Total Eclipse of the Heart: Part 9 – Battle in the Depths – Facing the true enemy, the only hope may lie in one small black looper.
By
Deborah (Kosagi) Brown

Skies of Arcadia and all associated characters are copyrighted to Overworks and Dreamcast. They just hang around my Gallery to cause trouble.

"Captain Vyse," Ramirez' voice was strained as it came over the intercom. Not that Vyse could blame him. The gigas was easily their most formidable opponent yet, and that gravity wave attack had to be taking up a lot of the Silvite's strength to hold off. "I am about to be attacked by a school of rajas."

Vyse frowned, unable to see past the shield to know what Ramirez meant. "Raja?" he repeated, gesturing for his crew to stand ready for battle. "What is a raja?"

"They dwell in the depths. We fought them on the way through Deep Sky They would be no problem if I could afford to move."

"Oh," Vyse exclaimed. "Those things." They were big and annoying, but survivable.

"Ramirez Zelos should remain to shield Fina while she tries to communicate with the looper," Enrique said calmly. "Vyse? Shall we?"

"Far Horizon preparing to attack now," Vyse answered, piloting the Far Horizon downwards, even as the Delphinus rose over the shield. "Damn," he added, looking at what was headed their way, "You weren't joking when you said a school, Ramirez."

"I only wish I were," Ramirez responded. "I would offer support fire but"

"You'd be risking hitting us," Enrique agreed, even as the Delphinus moved in on rajas. "Concentrate on protecting Fina. And warn us if it looks like the gigas is going to move."

As Ramirez acknowledged Enrique's orders, Vyse headed in at an angle, choosing a target. This wasn't an easy fight, but it was easier than it had been down in the depths. Deep Sky was so murky that it was impossible to keep an eye on an opponent past a certain point. The Eye wasn't nearly that dark, owing to the myriad moonstone islands that were scattered through the area like stars across the sky.

First one, then another rajas fell to the two ships' cannons. The rajas moved too fast for torpedoes, but it was possible, with skilled gunners, to get good solid shots in. Complicating the fight, however, were the gravity waves the Black gigas kept firing off at them from a distance. It had yet to move in on the fight, however, and Vyse wondered what it was waiting for.

A minute later he realized it wasn't waiting any longer.

***

Ilchymis divided his attention between the battle with the rajas and Fina's efforts to communicate with the black looper, both projected somehow onto the monitors in the former space station. He was far more interested in the latter, however, not being at all skilled in battle, and he watched the girl as she knelt on the deck of the life ship, trying different words from all the different cultures.

It didn't seem to be working. The looper wasn't running, true, but neither was it seeming to respond. Instead it floated a few feet away, spinning slowly. "I just don't know what to do," Fina's voice came over the monitor.

"How the hell do you talk to something with no ears or mouth anyway?" Marco added, sourly, running his fingers through his wild mane of red hair. The young sailor was looking put out, possibly because he'd much prefer to be aboard the Far Horizon helping Vyse fight the rajas than hiding behind the Silver gigas. And that must rankle as much as anything, that it's the one he hates almost as much as he hates Galcian who stands between him and annihilation.

"Something without a mouth or ears must communicate some other way," Ilchymis answered, knowing Ramirez would pass the message on. "Perhaps loopers use something similar to our intercoms to communicate."

Marco glanced up towards the Silver gigas bulk with a frown. "They're not machines."

"Nor, strictly speaking, is Zelos," Ramirez pointed out. "Yet I am able to communicate in that manner." The Silvite went silent a moment and the only sound was the thunder of cannon fire. "Perhaps they use a different wavelength."

"Can you try?" Fina asked.

"I would but there is another problem. The Black gigas begins to move and I don't think we can afford to let it reach you." At Ramirez' words, Ilchymis turned his gaze back to the other monitor, where the giant looper was, ever so slowly, starting to move in their direction.

Fina's eyes turned towards the Silver gigas with a worried expression. "Ramirez what are you going to do?"

"What I have to."

Ilchymis felt Zelos shudder as it began shifting form and through the monitor he could see it stretching, thinning out as it arched and curved around Fina, Marco and the black looper. He realized what Ramirez meant to do and only hoped the looper would cooperate.

***

I move as slowly as I dare. If the looper will not cooperate then there is nothing I can do to keep it. But Fina and Marco are in danger as well and that forces my hands.

For a moment I think the looper will run. It dashes backwards as I close upon the others, then hesitates, as if realizing I move too slowly to intend capture again. At last it seems to come to a decision, returning to its position near to Fina and Marco while I wrap my Self around them all.

Moving Ilchymis' room towards my center, I create single space within myself. In an odd way, these three echo much of what goes on in my mind. In Fina is the innocence I have long since lost. In Ilchymis, my hope for redemption. And in Marco, my certainty that I do not deserve it.

"Sister," I say softly. "Without wishing to rush you the sooner you can establish communication, the better."

"Then stop whining at her and let her concentrate," Marco growls at me. He is, I think, unnerved by his current position. His hatred for me is immense and it was hard for him to accept my protection when I was merely shielding him and Fina from attack. Now, trapped inside me, he must trust what he does not wish to trust. Must accept complete helplessness within the belly of a beast he both fears and loathes.

All of which must be ignored in favor of what lies outside. The Far Horizon and the Delphinus still do battle with the rajas, leaving me to move against the Black gigas. "Indeed," I tell him. "Be warned. Things are going to be turbulent."

He growls something under his breath and I feel Ilchymis put his hand on the walls of the chamber. "Be careful," is all he says, however. "Tell me when you need healing."

"I will."

Then I turn my attention to the monster heading our way.

***

Vyse would have crowed in triumph as the last of the rajas fell, but he could see that there wasn't much point to doing so. Not when that giant looper was floating towards them. "You know, is it just me or does that thing bear some resemblance to the Hydra?"

"It's just you," Enrique answered, then chuckled. "No, I see your point. If our scientists were told to design a battleship that looked like a looper the Hydra would be a very likely result."

Noticing movement from another direction, Vyse realized that Zelos was joining them. Shaped like a sphere again, the Silver gigas was beginning to form the secondary 'leaves' that had permitted casting its most devastating spells. Vyse was suddenly very glad not to be facing the Silver gigas again. "Where's Fina and Marco?" he asked, frowning.

"Within me. They still attempt to communicate with the looper. It seems interested." Ramirez answered, voice sounding oddly tense.

It was with sudden insight that Vyse realized why. Ramirez was afraid. And I can't blame him. That thing out there is immense. If Fina doesn't find a way to communicate I'm very much afraid we don't have a prayer.

The two ships and the Silver gigas moved to intercept the Black gigas, spreading out and taking up positions equidistant from each other. The more spread out they were, the better chance they had of evading attacks. That doing so also helped keep the Far Horizon and Delphinus out of range of the worst of Zelos' attacks was also a consideration.

"You cannot win."

The voice that came over the intercom was almost unrecognizable as Galcian's, but Vyse thought he could hear a touch of the former Admiral's gloating tones. "Maybe, maybe not," he agreed as equably as possible, gesturing at for the cannons to aim and fire. "We're going to try."

The shots struck the Black gigas and for a moment it seemed as if they'd some damage. A hole formed in its flank, a large shadowed dent that Vyse could barely make out against the rest of the great shape. Then that dent faded, smoothing out as the loopers that made up its structure moved back into place.

The Delphinus' moon cannons fired next, with no more effect except to elicit howls of laughter from their enemy. It was bad enough fighting gigas when they were just dumb machines. Now I have to listen to the damned thing gloat?

A blast of brilliant fire followed Vyse's thought and he recognized it as Lunar Judgment. As the brilliance faded, however, the Black gigas appeared unhurt. Striking his fist against the console, Vyse swore, long and feelingly. The thing could take their best shots and seem unfazed.

"What is it, little pirate? Discovering that – at long last – your famed luck is about to desert you? I am going to destroy you."

As the Black gigas spun in place, black energy burning around it, Vyse had to wonder if Galcian was right.

***

Ilchymis grabbed hold of the nearest surface as Zelos was flung through the skies. With the monitors no longer operating it was impossible to tell exactly what had happened, but whatever it had been was apparently quite powerful. "Ramirez?"

"" The Silvite's voice was weak and desperately tired. "too much Eternal Damnation Can't fight him"

"You have to," Marco protested. "You're the most powerful weapon we have!"

"Nice of you to say that" Ramirez whispered as Ilchymis cast a Sacrulen. When he continued, he sounded stronger, but no happier. "But he just took a Lunar Judgment without flinching. I don't think I have the stamina for a fight like this. Even with Vyse and Enrique helping."

"Then we have got to convince the loopers that Galcian isn't acting in their best interests," Fina said determinedly. She was holding the black looper in her arms, protecting it from being injured with her body. For some reason, it seemed to accept her touch without protest.

Ilchymis looked at Fina. "Ramirez is too busy to attempt communication. Now that the Black gigas is moving, he's going to have to take evasive action until we figure out a way to stop Galcian. Do you think Seilon could make contact?"

Fina looked at the Silver creature nervously circling her head. "We can try." She released the looper, who floated in front of her with a confused and curious air. "Seilon? Can you talk to this creature? Please?"

Seilon chirruped, floating to a position right in front of the black looper. The two creatures just stared at each other, Seilon whistling and making other soft noises. The noises shifted, went silent, but the two still stared at each other.

Ilchymis held his breath, sensing that both Marco and Fina were doing the same.

***

Within me I can hear little bits and pieces of static. No words seem to form, but I am too distracted to be sure. My evasions have taken me to the furthest edge of the Eye, away from the other two. On one hand, this means that the Black gigas, or rather Galcian, is focused entirely on me. On the other, it means I can pull down a full Lunar Lament without risking the others.

Somehow, though, I am not surprised when it fails to do more than mildly scratch the surface. A scratch that seems to heal itself almost as quickly as it appears. I understand what is happening. Indeed, my body is doing much the same, readjusting the damaged areas so that they are no longer on my surface. More importantly, though, since the Black gigas is a more a colony of loopers, rather than one large one, those within its bulk can take over for the damaged ones entirely too quickly, allowing the escapees more time to heal.

It seems impossible. I ought to accept the inevitable, flee with Fina and the others until we can find another way to stop that thing. Ought to, but cannot. What if I am wrong? What if there is still a chance, what if dignified resignation to fate is simply an unwillingness to try? There is one power left to me that could probably harm this thing, but it is one I cannot use. Never again will I or one of my kind call down the Rains of Destruction.

***

Vyse pulled himself to his feet and glanced around the bridge. The Black gigas was one powerful monster and he wondered exactly what they were going to do to stop it. So far they hadn't managed to put a permanent dent in it.

It becomes a war of attrition and I hate those kind of fights. Such battles lasted entirely too long and even if you managed to win you were so exhausted that you might as well have given up to begin with. Not that he planned on doing so.

Checking out the view-port for the others, he spotted the Delphinus slowly righting itself. Zelos was the furthest away, evading energy blasts from the Black gigas but not wasting time with attacks anymore.

"Hey guys, you all okay?" Vyse asked.

"The Delphinus has been better," Enrique admitted. "We're holding on, though." Vyse wasn't surprised to get little more information. The risk of Galcian picking up their transmission was simply too high.

"We need to come up with a plan," Vyse said after a moment.

"Excellent thought. Only I have no idea what to do."

Vyse grinned sourly. "You think I do?"

"I know what you can do," Galcian's voice came over the intercom again. "You can die!"

Vyse muttered something under his breath as he automatically sent the ship into a dive to evade what he knew was headed their way. He was barely in time, as an explosion rocked the ship again. Somehow they had to find a way to communicate without Galcian listening in.

Suddenly a thought occurred to him. "Aika. Fire the eight inch guns at the following interval. 1, then 2 shots, then 4, then 8."

For a moment Aika stared, then her eyes widened in comprehension. "Then repeat?" she asked.

"Yes. If Enrique and/or Ramirez picks up the cue, use the Blue Rogue's code for 'report'." Vyse glared straight ahead as he dodged another attack. "Hans, you keep us together. We'll fire off a main cannon once in a while to keep things interesting, but right now we need to establish communications."

"Aye, aye, sir," the young engineer saluted.

***

"What the devil are they doing?" Ramirez' voice echoed in the great chamber, a tense, worried sound.

"Are you forgetting we can't bloody well see out?" Marco asked, tone no less tense. Ilchymis could tell that tempers were getting short, the tension of the battle and Fina's desperate attempt to communicate with their one black looper only making things worse.

The chamber shook sharply as Zelos evaded another strike from the Black gigas. "Seeing won't help anything. But if you could tell me why Vyse is even bothering with his small cannons and in such an odd sequence I'd appreciate it."

Marco glared around the chamber, clutching one wall. "Maybe if you gave me a clue what the sequence was?"

The sound of cannon fire, muted, but distinct, filled the room, startling the black looper and causing it to spin wildly around for a minute or so before it seemed to realize it was in no danger. Seilon looped around a few times, then returned to his efforts.

Listening to the cannons, Ilchymis recognized that there was a pattern. But why? He could understand Ramirez' confusion. There was no reason to waste time and energy with such small fire "Two Four Eight" Ilchymis lifted his head. "It's a geometric progression!"

"A what?" Marco asked, frowning at the healer.

"Each time the Far Horizon fires, the number of shots is doubled It has to have a meaning." Ilchymis frowned. "It's like he's trying to tell us something."

Suddenly Marco's face lit up. "Of course! He wants to communicate! The Blue Rogues use a code when they don't want someone picking up their transmissions. Usually they use lights or flags, but it isn't safe for someone to be in the lookout towers right now. Vyse must be using the cannons instead!"

Ramirez went silent a moment, then asked, "Do you know the code? Will someone on the Delphinus know it?"

"Yeah. A lot of us were former Blue Rogues."

"Then I will respond in kind. Given I can figure out how."

***

I do not possess anything similar to Vyse's small cannons, a complication he may not have considered. None the less, his plan is clever and I wish I had thought of something similar before we'd gone in after the Black gigas. In the absence of better planning, however, I improvise, flashing laser beams in the same pattern he is using.

Another minute passes and the Delphinus joins in next. At which point the Far Horizon fires a code that Marco tells me means 'report'. I sigh inwardly, though I understand Vyse is simply trying to find a way to plan while keeping Galcian ignorant. With Marco's help I tell him what Fina is trying to do.

At last Vyse's response comes back. We are to back off while the Delphinus and Far Horizon keep Galcian distracted and continue our attempt to communicate with the looper. It is a decision that I do not care for, but he is right. Seilon is doing his best, but he is limited by his youth and inexperience.

I swing around, aiming myself at the Black gigas, sending a final signal that I will comply. If I do so, however, it must be without Galcian understanding why. So when the Black gigas fires off another shot at me, I permit it to hit me amidships and throw me far from the battle, tumbling almost out of control, shifting my internal self to catch my passengers and keep them from being injured.

As we come to a stop I turn much of my attention inward, leaving only a small part aware of the battle that rages beyond me. Within, my passengers are shaken and bruised, the looper trembling in Fina's arms again.

"You know, I'm beginning to really dislike you, Ramirez," Marco growls. "Was that really necessary."

"It was," I agree quietly. "Do you wish Galcian to realize we are up to something?"

"Uh Yeah, I guess not."

I focus on the looper. It is frightened, yes, but not hysterically so. Perhaps Seilon has managed to get through to it at least enough for the creature to realize we wish to communicate. Now I must complete the process, sending small signals towards it in varying frequencies.

Suddenly I feel it respond.

***

Vyse would have worried more about Ramirez and the others if he hadn't realized that the Silver gigas wouldn't have made such an utterly desperate attack on Galcian unless he'd wanted to be thrown clear of the battle. Good enough. Let him and the others get that black looper talking. It may be the only hope we have. He leaned over the communicator, however, shouting, "RAMIREZ! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"

" Ilchymis Fina unconscious Need time to recover"

"We'll give you all we can," Vyse answered, hoping that Ramirez was lying through whatever passed for a Silver gigas' teeth. Then he switched off the communicator and turned to his crew. "People, this is going to be a long fight. I want everyone who isn't on duty to be prepared to relieve those who are. Pass out as many Sacrulen and Sacrum crystals as possible, and anyone capable of spell work focus on keeping the ship in one piece. No intercom communications, just in case Galcian can pick them up."

Before the others could respond, Aika looked up urgently. "Captain, the Black gigas is attempting to pursue Zelos."

"Then we give him something else to think of. I want Ramirez to put every bit of his concentration on getting that looper to understand him." Vyse held onto the wheel and glanced off towards the Delphinus. They were going to have to be careful. Galcian could be targeting the Silver gigas only because it was the closest thing to a challenge or because he'd figured out their codes and knew what they were doing.

Ramirez. We're depending on you. Don't let us down.

***

Communication among loopers seems to not to have any real language involved. Rather it seems to project images and emotions along certain wavelengths. Those images shape themselves in my mind, a confusing flood that I have to work to comprehend.

//Need to join with others. Gathering together. Confusion. Capture then release. Curiosity.// I realize I'm being asked why I did what I did.

I strive to work out an answer and show the Black gigas, together with a sense of danger.

//Confusion unabated. Kinfolk danger not recognized. Gathering when in danger.//

//Outside world. Unaware. Black gigas consuming all in path. Fear.//

//Fear unneeded. Harmless. Outside unneeded. Darkness home. Outside not-home. Though intriguing..// A flood of curiosity fills my mind and I begin to wonder if I'd misinterpreted the situation entirely.

//Human. Galcian. Center of Gathering. Commands it?//

//Puzzlement.//

I project an image of Galcian against the wall of the chamber, hoping that this will be enough to help the black looper see who I mean. //Human. Dangerous. Harmful.//

//Helpful. Teacher.//

//NOT helpful.// I deny. How can I possibly make the creature understand? //User. Manipulator.// I see now what must have happened here. Galcian had done with these creatures what he has done with every man and woman he has come into contact with. Found their weakness – their curiosity – and exploited it.

//Puzzlement.// The concepts I throw at the looper are things it cannot comprehend. Perhaps its species doesn't even have such personalities among them. There is one way I can think of to show it, but it means allowing it access to memories that are still agony for me. I have been free of my crystal barely a week, after all. Still, it is necessary.

I open my mind to the looper and let it see what Galcian is, all that he has done and why.

***

The chamber was shuddering and Ilchymis reached out, touching a wall. "What is it, Ramirez," he asked, worriedly. Had the Black gigas found them? Or had the pressures of the last few hours simply begun to overwhelm the Silvite? Ramirez might have recovered much of his strength, swallowing all those chams in the Archives, but he had not rested for a long time now.

"Showing it Galcian" The strain in Ramirez' voice answered Ilchymis' unspoken questions. The Silvite had been able to function for the last few hours by avoiding thinking about what had been done to him and what he had done. "Showing it what he did"

"So? What's the big deal about that? You think it's going to give a damn?" Marco demanded and Ilchymis felt a sudden sharp surge of anger at the young sailor. It was with an effort that he held back sharp words. Then Marco added, "Going to confess your sins too, while you're at it?"

"If that will help yes"

Marco's laugh was short and sharp. "Oh yes, I'm sure it'll be terribly impressed. The murderer seeking redemption by killing off its kind"

Fina made a soft noise of protest, but it was Ilchymis who put a hand on the sailor's shoulder. "Marco. Shut up."

"What? I don't know what's going on with you, Ilchymis. I don't understand you at all." Marco glared into Ilchymis' face. "You know what he did. You have to deal with it every day! Are you telling me I have to forgive and forget?"

"I'm asking you not to make things harder for him," Ilchymis said in as level a voice as he could. He was, he realized, the closest he'd ever been to actually hitting someone. "You've been attacking him every chance you get. You hate him, that's fine. But when someone is doing everything they can to make up for what wrongs they've done, then the least you can do is keep your mouth shut and let them."

"Easy for you to say. You're so busy panting after that boy's ass that you can't see anything else." Marco spat on the floor in disgust.

Ilchymis looked directly at Marco for a long, cold, moment. "I would pretend you didn't say that," he said finally, "But you have said it. So let me ask you this. In all the time we traveled together, in all the time that we were shipmates, in all the time since then, when I have put my life and my heart and all that I am into the healing of our homeland, have you ever known me to put my physical needs before anything else?"

The red-head's eyes were still hard and angry as they glared back at him. "There's always a first time."

It was Fina who stopped the argument. "Marco you know that isn't true." She put her hand on the young man's arm, looking at him gently. "You're scared. You're angry. No one blames you for hating Ramirez for what he's done."

Ilchymis suddenly understood what was eating Marco. Helpless, sheltered by one of the two people he felt he should hate most in the world, a person who had done more in the last few days to rectify his wrongs than most people did in their lifetime. He was realizing that his hatred was unreasoning, but was unable to stop feeling it. "Marco," he said softly. "Hate is normal. He did something horrible. Maybe it can't ever be forgiven. But no one's asking you to forgive him."

"E especially when I can not forgive myself." Ramirez' voice echoed softly in the chamber. The sorrow in it tore at Ilchymis, but he forced himself not to offer comfort when comfort was the last thing Ramirez wanted or needed.

Marco blinked, then nodded grimly. "So did you do any good?" he asked.

"I don't know. But the looper seems to want to leave. I think it is best if we let it."

Ilchymis glanced at the black looper as it spun slowly and gently near one wall of their chamber. There was an expectant air to the creature, as if it were waiting for something and Ilchymis nodded. "We may as well," he agreed.

The wall shifted and opened out into a long passage. Through it, the sounds of battle raged. Ilchymis caught sight of the Delphinus dodging past them, closer than he would have expected. Then the black looper was speeding out and was gone.

***

Vyse clung tightly to the console as the Far Horizon rocked side to side. They were barely holding their own, but if they let up the Black gigas would return to its attack on Zelos. Whether Galcian had realized their plan or was simply trying to rid himself of the one foe he regarded as a true danger didn't matter. He was focusing too much on trying to reach the Silver gigas.

"Captain," Aika called. "Ramirez I mean Zelos is doing something."

Vyse turned to look in Zelos' direction and nearly missed the shift in structure that opened a small hole in its side. Something was moving within that hole. Using his eye-glass, he focused in on the image and saw a black looper bob slowly out. It paused, taking in the battle. Then, with a speed that left Vyse blinking in shock, it aimed itself straight for the Black gigas.

Holding his breath didn't seem helpful, but Vyse couldn't seem to stop himself. "The looper it's joining up with the others."

"Won't make much difference," Aika said tiredly. "That thing's already too much for us."

"It all depends on whether Fina and the others got through. And if it listened," Vyse answered, watching the Black gigas intently.

It seemed nothing was happening. They were still getting hammered by the giant's blows, still forced to run and evade. Still making no dent at all. Then it began. First one, then another, then more and more black loopers broke free of the main body. What remained flailed, stopped fighting, seemed to try and grasp the escapees, only to lose more with each attempt.

Vyse grinned, watching the Black gigas' slow dissolution with a sharp feeling of relief. The loopers were leaving, scattering and sinking back into the depths, until at last, melted away to its center, only one remained. Black as the others, but several times their size, it spun around furiously, perched atop the black moonstone Vyse had discovered on his first trip through the Rift. "That's him. It has to be. Let's move in."

Apparently the others had the same idea, for both Zelos and the Delphinus were gliding slowly towards what was almost certainly their real enemy. It waited for them, its shape clearly a looper's, but the malice in its eyes when Vyse zoomed in on it seemed more human to the Blue Rogue.

The two ships and the Silver gigas dwarfed the looper in much the same way as the Black gigas had dwarfed them. That didn't stop the thing from glaring furiously at them as they approached. "What are we supposed to do with it?" Vyse asked, looking at the thing worriedly. Firing all cannons on it might be the wisest move, yet it also seemed wrong, the behavior of a bully. That would be Galcian's style but he simply couldn't do it.

"Galcian," he called down over the loudspeaker. "Give up. It's over."

Laughter was the only response as the looper spun to a halt. It glared upwards at the Silver gigas, body reshaping itself into that of Galcian's. "Not when I still have this!"

Glittering in the reformed human's hands was a Silver crystal. "Zelos! I AM YOUR TRUE MASTER! OBEY ME!"

To Be Concluded

Author's Note: It's been a wild ride, but we're just about there. Given the various health issues cooperate I'll be posting the end in two days.