He didn’t have the headaches, but this seemed worse.
“Your soul won the victory,” Kossk said, looking to Selas as Sora released his leg. Kossk nodded to Jekk. “Your souls won the battle, so let your mind reflect that victory.”
“We lost Fi and Scout, as I’m sure you’ve heard,” Selas said, stepping to Kossk’s bedside. Sora frowned at the end of Kossk’s bed. “It was all part of his plan.”
“His mind still underestimates the power of Fi’s soul,” Kossk said, pointing to Selas’ head. “The mind of Anziar is powerful, but my mind assesses that her soul will also win the victory.”
Selas worried that Kossk underestimated Anziar. “We can hope.”
“We should arrive at Ondon soon,” Sora said, looking among the three of them and settling on him. “How are you holding up?”
“I want to be optimistic, Sora, but the outlook is grim,” Selas said, glancing to Kossk. “I know Fi is strong, but Anziar does nothing thoughtlessly. He wanted the Queen to capture her for a greater purpose, and I fear that purpose.”
Sora walked around the bed to his side. “So do I, but you and Fi stopped Anziar once. Both of you can overcome whatever the Queen is doing.”
“You and Fi stopped Anziar,” Selas said, carrying a firm tone and locking eyes with Sora. He refused to allow any false sense of confidence to set in, for that would lead him astray. “I lost to him on Wantim.”
“That’s not true. You used what Fi and I were saying to come back. We pushed, but you were the one who regained control and helped get us off the ghost ship,” Sora said, shaking his head. He looked to Jekk. “You beat him on Graig, regardless of a trap. You brought Jekk back in a better state than he was before.”
Jekk nodded, standing near the doorway. “He speaks truth, Selas.”
Selas sighed. Sora’s words always soothed him and pushed him forward, even when he felt oppressed by whatever situation loomed over him. Even when facing failure, this man knew how to highlight his strengths. He respected that, but it didn’t remove the seriousness of the situation. If they didn’t have urgency, Fi would suffer.
“I’m worried, too, Selas, and I can’t offer any guarantees this time. I’m not capable of that,” Sora said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He frowned as he finished his last sentence, but forced a look of determination on his face. At least, that’s how it looked to Selas. “But I know what you’re capable of. You have more strength than you know, and so do Fi and Scout. I have to believe in that, because that’s all I have left to believe in.”
“I hope your confidence is not misplaced, Sora,” Selas said, again turning his attention to Kossk. He needed to change the subject and he also needed answers. “Speaking of Anziar, you chose an opportune moment to reveal that you knew him.”
Sora blinked, spinning around toward Kossk. “You do?”
“Your mind did not need the confirmation, although it should have suspected this knowledge,” Kossk said, gently hissing and sitting up. “Your mind was and is capable of battling his own. My body intervened to provide physical assistance.”
Selas didn’t blame him. Kossk’s mystery gave him an added edge against opponents like Anziar, and Kossk always possessed a strange, unsaid understanding of his struggles. That showed in the fact that Kossk never questioned his obvious internal struggles, unlike the other crew members.
“Before either of us joined the crew, you showed up on Nash a few times, supposedly on missions,” Selas said, restating the incidents to keep Sora and Jekk on the same track. “Those were intentional, I’d guess.”
“Yes,” Kossk said, nodding. “My mind wished to see how your body was carrying the weight of Anziar’s soul. The soul of the master of light gave the mission to my body. However, our bodies joining this crew was not pre-orchestrated. Perhaps that points to the inevitable fate of our souls fighting together.”
“Master of light,” Sora repeated, furrowing his eyebrow. He glanced back to Selas. “Sounds like something Fi heard from Anziar on the Bombard, but I still don’t understand what exactly that means.”
“I barely understand myself,” Jekk said, stepping closer to Sora and Selas. “Even after Selas’ recap yesterday. I know what I experienced when Anziar had control, but I don’t follow what you two are talking about.”
Selas rubbed his temples again. Indeed, he avoided giving Fi a full explanation. He wanted to shield her from these confusing matters, especially after they’d already defeated Anziar. Now, that seemed like a mistake, considering Anziar’s most recent actions. Sora saw beneath the surface, so perhaps he could understand.
Sora, Fi, and Jekk had all earned an explanation, after all. Anziar’s presence affected them all a great deal. Selas caught Kossk giving him a wary glance, but before he could answer, Kossk opened his mouth.
“The instincts of the Mizans cause their minds to explore the deeper matters of the Nebula,” Kossk said, now making direct eye-contact with Sora and Jekk. “The politics, wars, and relationships in this galaxy are far deeper than any of our minds ever comprehend. However, for the minds of our kind who excel at perception, our minds are instructed in the three elements of the Nebula: The dark, light, and gray.”
Selas took a deep breath. Due to Anziar, this knowledge always existed in his mind. He only acknowledged and understood it after Jekk’s accident.
“Each element has a soul that contains mastery over it. The master of light, the master of gray, and the master of darkness. Their souls and minds contain great might, but they do not possess absolute power. These elements shift with the conditions of the souls in the Nebula,” Kossk said, holding his claw up and moving it to the right to demonstrate. “When the souls of mortals allow light to purify their minds and actions, the master of light’s soul and mind grows in power. When the souls of mortals allow darkness to corrupt their souls, the soul and mind of Anziar gains power.”
Sora blinked but his face didn’t show too much confusion or disbelief. “That’s a lot to digest. Why has no one ever heard of this?”
“Nothing in this life is beyond our heads, Sora,” Selas said, calling the man back to his words on Con. As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw the understanding click in Sora’s eyes. “I told you that all life interweaves, and you know that to be true. However, not everyone chooses to recognize that like you do.”
Sora nodded. “Our history does line up with this. The light and dark make sense, but what about what about the masters of light and gray?”
Selas hesitated. He knew the master of gray existed, but he didn’t remember the master’s voice or face. The master of gray had involvement with Anziar’s capture and his creation, but Selas didn’t know how far that went. Lately, he hadn’t seen much gray in the Nebula, either.
“I’ve heard the master of light’s voice. I remember him,” Selas said, scratching his chin. He could still recall the man in white’s face.
“You are your own person. Your name shall be Selas Taban, and you shall keep him at bay.”
“The master of light created me. When he feared that Anziar would grow too strong as the Nebula grew dark, he overpowered Anziar, gave me my identity, and regressed Anziar’s body in power and age, allowing our parents to conceive,” Selas said, locking eyes with Jekk. “Twins ran in our family, so they also had you. Since you so closely match Anziar, I suspect that is why he was able to take control of you.”
“That is a tall tale, Selas, but I can’t deny it,” Jekk said, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. “Am I him, as well?”
“No,” Selas said, thankful that Jekk didn’t share that burden. “When he took control of my body, he slowly regained the powers he once had. When he possessed you, he was able to mend your physical ailments, but he didn’t have his old abilities.”
“The master of light’s body appeared to my mind after the battle between my kind on Puntan,” Kossk said, resting his claws in his lap. Suddenly, he sounded peaceful. “My mind recalled its earlier teachings and strive
d to see the beauty in the chaos, the light in a grim time for the souls of my species. The master of light’s body came to me and told my mind that it could find light by holding back the darkness. Then, his mind told my body to do so by going to Nash and finding Selas’ body.”
Cyan Feros appointed a guardian for Selas. Selas allowed a smile to creep on his face. Life still intersected more than even he’d expected.
“And the gray?” Sora said, looking back and forth between Kossk and Selas. “How does that factor in?”
“I’m not sure, Sora,” Selas said, crossing his arms and looking to the wall. “I don’t know anything about the master or how that element affects the Nebula. That is something we can only hope to discover.”
Sora nodded. “Well, judging by Kossk’s explanation, this again confirms that you can overcome Anziar and anything he has in mind. We’ve seen plenty of light by what we’ve accomplished so far, and if the darkness only grows when we allow it to, then it’s on us to stop it. Whether it’s in the form of Anziar or Queen Bettina or something else.”
Selas frowned at the irony. Sora just heard a lofty explanation and he already used it to spur him on, but Selas still had his doubts, even after his recent victories against Anziar. His mind drifted back to Fi and his worry for her. He only needed her to stop the darkness, and then he would follow her example. He needed to see that she still stood against it, regardless of the torture or harm Bettina exposed her to.
“Stay strong, brother,” Jekk said, squeezing Selas’ shoulder from behind. “You have me now, too.”
“I know,” Selas said, flashing a grim smile at all three of his comrades. “You are all right. We must cling to these truths. Let’s get to Ondon, so that we can get to Fi and Scout.”
He hoped that Fi still clung to these truths. If not, then Anziar’s darkness would grow disastrous.
8
The Killer lurched as it dropped out of hyperspace, bringing the small, blue planet of Ondon into the forefront. Chok didn’t allow the ship to take much of a break, accelerating the engines and using the control stick to fly the freighter into Ondon’s atmosphere. Sora crossed his arms and exhaled, trying to blow his apprehension away with the carbon dioxide. He couldn’t question this decision now.
“When we were kids, I wanted to stow away on a transport to Ondon,” Trika said, stepping into the cockpit. Sora glanced at her pale face. “The mountains are supposed to be beautiful. Anything to get off Peor.”
Small talk. Trika’s only answer to awkwardness when rude remarks didn’t fit.
“Not that many transports would be traveling that route,” Sora said, forcing a smirk onto his face. “But dreams give us hope.”
The ship descended through the clouds, revealing the mountains Trika referred to. Some looked barren but Sora still found beauty in their tall, rocky forms. Other mountains looked lush, containing cliffs and ridges of green, red, and purple plant life. The colors sped by as the Killer passed the mountains, heading for a central mountain that held the world’s steel capital.
“I’m sorry about the argument on Graig,” Trika whispered, breaking the momentary silence. Her voice shook. “I…I was possibly a little out of line. Just a little.”
Sora’s forced smirk turned natural and he glanced at his older sister again. Color returned to her face. “I’d take the insults over any of this. Besides, you saved us from the Queen, so I think that makes us even.”
Trika snorted. “Couldn’t let her gut you like she did Nait. We don’t have enough bandages left to sew anybody else up.”
“These big butts have given us immediate clearance, Captain,” Chok said, hitting a button that would initiate the engine cooldown. “Beginning landing procedures.”
“Thanks, Chok,” Sora said, patting his pilot on the shoulder and turning to leave. As he walked through the doorway, Trika grabbed his arm.
“I may not know how to show it much, Sora, but I guess I’m just worried about you,” Trika said, gulping and biting her lip. “You’re changing and I don’t know if I like what I see.”
Sora frowned. His sister’s concern seemed genuine and he found that scary, purely because it showed how much all of this consumed him. He wanted to put on a brave face for his friends and family while holding onto his honesty. He thought back to his conversation with Selas, Jekk, and Kossk. He meant what he said about Selas’ ability to beat Anziar and Bettina.
During that conversation, Sora had felt more like himself than he had in a long time. He believed in his people. He only lost confidence in himself.
“We’re all under a lot of pressure,” he said, listening to the Killer’s landing gear disengage and touch the ground. “I don’t know what’s coming next, either. I’m doing my best.”
“Don’t overthink it,” Trika said, letting go of his arm. “Part of the reason we survive is because we go with the flow, and you do that better than most of us morons. Don’t lose that now.”
Going with the flow also pulled them into constant danger. He didn’t want to overthink anything, but with the current situation, it seemed like the only option.
Sora walked forward, passing through the corridors and main hold until he reached the exit ramp. Most of the crew waited for him, each carrying their own expressions and emotions. Nait and Naos held Jaskia, who seemed fairly relaxed, while Naos’ face featured consternation. Nait’s face looked a little more relaxed than Naos’, but Sora spotted Nait’s tense shoulders. Selas stood behind them and his constant movements conveyed how on edge he had become. Natalia stood at the front and she looked more neutral than when he first met her.
Sora nodded at each person and took his place at Natalia’s side, hitting the button that would lower the ramp. The familiar hiss followed.
“Are you alright?” he said, using the noise to his advantage. Natalia had barely shown herself since the battle.
“No, but I will be,” Natalia said, not giving him a glance. “Jaskia is safe, so that helps.”
“That was one victory out of that disaster,” Sora said, wincing as the sunlight shone through the growing space and hit his eyes. “I’m sorry about Bettina. I should’ve—”
“No, you shouldn’t have,” Natalia said, shaking her head. The ramp hit the ground. “We can talk about it later. We both have a meeting to focus on.”
Sora took the first steps onto the stone landing pad. A tall, black-haired man stood in-between a guard in beige armor and a young woman. He held out his hands toward the arriving crew. Formal red robes covered everything except his head. He sported a goatee on his pristine, dark face.
“Captain Sora Trok, Senator Natalia Valie,” the man said, extending his right hand to Natalia. She shook it. “Cecil Badesha, governor of Ondon. It’s a pleasure to finally have you here.”
“Thank you. I remember seeing you with your wife at government functions,” Natalia said, bowing her head slightly out of respect. “She was a good senator. I’m very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you,” the young, dark-skinned woman said, reaching forward and extending her hand to Natalia. Sora guessed that she was in her late teens. “Navit Badesha, daughter of the Governor and Senator. Politician in training, if you will.”
Cecil smiled, keeping his focus on Natalia, but Sora saw the pain that came with the smile. “Hopefully today we can begin to right that grievous wrong.”
“Governor, we just received word that your other guests have arrived to the second-floor balcony,” the guard, a black-haired woman with black eyes and tan skin who looked only a little younger than Sora, said. She nudged the comm on her shoulder. “We’ll be up in a second, Takk.”
“Hurry, Alsia,” a male, excited voice said over the comm. “A real-life space pirate!”
“This is Alsia Fel, one of my top guards,” Cecil said, gesturing to her and then gesturing to the comm. “That was Takk Tennan, another top guard. They’re still a little eager in their young age.”
“Must be nice,” Jaskia said, lowering her voi
ce.
Alsia, Navit, and Cecil turned, leading the crew forward. Sora relaxed his shoulders, allowing the trio’s calm demeanor to ease his own anxiety. Maybe this decision would steer them in the right direction. Maybe they finally found a real planetary ally. If Cecil meant what he said, then it made his fears seem inconsequential.
Sora nudged Natalia, giving her a reassuring smile. Maybe Cecil seemed so calm because he spoke to her. As usual, she could use her political skills to control the situation. She needed to take the lead on this. She had more qualifications than he could ever hope to have.
This only proved what he’d tried to tell her on Graig. Natalia needed to make this call, not him.
“Nice place,” Nait said, glancing at the colossal structure as they entered into a wide foyer through double doors. Everything consisted of stone, and because of that, it held a certain elegance. The ceiling had electric lights carved into it, while the walls sat undecorated but glossy. The capital seemed modest yet classy.
“Don’t get used to it,” Jaskia said, shaking her head as she also took in their surroundings. Sora noticed that she moved faster and more independently than she had yesterday. Naos and Nait still escorted her, but her feet had less trouble taking steps. “This place is only a passing stop.”
Cecil reached an elevator at the end of the room and the door slid open, revealing a spacious room made out of metal. Alsia and Navit followed him inside, before Alsia gestured for the crew to enter. Sora walked inside first and took his place at the back of the elevator, making room for the others. As the rest of the crew entered, he thought of the elevator in the Consortium. The first ride on that elevator had started out peaceful, and the last ride had ended with the crew fighting to escape the war-torn planet.
He frowned. He didn’t want the peace to fade this time.
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