Issue 10: Typherian Gambit
We found the hidden ship. Now how to get in.—J’ino Murphy
The Ark section doesn’t have any blazing red dots circling it. The outer two ships it’s hidden within? This will be a test of my abilities along with my wife’s. I’ve gone over all the files within the Arcane nodes left to us. What do we bring to the table to make this a success? —Thomas Murphy
There was a reason why I sent my parents out there. Granted, my father didn’t have access to Ta’mathon’s powers via the bracers, not within the Eternal Empire. No, he had something far more important. A kernel of knowledge passed down to Ta’mathon from myself and Noah.—Sleeping in Starlight: Shield World Requiem.
Outer Docking Bay (Pirate Vessel)
The Dread Wastes (Eternal Empire)
Arcane BSV Lone Ranger
Thomas Murphy motioned to his wife. J’ino knelt. Augustus jumped into the carry-on pack. It latched onto the corgi’s shoulders. J’ino double-checked her seals. She gave her husband a thumbs up. He motioned to his eyes. Then tapped his right side. J’ino leaned in to kiss him. She lifted her dark matter firearm. The size of a standard Terran Alliance grav pistol. Its pearly white outline the best that humanity had to offer.
The best that the Arcane Order had to offer.
General Whitehouse had informed her of this before they set off on this Eternal Empire madness. She holstered it and brought out weapons made from this universe’s metals. Whitehouse had been specific. Use only when the stakes were dire. Taking out shambling corpses in spacesuits didn’t seem to qualify. J’ino called the firearm “Ultha.” The Typherain word for “Grace.” While cloaked within her inner holster the suit’s metals would hide it from the prying eyes of the Empire.
At the time she thought it was just Thomas giving her a wonderful Earth Custom gift after they had married. After the revelation on the Travellian homeworld? She would use it to protect her family. No matter the cost. It was astounding just how advanced the Humanity of Eden was. J’ino bit back a scream as one of the corpses hit the outer airlock.
Its outer seals spewed Black Scrawl. The face within the ancient visor contorted with horror. Its color was a dulled crimson. With yellow highlights on the back. The leg guards were a jumble of metal. Bits of bone floated around his neck.
Lone Ranger whispered, <<It is known to the Order, these shells are infused with Unity’s entropy. They will not become aware of you unless you use products of the Edenverse. Making my ships hull and components out of materials found here within this forsaken plane will work in our favor.>>
J’ino brought up the schematics of the Ranger. The only thing in here made from their proper universe was the AI’s core and housing. Thomas linked the ship's engines to his suit’s inner computers. He motioned in that silent language.
Use signs. No verbal over coms or the Family Line.
J’ino nodded. Then took a swig of her favorite liquor for a bit of courage.
Thomas held out his hand. The outer airlock cycled.
Their suits flowed over their bodies. Every hardpoint seal kept the particulates of the environment from their systems. J’ino hooked the nanite fiber cord to her husband’s waist. Then sealed it to her suit’s corresponding port. They would not lose each other in this hellish endeavor. Augustus perked his ears forward. It was faint but he could detect the melody.
The peaceful tones of Noah’s Corus.
Known to all of Dogkind. It was a song made special for those who grew up within the light of Eden Earth. He opened the voice channel and tapped his paws in a specific rhythm. It made Thomas Murphy smile. Even as he took out a hook rod to push the corpse away from his wife.
North. Coordinates 335.
The faint hum of their suit’s propellant was the only noise within the dilapidated craft.
*****
Ranger sealed the vessel after the Murphys disembarked. He calculated the escape vectors. Once they got Noah’s Ark online, that dragon would make a beeline for them. It slowly recycled the metals around the ship. Adding to its hull. It would have to become more than just a Scout vessel. It would become a proper shield for Noah’s legacy. To hide the Ark until they reached Eden space. Ranger had promised.
He would not fail the Arbiter.
The Order would prevail.
It calculated the trajectory of the blighted Dyson Sphere. The dragon would utilize its hoard. Both the living and the dead alike. For within that hallowed out dominion, living things lurked. Tied to the dark forces of this region of space. He had already informed Thomas Murphy. Ranger silently converted all the weapon systems within the two Pirate hulls. One had been a simple marauder. The other? A converted ship of the line.
Such as it was within the purview of savage people.
The Living Stone wyrm would strike.
There would be hell to pay. Unity would not treat its cannon fodder lightly.
*****
Thomas used his battle sense to send out periodic bursts. Just enough to sense where the bodies were at. Any more than that and they would have the corpses on them. At least according to the Arcane Order’s intel. What a world. Getting information from the distant past. An Eliza that already knew what would happen. Not a complete one-for-one play-by-play. That could lead to divergent timelines. It hurt his brain to think about. Not to mention J’ino’s input: “If we step wrong does that mean the apocalypse happens sooner? With bells on?”
Thomas shoved the thought to the distant corners of his mind. Auggie guided him towards the Song. A melody made for Earth’s K-9s. Not Bardax. Thomas sucked in a sharp breath. Because Unity knew of Bardax. But Terran dogs were the wildcard. The outlier that was born upon the Ark itself. Planted within the new boundaries of Eden. An additional message popped up on his H.U.D.
//That is why Auggie carries that which will save me and everyone else. Do not fear my death. It is a road I will always travel. It is a closed circle. One that Unity will not be able to breach. As long as the Light holds fast within the encroaching dark.//
Thomas noted the Chrono marker.
They merely had to walk the Path. As long as they stayed true to the Highest. Thomas placed his palm upon the door hatch. This would lead to the secondary ship. The metal groaned. Thomas switched to infrared. There were no emergency lights here. Signs of battle littered the space. J’ino pointed. Thomas roped a hook around the emaciated figure. This one wasn’t in a spacesuit. His wife indicated the ritual scars situated on each cheek and forehead.
It was a Markav. But unlike most floating within this place? One that resonated with the threads of Eden. Not good. Thomas pulled the corpse in closer. A heavy thunk resounded as he hooked it. Flecks of ice came free. J’ino pried the mummy’s fingers off the book it was holding clutched to its chest. She read the last entry. Scrawled frantically.
The way is shut. We cannot escape. May the Highest guard our souls.
Thomas took the book from his wife’s shaking hands. It was a slight tremor. If a Markav was here, it was likely there were others. He stored the journal for later. He checked all corners. Brought his rifle to the ready position. He wished he could have had his Judgement gear but it was all made from Eden Earth. His eyes narrowed. Or from Noah’s home country.
Was it possible? Certainly.
The bitter air flowed around them. J’ino shivered. Raised her pistols. A small globe of light flowed past. Its tendrils were a pale pink. Ending in chitinous fibers. It reminded the Typherian of seashells. A brackish liquid rotated around the creature. Thomas let the Markav body loose. Then kicked another corpse towards the gelatinous light. Its feelers reached out then knocked the mummified pirate away. Thomas concentrated. Seashell was a vibrant red on his vision. He examined the Markav. His stomach rose.
Within key portions of the body were blips of crimson. Situated behind the eyes. Then cascading within the nerve nodes of the heart, lungs, and intestines. That thing was searching for the Ark. Or wherever that Markav body came from. What had happened here?! He stopped J’ino. Motioned back towards the hanger bay.
As they backtracked they found the scout ship was no longer the same size. It had tripled in mass and length. It opened at Thomas’ signal.
The Parting of the Ark
Record of Homan
The Cycle of the Shattering
Homan entered the codes. The Helm of Noah had left ages ago. The Requilary sent one last burst.
May The Highest Walk with You in all the Dark Places.
The rest of his team was safely sealed within the suspension decks. The Lexicon would have its defenders. His story would end within this cycle. His soul was free to dwell within the Waters of the Sea. To be reborn within the next cycle. He had given his shard bearers a final farewell. He wrote within the journal. Every step that the Reclaimers would need to reunite the Ark. A warm hand reached out. Homan saw the wings. Black with ghostly white tips. The face was familiar. The Arbiter.
No. The hair was stark white.
The color combination of those holy feathers would change depending on the dominion that the Thronebearer was channeling. She smiled. Her gray and black eyes remained situated on the servitor bots that prepped the rest of the sectional. Noah had already gone on ahead to create the Eden complex. The Highest would demand everything. The Herald of Lost Souls reached into his chest. Her energy merged with his. Origin of Flesh and Bone. Not born of man or woman. Cleansed within the Waters of Elysium.
She said, “By Water and Time. Thy soul is bound to mine. No evil shall touch the eternal gate.”
His body would bear the horrors of Unity.
The Herald said quietly, “Within that mortal shell, you shall give the Reclaimers the tools they will need to overcome the Dragon of Living Stone.” Homan asked, “What will I be known as within the realm of Eden?”
The Herald responded, “You will not be Markav. Your next life shall be illuminating. As a Human of Eden.”
Homan inclined his head. The Herald tugged. His vision dimmed. He drifted away from the Ark. Its outer shell closed. Covered by metals drifting within the asteroids of this universe. Already the taint of Unity circled. He felt no pain. With the last of his strength, he bound the journal to his body. Preserving it with holy rites. The expanse of the Void around him was starkly beautiful. Yet no chill flowed.
The Bearer of Lost Souls whispered, “You shall be a Truthseeker. The Highest is not yet done with you.”
His soul rose from his body. He let out a shout of joy.
The Path would be Reclaimed.
*****
Argus Paxton r0se fr0m his crossed-legged position. The warm glow of Sol was being filtered through the Javelin. Not the standard version that the Terran Alliance used. This was an Arcane vessel. They were preparing for an all-out war. Soon, even Eliza’s shields would fail. Then Eden herself would be exposed.
He had made a promise.
They would ride out to meet the enemy.
He turned as Sul’sandra entered, “The Collective shall follow us.”
They would reclaim the Markav Homeworld.
*****
J’ino re-read the journal from end to end.
Glad to have a temporary respite from their morbid journey. The heat rose by a few degrees. Ranger hummed a cheerful tune, <<Conversion prosses at 36%. Clearing pathway to outer segment hull. Caution, I estimate Dragon will notice change in drift mass within 22 standard hours.>>
“I don’t understand the symbols but the general idea. Use the body as bait?!”
Thomas placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders, “Yes. It was passed down. A direct order from the Arcane. From Noah himself. I don’t have my Judgement gear here but I know these symbols. That body has been absorbing and converting that dread energy for God knows how long. Maybe even before there was a solar system within this hideous place.”
J’ino winced, “Was this Noah’s idea? Or….”
Thomas pulled his wife into a kiss. After they both rose for air he replied, “It isn’t Noah or Eliza. The Highest foresaw all of this. Even the betrayals.”
J’ino said, “All that from the journal?”
He nodded, “The symbols were revealed to me. Through Ta’mathon. He embedded the translation into my HUD.”
J’ino stated drily, “ To be activated at a certain timestamp?”
Thomas inquired, “Yes. Anything open for you?”
J’ino shared her HUD with her husband.
Thomas mused, “Of course. Trust the Highest to pull….” He shook his head.
Then opened the compartment that had been denied to them earlier.
Within were 1,000s of silver gold spheres. Half the size of their former models. Or would that be precursors to the Holy Hand Grenades of Eden? The fabricator within the Arcane ship had been busy.
J’ino said, “What’s next?”
Thomas grinned, “And the Dragon had a great fall…..”
Issue 9: Here
Issue 11: Here
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