Xen'tarza

Dark Horizon

I

Calm Before the Storm

Vokken flew the crew back to the arcane gateway. With the powerful magic that Shirakaya now wielded, aided by Eladoris and Myris, they conjured an impenetrable mana shield to protect them as they flew back through the Spectral Pulse. Upon returning to Ensar, while recuperating on the bridge of Marauder, Shirakaya told her crew about the grueling battle they had experienced with Soth’yugon; she was the only one who remembered it. Not even the other survivors recalled the fight.

The mercenaries sat in their seats, appreciating a long moment of silence. Myris managed to remain composed, cuddling Xeza. It wasn’t easy for them to grasp the concept of reality being altered and never knowing about it. Even the renegade had a difficult time accepting the fact that he’d died. Xorvaj simply waved the thought away, denying such a thing could happen to him.

“Entering dimensional space,” Vokken said, breaking the silence. “Our course is set for the Drift Void.”

“Thank you,” the freelancer replied. “But don’t take us all the way to the Void. We’ll be dead before the battle begins. Bring us to the outskirts—Gydeim Scor. We also need at least a day’s rest before investigating the dead zone.”

“Yeah, I seriously need to sleep for sixty hours,” Dojin said.

“Sixty hours? You might as well hibernate for the remainder of the cycle,” the ghensoth said, cackling.

“Says the dead alien.”

Xorvaj snarled. “You died too!” he retorted, causing the renegade to laugh.

“I’m sure we’re all tired,” Shirakaya said. “Get some rest, everyone. Right now it’s 1800 hours. We’ll be ready for our next mission at 3400.”

She said nothing more, retiring to her quarters. The others soon left as well, including Dojin who, instead of going to his cabin, wandered aimlessly around the corridors of Marauder. When he reached the gymnasium on the second level of the battleship, an intercom activated at his side.

“I’m surprised you’re not with Zadoya,” the AI said.

Dojin frowned. “Do not speak to me. You are absolute scum. I know you were up to something. She was a pawn in your sick game. One day I’ll find out what you’ve been doing, and I’ll have Shira shut you down.”

“Strong words for a fleshling. No matter what you assume, I saved Zadoya. You should be grateful.”

“Fuck off!”

No longer able to hear the AI via intercom, Dojin continued wandering through the ship’s halls. He was beyond tired but felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep because he kept thinking about Zadoya. After a few minutes, Dojin found himself in front of her quarters. Though hesitating at first, he knocked on her door.

“Yes?”

“It’s me,” he said, at which point he heard her door unlock. Entering the cabin, he smiled despite her looking melancholy. “How’re you holding up?”

She didn’t respond to him, stargazing at her corner window.

“I missed you,” he said, approaching her. Even though she held her hand up, he ignored her gesture and stepped closer. “Seriously? After everything that’s happened. Why won’t you open up to me?”

“Are you blind? Look at me. Look! Zadoya is dead. She died during that tournament. I’m simply a remnant of her.”

“Total bullshit. This is just another one of your garbage excuses to push me away. It’s not happening tonight,” he said, placing his hand on her metal shoulder. “I don’t give a flying fuck if you’re half machine. You’re still humyn. We all have problems. You’re not running away from me this time. Tonight will be like the old days for once.”

Tears dripped down Zadoya’s enhanced eyes. “I’m sorry. I can’t comfort you.”

“Stop talking trash,” he said, holding her waist. “You’re my partner-in-crime. We’re bound together in this fucked-up universe.”

The cyborg shed more tears and unexpectedly embraced her former lover. They lay on the bed and held each other. Dojin caressed the remaining hair she had on one side of her face. She jolted as if uncomfortable but allowed him to continue. They eventually closed their eyes, holding each other. For the first time in cycles, Dojin felt a great weight lift from his shoulders. Feeling at peace, he fell asleep in Zadoya’s arms.

II

Transcendence

After a few hours of much needed sleep, Shirakaya woke up and took a shower in a stall inside her cabin. A few minutes later, when she had dried herself, she sat on her bed and looked out into space. Though a few suns had vanished over a period of months, there was still an innumerable amount of them.

Looking at them, however, didn’t give her the peace of mind she needed. Right in the moment—the here and now—she yearned to be held. But there was no one to care for her. Even if there was someone, it wouldn’t be genuine love, she conceded. Clicking her KLD, she ported an old picture of her and Jedalia together.

The image showed them having a picnic on a verdant field of grass. In small digital letters underneath, the caption read: Recreational Park of Xu’jato, Pravura. A teardrop fell from her eye, splashing on the glossy frame. Despite such sadness, she managed to smile and rubbed Jedalia’s beaming face with endearment.

“The pain of losing you is still too much for me to handle,” she said aloud, rubbing her face once more. “I’ll always love you.”

You were in love with that woman? Intriguing…

The voice tore through her mind without warning. She dropped the photo, groaning. “Get out of my head.”

That isn’t how this works.

Fingers curled, she pressed her nails against the skin of her forehead. “Get out! Get out! Get out!”

You wanted to have the arcane gift again, Soth’yugon said without a trace of malice in his tone. Such incredible power can never be given without consequence. My ethereal nature is what allowed me to merge with you. My magic may save your people, but make no mistake about it: This is the curse you must bear for such power.

“Please do not torment me. Please. You’re not supposed to be my enemy. Our enemy is Koth’tura. I won’t beg. I’m simply asking for respect. Please let me keep my sanity.”

The vapory face of Soth’yugon emerged slightly from hers, but their magical binding prevented him from leaving her. He produced a snort, merging back into her body. The voice went away. She breathed heavily, body and mind disconcerted. Never in her life had she felt so violated, even with the experience of Vokken eavesdropping on her.

Moments later, Shirakaya remembered her photo and picked it up. She looked at it with a false smile. Porting the picture away, she wiped tears from her face and got to her feet. Pulling herself together, she clicked her KLD and changed the purple bath robe she’d been wearing to her famed elemental armor.

No longer wanting to be alone, she left her personal quarters and returned to the bridge. To her surprise, she found Yarasuro there. Her bodyguard sat in a meditative position in front of the main windowpane, which showcased the luminous cosmos. At first, she thought about leaving. Seeing him look so serene, however, motivated her to join him.

Sitting down beside the knight, she took a deep breath. “So much has happened.” She stayed quiet for a while and then went on, “We have changed and evolved. Drastically. Some changes were good. Others…not what we would’ve wanted.”

“They say everything happens for a reason. Why fight what we cannot change? Instead, we must embrace it and keep moving forward.”

The freelancer produced a snort-like laugh. “Easier said than done, Yaro.”

“I understand. Believe me. I’m at the heart of those changes. Just look at me. Look at my face.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she said, chuckling softly. “You are still the same honorable knight. Besides, I’d say Xorvaj has changed the most.” Mentioning his name made Yarasuro raise an eyebrow, at which point Shirakaya continued, “His outer appearance may not have changed, but do you remember when we first met him?”

“Pure hated. Lost. No moral code guiding him.”

“Right. And now he’s a critical part of our team. Without him, things wouldn’t be the same.”

The mutant breathed deeply. “He’s not the only one.”

“Of course. Dojin. He may act like he’s some kind of hotshot renegade, but underneath the thousand layers of macho bullshit, he has a heart. And though he’ll never admit it, he looks after us.”

“Zadoya has changed too.”

Shirakaya nodded with an expression of regret. “She has become a tragedy. I always admired her determination. She was my best soldier in the Order. But now, I’m not sure if I should pity her or continue to look up to her. She’s barely humyn anymore. After all these incidents, she’s mostly machine. It’s a miracle she even remembers us.”

“I’ve been contemplating that for a while. It appears to me that her love for Dojin is what kept her humynity alive.”

“Love endures,” she said.

“Perhaps. Sometimes. Just not for Eladoris.”

The freelancer unexpectedly let out a hearty laugh. “Yeah, she’s a cold bitch. Out of control. Though, she does seem to have a soft spot for Princess Eianvok.”

“It’s only because they were both essentially exiled for the same reasons.”

“As crazy as it sounds, you have a point. Her people consider magic to be blasphemous, just like the jorga tribes that provoked Eladoris to retaliate.”

Silence descended in the bridge for a moment.

“Do you think Myris will rule her people again?” Yarasuro eventually asked, breaking the silence.

“I’m no oracle,” she began, “but I have faith she will. Whether before or after we destroy the koth’vurian threat, I’m sure she’ll return to her former life. First, we need to help get her legs back.”

“Sooner rather than later, I hope.”

“I just need a little more reons and we’ll have enough to hire a fine doctor who can treat her.” The bodyguard appeared impressed while Shirakaya went on, “I’m sorry if this is a touchy subject, but do you want surgery too?”

Yarasuro’s face grew somber as he broke out of his serene, meditative mood. “This is because that is. That is because this is.” He took a deep breath. “I am what I am. Some may call me a mutant. Maybe I am. But as long as I remain sentient and hold on to honor—the path of the Templar, I will live out my remaining days like a humyn. No. I’ll become much more than that. I’ll strive to be...more humyn than humyn.”

“Transcendence…”

Just then, Vokken’s snowy and static-like visage appeared on the screen. “Transcendence without magic is worthless.”

“I think you’d better keep your ignorant opinion to yourself and focus on Marauder before I give Dojin permission to upload a virus into your database and shut you down as I probably should have done the first day we met.”

“Hah! Without me, you would have never rediscovered yourself as a freelancer.”

“That’s actually a form of transcendence,” Shirakaya said, scowling. “Now get your creepy face off the screen and leave us in peace.”

Vokken scoffed but obeyed her command.

“Even he has changed,” Yarasuro said. “Though, whether he is a genuine ally whom we can all rely on is another matter altogether.”

“Right,” she said, troubled. “That shady move of concealing Zadoya and resurrecting her, regardless of my happiness at having her back, concerns me a great deal. Nothing he says will ever make me trust him wholeheartedly.”

“You and I both, Captain.”

“Oh, stop that. I’m not your captain. Not anymore. We’re mercenaries. We’re all equal aboard Marauder. We are Shadow Mercs. Together, as a team, we’ll fight with heart and soul. And we’ll keep fighting until we win and bring peace to Ensar.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Dojin said, entering the bridge with Zadoya.

Shirakaya turned around, seeing them together. “Hey,” she said with a smile. “Got bored and decided to join us?”

“You said to meet you back here at 3400,” Zadoya said.

The other crew members followed. Shirakaya checked the time on her KLD and felt her heart skip a beat. Between her much needed sleep and the conversation with Yarasuro, she had lost track of time. It was already past 3400 hours. She promptly stood up and made her way to the central chair where she sat down.

“Listen up, mercs,” Shirakaya started, “ever since we were in Jye Xeu Zeikein, we’ve been noticing stars disappear. Koth’vurians devour suns. That’s how they get their unnatural power. Most of you weren’t here when I witnessed Ashkaratoth’s true form.”

“Our ship and crew were annihilated within seconds,” Zadoya said.

“So you remember,” Shirakaya continued. “Only four of you were present during that nightmare. It was the most frightening feeling. And yet we’re flying straight into that situation again. I won’t lie. As ready as you may think we are, we face the prospect of immediate death. This is your last chance to disembark Marauder. I won’t stop any of you from leav—”

“With all due respect, cut the crap,” Dojin interjected. “We’re not going anywhere.”

“Sorry, sis,” Khal’jan said. “But that was honestly the worst inspirational speech I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“I’m ready to face those koth’vurian scum and blow them out of the stars,” Xorvaj said.

“I’ll second that,” Myris said.

“For the eternal Goddess!” Yarasuro shouted with excitement, raising his sword.

Many of the crew cheered.

“All right, Mr. Transcendence,” Shirakaya said. “Initiate the arcane engine and take us to the outskirts of the Drift Void. We have a score to settle with Ashkaratoth.”

III

Precipice of Chaos

Reaching the esorian outskirts of the Drift Void, the AI disengaged the arcane engine. Switching to the normal engine, he maintained a steady velocity without the need for inertia dampeners. The mercenaries were seated at their terminals. Checking the starmap and scanning the quadrant ahead, Yarasuro saw an anomaly with one of the stars.

“Shira,” he called out. “I’m picking up a discrepancy with a G-type main-sequence star labeled MV-54105. Luminosity class VI of spectral type G. I’m picking up an outburst of flares and rapid loss of energy.”

“Vokken…”

“I’m already changing course. We’ll reach the noqurian quadrant in approximately two minutes.”

Shirakaya raised her head, focused. “This is it, everyone. Time to get to your mandated battle stations. Del Vayso, can you handle using the rail gun?” At his nod, she went on, “Yaro, Xorvaj, and Jai’ryndar—stay along the eastern wing in case we get infiltrated. Dojin, Zadoya, and Rah’tera: remain on standby at the western wing.”

“What about me?” Khal’jan asked.

“You’ll stay with me and assist with Marauder’s weaponry. Eladoris, you can remain on deck for now. If there’s a battle, we’ll need your magic. Myris, you’ll stay here too. I need you to have a clear mind in case you sense something detrimental.”

“Will do,” the oracle said.

Feeling anxious and concerned because of what had happened in the past, Shirakaya decided to click her KLD several times and sent a distress signal to Lady Niksa, followed by a text: I’m giving you my coordinates...if you have any faith in my mission, bring your fleet here. After sending the transmission, she didn’t receive a response. She cursed under her breath but tried to stay focused.

Closing in on the diminishing sun, Vokken decelerated the battleship. Upon reaching the darkening star system, Shirakaya witnessed a legion of koth’vurians hovering before a flaring sun. At the heart of the menacing swarm was Ashkaratoth who’d been tapping into the fading star, consuming its nuclear power.

“Those vile beings are actually here,” Shirakaya said. “Eladoris, give them a taste of their own medicine.” As the necromancer departed into space, the freelancer continued, “It’s you and me, Khal. Let’s fire everything we’ve got at them.”

“You got it, sis.”

Marauder accelerated toward the sun, its cannons targeting a multitude of enemies. An array of fusion and laser beams fired from every weapon along the vessel’s wings. To bolster the attack, Khal’jan launched plasma torpedoes while Shirakaya activated the battleship’s SFM—Sub-Field Matrix—an invisible barrier capable of reversing counterstrikes for twenty seconds before allowing the mana shield to sustain damage.

Ashkaratoth glared at the approaching battleship. “My brethren, destroy those pathetic insects. They know nothing of our glorious destiny. What has been promised to us cannot be undone.”

The koth’vurians hissed with rage, many of them harmed by their own gamma rays that deflected back at them by means of the vessel’s SFM. They nonetheless persisted, soon realizing that Marauder’s technological sub-field had dissipated. By then, the battleship’s firepower had decimated about a hundred aliens.

Despite the Shadow Mercs having an advantage, the horde kept projecting beams from the palms of their hands, weakening the battleship’s mana shield. Fear took hold of Myris as she cast her white magic, struggling to replenish the weakening barrier. Shirakaya promptly targeted other koth’vurians and assisted her brother by launching more torpedoes.

In the meantime, Ashkaratoth witnessed his kin being blasted apart; a look of absolute wrath infused his eyes as he watched his legion attempting to attack the seemingly impenetrable vessel.

“The time has finally come for me to become the new Lord of Chaos!”

Blood boiling, he turned his attention back to the drained sun and continued sucking the life out of it. Meanwhile, his legion drew ever closer to Marauder. Dozens of them flew through its mana shield, landing along the wings. Without hesitation, Dojin’s team opened fire. The trio used enchanted plasma rifles, shooting many of the creatures. As the koth’vurians returned fire, Dojin and his two comrades took cover behind cannons.

“These bastards are too arrogant,” the renegade commented with a smirk.

“It’ll be their downfall,” Zadoya responded, aiming ahead.

Seizing the chance, the cyborg transformed her metal arms into cannons and unleashed a salvo. Each blast she discharged put huge holes in the bodies of her foes. Dojin assisted her from a distance with his plasma rifle, launching frost-enchanted beams. In tandem, Rah’tera crept over to a group of enemies while cloaked as they returned fire at his comrades.

Before needing to recharge his cloaking device, the assassin pierced one’s heart with a dagger from behind and shot another in the face using his flame-enchanted pistol. Others turned, stunned by his abrupt appearance. He slashed one’s throat and evaded a gamma ray that projected out of the palm of another koth’vurian, at which point he cloaked himself again and vanished. Moments later, the same koth’vurian was blasted apart by the cyborg’s cannons.

“Smooth,” Dojin said with admiration.

Rah’tera revealed himself with a grin, rejoining his companions. They returned to their positions, waiting for more creatures to land. Many of them, however, were burned alive and electrocuted to death by Eladoris before they could get too close to the battleship. Those who managed to escape her wrath were then disintegrated by the rail gun that Del Vayso controlled.

After witnessing such firepower, a contingent of koth’vurians flew to the other wing. As the aliens landed, Yarasuro emerged with his enchanted swords. Swiping in multiple arcs, he decapitated a handful of creatures. Xorvaj assisted him with his battleaxe, splattering the aliens’ innards along the hull of the vessel. Random organs flew past the mana shield, suspended in space.

One of the creatures was about to claw Yarasuro in the face when Jai’ryndar gripped his scaly arm, snapped it, and flipped him to the ground. The alien bawled in pain and got back to his feet, at which point Jai’ryndar conjured an augmented sphere of dhi-cha, blasting him apart with raw energy. He then kicked another creature in the face so hard that his skull was crushed on impact.

“I am one with the dhi-cha,” Jai’ryndar said, composed.

“Yeah? Well, I’m one with my blade and all the blood here,” Xorvaj replied, cleaving more aliens with his battleaxe.

Yarasuro shook his head. “Stay focused.”

“You’re no fun, mutant.”

Jai’ryndar ignored their small talk, concentrating on the fight. With a sharp uppercut, his fist went right through one koth’vurian, killing it in an instant. As others approached, he ducked and veered away from their gamma rays and claws. Seeing an opening, the martial artist punched them with all his might. Without stopping, he connected each vicious punch like one continuous combination that left most of their bones broken.

Another swarm approached, but they were abruptly blasted by Marauder’s rail gun. The electromagnetic attack went right through them, disintegrating their bodies. Others exploded by the fusion cannons’ enchanted projectiles, all expertly launched by Shirakaya and Khal’jan from the battleship’s bridge.

Just then, Myris screamed in agonizing pain. Her sudden lament forced the others out of their seats, including Xeza. The sìsô scuttled across the room as the oracle fell from her chair, hitting her head on the floor. Khal’jan panicked and froze while Shirakaya rushed to the oracle’s aid.

“Myris!” she called out. “Myris! Are you all right?”

“Death. Our death. The star. It’s diminishing. If we don’t stop them, it will turn into a supernova and vaporize us all.”

“How much time do we have?” Khal’jan asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe minutes.”

Shirakaya grew pale. “It’s time. Vokken, take over my controls and keep assisting our team.”

“Affirmative.”

“What are you planning, sis?”

Standing up, she answered, “I spent all this time searching to regain my arcane gift. Now it’s time I use this power within me and put an end to Ashkaratoth.”

“Don’t do anything stupid that you’ll regret.”

“I’m already filled with regret,” she said, gripping her brother’s arms. “I am tormented by those who died because of my ego. Deep down inside, I’m suffering. My regret will never fade away. But I can at least attempt to avenge my people and ensure that others do not face the same fate as my crew.”

Khal’jan stared at her, his eyes teary. “Shira…”

“Have faith in me, Khal. I didn’t risk my life to regain the arcane gift so I could die here.” She hugged him tightly with a faint but hopeful smile. “All right, Soth’yugon. It’s time we put an end to this nightmare.”

We shall see…

An aura enveloped Shirakaya as she gazed at the withering star. Khal’jan saw a glimpse of the ethereal form of Soth’yugon manifest around his sister. Then she vanished, teleporting to outer space—thousands of kilometers away from the main battle. Protected by a mana shield conjured by Soth’yugon, she used her spacesuit’s jets to fly toward the swarm’s leader.

“Ashkaratoth!” she shouted at the top of her lungs.

The koth’vurian turned, his green-glowing eyes disoriented. “You!” he hissed, his face contorting at the sight of her. “I grow tired of your stench! I will destroy yo—”

Interrupted by a tempest manifested from the freelancer’s hands, Ashkaratoth blew back several meters. Witnessing how taken aback he appeared, Shirakaya wasted no time in zooming straight toward him while hurling fireballs. Though he evaded one, the other blasted against his shoulder. Shirakaya refused to withdraw, summoning earthen power and bashing his face. She then conjured up an icicle, jamming it into his chest.

Ashkaratoth managed to gather enough strength to claw back at her. “Shirakaya of Aarda. I was wondering what fool would venture out this far. More insane and foolish—to attack me. The last fiend to underestimate me was Koth’tura, and I made sure he’ll be sealed within the Drift Void forever. Clearly you seek a similar fate. Yes, you wish to die. And die, you shall!”

Shirakaya flinched at the mention of Koth’tura but remained steadfast. “You talk way too much,” she said, launching a fork of lightning at him.

Electricity scrambled throughout his body. Although the koth’vurian leader groaned in pain, he defied the horrible pangs and conjured gamma rays from the palms of his hands. In an instant, he formed a powerful beam that blew through Shirakaya’s mana shield and sent her flying backwards.

“I am the new Lord of Chaos!”

Despite how disoriented Shirakaya was from the lethal attack, she used the jets in her spacesuit to balance herself. Zooming forward at an incredible speed, she unsheathed her enchanted ghanis blade and swiped it at her nemesis. Wings flapping, Ashkaratoth moved with incredible speed and dodged each assault. He attempted to counterattack using his claws and tail, yet she veered aside and evaded him.

As the enchantress thrust her sword with one hand, she managed to summon magic with the other. After each swipe of her frost blade, she cast a flaming spell at Ashkaratoth. One of the fireballs hit him, burning his chest. She then sliced his stomach. He hissed as acidic blood leaked down his waist. In an attempt to retaliate, the koth’vurian leader swiped his spike-strewn tail at her. Shirakaya promptly flew down in time to avoid the deadly blow and then severed his scaly tail. For the first time, Ashkaratoth barked in terrible pain at the loss of his appendage.

“Wretched witch!”

“The universe of Ensar will suffer you no more. In the name of Maz’hura, your tyranny ends here.”

“Tyranny? Let me show you the true meaning of tyranny!”

Ashkaratoth roared, his muscles and bones deforming. The sun’s energy continued to flow into him as he grew in size. As the star flickered its last light, he morphed into the vile monstrosity that haunted Shirakaya in her nightmares—the very same monstrous form that had destroyed the Celestial, killed her crew, and left her for dead.

By the time he finished his transformation, Shirakaya appeared like a dot in comparison. Ashkaratoth remained suspended before her, smug as ever with blazing scales, gamma fumes rising from his prickly snout, spiral horns along his pockmarked cranium, and gargantuan wings the size of moons. She gazed up at the cosmic being, utterly terrified. Then a voice within called out to her.

Do not be intimidated by his form, Shirakaya. Believe in yourself, and remember that the magic within you is no different than his. It is limitless.

Ashkaratoth blew purplish fire from his mouth. In seconds, the flame engulfed Shirakaya and the region of space around her. The inferno was so thick that she couldn’t see him. Despite this, her newly conjured mana shield held up. She took a deep breath and focused on the arcane power within herself. Then, she countered his flame magic with an icy spell.

As the frost magic expanded, it doused the flames around her. Shirakaya was finally able to see the shocked koth’vurian who had focused his power into a single fireball that would easily obliterate her upon contact. In turn, she concentrated her wrathful spell into a massive sphere of frost power and hurled it at her adversary.

The spells collided with each other, becoming stuck together. For a moment, Shirakaya’s frost magic advanced. Ashkaratoth worked himself into a frenzy, sucking the last bit of energy from the now-dead star. He roared menacingly, his nuclear-like magic rapidly tearing through Shirakaya’s spell—at least until a salvo of torpedoes, lasers, fusion beams, and plasma rays blasted him.

Shirakaya turned, gazing at the soudarian quadrant of space where she saw Marauder accompanied by Lady Niksa’s battleship and fleet. She beamed at the armada, her heart filled with renewed hope. Overwhelming power surged from within the enchantress as she summoned every element to strengthen her spell. The incredible magic not only devoured the flame ahead but pierced Ashkaratoth through and through.

“Impossible!”

“Nothing is impossible,” she said, calm and composed—the spirit of Soth’yugon rising out of her like a golden aura. “You lost because you failed to realize that magic supersedes the impossible. Now, suffer my wrath!”

Shirakaya blasted him all the way into the collapsing sun, where he exploded along with the star as it erupted into a supernova. She did not move, maintaining her devastating spell. The deadly phenomenon forced Eladoris to flee. Lady Niksa and her fleet escaped as well, flying out of the starless system. Despite the mercenaries of Marauder protesting, Vokken followed Lady Niksa.

“Traitor!” Khal’jan shouted. “Traitor!”

“Turn back this instant!” Yarasuro demanded.

Vokken appeared on the screen. “Do not be foolhardy. I am saving your lives. If we try to rendezvous with Shirakaya, the supernova would tear through our shields and annihilate all of you.”

“You’re just saving your own ass,” Dojin said.

“I am an arcane intelligence, linked to the Ethernet. I would not die. Only you would suffer death.”

“The bastard’s right,” Zadoya said.

“I don’t give a damn!” Khal’jan said, incensed. “We can’t just abandon her! Turn back this instant! Turn back! Now!” He started slamming his fists against the screen, at which point Xorvaj pulled him away. “Get off me! Get the hell off me!”

Myris waved her hand at him, calming his mind. Having saved him from hysteria, she grew pale and sat quietly in her chair. Silence descended over the bridge. The crew watched in terror as the supernova consumed the starless system before them. Planets, moons, and asteroid belts disintegrated. Everything that existed in that region of space dissolved into nothingness, a void unlike anything else.

Khal’jan fell to his knees. “Shira…”

“I can’t believe it,” Dojin muttered.

Though she was mostly machine, Zadoya still felt the need to hold her former lover. They embraced each other in disbelief.

“Today we have lost an extraordinary heroine,” Jai’ryndar said, hunched over.

Xorvaj lowered his head. “What we witnessed her battle against was something beyond monster and demon. Today, a true warrior has fallen.”

“An incredible leader and sorceress,” Yarasuro said.

Rah’tera shared no words, his eyes downcast.

“Hmph,” the necromancer uttered. “Are you forgetting who I am? Show me her corpse and I can bring her back to life.”

Before anyone could dispute this, Myris intervened, “There’s no need,” she said in a calm tone, smiling. “Shira’s incredible. I always knew she was special. But now I realize if anyone can bring peace to our universe, it’s her.”

“What?” Khal’jan said, losing his composure.

“She senses what I am detecting to be a scientific anomaly,” Vokken said.

“That’d be true if magic didn’t exist, ya robotic ninny,” the oracle responded. “Magic is very much alive. And it’s permeating within the supernova remnant. Please take us back to the battlefield. I need to see it for myself.”

Vokken obeyed the oracle, accelerating Marauder. Using the arcane engine, he sped back to the quadrant where they had battled the koth’vurians. In the center of the starless system, there was an empty void. No planets, moons, or asteroids remained—not even ashes. The crew looked around, finding nothing except a blackened egg-like sphere wrapped in a bubble.

“What the hell is that?” Dojin asked.

Xeza produced a hopeful urp.

Del Vayso rubbed his chin, examining the enigmatic object. “It is rare that I witness science and magic becoming one.”

“Indeed,” the AI said.

The renegade let out a sigh of frustration. “Can somebody please tell me what the fuck is going on?”

“I don’t even know what this is,” Khal’jan said.

As they approached the sphere, it cracked like a shell. Its frame resembled the void of space—an imprisoned microcosm suspended within the macrocosm of Ensar. Extending her hand, Myris sensed something within it. Her eyes glowed brightly as she used magic in an attempt to teleport it into the cargo bay. Before she could do so, it abruptly cracked apart in space, and the protective bubble dissipated.

The mercenaries wore expressions of horror on their pale faces as Ashkaratoth emerged in his gargantuan, wrathful form. Wings extended and enraged eyes burning with pure power, he produced a hideous cackle. Lady Niksa’s fleet returned and opened fire at the interdimensional entity. Ashkaratoth scoffed and merely swiped his claw at one of the vessels in her fleet, splitting it in two and causing it to explode.

“Goddess save us,” Yarasuro said.

“Pathetic mortals! Did you truly think magic could defeat me? I am the essence of magic itself. Not even Koth’tura can survive me. Your ignorance makes me sick. Now, you shall all be expunged from the universe!”

Just as Ashkaratoth finished speaking, his scaly body started to crack. The fire in his eyes lessened. Gripping his cracked chest, he choked and groaned as if suffocating. His once smug and overconfident visage diminished—replaced with a pathetic perplexity. Before he could taste fear, his body exploded.

A nimbus of light manifested, blinding everyone. When the incredible radiance dimmed, Shadow Mercs, as well as Lady Niksa and her remaining fleet, opened their eyes and witnessed Shirakaya emerge. The aura of Soth’yugon enveloped her as she hovered before them. Her crew cheered like never before. When she teleported back to Marauder’s bridge, they surrounded her. She smiled at them and hugged her brother tightly.

“You did it, Shira!” Khal’jan said jubilantly said.

“Mission accomplished,” Zadoya said, giving her a thumbs-up.

“You crazy bitch,” Dojin said, shaking her hand. “That really scared the freakin’ shit out of me.”

Xorvaj and Jai’ryndar lifted her up while the others praised her.

“After all this time, you truly defeated Ashkaratoth,” Yarasuro said with relief. “Now the universe can finally know peace.”

“Shira, you’re so badass!” the oracle said ecstatically.

Xeza stood on Myris’ shoulder, producing many excited urps.

“Not bad for a humyn,” Eladoris said.

“It seems the threat is finally over,” Del Vayso said.

Back on her feet, Shirakaya shook her head. “I’m not so sure. Ashkaratoth may have claimed to be the new Lord of Chaos, but Koth’tura still remains imprisoned within the Drift Void. Though this has been an incredible victory once hard to imagine, I still can’t help but feel that we’re only facing the beginning of a frightening war.”

“Well, whether or not Koth’tura is truly destined to be freed,” Myris began, “I’m sure there will be other baddies out there. Whoever they are, we’ll make sure we’re around to kick them in the arse!”

“Hell yeah!” Dojin said. “I’m gonna drink to that.”

The crew cheered again in agreement.

IV

Cosmic Currents

After a well-deserved celebration, all but Shirakaya and Niksa retired to their quarters. Standing at the fore of Marauder’s bridge, Shirakaya gazed at the seemingly endless expanse of stars. Even though the ship shook, she released a breath of pure relief. Countless thoughts raced through her mind.

About one and a half cycles ago, she had fallen from the grace of the Tal’manac Order. Despite such a fate, she had managed to rebuild her life. In time, she gathered a competent team, regained her arcane gift regardless of the consequences, and managed to vanquish Ashkaratoth from the universe. Still, she found herself pondering the fate of Koth’tura. She wondered, How long will he remain imprisoned?

Marauder shook again as she returned to the present.

“I would’ve never fathomed that any of this was real,” Niksa said. “You were right all along. In the past, I just had sympathy for you. But now I feel like a fool. I was ignorant and imprudent.”

“Don’t say that,” Shirakaya responded, facing her. “We’re all ignorant of something. Life is a journey. We’re always growing. You saw what you needed to see. It was the only way. And now that you have witnessed this battle, you’re on my side. I need things to stay this way. Can I count on you?”

Lady Niksa looked at her softly. “Always…”

“Thank you,” Shirakaya replied earnestly.

The couple embraced. They held each other tightly, closed their eyes, and gently kissed. It was a moment Shirakaya didn’t want to let go of. For the first time in months, she had a little peace of mind.

“Is something on your mind?”

Shirakaya stood quietly for a moment. “I can’t help thinking about how the koth’vurians were able to return from exile,” she finally said as the ship shook yet again. “Were they always here in hiding, or did Koth’tura free them from the Drift Void? If so, why is the Lord of Chaos still imprisoned? It’s only a matter of time before he, too, is freed. Right?”

“Those kinds of thoughts are frightening,” Niksa said. “Don’t worry about such things, love. We won. Isn’t that enough? I mean, if Koth’tura is truly still out there, we will be ready to defend our universe like today. Until then, you just keep building your forces. And know that I’ll always be by your side.”

Shirakaya smiled, kissing her again. As they felt a sense of rapture with their passionate embrace, the ship shook more violently than before.

“Um...what is going on with your ship?”

“Let’s go to the bridge and find out.”

The duo left their bedchamber and used an X-Phaser to reach Marauder’s flight deck. Upon arriving, Shirakaya saw her crew already seated in their mandated positions. She rushed to her command chair.

“What’s going on?” she asked, taking a seat.

Vokken’s cybernetic face materialized on the main screen. “I’m afraid we’re in a bit of a bind. Despite us being within the ‘safe’ zone of Gydeim Scor, we’re still getting pulled into the Drift Void.”

“Of course,” Dojin said, crossing his arms. “There’s always some stupid bullshit fucking us over.”

“Why are we finding out about this now?” Niksa inquired.

“My thoughts exactly,” Khal’jan snapped.

“If you must know,” Vokken replied, “I did not want to cause panic after such a victory. I also thought the vessel was strong enough to bypass the current.”

“You were wrong, asshole,” Dojin retorted.

“Let’s stay calm, mercs,” Shirakaya said. “Vokken, activate the cosmodrive and see if it can pull us out.”

“I already tried. It’s not responding.”

Shirakaya sighed. “Anyone have ideas?”

Del Vayso checked the mainframe. “It seems most of our resources were depleted in the deadly battle. I’m afraid our only hope is the arcane engine somehow managing to break free of the Void’s current.”

“Unlikely,” the sandstalker said, his eyes fixed on the map.

“Well, what’re we gonna do?” Myris asked. “Surely there must be something we can do to get out of this wanky nightmare?”

“You’re the oracle, dipshit. You tell us.”

Myris scowled at the renegade. “I’m not some kind of bloody robot with buttons you can push to receive a vision, jerk face.”

The battleship continued shaking. As it drew closer to the Drift Void, the vibrations became even more intense, stressing the crew evermore. The mercenaries felt like they were stuck on board a sinking ship, destined to enter a realm of oblivion. Upon this realization, the necromancer conjured up a mana shield and looked around the crew one final time.

“You were amusing to fight with, but I’m not dying for any of you.”

Without remorse, she teleported into outer space and attempted to fly away. The current, however, pulled her infinitely quicker than the battleship; she was gone from their sight within seconds.

“My queen!” Vokken shouted, his seemingly lifeless voice revealing genuine emotion for the first time ever.

Yarasuro lowered his head in surrender. “No one will ever learn of our extraordinary journey, or the intrepid battle that took place here…”

“Jai!” Shirakaya called out. “Can you use your implants to create a gateway?”

The engineer already knew that the energy in his implants had been depleted from the grueling battle, but he nevertheless attempted to set up coordinates and establish a portal. Not receiving a response, he closed his eyes and communed with his inner dhi-cha. He refused to accept this fate, but his augmented body and implants needed more time to rejuvenate.

“Alas, I have failed you.”

“Never,” Shirakaya said, comforting him despite her growing fear. “None of us failed today. No matter what happens, we achieved the impossible.”

Those were her last words of inspiration. Everybody remained silent as they approached the enigmatic Drift Void. They gazed at the red chasm for the first time with their own eyes. To many of them, it resembled the size of a dozen black holes. No one could see anything beyond the crimson void. Most crewmembers lost faith as their lives flashed before them.

“You did this!” Khal’jan abruptly shouted, gazing in fury at the computer. “There’s no more threat other than us! You’re sending us to our deaths!”

“I beg your pardon?” Vokken said, his voice revealing irritation.

Shirakaya frowned, taking a deep breath. “If we are fated to die, then tell us the truth, Vokken. Was this your plan all along?”

“Do you pathetic fleshlings think I would actually do this?” He produced a cybernetic laugh. “Koth’tura is still out there. Furthermore, I’m too proud and ingenious to have you killed in such a simplistic way. Challenges enthrall me. A vessel aimlessly flying into the Drift Void is not a challenge.”

Del Vayso checked his terminal. “The arcane intelligence is not lying. Our resources are actually just about depleted.”

“I hate that asshole even when he’s telling the truth,” Dojin said.

Xorvaj let out a deafening roar of frustration. “This cannot be our fate! No! I refuse to accept it!”

Jai’ryndar joined his palms. “If such is the will of dhi-cha, I am ready.”

“Sis?” Khal’jan said. “Can’t you use your magic?”

“I already tried, Khal. I am so, so sorry. No magic other than the divinity of Maz’hura can dispel the Drift Void.” She paused, a lifeless expression carved on her face. “Vokken, I have one final request for you. Then you are free of us.”

“I was always free. What is your request?”

Eyes downcast, Shirakaya went on, “I need you to activate the transdimensional ethernet and send—”

Before she could finish, the ship was pulled into the Drift Void. In a split second, the power shut down. The force field dissipated. Terminals ignited with wild flames, explosions erupting throughout the ship. The crew were knocked off their feet. Gravity became distorted. Then their bodies curved and weaved with the vessel.

Marauder was being sucked into bending flares while it zoomed through an abyss that appeared as red as blood. Bolts of energy flickered throughout the chasm. Shirakaya and her companions witnessed the event, at least until their bodies became deformed from the unknown phenomenon.

“Behold!” the AI blurted out. “The legendary, unfathomable Drift Void! The supreme, arcane gateway that leads beyond the twelve dimensions, where Maz’hura exiled Koth’tura myriad eons ago!”

No one cared about his statement. Every single one of them experienced excruciating pain that shut out anything else. Most of them were screeching uncontrollably. Even the sìsô let out an agonizing wail. Before long, the Marauder and its flotilla of Lady Niksa’s vessels twisted like rubber and then vanished from the universe.