Remnants of Hope

by Antoine Henderson

  Him?

  “For many years, they’ve been at peace. Then the lights in the skies disappeared, except for four, one during the day and three during the night and Savior protected them,” Delta continued. “But suddenly, Savior became sick and eventually he died. That cave is his final resting place and where his people honor him. Since then, many beings of different shapes, sizes, and colors have come to their world and caused destruction, until we arrived. He says we’re no different and wishes for us to leave. We have become more trouble than we are worth and have been warned before that we cannot enter.”

  Lake sighed heavily. “That’s unfortunate.” He turned to the elder abuchilla. “Delta, tell him my deepest apologies. We did not come here to disturb their way of life. We will take our leave now.”

  “What?!” Blurb blurted. “You mean we came all this way and almost died on several occasions for nothing?”

  “We aren’t bandits, Blurb,” said Lake. “I’m not going to disrespect a people’s faith just to make a profit. We’ll just have to find another way.”

  “I see. So, that’s what you’re going to tell Garbon before he kills us?”

  “I’m sorry, Blurb. I can’t. We just will have to find another way.”

  “I can’t believe—”

  “Blurb,” Nadal-Ti snapped before placing a finger to her lips.

  With a slight nudge, she alerted Lake, who in kind, slowly reached for his Ripper and removed it from its holster, causing the abuchillas to become aggressive and prod Lake with their spears, but he ignored them. A greater threat was near as Lake watched Nadal-Ti retrieve her twin blasters from their holsters. Following her eyes, Lake barely made out something moving in the trees above the huts. A silver antenna gave away its position causing Nadal-Ti open fire. Green plasma blasts connected with tree branches and a silver and blue disk-shaped drone revealed itself.

  “It’s a spy drone!” Nadal-Ti shouted.

  “Take it down before it gets away!” Lake ordered before firing an arched red plasma blast at the drone.

  It avoided the blast, taking off into the forest, beeping sporadically as it fled. Nadal-Ti gave chase with Lake on her heels into the forest after it. The drone piloting systems allowed it to maneuver through tight spaces and avoid the incoming fire that came at it from Nadal-Ti. When she stopped firing, Lake joined it, hoping the wide arch of his Ripper could take it down.

  It was dangerous chasing after the drone, with the threats of jarogs and whatever other wildlife that inhabited the forests of Abuula, but Lake couldn’t take the chance and allow it to escape. It had their precise location, and he wanted to intercept it before it was delivered if it hadn’t already been transferred already. They couldn’t take any chances and stopping the spy drone meant life or death.

  Without warning, the drone fired back at them, causing them to roll and take cover behind a large tree, bringing their pursuit to a stop.

  “Since when did spy drones come equipped with plasma guns?” Lake asked.

  “Just in case someone spotted it and tried to bring it down,” Nadal-Ti answered, her words could barely be heard over the sound of the drone’s blasts ripping the tree to shreds. “Kinda like we’re doing right now!”

  “I got an idea,” Lake shouted. “I’ll draw its fire—”

  Without warning Lake bolted from behind the tree and fired at the hovering drone, drawing its fire away from Nadal-Ti who stood safely behind the tree.

  “What’s the next part of your plan?!” she shouted.

  “Do what you do best!” Lake shouted back before ducking into a roll behind the cover of another tree. He rose to his feet before looking back at Nadal-Ti and smirked. “You aren’t mad, are you?”

  Lake could see the annoyance in Nadal-Ti’s eyes as she rolled from cover, catching the drone off guard and fired her blasters tearing into the protective hull of the drone searing its insides and ripping it apart until it fell to the forest floor oozing black liquid. The sound of the cooling cores disengaging from her smoke-covered blasters caught Lake’s attention as he walked from around the tree to see the now lifeless drone turned to scraps at the trees feet. Lake kicked a piece of the drone before looking back at Nadal-Ti.

  “I really pissed you off, huh?”

  “How can you be so reckless? You could have been killed!”

  “But I wasn’t. I’m still right here,” Lake responded with a smile. He knelt to get a better view of the drone. “Now, let’s see who or what sent you here.”

  Lake moved the parts of scraps that remained of the drone, searching for an insignia or marking that would give him a clue who sent it. He could hear Nadal-Ti’s footsteps coming toward him followed by the sound of her holstering her blasters when she suddenly came to a stop.

  “I’m not seeing—oh wait, here’s something… it looks like a spider or some kind of bug… Ti, you ever see anything like this before? Ti?”

  Lake looked up to see Nadal-Ti looking into the dawning sky above through the trees in the forest.

  “Are you listening to me?” Lake asked. “What is it—what are you looking at?”

  Ignoring Lake’s questions, she took off to the edge of the forest causing Lake to follow her, confused at what was going on with her at that moment.

  “What’s gotten into you?” Lake asked, as he caught up with her coming to a stop.

  Without a word, she raised her hand and pointed to the sky. A large, black starship was entering Abuula’s atmosphere and headed into their direction.

  “Does that answer your question?” Nadal-Ti remarked.

  Lake swallowed hard before dropping both pieces of the spy drone he carried.

  Chapter Five

  Remnants of Hope

  Lake and Nadal-Ti ran as quickly as they could back to the village discussing the scenarios they may encounter as they continued toward the village.

  “Do you think the drone was sent by the military patrol?” Lake asked.

  “Unlikely,” said Nadal Ti, before leaping over a bush as Lake struggled to keep up with her. “The military aren’t the type to survey a target before they strike, especially this far away from the eyes of Solaris Prime.”

  “I was hoping it was them,” Lake remarked. “Garbon wouldn’t have sent others yet or it could be him, making sure the job was done.”

  “I doubt that lazy fool would come all the way out here,” said Nadal-Ti with a twinge of annoyance.

  Lake sighed. “So, pirates then.” Lake concluded. “To be honest, I prefer that option as opposed to the others, now that I think about it. Oh well, they know where we are now.”

  There was no mistaking it, the drone relayed their position before they took it down. The starship, although slower than the Iron Saber in speed, carried larger weapons that easily out-gunned the Iron Saber. There might be a possibility to out-maneuver their cannons, but staying and holding their ground was also an option. It was a foreign land to the crew, but the same held true to the pirates.

  As dire as the situation was, Lake and the others had something working in their favor: the abuchillas and their knowledge of their world could help them escape, if they could convince them to leave the resting place of their Savior. That might prove to be a tall order.

  Passing the threshold of the village and running up to the crew, Lake and Nadal-Ti stopped to catch their breaths as Blurb ran toward them in a panic.

  “Did you guys destroy it? Please tell me you destroyed it!”

  “We did Blurb,” Lake answered. “But I’m afraid we have something far worse to worry about.”

  The crew, including Taran and Bulgrim, circled Lake, as he slid the sleeve of his jacket toward his elbow, revealing his gauntlex. After hitting a few buttons on its panel, a holo image of the ship landing in the distance appeared above it for everyone to see.

  “That’s—” said Taran, before backing away at the sight of the image.

  “The Sinker,” Bulgrim finished, gulp
ing.

  “How did it find us?” Nadal-Ti asked.

  “Pirates?!” said Blurb as his eyes widened in a panic. “They’ve found us! What are we going to do?”

  Before anyone could answer, Chinsapa spoke instead.

  “He’s asking what has happened, Lake,” Delta said, as she turned to her worried captain.

  Lake looked at the group before turning to see the other abuchillas staring at them from their huts. “Tell him the truth, Delta. The Sky Devils have returned.”

  Before Delta could translate, Chinsapa spoke again. His eyes widened, while pointing his staff at Lake’s wrist, alerting the abuchillas as their gazes followed. Lake and the crew stood puzzled as abuchillas of different shapes and sizes exited their huts and came down from the trees to gape at Lake’s wrist.

  “Delta, what the hell is going on? Lake asked.

  “That’s not it, Lake,” Delta said, looking around.

  “Then what is it? I’m getting freaking out here! There are hundreds of abuchillas staring at me like I’m their last meal.”

  “It’s your bracelet.”

  “What, this old thing?” Lake held up his wrist, causing the holo image to disappear. “My father left it to me. He said it belonged to my grandfather. Why does it matter?”

  “Lake, you don’t understand,” said Delta, grabbing hold of Lake’s wrist as Chinsapa spoke once more. “Your bracelet, it is the same one that their Savior wore. They believe you are a Savior like him—a God.”

  Words couldn’t pass Lake’s lips as he tried to dismiss the foolish notion that he was somehow a Savior or a God. Chinsapa dropped his cane and with the help of others fell to his knees to bow before him.

  “Suveetah.” Chinsapa repeated as he bowed.

  The other abuchillas followed their leader, falling to their knees and bowed, before chanting “Suveetah” in unison. The group was surrounded by hundreds of abuchillas, bowing and praying to a stunned Lake, causing him to shake his head, not wanting the weight of this new revelation added to their already dire situation.

  “They’re calling you, Savior.” Delta explained.

  “Please, get up—don’t—”

  “Lake,” Nadal-Ti whispered. “Just go along with it. This could be the only opportunity to get them away from this place. They’ll listen to you now.”

  Lake sighed. “It feels wrong, Ti. I don’t want to lie to them. Who am I to tell them I’m some Savior or some God—”

  “We don’t have a choice right now. If you have to lie to them to save their lives, then so be it. But they will be alive,” Nadal-Ti said. “We’re running out of time, I give it two hours tops before the pirates get here. But you’re the captain, Lake. Ultimately, it’s your decision.”

  Nadal-Ti was right and Lake knew it. They were all out of choices and this turn of events provided them with a way to get the abuchillas to move from their village. Still, Lake didn’t feel at ease telling the natives what they wanted to hear just to get them to listen to him. Nadal-Ti knew what she was doing and knew how to get Lake to make a decision in one way or another. Sometimes Lake believed she would make a better captain than he would sometimes, but she wouldn’t allow that to happen.

  Chinsapa rose to his feet with the help of his cane and spoke to Lake, stepping aside.

  “He wants you to come inside the cave. There is something he wants to show you,” said Delta.

  “You and Delta go ahead, we’ll stay out here and wait,” Nadal-Ti suggested, with a worried expression. “Remember Lake, two hours.”

  Lake nodded, sighing heavily. “Looks like I don’t have a choice…” He moaned. “Fine. Delta, let’s do this.”

  Lake and Delta followed behind Chinsapa, as the elder abuchilla walked as briskly as he could, leading them into the cave.

  There was nothing special about the cave as they entered. It was dark, and the air became thicker the deeper they ventured inside. Using the flashlight from his gauntlex to guide them, Delta and Lake followed Chinsapa as he entered a pathway that divided into two directions. Taking the left path, they entered a cavern with a large hole at the far end of the wall. Walking through, they arrived in what appeared to be the inside of a small medical facility.

  Looking at the symbols on the facility’s wall and on papers scattered about the metal flooring, it seemed to be an imperial military outpost, abandoned years before the shroud of the Darkness had come. The old imperial insignia marked all the equipment and cases throughout the room.

  Lake and Delta were in an utter state of confusion as the facility was practically untouched, except for damage caused from falling debris and natural erosion. Following Chinsapa up several steps, they came upon a large cryostasis chamber with large debris from a portion of the collapsed roof surrounding it. Inside the chamber was the figure of a human. Chinsapa stopped spoke once more as Lake and Delta walked toward the chamber.

  “This stuff seems ancient,” Lake said, as he admired the large chamber. “Blurb would faint if he saw this.”

  Delta walked beside the chamber and peered inside while Chinsapa continued to speak. “This room is where their Savior saved many abuchillas when he arrived. It is also where he sleeps.”

  Inside the chamber was the perfectly preserved body of an older adult male wearing a one-piece blue cryo-suit with the imperial insignia on its chest and a name underneath that read: Saviar. His skin was pale and faced was etched with lines signifying his older age while his arms were to his side and on his right wrist, was a bracelet similar to the one that Lake was wearing.

  “So, that’s why they call him Savior,” Delta said.

  “What do you mean?” Lake asked, puzzled at Delta’s remark.

  “His name is Saviar. If he could communicate with the abuchillas like I can, and said his name, Saviar is similar to Savior in Kweei.”

  “Kweei, that’s what you’re speaking with them? Well, that’s a cooler name than standard speech,” Lake said. He admired the chamber a moment and turned to Delta. “Is there any way to wake him up?”

  Delta brushed dust from the cryostasis chamber’s computer terminal. After pressing a few buttons, several messages flashed on the terminal’s display. “No, the chamber was damaged by the falling debris. Saviar died years ago, peacefully in his sleep,” said Delta as her eyebrows lowered and lip frowned.

  Lake and Delta shared a moment of silence for the man before turning to Chinsapa who spoke.

  “There’s more?” Delta asked.

  Lake and Delta followed Chinsapa away from the old imperial medical bay down a corridor leading deeper inside the mountain, until coming to a stop in a large hangar bay. It was dark, and the rotting wet smell of death didn’t sit well with Lake until he came to a sudden stop. His wide eyes focused purely on what stood before him. A large mechanical suit of nearly five meters high stood before him. Mechanical locks held the suit in place, as it faced away from them. Large blades were attached to the upper part of its back. Lake’s mouth stood agape for several moments before he could muster up the words to speak.

  “That—that’s an Iron Knight suit!”

  As Chinsapa spoke, Delta translated his words. “This suit of armor is what Saviar arrived in many years ago to fight the Sky Devils.”

  Lake took a moment to soak in what he saw before him. He never once believed he would ever see an Iron Knight suit. They were only told in stories and legends of existence before the Darkness.

  “You have spoken of these before, haven’t you, Lake? The stories of the Iron Knights. It’s strange though, I’ve never seen this kind of machine before,” Delta said. “But, it oddly seems familiar.”

  “That is correct, Delta. The Iron Knights were a beacon of hope and protectors of the many worlds before the Darkness, fighting against the oppression of the Empire many years ago. My father told me so many stories about the Iron Knights, but I never thought I would ever see one for myself. Saviar used this Iron Knight suit to fight against the Em
pire and their Voidnaught mechs in battles across the galaxy.

  Lake’s excitement faded as quickly as it arrived when he came to realize what this meant. He removed the tracking device from inside his jacket and turned it on. With his fears now confirmed, he sighed heavily and turned to Delta, who looked puzzled. The sound of the tracker’s constant beep echoed throughout the hangar bay until he turned it off.

  “What’s wrong, Lake?”

  “The armor of the Iron Knight suit,” he said. “It’s made of zaranium. It’s what’s Garbon has been after this entire time. He knows the suit is here, Delta.” Lake ran a hand through his hair in thought. “Even if we escape this place and somehow move the abuchillas to another location, Garbon will send more people until he gets his hands on this suit.”

  “What are we going to do?” Delta questioned.

  Lake rubbed the stubble on his chin before answering. “Ask him if we can enter the suit and see if it’s operational.”

  Delta turned to Chinsapa who stood solemnly by her side and translated Lake’s question. “He says we may enter the suit.”

  Without hesitation, Lake climbed the ladder that led to the suit’s rear cockpit with Delta following on his heels. Lake pressed several buttons on the computer terminal near the cockpit door and opened it. The metal shielding slowly lowered until stopping and the occupied seat of the rear cockpit slowly extended outward revealing a lifeless female android connected via her link port on the nape of her neck to the Iron Knight’s mainframe inside.

  Delta startled when she saw the lifeless android lying before her, recognizing its make and model as if she’s met the android before.

  “That’s a first-class Delta M11 model, Lake.” She gasped. “It’s an older model of mine, but she doesn’t appear to be operational. Her operational core has been damaged. Probably from the impact of whatever caused the damaged on the suit.”

  “I’m going to check the front cockpit, to see if we can get it started,” said Lake.

  He pulled himself onto a small catwalk that led around the suit to the front cockpit and lowered its doors, revealing its seat. He could see Delta positioned over the lifeless android staring at it as if it was a long-lost relative she hadn’t seen in many years. Lake watched as Delta tried to remove the linking wire that extended from the back of the chair into the android’s link port, but it wouldn’t budge even with her robotic strength.