“Damn...” she cursed through gritted teeth, noticing more and more of the frigates and corvettes being isolated, and less and less support fire coming from their larger brethren, who were desperately trying to protect themselves.
“Keep up the fire! Don't let any esca-.” Knight Admiral Bhool shouted as she swooped overhead, being cutoff as an enormous asteroid ship plowed through concentrated fire, smashing through the ABF Alutia's ESS and into the tilitium hull, throwing Knight Commander Eyulclia from her station. Explosions filled the air around her as she tumbled violently against the wall and everything went dark.
*********
Forty-six ASU asteroid ships appeared at the edge of the sector of space being projected by the CID. Regalia tensed when she finished counting their numbers, glancing at Yukie with concern. The original record from the freighter had shown over a hundred.
So where are the rest?
Finding Yukie stuck in her thoughts, Regalia looked to her mother, who was frantically working at the fleet sensor station, checking for abnormalities. But Regalia knew there were none, her mother being very smart and would not have made a mistake, which meant they must have split before the ABF Sasha was able to catch them.
“All hands! Prepare for emergency deceleration!” Captain Daiyu's order echoed throughout the starship. Guards surrounded them, forming a solid barrier to protect her and Yukie from what was considered the most dangerous maneuver in space travel.
Earlier, they'd survived the second and third most dangerous, accelerating beyond the 2,000,000 kps speed restriction, while breaking the 1000 kps2 acceleration safety margin. Regalia had only read about the effects and had been excited to actually experience them. But when they occurred, she'd lost the contents of her stomach, and had been very embarrassed. Her mother had wanted to scold her. But her own bloodless skin, and Yukie's stare, kept her silent.
“Helm! Full Reverse Burn!” the ABF Alutia's engines came online as the starship swung around, aiming against its momentum. The effects of the rapid deceleration were immediately felt as the gravity manipulation field, or GM field, adjusted for forces well beyond its safety limits. One of the guards standing before her became hazy, then appeared to distort, becoming two, then three of the same person. Her stomach screamed for release, but she held it back, not wanting to embarrass her mother again. A ghostly apparition passed before her eyes, then another, and another, all born of the singularities used for the GM field that were engulfing the starship to allow the massive deceleration to occur without killing the crew our they losing their grip on real-time.
Yukie screamed from her side. Regalia turned to see a hideous, ghostly creature, snarling before them, appearing to try to snatch Ori with a clawed appendage. Yukie and the surroundings guards tried desperately to swat it away. But their hands passed straight through the horrible apparition. It was a wonder. She knew they weren't real, being created within the excessive distortion of their physical reality by the singularities distorting physics. But why did they look so real, so vivid?
Ori buried himself in Yukie's dress, finally having had enough of the ethereal creature's useless attempts to eat him, which vanished angrily as soon as it lost its prey. More and more of the apparitions floated around the fleet command deck as officers and crewman alike began to lose their sanity. A scream was quickly cut off as the owner fainted, or so she hoped, while incoherent shouts rose from another.
Regalia's arm exploded in piercing pain and when she looked, she found it distorted, then stretching. It felt as if was being torn asunder. A hand slapped down on top of her arm, steadying the distortion. She stared up at the owner, finding Donnlie had taken up a position next to the Empress Guards who surrounded them and was trying desperately to force Regalia's arm back into place. She tried to smile, but the pain was too great.
She couldn't last much longer.
Reality continued to distort, becoming more and more skewed the longer they stayed too deep within the GM field, in the singularities controlled event horizon, and soon, Regalia realized, they would all lose their sanity. Her arm wasn't actually moving. But Donnlie and she thought it was, so it was, or so the theory told. She let the memory of the lecture take hold, hoping it would help keep her sane.
The hideous creature that attacked Ori only existed because of Ori, or Ori's fears, which substantialized in the altered reality created by the singularity, or more accurately, because of Black Hole physics. It had to do with the latent energy within one brain waves causing certain insubstantial representations to form in a sort of group hallucination. Though the theory had never been proven since the study into the phenomenon was cut short due to the long term psychological effects on the researchers, who were immersing themselves for days at a time.
Color started returning to her surroundings and the ghostly images began to fade. Her mother screamed, reaching towards what Regalia knew would be before her, a ghostly image of her late father. The first time she'd seen him, she tried to rush to her feet, but Yukie wouldn't let her go. So she'd watched as her mother cried and tried to embrace the apparition that coiled around her. Later, after he had vanished, Regalia had realized Yukie was right. It was best not to attach oneself to the fantasy created by one's own mind. It'd taken them an hour to calm her mother after the initial acceleration had finished.
“Is everyone alright!” Captain Daiyu shouted, voice stiff. Muttered responses sounded from the officers below, sounding odd in the newly returned reality, the sound waves again moving properly, no longer distorted by the singularity.
“Are you ok?” Yukie asked, none of her usual excitement present, just concern. Regalia nodded, happy she had not embarrassed her mother yet again. But another cry told her that her mother had made the same mistake as during the acceleration. Regalia rushed to her feet, stumbling over to Belia.
“It's ok, Mother,” she cooed as she wrapped her arms around her mother's head, which was cold, clammy.
“But why...why did he have to leave us?” Belia sobbed in a way that was so very unlike her, making Regalia feel lost, confused. Her mother had always been strong, explaining to her clearly that tears were not allowed. But if they had to be shed, should only be in private. Regalia was pulled back to reality by a loud smack, an open palm striking her mother's teary cheek. Regalia turned in horror to find Yukie standing at her side, new fury burning through her flesh.
“Belia! We don't have time for this! Pull yourself together!” Yukie bellowed. Belia looked on in horror.
“Come, Regalia!” Yukie grabbed her arm and started dragging her back to the command chairs. Regalia's surprise was replaced by anger as she pulled herself free of the empress's grasp.
“Yukie! Why did you strike my mother? She did nothing wrong!” Regalia stamped her foot as she pushed back the tears that wanted to sprout forth with the words.
“No? We are going into combat, Regalia. There is no time to dwell on the past!” Yukie responded, looking flustered, appearing to not fully understand why Regalia was angry.
“I don't care...please don't hit mother. I love her so and ...” Powerful arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her away while filling her with a calming warmth.
“You will forgive my daughter and myself, Empress. I lost myself, yet again, and your swift action helped me recover. I thank you and beg for forgiveness,” Belia stuttered from behind, her words showing none of her previous sorrow.
“See, Regalia? Now come!” Yukie grabbed her hand again, and continued pulling her towards the command chairs. Regalia followed reluctantly, plopping into her seat and crossing her arms, feeling her face turn into a pout. It didn't matter if her mother asked for forgiveness. She did nothing wrong. It was Yukie. Yukie was at fault and should apologize.
“Regalia?” Yukie questioned, seeming to still be confused by her mood. Regalia put her nose up and turned away from the empress, ignoring her. Silence filled the air between them for a moment, before a hand landed on her shoulder.
“I'm sorr
y I struck your mother,” the apology was honest, but Regalia heard a hint of something else. She turned back to Yukie and looked deep into the golden eyes.
“Are you really? Would you do it again?” Yukie seemed to consider the question before answering.
“Yes. It is my duty to-.”
The loud smack that echoed across the fleet command deck, and the bridge below, was followed by the thunderous sound of Empress Guards rushing at her, combat arcs drawn. But Donnlie was faster, blocking them from reaching Regalia while pulling free his own laser arc without hesitation. Yukie stared at her, expression of disbelief, lightly touching the red mark growing on her cheek.
“That hurt!” she shouted, slapping Regalia back with full force, who cried out, before doing the same. The girls traded slaps, back and forth, the air full of their cries. The guards tensed around them, unmoving, wanting to act, save their empress, but seeming unwilling to escalate the petty conflict further. After what felt like hours, the slaps weakened, then stopped, both girls crying from the pain of their now swelling, rosy red cheeks.
“It hurts!” Yukie screamed again, tears streaming down her swollen cheeks.
“Now you know!” Regalia shouted in response, more from frustration then anger. Yukie sniffled, staring at her, eyes shifting between anger and understanding. “And I'm sorry, Yukie, but...but please...please never hit my mother again. She doesn't deserve it...it hurts so much...” she started sobbing then, burying her face in her hands. After a moment, a kind touch caressed her hair.
“I...I didn't understand. You will forgive me, Regalia...Belia...” Yukie spoke with humility for the first time Regalia could ever recall.
“Contacts are turning, they've spotted us captain!” the voice from the bridge seemed to have missed the rising tensions on the fleet command deck.
“Match their course, helm. Tactical, don't let any escape!” Captain Daiyu shouted, her own voice having recovered its usual bluster.
“Aye, ma'am,” the helm and tactical officers responded in unison. Regalia raised her eyes, tears starting to dry on her puffy red cheeks, finding Yukie's face mere millimeters from her own, showing a wide, mischievous smile.
“Toonga? What is the penalty for striking a member of the emperor's family?” It felt as if she was slapped again, realizing in horror what she had done and its dire consequences.
“Dark space banishment or death. Ruling to be decided by offended member of the emperor's family,” Toonga sealed her fate. Belia rushed through the Empress Guards, collapsing at Yukie's feet, placing her forehead to the floor.
“Please! Spare her, Your Majesty! She is young and naive...the fault is mine!” Belia squealed. Yukie kept the same, superior smile, looking between Belia and Regalia.
“It is already decided, Belia,” Yukie turned to Regalia. “You know what I want, Regalia.” Yukie's smile widened and Regalia's mind ticked with understanding, realizing she'd been beaten.
“Program,” she sighed, “I hereby forfeit the remaining competition,” Yukie started bouncing in her seat as Regalia conceded and began to help her stunned mother to her feet.
“Logged, Empress Yukie Origin is announced winner of competition and shall receive requested rewards when Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and Grand Duke Trent Alutia return.” Regalia felt tears returning, knowing she had failed Trent and Sasha.
“But that is not all, Regalia. You will accompany me to fully make amends!” Regalia's face went waxen as Yukie began to laugh merrily, almost falling out of her seat in her boisterousness, and nearly missed the LPAs that began streaming across space, picking off the fleeing ASU asteroid ships before they could hurt anyone ever again.
Chapter 21
Ash's cry of despair echoed from deep within her bosom as the platform creaked to a halt, having finally finished its nightmarish decent into darkness; into the unknown. Before his cries could fade, a tiny spark appeared across the dark expanse, on the surface of the pit’s curving wall. It crept slowly along the smoothed stone, outlining an archway that began to glow and shimmer as the spark vanished. The archway split open with a deafening crack, revealing a dimly lit tunnel that extended well beyond her sight.
Vickie stood, her body silhouetted by the dim light flowing across the dark expanse. Tiana started to follow, but tumbled back as the platform trembled, the sound of stone grating attacking her ears. A hand grasped her arm violently, pulling her to her feet and forcing her towards the edge of the platform. She resisted its pull, fearful of falling into the dark abyss her mind screamed was full of unknown horrors.
“Hurry!” Vickie shouted, but Tiana barely heard her over the sound of grating stone, and her own rapidly beating heart.
A blast of cold wind struck her back. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to witness half the platform vanish into darkness. Before her mind could register what was happening, the remaining platform started shuttering violently, it taking all her will to keep her feet.
“We must move!” Vickie urged desperately. Tiana, seeing no other choice, nodded. They rushed to the edge of the platform closest the archway. Tiana tried to slow, but Vickie just kept accelerating.
“Jump!” Vickie shouted just as Tiana’s foot touched the platform’s edge.
With strength born of fear, Tiana launched herself across the chasm, losing her grip on Vickie's slippery hand as the woman seemed to fly higher then she'd thought possible. But she realized with rising horror she was wrong. Vickie had just launched herself high enough to fully cross the expanse, where Tiana was descending much too rapidly and she would fall short.
She struck the bottom edge of the archway with her stomach and started sliding down the wall. She tried desperately to find purchase, to pull herself to safety. But something coiled around her legs, or so she thought, dragging her towards the darkness; towards her death. Her mind screamed as she frantically clawed at the floor, her fingernails scratching across its smooth face, unable to slow, the pull becoming ever stronger as she fell ever faster.
Vickie grabbed her hands, and with strength beyond reckoning, pulled her fully into the tunnel’s mouth. Tiana gasped in surprise as she was dragged to her feet and lead well away from the edge, and away from the fearful darkness. Her mind ticked, not comprehending exactly what had just occurred. But when it did, she collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, Vickie enveloping her in her arms.
“It's ok now,” Vickie cooed into her ear, letting Tiana burry her face in her bosom until the tears finally ran dry.
“We need to move forward,” Vickie whispered as she ran a gentle hand through Tiana's blond locks. All Tiana could do was nod and allow Vickie to lead her forward; into the unknown.
Their silent march through the cold, dim tunnel lasted for an eternity, the dancing shadows playing tricks on her mind, calling forth horrors from deep within her subconscious. A vile monster appeared from a dense shadow overhead, its massive fangs dripping venom as it eyed her hungrily with its thousands of beady eyes. She cringed when it skittered in her direction, slamming her eyes shut as her mind screamed for her to flee from the alien horror. But the creature never struck, only the faint scuffle of her and Vickie's padded steps touching her ears, the creature only existing in her mind.
“Here,” Vickie pulled her forward, wrapping an arm around her, seeming to sense Tiana's mind beginning to fail.
They continued on, Vickie's comforting presence and overwhelming confidence seeming to hold back the shadows, keeping the nightmares beckoned by Tiana’s fearful mind at bay. She glanced up at the face of the prideful woman, her eyes smoldering with an intense purple flame, ready to face all challenges head-on. Tiana tried to speak, ask the question that sat on the tip of her tongue; how is Vickie able to face their unknown future with such confidence, such determination? But she just couldn't voice it; her mind frozen, her fear overwhelming.
Vickie tightened her grip about Tiana's shoulder, pressing the bracelet she adorned against Tiana's exposed skin; a Dai Tempest bracelet. Tiana
glanced down to her own wrist, extending a silver coil from the set of Dai Tempest bracelets she also adorned; a birthday gift from Vickie. The coil swirled over her palms, its texture smooth, cool, but warmth grew from its touch, burning away the worst of her fear and replacing it with a glimmer of hope.
Those who had abducted them during the chaos at Zalbos must have thought nothing of the jewelry they adorned, not realizing the dual purpose of her and Vickie's bracelets. From what she’d learned, Dai Tempest , the close range fighting style Vickie had been teaching her over the past few periods, was primarily developed for noble’s to be able to defend themselves as a last resort. This was why the special Dai Tempest weapons that super-compressed air along a coil on their palms, allowing it to explode forth on contact, were designed to be nondescript, hiding in a bracelet or pair of noble gloves. The weapon itself was very effective at stopping an attacker, allowing those competent in the skill to incapacitate any threats that came within arm’s reach.
“Stay close,” Vickie whispered, having sensed an unseen danger as they hurried through another archway, barely visible in the dim lighting. The ceiling slammed down before and behind them, mere meters from where they stood, blasting a cloud of dust into her face. Tiana covered her mouth, coughing violently as she stumbled.
“This way!” Vickie shouted, pulling her down a narrow tunnel that had appeared in side wall when the ceiling collapsed. As soon as they entered, the ceiling slammed shut behind them, stopping any thoughts of retreat. A loud creak echoed down the tunnel and Vickie grabbed her, diving back towards the ceiling that had just collapsed as a wide portion of the ceiling ahead slammed down, right where they'd just been. Her heart beat out of control, her mind unable to fully grasp how close they’d just come to death.
The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2) Page 64
