by Max Jager
Washington slammed the glass canopy down hard on the ship and yelled out, "You'll go faster with just two! Three people inside might slower her down too bad!"
Alerius started the engine and the ship hovered off the ground. It began to go high into the sky as Alerius piloted it. Aurela was gripping the glass as she watched Washington disappear. She tried to get Alerius to go back for him but he just simply said, "He's right. This thing will go a lot faster with just two. Your safety comes first!"
She held her hands and face pressed hard to the glass. Aurela watched as Washington disappeared under a heavy red blanket of mist as the ship got closer to the ozone. She then turned to Alerius and said in her sweet voice filled with pain, "He'll be happier there."
Alerius turned to face her and saw one tear glide from her cheek with this strange sort of smile on her face.
"Happier where?" Alerius asked.
She looked back out the glass as now the planet's ground disappeared. "With Dark."
Alerius looked at her concerned but she kept her face and hands pressed against the glass.
The ship began to shake uncontrollably! Alerius was about to leave orbit. The two sticks that steered the ship began to rumble in his hands. He tried desperately to keep the ship steady. He growled and grunted as the ship became more violently out of control!
He gritted his teeth as now the ship became burning to the touch! They were now passing through the heat of the ozone layer. The ship rocked through the planet's barrier like a small boat in the middle of a stormy sea! The steering sticks now burned Alerius's flesh as he tried desperately to keep the ship from coming apart!
He began screaming at the front window! "YOU'RE NOT TAKING HER! YOU'RE NOT TAKING HER! I'LL DIE BEFORE YOU GET HER!"
His hands being burned as he screamed! Small amounts of steam began to roll from off his hands as Alerius now not only struggled with controlling the ship but also with the tremendous pain in his hands! They were being badly burned! The heat from the two sticks felt like a million little needles that were digging into him all the way up his arm!
Aurela looked over at him with this concerned look for him. Ten times what it had been for Washington. She put her hand on one of his and he violently whipped it away. He continued his struggle with the ship as Aurela held her hand as though it had been hurt. She looked at him again but this time it was a longing to touch him, a longing to help him, a longing to give him strength.
Aurela again reached out and put her hand on his. Alerius was ready to whip it away again. He couldn't handle this. He was struggling for both their lives and she was playing these stupid little games! What kind of hope was this? Alerius began to doubt Aurela's ability to save the universe about as much as his ability to save them from this dying planet. His fears were soon squelched.
Both of his hands began to feel icy cool. As though the heat from outside was not penetrating at all. Which made it easier for him to concentrate more on steering the ship now. Not only was this cooling sensation comfortable but it felt like it had healing properties too. As if his hands had not even been burning. As though now a cool refreshing stream of water was running up his arm. So nice and so cool. It was such a relieving feeling.
He looked over at Aurela who again had that concentrated look etched on her face. He looked at her hand and her skin was now a more brighter blue. (He didn't even think that was possible.) She almost seemed to glow. She now looked more like an angel then ever.
Soon, the fire and the red hazy mist was gone. The dark blackness of space and the infinite number of stars hit Alerius's view. The burning now was gone and the ship guided smoothly along, softly in space.
Alerius watched as Aurela suddenly let out this deep breath of relief and let go of his hand. She breathed heavily as though she had been underwater. Alerius touched her back and asked if she was alright. She looked up at him still gasping for air as her skin retained her natural shade of blue. "I am now."
Her glow was gone and slowly she was becoming herself.
Alerius retracted away from her feeling that she was beginning to start admiring him again. He couldn't have that.
Aurela was looking at him in confusion. "Why do you do that with me?"
Alerius gave her a quick glance. "Do what?" His voice was cold and shallow.
"Go away from me. I know you want me, I want you to." she said.
Her breasts right next to his face as she inched in close to him. He gave a few glances at her, trying desperately not to look but he couldn't help it. He gave another look and this time his eyes stayed locked. He was entranced. Her body was just so beautiful. A thousand images of what he wanted to do to her flowed through his mind. She inched in even closer, her bosom now covering his face. She wrapped her arms around his face pushing him deeper into her chest.
"You can if you want. I want you to. You can do whatever you want. I will let you because…"
She was violently cut off by him shoving her away! "GODDAMN IT!" He screamed! "Is that all you can think about? You're our last hope for restoring any kind of salvation for humanity and all you think about is sex? What…what is wrong with you?"
She looked at him deeply hurt! She even started to cry. "What's wrong with love?"
Alerius looked down at the floor. "Nothing, its just that…" He cut himself off.
He had nothing to say. He didn't know how to express his feelings. Usually he didn't have any on a mission but this time was different. There was plenty of feelings and Alerius had no idea how to handle them.
Aurela began to inch back towards him begging for him to take her. Alerius again pushed her back rejecting her offer. As he did, she began to cry uncontrollably. She was wailing with cheek soaking tears!
Alerius felt like hell now. He began to speak and was about to tell her he was sorry until she uttered out words through her muffled crying that made Alerius look back at Scalobore. "To have a planet die!"
Alerius got this scared, crazed look on his face as he watched the planet Scalobore be eaten alive! The planet began to turn this magma red and black as now the Flaming Meteorite began to enclose its mouth around the planet. Huge amounts of steam rolled off the thin strip of ocean and huge cracks wormed their way across the planet surface. It was like watching a snake eat an egg whole.
This crushing sound came from the Oadin's mouth and the planet folded in a bit, making it burst with fire! The cracks turned into fissures of fire as the planet let out a muffled cry but it was just the hard ground of the surface cracking. Alerius could see deep into the planet now as the Oadin's mouth began to slowly inch to the back of the world. The core beginning to crumble and ooze out with fire and magma.
The Oadin almost had the whole planet engulfed and Alerius could only see a little bit of it through the jaw line. He watched in terror as the planet came apart inside the colossal sized mouth. The planet surface pulled away from itself and broke apart like a crumbling cookie. The molten magma gushed out of the planet like blood from an animal being devoured.
Alerius turned away as the Flaming Meteorite now had the whole world in its mouth and swallowed the whole thing down like a snake. The mouth closed and Scalobore was gone! Swallowed whole by the gargantuan demon! The Oadin returned to its normal size and gave a little smile to itself as it now loomed in the same spot were Scalobore use to exist.
Alerius and Aurela sped away from the Oadin and off into space. Aurela was still weeping but it was more softer now. She felt as if she couldn't cry enough tears for the people who had just been eaten alive. Not to mention the lives that perished aboard the Osiris. Maybe, most of the people on the planet were defectors or were enemies trying to kill them both. But to be eaten alive while on an entire planet by your own "allies" is no way for anyone to go.
Alerius tried to keep hard but even he was feeling discomfort as he charged through space. He was having a tough time choking back his emotions as the event replayed in his head almost as if replaying key destructive moments over and over again. He
kept solid though. Even through the menacing memory. He figured that no one, even a rogue like himself, could keep somewhat sane after seeing an entire planet devoured!
Aftermath
Meanwhile, the Flaming Meteorite was throwing a fit! The ships around it began buzzing around like irritated flies trying to escape its turbulent path. What was really happening was that they were trying to keep stable as the Oadin screamed out into the void. It was yelling out, "IT LIVES! HOW CAN IT LIVE? I ATE IT! I SWALLOWED IT WHOLE! HOW CAN IT LIVE?"
The fire inside of the demon churned and bubbled as it became even more angry. It suddenly blasted off with its guardian ships following it. It left a trail of fire behind it as it sped out into the universe. It was on the hunt for the Leyline! It could still feel the Leyline's presence as it stormed out into the blackness. Its small protecting armada swiftly behind it.
Through the fire trail came a small war spacecraft. It was Korzen and he was heading in the right direction. Opposite the Oadin. Unlike the world eating demon, he had some idea where Alerius had blasted off to. He was determined to hunt the two down to whatever planet they landed on and then he would reduce it to rubble to find them!
A Bit of Rest
Alerius hit the hyper sleep mode which was kind of like cryogenic sleep only done more with oxygen then with the freezing of molecules. It was a little bit of both though.
Alerius looked at Aurela. "Aurela, how long were you in that cave?" His curiosity was getting the better of him.
They had been flying for about a couple of hours. He figured that the answer might be vital to the mission which was almost shot to hell.
Aurela answered, "22 years."
Alerius did the math. "That means that you were stuck in there in 2107. Makes sense. 2107 there were only five of you left back then."
Aurela looked at him strangely as both of them were starting to feel the effects of sleep. "Five what?"
Alerius slowly turned his head in wide-eyed shock! "What do you mean five what? Five Laylines!"
Aurela looked back out to the stars outside, "Oh. I only knew of one."
Her eyes were starting to get heavy as she began to cave into sleep. Alerius was now beginning to doze off too.
"One? She was imprisoned with them all! How could she only know of one?" His voice was getting soft and his eyes were already shut. "I mean...one what? What was I saying? Oh right. Laylines. Maybe she doesn't remember?" Alerius was fast asleep but he was just talking completely out of context now. "How could she not remember. I would remember…her. So hot! Her big breasts! Hmmm!"
Both were now completely lost in dreams.
Aurela's Dream
Aurela awoke to find herself not on the spaceship but back in the old cave that was on Scalobore! She looked around horrified. The bright mushrooms were glowing around her and the exit to the cave was lit up. The glowing mushrooms illuminated the path right out of the cave. She followed.
She came to the opening but it was pure white light. She couldn't see anything. The light was close to blinding but it didn't hurt her eyes at all. She walked right up to it and put her hand inside the light. From the other side she felt this warm sensation on her arm. She pulled it back.
She finally took a deep breath and entered the light exiting the cave. When she came out on the other side, she was in this green flat field. Covered with grass and a big tree some fifty feet away. The warm breeze from the wind made her feel so comfortable. Like a hot breath on her skin. She embraced herself as she felt the wind pick up. Giving her goosebumps as it blew.
She looked around wondering where Alerius was. She wanted him here now! She wanted to embrace him, give herself to him. He was such a special man and she could feel deep down in her heart that all he wanted to do was protect her. She wanted so much to be with him in this place. But she would soon discover that another was there.
She decided to walk towards the tree since everything else was open grass field. As she walked closer, she saw a white figure step out from behind the tree. She squinted to see what it was and standing right next to the huge tree was a white Korzen. It stood very erect and stared right at her.
She recognized it from somewhere but she couldn't remember. Then, it began to walk over to her. It had its head lowered as it approached. It was very docile looking and was panting with joy to see her. As it drew near, Aurela began to regain her memory. This white Korzen was one of the last Laylines!
She began to remember its name. Lire. He was the only Leyline she knew. He was the one that had protected her through the difficult days of being on the run from the hellion forces. He was the one who hid her in the cave. To keep her safe from the Oadins.
She bent down and hugged him hard. The white Korzen began to lick her face uncontrollably as they both were happy to see each other. It had been a long time since the two had even seeing each other.
As she hugged him her memory began to fill up with all these recollections of him. All these times he had saved her from dangers. The ones she could see and the ones she couldn't. Lire had been in battle after battle to protect her.
Lire suddenly stopped licking her face and wiggled out of her embrace. She looked at him puzzled. She couldn't tell if something was wrong or if he was just being protective. She hadn't seen him in so long but she was almost certain something was wrong.
She then heard his voice in her head. It was a kind but rough tone. Very stern, educated, protective, and above all, dangerous. "You must listen to me Aurela."
Aurela's full attention was transfixed on Lire.
"It is time for you to realize your true power." His voice seemed more then just in her head. It seemed to echo all around her like the whole place, in essence, was him! "You are our only hope left."
Aurela cocked her head and stared at Lire and Lire gave her one solitary lick on the face almost as if he was trying to make her feel at ease about an uneasy situation. Aurela then said, "But there's still three of us. If we came together I'm sure…"
Lire's voice surrounded Aurela and shook the field to its very core! "NO! I am in a bad way Aurela! I can see the shadow of my death. There wouldn't be enough time. The Oadin is already planning his great assault. If you and Firius don't stop him in time…I fear for the worst! You are the only Leyline left with enough power stored to do anything to The Flaming Meteorite! I fear however, that if things continue the way they are, that you to will fall."
"Fall?"
"Perish my sweet. Die."
Again Lire gave her one solitary lick on her face and let out this short little whimper. The whimper seemed to actually come from the white Korzen.
Then, Lire's voice surrounded her again. Filling the field with his speech. "The Firius will protect you but he is foolish to your charm. You must keep attempting to be with him."
"He doesn't want me."
Lire came closer to her. "Of course he does. He loves you. He just won't admit it."
"I want him to Lire!"
"I know precious. Maybe with time, he will stop being so foolish and give into his heart. You must strive for that."
"I love you too!"
She grasped the Korzen's head and held on tight. She began kissing Lire's forehead. Right in between his ears. Lire nudged her gently and seemed to be at peace in her arms. "I know."
Lire then pulled out of her embrace and said, "Its too late for me now. I am dying Aurela, I know you can feel it. You must go with The Firius now."
She hung her head and began crying into her hands. Aurela hardly got out the words through her sobbing. "I can't! I don't want you to die! I must know where you are to say goodbye."
"NO! You mustn't know! Then we both would be in danger. We both run the risk of being destroyed together. I can see, in your journey, you will come so close to me. So close, but you will never know it. Never."
"You loved me didn't you?" She asked sill crying at the side of the white Korzen.
The Korzen approached her and sat its paw down on her thigh and lea
ned in close. When Aurela looked up she was staring Lire right in the eyes. Lire answered, "With all my heart."
Aurela hugged the white Korzen one more time and then this time she let go.
"I've got to go now. I love you and so does Firius. Always remember that! Remember Aurela! It's the only thing that'll keep you alive!"
Suddenly, fire ripped into her field of view, burning away at the tree in the back, the wide open plain, and even at Lire himself! She hoped that it was a nightmare but she was wide awake now! Aurela and Alerius were entering a planet's atmosphere at ungodly speed! She just wish she knew which planet!
Alerius's Dream
Alerius awoke abruptly to find himself inside The Osiris! It was the main deck and the room was like how he remembered it. Well, the floor plan anyway. The big giant window for looking out into space was there. Some of the instrument panels but something was a miss. There was no furniture. The big holographic display screen was gone too. Above the computer control panels were these huge glass cases where the display screens should have been. Inside the glass cases were guns. Lots of guns! All different types. Handguns, shotguns, assault rifles, heavy machine guns, and some special weapons that Alerius hadn't seen since his training days at the academy.
