by Odin Oxthorn
When everyone appeared calm and collected, the storm escalated. Sunlight burst through in chaotic spotlights as sections of the hall punched open, deactivated by the strike team’s brute force hacking. Soldiers swarmed inside, filing into the halls and surrounding the occupants. Shouts ordered the inhabitants, commanding calmness and to cease their flight. No weapons were raised at the defenders, and they met no resistance.
Nara crept around the commotion, sneaking through to the command center barracks, heading for the office of the local warlord. Strands of code bled through her fingertips as she pressed a hand on the door. The barrier dissolved, revealing a seated figure behind a modest computer desk.
The mirrors dissolved around her face as she stepped inside, revealing herself to them.
The warlord calmly stood, regarding the intruder with neutral temperance. “I was told to expect you.”
“I am certain of that,” she replied, keeping watch over their every motion, her steps slow and meticulous.
“I do not believe we have had a formal introduction,” they stated. “I am Warlord Ha’kar. It is good to meet you in person.”
“The same.” The burn formed in her throat, an evocation of the past reeling through her brain. She forced it aside, clearing the bile with a soft cough. There is no time for that.
Ha’kar was part of the old regime, present in the proceedings of her banishment. While she had no recollection of their opinions, she had fought against them several times in the games. A worthy adversary. Calculated, efficient, patient. They were known for playing the long con in a test of endurance, often starving the opposition. But despite their resilience, they had never won against her.
“Area secured. Units are on standby until further notice,” the legion commander reported in her network.
“Cinder team on standby. Target secured. Secondary and tertiary teams headed for next objective. No opposition.”
“Torrent Team secured. Minor opposition, no casualties. Area secured.”
Nine more reports flooded in. The sit-in was complete. Silence whirled between the two contenders, motive and uncertainty hiding within the void of each other’s masked intent.
“It appears you have me at a disadvantage,” Ha’kar finally said. “And I must say I am surprised the Council agreed with such a disruptive operation.”
“The Council is not involved with this operation,” she replied. There was no harm in revealing that.
They tilted their head curiously. “Is that true?”
Tremors began to shatter her bones, and a sweltering sickness pulled at her brain. She pushed it all away, focusing on the warlord’s guarded movement, their impartial expression. “I am here as a separate envoy. This standstill has gone long enough.”
“I am inclined to agree with you.” They nodded. “Despite your reputation. What do you propose?”
“I am establishing a meeting in a neutral zone.” She leaned against the wall, taking in the warlord’s apparent amicable tone. “There I will be listening to your concerns regarding the reintegration of your parties to the community.”
The warlord considered her words, stepping around their desk. They began to circle. Quiet utterances of contemplation scratched against the tense silence. After several laps, they paused and looked up at Nara, rubbing their chin pensively. “And if I refuse?”
“Then your voice in the negotiations will not be considered.”
Before the warlord could formulate a response, a black shadow cast over the outside world. A magnificent nothingness swallowed the sun. The glint of the trees ceased, dulled to nothing as the shroud engulfed the horizon.
The warlord turned and peered toward the sky, watching as the magnificent form of the Armored Wake pierced through the orbital cloud. A cacophony of shrieks and cries resonated through the foliage as creatures burst from hiding, stampeding from the distressing shift in solar rhythm. The battleship edged forward, its nose breaching through the gas cloud to watch over the proceedings.
“Tosk here,” a voice cut into Nara’s helmet. “Awaiting orders.”
“Just as resourceful as I remembered.” Ha’kar smirked. “Very well. I consent to these discussions.”
“I look forward to hearing your concerns.” She bowed and exited the room, turning her back to the warlord. She hesitated, waiting for the officer to seize the opportunity. But nothing had struck her exposed weakness. The warlord did not move, just watched, analyzed her expressions, her posture. Their eyes remained on her as she left the room.
Cold electricity shuddered over her spine as the door slid behind her. She met the eyes of the captive soldiers, sensing apprehensive confusion laced with a soft hint of fear. They all regarded her, hushed whispers of their fate tracing pleas over the walls. Speaking about her in wary tones.
Sleepless.
Eternal Red
Fevered.
She halted in her step, turning to the averted faces that spoke of her. A chill seized her heart, a resigned numbness from the titles she carried. She could only address their concerns with a soft nod, ignoring the futility of arguing against their impressions of her. With a sigh, she removed her presence from their stares to meet with the legion commander of the strike team.
“Everything is in order here, Savant,” they reported, checking over their communications. “What now?”
“Convene with the rest of the units. Make sure the warlords are secured,” she ordered. “Tosk, arrange transports to pick the commanding officers up. We will be arranging a meetup shortly.”
“Understood.”
She switched the communication signal to text mode, the faces of the hopeful soldiers still staring at her.
>>Make sure you stay in orbit. With the high-ranking officers on board, those on the surface will be acceptable losses. Ensure that no one can strike without getting through you.
>>Xannat’s favor, Savant.
##10.3##
His chest opened with an explosive pulse, and he voraciously consumed the chilling air in ragged gasps. Before his awareness came to him, his hands slammed against the metal floor, the rest of his body tangling in a frantic mess. Tearing pangs gnawed on every muscle, the searing intensifying with each sudden movement. He blinked rapidly inside the confinement, but only ink coated his vision.
Bolstering his mettle with a pained whimper, he slid up to one knee. When the waves of dizziness subsided to a mellow roar, he attempted to rise to his feet. But the slightest pressure on his other ankle sent him back to the ground in a crumpled mess. Bone lashed against flesh, screaming at him in agonizing twangs. Sweat beaded down his skin as his body pain lashed out.
He gritted his teeth and crawled along the floor until his fingers brushed against the cooling touch of a barrier, then pulled himself up on his good leg. With a gasp, he released the wall, a sudden terror sending chills along his arm. The sensation of the material consuming his body was still fresh in his mind.
He backed away and brushed the feeling aside, tuning in to his surroundings. The silence proved unyielding, but his persistence was desperate. A gentle hum in the distance spiked his heart rate. A shift in his surroundings raised a spasm of warning on his neck. He reached out a hand, only to brush against a wall that was not there before. Nerves shuddering against his spine, he promptly turned about-face…
And smacked into another wall.
That wasn’t here. That. Wasn’t. There! With his perception of reality toying with his senses, he groped his way along the barrier. A blurt of surprise left his throbbing chest when he turned again, the seam of a corner startling his timid fingers. Another wall. He took a step back and…
CRACK, his back slammed against another wall. He flailed his arms forward, the shriek of friction grazing his knuckles. The air began to heat around him as his confines shrank around him. He was trapped inside a coffin just barely large enough for him to stand.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Please. His panting intensified, the throngs of pain dissolving into adrenalin
e-induced panic. He frantically pushed against the room creeping toward him from every direction. “STOP!”
The walls softened to a viscous goo, engulfing his arms with a nauseating slurp. Having forced his strength against the constrictive barrier, he slipped and flung forward. Clouds of light burst in his head as he smacked it against the wall. The cooling sensation of blood dripped over his skin, his senses fading in a whirlwind of disorientation. With a pleading sob, he leaned back, pulling against the ravenous material. The more he fought, the tighter it sealed, swiftly calcifying around his flesh.
Sobs rang into his ears while the desperation magnified, the unyielding cold metal resisting every struggle. He could not sense the disturbance in his pocket, the reverberation clicking against the air.
POP!
An invisible orb of energy carved out a perfectly smooth hollow in the pervasive walls, relinquishing their grasp on him with a violent hiss. With a cry, he yanked his arms away, hugging himself as tears streamed down his face.
The walls crept in, threatening to consume his entire body. He flailed an arm forward, keeping his vitals safe from the vile contaminant. It greedily accepted the offering, snapping over his forearm within its unrelenting embrace. A sickening CRUNCH echoed inside the chamber as the material cinched closed with a snap.
A primal scream escaped his chest, resonating in his ears. His spirit floated to the ceiling, watching his body down below as it became engulfed in the murk. The ooze slid up his chest to the discordant pop and crackle of bone. The pain was distant, yet unnervingly surrounding him.
With another pulse inside his pocket, the walls violently released their hold. He rejoined his body and crumpled in a puddle of sweat, the sobs intensifying as his mortality loomed over his shivering form.
The NetComm remained vigilant, unleashing a consistent rhythm of vibrations against the creeping walls. A bubble of ethereal magic surrounded him. Tangles of code enveloped his being and functions tore at functions, classes dissolving as variables became lost in the ether. At his back he felt the stir of loose soil, the nourishing earth warming his senses.
His head swirled at the pain. How did he get here? A person. Hood. Gaunt face. Violet Eyes. Moon Scar. Who?
The room was spinning faster and faster. Agony seized his consciousness. A rustling clamor barely registered in his ears.
Distorted voices. Footsteps. The pounding of boots above him.
“Heh—”He attempted to cry out. “I…”
Thunder rattled his core. The bubble surrounding him swelled with a fervent tenacity, pummeling skyward. He could feel the walls strain against the force, threatening to crush him in its wake. Warm air rushed to meet him. With a final thrust, the room burst into a dull haze of soft yellow. Crumbles of earth rained down on him, pattering against his bruised flesh.
The voices intensified, shouts in languages he could not comprehend. The sky rumbled as footsteps hastened to him.
The light.
##10.4##
Nara sat atop the highest tower of the compound, legs dangling over the edge as she gazed out to the horizon. The artificial night cast by the Wake’s shadow blanketed the forest with an eerie calm. Even the insects took notice of the tension in the air, the stillness only disrupted by the hesitant breeze circulating over the trees.
“Message to Savant. Direct,” the quadrant’s Legion Commander summoned in her ear.
“Send.”
“Objective secured,” They reported. “Heading for the nearest infirmary.”
“Status?”
“Critical. Unconscious, several broken bones. Fevered and delirious.”
“Where were they?”
“Underground in a makeshift bunker. No other personnel on site.”
That was not a comforting thought. “Anything else to report?”
“They were repeating a strange phrase.”
“Which was?”
“Moon Scar.”
Her jaw clamped shut. Torel.
“Savant?”
“Keep me updated on status. I have something to take care of.”
“Acknowledged.”
This ends now. She propelled off the tower, sliding an armored hand against the pillar to guide her descent. Fallen leaves flew up into the air as she landed, whisked away by the breeze. If they know, I will find them.
Revelry met her ears as she slipped back into the tower. The mess hall was brimming with an assortment of scents, stews and roasts charring over chemically fueled fires. Apprehension seemed to have disappeared as she traveled down the ranks, plates of food and flagons of drink passed around the collective. With the laughter and comradery clamoring above the clatter of utensils, it was hard to decipher who was on which side of the conflict.
She spied her target feasting with the crew and approached. “Commander.”
“Yes, Savant?” They stood to their feet and acknowledged her with a polite bow, their smile adding to the warmth of the scenery.
“Summon a team of your best fighters and hackers and meet me in the hangar bay.”
“Yes, Savant.” The tension elevated slightly. Faces hid inside drinking vessels while the officer hastily left to complete their task.
She could feel their unease radiating off them as they regarded her. What about her set them off? Being the figurehead of the operation? The gruesome colors their leaders had painted her? Or her questionable mental stability? Regardless, her actions mattered little to their established impressions.
The corners of her mouth raised in a gentle smile and her eyes softened as she regarded each and every one of those who displayed their apprehension. With a bow of her head, she turned and left the room, their caution fading behind her.
It doesn’t matter. She let off an exhausted sigh as she headed for the hangar bay.
“Savant,” Tosk hailed from her radio.
“Yes?”
“We have a problem.”
She looked out the open hangar bay, the shadows covering the earth bombarded by glitches of blinking lights. In the sky, the impressive form of the Armored Wake was haloed with bursts of scintillating colors. Pops of light flickered on and off, setting the battleship alight with spectral fireworks.
“GaPFed ships have breached our airspace,” Tosk reported.
Shit. “Who has command over the fleet?”
“As of right now, no one. Command hierarchy does not cross between battleships.”
“Congratulations, you are now fleet commander.” She sent them up a data file. “Keep them at bay and send transport to these coordinates. Use orbital if the other ships aren’t listening. I’ll be in touch when I am ready for pickup.”
“Affirmative.” Tosk hesitated, the silence speaking a thousand words. “Stay safe.”
And the players begin to show their hands. Nara scowled. A party of six jogged up to greet her, and she stormed into the awaiting plane. “Squad. Inside.”
The soldiers filed in as she slid into the pilot seat. She entered the coordinates to her destination into the automated pilot and sank back, letting everyone settle before guiding the craft out of the hangar.
The internal computer carried the conversation as it initialized takeoff procedures. The tension inside the cockpit heated with the fuel intake. She evaded their questioning glances, watching the bow of the Armored Wake migrate from view.
She was not looking for justification for her actions. After all, her personal feelings had a motivation. Exactly what they would expect out of her. Right and wrong were always shifting, and given the fluidity of motivation, she hardly had the strength to feel guilty for forcing her hand on society. She owed the world nothing, but it owed her flesh. However, she was far too exhausted to cash in. The sooner I fix this, the sooner I leave.
The craft eased down to the earth, hovering toward a large greenhouse. She barely let the vehicle touch the ground when she stood and marched for the opening bay doors. The crew followed behind as she jumped down to the soil, the craft exhaling a swirl o
f coolant around them.
Would they expect it? Probably. She pointed at the estate’s front entrance. “Blackout team, secure the compound.”
Two of her support units charged at the building, setting up a base at the near corners of the property. The buried instruments into the soil, calibrating their machines to the estate’s primary computer. Nara did not give them the time to finish their operations and stormed to the front door.
Something stirred within her. A driving force slammed her fist into the door. The ache rocketed up through her bones, the strike grounding her for the task ahead. With a pop and a fizzle, the electronic locking system submitted to her demands, obediently sliding away to reveal Councilor Torel.
While they expected her, the sheer force of will that radiated beyond her stony expression sent them back with a jolt. Her presence boiled the atmosphere.
“Savant.” Torel cleared their throat, stiffening to compose themself.
“This is a Coup. You are under arrest.” The strike team filed in behind Nara, fanning out to secure the entryways.
Torel inspected the troops. A faint hum of irritation expelled from their throat. “I see.”
“Do you have anything you wish to say?”
“No.” They folded their arms tersely. “You were going to do what you wished, no matter the opposition. Let’s get this over with.”
Nara nodded to two of the soldiers, who returned the gesture and walked over to the councilor. They took Torel by the arms and ushered them out of the complex, leading them up the ramp of the aircraft.
Torel paused midstep. “Savant.”
Bitterness kept her from replying, and she could only glare at the councilor’s exposed back.
“I hope they returned to you safely. It was not my intent to bring them harm. I was naïve.” Upon their admission, Torel resumed their climb and entered the vehicle.
Her skin seared as the plane ascended. The admission of guilt sent pangs through her jaw. Their hypocrisy ignited a spark that was once extinguished. She was used to dealing with human intent, and she hadn’t foreseen unearthing it on home ground. But obsessing over it would do no good. Not now. The deed was done, and she had a choice to make.