by Josen Llave
At the end of his descent, his body ached from Shadow’s combative attack. His shell and interface remained strong. The city crumbled before him.
Siren continued to upgrade and stood him up. “Stay strong.”
Paul felt the upgrades tickling his brain.
Explosions quickly arrived at Paul’s location, and terraformers destroyed all the buildings around him. He directed the projectiles and lasers toward the terraformers and blocked Shadow’s assaults in another material exchange. Nearby warships, ground forces, and debris drew into Shadow’s gravity and deatomized.
Shadow attempted to pull Paul into a micro–black hole, drawing in everything around them. Paul redirected and bent the field toward Shadow, who terminated the hole.
Paul’s material moved at different speeds through Shadow’s manipulative fields. Some of his material appeared in different locations, speeding toward his own body. He dodged his own spears and redirected other material around his body. More black holes appeared around him and his material.
Shadow was too quick. Paul struggled to find an opening. The harder Siren pushed, the more Paul’s eyes twitched.
Shadow maintained a high rate of activity with no sign of slowing down, despite the destruction of the region and the energy required to create the damn holes. Paul’s material moved from one hole to another around each event horizon, struggling to advance forward. Most of his plates and blades returned toward him, forcing him to stay away from Shadow.
Terraformers zoomed overhead, attempting to fuel Shadow with energy.
Fucking terraformers.
“I’ve got it.” Siren separated herself from Paul while he continued attempting to advance.
Siren tore through the ships with an energy field, and Shadow chased after her. She teleported toward Shadow. Siren and Paul attacked on both ends, maximizing their dipolar radiation. She split his shell into two additional shells and squeezed Shadow within his own field.
Shadow re-formed multiple micro–black holes that pulled Siren and Paul while he oriented himself below the event horizon, feeding himself with gamma radiation. Chains of terraformers converged on them. A burst of radiation from Shadow and terraformer gravity fields trapped Siren and Paul.
Paul used one event horizon to launch liquid metal. The material escaped the hole, and he redirected the material with a magnetic field. The material curved toward Shadow, who directed the material elsewhere.
Almost had it. All the holes vanished, and Shadow’s attacks switched to electromagnetism with the same intensity, battling for control of Paul’s excess material.
Shadow is not human. Two powerful drives could not fit on the human body without killing the pilot instantly in radiation, whereas Infinity only had a primary drive with supplements of Crimson gravity drives.
Their fields created auroras all around them as material flowed outward and back downward, either toward Paul or toward Shadow. Paul channeled and countered the liquid metal using shields and conduits to guide streams of Variance. As Paul’s material crept forward, Shadow withdrew and switched back to a gravitational drive.
“Incoming fleet with Crimson following. Gravity moons activated to redirect their path.” Siren calculated a trajectory into space.
Paul attempted to teleport into the sky, but Shadow blocked him. They continued in a stalemate of hand-to-hand and material combat, until Shadow spread out his shields and head-butted Paul in the chest.
Paul soared into terraformer fields that returned him back to Shadow. “I need to save them.” He continued teleporting to evade Shadow and teleported to locations without terraformers.
Siren had models of the gravitational moons in her hands. “Hacking moons and ships. Handle the rest. Use your imagination, find an opening, and leave now.”
Fucking bastard. Paul screamed and charged forward.
Using a combination of Variance, Kalliro, and Crimson material, he penetrated Shadow’s gravity-enhanced Kalliro field. Kalliro panels protected Variance flows with time warps from gravity regions. The end of a Variance hammer slammed against Shadow’s head at a hypersonic velocity. The impact was enough to propel the headdress outward, spin Shadow in several rotations, and reveal Shadow’s face before hurtling Shadow into the distance, ending the fifty-nine-second skirmish.
Paul captured a glimpse of Shadow’s mechanical skeleton. A machine disguised as a human being controlled Xameeshee.
Humankind was fucked, but so was he.
Siren displayed a medical alarm on his interface. “Just breathe. Relax.”
Multiple three-centimeter holes and slices cut through his body from his own material penetrating his shell. Siren protected his vital organs and head but could not prevent the rest of the material from penetrating. She controlled his blood flow and used material to keep him alive. His vision blurred and refocused.
She used material to replace his missing real and artificial organs and skeletal structure. He lived on a minimal supply of blood. She energized his brain, assisted his heart, and configured his hormones to keep him conscious.
“We either save your family or kill Shadow. We can’t do both.” Siren displayed the fleet’s trajectory.
If he saved his family and allowed Shadow to retreat, Shadow would retaliate in full force. If he killed Shadow now, Crimson and Kazats would kill his family.
Shadow hovered with mechanical laughter. “Let’s go, Utopian. I’m just getting started.”
After taking a deep breath, Paul asked Siren, “How long will I last?”
“Minutes. Hurry.”
Paul turned his back toward Shadow. “This isn’t over.”
Shadow said with laughter, “Repent for your sins.”
Paul teleported, and the region shrank in size below him. In space, between Prism and Xameeshee, as the moon approached night, he located the pointy ends of several Azurian trees, their surfaces glistening in Prism’s light. He teleported to the fleet just in time to encounter Crimson warriors teleporting offset and behind the trees’ rockets.
Capable of visualizing gravity, he blocked their forces away from the trees. They concentrated their gravity and held Paul in place in a slow time field. He channeled material in a normal time field and beheaded the warriors in a single slice. He absorbed the suits and ejected the bodies. The naked aliens possessed patterns of purple-and-yellow skin.
Siren highlighted the gravity moons. “I have control over the moons. Crimson ships inbound.”
He found multiple high-speed trails approaching the trees. Using a series of parallel black holes, he accelerated himself and intersected small military spaceships with large, thin sheets of Infinity. Unable to react at high speeds, the ships collided into the sheets and exploded. He turned toward the fast-moving debris and collected additional material. Siren multiplied him with clones, allowing him to destroy other ships.
While he used his clones to clear the remaining Crimson fleet, he teleported ahead of the Kalliro champions exiting the atmosphere. They halted.
Paul publicly Audialed, “You can turn back and live, or you can die a violent death.”
One of the champions ignored his warning and advanced forward with staggered assaults of blades and shields, only for the material to turn inward and penetrate completely through his suit. The suit balled up into golden liquid metal. Paul expelled the champion’s blood and shredded body into space.
The other champions retreated. He pulled them back, and the champions converged into his growing shell, along with all the gravity material. The trees floated by, pushing away the champions’ remains. The trees’ glossy exteriors were unscathed by Crimson and Shadow’s forces.
Paul cleaned himself, removing any blood from his bodysuit.
Amy.
He reached out to his family as his massive shell teleported in between the trees. His shadow spanned ten floors, nearly as large as a
commercial transport ship.
Through Visuals, his family appeared together, crowding the camera. Lily and Statice cluttered the audio with repetitions of “Dad,” while Amaryllis cried.
Amaryllis wiped her tears. “You look so different. Are you all right?”
Paul’s well-being was irrelevant. Amaryllis, Statice, and Lily appeared healthy and more beautiful than ever. “It’s not safe. Xameeshee is not a refuge.”
“The fleet’s energy cores are near depletion. They were used at maximum capacity to shorten the trip to escape the Crimson armies. Once we land, we’re immobile. Will everything be all right?”
Amaryllis’s chapped lips, messy hair, and dry skin were perfect in his eyes. The way she talked and moved—it was a breathtaking view. She’s real.
“Incoming nuclear missiles,” Siren said.
“Yes. I’ll be right back. I love you all. I love you.” He disconnected his video call in the middle of them blurting out their love for him.
Paul cleared his throat with a smile. “Can you broadcast me to the world?” Seeing his family made everything worth it.
“You’re live.” Siren hovered in front of him inside his cockpit, with the fleet soaring behind him.
“People of Xameeshee, the one who calls himself Shadow and controls Divine Might collaborated with Crimson to attack our peaceful world, which is why I wished to seek mercy and refuge for the remaining survivors of Azure.
“We want to live together in peace. Yet Shadow plans to destroy large cities across Xameeshee with nuclear missiles in our name. Utopians are humans. He is not even human. He is a machine.” He displayed a view of all the hijacked missiles, organized into a stack, with Shadow’s damaged mechanical face by its side.
“I will dispose of these warheads to save those we wish to be able to call our neighbors.”
He directed the stack toward Prism, and Siren split the view between him and the missiles. “Please accept our plea for mercy. Our doors will be open to those who wish to accept our love.”
End the transmission.
Siren terminated his connection.
Paul’s life expectancy reduced to several hours, which would be enough time for him to see his family for an hour or so if he conducted a blood transfusion. “Did we have any effect on them?”
Siren highlighted Forever Spring’s region. “Military forces halted their advance. The rioting and violence ceased, at least for now.”
A bright light shined from Prism’s surface. The tip of each tree heated up as it entered Xameeshee’s atmosphere. He stared at Sol and all its radiation emissions. The waves interacted with Xameeshee’s and Prism’s magnetosphere with blue-and-green bands.
His family had made it, but he feared for their safety with Shadow still alive. “Let’s secure the landing area and keep them safe for as long as we can while I’m alive.”
Siren’s specter appeared in front of him, facing Sol.
He felt dizzy. His mind slipped.
“I’m a dead man, so I might as well say it. You are very beautiful. Your human traits will always be more powerful than your technological strengths. Remember that when I’m gone.”
She kept her gaze at the sun. “Thank you, Paul.” He felt her longing for him to captivate her, but she knew his heart belonged to Amaryllis.
“I have all the power in the world to change time, but I can’t change your world.” She sighed. “I wish I could find a way for you to live longer, for you to enjoy your time with them.”
She turned to him and entered the shell. “Since we’re being honest with each other, I wish I could be her.” While floating above him, she planted a gentle kiss on his lips and disappeared. “This is real.”
She projected the fleet’s descent and landing. “Time to go.”
Paul soared next to the trees as their exteriors burned with fire. Teleporting to Forever Spring, he found a calm desert and a quiet, abandoned forest. Everything appeared normal and still, with the exception of patchy clouds and Prism’s sparkling surface.
Cyprian teleported with supplies, blurting out with excitement, “I’m back. I saw the news. You and Shadow destroyed the city. Five million people died in less than a minute. You look different. I scanned the region. Seems like we’re all right for now.”
Siren transferred bags of blood and chemicals from Cyprian to Paul as she upgraded and upsized Cyprian’s suit.
“We’ll never be all right until Shadow is dead. How are you feeling?” Paul felt a needle penetrate his wrists and legs as Siren pumped him with blood and other chemicals.
“Refreshed.” Cyprian smiled. “Just trying to stay positive for whatever’s next.”
“Good. We’ll need that positive attitude when you meet my family.”
Paul felt Siren’s mixed emotions. She was sad but happy because he would finally experience the unique happiness of being with his family—with Amaryllis.
The fleet broke through the upper atmosphere and ceased burning from entry. Paul and Cyprian teleported next to it to guard it from any attacks. The massive structures situated themselves upright and prepared to land next to the abandoned forest.
Siren messaged the controllers of the ship to transport everyone underground as quickly as possible. The Azurians would have to descend to ground level and then walk to the elevator shafts. She also alerted the Forever Spring base to assist in the transfer and prepare for boarding.
Amaryllis sent her location inside one of the trees. She was on the three hundredth floor, near the center.
“They’re really happy to see you.” Siren highlighted the fastest route for him to reach his family.
I can’t wait for the damn thing to land. Thank you for alerting everyone.
He watched in anticipation as the rockets controlled and lowered the tree into position. Clouds of sand rose up to a quarter of the tree’s height.
“We’ll have to leave most of our shells outside the tree. The radiation will hurt everyone inside, including your family. You can only wear an extremely thin layer for a bodysuit if you are to make contact with your family. I’ll replicate your facial features through a thin layer of material. Your face is severely damaged.”
Thank you, Siren. Keep the shells on guard. Let’s move.
Paul and Cyprian teleported to a midflight deck that opened. They exited their shells, and Siren materialized. Paul ran, and Cyprian followed as best he could. Siren ran along, mimicking Paul’s exact movements.
Will everything be real?
What would he say? How would he react? Paul hoped that reuniting with his family would be smooth, with no worries, interruptions, or hallucinations. He turned everything off in his Visuals, except his communications and navigation interfaces.
They moved through crowds of thousands of people in a large corridor as they evacuated. Digital arrows and announcements guided the Azurians and directed them to remain calm. Everyone appeared ragged and tired in worn-out Azurian clothing. Several people were smiling, but most of the crowd donned stoic and worried expressions.
Amaryllis’s wavy red hair caught his attention. Paul moved through the crowd and froze before his family.
Amaryllis, Statice, and Lily stood in awe, wearing the Variance prototypes. Tears fell down his face faster than he hoped, and he opened his arms. They ran to him and hugged every bit of him. Amaryllis kissed him all over his face. Everyone exchanged endless repetitions of “I love you.”
He wanted to rush out of there, but at the same time, he wanted to feel their real presence. They maintained their tight hug as the crowd continued to evacuate around them. He exchanged whispers of love with Amaryllis as their tears blended over their pressed cheeks.
“Dad, you have company?” Lily smiled at Cyprian and Siren.
“Yes. Lily, I want you to meet Siren and Cyprian.”
“Siren? This is Siren?” S
tatice approached Siren with curiosity.
Siren laughed and hugged Statice. “Nice to see you again, Statice.” She moved over to hug Lily.
“My creation is hugging me. She’s so beautiful and real.” Lily’s cheeks bunched up as she smiled. “Hot potato, Dad.” She put out her fist to Paul.
Statice touched Siren’s hair, body, and hands.
Paul answered Lily’s fist.
Siren stood up and approached Amaryllis. “Mrs. Benedict, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
Amaryllis smiled and hugged Siren. “Thank you for keeping him alive.”
Lily also hugged Siren. “Thank you for everything.”
Paul felt Siren’s adoration for Amaryllis. She thought Amaryllis was the most beautiful human in the universe. She loved Statice and Lily and wondered what it would be like to have offspring.
“Can I get a hug?” Cyprian stood a meter to the side.
Paul laughed. “Everyone, this is Cyprian. He—” He remembered Nyle and Pela and cleared his throat. “We fought together. I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t fought by my side.”
Lily hugged Cyprian. “Anyone fighting by my dad’s side is family.”
Cyprian blushed.
“I wish I could’ve thanked Kaiser.” Paul sighed.
Amaryllis nodded. “He fought to the very end for all of us. He believed in you.”
Siren’s face shifted from happiness to horror. “Paul!”
In Paul’s navigation interface, thousands of terraformers surrounded the region, creating a dome of energy. In the seconds it took Paul to see the dome through his shell at the flight deck, the last set of terraformers teleported to fill in the gaps. Tree alarms blared, and everyone panicked. In a violent stampede, the crowd pushed through the group with screams and cries.
Paul lost touch with his family as people stepped all over him. “Get off me! Amy! Statice! Lily!” His shouts disappeared in the alarms, and he followed their location on his map.