by Voxley, Vi
The general left the battleground behind, marching onto the entrance to the core on his deck. The Host had forced his hand, but he swore it was the last time.
The warriors guarding the core pulled away as he approached. Ryden strode past them, right onto a walkway connecting the outer rim to the warp core in the middle of the chasm. He looked down, but even his eyes were unable to see what was going on more than ten decks below. It was impossible to hear anything over the sounds of the engines.
The only way to know was to go and see for himself.
He heard the gasps of surprise when he took a good look at the level below him and gripped the railing of the walkway.
It may have been madness, but it was the fastest way down. To where he needed to be. Ryden jumped.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Aria
Aria picked up Joya's fallen spear with shaky hands.
The warrior lay before the Host's feet, her chest sliced open by the Clayor knife. The spear had fallen from her grip when she died and rolled Aria's way. It was heavy, so incredibly heavy Aria could barely lift it, especially with her left hand hurt.
The Host watched her feeble attempts with amusement.
"Do you think that will be of use to you, little Terran?" the hive mind asked, its deep voice dripping with malicious glee. "It's not made for your kind."
"I know," Aria said, supporting the spear on her hip, trying to take some of its weight off her injured hand. "But I'd rather die with a weapon in my grasp."
The Host laughed, the sound echoing in the large room, audible even over the core.
"You've spent too much time in Brion company."
"Maybe," Aria allowed.
In truth, it was her last message to Ryden. Everyone around her was dead or dying and she saw no way out. The coils were in her reach, but she'd never be allowed to approach them now.
She would never see the general again, never talk to her gerion again. Never actually bind to him, even if Aria knew they belonged to each other forever.
At least, she thought, he would find her corpse defiant in the face of the enemy. A Brion could appreciate such a gesture.
The Host stopped laughing. Aria watched as the tall champion slowly came closer to her over the bodies of her fallen guards.
"I have not forgotten your betrayal, Terran," the Host snarled. "And I have not forgiven."
***
Aria had approached the engine coils when the first alarm sounded. She looked back at Joya, who was listening to her com link intently.
"The Clayors have sent backup from their flagship. The enemy is onboard."
The real enemy had been onboard long before that, of course. Aria nodded, thinking that she could actually feel her blood rushing. With shaking hands, she started removing the covers from the compartment the coils were housed in.
If she got to them, if she could only get them far enough from the Host, the enemy couldn't use the Conqueror against Ilotra. Aria saw no other way. It wouldn't even damage the ship, merely freeze it in place. If all went as she planned.
She should really not have been shocked that it didn't. While she worked the engine open, doing her best not to touch anything that shouldn't have been poked, Joya kept trying to reach the guards that should have been in place there. On the upper levels, they saw and heard warriors moving, but they chose to stay firmly hidden not to draw attention to themselves at such a crucial point of their mission. But down below, there with them, no one moved.
It bothered Aria, because she could see it bothered her guards, but none of them could afford to abandon their plan then. All they had left was to keep an eye on her as she worked, from time to time calling on one of them to help her with the heavier parts of the machinery.
Her mind was working frantically. The elements she was working with weren't known for their calm nature. A warp core wasn't something she'd ever wanted to get close to. The technology was still strange to the Union, even after years of relying on it. She kept hearing about ships exploding for no apparent reason, their last transmission being about the overloading core. It made her feel like sitting on ticking bomb with a timer she couldn't see.
So what did it say about her trying to dismantle said bomb?
I must be crazy, Aria thought.
But years of training and learning came to her aid. The structure of the core was new to her, but the function remained the same. It still worked like all of them did, and through very careful trial and error, Aria edged closer to doing what she'd had in mind.
She already saw the coils when someone behind her screamed.
The sound shocked her entire world into painful, sharp focus. The scream had definitely been a Brion, but for a warrior to scream like that... Aria turned.
It felt like she was waking up in a dream. Like she'd been awake the whole time and suddenly found herself in a nightmare.
Not again, please not again.
The deck they were on, the great hall going up into the ship, wasn't empty at all. The guards were there; she'd probably stepped on a few without knowing it. Her stomach turned, watching the Host's handiwork.
Mangled, torn bodies looked like it had gone through them with teeth and nail rather than with knives. Pieces ripped from their bodies, holes in their faces. If the sight was meant to horrify, it did its job and then some. Aria didn't think she could ever forget the sight if she lived long enough to even have the chance to.
Her guards were seeing the same thing she was. At least Aria dearly hoped that they did. It was weird to wish that upon them, to see their comrades killed in such a brutal way, but at least it would have meant it was the truth instead of another illusion.
She saw the naked disgust on their faces, the fury that rose up from within them in a matter of seconds. The engine's light was mixed with red now, mirrored back from the valor squares on the necks of the Brions.
They attacked as one and not even a whimper escaped Aria's lips as she was once again left with no other choice but to be the witness.
The Host let her guards come, but its cruel, cold eyes had seen Aria and the warp engine behind her. She saw the creature's face twist in displeasure, in terrible rage. It had been mad before, that much was obvious from the deformed corpses, but Aria had managed to piss it off even further.
The hive mind roared through the mouth of the Host, so close to its destruction, more dangerous than ever before.
It gave a twirl with its twin knives, blood splatter flying off the blades. The Brions drew their spears as one, approaching it with Joya in the lead. For a second Aria saw a flicker of distraction in its big eyes, as if something else had drawn its attention, but then the merciless focus was back. The Host grinned, the smile made even creepier by its wide mouth.
It jumped into the action, parrying Joya's spears with the knives. All of her warriors followed, none of them holding back, because not one of them was a match to the Host alone. But the Clayor champion twisted itself out of their midst, becoming a blur of blades and strikes and blood.
Knowing there was nothing she could do for them except go through with her plan that the Brions were dying for, Aria turned back to the engine. She dipped her shaky hands into the engine to grasp the first coil when a knife came flying through the air, missing her by inches. Miraculously Aria was unhurt, but by flinching away from the blade lodged into the warp core's triple-enforced steel main body, she lost her balance.
She fell from the small platform she'd been standing on, landing heavily on her arm. She let out a cry of pain, but it was lost in the general mayhem and the sounds of the engine.
The Host had found a moment from its fight to deal with her. Aria gritted her teeth and started climbing back to the platform, made difficult now with only one good arm to use.
Looking behind her, she saw a sight she'd considered impossible. One after another, the Brions were missing the Host, the blows of their spears hitting thin air... or each other. Aria froze in mute terror halfway through her climb
when she saw an angry twitch on the faces of a few warriors, surprise followed by cruelty.
Aria realized the Host was messing with their heads when the first Brion spear hit his companion instead of the enemy. She didn't know what they were being shown, but apparently it was enough to warrant cruel malice.
Joya's face was etched with pure rage, twisting as if in pain, although she wasn't seriously hurt.
"Fight," she hissed through her teeth. "Fight that bastard."
So she's seeing it too, Aria thought.
In the middle of all of that confusion, the Host was moving. Its long hands looked like they were one with the knives, cutting and slashing the Brions open. Aria saw wounds on its body too, but it was too quick for her guards, too fast and too strong.
Although the Clayor champions were thin, it somehow managed to catch every blow of the incredibly heavy spears, holding fast against the strength of its opponents.
Finally Joya got close enough to deal the first serious wound, the blade of her spear opening a gushing wound on the Host's shoulder. The hive mind graced her with its undivided attention for that.
When the lieutenant's chest burst open, Aria's grip gave out. It happened so quickly. One moment, Joya was in a fight, dealing a wound to the enemy and the next, she was stumbling back, the spear dropping from her hands.
Aria had the good sense not to break her fall with her hands this time, but it still hurt. She pushed herself up, using her unhurt right hand, only to find grim silence when she stood. Looking up slowly, she found that the fight was over.
The Host was standing victorious over the Brions. Joya's spear was lying on the floor in front of Aria.
***
Aria didn't honestly think she could bring Joya's spear on guard. It was nothing more than a hindrance in her hands, but for some reason she was unwilling to let it go. There was no time to leave Ryden another message, no time for anything anymore.
"I must admit I underestimated you, Terran," the Host said.
Judging by the tone of its voice, Aria didn't take that as a compliment.
"You proved more difficult to control than the others," the hive mind snarled. "My mistake."
Aria backed away, her back hitting the steep stairs that she'd climbed to access the engine. So close. Only a few feet away from throwing the final wrench in the Host's plans. Only a minute away from really deserving the praise the hive mind was offering her.
They both heard a loud clang then. Aria saw the Host tense immediately, enjoying that small joy of seeing the enemy afraid. They looked up, at first seeing nothing. Then Aria's eyes went wide when she realized that there was a man, jumping down through the ship's active core. It was a miracle he didn't hit the twisting walkways or the engine itself or didn't slam against the core's protective cover.
Only it wasn't a miracle at all. She was smiling before the name came to her lips.
Then she remembered the enemy, and hearing its furious roar. Aria turned to see the thin edge of the Clayor knife coming to pierce her heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Aria
Aria's world shrunk down to the knife flying her way.
If she had a moment to truly consider it, she would have rationalized that it wasn't really possible for her to see the edge of the blade or actually even see it coming. The throw took less than a second and what made her eyes fly wide was the simple realization that she didn't have the reaction speed to dodge.
No, Aria couldn't have leaped out of the way if she wanted to. The Host was a champion of his species, the physical manifestation of the hive mind. The strength and speed with which it could throw the knife was, simply put, insane. He was quick beyond Aria's comprehension.
Ryden was quicker.
The sound of the knife clattering to the deck startled Aria out of her daze. Her eyes threatened to pop out of her head as she watched the Clayor knife that had nearly ended her short life lying before her feet, pinned to the deck by Ryden's spear.
Several thoughts rushed through her head, each more unbelievable than the next.
I'm alive. I am alive, was the most prevailing, but in some way the most natural.
Her fated had come for her. It was so completely unreal for him to be there when she needed him the most, but it made sense to Aria on a primal level she hadn't had before. The general watching over her was as logical as the laws of physics she loved.
He threw his spear, followed shortly after.
Her mouth opened in a scream, but it was drowned out by the Host's victorious cry. By saving her life, Ryden had left himself weaponless.
The general jumped the last level, landing in a crouch a little away from the Host. Aria watched in horror-mixed awe as he straightened up, tall and proud, his green eyes blazing with inner fire. The armor he wore was bloody and so was his face, making him look even more dangerous.
He squared his wide shoulders, effortlessly showing off his powerful, magnificent body. Aria had heard it said many times that it was the Brion warrior himself, not the weapons he carried, that was the true threat to any enemy.
That might be true, but I bet the spear helps, went through her mind.
The spear was right there in front of her, the blade stuck in the deck. Aria's eyes flickered to it and she considered the impossible, while trying to keep an eye on the Host and the general.
The Clayor hive mind didn't attack at once as she'd expected it to. It paced slowly, positioned between Aria and Ryden, not once taking its eyes off the general. One of the twin knives lay broken on the deck, but the other was still in the Host's hand.
Aria's thoughts were rushing her.
It's trying to figure out whether to kill me first or take Ryden down before he retrieves the spear. Only it doesn't dare to kill me yet, because my fated will tear him to shreds if that happens. It wants to live. I have to get the spear to Ryden.
Easier said than done, however. Aria had barely been able to lift Joya's spear, but she had been a woman, a whole head shorter than Ryden, who was powerfully built even for a Brion warrior. His spear would be impossible for her to carry, much less pull out of the deck.
But as the Host and the general stared each other down, deciding on the best course of action, an idea occurred to Aria. Maybe it wasn't important if she could get the spear out. Maybe it was enough to distract the Host for only a second.
She'd done enough crazy things in one day to already be used to it. Aria looked at Ryden, whose expression changed instantly when he saw her. The momentary gentleness she saw turned to utter, stunned horror in the general's eyes when she wrapped her hands around the shaft of the spear and made as if to pull.
Naturally, she'd been right. The spear, longer than her and probably heavier, didn't even budge. That didn't matter, as she'd predicted. Both Ryden and the Host reacted as one, like arrows released from a bow. Ryden charged toward her. The Host attacked him, clearly refusing to let him back to the weapon.
Aria let go and started to climb. Her heart was beating furiously and her hand ached, but she pushed through both. The Host had been right. She had spent too long in the presence of Brions. Their ways were contagious, but while she had found them brutal and savage at first, now Aria could no longer find fault in them.
The Brions were proud and rash, yes, but their willingness to put everything on the line for what they believed in was nothing short of inspiring.
Aria told herself that she'd be damned if she wasn't going to at least try to answer with the same. She'd done all she could for the general, given him a moment of distraction. Now the best she could give him was to get out of the way. As Aria climbed the stairs, she looked back down, a petrified gasp escaping her lips.
She'd thought she had seen fighting, but it was instantly clear to her that what she'd witnessed before were civilized, nice battles. The brutality before her eyes knocked the breath from her lungs.
The Host had rushed Ryden as soon as the general moved, which left him with the single option of meeting
the hive mind barehanded. Anyone else, Aria guessed, would have been killed in an instant, but Ryden had done the only logical thing and caught the knife coming to cut his head off. Now he and the Host wrestled on the ground in a beastly, barbaric duel for their lives.
The knife was between Ryden's hands, with him holding onto the blade, because to let go was to die. Aria saw the impossibly sharp edges cutting into the gloves of the general's armor, the blood trickling from his hands, but still he refused to let go. All the while the Host was as caught as he was, just as unable to let go. He pushed down furiously, using every limb he had to get an upper hand.
They rolled on the ground, kicking, gnawing, beating the other against the ground with their mass. Up close, unarmed, Ryden's weight and strength were almost matched. Only Aria suspected that the real obstacle were the Host's powers. The general had the same look in his eyes as Joya had, but he held up much better. Aria saw him blink deeply to clear his head, but Ryden couldn't afford to look away from an enemy like that for too long.
He wouldn't hold on forever, that was clear. Aria climbed, the adrenaline surging in her blood. She had to use the moment when the Host was occupied. The trick had worked before. She could only pray it would work again. If she managed to smash the coils instead of hiding them like she'd intended, she could take away the hive mind's last remaining chance to win. An enraged enemy was a clumsy enemy. Ryden had told her that back on Ilotra.
She was starting to suspect her hand was broken. The pain was getting worse with every second that she thought of it. Aria knew how to fashion a first-aid sling for her broken limb, but there was no time. She couldn't afford to give up the use of her hand, even a broken one.
Behind her were only cries and growls and the awful stench of blood. Aria hoped it was the corpses around the fighters, but she could no longer look back. Seeing Ryden hurt was physically painful for her to see. She couldn't afford it; she had to finish her mission. For Ilotra, for Ryden, for everyone.