Shadows of Atlantis: Emergence of the Engi

by Hatch, Donsha

  “Lora huh? And who might you be?” glared Kezzy. “Oh, and choose your words wisely, as I’ve just finished viciously slaughtering hordes of predatory robots.” she warned while charging up her plasma chargers.

  “Kezzy…….” started Dex.

  “Ah ah ah.” Kezzy warned as she shook her head, cutting him off. “Let her speak……Dexy.” she seethed as she glared at him.

  Realizing this was a good time to shut up, Dex just dropped his head and shook it as the beautiful Slyph offered an explanation.

  “I apologize for not thoroughly introducing myself. My name is Ulora Tesla. I’m Dextrius’ older sister. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve heard many good things about you from my parents, Princess Genoran.” Ulora smiled.

  “Right…… Lora as in Ulora?” Kezzy asked, completely embarrassed. “Okay. That was pretty silly.” she shook her head.

  “Oh no. I completely understand. In fact, I would’ve reacted similarly.” Ulora reassured.

  “Really? Well that’s very endearing. Once this war is over, would you like to join us on a vacation to one of my private planets?” beamed Kezzy.

  “Certainly. I’ve only been to your planet once or twice. And I’ve never had the chance to truly appreciate the legendary forests there.” Ulora smiled as they walked off in conversation.

  Eiris and Dex just shook their heads and laughed. Then they went to go over battle tactics with the other commanders.

  “This is monumental. With this new intel, I am certain we can get rid of this plague on Undaria once and for all. You young ones have done fine work.” commended Sky commander Zale.

  “Wait. Say that again?” requested Dex.

  “You have done fine work?” replied Commander Zale confused.

  “No. The other thing.” said Dex.

  “Ah yes. With the intel you all have given us, I am confident we can get rid of this plague on Undaria.” nodded Commander Zale.

  “You’re a genius Commander Zale!” exclaimed Dex as Commander Zale looked confused again. “We’ve been going about this all wrong. These drones appear to be endless, which is logical because they’re biorobotic and likely automated. Instead of piling up scrap metal from Engi drones, we need to destroy this virus at its source.” he advised.

  “Right. The hive mind. That’s the key. Destroy the central processing unit and the drones can’t think for themselves.” nodded Eiris.

  “Precisely. Now that begs the question of how do we find it? I know it’s nearby because I can sense it. But we can’t see it.” said Dex.

  “Leave that to me. You just keep it busy. I’ll take care of the rest.” declared Eiris.

  Once they had a plan, Eiris and the Undarian Fleet got ready for what they hoped would be the final battle with the dreaded Engi. As all of the soldiers began piloting their starships and lining up at the warfront, Ulora ran to give Eiris something from the Tesla family.

  “Prince Eirisidae!” Ulora called out beckoning Eiris and Dex to come over. “My father sent you this in hopes that you could put it to better use than us.” she informed as she took the cover off a plasmaball-sized bomb.

  “My, what a doomsday device you have there.” frowned Dex nervously as he saw what Ulora was giving Eiris.

  “What is it?” Eiris asked.

  “It’s called an Ionic Capacitator. It overloads subatomic particles in a continuous stream, culminating in a supernova-like effect. You must be very careful, it’s a very powerful weapon.” Ulora warned.

  “I will.” replied Eiris as he grasped forearms with Ulora and accepted her deadly gift.

  “May Turanii be with you, Your Majesty.” nodded Ulora.

  “Likewise.” returned Eiris before walking over to Dex and the others.

  Kezzy was being greeted by Sky Commander Zale when Paseo voiced a popular observation.

  “I don’t see any representatives from the Darkren Regime yet.” Paseo remarked.

  “You question the honor of my people?” snapped Drozen in response as Reizen motioned for him to stay calm.

  “Only if their honor is questionable.” replied Paseo staring him down in anger.

  “Watch your words Atlantian. They will be here.” nodded Reizen to Eiris as they all looked on.

  Suddenly, their fears were realized as thousands upon thousands of Engi destroyers began swarming again in the sky. Countless drones were also hovering to the ground as they began slowly advancing to a charge. Despite being backed by Undarian reinforcements, Eiris and the others were still outnumbered three to one. They knew this battle would be hard-fought since the odds were against them so they all prepared to fight like there was no tomorrow.

  “How’s he holding up?” asked Eiris with a concerned look towards Obsidian.

  “He’s holding, but barely. He needs intensive care soon.” replied Dahlia with a look of despondency.

  “I want him in the Atlanticus with us. Hang in there buddy.” Eiris whispered to Obsidian as they boarded the novaship.

  As the Engi continued to come within range, the Fleet Commanders began issuing their orders and the battle got underway. Kezzy fought along with Sky Commander Zale as they led the Etwilonian Fleet on the ground, followed by the dire wolves and the other beast guardians. They fired their plasma chargers and triggered electromagnetic pulses as they engaged the thousands of drones. Ulora and The Slyph Flotilla defended the sky above Pluvia, while Marz and Paseo led Aurora and the Atlantian Fleet in the protection of the Pluvian Sea.

  Eiris, Dex, Dahlia, and Azonei flew in the Atlanticus while the three shadows flew the Dark Nova with Sky Commander Aria and the rest of the Areolian Fleet. Hundreds of plasma cannons and flux torpedoes were fired as they engaged the Engi Armada, defending the space around Atlantis.

  Azonei piloted the Atlanticus skillfully as he fired flux torpedoes at the Engi destroyers while evading their plasma cannons. Reizen and the shadows also fought well as they used bonding to their advantage, blinding destroyers with shadow and crippling others with fire and burning ice. Sky Commander Aria showed her elite bonding skills as she bonded nebulae clouds for her frigate and weaved in and out of the Engi’s line of sight. As the Atlanticus got deeper into the fray, Dex began sensing the presence of the hive mind up ahead.

  “It’s somewhere around here. I can feel it.” warned Dex. “And it won’t be trying to get in my head anymore, now that I’ve installed this infection algorithm.” he scowled.

  “Commander Aria, we need a clear path.” Eiris communicated through the encrypted channel.

  “Copy that. Clearing the way.” replied Aria as she broke off with a squadron of Areolian Frigates to come to his aid.

  Next, Aria led them as she and her squadron paved the way, firing countless flux torpedoes into the mass of destroyers. Sensing what was coming, the invisible hive mind released tens of thousands more Engi destroyers in self-defense. They all began streaming directly at Eiris and the others in protection of their creator. Suddenly, something unexpected began to happen.

  In a desperate move of self-preservation, the hive mind began firing plasma missiles at its own Engi destroyers as they neared frigates from the Areolian Fleet. The destroyers exploded on impact, triggering mass explosions right in the middle of the Areolian Fleet. The damage was catastrophic. Aria’s frigate was badly damaged as it spiraled down into the atmosphere of Atlantis.

  “Commander Aria!!!” yelled Azonei in fear at the sight of her decimated frigate.

  In response, Azonei’s eyes began glowing white as he drew immense solar power from the nearby sun. He seethed in anger as he bonded countless fireballs at the Engi destroyers, obliterating hundreds of them. Eiris followed with powerful bonding of his own as he manipulated some of the rings around Atlantis, sending the ice rocks crashing into hundreds of destroyers.

  Though their advance was repelled, Eiris and the Areolian Fleet continued to put up a fierce fight. But the numbers of the Engi were just too many. Soon they all were being overwhelmed as the destroyer
s began effortlessly dispatching them, one by one. Eiris knew that something had to happen soon or they wouldn’t have a force to fight with.

  “The Engi are too many! We can’t…….” started one of the Areolian pilots before his frigate exploded in flames.

  Eiris looked on in despair as the Areolian frigates all around him were being destroyed. Realizing something had to happen soon, he knew what he had to do.

  “Guys. Let me deliver the parting gift.” Eiris said as he looked around to his friends.

  “You do understand that’s a one-way trip?” cautioned Dex.

  “Of course.” Eiris smiled. “Now get to those escape pods.” he nodded.

  “Well sorry to disappoint my friend. But I’m coming with you.” nodded Dex.

  “Ditto that!” smiled Azonei.

  “You really think you could get rid of me that easily?” smiled Dahlia as she kissed Eiris on the cheek.

  They all nodded to each other in agreement before starting to speed towards the center of the Engi Armada.

  “Dark Nova do you copy? Can you clear us a path?” asked Eiris.

  “We copy Atlanticus. What’s your plan?” replied Reizen.

  “We want to send our regards to the hive mind.” informed Eiris.

  Realizing what they were about to do, Reizen sucked in a deep breath in awe.

  “Will do. May Turanii be with you Prince Eirisidae.” responded Reizen in a tone of sincere respect and admiration of their bravery. He now wished sadly that he had noticed their value as friends and fellow soldiers long ago.

  Azonei then pushed the Atlanticus to impossible speeds as they prepared to detonate the bomb while still in the novaship. As Reizen and the shadows used everything they had to clear a path for the Atlanticus, Eiris reminded his friends why they were doing this.

  “For Glover.” said Eiris.

  “For Soran.” said Azonei.

  “For Jannis.” said Dahlia.

  “For Areolus.” said Dex as they got close to the center.

  Suddenly, a nearby interstellar arc opened up revealing hordes of enormous black frigates, led by a distinct starship out in front.

  “Broadcasting on all channels. This is Sky Commander Lorien of the Darkren Regime. I brought along our company from the Order of Assassins. We are here to aid and assist. Does anyone copy?” asked Commander Lorien over the comm.

  “We copy Commander Lorien. You can start by helping us destroy these tin cans because we’re getting our butts kicked.” replied Eiris as he let out a grateful sigh of relief.

  “Request granted Your Majesty.” smiled Commander Lorien as he gave his fleet the orders.

  The Darkren Fleet then began using their mass torpedoes to push the Engi back, giving new hope to Eiris and his friends as they shouted in joy.

  “Alright. Now let’s show these tin cans what Undarians are made of!!!” exclaimed Eiris as they all used their bonding to destroy hundreds of destroyers.

  Destroyer after destroyer, the Engi dropped like flies but reinforced their numbers just as fast.

  “We won’t be able to keep this up!” blurted Azonei as he fired the last of his flux torpedoes.

  “I know.” Eiris replied. “Dex. Can you pinpoint the exact location of the hive mind yet?” he asked.

  “I don’t know, but I’ll try.” replied Dex as he focused his mind, trying to feel where exactly the hive mind was. “There! Directly ahead of us!” he shouted as Eiris’ eyes began glowing in anticipation.

  Eiris then closed his eyes and reached out his hand trying to manipulate the dark matter around the colossal yet invisible creature. An ear-splitting screech was then heard as the hive mind resisted his bonding.

  “I can’t. It’s too big!” Eiris cried out in despair as he grew weak from exerting so much strength.

  “Not by yourself.” said Dahlia with a cunning smile. “Shadows, bond the dark matter around the center of that sound!” she ordered over the comm.

  “Copy.” replied Lorien as the entire Darkren Fleet all began bonding the dark matter together, slowly exposing the hive mind.

  In desperation, the hive mind began charging up for an astronomical electromagnetic pulse.

  “Almost there!” said Eiris.

  “Well you better do it soon!” yelled Dex.

  All of a sudden a vast electromagnetic pulse was sent out by the hive mind, disabling every novaship in that sector of space. Eiris and the others began to despair at their obvious failure, until suddenly the hive mind became visible, showing its enormous size.

  “Ugh! That is one ugly robotic creature thingy.” Dahlia said disgusted.

  “My stars, that’s the size of a small planet.” remarked Dex in dread.

  The hive mind then began doing something very unexpected.

  “It’s retreating!” glowered Azonei.

  “Typical bully behavior.” remarked Dex as he shook his head. “It probably calculated the likelihood of its defeat. So it’s running.” he said.

  “And now that our novaships are disabled, we have no defense and no way of pursuing it!” glared Azonei.

  “I wouldn’t say that.” smiled Dahlia.

  “Ditto. We don’t need technology. We have nature as our ally.” beamed Eiris with a wink.

  The Darkren Fleet then began using their bonding to assault the disabled Engi destroyers as well as the fleeing hive mind. But as it gained speed, Eiris and the others knew that time was dwindling to catch it.

  “After all of this we’re going to let it get away!” Dex shouted in frustration.

  “No we’re not!” responded Eiris determinedly.

  Eiris put on his smart helmet and did something unexpected as he took the Ionic Capacitator in his arm in a last ditch move.

  “What are you doing?” asked Dahlia worriedly as Eiris walked over to an emergency release door.

  “Going to visit an old friend.” Eiris grinned. “Oh. You’d probably want to put your helmets on.” he advised as they all quickly did.

  Suddenly, he opened the door and freefell from space down towards the atmosphere on Atlantis. As he got closer, he opened his wingsuit and used it to guide himself directly over the Pluvian Sea. Diving into the massive body of water, Eiris swam to the depths until he was surrounded by nothing but darkness. His eyes then began glowing purple as he bonded a massive water pulse, awaking his target. Soon, two colossal bioluminescent blue eyes appeared in front of him while he floated.

  Dex and the others waited impatiently as they continued to watch the hive mind fly away.

  “Where in the galaxy did he go?” asked Azonei.

  “If I know Eiris. It’s to do something crazy.” mused Dex.

  “Oh no……...” Dahlia said as it dawned on her what he went to do.

  All of a sudden, Eiris emerged from the surface of Atlantis riding the head of none other than the leviathan itself. The colossal sea dragon was over ninety feet long as it soared into space, roaring thunderously as it carried its new master. Dex and the others cheered as Eiris flew past them riding the sea dragon, catching up to the hive mind.

  Once Eiris gained on it, the hive mind fired all sorts of weapons at him. The sea dragon responded by inhaling deeply and breathing scalding acidic water at some of the missiles, blowing them up on impact. Evading the others, Eiris bonded fire and burning ice to damage the hive mind in its retreat.

  Eiris then communicated with the sea dragon, so it breathed water on the hive mind, resulting in another ear-splitting screech. In a desperate move of self-preservation, the hive mind ejected dozens of Engi drones that launched themselves at Eiris’ sea dragon. Dispatching them one by one, his eyes began glowing as he cleverly but reluctantly let the hive mind drift away in the distance.

  He then triggered the detonation sequence on the ionic capacitator and threw it towards a gap inside its inner hull. He used his bonding to make sure it reached its mark, as the detonator beeped rapidly. Eiris then commanded the sea dragon to fly back towards Atlantis at mach speeds.

/>   Once on the planet’s surface and back in the company of the Undarian Fleets, they all turned their heads to the sky in amazement as the hive mind violently flash detonated and was vaporized in a cataclysmic supernova. The remaining Engi destroyers began dropping right out of the sky as their CPU was destroyed, finally signaling an end to this galactic plague.

  Eiris sped back in Pluvia Central and raced over to check on Obsidian but saw the faces of his friends. They all looked despondent as Obsidian lay on the medical bed, barely breathing. Eiris ran to Obsidian’s side and caressed his head as he talked to him through his last moments.

  “Hey buddy, we won. Can you believe that?” smiled Eiris as tears rolled down his face.

  “You know, I owe you. You saved my life.” he cried as he hugged Obsidian one last time.

  Obsidian licked Eiris’ face slightly before laying his head back down as his breathing slowed. Dahlia and the others wept as Obsidian became yet another victim of those monsters. Suddenly, Eiris’ enormous sea dragon glided over and reached one of its massive claws out towards Obsidian’s mouth.

  With everyone looking on in astonishment and confusion, a few small drops of water dripped into Obsidian’s mouth, causing him to swallow. He then closed his eyes for a brief moment and slowly began to breathe normally as his heart rate climbed. Eiris and the others watched the scene unfold in pure shock and amazement. Eiris reached out and gingerly probed Obsidian’s flank to check on his injury, but quickly realized that the wound from the Engi laser cannon had somehow healed instantly. The sea dragon then made a low guttural sound as Obsidian got down from the medical table, walked over and started licking him in gratitude.

  “What…...how did it do that??” Eiris gaped in disbelief as everyone cheered.

  “The leeching kelp!” Dahlia cried delightedly as she realized. “Leeching kelp must have some sort of connection to your sea dragon! It has healing abilities!” she explained.

  “My stars. You have to love the combination of nature and science.” Dex smiled as he embraced Kezzy in pure joy.

  After Azonei returned from making sure Commander Aria was okay, some unexpected guests made their way over to Eiris and the others. Following Reizen and the other shadows, was Sky Commander Lorien of the Darkren Regime. Being escorted behind him was some sort of large machine covered over and draped with Darkren regalia. As they approached, Reizen, followed by Lorien and the other Darkren soldiers bowed in front of Eiris. They all rose and Lorien motioned for some of his soldiers to bring forth the machine.