by Ramy Vance
“And what good is a hole if we don’t know what’s inside it?”
“We’ve sent our best drones to try to get an idea of what we’re up against. We haven’t received anything back yet.”
Alex listened to Toppinir and Roy discuss possibilities with Manny. Their concern revolved around not knowing what was within the meteor. That was when Alex had an idea. “Hey, Manny, can I borrow your eyes?” she asked.
Manny did a double-take as one of his tentacled eyes whipped around and stared at Alex. “What do you mean?”
Alex motioned for Manny to follow her as she headed toward the ship’s exit. Once outside, Alex asked Manny again if she could borrow his eyes. This time the Beholder didn’t bother replying. Alex closed her eyes and focused.
When Alex opened her eyes, she was seeing with Manny’s abilities. She saw the heat signatures of everyone around her, along with their bones and a weird energy as well. Interesting but not what she cared about.
Alex looked up at the meteor and focused on zooming in while concentrating on Manny’s x-ray vision.
As Alex stared up at the meteor, its outside edges blurred. She focused until finally, she saw into the interior of the meteor. The interior of the meteor was hollow, but other than that, Alex couldn’t make out any more details. That seemed like enough, though.
Manny was growing irritated and bored. “You just wanted to take a look at the same thing we’ve all been looking at for the last few months?”
Alex headed back toward the bridge. “You can never have too many eyes, you know,” she murmured.
When Alex got back to the bridge, she told Toppinir and Roy the meteor was hollow. She had been unable to see what was inside, but there was definitely room to move around.
Toppinir and Roy exchanged glances, then Toppinir said, “That’s what we were thinking. Looks like our plan might work.”
“What would that be?” Alex asked.
“We’re going to infiltrate the meteor and blow it up from the inside, using a combination of Roy’s nuclear reactor and my dragon’s ether fire.”
“Doesn’t leave you guys with a lot of escape options.”
“Nothing we aren’t aware of.”
The reality of what Toppinir was saying hit Alex. They were talking about sacrificing themselves to take out the meteor. Alex couldn’t believe they would think of something so stupid. The war effort needed them. That was when another plan started forming in Alex’s head.
Instead of speaking her mind, Alex asked, “What do you need from Boundless?”
Roy seemed taken aback by Alex’s willingness to follow orders. “That’s a new note for you.”
“Well, we’re here to help. No matter the cost.”
“If that’s the case, we’ll devise a strategy and relay it to you to give to your team. Dismissed, Bound.”
Alex nodded politely before heading to the ship’s exit. She hit her comm button and patched into Jollies. “Hey, I need you to listen very carefully to what I’m going to tell you right now.”
Chapter Five
Alex took her time rejoining her team. She relayed what Roy and Toppinir had said inside the ship. Both of them were ready to sacrifice themselves to take out the meteor, which seemed like a stupid idea. Two of the best fighters in the war, gone within seconds because they were supposed to be heroes.
What the hell was a hero, anyway? Who was asking them to do this? Was it just understood that they would sacrifice their lives for Middang3ard?
It was a waste, pure and simple, and it was exactly what Alex had come on this mission to try to avoid. Keeping track of what she was supposed to be doing had been hard since the mission had gotten so hectic, but now it was crystal clear.
The mission had been to save Roy and Toppinir. Two veterans blowing themselves up in a giant meteor would be nothing short of failure.
Alex hoped Jollies had paid close attention to the instructions she had been given. There wasn’t a reason to doubt Jollies’ competence. The pixie hadn’t disappointed Alex or the team one time yet. The only reason Alex was worried was that she was asking her teammate to do something that could possibly end up badly for everyone.
Alex’s comm dinged, and she pulled up her HUD to see what she had received. The briefing for Roy and Toppinir’s mission had gone out. It included details for what everyone was expected to do and, in no uncertain terms, informed them of Roy’s and Toppinir’s decision.
There were no replies. This wasn’t a discussion. The three squads were expected to arrive at the rendezvous and watch the fireworks. Alex wondered if Roy and Toppinir had really thought this plan through. There had to be another option.
Alex laughed to herself. If there had been another option, she might have thought of it, but she had drawn as much of a blank as the veterans had. It was a very extreme situation, and she guessed it warranted extreme measures.
The rest of the squads would be heading over to the rendezvous about now. Alex wasn’t ready to go yet. She didn’t think she was ever going to be ready.
Alex sat down on the grassy hill, leaned back, and looked up at the meteor. The thing was swelling, growing larger. She knew it. Yet it was also the same, unchanged. Whatever was in the meteor was responsible.
Even though it held signs of death, of destruction, the sky was rather beautiful. The red and black clouds had finally disappeared. In their place was a blue and blank sky with a thin green hue. The meteor stood in for the sun, covered in a hazy jade cloud.
For the first time in her life, Alex thought of taking a picture. She laughed at having such a mundane desire. She was standing on the precipice of the biggest decision of her short life, and all she could think of doing was taking a picture.
Alex slipped off her visor, turned it around, and snapped a photo of herself smiling, the meteor behind her. She looked at the photo. The tears in her eyes were visible. She wiped them away and took another one.
No tears this time.
Alex checked this photo. Good enough. She pulled the visor on again and hit the digital keyboard. A holographic keyboard appeared in front of her, and she typed a message to her parents. She would have preferred a video message, but she wasn’t sure she could keep her voice calm.
I love you a lot. You’ll never know how much because I’ll never be able to tell you, not in the right words. But you have to know I do because you raised me to be the way I am. I can’t thank you enough for being the kind of parents you are.
Tears were slowly streaming down Alex’s face. She wiped them off and kept typing.
Something happened here. I don’t know what being a hero is. I don’t know what makes people do stupid things. So, if anyone ever asks, I wasn’t trying to be a hero. I was trying to do something smart. I’m really sorry. Love, Alex.
Alex sent the message and dropped her visor, wiping away her tears and feeling stupid for crying like a child. Roy and Toppinir hadn’t shed any tears. They had made their decision with straight faces, with determination.
Behind Alex, a twig snapped. Alex jumped to her feet. Gill stood behind her, his eyes glowing in the dark. “I see you’re taking your time getting to the rendezvous,” he said softly.
Alex wiped her face again, hoping Gill didn’t see the tears or the snot. “Just wanted to take a little breather, that’s all.”
“We know what you’re planning to do.”
Alex couldn’t meet Gill’s eyes. Her lip quivered, and she wished she could crawl into a ball. Disappearing would be a close second. Everything felt too real at the moment.
Gill sat down next to Alex. They sat there quietly, watching the meteor above, expanding and contracting as if it were tearing open reality. Whatever was behind the meteor was beautiful. Alex didn’t know what it was. She knew it was beautiful, though.
Gill rested his hand on Alex’s and squeezed her fingers encouragingly. “I’m assuming there isn’t anything we can say that’ll change your mind?”
Alex shook her head as she fought back
tears. Talking was making it worse.
“Jim is going with you,” Gill told her.
Alex threw back her head, tears trickling down her face, staring up at the meteor—at her destiny. There was no point in fighting it anymore. She might as well accept what was happening. “He can’t. He’s not invited. I can’t let him throw his life away.”
“Surprisingly, that’s what almost anyone would say to you. And it wasn’t a question. Jim said he was going. None of us can stop him. Just like none of us can stop you.”
“Did you come here to tell me that?” Alex asked.
“I assumed you needed someone to talk to. Jim couldn’t come. He’s too busy. Jollies can’t believe this is happening. She’s trying to talk Brath into tying you up or something. So, here I am. Figured you could use a friend right now.”
Alex leaned her head on Gill’s shoulder. “Appreciate it,” she said softly, her voice cracking. “Gill, I’m scared. I’m really scared.”
She didn’t need to say it aloud. Her body was trembling, her skin like ice. The tears hadn’t stopped, though they had slowed. Above, the meteor still watched like a menacing eye.
Gill put his arm around Alex’s shoulder and kissed the top of her head. “Anyone would be. It’s okay to be afraid. It doesn’t make you weak. I couldn’t do what you’re doing. Never.”
“What do drows think happens after you die?”
He chuckled softly. “It isn’t a very encouraging belief we hold. You might want to talk to a pixie about that.”
“Just tell me.”
“Nothing. You just stop existing. That’s why it’s so important to enjoy life while you have it. To live as well as you can by your standards because you only have one life.”
Alex leaned forward and wiped her face again. Sniffed loudly and spat. “You know, that’s kinda encouraging. Gotta make the one count for something. Might as well get to it.”
She stood and brushed the grass off herself. She felt the meteor watching her. It was unblinking. No need to blink since it could see everything. It could see deep within her.
There was a screeching sound somewhere far away. Alex could hear it, but she wasn’t sure where it was coming from. It must have been close by, though.
When she woke up, blood was dripping from her nose. She was in the fetal position, her hands cupped around her ears, whispering words she didn’t understand. Her chest was tight, and her head hurt the way it had when she’d first started using her eyes.
Gill knelt next to her, peering down at her, his bright eyes catching the little bit of light still in the evening sky. This wouldn’t be a bad last image before death, she thought before becoming concerned about why she was on the ground. “What happened?” she asked.
The drow looked very concerned. “You tell me. You were standing, and suddenly you fell over. You spoke the Old Tongue. I couldn’t understand what you were saying.”
“The Old Tongue?”
“Old words of magic, magic that predates humans. I’m pretty sure those words weren’t coming from you.”
“Where from, then?”
Gill pointed up at the meteor. There was no denying it this time. The meteor was definitely larger than it had been when they had first arrived at the valley. “Whatever is in there,” he said. “Maybe it’s trying to talk to you.”
“Why me?”
“You are the one planning on killing it, aren’t you?”
Alex met up with the rest of Team Boundless, and they all headed to the rendezvous for the dragonriders and mechs. No one mentioned the plan, but it was palpable. It was the feeling of electricity, the scent of a grave, the cold chill of death.
They took their places amongst the other mech and dragonriders, waiting for Roy and Toppinir to arrive. If Alex was being honest with herself, the whole affair was a little gaudier than she would have imagined. It made sense, though. The vets had been with their squads for years. Leaving without saying goodbye would have been cruel.
The mech and dragonriders stood at attention, patiently waiting. They didn’t speak amongst themselves. They watched the podium in front of the ship, where Manny floated in silence.
Manny looked uncomfortable. Maybe it was because he feared the riders would blame him for the loss of their commanders. How could they not? He was always the one bringing orders, showing up when things could only get worse.
A shadow hung over the gathering, cast by the meteor. The sky had changed even further. Gone was the green hue. Now images flashed behind the meteor, images which could not be understood, changing rapidly.
Jim described it to Alex as a television on the fritz or with bad reception. “There’s something back there,” he whispered. “That meteor’s doing more than just sitting in the sky.”
Alex understood what Jim was saying. “We’re going to be the lucky ones who get to find out, right? You know what they say about curiosity.”
“I prefer to think about the satisfaction part.”
Alex grabbed Jim’s hand. Even with all the confusion with Gill, this is what she had imagined ever since she had first seen Jim’s avatar. “You know you don’t have to do this,” Alex whispered. “I’m not going to ask you to.”
Jim curled his fingers around Alex’s. “No one has asked me to do anything, just like no one asked you to do this. But like I said before, I’ll follow you anywhere, Alex. Period.”
“All right. Let’s leave it at that.”
Roy and Toppinir finally descended from the ship. They stood in front of the podium, looking out at the silent audience. Toppinir was the one to speak. “All right,” he started, “I’m not going to drag this out. That meteor is coming down. Today. It’s been a pleasure serving with you all.”
Toppinir stepped back and Roy went forward. “Hm. It’s gonna be hard to top that,” Roy joked. “Toppinir and I aren’t coming back from this, but you already knew that. I’ve seen a lot of crazy people in my day, but none as crazy as you. Every mission, you pull our asses out of the fire. This time it’s our turn.”
Roy raised his dragon anchor to the sky and his mech plummeted to earth, landing behind him. Its cockpit popped open as Toppinir’s dragon uncurled from the top of the ship and crawled down. Toppinir mounted as Roy climbed into his mech.
Alex nudged Jim and whispered to Jollies, “Let’s do this.”
Jollies flew off as Jim left the crowd. Alex watched Jim walk away with a lump in her throat. She had no problem accepting responsibility for herself, but being responsible for Jim, her oldest friend, felt wrong. But it didn’t matter. Alex raised her dragon anchor.
Chine came swooping out of the sky and grabbed Alex in his claws. He landed on the podium and shot a stream of fire into the sky in front of Roy and Toppinir as Alex climbed onto his back. “You guys can’t go up there,” Alex shouted.
Roy popped his head out of the mech. “Alex, this isn’t up for discussion. You see what the meteor is doing, right? It’s tearing up friggin’ reality! We need to deal with it.”
“Okay, sure, it needs to be dealt with, but it doesn’t have to be you two. Myrddin needs you. We need you.”
Toppinir shook his head, his eyes sad and heavy. “We aren’t going to ask anyone to sacrifice their lives on a gamble,” he explained. “We can’t do that.”
Alex slammed her hand to her chest. “You don’t have to ask anyone. I’ll do it.”
Roy’s face flashed red with anger as he ground his teeth. “We get it, you have a death wish,” he lectured. “But we aren’t going to entrust a mission this important to a cadet. It’s not happening. Now, will you kindly get the hell out of our way.”
Jim’s mech climbed onto the stage next to Alex. “We’re taking care of the meteor, sir. This is out of your hands.”
As Jim and Alex argued with the two veterans, Jollies zipped around the stage faster than any eyes other than Alex’s and Manny’s could see. Yet Manny stayed quiet, watching from the sidelines as events unfolded in front of him.
Jollies flew ba
ck to Alex and whispered in her ear, “All right, you’re good. Uh, I think you’re a great person. I love you. I mean, as a friend. You know what I mean. Whatever. I love you, and I’m going to miss you.” Jollies kissed Alex on the cheek and flew away, crying.
Alex fought back her tears. Now wasn’t the time. She pulled up on Chine and they took to the sky, Jim right behind her.
Roy shouted, “What the hell are you doing? Get back here!” He got back in his cockpit and powered up his mech. The machine surged forward for a second before whining loudly. It leaned to the side, struggling to stay up. “What the hell is going on?”
Toppinir pulled up on his dragon, but before it could take off, his dragon anchor started buzzing and sparking. The dragon anchor shut down, severing Toppinir’s link to his dragon.
Jollies watched from the crowd, holding a bundle of cords and wires in her hand—the missing pieces from Toppinir’s anchor and Roy’s mech.
Above Jollies, Gill, and Brath, the two human riders, one dragon, the other mech, raced toward the meteor drifting in the sky.
Chapter Six
The meteor had changed. There was no doubt now that Alex was closer. It had grown.
Substantially.
There was no longer a sky. The meteor seemed to have bled into it. There was no distinction between the two, only the green mist around the meteor.
Distance was an abstract concept at this point, as was time. Alex felt that for as long as she and Jim had been riding, they should have been closer. The extent of the meteor’s influence was difficult to distinguish, but Alex knew it was responsible.
Whatever was inside the meteor was much more powerful than Holmorth had been, and extremely dangerous.
Alex felt like an insignificant speck compared to the sheer size of the meteor. It was nearly as big as an island. She couldn’t see where it began or where it ended. Finding the spot where they had broken off a chunk earlier was impossible.
