He Who Crosses Death (Star Warrior Quadrilogy Book 3)

by Isaac Hooke

  Note that a larger than normal source of the Emerald Essence must be employed. This means you cannot use something like a bone staff—instead, you will likely require a fully intact skeleton.

  However as you increase this work’s level, you can revive your allies with smaller pieces of bone. However, you must also deal with more powerful life force feeders.

  Summon Grazer. Summons the grazer associated with the bone or skeleton you are Siphoning the Emerald Essence from. This will be the same grazer who in life had that bone or skeleton physically inside of it.

  The grazer will assume its original shape as pure energy. The being cannot be harmed by plasma bolts, laser beams, or blunt force weapons. Only the Essence, or creatures of similar energy, can deal any sort of damage.

  At higher levels, the grazer will stay with you for longer periods of time. At level one, the grazer will only remain in your universe for five minutes.

  Levels 2 and above are locked until the appropriate base Emerald Siphoning level is attained.

  He was a bit disappointed that “all” the Emerald Essenceworks hadn’t been gained as promised—well they had, but they were “locked.” Otherwise, he had no complaints, as he’d finally attained the ability he was looking for. The means to revive Sinive. He was very glad he had transported her body all this way, given that reviving someone required the former living vessel. And yet…

  “I don’t like the part about Revive only being possible once per person,” Tane told the glowing woman.

  He looked at her. Because of his memories, he knew her “human” flesh was an illusion acting on his visual cortex. If he were to touch it, the illusion would also act on his motor neurons and tactile senses, preventing him from exploring any gaps in the clumped vines underneath, so that as his fingers passed over her face he would feel something akin to the texture and smoothness of actual human skin. The archaeoceti were truly the masters of illusion. It made him wonder why she had bothered to form her vines into a human shape in the first place. Then again, that may have also been an illusion.

  “You may not like it, but the Revive limitation is what it is,” Tepethalean said. “Why do you think our numbers have been dropping? We are attacked by the Malediction. And when we die, we revive one another. But we can’t do it again. And remember, in order to revive someone who is lost, you’ll need a great source of Synthate. A mere bone will not suffice. It can be difficult to find such works in the Khaeota, given what the Malediction have done here”

  “I understand.” He remembered the grazer skeleton he had found at the swamp back in his own universe. That would likely suit his needs. When he parted the veil through it, he imagined the Emerald boost he’d get would be equivalent to Siphoning the White through the Chrysalium hull of a small starship.

  While intact in his own universe, he supposed the individual pieces of that skeleton had been scattered throughout the Khaeota, given what Tepethalean had told him about the Malediction. He wasn’t sure what the precise rules were in regards to what items were duplicated in this universe and where those items would appear, but it was possible grazer skeletons were excluded from the rules. Then again, he hadn’t actually ventured back to the swamp to confirm whether the skeleton was still there in the Khaeota. He suspected it would be better to do the Revive in his universe anyway, where he wouldn’t have to worry about the Malediction intervening. But there was something else he’d apparently have to worry about…

  “What’s this about fighting off life force feeders?” Tane said. As soon as the words left his lips, memories of an intense battle fought against terrible creatures filled his mind.

  Tepethalean cocked her head. “You knew there would be a price, did you not? You thought it would be easy?”

  Tane glanced at G’allanthamas, who had warned him of that price after Sinive had died. “I suppose I knew, yes.” He returned his attention to the Essence list.

  He read the next item. “I can summon a grazer?”

  “You will have to earn its respect,” the woman said. “It will be just as likely to attack you as help you.”

  “Ah,” Tane said. “It doesn’t say anything about that in the Essencework description. And what’s this about level two and above being locked until I reach the base Siphoning level?”

  “It means you have the memories inside of you already,” Tepethalean said. “You won’t have to return here to learn them. As you progress and gain experience, and level your base Emerald Siphoning skill, you’ll unlock the higher level works.”

  “Just like that?” Tane said. “This is a way better system than what Tiberius set up for me.”

  “This is our gift to you, Qumolongmar. Bring peace to the galaxy. Fulfill your destiny. Here.” She gave Tane a small pyramid, similar to the one he had found in the artifact Tiberius had left for him. Like the previous, the surface seemed to undulate in places. It was covered in designs that resembled fingerprints—or perhaps vines piled in whorls.

  “You may use this to return if you have the need, though I do not foresee such a day,” Tepethalean said. “Your work here is done. Face the Gravity Heathens. Do your duty. It was the reason why you were born. Our home universe created you in self defense, as a means to ward off these inter-dimensional invaders. If you ignore your calling, everything you know, everything you care about, will be gone within a few centuries. Probably sooner.”

  “I doubt I’ll live that long anyway,” Tane said. “At this rate.”

  The woman smiled sadly.

  He slid the pyramid into the storage pouch at his belt.

  And then the world blinked.

  13

  The greenish-blue tint to everything had lifted. The sky above had returned to its purple coloration, and no longer sparked with emerald lightning. The glowing woman was gone, as were all the vines. The jungle foliage that replaced those vines, choking out the ancient spires around the “clearing,” didn’t glow. There was no large grazer bone here either, like there had been in the Khaeota.

  He was back in his own universe then. He glanced toward his companions. They were all here. Standing in the same spots where they had been bound, except they were free now. And there was no sign of the Amaranth. The only dweller who had returned with them was G’allanthamas.

  Everyone else seemed just as shocked as Tane to be back.

  Lyra looked at Tane expectantly. “Well?”

  “I know how to save Sinive,” he said. His voice sounded normal, and no longer crackled with energy.

  “Chase, with me,” Jed said. “We scout for dwellers around the perimeter.”

  The Volur gave Tane a questioning look, as if seeking his permission, and Tane quickly nodded.

  He’d never get used to that. A man like Jed looking to him for leadership?

  Oh, it was going to be hard to let the Volur down when the time came. But until then, he’d let him and everyone else follow him. Let them all think he was the Bender of Worlds, and not the impostor he was.

  Tane went to Sinive and cradled her in his arms.

  The foliage stirred beside him and for a moment Tane started. Lyra was at his side in an instant, Essence Ax exploding from her beam hilt.

  Tane heard the whirring of metal, and then Positron appeared from the foliage, clambering to his feet despite the large dent in his chest.

  Tane gave the robot a questioning look.

  “I switched to a backup power cell,” Positron said. “My first was damaged beyond repair.”

  The animated visor on Positron’s face registered nonchalance. Sinive had printed up that visor for the robot.

  Everything reminds me of her.

  It was probably a good thing all of his grief was funneled toward restoring her. If he didn’t have that hope, he didn’t think he would have been able to hold it together.

  Positron helped him returned Sinive to the stasis pod—the entire top section remained ripped away, courtesy of S’Wraathar.

  “There’s no way we can repair the top,” Posit
ron said. “But hopefully, we won’t have to soon enough.”

  “Will it still levitate?” Tane asked.

  Positron opened a panel in the pod’s side and applied a telescoping finger to turn a dial. “I’m issuing a reboot.”

  A moment later the stasis pod hummed to life and floated a meter off the ground.

  Jed and Chase returned.

  “The area is clear,” Jed said. “It appears the dwellers didn’t return, and are presumably still trapped in the Khaoeta.”

  “We should take their ships,” Gia said. “Trap them here.” She glanced at G’allanthamas. “You can fly them, right?”

  “Ah, not exactly,” G’allanthamas said. “And while I do possess some hacking skills, it’s very likely that they kept their AIs active. The point defenses will shoot down anything that approaches.”

  “Then use that blurring ability of yours,” Gia said.

  “It won’t work at close range,” the dweller said.

  “I’m sure we could find a way if we really needed to,” Tane said. “But the fact is, we don’t. We’ll wait for repairs to complete on our own ships, then we’ll destroy the two vessels from orbit if we can. In the meantime, we’ll guard the approaches to the alien ships, in case the dwellers return, though I have a feeling S’Wraathar and the other Amaranth with him won’t be coming back to our universe anytime soon. But all of that is going to wait until we restore Sinive.”

  “How can you be sure the dwellers landed their vessels?” Lyra said. “The alien ships could be waiting in orbit.”

  “Nebb and I saw them,” Gia said. “They plowed their ships into the trees after we crash landed. It was the fastest way to pursue us.”

  “Okay, so, to the matter of reviving Sinive,” Lyra said. “What are we going to do, exactly?”

  “I’ll tell you on the way back to the swamp,” Tane said. “Jed, if you’ll do the honors?” He beckoned toward the jungle.

  Jed took the lead.

  Tane followed, and told his companions everything that had happened. Well, mostly everything. He didn’t reveal the other Emerald work he’d attained besides Revive.

  When he finished, Gia was the first to speak.

  “Life force feeders,” Gia said. “That sounds downright unpleasant.”

  “Oh it will be,” Tane said. “I have memories of participating in an archaeoceti Revive ritual. These beings can’t be hurt by lasers or plasma weapons—striking them with those only makes them stronger. Things like swords and other blunt weapons do work, however, so you’ll probably want to carve yourselves some staffs before we begin.” He glanced at Lyra, Chase and G’allanthamas. “Essence weapons work well. I don’t suppose you have the beam hilt control skill?” That latter question was directed at Chase.

  “No,” the Mancer said. “But I could learn.”

  “Mmm,” Tane said. “I’m not sure we have the time. I want to save Sinive and get off this world as soon as possible. One faction of dwellers has already come after us. Lyra mentioned they probably had a mole from another faction in their midst, so I wouldn’t be surprised if more dweller ships were already in-system and heading our way. Maybe even TSN.”

  “Well, I do know Essence Missile,” Chase said.

  “That’ll be good enough,” Tane said.

  “What about our shields?” Gia asked.

  “Useless against the feeders,” Tane replied. “Though Deflect will work against some of their attacks.”

  “Could we perhaps use a distortion tunnel to escape these life force feeders?” Lyra said.

  “I don’t think so,” Tane said. “They’ll follow us through as far as I know. We have to stave them off, keep them from touching Sinive. There’s no escaping this fight.” He glanced at G’allanthamas. “This is the cost you were speaking of, isn’t it? You knew I’d have to fight for her.”

  “Not precisely in this manner,” G’allanthamas said. “The cost I was referring to was more in regards to the archaeoceti themselves, in terms of convincing them to save her in the first place. And while they went beyond that by granting you the knowledge of how to do so yourself, you almost paid for that with your life simply to get here. And that is a steep enough cost in and of itself.”

  “True enough,” Tane said.

  Gia and Nebb tore away thick pieces of bamboo-like plants along the way, and carved the tips into sharp points with plasma knives they produced from their storage pouches.

  “I don’t suppose we can tie our plasma knives to the spears?” Gia asked him.

  “No,” Tane said. “Any plasma-based weapons will only feed them.”

  “Figured,” Gia said.

  “Do you even know how to use a spear?” Jed asked Gia over the comm.

  “Nope,” Gia said. “But I have to defend myself with something.”

  The insects had made a reappearance since Tane and the others had returned to their native universe, but thankfully they didn’t bother him, despite the fact his face was fully exposed due to the missing helmet faceplate. Tane suspected it was because the odor his human body produced “smelled” bad to them.

  Lyra slowed to walk alongside him at one point during the return journey.

  He glanced at her questioningly, and she inclined her head.

  “Tane,” she said, addressing him as an equal.

  “Lyra,” he returned.

  “Why didn’t you kill S’Wraathar?” Lyra asked.

  “I don’t know,” Tane replied. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

  “And yet sparing him was what caused the archaeoceti woman to help you, according to what you’ve told us,” Lyra said.

  “That’s right,” Tane said. He was quiet a moment. Then: “Is it true? S’Wraathar killed your sister?”

  “I shouldn’t have told you that,” Lyra said. “Shouldn’t have applied undue pressure. I almost caused you to make the worst mistake of your life. In a rare moment of weakness, I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. It won’t happen again.”

  “But is it true?” Tane pressed.

  Lyra’s face saddened, and she looked away. “I don’t know for sure. S’Wraathar wasn’t broadcasting his name when I first encountered him all those years ago, like he does now. It might have been him. Or at least, a dweller very much like him. A Graaz’dhen Amaranth, wielding a fiery pole-ax of the Dark, and leading a fist of dweller warriors. We fought hard, but…” Lyra paused. “My sister, she was the reason I set out to find you. She was close to Theolus, a highly respected mystic among the Volur. She’d attracted his attention soon after enrolling to become a Volur—in his words, ‘her intellect and sheer prowess in the Essence made her like a shining star, rising above all the rest.’ He took her under his wing, mentored her in the ways of the Essence, and the galaxy. As a mystic, he was very in tune with the Essence, more so than any other Volur. He was the reason we were able to pinpoint the inter-dimensional ship the dwellers were using to ravage human bases. With his help, we were able to ambush and destroy that ship. Gwenyth died during the mission.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Tane said.

  Lyra nodded behind her faceplate. “Theolus believed you had been born. It’s the reason why my sister became a warmancer. She wanted to find you. Protect you. Destroying the inter-dimensional ship was a stepping stone toward that goal, at least in her eyes. And when she died, I took up her cause. She swore me to the task, and I accepted. I had to. I needed something to distract myself from what happened. A way to... redeem myself, for failing her.”

  Tane didn’t know what to say to that. Thank you? Or maybe, it’s my fault? No, besides the fact that simply wasn’t true, there were no words he could give her that would lessen her pain. He decided the best course of action was to keep his mouth shut.

  During the remainder of the journey, he discussed potential tactics for the upcoming battle, listening to everyone’s input and ideas. They came up with a simple plan, but based on the descriptions of the creatures Tane confided from memory, and the
difficulty the several archaeoceti had in repelling the feeders, they all concluded it wasn’t going to be easy. Not at all.

  Eventually they reached the swamp with the large grazer skeleton strewn across it.

  Ideally Tane would have preferred to fight outside the marsh, but there was no way they’d be able to move that dual ribcage of upward and downward facing bones. It was simply too big and heavy. They could wait until the ships were repaired, perhaps, but Tane wanted to get this done as soon as possible.

  So, after Jed and Chase made a complete exploratory pass of the swamp, wading back and forth multiple times to confirm no creatures secretly resided within the depths, Tane and the others joined them in the marsh and with G’allanthamas’ help they moved the remaining pieces together, centering them around the twin ribcages, placing the bones so that they were all touching. It was tricky, considering how heavy some of the bigger pieces were, such as the hips and skull, which required a group effort to move, but eventually they had most of the desired bones in contact with one another.

  “That will have to do,” Tane said. “Positron?”

  Keeping watch at the edge of the swamp, Positron waded into the marsh now, dragging the stasis pod along behind him. The device’s levitation ensured it didn’t touch the murky surface.

  Positron easily squeezed between the curved bones of the bottommost portion of the ribcage, and deposited the stasis device in the center. The intention was for the ribs to act as a defensive bulwark of sorts against the life force feeders.

  “Everyone, into place,” Tane instructed.

  The party members assumed guard positions between the different ribs, watching all the approaches. G’allanthamas stood at the rear section, where one of the bones was missing, to cover the biggest gap between the lower ribcage and the hips.

  Tane drew his beam hilt, holding it in his right hand.

  Then he rested a hand on the large, downward curving rib bone beside him.

  It was time to bring Sinive back.