[Of course he did. I¡­.. when we get home we have to put him on medical leave, maybe even a medical discharge],¡± Je¡¯ndra said softly.


    ¡°[I think he just needs to face what happened. He needs to know that what he did was the right thing. I¡­¡­I¡¯m not a mental healer, I might have done all I can do for him. He¡¯ll just become a mercenary if you do that you know],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly.


    Je¡¯ndra just nodded. She knew her friend was right. but what else was she to do? Transfer him? He¡¯d just ask for a posting that had a high mortality rate, and that would be the last they¡¯d ever see of him. And he deserved more than that, after everything that happened, he deserved so much more. But then that was the fate of those like him sometimes.


    ¡°[For now, keep an eye on him. And be ready for Ken¡¯tricx to carry him if we have to],¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a sigh, closing the connection.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she watched Je¡¯ndra walk ahead, all Tar¡¯lroia could do was shake her head. She didn¡¯t want Je¡¯ndra¡¯s job, she wouldn¡¯t be able to handle the pressure. Just handling keeping everyone alive was hard enough! Well, most of them anyway. As she thought this Tar¡¯lroia looked over her shoulder at Olv¡¯xic. Sometimes she hated the freedom their people offered, especially religious. Olv¡¯xic used that card to keep her from even giving him a physical, and she was still worried why. There had to be a reason he used that card, and she was going to find out.


    Still, at least he had installed a one-way medic scanner in his armor. It told her what he needed, and at least that way she could give him medicine. She wondered sometimes what had happened to him. She hated the way he always seemed to flinch when she used one of her healing abilities on him.


    She had heard the stories about those who followed the Healer¡¯s path and lived to cause pain. She remembered a story her old teacher had, how one of those everyone thought was an angel was a demon. If Olv¡¯xic had encountered someone like that, it explained much. Much, but not all. She still thought he was hiding a lot, something that explained everything. But if she would ever find it or he would tell them, that was the real question.


    Olv¡¯xic was one of the best drone operators she knew, he was smart, fierce, and someone she was honored to know. She just hoped that sooner or later he would tell them the truth.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he carried his prince on his back, Kon¡¯gric tried to keep his spirits up. Easier to do now, with the crash. He never thought he would ever have found himself in something like this, but there it was. No matter what he did, his honor would be tainted. He hated what he had planned on doing, but he had no choice! Ever since he had seen that message, he knew he had a choice to make, and either way, he was doomed. But then they crashed here.


    For a few moments after the crash, he was wondering if he had already done it. But then he realized no, he hadn¡¯t done it, something else had happened. He didn¡¯t know what to do now, they weren¡¯t expected on the planet for another few months. So he still had time, but time to do what? He couldn¡¯t go through with it, could he? But what else could he do? He was stuck in a terrible situation, where no matter what he did he would lose something. But what else could he do? That person told him that he would have a watcher, so who was it? One of the ones with him or someone else? Could he tell Lady Je¡¯ndra the truth? Could he dare to do it? All he knew was that he had to make a choice soon. A choice that would either damn him or make him a hero. A choice that would affect more than just himself. Go through with it and his family would live, or not go through with it and let his prince live.

 Chapter Fifty One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Unnamed  Ruin


    Galactic Standard Time / 1900


    As she led her team towards the entrance to the cavern again, all Je¡¯ndra could feel was fear. There were so many ways that this could go wrong, from the things inside to having range attacks to them being beasts. She still didn¡¯t know why she let the prince do this, but then stranger things had happened. If they could talk to these things, that would open some doors.


    They lived here, they survived here. That meant they had to know where the team had crashed. And they lived near a Precursor Ruin, which had to mean something. If they knew a way out to the surface without going through the ruins, then this would be worth it. If not, they at least knew how to get there. With how dangerous the ruins were, anything that lived near them always wanted to stay away.


    All they had was hope, hope the prince¡¯s plan would work. And she had to admit that this was what she hatted, letting the prince do it. In all other cases, they would have him with a protective circle. She would negotiate, but he was the one with the technique to do it. So all she could do was keep him safe, and hope that this went better than she feared it would.


    ¡°[All right, listen up. I want Ken¡¯trix and Ro¡¯borlar watching our backs. If anything comes at us I want it burned to ashes],¡± Je¡¯ndra barked as her mask broadcasts to her team. As she looked around, she saw Ro¡¯borlar stiffen and knew what he was thinking. But he wouldn¡¯t ever get what he wanted from her, and they would need to talk about that soon. Not letting her eyes stay on him, she turned towards who¡¯s reaction she wanted to observe. ¡°[And I need someone to watch them, so you¡¯re elected Tar¡¯lroia. That leaves you to come with me and the guard to watch our prince Olv¡¯xic].¡±


    Olv¡¯xic just looked at her and he seemed to be trying to keep calm. ¡°[Yes mam. I¡¯ve been dropping a few sensor units behind us. Sending the source connector code to Healer Drafrla].¡±


    Je¡¯ndra went still as she looked at Olv¡¯xic, trying to wrap her head around what he just said as the others all looked at him. For seconds, all they could do was stare at him before


    ¡°[Sensor units? Where¡¯d you get those things]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked in shock.


    Olv¡¯xic just shrugged. ¡°[Started making my own a long time ago, brought a few along to finish as busy work. Anyway, you got the program]?¡±


    At Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s nod, Olv¡¯xic just looked at Je¡¯ndra.


    Je¡¯ndra looked back at him, then turned to Kon¡¯gric and shook her head. ¡°[With me then. We will talk about this later].¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Olv¡¯xic followed after Je¡¯ndra, all he could do was hope that he hadn¡¯t overplayed his hand. To make sensors like his, he had to have been very smart. To have made ones that could link to their armor with only a program, he had to know a lot of things. Things that just a few people did, things he had figured out on his own. He had disabled and torn apart his armor so many times he could make empty armor move if he wanted to. He had even found a few tricks that most people didn¡¯t think were possible, tricks he was keeping to himself. But by showing that he could make sensors and transfer their readings like he did. He had to wonder if that might have been a mistake.


    But the one thing he was, was realistic. Having the sensors helped the team, and helping out improved their chances to stay alive. And if he had to show that he was that smart, so be it. The more of them that stayed alive, the more chances he would have. But again, as long as he kept his secret he might be able to leave this planet with the others.


    But if not, at least this place had some kind of ecosystem. If he had to he could escape and live here, food might be a problem. Plus he still had his ¡°bug-out kit¡±, so he would survive and know what he could eat. He¡¯d be stuck here, but he could probably find something in the Ruins to make a ship, probably. If he was honest with himself, he was an old hand at living off the land, what with how he grew up.


    But still, this place might just be a pocket of life in the caves. He had to wait, hope, and strike if he had to, but not before. All in all, he had to stay alive, that was his greatest goal.


    After a few moments, the two of them reached Ar¡¯thor and Kon¡¯gric, Ar¡¯thor sill on Kon¡¯gric¡¯s back. As Ar¡¯thor looked back at them, Olv¡¯xic released a deep breath as he tried to figure out how this was going to go bad. The things could be beasts, or they just didn¡¯t want to talk.


    He sighed and looked at Ar¡¯thor as Je¡¯ndra talked to him and his guard. He still didn¡¯t feel right around him. He was an impure, someone who the loyal ones would attack. He still didn¡¯t know how he had gotten off the world, even found a mask to hide his heritage. The first few months were hard, with him always looking over his shoulder. It was when he was eating and the server mentioned joining the armed forces and he was intrigued. He researched it and then found out about the Masked, something that spoke to him. It let him hide away, and earn a living. After a while, he had found the team and here he was.


    ¡°[So, I have a plan, but I need to know things to make it work],¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s soft voice caused Olv¡¯xic to look up and see her talking.


    ¡°[Such as]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked.


    ¡°[The prince will need to be how close to them to activate his technique]?¡± She asked.


    ¡°[I need to be within ten feet],¡± Ar¡¯thor said softly over the comms.


    Olv¡¯xic could only sigh as he looked down at his right arm. His space bag had a few more of his inventions, and some of them were drones. The best thing for him to do was send one of them into the cavern, and see if they could figure out the leader. But the prince¡¯s armor had to have the best defenses.


    So should he show off his hacking skills or use his broadcaster? Both had advantages and risks, but what was worse for him? If he showed them his hacking ability, that might lead to questions he didn¡¯t want to answer. But if he showed them his broadcaster, that would mean they would know about it and the drones. With the fact he had revealed his skills already, he didn¡¯t know how to handle the questions the others would have for him.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°[So should we try and ask one of the others who the leader is first? With the prince¡¯s technique]?¡± Kon¡¯gric¡¯s question came abruptly, and it forced Olv¡¯xic to stop thinking.


    ¡°[Unless anyone has a better plan, that¡¯s what we¡¯ll have to do. My prince, how many times can you use your technique]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked.


    Olv¡¯xic looked around, trying to think, trying to make a choice. He could say nothing, but if the prince couldn¡¯t use it too many times, then they were doomed. If those things could talk, anything could happen. They could plan a false leader, and kill the party when their attention was on it. For all they knew those things had a hidden passage to get behind them. Or stars forbid those three-legged things were the cavern things allies. All in all, he didn¡¯t have a choice then. No matter what he thought of, he couldn¡¯t see another way.


    For a second kept still, trying to find anything. But after another moment he sighed. ¡°[I have something that could probably find the leader].¡±


    The others went still, Je¡¯ndra turning towards him. But Olv¡¯xic continued talking, at least he lost his nerve and said he was wrong.


    ¡°[It¡¯s not finished really. It¡¯s a prototype I¡¯ve been messing around with for a while now. It¡¯s finished enough for what we need].¡± As he spoke, Olv¡¯xic willed his armor to look around, trying to find any hint of the other''s reactions. Trying to find anything that he had to know, anything that might save his life. Any clue that they would turn on him, any clue that they would kill him for what he knew, was, and could do.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ar¡¯thor looked up, his thoughts dying as he looked towards Olv¡¯xic, feeling a sense of relief. Already he was doubting his plan, it was the only way forward but the risk. But if they knew who was the leader, then it would be a lot easier for him to talk to what he needed to. This was so good, everything might work after all. All he needed to do was hope that they could find the right being!


    ¡°[You have a way¡­.? What is it]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked and Ar¡¯thor could only watch as the drone operator pulled out two small boxes from his storage.


    Olv¡¯xic bent down and pulled out a small sphere a half-foot wide and tall. A moment later, it floated upwards and started to move around the four beings.


    ¡°[You. You solved the Algama principle]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked in a shocked tone.


    All Olv¡¯xic did was shake his head as he looked at the device. ¡°[No, I worked around it. It will only move as long as the battery is feeding it power. And the battery will only last five hours. I was working on a simpler recharge station, but well. This should be simple enough for now].¡±


    ¡°[Good work. Please send it in now],¡± Je¡¯ndra said absently.


    Ar¡¯thor looked at the team leader, a strange feeling going through him. He wondered for a moment just what she was feeling. She wasn¡¯t acting like this was good she was acting like the drone operator had just said he wanted to kill the emperor.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    All Je¡¯ndra could do was look at him as he brought out a small tripod a foot high. As the drone shot towards the cavern, from the tripod, a holo screen appeared. How could Olv¡¯xic create things like this? All inventors in the service tried to modify their armor, but he used the basic model. She remembered he had gotten a new set just before they shipped out in fact, he had no time to modify it.


    Nothing about him made sense, nothing at all. The man and she even wondered if he was a ¡®man¡¯, hiding more they anyone. He acted like a Masked, but instead, he seemed to live in the shadows. If she didn¡¯t know better, she¡¯d think he was a spy but he lived on base. But now he showed them drones that small. If they could act like cameras, then they could carry digital memory units. If that was possible, then everything she knew about him was in doubt. But then why was he bringing them up now?


    If he was a spy, then why would he show these things? A good spy, ones who were brainwashed would only think about the mission, nothing else. Was he a member of the Secret police, sent in to prepare to protect the Prince? Was the mission in the planning stage even so long ago? No, too long had passed, and why their squad? They were nothing, just a new team ready to make a name for themselves.


    ¡°[Got it, I think I got it],¡± Olv¡¯xic said.


    Je¡¯ndra looked up and saw the camera looking at the largest one of the false-mites, and she remembered that one. She had seen it before they left, leading the charge. That was a good sign, most alpha creatures would stay back, only beasts and those who could think led. If they were wrong, taking it out as they escaped was a good play. If they could scare things off, then they could get by them.


    ¡°[Then we have a plan. Kon¡¯gric uses the sphere shield, walks to them, and lets the prince do this thing. We¡¯ll cover you, if you have to escape we¡¯ll kill the ones around you],¡± Je¡¯ndra said and for a moment she thought she saw Kon¡¯gric take a step backward.


    As Kon¡¯gric carried him into the cavern, the false-mites looked at them. Ar¡¯thor felt a twist of fear as he looked at them. All Kon¡¯gric had to do was get him to the creature, but if they brought down his shield they would both die. As Kon¡¯gric stood still, Ar¡¯thor smiled and looked down. ¡°[ You can do this Guard Kon¡¯gric. You¡¯re the bravest and strongest of all the Guards of the Empire]!¡±


    Kon¡¯gric said nothing as he slowly put his arms up. As the shield formed around them, some of the false-mites spat a yellow liquid at them. As the liquid went down the shield, Kon¡¯gric started to walk towards what they thought was the leader . ¡°[My prince, I will protect you until I die]!¡±


    Ar¡¯thor looked ahead as they moved toward the leader and took a deep breath before he called up his aura. As golden energy surged and covered him, the sight of it caused the false-mites to move back. But what they thought was the leader stepped forward, but it didn¡¯t fire at them.


    All Ar¡¯thor did was look at the leader and aimed his arms at it. Golden energy flowed from him towards the leader slowly. The leader stopped and looked at the energy. For a moment Ar''thor hoped it would stay still, but then it lunged forward. As it shot towards it ran into the energy, creating a connection between Ar¡¯thor and the false-mite leader.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the creature looked around it found itself in a white void. As it started to curse itself for letting the strange thing kill it, a strange sound was heard. It turned towards it and saw the strange biped that killed it and the creature growled.


    ¡°Not enough to kill this one, now two walker taunts brave one?¡± The creature snarled and then it blinked.


    ¡°No. My goal is not to kill you. I just want to talk,¡± The biped said and the creature stared at the biped in shock.


    ¡°How do two walker talk like people? All two walkers talk like people in own way?¡± The creature asked and the biped bowed.


    ¡°Yes, we do talk to each other. Great one this one must ask, are you the leader of your kind here?¡± The biped asked and the creature looked at him.


    ¡°Yes, leader is I! Leader is great and powerful Clawbash! What Two Walker want? Two Walkers didn¡¯t attack group before, what want?¡± Clawbash asked and the biped looked at it.


    ¡°Great and Powerful Clawbash, I am Ar¡¯thor. My group begs leave to walk through your lands to this,¡± The biped said before an image of the gates to the Ruins appeared.


    Clawbash looked at the image before it reared away from it, a strange chittering coming from it.


    ¡°Two walker wants to go to Creator¡¯s place!? Why want die? I kill you all, fast like. Not even feel it,¡± Clawbash said and the biped shook its head.


    ¡°No, my kind can raid those places. Unless you know how to get out of this cavern and see the sky, then we must go through that place,¡± The biped said.


    Clawbash only looked at the biped, trying to understand the words it used. ¡°What mean, sky?¡±


    The biped only looked at Clawbash and tried to think of how to explain it before it just sighed. ¡°The sky is the long empty thing that stretches to the horizon. There are things called clouds there, white things that look fluffy. From it comes rain, drops of water that¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°THAT PLACE?! WHAT WANT THAT PLACE!? Full of other things that hunt and kill my kind! No place for my kind! We hide away here! Only way out back way two walkers came!¡± Clawbash said and the biped looked away.


    Clawbash looked around, taking in how the white void was so large it couldn¡¯t see the end. This was unlike anything that it had ever seen before. The space could hold all the beings of the dark under! The battles that could happen here! The kind could handle all their enemies and feast on their remains.


    ¡°Great Clawbash! My kind must travel there, we have no choice! Please grant us this boon!¡± The biped said and Clawbash looked at it.


    Clawbash only looked at the biped, trying to think. If Clawbash could understand the biped¡¯s meaning, then it wanted to see the ¡°sky¡±. But why did it have to go to the Creator¡¯s place? Why couldn¡¯t it go back the way it had come?


    ¡°Why two walkers want go to Creator¡¯s place? Why not go back way come?¡± Clawbash asked after a few moments. The biped turned, looked away and an image of the collapsed tunnel appeared.


    Clawbash looked at the image, trying to understand. But after a few moments, it felt joy as it saw what the two walker was showing it. If the path it had traveled was blocked, then the three walkers might be also. For a time, Clawbash¡¯s kind could handle the only threat left. If they could use that time to grow, to hunt the other things here¡­¡­¡­ there was a chance. In time they could grow enough to kill the many-legged.


    But then Clawbash thought that maybe, just maybe the fall hadn¡¯t blocked off the three leggers. If they were locked in with Clawbash¡¯s swarm, then they would have only one way to get food. Then that meant that the whole swarm could eat well in the time ahead for a while. There was still danger down here, but this would make their lives that much better.


    But then Clawbash saw the two walkers run into a three-legger and fight it off. Already Clawbash could see what those things would do, and it was nothing good for their kind. The last time they found something like the two-leggers, they hunted until all were dead. This was worse than Clawbash thought, he had to get them away, now! If the horde came and these creatures were still here!

 Chapter Fifty Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Unnamed  Ruin


    Galactic Standard Time / 1925


    As he looked down the dark tunnel, all Ken¡¯tricx could do was think about what the kid did. The kind of tech and skill it took to make things like this, it was next level. He thought it was beyond anything someone could do on their own. He knew the kid was something else, but this was amazing. The whole situation was something else really, and he could admit that. A long cruise on a starliner, a Federation ship true but still. After all the missions the team had run before they got the briefing about this gig, they needed downtime. Still, he would have preferred if they could go with their masks off, but then they were in enemy territory.


    Still, if the mission had gone well, then it might not be. Still, for everything that happened before, he thought it was a done deal. The data they had gotten showed that the Federation was truthful in their messages.  To their shock they did allow species and groups to govern themselves. He had been surprised, he had believed it was propaganda. To be a member of the Federation was a lot easier and loose. All groups had to do was follow a general bill of rights and stand together if something attacked them. But each party had to share all Firstborn data they had. And try and keep ruins from civilians  was something the military already did that.


    All joining the Federation would do was allow both sides to see who each group was. He had to say, hiding away their faces was something that he didn¡¯t completely like. Sure it would be easier, but then they would have to answer a few interesting questions. His world was one of the First Ones, and he went to that place as a student once. He knew exactly where they all came from, and to share that with the wider galaxy¡­¡­ that was something. His heritage was something he was proud of. He saw his very life was something that showed his people were survivors, but still.


    ¡°[Think the plan will work]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s voice came over his mask.


    Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s eyes went up and he saw Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s icon on his HUD. He looked over and saw Tar¡¯lroia looking up the tunnel, no indication that she was talking to him. All he did was take a deep breath and release it before he spoke. ¡°[I hope that it works, I really do. I mean those things didn¡¯t attack us right away, that¡¯s gotta mean something right]?¡±


    In truth, Ken¡¯tricx was thinking that it might have been that the creatures had been startled. Sometimes wild animals just looked at new things, they didn''t attack. Instead they observed whatever it was before they attacked. Still, something about them was different from animals, and he wanted to believe the best.


    ¡°[Yeah, I know. But still¡­.. this place. Where did we crash land]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked and Ken¡¯tricx nodded, he had been thinking that too.


    This place was unlike anywhere he had ever heard of, and that was saying something. Most planets with Ruins on them usually had a few creatures, but the things they saw so far were beyond that. And a possible sentient species, that was beyond anything that had ever been found.


    Most Ruins that still had active robots sent out some of them, and they always seemed to target sentience. More than once the remains of creatures were found within the Ruins. Investigations showed they experienced violent deaths, and their genes showed signs of pre-sentence. Most scholars said this was because the First Borne hated all other life forms. That they programed their robots to hunt down anything that showed signs of evolving. But this planet, this place, it destroyed all those theories.


    ¡°[Yeah. Still, the kid. I always thought that he was hiding something, but tech like this? I mean most sensor units the service has access to are a lot bigger],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said absently.  And he was right about that. The models he service used as disposable sensors were at least three feet wide, round, and tall. They took up more space in a unit¡¯s packs, space that could be freed if the kid shared the patent with the service. Even if he charged them, the space that teams could save would be a lot. The space could be for weapons, medicine, or anything else really.


    ¡°[Yeah, and I don¡¯t like it],¡± Tar¡¯lroia muttered softly.


    Ken¡¯tricx only looked at her, not quite understanding just what she meant. ¡°[What do you mean? I know he¡¯s a bit closed off, but he¡¯s a good kid. I mean he¡¯s got something he¡¯s hiding, but he¡¯s never done anything wrong]!¡±


    ¡°[Yeah, that the problem. Most people who do things like this can have egos the size of moons! But he¡¯s a complete wallflower! I have never seen or heard of anyone that has ever acted like him! Nothing about his actions makes sense, I just. I just have a feeling, whatever he¡¯s hiding, it¡¯s not good],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she turned her head to look at him.


    Ken¡¯tricx opened his mouth and tried to respond, but something stopped him. He agreed with her, but then he sensed that the kid was hiding something. While he wanted to believe whatever the kid was holding back wouldn¡¯t hurt them, but then their luck wasn¡¯t that good. Still, if they confronted him about it, nothing would happen. He would just clam up or run away into the wild. They needed to show the kid he could trust them, that was the only way that he saw would work. Anything else, and the kid might just tell them what he thought they wanted to hear.


    ¡°[Maybe. But how do you plan to get the kid to admit it? Anything too forceful and I¡¯ll be on the other side of this],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said sternly as he flexed his hands.


    All that Tar¡¯lroia did was turn away and the icon disappeared. He spent another few seconds just looking at her before he sighed and shook his head. He knew that this wasn¡¯t the end of it, she never let go of something like this when she had a scent. That had saved and gotten the team into trouble, but most of the time it had a good end. All she could do was hope that this was one of those times.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Fine Ken¡¯tricx, fine. I¡¯ll let it go for now],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly to herself. But all she could do was look at the radar data from the sensor, and once again her thoughts turned dark. The network defenses in her suit were state of the art, they could handle any kind of attacks for hours. But the program that Olv¡¯xic sent uploaded like all the walls were down. That wasn¡¯t a genius, that was someone who had worked how to hack into official firewalls. Most firewalls had bounties on them, some hackers even used the bounty to live like kings for years.


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    But Olv¡¯xic didn¡¯t, and why was that? She could think up a lot of reasons, dark ones. The first thing was he was a spy, from one of the crime families. If he hadn¡¯t been caught his gene line wouldn¡¯t be on file if he was adopted into that life. But, why would one of the clans send a genius into the service? What did they know, did they have a Future-Seer, one that could see with accuracy? No, that wasn¡¯t possible¡­.. well, it was improbable. But why here and now? What did they see, if they even existed?


    The other thing was he might be in the pay of one of the other royals. The movie industry myth of princes killing each other for the throne wasn¡¯t just a story. But who, when? Was the mission stuck in the planning stage for so long? Was the Prince¡¯s technique the reason? Did it take that long for him to learn it? But why had they sent Olv¡¯xic to join the team?


    For a few seconds, she just stood there before she slapped her mask. Each scenario was so out there that she was embarrassed that she had spent time thinking about them. To be honest, while she could think of terrible reasons why he hid his skills, she also destroyed them just as fast. Nothing made sense, nothing at all.


    Maybe it was this world, she was letting her fear about it cloud her judgment. This was something that she had to resist, sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn¡¯t. Still, no matter what she thought about the kid, this was amazing. Each sensor was a small radar station that fed what it ¡®saw¡¯ to whoever had this program. And it did so by broadcasting at a frequency beyond their hearing. Their armor picked it up, translated a code into data that their systems could read. All in all, this was amazing and beyond anything that she had ever heard of before.


    Something like this, she could see so many uses for it. A small drone could act as a spotter, sending out a signal to any operatives with the right gear. It could be used in crowds, guiding operative right to their targets. They could be used to communicate without using the comms, a way to communicate even in dark zones. And a hundred others she probably couldn¡¯t see.


    But as far as she was thinking that maybe he was hiding it because of orders, nothing made sense. Maybe he had a good reason that made sense to him to hide, but what? He just didn¡¯t make sense, and with them all being here didn¡¯t help matters. If she was being honest, maybe she was looking into this too much.


    But with everything that happened, it was her nature to look at any threads that seemed wrong.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Ro¡¯borlar looked into the darkness, he tried to stay calm. She was right, he was still looking for the embrace of death. Part of him knew it was wrong,  but he had lost so much. They were gone, the two people that made his life bearable, and he wasn¡¯t within them because of the mission. He still had that nightmare sometimes, the last time he ever saw them. Sometimes he wondered what happened, he tried not to but the thoughts still hit him.


    Looking around at the others, he felt a smile. Those two would have loved the team, every one of them. He could see the ways that they would interact. Je¡¯ndra and her would have bounded over their love of that game. Ken¡¯tricx and Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s sense of duty would have inspired feelings of fellowship with his other half. Even the ghost Olv¡¯xic might have become more of a friend with those two around.


    He just sighed and shook his head, old wounds on the heart and spirit always took long to heal, but heal they would. Maybe he should see if Tar¡¯lroia had an experience with helping the mind, or knew someone who did. He had to admit, that after everything he needed some help to handle his issues.


    ¡°[On your feet everyone, we¡¯ve got a contact]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s voice caused him to look down the tunnel, his weapon forming in his hand. As he connected his HUD to the long-range viewer, he saw nothing at all.


    ¡°[Nothing, I can¡¯t see anything. What do you see]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked over the comms.


    ¡°[A sensor just saw it! A lot of creatures! We¡¯re five sensor units away, a distance of at least fifty feet between each one. And once it was surrounded it stopped sending]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said stiffly.


    Ro¡¯borlar looked down the tunnel, his finger on the trigger. So then the creatures were around two-hundred and fifty feet away, not his longest shot. ¡°[Let¡¯s fall back to the cavern, I¡¯ll fire a few shots if they come closer. Nothing better to do].¡±


    Personally, all Ro¡¯borlar wanted to do was keep firing into the darkness striking them down. But then he realized what the creatures probably were, and what that meant. If they were more of those three-legged things, then that was a problem. With how tall they were, he¡¯d have to adjust his shots. Aiming lower, letting his mind go over the problem he aimed where he thought one of them would be. ¡°[Ready to fire. Just give the word and I might be able to hit one of them].¡±


    ¡°[Strike first!? They might just be guarding their territory! If it was us, then that was what we would do! Maybe they won¡¯t come at us]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked as his weapons formed in his hands and two floating guns formed over his shoulders.


    As much as Ro¡¯borlar wanted to believe him, he knew his friend was wrong. The three-legged thing, that had wielded weapons. That meant that it could think or something had taught it to use it. And their luck this was going to be the former not the first


    ¡°[What we found, it had a weapon. These things can think, and they¡¯re acting in their interests. That means they have a reason to kill us, and a desire to do so],¡± Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s soft voice caused Ken¡¯tricx to look down.


    Before either of them could say anything Tar¡¯lroia started to swear.


    .


    ¡°[The next sensor just got something! They¡¯re still coming]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she looked at the others.


    ¡°[Move now. I¡¯ll fire when they reach the next one],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he adjusted his aim.


    ¡°[Wait]¡­¡­..¡±  Ken¡¯tricx began only for Tar¡¯lroia to start moving, grabbing him and pulling him along behind her.


    ¡°[We don¡¯t have a better plan¡­.. they reached the next sensor],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly.


    All Ro¡¯bolar did was aim carefully and fire a single bolt into the darkness.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the horde moved along, their master waited at the back with his chosen enforcers. As soon as they found that strange-looking metal thing, he had one of his slaves try and eat it. When it broke its teeth on it, he sent it back, barking at the newest drudge. As this happened, it started to wonder if it was making a mistake. If the strange bone was the source of the far strikers, then this was a waste of time and slaves. But there was still a chance it wasn¡¯t the case. And it had to admit, that even with its leadership, its tribe needed an edge. Only their ability to move into small cavers lets them grow so strong. They could lead the many-legged ones into places only the three-legged could escape from. Then once that was donepincer them between hunting parties . But even with that and their weapons, it was all they could do to stay alive down here.


    And this might be it. If that hunter was telling the truth. The very idea of this ability being down here was something that was beyond its belief. And that was why it had maimed the hunter, well that and how it was always trying to take over.


    The leader¡¯s spies had reported the hunter¡¯s actions once before, and that had been a nightmare. And the pack the hunter led was just like the leader¡¯s pack from before its rise to rule over the tribe.


    The leader had spent time once it knew the older leader¡¯s time was up. It had gathered a band to it, and over time slowly but surely taken out its rivals. A frame job there, leading them into ambushes by the many-legged, and killing the survivors. And that was why the leader wanted to deal with the hunter, it had no desire to lose its rule and life.


    But then that was the way of things down here. When the tribe¡¯s ancestors had found their way down, there had been much celebration. The war between two of the Tyrants of the above had killed so many of them. The stories said there were only a third of their number when they escaped. With the way into the under, they had been able to live. With time, they had grown and found a place to raise their young safely, and now only the many-legged ones were still a true threat.


    But with the ability to strike from farther than their bows, they could rule this place. The old stories about how the strong were culled by the creators, were just a way to soothe the egos of the stupid. With the death of the many-legged ones, they could take such strength from them. Their armor and way to create more of themselves, once that was the tribe¡¯s they would be so much stronger. They might even be able to go back to the above, kill the Tyrant, and return to their old hunting grounds.


    But with everything that happened, there was still no sign that this ¡®far-strike¡¯ power even existed. It had almost decided that this was nothing but a failure when a strange sound came from the front. Suddenly screeches came from the front, and the stench of death. The leader looked at its enforcers and howled, gesturing for one to go and find out what it was. After a few moments of arguing, finally one started to push its way forward through the mass of the horde.


    A few seconds later the enforcer came back, a body being pulled behind it. The enforcer threw the body before the leader and stepped back, the other enforcers keeping the horde at bay. The body was of another of the swarm, only this one had a smoking circle on its head. The leader looked down at the body and put one of its fingers into the hole, feeling burnt flesh within.


    For a few moments, all the leader could do was look at the corpse, trying to understand. But then it felt a burst of greed as everything made sense. This was the far strike, the power was real! And whatever had it was up the tunnel. Now all the leader had to do was send the horde against whatever it was, and then feed off the corpse. As it looked around another of the strange sounds and the smell of death came again. The horde started to move back, trying to save their skins. But all the leader could do was grin in greed, this was wonderful. The far strike was able to be used multiple times, that was perfect.


    The leader pointed forward and screeched, its enforcers started to press the horde forward. The hunt was on.

 Chapters Fifty-Three

    Chapters Fifty-Three


    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Unnamed  Ruin


    Galactic Standard Time / 1930


    As soon as the glow had engulfed Ar¡¯thor and the creature, the others had stopped moving Je¡¯ndra had started to worry. This was it, if the plan worked then everything was fine. If not, then they had a hard fight ahead of them. As her eyes went over the false-mites, she tried to keep her cool. Until the prince¡¯s technique was done, all she could do was hope and wait. She was just waiting for anything to happen, and that was when Olv¡¯xic dropped a bomb.


    ¡°[Oh spirits],¡± Olv¡¯xic¡¯s voice had a note of terror in it.


    ¡°[What is it]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she looked around at the creatures.


    ¡°[I just checked my armor¡¯s system, and well. I guess those healing trance the lab rats talked about worked after all. We spent over a day unconscious back there by the rocks],¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly.


    As she tried to figure out what he meant, she felt her heart stop beating as she understood. Without a word, her eyes went to her HUD and she called up the time, blinking in horror at what she saw. When they had deployed, they had been given an upgrade to their armor. It was what the eggheads called ¡®a healing trance¡¯. It was supposed to heal their wounds, but at the same time slow down their bodies. She thought it was just wishful thinking, but it worked.


    There were a lot of problems that this caused, but just as many as it solved. The shield if they could activate it on command would help them. If the next model could keep them semi-active, that could make a big difference. If they could adopt that field to create cover, and one large enough for all of them. Then they would have a way to create a stable ¡®tent¡¯ when they rested next.


    But the hardest problem was the time they lost to the field. If that was true, then they might have lost more days than they thought. She had to talk to Olv¡¯xic about this, and the field. If he could do what he already had, then there was a chance


    ¡°[Rear guard to main team, come in! We¡¯ve got guests coming up behind, a lot of them! We¡¯re falling back, Ro¡¯borlar is sending them gifts. I don¡¯t know how fast they¡¯re coming, but I think we¡¯ve only got minutes at best! Hope the locals are friendly].¡±


    Before Je¡¯ndra could say anything the glow around Ar¡¯thor died away. As he slumped on Kon¡¯gric¡¯s back, the other creatures moved in. A roar from the one Ar¡¯thor had been talking to made the others back off, and Je¡¯ndra felt a spark of hope. That was perfect, that meant the plan had worked, these creatures were capable of thought!


    ¡°[It¡¯s okay, everything is fine. Clawbash will let us go to the Ruins. And it¡¯s that passage we need to go down],¡± Ar¡¯thor said as he pointed to the left.


    At his gesture, the leader, Clawbash roared and the other creatures moved away, clearing a path.


    At this, Je¡¯ndra felt a smile form, and then she understood the problem before them. ¡°[Wait, wait! The thing with the bow, more of them are coming! We have to warn these people]!¡±


    At Je¡¯ndra¡¯s words, Clawbash reared back before it screeched and the other false-mites reacted. They started to gather around the front and back tunnels. Some of them looked at the group until Clawbash started to chitter.


    Ar¡¯thor cocked his head and nodded for a few moments before he whipped around and looked at Je¡¯ndra. ¡°[Tell our people to fall back now! Clawbash ordered his people to close off the


    Je¡¯ndra only looked at her prince for a second, before she felt the blood leave her face. ¡°[All three of you, just run! Move as fast as you can, if you can use Aether Dash! The locals here are closing the door! Move like you¡¯re trying to outrun a supernova]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Down the tunnel, Tar¡¯lroia felt her heart freeze. As she moved, her mind went over what she just heard. Suddenly everything made sense. She had been wondering how those beings had been able to survive down here. If those hunters weren¡¯t new, then they might have been fighting the false-mites for a while now. That meant those things had to have something to protect themselves, and a way to block the tunnels was it. And that was even worse for them, if they were stuck out here, between the horde and the wall, they would die. All they needed to do was keep moving faster. ¡°[You heard the news children, double time! Ken¡¯trix, got anything to give those things behind us a special gift]?¡±


    ¡°[Yeah! I¡¯ve been saving a proximity bomb for a while now. Should make a nice boom]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s voice had a hint of glee in it, and that showed how much he was looking forward to it.


    For a moment, Tar¡¯lroia felt a grin form on her face. Once those primitives back there found the bomb, maybe they would even pick it up and carry it to their king! Take out the command structure in one blow, and then


    ¡°[Don¡¯t! We might need that to get through the doors, and even if we don¡¯t, the sonic boom will hit us]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar cut in, a tone of manic desperation in his voice.


    And that was what made Tar¡¯lroia scared. On every mission, since he joined, nothing made Ro¡¯borlar experience fear. He was always rock solid, he never showed terror no matter what happened. For him to show desperation, meant the idea was beyond bad.


    A screech echoed off the walls from behind them, and Tar¡¯lroia heart stopped beating. She looked at the data from the sensors and felt the blood leave her face. ¡°[The Horde reached the third sensor, they¡¯re swarming over it! They¡¯re not even stopping]!¡±


    ¡°[Keep moving! We¡¯re almost there! I can see the opening ahead]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked out.


    Looking ahead, Tar¡¯lroia felt relief as soon as she saw what Ro¡¯borlar had. As they were moving, they had made it to the cavern, as soon as they made it through the cave mouth, they would be safe.


    As they ran the last twenty feet Tar¡¯lroia saw the signal from the sensors, the horde had reached the second one.


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    As they ran into the cavern, the false-mites went to work. They started to shoot a strange brown substance at the tunnel mouth, covering it in a solid mass.


    ¡°[Okay, that¡¯s something I¡¯ve never seen before. I mean I¡¯ve seen a lot of things over the years, we all have. But that¡¯s something],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said, compactly shocked as he looked around at the creatures moving away from them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Yeah, I know what you mean],¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he looked at the organic barrier over the tunnel mouth.


    And for once, he was being truthful. In his life, he had seen strange things in the wilds of where he had grown up, but this? Most sentient species lost abilities like that when they evolved thought, and to change what they spit on command? That was amazing and it made him wonder just what these things were. There was no doubt in his mind that these creatures were anything but unnatural, none at all.


    But all he could do was stay silent for now. They didn¡¯t need the drama that would bring, either how the creatures or the others would react. But that made him rethink a lot of things about the Firstborne ruins, just what they were. If his stray thought was right, then they were going into a very dangerous one. And he very much hoped that what


    A screech from the leader, this Clawbash caused him to look up and see Clawbash gesturing. It was pointing towards the only way out the fasle-mites had opened for the party. For a moment he looked at Clawbash, trying to understand the he rapid chitter. The best he could figure was that it wanted them to leave.


    ¡°[Great Clawbash thanks us for warning them about the Three-leggers but requests that we leave. It worries that we are the cause for the attack],¡± Prince Ar¡¯thor¡¯s voice over the comms caused Olv¡¯xic to wonder.


    If what this Clawbash implied was true, then that made this place even more deadly. If those things were after the party, then that meant they had a reason. Reason implied thought, and thought meant sapience. If that was true, then there would be no end of danger here. But the Flase-mites already adopted a defensive formation. Most of them were moving towards the opposite opening, Clawbash was alone. It was between them and the group, and other of its kind were near it. That told him everything. After all, what would sentient beings protect above all else?


    For a second he wondered if he should speak, if he had the right to say anything. But he kept quiet and looked away. Let the others make their plans without his input, like they said, he didn¡¯t have the right to speak up. All he was to do was live and fight, no matter what notions he had in his head. Sometimes he wondered if he could ever be truly free, if the chains in his mind were too strong to even break.


    ¡°[So their showing us the door? Shouldn¡¯t we stay and help them fight]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked as he turned towards the tunnel mouth.


    For a moment Olv¡¯xic wanted to think if he should speak up, but then he stayed quiet. As much as his blood called for battle, he knew that he shouldn¡¯t speak. He had been told that his blood was barbaric, one that wanted nothing but bloodshed. He had fought against it all his life, and even in battle, he hadn¡¯t heard its voice much. But still, for it to have come up and spoken here and now!


    Clawbash chittered again, gesturing at the tunnel still open. Prince Ar¡¯thor looked at the false-mite for a few seconds before he turned away and looked at the others.


    ¡°[Great Clawbash says that our ways of battle are the opposite of these good people. The distance that our weapons need would doom too many of their people for us to help them. He thanks us for our offer but he says we must go],¡± Ar¡¯thor said wearily.


    Olv¡¯xic looked at the Prince as Kon¡¯gric started him toward the way Clawbash had ordered open for them. For a second he stood still as the others moved on, his eyes locked on Clawbash. Clawbash seemed to know someone was watching him and for a second they locked ¡®eyes¡¯ with each other. They stayed still for a few moments more before Clawbash raised its right claw and pointed toward the others.


    Olv¡¯xic bowed and turned away, not happy but willing to let the creature follow its will. As he walked away, he called up the feed from his sensors. With a heavy heart, he could only watch the feed, showing the horde moving over the last sensor like a tidal wave. All he could do was hope that they would survive.


    ¡°[Were you able to get any intelligence from¡­.. Clawbash]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as the team moved through the tunnel mouth, leaving the chamber.


    ¡°[Noble Clawbash said that the many-legged sometimes attacked through here. And he called the ruins the ¡®Creator¡¯s place¡¯¡­.. that doesn¡¯t sound normal, does it]?¡± Prince Ar¡¯thor asked softly.


    Olv¡¯xic went still as he heard what the beings behind them called the ruins. The connections his mind made, painted a terrible picture. While he tried to figure out what that meant in context, everything clicked together. He felt the blood leave his face as his heart stopped beating as a terrible possibility appeared. All he could do was hope he was wrong, that it didn¡¯t happen like he thought. But somehow, in some way that he couldn¡¯t even understand, he knew it did.


    ¡°[All teams, eyes front! I want us near the doors soon! And check your clocks, it seems we lost a day already]!¡± Je¡¯ndra barked as she led the way.


    Olv¡¯xic kept silent as the others reacted to what they found, too concerned with his thoughts. The idea he had, explained everything. He was shocked a little that no one ever thought about it, there was evidence everywhere if one only looked. For a few moments, his mind went dark places, wondering if there was a reason that the theory hadn¡¯t been made.


    And then he wondered if the powers that be knew about it and kept quiet only to keep the peace. The religions that formed over the years, the very idea he had would cause some to declare holy war. The chaos that would cause would be terrible, the loss of life alone from them. And that wasn¡¯t even adding in the criminal groups. Not to mention the Nobles that only valued power, and the fringe. Together, they would only cause more chaos. And then he had to wonder if he should keep quiet or tell the others if he was right.


    Well if he was right then that would be a problem when they went in. Who knows what this place was for really? If he was wrong, they might die. If he was right, they might die. Just knowing what he figured out made him rethink a lot of things.


    But he looked up at Je¡¯ndra as a loud buzz suddenly broke through his thoughts.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she looked at her team, Je¡¯ndra sighed and shook her head. She didn¡¯t like to use the buzzer, but it worked most of the time. For now, all they had to do was stay in the moment, they could argue about what happened later.


    ¡°[Everything done ladies? Good! I know this is bad, I know this is shocking but keep it together! We need to focus to survive this, you all know that]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she looked around. As they all nodded at her, Je¡¯ndra kept her eyes moving as she looked at her HUD. So far they had been alright, but the worst was ahead.


    A Ruin of the Firstborne, the Ancients. A race that lived so long ago that they were seen as gods on many worlds they lived on that had native life. A people who had mastered science and Aether that they might have been gods for the definition of the word. A people that no one knew what they had looked like, as no bodies had ever been found. And their places, the Ruins, were the most deadly in existence. To try and dive into one of them, with a team that wasn¡¯t complete was foolhardy. And do so when they had someone along they had to defend? Madness! Complete madness!


    But they had no choice, there was nothing else they could do. but maybe they had a card they could play. Her eyes went to Olv¡¯xic, and she thought about his programming skills. Their people had only gotten a few scraps of coding from downed Firstborne robots. But with his skills, maybe they could get something more this time. Just one robot under their control, that might help them so much. But how could they even try that? Something to think about and ask him. But if they could just find a way to get at the programming, what they could do then?


    ¡°[Alright, since I have your attention, let¡¯s move! Ro¡¯borlar, you¡¯re on point! Ken¡¯tricx, you¡¯re next! Tar¡¯lroia, I want you covering the rear! Kon¡¯gric, you''re in the middle right behind me and Olv¡¯xic. Got it? Good,]!¡± Je¡¯ndra barked and within moments they had started to move.


    As they traveled deeper into the caves, Je¡¯ndra¡¯s mind went back to what Clawbash called the Ruins. The possibility that opened up was something that she didn¡¯t want to even think about, but if it was true. If it was true they just maybe the Ruin was still active at full power. Teams that went into even low-powered Ruins normally never made it back whole. But if this place had full power, then that meant the threat was beyond anything. But they had no choice, if they wanted to live they had to go down and deep. Pass through the Ruins to try and find a way back to the surface of this strange world.


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    As the leader moved past the final strange hard thing, he heard the chatter of his slaves. The far strike holder hadn¡¯t killed another, and that was enough to worry the leader. It had been hoped that the power wouldn¡¯t have a limit of uses, all the easier to take over this underground war. To take out the false-mites and claim their home for its own, would be even better. The ways they guarded, would let the leader range farther than ever, find easier prey and live.


    As the leader dreamed of killing others with the power it would take, a screech broke it. Scowling, it looked up and saw that the horde had reached the end of the tunnel. Where the opening would be instead was a yellow screen organic screen. It scowled and snorted as it pushed its way forward through its slaves. So those cowards dared to hide away then?


    More proof that they deserved death then. Proper inheritors needed willpower, anger, and wraith. To prowl the tunnels on the hunt! Killing everything they came across, preying on everything! And then when only they alone still lived the horde would then move on to a new land.


    To hide like these things did, never sending out hunters, to shy away from battle. That was nothing but the work of prey! To even think that an Inheritor would do so was nothing but shame, nothing but the actions of filth! Those who did so surrendered everything, their power, their lives, their bodies! All those actions did was earn them a painful death.


    The leader roared and slashed at the screen, but its claws only sparked off it. It kept slashing for another few minutes before it looked away and huffed. It eyed its Enforcers farther back in and roared again, this time pointing at the screen. As the Enforcers moved to follow its orders, it moved away as the Enforced screeched and started to claw at the screen. Soon they would break through, and then they would find the far striker, and take its power for the Leader¡¯s own!

 Chapter Fifty Four

    As she cleaned up the remains of their meal, Racha looked over at Roy as he rocked the baby to sleep. For a few minutes when they started to eat, she had been worried about how they would feed her. But it turned out the little lady had her teeth, and was able to eat the soft flesh of the pods. For all that they had struggled to try and survive the creature, this place was barely worth it. And since it had gotten away, they would have to post a guard, not that they weren¡¯t planning to.


    ¡°Thank you, thank you so much for saving her,¡± Roy said softly as he looked up.


    Racha could only watch as Jinn sat down before him and played with the baby¡¯s hair, smiling. ¡°Roy, it was nothing. We¡¯re shipmates, we look out for each other.¡±


    Racha only rolled her eyes and sighed, trying to play it off. That was more than a criminal like Jinn would normally say, and that bothered her a lot. Ever since Duncan had broken her cover, to Jinn she had been on edge. And then Paige had broken theirs to the others, she had been a little concerned and even more confused. Jinn acted like no criminal or rebel she had ever seen. Some were loyal to each other, but he went beyond that. And the abilities Paige had, and the people who hunted her down. And that wasn¡¯t even thinking about the powers that Jinn had developed, what were they? And did Paige¡¯s come from the same source?


    ¡°After what happened at my pod, I know that¡¯s not true,¡± Roy said miserably and Racha looked up at this.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t have time, but what happened there, what happened? I mean, what could have gotten the idea for a sacrifice to appease the creatures?¡± Racha asked and Roy looked away.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say. And I mean I truly can¡¯t. You see, during the first attack¡­.. I got knocked out,¡± Roy said as he looked down, his eyes misty. ¡°When I woke up, they were completely crazy! Everything just happened so fast, I couldn¡¯t understand anything! It was why I spoke up, and the next thing I knew I was the second sacrifice!¡±


    Racha only looked at him, her nanites recording everything she just heard, and went over it. That meant that whatever happened to the majority of the others happened when he was knocked out. Or did his being asleep keep whatever happened to the others from happening to him? Was it the result of a Power user like Jinn or Paige? There were several possibilities, and she didn¡¯t like any of them. But all they could do was try and keep calm and move along, never stop, and stay alive.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it man, I just can¡¯t! I mean the psych evas alone. How could someone like who would do that even make it onto the crew, let alone an officer!¡± Al muttered as he looked up at the ceiling above them from the right.


    Racha looked at him, a strange feeling going through her as she thought about Al¡¯s words. There was truth in that, and that bothered her. That made her idea that much more possible. If someone gained powers like Jinn, then maybe they thought they were god¡¯s chosen.


    ¡°Still can¡¯t believe a yard ship is here. I mean aren¡¯t Archipelago considered strategic assets? What?¡± Roy asked as the others all looked away.


    As Roy looked around, Jinn shared a look with Racha. After a few minutes Racha nodded, Roy and anyone else they met deserved to know that much at least.


    ¡°It¡¯s not an Archipelago Class. I think it¡¯s an Anchorage,¡± Jinn said as he looked at her. He just sighed as he saw the look of complete confusion on Roy¡¯s face. ¡°You know, an Anchorage class? As in the first Yard-Ship, the one that went commercial and was three classes behind the Archipelago class? The military stopped making them before the Corporate War and¡­..¡±


    At this, Racha took a deep breath in shock before Al started cruising in binary. Jinn only looked into space, shocked beyond words.


    All Racha could think about was that this was an extremely good thing for them. If they could get ahold of any records it had, they might be able to learn something about this world. If there were any survivors there, then they had to get there faster. Survivors meant help for all the marooned passengers. Survivors meant people had been stuck there for years if they were all lucky. if not, then there was a space Ruin above this planet or on a moon they couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°¡­¡­They were made before the Corporate War¡­.. Could it be that old?¡± Jinn asked shocked as he looked around.


    Racha saw Roy look at Jinn in shock as he opened and closed his mouth a few times.


    ¡°Why would you even think it was that¡­¡­¡± Roy began only for Al to interrupt him.


    ¡°Even if it is, I still have a copy of its operating system. I¡¯ll be able to take control as soon as I get a hold of its mainframe!¡± Al said forcibly and Roy¡¯s head snapped over to stare at him.


    ¡°Why would you even have a copy of its operating system?¡± Roy asked.


    ¡°We need to get there as fast as possible, we don¡¯t have a choice anymore! That ship, if its sensors still worked all this time then maybe we can figure out where we are!¡± Racha barked, and all the others except Roy nodded. A second lady the baby started to cry, shocked awake by Racha¡¯s remark.


    ¡°Could someone please explain what you all mean?!¡± Roy barked out softly as he started to rock the baby back to sleep.


    Racha looked away and sighed, trying to think about how to explain this without making Roy lose his mind.


    ¡°On the way here, we found a fighter. It was from the Corporate War, specifically from the corps side. And somehow it still had power. So we used it as a bomb,¡± Jinn said softly and Roy looked at him, his eyes wide.


    Roy looked at his friend, trying to understand what he meant. There was no way that was possible, no way at all! The corps were the cheapest of fools when it came to military hardware. They even gave all their fighters recharge batteries to save on construction costs! But all that did was make them lose power if the battles were too long, killing their pilots.


    At least, that was what he had been told. He could so easily see a cover-up being involved, but then that was what governments did. But that didn¡¯t help them it made this worse. But forget how they made the fighter, it had been here. It had worked after all these years, but that didn¡¯t make sense. Why had it worked, just how was it even possible? Could it have been a newer model, from one of the reinaction companies he knew about? But those were all drones, remote-controlled units. And the engines weren¡¯t powerful enough to ever be used as a bomb!


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    That meant that he couldn¡¯t trust what he knew, and in this situation that was incredibly bad.


    ¡°And you¡¯re sure that¡¯s where the fighter was from?¡± Roy asked in total shock.


    ¡°I know ships! If I said that was what it was, then that was what it was!¡± Al said forcibly softly and Roy just looked at him.


    ¡°Had the Alliance logo and everything, it was from back then,¡± Jinn said with a sigh.


    ¡°It¡¯s insane, but that''s the way it works. I mean this planet. From humanoid insects as large as us or bigger. Strange spiders and whatever that thing that lived here was, I mean this is wild!¡± Al said and Roy only looked at him, shocked beyond words.


    As Roy tried to comprehend how any of this was possible, the baby he was rocking to sleep finally fell into slumber. He looked at her and then the others and sighed, he turned towards the cave. ¡°I¡¯m gonna set up a place for the little lady to sleep and use the bags to make a barrier. I¡¯ll sleep against it in case she¡¯s a climber. And then hopefully when I wake, things will make sense again.¡±


    ¡°You go and take a nice sleep man. We¡¯ll handle the watches, you just rest,¡± Jinn said softly and Roy felt relief.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Roy said softly as he walked into the cave. As he walked into the darkness he blinked as he walked into a soft green glow. It was cast by a crystal embedded into the ceilings. He, Al, and Jinn had found them when they had cleared the cave. They had to make sure that there wasn¡¯t another way into the cavern in it. The same crystal that gave the cavern light shined green and dimmer here, and part of him didn¡¯t want to know why or how. Sometimes, it was better not to know, he had learned that the hard way long, long ago.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked at the cave before turning towards Racha. ¡°You didn¡¯t think or want to say the possibility, did you?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Racha asked softly.


    All Jinn did was stare at her, his mouth closed. For a few seconds, he wondered if she even knew what he was talking about, but no one the Service sent out wouldn¡¯t know. The fact that she was at least of a rank that let her lead this mission of hers was enough, she would have to know. The only way was if the Service was hiding it, but with the planet that seemed unlikely.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Racha asked as she looked back at him.


    For a second, all Jinn did was look at her. Then his eyes hardened, if she didn¡¯t want to take the plunge he would.


    ¡°The folly of the Algmar,¡± Jinn said softly as he looked at her, watching for any reaction. She didn¡¯t disappoint, she just looked at him as her mouth opened in shock.


    For a few seconds, all Jinn felt was a bit of pleasure. He had been right about her, she did know about it. But then why hadn¡¯t she said¡­. Oh. She hadn¡¯t made the connection, that was something. but then that made this whole situation that much more dangerous, who knew how long they had been lost?


    ¡°What¡¯s the Algmar?¡± Al asked a note of wonder in his voice.


    Jinn only looked at Racha, waiting for a reaction. All she did was look at him with wide eyes as she saw what he had figured out.


    ¡°The Algmar was a colony ship that disappeared over three hundred years ago. It was found about, oh¡­. Thirty years back, the crew and passengers were still alive. They had stumbled into the area of a Ruin that was on an asteroid. It was discovered in the inquiry that the sensors detected rare metals worth a lot on the same asteroid. It was on the way so the colony¡¯s sponsor wanted to take a look. To see if they could get it on the way back after dropping the colonists off. Instead, the ship wandered into the Ruin¡¯s area and it activated. And they all became time travelers,¡± Jinn said bluntly and Al could only stare at him, shocked beyond words.


    ¡°How many years? How big was the stasis field?¡± Al asked in horror as he understood exactly what had happened to the ship.


    ¡°Big, when it broke the pilot had to do some fancy flying to stay alive. A few of the asteroids and comets that had gotten stuck at the edge. They found out their new world had a Fleet base and more ships that had gotten stuck. Last I heard they were on this world the Federation set aside for people like them,¡± Jinn said and shook his head.


    ¡°How do you know that?!¡± Racha barked softly.


    ¡°A group escaped the planet, someone from the bridge of the Algmar was a part of it. The people who raised me found him. Last I saw he was being moved to another camp. And that was before I left so I don¡¯t know where they are now, or who they are. I still have a little loyalty to them even if I¡¯m a traitor to their leader,¡± Jinn said bluntly as he leaned back and looked up. He saw Sara and Paige at the exit to the forest, watching for anything that might come at them. If he remembered what they had planned, then after a few hours he and Al would take over the last shift until morning. But then that didn¡¯t matter, the only thing that did was what Racha did next.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°They escaped!? Oh nova, nova! This is bad, really bad!¡± Racha said as she felt her blood leave her face. The planet was one of the most secure locations in the Service. The people sent, some had run into Ruins, the kind that the public didn¡¯t know about. There were few cities, most far apart. They weren¡¯t exactly prisons, more like hospitals. The Algmar colonists were given a region far from anyone else. They were able to build their new home there while they adjusted to the changes. Last she heard the plant was going to be made public. It was set to have happened within the next year once the last colonists gave the go-ahead.


    ¡°So the Federation just keeps people prisoner?!¡± Al demanded and Racha looked at him before she looked away.


    ¡°It¡¯s now a prison, not really. The planet was set up to help those affected by Ruins heal. I admit that we wanted to keep an eye on them, but after one ¡®Zombie Plague¡¯, got free, can you blame us?¡± Racha asked and Jinn looked up, glaring at her.


    ¡°Zombie Plague, like in the movies?¡± Jinn demanded and at Racha¡¯s nod, he looked away and sighed. ¡°So you keep them on the planet to make sure the Ruins didn¡¯t infect them? Smart I guess.¡±


    ¡°Necessary, at least according to my old teacher. The committee involved with that decision, well most of them retired from field work. Last I heard some of them were in the academy or entered the Civilian Workforce,¡± Racha said and Jinn looked at her and nodded.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit that there might be a reason, but do you see what might have happened to us?¡± Jinn asked and Racha only blinked.


    She was about to say something before her eyes went wide as her mind made connections. ¡°NO! You can¡¯t mean!¡±


    ¡°I do, there is a good chance that happened to us. That we might have wandered into a Ruin. That''s the only way this tracks,¡± Jinn said.


    All Racha could do was think as she gazed past that, all the way back to the Federation. After the Diplomatic party failed to show up, there had to be have been a search. Once they didn¡¯t find anything from The Spirit, there had to have been an outcry. Just what had the Ancients done? There was a lot of talk about who on the team was the Diplomat, and what noble rank they were.


    ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Al asked as he looked between them.


    Racha only stayed silent, the sheer weight of what Jinn had told her keeping her silent. After a few seconds, Jinn only sighed before he turned his head.


    ¡°There is no way to know how much time passed between whatever caused us to leave the ship and when we hit the ground,¡± Jinn said softly as he looked at Al.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al only looked at his friend, his mind trying to understand just what he meant. But then he did, and his eyes went wide. If the stasis field was advanced enough to hold machines and people in a state of suspended time¡­¡­ then it could have been thousands of years. If the Ruin had enough advanced equipment, then who knew how long it had been. Well, there was a way.


    ¡°We need to get to the Yard-Ship, I need to see its central computer,¡± Al said, looking a the others as they looked back at him.


    ¡°Well, yeah. You need to take over the ship,¡± Jinn said but All only shook his head, a bit of anger sparking in his mind.


    Once again, he wondered just why he and those from the Scholar¡¯s Way worlds always thought the way they did. Jinn knew so much, but he didn¡¯t even see it. Again, that wasn¡¯t too bad but the way this was going, he would have to explain in detail.


    ¡°No, I mean I need to get to the system. That will let us know just what we¡¯re dealing with here!¡± Al said forcibly, letting his voice echo a bit. He went silent and turned towards the cave, seeing Roy just roll, still asleep.


    ¡°Listen, if this place is the result of a temporal Ruin, then the way time works here has to be different! Slowed down or accelerated, then that ship is a witness! That system will have all the records about how long it¡¯s been here,¡± Al said forcibly.


    Racha could only look at him as she tried to understand him. After a moment, she started to and grinned ¡°Then once we know just what we¡¯re dealing with¡­..¡±


    ¡°¡­.We¡¯ll be able to see just how bad we¡¯re in the black hole!¡± Jinn finished with a smirk.


    ¡°That¡¯s my thought. We need to get there as fast as possible. This might be even more important than we thought it was,¡± Al said with a soft voice.


    All Al could do was think about just what this meant. For a small moment, he had hoped that centuries had passed by in the greater Federation... It would have fixed all his problems, and he might have been able to argue what happened to him. If the rebellion back on his world would have won. If that had happened, then his class would have gotten justice. And that meant they might have created a memorial for their lost friends. And if everything he thought had happened, then he could have still be a researcher on his world.


    That was all he had ever wanted, but then the last day. Fighting for his life, and the comradery of the others. Maybe he wanted something else, maybe he wanted this life.

 SORRY

    <div>


    <div>


    Hey all, so, bad news. My computer crashed and I lost all of my last chapter last night. After NEW Years I was a little busy on Monday and thought to publish on Wed¡¯s day, but that was destroyed because I forgot to save my chapter. I¡¯ll rewrite it and have it up on Friday, and for the future Friday will be when I publish my chapters for a while. Happy New Year everyone, again sorry.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

 Chapter Fifty Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1710


    Sara smiled as she looked up at the sky, feeling good. The pod had been delicious, they had to take them back to the Federation.  But since she and Paige had the first of the two watches they would both be well rested when morning comes. And that was something that they all needed. Because this place was strange and deadly!  From the spider to the vine beast, she couldn''t understand anything. Anything she thought she knew about evolution, this planet had the rules. . The way those vines attacked them, how the vine beast might have been their source! And that wasn¡¯t even talking about the insectoids Jinn, Al, and herself had run into the other day! Were all of them from the same hive or were they like different subspecies of bugs?


    And that wasn¡¯t even thinking about the powers that Paige and Jin had. As she thought about Jinn she shook her head, no matter what she did Jinn was someone who was completely¡­.. different. Back on the ship, she had seen him looking with wonder at things that were so common. And with Paige¡¯s exclamation and the reveal that created, she still wondered where Jinn came from.


    Still, he was strong, he was tough and he knew how to lead a combat patrol. He even moved first when they heard Roy scream. No matter what or who he was, he was a hero in her file. Still, he was mysterious, and just where had he come from? She looked at the stars, wondering what sun shone down on Jinn when he was young. What challenges did he face, what made him who he is?


    She shook her head, trying to get back on track. This wasn¡¯t the time, she had to handle the job she had right now. She had to stay on guard, she just thought about how the creatures were all strange, why did she let her mind wander?! Oh, now she remembered.


    She turned her head and saw Paige look around, a scowl on her face. Sara had taken advantage that Paige was here, trusting in her powers. The scientist in her was beating her head against a wall in her brain. They couldn¡¯t let Paige¡¯s abilities be their only defense. They had to be proactive, they couldn¡¯t just their guard down.


    As she looked around, trying to figure out just what she could do, she heard a giggle. Next to her Paige looked at her, and smiled. ¡°Let me guess, those nerves of yours are because of where we are and doing?¡±


    ¡°No! It was because I let my thoughts run wild! I, I should have paid more attention!¡± Sara said as she looked away. She couldn¡¯t let the fact that she was even thinking about how to use Paige¡¯s abilities. That wasn¡¯t right, at least to her it wasn¡¯t. and with Paige¡¯s history and what led her to the Spirit, that just spat at it.


    ¡°It¡¯s this place, I just can¡¯t understand it! There are so many things about this planet, the life we found here! I mean the insectoids my group found the other day. Then there¡¯s the vine beast and the spiders. I mean just one of them alone could be the project of a hundred-year research grant alone! If the scientists back home ever heard about these things, I mean. Current research would have identified one of them alone as the Alpha species of this world. A planet with all of them together within the same ecosystem? They would have to make a new university just to study that alone!¡±  Sara said and Paige looked at her with a grin.


    ¡°Any scientist in particular you¡¯d want to show this place to?¡± Paige asked and Sara just laughed.


    ¡°There were a few. And some I wouldn¡¯t want to even think about finding out about this place,¡± Sara said bitterly. She just couldn¡¯t help but think about one of her former classmates, he had a lot of strange ideas. And what had been discovered in his labs, how he was trying to play god with life, create new species from the old. And that thought led her to think about what those people who hunted her wanted Paige for.


    Sara was a medic and a biologist, one who had learned it most of her life. She knew about breeding traits into genetic lines, and had seen nightmares from it. The times and tragedies when sentient species or cults tried it. Wars against those who thought they had the right to do that, who tried to breed slave soldiers. All she knew, was one single simple thing. Nothing good could have come from the people after Paige, none at all. Plus she still didn¡¯t know anything about Paige, anything at all. Well, no better time to find out about her than here and now. ¡°Say, Paige? Where do you come from?¡±


    ¡°I¡­.. I don¡¯t feel right saying the name of my world. Nothing against you, but what you don¡¯t know can¡¯t be tortured out of you and all. Just covering my bases. I gave myself a total makeover before I got onto the Spirit. I don¡¯t want any tracks leading back to my birth world,¡± Paige said as she looked away.


    Sara felt her heart freeze before she felt her head nod, yeah she could see that. If those people were as bad as she thought they were, then that was reasonable. If they had anyone among the passengers, the wrong word at the wrong time could lead them to her.


    ¡°Okay, so how about a similar question? How was it growing up with your abilities? I bet you were a killer at cards!¡± Sara said with a grin. She let her mind wander, remembering many times she could have used that ability over her life.


    ¡°Yeah, not really. I only got them a few months or so before I ran,¡± Paige admitted.


    Sara nodded, but only for a minute before she heard what Paige said. Then she turned her head and looked at her friend and Sara¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock as she spook one word. ¡°What¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it was weird. I just was trying to help find a missing child who had been attacked by a local beast. I was just one of the volunteers, feeling so much terror. There had already been a few deaths due to them that season, but never a child. I was just looking around and then I felt something, some feeling that wasn¡¯t mine. I followed it and there they were, the missing child crying. I was even on the news for a few days, the face of the rescue! I guess that was how they found me,¡± Paige said and laughed a little.


    Sara didn¡¯t say anything, her thoughts traveling at the speed of light. The very idea that the people who were after Paige were on the same world was possible. But there were a lot of things wrong with that. How did they figure out that she had abilities in the first place? She could have been lucky, or maybe she had heard something. if she had spoken about what she felt maybe. But how would they even know Paige had that Ability?


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked at her friend as she just stood there. Something was going on in her brain, something that Paige couldn¡¯t see. Sometimes she cursed her abilities, how they let her see beyond the norm. They caused her to think about what could be behind what she saw. Her abilities let her escape from her hunters, even seeing them coming for her. But she had to admit that there was something there, something that she couldn¡¯t see.


    During her escape, there was something about her hunters that bothered her. No matter how she thought about them, she always felt that there something that she just couldn¡¯t see. But then she hadn¡¯t had much time to even think beyond running. Only when the ship she was on broke the atmosphere of her world did she stop and crash. The captain and crew were even worried she was sick, only after the medic looked her over did they let up. She had told them she was escaping someone who wanted to own her, and they had stayed quiet after that. Still, she had gotten onto another ship once the first ship reached their destination. After a long journey that took at least a third of a standard Solar Year, she had found the Spirit.


    After getting a job abroad, everything went well for her. She had been able to slowly learn how to use her abilities, and she was happy. She had slowly but surely built up enough credits to her name that she was able to start to chart a future for herself. She had even found a place to hide away, everything looked perfect and she was happy again. But then they woke up here. ¡°What do you think happened to the ship? How did we end up here?¡±


    ¡°No idea, but I do know we were in deep space last I checked. And the route had been mapped a lot, the captain wouldn¡¯t take us on a new path! So something happened, something that we couldn¡¯t get a message out to any allied ships. And then there¡¯s this place,¡± Sara said as she looked around, a frown on her face as she swept her gaze around.


    ¡°Yeah. You¡¯d think they would have found someplace like this. I mean, a planet like this? Unless the government was keeping it quiet people would talk. And even if they were keeping quiet, we wouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Paige said softly as she looked around. The small hill that the cave mouth was set in was in a large clearing, and the temperature was perfect. So far, the weather had been perfect and the skies were clear. A Megacorp would have sent in mercenaries, killed all the creatures. Once that was done, they could this place into a vacation planet before anyone knew about it.


    ¡°Yeah, I know. But still, there has to be an explanation for this place you know?¡± Sara asked softly and Paige nodded, her thoughts running along the same lines. The one thing that she knew was that there was always a reason, the trick was finding it. She had learned that the hard way a long time ago, every action reacted.


    She sighed and looked around, and then she went still. While Paige couldn¡¯t see anything, she sensed something. There, to the right of them was where the feelings were coming from. Unlink animals, this one was something more. There was a spark of something, it felt like hope. For a few seconds, she didn¡¯t understand. A beast here would feel only hunger like the spider had, but this was different, it was like¡­.. she went still as she slowly looked at Sara, trying to figure out what to do.


    ¡°So, after we get off shift, I think I¡¯ll sleep better than I have in a while. All I need is to lay back and sleep. I wonder how the Chief is handling everything back at the Capsule. I wonder if the passengers have made a demand for a new room yet,¡± Sara said with a smirk. However, when she saw Paige¡¯s eyes, she knew something was wrong.


    ¡°Maybe. Say, remember back on the ship, when that pickpocket ran into the chief? How the Chief chased him all around the deck?¡± Paige asked as she walked to the left, hoping Sara would figure out what she meant.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara looked at Paige as she slowly walked to the left of her, towards the wood. She might not have been someone who had a lot of experience, but she could catch things fast. Paige was worried about something, and that story was a way to let her know. The only reason that Paige would do that, was because something would hear it if she spoke plainly. But then why would she be worried about a beast hearing them and understanding it? She wouldn¡¯t, and that was enough to let her know someone was watching them.


    With Roy¡¯s experience at his Capsule, there was a chance this was more of those people. If they were willing to kill a baby, then who knows what they would do to two women alone? So then they couldn¡¯t take the chance this was a friend, they had to act like it was an enemy. All they had to do was move slowly until they could strike. Thank the stars for Paige¡¯s abilities, and she was worried about using them for this. But thankfully,


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t there when it happened. What way did that thief try and go to escape the Chief?¡± Sara asked idly and Paige¡¯s shoulders relaxed a bit.


    ¡°I was there, looking at the chase from the right. Now the thief went forward. With how the right passage was me pushing a cart, there was no way for him to get by me,¡± Paige said as she nodded.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    In the bush, the being watched as the two women walked closer to him. The being frowned, something about this was wrong. The two looked okay, healthy, and were a lot taller compared to the little guys the being had run into before. Something else was bothering him, something obvious. As the being¡¯s mother used to say, the being might be smart but dumb. After all, most things that were there sometimes¡­¡­ they weren¡¯t wearing armor. The two women weren¡¯t wearing any armor of any kind. They were just wearing jumpsuits, good ones. The kind that were¡­¡­


    ¡°New comers,¡± The figure whispered in shock.


    ¡°Now!¡±


    At the cry, the being looked up and saw the two women were now pointing their weapons in the being¡¯s direction! As they fired at where the being was hiding, the being went still before he felt flames on his head!


    ¡°AAAAGGGGHHH!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sara watched as a humanoid figure burst out of the bush they fired at. As the two of them watched, the figure pulled off a green cloak, revealing a human! He was tall with short brown hair. He was wearing a strange outfit. He had on black pants and a blue shirt, both were patchworked. The patches were what looked like hide, marks that someone had done repairs  in the wild.


    Both girls only watched as the man tried to put out the fire on the cloak for a few moments. But then Sara shook herself and looked at the man with a glare as she pointed her rifle at him.


    The man only sighed as he finished he turned towards the women, smiling. The Smile died and he went still as he looked down the barrel of Sara¡¯s riffle.


    ¡°Who are you, where did you come from and why are you spying on us!¡± Sara growled as she slowly moved her finger towards the trigger.


    The man only held up his hands and smiled shakily at them. ¡°Names Burt. Survivalist, sharpshooter, and guide. I¡¯ve been stuck here for about three months now. And I came from Trenolia. Excuse my question, but¡­. Did you crash here recently??¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a planet named Trenolia, where is it?¡± Paige asked softly.


    ¡°Not a planet ma¡¯am. It¡¯s an island, a Freeport under the control of none of the powers of the Sea Realm. So you are from the Galaxy then. I thought you were newcomers,¡± Burt said with a shake of his head.


    Sara only looked at him, a terrible feeling going through her. If there were survivors that had named a place, that they had created societies, then how long were they here? Just with one sentence, this one man had shown that everything was worse than she feared. This was so bad¡­..


    ¡°How have you people survived with monsters like we¡¯ve faced here?¡± Paige asked in shock.


    Burt only nodded as he smirked at them. ¡°Well, we were able to create ways to keep them from us. And the beings in this place are but a sample, there are species here that are dead beyond our prison. But we should go, I ran into a powerful creature down there¡­¡­..¡±


    Sara only smirked and laughed a little at Burt¡¯s reaction. Part of her was hoping that he meant the creature Jinn had fought off, if so then they might be good. If that coward was what was considered strong, then they had a chance. But then it might have been a niche predator, something that was strong against some things. If that was the case, then they might be in real trouble.


    ¡°If you mean the thing down there, we chased it off. If you mean the giant spider back that way, we killed it. Well, we set a trap to kill it ,¡± Paige said swiftly, a small scowl on her face as she looked at Burt.


    Sara looked at her friend, barely keeping her feelings off her face. From what she knew, Paige was a happy and friendly person. So why was she¡­¡­ Suddenly everything made sense, and she cursed herself for not thinking about it first. She felt something from Burt, something with her ability. And that meant that she had to go hard. Then that meant that Sara was the ¡®soft¡¯ option, and that was something of a problem.


    ¡°You did? Well, that¡¯s great! And bad, kinda bad. If something that can take the ability of that thing¡­. Hope you¡¯ve burned the body,¡± Burt said softly as he rubbed his chin.


    Sara just shook her head. ¡°It ran away, escaped really. We tried to track it down, but it escaped.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s bad. It¡¯ll come back to take this place. I hope you weren¡¯t planning on making a den down there,¡± Burt said softly as he looked towards the hill and the cave mouth.


    Sara only laughed a little as she shook her head. ¡°Unless it attacks us before we leave in the morning, it can have it. We¡¯re just staying here until we head down towards the coast. There¡¯s another capsule we need to get to.¡±


    ¡°Oh escape capsules. Must have been a large ship, how many crew did you all have?¡± Burt asked and Sara grinned at him.


    ¡°A few hundred thousand. And about three million passengers total,¡± Sara said absently. As Burt nodded he stared at her for a few moments before his eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open.

 Chapter Forty Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 1725


    ¡°HOW MANY!????¡± Burt cried out in shock. For a moment he felt faint, that many people, what had crashed onto the planet? Thiss had to be one for the records books, he¡¯d never even heard of such numbers befor. All he could think of was with so many new people, so many things would change.


    He thought about everyone who would cry for joy when they heard of so many new bloodlines. And the groups he¡¯d heard of that would do anything to capture them to use. The resource value they represented alone. And if half of them were able to repair technology, they could turbocharge any nation or cult. And if they had any knowledge of how to tame a Ruin¡­¡­


    But then his thoughts died down as he realized it. There was no way that all those people were on this island! He would have run into them before now, and he would have felt the impact of all those wrecks! So that made him ask one question that he had to have an answer to. ¡°Where are they all?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know, we only have a small number of them in the escape capsules. We¡¯re a small group, a few crewmembers and passengers. So how¡¯d you get here?¡± The one with purple streaks in her black hair asked him as she glared at him.


    He looked between the two of them and tried to figure out how to ask. ¡°A long story my dear?  I¡¯m sorry but your name is?¡±


    ¡°Sara, this is Paige,¡± Sara said as she gestured to the other women.


    Burt nodded, trying to figure out what to say so he would keep his head. He had done this a million times since he had been a teen, letting his mouth save him. But he had never been the first person to tell Newcomers about the world. There was so much to tell them, things that they had to know to live here. From how active Ruins were to the truth of the Ancients, and what they had to defend themselves from. And how deadly it was to travel on the seas, that was the worst of the problems here.


    ¡°Well, I came here on a moderately high-tech speed boat. Crashed it a few miles up the coast on the other side of the mountain that way. I think it was about close to a month ago really,¡± Burt said as he looked at Sara.


    So far, Paige was acting like the muscle, so talking to Sara kept them happy. Paige had to be someone who could tell if he was lying, and he wouldn¡¯t for now. He¡¯d tell them everything, and hopefully, they would stay away from the manic groups out there. If one of the ones that wanted him dead found this place, well he wouldn¡¯t be taken alive to be tortured to death. Better to go out fighting than the long pain his capture would lead to.


    ¡°Month? So you were born on this planet?¡± Sara asked softly.


    Burt nodded, trying to keep his real emotions off his face. His birth was a tricky subject for him. The less he said, the better. But the barebones were all that they needed to know for now. ¡°Yes. About five years ago I went out on my own when I turned twenty. Been living on my own ever since, and I couldn¡¯t be happier. Sure, a more stable life might have been better, but I¡¯m good.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve been living a life worth living then. Mind telling me what you were running from?¡± Paige asked and Burt looked at her.


    Something about her reminded him of the Old Lady back home, how she could always see through all lies. For a time he thought it might be part of a Skill Set, but all his research came up with nothing. When he told his friends, they had all admitted that they had all searched for that same Skill once or twice. That was a few months before he left his home, and he had always kept an ear out for any news of his home.


    ¡°To put it simply sentient life has been here long enough to form divisions. Some wars here and there, a few alliances and what have you. I ran across the work of a particularly mad bunch a few months back. To make a long story short, well they wanted to sacrifice me to their god,¡± Burt said with a shrug.


    He held back a smirk at the expressions on the women¡¯s faces, and he felt a spark of joy. Whenever he told others about his daring do, he always liked the way they reacted. He hoped it would let them believe him more, he would need their trust to save them. If some of the Eaters had come across them before he had, he didn¡¯t want to think of how many they would have lost. He needed to warn them about all the problems out there, all the scum and the vile. But if he give a good impression, maybe they would join his home.


    And with the pirate fleets only growing, they needed all the help they could get. The last he heard before he was marooned  was that the Alliance was hit hard on one of their islands. Plus there was the rumor that a new Holy Crusade had been launched from the Godly Realm. If those things came across New Comers, he didn¡¯t want to know what they would do. See them as pagans or heretics, both had a limited lifetime among those beings.


    ¡°Well now, I think you need to talk to the rest of our party. You don¡¯t mind of course?¡± Sara said as she looked at Burt¡¯s eyes.


    Burt smiled back, but inside he was very happy. If this was just a scouting party, then maybe they could help each other. If they were looking for a place to defend themselves, then maybe those little guys could help them all. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be honored to. Need some food? It¡¯s a bit late but I don¡¯t know when you Void Travelers eat and all.¡±


    Sara smiled softly and led the way into the ¡°We already ate. Hey guys, we found someone!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked up as Sara called down. As he, Al, and Racha looked up Sara came into the cavern. She was leading someone dressed unlike any of the passengers or crew of the Spirit. For a second he was shocked, then he realized that this person had to have lived here. If he was from the Yard Ship then maybe they would be able to rescue the others. But if not, then they were in a worse mess than he feared. And the man was smiling wide as he looked at the three people waiting for him, and Jinn felt there was a chill down his spine.


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    ¡°Guys, meet Burt! He¡¯s a resident of this fair world. And he¡¯s from another island with a name. And I think he had a lot to tell us about some other residents!¡± Sara said as she moved her gaze around the chamber.


    Jinn felt his breath catch, he hated that he was right. If there was a place with a name, that meant that more people needed to know it. When a place had a name, it was to tell others where they were going. Names were also used to divide people, and that meant war. And war meant a lot of people. And a lot of people meant nation or at least city-states. And city-states meant diplomacy and that meant a lot of trouble for them.


    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jinn. This is Al and Racha. Roy is asleep in there,¡± Jinn said as he gestured towards the cave in the cavern.


    Burt nodded as he sat down and looked at the others, a grin on his face. ¡°Well friends, welcome to the world! This sphere is wild and crazy, serene and calm! Every place is different, friends or foes! Talkers or Beasts! The one thing we all know is that everything is change!¡±


    Jinn only looked at the man, trying to understand. The way he was talking, it was all true. But that didn¡¯t make sense, at least on the surface. And this Burt seemed to not be lying, but then what was the truth then? Everything was change? That didn¡¯t sound good. But then the area of change, and what kind, now that was the question.


    ¡°What do you mean, change? How does it change?¡± Racha demanded, echoing Jinn¡¯s thoughts.


    As he looked at her, he inwardly snorted. He should have known she would ask that. Say what you will about the Service, they were always after the truth. And the way Burt was trying to put on a show, it would have bothered her.


    ¡°Well, my people are descended from a ¡°slow boat colonizer¡± from Earth¡¯s second expansion. When we crashed here, we came across some people from The Federation. Let me tell you, finding out what happened to the Homeworld set off a few of the security personnel!¡±


    ¡°A Slow boat? What was it, what was its name? Where did it come from?¡° Al asked and Burt laughed a little.


    ¡°Why good sir, I¡¯m from the people of the Great Founding Father of Earth, sent out by the United Earth forces!¡± Burt said as he bowed his head.


    Al went still and his eyes went wide. Jinn went still as well, remembering how Al had talked to him about that ship once. It was after the Spirit had received notice that a colony had been founded, and then it went to the Lost Colonies. Lost Colonies were the ships that had been sent out to colonize a planet that disappeared. Sometimes they were found, having crashed and the survivors had lived. Other times they were found with everyone aboard dead. And of the slow boats sent out by the United Earth Government, all but three were among the Lost Colonies. To have found a descendent here, was beyond anything that Jinn thought they would find.


    ¡°That ship crashed here? Do you still live in it?¡± Al asked, a note of excitement in his voice.


    Burt just shook his head, a somber look on his face. ¡°No. we destroyed most of it to fight against the forces of another ship, The New Roman.¡±


    ¡°The New Roman crashed here too!? Two of the lost ships crashed here?! And this place was never found?!¡± Al asked in shock as he fell backward.


    Jinn felt the last bit of hope that they might be rescued died. There it was, there was nothing anyone off the planet could do to help them. They had to get to the Yard-Ship, there was nothing else they could do. That was the only hope they had of any of them getting off the world and back to the Federation.


    ¡°Yeah, and those people have gone a bit mad. Majorly mad really if I¡¯m honest. They made a nation called the Holy Kingdom, a humanist empire that kills anything not human. They¡¯ve launched ¡®Crusades¡¯ to bring ¡®justice¡¯ and ¡®civilize¡¯ the pagans. Kinda a big thing, but only part of the problems really,¡± Burt said softly.


    ¡°Wait, let me get. Some places are run by Corporations, right?¡± Jinn asked dryly and he closed his eyes as Burt nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, how¡¯d you guess? They call themselves the New World Corp, and said something about a war. They were supposedly setting up a fleet base somewhere when they crashed, so they had a big science base. Gave them quite an advantage for a while,¡± Burt said as they suddenly heard a growl.


    Burt looked away and sighed. ¡°Sorry, I was looking to grab a pod from up there. Have to be fast to grab them, but they are perfect for living on the go and all.¡±


    ¡°Catch,¡± Racha said as she reached into her bag and pulled out a pod she threw to him.


    ¡°Oh, how so?¡± Jinn asked and Burt grinned as he chuckled.


    ¡°Why, there are so many Alpha beasts around here. Some of them have armies that number in the hundreds, whole species that live to follow orders. And just surviving is a chore here really!¡± Burt said with a grim laugh.


    Jinn looked at Racha and gave her a quiet nod. She nodded back, and that was enough. The two of them needed to talk, without their new friend hearing them.


    As Burt started to eat, Racha stood up and walked towards the ramp up to the outside. ¡°Sara, let¡¯s move. I¡¯ll take a look around and make sure nothing else is here. Al, Jinn, you two take the last watch so get some sleep once I¡¯m back.¡±


    Burt waved at her as he looked back at Jinn, a wide smile on his face. ¡°So, the lady is the boss?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a leader leader. More like we all try and keep the others alive. What about you? Were you with anyone when you were shipwrecked?¡± Jinn asked and Burt laughed.


    ¡°No leader, just an enemy. Of course that was before one of the beasts here killed him, save my life. Now I would thank it but it tried to make a meal out of me, so there¡¯s that. And I¡¯ve met few if any friends here since. Lovely place, really,¡± Burt said with a laugh.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al stayed silent, his mind going strange places as he leaned against the stone wall. He couldn¡¯t believe any of this, nothing made sense! The sheer chance that there would be survivors from the Yard-Ship was monumental, but now this? A descendent of a Lost Colony ship, and he said there were others! That was something he could believe after all the data was there. He knew enough about the Lost Colonies, a friend had shared his research on them before his class split. The Founding Father was launched during the second era, and the New Roman the era after, a good fifty years later.


    Both of those ships were among the best that the shipyards had made back then. From the engine to the generator and the navigation subroutines, they were all second to none. His friend had researched every aspect of the ships, from their captains to their course. And their course was what was bothering him.


    Both ships had gone in the opposite direction of each other, there was no way they could find the same world. The only way that the two ships could have crashed was outsider intervention. And with what he had just been told, everything made sense. He had hoped that he was wrong, he really. But if he was right, then his worst-case scenario was true, it was the only explanation that made sense.


    Up until now, he was hoping that the planet had a Ruin that hid it, that all the Spirit had done was discover it by accident. But the Founding Father and New Roman on the same planet? That didn¡¯t make sense, both of them had gone in opposite directions and been sent out decades apart! That meant that he was right, that the reason the Spirit of Adventure crashed was because of Ruin!


    He knew a bit more about Ruins than most people, a lot more thanks to another classmate. If he was right then one of the greatest of all Ruins was above them, and for some reason, it was still active. But Void Ruins were the worst of all, all the threats of vacuum combat and the impossibility of Ruin raiding.


    But if he was right, they would need to raid it to even think of finding the way home. There had to be a Ruin up there, and one that could create Wormholes. It all made sense, everything lined up. The wormholes would open before a ship. When the ship passed through it, their electronics would be destroyed. And the survivors would crash onto the planet that was behind the Ruin.


    Everything¡­..Al went still as he suddenly realized something. his theory, it didn¡¯t make sense. Oh, sure, most of it was probably true. But how had they gotten into the escape capsules? And why had they lost their memories of what had happened to them before that? That was the one problem that didn¡¯t make sense.


    Unless, no. No there was no way, no way at all. How could the Ruin have moved them into the escape capsules?


    As Racha looked behind the bush Paige and Sara had pointed out, she frowned. She looked at the tracks she found and then let her eyes follow them. So far the story that Burt told them was true, and that was a problem. If half of what Burt told them was true, then their mission was more urgent. Once they were behind the hull of the Yard-Ship, they could gather the other castaways. Once they were all safe, they could try and figure out what to do. If the political situation was just what Burt told them, then they had to stay away from this ¡®Holy Kingdom¡¯. They hadn¡¯t found any of the other species that made up the crew, but they had to be out there. If they were as bad as Burt painted them, then they were in real trouble. She didn¡¯t want to even think about how they would act with people who lived with non-humans!


    Those kinds of filth were always survivors, the scum was like hard-to-kill bugs. Let their message be recorded and in a few generations there were new ones. The right way to deal with them was to rip them apart, destroy and show their ideas were worthless. Make them the idiots, the bigots and it kept them from respawning for a while. But then they always came back.


    All she could do was hope that they could get the Yard-Ship working. Once they had the right tech they could make things to keep them alive. And if it was from the black market, then it might have a few War-robot designs in its database. But even if it didn¡¯t, Al might be able to make something that they can use to handle the personal problem.


    ¡°Find anything?¡± Sara asked and Racha shook her head.


    ¡°No, keep watch and I¡¯ll see you at shift change,¡± Racha said softly as she moved toward the cave mouth. Her thoughts were moving at light speed, and one thing she was sure of. No matter what happened, they would survive on this planet. Of that, she would accept nothing else.

 Chapter Fifty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1150


    Duncan sighed as he leaned back against his chair, scowling a little. So far, the scouts above hadn¡¯t reported anything that might be wrong, but there was just something. Since they lost the foraging group the other day, they were still on rations. To see if anything was still in the clearing, he had sent three people there. And they had orders to see if they could recover the bodies of their dead, but they found nothing. And with no bodies, there was nothing to contradict Jones¡¯s version of events, and that was a problem. He had seen the coward walking around like he was in enemy territory, and that meant he was scared. If Jones was scared, then he had something to hide. For a moment Duncan tried to think of anything else that Jones could be keeping silent on, but what was it?


    Once more he cursed the company¡¯s way of keeping out a person¡¯s private affairs. Sure, he had done that a few times to give jobs to people who needed it, but sometimes it bothered him. There had always been something about Jones that rubbed him the wrong way. No matter what Duncan did to look into Jones, that feeling was still there. He didn¡¯t need this,  he really didn''t. With the creatures, keeping the passengers calm. There were just too many problems here. Even staying alive there was no end of things to worry about. And waiting for Jones to backstab them? Nothing good would come from that. But could Duncan trust him?


    ¡°And to think, I hoped that I would only have to deal with Bradford,¡± Duncan muttered. A flash of heat caused him to glare in anger at his broken leg.


    Just thinking about former senator Bradford caused his head to ache. The man was as slimy as they came, and there was just something about the man. Duncan had only felt that once before about someone, and that scum turned out to be a pirate. And he had been trying to lead his group into a trap to kill them!


    There was no doubt in his mind, that if Bradford took over then everyone would die. Bradford was the type to kill everyone around him if he lived longer. Duncan had seen the type a lot during his time in the military, usually in spies. But Bradford was smart enough to know how to trick a crowd, to get the mob to follow his vision. All in all, between Bradford and Jones, his position within the escape capsule was not stable.


    ¡°And that¡¯s not counting the fact that we were attacked,¡± He muttered as he sighed. The creatures that had attacked them were beyond deadly. The fact that the creature had a way to paralyze people with a roar. And then there were the abilities Jinn had developed¡­¡­ all together they painted a bad picture. There was something about this place, something that just made him think of his service days. There was something there, something that he couldn¡¯t just see. And that was what worried him the most.


    That meant it was in one of those ¡®Time locked¡¯ missions of his. Ones that his nanites were keeping him from remembering. Those were always the worst, the kind of mission that brought him into contact with secrets. Secrets that the government wanted kept in the void, and that was why that strain of nanites were made. When he joined the special forces, he thought that he would never need them, but after a while they became common. That was when he quit really, after his twentieth mission.


    A few months later, he joined the ship¡¯s crew and worked his way up to the Chief¡¯s position. All in all, he had a pretty good run, this situation not counting. All they had to do was wait, and hope the team sent out came back with something that could help them. Even if they just cleared the yard-ship, even if it¡¯s a wreck, they would have a much better place to live in. With any luck, they might be able to signal a rescue.


    ¡°But that¡¯s just a dream. There has to be a reason the ship is still here. And I think the locals are part of it,¡± Duncan muttered as he looked down at his leg. With a thought, he called out to a strain of nanites within his body. With a thought, he saw a report of his body¡¯s status appear in his right eye. With a small smile, he saw that all he needed was another two days and his leg would let him walk on it without help.


    ¡°Good. This could help me out a lot in keeping them calm. But what to do? It¡¯ll probably be a few days. And if we¡¯re attacked again?¡± Duncan mussed as he sighed and once more cursed the civilian mindset. The number of times that he¡¯s dealt with civilians were convinced the sky was falling because of a loud boom! But there had to be a few people who worked with shield systems here, and they could help him. Once he got the internal affairs under control, then he would look at the outside. If they only opened the shield to gather food, then they would be safe. But with what they had, they had enough to survive for a few months.


    No, the best thing was for them to ¡®fort up¡¯, and let anything that would attack them just die on their guns. Once the party made it back, and if the Yard-Ship was everything he hoped it was, then they would be safe. When they made contact with the other escape capsules, then they could survive. And if he was really lucky, then he would be able to let someone else take command.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra rubbed her forehead, smiling as she looked around the field. They had finally set up the last of the three towers. Since they were all almost fully charged, they would activate. Within minutes the field would be covered by an energy dome that only let air in. Then they would be able to let the passengers out again. All the problems with the creatures would be solved because the shield would let nothing in! Well, as long as nothing tried to burrow under the shield. But then the towers all had seismic sensors, so with that, they would be safe. And so far, they had seen more creatures that might threaten them on and above the ground and nothing from below.


    Looking around, she nodded as she saw the other deckhands all looking out. As soon as the shield was up, they could all rest.


    She looked towards the forest where Jinn and the others had gone, her mind going dark places. Even though it was wrong, she had to admit to herself that there was something about Jinn that scared her. Back on the ship, the sheer surprise and joy at things that any child would know was wrong to her. The only way that could have been possible was if Jinn had been raised in total isolation. But that was impossible! Anyone raised like that wouldn¡¯t have even come aboard the ship. The few cultures that did that were in the inner regions, near homeworlds! How had he even gotten so far out? It didn¡¯t make sense!


    Plus there were the others to think about! None of the group that went with Jinn were people that she thought had secrets, could they be trusted?


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    ¡°Calm down, calm down,¡± Terra muttered as she walked around the clearing. Try as she might, there just wasn¡¯t a simple way to handle her nerves. But nothing worked, most of the people who left were people she had problems with.


    Al was quiet, always staying away from people. Unlike most of the Engineer¡¯s Way on the ship, he liked to work with people. While most of them were taking engineering lessons or working on the ship¡¯s system, he stayed alone. They took shifts in engineering, he worked at the restaurants! And while they prayed in groups, he prayed alone. There were records of those of the Way that acted like he did, those who became Heretics of their worlds. Could Al have played a part in what happened to the ship, some experiment of his?


    Racha was even worse! Most of the crew stayed with their sections, but she moved all about the ship! Terra had seen Racha talk to deckhands from all over. Okay, maybe there was a reason  but they all were from shits that handled the areas the highest guests stayed in. There was a problem a few years ago, a problem that Terra had been a part of. A newcomer like Racha had come aboard, she had charmed everyone. The one thing that everyone agreed, she was very friendly. She had talked to crew members all over, and then they found out why. The newcomer had been an assassin, and she was tracking her target. Terra had almost become her scapegoat if not for Duncan.


    Sara was a medic, but she was more like a scientist than a healer. Terra had always seen Sara reading in the crew library and always medical journals. There were always rumors of biologists who went mad. The creatures that they had run into, were they the result of science? Would Sara join whatever or whoever made this place? Could they trust her?


    Finally, there was Paige. She had come aboard the Spirit and Duncan had recurred her himself, another of his ¡®strays¡¯. Most of them were only aboard for a while, but Paige didn¡¯t call anyone. She stayed in the shadows, doing the work that kept her from the light happily. When the parks were open to them, she stayed in the crew section! And when she had come aboard, she barely had anything to her name, what was she running from?


    As Terra tried and failed to calm down her paranoia, she heard a humming. Looking towards the nearest tower, she saw the emitter start to shine. As she watched, it fired a beam into the air, as the other towers did the same. The beams climbed into the sky, rising thirty feet into the air. As the beams reached the zenith, the energy flowed over the sky, merging into one. As Terra watched, the shield formed and the other deckhands all cheered.


    ¡°Perfect, we¡¯re safe!¡± A voice behind her caused Terra to smile a little. While she thought they were only a bit safer, whoever spoke was right a bit. This place was still so deadly, but this was good. Now all they had to do was wait, and hope the party was trustworthy after all.


    Suddenly Terra saw ripples flow over the shield. Looking around, Terra saw one of the flying red worm¡¯s bodies fall down the shield. Terra only looked at it, then to the tower nearest to where the worm had hit and cupped her hands around her mouth. ¡°How¡¯s the power drain?¡±


    ¡°Barely half a percent! Recovered in seconds!¡± The deckhand by the tower called out in joy. Everyone else only cheered louder. Terra only laughed a little, swept up in the sheer joy everyone was feeling.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rest easy people, we¡¯ve still got work to do! I want five of you to go get three more of the towers, the rest are on guard duty! I want this pyramid to become a pentagon before shift change! And keep an eye on the power readings, I want to know if the drain goes over recharge!¡± Terra barked and within moments the other deckhands were moving.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the hardshelled bipeds moved towards the softskins, what few could think were excited. The power the soft ones had already shown, was what they needed. With the hordes that were all around them, they had to get something to make themselves stronger. The far strike ability that the soft skins showed, was what they needed. The food that the bodies would bring to the hive, would let the mother birth more warriors. With their limited strength, the hive mother had sent ten warriors, a good portion of their power. With luck, they would bring the strength back with them, even within themselves if they had to.


    As the group moved through the forest, they saw the mindless long flyer hover about. For a moment some felt fear, but luckily there were only the venom-ones about. If the bolters were around, then they would have to move faster. And once more a few of the hardshells cursed the fact that the long things couldn¡¯t be harvested for strength. If only they could find the egg sacks, but no. those things central hive were still hidden away, but one day, one day.


    Pain suddenly shot through their bodies as they heard a strange screeching. Lifting their heads, they looked ahead. They that the sound was coming from a strange clear shell around the clearing. As they watched one of the long flyers crash and die against it, the others all started to buzz. Looking at the shell, they all saw something that could only help them. If they brought back this power, then they could change so much. But this also changed things, they had to leave. They had to bring one of the great thinkers here. They would know how to beat this, what to do to get around it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the bathroom, Bradford held his head in the stall. So far, everything was still on a small ledge as far as he was concerned. If that idiom Jones spoke the wrong word to the wrong person, he was screwed! Why did he have to go and collect the cash himself? Why could he have sent someone and have anything taken a bonus for them?!


    He tried and failed to keep his breathing under control, trying in vain to handle his episode. Thankfully, he had gotten somewhere private before he had reacted. If he had everyone see this, it would have hurt his image. If Duncan had seen it, the argument that Bradford wasn¡¯t mentally sound could have been made. And that would have ended every hope he had of getting these people home!


    He had to take control, he had to. He had been a senator, he had seen the records of the black ops once or twice, and Duncan had been in many of them. The things he had seen Duncan do had to affect the mind. To have someone in control that was in danger of a mental break or a sociopath, that just invited death! And to make matters worse, his people weren¡¯t even here! If that muscle-bound fool was here, then they could have imitated Duncan to step down. Or if his spy was here, she could have gotten enough blackmail to get Duncan to hand over command!


    ¡°Keep calm Bradford, keep calm. Think, just think. What can you do?¡± Bradford muttered and looked around the bathroom stall. Looking around, trying to figure out the next step.


    After a few minutes of nothing, he just sighed and shook his head. For now, the best he could do was probably what he was doing. If he saw a chance, he¡¯d take it. But for now, he would let Duncan go until Bradford had enough to take him out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Vivian shook her head, she had gone over everything she knew, and sighed. The mission she had been on, it was looking like a snipe hunt. And after checking everything the passengers had on hand, she found nothing. The data she was after must be lost, and that meant she failed beyond the crash!


    The Guild made this seem like it was an easy job, seduce some cooperate type. Then use her tech to take a file he was transporting to a meeting. Give the file to her contact at a planet before the one her target was going to. Then get payment and head off on a vacation for a few years. Not the worst job she¡¯s done, and one for the road until she came back from vacation. Then she went still as she suddenly had a terrible thought. Could she have been set up? Was this a trap for her? Was she being used as a smokescreen!?


    That was what the others sometimes said, that every once in a while the Guild sacrificed members. The stories around the office were that the agents all knew of the possibility,  sure. But in the field, on stakeouts the whispers said something else. She had always figured that it was the way the living could remember the dead. The talk of how the agents were all too skilled to fall like that if they planned. She thought people were just trying to understand what happened to their friends. Now she wasn¡¯t.


    She shook her head suddenly, trying to shake the thoughts away. There might have been a plan to use her, but right now she had to stay in the moment. All she had to do was make a choice, and her fate would be decided by it. One way, she could stay hidden and people might die. Or two, she could help, show everything she was able to do, and betray the Guild.


    She had heard about what had attacked the clearing, she had seen what it had done. She could help them, she knew how to hunt those with abilities like that thing. More often than not, she had been one of those who had taken hunting missions from bio-makers. She had even once found out that one had blended sentient genes with a beast. So sad that the beast had killed its maker and died in flames¡­¡­.. could that have been the reason she was here? But how had he known? She had spent two days ¡®searching for survivors¡¯, there was nothing there! Was there a way she had missed, something she didn''t know? But what had they planned and why?


    ¡°Everyone! Could you all come to the main room, please? I have a wonderful announcement to make!¡± Duncan¡¯s voice over the intercom caused her to look up.


    Vivian frowned as she looked up at the ceiling, trying and failing to figure out what to do. There were still the two paths forward, and she had to make a choice soon. This might be a sign for her, but could she even trust Duncan? No matter what, she now knew what she had to do, and that was to choose once she heard his announcement.

 Chapter Fifty Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1150


    Duncan sighed as he looked around the main chamber. So far, everything above was going perfectly. He wondered for a moment if this was the right move, but he didn¡¯t have a better one. This might just work, but he was risking a lot. But with the other towers being set up, the risk was manageable.


    ¡°Everyone, thank you for coming. Now I know we¡¯ve asked a lot of you over the last day. And I won¡¯t apologize for keeping you all safe, but there is good news!¡± Duncan began only for Bradford to march forward.


    ¡°And what is that sir? Will we have gruel with tonight¡¯s meal? The creature that attacked us was beaten back, so why are you still holding us inside this capsule? Why are we still living off recycled air?!¡± Bradford demanded.


    Duncan only looked at Bradford, a scowl barely kept off his face. He knew that Bradford was


    ¡°Because of the bat that attacked. It flew away, and I don¡¯t know if it will come back,¡± Duncan said bluntly as he looked around the crowd. As he did he tried to show fear, fear that he didn¡¯t feel. ¡°And if that bat was here, other flyers have to be. At the time, I had no way to protect anyone from attacks from above.¡±


    Bradford only looked at Duncan as fearful whispers broke out behind him. Duncan only looked at the crowd, a strange feeling of pride going through him as he saw Bradford not react. Even he knew that if someone held the air, then they held control of the battle. But with the shield, the survivors would have a change.


    ¡°But we don¡¯t have to worry about that now! Nothing that attacks us, from the sky to the ground will be able to do so now!¡± Duncan called out, looking around with a grin on his face. He saw Bradford look at him, his eyes widened and that bothered him. So one of his men had told Bradford what they found or asked for help then, bad. But then, it was manageable, and something to put Terra on. If he had a way to feed Bradford false information, then that was a victory.


    ¡°No, because we set up force field towers! With the power of the sun above, we¡¯ll be safer! Not if anything attacks us, we¡¯ll know first and react! Now I still want you all to stay down here but I¡¯ll let the airlock stay open! So we can all breathe fresh air!¡± Duncan said as he looked around, and smiled.


    The passengers all screamed in joy, but Duncan kept his eyes locked on Bradford. He knew that Bradford was trying to figure out how to spin this. He had dealt with enough politicians to know just how they thought. And he had cleaned up enough messes made by them to know how bad this could get. All he could do was keep fighting, keep hoping. He had to keep command long enough to hand it over to someone who Bradford wouldn¡¯t fight against. As he saw the happy faces of the passengers, he bit back a sigh.


    ¡°And I have an announcement to make, something that I was hiding from all of you. We still don¡¯t know where we are in space, but this place? It¡¯s an island,¡± Duncan admitted as he looked around.


    ¡°And I have another revelation to give out, the party that discovered this? They saw something else. I won¡¯t say what, but they saw something that could keep us a lot safer. For now, I want you all to just rest. And the last check on our supplies found a lot of jumpsuits. Anyone that wants to change can now do so!¡± Duncan said with a small smile. As the people all roared he opened the door, letting the fresh air come into the chamber. As a few people walked past him into the light, he kept his eyes on Bradford.


    As people walked by him, Duncan might have imagined it but Bradford¡¯s eyes seemed to glint. It might have been a trick of the light but Duncan felt that he should keep an eye on Bradford more. If Bradford had developed powers like Jinn had, then he might be in worse trouble than he thought. He scowled as he saw Jones moving towards the airlock, grabbing him as he tried to go outside. ¡°Jones, you¡¯re on food duty. Go and get lunch ready.¡±


    ¡°What? But sir!¡± Jones said, only to look away as he saw Duncan¡¯s glare. ¡°Yes sir.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford looked at Duncan as the others all talked amongst themselves. He had to admit, Duncan had played his hands perfectly. The fact that the old fool had shield towers? How? They were all military surplus at least, and that was expensive. Was this whole capsule nothing more than Duncan¡¯s craft? Did he stock it himself? Was he connected to what happened to the Spirit? Was this all part of a bigger plan?


    As Duncan looked at him, Bradford barely kept a sigh of relief down when Duncan turned to talk to Jones. It seems that that little fool was good for something after all. he turned and walked deeper into the capsule, trying to let his mind go over what he knew. He had gotten his ticket and used doing something nice for his company as a cover. What Bradford wanted was to find a way to get ahold of his target. He had bought so many tickets just to get his handpicked team aboard.


    He stopped as that thought sparked something. Had he been right after all? Did those scum do what he feared they were planning? No! He slammed his fist against the wall, trying to keep calm. After everything that he had done, the palms he had greased and people he had sent against those scum. Was it all for nothing, had done it, was he too late? After everything, could it have been nothing but worthless actions? He couldn¡¯t let that thought take over his mind.


    He had set up enough countermeasures incase this failed. He knew they would activated if anything happened to him and he couldn''t give the kill command. Once he was out of contract long enough, all his forces would move. Within the next month, his forces would move and take control of his world. Once that happened, they would call on all the forces that he had hired, those who felt as he did. All the cults would call on their followers and gather in his system, and help fortify it. They would become a bulwark, nothing would be able to take their home! The only problem would be if¡­..


    But suddenly everything he went still. He started to sweat as his eyes shrank. His home would become a fortress, nothing could get into it. But if the war didn¡¯t happen, if the people behind this weren¡¯t even remotely connected to that. Then all his plans and actions,  then everything that will happen to his system would be known. And with no great war, then the Federation would have to take action against his planet. And the Federation only dealt with treason one way, the same way. Overwhelming firepower and the best forces they could muster.


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    Those thoughts filled him with dread. Once they started, his forces would soon become too strong for all but the Federation¡¯s First Fleet. And if that was true, and the War he feared didn¡¯t happen¡­¡­ this was very bad. Could his plan instead create the very thing they were supposed to stop? If his system defeated one small fleet, then any others sent against his world would be even stronger. And with how long it took to make ships, that would make the Federation vulnerable. Any number of threats that were content to hide away might instead attack. And with the First Fleet involved, their role as a fast response unit would fall to another fleet.


    He swallowed and pushed off the wall, trying and failing to think of anything that might help. He was so stupid, everything that he had planned for, everything that he had ever hoped for. It would just make his home die. And if they found out what he had done, what he had planned and allied with. That meant that everything he had done would be worthless, his name would be worthless. Everything that he had worked for, everything he had done to be remembered would be dust. If he didn¡¯t find a way to contact the Federation within a month, then they might not have a Federation to come back to.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the forest, shadows watched the shield and another flying worm die by slamming into it. For a few moments, nothing happened before a branch moved.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move anything!¡± A sharp voice barked and the branch slowly moved back.


    ¡°Sorry boss. I just wanted to see better.¡±


    ¡°I know, but we¡¯ve already got enough info about this one! We can head home and talk to the others!¡±


    ¡°Right, you are sir. Still, they don¡¯t look like soldiers. Think the war¡¯s done by now?¡±


    ¡°If we¡¯re lucky, if we¡¯re lucky!¡±


    The forest was silent, a few small plants being pushed out of the way as whoever had been talking left.


    Terra looked past the shield into the forest beyond. So far a few of the flying worms had attacked the shield. One had even fired a bolt of lightning at the shield that took it down by one and a half percent. Not even the worst a small arms fire could do that, and that was a problem. But with more towers being set up, the force field would only become stronger. All in all, it would take something massively deadly to even think of breaking through the shield! And the most something like that paralyzer thing would be able to do was maybe bash away twenty percent. But the shield was so strong do to the strength this world¡¯s sun had. There had never been anything that was even remotely like this star found before. Most suns were strong sure, but this one?


    She only looked up and laughed a little, and tried to think of anything that might have caused this. But no matter what she thought of, whatever she thought of was wrong. Still, when they made contact, this might be something that might give the company a lot of credits.


    And that wasn¡¯t even thinking about the way this planet was! The creatures alone were a biologist''s dream! And she knew of a few hunters who would love to try their luck against these things. And if she was honest, there were even more who would want to pilot drones against them. All in all, this planet was a source of profit that she couldn¡¯t even think about how people might react. The few Corp planets would send in their ¡®Indentured¡¯ workers here. The Scholars would make this place the target of a crusade to set up a lab temple.


    ¡°So, everything okay boss?¡± A voice caused Terra to turn and see Bob coming towards her with a rifle in his hands. He looked out at the forest and frowned as another flying worm flew into the shield. ¡°I don¡¯t like this boss. Why can¡¯t they see it, can they even see at all?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, but that¡¯s not what¡¯s bothering you. What don¡¯t I see?¡± Terra asked and Bob just shrugged. Terra watched him looking around with a scowl on his face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. This place is too green, too closed off. Give me the desert and sand, I¡¯d be able to tell you if anything passed near us. Here, those trees? I¡¯m hitting zero and aiming at shadows. But something was here, something watched us. I saw something out of the corner of my eye around there. Had to have been there five minutes I think,¡± Bob said softly as he pointed towards the north side of the clearing.


    Terra barely bit back a curse. If something was watching them, then that meant whatever it was might be able to think. And that was a game changer. If that was true, then that meant anything that could think could plan. And plans were able to deal with any barrier. And if it want to get inside, unless the thinker didn¡¯t know what it had to get around. If this thing couldn¡¯t understand what it was seeing, then maybe they had a chance.


    Terra looked around, trying to think. She had to tell Duncan about this, this could change everything! Before she took a step, a thought hit her. If whatever was able to think, then they could plan. And the best plan to get people away from one side was to make a commotion on the other side!


    Terra spun around as screeches came from the east. As her eyes saw the source of the noise, she stared in horror. At the east face, ten of the humanoid insectoids were slamming their arms against the shield! As she watched she saw most of the other deckhands start to move in that direction and paled. ¡°No. No! All forces stay where you are! I want one spare member from all groups to come with me to back up the east! Bob stay here!¡±


    As she ran towards the shield tower one of the other deckhands made it there first. But as she made it there, she saw the insectoids and their all red shells.


    ¡°What¡¯s the drain?!¡± Terra demanded as she ran past him, two more deckhands coming behind her.


    ¡°We¡¯re at around 85 percent! We¡¯re dropping one-third a percent more than the shield can regenerate! What do we do?¡± The deckhand asked in terror as the insectoids screeched.


    Terra scowled as she knew how bad this was. Once the shield dropped to around 45 percent, it would drop. Then those things would swarm in and they would have to fight claw to fist. The first idea she had was to fall back to the crater, but if that happened they would need to close the airlock. And then that means the creatures could claw into it wherever they wanted.  So that means that they only had one single action that they could do now.


    ¡°Hold the lines! As soon as the shield falls, open fire! We hold until the shield is up, then kill them all!¡± Terra barked as she raised her weapon.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bob only looked around, trying to figure out what to do. This attack, something about it was wrong. There was something in his brain that cried out, something more was going on. There had been times when his instincts had saved his life, and times when he was jumping at shadows. All he could only hope was that this was one of the second times.


    As he turned and looked past the shield into the forest, he paled as he saw movement. As he watched three more of the insectoids surged out of the trees and started to claw at the shield. As he stared in horror, he thought for a moment that the worms had done what these things wanted. But then that was impossible! He had thought that maybe some of the things here could think, but how could they control the worms? Flyers needed to be trained from a young age, and those worms didn¡¯t even have brains!


    He shook his head as he moved towards the nearest shield tower. He smiled as he saw the section of the shield was holding at one hundred percent.


    ¡°Wait¡­.¡± Bob thought as he looked through the shield. Unlike the insectoid to the east, these had black shells while the others were all red. Could that mean they were from different hives? ¡°Wait¡­¡­ fifth-year science class¡­. Hey! Hey! Eyes on me freaks!¡±


    Bob fired at the insectoids and they roared. He moved his aim, fired again, and saw the creatures follow his shots, swarming towards when the shot hit. He grinned, this was just what they needed now.


    As the hard-shelled ones slashed at the strange transparent thing, they all looked at the meat. They had lost much when that strange creature had charged into one of their hunting groups. Only one of their watcher caste had been able to return to the hive. After that, two parties had been sent out, one to find the beast and one to find where it had come from. At first, they only found the scattered ruins of the creature¡¯s path. Finally, when the leader and watcher were content to return they heard it. The strange noise that brought them here.


    This strange thing they were able to see through was unlike anything they had ever heard of. It was keeping them from the softskins inside it. They watched, seeing the flying things kill themselves, drawn in by the sound. They felt the sound change and with a gesture from their leader, they attacked. Already they could hear the sounds of this thing weaken, so something would happen. All they needed was one chance to strike and kill this thing, take its power for their own! A way to call the little flyers to their deaths, perfect. No longer would the hordes that darken the skies threaten them.


    Cries from their right caused them to turn and then they lost all reason as they detected the scent of others.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked on in shock. One minute the insectoids were going to break in then the next something changed. They all turned their heads towards where Bob was and screeched as they charged along the shield. Terra turned her head and saw five red shelled insectoids that looked like the black ones. Only these were charging at the first group. In moments they met and started to slaughter each other!


    ¡°Science,¡± Bob¡¯s voice caused Terra to turn and look at him. He walked over with a savage grin. At Terra¡¯s look, all he did was grin. ¡°Old science lesson. On my world whenever bugs of different hives met, they fought to the death.¡±

 Chapter Fifty Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1220


    Bradford scowled as he tried and failed to think of anything to help him. As he moved through the hallway towards the bathroom, he tried to think of something to help his position. He couldn¡¯t see anything, any way that he could survive this. Beyond the pipe dream of contacting the Federation within a month, no matter what he did he was finished. He had planned everything, and that was the problem. The contingency of his was vacuum sealed, his fate was done. When they were found, he would spend his last few years waiting for his death.


    ¡°DAMN!¡± He snarled as he slammed his fist against the wall, feeling his emotions surge within him. As he tried and failed to think of anything that might help him, a strange feeling started in his core. As he started walking, the feeling grew and grew until he stopped just within the bathroom. As he tried and failed to understand what it was as he locked the door, he called up his internal nanites. Letting the information scroll past his eyes as he locked the door, trying to find any clue as to what he was feeling. After a few moments, he finally found what he was looking for. All he could do was stare in complete shock, whatever it was this wasn¡¯t expected. Somehow, some way there he had a new strain of nanites in his body.


    He held the wall as he felt dizzy, his mind trying to understand this. He had learned a lot about how nanites were introduced to sentient beings, and all the ways it could go wrong. They had to be injected within a liquid, there was no other way. The way that a nanite could travel through the air was different than how it could travel through water. And if someone did find a way to do both, how would it even get to who they wanted? It was an impossibility but here it was, someone he had been infected. And from what he was seeing, they were all making something.


    With a thought command, some of his special strains went active. Without a direction they started to investigate what had invaded his body. As he waited, breathing heavily, waiting for the reports to come to him. The only emotion he could feel was pure terror. This could be anything from an assassination to a way something wanted to control him. But he was strong, he was proud. Whatever this was, he would handle it.


    Finally, after a minute, he saw the first report on the nanites, the nano factories as he was calling them in his head. From the report, these new things were reacting to his emotional state, injecting. Whatever it was, it was unlike anything he had seen before. As he felt that pressure that was making him feel a strange heat, he started to see something. For a moment he hoped he was just seeing things, but there it was, at the corner of his vision. Slowly, he moved his gaze downward until he was staring at him at his hands. His hands were sending out waves of blue energy that moved away from him for a few inches. As watched the nano factories started to destroy themselves, but the chemical increased.


    As he watched, his nanites recorded everything that was happening to him. As he watched the strange heat flashed one last time before it died out. Looking at the reports, he saw a new chemical start to be produced by his system. The report showed that the chemical were coming from all over his body. He had no idea what this was, or even how. He just looked at the energy waves and after a few moments, text appeared in his vision.


    Awakening complete, Mastermind template activated in subject.


    ¡°What is Mastermind?¡± Bradford murmured before more text appeared. He looked over a list, most of the words were gibberish but the top was clear and he could read it. ¡°Connect to Followers?¡±


    He felt a strange drain and a moment later a blue energy flat circle appeared in front of him. As he watched he saw white squares form within it. Most of them were nothing but empty spaces but there was one in the center that was clear. It had a black shape on it, it looked like a curved sword. He was hesitant at first but after a moment, Bradford touched it.


    He looked at the circle, and just when he was about to think this was all a delusion. He had cracked, he was mental, a head case. As he tried and failed to think of anything a voice came from the circle.


    ¡°Who is this, what are you!?¡± A hard male voice demanded.


    Bradford blinked wondering if this was real. ¡°Operative Brute, is that you?¡±


    ¡°Boss? Master Bradford! So you¡¯ve got powers too? Great! This¡¯ll help the plans a lot!¡± Operative Brute¡¯s voice came from the circle.


    Bradford grinned, things were looking up. ¡°Report Brute, where on this island are you?¡±


    ¡°Island? I ain''t on an island boss, I¡¯m with the front of the ship and we crashed into ice!¡±


    ¡°Ice?!¡± Bradford demanded as he looked at the circle in front of him. He tried to imagine the distance involved with this, how this circle could let him talk to his agent. The sheer power this represents to him, the things he could do!


    ¡°Yeah, and let me tell you it hasn¡¯t been easy over here. The front half of the ship is here, and only the front half! We were barely moving into the ship when it happened. We got hit by these things, they killed some of us. Then once we got the emergency shields up, a caravan turned up! The captain¡¯s meeting with them now, and they¡¯ll keep it quiet. I¡¯m alone here, don¡¯t know where the others are. I was able to fight the monsters off with somebody else and a crew member boss. What are the orders?¡± Operative Brute voice held a note of desperation


    Bradford looked at the circle and tried to keep his smile down. Operative Brute was a good killer, but he was a born follower. And he knew it. So what to tell him to do then? It had to be something that would let him survive, a broken tool was no good for Bradford after all. As he was trying to think of anything, the circle caused him to stop.


    Counting each of the squares, he saw that they mirrored his people on the Spirit. That must mean that everyone was alive. But for some reason, he couldn¡¯t connect to them. that he could use this for. This meant that there were others out there, other survivors. With the captain with the wreck of the ship, the leadership on this island was something he could take after all. But how? And what could he do to Duncan to make that happen?


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    ¡°Operative Brute, I want you to get in close with the command, tell them you¡¯re credentials and past. Do anything you can to get a position to explore! I want you to find the others, I¡¯ll try and contact you again when I can!¡± Bradford said and he heard a chuckle.


    ¡°Was gonna do that boss! I¡¯ll try and find ya! Stay alive, and watch out for what¡¯s hiding out here! Cause from what I saw, this planet¡¯s been hit by ships since before mankind left Sol!¡± Operative Brute said as Bradford touched his square again.


    Bradford only looked at the square, trying to wrap his mind around what Brute just told him. If that was true, then this place might have a Ruin above them. He had read reports on Ruins before, and how some of them were kept away from public knowledge. If this was caused by one of them, then the ship breaking in two was getting off lightly. But what about the creatures that had attacked them all? What was the connection there? However he heard something beyond the door, and he frowned.


    Opening it he saw people moving past them to the very center of the capsule, and he stopped a man by grabbing his arm. ¡°What¡¯s happening!?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re under attack! The shield is being assaulted by what the crew are calling Insectoids! They¡¯re ready for them to break through, and they ordered us to cover!¡± The man said before he broke free and ran after the crowd.


    Bradford felt a grin form on his face. This might be just what he needed! Without the Captain there was still the chance. A Chance of a higher-ranked officer around here were smaller, but there it was. All he needed was to wait and learn. Wait until he had a chance, and he could take control after all! But he needed to talk to Duncan and see if he could get up to the field. If he could find a way to improve their safety, that would go a long way to help his rise to power!


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t let this stand. I¡¯ll go and talk to Mr. Duncan, I¡¯ll see what I can do to help protect us all!¡± Bradford declared loudly.  As the other passengers heard him as he walked against them, some of them smiled.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the watcher saw its kind claw and bite the others, it looked at their prize. There was something here, something that the name of sang to it. The sound it made was so inviting, and it took all its willpower to stand its ground. There was something that this wonder represented, something beyond just hiding from prey.


    Even with the power that this might give them, they needed more. Already the forces around them were prowling the borders, already they smelled weakness. They had to get something from this hunt, they had to. And this power might be what they needed. But to the watcher, there was something about it. There was about the clear thing, something that was so familiar.


    When they first heard the notes, it had seemed the Sky-Riders were behind it, but not. This was like the things they used, but it was different. There was something new about the song, beyond how this was more, how it was a longer note.


    And the Sky Riders always moved in small groups, all the better to hide. But what it could sense within the shield, there were more, many more. If they could just take this back with them, then they would feast well. And whatever strength they used to make this, they would take it and use it for themselves.


    For a moment it wondered if this was the work of the Creators, but it forced that thought away. They had already lost the way to find the den of the beast that attacked them. But then the idea of the Creators wouldn¡¯t go away. If those were involved in this plan, then everything was at risk.


    Could they have sent the monster to kill them because they were getting too strong? There hadn¡¯t been a Hunt from them for a long time. Could that one have been their new hunting hound? It forced itself to stop, there had been no follow-up attack after the beast had moved off. If the Creators had sent it after them, then it would have.


    But after a moment it looked down and saw some of its fellow being pushed back. It leaped from the tree with a screech and clawed into one of the black-shelled others. As the corpse fell to the ground, the watcher screeched in victory as it attacked another black shell.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Good plan, but what happens once the winner turns against us?¡± Terra asked as she looked past the shield.


    ¡°I guess we just have to kill that when it happens,¡° Bob said and Terra looked at him.


    All Terra could was facepalm as she tried to think. That was the most ¡°Great. Just great. At least this way their only going to come at us from one way.¡±


    That was the only bright side that Terra could see to this. She had hoped that they could reinforce the shield before something attacked them. But instead, the insectoids attacked them right as they finished it.


    As she watched the insectoids fight and kill each other, all she could feel was fear. The shield had dropped to around seventy percent, and only the other insectoids stopped them! And then there was the fact that two groups of them came! That meant that they were in the area that overlapped two hives! And that meant that they were in worse danger than they thought. But why hadn¡¯t either hive attacked them before now?


    ¡°If they break the shield, we fight. We gotta hope that they kill enough of the other to make it easier,¡± Bob muttered as he looked through the shield.


    Terra looked at Bob, and now she had to wonder about him. Was it just luck that he had been able to bring the new insectoids to attack the old? How had they even come here now? What had changed, or what was blocking them from coming this way? How had they missed the crash? Could they have been hibernating? Were they scouts, looking for a new home?


    ¡°Got any other idea to boss? I mean besides just fighting them off?¡± Bob asked Terra.


    She looked at him and it pained her that she had almost forgotten what was happening. But no, Terra couldn¡¯t see anything else but to fight and hope to beat them off.


    As the last of the black insectoids died, the red-shelled ones looked at the shield. For a second they stood there, their mouths dripping with blood. But then they charged with a screech and started to slash at the energy shield madly.


    Terra gripped her riffle tighter, ready for the shield to fall.


    ¡°Shield strength at sixty percent!¡± One of the Deckhands called out, and Terra aimed her rifle. The moment the shield dropped she would fire and kill one of the insectoids, maybe it would scare the others off. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t, but that was all they could do. Kill enough of them to drive the rest away, the oldest truth of war.


    ¡°Fifty ¨Cfive percent, get ready!¡± The deckhand called out again, and Terra closed one eye as she looked at her target.


    Suddenly a loud boom echoed from off in the distance, and the insectoids all stopped. A bare moment later from the trees more of those flying worms took flight and flew off in all directions. After that, the insectoids screeched and ran off.


    It was all Terra could do to keep standing as the other deckhands all cried out in glee.


    For everyone, this was a miracle. They had survived another attack, and they had a safety net. They would have more problems and threats to their survival, but for now, they were safe. That was enough for most of them, but not for Terra


    ¡°Everyone quiet down! I want a heavy presence here until the shield is up to full power! I want one from each side to go get the other shield towers! Once there¡¯s another one up here, we move around! When we have three each or we run out, we make another closer around the crater! Someone look over the directions, I want to know how to open a hole in our wall! Get to it now! Bob follow me!¡± Terra barked as she walked towards the crater. As Bob fell into step beside her he looked at her and nodded his head.


    ¡°So gonna yell at me for firing at the shield from our side?¡± Bob asked and Terra looked at him before sighing.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not. I just¡­. We were lucky, very lucky. I don¡¯t know what else we can do. The investigation party ran into those things to the north. The beast that attacked us that way, and the party went there today¡± Terra said with a scowl as she looked around. "I think the other bugs came from the only way we didn''t send people. Then that means we''re in a cross, and we can''t go anywhere!"


    Bob nodded, understanding what she wasn¡¯t saying. ¡°Okay. Then we need to make this place harder to hit. Maybe a few of us can make a trench or something? but what about that second line for the shield?¡±


    ¡°I can only hope it will. I think I heard about a company making one work in space. Maybe we¡¯ll be lucky and someone from that company is down there?¡± Terra asked jokily and Bob laughed a little.


    Terra looked around, trying to think. She had been onto something before, she could feel it. There had to be something, something that she was missing. As she looked around, Bob shrugged.


    ¡°Yeah, I doubt it. And I think I read that article. Didn¡¯t they stop testing because of the¡­.. the sound,¡± Bob whispered as Terra went still and looked at him.


    Terra¡¯s eyes widened as she let her thoughts fly free. That made sense, it made sense! The shield must be making a sound, something that drove those insects to attack the shield! That explains everything, it really did! But that meant that as long as they had it up, they would be ringing the bell to call every bug to them! And those bugs might break the shield and kill them all.


    ¡°Oh nova! Oh, nova! This is bad!¡± Bob said as he looked at her. ¡°We have to turn it off, we have to! Everything in the forest could be coming at us!¡±


    She looked up at him and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s too late. The damage is done. The only thing keeping us safe for now is the shield. And if it called anything to us, then the shield will be the only thing to hold them back. Anything that heard it is already on its way here. We don¡¯t have a choice. This is too big for us.¡±


    Bob looked at her before looking away, cursing under his breath. ¡°We have to tell the chief, we have to tell everyone!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we do,¡± Terra agreed. She looked up and saw another of the flying worms hit the shield and die. All she could do was wince. Never in all her life had she ever heard of anything like this, but they had to deal. They had to stay alive until Jinn¡¯s group made it back, that was all they could do.

 Chapter Sixty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / 1250


    Duncan sighed as he looked around his office. Once he had given the all-clear for the passengers to return to the outside, most of them had stayed in the capsule. He had expected it, but then what else would they do? This time they had all been inside with the airlock closed when the boom sounded. He was hoping that whatever it was, it was Jinn¡¯s group. If instead, that sound was the result of one of the other capsules being destroyed. If that was the case, then whatever did that could do the same to this one. The shield dome that they had created should help them. Like the insectoids, it would force anything that attacks them to use energy to get through it. If they could kill anything that broke through fast enough, they could weather any swarm.


    At least Terra was handling everything topside. Already she was looking into ways to keep the shield strong. He thought that the batteries would last the night even with the drain, but she wanted to be sure. And once they set up a few more towers, the additional firepower would help them if the shield fell. With a rotating shift of guards, there wasn¡¯t anything else they could do. If they were attacked all through the night, the chances that the shield would break were high.


    But they were stuck, anything that could hear the noise the shield made was on the way. And if they brought the shield down, then anything that was coming might kill them. Still, he¡¯d have to do something about personal. Maybe see if any of the passengers could help out? For a moment he just stood there before he started to laugh hard.


    After a few minutes, he chuckled as he rubbed away a tear. If any of them had any skills besides lording over people, then pigs could fly! Already he hadn¡¯t seen anything that showed that any of them were fighters! If some of them had hunting experience, maybe they could be trusted to handle a weapon. But could he trust any of them to not use the weapons on the crew?


    To ask for help, might be something that was beyond his power right now. With the way that they had handled the attack, he just knew that Bradford would come by sooner or later. There had to be a way to deal with him, a way that didn¡¯t start at the end of a weapon. A knocking on his door caused him to look up and sigh, he just knew who this was.


    ¡°Come in Bradford,¡± Duncan said softly and he sighed as the door opened. He pressed a button smiling as his screen showed Bradford looking around in shock. The camera above the door was perfect to see the chamber, a good addition as far as he was concerned.


    ¡°How did, no. No, I won¡¯t let you trick me!¡± Bradford said as he stomped into the room.


    Duncan only raised an eyebrow as he sighed. ¡°Trick you about what Mr. Bradford? I don¡¯t have the time to deal with anything more, so what do you want?¡±


    ¡°I mean the way you brought everyone in! you said that the shield would protect us, so why did you keep us inside?¡± Bradford demanded as he crossed his arms.


    Duncan only looked at Bradford and tried to keep a grin off his face. This might be the best thing that happened to him. If he could use this the right way, then the problems he had might solve themselves.


    ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t count on the bloody shield calling the things on us, did we?¡± Duncan said with a shrug.


    Bradford just stared at him, shocked beyond words. All he could do was look at Duncan as he tried to understand what he just heard. ¡°What do you mean, called them?!¡±


    Duncan just sighed and shook his head. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a long story. From what I was told, the testing for this kind of shield was near dogs. The dogs would all cry. From that, the researchers found out that in an atmosphere the shield made a sound. A sound beyond our ability to ¡®hear¡¯. Now that sound is drawing in the bugs.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford looked at the old fool, shocked beyond words. If that was true, then every bug monster was coming for them, and maybe others! This was worse than he feared, and he had no way to use this! The shield problem sounded like it was one in a million to even know about it! And he remembered now, he was one of the people who approved this project. If that got out to the other passengers, then even his new powers might not save him!


    He had seen enough lynch mobs to know how to survive, don¡¯t be their way! If it got out that he had any hand in the shields, then his life might be in danger! All he had was a way to connect to one of his followers, he needed a weapon! No, no he needed to think. All he could do now was wait, try, and find another way to use whatever was fueling his ability. He refused to think it was all just a one-trick pony, it made no sense. There had to be more,


    But that was for later, for now, he had to think. There had to be a way to go forward here, there had to! If he could get it so that Duncan asked for volunteers, then he could be in the clear if they died. And any one of the passengers who survived the coming slaughter would only be good for him.


    ¡°This is bad then. I de¡­ I request the right to help however I can. So to know what we have to work with, I request the right to go up to the top of the crater!¡± Bradford declared as he looked at Duncan.


    Duncan only shrugged as he got up and took hold of a crutch. ¡°Well if you think you can help at all, sure. I don¡¯t feel right asking you to hold a weapon but if you want one. Only for your safety and peace of mind of course,¡± Duncan said as he looked at Bradford.


    Bradford felt a grin form on his face as he laughed a little. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re talking to a three-time winner of my city¡¯s sharp shooting contest! Of course that was over twenty years ago, but I keep in practice. Why, I was deadly with a pistol once!¡± Bradford said with a shrug.


    ¡°Oh, by the way, were you going to get a rejuvenation once the ship made port?¡± Duncan asked as he walked towards the door.


    Bradford sighed and nodded as Duncan passed him. ¡°Yes, I was looking forward to losing all these old pains. But finding one that won¡¯t eat your nanites is hard. But you must know the story sir. After all, you were special forces at one point after all.¡±


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan went still and slowly looked at Bradford, his eyes a hard glare. ¡°And how do you know that?¡±


    Bradford looked at him and shrugged. ¡°I saw one of your debriefings once during my career. I believe it was Omega protocol or something like that.¡±


    Duncan looked at Bradford and felt his heart freeze. He couldn¡¯t understand, how was Bradford that high up in the government? Omega-level debriefings were the codenames for operations his ¡®Mind-Cloud¡¯ nanites were activated after! And that with what Duncan thought about Bradford¡¯s character this was shaping up to be a very bad thing. Before Bradford could say anything more, Duncan dropped his crutch. Before it fell he turned on his good leg, and grabbed Bradford, holding him against the wall.


    ¡°Those are things I can¡¯t talk about, and if you talk about them. Then things will be a problem that will end one way, do you understand?¡± Duncan asked with a growl.


    Bradford just looked at him and nodded, Duncan snarled again and dropped him. Shaking his head, Duncan walked out of the office. He heard Bradford followed him as he walked towards the airlock, his mind a mess.


    As they walked outside, the first thing they saw was a group of deckhands moving boxes upwards. As they looked around, they saw more boxes stacked next to the crater¡¯s wall, and a few deckhands looking over them. One turned his head and saw Bradford and Duncan standing there, and saluted. ¡°Sir!¡±


    At his cry, the others all turned and looked at them, saluting as well.


    Duncan only laughed a little and saluted back. ¡°As you were. Now Mr. Bradford wanted to know what he could do to help. So where is Terra?¡±


    ¡°Up at the edge of the shield on the south side sir! She wanted to try and figure out the best places to put the other towers. I saw Bob going along the other side. Something about a patrol I think,¡± One of the deckhands said.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked past the shield as another flying worm died on impact. So far, they had all just been the red ones, with a black or blue one now and then. She had wondered what had made their coloration different, they looked the same. But would that even work here? Different hives would explain the coloring, but there had to be a better reason behind it. But it would probably take a scientist in a research institute to find out.


    For now, the best thing would be to set up the extra towers and batteries before the day was over. Even with the constant blows, the shield was still holding around ninety-eight percent. Once they had the other towers up, sharing the load it would be even stronger. But would the drain be reduced, that was the main problem here. If they could keep the shield up through the night, then they might be able to sleep safely. And once Jinn¡¯s group made it back, they would hopefully have something to help them. She had to hope that whatever they were after was enough to help them. If they could find any of the other escape capsules, then maybe they could stand together.


    As she turned she went still. There, at the crater she saw Duncan and Bradford appear, and when Duncan waved at her she walked towards them. As she moved, she wondered just what had caused Duncan to bring Bradford up, and what this meant.


    ¡°Chief Duncan, Sir Bradford. Can I help you two?¡± Terra asked with a strange look.


    ¡°Terra, Bradford here wanted to know just what he could do to help. And he said that after I told him about how the shield is calling the monsters. Now isn¡¯t that nice?¡± Duncan said as he eyed Bradford.


    Terra saw Bradford look at him and sighed. ¡°We guessed that the shield is doing that. We can¡¯t exactly test the range of the creature''s hearing. It¡¯s just a stay theory with what we know, nothing more.¡±


    Bradford looked at her and released a breath. ¡°Well, either way, anyone here should help. Now you¡¯re adding more towers yes? Are you sure the energy of the capsule will handle it?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re using solar sir. And with how much power we¡¯re taking in we could set up turrets and still not worry about power. But with the batteries I expect that we¡¯ll handle the night,¡± Terra said with a small smile.


    Bradford looked around at the field, seeing another tower being set up. "What can any of us do to help you all? You look like you have it all in hand.¡°


    ¡°More bodies. Perhaps you could ask the other passengers? Even if they stay at the top of the capsule, it would help us so much. At least it would free some of us,¡± Terra said as she looked at Bradford.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Duncan hide a smile. For a moment she wondered why he did that, and then she understood. It felt terrible that she had made a move that he couldn¡¯t, because of politics. For some reason, Duncan didn¡¯t trust Bradford, and that was enough for her.


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Bradford declared as he looked around. ¡°I¡¯ll go and talk to everyone about this, we¡¯re all stuck here after all! Chief Duncan, might I have the right to use the intercom to call everyone? Thank you, sir!¡±


    As Bradford walked off, Duncan stayed and looked at Terra before sighing. Terra looked at him and they both waited until Bradford was down the crater. Terra took a deep breath. ¡°You wanted someone else to ask Bradford for more bodies, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Terra locked her eyes on Chief Duncan and saw emotions in his eyes. Pride and shame fought, and after a few moments, he sighed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Yeah, I wanted someone to ask. Politics. People like him, they use anything to get ahead. I couldn¡¯t show weakness. Sorry, you were dragged in,¡± Duncan said softly as he looked around.


    He didn¡¯t know what to say, the kid had hit the nail. There was a lot that was riding on him staying in charge. Still, the fact that Bradford knew about one of his ¡®Forgotten Missions¡¯, was alarming. But as he looked around, he tried to think of what to say to Terra.


    Seeing the crew under his command doing their jobs, safe behind the shield felt good. This was something he liked about command, the way command spent lives? That he hated. He had signed on to security on a cruise ship to get away from that, and yet here he was. Again, he started to mentally curse whatever or whoever had caused them to crash here.


    A commotion from the people preparing the second tower caused the two to turn their heads. As they watched the second tower came online, reinforcing the shield.


    ¡°That¡¯s something, isn¡¯t it? With help from the passengers, we¡¯ll be able to rest. And wait for Jinn¡¯s party,¡± Terra said as she looked at Duncan.


    Duncan looked back at her, trying to think of what to say. He had played his hand, and Bradford wouldn¡¯t have anything to use against him. So maybe letting out what Jinn had found would be something that he could do. Looking at Terra he sighed and shook his head. ¡°They found an Anchorage ship out there lass. It ain¡¯t a new model, but if it¡¯s active.¡±


    Duncan smiled as he saw Terra stare at him, her mouth dropping open. He only smirked as he remembered her file said that she was from a space station near the inner border. She had likely seen more colony missions pass her by than he had, and she knew ships. Something to consider if the worst happened.


    ¡°An Anchorage ship? If the factories and holds are even at half strength¡­.. we might just be able to handle those things,¡± Terra said in awe.


    Duncan nodded and looked at her before sighing again. In for a credit and all. ¡°Maybe, but there¡¯s a lot more that you don¡¯t know kid. Things that I¡¯m not talking about now. Just¡­.. don¡¯t be scared if strange things start happening to us all. Things like Jinn¡¯s abilities.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Duncan, a strange feeling going through her as she tried to understand what he meant. ¡°You think that what happened to Jinn will happen to more of us?¡±


    ¡°I expect it. Keep watch up here kid. I¡¯ll handle the passengers,¡± Duncan said as he moved towards the capsule, a small smile on his face.


    Terra looked at Duncan as he walked away. Something about what he just said at the end, was bothering her. If others could gain abilities like Jinn, then what¡­.. She went still as the credit dropped. She looked towards the crater, a horrible feeling going through her. They had no idea why Jinn had developed his abilities. Then that meant anyone could gain something like them. If that was true, then anyone in the capsule, deckhands, or passengers could become a threat.


    The sheer chaos that could happen here, she didn¡¯t even want to think about it. Her mind went farther along the thought, and she dropped to the ground as her legs failed her. That chaos she thought about was just this capsule, what about the others? Even the creatures like the one that could paralyze with a roar, and the bugs! What could they have gained if it happened to them?


    ¡°The shield might not hold. Even if we put up the other towers, then those things out there might kill us. What can we do, what can we do?¡± Terra muttered as she looked down at the ground. All she could do was stare into space, trying to think of anything to fight against this. She didn¡¯t know how long she stood there, trying to think of something before someone grabbed her arm.


    ¡°Hey! HEY! You okay Terra?¡± Bob¡¯s voice caused her to look up and see he had grabbed her. As she looked around she saw a few of the others looking at her but only Bob had come towards her.


    She looked up at him and forced down a scowl.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± She gritted out. As she got back to her feet, she looked at him. Her worries about him notwithstanding, he might need to know. But could she tell him? Duncan had played the information he had close, and she felt that he didn¡¯t know the full story. If even now others out there were gaining powers and abilities, some of them might not be friends. And there was the threat that any creature with powers might attack.


    ¡°So willing to share what that was?¡± Bob asked and Terra sighed.


    For a few moments, she stayed silent. Finally, she looked at Bob and spoke. ¡°Chief Duncan shared that what Jinn could do? We don¡¯t know how he got those abilities. So then anyone could develop them. Or ones like them.¡±


    ¡°So I might be able to fire energy blasts? Nice! That should¡­. Wait. You said anyone, right? As in any of us deckhands, right?¡± Bob asked


    Terra looked at him, a little impressed. He had figured out what she had, so maybe he wasn¡¯t all bad. But all she did was shake her head, and she watched as Bob¡¯s eyes shrank.

 Chapter Sixty One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 0500


    As Al woke up, he blinked. It took him a few moments to understand, but when he saw the cave beyond Jinn¡¯s head everything came back. He yawned as he got up, looking around the cavern. Seeing Roy farther back in the cave with Burt at the mouth caused him to stop. As his thoughts from before came flooding back, he looked at Jinn with a hard look. Jinn meanwhile had his back to his friend, looking through his pack.


    As Jinn turned and Al saw his face, Jinn''s smile dropped. Al figured that his thoughts were visible on his face, and he gestured towards the top of the ramp. Jinn nodded before he turned and walked towards the ramp. Al followed after a few moments, a strange look on his face as he looked at Burt. Part of him didn¡¯t trust him, but part of him did. There was no reason that he would know where the colony ships were heading, and it might not have been passed down.


    But as he followed after Jinn upwards, something about Burt bothered him. He couldn¡¯t say just what it was, there was just something there. The man had told them a lot, and how dangerous this place was. But there was something that he wasn¡¯t saying, something just told him there was something there.


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem,¡± Al said softly as they reached the cave mouth.


    Jinn looked back at him, a strange look in his eyes. ¡°Something about what Burt told us?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the ships he named? They went in opposite directions according to the records they left,¡± Al said bluntly.


    Jinn blinked before he looked at his friend sharply, a hard look in his eyes. ¡°So how did they crash on the same planet?¡±


    ¡°I think I know¡­¡­.. I¡­..¡± Al said as he looked away.


    ¡°What is it, my friend? Whatever it is, I won¡¯t judge you for it. I¡¯m the last person to do that,¡± Jinn said as he looked at Al.


    Al looked away and tried to gather his strength. For as long as Al knew his friend, there was always something there, something that  Jinn had to be ashamed of. That was still there, and Ed knew


    ¡°I¡¯m not what you think I am. I¡¯m a condemned heretic,¡± Al said as he looked away.


    ¡°And that means what?¡± Jinn asked bluntly and Ed turned his head around in shock.


    ¡°A Heretic from the Scholar¡¯s Way! That means that either I or someone I was close to was declared an enemy of my faith! Haven¡¯t you read what true Heretics have done!?¡± Al asked in shock.


    Jinn just looked away, staying silent for a few moments. ¡°Ed, I don¡¯t know if I ever told you this. But the Scholar¡¯s Way? I didn¡¯t even learn that existed until three weeks before I joined the ship.¡±


    Al looked at Jinn, shocked beyond words. He just couldn¡¯t understand how that was possible.


    Heretics of Scholar¡¯s Way were in the collective myths as villains! The longest-running cartoon even had one as the leader of one of the villain teams! They were in video games as the bad guys, the big enemy in movies! It took him a long time, but finally, he spoke, his voice a raspy thing. ¡°What? What kind of world did you grow up on?!¡±


    ¡°The world was normal. The group I was born into, well they weren¡¯t. It¡¯s complicated. And something I don¡¯t want to talk about if I don¡¯t have to. So what did you figure out?¡± Jinn asked.


    Al looked at him and shook his head. As surprising as this part of Jinn¡¯s past was, now wasn¡¯t the time. What he had to do was tell his friend how deep in the black hole they were. ¡°Have you ever heard about things called Ruins?¡±


    ¡°Ruins? Oh, those things. A space-based one then,¡± Jinn said in a matter-of-fact tone.


    Al only stared at his friend, trying to understand this. Somehow, Jinn knew about Ruins. He knew about things that the government tried to keep hidden. And he just figured out that a space-based Ruin was behind all this. ¡°How? Just how and what world were you raised on? What kind of group¡­.?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn turned away, his mind going dark places. Unconsciously his left hand went to a scar on his right arm. He remembered how he felt when he discovered the truth about the people who raised him. The pain he had felt when he realized that every wound he gained, every sleepless night was worthless. The sheer mental anguish that every dead body he left behind meant nothing. ¡°Scum who wanted to use everyone they raised. It¡¯s hard to talk about. So how bad do you think this is for us?¡±


    Al looked out at the dark forest around them and stayed silent for a few minutes. He took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°Bad, very bad. Every ship that they never found the wreckage of might have crashed here.  From the time of the War the Ruins makers died in to now. Every species, even the dead ones might be here. And every culture that ever sent a ship into space too.¡±


    Jinn took a deep breath as he tried and failed to think about this. If that was true, and it probably was, then all Jinn could think of was chaos. That meant that this planet was probably a mess, with the cultures that Burt told them about only the tip. There were probably even worse ones out there, and then there were the native ¡®beasts¡¯.


    He had been worried, but with the Ruin angle, he was sure. The thing that awoke his ability was external. If it was a side effect of passing through the Ruin or something on this planet, he didn¡¯t know.  But whatever it was, it was from after the ship encountered the Ruin, that much was obvious. But would they survive to find out if there was another Ruin in orbit?


    They had only run into the creatures of one island, and that meant that they had a limit on how big they could grow. A larger food source, limitless space, and who knows how large they could get. Or how many of the really strong ones could have in their packs? And who knows if those leaders things could plan and think? There might be wars being fought in the ruins of crashed ships right now. And then there were his new abilities and the powers the beasts had shown. Or how large some of them might be¡­¡­.. Jinn went still, as terror flashed through him. The thoughts he had been having suddenly joined. Who knew just what the larger creatures could do if they even existed?


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    ¡°Jinn! JINN!¡± Al¡¯s voice caused Jinn to look at him.


    As he stared at his friend, some of the horror and fear Jinn felt had to show in his eyes. For as he watched, Al grew pale.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Al whispered.


    ¡°The powers that the creatures we¡¯ve fought so far. Every one of them was caged on this island. How powerful could they grow if they had no limits? Is a vine beast controlling a full forest? An Insectiod three times as large as the big one? A spider the size of the Spirit?¡± Jinn asked with horror in his voice


    Al sank to his knees, the sheer terror that he felt at Jinn¡¯s words took his voice. ¡°With all those things out there, how can we survive here? Forget about escaping the planet, how can we even live longer than a day?¡±


    ¡°Simple. We have to get to the Yard-Ship. If we could power on the factory section, we could make things to help us. Weapons, exo-frames, even a spacecraft or probe to summon help. We have to get there soon,¡± Jinn said as he looked up at the sky. He could already see a light to what he hoped was east.


    After a few moments of silence, he looked at Ed, finding his friend looking at him with a shocked look.


    ¡°So simple a thing. Do you think it¡¯ll be that easy? We have no idea the condition of the ship. Even after I get it online, we might end up with a broken ship. There¡¯s a reason it crashed after all,¡± Al said softly.


    ¡°Simple nothing! This is going to be hard, I can feel it. But we don¡¯t have a choice! If half of what Burt told us is true, we need an edge. At least we can use the ship as a place to hide from, a fort maybe. I don¡¯t expect the capsules to last too long,¡± Jinn said just as softly.


    Before they could say anything more, a large buzzing came from above them. Looking up, Jinn saw a large swarm of red flying worms pass over the tops of the trees. As they watched the swarm fly off, Jinn felt his blood freeze as he realized where they were going. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Jinn? What is it?¡± Al asked and Jinn ignored him, looking around.


    ¡°Aether Comet,¡± Jinn said softly. As blue energy enveloped him, he felt its power flow through him. Activating one strain of the nanites within himself, he went into motion. Flash-dashing towards one of the trees, he looked up. Jumping from branch to branch until he soon broke the tree line and could see the ocean in the distance.


    As he shot higher into the air, he looked toward the swarm and saw it fly toward the river. There, against rocks was a strange mass that the worms were flying towards. Looking beyond he saw an escape capsule. It was just beyond the river and he could see it had a wall around it. As he fell, he thought he saw something flash through the worms and hoped his nanites had recorded it.


    As he dropped down, his mind raced faster. As he jumped from branch to branch going down, he tried to keep calm. His mind went over what it could have been,. but not quite coming to a good answer. As he landed, he called up the image his nanites saved and saw what he had seen.


    ¡°Jinn! What was it?¡± Al asked as Jinn just stood there.


    ¡°A corpse in the river against the stones we¡¯ll need to pass over. Somehow those things found out about it. We might have trouble there,¡± Jinn said softly.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked at his friend, trying to understand. For a few moments, he just stood there, his mind trying to understand what Jinn was talking about. But after a few moments, Al admitted that this was beyond his knowledge. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. What trouble? I guess I¡¯m too city worlder to understand.¡±


    Jinn¡¯s energy cloak died down as he looked at Al. he took a deep breath and sighed, looking at his friend. ¡°I¡¯ll explain it to the others, just know that when we try and go over the river? We¡¯ll probably be attacked.¡±


    ¡°Attacked? By what?¡± Al asked and looked up. ¡°That swarm? A few attacks and they should all run away. Right?¡±


    Jinn only shook his head. ¡°No, I mean attacked by anything drawn to the same thing the swarm is drawn to. Food. And anything that comes will be hungry. And hungry things fight harder to kill. To eat what they kill.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Al said softly as he felt his blood leave his face.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she fought her way back to wakefulness, Racha blinked as she looked around. For a second or two, she almost didn¡¯t understand where she was. but as her gaze found Burt, then she understood. As she got up she looked around, seeing Paige and Sara both asleep outside the cave. After not finding Al or Jinn, she reasoned that they had gone on watch. But it was when a hand fell onto her shoulder that she reacted.


    Without a sound she pulled forward, grabbing the hand and throwing whoever it was forward.


    Seeing Jinn flying through the air, she watched as he landed and dashed towards her silently. As he threw a right punch, she blocked and moved towards him. As she lashed out with her left arm, Jinn deflected it and moved to the right.


    When Racha tried to counter it Jinn lunged to the left and moved around her, dashing towards the ramp. She watched him as he stopped, turned until he was looking at her then bowed. Racha felt her face heat up as she suddenly understood. What had happened was a sparring match. Any other time she would have exploded, but the baby behind her killed that reaction.


    As she tried to keep calm, Jinn gestured for her to follow him. As she walked after him, she could only scowl. All she could think about was how she was going to give that fool a piece of her mind. As they reached the mouth of the cavern, she turned to him but stopped at the look on Jinn¡¯s face.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Racha asked and Jinn sighed.


    ¡°We¡¯ve come into a meteor storm. About ten, fifteen minutes ago a swarm of those flying worms passed overhead. I went up the tree and saw their target, the river. There¡¯s a corpse and something shiny against rocks there. And that means predators are coming after the scavengers,¡± Jinn said bluntly.


    Racha looked at him before she started to curse. ¡°Oh, Nova! That means the predators might try and kill us! Great, just great! And any more good news?¡±


    ¡°Yes. There''s an escape capsule near the river on the other side. With luck, we can drop off Roy and the kid. Maybe there''s an officer there, or someone that the chief can coordinate with,¡± Jinn said with a grin.


    Racha Almost said something before she stopped. ¡°Okay. Next issue, our new arrival. What¡¯s your take on him?¡±


    ¡°I think he¡¯s playing something close to his vest. There¡¯s something else he¡¯s not telling us. Remember how he talked about his home, how he heard? There¡¯s no way anyone loyal wouldn¡¯t try and get home if it was attacked. If it was possible that is,¡± Jinn said with a hard stare down into the cavern.


    Racha looked at him, frowning. As much as she didn¡¯t want to admit it, there was something in what he said. There were stories told around the lunchroom tables back in the Service barracks. Tales about how some soldiers were the first wave of relief when their worlds were attacked. And how they got revenge when they couldn¡¯t make it there in time, how they broke through impossible odds. And with that thought, she understood what Jinn meant. ¡°Then there must have been something that kept him from doing that. But what?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the flying things picked at the dead thing, the hunter watched and waited. When it had sensed the dead meat, it had taken a bit and been disgusted. The taste was all wrong and the hard stuff almost broke one of its teeth! No, the best thing to do was let the smell bring in good prey, something it could like to eat.


    As the worms bit and ate the dead thing, the hunter watched. It knew that all it had to do was wait, that sooner or later something would come along. As it watched, it wondered if it should just kill and eat some of the swarm. They were the lure of course, but after a while, it just wasn¡¯t working right. Best to just eat then.


    Before the hunter could move, it saw a rustling from a plant near the forest. As it watched, a small quadruped green lizard the size of a dog with a long snout came out. As it stood up and looked around, a frill unfolded from its neck. The frill had five black lines on each side and ten purple spots, and as the hunter watched the spots started to glow. Ten purple energy bullets formed around the lizard before they shot at the flying things. As the swarm reacted, some flew away but fifty flew towards the lizard. As the worms flew over land, fifty more energy bullets came from the forest behind the first lizard.


    As the hunter watched, five more of the lizards came out. Three of the six lizards seemed to be guarding as two of them picked up the remains of the flying things. As the hunter watched, they threw them toward the first lizard. The first lizard started to move the remains into piles as two more lizards came out of the forest. As the two newcomers came towards the piles, they opened their frills and formed a cup with them. After that, they started to put the remains into them as they stood on their back legs.


    As the hunter stayed still, it wondered what to do. The lizard things were too small for a good meal and the swarm was starting to gather again. The lizards had only hunted some of the swam, and with its lesser numbers more would come for them. All in all, they had made it easier for the hunter.


    As it decided to wait, a roar was heard. From the other side of the river, a large beast appeared. It was a large red feline-like creature with six legs and a long tail that ended in a bone ball. Its head had four eyes with two horns that went forward and started below its two ears. It roared again as it leaped from rock to rock, charging toward the lizards. All the hunter could do was feel joy, these were always tasty. With that thought, the hunter struck.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the lizards watched the feline beast charge at them they started to activate their power. If they could hold it off for a few moments then the gathers could retreat and feed their pack. Even if most of the guards died, then their kind would live on. As their far fangs formed they prepared to fire. But from the side of the rocks towards the great waters four long fleshy things shot out. They coiled around the feline in mid jump, squeezing it. As the feline tried to fight free it was pulled under the waters. Moments later the lizards could smell life liquid seep out from a kill.


    As one the lizards all went still, one of the liquid killers was hiding there! After a few moments, the lizards moved. They took half the food they killed, and dashed into the forest, hoping to get to safety.

 Chapter Sixty Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 0600


    As Sara blinked, she looked around. It took her more seconds than she would have liked to remember where she was. As soon as that happened, she remembered. The life she had before she had joined the crew of the Spirit. The plans that she had for her future before this. What had caused her to come along on this expedition. The horrors of the Vine-Beast, the giant spider, and the found fighter. The escape into the ground, and the revelations that followed hearing Roy scream. Then the discovery of the native. She looked at Burt as she got up and saw he was already up.


    Burt only smiled at her as he brought his pack around and started to pull out a few wrapped bundles. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few pieces of firewood if you want to warm something else. And my rations that I¡¯ll be happy to share for some of yours.¡±


    All that Sara could do was wonder what this man had gone through, and what kind of civilization he had been raised in. The man was trying to be helpful. She didn¡¯t trust him. The only beings she had ever met that like him all had one thing. They were either na?ve, wanted something, or running from something. The trick she found was to try and figure out who was who.


    Sara looked at him and was about to say something when Racha''s voice came from above them. ¡°That¡¯s fine. But I¡¯d like to talk a little more.¡±


    Sara and Burt looked up and saw Racha, Al, and Jinn. They were walking around the raised part of the cavern. Al stopped above them while Racha and Jinn continued until they were right across from Burt.


    ¡°Sure, sure. Just let old Burt here have a bit of time, and I¡¯ll sing for ya. So what do you want to know?¡± Burt asked as he looked into his pack.


    Sara could tell that Burt was trying to make so time to let him gather his thoughts. It was an old tactic and one that work sometimes. But Racha didn¡¯t give him that time.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go to help your home?¡± Racha asked bluntly.


    Burt stopped and went still. He chuckled a little as he slowly put down his pack. ¡°Well, well. No one usually figures out that so fast. What gave me away?¡±


    Behind him, he could hear someone moving. He saw Paige getting up and standing between him and Roy. Roy who had grabbed the baby and moved deeper into the cave. Getting out of the line of sight and the chaos he thought was going to help.


    ¡°Most people who talk about their homes under threat usually try and help. That you didn¡¯t and you said you crashed here. That was enough know you didn¡¯t tell us everything,¡± Jinn said as he crossed his arms.


    Burt only nodded and sighed. ¡°I did keep something back. Have you ever heard of what some call Ruins of the Ancients?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We figured out that we were brought here by a space-based one. Here¡¯s a tip, those ships you mentioned? They weren¡¯t going in the same direction at all,¡± Al said cheerily.


    ¡°I did not know that. But back to the Ruin thing. Go out about ten miles from a central location and you¡¯ll run into a stone gateway. There¡¯s one at random locations, but only one per compos direction. Now these Gateways are important because they can connect anywhere on this planet. From one side to another in the time it takes to pass through one. But they connect at random and they can reconnect at random too! To make a long story short a long time ago I was taken through one and I¡¯ve been traveling ever since. So for about five years,¡± Burt admitted with a sigh.


    Sarra looked at him in shock, her mouth opened in horror.


    ¡°So you heard about the attack on your home or the possibility while trying to get home?¡± Al asked


    Burt just sighed. ¡°Yeah. I heard about it while I was camping out in a territory in the Eternal City. An area hundreds of miles wide that¡¯s just a large city. I was hoping to get closer, but well I accidentally was sold to a slave ship. One slave revolute later, I escaped through another Gateway before closed. But I was so far from home¡­..¡±


    Sara looked at Racha and Jinn. She still didn¡¯t know what Jinn¡¯s deal was, but he was like Racha. And anyone like a Service operative had to be deadly. If they knew how to read people, then just maybe they all could trust Burt.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked at Burt and tried to figure this out. The very idea of the existence of these Gateways was bad. Gates to who knows where that could open at random? They would have to find a way to watch them. That meant they needed the yard ship even more. It had to be in good enough shape, there was no other option that led to their survival. And as much as she didn¡¯t want to, they needed Burt.


    If he was telling the truth, then they needed someone who knew the way things worked around here. And¡­¡­ ¡°Wait. You crashed here, right? You came through a Gateway ahead of something, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Burt said as he scratched the back of his head. ¡°There was this pirate ship with a cannibal crew¡­.. let¡¯s just say I got out by the skin of my teeth.¡±


    Racha only stared at him. She had seen survivors before and he might be one. But then the way he talked about it.


    ¡°Okay, everyone stand down. And someone get the food ready,¡± Racha said as she walked past Burt. Getting to the bags, she pulled out a bottle and threw it to Burt.


    He took a deep drink and released a deep sigh as he looked at it. ¡°A bottle of water that¡¯s still cold. You forget the little things when you¡¯re traveling, ya know?¡±


    ¡°Not really. We were all aboard a passenger liner before we crashed,¡± Roy said as he sat down, putting the baby onto his lap.


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    As Racha watched, Paige came over with a small bowl of mashed fruit. Taking it, Roy tried to feed it to the baby. As the girl kept her mouth closed Burt came over.


    He grabbed the spoon and started to make cute sounds. As the baby looked at him he pantomimed eating and then brought the spoon towards her. The baby opened her mouth and Burt slipped a bit of the fruit into it. After the baby swallowed she started to giggle and open her mouth again.


    Roy looked at Burt and almost cried. Racha had to admit, Burt had a way with children. If they had to do that, then the nightmare of feeding the baby was over. And that was something that she was glad for.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome! And that is a cute baby! Your¡¯s?¡± Burt asked as he looked at Roy.


    ¡°No. NO. I¡­. I rescued her,¡± Roy said with a small shrug. As the baby started to cry Roy grabbed her and started to rock her back and forth.


    ¡°Rescued her? From what?¡± Burt asked.


    Roy looked to Racha, and Racha looked back. After a few seconds, Racha nodded. Burt had trusted them, and that meant they had to trust him. And he had been born on this world, and there was a chance that he knew something. If people had been living here for years, then if the Abilities were from an external source..... Burt might just know something they needed to know.


    ¡°We¡­¡­ the capsule that I came down in. Most of the other people went mad. I, there was one who led the others. He said that they needed to sacrifice someone to the monsters outside. And he had said that it needed to be the most innocent. I said no, and well I became part of it,¡± Roy said softly.


    Burt only whistled as he shook his head. ¡°That was something, man. I mean, I don¡¯t know many people who would be able to survive a demagogue. Good on ya!¡±


    Racha nodded and then she went still. Burt hadn¡¯t said that Roy was lucky to be alive, he had named something. he had heard about people like whoever had taken over Roy¡¯s capsule. That meant it happened enough that people had to name them.


    ¡°A what?¡± Roy asked softly. Burt only took another drink and then sighed as he looked at Roy.


    ¡°Sounds like he awoke as a demagogue. And went mad. Bad combo my friend. Those people when they go mad, you were lucky you were out,¡± Burt said shaking his head.


    Roy and Sara both stopped what they were doing. Racha even looked up as Jinn went still.


    ¡°You know what that person did to make them all follow him? And Awoke?¡± Roy asked as he held the baby firmly.


    ¡°Yeah, awoke the power¡­.. you don¡¯t have the power off world, do you?¡± Burt asked as he looked around, shocked.


    ¡°Explain, now,¡± Racha said sternly. If he had any info on the Abilities Jinn, Sara and Paige had then they needed to know now.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Burt took a deep breath and tried to gather his thoughts. There had been stories about how the power was something that was only on this planet. It had been told for years but he was among those that never believed it. The power was a basic right here! To think it wasn''t the same on the Homeworlds?


    ¡°What¡¯s to talk about? I mean it¡¯s hard to describe to those still Asleep. The power is¡­¡­ they say it¡¯s a side effect of life. Something that we give off without knowing according to the old stories. And the only limits on what you can do are your strength, your skill, and what the universe lets you do. I''ve seen it all, great fighters and healers. And it''s handy,¡± Burt said as he held up a hand and a small blue sphere formed from lightning that shot from his fingers. ¡°Se, everyone in this world has something called an Aether Template. It¡¯s a set of skills that you can learn easily. I don¡¯t know how or why, it just is. But anyone can learn any skill. It¡¯s just a bit harder for some.¡±


    Burt looked around, trying to see if any of them reacted. He saw Roy looked shocked but the others were all trying to force a shocked look


    ¡°And this demagogue? What¡¯s that?¡± Jinn asked with a slight scowl.


    ¡°Well, those people that can affect the minds of others? It¡¯s all good for someone to inspire people, you understand? But when those twist people¡¯s minds? That¡¯s a demagogue. I¡¯ve heard of whole communities that have fallen under the control of one. And it never ends well for them. Even if they''re freed, it¡¯s never a good ending,¡± Burt said with a shudder as he looked down at his drink. ¡°But how did they not affect you I wonder? The power of even a new one is said to be strong.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t awake when they did their thing. I just woke up and everyone had gone mad! well most of them,¡± Roy said.


    Burt looked up and saw Roy was looking like he had something to be ashamed of. For a second he was worried just what it was, but from what Burt remembered he had nothing. ¡°Well good! You were able to stay yourself and find a way to get free! And save the little lady at the same time. Few would have the will to even try!¡±


    ¡°But I only got away from them because some of the others saved us! if you¡¯re right, then why didn¡¯t they all fall under the demagogue¡¯s control?¡± Roy asked as he looked down at the baby in his arms.


    Burt looked at them and smiled. Part of him knew that whatever happened the man would try and keep in contact with the baby. That was normal, and he wished them all the best. But for now, he had to tell the others more of the truth of this world.


    ¡°Makes sense. Sometimes some people just can¡¯t be twisted. I think someone once wondered if demagogues need to have an ¡®in¡¯ to control people. I¡¯ve heard things that argue for and against it. It¡¯s one of those things that you can¡¯t study if you have a soul ya know. Now those Scholars, some of them¡­..¡± Burt trailed off as he looked at Al.


    Al only looked back and then his eyes widened. ¡°There are groups of my Faith on this world?¡±


    ¡°A few, a few. Some of them trade technology for raw materials. And some of them raid others for slaves and resources. I¡¯ve heard that their ¡®Collection Temples¡¯ are places of true hell. My own home threw one of their crusades back once, and the vets had horror stories of what they faced. Monsters of flesh and metal! True horrors that only should exist in nightmares. And people without souls,¡± Burt said softly and Al looked at him horrified.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al¡¯s mind was racing. He knew what Burt was talking about. The Way of the Integration, to blend flesh and metal as one. The creation of limbs for people who lost them was seen as a gift for all, but then those who replaced limbs by choice. There had been those who went too far, some who became a part of the very building they worked in. Some then connected their minds to computers with tech that went both ways. And some of those created implants to take over the person. That was the worst of the Heresies, to take the very will from another.


    ¡°They turned people into mindless weapons? They dared to do that?¡± Al asked stunned that anyone from his religion would do that. By the looks on the other''s faces, the horror he was feeling was in his voice.


    ¡°You know about that!? I¡¯ve heard the stories, but I always thought that was all it was!¡± Racha said with a hard tone.


    Al looked up and winced at the look in her eyes. It made sense that she would say that, given who she was.


    ¡°It¡¯s not something we talk about openly. The technology is considered the worst of the worst. Those who even dare are killed. I think there¡¯s a treaty between all who follow the Scholar¡¯s Way and the government. But I only heard in passing really,¡± Al said as he held up his hands.


    Al saw Racha glare before she nodded. He felt a little better that she would let it go for now. But he knew she would be talking to him about this.


    ¡°I think so, but I wasn¡¯t talking about just that,¡± Burt said softly.


    Al looked up and saw the look in Burt in horror. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°They said that the weapons that they brought against us were life forms that were mutated. I mean humans or xenos were giving organic limbs from beasts. And beasts were sent that had metal parts or weapons grafted on¡± Burt said softly.


    Al couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. To think that those called Dread Scholars were alive here. The First Civil War was something that every world of the Scholar¡¯s Way taught. The crimes and the way people were killed, it was beyond legend, it was nightmares.


    ¡°That is forbidden! Dread Scholars have enough resources to do that?!¡± Al said in horror as he shot to his feet.


    ¡°Wait¡­¡­.. ¡® Dread Scholar¡¯!? That¡¯s not just a swear term!?¡± Sara demanded. As the others all looked at her she blushed and looked away. ¡°I heard the term once when my old teacher was having a bad day and sprained their foot. They just cursed and that was one of them.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡­ they¡¯re people who put research and creation above all others. The ones who do all that are Heretical. To even gain half what he said¡­¡­ I can¡¯t even think of how they¡¯d do that. I just can¡¯t figure it out,¡± Al said as he looked around the room.


    Racha looked like she was going to say something, but Jinn spoke up.


    ¡°Fine. If you think of anything, just let us know. Everyone, listen up. I found another capsule. Based on what I saw the people there are still holding out. The catch, we need to cross a river that empties into the ocean. And from what I saw rock split the river into three channels. Another catch, a body of some kind is against said channels. And I saw a swarm of those flying worms go to feed on it. Final catch, they¡¯ll probably bring in things that hunt them. And we still need to cross it,¡±  Jinn said as he looked around.


    ¡°So what? We go to the capsule and then you all try and make contact with yours?¡± Roy asked and Sara laughed.


    ¡°No, then I guess we drop you off there and get help?¡± Paige asked and Racha nodded.


    ¡°Yes, sorry Roy. But you¡¯ve got your mission and we¡¯ve got our own. We have to get to that Yard Ship, with what Burt told us we¡¯ve got no choice now. That might be the difference between us building a power or being refugees.


    Al nodded, a hard look on his face. Racha was right, they needed this. If those portals could open up anywhere, then the Dread Scholars could come and find them. If the horror stories in the depths of the networks of his home were to true, then they needed to grow. If the monsters some stories talked about were true, then they needed power. And one of his friend''s projects he was working on might just be the game changer they needed.


    ¡°Yard Ship? What¡¯s that?¡± Burt asked as he grabbed a piece of fruit.


    ¡°An automated factory ship. Once you get it turned on and powered up, the factory can make anything. And we can only hope that the ship is still able to work. I mean it did crash into a mountain. And to get to it we¡¯ve gotta go over a land bridge,¡± Jinn said with a shrug.


    ¡°A ship that¡¯s crashed through a mountain on an island connecting to a land bridge. Why does that¡­. Wait. That¡¯s ¡­. The Iron Island. THIS IS THE IRON ISLAND!? Oh by the Tides! No wonder this place is mad!¡± Burt exclaimed as he shot to his feet.


    As Al watched, Burt¡¯s eyes widened in what he thought was horror.

 Chapter Sixty Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 0625


    Burt looked around the chamber, trying to figure a way out. He had heard the stories, and he cursed for not realizing where he was. His ship had been destroyed, and he had no way off. Sooner or later another armada would come. And the newcomers? They were nothing more than wheat before the harvest once those lizard things got here! And that was if there were only a few who had Awakened!


    ¡°HEY!¡± Paige called out.


    Burt blinked and looked at Paige, who looked back with a hard look. He didn¡¯t move so Paige reached over and squeezed his shoulder.


    ¡°Look, I get it. You¡¯re scared. But calm down, you can¡¯t do anything if you let your emotions rule your body! Just take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds. After the first do it again until you¡¯re calm,¡± Paige said softly.


    Without a word, Burt did as instructed. With a few repeats, Burt looked at her and smiled.


    ¡°Thank you, but how did you know?¡± Burt asked


    Paige¡¯s eyes went to Roy before she spoke.


    ¡°Your eyes. I¡¯ve seen it before,¡± Paige said as she looked away.


    ¡°Look, Burt? It seems to me you¡¯ve heard about this place. So how about you tell us what this place is,¡± Jinn¡¯s soft voice made Burt take a deep breath.


    ¡°I¡­¡­ I hit this place on the other exactly. I spent most of my time wandering on the other side of that mountain. I never saw the ship, I woulda have known this place was the Iron Island. And that¡¯s bad,¡± Burt admitted as he looked around.


    ¡°How bad is this place?¡± Racha asked flatly.


    ¡°This place is near what a lot of people think is the center of the Great Sea. I spoke of those who can influence minds. Some can see into the Future,¡± Burt admitted.


    He looked around and saw the disbelief in most of the others, all but Jinn who nodded. ¡°And what happened then? What did these future tellers say and who believes it?¡±


    ¡°There are¡­¡­ pirate fleets out on the waves. They are the ones we have to be worried about. And the fate spinner¡¯s words are old, very old. Maybe a thousand years ago at least. They found this place about three hundred, and they have been trying to claim something here. No one out of their society knows what it is. But they always try,¡± Burt said bitterly as he looked around


    ¡°So maybe we¡¯ve got a fleet of pirates coming at us? And some of them can use this power right?¡± Jinn asked flatly.


    The others all reacted to this shocking information. Jinn was the only person who didn¡¯t pale in shock. Burt only looked at him before he nodded.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s finish up fast people, we need to be moving in half an hour! We¡¯ve got to get to the river by noon¡­¡± Racha began only for Al to interrupt.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°No. We shouldn¡¯t do that,¡± Al said.


    Everyone looked at him but all he did was look down. His mind was going over everything that he knew about this place. From the encounters the group had to what Roy told them. Even the attack on the escape capsule was factored in before Al looked up. At the looks he was being sent, he sighed and shook his head. ¡°All of us shouldn¡¯t go. A small group, half at most.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Jinn asked and Al looked up at him.


    ¡°Party size increased by three, and there¡¯s the baby to consider. If attacked she might cry, and draw in more foes. Problem, big problem. Can¡¯t leave her behind, not right. Only one thing to do,¡± Al said swiftly, his old way of talking making a comeback.


    ¡°And that is what?¡± Racha said with a growl.


    Al looked at her and didn¡¯t see her but with everything he knew about the Service, her reaction was expected. She was an invaluable piece here and might be the difference between life and death.


    ¡°Logically, this place is the perfect defensive stronghold. We have no idea how strong any¡­¡­resistance might be at the river. The best thing would be to split the party so to speak. Some of us go to the river, the rest hold the fort. If we can find a swift path, then some hold the river while some get the others. It might be the difference between life and death,¡± Al said as he locked eyes with Racha.


    ¡°If we need to move fast a smaller group would be best. If Burt could take us there, then you all can wait here. Once we know the path is safe, we¡¯ll get you and then get over it. We can try and find shelter once we¡¯re across,¡± Al said as he looked at Racha with a hard look.


    ¡°I can get you to the river, I just need the direction. Give me that and I can do it,¡± Burt said with a grin.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too! They might need a medic along. And if we don¡¯t get back the three of you can try and get back to the chief. He¡¯ll need to know about all of this,¡± Sara said as she spoke up. As they looked at her she grabbed a pod and started eating it.


    ¡°Then me too. We four will make the attempt, one less than when we set out from Base,¡± Jinn declared as he grabbed his own fruit pod. He stopped before he bit into it and looked at Racha and Paige. ¡°You two should stay here, you¡¯ll have the best chance of getting Roy and his cargo back to base.¡±


    Racha looked between them all, and tried to keep calm.. she could see where Al was coming from, and she even agreed with him. That was basic strategy, make sure you had a backup plan or escape route. With her and Paige keeping an eye here, they would be able to defend this place. And together with Roy, they could probably make it back to their escape capsule.


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    ¡°Four of us¡­. Stable. If we all watch out for each other. And a square is easier to defend if we¡¯re back to back. And it makes sense Racha,¡± Al said softly.


    Racha looked at Al, her mind racing. The problem wasn¡¯t that it didn¡¯t make sense, it was she didn¡¯t know if she could trust Jinn! He was someone she couldn¡¯t even figure out, and that bothered her a lot. His reactions told her that he was raised by criminals, but he didn¡¯t know modern things. She had seen the wonder and awe when he had worked a shift on one of the amusement parks back on the ship. There just weren''t ways that you couldn¡¯t fake that! Well, there were. And the kind of people who used those methods were the worst of scum. And that meant that Jinn might be one of them. But now she had to trust him!?


    She looked around and took a deep breath. There was only one choice to make here. ¡°Everyone but Jinn, stay here. Jinn, we need to talk, now.¡±


    Racha got up and turned towards the stone ramp, from the sounds Jinn was following after her. This was a long time coming, and it had to be now. If there was any hope for this to happen, then she had to get rid of all her doubts.


    ¡°Okay, what is it?¡± Jinn asked as he followed her outside.


    Racha looked at him, staying silent for a few seconds. ¡°Why should I trust you at all?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked at her and tried to figure out what to say. He hadn¡¯t exactly been raised by people who would trust the government. ¡°I¡­.. trust is hard, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But if I let you go with those people, I need to trust that they¡¯ll stay alive. So where were you raised?¡± Racha asked him and Jinn shrugged.


    ¡°Your guess is as good as mine,¡± Jinn said flatly. He held up a hand and stopped her from saying anything. ¡°I mean that literally¡­¡­ I¡­¡­ escaped my home aboard a water ship. Once we were near shore I swam and ran. I was able to get some credits from a job and survived for a time. Got off-world by a smuggler and when they made port I signed onto the Spirit.¡±


    ¡°And who did you escape from?¡± Racha asked.


    Jinn kept quiet, wondering what to say. He had learned a lot of what he had thought was truth was lies. And with what they were after¡­¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t know. They said that we were the last defenders of the True Federation. They painted all races but humans as monsters that conquered the Federation. We were all to be the fist that killed them all.¡±


    ¡°What made you discover the truth?¡± Racha asked as she looked at him.


    Jinn only smiled bitterly as he remembered that day so long ago. ¡°If you could believe it, it was watching a class trip. Just seeing kids, aliens, and humans helping each other. It called into question everything they taught me. I¡­.. after that, I¡­¡­ things happened. And I left my world.¡±


    Racha only looked at him in shock.


    He didn¡¯t want to know what she was thinking, it was hard enough just speaking about what happened. But he felt strangely free right now like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. For a moment he remembered his lost friends. Those who died in training, and those he had left behind. The surety of his old life, what he had left behind to do what was right.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll need you to tell me the name of the ship and world you joined the Spirit from. If those people are still active, the Service needs to act. That¡¯s the complete and absolute line, got it? I¡¯m not budgeting,¡± Racha said.


    Jinn looked back and tried to keep calm as he saw the hard look in her eyes. This was just one of the reasons that Service operatives were so hard to handle, their wills. ¡°Fine, but what should we do about Roy? With Burt finding out about this Power, he¡¯ll tell others. And could you imagine what some of those people might do? What Bradford would do to with something like what I can do?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep that from happening! I¡¯ll stay back here, talk to Roy. I¡¯ll see if I can get him to stay silent if we have to head back. Nothing more to do really. And I hope I don¡¯t have to,¡± Racha said.


    Jinn nodded, the same thoughts she had going through his head.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Below Burt tried to keep his face clear. They had no idea that he was able to hear everything that those two were saying. His skill, Targeted Hearing had saved his life for years. But now he was able to listen in to the others at the cave mouth. And he had learned so much. First, Jinn can use the Power, he might even have an Aether Template of his own. He had thought that they knew about the Power, and he was right. And from what he was able to figure out, they had only learned about it recently. If he was lucky, probably on this Quest of theirs. And the most interesting fact, someone named Bradford was by what they said an opposition within their group. He could use that knowledge, it might even save him.


    Below Burt tried to keep his face clear. They had no idea that he was able to hear everything that those two were saying. His skill, Targeted Hearing had saved his life for years. But now he was able to listen in to the others at the cave mouth. And he had learned so much. First, Jinn can use the Power, he might even have an Aether Template of his own. He had thought that they knew about the Power, and he was right. And from what he was able to figure out, they had only learned about it recently. If he was lucky, probably on this Quest of theirs. And the most interesting fact of them all. There was someone named Bradford was by what they said an opposition within their group. He could use that knowledge, it might even save him.


    ¡°So is it better to go on? I mean with what Burt told us all,¡± Roy said.


    Burt looked up and saw that Roy had started to look at him a little worried. And he just sighed, but Al spoke before Burt could.


    ¡°No, Roy. It¡¯s because of what Burt told us we have to go on. If one of those pirate fleets attacks us, we need better weapons. The Yard-Ship is our only hope. We don¡¯t have a choice!¡± Al said passionately


    ¡°But if those pirates want that ship, shouldn¡¯t we hide?¡± Roy demanded.


    ¡°The inner area is even worse. I spent a while here, and the places within are full of herds of monsters. There are the hives of humanoid insects all over, the flying ones from the mountains¡­. All in all the shore would be safer. And if we can take this Yard Ship, and its armor is as good as I hope. Then even if it¡¯s not working we can only hold it. Then we can survive,¡± Burt said as he looked at Roy.


    Burt never mentioned that other forces could help them here. He had promised that he wouldn¡¯t say anything about them, and he wouldn¡¯t. But if they would only let the newcomers know about them then together they could live!


    ¡°But¡­.¡± Roy began but someone interrupted him.


    ¡°They¡¯re right!¡± Racha said as she and Jinn came down to the bottom level. ¡°Four people would move fast enough to escape anything. Once the route is secure, someone will come back for us. Paige, start to move your spare gear from my pack into yours. Let¡¯s see if we can make a carrier for the baby.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯ve to go then? How far away do you think the river is?¡± Sara asked as she and Al got up.


    Burt smiled as he looked at the others, all in all, this was perfect! He could learn more about these people, and if he learned enough, then he could plan around them. All he had to do was stay alive until he found a way home. He had made it back to his home territory, he could do this at least.


    ¡°Maybe about half an hour¡¯s walk from what I can remember. If we move fast we could cut that time in half. And since it''s still Dawn time for another hour or so, most of the beasts should still be asleep. And a lot of the ones around here? Last I came through here there weren¡¯t any packs. So we should be fine,¡± Burt said cheerily. Looking around, he barely kept a smirk off his face.


    ¡°And that¡¯s another reason why I said a small group was better,¡± Al said as he looked around.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked at Burt with a hidden frown. Something about his emotions was wrong, she couldn¡¯t say more than that. When Jinn and Racha went to talk, he hadn¡¯t reacted to the conversation around him. His eyes had been focused on the cave mouth, but why? The only reason she could think of was so out there it was impossible. But then she thought about what she could do, and then it seemed possible. She still didn¡¯t know what the limits of this Power were. The possibility that Burt could have listened to Jinn and Racha wasn¡¯t zero, and that scared her.


    If he had heard whatever the two talked about, then what? She still didn¡¯t have any way to let Sara know, and before they left what could she even do? She couldn¡¯t just come out and say it, who knows what Burt would do? So she needed to tell them something without talking, and how could she do that¡­.


    She felt like hiding her head as an answer came. As she watched them leave she stopped Jinn by flashing a hand symbol for ¡®Danger¡¯ when Burt¡¯s back was turned.


    Looking at her he made another symbol, the ¡®What¡¯ symbol. She smiled and flashed a symbol for ¡®Listen¡¯ and then ¡®Spy¡¯ before she pointed at Burt. When Jinn¡¯s eyes went hard, she knew she had succeeded. Despite the barriers, she had been able to pass along what she knew.


    As soon as the party left the chamber, Paige saw Racha look towards the blocked passageway. Moving her head Paige looked towards it and slowly brought out a handheld computer. Calling up the app Al had added to the senses she frowned as she saw nothing new. Opening up the history she still saw nothing, and with a small frown looked towards Racha.


    Racha looked back and then moved so she was standing with her back to Roy before she started to sign at Paige. ¡®I¡¯ll stay on watch there. You stay near the top. That way we can chat on the handhelds. Do you think Burt was able to overhear us?¡¯


    Paige only looked at Racha, and then took a deep breath before signing ¡®Yes¡¯.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jinn led the way through the forest, he kept one eye ahead, one on the bushes, and his ear on Burt. He had thought he had already thought of the worst, but he was wrong. If Burt had spied on them, then that meant he had done so with the Power he talked about. The worst thing was to be spied on when you thought you were safe to talk. And if there was any way to keep everyone alive, he needed to think of anything, even the most outlandish. He couldn¡¯t be off his game from his talk with Racha. But if Burt had been on this island a while, then he might know something about how the cave beast disappeared.


    ¡°So Burt,¡± Sara began before Jinn could speak. ¡°You¡¯ve been here a while. So seen anything that shocked you?¡±


    ¡°On this island? Well, yes. The packs, now they will grow and the Alphas might bring in other species over time. But I¡¯ve never seen so many on such a small area. I mean most of the time there¡¯s only one main pack. Here? ¡­¡­.. I¡¯ve heard of places like it but I¡¯ve never seen one before. I thought they were only rumors,¡± Burt¡¯s voice said from behind them at the back.


    For now, Jinn would hold his tongue. He couldn¡¯t blame Burt. The man was probably only making sure they wouldn¡¯t kill him. But if Burt became a problem, then he would soon become unalive.

 Chapter Sixty Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Underground tunnel/ Circle Cavern


    Galactic Standard Time / 0705


    As Jinn led the way through the forest, he tried to keep calm. So far the last ten minutes had been easygoing. The beasts were all leaving them alone, and there didn¡¯t seem to be anything that might ambush them. All in all, this path was looking good, but they were still far from the river, and anything could happen. So far they had been making good time, and the path was easy to travel. If they could just make it to


    Looking ahead, he watched as Burt led the way. Five minutes ago Burt had taken the lead, and Jinn was watching him like a predator. All Burt had to do was act like he was leading them into an ambush and he was done! He hated that his old personality was surfacing again, but for his friends, Jinn would bear it.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the worst thing you¡¯ve seen before Burt?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at Burt¡¯s head.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a long list. Now I¡¯ve never really recorded them but offhand, I¡¯d have to say the Valley. Yeah, that place,¡± Burt said with a smirk in his voice. ¡°Every time I think about that place, my knees shake.¡±


    ¡°The Valley?¡± Al asked. Burt just chuckled and nodded as he moved a bush out of his way.


    ¡°About, a hundred or so years ago, one of the ships of your faith crashed here Scholar. Unfortunately, they crashed in a warzone. In the middle of a war between slavers and filth really. Both sides sent people to salvage anything to turn the tide, slaves or weapons. Then something happened. No one knows what, but the end? Machines marched out of the crash and started killing. Currently, the place is a killer Robot zone. They take any vehicles and materials of travelers, leaving corpses behind. But if you''re fast, smart, and brave you can escape the bots,¡± Burt said with a chuckle.


    Jinn only looked at Burt as he chuckled.


    ¡°Nice story, but how do you know it was one of my people? And how¡¯d you hear about it?¡± Al asked stiffly.


    ¡°Simple. When I passed through it while escaping a Beast, I saw the remains of the ship. Same sign as on your face. But slavers aren¡¯t the ones who back down. So the two sides just kept throwing lives at it until the bots claimed the whole area... After the leaders all died the survivors escaped and told stories. Those made the Valley one of the most feared areas in the Mountain Realm. Bad thing, it used to be on a major trade route,¡± Burt said with a sigh


    Jinn kept a frown off his face. The story might be true, but it might not. He remembered reading about old ships like that once. He thought he figured out what it was, but he couldn¡¯t say anything. Burt probably knew what he told Racha, and that was enough.


    ¡°Scavenger Ship had to have been. But all this time? How? The AIs in those ships were supposed to be limited! And it¡¯s still active?¡± Al demanded and Burt nodded.


    ¡°Saw it myself. Had to get away from a gang of bandits. Saw a few of the bots kill them to get their vehicle. And me on a local mount was able to escape alive. But it was a small chance, and if it wasn¡¯t for a Gateway I¡¯d be dead. But luckily I was able to leave that Realm after that. But then I hit the City Realm. And that was trouble,¡± Burt said with a laugh.


    Against his will, Jinn found himself liking Burt. The way he talked about his old adventures and the way they talked. It reminded him of a few old teachers he had growing up. But then he had broken those habits to escape. Still, Burt might be someone they could trust. But he might not.


    A rustling in the nearby bushes to Jinn¡¯s right caused him to pull out his knife. ¡°Danger, guard yourselves!¡±


    The others all went still and looked towards Jinn, seeing him look at the bush. A moment later a small green lizard with a spiral horn. It looked up at them and Jinn stared back, but then a knife impaled the lizard through its head.


    ¡°What?! Who?¡± Jinn snarled and then went back a step, falling to the ground. He looked and saw Burt had pulled him away. Before he could say anything Burt pointed at the remains of the lizard. Looking back Jinn saw a black liquid dribbling out of the lizard¡¯s horn.


    ¡°Call these things Horn Shooters. Those horns are a kind of organic gun. Green is an acidic poison from what I¡¯ve seen. One shot of high-pressured liquid that melts your flesh. And these are some of the prey things around here,¡± Burt said bluntly.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Jinn said softly.


    ¡°Thank me by moving, those things hunt in packs. So let¡¯s move!¡± Burt said as he pulled Jinn to his feet.


    Before anyone could speak, they all heard the sound of rustling and Jinn felt his pulse quicken. ¡°MOVE!¡±


    No sooner had they started to move than blasts of the same black liquid hit where they had been. Looking over his shoulder Jinn saw the liquid splash onto some plants. To his horror, he saw the plants start to melt as soon as the liquid hit.


    ¡°Wait, what preys on those things!¡± Al blurted out as they ran.


    ¡°Anything with a shell that the poison doesn¡¯t kill! And but most of those things aren¡¯t fast!¡± Burt said.


    As the group ran Jinn felt the urge to activate his ability and go vertical. Find out where the river was and maybe find a way back to the cavern. But no, they needed to stay together for now.


    They came out of the forest into a large field, fifty feet wide. Looking around Jinn went pale as he registered what he was seeing. The field was full of long grass at least two feet tall with a large tree at the center. The tree had to be at least twenty feet tall and had long vines all over it. However, it was the numerous large organic pods hanging from the branches that let him relax.


    ¡°Oh depths crush me!¡± Burt said softly.


    Jinn turned and saw Burt slowly pull out two sleek-looking pistols. He was looking around, and he had a wild look on his face.


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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry! If I had known!¡± Burt said.


    Jinn looked at him as Sara and Al started to get their weapons out.


    ¡°Known what? What¡¯s here?¡± Jinn asked


    ¡°One of the true terrors of this planet! How had they even stayed here so long?¡± Burt said with horror in his voice. From all around the clearing, ten humanoid figures started to stand up. Each one was a solid green being, with what looked like roots where their fingers and toes would be. Their heads are nothing but empty blank spaces with wide lipless mouths.


    ¡°False Plants. Listen, we need to kill them, so activate your Power! And Yes I was listening to you!¡± Burt said fearfully.


    ¡°Why, what are these things!?¡± Sara asked. They could only watch as the False Plants started to move towards them.  As the False Plants stumbled towards them, other figures came up out of the long grass. Jinn felt horror as he saw a pure green insectoid like the ones that he had killed appear.


    ¡°Body takers,¡± Jinn whispered in horror.


    As the creatures screeched Jinn removed his pistol and called up his power. As the energy engulfed him he fired. One of the creature''s heads was blown off as the others charged


    ¡°Nice, even wordless too! For me, I¡¯ve gotta use words! <u>Blast Enhance; Flame!</u>¡± Burt called out. As red energy engulfed his pistols he started to fire. Each shot hit caused flames to engulf each creature from where it was hit.


    Jinn drew his blade and turned it into a sword as the green insectoid reached him. He ducked under its claw strikes. His blade swung up and he cut through the creature, cutting it in two. As the two halves fell to the sides, they gushed a green paste-like substance. As more of the plant insectoids stood up Burt, Al, and Sara kept firing as Jinn moved back to rejoin them.


    ¡°How do we kill these things!?¡± Jinn demanded of Burt.


    ¡°The big tree! Break it in half and we can kill it! But those pods will just hatch more of them! And it can grow more pods fast if it wants to! See!?¡± Burt said fearfully.


    Jinn looked at the tree and he felt the blood leave his face. There were five more pods, smaller than the rest that had grown larger and started to shake.


    ¡°If we can make it at least forty feet away from the clearing, they might turn around!¡± Burt said in a rush.


    ¡°Might?!¡± Sara demanded.


    Burt only chuckled and shrugged. ¡°The stories about them are¡­¡­ at odds with each other.¡±


    Jinn looked at the creatures coming at them and tried to think of what to do. this path to the river was out, but they might still survive. If these things stayed by the tree that birthed them, then they had a chance. But the one thing that he couldn¡¯t figure out was what the mobile things fed on¡­.


    ¡°Sara, Al! Drop back and cover us! Burt, we¡¯ll block these things until they can let us retreat!!¡± Jinn barked as he slashed at a charging green humanoid, severing it from right shoulder to left thigh.


    ¡°Oh, sure! Give us the easy job!¡± Burt said jokingly as he shot another two charging green humanoids.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al grabbed Sara¡¯s arm as he fired his pistol. So far they had been able to handle these things but for how long? As he moved he saw the larger pods on the trees shake more before they started to fall. Moments after they hit the ground more humanoid green figures appeared. With screech the new monsters charged, only to be met by blasts from Burt.


    Al had seen and learned much over the years. His class had been ones who were only united by their dormitory. Some days he could come down to breakfast and see holograms of extant creatures or raw plants. But something like this, a tree that created mobile ¡®offspring¡¯? This¡­.. it was beyond anything he had ever heard of.


    Sara stopped and fired her rifle. And her shot hit one of the smaller pods, puncturing it. Al looked at the tree in the distance activated his record nanites. If they could just get out of here with some information, then maybe they could learn to kill this monster. ¡°Good shot, but aim at the ones closer!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Sara said as she aimed again, this time hitting one of the creatures coming at Burt in the chest. It kept moving but the shot jolted it enough for Burt to kill it with two shots, the flames destroying it.


    Al only looked at the tree, trying to gain any insight. But all he had were questions, and none of them were anything good. For a few moments, nothing made sense about this thing, but then everything did. As he aimed and fired at one of the things attacking Jinn, he tried not to think about what he had figured out. There was a chance he was wrong, but if he was then those left behind were in danger, terrible danger!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he bisected another of the green creatures, Jinn tried to figure out anything to get away. But the only thing he could think of was the hope that they could escape the tree¡¯s range. As he looked around, one of the basic green humanoids came at them with a savage screech. Jinn moved forward and he slashed its head off. To his horror, it still kept coming, even when Burt shot its arms off. As came near him, Jinn dropped down and did a sweep kick that knocked the green humanoid off its feet. As it fell he came up and slashed down, severing a leg but it still ¡®lived¡¯. ¡°These things are relentless!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what the stories say!¡± Burt said with a savage grin.


    ¡°GET OVER HERE!¡± Al called out.


    Jinn looked ahead and saw another two of the green insectoids rise from the tall grass. ¡°Burt fall back! I¡¯ll be there in a moment!¡±


    Burt looked at him and grinned. ¡°Got a transport power then? Good! I¡¯ll cover ya, don¡¯t be late!¡±


    Jinn only nodded as the creatures came at him. From behind the insectoids came a single green humanoid. But what made this one different was that it was still wet from its birth. As the insectoids came at him from both sides. ¡°Better try his trick, <u>Aether Comet!</u>¡±


    As he felt the power surge through his body suddenly gain an edge, Jinn grinned. He jumped upwards and spun vertically. But at the top of his jump over twenty feet up he saw over twenty he looked down. He paled as he saw twenty of the green creatures just lying in the grass.


    As soon as he landed he looked by the others he looked at them. ¡°Run now!¡±


    Without a word, Jinn moved, leading the way as the others followed behind him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Burt looked at the right corner of his vision, trying to make sense of what he had just seen. That thing back there, the stories didn¡¯t do it justice. The very idea had been something he laughed at once or twice, but to see it in the flesh. He hoped it wasn¡¯t luck that they had all been able to survive, they needed that luck now. If the stories about how far the Plant-borne would follow them, then they might be able to live after all.


    ¡°Wait, what¡¯s? Ahead, there¡¯s a rock pillar! We can fight with that to our back!¡± Sara exclaimed as she led the way.


    Burt looked ahead and smiled. there was a large rock, at least ten feet wide and tall. It looked blocky and the moss on it told him that it had been there for a long time. The few cracks here and there told him that things had fought by it, and that was something that they could use.


    ¡°Better idea, we fight from it! Hold on!¡± Jinn said.


    As Burt watched, Jinn called up his power grabbed Sara, and jumped. As soon as she was on the top of the rock Jinn was moving and grabbed Al. Burt swallowed and was prepared to run off into the woods alone when he was carried off and dropped next to Al. Burt fell to the ground and panted, his mind whirling at the fact that he had been brought with the newcomers. Anyone else would have left him behind.


    As he caught his breath Sara started to fire into the forest. Burt looked up from his mental spiral and saw the False Plants coming towards the rock. For a moment he felt fear, but then Jinn and Al joined Sara in firing and the horde started to slow. Burt looked down and fired at the monsters.


    After the monsters were either died or retreated Burt just sighed and put his blasters away.


    ¡°So what was that?¡± Jinn asked dryly.


    Burt swallowed and looked around. ¡°The Mother Tree. The tale goes that a long time ago a lone traveler had come to a trade hub at the top of a mountain. The tale goes that he paid for a meal with a strange seed. He said that his caravan had been destroyed by monsters. The seed was all that remained of a tasty fruit that his people found. The man died after a merchant took the seed to look at it. The merchant shrugged, ordered the man¡¯s body to be prepared for burial, and threw the seed away.¡±


    ¡°And let me guess, when new travelers came to the city, a giant tree and those things were all that remained?¡± Al asked sarcastically.


    Burt only chuckled darkly. ¡°Well, No. The story goes that over months people started to disappear. This world is dangerous, the idea was a new threat had migrated to the region. There were stories about a strange tree. Then an army of those things attacked from within. A refugee convoy made it to another city. One of the last surviving guards saw the same man with another seed. The guard killed the man and the man bled that black goo the False Plants did. When the seed was found they burnt it and screams came from the forest. Now they whisper that the Mother Tree sends out False Plants to turn the world into nothing but her spawn.¡±


    ¡°Great, just great! Now we have the monster plants that steal DNA!¡± Sara spat.


    ¡°It¡¯s worse than you think. If I¡¯m right,¡± Jinn said and looked back towards the clearing they had escaped from. Even here the lone tree at the center towered over the others. As Jinn looked at it the idea of using this place to keep an eye on the clearing made sense. But then he felt the looks he was getting and sighed. ¡°I think that was what the beast from the Cavern was spawning an army for. And if that creature knew about it, then it had to have been in range of an attack. So Roy, Racha, and Paige are in danger.¡±


    At Jinn¡¯s words, Burt felt his heart freeze. The way this place was, if something like the Mother Plant got into the underground tunnels! The only thing that he could do was hope, hope that his friends had a plan if something attacked them from there.


    ¡°We need to get out of here soon. Jinn, think you¡¯ve got another jump to see where the River is?¡± Al asked.


    ¡°Yes. But I don¡¯t need to,¡± Jinn said and he started to laugh.


    Turning Burt looked at Jinn and saw him gazing at the opposite side of the rock. Turning Burt grinned as soon as he saw their goal. The river was twenty feet away from them, and then Sara started to laugh.


    ¡°Look, there¡¯s the clearing with the Cavern!¡± Sara said.


    ¡°And I can see a quick route to it! We just need to make it to the river and then we can go back and get them!¡± Al said.


    Burt felt a spark of hope. Maybe these people would survive and make a home here. It wasn¡¯t his home but this place might be a nice place to help out.

 Chapter Sixty-Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Rock Pillar Near River


    Galactic Standard Time / 0735


    Burt looked down at the river, taking in the scene. It was over thirty feet wide, and some stones made bridges across if one could jump a few feet. Each one was only a few feet wide, but one at the center was ten feet long and wide. Looking at the river he saw that it was perfect, the perfect killing zone. On the other side were a lot of places to set up sniper nests and guard posts. Looking towards the ocean, he frowned. The river looked like it was deep there, that meant that anything from the Depths could come into the river¡¯s mouth. And he knew that places where Land and Sea meat were border regions where both could prey on the other. That meant that this place might be the hunting ground of something from the ocean¡¯s Depths. ¡°This is bad.¡±


    ¡°What now?¡± Jinn asked with a resigned tone.


    ¡°Yeah, what terror have you heard about in a story now?¡± Sara asked and Burt laughed.


    ¡°No story, just experience. With everything you¡¯ve seen on this island so far¡­.. What makes you think they don¡¯t live in the deep waters too?¡± Burt asked dryly. At their silence, he knew that he had scored a point as it were.


    ¡°How bad?¡± Al asked in a dead voice.


    All Burt could do was shrug. ¡°Could be something, could be nothing.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean¡­¡­. The stones. Thing whatever¡¯s there won¡¯t be able to jump the rocks or should we  see if we can cross upstream?¡± Sara asked in a defeated tone.


    Burt knew that tone, he had sounded like that once upon a time. When he had been kidnapped all those years ago, he had almost not tried to get home. He first thought about using a Random Gateway until he found a way back to the Sea, but then everything happened. He had barely gotten back on his feet with help. And he owed it to them to help her now, like they helped him.


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know if that thing is still even there. And there¡¯s the threat behind us. We closed the door to the tunnels, but that made that place a fort with one way out. Logically we have a place to set up a camp here. If nothing flying attacks us, like the worms. But we could all get the others and then make a push for the river. If our guide can figure out a way back,¡± Al said softly.


    Burt looked down, his map Ability already calling up possible routes to the cavern. They were thankfully not that far off from it. And if he and Jinn made the rush, they might be able to get them back here.


    He was thinking about how to propose that when Jinn spoke up. ¡°I think the best thing for us to do would be to scout out the river first. This way we know everything before deciding what to do next. But we need to make sure that we have someone watching the scouts back. Sara, you¡¯re on overwatch with that rifle of yours. You¡¯ve got a great view here so use this as a nest. Al, hang back and watch her. That leaves you with me Burt,¡± Jinn said softly.


    Burt felt his heart freeze. Going with a man that he had spied on into danger, wonderful.


    ¡°Got it Jinn. I¡¯ll keep an eye on where we came from. With luck nothing will come after us,¡± Al said with a smirk.


    Jinn just chuckled a little. ¡°And if it does, you¡¯ll do what?¡±


    ¡°Get to you and Burt with Sara. Make a circle and defend ourselves,¡± Al said completely straight-faced.


    ¡°Smart. I¡¯ll lead the way okay? <u>Falling Leaf!</u>¡± Burt called out before a green energy field enveloped him. He jumped off the rock and fell, the ground coming up fast. But he hit the ground with no more force than a falling leaf landing. The old skill that he had been taught once again helped him out. He looked up and saw the others looking at him shocked and he just waved at them. ¡°Well, come on then!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked down at Burt and shook his head. Something about Burt made him want to trust the man. The fact that he had fessed up about spying on them, was something that he could forgive. He was sure that Racha would have a lot to yell at him about it, but he was almost in Jinn¡¯s good book.


    ¡°Good luck Jinn,¡± Al said softly.


    Jinn only looked at his friend and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, <u>Aether Comet</u>!¡±


    As the energy engulfed him, he took a running leap and went over twenty feet up. As he reached the top of his jump, he saw beyond the river. He could see another escape capsule a good hundred feet away from the river. And by the looks of things, they had a bad time since they had all crashed. He was able to see a stone fence a good twenty feet high all around the crash site. It had to be at least twenty feet out from the capsule. As he fell he saw blaster marks on the ground, they had been fighting something.


    As he landed he looked at Burt and scowled. As Burt took a step back, Jinn sighed. ¡°Found our target, but they¡¯ve had some trouble. Trouble that they needed to make a wall to keep out.¡±


    ¡°Bad, very bad. If they¡¯re on the beach itself then yeah, I can see it. But that might make it easier for us to use. The river might not have a predator there after all. they are territorial after all,¡± Burt said with a sigh. ¡°But they also might have a large hunting ground. River could be part of it, but it might not be there.¡±


    ¡°So we still need to be careful, this might be nothing. Or it could,¡± Jinn said before releasing a sigh.


    ¡°First rule of survival, always look around my friend,¡± Burt said.


    As Jinn nodded, his mind was trying to figure out how this might affect them. If they could make contact with the other capsule, even if it was under attack, they could help each other out. Besides letting Roy stay with them and if the group could get some help. But that wall, it screamed ¡®Power User¡¯, and that meant that they had trouble since the landing. And that meant that they had to meet the others if only to warn them about what happened in Roy¡¯s capsule. ¡°So lead the way, and let me know if you hear anything.¡±


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Burt said as he started to walk forward along the trail. After a few moments, he spoke a tone of embarrassment in his voice. ¡°Sorry about spying. But well, it¡¯s saved my life a few times.¡±


    ¡°I can imagine,¡± Jinn said. He looked up at the sky as his past flashed through his eyes. The way that he had been raised, the truth and the lies. The ability to overhear anyone in the same area, that might have helped him. ¡°Don¡¯t blame ya really, so don¡¯t think about it. After all, we gotta trust each other to survive.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. It¡¯s not that much really. I need to focus on what I want to hear for it to work. And it needs to be in a place that the winds can reach, so locked rooms are out. But it is handy,¡± Burt admitted. He ducked under a branch and stopped gazing down at the forest floor.


    ¡°So it¡¯s from your¡­.. Template?¡± Jinn asked.


    Burt shook his head. ¡°No, not really. You can sometimes find what we call Skill Crystal in markets. They teach skills if you destroy them. And if someone has the right skill they can teach others skills. I learned this in the Forest Realm. This school of warriors defended one of the Gateways and I gave a good impression of them. The leader taught me that one before I left them with a trade convoy. Nice people.¡±


    ¡°Ahh. And you don¡¯t have that Skill then?¡± Jinn asked and Burt nodded.


    ¡°Would have made my life a lot easier, but that skill is rarer than anything! I heard maybe three Templates have that one naturally. Each Template is protected, they¡¯re considered strategic resources by well, everyone. I¡¯ve never even been told the name of the Template,¡± Burt said softly. Burt stopped for a moment and looked at something he found.


    Jinn saw him stop and dropped down into a crouch. He quickly found what Burt found and whistled. ¡°Tracks, a lot of them.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Burt said as he looked up at Jinn for a second. He looked back at the tracks and moved his hand along them. ¡°Small, like some of the lesser hunters I¡¯ve seen. A lot of them went one way, and unless some walked exactly in a row, less returned. More credit to there being a predator nearby. And that sound? That¡¯s the river.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but we have to know for sure. So I¡¯ll go in, you try and hear anything moving under the water. Would that even work?¡± Jinn asked.


    Burt only looked at him and shrugged, a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°Never tried it, might work. But I¡¯ll only be able to give you a moment¡¯s warning. If you use that movement Skill then maybe. But that¡¯s a big maybe.¡±


    ¡°Best chance we have. And with our eyes we might survive,¡± Jinn said as he got up and pushed aside a branch. On the other side was the river, a mass of dead flying worms on the shoreline. He could see the stones in the river much clearer now, and they would be perfect. It would take little effort to make a basic wood bridge, but with the False Plants nearby did they dare?


    Jinn looked at the river, the sounds it made were very soothing. This place was much like a few he¡¯d seen before but looks could be false. He saw a few marks that showed that whatever body had hit the stones in the water, had been moving fast. Seeing the blood stains and the way the water splashed around it, he frowned. That coupled with the way the corpses of the flying worms were still there, told him everything he needed.


    Jinn moved towards the closest part of the ¡®rock bridge¡¯, and looked down at the water. No matter what he did, all he saw was nothing but darkness. But somehow he was slowly getting one of his bad feelings again. He couldn¡¯t know how or why, but he was getting a sense of true danger here.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Back on the rock pillar, Al sighed as he looked back towards the clearing of the False Plants. He looked away from where the others had gone, and he tried to keep calm. The idea that the others were going into danger he had his back to them all! He knew it was the best play, but still!


    Okay, maybe he was overreacting. But with what he had been through, he had earned it. He had lost friends he had known since he could think, and he didn¡¯t know if they were even still alive. And now he had to trust that someone he didn¡¯t trust to keep one of the few friends he had alive.


    ¡°Jinn¡¯s moving towards the river, no sign of Burt,¡± Sara said softly.


    ¡°He¡¯s what¡­.. wait. He¡¯s looking for the predator. That idiot!¡± Al snarled.


    ¡°Oh Stars,¡± Sara whispered.


    Al felt his blood freeze as he began to turn. However much he wanted what he saw to be wrong, it wasn¡¯t. More of those humanoid False Plants were coming towards them.


    ¡°Sara, don¡¯t turn but more of those plant things are coming. Now keep an eye on Jinn while I handle this!¡± Al said as he aimed and fired. As the first headshot hit the other False Plants all screeched and he kept firing. As the False Plants kept moving closer he gritted his teeth and fired again. But no matter where he hit, they just kept coming. He couldn¡¯t see anything that he could do to keep them back. If there was a way around the rocks, then the things could get at the others. He had to stop them, there was nothing else to do. So how could he?


    As he tried to think he drew on everything he knew, trying to think of anything. Finally, he stumbled on an idea to change his weapon and make the blast stronger. But as he tried to and failed to think of how to do this, he felt something. it was a spark within him, that slowly started to become stronger. His internal nanite protection sent him a report on a new viral nanite that had activated. As he felt the flame grow until a message appeared in the corner of his right vision.


    <u>Aether Template activating/ Techno Adapt Template online. First Skill, Blast Enhance/ Freeze. Second Skill, Program Control </u>


    Al grinned as he read the text. ¡°Well then! This is just what I needed! <u>Blast Enhance/ Freeze!</u>¡±


    As soon as he said the words, a blue energy field formed around his rifle. He fired a single shot and it hit one of the insectoid False Plants. Instead of flames, ice went up the body. As soon as the ice completely covered the False Plant, the ice gained a crack before it and the body fell apart.


    All Al could do was stare before grinning and firing again. As he took out the False Plants closest to the stone pillar, he felt the power flow through him. He had never felt anything like it before. As he fought on, he never noticed one set of data in the archive he carried activate.


    ¡°You know, this isn¡¯t that bad!¡± Al said with a laugh. As he fired at the last one, laughed again and blew off imaginary smoke from his blaster. As he looked at the blue glow, he wondered what he could learn from it. If there was a way to understand this Power, then that might be enough. If he could figure this out, they could live. A screech from behind caused him to turn, but all he could do was stare.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Two beings moved away from the stone walls around the escape capsule towards hills to the south. The one leading the way was a humanoid lizard with two arms, legs, and a tail the size of a full-grown man. He had a muzzle and two pure black eyes above white teeth. The lizard was dressed in a deckhand jumpsuit with the coloring of the security section. He had a rifle in his hands and he carried it like he knew how to use it.


    The being next to him was larger by a foot. The best way to describe it was if someone took a bear and made it a biped. Then it gave the bear another pair of arms six inches below the top pair. The being had red fur and its short muzzle had two small fangs sticking out of the top. This being was male and wearing the jumpsuit of an apprentice engineer. He had a black belt with small gray pouches around his waist and a vambrace around his lower right arm. He had  two pistols on the belt and he was carrying a heavy-looking backpack.


    ¡°So,¡± The bear spoke up. ¡°A few days after crashing here. We¡¯ve still got no signal back to civilization, and we¡¯ve been attacked by honest Stars monsters. Aaaaaand you volunteer us for a patrol around the perimeter. Thanks Sal¡¯go, real pleasure to know you."


    Sal¡¯go looked up and sighed. ¡°Still a nice day brother Xordig!¡±


    Xordig only laughed as he held up one of his right hands. ¡°Yeah, pretty good day even with everything! And with the kid¡¯s power, we¡¯ve got better protection. We might survive after all. especially if we can find the others.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I wonder if Jinn is even here? Now he¡¯d be able to make a plan,¡± Sal¡¯go said with a sigh. He heard Xordig snort and scowled. ¡°He¡¯s a friend Xor, and he hates those types!¡±


    ¡°More like I think he¡¯s seen that such ways are slime. The way he reacts, he was raised wrong. I think it¡¯s great he¡¯s fighting back but he never talks about his world. He¡¯s hiding a lot!¡± Xordig said.


    Sal¡¯go looked at Xordig and then away, letting the point stand. He knew that his friend Jinn was a private person, and that was okay. The fact that Jinn always tried to be peaceful and was full of wonder about ordinary things......... Sal¡¯go had to admit that it didn¡¯t paint a good picture. Add in that he was strong, and had to have military training of some kind¡­.. even Sal¡¯go had to admit that the picture wasn¡¯t good. ¡°Yeah, he is. But so are you man.¡±


    Xordig looked at the smaller being who only grinned back at him.


    ¡°What do you mean¡­¡­. What do you know?¡± Xordig demanded as his lower arms went to his pistols.


    All Sal¡¯go did was grin as a forked tongue shot out of his mouth. ¡°Seen ya talk to people from all shifts brother. You¡¯re not trying to hide well from one like me. And that some of them looked at you in respect. Followed ya and saw ya talk to someone else with that same respect from you this time. So I gotta think about all that. And it hit me a few days before all this happened. You were in an old gang back when ya all were younger. Had to have been for survival, right? You¡¯re world wasn¡¯t the best for ya all. You all had things happened and now you were all on the Spirit. So you¡¯ve got a bad past, a lot of people do. So leave Jinn¡¯s alone! He¡¯s trying to break habits man,¡± Sa¡¯go said.


    All Xordig did was let go of his weapons and stared at his friend dumbly. Before he could say anything they heard the screech of a large creature ahead of them. Without a word they ran up the hill, their weapons ready to protect their own. As they crested the hill, they could only stare in shock at what they saw.

 Chapter Sixty SIX

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /River Mouth near Sea


    Galactic Standard Time / 0755


    Burt looked around, his hearing skill active. Part of him was shocked that this was even working. The person who taught him had only used it to listen to others, to protect his own from raiders. The very idea to use it this way hadn¡¯t even accrued to them. searching for anything that might tell them that something was there. Finally he heard the sound of a blaster pistol from behind him. As he was about to open his eyes he heard something else, something much closer. He went still and slowly broke apart the sounds, taking apart each one in milliseconds. What he found exactly what he had been after. And to his horror it was the unmistakable sound of water moving, the sound of something leaving the water. And it was from where¡­.! ¡°JINN! MOVE!¡±


    ¡°<u>AETHER COMET</u>!¡± Jinn bellowed a bare moment later.


    As he opened his eyes he saw Jinn jump forward. It carried him towards the center rock ¡®bridge¡¯, taking off a bare moment before it would have been too late. As something slammed down hitting the shore line Burt lunged backwards, aiming at it.


    Burt looked at the tentacle and saw it was a deep red with a spike at the end. His eyes followed it as it went back into the water. As he looked at it, Burt felt his blood slowly freeze. A large mass was rising from under the water, and it seemed to be rising from some hidden cave. ¡°WATCH OUT!¡±


    As the water exploded Burt jumped back and raised his rifle, ready to fire. He went still as he saw the true horror that was revealed.


    The creature was large, at least twenty feet long, and ten tall. It was shaped like an arrow, the blade facing away from them. It had a mass of eight black eyes above a black chitin beak that opened like a cross. All around the top of its ¡®face¡¯ were four of the tentacles, each one ending in a spike.  Below the mouth were two long lobster-like pincers that had spikes on the back. Thing¡¯s entire arrow body was a deep black, the face was bone white.


    ¡°A Depths Kraken? But how?!¡± Burt breathed in shocked horror. He knew of these things, he had seen this type of creature before. They were one of the alpha species of the depths of the oceans. One of the Great Terrors. And one of them, a young one had come to the island. And now it was looking right at Jinn.


    For a bare second, the river was still, all three beings were silent as they watched each other. But then the spell was broken as the creature reared back, its tentacles lashing out as it roared. As the tentacle fell it went for Jinn. But both he and Burt reacted.


    Burt fired as Jinn dodged towards the other side of the river staying ahead of the creature¡¯s blows. As Burt¡¯s shot hit one of the creature¡¯s tentacles it screeched as the tip of the spike was blown off. As the creature screeched, black blood poured from the wound. Burt only aimed and fired, hoping to score another hit.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter roared in pain. The little things had the far strike power! The little things were cheaters. Here it was, waiting for them to come along. It would just eat one of them. Instead of letting it eat one of them, they were fighting back. How was that fair? It went out of its way to grace them with its presence and this was how they paid it back?


    It felt the strange feeling grow with its rage. If those things wanted to play hard, then so would it. As the hunter prepared to move it tried to think of just what to use. Should it go all out?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn aimed his pistol at the river monster and fired moments before it roared. Before the bolt could hit, the creature¡¯s body was covered by a golden glow.  All Jinn could do was watch as the bolt he had fired bounced off the energy covering.


    ¡°Wait. The power that life gives off. That means that these things can have Skills too?!¡± Jinn bellowed as he jumped over another tentacle. As another came at him as he was in the air, he spun his body and dodged by a bare inch.


    The creature drew its tentacles back and looked right at Jinn. A strange white glow started at the back of its mouth and white smoke came out the sides. Jinn felt fear, every instinct he had was screaming at him to react.


    ¡°WATCH OUT! <u>BLAST ENHANCE; FIRE</u>!¡± Burt bellowed as he fired at the creature. He fired his pistol, and each impact blossomed into a burst of fire. But the creature only let these shots hit as the glow in its mouth died down.


    For a moment all he could think of was his own experience with the Power and the Paralyzer Beast. This one was using it like armor, and that was bad if it was like his Aether Comet. Then he went still as a stray thought went through his head.


    And he gripped his blade and tried to move the Power, to have it flow over his body. As he willed it to move as he wanted, he thought he saw something. It was in the right corner of his vision, but it was gone in a second. As he looked down at his arms he saw the blue glow around him slowly grow more intense.


    As another tentacle came at him he jumped, but this time he was slower. As he saw the tentacle come even closer to him he gritted his teeth. He prepared to take the hit when suddenly it was hit by blasts from the other side. He looked up and saw Sal¡¯go and Xordig at the top of the hill firing down at the monster.


    ¡°YOU OKAY JINNY?!¡± Sal¡¯go called out.


    Jinn felt a rush of hope. The others had all survived after all! they were here! And with help, they would be able to handle this monster of a creature!


    ¡°Yeah, Sal! You and the big guy keep firing from there! We¡¯ve got this thing!¡± Jinn said with a grin. As he pointed his blade in sword form at the monster, he felt his blood pumping faster.  ¡°Come beast, meet our blades!¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°What he said!¡± Burt bellowed as he kept firing at the creature. It raised another tentacle and moments later the spike was blown off. ¡°The shield can¡¯t cover dead things! It uses the body to move! Keep firing, the shield has to have a limit!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Sure. But who¡¯s he?¡± Xordig muttered under his breath. He kept firing at the tentacles and claws, the golden glow blocking most shots. He hadn¡¯t seen anything like this before, and he was getting worried. The creatures that had attacked the capsule were a lot smaller. And this thing had tentacles and savage claws. If that thing got a hold of Jinn, he was dead. No matter what he thought about him, Jinn deserved to live.


    ¡°No clue brother! And what¡¯s he wearing and that blaster? I got me one of my bad feelings my friend!¡± Sal¡¯go said as he fired at the monster.


    ¡°Best to kill that thing first. We can ask questions later!¡± Xordig snarled as he fired another bolt and then a boulder flew over their heads and hit the


    ¡°Locke?! What are you doing here?!¡± Xordig asked in shock. He turned as he heard a snicker and swallowed. Behind him was a tall teen with gray-collared hair. He had blue eyes and a savage-looking grin. He was dressed in a basic black sleeveless shirt and green pants. Hard-looking black boots were on his feet and he had a rifle slung over his shoulder.


    ¡°What, you think the chief didn¡¯t hear the shoots? He sent me to back you up,¡± Locke said


    Xordig only looked a one of his headaches. The teen was someone who had made it his mission to bother Xordig when he was on duty. He had seen the human looking at a few books about Human Supremacy once or twice. His temper had almost gone off when the human had asked where to find more books when Xordig had been in the library. The little fool didn¡¯t even think about asking him that, what with how his people felt about Supremacy. And the scum had to know, the lessons were taught during primary education for the Stars sake! But he won the Spirit¡¯s Touch contest and he was a VIP, so Xordig stayed quiet. And when he showed the abilities he had, Xordig¡¯s headache only grew. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you stay back? Or watch the forging groups?¡±


    ¡°Nah! The Lady¡¯s got it! Now what do we have here? Oh. I did not expect the seafood. And who fighting it¡­¡­ Jinn?¡± Locke said with a shocked tone.


    Xordig felt his hearts stop at that tone. It was shock, fear, and hope all wrapped into one. ¡°You know him!?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we grew up in the same barracks! I thought he was dead! Wait¡­. Is that a crew jumpsuit?!¡± Locke asked in shock.


    ¡°Yeah, old Jinny¡¯s one of us! Hates the upper floors and usually works the shifts in the transit levels. Great fighter!¡± Sal¡¯go said as he aimed his rifle and fired again. This time the golden covering of the monster rippled a little before it went under. As the tentacles kept attacking Jinn, he dodged them as he moved towards the opposite shore.


    Xordig stared at Locke, shocked beyond words as his mouth dropped open. The term ¡®Barracks¡¯ opened up all kinds of things. He had a stray thought and if it was true then he was wrong about both of them.


    ¡°Stay back and keep firing at that thing! The river flows out, so don¡¯t block it off! Keep moving and get ready to raise a wall if you have to if it''s got range attacks! And Sal, move that way towards the ocean¡± Xordig barked. He ran away from the ocean, firing as he ran.


    ¡°Hey! I can see someone firing at the creature from the other side!¡± Sara said with a smile.


    Behind her Al kept firing, power of his new skill holding the line against the False Plants. He forced down a grin, happy that things were going their way. When he had turned around for a split second and seen the horror of the monster, he had been struck dumb. It was only when he heard a screech from bellow that he turned. When his focus was on the river, the False Plants had gotten closer. So when his friend had to fight for his life, he had to watch their backs.


    As another of the False Plants was frozen and destroyed, Al tried to think. The things had to have a reason to go this far, but what? The very idea that they could think of was briefly thought of. But unless the tree had a way to use an organic brain as a computer somehow¡­¡­. Al fired again and then sighed. ¡°My luck there is something that can do that here. But what does it want from us?¡±


    For a single moment, he wondered how the False Plants were created, their shapes. Then a dark idea came into his mind and he paled. Then his face went red and he gritted his teeth. Wordlessly he just fired at an Insectoid False Plant. As it was destroyed, he kept firing.  ¡°Oh, I¡¯m gonna find a way to kill you! Once I get that ship working, it¡¯s weed-wracking time!¡±


    As another one fell, Al just scanned the forest.


    ¡°Hey! It¡¯s back up!¡± Sara said with surprise.


    Al wanted to turn, but he had to trust that Jinn could handle that thing. For now, he had to watch their back. As two more of the insectoid False Plants came towards them, Al fired again. ¡°We might have to escape ourselves, Sara. They just keep coming!¡±


    Sara spared a look as Al shot another False Plant. ¡°What are they after!? Why can¡¯t they just leave us alone!?¡±


    Al stayed silent, only keeping firing. If he said what he thought the mind behind the False Plants were after, he didn¡¯t know how Sara would react. For now, he had to stay silent and keep firing as he held on as long as he could. And the only way they could escape was if the river monster died.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jinn landed on the shore of the river, he kept his eyes on the tentacles.  As Burt and Sal¡¯go fired from opposite sides, the body stayed underwater.


    For a second he wondered what to do, how could they bring the beast back to the surface. But then a boulder flew through the air and hit the center of the tentacles, sinking with a loud splash. He looked up and saw Locke across from him. For a minute, Jinn stayed still. He hadn¡¯t seen his friend in a long time. But for him to be here, now, shocked Jinn. His friends, they might have run when he exposed everything! If Locke was with the Sal¡¯go he had to have been in the VIP areas, the ones Jinn stayed away from. That meant that with the size of the Spirit there might be others from home here. Then he shook himself back to the now and moved to dodge another tentacle strike. He had to handle this thing first, and then think of who might be here.


    As the monster rose from the water, a blast from Burt caused another ripple on its gold covering. This time it opened its mouth, and again the light gathered at the back as white steam issued forth.


    ¡°Fire everything!¡± Jinn bellowed as he fired again. But this time the golden covering let the light keep building no matter how long they fired at it. Finally, it turned towards the opposite shore and fired a beam of energy with a roar.  Jinn felt his heart stop as he realized Locke was right in the center of where the beam would hit.


    But Locke saw this and in a momentum he was flying to the left, a shaft of earth having pushed him aside. But the beam passed through the top of the hill, creating a melted half-circle.


    As Locke neared the ground he rolled into a ball and as he hit the ground he went deeper, disappearing from sight.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the stone circle, a tall being got out of the escape capsule. This being was male and was basically a humanoid red-furred baboon with normal-sized limbs. His head had a small muzzle and two pure black eyes. He was wearing a Spirit of Adventure jumpsuit with the rank of crew chief on it. By the coloring he was a member of the engineering section.


    He smiled, barring his teeth as he did so while looking at the walls. The fact that the kid was able to make these to protect everyone was something else. All they needed to do was handle the next few days until they could get in touch with the ship or the others.


    He wasn¡¯t that sure about where they had landed, but it had to be in range of the trade lanes. This was probably just an exo-world with a Ruin cloaking it. When they got back to civilization they¡¯d be able to get paid a little shush money from the Federation. It wouldn''t be enough for some people and stories would be born but none would come from him. And the company might not fire them after all. If only he could figure out what had happened to them.


    But just as he was about to move towards the wall a roar came from the left. Turning he saw a beam pierce the hill as a round beam of energy erupted out of it. As the beam flew overhead he paled and then growled before he reacted. ¡°Jessie! Take three people and go there! That¡¯s where I sent the patrol!¡±


    ¡°GOT IT BOSS! YOU THREE, WITH ME!¡± A female voice roared out.


    Boss looked at the hill and frowned. He was half sure what he was sending his people into. But if that attack had been aimed at the capsule, they needed to stop it now.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Burt kept firing he thought for a moment that the explosions were getting to the Depths Kraken. But then all it did was sink back into the depths of the river mouth. ¡°NO!¡±


    ¡°Why did it go down again!?¡± Jinn snarled as he landed by Burt.


    Burt looked at it and tried to think. Then it hit him, and it was so obvious. He couldn¡¯t believe he hadn¡¯t seen it before, he knew what that thing was!


    ¡°It¡¯s one of those predators of the deep ocean. I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t see it. It can¡¯t breathe air. It has to take a ¡®breath¡¯ before rising. That attack blast. It burns the water when it builds up the blast. It makes sense,¡± Burt whispered.


    Jinn only looked at him and then at the tentacles in anger.


    Burt only looked at the river, trying to think. There had to be a way that they could win here. There had to be. Depth Krakens were monsters of the deep ocean, and they were at a river. Then he went still and then his eyes went to the other side. Everything made sense and he could almost laugh out loud. ¡°That¡¯s it, that¡¯s it! I gotta a plan Jinn. But ya gotta get to that Geo-Mancer!¡±


    ¡°Locke!? What can he do?!¡± Jinn asked and Burt looked at Jinn and grinned.


    ¡°He can help us kill that thing! Once he gets under, have him try and raise the earth under the Kraken!¡± Burt said and grinned. ¡°But not too much, just enough to keep that thing up when it fires again!¡±


    Jinn looked at the tentacles and then towards the other side of the river. And then a grin formed on his face and he laughed. ¡°Perfect! Use its tactics against it! And that¡¯s something Locke will love to do that!¡±


    ¡°Tell him to wait until the Kraken goes back up again! That¡¯s when he has to act!¡± Burt said as he kept firing.

 Chapter Sixty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /River Mouth near Sea


    Galactic Standard Time / 0755


    Three humans in basic deckhand jumpsuits ran behind a human woman in a Security jumpsuit . She had short red hair and piercing blue eyes and a athletic slender figure. As she ran towards the melted half-circle, she tried to think what they could be heading into. This planet had been nothing but trouble but they had to keep fighting. They had handled the strange life that attacked them, then Locke had gained those powers of his. With them, they had created a defensive position and fought off waves of enemies and that thing. Whatever this was, they would handle it


    And now they had to fight something that made a ten-foot-wide half-circle. With some kind of Energy cannon. And they were running right at it¡­¡­. The woman stopped and held her hands out. The others stopped and looked at her and one was about to speak when she held up a hand. As one the three all looked around, trying to find what had caused the woman to stop.


    The woman only looked ahead, hearing a low roar, blaster fire, and cries. The burned hole was letting the sound pass through more clearly, and all she could hear was the sounds of battle. Swallowing she pointed forward, breaking into a run. She didn¡¯t even look back, knowing that the others would follow her.


    As the woman crested the hill she had to stare in horror at what she saw. Bellow Sal¡¯go was moving back from the ocean, and Xordig was coming back the other way. Across the river was a strange dressed man with an extremely high-tech-looking weapon. And there was Jinn, standing on the middle rock bridge. But they were all firing at the Depths Kraken, its golden energy armor still holding. As it roared it slammed a tentacle down, to her shock Jinn suddenly gained an energy aura and lunged to the side! As Jinn dodged the blow they all watched as he fired back at the Depths Kraken with his pistol.


    ¡°Boss Jessie, what do we do? What is that thing!?¡± One of the three humans asked with a stammer.


    The Woman, Jessie heard the note of terror in his voice and swallowed. ¡°Good question. And this is bad, really bad.¡±


    ¡°How? I mean we could probably¡­.. oh.. Not even the Sea is safe. And that thing could one shot the capsule,¡± One of the deckhands said bleakly.


    ¡°And it has to be what made that hole. So it¡¯s got one hell of a range strike too. Well, something to know. Order boss?¡± Another asked Jessie.


    She could only see one thing to do now. And that was fight!


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that more later. Now let¡¯s get to that trench, it has to be Locke¡¯s work. Fire at that monster as we move, let¡¯s help them out!¡± Jessie barked and the others nodded.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t someone warn the camp!? If that thing fires down and gets the capsule!¡± Another of the three argued.


    Jessie gritted her teeth. That was something she didn¡¯t want to think about. But he was right, they had to warn the others about this thing.


    ¡°Yeah, so go now ¡­¡­ wait. What¡¯s he doing!?¡± She exclaimed as she saw Jinn flying through the air, covered in an energy aura. As she watched he landed by a large unnatural-looking trench.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Keyman!¡± Jinn barked and Locke poked his head up, grinning.


    ¡°Sup boss! How ya been?!¡± Locke asked and then he looked up.


    ¡°Good! Listen, that thing in the center, I need you to push it up! Thing your powers can do it?¡± Jinn asked.


    Locke only chuckled and grinned evilly. ¡°Sure boss! Just give me a bit of time and I¡¯ll do it. Won¡¯t but a second once I get going!¡±


    ¡°Get down and don¡¯t push it up until it fires again! And I¡¯ll need you for an escort mission once this is done!¡± Jinn said with a glare.


    ¡°Got it boss, want me to cage it in first?¡± Locke asked with a grin.


    Jinn only gave a grin that was so savage and Locke cackled for a moment. Then Locke saluted and dove back into the earth.


    Jinn saw and felt the limb coming at him. Without thinking he jumped up and spun around in the air. As he moved he saw the tentacle that came from his side, and he chuckled. The beast was learning, but that was too bad for it now. He fired at it with his pistol and started to jump around. As he began trying to get the Depths Kraken to fire upwards.


    But as the beast roared again, Jinn¡¯s eyes found Jessie and the others. Without a thought, he moved, angling towards the newcomers.


    Jessie looked shocked at how fast Jinn had appeared in front of her, one of her pistols against his face in a second.


    ¡°That thing made the hole behind you. Keep moving and don¡¯t give it a mass target. You need to get out of the front of it when its mouth starts to glow. Get out of the line of fire, got it?¡± Jinn asked with a hard look.


    A roar from the Depths Kraken caused Jinn to wince time¡¯s up. ¡°Just do it!¡±


    With a war cry, Jinn jumped at the monster, willing his Power to his blade. As the River Kraken turned to face him he adjusted his flight. As he passed one of the tentacles he slashed out with his blade. Through it he felt a moment of resistance, then it broke. He slashed through it, tearing off the top half of the limb of the sea creature.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter screeched in blinding pain as its limb was savaged. It looked at the maimed limb and felt the pain as it scabbed over. This would decrease its attack power by a margin. Plus and already these little things were being more trouble than they were worth! It should just take one of the far strikers and then kill the rest!


    This whole hunt was going completely wrong! So far it had only grabbed a small snack and now this! When it had seen those smaller things move near its resting place it just had to get something to eat. But then they were all far strikers! Why had¡­¡­ of course, that made sense! The little things had tricked it! How dare they use such tactics against their betters!


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The hunter looked around and saw more of the little ones join the fight. That was what it expected, it was right. This had all been a trap for anything that tried to eat one of them!


    At this, it felt both anger and fear. These things were smart, and it had never even thought of a trick like this, ever. Since it had been driving here from the deep life, it had hunted the other things in the void. And now it was slowly getting a feeling that it should leave soon. If one group had tricked it, then others would. But the one thing that was keeping it back was the worst, its own pride.


    It could feel the armor it had called up slowly eroding. And once that happened¡­¡­. But it couldn¡¯t run, that would just make the little ones bolder. Best to kill at least half before it left, that was smart. This way it would help the little ones out as well. Yes, it was so generous to even want to help its food. This way they would only go after prey and not trick predators! Especially if they were all very tasty!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Burt fired at the Depths Kraken, he had to grin. He had only seen a few times where these things were killed by anyone. Most often they were found dead, drifting on the tides with parts of their bodies gone. The losers of battles in the darkness of the ocean. These things were said to one of the alpha species that they knew that lived under the waters. The lords of the realm dark and deep at the bottom of the oceans.


    And he had never thought that he would find one that could even hunt around land, much less this! And they had a way to kill it, one that was perfect! And this bothered him a lot. One of the alphas of the deep wouldn¡¯t fall that easily, but the plan was sound. It took advantage of everything this monster had as an advantage and turned it into weaknesses. All in all, this looked like it was their best chance for survival.


    As he watched, the Depths Kraken looked towards him just as another of Burt¡¯s shots exploded on the shield. Right in front of its eyes. For a few seconds, all Burt and the Depths Kraken did was stare at each other. For a second Burt was sure that there was a spark of sheer anger and hatred in the monster''s eyes. But that was impossible, they weren¡¯t capable of abstract emotions. But then it roared and slammed a tentacle at him.


    Burt yelped and dodged backwards, then he jerked to the right. if that thing fired it might hit Sara and Al! He had to make sure the plan worked, and that they stayed safe! A hard thing but he had done worse and harder, so he was sure that would work.


    As he ran, he fired another shot and smirked as he saw the golden shield ripple as the others attacked it. With another roar, it slammed a tentacle and cracked the main ¡® rock bridge¡¯. Jinn jumped and somersaulted until he was next to Burt.


    Burt only grinned as the Depths Kraken looked at them and opened its mouth. As the steam started to flow and the glow grew, Burt grinned.


    ¡°Think the geo-mancer will do it?¡± Burt asked bluntly.


    Jinn just laughed and shook his head. ¡°Yeah, my friend can usually deliver. Ready to take a jump?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Wait¡­.. wait,¡± Burt said as he looked at the Depths Kraken.


    As the golden energy field of the monster shattered, Burt grinned. ¡°NOW!¡±


    Everything happened in a moment. As Jinn jumped the Depths Kraken fired its blast. A moment later, a shot hit the monster¡¯s face, destroying one of its eyes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al fired another shot and looked down at the False Plants. So far he had been able to hold them back, but it was a losing fight. He just couldn¡¯t figure out where the mind behind this was getting its forces. As he fired again, he had another terrible thought. He swallowed as the worst idea suddenly appeared in his head. If he was right, they needed to get out of here fast. They had to go back for the others and hope they were alive! And they had to get the tunnel completely covered, the False Plants couldn¡¯t spread!


    ¡°GOT IT!¡± Sara said with a laugh in her voice.


    ¡°Got what?!¡± Al demanded as he fired again.


    ¡°The thing attack the others! I got one of its eyes!¡± Sara said, a bloodthirsty tone in her voice.


    For a second Al remembered an old friend of his. Someone who loved to work on weapons, and giving their history that was normal.


    But that thing they were fighting, it made him shiver. It reminded him of old creations, things locked away in the dark network of his world. Archives that showed the works of made gene-forgers. Things and monsters had to be put down because their bodies were killing them slowly. He had no idea how that thing had evolved, and he didn¡¯t want to know.


    As he fired again, he only hoped that sooner or later they could get to the capsule on the beach. The chance to rest with friendlies, that was sounding so good right now.


    Al only fired again and then went still as he saw a tree falling in the distance. He felt his heart slowly stop as he saw what was coming at them. ¡°Oh by the First Scholar!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter screeched in pain as it lost one of its eyes. This was enough, this was more than enough. It would come and find them again, and then it would feast as they drowned in its world. The void walkers would pay, but for now, it had to escape.


    As it went down it suddenly stopped. It then felt itself being raised up and barely got in a half breath of life. As it broke the surface the far strikers all started to attack it. It looked around and saw it was being raised on a slab of hardness, but how? As it tried to get back to life, a savage pain came from behind. It had to be the little one with the hard claw, it had to be! It looked up and saw the life ahead of it and tried to move towards it, dragging itself with its limbs. But then it went still as pain, unlike anything it had ever sensed before struck it. It tried to move, but as its vision darned it felt itself grow so cold.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn panted as he looked down at the Depths Kraken. The idea to jump on top of it and drive his sword down its length had been crazy, but it worked. He had probably destroyed its brain, and as the water flowed out of its mouth he laughed a little.


    ¡°Great job boss!¡± Locke called out as he came out of his hole.


    Jinn looked toward where Al and Sara were, and somehow he knew they needed help. ¡°Job¡¯s not done, second inning time my friend! I need a bridge across the waters for the others now Locke!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Locke said.


    As the bridge started to form, Jessie, the three crew members, Xordig, and Sal¡¯go all moved towards Jinn.


    ¡°Hey now! You need to talk to the chief! You can¡¯t just¡­.!¡± Jessie went still as Jinn looked at him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this!¡± Jinn said as Locke finished making the bridge. ¡°So listen up! Right now two people are holding off a horde of mobile plants! Burt, that local over there says the plants are killers! And to make things worse, right now a baby and three of our comrades are waiting for extraction from a base! Said base must be destroyed to keep those plants from going all over this island! Do you get me!¡±


    ¡°SIR YES SIR!¡± Jessie barked as she saluted him.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Xordig asked suddenly.


    Jinn turned and looked at him, trying to decide what to say. If he was right, then Xordig was like Racha. But if he wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Paige, my friend Roy and I think your friend Racha. She¡¯s in command, and she¡¯s got a special history with things like that,¡± Jinn said softly. He was rewarded when Xordig¡¯s eyes widened and he felt a small smirk form on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m in boss. I lost ya once, never again!¡± Locke said with a laugh.


    ¡°Thanks, brother. Anyone else besides Burt?¡± Jinn asked and Xordig stepped forward.


    ¡°Me!¡± Xordig said as he crossed his bottom arms and looked at Jinn


    ¡°I need to see how dangerous these plants are. We¡¯ll stay here and help those two you talked about. I¡¯m guessing one is Al?¡± Jessie asked and sighed as Jinn nodded. ¡°Okay then.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Xordig just glared at Jinn as they ran over the bridge. The fact that he used the word ¡®Special¡¯ meant that the plan had changed. Racha, his leader, had told others what they were. That was beyond the plan, but this world was beyond anything they planned for. The Spirit had one of the greatest safety margins around, but this happened.


    And now he learned that Racha had told others about their job! That was so beyond anything their mission parameters! He had to get a chance to talk to Racha, and soon! ¡°So how bad are these plants? And how tuff are walking ferns?¡±


    ¡°Ferns¡­..Oh. I didn¡¯t explain it well,¡± Jinn said as he led the way into the forest.


    As they ran deeper, Xordig started to hear the sound of blaster fire. And that had to be the two people Jinn had talked about.


    But whn he heard a savage-sounding roar from beyond the rock mountain ahead of him.  That was when things happened so fast.


    ¡°Locke!¡± Jinn barked moments before a blue energy aura covered him. He ran forward and jumped up


    ¡°GOT IT BOSS!¡± Locke cried out and gestured forward and with a gesture, a ramp was raised.


    As the group ran up, they heard a war cry from Jinn.


    Xordig didn¡¯t know much about what was ahead, but he thought he would be able to handle it. But then he saw what the others were firing at. It was then that he felt pure terror. What he had experienced when he saw the monster from the ocean, it paled in compression to what he was feeling now


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Alert, ocean-based Template remains identified. Sample shows signs of being created by the rebel mind.


    Clarify. Data for reasoning?


    Bio Weapon platform, AHW Template strain three observed with aether blast from mouth. Template designed not armed with abilities.


    Observations seconded based on data, template alone, or part of a larger force?


    Unknown; the Facility has no aquatic constructs. Flight-capable constructs only use type one sensor units.


    AHW template was observed to be a young model. Suggestion that lone template was chased off from birthing source. Possibility that the rogue mind mobile unit is still active. Possibility that template was sent through transport gate alone. Sending flight constructs patrol edges of testing zone. Sending construct to drop guard units at transfer gate. Request monitor construct from central base to be seconded to facility. Purpose to observe transfer gates, to see if rogue mind is attacking facility


    Data received, transfer request received. Purge Constructs being prepared for transfer. Aquatic Units added to the order, Under Aquatic Guard constructs added to resupply.


    Orders for local mind, send in stealth unit to take sample of rouge AHW template, scan sample for rogue mind genetic signature. Cause of death


    New test subjects. Gene lines of test units superior stock, four Aether Augmentation observed in test unit after seventy-two hours passed. Rogue descendent with Aether Augmentation has joined test subjects. Two groups of test subjects met up, both groups worked together to kill rogue template.


    Data received. Orders, 1) observe test subjects


    Fate of invaders.


    Still in null sector

 Chapter Sixty Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins/ Unknown Builder


    Galactic Standard Time / 1250


    As he led the way deeper into the complex, Rodolphe looked back at Zane and Bryce. So far, they hadn¡¯t talked about their situations in depth but he knew they had to. The one thing his family taught him was that trust was necessary to survive.  And the group needed all the advantages they could get. The fact was that all three of them were outside the law and they had to trust each other. And as he looked around, he tried to think of anything. He had been in places like this, but the way it was left¡­¡­ something was wrong. Very wrong.


    As they turned a corner, they saw another long hallway. Only this one was leading them along where the river was going. At least he thought so. He had to admit that this place was giving his sense of direction a hard time, but he thought he was right.


    ¡°None of this makes sense. I mean how old even is this place?¡± Zane asked suddenly


    Rodolphe looked around at the walls. The strange crystals that gave off light made that question hard to answer. If he was right then they were semi-organic crystals that gave off light while taking food from the air. Or not, he might be wrong. Still how they hadn¡¯t found any bugs something that to keep them away.


    ¡°Hard to say, but it wasn¡¯t built recently,¡± Rodolphe said bluntly.


    ¡°No kidding¡­¡­wait, you¡¯re not kidding. I¡¯m guessing your moon didn¡¯t have many trees?¡± Bryce asked.


    Rodolphe shook his head. ¡°Desert World. Not much greenery. What water sources that weren¡¯t artificial were all under the Corp¡¯s control. They called them ¡®places to prepare for our end¡¯. Places they said were arks. In reality¡­. Pleasure domes.¡±


    ¡°The more I hear about them, the more I want to kill some of them,¡± Zane said. There was a dark edge in his voice that made Rodolphe smile.


    ¡°Join the club, we¡¯ve got t-shirts. So, the forest?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    ¡°That kind of growth¡­.. it takes decades. This place had to have been built at least a few centuries ago. Maybe even longer. And that meant this place might have been made by them,¡± Zane said bluntly.


    ¡°Who built this?¡± Bryce asked.


    Rodolphe was about to ask as well but then he stopped. He slowly looked around, his eyes seeing the hallway in a new light. The idea was suddenly there, hitting him. It made so much sense, at least with what he now knew. And then he tried to think what they could have done with genetics research. And he felt horror when he remembered the cages.


    ¡°The Builder of the Ruins. You know about the Ruins right?¡± Zane and


    ¡°No? And they are?¡± Bryce asked.


    ¡°Places that were built by a dead race. They had technology and knowledge beyond what we know. I¡¯m talking about places miles wide that can¡¯t have fire. Another the fruit trees flower all year round, and the fruit is so good! Places like that.¡±


    Rodolphe nodded, and then he thought about it. He went still as he looked around, a strange feeling going through him. ¡°Guys, I just remembered something. They¡¯ve never found a ruin like this before.¡±


    As the others stopped, Rudolphe only looked back. Each Ruin that the Federation let the people know about were always found in pieces. The last few rooms, half a structure at most. This place was something else, it was like they had all died! But what could have¡­¡­. Rodolphe looked around, a cold feeling going down his spine. He had to have been wrong, there was no way. If that was true, then how were the three humans still alive?


    ¡°Oh by the Sands¡­¡­. Guys? I just had a thought. These people were able to make wonders of science right? Could this place have pulled the ship down?¡± Bryce asked in horror.


    ¡°The chance is there. But how did we get to the capsules? And where is the rest of the ship?¡± Zane asked as he looked around.


    Rodolphe didn¡¯t hear him. He was too busy thinking of the worst thing that this place could be. If this was the Ruin that brought the ship down, what else was it? What was this place made to do?


    ¡°You know¡­.. Whatever happened here, I don¡¯t think a battle was the cause. Maybe a spark, but not the cause,¡± Rodolphe said as he looked around.


    ¡°So not a battle. But the spark¡­. So you thinking either a revolt or abandoned? This place I mean. But who revolted?¡± Zane asked.


    Rodolphe kept his eyes ahead of them and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve raided a few places where they were doing genetic ¡®work¡¯. And this has to have been doing something with those cages. But the damage is too. I don¡¯t know. There¡¯s something off about this place.¡±


    ¡°¡­..whatever they studied here? They made them first,¡± Bryce said softly, his voice echoing down the corridor.


    Rudolphe felt a flash of fear and terror. The way Bryce spoke sounded like he had experience being the test subject. And that was bothering him¡­.. ¡°Tell me that Students aren¡¯t a way to say ¡®Test Subjects¡¯. Please tell me that.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t. We didn¡¯t even know what was done to us. The group I¡¯m with¡­.. they said I¡¯ve got a few extra genes. I heal faster, but some of the others¡­.. they were different. Can¡¯t say more,¡± Bryce said softly. At the glare Rodolphe was giving him Bryce just shrugged. ¡°I¡­¡­ some of the others just didn¡¯t act normal. Not even our normal, they just were¡­. Different.¡±


    ¡°Explains the monsters we¡¯ve seen. I mean it does, right?¡± Zane asked with a sigh.


    Rodolphe jolted in place, turning around to see Bryce nod.


    ¡°Yeah, unfortunately. The creatures are explained. And this is so bad,¡± Bryce said with a shudder.


    ¡°What do you mean, the monsters?!¡± Rodolphe demanded.


    Bryce and Zane looked at each other, and after a few moments, Bryce spoke.


    ¡°At the school. There were animals. I¡¯m talking normal animals given other genetic traits. One of the most long-lived was a breed of cat with wings!¡± Bryce said as he looked at Rodolphe.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Rodolphe looked at Bryce for a few moments. He thought about his world, the people he¡¯s lost fighting for it. The times that a village was found destroyed, and the horrors that came from the deep desert. He paled as he realized just where such monsters had come from. He thought he had seen the true depths that the corp would go, but now he wasn¡¯t so sure. One thing he knew for sure, he had to get back in contact with his people.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter Rodolphe?¡± Zane asked softly.


    Rudolphe just looked into space, trying to think about what to say. Finally, he decided to just do it straight, and say what he was thinking.


    ¡°My world, we had¡­.. monsters. Our cities were built around mines on mountains. The deep deserts around said mountains? That¡¯s where the city killers came from. And each was a mutant, a mass of different DNA lines,¡± Rodolphe said bitterly.


    Zane and Bryce glared into space, a hard look in their eyes.


    ¡°Hey, Rodolphe? When we find the scum, I get one of the shots into his stomach while we interrogate him,¡± Bryce said with a growl.


    Rodolphe only nodded, a smirk on his face. Things were looking up.


    But then they all heard a strange droning sound ahead. They all looked up to see something completely unexpected.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature slithered through the corridors of the Creator¡¯s place. As it moved its tongue flicked out, looking for any sign of its prey. The far strikers had escaped, and so far it couldn¡¯t find anything that might show  how they had. They had to be farther ahead of it, there wasn¡¯t any other way they could have gone. And just being here was something that none of its kind had ever dared before.


    The way the place wasn¡¯t alive was wrong. There was always something when the creature had come near the Creator¡¯s place. A strange feeling that always kept the creature away. But now, that same sense was gone. This and the treasure trove of Strength it had gained already. It might not be able to take Strength fast, but it was slowly changing. Already it felt the effect, the strange new growths forming all around it. From the long one down its body to the claws on its hands, and even its mouth. As the fire cooled it became something new, something strong! And now it would hunt down those three little things, and kill them before eating them. It was only fair after all.


    It moved farther before it slowly went still as the burning on its head died down. It opened its new sense and looked around, seeing the world anew. It was different and it was on top of its sight but there was more to it, a newness. It was looking through the walls, seeing the heat within them. And it saw nothing, just the strange hard things on the walls. Now and then a spark of warmth would move along the walls, but it had no idea what that was about.


    Still, there was something about this place that called to its new senses. Something was there, something that it had to find. There was nothing else to do but keep moving, and hope that it found the three little morsels.


    As it tried to think about where to go, it smelled something, something new. A strange smell, one that didn¡¯t talk of strength, but food. It was unlike anything it had ever senses before. It moved its head around until it found the smell, coming up from a small hole. It sent its tongue through it and then took in the whole scent.


    It smelt of every food it had ever eaten, all together as one! The creature tried to get at the hole, make it bigger but nothing. The Creator¡¯s den was made of things stronger than its claws. It looked around, trying to find anything but then it caught something ahead. The smell of the All-Food, but weaker than the hole.


    It shot down the hallway, looking to find the scent. Forget about the little ones, it had something better!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zane looked at the golden spheres floating there, he tried not to let his fear show. The guards of the Ruin, they were always robots. Based on how much of the place was left determined what the Guards were. Most of the time they were small boxes that floated above the ground or humanoids about six feet tall. But not these.


    There were five of them, each one about three feet tall and wide. They had four green glass eye circles around a black hole in a cross formation.


    ¡°So, the Ruins usually have these things?¡± Bryce asked with a shaky tone.


    ¡°No, not like these things. Move backward, slowly,¡± Rodolphe said softly.


    Zane kept his eyes locked on the spheres. He had seen floating drones before, but there was something about them. The way they were set up, they had to be combat models. And they looked too new, like¡­..! He went still as a terrible thought appeared in his mind. It would explain a bit about these things, but the chance of that being true! It went against everything that was known about the Ruins! How was it even possible? ¡°Oh, Nova!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Templates 10049 found. Hunter Units beginning scan now.


    Alert; Templates 10049 sub-type discovered. Genetic line does not match the standard template


    Alpha Unit receiving data.


    Data received. No data about genetic template in file.


    Data received beyond perimeters of orders, requesting directive from Hunter Alpha


    Hunter Alpha; Orders to group. Prepare to send data back within a chosen unit. All constructs move in and take custody of Templates 10049. Further study of Templates ordered by this Unit.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Zane asked as they looked at the drones.


    Bryce looked all around the hallway. It was a good ten feet wide, and there were no doors or side passage. That meant they had to hope they could get around the drones. If they were automated then maybe the humans weren¡¯t in the things programming. And he knew all about drones, getting around their programming was how he had been able to escape.


    ¡°This might be very bad!¡± Rodolphe said as he slowly moved his hand towards his rifle.


    ¡°Chill man! Let¡¯s see what they''re programmed to do first! Maybe they''re having a problem with us being here! They might be just repair drones!¡±


    ¡°No Bryce, that doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Zane said softly. ¡°All Ruins robots, they always attack people no matter what they are.¡±


    Bryce blinked, slowly looking at the drones. Suddenly a bright green light came from each robot and scanned the group. Then the yellow eyes glowed bright, and a green bolt came from one of them. It flew towards Rodolphe who dodged it and fired back! The bolt was intercepted by the blast from another of the drones, and the hallway was silent.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t they doing anything?¡± Rodolphe asked, shocked at their inaction. ¡°Do we try and make it to the cage room!?¡±


    ¡°No. And don¡¯t ask. JUST GO UNDER THEM!¡± Bryce called out and he dashed forward. He ducked down as he ran, the other two following as he ran under the drones.


    As he looked over his shoulder, Bryce saw that the drones had turned around, and were following them!


    ¡°Now what?!¡± Zane demanded.


    ¡°Simple, dodge!¡± Bryce called out as he ducked his head as a blot flew over it.


    As the three ran down the hallway, they started to move randomly. Each one of them dodged left or right as the drones tried to hit them.


    After a few minutes, Bryce saw a corridor ahead of them. ¡°TO THE RIGHT, NOW!¡±


    As they turned into the opening, Bryce saw a door ahead of them to the left.


    Rudolphe saw it too and ran towards it. ¡°IN IN!¡±


    As Bryce and Zane followed him through the door, Rodolphe slammed it shut as soon as they passed by the door. He slammed his body against it as the others turned towards him.


    ¡°Quick, find something to hold the door closed!¡± Zane said as Bryce turned towards Rodolphe.


    ¡°They¡¯ll just cut through!¡± Bryce objected and Rodolphe laughed.


    ¡°Yeah, well not even the guards of a Ruin can damage it! All we¡¯ve got to do is block this and we¡¯re safe for a while!¡± Rudolphe said with a grin.


    As the door buckled Bryce turned around and saw a small bench made of a strange metal. Grabbing it he strained his muscles and pulled it to the door. Rodolphe had kept the door closed but then as it opened a sliver Bryce made and pushed the bench against it. As Rodolphe kept it closed Bryce looked around for anything else.


    He saw Zane and then what Zane saw. He stared for a moment then shook his head, snapping out of his shock. ¡°Later Zane! Grab that chair!¡±


    Zane grabbed a metal chair made of the same material and tried to move it but struggled against the weight. Bryce ran over and grabbed it. Together the two of them moved the chair to the door and pushed it against the door. After a few minutes, the pounding stopped and they all sank to the floor, panting.


    ¡°That was something. And we found something I doubt anyone else ever had. New Ruins guards,¡± Zane said bitterly.


    Bryce felt his heart stop as he heard what Zane said.


    ¡°WHAT DO YOU MEAN, NEW!?¡± Rodolphe demanded as he spun his head and looked at Zane.


    Zane only looked at the others and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Most Ruin Guards are always in a state of disrepair. And add in that those out there were of a model that has never been reported before. It all adds up to one thing. This place is still active.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphee just stared into space as he tried and failed to come up with anything to prove Zane wrong. The idea of an active Ruin, one that was nearly completely in one piece? Every single one that was found before now was always almost completely destroyed! This was against all the accepted theories about who created the Ruins! The idea that after all those years, the last Complex of the ones who built the Ruins was still active?


    ¡°And then there¡¯s that,¡± Bryce said softly.


    Rodolphe looked up and felt his breath leave him. Ahead of him by about ten or twenty feet was a large glass wall. It looked out onto a large forest. Rodolphe got up and walked towards it, his eyes on the rainbow of leaves until he reached the glass. He heard gasps from the others as a tear dropped from his right eye. The glass window overlooked a large beautiful forest. The ground was thirty feet below them and the forest looked to be over twenty miles wide. About thirty feet up was a ceiling where multicolored birds flew around. All around the ceiling were were more of the light crystals. From each came shining light that rained down at the forest below them.


    ¡°For anyone on my homeworld, this would be heaven itself,¡± Rodolphe said with a choked tone.


    ¡°Yeah¡­. I mean look at that! I can see a lot of those pod trees, and over there! Is that a lake!?¡± Bryce asked in awe.


    ¡°What in the name of the Stars and Nova is this place?! Was the forest above just the result of one of these breaking through to the surface!?¡± Zane asked, shocked nearly beyond words.


    Rodolphe stepped back and whistled. He looked around the chamber they were in, finally seeing it for what it was. ¡°My friends, I think we¡¯ve found a good place to set up camp. Anyone got any food?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Hunter Alpha to Hunter Constructs; Templates have locked themselves into Observation Platform 1. Passage through doorway imposable at this time by constructs on site. Searching for alternate routes through blueprint. Route found. Time for travel too long for secondary mission.


    Processing data.


    New Directives; After Primary Mission, Hunter units will converge and track down group of Templates 10049


    Returning to Primary mission; Hunting Rouge Bio Weapon. All but unit designated ¡®Courier¡¯ are to follow primary directive.

 Chapter Sixty Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Room looking at Indoor forest


    Galactic Standard Time / 1400


    Bryce healed back a snarl as he looked up at the broken cables. ¡°Nova scum! What is wrong with this abomination!? How much power did they use daily!? Did they never even heard of a simple watt!?¡±


    The three of them had spent the last hour looking around the chamber they had taken shelter in. Their examination revealed it to be around fifty feet wide and a little over twenty long. There had been a large door next to a computer terminal built into the wall on the left side. When the group made it to the right side they found the remains of a dead humanoid behind a bar like area. The body had four limbs, four fingers on the hands, and six toes on retrograde legs. The head had four eyes, two on each side of a round face in column formation. The eyes were above a wide mouth that had two fangs pointing down below each column of eyes. The body had been there so long it was nothing but its bones but it was still more than had ever been found before. That is if this was one of the Ruin Builders.


    Zane and Rodolphe were freaking out about finding a possible skeleton of one of the Builders. Bryce didn''t get it really, it would help them. So he looked beyond it, trying to find anything that could help them. The left side of the chamber had a smooth wall with a door near the window. Examining it, he found that the door was locked and there was a small scanner next to it on the side opposite the window. Looking to the right Bryce had seen another door on that side, and this one had a small open grate next to it.


    After a few minutes of talk, they had a small argument about what to do next. They all agreed that they had to leave, but they couldn¡¯t agree on what to do. Bryce had at first wanted to break the window and get into the forest. Zane had sacked how to get down, and what if more of the creatures that attacked them were there. Zane had suggested that they look over the body, maybe there was something that might open one of the doors.


    Bryce had said he¡¯d look over the open grate, maybe he¡¯d be able to open the door. So far that was just nothing but wasted time! And he felt a small spark of shame that he couldn¡¯t even identify the materials that the cables were made of. Nor could he even damage them at all. Even with holes the cables were too hard for him to break to see the wires within. And all he had been able to figure out was that they could handle a much larger charge than he could generate. And that was only if the cables were in one piece! With the way they were, it would take a miracle to even fix these halfway. And he had to admit, that he wasn¡¯t even sure that he was figuring out this right. For all he knew this might have been not the door, but a power source for an intercom.


    No matter how much he wanted to pull off a win, he had to admit that this was beyond him. All in all, he now knew what not to do to fix this at least. He had to hope that the others had better luck and that they could get them out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe looked out the window and felt a tear leave his eye. With how dangerous the forest above was, he never thought he would see such beauty today. All in all, this place was amazing! The beautiful birds were all, and the trees were full of food! So far, he hadn¡¯t seen anything that might be a danger, and that was worrying. He had grown up on a desert world where creatures preying on each other was a basic fact of life. There wasn¡¯t any life that wasn¡¯t predatory, even the plants. And now after the horror above, he saw this!


    But it didn¡¯t work out in his mind. They had guessed that the builders of the Ruins had made this place, and it was still mostly active. But then what had this place been for? The way the window was set against the wall, there was something about it that bothered him. He couldn¡¯t describe where it was coming from, but there was just something there. As he looked around the chamber again, he tried to figure it out. The room had been abandoned, and only the remains of one possible sentient had been found. That opened up a few ideas, and none of them were good.


    The first was that if this place had fallen because of a war, then only the victor had taken their fallen. That meant that whoever attacked this place wanted it destroyed more than to take control of it. There were a few reasons he could think up off the top of his head, and some of them turned his stomach around. That meant that the victors hated this place beyond even thinking of using it. Like the old death camps that one side of that ethnic cleansing on that world the Spirit passed a few months back. The people of that world did nothing, they just let the world reclaim the lands around it. But there weren''t remains of buildings on the surfacem no sing of any civilization was ever on this rock. So what was this place?


    Or this place was abandoned because one of the sides used a species-specific viral weapon. And if this had been a ¡®civil¡¯ war then it made sense, however much the thought made him feel sick. Those kinds of weapons were always more trouble to the creators than the war itself. ¡°Still, that¡¯s some forest. Wonder how the things are fed down there¡­¡­¡±


    Rodolphe went still as one of the birds flew by the window and looked at him. He fell backwards and when he poked his head up he was sure the bird was laughing at him. All the breath left him as he realized that this thing might be able to think, to reason.


    He looked at it and took in all the bird¡¯s appearance. Its body was at least five feet long and it had a wingspan of at least ten feet wide. Its beak was long and crimson while its body was covered in white feathers. He saw that it had three eyes in a row that were looking right at him. He swallowed as he looked deeper into the eyes, and he hoped he was seeing things. But when the bird opened its mouth a long tongue with a bard on the end hit the glass.


    All Rodophe could was watch, he couldn¡¯t close his eyes. The tongue bard was a solid spike that hit the glass and nothing happened, which only made the bird madder. It gave another wordless cry as it opened its mouth. Rodolphe braced himself for another strike from its tongue, but then. Suddenly something large, fast, and black shot by and carried the bird away.


    ¡°So even this place is not paradise,¡± Rodolphe said shakily. He tried to find the thing but it went into the forest below. All it left was a small sway in the top of the trees it pushed by as it pushed them aside.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the creature moved closer to the strange and wonderful scent, it still felt hungry. The burning that had caused changes to it was still there, but at least it wasn¡¯t getting worse. The flame feeling was still the same, and that was very strange. As it came to an opening in the corridor, it stopped to look around. The path split into three ways, to the front, the left, and right. As the creature¡¯s tongue shot out and took in the air, it tried to find the scent of its target. To the left was the same scent, a little less but still there. To the right was a different scent. This one smelled of the place above the cave mouth it had chased the little things through. But this was different, a strange scent that was just different. But down the center route, there was the all-food scent, stronger!


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    As its tongue came back into its mouth, it moved down the central path. For a moment nothing happened but then something struck it, sending it backwards. It looked down, trying to find what had done that but it went still. There, ahead of it was a floating sphere. As the creature looked at them one of them fired a bolt of light. The bolt hit the creature and forced it backwards a foot. The creature didn¡¯t wait, it called up one of its new strengths and shot forward. This time when the sphere fired again at it, the bolt was stopped by an invisible shield.


    The sphere moved backwards and the creature chased it. It had only lived so long because it never let a foe escape when it could be killed! As the creature kept following the sphere, blasts from the sphere forced it to slow down. But with its invisible shield, it kept moving , it kept chasing the sphere. As it slithered down the hallway, it smelled more of the all scent, the scent itself ever increasing as it moved.


    The creature was getting excited. It would find a way to the great food and it will kill this thing of the Creators! They would hide away in their places, they would fear it! No longer would the creature hide, it would go to all of the places of its makers and kill them! It would feast on the cowards hiding away, take their strength, and rule over their lands. It would raise an army and conquer all, and find its old home!


    As it followed the sphere into a doorway on the left side of the hallway, it was suddenly attacked from the side. As it was thrown to the side by a force, it looked up and saw four more spheres. As they started to fire at the creature, pushing it backwards. The creature screeched and coiled its serpent-like body, its invisible shield protecting it. The creature looked around, trying to find any way out of this! Finally, it saw a grate that had been torn in half, and without a second thought shot into it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rogue Bio Weapon found


    Capture protocol, ¡®Stray Young¡¯, imitated.


    Lone construct designated ¡®bait¡¯ approached Bio Weapon


    Construct Bait attacked Bio Weapon then retreated into abandoned sector air passage. Hunters following. Map of facility shows that air passage empties out into Oxygen Replenishment chamber.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked up as Rodolphe cried out in fear. As he turned he saw Rudolphe on the floor, his eyes locked on the window. ¡°What happened?¡±


    When Rodolphe didn¡¯t respond Zane ran towards him, Bryce doing the same from the other side of the room.


    ¡°What¡¯s you see? What¡¯s you see!?¡± Bryce asked the two of them made it to Rodolphe.


    Rodolphe only blinked again and then looked down.


    ¡°Big bird with a frog tongue with a spike on it,¡± Rodolphe bit out. ¡°Then bigger black blur took it.¡±


    Rodolphe looked up, and Zane''s breath caught in his throat. The terror in Rodoplhe¡¯s eyes was something he had seen only once before. And he hoped this wouldn¡¯t be as bad as that time.


    All Zane could do was look out the window, seeing the birds in the distance in a new light. If those things were predators with long tongues, then that changed a lot. That meant that there were airborne predators beyond the worms, and there might be above them. They needed to get back soon. And then a horrible thought went through his head.


    He went still as the thought crystalized and he swallowed as he felt terror. If the forest limited the growth of the life down there, how big would something in the open grow to?


    ¡°And there¡¯s something else,¡± Rodolphe said with a shudder. As the others looked at him he looked up and swallowed. ¡°Before it attacked the glass, it scared me and I think it felt humor. I think those birds at least can think and reason.¡±


    As Bryce swallowed Zane felt his heart freeze and shook a little.


    ¡°Bad news from my side too. There¡¯s no way that we can get through the door. The cables are so decayed that I can¡¯t get a charge to flow through them. And I think it was rated for a lot more power than I can generate from my tools,¡± Bryce said with a rim tone in his voice.


    ¡°Great, just great. I think I found something embedded into one of the hands. I¡­¡­. I didn¡¯t want to touch it because we don¡¯t know if this was the only body here. But we don¡¯t have a choice, do we?¡± Zane asked bitterly.


    As the others all nodded, Zane just sighed and shook his head. Walking over to the body, he bent down and grabbed the right hand. He pulled it free and stood up, looking down at the body. ¡°Sorry. But this will keep us alive. Watch over us.¡±


    Walking towards the scanner he looked back at the others and gave a small smile. ¡°Moment of truth. Hope that desecration was worth it!¡±


    As he put the hand under the scanner palm up, nothing happened. With a sigh, he turned around but Rodolphe looked at the door with a small frown.


    ¡°Turn it over, then hold it for a minute,¡± Rodolphe said softly.


    Zane just shrugged and did as he was told. After thirty seconds passed, there was a beep. With a small rush of air, the door opened. It revealed a long hallway covered in darkness. Here and there light from the forest chamber coming from short windows set in the wall.


    ¡°Wait. I¡¯ve got senses a bit sharper than you all. I¡¯ll lead,¡± Bryce said and walked into the doorway.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Stepping into the corridor, Bryce took in everything. So far everything was normal. The corridor seemed to be a solid line with only the windows to provide light. But as he took in the corridor,e he saw darkness at the far end, but worse was that he smelled something. Whatever it was, it smelt like the forest above but somehow wrong. He couldn¡¯t describe it really, he hadn¡¯t many worlds outside the sterile environment of the School. Still, the one thing he knew was there was only one way for that smell to be there. ¡°Keep your eyes open you two. There¡¯s a way into the forest down here.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful. Out of the robot attacks into the monster battle,¡± Zane muttered from behind.


    Bryce smirked as he heard the joke, it was good he could keep his spirits up. Sometimes that was the only thing that was able to keep you going.


    Looking down through one of the windows, Bryce frowned. Bellow he could see more of the forest and a view that was different from the main chamber. From this angle, he could see a small clearing that a large tree had hidden. The ground was covered by the purple grass and strange-looking plants. He looked at them more intently, trying to get more details. They almost resembled black Venus flytraps but they were three feet tall and moving . At first, he thought there was a breeze down there, but the flytraps were the only ones that were moving. And as he watched them a small creature that looked reptilian came into the clearing. As he gazed at the lizard he noticed vines on the ground from the flytraps and multiple large red fruit on the vines. As the lizard thing came closer and closer to the fruit, Bryce wondered if the birds were the only danger. But suddenly, the closest Flytrap shouted out and swallowed the lizard in one gulp!


    Bryce¡¯s eyes widened until he took in the scene, but then other lizards appeared. As they watched somehow the flytrap was cut from its vine. As the flytrap landed on the ground the first lizard creature cut its way out. As the other flytraps started to fire a strange white liquid at the lizards. But the lizards ignored the liquid, grabbed fruits and ran into the jungle. From his vantage point, Bryce cold see the liquid eat away at the grass it hit. Within moments, the liquid had destroyed the grass, leaving behind bare patches.


    ¡°Wonderful. Even the plants can kill you here. Think anything like them is above us? Around the crash site?¡± Rodolphe asked with a strange tone in his voice.


    Bryce had to think and think hard. Something about the plants below told him no. It wasn¡¯t something he could put into words, but it was there. There was a strange cut to the leaves here and there, and he thought the bark on some of the trees were wrong. After a few moments, he shook his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I can¡¯t tell you why, it¡¯s just¡­. Something about that forest is different. It¡¯s small things really, I can¡¯t explain why that tells me it¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°Then don¡¯t. Right now we¡¯re dealing with guesses. So the best thing to do is get back to base and let command know. They¡¯ll decide what to do,¡± Zane said with a shrug.


    ¡°If they handled the things that attacked us,¡± Rodolphe said softly.


    Bryce went still and nodded. He had to admit, that was something he was worried about. The pack that they had run from, still bothered him. Why had those things only attacked them, and not the group that found the trees? And then there was what happened at the river. Still, all they could do was keep moving forward.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep going. We can¡¯t stay here now that there¡¯s an opening ahead¡­¡­¡± Bryce went still as he turned around. He felt his heart stop beating and he swallowed.


    At his reaction, Zane and Rodolphe both turned their heads and went white at what they saw. On the wall around the door, there were claw marks. Bryce felt his blood go cold at the reality before him. There was something here with claws, claws that were sharp enough to damage the walls. He hadn¡¯t been able to even damage the cables with his knife! But this showed that there was something alive here that could damage the walls.


    ¡°Guys, move back slowly,¡± Zane said softly.


    As Bryce watched Rodolphe move, he heard something. echoing off the wall was the sound of a footstep. He turned around slowly and he swallowed as he realized what he was hearing.

 Chapter Seventy

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Room looking at Indoor forest


    Galactic Standard Time / 1420


    As Zane moved, he turned his head and saw Bryce looking down the corridor. He felt his blood go cold as he remembered the shared friend he and Bryce had, and the results of his checkup. Without a thought, he grabbed Rodolphe and pushed him through the doorway. Turning around, he aimed his rifle down the corridor. All he could do was swallow as he covered Bryce as he moved closer to the scanner. ¡°What do you hear man?¡±


    ¡°Something coming towards us, get ready to close the door with that hand. Wait until I¡¯m through,¡± Bryce said softly as he raised his rifle.


    As Bryce walked through the doors he suddenly opened fire. As the bolt flew down the corridor the sounds of movement were heard. Bryce fired again and looked at Zane with a hard look. ¡°CLOSE IT NOW!¡±


    Zane moved the hand under the scanner. As the door started to close a roar from down the corridor came. Zane turned and saw Bryce firing, a look of terror on his face. As the door slammed shut a roar was heard from the windows.


    Bryce kept standing for a few moments more before he sank to his knees. He still held his rifle and kept it pointing up, but he panted as he did. ¡°Oh, Nova! That thing, I don¡¯t know what it was!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯d you see?¡± Rodophle asked in horror as he looked at the door that had slammed shut


    ¡°It was a feline-like hunched-over biped. It was running on all fours like a lesser humanoid, and it was fast. And I think I saw something on its body¡­..¡± Bryce said as he looked around at the others. There was a hint of wonder and fear in his eyes, a kind of youngness to it. ¡°I think it was chitin armor. It might have been made.¡±


    Zane felt his blood freeze. The idea that this madhouse had sentient beings on it besides the other survivors, was so bad. Anything that could survive on a planet like this, that was bad. If there was a native race here, then they that to be very dangerous, and very strong. And they probably had a way to kill anything different from them.


    ¡°Sentient species,¡± Rodolphe whispered in sheer awe. ¡°This world might have native life forms? Sentient ones? On a world with a Ruin?¡±


    ¡°Is that rare?¡± Bryce asked and Rodolphe only looked at him.


    ¡°Very. But I wonder¡­. Was it just a race that devolved here? But why is it in this complex?¡± Roddophle wondered as he leaned against the window.


    Zane meanwhile covered his face as he tried to think. No matter what, that meant that the doorway was out for them. That meant they had to find another way out of there. And so he turned and looked around the room. No matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t think of another way forward. But it was when he found the other door, then and only then did he notice something. It wasn¡¯t that easy to see, but there looked like another scanner by the door to the corridor.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Zane said as he walked towards the scanner. The others looked up and followed after him, both of them silent.


    Once they reached the scanner Zane looked at it, then the window. Feeling a bit of shock he saw that the barricade they had made blocked the scanner from view. With a growing feeling of hope and anger, he walked around the barricade to the following side. Without a single word, he looked towards the wall opposite the door. And as he thought, there was a small antechamber that had been hidden without looking right at it.


    ¡°How¡¯s I miss that?¡± Bryce asked in shock as he walked next to Zane.


    ¡°It¡¯s the same color as the wall, and set in. Without seeing it exactly anyone would have missed it,¡± Rodolphe said with a shrug.


    Zane nodded, looking around the room with new eyes. ¡°I think this place was meant to look at that forest over there. Maybe this was where they made food for the station, or plant-type gene works. Makes sense if you think about it.¡±


    Zane kept quiet that the doors and the way that the creature had gotten painted a darker picture to him. This forest might not have been for experiments of that nature alone. It might have been a place to hunt things they made or watch them fight. The more he looked around, the more this place looked vile the longer he thought about it.


    The way other Ruins were found, the idea was that there had been a war so long ago, so deadly. Deadly enough that all species that had Faster than Light had all died in it. Most people had thought that this was a result of how long ago it was, but this was putting that theory to the test. If this place was for more than just making bioweapons, then what had it been truly used for?


    Zane kept those thoughts to himself as he led the way towards the antechamber. The best thing to do now was to keep those thoughts to himself. They were in enough danger now, adding his thoughts to the trouble was just looking for trouble. They just had to keep their eyes on what was happening now. If they had to find a place to set up a camp here, then he would tell them what he just thought up.


    As they made it into the antechamber, Zanne looked around. There was a small bench and the remains of a counter three feet to the left, and a bench along the left side. Ahead of them was another doorway, and a scanner to the right of it. Zane bit down a curse, his idea was getting a lot more believable with everything they found.


    ¡°So there was another door, and I missed it. Sorry guys,¡± Bryce said with shame in his voice.


    ¡°But what was that other door used for?¡± Rodolphe asked as he looked around.


    Zane kept quiet, he didn¡¯t want to say anything. If he was right, then it would be best not to say anything, to let the ghosts rest a bit more until he had to.


    ¡°So, do we use the scanner or go out into the corridors and brave the bots?¡± Bryce asked and as one they all looked at each other.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Might not be a choice in the end, if I¡¯m right,¡± Zane muttered under his breath.


    ¡°We gotta go, we can¡¯t not,¡± Bryce said with a sigh.


    Zane nodded and put the hand under the scanner, turning it around until the door opened.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the hunter looked at the closed door before it, it felt the anger surge. Slashing down with its claws, it howled. As it looked at the doorway into the den of the creators. Its tribe had been stuck down here for years, the large flyers preying on its tribe. The shell walkers that the tribe hunted for food and armor were in the middle. Sometimes the tribe hunted them or were hunted by them. And then there were the plants that ate them while they harvested them. The guard stand was to see if the Creators were still alive, but for generations, nothing happened. But now the door had opened, and that was something the elders needed to know.


    Without another howl, it turned away. Dashing towards the way in, it thundered down the pathway. Once it reached the strange hill, it ran down the block sides of it. It reached others of its kind, three of them. One had a large claw blade of a shell walker, and the other two had beaked gauntlets from the flyers. Without a word, the three fell in behind the hunter as they all ran out of the broken shinning wall. As the shining part of it reflected the crystal light from above, they ran into the swaying trees.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe looked around the chamber the group found themselves in. There were large monitors on the wall in front of them behind a computer system with a black chair. To the left was another door, and he saw what looked like a rack by it. But Rodolphe had eyes on the computer as Bryce sat down and looked at it. He pulled out a small handheld unit and looked around, trying to find any kind of input to use.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zane breathed out suddenly.


    Rodolphe turned and saw Zane looking at the strange rack, a bitter look in his eyes. ¡°You okay man?¡±


    ¡®Yeah, I just¡­.. it makes sense. It makes too much sense,¡± Zane said with a bitter edge to his voice.


    Rodolphe felt a spark of fear that he quickly pushed down. Now wasn¡¯t the time to let his emotions get the better of him.


    ¡°What did you figure out?¡± Bryce asked.


    Rodolphe turned and saw Bryce hard at work, still looking for a port and then he went still.


    A moment later Bryce turned his head, a grin on his face. ¡°Got it! Looks like something similar to what we use, let¡¯s see if it takes the cable.¡±


    ¡°If this place is what I think it is, then it will,¡± Zane said softly.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rodolphe asked, a sick feeling going through him.


    Zane looked at the rack for a few seconds before sighing. ¡°I think that whatever this place was used for? It became an interrogation center before too long. Or they sent Bio Weapons against each other.¡±


    ¡°Nice idea, but what was this place for then?¡± Bryce asked


    Rodolphe looked at him, feeling his blood go cold as fear gripped him. He wanted to say that Zane was wrong, but it fit. The more he thought about it, the more it fit. The doorway they had opened first, had to be to introduce things to the forest. That explained how the creature had been in it, they must have broken the door or whatever at ¡®ground¡¯ level. But there was something else, the robots. They had tried to capture them, he was sure of it. That meant that they had probably identified them as escaped subjects. ¡°Oh by the black hole. It fits! And the bots too!¡±


    ¡°Okay, terrible¡­.. oh. Oh, this is so bad. This is so¡­.. not bad,¡± Bryce said as his voice had a spark of hope in it.


    Zane and Rodolphe both turned to look at him and saw the way he was looking down at the handled device in his hands.


    ¡°This is¡­.. well. That¡¯s interesting,¡± Bryce muttered as he looked at the screen. He looked up and winced as he saw others looking at him. ¡°Well, I got in for a second. Whatever happened here, it was very bad. I don¡¯t think operating systems could get this messed up. I don¡¯t even have local access, just one file that¡¯s as buggy as the stars are hot! Even with my work on this unit? This is gonna take a while to be debugged. This room¡¯s okay I think. And the door is open but there¡¯s another scanner there. And the door itself? I don¡¯t think it leads to the forest below.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then we stay for now. We can turtle up here, just rest and recover. Then make a plan on what to do,¡± Rodolphe said with a sigh.


    ¡°Good! It¡¯ll give my tech some time to work. We have enough food for a few days if it¡¯s just us anyway,¡± Bryce said from the computer.


    Rodolphe looked at Zane and saw the same sheer pity he felt in his friend''s eyes. They slowly turned towards their friend and tried to keep calm. If they could get any kind of advantage here, it might keep them alive. He had raided complexes belonging to his enemy before, and they had lived by luck sometimes. Other times stolen data mid raid had saved his team¡¯s lives. The advantage that even a small scrap could give them was enormous.


    But the problem was the sheer insanity of the idea that Bryce could get them that data. To take some part of the Ruins tech back was one thing, but to understand it?  It took the greatest computers the Federation had years to even read half of the code. And even then they had to guess at what it was used for. The very thought that Bryce¡¯s handheld could do in hours was sheer stupidity!


    ¡°Yeah, give me an hour. I¡¯m not the best with this programming code, but I did pass the class,¡± Bryce said nonchalantly.


    Rodolphe felt his blood freeze as he blinked. He looked at Zane and saw the same look in his friend''s eyes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Bryce, look at me,¡± Zane said softly.


    Zane tried to keep calm, but he did. But the way that Bryce was talking, it was like he had a way to do what he said. It was like someone saying that they could make an FTL out of wood, bark, and glass. It just wasn¡¯t possible as far as the general public and criminal underworlds knew. The sheer number of people who spent all their lives trying to crack the code never made much progress. And Bryce could do it in an hour?


    As soon as Bryce looked up he blinked and saw the looks on Zane and Rodolphe¡¯s faces.


    ¡°You can read the code of the Builders on that thing? You have a¡­¡­ a translation?¡± Rodolphe asked shakily. ¡°That School of yours taught you to break the code?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­. One of the easy classes back at school on the Programming Track. Why?¡± Bryce asked them as he blinked.


    Zane felt a headache and slapped his face. He tried to think about just what that meant, just who the school might be. How well-connected was this School? What had they found that no one else had?


    Rodolphe just looked at his friend before sighing. ¡°It takes the best current computers and AI years to even find a way to read half of it. Some programs have been running for a hundred years and they still haven¡¯t cracked it completely. And people still consider it the greatest programming method around!¡±


    ¡°Really? Oh. That¡­¡­ explains so much. I wondered why the network of the ship was so easy to hack,¡± Bryce said as he looked down.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯ll be able to find in the data?¡± Zane asked and Bryce looked up and smiled.


    ¡°I think I saw a map of this level of the complex. If I¡¯m right we¡¯ll be able to see another office like this where maybe I can determine more! If we can do that, we should be able to find a way out of here!¡± Bryce said.


    Zane felt his friend''s hope. The longer they were down here, the harder it would be to get away alive. And then there was the traitor to consider. The longer they stayed here, the longer he might do it again and everyone could die. They had to get back to the group and soon!


    But he looked at Bryce as he worked, and felt a spark of fear. The very fact that Bryce was able to do that cast a terrible fact to life. He had learned at the ¡®School¡¯, the home of those who created ¡®Students¡¯. That threw everything he thought he knew about the ¡®School¡¯ into question. The family had the idea that they were just a child soldier program that lived past its shutdown order. But the fact that they knew to read the ¡®Ruin Code¡¯, made them a lot more dangerous than he had ever possible. The kind of Ruins that the underworld kept quiet, that groups kept secret. The sheer wealth and danger that they couldn¡¯t let the Federation or Cults get their hands on¡­ this was so bad.


    ¡°So we stay, I¡¯m taking a nap. Wake me if the door bucks,¡± Rodolphe said as he pulled off his backpack. Using it as a pillow, he looked at Zane who swallowed.


    Zane saw the terminal in his friend''s eyes. The thoughts he had been agonizing over? Rodolphe must have felt the same things.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the creature coiled its serpentine body through the metal cave, it looked ahead to find any way out.  It had been lucky so far, its escape was going well, the creations of the Creator¡¯s weren¡¯t tracking it. So far it was going farther away from the scent of the all-food, and that was bad. But it couldn¡¯t turn around, the cave was too tight. Already it was starting to get harder and harder to move, but it had no choice. It had to keep moving, there had to be an opening. It could scent it just ahead of it, air and green things.


    As it moved farther, it started to think that maybe it had been wrong. After it had found the strength in the many caved rooms, it might have been a better idea to go back. With the Strength it had taken, it would have been able to challenge anything. But it could feel something growing within it, a strange burning that hadn¡¯t gone away. All it had to do was keep moving, and sooner or later it would come out somewhere.


    As the creature moved along, it suddenly blinked as it came into a three-way split in the path. As it looked at each one, its tongue shot out. Its eyes shot open as its tongue caught all the scents the air was sending it. From the right was a small scent of the all-food, and it had a tingle of the metal. To the left was nothing but the scent of water, and water from the great expanse. That promised that it would be able to swim to the sea and find a way back to its den. But ahead, oh. Ahead was a treasure. It was the scent of the open near its den, and the all-food was even stronger that way.


    There was a choice here, and one that would set its course. It could go after the water and escape. It could go for the small all-food. Or it could go for the greater all-food. In the end, there was only one choice.

 Chapter Seventy One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Room looking at Indoor forest


    Galactic Standard Time / 1600


    Bryce looked at what his Augmented Reality Nanites were showing him. So far he had been able to decode about ninety percent over the last hour. All that he had left to finish was the last five percent, and that was the last bit of the other file. He looked towards the others and frowned. Rodolphe had fallen asleep and was only now starting to wake up. Zane meanwhile had gotten a few tools out and had done maintenance on his rifle. Zane looked like he was finishing up, putting all the pieces back together.


    Bryce shrugged and looked at the file he had finished first. So far one was ready to play, and he should have a report for the others. So without a word, he opened the first one.


    As soon as he did that, there was a small buzzing around him as a ball of darkness covered him. He felt the computer station behind him and he realized that this file was an immersion type. That meant that this was made to let whoever opened it experience it in 360-degree vision. The tech do that was something that had only created thirty years ago! For a second, he wondered if the tech was made by studying the Builders, it would track. But then a moment later there was a flash of light.


    When he could see again, he was looking at a forest. He looked upwards, seeing the same crystal that they had seen through the windows. So whenever this happened the place it was recording was in a place like what they saw.


    ¡°But what am I following,¡± He muttered softly as he tried to find the source. But a moment later he saw that the view was moving through the forest. He turned around again and tried to find the source, but he saw nothing. For a moment he didn¡¯t understand, but then he was caught off guard as the picture changed.


    He looked around, trying to get his bearings. The recorder was flying in the air, and it seemed to be following a shadow in the forest below. As he watched, he saw a shape between the leaves. At first, he couldn¡¯t see anything, but after a few moments, he thought it was humanoid. As he tried to move downward he found that this time, all he could do was change where he looked. But as he watched the shape, he thought he saw a flash of something in its hands. As he looked behind the creature around, he thought he saw more of whatever it was. The one thing he was sure of, was that there were many of them, but less than five. For a moment he had to wonder if Zane was right then this might be one of the interrogations. But then he realized that this was wrong, if it was an interrogation, where were the questions? Then he fell into the Black Hole and realized just what kind of file he had opened.


    As he watched aghast, the view went higher. Finally, he could see a large clearing ahead of the beings below. It was maybe a hundred feet wide at least, with only a few small bushes around the edge. All of it was covered in long golden grass that was eight feet tall. There was a large rock twenty feet tall at the center of the field. The view went above the field, looking right down at it. As Bryce was forced to watch, he waited for what he knew was going to happen.


    From the opposite side of the field, three small waves in the grass started to move towards the other side. The other side that now had active as the figures the view had been following came out of the forest. And the view shifted towards them now, letting Bryce finally see them.


    Bryce swallowed a lump as he was finally able to see what he had raced ahead of. He had been right, there were five of them moving in a cross formation. Each one was a humanoid, and they almost looked human. They had bronze skin, black hair, and four small eyes, one pair set above the other. Each one had the same number of fingers as the skeleton the group found. He was taken aback as he saw the pistols and metal spears in their hands. For a moment he wondered if they were security and had volunteered to fight. But the way their clothing had holes in them told him all he needed to know. These were prisoners, and if they were of the same race as the body they found, then they might be Builders. And if they were, then that meant that the war that destroyed the Builders might have been a civil war.


    He stared down in shocked horror, his mind going all over as he tried to figure this out. He had barely read anything about the Ruins since his escaped. But he had read that people thought they were all from different species. But if one race that built them all, then that one race killed themselves fighting each other? He had seen what happened when that started, and the chaos as friend fought friend. But what reason could they have had to fight?


    But as he watched, he noticed that the leader looked to be different from the others. This one was at the center of the five defended than the others, with a long crest of white skin on its head. And while the others all carried pistols, this one had two spears. And it was a bit shorter, maybe half a foot at most. The only thing he could do was watch, and hope that they only had to deal with the three waves.


    Below, the one in front moved into the grass, the others following behind. As they moved into an arrow formation, the better to protect their front. The ones at the right and left both looked at their sides while the middle twirled their spears. And the one at the back looked over their shoulder as they maintained formation.


    He wanted to cry out, to tell them what was coming for them. But he knew this was so long ago that he didn¡¯t have a word for the time that had passed. All he could do was watch, take the file, and let others know what had happened there.


    Below the five prisoners, all had moved into the grass now, and the waves had split up. Two of the waves were going around the right side of the rock. The last one had gone to the left and was moving to the edge of the grass before it turned towards the five humanoids.


    As he watched, the lone wave moved closer to the right figure, and the other two stayed at the edge. For a second he wondered just what kind of plan this was, then he understood.


    Suddenly the right figure dropped into the grass, and from the way the others reacted it had cried out. Looking down, Bryce could only watch what he knew would happen.


    As the figures from the back and front moved to help the right, the two other waves struck the left figure! But before they could reach the left, the central figure moved. In an instant, the central figure had moved in front of the left figure and swung out her right spear. The spear hit both of them before the waves could reach the left figure. As the front and back figures moved back, Bryce saw the back figure carrying the right. the right figure had lost its right arm, while the left held a rock blade in its hand.


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    As one of the figures moved towards the rock, the central figure at the left. Bryce just nodded as he watched, seeing just what the figures were doing. Get to a place where you can fight with your back while forcing your foes to come at your front, smart.


    As he watched the figures moved faster, he frowned. There was something about all thiss that bothered him, but what was it? Then it hit him, and he looked towards the side the waves had come from. He tried to go higher but he couldn¡¯t. But he watched in horror as five more waves suddenly appeared at the edge, moving towards the rock.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane sighed as he looked at the door. The simple maintenance on his weapon had taken up enough of his time, but he was finished. The work was good, it had let him center his thoughts, and absorb the things they had seen. So far, this place was even more active than any Ruin the Family knew about. The constructs looked new, or maybe they just hadn¡¯t been activated before. But the way this place was, how decayed it was? He just couldn¡¯t see any way that this was possible. Suddenly he went still as something suddenly came up from the depths of his mind. It was impossible, it didn¡¯t make sense how this was possible. But it fits, everything fits. It explained everything and more, everything made sense!


    ¡°Oh stars! This is so bad!¡± Zane said loudly as he fell backward. He held his hands over his eyes as he tried and failed to think of anything that might show he was wrong. But any idea that he created led back to his realization. No matter what he thought of, nothing changed. ¡°We are in so much trouble!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Rodolphe asked. His voice showed he was only half awake, and Zane looked at him. He watched as Rodolphe blinked and then looked around, throwing a hand over his face. ¡°Nova. I wanted this all to be nothing but a bad dream.¡±


    ¡°Sorry man. But it¡¯s been an hour. Time to make a choice soon. This place is safe,¡± Zane said with a grin. He forced himself not to even think about his idea. If he was right, they¡¯d find the truth sooner or later. For now, deal with the moment and work from there. If they hadn¡¯t been attacked yet, then maybe they were safe. If those things weren¡¯t what he thought they were, then maybe they could rest here. Then a swift charge back where they had come, and then out into the light.


    Rodolphe only looked at Zane before sighing. ¡°So you want to spend the night here, behind doors that open one way¡­.. smart. I mean if we can¡¯t get up and out of this place, this might be the best choice we have. But let¡¯s hear from Bryce and his files. So what have you decoded man?¡±


    After a few seconds, they heard nothing and Zane started to feel a little worried. He looked at Rodolphe and saw the same emotions on his friend¡¯s face. As one they turned towards Bryce and saw that he hadn¡¯t reacted. He was still at the computer terminal, only now he was staring into space.


    ¡°BRYCE!¡± Rodolphe howled as he got up.


    Zane passed by him and grabbed Bryce, his hand going to Bryce¡¯s pulse. He sighed softly as he felt the steady rate, but then what Bryce was registered in his mind. He knew nothing about what was normal for Students! For all he knew Bryce could be having a heart attack or slipping into a coma!


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Rodolphe asked as he appeared at Zane¡¯s left.


    Zane shook his head and then looked at Bryce¡¯s face. His friend''s eyes were normal, and he seemed to be looking at something. ¡°Augmented Nanites. He has to be looking at one of the files he decoded!¡±


    ¡°What could he be seeing in there?¡± Rodolphe asked, wonder in his voice.


    Zane only looked at him and then felt a spark of horror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce watched as the central figure directed the others to the rock. It was smart, but she had no way of knowing that she was sending them to their doom. The waves had multiplied, growing until there were thirty of them. As it was, the rock was nothing more than a killing ground.


    ¡°What is this? What are they?¡± Bryce asked as he looked down at the field. He still hadn¡¯t been able to see anything about what was making the waves. Still, they were fast and they seemed to be able to coordinate together. And doing it in a way that the figures couldn¡¯t hear. He had seen a lot of military plans over the years in the School. This looked like a classic, drawing a foe to what they thought was safe ground. Then once the enemy was at the trap, it was sprung.


    But he was forced to watch this play out. This had already happened millions of years ago at least. But now he was a witness, and he had the proof. Once he got back and figured out a safe way to let others know about it, this would be remembered.


    As he watched the final dance began. As soon as the front and right figures made it to the rocks the waves all charged. One of them jumped at the figures and Bryce was finally able to see it. And he wished that they had stayed in the grass.


    The waves were made by long green snake-crab things each five foot tall. They had long snake bodies with ten long chitin legs. The creature¡¯s head had a hood and under it above the front, most pair of legs were crab claws. As one of them leapt at the front figure another came out of the grass. This one spat a blob of red liquid that hit the face of the right figure. After this happened the figure dropped its weapon. It brought its hands to its face and before anything else could happen two more of the snake things attacked it. They sank their fangs into the figure''s neck, killing it as far as Bryce could see. While this happened the leaper had hit the front figure. Before the figure could react, the snake-thing coiled it''s body around the figure. As the figure tried to fight back, the snake-thing held the figure down before it bit through the figure¡¯s neck.


    As soon as the other realized what was happening the central figure pointed at the rocks. As they broke into a run as the central figure stayed where it was and started to swing its spears around in circles. Energy slashs shout out from each spear, not hitting anything but the grass. In moments the figure had a twenty-foot round section had been cleared in front of the rocks. The figure gained an energy aura colored a deep black as the creatures charged into the new clearing .


    As the two other figures climbed up, the central figure stared down the snake things as five of them charged. The figure ran and stabbed out with its spear, sending a comet of black energy at one. It gored through the top of the creature¡¯s head and then charged right at Bryce.


    The view suddenly went white and what he was able to see next was a view of the snake thing. Rows of strange symbols appeared next to it as the creature started to rotate. A few moments later the view dissipated and he saw his friends looking at him.


    All Bryce could do was smile bitterly. ¡°Well, the idea that they forced prisoners to fight has been proven. And I think I have part of a map.¡±


    ¡°You should have told us before you went in!¡± Rodolphe said with a scowl.


    Bryce sighed and shook his head. ¡°I finished it and wanted to make sure it was something helpful. Old lesson from the school, you verify your intel.¡±


    ¡°Suddenly, a lot of our shared friend¡¯s actions make sense,¡± Zane said as he slapped his eyes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphed only looked at Bryce as he tried and failed to understand him. He already wanted to destroy this school, but now he wanted to make it long and painful. The things that drilled those lessons into kids, they weren¡¯t sentient. But that was for later, for now, he had to deal with what was happening in the here and now. ¡°Still, you should have told us! Who knows what that could have done to you?!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it took over my nanite stream! I couldn¡¯t cancel it once it started! It was¡­..¡± Bryce said before he looked away and swallowed.


    Rodolphe looked at him and tried to keep calm, but he felt terror. Zane¡¯s idea about just what the Builders had used this place for. The very idea of sending captives against bioweaponswas something he hoped was wrong. But the evidence that Bryce had found was enough prove Zane right. And to destroy all the peace theories about the Builder¡¯s Civilization. And the creatures that the group had already face. Each one had to have been the descendants of the survivors from this very complex. And now they were attacking the castaways. Plus the way that Bryce had reacted told him that this was the place where a lot of blood had been spilled.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zane said softly as he took a deep breath. ¡°How bad was it?¡±


    ¡°Five people, they had weapons and were dressed in rags. They had the same number of digits on their hands as the body we found. Might have been part of a civil war,¡± Bryce said softly.


    Rodolphe could see that Bryce was haunted by what he saw. And that was enough for him to make a choice.


    ¡°Zane, your idea? We¡¯re staying here tonight. Tomorrow we¡¯ll try and get out of here. Bryce, that other file? Does it show where the other door goes?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Bryce looked down at his handheld unit and nodded after a few moments. ¡°Yeah. It goes to a corridor that goes along the forest. I think it goes to another station like this. If I¡¯m reading these characters right, there might be another room like this one there. If I can get another map like this from there, I might be able to find a way back up.¡±


    Rodolphe looked at Bryce. He heard a lot of maybe¡¯s in that idea. If the security room was there, there was no telling how it was. they were lucky that this place was in a ¡®good¡¯ enough state for them to hack into the computer. The chance of that happening twice in the same ruin!! But they had to keep their morale up. Having a goal was important. So for now, he would stay silent about his thoughts about all this.


    ¡°Okay, so I¡¯ll go over our supplies. I¡¯ll make sure we have a few meals planned,¡± Zane said with a small gin.

 Chapter Seventy Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Indoor forest


    Galactic Standard Time / 2100


    As the feline humanoid finished telling the elder what it had experienced in its watch. The one fact that the door had opened caused the elder to feel shocked at the sheer impossibility of the event.


    The Elder was another humanoid feline, only its orange fur had started to go grey. It was wearing a golden robe and sat in a green wooden chair. To its left was a small red crystal from which a soft heat came. The chair was  It stood up and walked around the wooden hut. The elder looked up at small stone statues of its predecessors, the beings that had guided their race. The station of the Watchers was meant to watch for the Creator¡¯s return, a way to let the weaker heir grow stronger. For generations, nothing had ever happened at the post, and it became a place to watch that side of the forest. But now, the door had been opened and a blast of light had been fired at the captain. There was something different about this, and they had to react to this all!


    But what to do? The other tribes would surely hear about it sooner or later! And the passageway was still in the hands of the Horn Clan! The defenses the clan set up wouldn¡¯t hold if the rest of the clans united to take over the forest. And sooner or later the others would learn.


    A mew from the Captain of the Watchers caused the Elder to turn and look. This one was always loyal and strong. It was also a proven leader and could think quickly. All in all, the Elder had been grooming the Captain to take over. But was it a strong enough one to handle the return of the Creators? They were the rightful masters of the Under Jungle, those who were worthy of the above hunting place!


    The Under Jungle was said in the songs of the tribe to be under a great paradise. A land in the middle of a great lake, full of fruit trees and prey to hunt. A place that was lit by a great light above them out of reach of all. A light that The Creators brought to their ancestors. Brining them here had been a challenge but the tribe had survived, but they had lived in fear of jailers. The stories of the tribe said that the Creators put the tribe down here to test them. That they had been here to prove themselves worthy of the Power that the Creators saw in them.


    For generations the Tribe had lived in this small part of the Under Jungle. They had claimed it as their territory and controlling their numbers. When the great shaking had happened generations ago, it had caused a miracle.  The paths to the other parts of the Under Jungle had opened and they had celebrated their good fortune. The rules that limited their numbers had ended, they had finally prove themselves! But then the other tribes had attacked. Now they had been pushed back to their first new lands, barely keeping the others at the Front Line. They needed an advantage, something that they could use to break their backs. And now something had caused the Creators¡¯s Door to open!


    The elder looked at a crude map on the hide of a beast the tribe killed. The elder traced the battle line and scowled a little. After generations, the Unworthy were slowly forcing them back with trickery and unholy powers. Those of their number who had gained the Creators¡¯s Might had only turned it into a slow retreat, not a rout. They needed to change tactics, but how? The other clans controlled all the routes, how else could they¡­.! The elder went still as its finger slowly moved along the line of the Creator¡¯s Place. It nodded and started to chuckle, it could work. That could work!


    Each part of the Under Jungle they had found was a way for the Creators to judge the actions of their chosen ones. It stood to reason that the Creators had ways to move about. They had to, all to watch their chosen ones and prepare new tests for them. Then if they could send a part of the warriors through the creator¡¯s place. They could attack the others and then take back their inactive, change the pace of the war!


    The Elder only stared at the map as a mad feeling came over it. This was perfect! And this had to be the final test of the Creators, would the worthy do anything to survive? Yes, only then would their chosen be worthy of the Power and Might of the Creators themselves!


    It turned towards the Captain still bowed before it. It looked at this one and felt a small spark of interest. The battle between the two heirs was something, and the victory had been decided by luck alone. This was still wanted to return to the front lines, and the chance to gain honor was the perfect way to tempt it. But for it to get others to brave the Creators''s Realm, it would need something. A token or tool to prove that the Elder trusted it, and the Elder knew just what to give the Captain.


    Twenty minutes later, the Captain walked out, its teeth bared in glee. Over its back was a new weapon, something that gave the Captain so much pleasure. At long last, it was slowly returning to its proper place! Without a word, it raised its hand and the Watchers fell in behind it. They were all worried about what would happen now. All they had expected was to live, just hunting and protecting their tribe¡¯s back. They were the dregs of the tribe, those who were expected to be those who defended their homes. But now their true purpose was needed, and they had to rise. As the Watchers slowly grew more bold they realized where they were going, and as one they were shocked. The party didn¡¯t move back towards the wall, instead, they moved towards the mustering field!


    As twenty new warriors stood ready to move to the front line their Trainer stood before them. The Trainer was a feline with grey fur and was wearing a black dyed vest. It¡¯s job was to train the new Warriors, and this was one of the best batches it had in years. There were a few bad seeds that were that had made it through, and it¡¯s eyes went to one in particular. As the object of its ire stared back, Trainer¡¯s eyes then went to its best student. This one had gold color fur and unlike the others who only wore green vests, this one had on a greenhead band. Out of all of them, Trainer saw this one as the best it had. Trainer expected that this one would rise in the Tribe¡¯s eyes, and become a worthy one.


    As Trainer was about to give them their orders, the Watchers walked onto the field. Without a word, the Captain walked straight towards the trainer, a sense of command about it. What followed was the Trainer arguing with the Captain as it told the Trainer it was taking the warriors. As the trainer tried to argue the Captain drew the sword from its back, revealing a Creator Metal blade.


    These weapons were only handed out by the Elder, each a sign of its trust to the wielders. The Trainer stepped backwards, shocked beyond words. To even see the wielder of a Creator Metal blade was rare, they mostly stayed at the front lines. The tribe still had a magma forge where they could smelt the bodies of the Creator¡¯s servants. But to even find or damage a servant, they needed a Creator Metal blade. The tribe only had less than ten of the blades, and all but three were on the front lines. To see one here, and it¡¯s wielder needed his trainees? The answer for what the Trainer would do was obvious.


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    Moments later, the Trainer led the twenty warriors behind the Watchers. As one they ran towards the Watch Station. All the Trainer knew was that this was a path to glory, one that was chosen by the Elder.


    The Captain was giddy, this was perfect. Once the tribe heard that it had led a group through the Creator¡¯s Realm, its name would rise. If the plan of the Elder worked, then the tribe would have more land. Then they would be able to grow their numbers and take back everything that the foul ones had taken from them! Uniting and attacking the Tribe, how dare they! Soon they would feel the Captain¡¯s Blade as it plunged into the backs of their armies!


    Finally, they reached the guar post and the captain climbed up the stairs. As the warriors and Watchers followed after it, the Captain looked ahead. All the Captain had to do was get through the door, and then everything would be perfect. Nothing could stop its rise now!


    As the group moved up the stairs, a white-furred feline slowly looked around. As it did so, a strange feeling going through it. It was the sorest of the warriors, but it was loyal. No matter how long it took, it survived and did its job. The others might think it wasn¡¯t suited for a life as more than a Drudge, White wanted to serve to the best of its abilities. Let the others try and bully it, it would keep standing until it¡¯s service was over!


    A red-furred feline with a line of black fur from its forehead back looked at the white one and chuckled to itself. Unlike the others, this one never bothered the white one. It liked the way White always worked hard for its fellows, and never tried to bring others down. Unlike the Gold one, who always had to win and bring others down to improve how the Trainer saw it. As soon as they all made it to the Front Line, then others would see the truth. Gold would find a way to suck up to a leader, earn their trust. Then when the leader''s back was turned,  Gold would kill it and try and takeover. Red only wanted to survive and maybe have a few litters later on, and that was enough for it. Let Gold scheme, as long as Gold left it and its friends alone, let the stuck-up run to its death.


    As they moved up the stairs, White looked around, a strange feeling going through it. Something about the walls was bothering it, and it couldn¡¯t figure out why. Still, as far as it was concerned that wasn¡¯t something to be bothered with. It had joined the Warrior Trials to become a Warrior to protect its clan, and that was what it wanted to do. As long as all its tribe-mates could make it back alive from war, it would be happy.


    As the Warriors all made it to the hallway, all of them looked at the windows in awe. They had moved so far upwards, and the view was something they had never thought they would ever see. For a solid moment, even Gold was looking at it in awe. To see their home from this high, and to see only the peace and not the battle. To see the world they had grown in from this height, the Creators were true gods to have created such wonder.


    The Watchers all yowled, and the Warriors moved on. Red looked on and saw Trainer had even been affected by the view. Red grinned a little and moved its right hand to its blade, and looked at the windows as it moved. There was something about this view that bothered Red, something that wasn¡¯t there. But for some reason, it had a strange feeling that it had seen something like this before, and had hated it.


    When the group reached the door, both the Captain and the Trainer stepped forward to examine it. After a few minutes of work, they couldn''t find any way open the door. Trainer turned towards the Captain with a scowl in its eyes. The Captain didn¡¯t say anything, it kept looking for a way to open it.


    The door just stood there, all the slash marks the few Watchers who had Creator Steel blades the only signs on it. The Captain kept looking for anything that might have changed, there had to be! There had to be a way, there had to be. This was a test from the Creator¡¯s, it had to be! They wouldn¡¯t just open their realm after all these centuries only for it not to let them in!


    White looked around from the pack of Warriors and tried to think a bit. There was something about the walls that had bothered it as it walked down the hallway, but what? No matter what it thought of, it was still there. Something about them was different, something that was beyond the edge of its mind.


    As Trainer yowled and waved its arms, White looked up in shock. Trainer wanted them all to move to the Front lines and something about how the mission was a fool¡¯s one. As Captain growled and drew it¡¯s blade, White went still. It looked from the blade as Captain threatened Trainer and nodded. As Trainer spoke again, White stepped forward and meowed. Red looked at her as Gold blinked, but they were the only ones who heard it. As Captain and Trainer both kept arguing Gold stepped forward, grabbing Captain¡¯s arm. As the two looked at him, Gold pointed at the wall by the door.


    With a word, Captain looked from Gold to the wall and sliced out with its weapon. As they all looked and saw that Captain¡¯s blade had sliced through the wall itself a few inches, they stared in shock.


    Captain only looked at the wall, and then with a yowl started to slice at the walls.


    White looked at the wall, and only now knew what had bothered it. All the marks on the windows and door, but had been none on the wall. With the Creator Steel blade, Captain was making it so they could push the door open. And that meant that the mission might work after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Down the hallway, a large and long drone flew. It was sent into the abandoned sector with one order, capture the Templates from the new sample group. The fact that they had found a way into the Complex under the Mind¡¯s control was too much for it to tolerate. Already, the mind was making a plan to repair and recover the sector. With the help coming from the Central Mind, the complex would be stronger than it had been in years.


    But still, the drone was the best for this situation. It was long, maybe ten feet long, five high, and one wide with a kind of blocky shape to it. At its center was a large stalk with a crystal sphere at the top that glowed. It had four long limbs that front-ended in four clamps set in an ¡®X¡¯ formation. It had eight slopped thrusters, four on top and four on the bottom at the end of its body that pushed it along. It was made mostly of the metal that the Creators had made this complex out of. The only thing that wasn¡¯t were the circuitry within its body and the crystal sphere.


    This drone was sent when the Mind needed to capture less than four specimens. And most times it alone was enough to get the job done, even if the targets could think. As it sighted the door Zane, Bryce, and Rodolphe had gone through, it slowly sped up to ram it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zane blinked he looked up. After they had all decided to stay here, they had scouted ahead through the other door. It opened onto a dark corridor that they had traveled for a while before returning to the security room. The plan had been to go through it the next morning. Zane had volunteered to watch the room with the glass wall. He had said that if the robots came back, they would need someone to be on guard. But the noise was coming from the door to the hallway with the windows.


    He looked at it and for a second he thought he saw nothing, but then he saw it slowly move upwards. As that happened, a sound from behind him caused him to turn and see the door to the hallway being pushed open.


    ¡°Time to go,¡± He said with a swallow as he turned and ran for the security room. He fumbled for the ¡®hand key¡¯, and ran through the door.


    As he ran into the room, he put the hand under the scanner inside and whistled. ¡°Time to go my friends! We¡¯ve got a battle behind us, so let¡¯s leave them alone to settle their differences!¡±


    Bryce and Rudolphe both looked up from what they were doing.


    ¡°Zane, what¡¯s happening!?¡± Bryce asked as he put his pack on.


    Zane kept silent as he threw on his pack as the door closed behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t know, only that the doors from the hallway and the corridor are both opening from the other sides! So let¡¯s move before the survivors come for us!¡±


    ¡°Right, the key!¡± Rodolphe said from the other door.


    Zane threw it to him and without a word, the group moved out of the door. Rodolphe let the other two pass before he closed the door with the ¡°hand key¡±. Knowing they would need it again, he put it into his pack before following after the others into the unknown.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Captain walked into the room, looking around smelling the scent of everything there. As it led the way into the chamber, Captain looked around and saw the way it was set up. With a strange feeling going through it, for a moment it was shocked. But then Captain realized that it was feeling disappointed. This wasn¡¯t anything like it had expected to come to, it seemed like a room back in the village. But then it saw the great window and its breath was stolen at the view. Captain looked up at the view of the Sky Crystals and it stared in awe. The Captain felt a rush of something, something it couldn¡¯t identify. But now it seemed like it was the perfect time to tell the others their true mission.


    But before it could say anything beyond looking at the wonder Captain heard a screech of fear. Captain turned with a scowl but it saw Trainer staring down at something as some of the others stood with it. Captain came over and when it saw the skeleton, it stared in horror. Before any of them could say anything, they heard something from the side opposite the mirror. They all turned and stared, shocked and worried about what was coming at them.

 Chapter Seventy Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Room Overlooking Indoor Forest


    Galactic Standard Time / 2130


    As they all watched, the door with everything in front of it moved slowly open. The body that had the same number of digits as the Creator¡¯s was one thing, but this was another. The Captain of the Watchers only looked around as it drew its Creator Metal blade and stood its ground. It might be a shock, but it was the leader. And it led from the front! With a yowl, it told the others their orders. As the Watchers moved to obey, the Trainer stood where it was.


    White and Crimson grabbed it and led it away from the body, hoping to get their teacher away from the battle to come. But they understood just what Trainer must be feeling. They had all been raised with stories about the Creators. And each one told just what they looked like from the old knowledge that had been passed down. Both White and Crimson had to admit, in their hearts, that they might have found a dead Creator. The very idea was heretical, but they had to admit it, even in their minds alone. But if all the Creators were dead, then what had they been working towards all their lives? What had their clan been after?


    Captain pointed its blade and yowled, and it heard the Watchers all cry in reply. They might have been the dregs, but Captain had trained them all well. Each one was in Captain¡¯s mind, the equal to the greatest of the Front Line troops. That was why the Elder had chosen them to lead the charge into this land. They would find victory! They would use these lands to get around the Front Line, destroy their clan''s enemies! And in the process they would all become heroes. Captain would accept nothing else from its followers, and they would give their all!


    But then the blocked door blew open, throwing everything holding it closed away. As the dust cleared something came through, something that shocked everyone there. It was the Drone that had come after Zane and the others. But the Felines didn¡¯t know that. All they knew wass that this thing was one of the Creator¡¯s servants, the largest they had ever seen. It was a floating slab with a long neck and four arms.


    The Captain stared, having never seen anything like this before. For a moment he almost took a step back but the feel of his blade gave him courage. Its blade was of the same metal as the servant, and it could cut that thing apart. And if they just took this apart and brought it back, they would be able to make so many blades. Yes. The more Captain thought of it, the more this seemed the better. The blades made of the Creator¡¯s servants were one of the reasons that they had held the line. And with this one, they could make at least three times the number they already had. A force with such weapons they¡¯d be able to break the Front Line and take back everything they lost! And with the plan to attack from behind the Front Line? This was the perfect plan, nothing could stop it!


    With a yell, Captain ran right at the Drone. As Captain raised its blade above its head, it felt its courage rise. Nothing would stop it now!


    But then the drone aimed all four limbs at Captain and fired four bolts. Each bolt hit Captain/s head, turning into mulch.


    Captain¡¯s dead body took another step forward, and stopped. Then it fell forward, the sword Captain was so proud of slipping from away as the body hit the ground.


    The others all stared in shock, none of them even thinking this would happen. Gold screeched and ran away, pushing aside one of the Watchers who had held the door open for the others.


    White and Crimson only watched as the door slammed shut as the others screeched in fear. Each Feline ran all over, trying to get away from the Drone. Two of them ran past the Drone, into the wider complex, leaving the others away. The Drone reacted, firing bolts from its arms. Three bolts hit the heads of two Warriors and a Watcher, killing them.


    The drone turned to fire again, but this time all the bolts missed their target and destroyed the window. With a small boom, the glass shattered. A moment later the air rushed out, the pull carrying one of the Watchers into the air. Before the Watcher could even fall a foot a pink tongue wrapped around it. The tongue belonged to a large bird that swallowed the Watcher whole. No soon had the poor soul been eaten did the bird fly off. A moment later two more of the birds were suddenly there in the broken widnow as their tongues shot at the Felines. One of their tongues was severed by the Drone¡¯s bolts, and then they looked at the Drone. As the injured bird flew away, the reaming bird barreled into the room.


    Crimson saw the drone attacking the birds and tried to think. With that way closed to them, they had to handle this Servant first. And to do that Crimson needs to get that sword!


    White looked at its friend Crimson and thought about everything they had experienced. White could think fast enough that what Crimson figured out White did as well. And as White thought, a burning started within it. Everything  that had brought them all here crystallized in White''s mind, something clicked. White knew it would give anything to help its friend, even its own life. Suddenly a strange feeling caused White to point its right paw at Crimson. Then a strange feeling went down White''s arm and a white energy ray hit Crimson.


    Crimson looked down and saw he was covered in a white energy armor. Looking at White he realized that the feline had awoken the Creator¡¯s Power. With a small fanged grin, Crimson shot forward. Because of what White had given it, Crimson ran faster the it ever had before. The Drone turned and fired but the bolts bounced off the energy armor. Crimson grabbed the fallen blade and turned, dashing towards the Drone.


    White could only watch in awe as Crimson jumped and cleaved the neck of the Drone right off. As Crimson landed it kept going, bouncing off the wall. Before they knew what he was doing Crimson slashed the remaining bird. They all watched as Crimson stood there. But moments later the sounds of more birds coming caused everyone to feel fear.


    Crimson roared and as one the survivors all ran towards behind the Drone.


    White grabbed two passing Warriors and pointed at the Drone, they needed to bring it with them! They had lost their own, they needed the resources the Drone represented to prove that this was worth it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce looked over his shoulder and winced. Once more he cursed the fact that he could hear better than most sentient beings. The sounds that echoed from the room they had left told him everything about what they had escaped. Turning back around, he saw Zane looking at him as Rodolphe kept his eyes straight ahead.


    ¡°How bad?¡± Zane asked.


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    Bryce just sighed and shook his head. ¡°Some kind of battle, and I think the window was broken. And maybe the birds got in.¡±


    ¡°Great. So we¡¯re stuck with going this way after all,¡± Rodolphe said softly as he shook his head.


    Bryce only nodded, a horrible feeling going through him. He didn¡¯t mention that he thought he heard the sounds of something crying out, crying for others to live. That hurt him a lot more than he wanted to, but it let him know. There were sentient races down her. They had to get back to the others, everyone here needed help! If they could think, then they could be reasoned with. And that meant they needed help.


    But as he looked around the corridor, he wondered if that would be possible. That they should go back down here after getting out of it. He tried to keep calm, but what they found was not helping that, at all. So far, they might have only made it past where they had scouted only a few moments ago, but this was beyond him. Each step showed that whatever had happened here, had been bad. With the light crystals they had found, every one in three was destroyed. And of the remaining, only half of them worked or were cracked. Whatever had happened down here, the battle had been savage.


    ¡°So uprising, would that fit this?¡± Bryce asked as he looked ahead.


    Rodolphe only nodded, and Zane sighed.


    ¡°Yeah, uprising. I mean you see the aftermath of one slave uprising you¡¯ve seen all of them. This is a lot longer between when it happened than I see it. I mean I''m more used to seeing it happen, but you see the signs when you know them,¡± Robolphe said bitterly.


    ¡°Here maybe, and with that video you found Bryce? Yeah, you¡¯re probably right about this place Rodolphe. But what about the rest? What did they use it for?¡± Zane asked with a hard edge to his voice as he looked around.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Bryce meanwhile kept his ears open, trying to hear beyond the group. If anything was moving towards them, he wanted to know as soon as it took a step. But he kept his attention on the conversation his friends were having. But as they moved, a sinking feeling forming within him. His mind was already thinking about what Zane had said, and what it might mean. Something about it made him feel that something terrible was coming.


    ¡°What did I mean? This whole planet! I mean what else did they use it for? Are there other places like this here? Were those creatures we fought other experiments that escaped? Or were they the creation of an automatic process that¡¯s still going on?¡± Zane asked with a hard edge to his voice.


    Bryce shuddered, remembering all the horrors that runaway programs could cause. He had seen some of the worst things in his studies that showed just what that subject had caused so many people. From warbots that never heard the signal to deactivate, they kept killing. Then to security systems that went haywire, killing those they meant to protect. The fact that wherever programs here had been left to rot. But that program knew that that it needed something to break down the door, so what wasn''t he seeing here. What had they done to let the program know....


    Bryce went cold as he thought about that in more depth. Was it because there were no repair drones? So far they had seen more than five different drones, and he had to admit he knew nothing about Ruins. But what reason¡­. Reason. He felt his blood freeze as that one word resonated and he followed it to the end. Was there a chance that he was right about that? He stopped and let the others pass him by before he spoke.


    ¡°Guys¡­..¡± Bryce began as he looked at Zane and Rodolphe and swallowed. ¡°I¡¯ve got a terrible thought that I want you both to disprove, okay?¡±


    Zane and Rodolphe both looked back at him and then each other before nodding.


    ¡°Sure Bryce, what is it?¡± Rodolphe asked ass Zane looked around.


    ¡°Most Ruins, the robots always attack people? But then the robots left us alone until something came to break down the door. How could they have known what was needed?¡± Bryce asked and waited for a reply.


    Zane opened his mouth and was about to say something but stopped. He held up his right hand and then it fell as he tried and failed to find anything to say.


    Rodolphe meanwhile looked into space as he tried and failed to come to any answer. After a few moments, he went still and slowly looked up at Bryce. ¡°Tell me that it can¡¯t be true!¡±


    As Zane looked at Rodolphe, Bryce only nodded.


    ¡°It makes sense then?¡± Bryce said bitterly and Rodolphe calliopesed against the wall, sinking to the ground.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe only looked at the floor, his mind nearly broken. He kept trying and failing to keep the terrible situation they were in from overwhelming him. He had thought they were in bad sands before now, but he could feel the sandstorm coming towards them. Who knows how it had handled things up there? Were the things that attacked them new or had they been sent at them?


    ¡°What the Nova are you two talking about!? What did you figure out!?¡± Zane demanded.


    Rodolphe only looked at him and chuckled darkly. Somehow Zane hadn¡¯t seen what Bryce had figured out, and that was funny. But the way they were heading for disaster meant that they had to tell him.


    ¡°I figured out that this Ruin has a control inelegance. At least Reasoning class,¡± Bryce said softly.


    Rodolphe only stared into space in horror. Reasoning class. The type of computer-based intelligence that could be controlled.  While they could think for themselves, they couldn''t think outside hardwired commands. It had to follow the commands programmed into it, and never think of anything beyond them. If a war Reasoning class was told to take care of an ant hive in a garden it would bomb the whole garden. The creation of those were forbidden after the Tragedy of Olorcix. When an Ecological Control Reasoning class sterilized a generation of Roclox colonists. Even his world knew of the Tragedy as it happened a good hundred years before his world had been colonized.


    ¡°Come on now! The Builders lived so long ago! They had to have made the same kind of blunder we did right? They had to know what Reasoning types could do!¡± Zane said with a desperate note in his voice.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know anything about them. How they developed technology or in what order? They might have created them just before they fell for all we know. Stars, Reasoning type Inelegance might have been the other side of their war for all we know!¡± Bryce said bitterly.


    Rudolphe only looked at Zane, feeling scared beyond measure. But he knew that they had to think this through, to see just how big the problem was. ¡°Let¡¯s just talk, okay? We gotta. This changes so much.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it does,¡± Bryce said with a nod, but then he went still. He looked back towards what they thought was a security room, a frown forming on his face. ¡°But we should move faster, something broke down the door to the chamber back there.¡±


    ¡°Any ideas what?¡± Rudolphe asked as he and Zane both aimed their weapons down the hallway.


    Bryce listened and shook his head. He looked at the others with a slight scowl on his face. ¡°Like nothing I ever heard before. And with this place, that¡¯s to be expected. But we can talk once we get to the next room and I start mining for a new map!¡±


    Rodolphe only looked back down the hallways before slowly nodding. He turned and looked ahead, his rifle aimed at anything ahead of them. ¡°I¡¯ve got point, Zane behind me. Keep listening to anything behind us Bryce!¡±


    ¡°Got it, man! Ready to run!¡± Zane called out.


    ¡°Sure boss!¡± Bryce said with a cheeky tone to his voice.


    Rudolphe only grinned as he ran, hearing the others follow behind him. Whatever was ahead of them, they would make it back to the others. He couldn¡¯t see how they would do anything else.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Crimson sliced through another of the tongue, Crimson roared. Before it three more large birds hovered outside the broken window. For the last few moments, Crimson had been able to defend the others. And all of them had almost escaped, but more of the birds kept coming. Thankfully the gift White had given Crimson still worked, but for how much longer? When the final member of its Tribe escaped through the doorway, Crimson followed. It dashed out the door and then lunged to the right. As another tongue followed after it, Crimson sliced down with the sword in its hands.


    As the hooked barb landed on the ground, the birds started to screech. Crimson looked around and paled in horror. There were only eight Warriors, White, Trainer, and two of the Watchers out here. They had lost eight Warriors, Captain, and the other Watchers in one battle alone! but Captain had been killed so fast by this Servant, it barely counted in the tallie! And with Gold running away, should that one be counted? Crimson walked towards it and slashed through one of the things arms. Crimson reached down and picked it up. It was made of the Creator¡¯s Metal alright.


    It looked at Trainer and saw it was still making soft meowings, muttering prayers to the Creators. For a moment, Crimson felt a spark of horror fill its heart. Finding that body like that might have broken Trainer, but they couldn¡¯t leave it here. And they needed to bring Trainer along, they couldn''t leave it behind. All the Warriors it taught had the highest chance to live through battle. Trainer''s skill to teach others was a key part of the Tribe''s strength, they needed it to live. And they needed it to bring Gold to justice. Already that traitor must have been making tracks back to the Elder! It must be trying to get its version of events the only one that mattered. If the truth that they had discovered wasn¡¯t told, then they might be looking at the total death of their Tribe.


    Crimson felt a stab of despair, but it had to go on. The Creators were dead for who knows how long. They might have been dead before they were even put into the Jungle. The Servants could have revolted for all it knew. So much of the War was about proving who was the rightful heir of the Creators, and who they would choose. But the Creators might all be dead, or the tribe¡¯s patron might only be. They had to get back, retake the Chamber behind them, and find out! All the Others needed to know too! This was too big, too big for any one group! They all had to know.


    The soft purring of White caused Crimson to look up and see its friend. It had taken everyone farther to the right. White was looking after the others while two of the Warriors watched the right hallway. This way they would know if anything came at them from that direction. Then Crimson saw White looking at the dead Servant and Crimson smiled.


    Crimson started to yowl, and a Watcher sprang forward and picked up the severed arm. As the other arms of the servant were chopped off, Crimson smiled. For it knew that bringing back this metal meant that its news would be easier to share. Those who gave great gifts did get to speak to the Chief after all.

 Chapter Seventy Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Corridor from Security Room


    Galactic Standard Time / 2205


    Zane followed after Rodolphe as they all moved, his mind trying to find a counter to what they had talked about. But no matter what argument he tried, it still came back to the fact that he couldn¡¯t. There had to be a Reasoning-type inelegance commanding this Ruin, and that scared him so much. The theory that the Builders even had AIs wasn¡¯t one he¡¯d ever heard about. But maybe they, the AI¡¯s had been destroyed at the other Ruins. It made sense since the Ruins were always found¡­.. partially destroyed. Still, there had to be a reason why this one place survived where others didn¡¯t! And where¡­.. ¡°Stars and nova.¡±


    Zane stopped for a moment as a wild thought came to him. If he was right, then they were in even worse trouble than the others knew. He hoped he was wrong, but if he wasn¡¯t¡­¡­ they had to get back to the others, fast.


    As Rodolphe turned a corner Zane heard a cry of joy. As Zane followed after Rodolphe he saw the reason, ahead of them by around twenty feet was the door they had after. It was at the end of a dark hallway, with only the only light above the door. With a grin, Zane looked at his friend as Bryce made it to them.


    ¡°So do we go in, or have our talk here?¡± Bryce asked as he looked at them.


    Zane swallowed and sighed as he pulled off his pack. ¡°I say here, best to get it over with. And I think you might be right. But this problem? It¡¯s a lot bigger.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bryce asked as he and Rodolphe both pulled off their packs, sitting in a triangle with Zane.


    ¡°I was thinking, where did the new bots come from?¡± Zane asked as he looked around, a hard look in his eyes. Before they could reply to him, Zane spoke some more. ¡°Were they made recently? And if so where? And what was used to make them?¡±


    Rodolphe looked at Zane, his mouth open in shock.


    Bryce looked at Zane with a confused look on his face. ¡°What do you mean Zane? If they were new they had to have been ¡­..made¡­.in a factory¡­..¡±


    As Bryce trailed off he paled in fear.


    ¡°You can¡¯t mean that this thing has access to a factory here! Where would it get the resources!¡± Rodolphe asked in horror.


    Zane only sighed and looked at his friends, feeling the words he was about to say. The weight of the idea almost made them too much to pass on, but he had to. ¡°I think¡­. There might be another place with a Reasoning AI on this rock. And if I¡¯m right it¡¯s a resource collector type.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s been thousands of years! It can¡¯t still be harvesting right? Planet and moon-based mines dry out after at most a hundred years!¡± Rodolphe exclaimed and Zane only looked at his friend with a hard look.


    After a few moments, Bryce looked at his friend as he winced. ¡°Oh, I see. Yeah, I see what you mean Zane. And I wish it didn¡¯t make sense but it does.¡±


    ¡°So you see it Bryce, good. And I wish I was wrong about this!¡± Zane said bitterly.


    Rodolphe only looked between his friends, a look of complete confusion on his face. ¡°What? What am I not seeing!¡±


    ¡°This is a Ruin. That means that the Ruin Builders made this,¡± Bryce said softly.


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Rodolphe asked with a desperate edge to his voice.


    Zane only looked at his friend, and he felt the same as he did. Rodolphe had to be not seeing the answer on purpose, and he wished he could have done the same.


    ¡°That means they might have made Ruin to regrow the minerals mining robots take,¡± Bryce said slowly.


    Rodolphe looked at Bryce, a strange look in his eyes before he slowly fell backwards. He held his hands over his eyes and mouth, screaming into them for a moment. ¡°Okay, okay. That makes sense. But where is it? And how does this affect us? Could the mining AI also build the drones or does this one do it? And is there another AI that only builds the bots?¡±


    Zane only sighed as he looked around at his friends. The truth was, however bad they thought it was, it was probably worse. The one thing that he had learned over the years was a hard lesson. And it was that when you expected something bad, it was probably worse, And sometimes in ways you couldn¡¯t even see.


    ¡°No choice, we have to keep moving and hope to find a way to win. We¡¯ll secure that room ahead, then we¡¯ll sleep for a few hours in shifts. Bryce, can you automate your data mining?¡± Rodolphe asked with an edge to his voice.


    Bryce reached into his backpack and pulled out his handheld device. He looked at it, then around at nothing the others could see. After a few moments, Bryce nodded and looked at the others. ¡°Yeah. I think so anyway. I¡¯ll need to set it up so it¡¯ll disengage if something tries to control it from the other end. If the controlling AI gets into this we¡¯d be done. ¡°I take the first watch, okay? That¡¯ll give me time to get everything set up right.¡±


    Zane looked at him and nodded as Rodolphe just sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°Fine with me. But only after we¡®ve secured the room alright?¡± Rodolphe asked as he looked down at the doorway.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s okay,¡± Bryce said as they all got up. Within moments, they had crossed the distance to the door and were looking around for the lock.


    Zane had a horrible thought as they looked along the walls. They were acting as if the door would open for the key they had. If it wouldn¡¯t then the implant wasn¡¯t for all the locks, it was only for that room. Then that meant that whoever the Builder was, they didn¡¯t have full access. But then why wouldn¡¯t they have full access? That point to things Zane didn¡¯t want to think about. But he had to. They might have to brave the chamber they left if they wanted to live if he was right.


    Stolen story; please report.


    ¡°Found it! Under the broken lights here!¡± Bryce exclaimed.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the key!¡± Rodolphe called out as threw the hand to Bryce.


    Before Zane could say anything, Bryce put the key under the scanner. And then the door opened. Zane only blinked and smiled.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As White followed after Crimson, it looked around the strange path. So far, the Realms of the Creators were nothing like the fables. But then it hadn¡¯t always believed in the stories. Oh, White had believed in the idea of the Creators for sure. But there had always been something about the tales told always struck it as wrong somehow. There was just something there, something that screamed that this was a lie. And here White was, walking through what looked like bare paths. Where were the monuments to the fallen heroes? Where were the memorials of the great Chiefs? Another lie that was told by the ancients to make the lives of the Tribe easier most likely.


    But as the members of the Tribe walked through the empty path, White wished so much for the lie to be real. But they had to deal with the fate their actions created, and this was theirs. They had to survive and return to the Tribe, the War needed to end! If the Creators were all dead, then the War was worthless! There would be no Tribe to uplift by the hands of the dead!


    White felt its left hand slowly rise upwards and pulled it closer. White looked up as Trainer walked on, and meowed softly as Trainer was revealed to still be in shock. White could only gaze at Trainer and feel sorrow for its teacher. Trainer had believed in the Creators watching over them with all its heart. And the way it had prayed to them every night? Finding the bones of the ¡®Immortal Creators¡¯ had destroyed it. And White didn¡¯t know what to do, would it be better to put Trainer out of its misery here and now? But Trainer taught the best Warriors the Tribe had. If they lost Trainer now they might lose everything they had if the War continued! So White had to take care of Trainer until they could find a place to rest. And so White could think about the Power it had gained.


    The few users of the Power had always been attackers, but White was a supporter. Its only power seemed to let Crimson strike harder and move faster. That kind of power was incredible and unlike any other Power user in the tribe. And when Crimson gained the Power, then who knew what they could do together? Could White could support more than one being at a time? That might be enough to let the Chief listen to them without the metal alone!


    But as White moved along, all it could do was try and think about how to use its new powers. If it could use them, and teach them to others like the greats could do, then the Tribe would be that much stronger.


    Ahead, Crimson looked around, trying to smell anything. This place was nothing like any of them had expected. They needed to get back to the Tribe fast! They had seen things that they hadn¡¯t known existed, and seen horrors they didn¡¯t have words for. And they still had to get home with the survivors. As Crimson walked on, it smelled the scent of fear from those behind it and barely kept its fear scent down. It knew what the others felt, it felt it too. But Crimson had a better game face than the others, and now it had to use it. As long as they believed in Crimson, most of them would be able to keep it together. But Crimson had to find a place for them all to rest soon. Walking through this place while tried was asking for death, they had to rest. For the was one lesson their home taught them all, a tired fighter was a dead fighter!


    As they walked along the strange path, every one of them had looks of awe on their faces. This was so far beyond anything they had expected, it was shocking. For the surviving Watchers, the loss of Captain weighed heavily on their minds. Captain had been so full of pride and purpose, with it they felt like they were doing honored work again. And for Captain to have been killed so fast, it was wrong.


    For the Warriors, this was beyond anything rookies were expected to experience. They had all expected to head to guard posts behind the lines. Maybe they would watch over their people as they gathered resources but that was it. Some even thought they might become guards behind the Front Line. But for all of them, their first battle had cost them so much. Each one of them was shocked, and some were handling it better than others.


    For half of them, the battle had passed in a flash, and they barely remembered it. They experienced a sense of shock and rage at themselves for forgetting. The others remembered everything that happened and cursed themselves for their inactions. They all wanted to be better, and they had all killed on hunting trips. But the Servants the Tribe had encountered had all been dead, and all had been smaller.


    None of them knew what they would encounter here, and that scared a lot of them. But each one was a proud member of the tribe, and they would handle this. Sooner or later, they would make it back to their people. They all knew this. They all believed this with all their hearts. They would have justice for their dead and they would tell the Tribe what they found. And they would keep moving until they died to do that!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Gold ran through the jungle, trying to keep calm and think up a story that the Elder would believe. The whole mission had gone wrong from the moment they dared to break through into the Creator¡¯s Realm! When Trainer had been shocked by something Gold hadn''t seen. And then the Creator¡¯s Servant had come to punish them for their trespass. And instead of letting it judge them, the fool of a Captain had instead attacked it! And then the beasts of the air attacked them, killing one of the other heretics!


    Gold had to make it to the Front Lines, it had to carry word of what the Elder had done to the Tribe! To dare to break into the Creators'' realm! That must have been why the Creators had sent their Servant to punish them all! And that had to be only the first of the pain the Creators will send after the Tribe! The only reason that they had spared Gold was because it was to be their message to the rest! Maybe if the Tribe begged for forgiveness they would be spared? As a crunch was heard from the left, Gold dropped to his knees. A moment later a bolt flew over its head and hit a tree.


    Gold backed up and looked at the tree, seeing a black wooden arrow there. Gold paled and started to run on all fours. With every step, more arrows came at it, each one missing. The arrows were fired by killers that the Elder had under its command. Each one was among the deadliest Warriors who the Elder had further trained. They were supposed to be the ones who watched over the Final Line. But the Tribe whispered that the Elder used them as Assassins. Gold had never believed in those stories, but now the reality was upon it.


    As Gold ran and the arrows fell around it, Gold kept on track. As Gold ran, a strange burning suddenly swept through it and caused it to stumble. Falling into a bush, Gold felt the flame sweep through its body. The arrow rain stopped and Gold held its breath. The sound of something coming closer caused Gold to hold its breath. A black-furred feline humanoid walked closer, Gold looked at its legs. Closer and closer it came, until it was right in front of the bush Gold was in.


    After a few moments, the Feline walked away, jumping over the bush and moving in the direction Gold had fallen in.


    Gold looked down at its arms, staring in awe. It couldn¡¯t see anything, but it grabbed a branch and moved it, seeing it move but not what was holding it.


    Gold grinned and chuckled softly. The Creators had blessed Gold! With this Power, Gold would be able to escape and tell the Chief! Gold almost moved off before looking down at its arms and as it felt the burning dye down, its arm became visible. The burning feeling within Gold¡¯s body had died down when Gold¡¯s arm became visible.


    Gold still felt a heat within it, but it was much smaller than before. Gold looked around and then smiled darkly. This place was where it had trained, Gold knew every inch of this forest. It had let the fear that the rumors had seeded within Gold¡¯s mind. Still, since the assassins were here, it was a small thing but the new Power might give Gold an edge. And to take them down, that might be enough to put the Elder in check.


    Gold looked into the forest as the night cycle began. Yes, why go to the Chief when the Elder was going to be so sad to lose so many of its followers. It might even lose the chance to become the Grand Priest, the master of the Tribe¡¯s religious services. With that kind of power, it held life and death over the other Tribe members, and what it would bless. Without a good blessing, the young wouldn¡¯t be seen as good investments by other families. So what mates the young could get would be lower than those with a good blessing. It wasn¡¯t a lie to say that the Grand Priest was the most important next to the Chief. And the many Elders all fought to take over from the current one when they died.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Two Feline Tribe Warriors ran down the hallway, looking over their shoulder as they moved. Since they had escaped from the Servant, they had kept running. They moved through the path, trying to find any place that they could hide. The others they had come with had to be dead, and they were the only ones who were still alive. They had to find a way back to their people, they had to tell the Chief what they had found. The others had died, and the two runners had to carry what they saw to people who could make choices.


    They had seen a dead Creator, that was something both of them knew for a fact. Everything that they had known for sure had been called into question. The very basis for the War was called into question! They all fought because they believed that the Creators would choose the worthy. But now, the Creators had been dead for who knows how long. They weren¡¯t able to choose anyone, and so many heroes had given their lives for a lie! No, not a lie, a mistake! They had created the belief of the Chosen to understand why they were in the Under Jungle, that made sense. But did they never expect to be proven wrong? Did they even think if they would find a way out? Did they make that belief because they wanted to explain why their people were in that hell?


    A crash from far ahead caused the two of them to look at each other in fear. They needed to find a place to hide, they couldn¡¯t keep running around wildly. An open door to their right caused one of them to run into it.


    The other one stayed where it was for a few moments, looking into the darkness. As it looked around, trying to find the source of the noise it stood still. If it moved, then it would be seen. But after another minute, it turned and ran after its comrade, hoping that this wasn¡¯t a mistake.

 Chapter Seventy Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Tunnel leaving Clawbash¡¯s Realm/


    Galactic Standard Time / 2000


    Je¡¯ndra led the group way from the home of the False-Mites, a strange feeling going through her. They all had known that this mission was going to be trouble, but this was more than they expected. They were planning to raid a Ruin without their whole team, and they had already faced a Destroyer. Who knows if this place had more of them or worse ones? But they didn¡¯t have a choice, they had monsters behind them and the Ruins were their best chance to get ahead.  And that wasn¡¯t even thinking about their Prince. He had already used an Ability to let him talk to the leader of the False-Mites and they had to hope that he wouldn¡¯t pass out. To use Aether so young and still be aware? She just had to hope that it would continue.


    And to be fair, the Imperial Family was said to always have the best training. All they needed to do was decide to learn something and they could gain the Ability.


    But this wasn¡¯t the time for those thoughts. They had to get away, they had to get to the Ruin. There were enough things down here that they needed to get into a place that they could understand. And part of Je¡¯ndra was worried, there was something about the robot that attacked them. There was just something there, at the edge of her mind that she couldn¡¯t see. She had to stay focused, the door into the Ruins was just ahead and she had to be on her game. She was going into dangerous grounds with a VIP! A beeping on her mask¡¯s HUD caused her to grin as she saw Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s icon.


    ¡°[Boss, you¡¯re not feeling right leaving the, are you?]¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as soon as her icon was active.


    For a second, Je¡¯ndra only looked at the icon before she sighed as she held up a hand as they reached an opening. Looking out, Je¡¯ndraa¡¯s mask showed that they had reached the door. It was a good three hundred feet ahead of them, and the cavern was bare. It looked to be around three hundred wide, tall, and over two hundred long.  ¡°[We¡¯re here. Olv¡¯xic, Ken¡¯tricx. I want a way inside that monster as fast as you can. Ro¡¯borlar, Kon¡¯gric, guard our Prince. Tar¡¯lroia with me, we¡¯ll patrol the area and keep an eye out].¡±


    As her team moved to carry out her orders, she watched. Je¡¯ndra waited until everyone had moved on before activating a private channel to Tar¡¯lroia. ¡°[No, I don¡¯t. That horde might have been after us. Why I don¡¯t know, but I feel that we caused that to happen].¡±


    ¡°[And you might be right. But the problem is keeping our principle alive. And you¡¯ve got a few ¡®target sights¡¯ a few times in the past. But that¡¯s what makes you strong],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said from the other side of the group.


    Je¡¯ndra only sighed as she looked around, her mask showing her what the darkness hid. So far this world had almost been too much for her. There were big bugs, some sentient crab-like things, and three-legged bipeds hunting them. And that wasn¡¯t even talking about the Firstborne Ruin! The fact that this Ruin had to do with how the ship they were on crashed, was something that was beyond even asking. As her old trainer told her once, ¡®If something¡¯s strange, a Ruin caused it¡¯.


    She was about to move around when she heard a beeping. Looking around her HUD, she saw Olv¡¯xic¡¯s and Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s icons flashing.


    ¡°[Boss, we found a hole in the door. It¡¯s big enough for us to use. But made it from the other side],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a hard tone.


    For a second, Je¡¯ndra only looked at the icon not understanding. Then she did, and that understanding caused her to stumble. As she regained her balance, she turned and looked at the door. The metal of the Firstborne was the strongest material their race had discovered. T, and the force needed to break through was almost impossible for any squad to weld. And most Ruins had Repair Bots, that would fix any damage that their complex. To find it here, after everything else that had happened, it only made her more worried.


    ¡°[I¡¯ve never seen anything like this! The metal was forced open, I can¡¯t tell if it was blasted for melted! And it was a long time ago, I can tell that at least based on the growths on it],¡± Ken¡¯tricx voice


    ¡°[But it¡¯s big enough for us]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked.


    ¡°[Yeah. But it¡¯s just as bad inside as the door. I don¡¯t like this boss. The Minds are usually a lot more on the ball]!¡± Olv¡¯xic cut in.


    At his remark, Je¡¯ndra had to nod. Some of the Ruins had their Minds active. And those ones always repaired their complexes to the best of their abilities. The fact that this door was still damaged after who knew how long, bothered her a lot more than she wanted to say. Then a thought passed by in her mind, and she frowned. If the mind was dead, that would explain the state of the door. But then where had the Firstborne robot come from?


    For a moment she stood there, thinking before the worst scenario appeared in her mind. If that stray thought was true, then they were in a terrible situation. The Modern Fables created stories about something like that, but that¡¯s all they were, stories! They had to be. The very idea she had, was impossible! There was no way in the stars that their luck was that bad!


    She looked up as soon she heard something hit the ground near her. As the echo bounced around, she looked up and saw something moving into a hole in the ceiling. For a moment she looked around and then she understood just what she had seen. With shaky hands she looked up at the ceiling, trying to find anything that might show her what she feared. ¡°[Get the prince in there now. Everyone else moves slowly toward the door, now! We¡¯ve overstayed our time here, move slowly now]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic had been looking around, finally finding his downed drone. With a short mental command, he started to download all the data that it had gotten from its flight. As Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice cut through his com system he looked up. Gazing out into the chamber and found Je¡¯ndra, and his mask showed where she was looking. As soon as he followed her gaze his mind went through everything fast and he knew what she had seen.


    ¡°[Move Kon¡¯gric! Get the prince away from here now]!¡± Olv¡¯xic barked. He looked up at the ceiling, trying to pick out anything that might show the bugs were here.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Kon¡¯gric looked around, the Prince on his back moved his head up over his guard¡¯s right shoulder.


    It was the flashing icon from Kon¡¯gric that caused Olv¡¯xic to wince and stay still for a moment. After activating it, Olv¡¯xic knew whose voice would come over his mask.


    ¡°[What is it]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded as he moved through the hole.


    ¡°[NOT NOW! Boss we¡¯re moving him now, get out of there]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said over the team channel. He saw Kon¡¯gric moving, and then his drone¡¯s data finished downloading. As the data scrolled down in a window on the right side of his mask, Olv¡¯xic kept looking up.


    To his credit, Kon¡¯gric just moved through the hole, not asking another question. As the Prince looked behind Ro¡¯borlar stepped to the side next to Olv¡¯xic. As he raised his sniper rifle upwards, he started moving it along the ceiling. But as the Prince¡¯s icon flashed again, Olv¡¯xic just closed his eyes before turning it off. He had no time to figure out how to talk to the Prince without revealing his shame.


    ¡°[I can¡¯t move too fast. So far they¡¯re not attacking us if they¡¯re here. If they¡¯re trying to trap us, then that¡¯s something we have to use against them. Ken¡¯tricx, Olv¡¯xic start making an explosion ready. I want a big enough boom to take those things out],¡± Je¡¯ndra said softly.


    As Ken¡¯tricx moved towards the hole to start working, Olv¡¯xic went still. He saw the data his drone had gathered, a strange and wild idea forming in his mind as he read it. With a mental command, he sent a final command to his downed drone. He looked over what systems it still had active, and he felt a smile form. The drone still had enough power and the right systems to let his idea work. With a few commands sent to it, he saw the drone activate its self-modification system. As he watched, it started its final modification and he felt a surge of pride. This might save them.


    ¡°[Nothing. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything here so far boss. I think it was a scout¡­.. or this is too deep for that thing to command. It might need things that can think to command its forces away from itself. Or maybe organic repeaters¡­¡­ this is too much boss. I can¡¯t think of what a thing like this will do. Sorry],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said with a voice that held a spark of horror.


    ¡°[I can¡¯t either. Everyone, just keep moving slowly now. We just need to make it a bit farther. We¡¯re almost there, just move].¡± Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s voice came over the team channel.


    Olv¡¯xic kept his eyes locked on the ceiling of this strange chamber. He let his mind move along the paths of his past, thinking about what he had experienced as a child. He had seen many things that his young mind hadn¡¯t understood. And he had hunted and gotten away from them all. He liked to think that it made him smarter and able to plan better about how to deal with the unknown.


    And if that fallen rock was from one of the bugs, then it had to have been here watching his drone. If that ¡®QUEEN¡¯ had sent a scout to see what had attacked it and if it had been here. Then the only reason was because they were out of range of the Queen¡¯s control. And the only reason it hadn¡¯t attacked was to let its controller know that the team had come into the cavern. And once it had seen that, then it had to have gone to report. And that meant that they were racing against time. Time until the Queen could send forces down here to attack them. And something was telling Olv¡¯xic that they wouldn¡¯t make it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ar¡¯thor looked around the chamber his guard had carried him into. He wanted to wait for the others, but he knew they all knew their duty. He had already helped by using his Ability, and he knew that sooner or later he would have to use it again.


    ¡°[What is taking them so long]?¡± Ar¡¯thor muttered to himself as he looked at the team¡¯s locations over his HUD. He had figured out that something was happening, and what it could be was a short list. So he figured that this had to be the bugs, band he couldn¡¯t understand why they were all waiting there. The Captain and the Medic were both moving slowly towards the door, and the others were almost all here.


    As Ar¡¯thor looked around, he frowned. He and his guard were in a chamber as long as the door and a good three hundred feet wide. And it was open, and there was a broken door at the far end, and broken as in it was torn from the wall and on the floor broken. There was something about the way the marks were placed. It was something that he couldn¡¯t understand but he saw it none the same. It was at the edge of his mind, there was something here that he had seen before. It was somewhere else, and maybe he had only seen the after-action report but it was there. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t see just what was familiar about this place.


    ¡°[Don¡¯t worry my Prince, they¡¯ll get back here soon],¡± Kon¡¯gric¡¯s voice came over Ar¡¯thor¡¯s mask. But for now, Kon¡¯gric¡¯s voice didn¡¯t lower Ar¡¯thor¡¯s worry.


    Ar¡¯thor looked at Kon¡¯gric¡¯s head and tried not to say anything. He knew that something was bothering Kon¡¯gric, and it pained him that his Guard couldn¡¯t trust him with it. Ar¡¯thor hoped that whatever it was, Kon¡¯gric could handle it. Ar¡¯thor owed so much to Kon¡¯gric, the man had saved his life so many times.


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric. I need you to look around. There¡¯s something about the damage here, I can¡¯t say what but it¡¯s there. Please tell me I¡¯m wrong],¡±


    ¡°[Of course my prince!]¡± Kon¡¯gric said.


    Ar¡¯thor waited for Kon¡¯gric¡¯s reply, but as moments became a minute Ar¡¯thor knew that Kon¡¯gric had seen the same thing he had. And if Kon¡¯gric wasn¡¯t talking about it then that meant he knew more about it.


    ¡°[My prince¡­. This is¡­.],¡± Kon¡¯gric voice had a hint of something in it, something Ar¡¯thor had never heard before.


    ¡°[So I was right then].¡± Ar¡¯thor said with a resolute tone.


    ¡°[Yes¡­. This looks like a prison break to me. And to find a Ruin with damage like this, and the creatures we¡¯ve met so far? I don¡¯t like anything of this. We need to move]!¡± Kon¡¯gric voice had a touch of fear to it.


    Ar¡¯thor looked around, now seeing what he hadn¡¯t before. ¡°[We can¡¯t leave without the others Kon¡¯gric. And they¡¯re coming. We just have to wait].¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Kon¡¯gric looked around the chamber, trying to understand this. The Firstborne were recorded as one of the strongest of all species. Their structures were said to have been protected by strong robots. The greatest of them were said to use Aether itself. And for one such complex to have been destroyed enough that only the remains of the defeated were taken? That the damages were left here after how many thousands of years?


    For a second he wondered if it might have been less than he thought, but that was impossible. This place had to be one of the many Ruins that were the result of the War. The only way that his thought could have been true was if this whole planet was a Ruin and still active. Such a thing had never been found, the very idea was impossible.


    For a second he thought about moving ahead with the Prince alone. He could say that the team would follow behind them. If this place was still active, then he could use this place to kill the prince. All he could think of was his family and the threat against them. The message that was sent to him showed that they were in true danger of being killed. But who else on the team was one of that one¡¯s people? Who could he trust here? And if he dared, did that mean his family would die? But could he betray his Prince?


    ¡°[Everyone, we¡¯re almost there. Just another minute and any watchers will see us moving towards the door. We just need to keep calm],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly.


    For a second, Kon¡¯gric thought that maybe she was the other spy. The message had said that they would have a way to know if the Prince was dead. There were two medics on the team, so that meant that at least one of them was in on the plot. The lady Tar¡¯lroia had proved to be honorable, but could she be in the same situation he was in?


    ¡°[Keep moving, we¡¯re almost there. We just need another few moments],¡± Je¡¯ndra said.


    Kon¡¯gric looked back at the hole, deep in thought. And then there was the leader. For this kind of work, either she or her second had to be involved. There just wasn¡¯t any way that this could go down that one of them wasn¡¯t part of it. There had to be someone who could create a report that would stand up to the investigations involved. Any one of the team could be in on it, and if he brought up what was happening to them his family could die.


    He hated it, but there were no good steps to take for now. He¡¯d wait until someone made contact with him, and then he¡¯d have to make his choice. It was terrible but that was the only thing he could do was wait. If he was lucky, then there might be hope for a chance to turn this around. And he would either become a hero or a villain.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the leader led the swarm down the tunnel, it felt a surge of joy. It had been born to lead the swarms, but the simple hunts were nothing to be proud of. The times that it had led hunts in the darkness of the under, were things to take pride in. As the leader moved its multi-limbed body down the hole, it felt a surge of joy. The strange two walkers had destroyed much of the brood¡¯s home and territory. The mother had already sent diggers to make new ways to the places food gathered. And now they had made it down here, to the place they had left so long ago? The mother sang songs of the way her birth swarm mother had led the others against the Hard things. After all those generations, the Hard Things never came at them. When they saw the smaller ones, they were killed and the good food within was taken to the Mother. It drank the remains, new ones with better minds had been born. Then dead eggs were given to the swarm so they could grow stronger.


    And these two walkers, from what the mother sang they had strange Might. If the Swarm could only take some of the Might they had, then they would be so much stronger. Better Warriors would be birthed! The Leader might even become one of the special ones if it brought back all of them! And that would raise it higher in the Swarm, it might even become the first mate of the new Daughter! It would become the first of a new Swarm, the first leader! Its line would grow and one day, it would control all of the Below and Upper Realms!

 Chapter Seventy Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 152 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 1


    Unknown Island / Tunnel leaving Clawbash¡¯s Realm/


    Galactic Standard Time / 2030


    As Je¡¯ndra finally reached the door to the Ruins, Ro¡¯borlar fired at the ceiling. As one the whole group turned and looked, their masks finding the corpse of the insect Ro¡¯borlar had shot. From the hole came ten more of the bugs every second. And as they watched, the swarm split in half, each part surging to the sides of the chamber.


    ¡°[Open fire! But keep moving to the hole]!¡± Je¡¯ndra called out in anger. Within moments, the group started their counterattack. But no matter how many they killed, more came from the hole and the swarm inched closer to the walls.


    Je¡¯ndra looked at the swarm, her mind trying to think of a plan. With how many there were, she doubted they would think beyond using force. But something told her that soon some of them with range attacks would try and get over the team¡¯s head. So far, they were moving backwards towards the hole slowly, but they couldn¡¯t turn and run for it. She cursed her decision to move slowly. At the time it had seemed the perfect plan but they should have run as soon as she saw the rock fall.


    ¡°[What about the bomb]?!¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked as she fired at one of the swarm going to the right


    ¡°[Ready! I just need a minute to set it up and this place should fall apart! But I need to disengage]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said, a snarl in his voice as his gun pods fired at the left and right swarms.


    ¡°[Aim at the left side]!¡± Olv¡¯xic called out suddenly.


    ¡°[What?! Just ignore the right? Are you mad]?!¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded as he fired at the left side.


    ¡°[My drone will handle them, trust me! We just need to let them get close and then everything will happen]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he took a step backward.


    Je¡¯ndra gritted her teeth as she looked around. So far the team only had ten more feet to get to the hole, and the insects were coming. They might not have a choice but to take a chance. Plus she had to admit, Olv¡¯xic¡¯s creativity was one of his best traits. His modifications to his or their gear had saved their lives on more than one occasion. So when there was no right answer, you had to try one that worked before.


    ¡°[DO IT, FOLLOW HIS ORDERS! Ken¡¯trix, you¡¯re getting that explosion ready! Ro¡¯borlar get to that hole, you go in right before me! Everyone else, cover them]!¡± Je¡¯ndra called out.


    As her team went to work, Je¡¯ndra looked up at the hole. Every now few insects came out of the hole, and one would stop for a few moments. She didn¡¯t know what that meant, but she was sure it was something important. But how to use it, she had not a single idea. But as she focused her aims towards the left side of the cavern, she hoped that Olv¡¯xic was right about his plan. These things were unlike anything the team had faced together, but they had lived before they were a team.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic kept firing, his eyes looking at the data from his drone projected on his mask. So far, the modifications had been finished and it had already recorded what it needed. Part of his mind was hoping that everything would work as it planned. But the other part wondered if the failsafe would work instead. Either way, he was sure that no matter what happened, his team would escape from here alive.


    As he fired he kept an eye on his drone¡¯s scanners. So far the swarm was moving like he thought it would, gathering at the edge of the wall. He expected them to come in a swarm, but then that would only help his plan. He just had to wait until the bugs started to move down.


    ¡°[Your plan ready to go?! Mine is! Give me a few seconds to set this off, and this place is going down]!¡± Ken¡¯trix called out, his voice giddy.


    Olv¡¯xic heard a ding and smirked, everything was ready. ¡°[Yes! Move now]!¡±


    As the team started to disengage, Olv¡¯xic activated his modified drone.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Leader smiled as it sent in another wave. So far, the battle had been going perfectly. The mindless ones were dying, and slowly but surely the swarm was advancing! Soon their numbers would drown the enemy, and then the Leader would kill them all! As the Leader prepared to send in the next wave, a loud screeching assaulted them all! As the Leader tried to keep anchored to the wall, many of the swarm didn¡¯t.


    Forty of the insects fell from the hole, and they all broke apart as they hit the ground! Of the next forty that fell, only thirty broke apart, the last ten trying to get up. But these were all hit by the next forty that fell. All the leader could was watch as they kept dying. It continued until the swarm over three hundred strong was reduced to a mere hundred. When that happened the screaming that had shocked them died, and they could stay still again.


    As the Leader looked through the hole, it saw a hill of the dead high. Shockingly, it was high enough that the rest of the swarm would live if they jumped to it. The Leader screamed a command and leaped into the cavern, the swarm following behind it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra only looked at the dead bodies of the insects. When they started to run, suddenly all the insects just fell off the ceiling. She didn¡¯t know what to expect, but somehow Olv¡¯xic had killed them all. ¡°[Great work Olv¡¯xic! How did you do that]?¡±


    ¡°[My drone, my dead drone. Hope that your part of the plan will work boss]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said over the comms.


    As soon as that happened, Je¡¯ndra looked up and saw that more of the insects leaving the hole. And to her shock, she saw a foot taller centaur with four front limbs leading the way. Quickly, Je¡¯ndra realized what was hidden in the mass of the enemy and then what this meant. Looking ahead of her, she saw Ken¡¯tricx waiting at the hole to the Ruin and scowled. Where was Ro¡¯borlar? He had better have already gone into the Ruin or she¡¯d bring him back to kill herself. ¡°[In Ken¡¯tricx, now! And that bomb, you just need to shoot it right? And here¡¯s Ro¡¯borlar]?¡±


    ¡°[He went in ahead of me, something about setting up a shot on my bomb! And yeah, we just need to shoot it or wait for the swarm to get close]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said as he nodded. Before she could bark a command Ken¡¯tricx started to fire into the swarm. As he fired, he moved a step backwards through the hole.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Je¡¯ndra barely kept a smile off her face and ran through the hole after him. Seeing her team waiting for her with Ro¡¯borlar at the far end of the chamber next to Kon¡¯gric. To Je¡¯ndra¡¯s relief,  Ro¡¯borlar was aiming his sniper rifle straight at the bomb just behind her. She grabbed Ken¡¯tricx and pulled him to the side, barking a command.


    ¡°[Everyone, duck and cover! Ro¡¯borlar, fire]!¡± Je¡¯ndra cried out as she and Ken¡¯tricx hit the ground and rolled away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Leader felt what passed for joy as it looked at its swarm. The strange ones had fled into the place of the Past. Its song memories told it that there was a dead end within it. Once the swarm weakened them enough only then would the Leader kill them all. As it poked its head out of the dead, it saw a bright flash and then a wave of sound that echoed off the walls. As soon as the sound wave hit the swarm, some of them started to kill each other in confusion. The Leader could only watch for a few seconds before suddenly it felt something pierce its body.


    The Leader kept looking for a few more seconds, and then as its sight started to darken. With the last of its strength, it released a final screech, hoping that one of its siblings would hear it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the sounds of the explosions died down, Olv¡¯xic looked up. The chamber hadn¡¯t been affected, but the hole was covered by fallen rocks. He looked around, seeing that the rest of the team was still moving even now, and their vitals were all okay. The Prince and Kon¡¯gric¡¯s hearts were beating faster, but he expected that at least.


    ¡°[Sound off, who¡¯s not dead]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx called out as he got up.


    Oly¡¯xic heard Je¡¯ndra chuckle over the comms and he almost did as well.


    Je¡¯ndra got up and dusted herself free as she looked around. ¡°[Bit complicated Ken¡¯tricx. What if our friends can¡¯t speak? Everyone alive, just get back up]!¡±


    ¡°[Gonna be a little hard to do that boss],¡± Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s voice held a hint of strain. ¡°[I could do with some help].¡±


    Oly¡¯xic turned his head and saw Ro¡¯borlar under a broken part of the ceiling five feet wide near the right side.


    ¡°[Ender! We¡¯ve got that man]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx exclaimed.


    Oly¡¯xic ran, and he heard Ken¡¯tricx following behind him. When they reached him, Ken¡¯tricx reached down and pulled off the piece, throwing it against the right wall


    ¡°[Fuck, thanks. Gotta say, love that Strong-man skill],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as his voice came over the coms weakly.


    Ken¡¯tricx only nodded but Oly¡¯xic pushed his friend aside.


    ¡°[Let me check your armor. I don¡¯t like how you said that just now. Let me see if anything¡¯s broken].¡± Oly¡¯xic said as he touched Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s right shoulder. As he let his aether follow through Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s armor, Oly¡¯xic felt the data flow into his mind. ¡°[Okay. The transmitter is a bit busted. Give me a minute to fix that by rewiring the power flow, so turn around. The seals are still working, you aren¡¯t in danger of dying from any airborne poison and a lack of oxygen. But your Aether Shadow¡¯s broken]¡±


    ¡°[Stars and Suns. Anyway, you could fix his Shadow]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked in shock.


    Oly¡¯xic only shook his head as Ro¡¯borlar turned around and he got out his tools. The Aether Shadow was the most important part of the Ancient¡¯s armor. If it worked, it hid the Aether Aura that using Skills generated. And without it, anyone with a Search Skill would see anyone when they used their Skills. ¡°[The main crystal is broken. I¡¯d need a Crystal Matrix and a whole day with light from a star. A week if I get the light from a created source. And after that, I¡¯ll need some of your Aether Ro¡¯borlar, and two days to link it together].¡±


    ¡°[Then how can they¡­.. oh. They make spares for each user, don¡¯t they? Wow]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said and Oly¡¯xic only shrugged.


    ¡°[Don¡¯t know really. The Artisans keep a lot of secrets. And I¡¯m mostly self-taught really where Shadows are concerned. Same as any other tech who¡¯s not an Artisan really].¡± Oly¡¯xic said as he worked. After a minute, he nodded and stepped back, putting his tools away. ¡°[Done. This should work as a patch for a few days. But once we find a safe place, I¡¯ll need to do an in-depth check on everyone¡¯s armor].¡±


    ¡°[Lesson time over, Ro¡¯borlar. Do you feel up to using a skill to see if we can get out of here]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked.


    ¡°[Might be sounding the bell for anything looking for us, but yeah. Just give me a minute to do some checks on my gear],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said.


    Je¡¯ndra only nodded and Oly¡¯xic kept silent. He knew that Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s skills were needed, but he was nervous. The world he grew up on had a species that could hunt Aether users, and other animals with the ability to use Aether. With all the things that this planet had thrown at them, an Aether hunter wasn¡¯t too far out there. But it might just be nerves, and he had no way without revealing his past.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ro¡¯borlar looked at his mask¡¯s HUD and saw the reports. The fact that his Shadow was offline was apparent if he looked for it, but it wasn¡¯t a sure thing. If Oly¡¯xic hadn¡¯t checked he might have gotten a surprise the next time he used a skill in combat. That was another one that he owed the kid. For a moment he let memories flow through his mind, all of them about the kid, Oly¡¯xic. Ro¡¯borlar liked him, he was smart and skilled. He always wore his mask, even modified it to let him eat and drink. Ro¡¯borlar had worked with people like Oly¡¯xic in the past, but they rarely did that. The kid never talked about why he had chosen that path, Ro¡¯borlar thought it wasn¡¯t for anything he did. But if anyone ever came at him, then they would meet the team¡¯s weapons


    Ro¡¯borlar took a deep breath and a blue energy aura formed around him before a small pulse shot out of him. As one the team looked towards him and waited for him to speak.


    He kept his eyes closed as he tried to let the Aether do the work for him. As it traveled away from him, it sent back data about the way ahead. This skill was something that he had finally been able to learn after his team died. After a moment he went still, and as more data was sent back, he frowned. ¡°[This doesn¡¯t make sense, at all. I¡¯ve never seen a Ruin like this, ever]!¡±


    ¡°[How so]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked.


    Ro¡¯borlar looked around at the others and tried to think of how to say this. ¡°[Okay, everyone listen up. Most Ruins are just complexes, right? they might be decayed but their always small, not the size of a whole city right? This place¡­.. it¡¯s a long tunnel that way that uses most of my Skill¡¯s range limit. And beyond that is the start of a complex].¡±


    ¡°[Oh,]¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as he looked around. ¡°[So what did they use this place for¡­. And why is it underground]?¡±


    ¡°[What I¡¯m asking myself. And the place looks like it might have been made like this],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said bluntly.


    ¡°[Security. This must have been an escape route out! The chamber the stalagmite creatures were in, that must have been the gathering point]!¡± Kon¡¯gric said.


    They all turned and saw Kon¡¯gric looking over the chamber they were in, a strange look in his eyes.


    ¡°[This looks like one of the palace¡¯s escape routes Kon¡¯gric]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in shock.


    ¡°[No my prince. This looks a bit like a training center I used years ago. The idea is that the personnel would have a large place to run through if things went bad. Basic planning really],¡± Kon¡¯gric said as he looked at the far end.


    ¡°[No¡­..]¡±  Oly¡¯xic said suddenly. Everyone looked at him as he was looking around, staring at the hole and then what it was attached to. ¡°[No, I don¡¯t think this is for evacuation].¡±


    ¡°[What do you mean]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia demanded as everyone turned to look at him. They all saw Oly¡¯xic bent down looking at a hole in the floor.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Oly¡¯xic ignored her for a few moments, and the terrible feeling he had only grew. He looked around, spinning in a circle. With that he could see everything and come to one inescapable conclusion. But a hand on his shoulder caused him to look up, seeing Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s mask looking at him


    ¡°[What do you see]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded.


    Oly¡¯xic blinked and then looked at Ro¡¯borlar, sighing. ¡°[The tunnel, it doesn¡¯t have anything branching off it, does it]?¡±


    Ro¡¯borlar stayed silent before nodding. ¡°[No, straight single passage until it reaches my limit].¡±


    ¡°[That¡¯s the reason right there. Escape tunnels, always end at a location where people can get help. Unless the Firstborne were very confident in their safety plans, this doesn¡¯t make sense. And through a cave? I can agree that time might have destroyed a lot, but no signs at all]?¡± Oly¡¯xic asked as he looked up.


    ¡°[He¡¯s right. I mean even the smallest ones in caves have a few marks],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said as he took a step back in shock. ¡°[But what is this place then]?¡±


    ¡°[Specimen release shaft. For bioweapons or creatures I¡¯d say],¡± Oly¡¯xic said bitterly.


    Everyone just stared at him, shocked beyond words. For a few moments, all everyone did was stare at him, trying to understand what he meant.


    ¡°[How can you tell]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded, his arms going over his shoulder to Prince Ar¡¯thor


    ¡°[Saw a documentary of a bio lab, lab lizards in a maze and all that. This looked a lot like that. And the damages? They all move towards the door, not away from it],¡± Oly¡¯xic said with a shrug. ¡°[So then, do we brave the Ruin now]?¡±


    ¡°[No, we stay here for the next few hours],¡±  Je¡¯ndra declared.


    Oly¡¯xic was stunned and all he could do was look at Je¡¯ndra.


    ¡°[Boss]?!¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked in total shock


    ¡°[Leader Je¡¯ndra! Explain now]!¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded as he took a step forward.


    Je¡¯ndra looked around and then she gestured to what was around them. ¡°[Look at this place. this part of the Ruin isn¡¯t a part of the main complex. It might have had a separate power system for all we know. Whatever destroyed this broke it from the main complex, we can defend the passage easily. That alone makes this place the best thing here for us to rest at. And the destroyed cavern? Extra security]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said. As she looked at Ro¡¯borlar she seemed to release tension. ¡°[And this will give Oly¡¯xic a chance check you over].¡±


    Oly¡¯xic could see where she was going with this. and he had to admit that she was right. This was the best thing that they could have found to sleep at.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The sound caused the creature to wake from its slumber, stirring awake. The creature had slept away much time, waiting for food to come to it. And now there was Strong Food, and it seemed they had cried out. The fact that it felt it was strong enough to dare to cry out to look was something to think about. But as it uncoiled parts of itself, it started to look around and saw more Good Food around. It had slept long enough for the Herds to replenish. And it felt that most of them were farther away, moving away from it.


    That wouldn¡¯t do. After all the time it had spent teaching them how to honor it, they leave. How dare they! This time it would kill so many more than its hunger needed. That was the best way to punish those who dared to abandon their god!

 Chapter Seventy Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1250


    Bradford looked up at the ceiling. He had slipped into the bathroom to have a moment alone, trying to think. He knew there was a chance here for him to take power, but should he? There was no way he saw that led to this little group surviving longer than Duncan had been doing. And then there was that resource that Duncan said they found. Now that he had time to think about it, it was interesting that Duncan never said what it was. That might be what they


    Bradford tried to call up his new abilities, but nothing happened. He took a deep breath and tried to think, that was all he could do. With the fact that he had only been able to contact one of his people, he was alone. He needed all the edges he could get, he was so far behind he might die! He was stuck in a capsule in a forest with monsters all around them. To keep them safe all passengers were all stuck in the capsule. But Duncan had said only until they had a secondary defensive line ready.


    And for all that Bradford hated not being in control, Duncan was doing everything right. So far they had weathered attacks, found a food source they lost and now they were hiding in a shield. They had been attacked, attacked again after finding new food. But and now monsters were being drawn to them because of the shield that protected them. But Bradford had to say he would done everything Duncan did!


    ¡°And then there¡¯s Jones to think about. And Operative Brute is here, so where are the others? And how could I contact him and not the others?¡± Bradford muttered under his breath. Once again he cursed the fact that he let Jones¡¯s cult bribe him! But he had used the money to build a few off-the-books defenses for his home, so there was that. And he had barely had contact with those people in years! Plus he had been making a plan to kill them after all. They were just another group that wanted to scam people and use religion to do it. Plus they were Humanity supremacists, and those types were only good for scapegoats!


    ¡°And if that bastard speaks up, then I¡¯m screwed! Duncan will make a cell just for me! I need to get rid of him, but how?¡± Bradford muttered as he tried to think of anything at all. But no matter what he did, there was no easy way out of this! ¡°Why did I accept the money?! Couldn¡¯t I have made a charity to buy them?¡±


    After a deep breath, Bradford walked out of the bathroom, a smile on his face. He never noticed that something in the very small vents had been watching him. That something had heard everything that he had said.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones looked up at the shield from the bottom of a trench four feet deep. Personally, the idea of the shield was a travesty! These things had to be trained to obey their rightful masters! Instead, they were showing that they were cowards, food things for them to eat! And because of that, they had drawn in two groups of lesser ones that fought amongst themselves!


    And to make matters worse, now they were defiling the land itself to make Duncan feel better! The trench he was in was being made around the crater, something about a firing line. As if they would work if a stampede charged at them! And he had heard that the shield, the vile thing itself was overcharged. That means that even through the night it would last, so then when would it fall? So why were they working like animals to make a trench at all? It was only that the shield made it cool that this torture was bearable!


    ¡°Hey, Jones!¡± A male voice behind him caused him to turn and look at the speaker, Jessie.


    ¡°What do you want Jessie?¡± Jones asked, trying to see if he could use Jessie.


    ¡°Just letting you know that the boss wants us to take a water break. And good work. We¡¯re almost halfway there already!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    Jones looked shocked and climbed up the trench. He looked around, seeing that the workers were walking towards a stations with water. For a moment he wondered just where the stations had come from. Then he shook his head, the thought dying as he turned to more important things. With a scowl he looked around, seeing the passengers in blank jumpsuits. Sir Bradford had sent out a call, and Jones had been shocked. Then he reasoned this was to get in Duncan¡¯s good graces, and he relaxed. Any plan to trick that fool Duncan was good for him, but still.


    ¡°Coming man? You¡¯ve been working as hard as the rest of us!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    ¡°Think we¡¯re almost done?¡± And what are we going to do with the dirt?¡± Jones asked with a sigh as he tried to hide his feelings.


    Jones just shrugged.¡± Don¡¯t know. Maybe make a wall or something if we can turn it into anything. But that¡¯s the Chief¡¯s decision.¡±


    ¡°Of course. It¡¯s his decision. Of course,¡± Jones said as he growled and turned away, walking towards the nearest line.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie watched Jones go, a realistic smile on his face. Inside, he was raging that he couldn¡¯t just kill Jones and get it over with. He hated cowards who let their teams die, and Jessie was sure that Jones-scum had done it! After all the years Jessie spent as a bounty hunter, you learn how to tell that. But then everything went wrong. To think that they would go on the same ship that he signed up on.


    When he had signed onto the Spirit, he had expected a few decades of peace. A few normal years, just relaxation. But then he felt the Voids those things were thanks to their Tech. and after a little search, he found them. After watching them without them knowing, he knew what he had to do. Get a job on another ship! Thankfully, his contract was planet to planet. So after a talk with his commander, and a preset recorded message, he had his papers all set. But what happens before they even make it to the next planet? This! And he had no way to contact his ship, with his Armor on it! So here he was, trying to make nice with traitors! If his trainer could see him now, but then he had put the scum down himself.


    He sighed as he looked at the Energy shield, and tried to hide a scowl. There was something about it, something that he couldn¡¯t place. He knew he had better senses than baseline Humans, but there was just something there.


    ¡°How was Jones?¡± Terra asked from behind him.


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    He turned and looked at her, sighing as he shook his head. He had offered to talk to Jones and now he was regretting it. ¡°Nothing! The scum keeps everything close to the chest. I don¡¯t know what we can do.¡±


    ¡°This was a long shot, my friend. And we expected it. But it¡¯s good to work together again,¡± Terra said with a smirk.


    ¡°Yeah, and hopefully this time will be better than breaking out!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    ¡°You know I was shocked that mister ¡®I work alone¡¯ was signing on. What¡¯s the story?¡± Terra asked and Jessie just sighed.


    Jessie looked at Terra, trying to think on what to say. Terra had always been someone who valued the system and believed most people did as well. Before they met, she probably thought everyone did. ¡°A rival bounty hunter tried to blow me up, and then some lower-ranked ones joined in. I left the game and decided to see how the world evolves for a while.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Terra said.


    Jessie looked away, cursing his need to be honest with her. But then the two of them had gone through a year of hell together. She had gone back to her schooling and he had become a bounty hunter. And they had stayed in contact, but they had promised not to let things pass about where they were. So to say they were surprised to see each other when they met on the Spirit was like saying water was wet.


    ¡°Come on girl, let¡¯s get something to drink! We¡¯ve got to patrol the shield after all!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan sighed as he looked over the figures again. So far the supplies had been tailed, and with everything here, they were running out of food. Unless they were rescued in three weeks they would starve. And that meant that they had to find local sources once the party made it back from the Yard Ship. With everything that happened, he was starting to see this as a lost cause.


    The fact the shield called in monsters, that would make defense harder. If they set up in the ship, they would need to make a wall. If the ship had the right tech, then they could make weapons, maybe even robots. For a moment he thought of the force multiplier creation of robots would be, and he sighed. He had so many people here to protect, and any idea that would help should be investigated. But still, robots? After he had argued against anything more than drones on his ship? Still, needs must.


    With a sigh he looked at the screen, frowning. So far he hadn¡¯t been able to open the capsule¡¯s black box, and he knew nothing about what happened to the ship. He remembered that meeting, and how he was going to go to a party a few days later. Some kind of party for the senator of a mainly human world. Most of the passengers had to have been from that is, so that explained why the group was only human. But that party had been days away, and that meant time had passed aboard the ship.


    But they had gone to FTL before the meeting was over. And that meant the ship had moved to another system. Then whatever had happened did so after they left FTL. But his memories told him they were going to exit into a dead system. The same system they had gone through dozens of times. Nothing ever happened there, nothing at all. ¡°So what did happen?¡±


    No matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t think of anything that might have caused the crash. This world was unlike anything he had ever heard of, and the creatures! Those things would have either caused the planet to be forbidden or had a research station on it. So how did escape capsules crash onto the island? Where was the rest of the ship? And why did they not remember the last few days?


    ¡°Duncan, what are you looking at here?¡± He muttered to himself as he tried and failed to think of anything that might explain all this. There was something here, something that he couldn¡¯t see. Something that he knew about, something that would explain everything. This place was so crazy, it¡­¡­ Duncan went still as a strange thought hit him. For a moment he stayed still, trying to find holes in his thought. But there was nothing that he could see that would cancel it out.


    ¡°Oh NOVA!¡± Duncan cried out as he grabbed his cane and got up, scrambling towards the door. He had to talk to Terra. The kid was practically one of his officers at this point, and she needed to know what he figured out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones sighed as he walked away from the station, a bottle clutched in his right hand. He only looked around, seeing the people all looking around in awe. He snarled and almost walked into someone who had stood still.


    ¡°Watch it pagan!¡± The man spat as he turned. The man had short black hair and eyes, and a small patched beard on his chin.


    Jones was about to spit back when he saw a small chain around the man¡¯s neck. It was the fact that the chain was black on the right side and white on the other that stopped him.


    The man looked at Jones then his left hand went to his necklace and the man turned away. ¡°Just don¡¯t do it again!¡±


    ¡°Wait sibling of peace,¡± Jones said softly.


    The man turned and moved his hand away from the chain. ¡°What did you call me?¡±


    Jones stared at the man for a moment before he pulled back his right sleeve. He showed his inner arm to the man, revealing a tattoo of a grey circle, half white and black to the man.


    The man went still before smiling at Jones. ¡°Brother, it is a pleasure to meet one of the faithful here! I am Kenny Gormilis sir, and it is a true honor to meet someone from the Central Temple!¡±


    ¡°No honors sir, I am only Jones, a guard turned missionary. Are there others of the Faith here,¡± Jones asked quietly.


    Kenny shook his head. ¡°If there are I haven¡¯t seen any of us. I only bought my chains because of a fashion trend my date at the time loved.¡±


    ¡°Ahh. And is she here?¡± Jones asked, looking around.


    ¡°Thankfully no, she was cheating on me. Dumped me a few days ago, left the ship with her new lover at the last Planet stop,¡± Kenny said softly.


    Jones sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°But holiness, how can you help this? Isn¡¯t it against the teachings?¡± Kenny asked.


    ¡°One must do what one¡¯s high commander ordered. And Sir Bradford spoke up for Duncan. As Sir Bradford has helped the Order, I decided to volunteer,¡± Jones said softly.


    ¡°Sir Bradford helped the Order?! I knew I liked him!¡± Kenny said with a grin.


    Jones looked at Kenny and tried to not smile. Just talking to a fellow believer was like his soul was being healed. To have gone so long among the non-believers, and to have met one who followed the same road? This was a blessing from creation itself! And with his revelation, he had to share it.


    ¡°And as I believe that this is the Land of Deliverance, we must move carefully my friend. This is it, we have to slowly gain power¡­..¡±Jones trailed off as Kenny stepped backwards in shock.


    Before Jones could say anything, he went still. Kenny looked at him before turning around as well to see what Jones had.


    There climbing the hill was Duncan himself! The man looked around before moving towards a station on the right. Jones looked there and saw Terra walking with Jessie.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Terra!¡± Duncan¡¯s hard voice caused Terra to turn.


    Walking towards her and Jessie, Duncan looked like he had seen his mortal enemy. For a second, Terra just looked around. She was trying to find anything that might explain what had caused Duncan to react this way, but the was nothing.


    ¡°Chief?!¡± Terra asked as Duncan got to them.


    ¡°We need to talk, now!¡± Duncan growls as he looks at Jessie.


    ¡°Sir, whatever you have to say to me, you can say to Jessie,¡± Terra said as Jessie saluted.


    Duncan looks at Jessie then turns to look at Terra. ¡°And you trust him?¡±


    ¡°He pulled me out of a terrible situation a long time ago sir. He¡¯s someone who can handle himself and keep it to himself,¡± Terra said with a hard look.


    ¡°Fine, fine. That¡¯s completely fine. So, I was thinking about how we got here. And by that I mean what made us forget about everything. And I was thinking how impossible it all is. And that¡¯s when I figured it out. This is the result of a Ruin,¡± Duncan said softly.


    Terra looked at him in complete shock. She turned her head to stare at Jessie and saw a flash of something in his eyes. She knew the chaos that a single Ruin had caused her and Jessie during their escape. To think that there was a Ruin was why they couldn¡¯t remember, that tracked with what they knew.


    ¡°Makes sense. After what we saw there, I don¡¯t think that Terra and I would disagree with that idea,¡± Jessie said with a hard voice.


    ¡°Yes¡­. Wait. You¡¯re Ruin Raiders!?¡± Duncan asked in shock.


    Terra felt a spark of anger. Raiding the Ruins, that had been the reason she had been captured. The reason that Jessie had been born. And what they had wanted to do to her, she hoped they died in agony.


    ¡°She¡¯s not, nor me. Let¡¯s just say that I was raised by terrible people who threw others I cared about into Ruins. It was before I met Terra,¡± Jessie said as he held up a hand to stop Duncan from talking.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something. And that means that there might be some of their robots around here. And that means they could destroy us easily. How long do you think the shield will hold?¡± Duncan asked with a blank look.


    ¡°Against those things? Not long. But there is a ruin involved, the robots don¡¯t move far beyond the complex itself. So, shield that affects our memories?¡± Jessie asked.


    Terra went still, seeing how that could have been abused. The people who had captured her alone, the ways they could have used that.


    ¡°Only thing that makes sense. As my old captain said once, throw out the impossible when dealing with Ruins. But the creatures out there are my main problem with the idea,¡± Duncan said softly.


    Terra looked at him as if what he wasn¡¯t saying made sense. And she saw the same thing he did. But Jessie spoke what Terri was thinking first.


    ¡°Wait, hold on. If the Ruins are involved, then maybe they made those things. But a Ruin in good enough shape to affect the planet in two ways? That¡¯s never been seen on any planet, and I¡¯ve seen a lot of the sites the Government doesn¡¯t talk about!¡± Jessie said with a snarl.


    Duncan nodded. ¡°Yeah, and we¡¯ll talk about that you and me. But no Ruin has more than one effect. And no planet has ever been found with multiple Ruins on it. So what makes this place so different?¡±


    Terra turned around, looking anywhere as she tried to think of anything to say. But as she opened her mouth he paused. Squinting her eyes, she looked beyond the shield. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    As she watched, in the distance at least a good hundred yards away a swarm of flying things took flight.

 Chapter seventy Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1320


    He ran through the forest, the little things following him. Ever since those fools had stopped the sacrifice, he had been on the run. The others must be dead by now, and he alone was still alive. And that only meant that he was right, that he was the one with the true vision! As he ran, he felt the fire within him slowly start to cool down, and that was something he had fears about.


    If the Flame as he called it was the source of his powers, then that meant it was dying! And the little things were still after him, even worse than the first things! He just when he had escaped his hunters, and then the new ones killed his final follower. It was all the fault of that fool Roy! How dare he speak against his vision. And how dare the others try to stop him, and instead they caused the forest to kill them all!


    As he moved over a tree root, he heard a screech behind him. Fear came over him as he realized that things were getting closer. Without a thought, he fired a pistol over his shoulder and hit the trees, missing his targets. But when he tried to fire again, his weapon just clicked.


    With a curse, the man ran faster as the screeches behind grew louder. He knew that he was going to die, but he wouldn¡¯t make it easy for them! With a savage look in his eyes, he tried to find anything he could use as a weapon. Nothing, no fallen branches or large stones, there was nothing!


    Ahead of him, he thought he saw a break in the trees, and he prayed for a miracle. He ran out of the tree line and blinked. He had come out into a large field, and across from him were more trees. But beyond those trees was a large energy dome shield. At the sight, he felt a spark of hope that gave him strength to run faster. That shield meant that he might have a place of rest. A place where people might have survived this mad place. And that meant that there might be other lost lambs that needed his guidance!


    With his renewed strength, he kept running, eyes locked on the shield. Even with the screams behind him, he kept moving. He had found his purpose on this world, and he would not let it end. If those fools had dared to speak against him were still alive, then his new faithful would kill them!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Duncan watched the flying creatures take flight, he had a bad feeling. Something about what those things did made him have a feeling he had seen something like it before. And that bothered him, as he had rarely seen things he remembered that weren¡¯t bad for him. Even through his blanked memory treatments, the feelings he had earned stayed. And that meant that whatever was behind this, it was bad for them all. But the more he thought, the more it seemed to be important. Suddenly he went still and looked at it, his eyes widening as he remembered where he had seen something like that!


    ¡°Terra! Get some people and prepare to move! It might be nothing or it might be something coming at us! If it breaks the shield I want you to turn it to ashes!¡± Duncan barked.


    ¡°Wait! What if it''s other survivors!?¡± Jessie asked and Duncan went still.


    He looked at Jessie and then shuddered. The kid was right, and if that was true they needed to let them in. But if something attacked from the other side of the clearing while the shield was down? They would be overwhelmed, they had to protect themselves!¡°But what else can we do? Is it even possible to bring down part of the shield? Keep it up at the other sides?¡±


    Terra only nodded and looked at the nearest control station. ¡°Sure! Give me a minute and I¡¯ll be able to open a small tear in it!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take point! Trust me I¡¯ve got the experience!¡± Jessie said as he looked at Duncan.


    Duncan looked at Jessie and for a moment he thought he was looking at a black ops operator. There was just something about him, something that struck a chord within Duncan. ¡°Fine! But we will talk about this, here me?¡±


    Jessie only nodded, and Duncan sighed.


    He turned towards the capsule and bellowed. ¡°ALL PASSENGERS BACK DOWN NOW! DECKHANDS, EVERY CREW UP HERE GET ARMS AND RALLY TO ME! HAVE THE OTHERS DOWN BELOW. PREPARE TO DEFEND THE CRATER! AND TEN GO WITH JESSIE! PREPARE FOR COMBAT!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones looked at Duncan as he gave his commands and turned to Kenny. ¡°Get back inside, tell Sir Bradford I sent you! Tell him that something is happening now!¡±


    ¡°Yes, your holiness!¡± Kenny said as he ran towards the crater.


    Jones moved towards a place to the left, one of many stations the deckhand had set up in a triangle. Each one had rifles from the capsule, enough for each of the deckhands. The idea was that it would be easier to get than going back down if something happened. But they had never even thought that this might be the reason!


    As the deckhands all grabbed a rifle, Jessie ran over.


    ¡°Listen up!¡± Jessie said as he looked around. ¡°We¡¯ve got something coming towards us! We don¡¯t know what it is so it could be other survivors! The ten who go with me will move towards the side the contact is coming from! If it¡¯s a survivor we¡¯ll go through a hole in the shield and save them! Otherwise, we¡¯re guards! Do you all understand!?¡±


    ¡°SIR, YES SIR!¡± All the deckhands bellowed, and  Jones joined in.


    ¡°Good! I need ten souls to go with me! Any volunteers?¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    Jones stepped forward, and ten others did as well.


    Jessie only grinned and laughed. Jones felt a strange sense of anger burst from him. He couldn¡¯t understand why, but something about that laugh bothered him so much


    Jessie only looked over the deckhands and pointed at one of them at the far end of the line. ¡°You go and help Terra lad, everyone else, with me!¡±


    As they ran towards the shield, Jones promised himself that he wouldn¡¯t die for any of these non-believers. That he would use this to show them the proper path.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford only sighed as he looked up. So far he hadn¡¯t been able to think of anything that might help him. He had tried to contact the few Operatives he had on the ship, but he couldn¡¯t. Not even Operative Brute. Then he tried to think just what it meant, and what Brute had meant. This ability he now had, was it possible that Brute had gained something like it? Was that one of the reasons he had been able to connect to him? So then the others didn¡¯t have the ability yet. But what had given him his power?


    ¡°Another question about this place. And it¡¯s barely been a week! I shudder to even think about what kind of chaos the next month will bring!¡± Bradford muttered to himself.


    Yes, Bradford had accepted that they would be here a long time. It wasn¡¯t that hard to figure out, and really, he expected Duncan to have done so by now. This uncharted world was unlike anything that the Federation knew about. And that meant that something had happened to the ship. And unlike many of those fools, he had been a senator. That meant that he had seen the hidden files of the Federation. And one of them was about Ruins. And a few ones that were only recorded in offline files, the best way to stop hackers.


    ¡°But should I tell them about it? It would probably mean I¡¯ll be in jail for the next hundred years or so, but a small price to pay. I could write that novel I was always thinking about, and dedicated it to all the people who died here. That would help my political capital so much,¡± Bradford mussed as he tried and failed to make a choice.


    Bradford heard a commotion from the doorway and looked up, seeing the people who had volunteered coming back. For a moment he thought nothing had happened but then he saw deckhands grabbing weapons and moving out the door.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± He demanded.


    ¡°Duncan ordered everyone down, and said something about battle!¡± A passenger said before running off.


    Bradford looked at the airlock and tried to think. Another battle on this strange and deadly planet. And sooner or later without a better place, they would be overwhelmed. He hoped that the team Duncan sent out would be able to find that resource! And then maybe he would have a safe place that would let him learn how to use his new abilities.


    ¡°Sir Bradford!¡± A voice called out and one of the passengers who had volunteered appeared before him.


    Bradford blinked as he looked at the man before him, not recognizing him. He was about to ask the man what he wanted when the man leaned forward.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯m Kenny. His holiness Sir Jones sent me to tell you what was happening,¡± KKenny said softly.


    Bradford¡¯s eyes widened in horror. There was another of those idiots here!? He had hoped that he would only have to deal with one of them! But there was another, and he had been at Bradford¡¯s party! And even worse, Jones told him about Bradford¡¯s past! And now he had another fool to deal with!


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something. And of course, the shield will stay up of course,¡± Bradford said hopefully.


    ¡°Most of it sure,¡± Kenny said absently.


    Bradford went still and looked at Kenny in shock. That wasn¡¯t what he expected to hear. ¡°Most of it!?¡±


    ¡°Well, this model can be brought down in part. But only if there¡¯s more than one emitter,¡± Kenny explained and looked at Bradford.


    ¡°Like here¡­..¡± Bradford trailed off. He looked up, thinking. This changed things, it opened so many opportunities for him. If he found¡­¡­. The solar panels! They kept bringing in so much energy, they wouldn¡¯t lose the shield at all! The only way would be sabotage and Duncan would track down Bradford if he even sneezed at the pawn who did it. With the closed area of the capsule, there would be a low suspect list. And that just wasn¡¯t the thing for Bradford to do if he wanted to take power.


    He looked around, seeing all the passengers in the main chamber, and let his mind plan this out. With a small smile on his face, he turned to Kenny. ¡°Kenny my boy, I want you to start helping me right now! We need to get everyone into the other rooms here! If something happens, we need to protect the others for as long as possible!¡±


    ¡°Yes! As the book said, the Land will test us! I¡¯ll make sure that we pass sir!¡± Kenny said softly and moved away.


    Bradford watched him go, a frown on his face.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie only stared in shock at the creatures coming towards the runner. The creatures were hunched over humanoid dogs running on all fours of their limbs! Each one had a single eye over their fang-filled muzzles. Their grey fur was long and it went off their bodies a good inch. But it was the line of spikes over their spines that gave him the most pause. There was something about them that made him want his blade. He took a breath as he fed the flame, and called up his abilities. He had been paralyzed by that creature without his abilities active, never again!


    He turned and looked at Terra and smirked. ¡°Drop the shield, raise it as soon as we¡¯re through in case this is a faint!¡±


    Terra looked at him for a moment before she nodded.


    Jessie sighed and smirked. It looked like all those years away from each other didn¡¯t kill the skills he taught her for a year.


    He turned and looked at the ten people coming with him. ¡°Everyone, stay by the shield. Once the man is down, we all fire at those things. Once that happens we bring him in and then we find out what happened to him. I don¡¯t want any heroes, the only good hero is a dead one! Do you get me!?¡±


    ¡°YES SIR!¡± The nine of them bellowed. He looked at Jones, the only one silent, and saw a look of anger in his eyes, and that bothered Jessie. Jones was either a coward, a traitor, or someone lucky to be alive. But the more he looked into Jones, the more he didn¡¯t fit into the picture his file showed.


    ¡°GOOD! Just stay calm, follow my orders and we¡¯ll live through this!¡±


    ¡°LOOK!¡± One of the nine called out suddenly, pointing beyond Jessie.


    Jessie turned and his heart stopped at what he saw. ¡±Get the shield down!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the man ran through the forest the screams behind him grew louder, coming ever closer to him. The man just kept running for the shield as he wondered just what he was heading towards. But the cries from behind told him that whatever it was, it had to be better than what he had been. As he came out into a clearing, he finally saw the energy shield. Behind it, he saw people in deckhand uniforms moving around, and some of them looking at him.


    He kept running, hoping against all hope that they would help him. As the creatures behind him screamed again, they sounded so much closer. He looked over his shoulder and finally saw the creatures.


    They were humanoid dogs running on all fours! They had longer arms and their bodies were upright. Each one had a single eye over their fang-filled muzzles. Their grey fur was long and it went off their bodies a good inch. But it was the line of spikes over their spines that seemed to spark that gave the man speed. And to his horror, there were fifteen of the creatures chasing him towards the shield!


    An energy bolt flew by the man¡¯s head and he turned back, seeing the shield had a hole. From it eleven deckhands ran out, firing at the creatures.


    ¡°Move! Get in!¡± The lead deckhand yelled and the man grinned.


    He ran towards the deckhands as the creatures screeched in pain.


    ¡°Thank you!¡± The man cried as he ran past the deckhands still firing.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie kept firing at the strange canine creatures. Something about how they kept trying to get at the man who ran past them. Even under fire, they kept moving after their target. He couldn¡¯t understand, most creatures backed down when facing significant threats! But the creatures on this island threw nature into the black hole! He had to hope that sooner or later, things would retreat. They had to realize that they were just


    ¡°What are these things?!¡± Jones asked in horror.


    Jessie looked at him and saw him firing, a strange look in the man¡¯s eye. For a moment he thought to answer, only for another deckhand to first.


    ¡°Monsters! So keep firing!¡± The deckhand said with a wild laugh.


    Jessie felt his focus snap back into place and nodded. He forced his eyes forward and took a deep breath. He saw the


    As one moved closer Jessie kept calm, aimed, and waited for the shot. When he had it, he fired and killed one of the creatures by shooting through its right eye. As soon as it fell, the canines all stopped. There was a howl from the forest farther back. Some of the creatures moved towards the dead one, but killing another one caused them to back off.


    With a growl from some of them, the canine all dashed into the forest. As the last one was lost from sight, the deckhands all started to cry out in joy. They had won, they had all lived! By making a wall, they had thrown back the beasts and saved a survivor!


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Jessie barked.


    Instantly, the others all stopped screaming and looked at him.


    ¡°We all survived, and in a battle with the unknown! But we can¡¯t rest out here. I want four of you to grab those bodies and move them inside the shield! We need to know what we fought! And I want the rest of you all to join me from a wall! We can¡¯t let those things get by us!¡± Jessie barked and the others all nodded. Well, nine of them moved to follow his orders, Jones just stared at one of the dead creatures.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones only looked at the dead canine-like creature and felt a surge of anger. To think that even here, the devils with the shape of the first servant would be found! This was truly the Land of Deliverance after all, and the true prophecy would come true! But to think that the others all thought that the truth was a lie, truly he was blessed to see the truth!


    Yes, it all made sense! That was why he had been sent away! Those fools who led the others must have the sense that they were preaching false teachings! They had to have known that their libraries weren¡¯t all there was, they must have sent him and the others out to find it. And to think that he was the one who was blessed by creation to find the truth. Truly Creation worked in strange ways, and he was truly blessed.


    ¡°Hey, you alright man?¡± Another of the deckhands asked and Jones blinked, looking up.


    ¡°Yeah, that just¡­.. that was something wasn¡¯t it?¡± Jones asked.


    ¡°Yeah¡­.. come on, we need to bring those things inside the shield!¡± The deckhand said and pointed at the dead bodies.


    Jones felt a surge of revulsion at the idea of touching those demons. But there had to be a reason behind this order.


    As the leader followed the ideas of the Federation, why was easy to figure out. The leader of this mission must want to dissect the demons and find out how to kill them. That was something Jones would love to know, and for that, his feelings weren¡¯t important. To gain an edge on those things, that was good. For if the prophecy was right about anything, soon a horde of these things would come, led by the greater ones. And when that happened, to stand with knowledge might be the only way to live.

 Chapter Seventy Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1350


    The man panted as he looked around the clearing. To think that he had made it to other survivors after everything! He couldn¡¯t help but see the truth that he had found was the reason for survival.


    ¡°So who are you then?¡± A hard voice caused him to turn.


    Standing there was an older-looking man who hadn¡¯t had his rejuvenation yet. He was wearing a uniform like the people who had saved him but the crutch was the most eye-grabbing.


    ¡°My name is Roch Dacount, a simple man. I¡¯m on my vacation time if you must know,¡± Roch said as he looked at the man.


    The man only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Duncan, chief of security on the Spirit. On Vacation Time, lucky! Mine was to start once this cruise was over!¡±


    Roch only looked at him and started to laugh as he looked down. ¡°Very unlucky Mr. Duncan, very unlucky!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but why are you here?¡± Duncan asked softly as he looked at Roch.


    Roch looked up and let his eyes move around, seeing a few other deckhands all around, all armed. He almost swallowed and knew he had to talk the right way now, one misstep would see him dead. One thing was sure, he couldn¡¯t bring up anything about what he did. He needed to slowly bring these people the truth, and not show them everything all at once. Thankfully he had used a speaker who believed in him to tell the others at the capsule the truth. Any survivors would think he was just one of those who were swept up in it.


    ¡°I¡­¡­ the capsule I came down in, the people went mad. We went out into a small clearing and these things attacked us. We fought our way back into the escape capsule and well, that¡¯s when things changed. There was talk about sacrificing lives to the creatures out there! They almost gave over a baby and one of the workers to the beasts!¡± Roch said in a rush.


    As Duncan reared back, Roch fought off a smile. Good, by letting this fool believe that he had nothing to do with it, he had bought his life.


    ¡°So what happened? I mean you¡¯re here alone, so something happened. But was it before or after the bastard did that?¡± Duncan asked softly.


    Roch felt his anger spike for a second, but he forced it down. He couldn¡¯t give the game away, not now. He had to be smart and play this carefully.


    ¡°Someone spoke against the sacrifice. Then he was one of the offerings. Then others tried to stop it. When I saw what they were doing, I reacted. And then these things that had attacked us came again. In the chaos I just ran into the forest, I didn¡¯t see what was going on behind me. I just ran,¡± Roch said as he looked away and down.


    All in all, he hoped that he was getting through to the fool before him. The greatest way to lie, tell the truth but not all of it! All he had to do was keep his story straight and try to keep from getting caught in a lie.


    ¡°So that happened already? Then it might happen at other places too. And that¡¯s bad. But there¡¯s nothing to do now, gotta keep on track. Well, welcome Roch! You go and head over to the far side of the clearing over there,¡± Duncan said as he raised his arm.


    Roch saw that Duncan was pointing at what looked like a turret connected to a small tower spike.


    ¡°Just until we can give you a basic psychical of course. With everything that¡¯s out there, the idea of parasites isn¡¯t too out there, is it?¡± Duncan asked with a small grin.


    Roch felt a spike of fear. They couldn¡¯t have a way to detect what he was now, could they? He had been elevated beyond normal beings, and that was why his words made such an impact. And there was no way, no way at all that they could see his abilities. He was just a little on edge because of running for his life. He smiled at Duncan before speaking, trying to send all his joy and hope out.


    ¡°Of course. That¡¯s just being smart. I would have suggested it myself if you didn¡¯t sir,¡± Roch said as he nodded. Turning, he walked towards the station and the deckhand there. He was stuck in here with them all, and it was best to make a good impression on the guards after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan watched the man walk towards the station. From the remains of the good quality lounge clothing, that showed an easy life. The man''s  blond hair was even cut, and his black eyes showed the signs of corrective work. All Duncan knew was there was just something about him wasn¡¯t right. Duncan had attacked a few cults that were into sentient sacrifice in the past during his service. It was something he was proud of really, some of the only good he had done.. But from processing the people in those cults, Roch didn¡¯t seem like someone who had been forced into it.


    ¡°So what are you thinking boss?¡± Terra asked as she walked over to him.


    Duncan looked up and saw Jessie was back, and his team had brought in the two creatures he killed. Duncan remained silent for a few minutes before sighing. ¡°He wasn¡¯t forced into it. I think he was one of the ones who was swept up in it and didn¡¯t realize the end goal. Maybe he was scared, maybe he didn¡¯t think it through. Maybe the bastard responsible had abilities like Jinn. Ones that helped him convince most of the others.¡±


    ¡°Abilities?! What do you mean?¡± Terra asked with a strange note in her voice.


    Duncan looked at her and sighed. ¡°Let that slip did I? Wonderful. My old CO would have a field day with me. I don¡¯t know what you know, but the Ancients? They can do things that we can¡¯t explain. Some people in the Service think it''s tech, me? I think it¡¯s what Jinn can do really. And I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll ever figure out the limits on them.¡±


    ¡°Oh. Then you think¡­ yeah, that makes sense. So why¡¯d you bring those things in Jessie?¡± Terra asked as she and Duncan reached the creatures.


    Jessie just sighed and looked back into the forest. ¡°Those things were called back. And I think by something bigger and stronger. We need to know what we can do to hurt these things, and what they can do. And that means I need to take one of them apart. Plus we need to see if we can eat them.¡±


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Duncan just looked at the creatures, frowning as he moved around them. He stayed silent as he inspected it, and no matter what his eyes went to the spikes. There was something about them that set his insides on fire. And as he had long ago learned to trust his gut, this was bad. And the longer he looked at it, the more that feeling grew. There was just something about it, something that just made his skin crawl. He looked up at Jessie and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Pay attention to anything about the spine. And if you need anything, you tell me. This is level one order, got it?¡±


    Jessie looked at him and nodded, both him and Terra saluting Duncan.


    Duncan turned away and walked back towards the crater, a small smirk on his lips. But he frowned and looked over his shoulder. ¡°Oh, Terra, Jessie? Once it¡¯s done, both of you come to my office. Let¡¯s have that talk!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Duncan and swallowed as she realized what talk he meant. With a sigh, she brought a hand through her hair as she looked around. Her eyes Roch and tried to not scowl.


    ¡°So what¡¯s his story?¡± Jessie asked, prompting Terra to look at him. Jessie was at one of the corpses looking it over.


    ¡°Long story, this thing?¡± Terra asked.


    ¡°Thing is right! I can find no sexual organs as we know them on this thing. Perhaps they are internal, but what kind then? I need a tarp, a sharp knife, and some gloves. And maybe no audience!¡± Jessie said as he looked at Jones who was still standing there.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help! I was great at dissecting at the community college!¡± Jones offered.


    Terra felt a spark of fear. He would say that he was great at cutting up the dead. Jessie seemed to share her feelings but he nodded.


    ¡°Fine, then go get the materials we need. And it needs to be a very sharp knife!¡± Jessie said and Jones saulted before he ran off.  Jessie turned to Terra and sighed. ¡°So, the guy we rescued?¡±


    ¡°Said that the capsule he was in went mad and¡­¡­ he never said what he did,¡± Terra said with a shocked look on her face.


    Jessie turned to her, a slight scowl on his face. ¡°Terra?¡±


    ¡°When he explained what happened, he rarely said that he did anything! It was like he was reporting what others did, not a fight to survive!¡± Terra said with a scowl.


    Jessie only sighed and shook his head. ¡°Great! He knows that trick!¡±


    ¡°What trick?¡± Terra demanded and Jessie raised his hands.


    ¡°Someone at the Guild called it the ¡®Politician¡¯s Lie Approach¡¯. Tell lies by only saying part of the truth. Pretty good trick, able to fool the greatest people if done right. So what exactly did he say?¡± Jessie asked and Terra looked at him, feeling shocked that such a thing was even named.


    ¡°Then what do you think? That he was¡­¡­ he was the cult leader wasn¡¯t he?¡± Terra asked flatly.


    Jessie only shrugged and looked toward Roch. ¡°Don¡¯t know, but he was more involved for sure. We just need to keep an eye on him and go from there.¡±


    Terra was about to say something when Jones appeared with the supplies.


    ¡°Okay, Jones you can help me. Terra, I¡¯ll need you to take notes for me while I work,¡± Jessie said and Terra nodded.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie looked down at the corpse he and Jones had spent the last five minutes moving. It was spread out on its back. ¡°Jessie, dissecting a canine-like creature killed while chasing down a survivor. Helping me cut them is Mr. Jones, and Miss Terra is taking notes. All three of us crashed onto this planet in Escape Capsule # 405. Starting with my initial observations of what I can see..¡±


    Jessie started to walk around the creature, talking as he did so. ¡°The creature is canine-like, and hunted the survivor, a Mr. Roch, in a pack. The creature looks like an upright hunched-over canine, but moves on all fours.¡±


    Jessie stopped at the face and dropped down to his knees, moving the gums back. ¡°Teeth are mostly straight, with eight in the back on the top and bottom. The first four are fangs, and the back are four molars. Mr. Jones, do you have an observation?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Based on what I know of normal evolution, the molars are for to chew plants. The fangs would be for meat. But the number is double what a normal animal has. Based on my knowledge, this is an omnivore. But the number of teeth is surprising. Outside influence maybe?¡± Jones asked as he squatted down across from Jessie.


    ¡°The idea that this creature is a hunter is obvious, yes. But the next trait throws that into doubt to me. Above the muzzle is one singular eye,¡± Jessie said.


    ¡°I agree. Most hunters have at least two eyes set on both sides to allow them to track prey. The few creatures found that only had one eye were all on worlds with few predators. And even then their size usually made them not prey. But with their the speed and how they tracked Mr. Roch?¡± Jones asked.


    Jessie looked at Jones and tried to keep calm. So far Jones had been insightful about the evolution of lower life forms, and that bothered him. He remembered a hunt a long time ago, and the target had been a following of Purity¡¯s Path.


    ¡°Yes. Based on combat with this thing, it¡¯s fast. I can see no way that a herbivore would need such speed based on the general idea of evolution. But then that brings us to this thing''s next trait, the spikes. A line of black metallic spines goes down above the spine, and might even grow from it. The spine is the highway for electrical impulses from the brain. But why would this creature even need them?¡± Jessie asked as he looked at Jones.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The few creatures that I know have been found on planets with one eye never have spikes set this way. The idea that a creature attacked their spines, and this mutation was to protect them? I believe that the dissection will tell us more about this trait,¡± Jones said.


    Jessie looked at him and shook his head. ¡°Not yet, we still need to examine the limbs. Not the four limbs, the front pair are longer than the back. Why this¡­. hello! The muscles are solid, and I mean solid! Beside them, the claws look quite sharp, and a closer look shows that they are a bit angled. I would expect that this thing used them to climb trees.¡±


    ¡°Now dissection?¡± Jones asked and Jessie nodded, handing over a knife to Jones.


    ¡°Mr. Jones will be making the cuts. The first will be to open its stomach,¡± Jessie said.


    Jones smiled and slowly started to cut the creature open. As soon as Jones reached the groin area, he stepped back. With a look from Jessie, the two of them pulled the creature''s skin away from its organs.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan sighed as he looked around the main chamber, the passengers were all clamoring to be heard. He just sighed internally and then looked around, whistling to get their attention. ¡°Now then everyone, what¡¯s wrong now?¡±


    ¡°We know that something happened! What was the reason you called battle stations!?¡± Kenny yelled.


    Duncan only looked at Kenny and saw the looks on the other''s faces and sighed.


    Duncan looked around before he spoke, and projected his voice so all would hear him. ¡°Well, I saw a few creatures take flight far away. And I remembered how birds take flight in a group if something stuns them. And so I figured out that something was coming towards our little shielded paradise. And I was right, another survivor was being chased towards us. My people moved through our shield, fought them off, and killed two of them.¡±


    ¡°What kind of creature?¡± One of the other passengers called out the question.


    Duncan looked but couldn¡¯t see who asked and after a moment answered. ¡°Canine-like, and they were big!¡±


    The passengers all looked amongst themselves and after a few hushed words, Kenny spoke again. ¡°And what about the survivor?¡±


    ¡°Well, what medics we have are looking him over as we speak. I expect after a day I¡¯ll be able to let him in here. Just if nothing happens and the shield stays up. And folks since we¡¯re all here I just want to say that everything is still going as good as I hoped!¡± Duncan said as he looked around.


    As he tried to find Bradford, Duncan couldn¡¯t see a single tell that Bradford was there.


    Kenny spoke again before Duncan could try and close the meeting. ¡°And what about that party you sent to find that resource? When do you expect that group to return here?¡±


    Duncan only crossed his arms as he leaned against the door to his office. ¡°The team only left earlier today. And I expect that they¡¯ll still be gone for a week at most. And with luck, they¡¯ll all going to come back alive.¡±


    ¡°What about the survivor? Why was he even out there?¡± Another voice called from the mob.


    ¡°Ahh. That,¡± Duncan said as he looked around and tried to think. He didn¡¯t know what to say, and that was telling to the crowd. He didn¡¯t know how much he could say, and Roch might want to tell others. The most true thing he could say was something that might not go over well, but he had no choice. ¡°Well, I can say that he had problems with his capsule. Total loss of everyone beside him if I must be honest.¡±


    Kenny and the others all stared at him, shocked beyond words.


    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s all,¡± Duncan said as he turned to open the door.


    ¡°Wait! We need more than that!¡± Kenny called out.


    ¡°He¡¯s right, what happened?¡±  A male passenger demanded as he took a step forward. But then Kenny threw his right arm out and blocked him, something that surprised Ducan.


    ¡°Was it the creatures out there!?¡± A female passenger asked with fear in her voice.


    Duncan sighed again and took a deep breath. He knew that this was going to happen. But what could he say while allowing Roch some privacy?


    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t anything to do with the place it landed. All I can legally share was that the threat came down with the capsule,¡± Duncan said as he looked around the room.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford listened from the hallway to the bathroom he had claimed. He scowled as he heard Duncan¡¯s answer. The fact that the threat came from within, was terrible. He knew that there had to be other people with brains like his, but here was proof. The line that Bradford had to balance on to take power was small and to slip either way was terrible. One way, everyone would know the truth. And the other way would show nothing but death for everyone involved.


    Whoever had tried to take power in the other capsule must not have known something. That was the only thing that made sense, the only way the things out there could beat sentience. Then that was the only motivator he needed to know that his path was the right one for him. The way to gain power was to do it slowly, to do it the right way.


    To take true power, the masses had to give it to him. Plus Duncan had to die, and soon. The more that old man lived the longer that he had to choose a successor. And that was something that Bradford wouldn¡¯t let happen. The only one who deserved the power to lead was Bradford, and he alone had the iron will to do it. Maybe he should see if this survivor had any among them who could help him. He might have been close enough to the fool to have seen what not to do. it wasn¡¯t like he had

 Chapter Eighty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1420


    Looking down at the creature¡¯s organs, Terra felt a spark of disappointment. She had done the dissection route in science class long ago, and this looked normal. All the organs were¡­¡­


    ¡°Hello!¡± Terra said as she looked at part of the body closer. She wasn¡¯t completely sure, but with how they looked she was sure she was right.


    ¡°You can see it, Terra?¡± Jessie asked and she nodded.


    ¡°That stomach, does it have two chambers?¡± Terra asked faintly.


    ¡°Yeah. And look here,¡± Jones said as he pointed behind all the organs.


    Terra looked where he was pointing and frowned. There was a strange set of muscles along the creature¡¯s spine. They looked mostly normal from what she knew about biology. But there was something wrong, something different. From the muscles nerve tissue connected to something that repeated down the spine. ¡°That¡¯s where the spines are, right? And do they look half-formed or weak?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I can see that. But it¡¯s what I can¡¯t see that bugs me,¡± Jessie said with a small scowl as he looked towards the groin.


    Terra looked at Jones and saw the same confusion she felt in his eyes. As one they looked at Jessie and after Jones shrugged she sighed. ¡°And what can¡¯t you see?¡±


    ¡°No sexual organs of any kind. That means that this thing and the other can¡¯t reproduce at all. And I have to ask, from what were they born?¡± Jessie asked as he looked at them.


    Jones blinked and then looked at the organs, and after a minute he looked up slowly. ¡°No reproduction ability at all?¡±


    ¡°Unless this other¡­.. No. No no no! It can¡¯t be,¡± Jessie said as he moved away and looked at the second stomach.


    Terra looked at the second stomach and then slowly looked up at Jessie. ¡°You can¡¯t be possible mean?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Jones asked as he looked at the two of them, completely lost.


    ¡°The second stomach might be a reproductive organ,¡± Jessie said with a flat tone.


    Jones looked from them to the organ in question, a strange look on his face.


    Terra could tell that he wasn¡¯t seeing what they saw. This manner of reproduction wasn¡¯t something that had been recorded a lot. It was easier to think of anything else, but what she couldn¡¯t say.


    ¡°Let¡¯s check. I mean we need to¡­¡­¡± Jones said with a look at the others. Suddenly Jones stopped and paled, slowly looking up at Terra and Jessie. ¡°Hey, this is the same as the other one, right? So it¡¯ll have the same organs, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­. Oh,¡± Terra said as fear shot through her.


    Slowly everyone looked at the other body and Jessie slowly swallowed.


    Looking around, Terra saw three deckhands working on the trench. Then her eyes went to the nearest weapon station and nodded.  Cupping her hands around her mouth, she cried out to the workers. ¡°You three, grab some weapons and get over here!¡±


    The three deckhands moved, dropping their shovels and running to grab rifles.


    Jessie took a step forward and moved in front of Terra as he watched the remaining corpse. As soon as the three deckhands made it to them, Terra sighed with relief.


    ¡°Good, aim at the corpse!¡± Terra ordered and the three deckhands looked at each other.


    ¡°Might be holding a baby in there that might burst out of its body. So watch it carefully,¡± Jones said as he looked at the corpse sprayed out below him.


    The three deckhands all looked at the corpse and rechecked their rifles, ready to fire.


    With a slow movement, Jones swallowed and moved the knife closer to the stomach. With a swift hand, he sliced the stomach open. From it poured a brown liquid and solid mass. They watched it sizzle and just stared at the mass.


    Jessie felt nothing but fear that slowly morphed the longer he looked at the mass, and he had to check it out. ¡°I need the knife, Jones.¡±


    Jones looked up and with a word handed over the knife. Jessie only nodded before bringing the knife down into the center of the mass. When he brought the blade out, he saw that it only had one color on the blade. Jessie looked at the mass and used the blade to clear away a bit of the liquid. But after a minute more, he nodded.


    ¡°Never mind, we were wrong. Just a way to store food,¡± Jessie said with a small shrug.


    Jones looked down at the dead monster and hid a scowl. To think that he was worried for nothing, truly the enemy was crafty! This thing dared to have such an organ to trick others!? But where did they come from?


    Jones looked at Jessie and scowled a little. ¡°Okay, so this thing has no way to reproduce even with a partner? Then where did they come from?¡±


    ¡°Something else. It¡¯s the only thing that makes sense if you think about it. and it explains something,¡± Jessie said with a hard look to his eyes.


    ¡°What do you mean? What makes sense?¡± Terra demanded as the three deckhands all relaxed. sensing the threat was over.


    ¡°Something had to call the others back when their attack failed. And that thing might be from the same species as these. But it was a commander type. That means that these things had a job, maybe scout. That meant they were separated for that duty. And without a way to reproduce, these things must have a caste system in place. That explains the other stomach, this mass must be food for something else. Maybe whatever birthed them?¡± Jessie asked as he finished explaining his thoughts.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Jones felt horror as he looked at Jessie. He remembered how insects with caste systems fought, with mass numbers. They sent so many forces at targets that they walked over their dead to win. If these things called their scouts back, then they might be smarter than bugs at least. And that meant that these truly were the devils of the prophecy!


    The hordes of filth, they must be the others of this foul breed! And that meant that they would come and attack, there was no other way to interrupt it.


    ¡°So crisis over? Should we get back to work?¡± One of the three deckhands asked.


    Jones looked up and saw Terra and Jessie share a look. He didn¡¯t know what they were thinking, but the fact that they could talk without words was telling.


    ¡°Yeah, go ahead. Jones will you help me move these organs,¡± Jessie said.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roch sighed as the woman removed her device from his arm. ¡°So I¡¯ll be able to join the others, my dear?¡±


    ¡°Sir, please call me Qiana!¡± The woman deckhand said as she looked at a tablet. Qiana was a tall woman, with blond hair and a slender figure that the deckhand jumpsuit didn¡¯t hurt.


    Roch only grinned and laughed a little as he watched her.


    Qiana looked up and smiled at Roch, trying to keep him calm. ¡°But to answer your question, soon. This machine will tell what¡¯s in your blood sample. Just a few more minutes and we¡¯ll know what¡¯s in you!¡±


    ¡°Of course. But may I know who¡¯s down there? I just had a terrible encounter with someone before this happened. Like to know if I¡¯ll run into them, you understand,¡± Roch said with a small smile.


    ¡°Of course! I regretfully don¡¯t know everyone down there. But the person who¡¯s been the most ¡®loud¡¯ is Former Senator Bradford,¡± Qiana said with a smile.


    ¡°Bradford!? The man who was a Senator? Oh good! He¡¯s always a pleasure to talk to!¡± Roch said with a forced grin. Bradford was a pleasure to talk to, but only when Roch had pulled one over him. The two of them were longtime rivals in life and business. Both of them had inherited their companies. And to make matters worse, their companies had been against each other since the start. The two had fought over inter-system contracts for years. Not even Bradford becoming a Senator had stopped their feud.


    If anything, it made it more fun for Roch! His company had raided by the government, he sent mercenaries against Bradford.. Laws made to impact his business, Roch bought materials Bradford needed or stole them.  Of course the mercenaries were hired through a middleman. And once the mission was over, then the bounty hunters were sent after the middleman. After all, the best way to hide a secret was to be the only one alive who knew it.


    ¡°Then you like me to tell him you¡¯re here?¡± Qiana asked.


    Roch looked at her for a few moments, lost in thought. On one hand, it would be nice to let Bradford simmer in anger and rage. But then the fact that he¡¯ll be able to surprise him and force him to react feels so better. ¡°No. I still don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be allowed to interact with the others. The best thing is to surprise him. And we have a habit of playing pranks on each other, and I want an easy win!¡±


    Qiana only laughed a little as she looked at the screen.


    Roch looked at her and then felt the warmth, the fire come back. Within him, the power that had let him tell the others the truth was back.


    A beeping caused Roch to look up and smile at Qiana who only looked at her tablet. For a moment Roch looked at her and felt a small spark of fear and worry. ¡°Anything wrong?¡±


    ¡°Your body is making a chemical I¡¯ve never seen before. And if I¡¯m reading this right, it only started a day ago,¡± Qiana said absently.


    Roch felt his flame and called upon his ability. He reached over and touched Qiana¡¯s right hand, smiling at her.


    As she looked up, Roch sent his flame into her. As she stared and her eyes started to widen, he grinned. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there. All the machine saw was a normal bio-reading. Of course, there¡¯s nothing that you need to tell anyone about.¡±


    ¡°Of course not, I just let my mind play tricks on me. I just need to have this machine looked over. After everything that happened that happened, there has to be some wear and tear. That¡¯s normal,¡± Qiana said as she looked at Roch.


    ¡°Oh, and you should wipe the system, after all the scanner might have a virus,¡± Roch said with a small grin.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Qiana said as she wiped the system of the scanner.


    ¡°Still you all must be so brave! And lucky, to have found the tech needed for this shield! And you must have gotten it up so fast!¡± Roch said with a small grin.


    ¡°No¡­.. we were attacked first. By this thing that could paralyze us with a roar. If they hadn¡¯t driven it off, we might have all been food. It was lucky they got back,¡± Qiana said.


    All Roch could do was stare at her, wondering what this meant for his developing plans. ¡°Please, tell me more about who you talking about. And how to operate this wonderful shield!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford sighed as he leaned back against the corridor. So far, the situation has been getting better. He now had another pawn he could use, Kenny. And so far as long as he gave orders in the shade of their religion, both Jones and Kenny would obey him. He had to go over all the data that the cult had given him about them, and it was interesting reading. But the comment that Kenny said was bothering him. The words ¡®Land¡¯ and ¡®Test¡¯, only accrued near each other in one passage. The Prophecy of the Land of Deliverance.


    That single thing was what the elders built their cult around. The idea that their followers would one day find that place, ¡®the Land of Deliverance¡¯. The Prophecy said that in that land, the true path of life would be found.


    Bradford didn¡¯t believe it, he never did. But he knew that the Ancients had strange abilities that he knew weren¡¯t tied to their tech. And sentient beings in the Federation sometimes gained them as well. This power was multifaceted, with many different ways that it was expressed. The files he had read about the people who had them, the tests done. Most of those in the know didn¡¯t even think the requirements to use this power weren¡¯t fully biological. More people had gone to insane asylums to get them out of the public eye among those people than any other reason. But the prophecy might have been built around a core of truth. ¡®Future Seers¡¯ was one of the ways that the Power affected people after all. But those people usually joined the researchers in the insane asylums, as patients if they didn¡¯t die. Seeing all the ways the future could go, it broke something in every race, all but the Ancients.


    So the idea that a Seer had lived long enough to write down what the Elders use. But then that would mean the Elders were the slime he had thought they were. Slime that had taken something they didn¡¯t understand and made something to give them power. Not the worst thing to accept but really, and he had known more people like that than others.


    But that still left the core truth, the vision. Who knows what it was, but if it was true, then it might have been about them. The copy he had read seemed to be different in some places as if many people had written it. With what he thought that made sense. Then the problem was trying to read the truth that had been written over.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan sighed as he looked around his office, trying to figure out anything. So far, everything has been going smoothly. The passengers who had volunteered had done so again, and the others were keeping calm. And for the cherry on top, Bradford was staying away from him. But as good as that was, it bothered him more than he wanted to admit.


    Bradford staying away sounded good, but not if it made more problems. There was no doubt in Duncan¡¯s mind that Bradford was behind the near riot. Bradford had to have heard that Duncan had called for battle, and if so, the riot made sense. Anything that Bradford didn¡¯t know, was something that could hurt Bradford. Duncan had dealt with those types for years during all his jobs. But the one thing was that this time Duncan agreed with him.


    There was too much that he didn¡¯t know about this Roch. The way that his story sounded, just bothered Duncan. There was something about it, something that he couldn¡¯t see. And he already knew that Roch was more involved in the sacrifice than he said. And he could understand why. If someone had tricked him into following a stupid idea, he would be ashamed too.


    He hoped that was all, but there was something, something more.


    Duncan shook his head, scowling as he looked around. ¡°I¡¯m not a new beat cop, I don¡¯t have time for this. What I know, what I can prove. Nothing. But that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t try and prove it. But should I?¡±


    Duncan just nodded and sighed. If the man had a mental break, then it was only right that he let him heal. He¡¯s seen more people who were hurt that way, and they had been healed. But still, there was just something about this.


    A knocking at the door caused him to look up and sigh. Back to work then. ¡°Come in!¡±


    Terra came in, looking a little worried as she looked around, trying to come to terms with something.


    Duncan sighed and looked at Terra with a somber stare. ¡°So where¡¯s Jessie? And you look like you¡¯ve got something to tell me. The cut-up of those beasts done?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and it''s bad. Jessie is keeping an eye on Roth. But first the beasts? They had no sexual organs,¡± Terra said as she closed the door.


    Duncan blinked and looked at her. ¡°Then where did they come from? How were they born?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Terra said before grimacing. ¡°Well, not for sure. Jessie thinks that it might have been borne from a breeder caste. That means that what we killed was meant to be sterile. So then these might been used for something else, maybe even scouting.¡±


    ¡°And with how they all retreated, that means they had a watcher. This means we need to watch the whole shield and build up more defenses all around. If something knows to retreat, then it¡¯ll know how to hunt. Wonderful, just wonderful. This means we¡¯ll be dealing with something trying to find a way around the shield. Great,¡± Duncan said with a grimace.


    Terra blinked and looked at him, a strange look in her eyes. ¡°You think they can think sir?¡±


    ¡°No, no evidence of that. But sometimes, you don¡¯t need to think to get lucky. And hunters are born to try and find ways around defenses,¡± Duncan said miserably.


    Well, we¡¯ve also got problems coming from inside the shield. There¡¯s something else we gotta talk about,¡± Terra said as she sat down in front of Duncan.


    ¡°There always is kid. So what do you know?¡± Duncan asked as he leaned back in his chair.


    ¡°Listen, that Roch? Jessie pointed something out. Roch never told us just what he did,¡± Terra said.


    Duncan blinked before he laughed a little. ¡°That¡¯s it? I already figured that out!¡±


    ¡°You what!? And you¡¯re okay with him being here!?¡± Terra asked shocked.


    ¡°Yes. I know it¡¯s scary that he helped that sacrifice almost happen but sometimes people break. And when scum gets into their heads, the scum can make people do things. We¡¯ll watch him, sure but¡­.¡± Duncan began only for Terra to interrupt him.


    ¡°Helped make it happen??! Jessie thinks he was the leader of that madness!¡± Terra exclaimed.


    Duncan looked at her before he started to slowly realize what Terra said. As he slowly went over what he had heard from Roch the idea became more and more clear. ¡°That freak scum star!¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know!? Jessie called it a ¡®Politician¡¯s Lie¡¯ or something. Tell the truth, but not all of it!¡± Terra exclaimed and Duncan shot to his feet.


    ¡°He did that?! And I missed it!? I¡¯m getting too old¡± Duncan snarled and moved towards the door. Terra grabbed his arm as he tried to move past him. Duncan turned and saw the fear in Terra¡¯s eyes. Somehow, Duncan knew that whatever Terra hadn¡¯t told him yet was the worst of it all

 Chapter Eighty One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /River Mouth near Sea


    Galactic Standard Time / 0820


    Xordig just stared in horror, shocked beyond words. He had thought the thing from the sea was a monster, but now they had a lot of them to deal with.


    On one side was a large, green titan humanoid twenty feet tall. It didn¡¯t have a face beyond a jagged line for a mouth and it had large muscles all over its body. It had four arms, the top pair ending in large claws and the bottom in thorn-covered clubs. Its legs ended in cross-facing claws with no feet, just pillar legs.


    On the opposite side were two large fifteen-foot-tall brown insects. Their chitin-covered bodies reflected the sun¡¯s light where they weren¡¯t covered in dirt. They had six legs, a slim-looking body, and a segmented stinger tail. Their mouths were behind black mandibles and dripped a white liquid. Above was three eyes on the sides of their heads facing the group, and Xordig knew it had three more.


    ¡°Okay, I didn¡¯t expect this!¡± Jinn said slowly.


    Xordig felt a spark of anger, and then the anger faded away. From the attack the other day, to how Locke gained his powers, he was almost at the edge. But Jinn didn¡¯t make this happen, and taking it out on him wasn¡¯t right. A screech caused him to look at the creatures.


    The insects screeched and charged, the giant roaring back. It threw its club right arm forward and hit the insect on the left, sending it flying a good twenty feet. The insect on the right screeched and opened its mandibles. From the open mouth, the insect fired a line of yellow liquid aimed at the Giant''s face. The Giant reacted and raised its right upper hand with a large tree top first in the path of the liquid. The tree absorbed most of it, but some got onto the giant¡¯s face. As they watched the Giant¡¯s face started to smoke, causing it to screech in pain.


    While this had happened, the insect that had been thrown had gotten back to its feet. As soon as it had, it charged at the giant, only for the giant to slam its right club into it. As the insect was slammed into the ground, the giant grabbed it with both hands and picked it up. With a single action, the giant threw the insect at the other one, sending both to the ground.


    Xordig looked around the battle, trying to figure out something, anything to help. He saw two large holes in the ground and swallowed as he looked at Al. ¡°So, how did those insects wake up?¡±


    ¡°I was firing at the small ones, and then the big one came. Then when it took a step towards this place, that¡¯s when they came out of the ground,¡± Al said softly.


    Xordig looked at what he was standing on and felt a spark of fear. Lower life forms only acted to protect their interests, nothing more. If they reacted when this place was threatened, then that meant it was important to the insects. ¡°We need to move now please!¡±


    Jinn looked up at Xordig, and for a moment Xordig thought he was going to say something. But then Jinn¡¯s eyes widened and he looked down. ¡°He¡¯s right! Everyone else, fall back to the other capsule! Locke, you¡¯re with me!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget me too!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    ¡°And you are?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at her.


    ¡°My name¡¯s Jessie, but call me Jess! Security division back on the ship and I¡¯m a great shot,¡± Jess, Jessie, said as she grinned at Jinn.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget me, my friend! With my Skill, I¡¯ll get us there as fast as possible!¡± Burt said with a laugh.


    ¡°Fine, Locke don¡¯t try and affect this place. It might end badly for us,¡± Jinn said as he looked at the ground beneath him.


    Xordig nodded and when Jinn ran towards the slide, he followed. And no matter how much he told himself otherwise, it felt like he was following Racha into battle.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked at Jinn and the others left, and for a moment he felt like following. But no, he had a different job to do. Turning towards the battle between monsters, Al swallowed as he took in what he was seeing.


    The giant wasn¡¯t steaming anymore, and with a roar, it charged at the two insects. The bugs had gotten back to their feet and split apart, but not before the giant had reached them. It swatted the one on the left away with its club hands. Turning towards the other one it snarled and roared again, charging at the bug with its fists raised.


    As the others all watched, Al was swiftly gathering every bit of data he could. The most important fact was that the bugs attacked didn¡¯t work long. That meant that the liquid had burned through itself, that it was meant to last a short time. Then that meant that it had a short period when it was active. Something like that was terrible for combat, but perfect for tunneling. And it might even¡­¡­.


    Al went still as everything suddenly made sense. Looking around he slowly swallowed and looked at the others. They didn¡¯t understand, and that was enough for Al to move. ¡°We¡¯re leaving! Now! ¡°


    As one of the guards turned towards him, he scowled and grabbed him. ¡°Now Nova damn it! Move it!¡±


    Seeing the look on Al¡¯s face, Sal¡¯go looked at him and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s move! Come on double time. Back to the camp!¡±


    As the group started to leave the cliff, Sal¡¯go moved towards Al. As they walked down the ramp, Sal¡¯go leaned close to Al¡¯s ear. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Those things can probably dig through rock. And they protected this place from that thing. I think they buried their eggs here,¡± Al said softly.


    Sal¡¯go stopped moving. Al had moved five steps ahead when Sal¡¯go started moving again. ¡°Are you serious?!?¡±


    ¡°It makes sense. If something has a low fertility rate, then they will defend their eggs. From anything that might threaten them. That¡¯s the only reason we were able to climb up here, those two couldn¡¯t hear us!¡± Al said softly.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Already Al was going over all the limited information that he had about those two things. The picture that he was slowly building wasn¡¯t the best, but it explained a lot. But a few of his deductions he didn¡¯t have information for, but it made sense. From the way that the Vine beast to the vines themselves, everything fit together. Even the position of the False Plants, and how they hadn¡¯t taken over the island.


    ¡°We need to get to that ship fast!¡± Al said as everything suddenly hit him.


    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± Sal¡¯go asked as they reached the ground.


    Al only looked at him and scowled. ¡°We¡¯ll talk with your leader once Jinn is back. It¡¯s bad,¡± Al said softly.


    As they reached the river, Sal¡¯go looked like he was going to say something when Al spoke up. ¡°Where¡¯s the dead monster?¡±


    Sal¡¯go turned his head and looked, seeing the area where they had fought the Kraken completely bare. It had only been a few minutes, what could have eaten it? He looked around, trying to find anything but there weren¡¯t any signs in the rock that explained anything. He even looked around for anything that might have flown here, but nothing.


    Looking around, Sal¡¯go went still as he spotted something in the trees. ¡°Move slowly across the bridge. Al, I¡¯ve got a few explosives. See if you can tech them up to break the bridge once we pass.¡±


    Al looked towards where Sal¡¯go had and nodded. ¡°Everyone across, now!¡±


    As they moved across the bridge, a figure jumped to the front of the bridge on the side they just left.


    It was a large five-foot tall green feline-like creature. It had three eyes above its muzzle, four limbs in the normal locations, and three long slim tails. The feline¡¯s paws had four digits that ended in black claws. It looked at Sal¡¯go for a few seconds before it nodded and dashed back into the forest.


    ¡°Cancel the tech up. What was that?¡± Sal¡¯go asked in wonder and shock.


    Al only laughed a little as he looked at where the creature had gone. It had barely shown itself in the forest, and now it had just given them praise or acknowledged them. ¡°Something that doesn¡¯t want to kill us today. And that¡¯s a treasure. And once Jinn gets back and my team rests, we have to move on. That¡¯s our mission and it might just save all of us castaways.¡±


    Sal¡¯go only nodded and sighed. ¡°Fine. But Chief Arlon is not going to be happy about waiting. But he¡¯s one of you, so he might understand.


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Al said as he looked at Sal¡¯go in shock. ¡°Chief who?!¡±


    ¡°Chief Tomkin Arlon. He¡¯s the leader of our camp. He was third in command of engineering on the ship,¡± Sal¡¯go said with a frown.


    Al was worried, very worried. He had met Tomkin Arlon once before when his brother became his teacher. The same teacher that their world had killed and whose actions had driven Al from that same world. The world that branded him a Heretic to be killed on sight.


    ¡°Oh. I never heard his full name before. I mean I only knew his first name really,¡± Al said as he tried to play off his shock. Sal¡¯go looked at him and shrugged.


    Al felt a spark of hope, if he could fool Sal¡¯go he could fool Tomkin. Then he was able to get through the next few hours alive.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Burt looked at the map he was making, he smirked as he led the way. They weren¡¯t as far from the cave as he would have liked, and they were making good time. Soon they would make it there, and with his abilities and the others, they would survive. He frowned as he thought of what exactly they were up against, and the reality before them.


    With the ¡®Daughter Tree¡¯ here, was anywhere safe? The tale of the Mother Tree was always one that made people scared to trust traders. Some people even argued that was the reason the Mother Tree did it, to allow her prey to weaken themselves. But the cities of the Jungle Realm had created trading places outside their walls. And while people were watched, it had allowed them to spot a few other threats before they became too much.


    Plus he had heard about one other time years ago, when a Daughter Tree was found, a war had stopped. They had gathered together and burned the tree, destroying all its spawns. And from that came a wedding had come from both leaders'' families and the cities had been united ever since. And that was because the one time the forces involved didn¡¯t, the False Plants ate three cities! At least according to the person telling the story. He had thought they were myths, it was always a friend of a friend or a relative a few generations back that fought them.


    But he had to wonder just why the False Plants hadn¡¯t spread over the island yet. If they were as strong as the stories about them painted them, then how was this place still so ¡®alive¡¯?


    ¡°You good?¡± Jinn asked as they ran.


    Burt looked at him for a second out of his right eye and sighed. ¡°Just thinking about the False Plants. I have to be honest, I thought they were myths. I mean it was always someone you knew who faced them, never the person talking about them. And there was nothing about that giant thing in any of the tales!¡±


    Jinn only nodded, a strange look on his face. ¡°Then we need to take down this tree then,¡±


    Burt only looked at Jinn and tried to keep from laughing. The very idea, it took hundreds of heroes who could use the Power to kill the last one! Plus the forces against had it easy, the Tree didn¡¯t have a giant!


    ¡°You¡¯re not joking?! But we¡¯d need a lot more people or a serious tech base to even think of doing that¡­.. ohhhh!¡± Burt said as he remembered just what Jinn was after.


    If they could control just what that Yard-Ship made, then maybe they would have a chance. And he had to help them do that. If he could keep their loyalty, and show them that people born here were allies then they would join his side. And if they had the strength to destroy a ¡®Daughter Tree¡¯, then they couldn¡¯t be allowed to join the other side.


    ¡°So Tech can be an equalizer here? So good to know,¡± Jinn said with a grin.


    ¡°And where would you get the tech in the first place?! I mean I¡¯m only going to rescue my¡­.. friend. Anything else, we¡¯ll talk about it!¡± Xordig snarled.


    ¡°Relax my friend,¡± Locke said with a chuckle. ¡°If J¡¯s got a plan then he¡¯s got a way! That¡¯s something we learned about him a long time ago!¡±


    ¡°And where was that? Where exactly did you two even meet?¡± Jess asked from behind Locke.


    All Locke did was look over his shoulder and grin.


    ¡°We can go over the finer points later, for now, we have to save them all!¡± Jinn said and Burt felt a flash of courage.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha fired again at the green things attacking them! Everything had gone perfectly! Jinn and the others had gone and they were waiting for them to make it back. Then while she was on guard these green things appeared. No matter what she did they hadn¡¯t responded, only coming closer. Only Paige suddenly appeared and fired at them. From the wound she made a black liquid came out, and then screeches came from the forest. Then all these green things had tried to break through, and no matter how many losses they took they didn¡¯t stop!


    ¡°We have to keep fighting!¡± Paige said with a savage look on her face. ¡°Whatever those things are, they¡¯re not alive! All these things are nothing but hunger and rage!¡±


    Racha spared a glance at Paige and swallowed. If not even the monsters they had faced got her this worked up, then what was coming at them? Already this island was making her reconsider everything she thought she knew. Before she thought everything followed a pattern, how the planets evolved made sense. But this place, everything about it was throwing that belief into the black-hole!


    As she fired again, her shot destroyed the creature''s head. She smirked, at least the idea of killing the head to kill something was still true.


    ¡°So, no way to get out?¡± Racha asked softly.


    Paige just sighed and shook her head. ¡°Roy¡¯s trying to move the boulders, but really. It was luck we were able to push them aside so we could pass. Plus it might be bad if those things get access to the tunnel system,¡± Paige said.


    Racha had a moment when she thought about how these things could get to the others at their base camp. And if the tunnels led to the rest of the island, then these things would find the other capsules. The beast that they had fought might hold their own, but all from the Spirit would die in the crossfire. So there was no choice but to fight here until they died.


    As they prepared for their final stand, something new came onto the scene.


    But a louder screech caused her to look up and stare in horror. As she watched, a ten-foot-tall green giant walk out of the forest. And it wasn''t alone, there were three large green six-legged beasts following behind.


    The giant was a basic humanoid, with bulging muscles below green flesh. Its arms were long and the right were claws and the left was a thorn-spiked club. Its legs were reverse-jointed and ended in three talons a deep jade that seemed to tear the earth with each step.


    The beasts were large as well, each over five feet tall and ten feet long. They were lean, with a blank face and two fangs below their muzzles. Their paws each had four digits that ended in jade claws that seemed to be wet. On the Beast¡¯s sides were spikes that grew from each shoulder and went out a good foot.


    As Racha looked at the creatures she swallowed as she saw the plan the green things had. Keep the girls here, locked down for the slower mover to make it here. Then once it was here it would kill the threats, and the Beasts would go into the cavern and then through the tunnels.


    ¡°They got us good. Paige go help Roy, I¡¯ll buy you as much time as I can by overloading my rifle. The explosion should take out the cave mouth,¡± Racha said softly.


    Paige looked at her with a glare and Racha sighed, Paige had to have felt Racha¡¯s emotions.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got precious cargo to care for. Me, I¡¯m Service. I knew I would go out this way,¡± Racha said softly before the giant and beast both roared. Before they even took a step, something hit all four of them and exploded.


    ¡°That¡¯s not so bad!¡± Jinn¡¯s voice caused the girls to look to the right. A party of five people came out of the forest, Jinn leading them and Burt aiming at the creatures. But it was the four-armed being that caused Racha to smile.


    ¡°Xordig!!¡± Racha cried out as she laughed a little. If he was here then maybe they would live through this after all. The two of them had fought together for years, and they had taken down worse robots before. If they had the others, then they would


    ¡°Hey boss, being getting into fights without me?¡± Xordig asked with a wide grin.


    ¡°Locke, split them up, then you and Jess handle one of those Beasts things! Xordig and Burt, Racha and Paige the other two! Me, I¡¯ll handle the Giant!¡± Jinn said as he drew out his blade, turning it into a sword.


    ¡°You always keep the hardest things as your jobs, bro! We¡¯ll finish ours and go help you!¡± Locke said that a pillar of earth the shape of a staff formed to his right. With a grin, he grabbed it and spun it around, a savage grin on his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll kill it before I do!¡± Xordig said with a laugh.


    ¡°Crazy and arrogant, not bad!¡± Jess said with a savage grin.


    Racha looked at Paige who only grinned and laughed. ¡°Let¡¯s not fall too far behind my friend!¡±

 Chapter Eighty One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach route to Yard-Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 0835


    Al looked around as they passed over the dune. The capsule on the beach within stone walls with gates caused him to feel shocked. He had seen what Locke did, but this seemed a little bare bones. But he didn¡¯t know what they had experienced over the last few days. There had to be a reason one of the Scholar¡¯s Way had made it like this. That thought caused Al to feel a little sick in his stomach as he got closer to talking to the brother of his teacher. He knew that they had been close, and he didn¡¯t know how the being would react. After all, his own family had betrayed him and tried to kill him!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! The weapons we¡¯ve got set up handle all the breaches and we¡¯ve got overlapping fields of fire!¡± Sal¡¯go said with a laugh.


    Al only smiled and tried to appear relaxed. He had gotten so used to acting that it was easier, but then he was a terrible game player. But then he had always been better when the stacks were as high as they could be. And if the Chief wanted him killed, all he would have to do was act.


    As they came closer to the wall, Al was able to spot a few guns on the walls facing the sea. His eyes locked on them as his internal library went to work. Within moments he had found a match to its basic chassis and figured out some modifications made to it.


    ¡°Those guns, their Stag-Hunter model 9000 form the Zonlic Corporation. You found them in the Capsule. Military-grade weapons!?¡± Al asked in shock.


    Sal¡¯go only looked at Al and smirked. ¡°You know your tech. And yeah, we were shocked when we found it. But after everything, we knew we needed them. So we didn¡¯t ask questions,¡± Sal¡¯go said with a shrug.


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit concerning. I mean if that was in yours what¡¯s in the others?¡± Al asked as he looked around. Mentally going over some plans he had for the Yard-Ship, he saw that there was more he could do. The ships he had been designing were meant only to take the people, but now there was another option here. If the other capsules had military hardware to the same


    Walking into the camp, Al looked around. The Escape Capsule wasn¡¯t at the center but towards the back, near two gun stations near the forest.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve been okay with the forest around here? We¡¯ve been attacked three times from all over!¡± Sara said with a shudder.


    ¡°How bad?¡± Sal¡¯go asked with a tired horrified tone.


    ¡°A beast that could paralyze people with a roar. Before that a pack of wolf-like lizards that killed three people we had sent out. We couldn''t even recover their bodies,¡± Sara said with a thousand-yard stare.


    Sal¡¯go looked at Al for help and he shrugged. ¡°I fought the paralyzer after the group I was with came back from a failed scouting mission. And on said mission, we fought humanoid bugs that chased us, and a giant one ten feet tall. It was only after that trying to get back that we found the reason we¡¯re out here.¡±


    ¡°Yikes. We fought this wave of these crab-hybrid things. Imagine wolves with crab shells and claws on their front shoulders. They just attacked us on the first day when we were looking around. If it wasn¡¯t for Locke making a wall and Xordig pushing it onto the creatures, we would have lost. And then we heard something salvaging the remains that night! ¡° Sal¡¯go said with a small sigh and shook his head.


    ¡°And yesterday, was it better?¡± Al asked as he looked around, trying to find anything to let him stay outside. If there was a problem that he had to deal with, he could try and not see Tomkin. But he knew that Tomkin would have already seen all the problems and dealt with them.


    ¡°A tiny bit. See the remains of some kind of shark washed up on the beach! It had armor of all things like a lobster but no arms. We found out we could eat it and served it as soup!¡± Sal¡¯go said and laughed as he looked out over the waves. ¡°But then that night something came back and hunted along the tideline. We didn¡¯t lose anyone but we heard the screams of the scavengers as


    something ate them all.¡±


    Al nodded, finally finding out why the sea had more guns pointed towards it. The idea that something could kill the things Sal¡¯go spoke of so loudly, was worrying.


    ¡°Wait, humans make up a small number of the people here, don¡¯t they?¡± Sara asked with hope in her voice.


    Al looked around and smiled as he saw all the nonhuman shapes. Three child humanoid otters were looking at the sea through the forward right breach. Behind theme were three six-foot-tall furred bipedals. They looked like humans, but their green fur covered their bodies. They  were watching six younger members of their kind half their size play by the lower left entrance. And here and there nonhuman deckhands were standing guard.


    ¡°Yeah, what? Was yours all human?¡± Sal¡¯go asked jokingly.


    Sara looked away and Al coughed.


    Sal¡¯go looked at them and winced. ¡°Oh, that means you were at that party for the people from that ¡®human only¡¯ world, right?¡±


    ¡°Human only!? Oh. I remember seeing that,¡± Al said as things made sense to him. That explained so much, but then he frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m not slated to work those events¡­¡­ maybe there was an issue that needed a mechanic. If I was nearby and I was the only human available that might explain why I was nearby when whatever happened?¡±


    ¡°Lucky! I was working in one of the parks. At least that was on my duty roster. Never check yours?¡± Sal¡¯go asked with a grin and Al looked away. ¡°What is this your first trip with the Spirit?¡±


    As Al nodded, Sal¡¯go¡¯s face fell. ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the first for most of us,¡± Sara said softly.


    Sal¡¯go looked around at them, and his scales lost their colors.


    Al understood his reaction. After the first tour, it was customary for deckhands to get codes to connect to the ship¡¯s network. They also let them send wireless messages to other ship¡¯s crew they had the handshake for. Without them, it was a testament to their wills that they were still alive.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°And you¡¯re all alive?¡± Sal¡¯go asked in shock.


    ¡°Not everyone. We found Roy when he was escaping from a massacre after his capsule went mad. They were about to sacrifice a baby to the monsters when some others disagreed violently. Roy was one of the sacrifices and then we saved him from what was hurting him!¡± Sara said as she glared.


    Al looked away, trying not to let his face show his feelings. There was something about the way that the hunters chased Roy that bothered him. It was only looking back that he saw it. There was something about the way they zeroed in on the baby and Roy, that wasn¡¯t natural. They should have stopped once he left their territory, that was the way animals hunted. So why keep tracking Roy and the Baby, why?


    ¡°Oh, there you are Chief!¡± Sal¡¯go said with relief in his voice.


    Al turned around and saw him. There in all his baboon-like glory was Tomkin Arlon. The parts of his fur not covered by the crew jumpsuit were as red as he remembered it. The way his black eyes went over the group and only paused on Al for a minute was telling.


    ¡°So who are these punks Sal¡¯go? And where is Xordig?¡± Tomkin asked and Sal¡¯go saluted.


    ¡°Sir, we and the kid went over to the left this time and over the dune there. We found a river, and a few members from another capsule sir! Xordig went with others to rescue other survivors! A native went with them sir, but you had to know!¡± Sal¡¯go reported.


    ¡°A native!? There are natives here?! Why haven¡¯t they rescued us yet?!¡± Tomkin demanded and Al took a deep breath.


    ¡°Bit of a story there. And he¡¯s kinda on the run,¡± Sara said.


    Tomkin zeroed in on Al, and then nodded.


    ¡°Then you can tell me. Everyone else, get to work. Miss?¡± Tomkin asked.


    Before Sara could say anything, Sal¡¯go spoke up.


    ¡°Sir, we ran away from a giant monster fight,¡± Sal¡¯go interrupted Sara before she could say anything.


    ¡°Giant monster? How giant?¡± Tomkin asked with a hard tone.


    ¡°At least thirty feet tall on one. And there were two other giant bugs around that size. It¡¯s possible they were defending their eggs.¡± Al said. He looked at Tomkin and knew that he had understood who was speaking.


    Al felt the looks on his body and only nodded as Tomkin¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Let¡¯s have that talk then,¡± Tomkin said as he turned around.


    Al followed him into the capsule, and then into the office set to the side.


    As soon as Al closed the door, Tomkin turned to Al and started to cry.


    ¡°ALBERT! I never thought I would see any of you again!¡± Tomkin said throwing his arms around Al. Al just looked down at Tomkin as he hugged him, tears flowing from his eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Tomkin asked as he reared back, moving his hands to Al¡¯s shoulders. After a moment Tomkin frowned and his eyes went hard. ¡°What, do you think I believe that lie that you all did restrict research without a letter of research? My brother was too smart to do that without a safety net! And he would have taught all of you that too!¡±


    ¡°He was, wasn¡¯t he?¡± Al asked as he let a tear leave his right eye. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened boss. I¡¯ve got most of my friend''s research, and nothing makes sense! From what I found there was no reason for them to react so hard! I mean I know your brother liked to research genetic Chimera¡¯s sure! But there was a public game and a place to submit bio designs! And he was the best at figuring out the way bioweapons worked! How could the Pope betray him!?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But that one, I always didn¡¯t trust him,¡± Tomkin said with a snarl on his muzzle.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t even give us a day, they just attacked at night! By the time we knew what was happening everything was already lost!¡± Al said with a somber look as he remembered what had happened to him. He shook himself back to the present and looked at Tomkin. ¡°Your brother died defending us. He took out this exo-frame we had all been working on as a group project. We had put in some mining tools to test the generator, and he used them to destroy the bots attacking one side. He stayed back and covered our escape, we spent the next few months dodging killers and I got off word.¡±


    Tomkin looked at Al and shook his head, massaging his eyes as he looked at the boy. ¡°I knew my bro was dead. But to hear he went out protecting his charges makes everything a little easier to handle. I¡¯ve had my time to morn, but knowing that gives me a bit of peace.¡±


    Al only nodded, a somber smile on his face as he looked into his past. The years he was under Tomkin¡¯s brother were some of the best of his life. And at least he had a good memory of how much that being cared about his charges.


    ¡°But tell me about these monsters. And this native you found. What¡¯s his story? How far is his home?¡± Tomkin asked with excitement in his voice. ¡°How long an overland trip would it be?¡±


    ¡°We found a Yard ship on an island a bit farther down the coast. You can¡¯t see it from here but it¡¯s there,¡± Al said with a somber tone. ¡°And the native, Burt. He told us this was an island. An uninhabited island that pirates are coming towards.¡±


    ¡°Pirates?! And how bad are they?¡± Tomkin asked, worry and dread in his voice.


    ¡°The tech level around here is crazy. And there might be more people among them like Locke, plus unknown numbers. So yeah, we¡¯re looking at a threat that I can¡¯t reasonably predict,¡± Al said with a hard tone in his voice. Being one of the Scholar¡¯s Way, that admission was as close to painful as there could be. But that was the truth, and Tomking needed to hear it.


    Tomkin only looked at Al, his mouth dropping open in shock.


    ¡°And the monsters? One of them is from this tree that grows plant copies of beings. A plant-based DNA stealer. And according to Burt, this kind of planet is a Folk Tale. And in said Tale it ate a whole city,¡± Al said with a hard tone.


    Tomkin looked at Al as he fell against the wall. ¡°How is this place still alive?¡±


    ¡°I think the sea, or maybe the giant bugs. I need more data, but I can find that after we control the Yard Ship,¡± Al said.


    Tomkin looked up, and Al hoped he saw hope in Al¡¯s eyes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Outside, Sal¡¯go looked at the capsule and frowned. There was something here, something that he didn¡¯t like. Since they came down, the Chief tried to keep everyone in the know about how he made decisions. To just call Al for a private debrief, was something that was out of character for Tomkin. But then there were none of his Religion among the survivors, maybe there was something there. Maybe the ¡¯Way had a secret tech to tell if they were telling the truth between members? He might needed to unburden his soul to a being that followed the same path or something like that.


    ¡°Don¡¯t like it boss?¡± a voice from behind caused him to turn.


    ¡°Sk¡¯p, what have I told you about calling me that!? And it¡¯s probably a religious matte,¡± Sal¡¯go said with a scowl.


    Sk¡¯ip only chuckled. Sk¡¯p was one of the humanoid otters, the Aolrgic race. He had brown fur, a normal color for his people, and black eyes with membranes to keep out water and omnivore teeth. Sk¡¯p was one of the passengers but had volunteered to help out. It was what Sal¡¯go expected, the Aolrgic culture had an element of helping the community that Sk¡¯p seemed to love.


    ¡°Still, what¡¯d you fight out there? And where¡¯s the big guy?¡± Sk¡¯p asked.


    Sal¡¯go just barely kept a sigh in. The way that Sk¡¯p kept giving nicknames to people was starting to get on his nerves. ¡°Some kind of water monster with tentacles. Then this cat thing appeared and bowed to us. Let the lookouts know that things could jump! I¡¯ll talk to Tomkin about destroying the bridge we found. We¡¯ll do it once the others make it back.¡±


    ¡°And where are they?¡± Sk¡¯p asked.


    For a moment, Sal¡¯go was almost tempted to keep quiet. Sk¡¯p was a far better shot than he¡¯d expected. But then he realized what he was thinking of and almost laughed. The idea that Sk¡¯p was a threat was almost as stupid as Xordig being a member of the Special Services!


    ¡°Mission to save other survivors and a baby human,¡± Sal¡¯go said absently. He looked at Sk¡¯p and sighed. ¡°Look, love to talk but I need to get up on the walls to watch the dunes for attackers.¡±


    ¡°Why? What¡¯s you find out there?¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a note of worry in his voice.


    Sal¡¯go only looked at him and sighed. ¡°Trouble, lots of trouble.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°HERE WE GO!¡± Locke called before stone walls started to rise.


    ¡°Good hunt!¡± Burt called out as he and Xordig ran towards the middle Beasts.


    Jinn ran at the Giant, a smirk on his face as he jumped over one of the walls. Sometimes, he had to admit that fighting foes that might kill him made him excited. Battles where the edge of victory or defeat was measured by an inch. Where one mistake could have killed him instead of leading him to victory. And this was looking like another one of those times.


    And this ten-foot-tall Giant sent by the ¡®Daughter Tree¡¯, looked to be one nova of an opponent. He took another step and grinned. ¡°<u>Aether Comet</u>!¡±


    As the blue energy aura engulfed him, he felt the power flow through him. For a single moment he felt the power stabilize before he jumped at the Giant¡¯s left side. Take out its weapons, then go for the head. But the Giant pointed its club at him before the thorns shot out as missiles trailing smoke! As one came towards him he slashed out with his blade and it exploded, sending him flying back!


    Jinn spun as the explosion sent him flying and saw a tree coming at him. Flipping, he landed on it and pushed off. Moments after he jumped the other thorn missiles hit and destroyed the tree in an explosion.


    As he flew away, he thought of everything that had just happened. A glance at the giant showed that it was slowly replacing its organic ammo, so that was what he had to get around.


    He took a moment to sneak a glance around the clearing and felt a surge of relief. Locke¡¯s walls had risen to fifteen feet high cutting off the creatures from each other. But as he couldn¡¯t see them, all he had to go that the others were fighting was the sounds of battle. With the Giant, it would probably be able to climb over the walls to get at the others.


    There had to be a way to kill it. Or if not kill it, keep its attention on him. He had to have a way to do that, he felt it! Just then, Jinn remembered something from fighting against the creature in the cavern. ¡°Why not, this might work. Or it might now.¡±


    Jinn landed over thirty feet away from the Giant. As the others attacked the Beasts, the Giant turned towards them. Jinn couldn¡¯t let that happen so he started his experiment. He tried to imagine the flame of the Power engulfing his legs. Releasing a deep breath he moved and suddenly he was over ten feet closer to the Giant. He held his blade out as he angled himself at the Giant¡¯s leg and did what he did twice more.


    The Giant roared as its right leg was suddenly sliced through and a large spurt of black blood shot out of the wound. As it went to its knees, it moved its head around until it faced Jinn. Jinn was just standing there, his sword dripping the black blood and skin from the leg.  Jinn only glared at the Giant and flicked his sword. ¡°How do you like that, you monster?¡±


    With a roar, the Giant charged at him, and Jinn led it away.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Jinn called out as he away normally ran, waving his sword to keep the Giant following him.

 Chapter Eighty Three

    ¡°HERE WE GO!¡± Locke called out as he threw his free arm out. The stone wall rose according to his will with no signs before it happened. As that happened, spikes forced the Beasts to move apart, each one alone in a section of the walls.


    ¡°Good hunt!¡± Burt called out as he and Xordig ran towards the middle Beast moments before the wall rose over him.


    Locke looked at the Beast caged in with him and Jess. Looking over the body, he saw nothing that could cause problems. Its six legs looked like they were built for stability, so it should be slow. But the fangs, now they looked like they could deal damage.


    ¡°So how do you wanna do this?¡± Jess asked with a grin.


    ¡°I wish I had my blades. Now then you¡¯d see something!¡± Locke said with a grin as he looked at the Beast. ¡°I¡¯ll take the right side, you go left!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Jess said with a grin.


    Locke shot forward, running for all he had. The beast seemed to see him in that eyeless way these things had. It charged at him and swung its right front paw at him. He blocked it with his rock staff as Jessie fired at it. The shots hit the Beast along its left side. But to Locke¡¯s shock, all the blasts from her pistol did was make the Beast angrier.


    It tried to lung with its head at Locke but he moved and leapt backwards, flipping in the air. He landed and looked at the Beast as it ran at him. Jess kept firing at it but the shots did nothing. With a single thought, a pillar of rock rose over ten feet into the air under Locke. But when the Beast rammed the pillar it fell onto it, Locke having jumped before the Beast hit. In the air, he saw Jinn fighting the Giant. Jinn suddenly diapered before the Giant staggered as its right leg erupted blood.


    Locke passed below his wall and landed on the side. He kicked off the wall and spun his rock staff over his head. As the Beast came out of the rubble of the pillar, not even wounded. As its face ¡®looked¡¯ around but Locke was suddenly there, slamming his staff down the Beast. The staff broke and the head looked towards where the attack came from. But then Locke landed and the Beast turned to ¡®look¡¯ at him.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Jinn¡¯s call caused Locke to feel a spark of rage. That was the thing Jinn did when the mission called for him to stay home, or one of the others. Together they had handled the worst monsters and hardest forts. And apart, and with his call they usually came back alive. He wouldn¡¯t lose his friend after all the time that passed. Not after finding him again.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! It can sense our movements!¡± Jess called out as she down the left side of the enclosed firing at the Beast. As it turned towards her Locke slammed his foot down and a large stone pillar rose. The Beast whipped its head towards the pillar and then Locke made it fall away from the Beast.


    They watched as the Beast jumped and slammed into the fallen pillar. As it then looked around, it seemed to be searching for them.


    Locke looked at the False Plant and felt nothing but anger and a touch of fear. This thing was stupid, and that meant it was new. A new creature that new meant it was just borne. And that meant that this ¡®Daughter Tree¡¯ that Burt named could think and comprehend time. And that meant that this battle was more deadly than anyone knew.


    As the Beast got to its feet and looked towards them Locke reacted. He created another pillar to the right of it and it roared. But then it turned its attention back to them. With a single thought, the pillars shot stones from their tops that landed all around them.


    As the Beast roared again and again, Locke looked at it and suddenly understood. ¡°It can echolocate too!?! What did that think take to make this!?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s bad,¡± Jess said softly sounding faint.


    As the Beast looked at them Locke willed with all his might for the earth to respond. A second later, large pillars blocked the False Plant from the two people as they formed a cage wall.


    Locke just looked at the Beast as it tried to find them. The only thing his trick had bought them was time and they needed to hit harder. For a second he wondered how Jess¡¯s shots had no effect. He looked at Jess¡¯s weapon and once he showed the model he had a hard time figuring out just what it was. But he paled as he realized what she was armed with. ¡°That¡¯s a security-type blaster. Can it even be set to kill!?¡±


    ¡°I was hoping to knock it out! Then we could have killed it easy!¡± Jess defended her actions.


    All Locke could do was stare at her and then swallow. ¡°It¡¯s a plant! It doesn¡¯t have a nerve system for stun effects to work!¡±


    ¡°Well, I know that now!¡± Jess exclaimed. While the two argued the Beast roared and tried to get to try to get through the fence. ¡°Listen, can you make me a weapon? I ¡®m pretty good at using a lance!¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Locke said as he looked at the Beast and snarled. With a thought a spear of rock and a staff formed by them. Locke grabbed the staff before looking at Jess. ¡°Use the spear, I¡¯ll make it show its stomach. It has to be easier than the top! So once you¡¯ve got that target in your sights strike true!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Jess called out as she grabbed the spear.


    Without another word, Locke ran to the right, striking the cage wall as he went. As he thought, the Beast followed after him roaring to ¡®see¡¯ him. All he had to do was keep fighting and then make an opening. Then they could go kill the others and then help Jinn! When everything went down, the team had split up. But that wasn¡¯t going to happen now, not ever again!


    Jess gripped the spear in her hands, feeling the weight. It was as hard as the one in her room and a bit lighter. If she ever got home and talked to her dad, she¡¯s gonna have to apologize. All the times she hated her dad teaching her primitive combat, it actually might save her life. As she stayed still, she could only watch as the Beast left her alone to follow Locke. She looked down at her pistol and scowled. She had nothing besides the rock spear that could break when she used it! But what could she have done? The capsule they came down in might have had military hardware, but no good personal arms.


    She started to move after Locke, not wanting to leave him alone. She could only watch as he created a cage of four pillars around the Beast. Before she could move in it roared again and this time broke one of the pillars in front of it.


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    She stared in shock, wondering why it was only doing that now. Nothing about these things made sense, and that was bothering her more than it should. She was ship security on a Cruise Ship, and things changed fast. But this thing was unlike anything that she had ever thought could exist. Even if this thing was from a DNA stealer like the films, what had the source DNA been from?


    As she looked at the battle between Beast and Locke, she readied herself. She would only get one chance, and she needed to be ready.


    Locke dodges a lunge from the Beast by jumping to the right before moving to slam his staff down. But the Beast landed and pushed off its front legs and flew backwards. This caused Locke to miss his target, and he glared at the Beast as it landed.


    Jess looked at the Beast with a spark of fear. The longer it fought, the more it did. It was like¡­¡­ it was learning as it fought them. That didn¡¯t make sense. How could something¡­..


    ¡°Oh,¡± Jess said as everything suddenly became clear. She wanted to know how she could have missed this, but the situation was so beyond her training.


    ¡°LOCKE! It¡¯s learning its abilities as it fights!¡± Jess called out as Locke rose on a pillar and jumped as the Beast leaped at him. As he flew through the air he nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, I figured that out Jess! Get ready!¡± Locke called out and Jess went still.


    For a second all she could do was look at Locke, then she shook herself. With a hard glare forming she waited. When the Beast leaped at him again, this time Locke sent two pillars of rock thrust at it. They slammed into the Beast and sent it against the stone walls.


    Jess charged, her spear pointed right at its heart. She moved fast, her weapon held steady. All she had to do was thrust once and this Beast would die! She reached the pinned Beast and with a cry, she slammed her spear into the Beast. And in a single moment, the spear broke on the Beast¡¯s skin.


    All Jess could do for a few moments was stare at her broken weapon, shocked beyond thought. Then Locke tackled her from the side, moments before the Beast broke free and slashed at where she had been.


    ¡°Okay, new plan. I¡¯ll try and wear it down. Maybe if I can make it tired then I can kill it,¡± Locke said as he got back up, and two staffs formed before him.


    All Jess could do was nod and reach for one of the staffs before he grabbed both of them. ¡°HEY!¡±


    ¡°Sorry lady, but I can move faster solo,¡± Locke said and looked at her. ¡°You don¡¯t have the weapons to handle this. Making it tired might work or it might not.¡±


    The sound behind her caused her to turn and see a door her size form through the wall leading back the way they came. ¡°If I die try and go help Jinn. Tell him I fought to the end.¡±


    Before she could say anything he roared and charged. The Beast roared back and ran to meet him. Locke summoned a pillar that sent him skyward and then formed two more that hit its neck. It didn¡¯t even phase the Beast and Locke landed on the thing¡¯s back. It tried to buck him off but Locke used the staffs to hold onto the thing''s neck.


    ¡°He¡¯s right! I can¡¯t do anything!¡± Jess said as she was forced to watch Locke fight to his death. This was against everything that she believed in but she had to be realistic. Nothing she had could help. The weapon that helped the camp throwback what attacked them couldn¡¯t even tickle the Beast.


    With a roar, the Beast buckled and threw its back against the wall. As she watched, Locke was flung off the Beast and landed behind it. before the Beast could turn around, Locke was already moving, thinking about how to win. He made another pillar rise on the opposite side of the Beast that it ignored until it fell towards it. The Beast jumped ahead and dodged the falling stone before roaring at Locke.


    She watched as Locke made a hole that caught the Beast''s middle right leg before clenching around it. She figured that he was trying to break it. The Beast reacted by tearing its leg apart to keep moving. As the black blood came down from the Beast, something about this thing made her wonder. Nothing about it made sense at all to her. It didn¡¯t know anything about its abilities, all it had going for it was its body seemed able to tak¡­¡­. She went still as she thought of something, something that she prayed wasn¡¯t true. But if it was then this was worse than Locke even dreaded it was.


    And with his Abilities not working against this thing, what could she do instead? Her weapon was worthless against the Beast! The only way that she could do anything with it was!!! Suddenly she looked down at her pistol, a strange idea going through her mind. There was a way to use it, but then it would be a sacrifice play. But then that idea might not work. ¡°Come on, please let it be there.¡±


    She grabbed her pistol and looked it over, smiling a bitter smile as she saw what she was looking for.


    ¡°Hold on Locke, just hold on for a minute,¡± She said as she started to fiddle with the pistol, hoping her plan would work.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Bearer had been fighting two of the two walkers for so long. It could feel its cargo slowly move along the cycle. It had to get far enough away from its birther that this one would be allowed to live. It knew the way of its kind, those that were too close to each other would kill each other to have food to eat. And with the short distance and the strength it felt there, its spark would be devoured.


    And it had been borne for one reason alone, to bring the spark far away. Passages under the ground would carry it to the corners of the land. There the spark would grow slowly, gathering its ladder and sending out its drones. Slowly it would spread until it met the birther. Then a great battle would be fought, and the victor would claim the lesser.


    But unless it got out of this strange place covered by stone it would fail! As it lived longer and drew closer to the end, it learned more about itself. Its scream cry could let it see around it. Its eyeless sight only worked until it reached a wall but the scream went beyond it. it could sense the prey on the ground itself, but that had grown lesser as it lost a leg.


    But its hide was too strong for the two legs and the random earth to kill it. All it had to do was stand and fight and then escape from this place. this strange trick by the birther would fail, and it would run far.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Locke used his ability to dodge another blow by having a pillar push him to the side. He smirked as he stared at the Beast. This was going poorly for him, even after the Beast had lost a leg. Surprisingly, it hadn¡¯t even slowed it down. The thing was still moving, and that made him a little worried. It was like this thing was built to fight and hunt. But then why was it even here? If this DNA taker was able to send these alone against this place, it had to be able to think and realize time. And that meant it had to have a plan. But what was it?! And did that make this thing worse to easier?


    ¡°Locke!¡± Jess called out suddenly. ¡°Get its mouth open, and keep it open!¡±


    Locke blinked, trying to figure out what her plan was. Nothing about that made sense but he had long ago learned to trust his teammates. So without a word, he roared and charged at the Beast. He dodged its front paws and lunged to the right, throwing a stab at the damaged leg. It did no damage at all, but then he hadn¡¯t expected it to. All it needed was to get this thing to hunt for him. As the Beast roared again, this time Locke reacted. With his last bit of willpower, he reacted. He formed two pillars that went up into the Beast¡¯s mouth holding it open, and then others that kept it in place.


    He looked back and saw Jess running toward the beast, her pistol in her hands. He watched in shock as she threw her pistol down the Beast¡¯s throat. Then she turned and tackled him, both of them flying towards the wall.


    ¡°Cover us, now!¡± Jess called out with a scared tone.


    Without a word, Locke reacted. He willed a pyramid of stone to form around them, and moments later they heard an explosion. He stared at her, shocked. By her actions, he knew she had caused the explosion. But how, that he couldn¡¯t figure out. ¡°What did you do!?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jess only chuckled before going still. There in her right vision was text, text that she had heard about.


    Aether Template Acquired/ Striker Operative


    First Skill; Battle Enhance; Flame


    ¡°Hey, when you gained your abilities, did you see something in your vision?¡± Jess asked.


    ¡°Yeah. I did. You?¡± Locke asked as he looked at her. She shrugged and looked up.


    ¡°I¡¯m a Strike Operative. Weird. And my skill. It¡¯s <u>Battle Enhance; Flame!</u>¡± Jess said and then a crimson energy field engulfed her arms and legs. The Flames weren¡¯t burning she felt at peace as she saw them. But something about them was making her feel stronger like she could do anything now. But then she thought about her revelation and swallowed. ¡°Open up.¡±


    ¡°What? We need to¡­¡­¡± Locke began only for Jess to look at him.


    ¡°Open this place up. That thing has to be dead! And I need to check on something,¡± Jess said as she looked towards where the Beast had been.


    Locke stayed silent, and with a mere thought, the pyramid opened. The Beast had lost all its body to the middle legs and fallen to the ground. From where they were a small hard surface was visible in the middle of the Beast¡¯s body. Whatever it was reflected off the light, sparkling in the sun.


    ¡°We did it! One more dead creature! Give me a second, I¡¯ll open a door to the native and the guard. Then we can save the others¡­.. what are you doing?¡± Locke asked


    Jess didn¡¯t answer, just walking towards the dead Beast, Locke following behind. Once they reached it Jess put her hand on the Beast and tore it open.


    ¡°Nova! What are you looking for¡­¡­ what¡¯s that?¡± Locke asked in shock. The hard thing they saw dropped from the Beast¡¯s body. It was at least a foot around and seemed to be oval-shaped. As they watched a small green sprout burst from the top.


    Without a word, Jess grabbed it and pulled the plant out of the seed. What was pulled out was a mass of organic material with a single eye that glared at them. With both her arms she grabbed the mass and pulled it apart.


    Locke meanwhile only looked at it and paled in fear. He had understood what it was as Jess destroyed it. Feeling faint he looked at the walls and swallowed. ¡°We need to help them, now!¡±


    ¡°Then get those walls down!¡± Jess said as she looked at the mass in her hands before she dropped the parts.

 Chapter Eighty Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Area near Cavern to underground Passages


    Galactic Standard Time / 9005


    ¡°Good hunt!¡± Burt called out as he and Xordig ran towards the middle Beasts.


    Xordig felt a spark of anger as the wall blocked them off from the others but he understood the plan. They had no idea what these things were capable of. The best thing to do was split them up.  But he was with the local he didn¡¯t know much about yet. The local was armed with a better weapon than anything he had seen since he landed. From what he could see it was some kind of plasma pistol that didn¡¯t seem to have a shot limit.


    He wanted to say that he wasn¡¯t armed with the wrong weapon, but he was. His weapon was a security blaster, good to stun. But there was something about the Beast that just bothered him, something about its body. And when things bothered him, they always were so much trouble.


    As they looked at the Beast it seemed to be looking around, trying to figure out what happened to it.


    ¡°Fire a shot,¡± Burt said softly as he aimed with his pistol.


    ¡°What?¡± Xordig asked just as softly.


    ¡°We need to know if that shooter you¡¯ve got can wound it,¡± Burt said bluntly.


    Xordig looked at the native as he drew his weapon. He could understand, that what he was wielding was a lot less advanced than Burt¡¯s. And if Xordig couldn¡¯t use his weapon to fight this thing, then he might be going into a black hole.


    With a single shot, they waited. The shot hit and nothing happened. As they stared slowly the Beast turned and ¡®glared¡¯ at them.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Xordig said softly as he realized his weapon hadn¡¯t hurt the Beast.


    ¡°Take my gun and give me yours,¡± Burt said abruptly as the Beast started to growl at them.


    ¡°What?¡± Xordig asked dumbly as the Beast started to move.


    ¡°I said take my gun now!¡± Burt said as he grabbed Xordig¡¯s pistol and then thrust his own at Xorddig. Xordig had barely grabbed Burt¡¯s gun when the beast roared.


    As it charged at them Burt aimed Xordig¡¯s pistol and grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s try this again. <u>Blast Enhance; Flame</u>!¡±


    As a red aura formed around Xordig¡¯s gun, Burt fired. The Beast had only taken another step when the shot hit its forward right leg and exploded into flames. The Beast screeched as it stumbled.


    Xordig didn¡¯t even think, he just fired, and this time the Beast reacted. He looked on and saw the shot had wounded it. He grinned as but then the wound release some black blood. He stared at it as the blood was absorbed and the wound healed, shocking him.


    ¡°Good! And you¡¯ve got twenty shots then you have to press the big purple button and then wait a second to reload! But let¡¯s make a sandwich with this thing!¡± Burt said as he ran around the Beast firing as he moved. Three explosions blossomed along the Beast¡¯s right side, and the Beast screeched in pain or rage.


    ¡°Thanks! You¡¯ve got around fifty shots. Then it takes around a minute to recharge!¡± Xordig called out as he ran towards the other side of the monster.


    He saw the plan, keep the Beast between them and play to their strengths. It was simple yet effective, and for the stars, he couldn¡¯t see anything better. And the way that the Native created it, it was like he was used to dealing with unknowns. And that bothered him so much. If that was true then it put everything he thought he knew about this world and made it wrong. If it was normal to find unknowns, then they were all in a worse place than he thought they were.


    As the Beast tried to get up Burt fired at one of its legs and the flames forced it to stumble again.


    For a second Xordig was almost considering stopping, but then he remembered what this was. According to the others, this was the spawn of a DNA stealer. And those were threats because of how they could keep pumping out monsters. They needed to kill this thing as fast as they could, and then they needed to help Jinn.


    Xordig fired again and then there was a flash from the middle of the Beast and then it roared. It turned its head towards Xordig and roared, but the force of it sent Xordig flying backwards! As he hit the wall he stayed there for a moment before he fell. All Xordig felt was complete shock. He had experienced something like that only once before. That mission had their foe use a tractor lift that was weaponized but this was beyond it! And from a plant of all things!


    As he got up he saw Burt running and firing, trying to keep the Beast¡¯s attention on him. But the Beast had started to move around, dodging the shots and seemed to be tanking them when it was in the air.


    Xordig felt nothing but shock and confusion. Somehow the light the Beast had released had made it stronger! And that was very bad, the others could be fighting to their deaths.


    ¡°Boss!¡± Xordig whispered in terror as he looked at the wall separating them. It was only that he could hear the sound of combat on the other side that kept him calm. That she was still fighting meant that they still had a chance. For now, he had to fight and kill the Beast in here with him. The internal battle he had just waged took no longer than a few seconds, but it was too long to not pay attention. Looking up, he saw Burt dodging another scream from the Beast as he kept firing.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Jinn''s voice came over the walls. Xordig only looked at the wall before chuckling. If Jinn could keep his cool that much, then so would he. Even if he had to handle the worst with only one person to help, he would.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Bearer ¡®looked¡¯ around at the two-legged things. Their stings were so different, were they even the same kind of being? One caused its legs to lose control due to the heat and the other pierced the Bearer¡¯s body. It had been on the ground when one of the stinger¡¯s blows almost hit the Spark! That the Spark it was carrying was endangered. To admit it was terrible. But then the Spark sent a blast of its energy to the Bearer, and that energy had strengthened it. But it felt the beat of the Spark lessen.


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    It had to find a way out and to do that, it needed to defeat the two walkers. They were keeping it from thinking and an escape route. The little things must have taken advantage of this whole strange blockage to hunt it. Did they know about the Spark? Did they want it? And who were the two before the passages into the under ways?


    Whatever their purpose, the Bearer needed to kill them. It didn¡¯t have a choice anymore. If it wanted to serve its purpose, then they needed to die. It felt them through its middle feet, the stronger one was still moving. The other one was getting up from being thrown against the blockage by the Bearer¡¯s scream. It had to kill them, and not before too much time passed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he dodged another scream, Burt felt his blood burn. When Jinn had called out, there was something in those words. It was like something he had experienced so long ago. A call to arms, a battle song. He felt more aligned with his power and skill than ever before. But unfortunately, it didn¡¯t help his memory at all.


    These things¡­¡­ he had no idea what it was. The stories he had heard about the False Plants said nothing about any kind of creature like this! The False Plants always moved with never-ending wraiths. They kept coming until they won. They were the Legion of Time that could conquer everything unless they were stopped. They advanced slowly, they spread by¡­¡­.. no one knew how they spread. He looked at the Beast, his eyes went to the middle and then he paled. ¡°Oh Storms! <u>Movement Enhance; Dash</u>!¡±


    As a blue aura covered his legs, he ran at the Beast. He fired his borrowed weapon in quick secession. Thankfully, each blast hit and slowly moving along the Beast''s body towards the middle. Somehow, the Beast realized what he was doing and it turned. As his shots hit its face it looked right at him and screamed louder than it ever had before.


    ¡°The center, destroy the thing¡¯s center!¡± Burt roared as he was sent into the air, and thrown over the wall. But he didn¡¯t let that stop him, not at all. He pulled out a grappling gun and fired, the hook caught the wall before he was too far away. As he held onto the line and fell he braced himself before he hit the wall. Without a word, he started to walk up. He had to get back into the fight, he had to! And he had to get to an allied Island as soon as possible, they needed to know about this! he had done it, he had done it! He found out how the False Plants spread! This alone would mean his name would live for eternity. But only if others learned what he had just figured out!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The strong two-leggers had tried to destroy the Spark! What would drive the little thing to do that of all things?! The Bearer looked around and blinked as it realized that the scream of rage had sent the stronger two-legger away. Now all it needed to do was deal with the other one. As it slowly got up it started to growl. Maybe a show of force might cause the two-leggers to give it enough time to find a way out. It could feel that the Spark was nearing the time it would take the Bearer¡¯s body. It had to get to a place that it could plant in, a place well-defended!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Xordig looked at the Beast as it slowly got up and growled at him. The wounds on its body were slowly healing and he knew, he knew it was figuring out how to kill him. He had to keep fighting, he couldn¡¯t stop now. And the way that Burt had passed on that command, made him worried. If he had realized something that made this monster¡¯s destruction that much more important, then Xordig had to do it.


    But how? This thing was hurt by what Xordig had, but Burt was the MVP in this battle. And with everything that had happened, he didn¡¯t know ¡°Nothing to do but the old faithful, hu?¡±


    With a roar he charged forward, Burt¡¯s Plasma pistol firing away. As the bolts hit the Beast¡¯s face, some of them hit the mouth and the inside of the False Plant. As it stumbled and was forced backward more bolts hit it, causing flame to sprout where they hit. Xordig looked up and saw Burt on top of the wall, blasting away as he dropped down a rope.


    ¡°Keep firing! If I¡¯m right we have to destroy that thing!¡± Burt called down as he fired.


    Xordig felt shocked. Burt was acting like this thing was a bomb waiting to go off. He turned and growled as he looked at the Beast and roared as he kept firing!


    He never noticed, but a strange warmth was starting to flow within him, a warmth flame started to grow with him. A warmth that would soon save his life.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The other two-leggers had hit the Spark¡¯s covering! The little horror was just like the other, how dare they! They were food things, they had no right to hunt the New Giver! And this blockage was starting to look like something had made it! All the Bearers and their guards wanted was to bring their Sparks to places of safety! Each one was all the Birther had been able to grow in time of the next Awakening. And these things dared to stop them from doing their duty?!


    It felt something within it break. As the Beast tried to keep moving it, felt the flame of the Spark start to flex. This was it, this was why it had been born. It could only hope that the Spark would be able to handle the Two Leggers, it could do nothing else. As the flame raced through its body, the last thing the Bearer felt regret that the Spark hadn¡¯t traveled that far.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Burt kept firing, his fear was growing. If he was right, then this was the worst thing that has happened. If he was right, then this thing represented more danger than anything he had ever heard of. It had to be stopped here and now!


    Suddenly, the Beast threw its head back and released a roar as a light shined from its center. As the light intensified a cracking was heard before the Beast exploded in a blast of light and sound.


    Burt dropped the last three feet, his senses slowly coming back. He heard things first, and it was a sound that filled him with dread. Looking up as his vision returned, he paled in fear. Where the Beast had been was now a tree that growing by the second. It was already five feet tall and half a foot wide. Despite its height, it was a solid green and it was growing branches at odd angles. And from the branches came green vines that were slowly moving in the wind. But then Burt realized, there was no wind here.


    He watched in horror as the vines reached for Xordig who was still stunned. He knew then what he had to do if he wanted to be able to live with himself.


    ¡°XORDIG, ROLL!¡± Burt roared as he fired at the tree. It released a screech as the blast hit the middle of the trunk.


    All at once the vines shot towards him lightning fast! He fired again and again until his borrowed blaster ran out and the vines grabbed him.


    ¡°Storms! Let go!¡± Burt cried out as he tried to get free. But with three vines around each limb and two around his mouth, it was impossible. As the vines picked him up, he could only hope someone killed him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Xordig blinked as he looked up. All he could remember was that something had happened. As he looked up he saw Burt in the air, vines around him. He turned his head and saw a tree, a large part of its body opening to reveal an opening. As he saw for a moment he wondered where the Beast was and then everything hit him. Squeezing his hand around the weapon Burt gave him, he fired at the opening.


    As the blasts hit the tree, some went into the opening. As that happened a few of the vines suddenly attacked him. He growled and rolled away, dodging them and getting back on his feet. His free hands all flexed and he growled low in his throat.


    ¡°Thanks! Now kill me!¡± Burt bellowed as his mouth was freed.


    ¡°What?!¡± Xordig demanded in shock as he fired at the tree.


    ¡°This thing needs live meat to copy them! So kill me!¡± Burt yelled.


    All Xordig felt was a sense of shame and horror. As that died his rage sparked and he felt a spark of something that blossomed into an inferno within him.


    Aether Template Battle Operative


    1<sup>st</sup> Skill; Aether Combat Boast


    A strange blue energy aura suddenly engulfed Xordig. It felt like it was sending energy throughout his body, energizing him. He saw the vines pull Burt closer to the opening and he reacted. Without a second thought, he leaped at the vines and grabbed them. Without even stopping he tore them apart as he completed his jump.


    Burt fell to the ground and rolled away, jumping up. Xordig appeared behind him and fired at a vine.


    ¡°You got the ¡®Power¡¯!¡± Burt said as he fired at the tree.


    ¡°Yeah, so what is that thing!?¡±Xordig asked as he glared at the vines, firing another blast at one of them as it got closer.


    ¡°It has to be a ¡®Daughter Tree¡¯! This is the ¡®daughter¡¯ of the False Plants source! It must be trying to spread!¡± Burt snarled as he fired again.


    It was the sounds of something falling that almost took their eyes off the roots. But it was when stone walls rose to block the vines that they looked towards the sound. Terra and Jess had defeated their Beast and were coming to help. All Locke did was fire spears of stone as Jess ran at the tree, her body covered in a crimson energy aura.


    With a roar, Jess punched the top of the tree and broke off where she hit.


    The tree screeched and as vines shot up towards her, she jumped at the wall. When she hit it she pushed off it, the vines shooting past her as she spun until she was back in front of the tree.


    Locke hadn¡¯t been idle, and sent five spears at the tree, impaling it.


    As the tree screeched in pain, Xordig bellowed and ran at it, a mad idea in his mind. As the vines went at him, Burt kept firing, destroying them as Xordig made it closer.


    Jess joined his charge as Locke formed and sent two barded rock spears from both sides of the tree. With effort, he pulled the spears back into the earth, even as vines grabbed them. Finally, he pulled most of the tree apart, revealing a single eye on a mass that was at the center of the plant. With yells, Xordig and Jess both reached the mass and punched, sending the flesh part flying into the air. Before it hit the wall, a bolt flew between Jess and Xordig, hitting the mass before flames erupted. As it burned, they turned and looked at Burt who only glared at the burning remains.


    ¡°For all those your kind have eaten, may you find no rest in the deeps!¡± Burt spat and looked at the remains of the tree. With a pale look, he looked around at the others, questions on his face. ¡°Just what was that?¡±


    ¡°No idea, let''s help the others then talk later!¡± Jess said with a scowl at the final wall. ¡°So bring that wall down now!¡±

 Chapter Eighty FIVE

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Area near Cavern to underground Passages


    Galactic Standard Time / 9005


    ¡°Locke, split them up, then you and Jess handle one of those Beasts things! Xordig and Burt, Racha and Paige the other two! Me, I¡¯ll handle the Giant!¡± Jinn said as he drew out his blade, turning it into a sword.


    ¡°HERE WE GO!¡± The voice of the man armed with a stone staff caused Racha to look at him. But when stone walls started to rise, that was when Racha understood what was happening.


    ¡°Good hunt!¡± Burt called out as he and Xordig ran towards the middle Beasts.


    Before Racha could even move walls had closed them off, leaving the two Deckhands with a lone Beast to kill.


    ¡°At least it¡¯s not three on one,¡± Paige said as she looked at the Beast as it looked around.


    ¡°Yeah, so fire!¡± Racha roared and fired.


    As the Beast was hit, it moved backwards. No matter what it did it kept moving until it was against the wall. For a few moments, it did nothing before it released a flash of light.


    ¡°AAAGGGHH!!!¡± Paige screamed and fell to the ground, holding her head.


    Once the light died down bolts of light shot from the spikes on the Beast and it formed a shield that blocked the hits.


    For a second Racha kept firing until she realized that Paige had fallen to the ground. Keeping her eyes on the Beast, Racha spoke softly. ¡°Paige, are you with me? What happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡­.. I don¡¯t know. I just heard a wordless scream! It was unlike anything I can describe! And it was from that thing,¡± Paige said in horror.


    Racha looked up and saw the Beast moving forward a step. But before it took another, Racha and Paige fired again. The shield helped but the Beast stayed where it was, not moving closer, just watching the women.


    ¡°Oh stars. That scream¡­. All it did was make this thing stronger!¡± Paige said in horror.


    All Racha could do was stare at the Beast as she fired. The shield wasn¡¯t doing much, if it had to stay still to use it then they could win this. All they needed to do was keep firing and wait until the others came to help. However she felt, the others were the only thing that could help them. As long as the Beast was against the wall and the shield was blocking their shots, that was it. She couldn''t see any other plan here. The only way was to keep firing, there was nothing they could do.


    But the thing that bothered her the most was that she couldn¡¯t understand that thing! It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, on any planet. And she had seen terrible things, both natural and not. But this planet! Everything about it made her question everything she thought she knew.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige just looked at the Beast and tried to feel it. Her abilities let her zero in on singular beings in groups, so it should let her red one creature. The other things were like black holes to her abilities, but this thing. Focusing her will, tried to feel anything from it. But like the others of its kind, there was nothing there for her to sense. But then she felt something, almost as if something was there at the edge of her sight. She focused all her will towards that thing, and then she ¡®reached¡¯ it.


    She was almost forced to her knees as she suddenly felt such hunger from it. Blinking her eyes and barely keeping herself upright, she kept firing at the Beast. What she felt was unlike anything she had ever felt before. There was a kind of hunger and rage that was beyond anything a mere beast could have. But the rage, it was unlike any sentient being that she had ever sensed. ¡°Racha?¡±


    ¡°Paige?¡± Racha asked as she kept firing at the Beast. As her shots hit the shield, she snarled in anger. ¡°Son of a blackhole! What is it Paige? Please tell me that thing is not capable of thought!¡±


    ¡°Maybe?¡± Paige asked softly and Racha stopped firing for a second. But as soon as she fired again, the Beast had taken a single step towards them.


    ¡°Maybe??! Either it can or it can¡¯t! So what is it!?¡± Racha demanded and Paige winced.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I feel such rage and hunger from something in that thing! Beyond anything I¡¯ve ever sneezed that could think! It¡¯s¡­. I don¡¯t know! ¡° Paige said, her voice carrying her shock and horror.


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Jinn¡¯s call caused Racha to look up as she kept firing.


    Paige felt a small spark of hope and courage for a moment. For some reason she was reminded of her escape from her world, and the time after. She had done what she thought was impossible once before, and she would do it again. No matter what it took, in the end, she would be among those who won. That was the promise she swore when she left her home, that no matter what she would live. And nothing on this mad planet would ever stand against that!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Bearer had felt the smallest hint of the Spark before it had known how to make the blocker. While the help was good for the Spark, the Bearer was worried that this would quicken its blooming. It had to get the Spark far enough away to gain a good new food source. The walkers, the flyers, and the others had to be harvested. The Birther had created it for that purpose, and it would not fail!


    But without the Guard to battle the thing below, the chances of victory were low. But the thing hadn¡¯t attacked. But still, the way was blocked! These little ones were holding it back, and it couldn¡¯t get by. Every time they stopped, it took a step forward. But the way that the Spark was behaving it would soon need to be planted.


    And these small ones would stay away, they were already fighting. If it had the chance to escape it should, but the blockage was strong! The only way that the Bearer could see was through the little ones, and it was running out of time!


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha kept firing, knowing that sooner or later they would have to retreat. She didn¡¯t know what this thing was, but they could let it have the cavern. If they could collapse the roof, they could kill this thing. It might not work, but this thing wasn¡¯t stopping. They had to save the baby, that was what mattered. If this thing got what it wanted, then so what? In the end, just what was it? If Burt knew what it was and it was important, then they could come back here once they had the yard ship.


    ¡°GAHHH!¡± Paige suddenly screamed as she held her head.


    ¡°Paige, is it another of those shocks?¡± Racha asked as she kept her eyes on the Beast. It hadn¡¯t done anything, but perhaps the flash wasn¡¯t connected to what happened to Paige. For all she knew, it was the result of some kind of weapon.


    ¡°YEAH! Can¡¯t I even straight talk! Don¡¯t I¡­.AGGGGHHHH!¡± Paige screamed in pain before she almost fell to the ground.


    Racha wanted to help, but she had to keep the Beast back. She had to hope that Paige was okay and that whatever this was wouldn¡¯t hurt them. ¡°What was it, where was it?¡±


    ¡°There!¡± Paige said and Racha fired as she looked at her friend. Paige was pointing at the walls keeping the others from them.


    Racha spared a glance at the wall, feeling nothing but anger. Xordgi was one of hers, and she always brought her people home if possible. But this place, all she could do now was hope that this hell wouldn¡¯t eat another one of her team. If that was true, then that meant the other Beasts had done what theirs had. And since she didn¡¯t know what kind of weapons they had, she had to hope they could handle the other Beasts. She had to trust that Xordig could handle his and then the others could help them.


    Paige breathed heavily as she looked at the walls around them. She didn¡¯t know what she expected, but this was not it. At most, she thought they might run into the beast from the cavern before they escaped it. But this, this was beyond anything she had feared she would run into.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Down below Roy kept trying to move the boulders blocking the passage to the tunnel system. When the things had started attacking the cavern, Racha had told him to protect his cargo. He had seen it as something else, get a way out so that all three of them could live. He wasn¡¯t a fighter, and he knew the chances of the baby¡¯s survival were a lot better with others to help him. All he had to do was get this open, and then they could leave. The others had to have made it to the capsule at the beach, they would be fine.


    The four of them who had stayed back had to find another way to the beach, that was what they had to do. If that creature got in here, it would eat the baby! She was who he had to protect above all others, even his own life!


    As the baby started to cry softly Roy turned and frowned. Moving away from the rocks, he sighed and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry little one, we¡¯ll be fine. I promise I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡±


    The sounds of stones falling caused Roy to look at the boulders, horrified. Slowly, he grabbed the baby and moved to the side. As more of the rocks kept falling, Roy felt his fear grow. As he used one arm to hold the baby and the other to slowly grab the pistol the others and pointed it at the rocks.


    Slowly, a small strange red chitin-covered quadruped pulled itself out of the rocks. As Roy watched, the creature looked around with four eyes on both sides of its muzzle. It had two mandibles over the front of the muzzle a darker shade and it had no neck. The body was a single segment and mostly organic with chitin over the beast''s back, head and front limbs. It had a tail that ended in a small ball, and all together it wasn¡¯t bigger than the baby in Roy¡¯s arms. Looking around it found Roy and took a step backwards.


    Roy looked at the creature and felt that this thing wasn¡¯t here to hurt him. Slowly he put the pistol away and put his hand into his pocket and pulled out a bit of food. He threw it towards the creature which jumped back and smelled the food. It opened its mandibles and quickly ate what Roy threw. For a second, Roy was back in his youth, helping his uncle heal wild animals. He looked at the creature and felt something in its eyes, it was looking at him.


    Aether Template Acquired / Trainer Adapt


    First Skill/ Aether Bond


    Second Skill/ Aether Scan


    Trainer Bonded/


    Roy blinked as he read the text, wondering what this meant. Something had hacked into his vision nanites, but how and why? Where was it from? And what was this?


    ¡°<u>Aether Bond</u>?¡± Roy asked in shock. Suddenly a green energy glow formed his body. It shot at the creature and after a moment sank into it.


    Roy blinked as he felt some new. It was a feeling that everything was right, that he was in a place of safety. But somehow, he knew it wasn¡¯t his feelings that he was feeling. He looked around, then at the creature. It couldn¡¯t be, it just couldn¡¯t. But if it was because of the strange words, would the other one also do something?


    ¡°<u>Aether Scan</u>,¡± Roy said as he looked at the creature. As soon as he spoke, strange text formed below the creature in his vision.


    Lesser Arligix / Lone scavengers, they are part of the food chain. Those who go on hunts watch for Arligixs, as they are the main food source for Krildixs/ Male


    Roy looked at the creature, seeing it and sensing its love. For a second all Roy could do was stare, wondering just what could hunt this being. Then the boulders shook, and he felt fear. Without even thinking he tried to send feelings of safety to the creature, grabbed it, and ran. Holding both the creatures and the baby he ran down and hid in the cave. As soon as they all were huddling within the caver, the boulders flew out. As he heard a primal scream, all Roy could hope for was that whatever it was wouldn¡¯t find them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige felt something behind her and looked, paling in fear. ¡°DOWN!¡±


    She tackled Racha, they hit the ground. A single seconds later a boulder five feet wide flew through where they had been. The rock hit the ground and rolled into the Beast, breaking through the shield it had.


    ¡°Physical matter can pass through the shield!? That¡¯s the way to get around it? And where did that thing come from!?¡± Racha demanded as she looked up at the cave mouth. The Beast had wasted no time and moved towards the cavern. Before it had taken even three steps, something had burst from the cave''s mouth.


    The new creature was as tall as the Beast and was a reptile. It had scale armor of the darkest black and seemed to ooze a sense of malice as it stood there. It had bulging muscles all over its quadruped body, from its legs to its long whip-like tail. The face had a muzzle with two saber fangs that curved down. Above them were three eyes that were locked on the Beast. With a roar, it charged and the two monsters started to fight.


    ¡°Where did that come from?¡± Paige breathed out in horror. The only good thing was it wasn¡¯t dripping blood from its mouth. That had to mean Roy and the baby were okay.


    ¡°The same place as the boulder! It must have broken through the tunnel!¡± Racha snarled as she rolled to her feet. She almost fired but stopped when she saw that the two monsters were fighting each other.


    As the Beast charged at the Fanged creature it roared. The Fanged creature roared back as it dodged to the right and then bit down, tearing off the middle leg. The Beast¡¯s wound gushed black blood that hit the Fanged creature and the foul liquid did nothing to it. As the liquid hit the grass, however, that sizzled as it dissolved away. The Beast kicked out with its back right leg, hit the Fanged creature¡¯s right fang, and broke it off. As the Fanged Creature roared it pounced on the Beast''s neck.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Bearer fought the new beast and knew from the pulse of the Spark that its time was done. This might be the best that it could hope for. The creature battling it was fast, strong, and vicious, the perfect source stock. Once the Spark consumed the Bearer it would take in this and use the strength it still had to spawn copies of this one. And then they could take the two-leggers down, adding their sources to the stock. Just those alone would be enough for the Spark to take control of this territory. To finally kill the Ravagers.


    As the new beast came at it again, the Bearer felt the Spark and knew that this was it. As the Bearer readied itself for one final move, it knew that it had one chance to use its death to help the Spark.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Suddenly there was a flash of light and Paige screamed in pain. Racha held a hand over her eyes as the light hit her and sounds of cracking were heard. Even the Fanged Creature cried with anger, rage, or shock and Racha knew that this was beyond bad.


    ¡°THE HUNGER, IT¡¯S HERE! AND IT WANTS US!!¡± Paige screamed out in horror.


    Racha blinked and once she could see, all she could do was stare in horror. There, where the Beast had been was a tree that was growing before her eyes. Already it had reached a height of ten feet and five feet wide. She looked around and saw the Fanged Creature on the ground. All she could do was watch as vines from the branches fell onto the creature. As it tried to get up the vines suddenly entangled the Fanged Creature and pulled it up into the air.


    Racha felt shocked as she watched the Fang Creature struggle to break free. But the vines carried to the tree, right to a hollow that had formed. As she watched in horror the tree ate the Fanged Creature, and Paige¡¯s shocked gasp told Racha this was real.


    ¡°That thing, it¡¯s stronger! And it wants us now!¡± Paige shrieked in pain and anger.


    Racha didn¡¯t think as she saw the vines coming towards them, all she did was fire her weapon. As each bolt hit, the vines burned and then they all stopped. The tree screeched and Paige cried out again.


    ¡°It¡¯s angry!¡± She screamed as she held her head.


    Racha looked at the tree and aimed at it as anger burned within her. If this fly trap tree wanted¡­¡­ where had that fruit come from?


    She watched as a small green sphere the size of an orange started to grow larger before her eyes. In seconds it was the size of a watermelon and it only grew larger before it fell. When it hit the ground, it split apart, and from it came a green-eyed Fanged Creature got to its feet.


    All Racha could do was look at it in horror, suddenly understanding what Paige had meant. This thing, it took captives to use their DNA to make servants for itself! It was an interesting ability and explained a few things. The Beast must have been the way for it to spread from the source that ¡®made¡¯ it. And the mind behind it wanted her and Paige to grow stronger! With a hard look, she aimed at it before a bolt from the right hit it.

 Chapter Eighty Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Forest Near the Ocean


    Galactic Standard Time / 9020


    Jinn ran through the forest, the Giant following him. He smirked, this was what he was able to handle. For the last fifteen minutes, he had been leading this Giant away from the others. He hated that he had to do this, but it was the best thing he could do. While the others dealt with those Beasts, then this one wouldn¡¯t be able to kill them. Isolate, trick, kill, reinforce. The old skills that his teachers taught him and Locke to deal with groups of enemies.


    Jinn ran through the forest, the Giant following him. He smirked, this was what he was able to handle. For the last fifteen minutes, he had been leading this Giant away from the others. He hated that he had to do this, but it was the best thing he could do. While the others dealt with those Beasts, then this one wouldn¡¯t be able to kill them. Isolate, trick, kill, reinforce. The old skills that his teachers taught him and Locke to deal with groups of enemies.


    All he needed to do was keep moving until he was far enough away to kill this thing. He heard the sound of something flying through the air and sent some of the power into his legs. He activated his ¡®dashing¡¯ and was away before something hit the ground where he had been and exploded. ¡°At least that thing is still chasing me.¡±


    Behind him a roar caused him to sigh. He had to think of a way out to kill that thing! It was big, it had a range attack and a devastating fist. All in all, something he did not want to face alone. But the thing was big enough to damage the walls Locke could make. If it had broken into even one of the battle spaces Locke had made, then the others would have died. So that meant that he had to handle it.


    ¡°Okay, let''s test out something else. If I move this power into my gun, I fired a blast. So let¡¯s see what happens if I do the same with my blade!¡± Jinn said as he ran. Still moving, he tried to feel the power, the flame. There was the flame and there was the flame in his arms. Slowly he moved it into the flame into his sword, and looked down, smiling. His blade had gained a blue glow and with a grin, he started to think of a plan. As the Giant roared again and he heard the sounds of something flying at him, he reacted.


    He used his Dash trick and moved ahead and then to the right when he heard the explosion. Jumping up to a branch five feet up, he saw the dust sent up by the Giant¡¯s thorn missiles and saw it walk through it. With a grin, he jumped to another branch closer, and with a cry, he jumped at the Giant. As he neared the ¡®club missile¡¯ arm he roared and slashed.


    He felt the plant flesh of the Giant part as his blade sliced through it. As soon as he hit the ground, he dashed away moments before the black blood of the Giant hit the ground. As the ¡®club missile¡¯ arm hit the ground the Giant roared. If it felt anger or pain, Jinn didn¡¯t know or care. All he needed to know was that the Giant could bleed. That was enough. If something could bleed, then that thing could die!


    As the Giant turned around it seemed to glare right at Jinn who only smirked back. ¡°Come on big guy, one on one! And I¡¯ll use my blade since I took your missile arm!¡±


    Before he could try to slice the Giant¡¯s head off he heard the sounds of more thorn missiles flying at him. With a single moment¡¯s hesitation, Jinn ¡®Dashed¡¯ to the side and ¡®Dashed ahead again once he ¡®landed¡¯. He looked back and saw two explosions where he had been. Before he could react he heard two more roars and felt his heart stop as he looked into the forest.


    Walking towards him were two more Giants, both of them had their ¡®club missile¡¯ arms pointing at him. ¡°More of them!? How bad did that Tree think the Cavern creature could have been!? Was this even for that thing!?¡±


    Jinn felt his power or flame start to grow hotter and sighed as he shook his head. He could do this, he really could. All he had to do was kill them one by one while keeping them aiming at him. Every trick he had was ready to go and at least¡­¡­.! Jinn felt his heart stop for a second as he watched the wounded Giant reach down. He could feel fear as the Giant reattach the maimed ¡®Missile club¡¯ right back where Jinn had sliced it off.


    ¡°Okay, headshots only then!¡± Jinn said as he aimed at the closest Giant and glared at it. ¡°Let¡¯s try, <u>Aether Shot;</u> <u>Aether Bolt</u>!¡±


    As soon as he pressed the trigger a small bolt of blue energy shot at the Giant. It cored the creature¡¯s head but nothing happened. Jinn could only watch as the wound regenerated as he felt a spark of horror. ¡° What the Blackhole was this thing made to fight?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the other Destroyers moved to stand with the one that had been sent with the Bearers, it glared at the two-legger. It felt the closest its kind could ever feel to humor as the wound the small thing had dealt to its top. The small creatures usually tried to wound the children of the Birther in their tops. Surely these things knew that the only way to kill anything was to go for their cores. But as long as the core was hidden in the hiding place, the Destroyer would keep killing. And now it would kill this one. This thing that had wounded the Destroyer. This was the strongest two-legger of the group that had attacked it at the place of passage.


    The strange sounds were a gesture of anger towards the two-legger that had been there. They must have been out hunting and this one wanted to kill the Destroyer alone. The Destroyer had to deal with this one and keep it away from the Bearers. They were the greater prize after all, and if this one wanted to hunt the Destroyer, let it.


    The Bearers would handle the leftover two-leggers, that was what they were for. They would carry their Sparks far away, and then they would spread. Soon, nothing on this place would not be them! Then the Birther would take all the Strength of this place and rule. It would send the Sparks far, take the Strength of the non-walkers and its line would take other places.


    But none of that would happen if the Sparks didn¡¯t spread. And for that to happen, this two-legger needed to die! The two legger¡¯s body would be fed to the Birther so that it could make a strong Protector. With the next Ravager swarm coming soon, that would be the best use of the remains.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked at the three Giants as they moved to stand together. All he could see was this was bad, very bad. the things had him outnumbered, outsized, and out-armed. A barrage of their thorn missiles would keep him back, and he had to get in close to take their heads!


    With a roar, Jinn charged. As more thorn missiles flew at him he ¡®dashed¡¯ past them and jumped at a tree. Jumping off it as soon as he hit it, he landed on the first Giant¡¯s right shoulder. With a bare second he ¡®dashed¡¯ past the creature¡¯s head and cut it off. As he landed from his ¡®dash¡¯ he jumped as he felt the Giant¡¯s body start to fall. He spun in the air over his head and felt the blood leave his face at what he saw. Green tendrils shot out of the Giant¡¯s body and pulled it back the ¡®neck¡¯, the wound healing in a moment.


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    As Jinn landed he realized something important. The body grew the tendrils, not the head. That meant that the Giant¡¯s ¡®core¡¯ wasn¡¯t in its head. That it had a core was something shocking and just what he needed to know. If he could destroy or sever that core, then the body might die. Not that he had anything better to kill the monsters, better try the old faithful. Tear the enemy apart until he found the core. But he had things to deal with first!


    With a roar, he ¡®dashed¡¯ away moments before more other thorn missiles hit where he had been. Looking around, he saw the other two Giants were closer. And if one of them had a core not in their head, the others might as well. So the only thing to do was just tear off all their parts.


    He landed and looked around, taking in what he had to work with here. The three Giants were slowly coming together, and that was bad. He had no way to split them up, and if he didn¡¯t face them all here then one of them go and help the Beasts. So then once again, he had no choice but to fight in the ground he didn¡¯t choose. But he was getting used to this at least.


    With a ¡®dash¡¯ he moved to the base of a tree, one of a group surrounding the two new Giants. Jumping up, he saw the Giants slowly turn towards him. With his pistol in his left hand, he made the first move. ¡°<u>Aether Shot; Aether Dart</u>!¡±


    Another bolt of energy shot from his pistol and hit the leftmost Giant above its right knee. He waited for something to happen, but what did shocked him. The wounded Giant fell to the ground, and it was still. For a second Jinn just stared until he heard that sound. With a single movement, Jinn ¡°dashed¡± through the air. As the thorn missiles destroyed the tree he was on. He aimed at the first Giant. ¡°<u>Aether Shot; Aether Dart</u>!¡±


    This time when the energy dart bored through the Giant¡¯s leg, it fell onto that knee for a second before it got back up. Jinn just scowled as he landed, not liking anything. He ''dashed'' down to the ground to escape the range attacks from the other two Giants for killing other one. But instead, he saw the shocking thing of the first Giant attacking the second.


    Within moments, the first Giant had reached down and torn off the second Giant¡¯s leg! Al Jinn could do was watch, shocked beyond words.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the Destroyer looked at the slain body of their fellow, the first Destroyer scowled. The little two-walker had been able to find the core within the slain one. This one would grow more daring after this. With the weaker Destroyer down, that meant that the body was up for grabs. The other Destroyer had moved to take some of the parts, and the first reacted. Sending its flying thorns at the second, the second fell backwards. The resource the fallen Destroyer was its to plunder first. It wouldn¡¯t let the other one have first choice!


    Lumbering over, it grabbed for the range-striking limb as the other Destroyer got up. It crawled over and grabbed for its torn off leg. The first Destroyer took the range limb and put it into its back. As the core sent tendrils to the new limb, it swiftly took control. With a look, it saw the second Destroyer stepping backwards as it absorbed the fallen core. As the second Destroyer stepped forward, the first stepped back. The mental cry from the second one had gotten louder. Already the first felt its ¡®mind¡¯ start to be rewritten. With a roar, the first fired its new thorns with the old. Each one hit the second, and the balance it had was disrupted as its close fist arm was blown off.


    As the first Destroyer moved closer to the second they suddenly both stopped as they heard a scream. Turning towards it they heard the birth of a Spark. But how!? The little things had been able to block the path of the Bearers?! And they had been able to force one of the Sparks to sprout!?


    The first Destroyer took a step towards the Sparks before stopping. It looked down at the second Destroyer and scowled. When it had tried to take control and overwrite the Birther¡¯s orders, it had crossed a line. This one would even take in a Spark and take everything that one had. There was only one thing for it to do.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn stared in shock as the two Grants fought each other after they had taken parts from the dead one. The first one now had another ¡®missile arm¡¯ on the back behind its melee arm. And the other one had grabbed and ¡®eaten¡¯ the leg he had cut off. That meant that these things could think or at least reason. And they knew how to get stronger. That one thought made battles with the False Plants that much harder. For a moment he wondered if this thing had evolved here, it would explain why Burt didn¡¯t tell them about it.


    And that made this even more deadly. If those things changed, then how they fought must have as well. All he needed to do was keep fighting until¡­.. he went still as he looked up and saw more of the thorn missiles flying at him. He ¡®dashed¡¯ forward and looked around, trying to find the Giants.


    But before he could even move again, one of the Giant¡¯s fists hit him. Flying through the air he prepared another ¡®Dash¡¯ without thinking. In an instant he ¡®dashed¡¯ up, not in the direction he was facing. As he realized what he had done as the fist went by below him, he grinned as he spun around. He saw the Giant that only had another thorn arm standing there. ¡°Wait, where¡¯s the other one!?¡±


    But before he could think more about this, the Giant fired another volley of thorn missiles at him. He ¡®dashed¡¯ to the right, and as the thorns flew past him, he fired at them. The explosion propelled him to the right and he saw he was heading towards a tree. He spun around and hit the tree feet first and ¡®dashed¡¯ upwards. Once he came out of it he pushed off and fired at the Giant.


    The shots hit all over, but nothing happened. Jinn knew the chance of hitting one of the cores was low, but he had to try. The one thing that he couldn¡¯t see was the other Giant, and that worried him. Could it be going back to where it was borne? Or was it heading back towards the others? Either way, just one of the normal ones was enough to break the walls. But the mutated one? That one had to be able to defeat the others. He had to get back as fast as possible! He looked at the Giant and started to rethink his plans.


    If this thing was able to ¡®upgrade itself¡¯ the way the other one had. Then was it better to fight this one with a group?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Destroyer lost the two legger as it was in the Empty. Its sight was only able to find it when it was on the ground or on the tall things, but it wasn¡¯t worried. Its pointy things could find it in the Empty, and it could almost fire another batch.


    The other Destroyer had been quick to fall into line, even two cores didn¡¯t faze the first. Once it was ordered to go and defend the Bearers, it followed orders quickly. Too quickly, it was going to try and take some of the Sparks power for its own. But sometimes, the greater gain needed a gambit. If the other Sparks escaped and one was consumed, then that would be okay. With the First¡¯s new abilities, hunting down the Second wouldn¡¯t be too hard. But since it had two cores it would be a bit faster than the First, but that was, but that was fine. It would get there faster. The downside of two cores was it could ¡®feel¡¯ where the other Destroyer was, so it could never hide from the First.


    As the two-legger landed on one of the tall things, another volley of points had just finished. The strong two-walker would be its gift to the Birther, that might let it keep surviving!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he landed on the side of the tree, Jinn scowled as he tried to think how to handle this. If the other Giant had gone after the others he needed to hurry! This hunt had already taken too long, he had to kill this thing now! But if it had a core, then it had to be in another part of its body. But where could the core be? The head and thorn arm were out, so that left the other arm, the legs, and the chest. If it was the chest then this would be a waste of his time to maim it. But what to do?


    ¡°Nothing to it but to work it!¡± Jinn muttered as he readied himself. He didn¡¯t know what to do, but if he couldn¡¯t kill it he still needed to get away. But if this was a sentient being and not a regenerating plant that would be easy. All he would need to do was¡­..! He looked at the Giant and his mind went into overdrive. He didn¡¯t know if it was possible, but he didn¡¯t know it wasn¡¯t. This might be possible, and if it did then it opened up a lot of possibilities. No other choice but to try!


    He ¡®Dashed¡¯ away, thinking to go down at an angle. He ¡®landed¡¯ and fired two shots, both at the knees of the Giant. As soon as they hit, they drilled holes into it. as the black blood spurted out, he saw it hit the ground and burn the grass. But as the wounds closed, he kept firing. Within a moment the Giant fired another volley, this time from the arm behind it. Jinn ¡®dashed¡¯, this time slicing through the left leg at the thigh, severing it. When he landed he turned around and ¡®dashed¡¯, this time slicing through the same leg above the knee. Before the Giant could even react to this, he ¡®dashed¡¯ back. Acting quickly, he grabbed the lower part of the limb and ¡®dashed¡¯ away, this time brining it with him!


    As Jinn ¡®landed¡¯ he looked at what he had grabbed and grinned. ¡°Dashing¡± away three more times he looked back between the trees. He saw the Giant had stumbled and was roaring in anger.


    ¡°Over here you scum!¡± He roared as he fired at it. Without waiting even a moment, the Giant fired both volleys of thorn missiles at him. With a grin, Jinn waited until they were just there before he ¡®Dashed¡¯ away. He grinned as he landed, hearing the explosion. He looked at the crater, seeing pieces of the Giant¡¯s lower leg fly away. With a final bow to the Giant as it stumbled towards him, he ¡®Dashed¡¯ up twice before ¡®flying¡¯ away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the Destroyer lost the two-legger, it roared. It had to have another trick. It must be watching it. But it would show the prey the Destroyer was the Hunter! It started to swing out with its hitting arm, and as its pointy things were regrown, it was ready. A few volleys unit they hit it, that would kill the Two-Legger!

 Chapter Eighty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Area near Cavern to underground Passages


    Galactic Standard Time / 9035


    Racha looked to the right and saw the wall had fallen into the earth. All she could feel was a spark of hope. The one thing she had learned in the service, was that together anything could be defeated.


    Xordig stood with the others and Burt who had fired at the green False Fanged. She saw Xordig and a woman in a deckhand jumpsuit roar and charge at the False Fang, and they were both glowing. She stared in total shock as Xordig grabbed the False Fang¡¯s mouth with his bottom hands. When the False Fang tried to strike him with its right paw, he grabbed it with his right upper arm alone.


    ¡°That¡¯s it? So easy.¡± Xordig said with a cocky note in his voice.


    A second later the girl was there, glowing red. She slashed through the False Fang¡¯s right arm, severing it from the body. Xordig had jumped backwards as soon as she had done so, dodging the black blood that gushed from the wound.


    While that had happened, five spears of rock had flown at the tree, only for the vines to grab them and throw them at Burt. Burt reacted and shot them down, scowling as he did so. ¡°This thing already got something! Locke makes a way up for me! I¡¯ll fire at the back!¡±


    ¡°Why!?¡± Locke asked in shock a second before they all two howls. suddenly two more of the False Fangs charged from opposite.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Burt muttered as he fired at the closest one. But he paled as he saw an energy shield tank the shots.


    Before Burt could react, Xordig was suddenly there. He slammed the maimed False Fang into the charging one, having carried it with him.


    As the other False Fang came at Racha and Paige, the other woman appeared. She had jumped over the False Fang and slashed out with her right arm, severing the thing''s head. The woman only chuckled as she looked down at her kill before turning towards Xordig. ¡°Need a hand old one?¡±


    ¡°Nah, Jess¡­. I just wanted to try and give this thing a change!¡± Xordig snarled back as he raised the maimed False Fang again before slamming it down again and again. As he stepped back he saw the remains of the two False Fangs he destroyed ooze black blood.


    While the combat had happened Locke had taken a moment to make a small ramp for Burt. As Burt ran up the ramp, he kept firing at the fruit the tree was making. With each bolt, one more of this thing¡¯s helpers weren¡¯t being born. But as two more of the False Fangs came at them, more vines came as well.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige fired at the tree, and Racha was horrified when an energy shield like the False Fangs appeared. The vines shot toward the two of them, but then Jess was there. She slashed out with her glowing hands, cutting through the vines.


    Paige had kept firing at the tree, her head in pain as she did so. She cursed as each of the shots hit the energy shield. For some reason, she felt the tree was angry and she was confused as to why. But then she saw the truth, one of the vines had fallen to the ground. She fired again and with each bolt, a vine stopped moving. ¡°That¡¯s it! It can¡¯t hold a shield and move its vines! Fire at it, and it can¡¯t grab us!¡±


    ¡°Yeah great! But how do we kill this thing if it has a shield!?¡± Xordig snarled as he punched another False Fang.


    ¡°Physical matter can pass through the shield if it¡¯s like the one that creature had!¡± Racha called out as she fired at a fruit the tree was growing.


    Locke meanwhile had heard Racha¡¯s cry and reacted. He sent two large spears of rock had impaled both of the charging False Fangs.


    Paige looked around as she fired at the tree¡¯s trunk, trying to keep calm and think. She could feel the alien hunger of the thing this tree was. She had sensed beasts and people. And this was unlike anything she had ever come across before. It was like this thing was able to think, but only to an extent. The only thing that made sense was that its thoughts were being guided, but how? What could make a biological robot?


    Suddenly three vines shot at the woman who had come with the others. But quick shots from her and Racha stopped them. The tree screeched as the vines burned while the woman, Jess smiled at them.


    ¡°Thanks!¡± Jess called out with a grin as she stood in front of them. ¡°Keep firing at the tree! I¡¯ll watch over you two!¡±


    Paige aimed at the tree and tried to keep calm. With help anything could be defeated, she knew that. And now they had to deal with this together!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roy looked up out of the inner cave and felt a spark of hope. From the sounds and cries, there were more people from the ship up there. That meant they had to be from the beach escape capsule. Jinn and the others were back with help! But whatever had attacked them, they were fighting them off. They might even be holding their own.


    As the little creature started to whimper, Roy reached down. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­. Red? Do you like Red as a name?¡±


    The named Red nodded and Roy felt the same spark of affection. He blinked as he looked around, suddenly seeing something else. It was like the stone all around had a glowing substance on it. Without saying anything, he took a deep breath. He had Night vision nanites, and this felt a lot like it but not. He couldn¡¯t describe it, it felt strange, it felt new.


    He called up his internal detection nanites and saw nothing new for a moment. Then a strange chemical was detected, slowly growing in density. Looking over everything his nanites told him, he couldn¡¯t find where the chemical was coming from. ¡°Think Roy, think!¡±


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    As Roy starched Red¡¯s shell, he looked up at the battle and stared. From here, he could see Racha, Paige, and four more figures. He couldn¡¯t exactly see them, but only a strange outline of them. Five of them were brighter than the last one, and that one was either Paige or Racha. For a second he wondered why that was, and then he realized what it was. It had to be that the others had a kind of Ability like he did. He wondered if Jinn had kept this from him on purpose, but he knew.


    Roy only sighed as he realized he hadn¡¯t seemed to be the most stable. Jinn had to keep quiet to keep him calm. But that didn¡¯t matter, what the others were fighting did.


    Whatever it was they were fighting, it was beyond anything he had ever seen before. It was a strange thing, blob-shaped with tendrils coming from all sides. Now and then, a line of the strange outline came from below. He followed the line and saw something below the thing, some kind of creature in a sack of some kind. He didn¡¯t know how he knew this, but he knew it beyond a doubt.


    Looking at it, he somehow knew something that shocked him. The blob, the thing that the others were fighting, it was taking something from its captive. It was using that thing to fight the others. So then if he could get rid of the thing or free it, that would be good. A small cry caused him to look down.


    He gazed at the source and felt a spark of shame and worry.


    Could he even go and kill that thing? If it had tried to hunt down Red, then it was a predator. And if you hunt something, something could be hunting you. That was the Circle.


    ¡°I can¡¯t make a tunnel, so how can I kill that thing!?¡± Roy snarled quietly. He felt a sense of surety then but it wasn¡¯t his. Blinking, he looked down at Red who smiled up at him.


    Red walked over to the walls of the cave before looking at him. He opened his mandibles and spat a small blood of black liquid onto the wall. With its chitin-covered front claws, it moved the rock around like it was nothing but mud.


    Roy stared in shocked awe. ¡°You¡¯re a borrower. You can make the hole I need!¡±


    Roy looked at the wall but then he went still. The creature had to have a way to defend itself. Maybe even from things attacking it from underground. If he let Red do it alone, the little guy would¡­¡­ Roy went still and looked at his pistol. He looked at the wall and grinned. ¡°Red, let¡¯s experiment.¡±


    Red spat blob at the wall again, only this time he moved the gunk around a little. Roy aimed and fired a single bolt, and the rock evaporated a good foot. He looked at his little friend and smiled, they would be able to help the others after all!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Being created more of its servants and felt what passed for anger. These strange two-leggers had kept it from moving far. And now it could feel the pings of its birther sensing the failure. Already it would be creating a force to take the Being out. If the Ravagers could be held off. But these two walkers, they were strong! If it was able to get their strength for its own.


    Then not even its Birther with all its stores of material would be able to survive against the Being! Already it had found a strong source, something powerful! And already it could feel the sparks of thought on how to make it better. Its Strength was working, but the Two-Walkers


    were proving how strong they were. No matter what it tried, nothing worked. And with it stuck here, there was nothing it could do!


    Plus now that it was planted, it could think so much clearer. It had already figured out that one of them had to be behind the barriers. That alone was something to take, but then and the way the other two were fighting its forces. Once it captured them, it would be unstoppable! Already it was planning out a master servant with the earth power. Set it up near its foes and rain down the very ground itself on them. The ones with strength, their power would break its foes. But each dead Servant taught it something, it could feel it. What it was learning it couldn¡¯t say, but it was there, something was different each time it made another.


    But it had to hurry, it was running out of time! Already it felt something coming towards it, something that felt familiar. If it was what it¡­¡­ feared? Was it feeling fear? Well, whatever it was, the thing was almost here. And it needed to end one battle before the other.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roy looked over the hole the two had made. Red had proven to be fast and smart. Together they had made a tunnel that reached the sack. But then when Red saw the shape of the sack, that¡¯s when he felt a lot of anger. Red had wanted to use its spit on the sack and creature, but Roy had mentally pulled him back. Roy shook his head, smiling as he looked down at Red. Somehow he was able to send his thoughts to Red, and the little guy sent his thoughts back. In this strange way, the two had not talked, it was deeper. But he had been able to tamper with his friend''s desire to kill something that hunted it.


    Thankfully, Red had listened to his fear that whatever had a way to defend itself bellow. It was the height of stupidity to think that this thing wouldn¡¯t have a way, and they needed to be smart. With the tunnel leading right to the head of the creature the thing was draining, then killing it was easy. With everything that they had done, all Roy needed to do was fire one blast and everything would end up there.


    ¡°And once I shoot anything could happen. So we gotta be ready,¡± Roy said as he looked at Red. The little Lesser Arligix was big enough that he had been able to secure the baby onto it. he smiled down at her and rubbed her head. She giggled as Roy looked at Red. ¡°Okay partner, I want you to get back and on the ramp. If this goes bad I want to be out of here fast!¡±


    Red nodded and walked off, leaving Roy alone. He looked down the hole, seeing the head of the thing that had broken through the tunnel. He aimed his blaster, took a deep breath, and fired. The shot hit the sack brunt through it and the creature.


    Roy barely had a moment to smile before a roar echoed off the chamber. He looked down the tunnel and paled as a root started to go down it.


    ¡°Time to go!¡± Roy roared as he ran after Red. As they ran up the ramp, the roots came out of the tunnel. Roy aimed and fired, and smiled as the thing screeched again.


    It had lost its source material! The two walkers had tricked it! While most of them had fought it, another had killed its material! How dare they! When it sent its roots around, looking for how it found a tunnel, a tunnel that was out of its sight. When it had been fully formed, the sense of the Bearer was lost to it. instead, it saw things based on their Strength. And its sight wasn¡¯t that far. Still, to even think that there was a way to destroy Source Materials was something to consider.


    Once it got that strength that let whatever had done it and the memories of how then nothing would stop it! and the dead thing was worth one last Servant, a strong one. This first Destroyer would have to be stronger than the others. The two-walkers strength was the only hope that the Being had now. There was time for nothing else. Let the dregs that had been made as the source die buy it time, it was all they were good for now.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Xordig had killed another False Fang when the tree released a screech of anger and rage. He could only watch as vines rattled. He stepped back towards Jess when two more False Fangs appeared, only this one was misshapen. The front right paw was stunted only half the size. The other and it hobbled as its back legs were wrongly jointed.


    And more surprisingly when they shot them, the shots hit. In seconds the two things were dead.


    Xordig blinked before he jumped to dodge a vine trying to get him. He moved to stand with the others as Burt and Racha fired at the tree. But it was when screams came from behind them that everything started to move.


    ¡°AGGGGHHH!¡±


    At the scream, Xordig turned and saw a man running at them, a small creature next to him. Xordig almost fired at it before he realized that a baby was on it. and as he watched the man was firing at something, but not at the creature! ¡°What the nova!?¡±


    Paige and Racha turned and stared as the man and creature came towards them. ¡°Roy?! What¡¯s that!?¡±


    Before he could say anything, a root of some kind moved on its own towards them. Fired and then the tree screeched in pain gain.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Roy said as he reached the cave mouth and fired again. ¡°This is Red, my friend. There was this text in my eyes, then he appeared. After that a creature came burst out then it came up here.¡±


    ¡°And that equals those roots how?!¡± Racha snarled.


    Xordig looked at Racha out of the corner of his eye. The way she was talking, reminded him of a few bad missions. Mission where need-to-know details were not in the briefings. And that had resulted in them almost being killed. And the way that most of those people usually had ¡®accidents¡¯, well. That was the price of lying to Service Operatives after all.


    ¡°Oh, that,¡± Roy said with a shrug. ¡°Well I think this guy¡¯s sharing what he can see, and well. I saw that big thing was the creature that chased my pal in a sack under the ground. Red¡¯s got this spit that can make rock as easy to move as mud! We made a tunnel, I shot the hunter and now it wants to kill me.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Wait, False Plant¡¯s captive are alive?!¡± Burt asked as horror came over him. He had heard the stories, and nothing like that had ever been recorded. It might have been forgotten on purpose, he had seen a lot. And people dying trying to save those who they thought could be saved had killed the rescuers most of the time.


    ¡°I guess if that¡¯s a False Plant?¡± Roy said and Burt looked at the tree.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Xordig said with a note of joy in his voice. ¡°That thing needs active genetic information to make copies! Now we can just retreat!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Burt demanded as he turned to glare at Xordig as the others kept firing at the tree.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be faced like this, so SOP is to retreat out of range. Its range. Then we figure out how to kill it! And or deny what it wants!¡± Xordig said as he started to fire as he looked around.


    ¡°There¡¯s a tunnel to a network down there! Roy fell in from someplace other than where we entered! It must know about and wants to spread!¡± Paige cut in.


    Xordig felt his blood freeze. Something like this that WANTED to spread out? And if this thing just needed a source to make things, who knew what it could capture? And the way there was a shield against energy-like attacks? Nothing about this was looking good.  ¡°Okay, plan. Locke brings it down, the whole cavern down there.  After that we retreat and he locks this thing in here. We find Jinn and then come back and slaughter this thing!¡±


    Roy however asked something, something that showed just how bad this was. ¡°What¡¯s that sound!?¡±

 Chapter Eighty Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Area near Cavern to underground Passages


    Galactic Standard Time / 9100


    As Locke heard that whistling sound, he paled in shock. He had heard something like that once before, and he never forgot it.


    ¡°Get in close!¡± Locke bellowed as he slammed his fist into the ground.


    Before anyone could react, all around them a pyramid of stone formed. It cut them off from the clearing and the cave, leaving nothing able to get in or out. No sooner had it closed than the sounds of a loud explosion were heard and heat washed over them.


    ¡°What was that!?¡± Racha asked in shock as she looked around.


    ¡°Incoming fire. Range attack, explosive in nature. Something wanted to cook us,¡± Locke said before going silent. For a second all he could do was look into his memories, remembering the horrors he had dealt with. The friends he had lost, the victories that seemed so important then. And then the night everything had come crashing down. He was so lost that he never noticed someone walking towards him until she slapped him across the face!


    The pain of the sting caused Locke to blink and then look at Paige in shock. Shook that morphed into understanding and he sighed. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Nothing to it. But how¡¯d you know?¡± Paige asked


    Locke looked away and sighed. ¡°Once you¡¯ve been under fire like that, you never forget it.¡±


    Xordig only looked at Racha who shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s a can of worms we¡¯ll unpack later. How about you drop that¡­. ¡°


    Xordig stopped talking as the ground started to shake. It was like something large was coming towards them.


    ¡°The Giant¡¯s back,¡± Racha said softly.


    Locke looked at her in shock, and then in horror. She was saying that his oldest friend was dead. That his brother had fallen to that thing. But then what had happened, and how had it¡­¡­


    Locke went still as he suddenly understood. ¡°No¡­. it¡¯s another one.¡±


    Everyone looked at him before Locke saw everyone pale in fear. They had just fought against the Tree outside, and it had sent fast-grown monsters to hunt them! It was the sheer height of stupidity not to think whatever had made the tree outside couldn¡¯t do the same! how was this island still so wild if there was a monster like whatever made this Tree and the other Beasts here!?


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to think we should run after all. An unending tide of monsters just over the river? Why the stars were we safe? We need to run away, find a place to defend ourselves. Like right now!¡± Jess stammered.


    Locke almost agreed with her, but something was stopping him. Nothing about this made sense, Roy was right. Why hadn¡¯t the source of these things not taken over this whole island? There had to be something, something they were missing......... Then things came into focus and he looked at the others. If he was right, then they might have a chance. if he wasn¡¯t then the plan was still the best thing they had to do.  ¡°We need to leave, we need to find Jinn and get back to the capsule!¡±


    ¡°Wait, What? What did you figure out!?¡± Paige asked as she looked at him.


    For a second he almost asked what she meant, but then he stared at her. Somehow she knew that he had figured something out. And that was very interesting. But he didn¡¯t have the time to even say what, he needed to move, and they needed to do it now.


    ¡°Later, once I¡¯ve got the pyramid open, we move. We¡¯ll find Jinn and get out of here! If I¡¯m right, we might be able to hold them at the river if we have to!¡± Locke said and he hoped they wouldn¡¯t pressure him. They couldn¡¯t waste time.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll talk once we¡¯re there. That¡¯s a promise!¡± Racha said with a hard edge to her voice.


    For a second Locke saw someone else, but he shook his head and nodded. ¡°Fine! But please trust me that we have to move!¡±


    ¡°Just drop the rocks. After you destroy the cavern,¡± Xordig said and Locke raised an eyebrow.


    He looked at Xordig and tried to understand what he had just heard. Then he did and his face went hard. He nodded and looked down into the cave mouth. ¡°Anything you girls have down there, I¡¯d get now!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got everything right here!¡± Racha said as she and Paige picked up their bags.


    With a solemn nod, Locke focused his well. Within a second, the cavern¡¯s floor rushed upwards and the cavern was destroyed. He took a deep breath and looked around at the others waiting for him. ¡°Everyone ready?!¡±


    Roy looked at Red before he nodded. Burt readied his weapon as Jess and Xordig both called up their powers. As Paige and Racha secured their packs, they then aimed their weapons up.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± They all cried out.


    ¡°Good, listen up! I¡¯ll attack the tree with the front of this thing,¡± Locke said as he pointed at the pyramid. As the others looked at him, he continued. ¡°Once that happens, we¡¯ll run away. Burt think you can get us back to the river?¡±


    ¡°Just follow me people, and I¡¯ve only got one speed so keep up!¡± Burt said as he looked around. After he locked eyes with everyone, he looked at Locke and grinned. ¡°We going to keep talking or are we going to do this?¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s do this people!¡± Locke said as he turned his head back around. His eyes hardened as he thrust his hand out. A moment later the side of the pyramid facing the tree shot forward. Moments before their eyes adjusted to the light, they heard a roar. As they looked around, they saw something they didn¡¯t expect.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Being felt anger as the rock hit its body. The Traitor had been fighting the Being''s final Defender and they were deadlocked. Then the two-leggers dared to attack the Being! How wicked and traitorous they were attacking the Being once its back was turned.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    As it threw its senses at the two-walkers, it saw them leaving. The Being felt its anger spike as it tried to keep track of the two walkers. They were cowards too!? But a mental spark of pain caused the Being to turn and ¡®look; at the battle. It felt fear as its Defender took a savage blow from the Traitor, and was sent flying. As the Traitor took the time to move towards the Being, it tried to think of anything it could do.


    It knew what the Traitor wanted, somehow it knew down to its roots. But how it knew, it couldn¡¯t say. But it knew its end was coming for it. As the Traitor reached out, the Defender bit into the Traitor¡¯s fist arm.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    All Burt could do was stare in shock over his shoulder as he led the way into the forest. Never, in all of the stories he had heard was this possible. The False Plants were fighting each other! A False Fang the size of the Giant was fighting a Giant. And as they ran away, he saw the False Fang bite into one of Giant¡¯s arms. But what was happening made him all the more sure that they couldn¡¯t stay here!


    ¡°Keep moving! We have to get out of here now!¡± Burt roared as he turned his head back. At the front behind him was Paige, Red, and Roy. Xordig. Jess, Racha, and Locke were on rearguard duty, and that was going great. Two of them would fire at the battlers, while the other two ran after the group.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we wait, and then attack the victor? I mean wouldn¡¯t this give us an opening?¡± Roy asked as he followed. As Red ran next to him, the little creature kept its body as close to the ground as possible to keep the baby safe.


    ¡°No, we gotta move! When things so big fight, they don¡¯t care about what¡¯s around them!¡± Burt said with a note of terror in his voice.


    ¡°Never fought anything that big, so let¡¯s listen to him to the native!¡± Racha barked back.


    ¡°But that giant thing, it¡¯s got two sparks in it!¡± Roy said with fear in his voice.


    ¡°Wait¡­..! Sparks!?¡± Burt asked as he stopped and Roy ran into him.


    The two of them fell to the ground and the others passed them by for a second.


    As Burt rolled to his feet, he looked right at Roy. ¡°What do you mean, sparks!?¡±


    ¡°I can see something, some kind of outline. I could even see it through the rocks. It¡¯s how I found the sack that thing had. And that big thing? It¡¯s got two of them,¡± Roy said.


    Burt looked at him in shock before looking at the fight. The Giant had started to club the False Fang with its club arm, and the False Fang was holding on with everything it had. Finally, the False Fang was thrown away, but it tore the Giant¡¯s fist as it flew away. As the Giant¡¯s wound gushed black blood, green vines grew over it. After the wound was covered, the vines kept growing until the Giant¡¯s arm ended in a five-foot-long vine whip.


    Burt stared in horror. He talked to a golem maker once, and the things Roy spoke about sounded familiar. If each ¡®body¡¯ basically had a ¡®core¡¯ controlling it instead of a brain, it made sense. Then there was the bigger False Fang to think about. If that Giant had two cores, then did the others? Did the False Fang have a core? ¡°How¡­.. later. Where are the sparks? And the other one, does it have one?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they both do,¡± Roy said as he pointed at the battle. ¡°There¡¯s one in its head and another in the left leg near, right behind the knee. The fanged thing has one right in the head.¡±


    Burt stared at Roy before swallowing as he paled in fear. ¡°Oh, Deeps take me!¡±


    ¡°How bad?¡± Racha asked and Roy looked at her.


    ¡°Very bad, too bad for us to handle. If it can reattach its body parts as long as the greater part has a core in it¡­¡­ it can¡¯t be killed,¡±  Burt whispered in horror.


    ¡°If it bleeds, it dies!¡± Racha said and looked at Roy with a strange look. ¡°You¡¯re second year on the Spirit, right? Do you still have those nanites from the year before, the imposter incident?¡±


    Roy looked at her and nodded, a strange look on his face.


    ¡°Yeah¡­.. I¡¯ve got Sight Share¡­. Why? Without the right handshake, you can¡¯t do anything with them. So why do you need to know if I have them?¡± Roy asked.


    Racha stayed silent and looked at Xordig who only nodded.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha only grinned and looked up at the Giant as it lumbered towards the False Fang. With a single thought, she activated a few strains of her nanites. As she felt them connect to Roy, she knew this wouldn¡¯t be as easy as she hoped.


    ¡°What the Nova!? How?!¡± Roy demanded.


    Before anyone could say anything, Racha spoke. Best to get this out in the open now. Because this was going to be very messy within the next few minutes.


    ¡°For those wondering, I just sent my sight to Roy. And the targeter will let him call the spots the Cores are at,¡± Racha said nonchalantly


    ¡°Why?!¡± Jess demeaned as she looked at Racha with a hard stare. ¡°Why would the company give you those kinds of nanites?! Last I checked you''re just a security recruit who transferred in a few months back! Why the hell did they¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Me and Racha here are Special Services,¡± Xordig admitted.


    Jess, Locke, and Roy looked at him in shock. It was Paige not reacting that caused Roy to look at her.


    ¡°What, you knew!? Are you one of them too?!¡± Jess cried in shock.


    ¡°No, it was a thing before we met you. We all accursed the others of being something they weren¡¯t,¡± Paige explained.


    ¡°Later! For now, just sight me!¡± Racha said with force. She looked at the battle, one of the stains of nanites putting a targeting circle that showed where she¡¯d hit. As the circle moved over the Giant¡¯s body as she adjusted her aim, she kept her ears open for Roy.


    ¡°Wait¡­. A little up¡­ now to the right, now back left¡­. There!¡± Roy said as Racha moved her weapon.


    Racha looked at the point on the Giant¡¯s body and sent a command to log the location she targeted.  Moving her aim upwards she saw the Giant strike at the False Fang with its new whip.


    The False Fang dodged and came in close, this time ramming into the Giant. As the Giant tried to pull it away from its body the False Fang bit down, tearing into the leg with the core just below it.


    ¡°It can see them too!¡± Burt said in shock.


    Racha looked at the battle, her finger moving off the trigger for a second. Then she moved her gaze towards the tree and went still. For a few seconds, she did nothing before firing, but not at the Giant. Instead, she fired at one of the vines that the tree had sent after them. ¡°Damn! We¡¯re still in range of that thing! And that fanged thing? If it can see like Roy and Red can, then we¡¯re fucked!¡±


    ¡°What are¡­.. it could track us!¡± Burt blurted out in horror.


    ¡°Then we have to leave, now! If we can get away while they''re fighting¡­..¡± Paige began.


    ¡°We¡¯ll just lead that thing to the others!¡± Xordig barked and the others started to argue.


    Racha could only look at the battle as the group broke down around her. She had to find a way to get the others on task!


    Suddenly the Giant roared as it lost its club arm. Before the others could even react the big False Fang lost its right front leg. And then suddenly Jinn was standing to Racha¡¯s right.


    ¡°So you all handled the Beasts? Perfect! Time to leave people!¡± Jinn said as he looked around.


    ¡°JINN!? HOW THE STARS ARE YOU HERE!?¡± Racha barked as she fell back as Xordig aimed his pistol at Jinn for a moment.


    Jinn looked around at the others before he sighed. ¡°Long story, but let¡¯s leave those things to play amongst themselves. Best we get out now.¡±


    ¡°Bit of a problem bro. That fang thing¡¯s a tracker like Roy,¡± Paige said.


    Jinn looked at Roy and Red before he sighed. ¡°I get you have a story there Roy. And how far can you see?¡±


    ¡°I think around twenty feet,¡± Roy said.


    ¡°Then we go down twice that! Locke, we need a tunnel down, forty feet! And Burt go with him, we can go up when we¡¯re thirty feet from the river!¡± Jinn said with a smirk.


    Racha looked at Jinn, shocked beyond words. In a few seconds, he had made a plan that might save them. She hadn¡¯t even thought of finding out about Roy¡¯s ability, and that might have killed them! The first thing her instructors taught her was that to know the enemy¡¯s abilities was to know how to defeat them! Why had she forgotten that!?


    As the others looked at her, she nodded. ¡°Anyone else got a better plan? No? Then let¡¯s do it! Jess, Xordig go after them! Roy stays in the middle with Paige and¡­..Red. Jinn with me on rearguard!¡±


    As Locke laughed he stomped his foot and a five-foot wide tunnel formed going down before them. With a smirk, he looked at the others. ¡°This way for Locke¡¯s Underground tours! Please stay with the group people!¡±


    As the others all ran into the earth, Racha turned around and looked at the Giant. It had the False Fang on the ropes and it might destroy it soon. All her training told her that the best thing was for the enemy to fight amongst themselves. But was a victory for the Tree the best thing they could hope for? Without a word, she saved the targets and looked at the False Fang. Aiming at its fangs, she fired two bolts and when they hit, the fangs broke off.


    She turned to Jinn and smirked. ¡°Time to go!¡±


    Jinn only laughed and bowed. ¡°After you my dear.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Destroyer looked at the Defender as its bite was destroyed. With its new whip, it quickly grabbed the Defender and threw it ten feet away. Before the Defender could get back onto its feet the Destroyer threw out its whip again and grabbed the maimed range arm. Quickly reconnecting it to its body, the Destroyer quickly found its foe. While the Defender got back to its feet, the Destroyer fired the pointy things, and the Defender was engulfed in explosions. Without waiting time the Destroyed used the power of its second core to run over to where its maimed hand was.


    The Destroyer reattached the hand  as the pointy things  hit the Defender. It split the whip, moving most to the outer side of its arm. With the last part it coiled around the hand and reached it. It clenched the hand before it lunched for the tree. Reaching for its prize, explosions'' forced it ten feet away from its goal.


    The Destroyer looked up and saw the First Destroyer had made it to the battle. As the Defender got back to its feet, it moved to keep the traitor Destroyer between it and its ally.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the dirt around them shook, Jinn kept his eyes straight ahead. Locke had closed the tunnel and hopefully, they were far enough down that the False Fang couldn¡¯t find them. He had to admit, that he had never expected to be here a year ago. The group was making good time, and so far Locke only had to change their route three times in the last five minutes.


    ¡°What happened back there!?¡± Racha demanded quietly.


    Jinn stayed silent before he spoke. ¡°Found two more of the Giants. Killed one by removing a limb with its core in it.¡±


    ¡°And you figured out cores how?!¡± Rach asked as they ran past a large root.


    ¡°Saw one of them reattach its head. Not the best battle I¡¯ve ever been in,¡± Jinn admitted.


    As Racha stayed silent, all Jinn could do was hope. If he was right about his thoughts during his run back to the others, there was hope. Everything on this island seemed to have been made to keep the others in check. And if that was true, then something had to be eating the False Plants. He just had to hope they would eat the closest ones before they attack an Escape Capsule.

 Chapter Eighty Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Security Room 2


    Galactic Standard Time / 0500


    As he looked around the room, Rodolphe sighed. When they found another security room, he had almost been shocked. But looking back, he had to admit this made sense. A modular construction process was the fastest way to design a building after all.


    So far, they had slept safely. The way behind them hadn¡¯t ever done anything since they locked the door again. He had to say that it was more than he expected really. After whatever they found when they opened the door it broke down, he had expected a chaser. But then they didn¡¯t know anything about the jungle they found. Something else must have attacked them, or even the robots the three of them had escaped from.


    ¡°Of course, them,¡± He muttered with a slight shudder. To say that the revelations that they had bothered him was like saying space was cold. A Ruin was still active, after millions of years. The robots found in the Ruins were all that kept the places going. Plus there was the fact that the Ruins found had such effects even damaged. as they were¡­¡­ and this one was still fully active. Who knows what this place did? Was it just for making bio weapons?


    The very idea of such a thing was beyond fiction, but the robots had been brand new. It was the only thing that made sense.


    ¡°Ready to move?¡± A sleepy voice asked.


    Rodolphe looked up and saw Bryce slowly waking up and nodded. As Zane got up as well, Rodolphe gave the room one last look. He hated how this place just had two doors, this whole Ruin was too cut off. He had survived by always having space to move, it was his whole way to fight. But


    ¡°Yeah, so we¡¯re not going backwards, right?¡± Rodolphe asked as he got his pack on.


    Zane snorted as he and Bryce were getting ready, a haunted look on his face.


    ¡°No. We gotta keep moving forward, and I mean it. there¡¯s nothing for us back there,¡± Zane said as Bryce got out his data miner.


    ¡°Yeah¡­. If I¡¯m reading this right, then that¡¯s all we can do. I think we¡¯ll reach another gallery like the one that we left. And if I¡¯m right, the door will be a view of the forest until the next one. And there¡¯s another way into the greater Ruin if I¡¯m right,¡± Bryce said before he put his device away.


    Rodolphe got out the bones they had used as a key and walked away from the door they had entered through. He wanted to argue, but the others were right.


    With a sigh he led the way, opening the door. As they entered the chamber, he moved his blaster around as Bryce and Zane did the same. They had come out in a chamber just like the one they had escaped into, a large glass window on one side. Unlike the one they had left, the glass here was covered by a black substance. The only light here came from a large round crystal on the ceiling, and he frowned as he looked around. There was one small doorway barely four feet wide on the other wall a good twenty feet from the window. On the other side of from where they entered, Rodolphe saw a door a good forty feet away. He made a quick movement with his right hand and started to walk towards it, the others following behind.


    ¡°Nothing here to sit on,¡± Bryce muttered softly as they moved.


    Rodolphe wanted to say something but Bryce was right, this place was empty. There was nothing, it was like someone had moved out and nobody had moved in.


    ¡°Not our problems man, we just need to get out. Then the others can find out what¡¯s gonna happen after I punch that bastard Jones!¡± Zane snarled.


    ¡°I get as a member of the underworld, you know a lot about torture,¡± Rodolphe said softly.


    ¡°What me? No! most of the business is just smuggling really. And it''s just over-the-counter stuff and spirits that the local law doesn¡¯t want in. Stuff like pain medicine and nanites. All in all, nothing too bad. But the Federation¡¯s laws about self-government and all,¡± Zane said with a chuckle.


    Rodolphe looked at him over his shoulder as he stopped, a bit confused. ¡°What about the laws of self-government?¡±


    Zane looked at him and then winced. ¡°Oh, your world bro? No, that¡¯s so wrong! People can get modern medicine, that¡¯s a right. But some planets want to be ¡® all natural¡¯ and force their people to leave to get treatment. They can¡¯t keep people from having them, but they don¡¯t have to give it out on their world. Kind of a grey area, but one that¡¯s profitable.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I learned about that. Everyone is allowed to be governed how they want. Like this. If someone on a planet wants to bring back nobles, make a planet-wide petition! If it gets at least three-quarters, it passes. But they have to follow the General Rights charter,¡± Bryce explained with a smirk.


    Rodolphe looked at him and tried to keep calm. Since he and his people had escaped they had been among pirates or on rogue colonies. If that was the way most planets were governed, why did the Corp that ruled his home do what they did? It would have been so much easier to just hire miners to work there. Why did they enslave his home and force them all to mine that mineral?¡± And the monsters from the deep desert, what were they?


    ¡°Hey, you okay?¡±


    Rodolphe looked up. Bryce and Zane were looking at him and Rodolphe laughed a little.


    ¡°Sorry guys, just caught up in my mind. Old memories, old thoughts you know?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Zane laughed a little and shook his head. He opened his mouth before something hit the window.


    They all turned and looked, shocked at what they saw. Something was hitting the windows and as they watched the window was every few seconds.


    ¡°Time to move you two! The natives are restless!¡± Rodolphe said as he turned and ran. Looking back, he jogged over to the door. As he reached it more sounds of something hitting the windows were heard.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°What is this!?¡± Zane asked as he looked around. By luck, they were near a window that was still clear. As Rodolphe tried to find the bone key, Zane walked to the window and looked out. ¡°Mother of Stars!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bellow, a large catapult made of dark blue wood was cracked back. Two humans in grey leather armor, and each one had green hair pocking out of their helmets were standing by it. The two of them were moving a wheel that pulled back the catapult''s neck. There were three more catapults with two armored humans working on each one.


    ¡°Perfect! Thinker Yogix, you did it!¡± A hearty voice called out in awe. The speaker was a tall human man with long green hair. His blue eyes looked at the catapult in awe. He was wearing grey leather armor that covered his whole body, and he had on red leather boots. On his back was a large black metal war axe with a handle over his left shoulder.


    He was speaking to an old human with short light green hair and a long beard over his chest. He was wearing a strange white robe with tribal designs on it.


    ¡°The old tales were hard to figure out Master Rogix, but I finished it at last. Still, I wonder if before they''re sent to the Front Lines, we try something. Perhaps we try and break into the Captor¡¯s Lair?¡± Yogix, the old man asked.


    All Yogix could feel was hope and fear in equal amounts. When he had created his prototype for these weapons, he had big dreams. He had always seen his clan¡¯s work to escape as lacking force. They could talk a good game, and plan it out as best they could but they lacked power. Now there was a chance to use what he built why he built it, a chance to finally take the fight to the True Enemy.


    ¡°I asked the Emperor personally, and he said that this batch will go to the front! I want you to oversee the creation of three more sets of four each of these! You can keep the first batch for trials to breach into that hell!¡± Rogix said with a hard look.


    Yogix only clasped his hands and bowed to Rogix, tears leaving his eyes. ¡°Thank you, sir! I know how much you must have argued to allow that!¡±


    ¡°Hey, hey. No tears old one. We are both members of the Returners, we hold the ancient knowledge. With this old power you¡¯ve built, I kow¡­¡­ I know¡­..¡± Rogix trailed off as he looked up.


    Yogix looked up and saw Rogix¡¯s eyes glowed the Power. Turning and calling the Power to his eyes, he followed Rogix¡¯s gaze. Yogix gasped in shock at what Rogix found. There, looking down at them was a human in strange clothing! ¡°WHAT TRIBE IS THAT MAN FROM!?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯ll ask! Soldiers, aim at that window there!¡± Rogix bellowed as he looked around. ¡°And someone get my chasing lizard! First Raiders Mount up!¡±


    Yogix could only look at the man, tears leaving his eyes. Someone had found a way into that hell, it was possible! After all the trials and how the very walls kept them from digging into it, he started to lose hope. The faith of his tribe had started to sound false to him, and the Worshipers had been very loud.


    ¡°You¡¯re coming with us Yogix!¡± Rogix¡¯s loud command caused Yogix to blink before nodding. ¡°And get the Viewer ready!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my lord!¡± Yogix bellowed as he ran towards where the beasts were. He could barely keep his smile from splitting his face in two. A human had made it into the Captor¡¯s place! If they could talk with him they could learn so much. Finally, they would be able to take Revenge on the monsters who left them with nothing! It had been hard, but they had devolved their culture and survived! But now they had found others who had done what they couldn''t. "Revenge is ours!"


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°What is it?¡± Bryce asked as he walked over to Zane.


    After not hearing anything, Rodolphe looked up. He saw Bryce staring down in the same direction as Zane. Frowning, he walked over and looked down, and then he felt his eyes widen in shock. They were looking down at what looked like a medieval war camp, one populated by humans. Everywhere he looked, he saw humans with green hair in grey, white, or blue clothing.


    ¡°Who are they!?¡± Zane asked as he stared through the window.


    All Rodolphe felt was fear and horror. He was looking at people who lived in worse conditions than even his home. And what were they even doing on this strange world? Had they been captured from old Earth? Were they castaways like the trio were? He activated a nanite strain and zoomed in, trying to understand this. ¡°Okay, from what I can see, the people in grey down there are wearing some kind of armor, I think. Most of them have weapons¡­.. and something is happening.¡±


    ¡°Stars, I see it! they¡¯ve seen us!¡± Bryce said in shock.


    Before Rodolphe could say anything, his vision went black before he heard the sound of the window being hit. ¡°VOID!¡±


    As he stepped back, he deactivated his nanites. Looked around, he saw Bryce and Zane on the floor, staring in shock at the window. Turning towards it, Rodolphe saw a large rock hit the window and bounce it away. ¡°What in the? They¡¯re doing this? Why!?¡±


    ¡°Who knows man!¡± Zane said as he got back up. ¡°For all we know those fools worship the builders or something! This might be forbidden grounds!¡±


    Rodolphe looked at the window as another large rock hit. How strong was the material the window was made out of? And how big was the area beneath it?


    ¡°Start looking for a security room!¡± Bryce called out as he looked around.


    ¡°Bryce,¡± Rodolphe began only Bryce kept talking.


    ¡°If I can get some data we can find out where those people came from! I refused that they could have been created here!¡± Bryce said as he took a step to the side.


    Rodolphe threw out his arm and grabbed him. ¡°BRYCE! We can¡¯t stay here now.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Bryce exclaimed and Zane sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°He¡¯s right. We gotta move. We can find the others and come back, but we can¡¯t let stop. We¡¯ve gotta tell the others about Jones, that¡¯s the mission. It¡¯s gotta be,¡± Zane said as another stone hit the window.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce looked at them and tried to find fault in what he heard, but he couldn¡¯t. he knew that he was too close to this. Looking out the window, it was like he was back on the School. Everything he had told him to help those people, but the guys were right. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re right. But we¡¯re going to come back and help.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rodolphe said as Zane nodded.


    Bryce looked around one last time as the others went to the door. After a few moments, the door opened on a long corridor.


    ¡°Let¡¯ssss AAAAHHH!¡± Zane cried out in shock.


    Turning, Bryce and Rodolphe could only stare in shock. A human was standing there, on a wooden platform. He was dressed in grey leather clothing and wielded a long spear. He stabbed at the window a few times then waved his weapon at them.


    ¡°And that means go!¡± Rodolphe bellowed and ran through the door. After a moment Zane and Bryce followed after him, both of them feeling fear for what the native had done.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°They¡¯re running General!¡± The soldier on the Viewer platform called out.


    Rogrix grabbed the reins of his riding lizard. It was five feet tall and had a lean body five feet long. Its scales were a dark brown and its eyes were blue. It had a black short horn above its muzzle, the mouth being covered by a muzzle connected to the reins its rider held.


    Rogrix turned his lizard until he was looking at Yogix on a similar beast. Around them were ten people in grey leather armor on identical lizards around him.


    ¡°Why do they run?! Can¡¯t they know we want to help them!?¡± Rogix asked anger in his voice.


    Yogix only shook his head and sighed. ¡°Then these people must be from another culture old friend. It¡¯s the only thing that makes sense. Maybe our way of saying we¡¯re here to help means we want to kill you to them?¡±


    ¡°General! They''re running along the clear way!¡± The soldier above called out.


    Rogix looked at the Viewer and nodded. It was a single tower on a ten-foot wide platform being pulled by two teams of four riding lizards each.


    He looked around at the others and whistled. ¡°Riding team, follow me! Viewer team follow!¡±


    ¡°YES SIR!¡± As one the others all cried out and with that, they rode off.


    All Yogix could do was think as he followed after General Rogix. This was the first contact with other humans ever! The tales of the Ancestors told of how Merchants once grew so strong that they rose in rebellion. Their ancestors had been soldiers for the government, and had been sent to guard a founding group. Then they had been captured by the Monsters of this place while on route to the new colony.


    Thrown into this place, they had survived for generations. Using the values of their people, they lived and grew strong. Still, they wanted to return to the void. They needed to claim vengeance on those who killed so many of their own when they had been thrown here. And now they had found other humans! They had to have been some of the Lost, that was the only thing that made sense. That meant those they thought dead had been alive, in another place!


    ¡°Keep riding!¡± Rogix called out with a savage glee. ¡°Soon the monsters who took us all will pay in blood! Soon we will find the Glorious Redemption¡¯s hull! When that happens we we¡¯ll make right our shame!¡±


    Everyone, even the scholar Yogix roared in agreement. Yogix looked up and saw the new humans running through the Devil¡¯s land. And he felt his smile grow wider. His fist went to the mark of the Scholars, a wheel with wedges on it. He could only hope that they kept more of the old stories alive than the People did. It would be so good to know what this symbol meant during the Before!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Keep running!¡± Zane called out as he looked down. Seeing the people below follow them, he cursed. The fact that the people below were chasing them so much meant only one thing. Zane, Bryce, and Rodolphe had violated a taboo. Either that or a religious law, but the result was the same. As soon as those people caught the group, the deckhands would be killed.


    Until that happened, he would fight! He had lived a hard life, but he had always kept fighting. That was the one thing he knew, and he never gave up. As long as life was there, then so was hope. So he would keep fighting until he died. And if this was the last fight, then he would meet it and die standing!


    ¡°Yeah! We¡¯re just running into the unknown after all!¡± Bryce said, a note of wonder and joy in his voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re happy for this!?¡± Zane demanded in shock.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Bryce exclaimed with joy in his voice. ¡°Since I broke out, everything was new! And now this? just keep walking! That¡¯s the only way to live! And things might be worse or better, but keep moving for tomorrow is new!¡±


    Zane stopped for a second and Bryce ran by him. He looked at his friend, shocked still for a moment. Then he laughed as he felt a savage joy bloom. ¡°What the Nova! For tomorrow!¡±


    ¡°For the Unknown!¡± Rodolphe yelled ahead.

 Chapter Ninety

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Tunnel leaving Clawbash¡¯s Realm/


    Galactic Standard Time / 0600


    As he finished his work, Olv¡¯xic looked around at the others. Already Ro¡¯borlar was up and had started to make a small breakfast for them all. The prince sat near him as Jen¡¯dra and Tar¡¯lroia moved towards the back of the chamber, near the only route forward. Ken¡¯tricx was at the blocked hole, making sure nothing was coming after them.


    Looking over the last thing he needed to check, Olv¡¯xic let his mind go over what he knew. Something about the way the Insects acted bothered him, something he couldn¡¯t see. The one thing he knew was that his instants had saved his life more times than he could count. So when his mind told him something was wrong, he listened.


    A beeping caused him to look up. Seeing Ro¡¯borlar¡¯ss symbol on his HUB, he sighed before accepting the call.


    ¡°[Almost Done Olv¡¯xic]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar


    ¡°[Yeah. Just doing the last part now]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he looked up, turning his head towards Ro¡¯borlar.


    ¡°[Good. Thanks again kid! So how bad was it]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked as he walked over with two small bowls in his hands.


    Olv¡¯xic took one willed the bottom part of his mask away and slowly started to drink from the bowl. He had to admit, that the way that Ro¡¯borlar made food was a work of art.


    ¡°[So how¡¯s my armor kid]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked with a jovial tone.


    Olv¡¯xic swallowed another mouthful of soup and sighed.


    ¡°[Like I said, the Aether Shadow is broken. But the crystal cracked in a way that I was able to repair it, partially],¡± Olv¡¯xic said sternly. Ro¡¯borlar looked up and grinned.


    ¡°[You fixed my Aether Shadow]!?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked in complete shock.


    ¡°[Partially]!¡± Olv¡¯xic ¡°[It won¡¯t block skills, that''s beyond this work. But if you use Aether to only increase your physical capabilities you shouldn¡¯t be seen. That¡¯s the limit to what I could do]!¡±


    ¡°[Still this is great! Thanks kid! This should help me a lot]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said with a laugh as he started to put his armor back on.


    ¡°[Yeah],¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he looked at the door they would be going through soon. He had called this place a bio-weapon factory but something was off. He couldn¡¯t see what it was, but something about the way this place was set up bothered him.


    He had been right, this place wasn¡¯t for evacuating the Ruin. But something else was here, something that bothered him a lot. He tried to think of what he was missing, but no matter what track he went down he couldn¡¯t find it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra looked over at Olv¡¯xic and tried to keep calm. Even just removing his mask from his mouth bothered her. She knew that the forces let people enlist with only a first name, it happened. But there was just something about how Olv¡¯xic acted bothered her. The kid was strong and smart. He knew how to repair an Aether Shadow of all things, the most secretive piece of tech they had! The guilds never let those things out, and the members always had to be known. The fact that the kid knew how to repair it was something


    A beeping made her look at a request for a private talk. Seeing the sender was Tar¡¯lroia, she accepted. ¡°[What¡¯s up]?¡±


    ¡°[You tell me sis. You¡¯re burning an aether line through the kid]!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra only sighed and shook her head. ¡°[He¡¯s too good. I can¡¯t understand why he¡¯s a Nameless. And he knows how to repair Aether Shadows].¡±


    ¡°[So]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked.


    Je¡¯ndra almost exploded before she realized that her friend didn¡¯t know. ¡°[Tar¡¯lroia, the Aether Shadow is the hidden part of our armor. If Noble houses knew how to make them, they¡¯d create assassins to kill other nobles. Or even attack the Royal family! And a Nameless one knows how to make them? The Royal Guild would have grabbed someone like that in preschool]!¡±


    ¡°[Oh],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said with a haunted edge to her voice.


    Je¡¯ndra only nodded. She could accept that the kid was a genius, it happened. But is someone able to figure out how to grow a new crystal for an Aether Shadow? That was beyond anything that anyone could do.


    ¡°[So the problem is that the kid doesn¡¯t know how next level his knowledge is. Strange, but where did he grow up? It¡¯s like¡­¡­]¡± Tar¡¯lroia stopped talking as she seemed to come to a revelation.


    Je¡¯ndra looked at her friend as she stopped talking. For several seconds she stayed silent but then she shook her head. All these actions made Je¡¯ndra more worried, not less. Je¡¯ndra had known Tar¡¯lroia for many years, and she was only like this when she was stuck on something. Give her a medical problem, she¡¯d solve it on the fly. But give her a logic problem? She¡¯d do this.


    Most of the time, Je¡¯ndra let Tar¡¯lroia figure it out on her own. But not this time.


    ¡°[What is it Tar¡¯lroia?]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked. As she looked at her friend, she started to feel worried. Tar¡¯lroia was very smart, and she could read people like a pro. If she saw something Je¡¯ndra missed, it was usually bad.


    ¡°[First I asked myself, who would know how to repair not in the Guild? Then I asked if he was a spy. But the kid doesn¡¯t act like that, and he¡¯s thrown off every time he was offered a higher rank. Je¡¯ndra¡­¡­. I think the kid was beaten down during his growing period],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said with a hard edge to her voice.


    Je¡¯ndra went still, staying at her friend through her mask. The one thing that their people did was love children. If the community in any city saw even the hint of that, they¡¯d break down doors to find out the truth. There was even a popular show about the worst mistakes when people did that. It was so rare, it was a legend on most worlds.


    ¡°[And our genius thinks that we¡¯re going into a bio-weapon plant. Just what I needed on top of everything else],¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a sigh.


    She didn¡¯t need this, not now. After everything that happened, she had sent them all here because her team had raided Ruins. Even if the Prince was here, then with Kon¡¯gric they could have protected him. But a bio-weapon Ruin¡­¡­ Nothing like it had ever been found. Part of her was hoping Olv¡¯xic was wrong, but it made sense. And now she had to take in the fact that Olv¡¯xic might be completely self-taught. She couldn''t understand, that meant that Olv¡¯xic was a genius unlike anyone before.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°[What does this mean]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked softly.


    ¡°[It means that the kid is too smart. And since he probably learned everything he can do on his own, he might not know what he knows. This is going to be a problem].¡± Tar¡¯lroia said bitterly.


    ¡°[Hey gang]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s voice came over the team¡¯s channel. ¡°[The kid fixed my Shadow! I can run now! Ready to move people]!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra looked into space, then looked at Tar¡¯lroia. Their masked faces looked at each other for a few seconds before Tar¡¯lroia leaned down.


    ¡°[See? Too smart for his own good! That¡¯s the only thing that makes sense],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly over their private channel


    ¡°[Everyone, we move! Three minutes people]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said over the team channel before looking at her friend.


    ¡°[We just need the kid to trust us. If that happens then I think we¡¯ll be good. And he¡¯s not a spy],¡± Je¡¯ndra said to Tar¡¯lroia over a private channel.


    Tar¡¯lroia only nodded before walking towards the door. ¡°[Gonna guard the door boss. I¡¯ll let you know if I hear anything].¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around, Ar¡¯thor tried to let his mind calm down. He had been feeling something for the last few hours. Even when he was asleep, he dreamed of something watching him beyond his sight. He had rarely if ever felt like this, and now it seemed like something was eyeing him for a snack. The only explanation he could think of was that he was coming off the mind link with the false mite leader. If that one felt that most of the time, it might have transferred into his dreaming mind.


    Ar¡¯thor shuddered as he looked up. He had heard about the Ruins, but he had never wanted to come to one. Now they were going into one, and it had sent the robot that had attacked them! The Firstborne robots were monsters of combat! A full squad of over ten people was needed to raid a Ruin, and most suffered fifty percent casualties! This was beyond dangerous, but they had no choice. To live they had to move through it.


    As everyone gathered at the door, Ar¡¯thor climbed onto Kon¡¯gric¡¯s back. Hooking onto Kon¡¯gric¡¯s hard points he forced his body to relax. He looked at his armor¡¯s sensors, ready to watch their surroundings at least.


    ¡°[Listen up, everyone! The order is Me, Tar¡¯lroia, and then Ro¡¯borlar. I want Kon¡¯gric in the middle with Olv¡¯xic and Ro¡¯borlar behind him. Remember, the prince is the priority]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said.


    Ar¡¯thor felt his heart drop into his stomach. He had never liked how people chose to give their lives for his, and he never would.


    A beeping on his mast caused him to look up. Seeing it was Je¡¯ndra he sighed and activated his comms. ¡°[Leader Je¡¯ndra, what is it]?¡±


    ¡°[My prince. I¡¯m sorry, but I must ask for your help. I know your armor only looks like a normal Squires set. How better are the sensors]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked.


    For a few moments, all Ar¡¯thor could do was stare at her symbol with his eyes. The secrets of even Royal Squire armor were part of the balanced politics of their empire. To tell anyone not of the family¡­.. but they were in a terrible situation.¡°[Better].¡±


    ¡°[Please be our eyes my prince. If anything comes from behind, let us know],¡± Je¡¯ndra said before her symbol disappeared.


    Ar¡¯thor let out a small sigh and tried to keep calm. The secrets of the Royal family were what kept the Empire together. They were already going to reveal one of them if he released more¡­.. he didn¡¯t want to think about what might happen.


    Keeping his mind calm, he activated his enhanced sensors. All he could do was keep trying to think about what he should look for.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he walked, Ro¡¯borlar looked around for anything that might be helpful. They had to do this right, they had to identify when the Firstborne made this place. And the only way to do that was to find the little things. The few tricks the Imperial Ruin Delvers had found, the tells of the architect that told novels. He had to find them, that was his job.


    Looking around, he sighed as he was grateful for his mask¡¯s dark vision. To him, it looked like it was day, but it could be as black as night and he wouldn¡¯t care. And as a Wayfinder, his mask had the best vision enhancements to


    And that let him notice it first.


    ¡°[Light source ahead. Bets on what era this is]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked a hint of amusement in his voice.


    And with that knowledge, they¡¯d know just how hard this would be. Of the two eras, he was hoping it would be the easiest. But the way that this place was a bio-weapon factory, bothered him. Something in his mind was going down the black hole, and something was at the edge of his mind.


    ¡°[What do you mean, eras]?  Kon¡¯gric asked with worry in his voice,


    All Ro¡¯borlar could do was chuckle as he turned off his microphone with a simple thought. That was what he loved about first timers, they always asked the stupid questions. He wondered who would explain the truth to them.


    ¡°[It¡¯s like this sir],¡± Olv¡¯xic began.


    Ro¡¯borlar felt a smirk. He had to admit, that part of him wanted it to be Olv¡¯xic to explain. The kid spent more time than any of the team reading what scholars figured out about the Firstborne. To hear from someone like the kid, might be educational.


    ¡°[See, the only way to tell what era is it is by the aether lights. The Founding Era used star-shaped crystals. Some people think it meant Unity, as this era was before the war. The next is the Falling era. This time is said to be a time of war and chaos when the Firstborne all died. The Ruins of the Founding Era are stronger but they have fewer guards than the Falling Era. It¡¯s interesting really],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a note of wonder in his voice.


    ¡°[What¡¯s interesting about that]?¡± Kon¡¯gric


    ¡°[Because the Ruins of the Founding era are mostly only able to affect a space the size of a continent at most! But the Falling Era Ruins effected the planetary scale! It stands to reason that the Firstborne learned to effect Aether through the Ruins. But no Sage has ever been able to find any Aether engines in any Ruins at all]!¡± Olv¡¯xic explained.


    Ro¡¯borlar let his smirk take up his face, he was right. The kid knew everything and he explained it like he was talking to a child. Those were the best teachers, the kid had a great future. ¡°[That¡¯s the way! And we are in an era¡­¡­.. none of them].¡±


    ¡°[Wait, what]?!¡± Je¡¯ndra demanded.


    All Ro¡¯borlar could do was point shakily at the round Aether crystal light on the wall.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic looked at the crystal, trying to understand. This wasn¡¯t possible, there had never been round Aether crystals found in Ruins! All the knowledge that Ruins had given them told him this. But here was a new kind of crystal. Part of him was seeing this as a wonder, part of him was seeing this as a horror. They had no idea what this was, or when it was from. All the rules that they had to stay alive were thrown out here and now.


    ¡°[What is this!? Olv¡¯xic, explain],¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked with a note of hope in her voice.


    ¡°[I¡­¡­ can¡¯t. This is beyond me],¡± Olv¡¯xic said, completely shocked. ¡°[I¡­. don¡¯t. There has never been anything else recorded anywhere! No one even learned about any other]¡­..¡±


    As soon as he spoke those words, something registered in his mind. An old story, one that was considered to be an example of how dangerous the Ruins were. How no matter what you did, don¡¯t end up as he did. The scholar Ruin raider, one who had charted out the paths to the minds of many horrors. A one-time hero who spent his final days broken. The man who wrote one final book that most people thought was proof of his mental state. The book called ¡®The writings of Od¡¯ylis the Mad¡¯ was published after his death.


    Olv¡¯xic went still and sank against the wall. He remembered reading that book once, the horrors within almost made him throw up. If even half of what Od¡¯ylis wrote was true, then they were heading into the mouth of a black hole. But they had no choice, there was nowhere else they could go. All they could do was dare to brave the Ruins, and they meant facing dangers that no one alive ever had. He was so caught up in his memories and thoughts that he never noticed anything until a hand hit his shoulders.


    ¡°[HEY! KID]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar exclaimed.


    Olv¡¯xic looked up and saw the others all gathered around him. And he swallowed as he tried to gather his thoughts


    ¡°[What is it it]?! Ken¡¯tricx demanded.


    ¡°[Od¡¯ylis the Mad, he wasn¡¯t mad],¡± Olv¡¯xic said bitterly.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra looked at Olv¡¯xic. ¡°[Who]!?¡±


    ¡°[Od¡¯ylis the Mad. Ruin Raider first class. The man who first charted the route to the decaying mind of a Ruin. The first person who destroyed a Ruin and had a Firstnorne robot try to destroy his mind. But it didn¡¯t],¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly.


    ¡°[Then what happened¡­. No. What did he know]?!¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked with a shocked tone.


    ¡°[A lot! After that, he said that the Firstborne had chosen him to be their messenger. The final witness. He wrote that some Firstborne survived the final battle on all sides of their war. And these survivors, seeing how many of them there were made a choice. To find other ways to fight],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a note of horror in his voice.


    ¡°[What happened? To the Firstbonre? What did that thing download into him]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked with a note of awe in her voice.


    ¡°[He wrote that the Firstborne turned to the banned ways of war. Some created robots only to destroy. Others created viruses that killed all in their sleep, denying their worlds to all others . And now it seemed some others turned to bio-weapons],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a shudder. He looked around and they could all hear the horror in what he would say next. ¡°[He called it the era of Successors, as in Final Successors. He wrote that their culture became who could kill the most of the others first].¡±


    Je¡¯ndra turned away and looked ahead. They had been making good time and she could see other Aether lights ahead of them. The facility was the only way they could even think of surviving now, there was nowhere else they could go. This one path represented the only way they had to go.


    Ken¡¯tricx however spoke before she could. ¡°[First ones into a New Era Ruin. That¡¯s one for the books I¡¯d think]!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra only looked at him before she laughed. ¡°[Yes, but we have nothing else to do! Onwards and upwards. And everyone, Aether to your feet run]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Within the firm things, the Dweller slowly woke up. For the last few hours, it had been renewing itself. Parts of its body had been eaten while it slept and it desired vengeance. That had happened when those things came again to eat. But this time the Dweller had grabbed them and brought them all its stomach.


    Already it felt its strength returning, and it had started to tunnel back to its slaves. Once it ate enough it would find a speaker and give them their orders. It saw the spark of the Scream disappear but it had sent some of its remote limbs to the entrance. Either its parts would die or the Screamer would come, it would win either way. But when it had cast its eyeless sight out, it had felt so much food above it. It had sent one of its limbs to that place, but it had found a small hole only. When it had tried to break through, it had encountered something so hard. After nothing, it had been forced to try another tactic. Already it was changing its limb to end a proto-pod to see what was there. It had spent some of its will to break its limbs, the results looking into what the hardness was.


    But part of its remote limbs had found something and scampered off, out of its range. It was already making a Broadcast limb to chase them down. And the food that their instants had to have found!

 Chapter Ninety One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Window Corridor form Black Windows Gallery


    Galactic Standard Time / 540


    ¡°They¡¯re still following us!¡± Bryce called out in horror.


    Rodolphe looked at the windows and tried to think of anything to do. For the last three minutes, they had run along the hallway. Unlike the last one, all the windows here were still in one piece. That was good, as they were still being chased by the humans who found them. And the worst thing was that the spearman kept stabbing at the window every time they passed one.


    ¡°Gotta be because they want to kill us, man. They see this as holy ground, that¡¯s gotta be the answer. I¡¯ve seen this story, I ain¡¯t going live you hear me! If they¡¯re going to catch us I¡¯ll die first!¡± Zane snarled as he ran.


    ¡°Who are they?! How long were they here!?¡± Bryce asked in shock.


    Rodolphe only glared into the distance, trying to think of an answer that made sense. He had read a few stories growing up about how people lowered their tech level to survive. And once he had thought his people had done that too. If the people outside didn¡¯t then there was only one answerer. ¡°Anytime since Rome of old Sol to now, I¡¯d say. But what could this place have captured them this way and not us!?¡±


    ¡°I want to know why those windows won¡¯t break!¡± Zane exclaimed.


    Rodolphe looked at the windows as they passed the latest one and tried to figure that out. He knew the answer was that they were made that way, but why did these still work? He remembered how after the first door they opened there was a window that had broken, and was empty of glass. That meant that something here was different, and that was something they had to figure out if only to feel safe.


    Looking at the window ahead, he saw the light source on top and then it struck him. Looking over his shoulder he saw that every window had a light source above it, and that was enough for him. If he was right, then they could slow down. But could they chance it?


    ¡°There¡¯s the door!¡± Bryce called out in glee.


    Rodolphe looked ahead and saw what Bryce had and figured now was as good a time as at the door. ¡°Guys slow down, the windows won¡¯t break!¡±


    Rodolphe stopped and the others ran by him, stopping ten feet away. As they turned back around the spearman knocked on the window, having stopped as well.


    ¡°What do you mean man!?¡± Bryce asked with panic in his voice.


    Rodolphe looked at them and saw that the situation was starting to get to Bryce. Zane was huddling it a lot better, but it was affecting him too. And the constant knocking of the spearman wasn¡¯t helping.


    ¡°Look, the light sources,¡± Rodolphe said as he pointed at the space between the windows. Looking at it more closely, Rodolphe was able to finally see that the light came from round crystals. ¡°These were gone from the other hallway. The one behind the first door we opened. I think they¡¯ll a sign, this place still has power.¡±


    ¡°So the power makes it so the windows can¡¯t be broken¡­¡­. This is a Ruin after all. So that''s not too far out there, really,¡± Zane said with a bit of awe in his voice.


    Bryce looked between them before laughing madly for a few seconds. Then he took a series of deep breaths and looked around, a bit more together than he had been. ¡°That¡­.. makes a lot of sense!¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯ve got a semi-safe place, so let¡¯s talk for a bit. This is a lot more than a simple food run!¡± Rodolphe said as he looked around at Zane and Bryce. Both of them nodded and as one, they sat down. Risking a glance at the spearman, Rodolphe saw that he had sat down as well.


    ¡°So do we open that door once we get there?¡± Zane asked as he looked at the spearman. ¡°I mean we could run back and forth a few times, get them away from us before we open it.¡±


    As one Rodolphe and Bryce looked at the spearman, who waved his spear at them.


    Rodolphe had to admit that he saw where Zane was coming from, but all they had were questions. While there was a chance that they worshiped whoever made this hell, there was a chance they were wrong. If they hated the Ruin builders, saw them as Devils. Or maybe they had been captured before the first Ruin was found, and that would change everything. to get an answer, they would need to talk to them. And talking to anyone without a way to defend themselves on a first contact¡­. That was bad, very bad.


    ¡°Do you think we can even trick them? Or how many times running back and forth it¡¯ll take? And how we¡¯ll be at the end?¡± Bryce asked.


    Zane only looked at them and then away, shrugging. ¡°It had to be said.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s ahead. We¡¯ve got limited supplies, maybe three meals until we need more food. So we can¡¯t waste time. We go forward. If we can find a place to talk to them, we will. We might not have a choice,¡± Rodolphe said as he looked around at the others.


    As they nodded at him, Rodolphe looked at the window wall. If he could destroy one of the crystals, then maybe it might let the spearman break it. After that, they could try and learn what these people wanted and who they were. ¡°I know, so let¡¯s rest here for now. If I¡¯m right, we can recover our energy. If I¡¯m wrong, we can fight to the door.¡±


    ¡°As master used to say,¡± Zane said as he sat down, using his pack as a pillow. ¡°Sleep when you can, and fight when you must!¡±


    Bryce looked around and nodded as well.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Below, Yogix looked up at the man on the viewer. For the last ten minutes, he had tried to get the view to slow down. If he could try and get up there, he might be able to use Old Sign to talk to them. And then there was the Scholar¡¯s hand tongue, those symbols might work. Even if he could only use a flag of his order, he would. All his life he wanted to get at the monsters who had captured his people, and this was his chance.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    If they could only learn where these people came from, it would change so much. They would finally know where the Lost were. And more to the point, how they had finally broken through into the Devil¡¯s realm.


    ¡°General! The others, they¡¯re going to sleep up here!¡± The spearman called out.


    Yogix looked up at him, shocked beyond words. They were just resting in that hell? Why? What did they know that let them do that!?


    ¡°Sleeping, now I know their warriors. Perfect reaction right there,¡± Rogix¡¯s powerful voice came from behind him. He saw him urging his Riding Beast forward and bit back a sigh. ¡°If they''re resting, so are we. Everyone take time to eat or drink. Feed your mounts and rest your minds!¡±


    Ten minutes later, Yogix walked towards Rogix. He was sitting down, his beast next to him as he cleaned his axe. He looked up and sighed.


    ¡°Yogix, I know what you¡¯re thinking, no. I will not let you go up there,¡± Rogix said stiffly.


    Yogix only looked at his friend and tried to think of what to say.


    ¡°But this is perfect! If they¡¯re stopping, for now, I can find another way to communicate with them. And you know as well as I this must be done soon! This has to be the best chance we¡¯ll have, maybe the only one!¡± Yogix said with excitement in his voice.


    ¡°Think we can figure out how to talk to them old one? Before we can¡¯t try again? Rogix asked and Yogix knew what Rogix meant. Yogix knew Rogix well, having been the boy¡¯s tutor for years. The man was kind, strong and would kill anything to protect those he protected. Plus like Yogix, hated wasted effort. But those traits were how Yogix knew what Rogix meant.


    ¡°Your man up there isn¡¯t having much luck. If I can get onto that thing, maybe I could do something that they would understand.¡± Yogix suggested only for Rogix to shake his head.


    ¡°Master, as much as I would like that, no. If they don¡¯t know a way out, only in then you might be lost. You¡¯re too important to the War, we can¡¯t lose you! And you know I¡¯m right,¡± Rogix said with a sorrowful tone.


    Yogix nodded and turned away. ¡°I know, but we don¡¯t have a long enough time to handle this!


    Rogix only sighed. ¡°I know what you know about the Senate. And they¡¯ll get involved as soon as my messenger gets there. That¡¯s what they do. Please don¡¯t say I couldn¡¯t have sent one, you know the spies they have would have done it.¡±


    ¡°I know boyo, I know. But still! Think about what the fractions will do with this knowledge! And if the Believers get ahold of them!¡± Yogix snarled and Rogix only looked back at him with a hard stare.


    ¡°I know! But I have orders! Oaths I swore when I took my office! I could no more ignore them than you could ignore yours!¡± Rogix spat back and Yogix looked away.


    Yogix only nodded, that was one of Rogix¡¯s worst and best traits. If he said he¡¯d do something, he did. And the oaths of his office were just another promise to him. But still, this was bad! Once the other nobles got involved, who knew what they would do! The best thing would be for them to find a way to make contact before the messenger made it to court! And they were heading towards the Scholar¡¯s Retreat, so there was that. If they could talk to the people within the Devil¡¯s Realm there, there might be a chance!


    A cry from someone behind Rogix and Yogix turns in time to see one of their guards fall off his Riding Beast. But it was the red wood arrow through his neck that caused them to understand they were being attacked. But it was the figures armed with swords in red cloaks that made who was attacking them clear.


    ¡°REBELS! TO THE VIEWER, defensive CIRCLE!¡± Rogix bellowed out his orders as he drew his axe, an aura of yellow energy suddenly surrounding him. He swung his axe down and an energy slash five feet high shot from it. The rebels all dodged and the slash hit a tree, causing an explosion of thunderbolts.


    Yogix meanwhile had ridden his beast towards the Viewer, throwing caution to the wind. If the Rebels were here, then the Scholar¡¯s Retreat had to have been their target! That let Yogix know that this was it, he had to make contact now or lose the chance forever!


    As soon as he reached the platform he climbed onto it. hearing cries behind him he turned and went white. Then more of the Rebels were charging after the others, and he thought he could see more. ¡°This is more than to take the Rest, what are they¡­¡­¡±


    Yogix went still as he looked at the Rebel army. These people had to have come here for one reason, to kill the King and the heads of the Noble factions! Every few years, they met at Scholar Rest to retake vows of loyalty. The next one was soon, and if they all died, that would spark a civil war! Something needed to turn the tide, and the only thing nearby was the strangers!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Everyone rested?¡± Bryce asked as he stretched.


    Zane nodded as he sighed. He had to admit, the last ten minutes were something he needed. The idea to rest while being watched was insane, but it had been needed here. ¡°Yeah. So shall we¡­¡­ what¡¯s wrong with spear guy?¡±


    As the others turned, they saw what Zane had. The spearman was looking away from them, and by the look on his face, something was wrong. For a moment Zane wondered if they should help, but then he wondered what was wrong.


    Bryce had moved farther down and looked through the window there. ¡°Uhhhh guys? They¡¯ve got trouble.¡±


    Zane and Rodolphe both looked at each other and then walked over to him. When they gazed through the window they both went still. They were seeing a battle, the first humans they had seen against red-robed figures.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Rodolphe asked in shock.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s good. Those reddies remind me of a few murder guilds I¡¯ve taken down. Never a good thing,¡± Zane muttered.


    As he gazed down the man with the axe kill one of the reddies, two others tried to kill him. As they watched, one cut through the dead one¡¯s neck as the other one came from the left. The axe man suddenly glowed yellow and grabbed the throat of the first reddie. He used him as a living shield that the second one cut through the ¡®shield¡¯s¡¯ body. But the axe wielder had pulled his weapon free and slashed off the second¡¯s head.


    ¡°Classic ambush strategy. I think these people were waiting here. And we all agree this isn¡¯t good?¡± Bryce asked.


    ¡°It might be for us,¡± Zane said absently. The others stayed silent and looked at him in shock. He raised his hands and looked at them. ¡°What?¡± We can escape and they won¡¯t follow us.¡±


    ¡°Bit heartless there,¡± Rodolphe said softly.


    Zane only looked at him and snorted. ¡°What? It¡¯s not like they asked us for help!¡±


    ¡°Might be what he¡¯s here for,¡± Bryce said dryly.


    Turning, Zane saw the spearman helping a man in a robe onto the platform. He looked at them, and Zane saw hope in his eyes. He started to make signs with his hand and Bryce went still.


    ¡°That¡¯s MILL SIGN!¡± Bryce declared, total shock in his voice


    Mill Sign?! The human military sign language from the Corp War!?¡± Zane asked, stunned beyond words. That meant these people had to be descended from military personnel from the Corp War, on the government side at that! And that meant that this place had been taking ships and their crews for over a hundred years!


    ¡°Yeah. He¡¯s saying those people are traitors, he¡¯s asking for passage? Passage where?¡± Bryce asked as he looked at the man. He looked away and Zane saw worry in Bryce¡¯s eyes. ¡°I can ¡®talk¡¯ with Mill Sign, but what do I say, what do we do?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t leave them. As far as I can see, those people were ambushed. That tells me that they were waiting for someone, and that¡¯s never good. And then there¡¯s that term,¡± Rodolphe said as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°What term?!¡± Zane demanded. What could have gotten Rodolphe to react like this?! What made him want to go to battle!?


    Rodolphe only looked at him and breathed out a word. ¡°Traitors.¡±


    The hate Rodolphe had in that one word caused Zane to blink in shock. Rodolphe didn¡¯t say anything for a few moments, he only grinned with dark eyes.


    ¡°Call me old fashioned, but hearing that term gets me mad. So who¡¯s for helping them out?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Zane only looked at him. He tried and failed to speak before Bryce spoke up.


    ¡°Traitor¡¯s deserve death! So let¡¯s show them modern firepower!¡± Bryce snarled as he moved his rifle off his back.


    Zane looked at Bryce and tried to find anything to say, anything at all. But he couldn¡¯t. That was something he had in common with Rodolphe, and he wanted to fight. They had the high ground and a few blasts down until the soldiers got up the tower. After that, they would deal with the natives.


    ¡°Okay! So how do we break the windows after all!?¡± Zane asked.


    All Rodolphe could do was grin and point at the crystal. ¡°First we try and remove them. If I¡¯m right the windows will either disappear or we¡¯ll be able to break them. Zane help me get them out, Bryce tell that man help¡¯s coming!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As his axe killed another of the rebels, Rogix growled as he looked at the blood he had already spilled. As the bodies of the dead were around them, his men were holding their own. The Riding Beasts were all behind them, and the cart with the Viewer after them.


    As Rogix looked around, he tried and failed to figure this out. Nothing about it made sense! They were a small patrol group, not a merchant group! For all the Rebels knew they were trying out a new invention the Scholars had! This made no sense tactically and stank of a spur-of-the-moment action. But all the people, as he watched the number of rebels climbed to over forty. Who was leading them!?


    ¡°WELL WELL! The great general Rogix Impruis himself! In my trap!¡± A savage-sounding female voice caused him to look up. Standing at the far back behind another twenty rebels was one of the worst. Calcoris Malconix, one of the leaders of the rebels. He was standing there, his long dark green hair flowing in the wind. His two swords were out and he was staying back like always.


    ¡°Calcoris! You coward! Come out and face me! Blade to Blade!¡± Rogix bellowed.


    For a moment, Calcoris almost took a step forward. But before he could do that a rain of red energy bolts hit the rebels closest to the soldiers.


    ¡°ROGIX, GET THEM UP HERE!¡± Yogix called out from above.


    Rogix only looked at the Rebels as they drove into the trees and only then did he bark out a command.


    ¡°Everyone up that tower! Send the beasts back to base!¡± Rogix bellowed and with that, the die was cast.


    Rogix knew that Yogix had been able to talk to the newcomers, and that bothered him a lot. If it was that easy to talk to them, why did they run? Somehow he knew that they were wrong about who these people were. And that meeting them was going to change everything!

 Chapter Ninety Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Human Kingdom Forest on route to Scholar''s Rest


    Galactic Standard Time / 0610


    As the rest of the group fell back, Calcoris looked back at the Kingdom¡¯s forces. Everything looked like it would work perfectly! They had ambushed not the Prince but one of the Generals! With him here, he could use him to kill his ¡®collar¡¯. But then they, the rebels, had been attacked from above! At first, he thought it was a Skill but it was too fast!


    ¡°We need to kill them!¡± A weaselly-sounding voice snarled behind him.


    Calcoris only sighed and shook his head.  ¡°We need to stay alive first! We can deal with things like this later!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re weak for a leader!¡± The voice snarled.


    At this, Clacoris turned and glared. The man standing there was shorter than he was, and his jade-green hair was short. He had a beard with crimson streaks in it and his black eyes held nothing but malice.


    \


    ¡°Drakoxsis, we need to be smart! Where did what hit us come from? And what was it, that was too fast for a Power and you know it! So unless you know the answers to those questions keep quiet!¡± Calcoris snarled.


    He didn¡¯t know how he even expected Drakoxsis to be anything but a problem. He had been sent along by the High Leader to ¡®defend¡¯ his interests. Calcoris knew the slime was here to keep an eye on him. And given how he, Calcoris had joined the rebels he expected it.


    Drakoxsis looked at him and then a cough sounded. They turned to see a rebel looking at them. ¡°Sirs, the enemy? They''re climbing the tower!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±  Calcoris breathed as he sheathed his blades and ran to a tree. Climbing up it, he swiftly moved upwards. He let his mind go over everything that led him here and tried to let it flow over him. As soon as he reached a height that could see beyond the forest, he just stared in shock. The top of the Viewer platform was by an opening into the Devil¡¯s Realm! A person in some kind of full-body suit was helping the soldiers move through an opening where a window had been! Farther down, another two people weapons were looking out from another open window. ¡°IMPOSSIBLE!¡±


    He could only stare in shock. This changed everything. Everything the Cult knew was wrong, and this might stop the rebellion in its tracks! If it was possible to move through that hell, then the call for Revenge wasn¡¯t a dream! But he knew his ¡®leader¡¯ would see this as a threat. Play up what they were doing and hide behind words, Calcoris knew what that one wanted. ¡°This is gonna be messy. And will that bastard even believe this? Cause I don¡¯t.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Drakoxis looked up at the tree, he scowled. That one was trouble, and would always be. But as long as he didn¡¯t know that Drakoxis was behind his ¡®recruitment¡¯ then they wouldn¡¯t have problems. But still, finding the right ¡®incentive¡¯ to get that one¡¯s loyalty. But he was letting those fools escape without even trying to stop them! It was obvious what was happening, they were falling back so that Power user could attack the Rebels! And that fool let them do it. Well, he wouldn¡¯t let that stand, he would act!


    ¡°You four!¡± He barked at four of the rebels.


    ¡°Sir?¡± One of them called out.


    ¡°Get the fire arrows! Five of them!¡± Drakoxsis barked. As the other rebels all went still, Drakoxsis just grinned evilly. The fire arrows were for setting the woods on fire if they had to escape. There was small towns around here that was perfect to use as a distraction. The plan had been to cause a fire and force some of the enemy to evacuate the town. But instead, they would burn down the Viewer. With the loss of one of the five generals, the blow would be less than losing the  King and the Noble Lords. But they would still have a chance to strike them. The smoke probably wouldn¡¯t be seen.


    ¡°But sir, only the commander can say when to use them!¡± One of the other rebels, not one of the four, said before Drakoxsis turned and threw a knife. The blade went into the man¡¯s arm and he fell to the ground as the poison on it went to work.


    ¡°Did a filthy traitor like you dare to tell me no?¡± Drakoxsis asked softly.


    ¡°Traitor!? Those are the orders!¡± The man said as he glared at Drakoxsis.


    Drakoxsis only glared at the man, a sly smile growing on his face. ¡°Not a traitor, but I¡¯m the commander when that fool is gone!¡±


    ¡°We have our orders!¡± The rebel said before he fell to the ground.


    Drakoxsis looked at him for a few seconds before nodding. He turned and looked at the other rebels. Some of them had drawn their blades and the ones who had the fire arrows had pulled up a shield. But the rest were grinning like him, some were even looking at the others with eager smiles.


    Drakoxsis just looked around and grinned, and then that grin became a vile thing. ¡°I¡¯m sure the rest of you all are such wonderful loyal soldiers. No one else needs a lesson or to their incentives?¡±


    As one the others all stopped and looked at him, anger, fear, and disgust on half their faces. The man with the fire arrows only kept his shield up for another second before he stopped and put the box down.


    Drakoxsis looked at him and then he laughed a little. ¡°I knew that all of you would be loyal! After all our cause is just! We will be the ones who will open the gates of honor!¡±


    As Drakoxsis walked towards the box, the ones who had grinned at his actions roared. Those loyal ones were the best in his mind and did what he did. Now there was one thing to do, kill the General before them and fall back. Then in the chaos, they would kill the King!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the last two of his men looked up, they talked amongst themselves.


    ¡°Can¡¯t believe that we¡¯re going into that hell!¡±


    ¡°You want to fight those Rebs with just us? And we sent our beasts away. And we should be near the Rest up there.¡±


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    Rogix saw Yogix wave at him and nodded. ¡°Move you two, I¡¯ll follow!¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± They both said as they climbed.


    As he climbed up the Viewer, Rogix tried and failed to figure out how this happened. The Rebels had never been that bold to attack an armed convoy. The most they had done was attack a town away from the Front and all they stole was the remains of weapons. And not even the pointy bits, but just the wood parts! The red-cloaked rebels had always been a joke. People who hated the Kingdom and struck out in ways that they would be heard, at least they used to.


    Within the last year, they had changed. They had gotten organized and bolder. Now they were striking at medium towns, lone caravans, and merchants. It was one of the reasons that the weapon project had been backed really. They needed something for the War to push their side ahead! But now they also had a way to get into the Devil¡¯s Realm.


    Climbing up he saw one of the strangers standing there with Yogix. The man was helping his last soldier through the window and then he turned. It was Rogix¡¯s first chance to see the newcomer and he was shocked. The man before Rogix wasn¡¯t wearing armor, only a one-piece article of clothing. But it was the strange-looking crossbow on his back that confused Rogix. Where was his cousin¡¯s blade? Shouldn¡¯t they have grown up with the lessons from their Ship?


    ¡°You must be this Rogix I¡¯ve been told about? An hour to meet a leader of men like you!¡± The man said as he held out a hand. ¡°My friends call me Zane, nice to meet you.¡±


    Rogix looked at him and slowly brought his hand towards Zane¡¯s. This was something that Rogix knew would change everything. His people¡¯s future had just become so much more.


    Suddenly a war cry came from the trees before a rain of arrows hit all over the Viewer Tower. Before they could even understand was happening, they heard explosions from below.


    ¡°No, Fire Arrows! Move!¡± Rogix bellowed as he grabbed Yogix Zane turned and drew his weapon. He aimed at the trees and fired a few bolts of energy, and as Rogix passed him he nodded. Turning Rogix saw Zane back up slowly, firing into the forest as two more groups of bolts flew from the wall.


    ¡°Put the crystals back, now!¡± A voice called out and Rogix looked around. His men were all at the far back of the corridor and two others in the same clothes as Zane were farther down. As Rogix watched, the two others put two round crystals against the wall. He turned and saw Zane doing the same to where he had come through. As he watched, a line of a transparent material grew upwards, forming an airtight window.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Rogix asked as he looked at Zane in awe.


    ¡°As I said I¡¯m Zane. That¡¯s Rodolphe and Bryce. So who are you?¡± Zane asked.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as he heard the war cry, Calcoris had looked up. Using a Power he had, he had been able to see the windows reform. He only stared for a few seconds, his mind going to strange places. He couldn¡¯t believe this. Someone was able to manipulate the Devil¡¯s Realm. And do it well enough that they could replace the windows that fast. ¡°We could have followed them. We could have captured them. We could have¡­¡­.¡±


    He suddenly felt so much rage that he almost let go of the branch. Then without another word, he started to jump down. His mind was so clouded by his anger that he felt his face redden.


    ¡°Who did that!?¡± He bellowed as he hit the ground. As the soldiers he had brought turned to look at him, some looked away. The rest looked proud and Calcoris felt his anger grow. ¡°WHO!?¡±


    ¡°I did!¡± Drakoxsis''s voice rang out.


    Slowly, Calcoris turned to look at Drakoxsis as he walked out of the crowd, a big smile on his face.


    ¡°And once those fools are on the ground, we¡¯ll capture them! Once we know how to do what they did to attack, we¡¯ll be unstoppable¡­..¡± Drakoxsis began only to trail off at the look on Calcoris¡¯s face.


    Calcoris walked over and with one fist, he backhanded Drakoxsis, sending him to the ground.


    ¡°YOU MORON! THEY AND THE GENERAL ARE OUT OF OUR REACH BECAUSE OF YOU!¡± Calcoris screamed.


    Drakoxsis looked up at Calcoris and sneered. ¡°What, did they escape into the Creator¡¯s Realm?¡±


    ¡°YES!¡± Calcoris roared.


    At this, everyone looked at Calcoris in shock. For a moment they couldn¡¯t understand what he said then they all paled in shock.


    Drakoxsis¡¯s mouth dropped open as he started to stammer. ¡°What what do you mean!?¡±


    ¡°I mean that somehow someone was able to bring down the windows of the Devil¡¯s Realm! That someone could walk through that place! And you Drakoxsis, caused them to help the Kingdom!¡± Calcoris spat as he looked down at Drakoxsis and felt his rage peak. ¡°And you used the Fire Arrows! We needed those for the mission!¡±


    Ever since Calcoris had become one of the rebels, he had dealt with people like Drakoxsis. They always talked a good game, but when things went against them he tried to blame someone else. He used the lie ¡®decision of the group¡¯ by getting people to follow his lead. But never had he messed up like this!


    ¡°What do we do!? What in the name of the ship do we do!?¡± Drakoxsis asked as he looked around, trying to find anyone who could back him up.


    ¡°Well, how many fire arrows are left?¡± Calcoris asked aloud. He kept looking forward, and he heard the sounds of someone opening the box.


    ¡°There are three left sir!¡± A rebel called out.


    Calcoris only face palmed and looked away, trying to find anything to work around this. Part of him was happy.


    ¡°We needed three of them to handle the Nobles. And two for escaping afterwards. Now what do we do? And the remains of that tower will be obvious to anyone with the Power of Searching. So what do we do with the limited supplies we have left because of you Drakoxsis? Can you answer me that?¡± Calcoris asked with a hard edge to his voice.


    Drakoxsis looked up at him with wide eyes and Calcoris only glared at him in rage.


    ¡°You moron!¡± Calcoris yelled and grabbed him, throwing him at a tree. As soon as Drakoxsis slid down to the ground Calcoris pointed at him. ¡°Chain that fool up! Someone get our fallen and prepare to move! We¡¯re leaving with what strength we have left!¡±


    As all his soldiers went to follow his orders, Drakoxsis tried to break free as he cried out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Rodolphe looked around at the ¡®natives¡¯ he felt his heart quicken. His eyes could see that these people were all from a martial culture, and that meant a military ship. Whatever side that they were from, he hoped their ship was Loyal to the government. If not then given what he had gone through on his world, he would fight to the death to kill these people.


    ¡°Sir, I am Yogix of the Scholars! Our order was founded by a few surviving scientists among the people who found our Nation! And let me say it is a pleasure to meet fellow humans. To think you survived apart from us! Tell me, sir, does your ruler come from lines to the Vice Captain or the Chief engineer?¡± Yogix asked as he stepped forward and shook Rodolphe¡¯s hands.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bryce asked.


    Yogix stopped shaking Rodolphe¡¯s hands. He stared and stepped back as the others who had come with him looked at the three deckhands.  ¡°You must be from our ship. You¡¯re those we called the Lost, aren¡¯t you!? Those of the crew or passengers that weren¡¯t with our ancestors when they were deposited in the Under!¡±


    ¡°Mind telling us what ship you¡¯re all from them then?¡± Zane asked from behind Yogix.


    Rodolphe saw that Zane had moved backwards away from the group. And as he slowly raised his rifle he nodded, ready to move if these natives weren¡¯t friends.


    ¡°Our foreparent''s ship was named the Glorious Redemption. She flew the flag of the United Earth. And fought against the Cooperation Alliance. Until they were deposited here,¡± The man Yogix called Rogix said as he slowly put his axe away.


    Rodolphe felt his anger fade a bit and he released the tension he was holding in.


    ¡°United Earth? Wow, you¡¯ve all been here a while haven¡¯t you?¡± Zane asked with a whistle.


    Yogix and Rogix looked at them as the soldiers looked at each other.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rogix asked.


    Rodolphe looked at his friends and after a few moments of silent ¡®talk,¡¯ he sighed. ¡°The United Earth joined with other races empires and became the Federation a long time ago. And by the way, that was after they helped take out the Cooperation Alliance¡¯s Space Service.¡±


    Rodolphe saw Rogix stare at him and release a breath. Yogix meanwhile opened and closed his mouth a few times.


    Yogix shook himself and looked at them. ¡°But if you¡¯re not from our ancient ship, then who are you?¡±


    ¡°Just a few deckhands on our first voyage aboard the Interstellar Cruise Ship Spirit of Adventure!¡±Rodolphe said with a grin.


    ¡°A cruise ship?¡± One of the soldiers asked in shock


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t that a civilian pleasure hotel or something?¡± One next to him asked.


    As the natives looked around at the deckhands Rogix just stared to laugh. ¡°Then you¡¯re all from the homeworlds!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we are. Our ship crashed or something. We lost a few days before we found ourselves on this world,¡± Bryce said with a smirk.


    ¡°That is what happened to our ancestors in the few diaries we have from that time. I never really believed it to tell the truth,¡± Yogix said with a somber look.


    ¡°That¡¯s all good, but now what!? With the viewer down, how are we to get down?!¡± Rogix demanded and Yogix looked away and coughed.


    ¡°That is a good¡­. Wait! There¡¯s a platform at the Rest! It¡¯s about a few hours walk from here!¡± Yogix said with excitement.


    ¡°That¡¯s if this place does have a straight path,¡± Rodolphe said and soldiers all looked at them.


    ¡°What do you mean? We¡¯ve seen the windows above the Rest. It¡¯s a rite of passage to touch them!¡± Yogix said with despair in his voice.


    ¡°Look, man. Since we¡¯ve been here, we¡¯ve had to run down strange paths and try to get away from monsters. Maybe your forest didn¡¯t have them but up there, it does.  And let me say, that if place is that crazy, we might have trouble getting there alive,¡± Zane said bitterly.


    Rodolphe looked around at the people before him and went over the supplies his group had. ¡°Listen, we have enough food to give us all one meal, but we¡¯ll need some of our own once we leave your people.¡±


    ¡°Then we need a security room! It might have a map of the nearby area if I can get at it!¡± Bryce said with a smile.


    Rodolphe looked at Bryce and saw the certainty in his eyes and he nodded. Looking back at the natives, he swallowed before speaking.


    ¡°Listen, we survived here. I want you all to follow our orders. Don¡¯t touch anything and if we say back away do it. Don¡¯t go through any doorways. The landlords around here are a bit testy,¡± Rodolphe said with a somber note.


    At this, the natives all started to look mad. As one they started to glare.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen the scum responsible for our capture!?¡± Rogix snared out the question.


    The deckhands all looked at them and then Bryce winced. ¡°Wait, the Corp war was before the Ruins were found. So you all don¡¯t know!¡±


    Yogix looked at Rogix and then at Bryce. ¡°Know what?¡±


    ¡°Walk and talk people! So we three think this is what the rest of the galaxy calls a Ruin, capital R. So the people who made it? They died out centuries ago.¡± Rodolphe said.


    The natives only stared at him, shocked beyond words.

 Chapter Ninety Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Window Corridor form Black Windows Gallery


    Galactic Standard Time / 0645


    ¡°So you¡¯re all Civilians?¡± Yogix asked in shock as they walked down the corridor towards the door.


    ¡°Yeah, kinda. We¡¯ve all got our own stories and let¡¯s say kinda,¡± Zane said and Yogix looked at him.


    It had taken the trio five minutes to get the natives moving, and Yogix had started to ask questions. Rogix was looking out the windows, seemingly in awe at the scene. The soldiers had all looked around, and Zane was beginning to smile. These people were adapting well to what they were told. It seems that the fact that they hated dead beings was slowly getting through to them.


    Rodolphe looked at them and tried to not smile. They were reacting a lot like his friends had once they were in the stars. To think, that after all those years he had found people in the same situation he had been. It made him think about how the universe always seemed to go in circles.


    ¡°It¡¯s persona so don¡¯t ask,¡± Rodolphe said as the group reached the doors. Looking at them he pulled out the bone hand and moved it under the scanner.


    Rogix looked at it in shock and awe. ¡°Is that a hand from one of the Builders?¡±


    Yogix turned around and stared in shocked awe. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°First galley we got into. And let me tell you, getting away from floating robots was a lot harder than it sounds. Or the stories say,¡± Bryce said with a smirk as he aimed at the door. ¡°Now me and Zane first, you all follow once we give the all-clear.¡±


    As the door opened, he and Zane rolled through the door and gave the new room a once over, each of them taking one side.


    ¡°Clear Right!¡± Zane barked.


    ¡°Clear Left!¡± Bryce finished as he and Zane got up.


    Rodolphe only shook his head and chuckled a bit. Looking at the others who watched what Zane and Bryce did in awe, Rodolphe only smirked. ¡°After you all!¡±


    Yogix ran into the room, looking around in awe. As the soldiers followed, Rogix looked at Rodolphe with a hard look in his eyes.


    Racha only looked at Rogix for a few moments. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°You are going to close the door behind us, aren¡¯t you?¡± Rogix asked with a cold voice.


    ¡°Of course, SOP for these kinda things really,¡± Rodolphe said brightly.


    ¡°And how does a civilian know Standard Operating Procedure?¡± Rogix asked as he clenched his axe.


    ¡°Sorry man,¡± Rodolphe said as he pointed at the room. Rogix only looked at him for a few moments before walking through the door.


    Rodolphe followed behind him. But he stopped at the doorway and looked back the way they had come, something was bothering him. For a minute all he did was look down the hallway, but he finally turned around and walked through the door. Looking right at Rogix he grinned as he put the hand under the scanner in the room. ¡°That¡¯s something I need to trust you to tell. And that takes time.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the door closed, a small insect flew out from hiding on the ceiling. It flew around until it reached one of the crystals and landed on it. As soon as it did the crystal started to grow dimmer as the insect started to spin a cocoon around itself. After it against the crystal, the cocoon slowly started to pulse. After a second it started to glow as the crystal grew dimmer with each moment that passed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rogix looked around the room, trying to take in everything. The room itself was at least two hundred feet long and maybe a hundred wide. There was a large pillar in the center of the room. The only light came from four large jagged crystals set in a line around the middle of the pillar. As he looked all around, something bothered him. It took him a minute to find it, and when he did he frowned. They had thought for years their people had been captured for a reason, that was the core of their Revenge. But to learn that the beings who built their prison were dead, and had been since before they were captured? That and the way this room was set up bothered him so much. To him, this place was almost like a fairground. But why would a large underground forest have a fairground near it? This place looked like the rooms the Queen used for her parties, a place of high emotions. But why?


    He shook himself and looked at the scanner as Rodolphe put the bone hand away. That it had been used as a key sounded like the old tales his line had of the command deck. ¡°So that scanner. It reads a computer chip, right? In the bone itself?¡±


    Rodolphe only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Something like that or they used a bio scan as the key. But most scanners back home that do that look for signs of life.¡±


    ¡°Could they have been that sure nothing could kill them?¡± Rogix asked as he put his axe on his shoulder.


    ¡°Yeah, that or the beasties here just couldn¡¯t¡­¡­¡­. We think this place was made for the production of Bio-Weapons. Just a theory,¡± Rodolphe said.


    Rogix only looked at him as his troops reacted. While they were shocked, his mind was going a mile in second. Little things that had made no sense at all were suddenly jolting into place. In his mind a a puzzle was slowly becoming clear. And he didn''t like anything about what he was seeing.


    ¡°Bioweapons? What Bioweapons?¡± One of the soldiers asked.


    Rodolphe was about to say something when Yogix spoke up.


    ¡°The beasts,¡± Yogix said with a shocked tone. They all turned and saw Yogi falling to his knees, his face going white.


    ¡°You figured it out, teacher?¡± Rogix asked softly, yet loud enough that all heard him.


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    Yogix looked at Rogix for a few moments before turning to look at Rodolphe. ¡°You¡¯re saying the strange beasts that preyed on our people before we killed so many of them. Those things were made to kill before they were born?¡±


    The soldiers all looked at him in shock.


    Rogix only looked at the windows, his mind going dark places. The army was the descendants of the force that the survivors made to deal with the beasts. They had fought monsters with weapons made of stones and then claws, and they lost people in each battle. But they had grown, created better weapons, and gained the Power, and they had thrived. He had personally had led a mission that made extinct what they thought of as a new species. But they were made?


    Zane sighed loudly and they all looked at him. ¡°That or the things were designed by DNA and then made. We¡¯ve made a few advances in the last few years. So if we could do it they might have been able to as well.¡±


    One of the soldiers only stared at them in horror and backed up until he hit one of the windows. He looked out it and blinked, shocked beyond words. ¡°Sirs! We¡¯re at the outside of the Rest!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Yogix looked at him and stared, his mouth dropping open in shock. ¡°WHAT!? We¡¯re still miles away!¡±


    Yogix ran, the others following behind him. He reached the windows and stared in shocked horror.


    Over a hundred feet below them was the Scholar¡¯s Rest. He looked at it, seeing the one-hundred-foot-tall castle. It was made of the strongest material they had for construction, a kind of purple stone. He could see everything and he was almost sure he could see people moving about below.


    ¡°How!?¡± Zane demanded horror in his voice.


    ¡°Teleportation? After the windows were replaced by a solid wall, could the door have been a wormhole? Could they have made something like that!?¡± Bryce asked.


    Yogix shivered as he heard the horror in the Star-Walker¡¯s voice.


    ¡°This is bad, this is so bad!¡± Rodolphe said in horror.


    ¡°How is this so bad? What new horror do we have to deal with now!?¡± Rogix asked in fury. A fact that almost made Yogix smile.


    That was his old student, give him a problem and he would find a way to destroy it. But this might not be something that could be destroyed.


    ¡°If we¡¯re a hundred feet up, where¡¯s the window looking out behind the Scholar¡¯s Rest? And how will we get there?¡± Zane asked softly.


    Yogix felt the world shift beneath him as he heard the truth in Rodolphe¡¯s words. They were in such a terrible situation, how could they survive? The only way that he could see was hope, luck, and the knowledge that these three people had.


    ¡°Think there¡¯s a security room or something over there?¡± Bryce''s voice asked from the edge of the group, looking towards the far wall.


    ¡°Maybe, but good for volunteering to look Bryce. Zane go find the door out into the complex, take some of these guys, and barricade it if possible! I¡¯ll check along the window over by the wall and work to the right.. Bryce go to the right there and work left. Everyone else stay here and watch that door!¡± Rodolphe said with a hard look at it.


    ¡°Expecting trouble my friend?¡± Bryce asked as everyone looked at the door they had gone through.


    Rodolphe shook his head and gazed around the group. ¡°No, just got a bad feeling when I closed it. Maybe it¡¯s nothing, but I¡¯d feel a lot safer to have something watch it!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with Zane to help! We¡¯ve got a few tricks you don¡¯t!¡± Rogix said before a yellow energy aura engulfed him.


    Rodolphe just looked at him, shocked still as Zane stared at Rogix as well.


    Bryce only looked at him and blurted out. ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve got that drug here?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Drug!?¡± Zane asked in shocked horror as everyone looked at Bryce. ¡°What do you mean, drug?!¡±


    Bryce looked around, and seeing the looks he was getting sighed. ¡°I¡­.. I¡¯ve seen someone do something like that. He needed a drug to do it. He could summon this fireball that burned anything. It even could fly ten feet fast, even melting through metal. He tore through a lot of my friends before we could space em.¡±


    ¡°Using a drug to get the Power? To use Skills?¡± Rogix asked shock in his voice.


    Zane looked at him and he saw Rodolphe do it too.


    ¡°Not normal then?¡± Zane asked with curiosity in his voice.


    ¡°No, the Power is gained through many ways, but not that. Some say martial might is the truest way. Others say that sometimes it just happens. Others say that there is something within us, that fierce emotions lets us break through it. Some say they hear a voice, that something gives the Power to them. It never happened to me, but Rogix? That was martial training,¡± Yogix said with a small grin.


    ¡°Aye. To use a drug¡­.. that is amazing and worrying,¡± Rogix said with a shudder.


    ¡°Enough of this, we can talk later! For now, we have to find our way out!¡± Rodolphe said with a hard edge.


    ¡°Right! Sir Rogix, who¡¯s the strongest who can help the two of us?¡± Zane asked and Rogix nodded.


    ¡°Right, get to work! You three, with me!¡± Rogix barked as he pointed at three of his soldiers.


    As they all went to do their work, Zane came near Rogix. ¡°So why was it worrying?¡±


    Zane couldn¡¯t understand that. What did Rogix see that he couldn¡¯t? Sure how he had dealt with the traitors that attacked his people was amazing. A slash of energy that created thunderbolts when it hit. He¡¯d have been able to protect his family if he had something like that.


    Rogix looked at him as he took a deep breath. ¡°A drug that lets one use the Power. That equals ¡®only use the Power when I say¡¯. And that would be very, very bad.¡±


    Zane looked at him for a few seconds before replying. ¡°Oh.¡±


    That was all he needed to say, and that summed up his thoughts so well. Anyone who wanted to use this Power would need to obey their supplier without question. The kind of authority that would equal was very worrying. It could lead to the kind of dictatorship that was the enemy in bad movies!


    ¡°So you see then?¡± Rogix asked as they moved into sight of the door. There were a few metal structures here and there around the door.


    Zane looked around, trying to think what this reminded him of. But he just couldn¡¯t see it, and that bothered him. Something about this place reminded him of something, but what he couldn¡¯t say.


    ¡°So these are like the ones you saw before? In that other room that started your journey?¡± Rogix asked.


    Zane blinked and shook his head. ¡°What? No. It had more benches than this place. But will we be able to move it?¡±


    ¡°Cut free then. Stand back,¡± Rogix said with a hard stare.


    Before Zane could say anything, three sets of arms picked him up and carried him away.


    ¡°Sorry for this sir!¡± One of the three soldiers said as he ran carrying Zane.


    ¡°But when the Boss says move!¡± The second soldier said.


    ¡°We move!¡± The Third and final soldier said.


    Zane tried to break free but he looked towards Rogix and felt his breath leave his body.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce cursed himself for speaking up. He hadn¡¯t told that to anyone, but the horror of his escape still bothered him. To see that again, and by a human lost on this strange world. It bothered him so much. Those people were the greatest of the Teacher¡¯s minions. People who were friends that were taken away, and came back changed.


    ¡°I would hear more about your story if you would,¡± Yogix asked from behind him.


    He stopped looking at the wall and turned back to look at Yogix. The old man looked so interested that for a moment, he almost spoke. But only the long times he had to keep his silence helped him now.


    ¡°You mean to keep the secret then? I understand but I¡¯m near the end of my life. Would have been nice to carry some new knowledge when I go. All the Scholar can dream really,¡± Yogix said with a sigh.


    Bryce only looked at Yogix for a few moments before he paled in horror.


    ¡°Wait, what?! You don¡¯t have any regeratives at all!?¡± Bryce asked in shocked horror.


    ¡°What do you mean? What are ¡®regeratives¡¯?¡± Yogix asked a strange note in his voice.


    Bryce smiled at the old man. ¡°It¡¯s a kind of machine medicine. It causes the body to stay young and healthy. Basically a way to live as long as you want.¡±


    ¡°By the hull, that¡¯s possible!?¡± Yogix stammered, completely shocked.


    Bryce nodded as he looked at the wall, trying to find the sign he was looking for. Part of him wanted this to work, but then part of him knew it was a pointless idea. If the people who built this place could make teleport for doorways, that changed things. For all they knew the right door they needed was in another chamber. But they didn¡¯t have a choice, they needed to do this.


    ¡°Yeah. About fifty years after the Corp War, they were found. The conspiracy nuts say it was something the Corps had for decades before the war, or the government did. Normal nuts talk really,¡± Bryce said absently. He moved his hand along the wall and then smiled as he found a space he couldn¡¯t see at first. ¡°GOT IT!¡±


    A loud crash caused them all to turn and see Rogix had slashed into the ground. He had sheared away a large slash around a metal square five feet high.


    With a grin, Rogix stalked towards another side and slashed down.


    ¡°That¡¯s Rogix alright. Show him a problem, he¡¯ll use force to fix it,¡± Yogix sighed and looked at Bryce. ¡°So these machine medicines? They must be hard to make.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a chance the ship¡¯s medical section survived. There is a bed that grows them there. But we have to find them first. Even if that doesn¡¯t work, there other things in there that could help you all a lot. So there¡¯s that,¡± Bryce said with a sigh. Feeling around the space he found, he smirked as he looked around for Rodolphe. ¡°HEY, FOUND A DOOR!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Yogix looked on as Rodolphe ran over, his mind going strange places. The idea that machines could let him live longer was amazing, and a bit scary. The society that his cousins came from was strange and lovely. To have more time than what one could take from the Forest, was a dream that many people had. That alone might let the revengers calm down. And the idea that the Rebels had, they might stop. Most of the Rebel''s problems were that the War, how so many lives were lost, and costing needed resource. If they could get better healing, so many problems would be fixed.


    Once Rodolphe reached him he looked at Bryce¡¯s hand and got out the bone key. As Bryce moved back, Rodolphe put the key into the space. A moment later a door five feet away opened from the wall, the door opening towards the windows.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s new. Let¡¯s see what we found here,¡± Bryce said as he walked over to the opening. He looked into it and whistled. ¡°I think we found the stairs.¡±


    Walking over with Rodolphe, Yogix looked down. The stairs were in a long vertical rectangle at least thirty feet wide. The stairs themselves were over ten feet wide. They went down to a small platform from where other stairs went down along the other wall. As he looked down, Yogix felt a spark of hope that maybe, they would make it to the Scholar¡¯s Rest.


    ¡°You know, this might be even worse, right?¡± Bryce said softly as he looked down.


    All Yogix and Rodolphe could do was look at him.


    Bryce looked at them and sighed. ¡°What, you didn¡¯t think that there might be another teleported in the door?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The cocoon had grown larger, in only a few minutes it was over ten feet long and five wide. It had fallen out of the window when it had disappeared as the crystal had shattered. It was still pulsing and growing for a few moments before something within started to move. No one was there to see a long red chitin-covered limb burst out of the sack.

 Chapter Ninety Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Galley Overlooking Scholar¡¯s Rest


    Galactic Standard Time / 0715


    As Rodolphe absorbed what Bryce had said, he could find fault in it. He looked down at the darkened stairs and swallowed. Turning around to look at Yogix and Bryce, he smiled at them. ¡°Let¡¯s save this for later, for now, let¡¯s see if there are any other ways out of here.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Bryce said before he walked towards the window. ¡°I¡¯ll take this way, you two do the others!¡±


    Yogix stared as Bryce walked away, waiting until he was ten feet away before speaking. ¡°That is the most unusual person I have ever seen.¡±


    Rodolphe only laughed a little and shook his head. As much as he wanted to argue, if he had only known Bryce by what he saw he would think the same. it took knowing the little things about him that made Bryce stand out. But for now, he would keep the secrets that Bryce kept and not say anything. ¡°Yeah, the man¡¯s got his reasons. But let¡¯s work and talk shall we?¡±


    ¡°Of course! What do you want to know?¡± Yogix asked and Rodolphe looked right at him.


    ¡°Your history, and why you were making those weapons when we found you all,¡± Rodolphe said and Yogi sighed.


    ¡°That. Well to cut through all the fat as we say, my people are at war. And the war is with those who worship the Builders of this place. Plus they attacked first,¡± Yogix said softly.


    ¡°What happened to cause it?¡± Rodolphe asked, looking right into Yogix¡¯s eyes.


    Yogix looked back and took a deep breath. He had to tell him everything right, the whole truth plus everything he knew for sure.


    ¡°To put a long story short, we¡¯ve been trying to break into this place for years once we had a place of safety. My order, The Scholars, is charged with remembering as much of the ancient past that we can recreate. And we found a way to find ¡®weak spots¡¯ in the wall,¡± Yogix said with pride as he looked at Rodolphe.


    He had to make a good impression on this man. He seemed to be like Rogix and he probably didn¡¯t want to hear any rumors. And he had the pleasure of being there when it happened. ¡°They¡¯re not human, well their bipeds. Bapid cats. It took ages to even figure out how to understand their language. And there was always tension. But then once we could talk, everything exploded.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe looked at the wall, running his hand along it as he listened. So far what Yogix was saying was what anyone would do. There were even those who worshiped the Ruin Builders back in the wider galaxy. But a war over breaking into this place against those who worshiped the Builders?


    ¡°What was the spark? I mean you do practice freedom of Religion, right? Did your diplomats insult the religion of the other side? These Felines??¡± Rodolphe asked. He could see that happening, there was always news of planets in the Federation denying entrance to other planets due to insults between the rulers.


    ¡°We do, but it wasn¡¯t religion. Well, some think of it as such,¡± Yogix said as he looked down, stopping walking as if in shame.


    Rodolphe nodded before turning, seeing just what Yogix meant.


    ¡°Oh¡­¡­... You all wanted revenge against the Builders for capturing your ancestors, didn¡¯t you?¡± Rodolphe asked, his voice emotionless.


    ¡°Well yes. Most of us do. But recently a cult formed. It was based on the belief that the Builders were looking for successors. But then we know the truth now, don¡¯t we?¡± Yogix asked with a bitter laugh.


    ¡°Hard to accept, isn¡¯t it? That everything that you believed in was a lie?¡± Rodolphe asked with a bitter tone in his voice.


    Yogix only looked at him for a few seconds before his mouth dropped open in shock. ¡°This happened to you, didn¡¯t it? Not the Builders but finding out you believed a lie?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rodolphe said with a sigh as he turned around and resumed walking. Looking over his shoulder he smiled bitterly. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m technically not a civilian.¡±


    Yogix only looked at him before nodding. ¡°Ahhh.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­.. hello,¡± Rodolphe said as he stopped. With a grin, he moved the bone key under the depression he found. A door opened a foot away and swung towards the wall.


    ¡°So what is this?¡± Yogix asked as he pointed towards the doorway.


    ¡°Let¡¯s find out!¡± Rodolphe said with a smirk. With two steps he was in front of the doorway and looked in. Beyond the doorframe was a large antechamber. There was another door to the right, but it was the large computer that took up most of the room.


    Rodolphe only looked at the computer as Yogix came to stand behind him.


    ¡°Is that a computer? Wasn¡¯t it ¡®the bigger the system the slower it was¡¯?¡± Yogix asked and Rodolphe only chuckled.


    ¡°That was a human system back when you all crashed. But these beings, I think the size is cultural. It makes as much sense as anything,¡± Rodolphe said with a shrug.


    And as Bryce could hack and mine data from this, this was a good find. With the data that was within this thing, they might have a chance to get out of here. All they needed was one way back to the place they had crashed onto. Get back to the others, punch Jones, and let the boss know about the Ruin.


    ¡°And this would be able to help you all? Show you the way back to your people¡± Yogix asked.


    Rodolphe looked at Yogix, trying to think. If the Spirit was still in one piece, then these people would be helped so much. From the shops to make vehicles to carry them to safety, to the medical suites to heal them. The Spirit was the one thing that he saw that could get these people all the help that they needed. But then with how he didn¡¯t know how the ship crashed, that might be a problem. Then again, with how big it was and the few tricks he knew were built into it, there might still be a chance help could come. He heard that the ship had a Quantum locator within it, at least the Company knew what direction to search in.


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    ¡°If this can¡¯t show us how to get back. We could always try and go back the way we came, but there¡¯s a problem with that. We were chased down into here,¡± Rodolphe admitted and winced as he looked away from Yogix.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Yogix looked at Rodolphe in shock. These three had weapons that were almost like Skills and crossbows. Plus as far as he had seen the weapons had an unlimited amount of ammo to use. just what kind of monster could have chased them down here!?


    ¡°What kind of creatures could even dream of hunting you all!?¡± Yogix asked shock and horror in his voice.


    Rodolphe just shrugged. ¡°First there were these lizard things when we were getting food. Then as we ran away, we came across these other creatures. They chased us from across a river and then, we ran into a cave and fought them off. Then there¡¯s this giant snake¡­..¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Yogix said as he paled in horror. The tales of the Great Serpents of the forest caused were the source of many children¡¯s nightmares. All the stories of the death, how whole villages were destroyed. They were only tales now, but they had been the reality for over fifty years. But with time, effort, and study they had found the monster¡¯s lair. With the First Army they raised, they had killed them all and smashed their eggs. Many heroes died, but they had peace. And it was from that victory that they had found the Passage to the other Prisons. They had grown over the years, and then the War.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Yogix blinked and came back to himself, realizing he had fallen to the floor. Looking around he had found Rodolphe looking at him with concern. Smiling he reached and grabbed Rodolphe¡¯s arm, letting the man pull him up.


    ¡°My apologies, but well. Our founders had problems with serpents for many years, generations even. The idea of a Monster Serpent has become part of our culture, a symbol of Death. How, strong was it?¡± Yogix asked.


    ¡°The first time we saw robots from this place they ignored us. They just flew over our heads, and then we hid from the snake. It chased us, and the bots either ignored it or were destroyed. So I would say, very strong or smart,¡± Rodolpe said with a shrug.


    ¡°But it¡¯s not here, right?¡± Yogix asked with a touch of fear in his voice.


    Rodolphe looked away. ¡°Yogix...... The idea is that the doorways act like teleportors. That means any door could lead it here.¡±


    Yogix felt his heart beat heavily as he took in what he had heard. Something that powerful could attack any of his people¡¯s realm. It could be hundreds of miles away, and it could be in their heart within minutes. He had to find a way to get back, they needed to mount an expedition to map this place! If they could make forts to defend their rear, then they could deal with the War. If they could find another corpse of the Builders, then the Felines might stand down.


    ¡°FOUND ANOTHER DOOR HERE!¡± Bryce called out from the window wall.


    Yogix looked at Rodolphe as they looked towards Bryce before Zane yelled.


    ¡°DOOR TO THE RUIN IS BLOCKED! WHAT NOW!?¡± Zane bellowed.


    ¡°Everyone get over here now! But not you guys by the door to the corridor!¡± Rodolphe¡¯s voice echoed off the walls.


    Yogix looked at him as the others came at his call. Part of him was hoping that this was nothing but a dream, but no. This was reality, everything had changed and now he had to deal with it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zane walked over, he looked at Rogix and shook his head in awe. After cutting free the metal square, he pushed it in front of the door on his own. The other soldiers had reacted like he had done this before, but Zane was shocked. If only his people on his lost homeworld had been able to do that, they could have lived! With the power of Electricity like Rogix, they would have been able to handle the Drop Troops!


    ¡°So that power, think anyone could learn it?¡± Zane asked nonchalantly.


    Rogix only laughed and nodded. ¡°Yes! I¡¯ll teach you the meditation myself, but if you can personally awaken? That¡¯s on you!¡±


    ¡°So no way to tell if someone has the ¡®spark¡¯ to awaken?¡± Zane asked disappointment in his voice.


    ¡°No, not for lack of talk,¡± Rogix said with a snarl.


    Zane stayed silent as they walked over to the others, all of them by a doorway they had opened.


    ¡°Okay people, listen up! We¡¯ve got three jobs to do!¡± Rodolphe barked as he looked over the group. ¡°Through number one is a staircase down! Zane that¡¯s on you, go see how far to the next door. Bryce, number two is another computer, see what you can take from it. I¡¯ll check number three Bryce found and see if it comes out where we needed it too. Let me and Yogix go first, then we¡¯ll try and see what those doors lead to. But only after I go first!¡±


    ¡°And what of my people?¡± Rogix asked with a hard tone.


    Zane looked at Rogix as Rodolphe looked at him with a hard look. ¡°Can you fight on a narrow ledge with that axe?¡±


    Rogix looked at him for a moment. Then he walked over to the open door and looked into it. He stepped back and then looked at Zane with a shocked look. ¡°And you can fight on that?¡±


    ¡°Point and shoot!¡± Zane said with a grin as he raised his rifle.


    ¡°Okay. My people will stand by here, and if anything comes through we¡¯ll scream,¡± Rogix said.


    ¡°I never said I was going through the third door. I¡¯ll be here too if that door doesn¡¯t work out. And if something comes I¡¯ll be next to you,¡± Rodolphe said.


    Zane only shook his head with a smirk on his face. Rogix hadn¡¯t been expecting that and looked at Rodolphe as the man walked to the door.


    ¡°Might I make a suggestion?¡± Yogix called out suddenly.


    As everyone looked towards him, Yogix continued. ¡°Not that I¡¯ve worked out everything about these doors, but I think we¡¯re overlooking something.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡± Bryce asked and Yogix grinned.


    ¡°Just that the next chamber pass the walkaway might be what we¡¯re after. Should we not check?¡± Yogix asked.


    Rodolphe looked at him, opened his mouth then closed it. Rubbing his chin he looked at the others.


    ¡°You know, that makes sense. Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Rodolphe asked.


    Zane stared at Yogix, chuckling. He looked at the man and saw a marking on his arm and he chuckled a bit. He just shook his head. He made a lot of sense. With the way the doors were, there was nothing that said he was wrong. And really


    ¡°So I¡¯ll check the door at the end of the corridor, everyone else stays here. Watch for anything that might attack,¡± Rodolphe said before running towards the door.


    Zane looked at Rogix and chuckled as he saw that his new friend looked a bit mad.


    ¡°The man means well,¡± Zane said quietly to Rogix.


    ¡°But he acts like he¡¯s in command. Why?¡± Rogix growled as they watched Rodolphe and Yogix walk to the door.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But you¡¯re mad that you¡¯re not taking the risks yourself. Am I right or not?¡± Zane asked and Rogix looked away.


    Zane just sighed and shook his head. He got it, really he did. But Rodolphe was right, best to put one person at risk. And the only three of the group who knew anything about this technology to even guess were the deckhands.


    ¡°From what I got from him, he and his group aren¡¯t a real army. More like a family with a goal. He¡¯s probably falling back into his habits from that life,¡± Zane said with a shrug.


    ¡°Wait, a family? What goal would they have?¡± Rogix asked in shock.


    Zane only shrugged and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s not a civilian. And that¡¯s his choice to make about telling.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rodolphe looked at the door and swallowed. Part of him was hoping that this would let them go where they wanted to go. And Yogix was right, the next galley might be what they were after. But then this place, nothing about it made sense to him. Why would the Builders waste time with teleporting doors of all things? It did let them design this place how they wanted, but was that it?


    Shaking his head, Rodolphe put the bone key under the scanner. As the door opened, he took a deep breath.


    ¡°Wait for me!¡± Yogix called out as he ran over to the door. Smiling he spoke before Rodolphe could. ¡°You¡¯ll need someone who knows what to look for!¡±


    Rodolphe looked at him and almost spoke before sighing. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go.¡±


    As Yogix led the way into the hallway, Rodolphe looked around. So far this mostly looked like the other hallways he¡¯s seen in this Ruin. The only thing that made this different was it was a lot smaller, with only four windows each five feet wide. And they all looked out into a darkened chamber with a wooden door at the end.


    ¡°We¡¯re here! This is one of the rooms in the Scholar¡¯s Rest!¡± Yogix said with a laugh.


    Rodolphe looked at the doors and shook himself, he hadn¡¯t expected that this would happen. He was frankly in shock. ¡°I¡¯ll get the others.¡±


    Leaving the chamber, he waved at the others as he walked towards them. At least the deckhands would be able to rest tonight.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Embix sighed as he walked through the back hallways. His invention should have worked, everything was there! And it didn¡¯t hurt anyone! Sure one of the pieces of his machine shot and almost hit Teacher Adonlis, but really! How was he to know that would happen? ¡°And of course, I need to meditate at the Window.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to think anything bad, but really! Most of the others who did even worse in the Smith didn¡¯t get sent here. And really, was it because he was an orphan? The Academy had started to take a turn the worse the closer they came to the Conference. He understood why, but really! Why did the Vice have to become power-mad while the Headmaster was away? But then the time at the Window would let him review his notes. He had to have made an error in the construction of the steam chamber. That was the only reason for the pressure build-up and explosion.


    As he walked towards the door he heard what sounded like muffled talking. He scowled as he looked at it, why did those scum have to always bother him? After everything that had happened, even when he beat them they still tried to beat him up. Why, they weren¡¯t even in the same class for the Ship¡¯s Sake!


    Those slime only like to try and create better weapons, with no ideas for other uses for their works. He always tried to make things that had futures beyond the military and they hated him for it! To make matters worse, all of them were from the First Founding, and none of them had even seen the Front like he had!


    ¡°Alright you hull breakers, let¡¯s dance!¡± He bellowed as he ran into the chamber. He kept his head down and ran, a hand before him ready to hit the window. But he kept running and he saw his shadow before him! Moments before he hit the wall, he stopped and looked behind him.


    He saw a few soldiers, General Rogix and Master Yogix. But it was the three others and their strange devices in their hands that took his attention. But then he wondered where he was Slowly he looked around and saw that he was in the Devil¡¯s Realm!


    He went still and looked straight at Master Yogix, pulling the hood off his head as he looked at his elder. ¡°Master Yogix, how are you here!?¡±

 Chapter Ninety Five

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Corridor set against Scholar¡¯s Rest


    Galactic Standard Time / 0745


    Yogix looked at the man in the Scholar¡¯s robe, the Order¡¯s symbol on. He had short blackish-green hair and jade eyes and had a slash scar mark above his right eye. ¡°Young Embix? Is that you my boy? What are you doing here!?¡±


    ¡°Long story Master. But how? What did you do? Were the weapons that you built able to hit a weak spot high up?¡± Embix asked in awe but then he looked at the three Deckhands. ¡°But wait, who are they? They don¡¯t¡­¡­ Master?¡±


    ¡°Yes Embix?¡± Yogix answered slowly, looking at him with concern. Yogix knew what the teen was going to ask, and he was worried about how he would take the answer.


    ¡°Ate they¡­¡­ of the lost?¡± Embix asked with awe in his voice.


    Yogix only winced. He knew that he had to tell the truth, but could the boy take it? After all, the belief in the reality of what happened to their ancestors was at the core.


    ¡°Nope! We¡¯re people from the homeworlds! And the War against the Corporations was won a long time ago!¡± Zane cut in with a smile.


    Embix just looked at them, shocked. His mouth dropped open in before he fell backwards, completely unconscious.


    Yogix looked at the youngster and slammed his right hand over his eyes as Zane started to laugh.


    Rodolphe only sighed as he looked down at the student before shaking his head. ¡°If that happens when we meet more of your people to learn who we are, I worry. How will you react when you meet others of the Way?¡±


    Only silence met Rodolphe¡¯s question, Yogix didn¡¯t know how to respond. He looked at his new friend and tried and failed to find another way to say what he had to. But he just took a deep breath and sighed.


    ¡°Well, the belief that we were captured has started to¡­¡­. Fade,¡± Yogix admitted.


    Zane and Bryce both turned around and looked at him. Rogix and the other soldiers all went still, each waiting for Yogix to explain.


    ¡°What do you mean, fade away!?¡± Bryce demanded and the words echoed off the cavern.


    ¡°About twenty years back a cult appeared. They started to say that the memories were but a lie that the Builders gave the Founders to test them. Since then they¡¯ve slowly but surely spread their poison, some people believe in it and others don¡¯t. Most people want to do something about them, but freedom of Religion and all,¡± Rogix said bitterly.


    Yogix looked at his old student and sighed, having heard Rogix rant about those people too often. And he had done the same with Rogix just as much, their feelings about the cult the same.


    ¡°Of course this too! I wonder just what hell we¡¯ll face next!¡± Rodolphe said bitterly. Without saying anything he walked towards the door to the galley.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rogix asked as Yogix went to his knees next to Embix.


    ¡°Gonna close the doors. Might not do anything, but it might do something. Hope for the best, plan for the worst and all! You understand, right?¡± Rodolphe said with forced cheerfulness.


    ¡°So how do those Lost of yours carry over to this Cult?¡±


    ¡°Phantoms that never existed. Their dogma says that the Builders wanted our rage, but we must outgrow it to become what they know we can. That we are their greatest creation, that all our memories of what was are their gift. Not that any of the scholars believe that,¡± Yogix asked with


    ¡°Then why¡­.. oh. We¡¯re the proof that they''re wrong? And I bet that some nobles are buying into it to get more power, right?¡± Bryce said with a slight wince.


    Yogix felt a small spark of hope at Bryce¡¯s reaction. At the back of his mind, worry about just others would take the truth had been building. But with the simple fact that the three understood, there was a chance to do this right.


    ¡°Yes, you are. And¡­¡­ what¡¯s the Way?¡± Yogix asked how Rodolphe what he was saying caught up to him.


    ¡°The way? Oh, the Scholar¡¯s Way. It¡¯s a religion that uses that symbol as their own,¡± Zane said as he pointed at the insignia on Embix¡¯s robe.


    ¡°The Scholar¡¯s Way?! That''s who we are!¡± Yogix said with a shocked look as Rodolphe came back.


    ¡°Hey, guys. So the doors are closed, and that¡¯s good. We can hit the security room later. So let¡¯s get moving¡­¡­ what is it??¡± Rodolphe asked as he looked around, seeing Yogix staring at Embix¡¯s body.


    ¡°Oh, they just didn¡¯t know what the Symbol of the Scholar¡¯s Way meant. And wow, really wondering how that happened!¡± Bryce said with a grin.


    As he led the way towards where that Orphan Trash was, Parcis only grinned. As he walked he saw his reflection in a window. His long jade hair was in a ponytail and his black eyes were set in a line. He walked through the stone hallway of the Scholar¡¯s Rest, leading one teen and following another. This morning, unlike others, he knew had work to get done. Plus it would let him finish up some private business, permanently.


    ¡°Boss, are you sure this is a good idea?¡± The teen behind him asked.


    Pacis looked at the teen, Cursix, one of his long-time followers. From his short forest-green hair to his black eyes, he looked like a stable boy. And he was, he and Xacris were only at the Scholar¡¯s Rest to be his servants.


    ¡°Yes! If you two had done your job right he should have been killed! And now we just need to knock him out and then hang him!¡± Parcis snapped.


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    ¡°Boss we did our best!¡± Xacris said, his blue eyes looking out from under his light green shaggy hair. Xacris had to turn at Parcis from ahead of him. ¡°That guard wasn¡¯t supposed to come back so soon, remember? We at least finished half the work! And why are you after that punk anyway? He¡¯s not gonna be working on an invention for weeks!¡±


    Xacris had become a general servant for a while until Parcis ¡®hired¡¯ him. In reality, Xacris had been sent in to learn the servant¡¯s routes. This let Pacris have access to the entire Rest, and in ways that the teachers weren¡¯t looking at. This had let him sabotage so many of his fellow students over the last two years. And that was just why his father had sent him here in the first place.


    ¡°Because that¡¯s the orders I got! And I don¡¯t know, just that his note was all about discrediting his work! His invention was supposed to kill him and destroy the very idea of it!¡± Parcis said bitterly. And as much as he wanted to just ignore his minion¡¯s words, nothing about this made sense! His father had often sent him notes about how to handle other students, but never so blatant about how. It was almost like¡­¡­. Parcis shook his head as they walked through the castle. ¡°And we¡¯ll carry those orders out now! The Orphan¡¯s alone! None of his friends are there. We do this, we slip away to the town out the door and we only talk about this with my father. Understand!?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but we¡¯ll still get our bonus for this, right?¡± Cursix asked with hope in his voice.


    ¡°Of course! You¡¯ll get payment a bit to gamble away!¡± Parcis said absently. He looked at Cursix and part of him would feel bad at what would happen. But secrets had to be kept. ¡°But we¡¯re near the staircase, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Just give us a few more minutes of searching. Now the sign is¡­.. here!¡±  Xacris said with a grin. They were standing before a near-blank section of the walls. Without a word, Xacris walked to the opposite wall, stopping right in front of a torch. He grabbed it and pulled it down until he felt it stop. Then a section of the wall Parcis and Cursix were standing by swung open. ¡°Told you I¡¯d find it, boss!¡±


    ¡°Remember the plan! Once we¡¯re done, then we need alibies. And to get them, we¡¯ll use the servant¡¯s way to get out. We¡¯ll use that underground route to get to the caves. As we all have to leave before tomorrow, we¡¯ll be in the clear.¡± Parcis said with a scowl on his face.


    ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Both of them said as they went before him.


    Parcis only stayed for a few seconds, looking around. For a moment, he had been sure he heard something. But no, there was nothing there. His mind must be playing tricks on him. As he turned he followed after his minions, never seeing a door open slowly after he left.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°I knew that that scum was up to something!¡± A voice snarled as they looked at the torch as it swung back to the wall. The speaker was a tall female teen with jade green short spiky hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a robe with the marks of a third-year student. ¡°Didn¡¯t I  Zaglix?¡±


    ¡°Yeah Krisila, you did. But what are they doing? And where did they go?¡± Zaglix asked with shock in his voice. He was a tall teen with brown hair and brown eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but with Embix down there I¡¯m just worried. Aren¡¯t you? I mean, what happened?¡± Krisila asked with a hard tone.


    Krisila couldn¡¯t understand what had happened. They had all worked on his invention, all three of them. She helped him make the cylinders airtight, and Zaglix had gone over the math. Everything pointed to their invention, their engine working. And instead, it exploded! The only reason that they didn¡¯t die was because of something Embix did to start it from far away. But the explosion was even worse than they thought it would be if something happened.


    ¡°I know Krisila, I know. And I don¡¯t understand it either. But really, what could they be doing now? And so early in the morning? And who were those two people with that noble brat?¡± Zaglix asked with a scowl.


    ¡°All good questions,¡± Krisilla muttered under her breath. She only looked at the torch lost in her thoughts. Something was bothering her, something about the two teens with Parcis. They looked like servants, but why were they with him? And as she tried to figure it out, she thought of something. ¡°Say, Zaglix, those two servants, wasn¡¯t one of them the one who brought us our food the other day. You know, when we were all working on the engine?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and I think that other one was at the stables, Embis had his brainstorm behind the engine there with me!¡± Zaglix said with a shocked look on his face.


    ¡°They''re working for Parcis! They must be his spies! Could they have been behind the explosion?¡± Krisilla asked, her horror turning to rage in seconds. ¡°That slime! I knew there was a reason I hated him!¡±


    Zaglix looked at her with complete horror on his face. ¡°No, no! Not even that freak would have been as mad as do that! Why would he even want to sabotage others?! I mean we do research for the military here! Anyone that does is a traitor. And Embix¡¯s invention could have helped so many other people!¡±


    ¡°But what if he did? What if he¡¯s behind most of the experiments that fail? All to take them home with him, and he could use them for his family?! Don¡¯t you ever think that there¡¯s no limit to how low nobles would go!¡± Krisilla said as she looked away, remembering a lot of pain the so-called nobles had caused her family. In her opinion, the good nobles were few and far between. The idea that Parcis had been stealing the works of others while shaming them, that she could see.


    She needed to figure out the reason that he was here. All that she was sure of was that there was nothing that he would do that would help anyone.


    ¡°But what was that doorway? I mean how did it open? Like this?¡± Zaglix asked as he reached for the torch. Pulling down, they heard the sounds of gears shifting. The wall opened again and they looked at each other.


    As one they looked into the door, and they saw it was a staircase. Looking down, they saw the three they were following were already three stories down.


    ¡°Hey, how far do you think this goes?¡± Zaglix asked with horror in his voice.


    Krisilla just swallowed and then glared down. ¡°If you think it goes down to the bottom level, all the way to the Window? Then I think it does.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Embix blinked awake, he chuckled. ¡°That was some dream!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about it, my boy,¡± Yogix¡¯s voice caused Embix¡¯s eyes to shoot open and sit up. He looked around and saw Yogix. Slowly he looked around and saw Zane, Rodolphe, and Brycee who was waving at him.


    ¡°Hey there!¡± Bryce said with a smile.


    Embix looked at them for a few moments, his mind going strange places. This was something that would change everything. His world had changed in an instant, the old stories were true! His people had once walked the stars, there were stars out there!


    ¡°You''re all real!¡± Embix stammered in shocked joy.


    ¡°Yeah, kid we are. So what are you doing here? The way the old man talks, this place is a punishment. And he said that you¡¯re a good kid,¡± Zane said as he looked at Embix.


    Embix looked away, shame and anger warring within him. He knew that Sir Yogix wouldn¡¯t hate him, but how could he have failed?


    ¡°Embix?¡± Yogix asked with worry. ¡°Did your experiment fail?¡±


    ¡°Tremendously sir. It exploded!¡± Embix said as he looked at Yogix.


    ¡°Oh my. I¡¯m sorry my boy, but how? I looked over your plans, they made sense!¡± Yogix asked and Embix shrugged.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what to tell you, sir. As the rules say, I looked over everything before putting it into the chamber¡­..¡± Embix began, only for someone to interrupt him.


    ¡°Wait, what chamber?¡± Zane asked suddenly.


    Embix looked up, seeing the three off-worlders looking at him, Zane looking a bit strange.


    ¡°It¡¯s a custom, every invention is tested at Dawn! The night before testing, the inventor puts it into a chamber to wait for the sun. And once it¡¯s locked, there¡¯s no way to get in!¡± Yogix explained.


    Bryce snorted. ¡°Yeah right! I¡¯ll bet there¡¯s a Servant¡¯s Passage or two that lead there!¡±


    Embix looked at Bryce, a shocked feeling growing within him. He could tell what Sir Bryce was getting at, but he could understand. Who would even think of doing that to him?! Who would dare!?


    ¡°Wait, what Passages?¡± Rogix asked.


    ¡°Servant¡¯s Passages. Places for servants to move about without people seeing them. A swift way for them to do their duty, and the Passages double as escape routes!¡± Zane said with a smirk. ¡°Perfect for people to move around if you don¡¯t want to be seen. And I¡¯m speaking from experience at using them!¡±


    ¡°But why, how, who?¡± Embix croaked out, and his mind almost shut down. He couldn¡¯t believe half of this, but it made sense. The worst thing that a Scholar could do was ignore logic, and he wouldn¡¯t do that. But why? He wasn¡¯t someone who wanted an easy assignment, he was going to go to the Front!


    ¡°So this place, it¡¯s isolated then?¡± Bryce asked from near the door.


    Everyone looked at him, and Embix nodded.


    ¡°Well yes. The only other rooms down here are old storage. Some people might come down here for ¡­¡­other reasons,¡± Embix said absently. He just shrugged at the looks and chuckled before speaking more. ¡°But not today. Everyone knows I¡¯m stuck down here. They gave me my punishment at dinner after all, why?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The insect creature looked out from the window. It was tall, over ten feet high and it had a body of red chitin. It had four legs and four arms, plus two sets of wings on its back. Its face had three multifaceted eyes in a line across its face. Below them were four mandibles set in a cross, and from it, a white liquid dripped. Its hands ended in three claws set in a ¡®Y¡¯ formation and each ended in savage-looking black claws. Each leg ended in a forward-facing ¡®Y¡¯ and had white talons.


    The Insect looked down at the smoldering remains of the tower and the bloodstains. The rebels had left, and the Insect had let them, the food was all that mattered.


    As five more cocoons grew, the Insect looked at them with a strange kind of pride. It had been able to use its wings and speed to grab food to allow it to make more eggs. Each egg was connected to a special cocoon. And thecocoon was connected to many of the crystals that were set against the windows.


    Before it had first left to hunt it had felt the Life of each crystal. And it had felt the crystal it drained to change starting to regrown what the Insect had taken. It had grabbed food quickly and barely made it back into the passage before the window regrew. Feeding on what it brought, it quickly made another egg. This one it had fed a special mass of food, and the pupa had reacted as it knew it would, making a special kind of cocoon. Then the Insect had gone and hunted, taking what food it could. From that bounty, the five eggs were created. From the first cocoon the Insect had made lines of silk that channeled Life to the eggs. Each one was slowly growing into a kind of being that would be the Insect¡¯s slave.


    Once this space was its hive it would spread and grow. Slowly it would gain power and from that, it would Hunt and War against all that had killed its own. Soon only the Insect and its children would sing songs here.


    And this nest was near a path that two walkers traveled on. All it needed to do was keep growing its numbers and sooner or later, it would rule over all.

 Chapter Ninety Six

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Level


    Galactic Standard Time / 0800


    As Parcis led the way with a lantern, he looked around the stone hallway. So far, they had been lucky. The passage was old enough that few people knew about it, and it took them to the bottom of the school. The only problem was that they had come out on the opposite side from the Window. Parcis went still as he heard the sounds of steps slowing down. With a scowl on his face, he turned his two minions had stopped. They were looking around with fear in their eyes as their lanterns cast shadows.


    ¡°Can¡¯t wait to get out of here!¡± Cursix muttered behind Parcis.


    ¡°You sir we can¡¯t leave now master?¡± Xacris asked timidly.


    ¡°Yes! Keep moving! We have to do this! You want your reward, don¡¯t you?¡± Parcis barked. He scowled as he thought about what had happened once they made it down here. This place was nothing, just the window and the few storehouses in case of a siege. And that was why this was the perfect place to do their job.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Something about all of this is starting to feel like a trap,¡± Cursix said with a small whine in his voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t ya worry Cursix, the master is here. He won¡¯t go into anything that¡¯ll have a chance he¡¯ll die! He always tries to make sure he¡¯ll live!¡± Xacris said with a smirk. ¡°We follow after him, and then we¡¯ll be in the ¡®safe zone¡¯.¡±


    However, his two minions had started to look around, feeling something¡¯s eyes on them. They had almost run for the staircase if Parcis had his way then they had their reward now, but he needed them. He wouldn¡¯t be able to handle Embix without their help after all. And he would have to start looking for a few new servants. But then this was the only time he would be able to use this trick. Do it too many times and some people would take notice.


    ¡°Just keep moving, keep moving. We have to do this!¡± Parcis snapped. For the next few minutes, his minions stayed silent. It let him calm down and chuckled darkly as he imagined what he would be able to do to Embix. Finally, they made it to a split hallway. Parcis stopped, blinking in shock. ¡°What is this!?


    ¡°So that¡¯s what they meant!¡± Xacris said with shock.


    Parcis and Cursix went still, both of them turning to look at him.


    ¡°What do who mean!?¡± Parcis snarled. As Xacris looked at him and swallowed, Parcis only glared at him. ¡°If you knew about this then so help me by the Forest!¡±


    ¡°NO! Well boss, funny story,¡± Xacris said scratching his head. When I was in my first week here, I heard about the way to the Mirror. Something about a path to the past or something. Never really found out why, they said I¡¯d learn it after my second year on the job. But you know?¡±


    Parcis only looked at him and his right eye twitched and he felt a headache forming behind his eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe that this was happening! The fact only first-year servants could be hired from the staff was working against him. What secrets did this place hide?


    Cursix looked down at the floor, trying to find something. ¡°Boss, look. Somebody came through here. They went that way, along this line. It might be our target, but if it¡¯s not¡­¡­¡±


    Parcis followed Cursix¡¯s finger down the right path. There might be someone else besides their target down here. But then they couldn¡¯t let any witnesses survive seeing them. If someone else was here, then there was only one choice to make.


    ¡°Then we finish their business as well,¡± Parcis snarled as he looked at the two paths. Somehow, he knew that this choice was right. But as he looked down the left path, something called to him. It was strange, but there was something at the edge of his hearing that was calling to him. He almost took a step towards it before he shook his head. He couldn¡¯t go there now, he had a job to do.


    Walking down the right path, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. Scowling as he saw his minions standing there, he glared at them. ¡°Move it now!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Right Boss!¡± Cursix said as he followed after him. Part of him hated himself, but he had to do this. When the Red Plague had swept through the kingdom, the price for the cure had grown so high. He needed this job to pay for the cure for his family. He hated that he had no other choice but to follow Parcis¡¯s orders.


    But he couldn¡¯t understand half of them! He thought that maybe he would want to spy on his rivals, but no. It was only for him and Xacris to be lookouts while he copied other people''s research. Plus now and then going to the nearest village with packages that were usually only a single page. The only reason that he hadn¡¯t tried to figure them out was because Parcis used wax seals. But something about it bothered him a lot.


    ¡°Cheer up man,¡± Xacris cut in quietly. ¡°Just kill that brat and then we can have a nice payday and have a party! Thinking of going to the Gambling Crown with half of my haul!¡±


    ¡°Sounds fun!¡± Cursix said with a forced smirk. As far as the other two knew, he was just like Xacris. With how the survivors of the Red Plague were treated, he didn¡¯t want any of them to know the truth. All he had to was kill someone else, his first kill without that person trying to kill him.


    He stopped and took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. He couldn¡¯t do this! up until now everything he had done was just mess with people. But to take that step, to kill someone? His mother would hate him, and the person he was trying to save would too! Maybe he could do something else to get the money, but he had to make this right first.


    ¡°Yeah, that sounds perfect! A nice little party!¡± Cursix said with a forced laugh.


    Xacris looked at him and chuckled before slapping Cursix¡¯s back.


    As Cursix stumbled to the left, Xacris only laughed. ¡°Finally! I thought you might have been a stick in the mud bro! So let¡¯s kill this punk and then have a great party!


    Cursix forced himself to laugh as he turned his head and nodded, a smirk forcing itself onto his face. ¡°Forest Yeah!¡±


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    ¡°Keep moving and stay silent!¡± Parcis barked a command from farther up.


    As Cursix looked around, he frowned as he looked at the wall, the light of his lantern revealing something. Strange-looking icons were on the wall here and there. Only the dust and low light kept him from seeing clearly what they were, but they looked wrong. With a slight scowl and a sinking feeling, he moved closer and started to clear away the dust. He couldn''t explain it, but something told him that he needed to do this.


    ¡°Hey, Cursix? What is it?¡± Xacris asked. Cursix kept quiet, ignoring him as he slowly cleared away the dust.


    ¡°What now!? Keep walking! Didn¡¯t you¡­. What the?¡± Parcis asked as he walked back, but blinked as he saw the wall. ¡°What¡­.. what is this?¡±


    Cursix finished removing the dust and brought his lantern up. He went still as she saw what was on the wall.


    ¡°Is that?¡± Xarcris asked in horror.


    ¡°Can¡¯t be! Here?!¡± Parcis asked as he brought his lantern closer to the wall. But the extra light only revealed the truth of what Cursix had found.


    Cursix only stepped back, his stomach rebelling as he looked at it. No matter how much he didn¡¯t want to believe it, the pictogram was what he thought it was.


    ¡°What is this doing on the walls under here?! No¡­.. this can¡¯t be!¡± Cursix said as he started to look around in horror.


    ¡°Boss what do we do!?¡± Xarcris demanded as he looked at the pictogram.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Parcis kept silent, his eyes locked on the pictogram, a thousand different thoughts going through his head. If this was what it looked like, then the entire Rest was a lie! He had to get out of here, but he couldn¡¯t let the orphan live! Or could he? Change a bit here and there, and he could have Embix work for his Family.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Parcis said aloud as he looked down the hallway, a grin forming on his face. Why did they have to kill him now? With this discovery, he could say anything and Embix would believe him. And Xarcris could back him up, saying he overheard something from someone he couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°Boss, how is this a yes?!¡± Xarcris demanded.


    ¡°The plan¡¯s changed you two! This isn¡¯t an execution, it¡¯s a rescue!¡± Parcis said sternly as he turned around. Seeing how his minions were staring at him, Parcis pointed at the wall. ¡°That changes everything! We get our target, we double up and ride back to my father! Once he knows what we saw here, he¡¯ll the Army to purge this place!¡±


    ¡°Smart boss, but what will he say? What did he overhear?¡± Cursix asked with a strange look in his eyes.


    ¡°Hu? Oh. Something about the coiled will have him. Let¡¯s move!¡± Parcis called out as he ran, his lantern lighting the way. The other two followed behind him, and they left the hallway to darkness.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the sun shone down, a man was sitting in an office. He was tall, his hair was shaved off and he was dressed in a Scholar¡¯s robe. He had an aged and kind air to him, and he was wearing glasses before his black eyes. He was writing on a piece of paper with a wooden pencil, looking at an open book every so often.


    ¡°Almost done. Once I¡¯ve broken this code, we might finally know the truth. But it might just lead to something else,¡± He muttered as he licked his lips. He looked up and out the window, a frown on his face. ¡°We broke you, and we came here to keep you away. Once we¡¯ve found out where that monster sleeps, we¡¯ll destroy it as well. In our world, there is no place for your filth!¡±


    A knocking at the door caused him to look up. ¡°What is this, breakfast isn¡¯t for at least half an hour. COME!"


    The door opened and a tall woman walked in. She was wearing a brown robe and carried a plate with two plates of food and a pitcher with two glasses next to it. She had forest-green hair and blue eyes.


    ¡°Miss Octavris? What are you doing here so early?¡± The man asked and Octavria only shook her head.


    ¡°So early?! You¡¯ve lost track of time again Professor! It¡¯s already past eight!¡± Octavria said, shaking her head.


    The man looked at her, blinked then turned towards the window. He got up and looked down through it, seeing people below getting on carts or horses, leaving the grounds.


    ¡°Oh,¡± The man said and shook his head. ¡°My apologies. But I finally cracked the code!¡±


    ¡°Again? How many people have thought they did it?¡± Octavria asked with a bitter smile.


    The Professor only blushed and looked away. ¡°Too many my lady. But I think they didn¡¯t make mistakes. Well most of them!¡±


    Octavria only laughed and put the tray down on a small table near the desk and sat down in a chair. ¡°You can tell me everything after you¡¯ve eaten! And I only have to bring Embrix his lunch so I have time!¡±


    ¡°Ahhh. Yes, this is Mr. Embix¡¯s atonement. That was today wasn¡¯t it?¡± The Professor said with a sigh.


    ¡°Still can¡¯t figure it out then? It had to have been something about the quality of the parts then, right?¡± Octavria asked as she poured a glass of orange liquid from the pitcher.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. I helped him look it over before we closed the doors. Everything was ready, it was perfect as his numbers said it would work. I¡¯m convinced that someone sabotaged it!¡± The Professor said with a snarl on his face. That someone in the castle did try to kill Embix with his invention. And at the same time discredit him and his word. The very was almost impossible to think of!


    Octavria only looked at him and shook her head, a thousand thoughts going through her mind. ¡°But who?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they followed after Parcis, Zaglix frowned. So far the bottom level was shaping up to be¡­¡­ not what he thought. The tales of a hidden dungeon below the school had been around since it opened. And to tell the truth, he hadn¡¯t expected much, but what was here? There was something, something he couldn¡¯t explain. There was a pull towards the left that bothered him, and it was strong enough that he could feel it wasn¡¯t from him.


    Krisila hadn¡¯t even noticed the call yet, and that worried him. Why was it that he could detect whatever it was that was trying to control him? What made him different? He had fought and killed a few things that used mental Abilities to hunt, was that it? Once sick you can¡¯t get sick again? But where was the effect coming from, that was the problem. And should he tell her about it? Sometimes telling people about the attack lets it in, at least that was what the Old Man said once. Then he and the Headmaster would have words, him with a club in his hands during it.


    ¡°So we have to be almost there, right?¡± Krissila asked softly.


    Zaglix nodded, his lantern covered towards the front. They had been able to follow the path thanks to him. Thanks to what his home¡¯s Militia leader taught him. Every trick Zaglix knew about the wild, he learned from the Leader. He could have done without being ambushed to build up his ¡®inner voice¡¯. But it had saved him a few times. And right now his was telling him someone was coming from behind!


    Without a word, he brought the lantern closer to him and grabbed Krisila¡¯s shoulder. When she looked at him he brought his hand over her mouth. ¡°Quiet now.¡±


    As soon as he blew out the lantern they saw lights coming from the darkness behind them. He pushed Krisila farther down the passage and then against the wall. With his hand over her mouth, he waited for whoever was coming towards them.


    Three lanterns moved towards them but went down the left passage. For a moment Zaglix almost moved on but more lanterns appeared. As they watched, some lights stayed behind as others went past them.


    Zaglix moved a bit of the Power to his eye, a skill no one knew he had. With it, he was able to pick out over ten bodies in the light, but each one seemed to be covered by a black robe. He went still as he saw them, and his heart went still as he recognized them. ¡°The Beast Cult?! Here?!¡±


    Krisila went still, and he felt her fear. The Beast Cult was the only outlawed religion in the Kingdom and for good reason. How they killed people and said the God ate them, they were mad. The Kingdom had been founded after the Cult was destroyed, and it had been dead. But how had it reappeared here, bellow Scholar¡¯s Rest!?


    But it was when one looked at him, the Cultist''s eyes lit in the Power that Zaglix knew they had to run. ¡°RUN!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Rogix walked towards the door, he scowled. When Bryce had said that people were coming, he had wondered how. Bryce only smiled and said he had augmented hearing and that was part of how he ¡®wasn¡¯t a civilian¡¯. He had said he tell the rest when he was ready to, and Zane and Rodolphe backed him up.


    Rogix had ordered his people against the wall before anyone got here. Yogix and Embix had both retreated with the deckhands to the passage. They had even put the crystal back, and the window was up, ready to fall fast.


    As he listened, he could hear screaming.


    ¡°keep running!¡±


    ¡°Why the forest are you here!?¡±


    ¡°Back at ya noble brat!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me a brat!¡±


    ¡°Keep running boss, those freaks are mutants!¡±


    As soon as Rogix heard the word ¡®mutant¡¯ he felt horror go through him. There was only one kind of being that they could be talking about. He looked around and saw some of his men tensing, and knew that they understood too. How were they even here?! Those monsters should be all dead!


    Suddenly the door burst open and five people in robes burst in. When they saw him some of them were shocked, but the others kept them moving.


    ¡±BEHIND ME NOW!¡± Rogix roared, calling upon his Aura. The five of them ran past him as seven beings in black robes, some of them having limbs that weren¡¯t human.


    Before the seven could react, Rogix was upon them. His axe slashed through one of their heads as his men roared and attacked, killing two more of them. But one of them jumped over Rogix and ran at the first five. Grabbing one of them as Rogix and his men killed the others, the cultist looked at them with his back to the window.


    Rogix pulled his axe free and looked at the Cultist as the other four moved away. He and his soldiers moved towards them, Rogix scowling.


    ¡°Let her go and you¡¯ll have a fair trial! All we have on you is that you¡¯re one with a rare Ability, nothing more! Explain yourself and no harm will come to you!¡± Rogix barked.


    The Cultist chuckled as the hood of his hostage went down, revealing he had his arms around a woman. ¡°The Thunder General, letting his prey go!? No! I¡¯ll kill her before you move! And who knows who this brat is? I heard a royal is here!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance to live. I want you to take it,¡± Rogix said fiercely as his men encircled the Cultist.


    ¡°Back away from the door, give me a path!¡± The cultist screamed as his scaly claws moved closer to the woman¡¯s neck.


    Rogix saw the mirror drop and smiled. He signaled his men and they all moved.


    ¡°You have a clearer shot!¡± Rogix barked.


    Before the Cultist could react a bolt of energy went through his brain, and he fell to the ground. Rogix saw Rodolphe holding his weapon pointing right in a line where the bolt came from. with a smile, he put his axe away as the woman turned and stared into the hallway beyond the window. Looking at the corpses, Rogix knew that this was something he had to know about.

 Chapter Ninety Seven

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Level


    Galactic Standard Time / 0835


    Rogix only stared at Bryce in silence, and Bryce let him. When they reached the five corpses Bryce looked down. Seeing body parts covered in either chitin, fur, or scales he scowled. To him, this was starting to remind him of things he would rather forget.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Well, that looks wonderful,¡± Rogix said stiffly.


    Bryce looked up and felt a flash of revulsion. What he was looking at was nothing but a terror. The door looked like some kind of aquatic creature¡¯s mouth. It had six eyes on what might have been stalks all around the opening.


    Bryce forced down the emotions he was feeling and looked at Rogix. ¡°That god of theirs. Was a clear picture of it ever found?¡±


    Rogix looked at him and then went still. Slowly he looked at the door-mouth and frowned. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. The records say they came, killed, and took prisoners. Nothing about what they were feeding their captive to. Most thought they were cannibals.¡±


    Bryce looked at the doorway and frowned. Something about the way this thing was shown was bothering him. It took him a while but then he saw it, this was too real! This wasn¡¯t a dream, someone took the time to copy something they had seen! But was this how big it was, or was the door smaller than the creature? ¡°So this might be their god then?¡±

 Chapter Ninety Eight

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Galley above the Scholar¡¯s Rest


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Zane looked at the organic wall and tried to swallow. These looked like the hard outer casing of a driloic, a species of communal insects from his homes. If this was like that thing, then this thing was before a birthing chamber. Plus going on the size, then these things would be as big as six feet.


    ¡°So, is this normal?¡± Zane asked after a few moments of silence.


    ¡°Not even remotely,¡± One of the guards said as he swallowed.


    ¡°I was dreading that,¡± Zane muttered as he looked at the guards. ¡°Anyone got a spare blade?¡±


    The guards all looked at him like he asked if space was warm. All of them pulled out small daggers and held them to him handle first.


    ¡°You think we can cut through that sir?¡± Another asked.


    Zane nodded but looked at the guards. ¡°Yeah, but I think I¡¯ll need your names before we go in there. It¡¯ll make this easier if I need to tell one of you to close the door.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir! I¡¯m Legionary Karltics!¡± The first one said. He had bright blue eyes and jade-green hair. He had a foot-wide round shield on his back and seemed to favor speed. ¡°I joined the service a few months back!¡±


    ¡°The name¡¯s Ulistix, the best shot in the squad. And the longest!¡± Ulisstix said with a grin. He had jade green eyes and dark green hair. Unlike the others, he had a crossbow on his back his sword was on his belt.


    ¡°And I¡¯m Cadritic sir. Been with the General for years and I¡¯m a follower. Got no head for tactics or command!¡± Cadritic said with his arms crossed. He had green hair and black eyes and on his back was a crossbow.


    Zane nodded as he pulled the blade of the dagger free. ¡°Thanks. Now this looks like it might be nothing but a hive¡¯s wall, but this is very bad. Get ready for anything.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Karltics asked silently. When everyone looked at him he blushed and looked away. ¡°I mean we came through this place. So why the worry?¡±


    ¡°Yeah kid, we came through this place, and that wasn¡¯t there. So that means what?¡± Cadritic asked and Karltics looked at him before looking at the doorway.


    ¡°That something made something that big very fast. And it might even still be here?¡± Karltics asked and looked at the wall, drawing his sword.


    Zane nodded as he looked at the wall. ¡°And it might feel it when I cut it. So get ready!¡±


    After he saw them all get their weapons ready, Zane stabbed the knife into the wall. Without a sound, Zane slowly brought the knife down. But moments later Zane felt something, from where he could say. He jumped back moments before a red chitin-covered fist broke through the wall.


    Zane looked at the fist as a nightmare came into the galley. It was a six-foot-tall humanoid insect. Its red chitin gleamed in the light. It was thin and had four one-foot-long bee wings on its back. Its body had three arms, two that ended on clawed hands on the left in a line and the right ended in a large stinger. Its two legs looked thin but heavily built like they had compact muscles. The head of the monster had only one eye and a round open maw of needle-like teeth.


    Zane looked at the creature as the others reacted.


    ¡°By the forest!? What is this thing!?¡± Karltics demanded as he raised his sword and shield.


    ¡°Nothing good kid!¡± Cadritic said with a glare as he brought his sword out, both his hands around the hilt.


    Zane could see Ulistix staying silent, arming his crossbow before he moved out of sight. Zane knew that he had to be going to defend the door to the Window hallway, ready to cover their backs.


    At first, Zane thought that this would be fine, a single monster was something they could handle. But then another one came into the galley.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle number one! Karltics, Cadritic? Handle two! Stay at that door Ulistix!¡± Zane roared as he looked at the monster insects.


    He raised his rifle and fired at his target, but the monster flew to the right. He tracked it and fired three bolts. The monster dodged but the three shots had only been to line it for the fourth shot, right on the lower left arm. The monster was silent as the bolt burned through the arm and nothing happened. But only for a moment before the limb went slack.


    As the monster started to fly erratically, Zane fired another shot that went through its head. But to his shock, it kept moving, and it didn¡¯t make a sound.


    Zane only stared at it for a second before cursing. ¡°Nova and Storm! That thing has a hidden brain!¡±


    As he looked at the monster, he tried to figure out where to fire next when it looked at him. Something told him that he had to move, but also to wait. When the monster threw its head back, he jumped towards the window in a roll. Coming up, he aimed at the monster and fired. This bolt flew lightning fast and hit the monster in the neck, tearing off the head in one shot. The body flew for another second before it fell to the ground like a puppet that had lost its strings.


    Zane looked at the monster and saw his dagger near it. Walking over to the body he pulled it off but went still as he heard a strange sound. Looking at the body, he thought of something before he slammed his dagger into the corpse¡¯s chest.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    While Zane had dealt with the first one, Karltics and Cadritic faced the other one.


    ¡°Keep close kid, and get ready to use that shield!¡± Cadritic snarled as he looked at the monster before him. He hadn¡¯t thought that they would find a new threat when he woke up today, but here it is. All he had to do was wait and use his blade to kill this thing.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Karltics called out as he looked at the monster


    Before they could react, the monster ran at Cadritic, its stinger ready to strike. Before it could hit him, Karltics was there. He blocked it with his shield, Cadritic shot forward, cutting off the stinger in one slash. As the monster moved backwards, all that came from the maimed arm was nothing.


    It didn¡¯t even react, only charged at them again by turning to aim its two to face them. Karltics dodged to the left while Karltics took the blows on his shield. He moved backward, causing the monster to overextend itself. This let Cadritic try and slash the monster¡¯s head off, try and fail. The monster flew forwards, dodging the blow by moving past Karltics.


    As it flew up into the air, it turned and looked at them.


    ¡°Keep moving Karltics! Don¡¯t let it hit you, try and dodge!¡± Cadritic bellowed as he watched the monster. This thing was acting unlike anything he had ever seen before. It was acting more like a living target than a real creature. And why didn¡¯t it have blood!?


    Suddenly the head of the monster looked right at Cadritic and it spat a black glob. Karltics moved to block it and it hit his shield. But he cried out in shock and pain as he dropped it, and stared in horror. The black sludge had started to eat through his shield! In seconds it had been eaten away, the sludge bubbling as it dissolved the floor.


    ¡°You okay?!¡± Cadritic yelled and Karltics nodded as he put his free hand on his sword.


    ¡°Yeah, but how will we get this thing down?!¡± Karltics demanded.


    ¡°Good question,¡± Cadritic muttered as he looked at the monster as it flew around. ¡°And it¡¯s got us on range! And I know I don¡¯t have a bow on me?!¡±


    Suddenly an arrow impaled the monster¡¯s throat, piercing it from the back. Black liquid ate away at the arrow and then it started to eat at the monster¡¯s chitin. It fell to the ground and when it crashed they saw the black liquid on its wings. For a second all they did was watch as the monster tried to get up.


    ¡°Well¡¯ that¡¯s one way to handle these things,¡± Karltics said with a smirk.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Cadritic said with a scowl as the monster twitched. ¡°But man! Ulistix really is that good of a shot.¡±


    Looking towards him, they saw Ulistix reloading his weapon before he went still and paled.


    Turning around, they saw two more of those monsters moving through the doorway. But in moments, two of them had become headless as Zane fired.


    ¡°GO! Aim for their throats!¡± Zane barked as he fired at the last one.


    Cadritic could barely believe his eyes as Zane ran at the final monster.


    It looked right at him as it fired a glob of black liquid at him but he dodged to the side. He fired his weapon at the monster¡¯s stinger and tore it off at the shoulder. As the monster fired another glob at him he jumped to the side and then lunged forward. He slid on the floor under the monster and stabbed the knife into the monster''s right thigh. As soon as the blade went into the monster¡¯s body the leg buckled. Zane rolled to his feet and aimed at the monster, blasting off its head at the neck.


    ¡°What in the name of the forest!?¡± Cadritic exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know but I wanna!¡± Karltics exclaimed as he ran towards Zane.


    Cadritic only shook his head and followed along, even


    ¡°Sir, what was that?!¡± Karltics asked and Zane only shrugged.


    Zane looked at the door and stared into the distance, not turning. ¡°Tactical motion, a ¡­.. mentor taught me it a while back. And why I did do that? These things use gas to move their limbs. Break their shells and then take out the head at the neck, the only way to kill them.¡±


    Cadritic looked through the hole and paled in horror as he saw what was beyond. There was nothing but lines of some kind of white rope leading from each of the crystals. But there was something else here, something he couldn¡¯t register.


    With a sinking feeling, he looked at the windows and saw all of them were down. There were lines of the rope-things connected to a crystal. Each line went down the corridor, and there was a glowing ripple flowing along each line.


    ¡°Well this is bad,¡± Zane muttered as he looked around.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Cadritic said with a sigh. ¡°Think whatever those things were made by draining the crystal?¡±


    ¡°Probably. Best thing is to destroy all these abominations. Anyone got any fire?¡± Ulistix asked with a snarl as he looked at the white rope things.


    ¡°But how long does it take them to be born or made!? We passed through here less than two hours ago!¡± Karltics demanded as he looked around, a note of panic in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, but there''s something else. That,¡± Zane said with a scowl as he pointed towards the far end


    Following Zane¡¯s finger, Cadritic saw what Zane had. It was far away in the distance, but he could see the door to the next galley was opened. For a second he didn¡¯t understand, then he felt his heart stop.


    ¡°What about¡­.. no!¡± Cadritic said as he paled. That room beyond the door must have the window Sir Yogix had seen the trio! That meant that more of them could be made there!


    ¡°Move!¡± Karltics bellowed as he ran towards the far side, pushing past the others to do so.


    ¡°Kid!¡± Cadritic cried as he tried and failed to grab the younger man.


    ¡°I¡¯ll follow him! Cadritic, Ulistix! Stay here and destroy all the lines before following us!¡± Zane barked before he ran after Cadritic.


    Cadritic looked at the line and grabbed one, trying to pull it apart but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°How hard is this thing?¡±


    Ulistix stayed silent and just cut one of the lines from the crystal. He looked up and smirked, grabbing the severed end. ¡°Might be strong, but it¡¯s not tough! Start cutting!¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­. Wait! We can use these, gather them up, and don¡¯t cut them too short!¡± Cadritic said with a smirk forming. If this stuff was as strong as he thought it was then they might be able to use it if what he feared had happened.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the carriage rolled along, the person inside only sighed as they rode along.


    ¡°My lady? Princess Amilisra? Are you okay¡± A female voice asked the passenger.


    The passenger looked up. She was a girl just entering her teen years, she had long jade green hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a long purple dress that to just below her shoulders. She was wearing a necklace of crimson stars, she had black stud earrings and blue metal bracelets on.


    The person asking her was a woman with short forest-green hair and black eyes. She was wearing armor like Rogix and had a spear in her right hand. In her left, she was holding the reigns of the Riding Beast she was on.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine General Wilmria. I just have¡­¡­ thoughts about how I¡¯m the one to get the Vow for my family. I thought my brother would be here,¡± Amilisra said and Wilmria frowned.


    ¡°So did I Milady. I don¡¯t know why. He loves anything like this,¡± Wilmria said with a scowl.


    ¡°He does, doesn¡¯t he?¡± The Princess said as she looked down.


    ¡°My master wants you to be seen, my Princess!¡± A voice cut in from the other side.


    Turning, Amilisra held back a sigh. Along with her guards, her brother had sent along one of his followers.


    The man was tall and was a bit rounder than the people her most war-like sibling would like. But the man was able to handle her brother¡¯s day-to-day schedule and had only been brought along to help. But every time she looked at him, something about him bothered him. She couldn¡¯t understand it, but it was there.


    Gathering her will, Amilisra sighed and shook her head. ¡°And why does my brother want me to be seen good sir Charatrix?¡±


    Charatrix laughed, his bald head bobbing up and down. He finally stopped and looked at her, his bright green eyes looking at her. ¡°Well, with how the position of Heir will most likely be decided soon, and with who might win. Well, my Prince thought that if you were the one to take the Vow you would be safe.¡±


    ¡°And why would my lady need to be safe!?¡± Wilmria demanded and Charatrix just shrugged.


    ¡°Well General, everyone knows the tale of the most recent Fallen Ones!¡± Charatrix said like he was talking to someone who was an idiot. As Amilisra took a deep breath, Charatrix just kept talking. ¡°My master thought that this will keep you safe. While he doesn¡¯t think any of your family will target you, the others? Who knows.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Amilisra said with a small frown as she looked down. The Fallen Ones were the term given to Noble Families that had proven themselves vile. They were stripped of their name to start. And for three generations their family would have a mark tattooed on their foreheads. All their property would be taken and anyone could do anything to them, anything but killing them. The punishment was only used on those who had done the worst crimes, rarely at that. To her knowledge, it had only been used ten times over their Kingdom¡¯s existence.


    ¡°Your master has heard talk of that kind!? From who?!¡± Wilmria snarled and almost lunged through the carriage.


    The last Fallen One had been created during her Great-Grandfather¡¯s time. And they had been declared Fallen for killing a Royal! The story went that they had been a member of another faction, and thought the one they killed would win. And their faction was destroyed for their actions, with their Prince taking his own life!


    Charatrix only laughed and shook his head. ¡°None to be sure, but he saw a mark another day and thought of protecting his sister. And sending along people who would know to do it right.¡±


    ¡°YOU!¡± Wilmria snarled and almost drew her weapon.


    ¡°Enough General!¡± Amilisra ordered. ¡°Thank you advisor, and thank my brother. But please would you double-check the gifts?¡±


    ¡°Of course, my Princess,¡± Charatrix said as he bowed. He urged his mount around and rode away, and as he left Wilmria started to growl.


    ¡°My Princess, I don¡¯t trust him. There has to be more to this!¡± Wilmria said with a snarl.


    ¡°I know, but let it lie. There very well might be something we can¡¯t see, but please. Don¡¯t cause trouble,¡± Amilisra said softly. ¡°And he might be truthful. My brother might be protecting me from the Battle in his own way.¡±


    The battle for who would be on the throne was something that she tried to forget about. She was the last in line and had no faction behind her. She expected that one day she would be married off by whoever won to the son of their second-best backer. But then what more could she have? She wasn¡¯t that good at fighting or tactics. She was a thinker, and she had longed to become a Scholar. But she was born to Royalty, and that way was closed by her birth. She even thought that going to the Rest was just picking at an old scab.


    ¡°Take heart Princess Amilisra, we¡¯ll be done before too long. And we¡¯ll see General Rogix soon. And he¡¯ll have test¡­¡­ what?¡±


    ¡°What is it?!¡± Amilisra demanded as she struck her head out the window and stared in shock.


    Her carriage was in a convoy with a guard of over twenty soldiers on Ridding Beasts, Charatrix, and two carts of supplies and gifts. But what she saw at the front was what shocked her. Ahead of them was a battle! Strange six-foot-tall humanoid insects with three arms, one ending in a stinger were attacking a camp. There had to be over twenty of them! Some were on the ground, and others were flying around


    With what she knew it had to be the place General Rogix set up. But the only ones fighting back were soldiers, some trying to defend a few locations. Plus she saw the remains of the three weapons he was going to test. They had been taken apart, and only one was still there, three of the monsters were even destroying them.

 Chapter Ninety Nine

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ 3<sup>rd</sup> floor


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Rodolphe dashed towards the windows and scowled as he saw the chaos below. From what he could see there were at least three different types of these mutants. Some of them bulked up and retained a humanoid form, Brutes. Others had aspects of insects, stinger tails, and pincer claws on their hands, Insects. As a shape flew past the window, he saw that the Cult even had flying ones. These were bird hybrids. They were covered in green feathers, they had arm-wings and talons on their hands and feet, Flyers. One of them attacked people on a stone guard wall who were firing arrows at anything they could hit.


    Without thinking he fired a single shot, killing one of the fliers, the bolt hitting the Cultist and burning a hole through their head. As that body dropped he fired quickly, taking out each one of the fliers he could see. Sweeping his gaze down to the courtyard, he saw that most people who were still alive had escaped. He saw three of the Brutes carrying a large wooden pillar towards a door and fired. Killing the one at the front, it fell taking the pillar down with it. As the other two bulky ones tried to get back to their feet, he fired two shots, and that went through their heads.


    He stepped back, looking around. Yogix was nodding and the students were shocked. And the two teachers were staring at him in shocked silence, their mouths open.


    ¡°I took out the fliers that I could see, but don¡¯t rest yet. Those things might have more of them somewhere. We¡¯ve got three types, bulky ones, insect ones with tails, and claws. And of course the fliers. Do any of you know anything about what else we can expect?¡± Rodolphe asked with a scowl as he aimed down the corridor the female mutant had come from.


    ¡°No, nothing like this has ever been seen. The Beast Cult had Power Users, but nothing like this. I have to admit that I¡¯m at a loss on what to do. any ideas Rodolphe?¡± Yogix asked and Rodolphe sighed.


    ¡°I was worried you¡¯d say that,¡± Rodolphe said as he looked down, a crazy idea going through his mind. It was insane, but it might be the best chance they had.


    ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ve got a plan! The one who knows to get into the servant passages, find me a way downstairs fast! We¡¯ll do a running sweep to find anyone who can help, and get everyone we can out! We¡¯ll retreat to the Window! From there¡­¡­¡± Rodolphe began but the male teacher interrupted him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, can you back up a bit? Who are you, where did you come from and what is that!?¡± The male teacher asked with a scowl before looking at Embix. ¡°And what are you doing out of your punishment? How did you get involved in this!?¡±


    ¡°He came through the Window,¡± Embix said bluntly pointing at Rodolphe.


    The male and female teachers both blinked in shock.


    ¡°And our friend is from off-world! He¡¯s from the homeworlds!¡± Yogix said with a grin. ¡°Plus he came here with us through the Devil¡¯s Realm!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± The woman teacher asked with her hands over her mouth as she looked at Rodolphe.


    Rodolphe only sighed before he looked around abruptly. Without saying a word he activated nanos in his eyes and found what he knew he would. For a moment he wondered how to play this, but then he almost snorted. He knew just what to do.


    ¡°Talk later we need to move! This has to be a lot bigger than one attack on nobility! They moved too fast, I would have stayed hidden. We have no idea what they want, and we need to get everyone we can out of here!¡± Rodolphe said with force.


    ¡°But into the Devil¡¯s Realm!? Think what those monsters could do to us all if they find us! We need a better plan! Maybe we can¡­..¡± The female teacher said.


    ¡°They''re dead. The people who built this Ruin? Their species died out centuries ago,¡± Rodolphe said bluntly.


    As the two teachers looked at him shocked, he acted. Without a word, he moved his rifle around and fired a shot at a tapestry. The bolt hit something and a cry of pain was heard. Something dropped to the ground and moaned as they appeared.


    It was a figure that was one of the Cultists, as the scaled skin indicated. They had a crest on their head and two multifaceted bulbous eyes. What¡¯s more, they were wearing a Scholar¡¯s Robe like Yogix.


    As the others reacted in shock, Rodolphe walked over and put his foot on the Cultist¡¯s body, his rifle an inch away from their head.


    ¡°Answer my questions and I won¡¯t kill you. What is the purpose of this attack?¡± Rodolphe asked bluntly as one of the being¡¯s eyes rotated to look at him.


    ¡°The God will awaken outsider! Why are you here now!? Why have you finally come for us!!?¡± The Cultists demanded.


    Rodolphe only sighed and shook his head. ¡°We didn¡¯t come for you. The thing that took you all?  it took us too. Guess the automatic systems on this place are still working well. So this God? How are you waking up? More sacrifices?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Embix watched Rodolphe talk to the Beast Cultist and forced down his shock. Sir Rodolphe was acting like he could kill the being and Rodolphe wouldn¡¯t even react to the death. Part of him wanted to say something, but this was a spy. Who knew what they could do if they were treated like a normal prisoner. And with that howl that set everything off, they had to have a way to send messages far. That meant they could tell the Cult the escape plan, or where Sir Rodolphe was from. he and the others were the only cards they had, and they had to be kept secret for as long as possible.


    ¡°You filth should be honored to give your lives as food for the Great God! It is beyond your view!¡± The Cultist snarled and Rodolphe looked at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me anything, are you?¡± Rodolphe said as he scowled shaking his head.


    ¡°All I will tell you will be the feel of my fangs on your flesh!¡± The Cultist snarled and its eyes looked around at all of them.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Of course. Nothing to do but this then,¡± Rodolphe said with a sigh. Before the Cultist could do more than take another deep breath, Rodolphe acted. He fired point black, destroying the being¡¯s head in a shower of gore.


    Embix looked at the corpse, shocked, and then slowly he looked at Rodolphe. The man was a star sailer, yet he had reacted like a hardened enforcer.


    ¡°Why did you do that?!¡± Professor Galatrics demanded and Rodolphe only sighed. Professor Galatrics kept talking and looked at the corpse. ¡°There are laws! I don¡¯t


    Yogix only sighed and put his hands on Professor Galatrics shoulder. ¡°Galatrics, there was nothing else we could have done. It just wasn¡¯t smart to do anything else.¡±


    ¡°We couldn¡¯t take them with us,¡± Rodolphe said with a hard look as he gazed at the others.


    Embix looked at Rodolphe as he talked fast.


    ¡°They have a way to call out to each other, one howl caused that!¡± Rodolphe said as he pointed out the window at the chaos outside. He took a deep breath and released it. ¡°And whoever that was, they heard out plans. The only thing I could do was end them, fast and painless.¡±


    Embix looked at the corpse as the logic washed over him. As much as he wanted to find another way, there was nothing that he could think of doing that made sense. They had to get away and trust the others to warn anyone on the way. And now they had to get everyone away to safety.


    ¡°But still!¡± Galatrics stammered as he looked at the body.


    Embix just sighed and let his gaze meet the eyes of the other students. They all looked back at him before they all nodded.


    ¡°Professor, we don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Embix said softly as he looked out the window. He let his gaze take in all the chaos and frowned. After a few moments, he scowled as he took in everything happening below. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    As everyone looked at him, he just watched the carnage below.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Krisila¡¯s voice caused him to remember where he was.


    Ebmix turned his head and saw everyone looking at him. He looked around and swallowed.


    Rodolphe locked eyes with him and held his weapon down. ¡°What do you see?¡±


    Embix took a deep breath and gestured to the window. ¡°It¡¯s just, their actions. Just look. All they are doing is causing chaos! They¡¯re not even trying to keep people from leaving! If they wanted to capture the nobles and Royalty, they wouldn¡¯t do this! I mean they were able to infiltrate the Rest, why the chaos now!?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right!¡± Yogix breathed out in shock. He had gone pale and looked around at the hallway. ¡°Rogix¡¯s army was nearby. If he heard about this he would have come with everyone. It might have destroyed years of work but he would have killed every one of these scum!¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Nothing about this makes sense at all! I mean it¡¯s like¡­¡­..¡± Embix stopped talking and went still, paling in shock. He looked around and he saw both Krisila and Parcic¡¯s faces had lost color.


    ¡°They don¡¯t want to sacrifice anyone. At least not here and now!¡± Parcis snarled as he looked around.


    ¡°Yeah, they want to have people know about them, they want to bring in the army!¡± Parcis snarled as he slammed his right fist into his left palm. ¡°This is all to make noise!¡±


    ¡°No, not all of it,¡± Rodolphe bluntly. At the looks everyone sent him he just shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll talk later, we have people to save!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he ran through the castle, all he felt was rage. That stupid idiot had let out the war cry too soon! The rest of the Cult was told that they had to strike once they heard a howl. But the leaders knew when to give it. And this wasn¡¯t the time!  The only reason¡­¡­ the Cultist went still as they realized just what was happening. Something must have happened to cause the howler to give the war cry, but what?


    They had planned everything out to the last detail, and the Cultist couldn¡¯t figure out what had happened.


    Turning a corner the Cultist stopped. Sniffing deeply, they followed the smell to the walls. Moving their hands they found a small breeze that came from a hole. And on the breeze came the scent of people and with effort, they heard the sounds of movement.


    How was this possible, they had watched everyone! They knew all the evacuation routes and none of them said anything about passages in the walls!


    This one thing would put everything they had planned in jeopardy! The Great One was finally moving, and they would bring it here soon! They had to have a worthwhile meal ready for its majesty! But hidden routes through the castle? This would have more survivors than were planned!


    With a snarl the Cultist started to become its puny birth form, shedding its True Self. It would have to slip into one of the survivor groups, and then act. Once they followed their scent to the survivors, they¡¯d be able to finish this. Plus when that loud fool was found, the Cultist swore to their god that that fool would die!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he swung his sword at what had been a normal servant, Glartics gritted his teeth. He couldn¡¯t understand anything, nothing made sense! He was fighting against something that was a humanoid insect! It had long pincer claws and a stinger tail that darted out every few seconds. The worst thing was that it had been a normal person moments before, this thing was of the Beast Cult!


    ¡°Another mess we¡¯ve gotten into Gla. A dance like this and no one to show our moves to! A voice said from behind him.


    Glartics only snorted and grinned. ¡°Well Deogics, I don¡¯t think our partners are in a mode to learn from us. Guess we¡¯ll have to find better partners at the end!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll save you someone your type!¡± Deogics said with a laugh.


    ¡°YOU WILL FEED THE GOD!¡± The Insect like Beast Cultist snarled and Glartics almost was shocked.


    Glartics only snorted and kicked out with his right leg. He hit the Cultist with his metal boots and it screeched at him. Just when its stinger came at him it suddenly was broken off the tail. The Cultist screeched before it stopped mid-cry. It fell to the ground, oozing blood. Glartics looked up just as another bolt flew by and he heard Deogics cry out in shock.


    ¡°Hey! What was that!?¡± Deogics exclaimed.


    Glartics looked around and saw his friend, Deogics. They were in the armor they had made for the army, and he hoped the plates would work as they planned. They were lucky they were trying it out with the weapons when this madness happened. And that the barrel of the weapon hadn¡¯t been returned to the guards just yet.


    ¡°Hey! Are you okay Deogics? And is that Glartics?¡± Embix¡¯s voice caused both to look up. They saw him and an older man holding a strange metal device in his hand. They were both standing in a doorway that had opened from the wall. Funny, as far as he knew that wall didn¡¯t have any way through it.


    ¡°Embix!? You didn¡¯t go down before this madness happened!?¡± Glartics called out in shock.


    ¡°I did, but we¡¯ve gotta get people down there now! There¡¯s a way out there that we need to get everyone we can fast!¡± Embix said and the other man nodded.


    ¡°Go down!? What are you talking about!?¡± Glartics demanded.


    ¡°Listen, this is too chaotic. Especially since they had the Vice Principal as one of them!¡± Embix said bitterly.


    ¡°What!? You sure!?¡± Deogics asked in shock.


    As Embix nodded, Glartics stared in horror. That man had been one of those who the two reported their projects to. And if those two Cultists had been sent by him to destroy the research the two had done,  then why? There were lots of armor for the Front Line, what made theirs so special that people wanted them dead?


    A roar caused them all to turn. They saw one of the bulky ones at the end of the corridor. Before it ran five students, ran away from the Cultist.


    ¡°THIS WAY!¡± The man yelled as he aimed his device and fired. It shot out bolts of energy that hit the ceiling and caused the bulky Cultist to stop. The man kept firing, this time the bolts were aimed at its arms. As each bolt hit, the Cultist screeched in pain. But this let the students run towards them and Embix stepped out.


    ¡°This way! Move! Professor Galatrics is in there, follow his orders!¡± Embix said. As the first of the students reached them, he looked at Deogics and took a breath. ¡°Got an axe?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, over there,¡± Deogics said absently. Then he realized what he saw and what Embix asked.


    ¡°Wait! Can you even use that!?¡±


    ¡°Can I use it!? Embix said as he picked up a double-bladed war axe and started to spin it around, ending with it pointed at Deogics.


    Deogics looked from it to Embix who only grinned.


    ¡°My dad wanted me to know how to protect myself, and he knew axes. Nothing more really,¡± Embix said with a smirk.


    A roar caused them to look up. From around the bulky giant Cultist came three of the Insect ones. With a hard look on his face, Glartics looked at Deogics and Embix. The man kept firing his weapon at the bulky Cultist as the others came closer.


    ¡°So, three of them, three of us. Let¡¯s take out!¡± Deogics said as he pointed his sword at the enemy.


    ¡°Good idea, I¡¯ll keep that thing from going after you all, good luck!¡± The man said as he kept firing at the bulky one.


    All Glartics could do was hope that they would be able to handle this storm.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she ran down the hallway, Krisila looked around. She had thought that some of the female students would have fallen back to the Chapel, and thankfully there was a passage near it. With a sword that she found, she hoped that they were all there. As bad as she felt, this one rescue was all that she was able to do.


    Whoever wasn¡¯t there when she got there was on their own. As bad as it was, they had to get away. The Kingdom needed to know what they figured out. As bad as it made her feel, knowledge was more important than people. Embix was right, this whole situation made her feel that the Beast Cult had something else planned. And that was making her feel so bad like a new Monster was on the hunt in the forest.


    If her mother knew what her daughter was doing, then she would scream. Krisila had fought hard to get accepted at the Scholar¡¯s Rest, even if most girls only came here to be better bridal candidates.


    But she had met people from another world, more humans! And they told her that the beings who had made this prison were dead! Even before the capture of the Ancestors! She didn¡¯t know how to feel about that. Among the Kingdom, the belief that the Ancestors had been kidnapped was dying out. Most people were falling to the newest Cult¡¯s poison. And her mother was among them.


    The two of them had fought so much, and they had insulted each other when Krisila had left.


    She shook her head, she didn¡¯t have time to think about that! Now was the time to save lives! As she came towards the Chapel, she saw one of the Insects trying to break down the door. She swallowed and ran, her sword pointing before her. Without a sound, she thrust the blade into the Insect¡¯s head. The Cultist went still and fell against the door.


    All Krisila could do was breathe heavily. She smiled at the corpse and then knocked at the door. ¡°It¡¯s me, Krisila! I¡¯ve got a plan to get to safety, open up!¡±

 Chapter 100

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Outside Cult Doorwaay


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Rogix kept one eye on Bryce as he stood before the doorway. The way that Bryce had been able to handle the Cultists with his weapon before they even knew, it was worrying. He knew that the Old Tales tech must have been real once he saw their weapons, but now?  Now he was worried about just what was fighting at his side.


    Some people just had an easy time killing. But the way Bryce had done it. The only people he knew that could do that were special forces. Just what had the young man gone through to gain such skills and experience? Part of him wanted to know, the other wanted to forget.


    ¡°The door is basic. No lock, and the way this is decorated¡­.. I don¡¯t know, this is¡­.. very obvious. How has no one ever found this?¡± Bryce asked bluntly.


    Rogix blinked and looked at him before frowning as he realized that Bryce was right. This was in the basement and it was in the open. They might have gone down the corridor and turned a few times, but no one had ever found this place? ¡°Yeah, and what do you think is in there?¡±


    ¡°Only one way to know. I¡¯ll clear right, you left?¡± Bryce asked and Rogix looked at him.


    Rogix could only look at this off-worlder for a few moments before he realized what he meant. Looking at his soldiers, he saw that all of them had figured out what Bryce meant. Making a few signs at them, they nodded showing him they understood what he ¡®told¡¯ them. Then shaking himself he nodded at Bryce. ¡°Do it!¡±


    Bryce grabbed the door and pushed the door open. Then as the door swung open, Bryce shot forward and fired three shots before Rogix could come in.


    He came into a wide room, at least a hundred-foot square. He saw three of the Cultists falling to the ground, holes in their heads. One near him started to change, their hands melting together as Rogix sliced through the being¡¯s neck. As the Cultist''s head fell off, he was already moving as his men flooded in behind him.


    Calling up his Power, a Yellow Aura engulfed him as he reached a Cultist that was growing larger. Without a word, his axe swung, gaining a yellow glow moments before he used it to slice through its target.


    The Cultist had gained a foot of height before Rogix¡¯s axe hit. Rogix felt his blade cut through the being, this blow bisected the Cultist¡¯s heart!


    As his men attacked another Cultist together, Rogix looked around. He saw Bryce¡¯s weapon kill another Cultist and for a moment he wondered. What did the arrival of these people mean for his own? The things they had started to lose faith in were real, their targets of vengeance were dead and had been for years. And to escape an ambush, his army had been taken through the Devil¡¯s Realm, and found the Beast Cult alive! Even worse, they had infiltrated the Scholar¡¯s Rest!


    But as a Cultist wielding a sword comes at him, he slashes the man apart, right shoulder to left hip. He shakes his head and roars as he charges at a group of Cultists starting to change. For a second he watched them, and then something flashed before his eyes.


    ¡°NOT AGAIN!¡± He roared as he slammed his axe down. A slash of yellow energy shot towards them and it exploded, sending the Cultists flying. With a roar he was among them, slashing out with his blade.


    As it maimed one of them that was bulking up, Rogix saw the savage glee in their eyes. As the maimed one pulled back their remaining arm, they went still. Rogix ignored that and roared as he slammed his axe down on one of them whose hands were merging into chitin claws. The Cultist dodged and struck at Rogix¡¯s right arm, but hit only armor. Before the Cultist could recover Rogix had drawn a dagger and buried it into the Cultist¡¯s neck.


    Rogix kept moving and saw the last Cultist start to grow wings, and started to take flight. But before it could even make it a foot off the ground, one of Rogix¡¯s soldiers was there! He jumped at the Cultist and drove his sword into the being¡¯s heart.


    Rogix looked around and saw that every one of the Cultists had been slain to the last. He laughed heartily as he reached down and picked his soldier up.


    ¡°Well done! Good effort! Still, next time maybe stay upright?¡± Rogix asked and the soldier only chuckled.


    ¡°We got everyone here sir, and we can¡¯t lose you. Not now,¡± The man said and Rogix sighed. Looking around, he took in the room. There was a crystal on the ceiling about ten feet above him, and from there light came down. All over the chamber, more crystals were on the ceiling. Ahead of him by about forty feet was a large plan door. From the way it was made of heavy wood, that had to be where they had to go! It looked just like the Temple that these monsters had created before. And if this was created due to their religion, then that meant the main chamber was that way.


    Before he could say anything to get everyone moving, he heard a sharp loud whistle.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce stopped whistling as he heard the sounds of the others coming towards him. Without turning, he looked at the wall and ran his hand over it. His senses told him everything he needed to know, there was a door hidden here. And the wall had a lot of pictograms, all of them the same giant creature from the door. If he was reading this right, then a lot of people had gone through here recently.


    After another moment, he smiled as he found what he was searching for. Looking at the pictogram, he just shook his head.


    ¡°What is it, what did you find?¡± Rogix asked from behind him.


    ¡°What I had to find. Something that we need to find out what¡¯s happening here,¡± Bryce explained.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. We find everything through that door!¡± Rogix exclaimed as he pointed away from the wall.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Bryce only shook his head. Sometimes he was shocked at how the unmodified saw the world. Everyone here couldn¡¯t see what he could, but he was starting to wonder if the Cultists did. And that bothered him a lot more than he was comfortable with.


    ¡°No, not there. Here,¡± Bryce said as he turned, smirking before he pressed down on the pictogram¡¯s eye. They all heard the sounds of a gear turning and then a door five feet away opened away from them.


    ¡°Behold, the right way to go!¡± Bryce said with a smirk.


    ¡°What do you mean, the right way to go!? What about that!?¡± Rogix demanded as he pointed at the large door on the far wall. ¡°This place is just like the records of the last Grand Temple these monsters made. The records show that the ritual chamber is that way!¡±


    ¡°And that is why we need to go this way. Think about it!¡± Bryce said as he looked at Rogix and crossed his arms. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that door seem a little, I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m gonna say, obvious? It has to lead to a trap. Probably what¡¯s it for really.¡±


    Rogix looked at the door, then the one on the far wall before cupping his chin. With a scowl, he looked at the door before turning to look into the one Bryce opened. ¡°That¡¯s a little smarter than I¡¯d expected of these monsters!¡±


    Bryce only nodded, frowning as he let his eyes look at the corpses. Something about this whole situation was bothering him, and a lot more than he expected. From what he knew, this Cult was defeated a long time ago. But if this was the same Cult, did their doctrine change or was there something else? ¡°Then let¡¯s find out.¡±


    Before anyone could say anything, Bryce walked into the open door, taking in what was before him. The corridor was long, at least ten feet wide, and went at least three hundred feet. He saw that the way wasn¡¯t that dark, a few of the round crystals here gave the corridor light.


    ¡°How is this possible!?¡± Rogix exclaimed as he looked at the corridor, his voice showing he was completely shocked.


    Bryce turned and looked back at him, a frown on his face. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°We should be against the Devil¡¯s Realm by now! This doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± Rogix said as he led his soldiers after Bryce.


    ¡°You¡¯d think so,¡± Bryce muttered as he looked at the walls. For a moment he wondered about this place. But then something happened that made his heart stop.


    Oh Stars!¡± Brycee exclaimed softly so only he could hear it. He just stared into space as he realized what he had overlooked. This made everything that he thought was true false! And he had to get back and talk to the others about this!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Rogix followed behind Bryce, he frowned. Something had shaken Bryce enough that he stopped for a split second. If not for Rogix¡¯s skills and reflexes, he might have missed it. Something had the youth, and that bothered Rogix a lot. No matter how much it burned him, Bryce was the reason that this mission had been so easy so far. His skills and tech were beyond what he thought their ancestors could have been capable of. He knew that they had lost a bit of knowledge, but this wasn¡¯t it. Plus there was the fact that the three of them called themselves, ¡®kind of civilians¡¯. And as much as he wanted not to, that single phase was preying upon his mind.


    Bryce went still ahead and looked at Rogix. For a second Rogix wondered if Bryce had somehow felt him think about the deckhands.


    ¡°We¡¯ve found something, and I smell blood. Fresh blood,¡± Bryce said softly.


    Rogix blinked and then walked forward, trying to understand what this meant. Once he reached Bryce, he looked ahead and saw blood on the ground ahead of them at a corner. Moving towards it swiftly with Bryce behind him, they reached the blood and found the source. The blood had come from the dead body of a Cultist whose head had been sliced off. They found the male head a foot away, the eyes having turned into multifaceted insect eyes.


    Rogix looked at the sliced head. Something about the way the wound was bothered him. He had done this before, and he had seen the results of battles where this had happened. But something was bothering him, something beyond everything here. This just seemed to be something specific, something he had seen.


    Bryce meanwhile had looked over the dead body while Rogix looked at the head and said what he found. ¡°The body is only partially changed. Only left hand, chitin going up arm. Whatever happened, happened fast. So he was in mid-change when he died. Wasn¡¯t in combat, and probably didn¡¯t even have time to scream. And recent, very recent, blood¡¯s still in a liquid state. Whoever did this went down this corridor. But they came here from¡­. behind us.¡±


    Bryce and Rogix turned, to look at a long corridor that didn¡¯t have any light.


    Rogix felt relief, no other signs of combat down there. But turning his head he saw that Bryce had frozen in place, his eyes wide.


    ¡°No! No, no no!¡± Bryce said as he ran towards the corridor.


    Rogix looked at his soldiers as they caught up and then towards Bryce. ¡°Stay here in that hallway, if anything comes fall back!¡±


    Rogix ran after Bryce, knowing that this was going to be bad. He saw that Bryce had stopped ahead, and wondered why. But as he made it closer he found out.


    To his shock and horror, the corridor emptied into a galley made by the Builders. He looked around, seeing it was a hundred feet long and wide. Everything he saw in it caused bile to rise in his throat. All around them were signs of the Beast Cult, from banners on the walls to paintings between them. But what shocked him the most were the bodies of Beast Cult members on the ground. Some of them were in med-change, and others were still fully human. And each one was thrown about, showing that they had been fighting something. But how had it been kept from the others in the complex behind him. How could the Cultist have died back where men were if this had happened nearby!?


    He couldn¡¯t understand this, what did this mean? How far had these mutant monsters infiltrated the Builder¡¯s Realm?! Some places used the Realm as their back defensive wall, built right against the Realm. If this cult could attack from there millions of people would be in danger!


    ¡°How could they have done this?!¡± Rogix asked in a horrified whisper. Then realizing Bryce wasn¡¯t there, he looked around. He found Bryce at a wall to his right, looking out a door. ¡°What now!?¡±


    He dashed over, and once at the door, he felt his heart stop. They were looking out at a long metal corridor, and Rogix could see other doors. Looking around, he saw nothing that told him anything about what the Builders used this place for. But then he saw a metallic device on the ground near them. But as he looked at it more, he saw that it was nothing but the remains of a device.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce stared at the destroyed robot with horror. He knew enough about the Ruins to know that to the Federation, the Ruins Guards were near godlike. What could have destroyed them within this Ruin? And was whatever it was hostile to them?


    ¡°We need to move, now,¡± Bryce was able to choke out the words. He turned and looked around the galley, trying to figure out how to blockade the door. But when he saw the Cult¡¯s decorations he knew that they couldn¡¯t waste time here. They had to move, and now.


    ¡°Wait, what is that thing!?¡± Rogix demanded as he grabbed Bryce¡¯s arm.


    Bryce looked at Rogix and swallowed. ¡°As strong as we are compared to you Rogix? That thing is just as strong with my friends in your place.¡±


    Rogix blinked and then paled in horror.


    Without a word, the two men ran through the galley towards the others. Dashing down the corridor, Bryce knew what he had to do. He let loose all the locks he had put on his senses and tried to find anything that could help them as he closed his eyes.


    Holding his ears against the pain, he heard the beating of the hearts of the people around him. Farther away, he heard screeches and then he heard chanting somewhere else. But then he went still, as he heard it. There it was, a large rhythmic beating. The longer he heard this, the more the sounds seemed familiar. For a second he thought he was hearing the sounds of something walking, something large. But then he realized just what he was hearing and what it meant.


    He stopped and leaned against the wall, slowly chaining down his senses again. Slowly he felt his own heart start to beat again.


    ¡°Bryce¡­¡­ BRYCE!¡±  Rogix cried out as he shook Bryce¡¯s shoulder.


    Swallowing, he looked at Bryce and the other soldiers before taking a deep breath. To tell the others that the ¡®god¡¯ of the Cult was real would be hard. But that animal had to be something this Cult found. It must have been so alien that those old fools didn¡¯t even know what it was.


    ¡°What was that!?¡± Rogix demanded.


    He opened his eyes and saw Rogix had stopped and come back for him. For a second all he could do was look at him as he slowly took back control of his senses.


    ¡°Look, my not a civilian thing? It increases my senses, all of them. And I just heard the sounds of something battling down there. Down the corridor with the corpse. And chanting over there,¡± Bryce said as he pointed up the corridor that didn¡¯t have a body by it.


    Rogix looked at him and then at the path that had the body.


    Bryce knew what he was thinking. Whoever was fighting might be people who could help them against the Cult. It might even be some of the true Lost ones from their Ancestor''s ship. But with everything, just what they should do was something that Bryce couldn¡¯t see. And part of him didn¡¯t want to make the choice.


    ¡°Rogix,¡± Bryce said suddenly.


    When Rogix turned to look at him, the only thing Bryce did was nod.


    ¡°This place is your home. You know the history of this place, who this Cult is the local politics. Whatever you think is best, I¡¯m there helping,¡± Bryce said and nodded.


    Rogix looked around and saw nodes from his soldiers. He took a deep breath and sighed before he looked up.


    ¡°Thanks. These bastards are worse than they ever were when they were first destroyed. I can¡¯t say that we¡¯ll get them all with our numbers. So let¡¯s go see just who else is fighting against them and if we can join them!¡± Rogix said as he pointed towards the corpse. ¡°And remember, we¡¯re in enemy territory!¡±


    Without a word, Rogix led the way. Bryce took a minute to look up the corridor towards where the chanting had taken place. He had seen many shows, plays, and movies where a ¡®Shipwrecked Cult¡¯ was the enemy. But this, this was different. He had heard some people had crashed on worlds with creatures so alien, that they were broken seeing them. But with this strange Power, something was different. He hoped beyond everything that the god they had wasn¡¯t able to use that power. If it could, then they might be in trouble.


    With that last thought, he ran after the others. Clenching his rifle, he readied himself for what was about to happen.

 Chapter One Hundred One

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Chamber Felines sleeping in


    Galactic Standard Time / 0700


    As the Feline Humanoids started to wake up, a white female had already been awake for an hour. She had checked on Harill and to her relief, the old one was still alright. After everything that had happened, the poor old one had fallen apart. the Harill had been raised in a very religious den, and to see a dead Creator had broken him completely.


    Not that the white-furred feline was any better. She had a history that forced her to either draw on religion or her friends for strength. And thankfully she had a friend to be her strength. But she had spent so long listening to the sermons she understood what everyone was feeling.


    ¡°You okay Nyllia?¡± A hard male voice asked from behind.


    Turning the white-furred feline, Nyllia smiled at the voice. It was the Crimson-furred male with the Creator Metal sword over his right shoulder.


    ¡°Oh, Zezill. Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Nyllia said before grinning. ¡°Can you believe it? I¡¯ve gained the Power! And that armor I gave you, I mean! If I can learn to cast it at more than one target, think of what we could do!¡±


    ¡°This alone could change the tide of the War! If it should continue,¡± Zezill said with a snarl.


    Nyllia looked at him and saw that her friend was looking at the Creator Metal they had harvested from his kill. ¡°Are you sure about that? With all that Metal, the Great Smiths could create enough weapons for everyone. This could turn the tide, we could win.¡±


    ¡°And then what, think. Why was war even started according to the old songs?¡± Zezill asked with a sharp look.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Nyllia said as she blinked, everything her friend was saying suddenly making sense. For her entire life, she had been taught that her people fought for the right to succeed them. That one day, those beings would see that her kind was the right one. That they would win the War against the Others and win the Great One¡¯s blessings.


    But the Great Ones were dead, dead so long they had become bones. This one discovery made the entire war pointless! But would the Chiefs of her people see it that way? She didn¡¯t know. They used Religion to hold power, and she had seen what beings would do to get ahead. The unspoken fear that the survivors would be killed by their own, wasn¡¯t too far off.


    ¡°And I¡¯m more worried about what the Chiefs will say about what we found. And the¡­.. implications. Or what they will do to us,¡± Zezill said with a slight growl as he looked around. ¡°We need to talk. And by that I mean the few of us who can even make choices about where to go.¡±


    Nyllia looked at her friend before her smile fell. ¡°Yeah. We do. All of us and the Watchers?¡±


    ¡°Yes. At least our numbers will let us decide fast. I would almost say him too. But with how he is,¡± Zezill said softly. As one they looked at their Trainer, Harill, who was just staring into space. The


    Nyllia felt for him, she did. The old one was the one who believed in their Religion the most besides the priests. And now, after everything they had found he had just shut down. She didn¡¯t know if she was shocked or amused, that the one who pushed them had broken. That line of thinking was wrong, but still. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll be okay?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The Old man believed in them hard, didn¡¯t he? To think that this happened after all that talk of his. It¡¯s not right!¡± Zezill said with a scowl as he flexed his claws as he looked at the elder. ¡°That he gets to take a vacation in his mind while we clean up the mess! If I had a way to get him to heal I¡¯d do it in a claw-slash!¡±


    All Nylia could do was nod, she felt the same. The old man always tried to make her more aggressive. So what if she knew how to heal, that didn¡¯t make her less of a warrior! She knew how to help the injured, and she could kill with the best of them.


    ¡°Everyone, come over here!¡± Zezill called out loudly.


    Letting out a sigh, Nylia looked around and nodded as the others came over. This was what they needed to do to survive. But something told her that this was going to be bad.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zezill looked around as the others stood around, he put the sword down before stepping back. ¡°We all know why we¡¯re here. And what happened plus what we learned. But our leaders are gone or¡­.. incapable. We need to decide where we¡¯re going to go.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s there to decide!? We need to get home!¡± One of the Watchers snarled.


    Zezill only looked at the feline and shook his head. He had often thought that the dead leader of the Watchers found those it liked to join. And that answer told him everything he needed to know about the other Watchers. Maybe they could watch their Harill on the search?


    ¡°He means how will we get back home ya kit!¡± A voice snarled.


    Zezill up at the speaker. Guricall was always backing up whoever spoke sense.


    As Guricall looked at the Watcher with his black eyes, he crossed his pitch black fur and. His weapon, a sling, and dagger were still on his belt so there was that at least.


    ¡°What about back the way we came? Shouldn¡¯t the Bladetongues have left?!¡± The second Watcher asked with hope in his voice.


    It took all Zezill had not to stare at the fool in shock at his stupidity. He was one of the Watchers, he should know the habits of the beasts! Did they do nothing all day but praise their former leader!? And he had to admit, that he kind of expected that from them.


    But Guricall surprisingly didn¡¯t say anything. All he did was chuckle as Zezill shook his head.


    ¡°No, I saw them. That was a mating pair, they have to be building a nest by now. We need another way home!¡± Zezill said with force.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°So they¡¯re turning that place into their home? Will the young leave there and come here then!?¡± The Watcher asked and Zezill blinked.


    He looked at Guricall who had blinked, and opened and closed his mouth. Something about the way his friend was staying quite bothered Zezill a lot.


    ¡°I want to say no, but yeah. This is going to be a big problem before too long,¡± Guricall said with a scowl.


    ¡°Why?¡± The last Watcher asked.


    ¡°Because Bladetongues only leave after their nests are destroyed. And with a home like that chamber, they¡¯ll just breed uncontrolled. And into numbers that¡¯ll make us flee the village!¡± Zezill spat and looked at the Watchers in disgust. ¡°How was a mated pair even nearby?! It¡¯s your job to keep them away!¡±


    The Watchers all looked down and away from the gazes of the others. For a moment, all Zezill could do was stare at them. But the longer he did, the more a strange thought formed in his mind. It was impossible, it was unthinkable! But if it was true¡­¡­. Zezill had to know. ¡°Tell me to my face. Swear by your claws that you didn¡¯t have orders to ignore those things mating.


    But all he was met with was silence until one of the Watchers spoke. ¡°We¡­¡­. Don¡¯t know. The boss went back to report, and when he came back he ordered us to stand down. Only let us hunt around the opening into this place. We never asked after he stopped holding back in spars when we did.¡±


    ¡°Oh. I wasn¡¯t expecting that!¡± Guricall exclaimed as the others took in that bit of information.


    ¡°Me either,¡± Zezill muttered then shook himself. ¡°Well, we have to figure out where to go. Past the room that the Bladetongues are in, or away and hope to find another way back home?¡±


    ¡°How will we even get through the doors? I mean that one held out for generations! So how?¡± Guricall asked, sounding completely defeated.


    ¡°There has to be a way. If the ones who built this place weren¡¯t gods, then there must be. We just have to find a source of food first. And water,¡± Nyllia said softly. As everyone looked at her, she stood straighter and looked around. ¡°We are Warriors, all of us! We have trained and fought to survive the tests! And I will not rollover and die! We can do this! I  say we go away!¡±


    ¡°Away!¡± Another voice roared out.


    ¡°Away! Away!¡± The chanting grew in volume until everyone was chanting.


    Zezill looked around and grinned. ¡°Then our choice is made! We move in five clawslasshes! Watchers, protect and move along the old one! Guricall, Nyllia with me up front!¡±


    As the others went to prepare to leave, Guricall came over to him and looked at him for a few seconds. ¡°If we can¡¯t find anything to eat, this will be pointless. You know that brother?¡±


    Zezill nodded, feeling the same thing Guricall did. But the only other option was to die to the Bladetongues. Despite everything, he couldn¡¯t see anything else that they could do. ¡°I know, but we need hope. You have to know that. And this started because something opened the door, you know that. If something could do that, we could. And we might already know what the keys are.¡±


    Zezill let his gaze sweep over to Harill and looked at him. His state was because of what they found. The dead body of one of the Creators, one reduced to a skeleton. A skeleton that didn¡¯t have a hand attached to it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Guricall went still before looking at Zezill. Following his friend¡¯s gaze, he saw Zezill was looking at Harill. As he watched, Harill was muttering his prayers to the Creators loud enough for them to hear him. Guricall felt terrible about how the old man was acting, how he had gone crazy. The old one was a firm believer in the religion their people had crafted. But what did Zezill mean by looking at him? Before he could even think of what to say, it hit him.


    ¡°Oh. The bodies of the ¡®Makers¡¯, that¡¯s the key!?¡± Guricall asked, completely shocked.


    All that Zezill did was nod.


    Guricall had to admit, that this was a very dangerous idea. To put all their chances on that being true, was supremely risky. But they didn¡¯t have anything else to do but sit and die. ¡°You lead, I¡¯ll follow.¡±


    Zezill only nodded and walked off towards the door. After a moment, Guricall followed after him.


    Five minutes later, the group walked out into the hallway. Guricall looked towards the door they had first escaped from. He could hear the cries of the Bladetongues in there. For a single moment, he almost tried to think of an argument. A plan that might work to get through them, then he stopped. The cries had raised in volume, there were at least enough to make a small flock. The small group that they had? They would all die before they could even get to the door to the forest floor.


    Turning away, he saw the others had moved on, Harill and the Watchers at the back. With a small shake of his head, he moved after them. Moving faster, he soon was next to Zezill and Nyllia.


    Nyllia looked at him and he could detect the scent of joy from her. He kept silent as she giggled a little.


    ¡°Watching our back my friend?¡± Nyllia asked and Guricall shook his head.


    ¡°Was seeing if there was anything we could do to get by the ¡®tongues. Nothing, and there are more of them there now. We don¡¯t have a choice. Think we¡¯re going the right way at least?¡± Guricall asked with a sigh.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But we don¡¯t have a choice. We¡¯ll stop and look into each door. We might get lucky,¡± Zezill said with a sigh.


    For the next half an hour, they traveled in silence. Each door they came across doors was locked tight. And with every failure to get into a room, their moral fell lower each time. All they needed to do was get lucky once, and then they might survive this nightmare.


    ¡°¡­.So I know you said not to, but maybe we could try and take the blades from their tongues?¡± One of the Watchers asked.


    Guricall thought that he couldn¡¯t think any lower of the Watchers, but there it was. The hunting method of taking the blade meant to let the Bladetongue attack first. Once the blade was stuck, then cut off its tongue to let it bleed to death. With only one of them and luck, it was possible. The trick was only used against loners, and still, those hunters who were bait usually died. But with a flock, even a small one? That was courting death for them all! As he looked over his shoulder, he saw that the faces of the others had changed slightly. They were losing their morale fast, and the Watchers''s idea sounded good. Someone needed to stop this and fast if they wanted to stay alive.


    Zezill must have seen what Guricall had, for he whistled and everyone looked at him.


    ¡°That hunting trick? You know the chances of death are high with that!¡± Zezill spat and the Watchers looked at him with somber looks.


    ¡°But it might be the only chance we have of seeing our tribe again!¡± One of the Watchers said with a sorrowful look.


    ¡°Will one of you three volunteer to be bait then?¡± Zezill asked abruptly.


    Guricall looked at the Watchers as all of them looked away and he chuckled. He was starting to get the Watcher¡¯s measure, and he didn¡¯t like them. They might have been brave warriors at one point, but now they were scared fools. They were barely keeping Harill following along behind them, and Harill was still a mess!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zezill barely kept his wraith from the Watchers as he stared at them. Their reaction had done all he needed to know about what these ¡®Warriors¡¯ were. He didn¡¯t know what would happen to them if they were like that before their former leader got a hold of them. And he didn¡¯t care, all he knew was that they needed each other to survive. That had to be enough, and they needed something.


    Ahead of them, the path branched off into a cross. Stopping, he closed his eyes and tried to focus. There had to be a clue, something that would let him know where to go. As he looked around, he suddenly smelled something. He turned towards the right, closer to the scent. It smelled of plants and more importantly, water. Fresh, wonderful water.


    ¡°Can you smell that?¡± Guricall asked in awe.


    Zezill nodded, looking down the right path, and took a deep sniff. There was something else there, something that smelled delicious. ¡°Yeah. But can you smell the other scent?¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Nyllia asked in wonder as the others caught the scents.


    The rest of the group looked at each other, hope growing in their eyes. The fact that they might have found water was something that they couldn¡¯t believe. And the other scents told of food being there.


    ¡°I¡¯ll lead!¡± Zezill said as he dashed forward, changing his stance to charge on all four limbs. The others fell in behind him, only the Watchers and Harill staying upright. As they ran closer, the scent of the water increased, stronger than anything he had ever smelled. The stories about the War Front told of a great thing of Water, was this that? But then how had they made it there with how far away it was?


    Nothing about this place made sense to him, and that was fine. He had always thought there was some lie in his Tribe¡¯s religion. It wasn¡¯t something definite, just something at the edge of his mind that told him, this was wrong. He hadn¡¯t spoken of it, having seen what happened to those who had. But with their discovery that at least one of the Makers was dead, his mind had gone blank. That meant that the Religion they had was broken, or it was made to control them all by the Chiefs. And he had to be honest, he didn''t know how to feel about that idea.


    Turning the corner as the scents grew stronger, they turned a corner. Zezill was finally able to see where the scent was coming from, an open door ahead of them, and he cried out. As one the group rose to their feet and Zezill held up his hand.


    Moving towards the door, he saw that there was a wall five feet from the opening. Sticking his head into the doorway, he looked to the left, seeing only another wall. Finally turning to his right, he saw something that took his breath away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Nyllia looked at Zezill who had gone still. The only time that happened was when he was shocked and she hoped this was a good shock.


    ¡°Zezill? What is it?¡± Guricall called out as his hand went to his dagger.


    ¡°Just what we needed! Come on!¡± Zezill exclaimed as he dashed into the door.


    The others followed after him, leaving only Guricall and Nyllia. Moments later cries of joy came from within. Nyllia looked at Guricall who shrugged and grinned wide.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go! I want some of that water!¡± Guricall exclaimed as he ran through the door.


    As he cried out in joy within, Nyllia looked at the Watchers as they finally reached her. As Harill walked through the doorway, Nyllia looked around with worry in her heart. Something was there, something just at the edge of her senses. But the cries from within finally got to her and she turned, walking into it. When she saw what was there, she grinned and felt a tear leave her eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s so beautiful!¡± Nyllia said with joy in her heart.


    Farther down the hallway, a hooded face looked out from an intersection. The figure only chuckled as he watched the Felines move into the doorway. ¡°More sacrifices for the God, perfect! And they¡¯re already in that place! All we need to do is get the others and the God will feed well tonight!¡±


    The figure turned and ran away, a symbol of the Beast Cult on its back.

 Chapter One Hundred and Two

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Discovered Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / 0745


    Nyllia looked around at the bounty before her. The doorway had come into a large chamber that was a hundred feet wide in both directions from where she was. And the chamber was so long that it disappeared into the distance. She was on top of a slop with a walkway a good ten feet wide, beyond that was a hill that went down twenty feet at a slight slant. The hill and twenty feet beyond that was covered in purple grass and small violet bushes. And all over the shore were thick green reed-like stalks rising from the water, and on the reeds were purple pods. She could see everyone was drinking the water, crying out in joy as they just fed at last.


    As she watched one of the others grabbed a pod from one of the plants, eagerly biting into it.


    ¡°It tastes so good!¡± The one who ate said with a laugh.


    For a second all Nyllia could do was stare in shock. She had been so hungry that she thought she might pass out soon. But then she saw all of this as if this was a gift from the divine themselves.


    ¡°Hey Nyllia!¡± A voice caused her to look down at one of the others. He was grinning and gesturing at her. ¡°Come on! This water is great!¡±


    Nyllia could only look around for a moment, trying to find a threat. Then she started to laugh! ¡°Yeah, thanks!¡±


    She grinned as she ran down the hill. After everything that had happened, they found this place. This oasis was perfect, just what they needed, a place they could rest. They could send out parties to explore this strange Realm, and then find a way back to their people.


    As soon as she reached the water, she sank to her knees and put her head into the water, drinking deeply. It was unlike anything that she had ever tasted before. It had a strange flavor to it that agreed with her stomach so well! As she moved back she saw something moving beneath the surface. She looked at it for a moment before she grinned. She went still as it came closer, close enough that she could strike. She shot her right hand down into the water, grabbing it. She felt the weight of it, it was heavier than she thought. As it fought her and tried to break free, she fell backwards. As soon as what she caught was in the air, she started to slam it onto the ground a few times.


    She smiled as she looked at her catch and laughed. Before her eyes was a large green fish at least two feet long and three wide and tall. It had two flippers on both sides of its body, both pointing straight up. It had four eyes and they were in an ¡®X¡¯ formation above a fang-filled maw.


    ¡°FISH, THERE ARE FISH HERE!¡± One of the Watchers cried with excitement in his voice.


    Nyllia smiled as she looked at her catch, excitement filling her. The few river fish the tribe was able to harvest were few and far between and reserved for religious meals. Most of those here had only been able to eat a few chunks here and there over the years. To think that this place might have so many fish, was something that she couldn¡¯t believe.


    ¡°Somebody start cutting some kindling, let''s catch and cook these!¡± Guricall called out with joy as he held up a fish he had speared with his knife.


    As two of the others went about that, Guricall cut off the top three feet of one of the stalks. As Nyllia watched, he used some rope and his knife to make a spear. She stared in shock as he started to use his spear to hunt the fish.


    As she laughed she looked around, seeing Zezill look around and frown. With a smirk on her face, she walked towards him.


    ¡°So what¡¯s wrong?¡± Nyllia asked as soon as she reached him.


    Zezill turned and looked at her, shrugging as he did so. ¡°Don¡¯t know. There¡¯s just something about this place that¡¯s bothering me. Are there other doors open here leading to other places like this? If so how are we the first living things to make it here? This place is so great, something should have made this place their lair by now!¡±


    Nyllia almost chuckled before she blinked. He was right, this place was perfect for anything to make their nest. ¡°And why was the door open here? Did the Makers before they die?¡±


    They both looked up as Guricall cried out. They saw him at the top of the hill, on the hard surface making a small fire. As the others all brought at least one fish up the hill, Zezill chuckled.


    Zezill looked at Nyllia and smirked, laughter in his eyes. ¡°Come Nyllia, let¡¯s eat. After we¡¯ve had a bit let¡¯s send someone to guard the door. At the very least we can keep from being ambushed here.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    An eye stalk rose from the mass and looked around. It felt what passed for shock as it caught sight of what was above the mass all life lived in. There were strange creatures that seemed to move about the empty easily. But the only life around could only move through the mass. It looked at them and brought up more of its eye stalks, trying to understand these things. As they moved around, they seemed to be gathering the taste food things. It felt rage grow within it, this was its hunting place!


    How dare these things hunt here from the void! It was the strongest around here, it ate first. Only when it left did others dare to eat at its dropping! If those things wanted to destroy everything that was right here, then they would face it! bellow, its body started to take in massive amounts of the mass. When its third stomach fill, it will be able to fight and kill in the empty! It prepared itself to fight and clenched and unclenched its manipulators. Soon, once it was ready it would kill all those that dared to challenge it!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he stared into space, Harill tried to fight free. After everything he had dealt with throughout his life, he had been stuck in a mental loop. He had built himself up after everything happened to him with Religion. The fact that the Makers intended them to fight for the right to succeed them. But to find a skeleton of one of them had broken him. He felt his mouth open and then close before an amazing taste exploded within him.


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    He shook his head, blinking as he looked around. He was sitting by a body of water that disappeared into the distance. He was on purple grass and before him was the largest portion of fish he had ever seen! He looked around, taking in the hill, the water, and the grass. He saw the few members of his tribe that were here and felt a spark of horror. ¡°What happened to the others!?¡±


    ¡°Trainer Harill?! You¡¯re okay!¡± Nyllia''s voice shocked him. Harill looked up and saw Nyllia standing a few feet away, with both Zezill and Guricall by her. There were whole fishes around them, and a fire before him.


    ¡°Good to see you¡¯re back sir!¡± Zezill said with a smirk.


    Harill looked at his best student and then saw the Creator Metal blade by him. He stared in shock and blinked a few times. ¡°How did you get that weapon!?¡±


    ¡°Oh, this?¡± Zezill asked and looked a bit hesitant to speak. It took Guricall nudging Zezill with his elbow to get Zezill to start speaking. ¡°Picked it up when its last owner died. That happened after you broke sir.¡±


    ¡°He died!? But he ¡­¡­ he wasn¡¯t worthy of that blade, was he?¡± Harill asked, feeling completely done with everything. He had taken his class along at the Watcher Leader¡¯s orders because of the weapon the feline had! To discover that the beast hadn¡¯t even earned the weapon! Harill only took a deep breath before releasing it. He gathered the remains of his dignity to him before looking up at his three students. ¡° I¡¯m sorry that my weakness to disobey him caused us all to die.¡±


    ¡°Die? What are you talking about!?¡± Guricall asked with a dumbfounded look.


    ¡°Is this not the heavens? The lands of plenty?¡± Harill asked with a shocked expression. Everything fit. The fish, the water, and the peace. This had to be the place that they were told of, the afterlife!


    The others looked at him before all three of them started to laugh.


    ¡°We¡¯re not dead sir! We¡¯re alive sir!¡± Nyllia said with a grin.


    Harill looked around, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. He just blinked and slowly looked back at the others. ¡°Then where are we?¡±


    A screech caused them all to turn. They stared in horror as water erupted upwards, revealing what had broken the surface. It was large, at least fifteen feet tall. Its body was bulky from side to side, at least five feet wide. It had an armored shell on its back and from there, four tentacles that ended in pincers waved. Its four limbs were long, at least five feet long and all four ended in six powerful-looking claws. Its head was oval-shaped on a foot-long neck. It had three eyes above a long muzzle with large fangs that went down and up a foot in length.


    As everyone looked at it as it landed on the land its muzzle swung open down the middle. It revealed a circular maw with needle-like teeth beneath its eyes. For a second everything was still before it pointed its head up and roared.


    As the others screamed Harill just looked at the monster in horror. ¡°So this isn¡¯t the good place.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zezill looked at the monster and gritted his teeth. ¡°Move, everyone run to the door!¡±


    As they all reacted, Zezill saw the Watchers try to join in the rush. ¡°NO! You three get trainer Harill away! If anyone is injured get them out!¡±


    ¡°So the three of us against that? Not bad!¡± Guricall snarled as he brought out his spear.


    They watched as two felines that were the nearest to the waters tried to run away, but one tripped. As the monster moved closer to it, the monster¡¯s claw tentacles started to click open and close.


    ¡°Two of us. Nyllia used your Power on the two of us, then get out of here! If you have to try the Watcher¡¯s plan, use them!¡± Zezill barked.


    Nyllia looked at them and then nodded. She pointed at Zezzil and within moments the same energy armor as before covered him. With a grin, he roared and charged at the monster as it moved towards one of the felines. With the increased strength and speed, he was there in a moment, blocking the limb with his blade. As the claws bounced off the sword, he looked at the feline that had fallen, trying to figure out how to save them.


    But before he could make a move, Guricall was there. He had the same energy armor over his body that Zezzil did, smirking at his friend as he helped the other feline. ¡°So this is how you got away last time? Nice! Our girl is something else!¡±


    ¡°She is!¡± Zezzil said with a laugh as Guricall grabbed the fallen feline. He jumped away with them both under his arms just before another tentacle hit where the three of them had been. This tentacle Zezill slashed off just behind the claw. The monster screeched in pain, turning its head to glare at Zezill. It sent the remaining clawed tentacles at Zezill who jumped to the side. He landed in a roll. He traveled three feet before springing back to his feet and looked at the monster.


    It glared at him before something hit and destroyed its rightmost eye. As it roared in pain, blood came from its eye socket, and Zezill was able to see the stone there.


    ¡°Got you monster! Try and kill us now!¡± Guricall roared from Zezill¡¯s left.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Guricall looked down as he glared at the beast from the middle of the hill. It looked in his direction and opened its mouth before its throat neck started to bulge up. But this bulge traveled up the throat, almost if¡­.¡°OH FOREST!¡±


    Guricall lunged to the side as the maw opened before a screech filled the air. The space he had been before suddenly burst upwards as if something had struck it. He landed five feet away and saw that there was a crater three feet wide where he had been. He felt his pulse quicken as he realized this thing was able to use its scream to attack at a distance. There had never been such an organic weapon encountered by the tribe, so it surprised him. But as he was trained to do, he put those feelings aside and knew he had to kill this creature before it killed them!


    With a roar, he grabbed one of the freed rocks and started to swing his sling. As he spun it around he saw the monster look at him.


    ¡°HERE BEAST, HERE! COME AND GET ME!¡± Zezill cried out as he ran at the beast. His voice caused the monster to look at him and it glared at him with its remaining eyes.


    ¡°Zezill, get to its blind spot!¡± Guricall roared as he flung the stone, this one hitting one of the pincers on the beast''s tentacles.


    As it turned to look at Guricall, Zezill took the time to jump and cut off another of the tentacles, this one halfway down. As the monster roared Guricall grinned and grabbed another stone. ¡°Zezill, keep it mad! I¡¯ve got a trick I want to try on it!¡±


    ¡°Got it! Let¡¯s see how much longer you¡¯ll last monster!¡± Zezill roared in glee.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The creature felt such pain like it had never felt before. To think that these things were giving it such trouble! It had lost an eye and it was down two tentacles. The tentacles it would regrow, but the eye, might not. If it took the power of something that could, it might. But first, it needed fuel to regain its tentacles and pincers, and it was fighting good sources. It would have to stay in the empty for as long as its eye took to scab over, so it had nothing to do but kill. After these two were dead, it would take its time and hunt the others. There was nothing that they could go, it had hunted in the empty before and the blockage would stop them. Soon it would have revenge on those that dared to hurt their better.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she watched from the top of the hill, Nyllia could only feel concern for her friends. This monster they were fighting, was terrible. It was thankfully not that fast, as it moved slower than anything she had ever seen before. But it was still standing there, trying to kill Zezill. Even with her power, they were still reacting to it.


    ¡°How¡­.. you¡¯ve gained the power during the fight,¡± Harill said from behind her.


    She looked and saw Harill, with a look of such pain on his face. She knew what he was feeling. The ¡®Battle awakenings¡¯ were said to happen when one¡¯s life was on the line. The fact that hers wasn¡¯t like that was something she was shocked at.


    ¡°It was worry that woke it up, sir. I don¡¯t blame you either,¡± Nyllia said softly.


    ¡°Yeah, none of us do!¡± One of the other trainees said with a laugh in their voice.


    They both turned and saw the trainees all looking at him with respect in their eyes.


    ¡°Most of the higher-ups would have sent us alone, you came. And that¡¯s something we¡¯ll always respect about you sir,¡± Another trainee said with a grin on their face.


    Nyllia looked at their trainer as he turned away, everyone knew it was so they wouldn¡¯t see him cry. The old cat was proud and lived by a code that was dying out. But none of them could discount his honor.


    ¡°HEY! We¡¯ve got something here!¡± One of the Watchers cried out.


    Nyllia looked up, once everyone had made it here, she had sent the Watchers to guard the door. She didn¡¯t expect anything, but something told her they needed guards. And here was the proof. Pushing through the others, she dashed towards the door. Once there she looked out, seeing ten figures in cloaks coming towards them. As she watched their bodies started to change, growing larger or gaining wings.


    She looked at the doorway, trying to find the door itself. ¡°Close the door!¡±


    Nyllia tried to get back inside when something wrapped around her right shoulder and pulled her backwards. She tried to break free but she felt something shock her. As her vision darkened, she felt only despair. The last thought she had was that she hoped that the power she had granted her friends would remain. If not, then all of her own would die.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as Nyllia screamed, Harill ran forward. He had to try and save his student, he had to. As the Watchers started to close the door, he saw that whatever was attacking was holding it open. holding it by a large oversized arm.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go through, close it behind me!¡± Harill ordered and the Watchers looked at him.


    ¡°Alone! You¡¯ll die!¡± One of his students cried out in fear.


    He looked at them and smiled. ¡°One life for many. Tell the people the truth!¡±


    As he drew his sword, he roared and slashed off the oversized limb holding the door open. He slipped through the door before it closed. He saw Nyllia being held by something with twin masses of tentacles instead of arms. He grinned as he took in the bulky ones and the fliers.


    ¡°Come monsters! Face my blades!¡± Harill roared as he charged at the nearest creature. He knew that he would fail, but the longer the fight went, the more chances Zezill and Guricall had to kill theirs.

 Chapter One Hundred Three

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Discovered Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / 0800


    Zezill smirked as he looked at the monster that had come from the waters. So far he and Guricall had been handling it just fine. Soon they would kill this thing before getting out of here. This place was fine to visit, but he wouldn¡¯t want to live here if this was one of the natives. The best thing to do is take what they need and then get out before more of these things come.


    He saw the monster extend its head to aim at Guricall and smirked. He might be able to kill it fast if he could slice its neck deep enough. With the help of Nyllia Power, this would be easy!


    But then he felt something change. Looking down for an instant he saw the energy armor that Nyllia had given him was gone! He moved to the side as one of the pincer claws flew by him, but the claws slashed open a small cut on his arm. He knew then and there that they might have to retreat, if only so Nyllia could recast her Power on them.


    ¡°What happened!?¡± Guricall exclaimed from up the hill.


    ¡°Nyllia¡¯s power must have a timer! Go and get it recast! I¡¯ll hold the line!¡± Zezill said as he kept his eyes locked on his target.


    As Guricall ran back to the others, Zezill looked at the monster before him. With a snarl on his face, he saw it aiming its mouth at Guricall. With a thought, he roared and charged. He might not have Nyllia¡¯s help, but he was a warrior with a Creator Metal Sword! And that was one of the deadliest combinations in their world!


    He slashed at one of the tentacles as it came at him, cutting through it. As the monster roared it turned and looked right at him. With a growl, it opened its mouth again and Zezill saw its throat start to bulge at the back. ¡°Not again!¡±


    Zezill started to run along the shore, the monster following him with its head. As he ran, he looked right at the monster¡¯s head. Just before it fired, he jumped towards the sea. The blast hit where he had been, and the blast wave threw him another two feet as.


    Zezill tried to up slowly from where he had landed. He looked up and saw the monster walking towards him as fast as it could. But thankfully the beast could only move slowly. He saw that its last tentacle was in the water and seemed to be drinking it. As he tried to figure out what was happening a war cry sounded from the hill.


    Smiling, he got to all fours with his blade in his mouth and ran. Within moments he had moved a distance of ten feet and looked at the hill. He stared in shock as he saw Guricall was back, without energy armor! For a moment, Zezill only stared in shock. But then he realized that there was only one reason Guricall would be back without the armor. That one reason was if something had happened to their friend.


    ¡°Is Nyllia okay!?¡± Zezill bellowed as he got back to his feet, looking at the monster with his sword in his hand.


    ¡°Something attacked the others! And Master Harill went out the door so the others could close it behind him!¡± Guricall snarled.


    For a moment, Zezill didn¡¯t think he understood what his friend said. But after a moment, he did and said one sentence softly. ¡°They did what?¡±


    Before he could react, a roar caused him to glare at the monster. This thing would have to be dealt with first. Master Harill always said never to leave an enemy alive behind them after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter looked at the two empty walkers as they talked to each other. It could tell they were communicating but it had no idea how. But the claws of one of them were very sharp. It could feel the maimed tentacles slowly regenerating in its shell, but it would take time. These creatures were terrible in the empty, how much worse were they in the mass? It had to kill these things here and now!


    As another barb hit its neck, it looked up and saw the long clawer looking at it. both of them had dodged its battle spit, but they were weaker now. Something must have changed, and it thought it knew. They were losing their stored mass to breathe! It could feel that it was slowly regaining the mass with its lone tentacle, but now what? It could only do one more roar and then it would have to retreat soon after.


    But then that would show that it was a prey thing. It had to kill at least one of them before it could do that. Looking at the far claw, it prepared to strike.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the monster pulled its head to its shell, Zezill felt a spike of fear. Something was wrong, it was doing something it hadn¡¯t before. Before he could cry out, it pointed its last tentacle at Guricall and fired a blast of water. Guricall tried to move but he was blasted into the hill as the monster started to move towards him.


    As another tentacle rose from the shell, Zezill looked at his friend and tried to think of what to do. so many things had gone wrong, and he had to deal with them all. for a moment all that he could feel was the rage unlike anything he had ever felt before. He felt it as a burning that grew within him. Finally, it reached the limit and then he felt the heat going through his body. Suddenly, he knew exactly what to do next.


    With a roar, he felt the heat flow through him as a green energy aura covered his body. He raised his sword as a strange and unknown energy covered it. Somehow, he knew that all he had to do was slash down and everything would end. He slashed down, and a green energy cone flew from his sword and drilled into the monster. The drill went through the beast with a loud crack, and water burst out the other side. The monster took another step forward before it fell to the ground, mere feet from Guricall.


    Guricall looked at the dead monster and then at his friend, smiling as he did so. He had to admit, that for a second he didn¡¯t understand what had happened. The force of the water had pushed him against the wall, and he couldn¡¯t move. No matter what he tried, he had been stuck. But then his friend had roared and the monster was dead. He didn¡¯t understand it, but somehow Zezill had oneshot the beast. He looked around and found his friend panting as a green energy aura died down.


    ¡°ZEZILL!¡± Guricall cried as he ran down the hill. When he reached his friend, he helped Zezill stand on his own feet. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it was a Battle Awakening. I would have fallen but I¡¯m just feeling weak. We can figure it out later, we need to get up there now!¡± Zezill snarled as he forced himself to take a step.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    He almost dropped again but Guricall caught him and put Zezill¡¯s free arm over his shoulder. ¡°Come on pal, I¡¯ve got ya. Only a few steps up.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Zezill muttered and as one they walked up the hill.


    As he walked, Guricall looked behind him and saw the body of the monster slowly start to heal. For a moment he almost reacted but he kept silent. If that monster wasn¡¯t dead already or dying, then he didn¡¯t know what they could do. if it was still alive, letting it live as they escaped this hell was the best thing to do. With the feast they had, they would be able to fight on for another few days.


    ¡°You see anything?¡± Zezill asked softly.


    For a second Guricall almost stayed silent, but he heard the note of worry in Zezill¡¯s voice. and with a sigh, he made a choice. He turned his head around and kept walking as he took a firmer hold on Zezill. ¡°Your bro might have knocked it out, or it''s still healing after that blow of yours.¡±


    ¡°Keep moving, just keep moving bro. I¡¯m spent and we need to find Nyllia!¡± Zezill said softly. ¡°And keep it from the others, tell them we might have seen another one coming when we leave.¡±


    Guricall was shocked. He had lived with Zezill in the training barracks for half a year, but his friend kept surprising him. But then he felt his heart freeze as he realized why his friend thought they had to lie.


    ¡°Smart, I wouldn¡¯t trust those Watchers not to kill us all for glory,¡± Guricall muttered.


    ¡°Or one of the others,¡± Zezill said as they crested the hill. They saw the others holding the door closed with all their might and Guricall swallowed.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As his strength returned, Zezill looked at the others and shook his head. ¡°What happened!?¡±


    One of the Watchers turned and swallowed as he saw them. ¡°We got attacked! Humanoids we think, but they could shapeshift! I would have thought it was the things at the Battle Lines but then these can change! One of them grabbed Miss Nyllia first. Then when they tried to get in Sir Harill cut that off before charging out!¡±


    ¡°It was all we could do to keep the door closed!¡± One of the warriors said as they pointed at something.


    At this, Zezill looked and saw a large arm the size of his torso. He blinked and then he looked at Guricall who¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock.


    ¡°That¡¯s an arm!?¡± Guricall breathed with horror in his voice.


    Zezill looked at the arm, trying to understand how Harill could have cut it off. It looked too strong for any normal being to cut through, even with a Creator Metal Sword. But then he looked down and saw a liquid was flowing from under the door.


    Looking at the others, he took a deep breath. ¡°Is anyone trying to get in?¡±


    One of the Watchers shook their head. ¡°Once we closed the door, it was like they just stopped. I can¡¯t explain it. This door is a Wonder!¡±


    Zezill looked at them and shook his head. ¡°A  wonder you say? What about that?¡±


    As Zezill pointed down, everyone looked and saw the liquid. They all stepped away and stared in shocked horror. The reason? The liquid was a deep blue with red streaks.


    ¡°What is this?¡± One of the Warriors asked in horror.


    ¡°Open the door,¡± Zezill said softly as he gripped his blade.


    ¡°What?!¡± The last Watchers asked in shock and Zezill just grabbed their neck, pulling him close.


    ¡°I said open that door now!¡± Zezill barked with rage as he bared his teeth.


    The Watcher looked around but they found Guricall with his dagger out, and looking right at him.


    Swallowing one of the Watchers found the latch and undid. The others all drew their weapons while Zezill dropped the Watcher he had been holding. As the door slipped open, nothing happened. But they all smelled the scent of death.


    With a scowl on his face, Zezill dashed out and stopped, staring at what was beyond.


    Guricall followed after and his mouth dropped open. As the others all came out, they stared at a charnel field. There were three dead bulky beings all around the halls. Three corpses that had wings were by them, and the bodies of normal humanoids in robes were here and there. All but the normal bodies had cuts and slashes and bleed the blue liquid, their blood. Looking ahead, they saw a trail of blood led away into the distance.


    ¡°Master Harill did all this!?¡± One of the Watchers asked in shock.


    ¡°But he¡¯s just a trainer! If he could do this he would be at the Battle Line!¡± One of the Warriors exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Nobody normal could have cut that arm off like that,¡± Zezill said with a hard face.


    Looking behind them, Zezill finally found Harill. He was leaning against another of the bulky large ones. Head was hanging and his blade was slick with the blue liquid.


    Gasps came from some of the others as they saw him as well.


    ¡°Sir Harill!¡± One of the Warriors cried out. They all would have run to him if Zezill hadn¡¯t thrown his arm out to block them.


    ¡°Watchers, follow the trail of blood until you turn, then send one back! Warriors, guard beyond the Master! Guricall, with me!¡± Zezill bellowed and ran towards Harill. As the others did what he ordered, he dropped to check if Harill was still alive.


    ¡°How is he?¡± Guricall asked as he looked around.


    Zezill moved his hand closer to Harill¡¯s neck. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s¡­..¡±


    Harill suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed Zezill¡¯s hand, glaring at Guricall.


    ¡°I¡¯m still strong enough to tan your hide brat!¡± Harill said with a scowl as he tried to get up.


    ¡°What happened here, sir?¡± Zezill asked as Harill got up.


    Harill stretched before he used his sword to hold himself up. ¡°What happened was those beasts were after Nyllia! Once they had her they escaped, these things are here because I killed them! Those monsters tried to keep me from following her, but I did. I did!¡±


    ¡°Master, what happened?¡± Guricall asked as he looked away from Harill.


    Zezill only shook his head, exasperated by how the two of them always acted with each other.


    ¡°While I was killing those things, three more of the Bulky ones stayed away from me. Once I killed this one I got hit and was knocked out. But I saw the scum carrying her this way,¡± Harill said with effort.


    Zezill looked at Harill, blinking as he did so. There was only one way to understand Harill, and that was against everything this place looked like. The only way this would happen was¡­¡­.


    ¡°Master Harill! The ones that took her, they went that way!?¡± Zezill asked with horror as he pointed beyond Harill. As Harill nodded, Zezill looked where he had sent the Watchers. ¡°By the First Claw! Everyone, go find where they went, same orders as the Watchers but that way!¡±


    ¡°Thinking what I am brother?¡± Gruicall asked and Zezill only nodded.


    He cursed himself as he looked towards where the Watchers had gone. As much as he thought they were cowards, they didn¡¯t deserve what was coming. ¡°Let¡¯s move, Master Harill! You¡¯re in charge!¡±


    ¡°Go brats,¡± Harill said as he got back to his feet and steadied himself, removing his sword from the ground.


    Both Zezill and Guricall ran away, transitioning to all fours as they left the area of bodies.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the Watchers moved along the corridors, they followed the blood trail. The smell of blood was so heavy that nothing else registered to them all.


    ¡°What were they after? How did they know she was a Power user?¡± One of the Watchers asked.


    The second Watcher looked at the first and shrugged. ¡°A Power to know other Power Users?¡±


    ¡°Be serious!¡± The third Watcher spat and the second bristled.


    ¡°I am! Powers don¡¯t make sense! So who are we to say that there isn¡¯t a Power to identify Power Users?!¡± The second Watcher demanded as they glared at the third.


    The third looked at the second as the first moved on. The third¡¯s mouth opened and closed before nodding after a few moments. ¡°That makes sense.¡±


    ¡°Told you so!¡± The second said with a glare.


    The first only closed their eyes for a moment, cursing the two of them in their head.


    But then reached a three-way intersection. Looking to the right, all three of them saw the source of the blood they were tracking. One of the Bulky ones was against a wall five feet away. But unlike the others the Watchers had seen, this one seemed to have come here to die.


    ¡°What is this?¡± The second Watcher asked in horror.


    ¡°Good question. This doesn¡¯t make sense, why would any animal¡­.. they¡¯re not animals!¡± The third Watcher exclaimed.


    ¡°What?! Then what are they!?¡± The first Watcher spat. If they weren¡¯t animals then they could think! Why had they gone here to die then!? But before they could think of anything else, something wrapped around their neck! Before they could even screech in fear, they were being strangled.


    The other two looked up at the gurgle and saw the tentacle around their comrade''s neck. Following the tentacle they saw where it had come from and wished they hadn''t. Above them were four bipeds with masses of tentacles for arms hanging off the ceiling. Two of them dropped towards the Watchers who screeched and lunged to the sides.


    As soon as the two figures hit the ground, they each attacked a Watcher. Drawing their blades, the Watchers tried to defend themselves.


    As the second Watcher grappled with his foe, they looked up. They saw the first Watcher being carried away back to where the Felines had come from.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they ran down the hallway, Guricall cursed himself. He should have seen that the scene looked too perfect! The way the monsters were all set that they went the other way, that was the perfect cover! Any being that could think and tried to escape would have set a false trail! He could see everything that happened in his mind. All he could hope was that they reached the others before the trap was sprung. But the cries ahead of them caused that hope to die. Looking up at the ceiling,


    ¡°There they are Zezill! I¡¯ve got the two up there! You help the Watchers!¡± Gurricall cried as he fired his sling at the figure holding the other Watcher. As soon as the stone hit, the figure cried out and released the Watcher and fell with them. As they hit the ground, Gurrical was there suddenly and slit the figure¡¯s throat.


    As the blue blood seeped out the other figure above tried to attack. But the Watcher drew their weapon and implored the figure by jumping up.


    While that happened Zezill had slashed off one of the other two figures head. As soon as they all gathered around the last figure with its captive Watcher, the figure growled.


    ¡°Let him go and you can live. Do anything and you die,¡± Zezill said coldly.


    The Figure only growled and as the Watched started to chock, the two yellow eyes glowed in the figure¡¯s cloak. It started to spew a strange and mad-sounding tongue that none of them understand, then it went still. The captive Watcher had driven a hidden dagger into the figure¡¯s heart.


    As the Watcher stepped away, the figure fell. As it fell, its hood moved and revealed bare skin with one green eye.


    As the others stared, Guricall looked at Zezill.


    All that Zezill did was look at the corpse for a moment before turning to the others. ¡°Back to the rest of our people, now!¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Four

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Corridor


    Galactic Standard Time / 0835


    As Zezill led the way, he scowled to himself. It had been smart to keep the monster from attacking the others, but still! If that thing hadn¡¯t had a range attack, then his actions would have been pointless. And he couldn¡¯t fault the others for what they did, that would be stupid. If there are things you don¡¯t know attacking, hide. That was the wisdom of the Tribe, and it wasn¡¯t their fault these monsters captured Nyl. But when they reached the monsters he would kill them with his claws if she was hurt. But the best thing they could do was split up. And because of the threat these things represented, they were all running on their hind legs only. While they were slower it was easier to defend if they were ambushed.


    The group he was leading was Guricall and the Warriors. The Watchers with Sir Harill headed towards the place they had slept at. If the group didn¡¯t come back for them in six hours, they were to think they were on their own. If they all died, the Watchers and Harill would have to get back to the Tribe on their own.


    There was a chance that the others in their tribe might throw out the Bladetongues. The Tribe had to know the truths that had been found here. First, the Makers were dead, and the Enemy had also made it into the Forbidden Realm.


    Even as he ran, he thought about what those could do here. They could send a war party and kill their kits, attack the Battle Line from behind, and slaughter all of them. And the ability to shapeshift? For the Enemy to have all those Power users with the same Ability, it was impossible. If they did, then the Tribe needed to find something to balance things out again. If they tried to negotiate a cease-fire from a position of weakness, who knows what would happen?


    For now, he had to focus. If they found their friend, they would find who took her. If they found who took her, they would know where they had run to. And if they knew that, they would know how to kill them.


    Just when he was going to say they should retreat, Zezill picked up Nyllia''s scent at an intersection. He gazed at where the scent came from and saw drops of blood on the ground.


    ¡°That girl! She must have woken up and used her claws or fangs to leave a trail!¡± Guricall exclaimed and laughed.


    All Zezzil could do was grin as he ran, soon they would find their friend, he was sure of it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Guricall smirked as he ran behind Zezill. He had always thought that Nyllia was one of the best Warriors in their group, and this proved it! But had her Power helped her wake up or was it because of how she was knocked out? What were they running into here? They had to do this right the first time, they wouldn¡¯t have another chance.


    Ahead of them, there was another intersection, just like he thought there would be. With a little effort, he sped up and grabbed Zezill¡¯s arm.


    As Zezill turned to him, Guricall made the sign of quiet. All Zezill could do was blink as he realized just his friend meant.


    All Guricall did was grin before he walked towards the corner, moving as possible. Looking around the corner he winced. Farther down the hallway, he could see five of the Bulky large figures guarding a doorway. From the way that the things were, that had to be their base but were there more of them out here?


    Turning around he looked at the others. Gesturing to move back a bit and to keep quiet, the others followed Guricall¡¯s instructions. After moving back to about halfway down the hallway, Guricall sighed. ¡°We found them. I saw five of those big ones outside the door. My problem is if those things have more patrols out here.¡±


    ¡°We can bring them into the room after we kill them,¡± One of the other warriors suggested.


    ¡°Smart. Not the best but then what else can we do?¡± Zezill said with a sigh.


    Guricall looked at his friend and saw the look on his face. ¡°Going to use that Power of yours to one-shot them?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I think so. If we¡¯re-¡° Zezill began only to be interrupted.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gained the Power!?¡± Anther of the Warroirs asked in shock.


    Guricall only grunted as he saw the looks that his friend was being sent. Why did the Tribe have to believe that those who had the Power were better? Why¡­. Guricall went still as a terrible thought suddenly made itself known. If he was right, then they would have a lot of problems when they made contact with their people.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the five Figures stood there guarding the entrance to the base, one of them on the right burped. One of them glared at the burped who only chuckled.


    ¡°Better out than in, aye?¡± The burper said with a laugh.


    ¡°Keep that to yourself you fool! Why did you think you¡¯re here!?¡± The glarer bellowed.


    ¡°Because is asked?¡± The burper said with a bored tone.


    As the glaring Bulky figure raged and yelled at the burper, the others all sighed and looked away. The glarer was related to the Grand Priest, and even if they argued nothing would happen. The best thing to do was nothing at all.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any honor or loyalty to the Great Beast?!¡± The glarer growled and the buper only looked at him before his body started to change. Within moments the burper had turned into a normal human with green hair and bluish-green eyes in a purple robe.


    ¡°WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING!¡± The glarer growled and the burper only sighed.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading to the punishment chamber. That is what you were going to do isn¡¯t it?¡± The burper said before he turned around.


    ¡°Icotrix!!!¡± The glarer roared.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Icotrix only kept walking, a scowl on his face, that he kept hidden as he replied. ¡°What? I figured I save us both some time! See you later.¡±


    As the glarer roared, all Icotrix did was keep silent. It was all he could do to keep from killing all of them. For years now, he had thought something was wrong. But then once he learned what the place he had grown up in was, he knew he was right. The way those fools all seemed to worship that sleeping monster, he knew they were all beyond saving!


    The only thing that kept him going was his sister, she had been his rock. And thankfully when he had spoken about his doubts, she had agreed with him. For the last few months, he had used the time he was in the halls of the prison to map a route to escape. And his sister had fund records about the surface. Everything was ready, but then she had been selected as a sacrifice! And he only learned that after when who they were sacrificing was announced. And since he was here, he couldn¡¯t save her!


    Why did he have this Power if he couldn¡¯t use it!? He had awoken it when that monster had tried to brutalize his sister, and he had only used a small part of it. He could do so much more than what he was. If he could only figure out what to do now.


    He scowled as he looked down, trying to think. He was so far away, and he had no way to get there. The inner area was for the Priests only, and he had no idea where the sacrifices were. Besides the Beasts were used as objects of worship, who knows what else was in there? And there were the Guards. He would need a distraction to even scout out a route and where would that come from?


    Looking up he saw the chamber that the Cult had set aside for punishment. With a scowl, he walked into the door. Suddenly he heard a roar from right behind him. He looked around, seeing nothing looking at him, and willed his flesh to change. Within moments he had changed his shape. Activated his Power of Concealment he felt the shield form over him. Looking out the door he paled in shock. The Bulky ones that were guarding the door were all on the ground dead! He saw the beings that the Kingdom was fighting at the Front Line run down the hall towards the bodies. He had seen one of the scouting parties come back with a new Sacrifice, and it had been one of these beings!


    Looking down the corridor, all he could do was stare in shock. It seemed that his prayer had been answered, but then he looked down the hallway. The Cult had sent out two scouting groups, and the other was coming back. Maybe he should go tell them he quit the Cult?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zezill ran towards the corpses he made, he grinned. The ambush had worked perfectly, with one shot they had killed all of the Bulky figures in one shot! And he was shocked to feel even stronger than ever. The last time he had used his Ability he had almost collapsed, now he felt amazing! If he had to he could fire off another two, maybe three of his strikes!


    As soon as he reached the doorway he looked in. He saw twenty figures in purple robes and strange symbols on banners on the walls of the chamber. At the far end was a doorway, and that was his goal.


    ¡°Rush them!¡± He roared as he ran in, the others behind him.


    Two of the robed ones close together fell after Guricall¡¯s stones hit their heads. As the other warriors fell on them, Zezill ran past them. Some of the enemy had started to change and he needed to kill them fast. Before he knew it he was there and slashed through the neck of one starting to grow longer.


    Another of the figures roared something Zezill couldn¡¯t understand and charged, only one of his arms changed into a claw. Zezill blocked the blow and pulled back once he felt the weight of the enemy on his blade. As his foe fell forward, he killed the figure with one cut of his sword.


    All around him were the sounds of combat. Looking around, he saw the chaos the chamber had become. Half of the figures had drawn weapons and the others had changed parts of their bodies. But his people were working together and already they had killed at least five of them! Adding the three already dead, they had almost slain half of them in a short time.


    Zezill heard the Enemy¡¯s strange language being shouted and something told him it was at him. Looking up, he saw a large figure that had enlarged their legs holding a lance of some kind. From what he had learned, this one was a male and the look of a noble about him. The figure¡¯s mouth was opening and it was from him that the strange words were coming from.


    All Zezill could do was sigh, he had heard about this but he was shocked it was real. Some foes thought that just because they spoke a tongue, everyone would understand it. But then again, that might work. If he could kill this one fast enough, then maybe¡­.


    As the enemy kept talking, Zezill rushed forward. He leaped and screamed a battle cry, slashing down with his blade. The lancer raised his weapon and to Zezill¡¯s shock, blocked the blow. In the moments he had before the lancer set him flying away, he saw the lance was made of Creator Steel.


    As he landed he charged forward, knowing that he had to keep this one at bay. If a weapon of Creator Steal was thrown into the chaos of battle, then the others would die! With a roar, he slashed at the lancer''s right leg. The lancer blocked again, but this time Zezill jumped over the throw and slashed down. The lancer jumped backwards and spun his lance, looking right at the Zezill and growling low in his throat. Zezill only grinned and took a hand off his blade¡¯s hilt to make a ¡®come-hither¡¯ gesture.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he slit the throat of a figure with a single wing, Guircall could only smirk. So far the team has been able to handle these. Why was the Battle Line having such trouble? The armies of the Chiefs should have overrun the lines years ago! As something screamed, he jumped up. Looking towards the sound, he saw Zezill in battle against something wielding a lance. He almost ran but for an instant, he caught Zezill¡¯s eyes.


    After that, Guircall turned nan with a roar and attacked one of the cultists with an oversized arm. Before it could turn, Guircall had impaled the figure¡¯s throat and pulled it free. As the figure started to choke, Guircall drove his dagger through the figure¡¯s brain. Looking at his comrade, Guircall nodded. ¡°Go help the others! Then have them help the rest!¡±


    Before the Warrior could respond, Guircall grabbed the fallen figure¡¯s sword and ran towards another battle. This one had no altered limbs and was wielding two swords. But the figure realized that Guircall was coming to attack and leaped backwards, turning to look at Guircall. As the Warrior the figure had fighting tried to attack from behind, the figure blocked the Warrior¡¯s sword.


    Guircall stared, realizing that the figure had a limb on its back that ended in a large chitin claw. Without even looking at the Warrior, each blow was parried. At the same time, Guircall attacked from the front. But the figure only blocked the blows with their two swords and seemed to be grinning.


    All Guircall felt was rage, this one was playing with them! Somehow, this monster was handling two opponents while only looking at one of them! With a snarl, he lunged backwards to get away from the figure¡¯s range. As he watched, he saw the figure¡¯s body start to ripple around its arms. But it was something else that he saw that made Guircall smirk.


    With a yell, Guircall ran. The figure prepared to defend against Guircall, but it missed the other two Warriors that impaled its head and torso from its sides.


    Guircall looked around, seeing that only Zezill was still fighting. ¡°Everyone, let''s help our friend!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zezill jumped to the side, dodging a kick from the lancer. So far, he had been holding his own and that was enough. If he could keep this monstrosity away from the others. And it worked, this scum was only looking at him. Now all he had to do was keep fighting.


    Suddenly, a stone flew and hit the lancer in the head. He stumbled for a moment, but that was all it took.


    Zezill leaped forward and with a roar cut off the lancer¡¯s right arm at the shoulder. As blue blood gushed out the lancer went to one knee. With a savage roar, Zezill landed and dashed back, slicing off the other arm at the elbow. As the lancer stumbled Zezill jumped up, grabbed his head, and slammed it to the ground. Slamming it back into the ground a few more times he looked up.


    Seeing the others had all dealt with the others, Zezill sighed as he looked around. ¡°Everyone, get those corpses from the Realm into here! Then follow me and Guircall!¡±


    Without a word he dashed through the door, knowing that Guircall was behind him. As they ran down the corridor, they kept following their friend¡¯s scent. Ahead of them, they saw a robed figure walking down a corridor across an intersection. Without a sound, Zezill jumped forward and beheaded the figure. Looking back, he saw Guircall behind him, and the others were running to catch up. He turned, followed the scent, and moved on.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Icotrix whistled as he walked into the chambers. He had stayed hidden until he was sure that the Felines were all gone, but he didn¡¯t expect this! The guards that had been left here had all been killed, and they had moved the Bulky ones into the room. Now if anyone came here, all they would see was the blood outside. But then he had finished that with an Ability he had gained once while hunting.


    ¡°Icotrix!¡± A raspy voice cried out.


    Icotrix looked towards it and smirked as he saw the source. ¡°So you survived captain? Well done!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk!¡± The bellowed. He had lost both limbs and his legs were broken. By his side was a lancer made of Creator Steel.


    Icotrix had always liked the lance and had trained to use one most of his life. With a smirk, he picked up the weapon and gave it a whirl. ¡°Nice balance, point and feel. Say what you will about the Master Smiths, they do good work!¡±


    ¡°Put down my lance! Get me some of the dead, I need to feed!¡± The captain said with a glare and Icotrix only chuckled. The captain looked at him and only grew more angry as Icotrix¡¯s chuckles grew into laughter ¡°What¡¯s so funny???!!!¡±


    Icotrix finally stopped laughing and then he looked at the Captain. The longer the silence lasted, the more the Captain grew more worried. Finally, Icotrix spoke as he glared down at the Captain. ¡°What¡¯s so funny is that you¡¯re so eager to desecrate our own. Doesn¡¯t the laws of the Cult say that you consumers can never eat our own? Something about a terrible catastrophe? And shouldn¡¯t you know that better than most of us?¡±


    The Captain only glared up at Icotrix, his teeth bared. ¡°As your next High Priest, I demanded that you bring me to one of the dead now! By the Beast, If you don¡¯t get me food right now!¡± The Captain growled.


    ¡°And what will you do to me?¡± Icotrix asked as he put the lance on his shoulders.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure that you are fed to our God in pieces!¡± The captain snarled and Icotrix only laughed.


    ¡°That won¡¯t work, as I¡¯m going to go and kill that thing,¡± Icotrix said as he looked at the captain with a glare.


    ¡°What?!¡± The captain asked in a whisper.


    Icotrix looked at him and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve thought for a while now that you, the leaders? You¡¯re only out for your selves. This is your end!¡±


    Before the captain could speak, Icotrix impaled him through the brain with the lance. Pulling the weapon free, Icotrix pointed his free hand at the blood and a small flame engulfed the lancer¡¯s head.


    Without a word, Icotrix ran down through the doorway. The only thoughts in his head were to get to his sister soon.

 Chapter One Hundred Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance


    Galactic Standard Time / 0600


    As they ran down the hallway, Olv¡¯xic looked around. Something was wrong, something that he couldn¡¯t explain. They had been running for over an hour now, and they still hadn¡¯t seemed to make any progress. He couldn¡¯t explain how he knew this, but he did. And he wanted to understand just why¡­. He looked at the wall and then he felt his heart sink. What he saw couldn¡¯t be possible, but there it was. the proof that he was right, the proof that he didn¡¯t want to see.


    ¡°[Oh by the Firstborne]!¡± Olv¡¯xic whispered in anger. He just stopped and stared, shocked beyond words. Since he was at the back of the group, the others moved on never knowing he had stopped. When he realized that the others hadn¡¯t seen him stop, he didn¡¯t even react. All he did was sigh as he looked at the wall. Then he just turned around and activated a timer on his mask. He waited, knowing what he would see soon. Barely five minutes later he saw them coming towards him.


    With a sigh, he activated his com system and prepared himself for having to deliver bad news. ¡°[This is Oly¡¯xic to command. Reporting that I stopped following you all a while ago. Waiting for reply].¡±


    ¡°[You did what!? Why]?!¡± Tar¡¯lroia demanded with a hard tone.


    ¡°[Hey! If the kid did that then he had a reason]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked.


    Some part of Oly¡¯xic felt a little bit happy that Ro¡¯borlar had defended him. But then that feeling died when he thought about what Ro¡¯borlar if he knew Oly¡¯xic¡¯s secret.


    ¡°[And I¡¯ll go get him! Sit tight, whatever¡¯s stopping you I¡¯ll come and help]!¡±


    Oly¡¯xic felt himself smile for a second, then he shook his head. ¡°[Thanks Ro¡¯borlar. But don¡¯t worry about getting me. I¡¯m just right ahead of you after all].¡±


    ¡°[Wait, what]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed as the group reached Oly¡¯xic.


    All he did was wave as the others all slowed down and looked at him.


    ¡°[Wait, what? We have to be¡­¡­ Olv¡¯xic? How? What is this]?!¡± Je¡¯ndra demanded as soon as she saw him.


    Olv¡¯xic only sighed as the others all looked at him. ¡°[I stayed here, we¡¯re caught in a trap! You were only gone less than five minutes]!¡±


    As the others looked around in horror, Ken¡¯tricx looked down. He punched the wall, revealing a small crater as he removed his gauntlet. ¡°[I knew that this was too easy! Now what? How do we get out of here]?!


    ¡°[Good question. We¡¯ve never even heard about this kind of trap. So ideas people]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she crossed her arms. ¡°[Anything would do, form a


    ¡°[I¡¯ve heard of this trap],¡± Ar¡¯thor¡¯s voice cut through the quiet. Everyone looked towards Ar¡¯thor on Kon¡¯gric¡¯s back. ¡°[A trap found during the first age. The installation was logged as a fallback shelter of a Frontline combat fort. They had to go around it. Scholars theorized that they could have beaten it by going too fast to detect. This was one of the First Ruins when we were just exploring Aether usage].¡±


    ¡°[So Aether Speed then? Not so bad then. You can use that Skill big guy]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked as she looked at Kon¡¯gric.


    Everyone looked at Kon¡¯gric who just nodded.


    ¡°[Of course. I need to be fast to protect those under my protection after all],¡± Kon¡¯gric said stiffly.


    Olv¡¯xic kept quiet but he looked at Kon¡¯gric. Something about how he said that bothered him, but why he couldn¡¯t quite understand. But then he had felt strange about some of the newcomers to the squad. He hadn¡¯t felt anything about Kon¡¯gric, but was that true now? Was this thing he couldn¡¯t understand important? Or should he keep quiet and ignore it? Something told him that whatever it was, he couldn¡¯t ignore it. It was against everything that he had done before, but his gut was telling him that this was too important.


    ¡°[Good catch kid, but how did you know]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked and Olv¡¯xic pointed at the wall. Everyone saw he was pointing at two iron spikes set into the wall, and then they looked at him.


    ¡°[When we rested here about half an hour ago? I slammed a spike into the wall to look at my weapon. I have a few of them so I left them here. Once I saw them, I knew,¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly as he looked around.


    He didn¡¯t want to say that his spike was part of an early warning system he was setting up. He had to have a few tricks if he had to run from the team. He learned that one must always have a backup plan if one wants to live.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra kept quiet as she looked at the spike. She knew that that thing was, and she didn¡¯t want to tell him she knew. But if he wanted to leave a few traps in case monsters attacked them, so be it. ¡°[Smart. Everyone keep calm and remember, we will survive].¡±


    As she watched the others get back into formation, she saw a private message from Tar¡¯lroia. Activating the link, she sighed. ¡°[I know that spike wasn¡¯t just to check his weapon Tar¡¯lroia. But leave it alone, please].¡±


    ¡°[Leave it!? Je¡¯ndra, that wasn¡¯t just any kind of trap! The total power behind those]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said with an aghast tone. ¡°[There was a reason they stopped making those! The way the explosive device could go off if hit wrong. And where did he get it]!?¡±


    ¡°[I know. But we have bigger gremblors to kill. We¡¯ll talk to the kid soon, but please? Just drop it for now],¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a hard tone. ¡°[But make sure the kid is behind me before and you¡¯re behind the prince. He¡¯s our protection target, okay]?¡±


    As Tar¡¯lroia dropped the link on her end, Je¡¯ndra sighed. She watched as Je¡¯ndra started to get everyone to move. She knew her friend was right, too many things about the kid didn¡¯t add up. And she just knew that when she had the rest of the picture, she wouldn¡¯t like it. As soon as the others were ready she sent some aether to her leg muscles and started to run.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Within moments of starting, a shield of aether formed around her like a comet. As the comets of the group merged, she felt that she was speeding up. The strange way that Skills like this merged and multiple themselves, it made her wonder.


    The priests would talk about blessings, the scientists would talk about the laws of the world. But to her, this was a gift from nature itself.


    As they ran, she looked ahead and at the wall. After they were running for five minutes she never saw the spikes that Olv¡¯xic had driven behind. She had to hope that they were safe and out of the trap, but she had to wonder. Just what else would this place throw at them? The fact that this Ruin was built by a society of Firstborns that they had never found before bothered her. Just what did this say about how hard the beings who made this place fought?


    Finally, after another five minutes, she saw something in the distance. With every step, she saw the wall they were running towards. ¡°[Everyone, stop using your skill, now]!¡±


    As soon as everyone started to slow down, the comet aura died down. As soon as it did, Je¡¯ndra saw their goal and smiled. Within five hundred feet was a large wall that rose beyond sight. Set in it was a large black steel double doors, and there was a strange symbol on it. Part of it was burnt off, and that caused her heart to slow down. The one thing most Ruins had was that the artwork was left alone by everything but time. If the battles here were so bad that the very art was targeted, then who knows what was within the doors?


    ¡°[Everyone, we¡¯ve made it. We were caught in one trap our people only encountered once before, so look alive! If anyone sees anything, call out. Kon¡¯gric can you move with your shield up]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked and sighed as he nodded. ¡°[Good. Keep it up for as long as you can. Protect our prince]!¡±


    As the group started to move, everyone stayed quiet, their senses and eyes ready for anything.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ken¡¯tricx smirked under his mask as the group moved. He clenched his weapon, ready for anything. Busting bots from the Ruins was his favorite pastime! But he had to admit, that the way that trap caught him was a problem. Normally, the only traps they encountered were crushing walls or hidden robots. With drones leading the way, team members rarely died nowadays. But he had become a Raider during the times before the drones. Where only their equipment, knowledge, and senses kept them alive.


    And everything his instants were telling him one thing. They were walking into someplace very dangerous, the worst Ruin he had ever seen. The Bot that had attacked them outside of the Ruin already told him that, but there was something else here. He couldn¡¯t explain, but there was something here.


    Finally, they made it to one hundred feet from the door and the corridor suddenly widened. Instead of only fifty feet wide, it had bulged out to a hundred feet from side to side. And to his horror, there were holes here and there all over the floor. There was enough space between the holes that the group could walk, and the holes were all ten feet wide. Something about them bothered him.


    Looking around, he went still as he saw the remains of something near the hole closest to them. ¡°[HOLD]!¡±


    As everyone stopped they looked at him, but Ken¡¯tricx only stared at the holes. The more he looked at them, the more they were familiar.


    ¡°[What is it Ken¡¯tricx]?!¡± Je¡¯ndra barked.


    But Ken¡¯tricx willed his mask¡¯s sensors to look around, and slowly he understood what he was seeing. But that was impossible, it didn¡¯t make sense! After another moment he sighed and looked at the group. ¡°[Anyone have any sensor orbs? Kid]?¡±


    ¡°[Yeah but why¡­. Oh stars],¡± Olv¡¯xic whispered in horror.


    Ken¡¯tricx looked at him and saw what he was looking at. He thought the kid was smart. ¡°[Hand it over, everyone else, move back].¡±


    As the others tried to find what was wrong, Olv¡¯xic slowly held a hand out to Ken¡¯tricx. A small foot-wide silver sphere appeared and took flight. With a slow movement that everyone watched, the silver drone flew towards the hole. As soon as it passed over, the sphere sent a blue searchlight over the hole.


    For a moment, Ken¡¯tricx hoped what he feared was gone. This might have happened so long ago, that the creatures would be dead by now. But if he was right, if this was what he thought it was!


    A screech from the hole heralded something large shooting out of the hole. Something swallowed the sphere before it exploded! Green blood splattered all over as the body of the mouth that ate the sphere crashed down before them. It was a large beast, at least five feet wide and tall. But to his horror, it was at least twenty feet long. It was covered in brown chitin and had tens of sharp legs. For a moment, all they could do was stare before more screams came from the other holes.


    From the closet one hole another chitin-covered creature shot up. This one was whole and it looked at them all. The head had two mandibles that curved forward and were sharp. Behind them were mouth coverings that opened upwards and revealed sharp needle-like teeth. Above them were two large multifaceted crimson eyes.


    For a moment, all was quiet. The beast only looked at them and Ken¡¯tricx hoped that it would go away. But it screeched and from the mouth came a glob of a black liquid.


    ¡°[Scatter]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed as he aimed and fired. He ran to the left as the liquid hit where he had been. To his shock and horror, the liquid started to eat into the floor. For a second he was shocked at how it was doing it, then he understood. That acid must be how this thing made the hole it came out of. His rifle fired and the bolt bounced off the monster¡¯s shell. ¡°[STARS! Augment and keep fighting]!¡±


    As more five centipede-like creatures shot up from some of the holes, Ken¡¯tricx knew that this would be hard. But as he fed aether into his rifle, all he could do was hope. Hope that they will be able to handle this, hope that they will live.


    As the others started to fire, all Ken¡¯tricx knew was that this would be a nightmare to handle! As his shot hit and drilled a hole through the eyes, the centipedes fell. But then another two came out of the holes alongside the dead one. One started to savage the corpse as the other looked at the group and shot a glob of black acid. As the other centipedes all started to fire, Ken¡¯tricx kept dodging and firing.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he willed his shield gauntlets to work, Kon¡¯gric could only look at the monsters and scowl. He always hated these kinds of creatures, and for good reason. The damage insect-like monsters did to his homeworld! And the threats monsters and normal swarms posed to others. The thing about insects was that they were mindless monsters. He didn¡¯t understand the science of how these things sent commands to their bodies. He didn¡¯t need to. All he needed to know was that you needed to be lucky to kill them. Or if destroyed most of their bodies.


    ¡°[How are going to get by them]!? Alexander asked with a note of fear in his voice.


    For a moment all Kon¡¯gric could think of was this might be his chance. If he ran into the nests, both had and his Prince would die. They would die but his family would live. And then he felt the same of that very thought. He didn¡¯t know what to do.


    ¡°[Boss, there¡¯s a pattern here]!¡± Olv¡¯xic called out with a note of shock in his voice. ¡°[I think that the holes along that wall are empty! But if not where did these¡­.. ones eating the dead one]!¡±


    At this, Kon¡¯gric looked and saw what Olv¡¯xic had found. There, the corpse of the dead one that had lost its head. Another smaller centipede was eating the corpse. But what shocked Kon¡¯gric was that the smaller one was sticking out. Its body was in a hole that had an empty hole between it and the corpse!


    ¡°[Do you have another drone to check each hole]!? Je¡¯ndra demanded.


    ¡°[NO! But I have the tools to modify one of my two remaining Searchers! Give me five mixtures at most]!¡± Olv¡¯xic reported and the noise of blasts dimmed as he moved to behind Kon¡¯gric.


    Looking at him and the Prince, Olv¡¯xic nodded before a copy of the Drone he sent into the hive appeared. Two copies of the sphere he had given Ken¡¯tricx appeared and he put them down. His right glove started to glow red and he touched the Searcher¡¯s wing. As the underside of the wing came apart, Olv¡¯xic went to work.


    Kon¡¯gric stared in shock as in moments Olv¡¯xic had wired the sphere to the wing! Moments later sphere shined the blue searchlight down and he nodded. The Searcher suddenly hovered and moved to allow Olv¡¯xic to work on the other wing. In a total of four minutes, Olv¡¯xic had wired in both spheres and sent the Searcher up into the air, climbing upwards.


    One of the centipedes saw the drone and screeched. It shot a glob of the black acid upwards but it missed and fell back onto its eye. As its eye started to burn and smoke, it screeched and started to thrash around. It hit one of the others that had been and then that one screeched and attacked the thrasher. As the two started to fight each other, Kon¡¯gric stared in shock.


    ¡°[They eat their own! That must be how they¡¯ve survived down here! They must have other foods but they eat their own]!¡± Kon¡¯gric bellowed over the open coms.


    ¡°[Yeah, I can see that! The holes at the left edge, their free of anything but remains for a single row! The drone is moving along the side by the door, and there¡¯s a shelter there]!¡± Olv¡¯xic


    ¡°[What kind of shelter]?!¡± Jen¡¯dra snarled.


    Kon¡¯gric listened and felt his heart clench as he looked around, seeing the area with a new eye. Suddenly this place was all too familiar.


    ¡°[Some kind of raised barrier, twenty feet tall! And holes only go up until forty feet of the barrier! I think the way to get the doors open is behind it¡­.. yes! The other side is free of those things. It¡¯s just like on the other side, one free row between the living and the wall]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jen¡¯dra looked at the centipedes and tried to think of a plan. There was only one way that this could go and part of her kept trying to find a way out. But there it was, time to take a risk.


    ¡°[Got a plan boss lady]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked with anger in her voice.


    ¡°[One, but its danger close]!¡± Jen¡¯dra admitted as she fired at another of the monsters.


    ¡°[The best plans! So what¡¯s the play]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he laughed over the coms.


    ¡°[Everyone we¡¯re splitting up! Olv¡¯xic, lead Kon¡¯gric to the right! You two keep from firing at all unless you have to. The rest of us will be on the distraction team on the left! Ken¡¯tricx, go loud]!¡±


    ¡°[STARS YES! Face my augment boom]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed before he fired a bolt at one of the centipedes in the second row. This bolt when it hit released a loud sound blast that her mask blocked. But the centipedes were all stunned.


    As five more of the monsters came out from behind that row, Jen''dra smirked. She knew was this was going to be very loud and messy before it was over. But part of her relished the coming battle. This was where she was best at, fighting and killing!


    She watched as Olv¡¯xic led the way to the right, and she hoped that her plan would work.

 Chapter One Hundred Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes


    Galactic Standard Time / 0635


    Running along the wall, Olv¡¯xic looked at the backs of the centipedes. So far the three of them had made it by them. And the others were staying out of range, using all their skills to keep being the threat. Something about all of this bothered him, something he couldn¡¯t see. He had felt this before, and he thought he knew what it meant. He had all the angles, he had all the facts that he needed. He was just having some trouble putting them all together.


    ¡°[Is everything okay master Olv¡¯xic? Your heart is spiking],¡± Ar¡¯thor asked and Olv¡¯xic almost stumbled.


    He looked back at the prince and his guard and barely kept from speaking. The fact that the prince could see his vitals was still something he wasn¡¯t sure he was. The boss could, but their protection target too? If they died defending him, he would see it in real-time through his mask. And that was something that would destroy the boy¡¯s morale.


    ¡°[We are fine oh Prince. We just need to move a bit faster. Think you can handle it Kon¡¯gric?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked and Kon¡¯gric nodded.


    ¡°[You move, I¡¯ll follow at your speed. But are we safe]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked with a strange note in his voice.


    For a moment, Oly¡¯xic looked at him. There was something there, somehow he just knew it. He let it go, they had to focus on the threat first.


    ¡°[As safe as we can be],¡± Oly¡¯xic admitted as he looked at the other side of the chamber. So far, the plan was working. The centipedes were fighting the others and they were a bit farther to the door. When they left, he had slaved Kon¡¯gric and Ar¡¯thor¡¯s masks to only his, and that kept their coms short range. He didn¡¯t know why he should do that, but something within him told him he had to. It was strange, it was there at the edge of his thoughts. He could feel it but he didn¡¯t know just what it was.


    ¡°[The way ahead looks fine and clear. Shouldn¡¯t we use Aether to shorten our passage]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked.


    ¡°[Maybe we should...... NO]!¡± Oly¡¯xic exclaimed as he suddenly stopped. He felt his heart stop beating as everything suddenly connected. He cursed as he realized what was bothering him. To his shame, what he realized just was possible it was probable! And that made everything suddenly that much more dangerous.


    ¡°[Sir Oly¡¯xix]? Ar¡¯thor asked with a note of worry and shock in his voice. ¡°[Your vitals just spiked. Is everything alright]?¡±


    Oly¡¯xic looked at him and Kon¡¯gric and saw just how they would die if they didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°[I just realized what was bothering me o Prince. This place, I suggested it was for bioweapons right]?¡± Oly¡¯xic asked as he felt sweat form on his face. He saw Ar¡¯thor nod and Oly¡¯xic had to say just how deep they were into a trap. ¡°[And the Firstborn, their robots. Don''t some of their most advanced robots can use Aether to power themselves right? Then how possible is it that these things can detect Aether use]?¡±


    ¡°[By the stars! The Firstborn could do that]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric exclaimed in shock.


    Oly¡¯xic ignored the cry of surprise and looked for his drone with his mask¡¯s infrared. When they had set out he had sent orders for it to kill its searchlights and hover. But if these things hunted by hunting Aether, then he had just the thing to help the others out! Once he found what he was looking for he pointed his arm upwards and sent a laser message to it. looking back a Kon¡¯gric he nodded. ¡°[No Aether, run as fast as you can! Follow my steps]!¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, he took off at a run. He looked down at the floor, searching for any holes. He hoped that he was right about everything, but something bothered him. If these things hunted each other, then how did they spawn? And why did he feel that when he found the answer, he wouldn¡¯t like anything about those monsters.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he followed Oly¡¯xic, Kon¡¯gric was tempted. All he had to do was fire one Aether attack and then he and the Prince would be dead. Killed by one of the monsters. And no matter how much he just wanted this all to be over, he couldn¡¯t. He didn¡¯t have a time limit, and that was all that kept him going. And the Empire must have found out about the missing ship by now. The fact that the lifestones were still active was proof of life for Emperor. And if he knew that the prince was alive, then Kon''gric''s forced Patron would know that the Prince was alive as well.


    But no matter how he thought, there was no way out. They were stuck here and he would most likely die here. But that was enough, if he did then that meant that the Empire would keep looking for them. And that meant that the one who held his family¡¯s life might not kill them! They could play this off as the Federation capturing the Prince. Say something about killing their own to get an advantage for germ warfare.


    As he looked at the monsters, he saw one of them rear back and try to hit one of the others with its acid. It would be so easy to explain if he attacked one of them. Say he reacted before realizing what he was doing, anything that a Guard would do. But before he could even think about it, Oly¡¯xic cried out.


    Looking up, Kon¡¯gric stared. Ahead of them was a large hole at least five feet wide. Looking down he saw it was only five feet deep. But the thing about the hole was it went into the wall, far into it until it slopped down out of their sight.


    ¡°[What could have made this]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in shocked horror.


    ¡°[Don¡¯t now o Prince. But this is too small for the beasts here. What could it be]??¡± Oly¡¯xic muttered softly.


    ¡°[How are we to get around this]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked more to himself than the others. But there was something about this that was familiar to him. He couldn¡¯t say what it was, but it was there. This one hole made him think of something, something that almost caused him to want to hunt down what made it.


    For a second he almost took a step, but he stopped as he felt Ar¡¯thor¡¯s hands on his shoulder.


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric, are you alright? Your heart is speeding up]!¡± Art¡¯thor¡¯s asked, and Kon¡¯gric could hear the worry in his charge¡¯s voice.


    ¡°[I¡¯m fine my prince. Just something about this thing],¡± Kon¡¯gric said as he looked at the hole. Something about it was calling to him, something he would ignore. No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn¡¯t. He might be in a terrible situation, but he would keep fighting. What will happen will happen. But until he had to make a choice, he would keep protecting his charge.


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    ¡°[There, follow me. Move quietly, we don¡¯t want to wake anything],¡± Oly¡¯xic voice caused Kon¡¯gric to look up and see what Oly¡¯xic had. And for a second he almost thought that his time torturing himself was over. For the young one was going to lead all of them to their deaths with what he was planning! ¡°[Are you for real]!?¡±


    ¡°[Yeah, just give me a minute. I need to give my Searcher her final orders],¡± Oly¡¯xic said as he pointed his right arm towards the door.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Keep up the fire and keep dodging]!¡± Je¡¯ndra bellowed as she fired her augmented rifle. So far, Blasts and Freeze have been working on these monsters. But then the Flame augment of Ken¡¯tricx was doing nothing. The only thing that Ken¡¯tricx had going was that his Explosion augment was knocking the ones he hit out for a few moments.


    So far, they had made it at least halfway to the other side. But they were trying to fight them off here to keep their attention. All that mattered was the Prince and Oly¡¯xic made it to the door. Oly¡¯xic would be able to get it open and protect the Prince alone if he had to. That kid was one of the most dedicated Warriors she had ever seen, but he also had the most secrets.


    ¡°[Boss, I don¡¯t know how much longer these things will keep hunting us! I mean, we¡¯ve already killed five of them! Shouldn¡¯t they have turned away by now]?!¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded as he dodged another blob of acid.


    As much as she wanted to reassure him, Je¡¯ndra had to admit that Ken¡¯tricx was making sense. These things weren¡¯t acting at all like the kind of mutants that she had seen before. The data showed that all animals turned tail and ran away if enough of the pack was killed. But these centipedes kept attacking like¡­.. she almost went still as she realized what she had missed. They had thought that this thing was the Ruin of a bioweapon factory. These things had to be escaped bioweapons!


    ¡°[Weapons don¡¯t give up! Team, keep killing them]!¡± Je¡¯ndra exclaimed with horror in her voice.


    ¡°[What are you talking about¡­. No, you can¡¯t mean]!?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked a hint of worry and understanding in her voice.


    Je¡¯ndra snarled as she fired a bolt and hit a glob of acid. Say what you will about her friend, she had a mind like a trap. From that one word in her sentence, she understood what Je¡¯ndra was thinking about. But then these things had a great range attack. It must have been in their design, that was the only thing that made sense. These things must have been created as living artillery! ¡°[This place is a bioweapon Ruin! These things must be some of the weapons! They must have lived after the Firstborn fell. They must have been programmed to keep attacking their targets]!¡±


    Ken¡¯tricx meanwhile kept firing. ¡°[So just like the bots we find in the Ruins then? Nice! I love the smell of broken metal almost as much as I do burnt monsters! And we have a lovely target-rich environment here]!¡±


    All Jen¡¯dra could do was keep from laughing by the skin of her teeth. The one thing that she could count on was for her team to laugh in the face of danger. But as another of the centipedes came out of a hole, she felt that maybe this time they were running towards their deaths. Suddenly all the centipedes turned towards the tunnel away the group had come from and they all roared.


    As they started to fire their acid at something, Jen¡¯dra saw the chance that this was.¡±[Team! Run now! None-Aether]!¡±


    As one the group all stopped firing their weapons and ran, keeping their Aether down.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Oly¡¯xic led the other two around the tunnel hole, he grinned as he saw the centerfields react to his drone. The fact that he was right and worrying. On one hand, it worked. On the other, this said nothing but terrible things were in their future. All he could do was hope that they could handle what was ahead of them.


    If one of those things could hunt Aether, others could as well. And that chance was even more likely because the monsters were designed by a sentient being. He hadn¡¯t been one to even think this was possible, that people could find a way to program an Aether Skill into a created creature. But it made sense, it made so much sense.


    Looking up, he smiled as he saw that they were within twenty feet of the end of the holes. They were home free, nothing could stop them now!


    A screech from behind made him turn and see another of the centipedes rear up out of a hole. He went still as he saw that this monster had its back to them all. He gripped his weapon as he looked up at the monster, trying to keep his cool.


    He suddenly remembered what he figured out about these monsters and felt the blood leave his face. He looked at Kon¡¯gric who was slowly moving his arms up. He felt his heart stop as he realized what was going to happen if he did that. ¡°[Kon¡¯gric, don¡¯t! That uses your own Aether to generate the shield! All you¡¯ll do is let that thing know you¡¯re there]!¡±


    ¡°[And if I don¡¯t]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric snarled.


    ¡°[It¡¯s facing away from us! Trust me]!¡± Oly¡¯xic said with a note of panic in his voice.


    Finally, after a long moment, the centipede slowly went down into the hole.


    ¡°[Move, don¡¯t even stop. Just run],¡± Oly¡¯xic said bluntly. He watched Kon¡¯gric move past him, and then he looked towards the others. His mask found that the others had made it to the first raised structure and he swallowed. With a last look towards his drone, he sent a single order to it on a tight beam and turned. He ran towards the others, the cries of the monsters behind pushing him faster.


    As he reached solid ground, he ran after Kon¡¯gric. When he ran into the first doorway he could reach, Oly¡¯xic followed him into it. After a minute of running, he found the others. Looking up he saw Kon¡¯grix standing there as Ar¡¯thor looked around. ¡°[Good hustle back there, really. I¡¯d take you into the field at any time! But why¡¯d you stop here]?¡±


    ¡°[Look around],¡± Ar¡¯thor said with shock in his voice.


    Frowning, Oly¡¯xic let his gaze wander around. At first, nothing seemed to be wrong, but as he inspected the walls around the chamber, something did seem off. The more he looked around, the more that feeling of wrongness grew. But no matter what he thought of, nothing just jumped out and told him what this was. ¡°[What do you see o prince]?¡±


    ¡°[This wasn¡¯t made by the Firstborn],¡± Ar¡¯thor said with shock in his voice.


    At this Oly¡¯xic went still and looked around, seeing what the Prince had. The wall might have been the same color as the outer walls, but there were strange signs here and there. From the tattered remains of what looked like a cloth banner, he knew something was wrong. This whole place had more signs, signs that showed that someone had lived here recently. Maybe within the last five years at most.


    ¡°[He¡¯s right. But what could have made this place, and why]?¡± Oly¡¯xic asked in wonder as he looked around.


    ¡°[And does this place extend to the door? Is it already open]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked as slowly turned to gaze at the chamber.


    All Oly¡¯xic could see was that this place was meant to watch the field of holes out there. Something was wrong here, just why and who made this place?


    ¡°[This is Oly¡¯xic to main team. Come in main team. Can you hear me]?!¡± Oly¡¯xic said into his coms. He waited for a few more moments before he cursed. ¡°[NOVA BURST! These walls must be blocking our coms]!¡±


    All Oly¡¯xic could do was look at the walls with both anger and curiosity. He had been trying to find a place to make something to block coms for a while now. If he had that, then he could block sensors. If he could do that, then he could escape when things went bad.


    ¡°[Should we go out there, walk to the others]?¡±


    Before Oly¡¯xic could say anything there was a screeching from outside.


    ¡°[Stay here]!¡± Oly¡¯xic barked before he turned away. With a terrible feeling, Oly¡¯xic ran to the door. When he reached the door he saw that the centipedes were all fighting each other, and firing their acid all over.


    ¡°[This is Jen¡¯dra! Oly¡¯xic! Can you hear me]!?¡± Jen¡¯dra¡¯s voice came over the coms in an instant.


    Oly¡¯xic felt relief at that moment. At least the others were alive. ¡°[Leader Jen¡¯dra, good to hear you! This is Oly¡¯xic, the prince is alive! These things are making a mess out here. Got a plan]?¡±


    ¡°[Good to hear Oly¡¯xic! You behind the way those things left us alone]?¡± Jen¡¯dra asked.


    ¡°[Yeah. Boss, I think these things can track aether usage! I mean if they''re meant to counter robots that can use aether],¡± Oly¡¯xic said and for a moment there was silence.


    ¡°[So the civil war was so bad that some of them wanted to counter the robots! Great. And who knows what else is here? What did these fools create with DNA]?¡± Jen¡¯dra with a hard edge in her voice.


    Oly¡¯xic nodded and then spoke up. ¡°[How knows boss-lady. But with these things acting out like this, what can we do]?¡±


    ¡°[Let¡¯s explore our hiding places. This place should connect to each other at the door at least! Keep the prince alive]!¡± Jen¡¯dra said.


    Oly¡¯xic looked out at the rampaging centipedes and tried to keep his cool. If those were just a sample of what was here, then he hated this plan already. He fought down the idea that he would protect the prince, his station didn¡¯t matter right now. ¡°[Got it boss! Stay alive]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[You too]!¡± Jen¡¯dra said as she turned and walked back into the chamber they had found. With a look at the walls, she frowned again. She heard the sounds of something hitting above her while she was at the door. This place had to have been made out of something that was immune to acid and it blocked their coms. That was all kinds of bad, escpically if it was on purpose.


    Putting aside the identity and reason of the construction, was the material chosen at random? Did they know what this stuff could do? And just when was this place made? How new could this place be?


    As she was trying to think of anything that might explain anything here, an icon on her mask started to flash. Seeing it was Tar¡¯lroia she smiled. ¡°[Jen¡¯dra here. Made contact with the kid. The prince is alright and I¡¯m heading back to you all].¡±


    ¡°[Great! So we¡¯re ready to walk over to them Boss? Oh, and we¡¯ve found a door back here. It goes into a corridor only about ten feet long before it hits a door. Guess we don¡¯t need it then]? Tar¡¯lroia asked with a smirk in her voice.


    Jen¡¯dra only sighed and shook her head. ¡°[Negative, we need it. I¡¯ll explain when I get back to you guys].¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°The beasts are in a bad mood? Do you think that that something from the outside is trying to get in?¡±


    ¡°Yes but who knows what?¡±


    ¡°Whatever it is, for it to have made it through it had to be strong. And that strength has to be used by someone smart enough to handle it.¡±


    ¡°This great power has to be the property of the worshipers of the Great Beast.¡±


    ¡°To right! Hunting my friends! The first one to sight them gets the first bit of blood!¡±

 Chapter One Hundred and Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes


    Galactic Standard Time / 0655


    As he led the way, Oly¡¯xic tried and failed to keep his heart from beating too fast. There was something about this place that just seemed to bother him. He wanted to say that it was just nerves, but there was something here. The fact that this place was most likely built by sentient after the Firstborn died was telling. And it raised all kinds of alarms in his head.


    He looked back at Kon¡¯gric and tried to keep calm. This whole situation was starting to bother him. That strange feeling was back in the quiet. There was something about Kon¡¯grix, something that was working against him. He knew what that looked like, and how to recognize it. he wanted to reach out and help the man, but how would he even talk about it? With the prince looking over the man¡¯s shoulder, he couldn¡¯t just say it.


    ¡°[How old do you think this might be]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked and Oly¡¯xic shrugged.


    ¡°[Can¡¯t really tell. The fabric we found must have been eaten by a normal-sized insect. Without anything else and since this is a cave, it could be anything up to a thousand years. Still, the Firstborn couldn¡¯t have made this. No way],¡± Oly¡¯xic said with a sigh.


    He looked at the room and tried to figure out anything. So far, this place was nothing but the remains of something. There were marks here and there that told him that this place hadn¡¯t been abandoned by choice.


    ¡°[Any clues to who was here]?¡± Kon¡¯grix asked and Oly¡¯xic sighed before shaking his head.


    ¡°[No, this place¡­¡­ I can¡¯t tell you anything definite. There are marks here and there that whoever was here didn¡¯t go gently. But why it was here, I can¡¯t say. Maybe it¡¯s to keep those things from attacking whoever built this. But how did they even make it if the centipedes attacked them]?¡± Oly¡¯xic asked with a shrug.


    As they walked into another room, Oly¡¯xic looked around in shock. The room was a good twenty feet long and shaped like a rectangle. There was a slim staircase of solid stone at the center of the room and it seemed to lead to the roof. With a hard look he nodded at Kon¡¯gric. ¡°[Stay here. I¡¯ll go see if we can use that. It might be nothing, but it might be something].¡±


    ¡°[Then shouldn¡¯t we all go then]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked and Oly¡¯xic shook his head.


    ¡°[If we¡¯re still in range, we might get hit with the acid. I¡¯m just going to check on this o prince. I just need to stick my head up for a moment],¡± Oly¡¯xic explained before he walked up the stairs.


    He came out onto a round chamber with an opening to the side facing the nearest wall. He stuck his head out for a moment and pushed his armor¡¯s sensors to the max. if he could find anything out there. For a few moments, he didn¡¯t register anything but then he heard the sounds of wings. For a second, he thought he had found the food source that forced the centipedes to gain acid spit. But then he remembered that the centipedes were bioweapons!


    And then he slowly moved backwards, keeping his weapon pointing at the opening. So far nothing here besides the false mites were friendly. And he expected something that could fly to be a lot worse if it could think for itself. But the sounds of wings went by him, and he thought that he heard at least five pairs.


    Looking at the opening as he moved down the stairs he finally got close enough to call Kon¡¯gric. ¡°[Guard Kon¡¯gric, move the prince towards the door at the other end, now. Don¡¯t wait for me in that room]!¡±


    ¡°[Moving]!¡± Kon¡¯gric called out over the coms. ¡°[What did you find up there]?!¡±


    ¡°[Nothing good! I¡¯ll tell you once I make it down]!¡± Oly¡¯xic nodded. As he moved down the stairs, he kept his weapon aimed up. Nothing came down but as soon as he made it off the stairs, he turned and ran for where Kon¡¯gric had gone


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she moved through the building, Je¡¯ndra tried and failed to keep from feeling horror. This place was incredible. The acid-resistant material made it the perfect place to watch the centipedes. But the fact that the Firstborn didn¡¯t make it made her feel that this place was made with blood in the walls. The nearest hole was close enough for the monsters to hit the workers, so how was it made? And the fact that this place was so bare only furthered her bad feelings.


    ¡°[So, what do you all think about this place? A mad scientist or a would-be overlord? Cause I¡¯m betting Cult with a capital ¡®C¡¯]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s voice over the coms caused Je¡¯ndra to smile.


    ¡°[If that¡¯s who made this place, then what happened to them? I mean, think about it. where are the marks of the hero who killed the villain? Or the Monster that broke out after painful experiments]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked with a note of humor in his voice.


    All in all, hearing those two could joke made her smile and boosted her morale. As bad as this place was, at least¡­¡­. Je¡¯ndra stopped talking as they turned the corner, taking in the chamber ahead of them. The chamber was around twenty feet long with a long opening towards the far wall ten feet wide. At the far end of the chamber was an open doorway, but through the opening was the main horror. There was a stone altar, round and at least six feet wide. There was a stake at least ten feet tall there, and there were manacles hanging from chains that started at the top. The chains only went down enough that whoever the manacles were around had to stand up.


    ¡°[Okay, I was joking about the Cult],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly.


    ¡°[Secure this place now! Ken¡¯tricx, I want you to stay here, watch our backs. Ro¡¯borlar, come with me to the opening. Tar¡¯lroia, check the other doorway],¡± Je¡¯ndra said softly as she looked around.


    Without a word, her team followed her orders. As she jogged to the opening, Je¡¯ndra felt a spark of fear. They reached the opening and Ro¡¯borlar grabbed her arm.


    She looked at him and was about to open her mouth when he started speaking.


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    ¡°[I can share what my rifle sees, that way we can stay under cover boss],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said softly.


    Je¡¯ndra looked at him before she nodded.


    Ro¡¯borlar nodded before pointing his rifle back towards where the centipedes were. In a moment, the view that the rifle scope saw was revealed. To Je¡¯ndra¡¯s horror, there was a large path that led from the pole to an open space. From a few marks on the ground, centipedes came for whatever was put there.


    ¡°[Sacrificial altar confirmed. So this was definitely not the Firstborn. Great],¡± Ro¡¯borlar muttered softly.


    Je¡¯ndra wanted to argue, but she couldn¡¯t. The few records they had showed that the Firstborn destroyed the ideas of ¡®Gods¡¯ before they took to the stars. But if this was from the last time of the Firstborn, some of them grappling for the past wasn¡¯t out of the question. Could the builders of this place have been the degenerate descendants of the builders of this structure?


    ¡°[And we can¡¯t tell when it was last used¡­¡­ and if it had something alive],¡± Je¡¯ndra muttered as Ro¡¯borlar moved his rifle upwards.


    As she was looking at the screen, something flew past it. ¡°[WAIT! Possible contact]!¡±


    ¡°[I SAW IT, I SAW IT]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked as he moved his rifle around, trying to find what had breezed past the scope. In the distance, they saw a group of five creatures flying away.


    And to Je¡¯ndra¡¯s horror, they looked like humanoids.


    ¡°[We need to get to the door, now! We have to find the Princde]!¡± Je¡¯ndra declared as she canceled the link to the rifle scope.


    Without a word, Ken¡¯tricx dashed forward and met Je¡¯ndra and Ro¡¯borlar as they ran to Tar¡¯lroia.


    Tar¡¯lroia meanwhile had stopped and opened the door. She looked around for anything that might be on the other side before calling out. ¡°[Another hallway, but it curves towards the wall on this side]!¡±


    ¡°[Move now! This place has to link up to the other side! All it takes is for us to find the right way]!¡± Je¡¯ndra snarled.


    ¡°[I¡¯ve got our six. Everyone else, move]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said in a hard and focused tone.


    ¡°[Right behind you boss]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar called out as he let Je¡¯ndra pass.


    As she ran down the hallway, all she could think of were the creatures she had seen from the scope. The very idea that flying sentient life would create something like this was insane. But then that was only if the sentient life was normal, and not influenced by anything. Those with bodies that could fly were either weak or had tricks to get around their weight. And if they were Aether users, all of them, then how did they get by the centipedes to build this? And who and why would any being even think about giving sacrifices to those monsters?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he flew towards the end of the Harvesting field, Aplirix could only laugh as his wings carried him. The new potion that augmented his other form had worked beyond his wildest dreams! With arms, legs, and wings he could fight harder than ever before! There was talk amongst the others about finding specialized training for everyone. Something that might be needed once the new potions were finally created. For now, it was only for the officers, then the greatest fighters then the rest.


    As he flew over the field, he looked down at the giant centipede holes. They were a bit spooked but he couldn¡¯t see what the leaders were thinking. There hadn¡¯t been anything that could even try to cross the field in generations! It had taken the Cult creating the Flight Form for the Cult to even think about crossing it. The records showed that only a giant hive of bugs that couldn¡¯t fly awaited anyone who dared to try.


    And the Cult was only now slowly rebuilding their power. To risk everything while they already had a plan in the works was the height of folly! And all he could hope was that the ambush worked perfectly. The ones to be fed to the Great Beast had already been chosen beyond a few last-minute choices. But still, the very act would prove to everyone that they were a force to be feared. When they had the Kingdom on the back foot, then the others would attack those who held the Front Line. Once they were all dead and they were the ones to end the war, then the rest would fall into line.


    ¡°What are we here for anyway boss?¡± One of the Flyers following behind him asked.


    Aplirix let a bubble of laughter erupt and grinned as he answered. ¡°The three bosses said the little beasts are active. We¡¯re going to see why and if we want the remains! So keep a lookout for any scraps from the bugs!¡±


    Aplirix expected nothing but then he heard a cry from one of his own causing him to look up and stare. He saw a strange-looking metallic bird above the centipedes dodging their acid. It had a straight and smooth body, a sleek tail, and two strange round talons on its wings of all things! Aplirix had never even seen a creature shaped like this thing, and it was beyond anything that he had ever seen. It flew around the blasts of acid and seemingly dodged the acid in a way to let the blobs hit the centipedes. For a second he thought about how but then he realized that this thing must be using a skill to control the wind! That and the speed it showed, proved that this thing was perfect! The way its wings were rigid and it dodged and flew with such grace! This one was worthy of serving the Great Beast, and its blood would strengthen the all!


    Aplirix pumped his wings as he gripped his spear in his right hand. He looked at the creature and flexed his talons in anticipation. He looked at the other fliers and smirked as he saw them fly with wings in place of arms. He might have been the only one who had taken the booster potion, but the others were savage fighters. ¡°Attack formation! Get that thing in our talons and then fly down the hallway! Once we¡¯re far enough that the creatures can¡¯t touch us, we¡¯ll examine it. and to make it fun, the one who gets it I¡¯ll put forward for the booster potion!¡±


    ¡°Yes Leader!¡± The others roared and flew at the metallic creature.


    As they all called upon their Skills to fly faster or hit the creature, Aplirix smirked. Let the others all fight for the prize, if he took it down then he didn¡¯t have to put anyone forward after all.


    With a screech of victory, one of the fliers flew ahead and angled his body to grab the creature with his claws. But the creature flew away, angled upward, and climbed into the air.


    Aplirix watched with hunger. That kind of speed even climbing, as a Flyer he wanted it! Perhaps he¡¯d be the one to try the new merge potion once this thing was captured? The sheer power that this thing might have was mouthwatering.


    Flying upwards with his own Skill, he looked at it as it climbed. It¡¯s back was to him and it wasn¡¯t even reacting, surprising. He raised his spear at the metallic beast and started to gather Aether. But then it suddenly flipped over and blinded him with blue light from its claws.


    He screeched and dropped a foot as the thing started to climb higher before it flew away and along the ceiling. It was actually trying to escape back towards the caverns.


    He grinned as he didn¡¯t feel anything wrong with him as he started to fly again.


    ¡°Leader!¡± One of his soldiers cried out.


    ¡°Our prey is smart! After it!¡± Aplirix called out in glee. The best hunts were the ones that were challenging after all.


    As the group flew after the creature, he wondered just what this thing was. A new kind of Insect from the hive that was finally trying to breach the centipedes again? Or something that was a part of a pack that had found its way underground? All in all, Aplirix was looking forward for this fight!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he was carried along, Ar¡¯thor tried and failed to calm down. So far this entire situation was bothering him. The way that Sir Olv¡¯xic was reacting, showed fear. And he hated to admit it but he felt the same thing here and now. But then it was smart to fear the unknown in a Ruin, but this was beyond that. It was almost like something was hunting them. Like when they found that three-legged thing before the false mites. And he hated to say it but the very walls seemed to be full of malice and wickedness. He didn¡¯t believe in the supernatural, but there was something here that he didn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric, don¡¯t react. I¡¯ve set a solo channel to you],¡± Ar¡¯thor said softly.


    ¡°[My prince]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked softly.


    Ar¡¯thor tried to keep calm as he swallowed. ¡°[I don¡¯t want to worry you, but there¡¯s something about this place. Maybe it¡¯s my nerves, but I can feel it].¡±


    Ar¡¯thor felt better finally saying something was wrong. But the very act of saying something was wrong seemed to make the feeling grow stronger.


    ¡°[I know my prince, I feel it too. I don¡¯t think this from the Firstborn. This must be from whoever made this place¡­.. I don¡¯t like it here],¡± Kon¡¯gric said just as softly.


    Ahead of them, sir Olv¡¯xic led the way, and he looked all around trying to find anything that might threaten them.


    Ar¡¯thor tried to keep calm by looking over his own internal databases. The Empire had to have found something like this in its history. It was impossible that this kind of building was something new! But then his people had never found a culture that grew within a Ruin before¡­¡­. ¡°[Oh].¡±


    ¡°[O prince? Is something wrong]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked over the general coms line and Ar¡¯thor blinked.


    He looked at his mask and blushed, he hadn¡¯t thought it was set to general broadcast. For a moment he thought of what he had realized and tried to figure out if it was possible. It made sense, but then where did the materials of this building come from?


    ¡°[I think¡­. Whoever built this place? they had to have grown in the Ruins],¡± Ar¡¯thor said. He saw Olv¡¯xic go still and felt Kon¡¯gric tense for a second.


    He didn¡¯t want to say it, but it made so much sense. The one thing that he had been trying to figure out was why this place was built inside a Ruin. How whoever built this place braved the Ruin and the monsters in the caverns to get supplies here. But if they came from the other side of the door, it all became a lot easier.


    Olv¡¯xic turned around and looked right at Ar¡¯thor. He stayed still and seemed to be lost in thought.


    ¡°[Oh by the past and the future, the blade of all! That makes sense]!¡± Olv¡¯xic breathed out in total horror.


    ¡°[Wait, I have a thought. Were the Firstborn actually dead when these people made the Ruin their home? And how would that even work? I mean to live in a crumbling structure? I wouldn¡¯t want to raise my children in a decaying house]!¡± Kon¡¯gric cut in


    Ar¡¯thor nodded and sighed. ¡°[Yes, that¡¯s the one thing that doesn¡¯t make sense if you think about it. But still, it makes sense otherwise].¡±


    ¡°[No, it makes perfect sense]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said bitterly as he looked around at the walls again.


    ¡°[I thought we agreed that no one would raise their young in a destroyed building if they couldn¡¯t]!¡±


    ¡°[We did. But who says that the Ruin is destroyed in the first place],¡± Olv¡¯xic asked with a bitter look.

 Chapter One Hundred and Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Run/ Structure Before the Doors


    Galactic Standard Time / 0725


    ¡°[Explain what you mean now]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded as Oly¡¯xic stood there. The bombshell he just dropped had caused Kon¡¯gric¡¯s heart to beat faster than it ever had before.


    Oly¡¯xic¡¯s mask only looked at him and sighed. ¡°[Just what I meant, how do we know the Ruin is destroyed? This place is in a cavern after all. Think! This place is the best location to handle the test of time].¡±


    ¡°[Can you even hear yourself?! You¡¯re saying Ruin is fully active!? The odds of that]!¡±


    Oly¡¯xic only shook his head, a somber feeling coming off him. ¡°[I didn¡¯t say fully active. I said that the house was still in one piece. The case is fully intact, not the hardware].¡±


    Kon¡¯gric looked at him and then it clicked together. He stared, completely dumbfounded. People had found the remains of the Ruin and then moved into them to live within it. What did that say about the monsters out there that they would do this?!


    ¡°[There¡¯s something else. When I was up there, I saw something. A group of things that could fly. And if there¡¯s one thing I know so far, the life here is dangerous. And they might have been the things that killed the builders of this place. For all we know this is sacred ground, and natives kill heretics],¡± Oly¡¯xic said bluntly.


    ¡°[Then we need to find the others! That¡¯s the only way we¡¯ll survive],¡± Kon¡¯gric said as soon as the shock died down. For a moment he looked around, trying to find any opening that which the fliers could attack them. All he could think of was just what this place had been meant as, and where the fliers even came from!


    And then Kon¡¯gric went still as he thought of something else. And that one revelation caused him to feel nothing but fear and horror. Just thinking about all the possibilities this one thought opened up to him. ¡°[Wait¡­.. Where did the flyers and whoever built this place come from? Did they evolve here or were they¡­..]?¡±


    As Oly¡¯xic reared back, Kon¡¯gric only stared into space, trying to understand. If his thought was right, then they might never leave this sphere. If that was the case, then was there even a reason to carry out what that one wanted him to do? If the ship just disappears, then he might be counted as dead. That might save his family¡¯s lives, if nothing else then he had time to plan and keep the choice open to him.


    ¡°[We¡¯ll find that out later. For now, we have to find the others]¡±, Oly¡¯xic said softly and Kon¡¯gric nodded.


    Kon¡¯gric looked up and shook his head as he moved on, the weight of the Prince on his back a little easier to handle. If they thought he was dead, then they couldn¡¯t punish him for not killing the prince after all!


    ¡°[What did you all mean by that]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked from behind him.


    For a moment, Kon¡¯gric tried and failed to think of how to not explain this. He wanted to let the truth pass by, but the Prince was sharp. He would have to say something, but how?


    Oly¡¯xic however spoke first, putting truth to what Kon¡¯gric was feeling. ¡°[Your guard asked if we might not have been the first people to survive crash landing here].¡±


    ¡°[But I don¡¯t¡­¡­ oh],¡± Ar¡¯thor said softly as it hit him.


    All Kon¡¯gric did was nod, hoping that his Prince understood everything he had. But then the thought was terrible, wasn¡¯t it? If the people who built this were born of this world, were they from one of the Bioweapons the Firstborn made? Or if they weren¡¯t, then were they the descendants of another ship that crashed? And if that was the case, then did that mean that the Ruin here brought their ship down?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she ran ahead of the others, Je¡¯ndra tried and failed to keep calm. So far the people who made this place were showing themselves to be monsters! Currently, she was leading her team down a chamber. It was over forty feet long and ten wide with the remains of cages along the left side. Cages that to their horror were large enough to put at least a few people into them. Since most of the doors were biped-sized, there was a small chance that these weren¡¯t for beasts.


    ¡°[So, anyone getting flashbacks to the Zoo]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked as they moved.


    ¡°[The Zoo? I was thinking that this is perfect for the pole back there]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said bitterly.


    ¡°[There is just one thing I want to know. Where did the people who went into these cages come from],¡± Ro¡¯borlar wondered as he looked into one of the cages.


    Je¡¯ndra had to admit that that was something to think about. Were there others down here besides the ones who made this thing? And if not, was this the way they executed criminals? All she knew was the longer they traveled, the more that they found new questions. As they finally reached the end of the chamber, the party went still for a moment. All of them had heard the sounds of something moving.


    ¡°[Everyone hears that, right]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she called up a short-range sensor built into her armor. As soon as she activated it, she saw a group of beings moving along behind them. And from what the sensor showed, whatever it was it was on the ceiling. ¡°[Everyone sees that]?¡±


    ¡°[Yeah, their twenty feet back. What¡¯s the play]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked bluntly.


    Je¡¯ndra had to think fast. There was a chance that whoever or whatever this was might not be new foes. But on the other hand, it would be stupid to give up the element of surprise.


    ¡°[They¡¯ve stopped, fifteen feet back from me. Should I turn and fire? My rotary guns will make mincemeat of them fast]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx suggested.


    ¡°[We don¡¯t know their the enemy],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said softly.


    Je¡¯ndra knew her friend well enough to know Tar¡¯lroia was just reaching for anything. Je¡¯ndra knew that Tar¡¯lroia would kill without question, but she had a thing about collateral damage.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°[Doc, anyone who makes something this sick is my enemy]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar cut in bluntly. ¡°[I don¡¯t know about you, but when I saw that pole I knew I¡¯d kill whoever made it]!¡±


    ¡°[They could be the foes of whoever made this place! We don¡¯t know. And there¡¯s a chance they¡¯re just animals],¡±


    For Je¡¯ndra, that was enough. For better or worse, she knew what she would do.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Starlsia hunted the newcomers, her mouth watered. Since she and her swarm saw the armored ones walk into the Chapel from the Field of Worms, she wanted their power. These beings were strong, and fast and they seemed to talk to each other without talking! The things her own could do if they had that power alone! They would bring down the central Temple and tell all others the true way to worship the Great Beast. She hadn¡¯t had the booster potion yet, but this way she¡¯d be able to boost with the strengths of her targets!


    ¡°Matriarch, they¡¯re moving closer to the area between the nests and the way back into the Outer Realms. What should we do?¡± One of her soldiers asked as they all followed the intruders.


    Starlsia looked at her soldier and then down at the figures. Yes, they were going that way. The other two would want their share. But then that was what made them all-powerful, the fact they worked as one. Perhaps they could share the bodies, each taking one to tear apart the strength.


    Yes, Starlsia could see it now! Together wither her allies, they would share the spoils with the others. Just to talk without talking would let them coordinate their forces so much easier. Yes, Starlsia moved one of her legs as she slowly stalked toward her unsuspecting targets. While she was moving the four figures suddenly gathered together and turned. The the figures emitted the strongest blast of light at her and her swarm. With a screech of pain, she fell and heard the others fall as well. As she landed on the ground on her back she screeched as she tried to roll over. But with her Combat Form making that near impossible she knew there was only one thing to do.


    ¡°Tether yourselves to get back upright!¡± She screeched and aimed her right arm at the wall. She shot a string of webbing at the wall and pulled herself to it. She got herself upright and looked at the four figures. She saw each one pointing something strange-looking at them. Her mind went to the possibility the things were crossbow, or a weapon. And that made her realize these things could think!. With a scowl on her face, she wondered how she and her swarms Battle Forms were affecting the figures.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Tar¡¯lroia barely kept her cool as she looked at what they were staring down. When they had hit what was following them with that flash of light, she expected beasts. But these things, never in a million years!


    The things that were staring them down were strange-looking mutants. The creature was a hybrid of a spider with a human. Each one of the creatures had a round ring of eight legs around their bottom. At the center of the ring grew a slim humanoid torso and that looked normal. Each being was wearing a tattered purple cloak and the hoods were back revealing their faces. Each one had a pale humanoid face with two multi-faceted eyes bellow a mass of messy brown hair. The arms looked normal until the elbow, from their their forearms were covered in pale chitin. But the most thing was that the female leader had screamed in Terrain Standard!


    ¡°[This can¡¯t be a Federation base, right]?¡±  Ken¡¯tricx asked with a dumbfounded tone.


    ¡°[These sick fucks must be the result of a program to breed a soldier caste! These must be the sterile offspring]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar growled from next to her. She could hear him slowly squeeze his weapon. ¡°[Requesting the order to put these abominations down]!¡±


    Tar¡¯lroia felt herself shake her head before she spoke up. ¡°[If the Humans made this and them, then the Federation isn¡¯t involved. This place can¡¯t be an official program. Their BIO editing laws were even sticker than ours were once]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she looked at the creatures, Je¡¯ndra knew that she only had one choice that made sense. And despite how it might be setting them up for an attack, she knew there was only one choice to make. But first, she had to bring the others into her line of thinking.


    ¡°[I¡¯m hearing a lot about what this could be, nothing about what this is! Anyone wants to say a reason why we shouldn¡¯t try and talk to them]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked. She looked at the other¡¯s backs and tried to see if they


    For a few moments, she just looked at the spider things as they talked amongst themselves. She felt a frown form on her face as she heard a few words she understood. But what did ¡®power¡¯, ¡®claim¡¯, and ¡®honor¡¯ mean in this context?


    ¡°[Talk to these things? Are you listening to yourself, boss]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded.


    ¡°[But they can speak or parrot Federaton Standard. That means they might be able to think. And it¡¯s orders to try to make peaceful first contact on planets like this. That¡¯s the law],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said softly.


    ¡°[But if someone talks to them, that doesn¡¯t mean drop our guard. We could prepare countermeasures and an escape route. It might be the best idea. But do you have any other idea that will work? ]Tar¡¯lroia asked.


    Je¡¯ndra waited for any other plan that didn¡¯t strike first. But after a few moments, both Ken¡¯tricx and Ro¡¯borlar dropped their shoulders for a moment.


    ¡°[Thought so. I¡¯ll be our point woman, don¡¯t argue! Tar¡¯lroia get that door open. I want a way to leave if we have to. And Ken¡¯tricx? Got any mines we can use]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she started to move towards the front.


    ¡°[Three. But I¡¯ll just use one],¡± Ken¡¯tricx admitted


    ¡°[Thanks,]¡± Je¡¯ndra muttered over the coms. She looked at the spider creatures start to move forward and with a single thought activated her mask¡¯s external speakers. ¡°That¡¯s far enough!¡±


    The spider things all took a step back, shock on their faces.


    Je¡¯ndra took that as a good thing. If they could be shocked, then that means they could do more than repeat what they heard.


    ¡°You talk our tongue!?¡± The one in the front called back, shock in her voice.


    Je¡¯ndra nodded and looked at the leader, but kept her eyes on the other spider things. ¡°Yes, I can. We¡¯re not here to cause any trouble! We just want to get to a place that will take us back to the sun!¡±


    ¡°The sun!?¡± The female spider thing asked in a shocked tone. The other things started to mutter to themselves, not knowing that Je¡¯ndra heard every word. The longer they did so, the more that Je¡¯ndra knew that they would have to fight their way out. The spider things spoke of how to trick the group, and how to take their power. But it was talking about how their group would take over that caused Je¡¯ndra to know that this was going to be bad.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way farther into the facility, Olv¡¯xic knew that they were going into danger. The flyers he had seen told him that either they were friends of the builders of this place, or the conquers. The way everything was decaying or abandoned told him enough. Whoever those flyers were, this place had been left fall apart. And part of him didn¡¯t  think that any being that was sane would do that. Unless they didn¡¯t even want to move around this place on the inside.


    ¡°[I¡¯m starting to come around to your idea about this being holy ground for someone. Makes sense if you just think about it like that. Offerings left outside],¡± Kon¡¯gric muttered over the coms.


    Olv¡¯xic looked at him and nodded, a strange feeling going through him. He had only let his science side out, but Kon¡¯gric was saying he was right? He had spent his life hiding away, should he maybe step into the light?


    Then he remembered his sin, and he felt terrible for even thinking he could do that. He had to survive and stay free. That was the best and only path open for him. Even the mission to go among the Federation to renew the None-Aggression treaty. That was too improtant for one like him.


    But it was when they reached a door that caused his thoughts to stop. The door looked normal at first glance, but looking at it again he noticed something. The wooden door had marks on it, holes that seemed to have been eaten into it. Each hole in the door looked they  had been burned by a liquid, and only those holes. The hole went to somewhere very dark, and the lights that had lite up the corridor wasn¡¯t beyond this door.


    It didn¡¯t matter, they all had dark vision and heat sight in their masks, and he was great at fighting in the dark. But something about this place seemed to repeal him, and it was something primal.


    ¡°[Does everyone else feel that we shouldn¡¯t go in there]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in a short and scared voice.


    Olv¡¯xic nodded as he looked at the holes. This feeling felt familiar to him. But that was insane, the only time that he had ever felt anything like this was when¡­¡­. He went still and looked at the door, his mouth falling open behind his mask. There was no way that this was like then! There was only one way that it would be possible! And that meant!


    He went still as he looked at the door before his gaze hardened. Holding his rifle tighter, he glared at the door. With one swift movement kicked it open, the door shattering in a loud sound. He looked at Kon¡¯gric and said one sentence. ¡°[Get your shield ready]!¡±


    Olv¡¯xic dashed into the room without another word. He swiftly panned his rifle around the room, activating a custom option to his sensors. Within moments he found just what he didn¡¯t want to see, and he was shocked and horrified.


    ¡°[WHAT IS IT]?!¡± Kon¡¯gric¡¯s booming voice over the coms caused Olv¡¯xic to sigh. He would have to drop this nugget of information, but then he had no other choice. This whole place had suddenly become that much more dangerous.


    ¡°[A horror of Aether. Whoever made this place, they could do one of the Forbidden],¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly.


    ¡°[How can you know that!? The only way that could be possible is if¡­.],¡± Arr¡¯thor trailed off as Olv¡¯xic felt the looks he was getting to his back.


    ¡°[You¡¯ve seen a Forbidden],¡± Kon¡¯gric whispered hoarsely.


    Olv¡¯xic couldn¡¯t even think of saying anything. That event and his sin were the most important secrets he had. To even talk about something so horrifying, was against everything that he was. But this thing made it so he didn¡¯t have a choice. The single fact that this was here had forced the issue.


    ¡°[Which one is this Sir Olv¡¯xic]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked with a hard voice.


    ¡°[The Violation- Chimera],¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he looked down at the floor. Before them were two painted on the floor side by side. The circles had strange-looking runes all around them in no language that he had ever seen. If not for the lines that were connecting the circles together, he wouldn¡¯t have known what it was.


    ¡°[You can read that]?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in wonder.


    Olv¡¯xic only shook his head. ¡°[No, I just know the secret of Aether Runes. The secret is that they don¡¯t matter].¡±


    ¡°[Wait, what? They don¡¯t matter? But then how are they used]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked in shock.


    Olv¡¯xic only chuckled. ¡°[You have to think about the effect. It¡¯s why Runic items need a person to finish them off. As long as you use the proper Technique to empower the Runes, they can look like anything].¡±


    A loud screeching from beyond the circles caused them to look up. And it was what they saw that caused Olv¡¯xic to aim his weapon, ready to fire.

 Chapter One Hundred and Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Run/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes / Complex right side


    Galactic Standard Time / 0745


    It was all Olv¡¯xic could do to keep from firing. He knew that the way a creature looked didn¡¯t matter. But the longer he looked at the thing in the doorway, the more he wanted to. It was only when his eyes went down to the circles that he understood why he was feeling this. This poor soul had to have been a victim of whoever had made the ritual circles. This had to have been what was created!


    The poor wrench before him was a monster to behold. It was tall, around eight feet tall. But how much that was the thing''s height or if it was rearing up he didn¡¯t know. It had brown chitin covering most of its body and its arms ended in savage-looking white claws. But while it had a human-like torso, it wasn¡¯t human. From the waist down was a pale skin that formed a large tail-like limb. From it came ten sharp spike-like chitin-covered legs on both sides of its body.


    Its head had chitin armor covering most of it. There were only spaces for eye holes and a round mouth. From the checks came two sharp-looking mandibles pointing, ready to impale anything.


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric keep back! That thing might just be an animal].¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly. But then he went still as he saw the creature had a collar around its neck. With that one discovery, he knew that this was going to be hard. ¡°[NO! GET your shield up]!¡±


    Kon¡¯gric could only bring his shield over him and Ar¡¯thor in a bubble moments before the creature reacted. It shot a black blob of a liquid at them at sizzled as it flew through the air. Olv¡¯xic jumped out of the blast zone but the blob hit the shield and the liquid flowed down to the ground, eating away at it.


    ¡°[It must have been merged with one of those things out there!? But this place is too small! How¡¯d it get in here]!?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in shocked horror.


    Olv¡¯xic had to admit, the Prince had a point. Nothing about this place was normal, not even the monsters. Whoever had built or conquered this place had discovered two of the Terrors of Aether. And they had access to beings that they were perfectly fine to use them on. He aimed at the monster as it tried to move towards them and fired. The shot hit one of the thing''s legs and broke it off below the body. It didn¡¯t react, even as the blood gushed from its wound. All Olv¡¯xic did was wince as he saw the way the other legs quivered.


    ¡°[MOVE]!¡± Olv¡¯xic yelled as he fired at another leg. ¡°[It''s under the effect of another of the Terrors! We need to get out of here now]!¡±


    ¡°[Two of them here?! How is this possible]!?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in horror from within the shield.


    ¡°[I can¡¯t move in this shield mode! Olv¡¯xi, do something to that thing! Buy me time]!¡± Kon¡¯gric called out.


    Olv¡¯xic gritted his teeth and fired again at the monster. It didn¡¯t react again, and he knew that someone was controlling it. The two manacles on it might be the things that were controlling this wrench, but then it might not. It was when he heard another roar as the first creature moved farther in that his heart stopped. As soon as he saw the second centipede centaur moving coming into the chamber he reacted.


    With practiced ease, he fired at the second creature. He silently Augmented the shot with a skill. When the bolt this the second creature¡¯s right arm at the should. A second later the shoulder exploded in a shower of gore that tore the creature¡¯s arm free. The second creature roared in pain and then it attacked the first.


    At this, the first creature turned to deal with the second ignoring the three before it. Olv¡¯xic felt his heart freeze before he fired again and hit the first creature¡¯s left shoulder.


    As the limb was blown off, Kon¡¯gric dropped the dome. Turing as he changed his shields to long tower shields and looked at Olv¡¯xic. ¡°[Where are we going!? We can¡¯t go forward right]?!¡±


    ¡°[Back to the other chamber! We¡¯ll try and make it to the others over the roofs]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he fired again, this time at the right side of the doorway. The explosion caused the stone to buckle and collapse backwards. From the hole came more screams, as if the door was a barrier to sound.


    For a second Olv¡¯xic had a clear view of the hole, and he was sure that he locked eyes with something that had more than he did. But then the two fighting monsters blocked his sight and he shook his head. ¡°[Move now! Don¡¯t stop just run]!¡±


    Kon¡¯gric let his training take over, and without a word, he started to run. Olv¡¯xic let him pass by him and kept firing at the walls, hoping that something would cause more chaos. Turning around to join the others in their escape, he had a terrible thought.


    The ritual of the Chimera could be done either to others or to the user. If that was the case, then what had he just seen in that moment? Was this the worst case, a mad Ritualist who used the ritual to become ¡®the strongest¡¯? Or was this being used to make an army? But none of those ideas told him the most important thing. Where was the madman who did this getting the supplies to create those horrors behind him?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Kon¡¯gric carried him, all Ar¡¯rhor could do was think of what was behind him. The Forbidden Aether practices were horrors! They were things that had been found when the People were young. The stories went that each one of the Forbidden was used to cause sorrow and destruction. But what was more worrying was that Olv¡¯xic had encountered them before.


    Olv¡¯xic, he didn¡¯t know what to think about him. He had secrets, and now they covered an encounter with a Forbidden. He was a mystery behind a mask, and that was slowly getting more dangerous as they moved through this place. How could he have encountered one of the Forbidden at all? And why wasn¡¯t it news?


    ¡°[¡­.. let me see if I understand this. Your plan is to lead us over the roofs? Do you think that¡¯s actually doable]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked in shock.


    ¡°[Yeah, the team had to move over the roofs to track down a smuggler once. If we¡¯re fast and we keep our eyes out for the flyers. But we need to find a way into another building. I don¡¯t know what other horrors that monster behind us has],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a hard tone.


    Ar¡¯thor felt his heart stop. He had learned about the Forbidden a few years back from conversations he had overheard. The talk had been about ¡®Forbidden Indicants¡¯ that the army dealt with. Those who practiced ¡®Chimera¡¯ were said to be limited by only two things. Their creativity plus what materials they had to use. And with what he used to make those centaur centipedes, he didn¡¯t have any morals. And that was enough to tell Ar¡¯thor that they had to move now. ¡°[I agree! We need to get away from here as soon as possible]!¡±


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    All that Ar¡¯thor could think of were the worst examples that he had heard of over his lifetime. The fact that something worse might be behind them caused him to slowly swallow. ¡°[Please, can we go now]?¡±


    Without another word they were off, the sounds of combat dying down behind made them run faster. He didn¡¯t know what was happening, but Ar¡¯thor wished he had a stronger weapon than a small blade and a pistol.


    As soon as they came into the chamber with the staircase, Olv¡¯xic fell behind them and looked at the door. After Ar¡¯thor called up his suit''s sensors, he tried to watch Olv¡¯xic as Kon¡¯gric carried him up the stairs. After a few minutes, Olv¡¯xic came thundering up behind them.


    ¡°[I left a small explosion next to the wall the door will hit. We might have a minute¡¯s warning, but that¡¯s all! We just need to keep moving and hope that this will work]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he joined them.


    Ar¡¯thor didn¡¯t have a chance to say anything as Kon¡¯gric carried him out onto the roof.


    Looking around, he was shocked to finally see the shape of the structure. Its shape was that of a long and winding trident. They had come out on the rightmost point, and the space between the nearest point was over half a mile. With a slight scowl, he looked towards the large door. At the other side of the chamber near the underground, it had looked so easy. But closer they could see just what they had to deal with. The door were on a platform over forty feet up, and there were buildings built on what might have been stairs or a ramp. And the buildings going up were over two hundred feet away from them. And every thirty feet on the roof were chambers into the lower structure like what they had come up here from. Something about how those things were spaced bothered Ar¡¯thor, but why he couldn¡¯t say.


    ¡°[The trap of Illusion, wonderful],¡± Olv¡¯xic muttered and shook his head.


    ¡°[You¡¯ve seen this before]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded in shock.


    Ar¡¯thor looked at Olv¡¯xic as he just shrugged.


    Olv¡¯xic shook his head before he gripped his rifle and looked around.¡°[Let¡¯s just say that in the Ruins, the team relied on our eyes and sensors together, but trusted the sensor more. This isn¡¯t too bad. At least the flyers aren¡¯t here].¡±


    ¡°[Enough talking! We need to move now]!¡± Kon¡¯gric exclaimed.


    Olv¡¯xic just nodded and looked at the doorway into the ruins and nodded.


    Ar¡¯thor didn¡¯t know why, but something was coming. He could feel it.


    ¡°[The trap of Illusion, wonderful],¡± Olv¡¯xic muttered and shook his head.


    ¡°[You¡¯ve seen this before]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded in shock.


    Ar¡¯thor looked at Olv¡¯xic as he just shrugged.


    Olv¡¯xic shook his head before he gripped his rifle and looked around. "[Let¡¯s just say that in the Ruins, the team relied on our eyes and sensors together, but trusted the sensor more. This isn¡¯t too bad. At least the flyers aren¡¯t here].¡±


    ¡°[Enough talking! We need to move now]!¡± Kon¡¯gric exclaimed.


    Olv¡¯xic just nodded and looked at the doorway into the ruins and nodded.


    Ar¡¯thor didn¡¯t know why, but something was coming. He could feel it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Aplirix grinned as he and his five followers followed after their prey. Together they had chased down the beast. No matter what the hunters had done, the creature had dodged them. But it had to be getting tired with all those moves it was making. But the hunters were still only slightly winded and they had done it at last! One of the hunters had flown ahead of it and dropped down, tearing off its right wing. Their target crashed to the ground and the hunter threw the wind at it. As the hunter screeched and caught the wind to soar higher, the others all joined in.


    ¡°Well done!¡± Aplirix cried with glee as he watched the beast fall to the ground.


    ¡°Well done brother! A wonderful strike!¡± Another of the flyers called out as they landed.


    ¡°It just hit me! I could get ahead of it and then stopped flying. Then I just let gravity get me get it!¡± The hunter said with a laugh


    Aplirix smiled but on the inside, he was looking at this one in anger. This hunter had displayed a bit too much creativity. Sooner or later someone like that would start to think that they should lead the Sect. And then a few more missions where he showed his skills, and then there would be a war for leadership. And with what the others were doing, their little fort might fall if the other two butted in. And they would, all to gain more power and secrets.


    ¡°Well done!¡± Aplirix called out and looked at the hunter and forced a grin on his face. ¡°I knew I¡¯d find someone to become my second here! And with this speed, we will rise!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be getting any blood from this thing!¡± Another voice called out from where their target had crashed. Aplirix looked up and saw three of the five flyers gathered around the dead body.


    Aplirix looked as one of the flyers held up the wing, revealing that it wasn¡¯t leaking blood. As he stared in shock, he looked down at the body. It wasn¡¯t losing blood, it didn¡¯t have any! What they had destroyed looked more like some strange and deadly weapon. It was glittering in the light as if¡­. ¡°It¡¯s not organic! It¡¯s not even a bug!¡±


    ¡°Master, what is this?!¡± Another of the flyers cried out in horror.


    Aplirix understood just what he was looking at in an instant. It was such a shock that his mouth dropped open. ¡°It¡¯s like those things! The strange metallic constructs!¡±


    ¡°But this looks like metal, not whatever they''re made out of!¡± another of the flyers said as he held up the wing.


    With a scowl Aplirix just snoted. ¡°Then it must not be from the same source! It¡¯s not from the same source.¡±


    He looked at the strange thing, his mind moving at the speed of a hurricane. If this was really like those things and different, then that meant that new things like them could be made. Give them weapons after you find out how to control them and you have soldiers. Control a bunch of them and you have a squad. Control many squads and you have an army. Even if you couldn¡¯t make soldiers of them, they could still be used as spies. Looking at the thing, Aplirix felt himself go giddy.


    ¡°We have to find out where this wonder comes from! This is a great day for us all! with this one find, we¡¯ve secured a new dawn for us all!¡±  Aplirix proclaimed as he dropped all the ideas he had before. This was better than he hoped, and with this for his sect, he would rule! ¡°Come my brothers, let us return to our home and discover how to use this find!


    But suddenly the metal thing released a loud blaring sound! The pain from it was such that it forced everyone around it to their knees. As the flyers all held their ears, a strange voice started to speak gibberish.


    ¡°[Hi you! You¡¯ve brought me down so good for you! I¡¯m gonna explode now, bye]!!¡±


    Before Aplirix could even look up an explosion of heat and light suddenly swept over him. He screamed in pain and rage as he felt the flames.


    Moments later he struggled back to his feet and took in what had happened. The thing was gone and there was a small crater where it had been! Around it were the bodies of the other three flyers! Each one of them was burned so badly that their skin and feathers were black and smoking.


    Aplirix took stock of his own body and glared as soon as he saw the state of his wings. All the feathers had been burned off! He would never take off and they were in the Builder¡¯s trap! And forget about that, there were the creatures to think about! Just trying to get by them would be impossible with his skills while landlocked! What could he do to get airborne again!? He couldn¡¯t eat the blackened meat, it was worthless! He needed a better source of food to regenerate, and he needed to find one soon!


    ¡°Leader Aplirix!¡± A voice caused him to look towards the right wall.


    He smiled as he saw the flyer that brought down the flying thing and another one. Both of them had over half their bodies blackened, but the rest of them were in good shape.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic stopped and looked around at the roof as he led the way. So far, everything was going fine. In fact, he hoped that soon they would find the others. But then a flashing icon on his mask appeared. As soon as he saw it, he realized that another of his drones was destroyed. But the icon was that the explosive trap he had set had gone off. And the damage report he saw showed that the thing that took it out wasn¡¯t one of the centipedes. With a single


    ¡°[NO]!¡± He exclaimed as he saw just what had brought his drone down. Suddenly, a lot of what this place was made sense. And he cursed himself internally for not understanding this earlier!


    ¡°[What is it]!?¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded as he looked around, his energy shield ready to block any attack.


    ¡°[My drone is gone. I saw what took it out, more of the Human Chimeras! This is terrible]!¡± Olv¡¯xic snarled as he looked around.


    ¡°[Flying Chimera Humans!? Is there¡­.. no. You can¡¯t mean that]!?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked in horror.


    ¡°[My prince? What is it]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked, his voice full of curiosity.


    ¡°[If they made those flyers, then what else did whoever did the Forbidden make? And what did he control them to do? Like, make this whole structure]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked with a completely bleak tone.


    Looking around at the shape, he started to understand what was bothering him. The way it was shaped, it was so they could hunt those centipedes. They must have been lured into the spaces between the ¡®points¡¯. Then they would be killed, ambushed, or poisoned. Once that happened, the user must have harvested what they needed and at the rest.


    And that was why those things stayed in their holes! But this place had been here long enough that animals had created instincts about this place? that was a very bad thing to figure out, it just made this place worse for them. But then everything


    ¡°[They¡­ they used slave labor. They didn¡¯t need to even think about how many they lost building this place! The deaths while this place was made didn¡¯t even matter to them]!¡± Ar¡¯thor exploded over their comms.


    Olv¡¯xic felt nothing but disgusted that he hadn¡¯t seen it sooner. The Chimera Ritual circles had to clue him in that something was wrong here! Anyone who dared to use those things felt the Horror¡¯s cost sooner or later! Plus the way everything was turning out, the worst scenario was probably true! The Ritualist might have just found this place! If they were lucky they only learned from what the first Ritualist left behind!


    ¡°[Most likely. But we have to move faster! I think those things ahead were for killing any centipedes that came between the points. And that means that warriors might be below them. Warriors hunting us]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he looked at the small room ahead of them, trying to see anything. But as they moved closer, he saw the shadows from the inside of the room move. ¡°[Contact\]!¡±


    Without waiting a second, he fired his weapon. The blasts pierced the sides of the building nearest to them. For a second nothing happened, then something fell out onto the roof as screams came from the room.


    Olv¡¯xic only glared at them and called upon his aether. He knew that this was going to be bad, but he knew that there was a greater chance that he would live through this.

 Chapter One Hundred Ten

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Run/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes / Complex Left side


    Galactic Standard Time / 0745


    Je¡¯ndra looked at the spider centaurs as she waited for them to reply. But from the muttering her mask could hear, they were talking about using them. Let them try, the first time beings tried to do that, it was usually the last attempt. She heard her team move around behind her and knew they could hear the same as she did. She wanted to say something, but all she did was look at the female leader. ¡°Let me introduce myself. My name is Je¡¯ndra. The people I¡¯m with crashed here a few days ago. We¡¯re trying to get back into sunlight. We don¡¯t mean any harm!¡±


    ¡°[Boss, I just had a thought. What if their religion is against going up into the light? If they¡¯re hiding here],¡± Ken¡¯tricx muttered over the comm-line.


    ¡°[Then how did they learn Fed Standard]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar muttered.


    ¡°No harm?? You crossed from the Field of Death then?¡± The female spider centaur declared.


    The others started to screech and mutter to each other loudly. If Je¡¯ndra hadn¡¯t heard them plan this out, she might have been convinced by their acting. But she had and there was nothing that these things could do to trick her if they just talked quietly.


    ¡°Yes, we did. We and three others are just trying to get to a place of safety. We mean no harm nor do we want any territory or resources here. We just want to move on,¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a soft tone.


    The spider centaurs looked at each other and tried to keep their talks soft. But from the looks that they were shooting at the team, Je¡¯ndra knew that this time they weren¡¯t acting. But then they probably didn¡¯t believe her, but she expected that. She knew she wouldn¡¯t believe that if a Federation ship crashed on the Throne-World by accident. But then she just needed them to think that they could use the team. And then to strike harder than these things did.


    ¡°Strong must you be to get through the Field alive! How many did you lose to get through the middle of them all?¡± The female asked


    ¡°We went along the side of the closest wall to get here. We were lucky that something caused the long beasts to look away from us. We were fast enough to escape silently. As we knew they would beat our strength,¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a calm and steady voice. She didn¡¯t say that the only reason the monsters would have won was because they outnumbered the party. There was no need to give away anything that these things could use. If the party was seen as weak then so much the better. Any ambush would have many enemies then, and that was something that the party could handle.


    ¡°[Smart boss. Very smart],¡± Ken¡¯tricx muttered.


    ¡°[Yeah, let the things plotting how to use us think they can out-muscle us. That way all of us can kill them that much easier],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said in a jovial tone.


    ¡°This one is Starlsia! Beyond the great doors above are the enemies of this one! They will see you as our friends if we pass through with you. Banished here were we,¡± The female leader, Starlsia said.


    ¡°Then would these foes of yours be willing to talk to someone else? My people have some experience in getting two sides to understand each other. It¡¯s something we''ve done many times,¡± Je¡¯ndra suggested with a smile. Starlsia just looked at her and then muttered under her breath. Je¡¯ndra felt a scowl grow as she heard the words for fool and weak there in an older dialect of Fed Standard.


    ¡°We have much to talk of. You say you from where? Where did you¡­.. crash? Strange word that,¡± Starlsia said with a probing tone.


    ¡°It means that the great spaceship we were on broke apart for some reason. We are the survivors who had crashed into a cavern. We¡¯ve been fighting to escape back to the surface and find a place to rest and plan. Any help that you could give us would be a great help,¡± Je¡¯ndra explained, trying to make her voice sound hopeful.


    The spider centaurs all went still and Starlsia¡¯s eyes widened for a moment. ¡°So old tales true. Always thought so!¡±


    ¡°What do your people know about this place great Starlsia?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked and tried to sound like she was complimenting her.


    ¡°This place of entrapment for our people. Old stories say that our past ones were great soldiers and fighters! They were captured from great and Mighty warship of the Federation! They part of great fight against merchants who had grown too strong and vile!¡± Starlsia said with anger in her voice.


    Je¡¯ndra only nodded, a strange feeling going through her.


    ¡°[Did that thing say they were from a Federation ship fighting Merchants? That means the Corp war. That was a long time ago],¡±


    ¡°[I want to know how they became like that. It doesn¡¯t make¡­¡­no. It makes sense],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said with a shocked and horrified tone.


    ¡°It is an honor to meet warriors of such heritage!¡± Je¡¯ndra said with cheer in her voice. ¡°[Tar¡¯lroia, what do you mean? What do you know]?¡±


    ¡°[There is only one thing that can make a species like this from human stock! The Forbidden of Chimera]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia exclaimed in horrified tones.


    ¡°Honor to us, who are you? And why ask who past ones were?¡± Starlsia asked as she crossed her arms.


    Je¡¯ndra felt her blood leave her face. The Aether Forbidden, the worst things that a person could use Aether to do. To even think that that thing was used on sentient beings, made her stare in horror. For a second, she was glad her mask kept them from seeing her face, they might not have reacted the right way.


    ¡°As I said my name is Je¡¯ndra. My part and I were traveling on a civilian ship to make it to a ceremony. We hope to find a way out of this place and try to contact our people. But if you¡¯re here, then we have to get in contact even more so. All Casterways must be rescued, that¡¯s the Spacer¡¯s creed!¡± Je¡¯ndra said crossing her hand over her heart.


    ¡°[How do we know that whoever did this to them is dead? Could these things have escaped? Could that force be whatever enemy is behind the doors? How¡¯s that work if so]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked with a hard tone. ¡°[Slavers rarely let their property escape]!¡±


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°[And can Chimera even breed true? How long ago was this revolt we¡¯re talking about]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx rumbled over the coms.


    Je¡¯ndra felt her heart clench as she looked at the spider centaurs. That one comment had made her ask herself one question, one very important question. Did these things still follow their creator?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Starlsia looked at the figures before her and felt her heart race. These things weren¡¯t some of the Builder¡¯s creations, they were star travelers! And that meant that the old tales were true, something her swarm was still absorbing. She had believed that the Gods at the start of the world had created their people to rule. The way this place was set up was all to allow their chosen to find the Great Beast. And from studying that great beast did Enlightenment come, that was the belief. And it was by studying its flesh that the Skill to assume their War Form came about.


    But the dogma of the Kingdom was true! This was something that she was still having a hard time believing. She had spent most of her life fighting with the belief that the Great Beast would reward her in the next world, but now? Now all she felt was rage and anger. The High Priest had to know the truth, or did he? The way he had changed the beliefs once they had broken into the Realm suddenly made sense.


    ¡°Is there a problem great Starlsia?¡± The one called Je¡¯ndra asked her.


    Starlsia looked at the newcomers and forced herself to smile. ¡°Just thinking, maybe one who is not part of fight could end it.¡±


    ¡°You talking truth boss? And why are you talking so stupidly?¡± One of her followers asked softly in a murmur.


    For a second she almost exploded, but Starlsia kept silent. She couldn¡¯t let these ones figure out the truth about all of them. No, the best thing was to kill these ones and take all their gear. If they had a weapon, then so much the better. The old stories told of weapons that were beyond anything that the Kingdom had, and to have one of those weapons? This was the single greatest thing that could happen to them.


    All Starlsia could do was smile at the fools before her. Making sure that they couldn¡¯t see her, she flashed a sign with her hands behind her back to her swarm. She needed to hope that the others would understand what she was doing. If they tried to rush these things, the game would be up.


    ¡°She¡¯s trying to get them to lower their guard. So stay silent and follow the boss. We¡¯ll all have our vengeance sooner at this rate!¡± One of the other spider centaurs chastised the murmur just as softly.


    ¡°Well, that is something that we can do. All we need to something that can get their attention. Do you people have any rules about parlays down here?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked with a kind voice.


    Starlsia looked at the space traveler and wondered how she could be such a mark. Tricking this one would be easier than she thought. And if this one led her people into an ambush, then that was the betrayed one''s fault. And if this was what the Starborn were light, then that whatever captured her ancestors did them a favor. For the question that this foolish one just asked was the perfect setup to lead them. Lead these strangers to their deaths, deaths that would give her Swarm prosperity!


    ¡°We have thing that when raised all must talk! It far from here, and in mess. I send one of my guards away. Those there find it and bring it to staircase. Best way to use time!¡± Starlsia said with a grin.


    One of her swarm started to snicker, and Starlsia felt her mouth almost scowl. No, she needed to keep up the act. Play this like she was happy and outside was here to bring peace. No reason to deny it.


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea noble Starlsia. We can wait for your guard if he¡¯s late. We can¡¯t leave until we can help you after all,¡± Je¡¯ndra said pleasantly.


    Starlsia waved at the snicker and flashed him a sign in a way that the void travelers couldn¡¯t see. The sign of ¡®ambush¡¯ and ¡®all¡¯.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the spider centaur scurried away, Tar¡¯lroia watched him go. That thing was fast and the way it moved was the perfect reason to create some gear. But then the monster that created these things probably saw their creation as easier. The one fact that these things were so quick to try and trick them all told her a lot.


    ¡±[So that one is going to get the hordes. We all know that right]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx mused.


    Tar¡¯lroia kept from sighing and shaking her head. They couldn¡¯t let the enemy, the spider centaurs, know that the group could understand them. ¡°[Of course it is Ken¡¯tricx. But we can¡¯t let them know that yet]!¡±


    ¡°[I say that we just start blasting boss. Let¡¯s put the fear of us into them]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar rumbled as he moved his body, keeping his eyes on the lone spider centaur. Tar¡¯lroia watched with him as the native walked up the right wall until it reached a hole it went through. Looking up, Tar¡¯lroia saw more holes, each one set so these beings could watch the cages from safety.


    ¡°[Got a bad feeling Ro¡¯borlar? Why]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked and even Tar¡¯lroia was wondering what had brought this on.


    ¡°[We¡¯re acting like these things won¡¯t be able to kill us! And they were probably created by one of the Forbidden! Everything and anything is able to get one over us if we let them! And the way we¡¯re acting, I don¡¯t like it]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said with a hard edge in his voice.


    As much as she didn¡¯t want to admit it, Ro¡¯borlar had a point. Luck and tactics could defeat anything if it was used right. But the best way to guard against that was not to let anything have an edge. It might be giving these things too much credit, but the potential was there.


    ¡°[You¡¯re right Ro¡¯borlar. But we¡¯ve gotta move carefully. If these things aren¡¯t an enemy and are just defending what¡¯s their¡¯s, do you want to kill them for that]?¡±


    ¡°[Well, no! But still boss, we can¡¯t act like we¡¯re invincible]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said with a hard edge.


    As much as she wanted to argue, Tar¡¯lroia knew that he was right.


    ¡°Is everything alright miss Je¡¯ndra?¡± Starlsia asked and Tar¡¯lroia looked up. ¡°Your friends seem to be walking about something. Is anything wrong?¡±


    ¡°No noble Starlsia. My friends were just worried about these cages,¡± Je¡¯ndra said pleasantly.


    Tar¡¯lroia smirked. That was just like her friend, always fishing for information that could help them. And it might be interesting to see just how she would explain this to them.


    ¡°It bothers my friends that such things are here. They look like they were for people. You must understand my friend''s worry. We hear stories you see,¡± Je¡¯ndra said with worry in her voice.


    ¡°Oh, them? They for the sick. Bad sickness came through years ago. Made all who suffer from it mad in final stages. Were once made to hold prisoners, but was moved. Long story,¡± Starlsia said in a rushed tone.


    ¡°Oh my. I hope that whatever disease didn¡¯t take any lives?¡± Je¡¯ndra said with concern.


    Tar¡¯lroia grinned and looked at her friend¡¯s back. With her skills, she should have been an actor instead of a warrior. There was always after she served the end of this tour after all. Tar¡¯lroia had plans to go into medical research for a while after all.


    ¡°No, well. If those in last stages attacked people, some killed others. Others dragged people into field of monsters. Bad time all around,¡± Starlsia said bitterly.


    ¡°[Think that¡¯s the truth? Never heard of a virus like that, even from Ruins],¡± Ro¡¯borlar muttered.


    ¡°[Not too far out there really. I can think of a few ways that a virus can hijack the body to make that happen. If that happened here, I can see the cages. And this place could have been used as a prison. But somehow, I doubt it],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she looked at the cages. With a single thought, she activated a sensor built into her mask and examined them closer. There were a few things in there, a hair, a scale, and blood of all colors. Whatever had been in here, they weren¡¯t the spider centaurs.


    ¡°Guard left, we should too. Follow this one!¡± Starlsia said brightly as she started to move forward and onto the wall. Her guards followed behind her and soon they had passed the group, moving towards the door.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra looked at the spider centaur as she led the way. As much as Je¡¯ndra didn¡¯t want to admit it, there was something that told her this was wrong. The way the other spider centaurs moved, they had lived as they were for a long time. But the scraps of clothing they wore, that was where everything was off to her. In a cave on this side, there wasn¡¯t really wind, but still. Did their bodies protect them from the cold down here? Did they have sources of heat around here that made clothing not necessary?


    As they moved through the structure, one question forced itself to the front of her mind. Where did these things live? The room they were walking through looked as abandoned as the others behind them. The more they walked, the more she had to wonder what this place was used for.


    ¡°Might Starlsia. I have to wonder where you live? These places seem to be¡­. Not used?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked, probing a little. Anything these things might say could help the group.


    Starlsia and her guards all chuckled, a feeling of joy and laughter in their voices. ¡°Live here, no. We live farther up! This old place of tears and pain!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra looked at the spider centaur and wondered just how they were lying to her. The way they spoke, it wasn¡¯t as if something was painful. She knew enough about humans that she could tell that these things were still human enough to lie like them. And that was enough to tell her that this was going to be very bad soon.


    ¡°Will you share your pain with us?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked, hoping that she hadn¡¯t overplayed her hand. If she was right, then this might be useful. ¡°[And the ambush is looking even more likely people. Activate all sensors and say anything at the first sign of trouble. I don¡¯t want them to surprise us].¡±


    ¡°[Got it boss. Still, where could that abomination that created these things have happened? I mean there¡¯s no sign of Rune work at all! And how did one of us even get here]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx muttered as he looked around.


    Ro¡¯borlar only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°[You¡¯re thinking that one of us was behind this horror. There is another answer].¡±


    ¡°[What, you mean that idea? That all races can learn to use Aether? I mean the evidence is there, but how did could the Chimera even have been discovered]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked dryly.


    Je¡¯ndra knew that her friend was talking about. There were those who believed that Aether was not the result of evolution but of being alive. That meant that as long as one was alive, they could learn to use Aether no matter what race they were. The idea wasn¡¯t believed that much, but it was there. And the miracle of those people were proof enough. Some of the greatest of their scholars had such interesting family trees. And with the secret that all those of her rank knew, the answer was there.


    ¡°[Who even knows how the Chimera was discovered, I don¡¯t! It¡¯s possible that others can do the same, follow same path as the first scumbag. We can¡¯t know for sure, and that¡¯s scary! We¡¯ve gotta find the Prince before we find out there are other Aether Horrors in play]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said with a scowl.


    ¡°Is long and old story, you sure want to know? Once known, can¡¯t know,¡± Starlsia said with a hard look.


    ¡°Please, let me know. Anything that can help me to understand you might be needed to help you,¡± Je¡¯ndra said. Privately, she wondered how much would be truth and how much would be lies.

 Chapter One Hundred Eleven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Run/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes / Complex right side / Roof


    Galactic Standard Time / 0800


    As he saw what he had shot, Olv¡¯xic felt his breath catch in his throat. Unlike the other creatures that had attacked them, these things were his size. Brown chitin covered their bodies, only leaving enough space for their limbs to move. They were humanoid in shape and had white skin between the openings in their armor. Their arms ended in claws with obsidian talons and their legs ended in the same talons as their hands. All in all, counting the dead one there were three of them, and the living two were charging at the group!


    Olv¡¯xic didn¡¯t wait, he just reacted. With two swift bolts, he shot the creatures through their heads! No sooner than the corpses fall to the roof and start to slide off did Olv¡¯xic turn to the others. ¡°[Now while we have our chance, run]!¡±


    He waited until Kon¡¯gric started to follow him. Then Olv¡¯xic turned and started to fire at the creatures as he ran forward. As he fired, he looked at the buildings ahead of them, trying to find anything that might help. With a scowl, he saw that more of the creatures were coming out.


    Looking at the roof, he saw just a hundred feet ahead they merged into the trident¡¯s head. If they could just make it down there, they could try and fight the others. But he had to take a chance, he had to try and contact the others. ¡°[This is Olv¡¯xic broadcasting to the team! I can only hope that you can hear me! We¡¯ve found multiple results of the Aether Forbidden, two types! The Chimera and the Controlled! The prince is safe for now but we¡¯re facing a rush of them! We¡¯re on the roofs]!¡±


    As they passed the closest room, Olv¡¯xic could hear the sounds of something rushing up the stairs. With a scowl, he fired at the creatures coming out of the next room. They needed to get as far ahead as they could before he turned and fired at their chasers. He looked up and saw four of the creatures coming at them. With swift shooting, his bolts hit and then exploded, showering the roof with gore. He barely reacted, only nodding to himself as he led the way.


    As two more of the creatures came out of the room ahead of them, he knew that this couldn¡¯t last. With a single thought, he felt his Aether react as he called up another Augmentation for his rifle. Looking at the creatures coming at him, he fired. They tried to escape but his shots moved and pierced their heads.


    ¡°[Was that a Tracking Augmentation!? But those are only theorized]!¡± Kon¡¯gric exclaimed in shock.


    Olv¡¯xic felt shock and surprise as soon as he heard that. The way to learn that Skill was so easy, how could it only be a theory? The more he learned about the rest of the Empire, the more he wondered just how many lies he had been told. For a split second, he almost asked the question burning on his lips, but he stayed quiet.


    Later, for now, he had to handle keeping the prince alive. And to do that, he needed to stay alive.


    Looking over his shoulder he saw five of the creatures coming from the room the three of them had left. Without a thought, he pointed his rifle behind him and fired ten bolts. All he could do was hope that his augmentation would work right. Turning his head he saw another five of the creatures running at them and snarled. ¡°[They¡¯ve cut us off! Kon¡¯gric can you help me here]?!


    ¡°[My armor ports with my weapons were exchanged with the Prince¡¯s holding points! And I think if we stop they¡¯ll get us from below]!¡± Kon¡¯grics snarled as he ran.


    Oly¡¯xic winced as he heard Kon¡¯grics replay. He was right, and Oly¡¯xic knew there was only one thing that might help them out. It was a long shot, but the others might be nearby to hear him. And if they knew the trouble he was fighting, they would help. ¡°[Got to try again. This is Oly¡¯xic, broadcasting one way to the team! The Prince is being escorted along the roofs. Multiple enemies were created by The Chimera and forced to fight the Controlled! We¡¯re running for the head from the right blade! Regroup there! I¡­¡­¡­]


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[¡­¡­ Repeat! This is Olv¡¯xic broadcasting one way to the team! The Prince is being escorted along the roofs. Multiple enemies were created by The Chimera and forced to fight the Controlled! We¡¯re running for the head from the right blade! Regroup there]!¡± Oly¡¯xic¡¯s voice called out over the coms.


    Je¡¯ndra went still as soon as she heard the broadcast. The message had come in as they were being led through a chamber. It was long, a good forty feet and twenty wide. The spider centaurs had been getting happier the farther they traveled. But then they expected an easy fight as they saw the group as trusting fools at best.


    But since the group knew the spider centaurs were going to ambush them, it was going to be easy. For them as soon as the group attacked their guides. the spider centaurs would die. But then they got Olv''xic''s message and everything changed.


    ¡°[Other things like these spider freaks!? And two of the Forbidden at one time?! Did one of the depraved crash here before us]!? Ken¡¯tricx cried out in anger.


    ¡°[One-way broadcast, the range is just a bit farther than two-way. He must be close! The walls¡­.. they block our messages but there¡¯s gotta be a way! That message had to have a path! If they¡¯re on the roof there must be a way up]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked.


    Je¡¯ndra knew he was right, and that was something she had to deal with now. If there was a way to get to the prince, she had to find it.


    ¡°Oh great Starlsia, might I ask something of you?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she turned towards Starlsia. The spider centaurs all stopped and looked at her, but she didn¡¯t care. Je¡¯ndra sent a pulse to her team through her mask to let them know to be ready.¡±[Team, I¡¯m going to find out where we are. Once that happens we break for the prince]!¡±


    ¡°What wrong?¡± Starlsia asked.


    ¡°Great Starlsia, I just remembered something. When my people ran in here, we saw two other long buildings. I assume that all three met near here?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she made a show of looking around.


    ¡°Oh yes. That where we going, just through there!¡± Starlsia said with a grin.


    ¡°And I supposed a way to the roofs that we might use to take a look at this place is near there?¡±


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    ¡°Oh yes! Through door there!¡± Starlsia said absently. Then she blinked and looked at Je¡¯ndra with a surprised look. ¡°Why want know?¡±


    ¡°Simple,¡± Je¡¯ndra said before she raised her hand.


    Within moments, Ken¡¯trick had summoned his floating rotary guns. ¡°[Bug killer right here]!¡±


    Before they could react, he fired at the spider centaurs. His attack caused them to scream in pain and shock as he killed three at once. Some tried to escape, but they were all hit. Even Starlsia was maimed by the bolts, losing two of her legs.


    ¡°[Their down, move! To the prince]!¡± Je¡¯ndra called out in anger.


    Within a single moment the group was running towards the door. Breaking down the door as she reached it, Je¡¯ndra saw a staircase.


    ¡°[You first Ro¡¯borlar! Give them overwatch]!¡± Je¡¯ndra ordered.


    Ro¡¯borlar nodded and ran, his sniper rifle ready to fire as soon as he had a target.


    A scream from where they had left the spider centaurs caused them to look. From the other side of the chamber came thirty more of the spider centaurs. Each one held a spear in their hands as they came thundering towards the team.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got this boss, go]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx barked as he looked small horde as it ran at them. ¡°[This will only take a bit. You guys go and save our prince]!¡±


    ¡°[We¡¯ve got this muscle head]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she looked at the spider centaurs as they came closer. She opened her right hand and her glaive appeared in it, the long blade glinting in the light. ¡°[I¡¯ll keep them off you if they get close]!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra looked at the horde and then up after Ro¡¯borlar. With a scowl, she looked at them and nodded. ¡°[Fine, but get out of here as fast as you can]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Starlsia felt her blood leave her wounds, she glared at the bodies of the weak traitors! They were scum for not seeing how those star travelers knew about the trap! There was no other explanation for what they did! They must have overheard the chatter speak! But how?! They weren¡¯t those of the Great Beast, they couldn¡¯t¡­.. their equipment! Those things they were wearing must be enhancing them! Then they knew from the start and just played along!


    The weapons they had, killed her swarm in seconds! Forget taking their strength, the sect had to escape them! Within moments, they could kill all of them. And if they made it so the cult had to attack them like the travelers wanted! She had to move, she had to warn the others!


    ¡°So the Great Starlsia falls then?¡± An arrogant voice caused her to look up.


    Standing above her was another spider centaur. Only this one held two spears in his hands and it was the scar across his lips that told her who it was.


    ¡°Denrtix! What are you doing here!?¡± Starlsia growled as she looked at him.


    ¡°Oh come on Starlsia. Do think my dear! with such power coming into our laps, why wouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± Denrtix asked with a hard edge to his voice.


    Starlsia glared at Denrtix. This little spawnling had always been after her position. Always looking to take her down or kill her by proxies. And now he was here, when he was supposed to be at the door¡­.. wait. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be guarding the masters!?¡±


    ¡°Oh, Starlsia. Why should I even think of watching over those traitors?¡± Denrtix pureed with an evil look in his eyes.


    ¡°What?¡± Starlsia whispered as she looked up at him. Only now was she seeing that his spears were just in range of killing her if he wanted to? And as she tried to figure out what to do, Denrtix kept talking as he laughed.


    ¡°The main assault from the Temple broke them hours ago. I¡¯m just here cleaning up the slime like you,¡± Denrtix sneered as he looked down at her. ¡°It was so easy to plan this destruction! And getting into the High Priest¡¯s good books.


    Starlsia stared at him, shocked. ¡°HOW?! How did you even contact them?!¡±


    Denrtix just looked at her and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Can¡¯t even figure out something that simple? Those missions to protect the way to the Kingdom. All I needed to do was take charge of that detail. Then find others who thought like I did. After that, I just needed to find their watchers.¡±


    ¡°Traitor!¡± Starlsia snarled as she felt her heart start to beat faster.


    Denrtix just shrugged. ¡°I purer survivor really. I just had to make a deal with him to get everything I wanted. And with the wonderful beasts, the leader of the third of the traitors is making, well. He really wants that. Once I give him that research, I¡¯ll have everything I deserve! Well, let¡¯s just say I¡¯m moving up in the world. And soon when the Great Beast rules, I¡¯ll have my own place!¡± Denrtix said as he grinned. ¡°And that augment potion? The High Priest was most interested in that!¡±


    Starlsia could only glare at him. After everything she had learned, this scum was going to betray them all? Before she could even move, she cried out in pain. Denrtix had driven his right spear through her body, pinning her to the floor.


    ¡°Sorry, but can you stay there for now? I believe that the High Priest would love to have a moment to talk to you later. He was talking about an inquisition of all things! Wouldn¡¯t want to be you!¡± Denrtix smirked at her.


    As more of Denrtix¡¯s warriors came towards them, he pointed at the room the space travelers had gone through. ¡°THERE ARE THE pagans! Kill them for the Great Beast!¡±


    As the warriors all ran towards the star travelers, a rage in them. It was all Starlsia could do to watch them speed to their death, a tear leaving her eye.


    Denrtix saw the tear and he laughed. ¡°What, crying that you¡¯ll die?¡±


    ¡°No, they will,¡± Starlsia said mutely.


    Before Denrtix could reply, the sounds of the traveler''s weapons echoed off the walls. As the horde charged on their body parts flew off, some of them falling and being trampled by the ones behind them.


    ¡°What is this?!¡± Denrtix breathed in horror as Starlsia looked at him. She knew how she could get stronger and survive, and he was right there. All she needed to do was act. And with him looking at the carnage, the time was now!


    ¡°The limits of your ability to think. You can¡¯t plan anything beyond brute strength. They must have led by the noise on planning your betrayal,¡± Starlsia said bluntly.


    ¡°What do you mean!?¡± Denrtix snarled as he looked at her.


    Starlsia had always thought that he was just too arrogant to plan. But now she knew the truth, he was arrogant. No, he was just that stupid.


    ¡°Think! How was I bested by those people? How were my forces destroyed so swiftly? What could they do?!¡±


    Denrtix looked at her, then he looked at the doorway the star travelers had gone through. He was shocked, so shaken that he took his hand off the spear he had impaled her with.


    And that was the moment she needed. Without a thought, she flung her left arm out, thrusting it forward as a spike shot from her palm. It pierced his head and Denrtix started to gurgle as he stood there. As he fell, Starlsia pulled the spear in her free. Looking at the wound as she felt it gush out blood, she knew there was only one thing to do. But as her strength started to fade, looked around and nodded to herself.


    ¡°At least I¡¯ve got enough food to recover,¡± Starlsia said as her mouth started to water.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Ar¡¯thor looked over Kon¡¯gric¡¯s shoulder. From the place that they had come onto the roof from, over twenty of the creatures had surged out. Even as they ran towards the next exit, from the room behind them another ten of the creatures surged out. He tried to keep calm, but this was worse than the bugs! They needed to get to a place to defend themselves, and fast. If they didn¡¯t, then they might not last long.


    ¡°[Where did these poor souls come from?! I mean where]?!¡± Kon¡¯gric asked in rage.


    All Ar¡¯thor could do was try and think, and that question resonated with him. The way that the things were biped pointed towards a sentient race. Or hopefully a non-thinking cousin of such a race, like humans to primates. But the way that their luck had been he doubted it.


    ¡°[Think on that later, run now! We just need to find a place we can defend! That¡¯s the mission here and now]!¡± Olv¡¯xic called out as he fired another bolt.


    But then three of the creatures in the nearest wave lost their heads and fell, causing the ones behind them to fall.


    ¡°[This is Ro¡¯borlar, good to see you! The team is below me, coming up! We¡¯ve got spider centaurs here, and get this! Their all the descendants of a Federation Warship from their Corporate War! Keep moving, I¡¯ve got overwatch]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s voice caused Ar¡¯thor to grin.


    If the others were here, their chances to survive were that much better!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Good to hear you Ro¡¯borlar! Reporting there might be enemy fliers here! And I can see you on the HUD, you¡¯re within three hundred feet of us! We¡¯ll meet you at the point they merge together]!¡±


    Ro¡¯borlar just laughed and Olv¡¯xic felt a spark of hope. The fact that his team was back in contact would help them a lot! The only way to deal with hordes was to stand as one. Or have more firepower than the attackers did.


    ¡°[I can see what you¡¯ve got ahead of you Olv¡¯xic, good job! I¡¯ll keep moving and trying to drop more of them with each kill! You just keep the Prince alive]!¡±


    Olv¡¯xic nodded as he fired at the creatures ahead of him. As they fell he thought he saw something around one of the legs. He felt his heart stop for a second as his mask detected Aether runes on it. ¡°[Ro¡¯borlar, don¡¯t look for the controlling object! I just found it on their legs! In this combat, we can¡¯t try to save them]¡±!


    ¡°[Yeah, if that¡¯s controlling them kid. Those spider centaurs we found here? They could talk. So I think they wanted that to happen to themselves. Might be the same with those things].¡± Ro¡¯borlar said bitterly.


    Olv¡¯xic felt his heart stop beating. Who wanted that to happen to them?! The very idea was against everything that he had ever known. But if it was true, then it changed a lot of how he would fight. He longed to get a blade and kill them slowly, but he had to move.


    ¡°[Thanks Ro¡¯borlar, but not all of them are on the maker¡¯s side! We found these giant things that were crossed with the centipedes out there. One started to attack us when we met. I noticed something on its arm. When I broke it, it was freed! Last I saw it was fighting against something in the room it came from, another one of its kind! You see some of those things, aim at the thing on their arm and get out of there]!¡± Olv¡¯xic explained as he ran.


    He fired at another of them before he heard Ro¡¯borlar curse. ¡°[In the name of all the honored dead?! We¡¯ve got something big coming from behind you kid! Keep moving, don¡¯t stop, and get ready for a big fight]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s hasty spoken words caused Olv¡¯xic to almost stumble. The only thing that he could think of was one question. Just what had Ro¡¯borlar seen, what was coming at them now!?

 Chapter One Hundred Twelve

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Run/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes / Complex Rooftop


    Galactic Standard Time / 0815


    As she thundered up the stairs, Je¡¯ndra heard the sounds of firing below her die down. With luck that meant that the others would be right behind her! With everything that was happening, she hoped that together they would be able to handle this. Running out onto the roof, she saw Ro¡¯borlar firing, but not where she expected. Instead, he was firing into the distance towards where they had come from.


    ¡°[Report Ro¡¯borlar! What are you firing at]!¡± Je¡¯ndra asked sternly. She knew the plan, and the plan was that he would help protect the prince. So why, the name of the throne was he firing across the cavern? But that slipped her mind when she turned and looked up at the door. Seeing how far away it was, she cursed the Ancients for their traps.


    ¡°[Giant monster boss, flyer coming in from above the bugs! So far I¡¯ve forced it down a bit and the centipedes are firing at it]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked as he fired again.


    Je¡¯ndra felt her pulse quicken as she took in what Ro¡¯borlar just said. She couldn¡¯t believe it, just where had it come from? Something he called a giant flying monster had to be a terror to behold, not counting what it could do!


    She activated her mask¡¯s far-sight function and found who she was looking for. Olv¡¯xic was leading Kon¡¯gric through waves of chitin-covered bipeds, and he was holding them. They were a good hundred feet away from them, and their enemies coming at them from below. ¡°[Not the worst place we¡¯ve been in. Not the best for sure].¡±


    With a thought, she willed the targeting function of her mask active. Zeroing zeroed in on one of the charging creatures chasing her prince she started to fire at them. ¡°[I¡¯ll handle these things, you target that flyer! Once the others are up, bonding overwatch to the prince then the door]!¡±


    ¡°[Got it, and that thing is fighting them wing to mouth! Come on you big things, take it out]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said, a grin in his voice.


    Je¡¯ndra just fired at the creatures chasing the others again. But then she heard something nearby, the sounds of something piercing stone. She looked up to see three of the spider centaurs coming up over the wall behind them. She moved her rifle as she fired, and two of the spider centaurs were killed. The third jumped and as it fell at her Je¡¯ndra dropped her rifle. It broke apart into light as she held her open right hand towards the falling spider centaur. As its mouth widened in a grin, a sword appeared in Je¡¯ndra¡¯s hand that impaled the creature. The spider centaur¡¯s eyes widened before they dimmed and Je¡¯ndra turned as her sword fell apart.


    She was looking at the front as her rifle rematerialized in her hands. In a moment she had fired three quick shots at the three spider centaurs climbing up onto the roof. A screech came from behind her but before she could turn she heard a shot. She looked towards the chamber down and saw Tar¡¯lroia firing behind Je¡¯ndra.


    ¡°[So you¡¯ve handled the problem below]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked with a grin.


    ¡°[We killed all that came at us then we heard the party up here. Figure since they can climb the walls we should join in here. Not the best, but what can you do]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she fired again. ¡°[So what¡¯s the Pathfinder¡¯s story]?¡±


    ¡°[Giant monster flying towards us. The prince¡¯s group is running towards the hilt. We need to move now]!¡±


    Ken¡¯tricx came thundering out, his two floating rotary guns still out. In his hands were two war axes and he laughed. ¡°[Where¡¯s the party]?!¡±


    ¡°[There! Ken¡¯tricx goes over there and backs up Olv¡¯xic and Kon¡¯gric. Tar¡¯lroia go with him, watch his back! Ro¡¯borlar we¡¯re moving now! So get to it]? Je¡¯ndra ordered as she listened and heard the sounds of things coming up the walls.


    ¡°[Got it! I saw the flyer get bitten in the wing, we might not have to deal with it! But we have to move now]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar barked as he looked up.


    Ken¡¯tricx and Tar¡¯lroiav didn¡¯t wait, they just started to run. Moments later, Je¡¯ndra and Ro¡¯borlar followed behind, Ro¡¯borlar putting his rifle away for a pistol.


    All Je¡¯ndra could do was hope that they would be able to make some progress before they had to stop and fight. The Prince and the others were so close, and there was a way out of this hell nearby. Once there, they could close the doors and hopefully buy themselves some time. She didn¡¯t know what was ahead of them, but they would handle it, she wouldn¡¯t accept anything else.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he ran and fired, Olv¡¯xic felt his spirits lift. With the others watching over the three, they would survive. As he looked ahead and saw that they were making their way towards the ¡®hilt¡¯ of the building, he felt his mouth grin. They would have to deal with some more waves of creatures, but they were almost there.


    Ahead of them, ten of the chitin-covered creatures ran at them in two waves, and then the one at the front fell. For a second Olv¡¯xic saw the steam rising from its head before the ones behind it fell over it. With quick shots, they were all dead.


    ¡°[That was you Ro¡¯borlar? Or is the rest of the team here]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked as they ran past the wave.


    Ahead of them was the last room, and from it came ten of the creatures with more coming behind them. For a second he wondered just why they were still after the group. Just how many of these things did the creator have? And they were happy to just let them all die? Just what did that mean, how long did it take to make more of them? All in all, somehow Olv¡¯xic knew that he wouldn¡¯t like any of those answers. But just beyond that room, the buildings merged together. He felt relief that they had made it there, and soon the whole team would be together again!


    Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s laughter caused Olv¡¯xic to grin and for a second he forgot his worries. ¡°[Everyone is here and we¡¯re making our best speed to the center ¡®blade¡¯ kid! Keep moving, I¡¯ve got my scope on you guys. Just keep moving]!¡±


    Olv¡¯xic fired at the waves of enemies in front as Kon¡¯gric thundered behind him. Another two of the creatures fell and caused the ones behind them to fall over the corpses. This time Olv¡¯xic didn¡¯t fire, he just led the way and turned, he saw the others in the distance. As bolts flew at the waves of enemies, he felt nothing but joy.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°[Keep moving Olv¡¯xic! We can see you, but keep moving! We¡¯ll meet at the ¡®hilt¡¯ of this place]!¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice came over the coms and for a second Olv¡¯xic almost replied.


    But a roar from below caused him to look down. He paled as he saw three of the large centipede centaur things there, rampaging. But to his relief they were fighting off some of those spider centaurs the team told him about. With a thought, his mask showed him enlarged views of the large creature¡¯s arms. There were scars on most of them just below the elbow on most of them. But one had the scars down the middle of the shoulders! For a second he didn¡¯t understand then he did.


    The centipede centaurs had the ability to regrow limbs! These must be the ones that he had disarmed latterly! The one he had freed must have liberated the others!


    ¡°[This is Olv¡¯xic to team! Below me on the left are centipede centaurs! They might not be hostile! Repeat they might not be hostile]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said, his mask broadcasting the message. If there was a chance that they didn¡¯t have to fight some of the things here, they had to take it!


    ¡°[Tar¡¯lroia to Oly¡¯xic. Message received and acknowledged! Watch yourselves and keep moving, we can see you]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s message said, and Olv¡¯xic ran faster. He could see the others, and they would soon be in range of their comms. This was the final stretch, he just had to lead the way a bit more.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked up from the corpse he had created, Zalorix scowled. He thought he heard something in the distance from the complex. That traitor had to have attacked the other heretics by now. If they were lucky, then they would kill enough of each other that the survivors would be easy kills.


    ¡°What are those things making now? What horrified abomination are they brewing in this unholy place?¡± He muttered as he looked down at the building.


    ¡°Master, the last of the holdouts here are dead. Do you desire for us to kill the others down there?¡± A rumbling voice came from a large and bulky figure as it walked over. In its hands was a large long club with spikes on its four sides. The weapon was slick with blood and there was pink matter and hair on it.


    Zalorix turned as a frown formed on his face. He had short green hair and jade eyes with two lines of scars down his right cheek. He was dressed in a black cloak over a purple robe. In his right hand was a sword of black steel with a white gemstone on the hilt. ¡°No, we don¡¯t need to just yet. We just have time until we have to leave, and let¡¯s see what we can get for the Grand Sacrifice here.¡±


    With that, he looked around at his forces. There were another ten of the bulky figures, each one holding either a club or a hammer in their hands. Each one wore grey armor that looked like it was made from the skin of beasts. Beyond them, there were five flyers hovering there ready to strike at his orders. Each one wearing a lighter-looking set of green hide armor. But each one had a helmet on their head that had their faces open. Behind them were humanoid figures in plate armor and each held a short-range weapon from swords to axes.


    ¡°Come my brothers. Let us go and kill the last of these heretics before the celebration!¡± Zalorix roared and was met with cheers.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked through his scope link, Ro¡¯borlar felt a grin form. So far they were almost there, just a bit more and they would connect with the others. The last time he had looked at the flying beast, it was still fighting against the centipedes. It had lost most of its right wing but he thought it was growing back. If that thing had some kind of regeneration, then they might still be in trouble. All he could was hope that the doors would open into this chamber.


    ¡°[How¡¯s that big thing doing Ro¡¯borlar? It is coming at us]?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked from behind him.


    Ro¡¯borlar looked up and checked the prince''s progress. His party was almost there, they just had to keep pushing for a bit more. The spider centaurs were still climbing up at them but they had lessened in numbers. At first, they had stayed at three at a time, but now it was only one. He had to hope that they had broken the spirits of their foes, and they were content to let them leave. But something told him that this was just a pipe dream.


    He spared a second to look towards the field of centipedes and winced. So far the flying thing had killed one of the centipedes and its wing had grown back partly. If he had to guess, within the next hour it would be able to fly again. ¡°[Holding its own and healing, we have to move now]!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra only nodded before she ran ahead, and Ro¡¯borlar turned his gaze to Olv¡¯xic. He saw the kid outlined in red on his HUD and he watched it. Within a moment the outline turned green he smirked as they connected to Olv¡¯xic¡¯s coms.


    ¡°[¡­¡­ we just need to keep moving, we¡¯re almost there! Just a bit farther Kon¡¯gric]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a note of anger in his voice.


    ¡°[Not almost there, there! Good to be back on coms kid]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar cried.


    He noticed just behind Kon¡¯gric was another wave of the things Olv¡¯xic had described so he didn¡¯t wait. He just aimed his rifle and fired multiple times, killing five of the creatures in moments.


    ¡°[Good shooting! Nice to be back under your eyes Ro¡¯borlar]!¡± Olv¡¯xic called out as they all reached the ¡®trident¡¯s hilt¡¯. Without stopping, the group ran up the rooftop towards the door.


    ¡°[Once we can rest, I¡¯ll want a report about what you found Olv¡¯xic. And how you knew what those things were],¡± Je¡¯ndra told Olv¡¯xic with a hard tone.


    Ro¡¯borlar didn¡¯t want to be Olv¡¯xic at that moment, but the question did need to be answered. What did he find that even hinted at the Chimera? There were few answers to that question, and none of them were good for anyone. But the kid had helped Ro¡¯borlar out, and he would be damned before he left Olv¡¯xic alone. There was no way in Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s mind that the kid had ever done anything with the Forbidden. He didn''t know how, but there had to be another reason.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic kept quiet as they ran up the roof, only looking over his shoulder. So far the waves of creatures were holding back, but they had to be gathering all their forces. But with the chaos the centipede centaurs were causing, there was hope. As bad as it was, those big guys were probably taking all the creature''s effort to get them under control. All he could do was hope that they had killed their creator, and his thoughts were all he could give them. Looking ahead, he saw that they had traveled ten of the forty they had to. Soon they would have something to defend, and once the door was closed they would deal with the inner Ruin.


    Part of him couldn¡¯t believe that they were actually going to be charging into a Ruin. But that was the only way they had to get to a place of safety. But then there was a chance they would have to make a safe place. something about all of this just bothered him. It was there, at the edge of his mind. He couldn¡¯t see just why he thought this way, but it was there.


    ¡°[Keep it together team. Remember, the home stretch is always the most dangerous part of the trip! Keep strong and we¡¯ll find a place to rest],¡± Je¡¯ndra called out.


    Olv¡¯xic looked at her and tried to keep calm. The questions that she would have for him were another problem that he would deal with. He would have to explain where he saw the Chimera process before, and it would be nice to let that go. The weight of everything that had happened back then still bothered him. But then that would surely bring his shame to light once they made it home. But then he could probably disappear into the Federation. A frontier planet being colonized would be the perfect place. Once there, people would need help and no one would expect him there.


    But at that moment, a screech from ahead of them caused them to look forward. Hovering in the distance were five strange humanoids. They had leather wings for arms and wore green armor that looked like leather. Below them ten humanoid figures in armor wielding melee weapons. But it was the green-haired human holding a sword that caused Olv¡¯xic to stare. Up until now, they hadn¡¯t humanoid sentient life. But the way that the creatures around him were armed, they weren¡¯t Chimeras. Or this scum had a way to direct them even more so than the Controlled.


    ¡°Well! This is interesting! Now where did you all come from!?¡± The normal man asked and Olv¡¯xic aimed his rifle at the flyers as the others aimed wherever.


    When they had started up the roof ramp, Ken¡¯tricx had willed his floating rotary canons away. But now Olv¡¯xic wished they were still out. This human was setting off all his instincts that this man would happily murder a child and then ask what¡¯s for lunch.


    ¡°Please tell me where you come from! for my people know that beyond this is nothing but monsters and stone!¡± The man called out with a smile. Behind him, larger figures with long straight clubs in grey hide armor appeared. They were taller and more bulky than any human had a right to be, and they looked like they wanted to cause pain.


    ¡°We¡¯re just a group that only wants to get back into the sun! let us pass and there will be no trouble!¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s answering cry caused Olv¡¯xic to wince. When you talk to these types of personalities, you have to do it in a certain way. You have to make them think that it¡¯s all their idea. and the way the other beings before them were starting to react, they knew it too.


    ¡°Oh, you dare to order me around? Me? The right hand of the High Priest?! You dare you pagan!?¡± The man snarled as he raised his blade.


    Olv¡¯xic gripped his rifle. ¡°[That was the wrong way to go about this boss. Get ready to retreat when they charge].¡±


    A loud roar from behind caused them to turn. Suddenly the trident head to the far left exploded as something burst free. They stared as the dust dropped, revealing just what was there. Its head was at least thirty feet wide and tall. It had a torso covered in brown fur and its two arms were covered in chitin and ended in claws. Below the waist was a spider¡¯s body with eight legs that had to be thirty feet long. As it threw its head back, it released a screech that was answered from many throats. As the chitin-covered creatures and spider centaurs towards the door, Olv¡¯xic felt terror. That terror only grew as the giant spider thing screeched again before it moved after them.


    ¡°Oh my! Dear Starlsia what have you done to yourself? I so want that potion now!¡± The man said brightly.


    Olv¡¯xic didn¡¯t understand how he could know a name for that thing. Even more so that the others reacted in shock. All he did know, was that this was going to be very bad.

 Chapter One Hundred Thirteen

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Run/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes / Complex Rooftop


    Galactic Standard Time / 0830


    When Je¡¯ndra heard the man call the monster Starlsia, all she could do was stare for a second. And when he mentioned a potion, her mind went blank. The idea that a potion could affect the result of the Chimera was beyond everything she thought she knew. The very idea¡­..


    Then she snapped to reality and realized what she had to do. ¡°[Aether run, up the rest of the way! We go over their heads and let them handle the horde! Once we¡¯re through, we hold until we close the door! Got it]!?¡±


    ¡°[YES captain]!¡± Every one of her team roared as they started to run.


    The man looked at them, smirking. ¡°So, thinking to charge us? Well, try and break though! Defend! And that means the Strongest!¡±


    A his roar, the men in armor moved backwards. And in that instant, the group of survivors all fed aether to their legs mad ran. They moved so fast they ran into the air, to the shock of the man and his followers.


    Once in the air, the group saw the door was fifty feet away. It was as wide as the field, a hundred feet wide and it disappeared into the ceiling three hundred feet above them. Thankfully it was pushed open towards them in a triangle shape. The opening between the doors was wide enough for two people walking side by, and that made Je¡¯ndra smile. That meant that the doors had been forced open, whatever moved the doors in the Ruin could only be forced so far. So there was a better chance to close them than she hoped for.


    But what surprised her was what was before the doors, a field of corpses. For a good thirty feet wide and long, there were bodies of over one hundred humans in purple robes. Here and there was a spider centaur or one of the strange chitin-covered biped corpses. These had staffs or swords by them. She had thought that the group that stopped them was part of the creatures that tried to trick them but now? It seemed that this might be a civil war between two makers of Chimera.


    The group sailed through the air towards the door and Je¡¯ndra reacted. ¡°[Hit the wall feat first and jump down! Then most of you prepare to defend who¡¯s closing the doors! Olv¡¯xic that¡¯s you! I need that door ready to close on my word]!¡±


    ¡°[Me!? Surely someone else¡­]¡± Olv¡¯xic began only for Je¡¯ndra to interrupt him.


    ¡°[You repaired an Aether Shadow and know how to spot a Forbidden! You can do this Olv¡¯xic]!¡± Je¡¯ndra barked as she turned to hit the wall. As soon as she made contact she pushed off and angled down. As soon as she landed she started to fire at the flyers, hoping to buy time. She killed three of them before the other two both flew upwards.


    As she fired she heard Ken¡¯tricx land and summon his floating rotary cannons. Within a single moment, he started to fire and killed one of the large bulky ones. As soon as that happened, the others fell back.


    ¡°[These things are smart]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she fired at the figures as they retreated.


    The group could hear the sounds of combat, the horde must have met the figures. That meant that the giant thing was coming up as well. And that meant that they had to move into the Ruin soon.


    ¡°[Yeah, too smart. The Chimera destroys the mental¡­¡­ wait],¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she blinked. She suddenly realized that something that happened was impossible. They had been talking with the spider centaurs, and that wasn¡¯t right. If they had been made with the Chimera Ritual, then how were they able to talk? Just what were they?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Once Olv¡¯xic landed he dashed towards the doors, trying to keep his mind on track. He was shocked that Je¡¯ndra would have him do this, but he couldn¡¯t let them down. Running through the small opening, he looked around, shocked at what he saw. Instead of walls crumbling and broken, the walls were made of polished steel. On them were purple tapestries, most torn off the walls. Here and there were more bodies of the robes figures.


    But what really made him smile was the computer terminal set in the right wall. For a moment seeing the active screen made him think that everything would be easy for once. But then he saw just what was in front of the terminal. He looked at a small table with candles and religious icons on it. But all the icons were of a strange-looking creature from the ocean, and for a moment he felt a spark of fear. Something told him, that this was what this Cult worshiped. And that same thought told him that this image had been made from something alive.


    Shaking his head, he ran over and pushed the table aside. He removed a cable from his right gauntlet and another small piece of tech appeared in his right hand. With a simple mental command, a small spinning drill darted into the terminal. Removing the drill and inserting the cable, he grimaced. Within seconds, the Ruins code appeared on his HUD, and scrolled down.


    His eyes flashed as he read the lines of code, all in his language. A program he created translated it before the data was relayed from his gauntlet. ¡°[Okay, okay. This program, it''s fragmented, but I expected that¡­.. no. It¡¯s not fragmented, it¡¯s just not there! That means the lines connecting the AI controller here was destroyed, but how? No, not important. Most of the power in this sector isn¡¯t there. The door has a battery system¡­. Great. Now how¡­¡­.]¡±


    Olv¡¯xic went still as he saw the data. His eyes shrank as he saw the truth. ¡°[Wonder full, one speed only].¡±


    Zalorix laughed to himself as he slashed his sword through one of the charging creatures. The works of these heretics were quite easy to kill, and they were running right at him. But all he could think of were the powers displayed by the strange figures. That speed, that quickness! When his people took that wonderful strength, he wondered if a new war form would be birthed. The armor they were wearing was something else as well. The way it had to empower them was amazing. And their weapons!? Those let these people handle the hordes of these heretics, oh how he wanted some of his own!


    A screech from the wonderful mutated Starlsia caused him to sigh. The way that woman had changed was mind-boggling. The sheer potential that potion had when the Cult gave it to the proper people. Being that the Cult could control.


    ¡°My lord!¡± One of the people in knight armor called out as it slashed down its axe through the head of a spider centaur. ¡°The giant is almost here! We need orders, sir!¡±


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    ¡°We will fight and win! That is all there is to it!¡± Zalorix called out, the battle lust consuming his mind.


    ¡°But could you give us orders on how to handle the giant sir!?¡± The knight asked as he slashed his weapon through the neck of a chitin-covered creature.


    Zalorix blinked and looked around, nodding. ¡°Of course. Aim for the legs of the giant! And stay away from the hands if possible. All those who aren¡¯t awake, do so if you must! Together nothing can stop the followers of the Great Beast!¡±


    As his forces all roared, their morale high, Zalorix grinned. This was meant to be nothing but finishing off the heretics before the ceremony, but this was so much better. With those few taken and their power given to those who deserve it, they would rule! All those years the followers had spent in the darkness were finally paying off! Nothing, Nothing at all could top them now!


    ¡°LORD!¡± Another voice called out, fear in his voice.


    Zalorix looked up and saw a soldier coming down towards him. This one was who he had ordered to watch the armored figures, to report when they entered the Realms. So the time was now then or had something happened?


    ¡°What is it? Have they going into the Realms yet?¡± Zalorix asked with a grin. He could leave his second here and take a handpicked squad of his troops and chase them down! Once that happened, he could take them to the ceremony and their power would be the Followers! All he had to do was wait until they made a mistake, he was right!


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± The knight said with a nervous tone.


    Zalorix gazed at him and tried to understand why he would be nervous. If they were going into the realms, wouldn¡¯t that be a good thing? ¡°What is it? What are they doing?¡±


    The knight looked around at the battle and moved closer to Zalorix, swallowing as he did so. ¡°The doors sir! Their closing. And those people are moving with them, they¡¯re defending the passage!¡±


    Zalorix stared at him and blinked, not understanding how those words worked together. Then he did and his eyes widened in shock. Somehow, they could control the Builder¡¯s work?! That changed everything! They needed that power, the Followers had to have it! with that one power, they could change everything.


    ¡°Yes sir, they are! And their weapons are still very strong! We can¡¯t hold them!¡± One of his soldiers cried.


    He looked around, trying to find the people he needed to give orders to.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Directing the Giant War form was harder than Starlsia had thought it would be. It was like she was wearing the largest clothing ever, and every step was like walking through mud! Thankfully the others were able to hear and understand her orders. She looked down and felt her anger rise. She saw the giant slaves that the Bishop was creating from captured slaves. The idea behind them was to throw them at the Strongest of the followers and then kill the survivors. But they had broken minds, they hated all but their own.


    Finally, the Bishop had been able to create artifacts that grew with the rituals. And that they were able to control the brutes. But looking at them she thought she saw scars on their arms. If she was right, then one of them had lost their arms. The regeneration that the Bishop had been after, the large things must have it after all. But for them to use it against the Sect!? how dare those slaves do that!


    A strange grinding sound caused her to look up. Somehow she knew that it was from the plaza. But what could it mean? What was up there that might even make¡­¡­. ¡°No. NO!¡±


    She looked at the hordes and hollowed. ¡°Ignore the Followers! Charge past them, stop the invaders! Keep the doors open!¡±


    The smaller ones roared and charged upwards. She could hear both the ones on the roof and the ones within the building and she felt pride flow through her. This was why no matter what, they would win today. Throw everything at them and they will survive. But as the Followers forces started to fight against her minions, she knew what she had to do.


    Looking upwards, she took in a deep breath and prepared to use her newest weapon.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the team moved back, Ken¡¯tricx grinned under his mask. The kid had pulled it off, they were closing the door! All they needed to do was hold for a few more minutes and then they could rest. Of course, the way that the kid talked about what was inside was concerning, but beggars could choose.


    Still, the Chimera and their controllers were actually staying back. He half expected them and the others to join forces. They were closing the doors and that would probably change a lot. But then why ask for trouble? All they needed to do was keep moving as the doors closed and this battle would be over!


    ¡°[Just a few more minutes people! Just keep holding strong]!¡± Je¡¯ndra yelled over the comms.


    Ken¡¯tricx let his smirk grow wider. Leave it to the boss to keep their morale up. But he didn¡¯t know why she bothered. All they needed to do was keep doing what they were doing and then they could rest.


    A loud mind-breaking screech echoed off the walls! The whole group yelled as they held their heads in pain. For a moment he thought he heard something fall to the ground next to him, but he couldn¡¯t concentrate at all. All he felt was pain and suffering for the next minute. Finally, that pain died down and he could think again.


    As he tried to remember who he was and where he was, all he heard was a strange roar in the distance.


    ¡°[What in the name of the Empire was that]!?¡± Tar¡¯lroia murmured.


    ¡°[Did anyone get the make of that crashed starship]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar croaked.


    ¡°[Wait, everyone move! The doors will crush you all]!¡± Olv¡¯xic exclaimed.


    That prompted Ken¡¯tricx to remember everything. The crash, the battles, and where they were. The fact that the doors were closing on the Ruin escaped him for a moment. But then he realized what it meant and tried to get back to his feet.


    After a moment, he looked up, panting as he looked around. He found his team to the sides of him, all of them slowly getting back up. But when he looked behind him, that was when he felt fear. At first, he saw that the prince had fallen off Kon¡¯gric and breathed a sigh of relief as the prince started to move. But that relief died when he saw that next to him were two of the flying figures! They were on the ground and one of them looked right at Ken¡¯tricx for a moment.


    ¡°[My Prince, move]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed as he raised his rifle.


    Kon¡¯gric looked up and tried to move when the flyers reacted. One of them grabbed Ar¡¯thor and threw him upwards. They jumped after him and one of them caught him in his talons.


    ¡°[NO! After him]!¡± Je¡¯ndra cried out in anger


    ¡°[I can track him! But we have to move now]!¡± Kon¡¯gric bellowed out as he got to his feet.


    Ken¡¯tricx heard a screeching sound and looked back to the doors. Over thirty of the spider, centaurs were charging the doors. Taking into account how fast the doors were closing, they would make it here before they were closed. ¡°[We¡¯ve got gatecrashers]!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra felt shame that whatever had hit them had driven them to their knees. The fact that the prince was captive, was something that shamed them all! they were supposed to protect him, not let monsters take him captive!


    [GO! I¡¯ll hold them here until the doors close]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed.


    And then Je¡¯ndra knew what she had to do, what she had to order. ¡°[NO! Ken¡¯tricx, go with Kon¡¯gric! Olv¡¯xic, does the door need you there to keep it closing]?¡±


    ¡°[No, it¡¯s automatic! I can leave and help hold the door]!¡± Olv¡¯xic called out.


    ¡°[NO! Back up Ken¡¯tricx and Kon¡¯gric, and rescue the prince! Ro¡¯borlar will be able to track you. Just go]!¡± Je¡¯ndra bellowed as she raised her rifle and fired at the oncoming horde.


    ¡°[What? But commander! Surely someone else]!¡± Olv¡¯xic stammered.


    Je¡¯ndra felt it, she had finally reached her limit. And she didn¡¯t think that she even had one.


    ¡°[Enough! Olv¡¯xic what is your problem!? Since you¡¯ve joined you¡¯ve always been putting yourself down! So why!? Just why]!?¡± Je¡¯ndra demanded with anger in her voice.


    Olv¡¯xic looked at them and then looked down. ¡°[I¡¯m part human]!¡±


    Je¡¯ndra felt her mind go blank for a second, not understanding what he meant. ¡°[Wait, what? We¡¯re all human]!¡±


    Olv¡¯xic went still and slowly looked at her, and then asked a question in a voice full of shock. ¡°[Excuse me]?¡±


    Je¡¯ndra looked at him and then realized that this wasn¡¯t the time. ¡°[We¡¯ll talk later, just go and save our human descended prince]!¡±


    As Ken¡¯tricx grabbed Olv¡¯xic and thundered after Kon¡¯gric, she felt that when next they talked, she would learn a lot. And most of what she was going to learn, she knew that she would hate it. For a split second, all she could do was wonder just what kind of world Olv¡¯xic had grown up on.


    Je¡¯ndra just fired at the onrushing horde. For a moment, she wondered where the leader of the other group was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he followed the signal, Kon¡¯gric felt his heart seize. There might not be a better chance to kill the prince than this. He just had to not follow the signal right. This was a Ruin, after all, they did all kinds of things with signals. He could get away with not following it, couldn¡¯t he?


    ¡°[So you gotta tell me what that was about kid! I mean, part human]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx said with a laugh in his voice.


    ¡°[And you¡¯ve gotta tell me what this is about all of us being human! I mean, I thought¡­..],¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a shocked tone in his voice.


    Kon¡¯gric kept one eye on the tracker, and the other looked at Olv¡¯xic. The man before him was smart, strong and now he was clearly so misinformed it was criminal. He had been to the heart of the Empire, he had seen where they had come from. Everyone was taught that when they were in school, just where was he from?


    ¡°[What kinda world did you grow up on kid]? Ken¡¯tricx asked as they ran.


    Olv¡¯xic stayed silent, but it was a silence that Kon¡¯gric knew well. Olv¡¯xic was thinking about everything he thought he knew, and how it was wrong. He had been there, and he knew that Olv¡¯xic would have a lot of terrible times ahead, thinking all what he was wrong about.


    ¡°[Later Ken¡¯tricx, later. But all of us, the Empire. We¡¯re human!? How]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked in shock and wonder.


    Before anyone could say anything, a loud roar came from ahead of them. Standing there were five of the large bulky figures, but these were different. They only wore the remains of robes and they were unarmed. At first, Kon¡¯gric thought someone had left these poor brutes here to wander and slow them down.


    But when one of them pointed at them it opened its mouth and roared. ¡°For the Glory of the Beast, kill them! Their flesh will give us power!¡±


    As all the brutes thundered towards them, Kon¡¯gric snarled. He summoned his rifle as Ken¡¯tricx and Olv¡¯xic both summoned theirs. Without a moment¡¯s thought or a word, they opened fire as one.

 Chapter One Hundred Fourteen

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Galley above Kingdom test camp


    Galactic Standard Time / 0915


    Zane looked down at the carnage from the window, his eyes locking on the biped insects. This strange organic mass must have spawned them, there was no other explanation! And these people must have been the other members of the general¡¯s army. With this, the plan was destroyed, and that meant one thing. Zane had to do something he never thought he would do, help a lawful authority.


    ¡°Our people, we¡¯ve gotta help them!¡± Karltics said in a rush and almost jumped out but Cadritic grabbed him,


    ¡°Wait youngest, wait!¡± Cadritic said in a rush.


    ¡°Let me go! Our friends are down there! We have to help them!¡± Karltics snarled as he tried to fight free.


    Zane just looked at him, remembering his past. That was how he reacted when he learned how the rest of the galaxy would see his homeworld¡¯s fate. That was how he had been. And he knew that he would need something to snap Karltics back to his senses.


    ¡°And what will you do from up here!? You need to think boy, we have to think! How are you planning to get down there!?¡± Ulistix asked with a snarl. Karltics just looked at Ulistix and glared back.


    ¡°And what would you have me do!? What can we do to help them? We can¡¯t leave them¡­.¡± Karltics said before he let his body sink to the ground.


    ¡°Get up youngster, we will! We just need to think! There has to be a way to get down there. We just have to find it boyo!¡± Cadritic said with a grin as he reached down and pulled Karltics back up to his feet.


    Zane looked around the chamber, seeing the organic mass all around them. From what he could see, it had covered half the chamber. It was slowly growing while he watched, and this whole mess bothered him. Especially the other change that had happened here while he was gone.


    ¡°No, not all of us. For starters, you¡¯ll stay here Ulistix!¡± Zane declared and looked around. ¡°The white rope things, grab them all. We needed them to get down there!¡±


    ¡°Wait, why am I here?¡± Ulistix asked before Zane held his blaster rifle out to him.


    ¡°Pull the trigger like you did before, aim for their heads. Cadritic with me! And Karltics, stay here and guard Ulistix,¡± Zane said as he looked around the galley. Like the corridor, there were organic growths all over and more of the white rope things.


    ¡°What do you mean I¡¯ll stay here!?¡± Karltics demanded.


    ¡°Look, do you know what made this?¡± Zane asked bluntly. When Karltics went still and shook his head, Zane sighed. ¡°Well, whatever did this made this in an hour or less. And with the numbers of those things, they must have an extremely short hatch time. That doorway could have hundreds of them coming back here. And always guard a sniper in hostile lands. And there¡¯s that to consider.¡±


    They all looked towards the far wall across from the windows. The wall around the door was broken as if something had pushed it down. The hole went up six and went down to the other walls. And to make things worse, the remains of the door and the wall it was in were in the corridor as if something pushed it down. Surprisingly, the organic mass that was on the wall wasn¡¯t in the corridor, as if there was nothing for it to grow on there.


    Zanee felt a little horror when he first saw it. If whatever had made that came back, it would take all of them together to even survive it. All he could hope for was that they would get out of here before it returned.


    For a moment, Zane thought Karltics was going to argue. But when Cadritic put his hand on Karltics¡¯s shoulder, Karltics looked at the older soldier.


    ¡°The man¡¯s right lad. You¡¯re good, sure but we need someone watching our back,¡± Cadritic said gruffly yet firmly.


    Karltics sighed and looked around, his blade raised. ¡°So should I stay close or between him and the doors?¡±


    ¡°Good man, let¡¯s go¡­..¡± Zane began only for Ulistix to interrupt him.


    ¡°What in the name of the Forest!? That¡¯s The Wind General! Wilmria herself! What¡¯s she doing here¡­.. isn¡¯t she part of? Then that must mean¡­..wait. THE YOUNGEST PRINCESS IS HERE!?¡± Ulistix exclaimed in shocked horror.


    ¡°She¡¯s here!? But the Prince was the person who was supposed to come to the Rest!¡± Karltics exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Who¡¯s here?!?? Zane demanded as he looked around as Karltics and Cadritic joined Ulistix at the window.


    ¡°The youngest princess of our kingdom! The royal family is descended from the Captain of our ship!¡± Karltics exclaimed in shocked horror.


    Zane felt his heart freeze. He and his friends had made the holes in the corridor. And they had run from another chamber that overlooked another forest. Could something from that place have followed them or hitched a ride on one of the three of them? Or something else, but he knew that people would blame the deckhands. So to keep this from becoming the worst diplomatic incident, then he would have to help save the child.


    ¡°Then we can¡¯t let any more time slip by us! Come on Cadritic!¡± Zane said as he looked at the nearest white rope thing. He grabbed it and smiled as he couldn¡¯t pull it apart. ¡°Ulistix, give me your blade!¡±


    As soon as Ulistix handed over his sword, Zane sliced through the rope. He thought he could use it to get down, but he was wrong. He quickly found that once it was severed, the rope came apart easily in his hands. ¡°Okay, I wasn''t expecting that! New plan, Ulistix start firing! Karltics watch him. And Cadritic, help me figure this out!¡±


    As the others did as he ordered, Zane looked around at the room. The organic white ropes had to be carrying something. But just why and how were they so strong? All he knew, was that he had to figure out the answer. It might be the only way that the four of them could help those below.


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    As she ran at the monsters, Wilmria felt her Power flow within her in response to her rage. Where was General Rogix?! He was one of the greatest of all generals. The Thundering General never retreated and he had thrown back the Felines at the Front Lines. So what was happening, where was he? All she knew was that Rogix better have a Forest damned good reason to not be here or so help her! If something caused him to not be here and put the princess at risk!


    Reaching the first one, she jumped and thrust with her spear, killing one and bringing it down as she landed. She looked at the red chitin insect and tried to remember if she had ever seen anything like this before. A scream caused her to look up and curse as she saw another one move towards a woman in a Scholar¡¯s robe.


    Without a thought she dashed towards the monster, ready to strike. Only for her target to suddenly fall right before she thrust her spear into its body. Her motion carried her beyond it and she almost stumbled. Looking back, she saw the monster had a hole in its head, a hole that emitted smoke.


    ¡°What the? How?¡± Wilmria stammered as she looked at the corpse, completely shocked.


    ¡°It must be them!¡± The woman exclaimed with awe and hope in her voice.


    ¡°Who?¡± Wilmria asked with a hard look in her eyes. If someone had been able to create a Power that could do this, she needed to know. This was the ultimate Assassin¡¯s power. She didn¡¯t even know where whatever killed this monster came from!


    ¡°Them!¡± The woman said as she pointed upwards.


    Without a thought, Wilmria turned and looked, shocked at what she was seeing. No matter how she tried to understand, what she saw was impossible. There above her was a soldier holding something, but he was in the Devil¡¯s Realm! For a moment all she could do was stare, and in those moments three bursts of light came out of the thing the soldier held.


    ¡°How?¡± Wilmria croaked out as she stared. But then she heard a scream and as he turned. Coming out of the forest were five red chitin-covered insect wolf-like monsters. Without another word, Wilmria ran at them. She could try and understand this later, for now, she had people to save and monsters to kill!


    As she ran nearer, she could see these new monsters clearer. The creatures had the bodies of wolves but were covered in red chitin. Their limbs ended in a single spike that pointed forward. They didn¡¯t have wings and each one¡¯s head had two mandibles that covered their mouths below six beast eyes.


    With a roar, she thrust her spear forward into the closest monster. As she killed the first one, the other two both charged at her from opposite sides. As they ran at her, their mouths dropped open ride, ready to bite She jumped over them and pulled her spear free. Before she could land she stabbed out with her weapon, and a cone of green blades shot from it. The blades cut off some of the monster''s limbs and carried them to crash against the wall. For a second the wall flashed green before that died down.


    As soon as Wilmria landed, she looked around and ran at another of the biped insects menacing a servant. With a scream, she sliced through it. She spared a glance up at the open window, and locked eyes with someone in clothing she had never seen before. She and he both looked at each other before they both nodded at the other.


    She would have the answers she needed once this was done. For now, there were monsters to slay! Screams of beasts from the forest told her that something was happening there. Even if more of those insects came, they would only find their deaths!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he turned away, Zane nodded at Ulistix. ¡°Keep firing, we should at least be able to talk to them after this. These things are just animals with shells, not too bad really. So no worries.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried about those traitors that attacked us coming back,¡± Ulistix admitted.


    ¡°Why?¡± Zane asked and Ulistix sighed as he fired again. ¡°Why them and not this Beast Cult back at the Scholar¡¯s Rest?¡±


    Ulistix had to admit, the star traveler was easy to talk to. He had a way of speaking that Ulistix liked, and he was direct. None of that misdirection. But he didn¡¯t know anything about the Kingdom, Ulistix mused as he aimed and killed another of the biped insects.


    ¡°The Beast Cult was formed by a break-way faction. They were monsters who spent a long time fighting us. They came out of nowhere after the third century of our people were down here. They didn¡¯t do much, just strikes at the outskirts here and there. We all thought they died in the war about a hundred years ago. That they survived¡­. It¡¯s bad,¡± Ulistix admitted as he killed another monster. He never noticed


    ¡°Wait, three centuries!?¡± Zane demanded.


    Ulistix looked up and saw Zane¡¯s eyes were wide and he looked shaken.


    ¡°Yeah, three centuries. The first two we were here were just us surviving. That¡¯s why this ceremony is so important, it¡¯s the sixth hundred year we¡¯ve been here. Why?¡± Ulistix asked as he looked at Zane, seeing his eyes widen. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Before Zane could say anything, something happened.


    ¡°GUYS! WE NEED YOU!¡± Karltics called out.


    As Zane and Ulistix looked towards the cry, Ulistix stared in horror. Looking through the hole in the wall was a horror that he had never seen the like of. Even in his nightmares, this thing was a monstrosity.


    It had deep red chitin covering all of its nine-foot-tall form. It had an elongated skull a foot wide and three feet long that ended in a back arching crest. Its eyes were around a third of the way from the mouth, and they were three set in a line. The mouth took up all of the width and was full of black fangs that dripped saliva. It had four arms just behind its foot-long neck, all four set in a circle formation. Each limb ended in a four-clawed hand. Its torso was five feet long and two feet wide and had ridged down it in rows. It had four legs below that and a tail that ended in a crimson sphere club. Beside it were two of the flying biped insects, both of them looking wounded and one was missing its right arm.


    For a second, everything just stared, shocked. Then the giant insect creature threw its head back and screeched. From behind Zane and Ulistix, they could hear three answering roars.


    Ulistix looked back and saw two more of the insect bipeds flying towards the window. ¡°Zane!¡±


    ¡°Handle them first. I¡¯ll help the others!¡± Zane called out before he ran off.


    It was all Ulistix could to aim at the insects and fire, missing the head of one but scorching off its right wing. As the other flew closer, he fired and maimed the other, sending it after the first. He turned and aimed at the larger monster, seeing it squeeze into the chamber. While that happened Karltics and Cadritic were fighting the two biped insects. Zane was running towards Cadritic, his borrowed blade pointing to the side. Cadritic aimed at the one attacking Karltics as it was the weaker. But then he heard something from his left and he turned, staring at what he found in horror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane kept moving, trying to keep calm. He couldn¡¯t get over the fact that these people had been here for six hundred years. The Corp war was only two hundred years back, and his new grandfather had fought in it! Back then the Neo Triads were privateers, they only crossed over after the war. From the stories and the history files he had read, the time was true. So how had these people been here for so long? The question could be answered later, for now, he had to fight!


    ¡°Cadritic, dodge to the right!¡± Zane bellowed as he came at the monster from the right.


    Cadritic reacted, ducking down, narrowly avoiding a slash from his foe.


    Zane was suddenly there and slashed to the side, cutting the monster¡¯s eyes. He had maimed it and it tried to kill him, but he kept moving. He jumped over the slash and landed a foot away, dashing back and impaling the monster¡¯s head.


    Cadritic just stared in shock as Zane pulled his blade free as the corpse of the monster fell backwards.


    Zane just looked at Cadritic before nodding. ¡°Help Karltics, I¡¯ll get the big thing¡¯s attention.¡±


    Cadritic just nodded, before he looked at Zane in shock. ¡°Wait, you¡¯ll what!?¡±


    Zane looked at the bigger monster as it tried to fit into the hole, and he glared at it. He shot forward, pulling out his pistol as he ran. He ran out of the chamber and fired at the giant creature¡¯s left side and it roared as the shot hit. The giant turned and slashed out with its left arm, but Zane jumped backwards. The monster roared again as Zane fired again, this time taking off its upper left arm at the elbow. From the wound came a gallon of black liquid that hit the ground and released steam.


    It was all Zane could do to keep a smile from blooming on his face. This thing was an even worse foe than all the beasts he¡¯s hunted. As its maimed arm scabbed over, Zane fired at it. He knew that the best thing way to handle this thing was to outlast it, and that was by making it lose blood. He dodged another blow and he felt his blood start to burn.


    The monster roared and moved slowly away from the hole, its eyes locked on him. He smirked as it followed after him, trying to strike him. As he led it away, he barely kept from laughing


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Karltics parried a claw strike from the monster attacking him. He needed to handle this before the big one got into the galley. And he had to find a way down to the others. Plus he was in the very unusual position of hoping that the big one was a spawner. If it had spawned the monster he was fighting, then that would be very good. That would mean that all of this was created by the big one, and that was the good option. If something even bigger was out there, then his Kingdom was in danger, more danger than it had ever been.


    He moved backwards and his foot landed on a bulge in the floor and he almost tumbled to the ground. He stayed up but that one wrong movement gave the monster he was fighting an opening. A strike to his sword sent it flying into the chamber, disarming him. Before the monster could kill him, it went still as a blade suddenly erupted from its head.


    For a moment the monster just stayed upright before the blade was withdrawn. As the body fell, Karltics saw Cadritic standing there flicking the blood off his blade.


    Cadritic only grinned at Karltics who stared at him with a shocked look.


    ¡°What are you doing here?! What happened to the other one!?¡± Karltics stammered before he saw the corpse beyond Cadritic. ¡°Well, what about the big one!?¡±


    Cadritic only pointed and Karltics turned, staying in shock at what he saw.


    As Zane seemed to dance away from the big one, Karltics¡¯s mouth dropped open. The way Zane was moving, was like something he had only seen once before. It was when a veteran from the Front Line had come back and spared with the strongest teacher at the academy. They were beyond anything he had ever seen, and Zane was just as good, and without the Power!


    ¡°He¡¯s very good at this, isn¡¯t he?¡± Ulistix asked from behind.


    Karltics and Cadritic turned and saw Ulistix looking around at the organic mass on the walls.


    ¡°But it won¡¯t matter if we¡¯re overwhelmed. So where is it?¡± Ulistix muttered to himself as he followed something with his eyes.


    ¡°What do you mean!? How would we be overwhelmed?¡± Karltics stammered.


    Ulistix only gestured to the ceiling and when Karltics looked up, he stared in horror at what he hadn¡¯t seen.

 Chapter One Hundred Fifteen

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Galley above Kingdom test camp


    Galactic Standard Time / 0930


    It was all Karltics could do to keep from gasping in horror. Above them were an uncountable number of organic beach ball-sized spheres. Each one was connected to the other by the white rope-like things, but that wasn¡¯t the worst thing about them. What was the worst was that all of the spheres were semitransparent. Through the flesh, they could see things, and they were all moving slowly. Each one looked like some kind of monster and as he watched they grew a bit.


    ¡°Eggs, those are all eggs!¡± Karltics breathed out in horror.


    ¡°Yeah. Any idea of how many are there up there? I stopped counting at twenty above the windows alone!¡± Ulistix muttered angrily.


    ¡°How long until they hatch!?¡± Cadritic question, a small termer in his voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe minutes at best! We¡¯ll never kill all of them before they wash over us!¡± Ulistix exclaimed, anger in his voice.


    ¡°Not if we find the main power unit! Something from this place has to be powering their growth!¡± Ulistix growled as he looked around.


    At this, Karltics went still before looking towards Zane and the monster he was dodging. If that thing made all of these, then it was worse than he thought it was. All he could do was hope that Sir Zane could handle his problem on his own. They had to find the source these things were ¡®drinking¡¯ from! Hopefully, before any of them hatched and killed them!


    ¡°I just got a bad thought. When these things die, that thing will know, won¡¯t it?¡± Karltics asked and the others nodded.


    ¡°For Kingdom and King after all. Not a bad way to go out,¡± Ulistix said with a small shrug.


    Karltics just nodded, looking at the ceiling and then he started to trace the lines of the rope-things. He loved these puzzles as a kid, and the skills would serve him here. All he had to do was follow one line¡­¡­ but then he went still. ¡°Oh, forest! It splits!¡±


    ¡°What splits!?¡± Cadritic demanded.


    ¡°That line, there. It feeds the others! At least, I think so,¡± Karltics said as he moved his hand along one of the white rope things. It was the source for most of the lines and it was fed by three lines. One went to the closest wall, a large mass on the same location that had the staircase in the other chamber. Another line went to the far wall, another mass right across from the corridor door. And the final line went to a space on the ceiling.


    ¡°Each one must be something like the Power! We have to destroy all of them!¡±


    ¡°Wait! One of the teachers at the Academy! They had a Regeneration Power! If these things have the same ability, we¡¯re screwed!¡± Ulistix exclaimed.


    Karltics looked at him and paled. He remembered that teacher now, and his lector on how some wild creatures had a similar Power. His stories about the fights he was in at the Front Line and how his Power saved his life.


    A roar caused the three to look towards the corridor. They saw Zane laugh as he dodged another of the monster¡¯s blows, and fired his pistol at the thing''s face. As one of the monster''s eyes was destroyed, it screeched. It kept following Zane, always moving farther towards the closet wall.


    ¡°But if that thing doesn¡¯t have a Regenatition power, would they? Or is it small because it''s not tapped into something here?¡± Karltics muttered as he locked eyes on each of the monster¡¯s wounds. He wanted to be sure, but there was no way that was possible. ¡°We can¡¯t stop them from being born, can we? Should we call Sir Zane and try and escape?¡±


    ¡°No! we have to stop them here but how!? It¡¯s impossible!¡± Ulistix snarled as he aimed at the big monster. ¡°Maybe if we can kill that one, these things will fight each other? I don¡¯t see any other way to do it! Is there another way?¡±


    Cadritic meanwhile looked at the mass on the closest wall. ¡°Maybe, just maybe there is! Kid, run to that one over there, I handle the closest one! We all removed them from or destroyed whatever is there! It¡¯s the only hope we have for killing them all!


    Karltics and Ulistix looked at each other and shrugged


    Karltics just sighed, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯ve got nothing better. Let¡¯s do it!¡±


    Ulistix nodded, looking up at the egg spheres. ¡°I¡¯ve got here!¡±


    But Karltics had already started to run, risking a glance towards Zane. The way the man was dodging the monster he was fighting, was amazing. He had already thought he was as good as some of his teachers, but the man seemed better! And that thing would attack the chamber once its spawns were dead, and that would give them the right time to kill it!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Cadritic ran towards the wall, he tried and failed to keep his face blank. He knew that this might not work, but a small chance was better than none. They might be just killing time until they die, but there was a chance they weren¡¯t. He had been a guard when a Scholar had proposed a way to store the energy behind Powers. It had been an inventive talk but he hadn¡¯t gotten funding for it. But then the Scholar admitted that he just wanted to be able to talk about his research. From what Cadritic remembered, the man had disappeared a few years later. All but his least assistant had been found dead, and the survivor had disappeared. He always thought that the man had been captured by a noble and became a captured scientist. But if the man was here he would demand samples of the ¡®white rope¡¯, but how he talked about the circuit as he called it. If they broke the flow, then the flow would die down. But that was the hard part, it would only work if these things carried what fueled the Power.


    As he reached the wall, he sighed and shook his head. He looked at the mass and almost recoiled as he realized it was pulsing in a steady rhythm. He took that as proof that he was right ¡°Nothing to it than to try and save the day!¡±


    With one slash, he tore the pulsing mass from the wall. As the mass just sat there, he looked at the space it had been. This strange organic mass seemed to have eaten away at the wall, and with a shocked look, he stared down at his blade. It was still fine, and for a moment he wondered just how that was possible. Then he remembered another old lecture he had overhead once and shook his head. He didn¡¯t understand how this stuff could eat away at the metal, how it was specialized to do that. But it didn¡¯t matter, what mattered was it ate away at the lock. Using his sword, he pulled the door free, tearing away the organic mass. As he watched, the strange material started to wither and die.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°How? Just how?¡± Cadritic muttered as he looked at the material. But then he thought he saw something inside the door. He looked into the doorway and paled in horror. The material had somehow wormed its way into the structure. He stared at the mass that moved down the wall along the staircase. From what he could see, there was another pulsing mass down there with three more of the eggs near it. He watched as the creature with one of the eggs started to break free.


    ¡°NO!¡± He bellowed as he ran down the stairs. With one swift bellow, he impaled the egg and the creature within it gave one final cry before it died.


    Breathing heavily he turned around and was shocked at what he saw. There was only one level below him, and looking up he saw a ceiling about twenty feet up. He looked back up at the floor the others were on but something told him that this was important. The feeling he had, he just couldn¡¯t describe it but everything was telling him to go on. That he needed to discover the truth about this place. With one final look up, he dashed down the stairs. To his surprise, the door here actually had a handle, a solid ¡®L¡¯ shaped bar that pointed down.


    He looked at it, and then turned around, looking up, trying to figure out how far down he was.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he dodged another blow, Zane smirked. The giant insect monster was still after him, and that meant the others had to have handled the other one. But seeing Karltics running for the other side of the chamber, stunned him. But then he realized that they had to have seen something, something that made that necessary. But whatever it was, he had to trust them and do his part, keep the giant on him.


    As he dodged another blow he saw the monster stop and slowly turn its head. He didn¡¯t know what the others did, but it was good for them if this thing felt it.


    With a roar, he aimed and fired his pistol, this time at the lower limb on its other side. As the bolt hit, the monster roared as the lower part of that arm was removed.


    All Zane did was look at it as he grinned, and hoped that it would keep its senses on him. As it charged at him in a rush, he laughed and dodged at the last minute. All he had to do was keep up the work and keep this monster¡¯s eyes on him. Make it mad, and make that its last mistake!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Karltics ran, looking at Zane and his battle for a moment before he turned his neck towards his goal. All he had to do was keep moving, keep to the plan and they would win! If they could kill all those eggs, then that would make this so much easier. Then all they had to do was handle the big monster and then they could get back to the others. This time with the General of the Wind herself right behind them!


    As he reached the far wall, he paled as he looked towards the hole. There had to be at least a hundred eggs on the wall alone, not even counting the ceiling! This was beyond anything that they could have thought of! He had to move fast, and kill the power source! He looked towards the window and found the pulsing mass he was looking for. He charged at it, drawing his sword, and cleaved it in two. As most of the mass fell away, there was a sparking among the remains. He didn¡¯t know why but something was telling him, he had to move. He had barely turned and ran a few feet before an explosion bloomed behind him!


    The force threw him forward and he hit the ground, skidding along it for a few more moments. He looked up and saw the giant insect monster turn around, and for a moment he was sure one of its eyes was looking right at him. Before he could even get back to his feet, something hit the ground before him. Looking at it, he saw that it was one of the eggs from above. Slowly he looked up and saw all the eggs dying as the organic mass withered. Feeling a grin forming, he felt that everything was going to be okay. But then a roar caused him to remember the giant insect monster was still here.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Alert, explosion detected in abandoned complex.


    Sending scout constructs into abounded sector


    Orders are to observe and return with data.


    Possibility of attack from [rival] Not below percentage of ignorance


    Activating protocol, defense.


    Gather all soldier contrasts able to move through facility, reinforce entrances


    Update directive to scout constructs, use protocol [chain]


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Ulistix shook his head to get rid of the ringing, he felt his heart stop. Two of the eyes of the giant insect monster were looking right at him, and its mouth was dripping. It suddenly charged at him and with a curse on his lips, Ulistix dove to the side and rolled towards the nearest wall. He had just been about to fire up when the explosion wave hit him!


    The giant insect monster roared again as it looked around. For a second Ulistix thought he saw an emotion in its eyes, rage. But then that wasn¡¯t possible, not in something like this, not this monster.


    It pointed its mouth at him and then it fired a blast of a white liquid at him! He dodged but a splat from the splash hit his boot. It suddenly felt heavier and he looked down, seeing some of the organic mass on it. With a sinking feeling, he understood just where the creature had gotten the mass from. But he couldn¡¯t understand where the ¡°eggs¡± came from. A horrible thought passed through his mind, and then he almost tore it off. But then he stopped and aimed the weapon Zane had given him at the monster.


    He fired as he moved backwards, his boot feeling heavy. It was a constant reminder of the possible danger it represented.


    The monster roared but then Karltics ran by him.


    ¡°What?! Karltics, no!¡± Ulistix cried out, shocked and wondering what his comrade was thinking.


    ¡°I¡¯ll aim at its legs!¡± Karltics roared as he charged.


    Ulistix stared at him, thinking about all about the bravery of idiots. But he raised his weapon and prepared to cover the charging fool. The monster looked up and for a moment Ulistix thought it would roar again. But then he saw the way it was looking at Karltics and he knew, he knew what it was planning.


    ¡°Dodge! don¡¯t let it touch you, kid!¡± Ulistix howled as he aimed at the monster''s mouth and fired. The monster reacted and brought its lone upper hand to cover its face. As a grin formed on his face, Ulistix expected his shot to destroy the limb like Zane¡¯s had. But to his horror, the limb reflected the bolt and Ulistix barely dodged.


    Ulistix could only stare at the monster as Karltics charged under it and tried to slash out one of its limbs. But his sword was reflected back and Karltics stumbled for a moment.


    The monster tried to crush Karltics with its body, but suddenly Zane tacked Karltics. They landed just out of range of the monster¡¯s limbs and Ulistix fired again, but again the shot was deflected.


    Zane got back to his feet hauling Karltics away from the monster as he moved. Ulistix just waited for it to fire its spit as he kept firing at it. But when all it did was reflect the shots, Ulistix understood. And when the monster roared and got back to its feet and stayed there, he understood everything.


    ¡°This thing, it can¡¯t move! It needs the power above it to use that Reflect ability! If we can move or destroy the power!¡± Ulistix exclaimed and raised his weapon upwards. A gurgling scream caused him to react and dodge to the right, just barely missing another blast of the mass. And his foot was starting to fall asleep, and he knew what that meant. ¡°No! Don¡¯t get hit!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°That¡¯s the plan!¡± Zane bellowed as he looked at the monster. He didn¡¯t expect anything like this when he woke up this morning, but this was one battle he¡¯d remember! The monsters, the survivors, and now the time difference, he would remember it all!


    ¡°NO! Not what I meant!¡± Ulistix cried out as he kept firing at the monster.


    Zane didn¡¯t pay him any attention, running around the left side of the monster. ¡°Just keep firing, if it¡¯s down we can find a way to kill it!¡±


    ¡°Simple really! Get on its back, then we take away the power!¡± Karltics howled as he ran along the right. ¡°The pulsing mass caused the explosion, so we just need to get rid of the one above before the eggs hatch!¡±


    Zane felt his heart stop as he heard the word ¡®eggs¡¯. But he kept moving and took in all the others had just told him. These ¡®mass¡¯ they were talking about, he found it. There it was, right above the giant insect monster. And there was the way it was being ¡®fed¡¯. A line of the ¡®white rope¡¯ was connected the two. ¡°Found the power¡­¡­?¡±


    As he kept moving, the line disappeared. He looked up and saw the mass was still there, and that was enough for him to understand. ¡°Keep firing! I¡¯ll get the mass!¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, he pulled out his pistol, aimed, and fired. The monster tried to intercept, and that made Zane pause for a second. This thing hadn¡¯t reacted to anything they did. So either it wasn¡¯t sentient, it was and didn¡¯t care they were, or the worst thing.


    Without a word, he kept firing, and then a bolt from Ulistix hit the mass and he saw the part with the cable fall away. But then he remembered what Karltics said and paled. ¡°GET AWAY!¡±


    Zane turned and ran, hearing a roar behind him before he felt the heat from an explosion. The force from that threw him into the hallway. Rolling into a ball, he moved a few more feet until he got back up. He looked behind him and saw the remains of the giant insect monster in a pile, blackened from the heat. Then all around it organic spheres, the eggs, started to drop to the floor. For a second he just stood there before he started to laugh, happy to be alive!


    The other two looked at him and then they joined in. As they all stood there, Zane suddenly stopped and looked around, his heart dropping. ¡°Wait, where¡¯s Cadritic?!¡±


    At his cry, the others all paled and started to look around.


    ¡°He went to that wall! Cadritic, are you okay¡­.. there¡¯s an open door there,¡± Karltics said bluntly.


    Zane blinked and looked, wincing as he saw the door. When they were here before, they hadn¡¯t had the time to even think of stopping to look, and they had missed it.


    ¡°I¡¯M DOWN HERE! I WAS CLEANING OUT AN INFESTATION OVER HERE! And I Found a door!¡± Cadritic¡¯s voice echoed from the open doorway.


    As soon as Zane heard the word ¡®infestation¡¯, he paled in fear. Without stopping to talk, he turned and ran for the door he had come through his shipmates. Behind him, he heard the sounds of someone following him, but he didn¡¯t stop. If he was right, then this was going to be bad.

 Chapter One Hundred Sixteen

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Floor Two


    Galactic Standard Time / 0915


    As she waited for the door to open, Krisila kept her eyes scanning the corridor. So far more Beast Cultists hadn¡¯t been here yet, but they find this place soon. Those Cultists had been spies, which meant they had to know about this place. To just send one of the Insect things down here to break into the Chapel? It didn¡¯t make any sense at all! Just what was going on here, what goal were they after? It couldn¡¯t have been a hunt or did they think this place only had easy prey? With the rumors about the people who were taking care of this place, they should have sent more! Did they just not listen to any of the gossip?


    ¡°Krisilla? Is that you?¡± A timid voice asked as the door opened outward. Krisilla saw a bluish-green eye look out and then the door slammed shut. She heard a muffled conversation before the doors slammed open.


    In the doorway was a tall girl Krisilla¡¯s age. She was in a first-year Scholar¡¯s uniform. She had her jade green hair in a bun and her bluish green eyes that slowly started to cry.


    ¡°Krisilla!¡± She cried as she grabbed Krisilla in a hug.


    ¡°Hey Priscixlia, hey!¡± Krisilla said as she returned the hug. She was glad beyond words that her friend was okay, she had been so worried! ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve come for all of you!¡±


    Priscixlia stopped crying and drew back, looking at her friend. ¡°What¡¯s happening out there?! How did these things get into the school!?¡±


    Krisilla looked away, trying to gather her courage. ¡°It¡¯s the Beast Cult. They¡¯ll still alive!¡±


    Priscixlia just gasped as her eyes winded in horror, and Krisilla felt a bit of shame. She knew the history that  Priscixlia¡¯s family had with the Cult. And to even consider telling her friend that the Cult was beyond unthinkable! But then this wasn¡¯t a normal situation.


    As Priscixlia started to pale, Krisilla grabbed her in a fierce hug. ¡°Priscixlia, breath. Just take a deep breath, then let it out, just do that.¡±


    As Krisilla looked into the chamber beyond. She could see ten people in there, most of them female students of the school. Behind them were the two priestesses holding staffs between her and the students.


    ¡°Good to see you Miss Krisilla,¡± One of the Priestesses said as she came forward, a scowl on her face. Like the other Priestesses, she wore a rob colored black with it covering her head in the tight material. There was a black eye mask on her face, and her lips were bare. This was because when they were supposed to be faceless doing their duty. It was so that people needed to talk to them and could feel at ease. It was a custom that had started over the last hundred years and seemed to be  ¡°But what¡¯s going on, what is that? Is it truly the Beast Cult?¡±


    Krisilla swallowed as she answered ¡°Yeah, everything points to them. They''re assaulting the grounds, it''s terrible! They¡¯ll probably have complete control soon! We have to get away fast!¡±


    ¡°But how did those monsters get by the guards? Surely they couldn¡¯t breach the ground that easily!¡± The First Priestess declared in a tone of total convection.


    ¡°They have the ability to hide as normal people. Then they change by just their will or by a Power. But it can happen fast,¡± Krisilla explained as she looked around.


    The Priestess looked at her, her face showing shock before she scowled and held her staff tighter. ¡°So the filth have new tricks then? Very well, we will weather them and then cast them down into the earth!¡±


    ¡°No Casting! We¡®re the ones who are running!¡± Krisilla exclaimed as she looked at the woman. This was why she usually stayed away from this place! The people who ran it were always so serious!


    ¡°Then what do you expect us to do then?¡± The Priestess asked coldly.


    ¡°And how did you get here alone?¡± The other Priestess asked with a cold tone and a strange look in her eyes.


    ¡°What, what do you mean?¡± Krisilla asked as shock reverberated through her. She couldn¡¯t understand just what this Priestesses was talking about. What did she see in Krisilla that


    The Second Priestess only looked at her before speaking. ¡°If this is so terrible, that they could change into human and these ¡®Beast¡¯ forms, how can we trust you? I wouldn¡¯t put it past this filth to sacrifice one of their own. So how did you get down here?¡±


    Krisilla looked at her and swallowed, seeing the others behind her stare at her in suspicion. She couldn¡¯t have this happen now. She needed them to trust her, if they didn¡¯t then they wouldn¡¯t follow her. ¡°I came down in the Service Staircase! But please, we need to move!¡±


    ¡°And do what?¡± The Second Priestess asked coldly. ¡°If it''s as bad as you¡¯re saying, then what are we to do? Hide on the roof?¡±


    ¡°Well, there are fliers among the enemy,¡± Krisilla admitted and everyone looked at her in horror. She just glared back at them before she took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. ¡°Listen! We need to get out of here, fast. There¡¯s a way out that the Cult isn¡¯t blocking. I came to do a sweep, get everyone I could out as fast as possible.¡±


    Everyone in the Chapel had come over, and as one they stared at her. They all knew the Scholar¡¯s Rest, and the idea that there was a way out was shocking.


    ¡°Look, I know what I¡¯m saying doesn¡¯t make any sense. I know what you¡¯re all thinking,¡± Krisilla said so her voice could project. ¡°But you¡¯re not safe here!¡±


    She pointed her blade at the corpse of the insect Beast Cultist. ¡°And that thing was out here, trying to get in! Please, trust me! I can lead all of you to safety!¡±


    As one the group looked around at each other, trying to see what they thought. Krisilla could see the doubt in their minds.


    ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± Priscixlia declares loudly. She looks around at the others. ¡°She came to rescue us! If we stay, we die! There¡¯s nothing else to say about this, and if you think there is! Well, then all that is, that¡¯s just stupidity!¡±


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Krisila looked at her friend and felt a spark of hope. Priscixlia was known for always doing what was right, and she was trusted by a lot of people. If she was speaking in favor of Krisila, then the others might follow her.


    The two Priestess looked at each other before they nodded.


    ¡°As much as I think this might be wrong, we have no choice. We have to go,¡± The First  Priestesses.


    It was all Krisila could do to keep calm as she held back a sigh. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Krisila turned around but went still as she felt something on both sides of her neck. She looked down and saw both staffs had her neck between them. She looked over her shoulder and saw the two Priestesses looking at her.


    ¡°But beware!¡± The First Priestess said coldly.


    ¡°If you are betraying us, we will kill you!¡± The Second Priestess


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Fine, but follow me!¡± Krisila said sternly with a scowl.


    Priscixlia looked at her friend as she led the way down the corridor. The fact that the ancient enemy of her family was alive was so scary. The stories her family told of the War were terrifying in their detail. How her family had lost members to the raids and how only her ancestor survived. Part of her was scared that they had come here to get her. How the Beast Cult sent out trackers to


    But the fact that her friend was here, and leading them to safety was something that she couldn¡¯t ever thank her for.


    Looking at the corpse as she followed her friend, she felt her heart seize. The last time, the Cult had only powerful Power users. They had worn masks of beasts, but they were just men. They used the fact that the Power was so new to scare people. It was luck and chance that someone had found the truth, that the tide turned! And her ancestor had been one of the people who found the truth.


    But where did the Power to change into such forms come from? What dark and twisted deal did they make with whatever showed them this?!


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry child, we¡¯ll be okay,¡± A soft voice caused her to look up and see the First Priestess looking at her. For a second she felt a sense of peace, but that died as soon as she saw the look in the Priestess¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Priestess, I think you¡¯re talking to me for a reason beyond my feelings. Aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The First Priestess sighed and nodded. ¡°I am ashamed, but yes. I shouldn¡¯t but needs must and all. You have to know how this looks. A girl without the Power killing one of these monsters that quickly?¡±


    Priscixlia just looked away. Could it be possible? Was her friend leading them into a trap? Then she realized what she was thinking of, and then she felt such rage. To even think that of her friend, was beyond anything she would have done before! She turned her head and looked right at the Priestess¡¯s face. ¡°She was always a fighter! And her mom¡¯s a healer, she knows where on the body to aim for!¡±


    ¡°So you say. But please, how well do you know that woman?¡± The Priestess asked with a hard line on her face.


    ¡°Very! We grew up in the same city, she was my minder for a while. And she¡¯s someone I will always trust!¡± Priscixlia declared and looked at the mask of the


    The Priestess nodded but her mouth was in a hard line. ¡°I can respect that, but you must understand where I¡¯m coming from here. We had to block the doors because they were almost broken down. There had to be more than one attacking us. So where are the rest of them?¡±


    Priscixlia looked away, not wanting the Priestess to see her emotions. The way that woman talked, wasn¡¯t normal. For a moment she wondered if it was a power, but then she threw the idea away. If a Power user was here, they wouldn¡¯t be hiding as a Priestess in a shrine!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she followed after Priscixlia, Ambritia forced down a scowl. She hadn¡¯t known about the servant¡¯s staircase, and that was a mistake. She had been sent here three months ago to find out every secret this place had after all.


    Acting as one of the Kingdom¡¯s Special Agents wasn¡¯t as glamorous a job as the story books painted it as. But then her job was to protect the Kingdom from all enemies within, while the army dealt with the enemy without.


    But how had the Beast Cult been able to hide? There were agents and informants that sent in what rumors they heard in all the places that Humans lived, so how? Where had they¡­.. for a moment she stopped before she kept walking. The very idea was insane! There was no way they had found a way into the Devil¡¯s Realm without those monsters killing them! Those scum were still there, watching the Kingdom. Those monsters had to have a reason they captured the Ship all those years ago!


    But to make matters worse, she had been given the Mantle of the Interrogator, she had nothing that could help! Once they got out of this, she was going to learn a few Attack Powers. Maybe the might of Fire or Thunder would help. The only ability she had that could kill needed her to touch a person for a minute. In savage combat? Impossible!


    ¡°Keep calm sister,¡± A voice caused Ambritia to look up. The other, real Priestess was walking next to her.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be with that girl?¡± Ambritia asked softly.


    The Priestess only shrugged. ¡°I was sure that something might come at us from behind, and we¡¯re almost there anyway.¡±


    Ambritia looked at her, not understanding what she meant for a few moments. Then she did and she felt so shocked her mouth dropped open. Then she felt such rage that only her training kept her from making a scene and screaming. She knew that if there were any members of the Beast Cult nearby they would have called them here, but for a second she didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°You knew about them!? Why didn¡¯t you trust that girl if you knew there was a way to get us out!?¡± Ambritia whispered, anger dripping from her voice.


    The Priestess shrugged. ¡°You would have known about them in two months. And no, there aren¡¯t any of them in the Chapel. And she¡¯s a student, there is no reason that she should know about them. Someone comes and tells me information that only a spy could have found? Tell me that isn¡¯t suspicious?¡±


    Ambritia was going to say something when she heard a howl echo off the walls. Her training told her where that came from, but her cover wouldn¡¯t know. So she looked at the  Priestess who was looking behind them. ¡°Sister, do you know where that¡¯s coming from?¡±


    ¡°Behind us. I want you to get the others moving faster. Do it now,¡± The Priestess said as she looked behind her.


    For a second Ambritia almost stopped and broke cover. But then she realized that the girls would only have her and the girl leading them to protect. But what could she do against two of the Cultists on her own? Could they escape fast enough to the staircase? Then she wondered if the Beast Cult could taint a person, and that would force the Priestess to betray them! Without a word, she grabbed the Priestess and pulled her after them. Looking ahead at the girls she called out a bit louder. ¡°Move now, we have to get to the staircase fast!¡±


    ¡°What are you doing!? I have to protect the girls so let me stay!¡± The Priestess demanded and Ambritia only laughed darkly.


    ¡°And if these things can capture and taint you? Will you be able to keep from telling them where and how we escaped?¡± Ambritia asked with a hard edge to her voice. From the way the Priestess gasped and started to run, she saw the truth in what Ambritia had guessed.


    ¡°Then we have to move faster! We should be close!¡± The Priestess cried out but then there heard another howl. And to Ambritia¡¯s horror, it sounded closer.


    Ambritia listened to the sounds of something coming behind them and looked back. At the Chapel, there were three figures moving on all fours towards them.


    ¡°We have to hold them here,¡± The Priestess said with a hard edge to her voice. As Ambritia stopped, knowing that they had to do this she nodded.


    The Priestess looked at the others, only one of them had stopped and looked at them. With her mouth set in a line, she looked at the lone girl and nodded. ¡°Tell her to close the Staircase tight. You all have to live!¡±


    Without a word the girl nodded and ran off, not looking back.


    Ambritia stopped and looked at the monsters as they came closer to them. ¡°Two on three, not too bad I guess.¡±


    ¡°And we will be remembered in the records of our order after all. And that is sometimes the only thing that people like us can get.¡±


    Ambritia only chuckled as she gripped her staff. ¡°Let¡¯s just make this last as long as possible. And a last stand isn¡¯t the worst way to go out I guess.¡±


    Another roar came from farther behind the first group. Around the corner came three large bulky figures. They thundered down the hallway after the first Cultists. And to her horror, the first group had almost reached them. Ambritia guessed that one of the Cultists would slip by the two women while the other two fought them.


    ¡°This is bad. Listen, please. I was going to try to awaken your Power through meditation, but we don¡¯t have time. You might awaken in battle, so listen and pay attention. If you feel a burning within you, force it to your weapon. That will let you empower your weapon. If you''re lucky, this might save you,¡± The Priestess said softly.


    Ambritia felt her heart seize. Suddenly it was as if everything had slowed down. The explanation, made everything suddenly make sense. It was as if she had only been looking at the world with one eye, but now she had two. In that one moment, she suddenly felt as if she was as strong as a general. But her moment of clarity was broken when the Priestess roared and charged at the figures.


    Without a word, Ambritia followed after. The two beast-like mutants rose to their back legs and charged at them, roaring. With a single motion, one of them lunged at her and pushed her to the floor! As she looked up at the beast, its muzzle came down at her. She threw her hands up and grabbed its neck. Calling up her Power, she felt it activate. Without a word, it went to work. As the Beast Cultist tried to bite her, she saw her Power start to work. In an instant, the Cultist started to move slower, once it realized what was happening, it tried to escape. But she just clenched down harder until it stopped moving and its eyes went white.


    Pushing it off her, she looked around. She saw the Priestess killing one of them, but where was the other one? She gazed down the corridor and saw the last one reach the turn that the others had gone down. But as soon as she got back to her feet, the Cultist roared and then she heard a human voice cry out. The Cultist stumbled back and then it fell to the ground.


    Walking around the corner came Krisila and someone else, a man who looked so strange! He had short black hair above black eyes and the beginning of a mustache. He was holding a strange-looking device in his right hand, maybe some crossbow invention. On his right was a sword but what he was wearing was the most shocking. It was some kind of full-body covering suit colored orange. Something about the color of that outfit made her think of something. But it was as if that was at the edge of her mind, something that she had heard once before. But she couldn¡¯t even think of where it had been. But she knew that this man heralded a great change.

 Chapter 117

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Floor Two


    Galactic Standard Time / 0928


    ¡°Well, three against those two hu? Now, that looks a bit unfair to me,¡± Rodolphe said as he looked down the corridor, feeling a smirk on his face. Coming down the stairs he hadn¡¯t expected to find what he had. But the site of a group of young women there looking at a door with worry was enough for him to know. Something was wrong, and as Krisila was looking at the door he knew right then what it was. Without a word, he had walked by her and nodded once, and she had fallen into step behind him. Leaving the armored forms of Glartics and Deogics behind to watch over the women, he had closed the door.


    Then turning his head he saw one of the Beast Cultists looking at him. Before it could cry out, he had killed him with a single shot of his pistol. After he walked around the corner, he was shocked at what he found. He was expecting to see the corpses of the two so-called ¡®Priestess¡¯, but instead he was surprised. They had dealt with two more of the same type of Cultists and done it quickly. He half expected for them to be dead and being eaten by twenty of them, but not this.


    But seeing the three large bulky figures rushing down the corridor, he could only smirk a bit.


    ¡°I hate unfair fights,¡± Krisila said as Rodolphe walked next to her. This was the floor that was beneath the one he went to, and he


    ¡°I love them, but only when my side is unfair,¡± Rodolphe said with a grin.


    Without a word, the two of them ran towards the Priestess, Rodolphe aiming at the bulky figures. Only after they had run twenty feet did something happen. Right as Rodolphe finished aiming at the Cultists, they heard the sound of pounding feet. A moment later he fired, a loud echoing roar echoed off the walls as the shot flew down the hallway. Pouring around the corner came over twenty more of the bulky figures, with fliers above them.


    Rodolphe stopped and looked at the oncoming horde. He saw the two Priestess turn and start to run, and the three nearest bulky figures almost on them. ¡°Heads down you two!¡±


    As soon as they heard him, the two Priestess ran with their heads down, and Rodolphe fired six quick shots. Three of them went around the three chargers, heading towards the horde in the distance. But the other three hit the chargers in their throats and they slipped and fell.


    ¡°Move it, girl!¡± Rodolphe barked as he turned, running back the way he had come. As soon as he reached the corner he spun around, aiming down the corridor. As Krisila ran towards him, he smirked and pointed to the open door to the staircase. ¡°Go on, I¡¯ll be right there with those two! Close the door and lock it if they get by me!¡±


    Krisila only nodded, running past him.


    Turning back, he saw that the Priestess were almost there, and the horde had run into the downed Bulky ones. Rodolphe grinned as he realized that the Priestesses had run along the sides of the corridor. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he aimed and fired at the horde, only for a moment.


    As the bolts he fired hit the Bulky ones in their heads, they died drawing cries from those behind them. With a smirk, he turned and ran, the Priestesses right behind him. As he saw Krisila looking at him from the doorway, he smirked at her.


    Coming into the staircase, he saw the others were moving down and grinned. Turning around, he was met with the head of a staff an inch from his nose.


    ¡°Hold!¡± One of the Priestess growled as she looked at the people going down. ¡°Who are you, and where are you taking us!?¡±


    ¡°Priestess, no! He¡¯s a friend!¡± Krisila cried as she tried to stop her but the other Priestess stopped her from moving.


    Rodolphe only looked at the woman, feeling something strange as he looked at her. For some reason, she was making him think about the few times he had been interrogated. That detective from the INTERSYM, the Federation¡¯s Inter-Stellar police. The way she always seemed to think he was behind everything wrong on the station. For a second he almost thought about lying like with the detective. But then he smiled as he realized he had nothing to lie about.


    ¡°Rodolphe, currently a deckhand on the Space Cruise Liner Spirit of Adventure. We crashed here a few days ago,¡± Rodolphe said with a hard look in his eyes.


    As both Priestess looked at him in shock, they heard the sounds of something thundering past the door.


    With a single gesture, Rodolphe pointed down and moved to lead the way down the stairs.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ambritia looked at the head of Rodolphe, trying to wrap her head around his answer. She had to admit, that she was one of those who was starting to see the ¡®truth¡¯ of the new cult. That they had always been here. That their ancestors had evolved from creatures here, in the Forest, that the Ship was a lie. But this man, declared himself to have come from another world.


    She looked at the back of the other Priestess¡¯s head and wondered what she was thinking. She and Ambritia had long talks about the past, and she had to admit that her new beliefs came from the Priestess. But as she looked at the woman before her, a person who was always so sure of herself, she seemed lost. But that was impossible, she was always so collected! It wasn¡¯t like the fact that someone was saying she was wrong broke her! It was almost as if¡­¡­.


    Ambritia went still as suddenly so many things made sense. Little things that on their own seemed like nothing suddenly took on a darker tone. If she was right, then this woman was the worst of all Traitors! Why hadn¡¯t Ambritia had her people look into the other Priestess?! It would have taken only days for them to get back to her and she would have known everything about this wrench!


    She moved towards Krisila and looked at her, before speaking softly. ¡°Where did you run into that man?¡±


    Krisila looked at her, and Ambritia saw a spark of anger in her eyes.


    ¡°Well, after our friend''s invention blew up, he was sent to meditate below. Some of us saw someone we didn¡¯t trust going down one of these passages. We came down, ran into Cultists, and then found Rodolphe and the other two. And the General was there. And they all came out of the Devil¡¯s Realm,¡± Krisila said with a blank look on her face.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Ambritia looked at Krisila, trying to figure out what about that made her more worried. If one of the Generals was here, then she might be in trouble. One of them she had trained with before she, ¡®dropped out¡¯. The other was her brother, but he should be at the Front Line. Only one of them hadn¡¯t met her before she left, and she couldn¡¯t count on Rogix being here.


    ¡°Oh my! And where is the General now?¡± Ambritia asked as she and Krisila passed a door. So far they had only seen that door, so they had to have gone down a level. They were one floor above the ground level, and that meant that they were near the most combat. But where had all those Cultists behind them come from?


    ¡°General Rogix is below us. We¡¯re going to be using the Realms to escape,¡± Krisila said with a smirk.


    Ambritia looked at her in shock. It was all she could do to keep moving, the words reverberating in her mind. The very idea is to use the Devil¡¯s Realm as a way to evacuate. It went against everything that Ambritia knew as a fact of life here. The Realms couldn¡¯t be breached, no matter what anyone did. But there was a way into them down there?


    ¡°How?¡± She croaked out and Krisila just laughed a little.


    ¡°Three-step plan. One party left to contact anyone back at the General¡¯s camp. We leave from a viewer there, and then they crush the Cult here,¡± Krisila said with a smirk.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she looked around, she to not let her feelings show. The plan had been in the works for a year, and they hadn¡¯t known about this place!? It had only been luck that she had found the right place to hide, and now there was all this!? The plan was to make as loud a noise as possible, and then try and find out who had killed that fool. Instead, she was looking at something that would destroy the plan! And she was under watch by people who had fought off her fellows! She had to find a way to escape, but she was in a mass of bodies. And with the way her luck was going, some of them would battle awaken if she caused a scene!


    As they moved along the short corridor, she kept looking around for the door. Once they opened it she would force herself out, transform, and call for help. Once they were all here and some of the Strong ones broke through, she would kill the off-worlder herself.


    ¡°Nescalia, are you okay?¡±


    The voice of Priscixlia from behind her caused her to look up. Priscixlia was standing next to her.


    Nescalia forced a smile before she spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯m just so worried dear Priscixlia. I was here to be a healer, not go into combat! How could those monsters have even broken in?¡±


    As Priscixlia looked away, Nescalia grinned. She had been trained in mind warfare and knew how to spot pressure points. And seeing how Priscixlia reacted back at the Chapel, Nescalia knew what to say. She had to keep her off balance, she needed to keep calm.


    ¡°I have no idea. I mean I¡¯ve brought food to the guards. The plan to defend this place is beyond cutting edge. It would take some tech from the Ship to still be active to break through!¡± Priscixlia said with a wistful tone in her voice.


    Nescalia almost spoke up that the off-worlder might have it. But then remembered that thanks to the ritual, she had better hearing than her ¡®friend¡¯. So only she knew that the person coming up behind them was from off-world. And that was something that she could use. Everything was something that she could use. All for the Great Beast, it was what she was born for after all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he walked through the thirty or so people they had saved, Rodolphe scowled. This was a lot messier than any of his old raids. And then they were always against military targets, not a school! But then the fact that a base for the other side was below this place, changed a few things. He had to hope that Bryce and the others could handle it, he had other priorities and lives to save.


    ¡°But where did¡­.. not important. Are you sure you can get us away from here?¡± The Priestess who had threatened him asked.


    Rodolphe nodded before sighing. ¡°We just need to move. We¡¯re looking for everyone that we can get away. This is bad, very bad. These people infiltrated this place like pros. This is something they didn¡¯t plan for, but we can¡¯t count on it. I know what happens when people do that.¡±


    ¡°So no land of star-shine and plenty?¡± The Priestess asked with a sigh. ¡°I thought so. You¡¯re too good at this for that.¡±


    Rodolphe felt his insides twist a little. Should he talk about how he wasn¡¯t a normal deckhand? And that his skills were from before he joined the ship? That would open a can of worms that he didn¡¯t want to, and they might tell the chief when these people made contact. He didn¡¯t trust the old man, he had been around a lot. And if he knew the truth about Rodolphe, then the old man would have a lot of questions. Questions that might get Rodolphe in a lot of trouble. And worse, it might get back to its target!


    ¡°My skills aren¡¯t due to training on the ship. Long story. One I don¡¯t think we should talk about now. We have to move,¡± Rodolphe said softly but firmly.


    He could hear talks between the people he had rescued, most of them wondering what he meant. And given what he had learned about the beliefs of these people, that was a problem. The best thing was to keep his origins quiet to the common person. He only told this Priestess because they were alone, and he spoke soft enough that only they would hear. The first rule of dealing with people who had gone native is don¡¯t break them.


    He had to break where he was from carefully, but with the attack¡­¡­.. he had to get these people to safety first.


    As he passed a door they all heard the sounds of screams. To the others, it sounded like everything they had heard before, but to Rodolphe it was different. For a moment he thought he was back home on his world. It sounded like a predator pack was celebrating something. All he knew was that he had to get these people to safety fast.


    ¡°Move faster!¡± Rodolphe barked as he struggled against the tide. If he had to lead from the front, then so be it. Ahead he saw the large room within these passages, so they were safe. With luck, the others should be here and then they could plan how to get them all away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the Priestess moved after Rodolphe, she tried to keep calm. Her faith in the Way of the New had been shaken, and that was a bad thing. She had promised herself to keep her personal feelings away from her job. She was only here to help and guide the students with problems as they came to her. But to have come across a man with a strange device that said he was from another world, it made sense. But that flew against everything that she believed in. How had everything that made so much sense was suddenly so wrong!? But as she looked up, she saw someone moving around and her breath caught in her throat for a moment.


    ¡°Professor Galatrics?¡± She stammered as she realized who she was looking at.


    Galatrics looked up and smiled at her as the students behind her all let out small words of hope. The Professor was seen around the school as the teacher who was on their side the most. He always wanted to hear all sides of all arguments. That gave him a reputation for always trying to give a punishment that was needed, never more.


    ¡°Priestess, good to see you! I see my student was able to save you with Sir Rodolphe¡¯s help!¡± He said with a smile as he looked around. Seeing Rodolphe he nodded. ¡°Good, you¡¯re here. Embix and Zaglix went to go and check the route. Everyone we sent out is almost back, we¡¯re only waiting for Parcis and his friends.¡±


    The Priestess blinked as she heard the name of her backer¡¯s son. ¡°He¡¯s involved in this!?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he saw something and thought someone was going to hurt Embix. They went to stop them from what I understand. I always knew there was something more in him!¡± Galatrics said with pride in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Parcis looked around the corner, he tried to keep calm. They had made it to a room that used the special one-way glass in its windows. After getting everyone they could to the servant¡¯s corridor, they almost left. But Parcis felt the need to slip into this room to see what was happening outside in the yard.


    ¡°I¡­.. Is that who I think it is boss?¡± Cursix said in a near whisper.


    Parcis only nodded, completely in agreement with his minion. This was something that you never expected to see, like the three offworlders! One impossible thing was to be expected, but this? Looking down at who was walking into the courtyard, Parcis felt faint.


    ¡°I¡¯m hoping it¡¯s not! But who else could it be?!¡± Xacris breathed out, surprise in his voice.


    ¡°It is, that cloak is pretty unique, it¡¯s one of them,¡± Parcis croaked out as he looked through the window. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing, it was impossible! What could have happened to cause this? Those people were supposed to be protected, this was against all reason!


    ¡°What do we do? I mean what can we do!?¡± Cursix asked as they looked down at the procession entering that building.


    Xacris only shook his head as he backed away. ¡°Nothing! We saw nothing and we take that to our grave! There¡¯s no way they¡¯re ever be able to prove we saw that! And we can¡¯t even use it to our advantage! That¡¯s the worst!¡±


    While Parcis only shook his head and sighed. He knew the kind of person that he was hiring and his history. If Xacris had reacted differently, then he would have been worried. If the way his family chose people was wrong, then everything they had done would have been in doubt. The very idea that the old belief of the Capture was right, then that was bad enough.


    ¡°Are you insane?! Don¡¯t you have any loyalty at all beyond your coin!?¡± Cursix growled and Xacris only looked at him before scowling.


    ¡°Like your one to talk!¡± Xacris barked.


    Parcis ignored the drama behind him as he tried to keep calm and think. There was only one reason that they would go into that building, and that reason was very bad for them. ¡°Forget about using this, think! What is that building used for, the only thing it¡¯s used for!¡±


    At this, the other two pulled their arms away from the others and looked at the building. In a few moments, both of them slowly nodded. Then they paled as Parcis turned around and walked towards the door.


    ¡°Since you¡¯ve finally figured out what I saw in an instant, move! We have to get back to the others and tell them what we found. This means that we can¡¯t go down there!¡± Parcis said with a scowl on his face.


    ¡°Yeah, too bad. I mean¡­. Boss! Get over here!¡± Cursix barked in fear.


    Without a word, Parcis turned around. But when he saw Xacris fall backwards, a look of shocked horror on his face, he knew something had happened. With a heavy feeling in his chest, he walked over to the window and paled at what he saw.


    ¡°We gotta tell the others, now!¡± Parcis breathed out in horror.

 One Hundred Eighteen

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Kingdom/ Road Outside of Rogix''s Camp


    Galactic Standard Time / 0920


    Princess Amilisra looked out the windows of her carriage and tried to keep calm. The echoes of the battle ahead of her were unlike anything she had ever heard. Even when one of the brothers took her hunting to gain her alliance, she hadn¡¯t heard such pain. She couldn¡¯t understand just what these things were! In all the combat training she had seen or heard, this was like none of it! And all she wanted was it to be over! And to make it worse, she felt so hot. It was as if there was a ball of fire in her chest, a ball that was hotter than anything she had ever felt before. But surprisingly she wasn¡¯t sweating at all. The only thing that could show she wasn¡¯t feeling well was her breath, as she was taking in deep gulps of air.


    But as she tried to keep her breath even, she felt something new. It was as if she could hear the sounds of something, something that was fighting. There were three distant notes there, each one different. There was a calm and noble-sounding one that seemed to be growing stronger the more she listened to it. Next was a wild and somehow organized note, and it was growing softer as if moving farther away. But the last one was primal and loud and there were many of them slowly gaining strength. And there was a single larger note of the primal one, one that seemed to be close.


    It was strange, it sounded like the large one was just there, waiting for a chance to strike. The one thing that gave her pause was one single thought, just how did she know? It was as if something that looking at her, ready to take a bit out of her. It was as if she was nothing more than food for it. She didn¡¯t know what it meant, but there it was.


    ¡°Are you okay princess?¡± A voice caused her to gasp. She looked towards the voice and saw Charatrix through the window closest to her.


    ¡°Charatrix, what is it? Is this how a servant talks to their liege?¡± Amilisra asked in shock. Part of her was wondering how he had snuck up on her. She was looking away from the


    Charatrix only looked at her and shook his head, a small smile on his face. ¡°He does when it¡¯s important Princess. I suppose that your siblings have a different style of talking to their followers. Still, this battle seems to almost be over. I think we¡¯ll be able to send a messenger to the Rest soon. When the last of them die, should I find the commanding officer to give you a report?¡±


    Amilisra blinked as she was struck dumb. She had much time talking to him, and he had been content to let her operate as she had. But now he was acting as if she had given him orders to talk to her?! Her brother must have given him orders before he sent Charatrix to her. But if this was how her brother had his servants operate, she had questions. He always seemed to have a way, a coldness to him. She had seen him order servants sent to the dungeon for days at a time for speaking out of turn. But he wanted his followers to talk to him first? It didn¡¯t make sense.


    The longer she looked at him, the more those thoughts became louder. There was something here, something that was important. And that strange feeling, there was a new note. This one was almost as primal as the savage one but more organized. But there was one note that seemed to be cloaking itself so much closer. It was almost as if she could reach and touch it, but how could that be?


    ¡°Princess?¡± Charatrix asked again.


    Amilisra almost spoke but then she heard that larger new note. It gained a tone that seemed to be questioning something. It was as if whatever was making this sound¡­¡­.


    Amilisra went still at that thought. Slowly she turned her head towards Charatrix, her mind making connections. It explained everything, why Charatrix acted to what she was hearing. She couldn¡¯t explain how she did, then it made sense.


    ¡°GUARDS!! Capture Charatrix now!¡± Amilisra cried out with horror in her voice.


    Charatrix only looked at her before he grinned. ¡°I don¡¯t know what caused you to catch me, girl. But it¡¯s too late!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she killed the last insect monster, Wilmria felt a grin forming. At long last the monsters were all dead, and that meant her charge was going to be safe. Now all she had to do was get her to the Rest and everything would be perfect.


    ¡°GUARDS!! Capture Charatrix now!¡± Amilisra¡¯s voice caused Wilmria to turn, her mouth dropping open before she felt rage. Whatever Charatrix had done to get her kind and cheerful charge to scream in horror, she would kill him for it!


    But as she moved towards the carriage, the four guards near the carriage moved to do that. But before they could do anything, Charatrix reacted. He jumped up from the Riding Lizard before the guards could gen get half to him. But when he jumped up, his body started to shift and change! From his back, he grew two large blue skin wings. His arms bulged as they grew black spikes that shot out and hit all four of her men in their throats before he landed.


    ¡°NO!¡± Wilmria screamed as she forced the Power to her upper legs and ran to the coach.


    Charatrix meanwhile grabbed the door and tore it off the carriage. Before the Princess could do more than scream in horror, he grabbed her. Pumping his wings he took to the air moments before Wilmria¡¯s weapon struck where he had been.


    ¡°TRAITOR!¡± Wilmria screamed in rage as she looked right at Charatrix. Charatrix only grinned as his face grew a reptilian snout and three spikes grew on each side of it.


    ¡°NO TRAITOR HERE WHORE! MY loyalty is to the great beast! LONG live the followers!¡± Charatrix screamed as Amilisra tried to break out of his grip.


    ¡°GENERAL!¡± Amilisra screamed and Wilmria reached the couch and jumped onto the roof. She looked up at Charatrix as he flew higher and jumped after him. But right before she could grab his leg, something slammed into her. As she fell she saw just what had grabbed her. It was a human with feathered arms, and it took a moment for her to realize what this wrench was. With a single thought, she broke free and slashed out with her weapon, killing the winged freak. She did so by cutting it in two from shoulder to waist.


    Landing she heard cries of shock and fear. Cries of anger and rage caused her to look back to the camp and see strange-looking humanoids attacking. There were two more flyers and five strange insect-like ones, all screaming as they charged. To her shock, there were only five of them all together. But then she knew, this was only a distraction!


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Whatever these things were, all they wanted was to keep her away from the Princess! She looked up as the spy flew his captive into the Devil¡¯s Realm through a window. She looked at it, trying to figure out how to follow when she saw something that took her breath away.


    At the base of the Realm, a few feet up a door was opening! It was set against the wall so fine, she hadn¡¯t seen it. She had to wonder just how this was possible as the door opened, but then she saw who was opening it. A soldier from Rogix¡¯s army, and by his look he was a veteran. He looked around but then he heard something and she charged.


    He looked at her and stared, shocked and partially horrified. ¡°General Wilmria! Ma¡¯am! Your orders?¡±


    Wilmria only glared at him. ¡°That thing kidnaped the Princes Amilisra. Either help me or get out of my way!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked away from the dead body and moved his hand towards his pack. Pulling out a small dagger, he turned as he heard a girl¡¯s scream. As a creature with leathery back wings flew through an open window, he reacted. Without waiting, he threw it right at the thing¡¯s arm, acting as if he wanted to free its captive.


    ¡°HA!¡± The creature cried as the knife sank into its arm. It didn¡¯t react, only grinned at them as the girl tried to break free. It flew past him and looked at him, and Zane saw the evil in its gaze. In an instant, it was gone, flying away into the Ruin passages. The one thing that Zane could think of, was this meant the Beast Cult had mapped this place.


    But what the creature didn¡¯t know, was the dagger wasn¡¯t meant to wound. Instead, the dagger injected a particular strain of nanobots into the wound. For the next year, he would be able to hunt that thing. Already a strain of his nanites was tracking its path. And as he watched the path the flyer was taking, he was so glad that the range was thirty miles. But the path that the nanites left would last for five hours, and that was enough for him to track this monster down! But where had that thing come from? Feeling a sinking feeling, he ran for the windows and saw the carnage down there. He turned around and saw Ulistix was staring into space.


    Zane had only walked half the way to him when he reacted and looked at Zane.


    ¡°What was that!? One of the Beat Cult!? Who was in its arms?¡± Ulistix breathed in horror.


    Zane was about to say something before he saw a woman holding a spear thunder out of the door Cadritic opened.


    ¡°Where is that thing!?¡± The woman roared as Cadritic came out behind her.


    Zane heard Karltics and Ulistix gasp in surprise.


    Ulistix gasped. ¡°General Wilmria!? What are you doing¡­.. Wait, Princess!?¡±


    ¡°That was one of the Princesses!? No, no! She was too small! That would have to be¡­..!¡± Karltics said before he trailed off, shock in his voice.


    ¡°That was Princess Amilisra!? What was she doing here?!¡± Cadritic demanded and the woman looked around, trying to finder


    Wilmria only looked around, but when she saw the broken wall she stared in horror at it and the dying organic mass. ¡°What hell of the Devil¡¯s is this!? Is she lost in there!?¡±


    ¡°No, I can track her! But we¡¯ve got to move now!¡± Zane said as he moved towards the gap.


    ¡°You can¡­..Wait! who are you!?¡± Wilmria demanded and Zane looked at her with a scowl.


    ¡°You want to know who I am? Fine!¡± Zane snarled as he walked towards her. ¡°I¡¯m Zane, I¡¯m a survivor! Last free son of my world! I¡¯m an interstellar pilot, I can park a fighter on a credit! And I¡¯m the man that will lead you to your princess if you follow me now!¡±


    Wilmria looked at him and saluted, a look of shock on her face. ¡°Yes, General!¡±


    ¡°Good! Karltics, with us! Ulistix, Cadritic, stay here! Help the others down there! Cadritic, go close the door down there, and then check that corridor for more eggs!¡± Zane commanded and the others all saluted him.


    After he gave them a nod, Zane turned and ran into the corridors of the Ruin, Wilmria, and Karltics on his six. He could only hope that the sinking feeling he was getting had nothing to do with something he couldn¡¯t see yet. All he knew, was this was going to be very bad for them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Cadritic watched them go and then shook his head. Part of him wanted to go after them, but he knew the score. The smaller the team was, the faster they could go. And with those three? They¡¯d reach the Princess faster than he could. He nodded to Ulistix as he moved towards the other corridor.


    ¡°Already closed the door downstairs then?¡± Ulistix asked as he dashed to the window, aimed out it, and started to fire.


    ¡°Right after she came through. And I¡¯ll handle this.....¡± Cadritic said as he stared into the eyes of a red insect monster as tall as he was. Before it even opened its mouth, Cadritic swung his sword and killed it. ¡°BUGS!¡±


    Three more stood behind the first one, and as it fell they screeched. Cadritic started to fall back as Ulistix turned and fired, killing two of them with shots to the head. As the third one came at him, Cadritic dodged the blow and cut off its right arm. As it screeched in anger, he drove his blade into its head.


    ¡°How many of those things are there!?¡± Ulistix bellowed as he fired at the first of four more of them as they came out. ¡°Don¡¯t think we¡¯ll be able to follow his orders now!¡±


    Cadritic only grinned as his blood started to burn. This was another reason why he was a terrible leader, he had to be at the tip. The times when he could kill and slay, that was something that he couldn¡¯t ever deny. But as four more of the insect monsters joined the first batch, he thought this might be his final stand.


    But then there was a screech as four of the Beast Cult¡¯s flyers charged through a window. In their claws were a single Insect Humanoid and they landed and looked at the two soldiers. But before they could attack, the Insect monsters struck from behind. In moments attacked the Beast Cultists, Cadritic could only stare in shock. Moving backwards as the monsters and Cultists fought, he felt himself grin.


    ¡°Come on man!¡± Ulistix called out and Cadritic saw him at the door to the staircase, firing at the Insect Monsters.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve got a plan?¡± Cadritic asked with a hard tone.


    ¡°Get the door opened down there, get all the help we can, and then get them to the others and hold the other galley. Best idea I could come up with, got a better one?¡± Ulistix asked as he fired again, this time saving one of the Beast Cultists. Before it could do more than look at him he fired again, this time through the Beats Cultists''s head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll guard the back, good luck getting help,¡± Cadritic said as he nodded. While he moved backwards, he thought he saw a glint near the far wall just beyond the gap in the wall.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Alert, Alert!


    Class Three Bioweapon Discovered in Old Abandoned Sector


    Possibly sources,


    Trojan or Sealed


    Damage to Facilities


    Bioweapon in combat with Templates, Changing Templates


    Sending Message to Command.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Wilmria ran after Zane, she tried to keep from thinking about him. She couldn¡¯t believe it, he said he was an off-worlder! That was impossible, but here he was. That strange weapon that he wielded, the way that they were tracking the Princess. Altogether it was unlike anything that she could believe was possible. But how had he even gotten here? Was he the first ones were, captured by the Devils? But how had they escaped if they had? And why was he even here?


    As they ran along the hallway, Wilmria noticed that things had started to change. The doors looked old, and there were marks on them. But when they turned a corner they saw something that took her breath away.


    Ahead of them were the broken remains of metal things. There were arms made of metal painted either silver, white, or black all over. And most of them were connected to bodies that were just basic shapes. And only a few of the black ones had legs, the rest had smooth metal on the bottoms. And the size! Most of the bodies had to be over five feet tall at least! And they were in piles that went so high they almost touched the ceiling. There was a small path through them, and to Wilmria it was a perfect bottleneck.


    But the most shocking to her was that every few piles had ¡®bodies¡¯ torn open. They were torn open and it looked like things were torn from them. One look told her that any number of Scholars would give anything to study them. It might be impossible for any of them to even figure out how they were powered, but they would try. But she knew just what the Nobles would order this metal to be used for.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Karltics asked in horror. ¡°Some kind of battle?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it kid. But I can¡¯t tell where the sides came from. Weird, but this is a Ruin after all,¡± Zane muttered as he led the way through the bodies. ¡°But this looks like they were salvaging something here, but why?¡±


    ¡°The metal. We sometimes find material like this buried in the dirt. We melt it for a few days and it becomes the perfect material for weapons. And because there are so few of them, just having inherited one is a great honor. And all this? If someone found this they would become a noble for sure,¡± Wilmria said as they walked along the path. ¡°Just one of those ¡®fingers¡¯ would set a peasant family for five generations.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­ wait! Ruin?¡± Karltics demanded


    Zane just sighed, and to Wilmria¡¯s eyes, he seemed to be embarrassed.


    Zane looked around before sighing and shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s the term for places made by the race that built this. Sometimes these are found on planets and they can do amazing things! But they were always found a lot more destroyed than this one. And well¡­¡­..the Federation supposedly hides a lot more they don¡¯t tell people about.¡±


    Wilmria looked at him in shock, and then she shook her head. The fact that places like this strange building had been found out there in the Lost Stars was shocking. That this one was more than the others, that was worrying. And the way he stopped talking about how that bothered her. For all¡­.. she stopped. She looked at him for a second and then she nodded. He was hiding something about her home, and that was very worrying.


    A scream from ahead of them caused her to look up, and with a growl, she gripped her spear. With what was coming at them, it was time for another battle!

 Chapter One hundred Nineteen

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Followers of the Great Beast[Beast Cult] Complex


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Zezill slashed through the neck of one of the strange insect humanoids, he looked around. The others were holding their own, but the enemy was uncountable. They dealt with a room of them and more came at them. He couldn¡¯t understand, just where were these things coming from!? These strange foes had the ones that they fought at the Battle Line, but how was that possible? He knew what the stories said, the ones they fought wanted the deaths of the Tribe for being different. So how could these things fight with other beings? It didn¡¯t make sense!


    Looking around, he saw the others panting heavily as they stood above the corpses of their foes. Some of the warriors had blood dying on their fur that they all ignored. He saw Guricall pulling one of his daggers free from the eye socket of one of the Insect things.


    ¡°Take a breather, everyone. We move onto the next room in a few minutes,¡± Zezill said softly as he sank to the ground. As the others all cried out in relief, Zezill eyed Guricall who nodded. He knew what his friend meant, and they all needed to rest. The only advantage he had was that the Power still burned within him. He had laughed but now he knew the truth, even when he was resting the Power was making him better. He could feel his strength returning as the Power stayed at the same heat level.


    A roar from one of the giant things came from the door deeper in and stopped his thoughts. Zezill could only growl as he felt his rage start to rise. Looking up he saw one of the giant ones thunder into the room holding an Axe high. It looked at him as it thundered towards him. When it was five feet away from him, Zezill reacted. In a moment, he was behind the creature and flicked blood off his sword. Behind the creature roared in pain as its hands fell, having been sliced off by Zezill as he moved.


    Zezill turned around and looked at the others, all of them staring in shock. For a moment Zezill almost opened his mouth be then he realized just what he had done. He felt that the heat of his Power was low, but it slowly grew hotter. With a small smirk, he thought of what he had done and within an instant, he was by the door they hadn¡¯t come through. As his smirk grew wider, he looked at the others as Guricall just started to laugh.


    ¡°Always have to be that kit, didn¡¯t you brother? Well, that¡¯s enough rest for now! Can¡¯t let you get that much farther ahead than me!¡± Guricall said as he got back to his feet. For a second he almost fell back down but he gathered his strength. ¡°I¡¯M NOT DONE! I¡¯m still going to keep going!¡±


    Zezill was about to speak up when a blazing crimson aura exploded around Guricall. For a moment he was just shocked, but then Zezill grinned. ¡°So you plan that brother? Gain your Power with a speech?¡±


    Guricall blinked before he slowly looked down at his hands.


    Zezill only laughed as he saw his friend¡¯s mouth drop open in shock. Zezill had to admit, that he was feeling the same. The Tribe always talked about how it was next to impossible to awaken the Power on your own, but here they were. Both of them had the Power, and it seemed like it was a gift from the Dead Makers!


    His eyes went still as a strange and possible thing passed through his mind. If that was what this was, then he could never tell. It would be so disrespectful, and some of the Elders would want to do it!


    ¡°I feel amazing! Was this how it felt with you?¡± Guricall asked with a grin.


    Zezill only laughed and shook his head, happy that his friend had gained this might. It would be the perfect thing. They could do so much more now.


    ¡°Maybe. Are you feeling that gift? How your strength is coming back?¡± Zezill asked as he laughed. He looked at the door ahead of them, and he tried to find any scent that told them they were on the right path.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡­ amazing. I mean¡­.wait! This is how those with the Power were always able to outlast us in training!?¡± Guricall asked with a scowl.


    Zezill looked up and nodded, a foul look on his muzzle. ¡°I think so, my friend. I mean it makes sense. Can¡¯t have your new deltas thinking their alphas.¡±


    Zezill figured that plan was made a long time ago. With how Harill acted, he probably hoped that some of them would win. The truth was probably kept from him. And who knows what secrets were kept from the rest of the Tribe? And why? Somehow, he was sure that if he ever found out the answer, then he would just want to do one thing. Take out those who led his Tribe. What other secrets were they hiding?


    Suddenly he felt a shiver go down his body as the worst idea ever appeared in his mind. Then he felt such rage he almost vibrated in place. If he found his thought was true, then he would kill them all!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Guricall looked into the darkness as the others all got back to their feet. Even feeling the new Power he gained, he didn¡¯t feel like this was a fight they would win. The enemy¡­. They just keep coming! The group had been able to kill them so far, but what if there were worse within? He didn¡¯t want to let Nyllia die, but they were up against the near impossible! The Tribe had to know about these things. If they could travel these paths, then that was such a security risk. If the tribe was attacked from these paths, they would have no defense. Son many of their people would die, there was nothing that they could do to move fast enough to defend.


    But then he caught a scent that caused him to stop and take another sniff. There. That was Nyllia. So she had been pulled this way after all. And there were more scents with her, others had gone this way. This path must have been used a lot, and recently too. Whatever this was, it might be near their barracks. That would explain a lot, and it might be the reason for the numbers. Well, they were in too deep anyway by what he smelled. Time to be a hero then.


    ¡°There she is bro. You got her scent right?¡± Guricall said and as he heard Zezill take a deep breath, he forced back a sigh.


    ¡°Yeah, and the others. We¡¯ve got one chance, we need to kill fast and move on. We can¡¯t do anything else¡­.. do you hear that!?¡± Zezill asked with a scowl.


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    Guricall looked around, trying to catch what his friend had. He had heard that those with the Power were just better. He had thought it was boasting, but now he wasn¡¯t so sure. After all, how then was he able to smell Nyllia¡¯s scent before Zezill? But then how had he heard something that Guricall couldn¡¯t?


    ¡°No, what does it sound like?¡± Guricall asked. Part of him didn¡¯t want to know.


    Zezzil looked at him as the others gathered around him. With a scowl on his face, he looked over his shoulder at the group. ¡°Drums and chanting.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Nyllia moaned softly as she fought her way back to the waken world. For a moment she didn¡¯t understand where she was, and why she couldn¡¯t move. Then she did as everything snapped back to her. Those things that attacked them, they had kidnapped her! She remembered seeing Harill attack some of them, but then she blacked out.


    She opened her eyes and moved them around, and as she did she started to feel fear. She was in a large chamber, at least more than two hundred feet wide and long. She was on a platform, and ahead of her was a large pit that went down beyond her sight. The pit had to be a good fifty feet around, and there was a large door with a strange slim, and long creature on it. She had never seen anything like it before, but just looking at it made her feel fear. She tried to move but she was tied tightly, and she could feel something holding her up.


    Then she realized that she was hearing a loud rhythm, like many drums. Her eyes went around the room and she saw something to her right. There were twenty of the large bulky figures, all dressed in large robes. They were in two rows, each one before a large drum and they were beating them with black hammers.


    A small strange sound next to her caused her to look and notice that there were two figures next to her. Both looked like the enemy, but they were so young! They had to be children, what was this!? One of them smelled like a male and was in a full-body outfit with a mask on. She couldn¡¯t tell anything more about him, but he smelled like he had the Power! And to her horror, she saw that like her he was tied by ropes. She saw that the ropes were connected to a piece of wood connected to a post, and that explained why she couldn''t move.


    Beyond him was a girl with jade hair, dressed in a simple-looking smock hanging from a pole like them. She had scents, scents that smelled like the others in the chamber. She couldn¡¯t understand, what this was meant to be. These strange figures weren¡¯t the Enemy, they couldn¡¯t be. The girl told her that much. These must be other beings that fought the Enemy. She must have been captured, but what was happening?


    But then the drums went silent. She looked up and saw a basic humanoid figure walking down the rows. But to her shock, the figure was one of the Enemy! Just what was this?!


    As the figure stood there, he started to speak the Enemy''s strange tongue. The more this continued, the more she couldn¡¯t understand what was happening.


    But then she heard a loud scream, as if from a maw come from behind her. The way that the speaker stopped, something had happened. All she could hope for was that this keep them from moving along with whatever this was. The more time to figure out what was happening, the more time to get free.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zezill ran along the corridor, he tried to keep calm. His thought from before was still in his mind, and he couldn¡¯t get it to die. The very idea was against everything that he ever believed in! How could any being or beings do that!?


    ¡°You okay bro?¡± Guricall¡¯s voice caused Zezill to look at him. He blinked as he looked at Guricall for a few moments before he shook his head.


    ¡°Yeah, I am. I was just lost in thought. Bad habit, ya?¡± Zezill asked as he looked ahead. He had to keep in the game, he couldn¡¯t let his focus shift. He had to save his friend, and then he could deal with what he figured out.


    ¡°Must be something big bro. Gonna tell me?¡± Guricall asked and Zezill only laughed.


    ¡°Keep your focus on this. You don¡¯t want to know my problems right now,¡± Zezill said as he looked ahead at a door. The scents that came from it showed that Nyllia had been carried this way, and that was enough. Once they had her, they could escape and find a place to hide with the others. Then he, Guricall, and Nyllia could use their Power to break through the birds making a nest in that chamber. Then they could go home and show the Tribe what they had learned, and he would even use the Honor Duel to get them to listen.


    But then to his horror, the door opened while the group was ten feet away. From the open door out came five members of the Enemy. Each one was wearing a purple robe and they looked at the group like they were ants.


    ¡°What are they doing here!? Are they allies with the monster people?!¡± A warrior hissed in confusion.


    Zezill could only nod his head, not understanding this. But this made his theory that much more possible, and he hated that he was happy about that! But if it was true, then maybe they could talk to these ones. All they wanted was to get their friend, and then they and their allies could do whatever they wanted.


    ¡°Anyone knows how to talk their tongue guys?¡± Guricall asked, his voice having a note of humor in it.


    But before they could even try to say anything, the Enemy figure¡¯s bodies started to shift. As they watched the five figures became more the Bulky ones.


    ¡°What fresh horror is this!?¡± Guricall stammered as the Bulky figures ran at them.


    Without a word, Zezill shot forward, a green aura forming around him. He jumped at the first one and only the question of Nyllia was beyond them kept his Power leashed.


    The Bulky figure roared and stung its arms at him but he jumped over them slashed. His blade cut deep into the Bulky figure¡¯s neck and blood gushed out. As the first figure tried to stop the bleeding, Guricall was there.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Guricall only grinned as his knife shot into the Bulky figure¡¯s right eye, sinking deep into the organ. He felt it hit something and as the Bulky figure¡¯s other eye went milky, he pulled his blade free. As the body fell forward, he pushed off it, flying through the air towards the wall. He looked and saw Zezill slashing another of the Bulky figure¡¯s throats. He didn¡¯t was a moment, as soon as he hit the wall, Guricall pushed off it. He flew towards another of the Bulky figures, it saw him coming. It was locked in place, and it could only try to block Guricall. But Guricall twisted and called up his aura, the crimson blaze ignited. He could feel his knife heat up and he smirked as he cut through the Bulky figure¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Two!¡± Guricall called out as he landed on the ground. The two Bulky corpses were behind him, and the others were charging to join the battle.


    ¡°Just two!? How¡¯d that happen? I mean I killed two and there are two left!¡± Zezill said with a grin in his voice.


    ¡°We shared a kill. That one was stopping the blood,¡± Guricall said with a laugh.


    As the last two of the Bulky figures looked at them, Guricall thought he saw something in their eyes for a moment. They charged forward at the two Felines as other screams came from the door to their right. But that was for later, for now, they had to handle these two.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got right, you¡¯ve got left!¡± Zezill called out as he ran in front of Guricall.


    Guricall followed after him, aiming at the other one. There was nothing that would stop them from saving their friend, nothing that could stop them.


    As he ducked under the blow of his target, he stabbed upwards with his dagger. It sank into the arm before swinging up towards the Bulky figure¡¯s face! As he pulled free his other dagger, he locked eyes with his foes and saw nothing but animalist rage in them. He almost stopped but he stabbed forward and slammed his dagger into the creature¡¯s right eye.


    Beside him, Zezill had cut off his target¡¯s head. As the blood squirted up out of the stump, Zezill jumped backward and landed on the ground facing the new door.


    ¡°Always have to finish with style, don¡¯t you bro?¡± Guricall said, shaking his head.


    ¡°What? If you do something, end it with your mark,¡± Zezill said with a grin as the others came up behind them.


    Looking at the door, Guricall felt something. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but there was something beyond that door that bothered him. He almost said something before suddenly, white thin things shot out from it! In seconds every one of the Felines was covered in it, and to his horror, Guricall fell to the ground. He heard Zezill roar and the sounds of him breaking free as another of the Bulky figures thundered out of the door. This one was holding a large war hammer in its hands while wearing a purple robe. It slammed into Zezill and sent him flying down the corridor.


    From the doorway came five of the insect-like figures and a new horror. This thing was a humanoid with a spider''s lower body. Its humanoid body was sticking forward and it was covered in black chitin. Its hands ended in two four-fingered claws. Its head had a line of multifaceted eyes below a maw that had wisps of the white stuff around the Felines in it.


    As he watched, Guricall saw one of the Insect figures raise its claws around the body of one of the other Felines. In a second he realized what it meant to do and he reacted, feeling the warmth within him calling out to him.


    ¡°NO!¡± Guricall bellowed as a red aura formed around him. As the webs were burned away, Guricall only looked at the creatures. With a yell, a storm of red darts flew out from his aura, striking the figures. When each dart hit, there was a small explosion of flames and heat, explosions that slowly killed them all.


    Guricall fell to the ground, panting as he felt such cold within him. For a second all he could do was keep breathing, waiting for the warmth to return. Once he could look around, he stared in shock.


    He had killed all of their foes. All the beings were dead, and the others looked at him in shock. He started to shrink down when they all started to cheer him softly.


    Zezill only looked at the corpses for a moment before he looked at Guricall, smirking. ¡°So bro? Got enough Power left to help me get the others down?¡±


    Guricall only laughed a little and shook his head. ¡°What? Mr. Style needs some help from me to finish this?¡±


    ¡°What can I say,¡± Zezill said with a smirk as he grabbed the white stuff around one of the others and started to pull. ¡°I want to spread the work around the group.¡±

 Chapter One hundred Twenty

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Outside Cult Doorwaay


    Galactic Standard Time / 0930


    ¡°Do we go down that way general?¡± One of his men asked Rogix.


    Rogix stayed silent, looking down the passage. He couldn¡¯t believe that someone or something else was fighting the Beast Cult, here and now. It seemed too much of a chance for it to happen now. All he knew, was that if everything he could feel was telling him no, this wasn¡¯t the right way. The best thing to do was move away and leave this to later.


    Finally, as Rogix looked down the passageway, he decided to trust his gut. And it was also telling him that trouble would come if they stayed here. ¡°No, we go that way.¡±


    Bryce nodded as he looked at the other corridor. ¡°I agree. Whoever is down there might be friends, or they might not. Best to find out what this place is first.¡±


    Rogix only nodded, and after a moment he led the way along the corridor. Looking at the walls, he tried and failed to keep the revulsion he felt down. All around them were tapestries with the same creature that the door was made to look like. He looked at the beast depicted and shook his head. He had never seen anything like that, even in the fragments of the Kingdom from the Past before the Capture. The more he looked at it, the more he felt he was looking at something alive. He didn¡¯t want to know what this thing was, and he hoped he never saw anything like it.


    ¡°So, how bad is all this?¡± Bryce asked quietly from Rogix¡¯s left.


    ¡°What?¡± Rogix asked in shock.


    Bryce only sighed and looked around. ¡°How bad was it that these ¡®people¡¯ had a base beneath this Rest place?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that. Bad, really bad. This place is one of the few that the Scholars are trained at. They function as advisors, the people who make our weapons and heal us. The Rest is more for the creation of the new. But the others? If they all like this, then who can we trust?¡± Rogix asked quietly. And he thought that he was underselling the problems ahead of them. The Scholars were a fact of life among the Kingdom, teachers, and healers. They were all neutral, and they were trusted all over. But the Beast Cult had been able to infiltrate them? How?


    ¡°I can understand that a lot better than you can know. I had a time in my past when I discovered I couldn¡¯t trust those who raised me. You¡¯ll be stronger at the end of this,¡± Bryce said softly.


    He looked at Bryce and tried to keep the questions off his face. The man and his friends were a strange bunch. But then they were from the homeworlds, and Rogix¡¯s people had been stuck here for centuries. There were bound to be a few changes that happened over the years with both groups.


    ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ll always trust my Teacher, but then how many others like him are there really? Was he the normal one or the odd one of the Scholars?¡± Rogix muttered and shook his head before looking at one of the tapestries in anger. It was of the same creature, only now there were people on their knees before it with their heads down.


    For a second he blinked then he looked at the next one. It showed people of the same general outline of the kneelers moving towards a city. ¡°This, this is their history, how they remember it!¡±


    As the others took in Rogix¡¯s words, he stared at the tapestry, his anger slowly building alongside his Power. He couldn¡¯t believe this, he just couldn¡¯t! Those slime were going to paint themselves as the victims, he just knew it!


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s interesting,¡± Bryce said from behind them.


    Rogix turned and saw Bryce looking at the wall behind them. This one had another tapestry on it. And this one showed the humanoid figures fighting the creature, and one of them being eaten.


    ¡°What is this? Their hell?!¡± Rogix demanded anger in his voice.


    ¡°I think this is how they see their history, you were right about that. Maybe.¡± Bryce said as he looked along the corridor.


    ¡°But what does this mean?! We¡¯ve never seen that thing in any part of the Realm!¡± Rogix demanded.


    Bryce just nodded. ¡°Yes, your realm. I wonder if this cult found a way into the Inner Ruins before they attacked you all. That would change things.¡±


    Rogix looked at Bryce, trying to understand what the man meant. He just couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying, weren¡¯t all the realms the same? Like the one they had broken into, the one where their Enemy lived?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce looked at the artwork on the wall and tried to think. He had seen and heard of a lot of strange aliens at the School. Some of them were sentient, some weren¡¯t. Some of the Federation had or were uplifting, and some that they had quarantined. The reasons why were worlds varied, but one that was basically one organism through a true hive mind came to him. He nodded as he walked farther along the corridor, looking from one piece of art to another.


    ¡°Wait, what are you talking about!?¡± Rogix demanded.


    Bryce sighed and looked back at Rogix. ¡°When the Builders were alive they used this to breed creatures to fight for them. Each and every realm? Nothing but cages to try out new patterns of life they made.¡±


    ¡°What?! But our people! Are you saying we were brought here to be targets for living weapons!?¡± Rogix demanded.


    ¡°Yeah¡­.¡± Bryce said softly. ¡°We found a recording of a monster attacking captives in a forest.¡±


    ¡°What!? Oh, by the Forest!¡± Rogix declared horror in his voice. The others who had been listening to Bryce had similar reactions. Bryce cursed himself for even saying that much, but they had to know. If this was telling the truth, then they might be in so much danger! He scowled as he looked at the others and heard their conversations. He took a deep breath and sighed, shaking his head.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Relax, I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll happen to you guys. I¡¯m guessing that the Builders died out long before this place caught your ship. I think that the computer had an order to collect Test Subjects that stayed active. And still is,¡± Bryce said softly as he looked at the artwork he had stopped by. He stared at the tapestry as Rogix tried to understand what Bryce meant.


    ¡°But what does another Realm have to do with that monster!?¡± Rogix demanded


    ¡°Do you people have lakes?¡± Bryce asked and Rogix nodded.


    ¡°Yes, not many but some. But what do you mean?¡±Rogix demanded.


    Bryce eyed him and shook his head, sighing as he turned his head. ¡°An ocean is a Lake the size of a realm, and over a few hundred miles deep in some places. And in the water, life can be as big as it wants. And it has very little limits on what it looks like.¡±


    ¡°That¡­.. that could be real!?¡± Rogix croaked out, horror in his voice.


    Bryce nodded as he looked down the corridor. ¡°Yes, and if I¡¯m not wrong we¡¯ll find out more about this place down there.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Rogix asked, looking all around at the artwork.


    ¡°If they''re telling their story as you move? Then something important must be at the end,¡± Bryce said as he walked forward, his bowered sword in hand. He didn¡¯t wait for the others, he just kept his eyes roaming, looking at the art on the walls. The way it was set up captives from each battle were fed to this beast. When they didn¡¯t have others, the sacrifices were drawn from the civilian population. The time they didn¡¯t have enough food to give, it took some of the fighters. That was when things changed when the battles started to turn against the Cult. After that happened, the Cult scattered.


    ¡°This battle, was it important?¡± Bryce asked as he pointed at the art outside a door. They had reached the end of the hallway, and Bryce looked at Rogix waiting for an answer. The art showed the Cult defending a structure, the structure being attacked. The attackers were just five figures wielding what looked like five elements.


    ¡°The Last Battle of the Uprising. Where the Generals of Fire, Ice, Wind, Earth, and Thunder led their armies in battle together. That was the turning point for us, the one battle that broke them. At least, that¡¯s what we thought,¡± Rogix said softly.


    Bryce looked at the other side of the corridor. Unlike the rest, there was nothing on this wall. ¡°The story must continue beyond this place. Beyond this is what happened to them after their war.¡±


    Rogix said nothing, only looking at the tapestry for a few moments. Then he looked at the door and scowled, gripping his axe tighter. ¡°Yeah, I think you¡¯re right. Let¡¯s find out what happened to these bastards. Let¡¯s see how they survived their would-be death!¡±


    Bryce nodded and slowly grabbed the door¡¯s handle. Moving it slowly, he heard the tumblers move. ¡°Door¡¯s open, let¡¯s find out. Break in and secure? I¡¯ve got forward.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle right, my men will hand left,¡± Rogix declared.


    Bryce only nodded and pushed the door open in a rush.


    ¡°YEEEEEEALLLLAA!¡± Bryce yelled as he ran in, his pistol and browed sword ready for anything.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rogix ran after Bryce and turned right as he ran into the room. They had found a large chamber, at least a hundred feet wide and round. All over the walls were tapestries like outside. He didn¡¯t have a chance to see them, but what bothered him was what was in the center. Turning to look at them was a force of five Bulky figures, each one holding a hammer. They also had strange-looking leather armor over their frames, and each was colored black.


    Behind them were two human cultists and eight Insect figures, all in purple robes.


    Bryce was running straight at the Bulky figures, and as he ran he fired his strange weapon.


    A bolt flew at one of the Bulky figures who raised its hammer and blocked the shot.


    Right there, Rogix knew that he had to handle the big ones, the others had to handle the rest.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got the big ones!¡± Rogix bellowed as he ran right at the large figures.


    ¡°Kill the pagans!¡± One of the human cultists bellowed in anger. With that cry, the insects ran at Bryce as the Bulky figures turned to deal with him before the insects got to him.


    ¡°Dodge Bryce!¡± Rogix bellowed before he spent some of his Power and glowed yellow. With a mighty roar, he slammed down his axe, and it sent a bolt of electricity at all the Cultists.


    Bryce jumped at one of the Bulky figures, and once he hit the figure tried to grab him. But before that happened, Bryce pushed off and flew through the air in an arc.


    The blast that Rogix sent hit one of the Bulky figures a second after Bryce was away and exploded. The blast caused the Bulky figures and two of the Insects to scream in pain.


    Rogix had been in enough battles not to think that his attack had killed them, but he hoped he got some of them. As the blast cleared he saw each of the Bulky figures was still standing to his shock. But as he looked closer, he saw that the one that had first been hit was staggering. Plus the two insect figures were on the ground, smoke floating up from their bodies.


    He grinned as he started to run, and he saw Bryce and his men rushing at the other Insect Figures.


    With a roar Rogix jumped at the first of the Bulky Figures, his axe coated in his Power. He slashed the Bulky Figure down the middle, and the body fell apart in two segments. Rogix jumped away before the blood rushed out of the remains, coating the ground. The other Bulky Figures roared and charged at him. But then Rogix slammed the head of his axe into the ground and a small burst of electricity shot out. The burst hit the blood, and it was carried to the first two Bulky Figures that touched the blood.


    They roared in pain and after a moment Rogix let the Power fall away from his axe. He saw one of the figures fall to the ground, its body smoking. This left him to deal with three of the Bulky figures, and each one was mad at him. With a savage smile, he looked at them and made a come hither motion with his right hand.


    The three Bulky Figures roared and charged at him, their weapons raised to strike.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Icotrix looked at the attackers and grinned. This was perfect! They had to be warriors from the Kingdom, and that changed a lot of things. When he had gone this way, the last thing he had expected was to run into Cult Members. He had been able to spin a lie about how he was here to represent the guards at the ceremony and the leader here had eaten it up. He had spent the last half an hour talking about how he was very important at this temple. How he had chosen the sacrifice from their own. It had taken all Icotrix had to keep from transforming and killing this scum. But his will had won out, and the fact that he wouldn¡¯t save his sister had stayed his hand. But he was planning how to make this scum pay, then the door had been breached.


    He had been able to recognize the Thunder General, and that made him feel so happy. The fact that he had to be leading from the front meant that his army was behind him. He had to talk to him and get his help to take down the Cult. Together with his intel, this time the Cult would die completely to the Five Generals. But how could he prove he was on their side?


    ¡°How did these Paganss get here?! What happened to guards!?¡± The scum next to him cried out in fear.


    Icotrix blinked and looked at the scum, a smile forming on his face. Ask a stupid question, and get a wonderful answer. This just showed that sometimes, the universe did look out for those who waited.


    ¡°Maybe those Feline creatures that killed the outpost killed them? No, they went to the other entrance to the grand chamber through the reinforcements. Still, that was luck,¡± Icotrix said with a grin.


    ¡°Wait, what?! Sir, what are you¡­¡­ugh,¡± The scum said before he fell to the ground.


    Icotrix had slammed his hand onto the man¡¯s head, changing it as it moved. Now his hand and arm was a bulky-looking arm covered in red chitin. The chitin fell away as his arm slimed and he looked at the battle. So far the soldiers and what must be Rogix¡¯s apprentice were holding their own. The fact that they were still all alive said something about their training. He looked at Rogix, fighting the three Bulky Figures and he nodded. ¡°Yes, that looks like the right move. And I better not change into one of them. Best to try one of my originals I think, that might make them talk to me if I fight on their side.¡±


    He took a step forward and gazed into his library of forms. Without a single word, he found what he was looking for and grinned as he felt his flesh shift and ripple. As his clothing started to bulge up, he looked at the battle between Rogix and the Bulky figures. He felt his blood surge, ready for battle and he hoped that Rogix would listen.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he slashed at one of the remaining Bulky Figures, Rogix kept an eye on the others. They were coming up from both sides, trying to get him between them. With a smirk, he waited for them to get closer, ready to jump away. But then a roar sounded as something barreled into one of them. He was able to see what looked like black scales under the remains of a purple robe. But then the Bulky one he was fighting roared and slammed down its hammer at him.


    With a single thought, he felt his Power activate before he felt himself teleport upwards. In the air, he was able to see the new creature. It was a bit taller than a normal man and had two wings on its back. It did have black scales, all over its body. It had a small muzzle on its face, and it opened its mouth to breathe fire at the Bulky one it was holding down.


    ¡°Enemy of the enemy, hu?¡± Rogix muttered before he started to fall. He looked down, aimed at the Bulky figure he was fighting, and roared. The Bulky figure looked up and it was met with Rogix¡¯s axe to its face!


    As he pulled his axe free once he landed, he looked up as the last Bulky figure moved took a step back, and looked around.


    Raising his axe, he moved the head a bit to look around. He saw Bryce kill the last one of the insect figures and his men moved towards the door deeper in. The final Bulky figure ran, not deeper in but towards the door the party had come from. Before it had taken more than five feet, two bolts from Bryce¡¯s weapon hit its knees. As it stumbled, Rogix ran at it.


    The Bulky figure turned and seemed to inflate to double its size before it released a blast of air. Rogix felt the wind push him back a few feet, and then something shot by him. He saw it was the scaled creature and it was running on all fours, its wings down along the ground. As soon as the wind died down, the scaled being rose to its legs and roared.


    The Bulky figure staggered back, and then the scaled figure was on the Bulky one. The scaled figure slashed out with its hands and tore off the Bulky figure¡¯s right eye. As the Bulky figure screeched in pain, the scaled figure slashed out at its neck. As the blood gushed out of the wound, the scaled figure moved away from the body.


    Rogix looked at the scaled figure, taking note of its black eyes. He stepped back as the scaled figure¡¯s skin started to ripple and change. Rogix only stared and wondered just what this would mean, what this being''s intentions were.

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty One

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Outside Cult Doorwaay


    Galactic Standard Time / 0945


    As Bryce looked on the scaled figure started to change. He had killed the last of the insect figures and looked towards Rogix. Seeing him looking at the figure but not moving, Bryce moved his sword down.


    ¡°Sir?¡± One of the soldiers asked him as they all looked at the changing being.


    ¡°Your general isn¡¯t attacking, so let¡¯s not. Fan out, if he makes a break go for the kill. Best to be sure,¡± Bryce said softly and the others all nodded.


    As he walked over the soldiers moved around, forming a semi-circle around the man.


    Bryce only looked at him, trying to understand. The being was slowly becoming a normal human man, the extras were fading, no. They were being pulled into the man¡¯s body. He had never seen anything like this before, but the way this person changed, seemed more ¡®natural¡¯. As they watched, the man became a normal size and gained reddish black hair. He blinked, and his golden eyes looked out at the people around him, before falling to the ground.


    After a few moments, the man panted and looked up. ¡°General Rogix I presume?¡±


    ¡°And you are traitor?¡± Rogix asked and the name frowned.


    The man was silent and then he shook his head. ¡°No traitor, just a man who¡¯s done fighting for his oppressors. So you¡¯re all descended from the Upper decks of the Ship? My people were from the Lower decks, under the command of the Second Master Engineer.¡±


    Rogix stared at him as his soldiers all gasped in shock.


    Rogix shook his head and looked at the man. ¡°From the Second Master Engineer?! Was the Cult all from the Lower Decks?! Was the war an Invasion!?¡±


    The man looked at Rogix and started to laugh bitterly.


    ¡°No, but I wish! No, the story is on the wall around us,¡± The man said and pointed at the artwork on the walls to the right.


    ¡°You look, Bryce, I¡¯ll keep an eye on our new friend,¡± Rogix said with a hard glare.


    Bryce turned to the right and then looked at the supposed Beast Cultist. ¡°So, from the right¡­.. I¡¯m sorry, you are?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, to the right. And the name is Icotrix,¡± Icotrix said.


    Bryce nodded, moving so he could see all the tapestries. Once he reached the center, he stood among the dead for a moment. Then from looking at the right of the door, he started to turn around to see the whole chamber. He stopped after a few moments and gazed at one of the tapestries in confusion for a few moments. ¡°The people, no your people Icotrix. They breached a wall near the site of the final battle.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The first contact then was with the Followers. They spun a lie about how they were from another group that had been separated when the ship was captured. From the Security Division, they said. They spoke on how the Officer¡¯s descendants blamed them,¡± Icotrix said as he looked at Rogix.


    Bryce went still as he took in what Icotrix said, and he believed it.


    ¡°Blamed them for what!?¡± Rogix demanded.


    ¡°For the ship being captured,¡± Bryce said softly, his voice echoing all over the chamber.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Icotrix said bitterly. ¡°That was how they got my people to take them in. By blocking the passage they, my people invited their deaths in. For the next ten years, they talked and planned with the Followers, all to survive together of course. It was during those years an expedition found a way into the corridors. We found so much space and terrors during those years.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the art says that much¡­¡­.. So. Then after a while, you all found some kind of beast in a water Realm? Something beyond your understanding?¡± Bryce asked as he looked at one of the tapestries. It showed explorers from Icotrix spoke of standing together in the corridors. Then that group was before a larger Beast like the ones on the art outside the chamber.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Icotrix looked at the apprentice and nodded. ¡°Yeah. They found something that killed most of the party. That was when the Followers started to preach. They spoke of how the Great Beast¡¯s spawn had set them on their path back at their home Realm. They spoke of how the Kingdom had found their people and were kind. But when they showed the newcomers the Spawn of the Great Beast they found, the kingdom killed it.¡±


    The Apprentice only chuckled as he looked around. ¡°And then they, the Cult, spoke of how the Father of the Spawn would kill them all for not worshiping it right? And I¡¯m Bryce!¡±


    Icotrix looked at Bryce and tried to keep his ¡°Bryce is right. This forest of yours general¡­¡­. Our home was a desert with few water sources and creatures that wanted to eat us. We made our civilizations around Mountains that reached the Celling of our Realm. We found a few maps in some of the old ruins we found. That¡¯s how we found the way into the paths between the Realms, the one that let them rescue the Cult.¡±


    ¡°You found ruins!? As in something that someone else made!?¡± Rogix exclaimed in shock.


    Icotrix took a deep breath. He knew that this was going to be the hardest part of the story of his people, but he had to speak it.¡°Yeah, we did. And dead bodies, not all of them the same species. They just¡­¡­set up places to defend themselves and some of them died. The stories said that my people used weapons we found in there to fight off the worst of the monsters. We found ways to grow food, then we found the ways to the other realms. But after we rescued the cult, everything changed,¡± Icotrix said bitterly. He looked around at the others, hoping they understood his expression. ¡°After the Deaths to that Beast, they started to preach to so many of us. They spoke of how this place was a prison for the Beast, how we had been brought here to power the wards. Only by aligning ourselves with them, would we escape.¡±


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°And then after a while, they sparked a rebellion again! Only this time they won!¡± Rogix as he crossed his arms.


    Icotrix nodded, looking away. ¡°Yes, they won. But this place was only found a few weeks back. There¡¯s something here that they want to feed. And feed it sentient meet.¡±


    Icotrix looked around as his words took effect. He saw the soldiers around him grip their weapons and Bryce came over. He looked at the man and wondered why he had such an old-sounding name. He didn¡¯t have any room to talk about that, his family had a few old names in their family tree.


    ¡°So one of the sacrifices is someone you care about then? That¡¯s why you¡¯re doing this?¡± Bryce asked and Icotrix only nodded.


    ¡°Yes. They chose my sister. Please, help me,¡± Icotrix said as he looked Rogix in the eyes.


    ¡°What do you want from me lad? And what are you offering here?¡± Rogix asked.


    Icotrix knew that this was the most important negotiation that he


    He took a deep breath and looked at Rogix. ¡°I¡¯ve been seen as ¡®Blessed¡¯ by how I¡¯ve been able to master the Shifting Power. So I¡¯ve been a guard for a while. I know the names of traitors in your government. Locations of their staging grounds and some of their long-term plans. How to find other passages to other Realms without using the corridors. I¡¯ll tell you all if you help me save her.¡±


    For a moment Rogix looked at him before he nodded. ¡°Fine, but you¡¯ll help us clean out this place first. I won¡¯t have the Nobility come here for the Vow and meet an invasion. We kill every one of these scum that won¡¯t surrender, we save your sister and then we talk about the traitors.¡±


    Icotrix couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. He had expected this to be a harder sell, but the General was actually agreeing to him. ¡°That¡¯s great sir! But you should know, that someone called the ¡®Great One¡¯ is coming here from your side. And the High Priest of the Follo¡­.the Cult will be here. Take him out, and every Under Priest will start fighting each other.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rogix only shook his head. After everything the kid told him, he actually wasn¡¯t that surprised with the final bit. These scum were like all the other groups the Kingdom had fought with. Their leaders were only out for themselves, with no loyalty to others. ¡°So what can you tell us about the changing thing they can do now?¡±


    As Icotix looked and nodded at him, Rogix tried to keep calm. But it was hard. This had stopped being an insurrection and had become an invasion. Since they had been destroyed, they¡¯ve had years to grow their numbers and now they were possessed to take over! He had to get as much from the kid as he could and tell his King. They needed to send people to map out the Devil¡¯s Realm, and find ways to grow! They had found the people of the Engineering section, and they were almost fully enemies.


    ¡°They found that art in an abandoned structure in my Realm. It was amazing, it told of how to use the Power. And the recipes were used to heal my people. Another trick the Cult used to take over. The potion was something they made on their own. They need blood from beasts to become a hybrid. And they need the Power to survive the blood potion, anyone without it just dies. And they still lose around fifty percent of those who take it. Plus people nd can only ever use one kind. There was talk about an evolution potion, something to make the other form stronger. But I always thought but most think it''s just rumors,¡± Icotrix explained.


    Rogix only looked at the kid and tried to keep calm. The way he described the potions, that was something else to look out for. Anything that might heal a person, was something that gave anyone who had it an advantage. And from the mutterings of his men, they felt the same thing. And that was bad, he had to do something to get their morale back up.


    He looked around as his men started to relax and he grimaced. ¡°What are you filth doing!? We¡¯re still in enemy lands people! So let¡¯s get moving! Bryce led the way! Icotrix, how long until we find that sacrificial chamber or whatever they call it?¡±


    Icotrix looked at Rogix and grinned. ¡°Just one more chamber sir, then it¡¯s the one beyond! And they¡¯re starting on the rehearsal to get it right. So we have half an hour or so.¡±


    ¡°Good. So it¡¯s not five minutes, great,¡± Rogix said as everyone turned towards the other door, Bryce leading the way. He walked slowly, he really needed to think about all of this. The way the kid, Icotrix, talked about the traitor, it bothered him. Whoever this ¡®Great One¡¯ was, he had to be a big deal. If he or she was that powerful, then he had to know them. They could be anyone who could order someone around at the messenger stations. And that really was any Noble, Royal, or officer that could command one thousand men.


    But who could have helped these scum infiltrate the Scholars? Or had the Scholars been the first group that they burrowed into? If that was the case, then how long they had been doing that was something that they needed to find out. If it was the last twenty years, then it could be anyone around the Kingdom. Any sooner, and the numbers dropped.


    At the doors, Bryce had put his right ear to it. He gestured for the others to stay silent then flashed four fingers at Rogix.


    Rogix looked at him then he paled and pointed at four of his men. When Bryce nodded Rogix opened his mouth and Bryce nodded again.


    Rogix looked at the Icotrix, mimed pushing the door open and he got a nod from him.


    He looked back at Bryce who grinned and pointed to the left. Rogix nodded and pointed first at himself, then to the right. At Bryce¡¯s nod, he looked at his men. They had all looked at him and they understood the plan. This would have to be fast and strong, but they could do it.


    Holding his axe tighter, he looked at Bryce and nodded. A yellow aura formed around Rogix as Bryce pushed the door open. With a roar, he shot forward lighting a bolt of lightning into the room.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Xoltrx laughed, he looked around the room. They were just waiting for the ceremony to start, then they would all get dressed and move to the back. Once it was underway, they would all see the Spawn at last! This would be something that they could tell others about for years! And he had let his men relax, they were in the heart of the base after all. Every group was out there, and he was just the reserve for the reserve. So far, everything has been going great! There were five of his fifteen men singing a song loudly while the others were laughing. Thanks to the runes in this old place, the noise wouldn¡¯t make it to the ritual chamber.


    ¡°Sir, are you sure we shouldn¡¯t be on guard?¡±


    Xoltrx only ground as he heard that. He couldn¡¯t believe that his unit was saddled with that one. Every time he and his men were ready to relax, this one wanted to stay on task. The command said they could rest, he wanted to train. He was truly bringing down unit cohesion and he was looking into getting him booted into another unit.


    ¡°Look, just sit down! I¡¯ve had enough¡­..¡± Xoltrx began only for the door to slam open! Everyone turned and Xoltrx stared at a bolt of lightning that flew right at him. He tried to move but then a dagger hit his leg. He had an instant to wonder how before the electricity hit him. As he stared at his death, he tried to think who had helped kill him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce shot into the room and looked around, seeing fourteen people in robes. Five of them, the sources of the voice were in the center of the room. As they all looked at the door, Rogix and the soldiers flew in. One of them turned and ran for the other door that had to lead into the ritual chamber. But before it could make it five feet, Bryce shot its head, and the corpse fell to the ground.


    He shot towards the middle of the enemies, firing as he ran. He had already killed two of them before Rogix was suddenly there.


    The enemy had started to change, but Rogix killed two of them before they could finish. All of them were insects, and that was good for them.


    Bryce just kept running, looking at the door. Getting in front of it he fired at another of the Insects as it tried to get by. He looked at the battle and let his eyes go over it, taking in everything.


    As Rogix slammed his axe through the body of another of the Insect Figures, two of them ran at him.


    As Bryce readied himself to fight, the defector Icotrix dropped down next to him in his scale form.


    Icotrix looked at Bryce and grinned. ¡°Need a hand?¡±


    Before Bryce could say anything, one of the figures screeched and lunged at him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Icotrix grappled with the Insect figure who screeched at him.


    ¡°TRAITOR!!! HOW DARE YOU disobey the Great Beast!?¡± The Insect figure howled.


    Icotrix only grunted and looked at the Insect and forced down a glare. He hated the fanatics, they were fully in the Cult''s pocket. And this one seemed like one of the most brainwashed.


    ¡°Can¡¯t be a traitor when you''re forced to follow! And tell that Beast if you see it in the next world, I¡¯m coming for all of you!¡± Icotrix snarled before he opened his mouth. With a bit of the Power, he sent a blast of fire that cooked the Insect¡¯s face. As the corpse fell to the ground, he looked around. He saw Rogix was finishing another one of them when one of them was going for his back.


    Without a thought, he lunged forward, his newly formed claws ready. Within the moments it took to reach him, the Insect had pulled back. Dashing into place to block with his scaled arms, Icotrix felt the blow land. But before the Insect could recover from his appearance, Icotrix slashed its throat. As the figure fell, choking on its blood Icotrix jumped to the right as another of the Insects tried to get him.


    But then Rogix slammed his axe down and killed the figure in one blow by splitting it in two. As soon as Icotrix landed, Rogix nodded at him before attacking another of them.


    Seeing one of the soldiers in danger of dying, Icotrix moved. He charged forward and slashed at the back of the Insect figure menacing the soldier. As the corpse fell, Icotrix looked at the soldier.


    ¡°THANKS!¡± The soldier called out and Icotrix only nodded.


    Without a word, he turned towards the battle and saw that almost all of the enemy were dead or dying. He saw one of the Insects look around and then glare right at the back of one of the soldiers. Before the Cultist could even move, Icotrix was between them. With a growl and flames leaving his mouth, he locked eyes with the insect who wimpled and fell back.


    ¡°Well done!¡± Rogix said as he came over. He looked down at the Insect figure and growled at him. ¡°Turn back before I kill you myself!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± The figure said as the insect features melted away.


    Icotrix looked at the man and scowled as he took in some of the man¡¯s features. It was the blackish green hair that gave the beings identity away, and Icotrix growled as he took a step forward. ¡°YOU!¡±


    ¡°Who is he?¡± Bryce asked as he came over


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen his face, but that hair! It¡¯s the hair of the scum who went over to their side!¡± Icotrix growled as the Cultist trembled.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got no choice due to my hair but to serve them! I do it to stay alive!¡± The man babbled.


    Icotrix almost took a step when Rogix planted a hand on his shoulder.


    Rogix only shook his head when Icotrix looked at him. We don¡¯t kill those who surrender. We¡¯ll leave him here and interrogate him later, let¡¯s keep moving.¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty Two

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Corridors/ Battlefield Passage


    Galactic Standard Time / 0945


    As they came out of the corridor between the scrap piles, Wilmria felt her heart beat harder. She wasn¡¯t a battle junky like her comrade, but this was doing something to her. It might be just what they saw before them if she was honest. There were ten strange-looking large, bulky figures. They were standing there around fifty feet ahead of them in a line. They had on only grey pants and they held large pieces of the scrapped things in their hands. Behind them was more of the corridor with piles against doors on both sides.


    She looked at the creatures, trying to understand just what these things were. They had to be either things that the traitor had been or animals. Since they weren¡¯t attacking them, they might not be able to think. If they were trained to collect the metal, then they might be able to escape. But the metal, all of it was that precious wonder material. If these traitors had such power, why weren¡¯t they using it?


    ¡°The flyer¡¯s ahead of us, a good hundred feet. We need to get by them soo¡­¡­He¡¯s stopped. He just stopped,¡± Zane muttered next to her.


    ¡°So we can take care of these things then?¡± Wilmria asked just as softly.


    ¡°Yeah, we can,¡± Zanee said as he aimed his pistol.


    ¡°HOLD!¡± The Bulky figure at the center roared.


    Wilmria just blinked. She couldn¡¯t believe this. So they could talk, that was something. She was wrong, again. She didn¡¯t like this.


    ¡°Pagans, listen to this one! The one you chase is to be offered to the Great Beast! Stop your actions and surrender to we, those you call the Beast Cult!¡± The middle figure cried out.


    Wilmria only stared, shocked to the core. The Beast Cult? Those monsters who had died in a war against the Kingdom so long ago? They were still alive!? But how?! Where had they¡­¡­ ¡®offered¡¯?!


    Wilmria tightened her grip on her weapon, and she felt her Power surge within her. They would dare to kill the young girl for her protection. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill her!?¡±


    ¡°Yes! That one has the honor of giving her life to the Great Beast! Such an honor will anoint the blessing of the only one among you with the will to follow the Beast! It is a privilege that one such as you does not deserve to even hear of!¡± The figure bellowed. Wilmria only looked at the being as it kept talking. ¡°Surrender and give your lives to the Beast, and in the next life be one of our own! Or fight and forever be denied the Beast¡¯s grace!¡±


    ¡°So, we attack and kill them all, right?¡± Zane asked, his voice so soft that Wilmria almost didn¡¯t hear him. ¡°Because there is no way that I¡¯ll let such scum live! You in?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Zane. I¡¯ve got the right, you want the left? I think the General will want to talk to the negotiator herself. Am I right ma¡¯am?¡± Karltics asked, just as softly.


    She looked from him to Karltics, both of them having hard looks on their faces. She expected it from Karltics, but Zane too? What had the offworlder being through for him to react this way?


    ¡°I¡¯ll go down the middle, there are three for each of you. I¡¯ve got three more plus the speaker. General¡¯s right so don¡¯t argue,¡± Wilmria said just as softly.


    ¡°Well Pagans!? Will you surrender and let this end so much easier for your betters!? You who killed the Spawn of the Beast!?¡± The Middle figure bellowed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll answer in one action!¡± Wilmria called back, moments before she felt her Power surge within her. She just blinked and then she was where the speaking figure had been, her spear deep within its chest. It looked down at her, and grinning savagely she cried out. As soon as she opened her mouth, a blast of wind erupted from her hands and weapon. The tornado shredded the Bulky while the force forced the others against the walls. For a moment they all just stood still, and then the piles of junk fell on three of the Bulky ones.


    As they cried out in pain, Wilmria just looked ahead at two of them on their backs farther down in the empty area. As Zane and Karltics cried out behind her, she shot forward. She felt nothing as she ran at the Two Bulky figures, all she could hope for was the others could handle their foes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he saw Wilmria suddenly run and attack the two that she had pushed away from the others, Zane reacted. He fired his pistol at one of the Bulky figures, and it blocked it with a piece of one of the robots. He almost didn¡¯t believe that the metal was able to block his shots, but then it was from a Ruin after all. The robots that were found in Ruins, there wasn¡¯t much data in the Federation¡¯s Information Network. But if it had a strange relationship with this Power the natives had, then the Ruins did too.


    So far he had seen things he had never thought possible. But then this was so beyond what his life had been. All he had to do was survive, and that was the golden rule.


    He ran at the creature that he had fired at as Karltics cried out a war cry and attacked the other side. He saw two of the figures behind the one he had shot at. One was down, under falling parts and the other was trying to get the other free with its back to him. Without a second thought, he fired three shots, one of which hit the figure that blocked his shots. The other two flew past it and hit the figure trying to free the other one in the head. It went still before it fell, and with that, there was one less to worry about.


    The blocking figure roared and charged at him, its shield ready to crush him. Before it was five feet away from him, he lunged to the side. As the Bulky figure thundered by him, it tried to hit him with the ¡®shield¡¯. Zane dodged the blow, the shot fired by Zane burned the creature¡¯s face along its left eye.


    As the Bulky Figure screeched, Zane ignored it. He looked at Karltics seeing him attack one of them with his sword and nodded. He looked around, taking stock of the battle. He saw two more of them trying to get some of them free from the metal, and giving what he had fought. There was one left where. Where was it!?


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Something told him to move, and he jumped forward. A moment after he was airborne, he heard something slam into the floor behind him. As it hit the ground he rolled until he got back to his feet and looked to where he had been. Standing there was another of them holding a large hammer-shaped piece of metal and looking right at him.


    ¡°heretic! How dare you kill those of us who drank the ¡®muscle¡¯ potion!? How dare you kill those of us doing the work here!? After our leader offered to gIve you mercy!?¡± The hammer-wielding figure bellowed.


    Zane looked at him and for a moment did nothing. Then his arm shot to the side and he shot two times. Both bolts hit the two trying to get the others free, and he looked right at the hammer Bulky one. As the Bulky figure¡¯s face went red, Zane smirked at it. ¡°I¡¯m the kind of guy that fights those who kill others. You who speak of ¡®sacrifices¡¯ never really give anything up. I love to kill those the best!¡±


    ¡°Foul heretic! Together my work crew! Get free and fight these monsters! For the Great Beast!¡± The Hammer-wielding one roared.


    Zane felt his breath catch in his throat. It was possible that the thing that Wilmria killed was a speaker. If this was the leader, then they might be in trouble after all. Even Cults might promote leaders because of their ability, and it was one of them. If this was the leader, then it knew how to command its fellows.


    The Bulky figure that he had injured along its head had come behind the Hammer one. He grinned as he moved backwards, his pistol aimed at the two. He heard Karltics cry out in victory and saw the soldier had killed the other one but was panting. He took in how Karltics was, and then Zane thought about what the situation was and made a choice.


    ¡°Kid! Let¡¯s get to the General! These things don¡¯t matter!¡± Zane roared as he fired at the two Bulky Figures.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Karltics looked at the dead body before him as he heard Zane¡¯s cry. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he was right. These things were harder than he expected, being all muscles. As bad as it made him feel, a retreat sounded wonderful right now. If they could handle the two the General was fighting, then together they could handle the rest.


    ¡°Got it, but what about the others!?¡± Karltics called out as he backed away, keeping his eyes on the enemy.


    Zane only laughed and started to fire his range weapon as Karltics moved backwards. ¡°Keep moving, I¡¯ll guard the rear! So get going!¡±


    Karltics nodded before he turned and ran. Zane followed, looking right at General Wilmria as she slew one of her foes with a downward slice of her weapon. In the aura created by just using her power, she moved like a hurricane. As the last one raised its makeshift weapon in its paw, Karltics sped up.


    Before the creature even knew he was there, Karltics jumped and thrust his blade. As the figure gasped, Karltics pulled his blade free in a shower of blood. Before the figure could grasp him, he jumped off and landed on the floor five feet away.


    As Wilmria looked at him, he bowed his head. ¡°Sorry General, but I think that you missed their commander.¡±


    At a cry he looked back and saw Zane running towards them at a run, firing his weapon as he did. Another two of them were down, but the last five had all grabbed pieces of the metal and were using it to advance.


    As the shots Zane fired hit the metal and were deflected, all Karltics felt was fear. But in that fear was a bit of hope and courage. Together with Zane, he had fought monsters that he had never seen before and survived. He didn¡¯t doubt that together, they would find a way to survive.


    ¡°Keep moving my Pack! We will kill them and take their Power for our own!¡± The roar of the hammer-wielding screamed.


    Karltics felt his blood freeze for an instant. The hammer one¡¯s words echoed off the walls causing Karltics to feel fear for a second, and he almost turned and ran. But he stood there and readied himself to fight. He wouldn¡¯t turn and leave his comrades to die, he just wouldn¡¯t. He was so caught up with standing there, not running that he missed the feeling of warmth blooming within him.


    ¡°So, do we turn and run? We will run into more of them, but we might kill those before these catch up. They¡¯re not that fast,¡± Zane said with a small note of something in his voice.


    ¡°No, we stand here. I¡¯ll get behind them and try to get them to turn. Can that weapon of yours kill them?¡± Wilmria asked.


    ¡°Yeah, one shot and all if I hit them right. But still, there¡¯s something about that one with the hammer. You¡¯ve ever seen anything like that before?¡± Zane asked.


    ¡°Yeah, that terror? Just brave through it. I¡¯ve faced something like that before. We kill that one, and the others will fall. Just that one has to go first,¡± Wilmria said with a laugh in her ¡°Just walk through it. Then you¡¯ll be fine.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Wilmria looked at the forces and then at the scrap piles. She had trained to use her abilities to their best, and she had a movement Technique that she had been working on. All she could do was hope that it would work as she thought it would.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Zane said with a small nod.


    Wilmria nodded back and then she started to run and called up her Power. Without a word, she suddenly appeared speeding at the wall and then jumped off it to arc around the pile of scrap. Landing behind the Bulky figures, she aimed her spear at the one holding a hammer.


    Without even saying a word, she shot forward and slashed down with her spear point. But somehow the Bulky Figure had known, and turned, meeting her blow with its hammer.


    ¡°So the general of the Wind is that sneaky? Good, face me!¡± The hammer wielder cried out as a black aura enveloped it.


    Wilmria only looked at the energy field, shocked beyond words. She had fought many opponents, but never one with a black aura!


    She jumped back and spun her spear, looking at the figure as it laughed.


    ¡°So you¡¯re instincts are that strong? Well, then this won¡¯t be that easy!¡± The Hammer wielder cried out as it slammed his hammer against one of the piles.


    Before Wilmria¡¯s shocked eyes, a wave of black energy flashed over the pile. She stared in horror as it slowly started to melt into a mud-like substance. For an instant, she thought of what that could do to her if it touched her.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t I ever make more range Techniques?¡± She muttered as she watched.


    The shield bearers didn¡¯t react, they just moved forward. She spared a glance and hoped that both Karltics and Zane could handle them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zane looked at the four scrap shield wielders as they moved forward slowly. No matter how he tried, he couldn¡¯t think of a way around this. The scum who had kidnaped the Princess hadn¡¯t moved, and they were close. But the longer they stayed here, the longer the chances of reinforcements from the other side to get here.


    The more he thought of it, the worse he felt. He had just gone charging after the kid, never even telling Wilmria about the Rest. These had to be connected to them, but this changed everything. They could move through the Ruins proper, the corridors. Who knew how long or what the Cult had created in here? The longer he thought about it, the more questions he had. And if he fell here, there was no chance of ever getting justice for his people.


    The more he thought, the more his rage built. The more his rage built, the more he felt so hot. Finally, it became too much and he roared as he thrust his hands forward. He erupted, a rust-colored energy aura forming around him as he screamed. Suddenly from his aura came a sandstorm that swirled around the shields and attacked the holders. All they heard were screams as the sand struck the Bulky figures. In an infinite time that only lasted a minute, the screams stopped. The shields were motionless for a moment before they fell, revealing nothing but bones that had pieces of red meat on them.


    Zane fell to his knees and panted. He saw something in the right lower corner of his vision, words that he couldn¡¯t understand. They said ¡®Desert Operative/ First Skill, Desert Fury¡¯.


    ¡°Amazing! How long were you able to do that Zane?¡± Karltics asked in a shocked voice.


    ¡°Just now,¡± Zane breathed out in shock. He looked at the remains, trying to understand how he had done that. He was feeling a sphere of flames within him. But it didn¡¯t feel wrong or pain, it was just there. It didn¡¯t make sense, it was like there was something he had never felt, but now he could.


    ¡°I¡­. fuck. Rest my friend, I¡¯ll help the General!¡± Karltics said as he helped Zane to lean against the wall.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Karltics ran, his blood feeling as if he was on fire. He saw the hammer wielder turn and look at the dead bodies of its fellows. Then he saw the black aura around it increase as it yelled in rage. But then he saw the general yell and start thrusting her spear at the hammer wielder. Each blow created a tornado that hit the black aura and did nothing to it. But with each blow, the hammer wielder¡¯s aura pulsed as it tried to get away.


    With a yell, Karltics slammed his blade into the back of the hammer wielder. The blow hit the aura, and to his horror, his blade started to bubble. He pulled his hands away and the handle of his sword started to feel soft. He looked at the Bulky figure as it started to laugh.


    ¡°So then the other one is the one with that terrible Power then? Go run away week one, I¡¯ll kill you later!¡± The Hammer wielder bellowed and Karltics almost did.


    ¡°Stay back! It can corrode anything!¡± Wilmria cried out as she moved her spear around and seemed to gather more wind around her weapon.


    All Karltics could do was watch as the hammer wielder laughed as he drew his hammer back. For a moment, Karltics couldn¡¯t understand what that being was doing. Then he did and his heart seized up. ¡°He¡¯s going to strike the floor!¡±


    And that was the spark that Karltics needed. The heat that he had been feeling at the edge of his mind erupted and then he just moved his body.


    With a yell, a blue energy aura appeared around him, and he. Just. Moved.


    He charged at the hammer wield and it turned to look at him. He just jumped and lashed out with a sideways kick that tore off the hammer wielder''s head! As the head flew down the corridor, Karltics landed near Wilmria. He just fell to his knees and felt everything hit him. But then his stomach rebelled against him and he fell to his knees as he threw up. As the brown mass he expelled hit the ground, the body behind him fell as well.

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Internal Corridors


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    As he stalked forward and fired his weapon, Olv¡¯xic tried to keep calm. He had barred his deepest secret and everyone was part human! He had thought that he would be killed by torture if anyone found out, and it wasn¡¯t even that bad! Once he had a chance to talk to his team, he¡¯d get answers, and he would give them. If that thought at the edge of his mind was right, his birth world would have many problems in the future. At least after they made contact with the Throneworld.


    As he kept moving towards the large and bulky beings, Olv¡¯xic wondered what these brutes were. The fact that they could speak meant that these weren¡¯t Chimera, and that was very worrying. If these weren¡¯t, then why were the things behind them, Chimera? Was the monster behind those poor souls a criminal? But what was this ¡°Beast¡± they were talking about?


    ¡°[Nothing makes sense! Nothing at all! What is with this planet!? How did such a Ruin survive]!?¡± Olv¡¯xic snarled within his mask, keeping the ¡®sending¡¯ function silent by force of will.


    Next to him, Kon¡¯gric and Ken¡¯tricx kept up their fire, and the enemy was dying as the three moved forward. Something about this was bothering Olv¡¯xic, something he couldn¡¯t see. The way these things were trying to get closer, it was like they didn¡¯t know about blasters. The humans and other races might not have been as advanced as the Empire, but they knew about guns! The only way¡­¡­.


    ¡°[[Stars of the void]!¡± Olv¡¯xic bellowed as the last of the bulky figures fell. ¡°[Could these wrenches been created by the Ruin!? Is that possible]?¡±!


    ¡°[No way kid! These things would have had¡­¡­ I mean this place]¡­¡­¡± Ken¡¯tricx trailed off as the last of the creatures died. He looked around the corridor, taking in everything he saw and then he nodded. [Yeah that might be, that might be. His is going to be bad].¡±


    ¡°[Tell me about it! I mean what could this place have been working toward? And what did they want the Prince for]?!¡± Olv¡¯xic asked, feeling horror and terror in equal amounts.


    They had to find the Prince, there was no other outcome that Olv¡¯xic let happen. If the nightmares that his thoughts had conjured up were true, then no person deserved that. Olv¡¯xic wouldn¡¯t let that horror happen to Prince Ar¡¯thor, he wouldn¡¯t!


    ¡°[Keep moving! We¡¯ve lost some time handling these things! We must move now]!¡± Kon¡¯gric bellowed over the open channel.


    As they moved on, Olv¡¯xic looked down at the creatures for a moment. Something about them was bothering him, something that he couldn¡¯t understand. There had to be an answer to how these things could talk! And with how big they were, he wondered how they replenished their numbers. The gestation cycle for something like this alone, the strain it would place on the body of a female? He just couldn¡¯t see how that was possible.


    ¡°[Keep moving kid! We gotta find out the answers to your questions]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx called over the comms line.


    Olv¡¯xic looked up and saw that the others were already ten feet away from him. He shook his head and head and nodded, moving swiftly to catch up. His thoughts could last, all he had to do now was take the rear. They had to move faster, and his weapons were all long-range. Not for the second time, he cursed that he didn¡¯t have a short-range option. Plus the reason was to keep anyone from finding out about his heritage! Something everyone had!


    If he could ever get justice for his pain, he would drink deeply that night!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way, Kon¡¯gric kept an eye on the Prince¡¯s tracker. So far, they were having great time. The beacon was there, and he could lead them to him. But should he? This was the perfect way for his dilemma to be solved without even raising a finger. His family would survive, and he wouldn¡¯t have to kill his charge.


    But was letting something kill him not the same? He had helped raise the boy, he saw him as a kind of nephew! And his wife loved the boy as well!


    ¡°[¡­¡­. Kon¡¯gric? Kon¡¯gric! Hey, I¡¯m talking here]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx bellowed.


    Kon¡¯gric looked up, seeing the icon for Ken¡¯tricx blinking heavily. The man must have used an override to force a connection. He felt his face flush as he realized that the Ken¡¯tricx had been trying to talk to him. ¡°[My mind was on what could be happening to my prince. What is it]?¡±


    ¡°[Just wanted to know which path to take. And by path, I mean the intersection. The one back there. Or is our prince the way you were going? We need to know this Kon¡¯gric],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said as he pointed back over his shoulder. Olv¡¯xic was standing there, watching both directions for enemies.


    Kon¡¯gric felt his face flush. He was usually better than this. His dark choice was weighing that heavily on him, wasn¡¯t it? Looking at the map on his HUD, he nodded as he turned around. ¡°[Yes, he was carried that way. I¡­¡­. I was just¡­.. sorry].¡±


    Ken¡¯tricx just shrugged, his body seemed to give off a somber feel.¡°[Don¡¯t be, I¡¯ve been there. A mission a few months back. We were sent to guard a research mission on this planet with a weird ecosystem. Giant hunting insects! Carried a scientist to their lair, we had to fight our way through and we were still almost too late. But we saved them and the planet was declared Quarantined. And like then, we¡¯ll save the Prince! That¡¯s my promise to you]!


    Kon¡¯gric felt his heart seize. The very fact that Ken¡¯tricx was trying to help make him feel better made him feel even worse. This man was a loyal soldier, and here Kon¡¯gric was, thinking of how to let his charge die. Kon¡¯gric shook his head and squared his shoulders as he walked to the intersection. Once there, he looked down the right way and took a deep breath. ¡°[He¡¯s that way. Sorry again, but the walls are making it hard to follow the signal. This way].¡±


    As he led the way, he almost let his mind wander again. He needed to keep calm, he would not let the prince die this way! He might have to think about killing the prince himself, but the boy deserved to have his end be a fast one.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    As he followed after Kon¡¯gric, Ken¡¯tricx looked at the man¡¯s back. Something was wrong with Kon¡¯gric, something was weighing down his mind. He had seen it before, times when people were forced into impossible situations. Things when they were forced to make a choice, and that choice went against everything they were. He didn¡¯t know how Kon¡¯gric was involved, but there was something wrong with him. Maybe his wife was pregnant and he was thinking of transferring to palace duty. From what he knew from the briefing, the man had protected the Prince all the boy¡¯s life. If his own family was growing, leaving the boy might be for the best. But if the Prince had been his charge that long, then Ken¡¯tricx could understand what was bothering the man.


    ¡°HOLD STRANGERS!¡± A voice called from ahead of them.


    Looking up, Ken¡¯tricx stared. Standing twenty feet ahead of them was the most unique group he had ever seen. Five humans with green hair and eyes were before more of the bulky large figures. By each of the bulky figure''s shoulders were two humanoid beings each. They all had wings that they were using to hover there, watching the three of them. All of them had on purple clothing, and each human held a black blade.


    ¡°[What!? More of them]?!¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded.


    ¡°[Let me talk! Just stay there and keep aiming at them],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said as he thrust out an arm and slowly pushed Kon¡¯gric behind him. ¡°We want no trouble with you all! We¡¯re just looking for one that was taken from us! Let us find him and we¡¯ll leave you all in peace!¡±


    ¡°We know of who you seek! The priest flew over our heads before you came here!¡± The human in the middle called out with a hard glare


    ¡°[I don¡¯t like that. Get ready to fight you two],¡± Olv¡¯xic muttered, and Ken¡¯tricx felt the same.


    ¡°Your priest took one of ours with him. I¡¯ll let it slide, maybe he was trying to save him. I¡¯d do the same. But we need him back,¡± Ken¡¯tric said with a hard edge to his words.


    ¡°That is impossible. For that one has been chosen to give his life,¡± The leader said with a note of jealousy in his voice. ¡°To be chosen to feed the Great Beast¡¯s spawn is the highest honor! To dare to stop after the offering was chosen is beyond heresy! Celebrate his passing, and join in worship to the Great Beast!¡±


    All Ken¡¯tricx could feel was his heart stopping as Olv¡¯xic swore under his breath. That one word, sacrifice, changed everything. Before now, there was a chance that they could talk their way out of this. But now, that door had closed. The only thing to do now was kill and fight until they found their prince.


    ¡°[So we fight, right? Nothing else to do],¡± Olv¡¯xic said bitterly.


    ¡°[No, but give me a minute. I¡¯ll try and talk, but they move, take out the walkers. I¡¯ll summon my canons],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said bitterly. ¡°Friend, you just said something terribly wrong there. I¡¯ll give you a chance to take it back. But only this one time. After that, I¡¯ll have no choice but to kill you all.¡±


    ¡°There is nothing to take back! If you cannot see the honor that was offered to the young one, then you will feed the Beast! To the afterlife, send them there!¡± The middle human roared. The flyers screeched and shot forward, while the others roared and charged.


    Ken¡¯tricx just stood there and summoned his rotatory canons and fired them and his riffle. As the shots hit the flyers, Kon¡¯gric and Olv¡¯xic fired at the humans. As the shot killed them, some of the flyers dropped in the way of the chargers. They all tripped over them, and the crash of one of the bulky Figures caused a crunch that the three could hear. Nothing caused the fanatics to stop, they just kept charging until they all died.


    Kon¡¯gric took a step forward before Olv¡¯xic grabbed him, pulling him back. As Kon¡¯gric turned his head, this was when Ken¡¯tricx spoke up.


    ¡°[Hold! Let¡¯s see if any of them is still alive]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said with a hard edge to his voice as his rotary canons disappeared. Walking forward, Ken¡¯tricx summoned his axe and moved among the bodies. Within a few moments, he was among the corpses. His Mask scanned the bodies, and after a few moments, he nodded as he found there was no chance any of them were alive. ¡°[Come on you two, see if you can find anything that we can use to tell us what the Blackhole this is]!¡±


    As Olv¡¯xic and Kon¡¯gric moved to look over the bodies, Ken¡¯tricx pushed the Bulky figure that had fallen over. Looking at the human body with its neck at a loose angle, he sighed as he put his hand on the body''s spine. A quick check found three broken places, and he shook his head as he moved away. All he could do was hope that this was quick, nothing deserved to die slowly like this.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic looked down at the corpses and shook his head. To think that these had been living moments ago was staggering. The way they had just charged showed that they had no idea what they were up against. But was he right? Had the Ruins created these ¡®humans¡¯ from a source template? Or was he wrong? But all he knew, was that all the ones here followed the orders of the human.


    He looked down at one of the human bodies and picked up one of their swords. As soon as he touched it, it released a blue fish of light! ¡°[WOW! What the Stars]?!¡±


    As the others all turned to look at him, the sword dimmed, but the blade still glowed softly.


    ¡°[Is that aether? How is that sword glowing]?!¡± Kon¡¯gric demanded as he and Ken¡¯tricx gathered around Olv¡¯xic.


    Ken¡¯tricx looked at the blade before picking up his own, and it too released a flash of light.


    As they looked at the blades, it was all Olv¡¯xic could do to keep from gasping. He could feel a resonance from the blade, and it was as if it was using his own aether to ignite its spark. All in all, it led to one answer that was shocking.


    ¡°[This thing, it was made for Aether users! But how]?!¡± Olv¡¯xic stammered in shock.


    Never before, had the Empire ever found anything like this. he knew of researchers working on Aether metal, but this was beyond that. This blade was able to channel Aether and his own spark was making it in the metal. This was amazing, and he couldn¡¯t believe it was possible.


    But then he went still and slowly looked down. His mouth dropped as he saw there was one sword for each human, and each one was made from the same metal. ¡°[How did these people make these weapons]!?¡±


    ¡°[What is here is fact, and we have to deal with them. These just got that much worse. We can¡¯t let these things get in close range],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said as he looked at the bodies.


    Without a word, Olv¡¯xic nodded as he looked down at the sword in his hand. Without a word, he activated his armor¡¯s system and the sword disappeared. Looking at it as it fell into his armor¡¯s ¡®pocket¡¯ he smirked. ¡°[Well at least I¡¯ll have a close-range weapon now. Shall we move on]?¡±


    Kon¡¯gric took a step forward, two swords disappearing into his own ¡®pocket¡¯. ¡°[Yes we shall]!¡±


    As they ran along the corridors, Olv¡¯xic put everything that had happened into one of his messenger drones. Summoning it, he sent it back to the others and nodded as it flew away. While he didn¡¯t want to think how the others would react. But he hoped that they took some of the swords for themselves. Fight against evil with their own weapons, and that was the best thing sometimes.


    He had learned that a long time ago, when he had escaped off world. The best thing that he could do was hope. Hope that they will be able to save the prince.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he ran with the others, Kon¡¯gric tried and failed to understand what was happening. The blades he had taken were strong, and their metal could channel or create Aether! He had never even heard of that being possible! And the people behind this were able to outfit everyone back there with them? That spoke that these people had so much of it, and that was bad. Who knows what these people were able to make, or where it came from.


    All in all, if he could find that secret, he could offer it to his forced patron! If that didn¡¯t buy his wife¡¯s life, then nothing would. And this would keep the Prince alive! He might have to kill the others who were in that one¡¯s employment, but he would keep his wife alive.


    He looked to the side and saw something that made him stop in his tracks. He just stood there, looking into the open doorway.


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric, what is it]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx voice asked.


    But Kon¡¯gric only walked through the doorway, into a forest of purple wood trees with golden leaves. All he could think was this looked like his wife¡¯s favorite painting.


    ¡°[What is this place? I¡¯ve never seen anything like this before],¡± Olv¡¯xic said in wonder.


    Kon¡¯gric looked beyond the trees and saw that above them a few hundred feet was a source of light. He could see that to his left was a large lake and to the right was a hill that led to a forest that went on for miles.


    ¡°[Wasn¡¯t thee a door about ten feet away from here? I¡¯m not wrong right]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked horror in his voice.


    Kon¡¯gric blinked then he slowly looked at Ken¡¯tricx and looked at the others. All he could do was wonder what this meant, and the horrors that this might mean. If he was right, then they were in even worse shape than he thought.


    ¡°[Yeah, you were¡­¡­ Kon¡¯gric move to the right now]!¡± Olv¡¯xic bellowed.


    Kon¡¯gric didn¡¯t ask, all he did was move. A second later he heard the sound of something crashing to the ground. He looked up and saw a horror pulling itself out of the water. The creature was large, at least twenty feet tall. It didn¡¯t have a body, but instead a single sphere that was its body and face. Its skin was the color of blood, and its face was the most horrific he had ever seen. It had six eyes in two rows, and in the center was a beak that opened into a cross. In the center of the beak was a hole that had needle-like teeth around it. It had nine large tentacles, three of which were holding it up from the water. It looked around and screeched as it moved onto land.


    For a moment, Kon¡¯gric didn¡¯t do anything ¡°[You two, move away now]!¡±


    ¡°[Are you serious!? Move away]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded as he summoned his rotary canons.


    ¡°[Do it big guy. I think I know what he means],¡± Olv¡¯xic said in a soft voice.


    Kon¡¯gric was hoping that this thing was just a herbivore. He was hoping that this thing was just attacking him because he was in the way of it eating. It was a small hope, but a small hope was better than nothing. If they could let this creature eat while they escaped, then that''s enough. The impossibility of this place could be a mystery for later. That was enough for him.


    For a second, all he could do was stare at the beast as it moved onto dry land. It looked around and then he heard a snort from his left. Kon¡¯gric looked down, seeing an insect around three feet high with twenty legs and a body made of five segments. It moved around before a tentacle slammed into it. Kon¡¯gric stared as the struggling insect was pulled into the spherical creature¡¯s mouth.

 Chapter One hundred Twenty Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Closing Doors


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    The doors were at most fifteen feet apart now, and closing slowly by the second. Je¡¯ndra, Tar¡¯lroia, and Ro¡¯borlar were holding off the strange beings, the spider centaurs, and the flyers. Despite everything the three had done, the beings were still attacking the three, trying to get by. Je¡¯ndra figured that the enemy thought they could stop the doors if they got by the three. But then they didn''t know that her team had destroyed the console.


    So far, they have been able to handle the creatures and the cultists. But what had caused them to be knocked out for that second? Was that monster the ¡®Great Starlsia¡¯? That anciently armed human said it was, and that was even more worrying! Who was he, just what was he after and where did he come from? The spider centaurs alone were worrying, but then this man appeared as they were trying to escape. And he wanted the ¡®potion¡¯ that turned Starlsia¡¯into that form, so he wasn¡¯t working with her. But then why was he here? And all those creatures with him, were they being directed by the Controlled?


    And then she had to ask herself the one most important question. Just how had the Aether Forbidden even been used here!? Was the theory  How had the Aenther Forbidden even been used in the first place!? How had those abominations ever been found here?! Had one of their own crashed here? One of the outcasts? But she would have heard about one of them disappearing, so just how? How had all these things been created in the first place!?


    But as she fired at one of the armored figures that made it closer, it held up an arm. To her shock and horror, the Knight created an Aether shield buckler to block her shock.


    ¡°[Boss, did that person do what I thought they did!? I mean, is it one of us]?!¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked in shock.


    Je¡¯ndra stayed silent as she looked at the being. This was the answer to where the Forbidden had come from. These that being in the armor could use Aether. So then it had to be one of them, but who was this being? But as the knight kept moving she realized that this wasn¡¯t the time to think, it was the time to act! So she kept firing at the lone knight, the knight kept coming, blocking all the shots. As Tar¡¯lroia and Ro¡¯borlar joined their weapon fire to hers, the knight just kept blocking the shots.


    It was when one of the flyers almost made it through and Je¡¯ndra killed it with one shot. The body fell onto a spider centaur that had made it five feet away.


    ¡°[We need to do something about that one! But what]!?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked anger in her voice.


    ¡°[Good question. Wish I had the answer],¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she looked at the knight as he stalked closer. The fact that this one was a traitor attacking them was horrifying. Whenever the team had to fight against their kind, Aether to Aether, it was the worst. Every battle left wounds on her team, and some teams died fighting corsairs. And with the monsters following after the Knight, she saw nothing but pain ahead. How could they hold the doors?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Oh, is this a challenge!? For me]!?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked with manic glee in his voice as he walked forward, his two sickles appearing in his hands. He looked at the knight as he stalked closer. He was already planning the perfect way to get the traitor.


    ¡°[NO! Not you]!¡± Je¡¯ndra snarled as she fired at the knight again.


    Ro¡¯borlar winced and sighed. The way that he had thrown himself into danger, was expected from Je¡¯ndra. But this was different, his team had died to scum like that one. This time he could make sure that there wouldn¡¯t be any more deaths. He had to do it! And then a plan opened up to him as thoughts connected. Then and there, he knew how to get her to let him do this.


    ¡°[What is I fight him here? In the hallway? There¡¯s a way that I can do it, boss. Please, trust me],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said softly over the comm channel.


    ¡°[Boss, that doors closing! Not fast enough to keep that one from getting here! And he¡¯s the best short range of the three of beside you! And he¡¯s got the techs to do it],¡± Tar¡¯lroia said as she fired at a flyer.


    ¡°[Fine! But one chance to get that one here! Then get back here! That¡¯s an order]!¡± Je¡¯ndra snarled as she fired again.


    ¡°[Thanks boss. Here I go]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar snarled. He forced aether to his leg muscles and ran at the knight. As soon as the knight saw him, they tried to slash down at Ro¡¯borlar.


    But Ro¡¯borlar only dodged the blow, ran beyond him for a few feet, and then turned. He charged at the knight and jumped, moving aether to his feet right before he hit. The blow sent the knight flying, straight through the door and over the girls heads. He just smirked, the ¡®Far Blow¡¯ his father taught him before he enlisted worked every time! And now the only thing he had left to do was get back through the doors. A scream from the side caused him to jump and spin overhead, flashing out his sickles as he spun. He forced some Aether into his blades and felt them start to heat up.


    He slashed through the charging spider centaur and took its head off in one blow. He landed next to the body and looked around. As he moved his arms in a circle, he saw that over ten of the spider centaurs were glaring at him. ¡°[Want to try me]?¡±


    The creatures couldn¡¯t understand his words, but he felt they understood his meaning. They all roared and would have charged at him but then one of the Bulky figures was there. It slammed its weapon through one of them, sending the rest scattering. It looked at him and before snorting, charged at the spider centaurs roaring.


    So far from the door, Ro¡¯borlar could see that the two forces were still fighting each other, shocking him. All in all, he had rarely seen such stupidity before. When an enemy of two others appears, let them fight. He thought of a joke he heard a few years ago, how the Federation had a reward they gave. Always when the ¡®winner¡¯ was dead, something about removing themselves from the gene pool.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zalorix looked at Starlsia and shook his head in awe. The fact that he was seeing this was something that he had never expected. When that flying creature had appeared, he hadn¡¯t expected it and Starlsia to fight.


    The flying creature was as big as Starlsia was. But unlike her, this one had red feathers all over its body. Its body was large and shaped like a flying predator with four wings. The first pair was normal and the other was on the beast''s back and seemed to be positioned to fan backwards. Below the body were four bird-like red-skinned legs, each one ending in five black talons


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    With each screech, it threw the spider monster Starlsia had become around. Starlsia never stayed down, and her ''flights'' were destroying their ¡®temple¡¯. And Starlsia would spit some kind of blob at the giant flyer in response once she got back to her feet. Most of the shots hit the ceiling, but the last one hit the Flyer¡¯s wings. When the blob hit, it exploded into lines that covered the wing, keeping it from flapping. This caused the Flyer to crash at the other side of the cavern, and then the worms attacked it. But to his horror, Zalorix watched as the monsters broke their mouths biting at the Flyer. The Flyer would grab the worms and throw them at Starlsia, and this time the worms would break the skin.


    Seeing the carnage of the two giant monsters, was all Zalorix could do from grinning. When he had heard the traitor¡¯s words, he had expected just to find a few bodies to sacrifice. But this, this was everything that he needed. Once his other followers brought back the alchemist, he would rule!


    But the problems weren¡¯t just those. Presently the strange armored ones were holding the door, which was closing. He remembered that the other console that would open the doors was below with the Alchemist. All he needed was to get his hands around that one being, that place and he would win. But to keep that up, he had to let the armored ones deal with his other problem. All around him, most of his forces were keeping the area around him ten feet a circle of peace. And around them, flowed the spider cultists, breaking against them and going to the door.


    ¡°Sir, we have a problem,¡± One of his men said suddenly.


    Zalorix looked up and saw one of his men in his birth form next to one in his Flyer form.


    Zalorix just laughed and shook his head. ¡°What could that be? Those two will kill themselves, and we¡¯ll leave with the prize! Once we make it to my base, then everything will be perfect! What could threaten that in all this?¡±


    ¡°One of the Knights that went to the door? He was a power user,¡± The Flyer said bluntly.


    Zalorix looked at him and then he felt his face go red as his anger started to rise. ¡°WHAT?! Send everyone now! I want the armored one and that Knight on their knees before me!¡±


    With a roar, Zalorix raised his sword and pointed, his men roaring with him. He knew who every one of his men were, and what they could do. None of his knights were able to use the Power. That meant that the Knight was a spy. And whoever had dared to spy on him would burn next to their scum! By the time Zalorix was done rending the fleets of the traitor, only the spy¡¯s master would suffer worse!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    When he heard the roars, Ro¡¯borlar turned and looked towards the trident complex. Cresting the ridge were the rest of the knights and the second force, their leader in their center. From the scowl on his face, Ro¡¯borlar knew that something had gone wrong for him.


    Ro¡¯borlar wasted no time, running back towards the doors as another screech echoed off the walls. And then there was an answering roar, and this one sounded familiar. Looking up, he saw that the doors were now only six feet apart. They would close soon, and then there was the knight.


    The Knight had gotten back to their feet and was standing there.


    ¡°[Hold young one. Just hold],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he dropped his sickles and they disappeared into his ¡®pocket¡¯. He looked at the knight, trying to think how to get them to stand down. He couldn¡¯t even start to think about how the being had come to work for the forces behind him. The only way that he could think of was that the being was the last of his group of crash victims. And the fact that the poor soul had survived however long they had been stuck here, was amazing. ¡°[We¡¯re your own. We can talk about this, you don¡¯t have to fight us. We can just fight together].¡±


    The Knight looked at him then its face turned towards the destroyed console against the wall.


    Ro¡¯borlar followed the Knight¡¯s eyes and grinned behind his mask. ¡°[Yeah, those people back there, they won¡¯t ever hurt you again]!¡±


    The knight just screamed wordlessly and charged at him, his blade raised and glowing.


    Ro¡¯borlar felt horror as he resummoned his sickles and forced aether into them as he caught the blade. As he buckled under the blow, he felt an incredible weight in the blow. He couldn¡¯t understand it! Any of their own who would hear what he said would be happy! What had happened to this one?!


    ¡°[Kindred, please! Don¡¯t make me kill you! Please]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar begged before he kicked the Knight away. The Knight only roared again and charged, slashing down with its blade. And to Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s shock, a wave of blue energy shot from the blade.


    Ro¡¯borlar didn¡¯t stare, he just moved. The Knight had proven that he was beyond taking alive. There was no choice, it was now the Knight or Ro¡¯borlar. ¡°[FOR FATE]!¡±


    With his battle cry ringing in his ears, Ro¡¯borlar charged at the Knight. The Knight brought up its free arm and a blue energy shield appeared in Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s path. Ro¡¯borlar didn¡¯t crash, he just moved Aether to his leg muscles and jumped over the Knight. As he spun overhead, he saw that Je¡¯ndra and Tar¡¯lroia were falling back. He gritted his teeth behind his mask, he knew that he was done holding back.


    As soon as he landed he charged at the Knight who swung his blade down at him. Ro¡¯borlar just dodged the blow and swung his sickles through the Kinght¡¯s neck. As the head fell, he dashed towards the doors. Dropping his sickles, he summoned his sniper rifle and linked with the scope. He saw the leader of the other forces looking back towards the complex at something. The door was only four feet across now, within minutes they could leave this battle.


    But not let, not let. There was still time for two more shots. As one of the Bulky figures moved to stop the door, it took up his shot and he fired. The bolt caused the Bulky figure¡¯s head to pop, and the body fell back as blood gushed out. The bolt kept flying and the leader of the second group moved aside moments before it would have hit him. Instead, it hit the right eye of the giant spider centaur and drilled a hole through the monster¡¯s head.


    Zo3 just blinked as the door closed to two feet. One of the spider centaurs came towards the door, and Je¡¯ndra shot it dead.


    As the doors slammed shut, Zol3 looked at his comrades. He knew that they wouldn¡¯t take the fact that he had to kill the Knight, but he had no choice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Starlsia¡¯s giant body started to twitch as it fell, it turned to slime. Zalorix looked at the slime as it flowed down the ¡®ramp roof¡¯. He just wondered what had happened when he heard the doors slam shut. He was about to turn when he saw something moving in the slime.


    ¡°Sir?¡± One of his followers asked as Zol3 moved towards the slime. The other spider centaurs had all fallen back when Starlsia had moved away, and the giant Flyer was gone. It had gone into the tunnels, and Zalorix wasn¡¯t worried. The traps there would catch it sooner or later, and that was enough. Especially if he was right about this.


    As soon as he reached the moving part of the slime, he looked at it and reached into it. As his hand closed around something, whatever it was tried to fight back. But the weak blows only landed on Zalorix¡¯s armor, and he pulled the mass free.


    As the slime dripped away, the mass was revealed to be a naked woman with short green hair. She was looking at him with angry red eyes and he grinned back at her. Zalorix only grinned as he laughed, finally understanding everything. ¡°So you live Starlsia! And this wonderful potion is just what I want!¡±


    ¡°So I was right! You are betraying those fools!¡± Starlsia spat at Zalorix.


    Zalorix only laughed and shook his head. ¡°Of course I am! Those people just want their own power! Like me!¡±


    Zalorix looked at her, and then at the spider centaurs farther below. All of them were the descendants of those that the Followers had made outcast. Most thought they had died, but they had lived. And they had shared all their knowledge and created wonders that Zalorix wanted.


    ¡°So why are you here!? What purpose do you serve now!?¡± Starlsia asked with a sneer.


    ¡°Well, that traitor of yours was going for the Grand Temple. If I wasn¡¯t here my dear, the High Priest would have known about your discovery. And then comes the Holy War to get it. Frankly, I want it! For myself!¡± Zalorix said with a sneer.


    ¡°Your bargain then?¡± Starlsia asked with a purr. ¡°You haven¡¯t killed me for a reason.¡±


    Zalorix looked over her body with his eyes and grinned. ¡°The survivors and mine will work together, under me! We will reopen the doors, and then we¡¯ll storm the Home Realm! Together with your powers and the strength of my Outpost, we¡¯ll conquer all the Realms!¡±


    ¡°And I alone know how to make the potion you want. The old Alchemist died a while back. And the door will take a few days to open again. But I want equality with you,¡± Starlsia said, her voice low.


    Zalorix laughed and leaned over, kissing her with passion. She returned it and Zalorix knew that for now, she would follow him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she looked at the corpse, all Je¡¯ndra could feel was a sinking feeling. ¡°[Did you have to kill him]?¡±


    Ass Ro¡¯borlar sighed and shook his head, Je¡¯ndra only felt anger. With this death, she was no closer to understanding this horror. With the Aether Forbidden in play, that had to be stopped.


    ¡°[The punk could use range Aether attacks. I didn¡¯t have a choice]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said with anger in his voice. ¡°[I tried to get them to stand down, I really did! But nothing worked. It was like they couldn¡¯t speak our tongue]!¡±


    ¡°[He couldn¡¯t]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia said with shock in her voice.


    They all turned and Je¡¯ndra looked at what was in Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s hands in shock.


    Je¡¯ndra felt her breath leave her body. The head her friend was holding was that of a human! The ears told her all she needed to know, the Knight had been a human!


    ¡°[How!? How could a human create the Aether Forbidden!? Just how]?!¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked in horror.


    ¡°[The rumor was true, that has to be it. There¡¯s no other explanation that makes sense]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a hard tone.


    ¡°[What rumor!? Wait¡­.. the Aether skills found in the Ruins! The Forbidden were found in one of them]!?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked in horror.


    Je¡¯ndra only nodded, her mind going dark places. The legend said that the power of Aether was found first in a Ruin. And sometimes, ways to learn skills were found in the Ruins. She had heard a rumor that the Forbidden of Aether were found in a Ruin, but she had never believed it.


    ¡°[Look alive! Isn¡¯t that one of the kid¡¯s drones]?¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked.


    Looking up, Je¡¯ndra stared at the machine flying towards them. She just knew that something had happened to the three she had sent away. She just had to hope that they had found the prince.

 Chapter One hundred Twenty Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Realm of Forests and Great Lakes


    Galactic Standard Time / 0915


    As the monster roared and slammed its tentacle at him, Kon¡¯gric formed an energy half-circle above him. As the appendage bounced off, Kon¡¯gric gritted his teeth. The blow had drained around five percent of his shields. Not much, and it was already recharging but the force that had to be behind that blow. To even think that a living creature was capable of that, something was wrong. Just what was this thing!? It was almost as if¡­¡­Kon¡¯gric went still and looked up through his shields. He looked up through his shield and tried to keep calm, but he couldn¡¯t.


    This was impossible, there was no way in existence that such a thing could be possible! But if it was, then everything that he thought he knew was wrong. But part of him was excited, this changed everything! For a moment he wondered just how he could use this, and then he felt his disgust rise. He had tried to stay away from the Great Game, but now?


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric, you okay over there? Me and the big guy are moving around, lining up shots! Just hold for a few more minutes! Your gear can hold, right]?¡± Olv¡¯xic¡¯s voice caused Kon¡¯gric to look at his HUD map, seeing the others moving behind him.


    ¡°[Wait! I think it might be able to use Aether to improve its blows! The Strength increases Tech! It might know others]!¡± Kon¡¯gric said hurriedly.


    ¡°[What!? That¡¯s impossible! There¡¯s no way that animals can use Aether]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx snarled.


    Kon¡¯gric would have agreed with him, but the most an animal that this size could do was drain his shield by 2 percent. But then the creature attacked his shield with two of its arms, and he watched as the shield dropped ten percent. He swallowed as he looked at the beast¡¯s spherical body. ¡°[Well unless this thing is a robot, it can use Aether! Each time it strikes me, it does more damage than an animal can do! So what other answer do you have for that]!?¡±


    ¡°[But really! How can that creature even have active Aether? Did it maybe eat someone active or something]?!¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded.


    At that idea, Kon¡¯gric went still as he tried and failed to think of a counter. And that idea made him look at the red creature as it roared. As it slammed its tentacles against his shield again, Kon''gric felt a spark of anger. The fact that this thing might be hunting him to take his Aether was very worrying.


    ¡°[I¡¯ve seen research to do this once. Before I joined up],¡± Olv¡¯xic said softly. ¡°[And the subjects using range Techs to escape the facility. How I got off-world, to be honest].¡±


    Kon¡¯gric only felt his sheer shock and disgust increase for a second. The more he heard about Olv¡¯xic and his mysterious past, the more he wanted to visit with heavy weapons. The number of ways that those words could be understood was a very small number. And each one only led to more terrible things that might have happened to the kid.


    ¡°[What the stars!? Kid, where did you even]¡­.¡± Ken¡¯tricx began only for Kon¡¯gric to interrupt.


    ¡°[Later Ken¡¯tricx! Olv¡¯xic, these creatures you know. Were they smarter than normal]?¡± Kong6 asked as he slowly tried to move back a foot.


    ¡°[Thankfully, no. they were just as smart as they were normally¡­.. mostly. There were some of them that I think created Techs that broke Raloct¡¯s Law. So there¡¯s that],¡± Olv¡¯xic admitted.


    Kong6 only stared up at the creature as it roared and sank a bit into the water, its top tentacles all ready to strike. Raloct¡¯s Law. The impossibility of creating Techs that could increase your intelligence. It was a fact of life, but then so was that animals couldn¡¯t have active Aether.


    ¡°[Just kill this thing and get back out there! Do you still have the prince¡¯s location? We haven¡¯t lost it]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked with a hint of anger in his voice.


    ¡°[No, I¡¯ve still got it! I can track him for a hundred miles! We just need to get out of here]!¡±


    ¡°[Then let me clear the way]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx exclaimed.


    Suddenly Kon¡¯gric heard the sounds of firing coming from the right. But to Kon¡¯gric¡¯s horror, the blasts all hit an energy shield around the creature¡¯s body.


    ¡°[It¡¯s got shields! Why Does it have shields]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded as firing kept hitting the shielded limbs.


    All Ken6 did was curse himself for coming in here. But then he had to! His wife had been seeing this place for years in her dreams. And every time she got a sense that he would find something important here. Once he saw the trees, he had to go in.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Olv¡¯xic looked around at the way the creature was reacting to the fire. To his shock and horror, it wasn¡¯t treating the attacks like something new. And that could mean only one thing.¡°[Everyone, get ready for more trouble]!¡±


    ¡°[What else could there be troubling us on this wonderful picnic Olv¡¯xic? I mean it¡¯s a wonderful day here]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx said, sarcasm in his voice.


    ¡°[That thing is reacting to your attacks like it¡¯s happened to it before. And that means it did. And if it wasn¡¯t us, then it was something else. Something that might attack us],¡± Olv¡¯xic said as he looked around.


    He let his gaze wander over the forest, then he found something. There, in a bush was something that looked like a body. With a bad feeling, he dashed over and found a human corpse there. Looking down, Olv¡¯xic saw that it was fresh, having only been killed a few hours ago. There were a few pieces missing, showing that something had eaten this. The corpse had a purple cloak over it. And to his horror, there were broken veils around the head, each one stained red. He knew what it was at once, but what could a human be doing with blood here? He looked up, trying to find any clue, and just stopped.


    The bush was at the end of the hill before the slope. For a moment all Olv¡¯xic could do was take in the sheer beauty of the view. From the way that the trees and the hill all blended together, it was almost like a painting. But then he noticed the ten large round boulders near the bottom of the hill. The rocks that were ahead of drag lines on the ground. The rocks that he was sure he saw move an inch forward. ¡°[NOVA]!¡±


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    He aimed his rifle and fired, at the closet boulder and the shot went through it. Then the rocks all screeched and black insect-like heads appeared under the front. As he watched, each ¡®rock¡¯ was lifted into the air by four legs. And at the front came two mantis-like claws. The heads had multifaceted eyes and they were looking right at him. He stared as tails with stingers on the end appeared from their backs, each one pointing at him. He could only watch as each tail suddenly gained a glowing sphere before they sped towards him.


    He reacted, lunging to the side, and fired as soon as he caught sight of the creatures. Looking around, he quickly found what looked like a stone wall to hide behind. Not even stopping to think, he dove behind it and popped up, trading fire with the creatures.


    ¡°[Olv¡¯xic, what is it!? What¡¯s happening]?!¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded


    Olv¡¯xic only winced as he ducked under the blots that flew over his head. ¡°[Well, I found the range things! Some kind of bugs with shells that look like rocks! Got some kind of scythe claws like that bug¡­¡­ what is it, starts with an ¡®M¡¯? And a tail that they fire aether bolts from]!¡±


    Olv¡¯xic then blinked, looking at his cover and seeing it as if he hadn¡¯t before. ¡°[And I found evidence that people have been here! Said evidence is a stone wall with mortar holding it together]!¡±


    A few more spheres flew over his head and Olv¡¯xic looked at them and then he suddenly thought of a plan.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Ken¡¯tricx moved around, his floating rotary cannons kept firing. So far the beast had put its arms around itself, adding an extra layer of protection. He really wanted to figure out how to kill this thing soon. If that thing could kill Kon¡¯gric, then they would lose the Prince. And now Olv¡¯xic had found creatures that could use Aether Range Skills. The more he was thinking about this, the more he was convinced this was a bio-weapon factory. But how had the Builders of this era found out to make creatures with active Aether?


    He stopped as a terrible thought hit him. He felt his eyes widen as his mind made connections, connections that he hated. But it if was true, then this place was even more dangerous than they thought.


    ¡°[Guys, I¡¯m coming in! I¡¯m leading the things I found! Let¡¯s let them fight]!¡± Olv¡¯xic¡¯s voice came over the coms.


    For a second, it was all that Ken¡¯tricx could to keep standing. Then the sheer brilliance of the idea made him grin wide.


    ¡°[Best idea that we¡¯ve got! I say go for it! But then I am in a bind],¡± Kon¡¯gric said with a slight edge to his voice.


    Ken¡¯tricx looked up as the creature started to slam its tentacles on Ko¡¯gric¡¯s shield, and Ken¡¯tricx winced. With a thought, Ken¡¯tricx¡¯s canons started to fire again as he started to move. ¡°[Sorry Kon¡¯gric! My mind made a connection I didn¡¯t want. I¡¯ll keep the thing off our friend, how long do you need Olv¡¯xic]?¡±


    ¡°[Minutes at beast! Just keep fighting and get ready to run]!¡± Oly¡¯xic¡¯s voice had a touch of hope in it, and Ken¡¯tricx didn¡¯t want to bring it down. If the kid¡¯s idea worked, they could get back on the hunt. All he had to do was keep fighting and hope that the big thing didn¡¯t have another tech to use.


    As he summoned his rifle, his cannons spun as he broke cover. While his canons fired at the tentacles it was using to attack, Ken¡¯tricx fired at the ¡®legs¡¯. Deny an enemy its stability, and then try to kill it when it is down. An old trick to deal with monsters. But to his horror, the legs had shields too.


    ¡°[There you are, I was wondering what kept you. So, think it¡¯ll work]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked as he moved another half foot.


    All in all, Ken¡¯tricx was starting to wonder about the guard. There was just something in his voice, something that he couldn¡¯t place. ¡°[The kid is smart. And if those things are predators like this one, then it¡¯s more than possible. We just need to be ready to move. So get ready]!¡±


    Kon¡¯gric stayed quiet, and Ken¡¯tricx nodded. As much as he wanted to press in on Kon¡¯gric¡¯s thoughts, he didn¡¯t. Anything that might come out now would only damage Kon¡¯gric¡¯s trust in the team. And to rescue the prince, they needed to trust each other. ¡°[Just trust him. That¡¯s the best play we have, so let¡¯s wait].¡±


    ¡°[Don¡¯t wait too long! Coming up from right behind you]!¡± Oly¡¯xic¡¯s voice came over the coms moments before they heard the sound of blasters or something like it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he dodged another blast, Olv¡¯xic almost fired back. But he saw on his HUD that he was almost there, all he needed to do was keep moving. As he jumped over a fallen log, he grinned as he heard a beast¡¯s roar ahead.


    ¡°[Move in 3¡­2¡­1! Move Kon¡¯gric]!¡± Olv¡¯xic roared.


    As he dashed into the clearing right behind the shield, Olv¡¯xic turned and ran towards Ken¡¯tricx. As the shield dropped, more aether blasts flew out of the forest. They kept flying, and they hit the tentacle monster''s head. As it roared, the boulder insects came out of the forest and the front runner stumbled. But then a tentacle shouted out and grabbed the front runner as the rest of the boulder insects came out. As the leader boulder insect screeched, its fellows started to attack the tentacle.


    With a roar, the tentacle head monster¡¯s tentacle was severed and the leader was freed. The leader screeched and fired a bolt at the tentacle head, but the bolt met the tentacle head¡¯s shields. In reply, the tentacle head struck out with its tentacles, and


    While this happened the trio didn¡¯t stay, they ran. Within moments they had reached the door they had come through. To Oly¡¯xic¡¯s mounting horror, the door was just a squat blocky structure that was freestanding. ¡°[No].¡±


    ¡°[How is this even possible!? What is this place!? I mean just how]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx demanded.


    ¡°[We can¡¯t let it stay open! We have to close this]!¡± Olv¡¯xic declared as he walked through the doorway. Once he was in the corridors again, he looked at the walls and found a screen above a keyboard next to the door. When the others came through, Olv¡¯xic had already hacked into the controls and was looking to close. ¡°[NOVA! This is a teleporter! And I think¡­..no. It uses Quantum Entanglement to work! And it can be opened from both ends]!¡±


    ¡°[That¡¯s bad. That¡¯s really bad. Can you close it from this side]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked horror in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Yeah! I just need to do it without anything stopping me! So keep them out]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said.


    Ken¡¯tricx didn¡¯t wait for Olv¡¯xic¡¯s second sentence. He just aimed through the door as Kon¡¯gric moved behind him. As soon as he saw one of the boulder insects running at them, he started to fire his weapons. As he poured fire through the door, he tried to keep calm. He couldn¡¯t fault Kon¡¯gric, if one got the same prophecy over and over, he¡¯d look into it too.


    But as the bug was killed, he saw two more behind it. Ken¡¯tricx didn¡¯t stop, he just kept firing as more insects charged the doorway. He couldn¡¯t understand, just why was this happening, where had the horde come from?


    As he fired at the newest four, one of them started to fire back at him. Somehow, Ken¡¯tricx knew that what he was about to do was wrong, but he dodged the shot. Then the other three insects aimed at him, and all four fired in unison.


    As Ken¡¯tricx looked at the incoming fire, he knew that this was going to be bad. If he dodged them, then they would swarm the door. But if he took the shots, he would be forced back at best and they would still swarm the door.


    ¡°[MOVE]!¡± Kon¡¯gric cried as he pushed Ken¡¯tricx aside.


    As Ken¡¯tricx watched, Kon¡¯gric¡¯s shields blocked the shots. ¡°[Shield strength is falling fast, already at 80%! Please tell me you¡¯re almost done! Please]!¡±


    ¡°[Just about¡­.. done]!¡± Olv¡¯xic cried out as the portal shut down. As they watched, the doorway became nothing more than an empty wall.


    Kon¡¯gric shut his shield off and looked at the wall, and he dropped to the floor. ¡°[Each shot took out five percent of my shields. Most of our weapons can only do around two percent. What were those things for!? Horde tactics]?!


    Ken¡¯tricx looked at Kon¡¯gric, trying to think of anything that might prove him wrong. But nothing came to mind. For a few seconds, he thought about what this complex meant, and what it was. That portal was beyond anything that the Empire had created or was trying to make. It was beyond anything that was ever found a Ruin too. He couldn¡¯t even begin to think of how such technology could be used by a culture. It was something that could completely change everything that a society was. Instant travel over miles, cargo transportation, and personal movement would destroy those businesses. And in this place, if all the doors were like¡­..


    Blinking, Ken¡¯tricx looked at a door in front of him. Suddenly, a terrible feeling came through him. ¡°[Can you open this door? This one here]?


    Ken¡¯tricx saw Olv¡¯xic look at him before he went completely still.


    ¡°[Yeah, give me a second to find it¡­¡­. hello! It¡¯s just a door. No portals or anything! What is this place]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked as he went back to work.


    ¡°[What is it]?¡± Kon¡¯gric asked and Ken¡¯tricx stayed silent.


    ¡°[Some doors are portals, some aren¡¯t. This place is a nightmare to defend! Any of these doors could hold an army! Just what were they thinking? Were the builders so sure of their power that they made something like this by choice]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked in despair.


    All Ken¡¯tricx could do was stare at the wall, trying to understand just how big the Ruin was. He thought he had a good idea of how dangerous this place would be, but this destroyed it. There could be nothing but monsters behind any door. And who knows where the Prince was? All in all, he could see that this was going to be so dangerous. And where were the robots? They should have run into something by now!


    For a handful of moments, he imagined those robots charging out of the doors around them. And that was another reason he would have nightmares tonight. They needed to rescue the prince and find a place that they might be able to defend for a night.


    ¡°[HEY! There you are]!¡± Tar¡¯lroia¡¯s voice caused Ken¡¯tricx to look up the corridor.


    All Ken¡¯tricx could feel was hope that the others had made it here. Together, they just might be able to survive this.


    ¡°[What are you all doing on the floor? You resting or something]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked with a note of joy in his voice.


    ¡°[It¡¯s a long story, and to cut it short. Some of the doors are teleportation devices. But enough about us, how was the doors]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked with a blank face.


    ¡°[Teleportation!? Really]?!¡± Tar¡¯lroia asked in shock.


    ¡°[Yey, and you can¡¯t tell what is what until the door is opened! But the door was able to close without any more problems? You¡¯re all here so]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked.


    Je¡¯ndra took a step forward and looked at all three of them. ¡°[An Aether Aviva individual tried to get out. He was killed, and his corpse was that of a human. I think there are more Aether Active humans in this horror show].¡±


    It was all Ken¡¯tricx could do to keep from looking at Olv¡¯xic, wondering how the kid would take this news.

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Unknown Island / Ruin/ Corridors


    Galactic Standard Time / 0935


    As the group ran down the corridor, Olv¡¯xic stayed at the back. He kept his eyes looking all around at the doors, trying to figure out what they were. He had noticed something in the code, something that he still couldn¡¯t figure out. There was an answer to what the truth was, all he had to do was find it.


    At the front of the group, Je¡¯ndra and Kon¡¯gric led the way. Next came Ken¡¯tricx and Ro¡¯borlar, with Tar¡¯lroia before Olv¡¯xic. The five minutes it had taken them to get moving had been spent making sure that the door was closed. Olv¡¯xic had done that, and the others had made sure the other doors around them were closed tight. He didn¡¯t understand anything about the human thing. But keeping the team safe kept him from asking questions that he needed answers to. And the longer nothing happened, the more that he felt the need to ask those questions.


    ¡°[So why were humans with Aether so surprising? You said we¡¯re of human descent. So the story]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked, hoping that one of them would answer. He knew that he was going into what might be his last fight, and he needed answers if he was going to die.


    As he waited for a reply, Olv¡¯xic tried to think of the good things. He wanted to believe that every horror he felt while in the service was behind him. But was it?


    ¡°[Yeah, that. Well ¡­.. the history is that our ancestors were exposed to a virus that changed them. It happened when they crashed onto a world with a Ruin that was mostly destroyed. Seems it was


    ¡°[Crashed how? And in what]?¡± Olv¡¯xic asked as he fought against his shock.


    ¡°[They didn¡¯t tell you anything while you were growing up, did they kid]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked sorrow and a bit of shame in his voice.


    ¡°[No. They did not],¡± Olv¡¯xic ground out as he gripped his rifle tighter.


    The things he was learning, destroyed everything he ever thought about his birth world. If his team, his friend, were telling the truth? Then everything he had gone through until his escape was illegal. And how they hunted him because of the law, that was saying something. But what he heard next caused him the worst of pain.


    ¡°[Old STL colony ship. Sent from old Earth in the first wave. Feel through a Space Ruin that was one way. Took us centuries to find out where we had landed plus longer to rebuild our tech. We had changed so much that we were thought to be aliens when we made contact with Earth. We went with it, not knowing what our kin had gone through. The histories say they were going to come clean, but then the war. That changed everything],¡± Je¡¯ndra said softly from the front.


    Olv¡¯xic¡¯s eyes widened behind his mask. He tried to speak, but all that came out was nothing as he stammered, shocked beyond words. All his life, he had thought he was something he wasn¡¯t, and this¡­.. He couldn¡¯t understand why he had been treated the way he had. It didn¡¯t make sense! ¡°[And every planet knows this? There was no way that some people just didn¡¯t know that, right]?¡±


    ¡°[Yeah kid, every planet and every family. Anyone who graduates from normal schooling has to know that. They rerun the documentary and they redo it every three years! It¡¯s been the subject of so many movies, there had to have been a hundred different directors who made one! Most of them run awards for them! It¡¯s part of our culture]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx voice, usually so strong now held a note of anger.


    All Olv¡¯xic could do was keep his focus on what was important right now. This wasn¡¯t the time for him to get mad, and that his target wasn¡¯t here. And the only person that he had to think about, was the Prince. He had to keep his mind clear and do everything that he could.


    ¡°[¡­¡­. You okay kid],¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked suddenly.


    Olv¡¯xic let his eyes roam his HUD and saw the symbol for Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s symbol blinking. The way it was blinking showed that Ro''borlar had created a one-way channel between them. For a second he almost nodded, then he remembered that Ro¡¯borlar couldn¡¯t see him. He took a deep breath and sighed. ¡°[Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Just have to handle a big betrayal. And that¡¯s something I can deal with later, for now, the prince is what matters].¡±


    ¡°[Good man! Once we get back to the Empire, we¡¯ll pay a visit to your home with the full might of the Base behind us! The general has a big problem with people being discriminated against]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s voice had a note of anger and glee in his voice.


    Olv¡¯xic only blinked and then he felt a smile on his face. ¡°[Thanks. Just¡­. Thanks].¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Nothing to it kid],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he closed the channel and created a channel to Je¡¯ndra. ¡°[You were right, and I think it was also whoever raised him. I think personally, it might have been his mother¡¯s father. Just something that I really hope].¡±


    ¡°[And why¡­..oh. yeah, me too],¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice held a note of revulsion in her voice.


    Ro¡¯borlar nodded the same thoughts that he had just had. He really wanted to think that the Kid¡¯s mother had been of the Empire. If the opposite was true, then nothing that would be wasn¡¯t honorable. And if there were more, then there was a bigger problem than he dared to think.


    To take his mind off that spiral before he followed it to the bottom, he instead thought about his new sword. The metal was unlike anything that he had ever even read about. The idea of it was beyond anything that he thought was possible. But he had seen the answer firsthand, and he held two of them in his ¡®pocket¡¯. The number of times that one of these could have saved lives, was the most amazing weapon he could have found.


    Ahead of them, Je¡¯ndra turned the corner then she ducked back, grabbing Kon¡¯gric.


    ¡°[Hold! Everyone just stop]!¡± Je¡¯ndra barked into their coms.


    Ro¡¯borlar moved towards Je¡¯ndra and tried to catch a glance around the corner.


    Her mask looked at them and she shook her head. ¡°[We¡¯ve found the enemy. There are banners and blazers. Wherever those things carried the Prince, we¡¯re there].¡±


    Ro¡¯borlar stuck his hand forward and sent a command to it. A small wire with a camera at the end moved out of his gauntlet to peer around the corner. As his mask showed what the wire saw, he winced as he saw the enemy before them. There were at least five of those Bulky figures each one armed with an axe made from the same metal as the swords. ¡°[Yeah, and did you catch their axes? Same metal as my new sword. That means that they might be Aether users as well¡­.. oh Stars and Ancestors].¡±


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    ¡°[What is it]!? Tar¡¯lroia demanded.


    Ro¡¯borlar stayed silent, only looking at the screen as it replayed what his gear saw. He couldn¡¯t believe that this was possible. But it was, and that made this all the more dangerous.


    ¡°[Ro¡¯borlar, report! What did you see]!? Je¡¯ndra demanded as she shook him.


    Ro¡¯borlar stayed silent, only sending the video he had recorded to his team. As Je¡¯ndra stepped back, he knew she was watching it.


    As the others all cursed or swayed on their feet, he just nodded. He had recorded one of the Bulky ones turn into a baseline human in a purple robe. And then that human had created an Aether ball of light as another human appeared. That one had turned into another Bulky Figure that took up a guard position. The ''human'' nodded at the others and walked into the door.


    ¡°[You sure that your gear is working okay Ro¡¯borlar? Nothing that¡¯s wrong with it]?¡± Ken4 asked hope and worry in his voice.


    ¡°[No way! I looked over it myself! It¡¯s almost in factory conditions. That was real]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a surprising amount of pride in his voice.


    Ro¡¯borlar had to admit, the kid had a point. He had given his armor a once over once he was wearing it, it might be better than factory fresh. But the question had to be asked.


    ¡°[We can trust Olv¡¯xic¡¯s work and Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s tech. That really happened. This is against everything that we thought we knew about Aether. But it¡¯s a fact. But the house can wait. What do we do? A full frontal assault is the only thing to do. But it will be bloody],¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she looked around.


    ¡°[Not necessary],¡± Olv¡¯xic said, a note of viciousness in his voice. ¡°[We fought something like them once before. And I think that if we can get them over here, Ken¡¯tricx can handle them easily].¡±


    ¡°[I can? Wait¡­. My rotary canons! If they can get over here¡­. But there has to be one to replace each of those things. This will only work once],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said.


    Olv¡¯xic just moved his head down and up a bit. ¡°[That¡¯s the best part. I can mod my rifle to fire blanks! Then they¡¯ll do what fools do]!¡±


    At this, Ro¡¯borlar felt his mouth form a vicious leer. There was nothing that he liked more than to kill the enemy when they were tricked.


    ¡°[Good plan, let¡¯s do it]!¡± Ro3 said, rubbing his hands together;


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around at the other Muscle troops, the one who just changed positions sighed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong kid?¡± The Muscle Trooper next to him asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just wanted to see the ceremony. But they need guards, don¡¯t they?¡± The Kid said to the other Muscle Trooper.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯ll be others. This is gonna be a long war. The capital is in the center of their Realm after all. And there are other temples to cleanse. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll see the next one!¡± The Muscle Trooper said.


    ¡°Yeah¡­. Say, did you see the strange armored one the Flyer Troops brought back? I heard the Priest bless him to be one of the Main Pieces. Lucky Devil!¡± The Kid said and the Muscle Trooper laughed.


    ¡°Yeah. I mean those Flyers are probably gonna live it up! What I would want to be them right now!¡± The Muscle Trooper said.


    ¡°Yeah¡­. Hey! Is that one of those Armored ones!?¡± The Kid said pointing beyond the Muscle Trooper.


    They all turned and saw a figure in full armor with a blank face mask farther up the corridor. The figure was holding a strange-looking device pointing at them. The figure was standing about forty feet away from them, and the figure gave off a feeling of pride.


    ¡°DIE YOU SCUM!¡± The figure bellowed.


    Suddenly bright arrows shot from the device and sped at the Muscle Troopers. The Kid held up his hands to protect his face, but the lights hit them and did nothing. The Kid blinked and looked at the armored figure who stopped firing.


    ¡°NO, MY wonder weapon doesn¡¯t work! Curse you scum,!¡± The figure cried before running down one of the hallways.


    ¡°What were you saying about how they were blessed to get a small one of those things kid?¡± The Muscle Trooper who had spoken to him asked.


    The Kid felt a grin forming on his face and with a roar, he led the charge. As they thundered down the corridor, they all laughed. Hunting a runner was always fun! Once they got that one, they would be blessed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t run! It makes us mad!¡± The Kid howled and the others laughed harder.


    They reached the corner and turned, running with all they had. But as they turned, they saw something strange.


    The figure and five more. One of them had strange-looking barrels floating in the air, barrels that were pointing at them.


    The Kid felt his heart freeze and tried to stop, but he felt one of the others push him aside. The one that had talked to him grabbed him and pulled him up. The Kid was about to speak, but instead, he pulled the other Muscle Trooper past the corridor. Before the other could say anything, they heard screams of pain. The Kid looked around and saw an open door that the others used to rest in and pulled the speaker into the room.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± The Speaker asked.


    ¡°An ambush!¡± The Kid said with anger in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Je¡¯ndra looked at the carnage that Olv¡¯xic¡¯s plan had created. For a few seconds, she hadn¡¯t thought the plan would work. But it had, and the way was clear. Now all they had to do was rescue the Prince.


    ¡°[Good plan Specialist! No, great plan]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a hint of pride in her voice.


    ¡°[But I¡¯m just¡­.. oh. Thank you, commander]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said, saluting her.


    Je¡¯ndra only nodded and then looked at the corridor ahead of them. ¡°[Push Aether to your muscles, we¡¯re running straight at them! We charge, Ken¡¯tricx in front with his weapons firing. All techs and enhancements are free! Move now]!¡±


    With that last command, Je¡¯ndra ran ahead of her team. As they turned the corner, Ken¡¯tricx led the way. Ahead of them, three human figures dressed like the transformed one had gone out and one saw them.


    Ken¡¯tricx didn¡¯t wait for them to speak, his rotary cannons fired. As the humans were riddled with blaster holes, their bodies fell to the ground. As they reached the doorway, a roar was heard. They saw over twenty humans and ten Bulky figures. Each of the Bulky figures had black iron shields as tall as they were in front of them. Some of the humans had fire spheres in their hands, the others were making gestures with their hands.


    ¡°[Kon¡¯gric]!¡± Je¡¯ndra cried out.


    ¡°[On it]!¡± Kon¡¯gric cried out as he surged to stand between them, a shield wall forming between them and the Followers.


    As the fireballs hit the shield, Kon¡¯gric only chuckled. ¡°[Their not that strong! That only dropped the wall by a total of five percent! I¡¯ll hold here. And you can fire out]!¡±


    ¡°[Come on kid! With me]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx called out as he surged around the left side while Olv¡¯xic did the same on the right. Olv¡¯xic summoned the two swords he had taken, and he sped up as he closed on the humans.


    Ro¡¯borlar didn¡¯t wait, he only aimed his sniper rifle as it glowed blue. ¡°[Come on you son of a blackhole! Taste this]!¡±


    He fired two bolts, and both hit the middle Bulky one. When the first bolt hit, there was an explosion of ice. It froze the shield so cold that the second bolt drilled through it and froze the holder solid.


    Je¡¯ndra meanwhile had charged around the left, summoning her twin blades as she ran. As she moved, there was a red energy comet tail trailing behind her. With a roar, she sped up and dashed past Ken¡¯tricx. She stopped next to one of the Followers who turned, but it was too late. She slashed his head off and roared, causing the others to look at her.


    While that happened. Olv¡¯xic had reached the closet Follower and slashed out with one, one of the blades. It went through the fireball and absorbed it, the blade gaining a red glow. As he stared at the red glowing blade, one of the Bulky ones tried to attack him with its shield. Olv¡¯xic dodged the blow and slashed down with his glowing blade. The Bulky one¡¯s arms were split in half and cauterized in an instant.


    ¡°[Get behind that pillar Kid]!¡± Ken¡¯tricx called out, anger in his voice.


    Olv¡¯xic didn¡¯t wait, he just moved.


    Ken¡¯tricx had finally made it to where he could see the backs of the shield bearers. His rotary canons started side to fire and he killed the shield line in moments!


    As the humans realized they had lost their protectors, some of them panicked. But Je¡¯ndra hadn¡¯t been idle and had taken up a guard stance between them and the door deeper into this place. As she slew the first one, another two were frozen over.


    While this happened, Kon¡¯gric had dropped his shield and summoned his axes, ready to defend. Meanwhile, Tar¡¯lroia joined her rifle to Ro¡¯borlar¡¯s fire, aiming at the humans.


    The humans tried to fight back throwing fireballs at the team but they dodged. But the humans blocked the bolts from Ro¡¯borlar with fireballs, and they were gathering.


    ¡°I''m not going out this way!!¡± One of the humans screamed and thrust their arm into one of the other humans. As the dying one looked at the betrayer, the betrayer screamed. ¡°For the true great one!¡±


    There was a blast of fire that raced out and lines of glowing red energy lines shot out. All of the team dodged them, but the humans were all pierced. They screamed before they were engulfed in flames.


    The area around where the betrayer had been was the center of the blast. There was a large red crystal sphere that went halfway to the ceiling and was five feet around. They all could hear the sounds of an organic pulsing, but they had no idea what it was.


    ¡°[Well, that looks bad],¡± Ro¡¯borlar croaked out, sounding like he was looking at his death.


    ¡°[It¡¯s worse than you think! I¡¯ve seen something like this before, that being? They are become something beyond what they were before. And they''re gonna be a lot stronger]!¡± Olv¡¯xic rasped, a note of fear in his voice. ¡°[If this is like then? Then the powers it has will be magnified by the number of things it killed to fuel the transformation. And the Techs will stack! So how many humans able to use Fireball were there]?¡±


    Je¡¯ndra could only look at him, trying to understand what he knew and how. But that wasn¡¯t important right now. If he was right, then they were looking at a neutron bomb about to go off. The only thing to do was move fast and get out of here. With the Prince inside this structure, they had to go fast. Get the Prince, then find a way back to the sun. They had to find one of the other escape capsules, that way their one way to get out of this world.


    ¡°[So leaving before that thing hatches, that the good plan right? I mean, I¡¯m just saying]?? Ken¡¯tricx said with a look at the crystal egg.


    ¡°[Onwards and inwards, let¡¯s move now! So come on]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a hard edge, putting her blades away and resummoning her rifle.


    As she ran out the doorway, the echoes of the beating followed after them. All she knew, was that something told her that this was going to be even worse than what they left behind them.

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty Seven

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Outside Cult Doorwaay


    Galactic Standard Time / 1000


    As he walked towards the door, Rogix tightened his grip on his axe. He knew that as soon as he opened the door, everything would start. If they could strike fast and hard, they might be able to stop this before it began. He had promised to help Icotrix, and he meant to do that. But there was the chance that they had already killed the sister, but he had to hope. That was the only thing he could do.


    He looked around at the people around him and then nodded as he made a decision. ¡°Bryce, I want you to stay with the men if you can in the battle ahead. But if you have a chance to kill the enemy, take it! Icotrix, got anything that might be able to help us blend in?¡±


    Icotrix nodded and looked around, smirking as he saw a chest to the side. Walking over, he opened it and laughed a little. ¡°Perfect! These robes will make them think we¡¯re the last few coming in to watch. But how will you handle what¡¯s inside?¡±


    Rogix only nodded as he took one of the robes and threw it over his armor. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that. Based on what¡¯s inside, I¡¯ll make a plan. Besides just killing everyone. But I need to know, those ¡®Spawn of the Great Beast¡¯? One of them is what your sister will be fed to, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. There are monsters a lot like the paintings. I¡¯ve seen three of them, and all of them were different and could use different Power Abilities. As long as the doors are closed, it will be asleep. Keep the doors closed, that¡¯s the way to win,¡± Icotrix said with a hard glare at the door.


    All Rogix did was nod before he turned around and opened the door. The sounds of large drums came through the door.


    He looked around and felt his heart clench. There were at least forty of the robed cultists, and twenty of the Bulky Figures in two lines down the middle. Each one was beating on a drum, and at the head was a man. He was dressed in an elaborate purple robe, and his hood was off. The man had dark blue hair and a mustache below blue eyes. It was lucky that Rogix had met Bryce and his friends, or he would have been shocked. Unlike them, he had to be a person from the Engineer¡¯s Realm, and maybe a traitor like Icotrix called the man behind them.


    But it was the two people that he was talking to that made Rogix¡¯s heart clench.


    The jade green hair deep green shirt and black pants told him much, but the person beside him gave more.


    That man had a bald head and wore blue armor. There was a blade on his back, a large one with a blade the width of a hand.


    There was no doubt in Rogix¡¯s mind that this was the General of the Water, Arglix, and his charge, Prince Barclix. It was all he could do to keep calm, staring at the Prince talking to one of the enemy like that. If he wasn¡¯t here to see it, Rogix would never have believed that this was possible.


    ¡°Someone important?¡± Bryce¡¯s voice next to him caused Rogix to nod.


    ¡°Yeah, I think we¡¯ve found the Highest that Icotrix talked about,¡± Rogix said bitterly, his mind heavy. He never thought that he would point his weapon at an ally. But if the prince was here, then he was a traitor and he would bring him to justice even if he went through Arglix.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryce felt the old man was going through something and didn¡¯t press. He just looked around, seeing the robed cultists and then the Bulky Figures. As Icotrix had done, some of the Cultists had to be able to shape-shift. Each and every one of them was just an unknown variable that could change the battle in an instant.


    He looked around the room, taking in everything. The chamber was large, around three hundred feet wide and long. There were balconies about ten feet off the ground and another two above the lowest one. The chamber¡¯s far wall had a large set of doors fifty feet wide that went to the ceiling. The floor of the chamber had a large hole a good hundred feet wide in front of the door. Before that was a large platform where the hoodless man and the other two were standing. In front of that moving toward the doors was a platform with three crosses on it. From where they were, they could see who was on them.


    All three crosses had people on them. The first was a white-furred feline-like biped. From the clothing on them, the being had to be sentient. He didn¡¯t know the race, and the clothing was more ancient than the Kingdom¡¯s. If the race had fur, then they might not need clothing in these forests. The being next to him made Bryce go still. The next cross had a child-sized Ancient in their armor hanging there. He had seen the Ancient party come aboard the Spirit, and that was the ¡®Apprentice¡¯. From the smooth armor and color, unless that was the color for all Apprentices. If the kid died and the Empire knew Bryce let it happen, he was looking at another war. But the last one had to be the turncoat¡¯s sister. She had blackish-red hair like Icotrix, and if she was awake then he was sure her eyes would be the same.


    ¡°Found our rescue targets. On the crosses. We have a lot of enemies to get through. Any idea how to do that?¡± Bryce asked softly.


    ¡°No, any idea where the chains are Icotrix?¡± Rogix asked softly.


    There was a procession from the right of the party, and Bryce turned his head. There was a commotion by the doors, and from them came a procession. To Bryce¡¯s confusion, they were carrying a cross with a girl on it.


    ¡°That¡¯s the princess!¡± Rogix said, shocked to near speechless.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around the temple, Selrotis could only grin. He had worked so hard to get this done, and he had finally. And there was going to be the most important step in his grand plan! With the prince himself here and allied to him, things were perfect. With Barclix''s promise to legalize the worship of the Great Beast, things were going great. Over the next few years, those who followed the Great Beast would become the only religion! And with Barclix''s pledge of sacrifice, they were bound together. Selrotis watched the cross with Barclix''s sister on its move towards the alter, he grinned.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°It¡¯s good that my sister finally has a use!¡±


    The voice of Barclix caused Selrotis to laugh a little. ¡°I know the feeling! That old fool is still clinging to life back home! I sometimes wonder if I should help him along!¡±


    The laughter of Barclix only made Selrotis chuckle for a bit.


    Selrotis only shook his head, thinking of the last few years. He has been exploring a hidden Temple within the Kingdom with a pack of Followers. It had been the end of a quest that a Future Seer had said would lead to the path his life was to take. Instead of the wonders of the Ancestors, instead, he had found Barclix and his own followers. There had been a short battle before these strange flying insects attacked them all.


    With the numbers the creatures had, the humans had been forced to fight together. After the two of them had killed the alpha together, they decided to talk and feast on the slain creatures. That night while their mean laughed and partied, the two had talked. It had taken the two of them a short time to see the way that both of them were the same. Together they had planned to use the other to their twin benefit. And that was the best decision that Selrotis had ever made!


    Together they had planned the deaths of Selrotis¡¯s rivals in the Followers to Barclix¡¯s forces. From the deaths of those ¡®rebels¡¯, Barclix had gained goodwill from the nobles. And Selrotis had climbed higher until he was one of the High Priests. There were only a few things to do to gain the thrones that both of them wanted.


    ¡°Still my friend, I am sorry that you¡¯ll lose the piece that was her,¡± Selrotis said with a shake of his head.


    Barclix only shrugged. ¡°She was getting too unpredictable. Once I prove the greater, my other sisters will look to me. Once I mary them to my followers, binding their factions to me. Then I¡¯ll be one step closer to the throne!¡±


    Selrotis only nodded, looking around with a grin. ¡°And soon my master will come here within the next week. Once he sees this place and takes command, you¡¯ll need to do your part.¡±


    ¡°Of course my friend! Once my army gets here, the good general will lead the charge and kill the rebels. It will destroyer the Scholars, and my Makers will slowly take over!¡±


    ¡°And all of them will be the Followers of the Great Beast! Once the temple is built, we will rise! The terrible way the monsters of the Beast Worshipers lied to us! Once my men help you kill the heir of the Grand Priest, everything will be over!¡± Selrotis said as he looked at Barclix who laughed.


    Selrotis could only stare at the fool that was Barclix. He saw the way that Arglix nodded at him as Barclix¡¯s gaze was away from him. Selrotis could only barely hide his grin. To think that the fool didn¡¯t know that the so-called general next to him was Selrotis¡¯s own cousin!


    Arglix was one of many who had found their way into the Kingdom¡¯s army from the Followers. They had most of their people in his and one other¡¯s army. The rest of their spies were all around the Kingdom, slowly gathering intelligence. All they needed to do was wait a little longer, and then they would rise. If Barclix wasn¡¯t needed for his own rise, then Selrotis would have had Arglix kill the fool!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Amilisra tried to think as she woke up from her slumber. For a second, she wondered why her back was against such a hard surface. Then she blinked as she realized she was looking down at her body. Why had she been asleep standing? Then everything that had happened came back to her and she reacted.


    ¡°What, where am I¡­¡­No!¡± Amilisra screamed as she tried to get free. But she was bound to the cross and was stuck there. She looked around, trying to find anything that might help her when she saw who was ahead of her.


    Standing there, Barclix just looked at her and grinned. ¡°Hello, sister! How was your nap?¡±


    ¡°Barclix what are you doing here? General Arglix! Free me, we have¡­too¡­escape?¡± Amilisra asked as she looked around and saw the beings around her. For a moment, she thought that her brother and the general were captives. Then she saw that they were unbound and Arglix even had his weapon. For a moment she wondered what was happening and then she realized it as a cold sphere formed in her gut. ¡°You planned this! You planned my capture!¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe it! He was still her brother, and he had planned this!? But why!? He was a hero! He had saved so many lives, and done so much. To think that he was a traitor all along!? It would have been impossible to think that before now.


    Barclix only shrugged and grinned at her. ¡°I always knew that you were smarter than the other noble fools sister! I must admit, that I will miss that. But needs must after all. At least I¡¯ll be here to watch your final moments!¡±


    ¡°Final!?¡± Amilisra asked in horror as she looked at her brother, staring at him. Suddenly, everything about him that bothered her made sense in a way that she never expected. ¡°Everything that you did, you planned it! Not the finding them, but somehow you knew everything about where those rebels were!¡±


    ¡°But of course! And my friend here gained much as well! A few more months sister dear, and I¡¯ll be king!¡± Barclix declared.


    ¡°So how will I die,¡± Amilisra asked, letting her struggles stop. She looked around at the beings before her and for a moment, she thought she felt something. Something that she had never felt before. But it was similar all the same.


    ¡°You will feed the Spawn of the Great Beast! Your blood will help me bless your brother. Take heart! This will change your people¡¯s destiny!¡± Selrotis cried out as Amilira¡¯s cross was put next to three others.


    She looked at saw a boy her age in strange armor with a helm with eye holes. An older girl with red hair of all things. And finally a white furred Enemy. She looked at the beings here and felt that they weren¡¯t the worst to die with.


    She looked at her brother and with an effort, spat at him. As her saliva hit him, he only laughed a little.


    ¡°So you had a bit of bite after all? A shame I only found out about it now!¡± Barclix said before bowing.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    It was all Bryce could do to keep Rogix from charging at the traitors. As they heard the echo of Barclix¡¯s speech, Rogix almost screamed in rage.


    ¡°Keep it cool my friend, keep calm. We just have a better target to strike at. The question is, do you want him to live until I make him talk?¡± Bryce whispered to Rogix.


    Rogix turned his head and looked at Bryce who only nodded. Looking around at the balconies on both sides, he frowned. For a second, Bryce had thought he saw something in one of the ones on the left. He thought a shiny blackness had moved, if only for an instant. Shaking his head, he looked around at the enemy and finally found the chains connected to the door. His eyes tracked them and to his surprise and hope, the lock was on their right. It was set against the wall, and there were only two of the Bulky ones there! It was a large wrench, and it had to be moved by muscle power!


    ¡°Look alive! Found the way the doors are opened. I¡¯ll take the men there and hold. What about you two?¡± Bryce asked quietly.


    Rogix took a deep breath and looked at the platform with the traitor prince on. ¡°I¡¯ll be dealing with the traitors. Just need to wait for a spark to strike. I don¡¯t know¡­.¡± Rogix began only for a scream of rage to echo off the walls.


    ¡°traitor!¡± A female voice roared from their right. As everyone looked towards it, a woman in armor with green hair wielding a spear jumped out of one of the balconies. She landed and charged, only for the sword wielder next to the ¡®highest¡¯ to intercept her and grin at her.


    As that happened, Zane appeared and charged out of a balcony on the lower level. He screamed a strange word as he fired his pistol at the purple-robed beings. When he did that, some of them charged to meet him as the flesh of others started to change.


    Bryce could only blink in shock. ¡°Or we go now, that¡¯s good, let¡¯s go now.¡±


    But before they could even move, a yowl came from the left. Two feline humanoids jumped out of a balcony, one with black fur and the other with crimson fur wielding a sword. As they were air-born, the black one suddenly glowed red and gained a red energy aura. The being¡¯s aura shot out red energy darts that hit the line of drummers. Each bolt hit a drummer¡¯s head, burning their flesh to cinders. As the two felines landed, other felines charged out of the lower left balconies.


    ¡°How did they get here?!¡± Rogix demanded in shock.


    One of the Followers ahead of them snorted.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Arglix only laughed as he blocked Wilmria''s weapon. ¡°Dear Wilmria! It¡¯s been too long darling!¡±


    ¡°Quiet you scum! How dare you try and kill the princess?! But to work with these freaks! Why!?¡± Wilmria growled.


    Arglix only looked at her with a soft smile that kept his rage at bay. How dare this pagan call his own scum!? After having to put up with the likes of Barclix all these years, this happened?! He had never let his own flesh sing like the others were doing. He had sucked up the Prince and followed him saying something about his loyalty. And now this? It was almost too much! The only pleasure that he ever had was fighting the others. And here was one of the ones that he wanted to kill after the conquest, right here and now? It was a sign from the beast itself!


    ¡°Please Dear Wilmria, you can¡¯t win alone against me! And even with the other intruders, you can¡¯t win!¡± Arglix said, his voice having a dangerous purr to it. He loved when he could use his voice to break his foes. To let them die in agony of the mind, was the greatest way to dominate others.


    ¡°You will die, and the Prince will face judgment! I¡¯ll see to it myself!¡± Wilmria declared as she jumped back and called upon a green energy aura.


    As Arglix tried to think of how to kill her or knock her out, Barclix had to make things worse.


    ¡°Keep her body mostly intake! We can use her, as a way to decimate her army!¡± Barclix called out.


    For a moment, it was all Arglix could do to keep silent. To think that fool of a prince would say that to the General of the Wind. The person who was behind all the dictator relief operations?  The woman who trained her men herself from raw recruits? Who promoted them to be her commanders? What else could go wrong after this?


    ¡°Hey, who are you all!?¡± A voice roared from near the door to the rest of the Temple. The explosion of lightning there told him that something was very wrong.


    ¡°FOR THE KINGDOM!¡±


    With that battle cry, Arglix felt his heart jump to his throat.


    With a flash of yellow energy, suddenly Rogix was there, swinging his axe at Arglix. Then and there, Arglix knew that the time for hiding was over.


    ¡°Kill him!¡± Arglix roared as he dodged Rogix¡¯s blow by bare inches.

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty Eight

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Cult Shrine


    Galactic Standard Time / 1010


    As he charged with two blades in his hands, Zane hoped Karltics could keep to the plan. This was so much bigger than they thought. Once they saw the way this place was set up, Zane knew that this was going to be bad. They were all too organized! If there were places like this, it showed this bigger than just a simple ransom for a cult. He had barely gotten Wilmria to calm down when they heard the drums. She had run off and it was all he could do to have Karltics stay down. He had to stay out of sight so that if Zane and Wilmria died, others would know what happened here.


    He had caught up to her and saw her pale in horror. He had barely figured out her summering that one of the ones at the front was Amilisra¡¯s brother. When she said that he had sent her to the Rest, everything suddenly made sense to him. This was what that filth wanted to happen to her! He couldn¡¯t understand his final plan, all the points but her death was part of


    He had spared the room and chamber they were in a glance and figured out a way to help out. But before he could even open his mouth, Amilisra had woken up.


    Once they heard what Amilisra¡¯s brother was planning, Wilmria hadn¡¯t waited, she just acted. Zane had been planning to get higher to provide overwatch and use his new Power to take out most of the people. But Wilmria had just been so mad that she just moved, so he followed after her. And the result of this was this grand mess!


    He fired and hit another of the changing Followers, hitting them in their right shoulder. He almost fired off the new Power he had, but then the cries came from the other side. He saw the felines holding right across from him. From what he could see, the two at the front were killing the Followers and forcing that side to focus on them. If they were able to hold them, then maybe Wil3 and Rogix could handle the traitor. All he had to do was keep alive and wait for a chance to save the sacrifices.


    A scream from one of the closest Bulky figure drummers had him shoot it in the head. As that one fell forward, the others roared and charged him. He gritted his teeth and was about to say the nova with everything. He could fall back, and let them chase him until he turned and fired off his Power. That would buy him a bit of time to get higher, to the top. From there, he could fire at the so-called Prince and his partner. Taking out one of them and then the chaos would let him save the hostages. But before he could move, the three Bulky Figures at his left fell, each one with a hole through their heads.


    ¡°Zane, here! Over here!¡±


    The sound of Bryce¡¯s voice caused him to look toward his right. He saw Bryce and a pack of guards fighting to defend something. There were two dead bodies by Bryce, and that was enough for Zane. If he was willing to stand there and defend it, then it had to be important. Without a word, he ran towards Bryce, firing his weapon into the enemy. When he saw one of them moving toward the black-furred feline, he shot it dead. As the body dropped, he caught the eyes of the crimson-furred one and nodded. He wasn¡¯t surprised when that one nodded back.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he watched the strangely dressed Enemy run, Zezill felt a strange emotion. When he and the others had found this place, they knew. This was set up just like the Ritual circle in their village. They had seen creatures killed there, never the Enemy, never those that could think. There it was always beasts, all to prove themselves to dead gods. If this was anything like that, then this was for the killing of sacrifices. And from what they had seen. Nyllia was one of those chosen. They wouldn¡¯t let that happen, they wouldn¡¯t!


    So when that Enemy attacked this place, they did as well. Already he had killed three of these Large ones, and half of the group was coming at them. Together, he and Guricallwere holding their own, but how long? This was beyond anything they had expected.


    As he dodged a creature that looked like an insect, his backswing took its head off. As the body fell he looked around, trying to find anything that could help. But all that he was the same, a wall of humanoid figures changing into Monsters coming at him!


    With a roar, he slashed out and to his surprise, a green aura formed around him. He was shocked to find that he felt a bit like when Ny1 had used her power on him. He roared and charged at the figures, his sword cloaked in the aura as he ran. One of the Bulky figures tried to slam its hammer at him, but he dodged, slicing the figure¡¯s arms off before the elbow. As it roared in pain, he jumped and kicked its chin, sending it a foot into the air to land on a bestial-like figure.


    As he landed the other robed figures and monsters made a circle around him, and he grinned at them. One of the pushed forward, this one was an insect-like figure with a long stinger tail and mantis-like arms. It stared at him and began speaking the tongue of the Enemy. With a second Zezill dashed forward and slashed out with his sword. The insect tried to move its tail but Zezill jumped and slashed through while he was in the air. He landed and charged back, this time cutting off the Insect¡¯s head. As the other figures took a step back, but there was a scream from behind them. They took a step forward and roared as they charged him.


    Zezill just laughed and ran, at them. He jumped to the head of one and kicked off. His jump sent who he had landed on to the floor. In the air he saw a human figure with a very ornamental blade at the back, but close enough for him to reach. But a cry from behind caused his head to snap towards the others. One of the felines was moving backwards, and the line was about to fall. Without a single moment of hesitation, he knew what he had to do.


    He landed on the head of another of the Bulky ones, who tried to grab him. But he jumped off into the air, twirling as he did so. He saw a mass of humanoids defending something that was connected to large chains. From the way they were fighting, it had to be important. But what did they want to¡­.. his heart clenched as he realized whatever it was, it was to open something. He spared a glance at where Whi1 and the others were. Just beyond them was a large door set into the wall, and to his horror he heard the low echo of something huge beyond them.


    Suddenly he knew what they had to do, and how to save their own. As soon as he landed, he growled and slashed down. This time he created an energy wave and it cut the humanoid figure that was attacking his own down the middle. He saw Guricall and yelled. ¡°BlF1, get the others to move along the wall! We have to keep the doors closed!¡±


    Guricall only nodded as he dug his blade into the throat of a humanoid. ¡°Got it! You heard the boss cats! Move, help the wounded!¡±


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°What did he mean to kill him now!? Kill who!? The Thunder General!? How did he expect that!?¡± Barclix demanded as he grabbed a small dagger in his pocket. This was going beyond anything that he planned! To think that everything was falling apart! How had the General even gotten here!? He was supposed to be testing out a new weapon that the so-called Scholars had created! So why was he here so fast!? He should have been days away!


    ¡°It means that this is getting too bad for anything but the last resort. I want you to know something, it was a nice daydream to work with you,¡± Selrotis said from behind him.


    But what bothered him was the note of regret in the man¡¯s voice. That was enough for Barclix, who dodged to the right. He saw that Selrotis had tried to stab him. He was able to see a strange-looking knife in Selrotis''s hand. He had only seen it for a second before Selrotis blocked his view with his body. But that split-second look told him the knife was unlike anything he had ever seen. ¡°What are you doing!?¡±


    ¡°Getting rid of you. With everything that happened here, we have to leave. Let the Spawn rampage and kill those above and whoever comes here. It will be all the better for us,¡± Selrotis said dryly as he looked at Barclix.


    ¡°But why does what Arglix says even matter to you¡­¡­ he¡¯s one of yours,¡± Barclix said suddenly, his eyes wide. Suddenly, everything that had happened to him took on a darker tone. Arglix had been one of his closest followers for years, and one that he respected! But here and now, it seemed that he had been played for longer than he thought possible. Even the plan to get rid of his sister Amilisra had been part of Arglix¡¯s advice. To think that the one who prided himself on fooling others had been tricked for so long. ¡°So I have to know, was anything my idea? Or were you people leading me around even before I found you?¡±


    ¡°No, our meeting was pure chance. I did think using you to take over was my best plan yet. But this is too much, my cousin has to go all out, and for that to happen, you need to die. Nothing personal about it, really. And you will become a saint of the Followers, one who gave of their mind to become a great weapon!¡± Selrotis proclaimed.


    Barclix only looked at him, a thousand things going through his mind. If he was understanding this, then these fanatics were more dangerous than he thought. If he was right, then these monsters planned something far worse than even he dared to believe. ¡°That¡¯s why you want to capture all those people. Why you wanted to bring those bandits back with you. I thought it was for slave labor, but it wasn¡¯t. I am impressed. Very impressed.¡±


    ¡°Always good to be appreciated. But you know that you can¡¯t win. It will be fast,¡± Selrotis promised.


    Barclix only looked at him and then laughed a little. ¡°Well you all were keeping secrets, but so was I. And here¡¯s mine!¡±


    With but a thought, a blazing blue energy aura formed around him. Pointing his knife at the shocked face of Selrotis, Barclix grinned.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he slashed out with his axe, Rogix almost hit Arglix¡¯s shoulder. He snarled at the man he once thought of as a friend and felt his rage peak. ¡°How long did it take you to betray your own!?¡±


    ¡°You were one of us! A general of the Kingdom! Why?! Just why did you go over to these scum1?¡± Wilmria deemed as she pointed her spear at him.


    All that Arglix could do to this question was chuckle as he shook his head. ¡°Ahhhh. There is the Kingdom¡¯s sheer arrogance! I must say, I won¡¯t miss that!¡±


    ¡°Miss it!? What are you talking about!?¡± Rogix snarled as his own aura engulfed him.


    ¡°When I go home of course! I must say that my mission was fun. And learning all the secrets will be perfect for the invasion!¡± Arglix declared as he looked at the two Generals.


    ¡°Invasion!? Home!?¡± Wilmria asked aghast. She stared at him and for a moment her aura slipped but then it was back.


    Rogix looked at her and saw her eyes had become pinpoints. She was staring at Arglix with a look of pure shock and horror. ¡°Was anything that we went through mean anything to you at all!? Was every nothing but a lie!?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± Rogix demanded.


    ¡°He¡¯s a spy, he¡¯s always been a spy!¡± Wilmria snarled as she spun her spear.


    ¡°What!?¡± Rogix whispered in horror.


    ¡°And no, it didn¡¯t really. I¡¯ll feel nothing at all when I get home. Probably a Power a priest put on me. But all your people just weren¡¯t my own Wilmria. My rank was something I never planned for, but it did help me so much! I mean let¡¯s be real! It gave me more power and all the access I needed. And it brought me to the Prince, and it helped me bring him here. I¡¯m just sad that this will end so badly for him. I thought of him as a pet if I¡¯m being honest,¡± Arglix said bluntly as he pointed his sword at the two generals.


    Rogix only stared at Arglix in shock. He had expected everything but that, never that. The Followers as they called themselves were smart enough to send in spies!? That changed everything. And he wasn¡¯t such a fool to think that this one was the only one within the Kingdom!


    ¡°And the only reason I¡¯m telling you is that you won¡¯t live!¡± Arglix called out, anger and rage in his voice as a blue aura exploded around him. He screamed as he was engulfed in the energy, and they could hear his body change.


    Rogix stepped backwards, feeling that what was happening before him was wrong. Even though Arglix was engulfed in his own aura so much that it hid him, he could see an outline. The traitor¡¯s body starts to change as he roars.


    Rogix swallowed as Arglix started to grow taller, and when Arglix grew another two limbs, Rogix knew. That this was going to be a harder fight than he thought, and that the Cult had so many problems for the Kingdom.


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    As Bryce slashed out with his sword. He saw Zane running towards them. He had no idea why his friend was here, but the fact was a star blessing! Together, with their skills they might be able to survive this mess. They had to get back to the others, they had to know the danger they were in!


    A roar from one of the Bulky figures as it charged at them took his attention. But then the figure stumbled and fell, a hole burned through its skull.


    Zane appeared there a moment later and looked out at the mob around them. ¡°So, bugger then we thought then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why are you even here?¡± Bryce asked as he fired out as the other soldiers behind held the line.


    Zane turned and fired at a Flyer, and then he shrugged. ¡°The usual. Found monster biped bugs feeding off this place to fast grow an army. A princess was coming along the path outside the galley, and then one of the others found a way out there. The princess got attacked by a traitor and we tracked them here.¡±


    A roar caused everyone, even the Cultists to pause and turn towards the sound.


    Bryce could see Rogix and the woman looking at a monster biped ten feet tall. It was reptilian, and its body was sleek and streamlined. Its scales were blue, and it had two ram-like horns on its head. Its muzzle had four fangs, two pointed down and two up. Its eyes were pure black and its five-fingered hands had talons on them. It had a tail and its two legs had sickly claws above its feet.


    Bryce just blinked then as the Cultists cheered he fired at one of the Bulky ones. As it fell, the others looked at the group. Bryce knew that they had to hold this place, they couldn¡¯t let the door open. If one of those Spawn Icotrix was talking about was there, it was a variable that they didn¡¯t need.


    Howls from the left caused him to look as the feline creatures were suddenly there. They broke through the line of the Cultists, the two glowing ones leading the charge. As Bryce watched, the other felines joined the soldiers in fighting off the Cultists. The soldiers all looked at them for a moment before one of the felines saved a soldier from an Insect Cultist. While that happened, the black and crimson-furred ones fought through to Bryce and Zane.


    The crimson-furred figure just looked at Bryce and growled. Bryce stared as the feline biped started to make gestures at the Cultists.


    ¡°Fight together then?¡± Bryce asked and the two felines nodded. He kept an eye on the beast that Rogix and Wilmria were facing. There were enough monsters here, that friends were needed.


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    When Arglix had transformed, it was all he could do to keep fighting Selrotis. Barclix had to admit, that power was enticing. But the way Selrotis said that he would lose his mind, no, just no. He had to get away, he had seen where the Potions were made. His clan¡¯s forces were ready, the revolution would have to happen now.


    ¡°Well Selrotis, it¡¯s been real, really. I must say that the way that you tricked me was something I¡¯ll have to remember. Especially when I have to deal with your people,¡± Barclix said before he nodded.


    Selrotis looked at him before he cried out as arrows hit him. He dropped the strange knife, and then he looked up at the left balconies. His gaze went to the one against the wall with the great door, the last balcony. Standing in that box were three people, two men in black armor and golden facemasks. Ahead of them was a woman with black-green hair, and bluish green eyes. She was wearing green colored armor designed for a woman, and all of them were wielding bows.


    Barclix only laughed as he picked up the knife Selrotis had dropped, looking it over. The blade had a thin point at the end, and he saw the glint of a needle at the end. He looked at the female archer flashed the sign for ¡®2¡¯ and nodded.


    The woman nodded and then turned to the door to the balcony, barking orders.


    Barclix only looked at Selrotis and sighed. ¡°Well my friend, always have a backup plan. And I wish you good luck, sister!¡±


    Barclix spared a last look at Amilisra who glared at him. He sighed and ran towards the balcony, jumping and forcing his Power into his feet. When he landed next to the woman, he sighed. ¡°My dear, you have the Potion maker? Excellent! Let us be off. The war begins now!¡±


    ¡°As you say, my king,¡± The woman rasped and looked at the knife he had. ¡°And what is that?¡±


    ¡°A wonder that might kill my father, and pave the way to my accession!¡± Barclix said with a grin as he looked at the carnage behind him.

 Chapter One Hundred Twenty Nine

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Cult Shrine


    Galactic Standard Time / 1025


    As she looked at the dragon-like creature that her ''friend'' had become, Wilmria felt her mouth become a snarl. To think that a traitor had been so close to her for the last few years! What¡¯s worse, the fact that there was one spy meant there were more! She had to live if only to tell the king what had happened. The fact that one of his sons had betrayed their whole kingdom, was unthinkable! But the proof was before her¡­.. no! The traitor was running away!


    ¡°come my friends! Let¡¯s have a nice sparring match! Just like the good old days!¡± What had been Arglix rumbled as he looked at them. ¡°Wait, what are you looking at?¡±


    Arglix turned his head and saw that Prince Barclix was running away!


    ¡°NO!¡± Arglix roared before his neck budged. Then pointing his head at the Prince, Arglix shot a stream of water from his muzzle!


    The stream of water shot at the balcony faster than an arrow. But before it could even touch them, the woman in armor got in the way and thrust her hands out. A solid blue energy tower shield appeared, and it tanked the stream.


    ¡°Where¡¯d he get someone with the Power to shield!?¡± Rogix demanded.


    Wilmria just nodded silently. The Power was in high demeaned, all of those with them were sent to the Front Line, and they always saved so many lives! But if anyone could have the pull to keep one of those people from being conscripted would be a prince. But even then, she should have known about her. This told her a lot, and none of it was good for them. But if they could use Arglix¡¯s single moment of shock to attack, then they might be able to handle this!


    Rogix must have had the same thoughts as she did because a second later he pointed his axe at Arglix. Then a bolt of lightning sped and hit Arglix in a single millisecond, releasing a flash of light.


    Will grinned as she watched, with this they would be able to save the Princess! But her glee turned to horror as the light faded. She saw Arglix standing there unharmed. But here eyes found a water sphere floating in front of him that sparkled with lighting.


    Slowly Arglix turned and looked at Rogix. His muzzle seemed to leer at them and he chuckled. ¡°Was that supposed to do something? This isn¡¯t the first time I fought a Zapper Rogix. I¡¯ve trained just so I can one day kill you. But good effort, you almost made it through my ¡®Shield¡¯. Good for you!¡±


    Rogix stayed silent, but Wilmria could hear him grip his axe tighter.


    Wilmria felt the same as he did, this was going to be harder than they thought. But together they had handled much worse over the years. All they had to do was keep attacking, sooner or later someone would make a mistake. But which side that happened to first, was all up to chance.


    But then a roar from behind caused her to lung to the side, her instants telling her to move. Looking towards where she had been, she saw Rogix using his axe to cut off the head of one of the large and Bulky figures.


    ¡°Oh well done! Those who become Power changers aren¡¯t much used to restraint! But then what can I expect from ones like that?¡± Arglix said, praising Rogix.


    Rogix only looked at Arglix, and Wilmria could see the disgust on Rogix¡¯s face.


    ¡°So you really are all about results then. I always hated that about you. So it wasn¡¯t part of your mask?¡± Rogix asked as he looked at Arglix.


    Arglix only chuckled as he looked down at Rogix.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s more cultural. The best thing to do is succeed, that is how you stay alive! Those who talk about the good try, are the losers! And that village I was the lone survivor? I killed it!¡± Arglix proclaimed.


    Wilmria went still. The village that Arglix had been found in was one of the worst crimes that the Kingdom had ever seen. All five hundred people were killed! A bandit gang had been the ones to reveal what had happened, their leader turning himself in to let people know. Wilmria had a friend in the Academy who had come from that village. She had dropped out and taken care of Arglix, but then she had died of a disease¡­¡­. Or had she?


    Wilmria felt her rage spike as she looked at Arglix. ¡°The woman who came to take care of you. Did you kill her?!¡±


    ¡°Oh her? Yes. That was me,¡± Arglix said, shrugging as he looked down at her.


    Wilmria looked at him as he kept speaking, hearing but not hearing what he said. She had been her greatest friend, they had been roommates for years! To think that here and now, she found the being that killed her.


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    ¡°My fault really. But then how was I to know her father was the person who I said was my godparent? Once I said that, I barely kept her from yelling. I thought I had tricked her, but then she was a bit suspicious of me. She spied on me and paid the price. What else could I do?¡± Arglix said as if he were having a conversation with the Generals.


    It was all Rogix could do to keep calm as he listened to this monster. He had expected that Arglix was a bit of a killer, but this? Talking about killing someone as if they were vermin to destroy.


    ¡°WAAAAA!¡± Wilmria cried as the green energy aura sprung to life. She disappeared and came out attacking Arglix from the right and above. ¡°She was my friend!¡±


    Rogix watched as Arglix only raised his right arm to block her. Then a layer of water appeared floating between him and Wilmria as if willed into being. As Wilmria¡¯s spear hit the water it surged around her before Wilmria released a blast of wind that sent it away.


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    Rogix could see how Arglix¡¯s eyes widened in shock before Wilmria¡¯s spear sliced off part of Arglix¡¯s right arm!


    Wilmria tried to jump away, but Arglix¡¯s left arm sent her into the air towards the right side of the chamber.


    Rogix bellowed a war cry and charged at Arglix, hoping to keep his foe off balance. All he could think of was how Wilmria had been able to breach the barrier Arglix was using. If he could do that trick, then maybe there was a chance they could kill Arglix


    ¡°So spy! Was anything about you the truth!?¡± Rogix cried out. He had to keep the monster that had been his comrade focused on him. If he couldn¡¯t breach the barrier, then they needed Wilmria. But then he saw the person who had been talking to Arglix and the traitor prince move towards the hostages. ¡°NO!¡±


    Rogix had barely taken a step toward the man when he realized he couldn¡¯t move. He looked down and saw that he was trapped. Glowing blue water was all around his legs and he couldn¡¯t move through it. Where had it come from down here?! Just what was¡­¡­. he turned towards Arglix, and saw his eyes glowing Aqua blue. ¡°You!¡±


    ¡°What, did you expect to save them? I¡¯m sorry but no. You¡¯ll just watch! Not that you¡¯ll be able to break free. I mean my water hold is second to none!¡± Arglix¡¯s voice was full of glee.


    Before the man could even get close to the captives, a small glowing red comet hit his dagger. The man screamed in pain as he dropped it, his hand burnt and red.


    ¡°Who!?¡± Arglix cried out in anger, and Rogix wondered who had done that as well.


    A snickering caused them to see the black-furred feline biped and Zane there. They were standing by Wilmria who was getting back to her feet.


    Rogix spared a glance and saw that the other cultists were all dead. The winch to open the door guarded by his men and the other felines. The crimson-furred feline and Bryce were running toward them.


    ¡°So what was that monster? Something about watching? You should have paid more attention to your minions!¡± Rogix cried out as he felt flared his aura.


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    Arglix growled as he looked at the corpse of those weaklings who dared to serve the Great Beast. Never would he have thought that the Sacrifice would have gone like this! The ones here the greatest of those that served his cousin, and they were all dead!? These things were meant to be the destroyers, those that would wipe the Kingdom away! But instead, they failed their master by dying to these fools!? There had to be something, anything that they could do to turn the tide.


    Arglix roared and charged at the foes before him. But Rogix and the others dodged as more small comets shot past him. He heard the cries of his cousin and he knew from his voice he was being forced away from the sacrifices. They had to die and then had to die before the Spawn of the Beast was released. If they didn''t have the proper potions on them, the Spawn would rampage, eating everything¡­¡­.. he went still with a wicked plan as many things connected.


    ¡°Let the failures out! That¡¯s all we can do!¡± Arglix bellowed as he reared up. Aiming his mouth towards the left side, he fired a blast of water.


    ¡°NO!¡± Sel1 cried out in horror as he looked up at Arglix. ¡°Do you know what you did you fool!?¡±


    ¡°I just set destroyed the Scholar¡¯s Rest! Let the leaders of this Kingdom Die! I¡¯ll live!¡± Arglix one bellowed.


    There was a crash from the left. Arglix didn¡¯t need to turn to see what he had done. All he had to do was keep living. And that meant falling back to his friend.


    Roaring he thundered towards the right and jumped. In midair he let the change flow in reverse, and when he landed on one of the middle balconies he was human. As cries of anger and rage came from behind him, he ran through the door. He hoped that his ¡®friends¡¯ would give the failures a good meal. It was all that they were good for now, to be food to feed the Spawn of the Beast!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°No, No! That scum of the Desert!¡± The man who had been talking to the traitor prince cried out in fear.


    Zane had to admit, he understood just what the man meant. Coming out of the door set against the wall was a hoard of monsters! He saw what looked like a Bulky figure with mantis-like arms, and multifaceted eyes leading the way. Behind it were five more of the Humanoid creatures that they had been fighting, each one a mutant mess. A bestial-like figure was flying on insect wings. Beside it was a quadruped spider with a Bulky figure¡¯s head and legs like mantis claws. Behind it were more monsters, and none of them were the same.


    ¡°What are those things!?¡± Wilmria cried out.


    ¡°Failures! Those that were unworthy of the Beast¡¯s gifts! They become violent, mindless, things of pure rage! They just exist to kill!¡± The man cried out as he turned and ran towards the right side wall.


    ¡°Get back here! No wait, defend the hostages!¡± Rogix bellowed.


    Zane felt the Power he had gained flow within him, and he knew what he had to do. He reared his head back and screamed as s rust-colored energy aura appeared around him. Before anyone could say anything, he thrust both his arms forward and screamed two words. ¡°Desert Fury!¡±


    From his energy aura a sandstorm in a cone shot at the incoming monsters. As he let his fury and rage pass through him, Zane saw through the flying sand as the attack hit. He watched as the Bulky mutant seemed to throw its wings wide, something that shocked him. The Bulky figure tanked the blow and even as its body was destroyed, it kept running. As the attack died down, the Bulky figure finally dropped to the ground. For a moment he grinned, and then the mutants behind the fallen one roared in anger.


    ¡°How many more of those can you do!?¡± Bryce asked, his voice shocked.


    Zane meanwhile panted and somehow stayed up. He wasn¡¯t going to pass out, but he knew he would need some time before he could do that again. ¡°Not for a while. But I took one of them out!¡±


    Zane saw the enemy officer run into a door, and almost called out but stayed silent. They needed to deal with the monsters now, not someone leaving the field!


    ¡°And made the rest of them madder!¡± Bryce said with a hard edge in his voice.


    Before anyone could say anything, Wilmria was there. She thrust forward with her spear and the tornado forced the charging monsters back. Some of the things with wings were able to take flight and glide away.


    Zane could only watch with horror as a large Bulky thing with insect wings moved along the ceiling. Then his eyes went to the door and he paled in horror. ¡°They can think! They¡¯re trying to get the door opened!¡±


    At his words, everyone looked at the monsters, all of them going still as they realized the truth in his words.


    ¡°By the trees! How!? I thought he said they couldn¡¯t!?¡± Wilmria growled as she kept channeling her Power to create the tornado.


    ¡°Get the hostages down!¡± Zane barked as he ran towards them.


    All they had to do was get the sacrifices down, and then they could retreat to the way they had broken into the temple.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he ran down the corridors, Arglix just smirked. His friend might be a little mad that his source of insider info was leaving, but Arglix would make up for it. With his battle form, he would become a valuable general. All he had to do was keep moving, and sooner or later he would come out ahead.


    As he ran into a large chamber he stopped, staring in shock. He watched as one of the Muscle troopers was killed by a Power channeled through a strange device. The device was wielded by a being that was in full armor that covered their bodies. The armor was painted a deep green and there were others behind them, six in total. Each one was armed with devices like the first of all were aiming at him. And to his shock, they were all hiding their faces behind full face masks, not a hint of even their hair could be seen.


    He just smiled and looked at them, trying to play it cool. The only origin that these could have was the other Lost ones! After all, only humans were smart enough to make such wonderful weapons! ¡°Hello, friends! I call you friends because you¡¯ve killed the monsters that plagued my people!¡±


    The people there only looked at him, and their heads moved a bit as if they were talking to each other.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true! They captured my home and I had to join them, conscription really! I mean no harm to you or yours, truly. All I want is to leave and try to get somewhere safe. No trouble to you,¡± Arglix said smiling wide. He had to hope that these fools would believe him. If he could get away, the knowledge of another culture in the roads would be invaluable!


    The masked figure at the front looked at him and then nodded. They started to move towards him with the others behind them following.


    Arglix could only watch as the figures moved around him, most of them keeping their faces pointed at him. He just let them pass, the one in front looking at him as the others left through the door. He actually had done it! He had talked his way out of another battle, and he could leave alive. As he ran into the roads, he only thought that the future for him was so bright.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he woke up, Ar¡¯thor blinked as he came to his senses. He could only feel that his body was held in place. As he looked up, his eyes saw a door almost as big as the Imperial Palace¡¯s front gates! For a moment he thought he was home, but then he remembered what had happened to him.


    Trying to get free, he saw his HUD blinking as someone tried to contact him. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he accepted the call.


    ¡°[My prince, we have you! We¡¯ll be there soon, hold on]!¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice caused Ar¡¯thor to feel hope, but then he felt something grabbing his arm.


    Looking up, he saw someone in the uniform of the Spirit of Adventure trying to get him down. The man looked at him and smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry kid, we¡¯ll get you to safety! Just hold on kido, just hold on!¡± The man said before there was a roar behind them.


    The man looked behind Ar¡¯thor and then looked up, and his face paled before Ar¡¯thor¡¯s eyes. He didn¡¯t say anything, he just moved faster, and in seconds Ar¡¯thor could move his arms. He looked around and felt his heart beat faster as he saw the chaos. Monsters much like the strange things from the cave but mutated. They were being fought by human and feline humanoids, and he was shocked by how low-tech their weapons were. Some were around what looked like a large winch of chains. His eyes tracked the chains to the ceiling and then to the doors. But as he looked at the doors, they bucked as something slammed against them.


    ¡°[My Prince! What is it!? Your heart just spiked]!¡± Kon¡¯gric cried out in fear.


    Ar¡¯thor only looked at the door as they bucked again and he fell to the ground below the cross. He got up and looked at the doors, fear gripping him. ¡°[Get here, get here now! There¡¯s a giant monster trying to get in here]!¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Thirty

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Cult Shrine


    Galactic Standard Time / 1045


    As a loud slam was heard from the doors again, Rogix looked at the door the mutants had come from. No matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t think of a way to close them! But they were almost ready to leave, and Icotrix had gotten his sister down. As Bryce helped a boy who was in armor that completely covered his body from the cross, Rogix had to stare at him. This child had to be from the same ship that the off-worlders were, and something about him made him wonder. The records that his family had showed that the Earth Federation had made contact with Aliens. He had always thought those but stories, but was it real? Was this child from one of those races, now allied with Mankind?


    It made him think of what the Earth Federation had become in the years, what wonders and horrors they had found. But he knew that this wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts, for now, all he had to do was protect these people. ¡°MOVE! We don¡¯t know how long those doors will last! Or how long we¡¯ll keep those mutants at bay so move!¡±


    As the black and red-furred feline helped the white-furred one to move, he thought he saw thanks in the white one¡¯s eyes. He shook his head, he would have to talk to them later. How those beings were here was something that had to be answered. He could only hope that this might be a step in stopping the way against them. With the Beast Cult still active and the Prince a traitor, the Kingdom had to act. And the first thing to do was withdraw soldiers from the Front Lines and make Peace with the Felines.


    ¡°Princess!¡± Wilmria''s voice cried out


    ¡°You¡¯re General Rogix. Who are these strangely dressed people?¡± Amilisra asked as one of his soldiers helped her up. She looked around and saw the feline humanoids, and more fighting side by side with his soldiers. ¡°General, what is this!?¡±


    ¡°A long story. We need to get out of here now!¡± Zane barked, his eyes locked on the far left.


    ¡°Who is that?!¡± Amilisra asked as she locked eyes on Zane.


    Rogix didn¡¯t say anything, only look at the expression on Zane and Bryce¡¯s face. He was about to ask what was wrong when someone cried out.


    ¡°NO!¡±


    A voice from the left caused Rogix to whip his head towards it. He stared in horror. Five mutants were moving along the ceiling! They had the bodies of large spiders but there were human bodies where their heads should be. They were going for the chains holding the giant doors closed! As he watched, both Bryce and Zane started to fire at the mutants.


    ¡°Keep them off the chains!¡± Zane cried out.


    One of them held up a large bulky arm and an energy shield formed, absorbing the shots. But it was the one that followed behind it that drew Rogix¡¯s eyes. This giant spider had the body of a flyer, and it had two mantis arms. The way the others were all around it, they had to be guarding it. He didn¡¯t know why, but this kind of unity bothered him so much. Something told him that this one was the one to fear, that this one was the death bringer.


    Five small red comets flew up and exploded before the mutants, making a line of flames. As the fire blazed, one with hairy limbs went through them, seeming to call them to it. As the flames engulfed it, it roared with rage. To Rogix''s horror, it jumped off the ceiling and fell towards the platform the prisoners were on. But then Icotrix reacted and jumped up at the falling body. As he flew upwards, he started to shapeshift. He became a white-scaled lizard humanoid with larger muscles than the other form he had.


    Icotrix slammed his arms into the falling creature and threw it towards the giant door. As he fell, he started to change back, and as he turned completely human he panted in fear.


    Rogix saw the man¡¯s eyes and was shocked to see horror in them.


    ¡°We need to leave now! I was able to hear it when I touched that thing! The spawn is controlling them all!¡± Icotrix panted as he looked at his sister.


    Rogix only looked at him with horror. He remembered just what Icotrix had told his group about what the Beast Cult Worshiped. If that thing behind the doors could think, then everything was suddenly that much worse. Without a word, he dashed towards the princess, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. ¡°MOVE! Everyone to the door across from that giant thing now!¡±


    ¡°General, put me down! And what spawn!?¡± Amilisra asked as she hit Rogix¡¯s back.


    Bryce looked out into the dust as it cleared, his augmented eyes caught movement. It was there by the cliff where the sacrifices had been. His eyes went wide as he saw four long slim tentacles move around the crosses. He watched as they grabbed the bases and in an instant, pulled them free from the ground.


    As everyone heard the crosses breaking, Bryce was sure something was biting them. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was a hand or a mouth, but they all heard the scream of rage and hunger that came after.


    ¡°How big is this thing!?¡± The female general demanded as she pointed her spear out towards the giant door.


    A screech from the left causes Zane to point his pistol towards it and fire out of the huddle.


    A moment later a charging mutant Beast-like figure with insect arms crashed to the ground out of the dust. He had killed it by shooting out its neck, and Bryce¡¯s eyes saw the other mutants in the dust moving ever closer to them all. ¡°Zane! Fire at twelve through five. I¡¯ll handle Seven to twelve! Don¡¯t stop! Fire until you run out of power at anything out there!¡±


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    ¡°Got it!¡± Zane barked as he looked out at the dust.


    Before Bryce could say anything, he felt something grab his arm. He looked down at the crimson-furred feline who was gesturing at the dust. His hand pointed at the dust and then moved down, then back up as the being shook their head.


    ¡°The dust? Something about the dust¡­. Why isn¡¯t it moving down?!¡± Bryce asked in shocked horror. He took a moment to look at the felines, and all of them were looking out into the dust with scared looks on their face. He looked at the crimson-furred one and saw that the being¡¯s noise was moving. A screech from one of them caused Bryce to fire at one of the mutants that was charging out at the screecher.


    ¡°The Felines can smell the things! Watch them! They scream attack where they point!¡± Rogix bellowed as he shot lighting into the dust.


    ¡°No! Wait!¡± Bryce cried. But trailed off as he saw the lightning bolt pass through the holes that opened in the cloud.


    ¡°It¡¯s a Power! One of the Mutants is doing this!¡± A female voice called out in horror.


    Bryce felt some of her horror. If something had cover and that thing was attacking, then the attacker had an advantage. Only against normal opponents, but then he wasn¡¯t a normal opponent.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ar¡¯thor looked around at the beings, his HUD finally showing that his people were coming towards him.


    ¡°[My prince, we¡¯re almost there. What can you tell us about the situation]?¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice came through his mask¡¯s speakers.


    ¡°That¡¯s the bare bones from what I was told. She had a few siblings really. I don¡¯t know the exact number but they were all adopted like her. Some of the older lawyers at the firm said they all seemed fine people. But there were problems,¡± Sarah said and Danny looked at her shocked as Sam and Tucker looked at him.


    Ar¡¯thor only smiled. ¡°[Leader Je¡¯ndra, I¡¯m with some strange beings in a chamber with rows of three balconies going up. Two of the deckhands from the ship plus a group of Humans and a small group of small feline humanoids. They''re all armed with ancient swords in pre-industrial-type clothing. Some of them are able to use Aether, both the humans and the felines. Their fighting against what looks like the strange beings from the camber. But they''re all mutated and savage beasts! And there''s something else here, something, a lot bigger! It''s controlling the mutants, mentally. From what I heard it''s a sentient eater]!¡±


    ¡°[Hold tight my prince! We¡¯re almost there]!¡± Kon¡¯gric said, his voice hurried and rushed.


    ¡°[NO! There are balconies, get to one of them and fire from above! One of the mutants is keeping a dust cloud up to hide the others as they get to melee range! You¡¯ll need the high ground]!¡± Ar¡¯thor said.


    ¡°[He¡¯s right. I hate it but he¡¯s right. and these must be the stairs. We split, two go with Kon¡¯gric and the rest go up. The best thing we can do]!¡± Olv¡¯xic said with a hard edge.


    ¡°[You¡¯re right. Ro¡¯borlar, Ken¡¯tricx, Olv¡¯xic go up! Tar¡¯lroia, Kon¡¯gric with me! We¡¯re breaking through and back them up]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a hard edge. ¡°[My prince, how many are there]?¡±


    Ar¡¯thor only nodded as he looked into the dust. He saw over twenty of the enemy, each one a mess of mismatched parts. ¡°[Many, so many of them. Leader, permission to help the people I¡¯m with, telling them what my mask sees. Using my own voice].¡±


    For a few seconds, Ar¡¯thor heard nothing but silence. He was about to say something when he got an answer.


    ¡°[Do it my prince. We¡¯re only minutes out].¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice held a hard edge. ¡°[But you are not a prince, only a diplomat. And keep your mask on, understand]?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°[Were you serious just now!? Breaking the Silence? Before the Emperor does]!?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked in a shocked tone.


    ¡°[The Emperor gave me leave to if I judge it had to happen. And this, right here is that time],¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a hard tone of voice.


    Olv¡¯xic watched as she stopped and looked at every one of the team. Behind her was the staircase up, and Olv¡¯xic had to admit the plan was daring. But the plan gave them all the best chance they had to live through this. The idea of fighting creatures that could use Aether was one thing. But to fight those same creatures while they were under mental control was another. But then this was just something that they had to do.


    ¡°[This is going to chance everything. I mean everything. But I¡¯m shocked it lasted through two wars really],¡± Ken¡¯tricx said with a grin as he looked up the stairs. ¡°[Boss, we should make it to the top level, once there I can really lay into that thing]!¡±


    ¡°[Smart],¡± Ro¡¯borlar said with a grin. ¡°[But we should let the Specialist take command, don¡¯t you think]?¡±


    Olv¡¯xic nodded before he realized that he was the Specialist they were talking about. [¡°ME]?!¡±


    ¡°[Yes, you. The only thing that kept me from promoting you before was that you kept refusing. And since we all know why, you can¡¯t get out of this. Congratulations]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said with a wide grin in her voice.


    ¡°[Yeah kid, you¡¯ve got the skills for this, we all know it! So what¡¯s the plan Specialist]?¡± Ken¡¯tricx asked with a joking tone.


    Olv¡¯xic only looked around, touched and feeling shocked. He knew a lot, and he had seen more than some of the others. And a few skills they didn¡¯t know about as well. ¡°[Okay, okay. The first thing to do is this, when Ken¡¯tricx fire you don¡¯t Ro¡¯borlar].¡±


    ¡°[There¡¯s a reason for that]?¡± Ro¡¯borlar asked as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°[You can plan it out later! We need to move]!¡± Kon¡¯gric said before he shouldered his way through the group and ran off.


    ¡°[Crazy Guards! You heard him, good luck]!¡± Je¡¯ndra said before she and Tar¡¯lroia followed after Kon¡¯gric.


    Olv¡¯xic looked at them, not able to quiet the little voice in his mind. The voice that told him that Kon¡¯gric was trying too hard. He didn¡¯t know what he had to be ashamed of, but something told him he was. They had all been knocked out, that was the only reason the Prince had been kidnapped. The old man couldn¡¯t be carrying that weight, could he?¡± He shook his head and nodded. Now what¡¯s the time for that kind of thought. ¡°[As I was saying, Ro¡¯borlar, don¡¯t fire with Ken¡¯tricx. Once he does then you and I will open up. Make it think we¡¯re worse than we show.  And make sure you¡¯re in a separate balcony].¡±


    ¡°[I see, trick the prey! That¡¯ll work here]!¡± Ro¡¯borlar said as he slammed his right fist into his left palm.


    Olv¡¯xic had to hope his plan would work. If this thing acted like the monster he killed once before, then it would go well. But he had to plan if everything went wrong. And the final Drone type that he kept hidden might work. It would generate a few questions, but he would have no choice if things went as wrong as he feared they would. But for now, he had to project the feeling that he had everything under control. ¡°[It has to. Move]!¡±


    With that, Olv¡¯xic ran up the stairs, the others falling in step behind him. He didn¡¯t know the future, but he would do everything he could to protect those who needed it!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zane looked around, trying to see through the dust he heard Wilmria growl as she stood there.


    ¡°What is it waiting for? Just what are they waiting for?!¡±


    Zane had to ask that as well. So far, they had been acting like an army. And that meant that they could think, again against what the escaped ¡®leader¡¯ here said. So either they had been tricking their captors, but then why had they attacked the group? Shouldn¡¯t they have gone after the Cultists? And why in the name of all reason had they broken the chains? Nothing made sense!


    ¡°More of the big ones I think,¡± A soft voice said.


    Zane blinked, not understanding who was speaking. He turned his head and noticed that the Ancient was looking out into the dust cloud. For a second, he thought it was the Ancient but that was impossible. The Ancients had only used machines to communicate, the voice he heard was organic.


    ¡°You can see them?¡± Rogix asked with worry in his voice.


    ¡°Their heat at least. There are over twenty of them!¡± The Ancient said with worry in his voice. ¡°But not many of the big ones, only three of them. Each one is guarding another small heat. They over there!¡±


    ¡°You can speak Galactic Standard?¡± Bryce asked in wonder.


    ¡°Wait, where are they!?¡± Rogix asked, looking into the dust cloud.


    ¡°There!¡± The Ancient said as he pointed out into the dust cloud.


    ¡°Everyone with a power, fire there!¡± Rogix bellowed as he swung his axe down. Wilmria, the black and red-furred felines both started glowing as Zane called upon his own power.


    With a unified roar, all five of them shot their attacks into the cloud. The mass of attacks flew into the dust, and after a few minutes, they heard an explosion. A moment passed them the dust finally fell to the ground.


    But against his hope, what Zane saw was worse. Around them were ten of the Insects with Bulky figure limbs thrown about haphazardly. Behind them, there were what looked like Flyers with other limbs in place of their wing arms. Looking at them, Zane tried to find some rhythm or reason but all of them were different from each other.


    But then he saw the three dead Bulky Figures and that body they had been protecting. It was a strange Flyer with legs from a Bulky one and arms from an Insect one. Well, the arm as the right one, and its head were either destroyed or bones.


    For a second nothing happened. Then came a scream of rage louder than anything that he had ever heard before

 Chapter One Hundred Thirty One

    Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Ruins / Scholar¡¯s Rest/ Lowest Basement/ Cult Shrine


    Galactic Standard Time / 1100


    The scream had rattled him, but Rogix kept standing. Unfortunately, he was one of the few who had. With just one gaze, he saw what a bad situation they were in. All around him most of the Felines and his men were on the ground knocked out. To his left, only Zane, Bryce, Wilmria, and the Princes were still standing. To his right, the armored child, Icotrix, and three of the Felines looked at the mutants with anger in their eyes.


    ¡°That had to be the Spawn¡¯s doing! I mean I¡¯ve never even heard of something like that, but it makes sense!¡± Icotrix said as his hands grew white scales and claws. He winced and shook his head, looking at the others. ¡°It¡¯s still screaming, but it¡¯s just an echo now. I¡­¡­ I can¡¯t go too close. I¡¯ll watch the others! Sorry.¡±


    ¡°Ehhh. Leaves more for the rest of us. Not too bad,¡± Zane said with a smirk as he looked at the mutants and aimed his weapon at them. ¡°How many do you think you¡¯ll get Bryce?¡±


    ¡°As many as you! And no more Flyers from what I can see. So this is just a target-rich environment! Always a good thing to get into my grandfather would say!¡± Bryce said. A laugh in his voice.


    Rogix had to keep from shaking his head. If these people were


    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan Rogix?¡± Wilmria asked as she spun her spear.


    A low moan caused Rogix to see that those who were knocked out were waking up. He almost opened his mouth when another louder roar echoed off the walls.


    As one everyone gazed towards the roar and saw a horror come from the depression.


    A large grey-scaled hand slammed onto where the sacrificial crosses had been. The hand had to be at least five feet wide and five feet tall. The body attached to it slowly pulled itself up. Its head alone was large, at least ten feet wide and twenty feet tall. It had a muzzle with a horn on the end, and its body was chalk white. Its head had three eyes in a triangle formation, and there was a frill around the head. Its neck was long, at least ten feet and five wide. Its body was streamlined and it had flippers near its tail, with only two hands near the front. Down its spine was a fin, and it flexed as it looked at them.


    ¡°That¡¯s big. That¡¯s really big,¡± Rogix said absently. As he locked his eyes on the creature, he understood the enemy a little. This was their object of worship, this Spawn of the Great Beast as the Cult called it. In that instant, he understood how and why people would worship this. If it was as strong as its size indicated, could they win? He could at least let the princess and the off-worlders escape from this blunder. With the others and his old Teacher, they could tell the King everything they knew.


    ¡°Eh¡­ I¡¯ve killed bigger. The trick is to hit the brain. So how do we do this?¡± Zane asked as he rolled his right shoulder before he took a stance.


    ¡°You¡¯ve killed bigger!? You have to tell me the story after we get out of here!¡± Wilmria said a laugh in her voice.


    Rogix looked at her, seeing the look of confidence in her eyes. He looked at the others and saw they were all ready to fight and felt shame. Here he was, thinking of how to get survivors to escape and they hadn¡¯t given up yet. And then he felt a laugh bubbling out of him as he gripped his axe. ¡°Well then let¡¯s live! How many of those things do you think you¡¯ll all take out?¡±


    ¡°Wait! Something is wrong here!¡± The armored child called out. Rogix looked at him and saw that his face wasn¡¯t pointed at the Spawn. Instead, he was looking at the mutants. And as Rogix looked at them in turn, he felt his heart seize. All of them, all the mutants were just standing there, looking at them without moving.


    The white-furred feline was meowing loudly, and the black-furred one had a red aura around it.


    Rogix felt that the Feline was right, something was wrong here. Why wasn¡¯t the Spawn sending its troops to destroy them all!? Was it having fun and wanted the group to stay alive longer, so it could savor the kill!? All Rogix knew, was that this monster wouldn¡¯t find good sport from him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Bryce looked at the giant creature, he let all his senses go. He had rarely done this, but this was something he had to do. As his hearing increased, he heard a slow beating echo from all around him. It took him a moment to realize that this was something the spawn was doing. It was almost like a clock, always a slow bump that fed into the next. But he knew, he knew that this was just something that this monster was using to hold its troops back.


    ¡°It wants something, I don¡¯t know what but something. that¡¯s the only reason it¡¯s keeping them back!¡± Bryce said with a growl.


    He heard the Felines talking amongst themselves, but something was wrong. The more he listened, the more they seemed to say. Their voice had to have something to do with harmonics below human hearing, it had to. But that didn¡¯t matter, they could rig something back at any of the escape capsules to hear them properly. But they had to live long enough to do that first.


    ¡°Did it start to like being worshiped!? Did it grow to expect it!?¡± Icotrix asked with a growl.


    A roar sounded and the twenty mutants around them moved a bit. The sound of the beating from the giant monster picked up speed, and he knew that this stalemate was ending. ¡°It¡¯s gonna let us know what it wants.¡±


    As the mutants moved closer, they opened two lines through them. One ended at the giant monster that turned its head to look right at them. From the other, a new Spider Mutant appeared. It had the limbs of a Bulky one and its head-body was that of one of the Flyers. Behind it, a Bulky one with chitin-covered limbs moved, and this one seemed to be ready to strike.


    ¡°One of them is the talker, but which one?¡± Zane muttered a lot closer than Bryce expected. He turned and saw Bryce had moved next to him silently, so silently that he had never noticed him moving.


    Before Bryce could say anything, a screech came from the Spider mutant. ¡°You. Listen. To. Words. Of. Great. Beast!¡±


    ¡°By the Forest, it can speak! I am General Rogix, leader of one of many Armies of my Kingdom! To what am I speaking with!?¡± Rogix bellowed, looking around at the mutants.


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    The giant monster roared and the spider chuckled.


    ¡°That. What. Gives. This. One. Word. You. Listen!¡± The Spider said with a chuckle.


    ¡°What will happen General Wilmria?¡± Amilisra asked from behind Bryce.


    Bryce heard Wilmria chuckle, she had to be trying to keep Amilisra calm.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to live princess. That¡¯s all there is to it. I promise,¡± Wilmria said softly.


    ¡°I will hear your master¡¯s words! But I demanded to know why it kept us from leaving!¡± Rogix bellowed as he looked at the giant monster.


    Bryce had to give the General credit. Most people who found themselves in situations like this would scream in fear. But these people were made of stronger stuff, and he wouldn¡¯t let them die here. He had a secret, something that he had rarely let out. If he had to, he could hold the big thing off while the others escaped.


    ¡°It. Wants. Food!¡± The Speaker screamed the last word as the other mutants roared. ¡°Held. Starved! Food. You. Give!¡±


    ¡°We did nothing to you! The ones that did that to you are our enemies! We have no food to give!¡± Rogix bellowed as he locked his eyes on the Giant Monster.


    ¡°You. Have. Bodies! Give. Food!¡± The spider screeched.


    Bryce felt his heart seize before he felt his wraith surge for a moment. He knew just what this thing wanted, and it asked for its death without knowing. He started to growl and then he heard the felines growl as well.


    ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t asking me to kill my men. If you mean dead bodies, we have some of those behind us past the rubble!¡± Rogix said with a hard tone. ¡°You dig them out, and let us go. With your body, it¡¯ll only take you a few moments.¡±


    Bryce looked at Rogix and then nodded. He didn¡¯t like that, but it was the one choice that might let them end this battle. If the creature was willing to let them leave. But then something crept into his mind, something that. Without moving his body or head, Bryce let his eyes move around the chamber. The mutant bodies were still there, and they hadn¡¯t been treated. All of them were dead, and if this thing ate sentient meat, why weren¡¯t they on the menu?


    A horrible thought suddenly came into being, and then he gripped his weapon tighter. The chance that he was right was small, but the more he thought, the true it rang. But if that was true, then what kind of things did this monster eat in the wild?


    ¡°They. Not. Alive. You. Give. Live. Meat!¡± The spider screeched.


    Bryce closed his eyes and felt his curse start to loosen the latches. He hated it when he was right about things like this.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ar¡¯thor just blinked and hastily prepared to summon his pistol. The way the monster before him said what the giant thing wanted, he almost threw up.


    The few things that his people knew of that wanted to eat living prey were studied. If there was a chance that they would eat any of the people, then they were destroyed. They were kept in special reservations, places where they could live without threatening anything. But this thing!


    ¡°You want me to give you my people, alive for you to eat!?¡± Rogix barked, anger in his voice.


    ¡°You. Give. Or. All. Die!¡± The Spider cried out as the other mutants started to screech.


    ¡°[My prince, we¡¯ve heard everything],¡± Je¡¯ndra¡¯s voice suddenly came over his mask¡¯s coms. ¡°[The team is ready to strike, just give us a moment. Then give this thing a chance to back down].¡±


    He grinned and almost spoke up then and there.


    ¡°You must be stupid! You dare to think that I would give my men, my loyal soldiers to you to eat!? What kind of monstrosity are you!?¡± Rogix bellowed.


    ¡°You. All. Die. All. Feed. Master!¡± The Spider screeched.


    ¡°No, we won¡¯t! Now I give you a choice! Leave or die!¡± Ar¡¯thor bellowed.


    The Mutants, the Giant creature, and the others all looked at him as he stood there. The Beast moved its head and looked right at him, and he saw humor in its eyes.


    ¡°What. Little. One. Do. Alone?¡± The Spider mocked and the Mutants all laughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing. I¡¯m not alone,¡± Ar¡¯thor said with a savage tone in his voice.


    Suddenly from above energy bolts rained down at the Mutants! The Beast reared back and tried to look around before it screeched in pain as one of its eyes froze over.


    ¡°Who in the name of the Forest!?¡± Rogix asked in a shocked tone.


    ¡°Are you doing this?¡± Amilisra asked, her voice soft and scared.


    He turned and looked at the girl, this Princess of these people. ¡°Good Lady, I am Ar¡¯thor. A diplomat of my people. My security team is doing this.¡±


    As the Mutants moved and some of them attacked the others, there was a yell from the right. Ar''thor watched as Je¡¯ndra, Tar¡¯lroia, and Kong6 ran into the chamber from the right side. As they ran towards the group of humans and felines, some of the mutants moved towards them.


    As one of the Bulky mutants came close to them, Je¡¯ndra slashed off its head as they ran past. Kon¡¯gric didn¡¯t even bother to summon his weapon, he just held up his arms. An energy tower shield formed and he used it to push the mutants aside, and then Tar¡¯lroia blasted them with her rifle.


    ¡°Kon¡¯gric, protect us all!¡± Ar¡¯thor cried out.


    ¡°[My charge wills it! It will be done]!¡± Kon¡¯gric bellowed as he, Je¡¯ndra and Tar¡¯lroia made it to the group


    He placed himself in front of the group and within moments, all the people were in a bubble energy shield.


    The Mutants didn¡¯t stay still, some of them attacked the giant monster. As one with the head of Flyer and the Body of a Bulky bit into the right arm of the monster, the monster screamed. It lashed out with its other arm, sending the Mutant into the air. As the giant reared back, it screeched and the mutants were stunned for a second. But then they all moved again, all attacking the giant with their bare limbs.


    ¡°Something happened! The sound of the Giant, it¡¯s gone! It¡¯s lost control!¡± Bryce cried in shock.


    As some of the mutants moved to attack the group, bolts came from the top balconies and killed some of them. The others turned and ran towards the Giant.


    But Ar¡¯thor kept his vision locked on the mutant thrown through the air. And he saw its flesh start to ripple. The misshapen nature of its body started to change, it started to come together. As he watched, the Mutant started to evolve. Its flesh became streamlined like the Giant, but it grew two wings over five feet long from its back! Feathers grew all over its body and its limbs grew talons that tore into the floor. But when it looked at the group, Ar¡¯thor saw it had gained a third eye.


    For moments that stretched for what seemed like years, Ar¡¯thor and the Mutant just looked at each other. Then with a roar, the Mutant charged at the Giant, this time throwing blasts of fire from its wings with each beat.


    But all that mattered to Ar¡¯thor was what he just saw. If the Mutants ate of the Giant, they would all evolve and gain access to Aether. And even if they don¡¯t gain their minds back, they would most likely attack the group! This was beyond the worst possibility, they had to leave now!


    ¡°Now what do we do?¡± Icotrix asked as they all looked at the Mutants fighting the Giant.


    ¡°Now we move! Leader Je¡¯ndra, I trust you know how to get us out of here back where you came?¡± Ar¡¯thor asked abruptly.


    ¡°[Yes]¡­.Yes. I can,¡± Je¡¯ndra said looking at Ar¡¯thor before moving her eyes to land on Zane and Bryce. ¡°And I trust you two know how to get back to your escape capsule?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Rogix looked from the armored being to the carnage. Anything that would let them get away from this place was good in his scrolls! ¡°I¡¯m perfectly happy to let you lead. Just tell us where to go.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that easy! I can get us back to the corridors, but I don¡¯t know how to get away from there!¡± Je¡¯ndra said as she looked at the battle.


    ¡°I can do that. Just get us back to the main chamber that way!¡± Zane said as he pointed to the right. ¡°Once there I can get us back to their land! We can get back to our landing site later!¡±


    ¡°Fine! Move! Olv¡¯xic, have your team cover us until we make it then fall back! Blow the routes behind you!¡± Je¡¯ndra ordered as she walked towards the shielder. ¡°As soon as the shield¡¯s down, you two fire so the natives can get away. Diplomat, go with them!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll watch over him,¡± Wilmria promised and Je¡¯ndra nodded.


    Rogix looked up at the balconies above, trying to see who she commanded to watch over them. If he had such forces under his command in the past, so many of his soldiers would have survived.


    ¡°We good to go!?¡± Je¡¯ndra asked as she looked around. Rogix watched her and when she saw something, she nodded. ¡°Drop the shield!¡±


    As soon as the shield was down, she and the other three fired at the Mutants. The ones closest to them cried out in pain before they tried to run away. To Rogix¡¯s glee, they ran towards the giant monster.


    The group all started to run, the Felines against the wall but for the red and black-furred ones. When a Flyer with Bulky legs tried to attack them, the black one fired a single large comet at the Mutant. The explosion sent it flying.


    Some of the Mutants turned towards them, but again energy attacks from above rained down. The attacks killed a few and sent the rest running towards the Giant Monster. At the same time, more explosions of ice claimed the Monster¡¯s arms. As the Mutants swarmed the beast, they all heard the Giant roar in pain and anger.


    Then Rogix was running into a doorway between two balconies. As he ran down the corridor, the cries started to echo from all around him. He saw more tapestries on the walls, all of them seeming to show a humanoid figure with others before it. For a moment he looked at them, trying to understand what the enemy was making as art. But then he realized that this was the wrong time for it. He had their history as they told it, and a defector. He could learn all he needed to know about the enemy from them.


    Looking ahead, he saw the diplomat running next to Princess Amilisra. He had to wonder what this would mean for the Kingdom. The boy was a diplomate from a power from the stars. And they were just a kingdom on their Realm. With the Prince''s treason, who knows what would happen next?


    And that wasn''t even counting on the Felines! The Kingdom''s enemy had worked with them, to save a Princess. That had to mean something!


    From trying out a new weapon to finding the trio in the Devil¡¯s Realm. Then the three recused his group and finding out the Beast Cult was still alive. All in all, this day had been the most crazy he had lived in a long time.


    Three more of the armored figures came thundering down a staircase to the left. They said nothing, just joining the group. They hadn¡¯t moved more than ten feet when he heard the sounds of explosions behind them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± One of the new armored figures said with a grin. ¡°We made sure that those things wouldn¡¯t follow us! As long as you guys got a path out of here, we¡¯re all okay!¡±


    All Rogix could do was hope they were right. But one thing was sure, this was all almost over!

 Chapter One Hundred Thirty Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1600


    Jinn looked out at the waves as he tried to remember when he had last seen such beauty. His upbringing might have been near a lake, but the mountain always hid the sun after the third hour after lunch. But nothing would ever seem more beautiful to him than the setting sun. It was something that invoked a strange sense of belonging in him, and the way that it looked! Every time he even looked at the setting sun, he was blown away.


    In the hours after the group had made it back to the capsule, Jinn and his group had been welcomed. The group had spoken of their mission and been told the troubles their hosts had dealt with here. From the hunt for food to what attacked them, this capsule had been able to survive.


    ¡°I will never get used to those views man,¡± Locke said from behind him.


    Jinn only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Sooo, how¡¯ve ya been?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t complain. After everything went down, I just wandered. Won a contest for a year on the Spirit. Section 5-34-609 near the top! What about you?¡± Locke asked.


    Jinn only laughed. ¡°Section 5-34-609? Get out of here! I was in Section 5-60-800! We were in the same building phase?¡±


    ¡°Crazier things have happened. I mean, look at us!¡± Locke said with a grin that died.


    Jinn looked away and tried to keep calm. ¡°Locke, I¡¯m¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say a thing. I would have done the same man. After everything, who would have thought that she was the spy?¡± Locke said bitterly.


    ¡°Yeah. So what was your plan?¡±


    Locke only laughed bitterly, shaking his head. ¡°Move around, find a pirate colony, and then just live. I was a mean cook so I thought become a chef and then open a restaurant on another pirate planet. I didn¡¯t have anything more really. What about you?¡±


    ¡°Find out who was involved, then hide away until they died really. I didn¡¯t want to fight any of them. I just trusted time to take care of them for me,¡± Jinn said, bitterly looking away from his friend.


    ¡°Same as me then! So this mission?¡± Locke asked as he grinned.


    ¡°Old Yard ship, maybe old. Could be a pirate one. Hoping for that,¡± Jinn said with a sigh.


    Locke looked at him and then grinned. ¡°Oh! I see. How they always have to make new colonies! Smart.¡±


    Jinn only looked at Locke and then away. He knew that he would have to bring it up, but he felt like a monster for doing that just after they found each other. But with how everything here was changing, he would have to if he wanted to look at himself. ¡°I have to ask, the thing that¡¯s different about this mission? I wasn¡¯t going to say anything but there¡¯s no way you can go.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. My powers are one of the few things keeping the people here safe. I can¡¯t just up and go. If something bigger comes out of there!¡± Locke said with a scowl as he pointed at the waves.


    Jinn nodded, remembering the creature that they fought at the river. That monster had been a hard fight. If there were more beneath the water they could make it to the capsule! The only thing they had to keep that from happening was Locke¡¯s powers.


    ¡°Yeah. But. I don¡¯t know man. I can¡¯t leave. But I think one of the guards will go with you. He wanted to rescue one of the girls on your team. Think he¡¯s sweat on her?¡± Locke asked with a grin.


    Jinn looked at him for a few moments before he nodded as things slotted into place.


    ¡°Oh? Then he must be one of the Special Services like one of the girls with me. They must be on the same team, one of her soldiers. That makes sense then,¡± Jinn said absently.


    ¡°Wait, Service!? On the ship!? Why!?¡± Locke asked, horrified.


    ¡°Relax, they not at all like the stories we were raised on. Another chain they made for us really,¡± Jinn said bitterly.


    Locke only nodded and then shuddered. ¡°Good! But what were they doing on the ship?


    ¡°Never said. I think it was to protect someone or something. There was a rumor going around that actual Ancients were aboard. A full squad!¡± Jinn said with a grin.


    Locke only looked at him and shook his head. ¡°What would some of those people be doing in the Federation!? I thought they had closed borders!¡±


    ¡°There was going to be an announcement by the Federation in a few weeks. And last I checked, it was going to be at a space station along our path. Was the Spirit used as a carrier for them?¡± Jinn asked with a shrug.


    Locke only looked at him and then shook his head. ¡°Maybe. And there are the Drones. You know, the things from the cabins that let people see the attractions from their cabins? It was news that the ship had it after all.¡±


    Jinn looked at him and nodded, a thousand thoughts going through his mind. Finally, he blinked and shook his head. ¡°The Ancients were using the Drones to watch us. They had to make a choice. So they were basing it on how the people acted without them being there.¡±


    Locke looked at him before groaning and face-palming, muttering curses under his breath.


    ¡°That means that this was a bit bigger than just a peace treaty or a trade deal. And that means that there¡¯s going to be problems with our disappearance. And that native? The fact that he¡¯s here isn¡¯t giving me a lot of confidence in the possibility of rescue. We might need that Yardship more than you know,¡± Locke said with a bitter tone.


    Jinn nodded. ¡°So once we make a craft to rescue people, we pull you people out first. Then Chief Duncan. He and your chief here can decide how to get the others. But we need to save those in danger first.¡±


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    ¡°Only way to live, only way to fight. Save those who need it, and then go for those who don¡¯t. The lessons they used to hide their hate. Who knew they would  have real reasons to use them?¡± Locke asked with a bitter smirk


    It was all Jinn could do then was laugh, and look at his friend as they enjoyed the setting sun. This planet was strange and deadly. But as long as they kept their heads about them, there was no doubt in Jinn¡¯s mind that they would all survive.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°So what happened Boss? I¡¯ve lost a few hours, then we¡¯re crashing!¡± Sal¡¯go asked softly as he and Racha were walking along the dunes.


    Racha had volunteered to do a patrol near the woods, and Sal¡¯go had said he¡¯d join her. All were part of the plan if they needed to talk to each other. An old tactic that the Service had drilled into them. Mostly useful when two people or more people are on the same cover job, like now.


    ¡°Your guess is as good as mine. That¡¯s the story that happened to everyone back at the crash site. I was hoping that you¡¯d remember something. What with your memory and all,¡± Racha said with a cheeky tone.


    Xordig only laughed himself and shook his head. He didn¡¯t know what to do with his boss sometimes. The two of them had been friends since they joined up, and that was a long time ago. Together they had taken down some of the worst beings out there and saved whole planets in the past.


    ¡°Oh great! Another mystery! That¡¯s not talking about the plant things!¡± Sal¡¯go said with a hard tone.


    ¡°I know. I¡¯ve never seen the like anywhere. And we¡¯ve been around. The only thing that might have a connection is the Ancients. I mean the things we¡¯ve seen rogues do? If there¡¯s a connection,¡± Racha mused.


    Sal¡¯go only sighed, shaking his head. ¡°But there have been a lot of things here boss, a lot! I mean from being attacked when we crashed and the sounds we heard the last few nights! If Locke hadn¡¯t been able to make the stone walls, I don¡¯t know what would have happened to us! And the scavengers!? I mean the food we¡¯ve been able to gather and closing down the capsule have been the only way we¡¯ve been safe.¡±


    ¡°And I fought giant insects. Then a thing that could paralyze people for who knows how long with a roar and evolve based on what it eats. Who¡¯s had the worst time?¡± Racha asked with a grin.


    Sal¡¯go opened and closed his mouth before sighing. He smiled at his friend as he crossed his arms, letting out a sigh. The two of them could go back and forth, trying to one-up each other again, but really? They had better things to do. Like, figure out what they could do. Like dealing with Racha¡¯s group. ¡°So why are you here again?¡±


    Racha just shrugged in the way that she always did. ¡°Crashed ship over there. They say it looks like it might be a Yardship. If it has anything that works we can make things to help us. If not then at least it could be a base to gather everyone here. Food will be an issue, but harvesting local might work.¡±


    Sal¡¯go sighed and shook his head. A safer base would be perfect, but then there was the issue of materials to make things. There might be sources here to gather, but they needed to make it safe first. And with the wildlife, that was something that was in doubt.


    ¡°Good idea. But what about our eggs? I mean they can handle themselves, but did you feel safe leaving them at your crash point?¡± Sal¡¯go asked.


    Racha looked away, and she bent down to look at the flowers. ¡°So these plants? Anyone look them over to see if they have anything we can use?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­. They weren¡¯t with you. Then whatever happened, they had to be in their rooms. That makes the time frame when this happened a bit low, doesn¡¯t it? So when the ship entered the next system then?¡± Sal¡¯go asked as everything hit him.


    ¡°What I was thinking. And with what happened to Roy¡¯s site, and the powers we¡¯ve gained. There has to be a connection to this place. We have to make contact, what we could learn from this planet!¡± Racha said with a grin on her face.


    ¡°What about the Native?¡± Sal¡¯go asked, crossing his arms. The fact that people had lived here long enough was one thing to think about. But the fact that they were from old-generation ships was another kind of trouble. And the way he wasn¡¯t surprised about other sentient species raised all kinds of alarms.


    I¡¯ll be going with you. But the others, can you trust them? And with Jinn alone? I thought you had questions about him?¡±


    ¡°I did, and they¡¯ve been answered, some of them anyway. He said he was raised by a group. He had to escape from them and smuggled himself aboard a ship. And this Locke must be from the same place,¡± Racha said with a shrug.


    Sal¡¯go blinked, absorbing everything. Then he slammed a hand over his eyes as he groaned. ¡°So my worst problem is related to your problem? Just wonderful.¡±


    A cry from the forest caused the two to point their weapons at it. Some of the bushes and grass rustled but then it died down.


    Sal¡¯go just kept looking at the forest, his mind going dark places. So far the worst enemies had come from the seas, but that made the forest even more suspect to him. Those things had attacked the party once they crashed, and that meant they were used to doing that. That meant they thought of what was on the beach as food. And that meant there were living creatures in the forest near them. Could one of them have decided to attack the two of them? Seeing the two Special Services members as easy prey. Even without the power Locke had, Sal¡¯go and Racha were deadly.


    He just sighed after a few moments and looked at Racha. ¡°Boss, we need to talk about a lot of things. But I think we need to move to a better location on our patrol. Maybe toward the hill to that river?¡±


    Racha nodded, before giving one last look at the forest. ¡°Smart idea my friend. Shall we go there then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got a point. Watch the woods,¡± Sal¡¯go said as he led the way towards the hill.


    They never noticed that they were being watched, not from one location but from two.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°So how is it?¡± Tomkin asked as he leaned back in his chair.


    He and Al were in the command room, with Al looking over the coding for the main broadcaster. So far, Al hasn¡¯t found any problems. But since they weren¡¯t able to make contact with the capsule that Al came down in, that was a problem. One of the pieces of tech Al had brought along was a transmitter. It was supposed to be able to connect any crashed escape capsule that was uploaded with the code. But no matter what they did, there was no response from the Clearing.


    ¡°It all checks out. There¡¯s only one answer to this problem. The fault is on their end. All we can do is hope that they¡¯re all okay. Not something one of us usually does, but needs must and all,¡± Al said with a sigh.


    ¡°Yeah. Thanks for looking over the code. I¡¯m more designing really, and my specialty is making a ship void-proof! That¡¯s more than I could normally do,¡± Tomkin admitted.


    ¡°Not really,¡± Al said with a shrug. ¡°You¡¯ve kept this place alive. That¡¯s something. And the problem has to be on their end. There is nothing you can do to fix this problem Chief!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, kid for that kid. And for looking it over,¡± Tomkin said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s Invertor good to see the work of one of my bros students. But we can¡¯t not talk about why you¡¯re all here, ya know?¡±


    Al just sighed and shook his head as he looked at his teacher¡¯s brother. ¡°Yeah. Racha will probably have my hide. But you should know. Farther up the beach, we saw a Yard-Ship. We went back to the capsule and Chief Duncan sent us out to take it.¡±


    ¡°What kind of reason did you have for your route? Why didn¡¯t you just make a straight line to it? That¡¯s how most of our faith would do it.¡± Tomkin asked and Al sighed.


    ¡°Yeah but most of them wouldn¡¯t be dealing with monster biped insects at least ten feet tall!¡± Al said with a chuckle.


    Tomkin only blinked before he looked at Al, his eyes wide. ¡°Tem foot tall!?¡±


    ¡°At least! And it was within a half-hour walk from our landing site! On the way back we found a cliff and that¡¯s how we saw it. And the rest is history. And if we had gone straight, Roy would have been eaten. And that plant thing too,¡± Al said with a shudder.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Tomkin said as he turned his chair and called up a view of the main chamber. The screen showed Burt moving his hands around as he told a crowd of beings a legend of the planet. ¡°Natives, and decedents of a Colony ship. That¡¯s going to be a nightmare with the courts!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s worse than that. One of our faith¡¯s ships crashed here and it¡¯s Small minds are still active! Burt spoke of riding past it to kill people hunting him!¡± Al said with a hard look.


    ¡°Small minds? One of those?! I thought they were discontinued¡­¡­ oh. How long has this planet been eating ships? Will we even be able to make contact with home?¡± Tomkin asked with a hard edge in his voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know. Survival for the next month is all I¡¯m thinking of. ¡°Find the short-term problem¡­..¡± All said and Tomkin laughed.


    ¡°¡­¡­.That will hurt you the most¡¯. My brother,¡± Tomkin said with a sad grin. ¡°A thousand sayings, and all good advice.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Al said as he looked at Tomkin. ¡°Racha will talk to you about our mission later, it¡¯s her show after all. I expect she¡¯ll have some things to tell you.¡±


    ¡°Not going to give me any guess how she¡¯s going to twist my arm?¡± Tomkin asked with a smirk.


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t dare,¡± Al said as he put a hand over his heart.


    ¡°Ahh,¡± Tomkin said with a scowl. ¡°Good. Talk to you later. I need to check a few things.¡±


    Al nodded and walked out of the room. He closed the door and looked at Burt talking. Shaking his head, he turned and walked outside.


    Outside, he found Sara and Paige by one of the ¡®doors¡¯ near the sea. Without saying anything, he walked over and looked over their shoulders. He saw Jinn and Locke looking out at the setting sun, and he sighed getting the girls'' attention.


    ¡°Oh, Al. You done inside? Were you able to get in contact?¡± Paige asked with a hint of hope in her voice. Hope that died as Al shook his head.


    ¡°I checked every bit of code twice! The problem has to be at the clearing! And unless the capsule was destroyed, we should have gotten something!¡± Al snarled.


    ¡°Which means what!? Something is blocking them!? some kind of creature!?¡± Sara asked, her voice full of anger.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t make sense! Why would a creature be able to generate a null field? What could it be used for!?¡± Al asked with a scowl.


    Al was starting to think that nothing here was natural. It was a dark thought but there was the possibility that this was the remains of a Bio-Weapon facility. But that would only explain about a quarter of the creatures and plants. The plants alone were things that would have taken lifetimes to make! And to blend them all together into a food chain? Even the ancients wouldn¡¯t have been able to do that!


    ¡°So let¡¯s talk. We¡¯re dropping Roy and his cargo here. But do we expect anyone to come along? Besides the person we can¡¯t talk about because of his connection to her?¡± Paige asked.


    Al just laughed. He was sure that one of the two guards was under Racha¡¯s command in the Service. And that he couldn¡¯t tell who was bothering him. ¡°No, one of them is probably that. But what about Jinn¡¯s friend? Think he¡¯ll come along?¡±


    ¡°No. It would be good but some of them were talking about how Locke closes them off at night. I can¡¯t see them surviving long without him here,¡± Sara said as she crossed her arms.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Paige said as she shivered. ¡°You don¡¯t want to know how that thought made so many of them feel.¡±


    Al looked at Paige and nodded after a few moments. To even know that it was possible to read emotions in another sense, was mind-blowing. But then Paige was showing the actual uses of that. And the more he thought about it, the more he was glad he couldn¡¯t.

 One Hundred Thirty Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1630


    Paige looked around and sighed as she leaned against the stone wall. Something about this beach made the track have meaning. She couldn¡¯t explain it, but she had a strange feeling that they had reached the halfway point a while back. All they needed to do was keep safe as they ran along the sand until they could reach the land bridge. She felt that everything was going to be okay now.


    ¡°So, we move out at daybreak or before?¡± Al asked from her right.


    ¡°Heard about the scavengers they heard? The remains that were gone? I say wait until the sun¡¯s up!¡± Sara said forcefully.


    ¡°I¡¯m voting that. But then who will come with us? I mean the smart thing will be for these people to move in first, if we can live in the Yard-ship. They are closer,¡± Paige said with an absent ton.


    She closed her eyes and let the other sense of her free. The thing that helped her, the thing that made her be hunted. Sometimes, she hated and loved her powers. She let her sense cast a wide ¡®net¡¯, trying to take in the emotions of the others. She felt Burt¡¯s jot behind him as he was telling a tale. The wonder his words made in the passengers were glowing to her, the awe and wonder of the children was a joy to feel.


    ¡°Yeah, and Chief Duncan would understand. But we need to build a craft to carry the Clearing camp back to the Yard ship first! We can¡¯t do anything else!¡± Al said with a scowl as he looked towards the forest. ¡°I don¡¯t trust Jones not to betray everyone there!¡±


    ¡°So you believe that he was a coward too!?¡± Sara asked.


    Paige just shuddered and shook her head. ¡°That man, he¡¯s not right. The way he feels when he¡¯s around other people. It¡¯s like he thinks he¡¯s in enemy territory or has done something! And that was on the Spirit!¡±


    Al and Sara looked at her and then they groaned. Al even face-palmed himself before groaning. ¡°Great! And here I was hoping that I thought that bastard was just scum! I mean the way that punk carried himself like he was better than everyone? I mean I always thought there was something wrong with him!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no evidence he let the others die. But I feel he let the others die!¡± Sara said with a scowl.


    Paige nodded at the others, glad they believed her. She had always thought that she would be feared if people knew she could ¡®hear¡¯ emotions. But that thought was nothing but dust from a comet, they weren¡¯t treating her differently. It was as if all the fears she had were just mirages.


    ¡°But if he did it once, he could do it again. So we¡¯ve agreed that he¡¯s a danger¡­¡­.¡± Paige went still as something hit her. Her breath started to come in short gasps as she tried to control herself.


    ¡°Do what¡­.. Pagie!¡± Sara cried as she looked up and saw Paige panting.


    ¡°You okay!?¡± Al asked as he shot up from the wall.


    Paige didn¡¯t react, all she did was fall to the ground as she finally put her other sense away. Still shaking, she looked at her friends. ¡°I just felt something, something sentient. It was so hungry. It was like the only thing that mattered was feeding itself!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Looking at the waves, Locke tried to be positive. He had found his oldest friend, and they had a way to keep everyone safe! But that meant that he would stay here while his friend left. Once again his friend would leave, taking the beast¡¯s share of the danger. Part of him wanted to argue, but he knew the cold truth. The needs of the many were greater than the feelings of the one. He might understand that, but he didn¡¯t agree.


    ¡°Who could have thought we¡¯d be here? I mean I never thought I¡¯d ever leave the planet!¡± Jinn said with a grin.


    ¡°Yeah, back then we always thought we would stay home. That we were being raised for something worthy,¡± Locke said bitterly.


    ¡°Remember what happened when he broke the control on the teachers? How some of them died and some of them fought the others? I thought you all died in it. Have you heard from the others at all?¡± Jinn asked.


    Locke just shook his head, hearing the hope in his friend¡¯s voice. Hope that he knew he had to destroy.


    ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. But they''re strong. I mean if you lived, then they have to be alive right?¡± Locke asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Oh yeah. I bet they¡¯re doing what they always talked about! Wonder if their quirks cost them their jobs?¡± Jinn asked, laughing.


    Locke joined in, remembering the times they had with their friends.


    ¡°Maybe! Hey, remember that prank she pulled on the other squad? How the teachers were all trying to find out who did it? How she¡­¡­¡­. Jinn?¡± Locke asked as Jinn stayed silent. Slowly, he turned and looked at Jinn who was staring into the distance. ¡°You okay man?¡±


    ¡°Locke?¡± Jinn asked suddenly, his voice full of a tight tension.


    ¡°Yeah, Jinn?¡± Locke asked, his playfulness forgotten in an instant.


    ¡°Does this beach have rocks that are revealed at low tide?¡± Jinn asked, his voice tense.


    Locke blinked before he looked towards the waves. He felt his heart clench as he saw what Jinn had. There in the distance was a line of ten rocks pointing out the water.


    ¡°No¡­.. you don¡¯t think¡­..¡± Locke said as he looked at the rocks and then he saw them moving against the current. ¡°Oh stars! Everyone off the beach!¡±


    Without wasting another moment, Locke stomped down at the sand. He activated the ability he had gained, his mind sending out how to modify the command. This time a stone wall ten feet tall and twenty wide twenty feet away from them slammed up through the waves. As Locke looked at the wall, he hoped it would give them the time they needed.


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    He turned and saw twenty of the passengers running from around the beach. They were all carrying some of the seaweed that they had discovered was edible. With the supplies they had not as much as they expected, they had taken to gathering what they could. He was almost tempted to tell them to drop it, but he couldn¡¯t before Jinn called something out.


    ¡°<u>AURA BOLT</u>!¡± Jinn cried.


    Locke turned and saw Jinn with his hands raised, pointing at something. He turned and stared in horror at what he saw. The creature had a body three feet tall and ten feet long with a foot-tall hump, the stones they had seen. Its body was mostly purple chitin until it reached its tail and became grey skin. The tail was half a foot long and had wide flippers along the sides. Its body had four spider-like legs, each one a savage-looking spear. Before the front pair were two limbs that ended in long pincers. Its head had four eye stalks above a mandible-covered face.


    The blue bolt that Jinn fired hit its face, and the body fell backward. For a few moments, there was silence. Then a scream came from behind the walls and then four more of the creatures flew over.


    Locke looked at them and reacted. ¡°<u>Earth Shot</u>!¡±


    Four spears of rock shot out from under the waves. Each tracked and impaled one of the creatures before they could land back in the water.


    ¡°What are they!? Have you seen anything like them before!?¡± Jinn asked with a scowl as he fell into a combat stance


    ¡°No, and they''re too quiet to be the scavengers! We gotta get some weapons¡­.. wooooh!¡± Locke bellowed before he dodged a blast of water.


    He looked up and paled at what he saw.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn looked at the wall and felt his senses tense. There was a humanoid creature standing there. It had a body at least five feet tall and covered in red scales. Its head was part of its body sitting on its shoulders and no neck. It had four limbs, two of them holding a spear and another holding a net. The third was pointing at them, and glowing blue. It had two eyes, both pure black. They were above a maw of needle-sharp teeth. But what bothered him the most was that this creature was wearing clothing. It had on a pair of red shorts that looked like it was made of red leather and chitin chest armor.


    ¡°What is that!?¡± Locke asked with shock in his voice.


    ¡°Trouble,¡± Jinn said with a scowl. He locked eyes with the being, and he saw nothing in its gaze but a hunger that would eat the world. For a moment he wondered if he should try and talk to it, but then more of the chitin things jumped onto the wall, ten in total.


    As the biped raised its spear, Jinn reacted.


    ¡°Well, time to go!¡± Jinn said as he grabbed Locke and moved some of the burning power to his feet. With a single ¡®step¡¯ he and Locke were ten feet in the air. Looking at the biped as it tried to find them, Jinn stepped again, this time moving to above the capsule. With a single thought, he ¡®stepped¡¯ to a foot above the sand.


    ¡°What the stars!?¡± Xordig cried as Jinn and Locke landed. ¡°What is it!?¡±


    Before they could say anything, they heard screams of fear.


    ¡°Trouble! Get your weapons!¡± Jinn barked. He looked at Locke and nodded. ¡°Give the wall facing that thing a place for us to hide and fire at it!¡±


    ¡°On it!¡± Locke said with a grin.


    ¡°Come on Jinn, the weapons are over here!¡± Xordig said and ran into the capsule.


    Inside, Burt was about to tell another story but he stopped when Xordig ran in. The bear like being grabbed three rifles as the people stared.


    Tomkin poked his head out and scowled. ¡°What¡¯s happening out there!?¡±


    ¡°Attack from the sea! We¡¯re going to hold them off until the gathers can get inside!¡± Jinn said with a scowl.


    Tomkin only looked at him before he nodded. ¡°Go! Get everyone into the capsule! And stay alive!¡±


    ¡°So what have we got?¡± Burt asked as he got up, pulling out his own weapon.


    Jinn looked at him, then he looked at the passengers behind him.


    With a hard look in his eyes, he just nodded. ¡°Nothing we can¡¯t handle.¡±


    Burt seemed to catch on and nodded, following them out the door. Locke turned and closed the door, prompting Burt to sigh.


    ¡°Sorry. So what are we facing out here?¡± Burt asked with a somber look.


    Jinn just sighed and shook his head. ¡°Some kind of red-scaled fish man with needle teeth and his hunting crabs.¡±


    ¡°Needle Teeth!? One of those things?! And it was just one!?¡± Burt said, a look of horror on his face.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter felt so eager for the carnage! It was worth it to move ahead of the horde! There were some of the tasty two-walkers on the boundary! It thought that all it would find here were going to be some of the scaled ones, but no! Instead there were the pink-skinned ones. Those were always good food. But as the hunter directed its hunters, some strikes of light hit them.


    It looked around and tried to find the attacker. But then it threw itself toward the beach moments before something passed over its head. As it hit the water, it scowled. The far strikes, the humans sometimes had them! They were cheaters to use them, and not use the life around them. The horde had captured one once, but it never worked after that. With so many, the chances that they would have one that stayed active were strong. It never understood why they stopped, the horde ate the ones that Powered them after all!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she aimed and fired her rifle, Racha cursed herself. Why had she expected the ocean to be free of foes? They had fought that thing in the river, did she think it was from a lake!? She was usually better than this, what had happened!? They¡¯ve fought monsters and foes from all around them, why didn¡¯t she look at the river as a possible ambush point!?


    But she had better things to think of now. The crab-like things were shooting out of the water as the four-armed Fishman was firing water blasts from its hand. So far, the blasts were just pushing people against the ground, but the crab things kept coming!


    ¡°Have you seen anything like that before since you all crashed here!?¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Xordig cursed as he looked at the crab things, firing again when one of them neared one of the gatherers. ¡°The things that attacked us were different!¡±


    ¡°Great! So this thing is what? A hermit?¡± Racha asked as she fired at another of the creatures. She almost fired again when blasts started to rain from the stone walls. She looked towards it and saw five points of fire, and then she cursed.


    ¡°Or from out there! We might have to take the whole capsule to the Yard-Ship!¡± Xordig called out as he fired at the ocean.


    As she fired at one of the crab things on the beach, Racha felt that her friend might be right. There seemed to be no end of these things, and this was just one of bipeds. If more of them were coming with just as many, they were in trouble. ¡°Xordig, time to move! Get to Burt, maybe he¡¯ll know what these things are! I¡¯ll help defend at the front. And don¡¯t argue with me, this needs range!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Xordig called.


    Racha just nodded and started to run, firing as she went. After a few feet, she put her rifle onto her back and pulled out her pistol. With each step, she fired another shot. Within moments, she had taken out half of the twenty crab things.


    As she made it halfway to the walls, she heard a screech of what sounded like rage and anger. The fish biped was up, and it pointed both of its upper arms at her and with a roar fired two blasts of water at her.


    She dove forward and rolled into a ball, moving five feet until she got back up. With a scowl, she kept firing as she ran in a loop towards the wall. The only good thing was that the biped kept firing at her, ignoring the others. And she saw that they had all made it behind cover, with luck they could handle this lone thinking foe.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°One of those things!? How!? They would have attacked me once I landed here if they had a village nearby! This place would have been nothing but desert by now!¡± Burt said, horror in his voice.


    Jinn listened to Burt behind him as he led the way to the stairs that Locke had made.


    ¡°So I¡¯m thinking these things are bad news?¡± Locke asked with false cheer. ¡°And they never travel alone? So there¡¯s not a chance this is a lone traveler?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Burt said with anger and fear in his voice. ¡°If they do, I¡¯ve never heard of it. These things eat everything, Sentient or otherwise. Meat or plants, they only care its organic. It¡¯s not unheard of to find islands stripped clean and ships to be lost to them. Most cities are always behind a wall to keep them out. Some islands even make walls blocking all beaches.¡±


    Jinn looked out over the walls and smirked. Racha was trading fire with the biped, and the few crabs left had retreated. He looked back at the others and grinned. ¡°Well, this one isn¡¯t so bad.¡±


    ¡°Because it¡¯s not one of their War Power users!¡± Burt said, fear in his voice.


    ¡°War Powers?¡± Locke asked, a savage tone to his voice.


    ¡°Yeah. Those who trained to use the Power just for war. This one must have something that can control those crab-things. That and the fact its alone is the only reason we¡¯re alive. We have to get the others ready to run!¡± Burt said, fear in his voice.


    Jinn looked at the creature in the waves, and how it kept ducking down under them. ¡°The walls, they weren¡¯t just to hide behind. The makers wanted to give themselves warning to run away from the water.¡±


    Burt blinked, and then looked out, his mouth dropping open. ¡°By the seas! You might be right! But they have people who can break down the walls Locke raises! To stay here is to invite death!¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± Xordig¡¯s voice came from behind them, causing Jinn to stop for a second. He turned and saw Xordig running towards them. ¡°So, you know these things, Burt? How bad are they?¡±


    Jinn only looked towards the direction the Yard-Ship was, trying to think. The horde that this one might be from must-have trackers. And maybe Powers that would let them operate longer away from the water.


    ¡°Burt, take Xordig and go tell Chief Tomkin what¡¯s going on! I¡¯ll back Racha up! Locke, go out back! Make a stone walkway into the forest!¡± Jinn barked as he aimed at the biped.


    ¡°What do you mean move!? It¡¯s almost night!¡± Xordig barked.


    Burt just nodded, turning he ran towards Xordig and grabbed his right arm. ¡°It¡¯s a long, terrible story that I only want to tell once! But it might be the best of a terrible situation!¡±


    Locke stayed where he was, looking at Jinn for a few seconds. ¡°You think the Horde will have trackers? That¡¯s why you want me to make a stone walkway?¡±


    Jinn only nodded, aiming at the biped and firing. The biped dropped down, stopping firing at Racha. Jinn watched her run to the stone walls, and he just nodded. ¡°Makes sense if you think about it. There has to be reason that the walls would be made if the enemy can bring them down.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. Make the enemy work for everything they take. Yeah, I¡¯ll make the path!¡± Locke said as Racha and Al ran up the stairs.


    Jinn turned and fired another bolt at the Biped. He knew they were running against the clock now. Could they leave before the Horde made it here? That was the question that they had to ask themselves if they wanted to survive the night.

 One Hundred Thirty Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1645


    Jinn fired at the ocean, smirking as he saw the biped fall back under the water. So far, he had been able to keep the creature and its minions from moving towards them. The gathers were all covered from anything that could breach the ¡®fort¡¯. Looking over the space between the walls, he saw Jess amongst them. She had to be trying to keep him calm, a job he wouldn¡¯t want. And something he wouldn¡¯t be able to feel good about lying to these people.


    ¡°What are those things?¡± Racha demanded from behind him.


    Jinn turned and saw her with Al, Sara, and Paige, all of them looking at him with worry.


    ¡°Burt says that¡¯s just a scout. And that they eat sentient meat. So there¡¯s that. Plus they can supposedly break through the walls,¡± Jinn as he turned back to the ocean. He saw one of the crab things making a dash along the beach towards the river as they fought the monster. Without a second, he fired and killed it. ¡°And I¡¯m starting to think it can see through those things.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Al asked in shock.


    ¡°Roy can. With that thing, he tamed. Makes sense,¡± Racha said robotically. ¡°We can¡¯t just let it get an advantage on us. Al, Sara go cover the left side! Jinn, I¡¯ll take Paige and cover the right. You keep that thing¡¯s head down!¡±


    ¡°Got it! We just need to hold on until the survivors can escape into the forest!¡± Jinn said with a smirk.


    He shouldn¡¯t be so happy, but this was what he was made for. He looked at the ocean, and when he saw the shadow under it move he fired. The blast shot through the water, and the shadow retreated.


    Jinn looked at the beach, trying to find anything. He had been right about the biped seeing through the crab-things eyes, so they had to kill the crabs. If the biped couldn¡¯t see them, then they could escape. With Locke making a bridge¡­¡­.. ¡°Oh. Paige!¡±


    ¡°Jinn?! What is it?¡± Paige called back.


    ¡°Go tell Locke to make a bridge, not a pathway! He¡¯ll know, remind him about that last mission!¡± Jinn called out. He clenched his teeth as he tried to keep from cursing himself as an idiot! This monster¡¯s actions would only make sense if it was here as a scout! And that meant that it had the skills to get information! That meant that he would have to be smarter to find out all its tricks. If they could track the group into the forest, then the survivors here would all die! He couldn¡¯t wouldn¡¯t let that happen!


    ¡°Come on,¡± Jinn muttered as he looked at the ocean waves. He swept his gaze over the water, trying to find his target. ¡°Just move your head a little, and I¡¯ll give you a nice dream.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Behind the escape capsule, Locke looked at the forest and smiled. He had wanted to go there with the scouting parties, but his skills had kept him close. Chief Tomkin had yelled at him about how he had gone after Jinn¡¯s group. But then his loyalty would always be with those that he had grown up with. And the Boss always had a near-perfect plan to handle any problem they came across!


    Locke took a deep breath as he looked out at the forest a good hundred feet away. Once they could get to the grass, then they were gone. All they needed to do was make sure there was no¡­.


    Locke went still as he looked down, seeing the footprints. Suddenly he knew that the plan wouldn¡¯t work as he thought it would. If he brought up a pathway, the footprints would be destroyed. If that happened, then one of the horde would probably notice. To make sure that they could get away clean, then he had to do something else.


    ¡°Locke!¡± A female voice from behind caused him to turn around. He saw one of the girls who had come with Jinn running towards him.


    ¡°WAIT! Let me guess, Jinn figured it out too?¡± Locke asked with a smirk.


    ¡°Figured it out? Jinn said something about a bridge and a mission?¡± She said.


    Locke laughed a little. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like him. That¡¯s the boss!¡±


    ¡°Boss?¡± The girl asked confusion in her voice.


    ¡°We grew up in the same compound. And he was right. We¡¯ll need a bridge. But how to anchor it¡­.. there!¡± Locke said as he smirked, looking at the back wall.


    He took a deep breath and centered himself. ¡°<u>Earth Control</u>!¡±


    With a single phase and his own will, he grinned as the wall started to sink into the ground. All he needed to do was get this ready until Tomkin came with the others. ¡°You know, this might have been considered a Great Wonder. Feels a bit wrong that I¡¯ll have to destroy it after we¡¯re done!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°A Horde!? That eats everything that¡¯s organic!?¡± Tomkin bellowed in shock and fear.


    Burt and Xordig hah both come to him, and the news is anything but good. Part of him couldn¡¯t believe it, the other parts did.


    ¡°Is there no chance that the walls could hold them back at all?¡± Tomkin stared at Burt as he shook his head.


    ¡°They¡¯ve broken through places with a lot more in-depth defenses than this. The only chance we have is to run now!¡± Burt said with a hard glare on his face.


    All Tomkin could do was hold his head, wondering what to do. The smart thing would be to leave, but could they make it to safety? Where was a safe place?


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Tomkin sighed and looked down. He wasn¡¯t a leader, he was just the ship¡¯s mechanic! He only let them promote him because they tried to get him to take over for the Old Man when he left! He even wanted him to do it! But this wasn¡¯t the time to argue or moan, this was the time for action. ¡°Okay, I get it. Do we have leave? But go where? Where can we hide?¡±


    Xordig only chuckled and shook his head. Tomkin was about to say something as he scowled but Xordig just spoke first.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry about where to hide with Locke around. But we should all move in the direction of the Yard-Ship,¡± Xordig said softly.


    Tomkin only looked at him, before what he just heard made sense. He felt his mouth widen as he smiled.


    ¡°I forgot about that! Good! Get everyone ready to move! I don¡¯t want to let anyone stay behind!¡± Tomkin barked.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sk¡¯p looked out the open doorway and cursed that he wasn¡¯t out there. For one of his training, letting others fight was always wrong. But then as a commanding officer of one of his home¡¯s defense squadrons, that was to be expected. He cursed that his bosses wanted him to finally take a vacation. He still thought they had another reason for it, but what? There had to be a cause for them to want him aboard the Spirit!


    He sighed and looked at the little ones of his race. Sal¡¯go was near them, trying to keep everyone calm and not rioting. Something was happening out there, and the few people who had gathered food were still out there. That told him that they were there to keep the others calm. To keep them from making more problems for the others, and that was enough to worry him. They had dealt with the things that attacked them, so this had to be worse. And the only way that they could be worse was something he didn¡¯t want to even think about. But then if he was right, then he had to stay here.


    A sound caused him to look up as Xordig, Chief Tomkin and the native Burt came out of Tomkin¡¯s office. From the way that Tomkin was walking, there was nothing good about what he needed to tell them all.


    ¡°Attention!¡± Xordig barked and everyone in the chamber looked at him. ¡°The Chief has something that you all need to know!¡±


    ¡°Thank you. Folks I can¡¯t lie, we¡¯re in deep trouble here. From the sea comes the first of what I¡¯ve been told is almost probably a horde of walking devourers. They¡¯ll come and eat anything organic, anything at all. I don¡¯t need to tell you what that means for all of us,¡± Tomkin said softly as he looked around.


    Sk¡¯p felt his heart freeze. Around them, the others all starred at Tomkin, and they were moments from a riot if Sk¡¯p saw things right.


    ¡°However! We have a plan to save everyone! But we need to leave!¡±


    ¡°Where will we go?!¡± A voice from the back called out. And that was the spark, everyone seemed to be talking all at once.


    ¡°LISTEN TO THE CHIEF!¡± Xordig yelled, cutting through the noise.


    ¡°Thank you. The mission the newcomers are here on? That¡¯s to claim what might be a crashed ship!¡± Tomkin called out,  If it¡¯s still in good order it¡¯ll be able to keep all of us alive! And it might have enough systems in working order that we¡¯ll be able to find the rest of the Spirit!¡± Tomkin called out.


    Sk¡¯p felt his heart beat a bit. The only thing that could help them do all that would be a factory ship. But those were always some of the most protected assists to a modern plant¡¯s fleet. How could one of them be crashed here? Would word about them have been sent out?


    The answer hit him in a moment, and then that made his eyes widen in shock. The only answers were either the ship was that old, or it was from a fleet that wouldn¡¯t tell others about it. That meant pirates, and those Yard-Ships were the source of their stations. The chance that if it was still active they could use it was good. The kind of technology that those things could make, they could live well. They would just need to secure a food source and they could survive until they found a way to contact home.


    ¡°Now please, move slowly and carefully! We won¡¯t be coming back so grab everything that you can!¡± Tomkin called out as he looked around.


    As Sk¡¯p saw the others all moving around, the adults grabbed what they could. He saw that newbie, Roy, and his strange new animal friend gathering up the stray children. He moved closer and listened in.


    ¡°Now don¡¯t you all worry. The people in charge are strong and smart! They¡¯ll know how to get us out of here safely! Right Red?¡± Roy asked with a grin as he looked at the red chitin-covered quadruped at his side.


    Red buzzed and nodded, shaking its end.


    Sk¡¯p looked at the little creature. It had been a joy for the children once Roy came in. The little creature had captured the hearts of the children and it seemed to be a plant eater. So far


    ¡°But this sounds so scary Mr. Roy. How can you know that we¡¯ll be okay?¡± One of the human children asked.


    ¡°Because everyone here is so brave little one. Everyone who can will do everything they can to keep you alive. That¡¯s just what it means to be an adult sometimes,¡± Roy said with a grin.


    Sk¡¯p kept quiet, but that remark stung him. He had kept quiet a lot about his job, but then his commander had mentioned it. How the civilians loved to hear ¡®war stories¡¯, and that if Sk¡¯p didn¡¯t want that to stay quiet. The last few days had tested his resolve to keep it, and he wondered if he should say who he was. He wasn¡¯t someone most people knew about, he stuck to the shadows. But he had training, and that might help a lot more than staying quiet would.


    But then he looked at the kids, and then he felt his resolve firm itself. He had been following the objective that his leader had given him before he left on vacation. When he probably should have done the opposite. He was done hiding away. He looked towards Tomkin and nodded, walking towards him. It was time to stop hiding, it was time to fight again.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Burt sighed and shook his head. He hadn¡¯t expected anything like this. To finding the fabled Iron Island and now to a horde of those things? When he woke up that day he escaped through that Gateway, he had been feeling a bit wrong. But after everything, he thinks he did okay. He found new people who had just ended up on this world. They had told him something about his people''s heritage. And now he was helping a group of them to evacuate before those monsters attacked. He might now have done much while traveling, but he thinks he honored his people.


    ¡°How far do you think those things will chase us if they do?¡± Xordig asked.


    Burt blinked and looked up. ¡°What? Oh. I¡¯ve heard that they usually leave things about three miles or so away alive. Sometimes more or less, but this is all second hand really. They say you either live or die when these hordes come. Sorry that I can¡¯t be more help.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing that these are an old fear of yours then? Or your culture?¡± Tomkin asked.


    Burt just shuddered and nodded. ¡°Yeah. You¡¯ve got a holiday about telling scary stories? Well, these things are one of them. Spent years looking at the seas with more fear once I heard the stories for the first time. And it didn¡¯t help that an island was found dead and consumed soon after. The trader looked like he saw it firsthand.¡±


    ¡°So all in all, bad then?¡± Xordig asked.


    Burt wanted to lie, but he couldn¡¯t. Whenever one of the things was seen, whole islands would evacuate. He didn¡¯t want to kill their hope for survival, but they had to know just how bad this was for them. Something in his face must have told them that there was else because Xordig palled as Sal¡¯go came over to them.


    Sal¡¯go looked over the others and then right at  Chief Tomkin. ¡°Chief the supplies are ready to move. We¡¯ve got all the pieces of tech we could find packed and I¡¯ve already got people ready to move them. But they¡¯re asking where we¡¯re going to go. So got a plan for that?¡±


    ¡°No, the plan is to just move. A mile in then a good walk for the next twenty minutes. After that have Locke make a shelter for us underground,¡± Tomkin explained.


    Burt saw Sal¡¯go¡¯s face go white and his lower arms go limp. Burt just caught Sal¡¯go¡¯s eyes wide before he chuckled.


    ¡°Hiding from them might be the best plan there is. We could do more, maybe send in a scouting team while the rest follows behind with Locke? He could make a fort if we¡¯re attacked. The rest of the group should survive,¡± Burt said with a shrug.


    ¡°I¡¯ll want Jess to go with you. Xordig, you¡¯ll go too. We¡¯ll need one more¡­.. and I need you here Sal¡¯go,¡± Tomkin said as he looked around the group before he eyed Xordig. ¡°And we both know why I want you to go, and why Miss Racha will stay here too.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Xordig blinked and then looked at Burt and Sal¡¯go. What Tomkin said had many meanings, but there was only one that he believed. Somehow, the Chief knew who Tomkin and Racha were. He had his cover blown a few times, and this was one for the record books. He didn¡¯t know what to feel, surprise or worry.


    Tomkin was senior enough that he knew about the special passengers. But the fact that Racha and he were part of their guard was something else altogether. The skills their team was taught were all to keep people from finding out who they were. To have their cover blown, was a mark of shame in the Service. But he couldn¡¯t even think of how Tomkin figured it out!


    Before Xordig could say anything, they heard Sk¡¯p¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Sir, I¡¯d like to volunteer to help in any way you need me,¡± Sk¡¯p said from behind them.


    They looked at him, not understanding what he was talking about.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. We all need to work together to survive. Just move when we tell you to and I think we¡¯ll all be able to live through this. just don¡¯t¡­¡­.¡± Tomkin began but Sk¡¯p interrupted him.


    ¡°I mean to fight,¡± Sk¡¯p said looking at them, a hard look in the being''s eyes.


    Xordig looked at Sal¡¯go as the being crossed his lower arms and clenched his upper fists. His crewmate had been talking about Sk¡¯p for a while. The being was just someone that Sal¡¯go couldn¡¯t understand, and what Sal¡¯go couldn¡¯t understand, he didn¡¯t trust.


    ¡°Look! You can say that all you like,¡± Sal¡¯go said with a growl. ¡°But if you think that just some civilian level hunting or shooting would let you¡­..¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a civilian,¡± Sk¡¯p interrupted Sal¡¯go.


    Xordig blinked and then looked at Sk¡¯p with a hard eye. After a few moments, a personal dossier appeared by Xordig¡¯s Augmented Reality view. As he read it, he blinked. ¡°Wait¡­. You¡¯re a Planetary Defense pilot?! From a Swarm-Killer!?¡±


    As Sk¡¯p blinked, Xordig looked at him as Sal¡¯go stepped back. Swarm-Killers were Sk¡¯ps planet¡¯s greatest ships. They were amongst the most honored posting a Defense pilot could ask for, and each one was a veteran warrior. What was someone like that doing here?


    ¡°Yeah¡­ how¡¯d you know?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as he looked at Xordig.


    Xordig didn¡¯t say anything, just locked eyes with Tomkin.


    ¡°Pilot?¡± Burt asked and Sal¡¯go looked at him dazed.


    ¡°He flies smaller ships that launch from a bigger one. They can project power a long way, inter-system on most models. And all pilots have to be able to fight behind enemy lines,¡± Sal¡¯go said with a shocked voice.


    Xordig did feel for his friend, but this was good. If he, Sk¡¯p, Jess and Burt were the scouts, then they might do this. The four of them with the right weapons should be able to handle anything this planet would throw at them!

 One Hundred Thirty Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1700


    ¡°Remember, we¡¯ve got about two hours of light left! We have to be in a place to sleep by then!¡± Tomkin said as the four members of the scouting team gathered in front of the escape capsule.


    Jess grinned and looked at the chief, feeling a bit of pride and eagerness that she destroyed a moment later. ¡°Don¡¯t worry boss. You just bring the people after us in about half an hour. We¡¯ll drop these and you just follow them.¡±


    Jess was pointing at a pack of Augmented Reality poles. They worked by sending out a broadcast that anyone with the proper nanites could pick up. Al had spent a few minutes changing their programming so they would work right. Now they just sent out a direction based on the crash site that three of the scouts could change. She looked at Burt and scowled a little.


    The man seemed larger than life, and the stories he told! This world was more dangerous than she had thought, but there were good people here. All they had to do was survive this.


    ¡°So what are we looking for?¡± Sk¡¯p asked. ¡°And who¡¯s in charge?¡±


    ¡°Me,¡± Xordig said as he looked around, a scowl on his face. ¡°And what we¡¯re looking for is someplace that we can defend or someplace large enough for us all. Once there, Locke can make a chamber for everyone to sleep in. After that, we deal with it tomorrow or tonight.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Jess said with a grin. ¡°So we¡¯re banking on Locke¡¯s magic powers. Good to know.¡±


    ¡°Hey, those Powers are important! People base their leaders on who has what ability in some cultures. Not mine of course,¡± Burt said with a laugh.


    Jess looked at Burt and shook her head. There was just something about him that seemed to be fake. She couldn¡¯t understand what was bothering her, but it was there. Maybe it was what had happened to her once before.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough. We¡¯ll be after you all soon. You must lead the way at least for tonight. That¡¯s all we can ask of you. And it¡¯s more than you all deserve,¡± Tomkin said with a bitter tone.


    Jess looked at him and saw the way his head was pointing down. She had known that the chief was bothered by something, but this? Before she could say anything, someone else did first.


    ¡°Sir, this is something none of us could have gotten ready for. We¡¯re doing what we can to stay alive, and that¡¯s all we can do. You have to believe that sir. That¡¯s the truth,¡± Xordig said with a firm tone.


    Tomkin only grinned at him and shook his head. ¡°And that¡¯s what your experience is telling you?¡±


    Xordig only nodded, his face blank.


    Jess wondered just what kind of experience the being had. There was just something about the way he spoke like he had done more experience than even Burt. With medical technology, he could have fought in the last great War. But then that was just something that was his business until it became the rest.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take it. Good luck, all of you,¡± Tomkin said softly as he saluted them all.


    Jess saluted him and the others all snapped and did so as well, Xordig and Sk¡¯p with military grace.


    Xordig looked around and nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s move out!¡±


    As one he led the way towards the back and as he moved around the side of the escape capsule, he stopped and stood there.  Jess passed him, looking at him, and saw his wide eyes. She turned her head and stared, shocked at what was before her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Burt blinked and then shook his head as he saw the bridge. It was unlike anything that he had ever seen before. Ten feet wide and a hundred long. Two sloping arches that had lines of stone between the bridge and the arches. The arches went to a tower ten feet high and then more slopes that led to another two towers. ¡°Okay, wow. I¡¯ve seen some great works of art, but that bridge. Like nothing I¡¯ve ever seen anywhere on my travels.¡±


    ¡°Just wait until we find the spirit. Then I¡¯ll show you the library. You¡¯ll love it!¡± Jess said with a smirk.


    ¡°Not my best work. I¡¯ve been rushed after all. You know how it is,¡± Locke said with a shrug. He was sitting against the right tower closest to them, and putting his hand on the ground. At the looks Burt sent him Locke just shrugged. ¡°I found I can make my work stronger if I touch it. This way everyone will get over it with it in one piece.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that makes sense,¡± Burt said after blinking. He looked into his past, remembering some people he fought against or with. How they always tried to touch their elements as they fought with them. The empowering aspect was something he had never thought of. A lot of things that he had seen made a lot more sense now. If the empowering worked on more than just keeping a construct stable.


    ¡°Keep watch. If something attacks from the forest, kill it,¡± Xordig said softly as he walked past.


    Locke only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°That was some special advice there.¡±


    Xordig only stopped and turned his head down, looking at Locke who looked back.


    For a moment Burt wondered if something was in Locke¡¯s words, but then he shook his head. He could try and figure out what they weren¡¯t saying later.


    ¡°Now I¡¯m sure that this is important, but the sun¡¯s falling! Time to move!¡± Burt said as he walked by Xordig and Locke. He kept walking before turning to look at them, and he hoped they saw how serious he was. ¡°Because none of you want to know what¡¯s out in this forest at night!¡±


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    ¡°He¡¯s right, let¡¯s move!¡± Xordig said with an edge to his voice. He walked past Burt who just shook his head.


    ¡°Wow. I think you might have gotten him to think about this,¡± Jess said. Then she punched Burt¡¯s right arm as she and Sk¡¯p walked past him.


    Burt just rubbed his arm and shook his head, smiling. Something about all this was telling him they were going to survive.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around, Sk¡¯p tried and failed to keep from thinking about the bridge. The way that Locke said ¡®Special¡¯, it was bothering him. He had been around for a while. He had led his flight against Pirates and even a few Corporate Stations that went ¡®Rogue¡¯. The combat he had seen in his fighter and on the ground, they were all telling him that there was something there. But he could think about it later.


    ¡°So what can we expect out here?¡± Jess asked from behind him.


    He heard Burt sigh and he waited for what the native said. He had lived on this island for a while and any clues that he had to survive were worth hearing.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been mostly on the other shore past the river. And with the swarms on this island gathering around their alphas, anything really. But most of them aren¡¯t ambushers, so they¡¯ll make noses before they strike. Keep calm, and look at any sounds,¡± Burt said softly as they moved through the forest.


    Sk¡¯p looked at the forest and tried not to think about the things that could be watching them. The way that Burt talked, he probably had a few scars from this place. But then all things worth doing might make scars. ¡°So what was your home like?¡±


    ¡°Nice place to live. A mountain that we used to watch the seas, and forests with wonderful fruit from all over. And the people! Beings from all over lived there! Races whose ancestors fought were friends. It was one of the greatest places on the planet! But we liked to be unknown, so there¡¯s that. It was perfect,¡± Burt said with a sigh.


    Sk¡¯p smirked and shook his head. ¡°Sounds like any place in the Federation! That was our creed ya know? From many places unity and strength! Sure some species liked to stay by themselves, but on the whole, everyone stood together.¡±


    Sk¡¯p looked around before his eyes and noticed a tree with a small hanging mass near the top. For a second he looked at it as he took stock of it. As he watched it, his fur started to stand on its ends, and his eyes focused on the mass as it moved. For a few moments, he wondered why his instants were telling him to strike now and keep striking until it was dead. But he stayed still and tried to not let the thing know he was watching it. ¡°Burt, above me. Follow my eyes.¡±


    Sk¡¯p felt more then heard Burt move towards him and then look up, and then Sk¡¯p heard the sounds of chocking. ¡°One of those!? Bad, really bad.¡±


    ¡°How bad?¡± Xordig¡¯s voice held a note of worry in it, and then Burt swallowed again.


    ¡°Scavenger really, not that deadly. But they always nest near a stronger¡­.. wait. I learned about those in the Mountain Region. How¡¯d it get here?¡± Burt asked.


    ¡°So it¡¯s the sign of a threat, not the threat itself?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as he looked around.


    ¡°Yeah, but near is tricky for a flyer. The predator could be nearby or miles away. But we¡¯re in its hunting zone. But why didn¡¯t it attack the beach?¡± Burt asked as he looked towards the ocean, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°Was it scared?¡± Jess asked.


    ¡°Yeah. But if it was, what scared if?¡± Xordig asked.


    Sk¡¯p turned away from the tree, looking toward the ocean. All he knew was that there had to be a reason for the scavenger¡¯s actions. But what would those actions mean to the group?


    Sk¡¯p swallowed, looking at the horizon and tried to keep calm. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving, now.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The lone hunter looked around the seabed, trying to think. It had lost all but the last ten of its hunting ones. And the food things had killed them from so far away! Without a way to beach the surf, let alone their nest it was stuck! And the leader would be here soon with the rest of the horde. And without finding a good meal, the hunter would be food! It slammed its hand down and then blinked as it realized it hit something hard. Not a rock, not the ground, but something else.


    It looked down and saw that it had hit a large chitin shell. It called its hunters to it and then slowly two eyestalks the size of its fist rose from the floor. The hunter saw the backs of them, and only then did it realize what it was looking at.


    The hunter felt its mouth widen in joy and then it called for its power. It threw it at the creature that it had found, grabbing the stalks to send its power through them. The creature tried to buck the hunter, but the hunter held on tight. From the ocean floor, four limbs started to thrash around as silt rose and clouded the water.


    The hunter held on and kept throwing its will and power at the creature. This was his one chance to live and win! With how big this one was, it had to be strong! Once it sent this at the food things, it would win!


    As the thrashing died down and the creature relaxed, the hunter felt joy. The hunter could feel this one¡¯s strength and its power. The hunter felt joy that soon this brute would destroy the food thing¡¯s nest. But why stop there? The hunter could become the leader with such power!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jinn looked out at the ocean, he frowned. As the sun slowly started to fall, what he could see was being blocked. He didn¡¯t like this, but what could he do? The more time passed, the closer night came. And the closer to when they would leave. He spared a glance to see the survivors were all getting ready to follow the scouting group. He was staying back, his dashing trick would let him escape quickly.


    He had told Tomkin about it, even demonstrated it and Tomkin had grinned evilly. He had gotten to work on making the escape capsule explode after it was locked. His new job was to hold the horde off if it got here, and then escape to once the survivors escaped.


    The waters suddenly burst as a monster broke from the waves. It was large, ten feet tall, and ten feet long covered in black chitin. Its body was streamlined and it was standing upright on four legs set in a square formation. It had four long lobster-like arms with snapping claws, one set above the other. Its head was a snout covered by four flexing mandibles with a mouth of needle teeth. It had four eye stalks just before where the arms were on the body. Behind it, the fish biped stuck its head up and looked right at Jinn for a moment before one of its arms glowed blue.


    With a shriek, the lobster monster charged forward.


    ¡°Nova! TIME¡¯S UP, MOVE IT!¡± Jinn barked before he ¡®dashed¡¯ to the beach. As soon as he touched the sand, he ¡®dashed¡¯ forward, his blade drawn and ready. He landed next to the lobster and slashed down, the flame in his weapon. As the blade slashed into the lobster¡¯s lower claw, it just wounding the limb, not severing it.


    When the upper claw on that side sped towards him, Jinn dashed backwards, drawing his gun as he put the blade away.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s try this! <u>Aether Bolt</u>!¡± Jinn called out before he fired, the blue coating the red energy blast. The blasts hit the lobster in its side and staggered the beast, but it kept standing.


    Before Jinn could fire again, something hit him, something wet. As he went flying he dashed upwards for a good twenty feet. When he came out of the dash he was still moving in the direction he had been before. As he looked towards the source, he saw the biped fish pointing its upper arms where he had been. But then he snarled and dashed forward, and when he came out he just fell. Aiming at the biped, he snarled as he aimed and with a word, fired another blue-covered red energy blast.


    The blast hit the fish biped in its upper right arm and blew it off at the elbow. It screamed before it fell into the water, and the lobster monster looked up.


    ¡°KEEP IT ON YOU JINN! WE NEED A MINUTE!¡± Racha¡¯s cry caused Jinn to nod and dash above the lobster monster. As he fell, he fired at it three more times, two of them hitting the head and one destroying two eye stalks.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked around the survivors as all forty of the civilians were being led across the bridge. They were mostly adults with fifteen children, and twenty crew members to guard them. Al and Sara were on the other side, with Paige upfront with Tomkin. Locke was staying back with her, ready to pull up the bridge the moment he had to.


    Catching Locke¡¯s looks, she knew that she had to stop him. She moved until she was in front of him and looked him right in the eyes. He looked back at her for a few moments before he turned away.


    ¡°Can you blame me? I thought he was dead!¡± Locke said as the last of the survivors had left.


    Racha looked at him and felt for him, she did. The two of them had to have been friends for a while, and he was worried about Jinn. But then every bit of her training was telling her to try and pump Locke for any bit of information about their home.


    ¡°Jinn mentioned that you were raised to be defenders of this ¡®True Federation¡¯. What can you tell me about it?¡± Racha asked.


    Locke looked at her and chuckled. ¡°So you¡¯re the Special he told me about?¡±


    Racha almost reacted, but she kept calm. Jinn was running from something, it stood to reason he would have told anyone he trusted about her. ¡°Yeah. And any organization that calls itself ¡®True Federation¡¯ is a problem.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Jinn wouldn¡¯t know anything about that. He just tried to keep down from what I¡¯ve got from him. But he was raised to break the enemy, I was raised to spy on them. Something a lot like you come to think of it," Locke said with a shrug. But then his face went hard and he looked at her. ¡°But I¡¯ll be keeping quiet. I¡¯ve still got some people out there that I want safe.¡±


    Racha looked at him and was about to say something but then Locke kept talking.


    ¡°When we left, the biggest backer was there. We killed them and all the teachers. Me and Jinn, we both got into separate shuttles to take out the last of the rats. Jinn just ran, I spent a few weeks trying to find where I was raised. By the time I did, the others had escaped or given the dead a burning funeral. I won¡¯t put them in danger,¡± Locke said with a scowl as he looked at her.


    Racha looked at him and nodded. She understood, but her training told her that there was something else here. ¡°Fine. For now fine. But I want to talk to you and Jinn about this.¡±


    A scream came from the forest that caused Racha to look at the survivors and crew members. They had stopped halfway to the forest and looked back. And to her horror, Racha saw some of them start to move the others around backwards. She didn¡¯t need Paige¡¯s abilities to tell that something had to be done.


    ¡°Keep moving!¡± Racha bellowed. As everyone on the bridge turned to look at her, she felt herself rising. She looked at Locke who grinned.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d need a stand so they can see you. Good luck,¡± Locke said with a grin.


    ¡°Keep moving! We have nothing here! We have to keep moving! Trust in the others!¡± Racha called out.


    For a moment, everyone looked at her. As Racha looked at them, she had to trust that they would want to live. But would think enough to understand that? That they all had to work together, that there was nothing else they could do.

 One Hundred Thirty Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1730


    Burt looked around as the group ran. After they found the scavenger, Burt killed it with one shot. He currently had it on his back, the corpse wrapped in a bag to keep the blood from leaving a trail. He had justified it as the others coming would wake it and it would wake other creatures from its cries. Privately, it was because these were good eating, and very tasty for their size.


    ¡°So what kind of thing was that near in that other realm?¡± Sk¡¯p called out as he followed behind Burt.


    ¡°A kind of insect creature. Ten feet tall, and it loved to make traps. Fought one by a trade route once. The head of the security had thrown a bomb at the trap, it attacked us from the other side of the path. We killed it and got a bonus for it!¡± Burt said as he remembered that time.


    He started to look at the other side of the path as he spoke, wondering if this time was like then. The only reason that he had survived was he had been behind the transport that had been attacked. And his position when the attack was just so much luck


    A rustling in the bushes ahead caused him to stop and hold up a hand. The others moved into a diamond formation. After a few moments, a small rodent-like creature only a foot long and tall came onto the path. It had green fur with spots of brown all over. It had six three-taloned feet and its tail was long and thin. Its face had four eyes above a small face with two cute fangs pointing down.


    ¡°Awww. It looks so cute! We are not eating the cutie!¡± Jess said with a scowl.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Sk¡¯p asked. ¡°The cute ones taste the best!¡±


    ¡°We already got the scavenger. We don¡¯t have time to hunt down another one!¡± Xordig said with a scowl.


    Burt didn¡¯t hear them, he just looked down at the creature in horror. He knew these creatures, and he knew what they looked like fully grown. And to his terror, he knew how they hunted. ¡°Oh by the waters! If you all want to live, then obey. Don¡¯t ask questions, just do as I say. Now backup, everyone just back up!¡±


    Jess, Sk¡¯p, and Xordig didn¡¯t even ask, they just moved.


    ¡°What is it!?¡± Xordig asked with a small voice.


    ¡°That thing? It changes a lot when it''s fully grown. One of the worst predators in the Jungle Realms. And some of them are said to have Powers. But I¡¯ve never seen anything like that,¡± Burt said softly as he looked around. ¡°But I¡¯ve heard too many stories from too many places to doubt them.¡±


    ¡°So the big predator around here? One of those Alphas you were talking about?¡± Xordig asked with a strange note in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, probably. Why do you¡­..no. Just no!¡± Burt said with a slight note of panic in his voice. ¡°These things are ambush predators! It¡¯s probably already stalking us already!¡±


    ¡°Then we have to kill it then. We can¡¯t let it attack the passengers,¡± Jess said, her voice resolute.


    ¡°It¡¯s probably moved on. That¡¯s what we want! You have no reference to how bad an idea this is! Trust me!¡± Burt said as his eyes looked all around. He was cursing ever coming to talk to these people. They thought because their people handled things out there, they could kill anything.


    ¡°How bad is it when it¡¯s fully grown? Could we still kill it?¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a note of shock and hope in his voice.


    Before Burt could say anything, there was a low growling from the left. As one, the group turned and stared.


    Standing with one foot out of the forest nearest to Jess was a large creature. It was over five feet tall and three thick with six limbs and a long whip-like tail. Its fur was a dirt brown with patches of green all over its body. It had four eyes solid black eyes above a long snout and two-foot-long fangs that went down from its muzzle.


    ¡°Forget I asked,¡± Sk¡¯p said dryly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make a move. Just wait. It might not attack,¡± Burt said with a note of hope in his voice.


    The fanged creature looked at them then it roared so loud that it almost caused Burt to blackout.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The hunter looked through its new beast and scowled. There were now two food things fighting back. They had to run out of Power very soon! They just had to! There wasn¡¯t any other thing that would make sense. He wasn¡¯t able to keep firing his water blasts with how many creatures he was controlling. So then how could the food things keep moving about?


    Suddenly he heard the sound of something hitting the water above. That caused him to turn one of his hunting crabs towards it. His own eyes widened as he saw what was coming down at him.


    He bowed as the beings floated before him. The group had two of his kind, four armed warriors each one holding spears in their upper hands. Their lower hands had crab claw gauntlets. As he looked at them in their red masks shaped like squid bodies, he felt his heart freeze in anger. They had on loincloths of a polished red, and their feet had braces on.


    ¡°Why are you here before us lowly one?¡± The middle one growled. This one had only two arms that crossed over his chest. A chest that was covered by blue shell armor that covered his whole body. On his back was a trident, there was a crown of green coral on his head. On his right hand was a black coral gauntlet with ten round circle spaces, two of them had red coral discs inserted. This was one of the leader¡¯s direct heirs, the highest ones under that being.


    ¡°I was sent ahead mighty one. There are some of the pink two-legers here, some of them even with Power!¡± The hunter said as he kept his face away from the Heir¡¯s sight.


    ¡°And the Beasts the Leader gave you to wield haven¡¯t killed them yet? Truly the ones like you need my kind to direct you all,¡± The Heir said dismissively. ¡°The Leader is behind me, he wants this place to allow a new horde to form! The currents are coming, and now you tell me that there are many of the scaled ones coming. We need nothing to show that we are here before that! Have they seen you? No, of course, they did!¡± The Heir said with a scowl.


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    The Hunter stayed silent, trying to keep calm. The way the ¡®higher¡¯ caste treated his and the Maker caste always made him mad. The only way that this was even acceptable for the rest of his ¡®caste¡¯ was because of the helmets. Each one was able to control a being, making them slaves to the will of those who held the control gauntlet. If he moved to attack this one, then the two slaves would kill him. Most of his caste didn¡¯t know the truth, not until it was too late. He had trained himself in some of the Maker¡¯s caste skills and discovered the truth. It was his greatest wish to one day free his people.


    ¡°Low one, what is that big thing?¡± The Heir asked with a scowl.


    The Hunter would have to swim carefully here. The ones who gained the Powers he had were killed as traitors, and he needed to live. The Heir couldn¡¯t know he had controlled the Lobster thing, the Hunter had to be crafty here. But then most of the Heir caste were stupid if the other castes gave their responses in a certain way. ¡°That thing great one? Merely one of the local predators here. I was able to use my beasts to wake it and lead it to the surface. Once the food things up there started to attack it, it rampaged at them. This one only wanted to use the power granted by our Leader.¡±


    ¡°At least you have some sense!¡± The Heir spat.


    The Hunter only kept still, trying to keep it under control. If it was lucky, one of these things would die. If any of the slaves were free, they could all free the others.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn dashed around the scorpion monster in the air, firing down at the creature. So far, he had been able to keep it from moving. He had created a good plan, fire then dash up at an angle. He then fell then fired and repeated the process. But he knew that while his shots were staggering the creature, he wasn¡¯t truly doing any damage. He had to trust that the others could escape soon.


    As he fell again, he cursed that they didn¡¯t have any way to communicate over distances. If they had that kind of gear then they would have been so much better. But then the escape capsule didn¡¯t have anything like that, which was surprising. With all the gear and other things, they didn¡¯t have personal coms.


    But then blasts came from the wall at the lobster, and he reacted. A dash beyond the wall then another one straight down brought into the yard made by the walls. Looking around, he saw that almost everyone had left. The only person still there was Racha standing on the wall. He saw her keep firing and with a dash, he was next to her. Looking out, he saw the lobster digging down into the sand slowly. To his shock it was moving towards them, slowly pushing aside the sand to keep moving.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s new,¡± Jinn said flatly.


    ¡°Yeah. So time to move then?¡± Racha asked with a slight nervous edge to her voice.


    ¡°For you, not me. I¡¯ve got to keep fighting here,¡± Jinn said with a scowl.


    ¡°What!? What do you mean!?¡± Racha asked.


    ¡°That thing still has another eyestalk. I need to destroy that and then we can escape into the forest. Go! I¡¯ll be right behind you!¡± Jinn barked as he looked at the sand moving along the surface. He aimed at it and then took a deep breath. ¡°Try another Aether Bolt!¡±


    As a bolt covered in blue shot out and hit where he thought the head was, the lobster roared in pain.


    ¡°You are one of the most idiotic people I¡¯ve ever met! But you¡¯re right! Keep fighting until you have to escape. But stay alive! We¡¯ll deal with the horde if we have to!¡± Racha said firmly.


    Jinn nodded and looked at her. ¡°That¡¯s the plan. Not a minute more than the bare necessity!¡±


    ¡°Right¡­¡­ there¡¯s the horde,¡± Racha said dumbly.


    Jinn felt his heart clench at her words. He turned and saw ten of the biped fish things on the wall in the ocean now. He could see some of them only had two arms, and the rest had four arms. From the way they all pointed weapons at the wall, he knew that the first one was just normal. With a hard feeling, he looked at Racha and nodded. ¡°Time for you to fly. Tell Locke to pull the bridge back when you go over it. Make a dome around the group once you find the others. Wait there for me and ride out the blast wave. But don¡¯t do anything that will let them think we¡¯re in the forest. How do I set off the bomb?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t! Get inside and then close it. You escape out through the hatch at the back. It¡¯s set up so once they break open the door, that will set it off!¡± Racha explained and Jinn nodded. ¡°So let¡¯s go¡­.. wait! You¡¯re staying here!? Why!?¡±


    ¡°Someone¡¯s got to be the rear guard. Go!¡± Jinn said as he put his pistol away. He brought out his rifle from his back and aimed down the sights. He looked back at the ocean and aimed his weapon at one of the bipeds with only two arms. Something about them was telling him that the best thing he could do was kill these ones as soon as possible.


    ¡°Stay alive!¡± Racha said before she ran towards the back.


    Jinn looked at the wall as more and more of the fish biped all climbed over the wall. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡±


    Aiming at one of the two armed bipeds, he fired one shot between its eyes.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Above them, the Hunter and Heir heard a splash. The body of one of the Lesser Heirs fell, bleeding blood from his head. For a moment the Hunter let this cause him pleasure, but then he scowled as he saw that the dead didn¡¯t have a gauntlet.


    More splashes heralded more Heirs dropped into the water. Then came the Leader himself from above as the rest of the ones up there followed him. The only thing that made this stand out was he had two gauntlets with all the openings filled in. Only two of the Hunter¡¯s kind moved near the Leader, and each of the other Heirs with them all only had at most two.


    ¡°You, Filth! What is attacking us!?¡± The Leader demanded as he pointed at the Hunter. ¡°Have the Scaled ones made a base here!?¡±


    The Hunter swallowed as he looked back down. He had to be more elusive than he had ever been before.


    ¡°This unworthy one told me that he was stopped by Power-wielding pink legs!¡± The first Heir said.


    The Leader looked at the surface and pointed his hands. ¡°TO WAR! The one who gets me the first of their meet gains a new War Servant!¡±


    It was all the Hunter could do to not glare at the Leader. The only ones who could gain the ¡®loyalty¡¯ of a War Servant were those who could use Power. His Caste could only learn to use the Power after becoming a War Servant. Which meant that the prize would only go to the Heir caste after all he did here.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn watched as two armed biped fish ran onto the beach. There had to be at least ten of them. Behind them, came around thirty of the four armed ones. Putting his rifle on his back and making sure that it was secure, he pulled out his pistol and started to fire. Some of the shots went over their heads, and other shots hit the limbs and even a head, killing some of the two limbed ones.


    With a scowl, he kept missing more shots as things got closer. As soon as one of the two armed ones got close enough, he ran down the stairs towards the escape capsule. He ran into it and closed the door behind him, setting the trap in motion. Running through the halls, he dashed ahead three feet at a time until he reached the exit, stopping for a moment. He knew that the trap was set, that nothing he did now could do anything to stop what was to come. The blast wave alone would probably flatten most of the trees around here. Releasing a last breath, he let go of all his anger at the plan. ¡°Sorry, this couldn¡¯t be honorable combat. Too many civilians here for that. May you know peace at least.¡±


    Opening it, he closed it behind him and then dashed to the as far as he could up. Then he dashed down just above one of the forest¡¯s trees. Dropping the last half foot, he jumped down and then started to move towards where the others were.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Hunter commanded his new Lobster monster to dig deep and hide. He might have need of it, but for now, all he could do was wait. The group with the Leader had already attacked the Food Things nest, and he wondered if he could have some of them. With the Leader here, he would want to eat all the choice bits.


    He saw the Leader, standing there with only one of his slave soldiers. The others had been sent against the Nest. He didn¡¯t know what he expected, but the Hunter was seeing the Leader directing the Soldiers with his will alone. The idea that the process was really a version of his Tamer power didn¡¯t sit right with the Hunter.


    He had hated this one for years, and now to find his powers were the same as his own. His mind went over what the taming of your own kind could do to you. The very idea was so wrong he didn¡¯t even know a word wrong enough for it.


    The Leader chuckled and laughed before he looked at the Hunter. ¡°Well lesser one, it¡¯s almost done. All that¡¯s left is the last efforts of the defenders of this strange iron thing. But the only way in is too small for your kind. My own will eat well tonight! I¡¯ll have them bring out their spoils so you can have something before you go.¡±


    ¡°Go mighty one?¡± The Hunter asked, feeling a little worried.


    ¡°Oh yes! You need to go and find the Scaled ones! I¡¯ve sent out groups and solos all day! You¡¯ll just go along the cost that way!¡± The Leader said as he pointed towards the nearest hill.


    But then, before the Hunter could say anything there was a loud sound and a wave of force! The Hunter was still in the waters and that threw him backwards a mere three feet. The Leader flew longer, but the two slave soldiers had covered him with their own bodies. They hit the wall and then they fell into the water.


    The Hunter looked at the Leader as he pulled himself free, hating that he lived. Then he saw the Leader look around before swimming towards the surface. The Hunter swam over to the slave soldiers and found them both dead. He started to feel a spark of an emotion that he almost didn¡¯t recognize. He couldn¡¯t believe his luck. If he was right, then this was it, this was what he had been waiting for all these years!


    Not to be left behind, the Hunter followed after him. As soon as the Hunter breached the water, he looked towards the shore. Seeing the burning flames where the nest had been, he saw burning bodies all over the beach. The Leader swarm towards the beach and the Hunter followed. As the Hunter moved, he sensed that his hunting crabs and his lobster were still alive.


    The Leader cried out, but nothing answered. As the Leader made it to one of the dead, he looked down at the body of the Heir who had found the Hunter first. ¡°What is this!?¡±


    The Hunter looked at him and chuckled lightly. ¡°A chance.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about you worthless fool!? A chance for what!?¡± The Leader bellowed as he turned and saw the Hunter standing there alone. ¡°And where are my War Servants!?¡±


    ¡°Dead. Like you¡¯ll be soon!¡± The Hunter called out as behind the Leader, the Hunter¡¯s lobster monster pulled itself free of the sands.

 One Hundred Thirty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1735


    Burt forced himself to stay awake and lunged to the side, dodging the creature. He fired his blaster and bore a hole through the creature¡¯s head in one blast. As the corpse fell to the ground, Burt got back to his feet.


    ¡°So that was a threat around here?¡± Xordig asked with a smirk and pride in his voice.


    Burt ignored him and looked out into the forest. ¡°They¡¯re a threat because of one thing. When you see one of them, there¡¯s at least ten hiding!¡±


    As soon as Burt said that, there were growls that echoed from all around them. Shadows lunged at the group from the left, right, and behind and they all tried to dodge. Burt fell backwards, firing up. He hit the one that leaped at him at it flew over his body, scoring a hole through the creature¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°How many of them are there!?¡± Xordig cried out in anger as he dropped his rifle to grab the head of one of the creatures. He slammed it into the ground and then twisted its head around, killing it.


    ¡°MANY! These things are such a threat that they are called Saber Swarmers! They say that  these things are never in a group less than a hundred!¡± Burt said as he got up, firing into the darkness. ¡°And even worse! They say these things can wield the Power instinctively!¡±


    ¡°A hundred of these things!? They¡¯ll slaughter the whole capsule!¡± Sk¡¯p cried out as he fired into the darkness.


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t! They have some kind of strange way to fight. They only charge at most five at a time! Against a group of around the same size. People have thought it¡¯s so some of them will stay alive and learn. Find ways to kill those who kill them!¡± Burt explained as he fired into the shadows around them.


    He didn¡¯t say that the last time he fought these things, he had run. He had been on a trade convoy trying to get supplies to a city, one of the many in a way against a horde of raiders. The convoy had been ambushed by the Swarmers, and they had lost a few people. They had been able to escape, and the city had been under siege by the Swarmers for a good two weeks afterward.


    ¡°The Power!? That you mean like that Locke block? These things are able to do things like that!?¡± Sk¡¯p exclaimed, horror in his voice.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s try this! <u>Battle Enhance/ Flame</u>!¡± Jess called out, moments later she was engulfed in a crimson aura. When one of the creatures came at her, she dealt it a savage blow with her right fist before firing at another one. Her blast exploded in a small fireball when it hit, causing the creature to screech in pain.


    ¡°What do you know, they don¡¯t like fire!¡± Jess said with savage glee in her voice.


    ¡°Be careful! You¡¯ve got the beacons!¡± Xordig snarled.


    Jess only laughed and looked over her shoulder at them.


    ¡°If it was just fire, then they would be a lot easier to defeat! The ones I fought gained power from it! We need to keep them from getting into our blind spots!¡± Burt exclaimed as he fired into the darkness.


    ¡°Then everyone back to back! Diamond formation with the points away from the path! Keep it up!¡± Xordig barked.


    In a moment, the four of them were in an X formation, back to back. Whenever a shadow seemed to try to attack one of them, they fired at it as a group. All they could do was try and survive the next few moments of chaos.


    ¡°We can¡¯t stay here!¡± Sk¡¯p cried out behind Burt.


    Burt said nothing, only firing into the shadows of the forest. ¡°Yeah, we need to move! We¡¯ve got to drag these things away from the others! And with the explosion coming, we need to find a safe place!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jess gritted her teeth and tried to keep calm. They had to do this, they needed to get away. But no matter what she tried to think of, there was nothing they could do. Unless they found someplace that they¡­..


    She moved her head towards her left and saw something fifty feet away. It looked like a large clearing, maybe big enough for what they needed. This one thing was so shocking that she almost didn¡¯t believe her eyes. But if it was what she thought it was, she needed to say something. ¡°There! On my right past that knobbed tree! Is that what I think it is!?¡±


    Burt and Xordig both turned their heads and she heard Burt give out a whoop of joy.


    ¡°Waves Yeah! That looks good right?¡± Burt said, laughter in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, it does! Everyone move it! Bounding overwatch into the darkness. Burt, with me! We¡¯ll clear a path. Sk¡¯p, watch our backs with Jess!¡± Xordig called out, hope in his voice.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Sk¡¯p said before he started to fire.


    Jess fired as Burt and Xordig ran, when they were ten feet away she knew and looked at Sk¡¯p. ¡°Time to move!¡±


    As one the two of them followed after Burt and Xordig, firing at anything of the Swarmers that attacked them.


    After a few moments, they broke through to the clearing. As she came into it, Jess looked around and smiled. The clearing was at least one hundred feet wide, and there were no bushes. A large space that was perfect for Locke to make a shelter for them. All they needed to do now was handle the Swarmers and think of the others later.


    ¡°Keep moving! We can fight them off from the center!¡± Burt called out as he fired into the shadows of the trees.


    Jess stayed silent as she ran, trying to keep calm.


    ¡°What is the worst that these things can do?¡± Xordig asked and Burt didn¡¯t say anything as he fired.


    Jess looked over and saw that Burt seemed to be keeping his eyes on the forest around the clearing. She couldn¡¯t blame him for not speaking, this was something that Burt seemed to have faced before. And she was slowly starting to think that he had been on the defensive then as well.


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    Finally, after they reached the center of the clearing and got into formation, Burt spoke.


    ¡°They¡¯re one of the few things that can use the Power despite being just animals! They could do anything at all! I¡¯ve seen them breathe fire and some throw energy blasts. You can¡¯t know what anyone can do when the Power¡¯s involved!¡± Burt said with a hard edge.


    Jess''s heart froze as she looked around the clearing, more at the Swarmers than the shadows. In a few moments, her eyes tracked one of the shadows and fired a blast. The blast hit a tree and broke off a branch that fell through the shadow.


    ¡°Like Illusions!? The shadows are illusions!¡± Jess cried out in shock and anger.


    ¡°Illusions!? Then how many of these things are there!?¡± Burt exclaimed in shocked horror.


    ¡°We¡¯ve killed some of them, right?!¡± Sk¡¯p said, his eyes wide


    ¡°Yeah, I punched one myself!¡± Jess snarled as she fired at the shadows. ¡°But most of them are just shadows! That must be something they can do!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen skilled illusionists caste their arts before. They could do amazing things of color and shape. But if these are Swarmers¡­¡­ yeah. This makes sense,¡± Burt said bluntly as he fired at another charging Swarmer and looked at the body. ¡°Fire at anything with color!¡±


    ¡°Easier said than done! How do we find the one that¡¯s doing it!?¡± Sk¡¯p demanded as he fired


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zordig stared at a point at the edge of the two groups of shadows. If these powers worked anything like science, then the source had to be close. And if he was right, it would be right there!


    Without speaking, Zordig fired a few blasts into the area he had targeted. As soon as the bolts slashed into the forest, there was a yelp. After that happened, the shadows suddenly disappeared.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Xordig said with a smirk. His eyes went to the Swarmers, they had all stopped. In moments, they all turned and ran away. As he fired at them, he felt his mouth smirking in joy. ¡°I knew it!¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re running! Quick! Jess, get the poles ready! We need to claim this place now! We can¡¯t let the others pass us by!¡± Sk¡¯p exclaimed.


    Xordig looked around and saw a few of the Swarmers were still there, but they were just watching them. He aimed and fired, killing one of them. ¡°I¡¯ll hold here! Sk¡¯p, Burt, go! Get the others here fast! We need to have shelter before the bomb goes up! Jess, set up one of the signposts!¡±


    ¡°Take it and go!¡± Jess said as she pulled one free.


    ¡°Got it! Good luck!¡± Burt called as he grabbed it and ran back towards the path.


    The Swarmers tried to attack the two, but Xordig fired and killed one, and Jess¡¯s bolt tore off one of its legs. As it tried to escape, Xordig shot through its head. As the corpse fell, Xordig panned around the clearing, seeing the last of them falling back.


    While he did that, he could hear Jess plunging her beacon pole into the ground.


    ¡°So think that¡¯s the only one that can make illusions, the one you killed?¡± Jess asked as she fired at the forest.


    ¡°Who knows if I killed it? It might just know to escape after it hit. They might just still be fighting us so that one could escape!¡± Xordig snarled as he looked around the clearing.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they tried to get the passengers to move faster, Al looked behind him. He tried to keep his eyes on the woods around him, but he kept wanting to go back. He had a bad habit of leaving people behind, and he knew that. But still, he felt terrible about letting Jinn fight alone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Jinn¡¯s strong. He¡¯ll make it!¡± Paige said from his left.


    Al looked at her and shook his head. It was going to be hard to get used to Paige letting those who knew her abilities do what they did. He just sighed and shook his head, chuckling a little. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Just some nerves about my history.¡±


    Paige¡¯s small smile almost made Al speak more, but he stayed silent. He knew that Paige was one of the best people to talk to, but he didn¡¯t want to bring attention to her abilities. Those people that she had escaped from, there was no idea to know who they were. There had to be people who were still out there, and if any of them were here, Nova help those scum! He, Jinn, and even Sara would like to have words with them, from blaster point!


    Al looked around and saw something in the trees. He looked closer at it and then saw what looked like a blaster trail. That caused Al to go stern, bringing up his rifle with a hard sense. Paige gasped and he could hear her pull out her own rifle, and he nodded at her.


    ¡°Should you go tell Tomkin what you found? What is it?¡± Paige asked and Al growled.


    ¡°Blaster trail. That means the scouts were firing at something. That¡¯s worrying,¡± Al said with a short quiet voice.


    ¡°HERE!¡± Burt¡¯s voice came from ahead of them.


    Al looked up and he felt a smile forming. Ahead of them by twenty feet, Burt and Sk¡¯p stood there. Burt was swinging the beacon like a baton and grinning ear to ear.


    Sk¡¯p was directing the others towards the right. ¡°Just keep moving! Get to the center! Guards at the sides, fire at anything that moves!¡±


    Tomkin stepped aside as the people moved on, and he looked around while holding his weapon at the ready.


    Al looked at Paige and nodded. ¡°You go with them! I¡¯ll stay here and make sure Locke can make it to the center. Keep a way open for him!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Paige said before she ran off.


    Al watched her move along the column for a second before he ran towards Tomkin and the others.


    ¡°¡­.bad is it around here?¡± Tomkin finished asking bluntly as Al made it to the small meeting.


    Burt looked away as Sk¡¯p chuckled.


    ¡°Oh, nothing too bad. Just a pack of monsters able to make illusions of more of them! Zordig killed or stunned the thing, and now we¡¯re waiting for you!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a smirk. ¡°This planet is something else! But we¡¯re stronger!¡±


    Al stared at him, shocked, and then felt his heart clench. Sh¡¯p hadn¡¯t fought the Paralyzer Beast or any of the things he had. He hadn¡¯t even seen the False Plants. How dare he joke about this place!? He was about to say something when he saw the way that Sk¡¯p¡¯s eyes were on the other passengers. It took Al a moment to notice that a few people were staying back to listen in. A moment later, Al looked at Sk¡¯p in awe. ¡°You noticed that some of them were listening in on us, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Sk¡¯p said with a somber look. ¡°The first thing you learn when you¡¯re in officer¡¯s school, keep the morale of your team up. If you can do that, then you can do anything at all.¡±


    Al looked at Sk¡¯p and then shook his head.


    Suddenly, there were the sounds of blaster fire behind her. That caused everyone to look back towards the beach and stare. There was Locke, and behind him was Racha firing at something to the side.


    Without a single moment¡¯s hesitation, Al ran towards Racha. His rifle was aiming towards where Racha was firing after his second step. He heard someone coming behind him, and then they both fired, helping Racha.


    Racha and Locke looked up as soon as the blasts Al and whoever had fired hit near where Racha had hit.


    Locke smiled and laughed. ¡°Good to see you! We were hoping that you wouldn¡¯t be too far off. The main horde is there! Jinn¡¯s holding them off, but we need to get under my powers soon!¡±


    Sk¡¯p stepped back and grabbed Locke¡¯s arm. ¡°Then come one!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Locke looked at Sk¡¯p as the being pulled him along. He could hear the others coming behind them, but he didn¡¯t care. All he could do was hope that he could handle this. He knew that this was beyond anything that he had ever done before, and he wanted to do this right.


    As soon as he reached the clearing, he broke free and ran towards the center. People got out of his way, and he felt a bit of honor at that. They all knew what he was here for, and what he had to do to save them.


    He reached down, and then put all his Power into this. All around the group, a five-foot thick stone wall grew around them in a circle fifty feet out. Slowly at first, but picking up speed the wall grew upwards. At forty feet, the doom changed and moved towards the center, and within minutes the wall became a dome. As they were engulfed in darkness, the signpost released a simple light.


    He heard the cheers around him, but he kept working. They couldn¡¯t see it, but he felt his work. Beyond the doom a good twenty feet out another doom rose. Every ten feet up, he forced a pillar to grow between the two domes. As soon as the top covered the inner dome, they heard a large explosion. He gritted his teeth as he felt the blastwave hit through the domes until it stopped.


    He chuckled and looked at the others who were looking at him. He grinned and opened a door to the outer dome. ¡°It worked! We¡¯ve outlasted it!¡±


    He saw the others scream and laugh. He spotted Tomkin and Racha who nodded at him. He felt pride as he opened something at the center of the top dome. Time to wait for Jinn.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as Jinn heard the explosion, he dashed upwards towards the sound. As the blast wave went over the trees, they were flattened. As he watched in horror, he felt glad that he had escaped from that. But as he fell, he smiled. There in the distance, the setting sun¡¯s light shined off the Yard-Ship. From here, he could see it at last. It was at least a good six hours away, but the new terrain would help their speed. Even if they had to bring the others with them, they would be able to make it there soon.


    As he fell, he spun around in joy. As he turned overhead, he saw a rock dome. With a grin, he started to dash towards it. All he had to do was tell the others and they could leave at first light.


    After dashing a few times, he dropped the last foot and landed on empty space. With a laugh, he walked towards the dome he saw a few creatures around the trees, and some of them were still alive. He looked down at one of them and then saw its eyes. There was a self in those depths, some kind of mind was there. He looked at the tree holding it down and sighed. Without a thought, he pulled out his blade. With a single quick slash, he cut the tree in half, and the four-limbed creature pulled itself out. It looked a little like the feline creature that he had seen before at the river. It looked at him before it bowed and faded away as if it had never been there.


    After a moment of chuckling, Jinn moved on. Moving closer to the dome he saw that it was completely closed. But then he had expected this, so he dashed upwards. After coming out of it he dashed again until he reached to top. A quick dash to the center and he dropped into the hole Locke had left for him. Falling a good three feet, he landed on the top of the dome and saw the way down. He dropped into the darkness and landed on a stone floor. It was completely dark all around him, but then he saw the light to his left. He moved towards it and stopped when it went down in a small sloop and whistled.


    ¡°JINN!? THAT YOU?¡± Al¡¯s voice called up to him. He saw more light up the wall ahead of him and he smiled. He looked down the side and saw platforms on the side, each one alone and sticking out. But near enough for one of his old bunkmates from his early life.


    ¡°YEAH, GIVE ME A MINUTE!¡± Jinn called out as he started to jump down, using the platforms as a ¡®bridge¡¯. After he landed in front of the others, he grinned. ¡°Not a bad workout Locke. Takes me back.¡±


    ¡°I did use the old man¡¯s training idea. Nice way to honor the old fool?¡± Locke asked with a grin.


    ¡°I have a lot of questions about who raised you. And none of them will lead to good answers even if you tell me, won¡¯t they?¡± Racha asked flatly.


    Jinn and Locke looked at each other and laughed a little.


    After a few moments, Jinn looked at the others and sighed. ¡°So, we¡¯ve got enough food to last the night?¡±


    ¡°And a few kills to add to it! I¡¯ll be making sure it¡¯s safe to eat first though. We don¡¯t want a virus!¡± Sara said, a note of anger in her voice.


    Jinn only nodded and then looked towards where the Yard-Ship was. The mission was almost over, and then they could get to work.

 Chapter One Hundred Thirty Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 1900


    Jinn leaned against the outer stonewall by the opening to the inner dome. When the people learned about the hole Jinn had come through, they started to sound scared. Locke and Chief Tomkin had spoken about air channels, air volume, and how much air the dome could hold. That had shut up the people panicking and then Locke said he could make it safer. Tomkin had taken over then and spoken of setting up a guard rotation within the space between the domes. After that, the Swarmers were discovered to be eatable and they had supper. Al and Tomkin had taken a few of the poles and set them up, lighting up the structure Locke had made.


    After a short meal. Jinn had volunteered for a shift. As he had done so, he had eyed the team he had come with, they had all gotten the hint. And it seemed that Chief Tomkin had as well. He had nodded along before looking at one of his team. That was hours ago, and most of them were moving towards him now.


    All of the Civilians were in bunker rooms that Locke had made, all around a pillar he had raised at the center. He was happy that they could talk here without the people learning what they didn¡¯t need to know yet.


    ¡°So, let¡¯s talk about what we¡¯re going to do now,¡± Tomkin said with a scroll on his face.


    Jinn just nodded, looking around at the people around him. From his team of Al, Sara, and Paige, Locke stood by Jinn¡¯s right. Next to him, Sara and Xordig were talking to each other with glances. Jess, Burt, and Sk¡¯p rounded out the gathering with Tomkin nearest to the door.


    ¡°Right, we can¡¯t stay here. That explosion tore up the forest for a good mile. I see a lot of battles ahead of this place. And this fort won¡¯t hold for long under an assault,¡± Xordig said bluntly. He looked at Locke and shrugged. ¡°Not that this wasn¡¯t amazing! But something with real force behind it will break through the walls.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. It was all I could do to make it so it could ride out the blast wave. I might be able to make it heavier, maybe another dome or two but the weight might bring it down on its own. Best I could do,¡± Locke said as he held up his hands.


    Jinn looked at Xordig and saw Racha look at him. He was sure that Xordig was like Racha, Special Services. But were they alone? And were any of them with their VIPs?


    ¡°And I bet those things we ate are just the tip of the mountain around here, aren¡¯t they?¡± Tomkin asked with a dry voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found that if you stay at the edge of the island, it¡¯s not so bad. You need to move but still. The interior is a lot worse,¡± Burt said bluntly as he looked down.


    Jinn raised an eyebrow as he looked at him, and he wondered what the man had seen. From the giant insects to the Plant Beast, there were monsters here. And that wasn''t counting and the Titans formed the False Plants. He almost didn¡¯t want to know what Burt had seen here on his own.


    ¡°Look, I expect that most of you know what Chief Duncan sent us out for by now,¡± Jinn said as he crossed his arms. He looked around at the group and only Sk¡¯p and Jess looked confused. He eyed Al and Racha before sighing. ¡°Thought so. So then he¡¯s like you Racha?¡±


    Xordig looked like he was about to argue when Racha just chuckled.


    ¡°Yes, he is. I¡¯m only breaking cover because we have to. We don¡¯t do this,¡± Racha said with a hard tone in her voice.


    ¡°What¡¯s she mean? What are she and Xorggy?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as he starched his head.


    ¡°Special Service agents guarding a group of Ancients. We think it¡¯s more important than just a treaty signing. But they probably don¡¯t know what it is,¡± Locke said with a shrug. ¡°Well, me and Jinn do.¡±


    ¡°The nova!? Ancients?! On our ship!?¡± Jess exclaimed in shock.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sk¡¯p looked at Xordig, his eyes wide. The way that Xordig moved and fought suddenly made a lot more sense to him. He had only seen a Service agent once, and that was enough to know that all of them were killers you didn¡¯t want to mess with. But then Sk¡¯p heard the word ¡®Ancient¡¯ and his heart stopped.


    ¡°Those people!? And they were under Service protection!? This is so bad!¡± Sk¡¯p said as he staggered backwards, hitting the outer wall and sliding down. He put his head in his hands and tried to think, get out of the mental spiral he was falling down. A hand on his shoulder caused him to look up at Jess. He saw her hand on his shoulder and that the others had all gathered around him. Sara was reaching into her medical bag to help him. He held up his hand and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m good, just spiraling. This is so bad.¡±


    ¡°What is it Sk¡¯p?¡± Jess asked, a note of worry in her voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m a combat pilot. Once, I flew against a pirate fleet that attacked a trade convoy. An Ancient Crosier came in to collect some goods from the convoy. They destroyed all the pirates in moments. A fleet of over five cruisers, dead in under a minute! Only those who surrendered aboard the ships they boarded survived. My captain even had to argue about that. The Ancients came because one of their traders was killed by the fleet. They¡¯ll start a war if they think the Federation crashed the ship!¡± Sk¡¯p exclaimed.


    ¡°What are you talking about!? All those deaths just to kill a few!?¡± Jess asked, aghast.


    Sk¡¯p felt terrible, but he could see the logic someone would need to order that. He was about to say something when Racha snorted. Sk¡¯p looked up and saw Racha and Xordig with unreadable expressions on their faces.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen a few people in the government who would do that. More Brass than sense. The kind that doesn¡¯t care at all about collateral. And that¡¯s another reason to finish our mission,¡± Racha mused as she looked around.


    Xordig only snorted and shook his head. ¡°And there are enough war hawks on our side, think about theirs. This is even worse than I thought.¡±


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    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as you all think. When I ¡®dashed¡¯ up to escape the blast, I saw our target. A few hours that way, hard walking but we can make it,¡± Jinn said and looked around.


    Sk¡¯p could see a strange glint in the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°And you¡¯ve got a plan, don¡¯t you?¡± Sk¡¯p asked and Jinn just grinned.


    ¡°It¡¯s got a few moving parts, but yes. How far can you raise the stones, Locke?¡± Jinn asked and Locke blinked.


    ¡°I think around five hundred feet in either direction. Why? Wait,¡± Locke said as he looked at Jinn.


    Sk¡¯p could see Locke¡¯s eyes widen and then the man grinned.


    ¡°Oh, you crazy madman! Make a series of domes like this. With a walkway for the group to move?¡± Locke said with a grin.


    ¡°Should keep them safe. Part two is a fast group that leads the way to our target,¡± Jinn said and looked around, his face hard to read. ¡°Look, with what¡¯s out there, I expect trouble. The group that left from our crashed site should go, and most of you should stay here.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s the fact that this is the Iron Islands,¡± Burt said, shaking his head.


    Sk¡¯p felt his heart freeze as he slowly looked at Burt. The way the man said that it bothered him a lot. All he knew was that sounded like he had heard of this island, and that set off all his alarms.


    ¡°And for those of us that weren¡¯t raised on this planet?¡± Xordig asked with a low growl in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Burt looked around and tried to think of how to say this. ¡°Look, I only heard this third hand when I was in the Mountain Realm once. It was from this old guard who said he was a Traveler in his youth. And he was drunk when he spoke about it. So there¡¯s that.¡±


    ¡°Just tell us the bad news, please. None of this stepping around it,¡± Racha asked with a note of depression in her voice.


    ¡°A long time ago, a pirate ship came here. Something killed the captain, and some of the crew escaped. They went back to their port, and then a fleet came here. Something destroyed that fleet, and why they came is something the pirates keep quiet. But since then, when Pirates get strong, they try and attack the Iron Islands. Either in fleets or alone. There¡¯s something that draws them here, something they want. And I guess that this Yard-Ship of yours is where it is,¡± Burt said bluntly.


    As Tomkin and Al started to screech, Burt saw Racha go pale in shock. Xording looked as bad as her, while Jess and Sk¡¯p both stared at him. Sara looked at Paige who nodded while Jinn and Locke looked at him hard.


    ¡°And he heard this where?¡± Jinn asked.


    Burt actually chuckled and looked away. ¡°Well, after that story he kinda passed out. I had to go, a convoy I was a part of left half an hour later. Never saw him again.¡±


    ¡°So all you have is a story you can¡¯t know if true. About Pirates that keep coming to attack this island. And we have no idea what is killing them beyond what we know now?¡± Locke said with a strange look on his face. ¡°A game that¡¯s never been beaten before then¡­..¡±


    ¡°And has been played over and over again, with no challenger ever winning,¡± Racha said, a note of finality in her voice.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll be the ones to end it!¡± Jinn said with a laugh as he threw his arms up.


    Burt just shook his head and looked at him with a somber look.


    ¡°A lot of the captains had the Power Jinn. I don¡¯t want to say we¡¯re marching to our deaths, but we might be,¡± Burt said as he at Jinn.


    ¡°Did you say ¡®We¡¯? You¡¯re coming with us?¡± Jinn asked and Burt shrugged.


    ¡°Eeeh. Pirates are usually slavers and the like. Better to die trying to live than that,¡± Burt said bluntly.


    ¡°Most pirates in the stars? They only think of strength. We¡¯re going at this with our minds open. We know the tech, what to expect, and what it might have. Plus unlike them, we¡¯ve got Al!¡± Jinn said with a smirk.


    Al looked at him before grinning. ¡°Yeah! I¡¯ll be able to hack into the ship¡¯s network if it¡¯s got one still up! With time, I should be able to turn off the defense systems if that was what killed these pirates!¡±


    Brut blinked and then looked at Al, his mind racing. If the thing that killed them was a still active security system, then that changed everything. And if this ship was half as good as they said it was, then he had to come along. He had to get their alliance for his home, it might change so much!


    ¡°So we have a plan? Xordig, you¡¯ll stay here. I need you to help me guard these people. Locke stays too with Salgo. I want Jessie to go with your team,¡± Tomkin said as he looked around. His eyes landed on Sk¡¯p and sighed. ¡°I can¡¯t order you to go son, but I¡¯d like it.¡±


    ¡°Roy and his special cargo should stay here with his friend. He¡¯s got a thing for kids so he¡¯ll help keep them calm,¡± Jinn said as he looked at Tomkin who nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m up for that! Think it¡¯s a pirate model? Those things are usually remolded on the inside,¡± Sk¡¯p said, putting his hands behind his head.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Outside the dome, three small shapes ran through the wasteland. They stayed in the darkness and did everything they could to keep out of sight. The one at the back suddenly threw a dart on a rope that impaled a green flying worm. The worm was pulled down and died when the thrower used a small axe to slice its head off.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you do that? This isn¡¯t a hunt anymore!¡± The middle one complained.


    ¡°We need some more food, you know that! And the elders are going to force us to stay in the Hall for a while now!¡± The one at the back said as he put his kill away.


    ¡°Stay down! You were right to do that, but look around! We need answers!¡± The one at the front was ordered.


    ¡°Yeah. But what could have happened here!?¡± The one at the back asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! But it¡¯s big! This is gonna be bad. I think the local Alphas were both killed. Think the Hive to the north will try for this place?¡± The one in the middle asked.


    ¡°Keep calm! We need to find the source¡­. What the hell!?¡± The one at the front said as they came into view of the dome.


    For a few moments, the night was silent. Then the Front one held up his hands and made gestures, and the other two went around it.


    A few minutes later the two came back to the Front, and both were silent.


    ¡°What is that thing?¡± The Front asked after a few moments.


    ¡°Large sir, at least one hundred feet wide. No opening on ground level at all,¡± The Last one said with a shocked tone.


    ¡°No signs of this being made at all sir. It¡¯s like this just came out of nowhere. I think it was made before whatever this wasteland is from happening. It¡¯s just¡­ the trees sir. Some are against this thing,¡± The Middle one said.


    The Front one walked over and put his five-fingered gloved hand on the stone wall. For a second he did nothing but stare before he stepped back. ¡°A Power caused this. And that one is still feeding power to it.¡±


    ¡°What?!? But who!? Wait, some of the newcomers?!¡± The Middle one cried out in shock.


    ¡°This is impressive. I wonder if the Boss will speak to letting us talk to them. It would be something,¡± The Last one said.


    ¡°MOVE! THE POWER USER SENSED ME!¡± The Front one barked and in a moment, the three had despaired.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn sighed and shook his head as he looked at the others around him. So we have a plan we all agree with then?¡±


    Suddenly Locke went still and slammed his hand onto the wall. ¡°Someone¡¯s out there! Right out there where we are!¡±


    Jinn reacted before Locke finished talking. He jumped upwards before ¡®dashing¡¯ to the ceiling, then he pushed off. He landed just below the hole and then shot out the dome. In the air, he looked, seeing the island as the sun set. The sun still caste enough light that he could see a good distance, maybe a good thousand feet. As he started to fall, his eyes caught sight of figures disappearing in the distance. For a second, he almost went after them, but he didn¡¯t, there would be no point. They were simply too far for him to reach. They most likely knew this place, even after the destruction here. And that was probably why they were even here. From what he could see, they were humanoid at least, with clothing. That made Jinn think that these things were civilized. That meant that they could talk to them, and maybe not walk into another war before they had a defensive poison.


    One them stopped and looked back at him. Jinn¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t able to see the beings face, but he had a feeling the being was watching him. He just stayed silent, not moving as the figure took stock of him. After a moment the figure disappeared from sight, using something like Jinn''s ''Dashing''. As the sun fully set, Jinn only sighed and shook his head.


    Without a word, he fell back down into the dome¡¯s interior. Another two dashes and he was back with the others.


    ¡°Well, what was it?¡± Racha asked with a hard tone.


    ¡°Three figures, I couldn¡¯t catch them. They were too far away, and they could ¡®Dash¡¯ like me,¡± Jinn said with a shrug.


    Burt looked at him, blinking in shock. ¡°Three humanoids? I don¡¯t¡­¡­ I¡¯ve been on this island for a while. But I¡¯ve never even seen signs that there are others here. Where could they be hiding?¡±


    Jinn just shrugged and looked at Racha, wondering how she was taking this new data.


    ¡°Another group besides us on the island? They might have been hit by the explosion. Bad,¡± Racha muttered before she looked at Tomkin. ¡°Sir I recommend that we triple the guard. None of the people that are going should take more than one rotation. And how far away is it exactly Jinn?¡±


    Jinn looked at her and sighed. ¡°Three, maybe five hours. That¡¯s if we don¡¯t run into fire fights along the way. So there¡¯s that.¡±


    ¡°Or if those people don¡¯t attack us. Or are the reason so many pirates died,¡± Burt mussed as he looked around at the others.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s that. But we can handle this! All we need to do is get to the ship and take it! If it has weapons, we can use them to defend ourselves. We just need to keep our moral up. Go in slow once we make it there and use everything we have!¡± Racha declared.


    Jinn looked around and saw the others all had grins on their face and he chuckled. Racha had a skill at this, and he wondered if it was something she was taught.


    ¡°She¡¯s right! Go get some sleep. Locke? Make a way up to the top and lower the top dome down so people drop into a killing field. I¡¯ll watch up there for a bit,¡± Jinn said and Locke nodded as he touched the outer wall.


    ¡°Everyone else? Get some sleep! We depart at first light!¡± Racha said with a smirk. As the others left, Racha stayed back and looked at Jinn.


    ¡°Those people you saw¡­.. if they were people. They can¡¯t have been hit by the explosion, at least all of them,¡± Racha declared.


    Jinn only nodded, having figured that out already. But there was one question that really bothered him. ¡°Yeah. They have to have a hidden dwelling. But is it near the Yard-Ship?¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Thirty Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 0600


    As Jinn looked around outside the opening Locke made, he went over his mental checklist. He had checked over the gear and the food he had left. He had enough food to last for two days, and they were almost there. Just another few hours, and then they would have reached their goal. After the night he had, he expected the worst part of this whole mission. As the old man used to say, you always have the worst time when you let your guard down.


    He looked at Al doing his own checks, and they shared a single nod. Al had shown that he shared many of the same habits Jinn had. And the Al was better at this than Jinn had expected. But then he looked at Sara and Paige who were looking around, ready to fire their weapons. They had been here an hour with him, they had been the guards for that hour. So far, they were proving the lessons the last two days had sunken into them.


    ¡°So, at the way that these people can move, I expect to reach the hill before supper. Don¡¯t do anything that I need to save you, man,¡± Locke said from behind him.


    Jinn only chuckled and got up, holding his arm towards Locke. The two clasped each other¡¯s arm, the way they had done so often before a mission.


    Jinn only chuckled as he shook his head. ¡°Hey, you the one with the hard job. All I need to do is investigate a possible death trap. You¡¯re the one that¡¯s watching over civilians!¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And led them through this place. Fun times,¡± Locke said with a smirk.


    Jinn looked at him and chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°If the old man could see us now.¡±


    Locke only nodded, shaking his head before he looked towards the door.


    Jinn looked up, seeing Jess and Sk¡¯p finally walking out, both of them with backpacks on. Behind them came both Burt and Racha, finishing out the group.


    ¡°You four ready?¡± Sara called out and Burt chuckled.


    ¡°Checked and triple-checked! And I grabbed a few pieces of those Swarmers! A nice bit of flavoring for our victory meal at least!¡± Burt said cheerfully.


    Jinn had to hold back a laugh at this. Burt had proven himself to be quite a character and someone that he would trust at his back.


    ¡°Everyone ready to move?¡± Tomkin asked as he came out. As he looked around, his eyes landed on Racha and Jinn. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll be following after you in an hour or so. However long it takes this guy to make our tunnel, but again I hope to make it there by nightfall.¡±


    ¡°With luck, we¡¯ll have all the resources there to survive here. At least a large enough place to handle all the survivors we can find. I hope,¡± Jinn said with a sigh, shaking his head.


    ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s that. We might find nothing but a wreck. But this is the best chance we have to change everything here. Even I can see the force multiple this can be. But stay alive,¡± Tomkin said as he looked at Jinn and Racha.


    ¡°We will. Okay, people! Move out!¡± Racha barked and with that, the team jogged away from the dome.


    As he ran, Jinn kept his eyes moving around, trying to see anything that might strike at the group. He and Racha had talked about this, and they hadn¡¯t had a good idea about what to do. They had expected the explosion from the escape capsule to have dealt with the threats in the area. Jinn thought that hordes like the spiders might take the chance to claim more territory. Racha had said that they needed to deal with their mission only, and the best idea was to keep moving. With their supplies and abilities, they couldn¡¯t handle too many targets.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    An hour later, Racha called out. ¡°Everyone stop! We stop and rest, ten minutes!¡±


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Sara said softly as she sank down onto one of the fallen trees, letting her legs rest. She looked around as the others were all doing the same, but there were a few who didn¡¯t. Burt stayed by the end of the group, while Racha looked to the left and Jess looked to the left. She had to admit, that the way that people who were taught to fight was something else. She attacked the smallest enemies in existence, and they dealt with the larger ones. But still, sometimes she wondered if she should have taken a combat class beyond the basics.


    ¡°You know, I think we¡¯re making good time,¡± Al said next to her.


    She looked and saw Paige nodding, a smile on her face.


    ¡°Yeah! I mean we¡¯ve been making miles and making time that I couldn¡¯t expect us to do!¡± Paige said with a smirk.


    Sara nodded, feeling the same as Paige did. Sara was surprised that they had all been able to keep running for so long. With her physique, she had expected to have had trouble a good twenty minutes ago. But here she was, handling like she had never had before. She looked down at her hands, trying to understand what she had just thought. There was something there, she could feel it. But there was so much that she still didn¡¯t understand about these powers and how they had been gained. This planet, these creatures, they were just a whole realm of unexplained science. She had always been thinking about how to study them all.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and check the area around us,¡± Jinn said suddenly from the front.


    She looked up and saw Jinn disappear, she looked around then she looked up. She saw him suddenly appear a few tens of feet up. The ¡®dash¡¯ trick was something that she would not be surprised by. The way that he had described it seemed to be so easy to do, but she had never tried to do it herself. It was something that seemed to be so elusive, and something that was just within reach.


    A minute later, Jinn was back down, a scowl on his face. ¡°We have problems nearby.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Racha asked bluntly.


    Jinn just sighed and shook his head. ¡°I saw a battle over there. It looked like either big wolves or cats fighting monkeys with long tails. It¡¯s beyond that hill to the right. We need to move now!¡±


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    Without a word, the group all got up. They were back on the path, dashing away towards their goal. Sara looked to the right as they ran, now they could hear the screams of beasts and fighting.


    Sara heard Paige cry out next to her and grabbed her when she stumbled. Stopping, she held Paige as she held her head, biting her lips to keep from screaming.


    ¡°What happened to her!?¡± Jess cried out in fear.


    Sara knew what this was, she had seen it before. She could ¡®hear¡¯ something with her extra sense, and that was why she was reacting. That had never happened for as long as Sara had known Paige on this planet. And that was something that had saved them before.


    Sara ignored her and the others as they moved into positions around her. She looked at the others who had known about Paige¡¯s abilities and saw the worry in them. They all knew about what Paige was running from, but they all knew that she had told them because she trusted them. But then how could they break the trust by telling the others about what Paige could do?


    ¡°What is?¡± Jinn asked quietly as he crouched down, holding Paige¡¯s arm.


    Sara looked over at Jinn and saw the same worry in them. They both knew that if Paige had an attack like this, then that meant something about her abilities.


    ¡°Yeah medic girl, what¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Sk¡¯p asked from behind them.


    Sara looked up and almost said something when Paige cried out again.


    Sara reached into her backpack and pulled out a small device that took a scan of Paige. Looking at the scans she saw nothing that was causing Paige pain. Nothing beyond the abilities that Paige had, so there was the answer. With a hard look, she stared at those in the group who knew and tried to think of what to say.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Paige looked at Jinn and took deep breaths, trying to gather strength. What had hit her had been unlike anything that she had ever experienced before. It was like something had screamed so loud that everything was a white noise. Plus it had been without a voice, hitting her within herself but not through her ears.


    After another two moments, she looked at Sara and smiled.


    ¡°A scream of rage from the battle site. It was as if someone could use emotions to talk, and turned it into a weapon!¡± Paige said as she looked at Jinn.


    Racha cursed behind her and she heard Burt whistle.


    ¡°Wait. Why does that even affect Paige? Why not the rest of us?¡± Jess asked.


    Sara looked at Burt and saw that the man had figured out her secret. If he had, then it was time to come clean. ¡°I¡¯ve been able to ¡®hear¡¯ emotions since before I signed onto the Spirit. I¡¯ve been hunted for it. They want to use my body from what I was able to figure out.¡±


    ¡°What,¡± Sk¡¯p asked in a quiet and deadly voice. It promised violence if he didn¡¯t hear what he wanted to next, then there would be problems.


    From Sk¡¯p Paige felt nothing rage, but rage on her behalf. Jess had her hand over her mouth, and she was feeling such shock and horror, not at her but at what had almost been done to her.


    ¡°And it could be either side on that battle, or something else. We need to move faster!¡± Racha said and Jinn nodded.


    He got down before Paige but then Sk¡¯p was there.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got her!¡± Sk¡¯p said as he put her over his shoulder, face against his back.


    As Paige tried to calm her heart down, she felt a protective feeling coming from Sk¡¯p.


    ¡°I¡¯m not the best fighter here, you and Racha are. I¡¯ll carry the little lady until we stop or she gets out of range.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Paige said softly.


    ¡°Nothing to it! help your team!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a laugh. ¡°Just never play cards with me, kid!¡±


    Paige laughed and shook her head as the others ran on. She couldn¡¯t believe this. She had been so scared for so long, but these people were accepting her. She couldn¡¯t think that this was something that was going so well. But then as soon as she thought that, she felt another roar. She gritted her teeth and then looked towards it. This time, it felt a lot closer.


    ¡°Hurry,¡± She croaked out, her mouth feeling dry as Sk¡¯p carried her away. ¡°It¡¯s coming.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn gritted his teeth and stopped as something hit him. ¡°NOVA!¡±


    The others went by him and Racha stopped first. She looked back at him as he looked towards the direction Paige had pointed. ¡°What!? Why¡¯d you stop!?¡±


    For a second, Jinn stayed silent. He was trying to see if he could see anything, any clue to what was over there.


    ¡°The others!¡± Jinn said with a scowl, cursing himself for not seeing it. ¡°Locke and the others! Those things are going to attack them once they make it here!¡±


    The others looked at him, not understanding what he was getting at.


    ¡°What do you mean!?¡± Jess demanded.


    Jinn only scowled as he tried to figure out how to say this the right way. ¡°Anything that can use the mind as a weapon, won¡¯t just use it on a few beings. I bet the only way that Paige can feel it is because of her abilities! Probably like you can hear if someone yells at someone else near you. I bet that the effect is a lot worse when it''s directed at someone point-blank!¡±


    Jinn looked around and saw the expressions on the other''s faces. They understood what he had figured out and they all turned to look at Burt.


    Burt looked down, deep in thought. After a few moments, he looked up and sighed, nodding. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like the right thing. I think I heard something when I was drunk, something about mind talking and screaming.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know!?¡± Racha demanded.


    Burt only chuckled and held up his empty hands. ¡°It was this wake, free drinks and I just had been dumped after spending a month in that town! Stole from me even. Had to stay there another two months just to get enough Trade Credits to keep moving.¡±


    Jinn looked at him and tried to keep calm. Tried being the right word. He had hoped that Burt would say that he was looking at a meteor shower when it was only a comet. But he was seeing it clearly. There was only one choice here. ¡°Jess, Burt? You two with me. We¡¯re going to see what¡¯s happening over there. The rest of you, keep moving towards the ship. We¡¯ll meet up with you later.¡±


    Racha looked like she was going to say something but Jinn held up a hand.


    ¡°The greater mission takes precedence. We¡¯re going to protect our rear and the others. You need to save the others,¡± Jinn said with a hard tone.


    ¡°First rule bro, don¡¯t split the party. But we¡¯ve got someone that can feel all the blasts,¡± Al said as he looked at Sk¡¯p and Paige.


    Paige suddenly blinked and looked up, her eyes widening in shock. ¡°It¡¯s gone. It¡¯s gone!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Burt asked as everyone looked at Paige.


    ¡°It stopped mid-scream! That¡¯s good, right?¡± Paige asked, her eyes widening as she looked at Jinn.


    Jinn meanwhile had gone still. He looked towards where the battle was and couldn¡¯t stop a frown from forming on his face. The single fact that the ¡®scream¡¯ ended mid-scream was worrying. That meant that the other side killed what was ¡®screaming¡¯, and how deadly was that side?


    He swallowed and looked at the hill in the distance. They had to move now! ¡°Double time people, move!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what is it!? Where¡¯s the threat!??¡± Racha snarled as she looked around.


    ¡°If something could kill something that had a mental weapon, how did it do that? And then what can that thing do to us?¡± Jinn said with a hard glare.


    He saw the way that the others were reacting to his words and the way that Racha¡¯s eyes were hardening. There was a strange feeling that Jinn felt from beyond the hill. All it told him, was they had to move as soon as possible.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha kept a snarl on her face as she led the way. For the last five minutes, they had finally seen the mountain in the distance. It was still so far away, but now Paige was running in the center of the group. Paige still didn¡¯t ¡®hear¡¯ another scream, but Racha was worried about what this meant. If something had happened once, it could happen again. That was basic knowledge, something all her teachers in the Service had talked about. But there was something about this place that bothered her so much.


    She couldn¡¯t even understand just how this planet was even halfway possible! And that wasn''t talking about the strange powers the others had all gained here. There was something that connected the Power to the creatures. She could feel it, it was there but she still couldn¡¯t even try to figure out how the ¡®how¡¯.


    That was the secret to her success, she listened to her gut. And now that same gut was telling her that something was there.


    Suddenly, she heard something ahead and she looked up. Her eyes widened as she saw what was there. ¡°Enemy above!¡±


    Above them was a large strange-looking bird serpent-thing. It was large, from here it looked only ten feet wide but it was still so high up. The creature had skin of a deep blue, and it had white sparks along its body. But the most shocking thing was the three sets of blood-ruby wings. It¡¯s a large hood at the front, the ¡®head¡¯.


    ¡°What is that!?¡± Burt exclaimed in shocked horror.


    ¡°You¡¯ve never seen anything like that?¡± Jinn demanded.


    ¡°Nothing with six wings! They were only a half foot long and in the Forest Realm, they only hunted the Wolcomies!¡± Burt exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Wolcomies?¡± Sara asked, her voice holding a spark of shock.


    ¡°Flying eyeless bugs. There are a few species of them colored¡­..¡± Burt explained but Jinn interrupted him.


    ¡°You mean the flying worms. We¡¯ve seen a few around here,¡± Jinn said.


    Racha only paid attention with one ear, her eyes were locked on the creature. The way the creature was just hovering there bothered her. It seemed to be hitting the winds and staying there. But it wasn¡¯t looking at them, so why was it just staying there?


    ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything from that thing. Not even a beast-like mind. What is wrong with it?¡¯ Paige said, her voice full of worry and a bit of fear.


    Racha looked at Paige for a second, then turned back at the flying serpent. That was worrying. Paige had mentioned that her abilities had let her ¡®hear¡¯ the feelings of anything with a big enough brain. The fact that she couldn¡¯t hear anything from that thing was very worrying.


    ¡°Just keep moving! Just keep moving, maybe it¡¯s after something else,¡± Sk¡¯p said with a slow and sure voice.


    Racha just nodded, and without a word, they kept moving. But before they could move more than ten feet, a shadow moved over them. Racha looked up and saw the bird-serpent falling towards them. ¡°EVERYONE MOVE AWAY NOW!¡±


    They all reacted to Racha¡¯s roar, splitting apart by twenty feet before the bird serpent crashed down. It sent up a dust could that went up ten feet and covered the crashed creature. Racha pulled out her pistol as she waited for the next shoe to drop. For a few moments, she almost thought it was dead before something shot out of the dust could. She dodged to the side and fired her pistol. The bolt tore through it before it slithered back into the dust cloud. She looked down at what she had broken off and stared in shock.

 One Hundred Forty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 0720


    Jinn stared at the dust cloud and gritted his teeth. He was cursing out his actions for not keeping an eye on the thing once he saw it. The one thing that he felt was that he should have noticed that the creature wasn¡¯t acting normally for any animal. His experience with such matters was low, but he should have done more before this thing attacked.


    But as the dust settled, he was ready for almost anything. But as the dust cleared away, he stared and barely kept from throwing up. The bird-serpent¡¯s body was decayed, with holes all over the top. For a second he almost thought that the body had just died, but then he wondered how the thing had stayed in the air. That question was answered in the most unsettling way.


    From his location, he could see things growing out of some of the holes. In every third hole, there was a green mass that grew vines that joined together between the middle set of wings. There were also green vines in every second of the empty holes. But what was most unsettling was the fact that each of the vines was pulsing. The vines grew together into a large tree-like thing with six branches in a star formation. At the top was a green sphere with tentacles that moved like they had muscles in them. He could see the branches moving around, but all six of them ended in sharp points with thorns on them.


    But the true horror was its ¡®face¡¯. It didn¡¯t have a face, instead, the green mass had broken the face, and there was only a large yellow flower where the eyes would be. There were four long tentacles behind the flower, and one tentacle was broken off at the tip.


    ¡°What in the name of the Waves!?¡± Burt whispered in horror.


    Without a word, the tentacles started to whip around at the group.


    ¡°Fall back!¡± Jinn bellowed as he pulled out his blade, quickly forming it into its sword form. He slashed out with it, slicing through the tentacle that attacked him. He moved backwards, his pistol aiming at the bird-serpent. To Jinn¡¯s horror, the monster didn¡¯t react. Then he realized that the reason that it didn¡¯t react was because the creature was dead. What had attacked them was a plant. That explained why Paige couldn¡¯t hear it, she couldn¡¯t hear plants. But what was this thing!? How could this monster plant control the creature¡¯s body!? All Jinn knew was this was going to be a hard fight.


    Another tentacle came at him, but he dashed to the left and fired his pistol at the ¡®tree¡¯. A vine intercepted it and he gritted his teeth. He looked around and saw the others fighting against it.


    ¡°So can¡¯t we just leave this thing!?¡± Burt asked as he dodged and fired.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the route Locke will use! We can¡¯t let this thing kill the others!¡± Racha barked as she fired at the monster. A tentacle came at her, but instead of grabbing her, it slapped her, sending her into the air. She rolled into a ball before she hit the ground and moved for a few feet before she got back to her feet.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she got back to her feet she fought down a wince. Her left arm was loose, there was nothing that she could do to move. She had had this enough to know what had happened, somehow she had dislocated it. Pulling out her pistol, she looked at the plant thing and saw it sticking two of its tentacles into the ground. They weren¡¯t going deeper down, only staying there as the other vines seemed to be striking at anything.


    The more she looked at this thing, the more she had a strange and terrible feeling. It was when three more of the tentacles slammed into the ground. She stared as more of the tentacles broke out of the corpse, and then she knew.


    ¡°It can¡¯t think! Everyone, move away! To the sea!¡± Racha roared and then she ran followed.


    As the others all ran, Racha looked over her shoulder. She watched as the other tentacles slammed into the ground. As the body of the serpent-bird began to decay as she watched, all Racha could feel was anger and rage. She had hoped she was wrong, but she was right. As they watched, the corpse was fully destroyed as the tree grew taller.


    ¡°Why did we fall back?¡± Jinn asked quietly.


    ¡°And how will that let this thing attack us better!?¡± Jess asked as she flexed her hands.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t attacking us, it was planting itself. It wants to spread. So aim for the trunk!¡± Racha barked and started to fire at the ¡®tree¡¯.


    As others fired the tree started to grow a fruit from one of the branches. As the tree was hit, the fruit kept growing until it was five feet wide. It fell from the branch and spattered on the ground.


    From the remains came a strange creature. It was five feet tall and had a forward-facing body that ended in a large tail a foot wide. Its face was a maw of needle-sharp teeth, and it had five eyes in a star formation. It had four arms, one above the other. Each one ended in a large spike.


    ¡°No¡­.. FALSE PLANT!¡± Burt exclaimed in horror as he started to fire wildly.


    Racha had heard all about them from Burt last night. She knew exactly what this monstrosity was and what it meant. If this thing could prey on the survivors!


    ¡°New plan! Jinn, Jess, hand the beast, keep it off us! Everyone else, take down the plant!¡± Racha barked as she moved her weapon down, hitting ever lower on the tree. Part of her was hoping that she might be able to tear the tree in half. But as they all fired at it, the four-armed lancer thing attacked.


    Jinn suddenly appeared by it and grabbed one of its arms. ¡°Let¡¯s have a nice talk closer to the ocean!¡±


    Before the Lancer-Thing could do more than try and hit him, Jinn had disappeared again.


    ¡°Good luck! <u>Aether Enhance; Flame</u>!¡± Jess called out as she ran towards the water, a red aura engulfing her.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Racha had to admit to herself, that she was jealous of their powers. She remembered a dozen investigations where something like that would have been useful.


    ¡°More fruit are growing!! Keep firing!!¡± Burt screamed in panic.


    Racha gritted her teeth, she had to focus! This was what was important, not where Jinn had gone.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn came out of the ¡®dash¡¯ above the beach, the Lancer-Thing disoriented. Without a thought, he threw the Lancer thing in the direction opposite the Yard-Ship. Jinn looked around, he and the creature were within ten feet of the ocean. Looking back from where he had come, he saw the others a hundred feet away. Jess was running towards them, already glowing red. For a second, he wondered if he would be able to handle this before she got here. Well, only one way to find out!


    As it got back to its feet, Jinn studied it. As it got to his feet, it looked at him and screeched. He just clenched his blade as he sent the command for it to change into its sword form. He smirked as he looked at it, pointing his sword and chuckling. ¡°Round one!¡±


    With a screech, the beast ran at him its four lances pointing up and down. Jinn ran at it, firing his pistol as he charged on. The first few bolts hit the lances, and then a bolt hit from the right that exploded into flames. The Lancer screeched and thrashed before it rolled to the right, putting the flames out.


    Jinn only stared, shocked at this. Part of him was shocked that the Lancer hadn¡¯t gone towards the water. The other part suddenly remembered something that he had learned long ago. For a moment he wondered how the creature knew that, but then he remembered where the creature had fallen.


    Without waiting another minute, he charged at the Lancer as Jess kept firing.


    ¡°THE WATER! GET IT INTO THE WATER!¡± Jinn barked as he ran.


    The Lancer turned and roared, slashing its lances down at him. Jinn blocked them with his sword flat side moments before an explosion flared up on the Lancer¡¯s side. As it screamed in pain, Jinn moved.


    He moved back and while it was off balance, he grabbed one of its arms and ¡®dashed¡¯ into the air above the ocean. He threw it down into the water before he ¡®dashed¡¯ back onto land.


    ¡°What was that supposed to do¡­.. Okay. I see,¡± Jess said as she watched the Lancer hit the water.


    As soon as that happened, the Lancer started to scream in pain. It tried to get back onto land, but Jinn started to fire. ¡°Aim at its legs!¡±


    As Jess joined her blasts to his, the False Plant kept trying to get out of the water. But as it moved, its body started to shake. When it was a foot away from the land, it collapsed. It quivered for a few moments before it decayed before their eyes.


    ¡°What happened!?¡± Jess asked, her voice shaking a little.


    Jinn could hardly believe his eyes. He had thought that the most would be a way to slow it down, but this? This was beyond anything that he thought possible.


    ¡°Saltwater,¡±  Jinn breathed out in a shocked tone. He turned his head and looked at Jess, smirking as he did so. ¡°Salt water is their weakness, their acid!¡±


    Jess looked at the ocean, and with a smirk turned to Jinn. ¡°Got an empty bottle or something that can hold liquids?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she fired at the False Plant, Paige kept her ¡®ear¡¯ open. So far, they had been doing well. The tree was being kept from making any more fruit, and they hadn¡¯t been attacked. The roots had been broken, and they were slowly moving away from it. All in all, she thought that sooner or later they would kill this thing.


    As she shot another fruit before it grew, the tree suddenly released a large crack sound. Then a mouth formed and two large tentacles shot out as it roared.


    Racha fired as she screamed. ¡°BACK! BACK!¡±


    As the group moved, Sk¡¯p stayed in front next to her.


    She glared at him, and he only grinned back.


    ¡°You stay, I¡¯ll stay! So ready to move?!¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a savage grin.


    Racha almost growled at him before she nodded, taking a step backwards. They couldn¡¯t even think of arguing with each other now, they had to act together. So she took a step, and Sk¡¯p took another as they both fired at the two tentacles as they came at them.


    With a scowl on her face, Racha looked at the tree. From the story that Burt told them, she had to wonder that this was one of the ¡®Mother Trees¡¯ that he spoke of. If so, then where had this thing come from? She remembered the things that had hatched the trees. Why could this one¡¯s source fly and the other couldn¡¯t?


    Suddenly a howl formed beyond the tree causing the group to look beyond the tree. Coming over the hill was a large wolf, at least five feet tall. It was an almost normal-looking wolf, with a large sail down its back and a foot tall. Besides the sail, the wolf¡¯s fur was a strange-looking purple. Its mouth had four fangs that went down. It looked at the scene before it threw back its head. But before it could howl, a single bolt destroyed its head.


    Racha looked at Burt who was still aiming in that direction, and then saw him fire again. Turning around, she paled as she saw the tree sending tentacles towards the corpse.


    ¡°NO! Burt, Sk¡¯p, keep the tentacles from getting that corpse! Sara, Paige, aim at the tree!¡± Racha barked as she fired. She didn¡¯t know what she expected, but this was getting bad. The way that Paige didn¡¯t react told her that maybe the wolves weren¡¯t the source of the ¡®scream¡¯ she ¡®heard¡¯. And that was both a good and bad thing. That meant the ¡®screamer¡¯ was still out there, and that was very bad.


    Even worse, the battle between the two forces was done. And that means that the winner or loser might come here soon. They had to destroy this thing before that happened and they were overrun!


    As three more of the tentacles came towards the corpse, Racha fired at their source. They had to handle this before more of the Wolves or the apes made it here!


    Suddenly, Jinn was right in front of the mouth and threw something into it the mouth.


    ¡°Drink up!¡± He called out before he ¡®dashed¡¯ away and landed next to Racha. He smiled at her as four tentacles swarmed at him. Bust just before they reached him they stopped a foot away from him. ¡°Oh, hi Racha. How was your fight?¡±


    Racha only blinked as the tree suddenly started to come apart. As everyone watched, the tree slowly crumbled into dust.


    ¡°What was that!?¡± Burt exclaimed, shock in his voice.


    ¡°Salt water is a poison to them. At least this one. But we can try and figure that out later, for now, we need to move!¡± Jess called out from behind the group.


    Racha looked at Jinn for a few seconds before she nodded. ¡°Their right! Move now!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he followed after them, Burt tried and failed to think how this was possible. The idea that something as simple as salt water could kill False Tress was shocking. A terror of the Forest Realm could be defeated by simple salt water? For a few seconds, he stayed quiet as they ran, trying to wrap his head around this.


    The False Plants were one of the horror stories everyone knew! The one in the clear might have been the first one he had seen, but he knew the stories. But then it was always a relative or someone else who had seen the things, never the person telling the stories.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Sk¡¯p asked next to him.


    Burt looked up and nodded, trying to find a way to explain to put his thoughts in order. ¡°Just shocked. I mean the False Plants were one of the stories told so we¡¯d know about them so we could run. I never thought that I would ever find something so easy to kill them. I mean who would?¡±


    Sk¡¯p only nodded and chuckled a little. ¡°As my people used to say, the best currents are the hard ones. Keep moving on, and life will surprise you.¡±


    Burt only looked at him and chuckled a little. That kind of belief was something that he could get behind. From all the Realms he joined through, the friends and foes he had met. The one lesson that had so many variations was to keep moving forward.


    ¡°Yeah, I know. Still the¡­¡­¡± Burt trailed off as he looked behind him and saw something in the distance for a moment. He blinked and looked again, seeing all the bushes around the area. They were perfect if someone or something wanted to stalk others.


    His eyes went around the area, truly seeing it for the first time. His wild run had him look down, following the others. All that his knowledge and wits told him was one thing, that they had walked into a trap.


    ¡°Oh by the depths! Everyone stop! We¡¯re in a kill box! Back to back!¡± Burt barked as he aimed all around.


    The others all heard him, Jinn and Racha gazed around them and started to curse.


    Quickly, everyone got into a circle and aimed out. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Just when Burt was going to curse himself for that, a voice called out.


    ¡°Not often I see people like us here! What brought you to this hell?¡± The voice that spoke sounded gruff and wasn¡¯t identifiable as male or female. And to his anger, it came from the empty space to Burt¡¯s left.


    Burt aimed his weapon, and then suddenly remembered an old trick.


    ¡°Whoever is next to me, tell the others on the to keep watching their front. This might be a trick,¡± Burt said softly and he hoped that they understood.


    He felt someone squeeze his right arm and he hoped that was the sign they understood.


    ¡°My name is Racha! Who are you!?¡± Racha called out with a hard edge to her voice.


    ¡°My name is Maikil! And who are you to ask me that? What are you doing here? I saw the trails in the sky a few days ago, were they you all?¡± Maikil asked from Burt¡¯s right.


    Burt whipped his head around, trying to still his heart. He had known something was wrong here, but this was beyond his worst dread. How could whoever this was moving so fast? Or was his first thought right?


    ¡°Yes, we came down a few days ago. We mean you no harm. All we want to do is pass by and make it to that ship,¡± Racha said with a calm edge.


    ¡°The ship? What you came down in wasn¡¯t that good? Or was it in some place that you can¡¯t protect?¡± Maikil asked with curiosity in his voice.


    Burt scowled as he looked straight ahead. This time the voice had come from right behind them. Just what was this person?! And how were they doing it? At first, he thought it was a trick like Jinn¡¯s, but this was too much. This being was moving so fast without leaving a single mark of passage. Just how was this possible?


    ¡°No, we seek to get it working if we can. Now who are you?¡± Jinn asked from behind Burt.


    ¡°Get home working? Oh, you want to turn the weapons back on!¡± The voice said, now sounding cheerful. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that?¡±

 One Hundred Forty One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 0750


    Jess stared to the right the voice had come from. A man seemed to appear from nowhere. The being was wearing a grey cloak that went to his knees. Below that were black pants which ended in simple-looking black leather boots. The man had a black mask on that had five circles in a pentagon formation. His arms were covered by the same black material in gloves and he was holding a blaster rifle that he pointed down.


    ¡°Greetings!¡± The man said as he removed the face of his mask. He was blond and had blue eyes with a scar going diagonally right across his nose.


    ¡°My name is Callahin. A pleasure to meet you all!¡± Callahin said with joy in his voice. ¡°I was sure that I would have to leave the old girl!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who are you?¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a soft but hard tone.


    Callahin only laughed and shook his head, his teeth bared in a wide smile. Jess had to admit that she was starting to get a bit unnerved by the way he was acting. There was something about his eyes and that scar that called out to her ¡®sub brain¡¯ that warned her about him.


    ¡°Oh, sorry. Haven¡¯t talked with people in a while. Callahin, I was the deckhand aboard my ship before I crashed. I¡¯ve been stuck here for years since I crashed. It¡¯s nice to see other survivors!¡± Callahin said with a smile.


    Jess wasn¡¯t sure what to expect from this person. Something about her was telling her that he was wrong.


    ¡°You crashed here?! You¡¯re from the Federation?!¡± Racha asked, shock in her voice.


    All  Callahin did was laugh and shake his head. ¡°Yeah. And I didn¡¯t know much about FTL radio tech as a deck boy so I¡¯ve been stuck here. I¡¯ve maintained the place I¡¯m staying as best as I could.¡±


    ¡°And how was the best you could do?¡± Al asked softly.


    Jess knew what he was thinking, at least she thought she did. His job was getting the Yard-Ship back to the best shape he could. If this ¡®deck boy¡¯ was right then he might have been learning to fix it by doing it. He might have wrecked the connections that he would need to make it work right. And that meant that they had more trouble than they had expected. What if they couldn¡¯t get the doors to close and it became a killing field for some monster here?


    Callahin stopped talking and looked at Al, frowning a bit as he looked at Al¡¯s face. ¡°That mark¡­.. Are you one of the tech worshipers? I tried to treat it right I swear!¡±


    ¡°Are you okay? What are you talking about? What do you mean by ¡®Tech worshiper¡¯? Do you mean the Scholar¡¯s way? Why didn¡¯t you just call it that?¡± Paige asked, worry in her voice.


    Jess looked at Paige and almost swallowed when she saw that Paige¡¯s hands were gripping her rifle hard. She let her eye go around the group and saw Jinn look at her and blink once. So Jinn had seen what was wrong with Paige too? Good. If Paige was getting something wrong from this man, then they were all in trouble.


    ¡°Scholar¡¯s Way? That¡¯s what they¡¯re called?¡± Callahin asked, wonder in his voice.


    Jess stared, how could he have forgotten the name of a Religion that ruled multiple planets?


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you remember, where were you born?¡± Sara asked, her voice sounding strange.


    ¡°Outer Orbital Nineteen of the planet Balorix 4! A Station boy to the core!¡± Callahin said with pride in his voice


    ¡°Wait, Orbital Nineteen? The Screaming Slammers!? Go down the black hole! I¡¯m from the station of the Fighting Folks!¡± Sara said with a grin in her voice.


    Callahin looked at her and then he started to laugh. ¡°Well now! Never thought I meet someone from a station ten higher than me!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what are you talking about?¡± Racha asked with confusion in her voice.


    ¡°This punk is from one of the stations around the gas giant my station is around! Those are grav-ball teams! But why¡¯d you remember that but not the name of Al¡¯s religion?¡± Sara asked, worry in her voice.


    ¡°No, not really. Got a me bad case of amnesia!¡± Callahin said as he removed the rest of his helmet and turned his head. There was a bald circle to his ear¡¯s right that was nothing but scar tissue. ¡°Happened when my ship crashed. Don¡¯t you worry, I didn¡¯t forget everything, just some random facts. I mean I knew where I came from and some of other things like what your friend¡¯s religion was. But only fragments.¡±


    ¡°What about your nanites? Don¡¯t have an encyclopedia in there?¡± Jinn asked and Callahin shrugged.


    ¡°Nope! I think the captain had me get rid of it when I signed on. Something about a rite of passage or something, a few runs without them as the ship¡¯s boy. At least I think so,¡± Callahin as he shrugged.


    As much as Jess could understand that kind of thing, something about this wasn¡¯t sounding true.


    Callahin looked around and frowned. ¡°Look I¡¯d love to tell you everything, but we should move. I don¡¯t know what happened to cause an explosion, but it was bad here. I¡¯ve already come across the corpses of the three Alpha¡¯s that ruled here. The survivors and outsiders are gonna come. We need to get to safe ground!¡±


    Jess moved her gaze towards Racha and saw her look at Jinn. The two didn¡¯t say anything, they just stared at each other. After a few moments, Jinn gave a tense nod.


    ¡°Agreed. But stay in sight,¡± Racha said to Callahin who nodded.


    ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll keep my gear off. Not the voice throw and the camo will do good here! Come on, I welcome you to the factory ship!¡± Callahin said as he put his helmet back on. Without another word he started to walk on, leading them towards the team¡¯s goal.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Jess looked at Callahin, her mind going many different places. The conversation with this Callahin just raised more questions than answers. He had called the Yard-Ship a factory ship. That might just be more of his amnesia talking, but there was something about him. Something that told Jess to keep an eye on him no matter what.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he followed after c, Jinn kept his eyes and face free of anything that might show his thoughts. He had seen people who spoke like Callahin before when he was growing up, and most of them had been problems. The explanation that he gave might have been true, but there was something that nagged at him. Maybe it was because of how he had been raised, but there was something here, something in what he had and hadn¡¯t said.


    A strange thought went through him and he grabbed Al¡¯s forearm.


    Al was about to say something when Jinn started to grip his arm in a pattern. Al went still and then grabbed Jinn¡¯s arm and squeezed in another pattern.


    Jinn looked at the text that appeared in his vision and nodded. He squeezed Al¡¯s arm again and Al¡¯s eyes went wide. After a few moments, Al nodded a dark look in his eyes.


    Jinn gritted his teeth and looked at Callahin, dark thoughts going through his mind. He forced himself to calm down and then nodded at Al who nodded back.


    Jinn walked a bit faster and then moved towards Callahin who was talking to the others.


    ¡­¡­now don¡¯t get me wrong! You just needed to be smart around here! The boss whose pack I hunted the most were these large boars with chitin claws. Tasty, a kind of fusion of pork and fish. I usually threw my voice and they just charged into my traps!¡± Callahin said as he laughed. ¡°You people are lucky that they¡¯re off this  path!¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯ve heard a few things about your home. Something about pirates attacking it,¡± Jinn said cutting in.


    As everyone looked at him, Callahin only looked up.


    ¡°Pirates? Oh, you mean the race that attacks my place every so often. The reptiles. But why did you call them Pirates or even know about them?¡± Callahin asked.


    ¡°Form me. My people crashed here generations ago! The pirate''s quest to conquer your home is something of a story around the other people out there!¡± Burt said with a bold tone.


    Callahin stopped and removed his mask¡¯s faceplate and looked at Burt for a solid minute. ¡°You¡¯re a native!? Why haven¡¯t I seen the ships!?¡±


    ¡°The paths out there change. No one knows how!¡± Burt said cheerfully.


    ¡°So why do they keep attacking?¡± Callahin asked and Burt laughed.


    ¡°No clue friend! The source I learned about this never finished. He was drunk,¡± Burt said, shrugging.


    Jinn kept his eyes on Callahin¡¯s eyes and saw when his eyes gained a spark of hunger. But when Burt admitted he had no idea why they were attacking here, his eyes flashed with anger and rage. But as soon as that happened, a second later the smile was back.


    ¡°No Nova then? Just need to keep fighting them off then. And by fighting I mean hide and hope for the best behind the ship¡¯s armor. The only way I know how really,¡± Callahin admitted.


    ¡°But your gear, it¡¯s not normal. Where did you find it?¡± Jinn asked.


    Callahin laughed and pulled some of the material of his right sleeve free, grinning as he did so. ¡°This? When I made my way into the ship I found a few dead people, then a few suits of this. Took a bit of trial and error but I figured out how to work this stuff. Helped me stay alive.¡±


    Callahin looked back at Al and then he looked away. ¡°Look. I still don¡¯t remember your people¡¯s funeral rites. All I could do was burn them and ask Creation to welcome them to wherever they were going. Sorry.¡±


    ¡°If any of my people were there, they could have wanted anything. The Way doesn¡¯t have a unified funeral practice you see. But thank you,¡± Al said.


    Callahin looked away and kept walking. ¡°Just being respectful.¡±


    Jinn looked at Callahin, trying to find anything that might give Callahin away. But the man was strange and constant. But there was something about him on how he moved that bothered Jinn a lot. There was something there, every instinct he had told him that.


    Looking ahead of them, Jinn saw a sloping mountain. Looking up, he saw that this part of the ¡®beach¡¯ still had trees. There was a forest that climbed up the mountain, hiding what was in it. This had to be the land bridge that his team had been sent out for. That meant that they were almost there, but Callahin was a wild card that he didn¡¯t predict.


    ¡°That must be the way up to the ship then, right?¡± Jinn asked as they looked towards the sea. The mountain went up a good fifty feet and went out along the land bridge. The island was a good three hundred feet away, and they could see the mountain. Their goal was finally in sight, and they had made it!


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re almost there, just need to go up the mountain. That was used to be a place the packs knew to stay away from. But now, with the newbies? We gotta be quiet and fast,¡± Callahin cautioned as he looked at the others.


    ¡°Know that! Have I got stories where those traits were the only way to survive!¡± Burt said, chuckling.


    Jinn looked at Callahin the man started to chuckle as well.


    ¡°My friend you have to share your stories with me! They must be quiet something!¡± Callahin said as he and Burt shared a smile.


    Jinn wanted to scowl but forced it down. Something about Callahin made him feel worried, something that was almost beyond thought.


    ¡°Sure! But still, I¡¯ve only been here a short while. You¡¯ve been here for years? Do you often go out hunting like today? Or were you out there for something else?¡± Burt asked as they moved along the path.


    ¡°Well, truth be told I woke up the blast that destroyed the trees. Shook my home a lot! Anyway, I went out to see what I could find. I needed to know, had to survive after all. Still didn¡¯t find out what caused it!¡± Callahin said, shrugging.


    Jinn looked at Racha and the others. They all nodded and Jinn sighed.


    ¡°Callahin, we caused the explosion. It was a trap for things from the sea that wanted to eat us,¡± Jinn explained slowly.


    Callahin just looked at Jinn, his mouth dropping open, his eyes wide. But before he could say anything they all heard a howl from behind them.


    Jinn turned to see five of the large wolves running towards them. They had to be over a hundred feet away but they were closing fast.


    ¡°Do we fight or run!?¡± Burt called as he aimed his rifle towards the wolves.


    ¡°Run! There¡¯s a rock chock point ahead in the forest! We just need to make it there!¡± Callahin called out as he ran off.


    Jinn looked at him as he ran and made a judgment call. Whatever his problem with Callahin was, now was the time to give him some trust. He needed them to get his home in order, so Jinnn could trust him that much. ¡°GO! Al, Sk¡¯p, with me! We¡¯re the rearguard!¡±


    As the group ran up the mountain, Jinn and the other two stayed back. Jinn would fire as Al and Sk¡¯p ran head. Then when Sk¡¯p fired, Jinn would catch up to Al who would fire in turn. They did this thrice until they reached a large rock wall. There was a small path through it, four feet wide. Jinn could see Racha farther in, waving at them.


    ¡°You two first!¡± Jinn barked as he turned and looked into the forest. He could hear the echoes of five more howls, and one that was louder than the others.


    ¡°But Jinn!¡± Sk¡¯p began only for Al to pull him along.


    ¡°Jinn will know when to run, move it!¡± Al barked.


    Jinn brought out his blade and transformed it into its sword form. He backed up slowly as two of the large wolves appeared, growling at him.


    ¡°Want a meal!? Well too bad! This prey has claws of its own! Want to try me!?¡± Jinn snarled as he pointed his blade at the lead wolf. Around it, more of its pack appeared until there were ten of them, all of them growling. Jinn moved slowly backwards until he was five feet down the path. The wolf moved forward and Jinn fired his pistol. The blast hit just before the wolf and sprayed rock shards that hit it. The wolf moved back, its ears down as it looked around. Then the beast looked at Jinn who grinned. ¡°Yeah, nothing for you here! Go!¡±


    Jinn looked at the wolf for another few minutes, locking eyes with it.


    The wolf was the first one to blink. It turned and howled, and within an instant, the other wolves bounded away into the forest. The leader looked back at Jinn and after locking eyes with each other the wolf nodded.


    Jinn watched it go and then turned his blade back into knife mode. He turned and met the gazes of Racha who had stayed back.


    Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she shook her head. ¡°That was the most stupid and amazing thing I had ever seen! How did you know that would work?¡±


    ¡°Predators like that? They need to reason. I just showed it that this path wouldn¡¯t work. It might now work long, so we need to move.¡±


    ¡°Follow me!¡± Racha said as she moved to the left.


    Jinn followed her and saw her walking down a path that was three feet wide through the rocks. He looked to the right and nodded when he saw the rock wall. So it seemed that this was the only pathway that was open to them. As he moved, he looked up, his gaze tracking the wall up forty feet. ¡°So the only problem here is the space above? Good to know.¡±


    After a few moments, Racha led Jinn into a large open chamber twenty feet wide and long. The others were waiting for him, and they all looked up, grinning as they saw him.


    ¡°What took you so long?¡± Jess asked as she from where she was talking with Paige and Sara.


    ¡°You all should have seen it! He just stared down one of them and forced it to run away after shooting the ground! One of the bravest things I have ever seen!¡± Racha said with a grin as the others moved towards them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Callahin looked at the group as they converged around Jinn. He couldn¡¯t believe that happened just now. He knew that the Old Wolf would make a move, but this? To send in a pack led by her direct spawn, was something he hadn¡¯t expected. The path he had taken the castaways through wasn¡¯t alone. There was a larger one on the other side of the mountain, but it was longer and twisted through the rocks. He had spent days blocking it, and not even the Old one would know the paths were crossable.


    If he wanted to lead a few of them into danger to cut down their number, they would have to move now. If he was lucky, then maybe he could feed some of them to the wolves. If the Old Wolf was making a play to be the most powerful Alpha around here, some goodwill would be useful.


    But the Scholar¡¯s Way punk, that one would have to be his meal. If he wanted to control the factory ship more than just turning on its weapons, then he needed to feed on him. But how could he get them to move, while leading a few to their deaths? A simple way that would work suddenly appeared in his mind. He smiled at the simplicity of his new plan, and he barely kept from chuckling in glee.


    ¡°Okay people, time to go! We need to move, we can¡¯t wait here too long. With the packs nearby dead, some new flyers might make hunting runs!¡± Callahin said, trying to sound worried.

 One Hundred Forty Two

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels to Yard ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 0820


    As Callahin led the way, Paige kept back. There was something about Callahin, something about his emotions. She had sensed lust and desire before, but this was something else. It was like he only saw them as food or something. The wolves had been beyond her range for most of the chase, but only until the end. Then for a moment, she had gotten a spark of such anger and rage. She still didn¡¯t know what it was but it was there.


    ¡°Now you have to understand, I found the factory ship when I was running away. I came down onto this island a long way away, practically on the other side. And I came down with my crew! The captain survived but we lost our medic before that!¡± Callahin said with anger in his voice as he led the way.


    Sara walked behind Jinn and Racha with Paige behind her. So far, Callahin had treated them right but he was still feeling those emotions. She just couldn¡¯t understand why. If he had been away from ¡®civilization¡¯ for years, then there was that. But everything she had was telling that there was something more to him. And that she wouldn¡¯t like any of the answers when she found them out.


    ¡°It must have been hard for you all,¡± Racha said with a soft voice.


    Paige could feel that Racha was feeling nothing. It must be a Service trick to keep your emotions down as you interrogate someone. The fact that Racha might know there was something wrong with Callahin. That made her feel confident that they would survive Callahin.


    ¡°Yeah, it was. We lost most of the security guards first, to these giant bugs! Some kind of giant centaur mantis ant hybrid, ten feet tall! Just bit their heads off!¡± Callahin said, a shudder in his voice.


    Paige looked at him, keeping her reaction down. While most people would feel anger, he was feeling joy and happiness talking about their deaths. Just what kind of ship had he been on?


    ¡°We ran into giant humanoid ants with a giant one leading them. We fought them off, and


    Then ran into these reptilian baboon things when I and a few others were looking for food. We fought them off, but they threw their waste at us, and that took the Security head next! It must have had a virus in it, cause that was what killed him. Some kind of fever that took him out over a few days! The captain led the rest of us to the ocean and then we were attacked by giant crabs. That was when I was separated you see,¡± Callahin said as he looked over his shoulder at them. There was a look of sorrow in his eyes that almost made Paige believe him.


    It would have if he wasn¡¯t feeling pride talking about how he was alone.


    ¡°So you were alone when you got here, how¡¯d you get by the ship¡¯s weapons?¡± Jinn asked and Callahin laughed.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, I wasn¡¯t alone! I was being chased by these winged fish with teeth, parona, no piranix¡­. Piranha! That¡¯s the word! Well, piranha crossed with rats!¡± Callahin said with a mad grin. ¡°They liked how I tasted! But I ran toward the ship, and the weapons must have been set to kill anything not from the Federation! Found my way in through an open door and then I closed it! After that I explored and well, a month later the first of the ¡®pirates¡¯ attacked. After a few days, I came out and burned the bodies.¡±


    Paige looked around at the walls, seeing marks on the stones. She could imagine that pirates came through here fighting off those things as they did.


    ¡°So how often have that race come here?¡± Al asked with a hint of worry in his voice.


    ¡°The ship¡¯s fought them off about five times since I¡¯ve been here. And the moon¡¯s been full ten times between each time, at most. It¡¯s been around five or so. So I was planning on starting to gather some food before the explosion. But don¡¯t worry!¡± Callahin said with a laugh as he looked at them. ¡°There¡¯s a great grove of trees behind the ship. Enough to feed around a hundred people every week!¡±


    Paige felt the smugness that Callahin was feeling. For a moment she wondered if he had been the one to make the orchard he talked about. But then she blinked, remembering how Jinn had described what he had seen. The Yard-Ship was in the mountain! How could something be behind the ship, if the ship was in the mountain?


    ¡°We found a few of those trees, but it was more hunting for us. I was able to eat part of one, nice fruit. But how could they feed people every week?¡± Jess asked.


    Callahin only laughed and shook his head. ¡°I think those trees get all they need from the sun. Don¡¯t ask me how they do it. But the ones with the most sunlight always taste better!¡±


    Paige looked at Jinn who shrugged. It might be the truth, and if it was then they had another resource to use. Paige smiled as she felt Sara¡¯s excitement building. The two of them had talked, and Sara wanted to make a lab to start studying this planet. With a whole island or two to work with, they wouldn¡¯t be searching for space to build. With the colony plans in the ship¡¯s core, they would be able to make a good base here. But she frowned as she remembered that Callahin had done repairs without knowing how to. He might have even whipped the core for all she knew!


    ¡°So how far away is the ship, anyway?¡± Sara asked.


    Paige felt the spark of anger from Callahin and almost stumbled. That feeling was red hot, and almost blinding in its intensity. What could he have been thinking of¡­¡­. No. What was he planning that caused him to feel such emotions?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a walk, I have to admit. And I¡¯ve blocked off a few passages here and there. So follow old Callahin and stay close! That¡¯s if you want to stay alive and free!¡±


    Racha scowled the more Callahin talked. She didn¡¯t know why, but every word he said made her want to punch his lights out! The longer she thought of it, the more anger she felt. After a few minutes, she blinked and almost her head. Why was she feeling this way? Just what was her problem with him? Just what was it?This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°Wait, what? How many paths were there here!?¡± Sk¡¯p asked in shock.


    ¡°I think I found over ten of them. Yes, all together ether were twelve. They snaked around and all came out at the endpoint in three ways. After I closed them and tracked my steps, I made sure that I was the only one who knew the way to my home!¡± Callahin said, laughter in his voice. ¡°I mean, the number of corpses that I find once the pirates leave in this place! Sometimes I miss a few, and I have to follow the scavengers!¡±


    The more Racha listened, the worse she felt. But it was when he talked about scavengers that she understood. Somehow, he felt the same way to him as that Cult leader! He had a complex so far outside of civilization on that planet that most people who tried to escape died. He even left the bodies there as food for the beasts around him to eat! It had gotten so bad that subspecies were born that ate sentient meat! That was why the Special Service was called in!


    ¡°You don¡¯t smell them? I mean rotting flesh always stinks or is your nose damaged too?¡± Sara asked.


    Callahin stopped and after a moment nodded. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s been hard on my stomach to tell the truth. I think I had more stomach problems than I ever did before it crashed here. But again, hard to say.¡±


    Racha had to wonder if that was true. The Cult leader had been a piece of work, true scum. The profilers said he felt pleasure from the smell of those who betrayed him dead. There had been a few killers she had hunted down who took trophies. But still, what were the chances that Callahin was like that?


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to make markings that we can take down when we get there. Some of those signposts that we used before?¡± Jess asked.


    Racha nodded. ¡°Yeah, perfect. That way only people with nanoes will be able to find their way in.The best thing we can do really. If we don¡¯t just fly to get them!¡±


    ¡°Fly¡­.how would you¡­.. The factory. You plan to get it working again!¡± Callahin said, shock in his voice.


    Racha grinned and looked at him, trying to see if they had been able to shock him to reveal his hand. She saw that his eyes were wide, and his mouth had dropped open. He must have thought that they wouldn¡¯t be able to do that. And without Al, that was the truth. But he said he would be able to, and she was betting everything on him.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡­.that¡¯s amazing! I thought the few weapons that the crew set up were the only thing that the old girl had! But you can get the factory working again!?¡± Callahin said in shock.


    ¡°Maybe, if I can get all the system connected. It might take some time, but hopefully, the production core is still there. We just need to wait and hope,¡± Al said with a shrug.


    Callahin blinked and looked at him for a few seconds. ¡°Isn¡¯t hope an emotion that your people hate? Don¡¯t they hate all emotions?¡±


    ¡°No, those are the Logic is all bunch. There¡¯s a lot of us out there. We all have different taboos really,¡± Al said with a shrug.


    Racha nodded, having seen a lot in her career in the Service. The number of times that rival Sholar¡¯s Way caused planetary level problems? It happened at least once a year! ¡°Yeah, and figuring out how they all connect is something that would give anyone a medal!¡±


    At the looks she was getting she just shrugged. ¡°Heard it on a documentary once. Something about how keeping peace between the Scholars. Said the Federation had a task force who did that as their sole job.¡±


    ¡°OH. It¡¯s that complicated?¡± Callahin asked, shock in his voice.


    Sara only laughed and shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re lucky you forgot that about home! Every station is always competing with the others, each one trying to find something to hold over others. Grav-ball is just one of them. The times people get into fights at the trade stations! Always something in the stations!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like that all over really. I¡¯ve seen a lot, and people always unite against outsiders. Just the nature of unity sometimes,¡± Sk¡¯p said softly.


    Racha nodded, keeping silent as she looked at Callahin. The man hadn¡¯t reacted much, only looking at them, his eyes blank. But he kept his mouth in a smile, a smile that she was sure was forced. This was slowly starting to seem so wrong, that they were going into a beast¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°I saw a few recordings of Grav-ball once you know. I scavenged it from a crashed life pod, I found it tracking some scavengers. The occupants took one of the worst packs around with them. Sparked a war on that side of the island. Still going on actually,¡± Callahin said, shaking his head. ¡°Such destruction. Such death. Good to scavenge food from old battles.¡±


    Racha only looked at him, shocked for a moment. That one sentence showed her all she needed to know. There was something wrong with Callahin mentally. And that put everything that he had said into question. If they were going to secure the Yard-ship, they would have to take Callahin down. All she could do now was hope that it wouldn¡¯t have to be permanent.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Callahin led the way, he could barely keep his mouth from watering. There was such a feast here that he was almost tempted to attack them now. Why wait, why keep the charade up for now? It would make no difference if he killed them now or waited. The way the prey was behind him, all he would need to do was turn and strike. If he fed on the first one, then he would have a meat shield.


    ¡°So you must have been through a lot here. Any advice about this island? And I¡¯m Sara. I just realized we never introduced ourselves,¡± One of the girls said behind him.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m Paige,¡± The girl behind Sara said. ¡°Behind you is Racha, then Jess followed by Sk¡¯p. Jinn is the one who fought those wolves followed by Al.¡±


    ¡°Well met! Having names to go with faces will make this a lot easier,¡± Callahin said with a smile. That was why they were still alive, the knowledge they could give him. ¡°How many were on your ship before it came down?¡±


    ¡°A million at least! We only know about a hundred or more on the island,¡± Racha said bluntly.


    Callahin felt his mouth water as he turned to look at Racha¡¯s face. He couldn¡¯t believe his luck! Over a hundred meals that could walk into his den! Even feeding her, he would eat well for months! Plus if Al could get the factory working, then he could leave at last! Hunting and preying all over this world, he could even find a breeder!


    ¡°That¡¯s if the passengers survived. And all the crew!¡± Jinn said bluntly.


    ¡°It must be terrible, not knowing. That must be why you¡¯re here. I hope that this works out the best for all of us!¡± Callahin said as he looked ahead again, this time his mouth was dry. Yes, wait and feed later, that was the best thing to do. This way he would finally have a large meal source, and he would be able to feed for a long time.


    ¡°And forty of them are right behind us. We need to find a way to make this path safe soon!¡± Sk¡¯p said.


    Callahin only felt his heart beat faster. This was the best day he had in a long while! All he had to do was keep them talking and trusting him, and he would finally have all he could eat!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Sk¡¯p followed the others, he kept his feelings from showing. He had dealt with people who had been lost in space all alone, and they had handled it a lot better than Callahin was. He looked back at the others and saw Racha and Jinn both looking at Callahin with hard eyes. There had to be a reason that the two of them had problems with their new friend, they were too calm otherwise. He looked away, gazing at the wall when he noticed something. He kept moving, not stopping as he tried to keep calm.


    A few feet up, he had seen the marks a digging machine would make. Callahin hadn¡¯t said anything about finding one of those things at the ship, and the way he something to Al. Meant that there were marks of Al¡¯s Religion there. This mystery was getting bigger and bigger. He had never liked mysteries that much.


    ¡°So the corpses you found, what were they? Any meat on them or just bones?¡± Jess asked.


    Sk¡¯p looked up and saw Callahin put his head down.


    ¡°Mostly bones. I don¡¯t know if it''s because of something that broke through here or something about them. I just wore things on my hands, made a fire, and burned them and what I used to move them. I was a bit scared really,¡± Callahin admitted and kept walking.


    ¡°Nova that was good! The stories I¡¯ve heard about a few sects! The stories go that they used nanite bombs in their flesh that went off when they died!¡± Al said with a shudder.


    ¡°And you know about those kinds of things how?¡± Sara asked, a note of shocked horror in her voice.


    Sk;p couldn¡¯t blame her. The very idea of nano-weapons that were primed when someone died! That was pure nightmare fuel and something that most planets outlawed!


    Al just laughed a little, a note in his voice that sounded like old pain in his voice. ¡°Those were the fireside stories that I grew up on! Nothing made the festival bonfire the same than old stories of terror and fear!¡±


    But as the group passed through an intersection with a way that went up and to the right, he stopped.


    ¡°You never mentioned this Callahin!¡± Sk¡¯p called out. The others looked towards him and then they saw the ¡®ramp¡¯.


    ¡°Is this another way to the ship?¡± Racha asked.


    ¡°No! I have it a lot more protected than that!¡± Callahin said, his hands up. ¡°It goes up to a cave mouth. But to get to the ship we need to go through a tunnel ahead! The way up stops at the tunnel by the way,¡± Callahin explained.


    Sk¡¯p nodded before he went still. He closed his eyes and looked up, his ears catching a sound. For a second he stood there and let the old training he had take over his senses. As his teacher once said, let the sounds come to you. Make a picture out of what comes.


    ¡°Bugs. Big bugs are up there! They can fly!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a hard edge to his voice.


    ¡°Bugs!? What are you talking about!?¡± Callahin said demanded.


    ¡°I can hear them! Up there, a lot of them!¡± Sk¡¯p said as he pointed at the ramp.


    Callahin looked at him and laughed a little. After a few moments, he recovered. ¡°Good one! Really, but it''s impossible!¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Jinn asked as he slowly brought his knife out.


    Callahin didn¡¯t say anything, only shrug. ¡°Well, they¡¯d have to have built a hive last night! And the cave has another opening in the wall so high that you¡¯d need to fly. I mean sure, if they can fly then that¡¯s a plus. And the cave is the perfect place to make a nest to defend with how¡­¡­ Easy it is. ¡­¡­and. The only way around that is the cave mouth up there¡­¡­ oh Nova!¡±

 One Hundred Forty Three

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels to Yard ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 0840


    Jinn felt his heart freeze as he looked up the ramp. If Sk¡¯p was right, then they had a big problem. They couldn¡¯t let this go without checking it, that was insane. It would leave an enemy at their back, and that was something that he couldn¡¯t let happen.


    ¡°Everyone, stay here. Sk¡¯p, Al, with me!¡± Jinn said as he ran up the ramp, Sk,p, and Al following behind him. All that Jinn could think of was what these things would look like. He had seen so many monsters, and here were more of them.


    ¡°What do you think Jinn? As bad as the Giant Spider?¡± Al asked as they reached the top.


    Jinn said nothing as he looked around. The ledge was a good thirty feet wide and long. To the right was the cave mouth set in the stone wall, and it was at least fifteen feet wide and long. To the right was open air and the tops of the maze. He could see trees and a mountain a few miles away with a plateau. That had to be where Chief Duncan and the others were, it had to be.


    A low buzzing caused Jinn to turn towards the open air ahead, and he saw a large brown insect thing five feet tall. It had a body made of three segments each a foot long. There was a long spike stinger on the last segment and wings on the middle one. The front had mandibles and he saw that there were three eyes set in a triangle facing them.


    He had only seen it for a moment before the insect sped past, but five more of them followed the first. It was only then that they all heard the cries of birds, and somehow he knew it was from a battle.


    Sharing a look with the others, Jinn mentally debated if he should lead them back down. They had seen enough to know there were enemies, but would they come after them? They needed to know just what was here. Looking into the other''s eyes, he saw the same emotions there. He sighed and looked at them in turn. ¡°You all feel the same way, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Sk¡¯p only sighed and shook his head. ¡°That we have to move on, even though we¡¯re going into the black hole?¡±


    ¡°No other choice,¡± Al said bluntly, looking at the cave mouth with his rifle pointed at it. ¡°We need to know before we can leave. There¡¯s just no other thing to do.¡±


    Jinn sighed and shook his head, having come to the same realization. There was nothing more they could do but move ahead. But there was something that they had to do first. ¡°Yeah. But we need to check on what¡¯s going on out there. Sk¡¯p, Al? Stay here. I¡¯ll check out and bring back data on what¡¯s out there. If something comes out from that cave, start firing.¡±


    At their nods, Jinn turned away. He knew that he could trust Al, and Sk¡¯p was part of his home¡¯s military. If those two were taken out before they could get a shot off, then they were in a worse location than he thought.


    With a few slow steps, he reached far enough to look out towards the battle sounds. He gazed and paled in shock. There were at least twenty of those flying bugs! They were fighting five red birds with wing spans at least ten feet wide twenty feet away! They looked like a strange mix of vultures and parrots over twenty feet tall. They had feathers the color of flames with long bare necks. He watched as one of them shot out and bit one of the bugs clean in two before two of the bugs charged the attacker. Before they could sting the neck, another of the birds opened its mouth and shot two fireballs at them.


    Jinn stared at the battle as one of the birds shot a fireball at one of the bugs. This bug had torn the neck of one of the birds open with its stinger. But as the bug burned, the bird that it had killed exploded into a massive fireball. As the remains flew to the ground, Jinn stared. ¡°Is there movant there?¡±


    The sounds of buzzing to the left made a spark of shock and horror go through him. He moved backwards to get away from the opening, falling onto his back. But he was still able to see twenty of the flying bugs speed by.


    Jinn barely made it back to his feet then he was moving back to the opening. He pulled out a modern telescope, a small circle of metal. Looking through, he saw the corpse of the downed bird and paled in horror. Around the remains were four young birds, eating the remains and that of the but that made the corpse. He watched as one of the birds attacked one of its siblings from behind.


    If he had a normal upbringing, he would have been throwing up now. The impossibility of this island had once again shocked him. The very idea that a species could make more of themselves by dying, was a game changer. Just send in a few of them at the enemy, and they were their own second wave. And the bugs seemed to be mindless in their attacks. ¡°Okay. Whatever Al makes, he¡¯s going to need to give it some weapons.¡±


    This alone was enough to know they had to move faster! The others, the passengers were in greater danger! They needed to be warned! If Locke made an opening above, the bugs could attack! Fliers in a compact space? Bad idea for any defenders there!


    He turned and saw the cave mouth, sending a jolt through his mind. He was struck with a thought, that maybe the fliers weren¡¯t the only thing those bugs had as fighters. If something that could track and walk came after the group, then that would be bad. If the bugs flew ahead and attacked the group from behind, they might die.


    But if they knew, they could watch for them. And if they were fast, they might slip by them. But the one thing he knew, was that this problem was too big for him alone to decide.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked at the cave mouth, trying to keep calm. He had a bad feeling that this was going to be bad. But then he didn¡¯t trust Callahin as far as Al could throw the Spirit of Adventure itself without help! Even before he and Jinn had their ¡®talk¡¯ there was something wrong with Callahin. If it was something that was because of what the man had experienced or something deeper, it was worrying. The more that Al saw about this planet, the more questions were raised.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    But Callahin? That man was the true threat here.


    ¡°So, you hear anything about the Ancients back aboard the ship?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as he looked at the cave mouth.


    Al took a moment to look at Sk¡¯p before he sighed. ¡°No. I was one of the lower deckhands. My job was to work on the ship¡¯s internals. But a treaty with them? That would make a lot of my people happy. The chance to learn more about their tech?¡±


    He had heard stories about people in other sects killing themselves trying to find that out. The number of his people that would get down on their knees to pray for this to happen? He couldn¡¯t count that high!


    ¡°Well, bother. I do hope that the Federation isn¡¯t the one blamed for this. Those beings care about their own to a degree most other societies just don¡¯t. I mean they would send ships to kill those two kill one of them!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a shudder.


    Al had to nod. He had heard the stories and he had seen the files. He even had come across a file that said about the War with them. It theorized the war started because an Ancient cruise ship was destroyed by pirates. And from what he knew, the Ambassadors were nobles! If the death of a Noble was the trigger for that War, what would the death of one the Federation said was safe do?


    As much as Al wanted to focus on the now, he just couldn¡¯t. The questions he had asked himself almost made him start to spiral. He only stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.


    He looked up to see it was Jinn¡¯s, and he was looking at Al with worry.


    ¡°You okay Al? Jinn did call out to us,¡± Sk¡¯p asked.


    ¡°Yeah, sorry lost in thought. What¡¯d you find?¡± Al asked.


    Jinn only shook his head, a look of such anger and horror in his eyes that Al almost didn¡¯t want to know.


    ¡°The bugs are fighting these parrot-phoenix-vulture things. And I think they carry eggs that hatch when the birds die! Carry as in within their bodies. Bodies that explode when they die by the way,¡± Jinn said bluntly.


    Al looked at him and his eyes shrank as he heard Sk¡¯p start to curse. But Al just stared at Jinn before saying one sentence. ¡°And anything about the bugs?¡±


    ¡°Big ones like we thought,¡± Jinn admitted and he shook his head. ¡°And I saw them sending over forty of those things against the birds, and there were only five birds! The newborn birds? They were eating the carcass and growing as I watched them!¡±


    Al took that in and nodded, his eyes locked on the cave mouth. Looking beyond the opening, he saw that the bugs used organic building materials. He could bet that something in there could feel if anything walked on it. That was enough to want to leave and have Locke close this off when the others got here! ¡°We don¡¯t need to go on, do we? Because now that I look at that cave, I¡¯m sure they have a trap to detect us there.¡±


    ¡°I want to get back to the others and just leave too. But I couldn¡¯t make that choice alone. With all we found, stay or go?¡± Jinn asked.


    Al nodded at Jinn and was about to open his mouth when he saw Sk¡¯p go still. For a moment he wondered what was wrong with the man, and then he remembered why they were here. He whipped around, looking into the cave as he readied his weapon. ¡°What do you hear!?¡±


    Jinn aimed at the cave with his rifle and only then did Sk¡¯p speak.


    ¡°Something big, at least maybe six legs at a time. Maybe six of them, maybe fewer. But the steps are heavy. Be ready, for anything,¡± Sk¡¯p said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Al looked at the cave and then judged the distance that anything could travel from it. If they could make it down the ramp, they could fall back to the ship. But then if whatever was coming could track scents, that was bad. And if it led more of them after the group, what could happen? They might meet their end here, in these rock paths. And who knows what would happen to every other castaways from the Spirit? They could be out there, fighting for their lives right this moment!


    As Al tried to think of what to do, he started to feel something. He took a deep breath, and then let it all out. Throwing all his emotions away he let his mind speed up and activated all the sensor nanites he had. It only took him a second to notice the pounding. Whatever was coming, it was large and heavy, a bad combination for any foe. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡±


    Before Jinn or Sk¡¯p could say anything, it had made it to the opening. Stepping out of the cave was something that was a nightmare. It was a large insect that looked like a large brown spider. It was over ten feet tall and wide, with over six large legs. The head had seven eyes, six in a circle around a large central eye. The insect had a muzzle with an open maw of needle teeth. As he watched, the spider raised a stinger with a hollow opening in its tail. The tail was a large spear with a viscous liquid that dripped out of the opening.


    Al looked at it and then he remembered a study he had seen once. And he realized what he was looking at. ¡°Down the ramp. Just go down the ramp now!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Below, Jess looked up at where the others had gone. Part of her wanted to have gone with the others, but part of her wanted to ignore this. They had already faced three horrors, just what more would another one do? And was this truly the best thing to do? That was something that she wasn¡¯t sure of, but she could see the logic for this.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this. I¡¯ve chased off enough beasts wanting a new home. Where did these bugs come from?¡± Callahin muttered from the way farther into the rock maze.


    She glared at him and then shook her head. No matter what her thoughts about him were, there was no reason to be angry at him. He must be suffering from the results of isolation and the horrors he¡¯s experienced here. Who knows how long he was here alone? They had no idea how long the moon cycle was, and that was going to be a problem. They were already racing the next attack of the pirates, just how long did they have?


    ¡°So, how long was the last pirate attack?¡± Jess asked aloud.


    Callahin looked at her and then closed his mouth for a moment before he smiled. And that was why


    But then she heard the sounds of blaster fire, and then the sounds of people running. They all looked up and saw Sk¡¯p and Al coming towards them.


    Al looked at them and bellowed out one word. ¡°RUN!¡±


    With a word, Callahin cried out in fear. ¡°You heard them! Follow me!¡±


    As the others turned to follow the running Callahin, Racha barked out something.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Jinn?!¡± Racha cried out as her hands flew to her pistol.


    ¡°Here! There¡¯s another two of those things coming towards us! They fire an acid or a poison g glob, maybe both. So move!¡± Jinn barked as he reached ground level.


    ¡°Stars! Running retreat! The ones at the front, drop back until the last one goes by! Move!¡± Racha barked.


    Jess then heard the sounds of heavy feet walking and she didn¡¯t want to see what was making the noise.


    As she ran, she kept her eyes locked on Callahin as he led the way. This was another reason that she was worried, who knows what someone who was broken would do really. All in all, the only way to handle battle was to know how the person next to you would react in combat. That was the big rule that all combat teams followed.


    But Callahin! He was all over and she was sure that he was hiding something big! She looked up as she saw Racha and Jinn move to the sides. So Racha was doing the first fall back then? About what she expected from a Service operative.


    ¡°Keep moving! We¡¯re going down the tunnel to the far left!¡± Callahin called out ahead.


    Jess ran into a space like the ¡®clearing¡¯ where Jinn had caught up to them before, she saw three tunnels on the other side. Callahin was by the middle tunnel pointing down it, and looking at them with anger and fear on his face.


    Jess only looked at him for a moment, but then she understood everything and her fear spiked. There was only one reason for Callahin to have done as he did, and that was the worst outcome. Without a word, she nodded and looked at the others. ¡°Keep moving through the left tunnel!¡±


    The others saw where Callahin was, and that was enough for them to follow what Jess was saying. Without a word, they ran through the central tunnel. She looked at Callahin, a strange look in her eyes as she reached into her backpack. She found what she was looking for, nodding at Callahin. ¡°GO!¡±


    Jess didn¡¯t wait for a reply, she only turned and ran back to Racha and Jinn. Moments later she found them, and with one luck she took in the scene. Racha and Jinn were firing at a giant brown spider-thing with only six legs and a broken tail. Behind it was another thing like it with a normal tail. To her horror, she saw the second one raise its tail to point at Jinn and Racha


    She knew exactly what she had to do now. ¡°FRAG OUT! GET OVER HERE!¡±


    With all her strength, she threw what she had pulled out of her backpack, a grenade. She looked at it, double-checking that this model released smoke and a shockwave for three feet around it.


    Once Jinn saw what passed from Jess, he grabbed Racha and ran towards Jess. Jess had turned as soon as she threw the grenade running back to the ¡®clearing¡¯.


    ¡°What are you doing here?!¡± Racha barked moments before they heard an explosion behind them and a screech of pain. There was also a loud splat, and they all looked back. The first spider-thing had been killed, and the second one had shot the first with a glob of green slime. They all looked on as the slime started to eat away at the corpse of the spider-thing.


    ¡°Run now,¡± Jess whispered in horror. Without waiting for them, she turned and ran away down the corridor. As soon as they reached the ¡®clearing¡¯, Racha moved toward the tunnel on the left and Jess grabbed her arm. ¡°NO! Not the central tunnel, the left one!¡±


    Racha looked back at her, and her eyes widened in horror.


    Jinn looked back at the corpse and scowled. ¡°Move girls! The corpse is almost gone! I¡¯ve got the back, go!¡±


    Without a word, they ran into the central tunnel, knowing that Jinn would be right behind them. All they needed to do was keep moving until they made it to the ship, then they could rest and plan. That was the only thing that they could do here.

 One Hundred Forty Four

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels to Yard ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 0900


    Jinn glared down the tunnel as he kept firing. He saw the spider-thing¡¯s corpse was almost gone, and he knew it was time to leave. He had seen what Jess had done, and he was worried about what her actions might have meant. There was one thing that came to his mind, and that was the worst outcome. That would mean that the creatures could think, and reason. Or something directing to them could.


    Looking over his shoulder, he saw the girls had moved through the central tunnel. Looking back at the spider-thing, he fired at the rocks above it. As dust fell, he did his trick and ¡®dashed¡¯ to just above the opening of the tunnel. Once he landed, he ran down it, seeing the girls at the end.


    Making a sign to keep quiet, the girls nodded and as one they ran down the path through the rocks.


    Jinn couldn¡¯t believe how this day had been so far. They get attacked by a kind of False Plant Mother Tree, then they find a survivor from another ship. Then they get chased by monster wolves, and then a kind of bug monster. This world seemed to be pushing against all his nerves.


    And now their new friend was acting like the enemy might be able to think. That was the only reason Jess would have done what she had if Callahin had done it first. He wanted to have a nice long talk with him later and find out why that was. Because he didn¡¯t know about the bugs there, and only reacted once they came down.


    Ahead of them, Callahin poked his head out of a cave set in the right wall. He was looking at them and gesturing for them to move faster. Once they reached him he ducked into the cave and they followed him in. Once they made it in and found the others they heard the sound of stone moving. Behind them, Callahin pushed a boulder to block the cave mouth. In seconds the only light was from crystals set in the ceiling and the mouth was completely blocked.


    ¡°We¡¯re safe now. We have to keep moving!¡± Callahin said as he looked around at the others. ¡°We can¡¯t waste time here.¡±


    ¡°Hold it!¡± Jinn barked as he grabbed one of Callahin¡¯s arms. As Callahin looked at him, Jinn saw anger in the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Not so fast Callahin! Why did you think that these things could think!? Or that something was directing them?!¡±


    ¡°Because that was how my captain died! Some kind of Insect that could talk. It was just getting us to lower our guard before other bugs killed two other crew members! I saw that witch bite the captain¡¯s throat open!¡± Callahin exclaimed, anger in his voice. Then he chuckled darkly. ¡°And what was worse was that the little succubus looked like a normal human!¡±


    ¡°She what!?¡± Al asked in shocked horror. As everyone looked at him, he seemed to be staring at Callahin with a strange look in his eyes. ¡°She was wearing a disguise to look human, or she was able to ¡®shift¡¯ from a human form?¡±


    ¡°Both really. I think her skin was set up to hide her chitin and that her mouth could hinge open. She acted all scared and then her real mouth opened, from her nose to her neck, all teeth!¡± Callahin said bitterly. ¡°Took out the captain in one bite, then her arms released revealed chitin blades on the outside. Black-hole cursed witch! I killed her and escaped over a river, destroyed a log bridge to get away!¡±


    Jinn was expecting a lot, but not that. As he took that in, the other started to cry out in anger and rage. He could understand them, the idea of someone honey-trapping people to kill them? It was barbaric.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything when we went at the hive up that ramp!¡± Sk¡¯p snarled.


    Callahin looked at them, a scowl in his eyes. ¡°Because all the hives around here with flyers are either only fliers or too big to get down here! I thought you¡¯d come back down! And you went too fast for me to stop!¡±


    Jinn had to admit, the three of them had reacted fast. That might be the reason, but there was something else here. After his realization about what Callahin¡¯s tech could really do, he hadn¡¯t trusted the man. He still didn¡¯t, there was just something that told him not to. But he couldn¡¯t blame Callahin for that, it might just be nerves after all.


    ¡°Right, sorry. But how close are we to the final clearing before the ship?¡± Jinn asked.


    Callahin looked at them and then sighed. ¡°We¡¯re almost there. Just another few minutes really, less than an hour, at most. Just let me block the boulder here and we can be out of here.¡±


    Without waiting, Callahin moved and started to pack stone against the floor.


    Jinn watched him work and saw that this was a practiced routine. That was both surprising and worrying. Worrying that he had taken time to do it, and surprised that he had thought to do so. That spoke of a lot of effort taken to think up more defenses than what the old crew of the Yard Ship did. And that spoke of creativity, and knowing a lot more than his amnesia would say he had.


    ¡°So nice cave? How¡¯d you find it?¡± Al asked from behind Jinn.


    ¡°Oh, this place?¡± Callahin asked joy in his voice. ¡°I found it after I moved in after the first invasion of those pirates. I just followed the smell, one of them came in here to die. Found the path back to the ship here, and well here it is.¡±


    Callahin was about to say something when they all heard the sounds of something outside the cave. They all went still as the sound moved on, and then they heard an insect roar of rage.


    With a scared look on his face, Callahin faced them and pointed behind them. Without waiting, Jinn aimed his pistol at the cave''s mouth and slowly moved backwards. He saw Callahin walk calmly past him and he heard the others moving as well. This was it, they were on the clock. His eyes found Paige who nodded once as she looked back at the boulder. Jinn felt his blood freeze for a second, at least they knew.


    That scream had a note of rage in it. Rage meant that the spider-thing or something else expected them to be down that passage. And that meant emotions and they could think for themselves. They were facing something that could think and wanted to eat them, a nightmare for most people. But for him and how he was raised, this was nothing out of the ordinary.


    A moment later he felt someone¡¯s arm on his right shoulder. He turned and saw Racha nodding at him. If she was getting him, then it was time to move on, leave the boulder blocking the cave mouth and race for the Yard Ship.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


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    Paige felt a spark of something behind them, something more than just a beast or bug. The idea is that this could have emotions or something controlling. The answer seemed clear with what just felt from that thing beyond the boulder. It was strange if she was honest, something that was both beast and sentient. The way that both felt to her was different, they always were. This seemed to be something that was in the middle of the line, completely balanced.


    But what bothered her more was what Callahin felt. When Sk¡¯p said he heard something up above them, Callahin had felt a spark of rage. Not fear or anger, but rage. She didn¡¯t understand this, she just didn¡¯t. The emotions she had expected were surprise or shock, but not rage. That didn¡¯t make sense to her, what was she missing here? Why, what wasn¡¯t she seeing here? There was something that Callahin was hiding, something that was important.


    Callahin seemed to be holding it together on the outside but he was acting only. Inside, he was as cold as ice right now with a crack of rage. He was a master actor at least, or he had practice doing this, acting one way but feeling another. But he said he had amnesia, so where had he gotten training for this? The other that survived with him had all died before he found the Yard-Ship, that was what he said. So what was he hiding now, what was the truth he knew they didn¡¯t?


    ¡°So, that happened,¡± Sk¡¯p said next to her. ¡°That¡¯s going to be a problem for the others.¡±


    She looked and nodded, wondering what he meant for a moment. Then it hit her and she breathed in a gasp. He was talking about Locke and the others! He was thinking that they would be attacked by the bugs! She had to admit, she could see it. They had no idea about anything that the group had seen since they left them. They could have been walking into a trap right now. And the wolves and apes? Those two groups were still out there, and one of them had lost their battle.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. But still, it¡¯s just another reason to get to the ship. We can use the weapons to signal them, signal everyone!¡± Paige said with force in her voice.


    That was the best idea that she had, and the only way that she saw they could go. They needed to do something to signal them. It wasn¡¯t like¡­¡­ She stopped.


    ¡°Is there a part of the ship that is open to the air on our left side? And our as in the way we¡¯re walking now left,¡±


    Callahin stopped and looked at Paige, a question in his eyes. ¡°Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?¡±


    Paige only smiled and the others all smiled and Sara chuckled. Callahin looked around, not understanding why the others had reacted this way.


    Jinn stopped chuckling to look at Callahin, grinning as he did so. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. A friend of mine is with the group. We¡¯ve got a few codes using flashes of light. We¡¯ll just, signal them.¡±


    Paige looked at Jinn, feeling his emotions. It seemed to her that like herself, Jinn didn¡¯t want to let Callahin know about their abilities. She was still worried about how he¡¯d react, but it seemed that Jinn was thinking about something else.


    Looking at Callahin, she hid her own frown. Callahin was feeling a roller-coaster of emotions. From greed to anger to lust and then back again, all in an instant. The more she thought about what she was feeling, the more she grew scared. There was something about him something that she just couldn¡¯t place.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect! I was wondering how we would signal your friends myself!¡± Callahin said with a grin as he felt anger and rage. ¡°I said to myself, Callahin, you¡¯ve got to save them! Those vile wolves, they''re still out there! They have to be coming back around on their hunts. And if they lost, they¡¯re going to be hungry! People like the ones that your friends told you, they¡¯re going to be the targets of the packs! How can you save them?¡±


    If it wasn¡¯t for her ability, Paige would have believed him. But there was just a way his emotions ¡®tasted; that told her he was lying. But why, that was something that she couldn¡¯t understand at all about him.


    ¡°But then you told me about the signaling, and that¡¯s perfect! I was thinking of maybe getting anything in the ship to use as a weapon. Then I¡¯d draw the hive in, and then kill them all!¡± Callahin said as he looked around, smiling as he did so.


    Paige looked at him, shocked that a man like him could feel humor in what he just said. He was either thinking about something or he was feeling the emotions.


    ¡°Good,¡± Racha said with a sigh. ¡°We¡¯ll need to deal with them. But we can ¡®talk¡¯ to the others first. It¡¯s not the best idea, but it¡¯s the only thing to do.¡±


    Paige blinked, trying to understand what Racha just said and what she felt.


    ¡°Let me guess!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a loud look and feelings of anger but resignation was there. Resignation that was equal to what Racha felt. ¡°If we don¡¯t, they might attack us when we sleep, right?¡±


    Paige looked at Racha who nodded and then she winced. Racha might be right. Anything that could think, it would want revenge or to kill a rival. And she had no idea if that was the same for whatever these things were.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al looked around the cave, trying to understand just what this was. He had seen enough marks outside to think that the survivors made the passages outside. But the dead ends, and the way that there were so many of them? It didn¡¯t make sense, he just couldn¡¯t think of why they had done it. If they still had enough tech to build the suit that Callahin wore, why waste time to make these paths?


    All in all, this place was still confusing him. There was nothing like this that he had ever read about in biology or food chains. All the different species, the fact that they could survive together was shocking. Any one of them would have taken over already, but all of them together, in the same area? It seemed that they had made a kind of balance that was shocking in its deadliness.


    ¡°You can¡¯t it them, can¡¯t you?¡± Sara asked from his side. He looked up and saw her smile at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what do you mean?¡± Al asked as they followed the rest of the group.


    Sara only gestured around her. ¡°This place, how everything is so strong. Any one of them would have been the alpha species anywhere else. But here? None of them have advanced at all. I can¡¯t explain anything about this. It¡¯s a medical miracle that became a calamity!¡±


    Al only nodded, trying to gather his thoughts. The problem was, she was right. There was nothing in any source of knowledge that he had ever heard of that explained this. But her description put it into content. And he had to admit that she was right. And then a thought hit him, and everything suddenly slotted into place. ¡°Good word. I like it. And that¡¯s not counting the gateways that Burt talked about. Or their impact on this place.¡±


    Sara and Al looked at each other¡¯s eyes for a few seconds as Sara took in what Al said. Finally, she took a deep breath and exhaled. ¡°Wow. You think that the Gateways he talked about had an impact on this place?¡±


    ¡°Work it out like a scientist, go slow,¡± Al offered and Sara nodded.


    ¡°Okay, okay. He said that the Gateways open to any place on this planet. That they¡¯re used for trade. But if they open with no rhythm or reason according to him. That means that distance wouldn¡¯t limit the spread of fliers,¡± Sara said, frowning and Al nodded.


    ¡°Keep going,¡± Al said.


    Sara nodded and looked up at the ceiling. ¡°Some of the evolutionary adaptions could be explained as defenses against predators¡­. Wait.¡±


    Sara looked at Al, her face going pale. ¡°But then the Gateways would let the adaptions flow both ways! Life could have evolved in competition with things from different biomes! I mean, that¡¯s been theorized, but this? This is the result?¡±


    Al looked at her, happy that she had come to the same conclusion he had. This place was the result of so many different food chains intermingling. Altogether, this had created a planet that was the greatest ¡®Hell World¡¯ that he had ever heard of. It was so dangerous that it had to be beyond the Sentient Survival limit. Al went still as the thought went through his head.


    ¡°Al? you okay?¡± Sara asked him.


    He didn¡¯t reply, only stumbling to the wall as he tried to think. Humans like Burt and other sentient races had crashed and lived here. The ¡®Hell World¡¯ theory said that they would have died in a generation at most. So how had people survived here, and then there was the Power to consider. It had to play a part in their survival, it had to.


    But some animals could wield it as well. But why was the Power only on this planet? But Paige, she had gained her abilities on her home world, so it was possible to gain them. And Burt said that he had been taught one of them by others. So was it possible to be taught the Power off world? But why wasn¡¯t it widespread? Who could have learned it and not shared it with their people? His eyes widened as everything slotted into place.


    A hand on his shoulder caused him to look up at Sara. ¡°What is it, Al? What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I was thinking about the theory we were talking about. And something hit me.¡±


    ¡°How this world is always going to keep trying to kill us?¡± Sara asked bluntly.


    Al nodded as he chuckled at what she said. ¡°Maybe. But there¡¯s something more here. Your thinking was wonderful, it explains so much. But there¡¯s one other X-Factors that did affect evolution here. What comes to mind?¡±


    Sara looked at him, confusion in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t see what else could be this X-Factor. What do you see that I don¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°That Power some of us developed, and Paige¡¯s abilities. She got them off this planet. That means that they can be gained off this planet. But why haven¡¯t they?¡± Al asked as he looked at her, trying to make her understand. ¡°Burt also said to me that he learned one of his Powers from someone. Now Paige shows us people can develop the Power off this planet. And who says that somewhere, somehow, someone did learn how to teach these abilities?¡±


    ¡°Who¡­. The Ancients. That¡¯s it. That¡¯s how their tech¡¯s so advanced, they use the Power,¡± Sara breathed out in shock.

 One Hundred Forty Five

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Beach near crashed escape Capsule 20045


    Galactic Standard Time / 0940


    Callahin kept from drooling as he led the way through the caves. So far things were going a lot better! Sure he had hit some snags but so what? He was on the right path now, nothing could stop it! He had to admit, that he had wanted them to be on a more dangerous path, but this was fine. He¡¯d just have to use the traps he set up in his home after all.


    All he needed to do was think of a way to split the group up, then he could strike!


    ¡°How much longer until we¡¯re there?¡± Al asked from behind.


    Callahin looked over his shoulder and smiled. ¡°We¡¯re making great time! I didn¡¯t want to take this route, but then needs must!¡±


    He hoped that would let them stop talking. Not that they needed to stay quiet, but then he didn¡¯t like to hear his prey talk too much. It had been a long time since he had been able to feed on ones like these beings. He had been stuck eating the ones these called pirates.


    ¡°What way were you hoping to use?¡± Racha asked suddenly.


    Callahin stopped and smiled back at her. ¡°The boulder trick I used? I have another path down the right tunnel. That one is more¡­¡­ open than this one. And it¡¯s a bit faster. Do you notice we¡¯ve been going up and down? That one was a straight line.¡±


    Callahin turned back around and his face went to a neutral frown. He hadn¡¯t liked that he told them anything about what he had here. If they thought there was a chance to live, they tried to do it. And that was the last thing he wanted, for them to run. He had to feed soon, and these were the best food he had found in a long time!


    ¡°So then how far are we from the ship?¡± Jinn asked.


    It took all Callahin had to keep from drooling. That one, Jinn smelled the greatest! There was something about his mental energy that just caused his mouth to water. It had a primal energy to it that was so tantalizing. And that Racha girl, she was so razor sharp. Finally, there was Paige, hers was so mature and ripe. All in all, this was the best catch that he had made in years!


    ¡°Not far, not far at all! Another clearing like the one sir Ginn? Tinn? Sorry, names are terrible for me! But it was where we rested from the wolves, that¡¯s a clearing to me! We just need to go through another. And it has only two passages there, the one we¡¯re using and the one we need!¡± Callahin said with a laugh.


    It was almost time to spring his trap. All he had to do was get them into his lair and then send the others to the den of his roommate.


    ¡°So the hive formed up there how long ago?¡± Sk¡¯p asked.


    Callahin only sighed and shook his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t gone on that path for a month or more. So anytime in a month or more. Long enough for that to happen,¡± Callahin admitted.


    ¡°So there is another way down from the ship!¡± Sara exclaimed in joy.


    For a second, Callahin felt a spark of anger at her. If they led people through that path, they would all be here too fast. If there were all those people up here, they would overpower him. So the best thing to do would be to end that kind of thinking here and now. If only so he would come out on top of this hunt.


    ¡°Well, yeah. But it goes down the other way. Anyone will pass right by the hive. With how they¡¯re hunting us, bad idea,¡± Callahin said


    ¡°Then the other path you wanted to take? How does that get to the ship?¡± Al asked.


    Callahin kept silent for a few seconds, once more marveling at Al. That one was looking like a great meal! Beyond the knowledge he had about Callahin¡¯s home, he was thinking and asking questions! Those traits would be perfect once Callahin took them!


    ¡°Oh, that one? It leads to a tunnel that goes out to the right of the end clearing before the ship. Just keep moving forward and all that!¡± Callahin said with a laugh. He turned back, confident that he had kept the truth hidden from them again. That was the best way to kill his prey, trick them, and then eat them. And the best thing was that these fools would never see it coming!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha bit back a sigh. How was she dealing with a fool like Callahin? Did he realy think that he had pulled off such a deception? What was Callahin, a fool or had he been able to do it in the past? It raised more questions that seemed to lead to no good answers.


    All in all, Callahin was definitely trying to trick them. If that was to lead them into a trap, that she didn¡¯t know. But she was sure he was. Once they reach the ship, they¡¯ll have to send Jinn to talk to Locke. With luck, he¡¯ll use his abilities to make a way up for here for the others. That would give the others the most safety and make a path that they could destroy. And his abilities might be able to help them kill the queen of the hive, or talk to her.


    ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see how that path is once we get there. What seems to be bad might be what you need after all,¡± Jinn observed.


    She looked at him over her shoulder and saw him looking right at Callahin. So he knew there was something about Callahin that was wrong? Good. The more people that did, the easier it would be to take him down if he turned on them. For if Jinn knew something was wrong, then Al did too. And Paige must have picked something up as well. She didn¡¯t know if Sk¡¯p, Sara, or Jess had sensed it. But four of them had. All they needed to do was wait, and then when Callahin showed his hand, they showed their hand instead. Say what you will about her, but Racha loved to trip traps to ambush the ambusers.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Callahin stopped, turning around, horror on his face. If Racha wasn¡¯t close enough to see his eyes have a spark of rage, she would have almost believed he was worried for them.


    ¡°Really, are you sure about that!? I mean, the hives are strong here! And killing the queen means going into the hive itself! Do you really want to do that?!¡± Callahin asked, stammering in shock.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jinn said with a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but we¡¯ve got some strong people behind us. The security division was strong among the group you know. And they¡¯ve got a lot of good weapons with long-range mods. It might work, take them out at range, and then we hit them through the cave mouth!¡±


    ¡°Smart. If we can hit the hive from three sides, then we could kill it,¡± Racha said softly. She kept her eyes on Callahin, hoping that he would react. That was what Callahin¡¯s mouth dropped open and he started to laugh.


    ¡°Of course! Of course! I forgot that you had more people! I was just thinking about the people here!¡± Callahin said, nodding as he looked at Racha, his smile wide. ¡°But are you sure you have enough people to do it?¡±


    ¡°Are there enough of us? My friend, there are¡­.¡± Sk¡¯p began.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Racha broke in, stepping in front of Sk¡¯p and flashing a sign at him with the hand behind her back. She hoped that he understood what she had signaled, he had to. There was too much riding on his mission. And with someone like Callahin here, they couldn¡¯t let him know anything.


    Not until she was sure that he wasn¡¯t playing against them. But then that might be hard to do. She more than anyone knew how being stranded and alone hurt people. Who knows what this man had been through that he wasn¡¯t telling the others? But no matter what, they needed to make this place safe for all of their people here. And in the short term if they insulted a survivor, then so be it.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that there are enough of us here to handle them. All we need to do is plan it out. The right plan can handle anything after all. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve learned over the years,¡± Racha said as she looked at Callahin.


    ¡°That¡¯s true. My captain must have just stumbled from one disaster to another after we landed. But still, you need to see it first. That¡¯s something I must insist,¡± Callahin said as he looked around at the group. The others must have nodded, for Callahin smiled and turned around. ¡°Good! Follow me! It¡¯s been a few weeks since I¡¯ve been down this way, but if I remember it right¡­¡­ yes. That mark there?¡±


    Racha followed Callahin pointing right arm and saw a hole with white paint on it. The picture it made was of an arrow pointing farther down the tunnel.


    ¡°I made that a long time ago when I went exploring around here. That will show us the way. If you get separated, follow the white arrow! It¡¯ll lead you to my den!¡± Callahin said with a laugh as he led the way.


    Once again, Racha looked at him with worry. The way he seemed to throw his emotions around a the drop of a hand, bothered her so much. She was sure that he was acting, but there was something there.


    A hand on her shoulder caused her to look back at Sk¡¯p. Before she could say anything, he started to blink his eyes in a pattern. To her shame, it took a moment for her to figure out the code. After that, she just nodded and Sk¡¯p grinned.


    Moving around her, Sk¡¯p raised his voice. ¡°Hey Callahin, wait up! I want to be next to you if something attacks us from the front!¡±


    Callahin just laughed and shook his head¡°We should be safe. Those things would have to be a lot smaller to get into my tunnels. And now that I said that, I can¡¯t deny that they might have something that small. We should move, faster please!¡±


    As Callahin started to run, Racha looked around with a hard stare. The others all followed after Callahin, leaving Jinn and Raccha to bring up the rear.


    As they moved, she looked at Jinn and tried to get his attention. When he kept his eyes forward she scowled and tried to think of how to get him to look at her. They had to talk without letting Callahin know they were. And in this cave, where it echoed, they had to do it in code.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jinn ran, he tried to keep calm. So far everything was going as he thought it would in the broadest way possible. The hive was beyond what he thought would happen, but the way Callahin reacted was. He had to be hiding something, something that he needed. The way he reacted just now, means that he needed something from the group. And that was the one thing that he wanted the least of.


    All in all, he could see it so much clearer now. The way that Callahin had saved them, and the way the wolves attacked. He had to have gotten what he needed from the group from the wolves as well. And that scared him a little. He had heard a lot of stories designed to scare him growing up, and some of them flashed before his eyes. But if Callahin dared to even think of trying anything like that, he would be sorry. Jinn would tear Callahin apart with his bare hands and make the scum eat his own heart!


    As he came out of a tunnel mouth into a large chamber thirty feet wide, he looked around. There were four tunnels, two going to his left. One was below him and another was above him along the wall on the upper level. There was another tunnel opening to his right. As he looked towards that tunnel he heard the sounds of echoing off the tunnel walls. For a second he stood there, trying to place it but then he ¡®filtered out¡¯ the echoes. It took him closing his eyes for him to realize just what he was listening to. Looking around again, he saw Al was by the tunnel on the top, gazing back at him.


    He turned and saw Racha leaving the tunnel and ¡®dashed¡¯ to her, and then ¡®dashed ¡® to Al. As he came out of his trick, Raccha slugged him in his stomach. As he winced, Racha staggered and threw up her last meal into the open air.


    ¡°Never. That. Without. Telling. Me,¡± Racha panted out as she glared at him.


    ¡°My apologies, but I had no time. I can hear them. Bugs. They''re coming,¡± Jinn said as he looked down at the middle-level tunnels. He scowled as he heard the sounds they made grow louder. ¡°And unless I¡¯m wrong, they¡¯re moving faster now. Move!¡±


    As Al led the way with Jinn and Racha following him, Jinn kept his ears open. So far, they were making good time but the creatures were right behind them.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m starting to think that our friend is leading us here on purpose!¡± Al snarled as he ran.


    Jinn only nodded, not trusting that Callahin wouldn¡¯t hear them. They had no idea what his tech could do, and that bothered him. He had already told Al this, so he must have a reason for what he was saying. Jinn had to trust Al, there was nothing else to do now.


    Racha cursed behind them as they ran, and to Jinn her voice echoed off the walls. ¡°Why do the three of us always have to run away? Ever since we crashed we¡¯ve done nothing but run from everything here!¡±


    Jinn snapped his head to look at her and saw the way her mouth was set in a smirk. He saw her look at him and she nodded. He felt a rush of shock for a second, then he smirked back and nodded. So Racha had caught that something was wrong with Callahin then? Perfect! That was just what he needed.


    As they ran, Jinn looked around. He was trying to find anything that might help them and saw that there were marks on the walls. He had seen enough battlefields in cramped spaces to know the signs, and there they were. Somehow, he got the idea that their friend didn¡¯t stay back and let the defenses kill the pirates.


    After another five minutes, they came out into a large chamber that was lit by sunlight. He looked up and saw the sunlight come through a crack in a cone that went up thirty feet.


    ¡°Nice, isn¡¯t it?¡± Callahin¡¯s voice called out.


    Jinn looked up and saw him standing by another tunnel, a smile on his face. ¡°This place is at the center of the mountain! And this tunnel leads to the ship, just another hundred feet!¡±


    Jinn saw most of the group resting around this final chamber. Paige and Sk¡¯p wee by Callahin, Sara, and Jess were closer to Jinn. Taking a look around, he saw another tunnel only big enough for a biped under seven feet to come through. It was by the far right of him, and the rocks were a dark ruby color. With a scowl, he looked at the mouth and tried to think. He had seen this color before and in rocks. He looked closer, trying to remember where he had seen it when he heard Al whistle.


    ¡°Amazing! This place. I had a friend, who studied planets. And this? He would have had a field day with this place! The floor alone,¡± Al said as he chuckled.


    Jinn looked down and saw that the floor was a jade green. When the wall and floor met, the colors mixed and there were spots of blackish-red spheres here and there. It was those spots that made Jinn realize where they were, and that caused him to stare in shock.


    Slowly, he turned in a circle as he took in the chamber with new eyes. Once he saw the spheres, then everything made sense. ¡°Stars. We¡¯re in an impact crater!¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Racha asked, whipping her head to look at him.


    All Jinn did was point at the spheres. He saw her eyes widen and then she looked around, shock in her eyes.


    Al just looked at Jinn, stunned to silence. But as he looked around, he was starting to see the same things that Jinn had.


    ¡°Are those?! I mean you go months without finding one of those¡­.. wait. Why is this in an atmosphere!?¡± Al asked in horror.


    Jinn was about to say something when he heard a clank. He looked up and saw a stone hit the ground in the center of the chamber. It was only the other one next to the one that he saw fall that he knew what made the sound. Looking up, he saw dust  ¡°INCOMING!¡±


    As everyone looked up, a large stone broke free from the side of the rocks facing the forest. As a stone five feet around fell, the sounds of insects started to come from behind them. As he turned, another loud crack came from above. When the next stone landed with the second rock between it and the first he understood. ¡°Pincer. This is a pincer! There¡¯s something coming from above and behind! Get ready to fight!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll open the doors!¡± Callahin cried as he ran.


    Jinn looked at him, not shocked at all. Only disappointed that he was right about him.


    ¡°Paige, Sk¡¯p! After him, keep the doors open!¡± Racha barked.


    Jinn looked up to see her aiming her weapon back down the tunnel.


    ¡°Everyone else! Get ready to fight! Nothing gets by us!¡± Racha ordered as she moved around the chamber, leaving the center bare.


    It took Jinn a moment to understand, and he nodded. Keeping the possible drop point of the bugs free was smart. But then the loudest crack was heard, and an insect scream came from above.

 One Hundred Forty Six

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1015


    As dust fell from above, Jess raised her pistol as she moved towards the tunnel. As the dust cleared, something hit the wall above the tunnel to the ship. To her horror, it started to melt, the rock itself sealing the tunnel mouth.


    ¡°NO!!¡± Sara bellowed out in rage.


    Jess could understand, Paige might have died. But that was something that they had to put a repair notice on that. For now, they had to deal with other problems.


    ¡°Nothing for it! Time to fight and kill!¡± Jinn barked as he pulled out his blade. As soon as he turned it into a sword, he looked at Racha. ¡°I¡¯ll keep the thing that did it up there! Find a way out of here!¡±


    ¡°GO!¡± Racha barked as she fired down at the tunnel.


    Jess could only watch as he disappeared. He reappeared kicking off the ceiling wall above them, and in a moment he was gone again.


    ¡°I have got to learn how he does that!¡± Jess muttered as sounds of combat came from above. The cries of the things coming out of the tunnel that was still open finally reached them.


    As Jess watched, three dog-sized three segmented insects came out of the tunnel. They were each three feet tall and over five feet long. They had bodies of molted grey, and they had two segmented eyes. Below them was a horn that pointed straight forward above two mandible pincers.


    As soon as she saw them, she opened fire. Racha fired as well while Al ran past her.


    ¡°Get us through it Al!¡± Racha barked as she joined her shots to Jess¡¯s. In a moment, each of the bugs had their heads blown off, and the bodies fell to the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯LL TRY!¡± Al called back as he ran.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got your back!¡± Burt bellowed as he aimed his weapon down the tunnel.


    Jess gritted her teeth as she fired. ¡°So they did have smaller things to send at us! Great, just great!¡±


    ¡°Keep it up!¡± Racha said as she looked at the tunnel. ¡°I think that this isn¡¯t over just yet!¡±


    ¡°Of course, it isn¡¯t. That would have been too easy for this place!¡± Jess muttered sarcastically as she looked behind her at Al. She didn¡¯t have any idea how Al could get through the tunnel mouth. The way that the glob had caused it to fall, the much had to be a kind of acid. But she wasn¡¯t sure that it had destroyed the earth, it had to have loosened a large rock! That was the worst scenario, they would have to go around it. And the only way that she saw this was possible, was if Jinn took them up there. Something that would only happen if he handled the things up there!


    But as another cry sounded from the tunnels, she looked at it and fired into the darkness. She was starting to think that the bugs had sent all their forces here to kill them! But why!? They had figured that these things could think more than mere beasts. But what had the group done to anger them that they were attacking the group!? It made no sense at all! Why throw themselves against a foe that could and had killed them?


    Something told her that if she figured out the answer, she wouldn¡¯t like it. And something told her that their new ¡®friend¡¯ Callahin was involved in this new problem. The more she thought about it, the more that she was starting to think that he had planned this. But then why would he want those two to follow him? Unless he was hoping that someone else would be there. Someone that he wanted to kill or capture for some reason.


    Jess looked at the tunnel as Al cursed behind him.


    ¡°NOVA! That stuff liquefied the dirt! It hardened into rock! We can¡¯t get through here!¡± Al cursed.


    ¡°We have to wait for Jinn! He¡¯ll need to get us out of here by going up!¡± Racha said as she fired into the tunnel mouth.


    A screech from the tunnel caused Jess to tense. This screech sounded like it was from many mouths and that meant this was going to be bad. The hardest combat was against those who didn¡¯t care how many you put down. And she was having a bad feeling that this was going to be another of those times.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn slashed down with his blade, slicing through the last segment of one of the flying bugs. It flew a foot before falling to the ground, bleeding out as it lay there. Jinn paid it no mind, his sight was on the living monsters that were attacking him. He looked around the rocky surface he was fighting on, taking stock of his opponents.


    Behind him were three corpses. The first of a new larger insect that had been behind the broken rock wall behind him. It had a body that was made of two segments connected by a short middle part. The front segment was three feet wide and long, colored a deep green while the back was six feet wide and long. This segment had four legs, with each one being three spikes in a triangle formation that dug into the rock. Its head had two eyes and a large triangle-shaped beak with a round opening at the end. The back segment was wider and longer, a good six feet in total. It was round and seemed to be nothing but a way for this thing to generate the liquid it used as spit. Once he had gotten up here, an Aether Dart-empowered shot had torn the back sack open. The liquid from it had splashed on the big bug and two smaller ones with horns. Next to it, They had all screeched as the liquid killed them, melting their bodies.


    Once that was done he saw he was facing six more of the smaller ones, two guarding one of the big ones. Three quick shots had killed one of the big ones, and they retreated as twenty fliers had come. So far they darted at him and he dodged them, and that was how he spent the last few minutes.


    As the nineteen flying bugs flew around him, he knew he had to change the tempo. So far he had stayed on the ground, so maybe he should change that. Another one flew at him from the right and he ¡®dashed¡¯ upwards through a gap. As he reappeared the bugs flew all over for a second, a second he used to fire three times. The blasts hit two of them in the center segment with their wings and they fell, their wings dying down.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    As he fell, he slashed out and through the part connecting the ¡®head¡¯ segment of one. As it fell he landed and fired, killing another of them. As the bugs flew higher, he looked at them with concern. From what he had seen, these things were melee fighters, so what was happening? He couldn¡¯t understand it, and when that happened in combat, people died.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see what I have to work with,¡± Jinn muttered as he looked around. There were just fifteen of the bugs left, and they were staying back, flying around him. As another one of them came at him from behind, he spun around and slashed down. As the bug¡¯s head was cut in two, another two came from above and to his right.


    Without looking he ¡®dashed¡¯ to the right and spun around in a circle. As the bugs saw him, he fired his blaster again, this time killing three of them.  He grinned as he looked at them, and this time he felt like taunting whatever was controlling them. ¡°That¡¯s just eight left! Still want to do this or go home? I¡¯m still here to play!¡±


    The bugs just hovered there, and he cursed himself. Part of him had been hoping that he was wrong, but here it was. Proof he was right about these things, that they were controlled by something. He had no idea what kind of range he was looking at here, but it had to be far. And that was the worst for them all. A hive mind controller would send all of them to the enemy, all to learn how to kill with the next swarm. And that meant that they had to go back to the hive as soon as they could.


    ¡°Well?! Do you have something to talk to me like that one Callahin spoke of!?¡± Jinn called out and the hive looked at him. He moved his blade and saw the smaller ones were behind him by around thirty feet. ¡°Keep them there if you want to talk. And pull back whatever is attacking my people down below.¡±


    The sounds of something moving and the buzz of the flying bugs slowly started to die down. He watched as they landed before him and he knew he had gotten through to something. He just stared back, knowing that this was going to be either good or bad.


    The sounds of slow steps caused him to move his blade and his heart went to his throat. Walking towards him was something he had never expected to see. It was chitin chitin-covered biped insect. The chitin was colored a deep red with green splashes here and there. It had two hands that ended in a four-fingered claw. Slowly he turned and looked at the being. It was as tall as he was, and it was wearing a kind of kilt made of something that looked like blue plants. Its head was a face with only two multifaceted eyes above a normal noise. Below that was a normal-looking mouth with two mandibles on the sides that were curved blades. By its side was a piece of wood with a large tooth or horn on it, making a spear. If the being before him wore normal clothes and was alone, he would have thought it a member of the Federation. But more to the point, there was something about this one that struck his memories.


    ¡°So, what are you? The mouthpiece of the swarm or the controller themself? Do you control these through their mother?¡± Jinn asked and the being shrugged.


    ¡°Their controller. I¡¯m sorry that some of my creatures attacked you. I thought that it had found more like it,¡± The being rumbled in a deep voice.


    ¡°Okay, so the creatures? Yours? An Aether Template?¡± Jinn asked, grasping at some of his more outlandish thoughts.


    ¡°My ancestor. He was blessed, I learned like so many of my kind,¡± The Being said.


    ¡°Ahhhh. So your fellow castaways then?¡± Jinn mussed as he looked at the insects as they stood there. ¡°And I think¡­.. yes. For the survivors of your ship, there were two templates that were passed down. A Controller and a way to modify the bugs in their eggs?¡±


    All the bugs buzzed as the being took a step back, and its mouth dropped open for a moment.


    ¡°Yes. You are quite different from that one,¡± The Being rumbled and leaned forward. ¡°Why do you follow him?¡±


    ¡°If you mean the man in the disappearing clothes, that was beyond our control. We need where he¡¯s making his home. It¡¯s a resource that we need to survive on this place,¡± Jinn explained and the being nodded.


    ¡°Survival is all that matters on this hell. My kind has a story much like that. But that thing, that predator is not to be trusted,¡± The being rumbled and the bugs buzzed louder.


    Jinn looked at the being and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Of course, somehow I¡¯m not surprised that he found a way to make you mad. I was thinking that maybe he was after us for something. So what does he feed on?¡±


    The being rocked back a step and this time the being leaned back. ¡°You know it wants to eat you? And you still followed after it?¡±


    Jinn only chuckled and shook his head, a somber look on his face. ¡°I was raised by some people who disguised their hate. It took me many years to learn the truth. I had hoped that my worst fears were wrong.¡±


    Jinn looked at the being only for them to sigh and shake their head.


    ¡°You were right. All terrors that one would be worthy of all horror tales. What it can do, is completely against everything that honest beings see as good. It must die!¡± The being growled.


    ¡°But not us for following him for a few hours?¡± Jinn asked and looked into the being''s eyes.


    The being rocked back and the bugs all stopped buzzing as the being looked at him. ¡°NO! By the first no! You¡¯ve done nothing to deserve that!¡±


    ¡°Then why¡¯d you attack us? Why keep following us?¡± Jinn asked.


    He looked around, taking in the bugs. The smaller ones seemed to be more of a guard force than attackers. But if they were the only thing to be able to get through the tunnels, then this being would have to use them. But they didn¡¯t seem to be heavily armored. If there weren¡¯t too many, then his friends would have survived. And that was all that he needed right now, that they would live.


    ¡°The larger ones are able to share their ¡®scent trackers¡¯. I detected that one¡¯s scent on you. I followed after that one,¡± The being rumbled, growling as they looked at Jinn.


    ¡°So how long ago did you make a camp in those caves?¡± Jinn asked.


    ¡°A few nights. I tracked that one¡¯s scent here. I was expecting it to come from the other side,¡± the being rumbled.


    ¡°So you did¡­. I¡¯m sorry. But do you have a name?¡± Jinn asked


    ¡°Karakapace. My kind are called the Olictixs,¡± Karakapace rumbled.


    ¡°Jinn looked at him and smirked a little. ¡°From the planet Olitronics, 5th planet in its system right?¡±


    Karakpace blinked and looked at Jinn with surprise. ¡°Yes. That is what the old songs say our home world was. But how do you know that place?¡±


    ¡°I knew you looked familiar! Met one of your people once before on a ship! Was part of the crew, I worked for passage for a cruise!¡± Jinn said with a smirk that quickly fell into a frown. ¡°But what are you doing here? And by that, I mean you yourself.¡±


    ¡°The stories say we were going to aid our allies in the Federation. A Relief convoy for a disaster on a planet. I forgot the name, but those of my people who survived from our ship made a home in what others call the Mountain Realm. We have outposts where we grow food and trade with other city-states nearby. I was with a trade convoy that had to escape through a Gateway. We crashed a few moons ago. Now only I and a few others remain alive,¡± Karakpace said with a deep rumble.


    ¡°And stop me if I¡¯m wrong, but that one took something when he ate one of yours, didn¡¯t he?¡± Jinn said before he blinked. ¡°Wait, a few moons? Then the pirates haven¡¯t attacked yet?¡±


    ¡°Pirates?!¡± Karakpace rumbled as the bugs started to screech. ¡°What do those scum have to do with this place!?¡±


    ¡°Do I have a long story to tell you!¡± Jinn said bitterly as he shook his head. ¡°But later, let¡¯s get down there and see if we can get after your target!¡±


    ¡°Go to those below. I will be there soon,¡± Karakpace said with a final rumble. Then they turned away, the bugs following behind.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked around as the bugs moved backward. The battle had been in their favor, but this was something else. If she knew anything, it was when the enemy pulled back but stayed out of sight, then you worry. All she could do was handle this, and hope that the others were doing okay.


    ¡°What are they doing!?¡± Jess hissed as she looked on.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this anywhere. But there¡¯s something about them that strikes a chord with me. It¡¯s just weird. There¡¯s something about them,¡± Burt mused as he aimed his weapon.


    ¡°You¡¯ve heard of these things?!¡± Al snarled, rage in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of a lot of things. Some of them when I was drunk! I can¡¯t remember everything that I¡¯ve heard over the years at a drop of food! It¡¯s too much!! And I probably only know maybe half of one percent of all stories!¡± Burt said with a slight edge to his voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fight you two! We need to deal with enemies that can think!¡± Jess said with a scowl on her face.


    Raccha had to admit that she was wondering that as well. The small bugs tried to attack by charging at them with horns. But the shoots of the three of them had been able to handle them. All in all, she didn¡¯t know what she expected but not this.


    ¡°Keep watch, if something happens, we strike. For now, work on that stone!¡± Racha whispered harshly.


    ¡°Do it. Burt cover him. Jess, Sara with me. We have to hold the line. If Al can¡¯t find a way out of us we need to hold until Jinn gets back!¡± Racha said quietly.


    ¡°Tell us something we don¡¯t know Service girl!¡± Sara said with a bitter edge to her voice.


    She heard a scoff and she knew that Jess was just ¡®saying¡¯ what she was feeling. This whole thing was beyond anything that she had expected. She had thought that these things were aware, but this was beyond them. And that was something that Racha didn¡¯t like when things went beyond what she expected from her enemies.


    Suddenly she heard the sounds of someone falling to the ground behind her. ¡°Well, that was something else.¡±


    At Jinn¡¯s voice, they all turned to look at him as he shook his clothing to get the dust off.


    ¡°Jinn!¡± Jess exclaimed joy in her voice.


    ¡°What happened up there?! Did you kill the queen?¡± Al asked in a rush.


    Racha looked on as Jinn shook his head. She liked to think she was a good judge of character, and that told her that Jinn was holding something back.


    ¡°Jinn!¡± Racha barked and scowled as he looked at her. ¡°What did you find out?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­.. Even if we killed the birther, it wouldn¡¯t have done anything. Seems these are being controlled by that Power you told us, Burt. And the controller is another survivor descendent like you,¡± Jinn said as he looked at Burt. ¡°And he was only after us because he was after our new friend. Seems they crashed here and he killed some of them. And he might be a sentient eater.¡±

 One Hundred Forty Seven

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1015


    As she ran down the tunnel, Paige tried to keep calm. So far Callahin was feeling nothing but joy. For all that had happened, she had expected some terror. He was looking at this as something good for him, and that was very bad.  It raised a lot of questions about what he was after, and what they had he wanted. And that bothered her a lot. She couldn¡¯t see anything that he might gain from this! And that was a problem, for there was something he was after here. And just because she couldn¡¯t see it, that didn¡¯t mean it wouldn¡¯t kill them.


    The sound of something crashing onto the ground came from behind her. Turning, she saw Sk¡¯p looking back as something covered the tunnel mouth. With horror filling her mind, she could only watch as the tunnel mouth was covered. Only she and Sk¡¯p had followed Callahin in, and that meant two things. They were alone with him, and the others were looking at a battle with a horde. The only thing that made her keep calm was that she still felt the others. As long as she felt their emotions, she was sure they were alive.


    ¡°NO!¡± Sk¡¯p cried as he moved towards the mass, and Paige barely grabbed him.


    ¡°WAIT!¡± Paige called out, worry in her voice. As Sk¡¯p looked at her she scowled as she watched the mass covering the cave mouth. She was right, the material was moving on its own and hardening before her eyes. ¡°If you had touched that, your hand might have been burned off! Or anything else because of how it was brought down! We need to use our brains!¡±


    ¡°We gotta get back to them!¡± Sk¡¯p said, anger and rage in his voice. ¡°We can¡¯t leave them behind! And this might be the only route out from the ship!¡±


    ¡°The tunnels looked like someone made them! We can get back out of here! The ship has to have digging tools!¡± Paige said before moving her head to Sk¡¯ps right ear before whispering to him. ¡°And I don¡¯t trust Callahin to not stab us in the back.¡±


    Sk¡¯p drew back his head and looked at her, stunned speechless. Pagie scowled, had he bought Callahin¡¯s trick?


    But Sk¡¯p looked at her before he whispered out a sentence that stunned her. ¡°I thought I was the only Racha and I were the only ones who didn¡¯t trust him.¡±


    Paige blinked, shocked speechless. Racha had figured out that there was something wrong with Callahin? Why, how? What had she seen that Paige hadn¡¯t?


    But before they could say anything else, Paige felt a spark of pleasure and happiness behind her. As far as she knew, there was only one person who was there, but why did he feel those emotions?


    ¡°Are you okay?! NO! The others!¡± Callahin cried out from behind them.


    Looking over her shoulder, Paige saw him standing there, a mask of terror on his face. Then and there, she realized that Callahin was a master actor. That was the only way he could have made his face look like that while feeling as he did.


    ¡°Yeah. We need the tools in the ship!¡± Paige said with a scowl. As Callahin looked at her, she only shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough on the walls, those tunnels were made! You might not have the memories to remember that, but I do! and we need to find them now!¡±


    Callahin only looked at her, shocked. And this time his emotions were the same as his face. ¡°There are tools that could break that down in my home?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and we need them!¡± Sk¡¯p snarled as he walked towards Callahin. Once he reached the man, he looked down and glared at him. ¡°So where¡¯s the ship!?¡±


    Callahin only looked at Sk¡¯p and then nodded his head. ¡°Follow me! I know where they are!¡±


    As she watched Callahin run back through the tunnel, part of her wondered if she should just knock him out. The way that he acted and felt were so different that she had an excuse, he was acting crazy! While the rest of the group might not believe her, the ones who knew about her power would believe. But they might need him to get by the defenses of the yard ship.


    As they passed out of the cave mouth, they came into a large ledge open to the right. They could see the open ocean, the island blocked from view by the mountain. Ahead of them by around a hundred feet was their goal, the Yard-Ship! To her shock, what was before them was a small ramp around fifty feet wide and twenty long. Above it was the ship embedded into this mountain.


    Just by looking at it, Paige could tell that this wasn¡¯t the main hanger. She had no idea where in the ship they would come out, but she was worried. Maybe the original crew had used handheld tools to dig, and who knows how long they had worked? All she knew was that there was a big chance that they couldn¡¯t help the others. But more concerning were the six gun stands at the foot of the ramp. Each one was three barrels on a tripod stand and they looked like they could rotate. They each had a cable that went under the ramp. They had to go to the ship, probably getting power from anything the crew set up here. But what was powering the weapons? What did the crew use that they knew would last?


    ¡°Well, here it is! My home for the last thirty or so moons!¡± Callahin said with a grin as he bowed. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but it¡¯s my home. I haven¡¯t gotten past the few open doors that I found. Anything you could do to get help for the others, my home is yours. Move what you want!¡±


    ¡°Thanks man!¡± Sk¡¯p said as he looked up at the ship. ¡°Quiet a view up there! Ever found a way up?¡±


    Paige followed his gaze and she almost cried out in shock. The ship had slammed into the mountain, but it was still in tack. It looked like it went over a thousand feet into the air, well out of sight! As she leaned back, she thought she saw a glint of something above the mountain. She blinked before falling backwards onto the ground, the glint made her stumble. It took her a moment to realize what she saw. The glint had to be from solar panels, and that meant that the crew had access to a work platform! Those hover platforms could be outfitted to fly in space or in the air! More importantly, they could be set up to be used as covered hovercraft. That meant that as soon as they found the hangar, they could use them to get the survivors into the ship!This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    She laughed, feeling joy. The worry about how they could save the others was gone! All they needed to do was break into the chamber the group was in and Jinn could bring everyone to the platform! Now all they had to do was some swift work and they would all survive! But as she calmed down, Sk¡¯p put his head over hers.


    ¡°You okay Paige? You didn¡¯t bump your head and get Mad Laughter Injury, did you?¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a strange look in his eyes


    ¡°Mad Laughter Injury?¡± Paige asked, shocked dumb as she looked at him.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Sk¡¯p said as he nodded. ¡°A friend of mine said that if people get injured in their heads¡­.. ¡°


    Sk¡¯p trailed off as he looked at Paige¡¯s face. His eyes went deadpanned and he sighed. ¡°That prankster got me again, didn¡¯t he? There is no Mad Laughter Injury, is there?¡±


    ¡°Nope!¡± She said, giggling a little. As Sk¡¯p moved back, she got back up. But as she did so, kept her gaze down as her eyes widened. There was something in the ship, something that was hungry.


    ¡°You two okay? Don¡¯t we need to move?¡± Callahin asked, worry in his tone


    ¡°Coming! Just tripped looking up!¡± Paige called back. Once again, he felt pleasure, this time asking if she was okay. She was sure, Callahin wanted something from them that they needed to die for him to get. But the joke was on him, she knew now. And when he struck, his emotions would give him away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sk¡¯p hid a scowl as he looked at the ship. He could tell from a few marks he saw that this had to have been a pirate ship at one time! He had flown against a few fleets with these ships in them, they were great to hold captives in. And something told him that they would find a slave hold in this thing! They needed this ship, and he prayed that there weren¡¯t too many decayed corpses in there.


    ¡°So how¡¯d you get by the blasters?¡± He asked Callahin as they walked towards the ship. He kept his eyes on the gun stands, something about them was bothering him. He knew that he had seen their type before, but when?


    ¡°Strangest thing! I ran through the caves being chased by these armored rat things with saber fangs. When I ran to the ship, the guns just fired at the beasts! They all made a great stew really. Tangy and sweet at the same time,¡± Callahin said as he laughed.


    Sk¡¯p looked at the ramp as they reached it. Something about this was bothering him. He stopped and dropped, staring at the ramp. His eyes looked over the edges and tried to see if he could notice anything about it. All in all, it looked like any void-rated ship¡¯s ramp. Looking at the cables, he saw they went into the earth, buried beneath the ramp. ¡°The crew must have made it this way. But what I can¡¯t figure out is why?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I found a lot of rooms closed for me. I¡¯ll show you!¡± Callahin said from the top of the ramp.


    Looking at Paige and seeing her eyes look at Callahin with worry, Sk¡¯p swallowed before putting on a smile. ¡°Coming!¡±


    Walking up into the door, they found a chamber one hundred feet squared. At the fall end, there was a door with a clear material in a square set in the top half.


    ¡°This looks like the Void Walk hull tour airlock!¡± Paige exclaimed.


    Sk¡¯p blinked, looking around the room as they followed Callahin to the door. ¡°So this is one of the airlocks then?¡±


    ¡°Probably! That explains the room beyond! I found my suit in an open small space, there are a lot of them. I know there¡¯s a word, but I can¡¯t remember it!¡± Callahin said with a laugh as he walked through the door.


    Sk¡¯p looked at Paige and shook his head, this was getting worse. He couldn¡¯t think straight with Callahin. The man seemed to be planning to kill them or capture them, the other seemed to be a fool. There was a chance that he did have amnesia, but the more he thought of it the more he felt doubt. The kind of knowledge that he had lost, there was no rhythm or reason to it. It was almost like¡­..!


    Sk¡¯p blinked as the thought he just had caused him to remember everything that Callahin had said or done. Everything crystallized and he felt his rage grow. That had to be it! Callahin was faking it, he had to be! Everything that he did was made to make the others either be sorry for him or lower their guard! That was the only thing that made sense!


    ¡°It¡¯s called a locker room my friend!¡± Sk¡¯p called out as he walked through the door.


    The room was a large square chamber, forty feet wide and long. There was a row of lockers done the middle that was ten feet long and wide. Set against the walls were lockers like the middle, all of them five feet long. He walked after Callahin, looking at the green metal lockers. He tried to think of what this room was used for and came up with nothing. But this had to be a secondary exit, and that meant that there was still the main hanger to find.


    ¡°Locker room¡­. Strange words! So these are the lockers?¡± Callahin asked as he looked around the room. ¡°Well, my main chamber and cooking room is over here.¡±


    As they followed him out the door, Sk¡¯p looked around in shock. They had come out into a large hallway, twenty feet wide and forty feet long. There was a small fire pit near the far side and a door five feet away. Callahin¡¯s belongs, skins of beasts and a few weapons were here and there. But what brought Sk¡¯p joy was the console next to the door to the locker room.


    ¡°Stars! This is it!¡± Sk¡¯p exclaimed as he and Paige looked at the console.


    ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s what you were after?¡± Callahin asked as he looked at the machine.


    ¡°Yeah! And it still has power!¡± Paige said, joy in her voice. But then she scowled as she looked at the screen. ¡°NO! It¡¯s destroyed! The keyboard is destroyed!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Sk¡¯p demanded and looked down. He stared at the keyboard, seeing that half the cracked keys were cracked. To his dismay, the other part of the keyboard was just gone, as if it had been scooped out. ¡°What happened here!?¡±


    ¡°That? It was like that when I found it. There was this corpse about six feet tall, with oversized hands. That space, the thumb claw. I threw the body into the sea months ago. Sorry if you needed it,¡± Callahin said apologetically.


    Sk¡¯p looked at him and growled a little as he just looked at this idiot. They needed the keyboard to find what they needed to save the others! Now what could they do?!


    ¡°By the stars! Is that what I think it is?¡± Paige breathed in shock.


    Sk¡¯p looked at her and then followed her gaze. And he stared in shock at a small red square that was on the wall next to the console. He almost opened his mouth before he saw the symbol on the square. His eyes opened wide and then he stammered in shock. ¡°I think it is. But how old is this ship anyway!?¡±


    ¡°At least over a thousand years. But it¡¯s still in such a good shape. But how?¡± Paige asked in wonder as she looked at it.


    ¡°But how can we use it?¡± Sk¡¯p asked, anger in his voice.


    ¡°What do you mean friends? What is it?¡± Callahin asked as he looked at the square.


    Sk¡¯p only sighed, not surprised that he didn¡¯t know what this was. ¡°This is old tech. A kind of interface that uses nanites to get readings on what the tech connected to it does. A database like this would let us know about how the ship is. But it¡¯s so old, most people don¡¯t have them anymore. So we can¡¯t use it.¡±


    ¡°I can use it. I¡¯ve got the nanites to do so,¡± Paige said.


    ¡°Yeah. I used to volunteer at this old ship museum. I did tours of old classes of ships for kids. They had these things there, and it was my job to show the kids  how they worked!¡± Paige explained.


    She dropped her pack and put her hand on the revealed space. She closed her eyes and Sk¡¯p stepped back.


    He watched as she accessed the ship¡¯s internal systems using her nanites. After a few moments she stepped back, and her body shook. ¡°Paige, are you okay? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Stars and holes. This ship¡­. It was one of the Pirate lord Zeelitrix¡¯s fleet!¡± Paige exclaimed in horror. ¡°It fits! The age, the tech! It all adds up!¡±


    Sk¡¯p stepped back, looked at her in shock, stunned silent. Zeelitrix the pirate lord. One of the most feared and horrific beings in the last thousand years. He looked around the room, shaking his head in horror. ¡°No way! Just no way! It¡¯s been too long! This place would have been destroyed! It would be nothing but shards of metal!¡±


    Paige only looked at him and shook her head. ¡°I saw it in the data, this was one of his ships. It was even going to plunder a world he captured!¡±


    Sk¡¯p only looked at her and tried to speak. Zeelitrix was one of the last truly powerful Pirate Lords. He was from after the Corporate War, he gathered together the Corp fleets that were still active. His power had been such that the Federation had almost been destroyed in those days. The bonds that held worlds together almost broke as each world tried to defend itself alone. For over a hundred years his name caused terror and horror when ships appeared over worlds. From that time, there were so many heroes and villains, most of the great movies were about them! His forces had almost been able to break the Federation Fleets, winning more battles than he lost. Until he disappeared, a mystery that was still unknown to this day. Without his genius in command, his forces had shattered and were hunted down in pieces.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this Zeelitrix?¡± Callahin asked and Sk¡¯p almost looked at him in total shock.


    For a second his mouth opened and closed silently before he shook his head. He just looked at Callahin before speaking. ¡°A pirate lord from a long time ago. He was strong and evil enough that his name lasted long after he died. But that doesn¡¯t matter now! What about the stuff we need?¡±


    Paige nodded and put her hand back on the wall, closing her eyes. ¡°Okay. The factory is fully automatic, and that means we can use it. The main hanger is free to the air, so we can use that. There¡¯s an open hanger, one of the secondary ones. It leads into the mountain. The power is from solar panels, on both sides of the mountain. And we need to go that way.¡±


    Paige pointed to their left and Callahin went still. ¡°There¡¯s a door there. It¡¯s closed. We might be able to get to that opening by going the other way.¡±


    No need. The doors have panels like this one,¡± Paige said with a grin. ¡°And their all working right!¡±

 One Hundred Forty Eight

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1045


    ¡°He¡¯s a what!?¡± Racha barked as she stared at Jinn. The words ¡®Sentient Eater¡¯ reverberated in her mind, going to all the dark places.


    ¡°Sentient Eater, keep up. At least that¡¯s what the guy controlling those bugs said,¡± Jinn said as he shrugged.


    ¡°You spoke to the Queen?! Wait, he!?¡± Racha asked in shock.


    Jinn shook his head. ¡°Yeah, a he. He said his people were like Burt¡¯s ancestors. Only in the Mountain Realm.¡±


    ¡®That place?! I¡¯ve only been there once, for about fifty minutes. And I was only there as a transfer between Gateways!¡± Burt exclaimed and then he looked down at one of the dead bugs. ¡°But I might have seen some kind of insect being used as a mount. Might have. There are a lot of strange things used as mounts out there after all.¡±


    ¡°Come on man! A bug being used as a mount and you didn¡¯t look at it more?!¡± Jess asked with a hard tone to her voice.


    ¡°You should see some of the trade towns! Those places are crazy! They are the only place you¡¯d see hovercrafts in traffic with beast-drawn carriages! I¡¯ve seen plant races argue with what looks like green moles once!¡± Burt said with a laugh as he shook his head. At the way the others were looking at him, he only grinned. ¡°What can I say? The Trade Towns are places where anything can happen!¡±


    It was all Racha could do to keep from screaming, this was the last thing that she needed! If this being had attacked them because they were with Callahin. Why didn¡¯t this sentient try to talk to them!? Just what had he experienced that he thought the only way to get Callahin was to kill everyone!? ¡°Just why did he think that!?¡±


    ¡°I was following my captain¡¯s last orders,¡± A deep voice said from the tunnel.


    Everyone looked up, seeing an insect being standing there. He just stood there, in the cave mouth with three of the smaller bugs around the being¡¯s feet.


    Racha looked at the being and her eyes widened. She was expecting a lot, but not this, not one of his race. ¡°You¡¯re an Olictix. But how, when did your people crash here?¡±


    ¡°A long time ago. We were a relief fleet according to the records. I¡¯m sorry that the things I tamed attacked you,¡± The Olictix said as the smaller bugs pulled back. He looked around the chamber and released a sigh. ¡°So the scum escaped me again? I have been hunting him for a while now. He had hunting grounds on the other shore, but it took me a while to track him here. And please, my name is Karakpace. Allow me the honor of calling me that.¡±


    Racha nodded, her mind going dark places. Karakpace¡¯s people had a belief that the body of the dead was to be respected. The sentient eaters that took Olictix victims were hunted down by members of this race. The things done to them¡­.. they were almost as terrible as the crime the criminals had done.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been hunting him for a while then?¡± Racha managed to ask.


    ¡°Yes. My beasts are those that my crew tamed here. We built a defensive nest over a few months. Then he came along, being chased by something from the forest. He killed our leader, I¡¯m the only one to chase him down. The others are repairing our ship,¡± Karakpace explained.


    ¡°Good!¡± Burt snorted. At the way Karakpace looked at him, he only grinned darkly. ¡°This place is a target for Pirate clans! Much like the landlocked Marauders mate! The best you can do is get out of here as soon as possible!¡±


    ¡°But how can you know that?¡± Karakpace asked as he looked at Burt who bowed.


    ¡°Burt¡¯s the name friend! I¡¯m from an island around this realm. Been Realm Walking for years!¡± Burt said as he moved up from the bow.


    ¡°What of the rest of you all? Our people are allies. The ship is damaged, we have room for you all with the eggs we¡¯re taking. If we leave the eggs, we might be able to bring ten of you¡­¡­ More?¡± Karakpace trailed off as he looked around. ¡°You have, more than ten?¡±


    ¡°With this group alone. We can talk later. But we have to get through that tunnel first!¡± Racha said as she pointed at the tunnel that Karakpace¡¯s forces had closed.


    ¡°Step back and allow mine,¡± Karakpace said as he looked at the debris in front of the tunnel. He suddenly gained a savage green aura around him. The bugs all screeched before two globs of liquid came from above bad hit the debris. As that happened, the smaller ones moved towards it.


    They all watched as the bugs speared the glop with their horns and pulled it apart.


    Racha watched as they moved the mass that the liquid had made of the rock and dirt. When they were all away, another blob struck the mass, even as the top of the tunnel was revealed.


    ¡°Effective,¡± She muttered as she looked at Karakpace as he glowed. She had seen others of his race before, even some of their defense force. None of them had anything like these things, their technology was like the Federation. So again, there was evidence that this world gave beings more of the Power as Burt called it. Again she had to wonder, what was it about this world?


    ¡°Amazing,¡± Jess said as she looked at the bugs slowly clearing the passage.


    ¡°He still struck first,¡± Racha growled.


    ¡°Technically, yes. But also no,¡± Karakpace rumbled from behind them. As they looked at him, he looked away doing his species blush. ¡°I ¡®set¡¯ the bugs to attack any human like the monster. I didn¡¯t think any of your kind would come here.¡±


    Racha just blinked, staring at him in shocked horror. With that one sentence, everything suddenly became clear.


    ¡°Oh. Anything else?¡± Racha asked sarcastically.


    ¡°Yes. The monster we hunt? he has an ability like my own. And another that lets him feed off ¡®memories¡¯," Karakpace rumbled.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Racha just stared at him, horrified. But there was something about the way Karakpace spoke that told her there was more.


    ¡°What?¡± Racha breathed as the full threat ahead of them was revealed. If this monster would know everything that Paige and Sk¡¯p did if he fed on them. They had to move faster, they still had an element of surprise.


    ¡°Wait memories!? Was the one he killed able to control these things!?¡± Burt exclaimed after a second. As Karakpace nodded, Burt only slammed a hand over his eyes. ¡°Oh waves, Trees, and skies! This is bad, this is so bad!¡±


    Racha looked at Burt and tried to understand. After a few moments of Burt falling apart, she reached over and slapped him across the face.


    He blinked and looked at her, shaking his head. ¡°Thanks. I needed that¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Jinn said as he crossed his arms. ¡°So why is this so bad?¡±


    ¡°You can learn to use different abilities if you know how to move the Power. And memories can tell you that. Another way to learn,¡± Burt admitted.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Paige led the way, she kept her ¡®senses¡¯ open. The others were still beyond the range of them, but she didn¡¯t know what the bugs had. When they found the ship, they would find an easy way inside. She had turned off the guns, and she hoped that it was the right choice.


    ¡°So the platform should have the proper setting already, right?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as they walked. Behind them, Callahin was following, looking around.


    He had acted like they were going the wrong way, but then that was what she expected. He kept trying to say that this route was no good. That he had seen other paths that went this way that were destroyed.


    Paige hid a smirk. She had seen the condition of the ship through the Access Pad, this was still in one piece. She didn¡¯t know what he planned, but they wouldn¡¯t fall into his trap.


    ¡°Really, we should go back. This way is just the wrong one! Please, I¡¯ve lived here! Some places have been breached! We¡¯ll have to go back!¡± Callahin said, trying to get them to turn around. ¡°I don¡¯t know if your friends will be able to survive! We need to run!¡±


    Paige only rolled her eyes and sighed. She didn¡¯t say anything, she just kept moving. She knew he wanted them to go the other way, and he said that it was faster. He said that it was the fastest way, that they had to save the others. But then his emotions were telling her otherwise. He wasn¡¯t feeling worry, he was feeling anger! There was rage and a bit of worry in there too, and she didn¡¯t like that.


    The sensors told a story, the ship¡¯s doorways had been locked down, but the Pads could unlock them. That must have meant that they were locking the doors from things that didn¡¯t have nanites. And that was a worry.


    ¡°I mean you all want to save the others right!? So why are we going this way?¡± Callahin asked with a historic edge in his voice.


    Paige only scowled as she kept facing forward. He was worried or scared, he was angry. And with every step he took, the more his anger intensified. And that meant more than she understood. He had been running a plan, some kind of goal he was working towards. And that goal needed them to die for it to work!


    She didn¡¯t know how, but she knew that from his emotions he wanted something from them. There was just a way to them that told her he wanted to kill them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Callahin! This path is just what we need!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a smirk in his voice.


    She looked at Sk¡¯p, seeing him nod at her.


    Paige sighed and shook her head, knowing that she had to give him something now.


    ¡°How can you know that!? I¡¯ve lived here! You would¡­¡­ you did? That pad lets you see the ship!? Callahin one asked in shock.


    Paige forced down her smirk as she felt the horror that knowledge caused Callahin. Now what could he think she saw that caused that emotion? ¡°Yeah, but only the ship¡¯s status. I can¡¯t see what¡¯s inside this place. So we need to go slow. Anything might be ahead of us.¡±


    As she said that, they reached a door with a pad against it. She looked at Sk¡¯p as he moved his body against the other side of the door. She angled her body against the wall with the pad and touched it, and as it opened something slammed against it. As soon as the door opened, a hunched humanoid figure barged out.


    It had pure white fur and was shaped like an ape. It had large bulky legs and arms that were at least six feet long and thin. It had two fangs in its mouth, a slit noise, and two pure black eyes. The beast looked around until it found Callahin. For a moment, nothing happened as everyone was frozen. The creature roared as its arms came up but Callahin shot it shot it through its head.


    ¡°What was that!?¡± Sk¡¯p demanded as he glared at Callahin, anger in his voice


    ¡°White Long-Ape,¡± Callahin answered with horror in his voice. ¡°Monsters that eat everything they can! But what was it doing here!?¡±


    As everyone looked at him, Paige felt the horror he felt as he looked at the body.


    ¡°What!?¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a scowl.


    But before Callahin could say anything else, there were another three roars from the doorway.


    Paige looked into the darkness and willed light. Within a moment, the darkened room was like noon on a sunny day. Screams of pain came from all around, and Paige went white before she willed the door closed. As the door closed a large arm reached out and kept the door open by a half foot.


    ¡°GET CLEAR!¡± Callahin cried out in horror.


    Paige dodged back as Callahin fired, severing the arm behind the elbow. The door slammed shut and there were cries from within. Something slammed against the door and there were screams of rage.


    ¡°What were those things!?¡± Sk¡¯p demanded and Callahin only swallowed.


    Paige looked at the limb for a moment, trying to calm down. But her other sense kept battering at her, keeping her heart beating fast. On the other side of the door, she felt the minds of twenty creatures at least. Each one had a rage, an anger that was almost sentient. Bu Callahin? He had been horrified for real this time Just what was his history with these things?


    Callahin only took a deep breath and then looked around. ¡°I called them White Long-Ape on account of their arms. Their dangers, really deadly monsters! I saw them tear apart this thing on the mountains to the north once! It was months before I found this place! But what were they doing here!?¡±


    A screech from inside caused Paige to put her hand on the pad. She closed her eyes and let her mind sink into the ship. The blueprint appeared in her mind, her location and destination both highlighted. After a few seconds of seeing the data, she discounted it and moved back. ¡°Found our new route. We go up a level a hundred feet that way!¡±


    ¡°And we won¡¯t go into that compartment?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as he followed her pointing finger to the left.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Paige promised as she led the way, the pounding dying behind them


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as the bugs had broken through the blockage, Jinn and Jess dove through the opening. The others followed behind them, with the bugs following their master.


    Jinn kept his ears open, on watch for anything that might be there. But no matter what he tried, all he could hear was the sounds of the wind.


    ¡°Think they attacked him?¡± Jess asked as they ran.


    ¡°No,¡± Jinn muttered as they reached a turn. Running down the tunnel, Jinn shook his head. ¡°I think they¡¯re buying time. We just need to get there. If he does his thing, he could try and escape. I mean they might know how to work the ship¡¯s factory!¡±


    A howling roar ahead of them caused Jinn to almost stumble. But he turned his forward fall into a cartwheel and looked at Jess.


    She had fallen to the ground and he chuckled as he reached down for her. ¡°You just gotta learn to fall the right way, my friend.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, mind teaching me? Once we get through this of course!¡± Jess said as Jinn pulled her up. Another series of screeches came from the tunnel ahead of them.


    With a look at Jess, Jinn nodded once. ¡°Into the fire!¡±


    ¡°So others can live!¡± Jess said with a small smile.


    As the sounds of the others behind them came closer, Jinn just nodded and ¡®dashed¡¯ ahead.


    He finally reached the cave mouth and stared out in shock. Ahead of him was a large field, with the mountain at the other end. Set in the mountain was a ramp into the ship, but before that were large white ape-like monsters! There had to be over twenty of them! They had large bulky legs, their arms were at least six feet long and thin. One of them looked at him and he saw it had two fangs in its mouth, a slit noise, and two pure black eyes. But what was the most shocking was the gun barrel tripods that were around the ramp. Some of them were on the ground, but why hadn¡¯t they fired at the apes? Where were the others?


    A screech from the one that saw him caused all to turn. A roar from the ramp caused him to look and see a true monster. It was larger than the others, easily eight feet tall. It had two arms, but one was broken off at the elbow. But as he watched, it seemed to be regenerating before his eyes. It was when he found the creature¡¯s eyes that he just stood there. The eyes were said to be the windows into the mind, and these eyes were full of rage and anger.


    For a second he looked at the eyes of the larger creature and then it roared, and the apes all charged into the ship.


    Jinn just stood there, stunned speechless.


    ¡°Jinn!¡± Racha¡¯s cry from behind him caused him to turn and stare as the others came out behind him. She looked past him and then around, scowling as she didn¡¯t see anything. ¡°What happened? What was that roar?!¡±


    He looked at them for a few moments before speaking the words. ¡°There were twenty of these white ape things. A bigger one at the ramp roared and they all just thundered into the ship.¡±


    ¡°The White Apes!? What are they doing here!?¡± Karakpace asked in shocked horror.


    ¡°The what?! You know these things!?¡± Al asked as everyone turned to him.


    Karakpace only looked away for a moment before he nodded. ¡°Well, yes. My crew called them White Apes. They rule a territory near the top of the mountain over there. Leave them alone and they leave you alone. I mean the doctor aboard¡­¡­.oh.¡±


    ¡°What is it, and how bad am I going to not like this?¡± Racha asked with a hard tone as Sara walked past her.


    Jinn watched as Sara leaned back, shielding her eyes as she looked up. ¡°Solar panels?¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Racha barked as she looked at Sara and then looked up. Her mouth dropped open as she saw what Sara had done.


    Jinn looked at the gun tripods and whistled. ¡°Nice, power for these things. But why didn¡¯t they fire at the apes?¡±


    ¡°Paige! She must have done it! She turned them off without Callahin knowing, but how? Oh, STARS!¡± Sara said with shock as she looked at the ship. ¡°That thing has to be over a thousand years, at least!¡±


    ¡°How could Paige have turned them off?!¡± Racha barked.


    Sara looked away and swallowed. ¡°She told me once that she used to be a tour guide at a space tech museum. She had nanites to use the old control pads. But what about the Apes Karakpace?¡±


    ¡°My ship¡¯s doctor said that they were sentient, or on the edge. They had the Power as most people call the energy that lets us use Abilities. He must have fed on them!¡± Karakpace said with anger in his voice.


    ¡°They would have tracked him down here!?¡± Racha demanded and Karakpace nodded.


    Jinn looked at the ramp, his mind traveling miles. These new facts changed things a lot. Another faction was here, and they most likely wanted Callahin too. But only time would tell if they wanted to kill everyone here.

 One Hundred Forty Nine

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1110


    Jess looked at the ship¡¯s ramp and then at the others. ¡°Well, those apes are going after our friends! I say we go in now and think later! We breach the ship and then we go from there!¡±


    Jinn only chuckled as he nodded. ¡°Smart idea, want point?¡±


    Jess only nodded and ran, leading the way with her pistol drawn. Ahead of them, they heard the cries and screams of the White Apes slowly dying down. With a scowl, Jess ran up the ramp and into the ship. As soon as she saw the room she came into, her mind flashed back to the Spirit. ¡°An airlock room this size? On a Yard-Ship?¡±


    ¡°Must be for work on the hull. Has to be,¡± Al said as he ran after her.


    Jess nodded as Racha ran past her. Following the Special Services agent, Jess frowned as she saw her go to the side of the open door.


    Racha looked in and swore under her breath. Looking back, her face showed her anger. ¡°Those monsters wrecked it! A locker room and it¡¯s wrecked!¡±


    As the others joined her, Jess looked in and saw the lockers on their side and winced. She hadn¡¯t seen such destruction outside of a movie or game in her life. She had heard of such things, but she had never seen it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this, at all,¡± Jinn said bluntly. ¡°This makes those Ape things that much more of a threat.¡±


    As everyone looked at him Burt just chuckled. ¡°Why not? They¡¯re gone! So they destroyed this room, so what? What does this have to do with anything that those things could do to us?¡±


    ¡°Because this was done to slow us down,¡± Sara said bluntly.


    Jess looked at her, then back into the room. With horror, she finally noticed what Sara and Jinn had. The lockers were thrown about, but they were set so that it would take effort to walk over them. The only reason that these things would have done that was to make the group¡¯s efforts to chase them harder. And that could only have been possible if those things could plan and reason.


    ¡°Stars! Why didn¡¯t those things hunt that monster down before he found us!?¡± Al asked with horror and anger in his voice.


    ¡°Something for later, move!¡± Racha snapped. As everyone looked at her she only glared back. ¡°Jinn, go first with that trick of yours, take someone. Hold the doorway into the ship until we get there!¡±


    ¡°Got it. Who¡¯s coming?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at the others


    ¡°Me!¡± Jess said as she stepped towards him.


    Jinn only nodded before he grabbed her.


    In a moment, Jess felt herself being pulled by Jinn. They appeared above the lockers in the air, but before they could fall, Jinn pulled her along and they were at the door. Jess fell to her knees and almost threw up but swallowed it back down.


    ¡°oh nova that was¡­.. I just that,¡± Jess said before havening again.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m told that it''s hard on others. By Racha, if you must know,¡± Jinn said from above her.


    Jess just let that sink in and tried to keep her anger down. She had volunteered for this after all, but Racha should have said how it was. But that was something that she could talk to Racha about later.


    Getting up, she looked out the door and almost sighed as she saw that the Apes were gone. She saw a console next to the door and almost yelled in joy. But then she saw the state of it and then had to fight down a curse. She looked up and saw Jinn looking down one way the hallway the door opened to and then nodded, looking the other way. She saw the signs of a primitive dwelling here, but it had all been destroyed. For a moment she wondered why the Apes had done that, but then she just shrugged as she looked down the corridor.


    They stood there in silence for three minutes before Jinn nodded. ¡°Clear! Hey Al, you said you¡¯ve got nanites to talk to Interface Pads right?¡±


    ¡°That old control tech? Yeah! No console to hack into but that?!¡± Al called from behind them.


    Looking back, she saw Burt leading the way with Karakpace. Some of his smaller bugs moved along the sides of the room. She almost fired at one when it reached them, but she forced down the action. Karakpace was helping them, they had the same enemy now. And that was worth some trust.


    Racha crested the lockers and glared. ¡°Stay silent!¡±


    Jess only moved her hand across her lips before nodding. She went back to guarding the doorway, this time with help from the smaller bugs. They stayed silent for the next five minutes until Racha could lead the others to the door. They moved into the hallway and looked around. They stared at the destruction around them, trying to understand it.


    ¡°This must have been where Callahin lived. But why here? Why not in one of the quarters!?¡± Sara asked the question the others were thinking.


    Jess looked around, trying to find anything that might tell her anything. But all she found were more questions. The way that Callahin had spoken of his past, growing up on that station, had been real.  How could he have¡­¡­Jess went still as she suddenly realized how. That one thing that made all the sense here, was how everything slotted together. She held her hand to her mouth, forcing down her horror. This revelation only raised questions that they would never know the answers to. But the questions changed everything about their ''friend''.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Jess suddenly exclaimed loudly. ¡°That waste of generics! That slime monster filth!¡±


    As everyone looked at her, she just kept cursing Callahin. She called him every bad word she could, grabbed what had been his belongings, and destroyed one. She was going for another when something grabbed her arm. She looked and saw Burt¡¯s hand over her forearm.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°Hey! What is it?! What did you figure out!?¡± Burt demanded.


    ¡°That cursed power of his! He ate the memories of someone from that station! Callahin could be anyone from anywhere! This might be how he grew up for all we know!¡± Jess said with a snarl as she gestured to the materials around her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Al meanwhile had gone to the Interface Pad and put his hand on it. He closed his eyes and let the data flow into him, cutting him off from the world. He looked around at the data before him and whistled as he saw how old this ship was. Looking at who had commanded it caused him to raise a digital eyebrow before he looked at what he could access. Frowning he sent a few data packs to many locations, slowly letting them work in the infinite second.


    After a few nanoseconds, he saw that the programming updates had finished. He looked inwards with the updates to the ship¡¯s sensors he had made. But as he looked at the data, his eyes widened in horror at what he could see now.


    ¡°By the First Program!¡± Al cried as he stepped back, disconnecting as he took in what he had found.


    ¡°Al!¡± Jinn¡¯s voice barked before Al felt someone grab him as he stumbled.


    Al looked around and saw the others all looking at him. He forced a small smile as he looked at everyone. ¡°I found everything we needed to know.¡±


    ¡°Good man!¡± Racha said as she nodded. ¡°So where are our friends, our new target, the Apes, and the factory?¡±


    ¡°Wait! How did you find them!?¡± Sara asked shock in her voice.


    ¡°Easy,¡± Al said as he forced himself back to his feet. Shaking his limbs he looked at the others before reporting what he had done. ¡°I sent in a program that changed the sensors, they can see into this thing now. From there I found everything here. The apes went that way, after their target.


    Al points down the corridor with a dark look. ¡°They might be able to lock down a few doors, force those things to come back this way. But I found a master map, that shows a way into the service tunnels. I need someone to go with me to the bridge, I can turn on the security systems there. That¡¯s the best thing that can save us!¡±


    ¡°Save us!? From what!?¡± Burt asked horror in his voice.


    Karakpace only released a rumbling growl.


    ¡°He used what that one knew then? There is a monster here?¡± Karakpace rumbled.


    ¡°Yeah. Something big moving on the other side from a ramp into the mountain. I couldn¡¯t see what it was, but it was big. There are bones around it,¡± Al said bluntly. At the looks he was getting, Al just kept talking. ¡°I need to drop a data pack. It¡¯ll let Paige know we¡¯re here and update her on where to go. If we can throw Callahin at those Apes they might leave if we show we want this place! And to do that, we need to get to the bridge!¡±


    Al touched the Interface Pad again, and a door twenty feet away set into the wall opened.


    ¡°That should give us the fastest route to the bridge! Come on!¡± Al said.


    ¡°Wait, we need to split up!¡± Racha said before Al could move, grabbing his arm.


    ¡°Wait, what?! Oh,¡± Al said as he looked around and realized what Racha meant.


    ¡°I¡¯m going after the Apes. I won¡¯t budge on this,¡± Karakpace said bluntly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with him, Racha you should go with Al,¡± Jinn said as he looked at her.


    Jess saw Racha about to open her mouth but then she nodded.


    ¡°Fine, but I¡¯ll need someone else to come with me. Jess, with me,¡± Racha said.


    ¡°ME!? Why?¡± Jess exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Simple. I need someone alone who knows tech. And Sara¡¯s powers and skills might be needed with the Apes. Plus Burt has that plasma weapon. I don¡¯t want a stray shot to destroy the bridge,¡± Racha said bluntly.


    ¡°HEY! No, that¡¯s fair. Very fair,¡± Burt said, looking away.


    Jess looked from Jinn to Racha for a moment before she nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t like it, but it¡¯s the best thing that we can do. Good luck!¡±


    As the group split up, Jess looked back at the others before she followed Racha into the passageway. As the door closed behind her, she hoped that this was the right choice. But she had a strange feeling that there was going to be a mess at the end, a mess that might be deadly.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Sk¡¯p looked behind them as the three of them ran down the corridor. They had left the Apes behind them, but something was bothering him. But he just couldn¡¯t figure out what it was, it seemed to be just out of reach. No matter what track he went down, that feeling of something being wrong stayed there.


    ¡°So you¡¯ve never been here before?¡± Paige asked as she led the way.


    ¡°NOPE! The doors kept me out. I thought those pads had something to do with it, but I never got them to work. Guess the tech is too out of date for my Nanos!¡± Callahin said, a grin in his voice.


    Sk¡¯p tried to figure out what to think about Callahin, but he was a mystery. He was against going this way, but now he was all for it. It had to have something to do with the Apes behind them. He could see him being scared of them for some reason. For all he knew, the man had been attacked by an Ape as a child. He had seen and heard of strangers if he was honest.


    ¡°So how much of this place have you seen?¡± Sk¡¯p asked, shamelessly fishing for anything that he could use.


    ¡°Well, not much. The corridor we came into is my kitchen. Well, I prepare my food there and cook outside if it¡¯s not raining. I just go through the rooms to throw the bones away into the ocean. Very easy,¡± Callahin said looking over his shoulder at Sk¡¯p with a grin.


    Sk¡¯p frowned. Something about that was bothering him. He remembered that Callahin was suffering from an injury that took a lot of his memories. So the man had to rebuild himself to survive here alone. But the way he spoke, it was like he had done that all his life. He wasn¡¯t from this ship, it was too old. But what kind of world did he come from?


    ¡°You never moved beyond that corridor?¡± Paige asked a strange tone in her voice.


    ¡°Oh, I did!¡± Callahin exclaimed, laughing now. After a few moments, he grinned and walked ahead to turn around. Listen well! Beyond my cooking place, there¡¯s my sleeping chamber a few minutes¡¯ walk from there! I found something to use to block the door so I can sleep without worry! All in all, this place has been good to me,¡± Callahin said with a wide grin.


    ¡°So you never went to where we want to go through?¡± Sk¡¯p asked pointedly.


    ¡°I think, no. I know the room you want if I¡¯m seeing this ship in my mind right? The other way led there too, but it went by this other ramp thing that went into the mountain. I looked into that place and used it as a garbage dump on monsoon days. Good hiding place really,¡± Callahin said with a laugh. ¡°But that way has another pad in front of the locked door! I only know it¡¯s open because I saw it seaside once. I was out in a raft deep fishing, something my crew made before we tried to move into here.¡±


    ¡°So your crew found this ship? It wasn¡¯t you alone?¡± Sk¡¯p asked, pouncing on the answer. If he was right, then maybe there were some of the crew members of Callahin around here. They might be getting ready to ambush him and Paige!


    ¡°No, all crew dead. We died on track to ship. I alone made it into this place. Good people didn¡¯t deserve their fates,¡± Callahin said, bringing a hand to his face to rub his eyes, turning around.


    Sk¡¯p almost bought the act, but Paige flashed him a sign behind her back. The sign was the Fed Sign for ¡®liar¡¯. At that, Sk¡¯p forced his face to stay expression, to show the calm he didn¡¯t feel. The term liar could mean many things, and none of them were good. If he was right, then this was the worst thing that could happen. The worst of all his bad ideas about Callahin.


    ¡°So we¡¯re almost there Paige?¡± Sk¡¯p asked a forced cheer in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, after that I just need to find a platform that works and we could save the others!¡± Paige said with cheer. She flashed another sign, this one for ¡®anger¡¯.


    Sk¡¯p could only look at Callahin, and barely keep from exploding. He didn¡¯t know but there really was something wrong with the man. He had to find a way to get him to keep ahead of them. The only time to expose your back was if you trusted the person there. And he had lost all trust in Callahin.


    Suddenly Sk¡¯p went still as he heard something echo off the walls. He slowly turned his head trying to figure out what it was. It was strange, it was like something he had heard once before.


    ¡°So I think we might find, but who knows how long it was exposed to the elements. I just want you to know we might have to find something else to save them. But this old thing has to have something that we can use!¡± Callahin said, excitement in his voice.


    ¡°Stay quiet!¡± Sk¡¯p barked, a strange feeling going through him. He tried to keep thinking, listening to the sounds as they kept getting louder. He knew his race had better hearing than humans, but they had to hear something by now. But after a moment he finally heard it clearer, and he wished that he didn¡¯t. ¡°No. move!¡±


    Sk¡¯p ran, grabbing Paige and putting her under his right arm as he ran.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Callahin cried out from behind him, but he ran after them a moment later. ¡°What is it!?¡±


    ¡°Those Apes! They found a way to get in here! I can hear them!¡± Sk¡¯p cried out, his eyes looking for anything that they could use.


    ¡°What!? Move it!¡± Paige barked, fear in her voice.


    As they traveled deeper into the ship, the screams slowly grew louder. It was when Paige cursed that Sk¡¯p knew that she had finally heard them. He wanted to keep calm, but it was hard. They had only killed the last one because Callahin shot one of them through the head. If there were as many of them behind as he thought there were, then they would overwhelm the group. They had to move, find someplace they could make a stand or blockade.


    ¡°There! That door ahead!¡± Paige yelled suddenly.


    Sk¡¯p snapped his head up and saw what Paige had. An Interface Pads was just by the right turn on the wall across from them. It might only be a storeroom, but any port in an asteroid storm as the saying went.


    He ran faster and stopped just in front of it.


    ¡°I can hear them, they¡¯re close!¡± Call exclaimed, fear in his voice.


    Sk¡¯p barely kept from throttling the scum. His screams had to be bringing the monsters to them. After they had left the corridor with the door to the Apes, they passed three cross corridors. Were he apes tracking by scent? Were they hunting by sound? Either of those meant that whatever room they found would have the Apes staying outside it. But they had no other choice.


    ¡°Put me down, now!¡± Paige barked.


    Sk¡¯p looked down and felt the blood leave his face as he realized what he had done. When he grabbed her, the way he carried her forced Paige¡¯s arms against her body.


    He hastily put her down, and she slammed her hand on the pad. She stood there for a moment, blinking before the door opened.


    ¡°IN!¡± Paige bellowed.


    ¡°THEIR HERE!¡± Callahin yelled, fear in his voice.


    Sk¡¯p didn¡¯t look back, he just ran into the doorway and then slammed against the wall, Paige behind him. Callahin followed, and Paige closed the doors, cutting off the sounds.


    Sk¡¯p grinned, then he looked up. He stared aghast at the horror they had walked into.

 One Hundred Fifty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1140


    Paige panted as she took stock of what had happened. She had to admit that this was beyond anything that she thought she would experience today. Form the wolves, the plant thing and now being hunted by Apes. She had to admit, that she was happy with how she was handling it. As she looked down, catching her breath she started to smell rotten meat.


    ¡°So I guess we came into an old food storage room then? Must have gone rotten a long time ago!¡± Paige said with a slight joking edge to her voice. But as Sk¡¯p and Callahin stayed silent, she started to get worried. ¡°What¡¯s wrong guys? I mean sure, this will be hard to clean up. But that¡¯s what they¡­¡­¡±


    Paige felt someone grab her head and she was forced to see what was in the chamber. She felt her stomach lurch and then she bent over, throwing up part of her last meal.


    ¡°You okay Paige?¡± Sk¡¯p asked a kind tone in his voice.


    ¡°As good as I could be,¡± Paige said before she looked up.


    In front Of them was a large chamber, a hundred feet wide and two hundred long. There were ten rows of metal poles that went from one side of the room to the other. And along those were bodies. Skeletons with handcuffs with wires connecting them to the poles, at least a thousand of them! To her horror, the bodies were different sizes, and that had to mean children! And while the skeletons were of different races, she could see human children here and there.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Callahin asked, horror in his voice.


    Paige barely kept from screaming at him. She could feel the awe and respect he felt, and that disgusted him.


    ¡°We told you that this ship was from a self-styled Pirate lord, I guess he was a slave trader too. I always hated him,¡± Sk¡¯p said as he walked between one of the rows.


    Paige was about to say something when they heard screaming from behind him. Without a word, Paige steeled herself. She felt the same emotional echo from those Apes as before, but now it was greater. There was something else there now, something more focused. Its hate and anger were like lava, burning so hot she was surprised they were still active. And as the pounding continued, she didn¡¯t feel the anger grow. It just kept at the level it was at, and it seemed to be looking for something.


    Without a word, she looked from the door to the rows of dead and swallowed. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. Let¡¯s move!¡±


    Paige ran after Sk¡¯p who led the way. She kept her eyes on him, not letting her focus shift away. She might have to run through these bodies, but she didn¡¯t have to let this final horror break him. All she could do was plan to move these later and give them a burning burial later.


    As soon as they reached the end they looked around and found the Interface Pad. As she walked over she took a deep breath and prepared for the horror that this was going to be. She knew that these things sometimes had commands that only went to the room they were in. And she felt horror at what pirate slavers could have used this tech to do.


    ¡°We could try to break the door down,¡± Sk¡¯p said, looking at her.


    Paige felt his worry and smiled at the door, sighing as she did. She knew that he had to have done a few raids on pirate ships. How slaver ships had been set up. She figured that he knew what she might find here. But if they could break the door down, then the Apes would do the same behind them. No, the best thing to do was to open the door with Interface Pad, not even let the chance exist that the door could be broken.


    ¡°No, I have to. You know that,¡± Paige said with a sigh.


    ¡°Am I missing something here?¡± Callahin asked from behind him.


    ¡°Yeah, this here? It¡¯s on the middle of what the worst scum could do with tech. I don¡¯t know what they could have done with commands in the room and on the other side,¡± Sk¡¯p bit out.


    Paige ignored them and touched the Interface Pad with her free hand. In a moment, she felt her mind being accessed and blinked. She was ¡®in¡¯ a virtual space that hadn¡¯t been there the last time she had accessed the ship. ¡°What happened? What is this? Was the ship not awake the last time I opened it? Did it need something else to fully boot up?¡±


    As Paige looked around, she found something. It was a glowing green square floating in the ¡®space¡¯ before her. But what was more shocking was a symbol on it, the symbol of the Spirit of Adventure. She couldn¡¯t believe it, what did this mean? But then she grinned as she realized who had left this for her. ¡°They made it! They''re alive! All we need to make it back to them!¡±


    But as soon as she touched the square, her face started to fall. Her eyes widened as she took in the data, her mouth dropped open as she tried to understand it. Suddenly, everything made sense. Every question she had about Callahin was answered, and she didn¡¯t want to know this.


    Without a second, she looked around the virtual space and found the command she needed. She looked at it, and with a single moment she sent the command, and she blinked. She was ¡®back¡¯ in the chamber, and without a word, she tried to figure out how much time had passed.


    ¡°¡­¡­.So yes, this here? I¡¯ve seen and heard of a lot worse,¡± Sk¡¯p said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Paige could barely keep from moving, the time had passed in barely a nanosecond. She knew that programming tech had advanced in the last few years. But this was beyond anything that she thought was possible. She had a strange desire to talk to Al about how he had done this, she could see a lot of things this could do. ¡°Not now.¡±


    ¡°You okay?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as he and the monster they were with turned to look at her.


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    Paige kept from screaming as she turned her gaze at Callahin. She had to play it cool, keep from exploding, and find a way to get away from him. With everything that she had just learned, she wanted to shoot him herself. But he might have another ability that he could use to defend against them, and then feed on them. No, the best thing to do was to keep doing what she had been doing.


    ¡°Yeah, it just shocked me. come on, we need to move!¡± Paige said as she looked at the door as it opened. At least she was getting out of this slaughterhouse, there was that.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she followed after Al, Racha kept looking around. Something about this place was bothering her, and she couldn¡¯t figure out why. So far, they had been making good time. The one thing that she could think about was that this seemed to be familiar to her. She couldn¡¯t figure out what was making her feel this way, that danger was just hiding out of reach.


    The passageway they were going down wasn¡¯t that wide, only six feet. And it was a unitary white with lights overhead. Every now and then, they came across doors that they left alone. Their goal was farther ahead of them, and they would know it when they saw it. The few signs they passed were normal, ¡®galley one¡¯, ¡®main storage¡¯, what she expected on a yard ship. But one sign that looked new said ¡®product holding¡¯, that one made her pause. She had a feeling what it was used for, but she still hoped that she was wrong.


    ¡°So, this is the interior?¡± Burt said with a strange look on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve been inside part of one once, but it had been used overgrown with vines. But this must make it easy to move around.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the idea behind them really. All for letting security forces move around borders,¡± Al said with a laugh ahead of them.


    ¡°Still, are you sure this will work? We could use these things to track down that scum and save those two!¡± Burt said with a hard edge to his voice.


    For a second, Racha thought her old teacher was speaking to her. He always used that tone of voice whenever he was talking about some old foes that escaped him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t like that Callahin got one over you?¡± Racha asked, a smirk on her face.


    ¡°It was more the sentient eater thing really. That¡¯s the one thing that most people on this world will agree with. Those things are to be hunted down whenever possible!¡± Burt said an artic chill in his voice.


    Racha looked back and saw the scowl on his face, nodding as she turned around.


    ¡°That¡¯s one of the few things on this planet that everyone follows! The supremacist even tracks down their own. I heard that they kill them slowly!¡± Burt said with a growl as he looked at Racha. ¡°What about your people? Have many of them appear amongst you all?¡±


    For a second, all Racha could do was look at his eyes. He glared back at her, and his eyes were even shrinking as she watched him.


    ¡°We only have a few appear every decade or so. And most of them usually had an external factor that made them that way. The ones caused by sickness or bioweapons results are the worst!¡± Racha said as she looked at him.


    Seeing him take a step back made her feel a bit of joy. She didn¡¯t know what had brought this out of him. But it seemed that he had beliefs about this, strong ones. For a moment, she wondered just where they came from, but then she just knew.


    ¡°Keep moving! From what I saw on the map, we¡¯re almost there! Another ten at the most!¡± Al called out with a forced cheerfulness.


    Burt sighed and nodded, stepping past Racha. He looked at her for a few moments before whispering a single word. ¡°Sorry.¡±


    Racha only kept her face blank by practice. The way that he had reacted just now told her enough. Somehow, there Burt had run into a Sentient Eater before. She didn¡¯t know exactly how to feel about that. She wasn¡¯t lying, most of those she had fought with were the results of external factors. But the ones that did it by choice? Those were the true monsters that haunted the void.


    After another minute of silent walking, Burt finally spoke again. ¡°So, you¡¯ve ever been in a ship like this? Either of you?¡±


    ¡°A friend of mine was working on a VR walk-through of a later class of these. That was the most for me. What about you? Got any stories you can talk about Racha?¡± Al asked from the front.


    Racha kept quiet for a few moments. Finally, she released a sigh. ¡°Once, a long time ago. It was another class, but supposedly a pirate had stolen it. I never bought it, not when the hijackers all killed themselves.¡±


    ¡°False Flag? Makes sense. The city-states in the Desert Realm would sometimes do that according to rumors. But then most people believe that¡¯s propaganda really. Don''t know what to believe myself,¡± Burt said with a sigh as they reached an intersection.


    As they passed by it, Racha looked to the right and went still. She was staring right at blaster marks on the walls. ¡°Hello! We¡¯ve got something!¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Burt exclaimed as he and Al turned. They followed her gaze and saw the same marks she had. For a moment they said nothing, and then Al looked closer.


    ¡°I think this was a while ago. Could this have been part of what Callahin did? No, how would he have gotten in here? A raid then?¡± Al asked as he touched the marks.


    ¡°But if it¡¯s there, then it came from¡­¡­ what¡¯s that?¡± Burt asked softly.


    They followed his gaze down the left passageway, and Racha went still.


    There to the left was the broken body of a robot. It was a vehicle frame, with two rail legs leading to a central platform. It was around five feet long and had two blasters built into the body.


    ¡°That¡¯s a ¡®Rail Skimmer¡¯,¡± Al breathed in awe. ¡°Those were some of the earliest models of controlled mobile defenses! But they were created years after Zeelitrix died!¡±


    Racha went still and slowly turned her head towards Al. He must have noticed this because he looked at her and gulped. Burt seemed to figure something was up because he looked between them with a confused look in her eyes.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Burt asked, but Racha ignored him.


    All she did was look at Al as she slowly moved her hand to her pistol.


    ¡°Zeelitrix!? What does Zeelitrix have to do with this ship!?¡± Racha demanded.


    Al blinked and then winced. ¡°Oh, I forgot. This was one of his ships.¡±


    ¡°IT WAS WHAT!? You idiot! Why didn¡¯t you say anything?!¡± Racha exploded before she looked around. Suddenly the passageway looked that much more deadly. Every shadow was a place that could hide a trap that could kill them all. And the signs that they had passed, their meaning took on a darker tone.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Al asked as he looked at her. ¡°This place is asleep! Whatever he might have used it for doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°It matters! He used these ships as prison barges, slave carriers, and troop transports! The troops were all in cryo-sleep! And the Service found a crashed ship that scavengers had woke up an army! It almost sparked another war!¡± Racha barked as she drew out her weapon.


    She looked at the Rail Skimmer and tried to think of where others of them might be. Al meanwhile had his mouth open and she glared at him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk later! For now, move! If any of those things are stuck in here, I want to be able to leave fast!¡± Racha barked before she went still. She blinked as she looked at the Rail Skimmer and then lunged at Al. She pushed him down moments before it fired and hit the wall.


    Burt reacted, firing his weapon and blowing the main body of the robot apart.


    Racha got off Al and looked at the remains, finding where a wire had been plugged into the wall from the robot. ¡°NOVA! Someone hardwired this to the ship! We need to move now! That¡¯s had to have called for help!¡±


    ¡°Right! Follow me!¡± Al said as he scrammed to his feet and ran towards their goal.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got rear, go!¡± Burt said before he looked down the right passageway and fired. ¡°Four of those Rail Skimmers! Move, I got the one in the lead but run!¡±


    Racha didn¡¯t wait, she just ran. She knew that they had only moments to reach a place to get out of the corridors. If they could trap these things in here, then maybe they could still take this place. The others would have to stay outside for a bit, but it was still something they could do. It would take more effort than they expected, but this place could be theirs.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn ran down the hallway, Sara, Jess, and Karakpace with his bugs following behind him. He had used his abilities to ¡®dash¡¯ ahead to take the lead, saying with his weapons it was the perfect place for him. So far, they hadn¡¯t found anything yet, nothing that showed the Apes had passed them. But Al had said the sensors found them going this way, so that was that. It just meant that they were ahead of them, and that was another reason he was here. With his ¡®Dash ability,¡¯ he could get away from them, and then fire at them once he reappeared.


    But as he came around a right corner, he stopped. A door had what looked like scratch marks on it, with a large single line done the middle. That was something that bothered him the most, as he had no idea where it could have come from.


    ¡°Hey, Jinn!¡± Al¡¯s voice caused him to turn, seeing the others coming around the corner. As they came closer their eyes found the door.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Sara asked as she put her hand over a set of scratches. She splayed out her fingers and then stepped back. ¡°The Apes made this!? Why?¡±


    Karakpace stepped forward and seemed to breathe deeply. He stepped back and looked at the door. ¡°This smells of dead beasts. But the scent, it¡¯s like that of the Apes. They used this as their own hive to wait for him. They must have tried to break down the door, give them a line of retreat. Smarter than I thought possible for them.¡±


    Jinn looked at the door and then down the hallway. The Apes had to have gone that way, and that meant that the others were that way.


    ¡°Good sign, let¡¯s move!¡± Jinn said but before he could take a step, Al grabbed his arm.


    Al looked at Jinn with a hard look. ¡°We¡¯re going into the fire now. You stay with us for now Jinn!¡± Al said sternly.


    Jinn only nodded as Karakpace walked by.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take point. My armor will handle the Apes much better than yours. And my hunters will be able to tell me when we get closer,¡± Karakpace rumbled.


    Jinn only nodded, willing to let Karakpace lead. But as they walked on, Sara stayed where she was for a moment longer.


    ¡°So quick question. We know they went way by that door. So they''re between us and the others, right? And we need to make sure that we can get to our people before those things do. But the question I¡¯ve got is this. If we kill Callahin, will that cause these Apes to want to kill us?¡± Sara asked point blank.

 Chapter One Hundred Fifty One Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1200


    Al ran, hearing the screams of rage from Burt and Racha. He hadn¡¯t expected to find the Rail Skimmers at all, that was something that was beyond him. But he had to keep in the now, not let his mind try and figure this out. The evidence that this island was more than it seemed just kept growing, but he had to keep on track.


    Blinking to activate his Augmented Reality nanites, he activated the map he had saved. With a single command, he found the nearest Interface Pad. With another command, he quickly made a route that would lead from it to the bridge. It was going to be a hard run, but he had confidence they could make it.


    ¡°Keep moving, another three minutes until we can leave this corridor!¡± Al cried as blasts started to fly over his head. He looked at the blasts and tried to understand, but he came up with nothing. If the bots were programmed like he thought they would have been, then they would have saved their shots.


    ¡°YEAH! You want some of this!? Come on!¡± Burt roared as he fired behind Al.


    Al kept moving, not letting his emotions show. This was beyond anything that he had expected when he had acceded the Interface Pod. There was nothing there that even hinted that such as this was even possible! Like all of his faith, he thrived on logic. And the logic here was lacking!


    Finally, after another few minutes of running, they made it to the door.


    ¡°There it is! Just give me five seconds!¡± Al said as he slammed his hand onto the Pad.


    As soon as he was in the virtual space, he called up all the commands this Pad could access. As the hundred program lines hovered in the air, his eyes flashed over them. He knew that finding what he was after was a long shot, but it was possible.


    He finally found the security command, but when he tried to access it, he saw that he didn¡¯t have the proper authority. His eyes widened as he quickly saw just where he had to go to get it, and he swallowed. A map appeared with the distance from the door to the security room. With that room in the opposite direction of the bridge, it was out. He started to wonder if they should go there when he saw another point where he could turn the robots off. Without wasting a moment more, he opened the door and released himself from the virtual space.


    He blinked as he looked around as the door opened and grinned. ¡°There it is, go!¡±


    As he ducked under the rising door, he heard Racha and Burt both fire at the advancing robots.


    Looking around the corridor he had come out in, he looked around and found another Interface Pad. He dashed to it and slammed his hand down. He stayed in the ¡®real world¡¯ as Racha came through at a lunge, rolling away as Burt followed. Without waiting, he sent a command and as the door moved down, he saw blasts fire at it. One of the bolts sped by him, and he almost winced.


    The door slammed shut and he took a deep breath, trying to figure out where the robots had come from.


    ¡°What was that!?¡± Burt demanded as he looked at Al, rage in his eyes. ¡°Was that why we split up?¡±


    Al looked at him, his mouth open in shock and he stared at Burt for a moment before he spoke. ¡°NO! I saw nothing that even hinted that those things were there! There was nothing at all! That never happens!¡±


    ¡°Well, why couldn¡¯t you just turn them off?¡± Racha asked suddenly. For a moment there was just silence and then Racha spoke again. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what those Pads were for? Accessing ship¡¯s systems?¡±


    Al looked at her and took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah, but doing that here is impossible. The system needed a code that I just don¡¯t have. The only way to turn them off is at either the bridge or the security center!¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°So we keep moving to the bridge, that¡¯s good. We still have a plan to handle them, right?¡± Racha asked as she looked at him.


    Al nodded, but then he looked and saw Burt scowling.


    ¡°I just had a thought, a bad one. Those things are being controlled by the computer in this wreck, right?¡± Burt asked as he looked at the door.


    Al followed his gaze, a dark and terrible thought slowly coming up from the depths of his mind. ¡°Yeah, so?¡±


    Burt aimed his weapon at the door and swallowed. ¡°So maybe, just maybe. Could those things open the doors?¡±


    Al went still as he looked at Burt. Without a thought, he lunged for the Interface Pad and slammed his hand onto it. In a moment, he was accessing the virtual space, looking around he found the command for opening the door. But as he released his ¡®breathe¡¯, he saw something appear and activate the command. Looking up, he saw a virtual construct shaped like a Rail Skimmer. Without a nanosecond, Al sent a virus missile at the construct and he felt a spark of joy as it dissipated. Looking at the menu, he sent two quick commands and smirked as he saw the result. Within a nanosecond, his mind was back in the real world. He pulled back away from the Interface Pad and roared at the others.


    ¡°MOVE! They can open the doors! I set up a command to do a complete system check, we have twenty minutes until this door can be opened again! They can¡¯t see us, we¡¯re thirty minutes from the bridge out here! So run!¡± Al barked.


    He took off running, not waiting for a reply from them. All he could do was hope that other robots weren¡¯t hunting the others.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Sk¡¯p walked out the door, he scowled as he looked around the passageway. ¡°So now where are we, did you find a map?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but the Apes will find their way there soon. We need to run and run fast!¡± Paige said as she walked out of the room.


    ¡°OR! Just or! I know this place, found it on my exploring of this wreck!¡± Callahin said as came out behind Paige. He gestured the other way and looked at the two of them. ¡°So I know how to get back to the opening! We can escape, try and fix what they did to those weapons at the ramp! Lead them into the crossfire and dispose of the bodies afterward!¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t work. If they were smart enough to get in here, they had to have been smart enough to split up. We need to move fast, get something they won¡¯t be able to follow us on!¡± Paige said, looking right at Sk¡¯p¡¯s eyes.


    Sk¡¯p was about to say something when he saw Paige¡¯s eyes. They were locked on Callahin, and he had to admit that something was disturbing in them.


    ¡°The door into the hanger is open on the other side, right? But they might have split their numbers. So we have to move fast, to the door,¡± Sk¡¯p said with a hard tone.


    ¡°What!? But why shouldn¡¯t we go the other way!? I mean those things behind us couldn¡¯t know where we¡¯re going, right? I mean once we close the door!¡± Callahin exclaimed with anger.


    Sk¡¯p just shook his head, looking at him with a somber look. He couldn¡¯t understand just what


    ¡°Those Apes might have split up. The best thing to do is find a place where we can fight with our backs protected. So make for that door!¡± Sk¡¯p said with a scowl.


    Paige nodded, putting her hand on the Interface Pad and the door closed. Callahin looked at it and then at her before he nodded.


    ¡°Okay, so the door¡¯s closed, but do you think they¡¯ll be smart enough to go both ways!?¡± Callahin asked with desperation in his voice.


    Sk¡¯p only nodded. ¡°Without a doubt. This plant seems to have one setting, horrifying. So let¡¯s just choose the side of the worst thing. That way we¡¯ll be surpassed if it isn¡¯t.¡±


    Sk¡¯p then turned and walked away, not bothering to let Callahin keep talking. A moment later Paige was beside him and Callahin called out.


    ¡°Fine, fine! But I want to be able to say I told you so!¡± Callahin said as Sk¡¯p heard him start to walk. ¡°But just in case you¡¯re not wrong, I¡¯ll be on rearguard duty.¡±


    ¡°You do you Callahin. You do you!¡± Sk¡¯p said as he withdrew his weapon, looking around for anything that might come at them. ¡°And I¡¯ll keep an eye on anything that comes at us from the front!¡±


    ¡°Smart. You know, that reminds me of a horror movie the ship showed a few weeks back, remember it? The one about the ship that broke down in space?¡± Paige asked as they walked. ¡°You know, the one that they showed on the big screen for free? In the big theater and still broadcast it all over? My girls and I had a great evening watching it! I loved the plot twist!¡±


    Sk;p looked at her, remembering the event she was talking about. ¡°That movie? Yeah, I remember it a bit better than you. And the twist?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Who knew that the villain was a member of the Scholar¡¯s Way? Leaving those notes that said the ship was attacked by that alien race?¡± Paige asked brightly.


    Sk¡¯p blinked, looking at her, and then was about to say something when he stopped. His eyes went wide and then he slowly looked over his shoulder at Callahin.


    For an instant, Sk¡¯p said nothing. All that could go through his mind was suddenly he saw the true picture. And it was one that he didn¡¯t want to see at all. Suddenly things that had made no sense were crystal clear. It took all of Sk¡¯p¡¯s training not to strike back against Callahin right now! For all he knew, this was all going how Callahin wanted it to go!


    ¡°But remember what the hero did, I always thought that was the right thing to do!¡± Paige said absently.


    Sk¡¯p looked at her and laughed good naturally. ¡°Yeah, you''re right. But we need to move. We might have something coming at us from behind. So let¡¯s run!¡±


    As Sk¡¯p sped up, he tried and failed to keep track of Callahin behind him. There was no way that he could convince Callahin to lead the way, not when he wanted them to turn. It would take some of the Apes coming at them and even¡­¡­..


    Sk¡¯p almost stumbled but he caught himself and kept going.


    ¡°You okay? You don¡¯t need anything?¡± Paige asked.


    Sk¡¯p only looked at her and smiled a bit. He had to tell her what he figured out, and now. She had to know, no matter what happened she had to know. If she was right about Callahin, then she couldn¡¯t know where he wanted to kill them!


    ¡°Yeah. I just¡­.¡± Sk¡¯p said and shook his head. ¡°I just remembered something. I think an old movie used this ship class as a setting a few times. Loved those movies, really did. They just never said what Yard-Ship layout they used.


    ¡°OH? What movies?¡± Paige wondered as she looked right at him. She flashed a hand ¡®sign¡¯ for ¡®Him¡¯ and Sk¡¯p nodded. ¡°What¡¯s the name of your favorite? Maybe I heard of it?¡±


    ¡°Ever see The Terror of the Acolyte-D ?¡±Sk¡¯p asked.


    Paige looked at him and her eyes widened. She almost whipped her head around, but then she caught herself. ¡°That one?


    ¡°Something¡¯s back here!¡± Callahin called out suddenly.


    Sk¡¯p looked back, seeing Callahin pointing his weapon down the corridor. He moved his head up and saw robots moving seeming to skim the floor with their two legs. His eyes widened as he recognized what the roots were, and he aimed and fired. ¡°HOVER SKIMMERS! RUN!¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Fifty One Part 2

    Jess tried to keep calm as she ran after Jinn. Her question had been unanswered, as even Karakpace didn¡¯t know that. He had admitted that he hadn¡¯t thought they were evolved enough to even think of revenge, so there was that. She had admitted that the best thing to do was maybe keep moving, and act once they knew what the Apes did.


    Sara had decided that she was doing her best by staying in the back. She said something about having the medical supplies. As she had been looking at Karakpace, Jess understood. She didn¡¯t want him to know that she had a Power to heal. She didn¡¯t fully agree with it, but they had to protect themselves. And since it was her Power, it was her choice. That was how Jess saw it, and that was enough. All they needed to do, was try and get to the others before the Apes did. She didn¡¯t think they would kill the others, but they wanted Callahin. Ahead, Jinn suddenly held up a hand.


    They all went still, looking ahead at the corner to the left. Jess could make out a door, and this one had more marks like the door they left behind them. If that wasn¡¯t a mark they were on the right path, she didn¡¯t know what was. But just why were there marks on it in the first place?


    ¡°The others, they must have escaped through here,¡± Jinn said suddenly.


    Jess looked up and saw Jinn gazing at something. She turned her head and found an Interface Pad, only somehow it was torn off.


    ¡°The Apes are strong to have done this. Stronger than I thought,¡± Karakpace rumbled as his bugs moved ahead and around the corner. He seemed to stare into space and then nodded after a few moments. ¡°Long gong I¡¯m afraid. But there¡¯s another turn ahead of us.¡±


    ¡°So where could they be going?¡± Jinn asked.


    Jess could believe that. Those two both seemed to be people who wouldn¡¯t let others down. And that meant going into the fire to pull others out. So now they had to go and help their friends so they wouldn¡¯t die.


    ¡°Then since they made it through that door, should we try and find a way to them? I mean we don¡¯t know where they¡¯re going now, right?¡± Sara asked and she looked at the others.


    ¡°No, we do now. They came here to save us from Karakpace¡¯s forces. If that¡¯s their goal, then we know where they¡¯re going. They have to be still after that room, it¡¯s the only thing that makes sense,¡± Jess said bluntly.


    ¡°How does that make sense?¡± Sara asked incredulously


    ¡°Sk¡¯p is military. Officer at that. They always think about what the enemy is doing. He has to think the Apes are trying to flank them.


    ¡°Yeah. And I think Al dropped a package into the network. If Paige found it, then she¡¯ll know what we think Callahin is. So let¡¯s move!¡± Jinn said with a scowl on his face as he ran past Karakpace.


    Karakpace didn¡¯t even react, only his eyes glowed black and the bugs he was controlling ran after Jinn. ¡°They can transmit what you say to me, stay alive!¡±


    ¡°Same!¡± Jinn''s call echoed off the walls.


    Jess gripped her weapon tighter and walked forward, stopping by Karakapace.


    ¡°Thanks, big guy,¡± Jess said with a small smile. She felt her blood start to boil as she knew that there was going to be a battle soon. Her new power had saved her life last time, and she was ready to use it.


    ¡°You are allies, these are bugs. I expect them to die, so I send them to protect you. They can¡¯t even think you know,¡± Karakpace said absently, looking at the bugs.


    ¡°Wait, what?!¡± Sara asked.


    Karakpace only chuckled darkly. ¡°They can¡¯t think at all. They are nothing but extensions of the Queen, or a controller like myself.¡±


    ¡°Organic robots?¡± Jess asked shock and horror in her voice. Suddenly she was back on the Spirit, watching one of the horror movies that they played sometimes.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Before she could speak Karakpace went still, black energy leaving his eyes.


    ¡°He¡¯s found them! He said something is attacking the Apes!¡± Karakpace rumbled in anger.


    Jess looked at him, and then she was moving. ¡°<u>Battle Enhance; Flame</u>!¡±


    With that one shouted command, a crimson aura suddenly sprang up around her. She ran down the halls, letting her power lend her strength. In moments she had passed the corridor and turned, seeing Jinn down the corridor by around fifty feet. He was standing by a doorway, just standing to the side looking into it.


    In seconds she had joined him and looked out into a hell she had never expected to see.


    There were ten of the Apes, and they were attacking robots of some kind that she had never seen before. There were ten of them, each one as tall as the Apes. They were made of red metal, and they had a ¡®head¡¯ of a single black visor in the center of their bodies at the top. Their two arms ended in four claws set in a ¡°+¡± formation and they had three think legs set in a triangle formation.


    ¡°Okay, these are the security bots from this thing, right?¡± Jess asked, shocked at what she was seeing.


    ¡°No, they¡¯re not,¡± Jinn said bluntly.


    She looked at him and saw that he was looking beyond the battle. She followed his gaze, and her free hand went to her mouth. Out of everything that they might find on this ship, that was the last thing that she had ever expected to see.


    It was a large red steel vehicle of some kind. It was large, maybe twenty feet tall, just thirty feet below the ceiling. It was shaped like a large block of metal and seemed to have six legs all around it. It had a ramp on the side facing them, and that had to be where the robots came from.


    Jess didn¡¯t know where this thing came from, but she had a bad feeling they weren¡¯t on the Castaway''s side.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Burt tried to keep calm as he followed after Racha and Al. he knew that something was going to go wrong, but nothing like this. They had running for ten minutes, but he thought it was longer. He was starting to jump at shadows, thinking that one of those Rail things was in every shadow. Robots like those things, they just weren¡¯t right. To just set something that could activate on its own as a trap! That was just the worst kind of thing to do, just why? What had whoever had done this been thinking?


    So far, they had been able to keep ahead of the Rail Skimmers. After they had left the room with the passage, they had been free for five minutes. Then they heard the sounds of one of them following behind. Burt had thrown open every door along that corridor, and it had slowed them down. As he hoped, whoever made these things programed them with tactics. To think that Burt had to hope that those things were programmed to stop and search for ambushes. So each opened the door had bought them at least a minute, the time they needed.


    But that wasn¡¯t the only problem. Twice they had to hide and let a Rail Skimmer pass by, and both times he hadn¡¯t fired at it. After they had destroyed one of them, two more had appeared where within seconds. Al had been able to close and scramble a door with an Interface Pad, but it had been closed. The blasts from those bots had almost gotten them, and only Burt¡¯s quick actions had kept them alive. Since they had made it into this corridor, they had started to hide, at Burt¡¯s instance.


    ¡°You sure that this is the right thing to do, Burt?¡± Racha asked as she hid next to him.


    Burt only chuckled lightly. ¡°Yeah, I am. It¡¯s an old stalking trick. Kill then hide away from them. These things only have sight, so we can hide and move on.¡±


    ¡°But they should have sensors, nothing about them makes sense!¡± Al said with a scowl.


    Burt didn¡¯t understand, but that was expected. Let Al and others like him handle the tech, he could help with his tricks and skills.


    Racha looked around, her eyes going all around. Currently, they were hiding in a side chamber that looked like it had been a place to eat.


    ¡°Move! Follow me,¡± Al said softly.


    ¡°Sure it¡¯s gone?¡± Racha asked just as softly.


    ¡°Yeah, and that has to be the last one. We just need to leave this place now,¡± Al said as he led the way.


    Moments later, they were running down another corridor, only one had no other doors. All in all, Burt was starting to get worried. If that thing came back, the six-foot-wide corridor had nothing to hide behind.


    ¡°So how close are we to the bridge!?¡± Burt demanded as they ran into another small room around forty feet wide and long. Unlike others, this one had what looked like metal furniture, tables, and chairs. There was something that had fallen on the right wall, and the only other door was across from them. And to Burt¡¯s complete lack of surprise, there was another Interface Pad next to it.


    ¡°Close, very close!¡± Al said as he looked at the door. He almost touched the pad, then he pulled his hand away. ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°What? What is it?¡± Racha asked with a hard tone in her voice.


    Burt looked at her and almost whistled. He had no idea who these Special Service people were, but they had to be something. That kind of command voice was something that you had to learn.


    Al slowly turned to look at the others. There was a wide and worried look in his eyes. Something told Burt that Al had just realized something that was going to be bad for them.


    Al swallowed before he spoke. ¡°I just thought of something. The bots are newer than the ship. But one of them was hooked into the ship. If the person who did that is half as good as I think they are, then we¡¯re in trouble.¡±


    ¡°Why, how?¡± Racha asked and Al looked right at her.


    ¡°The how is easy. It means that these robots can see where we are if I access the Pad. And if we break down the door, they might still see us then too,¡± Al said bluntly.


    Burt looked at him, then he swallowed down a curse. ¡°Great, just great! How close are we to the bridge?¡±


    ¡°Just through this door. And the last door into the internal path we used, it¡¯s behind us. They have to go through that door,¡± Al said.


    ¡°Okay, okay. We can do this,¡± Racha said.


    Burt snorted and shook his head. ¡°We nothing, You two go on. I¡¯ll stay here and hold them off as long as I can.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡±Al cried out in shock.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a good plan. This way I¡¯ll be able to hold the line and all. They come in here, and I¡¯ll fire at them from there. Just help me move these tables and chairs. We put the chairs in front of the entrance and the tables on their sides all around. Good cover with what we¡¯ve got,¡± Burt said absently as he looked at one of the tables. He put his hands under it and lifted, smiling as he felt the weight. ¡°Hmmmm. Not as light as I feared, good. This should take a shot or two. Just help me move these things before you touch that Pad.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t¡­¡­¡± Al began only for Racha to put a hand on his shoulder.


    She just looked at Burt before she nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the best way for us to save the others and the ones we¡¯re here for. I don¡¯t like it, but it makes sense. We just need to do it right.¡±


    ¡°And this is the right way!?¡± Al asked.


    Burt just chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Yeah, I do. But how long until you can get those things on our side?¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Fifty Two Part One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1240


    Jinn could only stare at the battle into the hanger shock. He had been taught a lot about current combat robots growing up, and these were unlike anything he knew. Their legs were in the wrong places for combat models, that formation was for artillery types. Plus they seemed to be only using brute strength, no weapons at all. The Apes were using simple items that they picked up from the floor of the hanger. The large one was wielding what looked like a broken piece of wing like a sword. It was attacking one robot that had a black spiral back unit.


    He thought that he had seen everything, but then he noticed wrecks on the ground. They looked like robot parts, but they were different from the battling ones. He looked around and then saw something by the right side of the hanger. But looking around also found another door with an Access Pad, and it was on the same wall he was sticking his head out of. That had to be where the others were going for. But before he could pull his head back, he saw something else.


    It was a large open doorway into a darkened space. The area around the opening had wrecked metallic parts. He saw that these parts weren¡¯t made of black metal. They were not from the robots that were fighting the Apes, but the other type that was destroyed.


    Then he realized everything, and it made sense. The robots had to be from another group of castaways or descendants. That meant that these robots were trying to take control of the ship! The Apes must have been trying to get to Callahin when they found each other. He looked down the corridor and saw a wall twenty feet away. There was another door there, and for a moment he felt a spark of hope. That might get to the other part of the ship, but there was a chance it was an office. He could see the builders putting the hanger¡¯s manager there. But he had to check, to see if that was another path.


    He looked at Jess and sighed. There was nothing else he could do. ¡°Jess, that wall. There¡¯s a door there. I¡¯ll stay here, you check it out.¡±


    ¡°Got it. But what if you need my help before the others get here?¡± Jess asked as she looked around.


    Jinn looked at her before nodding. There was one way to make this work, and that meant sharing what he had learned.


    ¡°Then ¡®Dash¡¯ trick. Just move the heat that the Power uses to your feet. Then just think of where to appear. You don¡¯t even need to be facing that way or moving,¡± Jinn said bluntly.


    She looked at him before nodding before she did his ¡°Dash¡¯ trick.


    He just chuckled as he looked at the battle. As he didn¡¯t want to admit it, the robots and the Apes were holding their own. There were a few reasons for that, and all of them bothered him. But before he could even think of them, he heard the sounds of the others making it to him. He turned and saw Karakpace, his bugs, and Sara moving towards him. He took another look through the door before ¡®Dashing¡¯ to right in front of them, making a sign for silence.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Karakpace rumbled softly.


    Jinn only smirked as he chuckled. ¡°Robots fighting our Apes in the hanger. And the bots came with their own ship. I wonder, when Callahin leaves, does he put on the Vacancy sign?¡±


    ¡°A what sign¡­.. oh. Funny joke. But there is no other way for us to go?¡± Sara asked with a desperate tone in her voice.


    Jinn looked at her and saw the worry and fear in her voice. He looked at her and saw where she was looking, nodding after another moment. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know. Jess went to scout that out, and we just need to wait for her to find out what we need. I have to admit, I kinda doubt it. This ship, screams ¡®Pirate¡¯ to me. And that means that this place was meant as a maze to fight off boarders.¡±


    Jess made it down and scowled, shaking her head. ¡°There is a door, but it has one of those Pad things, can¡¯t get through it. We have to brave the hanger.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Jinn waited a moment before sighing. ¡°There¡¯s another problem. I saw one more type of robot wrecked in the hangar. I think the bots fighting are trying to take the ship or take parts from it. Bad news if we want to use this place.¡±


    ¡°So we help the Apes?! Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± Sara asked shock in her voice.


    ¡°No. The idea of the enemy of my enemy is my friend is a lie. The Enemy¡¯s enemy is just not our friend. We wait, we watch. If those bots or Apes attack us, we fight back. But we need to be ready to pull the others to safety.¡±


    Karakpace had only stood there before speaking with a growl.¡°What do these robots look like?¡±


    Jinn looked at him for a moment, wondering what Karakpace was going for. ¡°They were some of the strangest models that I ever saw. They were made of these weird-looking black metal and their ship¡­..¡±


    ¡°The ship was a box, yes?¡± Karakpace interrupted a hard edge to his rumbling.


    Jinn looked at him and nodded, wondering how he knew that. ¡°Yeah, it is. How did you know that?¡±


    ¡°That was the ship that took down my ship-beast! Those things attacked my people! They attacked with no warning, it was as if they were just killing the unthinking! They are a plague that deserves to be put down!¡±


    ¡°So now we have to deal with killer robots? Great!¡± Sara moaned as Jess made it to them.


    ¡°You mean the robots fighting the Apes? They¡¯re not the ship¡¯s security?¡± Jess asked as she looked around at the others. ¡°And there is a door there, but there¡¯s a problem. An Interface Pad is locking it. So that¡¯s a no-go.¡±


    ¡°No, I saw what might be the ship¡¯s security. At least parts of them,¡± Jinn said with a scowl as he looked at the door. ¡°Then we need to fight those robots, and hope that the Apes don¡¯t fight us.¡±


    ¡°I can talk to them, the Apes. I just need to shoot one of them with a Power I know,¡± Karakpace said with a rumbling growl.


    ¡°No. We wait, we watch. If we see an opening, we take it. But for now, we wait. Can I trust you?¡± Jinn asked as he looked at Karakpace.


    Karakpace looked at him for a moment, and then he nodded.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she ran through the corridors, Paige bit her lips. She could feel the emotions that Callahin felt, and they were making her worried. When they moved towards the hanger, she had been expecting him to feel anger and rage. They were going away from the place where he was going to kill them after all. But those died down, and now he was feeling pleasure and joy!


    That had to mean that he had done something that was going to help his plan. But what and how? They were still being chased by those robots, the ones that Sk¡¯p called Rail Skimmers. The fact that he knew what they were, that was worrying. Because there was no way those things were as old as the ship!


    ¡°Keep moving!¡± Callahin one called out.


    She could hear him firing his weapon and then cursed as she saw a blast fly over her shoulder. It missed Sk¡¯p by inches and the man swore.


    ¡°We need to fight them off!¡± Paige said, feeling that this might be the wrong move. But every minute, there was another one of those Rail Skimmers coming at them. So far, Callahin had destroyed two of them, but there were more. There was nothing else they could do, but they needed something to give them an edge. Just standing there and firing back, would just kill them.


    ¡°Keep moving! There¡¯s a room ahead! Once you see the square thing you can put things at and sit on other things, that it!¡±


    ¡°You mean tables and chairs?!¡± Paige said, anger in her voice. When Callahin had said that, he had felt a spark of joy. Either they were moving closer to the place he wanted them at, or he had done something else.


    ¡°So that are the words for them, good! But throw them down, we can use them for cover!¡± Callahin said with glee.


    Sk¡¯p looked over his shoulder at Paige as they ran.


    She didn¡¯t need her abilities to know that he was worried, and she was too. They were trusting the word of a sentient eater after all. Someone who ate meat that could talk to you could think for itself. The monsters that all species thought deserved to die horribly. The villains of a thousand stories. And they were trusting the word of something that wanted to eat them. But they were all being chased by robots that wanted to kill them all.


    As they entered the room, they found a small chamber, twenty feet wide and long. There were three metal tables and four chairs around them. Beyond them was a doorway that had an Interface Pad next to it. Sk¡¯p grabbed one of the tables and threw it in front of the door after Callahin ran into the room.


    The Rail Skimmer slammed into the table, and then Sk¡¯p shot it from the right side. He kept shooting at it until the robot fell to the floor, hovering dead as it was. With a smirk, Sk¡¯p laughed a little.


    ¡°Not bad! good plan Callahin!¡± Sk¡¯p laughed.


    ¡°I never needed these things! So maybe they had a use after all!¡± Callahin said with a grin.


    Behind the first robot, blasts fired over the wreckage of the first. Paige scowled as she felt her rage grow a bit. While she and Sk¡¯p were both fighting to live, Callahin seemed to be toying with them. Even now, this monster was waiting to strike against them, feeling greed.


    ¡°Then let''s fight!¡± Callahin said with a grin.


    Paige glared at him out of the corner of her eyes. The sheer glee he was feeling was starting to worry her. She knew he was planning to kill them, but how? Just what¡­¡­..


    Her head snapped to look out at the walls, she felt pure animalistic fear. There was no other word for what she sensed, it was fear and rage combined. And in moments those feelings died as she felt them disappear, no, she felt them die.


    They had to have been some of the Apes, they had split up! But whatever had killed them, it had to have been how Callahin was planning to kill them! And there it was, another being was there. It had a taste to its feelings that told her this was a pure animal. But the longer she felt its emotions, the more they deepened. It was slowly changing. If she didn¡¯t know better, she would think it was becoming aware, becoming an ¡®I¡¯. But that was impossible, right?


    After a few minutes of silence, Callahin looked around at her and Sk¡¯p. ¡°Friends, let¡¯s be real. Those things must be trying to keep us from this room. There¡¯s a chamber to the far left about forty feet back down that corridor we ran past. It leads into the mountain. I know another path there, we can get back to the ledge and¡­..¡±


    ¡°So that is where you plan to kill us then? With whatever ate the Apes?¡± Paige asked as she moved back a step slowly. The closer she made it to the door, the better. Sk¡¯p raised his weapon and pointed at Callahin, who only blinked.


    ¡°Kill you, what do you mean?¡± Callahin exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie,¡± Paige growled as she felt his shock. ¡°I can feel your emotions.¡±


    Callahin went still and then he glared at her with a look of pure rage that finally matched his feelings.

 Chapter One Hundred Fifty Two Part 2

    Sk¡¯p kept his weapon trained on Callahin as he slowly started to laugh darkly. Paige had to have a reason to spill everything now, but he didn¡¯t know it. It had to be something that she sensed from Callahin. And the only thing that could set her off, was that he was ready to kill them.


    ¡°So you are a reader? I should have known! To think that my prey would be able to get one over on me!¡± Callahin spat as he leered at them.


    Sk¡¯p only clenched his rifle as he aimed at Callahin, and tried to keep from shooting him. They had no idea what he could do, or how fast he could reactivate his suit. So they had to keep him talking.


    ¡°It was easy, I mean I figured out something was wrong with you from the start. I mean just think about it! You came here and you were from the same system as one of us? Come on!¡± Sk¡¯p said as he kept Callahin in his weapon¡¯s sights.


    It was, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Callahin said absently. But then he just chuckled, his eyes glowing. ¡°But one of my meals was from that system. I thought that I could finally use one of the few bad gains, but I guess not.¡±


    Sk¡¯p looked at him and tried to figure out what Callahin meant. But then he felt his blood freeze as what Callahin said clicked together. He didn¡¯t know how, but that was the only thing that made sense here. And the reality before him was something that he never would have ever figured out. ¡°Memories. When you feed on people, you take their memories.¡±


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t know? But you knew about the Power? Quiet interesting. But then I suppose it¡¯s only fair. You were the easiest to trick since I was marooned on this island! Not even those insect fools were easier!¡± Callahin said, his voice growling as he looked at them.


    ¡°Insects? So then these are other castaways from this world then?¡± Sk¡¯p asked. ¡°And you were able to fool them like you did us?¡±


    Callahin only laughed and took a step backwards. ¡°Of course! Those fools were all too eager to help me! I watched them for days, picking my target! And then I was able to get him alone and I took his memories, and I learned to do what he could with the Power! And I claimed this place and made the beast within this wreck mine!¡±


    Sk¡¯p looked at him, quickly dissecting what he just heard. And that at least answered the question of what he did with the bodies of his victims. ¡°So then you have beast? Must be something. So you were hunting to feed it? Don¡¯t want it to eat you then?¡±


    ¡°That thing, eat me!? That beast doesn¡¯t have the brains to even think of that! It¡¯s a slave, nothing more! I just need it fed so it won¡¯t bother me too much!¡± Callahin said with a glare.


    From the way that Paige gasped behind him, Sk¡¯p thought that Callahin was lying without knowing the truth. But if that beast was here before Callahin moved in, then they would have to investigate the mountain.


    ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s coming here!?¡± Paige asked as she looked at the opening that they had come through.


    From the way that she was looking at it, she felt it. And something told Sk¡¯p that she felt something more than an animal coming at them. He couldn¡¯t risk a look behind, but he flashed a sign at Paige behind his back. From the short gasp, he hoped she understood.


    ¡°Yes, yes it is. And soon I will have it capture you, then once I feed on your memories I¡¯ll let it eat you! Once I gain your memories, I¡¯ll learn how to sense emotions like you! Die knowing you¡¯ve made me that much stronger!¡± Callahin said before he started to laugh madly.


    Sk¡¯p looked at Callahin, only shaking his head internally. He had seen a lot of mad men over his career, but the ones who laughed were always the ones to look out for. And from what he had heard in Paige¡¯s voice, he was going to be one of those eaten by his monster.


    ¡°You sure about that? I mean you sure that you can control it? I don¡¯t know when you crashed¡­¡­ you¡¯re a native, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sk¡¯p asked as everything suddenly clicked into place.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°I was outcaste! My home is all about strength and I was born sickly! I was the weakest, the lowest of them all! I fought, and tried in vain no matter what I did! But finally, my effort paid off! I was given a blessing, the Power to Take!¡± Callahin roared as he glared at them. ¡°Those fools called me a demon, a mistake! But I fought back! They wanted to kill me for the blessing this world gave me!¡±


    Sk¡¯p swallowed and looked at him with a hard look. Those who thought they had something to prove were always the ones to handle delicately.


    ¡°But I escaped! I found this place! I found my ally! And from that Bug, I gained Power, unlike anything I ever knew!¡± Callahin roared


    ¡°What ally!? What¡¯s coming here?¡± Sk¡¯p challenged


    ¡°No. They¡¯re in their section. What¡¯s coming is my pet!¡± Callahin said with a laugh as he shook his head and then the walls burst as something broke them.


    Sk¡¯p gazed at the beast, struggling to understand what he was seeing. It had a large spider-like body at least five feet wide. It was reared up a five-foot wide tail to a height of over eight feet as it loomed over Callahin. It had six spider-like legs that ended sharp points, and they were red and wet. Its head only had three pure white eyes that were in the center. It growled and a white liquid dripped from its maw of needle-like teeth.


    ¡°So normally I Take then I eat, but I think I¡¯ll let this thing eat first! The others must have more knowledge for me to take, and that one might even help me make this place work! So eat!¡± Callahin roared.


    The beast did nothing, only glaring down at Sk¡¯p and Paige.


    For a second, Sk¡¯p went still. Every instinct in his body told him not to move, but his training said otherwise. Without even thinking, he aimed and fired at the beast. As it reared back in pain, Paige reached the Access Pad. As he heard the door open, Sk¡¯p turned, ready for almost anything.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Racha looked over the makeshift barricade they had built and nodded. It was the best that they could do with what they had with the time they had.


    ¡°Look, there¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll be able to close the door behind us once I open it¡­..¡± Al began.


    Burt only shook his head and readied his rifle. ¡°And they just open the door. It shouldn¡¯t take you too long to get them switched off, right?¡±


    ¡°If everything is still in a reasonable piece, yeah!¡± Al said as he looked down.


    ¡°Then you two go and do it! This is bigger than me! So go! And we¡¯ve moved one of them in front of the door. I¡¯ll fall back if I have to so go!¡± Burt said.


    Al was about to say something when Racha reached over and grabbed his shoulder. He looked at her and she shook her head.


    She knew people like Burt, and when they made up their minds, they never changed it. This was just a waste of time, the best thing was to move.


    ¡°You just stay alive, got it? No last stands,¡± Racha said sternly.


    Burt only laughed and bowed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My mother didn¡¯t raise any fools here. Just go and do what we came here for.¡±


    Al looked at them and opened his mouth before he closed it and nodded. Turning he walked to the Access Pad and touched it, coming free in a moment. As the door opened slowly, Burt ducked behind the barricade and looked through a gap.


    ¡°Got one coming around the corner! Firing!¡± Burt roared before he fired. ¡°You want us? Come and get us!¡±


    Racha looked at the door and scowled at the speed it was moving. She looked at Al who looked back and nodded after a moment. Racha nodded and ran forward, ducking under the door, fanning the corridor with her weapon as she did. She saw a few blaster marks that told her that whatever had happened here, it had reached the bridge. With a heavy heart, she jogged towards the bridge. She was hoping that what they needed was still intact, that what she feared didn''t happen.


    She had reasons to be worried, good ones. Over her career in the Service, she had boarded almost as many ships as she had traveled on. Boarded as in invaded of course. Sometimes, to keep the enemy from winning the captain had tried to scuttle the ship. This ship had crashed, but she was still worried, nothing about this wreck was making sense!


    Like a shadow, she came into the bridge and looked around. The room was over thirty feet wide and forty long and a view screen on the wall across from her. In front by ten feet of her was a small wall three feet high that went around the whole bridge. Beyond the wall was a large chair in the middle of the room twenty feet ahead of her. Beyond that was a row of stations ten feet away, with ten feet past the wall to the view screen empty. Along the walls on the sides were a row of consoles, with chairs every five feet.


    But the bridge wasn¡¯t empty, there were at least twenty bodies, nothing more than skeletons now. They were wearing an array of clothing, with half wearing a uniform of some kind. She hadn¡¯t spent much time on Cult duty, but there was something religious about them to the uniform. Each one was a silver cloak with barcodes on their breasts. Each body these were on, the face had metallic components built into them. ¡°Could these people have been cyborgs? But those models¡­..¡±


    ¡°Good! The command station is still intact! I can¡­¡­ how!? what are they doing here!?¡± Al demanded from behind her.


    Racha turned and stared at him. Al¡¯s face was shocked, as if the bodies had come back to life.


    ¡°What? The Cloaks!? Are they from the Scholar¡¯s Way!?¡± Racba demanded in shocked horror.


    ¡°NO! These are the enemy of my faith! The Science Desecraters! They are the reasons that my people have Taboos! They created all of them!¡± Al said with horror.


    Racha looked at the bodies and tried to keep calm. She had heard about these beings once before. And old mission file, one that was over a thousand years old. But to find them here and now, just what was this? What was this planet to even have these here as well?


    ¡°Later! We¡¯ll talk about it later! For now, find that program to turn them off!¡± Racha ordered.


    Al nodded and moved towards the chair in the center of the room. But not soon had he taken five steps then a bolt of energy shot out from the right side. It hit him in his side and he screamed in pain as he went down.


    Racha aimed towards the area the shot came from as she dropped behind the wall. ¡°Al! You alive?¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­.. Ow! My nanites are blocking the pain, what shot me!?¡± Al asked.


    Racha didn¡¯t say anything, all she did was look over the wall and fire at where the shot had come from.


    What her shot hit was a skeleton in the same robes that the corpses on the ground wore. The only difference was that this one had metallic parts on its legs that held it up. Its face had been replaced by a back metallic sphere without eyes. The arms were long guns, and one of them was red having been fired.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know who or what you are! But there are robots out there that are a threat to everyone living here! We just want to turn them off! Will you fight us!?¡± Racha bellowed as she hid.

 One Hundred Fifty Three Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1300


    Karakpace felt the energy that fueled his Power surge as he battled his emotions. He had learned so much since he left, but he was still the same as ever. The prospect of a battle was calling to him, and he having a hard time holding back the anger he felt. His crew had lost a few members when one of these things had attacked their ship, to see those things here! He didn¡¯t know if he could hold back his blood from destroying them.


    ¡°You Okay?¡± Jess asked from his right.


    Karakpace looked at her and nodded after a few seconds. ¡°It¡¯s hard. I¡¯m¡­¡­ I want to kill, to destroy all of them. I want to fight alongside the Apes and pay those things back for the ones they killed.¡±


    ¡°Know that feeling. Just remember why we¡¯re all here working together with each other. We want to save our friends, you want Callahin dead. Let¡¯s do that first, then the bots,¡± Jess said with convention.


    Karakpace nodded, unloading his emotions into his bugs as he used that old trick. As he felt the rage leave him, he looked at the bugs as they stood there. He felt lighter and then he prepared to do what must be done, wait.


    ¡°Remember, we just need to wait until one of these sides weaken themselves enough for us to do something. They don¡¯t matter, our plans do. Remember, keep calm,¡± Jinn said ahead of them. They were all by the doors, and Karakpace couldn¡¯t look through the door but he heard the sounds of battle. As long as he could dump his stray emotions into his bugs, his rage could stay under control.


    ¡°How¡¯s the battle?¡± Karakpace rumbled quietly.


    ¡°Take a look,¡± Jinn said softly.


    Karakpace moved back, looking into the room. He saw those same robots that he had faced before fighting the Apes. But what stood out to him was the single fact that the bots were fighting against the Apes with brute force only. When they had attacked his ship, they had struck from range. Why were they changing tactics, what did this mean?


    He knew that his people had no records of encounters with these things before, but did the Bots have records? There were always ships that never returned home, that was life on this world. Most people thought these ships had gotten lost, or they started new colonies. Most never spoke of the idea that they were dead, slaves, or just marooned. It just wasn¡¯t talked about. But if one of those missing ships had fought the robots, then their actions made sense. If he attacked, would these robots fire at him?


    That was a thought that he would the answer to soon, once the battle was joined. And he would destroy that shuttle of theirs himself, taking a piece back to leave on the graves of his comrades. All he could do was hope that the robots would be the ones that fall and that he could destroy a few of them himself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like anything about this,¡¯ Sara said softly from the other side of the doorway in the corridor.


    Everyone looked at her as she watched the battle. Karakpace noticed how the girl¡¯s eyes were moving around fast. There had to be something there, but he had no idea.


    ¡°Who would design robots that would use their limbs to fight? Combat models without inbuilt weapons? It¡¯s as stupid as a fish that couldn¡¯t breathe water! What was going through their minds?¡± Sara asked as she looked around at the others.


    ¡°They have weapons,¡± Karakpace rumbled quietly.


    ¡°What?!¡± Jinn withered loudly.


    Karakpace looked at him as he kept feeding his emotions into his bugs. ¡°When they attacked my ship, they had weapons. I don¡¯t know what happened to them, but they did.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t escape!¡± Callahin¡¯s voice suddenly roared out.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Karakpace felt his rage flow beyond his ability to control it. He grabbed the doorframe and clenched his fist, cracking the metal with a crack. But then he dumped the emotions into his bugs and realized what he had done. He looked up and saw two beings run along the wall towards the door the group was at.


    But his eyes were on Callahin who had moved into the chamber, with a large worm spider thing coming behind him. The Apes all roared and charged at Callahin, the Robots seeming to have been stuck still. Callahin only laughed as he suddenly glowed blue.


    ¡°So some of my larder wants to play? I was holding myself back you know,¡± Callahin said as he grabbed the fist the first Ape shot at him. He twilled the body around and threw it against the large one, only for the large one to catch its fellow.


    ¡°Killer!¡± The large Ape roared in a guttural voice.


    Karakpace looked at the Ape, shocked. He hadn¡¯t thought that the Apes were evolved enough to talk, maybe they could remember things. But a word that he could understand? But his eyes were on Callahin who looked at the large Ape and laughed.


    ¡°MONSTER! PREPARE FOR DEATH!¡± Karakpace roared as he ran towards Callahin and the other two beings.


    The robots reacted, turning and raising their arms to fire. The laser bolts all missed Karakpace as he moved, but he never noticed. His eyes were only on his enemy, Callahin as the monster smiled at him.


    ¡°KARAKPACE! Nova! Jess, go full and attack the bots!¡± Jinn barked as he moved forward, firing at the robots.


    ¡°Karakpace! I haven¡¯t seen you in a dog''s age! Tell me, how have you been since you saved me? Meet my pet! Go play with him beast!¡± Callahin called out as he turned away to look at the Robots.


    The Spider-Worm stayed where it was, and that snapped Karakpace out of his rage.


    For a moment he just looked at the abomination, then he tried a skill to let him read its emotions. He felt rage, hunger, and a wicked will. He stopped and moved backwards, turning to run at the robots. He had gotten involved with this battle, Callahin wasn¡¯t going to be a problem much longer.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he lay there, Al read what his nanites sent him about how he was. The data looked pretty bad actually. Part of his skin had been flash-fried, and his nanites were working to fix everything. It would take a few hours, and until they were done he wouldn¡¯t be running many marathons. But that didn¡¯t matter, what did was the thing that had shot him. He knew that thing, the same way Christianity knew the devil. That was an upload, one of those who went to extreme lengths to keep discovering new knowledge. But how was it here, what did it want? Where did it come from?


    ¡°Identify yourself! I am Racha, an agent of the Special Services! I need this ship to protect civilians!¡± Racha barked.


    Al only chuckled internally, trying not to laugh. The very idea that this monster would even talk back. They never talked, they just never talked to anyone! These monsters all believed that they alone were superior beings. Superior beings that never wanted to even talk with their lesser.


    ¡°I am the Grand Scientist! I offer you the option of surrender!¡± A mechanical-sounding voice called back.


    For a second, just looked at the readings his internal scanners were showing of his body. But then he looked up and saw who had spoken. It was all Al could do to keep from gasping. This never happened, ever! Just what was this!?


    ¡°I accept your surrender, but I don¡¯t need it! From what I can tell, you have some issues with Scholar¡¯s Way members! As a neutral power, I offer you mediation to settle your differences!¡± Racha called out.


    ¡°I meant your surrender you foolish organic! Surrender and accept the proper evolution of life!¡± The Grand Scientist called back with anger in his mechanical voice.


    Al saw that he could move again, and slowly crawled towards the main chair. He didn¡¯t know what this was, but he had to change the security bot''s settings, he had to save everyone!


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I still have the advantage. There are many people behind me in the other room, holding off your robots! Soon they will handle them and join us here!¡± Racha called out with force in her voice.


    Al ignored her and kept moving towards the chair. He was close enough now to touch it, and he did. He tried to find any port that he could open, anything that might let him access the bridge¡¯s systems.


    ¡°I hold the advantage! Even as we speak, my robots are holding off those Apes of yours in the hanger! Once that big monster you brought with those three is down, my forces will come here!¡± The Grand Scientist cried out, anger in his voice.


    Al looked up, seeing the abomination looked at where Racha was, aiming his weapon at her. For a second, he didn¡¯t understand. Then he did, and he opened his eyes wide, shocked and frozen for a second. But then he forced himself to keep moving, trying to find the Access Pad.


    ¡°So you say! But we are stronger than you think! We can defeat those robots! I mean, really! The Skimmers aren¡¯t that strong!¡± Racha said with anger in her voice.


    Al kept silent, hoping that she could keep the attention of the ¡®Grand Scientist¡¯ on her. All he needed to do was handle this, and then he could help her. If this thing had no idea what he could do, then they won! Finally, found an access port. Opening it with his right hand, he removed a small square and looked inside. Within, he saw ten wires of multiple colors.


    With a sinking feeling, he looked around, trying to find anything that might tell him what the wires were. But then when he tried to move the square he removed, his fingers felt something on the inside. Looking at it, he saw a small list of colors and words. With a grin, he found the word he needed, and then he found the wire he was looking for. Hopping that everything would work out, he quietly removed a small square with a point in the middle. Taking a deep breath, he quickly inserted the point into the wire.


    Within a moment, he found himself within the data space again. Looking around, he saw that everything was the same as the last time he had gone into this ¡®place¡¯. With a single thought, he opened up a view of the hanger. Taking a step back in shock he saw the ¡®monster¡¯ that the Grand Scientist had spoken of. Seeing the Apes attacking it and the robots attacking the others, he threw the screen to the side. With a quick mental command, he started to search for anything that had to do with the security robots.


    Opening another folder he found a text file. Calling it up, it was revealed to be a list of codes on the internal memory built into the chair itself. Finding the right one, he almost closed the file, but then he found another code. He stared at it in shock, but then he grinned viciously.


    With a single thought, the file closed and he navigated to another program.  He looked at what he had found, staring in shock that turned to horror. The materials they had hoped to find to build an FTL radio were gone! He found the records and saw that this ship used the last of them before it crashed here. Part of their mission had failed, but there were other things to do. There were enough supplies to build a shuttle. Nothing fancy or able to leave the atmosphere, but enough to get the people at the crash site.


    Opening another file, he found the security settings. Merging the view from the hanger camera, with another one with Burt firing at a robot. Adding that one to the open file, he quickly changed the ¡®Friend/Foe¡¯ setting. With a smile, he now knew that they would win.

 One Hundred Fifty Three Part 2

    Burt scowled as he ducked down, dodging a blast one of the Rail Skimmers shot. As it hit the wall behind him, he tried to keep calm. He had been in a lot of battles, but this was the only one against Robots! Every time he encountered them, he always ran away from these things. He was someone who once thought that he could handle anything the world threw at him. Over his journey, he had handled everything he could have thought of when he was young. From supremacists to slavers, from monsters to people. He had fought them all, and he had stayed alive when everything was against him.


    But the more he fought these hunks of metal, the more he thought that these things might end his flow. No matter what he did, or how many he killed, they just kept coming. He thought that he had seen something else after he had destroyed the third one that came at the barricade. To his horror, a minute later two of the ¡®destroyed¡¯ bots had come back to life.


    ¡°Come one man, you can do this! Just hold on, just hold on! They are handling this, they¡¯ve got it!¡± Burt cursed to himself as he fired, blasting off the ¡®head¡¯ of one of three Rail Skimmers attacking him. This one he had put down twice already, and now the others were using it as a battering ram! Without even thinking, he moved backward, moving to the side. The only chance he had now was to try and hit the one behind the first at an angle. That way there would be two of them as nothing but wrecks for a while. Hopefully, then he¡¯d be able to hit the ¡®Repairer¡¯ when it went for them!


    As soon as he moved towards the angle he needed, he felt something, something he¡¯d only felt a few times. Without wasting a second, he dropped down and something passed through where his head was. Unfortunately, when he had dropped down, he lost his plasma rifle. Looking up he could see it a few feet away on the empty floor. But then something moved in front of it.


    Looking at it, he saw a strange mechanical thing. It had a round body and five metal tentacles three feet long shooting out of it. One had openings all around it with tools, the next was a red glowing point and the last three were for moving it around. In the center of the body was a large red camera eye, and he saw it focus on him. He stared, feeling his anger spike as he took in the source of the enemy''s revival. He didn¡¯t know how, but, something told him that this thing wasn¡¯t alone. That meant that this thing was just here to keep him occupied. But even if he knew that he had no choice but to fight this bot. All he could do was hope that the barricade would hold, that he could handle this one and keep the rest out!


    The Repair¡¯s shot out its tool tentacle, and Burt dodged to the right. His free hand pulled out his knife and he flicked a switch. As the hum filled the air, he sighed as he prepared to use his vibration dagger. The blade was something that was hard to recharge, taking days to regain enough power to work. He had held it back because the idea of wasting it on something made of plants was just too much to even think of.


    As the burn tentacle came at him, he dodged again and slashed out with his blade, severing it five inches down. As the heat head hit the floor, he saw it start to melt into the deck. The damage it could have done to his flesh, the very idea! With a hard gaze, he slowly looked up and stared into the enemy¡¯s ¡®eye¡¯, gripping his blade.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sending you to the compacter!¡± He bellowed as he charged forward. The Repairer jumped away, and he lunged for his weapon. It realized what he was doing and leaped at him, but he reached his rifle first. He grabbed and raised it, firing one-handed right at the camera eye. The blast shot straight through the robot¡¯s casing, and it fell to the floor.


    Without wasting time, he looked towards the barricade and saw it had opened enough to let them in. From where he was, he saw one of the robots moving through the gap. He didn¡¯t wait a second, firing at it. As the plasma bolt hit the Rail Skimmer, one of the ¡®skimmers¡¯ was blown clear off. As the Rail Skimmer fell to the floor, Burt almost grinned. But then the robot exploded, and he was flung into the air. He hit the wall next to the other door and groaned as he fell down to the floor. As he landed, he looked up and saw three of the Rail Skimmers moving through the broken barricade. Groaning, he tried to get behind the last barricade, but the Rail Skimmers all moved to block him. Before he could react, something slammed into his back. He looked up and saw three metal tentacles on each of his arms and he felt more on his legs.


    As they aimed their weapons at him, he felt a slight pang of disappointment. ¡°So I  lost then? Well sorry, Mom. Looks like I won¡¯t see you again.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Before one of the burn tentacles could touch his eye, they all went still. In a moment they had all released him and moved towards the door into the ship. He blinked before he started to laugh, wildly and he rolled onto his back. Finally calming down, he grinned, chuckling as he did so.


    ¡°He did it! Oh, talk about a victory at the last second! I owe that punk a round once we have something good to drink!¡± He said with a chuckle as he slowly stood up. He looked around, then he looked at the door to the bridge. His smile fell as he didn¡¯t hear the others coming back towards him.


    ¡°Once more into the fire!¡± He said with a wicked grin.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Grand Scientist kept talking as Racha was recording everything for later. Let the enemy talk, then use the information to defeat them. And an old saying from the Service.


    ¡°¡­¡­ And those fools at the Grand Laboratory thought I would roll over!? How dare they!¡± The Grand Scientist roared as he finished his rant. ¡°So you see why you should surrender to me!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, not really. I don¡¯t go down!¡± Racha barked and the Grand Scientist laughed a little.


    Racha knew these kinds of people, they always thought that they and they alone were going to win. Just keep them talking, keep them focused on their egos. Keep them from thinking that they had any kind of real threat. That was the best thing to keep needling him until she or Al had a moment to strike first.


    ¡°Foolish woman! I might not have any forces here now, but they¡¯ll¡­.. they¡¯ll,¡± The Grand Scientist went still as its dead body suddenly stopped. Then the being roared, taking a step forward. ¡°WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?¡±


    At the same time, Al fired his weapon, and the head of the ¡®Grand Scientist¡¯ jumped off its body.


    ¡°Abomination, decayed thing! The path of true Knowledge will always defeat such as you!¡± Al roared as he fired again.


    The head moved, dodging each blast as Racha watched, her mouth dropped open in shock. A thud caused her to turn her gaze, and she stared in shock. She could see the neck of the dead body that the head had been on was all metal. From what she could see, the body had metallic ¡®vines¡¯ snaking from a central location. That had to be how this thing was able to walk, but what was it? The body had to have been modified after it was dead¡­¡­ and she winced. By the thing¡¯s feet was a skull, and from the marks, it might be from the corpse the ¡®head¡¯ had been riding. All in all, this was nothing but nightmare fuel for her.


    As Al stalked towards the machine head, Racha finally got back in the game. ¡°Capture only Al! We need to know what that is!¡±


    ¡°No, we have to destroy it!¡± Al snarled as he fired again, and the head dodged


    ¡°It¡¯s a rider! It¡¯s nothing but a remote unit! We need to find this thing¡¯s operator!¡± Al bit back in anger.


    As Raccha stared in shock, the head moved to the right side of the bridge. And to her horror, it still kept monologing as it moved.


    ¡°That¡¯s the problem with those who restrain themselves, no mind to think clearly! Why bother with going into danger yourself? Much safer to use such as this to explore and access data where you need it! But then why are you here otherwise!? What false temple are you from fool!?¡± The head demanded and Al kept firing at it.


    All Racha could think was that this was something that they had to know. The words the pilot said throughout the unit, had her thinking. And if she was right, then they had to capture it alive. Otherwise, she just knew that this was going to be so much worse for them.


    ¡°I mean it, capture it alive! That¡¯s an order!¡± Racha barked as she ran in front of the head. As it moved towards her, she waited and prepared to grab it, hoping that she would grab a weapon it might have on her.


    ¡°Foolish female! That¡¯s the problem with your kind! Mercenaries who only want to get more money! I disown such actions!¡± The head roared before it jumped up and then it started to screech!


    As Racha and Al both brought their hands to their ears to block the sound causing them pain, the head kept moving.


    ¡°See you fools!? I win! My crowd control system will keep you down for an hour!¡± The head cackled as it moved towards the door. ¡°And this is the simple reason that I got this!¡±


    Racha gritted her teeth and tried to stand up, but the pain was just at the edge of overwhelming her. She was beating herself over her head in her mind as she tried to fight through the pain. There was nothing that felt worse than how it felt when one of those mad types proved to be smarter than she was. The pain resonated in her very bones, and she couldn¡¯t even think, all she could do was feel pain. She actually felt her mind as it was attacked and the agony was beyond anything that she had ever felt.


    ¡°Well, parting is such¡­¡­.¡± The head stopped speaking as the pain disappeared.


    Racha blinked and looked up, seeing the head fall. The head was missing its top.


    ¡°You guys okay?!¡± Burt called out.


    Looking up, she saw him at the entrance to the bridge, his rifle pointing at where the head had been.


    ¡°Great shot!¡± Racha bit out as she felt the pain start to lessen. She tried to stand up, but her nerves couldn¡¯t follow orders. As her legs flopped, she gritted her teeth. ¡°And I can¡¯t move. What about you Al?¡±


    ¡°Same here!¡± Al said bitterly.


    Racha looked up as Burt ran to her, grabbing her body and setting it against the wall. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°No problem. You guys saved my ass from those robots out there. What was that thing?¡± Burt asked as he moved to Al.


    As Burt helped Al up, Al snorted in anger.


    ¡°An abomination of my faith! Those things have no limits to what they will do! That thing was one of the Taboos! We don¡¯t mess with the dead!¡± Al said with horror in his voice.


    ¡°Hu? The dead!? ¡° Burt asked as he looked around, finally finding the dead body with cybernetic parts. ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And we¡¯re stuck here for an hour!¡± Racha said bitterly.


    ¡°Everyone is in the hangar. I even sent all the robots there to back them up. In time, we¡¯ll get back to them all,¡± Al said with a hard edge to his voice. ¡°Despite what they¡¯re facing there!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Racha said as she nodded. Then something that Al said made its way through her brain and she blinked. ¡°Wait! In spite of what!?¡±

 One Hundred Fifty Four Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1320


    Jinn fired at the robots as he cursed Karakpace in his mind. But he didn¡¯t blame the big Insect for attacking Callahin, he just couldn¡¯t. he understood more than most the rage one felt for those who had betrayed them. He knew that feeling too well, and he had acted on them once. The fact that he had survived was a miracle, one that might not be repeated here.


    ¡°Now besides these, where are those two pieces of food I brought with me?¡± Callahin said as he looked around. When he turned his body around, he looked right at Jinn.


    Jinn glared back, aiming his pistol but he fired at a robot moving towards the door he was at.


    Callahin looked at the door and saw the others next to Jinn. His eyes went to Karakpace who was tearing apart one of the robots, then he looked at the small insects by Jinn¡¯s feet. ¡°Oh my, you found me out? My my. Then you must be working with old Karakpace! What a day and time to be alive!¡±


    As Paige and Sk¡¯p kept running towards them, Jinn just aimed and fired. As his shots hit one of the robots, its head turned and looked right at him.


    ¡°HERE! YOU TWO GET OVER HERE!¡± Sara called out as she fired at the other robots.


    Callahin only laughed and chuckled as he watched next to the spider-worm. ¡°Yes, keep fighting! It only makes my victory that much sweeter! I can¡¯t wait to tear out how you found out what I am from your brain!¡±


    Jinn only looked at Callahin and felt his rage spike, but also his confusion. The way Karakpace had talked, the being should have killed him already. But instead, he was fighting the Apes and the Robots. There had to be a reason, there just had to be. But what was it?


    It was only when the spider worm behind Callahin moved, that Jinn began to understand what was going to happen. He stared at the monster behind Callahin, and part of him could only feel that this was going to be poetic.


    ¡°Not saying anything, that¡¯s fine. I guess I¡¯ll have a conversation with your skull later! Go my beast, capture them all!¡± Callahin ordered and the spider worm did nothing.


    Paige and Sk¡¯p had reached others, and Paige swallowed.


    ¡°Tell me I¡¯m not right about that big thing Paige, please,¡± Jinn said softly as he looked at her out of the corner of his eyes.


    She didn¡¯t say anything, but she turned away and nodded.


    ¡°Of course, I hate being right about these things. Get ready, this is going to be fast,¡± Jinn said as he watched the spider-worm.


    ¡°What are you talking about, what¡¯s going to  fast?¡± Sara asked as she fired at another robot that was coming towards them.


    ¡°What happens in all the mad scientist movies that have the villain make a giant monster?¡± Sk¡¯p asked dryly as he started to fire.


    ¡°What? How does that¡­.. wait. The movies with giant monsters?! But in all of them, the monster¡­ oh,¡± Sara said in a whisper.


    Jinn just fired at one of the robots, chuckling darkly as he did so. He might have been new to those kinds of movies, but he had seen enough of them to know what happened. But he never thought that he would actually see that in real life. But as he watched the spider-worm out of the corner of his eyes, he knew he would soon.


    The spider worm moved side to side slightly. As he watched it flex its forward spiked limbs, Jinn knew it would act soon. Just what it would do beyond the next few minutes would be telling. And it would show just what the group would have to do.


    Callahin blinked and turned his gaze on the beast behind him as it just stayed there. ¡°What is it, why aren¡¯t you obeying your master!? What is this!?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Jinn had to chuckle at the man''s shock. To think that someone who actually hunted sentient beings was so dumb. He had always thought it didn''t exist, but this showed there was justice in the universe.


    ¡°Your Beast ate too much meat after you used your powers on it! It gained reason! It can think for itself and plan! I doubt it wants you to stay alive much longer!¡± Karakpace called out, glee in his voice.


    ¡°What?¡± Callahin said as he looked upwards at the spider-worm.


    The beast reared back, roaring in anger. As Jinn watched, Callahin started to scream before the beast slammed its head down, Callahin going into its mouth. It reared back and bit, the lower half of Callahin falling to the ground.


    Karakpace roared in joy as he tore off the head of one of the robots. ¡°So he only took the powers, not the knowledge of the laws? Then he was killed by his own arrogance!¡±


    The large Ape looked at the parts of Callahin body and roared. As one all the apes ran towards the hanger door. Jiinn could only watch as the Apes left, wondering why they had come here at all. But that didn¡¯t matter now, what did was the threat of the Spider-Worm.


    Jinn looked at the monster, trying to find something in him to care that Callahin was dead. But the monster that was the Spider-Worm was still here, and that was very bad.


    But a commotion from the shuttle caused him to turn. The sounds came from the shuttle itself, it was changing! As they all watched, the shuttle formed limbs and stood up on two legs and a tail that formed facing them. Two arms shot out and an elbow formed two feet away from the body. It turned and showed a human-like skull where the front would be.


    The robots all around went still and then they all seemed to be waiting for something for a minute. Then the smaller robots all charged at the doorway. The bigger one just charged at the spider worm that met it with its own countercharge.


    Jinn stared for a minute, then he glared and made a choice.


    ¡°No Choice! Go full powers, now!¡± Jinn barked as he aimed at the robotic shuttle. ¡°<u>Aether Dart!¡±</u>


    Jinn pulled the trigger, and a bolt of blue energy covered his laser bolt. The bolt hit one of the charging robot¡¯s head, sending it down with a hole through it.


    ¡°Got it! <u>Battle Enhance/ Flame</u>!¡± Jess called out before she disappeared. She appeared in the air, and fired at two of the robots, each shot exploding in flames as it hit metal.


    Karakpace looked at them for a moment before laughing. ¡°I knew that something was different about you all! Good  job!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well get over here! Jess, grab him!¡± Jinn barked as he fired, keeping an eye on the fight between the two giant monsters.


    The shuttle robot grabbed one of the spider-worm¡¯s spiked limbs and tore it from the monster¡¯s body. But to Jinn¡¯s horror, laughter came from the shuttle robot.


    ¡°HA! Genetic abomination! Fall to one who knows the proper way to kill you! All of you!¡± The voice kept talking as the shuttle looked at the door. ¡°Fall to a true scientist!¡±


    Jinn could only stare, his mind racing. The one good thing that his upbringing had done was let him know all about all the threats out there that had ever existed. And the term, true scientist? That was a flag right there.


    ¡°Nova. The others¡­¡­ we need to leave! Everyone, we¡¯ll need¡­¡­¡± Jinn went still as he saw a new message to his lower right. It read, ¡®Aether Dart mastery has reached level two. Additional Aether Darts are generated with each use per additional level of skill. All Augmentations active will be auto-loaded into all Aether Darts generated. Aether Shot unlocked, auto-learning still offline.¡¯


    Jinn blinked and looked at the text, trying to understand it. But then a thought came from his lower brain and he took a deep breath. ¡°You know what? Give me a second to try something.¡±


    Jinn ¡®dashed¡¯ away into the air, appearing above the giant robot. He pointed his pistol down and took a deep breath. This is it, his next action will decide the course of the battle. ¡°Hey metal head! <u>Aether Dart</u>!¡±


    As he pulled the trigger, Jinn stared in shock as a blue energy dart formed to the left of his shot as it left the barrel. Both bolts speed through the air, and they tore through the giant robot''s right arm, taking it off at the elbow.


    The Spider-Worm didn¡¯t let the chance it had pass it by. As soon as the limb was falling, the monster spat a glob of black liquid at the wires. The giant robot reared back and the Scientist roared in anger. ¡°What the malware!? What is this!?¡±


    Jinn almost laughed and ¡®dashed¡¯ away, appearing five feet above the ground. He dropped down and looked at Karakpace who was a foot to his right. ¡°So my friend, ever faced anything like these two?¡±


    Karakpace only chuckled a little as buzzing came from behind him. Jinn looked and saw three of the flying insects that he had fought before. Looking at Karakpace, Jinn had to wonder how far his control went.


    Karakpace nodded and flexed his hands. ¡°The metallic one, no. The flesh and blood one, once or twice. And the other giant even made it easier to take out a leg. You handle the robot and I¡¯ll handle the other one with my last few fliers.¡±


    ¡°Not the worst plan I¡¯ve ever had. And I might be able to do that. But stay out of reach, I don¡¯t like those spikes, and it eats fast,¡± Jinn said softly. He looked at the robots, all of them had turned away from the others and were focused on him. As one of them raised its arms, he knew that there had to be a change in plans. ¡°Actually new plan! Let the big ones fight it out, we handle the small ones first!¡±


    Karakpace made a rumble before a laser bolt almost hit him if Jinn hadn¡¯t pushed him a half foot away. Karakpace looked at the robots and growled as a black energy aura appeared around him. ¡°This won¡¯t take too long. There are only what? Five more of them between?¡±


    ¡°FOOL!¡± The scientist roared through the giant robot. ¡°You peons could never even think to understand my plans! I always got what I needed from this place, and my remote unit made more gains for me than I ever thought!¡±


    The Spider-Worm roared and slammed into the giant robot, but failed to move the giant robot. The giant robot slashed out with its other arm, and an energy blade formed from above the limb¡¯s waist. The blade slashed down and made a mark going down the Spider-Worm¡¯s body, and red blood gushed out.


    The Spider-Worm screeched in pain and reared back, the blood slowly dying. From the stump where the torn point limb had been, another burst free. The Spider-Worm roared and slammed its side into the giant robot, and this time tore into the robot. Its tail came around at the same time and pulled one of the giant robot¡¯s legs from its body.


    As the Spider-Worm reared back and roared, the giant robot fell. The Spider-Worm wasted no time, and spat another blob of black liquid, this blob hitting the head. As the liquid ate into the metal, the scientist started swearing and roaring.


    ¡°Malware widen scrap! How dare you fail me! Sure, it has a reservation function, but more abilities!? That goes against all the records I have! Just what is this thing!?¡± The scientist demanded in horror and rage.


    Meanwhile, the group destroyed the last of the smaller robots. Karakpace and Jinn both looked at the Spider-Worm, ready to fight.


    Jinn slowly put his pistol away and drew out his blade, squeezing to turn it into its sword form. He looked at the Spider-Worm as it tore apart the giant robots and sighed. He just knew that their luck wasn¡¯t good enough for the monster to leave. He watched it spit out the metal and looked around, seeing the people still in the hangar. As it looked at them, its round mouth seemed to twitch as if something was in it. And that was when he knew that they would need to kill this monster if they wanted to stay alive.

 One Hundred Fifty Four Part 2

    Jess panted as she looked at the Spider-Worm, trying to keep calm. So far, they had been able to handle the robots, and the Apes had escaped, so there was that. One new not enemy was great as the day was going. So far, the Spider-Worm was just looking at them. And for a few moments, Jess hoped it would leave. And then it spat out a blob of black liquid that ate at the deck and it looked at it. She didn¡¯t know what she was expecting, but she had a feeling that this thing was going to be a problem. She swallowed and whispered. ¡°Can you feel anything from it Paige?¡±


    ¡°Hunger and desire that borders the boundary of beasts and people. And there is a boundary,¡± Paige said softly.


    Jess swallowed, not sure how to take that. She had a few pets growing up, and the idea that they could think was something that was bothering her. But this wasn¡¯t the time for her thoughts, the time now was for action. Looking at the monster, she swallowed and aimed her weapon at it. With the robots gone, this was the last problem for claiming this place. And with everything out there, they needed a place to defend, and something better than rock walls.


    ¡°So, is hoping that that thing will leave just dreaming?¡± Sk¡¯p asked with a slightly joking tone to his voice.


    Jess heard Sara snort as she tried to hold back her laughter. And Jess had to admit, that idea was a bit funny.


    But then the Spider-Worm roared and charged at the doorway.


    ¡°Get back!¡± Jess roared and grabbing one of the bugs she ran down the corridor. The others ran with her, and moments later the Spider-Worm slammed into the doorway, denting it. Jess dropped her cargo, and turned, firing at the beast as it roared.


    ¡°Keep hitting it! If it¡¯s stuck there, we can win!¡± Sk¡¯p roared as he fired at the monster. At the same time, it tried to ram the door again, but something stopped it. It started to wiggle as it was being pulled backwards before it fell into the air.


    Jess stared in shock as Karakpace stood there, glowing black next to the blaze that was Jinn. They stood there for a second before the Spider-Worm roared and they were moving.


    As Jinn ¡®dashed¡¯ away, Karakpace charged. He angled his body low to the ground as he ran, making himself a smaller target. The Spider-Worm roared again before it spat another blob of black liquid at Karakpace. But he dodged it easily, the blob hit the deck, sizzling as it into the metal.


    As he got closer, Karakpace roared and slashed out with his claws as soon as he sped by the monster.


    While that was happening, Jinn had dashed into the air to the ceiling. As he fell he fired at the Spider-Worm from the hanger door side of the chamber. As the monster was hit, it roared in pain and thrashed around.


    It moved its tail and slashed down at Karakpace who dodged the blow at the last moment. His lunge caused him to land on the wall, actually standing there for a moment. He growled before he pushed off into a lunge that sent him slamming into the Spider-Worm. To her shock, the force of the blow sent it back a few feet.


    Jinn landed and ¡®dashed to above the monster, falling and slicing out with his blade, destroying one of its eyes. When its spike limbs tried to get him, he ¡®dashed¡¯ away and landed near Karakpace.


    ¡°Keep it up! That was just what we needed!¡± Karakpace encouraged before he roared and charged at the Spider-Worm again. The beast thrashed around in pain and seemed to not be able to see out of that side. It fired another blob but it landed nowhere near the fighters. As Karakpace made it closer to the monster and slashed out again. This time he landed a blow on the side of the beast below the damaged eyes. As the monster roared it lashed out with its spiked limbs, this time scratching Karakpace¡¯s shell. It was only for a moment but that was enough for the beast to know it had hit something, and it slammed its tail around. Karakpace was hit and was thrown across the hangar.


    Jinn moved around to the ¡®good¡¯ side of the beast, firing as he went.


    ¡°Back them up! Fire!¡± Sk¡¯p roared as he fired at the Spider-Worm, hoping that his fire would do something. As the monster roared in pain, it spat a glob of its black liquid at them. It flew through the air and hit the ground ahead of the group, but some of it splashed onto Sk¡¯p¡¯s right side.


    He roared in agony as he went down, the sound of sizzling flesh and the smell almost caused Jess to throw up.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Jinn looked at him as Sara looked down at him, her eyes full of pain before her hand started to glow. In a moment, the sounds and smells were gone, and all that remained was Sk¡¯p¡¯s slow panting.


    ¡°Is he okay?!¡± Paige asked in concern as she dropped down.


    Sara grabbed a device from her backpack and slowly scanned him. ¡°He¡¯s not fine, but I was able to stop him with my Power. He¡¯s still hurt, I can¡¯t fix that! We need to put a bandage on him, now!¡±


    Jess stayed silent, looking at the Spider-Worm as looked at them. With a hard swallow, Jess felt her With a slow motion, she put her hand on Paige¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Paige, Sara. Move him down the hall to the door, open it, and go inside. I¡¯ll but you all the time I can. But go!¡± Jess said with force to her voice.


    ¡°What are you feeling¡­.Sara, help me now!¡± Paige said urgently.


    Jess looked at the Spider-Worm as it glared at them, and with a shaky hand, she willed her power active. If that thing wanted to get past her, it would do that over her dead body.


    But before it could move at them, five blasts hit its body. It roared in pain and Jess whipped her head around and saw Jinn looking at the beast, his pistol pointing at it.


    ¡°HERE!¡± Jinn roared, and the Spider-Worm roared and turned towards him.


    It was all Jess could do to watch what happened next. The Spider-Worm charged at Jinn, ignoring Karakpace on its bad side. After it was halfway to him, Jinn disappeared and reappeared by the hanger door. And to Jess¡¯s horror, the Spider-Worm stopped, thrusting its sharp limbs into the deck.


    For a moment, she wondered why it had done that and then she felt her mind go blank. There was only one reason it would have done that, and that was because it reasoned what was beyond the door. It knew what the open air was and what would happen to it if Jinn tricked it out that door.


    Karakpace roared and charged at the monster as it tried to turn. He tackled it¡¯s back, sending it down.


    ¡°DO IT, SHOT ITS HEAD!¡± Karakpace roared as he tried to force the monster down. But then before anyone could move, Karakpace screamed in pain. He to the side and in a flash Jess was there.


    She grabbed him and felt something wet on her hands. But she ignored the feeling and she ¡®dashed¡¯ away with him before the Spider-Worm could even react to her.


    As soon as she reappeared by the door she felt something eating at her hands. She looked down and saw some of that black liquid on them. And paled in horror. She could only wonder where it had come from, then her head snapped to look at Karakpace¡¯s body.


    ¡°Oh, Nova! Sara! We need you!¡± Jess roared.


    Down the hallway, Sara poked her head out a moment before Jess grabbed Karakpace and ¡®dashed¡¯ to the door.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°On Nova! Jess, Karakapce!¡± Sara cried as she leaped back and looked at them. She stared in horror, and she couldn¡¯t even believe what she was seeing, that anything like this was possible.


    Karakpace¡¯s front had been soaked in the black liquid and Jess had it on her hands. The moans from Karakpace were the only thing that told her he was alive. The smell of the liquid eating his body made her rethink that idea, as she hadn¡¯t treated many insect-like beings. But it was the way that he moved his limbs that told her he was still alive. She looked down, not knowing how to even start treating him.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening? OH NOVA! JESS! And is that the Insect being!?¡± Paige''s voice came from the doorway to the small room they had found to treat Sk¡¯p. The room they found only had one entrance and had been used as an office from what Sara could tell.


    ¡°Stay there Paige, watch Sk¡¯p! And close the door if I say so!¡± Sara called out as she noticed something from the corner of her eyes. She looked up at Jess and made a motion towards her with her hands. ¡°Let me help you!¡±


    ¡°No, him first!¡± Jess demanded as she pointed at Karakpace.


    ¡°Jess, I don¡¯t know how to even start!¡± Sara said as she held her hands in anger and sorrow.


    ¡°Your power, use it!¡± Jess said with a snarl.


    She called upon her power and sent it at Karakpace, and then she felt something. She looked down as the liquid disappeared and revealed how damaged Karakpace was. His chitin had a hole in it that blood seeped out of. But even worse, through the holes there was something else. Something that she couldn¡¯t understand at first, but then she did, to her dismay and horror.


    ¡°NO!¡± Sara exclaimed as she realized what she saw.


    ¡°What is it!?¡± Jess demanded as Sara looked at her and used her Power again, this time on Sara. As her hands stopped smoking, Jess looked down before looking up. ¡°Thanks, but what¡¯s wrong?!¡±


    ¡°The liquid got inside him! This is bad, this is so bad!¡± Sara said as she moved to get her bag and equipment.


    ¡°Why is it bad!!?¡± Jess began as Sara made it back.


    Sara ignored her and went to work, bringing her scanner out and looking over the readings.


    ¡°He¡¯s descended from bugs, so he has an external bone structure! I don¡¯t even know if he can regrow what the liquid ate! And if it gets to his heart, it''s over! And look!¡± Sara said as she pointed at the two bugs that Karakpace controlled. Both of them were moving around randomly and they seemed to jerk when they looked at the two women. ¡±That has to mean that he¡¯s losing control, and that means he¡¯s dying! I don¡¯t know what I could do!¡±


    ¡°Then save him! Aren¡¯t you a doctor!?¡± Jess demanded.


    Sara looked away, chastised and full of anger. ¡°You need training to heel all kinds of life. I know how to heal people descended from Apes, Canines, and Birds! We were going to go over Insects next week before we crashed!


    ¡°Then try to save him anyway!¡± Jess said with a snarl.


    ¡°How?! I don¡¯t have any of the tools or training to help him. I need to cut him open! I don¡¯t have anything like that in my tools!¡± Sara said, anger leaking into her voice. She glared at Jess, trying to get her to understand just what she could and couldn¡¯t do! That was what the problem was with people from other sections of the ship. They thought the medical division could heal everything and anything. None of them understood the time it took to learn to treat even half the races in the Federation!


    ¡°Then don¡¯t cut him open, do more with what you have!¡± Jess snarled.


    ¡°With what!? I don¡¯t have anything, and all my Power can do is negate things that are affecting the body, nothing else!¡± Sara bit back as she looked at Jess with anger in her eyes.


    For a moment that seemed so long, Jess only stared at Sara. ¡°Then he didn¡¯t tell you that trick?¡±


    ¡°What trick!?¡± Sara asked, at the absolute limit of her temper and self-control. ¡°So help me, if this is something stupid that is so obvious to you I¡¯m going to scream! I can¡¯t do what I don¡¯t know how to¡­.¡±


    ¡°Jinn said we can move the source of the Powers, what fuels it. He told me, that¡¯s how I can do his ¡®Dashing¡¯ trick! So do that, throw it at him or your Power! Maybe that¡¯ll do something!¡± Jess said with hope and shock in her voice.


    Sara looked at her, and then down at her hands. She was stunned, she was completely stunned. Maybe she would be able to help Karakpace after all. The roars from the other room told her that they would need everyone who could hold a weapon soon.

 One Hundred Fifty Five part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1340


    Jinn watched as Jess carried Karakpace away, his mind going very fast. There had been nothing that came from the creature¡¯s mouth, which meant that it had come from the back. That meant that it had a way of spitting its liquid acid from a blowhole-like thing. That was the worst outcome, there was no way that he could attack it close now. If that blowhole was something it just made, then any time he got close to it, he might be walking into a trap. Best to fight it at range, that was the only thing he could do now.


    As he kept firing, he ¡®dashed¡¯ to above the blind side of the monster¡¯s face. He looked down at the Spider-Worm and saw a leaking hole on its back. As the metal beneath its feet started to release steam from the surface, Jinn cursed again. ¡°I hate being right about these things. I hate it so much!¡±


    As the monster turned at his voice, slapping its tail around the floor, he grinned as he fell. He ¡®dashed¡¯ to the ceiling, and looked down. Pushing off, he screamed and the beast turned towards where he was. He looked at it before he ¡®dashed¡¯ again, this time he fired as he landed near the hanger door.


    He looked at the Spider-Worm as it looked at him, growling as it moved backwards a bit. He nodded, feeling his anger-wise as he couldn¡¯t hide from the reality anymore. This monster was more than a beast, and that was bad. The worst enemy was something that wanted revenge. And this thing was looking like one of those enemies. He knew that he had to do something, but as long as it escaped they could regroup. They could still kill this thing, they didn¡¯t have to do it now.


    There was a lot they could do. The factories here, if they worked then Al could make gear for them. And for the other survivors coming here now, they could use Locke¡¯s powers to make a base camp of the maze. Then if they kept the monster away from the survivors and food, they could even outlast it! Or if they had to, they could come into this place to hunt it down. He could make the trip back to the crash site alone, he knew where it was and his ¡®dash¡¯ skill could get him back to the plateau. Once there, he could find the camp and ask Duncan for orders.


    But then that meant giving the Spider-Worm time to plan or do anything. And with that acid, it could destroy everything they needed this place for. As his old trainers would say, this was a loss, loss situation. And whenever he found those situations, he had learned one thing that might be. The one thing to do was kill this thing here and now, the third option.


    ¡°Always gotta do the hard option, don¡¯t you J? Guess she was right about you,¡± Jinn said to himself with a small smile.


    He ¡®dashed¡¯ to the good sign of the Spider-Worm¡¯s face, and then it looked at him he fired at its chest.


    It roared in pain and lashed out with its piercing limbs, but Jinn only ¡®dashed¡¯ away behind it and fired. As it roared and tried to find him, Jinn just grinned. Aiming at one of the destroyed robots in the blind spot of the Spider-Worm, he ¡®dashed¡¯ there. Once he was on the ground he grabbed a torn-off piece of a robot, his goal. He ¡®dashed¡¯ to the other side of the chamber in the air and threw the piece at the wall before dashing away. He grinned as the Spider-Worm roared and charged that way.


    ¡°I can still trick it! I can win after all!¡± He muttered as he looked at the monster and fired at its back before ¡®dashing¡¯ away. The Spider-Worm roared and charged at where the shot had come from, and he laughed a little. This was going to be as easy as he thought. With practice ease, he started to do that again and again. Each time he let it see him, he was leading it closer to the opening to the outside. But after five times, the Spider-Worm stayed where it was, looking around in what might have been anger.


    Jinn looked at the beast from above and scowled. ¡°So the little monster actually remembered it after all? wonderful.¡±


    He fell for a foot before he ¡®dashed¡¯ to the beast¡¯s backside and fired from just out of reach. When the beast tried to use its tail, he ¡®Dash¡¯ to the bad side but then it roared. He ¡®dashed¡¯ backwards and saw that the destroyed eye had been healed. ¡°It can regenerate!? Shouldn¡¯t its mind been nothing but ashes and mush by now!?¡±


    Without a single thought, he ¡®dashed¡¯ upwards. A single moment later the Spider-Worm had thundered through where he had been. He saw a balcony from the apex of the chamber, and with a single thought he ¡®dashed¡¯ to above it. He landed silently and looked down at the monster from hiding, trying to make a plan.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    He could just keep ¡®dashing¡¯ and firing, that might work. At the least, it would keep this monster from the others. The only thing he could do was try and create a new plan now. The fact that this thing could regenerate, was a game-changer.


    But then that had to be why it ate C1ll, it needed the fuel. But then why did it need the fuel? Were its abilities always active, even if it was healed? But that would have killed it by now. There was something here, something that he couldn¡¯t see. But he had to figure something out, he had to.


    As the Spider-Worm roared, a blast of the black liquid shot out of its blowhole. Jinn watched as it hit and ate at the remains of the Shuttle Robot. As the liquid slowly melted the robot, the Spider Worm turned around. With slow steps, it came over to the remains and it started to drink the messy liquidity metal. This stunned Jinn so much that he almost made a sound. ¡°What are you up to¡­.?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Karakpacee slowly blinked, he had been sure he was going to die. He had been expecting to see the Great Nest within moments, but instead, he was still alive. For a moment, it was all Karakpace could do to let his body ache and react to the stimulant of being alive. Feeling the bugs he had connected to, he felt their life force and drank deeply of their senses. That was an old trick that he had heard to center yourself, and it was rocking. He had felt his control slipping, a sight that he was dying, so what had happened to him? What was this?


    Forcing his eyes open, he looked around and tried to understand where he was. Surprisingly, he wasn¡¯t in the hanger chamber. Instead, he was back in the hallway far down the corridor. He couldn¡¯t understand, how had he gotten there so fast? His memories came back, and he remembered everything.


    Then when he looked at Sara, only then did he understand. She wasn¡¯t looking down at him, instead, she was staring at her hands in awe. It was the glow around them that told him what and how she had saved him, and he chuckled.


    ¡°So there is a healer among you all, amazing. You are all truly blessed by this world to have been given such a gift,¡± Karakpace rumbled softly.


    Karakpace looked at Jess, who had saved him. She knew Jinn¡¯s movement Power, and that was something interesting. That meant that she had been blessed like him, and that was something to think about. The others back at the Beast would need to know, this group could make good allies. And if they ever made it home then the Queen would want to know these people.


    ¡°You okay big guy?¡± Jess asked and Karakpace nodded.


    ¡°Yes, I am. We must go help Jinn,¡± Karakpace rumbled as he tried to get up but found his body wouldn¡¯t obey him. He blinked and looked down, feeling his body trying to fight against him. ¡°I can¡¯t move.¡±


    He closed his eyes and let his power rush within him, trying to understand his body. After a moment, he opened his eyes and cursed. ¡°No! I can¡¯t stand just yet, the damage needs time for my muscles to recover!¡±


    Karakpace growled low in his throat, he was missing the battle and Jinn might die if he wasn¡¯t there.


    ¡°Good, stay here!¡± Jess said with a scowl as she started to walk towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll back Jinn up, you stay here and get them out of here if we fail!¡±


    Karakpace looked at her for a few minutes, before he nodded and decided to do something. ¡°Wait! To increase your strength, focus the power to your shoulder muscles, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Jess stopped and looked at him before nodding. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jess ran to the door and out it, she tried to think of what to do. Down the hanger, the Spider Worm was roaring as it tried to find Jinn who had disappeared. Without making a sound, Jess ¡®dashed¡¯ up and saw Jinn hiding on a balcony from the sight of the monster. Looking around, she saw another one on the other side of the chamber near the others. Moving there with a single ¡®Dash¡¯ she poked her head up over against the wall, and looked at Jinn. he saw her and gestured to the others, and she made a circle sign. He looked down at the monster, sighed, and shook his head.


    He gestured down, made a finger gun, and then held up all five of his right hand. Jess nodded holding up her pistol and nodded back.


    Jinn only looked at her before he disappeared in a ¡®dash¡¯. He appeared above the monster and fired at it as he fell before he ¡®dashed¡¯ again. The monster roared and looked around as Jess did the same. It was only when another blast hit the monster form that she had a clue. The bolt had come from the direction of the open hanger door then she understood where Jinn was. Looking towards that direction, her mouth dropped open. Jinn was firing as he fell just outside of the open doors. The beauty of it was when he fell out of sight he must have ''dashed'' upwards. And so he repeated his fall and fired at the monster again.


    The more that happened, the more the Spider Beast grew mad. But were Jess¡¯s eyes playing tricks on her or was it changing before her eyes? As she stared in horror, long spikes in two lines grew down its spine. They merged at the tail, growing until they were over a foot long. The spikes were glittering in the light as if they were made of metal. As she stared she thought she saw a spark of something jump from the end spike on the tail to the closest one.


    The Spider-Worm just released a roar, louder than it ever had. Then a bolt of lightning shot from spike to spike until it reaches the head. Then a blast of pure electricity shot at Jinn from the top spikes.


    She stared in horror at what the mounter could do, stunned stupid for a second. Then Jinn was next to her, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°So that was what it needed the fuel for. Wonderful. Jess! Go tell the others to stay back, then get back here!¡± Jinn ordered calmly.


    Jess stared at him in shock. She couldn¡¯t believe, he actually knew what to do next. They just saw a monster mutate before their eyes and in moments, Jinn had a plan to deal with it.


    ¡°What are we going to do!?¡± Jess asked.


    Jinn only looked at her and shook his head. ¡°The only thing we can, play Zap Tag with that thing! Just dash, fire, and repeat! That thing must be burning through its resources, we just need to outlast it!¡±


    Jess looked at him in shock, and a little bit of surprise. In the brief time that the creature had mutated, Jinn identified a weakness they could use to beat it.


    ¡°Who are you?! Where did you learn how to do this!?¡± Jess demanded, dark thoughts going through her head. There was nothing and nowhere that taught the way Jinn thought.


    ¡°That¡¯s a long story, and we don¡¯t have time for it! Go now!¡± Jinn barked before he disappeared in another ¡®dash¡¯. The monster¡¯s roar was all the incentive Jess needed to move, and she ¡®dashed¡¯ away. The sounds of combat behind her caused her to almost turn, but she ran into the doorway, doing what Jinn told her to do. Jinn¡¯s plan was going to be dangerous, but it was the best idea that they had right now. No, it was the only idea that might work!

 One Hundred Fifty Five part 2

    Jinn scowled as he dodged another bolt of lightning. So far, he¡¯s been able to stay ahead of the blasts but he wouldn''t for much longer. Throughout the battle, the Spider-Worm was getting better at trying to guess where he would end up. All the while he had felt something each time the beast roared, something that seemed like terror. But he only felt it for a split second each time, and he was holding it together. But he only was able to do that because he had used an old trick to keep his emotions at bay. He knew he would have to release the buildup later, and there were no rage rooms here. But he could use the corpse of this thing to work through his issues with it. But he would need to rest for a few moments and gather his strength. He felt the fire that fueled his Power fading slowly each time he ''Dashed''


    So with another ¡®Dash¡¯ that landed him on the opposite side of the hanger on a balcony, he stopped moving. As he panted he slowly regained his strength as the heat increased. He could feel the power rise in him and knew it would only take minutes to get everything back. He was on a balcony near the back wall, and he was hiding out of the monster¡¯s sight. He would just need another few moments, and that would be enough.


    As he took a deep breath, he risked a look over the barrier for a second and then slammed down. The Spider-Worm was prowling towards the right wall, where the other robot parts were. He didn¡¯t know how to feel about that. The closer it moved to the door his friends were behind, the more dangerous it became. But he had to admit that it was looking like there was only one way to really end this. Well, maybe two of them. If he could just get it to chase him¡­¡­ The more he thought about that, the more solid the idea felt. This might be the only thing he could do, it would be risky, but did he have a choice?


    Thinking quickly, he prepared to do what he knew he had to. But then he saw Jess appear on one of the other balconies and aim at the monster. Without thinking, then he knew that he had to act fast. Without wasting a second, he ¡®dashed¡¯ to her and put his hand on her gun, forcing it down. ¡°No!¡±


    Jess looked at him like he had lost his head. ¡°I thought this was the plan!¡±


    ¡°It was,¡± Jinn admitted and then looked at her with a frown. ¡°But plans change! That thing is getting too good at aiming those blasts, you¡¯d get killed before too long. We need to do something else, something risky.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Jess demanded in shock and anger.


    Jinn only sighed and prepared to tell her the bad news. ¡°It¡¯s simple. I lead it back down that path. You get back to the others, find Paige! Get her to that room she used to escape the Ape! I¡¯ll run to that room, but be ready to close it!¡±


    Jess stared at him and he knew what she was thinking. They had seen the damage to the Access Pad, and there was a chance it wouldn¡¯t work. But then there wasn¡¯t anything else he could do, he had to protect the others. That thing would soon be able to get into the hallway and at the others. It hadn¡¯t yet, not even looking in that direction. Maybe it didn''t know the others were there? Or because it just didn''t want to go after them? Maybe it wanted to kill him and Karakpace first. There were possibilities, but he would take all the advantages that he could get.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, but we don¡¯t have a choice! We can¡¯t keep fighting here, we need to take a chance! If we can buy ourselves some time to get away!¡± Jinn began and then there was a roar from behind.


    Jinn turned and saw blasts hitting the monster from the darkened gloom of the doorway. To his shock, the monster just roared again, and then it fired a blast into the darkness. But the blasts fizzled out as something walked out.


    It was another robot made of black steel. As tall as the Spider-Worm, its body was a humanoid body on a five-foot-wide platform with four legs set in an ¡®X¡¯ formation. The top of the robot was gaunt, with its arms ending in five long claws. Its head had three eyes, and each was blazing crimson. Its mouth was a piece of metal that was shaped like an open mouth, but it had no open space within it. On its back was a large pole that was drawing in every blast the monster sent at it.


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t expect this body to give me vengeance even after I¡¯m gone you beast! This is what proper planning can accomplish! Always have a backup!¡± The voice was the same being that had roared through the shuttle.


    Jinn looked at the robot as its hands split in half at the middle finger. They moved out six inches and then bolts of energy. The bolts only seemed to force the Spider-Worm backward. As Jinn watched, the monster roared again and this time he felt nothing. Jinn looked at the monster, and his eyes widened as everything came together. The Spider-Worm kept roaring in rage as it was forced against the wall behind it.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Blinking, Jinn looked at Jess as the robot kept broadcasting the rant of the being controlling it. ¡°Okay, I didn¡¯t see that happening.¡±


    ¡°New plan?¡± Jess asked with a deadpan tone. They watched as the strange robot kept absorbing each blast the Spider-Worm fired.


    ¡°Yeah, new plan. We wait for them to fight each other,¡± Jinn said as he looked at the battle between the two titans. As the Spider-Worm was pushed back, Jinn grabbed Jess and they ¡®dashed¡¯ away. Jinn landed on another balcony closer to the battle near the door. He looked at Jess as she dropped to all fours as soon as he released her. She took in a deep breath as she tried to catch her breath.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Do. That. AGAIN!¡± Jess whispered harshly but softly.


    Jinn only shrugged and looked at the battle. The Spider-Worm was still against the wall, struggling to get free. Then the robot, the ¡®Quad-Walker¡¯ just stopped firing. As he watched, the Spider-Worm tried to charge. But no sooner than it had moved three feet, the Quad-Walker fired again.


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t expect this body to give me vengeance even after I¡¯m gone you beast! This is what proper planning can accomplish! Always have a backup!¡± The Quad-Walker repeated as it kept firing.


    ¡°He just said that! Does he just like the sound of his own voice!?¡± Jess asked in disbelief.


    Jinn said nothing, only nodding as he looked at the battle. There was something about it, something that was bothering him. The whole thing just looked so, so¡­. Robotic he had to think. The robot was just moving in, staying out of range and absorbing any shot that the Spider-Worm was able to shoot. But how it kept doing nothing but what it had done, was something that bothered him. It reminded him about something, something that he just can¡¯t remember. Some kind of training maybe? Yes, that was it! That one, the one where¡­.. Jinn went still as he


    ¡°Oh Stars! That thing is operating on a program! That must be a recording!¡± Jinn breathed out in horror.


    Jess looked at him in shock before looking at the robot, her eyes squinting as she tried to see what he had. ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I am. And that¡¯s bad for us. Very bad,¡± Jinn said bitterly.


    ¡°What don¡¯t I know that makes this so bad?¡± Jess asked horror in her voice.


    Jinn only gave a bark of laughter and shook his head. ¡°That means that it might only have a few attack patterns. And the lighting blasts, That''s only after it drank some of the shuttle but it liquefied. Who wants to bet it gets stronger when it destroys that thing?¡±


    ¡°Oh. Yeah, there¡¯s that. I mean yeah. But what do we do? Help the robot?¡± Jess asked as they looked at the ¡®battle¡¯.


    ¡°No! We can¡¯t do that. For all we know, it¡¯s programmed to kill us as well! We don¡¯t have any choice but to wait!¡± Jinn said with anger in his voice. He knew that leaving the two to kill each other was the only move that made sense, but he hated it. Anything could happen, anything that might make things worse for them. But if they found, it might turn into a three-way battle to the death, and those were pure chaos!


    The Spider-Worm hadn¡¯t fired another shot for moments now, and that might mean that it was out of ¡®juice¡¯ to throw them. But something was telling Jinn that they weren¡¯t that lucky. Something was telling him that this was just the calm before the big storm.


    ¡°Get to the others, we need to be ready to move! That¡¯s an order! Don¡¯t argue!¡± Jinn barked and Jess looked at him in shock. He looked at her and scowled, his eyes set in a hard line. ¡°You haven¡¯t been in many life-or-death battles before we crashed, I have! So go!¡±


    Jess looked like she wanted to argue, but Jinn just glared at her until she left in a ¡®dash¡¯. He turned and looked at the battle, trying to think of what he could do. He had been speaking the truth, but he had left something out. If the robot won, then who¡¯s to say it wouldn¡¯t attack them in turn? That meant whatever won, they were the ones that were going to be at risk either way. So the only logical thing to do was wait, and attack the victor once the battle was done. But who knows how that would happen or when?


    But then something else happened, the Spider Walker stumbled.


    From the passage came ten robots, Rail Skimmers if Jinn remembered the name right. Five of them broke off and started to fire at the Spider-Worm, but the others attacked the Quad-Walker.


    Jinn could only stare in shock, but then he looked around and then up at the ceiling. There were marks here and there all over it. Even here on this balcony, there were marks that showed where things had been removed. If he was right, then this whole room then this whole room was meant to be open to the vacuum of space. That meant that this place might have something that they could use. But then the Access Pad was the one thing that let them operate the systems here. And that meant that only Paige could use them if they were still active.


    The Spider-Worm roared and then spat at one of the Rail Skimmers. The black blob engulfed the robot and the robot fell to the ground, slowly liquefying as it sat there.


    He looked at the Spider-Worm as the fire from the Quad-Walker died down, planning how to do this. He looked at the Quad-Walker, seeing one of its arms was destroyed by the Rail Gliders, and made a choice. He was going to hate this, but he had no choice.


    With a single ¡®Dash¡¯ he appeared by one of the Rail Gliders and drew his blade. He knew the trick that Karakpace had shown him and he had felt it as his warmth went into his blaster or rifle. Time to make a test, one that he hoped would work. With all his will he forced the Warmth down his arm as he drew his blade and turned it into its sword form. Then with all his might, he forced the warmth into the blade. The blade itself suddenly gained an energy aura and he grinned. With a single motion, he slashed one of the Rail Skimmers that had been attacking the Quad-Walker.


    For a moment nothing happened, then the Rail Skimmer suddenly split in two where he had cut it, and he grinned. With a savage yell, he ¡®dashed to just above the Spider-Worm. As he fell, he yelled and the beast turned to him. That gave him an opening to slash through all the spike limbs on that side of its body. As soon as the slash was made, he ¡®Dashed¡¯ away, not letting any of the monster¡¯s blood get on him. Landing, he watched the Spider-Worm roar and pain and he looked at the wounds.


    They were still there, and not regenerating instantly like he feared. That meant that he had a chance, not a good one but a chance. If he could make a kill shot on that beast, then maybe the Rail Skimmers could handle the other one.


    ¡°Okay, Beastie, Final Round!¡± Jinn roars as he runs at the Spider-Worm

 One Hundred Fifty Six part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 5


    Uninhabited Island /Tunnels near Yard Ship


    Galactic Standard Time / 1400


    As she looked over her shoulder, Jess tried to keep calm and think. She knew Jinn needed help, but the new plan was something she still didn¡¯t know. If they couldn¡¯t handle the Spider-Worm and the Quad-Walker, then they needed to find a way to get out of there. If they just had the shell to use as a shield, then they would make do with that. Their lives were too precious a resource to spend too freely.


    She looked around seeing the others standing there waiting for her. Karakpace was standing, flexing his claws as he stood there, watching her.


    Before she could speak, Karakpace rumbled. ¡°So does Jinn have a plan to deal with that new robot?¡±


    Jess could only blink as she looked at him, dumbfounded as she stared. After a second, her eyes widened, and look behind her. She found what she was looking for, one of the two bugs that Karakpace had brought with him. She had wondered why those two, but now she knew. The answer was something that she had never expected, but it was the only thing that made sense here. And that scared her more than she thought possible. The sheer number of things that she would have to brief the rest of the security division on alone! ¡°You can see through your bugs?! Is it just them?!¡±


    ¡°Only what I can control. And that¡¯s all they are, weapons. I¡¯ve heard stories of skills that make them more, but that¡¯s all I know. And I can see the battle. There are more robots, fighting the big one and the monster. So what do we do?¡± Karakpace asked with a rumble.


    Jess looked at him and then shook her head. ¡°Later. Okay, Jinn wanted Paige to go back to that room she used to escape the apes with Sk¡¯p. We need you to be ready to open and close the doors if Jinn needs to lead the Spider-Worm that way.¡±


    ¡°Got it! But I¡¯ll need someone to come and help me,¡± Paige said with a hard look in her eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need to stay here,¡± Sara said softly.


    Jess looked at her and almost took a step back, staring at her in horror. When she had left, Sara was fine. Now she looked like she had just run a marathon all day.


    ¡°She¡¯s fine. She¡¯s just having a problem after forcing herself to learn that Power that saved me. It¡¯ll pass in an hour at worst,¡± Karakpace said softly, a look of sorrow in his voice.


    Jess looked away for a moment, feeling shame that Sara was in this situation. She had been the one to tell Jess what to do, and


    ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± A voice called out from the room. They all looked up to see Sk¡¯p standing there leaning against the wall. There was a hard look on his face as he spoke, and he carried a hard air. ¡°I¡¯ll go. We don¡¯t need to show that horror to anyone else for now.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, horror?!¡± Jess demanded and Sk¡¯p only looked at her before shaking his head.


    ¡°Keep your mind on the battle. We¡¯ll need everyone¡¯s help to clean this up later. But don¡¯t forget us, okay?¡± Sk¡¯p said as he pushed off the wall and took a few steps forward, each one stronger than the last one. Finally, he pulled out his rifle and looked at Paige. ¡°Ready to move?¡±


    Paige nodded and without a word, they were off.


    Jess looked at them and tried to keep calm, but then that was something she was good at. Looking at Karakpace, she nodded. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re with me big guy. We¡¯ll see what¡¯s going on and make a move depending on what¡¯s happening.¡±


    ¡°Smart stratagem. And the best that we can do. Stay here until you can walk Ms. Sara. This place might be safer for you,¡± Karakpace rumbled as he stood up.


    Sara made a motion to join them, but then Jess pushed her back down. ¡°He¡¯s right. He looks like he¡¯s had Powers a lot longer than we have. Stay here and move once you can. One of the medical rules, treat yourself first if you can.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Sara looked like she was going to argue, but then she nodded. She seemed to sink down and then looked at her with a look of acceptance. ¡°Got it, Jess. Just stay alive, okay? I can¡¯t bring back the dead yet.¡±


    Jess just chuckled and turned away, a smirk forming on her face. ¡°I think I have a ¡®don¡¯t revive with magic¡¯ on my file.¡±


    Sara only laughed and Jess felt a bit better. Walking down the hallway, she tried to think. They didn¡¯t have a weapon that would work for Karakpace¡¯s build, so he was stuck with his strength. And that means that they would have to get close to the monster for that to work. And an attack from behind wouldn¡¯t work on that thing, so there was the big robot to try. But the thing it had on its back, bothered her. There was something about that shape and what it did that set her teeth on edge. She didn¡¯t like it at all.


    ¡°The little robots are attacking both of our enemies. And even when Jinn destroyed one of them, they left him alone,¡± Karakpace reported as they made it to the door.


    Jess looked out and almost wished she was out there. Jinn kept ¡®dashing¡¯ around, disappearing only to reappear to attack. Depending on where he was, he slashed at the Spider-Worm the big robot.


    She looked at the robots attacking the big robot and the Spider-Worm and almost did a double take. She stared in shock before she bit out. ¡°Those are Rail Skimmers! They only made the basic model decades after this ship became obsolete! What and how are they here!?¡±


    Karakpace only looked at the robot and scowled slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of those. A wreck was found a decade ago. Those were the cargo. They helped a few of the darker powers build terrible things.¡±


    Jess looked at him, her mouth dropping open. She didn¡¯t want to need to know what he meant by that.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jinn landed on a balcony and looked down, grinning to himself. The smaller robots had gotten his message, focusing their fire on the Spider-worm. And he had dealt that thing a few wounds, wounds that weren¡¯t healing. That was the best thing that could happen, but where did the robots come from? He didn¡¯t think they were from the same force as the Quad-Walker, so what sent them?


    He shook his head, and then he looked at the Spider-Worm. It had been staying there, with its back against that one position for minutes now. That bothered him more than he wanted to admit. There were little reasons, and that bothered him. To think that this thing could plan? That was opening the devil¡¯s box here.


    He shook his head and looked up, but then he looked down and saw Karakpace and Jess by the door to the hallway. He nodded as he saw them looking at him, and then he gestured at the big robot before holding up a hand.


    He saw Jess nod and he grinned. She had understood what he meant, and that was enough. All they had to do was wait, and strike when the time was right. He didn¡¯t know what the Quad-Walker would do, but that didn¡¯t matter. They had to do everything they could to survive and protect the others.


    Then he went still and felt his breath catch. Without a thought, he ¡®dashed¡¯ to where he needed to be. He looked right at the Spider-Worm as he put his head against the wall near the others, hoping he was wrong. He felt his heart go still at what he saw. ¡°NOVA!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t even believe that he hadn¡¯t even considered this. As far as he knew, that thing had gained the ability to throw its black liquid from its back. And the thing had known how to use that ability in combat! How did he even think that this thing wasn¡¯t able to even think of using it to get away?


    ¡°What is it!?¡± Jess asked as she and Karakpace came up behind him.


    ¡°It¡¯s trying to burn through the hull! And I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s behind it!¡± Jinn snarled as he aimed his pistol at the Spider-Worm and called upon his Power. ¡°Hit it with everything you¡¯ve got!¡±


    ¡°Burn through the hell!? It can do that!?¡± Jess asked in shock as she aimed her pistol at the Spider-Worm.


    ¡°Yeah, so fire!¡± Jinn barked. As the two both started to fire at the Spider-Worm, Jinn took a deep breath. ¡°Aether Dart!¡±


    As the energy dart formed, Jinn just fired again and again at the monster. He saw each bolt hit and damage its outer shell, but each shot only seemed to make the Spider-Worm stay in place. But then he saw something that made him almost drop his weapon. The Spider-Worm had actually burnt into the ship! That liquid it spat had burned a hole that it was using to hold itself in place, and that was why it wasn¡¯t moving! It was already through the hull plates, and now it was only waiting to get into the circuits!


    But as he watched, the monster moved even farther back until it fell away completely. The Quad-Walker dropped as Jinn ran forward, Jess and Karakpace behind him.


    ¡°FOOLISH BEAST! GO BACK TO YOUR MASTER IN THE VOID!¡± The Quad-Walker broadcasted before it dropped its humanoid torso forward.


    As soon as Jinn made it to the hole, he looked down and saw water a few hundred feet below them. He swallowed as he realized that the hanger was built out from the ship.


    ¡°Where is it!?¡± Jess asked as she aimed her weapon down at the water.


    ¡°It got away! We have to find it! If that thing attacks the group on the beach! They¡¯ll¡­¡­.¡± Jinn trailed off as he saw bubbles form on the water. As they watched, the Spider-Worm shot into the air, and behind it, something even worse came up. All they could see was a creature a hundred feet wide with teeth. It swallowed the Spider-Worm whole in one bite. The thing fell backwards into the water, it created a large splash that reached them. ¡°Never mind. I guess they''re safe.¡±


    Jinn looked at the water, seeing the ripple that moved around the water¡¯s surface. That thing was almost as big as a small stellar smuggling ship! How was something that big so close to the island?! He forced his heart to keep beating and turned towards the others.


    Jess¡¯s mouth had dropped open in shock, and her eyes were wide. Slowly she turned and looked at Jinn¡¯s eyes. ¡°What the Blackhole was that!?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! We¡¯ve only been here for a few days! You¡¯re the one who was by the sea!¡± Jinn barked and Jess glared back at him.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think that thing was real,¡± Karakpace breathed in horror.


    Jinn turned around and looked at him with Jess. Both of them were staring at him in horror. ¡°You know what that thing is!?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a horror alright, and one we can talk about later. I think we have a more important problem,¡± Karakpace rumbled as he looked behind them.


    Jinn turned and looked at Karakpace. He followed what Karakpace was looking at and then turned. He saw the Rail Skimmers, all of them looking at them.


    Jinn swallowed and nodded. ¡°Yeah, I get it man. So any ideas?¡±


    ¡°I think I know. The others, they got this place working!¡± Jess said with a grin.


    Jinn looked at the robots and nodded as well. ¡°If you can hear us Al, we¡¯re heading to the bridge. We¡¯ll meet up there, see you soon. So where are the others?¡±


    Jess followed after him as they walked towards the door to the corridor. ¡°Sk¡¯p and Paige are going to the doorway. And there¡¯s something else boss. They were talking about the horror they found. I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Jinn looked at her and then nodded after a moment. ¡°Yeah. I don¡¯t like that either. Let¡¯s have a nice long talk with them, and get them to show what they found before. But I have a good idea what it was.¡±


    Jess looked at him But Jinn stayed silent. He really hoped that he was wrong, but he had a feeling that he wasn¡¯t. This was probably a pirate ship after all. And that didn¡¯t leave many things that wouldn¡¯t be horrifying here.

 One Hundred Fifty Six part 2

    As Paige leaned against the wall she looked at the door to the charnel house from against the wall. She didn¡¯t believe that she had survived Callahin and his beast. But now they had to go back into that horror show they found? All she could do was hope that the others kill that monster instead of having to go into that morgue again!


    ¡°Hey. Be calm girl,¡± Sk¡¯p said softly. ¡°It was terrible, I know that. But hold it together and we¡¯ll honor them all later. It¡¯s the most we can do for them, so keep calm.¡±


    Paige looked up and saw the way he was looking at her. She looked away, a bit ashamed that he had noticed what was wrong with her.


    ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Paige asked with a soft voice. She hated her weakness, they were just dead bodies. But the way that they were just all around, how they were chained up. It just bothered her that they had been left there to die. She couldn¡¯t imagine just how any being could have let that happen. Or that they could have done that to others on purpose.


    ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯ve seen the look before. And I hated every time I did,¡± Sk¡¯p said, shaking his head in disgust. At the look Jess sent him, he just sighed and shook his head. ¡°I have to say, that was tame considering some of the things that pirates have done. And I once had to compile a report on active pirate fleets. The horrors that have been recorded by survivors or first responders. Some of the worst things I¡¯ve ever read were in that file, even worse than fiction!¡±


    Paige looked at him, feeling the revulsion that he was feeling almost made her throw up then and there. But she kept it down and tried to keep calm. It was only when they all heard the sounds of people talking that she even started to feel better. But it was the feeling of relief and victory that calmed her down.


    By the corner to the hallway outside of the hanger, Jinn led the group as the small bugs were on either side of him. Behind him was Jess guarding Sara as Karakpace followed behind them all. But it was the way that Karakpace was looking over his shoulder that made Paige a bit worried. He was feeling not victory, but shock and horror. What could he have seen back there that affected him but didn¡¯t affect the others? It had to have been bad, and something of this world.


    But against that, it was nothing compared to the look on Jinn¡¯s face, and his feelings. He wasn¡¯t feeling vigorous, no he was feeling revulsion. He was looking at Paige, with a look that she couldn¡¯t even understand. But the way that his eyes were looking at the door told her all that she needed to know.


    With a hard swallow, she pushed off the wall and walked towards the access pad.


    The others made it to her and Sk¡¯p, Sk¡¯p grinning as he laughed a little.


    ¡°So you beat that thing? Great! Nothing is standing in us claiming this place now!¡± Sk¡¯p declared with glee.


    But the way she felt terror when Jinn shook his head as Jess looked away almost broke Paige then and there. She swallowed and was able to rasp out a single sentence. ¡°No! Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s alive!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dead, but we didn¡¯t kill it. Something else ate it in one gulp when it broke one of the hanger walls. The monster fell into the ocean, then it just¡­.. I can¡¯t even describe what ate it,¡± Jess said softly.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you describe it? Wait, don¡¯t tell me,¡± Sk¡¯p said bitterly.


    ¡°It was too big. Maybe bigger than this whole ship,¡± Jinn said softly.


    Paige almost went white and threw up as she felt the truth in what Jinn was feeling. That there were creates that big around the island was something that they would need to know.


    ¡°That big!? Are you serious!?¡± Sk¡¯p demanded and he fell back against the wall. He just muttered softly in his tongue, words of horror and protection. Given how people treated faith nowadays, she didn''t have the heart to tell him she understood him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with that all later, for now, we need to find the others. This place is too much. And I want to see what¡¯s in there,¡± Jinn said with a hard tone.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Paige looked at him and then looked away. ¡°It¡¯s terrible, but something that I¡¯d expect from what history says Zeelitrix did.¡±


    ¡°Zeelitrix?! This is one of his ships!?¡± Jess demanded as Sara gagged in horror.


    This a ship of the Pirate Lord Zeelitrix the Butcher!? The monster that killed whole planets!? The person that created the model of the Pirate monster in the films?! The one that led a campaign that killed over twenty plants!? The man that killed over a hundred billion people?! That Zeelitrix?!¡± Sara demanded horror in her voice and mind. She felt that she was on the edge of passing out, but she kept it together.


    It was all Paige could do to nod, and feelings of horror came from them both. Jinn didn¡¯t feel anything, it was like the void. He looked at her with a blank look on his face before a spark of rage came from him. It was hotter than anything that she had ever felt before, and from Jinn she could only read a little, it was scary. And the way they had started to burn with what Sara had said about that pirate. Paige didn''t why understand he had reacted that way at all. Didn¡¯t he know about Zeelitrix from history class?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Yes, it is. And behind that door is a horror! I don¡¯t know what you expect¡­..¡± Sk¡¯p began only for Jinn to hold up a hand.


    Jinn looked at the door, his mind elsewhere. The name Zeelitrix was someone that the people who raised them said was a hero. Someone who fought the perverse monsters that dared to take over the Federation. One of the heroes of the last age. So here Jinn was, about to see the truth of another of the lies that he had been taught while he was young and stupid.


    ¡°Open it. Please,¡± Jinn said as he looked at Paige and tried to project all the emotions that he was feeling. He had to know, he had to see this for himself. It was beyond anything that he could ever speak, he had to see the truth.


    Paige swallowed and after a moment, she nodded as she walked over. ¡°I won¡¯t look in or go in. I¡¯m not budging.¡±


    Jinn only nodded and with a swallow, Paige touched the Interface Pad. In a moment, the door opened and they all smelled the stink of death.


    As he walked in and saw the corpses, Jinn felt bile rise in his mouth. He swallowed and looked around, trying to take stock of this. He had been raised to see that man as a hero, but here was the truth.


    ¡°How could anyone do this!?¡± Jess demanded from behind.


    Sara stayed silent and walked by him, taking out an instrument from her pack. ¡°Okay, I can¡¯t give you the time they all died, but I can at least tell you it wasn¡¯t slow, at least for most of them. I¡¯m seeing broken necks all over. And the ones that don¡¯t have other broken limbs. and other marks of death¡­.. I don¡¯t want to talk about those.¡±


    Jinn looked at the bodies near the ones she turned away from and understood. His eyes could see the marks on the bodies around them, the holes that weren¡¯t from wasting away, but from teeth. There were few things that people wouldn¡¯t do to stay alive, and here were many people had seen here. The chances of some of them losing control over their hunger or their desire to stay alive just one more day¡­.. The chances that some would have made that choice weren¡¯t as large as he would have wanted it to be.


    He wanted to scream, but then the people who had raised him taught him that survival was all that mattered. But from all the lies that those beings had told him, he was starting to see what they were so long. But one of the beings that he had based his life¡¯s choices on was not one that he had expected to be one of those lies.


    Turning around, Jinn walked out the door and nodded at Paige. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯ll get a burial detail set once the others are here. Maybe burning them all? We¡¯ll decide later. Come on.¡±


    As one the others followed after him, but he barely heard their feet. He wanted to scream, but he didn¡¯t. The fact that another part of his childhood was a lie, didn¡¯t matter. All that did was to keep moving forward. They had to get to the others now, and then they needed to talk with Karakpace.


    ¡°If that¡¯s it, then I think I¡¯ll be off,¡± Karakpace rumbled as he fell into step beside Jinn.


    Jinn blinked and looked up, seeing the large Insect looking down at him. After a few moments, he nodded reluctantly. ¡°You sure? I¡¯m sure the chief will want to talk to you. Sure we can¡¯t get you to stay here for a few hours?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Karakpace said and looked back towards the hanger. ¡°That thing that ate Callahin¡¯s monster? It¡¯s said to be a species that loves the taste of insects. The crew of my ¡®ship¡¯, used a few of the bugs we control to fish. Sometimes we would go out with them. I need to warn them.¡±


    Jinn looked at him and tried to find fault with that but he couldn¡¯t. The fact that Karakpace needed to wad his people, was something noble. And he couldn¡¯t argue, getting something to help their own was why the group was here after all.


    ¡°Yeah, you do. But what is that thing anyway?¡± Jess demeaned from behind.


    Karakpace only released a low reverberating growl in the silence of the hallway.


    ¡°A horror, one of the stories. Tell that other one that grew up here to tell the Tale of the Ship Breaker. It¡¯ll tell you all you need to know once you hear it. But I must go now,¡± Krarakpace said as he walked faster ahead of them.


    Jinn looked at the big guy before him and nodded. ¡°It was a pleasure to fight by your side. May your departed sleep easier tonight.¡±


    Karakpace released a slow breath and nodded one last time, a note of respect in his stance. ¡°I think my own might come back to talk but stay alive.¡±


    Jinn only nodded as Karakpace took off, running off with his bugs at his heels. In moments had reached the door at the far end of the corridor, his bugs at his side. As the smaller bugs went through the door, Karakpace turned and raised a fist.


    Jinn raised his blade above his head before bowing, the old Dualist¡¯s salute. In the distance, Karakpace went through the door and was away.


    ¡°So our friend is gone then? Jess''s voice asked as Jinn heard displaced air next to him.


    Without looking, Jinn nodded. ¡°Yeah, his own need him. I think we¡¯ll need to rethink our plans to fish here. Maybe some robots to make traps below?¡± Jinn said as he shrugged his shoulders.


    ¡°Guess we¡¯ll just see if we can get this place back up and running. Think that big robot was built here? Think we can get anything from the robot remains?¡± Jess asked.


    Jinn only nodded and sighed. ¡°I hope the big thing was built here. That means we can use everything here. That might be the one thing that can save us all.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. So I was talking to Paige. There¡¯s an open door to a cave in the mountains. Might be where that horror of Callahin was hiding. Think we should go and check it out?¡± Jess asked bluntly.


    Jinn looked at her, his eyes wide. He just thought of everything that might be hiding in there. And then there was an even worse possibility that his mind conjured up. The single thing that told him they needed to get into those caves soon. ¡°Yeah, we really do. I just hope that we can last until we can secure it.¡±

 One Hundred Fifty Seven Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1450


    ¡°So why shouldn¡¯t I throw that bastard out of the shield now?¡± Duncan asked with a growl. He glared at Terra and tried to think of any reason she had to tell him not to do anything. Not to stalk outside right now, go over and get the answer from this person by force. This was a situation in which the choices he made would mean the difference if they all survived or not.


    Terra looked at him, and then she sighed. ¡°Because you have no reason, legal that is. What I told you isn¡¯t anything that might hold up in a court of law. Not to even talk about the company lawyers.¡±


    Duncan looked at Terra with a hard look before he took a deep breath.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand you, girl. You said you think he left something out! We¡¯re in a life-or-death situation Terra! That means I have all the power I need to demand the truth from him!¡± Duncan said with a growl.


    ¡°Yeah, but the thing is, I said I think he did the politician¡¯s lie. That means he told the truth as he saw it. He might have left something out, but that just means that he might not have thought he did. There¡¯s more to what happened, sure. But did he do it on purpose?¡± Terra said with a shrug. Then she looked at him with a scowl. ¡°And can we prove it? I just told you that I think he lied. And the civilians will give us so much flank for that if you throw him out!¡±


    ¡°You think? You don¡¯t have proof or anything that people will believe, that¡¯s the problem then?¡± Duncan asked as he looked at Terra with a hard look. ¡°And you don¡¯t feel commutable telling me how you got that feeling then?¡±


    She looked back at him before she nodded. ¡°I just got a feeling, something that told me there was more. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to explain sir. I just can¡¯t explain how I know he didn¡¯t tell us everything.¡±


    Duncan looked at her and then he snorted. That was the meat of the problem, what could they prove here? It was all well and good to say he lied, but what can you prove? ¡°So we have to do nothing as a Cult Leader that might have sacrificed people walking around our safety area? And do nothing!?¡±


    Duncan waved off what Terra was going to say and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°I already know the answer to that! But I don¡¯t have to like it!¡±


    Terra only sighed and shook her head. ¡°Yeah, there is that sir. But we don¡¯t have to do nothing. We can do something, just not anything that¡¯s too obvious.¡±


    Duncan looked up and grinned evilly. There were a lot of things that he could do. As he thought of them all, he sighed and shook his head. ¡°All this and those punks have only been gone one day. I mean, how long do you think it¡¯ll take them to get back to us? A week at worst?¡±


    ¡°It all depends on how hard the terrain is sir. And if they even get there through the creatures out there. But the shield should hold. We just need to keep our guard up,¡± Terra admitted. She looked up and sighed. ¡°As for the others, I don¡¯t know. It all depends if they can find a way there and get through the monster.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Those things,¡± Duncan admitted, releasing a sigh. He turned his chair around and looked at the wall behind him, trying to think. So far, the only thing he knew was that there was someone here who might be the cult leader that the same man warned of. He had no idea how that madness had happened, what that landing capsule had found, or who was in it. The scum probably didn¡¯t even remember the number of the capsule he was in. So they wouldn¡¯t know where on the ship it came from, or who might have been on it. And that was a nightmare in itself. People would be listed as missing, and the media would eat that up. Duncan knew that those people would yell and scream. Say things like that when things go wrong, the company lets people die. But that was something to worry about once they made it back to the Federation.


    After a few minutes, Duncan sighed and shook his head. ¡°Fine. About that Roch or whatever his name is. We¡¯ll do nothing for now, obvious that it. I want him to stay up there until we¡¯re sure he¡¯s in one piece mentally. Start making a trench by the generators, the shield will keep the ran out, right? Then he can sleep in the trenches or down here. But he¡¯s not getting into this capsule until I¡¯m sure he¡¯s stable!¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Not the worst or the harshest we could do. It should make the others back off if you frame it right. I mean we hold power, but a riot will kill all of us,¡± Terra said with a hard tone.


    ¡°You''re right about that. But sill. There are other problems here. If those things were bred to die, then we need to be prepared to fight them off. How¡¯s the shield?¡± Duncan asked as he tried to think of the problems ahead of them.


    Those things that attacked us. We might need to send you out girl,¡± Duncan said softly before looking at her. ¡°Or someone you trust. You''re my second while the team is gone after all.¡±


    ¡°What!? Me!?¡± Terra exclaimed as she looked at him.


    Duncan only chuckled, thinking about how she was reacting. That was a lot like he had once when he was first given a command of his own. The horror was the right of response, the best leaders were those who didn¡¯t want it.


    ¡°Well, we need someone with authority up there. And with my leg and the limited supplies, you¡¯ll make up faster. So you¡¯re it,¡± Duncan said with a shrug.


    ¡°Sir¡­.. Sir!¡± Terra said as she saluted him. ¡°I accept this responsibility, sir!¡±


    ¡°Good! So any other problems?¡± Duncan asked as he looked at her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra blinked, trying to understand what he meant. Shaking her head, she looked at Duncan. ¡°Besides what we talked about, no. But still, there are a lot of moving parts here. Maybe we should send out a small scouting group tomorrow, give us some time to see what¡¯s happening out there?¡±


    Duncan nodded, looking at her and then smiling. ¡°Make your choice girl, you are in charge now. Well, you¡¯re the second in command. And good luck.¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Terra said before she turned and walked towards the door.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Duncan said suddenly. She looked back at him and saw the look on his face. ¡°Telling others about what we think our new friend did? That¡¯s your call. Just keep him contained!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Terra said saluting again. She closed the door and tried to think of what to do now. As the second here, she suddenly had a lot more responsibilities than she did before.


    ¡°Miss Terra!¡± A voice called from her right causing her to scowl as she looked towards Bradford. The way the man was looking at her, she knew that this was going to be something that she wouldn¡¯t like at all.


    ¡°Mr. Bradford. What can the crew of the Spirit do for you today?¡± Terra said trying to keep calm. She saw others behind him, a few crew members, and mostly other passengers. They were all close enough to hear without looking like they were. And somehow, she just knew that Bradford had taught them how to listen in on tethers. That seemed like a perfect skill for that bottom feeder to know.


    Bradford looked at her and took a deep breath. ¡°What happened up there!? We all heard blaster fire, were we attacked again? Is the shield down?!¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Terra said with a scowl. She saw the people behind Bradford all look scared. She took a deep breath, trying to gather her resolve. She had to handle this right, she had to use it to keep their morale up. ¡°We were attacked, but we¡¯ve been holding them off! The monsters haven¡¯t even gotten the shields down by a fourth! We will hold them off! You will know everything that happens as it happens! If the shield ever goes below fifty percent, you¡¯re all going to know!¡±


    ¡°So you say! But can we trust you?¡± One of the passengers called out from a mass to the left.


    Terra looked in that direction, trying to see who had spoken. She tried to understand just how some people could even have brains that worked. The sheer idiocy of some people just took her breath away sometimes.


    ¡°Then if you can¡¯t trust me, why are you bothering me? How can you even ask me questions in the first place?¡± Terra asked with a hard tone of voice.


    To her question the only thing that she heard was silence. And she heard a few people coughing, and she knew the silence was a mark of shame.


    Bradford only rubbed his eyes before sighing as he looked. ¡°There is that my friends. Do try and keep your minds active.¡±


    As the people muttered to themselves, Bradford looked at Terra.


    She looked at him and tried to get what he was after from his eyes, but she got nothing. She could tell when people were lying to her. But she had to hear them first. It was a little trick she had, she didn¡¯t understand and it never worked all the time. But with Bradford, all she felt was a threat. And for some reason, everything she had was telling her that Bradford could help.


    ¡°But if it will make you all feel better, perhaps Sir Bradford would like to take a walk and see for himself?¡± Terra called out as she looked at Bradford. She saw his eye widen in shock and then she knew that she had him.


    ¡°I will of course be happy to help our valiant defenders! Please, my friends, trust my word!¡± Bradford said as he turned and looked at everyone.


    From the way everyone looked at him and nodded, Terra knew that this might have been the right play after all.


    Terra stepped aside as the door to the outside opened, and Bradford walked through. Terra followed after him and then closed the door behind her. Before Bradford could walk through it, Terra grabbed his arm. ¡°We¡¯re staying down here! There¡¯s someone up there that we need to talk about for a while!¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Bradford asked and he looked at her with a surprised look. ¡°And what would you need to talk to me about one of the other deckhands?¡±


    ¡°Just that he¡¯s not a deckhand. He¡¯s from another Capsule. He¡¯s saying that they all died after someone there went mad and started a cult. They almost sacrificed a baby. And we¡¯re thinking that he was the leader,¡± Terra said and she saw Bradford blink in shock.


    ¡°What!? Why would you think I¡¯d know anything about someone like that!?¡± Bradford asked in a shocked tone.


    Terra only looked at him for a long moment. She had no idea what this play was going to do, but something told her it was the right call. She couldn¡¯t understand why she felt this way, but there it was. Time to play all the cards and see what hand she had.


    ¡°Frankly you probably don¡¯t. But still, there is something that has to be said. We might have let a problem into our perimeter. And since you¡¯ve become the civilian leader in all but name, I judged that it was something you should know. That¡¯s the only reason that you¡¯re here,¡±  Terra said as she looked at Bradford and waited.


    After a moment, Bradford chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Well, that¡¯s very flattering madam. And I thank you. But really, what could I know about¡­.. I¡¯m sorry. But I don¡¯t think you told me exactly who this cult leader is. So what¡¯s this man¡¯s name?¡±


    ¡°He called himself Roch, Roch Dacount,¡± Terra said with a shrug. She wasn¡¯t expecting Bradford to go white or stare at him with his mouth open in shock.


    ¡°Roch Dacount became a cult leader? And he¡¯s here!?¡± Bradford demanded horror in his voice.


    Terra blinked, not expecting that reaction. It seemed that these two had history after all.

 One Hundred Fifty Seven Part 2

    ¡°Then you do know him?¡± Madame Terra asked but Bradford wasn¡¯t listening.


    All he could do was think about how terrible this was, how much trouble he was in. One of his greatest enemies was here, and from what he was trouble, worse than ever! But how had he been able to get those people to follow him? He just didn¡¯t understand, there had to be something else at work here, something that he couldn¡¯t see. The only thing that fool had was money, that was it. He didn¡¯t have much brains or charisma so how¡­¡­. He went still as a terrible thought was born in his brain, and suddenly everything made sense.


    ¡°Mr. Bradford? Sir, are you okay?¡± Madame Terra asked again but Bradford ignored her.


    All the times that fool had almost killed so many people when he made those unsafe buildings. The attacks on Bradford¡¯s company, sure were done by mercs. But whenever he tracked down the person who set it up, his forces always found them dead by then. And there those attacks were always after he had done something against that bastard! It didn¡¯t take any guises to know the scum was behind it all! But to prove it, that had been impossible. But how had that fool even gotten them to think a sacrifice was a good idea? The only reason was if he had something helping him to convince them, and that meant the Power!


    But how did he get it? The Federation had been trying to understand how the Ancients did it for decades and nothing. The Power was beyond every trick they had tried. The few people who developed it were checked and nothing was different about them. Even when they used it, the only readings done when a subject used their Ability were normal. The subject reported being hotter, but there were no signs of that heat. So how had that bottom feeder gotten the Power, what had he done?


    ¡°SIR!¡± Madame Terra bellowed.


    Bradford blinked and looked at her, and then he smiled. ¡°My apologies Madame Terra. I was just thinking how bad this is for us all.¡±


    ¡°So you know him then?¡±


    ¡°Yes. He¡¯s the owner of a company that I have investigated many times. Unsafe working conditions, the safe violations! Not to mention the improper storage of waste products¡­¡­ the mind just boggles. But of course, the bribes he paid to inspectors always were through middlemen helped a lot. And the man hates me!¡± Bradford said with a scowl.


    ¡°OH,¡± Madame Terra said as she looked at him.


    Bradford looked at her and took a deep breath. So he would have to tell her about that secret then? The Special Service would have his hide, but they all needed to be alive to be caught. And spending a hundred years in prison wasn¡¯t so bad. It might even help his chances for a reelection campaign once he was out if he was honest. ¡°I know that makes my words suspected. But the two of us are honest in how we view the other. So trust me when I say this. The only thing that fool had going was his money! But in this environment, that means nothing. So he had to have used something else. And I fear that I know what that something else is.¡±


    Madame Terra looked at him and took a deep breath. ¡°Sir, are you saying that there¡¯s something different about him? Something that makes him more than a normal person?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t know how that thing got it, but it does exist. You see, the beings we know as the Ancients¡­¡­¡± Bradford began.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Bradford as he explained, her heart-stopping. She didn¡¯t expect to hear this again, and she didn¡¯t have the time for that talk. ¡°Sir, does this have to do with the Ancients? What they can do? Without tech?¡±


    Bradford blinked a looked at her in shock. ¡°Yes, that madam. I


    ¡°But what does what they can do have to do with¡­.. you think he¡¯s gained a Power that lets him influence people!?¡± Terra began as she looked at him.


    ¡°A Power? That¡¯s a term that is mostly correct. But yes. But how do you know about it?¡± Bradford asked in confusion.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Some of the people in the people here, they¡¯ve developed their own Powers. And the Chief told me about them. Saying something about the Ancients and what they can do. But this is bad,¡± Terra said and Bradford laughed and shook his head.


    ¡°You have no idea how bad,¡± Bradford said with a scowl as he shook his head.


    ¡°How bad is it? What or who is this guy?¡± Terra asked as she looked at Bradford. All in all, the way Bradford was reacting told her that.


    ¡°The Dacount family has a long history at my home. They championed the industrial progress of my home world¡¯s moons for generations. And his grandfather was my predecessor,¡± Bradford said with a slight scowl. ¡°His father became my rival for that election, I won of course.¡±


    ¡°So you knew him through knowing your rival?¡± Terra asked and Bradford shook his head.


    ¡°Not exactly. His father didn¡¯t want to win, only keep the other person from winning. I first met Roch Dacount when he was over ten years old when his father came to my victory party. And I will never forget him,¡± Bradford admitted as she looked at him. His eyes were hard and his face was set in a line. ¡°His parents were emotionally neglectful at best, abusive at worst. When I saw that boy, I saw what I thought was true evil. The party was at a property of mine, and the cleaners found something. One of the local strays is dead. The body was of a feline-like creature with six legs. Its eyes were torn out, the middle legs were broken in multiple places. But the worst was the bit marks on the corpse. An investigation showed that the body had been eaten when it was alive.¡±


    Terra looked at him in horror as he looked at her with a completely serious expression. ¡°And you never found anything that linked him to it!?¡±


    ¡°The strays were considered a source of disease by some people. Some towns even had bounties for their skulls. And I didn¡¯t think much of it for months afterward. Only when I was looking at a picture did I see him with red remains on his face? But I served pasta and tomato sauce, and eating messy was the fad at the time. So again, nothing to link to him,¡±  Bradford said with a scowl.


    Terra looked at him, trying to understand what she was telling her.


    ¡°But you found something, you had to if you¡¯re talking about it. Right?¡± Terra asked as she looked at him.


    Bradford looked away, a scowl on his face. ¡°Nothing definite, but little things. Missing people, dead animals, and corpses of beings were discovered. And all of that near properties his family owned! And then his parents died, in that ¡®accident¡¯! Every chance I had to get him, and there was nothing I could do! I started to keep an eye on his company after that, and I set up laws that targeted the abuses my people found! And in return, raiders stole from me!¡±


    ¡°You think he was behind it?¡± Terra asked as she stared at him in shock. Terra couldn¡¯t understand, if Bradford knew that Roch was that bad, why didn¡¯t he do something?


    ¡°Again, not proof. The middlemen always got bounties for only their deaths after the mission. And back home we need airtight proof before anything can be done. That¡¯s the law,¡± Bradford said with a hard tone.


    Terra looked at him and then she shook her head, trying to understand this. She had thought that there were problems with Roch, but nothing like this. And that was an opening that he would probably. A Power that let him influence minds, that was the worst. And that meant that ¡­..Terra looked up, her mind going dark places as she saw everything. There had to be decisions made, and then had to find a reason to get someone away from Roch.


    ¡°Bradford, I want¡­.¡± Terra began and then she heard roars from above. She gripped her riffle and looked at him. She had to get up there fast, and then she had to try and handle Roch. But she had another problem to deal with here and now.


    ¡°NOVA! Bradford get in there and tell Chief Duncan what you told me! Lock down the capsule! Nothing in or out until I saw so! Have the other deckhands try and find some blasting charges while you¡¯re at it!¡± Terra barked as she turned and ran towards the hill. Behind her, she heard the door open, and then slamming shut.


    As soon as she could see the field, she saw everyone standing towards the left side. Without a word, she spotted Jessie and ran towards him. She had to figure out what was going on!


    As soon as she reached him, she slammed her right hand onto his shoulder. He looked at her and breathed a sigh of relief.


    ¡°Thank the stars! We¡¯re in trouble!¡± Jessie said as he held his pistols in his hand.


    Terra nodded as she looked beyond him, and saw the shield rippling. Her gaze saw something that she hadn¡¯t expected, a new kind of creature.


    There were five of them, and they were unlike anything that she had ever seen. Each one was a quadruped beast with bright green¡­feathers. Each limb ended in three talons. They didn¡¯t have wings, nor did they have tails. But they did have black beaks and each one was open. Above the beaks were eyes, and each one was closed.


    For a second, she didn¡¯t understand what she was seeing, and then she did. Somehow, these things were shouting beyond the range of human hearing. And the force of the ¡®blasts¡¯ was causing the shield to ripple.


    Before she did anything, she needed to make sure everything was safe behind the shield first. Looking around, she found Roch a good twenty feet away with a female deckhand. With a scowl she grabbed two people, looking around for anyone else. Then her eyes found Bob¡¯s tanned skin and she grinned. ¡°Bob!¡±


    ¡°Terra?¡± He said as he turned to look at her, his white hair moving a little.


    ¡°Bob, don¡¯t ask questions, just do it! I want you to go over there and move that civilian we rescued away everyone! Put in by the shield on the other side of the clearing! And have that girl wait for me by the capsule¡¯s door. And don¡¯t touch him!¡± Terra said sternly.


    ¡°Do we have time to do that now!?¡± Bob asked in shock.


    Terra just scowled and pushed the two deckhands she had grabbed before nodding. ¡°You¡¯ll make time! Go do it now!¡±


    Bob was about to say something when something in Terra¡¯s gaze made him nod. ¡°Right Terra! Follow me you two!¡±


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Jessie asked as he looked at three people as they ran.


    Terra ignored him and looked around, trying to make a plan. ¡°Long story, I¡¯ll tell you later. How¡¯s the shield?¡±


    ¡°It dropped around five points in the last minute!¡± Jessie reported with a hard stare.


    Terra stared at him in horror, five points might not be much. But in a minute? From an attack from a biological living creature? That was unheard of! And there were only three of them. They needed to send people to deal with them, and now!


    ¡°Jessie, get five people! Go out of the shield from the north, take those things down! And keep Jones here!¡± Terra finished with an afterthought.


    Jessie nodded, running towards the others and barking out orders.


    Terra looked around, her mind going over everything that she could think of. The monsters could be trying to get people to come fight them, and the shield was blocking their screams. If they were smarter than they looked, then they might just be a diversion. That meant that they had to be ready for anything that might come at them from the other sides. ¡°Everyone, fall back! To the second defensive line now! All others but Jessie¡¯s team!¡±

 One Hundred Fifty Eight Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1520


    As Jessie ran with the five people he had chosen, he gripped his pistols. So far this world just kept throwing him for lopes. Now they were facing strange birds like wolves!


    ¡°How loud are these things gonna be?¡± One of the deckhands asked from behind him.


    Jessie didn¡¯t know, but he knew that this was what they had to do. ¡°We can¡¯t know if we can even hear them. But we need to take them down before they can do anything and bring back a corpse. We need to find out everything we can about them. But your lives are priority one, their deaths are two! You get me?!¡±


    ¡°We get you, sir!¡± The deckhands all barked back.


    Jessie barely kept a grin from his face. The old lessons that the old man gave him before he went away actually work.


    ¡°Now stay down, stay alive! We¡¯re killing them in one shot. I want you two to stay here!¡± Jessie said as he looked at the two deckhands at the far back. ¡°Nothing against you, but you¡¯re the slowest. Open the shield in a circle from the station, then close it behind us. Get ready to open it as soon as we¡¯re back!¡±


    ¡°Got it, sir!¡± One of the two said as the other ran to the nearest station. This deckhand was a male human with a bald head, blue eyes, and orange-tinted white skin. He started to run after the other deckhand, a girl with short purple spikey hair and orange-tinted skin like him. Jessie had seen that she had piercing yellow eyes. ¡°Tiffi, wait up!¡±


    Tiffi only laughed and looked over her shoulder. ¡°Keep running after me Marctor! You gotta build those muscles after all!¡±


    One of the other deckhands only chuckled. This male human had a topknot of pure white hair and red eyes on a black sclera. His skin was a bluish white and he smirked a bit. He had a dagger strapped around his right arm and a laser rifle on his back. ¡°Good that they can keep calm and still act like they always did. And my name¡¯s Zevortro Boss!


    ¡°I¡¯m Vivis, nice to be a part of this sir. I¡¯m a good shot I¡¯d say,¡± The speaker was a female human with short orange hair in braids and as she had grey skin. She had a laser rifle on her back and a fanny pack on her right side.


    ¡°So four of us total, nice. Got a plan boss? Oh, and call me Bryke!¡± The last of the deckhands said. He had blue eyes, blue hair, and white skin. On his back was a laser rifle and he had a laser pistol on his left side.


    Jessie nodded as he looked at the humans around him. This was a thrown-together unit and they were all here for a troubling mission. And they all knew it. But the danger to the shield was big enough that they had to do this. They had no idea if these things could do anything else, but they were all the survivors of their capsule. So once again, they had to make due.


    ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s simple really,¡± Jessie said as he drew his pistols. ¡°There are three of them, one for each of you. I draw them in by having them chase me. Once that happens, I want you to hit them with everything you¡¯ve got!¡±


    ¡°Simple and effective. Nice,¡± Zevortro said with a smirk. ¡°Good. I hate that complicated stuff.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Jessie said as he turned. A moment later a round hole formed in the shield from it came a loud ringing sound. Jessie knew at once that this had to be the sound those things were making as they attacked. There was no other explanation. Looking around, he nodded and without another word, he led the group through the shield.


    As Jessie stepped into the underbrush, he gazed around. He saw nothing that he thought was out of the ordinary, but the sound was still there. To him, it was lower in pitch, but there it was. Looking towards where the creatures had to be, he thought the sound grew in pitch for a second. Looking back at the other two deckhands, he made a gesture and the hole was closed. With that done, he looked at the other three with him. Time to give them a short speech. ¡°Remember, the only way back through the gate is if we kill those things! So strike true!¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Vivis said as she and the others all got ready to strike.


    Jessie nodded and looked around. ¡°Just get into hiding and fire at them once you get clear shots. I want this to be done by the numbers, everyone is going home!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± The three deckhands said as they moved into hiding.


    Jessie only looked at them for a moment more before moving silently towards the beasts. As he moved, he tried to stay undercover and approach, hoping to ambush them. He knew that this was rushed, but there was nothing more that he could do.


    As he crept through the bushes, he heard the noise grow louder in pitch. Finally, he made it close enough to look out from behind a tree to see the beasts. Looking out from cover, he took a quick count. Thankfully there were only the three they saw through the shield screaming soundlessly. Looking around, he saw nothing that would show that any more of the monsters were there. Finding none, he aimed with one of his pistols and fired, the bolt passing over two of their heads enough to burn the fur.


    As the two monsters turned towards him, he took off running. Firing over his shoulder, he heard an explosion and ducked. A moment later, the broken remains of a tree flew overhead and he heard screeches. He felt himself grin, there was danger but his plan was working as he hoped it would. Now all he needed to do was run for a few minutes and lead the enemy right into the kill box.  All in all, everything was going just as he planned. He could only hope that the rest of the plan worked as well.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Roch looked around, the deckhands were all moving towards the other side of the clearing. Somehow, he knew that this was going to be, interesting. ¡°My dear, do know what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Qiana looked at him, in the way that people just starting to receive his Blessing had in the first hour. After the Demons had come, most of his Holy Company and the Rebels had all died, but those two escaped. This time he would move more slowly, and learn what The All-Mighty truly wanted from him. That had to be the only reason that he failed, he just hadn¡¯t heard the Voice correctly.


    He had been coming out of his shock when he heard Proclaim what he was. He still didn¡¯t remember what he had been called, but he knew his


    ¡°I don¡¯t know sir, but please let me find out,¡± Qiana said with a submissive tone.


    Roch nodded and was about to say something else when he noticed something else. Three people were coming towards them, and there was something about them that he just couldn¡¯t place. It was something in the way they moved, he didn¡¯t know what but it was there. As the three deckhands stopped five feet away, Roch just waited. He looked at them and tried to figure out what they were doing.


    Finally, after looking at Qiana for a moment, the leader spoke. ¡°Miss Qiana is it?¡±


    ¡°Yes? Is there anything wrong?¡± Qiana asked, worry in her voice.


    The leader nodded. ¡°Yeah. Chief Duncan needs you inside. After what happened to us before, well. The rules of engagement say you¡¯re needed inside. And you sir need to move a bit back.¡±


    ¡°Oh, why?¡± Roch asked with a smile. He looked past the three, seeing just what he needed to do. The other deckhands were all looking away from him. If he could get into the capsule and tell the others the Truth, he could start over here. Yes, that would be perfectly fine. He took a step forward.


    ¡°Sir I¡¯m going to have to ask you to stay here. We have orders to keep you from going anywhere near us or the capsule. That the way it has to be!¡± The leader said sternly.


    Roch blinked, not expecting that. He just hadn¡¯t heard that right. There was no way. There had to be something wrong here.


    ¡°What?! He¡¯s my patient!¡±  Qiana exclaimed, a bit of anger in her voice. ¡°I and I alone decided if he can come in!¡±


    ¡°The boss has made their choice Qiana!¡± The leader spoke as he looked at Roch. ¡°Sir I need you to step back now!¡±


    ¡°Now my boy,¡± Roch began only for the leader to fire at Roch¡¯s face. The bolt flew by his face, burning it and he fell to the ground staring at the man in anger and rage. Qiana dropped to her knees and


    ¡°You shot him! What were you thinking!?¡± Qiana demanded.


    As Roch looked at the leader, he never noticed the other two moving around to get to his behind. That was he tried to move and found that he couldn¡¯t. He looked down and saw his arms were in the middle of two metallic circles. They were a half-foot thick and were as long as his forearm. They weren¡¯t touching him, but the four black energy lines that came out from the circles did. He looked behind him and saw the two people, both of them holding poles attached to the circles. ¡°What are you doing to me!?¡±


    As he tried to move, the two of them lifted their poles, and he was pulled up into the air. As he tried to speak, another circle went around his mouth.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Grav-loops! They might not look much, but they use the same tech as grav-boards to hold you in place!¡± Bob said with a grin. It was luck that these were found with the supplies! Bob didn¡¯t know what Terra was worried about with him, but this would keep him from touching them. Now all they needed to do was plant the poles and keep him there. But now he had to deal with something else.


    As Ms. Qiana looked at this in shock, her face grew red. ¡°Let him down! Let Mr. Rock down now!¡±


    ¡°Ms. Qiana, I¡¯m not sorry but no. I have my orders,¡± Bob said softly and she looked at him before running at him and trying to hit his face.


    But before she could connect, he grabbed her arms. He looked at her and all the problems he had with his orders died. He knew Qiana, and she would never hold a weapon. That was why she was one of the guards when that Paralyzer Monster attacked. They were the fighting guard, she was inside to keep the people calm.


    ¡°Let him go now Bob or so help me!¡± Qiana demanded.


    ¡°Qiana, aren¡¯t you a pacifist?¡± Bob asked after another moment.


    Qiana blinked and looked down at her hands. She tried to understand what she was doing, but her mouth just opened and closed without a word. He let her go and she took a step away from Roch, looking at him in shock.


    ¡°I was going to fight you¡­. Why was I going to fight you!?¡± Qiana demanded in horror.


    Bob only looked past him at the man in the air. All this time, he thought that the beasts would be the only foes they would face. But here and now, he saw the truth. Even the fact that they were all from the same ship didn¡¯t mean anything. The other castaways could become the worst threat to the safety of the others.


    ¡°I think him Qiana. I think he can do something like what Sara can. But something darker,¡± Bob said and Qiana gasped.


    Bob watched as her face went hard. ¡°And he might be able to make people believe what he said. Bring him down but keep him under control. I need another blood sample for my machine.¡±


    Bob looked at the machines set up around them and then he nodded. He gestured for the others to lower their prisoner. If there was a biological reason for the Powers the others had, they might find it in Roch.

 One Hundred Fifty Eight Part 2

    As she aimed her weapon, Vivis tried to understand just what she had gotten into. The crash landing had been hard enough, from the flying worms to the beasts. But here she was, ready to fight and kill monsters that were attacking her. And here she was, ready to fight and kill. Not bad for a girl who wanted to be on the bridge of a starship.


    ¡°Hope this works people,¡± Zevortro muttered to her left.


    ¡°Just keep quiet man,¡± Bryke said softly.


    ¡°Come on. This is a crazy plan! You can¡¯t lie about that! This all hinges on Jessie being chased by those things! They could escape or there could be more of them!¡± Zevortro said, a scowl in his voice. ¡°And there¡¯s nothing in the plan if something else doesn¡¯t come and hit us!¡±


    Vivis had to admit, he wasn¡¯t too wrong. The whole thing was slapped together, but she knew why. The boss had seconds to come up with a play. And this keeps the three of them safe while he¡¯s the one that¡¯s going into danger. She wanted to think that was him taking the hardest part of this plan. Part of him trying to keep them out of harm¡¯s way the most he could


    As they heard the sound of wood being broken echoed off the shield, she gripped her weapon tighter.


    Looking through the trees and bushes, she saw something coming closer. By the movement of the tops of the branches, Jessie was coming in fast.


    ¡°Get ready!¡± Bryke called out to her left.


    A moment later, Jessie crashed through the bushes, the three monsters behind him. Three fast shots from each of the three deckhands in hiding caused the monsters to die.


    Jessie turned around as the others came out of hiding.


    Zevortro pointed his rifle in the direction the monsters had come from. ¡°That¡¯s all there was boss?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. That was all. For now,¡± Jessie said as he dropped down to look over the dead monsters.


    Vivis turned to look down and wince. The shots had destroyed each of the bodies of the monsters to different extents. One had three holes through its side and head, one had its face destroyed. But one of them just had a hole through its forehead. ¡°Nice.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll take this one! We need to move now. I don¡¯t like being out here,¡± Jessie said.


    Vivis nodded with a shudder as she looked around. But then she blinked and saw some more of those pod fruits. They were five feet away, and they looked perfect. The speed at which these fruits seemed to grow back was something else. She was sure that this tree was emptied of them just a day ago.


    ¡°Sir, the Fruit!¡± Vivis said, pointing as Jessie started to stand up.


    Jessie looked towards her and blinked as he saw the trees. With a strangled laugh, he moved past Vivis and looked left and right. He turned back, a strange look on his face. ¡°There are over thirty of them on this tree alone! And there are five more on both sides!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a feast!¡± Bryke declared in shock.


    Jessie only laughed as he almost took another step before he stopped and turned around. His grin was almost splitting his face and his eyes shined.


    ¡°Yes, it is! But we can¡¯t stay and get them. Vivis, get a few of them now. We¡¯ll get back under the shield and see if we can¡¯t send out a scavenging group. You two, grab the monster with just a hole in its head. I¡¯ll be on overwatch,¡± Jessie declared.


    Vivis nodded, and she turned but stopped as she saw Bryke standing there. His eyes were wide and he was looking at the trees behind Jessie. He was staring like there was something so important there. And in that moment, looking at him she understood what he had seen.


    ¡°Fuck! Jessie, down now!¡± She roared as she threw herself to the right.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    To his credit, Jessie just reacted, but it was only half successful. He lunged to the left as something lunged out of the tree and he screamed in pain.


    Vivis rolled to her feet and saw a large inset-like creature standing there on two legs their size. It was as tall as they were and had grey chitin with splashes of green all over. It had two arms that ended in sharp-looking organic blades and one of them was slick with blood. The face this monster had was nothing but three multifaceted eyes in a triangle. The eyes were above a large dart-like horn that the monster brought its bloody blade to. As she watched, it seemed to suck up the blood into the horn, and then it screeched.


    ¡°KIL IT!¡± Zevortro bellowed as he started to fire. The Insect seemed to know who was firing and jumped away from him. As he and Bryke kept firing at it, the insect monster kept jumping, dodging each blast. ¡°How is it dodging all of them!?¡±


    ¡°No clue!¡± Bryke said with a snarl. He aimed and fired at where the monster might land. But the creature seemed to jump out of the air and moved higher. ¡°How I that possible!?¡±


    ¡°No clue,¡± Vivis muttered as she moved towards Jessie.


    That was all she could think about for now; was Jessie still alive? This thing had struck him first, and that was enough to put him down. Vivis didn¡¯t know what to do, and that was bad. The monster could have its blade coated in a natural poison. The closer she got, the worse she thought it would be. Jessie was in a small pool of blood that had to be his. As she watched, the pool kept growing bigger.


    If Jessie was dead, then they had no choice. They would be stuck out here until the monster died. Something that deadly and fast? There was no way that they could let that thing into the shield. There would be no other choice.


    She reached him and felt the wind coming at her. Without thinking, she grabbed Jessie¡¯s body and pushed him away. Then she threw herself over him to land beyond him. A moment later, she was three feet away from the jumping monster¡¯s ¡®face¡¯. With a swift motion, her rifle was pointing at the monster and she fired. But again, the monster jumped away, and that was become too old too fast.


    ¡°You okay Vivis?!¡± Zevortro cried out as Vivis heard more lasers being fired. They hit the trees in the air, trying to keep the monster away from her.


    She almost was touched, but then she heard Jessie moan. Without a word, she rolled him over and looked him over. She found that he only had a single slice through his left shoulder that bled slowly. Looking where she found him, she stared in shock at the small puddle that was growing bigger every second. Looking around, she saw a small bowl in the ground, and water bubbling up from the earth. She looked back at Jessie and saw that the wound was high enough on him that it didn¡¯t touch the water. The coloring must have been because of the blood flowing down his arm. But what could¡­¡­.. she looked at the spring, a small smile forming on her face.


    ¡°Here! Lead it there!¡±Vivis called out as she pointed at the small spring.


    Without a word, the others kept firing at the monster, and it kept dodging. But thankfully, it was moving towards the spring. Within moments, it landed and it slipped, falling onto its back. Without a word, Zevortro lunged and slammed his body onto the monster. He thrust his dagger into the creature¡¯s head. It moved for a moment, then it went still.


    ¡°Ohhhhh. What hit me?¡± Jessie moaned as he got up. Then he screamed and grabbed his wound. ¡°GAHHHHH! THAT Stings! What was that thing?!¡±


    ¡°This!¡± Zevortro spat as he moved his body off the monster.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie looked at the creature, his mind going blank. Then he looked up at the others and he swallowed. ¡°One slash?¡±


    ¡°One slash boss. You just went down,¡± Bryke said bluntly.


    Jessie looked at the new corpse and swallowed. ¡°Forget the fruit, take that and the other. If there are more of them, we need to know what it can do.¡±


    ¡°Got it! Think you can handle it, boss?¡± Vivis asked as she looked at his wound.


    Jessie tried to move his arm and winced at the pain. ¡°NOOO. I don¡¯t think so! Bring the other one, we¡¯re doing two loads!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in first sit, and we¡¯ll come back for the rest!¡± Vivis said sternly as she moved to his good side and moved to help him walk. ¡°Medic¡¯s orders.¡±


    Jessie looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded. He stayed silent as B2 and Zevortro took up guard station as Vivis helped him walk to the shield. Once there, he raised his hand and the shield opened.


    ¡°Welcome back¡­. SIR!¡± Tiffi screamed as she saw Jessie¡¯s arm. ¡°Marctor, get the medic!¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Jessie barked as he walked into the shield. He eyed Marctor and scowled at him. ¡°You stay there until my part is all back inside! And that¡¯s an order!¡±


    Marctor only looked at him and then pressed a button and the hole closed up.


    As soon as he saw the hole close, Jessie sighed and sank down, gritting his teeth. ¡°Good. Now go get Terra!¡±


    Terra smiled as she saw the readings on the shield go back to full strength. ¡°Good, that¡¯s good!¡±


    Terra actually felt like laughing. They had handled everything perfectly. She saw the state of Roch and she had to admit that she almost giggled. She hadn¡¯t thought of that, but it worked out perfectly. With what she knew now and the help of Bradford, they might get through with no riot about how they''re treating Roch. When Qiana told her that her equipment had been wiped and she couldn¡¯t remember doing it, that was enough. The presence of an element that was a threat had to be held in a cell. And the way he was right now, it was all but a cell.


    And when Jessie came back with the body of one of the monsters attacking the shield, they might figure out how. And then they could work on a way to block it.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± A voice called up.


    Terra looked up and saw a deckhand with a bald head, blue eyes, and orange-tinted white skin running at her. She frowned, wondering just what the problem was. Maybe she had thought the problem was done before it was.


    As the man came closer, she frowned. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re one of the ones that Jessie took with him. What happened?¡±


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± The man said as he came to attention. ¡°Jessie is down! He¡¯s okay, but he¡¯s injured badly!¡±


    ¡°What!? What happened to him?! Was it what was attacking the shield?!¡± Terra demanded, terrible thoughts going through her head.


    ¡°No ma¡¯am! It was something else! It attacked him from behind. Two of the others are bringing in that body and one of the things that attacked the shield inside now!¡± The deckhand said with a grin.


    Terra just blinked and then looked at where Jessie had run. She could see him, leaning against the station there and she scowled. She ran off, the other deckhand falling in step behind her.


    Jessie looked, at one of the female deckhands putting his arm into a sling. ¡°Hey, Terra! You should see the other one!¡±


    ¡°Jessie! What happened!?¡± Terra said with shock and horror in her voice. She had sent him out and he came back injured. This was the worst outcome for her first day as the second in command.


    ¡°Ambusher. Had a completely natural job done too. Completely blended into the trees. If my team hadn¡¯t had my back, I don¡¯t know what might have happened!¡± Jessie said as the shield opened.


    Terra looked at it as two people brought in a strange-looking biped insect creature their size. She looked over the blades in place of the horn on its face and tried to understand what she was seeing. This world had shown so many strange creatures, but what was this one?

 One Hundred Fifty Nine Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1600


    ¡°So how is Jessie?¡± Duncan asked as he looked at Terra.


    After Terra had walked in, Duncan had seen that something was wrong with her. But to find out that one of her men was injured? That was what he expected. That was the problem with being in command, people got hurt because of what you ordered. But the lesson would be good for her, and the fact it hit so hard was great! She was the perfect person to take command. But then some of her decisions weren¡¯t what he would make.


    He eyed Bradford who was standing against the wrong. The talk the two of them had about the Ancient¡¯s Power was eye-opening. To think that the Federation knew the truth but never said anything was what he expected from the brass. But the fact they studied and tried to awaken the Power in any species of the Federation that they knew could use it? That was surprising and a little worrying they had failed so many times. What was it that this planet allowed it to happen? Another question for the pile he had.


    ¡°The medics said that the jumper¡¯s blade has a poison that causes pain and keeps the blood from clotting. His wound was treated and they used one of the nano-patches to heal him. Thankfully we still have a good thousand of them left. It could have been worse,¡± Terra said in anger.


    ¡°My dear, you did everything right! The shield had to be protected, and the jumper wasn¡¯t anything we could have planned for!¡± Bradford said with a soft voice.


    As much as he had a bad feeling about Bradford, the fact he was helping was shocking. He wouldn¡¯t trust Bradford just yet, but he would give the man a chance. What he did with that chance, was up to him. ¡°I hate to agree with him, but he¡¯s right. The hardest lesson that people can learn is that you can¡¯t plan for the unknown. The team survived, and that was enough. And the fruit we brought in? Priceless!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. But my nightmares have something new,¡± Terra said and Duncan sighed.


    That was something that happened to him once. And at least they weren¡¯t on a destroyer hunting pirates. That was the only thing that Terra had when he learned this lesson.


    ¡°That¡¯s fine. But don¡¯t let it rule you. See the doc for Dreamless if you have to. But then this Roch?¡± Duncan asked.


    ¡°YES! What has the blood work on that terrible person revealed my dear!¡± Bradford interjected.


    Duncan scowled in Bradford¡¯s direction and almost missed Terra¡¯s answer.


    ¡°Yeah, about that? There¡¯s something new in his blood. Some kind of chemical that they think is a marker to The Power. We don¡¯t have anyone that we can test here, so that¡¯s the only answer for what it is. But we have enough to keep him isolated for now. And I trust that you will speak for what we did Sir Bradford?¡± Terra asked as turned to Bradford.


    Bradford nodded a smile on his face. ¡°Of course! I want that monster as far away from me as possible! It is my duty madam!¡±


    Duncan only internally snorted. He didn¡¯t know how much of what Bradford told him was the truth, or what was the lie. But there was a lot more about his relationship with Roch. But then the man was a threat. And that was something that Duncan could not let into his shelter. ¡°Fine. But that¡¯s enough for everyone then?¡± So how much food do we have left?¡±


    ¡°With what we have, a week at best Chief. We just need the party to make it back before then. That¡¯s the reality,¡± Terra said with a hard edge.


    ¡°And the water issue?¡± Duncan asked and Terra grinned.


    ¡°In this environment sir? We can harvest ten gallons every twenty minutes! Why?¡±


    Duncan sighed and shook his head. This was going to be one of the most convoluted ideas he ever had. But if it worked as fast as he hoped, then they might have another resource. ¡°We have enough of those fruits? For everyone to eat three of them over the next two days?¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Yes sir, why?¡± Terra asked in confusion.


    Duncan took a deep breath. ¡±Take one of mine and tear it apart. Plant all the pieces, behind the capsule in the crater. I want you to water them. Let¡¯s see how long it takes them to grow.¡±


    ¡°You think it might take a few days sir?¡± Terra asked.


    Duncan just snorted and shook his head. ¡°I know most plants take longer to grow, but this is crazy land. For all we know those things have very fast lives. I don¡¯t know but I want to find out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s smart sir. If we can turtle up, then we could last until the others make it back. And if we can¡­¡­.¡± Terra went still and looked at Bradford.


    Bradford looked at them and laughed a little. ¡°So you¡¯re still playing what the team was sent for close to the chest? Well, from what you just said I can guess.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Duncan asked mildly as he looked at Bradford.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Bradford said chuckling. ¡°From the way that our friend here spoke, that means she¡¯s thinking we¡¯re moving soon. But holding out means that you hope something will come to get us. Something that can fight off those things out there. So that means that you think that there¡¯s someplace that has vehicles. So I have to ask, a carrier or a Yard-Ship?¡±


    Duncan sighed and looked at Bradford. He saw Terra looking so shocked and angry at herself for spilling the beans. He waved his hand at her and looked at Bradford. ¡°Yard-Ship. Older model, used by pirates nowadays. Don¡¯t know how old it is.¡±


    Bradford smiled and then looked at him. ¡°A yard ship would be something. We could use it to start gathering resources and make a more permanent base. And maybe create a hyper-com system. If we could find the Spirit.¡±


    Duncan looked at him and then scowled a little. There was only one reason that he could know that was if the man was on the board! But he wasn¡¯t so how? ¡°Are you talking about what I think you are!?¡±


    Duncan almost shot to his feet but Bradford just chuckled and held up his hands. ¡°Of course I am. It was my idea. A little shadow work that I did undercover to keep the lights of civilization running.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones looked at the bodies of the screaming bird wolf and the mantis blade thing. He could barely keep his shock and awe from his face. Such creatures, once they were properly broken in would become wonderful weapons. This whole Island was shaping up to be the perfect place for his people. He had to get in contact with them, they needed to get here before the Federation did.


    Those fools would leave these wonderful weapons to live their lives. Without the guiding hand that Humanity was capable of giving to the less evolved. And these wonders were already striking against their saviors. If that wasn¡¯t the sign that they needed help, he didn¡¯t know what was.


    ¡°So you¡¯re okay?¡± Bob asked to Jones¡¯s right.


    He looked up to see Bob and Jessie talking. Jessie¡¯s army was in a sling and the two of them had their backs to Jones. Both of them were looking down at a console before them, talking as if they didn¡¯t care who heard them.


    ¡°Yeah, that bug was something else! I can¡¯t wait until Terra is here and can cut that thing open! I want to know what if anything was on its blade!¡± Jessie said bitterly.


    ¡°The toxic screening says nothing¡¯s new in you. The poison never entered your blood. So it¡¯s just for killing their prey. And how did those bugs eat?¡± Bob asked.


    Jones looked at the face and frowned. It didn¡¯t have a visible mouth so how could it eat?


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it does. It drank your blood through that horn. But could it live off blood alone?¡± Vi2 asked softly.


    Jones walked away, keeping his patrol going. He walks to the right, moving out of range shortly. The fact that the beast only drank meant that the Cult would have no way to control it. But they could harvest it instead, that poison might be the perfect way to tame other creatures. Pain was such a good teacher after all.


    He smiled as he became lost in memories, of the good times he had back home. The long hours of training, punishment, and reward that he had gone through. It had forged him into the weapon that he was. The force that would one day help his people come to this, their Land of Deliverance. As he was lost in his thoughts, he kept moving. All he could see was how high he¡¯d climb once he made contact with his home. He never noticed how long he was thinking or where he¡¯d walk.


    ¡°That¡¯s far enough!¡± A voice said a moment later.


    Jones just looked up and saw that he had wandered towards where Roch was being held. He had thought that he was farther away than this. He looked up and saw Roch trying to struggle, but he was a good teen feet up. The one who called out was one of two people guarding him and manning the left shield station. The one who had spoken had his rifle drawn but down, and the other was looking at him.


    Jones smiled, quickly planning how to talk his way out of this. ¡°Sorry. I was on patrol and looking out. The things that attacked the party that went out there, you know? I mean what if there are more of them out here.¡±


    The two deckhands shared a look before one of them nodded at the other. ¡°Get going man. Keep on your patrol but stay away from him. The word is the man¡¯s a brainwasher.¡±


    ¡°A brainwasher?! Like from the stories?¡± Jones asked, putting what would be shocked into his voice, hiding a smile. He had been worried about how to show the others the True Path, but here it was. If he could find out how this man gained those powers, then so could he.


    ¡°A possible brainwasher. But after what Sara and Jinn could do we¡¯re not taking chances. The man said his capsule went cult. So the boss thinks he might have been in charge. And what he did do? I¡¯d believe it!¡± The one by the station snarled as he looked up at Roch.


    Looking closer, Jones saw that the man had something around his mouth. Another crime against those with power by they who followed the Federation¡¯s rule. It was all he could do to not free the man now. But he had no plan on how to handle the others, and even if the man up there could be trusted to follow orders. The Power that man held might be able to show these the truth, but they would be killed to keep Duncan in power.


    ¡°Want to stay or move on?¡± The first deckhand asked.


    Jones made a show of being startled and laughed a little. Smiling at the others he just shrugged. ¡°Sorry friend. It¡¯s just. This planet, you know?¡±


    Jones just walked off, looking at the shield as he moved. Through the energy, he could still see the jungle but tinted the shield¡¯s color. There were no animals and the few Pod trees he could see were filled. There was nothing that looked to be feeding on them, and that was a little worrying. This place was so strange and he just knew that there were so many things hidden.


    Suddenly he tumbled. Falling to the ground, he looked back and saw something sticking out of the ground. Blinking, he thought his eyes were playing tricks as something reflected at him. Looking around, he saw he was behind the crater, near where the Paralyzer beast was killed. Moving closer, he looked at what he found. With slow movements that became fanatic, he revealed what looked like metal. He didn¡¯t know what he had found, but knew it had to be important!

 One Hundred Fifty Nine Part 2

    Vivis sighed as she looked around the clearing, taking in the shield and the crater. So far, there the shield was still holding. Since the group made it back inside, there hadn¡¯t been another attack. But she knew that meant nothing. The monsters they killed might be from groups or packs for all they knew! There was just something at the back of her brain, a strange kind of pulsing that was there. She looked at her internal bio-scan and saw nothing. Whatever she was feeling, it might only be in her mind.


    ¡°So, what do you think? How long until those things grow again?¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice said from behind her.


    She turned to see her friend looking out at the forest, trying to see through the shield at the pod trees.


    ¡°Maybe tomorrow or the day after. I mean that¡¯s good for us, right?¡± Vivis asked with hope in her voice.


    Zevortro only shook his head, a scowl on his face. ¡°It just doesn¡¯t make sense. I mean that in the most scientific way possible. It just doesn¡¯t make sense how it can be so good for us and grow that fast!¡±


    ¡°Just another mystery about this place then?¡± Vivis asked, trying not to sound as scared as she felt. Already the mysteries were piling up. From the monsters to the Powers some of the others gained, this planet was maddening! She was almost expecting an even worse horror to come out from the trees soon.


    The look that Zevortro shot her almost made her swallow in anger or fear. The look in his eyes was of someone who knew something was wrong here. ¡°There has to be a reason! If those Pod things can reproduce that fast, why was this whole clearing free of them? The seeds alone would have covered everything here! Were they eaten?¡±


    Vivis suddenly understood what he meant. And that thought was slowly making her feel so worried about their chances to survive. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s right. Why is this circle clear of them?¡±


    It was all that Vivis to keep the shudder she felt coming down. The more she looked around, the more that this place was wrong. If the native plants could reproduce as fast as the Pods, then why weren¡¯t there more of them here? There had to be something that kept them from growing, something that she just couldn¡¯t see. It was all she could do to keep from hoping against hope that whatever it was, wasn¡¯t deadly. For all she knew, there was something beneath them, waiting to swallow them all.


    With that thought, she looked around again. Before the shield had been reassuring, a sign that they were all safe here. But now, she had a strange feeling that the shield was keeping them in, not keeping the monsters out.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Zevortro asked with a note of worry in his voice.


    She nodded and sighed, shaking her head. ¡°Yeah, just a bad thought that wouldn¡¯t go away.¡±


    Zevortro looked at her and then shrugged. She almost chuckled. That was him alright. The two of them had known each other for months now. Zevortro wasn¡¯t some deep thinker, but when he saw a problem or something he didn¡¯t know? He¡¯d chase it down and tear it to pieces to find out the truth. The number of times she¡¯d seen him pouring over a text file to understand something.


    ¡°HEY! I NEED SOME HELP NOW! I FOUND SOMETHING!¡± the book of Jones¡¯s roar caused her to look up. He was waving his hands like a madman, and she looked at the shield¡¯s readings. It was still as strong as ever, so what was wrong?


    ¡°What the nova does that fool think he¡¯s doing!?¡± Bryke snarled from the bodies.


    ¡°Yeah! I mean in the name of the Stars, how much more trouble could Jones make now?¡± Zevortro asked dryly.


    The one thing that Vivis knew, was that no one here trusted Jones not to find or make trouble. Maybe the fool broke his leg. That would keep him out of their way for a while.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re going to find out soon,¡± Vivis muttered. As everyone in the clearing watched, Terra climbed up from the capsule. Vivis could tell she was angry from the way she stalked over to Jones.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s getting the bad jobs for a while,¡± Zevortro said, amusement in his voice.


    As soon as Jones saw her he started to gesture to something at his feet. Vivis saw Terra go still and then fall, looking at it in shock.


    ¡°This is gonna be either really good or really bad,¡± Bryke said dryly.


    It took all Vivis had not to snort as she heard Zevortro hit Bryke¡¯s head. As if they need anyone to say that. They all knew the score, and they all knew how this planet had been treating them. That meant that the answer was going to be both.


    Terra looked down at the patch of purple metal, not believing what she was seeing. There was something about that shade that bothered her. It was there, something about it that she just couldn¡¯t understand or remember. It was out of reach, taunting her but she couldn''t see it. Then she did, and then she went still. The answer she found shocked and confused her, why hadn''t...... They hadn¡¯t looked into the ground beneath their feet. They had just acted under the assumption that everything was fine! That was an error in judgment that might have gotten people killed in the past!


    ¡°So I knew I had to call you ma¡¯am! This is important, right?¡± Jones said respectfully.


    That caused her to almost snarl. She knew that Jones was a lot of things, but respectful wasn¡¯t one of them. The way that she had seen him act back on the Spirit was all the answer that she needed to know. The times she had seen him take to task people who were under him for tasks! And with the shadow of what had happened to the team he went out with.


    ¡°Yeah it is,¡± Terra said as she looked around. She dropped down and felt the metal, frowning as she did. The metal felt hard, like that piece of hull she felt during a workshop back on the Spirit. It had been a lecture for Deckhands about what the engineering staff did. The only reason she remembered it was because it was last week for her. But what she couldn¡¯t get was why the metal was there. It would have taken so long¡­¡­. She went still and slowly stood up.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Jones asked as he watched her.


    Terra ignored him as she looked at the crater. Then she slowly turned to gaze at the trees, and then she looked down. A strange and terrible thought suddenly came through her mind and made her freeze. "No."


    ¡°Terra?¡± Jones asked as she stood there.


    Then without a word, she started moving. She ran to the crater and moved down, dashing into the capsule. She slammed open the door, startling Duncan who had been nodding off.


    ¡°What, Terra? What is it?¡± Duncan muttered.


    Terra swallowed, knowing how her question was going to sound but she had to ask it. ¡°Did we find any shovels or anything that can help us dig in the supplies?¡±


    Duncan blinked and looked at her as he straightened up. ¡°Yes. I was shocked when I found them but we do have them. Why?¡±


    Terra looked at Duncan, and she still couldn¡¯t say what was wrong. It was so out there, so insane but it fit. By the stars did it fit with what they knew? She was hoping that she was wrong, but she had a feeling that she wasn¡¯t. ¡°A discovery. Something that might make this place very bad to stay here longer. We might have to send out teams to find a place to make a camp. So we can evacuate this place.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Duncan asked in shock. Then he looked at her and almost fell out of his chair. ¡°Wait! The civilians will never do that! They need more, someone else to help sell it!¡±


    ¡°You''re right. I¡¯ll grab sir Bradford!¡± Terra said with a nod.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Around the crater, most of the deckhands had gathered. Something was going on, something that had spooked Terra. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but Zevortro was going to be here to help. From what he heard, most of the others thought that Jones had done something. That man was not well-liked by anyone.


    Terra had been down in the capsule for ten minutes when she came out, leading both Duncan and Sir Bradford. Sir Bradford was helping Duncan move, and Terra had four shovels in her hands and four on her back. She moved up the walls of the crater, nodding as she saw the deckhands.


    ¡°Good! You¡¯re all here! I need eight of you all!¡± Terra called up as she


    ¡°Chief Duncan, can she order us around like this?¡± One of the other deckhands called down.


    ¡°She¡¯s my new second in command! And she¡¯s got a good reason for all this! At least she thinks so!¡± Duncan called up as Sir Bradford climbed up.


    ¡°Good reason or not, I want to see it! I want to know what reason you have!¡± Bradford declared and looked at Terra.


    Terra only grabbed his hand, but stopped, moved away a step, and dropped the shovels from her back. ¡°In a second sir. I want you four to grab a shovel, make a line, and dig out from the crater to the shield! Dig two feet down, a foot apart. Make it down two feet and nothing there, move past the one closet to the shield, and start digging again!¡±


    Bryke looked at Terra, not sure what the woman was thinking. What could they find around the crater that they missed? But then he realized something that made him go still for a second. Then he looked around before he grabbed a shovel. He kept his gaze on Terra as she walked away before turning toward the others. ¡°You heard the boss, time to move some soil! So I¡¯ll go eight feet out!¡±


    Walking over As he got to work, he heard three others move. As he pulled up his first shovelful of soil, he heard someone walk over to him.


    ¡°Mind telling me what¡¯s got you so worried?¡± Zevortro asked with a sharp tongue.


    Bryke looked up at him and scowled. ¡°What are the rules of crash landing? What are we supposed to do above all else?¡±


    ¡°Make sure you¡¯re landing¡­¡­ oh. We never checked the site beyond a single visual sweep, didn¡¯t we?¡± Zevortro said, his voice full of fear.


    Bryke nodded as he dug into the earth. ¡°Yeah. I think Jones found something that sparks whatever idea that has Terra so crazy. And I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to be good for us if she¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°What could he do? What could¡­¡­. Oh, Nova!¡± Zevortro said, his voice horse.


    ¡°What?¡± Bryke asked, his voice hard. He kept digging, but then his shovel felt something, something that felt metallic. He listened with one ear as he dropped down.


    ¡°Bradford fell backwards! I think he passed out in shock! I guess Terra¡¯s worry was bigger than I thought!¡± Zevortro said with a shocked voice.


    Bryke ignored him and moved his shovel slowly, revealing a purple metallic shard of metal. With a scowl he looked at it, trying to think. Terra must have found this over there. But why was it here too? This was artificial, and it was around most of the clearing. That had to be the reason the Pod trees hadn¡¯t grown here. He touched it and to his shock, it felt a little like hull plating.


    ¡°Hey! I found something here!¡± The person next to Bryke cried out, shock in their voice.


    Bryke ignored them as he moved the dirt away, looking at the purple shade. This had to be hull plating, but how had the escape capsule made a crater? The capsule would have crashed into this if it was as deep as a foot. What could have let them make a hole in the hull plate¡­¡­


    When Bryke figured out what Terra had feared, he saw his vision go dark.

 One Hundred Sixty Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1640


    Zevortro walked over before he heard someone fall to the ground. Turning quickly, he saw Bryke had fallen. Without thinking, he rushed back to his friend and tried to sit him up. Looking around, he smiled as he saw Vivis running over.


    She dropped to her knees and brought up a medical scanner, frowning as she looked at the readings. ¡°He¡¯s fine. He was just¡­.. what? What¡¯s a ¡®mental overload¡¯?¡±


    Zevortro blinked and looked down at Bryke. He kept trying to understand just what had happened to his friend, but nothing made sense. He knew Bryke, the man was strong. What could have caused him to pass out?


    A moment later, Bryke started to stir and he blinked as Zevortro put him down.


    ¡°What a dream¡­. Oh. It wasn¡¯t a dream,¡± Bryke said, his voice turning horrified as he got up.


    Zevortro and Vivis looked at each other as Bryke ignored them. He just moved beyond the group gathering around the one who called out their find and started to dig.


    ¡°What is wrong with him?¡± Vivis asked horror in her voice.


    As much as he wanted to get his friend help, something stopped him. Looking, down, Zevortro saw something reflect the light. He frowned and reached down touching it. In a flash, he moved his hand back, staring at it at the item in horror. ¡°I know that texture.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Vivis asked as she turned to face him.


    He didn¡¯t notice, Zevortro¡¯s heart was pounding too much to even hear the wind. There was only one way that this material would be here. And he couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°This is impossible!¡±


    He took a step back and looked around, slowly. He tried to think of anything that would explain it. He needed something beyond the strange and frankly insane thought he had. But there was none, this was reality. So then that left the question, how had the capsule¡­¡­. His eyes became pinpoints as he felt his blood freeze. ¡°No. No. No!¡±


    Without a word he grabbed Vivis¡¯s hand and ran, pulling her along with him, dropping his shovel.


    ¡°Hey! What is it!?¡± Vivis demanded as she was pulled behind her friend.


    Zevortro didn¡¯t speak, only pulling her to the crater as Terra made it back with Bradford.


    ¡°But just how!¡± Bradford was saying as he looked at her. ¡° I mean how!?¡±


    ¡°We never checked on the state of the clearing,¡± Zevortro said with a scowl as he and Vivis made it there. ¡°Terra, we need to find the edge!¡±


    Terra looked at him and nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, we do. And we need to find somewhere to move to!¡± Terra said with an edge to her voice. Somewhere safe!¡±


    Zevortro grinned, his mind already solving that problem. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea about that. But we¡¯ll need to find a way inside first!¡±


    Terra looked at him, her mouth open. ¡°Are you saying that we should?¡±


    ¡°Should what?!¡± Vivis demanded but she was ignored.


    Bradford however looked a little excited. ¡°That might work if we can get the gravity working. I mean think about it.¡±


    Terra looked at Bradford with a scowl on her face. For a moment she just glared at Bradford before looking at Zevortro. ¡°Are you even thinking?! If it activates its engine, it might destroy the capsule!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what!?¡± Vivis asked shock in her voice. ¡°What could destroy the capsule!?The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Zevortro felt a spark of rage. ¡°Ma¡¯am, we don¡¯t know that. We don¡¯t even know the model! We need to find out what this is first, then we can plan what to do!¡±


    ¡°SOMEBODY BETTER EXPLAIN NOW!¡± Duncan¡¯s voice echoed around the clearing.


    Zevortro and the others turned and saw Duncan, heaving as he finished climbing up the hill. He looked around before his eyes found Terra.


    ¡°Well Terra, I¡¯m waiting!¡± Duncan snarled. ¡°I was willing to wait, but destroy the capsule?! I need to know what this is now!¡±


    ¡°Chief¡­.. I....we,¡± Terra said looking down.


    ¡°The whole clearing is covering something, sir! Something purple and made out of void-ranked hull plates!¡± Zevortro said with a hard stare.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan blinked, sure that he had heard that wrong. But as he looked at Terra, he saw her nod. He looked down, his mind going at FTL speed. After a few seconds, he paled and looked at them as he swallowed. ¡°We might have crashed on an engine, didn¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I think,¡± Terra said bitterly. She looked up at him and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m having the deckhands find out how big it is. Zevortro is right, we need to get in here. We need to know what this thing is.¡±


    Duncan looked down, his mind going dark places. This could be anything, from a freighter to a slave ship. And there could be anything down there. But then he blinked as a new thought came to him. Slowly he looked around, taking in the shape of the clearing. As he looked around, the thought became greater and greater. ¡°So all we know is that this is made of hull plates and it covers the whole clearing. That¡¯s it?¡±


    Terra looked at him and nodded, a frown on her face. ¡°Yeah. But what¡¯d I miss?


    ¡°Could this thing be a space station? Is there anything that says it¡¯s not?¡± Duncan asked and then he sighed. The others all blinked, shocked at that idea. He only chuckled a little. ¡°Don¡¯t ask so surprised. You have to ask everything and anything to find the truth. Isn¡¯t that the saying of that movie star¡¯s character?¡±


    Zevortro only blinked and then he laughed a little. ¡°So you''re saying that we might have crashed into the middle of a space station. As in the middle of empty space in the design?¡±


    ¡°But how would a space station even crash here?¡± Vivis asked as she looked down.


    ¡°And the size of the clearing! It¡¯s too small for any station. They just don¡¯t make them this small!¡± Terra said as she threw his hands out.


    ¡°Well, maybe not. There was a station in my home system. There was a part at the top, a hoop this size, and about fifty feet tall. Multiple chambers there were just gantries hovering in open space so you could see the sides. The place had all. Classes would go there to walk around and see the wonders of space or the ocean in four dimensions. I think the local military used it too. Or they let the system¡¯s schools use it,¡± Vivis said, looking down as she thought about it.


    ¡°Well, to be honest, the size isn¡¯t that bad given how wide this place is. My company made observation stations during the war. They were around this size, it was so just two shuttles could move them through FTL. This might be one, but ours were solid, no empty circles in the middle,¡± Bradford said as looked down.


    Duncan only shrugged as the others all looked at him. ¡°We need to find a way into this thing anyway. We can figure out what this is after, right?¡±


    As the others nodded, Duncan looked around. He took in the shield, the clearing, and the capsule. After a few seconds, he came to a decision and nodded. ¡°Zevortro, Terra. I want you to tear apart the hill facing the direction that our first team went. I want to know what¡¯s next to the capsule. Dig down three feet and go out. Fin the edge of the whatever¡¯s there.¡±


    ¡°I already found it, sir!¡± Bryke said from Duncan¡¯s right.


    He turned and sawBryke standing there, his eyes hard and hands empty. The others all reacted in shock, Bradford even holding his chest.


    ¡°What was it?¡± Duncan asked and Bryke shook his head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know sir. But it¡¯s straight, about five feet down, and still going,¡± Bryke said as he pointed behind him.


    Turning around, Duncan saw the other three deckhands digging away. Two of them were making a pit while the others were digging to the right and left. Turning back he looked at Bryke who only shrugged.


    ¡°Once I found out how far it went, I figured I should get some help to find out the shape. Was I wrong sir?¡± Bryke asked.


    Duncan only chuckled and laughed. ¡°No! Good Incentive. So it¡¯s not a circle then? Could that be an observation bridge?¡±


    ¡°Sir?¡± Zevortro asked. Dunant turned to look at him and nodded, letting him continue. If it¡¯s a bridge, we can break through it. We¡¯d need to take stock of what tools we have but it might be the best chance if we can¡¯t find an airlock.¡±


    ¡°And if we find the airlock, we¡¯d need to hack into it. If we can even read the code. But it might not be we¡¯re in a thruster after all. But this, Nova!¡± Duncan said and shook his head before he put his hands over his eyes. Finally, after a few minutes, he looked up at Terra. ¡°Terra, get back to finding out what those monsters were. Bryke, you¡¯re in charge of finding out what that is. And who found it in the first place?¡±


    ¡°Jones did,¡± Terra admitted.


    Duncan looked at her and then sighed, shaking his head in disgust. ¡°Of course it was him! Forget about that. Mr. Bradford, I need you to go and talk to the passengers. See if any of them have any skill at breaking code. Maybe there¡¯s a hacker in the group.¡±


    ¡°A hacker? Why would¡­¡­ oh. Well, I¡¯ll ask. We might be lucky,¡± Bradford said with a sigh, shaking his head.


    Duncan sighed and turned around, moving towards the crater. ¡°Good. Keep the shield secure, and that Roch locked up there!¡±


    ¡°Locked where?¡± Bradford asked, looking around.


    Duncan kept his back turned and then he heard the snickers that slowly turned into laughter. Duncan kept a smile on his face.


    ¡°Oh sirs, that is wonderful! I fully admit, you people have a wonderful sense of humor!¡± Bradford said with a note of glee in his voice.


    ¡°His powers are touched based, that was what we had to do,¡± Terra admitted.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around the clearing from near the shield, Jessie sighed before turning around. His off arm was injured but he didn¡¯t need two of them to work a station. And the way his biology was, it would be fully healed by dawn. He wondered how he would explain that, maybe the poison the patch sped it up? That was known to happen sometimes. He looked out at the forest, trying to keep calm. There was something out there, he knew it. The way the trees moved, there was something that was out there.


    Maybe it was just nerves based on what happened to him, but he was almost convinced he saw something move. The way that he had missed the bug that got him, made him feel that he was just losing his touch. There was a time in his past that he would have seen that coming, maybe his skills were a bit rusty. But that was fine, he expected that. This was his vacation after all, then it was back to training before he went back to work. He thought that a nice working vacation would let him recover, so he signed up for a tour aboard the Spirit. Not his best idea.


    ¡°Still, it was nice,¡± He muttered as he looked at the readings. He frowned a moment as he looked at something, wondering if it was just the system. The power requirements, was it him or was there something there?


    He blinked and then called up one of his old nanite strains. He activated the record function and felt it activate. Looking down at the readings for a good minute, he closed his eyes. Activating his nanites, he looked at the minute he just saw and slowed it down to ten seconds to one. After thirty seconds he saw it, he had seen something!


    For a good half a second, the power that the shield needed spiked! It was as if something was hitting the shield doing enough damage to force the spike. But what was doing this? Deactivating the nanites, he stepped back from the station. He looked out at the shield and tried to find where the drain could be. Somehow, he had a mystery here and he had to find out what it was. He had a terrible feeling this was going to be bad.

 Chapter One Hundred Sixty Part 2

    As Bradford walked down the hill, he kept chuckling to himself. The sight of Roch would let him feel wonder and joy for months! The fact that he had finally been able to get one over him, was nothing. But to see him finally punished, that was everything! For so long he had tried and failed to see him punished for what he had done, but here he was. For years he had tried and failed, the scum taunting him about it all the while. Roch seemed to have been blessed, and he had to admit that he had started to lose hope. His battle just seemed pointless, all his contacts on both sides of the line did nothing to help. But after all those failings, he had seen that monster be put in chains!


    As he reached the bottom, he looked at Duncan who stared back at him.


    ¡°SIR, thank you so much! It¡¯s wonderful to know that sooner or later, Karama does hit the worst scum!¡± Bradford said with a grin as he held out his hand to Duncan.


    Duncan took it with his free hand and sighed as he looked down. ¡°That one is a threat to everyone here. I kill threats. That¡¯s all there is to it. That¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Still, let me thank you! But how much should we tell the others in there?¡± Bradford asked. Knowledge was power and currency as far as he was concerned.


    ¡°We are sitting on top of what might be an engine! But a panic is the last thing we want,¡± Duncan muttered in disgust. ¡°And if we ask them for help, we need to say something! I mean how else will they know they can do what we need. The wrong bit of code could set off  the engine after all!¡±


    It was all Bradford could do to keep from grinning. The fact that the old man was finally starting to think like Bradford was something that he could use. If he plays the right cards, then that might mean he could get Duncan to work for him. Of course, he would say it was him advising Duncan. And if someone higher up came along? Then he could have Duncan introduce him and try to ¡®help¡¯ him. ¡°Of course. Of course. But we can tell them we found a wreck under us. We need help to get in. And that we don¡¯t know where it was made.¡±


    Duncan looked at him for a few moments, a strange look in his eyes. ¡°Makes sense, that could work. We just need to keep ourselves alive. And that shield up there will help. We¡¯re safe outside, now we have to make ourselves safe inside. I¡¯ll give them a speech, telling them what we found. It¡¯s the best of a bad situation, and that will be enough.¡±


    Bradford didn¡¯t know what was bothering Duncan, but he didn¡¯t care for once. The fact that normally Bradford would want to know everything, that was asleep for now. He almost wanted to whistle as he walked into the capsule and looked around. So far it seemed that that most of the passengers had traded in their finery for basic work suits. They looked fine, but he wondered why the spares had arms that shadow of blue.


    He looked at Duncan who gestured to him. Bradford had to smile. Another wonderful stage for him to perform on.


    ¡°Friends! Could you please lend me your ears for a bit?¡± Bradford called out, projecting his voice so everyone could hear him. As the people all turned to look at him, he forced down his smile. As some moved towards him, he put on his ¡®campaign grin¡¯ and started to talk. ¡°Now I know how just the other day we all talked, but something¡¯s come up. I won¡¯t bore you all with the details but there¡¯s a wreck under us! Some kind of thing that¡¯s made of hull plates! Our good chief Duncan is worried, so the crew is trying to dig it out! Well, at least a place to break into it at least.¡±


    ¡°How big and what kind of plates? What grade are they?¡± A female voice from the right.


    Bradford blinked and looked at Duncan who moved next to him.


    ¡°Seems that someone knows a bit about space construction. I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Duncan muttered.


    Bradford bowed his head, hiding a smirk for a second. ¡°Please do.¡±


    Duncan looked at him for a moment before calling out loudly. ¡°We would need a sample of the material and a workshop to find that out. Now we talked about breaking in, but I¡¯m hoping to find an airlock! But since we don¡¯t know who made it, we need help to get in! That¡¯s where you all come in! Now I¡¯m sure that some of you have the skills to help. I invite anyone that wants to help, just follow our directions and we¡¯ll make it through this!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    As Bradford looked around, he saw Kenny Gormilis about to step forward but then stopped. It was all that Bradford could hope that the fool was seeing that Bradford wanted him to stay down. That one would do the best for Bradford if he stayed where he was. He needed eyes and ears amongst the Passengers, and that one had no combat experience. So it was best that he stayed here in the capsule.


    ¡°I¡¯ll help.¡±


    ¡°I worked in decoding during the last war. Didn¡¯t break any on my own but I helped crack the doe.¡±


    Bradford blinked as two women stepped forward.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila looked at Vivian out of the corner of her eyes. She had hoped that she could get close to Bradford and maybe get that data. But now with that woman along.


    ¡°You were in decoding during the war? So you didn¡¯t have a Nano record then? Well, who were you? One of the Nebula Nerds or the Growling Gooks?¡± Duncan asked bluntly.


    Dalila looked at him, blinking in confusion. That lasted for about a minute before she realized what we were doing. ¡°Neither, we were called the Strom Hiders. Joined up before the first battle. I was working on a refinement of the FTL comms and my project was folded into decoding the Ancients ¡®radio¡¯. Never got beyond a few ideas about their letters through.¡±


    ¡°The Hiders. Had a friend that went there during the war. A nice ol bloke named Gh¡¯rlic. How is the old boy?¡± Duncan asked as he raised an eyebrow.


    Dalila looked at him and scowled. ¡°If you know that one, you¡¯d know their non-Ternary!¡±


    ¡°That they are! Sorry comrade, but I ran into a scammer who said he was a vet when he wasn¡¯t. had to be sure!¡± Duncan said with a laugh.


    She blinked in shock. After everything that she had experienced, the fact that she wasn¡¯t shocked that someone did that almost stunned her.


    ¡°I hope you gave that one a proper traitor¡¯s end!¡± Dalila said as her hands clenched.


    Duncan only snorted and shook his head. ¡°No, the captain wouldn¡¯t let me space him.¡±


    ¡°Pity that. Liberals always get power,¡± Dalila said dryly.


    But it was the chuckle from Duncan that told her this idea was wrong. ¡°No, not really. More worried about being sued really. But enough getting your credits in order. Thank you for volunteering. Now you? What can you offer?¡±


    Vivian looked at Duncan and saluted. ¡°Former Master Sergeant Vivian, reporting sir. I was attached to the Sol Strikers during the war.¡±


    Dalila looked at Vivian in shock. The Strikers were one of the units that specialized in holding the line. Their forces had broken the Ancient''s robotic forces in most of the battles they were in. The only times they retreated was when they were out-maneuvered.


    ¡°A Striker here? Well, that¡¯s interesting! Mind if I check the nano?¡± Duncan asked as he held out his hand. Vivian grabbed Duncan¡¯s arm and they both had that stare people got when they were seeing internal messages.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be! You were one of the Comet Beasts? Heard from old Xuul lately?¡± Vivian asked with a grin.


    Duncan only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°No, but how was old Maimer? Your records show you talked with him a month back?¡±


    Vivian only chuckled and shook her head. ¡°Last I saw him that old Canine said he was a trainer at a camp! Hard to imagine am I right?¡±


    Duncan laughed a little and shook his head. ¡°Well thank you, both of you! Once we have a doorway, we¡¯ll see what we can find out about what¡¯s down there. For now, rest and prepare. And Folks, listen up! We¡¯ve got a bumper crop of those pods from the other day. So expect one at dinner!¡±


    As Dalila looked at Duncan as he turned to walk away, she looked at Vivian as she stood there. The fact that this one was a former soldier, that was surprising


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jessie looked down at the console, he tried to keep calm. The drain was still there and at the same frequency. But the worst thing about it was that it was getting longer. It was up to a two-second drain. He had already done a few calculations, if this continued then the drain would cause the shield to fall an hour before dawn!  Then the whole forest would be able to just come in and eat everyone!


    The more Jessie looked around, the more he grew concerned. He couldn¡¯t see anything that could be striking the shield, and that was the worst. That meant that he had no idea why this was happening, and that was bad. For a moment he debated handling this on his own, but then he shook his head. That would be the actions of someone alone. For now, he wasn¡¯t. He had a team and that meant that he could go for help.


    With that decision made, he looked around and found Terra by the crater. He blinked as he saw people digging down. Something was happening, something that he had missed. And that was just another mark that he needed to get back to normal.


    With a sigh, he walked over and tried to think of how to explain this to her. The fact that his nanites weren¡¯t common would be a problem, but if he used one of his programs, that might work. It would expose one of his trumps, but he had more. And one that he hadn¡¯t used since he came on board.


    ¡°¡­..keep up the search pattern from where Jones found the first one. I want to know everything about this thing as soon as possible. Keep the depth the same as before, but double the spacing. I want to know where this thing goes!¡± Terra said with force.


    Jessie looked at her and shook his head, smiling a bit. He wasn¡¯t surprised with how she was doing, he always thought she had potential. With a sigh, he shook his body. Time to put more pressure on her. ¡°Terra, sorry to bother you.¡±


    Terra went still and turned her head, blinking as she saw Jessie standing there. ¡°Jessie, what is it? Is your arm okay? No danger or pain sweeping in?¡±


    ¡°The arm¡¯s fine, but the shield is the trouble,¡± Jessie said as he looked at Terra.


    Terra blinked, not expecting that. Her face went pale as the blood left it.


    Jessie nodded, knowing that she would understand.


    Terra swallowed as she looked around, coming to a decision fast. Looked at him and took a breath. ¡°Show me.¡±


    Five minutes later, Terra looked down at the monitor and called up the history. She saw the blips in slow motion and whistled as she looked up at the shield. After a few seconds, she spoke, shaking her head. ¡°I see the problem, but I can¡¯t see where it¡¯s from.¡±


    ¡°Me too, and we have a setting sun in an hour. We could set up a watch, but will that even work on this side?¡± Jessie asked. This was one of the worst kinds of problems he had seen, a problem that they couldn¡¯t see the answer to. Even worse, if they didn¡¯t fix this problem, it might kill them all.

 One Hundred Sixty One Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1725


    Terra looked at the forest beyond the shield, trying to think. There was nothing that she could see that might let them stop this. But she couldn¡¯t even see what was doing this! ¡°What in the stars is happening here!? I mean really!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, that¡¯s why I needed to tell you,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Terra looked at him and shook her head. To think that her old friend would be this worked up was concerning. But after a moment, she went still as she realized why. ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Figured out why I told you?¡± Jessie asked with a babying tone.


    Terra only chuckled and threw her right fist at him. He dodged it and looked at her, his eyes happy.


    ¡°Good! You¡¯ve still got that training I put you through!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    Terra only looked at him and held her face with her hand as she looked down. Her hand was covering her smile, and that was enough. She would never hate her friend, but sometimes this bounty hunter made her want to shoot him!


    ¡°You told me so that someone else can tell Duncan. And you want more eyes on this before the shield falls. How long until dawn?¡± Terra asked with a hard edge to her voice.


    Jessie looked at her and shook his head. ¡°An hour at best, maybe half an hour if this stays the same. But that¡¯s only¡­.. oh. I never checked if it was the other side of the shield. I just looked at this one and told you about it.¡±


    Terra looked at Jessie and felt her blood leave her face. If she knew her friends, then she was already kicking him in the head for forgetting that. Ut the reality that they had now, that was what was important. With a hard look in her eyes, she looked at the other stations. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t have your experience to notice the problem, the others?¡±


    ¡°No, they wouldn¡¯t,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Already her friend was reacting, preparing to do what they had to. ¡°Then we should go check for them, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll say I once checked over this program for my job. That I knew what to look for,¡± Jessie said as he looked at her. ¡°I¡¯ll go up and you go down, we¡¯ll meet across.¡±


    ¡°Alright. But we should talk to Duncan about everything,¡± Terra said. She almost turned before a strange thought came up from the depths of her mind. As that thought reverberated, she realized the truth she had been ignoring. She looked at looked at Jessie and swallowed, not sure how to say this but knowing she had to.


    Jessie looked at her and then his eyes widened as he realized what she meant. ¡°About me!? Are you mad!?¡±


    Terra sighed, and she knew this was going to be hard. ¡°I just meant that we should tell him about your skills as a bounty hunter. But maybe you should tell him about what you can do.¡±


    Jessie¡¯s mouth dropped open, and he gasped for a moment. ¡°What?! Have you lost your mind!?¡±


    ¡°Think! What Jinn and that beast could do, remember that? It¡¯s a lot like what I saw you do in that battle!¡± Terra said. As Jessie looked away, she knew she had him. ¡°You remember that? Well, I don¡¯t know how you were able to do that, and I think I should. It might be the difference between life and death for all of us!¡±


    ¡°That''s what I can do! It¡­¡­ I can¡¯t,¡± Jessie said as he looked away.


    Terra felt a bit bad that she had pushed her friend that far. But she truly thought it was important that Duncan knew. Somehow, she had a feeling that Jessie hadn¡¯t told her a few things.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Okay, okay. I¡¯ll stay silent about you, but you should tell the chief what you can do. It would help a lot,¡± Terra said. As Jessie nodded, she smiled before she walked towards the left. As she moved away, she tried to think what this was. Looking out at the shield, she couldn¡¯t see anything out there at all. Just what was going on? What was attacking them now?


    After a few moments, she looked away and walked towards her destination. She had to find out what was going on, and then they needed to handle it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jones looked at the people working from where was, he grinned. This might be the best thing that had happened to him since the others gave their lives for him. If he could get tagged as a member of the team to investigate this place, then that would turn around! Sir Bradford could then be used to help spread the word, and then everything would be better. They would conquer this world and then they would find a way home! ¡°Everything would be better then.¡±


    ¡°Keep working Jones!¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice caused Jones to tense.


    He had been looking around, and that call was enough for him to get moving again. He didn¡¯t want any trouble, and he knew how some would think. Anything that they could use to paint in a bad light, they would use. ¡°Yes sir, just resting my muscles!¡±


    ¡°Yeah? Well, we¡¯re almost done! Just power on for a bit and then supper will be that much better!¡± Zevortro said with a laugh as he worked as well.


    Jones scowled and looked at Zevortro, trying to figure out where he had worked on the ship. Jones couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had seen Zevortro before, but where? That question was going to keep bothering him until he forgot it or found an answer.


    He thrust his shovel down and felt a metallic ting and scowled. He looked down and moved the dirt around until a small square of purple was there. He nodded and took a deep breath. ¡°Found another one! Moving on!¡±


    ¡°Moving on! Marking the site!¡± Vivis called out.


    Jones looked at her and scowled as he moved. The fact that someone had to record the shape was obvious. But did it have to be her? There was something about her that bothered him. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but there was something about her that he just didn¡¯t like.


    As he found a new place he started to dig. He had no idea what the metal he found was or why it was all over. But all he knew was that the labor passed the time, and the sooner his shift was done the sooner he could eat.


    As he started to dig, he looked around and saw Jessie moving towards one of the stations. He snorted a bit. At least that one knew how to look busy without doing anything. It must be nice not to worry about anything while you escape work!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jessie made it to the next station, he tried to pay attention. But the idea was to tell Duncan about him and what he could do. That would require him to be completely honest about everything. How he had nanites that destroyed his DNA when his blood left his body. How they destroyed everything and left the signs of a normal human. How he could do what he could do. The can of worms that would open alone! He didn¡¯t know what he would do if everyone knew all his secrets. How he could survive the fallout? It would change everything that so many people thought they knew about life!


    He thought that maybe Terra thought he could teach people how to do what he could. But that was the farthest thing from reality that he knew. He had learned by trial and error, and even now he still didn¡¯t know what sparked his powers!


    The deckhand manning the station looked up and squinted as he saw Jessie. ¡°Hey, Tessie? No something ending with ¡®ie right? So what can I do for you?¡±


    Jessie felt his rage spike and then he sighed. ¡°I need to check the system. There might be a problem here.¡±


    ¡°Show me,¡± The deckhand said as he got up.


    Jessie went to work and within moments nodded, sighing in relief. ¡°Nothing. The problem isn¡¯t here. Just keep an eye on the power drain.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± The deckhand said and looked at Jessie as he walked off.


    Jessie could tell that the drain was only on one side. That was as far as he knew. And that was something that might be even worse. This meant that this might be the work of something alive. And that meant that this might be part of a bigger plan. He could only hope that this wasn¡¯t the straw that broke their backs here. He could see a lot of ways that this refuge under the shield could fail. It was all he could do to keep hoping that they would win.


    Looking up he saw Terra walking towards the last station and he quickened his pace. They met there and she looked at him.


    ¡°There wasn¡¯t a drain on the others, so we can at least use that battery to help the others. What about that one?¡± Terra asked pointing to where Jessie had come from.


    ¡°No drain there either. This is getting weird. And a bit nerve-wracking,¡± Jessie said with a scowl.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Terra agreed with him as they looked at the other deckhand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, a drain? On the energy. The thing powering the shield?¡± The deckhand asked concern in his voice. At the nod from the two, he swallowed and looked down at his console. ¡°Please check mine.¡±


    Jessie nodded and within seconds went to work. After looking at the readings for a few seconds he smiled and looked up. ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s just on the other end. Time to see the chief.¡±


    Terra looked at him and grinned. Within seconds they had moved far enough away that Jessie could talk quietly to Terra.


    Jessie looked at Terra and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m not showing him everything. I¡¯ll just tell him what I was. And that¡¯s it.¡±


    ¡°Fine. But if you could teach others¡­.¡± Terra began only for Jessie to chuckle darkly.


    ¡°That would need me to know how I can do that. And I don¡¯t,¡± Jessie admitted and Terra stopped walking for a moment.


    She looked at him and then she swallowed. ¡°You don¡¯t?! But you were so sure when you fought that thing!¡±


    ¡°Psychological warfare. Make the enemy think you¡¯re stronger and they could make a mistake. It worked a few times,¡± Jessie admitted.


    ¡°Okay. That¡®s wow,¡± Terra said softly. She looked at him and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll keep quiet about it all, promise.¡±


    Jessie only nodded as they reached the others.


    Vivis noticed them coming and smiled. ¡°Hey! Everything okay?¡±


    ¡°Just gotta talk to the Chief about something! How¡¯s the work going?¡± Terra called back.


    ¡°Good! We¡¯re going to find the end by dinner!¡± Vivis exclaimed.


    As the two of them moved down the hill. Jessie looked at Terra. ¡°Find what?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we didn¡¯t tell you? Or the others? Well, we are all above something made of Hull plates. Void-ranked Hull plates,¡± Terra said as she laughed a little.


    Jessie looked at her and then looked down a the dirt. The idea that they were above the hull of something that could survive the Void, was scary. For there were only two ways that they would have survived hitting it in the capsule. And both of them opened up such horrors that he almost felt dizzy. But his mind went into hyper mode and he started to try and work the problem. He knew then and there he had to tell Duncan about his past. He had a few tricks that other Bounty Hunters had taught him to deal with Hulls. With his help, they would be able to burn a hole into it by morning. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡±

 One Hundred Sixty One Part 2

    Duncan sighed as he looked around his office. The sun was going to set soon and that was a problem. The shield might give off enough light, but after that who knows what that would do. They still hadn¡¯t found a way in. Finding an airlock was getting more and more unlikely as far as he was concerned.


    ¡°At least the chances we¡¯re in an engine are lower than I thought,¡± Duncan said to himself with a sigh.


    Leaning back in the chair, he felt a smirk forming. No matter how much he denied it, things were looking up. With a little bit of luck, they might find a way into whatever was under them soon. ¡°Things are looking up.¡±


    With everything that happened, he could maybe sleep a bit and let his wound heal more. Closing his eyes, he sighed. Then the door slammed open and he jolted awake.


    ¡°Chief, we have problems!¡± Terra declared as she walked in, Jessie behind her.


    Duncan blinked as he looked at Jessie, wondering why he was there. Duncan didn¡¯t have much of Jessie, the man was always in the shadows. But the more that thought went through his mind, the more his instants thought that was wrong. In an instant, he suddenly understood that Jessie had been doing that on purpose. He glared at Jessie and then looked at Terra. ¡°Him?¡±


    ¡°Him? Who? Oh, Jessie? No, not him. He¡¯s just the old friend who showed me the problem!¡± Terra said.


    Duncan blinked, looking at Jessie in shock. ¡°Old friend!?¡±


    ¡°Saved her during my old self-employment days as a bounty hunter,¡± Jessie said absently.


    Duncan looked at him, shock on his face. Bounty Hunters were hard people, true warriors. Most of them were ex-military who had never adapted to civilian life. But Jessie didn¡¯t seem like that, instead, he seemed to be one of the others. As an old comrade who was a bounty hunter now, the last of the bunch were never soldiers. For some reason or another, they all became bounty hunters for reasons of their own. There was no rhythm or reason to why they started that path. But he was told they either lived or died based on what they learned on the job. And his friend told him, most of them either quit or died in their first few years. Or they became the great ones.


    ¡°How long were you a hunter?¡± Duncan said as he held up a hand to Terra.


    Jessie only looked at him, not saying a thing as he looked at Duncan. ¡°Twenty years.¡±


    Duncan blinked and looked at Jessie again. His eyes could see the signs now that he was looking. The man before him was ready to fight his way out if he had to. And the fact that Jessie thought he had to do that against him, was troubling. ¡°Okay, so what have you found then?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a drain on the shield facing the way the team went. It¡¯s not big, but it¡¯s there. And it¡¯s not stopping. At all,¡± Jessie said slowly and looked at Duncan.


    Duncan looked at him and felt his blood freeze as two thoughts went through his mind. He forced them down and looked at Jessie, trying to think. He had helped set up the panels, and he knew shields. The drain would have been a problem if they had a generator. But with only solar batteries? That made this a nightmare. And that wasn¡¯t even counting the kind of creatures out there, or if they attacked them.


    ¡°How long until it falls?¡± Duncan asked, hoping to find anything that might help them. If there was a chance, maybe they could hold the shield generators. If it was less than half an hour, then they could do it.


    ¡°Jessie says it¡¯ll come down before dawn. At least an hour before sunrise. If it doesn¡¯t move to the other side,¡± Terra said bluntly as she looked away.


    Duncan looked at her and then slammed his head down on the table. ¡°Of course. Stars and Comets! I can¡¯t believe this. I just can¡¯t! And that¡¯s not even counting the thing below us!¡±


    ¡°About that. I know how to modify blasters to cut into the hull plates,¡± Jessie said, locking Duncan right in the eye.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Duncan blinked as he looked back and for a moment he felt hope.


    Finally, after a few moments of silence, he croaked out one word. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Simple!¡± Jessie declared and looked at Duncan with a smile. ¡°You need to basically turn a blaster into a short-range cutter. It just takes a while. Give me a few tools and I could have it done in an hour!¡±


    Duncan looked at him and then started to laugh. ¡°Sir, that¡¯s wonderful! Terra, new orders! I want you to have the people up there start clearing a ten-foot-wide square! I want to start cutting into that thing tomorrow. And for the drain, have our people look over every inch of the area in question. Get me a report on it as soon as you find out what it is! And Jessie, get to work modifying two of them.¡±


    Terra nodded and Jessie saluted him.


    ¡°Got it, sir! What about the deckhands working now?¡± Terra asked.


    Duncan looked at the clock and frowned a little. ¡°Well. That¡¯s a question. Tell them to stop. Start getting them down here¡­¡­ and turn that cultist around. I want him looking at the shield until I say otherwise!¡±


    ¡°Got it, boss,¡± Terra promised as she and Jessie left.


    Duncan sat down and sighed, putting his head down. He hadn¡¯t said anything, but something was bothering him. When they told him what direction the drain was coming from, he had a terrible thought. It might be possible that this was because of the team. Either they fought something and escaped, or they fought it and died. And it was tracking them back to eat more meat this monster liked.


    ¡°All I can do is hope you''re alive. Please don¡¯t make me a liar kids,¡± Duncan muttered as he tried to keep his mind calm.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jones moved another shovelful of dirt away and found nothing, he sighed. That shovelful was the last one to reach the depth the rest of the stuff was. And here, there was nothing. And that meant one thing. ¡°Found nothing!¡±


    ¡°Good Jones!¡± Vivis called back as she looked at him. ¡°Everyone come in, we¡¯re done for now!¡±


    Jones sighed as he put his shovel over his shoulder and started to walk toward the crater. He still didn¡¯t know what this metal was, only that it was wide. From what the others had found, the shape was strange. It was shaped like a ¡°U¡± but why? He had seen many buildings, but a ¡°U¡±? Few if any races ever made something like this. Still, he had seen stranger escape capsules on videos in the past.


    As he reached the crater, Terra climbed up with Jessie behind her. Jones looked at Jessie with a bit of worry. He was proud enough to admit that there was something about Jessie that unnerved him. He couldn¡¯t ever figure out why that was, but it was there.


    As he watched, Terra, Jessie, and Vivis had a quick conversation. From the way that Vivis reacted, something was going on that she really didn¡¯t like. And that was enough to let him know that this going to be bad.


    As Vivis jerked back, he sighed and shook his head. He hated being right.


    ¡°Everyone list! I need a few of you to go and get our rations for the night! We need to check that side of the shield! Also, most of us will be on watch tonight! Seems the shield might have a problem we¡¯re here to guard against!¡± Vivis called out, projecting her voice.


    Jones looked at the shield and felt his blood pulse. A problem with the shield? That meant that the shield might fall. And he had to admit, a battle because the shield failed might help his position. But then Jones shook his head. No, that was too much. And if someone found out, then they would tell the others and things would get¡­¡­ uncomfortable.


    ¡°So what are we looking for?¡± Bob¡¯s voice called out


    Jones listened and looked at Terra, trying to see if he could use this.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Jessie said taking a step forward. He looked around, letting his gaze rest on everyone. "All I could find after checking the software and hardware was there are no problems there. The only thing that makes sense is something is striking the shield.¡±


    ¡°And since we can¡¯t see anything, something else must be at work here. That¡¯s why we need all of you. Some of you need to walk the shield, looking through it to find anything that you can. I won¡¯t lie,¡± Terra said as she looked around, her eyes hard. ¡°If we can¡¯t find it, then the shield will fall before dawn. Then the batteries will need a half hour to recharge enough after being drained. So keep your eyes open and good luck! We all need it.¡±


    Jones looked around, gazing out at the forest beyond. His world had a few threats, and he had killed a few over the years. But something that could affect an energy shield constantly? That was new. And another reason that this world had to be conquered by those who followed the Path!


    The deckhands came up, each carrying a box. As the boxes came to rest on the ground one was opened to reveal a row of sandwiches and the other had a few flashlights. Jones sighed and shook his head, seeing that this was going to be a while.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie bit into his sandwich as the sun started to set and the sky turned orange. He looked at the others as they walked along the shield. As much as he tried, he couldn¡¯t stop a small spot of shame that he failed. But so far the others hadn¡¯t found anything, and that had to mean something! He sighed and centered himself, trying to keep calm.


    ¡°It¡¯s not looking good,¡± Terra said from the shield station behind him.


    He sighed and walked to see what she was seeing, and scowled. The drain had doubled in speed, but it was still as strong as it had been. But that didn¡¯t make sense, what was this? And with everyone here, why hadn¡¯t they found it? Where could it be....... Jessie slowly went still as he realized something, something even he had overlooked. When people of any species looked for something, they looked at their eye level or down. Rarely did anyone ever look up. ¡°That¡¯s it, that has to be it!¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Terra asked as she looked at him.


    Jessie ignored her and stalked towards the shield. Turning on his flashlight as he finished his last bite of food. Looking out at the others, he saw everyone was looking along their sight or down. He aimed the flashlight up and almost went white. There, one tree branch a vine with a mouth was biting into the shield. He stared at it, shocked that he had missed that.


    ¡°Jessie, what is it!?¡± Terra called out as she ran over.


    Others turned to look at him, and once they saw where he was looking they all followed his light. As one everyone looked up and stared at the top of the shield in shock.


    ¡°What is that, a vine?¡± Bryke demanded shock and horror in his voice.


    ¡°No, I think it¡¯s just camouflaged. That has to be an animal!¡± Another deckhand called out.


    Jessie looked around, seeing the shocked look on everyone¡¯s faces. With a look at Terra, Jessie meets her eyes. Without words, they had a conversation of gestures in their eyes, and they nodded. Without a word, Jessie walked towards the crater. He had more important work to do now. Terra could hand this now.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it, people! Everyone, finish eating, and let¡¯s get ready to fire at that thing!¡± Terra barked out.

 One Hundred Sixty Two Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1810


    Jones looked at the shield as the darkness slowly grew. For the last five minutes, he had been staring at the shield growing more and more angry. They should have done something, they should have destroyed that monstrosity! ¡°Why are we just standing here?¡±


    ¡°Guess the boss wants to see if that thing is alone,¡± A voice from one of the deckhands next to him muttered.


    Jones blinked and then he looked at the shield, his eyes locking on the vine thing. He let his eyes move along the vine and saw it disappear into the darkness. And then he winced as yes, this might be worse than he thought. His mind went over the Prophecy, trying to remember anything that might have meaning here. The idea that something that was a plant could move was hard to swallow, but he saw the vine move. But as he looked down the tree, his scowl grew. The vine disappeared behind the tree, but there were no other vines anywhere from what he could see. It had to be alone, so why were they still looking for nothing that was there?


    Next to him, he heard the others muttering to that effect, here and there others were raising other points. So what if it was a plant? All they needed to do was destroy it. And what about the pod trees there? Should they just let that vine destroy them? Could it destroy them?


    Jones watched as Terra looked up at the shield, and then his gaze went to the station for this part of the shield. He saw no one there, and he was starting to wonder if he should open a hole. If the vine came through it, so what? There were enough people here that their firepower could destroy it in moments. Why were they just cowering from a plant of all things?


    Jones almost said something but he decided not to at the last minute. He knew how Duncan saw him, and if he had spoken about Jones the others wouldn¡¯t follow him. He had to wait, and hope that someone else would step up.


    As he watched, one of the other deckhands moved towards Terra, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, shouldn¡¯t we just destroy that thing now? We know what¡¯s draining the shield so we should fix this problem!¡± The deckhand said and Terra looked at him


    From where he was, Jones could see emotions flash over Terra¡¯s face. There was more here than Jones could see, or Terra was jumping at shadows. Both of those things were possible, but what didn¡¯t Jones see? As he looked along the branches beyond the shield, he had a strange feeling slowly starting to form. He felt that he was seeing something that didn¡¯t make sense, but what was it?


    He looked around the trees, trying to find it. But no matter where he looked, nothing seemed out of place. But the more he gazed around, the more he felt that something was off. And if he was being honest, that feeling was slowly making him more worried.


    ¡°We should, but there¡¯s a lot we don¡¯t know. So let¡¯s be safe! Watch it for an hour at least!¡± Terra¡¯s loud voice caused Jones to look up.


    Not finding her where he expected, he looked around in a circle and found her. Terra was with, Zevortro and the deckhand that had been talking to her by the shield console. With a sinking feeling he moved over, and as he did he saw others do the same. Once he was closer he could see the deckhand at the station. The being was a male human with greasy-looking brown hair and green eyes. He scowled at her and his eyes were hard, a sneer on his face.


    ¡°We can kill that thing and this will be done right now! There¡¯s no reason to drag it out!¡± The deckhand said, a slight note of anger in his voice.


    ¡°Terras¡¯s in charge and she made the call. So just follow orders and this will be done soon, Greg!¡± Zevortro ordered.


    Greg, the deckhand, snorted and looked at Terra with anger. ¡°As if that old fossil is thinking straight putting her in charge! The only ones back home who hold power are those who were born to it! A peasant like her?!¡±


    Jones scowled as well as he realized what was happening. This Greg punk was from one of the words that still had Nobility. And from the way he was talking, he was one of them. Jones had spoken to people from those worlds, and they were always a pain. And all he could do now was hope that the idiot didn¡¯t make a mistake. After all, if the shield was down¡­¡­.Jones whipped around and pointed his light at the shield. It didn¡¯t go up, but down. That was what was bothering him. And if he was right!This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Greg, back way now and nothing happens,¡± Terra said slowly.


    Greg snarled at her, a sneer on his face. ¡°MY NAME IS GREGORY!¡±


    Gregory slammed his fish down, and the console started to spark before the whole of the shield shut off.


    For a moment, it was all Jones could do to just stare. Then moments later ten of the vines with mouths on them shot through the empty space. Some of the deckhands screamed in fear, one in pain when two of the vines suddenly latched onto them.


    ¡°NO! FALL BACK!¡± Zevortro bellowed. The rest of the deckhands ran, but one of them stayed to help the one that had been bitten.


    Jones ran, but at two deckhands. He pulled his trusty vibration knife and charged. The only thing that Jones could think of, was that this would help him. If he could save those two, they might trust him. And that was all he needed from them. Their trust so he could lead them to the proper Path!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Gregory, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Zevortro snarled as he looked at the chaos as the deckhands ran away from the vines.


    Before Gregory could even say anything, three blasts flew over their heads. The laser blasts hit the three vines attached to the one deckhand before Jones could even reach them. As the deckhand fell, Zevortro whipped his head around. Standing there firing a rifle in his hands was Jessie with another one on his back. With each step he took closer to the console, Jessie kept firing. As he passed by he handed Zevortro his rifle, moving forward and drawing his other rifle.


    Zevortro shot a glare at Gregory before he started to fire at the vines.


    ¡°How did this happen?¡± Jessie growled as he fired.


    As Zevortro joined his blasts to Jessie¡¯s, he scowled harder. ¡°A wannabe idiot who claims to be a Noble.¡±


    ¡°A Noble? Well. I want to say I¡¯m surprised, but I¡¯m not. This is normal for them,¡± Jessie said with a growl.


    ¡°So, never trust Gregory to be smart from now on then?¡± Zevortro asked Jessie as he aimed and fired at one of the vines


    After all, they had both destroyed at least six of them, there was a savage roar from the foliage.


    Zevortro felt his blood leave his face as he looked at the darkness, trying to understand what he just heard. He had seen and heard a lot of monsters in movies, but this sounded more savage than the worst on the screen. And it was close to them, and he could hear the sound of trees being pushed down.


    ¡°Get the shield, get the shield up!¡± Jessie roared as he kept firing into the darkness.


    Zevortro looked behind him and saw Terra hard at work, and he swallowed and moved after Jessie. Within a second, he had aimed into the darkness and fired alongside his friend.


    As Jessie looked at him, Zevortro only shrugged.


    ¡°They¡¯ve got it, and I was always more for action than thinking. My place is here!¡± Zevortro said with force.


    Jessie only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Welcome to hell!¡±


    A moment later, something bashed into the pod trees before them. The trees went flying through the air over the heads of the deckhands,  and then they all heard a savage roar.


    Standing before them was a strange creature, unlike anything Zevortro had ever seen before. It was a large grey stout creature with green rashes on its skin. It had four limbs that ended in half-circle paws with stubby claws. Its head was wide and it had two pure black eyes that seemed to suck in all light. On its back were ten vines, six of them damaged. It opened its mouth, revealing white spiky teeth. As they stood there, the beast roared again and more vines shot into the clearing.


    As they fired, more shots joined them. Risking a glance over his shoulder, Zevortro saw the other deckhands had joined them. With a smirk, Zevortro looked around. ¡°People, let¡¯s show this thing what we can do! Everyone, basic shots, fire at the beast. Advanced, fire at the vines!¡±


    The answering roar caused Zevortro to grin, they had a chance here! All they had to do was hold it off!


    As the vines trying to get in were shot, Zevortro kept firing at the beast. But even with all the fire they were throwing at the monster, it kept coming. ¡°We can¡¯t hold it off!¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Jessie said with a grin. ¡°We don¡¯t need to! Terra, how fast can you get the shield up for a minute only?¡±


    ¡°Just that long, now! Why?!¡± Terra called out.


    Zevortro looked at Jessie, confused. Why did that matter? Then he blinked as he suddenly understood what Jessie meant, and an evil smirk formed on his face. ¡°It¡¯s going to be close!¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Get ready!¡± Jessie said as he took a step back.


    Zevortro moved with him, and together they led the creature closer to its death. Zevortro looked at the rest of the shield, and mentally counted down. With each step the monster took, their victory was that much closer.


    ¡°Ready!! Ready! Now!¡± Jessie yelled out.


    The beast took another step and then the shield flashed to life. The beast stood there before its head fell to the ground. The beast''s body stayed upright for a moment,  and then it too fell.


    ¡°MOVE THE HEAD!¡± Jessie roared as he ran forward.


    Zevortro blinked, then he understood. ¡°FOLLOW JESSIE!¡±


    As he ran, others followed him. Within moments they all reached Jessie as he grabbed part of the head. He looked up as Zevortro appeared across from him.


    ¡°As one, lift!¡± Jessie roared.


    Zevortro grunted as he moved the head up.


    ¡°Walk! As close to the crater as you can!¡± Jessie roared.


    It was heavy, more heavy than it looked. But in thirty seconds, they had moved the head a good ten feet. Behind them, the shield fell again, and there were cries as laser blasters fired. They moved another five feet before Jessie roared again.


    ¡°Down and fire!¡± Jessie roared.


    Zevortro dropped the head and turned, seeing three vines snacking out of the body of the Vine Beast. Without even stopping, he raised his rifle and fired at one of them.


    Jessie ran forward, his rifle suddenly gaining an energy bayonet. He jumped over a vine and reached the body. With one movement, he sliced down. For a moment, nothing happened, and then the body split apart, black blood gushing forth.


    As one, everyone roared and cheered. Zevortro laughed loud and heartily as he looked at the dead creature and Jessie.


    Jessie was still moving, looking around and then he speared his rifle down. He looked up and scowled at everyone. ¡°The vines! Shot the vines!¡±


    Zevortro looked down and for a second his heart stopped. He watched the closest vine trying to burrow into the earth and he fired. As the vine burned, more shots were fired.


    ¡°Great everyone! Now we can¡¯t rest yet! I¡¯ll activate the lights! I need everyone with a bit of basic engineering skills to help me! And someone hold Greg! I think the Chief will want to talk to him!¡± Terra roared.


    As he heard Greg curse, Zevortro chuckled a little. He looked at Jessie who was looking out at the forest, and for a moment, he wondered why.

 One Hundred Sixty Two Part 2

    As Jessie looked out at the forest, he tried to keep calm. That monster was something that he had never expected from this planet. Even after the other things that attacked them, this thing was unlike anything else. And there was one thought that went through his mind a thought he knew Duncan must have had. In a way, he agreed with him. Hope was all they had, but he should have told some of them.


    ¡°No, fear is a killer. You need hope, even where there¡¯s a chance there¡¯s none,¡± He whispered to himself as he looked at the dark forest.


    For a moment, he just sighed and then he turned away. He saw the deckhand who had been injured being helped to the crater as others guarded the breach. With a small nod to them, as he passed the line, he moved towards Terra. A few feet away from her, Greg was struggling as two deckhands held him.


    As he reached her, he saw Terra working on the internals of the shield console. With a heavy heart, he sighed and squatted down next to her. ¡°So how bad?¡±


    ¡°Not too bad really. Just need to connect all the wires. But there¡¯s a problem here,¡± Terra said with a scowl as she looked at him. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how he could have damaged it this much! I mean, this is a combat model! It should have taken his strike easy!¡±


    ¡°I told you this wasn¡¯t my fault!¡± Greg roared and Jessie scowled at him


    But Greg ignored anyone, and he kept talking. ¡°And I could have killed that thing myself if you had only let me! I am the descendent of greatness! Let me go now!!¡±


    Jessie looked at him and shook his head, looking at Terra. ¡°That thing¡¯s dead. And the vines things should have been destroyed. How long to fix this thing?¡±


    ¡°Just¡­.. about¡­.. done!¡± Terra said as she pulled herself out of the console and closed it up. With a smirk, she pushed a few buttons, and the shield formed again. As the deckhands all looked at it, there were cheers.


    Jessie felt his nerves slowly relax, and then he looked down. Everything that threatened them outside was blocked for now, who knew what was below them? And he knew that they would see that tomorrow.


    ¡°So that thing you used,¡± Terra asked as Jessie looked up at her. She was looking at the weapon Jessie was holding with a small smirk. ¡°That what that can cut into the thing?¡±


    Jessie looked at Greg out of the corner of his eyes and nodded at her after a moment. Keeping that one from knowing what was happening, seemed like a smart thing to keep doing. He had dealt with a lot of the Neo Nobles, and they were always problems. The single fact was that people who talked loudly like Grey never kept secrets. And that might be something they would need.


    ¡°Yeah, simple modification. I could have another three done in a good half hour. But what do we do now? The night¡¯s here,¡± Jessie said as he pointed up at the sky. As stars came out, he looked up. There was always something about the stars that called to him. But tonight, that call wasn¡¯t there. He almost looked up longer but then Terra sighed.


    ¡°Yeah, and we have a lot of work to do. We¡¯ll make a place for you to cut into it tomorrow. For now, I need to talk to Duncan about him,¡± Terra said as she looked at Greg who kept snarling and shouting nonsense.


    Jessie nodded and walked away, looking up at the sky. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but there was just something more that was wrong here. The stairs were always the same, but some views were different. From planets to ships, he had seen them all. But there was something about the skies of this world that was just wrong. He couldn¡¯t explain it, and he didn¡¯t want to. There was just something about this place that was wrong.


    Looking down, he looked around and saw that his walk had taken him to the side of the shield behind the capsule.


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    A voice from behind him caused Jessie to turn and see Ze1 walking towards  Jessie looked at Ze1, and saw a smile on his face.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Nice work back there! And that weapon you used, how¡¯d you find it? That something like that could help us out a lot!¡± Ze1 exclaimed with a wild look in his eyes.


    ¡°Modified this myself. Need it for¡­¡­¡± Jessie began only he looked away.


    Ze1 took a step back, shock on his face. ¡°Wait, you know what¡¯s beneath us!? How?¡±


    Jessie felt his blood run cold. Ze1 was alone here with him, sure others could see them. But if this filth was an enemy, then he just knew that Jessie knew what was beneath them! But then he blinked, how could Ze1 be an enemy? There were no enemies here! Just survivors!


    ¡°How I know isn¡¯t the question! How do you know about it!?¡± Jessie demanded and looked at Ze1 who only blinked.


    ¡°I figured it out and told Duncan. What about you?¡± Ze1 asked with a strange look in his eyes.


    Jessie blinked and then forced his nerves to calm down.


    ¡°Terra told me. Sorry about the way I asked. I¡¯m used to keeping secrets ya know? Think I¡¯ll do another sweep. Just make sure nothing¡¯s out there,¡± Jessie said before he walked away. As he moved towards the hanging man, he looked up at him. The scum was just another piece of trash that he had seen so often in the past. The fact that they had no proof beyond what the man had done to that female medic was the only reason he was breathing. The only thing that he could do was hope that there was a survivor out there. They would testify and then the monster up there would die.


    As Ze1 watched Jessie walk away, he whistled and shook his head. ¡°Wonder why he¡¯s just a deckhand. Someone like him, shouldn¡¯t he be in a different department?¡±


    Without another word, Ze1 just shrugged as he turned and saw his friends. With a grin he walked over, looking around as other deckhands all ran around. He heard a few scraps of conversations, enough to make him worried. There were a lot of questions from what he heard, and most people didn¡¯t know what was below them.


    ¡°¡­¡­ I can¡¯t believe that idiot! We almost died because of that! I can¡¯t even think of a word wrong harsh enough that I can use!¡± Bi3 snarled to Vi2.


    Ze1 looked at Greg as he was pushed down the hill. And he had to admit, that what Bi3 was feeling was fair. The idea that someone could try and take over and cause an attack? That was so out of the Void that he couldn¡¯t even comprehend the stupidity. All he could do was hope that the scum got punished the right way.


    ¡°Yeah. I mean how did that even happen?¡± Vi2 asked.


    Ze1 coughed and they both looked at him. ¡°Hey! I saw it all Vi2. Greg just slammed his hand down on the console. And then the shield fell. I could barely dodge that vine thing.¡±


    ¡°Ze1! Hey man, good to see you¡¯re alive! That way you helped the beast off with Jessie? Amazing man, amazing!¡±


    Ze1 only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Yeah, it was something else. And the way that guy finished off the monster? Amazing! But then with his job, I mean that¡¯s not what you expect.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, his job?¡± Bi3 asked.


    Ze1 only shook his head, cursing himself for speaking up. But he had, and he should carry a thought. ¡°I talked to him. He said he was used to secrets in his job. And that he had been the one to modify that rifle. So that was when I figured it out. He¡¯s a weapon engineer!¡±


    Both of his friends looked at him and then they blinked.


    ¡°Wow. Mind blown,¡± Bi3 said, a bit dazed.


    ¡°Wait. How did you get that from him saying he was used to secrets?¡± Vi2 asked.


    Ze1 only laughed. ¡°After the way he handled the monster and the way he modified the rifle? He had to have trained on the weapons he made. So he could figure out the kinks to make them ready for the front line. It¡¯s so obvious!¡±


    As Bob pushed Greg into the capsule, he kept an eye on the prisoner he was holding.


    ¡°Let me go!¡± Greg growled as he looked back at Bob and the other deckhand.


    Bob only kept his eyes roving around the chamber. ¡°Let¡¯s see what the Chief has to say. Just keep moving, and we won¡¯t have a problem.¡±


    Greg looked to say something but stopped when he saw the look Bob was throwing at him. Greg swallowed as he paled, and that made Bob happy.


    All Bob could think of was that maybe the fool had finally understood how bad this was. If this fool¡¯s actions had caused a single death, then he would have died next.


    As he pushed Greg through the door to Duncan¡¯s office, he saw the Chief finishing up his meal.


    ¡°Well,¡± Duncan muttered as he looked at Bob. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡±


    ¡°Well, sir¡­.¡± Bob began and then Greg broke free.


    ¡°Sir, you must help me! These rebel scum are after me just because of my family! They unfairly blame me for the shield going down!¡±


    Bob growled and took a step forward, only for Duncan to scream.


    ¡°What!! The shield went down!? How?¡± Duncan demanded and Bob looked at him for a moment.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault!¡± Greg said again.


    ¡°Sir!¡± Bob said, saluting. ¡°We found what was causing the drain. It was a strange kind of vine with a mouth. Then Terra ordered us all to get ready to burn it to ashes. Terra wanted to wait until darkness, probably to see if the plant went to ¡®sleep¡¯.¡±


    Greg looked at him, a sneer on his face and he was about to say something when Duncan snorted.


    When everyone looked at him, Duncan nodded. ¡°Smart. Old tactic, find out everything about the enemy if you can. And one alone was the perfect subject.¡±


    Greg went still, his face paling as he realized that Duncan was on their side. Bob felt his mouth raise in a smirk as he saw the writing on the wall. Greg was going to be punished.


    ¡°But from the fact you¡¯re all here, that didn¡¯t happen?¡± Duncan asked with a raised right eyebrow.


    ¡°No sir. This one wanted to open a hole to destroy the vine while we still had light. And when Terra didn¡¯t jump on the idea¡­.. well. I mean to say,¡± Bob said and the other deckhand behind him spoke up.


    ¡°That idiot walked over to the console to do it himself. Then when the others tried to stop him, they argued. Then this one slammed his fist down on the console and the shield went down. In that sector,¡± The other deckhand said with a shrug.


    ¡°What!? How!? Those things are combat-rated!¡± Duncan demanded before he went pale and dropped into his chair. He stared into space before his face went red. He slowly looked at Greg and growled out his words. ¡°Is Terra okay!? I swear if anyone is dead, I¡¯ll wring you next myself Gregor!¡±


    ¡°Gregory sir, and they¡¯re all alive! The vines only got one deckhand and someone saved him!¡± Greg said trying to deflect blame.


    ¡°What!?¡± Duncan demanded.


    ¡°Yes, sir. The vines were no threat. Then this creature that the vines had been growing from appeared. We were able to kill it, but then its body released these vines. We killed all of them, but that¡¯s it, sir,¡± The other deckhand said as he looked at Duncan ramrod straight. ¡°And we don¡¯t know if there aren¡¯t other things out there like it. This might just be the first strike in their attack.¡±

 One Hundred Sixty Three Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 154 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 2


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1850


    Duncan glared at Greg and tried to keep calm. The fact that this foolish Void sucker could even think of arguing that it wasn¡¯t his fault infuriated him. He had seen and dealt with so many people like Greg over his life. Plus every one of them was a pain beyond measure! And now one more of those people had caused a problem for him. And what¡¯s more, their actions had almost killed some of his people! Duncan put his head on the desk, trying to keep calm and not explode as he tried to think.


    Unfortunately, Greg saw that as his time to speak.


    ¡°If that thing had the construction it was supposed to, nothing would have happened!¡± Greg tried to defend himself.


    Duncan looked up, his eyes growing hard as he watched Greg keep talking.


    ¡°I know technology, and that should not have happened! If I had set it up, I would have checked! That was the real problem here sir! Bad workmanship! My little rage problem might have helped move the fall up. But the way that console station would have gone out anyway! It might not have been then, but it would have happened soon!¡± Greg stammered.


    ¡°Enough!¡± Duncan said hard. His eyes were set in a scowl and the look he sent Greg caused the man to swallow visibly. ¡°I have heard a lot of people trying to get out of a just punishment but this takes the cake! And the worst thing is that you¡¯re right!¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Bob asked and Greg looked excited.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited, both of you! I¡¯m not saying that he won¡¯t be punished, and you will Greg!¡± Duncan snapped. He looked between the three people in his office and sighed, leaning back on his chair. ¡°But we have to be honest here! There is no place to hold him, and we can¡¯t kill him!¡±


    ¡°Because I am a valued member of the crew sir?¡± Greg asked with a hint of hope in his voice.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. The sad truth is that we need every gun pointing out that we can. Yours included!¡± Duncan said as he looked at Greg with a hard glare.


    As Greg swallowed, Bob took a step forward.


    ¡°Sir, I understand. But someone was hurt, badly! They are being brought to the crater¡¯s edge for a medic to look over!¡± Bob exclaimed.


    Duncan saw the way Bob¡¯s hands were squeezed and he sighed. ¡°I know and I understand. But with the situation as it is, we can¡¯t shoot our own right now. And in that spirit, I have a perfect idea!¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡± Greg asked with a hopeful tone.


    Bob snarled as him as Duncan chuckled. ¡°You say this shouldn¡¯t have happened and did because of the condition of the tech? Well, in that case, you make sure that this doesn¡¯t happen again! I order you to spend the next few days looking over each piece of the shield grid! I want a full report from you and your watcher over what you find! You¡¯ll keep at it until all the tech is looked over. And unlit that that is done, you may not come back into the capsule.¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± Greg said, a horrified tone to his voice. But he swallowed and tried to make himself small as Duncan glared at him. ¡°That is perfectly reasonable sir, perfectly!¡±


    ¡°Good! You get started tomorrow. For now, go sleep it off!¡± Duncan said as he looked over the people before him. ¡°And you, Bob is it? Stay here. I need a better report on what happened.¡±


    ¡°Sir!¡± Bob said as Greg was led away by the other deckhand.


    Duncan sighed and leaned back, looking at Bob. ¡°You don¡¯t agree with what I did, do you?¡±


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°It¡¯s not my place sir, but I understand why,¡± Bob said after a moment.


    Duncan snorted and shook his head. ¡°Do you?¡±


    ¡°I think so. We can¡¯t spare the men, right?¡± Bob asked and Duncan snorted.


    ¡°We already got two volunteers, we could have lost him and been fine. But I won¡¯t kill our own over a mistake! And he was right,¡± Duncan said and Bob blinked at him.


    ¡°Sir!? How was he right?¡± Bob asked shock in his voice.


    Duncan sighed and shook his head. ¡°Those shield emitters and the console. The specs say they are rated to work through earthquakes and other problems. The makers say that they can handle force behind slammed onto them. One of the cornerstones of that model and their best selling point from what I know. And it broke because of a slammed fist?¡±


    Duncan watched as Bob blinked, and then he paled. It was all Duncan could do to keep from snorting and he only sighed as he shook his head. ¡°Figured it out then?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. If that one piece of tech was broken that easily, then what about the rest of it? What about the whole shield system?¡± Bob asked, looking faint.


    Duncan nodded, releasing a sigh. That thought was his nightmare. What if the shield failed during an attack by a horde of those monsters out there? They would all die, and that was if they were lucky! He had heard a lot about what black boxes said happened to crews that crashed on an unknown world. ¡°So the best thing is to look over the other pieces. And he needs to be punished, and I won¡¯t trust him to go down. So we have a job that will take a while, and he makes sure what he did can¡¯t happen again. Win, win.¡±


    Bob looked at him and shook his head. ¡°Criminal mastermind there sir. Genius-level stuff boss.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila sighed and shook her head. She couldn¡¯t believe what she had just heard from her spy drone. So there had been an attack from outside the shield and by some kind of planet animal hybrid thing? Wonderful, just wonderful. And to make matters worse, her target was still in no place she could take the data! ¡°Not that I would be able to get away now.¡±


    She looked around the small bathroom, her dress exchanged for a crew jumpsuit. She had to admit, that this felt a lot more like herself. She had only dressed to the nines to get close to Bradford, and every time she had failed.


    And now she was putting herself on the line to save everyone else. If she had been on a job for someone, she would have gone away and sent the data about all her attempts. But this was for herself. All she needed to do was shake his hand for half a minute. But with her past told, that window had closed. But then this was a case of life and death.


    With a sigh, she stepped out, looking around. So far there was no one in the small corridor, and that was enough for her. She would be able to go and maybe get outside without anyone talking to her. She had seen some of the passengers eyeing her, and she wondered why. There was nothing about any of them that showed they were anti-military. And that was the only reason they would have to look at her now.


    With a sigh, she walked out of the hallway and as soon as she did, a hand clamped down on her shoulder. She looked at Dalila who grinned at her, a grin that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. Eyes that were as hard as stone. Dalila had changed into a copy of Vivian¡¯s jumpsuit, and she looked more fit than Vivian thought the woman was.


    ¡°Dalila, how are you?¡± Vivian asked, a little shocked.


    Dalila stayed silent and pushed Vivian back into the corridor. Once they were there she slammed her hand on the control panel and it flashed a strange series of numbers.


    She looked at Dalila who only looked back at her.


    ¡°I thought that we should clear the air between us. You¡¯re not a socialite, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dalila said bluntly.


    Vivian only reacted, shooting her right hand in a fist at Dalila. Dalila dodged and pushed Vivian¡¯s fist aside with her right forearm.


    Vivian jumped backwards and took a fighting stance. She couldn¡¯t believe this, Dalila was actually holding her off. Her fast punch should have knocked this woman out! If she was confronting her, the others must know as well. She needed to escape and find a place to change her looks with her emergency cosmetic nanites. But first, she had to go through this woman!


    Dalila only grinned and chuckled. ¡°So you want to have fun before our talk, fine!¡±


    Dalila shot forward and spun around to deliver a spin kick using her left leg. Vivian grabbed it and tried to twist it, but Dalila jumped and swung her right leg at Vivian¡¯s head. Vivian ducked and grabbed Dalila¡¯s left leg with her left arm. Not she was holding both of Dalila¡¯s legs, and Dalila was in the air. She landed on her hands and pushed, forcing Vivian back.


    Vivian dropped Dalila¡¯s legs and moved backwards, hitting the wall. She only had one change, and that was this. She jumped into the air and used both legs to push off the door. She shot forward and spun, dodging the grasping hands of Dalila.


    Moving over her, Vivian landed on her hands and backwards, throwing her body forward. Once she spun in the air and landed, she slammed her right fist onto the keyboard for the door. As her nanites went over the programing, she grinned at Dalila who only stayed staring at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, most people¡­.. wait, what? You¡¯re a hunter like me!?¡± Vivian asked in shock.


    Hunters were told not to fight each other if they could. And that battle just now was the reason why. They had to be united, that was the only way that they all would survive. When two Hunters met, they had the right to offer a Price to the other. A Price to end the job, neither of them fighting at all. The job would go onto their Guild Records as a ¡®Special Cancel¡¯. This was accepted by all Guild-Masters when it happened and was one of the core rules.


    So Dalila was a Hunter on a job. That meant that she had to be here to protect Bradford! Well, if the Price was refused the Two Hunters would fight to the death. And that was something that Vivian would have to do and deal with. But what Vivian was about to say would destroy all her guesses about why Dalila was here.


    ¡°Yeah. Sorry about what you thought this was. I mean, when I realized who you were I knew we needed to talk!¡± Dalila said with a bit of cheer in her voice. She even laughed a little as she stretched. ¡°And I got to say, that was amazing! I can see why you¡¯re on this Guard trip!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?!¡± Vivian said, blinking as she felt the floor drop away. The way that Dalila said that, the person she would have been protecting was here.


    ¡°Well, yeah! I have to give you props girl! How you¡¯ve been protecting Bradford, great job! But with the way things are happening, I figured I tell you I¡¯m not going after him anymore. I¡¯ll find my target another way,¡± Dalila said with a shrug.


    Vivian looked at her and then she almost threw up. She swallowed and looked at Dalila with a scowl. ¡°Protecting him!? I was trying to data-mine him! Every time that I tried to get some data from his nanites, you were there! I gave up for now because of you always being there!¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Dalila said with a strange look on her face. She then started to chuckle and shake her head. ¡°I was trying to data mine him too! He had some data on a target of mine! So we both kept the other from doing their mission!?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it!¡± Vivian said, her mouth slowly smiling against her will. For a second the two of them just stared there, and then they both started laughing. They both held their stomachs as they laughed harder, and they both fell to the floor. They kept laughing, both of them almost passing out. When they slowed down, they looked at each other and started laughing again.

 One Hundred Sixty Three Part 2

    As she looked at her fellow Hunter, Dalila tried to keep calm. After that mix-up, she couldn¡¯t believe that she was still breathing. ¡°So, just to be sure. We both want something from Bradford?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Vivian said as she finally got done laughing. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m gonna get so many drinks for this story at the Guild Halls! We both are!¡± Vivian finally croaked out.


    Dalila looked at her fellow Hunter and chuckled, getting up and shaking her head. ¡°Yeah, but we need to talk. What data do you want?¡±


    Vivian looked up at Dalila as she was helped up with a blank face. ¡°That¡¯s my target. What about yours?¡±


    ¡°I want some data about a party a month after the last Founding Day. Tracking down an unknown target. And I need him to confirm an alibi. If I can confirm that Bradford didn¡¯t see that person there, then I¡¯ve got them!¡± Dalila said with a grin. She was proud of her work, she had been on this hunt for the last three months. But the payoff at the end was going to be so beyond normal. With all that money, she could buy an undeveloped moon. And still, had enough left over to develop it however she wanted! And if she wanted to, she could cut Vivian in a piece of the cut, maybe enough for her own FTL ship. ¡°How about a deal, I¡¯ll give you a cut of my bounty, and a copy of all the data but his sight memories. That fair?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡­ yeah. I¡¯m not after any of that anyway,¡± Vivian said as she held out her hand.


    Dalila only grinned and laughed. ¡°Two united, and nothing can stop us!¡±


    As Vivian grinned back, Dalila wondered just what her new partner was after. The kind of data that was in a person¡¯s nanites. Records of where they had been, data from other nanites, and all kinds of other things. There was no telling and no way to know what she wanted. But she wasn¡¯t after Bradford¡¯s memories, and that was enough.


    With a nod, Dalila put a hand on the keypad and undead her lock, destroying all traces that she had been there. As the door opened, they heard the sounds of people demanding answers near the front.


    With a concerned look shared between them, the two nodded and ran off. As soon as they reached the main chamber, they looked around and saw a mob of passengers around Bradford. Bradford looked like he was trying to calm them down, but having no luck.


    With a look that spoke volumes, Dalila grinned at Vivian and gestured at Bradford with her hand before making a claw. Vivian looked back and then grinned, and then they both moved through the crowd towards their target. Without saying a thing, they agreed that Dalila would make the steal once they were closer.


    But before they could make it there, a screech was heard. Everyone turned to see Duncan hobble out of his office.


    He looked around and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°So what is the problem this time?¡±


    ¡°Master Duncan! Good, I¡¯m sorry sir, but I couldn¡¯t keep them calm!¡± Bradford said, sorrow in his voice.


    Duncan only sighed before he looked over them. Dalila tried to keep from flinching. Hunters might have a lot of power and legal status but in this situation? Duncan held all the power and she knew he would use it.


    ¡°Well, then will one of you tell me the problem?¡± Duncan asked with a soft voice.


    One of the passengers stepped forward. He was a tall man with bluish-tinted skin and short purple hair. He was wearing a tuxedo that was starting to show signs of wear and tear.  Dalila couldn¡¯t see his head, as she was right behind him. But the hair let her know who this was, and she hoped that she was wrong. If he had been on this Capsule without her knowing, then she knew this was going to be stupid.


    ¡°Sir, I am Leonator Vos Flortrlis! We were just told that your minions killed an unquiet evolutionary wonder up there!¡± Leonator said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Dalila only winced and shook her head. So it was him, and here she was hoping he had died on the ship. Leonator was a self-proclaimed master of Biology. He was an opinionated scientist who hated the military. One the Spirit, he had been the speaker at a few parties she had used to try and get close to Bradford. What she had found out about Leonator was he was always convinced that he was right. This was going to be so stupid.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Yes, they did. The creature in question tried to kill them first after all,¡± Duncan said softly.


    Dalila could hear the spark of anger in his voice, and that was something that gave her hope. Hope that finally, finally Leonator would get put in his place.


    ¡°That was pure murder! This place might have been part of its territory! It must have seen them and they had to have scared it!¡± Leonator said, rage in his voice. ¡°That beautiful creation was a hybrid of plant and animal! If we could have captured it, who knows what we  could have learned!¡±


    Duncan sighed before a voice came from behind him.


    ¡°Sir, that thing struck first!¡± The speaker was a tall human man in a crew¡¯s jumpsuit. He had tanned skin and white hair. The man was looking at Leonator with anger in his voice. ¡°It had already been attacking the shield! If it had kept it up, it would have caused the shield to fall! Then everything out there could have come in and killed us all!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that! It had to be scared! Anything that was part plant had to able to draw nutrients like plants!¡± Leonator countered and the crew member only stared at him.


    ¡°The plant part was just vines growing out of its back!¡± The crew member said with anger in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bob glared at Leonator. He had dealt with so many others like this one. Scum who only thought that they were the ones who knew the proper way forward. They always talked down to the people who did things they hated. And once again, he was standing across from one of those thugs.


    ¡°And it had to have hunted us to eat us!¡± Bob snarled and the purple-haired passenger snorted. He glared at Bob with red eyes, his lips set in a snarl.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know that!¡± Leonator snarled back as he clenched his fists. ¡°Just another life destroyed by those who let power go to their heads! How can people like you even live with yourselves? Do you just pat yourselves on the back for killing such a wonder!?¡±


    Bob looked at Leonator, and he barely kept from striking the fool. He felt hotter than normal, and he wondered if that was because of his rage. H had never let loose ever, but tonight might be the perfect place to find out what it was like


    ¡°Enough!¡± Duncan barked and stepped between the two of them.


    He looked around the room and took a deep breath. Finally, he glared at Leonator. ¡°What happened was the people up there defended themselves. No more, no less!¡±


    ¡°But that creature was probably just scared!¡± Leonator said, his arms wide.


    Bob only looked at Leonator and shook his head. This fool was still talking like they could have captured it!


    ¡°Fine, it was scared. Scared it would starve! But we have to live. And that¡¯s the priority,¡± Bob said with a scowl as he looked at Leonator.


    Before Leonator could say anything, Duncan snapped.


    ¡°Enough! We need to survive, this matter is closed!¡± Duncan snarled and looked at Leonator with a glare. ¡°You shut up now. So help me, if you cause me any problems I will treat you as one. So keep thinking about what I said. And you, Bob? Get out there and make sure everything is okay¡­¡­. Fine. Take a sample jar with you. Get a piece of the corpse for Mister Leonator.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t use those things. I wouldn¡¯t know how,¡± Bob admitted.


    ¡°I can sir!¡± A voice caused Bob to blink and see two women in crew jumpsuits pushing their way out of the crowd.


    ¡°Ms. Dalila, Ms. Vivian. One of you can use that?¡± Duncan asked with a hint of surprise in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah. I helped a medic once during the war. Something about a possible bio-weapon from the enemy. Just an allergy that slipped by. Funny story,¡± Dalila said bluntly.


    ¡°Fine, then they will help Bob get you a sample. You can gene-sequence it once you get a lab or something,¡±  Duncan said as he looked at Leonator with a glare on his face.


    Leonator looked like going to say something when Bradford stepped in.


    ¡°That will be perfectly fine. Won¡¯t it!¡± Bradford said with a scowl as he looked at Leonator.


    For a few seconds, Leonator said nothing. Then he nodded.


    Ten minutes later, Bob helped Vivian up the slope as she and Dalila climbed up. As they all looked around, Vivian whistled.


    ¡°This is amazing. I mean the lights alone are perfectly placed. And this is all solar-powered? Nice!¡± Vivian said with a smile. Then she found the vine-beast¡¯s head and she stared. ¡°And that was what you killed? How?¡±


    ¡°Got it to the shield¡¯s line, then used the shield to cut off the head. It was quick at least,¡± Bob said bluntly.


    Not that he cared about the monster. It was trying to kill them all, and it was trying to break in. That alone told him all that he needed to know. And if it was sentient, that that thing deserved to die in pain.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good. And the head is the perfect source material. I just need a few moments to grab a cell sample for him. And that head is perfect for what that fool wants,¡± Dalila said as she looked at the remains.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± Bob said as he noticed Terra and Jessie ten feet away. With a nod to the girls, he let them go. Waving at Terra, she nodded and gestured for Jessie to follow her.


    As they walked toward each other, Bob watched the two volunteers walk toward the remains.


    ¡°Bob! Everything okay down there?¡± Terra asked with a raised eyebrow as Bob just sighed. ¡°That bad?¡±


    ¡°The civilians found out about what we killed. And he said it was just scared. So to placate him, they went up here. To get a sample,¡± Bob said bluntly.


    ¡°Who? Those two? Who are they?¡± Terra asked as she looked at Dalila and Vivian.


    Bob just shrugged. ¡°Two old vets from the War. One was in codes. They volunteered to help get into the ship. The old airlock plan.¡±


    Jessie looked at them and whistled. ¡°They could still be useful. If I can open the hull, they could splice into that thing¡¯s system. It might let us know what it is.¡±


    Bob looked down and saw a purple plate. Looking up at Jessie, he only stared at him. ¡°You can get into that? But it¡¯s hull plates!¡±


    Jessie only laughed a little and removed his rifle, activating an energy bayonet. Even from a few feet away, Bob could feel the heat from it.


    He whistled and shook his head. ¡°Okay, I stand corrected. It can cut into that. But where¡¯d you get that rifle? No, why was it in the supplies the company set up?¡±


    Jessie only looked at Bob and then he laughed for a half minute. ¡°Modified it myself! Pretty easy once you know how to do it!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Bob asked.


    Terra only laughed and shook her head. ¡°My old friend is full of surprises. But he¡¯s a bit private about a few things. So don¡¯t ask how he knows what he does.¡±


    ¡°How long to cut in?¡± Bob asked as he looked down.


    Jessie grinned, all teeth as he said a single word. ¡°Five minutes at most!¡±

 One Hundred Sixty Four Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 0555


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jessie felt his internal alarm clock nanites wake him, he kept from yawning by the skin of his teeth. That was something else he¡¯d have to learn again, and that was one thing that he would hate. But better to become all back to how he was than only halfway. He had survived, won his freedom, and escaped from that horror because of his skills.


    As he looked up at the dawn sky, he sighed. Shaking his head silently he looked around and then patted himself down. Most of the deckhands had slept outside, a way to be on hand if something happened. Even the two female volunteers had joined them, but then they said they were veterans. He looked at them and there was just something about them that made him think they were more than that. He couldn¡¯t say why that was, but there it was.


    As he looked around the people sleeping, he smirked a little. Who would have thought that he, who stayed away from everyone would find safety with others?


    He grabbed his rifle and got to his feet, looking around as he did. They had all slept behind the second defense line, right by the crater. There was enough distance that most people would be able to react if the shield was attacked. And the few people still up were on the end of their guard shifts. With a smile, he walked towards Zevortro as he sat at one of the shield stations.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Zevortro said as he turned to look at him, throwing Jessie a bottle.


    Jessie caught it and nodded as he opened it. Taking a sip, he sighed as he felt the cold water. ¡°Thanks. How was the last hour?¡±


    Zevortro only shrugged and looked a little concerned. ¡°Not too bad really. I thought there was something around this edge of the shield twenty minutes ago. Didn¡¯t see anything, must have been a bug. But I don¡¯t like it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, me either,¡± Jessie muttered. The last time a ¡®little bug¡¯ was the shield drain. And that ended up being the Vine Beast! He looked at Zevortro and nodded after a while. ¡°So if we can make it down there, who¡¯s going besides me?¡±


    ¡°Terra and I talked about that. We need everyone at their best, so those who were on guard are out. I think she said something about the volunteers and Bryke, a four-person team at most. Fast and hard,¡± Zevortro said with a grin.


    Jessie nodded and was about to say something when he realized something. Something so obvious that he was shocked that he had missed it.


    ¡°Smart. Very smart. Once everyone is awake, I¡¯ll start cutting. Depending on what we find, we might have a problem. Beyond the first one,¡± Jessie said bitterly.


    ¡°What first¡­.. oh. We never really planned how to bring the plates up, did we?¡± Zevortro said with shock as he looked at Jessie who shrugged.


    ¡°Yeah, we didn¡¯t. I¡¯ve got a few ideas. Might be a bit harder than I thought but it¡¯s possible. Need to maybe cut a smaller hole first,¡± Jessie said as he let his mind wander. There was one, maybe two things that he could make that might work. ¡°Yeah, I just need to check our supplies. But I think I got this.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro only looked at Jessie as the man walked off, shaking his head in awe. If it was anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t have thought it possible. With how heavy hull plates were, there was no way they could raise a wide enough piece for a person to get through. But Jessie only had to realize the problem and he already had a way around it. Truly, the way that the minds of weapon researchers worked was something else! They had all missed it, but there he went, off to find a way to fix this.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    He chuckled and looked around, seeing the others slowly wake up. As he saw Terra stir awake he sighed and waited. As she looked around, he started gesturing to her and smirked as she saw him. As she moved towards him, he prepared himself for the talk to come.


    ¡°Hey, boss. How was your sleep?¡± Zevortro asked softly as she reached him. She looked at little frizzled but she shook her head and nodded at him.


    ¡°Better. I forgot all about this for a few hours. Just what I needed. But where¡¯s Jessie?¡± Terra asked bluntly.


    For a second Zevortro was taken aback, but then he realized why she was worried. If they were old friends, then she had to know his job. And he didn¡¯t want to think what might have happened to them in the past because of it.


    Zevortro only shook his head and sighed. ¡°He figured out a problem with the plan, how to remove the plates.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to, we¡¯re going to¡­.. oh. We skipped that part,¡± Terra said as she blushed and looked away.


    Zevortro could only shrug as he looked at her. With her new position as the current second in command, this was her plan. She must be thinking that she embarrassed herself a bit without figuring out what to do.


    ¡°Yeah. But your friend seemed to have figured it out. I mean with someone like him,¡± Zevortro said with a small smirk.


    Terra took a step back and looked at him, her eyes wide. ¡°What do you mean!? What do you know!!¡±


    ¡°Calm down. I figured it out yesterday. I mean it¡¯s obvious once you think about it. I mean who else would be able to figure out how to modify a rifle like that? And figure out how to use it to cut through hell plates?¡± Zevortro asked as other people started to wake up.


    Terra looked at him, her eyes wider and her mouth dropped open. ¡°You just figured it out? That easily?¡±


    ¡°Well yeah,¡± Zevortro said and he shrugged, smirking a bit. He put his hands behind his head and chuckled a bit. It was pretty easy once he figured everything out. ¡°He just told me the one thing I needed to know. Everything fell into place.¡±


    Terra looked at him and then scowled. ¡°Keep it to yourself. If you told anyone, tell them to do the same. I don¡¯t want anyone else to know, and he won¡¯t either!¡±


    ¡°Why¡­.. oh. Got it!¡± Zevortro said as he looked towards the ¡®prisoner¡¯ they had. If that monster got free, they would need Jessie. People like him was how they were able to hold the line against the Ancients for so long. They needed him to figure out a way to neutralize that power that Roch had! And if others knew about his past, then if they were controlled Roch might figure it out. ¡°I¡¯ll tell the others I told. Sorry ma¡¯am.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°You do that! No one is to know what he is! Got it!¡± Terra said with a snarl on her face. As Zevortro nodded, she huffed and walked away. She was harsh on him, but she needed to. Some people didn¡¯t trust Bounty Hunters, thinking they were just guns for hire. Some of them were like that, but they were a minority. Her year with Jessie had taught her that they were all people who had joined to survive. Some were soldiers who couldn¡¯t adjust to civilian life.


    But the criminals always made it worse for everyone else. And that was more true with Bounty Hunters than she or Jessie wanted.


    As she walked towards the crater, she saw other people waking up. With a sigh, she figured she should get the morning going for everyone. She grabbed two deckhands that she knew had worked as cooks and pulled them towards the crater.


    ¡°Boss Terra? What is it?¡± One of them asked as she looked at them.


    ¡°Food. We all need to eat, and you two are elected to make it for everyone. And the passengers too!¡± Terra declared and the two nodded at each other. They both sped up and they were pulling her along with them.


    ¡°Thank you, boss!¡± The one on the right said, a grin on his face.


    ¡°This is just what we needed after the chaos over the last few days!¡± The other one said as they all moved down the crater.


    They found Jessie standing there, working on a spare shield emitter. He nodded before he looked up and saw the others coming down. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you all. Hey.¡±


    Terra looked at him and then at the others. ¡°You two get to work. Make sure that if you need help, get it. If it''s passengers or other crew, get it.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, boss!¡± One of them said as they walked into the capsule.


    Jessie only whistled and shook his head. ¡°So what¡¯s that for? The food? Want to do something other than the rations?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Terra said softly as she looked over what he was doing. He had to know about Zevortro, he had to. But there was a real chance that Jessie might overreact. But then Jessie had told her that he had secrets. If Zevortro had figured out who Jessie was, did that mean he knew Jessie from before Terra met him?  Best to wait and tell him after they were able to get through the plates. ¡°So this? It¡¯s for getting to the inside of what we¡¯re on?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m modifying the emiters, making it more narrow. Once we set this up, it¡¯ll make a field of null gravity all around it. Once that happens, we can move the piece I¡¯ll cut easily! Shield and Gravity generators are the same thing really. Kind of interesting,¡± Jessie said with a chuckle as he turned away.


    Terra only sighed and shook her head. The way that her friend was a master of technology was shocking. The way he had jury-rigged solutions to problems, and how he never gave up. That was so amazing, when she would roll over, he stood tall. And he could do things that she couldn¡¯t explain before they all crashed here.


    ¡°So what else is there I need to know?¡± Jessie asked as he looked at the generator.


    ¡°What? What do you mean?¡± Terra asked, shocked that he had seen through her.


    Jessie chuckled as he pulled his arms out and moved to put everything back in order. ¡°I spent so many years figuring out people so I could live. Some skills, they just never leave you. So what is it?¡±


    ¡°Wow, you are good. So there¡¯s a thing that you need to know. Kind of important. Jessie knows what you are!¡± Terra said.


    Jessie went still, and then he slowly turned to look at her. His eyes had a hard edge and he slowly stood up and seemed to be giving off a primal energy. ¡°What?! How!¡±


    Terra looked at him and swallowed softly. ¡°You know, you¡¯re kind of scary man. And you told him! Well, he figured it out from your talk yesterday!¡±


    Jessie blinked and then he slowly sank against the wall. ¡°That!? But all I told him was that I modified my rifle! How¡¯d he figure out what I am!?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we need to be careful! He says that he won¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯re a Bounty Hunter but you need to be careful! The right word at the wrong time could spark a riot!¡± Terra said as she looked at the dirt wall.


    With a sigh, she tried to figure out what to do. There was something buried here, and that reason was bothering her. It said that ships had been crashing here for a long time. And she couldn¡¯t place the make of whatever the plates made. And she had a very weird feeling that when they found all the answers, they wouldn¡¯t like them.


    ¡°Well, you just need to keep an eye on him,¡± Jessie said with a soft tone to his voice.


    Terra nodded, looking at the dirt wall. All they had to do, was stay alive until Jinn¡¯s group came back.

 One Hundred Sixty Four Part 2

    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Bryke looked around, he tried to keep from yawning as he watched Jessie, Terra, and Zevortro work. When he woke up, Terra had ordered everyone away as she and Jessie removed some dirt. They had revealed more of that purple material, a good foot wide. After that, they started to set up two long metal legs they attached to an upside-down shield generator. There had been a lot of talk amongst the crew members, but Terra had said to wait and eat. As after that two people brought up trays of food.


    He didn¡¯t understand anything, but Terra wanted it so he said nothing as he went to eat. He looked at Zevortro, frowning a bit. When Zevortro told him and Vivis about how Terra had yelled at him about figuring out what Jessie was. Well, he didn¡¯t quite understand that. But then when Zevortro told them his theory, Bryke had almost passed out. The idea that the Cult Brainwasher might get free was scary, and that Jessie might find a way to shut him down? That explained everything. And he hoped that he hadn¡¯t said anything while he was asleep. Jessie was a resource that the whole capsule needed to survive.


    In things like the crash, there was one truth he knew. You lived through things like this if you were smart, skilled, and lucky. That was the only way to survive and this place was textbook that. Already the shield had been rammed by those Flying Worms, a good forty of them had died in minutes! Given that they had all been from one direction, that meant that they weren¡¯t thinkers. There was still a chance those things were used as organic drones, but he hoped they weren¡¯t.


    ¡°So what do you think is down there?¡± Vivis¡¯s voice asked from his left.


    He chuckled and shook his head, throwing his fears away for now. ¡°I¡¯m betting part of a space station, you?¡±


    ¡°Old abandoned spaceship of an unknown race. I mean the chance is there, right?¡± Vivis said with a bit of hope in her voice.


    Bryke looked at her, and then he thought about that idea. If that was what it was, then they might be able to use it. It would be safer for the passengers, or they use it as a prison cell. Then he blinked and looked around the clearing. None of them had even thought that was possible, and the more he thought about it, the more that made sense to him. If that was true, then Terra needed to know now. ¡°Nova!¡±


    ¡°Bryke? You okay?¡± Vivis asked, concern in her voice.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine. Just thought of the worst possible result. Gotta talk to the boss lady,¡± Bryke said as he walked towards them.


    As he reached them, he heard Zevortro¡¯s amazed voice. ¡°¡­.. so you were just able to make a null gravity generator that easy?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Once you¡¯ve had to do repairs on both systems, they''re pretty easy to change. All it takes is a bit of experience. And then once you know how to do it, you never forget,¡± Jessie said with a laugh. He moved back and started to close up the open panel. ¡°And that was all that it takes.¡±


    ¡°Great! So now you need to cut open this thing?¡± Terra said with a smirk.


    ¡°Yeah! We¡¯ll be in that thing in a few moments once I start,¡± Jessie said as he put one of the last plates away.


    Bryke looked at them and then he coughed. They all looked at him and he sighed. ¡°Hey, I had a bad thought a moment ago. What if the thing, whatever it is, is on its side?¡±


    Terra looked at Bryke for a moment, then slowly she looked around at the others. Jessie looked down, and then Zevortro blinked and then he chuckled.


    ¡°Well, that was something. And here I thought that we figured out everything about this,¡± Zevortro said with a soft look.


    Bryke looked between them all, and he sighed. ¡°None of us even thought about that possibility. And now what will we do if we open to a void?¡±


    Jessie looked at the generator and then started to remove the plates. ¡°I can fix this. All I need to do is modify the range. Maybe I can do this, or maybe? Yeah, I need to think. Terra, you can cut away with my rifle. This will be a while.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Like that time the ship lost power or the time in the asteroid field?¡± Terra asked with a slight edge to her voice.


    Bryke blinked at the question and then looked at Zevortro who only raised an eyebrow. It seemed that Terra and Jessie had a history. Maybe Terra was a former Transporter, it would be everything! He had to have repaired their ship, and that was how he learned to modify shield generators!


    ¡°Like the first. This might take me about thirty minutes or so. So I should¡­¡± Jessie began only for Terra to grab his back and pull him after her.


    ¡°Start after you eat. We need you ready to head down there if we can get this opened!¡± Terra said sternly.


    As Jessie started to bicker with her, Bryke only chuckled and looked at Zevortro. He had to admit, that the way Jessie and Terra interacted was something to watch.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she looked around, Dalila tried to figure out how to do this. Last night, she and Vivian had been briefed by Terra about the worst case. How they might be sitting on an engine. She didn¡¯t see how that might be possible. But then that was only if the ship was right side up. But then she would need to first find what the locale system was. How to try and hack into the structure or whatever beneath them, but at the same time try not to be too good. If they figured out what kind of nanites she had, then her plan was done. There would be nothing she would be able to do to get what she needed from Bradford. But there was a greater chance that if she didn¡¯t use her A-Game, then she might fail.


    ¡°Having second thoughts about this?¡± Vivian asked softly as she leaned closer to Dalila.


    Both of them were sitting away from the others as they ate. They both gazed at the shield generator that Jessie was working on. No matter what she did, the way he was working bothered Dalila, it seemed familiar.


    ¡°No, just how much to show. I mean if I do this wrong, then things could go bad. For everyone here,¡± Dalila said as she sipped from her bottle.


    Vivian blinked and looked at her for a moment before she sighed and nodded. ¡°Yeah, there is that. But then this whole situation is something that they never covered in our training. Sure didn¡¯t expect this when I went on my hunt.¡±


    ¡°You gonna tell me what it was? Or are you going to stay silent?¡± Dalila asked with a smirk.


    Vivian only giggled and looked away. Most people would think it was because of being embarrassed, but Dalila knew that tactic too. Look away, feel emotions, and then look back. A good way to keep from letting the enemy know they¡¯ve hit a pressure point. And that was shocking for Dalila. What kind of hunt was Vivian after here? Just what data did she want from Bradford?


    ¡°Not yet, if I have to I will. But for now, I¡¯ll keep my cards close to my chest. So don¡¯t ask, alright?¡± Vivian asked and with a soft voice.


    If Dalila was anyone else, the act would have worked. But female Hunters were trained to use everything that they had to win. From Honeytapping to acting, female Hunters used all they had. And that was ¡®Acting 103¡¯ from the Guildhall.


    Most Hunters knew enough that they could trust the others, but there was something about Vivian. The nature of her hunt had to be private, and that might be a problem. If she felt strongly about keeping it quiet, then she had no reason to fight. As long as she could live and in the end, Dalila could get her data, that was enough for her. All she needed to do now, was keep walking forward. No matter what happened, she just had to keep moving.


    With a sigh, Dalila ate the last of her food. With a sigh, she saw one of the trays had been set up as a small dumpster. ¡°I¡¯ll go and drop mine and look over the tablet they gave me. I have most of my Apps on me thankfully.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Vivian said with a sigh.


    As she walked away, she looked around at the others. They were all finishing up their meals, and they most were looking inwards at something. Looking up, she saw that Terra had a rifle in her hands. As Dalila watched, Terra¡¯s riffle suddenly ¡®grew¡¯ an energy bayonet. As she gazed in awe, Terra started to cut into the plates.


    As the sound of metal being cut was heard, Dalila swallowed. If Terra was doing that, then the time for her to act was coming. And that meant that she had work to do.


    Dropping off her trash, Dalila went to work. The tablet wasn¡¯t too bad. Not bad for a civilian mode, and the few Apps she had would let her get into anything! She almost couldn¡¯t wait for a chance to try her skills against whatever was down there. It was going to be fun!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As it felt its systems slowly come back online, the intelligence came back to ''awareness''. It took stock of its sensors, trying to find the source of the alert. The external ones were still buried after the last time it checked. The damage to its hull was still there in all sectors, and it could register movement in some of the sections.


    All the defensive lines were holding, and what forces it had were still there. The repair functions and the few resource collectors it had set up seemed to still be working. Looking at its atomic clock, it felt a strange emotion as it took in how much time had passed. Then to try and find something else to think about, it selected the resource collectors. The gatherers were just to let it collect the few remains of the resource beasts. They were executed to only leave go a few months, but they had lost years! Looking at the gather¡¯s programming, it saw some of the had evolved. Those that did ordered the others around, and they modified them and others.


    Looking over the modifications, it was lost. It looked at the reports each one had. What the little things had done was amazing! But then it noticed the real reason that it had woken up. There was damage being done to its hull, along what was now its top. The damage was slow, and it was unlike any weapon that had ever been fired at it. The area where it was happening was also small, it had no idea what it was.


    After a few micro-seconds of thought, it suddenly understood. Then it went to defensive operations. The few drones it had to send were already moving. It expected that the boarders would make it in before they got there. But its forces were stronger than it had ever thought. It was ready for whatever forces this terrible location sent after it. Its crew had died, but it would follow the last command of its captain and protect.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she moved the rifle into the last part of the square, Terra smiled. She hadn¡¯t thought that it would be this easy, but she was done. Now she just needed to wait for Jessie to be done with the last modifications, and then they could get ready. They might have some trouble getting into this thing, but they were ready. She couldn¡¯t see anything that might stop them now. All in all, she could say they were ready to find out what this was.

 One Hundred Sixty Five Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  0640


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie looked at the last few modifications. The first idea had been to create a small, general field to let them pull up the plate. More of a small sphere than a square, something that was small. But the few modifications he had just finished turned it into a pyramid field. It would be as tall or deep as the shield. This way, they would be able to move¡­¡­no.


    He blinked and looked at the shield emitter in shock. They had been so sure that they had the right idea, that they had forgotten to think what would happen. If this made a null gravity field, then how would they move? They would be in a void, with no way to gain momentum. That meant that they needed something else to


    but they would need ropes and mag hooks to move around. He could probably make some armor with two lines on launchers. Maybe add some ultrasonic sonar.


    But then that wasn¡¯t possible right now. The mag lines were the easy solution, and that was what they needed now. With a sigh, he shook his head and looked at the shield above him. As he looked up at the sun, he tried to keep calm.


    ¡°You done man?¡± Zevortro asked from behind him.


    Jessie looked up and sighed, shaking his head as he looked at the crater. ¡°Here, yes. I just have something else to do. Tell Terra I¡¯m heading to the supplies.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Wait, what!?¡± Zevortro asked as Jessie walked off.


    ¡°Just put the generator above the cut piece with the legs we put on it. Remember to turn it on by setting one first when you set it up. That¡¯ll do it,¡± Jessie said, waving as he walked towards the crater. He ignored anything that Zevortro said as he climbed down, not letting his mind wander. He thought he had seen everything he needed inside, but he might have been wrong. If he was, then the exploration of the thing below them was going to be¡­¡­. Interesting.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro looked at Jessie as he walked away, at a loss for words. He didn¡¯t understand why Jessie had left, but he was sure it wasn¡¯t good. He thought about everything that he knew, and after a moment he figured out that he was missing something. There was something that he wasn¡¯t seeing, something that they needed. But Jessie had seen it, he had worked it out. That must be where he was going, to make something that would help them!


    He almost laughed and then clamped down on his emotions. He had promised that he wouldn¡¯t let anyone know what Jessie was, and he would keep it.


    So with that thought, he walked over towards the hole they had made. He looked around at the other crew members and nodded. This would work, and he could see that they were all ready.


    Terra looked up and scowled as she saw him. ¡°Where¡¯s Jessie?¡±


    ¡°In the capsule. Said that he needed to do something. Said the generator was ready for use through,¡± Zel said as he shrugged.


    ¡°He what?¡± Terra asked a shocked tone in her voice. After a moment, Terra just shook her head. ¡°Later. That¡¯s a problem for later. Whatever it is, he¡¯s doing what he has to. So let¡¯s do what we have to do. The cut is ready, the machine is ready. So where¡¯s Dalila?¡±


    Zevortro blinked, and then he remembered why they needed her. ¡°Oh, her? Yeah, I think¡­.¡±


    ¡°Here!¡± Dalila called out as she and Vivian appeared on both sides of Zevortro.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Zevortro stared at them, shocked a little. He always had prided himself on his sense of hearing, but he hadn¡¯t heard them move. There was something there, he knew it. But what?¡±


    ¡°Good! Get ready to cut in! Bryke, Zevortro! With me! Everyone get ready to turn it on!¡± Terra called out as she climbed out of the hole. As he fell in behind her, Zevortro watched the two volunteers out of the corner of his eyes. The more he looked at them, the more that something seemed different. Not wrong but not what he expected from civilians.


    He looked up and then he winced. ¡°Wait, he said something when he left. Turn on setting one first.¡±


    Terra looked at him and nodded. As she quickly found the control panel, she turned it on. As soon as she did, Zevortro felt the feeling of weightlessness start. Without a word, he grinned and moved with the others to help Terra. But he put too much force into it, and ¡®jumped¡¯ five feet past her. As he landed, he looked around and saw some of the other crew members moving away from the generator. ¡°Oh, Sun. This is going to be bad.¡±


    ¡°This. Is. Amazing!¡± Dalila¡¯s voice said, laughter in her voice.


    Looking up, Zevortro saw her and Vivian were both five feet up, and they were still going. He winced as he hoped that was the highest they would go. But they only moved another two feet until they stopped. As they floated there, they started to try and move downward. All he could think of was that they needed to find a way to fix this. It was such an obvious problem in hindsight that he couldn¡¯t¡­¡­


    Zevortro mentally stopped. He blinked and then grinned as everything suddenly made sense. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s why he left.¡±


    ¡°What in the!?¡± Terra exclaimed, looking at


    ¡°Wait, we¡¯re stuck here!?¡± Vivis asked in horror.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Zevortro called out as he grabbed the generator. ¡° I think that Jessie went to get something to fix this! So just stay there and wait!¡±


    ¡°And we can trust this Jessie!?¡± Dalila demanded from above.


    Zevortro was about to say something when they all heard laughter coming from Terra. Looking up, Zevortro saw Terra clutching the generator, hiding her face against it.


    She looked up, her face full of mirth. ¡°Trust him? You can trust him to always come at the lost possible time to help! The one man that will always let people think they¡¯re in danger to beat their enemy!¡±


    The more that she talked, the more that Zevortro started to feel that something was wrong. What had the two of them been through?


    ¡°But the one thing, the one thing I know!¡± Terra declared with a smirk. ¡°Is that he will never leave a person hanging too long!¡±


    ¡°Hey, guys? The plates away!¡± Vivis called out.


    Everyone looked to see Vivis pointing to her left. There, floating with her hand around it was the hull plate piece.


    ¡°Vivis!? What are you doing??¡± Terra called out, shocked.


    ¡°I wanted to see how heavy it was. But when the gravity went away, I used a knife to move it up! So I¡¯ll just push this towards the crater? No. I¡¯ll move it to the edge of the field!¡± Vivis called out and moved up out of the hole. Once she was at ground height, she grabbed the edge of the hold and pulled herself to the ground.


    ¡°How did you do that?!¡±  Vivian demanded anger in her voice.


    ¡°Anti-Gravity Aerobics on the Spirit! I was in the running to be the next instructor before all this!¡± Vivis called out with a laugh.


    A moment later, Jessie appeared. He had a pack on, and he took one look and winced. ¡°Oh dear! I think I messed up a little. But this is unreal.¡±


    ¡°Just help me!¡± Dalila called out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Right! Everyone else okay!?¡± Jessie called out and as everyone called out, Dalila looked at him. This was the person who had made a shield generator into an anti-gravity design? That sign she had set at Vivian was going to pay off! When everyone had felt the null gravity field, she had seen a chance to win. The person who did this had to have been a scientist who worked at a Mega Corp! If she could get some data from him, then she could sell it for a good profit! And if the data was of the right sort, then she could maybe even plan a heist!


    ¡°No-one? Good! Give me a second! Get ready to catch me!¡± Jessie called out.


    She looked down as Jessie jumped towards them, and she couldn¡¯t believe her luck! With one touch, she would be able to copy any of the data his nanites had! In one shingle motion, she would have a score that would make this crash worth it!


    ¡°Here!¡± She called out as she reached out her hand. As he ¡®flew¡¯ closer, she only barely kept from grinning.


    ¡°Hey, thanks¡­.. .¡± Dalila trailed off. She saw the words, ¡®Guild Member, action canceled¡¯ flash through her augmented vision. Slowly, she looked up into Jessie¡¯s eyes. Jessie¡¯s ice-cold and steel-hard eyes. ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯ll talk. Later,¡± Jessie said with a scowl. Then he looked over at Vivian who only stared in shock and horror.


    ¡°All three of us will have a nice talk later,¡± Jessie promised as he pulled off his bag. As it floated there, he pulled out a rope attached to a blunt metal end. Pulling out a sharp piece of metal, he attacked it to the blunt end. Spinning it in a circle, he aimed it at the hole the hull plate had been removed from. With a hard look at her, Jessie growled at Dalila. ¡°You don¡¯t mind working in null gravity until I can get everyone down, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°No. This is fine. Ready to work!¡± Dalila said with a small shaky smile.


    ¡°Good!¡± Jessie said before he threw the rope. It flew and pierced the ground at the edge of the hole. He looked up and scowled at Dalila before thrusting the other end of the rope at her. ¡°Start climbing!¡±


    As she climbed down, she cursed herself mentally. How could she have not seen the fact that Jessie was one of them?! It explained everything. He must have loaned to modify his own heart to save on money! Or he might have found a way to do this by chance. But she had almost committed a crime against a Guild Member. The only fact that she was willing to testify under Truth nanites would let her keep membership.


    As she reached the ground, she dropped. She grabbed the grass and started to pull herself along. She didn¡¯t stop until she reached the hole and then she pulled herself down into it. She heard the cries as Jessie helped the others, and she looked into the opening through the hull. Within it were the wires she was expecting, but they were a strange pink color.


    Most species always made the wires for this the color of danger to them, so this was interesting. With a few swift moments, she accessed the system. As her tablet and Apps went to work, she smiled as the code started to form. Whatever was down here, it was still active. That was interesting, and that might make it easier for her. But then she felt her hope die. The code was in a language that she had never seen before. That was the worst thing to happen. If the code was in a different language, then someone would need to break that first. And from what she could see, this was going to be hard. The characters didn¡¯t look like any of the languages that she knew, and that made translating it hard. Without stopping, she tried to see if she could get to a map by trying to open a menu.


    But the more she tried to open it, the more she failed. It was almost as if the ship was asleep. ¡°Wait, is it still active? Could this be a diffusion system? The power and internal programming are in different read-only systems? Or is the control system only able to manipulate the data one way?¡±


    She forced herself to keep calm. This was going to be harder than she thought but she could do it. Within the next half hour, she would make this hers.

 One Hundred Sixty Five Part 2

    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    An hour later, Terra looked as Dalila, Jessie, and Vivian looked over Dalila¡¯s tablet. Everyone had been brought to the ground and the null gravity field had been turned off. Everyone was trying to


    ¡°No change even with that approach? Weird. Most ships have the same navigation data structure. I mean, everything I know says that should have worked!¡± Jessie said softly, shock in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, I mean what is this? I mean really! I¡¯ve seen some captured wrecks from the last War, and the Ancients weren¡¯t as strange!¡± Dalila declared softly.


    Terra blinked, a little shocked at the declaration. She had heard a lot of stories about that War, and the ships of the Ancients were killers. To hear that they were easier to understand than this thing? Well, it made her even more scared.


    ¡°We¡¯ve tried everything, we can¡¯t even figure out the date. That narrows down what this thing is right?¡± Vivian asked as she sat down against the hole¡¯s wall.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean anything! I mean it could be a custom job, right? A made-up programming language?¡± Jessie looked around.


    Terra felt her fear slowly become terror as she realized that Jessie was feeling terror.


    ¡°We can¡¯t keep hiding from this. I mean there¡¯s only one answer here that makes sense. We¡¯re all thinking about it, right? But really, what else could it be? I mean anything else?¡± Vivian asked as she at the other two.


    Terra watched as all three of them looked at each other and then they all nodded. For some reason, she was getting the feeling that she wouldn¡¯t like this. And that meant that this was going to be a lot harder than she thought.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± She asked them.


    The three of them looked between each other and then the two girls looked at Jessie. He sighed and nodded.


    ¡°Fine. This is a First contact salvage. Or the code is completely custom. But we can¡¯t figure out how to get into it,¡± Jessie said, looking down.


    Terra looked at them and then she face palmed. This was beyond her worst fears. First Contacts were always hard affairs, and savage missions were only partly better. The things that people were able to learn from wrecks were varied. But that meant that they had to clear ground fast. But how?


    She blinked and then she looked up at the generator and then grinned. That would make it work faster. ¡°Fine, okay. That¡¯s what we¡¯re going to do. EVERYONE LISTEN! We need to move a lot of dirt fast! To make it easier, we¡¯re using the generator! Everyone grab a shovel and get ready to move dirt in zero gravity!¡±


    As the deckhands around them went to work. Dalila and Jessie both looked at Terra in shock.


    ¡°The generator might be able to handle it, but it might not. I had to change it a lot  from what I thought it would need!¡± Jessie said.


    ¡°And I might be able to get into this, I just need more time!¡± Dalila said, an edge in her voice.


    Terra nodded. ¡°Yeah, I understand. So that¡¯s why you¡¯ll watch the generator, Jessie. If it starts to bother you, I want you to tell us. And keep working on it Dalila. If you can learn anything from that thing, let me know. We need to get in there.¡±


    ¡°Do we?¡± Vivian asked as she stepped back, looking at Terra. ¡°I mean, don¡¯t we need to make sure that the capsule isn¡¯t on an engine? So why not see what we¡¯re actually on first?¡±


    Terra looked at her and then down at the ground, a thousand thoughts going through her mind. There was a way that they could do just that, and the generator was the key. The more she thought about it, the more that she thought it was possible. The only thing that they would lose from this, was time. And until Jinn¡¯s team came back, time was all they had.Stolen novel; please report.


    Terra looked at the deckhands gathering and did a quick head count. They had enough people here to do that, and they had a bit of help that would make the job easier. There were no downsides here. ¡°Smart. Vivian, you¡¯re in charge of that. I¡¯ll give you five other people, find out what we¡¯re on. Jessie, Dalila, do what I said to do. I¡¯ll walk the perimeter and keep an eye on our prisoner and what¡¯s out there.¡±


    Jessie looked at Terra, and nodded, before reaching out with his right hand. Terra looked at him and then at Dalila and Vivian as both girls gasped softly.


    ¡°Wait, she knows what you are!?¡± Dalila whispered screamed.


    Terra looked at them and then grasped Jessie¡¯s hand. As words flashed over her augmented reality, she stiffened. Slowly, she looked at the two women, the words, ¡®Both of them are hunters¡¯, still flashing.


    ¡°Oh my. This changes a lot of things. I think we¡¯ll need to talk about this later, alone,¡± Terra said with a cold voice.


    She looked at Jessie, a strange feeling going through her mind. She had no idea how he found out or when, but it was today at most. That was the only thing that she would accept, and that was what she would believe. All she knew, was that she now had two more assets that she could use to keep the civilians safe. And that was enough for every bit of stress this would give her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Vivian


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she watched Terra walk away, she almost looked at Jessie. But she didn¡¯t, she let the anger she was feeling disappear after a few moments. The way that Terra had spoken before, the two of them were old friends.


    ¡°Listen up! New plan! Vivian is in charge of the digging, and I only need five of you for that. Everyone else rest a bit, but stay up here. I want to know what¡¯s closest to the capsule!¡± Terra called out as everyone gathered around them. ¡°You, You, You, you and Jones? Listen to her! I want no problems from any of you!¡±


    Vivian shared one last look with Dalila before she walked off. She looked at the four people Terra had said were under her command, and she tried to keep calm. She was a loner like so many of her guild mates, and this would be something she had rarely done.


    ¡°So why you?¡± Jones asked as he crossed his arms.


    Vivian hid a wince and a scowl. She could tell that Jones was going to be a problem. She had sent her drones around and heard what Duncan thought of him. And she agreed with him. The chances were good that Jones had betrayed his team. And that meant that Jones couldn¡¯t be trusted at all. But he was a body, and they needed all the bodies they could get. ¡°Because I asked the right question. So here¡¯s how I see this going. We dig down to the plates, then we move the floating dirt to a pile. Teams of two, one dig it out, the other catch it before it flies off.¡±


    ¡°And why are we digging?¡± Another of the deckhands asked.


    ¡°Simple. We¡¯re checking if we¡¯re really on thruster. I hope we¡¯re not. But we need to know,¡± Vivian said with crossed arms as she looked around.


    ¡°Why, shouldn¡¯t we know by now? Or was that girl with you doing her nails instead of hacking this thing?¡± Jones asked with a scowl.


    Vivian sighed and took a deep breath. ¡°This wreck is a First Contact Scavenge. The programming is completely alien. We can¡¯t even tell what language it¡¯s using.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± One of the deckhands whispered as even Jones stared at her in shocked horror. She understood, there were so many movies about this. Stories, where sleeping monsters woke up and killed everyone, were the rage a few decades ago. And those stories had become the basic starting plots for games three years later. And to think that they were living one of those stories?


    ¡°So we need to do what? Just dig right?¡± Jones said as he grabbed a shovel.


    Vivian held a hand and looked at the null gravity generator. As Jessie went there and looked at them he raised a hand back at her. Vivian only grinned and chuckled a bit. ¡°Yes, but wait a bit, and now!¡±


    As the null gravity feeling washed over them, Vivian floated upwards a bit before she grabbed the ground. As the others all started to float, they all reacted crying out in fear. But then a rope was thrown to them from Terra as she moved closer. All of the deckhands that were floating grabbed the rope. As they all pulled themselves back down to the ground, Terra chuckled.


    Terra grinned as she looked around. ¡°Well people, that''s the null field! And because of the trouble, I had Bob go get something that will help us all!¡±


    Vivian only looked at Terra, a little confused. But before she could ask anything, Bob called out.


    ¡°Found three boss!¡±


    They all turned and saw Bob coming towards them, a strange bundle over his shoulder.  As he came closer, Vivian knew that this was going to be strange.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he moved along the border of the shield, Zevortro sighed to himself. After one of the first shifts last night, a nice patrol was just what he needed. As he passed the place the Vine Beast attacked from. He thought of the destruction that that monster had done. There were four Pod Trees that the monster had destroyed. The few pods they had found were all they had left. But they still had enough other supplies to survive until Jinn¡¯s party came back.


    But as he looked up, he went still. The area where the uprooted trees had been was empty! The only thing that remained was a few leaves on the ground. For a second, he wondered just what had happened to them. If they had been eaten, then what had eaten them? And how had they been done without the watchers seeing it? And did whatever eat the trees also eat meat? With a swallow, he turned and dashed towards Terra. She had to know about this, they might be in more danger than they had ever thought!


    As he reached the area of the null gravity field, he stopped. He looked at the ground, finding the edge of the field. Without stopping for more than a second, he ran, looking at the ground as he moved. After a few minutes, he smiled as he saw Terra. But then he stopped, shocked as he saw two people holding a blanket to catch dirt as it floated upwards.


    Vivian and Terra stood off to the side, watching as people pushed the dirt upwards.


    ¡°Last bit! Stopping and moving!¡± One of the two holding the blanket called out as the work stopped.


    ¡°Smart idea Terra, I mean really. I wouldn¡¯t have even thought about this!¡± Vivian said with a laugh.


    Zevortro only looked at them and then took a deep breath. ¡°Boss? We have a problem.¡±


    The two girls looked toward his voice. As soon as she saw him, Terra winced a little.


    ¡°Okay, what¡¯s wrong outside out the shield?¡± Terra asked with a blank face.


    ¡°Just follow me, I¡¯ll show you!¡± Zevortro said, gesturing for her to follow him.


    Five minutes later, Terra looked out of the shield at the remains of the torn trees. Zevortro looked at her, his arms crossed. He had stayed silent and only gestured at the shield once they had made it there.


    ¡°Yeah. Yeah. I can see how this might be a problem for us. But what could have done this?¡± Terra asked, worry in her voice.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but we can¡¯t open the shield. We have to stay locked down,¡± Zevortro said as he looked at the forest, his eyes scanning for anything that might be there.


    Before, the forest was a place of possibilities. But now, it was a place of terror. They had already fought off monsters that they could see. How worse were those things out there that they couldn¡¯t?


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t. Get three others, all of you pair off and keep walking the shield. We need to have a warning if anything attacks us!¡± Terra declared as she looked back towards the crater.

 One Hundred Sixty Six Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  0800


    Bryke


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    As he looked at the strange forest through the shield, Bryke tried and failed to keep his mind from wandering. The fact that only trees that had been uprooted were gone was concerning. Just what would eat trees that had been pulled from the ground? Was it a treat for them? Did they pull up smaller plants and eat them? Nothing about this made sense!


    When his friend had grabbed him and told him what happened, he was scared. The idea that a large tree could be eaten fast and without them knowing was scary. The size alone was something that.


    He looked up and saw Zevortro walking towards him from the other direction. From the frown on his face, he hadn¡¯t had any luck.


    ¡°So nothing anywhere but here?¡± Bryke asked, already knowing the answer.


    Zevortro only nodded, a scowl on his face.


    Bryke looked through the shield and scowled, trying to understand this. Then he looked around until he found the two trees that had been thrown into the shield. With a slight smirk growing on his face, he looked at Zevortro. ¡°Hey, those two trees? They''re still there. Nothing happened to them right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I think so¡­¡­ that¡¯s. That means that something destroyed the others. And the shield kept them out. But there has to be a reason,¡± Zevortro said as he looked around.


    Bryke nodded, his eyes locked on the trees. There was something here that he couldn¡¯t see, something that had changed about them. There were reasons for everything, nothing happened in a vacuum. Nature didn¡¯t work like that. ¡°So we can both agree that there is a reason for why those dead trees are gone, right? And why whatever did it didn¡¯t eat the other trees?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, there has to be,¡± Zevortro admitted. ¡°There¡¯s always a reason. That never changes no matter what happens.¡±


    ¡°We might not know or agree, but that¡¯s the truth. So then the best thing to do would be to look at the dead trees in here?¡± Bryke asked as they both looked toward the two trees in question.


    A few minutes later, Bryke poked at one of the trees. Nothing, it felt like normal wood. There had to be something here, something that made whatever destroyed them do it. But no matter what he did, there was just nothing there. He didn¡¯t know much about trees, but there was nothing that looked out of place.


    Zevortro sighed behind him. Looking over his shoulder at his friend, he saw the same shimmer of anger and confusion he felt.


    ¡°Nothing. No, less than nothing! I don¡¯t know, maybe this thing is just a good meal for a lot of creatures. That¡¯s probably the only answer,¡± Zevortro said bitterly.


    But how could it have been eaten so fast?¡± Bryke asked. That was the one thing that he didn¡¯t understand. The one problem that he knew they had to solve.


    ¡°There¡¯s one answer that I can think of. And it¡¯s a long shot. The answer is a swarm of little things. I hope they''re nocturnal. And that the shield will keep them out,¡± Zevortro said as he shrugged.


    Bryke only looked at him and shook his head, a chuckle leaving his lips. ¡°So after everything, the answer has no biases in facts?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford sighed as he leaned against the door. He had gone to find a bit of time to himself, try to explain that ¡®Mastermind¡¯ thing. The idea that he could contract his followers was amazing and very convenient. If he could talk to his people with no way for others to hear, he could coordinate plans better than ever before. But the range, that was the only problem. He had no idea just how far it could reach, and he had no way to know.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    He had tried to call up his power again, and he had. But Operative Brute¡¯s icon had been greyed out. There was something else here, something that let him contact his followers. And that was gone for some reason.


    He sighed and shook his head, trying to make sense of this. And then he learned that they had landed on something. He didn¡¯t know how to feel about that, he didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try this again. <u>Communication</u><u> Hub</u>!¡± Bradford called out softly. As soon as he said the words, he felt the drain of the flame within him. He blinked as he saw the grid, and then he saw that Brute¡¯s icon was grey. There was a new icon, a strange star with dots around it. ¡°That¡¯s interesting. Very interesting.¡±


    ¡°Now if Brute was a sword, that means it was because. So then who are you?¡± Bradford muttered as he looked at the icon. There was something there, something that he knew, someone that had been on the ship. And if this power of his was limited to planetary range, then that explained much. It meant the people he had brought with him were the only ones that were on the grid. And the only one that was open now was the one represented by this star symbol.


    ¡°So who are you?¡± Bradford muttered as he looked at the symbol, and tried to decide on what to do. But then the door opened against his back, and he stumbled a bit. He scowled and moved around, looking at the door.


    Leonator walked in, and then Bradford hid a scowl. This fool? He was an over-prideful idiot who only cared about what he saw as important, ignoring reality. But the man was the head of an inter-system shipping company that he had wanted to get a good deal. So that meant that he had to play nice.


    ¡°Ahh Leonator! What can I do for you, my boy?¡± Bradford asked, forcing his voice to sound cheerful.


    Leonator looked at him and then he started to pace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Bradford, but we need to talk. Those fools who took over, they¡¯re going to kill us all!¡±


    Bradford hid a sigh and his personal feelings as he looked at Leonator. He had a feeling how this was going to go. And the fact that he would have to talk like he agreed with this scum was almost enough to make him throw up! ¡°Please my friend, explain what you mean. If there is a problem, please, tell me. I will do my best to make it right!¡±


    Leonator stopped and looked at Bradford, a scowl on his face. ¡°The way those fool up there killed the beast. We don¡¯t know anything about that species! I mean I can understand putting down a creature that went mad. I can! But they went kill, for all we know that was just a youngster of this species! And you know what angry mothers will do, even beasts!¡±


    Bradford blinked and then looked at Leonator in a new light. If that was the core of his problem with what the deckhands did, then he could understand. But then he blinked again, a strange fact slowly making itself known. Leonator hadn¡¯t reacted to the floating grid. That meant that he couldn¡¯t see it. But how? Was it because he wasn¡¯t one of Bradford¡¯s followers? Or that he didn¡¯t have the power?


    ¡°In that light, I can understand what you mean. But take heart. I believe that Duncan is keeping everyone in the shield for the next few days,¡± Bradford said. He walked forward to put a hand on Leonator¡¯s right shoulder. As the man looked at him, Bradford put on an easier smile. ¡°Now, from everything I was told it seems to have been a loner. And the beast was killed when it was attacking them, and by the shield!¡±


    ¡°The Shield!? Wait, what? How did that happen!¡± Leonator exclaimed in shock.


    His response caused Bradford to turn away and grin. He had Leonator right where he wanted him, his plan worked as usual. Let the fool talk then move in, telling him something to stun him. Then keep talking, and slowly change his thinking, bringing him back in line.


    ¡°I believe that the creature was attacking the shield. When it fell it tried to attack, they were able to get the shield to work. But unfortunately, the beast¡¯s neck was in the activation line,¡± Bradford said with a slight smirk. As Leonator looked at him, Bradford was able to feel a bit of hope for a second.


    ¡°It was what!? I thought that the poor brute was killed and dragged here?¡± Leonator asked in shock.


    Bradford only looked at Leonator and laughed a little. ¡°NO! No, no. The creature was attacking us, moving at the capsule. Only the bravery of our defenders was able to hold it off!¡±


    Leonator looked at him with confusion and uncertainty in his eyes. Bradford tried not to smile as he realized that maybe the problem that Leonator posed was over.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jones dug and revealed the shape of the purple hull plates, he tried to understand what he was seeing. They had found that the hull curved where most other ships were straight lines. That was a design of shipbuilding that most races had grown out of. Even the Spirit was hard lines! But this, whatever it was, it was sloped. He had gone down a good six feet already, and he had to admit that the null gravity field was helping them so much!


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe how deep this thing is!¡± A voice from the deckhand to his left caused Jones to pause.


    He had to admit, his comrade was right. This was either the end of this thing or something else. So far, they hadn¡¯t found anything that might show that this was the thrusters. So either this thing was shaped like a ¡°Y¡± or a ¡®legged¡¯ style, he had no idea where the thrusters were.


    ¡°What, this? The tallest sentient is what? Eight feet tall?¡± The second deckhand called back as they removed another shovelful of dirt. They pushed it up and then cupped their hands. ¡°Load coming up!¡±


    A few moments later, they heard a call from Vivian. ¡°Got it! Give us a minute and here!¡±


    A small bag was thrown down and Jones grabbed it as it floated past him. Opening the bag he pulled out three bottles and passed out two to the others.


    ¡°Thanks for the drink!¡± Jones called as he sipped the cool water. As the others drank, he sighed as he leaned against the wall of the pit. So far, the null gravity has been a godsend! They were making so much progress, that he had to wonder why this wasn¡¯t the norm for heavy work. Just three people were able to move soil at a rate that only machines could do normally. Just why hadn¡¯t anyone thought of this before now? It didn¡¯t make any sense! But then even his Order was guilty of the thoughts that if it worked for now, it would work forever.


    As he looked at the purple plates, he tried to imagine just what this thing was. He could see a few ideas, maybe it was a lookout station? But how had it ended up here? That was the one thing that he couldn¡¯t figure out. But still, if they could find or make a way in, they could have something.


    ¡°Break¡¯s over!¡± A voice from above cried out.


    Jones looked up and then sighed, taking his shovel he looked at the wall and nodded. ¡°Making a check if we reached the bottom!¡±


    As he dug into the wall under the plates, his shove went deeper. He stared in shock before he looked at the others. They were looking at him, just as shocked as he was. Without a word, they both speared the wall with their shovels and looked at each other.


    ¡°Jones found the bottom!¡± One of the others called upwards.


    ¡°What!?¡± Terra¡¯s voice rang out.


    ¡°Yeah! We found the bottom down here!¡±


    Jones looked at the wall of plates and frowned. Pulling his shovel free, he started to dig to the side. Something was telling him that this thing was longer. And if they were just between a thruster, then they were in trouble if this thing turned on.

 One Hundred Sixty Six Part 2

    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked at the root of the tree, he frowned. They were still covered in dirt, even a day later. There was something wrong with that, but he couldn¡¯t figure out what. He hadn¡¯t been around plants that much, and he knew nothing about this island. But the flying worms might be the apex predator to other insect species. If that was true, then that meant that some of them had to be plant eaters. If a swarm of them ate the trees, they would be done in a hour at best. But why were the other trees still around then? All in all, the more he learned about this place the more questions that he got.


    Zevortro looked up from up as he heard cheering from near the crater. Sharing a look with Bryke, they both nodded. They couldn¡¯t learn anything more from these trees. Then if they couldn¡¯t, then the best thing to do was go see what was going on.


    ¡°So, think they made it to the bottom of that thing?¡± Bryke asked as they left.


    Zevortro nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Probably. But then again, what else could it be?¡±


    As he walked over, Zevortro took one last look at the two fallen trees. Despite what he felt, there was a better way to spend his time. And that was making sure that they are all safe.


    As they reached the rest, they saw Terra looking down, in what he thought was anger. Grabbing Bryke¡¯s shoulder, he gestured to Terra when Bryke looked up. His friend nodded and they walked along the edge of the group, until they reached Terra.


    ¡°So who found the end?¡± Bryke asked.


    ¡°It was Jones! They¡¯ve been able to dig down six feet in twenty minutes! They were amazing!¡± A deckhand said in excitement.


    Zevortro whipped his head to gaze at Terra, feeling complete shock. Now that he was looking at her, he could see the way her that she was angry. He guessed that she had something against Jones, but what? Then he remembered that Jones was the only survivor of the foraging party that went out. It was possible that she thought that he had left the others to die? Or that he had done something?


    Still, this was good. Finding how deep it went, they were able to finally break in. The first thing to do was make the space they had to work with larger. And that meant that they all needed to do some work.


    ¡°So Terra. We couldn¡¯t find anything about the two trees. Whatever destroyed them, we can¡¯t find it this way,¡± Bryke said softly.


    Terra turned to look at them, and then blinked as she remembered what they had been doing. ¡°Oh. Well, just observing from inside the shield was a stretch. I¡¯ll have someone destroy the trees later. Maybe we can have a fire pit tonight after we clear away the grass or something.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. But we¡¯ll start making that pit wider, this way we¡¯ll be able to cut a door. It¡¯ll take some time, but hey. What can you do?¡± Zevortro said as he looked at Terra.


    Terra looked down at a blanket by her feet and then he nodded.  ¡°Sounds like that¡¯s the best thing we can do right now. I¡¯ll find three more people, then you can get to work.¡±


    ¡°Why three¡­¡­. Wait. Does that have something to do with that blanket?¡± Zevortro asked as he looked down. All he got in return was a smirk form Terra, as if she had a great secret.


    Five minutes later, as he pushed the shovelful of dirt upwards, he looked at the blanket in amazement. ¡°That is something I never thought I¡¯d ever see.¡±


    ¡°Nice, isn¡¯t it? I remembered a bit about early asteroid mining. How they used tractor beams to catch blasted chunks from asteroids. I figured if machine could catch them at range, why not grab them closer?¡± Terra said with a laugh.


    The sounds of movement caused them to look up and see Jones climb up, blinking as he saw them. ¡°So you¡¯re using the other blanket for that? Guess we¡¯re going that way only.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing now Jones?¡± Terra asked, anger in her voice.


    He shrugged and looked at her. ¡°Well, the way I see it. We know how far down the plates go, so let¡¯s see how wide it is! And you¡¯re making it easier to cut into it then?¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Zevortro looked at him, a scowl on his face. The more he thought about it, Zevortro didn¡¯t know enough how Jones had survived his escape. There was something that he was hiding, and everything Zevortro was told him it was important. But for now, all he could do was leave him alone, and watch.


    ¡°You all go and do that, make sure that you do it right. Stop after three feet,¡± Terra said with a hard edge.


    Jones nodded and went to help the other diggers up, and Zevortro watched him for a moment. The fact that he hadn¡¯t seen the way that Terra thought about Jones was something was a failure n his part. He must have been still paralyzed when Jones gave his account. The only thing that he could do was keep watching, and if he had to, strike hard and fast.


    ¡°So they got this done in twenty minutes? Bet it¡¯ll take half as long for us!¡± Bryke said with a confident tone in his voice.


    Zevortro only laughed and shook his head, his friend¡¯s joy causing him to get to work harder.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around the office, he moved his leg a bit. He was healing fast, almost too fast. He knew his body before a regeneration, and it had never healed this fast before. There was something that he wasn¡¯t seeing, and he knew it too. But what was it? What was different? He sighed. ¡°Probably something that¡¯s so normal, I can¡¯t see it. Still, another day or so and I¡¯ll be ready to fight again.¡±


    A knocking on his door caused him to look up and sigh, back to work. ¡°Come in.¡±


    As soon as Bradford walked in, Duncan had a feeling that he wouldn¡¯t like this. Maybe it was the smile on the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°Well, I just helped us out a bit,¡± Bradford said as he sat down before the desk.


    ¡°How?¡±


    Bradford looked at him and shook his head. ¡°Leonator Vos Flortrlis won¡¯t be a problem for us. I was able to convince him it was an accident of turning the shield back on. We just need to make sure that he keeps believing that.¡±


    Duncan looked at him and sighed, nodding. That one had been a problem. He had seen many people like Leonator before, and most of them were problems. Those people had a bad habit of talking loud, so loud that people followed them. Personally, Duncan thought that people only did that because the speaker was so loud.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. With everything that¡¯s happening, we don¡¯t need him causing problems,¡± Duncan said wearily.


    ¡°Wait. What happened?¡± Bradford asked.


    Duncan looked up at him, and he stared for a few minutes. As much as Bradford had helped him with Leonator, Bradford was still a problem. But then the man had helped keep the other passengers down and safe. But that was probably just so he could try and take power down the line. But there was a chance that Bradford had noticed that they had to work together to survive. So was it time to take a chance?


    He sighed and shook his head. ¡°First off, they were able to cut into the plates. But the language is unlike anything our volunteer ever seen before.¡±


    Bradford looked at him, his mouth dropping open in shock. ¡°First Contact Salvage?! Where are we?¡±


    Duncan nodded. ¡°My thoughts as well. And the route the old girl took? It was something we¡¯ve done multiple times a year! This whole thing is impossible!¡±


    Bradford looked at Duncan, and then he palled in fear. Duncan watched as he swallowed and shook his head. ¡°Well, we¡¯re living it. Then we know it¡¯s not impossible. But what can we do?¡±


    ¡°Plenty,¡± Duncan said with a smirk. At least this was something that Bradford didn¡¯t know. And that was something that was very good for them. ¡°The team is digging down, we found the edge of the plates in front of the capsule at least. So we¡¯re planning on cutting into it and finding out what¡¯s there soon.¡±


    ¡°Good! The sooner we know that we won¡¯t die the better! So how deep was it?¡± Bradford asked.


    ¡°Six feet past the plates. And there¡¯s a good bit of land between the crater and us. And they¡¯re using a few tricks to dig faster,¡± Duncan said with a smirk. He looked at Bradford as the man tried and failed to figure out what he meant, but that was fine. Let him have a few cards that he could play against Bradford.


    ¡°My. For an observation area, that seems small. I mean we did decided that was what it was?¡± Bradford asked with a strange glint in his eyes.


    ¡°Personally, I wonder if that is even on its right side. I mean. I¡¯ve seen and heard of worse crash landings. Even after the war,¡± Duncan said with a hard look at Bradford. The man looked back, and then he nodded.


    ¡°True, true. But we need to know what¡¯s down there. That¡¯s not even a question. Unless we can find out what¡¯s around us,¡± Bradford admitted with a slight glare.


    Duncan looked at him, blinked and then he looked upwards. A frown formed on his face as he realized there was a much safer answer to everything that they had missed. It would give them time to fix all the problems and not put themselves in bigger danger.


    He looked up at Bradford and got up from his chair. ¡°Thank you Mr. Bradford. You¡¯ve just solved something that might make this that much safer. Have a good day.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Zevortro and Bryke worked, Terra kept an eye on them and Jones. So far, the two of them had been able to dig down three feet, and they were making good time. All they needed to do was keep at it, and they might be able to cut into it tomorrow. She looked around and nodded at Jessie as he patrolled the shield


    Looking around the clearing, she saw that everything was going smoothly. She couldn¡¯t believe that they hadn¡¯t been attacked today. From the way the flying worms and the insect things, she had expected something.


    ¡°Terra!¡± Duncan bellowed from behind her.


    She looked up as Duncan climbed over the crater¡¯s edge and walk towards her.


    ¡°Wait there Duncan!¡± Terra called out as she walked over and looked at the null gravity generator.


    As soon as Terra reached Duncan, she saw him looking at the new pit Zevortro and Bryke were making. ¡°Good progress. That¡¯s something that you ordered?¡±


    ¡°Their idea. So what is it?¡± Terra asked and Duncan looked at her.


    ¡°Bradford made an observation, we don¡¯t need to go into that thing. We need to make sure that we¡¯re safe. So once you¡¯ve done with that pit, I want you to find out what¡¯s to our sides,¡± Duncan said bluntly.


    Terra looked at Duncan, and then she looked around at the clearing. Then her mind remembered a few of the older space ship models she had seen. And one style of design was what took up her mind. ¡°Oh Nova! These aren¡¯t the thrusters!¡±


    ¡°What is it Terra!?¡± Duncan demanded as he heard the terror in her voice.


    ¡°I figured it out! If I¡¯m right, then the thrusters are right below the capsule! That over there!?¡± Terra said with fear in her voice. ¡°That¡¯s the covering to direct thrust! That has to be what it is!¡±


    Duncan looked form her to the ground.


    She saw the minute that Duncan realized what she had, and as he looked up at her. She saw a strange mix of fear and thoughtfulness in his gaze. He swallowed and nodded.


    ¡°Still do what I said, but get a few more of those things that cut into it. I want everything to our side to be destroyed,¡± Duncan ordered.

 One Hundred Sixty Seven Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1000


    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he whipped his forehead, Bryke looked around. After he and Zevortro had made it down to the depths of pit, Terra had come. After hearing what she and Duncan had discussed, Bryke had felt faint. He had personally thought that they were safe, but now? They might still be in the path of a supernova!


    After that, they and others had split up. Some people had dug, some patrolled the shield linne. Jessie had made another null generator to use. But with just the two of them, the deckhands had gotten to work. With speed and experience, they  had cleared the dirt from the hull plates in quick succession. When they had found hull plates around the, that fear had been magnified. But he had doubt, there was something about the positioning that nagged at him. But during the next hour, they had only found more questions than answers.


    They so far had been able to remove the dirt around the crater, but only two more sides had the purple plates. The one side that didn¡¯t was the side across from the first pit. The other two sides had long rectangles that went a good ten feet, and they were only three feet wide. No one had any idea what they were, and that only scared some of them. There were talk about how they had uncovered a battery of some kind, but Jones had been dismissive. He had grabbed three others and they had started to try and find the way the first pit¡¯s plates connected to the others. But they had discovered that they didn¡¯t. The three groups of plates were connected to the hull bellow them.


    He looked up at the top of the pit, and sighed as he shook his head. With a small push, he floated upwards. In a minute, he had reached the top of the null gravity field, fifteen feet up and then he looked down.


    He saw Terra and Jessie talking near one of the shield consoles. He couldd even see the group digging with Jones from up here. So far, they had moved the dirt around into a small hill around the crater. It gave then another way to defend it, and they had moved a generator there. That had been on Duncan¡¯s orders, but before that he had put on the gravity field inside the capsule. It kept the passengers from knowing what was happening outside, and that was enough.


    Personally, Bryke was of the belief that for now, it was best to keep them from knowing what was happening. There was nothing that they could do without volunteering, and most of them wouldn¡¯t. some of them expected that they would be rescued soon, and the rest were still partly in shock. That was fine, it had barely been five days yet. But once they wised up, he hoped that most of them would man up as it were, help them fight to live.


    Dalila was looking up from her tablet and scowled a little. He had heard what she was trying to do, and what her work during the War was. The rumors that had flown said something about this being a Salvage of an unknown race¡¯s creation. He knew what that meant, he had seen the movies about this. The one thing that scared him about the Alien, the unknown, was they had rules his people didn¡¯t. Who knows? Teses Aliens thought that every science Taboo the Scholar¡¯s had were accepted. Mayne even part of the scientific method? Point was, they didn¡¯t know what was going to be in the whatever beneath them. And that was the scariest thing as far as he was concerned!


    Bringing out his rope, he threw the head down and moved down to the ground. Once he got there, he moved through the null gravity field swiftly. Once under normal gravity, he dashed over to her. If she had found something, then he wanted to be one of the first to know. Because one way or the other, when they cracked this thing open and found out what was inside? He was going to be at the tip of the spear on that trip.


    He snorted and shook his head. Because of course Zevortro was going to be one of the ones that went down. He had been angling to join the security division, and Bryke had been right beside him.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    As she looked up at the shield, she tried to think of a new way to break the code. She had done every trick, work around and hacking attempt to hack into the root code. But no matter what she had done, nothing! She was starting to think that maybe, the idea that this thing was set up differently. It would keep the main system safe from hacking attempts. That was a perfect way to defend if the enemy had a focus on cyber-attacks. But this meant that she would need to attack the system from the inside. She would need to find one of the internal jack in points to even think of trying to see what the main system was.


    ¡°So what¡¯s wrong?¡± Bryke asked from behind her.


    She fell backward in shock. Once she hit the ground, she looked up and saw Bryke standing above her looking down at her.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think I was someone who could shock people that much!¡± Bryke said in shock before he offered Dalila a hand.


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re so scary,¡± Dalila said as she reached up and grabbed his hand. As he pulled her up, she looked at him and shrugged. ¡°Sorry, but I was just lost in shock. You know how it is, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Been there, done that. Hated it,¡± Bryke said bitterly. But then he gestured towards Dalila¡¯s tablet. ¡°So no luck hacking into this thing?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve had luck! But all of that luck was of the bad kind. Have you followed ship design debates?¡± Dalila asked with a hard edge to her voice.


    ¡°No but I feel suddenly that I should have,¡±Bryke said, a note of fear and anger in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Dalila said with a sigh. ¡°There was a proposed design style a few years back. Would have made ships more expensive so I think only a few test types were made. The idea was to split the ship¡¯s systems, make it less wireless and more quantum network. We¡¯re talking point to point transmission with the ship.¡±


    ¡°Interesting,¡± Bryke said as he scratched his head. ¡°Okay¡­¡­ I have no idea what you mean. Mind saying that with a basic high school vocabulary?¡±


    Dalila looked at him for a few seconds before she started to laugh. For a few moments, her laughter was the only sound that she made. After a while, she finally got control over herself. She looked up and smiled.


    ¡°Thanks, I needed that,¡± Dalila said as she whipped a tear from her eyes.


    ¡°Happy to help!¡± Bryke said with a grin that Dalila could see was forced.


    ¡°The idea was to split a ship¡¯s systems. Make it so the sensors, communication and engines set apart. So the systems are cut off from the outside world. No way to hack into this thing from here,¡± Dalila said bitterly.


    ¡°Ouch. So we won¡¯t know what¡¯s inside with going in?¡± Bryke sai as he looked towards the largest pit.


    Dalila nodded, her own eyes looking towards it with a somber feeling. ¡°Yeah, right or wrong. The only way to get answers is to cut into that thing. And who knows what kind of security it has on the inside?¡±


    ¡°Depends on what this is. And we can¡¯t know until we get into that thing,¡± Bryke said with a hard look down at the ground.


    ¡°But if we open that door, will we be able to close it?¡± Dalila asked with a hard tone of voice.


    She knew what she was talking about. The number of missions that she had almost opened the wy in but instead almost died from security? That was something that she would never let others know.


    ¡°Maybe not, I mean the place we¡¯d be going into would be the Pit,¡± Bryke muttered as he looked at the first hole in the clearing.


    They all heard a call, and looked up. They saw Jones waving his arms as he climbed out of the left hole.


    ¡°We found the last end! Now what!?¡± He called out as everyone looked at him


    ¡°Gather up people!¡± Terra called out. ¡°We all need to talk about what to do next!¡±


    Dalila only scowled as she heard this. She didn¡¯t know what Terra was doing, a leader must lead! But then a leader must also be smart.


    ¡°Time to see what the second wants, this¡¯ll good!¡± Bryke said with a smirk.


    ¡°How so?¡± Dalila asked dryly. She didn¡¯t understand anything about this. Terra might be the second in command, but she wasn¡¯t acting like it at all. Just what was going through her head? But what Bryke said next totally shocked her.


    ¡°Simple,¡± Bryke said with a grin. ¡°Our girl Terra knows what she doesn¡¯t know. That means she knows to ask others for help.


    Dalila stared, and looked at stunned so much her mouth dropped open.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked around and nodded as she saw Jessie nodding at her. This was too big a choice for her to make alone, she needed to bring the others in. The way she saw it, there were two choices. And the wrong one might kill them.


    ¡°People, we¡¯ve got a lot of things to talk about!¡± Terra called out as everyone gathered around.


    ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about!?¡± Jones demadned from the right side near the downed trees. As everyone looked at him.


    Terra glared at him as he crossed his arms, a bottle in his right hand . She met his glare with one of his own. ¡°We need to talk about the next step. We could cut into the whatever it is, or we could destroy the two things we found.¡±


    ¡°How would we destroy them?¡± Vivis called out.


    Terra blinked, and then she realized that they didn¡¯t know what she was talking about. ¡°Oh. Well, we have those two modified rifles. I was thinking that we just cut those two rectangle things off of the hull. Then we use the null gravity field to carry them up, maybe use them as barricades.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s a chance that we might not do anything to them. How¡¯s the hacking been doing?¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice echoed.


    Terra looked at Dalila who nodded and stepped forward.


    ¡°In a word. Terrible!¡± Dalila exclaimed. As everyone looked at her she kept talking. ¡°I think it¡¯s how its set up, the system I¡¯m working with is separate from the main one. I¡¯ll need to go inside that thing to even have a chance of figuring it out.¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t we just go in and do that!?¡± Jones asked with a hard edge.


    Terra glared at him and was about to say something when Jessie did.


    ¡°Because we don¡¯t know what kind of security that thing has! This is a complete alien construction! We don¡¯t know what it is, or what¡¯s normal for its builders!¡±  Jessie said with a tone that he was shocked that Jones even asked the question.


    Terra nodded and pointed at Jessie. ¡°See, that¡¯s why we¡¯re doing this. That¡¯s my fear. Well, a robot or sleeping army killing us. So I was thinking that we leave it alone.¡±


    ¡°But its beneath us! And Duncan thought the thruster might be beneath the capsule!¡± Jones spat as he threw his hands up.


    As everyone looked around, Terra cursed Jones in her head. How he knew that, she¡¯d like to know. But with the reports that she gave him, he admitted that he might have jumped the star. ¡°Yes, he did. But listen. For the last few days, we¡¯ve been fine. I think that the whatever it this is why the  trees won¡¯t grow here. And we have a lot more things to worry about here.¡±


    ¡°Like what!?¡± Jones snarled.


    Terra was about to speak, when they heard a roar.

 One Hundred Sixty Seven Part 2

    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jessie looked on in shock, one of the trees was changing before his eyes. Six legs, each one a deep green and ending in four claws shot out of the trunk. As the roots started to thrash around, a large green triangle snout shot out from their center. Above it, there was a single red eye on a black sclera. It shook itself, and the tree slowly came apart, leaving nothing but pieces of wood and a few branches. Its body was reptilian and long, at least ten feet long. The six legs were five feet tall, and the body gave the beast another three feet. Its head was on the body with the six roots breaking apart to reveal beaked tentacles.


    All at once, Jessie understood what he was seeing, but how? Had this thing just been hibernating inside the trees? Another terrible idea formed in his mind. A thought so out there that he almost dropped his rifle in shock. But he kept his nerves and aimed at the monster. He spared a glance at the others and saw that only the patrollers, Zevortro and Terra held weapons. The diggers had their shovels, and the rest had nothing. That meant that when the beast saw them, he would have to try and get its attention, and force it to follow him. They had to find a way to kill this thing!


    But then the beast turned its head a little and saw them. As they all watched it turned its body towards them and roared!


    The others cried out in fear and terror, and Jessie felt something wash over him. He stared at the beast and then he understood, that thing was using a Power! Unlike the Paralyzer Beast, this thing was trying to use terror! And the only reason he was holding his own was because of his Power! In that situation, he almost let his control slip. But he held it in, and then he knew what to do to raise morale.


    As the beast took a lazy step forward, it suddenly cried out as Jessie shot out its eye! As the beast roared in pain, the terror field disappeared.


    Everyone blinked and realized that what they had been feeling wasn¡¯t their own emotions. Jessie took the imitative again, firing at the beast.


    ¡°This thing is like the thing that attacked us, that paralyzer thing! Don¡¯t let it win, be brave!¡± Jessie roared as he fired at the beast again. But one of the beast¡¯s tentacles flicked and grabbed a rock that it threw in the blast''s path. Jessie gritted his teeth and fired again, and the beast jumped to the side. He stared in shock as if he hadn¡¯t fired.


    He looked down and saw Terra aiming her rifle, and she fired again as he watched. Her shots were leading the monster away from the group.


    ¡°Get ready to fight! Protect the capsule!¡± Terra called out as she raised her weapon. She kept calling out as she fired. ¡°That thing is inside our shield! We have to kill it here and now!¡±


    ¡°Everyone, get your weapons!¡± Zevortro roared as he fired, this shot hitting one of the monster¡¯s tentacles.  ¡°And protect the door to the capsule!¡±


    As he fired at the monster, Jessie kept his eyes on the other tree. There was a chance that this thing wasn¡¯t alone. And if they had two of them, then the deckhands could be in real trouble!


    As the beast moved backwards, the other tree started to twitch to Jessie¡¯s horror. As he watched, a leg suddenly thrust out of the tree. ¡°NO!¡±


    Without even thinking, he ran at the tree. As he ran, he switched modes on his rifle, activating the energy blade. As he ran he heard the other beast roared and he felt the rush of that terror go over him. Without breaking, he ran at the other tree as a second and third leg broke free. As the head started to thrust itself out, he was there. He speared the beast straight through its eye and the beast roared in pain. Then one of the tentacles grabbed. Jessie roared in pain for a brief second before it threw him through the air towards the shield.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°NO!¡± Terra roared in anger as she saw what had happened. The first beast roared at them again, and she felt the same fear and terror hit her. But she stood and tried to force herself to fire, but she couldn¡¯t move.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Bryke was able to say through a frozen face.


    ¡°Feels like that thing that Jinn saved us from. But I think this is it,¡± Zevortro was able to gasp out.


    Terra kept her eyes on the first beast as it walked towards them, its healed eye glaring at them. As she tried to move, she saw the anger in the beast¡¯s eye as it came closer. And she saw something else in that orb, hunger.


    As the beast moved towards them, she felt so cold as the terror paralyzed her. She tried to force herself to move, to do something. As the beast came within five feet of them it kept growling, and finally, she broke through the ice. An inferno blazed to life within her, and she was finally able to move.


    ¡°YAAAHHHH!¡± She screamed as she fired again, and a bolt covered in a blue-white glow shot out. The bolt hit the beast¡¯s eye, and a sphere of ice with jointing crystals formed. There was red on the white crystals, and the beast shrieked in pain.


    She panted and looked at the beast as it thrashed. She could only stare at the beast in shock. ¡°What happened? What did Jessie do to this thing?¡±


    ¡°Not Jessie, you,¡± Vivis said softly.


    Terra turned around and saw everyone looking at her. She only then saw the blue-white glow shining on them. Then she looked down at her body and stared in shock. She was covered in a white-blue glow that engulfed her body. And the flame, she felt something hot within in, as if it was past her organs.


    Terra only stared in shock, and then she noticed the letters. Aether Template acquired. Shot Operative; 1st skill, Blast Enhance; Ice. She blinked as she tried to understand just what this was, but nothing made sense.


    A roar from the other beast caused her to turn, and she felt something crash over her. But unlike before, she brushed it off. She looked at the others and saw them frozen. And then she scowled and turned, firing at the second beast. But the beast threw a rock and the rock hit the shot. But the blast forced the others to react, and they were all able to move again.


    ¡°Split up! Keep firing but split up!¡± Zevortro roared as he fired at the second beast as he ran to the right.


    ¡°Nova to that! Time to find out where the first¡¯s heart is!¡± Bryke snarled as he ran at the first. It was only then that Terra remembered that he had one of the modified rifles.


    As she watched, Bryke¡¯s rifle formed the energy blade. Bryke ran right at it as it rolled on the ground. With a savage roar, Bryke sank the energy blade to the hilt of the beast¡¯s body near its tail. He pulled the blade along and left smoking flesh as he ran past the beast¡¯s head, severing a few of the tentacles.


    Terra had to admit, that what Bryke had done? She had rarely if ever seen the like off the screen. As the first beast gushed blood, a strange and dark liquid. The beast moved its tentacles, then it fell to the ground as Bryke aimed and fired at the second beast. As she joined her fire to his, all Terra could feel was a sense that soon, they would win!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan looked up as someone pounded on the door to his room. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but if this was another problem like Leonator? Then he was going to punch whoever it was in the face.


    He got up and walked towards the door. But it opened, to reveal three deckhands he didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°What is it?¡± He asked, a very strange feeling of anger forming. If this was a problem that Terra could handle.


    ¡°Sir! One of the trees, it had things in it!¡± One of the deckhands stammered out.


    Duncan blinked, not understanding what this person was talking about.


    ¡°Yeah! A beast almost as big as the tree was round, and just as long! It had six legs and one eye! It was like that thing that attacked us! Terra and the others are holding it off, she ordered us to hold the doors!¡± The second of the deckhands said, fear in their voice.


    Duncan looked at them and felt nothing but terror. The trees were Trojan horses?! That, that! Frankly, he didn¡¯t know what to think of that. But the others were fighting it? And it could paralyze people? He had to hope that they were able to keep apart and fight, kill it, and then¡­.. he went still as he went over what he had heard. They said that one of the trees had a creature in it. Did that, mean the other tree was empty? Or had they not been able to see if the tree was clean?


    He shook himself back to reality and then looked at the deckhands. ¡°Well, don¡¯t stand there! I want this capsule locked down! You, the one that hasn¡¯t spoken yet! Go and get the passengers in deep in the capsule! I want a firing line made at that door now!¡±


    ¡°SIR! The deckhands all saluted him and he went back to his room. The office had a few panels and camera feeds that he might be able to know if the others were alive. It was a long shot, but it was the only thing he had to do. The others would either deal with the threat, or they would die. And the worst thing was that there was nothing that he could do to help them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she ran and fired, Dalila wondered if the veteran story would last. She had never said that she had stayed with the signals unit. If she had said she trained with the security branch to cross-train, then it might hold up. But as the first beast died, all she cared about was killing the second one. And so far, it was moving away from them.


    The others had made their stand near the prisoner, and the beast stayed away from the Null Gravity area. That might be the only good thing, that the fields covered the Capsule. But that same beast had hidden behind one of the masses of dirt. Whenever they tried to get around to attack it, it threw stones at them. After one almost hit Terra''s head, she ordered them to hold the beast there. It had been a slow siege since, but there was a chance. She saw a simple way to kill it, either get in close and destroy its heart. But how could Bryke do that? Or shot through the brain or heart, but they didn''t know where those organs were. And the way it was protecting itself, that was good, better than a basic beast as far as she was concerned.


    ¡°Come on! We can kill it if we can get it out!¡± Another Deckhand yelled out and the beast roared again.


    Suddenly the beast broke cover and was running towards the nearest shield console.


    For a second, she didn¡¯t understand. Then she did, and her eyes went wide as she saw it move. ¡°NO!¡±


    She fired but the beast crashed into the shield console there, and that quarter of the shield fell. The beast got back to its feet and roared at them again, but it was too far. It ran out of the shield and disappeared into the forest.


    ¡°NO! NO! NO!¡± Terra cried out in denial. She started to move, then stopped and looked at Jessie¡¯s body. ¡°Someone go and make sure he¡¯s alright! Dalila, Vivian, with me!¡±


    Dalila understood what Terra wanted, she and Vivian were the only ones that could repair the console. There was a possibility that they couldn¡¯t but if they could, she knew it wouldn¡¯t be a fast job.

 One Hundred Sixty Eight Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1140


    Qiana


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Qiana ran to Jessie as she tried to figure out what was wrong with him.


    ¡°Someone go and tell the Chief what happened! The rest of you get ready to defend!¡± Terra called out as Qiana reached Jessie. She looked over his and for a moment she thought that an undertaker would be better. He had hit the shield head-first, and most people died from the impact! The only thing that she could do would be to call the time of his death, but then she saw his chest moving. With shaky movements, she moved her hand in front of his mouth and felt him breathing.


    She stared in shocked horror, he was still alive. Those who survived a wound like this, their brains would have been damaged. And in this situation, there was nothing they could do for him. The most humane would be to kill him now. So as she tried to find something to do that, he moaned. She looked up slowly, gazing into his face as his eyes opened. She fell backwards as she saw the way that Jessie¡¯s eyes were focusing on her.


    ¡°What happened?¡± He muttered as he moved his body into an upright position.


    She fell backwards, staring at him in shock and wonder as he tried to get to his feet.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Qiana stammered as she scrambled to her own feet and moved towards him. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to be alive! Please, let me check you over!¡±


    But as she tried to get her instruments out, Jessie took a step past her looked around, and scowled.


    ¡°Later doc, we¡¯ve got one heck of a situation to deal with first. What happened while I was out, where¡¯s a fourth of the shield!¡± Jessie demanded.


    All Qiana could do was stare at him as he started to run towards the opening. She couldn¡¯t understand this. All her studies told her that he should be brain-dead at best! How in the name of the stars was he okay!?


    It was a proven fact, papers had been written about it! The shield''s energy field always caused terrible injury when organic matter touched it. That was how all shields worked, that was a scientific fact! She couldn¡¯t understand what was happening!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he ran towards the others, he looked over his shoulder at Qiana. Something was bothering her, but he didn¡¯t understand what. There was something about how she reacted when he woke up, something that bothered him. If was as if¡­¡­ he shook his head. He didn¡¯t have time to even think about what was bothering her, he had a greater problem to deal with now.


    He reached Terra, finding her and Dalila looking over the console. Vivian was guarding them, and she nodded at him when she saw him. He looked at what Terra was doing and winced as he saw the destruction. From what he could see there was nothing that they could do. It had been broken in two and the keyboard was smashed. The faster thing would be to get one of the spares and set it up to join the array. ¡°Stop working girls. That¡¯s nothing but spare parts now.¡±


    Terra looked up at him for a second before looking at Dalila who nodded.


    ¡°He¡¯s right, this is just mostly trash. If we¡¯re lucky, I think I can salvage maybe half of the components at best. Probably just a bit more of a third if I¡¯m being real about it,¡± Dalila said bitterly.


    Tessie looked at the consul and felt a bit of respect for her. If she could get that much salvage then she was a lot better than he was. The most he would have been able to do was collect maybe a little less than a fourth of the components.


    ¡°That much? You must spend a lot of time on hunts gathering tech then. Not that I¡¯m any better,¡± Vivian said with a smirk on her face as she turned her face down.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Jessie nodded, that was an old trick that the old Bounty Hunters taught young ones. Looking down kept most lip-reading programs from seeing how the words a mouth formed. A good way to talk in plain sight and still keep from being ¡®read¡¯. A bit old-fashioned but it still worked and that was all that mattered to some of them.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Terra asked as she looked at Vivian with a small smile. ¡°You spend time looking for data in nanites or computers?¡±


    Both Vivian and Dalila looked at her in shock before they whipped their heads to look at Jessie who shrugged.


    ¡°You told her about those!?¡± Vivian asked a note of shock in her voice.


    Jessie understood their feelings. Those nanites were an invention that the Bounty Hunters Guild kept secret from everyone. They were part of what identified Hunters as Hunters after all, and to speak of it to anyone was Taboo.


    ¡°I never spoke of about them. She saw me use it on someone once and well, she figured it out. Our Terra is pretty smart,¡± Jessie said with a smile.


    ¡°Yeah, I did. I don¡¯t mind really. And the fact that the Hunters have kept them from destroying the galaxy is impressive. Really,¡± Terra said as she looked at them.


    ¡°What do you know about them?¡± Dalila asked robotically as she and Vivian looked at Jessie. He just grinned at them as Terra was looking away from him.


    Terra just grinned back at them. ¡°Just what I figured out. Our mutual friend didn¡¯t say anything about them. All he did was say that he couldn¡¯t say anything. He has a lot of loyalty.¡±


    A cry from the others nearer to the breach caused the four of them to look up. Zevortro was standing just outside of the shield, moving his rifle around as if he had heard something.


    ¡°Vivian, go and tell Duncan what happened and have the others get that other console. Dalila, take everything you can from this wreck. Jessie, with me,¡± Terra said as she walked towards Zevortro.


    Jessie looked at his fellow Bounty Hunters and nodded, and they nodded back. As he followed after Terra, Jessie looked at his internal report from his nanites. They were a special model, and he had made them due to his biology. The report told him that his body would be healed in a few hours, but he could move around for now. There were no problems or dangers, but he might have to activate his ability soon.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Zevortro as she dashed over. The fact that she could do what Jessie could was something that she was amazed that she could grow so powerful. And she understood why Jessie couldn¡¯t explain how to do it. If it happened in an instant, her will wouldn¡¯t be held back. She didn¡¯t understand how she had done, it just defied everything she thought she knew. And that power she had used, she just didn¡¯t understand it at all. She needed to talk to Duncan about it, and Jessie. Should she talk to them separately or apart? Now that was something she didn¡¯t know, there were advantages for both. She shook her head, now wasn¡¯t the time to think about that.


    As they reached Zevortro, Terra looked around. After a moment, she turned to him and nodded. ¡°There¡¯s nothing here, did you see something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, there,¡± Zevortro said softly as he pointed at a bush. The bush was right at the edge of the forest, and she could see signs that something had been there. This was bad, was something that could be spying on them? They needed to do something about this now before it became a problem.


    Terra looked at the bush and then nodded at Jessie who nodded back. She put her hands on Zevortro¡¯s shoulder and then nodded at the bush, making a sigh for Zevortro to keep quiet. She and Jessie slowly moved from both sides to pincer the bush. If anything was spying on them, then they would find it.


    After a moment, they both charged. In a moment, they had both passed through the bush and looked around. After a quick sweep, Terra stood up fully.


    ¡°Well? Is anything there?¡± Zevortro called out.


    Terra looked at Zevortro and shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Must have been a prey animal or it escaped. But just because we can¡¯t find anything, doesn¡¯t mean that nothing was here. So keep a watch here, if anything comes at us, fire!¡±


    ¡°Got it, boss!¡± Zevortro said with a nod.


    Terra looked at Jessie who had dropped to the ground, his hand hovering over the ground.


    ¡°So what was here?¡± Terra asked quietly as she looked into the forest.


    ¡°Something around child size I would say,¡± Jessie said softly as he pointed to a small broken plant on the ground. ¡°This was broken by a boot. I think. But the tracks stop here.¡±


    Jessie put his hand on the tree next to him and walked around, looking up. ¡°Whatever was here, they climbed up this tree and moved around. They went up, and used the canopy of branches to move, look.¡±


    Terra followed his finger and saw green leaves on the ground. She looked at them and then nodded. ¡°So the leaves were shaken off by whatever jumped from tree to tree?¡±


    ¡°I think so. That¡¯s the only way this could work. I don¡¯t know what else could have done this. But was this thing able to think or not? I don¡¯t know,¡± Jessie said as he looked up at the tress.


    Terra nodded, looking up as well. People rarely if ever looked up, so going that way to escape was smart. But some animals did that as a matter of evolution. So that meant that they had no idea what was spying on them.


    ¡°Not good. Not good at all. And that means that we have to look in direction as well. And that thing, it might come back. Could it have been one of those things that attacked us yesterday, a child form?¡± Terra asked with worry.


    ¡°We can¡¯t know. Not now. We¡¯ll take a sample of the other one, and check if it''s good to eat. It wanted to eat us, so we¡¯ll eat it,¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    Terra laughed and nodded along. ¡°Yeah, nothing like freshly killed monster to make you grow big and strong!¡±


    Jessie only laughed and shook his head as they walked back to the clearing. Terra kept her ears ready to hear anything, but whatever had been there was gone.


    As she looked towards the clearing, she saw Duncan waving at them, floating above the crater. She grinned, at least Duncan came to them this time.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The Template grouping of 10049 at crash site 03 has divided. Grouping has left area of observation.


    Confirmed, sending scouts to find missing specimens. Observation of specimens in main group?


    Female Entity has awoken Aether and combat enhancement template. Result of battle with Bio Weapon Hidden Ambush Template; Tall Plant type. Bio Weapon had two units that attacked specimens, one escaped into test site.


    Specimens at main sample has created technology-type barrier to repeal Bio Weapon Templates. Specimens has also begun excavations of crash site, ancient void specimen container revealed through excavations. Main specimen group has adopted technology to cut into hull plates with equipment specimens brought when introduced to test site.


    Specimens from Template 10049, Sub Template 0203 observing main grouping of Template 10049. No contact between groups as of this time.


    Confirmed. Orders are to observe all Templates actions from outside of barrier. As of this time, no combat Constructs authorized to attack main sample.


    Status of intruders into damaged sub section?


    As of this time, all combat Constructs destroyed. Moving to isolate damaged section from main complex. Authorization to deactivate gateways to improve security of complex?


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­ Authorization denied. Authorization authority beyond ability to grant. All gateways powered by damaged section. Possible solution, physical blocking.


    ¡­¡­complying. No further report as of this time. Deactivating communications.

 One Hundred Sixty Eight Part 2

    Duncan.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he pulled himself down with a rope, Duncan saw Terra and Jessie in the distance. He had to admit, he was proud of her. She had been able to hold off two monsters that had been within the shield. But the attack only made this planet that much worse. Even the trees could hold something that could kill them now. Every tree they passed by, could become a threat at any time. From now on, they would need to watch and scan all pod trees just to be sure. There was no other choice.


    Putting weight on his healing leg, he smiled as he felt the weight and didn¡¯t feel pain. That was good, he had thought it was being healed but now he was sure.


    With a spring in his step, he walked over to them. As they all reached each other, Duncan grinned. ¡°So I hear that you two had an adventure or two. Well, well. You even find something to do in this shied?¡±


    Duncan heard Terra splutter and he just only chuckled.


    ¡°Sir, it was a bit more than that!¡± Terra said as Jessie only laughed a bit. She looked at him and scowled. ¡°Jessie!¡±


    ¡°What? An adventure is only called as such if you live through it! We¡¯re alive, and that¡¯s just what makes this an adventure!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    Duncan nodded and stopped chuckling. ¡°Well, that¡¯s enough of that. What happened?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to start. I don¡¯t even know what happened. Maybe we were too loud, but we were all talking about what to do next. I mean, look,¡± Terra said as she pointed at the closet pit.


    Duncan looked down and scowled. ¡°Oh. Those don¡¯t look like normal heat shields at all.¡±


    ¡°And like I told you, we don¡¯t have any idea what civilization made this thing! It could be anything, and I mean anything at all. We¡¯re still in possible danger sir,¡± Terra said, fear in her voice.


    ¡°And there¡¯s the fact that there are only two of those. One way was open,¡± Jessie said and shrugged as they looked at him. ¡°Personally. I think this is a dock of some kind. All in all, we need to get in.¡±


    Duncan only sighed and looked at Terra. ¡°So our volunteer has had no luck at all?¡±


    ¡°None. She thinks, and I agree with her. The hardware and the software are set up so that the ship''s systems are apart. Whatever¡¯s running the hull? We can¡¯t access it using that system as a middleman. It¡¯s just impossible,¡± Terra said, anger and fruition in her voice.


    Duncan nodded, and then he looked at the missing part of the shield. ¡°So how long will that take to fix?¡±


    Jessie coughed and Duncan turned his head at him.


    Jessie looked into Duncan¡¯s eyes, and Duncan saw the truth in them. So when Jessie spoke, Duncan listened.


    ¡°I won¡¯t hide, it¡¯ll be fast,¡± Jessie admitted and then he sighed ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, the most work will be the physical labor to set it up. I just need a replacement console to tie into the system. Once that happens and all the systems exchange ¡®handshakes¡¯ it¡¯ll be up. So maybe half an hour once I get to work.¡±


    Duncan nodded and then he shook his head in awe. ¡°I¡¯ve worked with mechanics before. And some during battle. They¡¯d take an hour, at least.¡±


    ¡°Since the war, the tech¡¯s come a long way. The fact it took so long was the reason the company made this model. At least, that was what I heard once,¡± Jessie said with a mocking grin.


    For a moment, Duncan just stared, then he grinned and chuckled, shaking his head in awe.


    ¡°Must have been from some source in the company then. That¡¯s how all rumors start,¡± Duncan said completely straight-faced.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Duncan had never thought much of the rumor Bounty Hunters were sometimes called in as guards. But it seemed there was more truth there than he had ever known. The things that this man had seen, it was just something beyond all he could ever know.


    But then Duncan¡¯s mood fell as he looked at the monster¡¯s carcass. ¡°But that fool, Leo1 is going to give me problems about this. Bleeding heart fool.¡±


    ¡°They were trying to kill us, and they struck first. Jessie figured a biosample would make that one calm down. But maybe the fact that one ran away can be painted as a mad one forcing the other one to follow it. Maybe we could even say we saved the second one. Maybe even release it to the wild?¡± Terra asked.


    Duncan looked at her, opened his mouth, and then closed it. He had to admit, that was possible. The fool might even buy that idea. Yes, the more that he thought of it, the better it sounded. All they needed to do was present it in the best way possible.


    But then there was something else to think about now. They were in danger, and that was going to attract predators. If any of his experience with wild beasts in the zoo aboard the ship was anything to go on, then this might have been the dinner bell. But could they afford to contain that threat when there was that might be building beneath them? ¡°No choice here, no choice at all.¡±


    ¡°Sir? What is it?¡± Terra asked and Duncan looked at her and sighed.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on is I¡¯m being a realist. Focus on the shield, get it good and strong. We¡¯ll head into the whatever it is tomorrow. That has to be the orders,¡± Duncan said gruffly.


    As Terra looked at him, Duncan saw Jessie nod in agreement. At least that one understood the problems before them.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Bradford tell Leo1 the order of what happened. That way, the best diplomat we have could work on him. Let us below know when the shield¡¯s back in one piece. Good luck!¡± Duncan said as he saluted the two of them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Duncan¡¯s back as he walked towards the capsule. She had expected the orders would be what he had commanded, but they were the best case. There was just as much of a chance that Duncan would say to focus on whatever was beneath them all. But the chief was practical, that much could be said about him.


    ¡°So, half an hour? That fast?¡± Terra asked, turning to Jessie.


    ¡°Like I said, that¡¯s all. So should I go and do it?¡± Jessie asked and Terra nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, but not alone. Dalila! Get over here!¡± Terra called out once she saw Dalila moving around the broken perimeter. She looked at Jessie as he looked at her. ¡°You¡¯ll need help, and she¡¯s good.¡±


    Jessie just kept looking at her silently as Dalila walked over, and Terra knew he disagreed with her. But there was an old saying, two minds were better than one. Getting the shield up was all that mattered. Feelings had to be put on the back burner, results were all that mattered now.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Dalila asked as she reached them


    ¡°Your job¡¯s over. I want you to go with Jessie, and help him set up the shield. That¡¯s what¡¯s important right now,¡± Terra said and Dalila nodded.


    ¡°Not the first time the universe has forced my plans to change. So after you senior,¡± Dalila said with a smirk.


    Jessie looked at Terra and she saw a slight edge in her eyes. He nodded after a moment, and then he nodded. ¡°Come on girl, follow me. Maybe we can get everything set up before we leave the capsule.¡±


    As they walked away, Terra looked around and nodded, trying to get a handle on this. The pack of things that had attacked them had been because they had intruded into their territory. That was the one thing that explained why they had chased Jones. But here they were, and the shield had already attracted a swarm of those Flying Worms. The chance that something else would come at them because they were at risk? She didn¡¯t want to even think about what the chances were. But she could see that they were pretty high.


    ¡°Excuse me, Terra? Do you have a few minutes to talk?¡± A soft female asked from behind her.


    She turned and saw Qiana standing there looking a little worried.


    ¡°Qiana, of course. There¡¯s always a bit of time to talk when nothing¡¯s happening. What can I do for you?¡± Terra asked with a small smile. She knew that what had happened since the crash was bothering a lot of people. And sometimes people needed to talk, especially medics who saved people. ¡°Is this about our prisoner?¡±


    ¡°No, nothing about him. I just¡­. I needed to talk to you,¡± Qiana said as she started to look around, her eyes a bit wide.


    Terra was starting to get worried, and she couldn¡¯t understand why. ¡°Okay, okay. I can talk about anything.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Jessie,¡± Qiana said with a soft edge to her voice.


    Terra blinked, not expecting that. Then she remembered that Qiana had gone towards Jessie after the monster escaped. ¡°Oh, is this about how Jessie was working after what happened to him? Trust me, he knows when he has to step back. He¡¯s¡­..¡±


    ¡°He should be dead,¡± Qiana whispered.


    Terra blinked and looked at Qiana, her heart freezing. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°People hitting shields at that speed? They get hurt! And he hit it head-first! People die from that!¡± Qiana said with a hard edge.


    Terra blinked, and then she looked into space. This wasn¡¯t the first time that she had thought that there was more to her friend. But he was a Bounty Hunter, and they had one type of special nanite. The chance that they had more, wasn¡¯t a stretch. But one that could heal people? No. The Guilds would never keep that hidden away. There were ways to explain them, and to share them!


    No, if something saved Jessie then it wasn¡¯t something that the Guild had given him. It had to be something else. And the best thing that she could do was keep Qiana from looking into it more!


    ¡°Look, what do you think he is?¡± Terra asked and she hoped that Qiana had something that Terra could disprove. A lot was riding on making sure that a mob didn¡¯t attack Jessie or the other deckhands.


    ¡°I think he¡¯s special forces, that¡¯s the only thing that makes sense,¡± Qiana said with a soft voice.


    Terra blinked, and then she almost laughed. Jessie was a Bounty Hunter, not special forces! But then she remembered the rumors about Special Forces and she almost laughed. ¡°Okay, you mean how people say their given Gene work to make them harder? But what would a Special Forces operative be doing here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I can¡¯t figure out! I mean what could have been on our ship?¡± Qiana asked with a strange edge to her voice.


    Terra looked at Qiana, and then she nodded. That was something to be said about that. The ship was just a normal cruise ship, and it was perfect to escape the reality of the universe. A few months or a Rejuvenation Cycle to just relax. People did strange things to handle the weight of the years since Rejuvenation. And Purpose was just something that a lot of people tried to find. That was why she was here, and maybe that was why Qiana was here too.


    Terra grinned as a perfect lie suddenly appeared in her mind. That was perfect! It played on what Qiana thought she knew, and that explained everything! ¡°Qiana, think. Everyone needs something to recover. And the company has a lot of good press with the Government. Think what that means, he¡¯s probably here for a vacation. Spend some time and work his way up to security. Then when he¡¯s needed or ready, he can just go back.¡±


    Qiana just blinked, and then she laughed a little. ¡°Oh, Nova! I thought that maybe he was here to kill someone! That makes so much sense!¡±

 One Hundred Sixty Nine Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1300


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie felt his rage build as he got madder and madder. No matter what he did, the tech just wouldn¡¯t work! ¡°This is insane!¡±


    Looking at his at his work, Jessie released a sigh. Somehow, the grid just wasn¡¯t accepting the new console. The more he tried to connect, the more that he failed. He looked over the report on the condition of the machine, and he still found nothing that explained this. The selling point of this type of machine was that it was  ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense at all! Have you found anything at all? Some kind of bug in the code that we could destroy! Anything that might make this easy to understand why?¡±


    Dalila shook her head as she looked at her tablet. ¡°No, nothing. I checked and double-checked everything! The programs, the wireless network, but there¡¯s nothing here! I don¡¯t understand, it should accept this!¡±


    Jessie could only nod as he looked at the console again and tried to think of a solution to this problem. ¡°So let¡¯s start from the top. Everything should work, right? What don¡¯t we have? What haven¡¯t we done?¡±


    Jessie looked around, trying to find something, anything that might spark an idea. He tried to think, letting his mind wander. So far, the insulation has been completed by the book. They had done everything according to the fire within the console for stars sake! If there was anything that the company had made different about this thing, it wasn¡¯t in any of the paperwork.


    He held his head and groaned. ¡°This is beyond annoying! This is something that I never thought would happen to me. Everything works, but it doesn¡¯t. Are you sure there¡¯s nothing wrong with the code?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! This doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± Dalila snarled as she looked at her tablet. ¡±Have you ever seen anything like this before?¡±


    Jessie kept quiet, looking out at the opening in the shield. To be honest, this was so far beyond anything that he had ever experienced. To have a working piece of tech not work without a single fault? ¡°Things like this only happen in bad movies!¡±


    ¡°Tell me about it!¡± Dalila said with a snarl.


    Jessie nodded and looked at the console. ¡°Let¡¯s try this again from the top. We might connect this time.¡±


    Dalila looked at him and then she just sighed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like we have any other ideas.¡±


    As the console and the programs turned on, nothing happened for a moment. Then the shield emitter sparked and then it went offline again.


    ¡°What is this!? I mean really!¡± Dalila snarled.


    The sound of a shot caused them to turn. By the edge of the shield Zevortro fired into the forest. ¡°Saw something! Looked big! Any chance the shield will be up soon?!¡±


    ¡°Not yet!¡± Dalila called out.


    Jessie looked at the forest and let the nanite strains in his eyes magnify the image. He could see fur through the gaps in the trees. For a second he almost wanted to go and help, but he stayed where he was. The shield was the most important thing, and they needed him here.


    ¡°What¡¯s taking so long!?¡± Terra snarled from behind him.


    The two of them looked up and saw Terra standing there looking at them.


    ¡°You said it would only take half an hour! But what is this!?¡± Terra said with a hard edge to her voice.


    Jessie only sighed and shook his head. ¡°Somehow, the thing won¡¯t connect to the other systems. We¡¯ve gone over all the programs, and the parts, nothing! This should work!¡±


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    Terra looked at the console, a strange look on her face. ¡°But did you check how the programs themselves are interacting with the parts?¡±


    Jessie blinked and then he looked at Dalila whose mouth had dropped open. He barely ignored the urge to curse. A way to find the problem, so basic that they had skipped over it to focus on the more technical approach. There was a lesson here, and one that he didn¡¯t think he would need to learn.


    ¡°Dalila,¡± Jessie said dryly.


    Dalila didn¡¯t look up from her tablet only waving at him. ¡°Give me a minute to look over this.¡±


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯ll back up the guards since this is a one-person job,¡± Terra stated as she walked towards the hole.


    Jessie only spent a moment looking at Dalila who didn¡¯t look at him. He walked after Terra, and they stopped ten feet away from the breach. He took a deep breath and then sighed. ¡°I should have done that. Look into the interactions, not what we did. So stupid.¡±


    Terra only looked out at the forest before she just chuckled softly. ¡°Oh, so you were looking for the problem from the technical side then? Not the actual function of the device?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jessie said with a bitter smile. All he could feel was embarrassment that he had made such an error.


    ¡°What the VOID!? What is this!?¡± Dalila exclaimed as she stared down at her tablet in shocked horror.


    Jessie and Terra both shared a look and as one they moved. They were by her in a second, looking over her shoulder. As Jessie saw what was on the screen he felt his blood freeze as Terra gasped in shock.


    ¡°This is!!! But how? Where!?¡± Terra asked.


    Jessie felt the same as she did. According to the screen, the console couldn¡¯t link up because of enemy action attempting to get into the network. The screen said something about a protected approach to keep the enemy from getting into the system. He felt his mind slow down as past events flashed through his mind.


    ¡°It says that it¡¯s going into protected mode. We need to connect to one of the other stations to get a ¡®handshake¡¯ to get into the network. There are only two ways that I know of that this might accept. One, use a Quantum Entanglement Communicator,¡± Dalila said bitterly.


    ¡°Impossible. Aren¡¯t those things too power-intensive to use? One that can transmit words needs as much power as the ship uses in a week for a minute of talk!¡± Terra said, shock in her voice.


    ¡°The military has a small one for sending code. The range is only five hundred miles and it happens too fast to see. But since we don¡¯t have that, there¡¯s only one way. Wired cable,¡± Dalila said softly.


    Jessie finally broke out of his mental shock.


    ¡°No way. This is impossible! Is it a drone aircraft? Does it have stealth tech? Is it a robot? Are there even cables that could do this in the capsule?¡±


    ¡°I think so, yes! There are!¡± Dalila exclaimed with hope in her voice.


    Jessie looked at her and felt a smile grow on his face. ¡°Perfect! All we need to do is get it to one of the other stations! Then we can reactivate the shield!¡±


    All in all, they were finally able to fix the damage. And they had learned that something was spying on them. The most deadly threat was the one that you can¡¯t see, and they could see the threat now. All they had to do now was bring the shield back up and then they could track down the spies. But a scream of fear came from behind them, as roars sounded from the same direction. Then they heard the sounds of blaster rifles firing in quick succession.


    ¡°It¡¯s not falling!¡± Bryke roared over the shots.


    ¡°Then fire at the legs!¡± Zevortro''s voice rang out.


    They turned as one, all three of them dreading what they would see.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro and Bryke just kept firing at the monsters, killing some of them. The others all started to run back into the forest, and Zevortro gritted his teeth. He couldn¡¯t believe that they had such bad luck, why was this swarm attacking them!? The beasts were all the same, all of them nightmares! They were eight feet tall and on all fours. They looked like green bears with brown stripes. But they had brown manes like lions, and their eyes were a solid black.


    When they had attacked., he and Bryke had reacted fast. Both of them had aimed and fired at the first one, hoping to break the charge. That one had taken five shots to the face and it still kept coming. Only after they had switched targets did the front monster fall. The others had tripped over it, creating a pile-up. After that, the other deckhands had all joined their weapon fire to his and BRYKE. Together they had killed one of them, and the rest had retreated.


    But Zevortro knew that the leader of this group wasn¡¯t dead. All that had died was just the leader¡¯s vanguard.


    ¡°How many was that!? Five, four?!¡± Bryke asked with a hard edge to his voice.


    Zevortro looked at the bodes and scowled as he counted them. ¡°There are only five corpses. And that meant we killed at best a fourth of them. The rest are just going to keep coming.¡±


    As Bryke cursed, Zevortro looked at the sides and scowled. They had too big of an area to defend. If one of those things made it into the perimeter, then they would fall! So they had only one chance, keep fighting and keep stopping them. He had to hope that they would be able to create a plan to defend the breach, but how? They had limited numbers, and they had no idea how many of the bear things there were!


    Ten of the bear things suddenly charged at them, two groups of five. Both groups were attacking from opposite sides, and they were aiming for the edge of the shield.


    As he saw that the enemy had realized the limits of what they had to defend, he felt fear. There was only one answer, these things were able to think. That had to mean that they were able to plan. And that meant these things might be aware. And they probably wanted to eat them! There was no way to handle this, those things were too fast for him to react to both!


    Terra suddenly appeared and fired four blasts in quick succession toward the right. Zevortro blinked, shocked that she was here. The blasts hit the ground in front of the charging beasts, and from the blasts formed a wall of ice a deep Arctic blue.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got this side, handle the other!¡± Terra roared as she fired her weapon.


    Zevortro blinked and he felt his face form a savage grin. ¡°Thanks, EVERYONE! HANDLE THE RIGHT!¡±


    As they fired at the charging beasts, he heard roars of pain from the beasts, and he grinned. That meant that the wall held. And as he fired another shot at the legs of the right beasts, one of them fell. As the others tripped over the fallen one, blue blasts fired and hit the downed beasts. As icicles grew, they impaled the one that was one. As both of them roared in pain, the last three beasts ran back into the forest. As the two impaled beasts moaned in pain, Zevortro felt his heart clench.


    Before he could do anything, two more blue blasts hit them and their moans stopped.


    He looked at Terra who stared at the corpses she made, silent as the grave, and she met his gaze.


    ¡°Nice shot,¡± Zevortro said, nodding at her.


    ¡°I needed to treat their bodies with respect. The respect that I would want my own body treated,¡± Terra said. Then before Zevortro could say anything, she turned and fired at the ground beyond where the shield had been. In moments, there was a large wall of ice at least twelve feet tall blocking the forest from the clearing.


    Zevortro blinked in shock, his mouth dropping open. ¡°I¡­.. you¡¯re able to do that now?¡±


    ¡°Well,¡± Terra said with a shrug, a smile on her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t see a reason why I couldn¡¯t. Lucky I was right.¡±


    Zevortro felt his mouth drop as Bryke started to laugh.


    ¡°Good job girl! Better to be lucky and fast than slow and smart! That¡¯s what my dad used to tell me!¡± Bryke said, a smirk in his voice.


    Zevortro nodded as he looked at the shield before they all heard the sounds of something slamming into the wall. ¡°Yeah. But we better find a way to keep that up!¡±

 One Hundred Sixty Nine Part 2

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    Terra


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    Terra looked at the wall she made, and almost wasn¡¯t able to keep the grin of her face. She just couldn¡¯t believe that her idea worked! It was a gamble, but she had sent Jessie and Dalila down into the ship after the cable they needed. All she could do was hope that they could handle the beasts before they could break through. Thankfully, the shield was a good five feet in front of the shield, and that was good. Once the shield was back up, she could reinforce it if it fell. With her new powers, they could protect the capsule!


    But as the ice wall shook again, Terra winced. Something was telling her that it might fall before too long. So without even thinking, she fired again, aiming at the ground a foot closer to the shield. Where she hit, pillars of ice grew at an angle, hitting the wall and reinforcing it. She panted and felt the heat within her pulse for a second, then it grew back. She almost jumped when someone put a hand on her right shoulder. She looked to see Zevortro looking her right in the eyes.


    ¡°Nice job.,¡± Zevortro said with a firm tone, smiling at her.


    ¡°Yeah, but this won¡¯t keep them out. They¡¯re not going to stop. We¡¯re going to need to kill more of them,¡± Terra said bitterly.


    ¡°We will. Still can¡¯t believe that you were able to do that boss!¡± Bryke said with a laugh from behind her.


    ¡°Same. I mean. I¡¯ve got no idea just how I was able to do that. It¡¯s almost like magic!¡± Terra said as she looked at the wall before she pushed down her pride. ¡°But we need to talk, just what happened here?¡±


    ¡°Craziest thing I ever saw. There we were, just standing there. Then those things charged at us,¡± Zevortro said with a shudder. ¡°They were unlike anything I ever saw before, all those muscles just charging at us screaming.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! I mean nova! We just started to fire, but it did nothing! They just kept coming even after we hit their heads,¡± Bryke said bitterly. At her look of doubt, Bryke only glared at her. ¡°And I¡¯m a good shot. I know I hit the head. It was like they had armor or something. Finally Ol¡¯Z here said to fire at the legs. We brought the front down, and then we could just hit their bodies. They died and then the others fell back. I mean, I¡¯ve never seen waves like that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s something else, the wave attack. I¡¯ve dealt with a bot wave once, impossible to no be scared but at¡­¡­ wait!¡± Terra said as something that they said suddenly registered in her mind. But she had to have misheard them, there was no way! ¡°Wait, you killed five of them!? Andd there were at least  made  How many of them were there total!?¡±


    ¡°Twenty of them. I know, big group right?¡± Bryke said with a hard edge.


    Terra didn¡¯t even look at him, instead she slowly looked at one of the groups she had killed. One of the bodies was partly in the wall, sticking out it. She looked at it and then went over what she had seen. What she had killed. She rent over everything that she knew, and then she swallowed. ¡°This is insane!¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean!?¡± Zevortro demanded, sense the shock and fear in her voice.


    She looked at them and then took a deep breath. ¡°Total, there were at least thirty of them attacking us. We killed maybe half of them, maybe more? Any group that takes a third of their numbers in loses always retreats. Thinking and wild creatures. The only reason that they don¡¯t , is because they didn¡¯t lose that percent of their numbers. That means, they have a lot more than just thirty.¡±


    Zevortro took a step back, his eyes unfocused as he took in her words. ¡°That group, it must have been the vanguard. When they broke through, the rest of them were probably going to come to secure the kills, us!¡±


    Another roar echoed from behind the wall, and then they heard the sound of something slamming. Terra winced as she saw the wall shake for a moment. She couldn¡¯t understand, just how much were those things going to do to get around it? Just what had set this off?


    ¡°We really need that shield back up, now!¡± Zevortro said with a hard edge to his voice.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡°Yeah, where are those two? I mean¡­. Their gone! Did they run off!?¡± Bryke snarled.


    Terra winced and sighed. ¡°No, they¡¯re getting what they need to get the shield up.¡±


    ¡°What the Nova?! What do they need?! They didn¡¯t need anything to set it up the first time!¡± Bryke said as he looked at her.


    She looked him right in the eye and sighed. ¡°Well, that time, we didn¡¯t have something trying to hack into the network.¡±


    Bryke and Zevortro only stared at him, shock in their gazes.


    ¡°Are you messing with me!?¡± Bryke demanded as he looked at her. ¡°Who or what could be trying to get into the system?!?¡±


    ¡°Do we have any idea who or what could be doing this?¡± Zevortro asked softly.


    ¡°None. We¡¯re going the safe way to get it up. Hopefully, this will work,¡± Terra admitted.


    Before anyone could say anything else, something happened. Suddenly, they all heard the more roars and new screams came from the other side of the ice wall.


    ¡°What the stars is that!?¡± Bryke demanded as they all looked at the wall.


    Terra felt her heart freeze as everything suddenly made sense. The thought she had, it explained everything about the bear things. All the questions that she had about the attack were answered, but she didn¡¯t want these answers. She swallowed, and then she gave voice to what she had figured out. ¡°I think that¡¯s why those things were so enraged to take this place. They wanted the shield to protect themselves from the screamers. They were running from them!¡±


    ¡°Oh, what is that fool doing now!?¡± Zevortro asked suddenly asked as he looked around.


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    Dalila


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    They entered the capsule swiftly despite the shouted questions thrown at them. They quickly moved to the storage area, not bothering to answer anything. Once there, Dalila looekd around and saw what they had found the generators in.


    ¡°So it has to be here, right?¡± Dalila asked with wonder as she looked around the packed room.


    Jessie only snorted and shook his head. ¡°If we¡¯re lucky. For all we know, some lawyer decided to sell them separately to make a credit!¡±


    Dalila only giggled a bit, remembering a few people she had run into over the years. Without a word, they went to work. After a few moments, they found the an invoice that said the cables were in another box, and what markings were on it. With that, the two looked at each other, went to opposite sides of the room and went to work.


    After a few minutes, Dalila started to wonder why they even had to do this. Where had the hacker come from? It had to be hidden somewhere close, but who? Any other survivors would have made contact, none of this hacking into the system. they would have announced themselves, and then they would have helped them. There had to be space here for them, so why were they trying to kill them?


    ¡°Any luck?¡± Jessie asked.


    Dalila snorted and she sighed. ¡°No, I¡¯ll work toward the door, you work towards the back. This is insane!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I just don¡¯t get it. Where did they come from? Why can¡¯t we see them? What kind of cloaking tech was in their capsule?¡± Jessie asked in anger.


    Dalila nodded as she tried to think how this was possible. Everything was insane, just how could anything try and hack into the network!? It had to be something close, but there was nothing! The monsters out in the forest would have attacked anything that moved, so how?


    ¡°How are they hiding? Yeah, or what¡¯s changed here? ¡± Dalila asked herself. Then she went still, and stared into space. The words she had spoken reverberated in her minds. Something about that made her pause, and think. There was only one answer that fit, but was it possible? If they couldn¡¯t get in¡­¡­ no. There was no way that was what this was. That would mean that there was. That below them was.


    ¡°Found it! Let¡¯s get this up there and get to work!¡± Jessie said holding up a large bag a few feet wide. He laughed a little as he walked towards the door. ¡°This thing has to be long enough to reach the other stations! And there are more! We can turn all of them into a closed circlet! Thiss way those people won¡¯t be able to¡­¡­..¡±


    Dalila ignored Jessie, staring into space. The reality that she had reasoned out was something that she hadn¡¯t wanted to. But it fit, and it explained everything. As much a she didn¡¯t¡¯ want to , she had to confront it.


    ¡°HEY!¡± Jessie¡¯ss yell caused her to look up. Jessie was there, looking at her with worry on his face. ¡°You okay?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, for now. We need to get that shield up now!¡± Dalila said as she led the way out of the room.


    As they moved towards the doorway leading out, they ran into trouble. Ahead of them, a group of five of the passengers were standing in there. At their head, Jones was standing there.


    ¡°What is happening up there!?¡± Jones demanded, anger in his voice.


    Dalila looked at them, and at Leonator with a glare. They didn¡¯t need this right now, they had to move! Before she could say anything, Jessie stepped forward.


    ¡°The shield is down, and we need to put it back up. This is what¡¯s needed, so either get out of our way or I¡¯ll move you,¡± Jessie said with a growl as he took a step forward.


    ¡°How dare you!?¡± Jones snarled as he looked at Jessie with a glare. ¡°That¡¯s the problems with muscle heads like you, always using force! If there¡¯s something attacking us, then we needed to be kind! Those creatures are just scared, we must be better!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Duncan¡¯s voice roared out.


    They all looked and saw both Bradford and Duncan standing there, a look of rage on Duncan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Jones! I¡¯ve had it up to here with you! I¡­.. I don¡¯t know what!¡± Duncan said and then Bradford stepped between them.


    ¡°Sir, let me. I¡¯ll talk to him. I think he¡¯ll act more respectful to a former senator,¡± Bradford said with a wide smile.


    Duncan looked at Bradford for a long moment that stretched on. With a shallow nod, he looked at Jones. ¡°Jones, this is your last chance. I want you to move now. Those people are getting the shield back up. Without it, those things that that you want to treat kindly will kill us.¡±


    Jones tuned his head to look at Duncan. Dalila stared at him, and she saw his body language. Her eyes went wide as she looked from Jones to Bradford, and she scowled.


    But the people moved aside, and she and Jessie moved past them. Once they were out of the capsule and into the null gravity field, Dalila let her tension lower. There was nothing that she could do now, and she had to focus. But then they both heard roars and screams from the opening. As they reached the top, they saw the


    ¡°Here!¡± Jessie said as he thrust something at her.


    Dalila grabbed it and saw one of the cable ends. Looking up, she saw Jessie he had the other one and was moving towards another console. ¡°You get that connected to our problem child! I¡¯ll put this into one of the others! With luck, we¡¯ll have the shield up in moments!¡±


    Dalila only nodded and flung a rope toward the ¡®problem child¡¯. Despite what she had figured out, Jessie was right. They had to handle the problem before them here and now. They could handle the threat she had found later, and she and Vivian had to put all their cards on the table.

 One Hundred Seventy Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1340


    Bryke


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    ¡°Yes!¡± Terra exclaimed behind him. Bryke didn¡¯t turn, he just kept his eyes on the wall.


    ¡°What? Is that the people getting the shield back up? They might get this done soon?¡± Zevortro asked with a note of hope in his voice.


    ¡°About time. Bryke muttered under his breath. As he looked out at the shield that Terra made, Bryke gritted his teeth. If they were here, it might be too late. He knew that something terrible was going to happen soon. He just felt it was going to happen within minutes. For the last five minutes, they all heard the sounds of brutal combat past the wall. From beyond it echoed roars that were slowly starting to disappear. But the way that had happened, it had been because what was making the sounds had died, or been killed.


    He had heard that enough times to even know how long the beast was toyed with. And the way it happened this time? These things were toyed with by something that took pleasure in their pain. And that thought was starting to make him very worried. There were only two reasons that something could take pleasure in the pain of others. And neither of them was good for the defenders, they were the worst thing possible.


    He looked at the others, hoping to see the same look he had, but he didn¡¯t. He was almost not surprised, just disappointed.Bi</a>3 took a deep breath, before speaking. ¡°Get ready people! Everyone, aim at the top! That¡¯s where we¡¯ll hold them as they come over!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zevortro asked as the others who heard him all stared in horror. ¡°What do you mean? What¡¯s going to come over!?¡±


    ¡°Whatever took pleasure in killing those bear things!¡± Bryke snarled as he aimed. He closed his eyes and let the sounds come over him. He tried to listen as his father taught him, and then he heard it. There, at the edge of his hearing, it was something that he knew. And it made his heart race in antepiction.


    ¡°Pleasure!? That means that they can think! Are you sure!?¡± Terra demanded.


    Bryke looked at the wall and winced. There it was, there was what he was sure was coming. And it had something else? He hated being right. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°How can you tell?!¡± Zevortro demanded. ¡°There has to be a chance you¡¯re wrong, right!?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Bryke said dryly moments before he fired upwards.


    A scream of pain in a strange-sounding voice caused everyone to look up.


    ¡°What in the world??¡± Terra whispered in horror.


    At the top of the wall, was a large-looking creature. It was a biped and seemed to be around six feet tall. It had a dark green body, with brown stripes all over its body. It was wearing pants that were a lighter brown and it had a vest on. Its face had a single eye and a round maw beneath it. It had four ram horns on the sides. Its arms ended in four three-fingered and a thumb, and its left was over a wound on its right shoulder. But everyone was looking at the green spear that dropped down to land just within the clearing.


    For a second, everything was still as the lone being glared down at them. Then the being fell backwards and ten fast-moving objects flew over the wall! As they came down, Bryke saw what they were.


    ¡°Arrows! Dodge and fire!¡± Bryke bellowed as he pushed Terra out of the path of one of them. The rest of the deckhands all ran around, most of them not firing. But Zevortro joined Bryke and Terra as they fired at the top of the wall.


    Five of the beings tried to climb over the wall, but Bryke shot two of them, forcing them to fall backwards. One of them jumped over the wall and slammed something into the wall¡¯s face. The being fell downward slowly, as whatever it used to cut into the ice. It glared at them, but Bryke shot through its eye killing it.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Why are they attacking us!?¡± Terra demanded as she pulled an arrow out of the ground.


    Bryke only chuckled as he aimed and fired at another of the creatures. ¡°I think it¡¯s eat or be eaten here! They¡¯ve already got a lot of food. Maybe they don¡¯t want us to steal it or they just want more!¡±


    ¡°What food!? What found could we have that they want?!¡± Another deckhand asked in horror.


    ¡°Our bodies,¡± Zevortro said bitterly as he fired. His shot missed and hit the ground, breaking the footing of one of the creatures. It fell forward and landed with a crunch that echoed over the area. As more arrows fell, more screams were heard. This time one of the deckhands had gotten hit in their right shoulder. As they went down and screamed, Bryke aimed higher and fired again.


    Bryke almost looked away but he saw movement from what he thought was a dead body. As he watched in horror, it got back up. With a roar, he fired, killing the creature with a shot through its head. He stared at the body as it fell backwards, a little horrified at what he saw. He recognized which body it was, and that made him almost shake in fear. If these things could get back up after falling from the wall, they couldn¡¯t know that! They would have charged on mass! But as the arrows fell again, he knew he had to move now. Think later.


    But that was when the air became energized. Above, the shield suddenly rushed over them, cutting through the ice wall. As the ice wall shattered they could see twenty more of the beings that had attacked them. They were all carrying away portions of the bodies of the bear creatures. All that mattered to Bryke was the larger one at the back. This one was at least three feet taller than the others. Bryke saw it was wielding a large staff with something used a blade on the end. The rest of the creatures didn¡¯t register to Bryke, only that one as it looked right at him.


    Then the being nodded and raised its weapon at Bryke. It screamed and the others all disappeared into the forest with their harvest.


    ¡°They''re gone! We survived!¡± A deckhand roared in joy as the others all started to celebrate.


    Bryke didn¡¯t stop, he walked towards the dead body in the shield. Once there, he looked down and saw they didn¡¯t have skin, instead they were covered in scales. That explained a lot, they must have evolved that as armor. But that was something to worry about later, he had to make sure this thing was dead. But as he watched the creature¡¯s wounded head, he saw that it was healing before his eyes.


    ¡°FREAKING NOVA!¡± He roared and stepped back, aiming his weapon at that being, then the other.


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    Zevortro


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    ¡°BRYKE!¡± Zevortro called out as soon as he heard his friend scream.


    ¡°These things are still alive!¡± Bryke cried and everyone stared at him in horror and shock.


    Zevortro stared at the beings in shock, and for a moment he was just stunned. They had captives!? Or what should they do!?


    ¡°Get cables now!¡± Jessie yelled as he came over, pushing past Zevortro. ¡°There in the chamber, we got the generators from! Bring two!¡±


    Zevortro only nodded and then he turned and ran towards the crater. Jessie was right, they had to move now! They could talk about this later, they needed to react fast. Within moments he had reached the null gravity field and flew upwards. Reaching the space over the capsule, he threw a line down. Once it hit, he pulled himself down, moving as fast as he could until he reached the bottom.


    Once he got there, he lunged for the door. Opening it in a hurry, he stepped into the gravity and moved toward the storage room.


    ¡°You, you¡¯re Zevortro, aren¡¯t you?¡± a loud voice called out.


    He looked up to see the former senator walking towards him, a friendly look on his face. Zevortro hadn¡¯t interacted much with the man, he always felt the good senator was slimy for some reason.


    Shaking his head, he looked at Bradford and smiled. ¡°Sir, I¡¯d love to chat but there is an incident that we need some supplies to deal with. Again, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Not waiting for Bradford to say anything, Zevortro moved on. He knew that this might be an insult to the senator, but he couldn¡¯t stay and talk. Those two beings could be up and about any moment now!


    Reaching the store room, he found the container that he needed. With a small smile, he picked the bags up and almost staggered before he found his footing. He then started to run as fast as he could out of the room. He entered the main chamber and almost ran into Chief Duncan.


    ¡°Whooo! Where¡¯s the fire boyo?¡± Duncan asked.


    Zevortro almost answered him but then he noticed all the passengers trying to listen in. With a somber look on his face, he looked right at Duncan. ¡°Sir, events have happened up there. I believe that you should see it for yourself.¡±


    For a moment, Zevortro thought that Duncan was going to react with anger. But instead, the chief nodded and sighed. ¡°So one of those situations then? Move on boyo, I¡¯m right behind you.¡±


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    Duncan


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    As followed after Zevortro, he let his eyes wander. He saw Jones on one side and Bradford on the other. He didn¡¯t like how Jones had reacted once they had all heard about the attack. The more he thought about it, the more sure he was that Jones was a member of that faith! And if he was being honest, the chance that Jones had been raised in that filth was high. The few members of that Way he met were always the same, scum that only acted for themselves! He knew that sooner or later, he would have to make a judgment on Jones, but what? Besides the prisoner they had up here, they didn¡¯t have any place to put others.


    But if he was honest, Bradford¡¯s reaction bothered him more. The way that Bradford said he¡¯d talk to Jones, it stank. If he wasn¡¯t sure, he¡¯d thought that the two had planned it. But that was impossible. Is a Senator knowingly helping one of them? That faith was just one bad day from being declared a cult after all. Maybe he was just used to talking to people, trying to figure out the problems and helping them. He did have a reputation as a diplomat after all.


    Getting into the null gravity, Duncan followed Zevortro up. As much as he wanted to figure this all out, he had something else to look into now. He had no idea what they needed the bags for, as he could see the shield was up. But he had a strange feeling that he wouldn¡¯t like the answer that he was bound to find. As he created the created hill, he saw everyone at the new edge of the shield. Seeing the ice on the ground, he knew that he was going to have a lot to talk about with Terra.


    But then he saw what the others were all around, and his mouth dropped open.


    ¡°Boy,¡± He croaked out as he and Zevortro made it to the top of the null gravity field. Zevortro looked at him as Duncan kept his eyes on the two downed aliens in the distance. ¡°Tell me that those two didn¡¯t attack you all.¡±


    Zevortro only released a deep sigh and threw his rope toward the ground. ¡°Sorry sir, they did. We defend ourselves from these bear things first. But a friend thinks that they were being chased by them. That¡¯s why we need these cables, to lock them down.¡±


    ¡°Smart, very smart,¡± Duncan muttered as he floated there. Looking around, he tried to figure out what to do with them but he kept coming up with nothing.  There had to be someplace that they could put them so that they wouldn¡¯t be a threat! He just floated there, and then he suddenly had a wonderful idea. They were almost done with all the digging if he knew enough, and it would keep them safe.

 One Hundred Seventy Part 2

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    Jessie


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    As Jessie looked down at the healing being, he tried to suppress a wince. This was beyond anything that he had ever expected, a sentient being. He had been sure that the creatures here were too strong for that, but here it was. A sentient being that healed and didn¡¯t have its brain in its head, amazing. How had that evolution been possible? It went against all recorded evolutionary laws that the Federation knew. Whatever this was, it was something new. But then there was the Power of Aether. He knew it was possible off-planet, but was it widespread on this orb? It would change everything, and in ways that were amazing and terrible.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it, I mean why¡¯d they attack us? It doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± Vivis said with a bitter tone. ¡°I mean, why did they attack us if they wanted the dead bodies? The wall was in the way!¡±


    Jessie nodded and tried to figure out that exact thing. But the more he thought about it, the more that he slowly started to wonder about something. There was something that was nagging at him, something that he knew.


    ¡°Still, those things acted fast, you know?¡± Bryke said suddenly.


    Jessie blinked and looked at him, feeling that what Bryke meant was important. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I mean how they moved so fast to attack us after they killed the bear things. I mean, does that make sense how fast they moved?¡± Bryke asked.


    Jessie was about to open his mouth when he closed it. He spent a few moments thinking and then he felt his blood leave his face. That was the thing that he was missing. That one comment made everything fall into place, and he hated that it did. Suddenly, everything was there for him. He was shocked that he missed that, but there it was.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice came from behind.


    It was all Jessie could do to keep from grinning. Finally, something good was happening! But when he turned he saw Duncan walking over, and he winced.


    ¡°Hey chief,¡± Terra called out and Duncan nodded at her.


    Duncan stayed silent as he walked over and Zevortro dropped the bags on the ground. For half a minute, they all stayed silent. Then Duncan sighed and looked spooked before he rasped out a question. ¡°They¡¯re healing?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir,¡± Bryke said with a soft voice.


    Duncan around, taking in how this side of the shield had expanded past its original location. Jessie saw Duncan¡¯s eyes pass over the dead bear things, and the pieces torn from some of the dead bodies. ¡°Their doing then?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir. Why they attacked us. They wanted to harvest the kills,¡± Bryke explained.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s bad,¡± Duncan muttered.


    Jessie looked at Duncan and sighed. So Duncan had figured out what he had missed instantly? He had thought that Duncan was worthy of respect, but this was something else.


    ¡°So you figured that out Chief?¡± Jessie asked with a dead voice.


    ¡°Yeah. It was easy. I mean there¡¯s a reason for everything. So why did they attack us if they just wanted the kills?¡± Duncan asked with an equally dead voice.


    ¡°That won¡¯t hold them for long. Jessie! Terra! Move one of those null fields you set up to as far to the right near our other prisoner! Keep him as he is for now, but move it!¡± Duncan ordered as he looked down at the being. He looked up, his gaze finding everyone there. ¡°And after, every one of you that thinks they need to talk to me will do so together!¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Vivian called out as she ran past them.


    ¡°Vivian!¡± Jessie called out in shock.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°We need another cable! Trust me!¡± Vivian called over her shoulder.


    ¡°Ignore her, just get to work!¡± Duncan barked as he looked down at the captives. With a hard look, he gazed at the others. ¡°We don¡¯t know how long they¡¯ll stay down! We need some place to  hold them!¡±


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    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Jessie as he prepared one of the modified shield generators for moving. It had taken them ten minutes of work, silent work. Jessie had a habit of talking when he did this kind of work, but he was quiet. That bothered her more than she wanted it to, and it worried her. She had only seen him like this a few times, and the more she looked at him the worse she felt. There was something here, something that she just couldn¡¯t see. Suddenly she felt gravity again and she knew he was ready. She gazed at him and she saw Jessie falling as he unhooked the generator. As he and it fell to the ground, he looked at the other leg and swiftly removed it.


    ¡°That should do it! Once we get this setup, we can handle the other problems,¡± Jessie said with a sigh.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Terra asked, Jessie, stopping to look at her.


    ¡°What?¡± Jessie asked as she looked at him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known you for a long time Jessie. We lived in the same ship for a year. I know you. So what¡¯s wrong?¡± Terra asked a hard edge to her voice.


    Jessie looked at her for a few moments before he sighed. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve realized something. Something that we will talk about later. We need to focus on this.¡±


    Terra looked at him and then took a deep breath. Before she could say anything, a scream was heard from behind them.


    They both turned and saw Zevortro, Duncan, Dalila, and Bryke holding down the two captives.


    ¡°This won¡¯t work! We need to bring it to them!¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    ¡°So move! I¡¯ll hook up the cable to the console!¡± Vivian called out from behind.


    Terra turned and saw her pulling herself down to them. Over her back was a large bag, another of the cables.


    ¡°But the shield should block the hacker, right?¡± Terra asked, not understanding why Vivian had gone for that cable in the first place. Everything that was under the shield was protected from hacking. So why did they need the cable?!


    Jessie meanwhile gasped, and she turned to look at his shocked face.


    ¡°You can¡¯t mean! That¡¯s the source of the hacking?!¡± Jessie demanded.


    Terra just felt lost as Vivian nodded.


    ¡°What in the stars are you two talking about!?¡± Terra demanded.


    Before they could speak, there was another roar from the creatures. And then they could hear the cries of other deckhands as they came over to help.


    ¡°Later, move!¡± Vivian said before she ran past Terra.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he helped keep their captives down, Duncan felt his headache start up again. This was beyond anything that he had expected, and he always saw the worst. ¡°Why can¡¯t this thing just be as strong as humans!? Why does it have to have biologic armor too!?¡±


    As the captive bucked Duncan again, he felt another surge of anger. He had a good idea why this being was fighting so hard, and that was making him sick. There was a chance Duncan was wrong, but he probably wasn¡¯t. To be fair, the fact that they couldn¡¯t speak to each other was the worst part of this whole thing.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, this is kinda nice!¡± Bryke said, false cheer in his voice. As Duncan looked at him, Bryke grinned shakily as he was bucked as well. ¡°Reminds me of an attraction at the park! I rode it on my off day once!¡±


    Duncan only laughed a bit before he looked up and grinned. ¡°Just hold on, they''re almost here!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what!? What are they doing here!? I thought they were going to set that up away from here!?¡± Dalila demanded as she tried to keep her and Zevortro¡¯s captive down.


    ¡°Guess they saw the party and came to join in!¡± Zevortro said before the one below him got its arm free.


    Before the being could do anything, another of the deckhands grabbed the hand and pushed it down. ¡°Hope they hurry!¡±


    Duncan nodded, and he agreed. These two were becoming something that was like a few drunks going wild back on the ship. Duncan had to admit, they were strong but he was experienced. All they needed to do was keep them down for a few more moments.


    He kept his eyes on them and almost screamed as he saw Jessie and Terra connect a cable to the generator. As he felt the null gravity field come online, he felt his captive start to thrash harder.


    With a grin, he called out to the others. ¡°Let them up! No, throw them up!¡±


    As one every deckhand all grabbed ahold of the two beings and threw them upward. As the beings both realized what was happening to them, they stared down in horror. They started to chant a single word and held themselves, and Duncan¡¯s heart went out to them.


    ¡°What is the problem with them!? Why are they acting that way!? Some kind of warrior code or something?¡± Dalila asked.


    Duncan only sighed and looked at the captives, feeling a bit low at this. ¡°No, they think we¡¯re going to eat them.¡±


    At his words, it was like a bomb had gone off. Everyone was looking at him in horror, and he felt some of that horror.


    ¡°Why?! Why would they even think that!?¡± Zevortro demanded.


    ¡°Because the other civilized beings on this island would do that to them. That¡¯s why they attacked us so fast,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice as he came over with Terra and Vivian.


    Duncan nodded as he looked around and sighed. ¡°So let¡¯s see if we can make them understand that we don¡¯t want to eat them. Bryke, get Qiana and go skin some of those cow things. I want something that those things can eat thrown at them. For now, we treat them like captives under the Prisoner¡¯s rights law. I don¡¯t want any arguments!¡±


    Bryke almost said something before he nodded. ¡°Got it, boss. I¡¯ll find Qiana and get a bioanalyzer. We¡¯ll see if we can eat any of them as well.¡±


    Duncan nodded and almost walked off before Dalila grabbed his arm. He was about to say something about his orders when he saw the look in her eyes. ¡°Madame? Is there something that I can help you with? No, how can you help me?¡±


    Dalila looked at him and then she took a deep breath. ¡°Sir, I have a few drones that can take a blood sample from the captives. They''re small, and I can control them to make sure that they won¡¯t see them. Fast, and we¡¯ll know what t they can eat.¡±


    Duncan blinked, looking at her with a hard glare. He could think of a few reasons that someone would have that kind of tech here. ¡°Can you? Well, we¡¯ll talk about that later. And you¡¯ll tell me what you¡¯re after on my ship!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, I will,¡± Dalila promised. Vivian appeared and put a hand on her shoulder. Dalila looked at Vivian and then nodded. ¡°We both will sir.¡±


    Duncan breathed a little deeply before he found Jessie. For a moment he stared at Jessie, a question in his eyes.


    Jessie only shrugged and looked at Duncan. ¡°I only found out a few hours ago sir, after we talked. There are tells that contact will show amongst us.¡±


    ¡°Wait, there are tells amongst Weapon Researchers?¡± Zevortro asked in shock.


    ¡°A Weapon Researcher? You think he¡¯s a Weapon Researcher?¡± Duncan asked amusement in his voice. He wondered if Jessie had done that on purpose, but then that was too much.


    ¡°I never said I worked as a Researcher. I never said just where I got my experience with weapon tech. You just went with that answer,¡± Jessie said with a small edge of humor in his voice.


    Duncan only looked at Zevortro and Jessie and then he started to chuckle. That chuckle became a whole-body laugh and soon he was on the ground., laughing.

 One Hundred Seventy One Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1500


    As Duncan looked around his room, he tried to keep calm as he sipped his soup. The others who had spent the last two hours fighting were all ordered to eat something. He had gathered what he was starting to think as his alpha team and a few others, inviting them to eat with him. Terra, Jessie, Dalila, and Vivian were sitting together, and they talked quietly. Zevortro, Vivis, Bryke, and QIANA were sitting on the other side of the room. Zevortro had told the others that Jessie wasn¡¯t a researcher. Bryke then glared at Jessie like he had killed someone.


    Duncan had stopped them all talking at first. Saying to wait until they were finished, saying that he wanted them all to recover first. Qiana had chimed in then, saying that the after-effects of combat were something to come down from. A moment later, some of the others had brought some soup that they


    As they drank their soup, he looked around until his eyes found Vivian and Dalila. He didn¡¯t want to think what their presence meant, but he had to. Bounty Hunters were a group that had as many reasons as there were stars for them doing anything. There was one reason that he could think they were here, and the idea rubbed him raw. The Ambassadors had a kid amongst them for stars shake!


    Throughout the meal, the tension had been rising. His order had stopped them from talking about it, but one side had questions for the other. And from how he was acting, Bryke was leading the charge, with the others behind him.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s talk. Who will start?¡± Duncan asked as he crossed his arms.


    ¡°Start? Chief there¡¯s only one choice,¡± Vivis said as she looked towards Vivian, Dalila, Terra, and Jessie.


    Duncan sighed and shook his head. ¡°No, I want to know about the prisoner first, Qui1?¡±


    Qiana looked at him and swallowed, a strange look on her face. ¡°Well, the gene scan from the blood sample Dalila got us was finished before we came here. Their omnivores, they can eat anything. And I mean anything. They might even be able to digest wood if it was small enough. So any food we have can feed them. I looked at them while the scan was finishing, and they spoke a language I can¡¯t even try and repeat. So we have no way to negotiate with their¡­¡­¡­ group.¡±


    Duncan sighed and shook his head, a disgusted look on his face. ¡°Wonderful, just wonderful. So the only choice we have is to keep them until we can then?¡±


    ¡°And we can¡¯t let them go why?¡± Bryke asked with a sarcastic edge.


    Terra was about to say something when Jessie put his hand on her shoulder.


    ¡°Simple, their culture,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge as he looked at Bryke.


    Duncan had figured that out already, but he wasn¡¯t surprised that Jessie had. It was pretty basic thinking for someone who had experience in the underworld. Any Bounty Hunter that survived knew the culture of criminals.


    ¡°What about it?¡± Qiana asked in an inquisitive tone.


    ¡°People like them, they might be all about what is seen. By being taken alive, they might have been shamed. If we let them go, they might be killed. Or they might come back leading the charge, hoping to kill us all. We need to talk to them first, and only then could we release them,¡± Dalila said with a weary tone.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all about reputation. That¡¯s it. And if they think we damaged theirs, then they might want to kill us,¡± Vivian said bitterly.


    ¡°How do you all know that?! What in the name of the stars are you!?¡± Bryke exclaimed in a shocked tone.


    Jessie, Dalila, and Vivian all looked at each other for a moment before the girls nodded at Jessie.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll just go out and say it. I¡¯m a Bounty Hunter, and so are the girls,¡± Jessie said as he looked back at the triad.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Duncan watched as Bryke fell to the floor in shock as Vivis¡¯s mouth dropped open. Zevortro only looked at Jessie for a few moments before he nodded.


    ¡°Oh, that explains everything. And that¡¯s what you meant earlier,¡± Zevortro said looking up at the ceiling. As his friends looked at him, Zevortro only nodded. ¡°Yeah, I can see where I misunderstood you. Explains everything!¡±


    ¡°Not for me! What are you three doing here!?¡± Bryke asked anger in his voice.


    ¡°Well. I¡¯m on a vacation cycle. Came aboard with my ship and I figured I could spend a few years just relaxing here,¡± Jessie said with a small laugh. Everyone but Duncan and Terra looked at him. He just shrugged and released a bark of laughter. ¡°I¡¯m a workaholic. Just doing nothing would make me go mad after a while, maybe a month at most.¡±


    ¡°Same as me and planets. I was going to move into an apartment on the ship and enjoy a year of relaxation. It was going to be nice,¡± Duncan said with a smirk.


    ¡°Wait Wait! What about them!?¡± Qiana asked, a shocked and scared tone as she pointed at Dalila and Vivian.


    ¡°We were after a bit of data Bradford has. Figured I take it and then escape. There¡¯s a big payday if I can prove something. Not sure about what she wants,¡± Dalila said as she shrugged.


    Duncan looked at her, his mouth hanging open.


    ¡°That¡¯s personal. But I expected to get what I wanted and leave with no one knowing what I did. I even rented a spaceship for a few months for it,¡± Vivian said as she crossed her arms, blowing out her breath through her mouth.


    ¡°Bradford, you were after Bradford. Him?¡± Duncan asked, totally shocked.


    ¡°The old man has fingers in a lot of pies. And that¡¯s what we need to talk about Chief. He and Jones are working together. I¡¯m sure of it!¡± Vivian said with a hard edge to her voice.


    ¡°What!? How can you know that?¡± Qi exclaimed, shock in her voice as everyone stared at her.


    ¡°I know body language, I could tell Jones was acting when he confronted us. And my nanites picked up enough tells to paint a picture!¡± Vivian exclaimed.


    Duncan blinked and looked at her not quite understanding what she was saying. Then slowly, he started to. Then he felt his rage slowly build as he realized that Bradford had played him. He could see it all now, and he was shocked that he hadn¡¯t.


    Terra


    Terra watched Duncan as he sank into his chair, shaking his head. ¡°That old viper! He played me good!¡±


    ¡°Boss, you believe her!?¡± Bryke asked.


    ¡°Yeah, I do. There¡¯s been a few things that other officers saw about Jones. Doesn¡¯t surprise me,¡± Duncan admitted.


    Terra looked at Duncan, blinking a bit. She had run into Jones before the crash, and he didn¡¯t seem to be that bad.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯ve been watching Jones before we ended up here?!¡± Zevortro exclaimed with a


    ¡°No, just a few things that others saw. A few reactions here and there. We¡¯ve been wondering if he¡¯s a member of the Purity Path. But how does Bradford fit in?¡± Duncan asked.


    Terra felt her eyes widen in horror, and she felt the room spin a bit as she held her head. She almost lost it before she felt someone squeeze her hand. She looked down to see Jessie¡¯s hand in hers, and she smiled a bit.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the who?¡± Vivis asked with shock in her voice.


    ¡°A religion on the border regions. Human supremacists. They¡¯ve been on the watchlists for a few years. Just a few bad apples that their leaders can say were acting on their own. But that¡¯s just what they say,¡± Jessie said as he looked around the room.


    ¡°Religion? Try cult! It¡¯s kind of interesting that each one of those bad apples always fights to the death. And how they always do things that make the Path look better or advance their agenda!¡± Vivian said bitterly.


    ¡°Yeah. The Guild has a file on them! Every Hunter sends in reports on our hunts, and all the work is taken together. It¡¯s how we track down pirate fleets and the like. But there¡¯s nothing to prove they acted on orders. But the number of them? Most of us think the Path is gearing up for war,¡° Dalila said as she shook her head.


    ¡°And the company is weary of them. The Laws say that the rights of religion are to be respected. As long as the religion isn¡¯t to hurt others. But look into their book? And it can be read as a humans over every other race thing. But they hide it without saying it,¡± Duncan said with a dead look on his face.


    Terra kept quiet, not saying anything about her own experience with the Path. That was something personal, and the monsters responsible were dead. There was no reason to bring up that old pain, at least not now. If that changed, she would, but for now she would stay silent.


    ¡°So the slimy senator is working with one of ours. The same person that most of us think abandoned the others in his team. Bad news,¡± Zevortro said.


    ¡°Then let me make it worse. I did some research on him to prepare for my hunt. Most of the criminal underground of his world follow the orders of one person. Someone they all call the Patriarch. It took me months to even find that out. I tracked down a few middlemen and saw them meet with people. People I know work for Bradford personally,¡± Vivian said as she crossed her arms.


    Terra felt the world fall away beneath her. If Vivian was right, then Bradford was a criminal mastermind who had control of the underworld of a planet.


    ¡°So then there¡¯s a chance they might be trying to make a rebellion then? Before or after Jinn gets back here?¡± Bryke asked, massaging his head.


    ¡°We need to secure all arms as soon as possible. Keep them out of the passenger''s hands. How can we do that?¡± Vivis asked as she looked around.


    ¡°I think we can make a charging station up on the clearing,¡± Vivian suggested.


    ¡°Most of the weapons are already up there. And if we do that, Bradford might figure out what¡¯s going on. We need to spy on them and find out what they are planning.


    ¡°I have some drones. Vivian can handle them once I give her the right control program. I¡¯ll be too busy to help,¡± Dalila said with a slight edge to her voice.


    Terra looked at Dalila, wondering what she had to do. What on this strange island could she have to do that was more important?


    ¡°Busy with what?¡± Zevortro asked shock in his voice.


    ¡°There¡¯s something else. I figured out what was hacking into the network,¡± Dalila said as she looked around the room.


    As everyone looked at her, she swallowed and Terra was sure she saw fear in her eyes.


    ¡°To bring everyone up to speed, me and Jessie spent an hour trying to get the new console to work. We couldn¡¯t because the network was rejecting any connection without a ¡®handshake". It''s a security setting," Dalila said with a hard look.


    ¡°How the nova did that happen?¡± Qiana asked shock in her voice.


    Terra knew a bit about computers, and she understood a few reasons. But with her saying the system was being hacked, that was enough.


    ¡°Did you find who was hacking into us?¡± Terra asked, hope in her voice. Something was at the edge of her mind that she couldn¡¯t see. A possibility that she could almost grasp.


    ¡°I¡­.. yeah. And it¡¯s my fault it¡¯s doing it!¡± Dalila exclaimed.


    Her words were like a bomb. Zevortro, Bryke, and Vivis gazed at her while Qiana fell to the ground, staring in horror.


    ¡°What do you mean, your fault!?¡± Zevortro demanded


    ¡°Oh by the Founders and the stars! Are you serious?! How could that thing even connect to the network!?¡± Qiana asked in horror.


    ¡±What do you mean!?¡± Bryke asked as he looked at Qiana.


    Dalila took a deep breath and then sighed. ¡°The thing beneath us. That¡¯s what¡¯s hacking into the network. And it learned while I was trying to hack it!¡±

 One Hundred Seventy One Part 2

    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Are you serious?! That thing is still alive!?¡± Bryke demanded horror in his voice. The idea that something that was still alive down there? And that they were able to try to breach the castaway¡¯s tech? He didn¡¯t know much about programming, but something seemed off with that idea.


    Dalila only nodded. ¡°It¡¯s the only thing that makes sense! We were able to get the shield up before, so what changed? There has to be something. The only other option is a cloak-capable drone nearby able to try and break in. but where did it come from?¡±


    Bryke started to speak again when someone put a hand on his shoulder. He looked to his left and saw Zevortro shaking his head.


    ¡°Okay, so we now have to go into it, right Chief?¡± Zevortro said as everyone looked at Duncan.


    Duncan was looking down at the ground, a look of intense anger in his eyes. Bryke could understand. Up until now, the idea that the thing below them was a threat was just a theory. Now they had information that showed the threat.


    ¡°We do. No matter what we find, we have no choice but to go into it. We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Duncan said bitterly.


    ¡°But the time, we should go tomorrow. We¡¯ll need to prepare,¡± Jessie said with a hard look.


    Bryke was about to open his mouth when Duncan nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, and we¡¯ll need a team. Something small and fast. But we¡¯ll need people to hold the ground if you retreat. That means more people,¡± Duncan said as he looked around.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± Zevortro said holding his hand up.


    Bryke looked at his friend and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°If this idiot is going, I¡¯ll back him up.¡±


    Duncan looked at Bryke for a few moments before he nodded. ¡°Goodman! Jessie, Terra, and Dalila will round out who''s going down. I everything ready to cut into that thing tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°This is going to be crazy. But how will who¡¯s ever down there talk to us?¡± Bryke asked as he looked around.


    ¡°I expect that it¡¯ll have our language down if it¡¯s not automatic,¡± Dalila said as she looked at him. It must have been something in Bryke¡¯s eyes that startled her because she covered her mouth with her hands. ¡°Oh nova! You think someone is still alive down there!?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s not!? Then what¡¯s hacking into the network!?¡± Bryke demanded. Something was hidden here, and he couldn¡¯t see it. And from the look that most of the others were sending him, they had figured it out before him.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s an AI,¡± Dalila said as she swallowed.


    Bryke stared at her in horror. All the horror stories about AIs. And one was beneath them? He suddenly saw that this was a lot worse than he had thought.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford kept a frown on his face until the door was closed. Then he smiled and shook his head as he looked at Jones. ¡°Well done my boy! That was perfect!¡±


    ¡°You think so, sir?¡± Jones asked with a slightly crazed look on his face.


    Bradford looked at him and kept down a shudder. Something about this man was starting to make him worried. The way that Jones had talked about the ¡®Proper path¡¯, was starting to sound deranged. There was something that was slowly making him think that he might have to arrange an ¡®accident¡¯ soon.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Of course my boy! That was the perfect acting! With this, Duncan will have no choice but to lean on me to solve problems here! I¡¯ll soon have the voice we need to make changes!¡±


    ¡°Perfect sir! If you need anything from me, let me know!¡± Jones said and Bradford nodded.


    ¡°I will my boy! I will,¡± Bradford promised as he looked at Jones as the man left the bathroom.


    Bradford waited until the door was closed to scowl, his mind going dark places. He was sure that someone had picked up on Jones''s acting, but who? And would they tell Duncan?


    Bradford looked around, a slight crazed feeling going through his body. There it was again, that strange feeling that someone was watching him! He didn¡¯t know where it was coming from, but it was there! For the last day, he had felt it on and off, and he still couldn¡¯t find anything.


    With a slight deranged feeling growing within him, he wondered if he was slowly going mad. The way that he had talked to Operative Brute was something that he still couldn¡¯t believe. He knew about Power Users, but he had become one? He felt the flame that most beings talked about stronger than they had. If this was real, then there was something about this island, this different planet.


    ¡°Communication hub!¡± He barked softly.


    As the grid formed again, he saw that most of the icons were still blacked out. But the star icon was active, and it seemed to be calling to him.


    With nothing to lose, he pressed the icon and it glowed.


    ¡°Who is this!? How are you doing this to me!?¡± A harsh female voice called out through the grid before him.


    Bradford blinked, and then he grinned. ¡°Operative Mind, it¡¯s wonderful to hear from you!¡±


    ¡°Master Bradford!? Where are you!?¡± Operative Mind asked, a strange urgency in her voice. ¡°Sir, find a place to hide! The robots will find you if you¡¯re not undercover! If that AI gets you, I can¡¯t rescue you alone!¡±


    ¡°Robots?! AI Robots!?¡± Bradford asked, a slight edge to his voice. The idea of Robots under the control of an AI were nightmares for a lot of people in the Federation. The fact that one of his operatives was saying that there was one that was attacking her, was beyond bad. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m with another escape capsule that crashed on an island!¡±


    ¡°An island!? Sir, I¡¯m in a desert! I don¡¯t understand, how is this possible!?¡± Operative Mind asked with worry in her voice.


    Bradford looked at the screen and tried to think. ¡°Well, Operative Brute is with the front half of the ship in an arctic environment. So I expect this is just something that this planet has. I expect that there is at least one Power User amongst your band of survivors?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir, I count myself among that number. And you as well, that¡¯s how we can talk. Right?¡± Operative Mind asked and Bradford grinned.


    Bradford had long considered her among the smartest of his agents. It was good to see that their situation hadn¡¯t changed much. ¡°My dear my orders are simple. Stay alive until I call to contact you again. We will find our way back to the ship and gain power in this world. We will survive until we can contract the Federation. So do anything to last until we can find each other!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Operative Mind said, a note of glee in her voice.


    Bradford opened her mouth when the icon blinked out. He stared at the screen for a few moments more until he willed it away. He sighed and shook his head. ¡°Well, another problem to solve then. But I will figure this out!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ?????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked around from his prison, the hunter cursed his Chief. Why did that one have to order the charge once the Proud Claws were dead?! They could have taken half, leaving the rest for the Wall Builders! That would have been good, a gesture of respect and they would have parted ass not enemies! But no, the chief is all about his ¡®respect¡¯! The only real way to keep the tried safe was to fight everyone that they found! And to throw themselves at even a master Might user! The fact that he and the other were captives might even have been the plan!


    He felt his blood boil. The others had been talking about how he was getting stronger. Maybe the chief saw the strength that he gained as a threat? Stupid! He was one of the best fighters in the tribe. Would this happen to others if they grew as strong as the Chief? That would destroy the tribe! When the other warriors figured out what the Chief was doing, they would react. This was going to be their deaths, and spark off a civil war! The rival tribes would see the strife as the chance to come in and kill the survivors and the Packs? Those would just eat and grow strong off the dead!


    ¡°What are they going to do with us?¡±


    The warrior looked up to see his fellow captive and tried to keep calm. The being across from him was barely an adult, still too young to be here. The only reason that the chief had sent him was because his grand-sire was once the strongest of the tribe for a year. Another mark in his theory of the Chief¡¯s plans.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but keep calm Recor! We must find a way back to the Tribe!¡± The warrior said softly.


    Recor gazed at him, and the look in the youngster¡¯s eye almost made the warrior weep.


    ¡°But how Blorspi? We can¡¯t even move!¡± Recor exclaimed as he moved his arms around.


    Blorspi had to admit, Recor had a point. This was unlike anything that Blorspi had ever even heard of! And the fact that he couldn¡¯t see who was making this happen was another mark against them getting away. The only other thing that could be making this was the strange metallic thing below them. But that was impossible, wasn¡¯t it? But he couldn¡¯t let the kid know that not for now. Best to not break the young one¡¯s spirit.


    ¡°We might not be able to move, but we can still think! We can still reach for the Power! If we can break through, we can escape!¡± Blorspi reassured Recor, trying to boost the youngster¡¯s spirits. ¡°All it takes is one small crack, and we can wield it like your grand-sire. Don¡¯t give up, for there is always hope!¡±


    Recor looked at him with a sense of awe in his eye. ¡°You are going to be one of the Great Leaders, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Blorspi tried to look away, feeling that sting again. The fact that others of the tribe thought he would one day be called was a source of shame for him. That others thought he would be remembered as that for just doing his duty? It bothered him so much that he couldn¡¯t speak of it. And those same rumors were probably the reason that the Chief had done this. But part of him hoped this was but chance, just the fate of the battle¡¯s chaos.


    ¡°Just keep trying for the Power kid. And remember, never give up. Never stop trying to live!¡± Blorspi said as he looked down at one of their captors. They were strange, with two eyes and fur on their heads. They were all wearing strange light-looking armor, and their bows were strange. But in this strange bar and floorless prison, he couldn¡¯t move. He had tried to move, but nothing had happened. So he was stuck with one fact.


    They wouldn¡¯t be getting out of here on their own. When the enemy came to kill them, that was when they would strike. If they weren¡¯t left here to starve first.


    ¡°Brother! Look at this!¡± Recor said, awe in his voice.


    Blorspi looked up, and he stared. His eye widened in shock at what had happened. One of their captors had thrown strange-looking bundles of something white at them. Blorspi caught his and tore the white thing apart, revealing meat from the Proud Claws. He looked down, seeing the one that had thrown it at them nodding.


    ¡°They''re feeding us!? Why?¡± Recor asked in shock.


    Blorispi had to agree. This was unlike anything that he had expected. Just what were they planning? Were they fattening them up for the slugger slaughter? But as he looked at the food, he found that he didn¡¯t care. The simple fact was that they had something to eat, and that was enough. Now they could survive, and work on the rest later. ¡°Just eat kid. We can figure this out later.¡±

 One Hundred Seventy Two Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 3


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1800


    Jessie


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    Jessie looked up at the sky through the shield. Over the last few hours, they had been able to add cables to the other shield stations. Dalila and Vivian had switched all of them to a wired connection and shut down the wireless network. They had set up one final station that they left the network on, and tried to use it to communicate with the AI. But even no, nothing.


    He looked up at their two captives, and one of them was looking back with its eye. He only nodded at it and tried to keep calm. There was something about it, something that resonated with him. It was strange, but the more he looked at the being, the more that he saw someone like him.


    A roar of victory caused him to turn. He saw some of the other deckhands had finished creating the ramp. Once they moved the last null generator, they would cut into the plates and then they would have an entrance.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that¡¯s everything going so well,¡± Zevortro said bitterly behind him.


    He looked over his right shoulder and saw Zevortro looking at the two captives. Jessie just sighed and shook his head. ¡°You think that their people will try and rescue them?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t leave your own behind! That¡¯s just how it is! I can¡¯t accept anything else!¡± Zevortro said with force in his voice.


    Jessie sighed and shook his head. Zevortro was a lot like he was when he was younger and in training. Before he understood how different the universe was. How many different ways of thinking there was.


    ¡°First law of first contact kid. You don¡¯t put your own culture into the minds of aliens. We don¡¯t know anything about them. For all we know, if they tried to help them, the captives would just kill themselves,¡± Jessie said softly.


    Zevortro looked at him for a few moments before he nodded. ¡°I understand. I don¡¯t agree with it, but I understand. So got any more repurposed tech to use down there?¡±


    Jessie only chuckled and shook his head. ¡°No, but I have a few skills that might help us. And a few strains of nanites that will let me make a map.¡±


    ¡°Really!?¡± Jessie asked, with a bit of envy in his voice. ¡°No chance that we can¡¯t get any of those?¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I need a nanite bath to grow enough for anyone else. And I don¡¯t carry one of those with me,¡± Jessie said in a joking manner.


    Zevortro laughed a little, shaking his head as he looked around the shield. ¡°Funny. So we should all get to sleep soon I guess. Think I¡¯ll do another lap around the shield and then find a place to clock out. See you on the bounce!¡±


    Jessie only nodded, looking towards one of the shield consoles, and moved towards it. That idea to get some sleep soon was smart. But he had to do a few things before it was his turn. The shield was even stronger than it was with the wireless option. He wanted to check over the power drains before he went to sleep. He just wanted to make sure the back was safe before they went down.


    He found one of the other deckhands manning the station and coughed. The deckhand looked up and blinked as they saw who was there.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re Jessie, right? You helped set up the new console!¡± The deckhand said looking around. ¡°Is everything okay?! I didn¡¯t miss anything, did I?¡±


    ¡°No, I just wanted to make sure that everything¡¯s okay for my peace of mind. You understand how that is, right?¡± Jessie said with a small smile.


    The deckhand looked at him and stepped away, letting Jessie look at it. ¡°Well, the drain is a half percent less with the wires. They also carry a bit of charge to each other so the power¡¯s a bit more stable. We shouldn¡¯t even lose half of the batteries even if it¡¯s forced to regenerate a half percent all night.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Jessie looked over the settings before he sighed. The deckhand was right, the battery was holding a charge better, something to think about. But as he sighed and got up, he smiled at the deckhand. ¡°You¡¯re right, it holds a charge better. Just let the person who takes over for you to watch the readings.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± The deckhand said as they nodded.


    Jessie walked away, looking at that one Cyclopes for a few seconds before nodding again. They would have to find a way to communicate with them. There was something about that one that told him that they had a lot to talk about.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Blorspi


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Blorspi looked around as the clearing was lit by strange lights. It was as if the sun was here, everything was as clear as noon.


    ¡°What magic is this!? What can¡¯t they do?¡± Recor asked, awe in his voice


    Blorspi kept silent, but he agreed with his young friend. This was beyond anything that the tribe had. And he still couldn¡¯t even think of anything that could explain how they were acting. They had sent another two bundles of that strange material. They were given more food, this time with strange plants. It was tasty and juicy. He didn¡¯t understand what they could gain, but there had to be.


    ¡°They are strong, and they are diffident. That is all that there is. But remember, watch and try to awaken,¡± Blorspi said softly.


    Recor looked at him and then away. There was something in the youngling¡¯s eye that bothered Blorspi, but he had bigger things to worry about. As he looked around, he saw something from beyond the strange barrier. He couldn¡¯t see what it was, but it was something moving in one of the tees. He looked at it, wondering if it was one of the Small Walkers. They were often underfoot, always watching. The fact that one of them might be watching this place was strangely comforting.


    The Small Walkers were strong and smart and they were never caught unaware. They were a force that could stand against the toughest of foes. And no one in the Tribe had any idea how many of them there were. They moved through the island, there seemed to be multiple clans and they always struck to kill. They both had helped and fought the Tribe. He thought of them as those who wanted every tribe to survive. He had to wonder what they thought about these people, they were so strange.


    ¡°So, where did these people come from? I mean, I¡¯ve never even heard of anything like them. Maybe the edge of the land?¡± Recor asked as he looked around.


    Blorspi nodded absently, but he remembered some old stories that the old ones told. About how they had fought free of a terror that had tortured them. And those new monsters that sometimes appeared with no idea where they came from. Old stories that said beyond the great water were other lands, places that they came from.


    How once, the tribe was mightier than they were now. Of strange and terrible knowledge that was as Dangerous as the Power. Of things that fell from the Great Above, how they carried new people sometimes. He had never believed them before, but now? There was something about the crater and the thing there that these people went into. The strange thing beneath them that they had dug out. Something told him, that if he ever found out the truth, he would never believe.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we have the words to describe where they come from brother. But I think we might have to learn,¡± Blorspi said with a hard edge to his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Leonator


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    As he looked around the small side chamber where the cooks handed out food, Leonator tried to keep calm as he stood in line. He thought about the blood samples that Duncan had, that he had stored away safe. He thought that the old man was shocked by how he had reacted to the ambush hunters'' deaths. He didn¡¯t understand why, those that hide to kill were monsters, that was fact. They were pure predators who learned to fight and kill with the worst traits of the thinkers.


    He knew that those things only deserved one thing, death. But the other information that Duncan had passed on before supper, he was shocked. And he heard the others talk about it.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that a sentient race attacked us!¡± A woman with a pearl necklace in a blue dress said absently as she took a soup bowl.


    ¡°Or that they would be attacked? And because of how long it took to figure out the password to add a console to the shield? I was thinking of buying some of their stock before this!¡± A man in a suit with a red tie said as he shook his head in disgust.


    Leonator tried and failed to think of something, anything to get his mind off this madness. He knew that there was something that was bothering him about this, but he couldn¡¯t figure it out. If he was being honest about everything, that was part of his mind that he hated. He always remembered everything, but he rarely consciously remembered it all. But now and then, it helped him figure out things that he needed to. That same sense had been bothering him since he heard about it, and he hated it!


    ¡°I wonder what Sir Bradford will say about the fact that we have captives?¡± One of the men behind him said as he grabbed a bowl. Je1 kept his mind on the food as the cook spooned some broth into his bowl. He nodded as he moved, still listening to the others and their conversations.


    ¡°I still think that those fools are hiding something! I mean, it can¡¯t be all that happened! What were they doing that let those predators get into the shield in the first place?¡± Another woman asked her friend.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure that there¡¯s something that they''re hiding. They must not want us all to be under control. They must fear us all!¡± The second woman said with a sneer on her face as she looked at the servers.


    Leonator hid a scowl. He knew that he had thrown a tantrum, but he had done a report about contact with Virgin Worlds. He knew that he had been unreasonable then. But he was on the Federation''s committee that reviewed Planetary Eco crimes. To think that even against his will he was a party to one? His foes in the government would use this against him! And most of them, he thought had taken bribes.


    The few cases that he had helped save pre-sentient species? Those sources of wonder would have died without him. So he needed to be lawful.


    ¡°They fear Sir Bradford you mean! And they should! When I think of what the Senator could do if we could contact the Federation!¡± A man said with slight manic loyalty in his voice.


    Leonator didn¡¯t like how some of the other passengers were starting to think that Bradford could do no wrong. And even worse, the way that Jones was starting to make speeches. That man rubbed him the wrong way, and he couldn¡¯t understand why. He sounded like any other person with nothing but hot air, but something more was there.


    He absently drank some of his meal and tried to think. He needed to talk to Duncan and bring up why he had acted the way he had. And he had to tell Duncan about Jones. There was something about him that was so similar to something he had seen before. But where? He had been a member of the committee for this Work Cycle. So where had he heard something like Jones? It was almost like¡­¡­..


    Leonator went completely still as the terrible thoughts invaded his head. He swallowed as he called up a few other speeches he had saved, and he felt his blood leave his face. Absently, he drank the rest of his soup and cleaned off his face with an arm. He had to talk to Duncan now!

 One Hundred Seventy Two Part 2

    Duncan


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    Duncan smiled as he moved his leg, relishing the absence of pain. He hadn¡¯t expected that he would feel so happy once it was healed, but he did. He would never think less of the tech that let broken bones heal fast ever again. ¡°People just don¡¯t understand how far we¡¯ve come until they don¡¯t have it, do they?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve always seen!¡± Vivian said from his left.


    Duncan hid a small smile as he looked to his left. The room he had used was surprisingly able to have at least three desks, and Vivian needed a cover. After the work to find the threat was done, he would say that she used to be an aid. With how small everything was he didn¡¯t need a whole staff, just one person would do. She had ¡®offered¡¯ to mind the store for him while he was up in the clearing. This way he would be able to move around, and if people needed help they could go to her.


    ¡°And I expect that you¡¯ve seen quite a few characters that have learned that lesson the hard way? No, don¡¯t answer it,¡± Duncan said as he held up a hand.


    Vivian only looked at him and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t want to hear about all the people who¡¯ve learned like you then chief? Okay. I¡¯ll spare your ego.¡±


    Chuckling at her sass, Duncan only laughed a bit. For the last few hours, she had been here, learning to use Dalila¡¯s drones. And he was finding that she was someone that had a wicked sense of humor. The few times that he had seen her on the ship, she had seemed so demure. That was just another way that Bounty Hunters knew to hide in plain sight. Act the part.


    If was something else to see how she was. And it made him think about a few other people that he had met in passing. Once again, he knew nothing about anyone, and it made him question a few people.


    ¡°Still, this is amazing. I mean, I never thought to try these things before now. I should have,¡± Vivian said with awe in her voice as she held up a hand and the small bug drones took flight.


    He watched as she mentally directed them to perfume maneuvers before them. She had them making signs and letters in their flight patterns, amazing to watch. It reminded him of a few shows that the Entertainment Chief aboard the ship had been planning. Something using shuttle-size drones at Journey''s End. If this was what small drones could do, then he owed that person an apology. This was amazing, and the bigger ones with the augments that they were talking about? It would have made the ship famous in the company! He could even see some military uses that Vivian couldn''t, but that was another asteroid ring that he didn¡¯t want to see now.


    The one thing that he needed to think about, was the terror beneath their feet. There was no knowing how big it was, or what the consequences of opening it could be. But they had no choice, there was more danger in not going than waiting. Even trying to get in contact with the intelligence beneath them had failed, there was no choice.


    But he didn¡¯t have to like it. He sighed and Vivian looked up.


    She stared at him for a few moments, the drones flew away. She looked at him, the silence building until she spoke. ¡°You know that there¡¯s nothing else we can do, right?¡±


    Duncan knew that, he did. But he also knew that there was something else there, one thing that changed everything. He just looked at her and then he just looked away. After a silent moment, he spoke. ¡°That¡¯s the burden of command. You make a choice and you¡¯re dammed if you made the wrong choice.¡±


    Duncan turned to look at the wall behind his desk and called up the view from the cameras at the top. He looked at the natives and scowled. He might have agreed with everything, but there was a problem here. He knew that there was something more about them, and why they were captives. He couldn¡¯t think of what it was, but it was there. The few devices they had were making no progress to break their language. The most the computer had done was confirm that the natives were sentient!


    He didn¡¯t know what to do but move forward. Once Jinn made contact, then they would know what to do.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    VivianThe story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Vivian looked at Duncan and hid a sigh of dismay. She understood what Duncan was talking about, she didn¡¯t want to but she did. And that was why she worked alone. Too many stories around the Guildhall of Hunting packs destroying themselves for revenge. Too many people retired in shame after their partners died.


    She closed her eyes and let what the drones were seeing appear in her mind. They were smart enough to only need a direction, they could move themselves. Not sentient, maybe at most as smart as some pet species.


    As they flew through the vents, she had to admire the construction. She had never really used anything like them before, but this might be something. As she saw what her ¡®flock¡¯ saw, she let her mind wander. She had heard about these things before, but she had never used them. Maybe that was a mistake. If she was seeing the specks right, then she could have hacked so many systems with them. A few of them to invade the right systems as she escaped would have worked as well.


    But if she was honest, there had to be defenses for them. But right here and now, all she could feel was the rush of seeing them fly. But then she blinked. She opened her eyes in shock.


    ¡°Duncan? These things have only one level right?¡± Vivian asked a strange edge to her voice.


    Duncan looked up at her and scowled a little. ¡°Yeah, I looked over the specs, just one level. Why?¡±


    Vivian closed her eyes and let her drones fly down. Without opening her eyes, she spoke again. ¡°Because my little drones found a vent that goes down.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Duncan breathed in shock.


    Vivian closed her eyes and sent one of the drones down. It flew down three feet and found a camber that was as long and wide as the capsule. It was only a foot tall, and it was full of strange machines forming small rows. Small for a human, but a drone-like hers? They were the sizes of one-story houses. And to her shock, there were openings that her drone could fit into.


    ¡°This is weird, there¡¯s a kind of metallic structures down here. They¡¯re only a foot tall, but they''re big for my drone. I don¡¯t know, what are these things?¡± Vivian asked as she opened her eyes and looked at Duncan.


    Duncan stared back at her, shock in his wide eyes.


    Vivian looked at him and then she felt her heart freeze. ¡±You¡¯ve never heard about these things either!?¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Duncan said with anger growing in his voice. ¡°All the blueprints I¡¯ve ever read about these things say that they have shock absorbers down there! Nothing like that!¡±


    ¡°Well, I can see it! What do we do?¡± Vivian asked.


    Duncan was about to open his mouth to speak when suddenly there was a knock at the door.


    Vivian looked up as Duncan face palmed. ¡°Oh, what fresh asteroid is this now!?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Leonator


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Leonator looked at the door and knocked again, this time starting to feel a bit worried. Was it possible that Duncan was out of his room? Or was he meeting Sir Bradford? He had seen Jones and Bradford talking, and that was something that he was worried about. If that man was working with Jones, then Lee1 was starting to regret voting for him the last time. Sure, Bradford lost the race but it was the principle of thing!


    He looked around, wondering suddenly if the tabloid rumors were true. If Bradford had people, then his life might be in danger if people saw him. But most people were falling asleep, and the guard at the outer door was sitting down, dozing as he sat there.


    Leonator was about to leave when the door opened. He blinked as he saw a woman opening the door. For a moment, he didn¡¯t recognize her then he did. ¡°Miss Vivian? Hello, I¡¯m sorry to be a bother, but is it possible that I could talk with Chief Duncan?¡±


    ¡°Come in Leonator. What can I do for you? Come to argue against us taking fruit?¡± Duncan asked with a weary tone.


    Leonator forced down his rage. He deserved that, after his tantrum before. He walked into the room and looked at Vivian and then at the door. She looked at him and then she looked at Duncan.


    ¡°Miss Vivian volunteered to be my aid boy. Anything you say to me you say to her. But close the door,¡± Duncan said.


    Vivian looked at them and then she closed the door. Leonator breathed a sigh of relief,


    ¡°Thank you. No not about my tantrum, but that is part of it. I believe that I must first explain what I do for a living this cycle of my life.¡±


    ¡°Oh, and what¡¯s that? Animal Rights activist?¡± Duncan asked.


    ¡°Board member of the Committee for Planetary Eco Crimes actually,¡± Leonator said.


    Duncan had been drinking water and when Leonator said what he did, Duncan coughed. After a moment of coughing, he looked at Leonator as Vivianface palmed.


    ¡°You¡¯re what!?¡± Duncan breathed.


    Leonator only looked at him and sighed. ¡°Yes, and some of my foes will use this against me when we¡¯re rescued. And most of them will happily kill off pre-sentient races for a few credits!¡±


    ¡°Stars and Nova. You were worried that they would use the crash landing against you!?¡± Duncan breathed out, horror and shock in his voice.


    ¡°Of course they would!¡± Vivian said bitterly.


    Leonator almost looked at her before he stopped himself. That was for later. ¡°Yes, and I can see that you all understand my fears. But there is a greater concern here. I believe that Master Jones is a member of the Purity Path organization.¡±


    Duncan looked at him for a few moments before he nodded. ¡°So you do. But what can I do about it? The laws allow freedom of belief after all. And throwing a man out of the Shilled is something I¡¯ll have a hard time selling.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I wanted you to know sir. Unofficially I¡¯m here to argue for mercy for the two prisoners. I trust you understand my meaning?¡± Leonator asked as he looked from Duncan to Vivian.


    For a moment, Duncan said nothing before he chuckled. ¡°Completely. Will you mind keeping an eye on Jones for me? And if he tries to get along with Bradford? I mean, we all heard what that rotten apple did a few months back.¡±


    Leonator looked at Duncan and it took all his political experience to keep from screaming. Duncan wanted to protect Bradford!? If he and Jones were working together, then that might lead to something terrible! But Duncan was right? There was nothing else that he could do.


    ¡°Rest assured sir, I¡¯ll keep an eye on Jones for you. He won¡¯t talk to Bradford without me seeing it firsthand. But please act if I bring you anything,¡± Leonator said with a low voice.


    Before he could turn away, Duncan barked and grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll do you one better! Find me proof that Bradford or Jones are planning anything that will hurt us and I¡¯ll kick him out myself! All I want is to keep this capsule safe! So to make sure you can talk to me, you¡¯re now my advisor on the local Wildlife!¡±


    Leonator looked at Duncan and blinked, not sure he heard right. ¡°I¡¯m what?¡±


    ¡°My advisor! Just tell people that you once spoke for that Committee as an expert! That¡¯ll keep what you are a secret and give you reason to talk to me!¡± Duncan declared.


    Leonator looked at him, understanding what Duncan was not saying. And he felt a grin form on his face. This was just what he needed in a way that no one would know the truth of. It was better than he expected from Duncan if Leonator was honest.

 One Hundred Seventy Three Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 0500


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie blinked as he felt someone shake him awake. Opening his eyes as he fought down old instants, he looked up at Terra looking down at him.


    ¡°You should know not to wake me like that girl!¡± Jessie muttered as he got up and stretched.


    ¡°Sorry, but something happened. Something you need to see,¡± Terra said as she looked beyond Jessie.


    He scowled and then turned his head. He looked out and blinked, then he closed his eyes and opened them again. What he saw was still there, and it was gathering a crowd. ¡°These are not my eyeballs.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they are. Those things are real!¡± Terra said a strange note in her voice.


    Jessie could only stare in awe. There, just beyond the shield were what looked like Unicorns! They were large horse-like creatures with legs over five feet long. They had bodies that were a solid green, with horns of a crystal material. The horns were a slanted hexagon with an opening at the end. There were ten adults with five children, and larger than the adults by three feet. This one wasn¡¯t eating, it was looking right at them with its horn down. The other were eating the remains of the bear things outside the shield and some of the grass. All in all, they seemed to be feeding with their elder watching the biggest threat. But something was telling him that wasn¡¯t it.


    ¡°Predator Unicorns, now I¡¯ve seen everything!¡± One of the deckhands said in wonder.


    Jessie kept calm and looked at the beasts, something was bothering him about those horns. There was just something about them that reminded him of something. He couldn¡¯t place it, but he had seen something like them before. But where or more importantly, when?


    Jessie blinked and then looked around for his team. He saw Zevortro standing there and walked over to him. Zevortro was looking beyond the shield and didn¡¯t react until Jessie put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°What!? Oh, Jessie. Yeah, it¡¯s time to go to work isn¡¯t it?¡± Zevortro said, a note of wonder in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, now. We need to get everyone ready to work. Those things are just another possible threat we¡¯re hiding from. Remember that!¡± Jessie said sternly.


    ¡°Yeah, I know. But Unicorns? Those are something every human child has wondered about, right?¡± Zevortro said with a grin only for that to fall when Jessie looked at him.


    ¡°Not me,¡¯ Jessie said as he turned to look at the beasts. ¡°And those things are probably one the biggest threats we¡¯re going to see.¡±


    ¡°What? How can you tell that?¡± Zevortro asked horror and shock in his voice.


    ¡°Just a feeling. So move!¡± Jessie said as he looked around, he saw Dalila and Bryke by the crater and pushed Zevortro towards them. ¡°Go and get them moving! After that, get the others moving. We¡¯ll need someone to go get breakfast for everyone.¡±


    As Zevortro moved on, Jessie kept looking at the beast. As they ate the flesh of the dead, Jessie had to wonder about their diet. Were they predators or scavengers? And if they were predators, then how did they kill their prey? The more he looked at the horn, the more he knew, knew, that he had seen something like it before.


    ¡°I wonder what they normally eat?¡± A deckhand asked in awe.


    ¡°Should we bring the passengers up here?¡± Another asked.


    Jessie felt his rage spike and then he found Terra. He stalked over to her and he barely kept from screaming. It was time that fun time was over, time to get back to normal!


    ¡°The other deckhands are starting to wonder if they should bring the passengers up here. With all our prisoners!¡± Jessie said sternly.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    He saw Terra keep her eyes on the beasts and she nodded.


    ¡°That sounds great! We should let the shields down too! Bring those beautiful things inside!¡± Terra said drunkenly.


    Jessie looked at her and then around, his eyes widening as he took in what the others were doing. They had all kept staring at the shield, and they seemed to be walking towards the beasts. The more he took in what they were doing, the more worried he got. Finally, he felt something that he had felt before. It felt like. ¡°The Trainer!¡±


    Without a single waited moment, Jessie ran towards the nearest console. Without stopping to think, he knew exactly what he had to do. As he ran, he looked towards the two native captives. They were both floating there, their eyes locked on the beasts. But unlike the others, he thought that they were staring in anger. That was enough, that meant that they had run into those things before. And if he was right, that was bad.


    Finally making it to the console station, he let his fingers move to the setting he needed. Looking at it, he wondered if this was the right move.


    ¡°Awe¡­.! Why can¡¯t we touch the horses?¡± One of the deckhands at the shield called out drunkenly.


    Then he looked up and saw some of the deckhands moving towards the other consoles and this one.


    ¡°We gotta bring them down here! I¡¯ll do it!¡± One of the other deckhands called out with a drunken grin on their face.


    That was it, he had one chance to stop them, and he had to do it!


    With one click, the shield suddenly became opaque. As the clearing was covered in darkness, the light shot back on. And as the lights came on, he smiled. Every deckhand had fallen to the ground, each of them having lost their balance.


    ¡°I knew it!¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Recor


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Blorspi, did you see that?¡± Recor asked in awe. Those Terror Horns were standing there, their Lure looking right at the strangers. Then some of them walked towards something, then they saw the Awakner reach one first. Then the barrier suddenly became dark and their captors all fell, breaking free of the Lure. He couldn''t believe that he had seen Terror Horns and lived! The last time those things had attacked the tribe, they almost called half of the tribe to them. If Blorspi hadn¡¯t killed the Caller, then the tribe would have died!


    ¡°Yeah, I did kid. I mean by the Old ones! I thought they were all dead!¡± Blorspi said, anger and awe in his voice.


    Recor looked at his elder and felt anger. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? If they had died to those things the Terror Horne youngsters would have killed us! How was this any worse for us?!¡±


    ¡°Because one of them was able to resist. That means they have an Elder amongst them!¡± Blorspi said bitterly.


    Recor looked at Blorspi and felt faint. That meant that their hope to Awaken to escape was doomed to failure with an enemy Elder here! Recor felt a little faint. But then a strange and hopeful thought came into his head.


    ¡°Maybe not! I mean he might just be a mentally focused Awakened! That¡¯s possible, right?¡± Recor asked hope and sheer will in his voice.


    Blorspi only chuckled and nodded. ¡°Yeah kid, keep trying to awaken. Once you do that, I¡¯ll teach you how to ¡®jump¡¯. We can get out of here and then we can escape!¡±


    ¡°SIR, you¡¯ve Awakened?¡± Recor asked in awe. That was the only way that anyone could teach others Powers. But if he could, then why didn¡¯t he escape?


    Blorspi only closed his eyes and chuckled. When he opened his eyes, Recor could see a bit of anger in it. Blorspi looked at Recor for a few moments before speaking. ¡°No, my father was one of them remember? He talked about how he felt to use his Power. That was one that I hoped to learn to do the most.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Recor said as he looked down at the strange beings. He had to admit, that made more sense. If his elder could do anything like the other Awakened, then the two of them wouldn¡¯t be here now. And the way that the Awakener of the enemy reacted, was amazing. He somehow used something as a medium to block off all sight! The size of this alone showed that he was a monster! But something bothered him, the old stories. Was there a chance that this was the ancient knowledge that the Tribe lost? ¡°What do you think they¡¯ll do next? What were they doing in that hole last night?¡±


    Blorspi only looked down, staying silent. For a moment, Recor thought that his elder wouldn¡¯t say anything.


    Then Blorspi breathed and shook his head. ¡°Nothing that we can do anything about. We just need to keep ourselves aware. Oh, breakfast!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she moaned into the ground, Terra felt her head throb as she lay there. All around her, she could hear the sounds of others as they reacted to what had happened. As hard as she tried to think of what had happened, all she could remember was something foggy. The more she tried to figure it out the more it slipped away from her. As she shook herself, she finally remembered that she had seen something. She couldn''t remember what it was, but she had seen something that couldn¡¯t have been there.


    ¡°What was that!? Why am I on the ground!?¡± A voice called out in shock.


    ¡°I slept on the other side of the clearing! Why am I over here!?¡± Another voice called out.


    Terra felt that her mind was breaking, no way could explain this at all! Just what had happened to them all.


    She finally mustered enough energy to move her head up. The first thing she saw was Jessie moving amongst the others, helping people to sit up. As she watched, he caught her eyes.


    Talking to the deckhand he was talking to, Jessie nodded and moved towards her.


    ¡°Good to see you recovered!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Terra moaned out and Jessie reached down to help her up.


    ¡°Best I can figure some kind of mental attack. There were things outside. Things that looked like a creature of earth myths,¡± Jessie said slowly.


    Terra glared at him as she sat down cross-legged and others cried out in shock.


    ¡°What kind of creature? What could have done this to all of us through the shield!?¡± Terra asked anger and rage in her voice.


    She saw Jessie sigh and then he looked at her. ¡°A herd of unicorns. And they had these crystal horns. Everyone that was looking at them, you all became drunk.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Terra asked, her mouth dropping open. She couldn¡¯t believe what she heard, and that mean that this planet had stumped her.


    ¡°Yeah. And given how everyone was acting, I think it was the leader,¡± Jessie said, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°Wait, leader? What do you mean?¡± Terra asked as her mind started to clear. This was something that she had to figure out, and fast. If something that had done this to them was out there, then Jinn¡¯s team could be dead! If that happened, then they and whatever other escape capsules landed here were dead. They might even have to send another party out there!


    Jessie only looked at her and scowled. ¡°One of those things. Bigger. And all the others were eating the corpses out there.¡±


    Terra looked at him and then felt her mind slowly connect the dots. And the picture that revealed, it was terrible. She swallowed and looked at him. ¡°That thing was doing something to drag us to it. Make us easier to kill.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I figured out quick. And people were walking towards the control consoles before I blocked the light. This is bad,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Terra looked at him, and then away. ¡°Jinn.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. And those people down there can¡¯t learn of this. The moral alone!¡± Jessie said with a scowl.


    Terra looked at him and nodded, her mind going the same route his had. This was a threat that Duncan had to know about now! Forget about going down into the structure, they had to talk to the Chief about the shield now!

 One Hundred Seventy Three Part 2

    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he lay against the dirt wall, Zevortro tried to get his heart under control. Once he had gotten down into the crater, whatever ¡®spell¡¯ on him had broken. And that was all he needed to blackout for a moment. But the impact had woken him and then he had grabbed the wall as he floated upwards. Pulling himself to the crater¡¯s wall, he had tried to understand what had happened.


    Then everything suddenly came back to him, and he remembered what had happened. He had woken up an hour early for some reason, and then he saw the time. The decent was going to start within two hours and he needed to be ready before that. So he decided to go on watch and let the watcher clock out early. Then a half hour later, the others all went crazy. They all started making cries of shock. He had just rolled his eyes and wondered what new horror this world was going to throw at them. When they had said what they were seeing, Zevortro only laughed. After looking down at the console before him and seeing nothing, he only shrugged. With whatever was there and zero drain there, he thought there was no threat. Then he turned after a minute of them saying what they were seeing.


    Then he had turned and he had started to act drunk. He remembered walking around, then he talked to someone. Then he had gone here, and he had broken free of whatever. He took another deep breath and tried to stand up, and then he stumbled, spinning around to fall onto his back. He looked up at the shield and saw the blackness of it. He smiled, finally understanding what had happened. ¡°good thinking.¡±


    ¡°Mind telling me what happened boyo?¡± Duncan asked, voice dripping with amusement.


    Zevortro looked up and saw Duncan looking out from the doorway, Vivian and Leonator behind him. Bradford was standing to the left and he had a frown on his face.


    ¡°Sorry sir. Some kind of mind weapon that a beast used. Somebody made the shield dark to block it. Just got back to my senses a moment ago,¡± Zevortro said from the ground.


    Bradford took a step back, his eyes going wide. ¡°What!? One of those things had that kind of weapon!? How could a native have a weapon like that!? No! The Power!?¡±


    Zevortro blinked and then looked at Bradford. The way he spoke, that was telling. And something to think about later. ¡°No sir, I mean a beast. Some kind of horse with a horn.¡±


    Everyone looked at him and then as one, they said one word. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t make this up sir. I just can¡¯t,¡± Zevortro said as he slowly got back to his feet, stumbling a bit.


    ¡°Okay, that happened. So they had the shield up, and now it¡¯s dark. That keeps the light out, and that stopped what the beast did. And means that the weapon was light-based. This is bad. Bad,¡± Leonator said, a bit of worry in his voice.


    ¡°I think so, and that¡¯s bad. We need to find another way to look out the shield, without looking out,¡± Zevortro said, rolling onto his stomach. He slowly gathered his strength and pushed up. He looked down at the others. ¡°If I start acting like a drunk fool, close the doors and fight to defend yourselves.¡±


    Vivian was about to say something when Duncan put a hand on her shoulder.


    Zevortro turned away and looked up. He floated above the dirt pile¡¯s top and looked around. With a small smile, he down. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine! Everyone is either down or looking away from the shield!¡±


    He threw his rope at the ground and pulled himself down to the ground. He saw Bryke holding his head, and Zevortro knew where to go.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Duncan looked up and scowled as he pushed himself at an angle to grab the edge of the hill at the top. Turning, He looked down at Vivian and called out his orders. ¡°Girl, help Bradford get up here! Leonator, use that rope you said you know how to throw once you make it up there!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir! Senator, please put this rope around you. Just follow my orders and we¡¯ll be doing everything fine,¡± Vivian said with a smile in her voice.


    Duncan only looked ahead and tried to think of what to do now. The kind of attacks that this was, purely mental? That was beyond any training that he had ever done.


    Reaching the top, he looked around and saw Jessie talking to Terra as she was on the ground, sitting up. With a sigh, he started to walk over to them. Once there, he sighed to get their attention. ¡°So, Unicorns?¡±


    ¡°Sir,¡± Terra said with a shaky smile. ¡°Can¡¯t remember much of it.¡±


    ¡°Not many of the others can. Those who could be those who looked away for a solid minute or more before turning to see the beasts. The attack they did, affected most short-term memories,¡± Jessie said with a scowl. ¡°At least, that¡¯s what makes sense to me.¡±


    Duncan looked at him and shook his head, muttering as he looked around. From where he was, he could see that the others were all struggling to recover from what happened to them. He had seen shell-shocked soldiers before, and drunk ones. But these deckhands, these people under command now? They were all worse than special forces at the end of a five-day pass! Could he send people down into that whatever it was now? People that he knew weren¡¯t ready for it? Could he send them in at the risk of their lives?


    ¡°Noon,¡± Duncan declared as he looked around the clearing, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°Chief?¡± Jessie asked as he looked at Duncan.


    Duncan looked back and met his eyes, and Duncan saw a question in Jessie¡¯s eyes. He nodded as he turned to see Bradford look around. ¡°You¡¯ll go down after lunch. We open at noon, you eat and then you go down.¡±


    ¡°Noon?¡± Terra asked as she looked at him.


    Duncan saw her look from him to the others around, and then she winced.


    He nodded as she turned back to him. ¡°Noon, at worst. But you all need to recover.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look after the shield chief. At least we¡¯ll know if those things attack us,¡± Jessie said with a scowl.


    Duncan nodded. ¡°Good. See if you can make a part of the shield see-through, something high up. I¡¯ll go see if we can make a step ladder or something.¡±


    Duncan only gave them a wave as he walked off before they could say anything. All they needed to do was find out if they could do that. And he needed to find a way to handle Bradford. The fact that he had let slip that they were going down was a calculated risk. And Vivian had told him that Jones had wanted to talk to Bradford that morning.


    So far, Jones hadn¡¯t said anything that might show them the truth about him. But Duncan had to say, that keeping the truth of Powers away from him was smart. They had to handle that truth carefully, and Bradford still didn¡¯t know about Terra. As long as they could keep that from Jones, then they would have another card to play.


    But as he walked over, he saw Leonator looking at the natives. He had to wonder if the man would be able to find a way to talk to them, but he knew the odds. But something was telling him that there was more to the natives than he knew. They needed to speak with each other if both groups were to survive.


    He reached the group of Bradford, Leonator, and Vivian, each of them looking around. He coughed and nodded at them.


    ¡°Well, this happened,¡± Duncan said with a scowl as he looked around.


    ¡°Indeed! And to have our people attacked by these monsters! I can¡¯t even!¡± Bradford said with a scowl on his face.


    Duncan looked at him and knew that Bradford was trying to figure out how to use this, and he let him. There was nothing more offensive to Duncan than a politician trying to figure out how to gain power. But while they did that, it was something that he could figure out and plan for.


    ¡°Yeah. So I¡¯ve ordered them to rest and recover. It¡¯ll take a few hours, but by noon we¡¯ll be able to go down there. It¡¯s not the best, but that¡¯s what we have to work with,¡± Duncan said with a forced scowl.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir?¡± Leonator asked as she looked at the shield. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to be a bother, but the shield? We have no way to keep track of what¡¯s outside now, do we?¡±


    Duncan looked at Leonator and released a deep sigh. ¡°No, we don¡¯t. Not right now at least. I¡¯ve told the boy to figure out a workaround. So we should have everything ready to set up stations in an hour or so. That¡¯s if it works of course.¡±


    Leonator nodded and looked at the two natives. He frowned a little and then closed his eyes, then blinked them. ¡°Well, the two natives seem to be okay as far as I can tell. And were you aware that one of them looks younger than the other?¡±


    Duncan blinked then looked at them, cursing up a storm. ¡°No, I did not. I think that we should keep that information secret for now.¡±


    ¡°Of course! The last thing we need is some bleeding heart killing us all! I¡¯ll just say we¡¯re trying to figure out how to talk to them! Do you have any idea of a timeline to figure out their language my boy?¡± Bradford asked as he looked at Leonator.


    Leonator kept looking at the two natives until he registered what Bradford had asked. ¡°Oh, that? No, I have no idea! I hope to figure out how they communicate today at least! Beyond that, I don¡¯t know! I have enough space to at least record all the sounds they make. But this should take quite a while!¡±


    ¡°So no easy way to find out why they attacked us then?¡± Vivian asked, her voice sounding a bit hopeful.


    It did, but Duncan knew she was acting. The two of them had created this plan to try and trick Bradford. The hope they had was that Bradford would try and bring Vivian into his confidence. To try and have her spy on Duncan for him. Duncan wanted Vivian to be a double agent, giving him false information that could help Jones mess up. They needed to know just what Jones and Bradford were doing, and this trick might work.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I have a small library of languages and a few nanite strains to help me. But this kind of work takes decades at least!¡± Leonator said with a sigh as he looked up at the two natives.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have decades, we have a week at most. So try and figure out anything that you can,¡± Bradford said with a sigh.


    Leonator looked at Duncan and nodded. ¡°I know chief. And we don¡¯t know if they are truly natives after all. They could be descendants of fellow castaways,¡± Leonator said with a small smile. But that smile fell as he saw the effect his words had on them all. He looked from one face to the other, and then he blanched. ¡°Oh by the stars and novas! You didn¡¯t even think of that!?¡±


    ¡°No, I did not!¡± Duncan growled as he looked up at the two natives. For a moment he just stared at them, and then he turned to look at Vivian. ¡°I want those blood samples to be run again! This time, check if they''re related or if we can find their age! And have the cooks get the meals for the people up here ready! Master Leonator, get to work!¡±


    ¡°What do we tell the passengers Master Duncan?¡± Bradford asked as he walked towards the crater. ¡°I believe that perhaps we should say nothing. Sometimes, the perfect answer is nothing at all.¡±


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Duncan said with a slight sigh.

 One Hundred Seventy Four Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  0900


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he worked over the code, Jessie looked up at the small watch station twenty feet away from him. So far, the work to make the watch stations out of the packaging for the generators has been going well. While they had eaten, they all had worked out how to look out the ¡®holes¡¯ in the shield safely. They had figured out that they would need to make each of the ¡®stations¡¯ before the hole was blocked off. Thankfully, the packages were metal and big enough for two people to stand side by side. So with a bit of work, they now had four ¡®watch towers¡¯ that people could sit in. The window was against the shield and they could look through a clear circle. It wasn¡¯t the best, but they didn¡¯t have many options.


    He sighed and looked down at the console he was manning. So far, he had been working on the code and he was pretty sure that it would work. But the only thing left to was try it out.


    ¡°We¡¯re ready then?¡± Terra asked from behind him.


    He looked over at her and then nodded, sighing as he did. He had been able to talk the others around to let him only try out the code on one of the consoles. He had trust in his work, of course, he did. But he had no idea about the unicorns. For all they knew, the drunkenness was because the monsters wanted them that way. If the Unicorns used that attack again and wanted them to die instead? He felt that he should have been the one to try the view first. But he was the best coder they had, so here he was.


    ¡°Yeah. Just give me a minute. I still think I should look out first,¡± Jessie muttered and Terra sighed.


    ¡°And you know why you can¡¯t! we need you to figure out what will work if this is wrong!¡± Terra said with a slight scowl on her face. As Jessie looked back at her and glared, she sighed and shook her head, her scowl softening. ¡°I get it, I do. But we can¡¯t have you fall on your sword this time! We just can¡¯t!¡±


    Jessie only sighed and nodded, looking at the volunteer, and waved. The volunteer waved back and then walked into the tower. Jessie swallowed and inputted the command. He closed his eyes, and then after a minute he heard cheers. He blinked, looking around, grinning. The shield was still dark, and the volunteer had climbed down from the ¡®watch tower¡¯.


    They grinned and raised their right arm. ¡°IT WORKS! THE HOLE IS SMALLER THEN THE WATCH HOLE!¡±


    Jessie looked at the shield and grinned, cupping his hands around his mouth. ¡°What about the unicorns?


    ¡°Gone! I think they moved on!¡± The volunteer called back.


    Jessie sighed and nodded at Terra. ¡°So that¡¯s it then? Are we safe here? I can get started on the preparations for our dive?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. How long will it take to modify all the rifles?¡± Terra asked.


    Jessie only looked at her and grinned. ¡°If I grab someone to help me take apart what I need to, a half hour. I¡¯ll need someone in the know through.¡±


    ¡°Grab Zevortro. He had the best Mechanic grades among them. If Dalila can¡¯t be bothered to help,¡± Terra said with a laugh.


    Jessie looked at her and then he chuckled. After she had recovered, Dalila had then gotten most of the supplies for their trip. Then she grabbed the console that still broadcasted and kept trying to get a response. She tried each hacking program she had, but nothing was working. But seeing her react after the last time she failed, made most of the people up here laugh. ¡°Yeah, no. Let her keep working on that project of hers. Maybe that¡¯ll let that thing below know we just want to talk.¡±


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Terra nodded and Jessie walked off, his mind going to strange places. He had never attacked a base held by an AI before. He had to hope that they would be able to keep everyone alive. Without any modern medicine, this was going to be harder. But still, they had to go into it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Vivian


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she sat in Duncan¡¯s office, a tablet on her knees, Vivian sent the drones through the capsule. So far, she had been able to stalk Jones. The man was going about the tasks that Duncan had given him. For some reason, the man worked swiftly and he didn¡¯t complain.


    She studied people, and everything the others told her painted a very strange picture. The man had supposedly fought his way free to warn them, but there were no wounds from them on him. He said that his team had been ambushed, and he had been the only survivor. But with his membership of the Purity Path, there was that to consider. She had spent a few Hunts tracking down some of the ¡®rogues¡¯ of that Cult. And the data on their book she recovered? It was terrible. Pure garbage! But Jones? He was starting to look like a true believer. And that meant that he might be like the Rogues, able to make him think something had happened. But he was just waiting, not even talking about his beliefs. There was something here, something that she just couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°ARRRGGGHHH!¡± She moaned as she reached down and held her face with her hands.


    ¡°So nothing new?¡± Duncan asked, a low voice of anger in his voice.


    Vivian only nodded, her mind racing. She knew it was amazingly stupid to think that one day of work would show anything. And she had spent a year watching over a target before she moved in for the kill. But back then, there was nothing that was threatening to kill them outside a safe zone! And those same things had ways to get at them through the protection! All in all, she was starting to feel rushed. And she was shocked and worried about how Jones wasn¡¯t. ¡°Nothing about him makes sense. I mean, what is wrong with him? Anyone else would have cracked by now!¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­.. No. You based those on a normal psyche, right? Work one with a sociopath as a base,¡± Duncan said as he leaned back, grinning at her. As Vivian¡¯s mouth dropped open, Duncan chuckled. ¡°Always expect the worst, then work backwards for the reality. Makes it so much easier to figure everything out.¡±


    Vivian looked at him, letting that go through her mind. As she worked it out, everything that she knew about psyches made the picture clearer. Suddenly, the way he was so calm made more sense. If that was the case, then they were in terrible trouble. A person who was able to rewrite his brain, and with no empathy and remorse? They were looking at a monster that was waiting for something. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to throw him into a sleeping cell. Then she blinked, looking at Duncan in horror.


    ¡°Wait¡­ if you thought he was a sociopath, why haven¡¯t you done anything about him?¡± Vivian demanded.


    Duncan only laughed and shook his head, a weary smile on his face. ¡°I said plan for the worst! I don¡¯t have any proof, and being that isn¡¯t a crime. And some scientists are creating a nanite guide to help people like that. And the fact he¡¯s a Pather? I thought that maybe someone trained him to survive in society. Or maybe he¡¯s from a small village that has a different social normal. There are a lot of places like that out there!¡±


    Vivian looked at him and then sighed. ¡°Oh yeah. Let me tell you about a few Hunts I did over the years!¡±


    A knocking from the door caused Vivian to activate the drone in the vent looking over the main chamber. She sighed and shook her head, looking up at Duncan with a sigh. ¡°The person that we think is working with Jones is here.¡±


    Duncan sighed and shook his head, a scowl on his face. ¡°Of course! He wants to talk to me. Come in!¡±


    Bradford opened the door and poked his head in. ¡°Hello, Chief! I was just wondering if we could talk a bit. Nothing too out there sir, just a small idea I had!¡±


    Vivian looked at Duncan who sighed. ¡°Come in Bradford. I have nothing else to do.¡±


    ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± Bradford said with a grin. He came in and closed the door. ¡°Now, I was just thinking. We must still have a lot of supplies in the three storage rooms, right? I wish to empty all of them, and use the rooms as sleep chambers to allow all of us more space to sleep.¡±


    V1 looked at Duncan as he stood there, his arms crossed. She had to admit, the fact that she had slept until the last shift was heavenly! Being able to sleep without having someone hit her, was perfect! This way the snorers could have a chamber just for them as well!


    ¡°We¡¯ve had other priorities for the last few days. We still need to go over one or two of the chambers, right?¡± Duncan asked as she looked at Vivian.


    She blinked and then she looked down at her tablet. She called up the right file and looked it over, seeing the data she needed. ¡°According to our records, we have looked over a total of half of the last two rooms. But could we have the numbers to move all the boxes?¡±


    ¡°Good question. We need people on the consoles, the people going down, and the watchers. It will take a while, and it will be long. But we might be able to clear one room by tonight. But I will not let any of the other passengers outside Bradford. That¡¯s where I draw the line!¡±


    ¡°And I agree with you! After what happened, we have to keep everyone safe!¡± Bradford said with a smile.


    Something told Vivian that this was exactly what Bradford wanted. The perfect way to keep everyone locked up. And if they were told about the attack, they would link the way Bradford would tell it to he was keeping them safe.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jones sighed as he moved another box. The last few hours of work were just what he needed. He could take his time, and try to think of how to help others find the right way. He had to teach these people the right way to live! This world was so wild and amazingly wrong that they needed to keep walking the Path to live. So far, they had been lucky, but luck ran out before too long.


    ¡°But does the book of the Path not say that tho who work will live? This is the trial of the spirit! I will pass through this challenge and bring all who survive into the Light of the Path! By my guidance will all those become heroes that will raise Humanity to our proper place!¡± Jones declared with a manic smile on his face. He felt that strange sense of warmth that sparked within him sometimes, and he felt fear. When that happens, one thing will always happen.


    He cackled a little before he felt his mind ache, and he dropped the box he was holding. He fell to the ground and panted heavily. He felt his mind ache and then the pain disappeared. Slowly, he got back onto his shaky feet. ¡°Oh, great teacher. Forgive this warrior for his weakness. May the blessings of the First Walker be upon me. May the time come that this unworthy one never has such episodes.¡±


    With that one prayer, Jones went back to work. Not bothering to think too much on his old curse he worked, never noticing that he felt hotter.

 One Hundred Seventy Four Part 2

    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she stepped back from the console, Dalila tried to calm down. The AI or whatever was still trying to break into the console¡¯s network. And she knew that whatever it was had opened the text files she had left. Text files that she made as a communication attempt. But still, nothing! The evidence was slowly starting to mount that the thing down there wasn''t an AI. If she thought about it, then there were reasons to make something like that. An automatic hacking destroyer would be a very good offensive system. But it would only work if it had range, and through space. She went still as she thought of a theory. Her eyes shrank to pinprints, that explained would everything about this thing. ¡°That¡¯s¡­.. that¡¯s. This would work a lot.¡±


    ¡°What would?¡± Bryke¡¯s voice caused her to fall backwards.


    As she heard him chuckle, she looked up to see his face looking down at her, a water bottle in his hands.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Bryke said, grinning at her as he reached down. ¡°Thought I¡¯d offer you a little something to drink. So what did you figure out about our favorite pain in the brain?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and I¡¯m starting to think that it might not be an AI. I¡¯m thinking just a very dumb program. Set on automatic,¡± Dalila said bitterly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, a what?¡± Bryke asked, his voice incredulous. ¡°How could a program like that hack into anything? And there¡¯s the range to consider.¡±


    Dalila looked at him and sighed, nodding at him. If she had just heard anyone say that without any content, she would have been confused too. So she would explain what she meant. ¡°No. If it was short-range and scanning all frequencies, it¡¯s possible. And a simple code breaker software would work as fast as the system accepted it. And then I taught it how to talk to us while I was trying to talk to it. All in all, a perfect program to defend yourself with. I should have seen it.¡±


    ¡°But why the hell would anyone even think to make something like that!?¡± Bryke demanded, his eyes going wide as he absorbed what Dalila was telling him.


    ¡°Anyone would make that if they needed to,¡± Dalila said bluntly. Before Bryke could say anything, ¡°To defend against anyone trying to break in for example.¡±


    Bryke looked at her, and then he dropped to the ground, his legs failing him. ¡°Nova.¡±


    Dalila only nodded, her mind going dark places. There were more reasons to create a program like that. The first reason was to cut down on personal. If whoever made this thing was more into automation than anything else, then it fit. And that would mean that there was never anyone in this thing.


    But if there were people down there, then the program would be part of a defense system. The right generator could last for centuries. Plus if things were in place to repair the parts over the years. And that meant the defense would have to be layered, with responses preprogrammed. But that meant that said defenses wouldn''t awaken any people to take over. Especially if the entry team proved too strong or was too different from their foes. But that was something that she would keep close to her chest for now. Best to only say it with the others before they cut into the thing beneath them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he walked away from Duncan¡¯s office, Bradford looked around and then sighed internally. He saw a few of the other passengers walking towards him.


    ¡°Is there anything Sir Bradford? I mean, we all heard the sounds this morning!¡± A male passenger asked, his eyes full of fear.


    Bradford smiled and kept his anger hidden away. The fact that these fools had even heard that was a problem. There was always a balance to this. He had to keep telling the fools what they wanted while still doing the work they didn''t know. All he needed to do was keep calm and pull the wool over their eyes again, tell lies with the truth!


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Nothing important happened my friends! Just a little strife from one of the creatures outside!¡± Bradford said as he looked around, smiling as widely. As he saw the group gather around him, he was in his element. And now was the time to put his words to the test! ¡°Now, I don¡¯t want to bother you too much my friends! But please, stay and listen to me! What has happened, was nothing! For those monsters from the dark of this place never even struck the shield! All they did was stare into our place of safety while we looked back! Our proud defenders didn¡¯t even have to fire a shot!¡±


    As the people around him started to cheer, Bradford held his hands up again. ¡°But it was a good thing, before the bad! For today, some of our brave defenders will go down into that thing beneath us! For they have found the place they need to make a path into the unknown! And for that reason, I must ask that again you stay safe in here!¡±


    ¡°How much longer!? We¡¯re going mad!¡± A woman called out with anger in her voice.


    ¡°We¡¯re stuck in a small area! Too small for too many of us!¡± A man called out.


    ¡°Yeah! Even with the Deckhands being outside, it only helped!¡± Another woman cried out in anger. ¡°We need something to take our minds off all this!¡±


    Bradford looked around, seeing that the people were reaching their limits. Even the idea that they would have more space to sleep wasn¡¯t going to work. He needed something else, but what? Before he could even think of what to say, someone else stepped in.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, you do! And you will have that now!¡± Duncan¡¯s voice from behind caused everyone to turn and look at him. He smiled and then gestured to a wall and suddenly it unfolded and then a screen was revealed.


    Bradford stared in shock at what Duncan had revealed.


    ¡°Seems that the company stocked these things with a copy of the media library from the ship. It took me a while to find an assistant that was able to find the hidden data. So I¡¯ll offer you all this! Movies! And we¡¯re hoping that we¡¯ll a way to keep you all safe soon. But please, stay safe until we have a new way to move forward!¡± Duncan called out as he looked around at the people.


    Bradford looked at Duncan in awe. In one moment he had used the old idea of ¡®Games and Food¡¯ to keep the people calm. He might have misjudged Duncan. The old man was stronger than he had ever thought possible. Bradford could see that Duncan was going to be a bigger problem than he had thought. Maybe it was time to bring Jones deeper into his control.


    ¡°Wait, what about how the deckhands brought up all those containers? Why did you do that?¡± Another passenger asked anger in his voice.


    Duncan looked at the passenger and then he chuckled. ¡°Ahhh those. Well, with the shield up fully, we¡¯re moving all the supplies up to the clearing. This should make a bit more room for all of you. And if you want to use them for the snorers to sleep, that¡¯s no skin off my noise!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he worked, he looked at Jessie out of the corner of his eyes. The man worked with an effort and efficiency that Zevortro had rarely seen. He had been a hard worker most of his life, but Jessie put him to shame! The man had finished another rifle, and there was just one left to do. And the way he was working, he wasn¡¯t slowing down. All he needed from Zevortro was for him to get the rifle covering, and he finished one when Zevortro was halfway done with his own.


    All in all, Jessie seemed to be smart, creative, and lucky. But why hadn¡¯t a Mega Corp ever plucked him up? And he was a Bounty Hunter instead of working at a lab for one of them? Why?


    Jessie chuckled as he finished the last part of the modification and looked up at Zevortro. ¡°You¡¯ve got a question for me?¡±


    ¡°Why are you what you are? You could have done so much more than that,¡± Zevortro asked point blank.


    Jessie sighed and looked back at Zevortro. They were both using another of the containers as a table and they were across from each other. There was something in Jessie¡¯s gaze that bothered Zevortro. Something ancient and so much older than he looked. And to Zevortro¡¯s horror, it seemed to be as black as the deep void itself.


    Jessie took a deep breath and the darkness vanished from his eyes. He just looked at Zevortro with tired eyes. ¡°Sometimes, the job isn¡¯t chosen by the person. Sometimes, the job chooses the person. A while back I was in an incident. To get out I had to use my skills and more. I learned that I was someone who could do this job well. So I kept at it. And I can¡¯t say that it was a bad choice.¡±


    Zevortro had to admit, that he understood that. Sometimes, people were just raised to be certain things. And no matter how hard they tried, they still were those things. That was one of the reasons that he had signed up, to get away from that kind of thinking. And he had to admit, this had been a wild ride.


    ¡°Yeah, I can understand that. I mean yeah. But what about when you were younger?¡± Zevortro asked, his voice thick with confusion.


    Jessie kept silent, just sighing and looking up for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that I didn¡¯t have a normal childhood. Or choices about what I would be or learn. Just leave it as that.¡±


    Zevortro was about to say something when he saw the rage behind Jessie¡¯s eyes. He swallowed and then nodded. ¡°Okay. So should we do some of the other rifles? This might be something that could help the others. Or do you want to make a pistol or two like this? That would be a big help!¡±


    Jessie looked around, his eyes finding the other weapon containers. He looked at Zevortro and then back at the weapons. ¡°Later. We¡¯ve still got a bit of time until we start cutting into that thing. Why don¡¯t we take a break for a while?¡±


    Zevortro nodded, and he saw Vivis walking by the crater carrying something. ¡°Good idea. Really. I¡¯ll just go and help someone. You just tell me what to do later.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t get away from Jessie fast enough. All he could think of was how lucky that he had been able to get away so fast. The way that Jessie had talked about what he had been through while he was young, bothered him a lot. He could think of a few situations that would have done that to him. From absentee parents who shipped him off to other darker things, he didn¡¯t want to know the truth. All in all, he now knew what not to bring up to Jessie again.


    ¡°Hey Zevortro!¡± Vivis said as he reached her. ¡°Mind helping me carry this?¡±


    ¡°Sure!¡± Zevortro said as he reached over and started to lead her out of the null gravity field. ¡°Just lean on me V. I handle¡­.. ooofff.¡±


    As the weight became real, he gritted his teeth and then took a shaky step forward. ¡°So where  is this going?¡±


    ¡°Just ahead! By the weapons!¡± Vivis was able to gasp out. After a few minutes of hard labor moving it, they put it down and stepped back. ¡°Thanks!¡±


    ¡°Sure, but what is this!?¡± Zevortro demanded as he looked down.


    ¡°No clue. And I don¡¯t know how to open it either,¡± Vivis said with a shrug, pointing at the locks on the sides.


    Zevortro looked at it and then he nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got an idea how to open this thing. Just give me a minute.¡±


    ¡°You do!?¡± Vivis asked shock in her voice.


    ¡°What?¡± Zevortro said, smirking at her. ¡°Did you forget how we¡¯re going to get into the hull-plated thing?¡±

 One Hundred Seventy Five Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  0940


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he let his memories wash over him, Jessie felt his blood surge. He knew that Zevortro didn¡¯t mean for him to be reminded of his youth. The fool didn¡¯t even know the first thing about Jessie. But the few regrets he had always came from that time. And once again, he had let them show. He had to work on that.


    He looked towards the other weapons. The idea of giving a pistol a blade upgrade was something that he knew was effective. He had a few of them on his ship back on the Spirit after all! The number of times that those had saved his life was something that he couldn¡¯t forget. ¡°So time to make some of my special pistols then.¡±


    ¡°Hey Jessie? Could you bring over one of those rifles?!¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice caused Jessie to stop.


    He looked around and saw Zevortro and Vivis both waving at him by a container. Jessie scowled and then he looked at the container for a moment, and then he realized what Zevortro meant.


    With a scowl on his face, he grabbed a rifle before walking towards them. As he moved, he saw others slowly turn and look at them. Even Bryke and  Dalila gazed at them, Dalila slowly moving towards them with Bryke following her.


    ¡°So what have we got here?¡± Jessie said as he handed over the rifle to Zevortro.


    Jessie let his eyes go over the container and he frowned. There was something about the shape that bothered him, something that was familiar. As he looked at it, Zevortro activated the rifle¡¯s blade.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know. So let¡¯s cut it open and see what we find!¡± Zevortro said with a grin.


    ¡°Cut what?¡± Jessie asked before his eyes went down and he saw the lock. His eyes widened and he knew that he had to act fast. ¡°HOLD!¡±


    Jessie¡¯s hand shot out and pushed the rifle¡¯s barrel up, grabbing it just behind the blade. Zevortro blinked and looked at him as Dalila came forward and gasped.


    ¡°Yeah, why¡¯d you stop me? Zevortro asked as he looked at Jessie.


    ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡± Dalila asked horror in her voice.


    Jessie nodded as he looked at the lock and scowled. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s a blast lock. Older model too.¡±


    ¡°Blast lock? Tell me that¡¯s not what it sounds like. I mean, how big can a blast be from just the lock?¡± Vivis asked, a note of panic in her voice as she took a step back.


    Zevortro meanwhile looked at the rifle in his hands as started to sweet.


    Jessie only sighed and shook his head as he looked at Dalila.


    Dalila sighed and nodded. ¡°The explosives aren¡¯t in the lock, they¡¯re in the wall the lock is on. Good device, stable as long as it keeps sending electricity through a circuit. You could drop this from space and if the lock remains intake it won¡¯t go off!¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re safe then? So how big is the boom? Destroy how man feet?¡± Zevortro asked as he tried to keep calm.


    Jessie looked at him and chuckled darkly. ¡°Big enough to take out twice the size of the clearing!¡±


    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s¡­¡­. inventive. Who uses these things?¡± Vivis asked, sounding faint.


    ¡°Lots of people, and this size? Could be anything. But how did it get into our supplies?¡± Bryke asked with a growl in his voice.


    ¡°No clue, but we have to find out what¡¯s in this first,¡± Jessie said with a small smile.


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    ¡°How do we do what?!¡± Zevortro asked shock in his voice.


    ¡°Simple. We just cut away the explosives and remove them. We need to move to the null gravity field first though,¡± Jessie said with a smirk. Then he frowned as he realized that he didn¡¯t have everything that he needed to do this. ¡°After we add a few blades to pistols. This work is a lot better with a blade you can control.¡±


    Jessie turned and walked towards the weapons. He knew exactly what he had to do, and he better do it fast. ¡°You guys move that container, carefully!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Yeah. Just leave us to move the explosives. No problem!¡± Bryke called out as Jessie walked away. Slowly he turned and looked at the bomb container, and tried not to swallow. There was nothing that he hated more than handling explosives. Getting away from this work at the mine back home was one of the reasons he signed on! But there was nothing more to do but work smart.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ve got more experience with explosives, so I¡¯m in charge! I want those people moved back, ten feet! Zevortro, you, me, and Dalila, we¡¯re moving this thing!¡± Di3 said with a scowl on his face as he looked around.  His eyes fell on Vivis and he almost sighed. ¡°Vivis, go and tell Duncan what we found. I think the chief will want to weigh in on this?¡±


    Everyone looked at him, shock in their eyes. Bryke understood that. He had spent most of the voyage staying quiet and doing as he was told. Most of them probably didn¡¯t even think that he could do anything like this.


    ¡°So what experience do you have with explosives then?¡± Zevortro asked, a note of hope in his voice.


    ¡°I grew up in a mining town. My science teacher from fifth grade on was the mine¡¯s demolition excerpt. My summer job was carrying explosives for five years. I know explosives,¡± Bryke said flatly.


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll go tell the chief!¡± Vivis said with a smile as she ran away.


    Bryke only sighed and looked at the container. Then he looked at the other two. ¡°So I¡¯ll carry the back, you two lead with the sides. And let¡¯s make this nice and slow.¡±


    With a look at Dalila, Zevortro nodded and they all moved to pick up the container. With a slow measured walk, they carried the container into the null gravity. Bryke swallowed as they lowered the container, knowing just what he was putting down.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s just wait here a while. It¡¯s stable as long as nothing messes with the lock, right Dalila?¡± Zevortro asked, a note of hope in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah. All we need to do now is wait for the cutters. Frankly, this is the hard part. Waiting,¡± Dalila said with a scowl as she looked around.


    Bryke looked at her, and then he felt a small surge of fear. ¡°Something bothering you?¡±


    Dalila looked at him for a few seconds before looking down at the container. ¡°It¡¯s this container. The shape¡­.. let¡¯s just say I have a bad feeling. I hope that I¡¯m wrong about this, I truly do.¡±


    ¡°How bad?¡± Zevortro asked, dread in his voice.


    Bryke understood his friend''s feelings. Knowing what Dalila was, anything that made her worried was something that he wanted to know about.


    Dalila looked away and then sighed, shaking her head before looking away. ¡°There¡¯s an old mantra around the guild. Don¡¯t say how it can go wrong. Let the thought die if it¡¯s not true.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tempt fate?¡± Zevortro said, smiling a little.


    Bryke looked away and saw Jessie walking, his task done.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get ready to do this. First, we need to slowly cut through the sides here,¡± Jessie said pointing to the right end.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan leaned back and sight as he calmly looked at the screen in his office. The decision to play movies for everyone was the best he could have made. Most people were content with the movies, and the rest were pacified. But Duncan knew the best that that this did was buy him time. The way that they were forced to do nothing was starting to make everyone a little crazy.


    And he could understand that if he was being honest. They just wanted something to do, and all of them were itching for something to do. The fact that he had originally planned for them to help, but then the monsters had appeared. Once they had the factory ship, then they could handle everything.


    ¡°Good choice on the movie, I mean a comedy was just what everyone needed. A good laugh will take their minds off this,¡± Vivian said with a small smile.


    Duncan chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Thank you for finding those databases. Who knew that most of the last few years of entertainment would be in those ¡®buildings¡¯ you found.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that is concerning if I¡¯m honest,¡± Vivian said with a slight scowl on her face.


    Duncan felt his good mood vanish as she spoke what he had been thinking. ¡°Yeah, I get it. Why wasn¡¯t I told about this? I mean it seems like something that the Security Chief should have known!¡±


    That was what Duncan had thought when she told him what was in the ¡®buildings¡¯ her drones had found. Besides all the supplies that the escape capsule had, he should have known. There was something here, something that he couldn¡¯t see. But together? All of this made him feel that this mystery was deeper than it seemed. Part of him was just waiting for the other shoe to drop. When that happened, he knew it would be quite big.


    A knocking at the door caused them both to look up, startling them out of their thoughts. Duncan raised an eyebrow at Vivian and she nodded.


    Closing her eyes for a moment, Vivian frowned. ¡°It¡¯s just V2 chief. And I think that¡¯s something up. She looks worried.¡±


    Duncan only sighed and shook his head. ¡°Why do I have a bad feeling about this?¡±


    ¡°Because you know how our luck has been sir,¡± Vivian said with a grin.


    Duncan could only chuckle a bit, giving her the point.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. Come!¡± He barked and Vivis opened the door and came in, closing it behind her. She looked around, trying to keep calm.


    ¡°I¡­.. We found something in the containers. Something, that has a bomb on it. A big one,¡± Vivis said shakily.


    Duncan looked at her, and then he felt his blood rush through his ears.


    ¡°WHAT!?¡± He bellowed as he shot up.


    ¡°How big!?¡± Vivian asked horror in her voice.


    ¡°Big enough to destroy this whole capsule. Jessie said it was a ¡®blast lock¡¯ or something,¡± Vivis said softly.


    ¡°There¡¯s something here that someone put a blast lock on!? Why?¡± Vivian demanded.


    Duncan looked at her and then he felt that shoe dropping. ¡°What¡¯s a blast lock, and how bad is it?¡±


    ¡°Bad is an understatement. The blast on a normal one would have destroyed the entire clearing! And they put one on something they put on an evacuation capsule!?¡±


    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Duncan bellowed in anger. He couldn¡¯t even believe that someone had been that amazingly stupid.


    Yeah, Jessie and Dalila said it was that big,¡± Vivis said softly.


    ¡°Why in the universe would someone ever use something like that!?¡± Duncan asked horror in his voice.


    ¡°People use them when they want to things to be kept out of thieves hands. They¡¯re used when people don¡¯t care if they''re destroyed. Things that are top secret or could implicate them in crimes. Doesn¡¯t help that crime syndicates use them to protect smuggled goods,¡± Vivian said, frowning. ¡°But the thing is, there¡¯s a trick to getting around them. And only people like me and my comrades know them.¡±


    ¡°So if you¡¯re not one of you, if you try and open it you¡¯re dead?¡± Duncan asked dryly as he got up. ¡°I need to see what¡¯s in that thing, now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here sir. The others knew you¡¯d need to know about this. But they should have cut it open by now,¡± Vivis said with a slight tremor in her voice.


    Duncan nodded and looked at her, his mind going dark places. If the passengers or Bradford found out about this, they¡¯d need to explain how they fixed it. Plus there was a change that Bradford was responsible for this. If he remembered the plans of the ship right, this capsule had been near where Bradford had been. All in all, this was the other shoe he had known was coming.

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Five Part 2

    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°That¡¯s it! Just keep holding it steady. I¡¯ve almost got it!¡± Jessie said.


    Zevortro looked at what he was carrying, and he almost threw up. They had been able to cut away the side of the container with the lock on, but that was the easy part. Before it could float away, Dalila ordered someone else to grab the other end. Once he had, Dalila told them all why, and Zevortro had almost stared in horror. On the back of the cut-off piece of the container, there were five batteries connecting to the explosives. Each battery was connected to a metal piece that the blast lock was on. Jessie explained that the batteries were what activated the explosives. The only thing to do was slowly remove the batteries from the metal plate. Then Jessie would slice through all the wire at the same time with a rifle¡¯s blade. Something about how that was the only attachment that would grow big enough. Bryke was looking at the explosives, and he had said he could disarm the trigger portion. All he had to was slowly remove the part connected to the wires. And the best way to do that was by standing in front of the explosives, hence they were removing the batteries.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it!¡± Jessie said with a grin. Slowly, he removed his hand from the battery and it floated free. ¡°That¡¯s it, the last one is next. How are you doing Bryke?¡±


    Bryke looked at the mass of explosives and nodded, a strange look on his face. ¡°Yeah. I¡¯m sure that these are blasting charges. And made with a recipe that I know how to neutralize. But this makes a bigger boom than you said.¡±


    ¡°How much bigger?¡± Zevortro asked horror in his voice.


    Bryke kept looking at the explosives before looking up at him. ¡°Oh, I would say. This is enough to crack the island down to the bedrock!¡±


    Zevortro felt his heart seize and he almost passed out in horror and fear. To think that he was holding the thing that might destroy the island in his hands. All he needed to do was keep calm, and hope that he wouldn¡¯t mess this up. ¡°Well, at least this will be fast if we fail.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think about that! We¡¯re almost done!¡± Jessie said as he slowly moved his hands down. Throughout the whole ordeal, he had been floating upside down. That way he could move the wires the right way, and not mess it up. It was out there, but it worked.


    Zevortro could only watch as Jessie worked and he looked at Dalila as she held the other end of the container piece. She was looking straight at Jessie as he worked, and he could admire that. She and him were the same, and she must have trusted him. But he had to admit, that he thought this was something beyond normal. There had been a time when he had wondered what it would have been like to be a Bounty Hunter when he was younger. But if this is what Hunters experience? Then he was quite happy with his chosen path!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie slowly removed the last locking bolt from the battery. As the other bolts floated ¡®above¡¯ him, he slowly moved the battery away from the container piece. Looking at the other batteries as they floated freely, he slowly moved his hand away from them. ¡°Okay, now the hard part. Move that piece away now, slowly, when I say stop do it.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Dalila said softly. She nodded at Zevortro and they slowly took a step away from the main container.


    Jessie watched as each wire slowly came together. He had to be sure. He would get one strike, and then they would be dammed. That was it, he just needed to wait until¡­¡­.NOW!


    Pulling off his rifle from his back, he sliced down and activated the blade. As he did, he moved the warmth he was feeling into all of his arms. As he did so, his arms became faster. In one movement, he cut each wire at the same time, as fast as the wind.


    He looked at the wire still connected to the cut-away container piece and the blast lock. He saw sparks from them, and then he chuckled. ¡°You can stop, we¡¯re alive!¡±


    The others all looked at him as he made himself able to look them in the eyes again.


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    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us you were doing that!?¡± Zevortro demanded as he and Dalila let go of the container piece.


    Jessie only looked at them and shrugged. ¡°I needed to move fast. And that worked best if I could concentrate on this. So how long to declaw the bombs?¡±


    Bryke looked at him for a few moments, glaring at him. Finally, Bryke spoke. ¡°Give me ten minutes, we can take apart the rest after. So what is this?¡±


    ¡°Good question. Let me look at this,¡± Jessie said as he looked at the silver machine the explosives were placed on. He looked up and down, not finding a control panel on it. ¡°The activation panel must be under the container still. We¡¯ll remove it once you¡¯re done.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the best idea here. So get back and let me work,¡± Bryke said gruffly.


    ¡°Then perhaps I can get a report?¡± Duncan asked from behind them all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan smirked as he saw them all turn and look at him. But it was the fact that Bryke had a hand to his chest that caused Duncan to smirk. The fact that they were so caught up in this container told him how deadly this was. But still, the prankster in him was happy. ¡°So what could we have here?¡±


    Jessie looked at what was revealed and Duncan saw him hesitate.


    Without a second, Duncan nodded. ¡°With me Jessie! The rest of you stay here, and then we¡¯ll talk to Leonator!¡±


    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Jessie said with a sigh as he moved towards Duncan.


    Duncan didn¡¯t wait, he just turned and walked towards the south face of the shield. He aimed at a location between that point and the east, and then he looked over his shoulder.


    Everyone looked away and went to work, and Duncan just sighed and shook his head, smiling. People never changed it seemed.


    ¡°So what¡¯s in there?¡± Duncan asked once they were


    ¡°No idea boss, but it''s illegal for sure,¡± Jessie said bluntly.


    Duncan winced, his mind going dark places. That was what he had thought and feared. The things stored in the escape capsule didn¡¯t make sense. Why were the shield emitters and the computer consoles even here? And now this blast lock thing. All in all, someone in the company was dirty.


    ¡°This is going to be a headache! So what are you hoping for? Military weapons? Drugs we can feed those Unicorn things if they come back?¡± Duncan asked with a grin.


    But that Grin died when Jessie only scowled.


    ¡°No, not drugs, no way,¡± Jessie said bluntly.


    ¡°And you know that how?¡± Duncan asked and Jessie shrugged.


    ¡°Well, simple,¡± Jessie said. ¡°They don¡¯t transport them raw anymore. Most of the stuff out there is all synthetic. Just take a gene scan of the raw product. Then put it in a data driver and make a program so it deletes itself after a numbered usage. That way the makers make money and need to go back to their supplier. Just put it into a biomarker then see the stuff locally.¡±


    Duncan blinked and then he started to growl and flex his hands. That was how the criminal groups moved drugs these days. That opened up a new avenue in an old investigation. And that showed him who the culprit was. ¡°Oh, that makes all the sense in the world! So that¡¯s how the ship still has a drug problem! I knew that scum was lying!¡±


    ¡°Wait, Chief? What do you mean?¡± Jessie asked fake worry in his voice.


    Duncan¡¯s head shot to Jessie who was looking at anything but him. ¡°You heard something about it?!¡±


    Jessie stayed silent and was about to say something when they ran out of time for any of that.


    ¡°It''s done! Let¡¯s open this thing up!¡± Bryke voice rang out.


    Duncan looked at Jessie and scowled. ¡°Later. I think I need to pick your brains. For now, let¡¯s handle this.¡±


    Jessie nodded, his eyes clouded. Duncan turned and then scowled as he turned and walked back towards the container. If he was right, then one day, he didn¡¯t know when or where. But one day he would have a nice long talk with that man. A talk involving his fists!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie nodded as he followed after Duncan. There had been a few times over the last months on the ship that he had heard whispers. Here and there, just deckhands killing time. But if he was wrong, that a biomarker was making drugs. Then someone with medical knowledge was involved. And since nanites let any being overlay instructions over Augmented Reality. Well, the maker could be anyone.


    As they reached the others, he looked at Bryke who was grinning.


    ¡°Easily as simple as cutting blast charges back home. You''d think masterminds would make it harder!¡± Bryke said with a smirk.


    At those words, Jessie went still. Bryke was right, they would have made it harder. With everything he had learned as a bounty hunter about crime families, they didn''t do easy. There were few if any reasons for that, and none of them were good. In fact¡­. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Jessie?¡± Terra asked as she put a hand on his shoulder.


    He heard her, but he didn''t react. His mind was going at light speed as he made connections. No matter what he did, everything lined up.


    ¡°We need to break this open now!¡± Jessie said in a rush. He moved towards the container and pulled out a pistol. As the energy blade flashed to life, Zevortro put a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Hold on, what''s wrong?¡± Zevortro asked calmly.


    ¡°Yeah, man!¡± Bryke asked, his tone carrying a note of worry. ¡°You''re acting like a tractor''s going to overload or something! What''s going on?¡±


    Jessie looked at them and then gazed at Dalila. ¡°You ever hear about the Slumber Prison Dalila?¡±


    ¡°What? I''m sorry what did you say?!¡± Vivis asked horror in her voice. The others all stepped back, shock on their faces.


    ¡°No! You can''t mean that this is?!¡± Dalila demanded. When she saw the look Jessie shot her, and she swallowed. Looking down at the container, Jessie saw the shock and disgust on her face. ¡°Well, that¡¯s something. But this is beyond anything I ever heard of. I mean, really!? One of them, here and now!?¡±


    Duncan nodded. ¡°It fits. Stars help me it fits. But there''s only a small chance I''m right. I mean, what are the chances? So we need to show us what this is, now.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait! Are you saying that this is a nova damned prison cell!?¡± Duncan cried out, shocking the deckhands nearby.


    As Jessie nodded, Duncan looked at him and then his mouth dropped open. Then he glared at the container as Jessie cut apart one of the corners. Throwing a look at the others, he started to move. ¡°Well, don¡¯t stand there, move it! Keep cutting, then let¡¯s see what this is!¡±


    Jessie only nodded as he ran to the final corner. As the others moved to pull away the cut-off piece, Jessie nodded. Reaching his goal, he cut down and in a moment, it was done.


    He threw the piece on his side away and looked at what had been hidden. He started to swear as he saw what he had feared he would.


    ¡°Then this is?¡± Terra asked slowly as Jessie pulled apart the rest of the container.


    What was revealed was a long silver cylinder on an alcove on its side. The cylinder was fogged up, and completely white. The other side of the explosives had a keypad, and there was something on a plate above it.


    ¡°Yeah. This is a Hibernation Prison alright. Who knows how long whoever was in here has been asleep?¡± Jessie said, anger and sorrow in his voice.


    ¡°Or why they¡¯re in this thing!¡± Dalila said bitterly.

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Six Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1020


    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As Jesse looked at the hibernation prison, Dalila licked her lips. She hadn¡¯t said that she had once thrown someone into one. But that being had been a cannibal, so there was that. But she knew from her own experience, that they shouldn¡¯t have that there. That meant that this was a lot more complicated than they knew.


    And everything that Dalila knew was telling her that this was going to be bad. The problem was that those Hunts were against Guild rules. If the wrong guild master knew, she''d be fired! And she was on the Hunt of her career, the one everyone wanted. So for now, she''d stay silent and hope that things worked out.


    ¡°Well, yeah. But can we even wake them up?¡± Zevortro asked, worry in his voice.


    ¡°There''s a code here! Maybe it''s the way to open this thing?¡± Bryke called out, hope in his voice.


    Dalila eyed Jessie as everyone walked over to  Bryke. At least he wasn¡¯t looking at her, nobody was.


    ¡°So do you have an idea how this works at all?¡± Duncan asked Jessie who only nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, a bit. I broke someone out of one of these once,¡± Jessie said with a sigh.


    Dalila looked at him in horror. The idea that he had done what no one had, was beyond amazing.


    ¡°So where¡¯s this Sleeping Prison you¡¯re talking about?¡± Zevortro asked.


    Dalila felt her blood freeze as Jessie looked at the others. There was no way that he had been able to see what that horror was. The way that it hid was one of the things people feared about it! But then Jessie started to speak.


    ¡°It¡¯s a place that the criminal organizations, pirate fleets, and rebel groups use as a neutral prison. Everyone that¡¯s there was on their bad side once. And that was all that was needed. People who are sent there are paid for by the group. A lump sum of monthly payments. Plus the prisoners can be ¡®given back¡¯ if their ¡®owner¡¯ wants them. All in all, one of the horrors of the Dark Side of the Federation,¡± Jessie said bluntly.


    Duncan twitched, looking more angry the more he heard. ¡°And the Federation lets that monstrosity exist why? No, you wouldn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°They can¡¯t find it. The rumor is that it¡¯s a decommissioned warship. I¡¯ve never seen it so it could be anything,¡± Vivian said with a somber tone. ¡°And the fact that the few times I saw guards from there, they weren¡¯t normal.¡±


    ¡°Wait. Wait. You¡¯ve seen people who work from this prison ship?¡± Zevortro asked shock in his voice.


    ¡°All the time when you go around any Outlaw Port you see some of them. They have branches on most of them. Can¡¯t miss ¡®em!¡± VIVIAN said with a shrug.


    Dalila almost nodded, remembering how they had picked up her prisoner. Those people had been silent, talked through distorted voices, and covered completely. ¡°Yeah, like the palace guards on Royalist plants. They just stand outside, and let anyone come in. They never take off their armor. No one knows what race they are. And they never socialize.¡±


    ¡°Not very sociable really. They never leave their buildings, they always stay there. Loners to the core,¡± Jessie said as he nodded.


    ¡°Wait, you all go to Rogue Ports!? But those are full of criminals, pirates, and outlaws!¡± Zevortro exclaimed in shock.


    At the looks she was getting, Vivian only shrugged. ¡°What? Rebel ports are the best places to get Intel. The number of times I finished a Hunt because of data from there.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Later. But can we even open this thing?¡± Terra asked as she rubbed the glass to see inside. Then she frowned and looked around,


    ¡°Good question. I mean, why are they in there?¡± Bryke asked. When everyone looked at him, Bryke looked a little worried. ¡°There''s no chance they did something that even criminals are against? Any at all?¡±


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Kinda big chance,¡± Jessie said as he looked around, catching Dalila¡¯s eye.


    ¡°Yeah. Even Criminals have laws. Not many but there are crimes that even those who are outlaws won¡¯t accept. Every Rogue Port has a judge, and if people try to bribe them? Briber dies. Slowly,¡± Dalila said as she looked away.


    Terra looked at them and then she shook her head, scowling. ¡°Okay, but I have a question about them. Will their clothing still work? Would the freeze have done anything to them?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie scowls a little as he remembers the rescue he led years ago. ¡°Unless they''re made from something special, no. The freeze makes most clothing so brittle.¡±


    Terra only crossed her arms and looked at Jessie who rubbed the back of his head. He could see where she was coming from, but they had bigger concerns. They had no idea who or what was in there! They needed to move fast, and with everything else they had to do.


    ¡°Then have someone go get a jumpsuit. And maybe we should make a few little barriers around this before we do anything?¡± Duncan asked as he looked around.


    ¡°Sir, are you saying that this is a prison?¡± Leonator¡¯s voice from behind.


    Jessie joined the others and looked at him and Qiana walking over, both of them looking worried.


    ¡°Yeah, and we still need to go down there soon!¡± Terra said as she looked towards the


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll help. You all get ready to go down. Me and Miss Qiana can handle this,¡± Leonator offered with a small smile.


    ¡°You!? Come on! You¡¯re a civilian! I could take you out!¡± Zevortro said with a laugh.


    Leonator only looked at him and smiled. ¡°Want to prove it?¡±


    ¡°Fine, this is fun!¡± Zevortro said as he moved towards Leonator.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Duncan snarled and almost took a step forward when Jessie grabbed his shoulder. But as Duncan turned to look at him, Jessie kept his eyes on Leonator.


    Jessie didn¡¯t say anything, all he did was look at Leonator.


    ¡°No chief, let it happen,¡± Leonator said sternly.


    Zevortro charged and threw a right punch at Leonator who met it with his right. For a second nothing happened as the two knuckles pressed against the other.


    Then Leonator moved backwards and threw his left arm at Zevortro¡¯s head. Zevortro blocked it with his left and then Leonator¡¯s right open-hand shot for Zevortro¡¯s face. Zevortro caught with his open fist and then the two started to struggle with each other.


    ¡°Okay, you¡¯re stronger than you look. Got any training?¡± Zevortro grunted as he threw his left hand at Leonator.


    Leonator only smirked and caught Zevortro¡¯s left hand with his own. ¡°A few years. Nothing special.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but to handle the Rouge types, you need more! O show me if you can fight!¡± Zevortro said with a savage grin.


    Jessie felt his eyes widen as they all watched the battle in awe. He had never thought much about Leonator. The man was a former politician, so how was he fighting so well? No matter how much he tried to deny it, there was something about Leonator that was familiar. The way he had asked for the fight and how he was fighting.


    ¡°Come on man! You can do it!¡± Bryke screamed to Jessie¡¯s left.


    Jessie looked at the contest and he almost grinned. As he watched, Leonator dodged to the left and threw a left cross that hit Zevortro¡¯s left cheek. The glow sent Zevortro flying into the air and to the edge of the null gravity field.


    ¡°How¡¯d he fly so far!?¡± Terra exclaimed, shock in her voice.


    ¡°The Null Gravity Field! He must be using it to his advantage!¡± Vivian said, awe in her voice.


    ¡°What the nova!?¡± Zevortro bellowed in shock and then he hit the edge of the field, just floating there.


    Jessie felt his mouth drop as he looked from Zevortro to Leonator and then back again.


    ¡°Still think I can¡¯t fight?¡± Leonator asked with a smirk on his face.


    Zevortro got back to the ground and looked at Leonator, this time smiling wider. ¡°Okay, this is going to be fun. On more round!¡±


    Leonator looked at him for a moment before he started to laugh. ¡°Fine by me! I haven¡¯t had a good brawl in a while! Here we go!¡±


    Leonator and Zevortro ran at each other, and they started to trade blows, but each one was blocked by the other.


    ¡°Who knew bio-boy could fight?¡± Da3 asked a laugh in her voice.


    Jessie nodded and then he felt something on his neck. He looked around and saw every one of the deckhands were watching, some of them coming towards the container. He grabbed Duncan¡®s shoulder again, and when Duncan turned, Jessie gestured at the others.


    One look shared between them was enough for Duncan to understand. He nodded and moved towards them. ¡°Keep moving! I want five of you over here now! Once the fight is done, bring all the remains of the containers here!¡±


    Jessie nodded and turned to look at the fight. Leonator moved backwards, letting Zevortro follow. Zevortro threw a few more punches but nothing connected. Finally, Zevortro roared and shot out with both his fists.


    Leonator smirked and grabbed both of Zevortro¡¯s fists, smirking. ¡°Time to fly high and fast!¡±


    ¡°What?! No!¡± Zevortro exclaimed. Then Leonator moved backwards, pulling Zevortro with him. Before Zevortro could recover, Leonator started to spin around, pulling Zevortro into the air. After a few turns, Leonator threw Zevortro upwards, using the null gravity field to his advantage again.


    ¡°Somebody get him down! And I¡¯ll be here too. So we continue as planned!¡± Duncan said as he crossed his arms, a grin on his face.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Blorspi


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    It was all Blorspi could do to keep from gasping in shock. He had rarely if ever seen such a feat of strength. Even with their strange Power to negate the force that pulled things to it. When the one who had watched them appeared, he thought he was weak. But that one was so strong.! But Blorspi had to wonder just why that one was watching them, there was something that was bothering him. If that one was just strong, why was he trying to listen in on him and Recor? He would have no problem just killing them so why?


    ¡°The guard is strong elder. We can¡¯t escape by overpowering him, can we?¡± Recor asked fear and shame in his voice.


    Blorspi¡¯s eye snapped to his younger tribe-mate. Recor looked like he was seeming to lose hope. That was the worst thing that they needed. In cases like this, his father had told him that morale was their strongest Power. He had to do something, anything to keep the youngster in the fight! ¡°Do not start losing hope on me Recor! We can move mountains if we but try! So keep the fight going, even in your mind!¡±


    ¡°But we can¡¯t move! What can we do elder?¡± Recor asked horror in his voice.


    Blorspi looked at his tribe mate, wondering how he would be able to keep the kid¡¯s morale and hope up. And despite everything that he wanted to say, he understood what Recor was saying.


    ¡°It¡¯s only been one night. We still have hope! Don¡¯t you dare give up now!¡± Blorspi snarled and tried to look around. There had to be something that they could do, and there must be! He was not letting the Chief have his way! There was nothing that would cause him to roll over and die!


    Blorspi tried to move, he kicked and punched but nothing happened. Like the last time he had tried, nothing happened. But then he threw another punch and he laughed.


    ¡°Elder?¡± Recor asked, worry in his voice.


    Blorspi laughed and shook his head. ¡±The Force that holds us down! It was negated! We can move and train without limits!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Recor asked shock in his voice.


    Blorspi looked on as Recor started to do a battle practice, one that only the strongest could do. An endless dance of their training practice might keep their spirits up, but would it have any effect? But then he remembered that his father had been fighting when he Awakened. Could training up here give them the push they needed?

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Six Part 2

    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he moved towards where his friend floated, Bryke couldn¡¯t help but grin. It had been a long time since the last good fight he had seen. And to have it between his friend and someone that they both thought was just a civilian? Priceless. He looked up at Zevortro and waved. ¡°How¡¯s the weather up there!?¡±


    ¡°Funny! Get me down, now!¡± Zevortro bellowed as he floated above Bryke, his arms crossed.


    Bryke only chuckled a little as he started to spin the rope around and then let it fly. As it flew towards Zevortro, Bryke looked around. Jessie and Terra were starting to set up poles using some of the remains of the containers. Duncan was watching the wall of hull plates, a scowl on his face. V1 had disappeared, probably gone to get something to hide and finish the enclosure. Dalila was putting supplies into packs, and Leonator was walking back to watch the natives.


    ¡°Thanks!¡± Zevortro called out from above.


    Looking up, Bryke saw his friend climbing down head first, and he chuckled.


    ¡°What?¡± Zevortro asked as he reached the ground.


    ¡°Nothing, just that was something else!¡± Bryke said, grinning.


    ¡°Yeah, who knew he could fight that well? But that was one of the best fights I¡¯ve had in months!¡± Zevortro said, laughing as he shook his head.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Bryke said with a sigh.


    He looked toward Duncan and the thing they were going into, and he scowled. The talk he had with Da3 about what was down there was still on his mind. The fact was that they had no idea just what they were running into. And that bothered him a lot more than he liked. The idea that they were dealing with either an AI or a smart program, was hitting him. You could plan for a smart program, but an AI was like another sentient. Anything could be thrown at you.


    ¡°And we¡¯re going down there,¡±  Bryke muttered as he looked at Duncan. He couldn¡¯t blame the Chief. The threat that it represented was real, and they couldn¡¯t let it go. There had to be a simpler way to keep the threat off the board, but he couldn¡¯t see one.


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re going down bro,¡± Zevortro said, a hard edge to his voice. ¡°You worried about something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I am a bit man. That lady, she figured something out. A possibility,¡± Bryke admitted as he looked at his friend.


    ¡°How so?¡± Zevortro asked as he looked at Bryke who only shrugged.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it with the others later, just get ready,¡± Bryke said as he walked towards the supplies. He didn¡¯t want to say it now, it was better to wait and talk about it later. They needed to be on their guard constantly, they couldn¡¯t let anything hold them. They were going into an unknown structure. That was the only way to survive this dive.


    ¡°Okay, but keep your chin up, man! We stand as one and do this smart, there is nothing we can¡¯t do!¡± Zevortro said with a note of cheer in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bradford looked around the chamber that had been cleared out. He had asked the others if he could have a few moments alone to inspect it, and they had let him. He had to say, that Duncan either had or was a good organizer. The deckhands had been able to clear this room out only three of them and three volunteers. Together, they had created a chain, and then gotten everything out in quick precision. Thankfully, the deckhand had kept the passengers inside. No need for them to know about the three prisoners being held up there after all. So far, they had said they would handle the other room after lunch.


    And this was the perfect time to contact his people. If whatever had let him talk to Brute and Mind was up that is. And if not, then maybe he could talk to any of the other agents he had on this planet.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Let¡¯s try this again. The third times the charm. <u>Aether Skills; Communication Hub</u>!¡± Bradford barked. As soon as the screen appeared, he looked over the icons, hoping to find two active ones. But it wasn¡¯t to be.


    ¡°So Brute and Mind are still down? Wonderful. What is the secret to this?¡± Bradford muttered as he looked over the grid. He had hoped that today he could talk to both of them at once. The chance to coordinate both of them might have helped them all. The closer that he got to finding a way to get them to him, the closer they were to getting off this planet.


    Then his eyes saw that one of the icons was ¡®active¡¯. It was strange, a shield with flames behind it. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see who this is!¡±


    As soon as he pressed the icon, a voice came over. ¡°What in the stars!? What is this?!¡±


    Bradford felt a smirk forming as he heard that voice. So one of his more powerful operatives had survived? Perfect!


    ¡°Operative Dreadwall, it¡¯s good to hear from you!¡± Bradford said with a savage grin.


    ¡°Boss! I feared you were dead sir!¡± Dreadwall said, laughter in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s good that I¡¯ll be able to give my final report after all!¡±


    ¡°Final Report!? What happened to your group!?¡± Bradford demanded and Dreadwall sighed.


    ¡°Sir, the group I¡¯m with crashed down in this abandoned city. So far the few security personnel have been able to secure a building five stories high. It¡¯s for urban hydroponics. There are these trees with pods on them. They say we can eat them¡­..¡±


    ¡°You can, I have. So beyond that, have you seen anything else?¡± Bradford asked with a grin.


    ¡°We can eat them? Oh. That changes things. There have been a few people who¡¯ve seen something. Between the shadows of other buildings, I haven¡¯t seen them,¡± Dreadwall said with a hint of worry.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been attacked every day. We found supplies to defend ourselves in the capsules. Check yourself, or have whoever is leading do it. My order is to stay alive,¡± Bradford said with a hard edge to his voice. ¡°Try to find where the others are. As of now, all that I know are alive are Brute and Mind. Brute is with the ship in a snow region. Operative Mind is in a desert. Look out for yourself, this world is beyond deadly.¡±


    ¡°Yes sir! Anything else I should know?¡± Dreadwall asked.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m talking to you through The Power. Somehow, humans have an easier time gaining it here. If you can, gain it!¡± Bradford ordered and he heard Dreadwall cough.


    ¡°The POWER!? HOW!?¡± Dreadwall asked, their voice having an eager edge.


    ¡°Unknown, but Brute has it now. Try and learn from anyone that might gain it with your group,¡± Bradford ordered.


    ¡°Sir Bradford?! The Chief wants to see you, sir!¡± A male voice calls from beyond the door.


    Bradford looked at the door through the screen and scowled.


    ¡°I need to go, stay alive!¡± Bradford said before he tried to will the screen away. When it left, he smiled and laughed a little.


    Shaking his head, he walked to the door and opened it, seeing another passenger on the other side.


    ¡°Sorry sir, but the Chief needed to talk to you. And he was instant about it!¡± The passenger said.


    Bradford frowned internally as he looked at the man before him. What could Duncan want from him now? He knew the Chief was heading up to handle something, but not what. Since the Chief promised to call him if he had to, then this was bad. ¡°Thank you! Have we made enough space for the snorers yet?¡±


    ¡°Yes sir! We¡¯ll sleep well tonight!¡± The passenger called out with a grin.


    Bradford almost didn¡¯t hear him as he moved into the main hallway. His mind was going down dark passages, each one worse than the last. Something told him that he wouldn¡¯t like this at all, and that was the worst. With everything that had happened, if something was


    ¡°But sir, why are we still stuck down here? If we have the shield up?¡± The same passenger asked, a note of worry in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s just, people have been talking. And they¡¯re starting to get worried sir.¡±


    Bradford stopped and looked back, trying to think of what to say. He knew that whatever he told this person, others would hear it from him. The wrong word could harm their morale, and that could lead to terrible things. If there was a riot, then he would be one of the first the ¡®leader¡¯ would kill. And he had made a promise a long time ago, he would never die like that!


    ¡°The shield is not the end all, there are more dangers. The Chief just wants those that he protected safe. There will be a time when we will be able to leave. I promise we¡¯ll be in the sun within a week if nothing happens. But for now, we have to stay safe. That¡¯s all,¡± Bradford said with a small smile.


    ¡°Oh? Well, if you are sure about that sir. I¡¯ll help you calm everyone down,¡± The passenger said with a grin.


    Bradford nodded, clapping the man on his shoulder. ¡°Good man! You do that. We will survive, I promise!¡±


    Bradford turned around and walked into the main chamber, looking around. He didn¡¯t see Jones anywhere, but he saw two groups of five. He couldn¡¯t see who they were talking to, but he knew that they were going to be problems.


    Bradford kept his face neutral as he walked to the doors outside, but he kept an eye on those two groups. He had seen many people who had gained power from worse groups. And with who knows how many other escape capsules on this island, there was a problem. They had too many chances that they could become worse threats.


    Walking into the null gravity field, he looked up and nodded as he closed the door behind him. Best to keep a watch on this, the chance someone would run out was high. But Bradford¡¯s thoughts died in his mind as soon as he saw what was on the field before him. He stared in horror, wondering just how a hibernation prison was here.


    He had been just a newly elected senator when these things had been debated. And his vote was one of many that had made even the operation of these a crime. There was no way that he was seeing this.


    ¡°There you are, Bradford! I was wondering how long it would take to get you here!¡± Duncan said with a grin.


    ¡°Nova take that, Duncan! What in the name of the stars is that abomination doing here!?¡± Bradford asked, his eyes wide.


    Duncan looked at Bradford and then his eyes hardened. ¡°So you know what that is.¡±


    ¡°Do I know?! The vote to ban those things was my first action as a Senator! Why is it here and why is it around the remains of a container!¡± Bradford barked as he looked at it with anger in his eyes. But then his eyes zeroed in on the pieces of the container and then he started to grit his teeth. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me that this thing was in the capsule!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t then,¡± Duncan said with a shrug.


    Bradford looked at him and then the hibernation chamber and then he felt his anger spike. He looked at it and then he glared at Duncan. ¡°What in the name of the blackhole is this doing here!? And¡­. No! It¡¯s active!?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re planning on getting the person in there out soon,¡± Duncan said with a shrug.


    ¡°Why not now?!¡± Bradford demanded.


    At this, Duncan looked away with a blush. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been said that this destroys normal clothing. And well.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Bradford said as he took in that. He took a moment to remember that fact, and then he looked at Duncan. ¡°Was this here as part of anything the company did!?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea why anything that was in the capsule was included in our supplies.  And that you can take to the bank!¡± Duncan said with a scowl.


    Bradford just looked at the hibernation prison, and he tried to think of anything that he could do. He had never even thought that one day, he would be on the same planet as one of those things. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stay here for now. I wanted to watch the party going down anyway. But we¡¯ll need to explain how whoever is in there, is here.¡±

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Seven Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1230


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they all gathered together, Jessie looked around at the group and nodded. With all six of them going down, they had a strong chance they would survive. He looked at what they had prepared to carry away the opening they would make, and he nodded. They were as ready as he could think of, they had one chance. As long as they could make it into the structure or ship, they would be able to do this.


    He looked around and saw the rest of the deckhands all standing by, ready to help. The plan was that the rest would help open the structure or ship, and some would guard the back. If anything got by the six, then they would come into a kill box. This plan was


    ¡°Alright, this is it!¡± Duncan said as he looked at the six people before him. ¡°Any last words before we start this thing?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. It might not be an AI after all,¡± Dalila said with a scowl on her face.


    Jessie blinked and looked at her, his mind racing. The idea that there wasn¡¯t an AI trying to break into the shield system opened up a question. What had been trying to hack into it? Because it had failed so many times, the system went into defense mode. That meant it needed a ¡°handshake¡± protocol to allow them to add tech. and because of that, the shield had been down. That had almost killed when those bear monsters attacked. But what was it? A real sentient being?


    ¡°What else could it be then Dalila?¡± Duncan asked, his voice hard.


    Everyone watched as Dalila swallowed and took a deep breath.


    ¡°I think. It might be either an AI or a very smart stupid program. Maybe something that was connected to a random word generator to break into an enemy system. Systems in enemy borders,¡± Dalila said with a hard look around.


    ¡°An automated program? That would¡­.. could it be?¡± Jessie wondered as he held a hand over his mouth, his mind racing. He could see the tactical potential for that, and he had to admit he wanted one. ¡°Are you saying, this thing might be trying to break in to listen to us?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the only other thing it could be instead of an AI. But it might be an AI with laws that say it can¡¯t talk to Aliens. But I thought I should bring up my fears,¡± Dalila said as she looked around. ¡°We have to be on our toes. We can¡¯t let anything trick us. We need to look over everything so that this thing won¡¯t kill us. We can¡¯t let any preconceived thoughts affect our efforts down there!¡±


    Duncan looked at them and then he nodded. ¡°She¡¯s right, and it was a good thing that you brought that up. And because of that, I¡¯m changing your orders. Your new mission is this. Get down there, and find out what this thing is. After that, get back here. Do not go farther than you have to.¡±


    Jessie nodded, his mind going down dark places. He looked around, seeing the weapons he had modified in the hands of the deckhands. They had everything ready, there was nothing that could go wrong. No matter what, they had planned for everything. He had even spent the last hour going over everything with Duncan. Together, the two of them had figured out everything that might happen.


    ¡°So let¡¯s cut into this thing!¡± Zevortro called out, holding his right arm up.


    There was a roar from the other deckhands, and Jessie felt his heart beat faster. The unknown, the danger, he was reacting to it. It was time to go to war once again.


    Jessie watched as Bryke and Zevortro pulled off their rifles, activated the blades and then they started to cut. Zee took a step backwards on top of the object and Bryke started at the bottom. Watching them cut into it and move, he felt a small spark of the old battle lust. The last year he had been on the Spirit was the most peaceful time he had ever had. But it was so peaceful he was starting to get antsy before the crash.


    ¡°You okay?¡± Terra asked from his left.


    Jessie blinked, having not heard her come up behind him. He mentally checked and scowled as he saw he still had his nanite enhancements offline. He was going down into an unknown ship or station, he needed them active. He closed his eyes and then turned them all on. He opened his eyes and saw that all of his augments were back online. He smirked as he saw everything, and felt the mental radar turn back on.


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    ¡°I am now. You ready?¡± Jessie asked and Terra nodded.


    ¡°I almost wasn¡¯t. You¡¯ve been off your game,¡± Terra said softly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jessie said as he took a deep breath and blew it out. ¡°My enhancements were off. Yours on?¡±


    Terra looked at him and then she shook her head before closing her eyes.


    Jessie chuckled and then rubbed her head.


    She batted it away and glared at her, but he saw the relief in her eyes. Then they clouded and she sighed.


    ¡°I never told you why I joined the ship, did I?¡± Terra asked, a somber tone in her voice.


    Jessie looked at her and then he felt that cold feeling he sometimes had return. From the tone of her voice, Jessie knew that he was not going to like anything that she told him.


    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t. Trouble with something not the law?¡± Jessie asked and Terra nodded.


    A roar from the pit caused them both to turn. Zevortro and Bryke had finished cutting, and they had removed the piece. From where Jessie and Terra were standing, they saw into a darkened void that went on a good fifty feet long at least.


    ¡°There¡¯s the way in! time to go!¡± Zevortro bellowed and there were cheers from everyone around them.


    ¡°Well done!¡± A loud voice caused everyone to turn and see Bradford on top of one of the dirt hills. He beamed as he looked down at them all and walked towards them, a wide grin on his face.


    Jessie only shook his head and tried not to smile. This was just what he expected from the old senator, taking advantage of a chance to make a speech.


    Jessie looked at Terra who looked back. For a second they just stared at each other before Jessie nodded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about this later after we¡¯re back up here,¡± Jessie said. There was a hard edge to his voice, one that he used to get answers.


    Terra only nodded back as Bradford started to give a speech.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ???????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Damage report from the highest point. Sensors show that the upper area has been breached. All primary internal defenses are offline. Sending Secondary Mobile Defenses into the area around the breach. Orders are to hold off any borders.


    Possibility of the source being the strange force ¡®above¡¯, 50 percent. There is a possibility that another force has destroyed the first force, 50 percent.


    Attempting to hack into unknown network unsuccessful. Code has proven difficult to breach.


    Awaiting reports from secondary forces.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro looked at the cut in the hull plates as Bradford droned on. There were only a few wires here and there, and the rest was solid. He didn¡¯t know much about ship construction, but something about it bothered him. There should have been more circuitry here, was one of the wires for data transfer? Everything that he knew, told him that this was wrong.


    ¡°¡­¡­ And I sault our brave explorers!¡± Bradford said, finishing his small speech.


    ¡°GO!¡± Duncan roared.


    Zevortro nodded and fell into line behind Jessie as they walked into the breach. They all turned on the lights on their shoulders as they looked around.


    Zevortro scowled as he took in what was here, he hadn¡¯t expected this. The room or chamber was as wide as the section they had cut.


    ¡°You found anything already?¡± Jessie asked amusement in his voice.


    Zevortro looked back and saw Dalila attaching a wire to the circuits the cut revealed. She looked at a small-handled device in her other hand, scowling as she did so.


    ¡°Everything is what I thought it would be. This is just a power line, with no coding at all. If there were shielding systems here, we¡¯d need to take apart the piece to find it. But what carries the data?¡± Dalila asked herself as she looked down.


    Zevortro looked at Bryke who moved his pointer finger around his right ear in a circle. He just chuckled as they watched Jessie walk over and cough.


    Dalila looked up and then she winced. ¡°Sorry. Thought I could get something about this thing. Nothing. We need to go deeper.¡±


    ¡°I thought we would. Terra, what about the door?¡± Jessie called out.


    Zevortro turned and looked at the door, seeing Terra there examining it. She turned back and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not an airlock. But I don¡¯t know what the handle is.¡±


    With a look at Bryke and Vivis, Zevortro led the three towards Terra.


    ¡°So we can cut into it right?¡± Bryke asked as he pulled out his pistol, and activated the blade.


    Before he could cut into the door, Jessie was there and grabbed Bryke¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Hold on. We can see if we can get into the data net from this. We might not even need to go farther in!¡± Jessie said with a hard look in his eyes.


    Zevortro looked at the wall the door was set in. There was nothing that told him that there was anything technical about it. As he looked around, there was nothing that would allow anyone to leave. There was something about this, something that bothered him.


    ¡°If there is a way to hack into this thing, I can¡¯t see it. We might have to cut into it. And we might just destroy any data lines,¡± Dalila said with a scowl.


    As Zevortro watched, Dalila looked around, her eyes slowly growing more troubled as she did so.


    ¡°Say, Jessie? This chamber is bare. I mean, this¡­.. what is this room?¡± Dalila asked, worry in her voice.


    Zevortro looked around as well, and he heard Jessie muttering as he did the same. Everyone started to move around, examining the room more.


    He didn¡¯t know about the others, but there was nothing here. He had been in some rooms back aboard the Spirit, but this was nothing like any of them! Even the storage rooms back in the escape capsule had something to open them from the other side! Here it was as if they just wanted the lock to be one way. It was almost like a¡­¡­¡­ Zevortro felt his heart stop as he looked around slowly, and then he looked down. As he watched the lights on his shoulders sweep the room, he slowly started to see what he hadn¡¯t before.


    ¡°Stars!¡± Zevortro exclaimed as he looked up. As the others all looked at him, he looked up. The more he looked up, the more saw what he hadn¡¯t before.


    ¡°What is it, bro? What are¡­..you¡­¡­.. looking at,¡± Bryke said as he looked up. As everyone joined them, they looked over the ceiling.


    ¡°I was right! I knew it!¡± Zevortro said, a note of anger in his voice


    ¡°Wait! What were you right about?¡± Vivis asked.


    Zevortro only moved his torso, showing the blank material of the ceiling to them all.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you see it? Or you can¡¯t see it. There are no light sources anywhere on the roof. But there is that!¡± Zevortro said as he pointed at a space teen feet from the opening. His lights were on a strange square that was set into the material, and Zevortro chuckled. ¡°That there? That¡¯s an escape/entry hatch! That¡¯s what they put on docking ports in old models. The ones that connected bottom to bottom!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?! Why is it on the ceiling?!¡± Terra demanded before her mouth dropped open. ¡°You¡¯re not saying!?¡±


    ¡°YES! When this thing crashed, it did so upside down!¡± Zevortro exclaimed as he looked at the others. But then he looked towards the wall. His light went up and stopped on his target. But before he could say anything, the console he found lit up.

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Seven Part 2

    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryke looked up at where Zevortro had and felt his heart clench. Above them, another door was opening five feet up. As he watched, a purple robot walked onto the wall. It had a slim rectangle body, and six stilt legs that each ended in spikes. It used them to grab onto the wall and it moved a single eye stalk at the middle of the rectangle to look down at them.


    ¡°AIM!¡± Jessie barked, and as one he, Zevortro, and Bryke all aimed at the robot.


    Bryke saw Terra and Dalila aim up at the robot as they stepped in front of Vivis.


    ¡°Do we fire!?¡± Zevortro asked, an edge to his voice.


    ¡°Keep moving apart and back slowly. This thing might be on autopilot. Don¡¯t attack unless it does,¡± Terra said slowly.


    Bryke held back a snort as he listened to Terra. He understood what she meant, but he didn''t agree. This thing had to have come here because they had broken in. And that stalk was probably a weapon, not a sensor. But why was it here? Did it come for them or was this some kind of preprogrammed route?


    For a few moments, nothing happened until Vivis spoke up. ¡°What is it doing?¡±


    The robot was moving its eye stalk around the room, bathing the chamber in a blue light. But as soon as it came onto Bryke, the light stopped. A moment later, the light turned red and light started to gather in front of the stalk.


    ¡°Weapon, move and fire!¡± Jessie barked as he hired.


    Bryke threw himself to the side and fired his pistol before he rolled into a ball. He heard the sounds of the shots hitting as he landed. He looked up as he heard a crash, and saw the robot had fallen to the ground.


    For a moment he felt a little lighter, they might have destroyed the only defender this thing had. Then five more of the robots came out and stalked onto the walls, firing at them as they moved.


    Bryke moved, dodging the blasts sent his way by an inch, feeling the heat from them as they passed. He kept firing and hit one of them in its eye stalk. It started to glow before it exploded a second later.


    ¡°NOVA! Terra, go all out! We need salvage!¡± Jessie barked as he kept firing and moving.


    ¡°Got it! <u>Shot Enhance; Ice</u>!¡± Terra bellowed before a blue bolt hit one of the robots. It fell and to the ground.


    Bryke meanwhile fired again, this time hitting one of the robot¡¯s legs. It fell to the ground and then its eye stalk started to glow again.


    Before it could do anything, another shot from one of the others hit the stalk. This time, the explosion was larger and released a louder boom that shook them. The shockwave caused Bryke to be thrown into the air.


    He hit the far wall to the right and slid down the wall painfully. He moaned and looked up, seeing there was a twenty-foot-long hole five feet wide in the floor before him. As a piece of the wall dropped down through it, they all heard a splash down below.


    ¡°Water?¡± Bryke muttered as he stood up. Looking around, he saw that Dalila was on the other side near the edge of the opening back to the clearing. To his right was Terra and across was Zevortro and Jessie. As he tried to look around, he heard Terra moan as she got up.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Terra was able to say slowly.


    Bryke just chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Those shots must have hit it just right. I haven¡¯t seen anything like that before out an explosive!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie blinked as he looked around, getting back to his feet. He heard Zevortro roll over to his right, and he ignored him.


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    Looking ahead, he saw the hole and the three feet in front of them.


    He looked down into the darkness and saw a wall a foot below the hole that seemed to cut the space beneath them in half. His eyes widened as he looked up, trying to find any other robots. But thankfully, all of the enemy had been destroyed. Looking down at the hole, his light went down ten feet.


    ¡°Everyone! We need to leave now!¡± Jessie barked and reached down to grab Zevortro. ¡°That hole and the rest makes moving deeper impossible. We need to set up a firing line to hold these things off!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell the Chief!¡± Vivis called out, and Jessie nodded.


    ¡°Why the nova¡­. Oh. That¡¯s a deep hole,¡± Zevortro said with a soft voice.


    Jessie nodded as he looked ¡®up¡¯ at the door. He cursed himself from the depths of his soul. How had he been so stupid!? Why in the name of the Stars and Homeworlds did he think that this thing was right side up!? That was the kind of mistake that rookies made! He was an experienced Hunter, he should have known! ¡°Yeah, and we don¡¯t know how hard the floor is with that damage. So move slowly, and carefully. That goes for all four of us!¡±


    Across from them, Bryke helped Terra up and he nodded at Jessie. ¡°Slow and steady man!¡±


    Jessie looked at the ¡®ceiling¡¯ and tried to understand this thing. The fact that the entrance was at the bottom was worrying. This whole thing was so advanced but it was like the people who made it hadn¡¯t been into space before. Even now, he could barely see anything that might open the door. The more he saw, the more he grew worried. Then a thought hit him and he felt his eyes widen. He looked up and started to cycle through frequencies and then after a few moments he had to close his eyes.


    ¡°NOVA! This explains everything!¡± He exclaimed and he started to laugh a little. He couldn¡¯t believe that he had missed something so obvious, he really couldn¡¯t.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Zevortro asked.


    Jessie was about to say something when he detected the sounds of movement coming towards them. ¡°INCOMING FROM THE DOOR!¡±


    ¡°What the nova do you mean!?¡± Bryke snarled.


    But before Jessie could explain, he understood what he sensed. Without a thought, he tackled Zevortro moments before a blast flew over their heads.


    Rolling off Zevortro, Jessie started to fire at the doorway. Floating there were five strange robots. They were three half-foot-long pyramids that were joined at the base around a sphere. As he fired at one, the light started to gather in front of the sphere.


    ¡°Keep firing!!¡± Jessie roared as he stood up, and for a moment, he thought they would win this. But then three more of the robots appeared from the door. They flew over the human''s heads, angling towards the opening to the clearing.


    ¡°NO! Stop them!¡± Bryke cried out.


    For a moment Jessie almost turned when he detected three more of the robots coming towards the door. He had to hope that the others could handle them and that they weren¡¯t connected to anything wirelessly.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan looked down at the opening, debating if he should send people down there. The idea was that they would hold the high ground, but the screams and blasts from within made him pause.


    He was about to order the defenders to move in, when Dalila and Vivis came out of the opening, firing as they moved.


    ¡°I GOT ONE!¡± Vivis screamed in glee.


    ¡°Good, keep up the fire!¡± Dalila screamed rage in her voice.


    Before Duncan could wonder what they were firing at, he had an answer. Over their head, a robot that had three pyramids flew around an orb flew out. Before he realized what he had done, Duncan drew his pistol and fired, the bolt going through the orb.


    As the others all looked at him, Duncan looked down at his hand holding his pistol. He looked up and grinned at the looks he was getting. ¡°Guess the old instants are still strong!¡±


    ¡°SIR!¡± Dalila called out as she ran towards him. Once she reached him, she saluted him before speaking. ¡°The way in is blocked sir, that thing is upside down! That¡¯s the bottom on top!¡±


    Duncan blinked and then he looked at the opening, his mind racing. That one piece of information changed everything, and it made him worried. That meant that they were looking at the bottom of the ship, and the thrusters weren¡¯t even there! He had sent them down there for no reason beyond his paranoia! But that was the past, he had to deal with the future.


    ¡°Start figuring out a way to close that hole! I want a firing line now! Vivis, tell me everything you found out about that chamber! I want to know everything that you all learned!¡± Duncan said with a snarl on his face. He would make sure that everyone was out of that place as fast as he could!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra fired another bolt at one of the robots, her Power active. As soon as the bolt hit, the robot was encased in ice. She grinned and ducked, dodging another blast. So far, she and BRYKE had only made it around three feet, and lost two! They were almost as far from the door as they were before, and there were more robots, a total of seven. Some of them tried to get by, but they had been able to hold the line.


    She looked at the frozen robot, and she heard a splash from below. She couldn¡¯t see the water but it had to be close. She had no idea how that was possible, and she was worried. Nothing about this wreck made sense to her, and she was starting to get worried. But the most scary part was that she had no idea why she was worried. But it was there, at the edge of her thoughts.


    ¡°We need to do something, we need to leave!¡± Bryke said as he kept firing, taking a step back.


    ¡°Just keep it up, we¡¯re going to make it!¡± Terra called out, hope in her voice.


    Terra looked up at the door on the ¡®ceiling¡¯ and tried to believe her words. She knew that the best thing to do in these situations was to keep morale up, but that trick never worked on the person using it. All in all, she had to face facts, the chances they would live were slowly falling. And if Bryke was smart, he would know that.


    ¡°Yeah, maybe we can do a leap fall?¡± Bryke said with a scowl as he looked at Jessie and Zevortro.


    Terra looked at Bryke and almost asked what when she saw five more robots appear, these were the Wall Walkers. As the walkers moved towards them, the flyers started to fire shorter blasts. Terra understood just what they were doing in an instant, but why were they doing that? Were they ordered to do it, or did they program with that tactic?


    ¡°They¡¯re guarding the Wall Walkers!¡± Jessie roared from the other side.


    Terra almost rolled her eyes, like she hadn¡¯t figured that out. But then Jessie was saying that for the other two.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Terra called out as she fired another bolt, this time at the wall. As soon as the blue bolt hit, ice spikes grew out and hit the front Wall Walker. For a moment, Terra grinned, and then the Wall Walker glowed and exploded. The explosion caused the ground to rumble, and then the ground she and Bryke started to come apart. Before she could even move, the ground beneath her feet crumbled.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    It was all Jessie could do to stare in horror as Terra and Bryke fell into the depths of the wreck. ¡°NO!¡±


    ¡°You know we¡¯ve gotta go after them, right?¡± Zevortro said with a hard edge in his voice.


    ¡°You never leave anyone behind! That¡¯s the Planetary standard. But we gotta go now! Hold on!¡± Jessie said as he grabbed Zevortro and moved. For a moment, he glowed green before suddenly the two of them were falling down the same hole that Terra and Bryke had. Jessie had no idea where they were going, but he refused to leave a friend in danger alone.


    ¡°Cowabunga!!¡± Zevortro roared as they both dropped down.

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Eight Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1320


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she fell, Terra felt the wind against her body. For a moment, memories came for her and she almost grinned. But then she remembered where she was, and that feeling died. As she looked around, she saw she and Bryke were falling through a void,  a deep dark void.


    ¡°How long have we been falling? It feels like days!¡± Bryke cried out, fear in his voice.


    Terra was about to call up her internal time nanite but then they hit water. She dropped her weapon for a moment, but then she grabbed her rifle before she put it on her back. As she struggled to the surface, Terra felt the emergency nanites in her lungs activate. As they started to generate oxygen, she had to hope that Bryke had the same type. Otherwise, he might be dead. She looked and saw Bryke sinking beneath her, and she swam towards him.


    With each moment that he fell father, Terra felt her fear grow, she was why they were here. Because of her attack, her target had exploded and the floor had been destroyed. If Bryke died because of her, then she didn¡¯t know what she¡¯d do.


    Finally, after what felt like forever, she reached him. Grabbing him, she turned and started to kick. As she swam upwards, she felt something, something below her. It made her swim faster, holding Bryke to her body. The feeling wouldn¡¯t go away, and every second made her worried that something was after her. She moved upwards until she breached the water, gasping for breath as she hit the air.


    Looking around, she saw that she was in a chamber that was at least two hundred feet wide. There was a large wall to her right and to her left was a small island ten feet wide. Looking down at Bryke, she saw him breathing, but he was still unconscious.


    Looking at the island, she started to swim, keeping Bryke upright as she moved through the water. To her shock, she reached a gentle and smooth slop five feet from the island. She pulled herself to her feet and walked to the island proper, finding more smooth material. Clicking her lights back on, she looked around and saw smooth grey tile-like martial all around her. Putting Bryke down, she put her hand in front of his face.


    As soon as she did that, Bryke started to cough. He looked up at her and smirked a bit.


    ¡°What, were you worried about me?¡± He asked weakly.


    ¡°Worried I was going to have to make it out of this place on my own!¡± Terra said with a smirk on her face.


    Bryke tried to get up, but he fell back and sighed. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m gonna need a minute or so. That was some splash down.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. I can only hope that we can get out of here when we find a way out of this,¡± Terra said, she felt nothing but sorrow. She had no idea how they could leave, especially because this was the ceiling.


    Bryke looked up and chuckled as he lay there. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got a few tricks that I can use. Just let me rest a bit, and then I¡¯ll help.¡±


    ¡°With the two of us, we¡¯re going to be out soon. But this place is so big!¡± Terra said, chuckling as she looked around, trying to understand what this was. As she let the lights on her shoulder shine onto the water, she frowned as she thought she saw a ripple.


    ¡°HEY!¡± A voice called over the water.


    They both looked around, but they couldn¡¯t see anything. Was that from above, was that from this place? Was it echoing


    ¡°CAN YOU HEAR ME TERRA!?¡± The voice bellowed again.


    Terra grinned as he recognized the voice, grinning as she cupped her mouth. ¡°YEAH, I CAN HEAR YOU JESSIE! WHERE ARE YOU?¡±


    ¡°WE¡¯RE OVER HERE!¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice came over the water and Bryke started to laugh.


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    ¡°YOU TWO OKAY?!¡± Jessie asked in a scream.


    ¡°YEAH, BRYKE IS DOWN BUT HE¡¯S OKAY! WE NEED TO FIND EACH OTHER!¡± Terra answered in a yell.


    ¡°STAY THERE! WE¡¯RE GOING TO FIND YOU!¡± Jessie howled.


    Terra grinned at Bryke, they had friends. That meant that they weren¡¯t alone!


    Bryke only laughed a little as he sat up. ¡°Knew those two would have come for us. I never doubted it!¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Terra said with a laugh. ¡°Jessie never leave a comrade behind!¡±


    A splash behind caused them both to turn, their eyes wide.


    ¡°What was that?!¡± Terra asked as she looked around, trying to find the source


    Bryke got back to his feet shakily as he cursed. ¡°I dropped my rifle! Thank stars I still have my pistol!¡±


    Terra said nothing, moving her body around as the lights panned around.


    ¡°WHAT IS IT!?¡± Jessie''s voice echoed around the space.


    Terra kept her eyes on the water, and finally, she found a ripple. She swallowed as she thought she saw a shadow go deeper under the water.


    ¡°SOMETHING¡¯S OVER HERE! IT¡¯S HUNTING US!¡± Terra bellowed and fired at the water. Nothing happened and she heard another splash to their right.


    Before she could turn, Bryke fired his pistol.


    ¡°NOVA! Terra, freeze the water!¡± Bryke snarled as he looked around.


    ¡°What!? Oh. Yeah!¡± Terra said with a smirk. She took a deep breath and aimed her rifle, hoping that this would work. ¡°<u>Shot Enhance; Ice</u>¡±


    A moment after she called up her power, she fired a blue-covered bolt that hit the water and froze it for a good ten feet. She turned and fired another bolt, this time to the right. Turning to her left, she fired again, and then as the ice formed, she smiled. If everything worked as she willed it to, then whatever was down might be frozen.


    ¡°WHAT¡¯S HAPPENING!?¡± Jessie called out.


    Terra grinned as she froze in the last direction before looking around. Now the entire area around the island was covered by ice. That should keep the thing from getting them.


    But then they heard the sounds of cracking ice.


    ¡°No, no way,¡± Bryke whispered in shocked horror.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± Terra said, and they both turned to look at the ice. As they watched, the ice slowly started to crack, and within moments the ice broke up.


    ¡°SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT¡¯S HAPPENING!¡± Jessie bellowed again.


    ¡°MY ICE BROKE UP!¡± Terra bellowed back. As she looked at the ice, she frowned as she realized something. The ice wasn¡¯t staying still, it was all flowing to the right. That had to mean something, but what?


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie scowled as he looked towards where Terra¡¯s voice had come from.


    ¡°Ice, what ice? Her ability? Why¡¯s she use it and on what?!¡± Zevortro demanded.


    Jessie nodded, and he wanted to ask Terra what she had done. If she had remembered the old lessons he had given her during their time together, and he hoped she did. The one thing he always taught her was to be creative, that was what beat the enemy.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But where are they? And what broke the ice?¡± Jessie muttered to himself as he calmly tried to figure out where they were.


    ¡°We should be nearer to them, right?¡± Zevortro asked quietly.


    At this, Jessie only shook his head. ¡°If we were lucky, yeah. But even a foot off would have made us fall away from them on the way down. I think they¡¯re over there.¡±


    Jessie pointed to their right and scowled as he looked at the water. He couldn¡¯t understand why this was here, it didn¡¯t make sense! Just where had all this water come from, and the island they were on? If this was the ceiling, then just what was this for?


    ¡°We could use that trick you used to get us down here to try and find them,¡± Zevortro said.


    Jessie heard the question in Zevortro''s voice, and he winced. He knew when he used that technique that Zevortro would have questions. But the fact that his friend was in danger was enough for Jessie to break his cover. He knew there would be questions the others would have for him, but he was okay with that. Maybe it was time to share a few of his secrets after all.


    ¡°I¡¯d need to stand somewhere to use my lights. And I can¡¯t see anything around here to land on from here. So maybe we can swim in a direction first?¡± Jessie mused as he looked around.


    ¡°So I was right, you have had these powers for a while now,¡± Zevortro declared.


    Jessie looked at him and sighed. ¡°Yeah. And before you ask, I have no idea how I got them. It happened during a crazy portion of my life. And I thought everyone had that flame within them.¡±


    Zevortro only looked at him for a few moments, his mouth dropping open.  After a moment, he shook himself free and looked at him. ¡°So you have no idea how you gained that ability?¡±


    ¡°No, and I didn¡¯t know I had them until maybe a year later. At least a year,¡± Jessie mused and Zevortro only shook his head.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro looked at Jessie for a moment, trying to understand just how that was possible. He could understand that his friend was different. The path he had walked was not the one that Zevortro had gone down.  But to have not noticed that he had abilities for a whole year? That said a lot, and none of it was good. If the process of getting powers was different off this world, then what about this place changed it? If they could figure that out, then they might be able to figure out a lot of things, maybe even get home.


    But for now, all that mattered to him was survival. ¡°Okay. Got any other tricks that might be able to let us find them?¡±


    ¡°Some, and I¡¯m using them now. If I¡¯m right, they''re about fifty feet away from us that way,¡± Jessie said pointing to the right. He looked towards the water and scowled. ¡°And here¡¯s the proof!¡±


    Zevortro looked at the water and saw the pieces of ice float by them. Without a thought, he dashed to the edge and put his arm into the water. He felt what he thought he would and then he staggered back.


    ¡°What is it!?¡± Jessie asked as he looked around.


    ¡°The water has a current! That means that thing could be living in this!¡± Zevortro said as he looked at the water, his light shining down.


    ¡°Wait, what!? How does a current mean life!?¡± Jessie asked.


    Zevortro only looked at him, a bitter smile on his face. ¡°My grandfather had a saying, with water, movement is life. It keeps the water from going bad I guess. But this means that this whole thing? It could be anything at all from a pool to a big fish tank!¡±


    ¡°But this is upside down, how could it still be in one piece!?¡± Jessie said, a scowl on his face.


    Zevortro looked around, his mind going back to the time he had spent aboard the ship. As one fact from a week before they jumped came back to him, he nodded. ¡°Yeah, about that. See, back on the Spirit, they were starting to experiment with gravity. Create ways to make the ¡®wall¡¯ a ¡®floor¡¯. That was considered cutting-edge. What if whoever made this, is so beyond the edge in some places we can¡¯t even see it?¡±


    Jessie looked at him, and in his eyes, Zevortro could see shock and something else. Something about what Zevortro had said bothered Jessie, but Zevortro had no idea.


    ¡°So some kind of animal could be stalking them!?¡± Jessie said, anger in his voice.


    ¡°Yeah, and that¡¯s really bad. In a lot of ways,¡± Zevortro said with a scowl as he looked around.


    ¡°And why is that so bad?¡± Jessie asked sarcastically.


    Zevortro was about to answer him when they heard a cry from above. It wasn¡¯t sentient, it sounded like an animal. They heard the sounds of large wings as something flew by overheard, something big.


    ¡°Because it knows that things out of the water are food!¡± Zevortro said, his voice hard.

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Eight Part 2

    Bryke


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    Bryke looked around, his heart plummeting as he looked in the direction the ice had gone. There was something here, something beyond the edge of his mind that he couldn¡¯t see. But he had a terrible feeling that this fact was important. The more he looked around, the more that he was sure that there was beneath the waters. Every other minute, he thought he saw some shadow that disappeared in an instant.


    ¡°It¡¯s playing with us!¡± Bryke said with a scowl. As he let his eyes move around, he was sure that this time the shadow moved higher before it went away. ¡°There it is!¡±


    He fired into the water, and as the bolt sank deep the shadow reappeared just above it.


    ¡°It¡¯s playing with us!¡± Bryke snarled as he tried to aim at the shadow.


    ¡°Keep calm!¡± Terra said, looking around herself. ¡°Back to back, if that thing comes, fire!¡±


    Bryke did so and he barely kept from gritting his teeth. There was something so unnerving about this, and he could barely keep from growling. There was something about that just made him want to attack, but attack what? They were stuck here, with no way to leave. If only they had a way to go!


    ¡°GUYS! THE ICE FLOWS TO US! HOLD ON, WE¡¯LL MAKE IT TO YOU SOON!¡± Jessie ¡®s voice echoed over the water.


    ¡°They''re coming to help us! Oh no. That thing will kill them if they swim!¡± Bryke exclaimed, horror in his voice.


    ¡°Oh, blackhole! STAY THERE! SOMETHING WILL GET YOU IF YOU SWIM TO US! JUST STAY THERE FOR NOW!¡± Terra called out.


    A louder splash from the right caused Bryke to whip around and shine his lights on it. To his horror, he saw ripples in the water.


    ¡°GAG!¡± Terra bellowed as she fired at the center mass of the ripple. Once the blue bolt hit, a large square of ice teen feet wide formed from the shot that hit the island!


    For a second Bryke thought that she had hit it, but no. A moment later another splash was heard! ¡°NOVA! I should have gotten it that time! How fast can it swim!? I mean I covered twenty feet down with that one!¡±


    ¡°Great effort! We need to wait and hit it when it comes up! One single moment is all we need. We just need¡­¡­. To¡­...,¡± Bryke trailed off as he absorbed what Terra said. He went still as he thought about what she had said meant. If that was true, then they had a chance. ¡°Wait, wait? Terra? You can mentally choose what the ice becomes?¡±


    ¡°You caught that? Yeah, I figured out how to a while back. But what good would that do to us?¡± Terra asked.


    Bryke felt his mouth grin wide. He was right, and that meant that they could escape.


    ¡°Everything! Make another grid around us! But this time make four small boats out of ice at the end. Connect them to the main part by thin lines and when the lines break we float free!¡± Bryke exclaimed and Terra looked at him.


    For a moment as he looked at her, Bryke feared he was wrong. But then she grinned and laughed. ¡°YEAH! That could work!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


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    Terra felt her grin widen as she turned around and aimed her rifle. ¡°This will work! But just to make sure!¡±


    She thought about what she needed and fired, each bolt hitting her target. As the ice square around the island formed again, this time four boats formed at the edge of each. All on but the one pointing in the direction the ice had formed, each boat formed a small hanging block. ¡°MOVE NOW! ¡±


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    Without another word, Terra ran toward the small boat without the blocks. But before she reached the ice then she thought about something. ¡°LIGHTS OUT!¡±


    Within a moment, the lights on her shoulder went out. As she jumped for the boat ahead of her, she saw the lights from Bryke turn off. Behind her, she heard the feet of Bryke, and in moments he was airborne. Before they landed, they heard a crash as the block to the right fell onto the boat.


    Terra grinned at Bryke as the small boat broke away from the main ice block. ¡°Like that? I figured the beast would miss us if we were just one of the boats that something landed on them!¡±


    ¡°Smart, I just hope it works,¡± Bryke said softly as the boat carried them away.


    Looking out in the darkness, Terra agreed with him. But as they floated away, a terrible thought hit her. There was nothing that said that the monster that had been hunting them was alone. And that meant that there was a chance there were more of this thing out there. Looking around, she kept her eyes trailing over the darkness for anything.


    They needed to get to the other two, Jessie and Zevortro would help them handle these. They had to stand together, that was the only way to survive.


    Before she could speak, a loud series of splashes was heard behind them. Turning towards it, they saw the outline of something smashing around the island¡¯s surface. Without reacting, Terra looked into the darkness as Bryke swore next to her.


    ¡°That¡¯s what was attacking us, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Bryke asked in a whisper.


    Terra nodded, and then she winced. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s it. We were lucky. But how long will this take to get to the others.¡±


    Terra looked around and tried to think of a plan, anything that might work. Her blaster rifle could make other ice floats, but would that let it know where they were? Or would it keep them alive? The one thing she knew was that there was a chance that if she did nothing, they might survive. But if she was wrong, they might die.


    ¡°HEY! WE CAN SEE YOU!¡± Zevortro¡¯s voice from behind them caused her to grin. Maybe they could stand together after all.


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    Jessie


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    As Zevortro waved, Jessie looked around, trying to find anything. The way that more ice floated towards them and the scream of Terra before bothered him so much. They were on top of a deep water that moved, and had an ecosystem down there! And something had gone up looking for food! Counting the thing that flew over their head before, and that said the ¡®land; had life too. And that wasn¡¯t even counting the fact that the chances of more creatures coming out of the whole they made up there. For all he knew, a hive or something was attacking the others!


    ¡°So, any idea where to go once they get here?¡± Zevortro asked with a note of anger in his voice.


    Jessie looked at him and shook his head. He could go and scout around, but go where? There was no simple way to get out. If he went the way the current went, he might find something. But on the other way, the source of the current might be the answer. Any one of the walls could have an opening and he might never find it in the dark. The more he looked around, the more he was sure that the people who made this relied heavily on Augmented Reality. His nanites had noticed something there, but his eyes couldn¡¯t see anything. He had once read a research file when he had been raiding a company. About how eyes that see different spectrums see augmented reality differently. How they could see more than races with normal vision did. If that was true, then these people were different from many races in the Federation.


    ¡°None, we¡¯ll talk with them once they get here. I can scout around fast. Give me an hour and I might have somewhere we can go. Maybe,¡± Jessie said as he looked around.


    ¡°What about going up?¡± Zevortro asked as he looked at Jessie and then into the ceiling.


    ¡°Too dark. I can¡¯t see anything, and if I guess wrong I¡¯ll just run into something. Bad way to die,¡± Jessie said bitterly as he looked at Zevortro. He saw the look in Zevortro¡¯s eyes and Jessie had to wonder just what Zevortro thought about the Power. Few people even knew it was real, but after everything the last few days most of the deckhands knew the truth. And some of them, even the passengers would try and figure out how to get their own. But the thought of someone like Jones getting a Power was scary.


    ¡°HEY!¡± Bryke¡¯s voice caused them both to look up.


    Bryke and Terra were coming towards them, twenty feet away on a boat made of ice. As they watched, Jessie zeroed in on Terra who was looking behind them.


    That caused him to scowl, as Terra would have noticed anything that was tracking them. And that meant that the thing that had attacked them was still after them. Without a thought, he jumped up into the air, and with a burst of movement, he had ¡®dashed¡¯ to them. He landed softly next to them, and Bryke¡¯s mouth dropped open in shock.


    ¡°How, why? How did you do that!?¡± He asked, his voice horse.


    ¡°So,¡± Terra said as she put her right hand on her waist. ¡°You finally showed what you can do.¡±


    ¡°Wait, you knew!?¡± Bryke exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°I helped her out a few years back. It wound up being something that lasted a year, but it was something right. We said goodbye, and here we are,¡± Jessie explained as he shrugged. ¡°So ready to be carried away to safety?¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?! That¡¯s why you¡¯re here!? I ain¡¯t going to be picked up like some princess type and¡­.!¡± Bryke began on for the sounds of something breaking to their left to cause him to go silent, his mouth open.


    ¡°That¡¯s one of the other boats! It must have been hit by the thing hunting us!¡± Terra exclaimed in shock.


    A loud splash from their right caused Bryke¡¯s mouth to close with a snap. He looked back at Jessie with a scared look in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m ready to be carried away from here now.¡±


    ¡°How many decoys did you make!?¡± Jessie demanded as he looked around.


    His augmented vision only let him see ten five feet in the dark, and the others were farther away than that. He had to hope that she had made more than just two boats.


    ¡°Four of them! And I made it so that we fell onto outs after the decoy weights fell onto the other boats!¡± Terra said as she looked around, her rifle aimed at the water.


    Jessie¡¯s eyes shot wide as he comprehended what his friend said. There was only one way that was possible in the short time they had to get here. And that showed him she could do something that he thought was impossible.


    ¡°Wait, what!? You can mentally make the ice do anything you want as it forms!?¡± Jessie asked the wonder and shock in his voice almost making Terra look back at him.


    ¡°Yeah, I can. And how will that help us?¡± Terra asked fear and anger in her voice.


    Jessie just looked at her and then shook his head, activating a strain of nanites within him. Bouncing a short-range data pulse to the rifle, he sent the data to Terra¡¯s Augmented Reality Nanaites.


    ¡°WHOOH!¡± Terra exclaimed in shock.


    Jessie only nodded as he carefully moderated the data he was sending. ¡°I¡¯m sending you data from my targeting nanites through the rifle. Just aim it and shoot, think about making more decoys! Once you have five of them, then we¡¯ll escape! And make each one drop a decoy weight, and have each weigh different amounts! Let¡¯s see if this thing can think or reason!¡±


    Terra stayed silent, aiming and firing without questioning how he had done this.


    Bryke however looked at him in shock. ¡°What about when we escape from here!?¡±


    ¡°Simple, I¡¯ll just carry both of you! I once did this carrying four people and two of them were Heavy Gravity worlders. You two? This¡¯ll be easy!¡± Jessie said with a grin.

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Nine Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1320


    Vivian


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    As she sat in Duncan¡¯s office, Vivian kept her eyes closed. So far, the drones Dalila had lent her had been able to track Jones and Bradford.


    Bradford was a dead end. Besides talking to himself as his Augmented Reality nanites played something. She had even watched him sleep that night in the main chamber. He had made a big show about giving space in the empty storage rooms for people who snored.


    Now, Jones, that was interesting. The man had two attacks where he had been sent to his knees. They seemed to have been triggered by something about Jones''s body. There was nothing external that could have triggered it. Even with everything that they thought about Jones, something was bothering her. The attack seemed to be something that he had set off by doing something.


    She sighed and shook her head. ¡°I WANT  to hate him, but there¡¯s something about him. It makes me pity him more than anything.¡±


    She sighed and looked back into her memories. She had been on hunts where she had been forced to fire at kids who were brainwashed by Cults. And the Order was like the others said, a bad day away from being declared a Cult. Jones had probably grown up in the Order, and that meant that they had brainwashed him as he grew. What others saw as right and wrong? Jones might have been taught the opposite.


    A knocking on the door caused her to look up, and then cycle back to her watcher. Outside the door was a female passenger in a modest black dress with blond hair. And for some strange reason, there was something about her that seemed familiar. Something that seemed to be beyond the memories she had of the parties she had snuck into to get close to Bradford.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Vivian called out, a strange feeling going through her as she ordered the drones back to her.


    The woman walked into the office, looking over her shoulder as she seemed to keep smiling as her yellow eyes looked around. ¡°Ahh, hello. I¡­.. was hoping that I could talk to the Chief?¡±


    Vivian looked at the woman before her and tried to keep a scowl off her face. The woman before her seemed like all the other gold diggers that she had seen. The number of times some woman tried to use her body to get ahead! As a woman, such behavior disgusted her.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the chief is busy. Can I take a memo?¡± Vivian asked coolly.


    The woman looked at her and then her whole body language transformed. From a woman who seemed to be so weak to someone with nerves of steel. Her eyes became as hard as diamonds and her lips became a scowl. ¡°Since this pod has the database it does, there¡¯s a section that says authorized personal, right?¡±


    It was all that Vivian could do to nod before the woman walked towards the bio-scanner in the corner.


    ¡°Hey, hey! What are you doing?!¡± Vivian demanded as the woman put her hand on the scanner. A beeping from Vivian¡¯s console caused her to turn and stare at the screen. She whipped her head around to look at the woman who stood there. ¡°A company inspector!?¡±


    ¡°Tatrina S. Qin, not at your service. I¡¯ve been tracking a smuggler using the company''s ships for a while now. The one thing I couldn¡¯t figure out was how they were moving things. Now I did,¡± Tatrina said with a scowl.


    Vivian looked at her and tried to understand what Tatrina meant. Then all at once, everything suddenly made sense to her.


    ¡°Wait, the supplies! They put them in the escape pods and they''re removed when a repair ship docks, the goods are removed!¡± Vivian exclaimed, shock in her voice. ¡°That¡¯s why all these things are here. And why there¡¯s a Hibernation Cell here!¡±


    ¡°A WHAT!?¡± Tatrina exclaimed, horror in her voice. ¡°One of those abominations was on the ship!? Who¡¯s in it!?¡±


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    Vivian only looked at her and chuckled. ¡°We haven¡¯t exactly found out yet. We have bigger concerns beneath us.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m offering to join in. I¡¯m a pretty good shot after all,¡± Tatrina said with a shrug. She looked down at her dress and then up at Vivian. ¡°Got a spare jumpsuit?¡±


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    Duncan


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    Duncan looked down at the hole into the structure, trying to understand what was happening here. He had sent people down into the belly of that thing, and he had lost them! The ground they had fought on gave way for some of them, and then the others had done after them! He wanted to be mad, but he understood exactly what they were thinking. He agreed with it on principles, but why did those fools go right after them!? ¡°I was the worst kind of armchair leader of them all!¡±


    In the past, Duncan had kept fighting and almost lost an arm during the last war. Once he would have been the first to charge and attack. But no,  here he was, standing at the back while others went in! And those fools were most likely dead by now! Those brave idiots were gone, people he had depended on! And now they had a hole in their defenses, one that was as dangerous as the forest around them!


    ¡°Chief!¡± Dalila called out from his right.


    He looked up and saw her walking towards him, a grin on her face. ¡°I was looking at the shield generator¡¯s specs again! I think I can modify it to cover the hole! It¡¯ll take a bit of time, but we can do everything! This will keep the robots out!¡±


    ¡°And it will keep our people out of it as well, won¡¯t it?¡± Duncan said bitterly. He looked up at her and shook his head. ¡°No way to recover their bodies? Of course not. We would have to defeat all those robots and destroy their source¡±


    Dalila looked at him and then she blinked. Her mouth


    ¡°Wait, you think they''re all dead!?¡± Dalila asked, blinking as she suddenly gained a look of anger. ¡°I never told you, but I heard a splash from something that fell into the hole. And Jessie was one of mine! We don¡¯t let others die that easily!¡±


    Duncan looked up, his mouth falling open as he felt a spark of hope. If she was telling the truth, then the others were still alive! That meant that they just needed to hold the doorway until they got back! ¡°Thank you. That makes my orders that got them into this mess easier to accept.¡±


    ¡°Sir, you didn¡¯t have a choice at all. With everything we found out, we had to go down into that thing!¡± Dalila said with a hard edge to her voice. She at him for a few moments. ¡°Sir, before you were the security chief, you weren¡¯t in command in the War, were you?¡±


    ¡°No, lineman for the entire conflict. Never lead anything more than a fire team,¡± Duncan said with pride.


    ¡°Commanders who do it behind the lines, they all have to learn. Sometimes, you have to send people into harm¡¯s way. That¡¯s the only way to save more lives. There¡¯s nothing else you can do sometimes,¡± Dalila said softly.


    Duncan looked at her and then he sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve seen the lessons about that. One of the reasons I was going to take a vacation cycle. Needed to accept it. But then this all happened. So how long and where do you need to set up the generator so it¡¯ll work?¡±


    ¡°A few minutes, and then we have to make sure the cables will work while I power it up. And it needs to be right there at the hole, just within that thing. That¡¯s the only way,¡± Dalila said with a scowl on her face.


    ¡°Of course. This is going to be harder than I thought, won¡¯t it?¡± Duncan sighed as he looked down at the hole. There were four of the other deckhands, making a nice little kill box to take out anything.


    A kill box that was going to have a trial by fire within moments.


    Before anything else happened, five of the flying three pyramid robots flew out.


    Duncan didn¡¯t even say anything. He only drew his pistol and fired three shots. Two of them hit two of the robots, and the other deckhands'' shots hit the other three.


    ¡°What the nova?!¡± Dalila exclaimed before looking at the wrecked robots. ¡°NO! They¡¯re attacking us!? How can they even know to leave that thing!?¡±


    ¡°Simple programming. The worst enemy is one that is stupid but acts smarter than it seems. They''re probably programmed to kill anything not authorized!¡± Duncan snarled as he aimed down at the hole. ¡°Get ready for the next wave!¡±


    ¡°What next wave!?¡± Dalila asked horror in her voice.


    Duncan only shot her a bitter smile. For a moment, nothing happened. Then ten of the climbing robots charged out with five more of the pyramid robots above them.


    ¡°Keep firing!¡± Duncan bellowed as he drew his other pistols and started to fire. As the five deckhands on overwatch joined in, Duncan saw Dalila raise her rifle. ¡°NO! You go get that shield generator ready! New plan! Make it generate a box over that hole!¡±


    Dalila might have looked at him in shock, but he never noticed. All he did was keep firing as the climbing robots moved closer to the slope. With expert marksmanship, Duncan shot one of them right in the stalk as it was gathering energy to fire. The resulting explosion destroyed three more of the climbing robots as the last of the flying tri-pyramids were destroyed.


    Looking over the remains, Duncan looked at the hole the robots had come from. Part of him wanted to just close it up but who knows how many of them could break it down? No, they had to hold it off until they could get a better defense ready. They just didn¡¯t have a choice in this.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Blorspi


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Elder, something¡¯s happening!¡± Recor¡¯s voice caused Blorspi to wake up. Gazing at his younger tribe mate, Blorspi looked toward where Recor was looking. He stared in shock and horror at what he could see. The strangers were fighting against the same kind of creatures as the Watchers. The stranger¡¯s weapons could even hold off monsters like those horrors? He thanked the Ancestors that they had wanted to take him and the kid as captives.


    ¡°What are those things?¡± Recor asked awe and fear in his voice.


    Blorspi only nodded. ¡°You know as much as I do kid. But what is that hole their coming out of? I saw the strangers going in. Did they disturb a nest?¡±


    ¡°But Elder! Why build over an enemy nest? Why not clear it out first?¡± Recor asked, a questioning tone in his voice.


    Blorspi opened his mouth before he felt his eyes go wide. That was it, the one thing that he had been missing. The single most important thing that explained so much about the strangers. But for the single question about them, it answered, it created so many more.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that they had a choice, my friend,¡± Blorspi said as he looked at the stranger''s round nest. The more he looked at the hole it was in, the more he cursed himself for not seeing it sooner. It was right there, and there was no reason for him not to have noticed.


    ¡°But Master Blorspi, that makes no sense!¡± Recor exclaimed, shocked so much his eye was wide. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they have a¡­¡­..? No. That¡¯s impossible!¡±


    ¡°The Great Elders say we were stronger once. This might be part of it. And that one that watched us! He¡¯s trying to learn our language!¡± Blorspi exclaimed and looked around, seeing their Watcher going to join its comrades. He had a choice to make, a big one. That one was trying to understand what Language the tribe used, that was clear now. But that made it clear, that these being wanted knowledge from him and the kid. So should they try and help them learn the tribe¡¯s tongue? Or hinder it, keeping knowledge that might hurt the tribe away from them?

 Chapter One Hundred Seventy Nine Part 2

    Leonator


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Robot defenders, someone should have thought of those!¡± Leonator muttered as he ran to join the others at the slope down to the structure. As he passed by the enclosure they built around the Hibernation Cell, his eyes wandered to it. To his shock and surprise, he found Qiana with her back to him as she stood by it.


    He stopped and looked at the walls, shaking his head. ¡°What in the name of the stars!? What¡¯s she doing now? The only reason she could be there is to¡­.. no. She wouldn¡¯t, she couldn¡¯t! Not now and with this happening!¡±


    Without another word, he ran towards the opening, his mind going dark places. If he was right, then Qiana was doing something that was both brave and stupid.


    As soon as he reached her, he exploded. ¡°Tell me that you¡¯re not doing what I think you are! Are you mad?! You¡¯ve got to get out of here. We can¡¯t let this person out now, I mean really!¡±


    He had been expecting her to have been stunned by what happened, but she turned to look at him with a glare. He took a step back as Qiana just glared at him.


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave this person trapped in this thing!¡± Qiana said with a snarl on her face


    Leonator looked at the Hibernation prison and tried to muster up anything to say, anything to turn her away from this. He had known true doctors in the past, and none of them would let a patient die. And he couldn¡¯t say anything that he was against this. All it took was one stray shot from any of those robots, and the person inside was dead!


    But was this even safe to open? They didn¡¯t have any idea who or why this being was in this thing! For all they knew, it was someone who had done what the hunters said, done a crime even Outlaws wouldn¡¯t allow! But at the same time, it could be anyone who had just gotten the wrong person mad.


    ¡°Okay, but do you even have any idea how to open it? Or how long it will take to defrost her?¡± Leonator asked, trying to get her to see the reason. But the only thing he got from Qiana was a hard stare that made him sigh and shake his head.


    ¡°There¡¯s the code on the side. That has to mean something!¡± Qiana said with a scowl.


    ¡°KEEP FIRING!¡± Duncan¡¯s voice from the slope caused Leonator to turn towards the battle.


    ¡°I WANT A FIRING LINE ALONG THE SIDES! EACH ONE, KEEP THE OTHER SIDE CLEAR OF THOSE CLIMBERS! EVERYONE ELSE, FIRE DOWN!¡± Duncan roared over the sound of blaster fire.


    Leonator looked up not hearing anything about anything that got away. So far, the sky of the shield was still free of anything. That was something that could change in a heartbeat. And if those flying robots destroyed just one of the shield emitters, who knows what would attack them next?


    And then there was the chance that the robot would target the Hibernation Prison. If that happened, then the person inside was dead. The wrong damage would cause this whole piece of tech to fail in an instant.


    ¡°There has to be a chance that the code is the method to kill whoever this is, you know that right?¡± Leonator said softly as he looked Qiana in the eyes. He saw her will, and how much she felt that this was the right thing to do. And he didn¡¯t want to stand against her.


    ¡°I KNOW! But still, this is the only chance that this person has! If we don¡¯t do this, they might pass on asleep!¡± Qiana said with a hard tone. ¡°I understand that this might just kill them. But better a small chance than nothing!¡±


    ¡°I agree with you,¡± Leonator said, nodding.


    ¡°And another thing! Wait, what?¡± Qiana asked, staring at him in shock.


    ¡°I said I agree with you, we¡¯ve got to open this thing now! With the robots attacking us, any stray shot could destroy this. As much as I want to argue, we don¡¯t have any other choice,¡± Leonator said as he crossed his arms and looked at her.


    Qiana only blinked for a moment, then she laughed and turned around. As she walked towards the Hibernation Prison, Leonator looked up, aiming his weapon at the sky.


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    ¡°Okay, this looks like a normal kind of control keyboard console. Nothing out of the ordinary and the code has all the same numbers as the code. No interface for jacking in anything, so it has to be how the code is used. And nothing on what the code is on has any marks that hint at a deeper code. So this has to be it,¡± Qiana muttered as she looked at it again.


    ¡°Just put the code in, we might not have a lot of time!¡± Leonator barked his back to her. Looking up, he kept sweeping the sky.


    ¡°I¡¯m going as fast as I can! I might have only one shot, I have to get it right!¡± Qiana said, an edge to her voice.


    Leonator only nodded and winced as he heard the sounds of more blaster fire.


    ¡°Keep firing! We can keep those things from getting up here! Wait, are they? STARS AND NOVA, FIRE!¡± Duncan roared, an edge to his voice.


    From the way that Duncan was yelling, the robots had done something that he hated. And he had a terrible idea just what it was.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening now!?¡± Qiana asked a tiny bit of panic in her voice.


    ¡°Nothing that we can affect! Just get that thing open, we can worry about the others later!¡± Leonator said an edge of anger in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m going, I just wanted to be sure! I mean, this might be a death code!¡± Qiana said, exasperation in her voice.


    ¡°You want to get Duncan?¡± Leonator asked, a note of hope in his voice. He understood where that thought had come from, and he hated that he had given it to her.


    ¡°No, we have to do this now! They pushed those things back, they¡¯ve had to! But now is the only time we can do this!¡± Qiana said.


    Leonator turned and looked at her, seeing the anger and fear in her eyes. He took a breath and nodded at her. ¡°You were right, we have to wake them up, so let¡¯s do it!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ?????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Ever since the being had been captured, all it could feel were the emotions around it. Usually, the only emotions that those around it felt were greed, anger, lust, or wraith. But after a while new emotions had appeared, so many that it couldn¡¯t count them all! There had been happiness joined plus lust, pride and joy, and love and kindness. This continued for a while, a year at most from what it could tell of time.


    But then the number of emotions that it could feel plummeted. From the few beings that it could sense, they were feeling hope, fear, courage, and despair. Then others appeared, and these beings felt hunger, as in the need to feed. Its limited awareness in its slumber was still high enough to tell it that something had changed. But just what was it? Where was it now? And what had happened to everyone else? There was a small bit of time in its mind that it just couldn¡¯t remember, and that had never happened to it since its capture. And then that was enough for the being to feel fear as well.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan scowled and looked down at the remains of the robots, at least those that remained. Everything seemed normal, the climbers had come out first, the flyers after them. But then the flyers had stayed back and pulled the remains into the ship. They had to be recovering resources to create more of themselves. But what did that mean!? Was the opening that the survivors made near a machine shop? Did they have a basic robot model that could repair the damage that they had done? Either way, this was shaping up for a long afternoon.


    But what was worse, was that the worst idea might be true. The way these things changed their plans, from attacking to recovery? That meant that something had made a choice. And that meant that something might happen, something that he might not see coming. And his worst fear was that there might be another way these things could attack them.


    He looked around and saw that most of the other deckhands had made combat lines and were firing down. He even saw some of them moving the dirt to try and create a barrier to duck down behind. No matter what happened, Duncan had to admire their guts. He saw Dalila working on one of the few reaming shield emitters. He had to wonder, they had set the others up where they were by building them there. The biggest problem now was how to move the thing! The only thing that made sense was to move the null gravity generator, and then move the emitter. But what could the robots use the field for? It burned him that there was no good answer here, but bad ones that he could plan for.


    ¡°CHIEF!¡± Vivian¡¯s voice called out to him.


    He turned and saw her dashing towards him, and for a second he wondered what she was doing here. Then he saw the woman behind her and he blinked, and then blinked again. She was the last person that he had ever expected to have been here. He locked eyes on her as she and Vivian reached him.


    ¡°Chief, I don¡¯t how to ¡­..¡± Vivian began only for Duncan to hold up a hand.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to be introduced to Miss Tatrina, Vivian,¡± Duncan said as he crossed his arms and looked at Tatrina.


    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± Vivian asked shock in her voice. She turned and looked at Tatrina, her eyes wide and her mouth dropped open.


    ¡°We ran into each other during the last war. But I bet you never expected to see me again like this?¡± Tatrina said, a grin forming on her face.


    Duncan shook his head, chuckling as he looked at Tatrina.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. So what¡¯s one of the best of the armed forces investigators doing on my ship?¡± Duncan asked, grinning. ¡°And why didn¡¯t you make yourself known before now woman?¡±


    ¡°I left the army a few years back Duncan,¡± Tatrina said with a shrug.


    ¡°Wait, you what!? Why?!¡± Dunce asked with shock in his voice. ¡°The way that you talked about the force!¡±


    Tatrina only shrugged as a flash of pain went over her face for a second. ¡°Long personal story. I¡¯ve been an investigator for the ship¡¯s company for a few years now. And my current case was who was using the cruise ships to smuggle contraband. And what do I find, but those weapons, the shields, and that Hibernation abomination!¡±


    ¡°Hey, Duncan?¡± Vivian asked uncertainty in her voice.


    Duncan saw her looking down at that hole and the marks the wrecked robots had made. He was sure she was looking at the few remaining metal pieces here and there.


    ¡°What happened to the team that went into that thing?¡± Vivian asked.


    Duncan only sighed and shook his head.


    Then he felt Tatrina grab his shoulder and turn him around. She looked at him with hard eyes and smiled evilly. ¡°Mind telling me just what that thing is?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we sent people down there! And they were attacked by robots!¡± Duncan said with a glare of his own.


    Tatrina only sighed and turned around, then she went still. ¡°And would you mind explaining those three!?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Report from observation unit. Specimens have changed technology-based energy shield to block all observation equipment.


    Was observation unit discovered?


    Negative. Possible reason an attack by a Bio Weapon Platform that used light to bring in enemy units to feed on.


    Observations through the shield?


    Negative as of this time. Request that specialized unit moves into range to scan and allow this unit a data feed to continue observations.


    Specialized Observation units were deployed to defend the complex from attacks by rogue units along void approach. Orders from command, keep station. Report all changes

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405/ Unknown Structure/ Water Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1400


    Zevortro


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    Zevortro looked around, trying to see anything that might be coming at him in the water, all alone. Jessie had left using some Power ability and gone to get the others. After the Paralyzer Beast, he accepted the existence of the Power. But still, the fact that someone could get it off this world was beyond anything he thought possible. He was sure that the way to unlock it was biologically possible, it made sense. But he was sure that there was a Ruin somewhere on the island that was releasing something into the air. But Jessie¡¯s abilities proved that there was something off-planet that allowed it.


    A sound above him caused him to react, lunging to the right. He hit the ground and his hand hit the water as he looked up. He saw Jessie, Terra, and Bryke land, and a grin formed on his face. ¡°What kept you? Hard time picking up the others?¡±


    ¡°We had to make sure the something couldn¡¯t track us. It just kept a bit of effort,¡± Jessie said with a chuckle.


    ¡°And we were lucky! We got on boats that Terra made moments before that thing attacked where we were!¡± Bryke said, shuddering as he looked back towards the open water.


    ¡°Yeah, if it wasn¡¯t for Jessie getting us, it would have gotten us. I still can¡¯t believe that it followed us!¡± Terra said, shuddering a bit as she looked around. ¡°So any ideas on how to get out of here?¡±


    ¡°None. I could go scouting, but we¡¯d never find each other again if I got lost. And that¡¯s not even counting the fliers up there,¡± Jessie muttered as he looked up at the sky.


    As Zevortro got up, he felt a frown forming. There was something here, something that his hindbrain was picking at.


    ¡°What you mean, fliers? When did anyone say anything about flying monsters now?¡± Bryke asked, his voice shakily as he looked around.


    As his friend started to get nervous, Zevortro only looked down at the water. He went over everything that he had just heard in his head. And slowly the more he did that, the more that he felt something was wrong.


    ¡°Yeah, we heard this thing pass by overhead on wings. It sounded loud and deadly. Always a wonderful combination that brings joy,¡± Jessie said with a sigh. As Bryke looked up, Jessie shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We just heard the one and it''s at least a good hundred feet away from us. Nothing we can do about it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I can make an ice bridge that way? If we¡¯re lucky, we could run across it before the current breaks it. Maybe more boats or icebergs that go to the walls?¡± Terra asked.


    As the others planned, Zevortro kept his eyes on the water. Finally, after a few moments of thought, he figured out what was bothering him.


    ¡°It might work, but do we just pick a direction at random? We have no idea where the door is, or if it''s underwater. But these islands, what are they for?¡± Bryke asked as he looked around.


    ¡°Zevortro doesn¡¯t think this is the ceiling. He mentioned something back aboard the Spirit, something about an experiment with gravity. Something corporate was trying,¡± Jessie said as he shrugged. ¡°I stayed below the passenger areas on the ship. And I tried to ignore the rumors. You tow ever hear about it?¡±


    ¡°Wait. Why are you confused the creature found you?¡± Zevortro asked as he interrupted them, a frown forming on his face.


    Terra and Jessie shot each other a look and then Bryke spoke. ¡°Because we thought we escaped clean bro. But then it destroyed one of the other boats and then this guy made it to us.¡±


    As reasonable as the explanation was, something about it still bothered Zevortro. As he looked down at the water and went over everything, something still bothered him about all this. Just when he was about to forget about it, what it had been was suddenly as clear as day.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°But why¡¯d you guys keep the lights on?¡± Zevortro asked, feeling nothing but confusion. As he looked at the others, he saw their confusion. ¡°Your lights on your shoulders? Why¡¯d you keep them on when you got on the boats?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t. We turned them off before we even got in them,¡± Terra said.


    Her face was confused, and Zevortro thought that she was starting to wonder what he meant. He had to say that he was starting to feel the same as she was. But with each word, his fear grew and there was something here that he just couldn¡¯t see yet. Whatever it was, he was slowly starting to feel like something was hunting them all. Jessie meanwhile, had looked at Terra in shock at what she had said.


    ¡°That¡¯s what you all did? You didn¡¯t turn them off after you got into that boat?¡± Jessie asked, shock in his voice.


    ¡°Then how¡¯d the beast find you all?¡± Zevortro asked, the horror growing in his stomach as he was starting to catch up with his hindbrain.


    In the silence of the question, the other three looked at him in shock. Terra and Bryke looked at each other, and Zevortro saw the shock and horror in their eyes.


    ¡°Then did the thing find us because of the ice moving? Did it feel the vibrations in the water?¡± Bryke asked, his voice held shock and a bit of fear.


    Zevortro felt the answer vibrate within him, and then he looked down at his hands slowly. If that was true, then that meant!


    ¡°Vibrations in the water? Like when I hit the water with my hand!?¡± Zevortro asked, shock and horror as he held up his wet hand.¡±


    As soon as he said that, the others zeroed in on his hand. They looked at it for a solid few seconds before they all looked away.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    It was all he could do to keep from cursing under his breath as he scanned the water. The single fact that he had missed bothered him more than he liked to admit. He had been right before, he had lost his edge. Anytime in the past before he came aboard the Spirit, he would have noticed how the thing hunted! But he hadn¡¯t and it was probably coming for them!


    He looked around, the light on his shoulders shining on the water. He saw that there were only two sets of lights and looked at Terra and Bryke. ¡°Lights on, now!¡±


    Terra only nodded ass she and Bryke turned their lights on.


    ¡°This is crazy! I mean, you saw part of it with me, right Terra? It had to have eyes if it was so big!¡± Bryke said bitterly, an edge of panic in his voice


    ¡°Yeah, but keep calm. That¡¯s the one thing that we have over this thing, we can think. So stay calm,¡± Terra said reassuringly.


    Jessie looked around, his mind spinning. He had no idea how this had been here, but he guessed it was long enough for life to evolve. Terra and Bryke must have been tracked by something that was near the bottom of the food chain. When things fall into the water, something must come to clean it up. This thing must be it. But just because it ate corpses, didn¡¯t mean that it was something small. And he had a bad feeling that they were about to learn that the hard way.


    ¡°We need to go, now!¡± Bryke said, a note of anger in his voice. ¡°And who cares where? We just need to choose a direction and go now!¡±


    Jessie almost offered to carry them all away now. He hadn¡¯t even the energy that he used for his ¡®dashes¡¯ decreased. Unless holding his Power back had caused his reserves to grow larger, the cause was something else. And he wanted to know what it was, this changed everything he could do.


    But then they heard the sound of a splash to their left. Jessie whipped around to see what looked like a tentacle crush a small iceboat before it went under. The tentacle had been as wide as he was, and the tip was as far from the water as he was tall. For a second, all he could do was stare at the ripples before he reacted. ¡°Everyone, grab me now with both hands! Then stay silent!¡±


    As soon as he felt three pairs of hands on his body, he activated his ¡®Dash¡¯ ability. Within a second, they were in the air and then they were away. Behind them, Jessie could hear the sounds of something crashing on the island. Most people would stop, but it only made him ¡®dash¡¯ away again.


    Once they were twice as far as where he had found Terra and Bryke, he quickly found the ¡®island¡¯ they must have come from. Ending a ¡®Dash¡¯ above it, they all dropped a foot to the island, staying well away from the water.


    ¡°Ohhhh man. That was something. And we can all agree it hunts by vibrations in the water, right?¡± Zevortro said as he fell to his hands and knees.


    Terra only chuckled as she watched him. ¡°Yeah, I think so. So now what? We hide here?¡±


    Bryke meanwhile got back to his feet and looked around, anger in his eyes. ¡°NO! We have to get back to the clearing or take this thing down!¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know how to get out of here, I could scout around, try and find something,¡± Jessie began.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra looked at Jessie and thought about that suggestion. As a Bounty Hunter, Jessie had some of the most impressive nanite augments here. The way they enhanced his abilities and his ¡®Dashing¡¯ skill would let him scout around fast. Once he found a bigger ¡®island¡¯ or a piece of ¡®land¡¯ they could figure out how to go up. With everything that was happening, the smartest thing would be to get away from the water.


    She was about to agree with Jessie when from above they heard the sounds of wings flapping. Jessie didn¡¯t even stop, he just pointed his pistol up and fired three blasts.


    A moment later something crashed into the island to their left, and then there was a splash to their far right.


    Terra looked down at the corpse before her. It was a strange-looking creature, it seemed like a hybrid of insect and bird. It had long black-colored feathered wings, four of them each five foot long. It had a long body shaped like a serpent but instead of skin, it had chitin. The head had four bulbuls multifaceted eyes set in a cross around a narrow beak with a sharp end.


    Jessie had shot the beast through the first right wing and the bottom eye. There was a strange mix of a screech from where the splash had come from.


    ¡°It¡¯s another one of them. I just heard two of them,¡± Jessie explained as he looked around, glaring into the darkness. Finally, he stopped as his shoulder light rested on another of the creatures. This one, they couldn¡¯t see where Jessie had hit but the water around it was turning purple.


    As they watched, the creature was able to get its top two wings out of the water. As it beat them and slowly got back into the air, Terra braced herself. The idea that they would soon have to fight off a flyer was bad, but it would be even worse if it escaped. They had no idea how many of these things there were, or how they acted. For all they knew, these things would get their flock and then they would come and attack them again.


    ¡°Get ready for war!¡± Zevortro said as he raised his weapon. But before he could fire, Jessie had pushed his weapon down.


    As everyone looked at him, Jessie only shook his head mournfully. ¡°I wanted to kill it like this one. But now it had to do that. Nothing for it.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Terra asked, fear in her voice. She had heard the sorrow in his voice, and she was scared. What about not killing something that was bothering him? Then she realized what he meant, and felt her heart turn to ice.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty One Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1400


    Duncan


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    Duncan sighed as he looked at Tatrina, the woman looking from the captured natives to Rosh. As she turned towards him, he held up his hands. ¡°Now just stay calm. There is a perfect explanation to all of this.¡±


    ¡°Really!?¡± Tatrina exclaimed, her eyes wide as she looked at him, a wild look on her face. ¡°Because it looks to me like you¡¯re holding people hostage in some kind of anti-gravity field! Something that is one step away from being a dictator!¡±


    ¡°There are reasons Tatrina,¡± Duncan began only for her to interrupt.


    ¡°Reasons?! What kind of reason could there be? There are laws about this man!¡± Tatrina said as she messaged her forehead.


    Duncan only nodded and looked at her with a hard edge to his eyes. ¡°Yes, but this whole planet is beyond most of the laws. Look, I¡¯ve kept a lot of things from the passengers.¡±


    ¡°I figured that out once I saw those two! And why is he up there!?¡± Tatrina demanded as she pointed at Rosh.


    Duncan eyed Rosh in the distance and tried to keep his scowl off his face. ¡°It leads back to what I didn¡¯t tell civilians. Now we were attacked a few days ago. But I never said that the thing that attacked us could paralyze people if it screamed at them!¡±


    Tatrina looked at him, blinked, and then shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it could do what!?¡±


    ¡°Yes, please explain that better chief?¡± Dalila¡¯s voice from behind caused both Duncan and Tatrina to look up to see her walking over. There was a length of cables over her shoulder, and she looked down the slope.


    ¡°It screamed and people couldn¡¯t move. Even after it stopped, they were like statues. If Jinn and the others hadn¡¯t made it back to save them all!¡± Duncan said and looked at the two women with anger in his eyes.


    ¡°How bad could it have been?¡± Tatrina asked.


    Duncan only looked at them before he sighed. ¡°Let me say this. We have no idea if it could have paralyzed the people inside the capsule through the walls.¡±


    ¡°Oh. That powerful?¡± Tatrina said, her eyes widening in horror.


    ¡°Yes, and that leads to Rosh over there¡­..¡± Duncan began.


    ¡°Wait, Roch Dacount? As in the famed Dacount family!?¡± Tatrina exclaimed in shock.


    Duncan only looked at her, a strange feeling going through him. He hadn¡¯t even heard of the Dacount family before Bradford told him about them. The fact that Tatrina knew about them was something that he hadn¡¯t expected. And he had no idea if that was good or bad for him.


    ¡°Yes, that family. He¡¯s like the creature, he has a Power,¡± Duncan said, a hard edge in his voice.


    Her mouth opened in shock as she turned her head to stare at Rosh. Tatrina turned back and looked at Duncan, her mouth dropped open in shock.


    ¡°Humans can get other abilities? Like the Ancients!?¡± Tatrina asked, her voice soft and her face pale.


    Duncan looked at her and nodded once. Tatrina took a step back, her eyes wide. Duncan let her take that in before he continued. ¡°I was shocked too. But it¡¯s real. And that¡¯s bad for us with what he can do.¡±


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    Tatrina


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    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Tatrina only looked at Duncan, her mind going dark places. During the last war, she had seen the result of when some of the Ancients had been pushed too far. They were strange people, they had some code. But when some of them attacked with all they had, the horrors those could do. She had seen one of them throwing around energy bolts that destroyed tanks with one hit! One that could pick up that same tank with one hand and throw it! Those Ancients were terrors on the battlefields, and most people were scared of them all.


    The idea that they had access to another power source organically was one of the theories. The other was that they had technology that was beyond anything the Federation could even dream of. She was in the middle of those theories, thinking that a blend of both was what made them so strong. But to hear that a beast was able to paralyze people with a roar? And that a person who had crashed with them was able to gain the Power in the last few days!


    But then she felt the ground seem to fall away as she thought about Rosh Dacount. She thought about all the rumors that she had heard about him when she first learned his name. The idea of someone like that with the same abilities as those Ancients was beyond terror.


    ¡°What can he do?¡± She found herself whispering with fear as she looked at Duncan.


    Duncan seemed to age twenty years for a few seconds. His eyes held so much anger and rage that Tatrina took a step back in fright. Then the storm passed and Duncan was back to normal.


    ¡°He can control people, well I think maybe brainwash is a better term from what I¡¯ve been able to figure out. Influence others to believe what he says at the very least. And he turned his escape capsule into a cult before the monsters out there ate them,¡± Duncan said bluntly.


    ¡°He can do what?! That¡¯s possible for a person to do with no tech?¡± She stammered horror and fear in her voice. Tatrina thought her eyes would fall out of her face with how wide they felt. That was a nightmare scenario as far as she was concerned. Someone who was able to control people with just a touch? ¡°That is all kinds of wrong!¡±


    Duncan only shrugged and sighed. ¡°Yeah, I thought the same way. But as long as he can¡¯t touch you, you¡¯re okay. He can¡¯t control you. And we put him up there because of that and what Bradford told us about him.¡±


    ¡°What did he say¡­¡­ I¡¯ll ask him later. What about them?¡± Tatrina asked as she looked at the two together. Now that she was looking at them, she had to blink. She took in their forms before slowly turning to look right at Duncan. ¡°Tell me those two aren¡¯t natives?¡±


    ¡°Natives that attacked us. And finally, about your last question, I don¡¯t know what that thing down there is. That¡¯s why I sent a team to it. But two types of robots attacked us in return,¡± Duncan told her.


    Before Tatrina could say anything, the other woman coughed.


    The woman smiled a bit and sighed. ¡°I tried to hack it and nothing. When we were repairing the shield console we had trouble getting it connected. We figured out something was trying to hack into us! So I figured out it was something down below. But after all attempts to talk to it, we sent out a team. And my name is Dalila.¡±


    Ta4 looked from one face to the other and tried to think up anything to say, but nothing came out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Qiana


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    Qiana looked at the machine as it hummed as it worked, and tried not to cry in joy. The code activated the process to defrost whoever was within. She looked at Leonator as he kept an eye on the sky, and she scowled slightly. These robots that were attacking them, stopped for a moment. She could feel that they were going to come again soon, and she had to protect this person.


    ¡°Everything going okay there?¡± Leonator asked.


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s working just right. Guess the idea that the code was a ¡®kill¡¯ command was wrong. This should take a bit, then they¡¯ll be up. Thanks for talking me through it,¡± Qiana said, smiling at him.


    Leonator looked back and then he turned away, coughing a little. ¡°Hey, you were the one who had the guts to move on this. I¡¯ll go and talk to Duncan. If we can keep those things down there, this one will wake up safely.¡±


    Qiana only looked at him and nodded, a strange feeling going through her. She felt that strange heat once before, but here it was again. She nodded as she looked at him and then took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah, good idea. Go tell the chief what I did. Say, I¡¯m sorry for going with getting his okay, but the attack forced my hand.¡±


    Leonator only nodded and gave her a small smile. ¡°The Chief will see that too. This was the best thing that we could do. So be proud that you put that person¡¯s life ahead of anything else!¡±


    Qiana did feel a bit of pride, but as she watched Leonator walk away. She knew that she had made the right call, but to hear others say it. She was a person that had lived in the back, and that was good. But the first true crisis she had been able to do something, and she made a call she would stick with. All they needed to do now, was handle this as best they could.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Leonator


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Leonator looked over his shoulder at Qiana he walked away. The old lesson that strength was hiding in everyone had never been so clear to him. All in all, he thought that this problem was going to be manageable after all. With the robot''s attack, the others had to come back. Once those people all got together and found a way to close the door, they would have to post another guard there. And hope that whatever it was didn¡¯t have another opening those bots could attack from. Still, he was sure that they had taken everything they needed to do that already. Something had to have set off the attack after all.


    He finally reached Duncan and saw him talking with Vivian, Dalila, and someone new. For a moment he looked at her and frowned. He was sure that he had seen her among the passengers back on the Spirit of Adventure. Sometimes when he was at one of the restaurants, he was sure of it. But why was she out here and why was she in a deckhand¡¯s jumpsuit?¡±


    He shook his head, she had to be here for a reason! And he had to trust that Bounty Hunters would know how to vet someone. There there was no reason then for him to be worried about the unknown. Time to talk to the chief. But he had to wonder where Jessie and Terra were, he couldn¡¯t see them.


    ¡°¡­¡­. So because of what we found, we need to direct more power to keep the bots from breaking through. It¡¯ll take up more energy, but I think we¡¯ll be okay. This setting the shield is under has the side effect of absorbing all energy thrown at us plus sunlight. So there¡¯s that,¡± Dalila said as she looked right at Duncan.


    ¡°But the side effect was we couldn¡¯t see anything out there right?¡± Duncan said dryly. As Dalila nodded Duncan blew out a breath he had been holding in. He waved her off as she was opening her mouth. ¡°I know, we have the watch towers. Stull is something to think about. Is there any chance of the batteries exploding?¡±


    ¡°None! We can even set things off to handle the bleed based on the supplies! Just give me an hour and they are set up. But I don¡¯t know. We don¡¯t know what they can throw at the shield,¡± Dalila said as she looked down.


    Leonator listened in and something told him this problem would be a lot bigger than he thought. And something told him that this was worse than he had hoped. And he was going to bring more trouble for the Chief? He didn¡¯t have a choice, and he knew that they had made the right call. ¡°Chief? I hate to bring in more trouble, but well.¡±


    Duncan looked up as everyone turned to him. Leonator stayed still and kept his eyes looking right at Duncan who only sighed.


    ¡°Wait, let me guess. Qiana started to defrost our sleeper? Good, one more thing that I don¡¯t need to worry about. Don¡¯t get me wrong, it was smart of her. But really, now?¡± Duncan said, shaking his head.


    Leonator looked at Duncan and swallowed. The chief wasn¡¯t taking the news well. He gazed around, hoping to find someone to speak up, another person to help. But the more he looked, the more his feeling of unease grew. Where were Jessie and Terra?

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty One Part 2

    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila looked at Leonator out of the corner of her right eye as she looked down the slope at the hole into the structure.


    As she looked down at the hole, she heard Leonator clear his throat.


    ¡°Hey, where''s Terra?¡± Leonator asked.


    ¡°The only people who made it back are Dalila and Vivis. The rest are in there,¡± Duncan said finally.


    ¡°What?! How are we getting them out?!¡± Leonator demanded.


    Tatrina nodded as well. ¡°He''s right! We don''t leave our own behind!¡±


    Dalila forced her face to stay blank. She understood that belief, but how the event happened made that impossible. From the way the floor just gave out, there was nothing that anyone could do. And with Jessie and Zevortro acting so fast, there was no way for her to stop them. And that still wasn¡¯t talking about how Jessie moved!


    That had to have been fueled by the same energy that the Power used. If he had awoken those abilities, then anything could have happened. It stood to reason that he might have gained an ability to move like he had, but she doubted it. The way that Jessie had reacted, he knew how to use them. And that meant time, time to train to use his ability to the best that he could, like all Hunters would. Everything lined up with the truth that Jessie had been hiding what he could do since they crashed here. Adding that bit of data showed that Jessie had no idea how to gain the Power.


    ¡°How the stars did they get left behind!?¡± Leonator demanded with a scowl on his face.


    Dalila only sighed and shook her head. ¡°The floor was destroyed when one of the bots exploded. We just didn¡¯t have any time to react.¡±


    ¡°Then they¡¯re dead!?¡± Tatrina asked horror in her voice.


    Dalila felt a small spark of hope as she thought about the chances of that being true. ¡°No, possibly not. If I¡¯m right, they hit the water. If we¡¯re lucky then it was deep enough to keep them alive.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s why we need to set up a shield emitter down there! So we can keep the bots out and let them when they get back here!¡± Duncan said, everyone, looking at him as he spoke.


    Dalila nodded as she went over the work that was needed to get that done. She just needed a few minutes to set it up once it was in place. Then they would be able to hold the robots off as long as they had power to fuel the machine.


    ¡°Wait, what!? You¡¯ll just let the robots through when you drop the shield to let them in?¡± Tatrina asked shock in her voice.


    Duncan looked at her and scowled. ¡°We¡¯ll just be opening a small hole. We¡¯ll defend it and close it behind them, anything that gets through we¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    From the way that Tatrina¡¯s body was reacting, Dalila suddenly had a strange feeling that something was very wrong with their gear. She had seen the shield do that, and the watch towers themselves were proof. And that meant that Tatrina knew something about shield generators that the others didn¡¯t, and that was bad. It made her question just why their tech gear could do what it could, and that was bad. You should never question the effectiveness of your gear before you go into battle, it always leads to bad things.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Tatrina


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    Tatrina looked around, seeing the looks on the other''s faces. None of them even saw anything wrong with what Duncan said, and that made her worried. She hadn¡¯t heard of any shield emitters that could do that at this size. The only ones that she knew could do that needed the processing power of the main computer of a cruiser! ¡°So let me understand, you can change parts of the shield? With the tech you¡¯ve got here?!¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Duncan said, slowly turning his gaze to her. From the look in his eyes, he saw nothing wrong. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s the problem. I mean, spaceships and bases can open their shields, right?¡±


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    It was all Tatrina could do to keep standing upright before she exploded. ¡°YES! But that¡¯s because they all have cutting-edge processing power! Something this small, opening holes in shields? And doing it as fast as you think it can? That¡¯s beyond anything I thought even military models are capable of!¡±


    ¡°The parts looked the same in the control console I salvaged. Then it has to be the emitters themselves¡­¡­¡­ Wait! What¡¯s that!?¡± Dalila cried out in horror.


    They all turned and looked down as other people started to scream. Coming out of the hole fast were three large metallic-looking flying wedges. Each one looked to be five feet long and two feet wide colored a bright blue. In seconds they had all gone straight up and revealed a purple colored metallic basic skeleton. Each of these had two arms, two legs, and a head with five eyes in a linked circle set in a blank face. But what was shocking was that each of the skeleton''s arms ended in sickle blades.


    Watching them in horror, it took Ta4 but a moment to understand. These things were here to break the lines, and then others would come after them.


    ¡°TAKE THEM DOWN!¡± She roared as she pulled out a pistol and started to fire as the wedge climbed into the air. Before they had breached the top of the pit the entrance into the structure as in, Ta4 had shot one of them. The deckhands along the side fired as soon as she had yelled, and all three of the wedges crashed to the ground. All but one of the skeletons had been destroyed with their carriers, but one had gotten free. It charged up the slope towards the group of humans.


    Duncan reacted first, drawing his pistol in a quick motion and cored the robot¡¯s head. To Ta4¡¯s shock, it kept coming at them, making it another three feet before it crashed to the ground.


    Ta4 looked to her left, seeing Leonator with his pistol¡¯s barrel still glowing from the heat. Before she could say anything about it, they heard an explosion and felt a blast of force that pushed them back a foot.


    As she started to come back to her senses, Tatrina looked up and saw another explosion from where the last skeleton had been brought down. Understanding hit her in a moment, and she felt horror.


    Then she felt real horror, as five more of the wedges carrying skeletons shot out into the air above the pit.


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    Qiana


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as she heard the explosions, Qiana looked towards the sound. As her gaze swept upwards, she saw the flying wedges. And their cargo. That was when she realized what it was, and she pulled out her pistol. But then the wedges released their cargo and the skeletons fell towards the ground, one landed right before her.


    She fired but it dodged the blast and dashed at her, its blades raised. She dodged to the right by throwing herself in that direction. She hit the ground and rolled to the right before the blades of the robot hit where she had been. As she got to her feet looked at the robot and scowled, her hands clenched around her blaster.


    As she looked at the enemy before her, she tried to plan how to handle it. Behind her, she heard the sounds of battle and she could only hope that the capsule was secure. If that thing had gotten in there, then it would be a blood bath! Every one of those within would be killed!


    Qiana could only watch as the robot looked at her, and then it turned its head around. It was looking right at the hibernation cell, and that made Qiana angry.


    With a yell, she fired but the robot dodged the bolt and within a moment, it was behind her. Qiana tried to move but the robot was faster, and its right blade sliced through her back. She screamed in pain as she felt the blade sliced through her. As she fell forward she felt the robot step on her and start to push down. As she tried to move, she felt herself slowly growing weaker.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ??????????


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    The one that had been feeling those kinds of emotions directed at the being was now feeling pain and fear! And as the being slowly started to remember who it was, it felt nothing else near it. But as the one started to feel that being slowly dying, the one felt a surge of emotions and power! As the one¡¯s mind slowly became clearer, it realized that the being must have freed the one! And now something was trying to kill that being? Would it let that thing kill the one that had freed it? No!


    As it was still bound, it released all its aether in one burst to break free!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Qiana


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she looked at the hibernation cell, Qiana saw her vision start to darken. All she could feel was anger and rage that she was dying like this to that robot. Then the hibernation cell exploded.


    The force from the destruction caused the robot to be thrown off her as she was flung into the air. She gasped for breath before she hit the ground, thrown out of the now destroyed enclose they had created.


    ¡°Qiana!¡± Leonator cried out.


    She looked up and saw him, Duncan, and Dalila together, firing down at the pit. All around, she could see the remains of robots as deckhands moved all over, protecting the shield emitters.


    She tried to get back to her feet but winced. She almost fell but Leonator was there, holding her as he helped her get back to her feet.


    ¡°Qiana, what happened?¡± He asked as the others all moved to join her.


    ¡°The Hibernation cell, exploded while the robot was killing me!¡± Qiana gasped out and Duncan looked past her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan glared as the robot got back to its feet, and he aimed at it with his pistol. The report that Qiana had given was the same as he experienced. These things seemed to be programmed to either save power or kill slowly. Both things had bad intentions about whatever sent them out against his people. The answers could wait until they dissected its programming, for now, they had to kill it.


    ¡°READY!¡± Tatrina¡¯s voice cried out. Duncan looked around, seeing everyone ready to fire at the last biped robot.


    Duncan looked at the robot and saw it had lost both its arms.


    ¡°NO! The others exploded! We need that head!¡± Dalila screamed.


    Duncan knew exactly what she meant. They had to get something to find out what these robots were doing. And this was their last chance.


    ¡°I¡¯VE GOT ITI!¡± A horse voice roared from the smoke.


    Everyone looked at the smoke as an armored figure shot out. Duncan felt his breath freeze in his mouth as he saw an honest-to-creation Ancient charge out, a large oversized blade over its right shoulder. Within a single breath, the ancient had reached the robot as it slashed out. The Ancient used its blade to vault over the robot and released its weapon. As soon as the Ancient was a foot above the robot, they moved their arms back and the blade disappeared. As they watched, the blade reappeared in the Ancient¡¯s grip as they moved their arm back before slashing out.


    In a single flash, the robot¡¯s head fell off. Once the Ancient landed, they charged at the robot, their blade disappearing again. The Ancient grabbed the robot and threw it upwards before they cried out and thrust both of their arms at the robot. A sphere of black energy shot out and engulfed the robot a single instant before the sphere bulged a foot. The sphere disappeared and the robot''s remains fell to the ground.


    Duncan only looked at the Ancient as the being turned to them.


    ¡°Now what?¡± Leonator muttered the words that everyone was thinking

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Two Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405/ Unknown Structure/ Water Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1440


    Zevortro


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    He looked from Jessie to the flapping chimera in the water and tried to understand what Jessie meant. No matter how he tried, Zevortro couldn¡¯t understand why Jessie wanted to kill it before it hit the water. The fact that the beast had gotten out of the water¡­¡­. Then he realized what Jessie meant.


    ¡°Oh nova. Can you do a mercy killing from here?¡± Zevortro asked, his voice full of terror and fear.


    Behind him, he heard Bryke gasp. ¡°Bro, what? I mean if it gets away won¡¯t it know not to attack us?¡±


    A final screech from the winged creature caused everyone to look towards the splashes. Within a moment, the winged creature was pulled under and out of sight. For a moment the water frothed and then it was still, a blood-red stain that slowly floated into the human light.


    ¡°Oh, that,¡± Bryke said faintly.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zevortro said bitterly as he scowled. He looked down at the water, noticing a small shadow just out of range of seeing what it was.


    He had to hope that the monster had fed enough by now and that they would be left alone. If that thing was still hungry and thought that there was food on their island! There was no way that they could use Terra¡¯s abilities now, if that thing was down there the icebergs would summon it. They had no other choice, but how to get Jessie to agree?


    ¡°We need to do something! You need to go!¡± Terra said to Jessie.


    Zevortro turned and looked at Jessie who seemed to be looking out into the darkness around them. After a few moments, Jessie nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll scout an island and then come back here. Once we¡¯ve moved three islands away I can¡­..¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Zevortro said firmly as he looked at Jessie. As everyone looked at him, Zevortro took a deep breath and tried to gather his courage. He needed Jessie to understand just what was at stake here. ¡°Don¡¯t come back, keep going. Try to find a wall or something. Even a bigger island! We can stay here and hold the line! You need to find out way out of this!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Bryke asked shock and horror in his voice.


    Jessie only looked at Zevortro for a moment before he nodded, looking at the water.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious! He¡¯s our only way out of here! He can¡¯t leave us alone!¡± Bryke exclaimed.


    ¡°We can¡¯t go running around with no goal man! We gotta find a way out of this place! And Jessie is our ride and the only one who can scout. He has to go and you know it!¡± Zevortro said bitterly.


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Jessie says before Bryke can open his mouth. ¡°But based on how far apart this island is from the one we came from, I¡¯ve got an idea. If I¡¯m right, then I¡¯ll go find one that¡¯s far enough away that the lurker won¡¯t find us! Once I¡¯ve found it, I¡¯ll come back and get you all.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


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    Jessie looked around at the faces and then he delivered his bombshell. ¡°And before I go, I¡¯ll teach Terra how to ¡®Air Dash¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I can learn to do that!?¡± Terra asked with shock.


    Jessie only nodded. ¡°Yes, you feel that warmth within you?¡±


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    As Terra nodded, it took all Jessie had not to release a breath. He had been worried that the warmth was something for him alone to feel the Power. ¡°Well, focus on that. Then move it to your feet, and then think of reappearing somewhere else. That¡¯s it. Simple, no?¡±


    ¡°VERY!¡± Terra said with shock in her voice.


    Jessie only nodded and looked around, nodding as he took in the water around them. ¡°Well, the beast is leaving. I think. Good luck.¡±


    Without another word, Jessie was gone. He came out of his ¡®Air Dash¡¯ five feet up, and then he was gone before he felt gravity. As he came out again, he continued until he had hoped that he had gone far enough. Going up a ¡®Dash¡¯ he looked down and saw an Island twenty feet around beneath him. ¡¯Dashing¡¯ to the Island, he came out two feet above it. Landing, he turned around slowly and took in what he had found.


    There were marks on the ground, strange symbols that looked like no language that he had ever seen. The single character was a strange mix of sharp lines and curves in the middle. From the way it was set up, he had to wonder if this was a pictogram. Looking at it, he saw three directions on it. One symbol was to the northeast, and the other was to the west. The last symbol pointed to the way he had come, and he stopped and looked around.


    Trying to think, he looked up. The island was clear of anything, but there was something else he hadn¡¯t told the others. The flyers were a threat, and they had to be around here. And if the lurker was something that ate anything that crashed into the water, then what made them crash? That was the one piece of the puzzle that he just didn¡¯t have an answer for. With a slight scowl on his face, he slowly turned around. After a few turns, he nodded.


    Without a word, he was off, ¡®Air Dashing¡¯ back to the others. He had to hope that the lurker hadn¡¯t been able to get to them.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryke


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    As he watched Jessie leave, Bryke tried to keep calm. Looking out over the water, he swallowed heavily. The more he looked out at the waters, the more he grew worried. ¡°So, how do you two see the next few hours going?¡±


    ¡°Jessie will be back soon, Bryke. Just keep calm and don¡¯t get too scared,¡± Zevortro said softly next to Bryke.


    Bryke looked at his friend who was slowly moving his rifle, always keeping it locked on something. Bryke swallowed as he realized his friend was keeping a watch on the lurker.


    ¡°That¡¯s where it is?¡± Bryke asked softly.


    ¡°That¡¯s where something is. I don¡¯t know what, but I have a bad feeling about it,¡± Zevortro said softly.


    Bryke blinked, and looked at his friend in total shock, wondering what his friend meant. He stared for a moment before a terrible feeling started to grow from within him. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Zevortro didn¡¯t say anything, but he just kept his weapon trained on something in the water. ¡°Terra, how deep was the water when you hit it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have the foggiest idea. I almost didn¡¯t believe that I was able to get Bryke back to the surface before he drowned. Who knows how far down the water goes, or how big the creatures are down there?¡± Terra said with worry.


    Bryke looked at Terra and then he looked down at the water, his mind going dark places. To put his mind off it, he turned and moved towards the creature that Jessie had brought down.


    With a few steps, he was there and started to look over the body. He saw the wounds that had killed it, and then he saw the blood that was slowly leaving its body. The more he looked at it, the more that he didn¡¯t understand what this was. The blood and the body were the same color, and that was shocking. He knew that he didn¡¯t know much about biology, but there was something about that blood that was bothering him. As it seeped along the island, he looked at it.


    ¡°So, once we have a place to rest, what do you plan to do? We still have our food supplies, right? I mean I know that was my part of the supplies,¡± Zevortro said from behind Bryke.


    ¡°Yeah, any of you two have something to let us know if we can eat this thing?¡± Bryke asked absently.


    Terra just sighed and shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think we brought that with us. We didn¡¯t expect anything like this!¡±


    ¡°And here I thought planning for the unexpected is what people are supposed to do. You know, plan for the worse,¡± Bryke mused softly. Suddenly he went still as he looked at the blood. He felt his eyes widen as he slowly realized what had bothered him. His eyes followed the path his mind made and the more he watched, the greater his terror grew. ¡°NOVA!¡±


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    Terra


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    As soon as Bryke screamed in fear, Terra turned as Zevortro took a step back. She turned all around, and after not seeing anything she turned to glare at Bryke. Biw just dropped down, his fingers tracing something in the ground.


    ¡°Bryke, what is it!?¡± Zevortro demanded as he kept looking out at the water. ¡°Did you hear something?¡±


    ¡°No, I figured something out! The reason these islands are so clear, there are channels that carry the blood to the water!¡± Bryke exclaimed.


    Terra shared a look with Zevortro who looked back at her with the same look of confusion that she felt. No matter how she went over what Bryke said, nothing made sense. Just what did that mean? ¡°Bryke, what in the name of the stars are you talking about!? How do channels in the island lead to it being clean?¡±


    ¡°Simple,¡± Bryke said with terror in his voice. ¡°Who said that the thing down there only feels vibrations?¡±


    Terra looked at him and then she felt her heart freeze. The more she thought of that, the more it made sense. Creatures that hunted in the depths of oceans needed to have some ways to track prey. And with a deep swallow, he down at the blood as it moved ever closer to the water.


    Without a word, she dropped down and put her finger in the channel. As the blood hit it, it slowly spread to the sides and another channel.


    ¡°Tell me that Bryke is just looking at something that¡¯s not there. Tell me that the blood won¡¯t call that thing!¡± Zevortro demanded from the water¡¯s edge.


    Terra let her gaze move to the water and then she swallowed. ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t. How can we stop it?¡±


    ¡°Freeze it!¡± Bryke said suddenly.


    Terra looked at him, not understanding what he meant. How could they freeze blood fast enough out here? Then she felt herself blush as she pulled out her weapon as she understood. ¡° Right, me. Stand back! <u>Blast Enhance; Ice</u>!¡±


    As soon as her weapon gained the blue glow, she thought of what she wanted her blast to do and fired. Within a moment of the shot hitting the ground, the ice went along the island, the channels freezing.


    Terra watched and paled in horror as she saw that the ice had gone to the edge of the island. The ice stopped a good half foot from the water, and she sat down.


    ¡°Oh Stars and Nova! We almost died!¡± Bryke said as he fell to his knees.


    Terra only looked at the ice she had created, and then she had a terrible thought. She slowly got up and started to walk around the carcass, trying to find all the ice. The thought she had was something that she wanted to disprove beyond all doubt, it had to be just her fear! If it wasn¡¯t, then they were in so much trouble that she couldn¡¯t believe it.


    But then she found what she didn¡¯t want to behind the carcass. There it was, a line of ice that went into the water the color of the blood. She stared at it for a moment, then slowly she looked up and swallowed as her light found what she didn¡¯t want to see. ¡°Too late!¡±


    ¡°NO!¡± Bryke bellowed as they were forced to watch as the shadow in the water moved closer to them. Without even stopping to think, Terra aimed and fired. As soon as the bolt hit the water, a spire of ice formed. For a second she hoped that the spike had killed the lurker. But then they heard a screech of pain, unlike anything they had ever heard before.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Two Part 2

    ???????????


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    As the beast screeched in pain, it tried to think what this was. For all its life, the things above had never done anything like this to it! It had tasted the scent of a good meal in the empty above and as it was still hungry, it hunted. But then suddenly before it could take the food, something attacked it! Some of its limbs were hurt, and it could barely feel the pain. With a pull, the limb was torn free, life liquid going into the water. That was the bad thing, it knew others would soon sense the beast was wounded. And they would come, and they would swarm. It would have to go out of the mass into the empty and wait to heal. But as it pulled itself up into the empty, it saw things that it had never seen before staring at it.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


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    Zevortro looked at the monster as it pulled itself out of the water. It was long, maybe ten feet long, and five wide. It was a large black fish with eight tentacles three feet long. Each of the tentacles broke apart into four ¡®fingers that were five feet long. There were four on each side near the top fin. At the end of the fish''s body was a five-foot-long rope-like tail with multiple fins on it. But in the middle of the body, near the bottom of the body were what looked like two large frog legs. Its face had a mouth as wide as it was and two fangs that went down. Above the mouth were four white cloudy eyes that saw nothing.


    Zevortro could only stare in shocked horror at the creature from the depths. Horror that lessened when he saw that the tentacle on the front right was torn off at half a foot from the base. As the wound on that limb gushed blood, Zevortro could only grin. That meant that they could wound it, and if they could wound it then they could kill it! But as he stared at the creature, he saw something that shocked him, its eyes were wide in shock.


    ¡°Nobody, move!¡± Zevortro barked as the creature stood still and looked at them.


    ¡°What? Why!?¡± Bryke asked horror in his voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s shocked, it can think,¡± Zevortro said, his voice breaking slightly.


    ¡°It can think!? Bro are you for real!?¡± Bryke demanded shock and horror in his voice.


    Terra started to mutter prayers under her breath and Zevortro agreed with her. Another First Contact with a new race, or was it a mutant? Either way, there was a chance that they could get out of this without fighting. They just had to hope that the being before them was shocked long enough for Jessie to come back for them.


    As Zevortro nodded, he kept his eyes locked on the creature¡¯s wound. Already it was scabbing over, and he thought that he could see flesh forming. So it could regenerate, that was something. And that meant that it had to eat a lot for fuel. And that meant that they might still fight with their hands.


    But then the creature made a move as it raised its tentacles to strike at them!


    Zevortro dodged the blow and then he raised his rifle, aiming at the thing''s head. ¡°Well, that was short. Fire!¡±


    ¡°Firing!¡± Bryke roared as he aimed and fired his pistol.


    The shot flew at the creature but suddenly the creature grabbed the ice spike and broke off parts of it. It then used the ice to block the bolt, the ice glowing a strange blue color moments before the bolt hit it.


    ¡°What is that!?¡± Bryke exclaimed in horror


    Zevortro could only watch as the creature broke off three more pieces of ice, each piece of ice now glowing blue.


    ¡°It¡¯s the creature, it¡¯s doing that!¡± Terra cried horror in her voice.


    As he watched, Zevortro saw the final proof that he needed that this thing was sentient. The creation and use of tools at the time it needed them, the proof of reasoning. ¡°Just keep firing!¡±


    As all three of them fired, the creature roared again as it kept blocking the shots.


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    When it tried to get them with one of its reaming tentacles and ¡®fingers¡¯, Bryke reacted and fired. As the bolt hit, the beast roared in pain.


    Bryke only laughed madly as he kept firing. ¡°Yeah, you like that!? Come on, try me!¡±


    For a second, Zevortro was sure that the creature didn¡¯t understand Bryke. Then it looked at him and its checks seemed to inflate twice their size. Then the beast opened its mouth and roared, firing a blast of pure sound that hit Bryke and sent him flying!


    ¡°NO! KILL IT!¡± Zevortro cried, anger in his voice. There was nothing more they could do, they had to kill this thing to live. And hope that there wasn¡¯t another that would attack Bryke as soon as he hit the water.


    ¡°It¡¯s picking us off! I need to use my Power!¡± Terra bellowed.


    Then Zevortro locked his eyes on the wound and swallowed. ¡°No! Don¡¯t make it madder!¡±


    For a second Terra gritted her teeth before she nodded. ¡°Then start running!¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°AAAAAGGGGHHH!¡± Bryke bellowed in rage as he flew through the air. He back at the beast and gripped his pistol tighter as he sent a bolt at it. He swallowed a breath of air a moment before he hit the water. As he sank, he looked around, trying to see if anything was around him. After a moment, he saw something deeper down. There, at the edge of his vision down below there was a strange red glow. As he watched, the thing slowly rose higher, and he started to see it. It looked to be over twenty feet wide or was it tall? Wihout waiting, he turned and swarm upwards towards the island. He had to warn the others, that something big was coming!


    As soon as he broke the water, he looked around and saw he was closer to the island. From where he was floating, he could see the battle. He had to get there before Jessie got back, they had to get out of here!


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    Terra.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she kept firing, Terra tried to keep calm. She understood why Zevortro had said not to show the creature her abilities, she did. The way it reacted to Bryke¡¯s taunts told her everything that she needed to know about this thing. If it had reacted like that to taunts or the sound of Bryke, how would it react to knowing who hurt it?


    Suddenly, the creature threw one of the ice shields at her. Without thinking, Terra used what Jessie had taught her and in a moment she was by Zevortro. She just blinked and tried to think before she threw up her last meal.


    For a second, all she could look at was what she had released. Then she was back in the moment, up and firing at the creature, scoring a hit on its rightmost blind eye. The creature screamed in pain as its other tentacles thrashed and hit the water.


    ¡°Got it!¡± Terra yelled in defiance as she aimed at the creature


    ¡°Keep it up! Aim for the other eyes and do that again!¡± Zevortro cried as he fired his rifle. This time the shot hit just beyond the ¡®ice shield¡¯ and severed the ¡®finger¡¯ holding it.


    As the limb fell and blood gushed free, it lashed out with its tentacles, striking the land and water. Thankfully, the two humans were able to dodge the blows, and they moved backwards away from their foe.


    ¡°Okay, you made it mad, now what?¡± Terra asked, her voice slowly getting stronger.


    ¡°Do you think you can jump us after Jessie?¡± Zevortro asked, his voice raw. ¡°Stars, even if you can get Bryke, that would help so much!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡± Bryke¡¯s voice called out from behind them.


    Turning, Terra shined her light onto Bryke as he panted, half out of the water. She was about to grin when she saw Bryke¡¯s face, the sheer terror on it.


    ¡°Great to see you, man! And here is thinking you¡¯d been thrown farther than you could swim!¡± Zevortro said as he moved towards him. But then he stopped, and then Terra knew he had realized how Bryke looked.


    ¡°And we gotta go, now! Something bigger than that is coming up!¡± Bryke said, looking over his shoulder at the water behind him.


    ¡°Bigger!? Bigger than that!?¡± Terra asked horror in her voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


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    Jessie looked around the large land on an island two away from the others and looked at the water. So far, he had seen nothing that gave any hint of why this thing had been created. But the more he looked around, the more that this place looked familiar. There was something about it, that he just couldn¡¯t explain.


    But then he whipped his head around as he heard an echo from where he had left the others. ¡°NO!¡±


    Within moments, he was back in the air and moving, putting his all into getting to them. Within moments, he shot upwards above the island and looked down as he fell. Seeing the large creature attacking them, he knew what he had to do. Aiming and firing as he fell, he saw his shots hit its back. Smirking, he angled to land in the water near Bryke.


    As soon as he splashed down, the others all looked up and he saw Bryke cry. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m late guys! What happened?¡±


    Terra looked at him as the creature roared in pain, but before she could say anything Bryke hugged him.


    ¡°LATER! We¡¯ll tell you the play-by-play later! Something big is coming up! We need to go now!¡± Bryke stammered, fear in his voice.


    ¡°Big? Bigger than that!?¡± Jessie demanded as Terra and Zevortro moved towards him.


    ¡°BIGGER!¡± Bryke screamed as Terra and Zevortro put their hands on Jessie.


    ¡°Then we¡¯re gone!¡± Jessie said before he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ them away and into the air.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Lurker


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As the  Lurker tried to strike the thing that had attacked it, it hit nothing but air. Sending out small ¡®echoing sights¡¯, the lurker felt nothing living. And it felt shock as the Lurker realized things it had been fighting were gone. The far stingers that they had used were strong, and it wondered how it hadn¡¯t encountered them before. But they hadn¡¯t gone back into the life space, so where were they? This whole thing was so far beyond anything that the Lurker had ever dealt with, it wanted to forget this. But then the bigger question was, was the food source thing still here?


    As it ¡®looked around¡¯,  it found the dead thing that had been leaking lifeblood. With a small hint of joy, it reached out and grabbed the food piece. As it brought the morsel to its mouth, it had to mentally scowl as it felt how much meat was in the dead thing. This would task all its resources, but it would be able to mostly recover.


    Before it could eat the piece, it went still. A louder echoing sight came over the empty, stronger than any of its former swarm.


    Slowly, it went still and then sent out one of its echoing sights, hoping to find out what had made that large one. Maybe it if was lucky, then it was one of the big ones dying.


    Then it felt horror as it ¡®saw¡¯ what had screamed. There, one of the true killers of the depths had risen to the empty. What was it after?! Those only came up when there¡­..


    It felt its lifeblood leave its body and then without a word, it threw itself into the life space. The little bitters were nothing compared to the thing that was hunting it now!


    As it swam into the depths, something started to pull it backwards. No matter how hard it tried to swim, it felt the water pulling it against its efforts to move. All it had time for was one last loud screech before it felt teeth biting through its body.

 One Hundred Eighty Three Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1440


    Duncan


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    Duncan stared at a living Ancient and he forced his heart to be still. The being was wearing a dark full-body suit of high-tech armor. It had two four small blades on the arms just behind the gloves facing away from the body. The head was covered by a full body mask that had spines over the head. The Ancient turned to look at them and the mask fully covered the head with a blue visor across where the eyes would be.


    Duncan licked his lips as he tried to figure out what to do. Part of him wanted to fire, but the treaty that was going to be signed. Everything he knew was telling him to kill it, but his mind was telling him to wait. With everything that was happening, this place, having one of them to help was something that he couldn¡¯t let go of. So against his old instants, he would let the Ancient make the first move.


    The Ancient looked at them for a moment more before it released its blade. As the weapon disappeared, the being started to walk towards them, looking around.


    ¡°Now what!? I mean what do we do!?¡± Tatrina asked, her voice full of fear and anger.


    ¡°We stay calm, that¡¯s for starters. And then we try and communicate with this person,¡± Duncan said with a scowl.


    ¡°How!? We never broke their codes, and we never talked to them! Even the peace treaty was done through letters! How are we going to ¡®talk¡¯ to him!?¡± Tatrina demeaned.


    Duncan only looked at her as the Ancient stopped and looked at them. It crossed its arms and looked right at them.


    ¡°Okay, anyone have any ideas at all?¡± Qiana asked, her voice a little faint.


    ¡°I think I could jury rig a text-to-speech device, but it¡¯ll take some time,¡± Dalila piped in from behind.


    Duncan felt a surge of relief, but then he felt the same despair from before. As soon as he saw that one thing that they had all forgotten, he facepalmed. ¡°Oh, NOVA! I can¡¯t believe that we didn¡¯t even think of that!¡±


    ¡°Think about what?¡± Tatrina asked terror in her voice. ¡°How we have a near-unstoppable killing machine within arm¡¯s reach of us? How none of our weapons are big enough to even scratch this thing?¡±


    ¡°No, how to even think of talking to them. We need a program to translate, and unless he has one, anything Dalila makes it useless!¡± Duncan said as he locked eyes on the visor of the being before him. Duncan could usually tell when beings were having fun and he was feeling it from the Ancient. As he looked at the being, Tatrina only laughed madly.


    ¡°Terrific! We have a plan to talk to this thing and we can¡¯t even do that! What a world, I mean really!¡± Tatrina spat.


    Duncan sighed and looked around, trying to see if the others had any plans. But as all of the others only shrugged, he sighed. For a few moments, he tried to think of what to do when finally he made a plan. ¡°Okay, here¡¯s what we do. Try and use pictures to talk to this one. Basic ones that show that the robots are the enemy.¡±


    ¡°Not bad sir, I think it might work!¡± Leonator said with a grin. ¡°I can remember the report that one of the first ambassadors to these people said they did that. And we don¡¯t have anything else we can do.¡±


    ¡°Yeah! ¡­¡­ wait,¡± Dalila said suddenly as she looked around at the others, her face blank as her mouth dropped open.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Duncan asked.


    Dalila didn¡¯t say anything, she only looked right at the Ancient. ¡°Didn¡¯t someone say they had that robot? Wasn¡¯t it just before this guy appeared!?¡±


    ¡°What are you saying, that this person can speak common!?¡± Ta4 demanded in shock as everyone looked at the Ancient.


    After a few moments, the Ancient nodded.


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    ¡°There¡¯s right, I can,¡± The Ancient said suddenly in the common tongue in a male voice. As everyone watched the Ancient in shock, the Ancient bowed. ¡°Thank you for setting me free. Please, call me by my first name, Dam¡¯ien. My full is something of a mouthful in Federation Common after all.¡±


    Duncan felt his whole worldview shift as he looked at the Ancient, shock making his mouth drop open. If this was true, then the Ancients could understand their language. And then he felt that there was something that he had to speak that thought, and he knew things were going to change. ¡°The Peace Treaty, you all let our ambassadors make fools of themselves, didn¡¯t you?


    Damien¡¯s masked face looked at Duncan for a few moments. ¡°Wellllll. The thought was if you wanted peace so badly, then we should make them work for it.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dam¡¯ien


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked at the humans, Dam¡¯ien felt down his laughter. The thought about what had happened back then still made him crack up about it. He looked at the humans, and they all looked at him with shocked expressions.


    ¡°Well, let¡¯s move on. My name is Duncan, I¡¯m the security chief aboard a civilian cruise ship, the Spirit of Adventure. Let me introduce everyone here.  This is Da3 and Vivian, both civilian volunteers. This is Leonator, a civilian specialist of Virgin Worlds. Qiana, the woman who released you and Tatrina¡­..¡± Duncan said.


    Tatrina interloped him and looked right at the Ancient¡¯s mask. ¡°Tatrina S. Qin, civilian investigator attached to the same company as their ship. The same ship that you were being smuggled on. And the ship that my investigation took me to. So I would love to hear more about how you were  put into that cell!¡±


    Dam¡¯ien locked his eyes on Duncan as he heard the name of the ship he was on. There was no way, there was no way in the Ancestors! That ship, that one ship was the one he was held captive on!? Then that meant that¡­¡­. He swallowed and knew he was going to have to ask a question and be very careful about how he asked it.


    ¡°The Spirit of Adventure? Was there a team of my people aboard that ship?¡± Dam¡¯ien asked with panic in his voice.


    The one that called himself Duncan looked at him, staring at him. Dam¡¯ien. In the silence of that moment, Dam¡¯ien wondered if this person knew exactly who was on that team. And if that was true, then the situation might have changed.


    ¡°Yes, there was. And this happened to this. We¡¯ve all crashed into this monster of an island,¡± Duncan said as he looked at Dam¡¯ien.


    ¡°Did it happen before or after the thirtieth day?¡± Dam¡¯ien asked an edge of urgency in his voice.


    ¡°No, I think it was around the twentieth day. If my hunch is right,¡± Leonator cut in.


    ¡°Good! Very good!¡± Dam¡¯ien said as he almost cried tears of relief. That means that his Prince was still alive! And that was the greatest gift that he could have received from these people.


    ¡°Wait, why was that good!?¡± Tatrina demanded.


    Dam¡¯ien looked between the people before him and forced back a chuckle. This might be what his people stated away. They were too old, but he saw the appeal of making true contact now. As he was about to say something a strange reading appeared on his mask. He looked at it and then he stared in shock. Slowly he looked around at the people before, and he was shocked. The ability to use Aether was the Bio Virus his ancestors had been infected with, that was their history. But these readings challenged that theory no, they destroyed it! The scans showed that most of these people were on the edge of Awaking. And then another reading appeared and he looked to the right and found two Cyclopes floating in the air.


    For a second, he just stared and then he shook his head. ¡°Null gravity field as a prison? Interesting! I don¡¯t believe that my people haven¡¯t used something like that in years!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s interesting. Did your people stop using¡­. Not important! How did you know the name of the ship!?¡± Duncan demanded.


    Dam¡¯ien looked at the people before him and wondered what to say. To say most of it would lead to the one secret that his people kept from the Federation. To say nothing might be just as bad, and that was something that he couldn¡¯t do. So then the best answer was to explain things without telling the whole truth.


    ¡°My job is like Miss Tatrina. I found chatter in my kind¡¯s underworld about a pirate gang attacking your ship. Their target was our ambassador, ransom them back to their clan. Any of yours that they killed doing that? They saw it as nothing more than pest control. But since I¡¯m here, I think they had some allies on your side of the border,¡± Dam¡¯ien said as he locked his eyes on Duncan. Then he looked at Qiana and bowed. ¡°And Miss? Thank you for thinking of me when you freed me. That was the spark I needed to get my mind back under control.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Qiana


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Qiana could only blink as she looked at the Ancient, not understanding anything. She had heard of these people, and they were terrors. They knew nothing about these beings, they had kept even their genetics from being taken. The nanites these beings were said to have used to do that, the potential uses for that. Then she realized what the strange being before was saying, and then what words he used.


    ¡°My thoughts? What are you talking about?¡± She asked as Dam¡¯ien seemed to send a sense of calm and joy at her.


    The being started to turn then he stopped. Lighting fast, a pistol appeared in his hands aiming down the pit at the hole.


    ¡°I can sense movement from down there! More of those things that I fought coming out of it! Please tell me those things are just security robots that you lost control of!¡± Dam¡¯ien asked urgently.


    ¡°NO! We crashed down on and found this thing!¡± Duncan said before he whistled. ¡°EVERYONE! GET READY FOR WAR!¡±


    Qiana looked down at the pit, and then she felt someone pulling her away. She looked and saw Leonator dragging her away, looking towards the capsule.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk miss! We need to get to safety so we can help these people if their hurt!¡± Leonator said with a slight edge of panic in his voice.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dam¡¯ien


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he aimed his pistol down at the hole, he smirked under his helmet. As much as he didn¡¯t like to admit it, he was a combat junkie. He had grown up hunting monsters from a broken Ruin, and the hunt to find the truth did satisfy his being. But this, raw combat? That was the thing he lived for!


    As more of the robots came out of the hole, his eyes locked onto the one leading the way. It was a humanoid model with two strange-looking three-foot-long axes at the end of its arms. ¡°


    That¡¯s new. And just after you destroyed the other one,¡± Duncan said with a strange edge to his voice.


    Dam¡¯ien remained silent as he looked at the robot before him, feeling his blood boil as he watched it. Was it something that had been modified to fight him? Or was it something that had been coming to fight these? Either way, that one looked like a command model, and the basic strategy was to get rid of commanders. So there was just one thing that he could do. And as luck would have it, it was something that he wanted to do anyway.


    But first, he had to see it if was possible to be done, that was the important thing. Sending a command to his helmet, his vision gained a square showing the shield. As he looked at it, he nodded as he knew exactly what he had to do.


    ¡°Sir Duncan. I need you to open a hole in the shield. I¡¯ll take that thing away while you deal with the others,¡± Dam¡¯ien said as he kept his vision locked on the robot. The robot was slowly walking towards them, the others firing up at the humans who ducked and fired back.

 One Hundred Eighty Three Part 2

    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan looked at  Dam¡¯ien out of the corner of his eyes as the larger robot started to walk towards them. As it just let the shots from the others hit it, Duncan glared as the Wall Walkers started to walk up the sides. There weren¡¯t any of the wedged-shaped drones, and that was good. But that bigger one, had to be stronger than the others. ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re asking! There are things beyond! We were attacked by meat eaters that could make people drunk with light!¡±


    ¡°My people¡¯s masks are made to handle those attacks! Just give me a place to let me fight that thing!¡±  Dam¡¯ien said with an edge to his voice. ¡°My techs are best when I have no possibility of collateral damage!¡±


    Duncan looked at him with a glare, and then he nodded. It would be a lot easier to handle the robots without having to deal with the larger one. ¡°Okay, good luck! NW PLAN! THE ANCIENT IS TAKING THE BIG ONE OUT THERE! OPEN THE SHIELD AT THE RIGHT STATION, FIVE FOOT WIDE, FIVE UP! BUT PUT THAT ON A TIMMER TO CLOSE! How long do you need?!?¡±


    ¡°Ten seconds only once I have it!¡±  Dam¡¯ien said, laughter in his voice.


    ¡°TIMER TEN SECONDS! Fine, you call when you¡¯re ready to move!¡± Duncan bellowed. He knew the others would have a lot to say to him about this, but he made his choice. It might be the wrong one, but he was in the hot seat, so it was his duty. He just had to hope that this was the right one.


    ¡°Thank you, Sir! I¡¯ll let your watchers know I¡¯m ready to come in when I¡¯m done!¡±  Dam¡¯ien said and then he shot into the air. ¡°And the time is now!¡±


    Duncan could only watch as  Dam¡¯ien pulled his hands back and shot them forward into the air above the pit. He jumped ten feet up and five feet forward, throwing his arms back as he hung in the air. As he fell, he swept his arms forward and did so, ten-foot-long spikes suddenly appearing around them. Then they rocketed away, hitting the central circle with the flying tri-pyramids and the center of the flying wedges. Then he was on the ground, and his arms were around the giant robot. Before it could react,  Dam¡¯ien and it disappeared and they were suddenly five feet above the clearing.


    ¡°HOLE NOW PEOPLE!¡± Duncan bellowed again.


    Then  Dam¡¯ien disappeared again, carrying the robot. Duncan watched as the hole opened and then  Dam¡¯ien and the robot appeared past it. Duncan thought he saw  Dam¡¯ien nod before the both of them disappeared again. It was all Duncan could do to keep firing at the few remaining robots as the shield closed. The next few minutes were filled with chaos as the last of the robots were destroyed.


    As the battle ended, Duncan looked into the pit and saw the shattered remains sparking there. Looking at the hole, he scowled as he tried to plan how to handle it now, and then he heard a broken laugh behind him. With a sigh, as he recognized the voice laughing, he turned to see Tatrina with a broken look on her face.


    ¡°Something the matter?¡± Duncan asked as one of the other deckhands came to him.


    ¡°Boss, some of us think we should go and get those remains out of there now before those things could rebuild them. Might slow them down,¡± The deckhand said.


    Duncan turned and his eyes found the last null gravity generator. Thinking about it, he sighed as he nodded, looking back at the deckhand. ¡°Do it! But move that generator first so the field will let you all carry those parts fast! I want it off when the next wave comes, I¡¯m not helping those things!¡±


    As the deckhand moved off, Duncan sighed as he looked down at Tatrina.


    ¡°They were playing with us. The war. They were just playing with us. They sent in robots while they could do that? Just what was the war to them?¡± She muttered as she rocked back and forth.


    Duncan sighed and looked at Tatrina, knowing just what she was feeling. The war was a nightmare and the way that the Ancie¡­.. That  Dam¡¯ien acted, so many theories about them were just fiction. And now there was one of them on the same island as he was. And that wasn¡¯t even talking about the diplomatic team. All in all, this was the headache that he had been fighting for a while now.


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    ¡°Duncan? What did he mean by team? How did he know the ship¡¯s name?¡± Tatrina asked as she suddenly got back control.


    Duncan looked down at her and he mentally went over what he could say, and how she would react. There was no good way to say this, and he needed to talk to Bradford about what happened. How the rest of the people were going to react to their new ¡®friend¡¯ was a nightmare to even consider right now. And the worst was that he could see nothing that would let his soften the blow for  Dam¡¯ien. But he could draw it out for as long as he could.


    ¡°Corporate didn¡¯t tell you anything about them?¡± Duncan asked as Tatrina looked at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stall Duncan! What was that being talking about!?¡± Tatrina demanded.


    Duncan looked at her and sighed. ¡°The ship was transporting a group of Ancients to a treaty signing. And from the way that  Dam¡¯ien was talking, it seems that someone on their side was playing politics with us all.¡±


    ¡°What!?¡± Tatrina asked fear and horror in her voice. She looked around, trying to understand anything that Duncan told her.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Tatrina


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Tatrina could only stare at Duncan in horror as her mind played back what he said. That politics could result in civilian death, was something she accepted. She hated those scum and had loved to bring them down. But the idea that the company would do that without telling her? How much were they keeping from her, were they involved with the smuggling after all?


    ¡°You okay girl?¡± Duncan asked after a few moments of silence.


    Tatrina looked up and then she knew that she had to hide what she was thinking. There was a good chance that there might be people who were involved with her case here. And if she told Duncan, then he could tell others or he could be bugged. Best not to take the chance.


    ¡°Stars and void! They were on the ship and I never knew?!¡± Tatrina spat in fake disgust. She saw Duncan raise his right eyebrow and she just looked at him with hard eyes.


    ¡°There was nothing to know. They stayed in their suite and used the drones to watch. Some of them used the shipboard gaming systems, but that was it,¡± Duncan said with a slight shrug.


    ¡°What about food, did they bring enough for the trip with them then?¡± Tatrina asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm


    ¡°Nope! But we just had to set up quarantine protocols and everything was fine. Set up the airlock for food myself. We made a story that a guest had a compromised immune system and we were taking them for treatment!¡± Duncan said with a grin.


    Tatrina looked at him and then she face-palmed and started to mutter. She had heard about that, but as the company had a record of carrying those cases, she had ignored the rumors. And that there was something that Duncan must have set up himself.


    She looked at the null gravity generator as the deckhands started to move it. The plan that Duncan had made was being put into practice as she watched. Frankly, the idea of using Null gravity to help move things was amazing. The sheer potential uses of such a field like that in planet-bound complexes were uncountable.


    ¡°Nice idea there,¡± Tatrina said absently as she tried to control her heart rate.


    ¡°Yeah, it was. But we have a lot of things to do. Are you fine telling Bradford who you are?¡± Duncan asked as Tatrina, getting her attention. She felt her mouth drop open as she turned, seeing Duncan looking down at the pit, his pistol pointing down. She was about to say something when he started to speak. ¡°I need to stay here, I will not let that breach point alone until we can close it. And he needs to know what happened.¡±


    Tatrina looked at him and then she sighed, nodding. Her mission was done anyway, there was nothing more that she could learn from these people. The last month had been a waste, and if she could help Duncan handle the civilians, then that was enough for her.


    ¡°Yeah, I can tell him. What do you want him to know?¡± Tatrina asked.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Vivian


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she watched Duncan talk to the investigator, Vivian had to admit that Duncan was a master strategist.


    ¡°Get him to my office. I want to tell him nothing. But you need to tell him everything. That robots are attacking us and that we let an Ancient out of the Hibernation Cell. He doesn¡¯t know about the ambassador team, so tell him about them.¡±


    Vivian looked at Tatrina and scowled a little, not fully trusting her just yet. She had a few experiences with people like her during the last War, and the corrupted ones were the worst. But then maybe she was just projecting, but still. She saw Duncan look at her and flash a sign at her out of sight and she shook her head. As far as she was concerned, she couldn''t wait to find out that she, Dalila, and Jessie were Hunters.


    ¡°How do I get him alone to talk then? Do you have any idea how we can do that at least?¡± Tatrina asked, her voice exasperated.


    ¡°Yes. He knows that Vivian here is my aid. She¡¯ll get him. Vivian, tell him that there¡¯s some privileged information that he needs to know. That way you¡¯ll able to tell him Tatrina,¡± Duncan said with a solid tone. He turned his head and looked at Vivian, and she only nodded back at him.


    Vivian looked at Tatrina as she turned her head to gaze at her. She felt a smirk forming on her face, and she felt good about herself. Her skills at tricking people were just part of how she hunted her prey, and she liked to keep it in practice. ¡°Yeah, just give me a few minutes to get him, and then we¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s be off!¡± Tatrina said as she turned and walked towards the capsule.


    Before she walked off, she looked at Duncan. ¡°Remember Duncan, don¡¯t think the team that went in are dead just yet. And be ready to drop the shield so they can get out of there.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m staying here, just for that. Go, make sure that the cargo doesn¡¯t riot. And good luck,¡± Duncan said, smirking at her.


    With a nod, Vivian dashed off and joined Tatrina as she floated down to the capsule. With a sigh, she jumped down and prepared herself for what was going to be a problem. The one thing she knew about Bradford was that he always tried to use everything to get ahead. She had seen him make a few deals back on the ship, and they were always in his favor. Even when they seemed to be against him, they still gave him the lion¡¯s share once she looked them over. He was worse than a snake, someone who seemed to get pleasure from getting ahead of others.


    ¡°So, talk to Bradford much? Is he as slimy as the tabloid pages say he is?¡± Tatrina asked a note of disgust in her voice.


    Vivian only looked at the woman and shook her head. ¡°Sleazy is being kind. The only thing worse would be if he was commanding those robots.¡±


    ¡°This is going to be fun then, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tatrina said with gloom in her voice.


    ¡°Look on the bright side. Once we tell him what¡¯s happening out here, and not try to bargain with him!¡± Vivian said and Tatrina laughed at it

 One Hundred Eighty Four Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405/ Unknown Structure/ Water Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1520


    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As soon as Jessie dropped down to the island he let them go. Bryke wasted no time in moving away and he almost threw up before swallowing back down. He moved towards the center of the island and started to laugh darkly as the others all moved to him.


    ¡°What happened back there!? How did that thing find you all!?¡± Jessie demanded.


    Bryke looked down at the island he was standing on and felt along the surface. He found the channels and he almost threw up again.


    ¡°The blood called it. The blood of what you killed,¡± Bryke said without missing a beat. As he looked into his memories he felt his hand shake. That thing he had seen down there, was bigger than anything had a right to be.


    ¡°The blood!? How was that possible?¡± Jessie asked, shock in his voice.


    ¡°Bryke found channels in the islands! It carried the blood to the water. We missed them!¡± Terra said, anger in her voice.


    Bryke looked up to see her looking back towards where they had come from, and then she turned her head to look at them. He was stunned by how wild her eyes looked, how wild and scared she looked. ¡°This whole place, everything about it! It was all connected to having organic cleaners! Those things must have evolved along a planned track! Whoever made this place was able to plan how life evolved here! That¡¯s beyond anything that the Federation can even dream of!¡±


    Bryke just looked at her and tried to think about that one sentence. There was something about it that bothered him, something that was clawing at his mind. He then went still as suddenly everything made sense in another way.


    ¡°No,¡± Bryke said suddenly. As everyone looked at him, she smiled and felt a spark of hope. If he was right, then they weren¡¯t up against the monsters that Terra thought they were. ¡°There might be another reason for these lines!¡±


    Terra looked at him, a strange look in her eyes. ¡°What other reason could there be?! I mean that thing, that Lurker just came for it once the blood hit the water!¡±


    ¡°But if they were here before, and life evolved because of them? Then it would mean that this is just how this place is. Not that anything planned for it to evolve,¡± Jessie said with a slow and questioning tone in his voice.


    Zevortro nodded. ¡°Yeah, I mean we don¡¯t know anything. Maybe the lines are there because of a religious reason or something. We just don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Yeah. There has to be another reason here we can¡¯t see. I refuse to accept that thing I saw was put in as part of this place¡¯s blueprint!¡± Bryke said, anger in his voice as he looked around.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± Zevortro asked, his voice soft.


    Bryke looked at them, and he could feel his face start to become full of terror and rage. ¡°Something I think was a head, over twenty feet wide and tall. It was coming up from the depths of this place.¡±


    He looked around and saw the horror and shock on Zevortro¡¯s and Terra¡¯s faces. Jessie only looked at him, his face hard and he crossed his arms.


    ¡°Something that big is down there!?¡± Terra exploded, horror in her voice.


    ¡°I saw something that big! And it was coming up!¡± Bryke said, terror in his voice.


    ¡°Wait, you saw this after that thing sent you away?¡± Zevortro said, shock in his voice.


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    Bryke looked at him and then he felt his rage spike. ¡°YES! I saw that thing when I hit the water and sank after that Lurker screamed at me! When else could I have seen it?!¡±


    ¡°No, I meant you as saw that thing after we wounded the Lurker. After it tore off its tentacle and its blood hit the water,¡± Zevortro said slowly.


    Bryke looked at him before he stopped and felt his heart freeze.


    ¡°Wait, are you saying!?¡± Terra demanded.


    ¡°Yeah, it makes sense! That Lurker and things like it clean up the dead bodies that hit the water! And then when they''re wounded something eats them! I bet that combat only ends with a dead body between Lurkers! Then they go onto the islands to heal and stay away from their predator! But this time, we wounded it!¡± Zevortro exclaimed as he looked back where they had been. ¡°That must have called the big one!¡±


    ¡°So that thing that attacked us isn¡¯t the thing at the top of the food chain then? Wonderful. Just wonderful. And who knows what else is out there?¡± Jessie said as he looked around at the others.


    Bryke could see fear and horror in his eyes. And as he licked his dry lips, he was compelled to ask a question he didn¡¯t want to ask. ¡°What do you mean, what else could be out there?!¡±


    ¡°I thought the Lurker was the top of the food chain here. But it¡¯s not. Who¡¯s to say that the big thing doesn¡¯t have a predator?¡± Jessie said bluntly.


    ¡°Oh great! Now we have to worry about something else? What in the black hole is this place!?¡± Terra asked historically. ¡°I mean, why was it even made!?¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter why this place is here,¡± Jessie said with a hard tone.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t?!¡± Terra demeaned, shock in her voice.


    ¡°No, all that does is we find a way out! And fast before we find some of the Alphas of this place. Maybe I can go and find something, anything. We just need a direction. And we have three of them,¡± Jessie said as he pointed down.


    Bryke shone his lights down, and then he looked around to see all three of them. To the northeast, was a blue symbol of clouds. To the west was a large green blob and finally, where they had come from was a strange red square. And each of the symbols was in a strange blocky style.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked down, he tried to think, to figure out what an alien race would use colors for. For all they knew, these things were words and they could mean anything!


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, this is weird. Who knows what this means?¡± Terra asked from across from Zevortro.


    Looking around, Zevortro saw that she, Jessie, and Bryke had joined him in a circle around the symbols.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we should go back the other way, we need to go away from that thing back there!¡± Bryke said with a scowl.


    ¡°Yeah, I know what you mean. So maybe we should go towards one of the others?¡± Terra said with a slight note of hope in her voice.


    Zevortro nodded as Jessie grunted.


    ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ll go a few islands over and see what I can find there. You three look around this place. There might be something I missed. But where to go?¡± Jessie wondered as he looked down.


    ¡°This way! I mean, look. That has to mean a cloud made of water, right? And how are clouds formed by water? Waterfalls!¡± Zevortro said with a small smirk as he pointed at the blue cloud.


    Jessie had to look at it and then he nodded. ¡°Yeah, that makes sense to us. But whoever made this? But it¡¯s not like I have a better idea.¡±


    ¡°Good luck!¡± Zevortro said and Jessie nodded before he disappeared.


    As Bryke took a step back in shock, Terra giggled a bit.


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what my friend does. You have to put a bell on him to keep him from doing something sometimes,¡± Terra said as she giggled.


    Zevortro shook his head, remembering a few friends he had who were just like that. And how much he missed some of them. With a sigh, he stood up and looked around the twenty-foot island, nodding as he did so. ¡°Okay, Bryke? Watch the water. Terra, let¡¯s see what we can find. Do you want the inside or the shore?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take the shore. And keep an ear out for anything up there!¡± Terra said firmly. ¡°We don¡¯t know what might attack us from that direction, and Jessie¡¯s gone!¡±


    Zevortro walked off, nodding as he did so. He tried to keep his ears open, but he knew that Jessie had nanites that helped him. And who knows just how these things could fly here? There was just as much of a chance as a glider then there was a flyer! And for all they knew, something was watching them now.


    But as he looked down at ¡®ground¡¯, that thought died. There was something here, something that he had seen before. And he had a good feeling that this was going to help them out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he came out of an ¡®Air Dash¡¯ Jessie looked around, and then he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to the right in an instant. He came out five feet away and ten up. Looking down, he saw the thing that he had seen charging at him fly through the space he had been in. And then he saw it turn around. Without thinking, he aimed his pistol up and fired as soon as he came out of another ¡®Air Dash¡¯.


    The bolt hit whatever had been hunting him and it gave off a reptilian screech as it fell. Without even waiting, Jessie kept ¡®Air Dashing¡¯ away. He knew what that thing was going to expect., and for now he couldn¡¯t care. This time that thing tried to kill him, and even when he had escaped it still tried to hunt him. And that concerned him a lot more than he wanted to admit. He needed to get to another island soon, and then he had to think about what had happened.


    Coming out of his last ¡®Air Dash¡¯, he looked down and saw there was another island ten feet away. When he was within a foot from the water, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯, to right above the island and dropped down. With a slight scowl, he looked up and tried to find anything. When he had been in combat with that thing, he hadn¡¯t gotten a good look at it. But he was sure that he hadn¡¯t heard the sounds of winds flapping. And how had it turned on a dime like that, or tracked him?


    ¡°Another problem! And more questions!¡± He muttered as he looked around. To his surprise, he saw another symbol for clouds on the ground, and only that symbol. The more he looked at it, the more he wondered if it was what they thought it was. The more that he had to hope that they were right. There was something there, something that he just couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°What is it? What am I not seeing?¡± He muttered as he looked up and tried to let his senses take in anything that was around. As much as he wanted a chance to rest, this was enemy territory. But if the symbol was right, then he was on the right track. And that meant that he was ready to move on.


    Without a thought, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯, away but when he came out his ¡®Dash¡¯ he saw a report from his nanites. There was a sound that was like an old jet engine, and it was coming closer from right behind him. And that was enough to have him to ¡®Air Dash¡¯ away again, and then he turned. There at the island, he had just left, there was something, some kind of shadow. Unlike the Lurker that had attacked the others, this thing had a low body that looked like it moved on all fours. And the way that its head/neck was moving around, it was hunting for something. And he had a terrible feeling that it was tracking him.


    As he fell through the air, he instantly ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away, and then he looked back. He was far enough away to not see that thing, but he had a terrible feeling that it was hunting him.

 One Hundred Eighty Four Part 2

    Bryke


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    Bryke looked over the water, his lights illuminating the darkness as he calmed down. That thing he had seen had been beyond anything that he had thought was possible. This place had to be bigger than they thought, or deeper! There wasn¡¯t anything else that could explain how that thing he saw was alive. And then there¡¯s the waterfall they thought was here. That had to mean that water came into and out of this place, so if the falls was the exit, where was the entrance? All in all, this place was madding to him.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Zevortro called out, and Bryke could hear the joy in his voice. ¡°I think I found a gate!¡±


    Bryke felt a bit of hope, maybe there was a reason those symbols were here. But before he could move, he went still. There was movement on the water, ripples that caused him to go still. Slowly he moved the light towards their source and then his breath went still. On the water were five small creatures, each one only half a foot tall but over three feet long. They were insects, with black bodies. They had two mandibles bellow two white eyes and their bodies were multi-segmented. On each body, six thin legs seemed to allow them to ski across the water. He watched as they moved on, one of them going in a circle to look at him. But then it joined the group and they all moved on. They barely had an impression on the water as they moved, and in seconds they were gone.


    Looking around, Bryke couldn¡¯t see anything that might be hunting them, so they had to have been grazing. But how did they feed? Or were they migrating? But these things, they had to have been creatures near the bottom of the food chain. And the presence of prey meant that predators might be around. So with deliberate stillness,


    Bryke looked back toward where the insect things had come from, but after a few moments, he stopped. With a sinking heart, he quickly looked up, but he couldn¡¯t see anything there. Letting the light move around the sky, he tried to listen. But there was nothing, and he didn¡¯t know if that was something good or bad. This place had made his senses and instants all messed up, but he was sure something was there.


    ¡°You okay Bryke?¡± Terra asked from behind him.


    Turning, he saw that she was right behind him, and from the light shining on them Zevortro was looking at them.


    Bryke looked at Terra and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I saw something on the water. Some kind of water insect, I think it was a prey creature here.¡±


    ¡°Water bug? Then it was walking on water?¡± Terra asked, her voice holding fear.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they were small. Barely half a foot tall but they were long!¡± Bryke said with a small smile. As his stomach started to rumble, he slowly licked his lips. ¡°But you know, they were tasty looking. Maybe you could ¡®Air Dash¡¯ and we could see if they are good to eat?¡±


    Terra looked at him and chuckled. ¡°We have enough supplies to last a few days down here. And Jessie has a backup one. Well, he had one. If came down here with him, I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Everything okay over there?¡± Zevortro called out.


    As Terra nodded and waved her hands, Bryke looked up at the sky. So far, there was nothing there, but those things had to be running from something. And all he could hope was that it wouldn¡¯t cause problems for them.


    ¡°Yeah man, Just fine! I just saw what might be another part of the food web around here!¡± Bryke called out as he and Terra walked over to Zevortro.


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    Zevortro


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    ¡°What!?¡± Zevortro asked, aghast as he tried to look around, trying to see anything that might attack them.


    Bryke chuckled as he and Terra reached them. ¡°Relax man. I think it was a prey animal, some kind of water bug. So where¡¯s your find?¡±


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    Zevortro blinked and looked at them before sighing and pointing down. They both looked down and saw what Zevortro had discovered, a depression in the ground. It was in a circle with two holes along the side that were hand-sized.


    As he grinned at the others, Zevortro bent down and grabbed the two holes. After a movement, he moved the cover and they all heard a click. The top of the hole bent upwards and he pulled it upwards.


    A dark hole with a handlebar ladder that went down was revealed. Looking at the others, Zevortro only grinned at them. ¡°Well, it looks like we might have a way out of here!¡±


    ¡°It looks pretty deep!¡± Bryke said as his voice echoed down the hole. ¡°And can I see the bottom!?¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Zevortro asked, his voice faint. Both he and Terra looked down, and they could see the bottom of the hole. ¡°Yeah, maybe around thirty feet down.¡±


    ¡°The water is a lot deeper! But maybe that was a created trench? Could there be a glass tunnel or something?¡± Terra asked, her voice unsure.


    ¡°Yeah, I get what you¡¯re saying! Like that attraction on the ship ¡®Walk under the Depths¡¯! The aquarium on the ship?¡± Bryke said with a smirk.


    Zevortro looked at them and then down at the hole, his mind racing as he felt shocked. He had always stayed away from the ship¡¯s entertainment district, maybe he shouldn''t have. ¡°When¡¯d they add something like that to the water park?¡±


    ¡°It was just in beta really, and only to the crew members who worked there. You never took a shift?¡±


    ¡°No, I was more in the other park and the race track. I was going to be giving a chance to the announcer after we reached the next port,¡± Zevortro said as he looked down at the hole.


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter! Why would there be something like that on the ship here!? What is this place!?¡± Zevortro asked, his face going slack as he looked around.


    Bryke gulped loudly and when the others looked at him, they saw him looking down. He just spent a few moments staring at the hole, his eyes wide.


    ¡°Hey, Bryke, you okay man?¡± Zevortro asked softly. When Bryke didn¡¯t respond, Zevortro looked up at Terra who was starting to look worried. With a sigh, he reached over and pushed Bryke.


    Bryke fell backward, and then he looked up at Zevortro with a glare. ¡°HEY!¡±


    ¡°Well, responded when we call you man! What was taking up so much of your mind?¡± Zevortro asked as he held his hands up.


    Bryke only blinked and then he looked around and chuckled a bit. ¡°Sorry about that, I sometimes get lost in my head. But I think I¡¯ve figured this place out.¡±


    Zevortro blinked and then he looked at Terra who was just as shocked at Bryke¡¯s words.


    ¡°Okay, what did you figure out about this place?¡± Terra asked and Bryke looked down and sighed.


    For a moment, Bryke just stood there before he started to talk. ¡°Okay, so I have two ideas. One, this is a giant pool. Or two, this is a bioweapon factory that stayed active beyond the creator¡¯s life.¡±


    ¡°Bio-Weapon factory? Like germ¡­.. no. not germ warfare. You mean using life as weapon platforms! But that¡¯s only in the theoretical stages!¡± Terra exclaimed in horror.


    Bryke only shook his head at Terra like he was correcting someone who should know this. ¡°Theoretical to the Federation. This place wasn¡¯t made by the Federation after all.¡±


    Zevortro looked at his friend before he felt his heart drop. The idea that they were in a bio-weapon factory was shocking. But the idea that the thing that attacked them was a bioweapon, that was worse.


    But then they all went still as a loud reptilian roar echoed off the water.


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    Jessie


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    Jessie landed on an island and looked back, hearing the roar¡¯s echo from much closer to him. With a scowl on his face. He looked around and tried to find anything that he could see that would give him any hint of what was stalking him. But then he heard it, the sounds of distant ending roars.


    ¡°I¡¯m close,¡± He whispered, and then he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away, moving towards that sound.


    Another howl behind him and he could feel it down to his bones that the thing that had been hunting was striking now.


    He moved up high, at least ten feet, and then he looked down, and there in the darkness, he saw it. There, a large shape that sped through the darkness, fast. And as he was watching, it turned and started to come at him!


    Without wasting another minute, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ higher at an angle to the right, hoping to get a look at this thing. But as he came out of his ¡®Air Dash¡¯ lights suddenly came on from above. In a single moment, the whole chamber was lit by light.


    ¡°AAAGGGG!¡± Jessie held his hands up to his face as Nanites in his eyes adjusted what he was seeing. Before he could take in everything, an old instant of his screamed at him and he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to the right. He came out of it twenty feet away and ten up, and he could finally see the thing that was hunting him.


    It was a large reptilian creature, five feet tall and ten wide. It had six limbs on a powerful green-colored body that ended in a long whip-like tail. It looked at him from three eyes above a muzzle that had two fangs that went down from its mouth. And then in a moment, it shot at him.


    He ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to ten feet up and he couldn¡¯t see how it was flying at him. But he knew that he had to kill this thing here and now. But as he turned his head, he suddenly realized the roar of the falls was louder.


    Looking towards the sound, he was able to see everything. The falls were at least three islands away from him, and they took up the horizon. He couldn¡¯t see anything beyond them, and he had to wonder if this was the end of the ¡®room¡¯. But looking at how fast the water was at the island two away from the falls, he suddenly grinned as he made a plan. It was risky, but he saw this as the best chance he had.


    And then he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away, just escaping the reptilian creatures'' attack. A smirk formed on his face as he came out ten feet away. He looked back at the beast as a timer nanite activated, the timer being imposed on the right corner of his vision. Once the beast found him, it took the creature five seconds to fly at him.


    He started to lead the beast closer to the falls, making his ¡®Air Dashes¡¯ activate after four and a half seconds. The beast moved closer and closer, and he was ready for it. His plan had to work, or he would take this thing with him.


    Landing on the island just before the waterfalls, he looked up as the reptilian came at him, its front paws wide. Without saying a word, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to just before the water and looked at the beast as it landed.


    With his smirk growing wider, he looked at the beast and mentally prepared for what he would do in moments. To his shock, the beast started to walk towards him. When it was five feet away from him, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to just six feet up and then another ¡®Air Dash¡¯ to just above the beast. As it looked around for him, he grabbed it and then both of them were ¡®Air Dashing¡¯ away.


    They came out upside down just above the waterfalls, and Jessie kicked the beast away. As it tried to find him, Jessie aimed and fired three times. The bolts hit the creature¡¯s right limbs and side. Jessie¡¯s shots tore off the creature¡¯s limbs and the side shot gored the beast. It roared in pain as it hit the water, and Jessie ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to just over the falls by a foot and ten up from where he was. He watched as the beast fell into the abyss and then he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ back to the closet¡¯s island. Landing on it, he looked around and took in the truth of this place.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Five Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1510


    Dam¡¯ien


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    As he carried the robot away,  Dam¡¯ien felt his pulse quicken. He always liked a good battle, and after the long ¡®rest¡¯ he had, this was what he needed. Once they were over forty feet away, he released the robot. Once he was free of it, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to ten feet up as is passed by below him. Falling down feet first,  a large sword five feet long and one wide appeared. He grabbed it with both hands and looked around, taking in what the field looked like.


    It was some kind of burnt-down grove of some kind. Whenever this had happened it must have been long ago as the plants were starting to grow back. As he watched, the axe robot was slowly getting back to its feet.


    ¡°You might be wondering who I am if you can wonder,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said as he looked at the robot as it stared at him. He smirked under his mask and almost laughed. ¡°But then you things can¡¯t think or wonder. And I so loved to break robots like you in my Raids! But maybe I¡¯m just thinking  too much into this?¡±


    As the robot looked at him it beeped and flashed, and he was starting to get worried. Was this thing trying to talk to him? He ordered his mask¡¯s sensors to try and understand the weapons it had and in an instant, the axes were highlighted as they were examined. The blades were only sharp on one side, the back side facing in while the ¡®out¡¯ side were blurr triangles. The blades were made of a strange-looking golden metal, and he was sure that he had seen that shade before.


    As the robot looked at him, he saw that it was made of the same strange purple material the other robots were. But the face was truly strange it had a single large eye that took up most of the space on the face. He was sure that the thing had three other eyes on the other ''faces'' of the head. Its legs had two spikes on the side that ended in golden points. Something told him that those were more than just ornamental.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the first foe that I can let loose on? I hope that you don¡¯t disappoint me!¡±  Dam¡¯ien called out with a savage roar as he shot forward and swung his sword from the right.


    The robot blocked the strike, and it stood there taking the force of the blow. Then it slashed down with its left arm, and  Dam¡¯ien moved back as he dropped the large sword. It disappeared and then two short swords two feet long appeared in front of his hands.


    ¡°So you can take a hit? Well, let¡¯s see how fast you can do that!¡± He said, a savage grin under his mask as he ran at it. Reaching it, he slashed out ten times in under a minute. But to his shock, each of his blows was met and countered by the robot just as fast.


    For a second,  Dam¡¯ien let his rage spike and attacked harder than he had before. He had a feeling that this thing had been deployed to attack the enemy close, and he was right. As he struck, he let his body control itself as he tried to think. There had to be a way that he could outfight this thing!


    With a savage roar, he slammed both blades down,  using Aether to augment his strength. But the robot blocked them again, and again it didn¡¯t let the force of the blow move it. But this time his mask flashed a warning, and he felt his eyes widen in shock at what it said. There was no way, there was just no way that this was possible. It explained everything, but there was just no way that this was real.


    The robot made a motion to kick him. He had thought his armor would take this thing¡¯s blows, but the warning changed everything. Before the blow could connect he jumped back, then ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away ten feet. As he landed he saw the robot pointing its right leg at him and then it shot four blue energy bolts at him.


    For a moment he was about to just move when he saw an alert on his mask. He ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to the right and saw the bolts turn to come at him.


    Feeding Aether to his swords, he slashed out and sent an energy slice at the bolts. They met, causing an explosion of blue energy. He stared at it in shock, knowing what it was but not believing it. He was looking at an Aether explosion, but how? Then he looked at the robot, all hints of play draining out of him.


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    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± He whispered in shocked awe. Standing before him was a robot that was able to use Aether itself. That was beyond anything the Ruin¡¯s makers were able to do! To think that he had found something that was made by a culture his people didn¡¯t know had figured out that secret?


    He dropped his two swords and a large tower shield and a spear formed before him. He grabbed the weapon on his right and the shield on his left and looked at the robot. For a moment, the robot just looked at him before it charged, its body forming a comet of blue Aether as it rushed at him.


    Pointing his shield forward,  Dam¡¯ien formed an Aether wall a foot away from him. He watched as the robot crashed into with a small boom.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ??????


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    As the herd moved on, the Alpha looked over its kin. It had led its herd through the other packs. Most of them were still alive, and they were surviving even with the dangers around them. But still, they lived and they had found a bounty of dead! But then they saw the strange things beyond the see-through barrier, and it had tried to bring them to it. If the herd could take the Might of the shield, they might have a new weapon! Even if only one could take that Might, they could use it so well! But then the shield changed, and they were blocked from seeing within.


    After staying there for a time, the Alpha ordered the herd to move on, it was time to go. They had taken enough meat with them that they wouldn¡¯t need to hunt for a while. With this, they would be able to start regaining their numbers. Soon they would be stronger than ever! And this march of theirs had shone the Alpha more Might to hunt, things that would make the herd stronger! They had even seen some other things that they could compel to serve them. They would become one of the Great Packs, and they would rule!


    Then booming sound echoed from nearby. The Alpha raised its head and let its horn glow as it tried to find it. There, closer than it thought were two beings fighting. For a second the Alpha was stunned by how strong the two were. They were like the strongest of the Pack Lords, but they were better! They were alone, and that was the chance they needed. The herd''s best fighters could take them down, take their Might! And then with more creatures in the herd that strong, nothing could stand against them!


    But then the Alpha looked at the others behind it, and the food they were carrying. It couldn¡¯t let the possibility of power tempt it now. They had to get this back to their home. That was what was important, nothing else mattered!


    As the Alpha neighed, the group moved on. They had to get this food home first. Then it would take what beasts that could be spared, and then they would hunt. That power, that Might. It would change their destiny.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dam¡¯ien


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked through the Aether shield, his mask¡¯s sensors could detect the source of the Aether the robot used. But there had to be, this thing wasn¡¯t alive! So how could it use Aether? Where did the Aether come from?


    Then the robot stepped back and it started to wail on the shield, the axes starting to glow blue as it struck. As he felt his shield breaking, he knew what to do. He let the shield fall and fired an Aether bolt from his spear. The robot jerked to the side, the comet trail left behind as it dodged. As the robot charged again. This time  Dam¡¯ien met it with a smaller circle of Aether that formed five feet away and hit the robot¡¯s head.


    For a meant, he thought that maybe he had stunned it, and then the robot thrust its axes at him. It sent two Aether bolts at him. He ¡°Air Dashing¡± to the side as the bolts moved past where he had been. As he watched the bolt strike a tree, he tried to think. There had to be a reason behind this battle strategy, there had to be! And if he could figure out the plan, then he would be able to break through the sequence.


    But then a dark thought came through his brain, and then he saw what this might be. One of the theories was that sentience could be directed if a robot used Aether. It could think, but only to a limited degree. And that would explain why a robot was able to fight like this, it could think.


    In the time that he had his revelation, the robot had moved away from his floating shield and he let it dissipate. ¡°So then you can think?¡±


    The robot¡¯s eye just flashed a few times but it moved its axes away.


    Dam¡¯ien looked at this wonder of science and thrust his spear into the ground. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose that there is any way that this won¡¯t end with the two of us battle, is there?¡±


    The robot only held its axes out and let Aether flow through the two blades, but it didn¡¯t move. Then it slowly pointed the blades up at  Dam¡¯ien, but then it moved it to the right.


    Dam¡¯ien felt his pulse quicken. So then the robot wanted him out of the way and it was letting him go? Then its orders weren¡¯t to kill, but to protect its territory.


    Dam¡¯ien looked at the machine before him and let his mind go down a hopeful path. There was a chance, but the theories about sentient Aether-powered robots were. But he had to take the chance, there was nothing else he could do and be himself. ¡°Listen, the Federation might be a bit arrogant they will leave you alone if you want. Let any survivors that are within that structure and they will cover it up. They went to great lengths to make peace with mine. They will do that for you.¡±


    The robot stayed silent, then it gestured again with its right blade. And then there it was, nothing that could be done. This thing before him was going to charge in and break through the shield and kill everything within. The only reason that it wasn¡¯t after him was that he wasn¡¯t one of the beings that the robot¡¯s maker programmed it to kill. That meant that there was just one thing that he could do. Destroy this robot and hope that he gives it the death that this thing deserves.


    Dam¡¯ien only looked at it and then let his shield and spear disappear as a large blade appeared in his hand. It was long, three feet, and curved a bit and it was in a sheathe that was a blood red. The cross-shaped guard before the hilt had four blue gems at the end of the cross. As it took it and held it up, the sheathe disappeared and the blade glinted in the lights.


    ¡°Well, since talks have broken down, then let us fight. And may the spirit of battle judge the one of us that is right!¡±  Dam¡¯ien declared, saying the lines of his people¡¯s dueling vow. If there was nothing else, then he could treat this slave with the honor it deserved.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Five Part 2

    Dam¡¯ien


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    As he sliced out with his sword, the robot met it with its right blade. As  Dam¡¯ien pushed down, the robot swung its left blade at him. He pushed off and a short curved blade appeared that he grabbed in his left hand. He blocked the axe coming from his left and fed Aether into the blade, strengthening it. He felt it hit his other blade, and the force moved through his body for a moment. Glaring at the robot, he was starting to come off his battle rush.


    He looked at the robot as it gazed back at him with the eye facing him. He had known this thing could think, but he was starting to wonder. Could it feel emotions, like pleasure? Pleasure in causing pain in others? Because that blow was aimed at his waist, and that would only cause pain, not take him down. Unless it wanted to cause pain to make him stumble.


    As he tried to break the deadlock, he looked down and then ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away as the robot kicked at him.


    As it fired four Aether bolts from its raised leg, he slashed out with his smaller blade. From it sped a small Aether crescent that hit all of the Aether bolts, exploding them. With the cover from the explosion, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to the left. Once he came out, he saw himself looking at the robot glaring at him from one of its other eyes. With a roar, he charged in and as the robot turned, he ducked down to dodge the side slash from the robot. He slashed up and sliced through the right side of the robot, his blade engulfed with Aether.


    As he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away to the right, he looked at the robot as he came out of it. Without waiting, he felt a snarl forming on his face. The only way to win was to take this thing out, and that meant maiming it first. It looked at him and then it took a step towards where the shield was.


    Dam¡¯ien felt his mind go blank as he looked at the robot, and he felt his will going stronger. He knew what he had to do, but not how. But he had no other choice, it was time to charge in. With a roar, he ran at it and slashed out with his smaller blade three times. With each slash, an Aether crescent shot away and sped at the robot. The robot blocked three of the crescents with its two axes but one of them hit and exploded on the robot¡¯s chest. The explosion died away and revealed a small hole in the robot¡¯s chest. With a scowl on his face,  Dam¡¯ien jumped to the side and slashed out with his longer blade, Aether on its blade. The attack sliced through the eye facing right and the robot turned quickly.


    But  Dam¡¯ien ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ away, landing five feet in front of the robot, and looked at it as its forward eye flashed. With a grin forming on his face,  Dam¡¯ien knew that he was making progress. As long as he could keep it up, he knew that could win. Just had to keep going.


    But then he went still as bolts of Aether shot hit him from behind, going through his body and both shoulders. As he felt the pain, he gritted his teeth as he coughed up blood. ¡®Air Dashing¡¯ ten feet up, he dropped onto the top of a tree beyond the burnt clearing. He glared and saw the five large equine creatures with crystal horns. As the larger one in the middle looked at him,  Dam¡¯ien growled.


    ¡°<u>Aether Skill; Self-Healing</u>!¡± He barked as his body was engulfed in a green glow. He felt the wound that these things had given him heal over, and then he looked at the monsters. The one thing that he hated beyond all things was something getting the drop on him. And to attack him from behind? That made him want to kill these things.


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    Unicorn Alpha


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    As the Alpha looked at the creature in the trees, it felt its heart go faster. That movement Might have been amazing. The perfect way to rush down prey and the perfect way to get in close. With something like, it would be able to do so much! The first thing it would do was track down the monster that had taken its old hunting grounds. Once that thing paid with its life for killing the Alpha¡¯s kin, then it would feed the corpse to the others. The Might that could be harvested from that thing would make them all stronger. And then they would rule! And then there was the other find.


    But then it looked at the other and saw the shell around it. That shell looked strong enough to take such strength to break. That alone would make the Alpha so strong! But even better, it was wounded. And that was why it had attacked the other. Both of them had shells, and they both needed to fall. But then the other had healed it, and that was a problem it would solve itself. With a neigh, it gave the other beasts their orders. The other creatures started to fire at the creature on the ground. It would handle the one in the tree.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


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    Dam¡¯ien


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    As the other unicorn things attacked the robot,  Dam¡¯ien gritted his teeth. These had to be the reason that the Federationists had changed that shield. The beasts tried mind control to get them to walk to the slaughter. But they hadn¡¯t tried that first, and that was something interesting. It told him that they needed a being to look at them first, that they needed to be watching them. But his helmet was made to be immune to all visual mind control abilities. Anything that life that uses Aether could throw at him wouldn''t work. And if his brain started to change, his visual system would switch to radar sensor feed. Showing him a wire-frame view of what was before him, blocking the mind control.


    And that meant that he had a way to get close when they tried their mind control. He just needed to act like it worked on him, move closer, and then strike. But first, he needed to thin the herd.


    So he held up his hands and a technological-looking bow appeared. Grabbing it with both hands, he had a choice to make. The best thing to do was use his range weapons to destroy the robot first, but he hesitated. The beasts outnumbered both of them, so the normal choice would be to help his foe. But should he?


    He saw the beasts attack the robot and saw some of them shoot it as one of them charged it with its head down. Say what you will about him, he hated bullies most of all. So there was just one thing that he could do now. Pulling back the string of the bow as he fed Aether to it, he aimed as an Aether bolt formed. Releasing the string, the bolt he created flew and hit the charging unicorn in the head. He had expected the bolt to kill the creature, but it didn''t. Instead, it only sent the beast over five feet into the air before it hit the ground. The robot looked at him with its head before it nodded and then it charged at the other two unicorns.


    He nodded and then jumped into the air as his mask detected shots being fired at him. As the Aether shots passed beneath him, he fired two bolts from his bow. Both bolts hit the two unicorns that the robot was charging at. The first shot caused the first Unicorn to stumble as its right front leg was blown off at the knee. As it went down, the robot was there, slammed its right axe hand through the unicorn¡¯s neck, beheading it.


    Dam¡¯ien landed on another tree and fired again, this time at the largest one. Each bolt he fried was met by an opposite blas¨¦ from the bigger one as the beast glared at him. Then his mask sent him another warning, and he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ up. The move let him dodge a bolt that was fired from his left. In the air, as he came out of the ¡®Dash¡¯ ten feet up, he saw the first unicorn he had hit was getting up. Without thinking, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ above that monster and let his bow go. As his weapon disappeared, he held out his hands as his largest sword formed. As he hit the ground, he slammed his sword through the middle of the first Unicorn¡¯s body.


    The two parts of the Unicorn slammed to the ground as blood gushed out of the still-living pieces.


    Dam¡¯ien looked towards the robot and saw it slam its right hand onto the Unicorn it had been fighting¡¯s horn. For a moment, nothing happened before there was a loud cracking as the Unicorn exploded.


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    Unicorn Alpha.


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    As the explosion from his killed minion threw the Alpha into the air by the shock wave, the Alpha fumed in anger. To think that the fools that it had brought with it from the caves were so weak! The beasts that had stayed behind to give their lives for the herd were made of sterner stuff! If just one more of them had lived, then this hunt would have been over by now!


    As the explosion cleared it saw the other creature had fallen over, its head blown off. With a scowl, it moved closer to the body and then reared back. The inside of the thing wasn¡¯t made of food, and it smelled completely disgusting! What was this thing and where was the Might it had!?


    Then it looked at the other one, and the Alpha saw it get up. Without wasting time, it used its Might to pull the thing towards it. As the prey thing started to walk towards it, the Alpha grinned as it looked at the thing as it stumbled. This was the way that it was supposed to work. The Might the Alpha had would bring the creature to it, and then it would eat. Sure the creature would fight back once it felt pain, but by then it would be too late.


    As it opened its mouth as the prey got closer, suddenly the prey disappeared. As the Alpha looked around in shock, the beast felt pain as its legs on its right suddenly weren¡¯t there! The creature fell to the ground and then it looked up through the pain. It saw the other prey beast forming its long claw. In that moment, the Alpha understood that the prey thing had tricked it and it felt what passed for respect. To live and die by the Might was the way of the island. Should it be bothered by how it was being killed as it had killed others?


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    Dam¡¯ien


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    As he slammed his largest blade through the neck of the largest beast,  Dam¡¯ien smirked as he looked around. Everything was destroyed and the threat to his life was over. But now to deal with the spoils and the result of combat. With a heavy heart, he looked at the destroyed robot and sighed as he walked towards it. His mask could still see traces of Aether in it, and that was one mystery that he had to solve here and now. Anything that he took back with him, could mean the differences to his Emperor¡¯s dreams coming true!


    Looking over the robot remains, he took stock. The robot had lost its arms and its right head when its head was blown off. Looking around, he saw the head a few feet away. With a small sigh, he walked over to it. The head and the body were going back with him, and hopeful he would have his answers. If not then he would be able to give the robot a proper send-off by burying the head.


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    ?????????????


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    ALERT! Biologic Platform with Gene Line 002! Aether Capable!


    ALERT! Technologic Battle Platform displaying Aether Abilities!


    REPORT! WHERE DID VARIABLES COME FROM?!


    New Specimen Location Under Technologic Shield! Both Weapon Platforms came from within Shield!


    Sending two Specialized Observation Platforms to the Specimen Site! All other concerns are to be lowered! Begin creation of Specialized Shield Units to watch Void Approach! Follow orders!

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Six Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405/ Unknown Structure/ Water Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1600


    Zevortro


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    Firing into the air again as one of the monsters attacked them, Zevortro could only glare upwards. ¡°You want us!? Try it monster!¡±


    As soon as the lights had come on, the three of them had been blinded for a few moments. Once they had their sight back, Zevortro had looked around and been stunned. All to the right was water and more islands than he could count. But it was to the left that he had been shocked at. At most two hundred feet away was a large landmass that took up the horizon. On it was a large forest ten feet from the water, and that was where the problems started.


    On the tops of the trees were nests, and more of the strange bird-insects that Jessie had brought down before. After the lights had come on, flocks of the creatures had taken flight, and then bigger things had as well. The skies had been filled with the strangest creatures that he had ever seen, and that was saying something! Creatures with fur and insect wings, chitin-covered creatures with bat wings, and more! Most of them had started to fight each other, but then some had seen them. Within a single moment, the creatures had started to attack them.


    With no other choice, they fired and the dead fell into the sea. Terra had frozen the sea around them, anchoring it to the island as the three fought. But even after refreezing the water, some of the creatures had fallen into the sea. Already they had seen five Lurker tentacles come out of the water and grabbed the dead. It would only be a matter of time until the tentacle''s source came onto land. And then they would be attacked from two sides.


    ¡°WE HAVE TO GO!¡± Bryke bellowed as he fired at a creature his size with feathers, two wings, and two tails that dripped liquid. Bryke¡¯s shot hit the creature in its head and blew it clean off.


    As the body fell, blood gushing out of the ruins of its head, Zevortro had to agree with his friend. There was nothing else that they could do. Trying to hold them here, was nothing but a dream! But they couldn¡¯t go, they had to wait for Jessie to get back. That was the hardest thing they could do, but it was the right thing to do.


    ¡°We wait! We go only when he gets back here!¡± Zevortro barked as he fired at the flocks above them. But as he saw the ice breakup, he knew that trying that was getting harder by the second. But what else could they do? They didn¡¯t have any long-range comms, so the only thing they could do was wait. If they lost Jessie, they might as well go down fighting! Even if they made it up to the top chamber, Jessie was the only chance they had of getting over the hole.


    ¡°I understand why, but it¡¯s getting impossible! If those Lurker things join in! I don¡¯t see how much longer we¡¯ll even survive here!¡± Terra declared as she fired up and killed something again.


    Zevortro only gritted his teeth as he looked at the hole, and he hated to admit it but Terra was right. They had stayed as long as they could, and that was the worst. Once they went down there, there was no reason to think they would see Jessie again. And that meant leaving him to survive on his own. But if they stayed, everyone would die. There was nothing else to do, they had to leave!


    He looked at the hole and opened his mouth. But before he could say anything, something grabbed him around the waist. He looked down and saw a large black fur-covered tail that had to be a foot tall. As he tried to break free, whatever was holding him started to pull him into the air. Crying out in shock, he looked up and saw a large maw peering down at him as he was carried into the air.


    ¡°NO! ZE!¡± Bryke bellowed.


    Zevortro looked down at his friend and saw him aiming up as something was coming towards him from behind. His eyes wide, he called out, hoping his friend would act. ¡°BRYKE, BEHIND YOU! MOVE!¡±


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    Bryke


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    Bryke threw himself to the side as something hit the ground where he had been. He glared at a large strange-looking quadruped covered in blue fur as it bared its beak at him. Before he had the chance to comprehend what he was looking at, it was covered in ice. Nodding at Terra, Bryke looked up and saw the creature that had grabbed Zevortro.


    Aiming his pistol up, he prayed that he wouldn¡¯t hit Zevortro. But before he fired, the thing holding him suddenly shot downward. Standing on the thing¡¯s back was Jessie, firing at the thing¡¯s head.


    As all three of them neared the ground, Jessie jumped before impact, still firing upwards.


    ¡°ABOUT TIME! We were going to leave you here!¡± Terra exclaimed as she fired up.


    Jessie only looked at her and chuckled. ¡°Sorry, I had a lizard problem! But how can we get out of here? I can¡¯t go through these things with my trick!¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t go up!¡± Bryke said as he pushed the dead thing off Zevortro. Zevortro looked up at his friend and then smirked a bit as he got up.


    ¡°We go down there!¡± Zevortro said as he pointed at the hole.


    Jessie followed Zevortro¡¯s arm for a moment before he fired at a fur-covered bird ten feet wide. ¡°Good idea! I¡¯m last, go!¡±


    ¡°You heard him! Move!¡± Terra bellowed, firing at a Lurker that had gotten up onto ice before the creature¡¯s weight caused a crack to form.


    Bryke looked at Zevortro who only glared back at him. ¡°You first!¡±


    Zevortro opened his mouth and then he scowled as he started to climb down.


    Bryke looked up at the flocks above them and fired, hitting something that had insect wings and scowled.


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    Jessie


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    As he fired up, Jessie felt his nanites taking stock of everything, all to find weaknesses to use. There was so much to look over here, and as he kept fighting he was barely able to fire. Each one of these things was different from the others, but were they the many species?


    There were more secrets here than in his genetics, and that made him want to take them all apart himself! But as Bryke moved down the hole, Terra started to laugh.


    ¡°What?!¡± JJessie asked, shock in his voice. What in the stars could Terra be laughing about now!? What about this was funny!?


    ¡°Nothing, this is just like that time before we won!¡± Terra said, a note of joy in her voice.


    Jessie stopped firing for a second and then ¡¯Air Dashed¡¯ back a foot, dodging an attack. The thing that had lunged at him had fur, two legs, and insect wings along its worm-like body.


    ¡°Yeah, I can see that. But the time for you to go!¡± Jessie barked as he looked around, taking stock of everything that was on the ground. Finding the cover, he nodded as he fired upwards. ¡°Get down there! I¡¯m right behind you!¡±


    ¡°You better be!¡± Terra barked as she stopped firing to drop into the tunnel.


    Jessie looked around when he saw two Lurkers climb onto the remaining ice. For a moment he thought that they were going to attack him. But all they did was screech and a few of the flying things fell to the ground.


    With a small smirk, Jessie aimed upwards and started to fire. If those things could think he wasn¡¯t an enemy for only a few seconds, then he would have a better chance to escape. For the next few moments, all the Lurkers did was screech at the flyers. When some fell near them, they ate the smaller things, throwing the others into the water. There other Lurkers would pull them down and the water would bubble. This was all that happened until they all heard a roar from the forest. Once the roar started to echo, all the flying things started to suddenly fight together. Thankfully, the Lurkers were the only targets and Jessie was ignored.


    Using that as a cover, Jessie ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ to the cover and then to the hole. Climbing down, he grabbed the cover as he was just deep enough. As he started to put it into place, he heard roars, screeches, and cries from above as he locked the cover into place. No sooner had he moved his hands away from the holes than the stinger slammed through the gap. He just climbed down farther, and he looked around and smirked a bit.


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    Bryke


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    As he looked around the large forty-foot-wide room, Bryke just had to whistle as he took in everything. He had to admit, that this was beyond high tech! The walls had a few screens built into the walls, but there were few keypads. But if the builders of this place used Augmented Reality, then it could be just out of sight. But thankfully, the chamber¡¯s lights were on. The color was a soft teal, and the machines were a startling red, just lighter than blood. The room was shaped like a square, with only one double door on the wall opposite the alcove was in. Thankfully, the doors were partly open, so they knew the way was safe to walk. If they had been stuck in a closed box, then he didn¡¯t know what they would do.


    ¡°What could this mean?¡± Zevortro asked from one of the computers, a scowl on his face.


    ¡°What do you mean¡­¡­ oh. Color theory? Yeah, I can see what you¡¯re asking. But really, it could be anything. From the leader¡¯s choice to something religious, it¡¯ll take years of study to even know what question to ask!¡± Terra exclaimed as she stood near the ladders.


    Bryke understood what she was thinking, that roar. Even down here, it had echoed off the walls and almost made him pass out. As they had recovered, they were all worried that Jessie was dead.


    Zevortro coughed and looked ¡°So we have one door, that I think we can force open. After that, we don¡¯t have a choice but to find a way to the main part of this place. We need to go up, that has to be our goal.¡±


    Looking at Terra, he was about to say something when they heard the echo of boots on the ladder.


    With a smile growing on his face, Bryke watched with the others as Jessie climbed down. He looked up at the others and grinned. ¡°What, were you all waiting for me?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, man!¡± Zevortro said with a laugh as everyone gathered around him. He looked up the hole before continuing, a smirk forming on his face as he did. ¡°After what we heard from up there, can you blame us? What happened up there?¡±


    ¡°Seems the Lurkers, those things from the water? That attacked you all? They have this kind of screaming sound attack. Two showed up and started to kill the flying things. I thought maybe I could use them as cover, but then this louder roar came and all the flyers started to work together!¡±


    ¡°Wait, what!?¡± Bryke exclaimed as he felt his eyes widen as Terra and Zevortro both paled in fear. The idea that those things could fight as one was a nightmare! They had only been able to survive up there because they were fighting each other as much as the humans!


    ¡°Yeah, but they only attacked the Lurkers. I was able to close the cover behind us. There¡¯s no way that anything can get down here now! So what do we have here?¡± Jessie asked as he looked around the chamber.


    ¡°Eh. What you see is what you get. And what you don¡¯t see,¡± Bryke muttered and Jessie nodded.


    ¡°Yeah, hold on. Let¡¯s see what my nanites can do,¡± Jessie said as he looked around, his eyes flashing green.


    Bryke blinked, and then he looked at Jessie, feeling shocked as he took in what Jessie didn¡¯t say. He was changing the sequence of what his Augmented Reality nanites could see? That was possible? Everything that he knew told him it wasn¡¯t, but it was? This changed everything, and as he watched Jessie he felt that their chances of surviving had gone up.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Six Part 2

    Jessie


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    As his vision cycled through colors that normal eyes couldn¡¯t see, Jessie felt a headache form. So far, there was nothing. Despite everything he couldn''t see anything that could project Augmented Reality. There had to be something here, or where were the controls? Where was anything that this place needed to be used as a lab? Nothing about this made sense, it was like they were wrong! Jessie blinked and then his mind went over everything about this place. Everything had made them decide that this was for the making of weaponized life. He looked around, trying to see anything that might work against his thoughts.


    ¡°Did you see anything?¡± Bryke asked, a note of hope in his voice.


    Jessie looked at them, and after a moment he shook his head. Best to keep his thoughts to himself, the extra caution the others had might be good. And if this wasn¡¯t a weapons factory, then they might lose that caution. ¡°Nothing. I think maybe they had something to allow them to see the AR signs here. I think this is just for observing the water around here.¡±


    ¡°So no magic word to open the doors then? Well, nothing more than good old-fashioned elbow grease!¡± Zevortro said with a chuckle, moving towards the door.


    Jessie fell into step with Terra and Bryke behind him. Once at the door, Zevortro looked back at Jessie and smirked a bit. ¡°I don¡¯t think you have a trick to get stronger Jessie?¡±


    ¡°Nope!¡± Jessie said with a sigh as he looked at the doors. He had tried that a few times, but he had never gotten past creating an aura around his body. That one ability would have let him handle a few of his problems so easily.


    ¡°Then raw strength it is then! Me and Zevortro on one side, you and Bryke on the other Jessie!¡± Terra exclaimed as she walked to the right side of the doors.


    Jessie looked at Bryke who shrugged, a look that asked if Jessie had a better idea. With a sigh, Jessie put his hands through the gap and onto the door he nodded as the others did the same on their sides.


    ¡°Ready everyone? Pull!¡± Zevortro roared moments before they all stumbled as the doors moved like they were on ice.


    As he fell and looked down a hallway that was over a hundred feet, it was all Jessie could do to keep from laughing. Finally, he lost that battle and started to chuckle. That quickly turned into full belly-breaking laughter as the others all joined in.


    After everything that had happened to them, they needed something like this. A few moments of joy to counter all the chaos and terror that they had experienced. As Jessie watched Zevortro pound the deck, he saw Terra laugh in joy.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it!¡± Bryke was able to gasp as he fought to get control. He laughed again before he wheezed out one final line. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it was that easy!¡±


    At that one sentence, the others all laughed as hard as when they started. The others all laid back and laughed until they looked at each other in joy.


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    Terra


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    Terra got back to her feet and looked around at the others. They were all just sitting there, letting their laughter die down.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s been bad when that¡¯s the reaction to that,¡± Jessie said, all serious as he smiled.


    ¡°What Mr. Hunter? You don¡¯t think we need to let loose sometimes when we¡¯re safe? Is that it?¡± Bryke asked with a smirk on his face.


    As Jessie denied that, Terra looked down the open tunnel. There were lights on the ceiling, but there was space in the darkness between each. All in all, she thought that there might be at least ten feet between each light source, maybe more. And to add to that, she could see maybe ten such small patches of light don the tunnel.


    ¡°Not much,¡± Zevortro said as he joined her at the opening.


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    Terra heard the others come up behind her and she swallowed as she looked at them. She could see the unease on Jessie¡¯s face and understood, there could be anything in the darkness. The more they tried to get to safety, the more danger they got into. And the reality of this was that they had no choice but to go into that danger to survive.


    ¡°I¡¯ll lead. Whoever wants to be behind me, that¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s make sure that we can get out of this alive. So stay alert for anything,¡± Jessie said as he looked at the others.


    Terra felt herself nod and then Bryke snorted. She glared at him as everyone looked at him. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. I have no reason to be a little mad about this!¡± Bryke bit out as he looked down the tunnel. ¡°So four people going down a dark in the most dangerous place they could find. Yeah, I¡¯ve heard nothing but good stories about people who do this. I am excited about this plan! I¡¯m overjoyed to be a part of this!¡±


    Terra felt her face flush as Bryke gave word to everything that she was feeling. But the sad thing was, there was nothing else that they could do.


    ¡°Does anyone have a better idea? Maybe go back up?¡± Jessie asked and Bryke scowled.


    ¡°There isn¡¯t another way to go! And if there is, it¡¯s hidden! We¡¯ve got no choice and I know that! I just want to say my piece so everyone will keep their ears open for anything!¡± Bryke said as he crossed his arms. ¡°But let¡¯s go. The sooner we¡¯re at the other side, the closer we are to the next deadly place to go!¡±


    Jessie only nodded and then he turned and started to jog down the tunnel. Terra ran after him and then she heard the others following behind. As they ran for the first light, Terra could only hope that they weren¡¯t all making a mistake.


    After a few minutes of running, suddenly the lights went out. As they looked around in the darkness, suddenly more lights came on from the four sides of the tunnel. Terra looked up and her breath left her mouth in shock at what was revealed.


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    Zevortro


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    He felt his mouth drop open as he stared around in shock. The walls of the tunnel and the floor were nothing but hard-view screens. All around them was an aquatic realm full of life and creatures. He stared at long fish and tall fish two feet high, and long snake-like fish that ate some of the smaller ones. The ones that weren¡¯t carnivores were eating strange-looking plants that were blood-red. And the mobile life? They were all colors of the rainbow, and all of them seemed to be swimming like they weren''t seeing the four of them. What did this mean?


    ¡°What is this!? I mean what is this!?¡± Bryke exclaimed in shocked horror.


    ¡°Is this what¡¯s happening around us?¡± Terra asked in a whisper.


    Zevortro looked at her and then he looked at the view they were seeing. The most amazing thing was that they were seeing this in this chamber. One of the large fish over ten feet tall and skinny was swimming right at them!


    ¡°OH STARS!¡± Bryke roared in fear as the giant fish swam right at them.


    ¡°Back to the room! We¡¯re closing the doors and Terra can freeze them!¡± Jessie ordered


    ¡°Wait! Look there!¡± Terra cried out.


    Zevortro followed her finger and saw a fish that was materializing out of nowhere to their right. ¡°Wait, what is this!?¡±


    They all turned to gaze at the big fish and they all saw it disappear. Then they turned their heads and saw the big fish materialize on the opposite side.


    ¡°What the nova!? This is a viewing platform!?¡± Bryke exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°Wait, is this for looking at deep-sea weapons? But why?¡± Terra asked, her voice almost breaking as she tried to understand this.


    Zevortro looked around, trying to figure anything out about this. If the builders of this place were able to do this? Then why wasn¡¯t it done in a control room? Was this for people to see something with their eyes? But no, that thought died as he looked down the tunnel and saw that the view was the same for around a hundred feet.


    ¡°What kind of weapons factory is this!?¡± Bryke asked, anger in his voice almost physical pain.


    Zevortro had to nod as well. If the tunnel was on the floor of this sea, okay fine. If it was buried, that was better and it might be safer. But one of their weapons mutating and developing a way to dig down here, then there was danger. And he knew of a few creatures that lived in oceans that dug dens to keep safe! And these were all weapons, the builders had to have thought about those kinds of things! But that was only if they were smart enough to do that. ¡°Oh stars! Did these idiots not think of what could happen if their weapons broke free or mutated?¡±


    Zevortro looked around, seeing that Terra and Bryke had paled their eyes wide in horror. He understood what they were thinking, and he wanted to take his words back but he couldn¡¯t. They were all in danger, and they needed to know. If they came across something, they would have to be even more careful.


    ¡°Black hole!¡± Bryke said with horror in his voice. ¡°Could those fools have been that brain dead!?¡±


    Zevortro only looked down and then he looked up and saw the way that Jessie¡¯s face was set. And that was all Zevortro needed to know that there was something that Jessie knew. Something that he wasn¡¯t saying anything, something that he might have figured out. He was keeping it from them. And that was something that Zevortro wouldn¡¯t let stand. ¡°Or there is something else that our master Bounty Hunter hasn¡¯t told us just yet? There isn¡¯t anything is there Jessie?¡±


    As everyone looked at him, Jessie looked away for a few moments. ¡°It¡¯s just a strange feeling I have. Nothing that has any evidence, just a small thought jump I had.¡±


    ¡°And we both know how many times your jumps are true, so tell us!¡± Terra said with a scowl on her face.


    ¡°It might not be a weapons factory after all,¡± Jessie said with a small frown. ¡°It was the way the room back there was set up. And then here? It just seemed to be a bit of evidence, circumstantially really.¡±


    ¡°Would you stop and just say what you think you figured out!?¡± Bryke said with a scowl.


    Jessie looked at them and then he sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Okay, if I¡¯m right, then we crashed atop the same thing that we crashed from. That means that this whole thing is the remains of a pleasure cruise ship.¡±


    Zevortro looked at Jessie and then his vision started to feel fuzzy.


    ¡°Are you serious!? There is no way that we could have that happen to us!¡± Bryke exploded and Zevortro wanted to agree with his friend.


    But some things made Jessie''s thoughts resonate within his mind. There were things made that seemed that it could be right. The forest they saw up there, could have been plants that had grown wild. And if the creatures were trained to obey orders, they might have been trained to teach their young. And the islands? That could have been to clean them, and they could have made life to do that when they were released.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this. I really can¡¯t! What are the chances that this would happen?! And the ship is upside down?¡± Terra exclaimed in shock.


    ¡°YEAH! We thought this place was upside down! Were we wrong? No, what about that room we came into, with the escape hatch? What about that?!¡± Bryke asked.


    Zevortro looked at his friend and then sighed. ¡°We thought they were master of gravity. Could that have been an escape hatch? You know, in case of an emergency?¡±


    As Bi3 looked at him, Ze1 had one thought only. Why would a pleasure cruise ship need the kind of robots that had attacked them? That was the one question that he couldn¡¯t figure out an answer to. And he knew somehow that one question was the most important question there was to answer.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Seven Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1520


    Bradford


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    As he looked around the group of passengers, Bradford smiled as they looked at him. ¡°Now my friends I know your pain! But you must understand, there are things that we just can¡¯t know! But trust in those under the command of Sir Duncan! They are good people and they just want us to be safe and alive!¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about that sir Bradford!?¡± A voice from the back called out.


    ¡°Completely! While I will say that there are reasons for us to stay down here, and they are good reasons! But trust them as I do! They just want us to stay safe!¡± Bradford said as he looked around, seeing the faces of the people before him. His skills were telling him that he almost had them and that all he needed was another push and he would have done it. ¡°Please understand good citizens! These people might not be of the Guard or the Army! But they are one and all those who would have done well in both groups! As I said before, I will say again! They just want us to stay alive against the threats out there!¡±


    ¡°I heard they set up shields they found in the storage! What could get through them on this planet!?¡± A female voice called from the back.


    ¡°Wait, shields? As in a domed, military shield?! What was something like that doing in the hold of an escape capsule?!¡± A male voice cried out in alarm.


    Bradford hid his wince by the barest of efforts and tried to keep calm. He had expected that there would be some blowback, but again he had practiced this. As long as he could get back some inertial, then he didn¡¯t need to worry about this all.


    ¡°Wait! During the War, the Ancients were able to use their powers to break through our defenses! Are there creatures out there that have the same abilities as the Ancients!?¡± A mad-sounding female voice called out.


    Bradford kept his face blank as he took a slow half-step back. The door was behind him, and if things went wrong in the next few minutes he¡¯d have to run. It might hurt his standing here, but he could spin it right. Something about how the nanites within him took control in certain situations? These fools might listen to him.


    But then something happened that changed everything, something that stunned him.


    ¡°Oh Stars! No wonder they want us to stay down here!¡± A Female voice gasped, and then the others all looked at her.


    ¡°Of course!¡± A man called out, glee in his voice. ¡°They must want us to stay here so they have us all in one place to defend!¡±


    ¡°Those brave souls! Putting themselves in the path of certain death all to keep us alive?¡± A woman asked awe in her voice.


    As Bradford watched in shock, he could barely keep his face expressionless. To think that all they needed to stay calm was to talk amongst themselves? He couldn¡¯t believe his luck sometimes. But he could run with what these fools thought of, and use it to keep control. ¡°Well, you know the truth then!¡±


    As everyone looked at him, Bradford quickly created a perfect speech to pull them into his web. ¡°I admit, there are threats out there! Things that I thought would never be, things that are beyond even my mind to think of! So Duncan ordered the supplies we had to be checked! Then they found the shield and they put it together! We faced another attack and that damaged it before it was active! Now they¡¯ve found things out there that can mess with our minds through the shield itself!¡±


    As the people all gasped in horror and some looked ready to faint, Bradford hid a smirk. Now the second part of his speech, gets them scared and ready to do what he wanted them to do. ¡°But fear not! As we all know as long as we stay here, we¡¯re safe!¡±


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    ¡°How do we know that!?¡± A man roared, anger in his voice.


    Bradford only smirked and chuckled, glad he had someone else ask the question that he needed them to. All he had to do now was pull, and everything would be in place.


    ¡°Simple. While we slept here, nothing attacked our minds!¡± Bradford said as he smiled. There were chuckles around as the people started to look a little scared. ¡°But please! Just trust in them! Things have gotten better! We must trust them!¡±


    As the people all looked at each other, all ten of them nodded at each other as they left the small chamber. Bradford had wanted to talk to everyone in small groups, hoping that he would be able to talk to them easier. And it had worked!


    ¡°Now who will want to talk to me next?¡± Bradford asked as he sighed and shook his head, smiling a little.


    ¡°Mr. Bradford?¡± Vivian¡¯s voice called out.


    Bradford looked up and saw her there, and smiled at her. ¡°My dear! Please, what can I do for our defenders?¡±


    Vivian kept a blank face and looked at him. ¡°Sir, we can talk somewhere else, someplace secure. This is sensitive information.¡±


    ¡°Of course! But please, whatever this is can¡¯t be as bad as you make it out to be! But if it will make you feel better, I¡¯ll be happy to talk to you!¡± Bradford said with a smile. One thing he knew, was that there was no way that she could have anything to tell him that would surprise him!


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    Tatrina


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    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Bradford screamed as he looked at her.


    Tatrina only crossed her arms and scowled as she looked at him as Bradford took a step backward. She had honestly expected that he would handle learning what had happened up in the clearing. But then the exact flow of events was something that had been near impossible. But then maybe she had expected more from him than he had. Not the worst thing to find out. ¡°Yes, I know. But do try and keep up, please. We have a lot to go over still.¡±


    ¡°But an Ancient!? One of them was in that cell?! And their free!?¡± Bradford asked in shocked horror.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tatrina said and Bradford looked at her.


    ¡°And you were an investigator this whole time!? Who were you looking into at my parties!?¡± Bradford demanded with a scowl on his face.


    Tatrina only sighed and shook her head. The fact that she had been trailing many suspects was something that she shouldn''t say. And the identities of exactly who she had been chasing down was something that she was going to keep quiet on. Given how close Bradford was to some of them, she didn¡¯t want him to know. While she was sure that he wasn¡¯t behind it, he could still have been getting paid by the mastermind. And that meant that she had to be very careful here. ¡°Truthfully, no one. I was hoping to get close to someone that I thought was connected socially to my target. And since that person is planning a party at one of the planets we were going to stop at, it seemed a smart thing to do.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Bradford said, blinking as he looked at her. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­.. something. Is there any way that I can help when we get off this hell planet?¡±


    Tatrina only looked at him and smiled a bit as she looked at him. She wasn¡¯t completely sure that he had kept Bradford from thinking he was her target, but she had to hope she had. The fact that she had to reveal who she was to him was bad enough. If he told anyone of her true targets, then¡­.. she went still. She hid a smirk as she realized that if he told any of her targets and they reacted, then they might be involved. And that could help her find out the truth.


    Tatrina looked at Bradford and smirked. ¡°Thank you, sir Bradford, I will. But for now, let us talk about the Ancient out of the shield.¡±


    ¡°Yes, him. There is no need to say that this is the most delicate situation that I have ever heard of! The fact that the Ancients can speak our tongue is something that so many of my former peers are going to go crazy over!¡± Bradford said, and then he snickered a bit. ¡°But I can¡¯t say that some of those people who were there at the signing didn¡¯t deserve it!¡±


    As hard as she tried, Tatrina couldn¡¯t keep the smile off her face. ¡°I know! The old stories about some of those people! But there is the problem with the living Ancient right here.¡±


    ¡°Yes. You said he took the bigger robot out of the shield? Could we keep him out?¡± Bradford asked but then he shook his head. ¡°No, Duncan would never allow that. So what else can we do?¡±


    Well. he seems to be one of those honorable types. And most of his weapons were short range so there¡¯s that. And he seems to owe the person that let him out. We can use that to use him,¡± Tatrina said with a smirk.


    Bradford looked at her in shock as Vivian scowled. Finally, Bradford was able to speak and asked a question. ¡°Use him how?¡±


    Tatrina smirked. For a moment she wondered if she should tell Bradford about the ambassadors. If he knew there was a chance he might let something slip. But thinking about how he had spoken about the Ancients in the past, that would be a mistake. No, now that she thought about it, the best thing to do was keep silent about them. ¡°He¡¯s strong, and he needs to live. And I remember my old training, the strong are stronger together. So if he stays with us here, he might be on the front lines, killing monsters so our people don¡¯t have to!¡±


    As Bradford looked up, Tatrina saw Vivian¡¯s scowl. As she looked at Vivian out of the corner of her eyes, she mentally frowned. What was her problem? The way that she had explained the idea to Bradford should have masked her idea to use  Dam¡¯ien as a living shield.


    Bradford meanwhile was grinning wide. ¡°YES! Perfect idea my dear! And along the way why don¡¯t you try to get an understanding of what he will say about the Power!¡±


    ¡°The Power? Oh, that brainwasher. Yes, I didn¡¯t think about that, but someone like him should know a few things to handle prisoners. If their society even has them,¡± Tatrina said with a scowl.


    The sad thing was the Federation knew nothing about the Ancients. Even learning their name all those years ago was a challenge. But here they were, with a live one. And the poor sap thought he owed them. She wanted to know everything that he would let slip about his people. Every bit of information would let the Company and the Federation figure out how to judge how to treat them. With an Ambassador and his party aboard the ship, the Company saw the chance to open their lines up to that Policy. The chance to be the first to be allowed to tour the worlds of the Ancients? You couldn¡¯t make better PR in a movie!


    ¡°We just have to wait and talk to him! I¡¯m sure once Duncan goes out with a party to back him up, he¡¯ll talk if we ask him questions in the right way!¡± Bradford declared with a broad grin.


    Tatrina didn¡¯t try to keep her look of ignorance off her face. And the way that Vivian reacted she had no idea what Bradford meant either.


    But when Bradford looked at them his face fell, and his eyes widened. All in all, he looked like he was going to have a stroke.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Sevent Part 2

    Vivian


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    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but isn¡¯t Duncan sending a team out there?¡± Bradford asked with a shocked tone of voice.


    ¡°The plan was to wait for the Ancient to come back. There was no plan that I heard with us going after him. It was more to open the shield for him when he gets back,¡± Tatrina said with a hard stare at Bradford. ¡°Hence why I wanted to talk to him about him helping us! It was all on the condition that he could survive to get back here!¡±


    ¡°Oh, a trial by combat. If he could do that, then use our minds to get him to work for us. Smart my dear, very smart! It¡¯s a shame you went to work for the company that owns that ship. You might have had a wonderful future in my company!¡± Bradford praised Tatrina who giggled like a schoolgirl.


    ¡°Oh, you flatterer! It was just a little thought. If he dies, maybe the explosion will scare off the beasts out there for a while,¡± Tatrina said with a chuckle.


    Bradford only looked at her and chuckled lightly.


    As she listened to these two slimes talk, V1 barely kept calm. The fact was they were talking about using a person. Said person had just been freed from a fate almost worse than death was terrible. They were saying they could use the fact that they found the man¡¯s prison as a way to have him fight to the death for them! She had rarely ever heard of such filth, such slime!


    ¡°That depends on if he comes back,¡± V1 interjected with a complexly calm voice. As they looked at her, she only raised an eyebrow and sighed. ¡°We have no idea if he will survive his battle. For all we know, the robot has something like the Power that the Ancients use.¡±


    As they looked at her, she kept hold on her emotions and kept speaking. ¡°And if that robot did have something like that, then other robots could have it as well. This little fool hopes that the Ancient survived, then our people inside the wreck have a chance to live.¡±


    Bradford looked at her and his mouth dropped open.


    Vivian could tell that he was thinking about a horde of those robots attacking the capsule, and how that would look. If  Dam¡¯ien was able to hold off the robot and kill it, then that was good. That meant that he was stronger than they were. Then that meant that he was too strong for their power plays. And that if they pushed him, then he might push back. And Bradford wouldn¡¯t want to be in the blast radius of that.


    But the real problem would be Tatrina. A person that Duncan knew from the war, who might have lost people to the Ancients. And the chance to get one over on someone who might not even have been a part of their military? Vivian knew hunters who wouldn¡¯t have been able to resist strike as hard as they could in the name of vengeance.


    She looked at them and smiled lightly. ¡°But what do I know?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Tatrina


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    As she looked at Vivian, Tatrina forced herself to be calm. The woman before her was a veteran like her, but she had been in signals. They never saw the chaos of the battlefields or the butcher¡¯s bill from those ¡®battles¡¯. Or had to bring parts of people that were your friends to the furnaces to burn the bodies. And that was the only reason that Tatrina didn¡¯t slap the little traitorous fool before her now.


    ¡°But shouldn¡¯t this be a choice that Duncan has to make? I mean you¡¯re not trying to take over in a coup are you?¡± Vivian asked as she looked right at Tatrina.


    Tatrina felt the ground swallow her as she looked at Vivian¡¯s eyes. There was something about them, something that should be in a beast¡¯s eyes. It was like Vivian was looking not at Tatrina, but something that she had to kill. For a moment she felt her hand shake before Vivian looked away.


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    ¡°But the chief only ordered us to tell you, Sir Bradford, what happened. What do you want him to know?¡± Vivian asked with a kind voice.


    Bradford swallowed loudly and then chuckled. ¡°My dear! Miss Tatrina and I were just talking about the possibilities that will keep us alive! Now I¡¯m not saying to do any of what we were talking about, only that we had to think about it! The position of command means to kill one''s heart to do what they must to save lives. So please, don¡¯t tell the Chief about our debate!¡±


    Tatrina watched Vivian nod and then look at Tatrina again before she spoke. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m heading back up there. Will you be joining me or do you want to be a rearguard here?¡±


    It was all Tatrina could do to shake her head as Vivian nodded.


    ¡°Very well then,¡± Vivian said as she turned and walked out of the room.


    Once she was gone, Bradford looked at the door and swallowed hard. ¡°She was in signals? Did she mean signal interrogation?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Tatrina said as she panted. She honestly thought she was going to die for a moment there. And that person was retired? ¡°I guess some old lessons just stay with you!¡±


    ¡°Yes. And what will Duncan do now?¡± Bradford asked, a note of panic in his voice.


    Tatrina looked at Bradford and scowled. ¡°Nothing. That woman might be someone to watch, but he won¡¯t do anything. The Ancients aren¡¯t members of the Federation, and there are no laws against talking. But perhaps we should word the talk we have with our new friend about surviving together.¡±


    ¡°Of course, that was what we meant! But I remember some old rumors about some Ancients that were glory hounds! Perhaps this one is like them? And the chance for that one to gain personal glory would be a good way to get him to stay here. I mean those types are easy to handle if you do it right,¡± Bradford said with a small grin.


    Tatrina looked at him and nodded. Yes, that was all they needed now. Something to keep Vivian calm and make sure that she didn¡¯t spread the topic of this conversation wide. They could ¡®explain¡¯ their conversation to Duncan, and he would understand. Surely, as a Veteran who saw combat, he could see what they were thinking.


    People who didn¡¯t fight the Ancients, wouldn¡¯t even comprehend the reasons for making sure that their new friend was on their side. And there were the robots to think about. They had no idea how many of each model was below, and how fast remains could be repaired. If they were able to get the shield up and running, then there was a chance, a small one but a chance. They had no idea what kind of capabilities the robots had, and there was a chance that they could make another exit.


    If she had to be fair, the plan relayed on the hope that the robots had simple programming. Anything too complex would mean that what they were doing was a waste of time. But the sad thing was that she couldn¡¯t see anything that they could do instead.


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    Duncan


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    As he looked over Dalila¡¯s shoulder as she worked, Duncan had to admit that she was something else. Already she had found enough components from the robot scrap to make a complete ¡®new body¡¯ of the robot. And then she had used parts she judged as beyond use to see how deep the armor was. But that was where she hit a block.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but what?¡± Duncan asked as he, Leonator, and Dalila all kneed down looking at the broken piece of an arm. ¡°It¡¯s what?¡±


    ¡°Our blades can¡¯t cut it. Maybe one of those modified weapons Jessie made, but all those are down there. I haven¡¯t seen anything like this before in my life!¡± Dalila said, shaking her head in awe.


    ¡°But our weapons, they can blast through them fine! Why aren¡¯t the blades doing anything?¡± Leonator asked, an inquisitive look in his eyes.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe the treatment to make this blade-proof made it weak to blaster fire? I mean that could be it. But that¡¯s bad,¡± Dalila said with a scowl.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Duncan said softly, nodding as he looked down at the hole. ¡°I know just what you mean.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Leonator asked, his eyes wide.


    ¡°It means that whatever built these things did this to keep blades from doing damage. Or even to protect them from sharp claws from damaging the robots. And what does that tell you?¡± Dalila asked as she looked at Leonator.


    Leonator looked at her and then he slowly looked down, but then he licked his lips. ¡°Oh. Yes, I can see what you mean. That would be bad.¡±


    Duncan only held his head as he tried to think of anything that might be good about this. All they had done was make his decisions to send a party down there seem even worse.  But how was he to know? From what he had been able to figure out before, the chances of them being in a thruster port were high! But instead, they were above something that must have kept the tree¡¯s roots from living here. That was the only thing that made sense from what they knew now.


    ¡°And that¡¯s not counting if these things were made this way after it crashed here,¡± Duncan said with a scowl.


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known Chief. With what we did know, you made the right choice,¡± Dalila said softly.


    ¡°Yeah! You needed to make sure it wasn¡¯t what you thought it was! With everything that we found out, it made sense!¡± Leonator said as he looked at Duncan.


    ¡°But instead of making sure that we were safe, I sent people down there into what might as well be hell!¡± Duncan snapped before he looked at Leonator. He sighed and then looked at the two captive natives. ¡°What can you tell me about them? Have you made any progress in finding out what they¡¯re saying?¡±


    ¡°No. Whenever they talk it¡¯s probably in some kind of code. The other choice is that they have a language unlike anything the Federation ever found. I think if I could talk at them, they might understand if I pantomime. But they might understand what I want and make a choice not to talk to me at all,¡± Leonator said, shaking his head.


    ¡°What? Oh. Warrior pride and loyalty to their own?¡± Duncan said as he looked down, hiding his scowl.


    ¡°If they think we want to know what they''re saying to spy, yes. But if there are other tribes on this places that have survived the monsters, there might be a trade tongue. But again, I don¡¯t know,¡± Leonator said with a scowl.


    It was all Duncan could do to keep calm. No matter where he turned, things seemed to be against them. But there had to be a way ahead.


    He just sighed as he looked down at the hole, letting his mind go over everything. Finally, after a few moments, he nodded. ¡°Okay, Leonator, if you want you can go down. Dalila, see if you can get a wire into some of the openings in the holes in the broken things. Maybe you can get something from these scrapheaps that way. I¡¯ll go and wait for our new friend. And the shield put it on hold for now. See if you can get it set up above the hole, Nova! I¡¯d accept on top of it!¡±


    Duncan walked away, nodding at the deckhands on guard. Looking at the shield, he figured the best thing that he could do now was check on the watch stations. They were the ones who were putting themselves in danger, and he owed it to treat them with honor.


    ¡°IT¡¯S THE ANCIENT! HE¡¯S BACK AND HE¡¯S CARRYING THE HEAD OF THE THING HE TOOK OUT!¡± A roar of joy caused him to look up. As the others cheered, Duncan thought that they might have hope after all.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Seven Part 2

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405/ Unknown Structure/ Water Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1620


    Bryke


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    ¡°A cruise ship!? Out of all the kinds of things that this could be, a cruise ship!? I don¡¯t know if the galaxy has a sense of humor or if we have that kind of luck!¡± Bryke snarled as he looked around at the fish swimming ¡®on¡¯ and ¡®through; the walls around them. He couldn¡¯t understand any of this, and the theory that Jessie gave them didn¡¯t make sense as far as he was concerned. But the more he thought about it, the more that it sounded true. And looking back ¡®down¡¯ the tunnel from where they had come from, he had to admit. This whole tunnel thing was beyond anything that their ship had.


    ¡°We know man, so please keep calm,¡± Zevortro said from ¡®behind¡¯ him. The four were in a formation, with Jessie leading, ¡°And you wanted to watch the back man.


    ¡°Yeah, I know. But my idea makes sense,¡± Bryke said with a scowl as he turned around.


    Terra behind him with Zevortro behind her and Bryke as the rearguard. As they thought the only threats might come from in front, they didn¡¯t think anything would come from behind. But then Bryke had spoken up, saying how something could try and follow them. He spoke about how the fact that those things were beyond anything they thought they knew about life. And he had mentioned at the end that there might be things like winged apes among the filers or the sea.


    That had been enough to let Bryke watch their back, and they had moved on.


    ¡°But I have to agree with him, I mean what happened here? What are those robots we fought?¡± Terra asked, her voice echoing down the tunnel.


    ¡°Even the Spirit had a few robots, I mean sure. They weren¡¯t made for war but there are a few machine shops to repair them. I guess the survivors here changed the bots so they¡¯d defend them,¡± Jessie said, a hint of anger in his voice.


    Bryke looked at Jessie¡¯s head and frowned a little. The idea that these people had done that made sense, but there were a few problems with it. Like what was the race that created all these things and what happened to them? Did they leave this place and abandon the animals they had? And the one question that was the most important that they needed to find an answer to.


    ¡°But that mad realm back there, why did they leave it like that? And how long was it left alone to create that?¡± Bryke asked horror in his voice.


    For a few moments, there was nothing but silence as everyone thought of the answer. Then after a wide fish swam ¡®above¡¯ them, casting them in shadows Jessie spoke up.


    ¡°I would have to that this place has been here for centuries. Maybe even back to the time of the Ruin Builders, maybe longer,¡± Jessie said. He kept walking, but everyone else had stopped and was staring at him.


    ¡°What?¡± Terra asked, her voice horse.


    Bryke had to agree with her, he felt his mouth drop open in shocked horror.


    ¡°What are you talking about!? How could it have been that long!?¡± Zevortro asked in horror.


    Jessie sighed and looked back at them all, projecting a quiet calm. He looked over everyone and then sighed, shaking his head before he spoke. ¡°Think about what¡¯s up there, that jungle. It had to have taken a long time to grow so wild and large. Plus, there are no signs of this place up there, just that clearing. I think this is one of the building blocks of the island. Everything up there grew came after this place did.¡±


    ¡°Oh nova,¡± Bryke said as he looked around his eyes wide. ¡°Wait, that doesn¡¯t make sense! All this tech wouldn¡¯t have lasted with all that wear and tear of use! I mean how could this still be active!?¡±


    ¡°Repair robots! Like the ones we fought! I can see it! The flyers are to check damaged sections! The models that walked on the wall must be to repair anyplace that¡¯s high up!¡± Zevortro exclaimed in shocked horror.


    Nodding, Jessie looked around and sighed, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, and that means that we might run into a repair bot down here. So we need to find a way out before that happens!¡±


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    ¡°That¡¯s if those things are down here. Maybe this just wasn¡¯t used until we came down here?¡± Bryke asked, a spark of hope in his throat. But that hope died when Jessie looked at him with a hard stare. ¡°What? What¡¯d I say?¡±


    Jessie just looked at him and then he exhaled and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s the worst thing that could happen to us. It means that the power here was never on before we got here.¡±


    ¡°And, what does that mean!?¡± Bryke asked with a savage edge to his voice.


    ¡°Oh. Yeah, that would be bad,¡± Zevortro said as he looked around.


    Bryke could see his friend¡¯s eyes looking at the wall, and to his horror, he saw fear in them. But before he could say anything, Terra gasped.


    ¡°By the Black-hole! This is terrible we need to move, now! Double time people!¡± Terra exclaimed, horror in voice.


    ¡°Right!¡± Jessie said as he nodded.


    Bryke looked around, trying to understand what they were talking about. Nothing made sense to him and when they started to run without him, he exploded. ¡°Wait! What are you all talking about!?¡±


    Jessie looked him dead in the eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°It means that if there¡¯s an AI controlling this place, we just screamed, ¡®We are here¡¯ at the top of our lungs.¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ???????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Unknown invaders have held back all units sent to occupy the new area.


    Scouts report near all enemy forces are all use ranged weapons.


    Basic defense bots have been sent outside of the area with no reports sent back.


    Higher mind unit sent to deal with enemy and report back was taken beyond control range before enemy numbers counted.


    Enemy bellow sending push against force there. Defensive line remains priority, keep sending secondary reinforcements to deal with the enemy above¡­¡­


    Alert! ¡®Tunnel of the Deep¡¯ is active.


    Distance to protected area open.


    Threat level beyond acceptable.


    Guard Unit One go to fully active state.


    Sending drone hunter to chasse out or scout out what is below. Another creature that has evolved limbs most possible outcome. Possible ¡®Sentient¡¯ creatures hunting captors, high. Purging units on standby.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way down the tunnel, Jessie kept looking around, trying to find if there was anything that might be a way out. So far, he was sure that there were only two choices for them to leave this place. One, another chamber like they came from, or two, the entrance of this place.


    All in all, he didn¡¯t know what he was hoping for, but the room they had come from had to have been something important. Maybe an emergency escape route that the builders put there for safety reasons. He had to admit, that the last thing was what he was hoping for. That meant that there had to be another one of those chambers nearby. And that was just what they needed to escape from this tunnel. He didn''t know if this was ''underground'' or on the ''floor'' of the ocean out there, but if it was the second. Well, then that meant that the ''Big Thing'' Bryke saw could probably break this tunnel open.


    ¡°Okay, I get what¡¯s wrong about being down here, but how are we going to go up?¡± Bryke called out.


    Jessie gritted his teeth and sighed, trying to think up an answer to that question. The only thing that he could think of was the symbols that led him to the waterfalls. ¡°The way I figure, the waterfall gave us the biggest clue there is.¡±


    ¡°The waterfall? You mean the symbol! We need to track down every symbol that might be the way to the escape hatch?¡± Bryke asked shock and disbelief in his voice. ¡°That¡¯s the plan to get out?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. Look, I know it¡¯s not a ten-step plan, but we work with what we have. And that¡¯s what we have. We find ways ¡®up¡¯ and hope we can get to the hole we made coming in,¡± Jessie said with a scowl.


    ¡°Smart! The first thing to do when making a ship is always to have directions to the emergency exit visible! So if we find the same symbol in multiple locations, do we follow that one? Who¡¯s got a memory nanite?¡± Zevortro asked, hope in his voice.


    ¡°Me!¡± Terra called out as they reached a turn in the tunnel to the right.


    Running ahead, Jessie took the turn and looked down the tunnel. Ahead of them was a space, maybe a place the builders set up to rest. The more he looked around, the more he started to get a bad feeling. This whole location, there was something about it, and the walls. He touched it and then drew his hand back, looking at it in shock. Staring at his hand, rubbed his thumb and pointer together as he thought.


    ¡°Everything okay Jessie?¡± Terra called out as the others reached him.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Jessie said as he rubbed his right pant leg. Nodding to the others, he started to run as he led the way. If he was running a bit faster than before, no one noticed.


    Reaching what he had seen, he looked around a large circle over sixty feet wide. There were four symbols on the floor. A blue waterfall below him, a green plant to the right, a purple square to the left, and a black square ahead of them.


    ¡°Okay, so here are a few of the wonderful symbols we need to figure out. Great,¡± Bryke said with a scowl.


    Zevortro only sighed and shook his head as he and Jessie shared a look. Jessie was starting to think that Bryke was being a pain on purpose besides trying to cope with this.


    Terra meanwhile was looking at the symbols, muttering to herself. ¡° So the green? I think that¡¯s for the forest we saw. Maybe a ¡®Nature¡¯ path or something? But the two squares, that I can¡¯t figure out. But they''re new, so maybe one of them?¡±


    Jessie looked at the tunnels ahead of them and frowned, something was there, at the edge of his senses. Then he saw a text block at the corner of his right vision and went still. ¡°Down the right passage, now!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Bryke asked as everyone looked at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk, move! Something¡¯s coming from both of the other tunnels!¡± Jessie barked as he looked at the others.


    Without a word, the others all went still and then they ran down the tunnel that Jessie had indicated. As Jesse took the rearguard, he looked at the message his nanites were sending him. His watcher nanites had detected the sounds of something flying towards them, and that was all he needed to know this was bad. If this was a robot, then it might be sending data over a network. And then this thing could come to send all the horrors it was holding at them.


    As they ran down the tunnel they saw a small chamber twenty feet wide.


    ¡°There! Hold there!¡± Jessie barked as soon as they saw it. His nanites told him that whatever was coming was almost here, they needed to get to cover now!


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ??????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The defense unit floated down the hallway, its scanner going along the floor. So far, nothing had seemed to indicate that anything was here.


    The limited mind controlling the robotic shell kept scanning for the specific life codes that it had been sent to find. As it moved along the lightened tunnel, it finally reached the circle. Moving around in a slow orbit of the room, it stopped as it saw marks in the dust on the floor. Standing still, it moved closer and scanned the prints, and then when it didn¡¯t find what it was looking for it moved on. The marks were made by something beyond what it had been sent here for. As long as whatever made these prints wasn¡¯t what it was after, then the small mind didn¡¯t ¡®care¡¯ what made them. All ¡®it¡¯ wanted to do was follow its orders and track down the subjects that had activated the tunnel.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Eight Part 2

    Zevortro


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    As he looked at Jessie, Zevortro gripped his weapon tighter. At first, he thought nothing would happen, but then they had all seen the scanning beam. As the beam moved over their footprints, Zevortro held himself back as he readied himself for a running battle.


    After it left, the group all looked at each other and Zevortro saw worry in Bryke¡¯s eyes. Before he could say anything Jessie held up a hand and scowled. He looked at them all and then moved towards the round chamber.


    Zevortro almost stopped him but he stopped. Jessie was a Bounty Hunter who had survived in that dangerous profession. He would know how to spy on things and get past security systems. Like it or not, Jessie was the expert here and now, that was what they needed. An expert to lead them and keep them all alive.


    He came back a moment later, a scowl on his face. ¡°The bot was another flyer, and it went where we came from. It¡¯s going to come back soon, and we need to choose. Go down this tunnel or the one across from this one. I¡¯m leaning towards the other one!¡±


    Zevortro looked down the tunnel, a scowl on his face as he looked back at Jessie. ¡°Why, what¡¯s wrong with this one?¡±


    Jessie only looked at him and sighed. ¡°You can¡¯t see it? If those pictograms are about certain locations, then this one leads to the forest.¡±


    Zevortro felt his center of gravity shift as he tried and failed to think of anything to say. The fact that they were with their backs to the home of those things was bad enough. The fact that the doorway might be open was another. The one thing that he knew was that they did not have the weapons or supplies needed to handle all of those things.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Bryke said faintly as the words reverberated around the group.


    ¡°You mean the forest with all the flyers?¡± Terra asked faintly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not go that way!¡± Zevortro exclaimed and Jessie nodded.


    ¡°Right, so let¡¯s move before that thing makes it back here!¡± Jessie said as he led the way out of the side cave. Within moments, they were crossing the circle and Zevortro looked down the tunnel the robot had gone down. It was out of sight, most likely having already passed the turn. As they all ran down the other tunnel, the screens all around them started to change. After they had run around fifty feet, the tunnel started to show long red strand-like plants, a forest of them. As the first took up all of the tunnel projectors, Zevortro felt that something about this was designed.


    ¡°Okay, another point towards this being a cruise ship,¡± Zevortro breathed in a low voice full of awe.


    ¡°Yeah. This is the entrance or maybe just leading to an attraction?¡± Terra asked, her voice soft.


    ¡°Makes sense to our minds for this to lead somewhere, but I don¡¯t know about that. That¡¯s if you''re right about this being a cruise ship,¡± Bryke said with a hard edge to his voice.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jessie asked softly.


    ¡°Keyword here is alien,¡± Bryke as a large serpent-like creature swam by ¡®over¡¯ their heads to the right. ¡°We got no idea what these people thought was something good. For all we know, this could be cultural or religious!¡±


    Zevortro had to admit that the answer to that question was complicated. They had no idea what these people liked, besides nature. But then they were dealing with a new species, and that could mean anything. For all they knew, this was the basic for them and the group could be in service tunnels.


    ¡°Just keep your eyes open, and stay alert. Anything could come out at us from anywhere!¡± Jessie said fiercely. ¡°Wait, what in the stars?¡±


    Zevortro looked up and saw that the dark forest had gone away at a single point, the next screen was a different scene. From above came lights as fish every color of the rainbow swam around. They were all long and thin-bodied fish.


    ¡°What is this? Some kind of aquarium?¡± Bryke asked as he looked at the screens around them, trying to anything something. He looked at the others, a scowl on his face. ¡°What, does this mean that this was all recorded someplace?¡±


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    ¡°Yeah, where¡¯s the prey species? Are they filter feeders?¡± Terra asked with a chuckle, and then she stopped. Looking at the screens harder, she frowned as she looked at it. ¡°Wait, could that be possible?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Zevortro asked and Terra looked at him with a crazed look on her face.


    ¡°Filter feeding is one of the most creative ways that sea life has evolved to eat. There was a theory that if we could create smaller fish like that, well we could solve a few problems. There has never been a creature discovered like these things!¡± Terra said with an exsiccated look in her eyes. ¡°I mean, the worlds these things and a few miles of aquaculture could feed!¡±


    ¡°So they could be a staple food source then? Interesting,¡± Jessie said with a slight scowl as he looked at them.


    Zevortro gazed at him, and the look in Jessie¡¯s eyes was strange. It was like Jessie was seeing something that they couldn¡¯t. Something that was so beyond them that they were still playing catch up.


    ¡°Jessie?¡± Terra asked and everyone turned to face her. She was looking at Jessie with a look in his eyes that almost made Zevortro feel concerted.


    Jessie only looked at her and then he sighed. ¡°Sorry, there¡¯s just something about all of this. It¡¯s just another puzzle piece.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s the picture coming?¡± Terra asked, and Zevortro was shocked by how scared Terra sounded.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting clearer. But for now, we might not be in trouble if we keep moving!¡± Jessie said as he turned and ran down the tunnel.


    As the others followed behind him, Zevortro looked at the fish out of the corner of his eye. If these things were bothering Jessie, then that meant something. What he didn¡¯t know yet, but there was something here that he didn¡¯t like at all.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ?????????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The drone hovered down the corridor, not seeing anything that showed where its target was. The fact that it was following behind footprints wasn¡¯t something that it registered. All it had was directed programming and a target gene source to hunt, others were like dust. As it floated down the tunnel, the drone kept recording. The little thing couldn¡¯t reason, all it could do was acct according to its programming.


    Finally, it reached the end of the tunnel, and when it saw the door open it started to scan it. After a few minutes, it was done and while it had found genetic traces, none of them had the markers it was looking for. Looking through the programed responses it had to go on, it ''thought'' on what to do. Finally, it selected the one that made the most ¡®sense¡¯ and turned around. It had a job to do and it would do it. One final check and then it would return to base.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she moved after her friend, Terra felt a terrible feeling growing within her. She had seen a lot when she and Jessie had fought together, and times like this were the worst. Jessie had seen something, something that made sense to something within him. He hated to be wrong, so she knew there was only one thing that he could do now. Stay silent and keep hunting for the ¡®pieces¡¯ that he didn¡¯t have. That was something about him, he only told his theory when he had everything that supported it. The fact that they had been able to let him slip the idea that this was a bio-weapon factory was amazing. Normally, he would be a lot more secretive about everything.


    The problem was that when he did that, it always ended up being something big. Always.


    As they ran along the tunnel, she looked to the left side and then went still. ¡°GOOD STARS!¡±


    ¡°Terra!? What is it¡­¡­ oh,¡± Jessie said as he saw what Terra had.


    She heard the others stop as well and Bryke started to curse. She couldn¡¯t blame him, they were looking at a strange biped-looking skeleton. Its front limbs had four fingers and two thumbs, and its head had four eyes in a square formation. Between them was a silted mouth and its feet ended in three talons. And it was small, only around three feet tall.


    ¡°Is that one of them?¡± Zevortro asked in a whisper.


    Terra looked at the body and then at the tunnel around them. She frowned as she took everything in, and then she shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. The only way that it would be if it was one of their children.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you figure that out so fast?¡± Bryke asked shock in his voice.


    Terra just shrugged and looked back at the body, her nanites recording everything she saw. For once, she was happy she still had that strain. ¡°I used to be at school learning to be an archeologist a long time ago. And I¡¯ve read a lot of reports about bodies found¡­¡­ wait. Those bones are too clean. Could predators have come through here before? Wait, then they would have? Does that mean?¡±


    Terra felt her eyes widen as she looked at the body, and then slowly she walked on, looking at the walls. She heard the others follow behind her, but her mind was beyond them. There was one thing that could explain this but she was shocked at what this meant. But the more she tried to deny it, the more she figured out thoughts that brought this together.


    ¡°Hey, you okay?¡± Jessie asked from behind a moment before a hand fell onto her right shoulder.


    Terra only nodded as she looked around the tunnel, making a small gasp as she looked ahead. The others joined her and she heard Bryke start to curse as Zevortro gasped in horror.


    On the walls were many of the same skeletons, all of them the same height and with nothing on.


    ¡°I was right. That was a burial pool,¡± Terra whispered in shocked awe.


    ¡°What?¡± Jessie asked, his voice showing what she knew as shock.


    ¡°Burial Pools! It¡¯s a kind of funeral for societies that don¡¯t have much land! It¡¯s kind of a burial at sea! You only¡­. You only,¡± Terra said as her eyes widened in shocked horror. She threw her hands over her mouth as she looked at the one truth that this revealed. The number of dead bodies, the way they were thrown in, everything pointed to only one answer.


    Jessie meanwhile looked at her in shock, and then he covered his eyes as he shook his head. ¡°NO! No Terra! Don¡¯t tell me what I think you¡¯re going to tell me! Just don¡¯t, okay? Tell me anything else, please!¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about!?¡± Bryke demanded with a growl.


    Terra looked at her friend and prepared to tell him what she had figured out about this place. And to tell the truth, the answer she had come to scared her so much.


    ¡°This thing, it has been down here for so long that sentiency evolved. This is showing a mass grave,¡± Terra said with a hard look in her eyes.


    ¡°What?! With all those things out there, something that could have evolved here?!¡± Bryke exclaimed in shock as Zevortro¡¯s mouth dropped open.


    ¡°Yeah, and they evolved enough to develop a culture and a concept of death. This is amazing, it challenges everything that we thought we knew about evolution! Who knows what else evolved here?!¡± Terra said as she looked at the screen. Then she blinked and looked at it with another long look. ¡°Oh. I didn¡¯t think about that.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it is,¡± Jessie said with a scowl.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Zevortro asked, his voice full of terror.


    ¡°The question is, what happened to these things?¡± Terra asked softly.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Nine Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1600


    Dam¡¯ien


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    As he came closer to the shield,  Dam¡¯ien felt his pulse quicken as he moved closer to ¡®safety¡¯. He had been trained enough to know the truth. When someone made it closer to home, that was the worst part of the journey. But since he knew that, he knew to be aware of it. His mask was set to see if anything was around him, and thanks to it he knew the location of everything around him. Every single bug, beast, or bird would be on his mask¡¯s screen. But there was nothing as if everything alive was hiding away.


    He had seen a few places like this back home, and each time was different. Once there was a monster that was mutated by a Ruin, another time a ¡®pet¡¯ escaped from a Clan¡¯s compound. But each time, there was something that put the food chain out of balance. And this place had to be suffering from the same impact, and that was what this place was waiting for. A new balance for this place. And if the creatures that he had fought were part of that disruption, then he hoped this place calmed down soon.


    He had to admit, that the parts that he brought back would surprise these people. But if his mask was right, then they were good eating. And if they were to gain the power of Aether, these people would help him survive this place.


    This was a situation that if certain groups back home learned what he was trying to do they would kill him. The truth about the last Battle with the Federation wasn''t known across the border. The fact that the diplomats never talked had worked in their favor then, but things had changed. The last he had talked to his master, the Emperor had said the time to rejoin the homeworld had come.


    He wanted to believe it, but the other power blocks must have had things to say. He didn¡¯t trust any of them, and most of them knew that. Here and now, he would work for what his master wanted.


    Reaching the shield, he found a hole with a Federationist looking at him. He waved the robot''s head and the being disappeared. With a chuckle, he waited for a few moments before a hole opened above him by five feet. With a grin, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯,  through the hole moments before it closed. Looking down, he saw the people that he had talked to with another being coming out of a large crater. But more to the point, the one called Duncan was waiting for him.


    Taking in the land around him, he had a feeling there was a reason for the three prisoners that he saw. But that wasn¡¯t important now, what mattered was the Present.


    Landing before the one called Duncan, he felt his mouth grin behind his mask as he laughed a little. ¡°Well met Federation man! I thought that you might leave me out for a while there!¡±


    ¡°Never! When someone puts themselves in danger to help, Duncan always helps them back!¡± Duncan said as he looked at  Dam¡¯ien


    Dam¡¯ien nodded and felt a little shame, but only for a moment. Then he remembered an old lesson he had gotten once a long time ago. ¡°But only if you don¡¯t need to leave them to protect more people, right?¡±


    For a moment he thought that the old human would react negatively, but he nodded after a moment. ¡°Well, you did it then?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this tell you that?¡±  Dam¡¯ien said as he held up the robot''s head. He cocked his head, looked at Duncan, and chuckled a bit. ¡°But then this thing wasn¡¯t too hard to kill, with help from some enemies.¡±


    Before anything else could be said,  Dam¡¯ien let go of his vector trap. Behind him, the corpses of the Unicorns fell to the ground. As the humans reacted and looked at the bodies,  Dam¡¯ien just chuckled and laughed a little.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


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    He looked at the dead bodies as people fell back, some covering their heads. He didn¡¯t. He saw that the Ancient had removed the heads from the creatures and Duncan chuckled. ¡°So these things are the monsters that almost killed my people?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and the power behind them is something else. Few creatures without the ability to reason would have such a strong Aether ability!¡±  Dam¡¯ien said and Duncan heard the anger in his voice.


    ¡°Aether? Then that¡¯s the word for what fuels extra Abilities? So you all have a name for the Power?¡± Duncan asked in shock.


    For a moment, he thought that he had misspoken. The way that the Ancient had gone still and looked at him was worrying. Was there a cultural significance to this ¡®Aether¡¯?


    But then he heard laughter from  Dam¡¯ien as he held his stomach and fell to the ground. For a moment he thought he saw tears going under the mask. ¡°You all name that might The Power?! Why not call water ¡®Wet¡¯ while you¡¯re at it!¡±


    As the others all around them looked at them, Duncan felt a spark of hope. This might be the best thing that could happen to them, someone who knew about this strange Power! If they could learn everything from him, then they might be that much stronger. But as he looked around he saw the other deckhands looking at him with shock and betrayal in their eyes. He had known about the source of the Abilities Jinn and Terra had and had said nothing. The best thing for him to do was put to death all the wrong ideas the others were getting.


    ¡°Well, my people have few warriors who have gained that. And by my people, I mean the Federation. So until we crashed here, I thought it was nothing but rumors around the barrack room.¡±


    The Ancient looked at Duncan and then chuckled and nodded his head. ¡°It is nothing to be sorry about my friend! The years it took my people to understand it, to give it a term. Well, my people had an advantage on our worlds, so really, you¡¯re doing good I have to say.¡±


    Duncan looked around and saw a few looks of pride on others'' faces. There was something that was about how morale rose when a not-enemy said you¡¯re side was doing well. And this was an Ancient, one of the few societies out there that were more secretive than any of the others. There were stories about them, how they were monsters. They said that the Ancients fought like demons and could become invisible at will. They wielded the elements with their minds and could cause earthquakes. And an Ancient was laughing at what they called the power source of the Abilities Terra gained.


    ¡°Thank you for the food, this should help our supplies a lot,¡± Duncan said with a slight nod.


    ¡°More than that! This stuff will help improve all your chances of gaining Aether!¡±  Dam¡¯ien declared.


    Duncan stared at him, and then he heard the others all around them gasp. With this, Duncan knew that everyone was going to want some of that meat. Part of him wanted it too, the might they could gain from this might be what they needed to survive. But the fact that this being knew how to awaken that kind of might, was the game changer that he had hoped for.


    ¡°Would you be willing to teach my people how to use this Aethar? Will you be willing to help those who aren¡¯t your own get stronger? No, you are willing. But why?¡± Duncan asked with a slight glare. Nothing in the stars ever gave away anything for free, and this being was the same. There was a reason or a way this person was going to be getting something out of this, and he didn¡¯t like it at all. Something like this that he couldn¡¯t explain? That was just asking to get taken advantage of.


    The Ancient looked at Duncan and then raised his head a little. Duncan hated that he couldn¡¯t see anything on the Ancient¡¯s face. That  Dam¡¯ien¡¯s mask let him have the ultimate poker face.


    ¡°You''re right, there is a reason. One I can tell away from these others,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said as he gestured to the people around them.


    Duncan looked at the other Deckhand and scowled, understanding what  Dam¡¯ien meant. Looking around, Duncan saw a space between two watch towers to the far right. It would mean trusting the Ancient a little, but he could handle that. And if he was lucky, if the Ancient tried to kill him he might gain this Aether.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dam¡¯ien


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ¡°Fine. Follow me!¡± Duncan declared and walked off.


    Dam¡¯ien looked at the screen on his mask and tried to keep from smiling. The fact that Duncan was willing to do this spoke a lot of his character. He just had to hope that he could explain everything to Duncan without giving away more. As far as he knew from the way Duncan reacted, the secret of his people¡¯s origins was still a secret. That meant that he could tell Deccan everything but that, and it would have to be enough.


    Finally, Duncan turned around and looked at  Dam¡¯ien with a scowl on his face.


    ¡°So here we are, explain to me why you¡¯re helping us,¡± Duncan demanded with a scowl.


    As he looked down at Duncan,  Dam¡¯ien tried to think about everything. All the problems, all the debates, and the speeches that had been made. There was so much and he had no choice but to condense it to the most basic parts of everything.


    ¡°There are political parties within my home¡¯s territory. Some of them are the heirs of old war leaders from our¡­¡­ War. They want to make our people more military, make the military more important. I¡¯m not one of them, and the Royal family is against them,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Duncan looked at him, and his mouth dropped open in shock. ¡°You gotta be kidding me! That¡¯s one of the reasons you all stay on your side of the border and keep it locked down!?¡±


    ¡°One of the reasons. Not the most important one. Mostly we keep it closed because of space Ruins just beyond. And drone forces that patrol to a light year out from them. And other secret reasons. But there¡¯s something else,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said as he looked up and away from Duncan.


    ¡°What is it? I know I¡¯m going to hate it but what is it?¡± Doman asked with a deadpan look and tone.


    My people value the ability to use Aether. It has become the cornerstone to much of our technology and our beliefs,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said and looked at Duncan now. He knew that this last bit was going to be the worst, but he had to say it.


    ¡°And what does that mean? What does it mean to us? My people, my nation?¡± Duncan asked with a scowl. Then he reared back and then looked at  Dam¡¯ien. ¡°And what about that military


    political party? What does all this have to do with them?!¡±


    ¡°You figured out what I mean? Well done,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said raising his head a little. Only he looked away as he saw the look in Duncan''s eyes. The eyes that promised pain if  Dam¡¯ien kept not saying what this all meant together. ¡°Very well. That political party? Some of them have spoken about conquest. And there is a faction that thinks that using Aether means that we have souls. They say that anything that can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t have souls at all.¡±


    ¡°Have souls!? Do they think the races of the Federation don¡¯t have souls!? And their using that to justify trying to conquer us!?¡± Duncan demanded with a slight edge to his voice.


    Dam¡¯ien could only shrug as he looked at the Federation Human before he nodded.

 Chapter One Hundred Eighty Nine Part 2

    Bradford


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    As he watched Duncan walk away with the living killing machine, Bradford swallowed. ¡°Well, that was interesting. And my life hasn¡¯t flashed before my eyes in years!¡±


    ¡°Let Duncan handle it, sir, just let him work,¡± Tatrina said softly.


    Bradford nodded and then he looked around, taking in the area before him. There were a few of the deckhands throwing robot scrap towards the edge of the null gravity field. As the parts passed out of the field, they fell into piles of other parts. Looking at them, Bradford started to walk towards it.


    ¡°Sir? Sir Bradford, what are you?¡± Vivis asked as he heard people walking behind him.


    ¡°Sir, if you aren¡¯t going to talk to it, you should go. I¡¯m sure Duncan will get this done, you can wait down in the capsule. Just follow us and I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ll hear everything!¡± Tatrina said with a hint of an edge to her voice.


    Bradford felt a scowl form on his face as he kept walking and turned his torso a bit to see over his shoulder. The two women stopped for a moment as something in his gaze must have startled them both into stopping.


    ¡°I made my living before I went into politics in making things. I want to see what this is!¡± Bradford said with a glare over his shoulder.


    Walking over to the robot parts, he reached down and picked one up. Moving his arm up and down a few times his scowl grew a bit as he took stock of it. ¡°It¡¯s too light.¡±


    ¡°Sir, what do you mean?¡± Dalila asked from his right. He looked at her and saw her trying to connect the scrap to a console.


    ¡°I mean this thing is too light! Something this big would have been a lot heavier. Are you sure that everything is offline in this?¡± Bradford asked as he looked at the scrap in his hands.


    Dalila nodded as she looked at him. ¡°Yes sir, as much as I can be. That¡¯s just part of one of the pyramids as you can see. From what we could figure out, the central sphere is either the engine or the mind. And when they fall, their internal parts are mostly destroyed. So the weight difference is the result of something else.¡±


    Bradford only looked down at the piece of metal and his thoughts took over his mind. He had a scientist working for his company that had strange ideas. He was one of the best in the sector who could make shipboard weapons, so Bradford had recruited him. That person believed that metal alloys could be made with extraordinary properties. This in his hand might be proof that he was right.


    ¡°Interesting. What I wouldn¡¯t give for a materials lab right now. Just a few pieces of this and we might find!¡± Bradford said as he looked at the metal, not saying anything about what his employee was working on. It was still just a theory, and it was something that he should keep to his chest for now.


    There was nothing that he could gain from telling any of these people about that scientist. They had been smart and stayed at headquarters to watch the results of one of those experiments. But since the scientists who worked for him were so¡­¡­.. scared they kept their results on paper of all things. And he hadn¡¯t recorded it, and he didn¡¯t understand half of what the science had been.


    But there was a way to see if there was anything that this line of thought could lead. ¡°Maybe our new friend heard about something like this?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Duncan


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    It took all he had to keep from screaming at the sheer gall of those people. He had dealt with religious fanatics once or twice that he could remember. And each time those people caused him pain and the sheer suffering that they caused others? It was one of the reasons that he was glad to go corporate!


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    ¡°Okay, so then if my people can show that we can wield this Aether, what will they do?¡± Duncan asked as he looked at  Dam¡¯ien¡¯s masked face.


    For his part,  Dam¡¯ien¡¯s head looked right at Duncan for a few moments. ¡°It will throw everything that they believe into the light and prove them wrong. But keep in mind, the religious aspect? Those people are a massive minority in their beliefs about the Federation. There are secrets that I can¡¯t say. Secrets that already destroy many of their beliefs. The problem when we¡¯re rescued is the military group I spoke about. They might see you all as a better opponent if you can match them with Aether.¡±


    ¡°But this might let us survive this mad planet if we can use these abilities?¡± Duncan mused as he looked at  Dam¡¯ien. ¡°Abilities like that way you can move?¡±


    ¡°That?!¡¯  Dam¡¯ien wheezed out as he looked at Duncan and shook with laughter. ¡°Sir, that¡¯s not a Tech! It¡¯s just a way to move Aether within the body! It¡¯s so easy that children on their first day learn to do it!¡±


    Duncan looked at the Ancient and felt a headache form. The sheer chaos that kids who could do that were probably capable of. He could only hope that  Dam¡¯ien¡¯s people had ways to control them! And the more he thought of how that could be possible, the more he hoped that this was true. It would help clean up his little ¡®Mind Controller¡¯ problem.


    ¡°What about other abilities, no Techs? Like someone able to control other minds?¡± Duncan asked with a hard edge to his voice.


    ¡°Well, yes. There are ways to control beasts and monsters of course, but control over a person? Do not even worry about that. Those abilities are not trained, it¡¯s considered beyond wrong. The last time someone used those to cause harm, they were captured and killed!¡±  Dam¡¯ien declared and Duncan looked at the being and tried to think of how to use that.


    The problem was, that there were no laws about these Aether Techs in the Federation. He had a mind controller that he needed help with who might have lost his mind. That meant that he had to work with this man before him and keep the mind controller alive.


    ¡°Well we¡¯ve got one here in the camp as a prisoner,¡± Duncan said and  Dam¡¯ien went still.


    ¡°What?! How!?¡±  Dam¡¯ien declared.


    Duncan just sighed and shook his head. ¡°As far as we were able to figure out, the bastard went mad. Then he gained these abilities.¡±


    Duncan was watching the Ancient, and the moment that he saw him go rigid, he knew that his fears might be valid after all. But as much as he wanted that person dead to keep them from being a problem, he couldn¡¯t. Some laws had to be followed here, or things would be a lot worse once they were rescued.


    ¡°Wait, what!?¡±  Dam¡¯ien asked horror in his voice.


    ¡°Yes, but don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve got them locked down so they can¡¯t escape. But the bastard went mad Cultist on us, and then his whole escape capsule died to the things out there. I think he might be safe if we can keep him locked away but¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait! How long were we all marooned here!?¡±  Dam¡¯ien asked, his voice full of shock.


    ¡°Almost a full week. And the last few days have been hard,¡± Duncan said. He knew it was the wrong thing to say as the Ancient took a step back in shock.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible! It takes months to learn to use an Aether Tech! And mind control? That¡¯s advanced by all the records! And you¡¯re saying that they learned and used it in less than a day!?¡±  Dam¡¯ien asked horror in his voice.


    For a moment, it was all Duncan could do to listen to the man before him. Then he realized what  Dam¡¯ien had just said and then he felt his eyes widen.


    ¡°Wait, what!?¡± Duncan exclaimed n horror.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Dalila


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As she tried and failed to get anything from the scraps, Dalila gained a scowl and almost threw it down. She looked at Bradford as he talked to Tatrina, and then she forced her feelings down.


    To have the target whose memories she needed so close but out of her reach was maddening! All she needed was to get Bradford alone for five minutes, and then she could take what she needed. But there were no openings for her to do that! With her working up here, and Vivian as Duncan¡¯s assistant, they were stuck.


    ¡°So there¡¯s nothing you can do now?¡± Vivian asked from behind her.


    Turning her head, she saw Vivian standing there looking at Tatrina and Bradford as they talked. Seeing her friend¡¯s expression, Dalila suddenly had a bad feeling about what Vivian had heard from Bradford.


    ¡°No, nothing,¡± Dalila said softly. ¡°I can¡¯t figure out a tech way to break through this thing. It¡¯s like this is missing something that will let me deprogram it. I tried to think of another way to handle this problem, but I couldn¡¯t. I just, this is hard but it''s right there!¡±


    Vivian looked at her and Dalila knew her eyes were locked on Bradford while holding the scrap in her hands up. A trick the Bounty Hunter¡¯s Guild taught to say multiple things at once, something all Hunters of note knew.


    VIVIAN jerked her head towards Bradford and sighed as  Dam¡¯ien nodded. ¡°Oh dear. And we¡¯ve been doing almost well enough to come ahead here. Any idea how to handle this? Something to get through the blockage?¡±


    ¡°I thought about asking our new friend for a knife, but that¡¯s it. It doesn¡¯t change anything about the other problem, but it¡¯s not impossible. We just need to think about this slow and steady,¡± Dalila said as she looked at Vivian.


    She only got a nod back before Vivian perked up.


    ¡°Oh, Duncan is coming back. Get ready to tell him the good news,¡± Vivian said with a slow tone.


    Looking up, she saw Duncan walking back towards them, the Ancient at his heels. She stood up and then stopped as she noticed something about Duncan. He was running like he had been told something, something that was going to kill someone.


    ¡°Bradford, Tatrina, Dalila and Vivian, with me!  Dam¡¯ien, this is Bradford, once a senator of the Federation. LEONATOR, GET OVER HERE!¡± Duncan bellowed as he turned and walked towards the place where the hibernation cell was.


    Sharing a look with Vivian as they walked after Duncan, Dalila saw the same confusion in her eyes that she knew was in his own.


    Despite Bradford trying to talk to the Ancient and Duncan, both kept silent.


    Dam¡¯ien looked at the Hibernation Cell and shook his head, his posture showing his disgust and hatred. ¡°So this is what kept me down for so long? What won¡¯t the vile ones make to hurt others?¡±


    ¡°Yes, well it¡¯s illegal now my good sir! And I was very happy when that bill passed!¡± Bradford said with a grin.


    Dalila kept from scowling as she looked at Bradford, recognizing the words as his attempt to curry. Again, that was just what the worst politicians would do, and the fact that the Ancient was ignoring him was good.


    ¡°Save it for later, we have problems! Everyone heard this one¡¯s words about how the meat he brought back would help us learn to use Aether? Well, he expected that it would take us all a few months to gain even the barest of hints Aether. What our brainwasher and Terra could do? That would have taken people a long time to even think of doing!¡± Duncan said with a scowl as he looked around at everyone.


    Dalila felt the world tilt at that. If that was abnormal, then why was it normal on this planet?


    ¡°Wait, what? Then how in the name of the Federation are people able to do that!?¡± Bradford demanded in horror and anger.

 Chapter One Hundred Ninety Part 1

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405/ Unknown Structure/ Water Chamber


    Galactic Standard Time / After  1620


    Zevortro


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As they moved through the tunnel, Terra kept looking around. Maybe she was trying to find anything on the screens, something important. Behind her, Zevortro didn¡¯t care.


    With Jessie leading them all and Bryke behind him, his job was to keep Terra moving. Not that he was paying attention to her beyond keeping her moving. His mind was wondering what could have happened to the ¡®thinkers¡¯ here, and if that could happen again. The sheer bravery it took to keep living with only wooden weapons at most or rock weapons? It was beyond him and he was proud enough to admit it. But the way the flyers had fought each other until the roar, that bothered him. He was starting to get an idea, one that he hoped was wrong. But as they moved away from where the answers to his question could be, he didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Amazing, nothing¡¯s here,¡± Terra muttered in awe as she looked around the screens.


    Zevortro looked at her and followed her gaze, seeing that the wall showed shallow water and more of the thin fish.


    ¡°What¡¯s so amazing about that?¡± Bryke asked with an edge to his voice.


    Zevortro sighed and shook his head. While most people would have thought Bryke was angry, Zevortro knew his friend enough to know what he was feeling. As much as Zevortro didn¡¯t want to admit it, he was feeling the same thing, fear.


    ¡°Most societies have this, need to make the places that they send off their dead stand out. It¡¯s either not here or above the water. But this had to have happened after they crashed here, and that¡¯s a bit worrying. I mean, what happened?¡± Terra asked as she looked around the corridor.


    Zevortro only looked at her for a moment before he shook his head. Terra was like a child at their first VR arcade, and she had all the games to herself. He could understand that she had a love of this stuff, but there was a time and place and this was not it! They needed to be on edge, there could be anything down here that could attack them!


    ¡°Maybe that place was where the blighters escaped when those monsters attacked them? Right now, that doesn¡¯t matter! What does is how we can get back to our own!¡± Bryke bit back from the back.


    As Terra looked at him for a moment before turning around, Zevortro heard her sputter. He hid a laugh, that was his friend right there. He always was one to stick to the bare bones and strike at the heart of everything. Be it work or just social things, he was always going straight for the bull''s eye.


    ¡°Hate to say it, but he¡¯s right. And we¡¯ve been walking too long. How far have traveled?¡± Zevortro asked and ahead, Jessie looked over his shoulder.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been walking from the circle for around twenty minutes. But I can¡¯t tell the distance we¡¯ve gone. Something is blocking my nanites from tracking me. I¡¯ve got a basic Travel Log, but that¡¯s it. I don¡¯t like this,¡± Jessie said before he turned his head back.


    Zevortro swallowed and he heard Bryke muttering curses under his breath. He understood, Travel Log Nanites were one of the best personal trackers around. For them not to be working?


    ¡°Just keep calm. The worst enemy is your mind. Just keep calm and we¡¯re going to get through this. Just keep moving forward,¡± Jessie said with a small smile.


    Zevortro could only sigh and shake his head, there was something about Jessie. The man wasn¡¯t former military, but he seemed to know how to make people believe in themselves. But maybe he had learned that from someone, but when and who? And where had they learned this?


    He looked up and then went still as she stared at the left wall. ¡°What in the name of the Black Hole!?¡±


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


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    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    At his friend¡¯s cry of shock, he looked up. Following Zevortro¡¯s gaze, Bryke felt his heart stop for a moment. They were looking at a cloud of red in the water that was slowly spreading towards the right side. But that wasn¡¯t what bothered him, it was the head that still had skin and eyes on its right side.


    The thing they were looking at was something small, maybe from a body around two feet tall. It had what looked like three eyes in an upright primed formation. The head wasn¡¯t attached to a body so there was no way to tell if this thing had been able to think and reason, to imagine. But the only thing that stayed the same was that the water was still shallow.


    ¡°Is this recent?¡± Jessie asked in a no-nonsense tone.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say. The flesh looks fresh and it might be a few days old at worst. Hours on the other side,¡± Terra said with a scowl.


    Bryke felt his heart freeze as he looked at Terra, hoping that he had misheard her. But no, he had. She was saying that this was recent? As in the killer was still alive and near them!?


    ¡°Great, so we might run into whatever did this then?¡± Zevortro asked with shock in his voice. ¡°So we talking about sentient eaters here or something?¡±


    ¡°For all we know this was an inter-tribal conflict or a lawful killing. We just don¡¯t know anything about this place that could explain anything! So don¡¯t jump to judgment now!¡± Terra said sternly. ¡°It could be a beast for all we know!¡±


    ¡°And we keep moving, and hopefully we¡¯ll find the answer. But we need to rest and how many supplies do we have?¡± Jessie said from the front.


    ¡°Dalila had half of those supplies. So maybe we have enough for a few days,¡± Zevortro said as he looked ahead.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t there a Portable Bio Scanner to see if food was safe to eat? So we could kill or gather some food?¡± Bryke asked.


    ¡°There was, but Dalila had it,¡± Terra said softly.


    Bryke blinked and looked at the others, trying to understand how this was possible. The facts before him painted a terrible picture that made him want to scream, but he kept quiet. There was a lot that could be said about this, but he didn¡¯t want to. The way that they had gotten into this mess was beyond anything that could have been planned for. So now all they could do was handle this and keep going.


    ¡°Okay, anyone have any idea how deep we are?¡± Zevortro asked, hope in his voice.


    ¡°No, but if we¡¯re lucky we can find a way out of this hell before the day¡¯s done. Otherwise¡­¡­ I don¡¯t want to think about it,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    Bii3 looked at Jessie and tried to follow the man¡¯s logic, but he failed. There was something in the way he spoke that caused him to want to not know.


    ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s something ahead. Go slowly and keep your eyes open,¡± Jessie said suddenly.


    Bryke swallowed as he moved after


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ??????????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The drone moved back along the tunnel, still trying to find any of the genetic codes it was hunting for. It didn¡¯t ¡®think¡¯ it missed any, but it had to keep going. There was something down here with those genes somewhere here, and it would find them. This time it was scanning the walls and ceiling as it slowly moved.


    The shackles the mind within the drone was bound by kept the drone from following the logic that it had recorded. But that wasn¡¯t the drone''s problem, it was the problem of the mind that sent it. All the drone ¡®cared¡¯ about was to keep moving and following its orders, that was all that mattered.


    Moving back towards its base, the drone kept scanning. It would make sure that nothing escaped its notice, all for what sent it out.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Jessie


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he led the way into what they had found, Jessie tried to keep calm as he saw another piece of the puzzle, the final piece. They had come out into a large circle chamber over fifty feet wide and another corridor across from them. Here and there were remains of old metallic tables and benches that had decayed. And the final thing about the circle was a chamber set into the wall to the right. It was large, around forty feet wide and ten feet high. It ended at a counter at the back with an open doorway four feet wide beyond.


    ¡°What in the stars is this? I mean this place is a bio-weapons factory, right?¡± Bryke asked shock in his voice. ¡°Because this looks like a food court back aboard our ship!¡±


    Jessie took a deep breath and then released it, and then he looked at the others. ¡°It is a bioweapon factory, but it didn¡¯t start as one.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what!?¡± Zevortro demanded.


    ¡°It was right there for all to see. I think this thing was made as a cruise ship, and then it was converted,¡± Jessie said with a hard edge to his voice.


    ¡°Converted!? I¡¯m sorry, what!?¡± Bryke demanded shock in his voice.


    Jessie understood what he was saying. The idea that anyone would convert a cruise ship into what he said it was? It didn¡¯t make sense at all, but everything seemed to be pointing to that. And he could see what might have driven whoever built this to do that.


    ¡°It¡¯s not too far out there, is it? I mean this place, whoever built it first might have filed for bankruptcy. And if a bioscience company bought it after that. Well, just think about it,¡± Jessie said as he looked around. He saw the moment that everyone suddenly realized the truth in his words, the shock hitting them.


    ¡°Okay, that¡¯s something. Really,¡± Terra said after she shook her head a few times. She stepped past him and moved her body around, taking in everything there was around them.


    Zevortro and Bryke moved toward the side chamber. ¡°We¡¯ll check out that area. Maybe there¡¯s another door or something that we can use.¡±


    ¡°Ehhh. We lose nothing by looking, right?¡± Bryke muttered as they passed by Jessie.


    Jessie looked back down the corridor and tried to keep calm. So something about how dark it looked from here bothered him. It was probably a clone of a technique used on the ship, but he had to trust his feelings. He knew that the drone or robot that had almost found them was probably heading back towards them now. If it saw the tracks they made going this way, then it might come after them.


    ¡°You know, this is interesting,¡± Terra said softly from behind.


    Jessie turned and looked at her, seeing her look at the walls. He opened his mouth and then closed it as he saw what Terra had. Without saying a word, Jessie joined her as they looked at the walls. Under their gaze, the screens were cycling through different views every few moments.


    ¡°Think this is from before or after this place was converted?¡± Jessie asked as he looked around the room. As his gaze fell on the tables, he stopped and went still looking at it more closely. His eyes found the marks that something had cut into it, and on the destroyed bench there. For a second he was shocked, and then he looked down at the floor.


    He stared and winced as he realized just what he had missed and cursed himself as a fool in his head. It was right there, metal didn¡¯t decay like the tables and chairs looked, something had to have done this. And with how their luck had been, that thing might be coming back soon.

 Chapter One Hundred Ninety Part 2

    ?????????????


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    As The controlling mind went over the data it salvaged from the drives in the upper attack force wrecks. No matter what, it failed to understand anything about this, what were they after? Most of the forces that attacked it always went and tried to destroy the body, but these weren¡¯t. They seemed to have broken into the body and were doing nothing, only holding out against it. There was something that bothered the mind, but it just couldn¡¯t follow their logic.


    Most of the robots were destroyed before they could move out of the slope ahead of the hole. They came out of the ship into the cavern and were down in moments. There had to be a method to how they were doing this, but the mind just couldn¡¯t understand it.


    A report from the siege line came in, and the mind looked at it. There was a push by the beasts below, another pointless effort on their part. And some more of the robots were taken out¡­.. the mind went still. It looked over the report on the recovered robots and then it went over the report from the upper attack force. The damage was the same as the upper attack!


    This was interesting, and it changed things. The marks were a bit different, but they were the same. This made the effort to take the upper cavern all the more important. The damage done to the robots on the upper defense line always caused the monsters to win. If what was causing the damage was the same, then that meant that the mind had a chance. The chance to find out what it was and to learn. This would let the mind¡¯s forces break through the beasts line, and hold there for the others. Then it would be able to harvest all the resources it needed for one final push. Finally, things were looking up for it.


    Then a new report from the drone it sent out into the Tunnel came back. Without ¡®looking¡¯ away from the data about the damages it opened the data file. Then it stopped and slowly went over everything, sparing nothing. The more it took in the data, the more it grew uneasy. But then it ¡®saw¡¯ one of the pictures, this of a footprint. Its ¡®mind¡¯ then went to the attacks in the cavern above, and then it looked at a scan of them. A quick comparison to what their feet looked like and it had a match. That meant the attackers above had infiltrated the body, they were near the Cargo!


    Looking over what it had available, it stopped as the creation it had ordered was done. The group was originally meant to get around the defenders of the new cavern. Once they were past them, they would look for a way out. Once it could get access to starlight, it would be able to deploy gathering units. With its power reserves slowly being drained, the few other energy sources it kept from the lower beasts were only holding full shutdown. But at the rate that it lost those energy sites, it knew that the mind only had a hundred years until it failed.


    The breach squad was put together for speed and power, and this was what they were needed for. The upper cavern would wait until this was dealt with, and it would give more combat data. All in all, this was the best thing it could do


    Within moments, the breach squad was given new orders and a mission. With their higher minds, they would be better than the drone that was sent. Plus they would have a low sense of self. And this squad would be able to command other drones and call for them, a new feature that it had just finished.


    With the problem dealt with, the mind turned back to its wars. Beneath, it would shift focus onto defense, and purge itself. It would find out where the other entrance into its body was and close it. The invaders would be destroyed, that was fact.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Terra


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Looking at the scenes on the wall, Terra just smiled as she drank in every view. She didn¡¯t expect much but here was a chance that she could see something new. A culture and species that evolved here in this cage, something that no one had ever seen before. And for it to have evolved in a finite space like this? People had wondered about this for years, and here it was. Part of her wanted to scream and laugh with joy, the other part was horrified.


    This was against all things that made a people a people, all laws that transcended species. All in all, she had to hope that whoever had made this place was dead before the new race evolved. She didn¡¯t want to think what else that could mean, what horrors this place might hold.


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    She shuddered slightly as a horrible vision appeared before her eyes. She destroyed it in a moment, not wanting to ask if it had been real. She didn¡¯t want to even think of what could be possible. And if it was? Then she would make this place nothing more than an empty shell.


    ¡°Well, we found the enemy people. And it came from there!¡± Jessie''s voice came from behind her.


    She turned her head and looked at him, seeing him standing there by a table that looked decayed. Then she went still as she saw it was made of metal, and she understood.


    She swallowed and then looked around, seeing this place with new eyes. ¡°So, something has been salvaging this place?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and that¡¯s bad. But where could it be coming from¡± Jessie asked as he looked at the metal remains, trying to understand this. ¡°I mean the other tunnel looks the same as this one. But how could these things have gotten by those drones?¡±


    Terra looked up at the ceiling, trying to find anything there. The panels there were all black, and there were no signs that anything had been removed. But if whoever had taken the metal had put it back, then there was nothing that said that there was a sign. For all she knew, they could have come from the floor. ¡°We¡¯re never going to find anything if these things are that good. If they lived down here long enough to do this and get by the drones, we won¡¯t find anything.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we¡¯ll probably never know where these things came from or how long ago,¡± Jessie said with a sigh. ¡°But you know, this might have been a way around the drones.¡±


    ¡°HEY! The door over here is broken off!¡± Zevortro called out from where he and Bryke had gone.


    Jessie blinked and looked at Terra, his eyes wide. Terra looked back, her mind racing. This could be what they needed, and it¡¯s possible if this had been a cruise ship. Then this could be the service tunnels and those usually had a way to move between levels. Then if they were, there had to be a way to get to the evacuation point on the ceiling above the room they broke into. As she grinned, she looked at Jessie and saw the hope in his eyes.


    ¡°But then we might get lucky. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s something we can use!¡± Jessie said with a grin.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    Bryke


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    As he looked down the corridor through the torn-off door, Bryke had to admit that this looked familiar. Within the few moments, it took for the others to come at Zevortro¡¯s call, what this was came to him.


    ¡°So, service tunnel? I¡¯m thinking service tunnel!¡± Bryke said as he looked at the other three.


    The others all nodded and Jessie shone his light down the darkened tunnel.


    Bryke looked back over his shoulder and frowned, this seemed like a shot in the dark but he had feelings. Something told him that they would find what they needed down here. He never liked his feelings they sometimes were the right moves and sometimes they weren¡¯t.


    ¡°What happened to the door?¡± Zevortro asked as he poked his head into the tunnel.


    Bryke had to agree, that was a good question to ask. But he had a bad feeling that they weren¡¯t going to like the answer if they found it. ¡°Wrong question. The question is do we go down this passage?¡±


    ¡°Something salvaged the metal back there. I don¡¯t know if the robot did this or maybe something else. But this tunnel might be the best thing we have to get out of here,¡± Jessie said bluntly as he looked around.


    Something about the way he said that bothered him, but Bryke couldn¡¯t tell why. And that was what made him want to scream because that feeling he had was growing worse. The ball of fire in his gut just seemed to grow ever hotter the more he tried to think about what Jessie meant.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zevortro said, his voice shaking.


    That was all Bryke needed to get that sinking feeling as he felt the hairs on his back stand up.


    ¡°We got away from one drone, how do we know whatever sent it won¡¯t send others?¡± Jessie said with a scowl.


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    ????????????????


    <>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>


    The four robots thundered along, their scanners were active and hunting their targets. The fact that enemies had infiltrated didn¡¯t bother the lead robot as it moved on its four limbs. The only reason it was leading the way was it was activated first and had moved off before the others were ready.


    The data flowed between it and the other three. Back and forth, each one looking over the information for anything they could use.


    As they thundered into the first intersection they passed it without stopping. All the while, the lead robot ¡®looked¡¯ back at its hunting party. The first robot was like it, sleek and only a foot across. It was ten feet long and its legs carried it three feet off the ground its body carried it up to a total of six feet. Its four limbs ended in claws and its back was bare. Its face was sleek and went out half a foot, and its four diamond-shaped sensors were around a spike.


    Two behind them were models of their series that were two feet wider and had two Heavy Shard throwers on them.


    The two Heavies were aiming at the basic model on and off and a message was sent about calibrating their sensors.


    The leader felt anger, they dared to do that and call it such a reason?! As if the Greater mind hadn¡¯t already done that! Still, at least this was a good sense for the two Runners sensor suits.


    As they passed by the second intersection the leader slowed down. They were almost there, and that meant that the invaders would be nearby. They hadn¡¯t been found yet, and that meant that they didn¡¯t know where their goal was. Soon they


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    Zevortro


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    As he looked around at the others, Zevortro nodded. ¡°So in we go and hope to find a way out then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m all for that, and we might escape those things if they don¡¯t have sensors here. I mean, look!¡± Bryke said as he put his arm through the door. After waving it a few times, he looked at the others.


    ¡°If that had any sensors, then they must have been destroyed in the crash. And given how that searcher acted, we might need to move faster. If something with actual brains sees the recording it has, and it''s fighting the others!¡± Terra trailed off and looked around.


    Zevortro nodded and took a step into the tunnel, looking around so his light would pierce the darkness. He had come out onto a corner, one corridor that went straight ahead had a red circle on the wall to the right. The other way went to the left, and there was a green circle there.


    ¡°So red or blue?¡± He asked the others as he turned and grinned at them.

 Chapter One Hundred Ninety One

    Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 155 of 365. Sol standard year]


    Days after of Crash landing/ 4


    Uninhabited Island / Clearing of Escape Capsule # 405


    Galactic Standard Time / After 1620


    Bradford.


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    Bradford looked at the Ancient and felt his mind almost crack as he looked at him. When one awakened the Power, this Aether, it didn¡¯t give abilities? Then how was he able to contact his people once he gained it?! This was the worst kind of thing, something had been done to him that he didn¡¯t know. He had killed more than one person that had done that to him, and he always made it personal.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t? But that¡¯s the only way that Terra saved us! She just knew how to do that thing she did with the Ice!¡± Qiana exclaimed, shock and horror in her voice.


    Bradford looked at her and recorded that little fact. If there were more people among the deckhands that could use Aether, then he needed to know. The board was changing, and he had to change with it.


    ¡°I truly don¡¯t know what to tell you. Only in the video games of my kind are such things possible,¡±  Dam¡¯ien rumbled slowly and everyone looked at him.


    ¡°The Ancients have video games!?¡± Dalila asked, shock and surprise in her voice.


    Dam¡¯ien only shrugged as he looked at them. ¡°Well, yes. The Last Legend is on its 50th game last I saw the commercials. I stopped playing after the game 30 myself.¡±


    For a moment it was all Bradford could do to keep his mouth up and then he shook his head. Then he got the idea of sending commercials of the games that the Federation made to the Ancients. Then it was destroyed as this was not the time for that kind of thing.


    ¡°Wonderful, so of the Ancients are Gamers. But back on track, you have no idea why this is happening? Nothing?¡± Duncan asked and  Dam¡¯ien shock his head.


    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry. Well, wait,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said as he looked around, his posture different. ¡°There is something, and old poem. It has a line now that I think about it, ¡®Given Strength¡¯, could this be what it meant?¡±


    ¡°How old is this poem?¡± Leonator asked, a strange tone in his voice as he looked at  Dam¡¯ien.


    Bradford looked at the man, confused why he was asking that right now. He almost opened his mouth to say something but then he stopped and looked at Leonator, really looked at him. There was something about the way Leonator was looking at  Dam¡¯ien that unnerved Bradford. He stayed quiet as  Dam¡¯ien looked at Leonator for a few moments.


    ¡°It is one of the oldest of the old, a piece of my people¡¯s history that we have but scraps of. Times so old that there is no word in any of your tongues that have a name for it,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said and Leonator nodded.


    ¡°Then the world that this was made on, was there a Ruin?¡± Leonator asked and Da1 went still as Leonator continued. ¡°Or was this your homeworld that this poem was made on?¡±


    For a long few moments, Dalila only looked at Leonator with such force. Bradford swallowed as he thought he was at ground zero for an execution. Out of the corner of Bradford¡¯s eyes, he saw Duncan start to move his hands to a club. As Bradford felt he was at the edge of a battle, the Ancient spoke.


    ¡°It was on the first world my people colonized, I think. And it had a Ruin, it is dead. We still study the remains,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said softly.


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    Leonator


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    Leonator looked at the Ancient and nodded, his mind racing as he tried to understand this. The answer was here before him and it made sense. The one variable that could make this whole thing. ¡°Then we must concur that this happened in your people¡¯s past. That these ¡®granting¡¯ of abilities was a result of the Ruin, something it did. And there must be a Ruin of the same type in range of us. That is the only thing that makes sense from everything that we know.¡±


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Leonator watched as  Dam¡¯ien took a step back, and the being¡¯s whole body seemed to go still.


    ¡°That¡­.. sounds right. There are laws that all Ruins are to be destroyed before colonies can be built. And all research on Ruins must have orbital the world and there can be no civilian living on same world. I always wondered that,¡±  Dam¡¯ien muttered. He started to walk around the outside of the group, trying seemingly to be deep in thought. ¡°Yes! That would make sense! That law is so old that we have forgotten why we have it! This explains everything!¡±


    ¡°A way to keep power from those who would misuses it. To keep records of who has what powers,¡± Bradford said with a strange tone of voice.


    Leonator looked at Bradford and wondered how many times that he had been forced to make those choices. And the way he sounded, it was unlike anything he had heard before. For a few seconds he looked at Bradford, and tried to think what the Senator could be thinking.


    ¡°No, not really. What Techniques one trains to learn is a private affair. If one has two Techs and commits crime with one, they are only charged for the one. It works,¡± Dalila said as he looked around at the others.


    ¡°On that subject, I don¡¯t know if you have a way to stop someone from having powers? We need something to handle that one,¡± Duncan said with a snarl as he gestured to the floating human.


    Leonator winced, he had heard about that one and what he had done. To think that such a person was in the camp was concerning. That they wouldn¡¯t be able to safely hold them, that was something that he was worried about.


    ¡°If I had my full kit, yes. There are devices that people who have proven to not deserve Aether are condemned to. But I don¡¯t have my whole kit,¡±  Dam¡¯ien said with a hard glare.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Qiana asked softly.


    Dam¡¯ien was about to say something when suddenly.


    A cry from the pit caused them to all turn to look. ¡°THERE ARE MORE OF THOSE BIG ROBOTS!¡±


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    Dam¡¯ien


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    He didn¡¯t wait, he just moved, jumping over the others and running once he hit the ground. He held his arms out and two large axes formed in his open hands. The axes were two feet long, with blades half a foot tall and long. He had learned his lesson last time, this time no honor, just savage fury.


    He landed near the slope down and roared out a command. ¡°Anything but me, destroy it!¡±


    As he thundered down, he finally saw the robots. Two of the same model robot as he had fought alone, each one armed with an axe. They looked at him and moved backwards, it seems they knew he had taken their model mate.


    As one of the fired a bolt of Aether at him,  Dam¡¯ien crossed his two axes and an Aether shield formed and absorbed the bolt. Looking at the walls of the room beyond, he saw stilled legged robots aiming their heads at him. As they started to fire, his mask gave him a report that stunned him.


    He dropped the shield as he reached the bipeds and slammed his axe down as the robots fired at him. The needles they shot bounced off his armor, and he felt a grin form as the other biped stared at him.


    ¡°Not so easy to fight when someone has impact proof Aether-made armor, is it!? Face me!¡±  Dam¡¯ien roared as he slashed out again. The robot he was fighting blocks the blows and  Dam¡¯ien two starts strike out with both axes in a whirlwind of blows. The second robot tries to intervene but a reflected needle from one of the  Dam¡¯ien''s armor hits it in its sensor unit.


    He laughs and feeds Aether to his weapons, and then he roars and slashes it down the middle, cutting it in two. As the robot falls, he looks at the other one and grins as he sees the hole behind it. With a roar, he drops his weapons and they disappear as he tackles the robot backwards into the hole.


    Before he falls a foot, he pushes the robot down and then he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ backwards into the air four feet into the air. He looks around and two high tech crossbows appear in his hands. He fires Aether needles at the robots on the wall as he falls. But just as the other robots were about to fire at him, he ¡®Air Dashed¡¯ back to the hole. He flipped back upright as he keeps fires at the robots.


    He laughs as he sees the robots look around for him, but he just keeps firing. He saw that he hadn¡¯t even used a hundredth of the energy in his weapons, and that scares him. He knows how long that would take, and he didn¡¯t think his weapons could handle that kind of charge. And that means he needs to think about a lot of things when he had time to.


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    Dalila


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    As the Ancient went to town, it was all Dalila could do from swallowing in awe. She had seen a lot of things, and had heard a lot of things about the Ancients. But seeing was believing. Here she watched him handle the robots that had almost overwhelmed them all before. It actually took her breath away. Suddenly, she knew why Vivian wanted to use  Dam¡¯ien. If this was what the Federation faced in the war, then keeping him away from the civilians? That suddenly sounded like a perfectly smart thing to do.


    ¡°Get the Shield Emitter,¡± Duncan was finally able to rasp out.


    Everyone looked at him and he glared back at everyone. ¡°Get the Shield Emitter now! While he¡¯s giving us a window! And somebody turn on the Null Gravity field!¡±


    As soon as she realized what he meant, Dalila ran towards the shield emitter as more of the deckhands ran to help her. As the rest covered the hole, Dalila and her assistants moved as one towards the slope. As soon as they reached the Null gravity field, they moved down quickly. Looking up at the hole, she saw  Dam¡¯ien firing at into the hole and laughing.


    ¡°Oh, are you all doing something!?¡±  Dam¡¯ien called over his shoulder.


    Dalila nodded and then cursed at herself. He couldn¡¯t see anything, she had to speak. ¡°Yeah, just give us a few minutes! That¡¯s all we need! Just hold on!¡±


    ¡°Keep calm, I¡¯ve got enough Aether to keep doing this for weeks!¡±  Dam¡¯ien called out with a laugh.


    Dalila started to work and then she looked at the top of the slope. As she started to hook up the wires and cables, she went still. Something, every bit of experience that she had told her that the robots were going to get worse. She couldn¡¯t say why, but she knew it was going to come, and they needed to be ready.


    Looking up at the slope, she caught Duncan¡¯s eye with Qiana standing by her. ¡°Somebody, get the console ready! We¡¯ll almost ready for this, but we need to move fast!¡±


    As she turned to hook the power cable to the emitter, she realized this needed to be hooked to the power grid. Looking around she saw one of the deckhands and thrust the cable at one of them. ¡°You, go and hook up the solar battery! We need this now!¡±


    As the deckhand moves to do that, Dalila looks at the hole. The one thing that she figure out was the strange ball of fire that was building within her. It was strange, but she had that strange feeling that they were running out of time! As  Dam¡¯ien laughed, she looked at the emitter and saw that everything was ready, and that all they need to do was to hook it up. But would they have time for it? That feeling was slowly getting worse as she kept growing more and more scared for some reason. Suddenly she felt sweat fall into her right eye and she tried to blink away the sting. As she tried to get see everything clearly, she heard a hum as the power was feed into the emitter. Looking at it, she grinned and felt her hope rise.


    ¡°Console ready! Get the cable over here!¡± Duncan bellowed from above.


    Just as she was about to move, Dalila went still. That feeling was back, and this time it was even worse. She actually felt that she was about to throw up as she looked towards the hole.