He wasn’t empty. The connection to the Vastness remained, but it had been altered.
Ven climbed to his feet, too distracted to worry about the strange feeling inside him. With tired legs, he started to run back the way he’d come, anxious to reach the shuttle.
____________
Tom groaned, rolling to his side. He was alive. The bridge alarms rang loudly, and no one moved around him. He crawled to Reeve, brushing a thick braid from her eyes. She looked peaceful. At first, he thought she was dead, but then saw the slow rise and fall of her chest. He set a hand on her shoulder and dropped his chin. Thank the Vastness.
“Is ever…” The words caught in his dry throat, and he tasted blood. He tried again. “Is everyone okay?”
Tarlen twitched near his helm position, and Tom stumbled over, checking the young man’s pulse. The Bacal coughed, spitting out blood. Tarlen’s eyes opened, and he let Tom help him to a sitting position. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. Someone must have stopped him, or the EN-01 worked,” Tom said.
Lark grumbled, and despite their differences, Tom’s relief that the man lived flooded him.
Once he was confident the crew was alive, he turned his attention to Conquest. The EN-01 wasn’t running. Wylen must have incapacitated it. The battles raged on closer to Nolix, but here it was quiet, peaceful even. The giant vessel sat calmly.
The viewscreen flashed, replacing the image with Treena’s worried face. “What happened, Admiral?”
“They hit us hard, but it stopped,” Tom told her. “How long were we out?”
“Only a minute. Teller escaped their perimeter, and then we lost contact with you. Do you need us to retrieve you?” she asked.
“No. Make the fight and have Basher stop the Protectors!” Time was of the essence, and every second meant lives were at risk.
“Yes, sir.” Treena was gone, her image replaced by the underbelly of the colony ship overhead.
“Is there anything we can do to stop them?” Lark asked.
Tom doubted it, but he’d have to try. Reeve was still unconscious, and Tom crouched at her side, wishing he had a medical team at his disposal.
____________
Shu had arrived just as their shields were down to ten percent. Bouchard’s crew managed to fend off the two Ugna vessels, intimidating one and destroying the other. Fayle breathed a sigh of relief and wondered how Ven fared. Had he found the Vast stone, and would it make a difference in today’s outcome? These were questions she wouldn’t have answers to until it was over.
“Captain, they’re regrouping behind the Protectors,” Gar said, causing Fayle to stare at the departing Ugna. She struggled to believe those were her people, assaulting the Concord on Wylen’s behalf. Even after she’d shown herself to them, most stayed siding with their High Elder. It was hurtful, but she couldn’t blame them. They didn’t know better, and he’d been very convincing of their plight.
“Those ships are too strong for us.” Hanli looked too young for the command at the moment, her hair tumbling over her face.
Fayle saw that Constantine was approaching from behind, and that the other two newly-recovered replica flagships were nearby now as well. The Concord had a lot of firepower remaining and more than enough heart to win.
With people like Bouchard, Baldwin, and Starling at the helms of these giant war machines, Fayle’s confidence was higher than Hanli’s. “Patience, my daughter. We will show them what we’re made of.”
Hanli only nodded, brushing her hair away from her eyes. “Follow Shu’s lead in what’s coming,” she told Gar.
Fayle saw the old clunky vessel with the crew from Earth and was glad to have them on their side too. They’d saved their lives, and that wasn’t something Fayle could forget easily.
“What is the count?” she asked Gar.
It took a minute, but he had the tally. “Sixteen Protectors, along with seventy-nine of Wylen’s fleet. Twenty-three have sided with us, and we still number eighty-four in our convoy. I’d wager we have the advantage, but Wylen’s ship is a wild card.”
Fayle could tell, but something was wrong with the crew. “What is it? What happened?”
Hanli seemed embarrassed and wiped her hands nervously. “The Vastness. We… the En’or doesn’t connect us any longer. I feel sick from it.”
Fayle’s jaw fell open, and she reached for the woman’s shoulders. “It’s gone? You have no abilities?”
Hanli shook her head, a tear forming in her eye. “Nothing. It’s as if we’ve never touched the Vastness before. I feel excruciatingly empty.”
One of the reasons the Ugna were addicted to En’or was this. When they were off it, their connection to the flow was slowed, if present at all. It was Wylen’s method of keeping them both attached and dependent at the same time.
Fayle glanced around, seeing everyone’s shoulders slumping, their feet dragging. “Enough! You are Ugna, and you are not defined by the Vastness or moving things with your minds. You are smart, and strong, and more than capable with your own two legs and the brain you were born with. Being Ugna is about more than lifting objects and sensing emotions!”
Her words stung the crew, and Gar held his cheek like he’d been slapped.
“Yes, High Elder!” Gar bellowed, the rest of the crew following suit and repeating what he said.
“Good. Now, Captain, our people have regrouped, as have the Concord. We are about to dive into battle with little shields, no weapons, and no thrusters. What would you suggest we do?” Fayle asked, encouraging the woman to think of solutions.
The viewscreen flickered, and Fayle saw Constantine’s bridge showcased, with Treena standing near a man she could only assume was President Gordon Basher. He began to speak, and everyone listened with vested interest.
____________
Basher claimed he was going to assist them, but something about his mannerisms, the way he shifted on his feet, and the cracking of his knuckles suggested otherwise.
He wasn’t shackled, but Brax was off screen, holding a PL-30 directly at the man on her orders. Basher started to speak and muttered something. Treena leaned in, whispering a few words: “Do this for your people, Gordon.”
Basher nodded, continuing as planned. “Invaders, you’ve reached the Concord after all. Welcome. We can have a fresh start, as we’ve been promised. But first, this fight needs to end.”
So far so good. Treena relaxed, stepping away from the man so she didn’t seem imposing to the thousands watching on their bridges.
“We’ve come from quite a distance: Earth, a planet that was never really yours. I am one of you through and through, even if I am human, and you’ve graciously allowed me to lead you. You trust me. You know me.” Basher glanced at Treena, a small smirk forming on his lips. “So heed my orders when I say… obliterate the Concord! Leave no prisoners, and this wonderful world will be ours!”
Conner cut the communication, but the damage had been done. The Protectors raced forward, Wylen’s fleet with them, coming directly at the line of Concord vessels.
Basher slowly turned around, lifting his hands, but apparently, Brax Daak had other ideas. He shot the man point blank, once in the gut, once in the head, and President Gordon Basher was no more.
With a heavy heart, Treena tried to focus. Brax ran to his seat, powering their weapons, and Pol Teller grunted in his chair beside her.
“Any advice?” she asked the experienced man.
“Show no mercy.”
Twenty
The fight initiated with a previously unseen ferocity. Tom hated being far from the fray, but he wasn’t willing to leave the vicinity of Wylen’s colony ship. Not before knowing exactly what the man was about to do.
“What happened?” Reeve’s voice was ragged, and Tom ran to her.
“Basher screwed us over, and it’s an all-out melee out there,” Tom said.
Reeve tried standing, and Tom helped her, setting a hand on her back to support her. Once she was in her
commander’s seat, she started to gain color in her cheeks. She blinked quickly and inhaled through her nose, releasing the air from her mouth. “They really meant to kill us. Did the EN-01 work?”
Tom shook his head. “I don’t think so. Maybe Ven was successful after all.”
Reeve seemed deep in thought as her fingers raced over the console screen. “Enough time has passed. His Nek drive must be ready to go. Now I just need to predict his target.”
“Can you do that?”
“I’ve been working on something, and we’re within range of Wylen’s bridge. It’s not sanctioned by the Concord, so bear with me, and don’t turn me in if we survive today.” Despite the circumstances, Reeve managed to laugh.
“I wouldn’t think of it.”
She frowned at the results. “I’d guess he’s going for the other side of Nolix.”
“Why? What good will that do?” Tom asked. Lark and Tarlen walked over, peering at the screen Reeve worked on.
“You don’t understand. He’s aiming for the other side of Nolix, directly through Ridele. He means to fly into our capital.” Reeve showed them the trajectory, and the line struck the metropolis in the heart.
“He’s going on a suicide mission, which isn’t like the man,” Lark said.
Tom had forgotten that Lark had had contact with Wylen, and that he’d been the one to bring the Nek technology to the Protectors in the first place.
“He’s going to leave at any moment. We have to stop him.” Tom clenched his fists. He wouldn’t be able to penetrate the shields, but perhaps with Stickers and a jump of his own, he could prevent the colony ship from arriving at Ridele. “Everyone off.”
“What?” Lark asked.
“Everyone off this ship! I’m going to stop him.”
“I don’t think so. Even if you could get it right, there’s no time for us to evacuate,” Reeve told him. “I know you probably have this bold notion of going down with your ship, but we’re just as committed as you are.”
Tarlen nodded, and Keen set a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Admiral, tell us what to do.”
Tom started giving orders, and they went to work.
____________
The shuttle rose through orbit, and Ven replaced the Nek in the charger, but something was wrong with it. The charge wasn’t holding, and he returned to the cargo bay, trying to determine what was malfunctioning.
He went over the checklist Reeve Daak had given him, fiddling with the wiring harness and the coils. Finally, after a while of searching, he noticed a loose cable jammed near the exhaust vent in the rear of the boxy machine.
By the time he was done, Ven was drenched in sweat, and he removed his gloves, dropping them to the floor. The drive began pulling from the fuel source, and he saw the bars begin to pulsate and climb on the tablet. Finally.
Ven felt like he’d been away for days and days, even though it hadn’t been very long at all. With the Vast stone turned off, he wondered what that meant for the flow. Was it gone? He tried to access it again but wasn’t able. And yet, a small fragment of the Flame lingered in his mind, and he closed his eyes, sitting in a meditative position while the drive continued to charge.
The Flame was orange and grew brighter as he concentrated on it. He was still connected to the flow, but in a new sense, one he was unsure about. He squeezed his eyelids tightly, thinking about Fayle.
He was transported. Ven opened his eyes and witnessed the battle through a viewscreen. Hanli was there, shouting orders as they blasted shots toward what appeared to be the Protectors from Sol. He looked down, holding his arms out, and the hands were pale, wrinkled.
“Fayle?” he asked, the voice emerging as that of his mentor.
Hanli turned to face him, a worried expression on her face. “High Elder, are you feeling okay?”
Ven coughed and thought he understood. He’d projected into her by thinking about the woman. “I am fine. You are doing a wonderful job.” Ven smiled at Hanli, and she returned to her post as three Concord freighters moved into formation, chasing after one of the Invader’s vessels.
He departed, heading to his shuttle. That experience had been tough, and he wondered if High Elder Fayle would recall that moment. He’d heard of the theory, but Fayle had told him it couldn’t be done. There were notes of it in the ancient texts, but the art had been lost. Ven had graciously stumbled upon it.
His legs were shaky as he went to the pilot’s chair. The drive was nearly charged, these compact shuttle systems needing far less time than the huge flagships. Ven watched as the bars filled, and soon he was prepared to return to Nolix. With his destination set, he hovered a finger over the screen.
The fight was still raging outside of the Concord captain, meaning Wylen likely lived. Maybe he could use that to his advantage.
Ven hopped the shuttle, arriving a few thousand kilometers from both the planet and the furious battle, and he took stock. Lights blinked out on his radar from both sides of the fight, and he tried not to think about the loss of life occurring nearby.
One thing was clear: he needed to act quickly.
Ven returned to the cargo hold, crossing his legs as he sat on the hard floor. He pictured Wylen: the fierce red eyes, the wrinkled forehead, and stooped spine.
Ven became Wylen. He peered around, seeing the hectic bridge of the colony ship Conquest. He stood near a glowing circular screen with a petrified-looking officer beside him. Ven recognized the man as Captain Nerlip, Wylen’s choice to lead his personal vessel. Ven had heard he was the easiest to manipulate, hence why he’d obtained the prized position. Ven suspected working directly under Wylen wasn’t a simple task.
“What is happening?” Wylen’s voice emerged from his lips. Ven hadn’t spoken, meaning Wylen still retained some control.
Ven tried to push him out but failed as he attempted to see what was happening on board inside the enemy’s lair. He saw the destination for a Nek trip, and panic coursed through him.
“Who is this?” Wylen screamed, causing Nerlip to jolt in shock. “Get out of my head!”
Ven fought to stay within Wylen and used one of his arms, struggling to alter the Nek drive’s trajectory. Wylen’s long fingers moved over the keypad, and just as Ven tried to tweak the destination, he was thrust out of Wylen, back into his own body.
So Wylen held enough power to resist him. Ven couldn’t waste any more time. He kept picturing the Flame of Life, letting go of himself as he targeted another person on Wylen’s ship to envelop their mind.
“What did I look like? Was someone else here?” Wylen shouted, scratching at his own face. Ven controlled Nerlip, trying to hide the fact that someone else was powering the captain.
“I do not understand,” Ven said in Nerlip’s voice. “It was only you. Perhaps you should take a seat…”
Wylen lashed out, striking Ven across the cheek. He felt the pain as if he was physically present. Ven wiped a smear of blood from his lip and apologized in his most pathetic tone.
“Make the jump. That blasted Baldwin is trying to stop us. Bring up the communicator. I want our people to know the sacrifice I’ve made for them. My legacy will endure long after my death,” Wylen said.
Ven had initially been shocked to hear that Wylen would kill himself in favor of his people, but after witnessing his mind, he understood. Wylen was sick. Deadly. His organs were failing him, and he had little time. That was why he’d made the move now.
Ven activated the video feed with Nerlip’s hands. It was strange taking over a person like a puppeteer, but with each effort, Ven grew more proficient. “It is on.”
“Fleet. I am proud of you all. You have done well in this war, and I leave you with a parting gift. In moments, Ridele and Nolix will be no more. Even if we win today, the Concord will not stop fighting us, unless we make a real show of our power. With the head of their Founders eliminated, they will crumble. The Ugna will thrive. Make sure of it.” Wylen pointed at the glowing circular screen, and Ven smiled as he moved to it
, changing the destination away from Ridele. A small part of Nerlip shuddered inside his own mind, a panicked frightful man hiding in the corner. Ven disregarded his worry and glanced at Wylen, awaiting the command.
“Ugna, until we meet in the Vastness,” he quoted, surprising Ven, who pressed the jump control.
____________
Reeve hacked their network, and Tom and the crew had watched the video of Wylen live as they raced toward the much larger vessel. They were too late to stop it. “Hit the jump!” Tom said, hoping they could block the colony ship and implode it before it reached the surface.
But they didn’t need to. Conquest vanished before anyone could respond to the order.
Tom cringed and held his breath, waiting for the explosion on the planet. An impact like that would have far-reaching implications, but after twenty seconds, Tom started to relax. “Where in the Vastness did they go?”
Reeve shifted in her seat, and Tom could see she was in pain from the earlier attack. Her breathing was shallow. “I don’t know, Admiral, but the others are still—”
The feed flashed onto the screen, after a delay caused by distance, and they once again saw Wylen frantically walking across his bridge. “What did you do, Nerlip?”
They were the last words spoken by the tyrannical Ugna leader.
____________
Ven watched through Nerlip’s eyes as their ship directed for a neighboring system’s supergiant, the intense light and heat tearing the vessel to pieces from the nose down. Ven vacated Nerlip’s body as the bridge ripped apart, Wylen screaming as he melted.
The Flame dissolved from Ven’s mind and he lifted off the floor, dashing to the front of the shuttle. The fighting had all but ended as everyone watched their video feeds, and for a moment, everything seemed calm around Nolix.
Wylen was gone.
He tried to feel for the flow again, but nothing seemed to reach him.
Ven heard a voice in his mind, distant and echoing, with a haunting familiarity to the intonation of the speech. Even though he couldn’t picture the woman, he knew the Vastness was using his mother’s voice, pulling it from his early memories to relay a final message. The mutation will no longer access the Nexus. You did well, Ven Ittix.
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