by Paul Centeno
“Nothing to fear? If that were true, I’d be a fool,” an echoic voice whispered into her mind. “Do not seek death so eagerly, Oracle.”
“On the contrary, I seek life.”
“Do not exaggerate…I can see right through you. Abandon your imprudent struggle. Your pernicious and ignorant actions will lead them straight to me! Begone!”
“Who or what is them?”
Silence descended. The environment continued to decompose. Surrounded by an oasis of utter darkness, Myris sat in her chair alone. Unafraid, she reached into the pitch-black chasm that resembled a black hole. She abruptly fell from her seat and dipped her hand through the void, where she gripped a finger for a split second. That brief touch awakened her third eye, revealing a desolate wasteland blanketed by miasma, decomposed alloys, and craters.
The oracle opened her eyes, sitting before her fellow mercenaries. “Del Vayso is in hiding,” she said. “Some kind of threat.”
“It worked!” Khal’jan said excitedly.
“Not entirely,” the oracle said, disheartened. “I wasn’t able to pinpoint his location. Some kind of place full of decay. A devastated and forgotten world. Rusted metal from all corners of the rotten world. Ruined buildings. Corpses. Everything decomposed.”
“Then we search the stars for a dead planet,” Shirakaya said.
III
Void Racer
Initiating long-range sensors, Vokken searched both the TDE and Marauder’s starmap database for a planet resembling what the oracle had described. The mutant and the sandstalker joined the AI’s search, manually attempting to locate a ruined world via computer terminals on the bridge. Each celestial body, however, revealed various lifeforms.
Despite their lack of progress, they kept exploring nearby systems. Broadening his range, Vokken scanned the Syichi Photh-Kos galaxy. Focusing on the soudarian quadrant, every planet he checked revealed lifeforms. Advancing wescaria on the map’s screen, he eventually came across a planet named Ruegan’Uganta.
Before notifying his comrades, Vokken surveyed the world that he found. Right away, he detected solar radiation surrounding the celestial body. Wrapped in a field of debris, the planet looked as though it once parented multiple moons, all of which had crumbled apart over a span of millennia. Upon further examination, the AI discovered a sweltering landscape devoid of life, blanketed by corroded metals, enormous sinkholes, radioactive water, asteroid-size craters, and distortions in gravity.
“I found something,” Yarasuro said.
Shirakaya raised her head, beaming at him. “As usual, you’re always diligent. Show me what you discovered.”
“Here,” he said, transferring his data to the main screen. “Croma.”
The freelancer and her crew examined his findings along the noqurian border of Wulga Fein. Even though the celestial body lacked an atmosphere, it revealed biomass readings that indicated parasitical entities, which still formulated as lifeforms. In addition, they spotted fiery emissions capable of engulfing the terrain worldwide for hours on end.
“Seems decayed enough,” Xorvaj said.
Rah’tera tilted his head. “What about the factor of alloys?”
“We need to be certain,” Shirakaya said. “Considering the cost of hyirum these days, traversing from one galaxy to another for no reason can be expensive.”
“I have another candidate,” Vokken said.
“Really?” the freelancer replied, immediately surveying the primary telecommunications screen whose pane of glass shifted from Croma to Ruegan’Uganta. She read Vokken’s analysis of the planet and shook her head sarcastically. “Yaro, you’re losing your touch.”
“Hard to compete against an AI,” he said with a lopsided grin.
Shirakaya smirked back at him, pushing her hair back into a ponytail. “Well, mercs? Any thoughts on this planet?”
“Gravity distortions? Sinkholes the size of your ass? Water that can kill just from looking at it? What the hell are we waiting for?”
The crew members relatively agreed with the renegade.
“Ruegan’Uganta it is,” Shirakaya said. “Vokken, set a course for Syichi Photh-Kos and get us there ASAP.”
“Commencing dimensional space.”
Activating the ship’s cosmodrive, Vokken opened an aperture several kilometers beneath a nebula. Entering the prismatic chasm, Marauder accelerated through dimensional space at an incredible speed. Motion dampeners and mana shield initiating, the mercenaries relaxed in their chairs as though they were flying ten times slower.
Innumerable stars flickered by them, appearing like continuous streams of light frozen in time. For almost an hour, the battleship zoomed beyond myriad star systems. They traversed through a tunnel until reaching a deformation that caused the cosmic passageway to bend. As a result, Marauder decelerated so suddenly that the motion dampeners malfunctioned.
“An enigmatic wave of death,” Myris said, her eyes dilated. “Like a vacuum of energy, we’re swept away from tides of darkness. Only to drown in a silent void.”
“Another prophecy?” Shirakaya said, looking pale.
Xorvaj drooled, and the sìsô vomited.
“What’s happening?” Rah’tera inquired, his face contorted.
“Brace yourselves,” Vokken warned. “Upon midflight, a super-massive black hole has formed at the heart of a star cluster we’re passing through. The entire quadrant is collapsing. It’s affecting our velocity.”
“What the fuck?” Dojin said, trying not to barf.
“Codswallop!” the oracle blurted, unaware of her vision.
Shirakaya swallowed heavily, sweat pouring down her forehead. “Is it going to pull us out of dimensional space?”
“Under normal circumstances? Yes. We would essentially be pulled out and sucked into the void in an instant. With me at the helm? Negative. I transferred power to emergency thrusters while simultaneously activating our arcane engine.”
“Using the cosmodrive and arcane engine in tandem can cause a meltdown,” Shirakaya managed to mutter, the taste of nausea on her lips.
The arcane intelligence ignored her, continuing to use both flight methods until the vessel was out of harm’s way. Once they were safe, Vokken deactivated the arcane engine. Returning to its normal velocity via cosmodrive within dimensional space, the spaceship finally arrived at Syichi Photh-Kos. Traversing soudaria, Marauder exited the chasm through a sleek aperture and approached a star system swathed in a hoarfrost field.
“Fascinating,” Khal’jan said. “That must be dark matter or anti-mass energy developing from gravity distortions, which is undeniably affecting the electromagnetic forces in this sector, as well as the planets’ orbit.”
“Don’t give a shit,” Dojin said.
“Shut it, you wanker,” the oracle retorted. “I happen to appreciate his knowledge.”
“In any case, let us proceed with caution,” the freelancer said. “We can’t afford to fall into another death trap.”
“Affirmative,” the AI said.
He decelerated the battleship, penetrating the misty-blue field. The strength of their mana shield fluctuated. Dense waves of cosmic dust brushed against Marauder’s wings, causing it to tremble. Vokken spotted frozen energy shaped like tendrils and avoided them by maneuvering between the stems.
“What in oblivion is that?” Xorvaj said.
Yarasuro shrugged. “I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“These stalk-like stems might be a form of dark matter,” Khal’jan responded. “However, it’s possible they are also the result of elemental energy leaking from a rift. Considering we’re seeking Del Vayso, who’s obsessed with the multiverse theory, I’d assume the latter.”
“Whatever this funky stuff is, you don’t need my divination to let you guys know that touching these things ain’t gonna be good,” Myris said.
As the vessel progressed deeper toward the star system, Vokken unleashed gamma rays at some tendrils in close proximity. Eladoris assisted him from s
pace, conjuring up hellfire along frozen webs of energy that blocked the way. The duo worked together, launching energy beams and fireballs until they cleared a flight path.
“Watch out!” Shirakaya cautioned.
Beyond the ice-covered tendrils, interstellar clouds of electricity roamed the sector. The arcane intelligence dodged them, but vicious apertures tore open in space, unleashing waves of flame for reasons unknown to the crew. Vokken preformed several evasive maneuvers, the fire missing Marauder’s wings by mere meters.
Xeza produced a whiney urp.
“Damn!” exclaimed Dojin, his eyes fixed on the elemental phenomena. “I’d be lying if I said that shit didn’t make my dick tingle.”
The crew ignored him.
“Do you know what this means?” Khal’jan said, in awe. “Forget about dark matter. This is no longer a scientific endeavor but one of magic.”
“Music to my ears,” Shirakaya said.
Despite being surrounded by insurmountable masses of confined elemental energy, the arcane intelligence wasn’t intimidated by the interstellar threat. Even though the magical barrier continued to fluctuate while they maneuvered past ice-covered tendrils, Marauder entered the star system without damage.
“We have reached Fhen’gu Hyron,” the AI said. “Ruegan’Uganta is the fourth planet from its blue giant. I estimate we’ll reach our destination within eleven minutes.”
“Excellent,” Shirakaya said. “Any additional info on the environment?”
“I’m already obtaining radioactive readings from the world’s atmosphere,” Yarasuro said, accessing his computer terminal. “It’s apparently so unstable that our EX-600 spacesuits may not be enough to endure the environment.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Rah’tera scoffed.
“We’re in serious trouble,” Myris said, thinking differently.
Xorvaj shrugged. “Not me. Quashia. Zitrogen. Yelium. Hyirum. You name it. My lungs can breathe anything.”
“Quite impressive,” Yarasuro responded. “However, is the rest of your body immune to nuclear radiation?” At the ghensoth’s hesitation, the mutant knight went on, “I thought so. But don’t feel deterred. I’m quite sure none of our bodies can handle that.”
Khal’jan cursed under his breath. “Does this mean we won’t be able to explore the planet on foot?”
“Not necessarily,” the mutant answered. “I’ll have more data when we arrive.”
“Thank the Goddess I purchased a ZX-9000 on Qyon’tog,” Shirakaya said. “If it turns out the environment is too hostile, we have another means of traveling on ground.”
“Super cool,” Myris said. “You think of everything.”
The freelancer smirked at her comment. “Sometimes.”
“I’d be more concerned about the humyn you’re seeking,” Eladoris said. “If he is as fragile as you, then he’s already dead.”
“True, my dear,” Vokken said. “At any rate, we shall discover his status soon enough.”
Shirakaya nodded at his pixilated visage on the screen, her face rather pale. “He needs to be alive. We simply must find him and learn if he knows a way to restore my power.” Bringing her attention back to the group, she continued, “It’s time to start planning our descent. Normally, it would be good to have at least one person stay aboard in case of an emergency. But since Vokken is omnipresent and in control of our ship, I feel we should all go and figure out what’s happening down there.”
“With the exception of Dojin and your little pet, it is a sound plan.”
“Ignore the cyber dickhead,” the renegade snapped, struggling to stand. “An achy body ain’t gonna stop me.”
“Maybe he’s right for once,” Shirakaya said.
Dojin squinted. “Fuck that. Consider my saggy balls radioactive. I’m a part of this mission whether your bitch ass likes it or not.”
IV
Remnants
Passing through the hoarfrost field, the crew saw Ruegan’Uganta with their own eyes from the windowpane. Despite its icy surroundings, the tawny-hued globe appeared unfrozen. Vokken maintained a fast velocity until entering the planet’s atmosphere, at which point he decelerated the Marauder.
“Radiation levels are increasing exponentially,” Yarasuro stated. “It’s unnatural. Based on these readings, our armor wouldn’t last ten minutes.”
“Are you certain of this?” Khal’jan inquired, dispirited.
Before the mutant could respond, Vokken intervened, “I can attest to his analysis. The data I am receiving after scanning each continent is bleak. I’m detecting billions of cadavers as well as no life readings. If there was ever an ecosystem here, it collapsed decades ago.”
Rah’tera shook his head. “Be that as it may, my EX-600 spacesuits are made for hazardous environments like this.”
“Not when radioactive levels are catastrophic,” the mutant said.
The freelancer cursed under her breath. “Eladoris, would you be able to conjure mana shields for each of us?”
“I could if I wanted to. But considering how long you intend to be here, maintaining them for an extended period of time isn’t something I can ensure.”
A couple of crew members sulked at her words, especially after seeing miasma.
“In that case,” Shirakaya began, “since you have wings, conjure a mana shield on yourself and scout around the region we are descending toward.”
Eladoris snorted. “I will do so on my own accord. I’m here out of mere curiosity. Nothing more than that.”
“So be it,” she replied, deciding not to snap at Eladoris who left the bridge.
“What now?” Khal’jan asked.
“We bring out the tank,” Xorvaj said.
Shirakaya gave him a faint nod. “Saddle up, Shadow Mercs. We’re entering a realm of the unknown.”
The mercenaries went down to the cargo bay, where their leader had parked the ZX-9000 tank. Entering the vehicle, they seated themselves and waited for Vokken to unseal the ship’s hatch. As the ramp descended, Xorvaj accelerated the tank out of the vessel. Plummeting fast toward the terrain, he activated hover-thrusters.
By pure chance, while passing a wave of clouds, the tank avoided what seemed to be pebbles or debris. At first, Shirakaya thought it was an illusion caused by the radioactive atmosphere. Descending farther, however, the substructure of their vehicle crashed onto a large piece of granite that shattered upon collision.
“Meteorites!” Rah’tera blurted.
“No fucking way,” Dojin responded, his eyes peeled on the windowpane. “We didn’t see any comets or asteroids in space.”
“That’s because there aren’t any,” Khal’jan said, his mouth agape.
Myris understood what he meant. “Wowzers,” she muttered, gazing at a mixture of clouds and floating granite in the sky.
“Evasive maneuvers!” Yarasuro shouted.
The tank slammed against another large boulder. An alarm went off, causing some of the mercenaries to become flustered. Xorvaj lost control of the tank, cursing. In an attempt to regain control of the careening vehicle, he activated emergency boosters to assist the hover-thrusters. With great difficulty, Xorvaj avoided several rocks suspended alongside clouds and eventually regained control of the craft. After a few seconds, the alarm turned off.
“Slow down,” Yarasuro said, getting out of his seat and walking over to the ghensoth. “I see some of them and can help you avoid them.”
Xorvaj complied, decelerating as much as possible. Beyond the last wave of clouds, they came across clusters of floating granite. Most of them appeared ruptured. Thunder bellowed all around them like a raging god. Bolts of lightning struck with tremendous wrath, splitting a gigantic boulder before their eyes. Pieces of it rotated toward the vehicle, leaving Xorvaj with no choice but to smash through a couple of them.
“Slightly different than Star City,” Rah’tera said.
“You said it,” Shirakaya replied, her heart pounding. “Why do I get the feeling tha
t magic isn’t playing a role in this particular phenomenon?”
“Because it’s not,” Khal’jan said.
“How is this possible?” she asked.
“The planet’s gravity distortions,” he answered. “There’s no other explanation. For all we know, these huge rocks levitating among the clouds may have once belonged to a continent torn from the surface.”
“Neither magic nor tech?” Myris said. “No way…”
The ghensoth snorted. “Hover thrusters are overheating. Be ready for a rough landing. I won’t warn you a second time.”
Yarasuro returned to his seat, securing himself. The crew stayed quiet, placing their trust in Xorvaj as he prepared to land the tank. Although past the majority of floating granite, he still needed to concern himself with several boulders hovering closer to the planet’s surface. Upon descending thousands of kilometers, he delicately evaded them. Luck on his side, he finally saw terrain.
Landing smoothly in a deep crater, Xorvaj drove out of it and onto cobblestones. Partial buildings stood on either side, their upper halves peeking up amid rubble that was strewn along the ground. The ghensoth zigzagged around corroded framework. For a few minutes, the passengers sat silent, observing the derelict and ruined environment while the tank accelerated.
“What in all the dunes happened here?” Rah’tera asked.
“I intend to find out,” Shirakaya said in a dismal tone. “Eladoris? Vokken? Any updates on other regions?”
“So far there is only death and decay,” the witch said via KLD. “Eroded roads. Corroded alloys. Destroyed buildings. Cadavers. Fossils. I’m currently flying over a contaminated sea. I’ll think about letting you know if I come across something interesting.”
Shirakaya grimaced.
Not a moment later, Vokken appeared on the tank’s main screen. “From what our queen has stated, it explains why I haven’t been able to hack into anything. I am maintaining orbit until further notice.”
“Keep me apprised.”
Advancing through the wilderness, Xorvaj came across a mountainous slope. When the tank struggled to ascend higher, he activated eight-wheel drive and rose up the bumpy terrain with ease. Arriving on the summit, the crew found themselves in a deserted metropolis whose metal structures barely remained standing.
