Masters of Fate

by A. K. DuBoff

  “Okay, so if we can destroy something critical at the core, that might cripple them?” I asked.

  “Or at least be a major setback,” he said. “The trickier thing will be to make sure they can’t easily rebuild.”

  I nodded. “Trapping them on this plane would be ideal, if we can.”

  “Definitely easier said than done. But, I’d like to learn more about this energy grid of theirs,” Toran went on. “Perhaps that will help us formulate a plan.”

  “For starters, what’s the deal with these benches and the ‘charging’?” Kaiden said. “Sounds kind of robot-like.”

  “I’d liken it more to photosynthesis, how plants get energy from the sun,” Toran posited.

  I thought about it. “If this place is indeed the central generator, I can see how taking it out would be pretty damaging.”

  “Temporarily,” Kaiden cut in. “This civilization didn’t come from nothing. They could rebuild.”

  “Hence the need to isolate them,” I said, heading toward the archway to the left. “But, I’ll settle for neutralizing the threat right now.”

  Kaiden sent a light orb hovering in front of us, illuminating a vine-lined corridor that led deeper inside the facility. The interior reminded me of the ship we’d boarded at the anomaly site, only the proportions of this space were at least twice the size. I sensed a hum of energy in the air originating from the depths of the place.

  “Did you notice those columns rising from the rooftop?” I asked.

  “Kinda difficult to miss,” Kaiden replied.

  “I bet those are above the energy core,” I continued. “This corridor is heading in that direction.”

  “A reasonable assumption,” Toran agreed.

  “How can we destroy a place like this?” Maris asked. “We don’t have anything aside from our artifacts and magic.”

  “Maybe that would be enough,” I replied. “We’ve never tried to go all-out on an inanimate object before.”

  “We shouldn’t attempt anything until we have a better sense for how this civilization operates,” Toran cautioned.

  I nodded. “That’s why we’re heading to the core.”

  Kaiden flitted his gaze around the hallway. “I still say something is wrong about all of this. There aren’t enough Saps here… and there’s so little security. Either the place isn’t as important as we’ve been led to believe, or this is a trap.”

  The same feeling had been nagging at the back of my mind, too. It had all been far too easy. It didn’t make sense that they’d just ignore us. “I don’t know what we’re missing.”

  “We’ll find out soon. We’re getting close,” Kaiden said.

  The hum of energy intensified. Eventually, the corridor terminated in what appeared to be a solid wall of vines.

  I frowned at the wall. “This can’t be right.”

  Maris tilted her head. “Hidden door?”

  “Must be something like that.” I approached the wall. “Remember how the tunnel started closing in on us when we were leaving the ship?”

  “Yeah. Meaning, these walls might be ‘alive’, for lack of another term,” Kaiden replied.

  “How do we get them to move?” Maris brushed her right hand along the vines.

  “There must be some sort of trigger… like a certain type of energy associated with the Saps,” I mused. “It seems like right now we’re registering as ‘background’, but if we could figure out a way to make ourselves seem like them…”

  “I have no idea how to run that kind of analysis without equipment I don’t have,” Toran said.

  Kaiden brightened. “We might not need it. Elle, you have telekinesis.”

  “You want me to rip the wall apart?”

  “It’s a lot more precise than a fireball. Just break apart enough vines to make an opening.”

  “I dunno…” Using any form of magic would certainly draw attention to us as being something other than ambient background blips, and that kind of attention seemed like a bad idea.

  “Think about it,” Kaiden insisted. “The Saps ‘charge’ using those bench things—concentrated energy. If you direct concentrated energy at the wall, it might spoof it into thinking that one of the aliens is trying to get through.”

  “Or, some as yet unseen security force will descend upon us in an instant,” I countered.

  “Either way, we’re presently trapped at a dead end. Might as well attempt to move forward.”

  I couldn’t object to that argument. “Fine, I’ll try.”

  My friends turned around to watch the corridor behind me while I prepared my telekinetic attack. I extended my right hand with the special focusing glove, a white orb forming in the palm. I released the ball of energy, and it struck the center of the back wall. Radiating from the point of impact, the interwoven vines began to unfurl and move apart to form an arched doorway.

  “That was too easy,” I said, my concern growing that we were being directed exactly where they wanted us to go. It was impossible that somewhere so important had next to no security, whether the civilization had known enemies or not.

  “This place doesn’t make any sense,” Kaiden said.

  “Doesn’t matter. What’s that?” Maris pointed through the archway toward a massive chamber filled with thick, pulsing vines that shined with the brightest light of any we’d seen so far in the plane.

  The chamber’s roof was six meters above, covered in vines that met to form a thick column in the center. The arched entryway where we stood was two-thirds of the way up the side wall, with the rest of the chamber dropping away below into a massive nest of vines. The vines spread from a single, small device at the bottom of the pit, pulsing with a bright blue light.

  “Stars! What the…?” I gasped.

  “That must be the core,” Toran said.

  Kaiden shook his head. “There’s no one here. This is so weird.”

  “Agreed.” I checked along the walls for a pathway to the bottom of the pit. There was no obvious staircase or ladder, so we’d have to climb along the vines. “Let’s get a closer look.”

  Maris gulped. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

  I took the lead climbing down the curved wall. It was easy-going with so many vines to grab, though the way they squirmed under my grasp was disconcerting.

  We reached the bottom of the pit and climbed over the large vines toward the center. I’d thought perhaps that warped perspective had made the core of the device appear to be only a meter across, but I found that was accurate as I approached. A blue orb hovered at the center of the thick vines, simultaneously the origin point of them and also nestled inside them. Normally I’d consider it a trick of the light for the orb to appear both in front of and behind the same vines, but I suspected that there was actually a hyperdimensional component to what I was seeing.

  Maris squinted. “Huh. I expected it to be bigger.”

  Kaiden frowned at the device. “That doesn’t look like a normal power generator. What’s the fuel source?”

  “Nothing in this plane,” Toran replied cryptically, squatting down to get a better look at the vines. “After everything we’ve seen, I believe the only answer is that this device draws power from a higher dimension, and the Saps feed on that energy.”

  “I came in here thinking we might get answers, but now I just have more questions,” I admitted.

  Kaiden shook his head. “An alien race with a hyperdimensional energy source… Why are they bothering to mess with us and the crystals?”

  “Stars…” Toran murmured, his eyes widening.

  I crouched down next to him. “What?”

  “I think I just figured out what the Saps are doing,” Toran said, then fell silent.

  “Okay, you can’t say something like that and not follow it up with an explanation!” Kaiden hissed, dropping down next to me.

  Maris knelt beside us.

  Toran pointed at the device. “If I’m right, b
ack in our plane, we’d consider this to be a zero-point energy device. Based on what we’ve observed here, this energy source is integral to the Saps’ existence—it’s what makes their ships work, feeds them, and powers the mechanisms of their civilization. It’s connected to everything. But they can’t access the higher planes, where they want to go. The best connection to the higher dimensions is—”

  “The crystalline network,” I completed for him.

  “And our spacetime has an interface system.” Kaiden sat back on his heels. “Stars! Why didn’t we see it before?”

  “If that’s what they’re after, there are terrible implications,” Toran continued. “The crystalline network controls and utilizes the infinite power of the eleventh-dimensional Duzies, the very building blocks of the entire cosmos! So, if the Saps found a way to tie their energy grid—the thing everything in their society is connected to— into the interface system for the crystalline network, that could theoretically give them full control of the Duzies without needing a separate interface console.”

  “Shit!” Kaiden gasped. “They’d be like… gods.”

  “Full control… rearranging matter and directing energy at will.” I shook my head. “Nope, these guys are way too unstable for that kind of power.”

  “If that’s what they’re after, then why start with the Darkness and invasion fleet?” Maris asked.

  “I don’t know. That part still doesn’t—” Toran cut off, snapping his attention upward.

  The doorway we had entered through was now filled with half a dozen figures, and they were staring directly at us.

  19

  “Stars! We’re cornered down here.” My heart leaped in my chest.

  “Time to get away!” Maris said. “Hoofy?”

  There was no reply.

  “How are we supposed to transition to the higher plane without him?” Kaiden questioned, a panicked pitch to his voice.

  “Stars if I know.” I drew my sword. “Time to fight.” The blue flames ignited as soon as the weapon was out of its scabbard.

  The moment my weapon was exposed, the six Saps dropped down into the pit, gliding toward us on all fours.

  I raised my sword into a defensive pose. “I told you this was a trap!” A purple protective shell courtesy of Maris appeared around me.

  “Like we wouldn’t have come anyway,” Kaiden replied.

  “Irrelevant.” I charged for the two Saps barreling toward me.

  My instincts took over as I swung my sword, faking out the first Sap so I could redirect a jab at the second. A moment before my blade was set to pierce the torso of my target, its barbed tail whipped around to strike me in the back of the knees. It was stopped by the protective shell around me but then unexpectedly broke through, knocking me to the ground.

  The first Sap took the opportunity to pounce. I rolled to the side just in time to avoid it pinning me, one of its clawed feet landing a mere two centimeters from my right shoulder. I angled my blade upward to strike its belly. It let out a cry as the blade entered, and then it disintegrated into black ash.

  Having seen its comrade fall, the second Sap edged away from me toward the four others, which were presently engaged with my friends.

  “One down!” I said, chasing my second attacker.

  The other Saps were alternating attacks on my friends, sometimes breaking through the protective shells and other times stopped. Only the forcefield cast from Maris’ shield seemed to reliably deflect the assaults. Kaiden’s lightning attacks appeared to be wounding the creatures, but Toran’s punches only seemed to annoy them. My sword was by far the most effective weapon.

  I extended my right hand and lobbed an energy ball toward the Sap running from me. It lurched to the side to avoid the blast, then it rounded on me.

  Its eyeless gaze bore into me. “Stop.” The command filled my mind.

  Against every intention, I halted. I tried to will myself forward, but I was completely frozen, my arms dropping to my sides and legs unwilling to move. I’d never felt so utterly trapped, let alone without anything physically holding me in place.

  Nearby, my friends had likewise ceased their fighting. Each was transfixed by one of the Saps, and the fifth creature sauntered between us, its attention lingering on each of our artifacts as it passed by. The protective shells, aside from the forcefield extending beyond Maris’ shield, had collapsed.

  “It is ours,” a voice hissed in my mind. I sensed that it was coming from the Sap that was walking around rather than the one focused on me.

  “What is?” I tried to mentally form the words.

  The Sap didn’t reply, but it tightened the telepathic vise locking me in place. It extended its tentacles toward my sword arm, poised to pry the weapon from my grasp.

  Next to me, Toran kicked his captor, followed by a rapid series of punches to the creature’s neck and chest.

  The others started with surprise, their concentration broken.

  I thrust my sword forward, piercing the chest of the Sap in front of me. Dark blood spilled down its front, and then it dissolved into black ash.

  Kaiden cast a shower of lightning over the two Saps nearest him, while Toran continued to pummel the creature in front of him. I dashed to the creature clawing at Maris’ shield, swinging my sword around to slash its side as soon as I was within range. My blade connected, and the Sap turned to ash.

  “Elle, over here!” Kaiden called.

  I ran toward him and vaulted over one of the vines, using the extra height to sail over the first of the attacking Saps. I plunged my blade into its back and ripped downward, and it disintegrated before I landed. As soon as I touched down, I jabbed my sword behind me into the rear haunches of the second creature engaged with Kaiden. Only Toran’s opponent remained.

  The final Sap let out an aggravated series of clicks as it charged for Kaiden. I sprinted forward to broadside it—not enough to knock it off its feet, but it halted when I raised my blade to its throat.

  “What do you want from us?” I asked aloud.

  The creature stared back at me with its invisible eyes.

  “Tell us what you—”

  I choked on the words as the creature snapped its neck forward to be sliced on my blade. It spasmed briefly before turning to ash in my hands.

  “Stars…” Kaiden murmured.

  Maris swallowed. “Guess they really didn’t want to tell us.”

  I took several panting breaths, willing my heart rate to slow. “I really hate these guys.”

  “They’re the worst,” Kaiden agreed.

  I glanced at the power core. “Others will probably come soon. Let’s destroy this thing while we have the chance.”

  “Wait,” Hoofy said in our minds. “Not like this.”

  “Oh, now you show up!” Kaiden exclaimed.

  “It was important for this scenario to play out to its end. I see that my faith in you was not misplaced.”

  “That’s—” Before I could finish, the chamber unfolded, replaced with white light. A segment of filament bridge appeared beneath my feet, at the core of a complex intersection with innumerable branches extending into the mist in either direction.

  “Why did you do that?!” I glared at Hoofy. “We were about to take these guys out.”

  “Destroying the core in the way you intended would not stop them. There is still much for you to learn.”

  “It would really help if you told us what you know… or anything at all,” Kaiden replied.

  The unicorn bowed his head. “I know my actions do not make sense now, but soon you will understand.”

  “I understand plenty. You let us walk right into a trap!” I shouted at the unicorn.

  “Elle—” Maris tried to soothe.

  “Don’t defend him,” I cut her off. “He’s been playing games with us.”

  “No, I did what was necessary for you to come into your true power.”

  I worked my mouth; that wasn�
��t the response I’d anticipated. “What do you mean?”

  “Your transformations were not complete the moment you were reborn,” Hoofy replied. “You have been growing and evolving. After your transformation had completed, your strength needed to be tested.”

  “Normally that’s done in training, or whatever. You sent us into the heart of their operations!” I spat back.

  Hoofy tilted his head. “You learned what you needed to, did you not?”

  “Yeah, we did,” Maris replied. “And we all made it out okay.”

  “Barely,” I muttered.

  “We were at the core. We could have ended the fight right then and there,” Kaiden said.

  “It is more complicated than that,” Hoofy replied. “Now that I know you are ready, I can explain.”

  I crossed my arms. “Okay, so talk.”

  “Not yet. I will tell you after you are back on your ship and can gather the tools you need.”

  I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. The unicorn had done nothing but talk in circles. I wasn’t sure we were ever going to get anywhere.

  He fixed me in a level gaze. “I sense your exasperation, but everything will fall into place soon.”

  “It better.” The reply came out as more of a threat than I’d intended, but my patience had worn thin. If Hoofy didn’t offer a detailed explanation within the next several hours, I wouldn’t listen to anything else he had to say.

  Seemingly unfazed by my hostility, Hoofy trotted toward the left along the bridge. “Come, the exit is this way.”

  We followed him through a complex intersection of multiple bridge segments and continued along a path toward the left. Eventually, we reached a single long expanse—presumably the path by which we’d entered—and jogged for what seemed like an eternity in my antsy state.

  “We’re here,” Hoofy said.

  Maris stopped in front of me. “I don’t see the sphere.”

  “What, it’s not there?” I passed by her to search for any sign of the viewing-sphere that had been visible when we arrived, but I couldn’t see it either. “This is the right place, isn’t it, Hoofy?” I asked.