HE WHO CROSSES DEATH: Star Warrior Quadrilogy Book 3

by Hooke, Isaac

  “Contained within this request is the knowledge to Siphon the Gray Essence,” another voice said. “We cannot give you the muscle memory, as we have no technical understanding of your nanotech. You will have to practice, using what is taught within the communications packet. You have the ability inside of you: learn to Siphon the Gray, as you will need it against the Z’Antamaraan.”

  “How can I defeat them?” Tane asked. “Do you know?”

  Once more the surrounding individuals gave him odd looks, including Alric.

  “Accept, and we will tell you,” the voice responded.

  Still Tane hesitated.

  The tarmac shook—the glowing material began to bulge outward. Gray shockwaves, similar to those emerging from Tane’s own body, began to emanate from the surface.

  Tane continued to touch both the hull above him and the Dark Artifact beside him, in case he needed to act.

  The Paramount Leader and his men meanwhile backed away as a rock creature took shape, similar to the entity Tane had met in the Khaeota. White and blue veins spidered across the gray rock that composed its flesh. A torso, arms, and a head took shape, however unlike the Khaeota entity, whose lower body had been encased in metal, this creature had no lower body: its torso merged directly with the tarmac.

  When it finished taking shape, it towered over Tane, coming in at about twice as tall as him. It glowed like the surrounding tarmac, and was surrounded by ripples of gray that emanated from its skin.

  “Accept,” the creature commanded.

  Tane finally accepted the sharing request. As promised, he received a digital document. In it were instructions on how to access the Gray Essence. He skimmed over it, and knew right away it would probably take weeks of practice, if not longer. Apparently, the creodenti lived inside the sub-universe formed between the atoms composing rocks and other minerals. The Gray Essence, meanwhile, came from the energy generated within those rocks. That would explain the glow of all things stone here. Apparently the universe he resided inside right now was an intermediary one between that of the creodenti and Umanitar, as no human could enter the sub-universe and live.

  “There’s nothing here pertaining to the Z’Antamaraan,” Tane said.

  “Yes,” a voice said in his mind. “We will now impart the Ruin. Listen carefully.”

  And then they told him how to defeat the Z’Antamaraan. The words continued to form within his mind, for him alone to hear.

  Tane listened in both shock and wonder. Yes, this knowledge could definitely destroy the galaxy.

  But also save it.

  When the creodenti finished, a gray rip in the fabric of spacetime appeared next to the Mosaic.

  “Follow me,” Tane told Alric and his minions.

  Tane lowered his hand from the hull above him, and commanded the Dark Artifact to shrink, placing it in his storage pouch. Then he stepped down off the ramp and entered the spacetime tear.

  Tane emerged into the Umanitar. He knew because he was still standing on the same platform, except the tarmac no longer glowed, and gray shockwaves had ceased to expand from his body. The sky had returned to its natural color.

  The Mosaic was gone—no doubt a larger ship had arrived to tow it away, as he had expected. That it had still existed in the creodenti universe told him that he was right about the snapshot of Umanitar lagging. Whether or not the creodenti themselves had any hand in that, he didn’t know.

  There were also soldiers here—more Mancers, warriors, and scepters. They immediately pointed their weapons at Tane, or in the case of the Mancers, their staffs.

  Alric and the others emerged from the rip in spacetime behind him.

  “Stand down,” Alric told the soldiers.

  The men obeyed.

  The rip in spacetime sealed and Tane allowed the Paramount Leader to pick out five men to accompany them, and then Tane led the way to the palace. Remembering the tiny dart that had struck his illusion earlier, Tane kept his shield active, but turned off autogating mode so that the energy field would protect him from slower moving projectile weapons, such as that dart. He would have to be very careful of assassins, going forward.

  Along the way Tane checked his notifications. He wasn’t expecting to see any level ups, because he knew it would get harder to level as he became more advanced, and he hadn’t really vanquished enough opponents to justify any increases. But what he saw still floored him.

  Class change: your class is now Bender of Worlds.

  Bender of Worlds. So even his chip recognized him for who he was, now. He disabled his ID spoofing. It was time to let the galaxy know who he was.

  As he entered the main hall and made his way to the throne room, he asked Alric: “Where are my friends? And the dweller that came with me?”

  Alric’s eyes defocused. Then he looked at Tane. “My assistant tells me they’re safe. In holding cells.”

  “Release them,” Tane said. “And have them escorted to the throne room. They are to be allowed all of their equipment, including weapons.”

  Alric inclined his head. “It will be done.”

  When Tane entered the throne room, none of the Essence warriors and other soldiers trained their weapons on him, but kept them firmly pointed toward the floor. Alric must have radioed ahead to warn them.

  When he reached the throne, Tane turned around to face the gathered throng, courtiers and soldiers alike.

  Before he could speak, the Paramount Leader knelt before him. “I, Alric Graim Maelbane, Supreme Paramount Leader of the Thorran Star Navy, declare my allegiance and undying servitude to Tane Ganeth, Bender of Worlds and Wearer of the Bone Crown.”

  Shocked whispers rippled throughout the gathered ranks. He saw fear in the eyes of many of them. And in others, awe.

  “All of the starships and resources of the Thorran Star Navy are at your disposal,” the Paramount Leader continued. “Henceforth I, and the TSN, exist only to serve you.” Alric glanced up to survey the shocked faces around him. “Kneel before the Bender of Worlds.”

  Only a few people and robots nearby complied.

  “Kneel!” Alric said more forcibly.

  Throughout the room, men and women, soldiers and courtiers, knelt. Tane noted the faces of those who were the last to do so. He would likely have to watch them, in the future.

  “All hail Tane Ganeth, Bender of Worlds!” someone said behind him.

  “ALL HAIL TANE GANETH, BENDER OF WORLDS!” the gathered throng answered as one.

  Tane glanced at the man who had voiced the call. He realized it was Nelson, kneeling beside the throne. For some reason the man was looking triumphantly at the female synthetic beside him.

  Sinive, Nebb, Gia, Chase, and G’allanthamas appeared at the entrance to the room.

  Sinive broke free of her escort and ran to him. When she reached him, she seemed uncertain of what to do, seeing as how everyone else was kneeling. She abruptly dropped to one knee as well.

  Tane deactivated his shield to pull her to her feet.

  “You never kneel,” he said quietly. He wanted to hold her close, but that was for later. Instead, he gently shoved her, and she took the hint, giving him room to reactivate his shield. She did likewise, standing at his side.

  Tane surveyed the crowd around him. Those whose eyes he met quickly glanced down. Yes, there was more fear here than awe. He wasn’t sure if he should rectify that. Perhaps it was better that they were afraid of him.

  He focused on Sinive. There was more than a little fear in her own eyes. He hoped that look didn’t stay there: he disliked it, especially on her.

  “I didn’t want this,” Tane said, addressing not just her, but everyone who had gathered. “I never wanted it. But it’s necessary for what comes.” He cleared his throat. “Rise to your feet. Gather your admirals. Prepare your ships. The Bender of Worlds has need of you. Tomorrow, we invade the Umbra. The dwellers will kneel to me before we are done.”

  There was stunned silence among the ranks. Then someone started a battl
e cry.

  “Ganeth!” one of the courtiers said. “Ganeth the Conquerer!”

  It was quickly picked up by the gathered army. “GANETH THE CONQUERER!”

  Alric himself repeated the cry, perhaps loudest of them all. In his eyes there was a wild, fervent look, as though out of all the troops, the Paramount Leader himself was the most eager to obey. As well he should be.

  Tane glanced at Sinive. The fear was gone, replaced by disapproval, but also respect. Loving respect.

  As the war cries intensified, Tane knew that no mattered what happened, she would remain at his side throughout it all.

  And that was all that mattered.

  Because he didn’t think he could do this without her.

  We have a universe to save.

  Thank you very much for reading!

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  Tane Ganeth

  Tane’s current attributes, skills, and equipment

  Attributes

  Name: Tane Ganeth

  Race: Human

  Level: 14

  Class: Bender of Worlds

  Strength: 10

  Intelligence: 16 (29 with Beam Hilt I, Chrysalium Star Rings, Feral Necklace, Finger of Malevolence, and Nova Bracelet I equipped)

  Dexterity: 14

  Endurance: 24 (45 with Beam Hilt I, Chrysalium Star Rings, and Endurance Necklace I equipped)

  Charisma: 9

  Armor Rating:

  - 37 (with Armored Robe I reduced for layering underneath Spacesuit II; and Nova Bracelet I, Osmium Gauntlets I, and A3 Personal Shield system equipped)

  or

  - 43 (with Armored Robe I alone; and Nova Bracelet I, Osmium Gauntlets I, and A3 Personal Shield system equipped)

  Skills

  Bargaining. Level 0.

  Chip Database Upgrade. Level 2.

  Crop Gene Splicing. Level 2.

  Cycling. Level 2.

  Electrical Engineering. Level 1.

  Endurance Running. Level 1.

  ID Spoofing. Level 1.

  Kissing. Level 0.

  Learning. Level 3.

  Mechanical Engineering. Level 2.

  Mountain Climbing. Level 1.

  Piano. Level 2.

  Rake Fighting. Level 0.

  Sex Mastery. Level 0.

  Sharpshooting. Level 2.

  Social Skills. Level 2.

  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pilot (Small Craft). Level 1.

  Essence Skills

  Chrysalium Siphoning Level 3.

  Darcanium Siphoning. Level 2.

  Dark Artifact Control. Level 1.

  Dark Siphoning. Level 2.

  Dark and White Mixing. Level 3.

  Emerald Siphoning. Level 2.

  Essence Link. Level 0.

  Essence Sight. Level 3.

  White Beam Hilt Control. Level 3.

  — Blade Manipulation. Level 1.

  — Essence Sheath. Level 1.

  White Siphoning. Level 2.

  White Essence Specific

  White Siphoning Level 1 Essenceworks:

  Air Current. Level 2.

  Essence Missile. Level 3.

  Persistent Flame. Level 1.

  White Siphoning Level 2 Essenceworks:

  Wound Healing. Level 2.

  Light Glove. Level 1.

  Dark Essence Specific

  Dark Siphoning Level 1 Essenceworks:

  Night Vision. Level 1. Creation time: 14 seconds.

  Melt Metal. Level 1. Creation time: 57 seconds.

  Fingers of Ruin. Level 2. Creation time: 55 seconds.

  Dark and White Essence Specific

  Dark and White Mixing Level 1 Essenceworks:

  Repel Nanotech. Level 1. Creation time: 2 minutes.

  Infuse Oxygen. Level 1. Creation time: 30 seconds.

  Emerald Essence Specific

  Emerald Siphoning Level 1 Essenceworks:

  Revive. Level 1.

  Summon Grazer. Level 1.

  Emerald Siphoning Level 2 Essenceworks:

  Illusion. Level 1.

  Lightning Storm. Level 1.

  Equipment

  - A3 Personal Shield System

  - Blur cap

  - Armored Robe I

  - Basic outfit.

  - Beam Hilt I (White Beam Hilt)

  - C’havar Beam Hilt (Dark Beam Hilt)

  - 5x Chrysalium Star Ring I

  - D18 smart targeting plasma rifle.

  - Endurance Necklace I (Epic)

  - Feral Necklace (Epic)

  - Finger of Malevolence (Legendary)

  - Harness with 2 incendiary grenades.

  - Nova Bracelet I

  - Osmium Gauntlets I

  - Spacesuit II

  - Traveler’s Delight (Personal Storage Device I). Capacity: 3/10. Items: Suitcase of clothes, Sigma 231 Dark Artifact

  White Essenceworks

  List of publicly available White Essenceworks

  Essenceworks available to White Siphoning, Level 1.

  Shapist:

  Star Light. Positions a light globe in the immediate area; the globe follows the Essenceworker. Higher levels allow one to choose different wavelengths, from infrared to ultraviolet, and to place the globe farther away. Stamina drain: low for short durations.

  Silence Cage. Envelops an area in silence, preventing sound from entering or leaving. Higher levels offer a greater area of effect. Stamina drain: low for short durations.

  Warmancer, ranged:

  Air Current. Launch a gust of air. Strength of gust increases at higher levels, or when Siphoning through Chrysalium. Ineffective against energy shields until level 3. Stamina drain: low to high, depending on gust strength.

  Essence Missile. Launch a missile of pure Essence at an opponent. Energy shields offer no defense. Stamina drain: medium to high, depending on strength of missile launched.

  Persistent Flame. Create a persistent flame in the palm of your hand. At higher levels, can be used to burn objects. Ineffective against energy shields. Stamina drain: low to high, depending on flame strength and duration.

  Warmancer, hand-to-hand:

  Essence Trap. Create a small trap on an object such as a door or vault that detonates when the object is opened. Higher levels inflict more damage. Stamina drain: medium.

  Essenceworks available to White Siphoning, Level 2.

  Shapist:

  Blur features. Hide your face from the facial recognition algorithms in cameras by applying infrared light globes around one’s features. At higher levels, you can affect other individuals, and also change the shape of your face on the visual band as well. And at the highest levels, you can affect larger objects such as small shuttles, allowing you to blur the thermal and visual signatures, effectively hiding the craft from detection by passive sensors. Stamina drain: medium to extremely high, depending on object size.

  Healer:

  Wound healing. Heals wounds on one subject. At higher levels, major wounds can be healed. Stamina drain: high. Note: requires physical contact with the subject.

  Warmancer, hand-to-hand:

  Light glove. Your hand becomes coated in a glove of white Essence, allowing you to punch through shields, hitting any armor beyond. Stamina drain: medium for short durations.

  Essenceworks available to White Siphoning, Level 3.

  Distorter:

  Distortion tunnel. Create a distortion tunnel to jump from one point to another. At higher levels, the range and size of the tunnel increase. Jump points must be within line of sight. Cannot be used as a weapon or breach tool: distortion tunnels will not open over solids such as bulkheads or human beings. Note: knowledge of this skill is not needed to operate a starship jump chamber, as the operator merely Siphons while the AI aboard the starship handles the actual creation. As such, Essence Jump Chamber Control is not considered a White Essence Skill. Stamina drain: high.

  Shapist:

  Public profile masking. Alter your public profile in realtime to fool customs and other officials. Stamina
drain: low for short durations.

  Speed boost. Momentarily boost your speed, or the speed of another. Stamina drain: low.

  Warmancer, ranged:

  Telekinesis. Remotely manipulate objects. Stamina drain: low to high, depending on range and size of object to be manipulated.

  Warmancer, hand-to-hand:

  Deflect. Deflect incoming works of pure Essence, including Essence Missiles. As an added bonus, starting at level three, it also deflects standard laser beams and plasma bolts. At still higher levels, it deflects explosions and shrapnel as well. Stamina drain: medium.

  Essenceworks available to White Siphoning, Level 4.

  Distorter:

  Distortion tunnel to beacon. Open a distortion tunnel to an object previously marked with a beacon. The range you can be away from the beacon increases at higher levels, or if Siphoning more Essence via Chrysalium. Only one object can be marked with a beacon at any given time. Stamina drain: medium to extremely high, depending on range to beacon.

  Shapist:

  Stamina transfer. Use to steal or transfer stamina to or from another. Range increases at higher skill levels. From levels 4 and above, can also be used to put subjects to sleep. Stamina increases upon a successful drain. Upon failure, stamina drain is medium.

  Warmancer, hand-to-hand:

  Disrupt Essence. Prevent an enemy from creating an Essencework for a short period of time. Must be next to the enemy at low levels. At higher levels, the range increases, as does the time period. Stamina drain: medium to high, depending on time period.