Hypernova Series: Worlds At war

by Paris Cavanah

  With Woya’s movements being somewhat hindered, it is Roxie's turn to deal some damage.

  Woya finds a huge piece of metal on the floor. It slices through the air towards her like a boomerang. She cartwheels to avoid the projectile. It crashes inches away from my head. She uses her strong hind legs to leap off a wall at a vertical angle and scratches at Woya’s exposed neck.

  Roxie and Naki are trembling. Sweat and blood soaks their skin, but they don’t give up.

  Beneath the thick rope of the D.P.E blood begins to pool and Woya slumps to the floor. Naki jumps off his back still holding onto the rope. Both Naki and Roxie begin to pull and Woya crashes onto his side. His hands flail trying to get a grip on his restraints.

  Ron stumbles into the battle and helps the two of them hold onto the rope. He turns to face me.

  “Finn! Rip out the crystal in Woya’s chest!”

  Launching into the fray I avoid his flailing limbs and grasp the fragment of Verenzibol. It moves away from me with a mind of its own.

  “You’re not staying here, Verenzibol!”

  With one violent tug I rip Verenzibols’ fragment from Woya’s chest and the Kinquit warrior immediately falls unconscious.

  He twitches once or twice before stiffening...that’s when my skin turns pale. I put my hand upon his neck. No pulse. He’s dead.

  This is the same thing that happened on Creyenia...Gaqeet was fully consumed by the crystal and was killed after being seperated from it. Is that the price for such amazing power?

  As a sign of respect I shut Woyas’ lifeless gaze behind his eyelids.

  Oh no, Kiwok won’t like this. Even if Woya was a traitor...he was still his father.

  The four of us are breathing heavily from the strain of defeating such a mighty warrior.

  Roxies’ red skin turns a light pinkish-shade. Her eyes flutter and she stumbles. Ron rushes to her side and holds her in his arms. She looks up at him for a second and smiles.

  “Nice catch, Ron.”

  “So? How did I do?”

  “...better than I thought you would. Aver.”

  “That sounds like a complement.”

  “Maybe it is...dork.”

  Something passes between the two of them, but I don’t have time to read into it.

  “Let’s grab Kiwok and get out of here…”

  But my voice fades into oblivion. The crystal vibrates in my palm pushing into the soft flesh of my skin.

  “Y o u a r e h i d i n g s o m e t h i n g”

  “Gentlemen!” My head twists to face Odium just as a ray of energy catapults towards us. “We aren’t done yet!”

  Kaboom!

  The psychic blast sends the four of us toppling to the floor. My vision pulsates blue and black...as I regain consciousness, I see Naki, Roxie, and Ron trying to get to their feet.

  “Run! All of you!”

  The fire in my soul erupts into an inferno. I’m the first to rise to my feet.

  “I’ll take him head on! The rest of you, get to the Transport Ship.”

  Naki and Roxie grab Kiwok and drag his unconscious body towards the door. Ron hesitates.

  “You heard me, bro. Get out of here.”

  Ron shakes his head. He takes up a position on my left side. I pass him his neo-bracers as he gives me a nod of reassurance.

  “No, Finn. We have to settle this. Together. We already agreed. I’m not leaving you again.”

  Odium claps his gloved hands together and coos.

  “Aw, how touching!”

  The soft tone of his voice quickly turns sour.

  “Sibling-love is great and all, but it sure does make me sick to my stomach.”

  His bright emerald eyes pierce into mine behind his helmet.

  “Come, boys. Let’s finish this once and for all!”

  Migraines Totally Suck

  “Access file: Nuyen!”

  “Access confirmed…”

  My reflexes are impeccable. I fire several plasma bullets into Odium’s helmet causing him to stumble into a nearby tower. He grips the cracked glass and begins to laugh. He takes a breath, ready to speak, but I don’t listen. I charge forward firing more bullets into his chest. Rons’ own bullets whizz past my head pinning Odium to the spot.

  I've incapaciated him before, so I know he’s going to rely on his psychic blasts to take me down. But stalling him isn’t enough this time. I need to figure out a way to kill him!

  Lo-and-behold he raises his arm aiming to make a vertical slice of energy.

  “Move memorizer access file, Naki Belle!”

  “Access confirmed”

  My left palm strikes his elbow throwing his arm in a different direction. The bolt of energy whooshes past my head.

  The shard of Verenzibol planted in Odiums’ chest begins to glow as he draws energy from it.

  Ping! Lightbulb! All I have to do is tear that stupid crystal out of his chest.

  One of Rons’ plasma bullets tear into the left side of his mask, cracking it further. By now I can see tufts of black hair protruding from within. Both Odium’s eyes lock onto mine. They widen, as I lunge for the crystal. My fingers dig into the thick armor of his uniform. He stumbles backwards. The palms of his hands- slam! Into both sides of my head boxing me.

  Everything is ringing. My fingers tighten around the gem only to loosen a moment later. Odium punches me in the face and fires a psychic blast that I’m too caught off guard to dodge.

  I flip through the air landing on my back. The wind is knocked from me and I struggle to catch my breath. Ron cries,

  “You bastard!”

  He charges recklessly at Odium with his neo-bracers.

  “Ron, don’t! You’re too weak to-”

  It’s too late. He’s already face-to-face with Odium. He swings his knife through the air but the attack is sub-par. It misses Odium by a foot and a half, causing the villain to chuckle to himself.

  As I scramble to my feet. Odium grabs Ron in a chokehold and throws him into me.

  We tumble to the floor and pain explodes on the back of my head. The impact is enough to cause me to black out…

  Silence. Nothing.

  When I come to...I’m lying on my back staring at the roof. The flashing red lights hurt so I shield my eyes. Attempting to rise to my feet, I manage to get to my knees before falling onto my elbows. In the corner of my eye Ron is lying on his back. He’s half-conscious. His chest quickly expands before deflating completely.

  It’s official, Ron has hit his limit.

  It takes all my mental strength to pull myself from my hazy delirium. As the last of the fog of unconsciousness rolls away, Odium appears. His back is facing me. He’s talking to the ships’ A.I. The words are muffled due to the ringing in my ears. I shake my head to catch the tail end of his order…

  “...initiate hyperdrive.”

  He raises his left hand and presses his palm against the glass cover of his helmet. Three large shards clatter to the floor. Small airlocks around the base of the mask makes a loud hisssss.

  He lifts the helmet over his head.

  My heart is pounding in my chest. It's’ so loud that the sirens and mumbles of hyperdrive are lost inside silence.

  Something is wrong.

  Odium has flushed pale skin…

  My stomach is sick.

  He has black hair that forms curlicues around his ears and eyebrows...

  What is happening?

  He has a soft baby-shaped face with large green eyes and a tight smile.

  Oh my god.

  My entire body is vibrating. He’s young. The same age as me, with burns across his entire neck and the left side of his jaw.

  Is this what shock feels like?

  Odium walks towards me. He looks down, gets on his knees, and smiles.

  “What’s the matter Finn? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “H- how is this possible? You...you look just like me.”

  ∆∆∆

  “That’s right Finn. Ot
her than the glasses and burns, I look exactly like you. It’s uncanny, isn’t it? Even terrifying. It’s like looking in a mirror.”

  It gets even worse. An avalanche of pain unlike anything I have ever felt before flashes into my eyes and down the center of my brain. My body spasms and my arms lock-up. I wretch, throwing my head onto the floor. Using my hands, I attempt to press either side of my temples to ease the pain.

  My head! It hurts so much!

  It’s the type of pain that can make a man fall unconscious.

  I've been rendered useless.

  I slam my eyes shut. Within the darkness I attempt to mentally block out the agony...but it’s impossible.

  Odium’s voice snakes around me.

  “Your memories are returning, Finn. That’s what you are feeling. It’s the pain of those eggs finally hatching and breaking through the surface.”

  I think I’m screaming but I’m not sure.

  “The same thing happened to me when I saw you and Ron on Creyenia. I was watching from the bushes...and then I got this terrible headache.”

  He laughs. Knowing I am going through the same pain that he did must be amusing to him.

  “It almost killed me. The images I saw during that time were a blur. I still don’t fully understand them. But I know this. Ron is responsible for my descent into darkness. Perhaps, after this...your forgotten memory will be the final piece that fits the puzzle together.”

  My Doppelganger Is A Jerk

  There is a miniscule flash of light that penetrates beyond my sealed lids. All sense of oneness slips away from me. I get this haunting sensation that I'm sinking into the floor. Everything is dark.

  When I reopen my eyes. I’m a child again. My hand is clinging onto Ron’s as he walks in front of me. In my hand is a slurpee. What was inside again? Right. Lovely cherry, hypnotic blue crash, and Peps’.

  This is the memory of the night I lost Ron.

  Right on cue, a ray of brilliant light forces my eyes closed. The cold is unbearable. Involuntarily I shout Ron’s name, but the wind is howling, and I lose my voice in the storm.

  My eyes re-open. A Raider convoy has been deployed. The silver ramp is lowering and aliens in orange jumpsuits take to the streets. A feathered-alien scoops Ron in his arms. My elder sibling fights back with some meagre punches and kicks.

  Wait...this isn’t what happened!? It was a UFO that stole Ron. I swear it was!

  It feels like the world is crumbling around me. Yet simultaneously, everything is fitting together. Ron told me at the Java Coffee Bar that he was abducted by Raiders...but Raiders don’t fly UFO’s. So this memory is the real one!

  I’m terrified about what is going to happen next. The Raiders approach me. Alarmingly they scoop me up in their arms and force me into their ship...another white light. Brilliant and painful.

  Odium laughs in my face.

  “Hello? Earth to Finn? What did you remember, huh? Buddy ol’ pal?”

  My hands lift me from my crouching positions. Now on my feet, I backpedal towards Ron’s half-conscious figure, only to fall back down on my knees. Odium rises to his feet. He tilts his head and gives a wicked smile.

  “You gotta’ share with the class. Did you find out why we look like one-another?”

  My mouth has been sewn shut by shock. Hundreds of returning memories are swimming around in my brain, but they sink. Odium rolls his eyes.

  “Come on, Finn. I can’t believe you're leaving me out of the juicy bits of your memory. Are we siblings? Or perhaps, I'm from another dimension? That would be a fantastic plot-twist.”

  “You...don’t know why we look alike?”

  “Not yet. But I will. You see, not only am I doing as Verenzibol wishes, but I am seeking answers amongst the galaxies. I’m hunting for the keys to unlock those hidden memories. All I remember is that I once was allied with Ron, in some way. Now I am a villain. I am Odium, and I want revenge. Against what? I don’t know yet. It’s all so confusing but, trust me, things will start to make sense.”

  Whoosh! Rumbleeeee….

  We burst out of hyperdrive. Ron raises his head. We both gaze in horror beyond the tinted glass towards the Oprea Galaxy.

  Altair HQ is on fire.

  Raider ships are blowing open the exterior with particle beam cannons. Hundreds of Altair battle ships explode like fireworks as Raider ships, painted with Odium’s red and gold colors, destroy them before they have time to lift out of the docking bays. Altair's metal exterior is being shattered causing huge pieces of debris to float through space like meteors. Even worse, Spawn are slipping through those cracks, presumably killing any soldiers they cross paths with.

  ∆∆∆

  “Impossible!” My cry is riddled with desperation. “We killed all your Raider troops on Dree-”

  He cuts me off,

  “Did you idiots really think I attacked Dree for no reason? It was just a distraction!”

  Odium slaps his forehead as if we’ve made a ridiculous joke.

  “My target has always been the Outposts. All I had to do was get small portions of my Raider troops and Spawn to attack Known Planets. The Citadel was bound to send its best soldiers to protect those money-making planets. Afterall, let's be honest-”

  He rubs his thumb and forefinger together while chuckling.

  “It's all about galaxy coin. You discovered that during your mission to Creyenia, Finn.”

  Odium spins to face the window. He raises his arms, clearly admiring his handy work.

  “The Citadel had no idea I would be gutsy enough to attack their Outposts...and guess what? That’s not even the best part! Look closely...do you boys see that in the distance?”

  Ron and I squint. Beyond Altair’s burning metal exterior, a large black fissure cuts a distant nebula in half. Millions of black dots dart across the far-away skies, they scatter like bugs on an ant-hill.

  “Those are...Spawn? My god...Odium. What have you done?”

  “That’s my trump card. With Verenzibols power I can control where the Spawns' nests are. They are such versatile creatures, capable of surviving on any planet. All I had to do was order them to nestle in a distant galaxy close to Oprea and wait for my moment to strike.”

  Ron finally enters the conversation. He spits blood onto the metal floor. He glares up at Odium. He’s been listening to our conversation, but that doesn’t stop the shock from erupting on his face when he realizes how similar Odium and I look.

  “You don’t need to do this, Odium. If the three of us are connected and the Citadel has wiped out memories, we can find the answers together. Why are you resorting to the taking of thousands of innocent lives?”

  “As I already said, Ron. I can only rely on two things. Verenizobl’s will and my thirst for revenge.”

  He closes his eyes.

  “Now. I think we have had just enough talking. Time to suffer. I’ll torture you both while you watch your precious Altair HQ burn!”

  Boom! Whoosh….

  The top quarter of Altair breaks off like an egg-shell that was just cracked against a counter. Behind it, tunnels of fire blanket handfuls of metallic-debris. The smaller objects, like broken pipes and light fixtures look like sparkling dust. Even more horrific...are the Altair members floating lifeless against the blackened sky.

  My eyes fill with tears. Never did I imagine that I would watch my precious home crumble in front of me, and my fellow soldiers die. It fills me with rage, guilt, and horror. My body stiffens. The tears spill over. I clench my teeth.

  “I don’t care if we never find the answers…”

  My voice is hardly above a whisper. Ron stares at me in alarm.

  “...I’ll never forgive Odium. I’ll kill him, right here and now!”

  I charge. Odium takes two steps forward. I throw a punch. He pushes me aside. Crack! He headbutts me and the skin above my left eye-brow breaks open. He grabs me by the shirt and throws me towards the window. I hit the glass hard. My rear hits the floor sending a shock of pain up my
spine.

  Bzzt! Beep...beep...beep…

  The AI suddenly speaks in a dark male tone.

  “Incoming radio-signal. Requesting ID. Request overwritten. All audio-firewall systems are corrupt. All channels have been overwritten. Incoming message...in T-Minus 1 minute-”

  The minute passes and a male voice explodes over the ship's intercoms.

  “This is Godsonion, Bessidis Mantikra, speaking! I am a loyal servant of the High Council. Issuing orders from the Citadels’ Gold Fleet. To all remaining Altair members. Escape now and rendezvous at the Citadel. I repeat. Escape now, and rendezvous at the Citadel for further instruction. We are here to save you.”

  School’s Out For Summer

  Odiums face becomes contorted with rage. I twist to look out the window in awe. Thousands of ships burst out of hyperdrive.

  The Etis ships are painted green and silver with slimmer designs. Othinda soldiers are piloting large silver ships the size of Transport convoys, armed with enormous particle-cannons. Jacriea has hundreds of tiny pink ships with triple wings and silver trim. Finally, the Vusta troops are piloting medium sized battleships with bright orange paint with lightning bolts covering the hull of each ship.

  The Citadel fleets face the Raider swarm for several moments. Each side is frozen in time. The inevitable bloody-battle to follow makes the hair on my arms stand.

  “We are coming to Altair’s rescue under the order of the High Council! All Etis, Othinda, Jacriea, and Vusta battleships will respond to my commands! Eliminate all Raider ships. Kill those Spawn. Do not stop our assault until Altair is secure. Medical units will be deployed after the threat has been terminated.”

  Odium stomps his foot like an infant throwing a temper tantrum.

  “No! This wasn’t supposed to happen!”

  He composes himself. I lean against the window and try to get to my feet, but it only takes a moment for me to fall back to my hands and knees.

  “The Citadel is going to kill your worthless Raider army,” I say venomously.

  “You lose.”

  “As if!”

  He kicks me in the jaw.