Nova Sky- Titan Rising

by Eden Blue

  Evan kept a small smile, “I’ll get to that in a moment. What do you know about Titans?”

  Lydia stared at her cousin for a moment before continuing, “Titans are horrible, giant alien monsters. They have been found all over the galaxy and are often hunted for their crystal hearts. Depending on their size and category, they may have one to five Tempest crystals. A crystal is used to power everything from ships to cities, and are used for creating warp tunnels. It is the most sought out item in the universe. I still don’t understand why this is important?”

  Evan turned to Lydia, “May I bridge a connection?”

  Lydia smiled, “Of course.”

  Evan activated his implant and sent a request to Lydia’s Control Implant. The younger player allowed the connection and their implants bridged. Holographic images sprouted up between them that only they could see. Evan began tapping at 2D screens and pulled up star maps and images. Information flowed as the two players looked at the 3D images. A star map solidified as did a number of gruesome looking monsters.

  “Tempest crystals do fuel everything from each civilization. They are the most important resource one can find in Nova Sky. A tempest crystal can be split into smaller pieces depending on ship or city size. A tempest drive can harness its power to open warp tunnels by bending space time. Staying with me so far?”

  Lydia smiled.

  Evan continued, “Most planets in the galactic territories that have contained a titan have already been harvested.”

  Evan tapped at the star map and magnified the edge section of a map, “That leaves us the galactic rim. Players make an effort to explore the rim and find titans so they can harvest the crystals and sell them back to the highest bidder. It would be easy enough if the titans were not so powerful. Players can handle maybe a category one titan, but a two to a five requires whole armies and sometimes a fleet of ships. Even a category one requires a small army to take it on, and that's hoping it doesn’t have parasites. Parasites come in all shapes and sizes and will defend a titan if they feel their food is threatened.”

  Lydia waited patiently as Evan continued.

  “Since I unplugged, I have been going over everything that has happened in the last few months. Ryan moved out a few months ago to Palm Tree Dome. I could tell he was excited, but he also seemed a little reserved. I thought it had to do with some of the internal fighting in the guild over expanding our directives. I didn’t think much of it at first, but you know how Ryan gets a little more talkative when he's feeling good. I think the move was really important to him to help spread his wings and not be so close to home.

  “I was helping him pack and he started talking about a strange request from the rim. A signal was sent calling for extra help, but there weren’t too many details. The request was only up an hour before it disappeared. Ryan talked about the signal a few times before he caught himself and shut down. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now it sort of makes sense that he would want to investigate it.”

  Lydia’s eyes contained a misty confusion.

  “When you’re out mining, you come across other guild members in cities and stations. Almost everyone talks about the gossip going on within the guild. I overheard on several occasions there was some infighting concerning the expansion directives. The guild leaders wanted to keep things as they were with a slow buildup of our forces, but there were some complaining that the Azure Guild had softened. I know Ryan hated to hear that the guild had become a shell of what it was. He would often talk about how hard it was in the beginning for the guild to stay together and that it took years for it to reach the level of respect it achieved.

  “I think this whole mess is connected. Ryan must have done what he did because there was a bigger reason at stake. Thinking back, he was giving me breadcrumbs the whole time. When he pulled me aside before the speech, he told me to remember the Green Cave. I didn’t know it at the time, but he left us that ship and I bet he knew we would make it out. As for the rim, the signal came from the biggest city on the edge of known space, Rekkus Spire in the Gwyndolin system.”

  Lydia kept her eyes neutral as the flood of information cascaded over her mind. She looked to the holo display of the star system. Reading the reports from the system, they indicated the neighboring planets each had a titan, but they were harvested years ago. Reports moved up in the display, rumors of more titans in the nearby rim systems. It was turning into a gold rush and players from across the spiral arm of the Milky Way were trying to make their fortune.

  Lydia folded her hands on her lap as she looked past the holo displays to Evan, “Have you ever fought a titan?”

  Evan looked past the hologram, eyes connecting with Lydia’s, “I have helped in two titan encounters. Ryan has helped take down about ten. I was mostly on repair duty, but it was sorely needed. Fighting a titan can go on for hours to days. They are truly monsters of the universe.”

  The young man could see the concern in Lydia’s eyes. She was a new player, and helping in harvesting titans was something level twenty and up players could do. The only reason Evan was there, was to help with repairs and not engage in actual combat. Memories floated on of Ryan leading power suit squads on hit and run attacks while support ships fired from orbit. The titans were relentless monsters that destroyed anything they came across. They often had unpredictable tactics, strange attacks, and some could fire directly into space, taking down full battleships. They were the cash crop of the universe, but only if you managed to survive an encounter with them.

  “You don’t have to worry. I have no intention of putting us anywhere near a titan, but I think going to the rim will be our best plan to find Ryan,” Evan smiled.

  Lydia nodded, “What about the Crimson Blades? I can see that they’re the ruling guild in the area, second to the Krekken.”

  “The Krekken control Rekkus Spire, but the Crimson Blades are also in the sector. I’m sure they won’t want to start any trouble with the locals. Rekkus Spire is on a moon called Tuvorr, over a water planet named Serdren. The Krekken use Serdren as a farming planet so it is very important to them. You know how the Krekken love to eat.”

  Lydia nodded, “What do we do when we reach Ryan? I don’t think he is going to just tell us why he did it.”

  Evan’s eyes sagged a bit as he moved his hand across, dismissing the holo images, “I’m not sure. I can’t believe he would slaughter the guild for no reason. He must be up to something to go through all this trouble.”

  Lydia watched as the pain registered in Evan’s eyes. Nova Sky was meant to be a sandbox game where people could explore, but after everything that happened, it was apparent that the dark side of humanity could still be seen and even felt in the game.

  Evan’s expression changed as he mentally pushed the negative images from his mind, “Let’s find Ryan first and then we can figure everything else out.”

  Lydia nodded.

  Evan continued, “I’m sure Venna will want to find out too. Since Vickers wants to go to the rim, we can drop him off there. I think Nyn will stay with us. She's a pilot and we will need one to pilot the ship.”

  Lydia’s lip wrinkled as she thought back to their escape, “When we were evacuating your ship, you said you didn’t have any weapons and it was a long story. What did you mean?”

  Evan’s face blanked before turning away to the storm just beyond the dome’s transparent wall. Lydia saw in his eyes a faraway memory come rushing back. Her mouth opened to apologize when Evan lifted up a hand, turned to face her and gave a disarming smile.

  “I’m surprised you never heard what happened.”

  Lydia closed her mouth, silence filling the space between them.

  Evan smiled, “It’s okay. I should clear the air so you know before we go back. I’m fine talking about it since we’re family, but please, let’s keep it between us, okay?”

  Lydia sat up straighter, “You know I won’t tell anyone. It will be safe with me.”

  Evan nodded and continued, “A
few years back, Ryan and I were watching a movie from the data cores which, as you know, hold every movie, piece of music, and history from the world before the deluge. It was one of our recess breaks and we thought we would pass the time watching something. We had stumbled upon classic movies and began watching Blade Runner. It was a dark and interesting movie. Ryan liked it, but I was hooked. We were nearly half way through and really into it.”

  Evan’s eyes took on a faraway gaze once again, “Dad was home, plugged into Nova Sky. Mom was cooking and singing in the background. She liked to cook instead of using the protein bars. She managed to get some vat-grown chicken and wanted all of us to sit down to a nice dinner. I was looking forward to eating real meat, but I was lost to the movie.

  “I remember sitting and watching when we heard a loud banging. Ryan was up and moving toward the door when someone started shouting. Ryan froze before turning to me and telling me to get Dad. Mom came out of the kitchen and looked to Ryan. I just stood there, waiting as the person kept banging and yelling through the door.

  “I stayed where I was, not moving as the person on the other side yelled ‘I know you’re in there, Ryan! Come out now so we can settle this!’ Ryan motioned me to get dad again, but I couldn’t move. I could tell Ryan was getting angry and he was about to do something.

  “After Ryan pointed to Dad’s room, he moved to the door. I took one step, but stopped as Ryan took hold of the doorknob and the door exploded in. One of our neighbors, Jacob Peterson, had kicked it in and rushed at Ryan. Ryan was about to punch him when Mom stepped in between them, her back to Ryan and facing Mr. Peterson. She demanded to know what this was about. Mr. Peterson ranted on how Ryan had stolen credits from his daughter on a guild raid. The Petersons were in a rival guild and had attacked our guild many times, but didn’t like it when Ryan returned the favor. They didn’t respect the law of separation between game and reality. Mr. Peterson took it personally and demanded back the credits taken.

  “Mom tried to calm him down, but Mr. Peterson seemed unhinged. When she asked him to leave, he tried to bully past her to get to Ryan. When she stood up to him, he slapped her.”

  Lydia’s face grew solemn as she could see the pain in Evan’s eyes.

  Evan looked on as he continued, “I remember mom falling to the ground, clutching her face. Ryan charged Mr. Peterson. Mr. Peterson pulled out a gun.”

  “He had a real gun,” Lydia gasped.

  Evan nodded, “I had only seen them in movies or the museum. I didn’t know anyone who actually had one. He pointed it at Ryan, but you know my brother, he’s not afraid of anything. He grabbed at Mr. Peterson’s wrist and struggled with him, pointing the gun away. I was frozen as I watched them struggle. I didn’t know what to do. Dad had stepped out from his room as Ryan and Mr. Peterson struggled. I can still remember how he looked when he saw mom on the floor and Ryan fighting. He crossed the room in a blink, crashing into Mr. Peterson. You know my dad is not a small man. He was in full control as he grabbed the wrist Ryan was struggling with and twisted it. Mr. Peterson let out a yell as the gun went flying from his hand.

  “I don’t remember too well what happened next. Dad and Ryan beat Mr. Peterson until he was on his knees. Mom was up and calling for the magistrates. Somehow, I had the gun in my hands. I still remember the cold metal as I hefted it up. When Mr. Peterson wasn’t struggling, Dad and Ryan stepped back, but it was Dad who turned to see me with the gun, pointing it at Mr. Peterson. I remembered the look of horror as I stood with it, pointed at the man who barged into our home and struck my mother.

  “Dad moved toward me, hand out, but I was watching Mr. Peterson. He was bleeding from his face, but he looked up and pulled a large knife from his jacket. Ryan saw the knife and went to grab it. I could see Mr. Peterson using it on my dad and I pulled the trigger.”

  Lydia watched as raw emotion past through Evan’s eyes.

  Evan let out a small laugh, “The gun didn’t have any ammunition. I was shaking after I pulled the trigger. I thought I saw a bullet fly out and hit Mr. Peterson but it never happened. Ryan grabbed Mr. Peterson by the wrist and wrestled the knife away. Dad snatched the gun from my hands. He looked to me with the saddest expression I had ever seen.”

  Evan sat up a little straighter, a lightness filling his brow, “Dad turned and kicked Mr. Peterson until he coughed up blood. Then he grabbed him and threw him into the hallway and waited until the magistrates arrived. I was shaking so bad, I ran to the bathroom and threw up. Ryan stayed with Dad, while Mom came in and held me as I puked my guts up.

  “After the magistrates picked up Mr. Peterson, we all sat down and talked. Dad explained how we had to be careful in and out of the game. Just because there was a law of separation, didn’t mean people always followed it. Then everyone looked to me, all of them agreeing I should not take the soldier class in the game. I had talked about it, wanting to follow in Ryan’s footsteps, but after that evening, I decided to try another class. I think the Engineer class worked out better for me anyway.”

  Lydia sat for a long moment before opening her mouth, “I didn’t know. If Uncle Eric told my dad, they never told anyone else. I had no idea.”

  Evan gave a faint smile, “Maybe it was for the best. I still don’t like to use guns, but I understand they are necessary in Nova Sky. I often set up plasma turrets, but Pris is the one who pulls the trigger. I know it’s weird, but I handle it better that way.”

  “It’s not weird,” Lydia said with a warm smile.

  “Thank you, Lydia. It was better to tell you here than in the game.”

  Lydia nodded before giving Evan a serious gaze, “So did you finish?”

  Evan raised an eyebrow, “Finish?”

  A smile crept into Lydia’s lips, “Finish watching Blade Runner?”

  Evan looked to her and let out a deep laugh, “Yea, we finished it a few nights later. Great movie, I wish the world was a little more like that instead of floating domes on an endless ocean.”

  Lydia kept her smile, “Maybe the oceans will recede and we will see dry land again.”

  “We can only hope,” Evan grinned.

  The two cousins turned their attention to the storms beyond, watching lightning arc as thick rain fell from dark skies.

  Five

  Evan sat back in his chair. With practiced ease, he slipped the feeding tube band onto his arm. The needle pierced his skin until it tapped a vein. Sitting back into the chair, he lifted the Nova Gear Helmet and placed it over his head. Leaning back, his muscles relaxed as the game system activated. Lights along the rim turned from red to green. Evan closed his eyes and darkness covered his reality until a digital light rose up from the black. Seconds passed before the light encompassed everything. As his mind loaded to the Nova Sky servers, images of saying his goodbyes to Lydia swam through the bright light. He was going to see her in moments, but it would be different. It was always different when you went back to Nova Sky.

  The flashing light died down and digital reality faded into view. Evan felt different, lighter and stronger. Taking a quick glance around, he saw Venna in the commander’s chair. Nyn was at the pilot controls. Doctor Vickers was nowhere to be seen and it appeared Lydia hadn’t logged in yet.

  Venna turned her dark eyes to Evan and a small smirk appeared, “Glad to have you back. Nyn is getting acquainted with the pilot controls and Doctor Vickers is inspecting the small medical area.”

  The Shri-Ka looked up, “And someone else is glad your back.”

  “Hello Evan,” said the computer voice of Pris.

  “Hello Pris, getting comfortable in your new skin?”

  “I am. It feels different, but I should be fully adjusted in another hour.”

  Venna turned her attention back to Evan, “Is Lydia on her way?”

  “She is on her way home now. She should be logging on soon.”

  Venna’s small smile faded, “I logged on first and began operating procedures. I have assumed command of this ship and we should be read
y to take off soon.”

  “Do I have a say?” Evan said with a sarcastic edge.

  “You wish to challenge me?” Venna smirked.

  Evan shook his head, “I was going to vote for you to assume the Captain position anyway. Glad my vote wasn’t wasted.”

  Venna nodded, “I’m happy to have your input.”

  Evan stepped closer to the Captain, “I think I have an idea where we can find Ryan.”

  “Rekkus Spire in the Gwyndolin system?” Venna said with no emotion.

  Evan raised an eyebrow, “How did you know?”

  Venna sank into the chair, her tail swishing back and forth across the smooth floor, “I contacted a few people I could trust, guild members who were not at the station when everything fell to pieces. They received their notifications of the guild disbanding. Some immediately went into hiding while others began scanning. Ryan’s ship, the Black Dagger, was scanned as it left Azure Station. It formed a warp tunnel, course plotted to the Rim. Rekkus Spire is big enough to hide in. Some of the former guild members are on their way there to hide as well.”

  “Hide? Why?”

  Venna’s eyes took a hard edge, “Shortly after the meeting, bounties were placed on any surviving Azure guild members. Our names are on every civilized world across the spiral arm.”

  “What about the station?”

  Venna nodded, “Pris.”

  On the main screen, debris floated high above the planet Nok.

  “The debris matches Azure Station. There are residue plasma charges and debris matching the defense drones. The Gorgon had also opened fire on the station with several other ships before opening warp tunnels and exiting the system,” Pris said matter of fact.

  “It would appear all we have is each other,” Venna said with a sardonic tone.

  Evan stared at the screen, watching the floating debris and a sinking feeling filling his stomach. The station was like a second home and now it floated in pieces. He wanted to be melancholy, but he quickly pushed it away. They had a mission and something was telling him they were running out of time.