Chapter Resolve
The Wild Rose turned to approach the Council Chambers, on the bridge, Dex stared out at the beacons in the distance, as Atlas brought the ship into land.
"Looks like things have progressed since we left" Atlas sighed.
"Yeah..." Dex nodded, before pausing for thought. "How did you know where Roisin would be heading?" He asked.
"I didn't, I stole a fighter and followed her" Atlas revealed, before sighing deeply. "I ran, I couldn't handle being around you all any more. I let everyone down, and I hurt Roisin" He admitted. Dex sat down by one of the consoles.
"I can't speak for Roisin herself, but... you did what you thought was best, letting her live without knowing the truth" Dex replied. "Your anger at her for wanting to throw her life away... I can understand, but you should not have hit her" He added.
The two remained silent as the ship landed in a nearby clearing. Roisin walked onto the bridge as they touched down. Dex and Atlas both stood up to look at her.
"Roisin, how are you?" Dex smiled.
"I'm..." Roisin paused. "I'll be okay, in time" She sighed, as Dex took her hand. Atlas walked over and looked to the floor.
"Roisin, I'm so sorry for hurting you, for keeping the truth from you and for ru..." Atlas began, but before he could finish, Roisin hugged him tightly.
"What happened, happened..." Roisin nodded. "What matters is you are here now" She hugged tighter.
"...Thank you" Atlas said as a tear ran down his cheek. "I'll be with you until the end" He smiled.
"The end?" Roisin asked, as she pulled away. Atlas nodded and sighed.
"I'll be the one that dies, the powers will be channelled to me, and I will do what needs to be done" Atlas revealed. "I've lost so much over my life, so it only seems fitting that I die to save the ones I love" He added.
"Uncle Atlas..." Roisin frowned.
"It's the only solution" He said with resolve. "I'm not letting you, Syl or Keegan to be the ones who suffer. It has to be a Luna, it has to be me" Atlas explained.
"I wish there was another way" Roisin said, as she looked out of the window at the floating continent in the distance.
"As do I" Atlas nodded.
"Looks like things have taken a bad turn here" Dex said, pointing at the beacons, and the void above the continent.
"Quite" Atlas nodded. "I'm not sure how we can safely approach that place... it's swarming with creatures" He added.
"We'll get there, be it through the hells or high water" Roisin resolved. "We have to do this. We have to put an end to this madness for once and for all. We must restore Crystalla to what it was always meant to be. No more Gods, no more Harbingers, just mankind making our own decisions for ourselves" She continued.
"I agree, wholeheartedly" Atlas smiled.
"We'll get you there, Atlas" Dex nodded. Atlas turned to Dex and nodded.
"I wish I could see you two's Bonding Ceremony" Atlas frowned, as he put his hand on Dex's shoulder. "But I'll have to settle for making that future a possibility" He smiled slightly. Dex smiled back.
Seconds later a huge shock waved shook the ship violently, knocking everyone from their feet, as Roisin stood to look at the distance, she now saw that the tear in the sky had grown even larger, now almost reaching the council chambers.
She frowned as she watched the beasts descend to nearby lands, several of the defences systems at the Chambers activated, firing cannon shots at the creatures. Dex and Atlas watched too as the creatures tore the nearby lands apart.
"What are they doing?" Atlas asked as they watched the ground the creatures tore at ascend into the void above.
"They're eating away at the land itself..." Dex gasped, Roisin gazed up in the void to see the colossal red orb now visible.
"It's going there" Roisin frowned, as the three of them stood watching in horror.