They all lay dead to the last.
Master Jo and Naero both saw their own twisted, broken bodies lying slain, among what had become an enormous, open grave in the grim aftermath of such a conflagration.
Other visions simply showed the artifact statue, inert and eternal, standing like a slumbering sentinel in its original location, throughout the passing eons.
Master Jo did black out, and they began to sweep back toward their origin point. Naero clung to the High Master, afraid about what would happen to her if they became separated. Would she be lost in some kind of interdimensional limbo, forever?
On the return trip, Naero saw variations of the same visions, increasing in number and severity.
The Kahn-Dar were definitely coming for them all–cutting across all Space-Time and various dimensions and possibilities to get at them.
To Naero, their purpose became very clear.
They meant to destroy the Mystics once and for all, and seize the power of the Cosmic artifact for their own.
22
Unfortunately for Naero, Master Jo was still unconscious upon their return. Naero carried him to the other High Masters.
“What did you do to him?” Master Vane shrieked. “Maeris must have lost control and attacked him. I told you we couldn’t trust her!”
“Calm yourself, High Master. I’m sure it is nothing so diabolical as that. Why then would she bring him to us? High Adept Maeris, explain.”
“Before he passed out, Master Jo said that you should summon the Mystic Enforcer back to Thanor-4. I agree. You should do so now, please. We are in grave danger.”
Vane looked startled for an instant. “Yeah…from you!”
Naero told him. “When–not if the Kahn-Dar attack–you will wish you had a thousand of me.”
Master Tree calmly closed his eyes, surprisingly without hesitation. Naero felt the power surge forth from his mind.
Tree opened his eyes. “There. It is done. The summons to the Enforcer has gone out. Now, give us the details, High Adept Maeris.”
“What has happened?” Vane insisted. “Not that damn artifact statue again.”
“Let her speak,” Tree insisted.
Naero quickly told them about her and Master Jo’s little dimensional sweep and what they witnessed.
“Ridiculous,” Vane fumed. “None of that is certain. It could mean anything. There are countless possibilities.”
Naero became insistent. “Master Jo passed out. He did not see what I beheld on the way back. The Kahn-Dar are allied with our enemies; we know that much. And they are most definitely coming for us all–for me, the Mystics, the artifact statue–they want it all, and they mean to have it. Cosmic energy is food to them.”
“Then why is there no warning of their approach?” Tree asked.
Naero pointed at the ground. “This is it. This is the warning, these dreams and visions so many of us are having about these dragon creatures. I saw us fighting and even in many cases, dying in the course of direct combat with the Kahn-Dar, in other similar or adjacent dimensions. So, what I want to know, is ours one where we win–or where we all die?”
“Only we can decide that,” Master Tree said. “Did you see how or when they will strike, Naero? How will they come at us? Why is there no other warning of their approach?”
“We will not see them coming through our regular Space-Time by any normal means. You’ve been looking and scanning in the wrong ways. Their onset will be sudden and incredibly destructive,” Naero said. “They are gating through many dimensions and possibilities in order to secretly get at us here–in this one particular reality. Their attack could come at any moment, all at once, and without warning. They will attempt total, overwhelming surprise and destruction.”
Om, tell me how the Kahn-Dar attack and fight again. I forgot.
Various Cosmic blasts and attacks, from their mouths, eyes, claws and even their tails–energy in various forms, including the Darkforce. They can feed upon and absorb any energy. Some can breathe poisonous smoke or acid. Others can shoot or fling poisonous or exploding spikes or spines. They can still attack physically, and with their great size and might, they are very formidable.
Tree and Vane worked on reviving Jo.
Naero tried to contact Jan. Nothing. Probably still training.
Aunt Sleak then; she and the twins had time to get safely away, somewhere else.
No response.
Naero tried her ship. All links. Even her secret frequencies.
Some kind of sophisticated jamming.
All communications were down.
The perfect prelude to any attack.
She activated the proper codes and sent out spyfixer relay distress calls: Intel, The Alliance, Spacer Navy, Spacer Marines, her own fleet, and The Darkstar…even Baeven.
Anyone who might help them against what was coming.
She quickly returned to the High Masters, who were locked in debate.
Master Jo was conscious again. That much was a relief.
“What about activating a planetary shield?” Vane said. “Will that hold these monsters off?”
Master Jo shook his head. “Not in the least. You heard Adept Maeris. They’re travelling dimensionally. When they fall upon us, they’ll come out of nowhere.”
Master Tree tried his comunit. “I can’t reach my ship,” he said.
“We’re being jammed,” Naero said. “I can’t tell how this is being done, but it is everywhere across the planet’s surface. I can’t reach the adepts on Thanarra, either. We’re cut off. All communications are down.”
“The artifact statue, perhaps?” Master Vane said, trying to reach out with his abilities.
Naero shook her head. “Who knows? I can’t tell. Yet, why? It has not done so before. Why would it do this now, of all times?”
“It is more likely,” Master Jo said, “that this is an effect caused by the coming of our enemies–a distortion brought on by their various wild, Cosmic energies. Perhaps it presages their invasion.”
Master Tree spoke calmly. “We have sent messengers on foot and by vehicle to all of our forces, to gather together and prepare for combat. We will not risk launching any of our ships outside the planet until that is done.”
“What about Nashara?” Naero asked. “Even with the planet’s energies, the artifact statue is like a flaming beacon of the power Cosmic. Surely the enemy will attack it first on that continent.”
Master Vane laughed. “We have the vast majority of our forces there still. That damn statue is better protected than we are here.”
“And, as we have seen first hand,” Master Tree said. “The artifact statue isn’t exactly defenseless on its own.”
“That’s it!” Master Jo said. “I can forge a telepathic link with my prime adepts–Tess and Den. They’re on Nashara. We can check in with them; see what’s happening there.”
Jo focused, making the psyonic link.
Waves of Cosmic power rippled through them all without warning, staggering and disorienting them.
Naero and everyone present gasped, shaking and struggling to stay on their feet.
“What in the hell was that?” Master Vane said.
Master Jo snapped out of his trance, gulping for air.
“Is it the Kahn-Dar?” Naero asked. “What’s happening there?”
“What is the status of the artifact?” Master Tree demanded. “Where is it?”
A heavy, bass pulsing sound–a sensation of throbbing, Cosmic energy–erupted right behind Naero.
Master Vane’s eyes widened in terror. The first time Naero had ever seen him afraid.
Naero whirled around, snapping up her defenses, third-eye and all.
The artifact statue stood directly behind her, humming and throbbing, pulsing with waves of intense, Cosmic power rippling right off of it.
It was shaped like her, and lifted its hands to take her.
Naero’s defenses melted and vanished before its naked might.
; The three High Masters flashed around it in a perfect triangle, glowing with their own energies–attempting to contain the artifact.
Naero heard Master Jo in her mind.
Flee! Get out of here, Naero. It cannot touch you!
In one instant, The statue emitted a violet pulse wave that blasted all three High Masters away, and dissolved the nanostructure entirely.
But Naero got the chance to transport away.
She went to the desert.
Startap, Naero. Startap!
On it, Om.
Naero filled herself with Cosmic power, shutting out her Dark Beast this time.
The artifact statue appeared ten meters away, still keying on her, arms still outstretched to grab her. It began speaking to her in Kexxian.
“Time…no time. They are coming.”
Naero nailed the thing full on with everything she had. A tremendous Cosmic blast pouring out of from both hands.
Her heaviest assault didn’t even slow the thing down.
It absorbed every bit of energy and kept coming.
Naero transported again, this time to the forest where they did their best replicating.
The artifact statue followed her one second later, stalking straight for her, dissolving and disrupting anything in its path–rocks, trees. Greenery withered and turned to white and gray, lifeless dust in a wide swath all around the thing.
“We…must merge. You are the one. The others will be–inferior selections–at best.”
What others? What is it babbling about, Om?
No idea.
She startapped and transported into the mountains overlooking the Bay of Thanarra.
It followed her there just as fast, coming for her. Relentless.
“Merge with me. The others are inferior selections. They will not survive. You know this.”
“I don’t know anything!” Naero shouted. She made to transport again.
Even as she did, the statue stared back at her–
With her own eyes!
23
Naero appeared, shaking and gasping in her private quarters on her flagship, ready to fight or flee again. Her state room recognized her and lit up instantly.
She drew her scarlet energy katanas and waited, whirling around for a few seconds, making sure nothing snuck up behind her or popped in.
Nothing. The statue did not follow after all. Perhaps there were limits to its powers.
Perhaps it was out of time, as it said.
Scan for it, Om. Where is the statue?
Om hesitated only a moment. The artifact statue has returned to Nashara. All scans and visuals still disrupted. Spyfixers en route to scene. We should have something within minutes.
Naero called over her com to her crew. “This is Captain Naero to all crew. Battle Stations. Cloak and prepare for battle. A major attack is imminent from enormous, Cosmic dragon aliens known as the Kahn-Dar. Cloak, assess the situation, and pick the best battle options. Advise any other ships in the vicinity to do the same, if possible. Com through spyfixers if all other coms continue to be jammed. Enel and Surina, command this vessel and stay alive. Wait for further orders. I’ll be on the surface, and I may need you to affect a rescue. I love you, my abani. Luck to us all!”
What are we going back down there for, Naero? That thing is there. Nothing can stop it!
So are my friends and family, Om. We go check on the High Masters first–then Jan and Aunt Sleak. All of this feels worse every second. I can’t say why. It just does. Let’s go.
She transported back to Mystic camp in the Thanarran mountains.
Intel troops, Spacers, Marines, and adepts scattered everywhere, trying to don combat armor and check weapons, preparing for war.
Naero stopped Allon Nelson. “Where are the High Masters? Are they all right?”
He looked frightened. “Something big’s happening, N. They say something’s going down on Nashara. The artifact statue’s out of control–even worse than before. All personnel planet wide have been ordered to either dig in, or evacuate. Intel and the High Masters are preparing to nuke the area all around the artifact statue from orbit.”
“What? They’ll contaminate half the planet! Take me to them. Now.”
They found the High Masters at the starport, preparing to retreat from the planet. They looked startled and surprised to see her back among them.
“Maeris,” High Master Tree snapped at her. “We thought you were safe back up on your ship!”
“I was. I barely got away from the artifact statue. I thought I should report back here and see if I could help. And I still haven’t located Jan and Aunt Sleak. I’m not leaving until I know they’re safe.”
High Master Vane grew livid and started shouting. “Shut those vid feeds down, you fools. Leave the equipment behind. Everyone board the first available ships and let’s go. Get back up to your flagship Maeris. Your brother and your aunt are being evacuated on one of the other ships.”
“Which ship are they on? I’ll go up in that one. Why aren’t their com units working? I want to talk to them.”
“How the hell should I know which ship? Most coms are down. Obey your orders and get out of here. It was you who was endangering everyone. That thing was after you. Now get the hell off this planet. That is a direct order.”
Something wasn’t right. The other two High Masters weren’t meeting her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” she said. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Naero. Vid feeds from the spyfixers. You need to see this.
Naero called up a holoscreen of her own, and gasped.
There was the artifact statue–with Jan and pregnant Aunt Sleak unconscious, floating, and suspended in two separate, glowing violet spheres of Cosmic energy.
They were helpless and being drawn toward it.
Naero’s mouth fell open and she covered it with both hands.
The artifact seemed to be analyzing them, in some apparent attempt to choose between the two.
Her blood turned glacier cold as she recalled the artifact statue’s cryptic words to her in Kexxian.
The others are inferior selections. They will not survive.
“No!” Naero screamed.
The three High Masters surrounded her.
She already felt them suppressing her abilities, draining her energies.
“You can’t help them now, Naero–no one can,” Master Jo said. “You’ll only make things worse. Trust us.”
“No! You knew it had taken them. You lied to me. Let me go to them. I won’t leave them there to die. They’re my family–all that I have left!”
Naero struggled to break free. They increased their efforts to contain and neutralize her. “We know this is difficult for you, Naero.” Master Tree said. “You must obey us and do what we say!”
“Not this time.”
Tree persisted. “Hold her, brothers. Our Enforcer will arrive shortly. He will help us.”
“We might not have that long,” Master Jo said. “I’m sensing an immense, interdimensional distortion. It can only be the Kahn-Dar. They are coming for us all.”
All three of the High Masters continued to struggle with Naero.
“No good!” Master Vane cried. “She’s only getting stronger.”
“Naero, listen to us,” Master Jo said, trying to reason with her. “You will all be destroyed. It doesn’t want them. It wants you. You cannot give it what it wants.”
Master Tree shouted. “Drain all her energies. Do it. Now! Maeris, it’s manipulating you. You cannot go to it. That is exactly what it wants. If it absorbs you and all of your abilities, it will have a host that it can go anywhere and do anything with. There will be no going back! Such power cannot be contained. It will destroy you and transform you into the very monster of destruction that you fear!”
“Then I will die trying to save them!” Naero screamed.
She withdrew into herself for a moment.
Startapping, Om. Break us free. Don’t kill them, but we
are getting out of here to save Jan and Aunt Sleak. Make it so.
Defensive protocols locked and set. Responses defined.
Now, Om!
“Her power’s spiking rapidly!” Master Jo said.
“She’s startapping and breaking free of us!” Master Tree said.
“Destroy her. Destroy her now while we still can!” Vane roared.
Naero saw Vane’s main eye pulsing bright red.
Naero clenched her fists, opened her third eye wide, and screamed.
Waves of raw Cosmic force rapidly expanded out from her in all directions, cratering the buckling ground as she floated in mid-air.
Ribbons of dark and light energy lashed out and flung the High Masters away from her as if they were toys. The pulses of force rocked the starships sitting nearby and shoved them aside, crumpling and damaging their hulls.
Naero focused on the pillar of Cosmic flame flaring in her consciousness nearby. Power that would terrify anyone.
She transported directly into the heart of the artifact statue’s black glass crater.
24
Naero squared off with the artifact statue.
The thing became more and more like herself all the while. It stared back at her through her own eyes, her own face, that looked to be living flesh and blood.
It even formed a third eye similar to her own, that pulsed with violet energy like the other two.
How and why was it mimicking her?
She startapped again, filling herself with as much power as she could control, and not pass out or give in to her Dark Beast.
Jan and Aunt Sleak still floated in their violet energy spheres, contained and helpless.
Somehow, Naero sensed that they were still alive, at least for the time being.
Violent winds of force swept in all around them, whipping dust, debris, and ichor that rippled off the artifact statue into a maelstrom of Cosmic energy that quickly enveloped them.
Naero struggled against it to try to reach Aunt Sleak, who was the closest to her.
Then suddenly, all within a certain radius around the artifact statue went calm, as if within a typhoon’s eye.
Spacer Clans Adventure 3: Naero's Fury Page 20
