Sojourn Into Despair
By Marcus Johnson
Text Copyright © 2012 Marcus Johnson
All Rights Reserved
For those who’ve survived their sojourn into despair
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1 - Out In the Middle of Nowhere
Chapter 2 - Holographic Translator
Chapter 3 - We’re Not Alone
Chapter 4 - Cometh the Greys
Chapter 5 - Worse Than We Thought
Chapter 6 - A Battle of Separation
Chapter 7 - Assessing the Situation
Chapter 8 - Ominous Portents
Chapter 9 - In the Heart of Darkness
Chapter 10 - What to Do Next
Chapter 11 - Are They Still Alive?
Chapter 12 - The Barren Planet
Chapter 13 - The Mad Malcovin
Chapter 14 - Restful Moments
Chapter 15 - Winged Savior
Chapter 16 - Meeting of the Minds
Chapter 17 - An Old Man’s Tale
Chapter 18 - Sins Against Nature
Chapter 19 - Solving the Mystery
Chapter 20 - Don’t Stress, So Says the Wiseman
Chapter 21 - Gaelic’s Blades
Chapter 22 - Dancing in the Dark
Chapter 23 - After the Party
Chapter 24 - A Fortunate Trap
Chapter 25 - The Price of Victory
Chapter 26 - What’s a Casualty Anyway?
Chapter 27 - An Oasis in Space
Chapter 28 - First Contact
Chapter 29 - Theocratic Politics
Chapter 30 - Seles’s Vision
Chapter 31 - Island Encounter
Chapter 32 - Ready for Departure
Chapter 33 - The Visitor
Chapter 34 - Stirring the Hornet’s Nest
Chapter 35 - The Battle of Braiden Prime
Chapter 36 - Path of Destruction
Chapter 37 - Grieving Hearts
Chapter 38 - Vengeful Blades
Chapter 39 - Just Deserts
Chapter 40 - One Flower Still Blooms
Chapter 41 - On the Run
Chapter 42 - Being Hunted
Chapter 43 - Running the Gauntlet
Chapter 44 - Eve of Despair
Chapter 45 - The Avoni’s Last Stand
Chapter 46 - Dead Man Walking
Chapter 47 - The Maiden of Life Awakens
Chapter 48 - The Drum Beats On
Epilogue
Prologue
Is this how my life is going to end? Brian opened his eyes and saw nothing but darkness. He tried flexing his hand and nothing could be felt. His body was numb and unfeeling without any sense extending beyond his mind. He tried shouting and no sound came from his mouth. Straining and breathing heavily he laid alone in the dark room without a soul in sight. A tear began falling from his unseeing eyes and streamed slowly to the pillow below.
No. This can’t be how it ends. I don’t want to die, not like this. This is worse than the Kai. I’m beginning to understand what it was like near the end Gaelic. I understand why you hid yourself from everyone. Who wants to see this breathing corpse in its last moments? Even so, I can’t blame them for not being here with me. They have the right to live, don’t they? Should I accept my death? Is it time to give in to the darkness? He was unable to move. Above the door the alert system started blinking bright red as the sound of the alarm followed. He tried focusing his blind eyes and turned his head slightly to hear the faint sound of the alert. Brian thought he heard Zae’s voice over the com but wasn’t sure it was her. The alarm echoed through the Avoni and echoed through him. He felt the ship shake violently as if it was under attack.
No. Not like this. I won’t die here alone in the dark. I’ll save them. It’s all I can do to save what’s left of the crew. He thought of the women of the Avoni and savored each one of them slowly in his mind. Those who died came into his mind one by one and then those still alive flashed through. I owe them that. Summoning all of his remaining strength he blinked his eyes and felt the berserk come over him. It didn’t give him much feeling, but enough to roll off the bed and onto the floor. He dragged himself to the desk and slowly opened the bottom drawer before feeling around with his barely coherent hand. He pulled out a small wooden case and opened it to reveal a number of Kai needles. He smiled strangely as he took them in his numbed hands. Thank you Delne, this should jolt my nerves long enough to do what I need to. I owe it to the crew of this ship, to Grigon, and especially to the Braiden. Brian took each needle and drove them into his body at the joints. Each needle caused him to scream out in agony. Though racked with pain the numbness melted away. Bleeding and stumbling, he walked to the door and took his rakna to use as a crutch. Feeling around the frame of the door he pressed the switch. As the door opened he stumbled into the dark hallway.
This is the right way. At least I won’t be a burden to them any longer.
8 months earlier…
“Are you sure Seles?” Brian asked. She lay naked next to him in his room.
“I can’t leave you alone to do it,” Seles said. “I want to stay by your side. In a few years you’ll be the captain of your own ship.”
He stared at the ceiling. “It’s been four years since I was found by the Avoni. Even though I feel at home here I’m still worried about what I’m supposed to do when Kivi leaves in a few weeks.”
“Everyone’s feeling it,” Seles said. “Kivi’s been part of this crew for so long no one wanted to believe she would leave us.”
“Life moves on.”
“What?” she asked.
“It’s a saying from back home,” he explained. “It means that change is inevitable in a world like ours.”
“Have you been down to see the Mjolnir lately?” she asked. “Jesela says you never go down there anymore.”
“I keep meaning to, but all the command training is getting to me,” he said, laughing. “Valis is really pushing me and its taking a lot of getting used to.”
“I hear you on that,” she said, laughing. “Day after day it’s another tactical formation for the Rakna unit. We’ve been forced to relearn everything we once knew,” she sighed, “It’s getting to me.”
“I’m glad that we can share in each other’s misery.” He ran his hand through Seles’s long silver blue hair. “Are you in the mood for some more?” Brian asked.
Seles placed her hand on his scruffy face. “Always,” she said before they kissed.
Chapter 1 - Out In the Middle of Nowhere
Far away from Confederation territory the Avoni flew in space alongside a number of smaller Reiki science vessels. At the moment they were in deep orbit of a massive gas giant with a mass bordering on that of a brown dwarf.
“I don’t think we’ve ever ventured this far out Valis,” Kivi said. She gazed at the planet on the bridge’s main monitor.
“We were about half this far out when we encountered the ship with Brian on it four years ago,” Valis said.
“So why did you decide to do this job captain?” Zae asked while checking the ship’s systems.
“I could say for the money, but that’s not entirely accurate,” Valis answered. “The Kalaidian and Shandi governments requested we take it as a favor to the Confederation High Council.”
“So why would the Confederation ask for us to do this?” Baed asked.
“The Confederation has us out here to aid the Reiki, whose scientific discoveries are important,” Valis explained. “But the other reason is that they want to know how far the Greys have expanded in the last century.”
“That explains why we’re so far away from Confederation
territory,” Kivi said. “Given that our mobile suits are the only thing short of an Original Five ship capable of fighting the Greys it makes sense they would send us out here.”
“The Reiki fleet has come to a stop captain,” Zae said as Baed stopped the Avoni. “It seems they want to conduct some tests on that moon there.” She called up the image of an ice and rock moon the size of a small planet.
“Moons like this one may harbor life, even if it’s only primitive life,” Valis said.
“So have you decided whose going to navigate the ship after I’m gone?” Kivi asked, seeing Baed blush with uncertainty.
Valis called up a list on her chair’s screen. “I have a number of candidates, but I’d like Baed to look them over before I give the approval.”
“This is going to be weird,” Baed said.
“Why, cause you’re moving over a seat?” Zae asked, smiling.
“I’m still not sure if I’m ready for this,” Baed said, looking over to Zae. “All I do is pilot the ship. On the other hand you control most of the Avoni’s systems.”
“You can handle it,” Valis said, standing up to put a hand on Baed’s shoulder. “That’s why I’m leaving it up to you who take your place as the navigator.”
“Alright,” Baed said. “Send me the list later on.”
“You’re not the only one who’s nervous Baed,” Kivi said. “I’ve been serving under Valis for over a decade now. It’s going to be really strange to wake up a few months from now and be the captain of my own ship.”
“So what’s the name of your ship?” Zae asked. “It is nearing completion, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it should be close to full constructed by the time we get back to Dega Jul.” Kivi looked at Valis. “I’ve chosen to name the ship the Raulno.”
“It’s a good name to match the man to first have it,” Valis said.
“Who was Raulno?” Zae asked. “I know my history, but the education we received was rather censored.”
“I’m not surprised about that,” Valis said. “Most of the history we were taught erased the Southlander’s myths and culture. Given that I know a little of Raulno I’d rather leave it to Kivi to explain.”
Kivi cleared her throat. “Raulno Daeva was the first and last king of Kalaidia.”
“Did you say Daeva?” Baed asked. “That’s the archaic version of my family’s name,”
“Yes, at the time the Daeva family was the third most powerful in the northern lands.” Kivi explained. “The Southlanders were living in a nomadic tribal or clan structure system. During that time period the Northerners began colonizing the southern continent to exploit its vast mineral resources. Raulno was a great Maigar, but he fell from grace and was banished into the deserts of the south. It took him a decade to unite the tribes of the desert, and in doing so, he drove the colonists from the north off the southern continent. Afterwards he organized the invasion of the northern continent and took control of all of the known lands in Kalaidia. He was the first and only male leader of our people with a kingship lasting the rest of his life.”
“How long did he rule?” Baed asked.
“After obtaining the crown he ruled for another forty three years,” Kivi said.
“It’s hard to believe something like that could be covered up so well,” Zae said. “One would think more of us would know about Raulno.”
Kivi stood up, staring at the moon on the monitor. “We’ve kept it alive Zae. The Southlanders may have put down their swords long ago but we never put down our beliefs. Hidden under each shrine to Kali in the south is a small shrine to Raulno, along with a copy of his story. Those in the north had a hard enough time keeping media control in the north so they did little to prevent the Southlanders from keeping the legend of Raulno alive.”
Zae started getting a beep from the Reiki head ship. “The Captain of the Reiki wishes to speak with you captain,” she said.
Valis sighed. “Put him through.”
* * *
Dreka sighed, shaking his head. “There’s no way the conversion ratio is going to work if you do that!” He cawed in frustration.
Jesela shook her head. “You just don’t believe these machines can take that kind of punishment, do you Dreka?” She patted the Talon to her right. “Have a little more faith in the technology.”
“I’d rather not trust it to chance and test them as foolishly as you!” He shouted, still looking frustrated. The Kalaidians and Malcovin in the mobile suit launching bay stood as far away from the pair as possible. Daes sat in the cockpit of a Phase Rakna adjusting the systems with a smirk on her face.
“You’re such a picky bird!” Jesela teased back. “You take forever on things like this! We’re in the middle of Kali knows where with the threat of the Greys hanging over us at every minute and all you can do is go on about testing! We need results Dreka, results!” Jesela’s face showed annoyance as she turned red.
“At least now we’re showing some results,” Dreka cawed.
“What do you mean?” Jesela asked, still looking quite annoyed.
“I made you angry,” Dreka said, cawing once more.
Daes continued working on the systems inside the mobile suit, laughing as quietly as possible at her while subordinates argued.
Jesela sighed. “How about we comprise on this? I’ll submit to a few more tests in simulation and we skip the field test.”
“I think we should do the reverse,” Dreka answered.
“You’ve got more guts than I thought,” Jesela said. “Alright, let’s get these machines ready for a field test.”
Both nodded their heads in agreement before going back to their engineering work. A few minutes later Brian and Seles entered the launching bay, stopping to see Daes come out of Seles’s mobile suit to join them.
“It’s been awhile since you were last down here,” she commented while looking at Brian. “The Mjolnir’s been lonely.”
“He can’t be that lonely with the engineering crew around every day,” Brian said before heading to his mobile suit.
“How goes the overhaul?” Seles asked while looking up at her Phase Zero.
Daes patted the mobile suit on the leg. “All the hardware systems have been replaced and upgraded where I could. Unfortunately, the black box system we used in the Mjolnir won’t take in the Raknas and Talons.”
“That’s alright,” Seles said. “I’m not sure if I want my spacecraft talking to me anyway.”
Brian took the elevator cord up to the cockpit of the Mjolnir. The systems booted on as soon as he entered. “It’s been awhile old friend,” he said. “How have they been treating you?”
As good as to be expected. The Mjolnir wrote in text on the main screen. How has the command training been going?
Brian sighed. “Frustratingly slow. But I’m figure out how the system works.”
I’m glad to hear that. I’ve mastered all of the new mobile suit formations Captain Valis submitted to my systems yesterday.
“You learn much faster than I do,” Brian said. “It must be nice to be a machine.”
Not always. Since I’m the only mobile suit with consciousness it makes things awfully lonely at times.
“Hang in there friend,” Brian said while patting the screen. “In a few years there’ll be plenty of smart mobile suits for you to talk with.”
Make sure a few of them are female.
He laughed. “I’ll try my best.”
Seles watched with Daes as Jesela and Dreka bickered on the other end of the room. “So what’s it about this time?” she asked.
Daes smiled. “Jesela believes mobile weapons can be pushed even further than the specs say. I agree that their output could be improved by another fifty percent or so. That would match the Mjolnir’s output when Brian’s berserking.”
Seles shook her head while watching Jesela and Dreka argue. “In the two years since he joined the crew I don’t think there’s ever been anyone who’s ever made Jesela this crazy before.”
“They fight all the time,” Daes said. “Even so, they’re the best engineers I’ve ever had. And despite their constant disagreements, the two always get things done on time. Often with better results than expected.”
Brian came down out of the Mjolnir and joined Seles and Daes. “You know, the first time I met Jesela I didn’t think she was as smart as she is,” he commented.
“She does have a personality suggesting otherwise, especially when we’re off duty,” Seles added.
“In a few years she’ll surpass anything I’ve ever been able to do,” Daes said, “Jesela’s extraordinary, a prodigy in engineering and gravity drive theory. Dreka’s the same, but a bit more serious when it comes to his work.”
“I’m glad the Malcovin who decided to join us have integrated as well as they have,” Brian said while observing the bird people working alongside Kalaidian engineers. “It gives me hope for the future to come.”
“True,” Daes said. “I was surprised how easily they grasped our technology, like they’d been using it for years. I remember how you explained it to me when you first boarded the Avoni Brian. Technology is something to be used, not worshiped. It seems the Malcovin have the same sentiment.”
“He really told you that?” Seles asked, looking curious. “When did this happen?”
“Just after we were recovered from the frozen moon Seles,” Brian glanced over at the Mjolnir, “At that time the Mjolnir’s parts where still in the form of a Malcovin drop ship.”
“It was a hassle to remake all the parts to craft the mobile suit, but it was worth it,” Daes said while gazing at the Mjolnir.
The communicator on his exoskeleton began beeping. He turned it on.
“Brian, we’re going to need your help on this,” Valis said over the com.
“I’ll be up there in a few minutes,” Brian said before turning off his com. “Well, that’s my queue.”
“What is it they need you for?” Seles asked. He turned before leaving the launching bay’s main door.
“As a translator,” he said as the door closed.
Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair Page 1
