Part 5 - Blood of the King

Chapter 96 - The Darkness Below

The High Aether had made his decision: the Quintari were to start taking an active part in this war. He put his proposal to the directors, Max, Gwen and Conall:

"The Scarlet King has been on the offensive for too long. It is time to take the fight to him."

"How? And why?" Asked Robert.

"Vaxar. I believe the King refers to it as the Darkness Below. How is a matter for the strategists. Why: because it allows us to show him we can still hurt him. At the same time, we may gain valuable intelligence."

"It isn't like we've got much left to lose." Said Gwen.

"How do we get there was what I meant." Corrected Robert.

"The Quintari have been constructing corvette size ships designed around Sol Temporal Command vessels, whilst incorporating omniverse jumping capabilities. The old Marvel Class corvettes, I believe, are the template."

"How many?" Asked Teresa.

"Seven."

"Going off the Marvel Class specs, that's space for fourteen-hundred troops. Khahrahk won't bat an eyelid."

"You forget the Quintari will be joining you."

"How many?"

"As many as you need."

"Alright. I'll talk with some of your generals and make sure Khahrahk get's the ass whipping of his life."

The plan was set; everything was in position. All the army had to do was not die. The plan was simple: go in and cause as much damage as possible. On top of that, Gwen and Max had a special mission: to gather as much intelligence as possible. They would take the modified Ares and scout around. Max sat down in the cockpit.

"I've always wanted to fly a plane."

"Someone will kill you if you damage it. Let Corbo do the work."

"I am afraid I must agree with your mother, Master Morales." Replied Conall's old assistant.

"I'll just sit in the front. I won't touch anything."

"Very good, sir. Please strap in; the main assault force is ready to go."

After a few minutes, the jet took-off and began to shake as it jumped from Premis to Vaxar. The first thing that struck Max about the Darkness Below was how red it was. It seemed fitting, given that it was the Scarlet King's dimension. The ground was crawling with Kates which Corbo had started trying to count. All of them seemed to be preparing for battle, but they seemed equally surprised when seven Marvel Class corvettes burst out of temporal warp overhead beside a number of Quintari ships, all of which opened fire with their immense array of weapons. The seething mass was shattered and the abominations ran for their lives. Suddenly, Gwen and Max's Ares began to shake. Alarms started blaring and lights flashing.

"We appear to have a stowaway." Announced Corbo.

Another light started flashing, on which was written 'Eng Fire'. The meaning was clear enough, and the aircraft was extremely unstable. It was going to crash. Suddenly, the ramp was ripped clean off. SCP-096 ducked inside with the Grasshopper Sword slung on its back. Gwen leapt at it, knocking it out the back of the jet.

"Master Morales, I am unable to keep the aircraft airborne. Please take the black box." Said Corbo as a silver cube was ejected next to the throttle levers.

Max took it and stood up.

"Thanks for all your help Corbo. It's been an honour."

"The honour was mine, sir. Now jump."

He took a running leap for the gaping hold and spread his glide suit. Gwen and 096 were still in a freefall, punching and kicking each other furiously. Max webbed his mother and pulled her away. 096 struck the ground with a thump; Gwen landed much more gracefully, drawing her katanas as she did so. Max glided up as high as he could with the speed he had gathered, then folded it and fired two webs at 096. He slammed into it at an excessive speed, knocking it back to the floor. It stood up a second time and started howling, reaching for the Grasshopper Sword only to realise it wasn't there. Max tried to spin it threateningly, but almost dropped it. However, he recovered and held the weapon ready. 096's howls turned into screams and it went straight for him. Max rolled out the way and slashed the weapon across the back of its neck. Gwen jumped on top and held it in a choke lock, although fully aware choking it had no effect since it didn't need to breathe. Max drove his stolen weapon into its chest. 096 flailed violently, throwing them off and swatting him away like an insect. The Grasshopper Sword embedded itself in the ground between them. 096 made a beeline for it, only to be grabbed and dragged back at the last second allowing Max to reclaim it. Gwen was thrown clear and 096 circled her son like a hungry wolf. It charged, its stretched arms and hands held ready. Max swung the sword and it cut clean through its wrists. It screamed, and stumbled back; Spider-Boy didn't let up: he slashed again and again aiming for the arms, legs and just about everywhere else. By the time he was done, it lay in dissected strips on the floor. Gwen almost lost her head when she put a hand on Max's shoulder and he whirled round.

"Woah! Just me."

He relaxed a little, then looked to where the main battle was taking place. From what they could see, things weren't going great; more and more Kates were flooding in from all directions and something was ripping a Quintari ship apart.

"How are we gonna get through all that?"

Gwen picked up the jet's black box and dusted it off.

"You've got the fancy sword. Your plan."

"Going through the middle is suicide; going round the edge is impossible because it's a ring. So we go over it or under it. Any idea how?"

"Sure. Get a shovel and start digging."

"Hilarious, Mum. I'm serious."

"I know, so use your brain. We can't go under it, so we're going over."

"How, though? There's nothing to swing on."

Gwen looked around and sighed; he was right.

"Well...I guess we walk away from the fight until we're inevitably dissected by Kates or something else."

"Yep..."

They set off in the opposite direction of the battle.

The spiders walked for almost two hours, during which time the Legion and Quintari were forced to retreat. The pair knew the Kates would be on the prowl now beside other things. When they couldn't walk any further, they sat down on a rotting log to rest. Gwen picked up a handful of red dust and let it flow through her fingers while Max just stared out across the barren landscape.

"So, what you gonna do when you get out of here?" She asked, double tapping the side of her head to remove her mask.

"Get a good night's sleep, then try and fix things with Grace."

"Did you really screw it up that bad?"

"Maybe. I dunno. I haven't talked to her other than after I killed that protestor."

"Well, whatever happens, when you get out of here you go and sort it. Maybe you'll get somewhere?"

"What will you do when you get home?"

"I don't know. Sit in my room on that ship and reminisce. I might start talking to Jesus or something."

"I'm beginning to think Jesus and God and whatever else really don't exist."

"I thought you weren't religious?"

"I'm not. It's just cos the Empire was run by the devil so you'd think God is real. If he was, he'd be here fighting Khahrahk."

"God is real. I'm pretty sure I met him once in Fake Eden."

"It was Fake Eden; probably fake god."

"Quite likely, but he cast a demon out without killing the host. Look, Max: we're spider people. There's an expectation we'll spend every waking moment fighting gang bosses and bank robbers and all that. That's what we should be doing, not fighting with or against gods, demi-gods, fake gods, devils. My advice is to forget about worshipping them; they're just as pathetic as the rest of us."

"I don't get the point."

"Live your life how you want to live it, not by the decree of a two-thousand year old book someone picked up in a cave. Life's too short to do it any other way. Make the right choices, listen to people you trust not voices in the sky. Then, if you're lucky, you won't end up like me."

"That's pretty deep."

"Yeah...you probably won't get a chance to think about it with Khahrahk out and about."

"You think we'll lose?"

Gwen paused for a moment, picking up another handful of dust and pouring it into one hand then back into the other.

"Mum?"

She nodded slowly, then shook her head.

"We can't win this, but there's a way we can not lose. It's crazy, and damn near impossible to pull off but it would work. I have another idea, but you'll find that out soon enough."

"Does any of it involve Ethereal Plates?"

"No. I hate those things with every atom in my body. Death said burning the Tree would destroy everything outside of Bastria and Noladis. Whoever has to do it will end up like me, and I don't envy them at all, but it might be the only way."

"So, what's the plan?"

"Trap Kahahrahk in a dimension outside of Bastria and Noladis then burn the Tree."

"Trillions, maybe quadrillions, probably even more, would all die."

"But trillions would live, and those that didn't would go to Bastria and continue to live there. Max, it may be the only way. To sacrifice everything to save something...isn't saving some lives at the expense of many times more better than saving none?"

"Nobody can restrain Khahrahk, though."

"That's why it's almost impossible. Unless someone can get the power, of course."

"If it comes to it, we'll do it."

"You will do it."

"What do you mean? Me personally or everyone that isn't you?"

"Maybe just the last, maybe both. I can't see the future."

"What will happen to you?"

"Let's just say I'm going to meet my maker soon."

"Mum, you aren't gonna kill yourself, are you?"

"No. Well...I don't know if volunteering to do it falls under suicide. It's just there's no way back. It's a one way trip. Even if it goes ahead, we'll see each other again."

Max wasn't sure what to say, but he didn't get a chance to come up with an answer. A golden humanoid walked out of the haze. It certainly wasn't Conall, nor anyone else they knew. It looked as though it were made from actual gold with stubby wings poking out its back. Gwen drew a katana and Max held the Grasshopper Sword ready. The humanoid raised its hands as though it was praying. Gwen faltered, her arms falling to her sides. She sank to her knees, staring up at the gold face.

"Mum! Get up!" Max snapped, wondering what on Earth she was doing.

She shook her head slowly, her eyes suddenly filled with sadness as tears welled up. The humanoid started talking.

"Gwendolyn...Stacy. Slayer of the Billions, Empress, traitor. So much shame...so much pain."

"Leave her alone!" Max yelled, jumping up and hitting the humanoid with a palm of charged electricity.

It stumbled back, seemingly freeing Gwen. She wiped away her tears and snarled, charging an even more powerful handful and slamming it into the back of the humanoid's leg. The humanoid was on its knees now, but didn't seem particularly hurt by the attacks.

"Do you know who I am?" It asked, staring Gwen in the eyes.

"Why should I care?"

"I am Moloch, the Horned One. SCP-089, they called my statue. I bring out people's shame and demand the sacrifice of their infant children. You are not so weak; you are a psychopath."

"It comes with its benefits."

She began to hammer away at Moloch's head but stopped, her knuckles raw.

"So weak you couldn't even save those closest to you. Miles died because of you. Both times."

"Maybe. But it's not like I could change it."

"But you wish you could."

"Like I'd bother trying. Every part of my life has been a failure, so that would be no different."

"Even your beloved son? Is he a failure?"

"Him and his sister were the only good things that came from me. Get out of my head before I come back here with a flamethrower."

"You have to escape first."

Max looked back and saw a group of Kates prowling behind them. One screeched at him. Suddenly, there was a bang overhead. Even the Kates looked up, only to be disintegrated by precise beams of energy. Moloch let out a growl, throwing Gwen to the ground. She tensed up, ready to fight, but he just ran. She and Max looked up to see what he was scared of. A second later, they were consumed by energy.

When the spiders' vision returned, they were standing in a transfer room of some sort. Gwen drew one of her katanas, ready to fight whoever had kidnapped them. A human walked in, but neither recognised them.

"Who are you?" Gwen snapped.

"Cosa, first officer of the PAW Morkrai."

"I'm guessing that's a ship?"

"This ship."

"Which dimension do you come from?"

"None. We're creatures of the Void."

"So you're a crazy human. How can I join your merry crew?"

"Oh, we're not human. This is holographic to help you accustom a little better."

Cosa put a hand to presumably 'her' heart, judging by the voice. A second later, the human form faded away to reveal a creature so dark it seemed more like a shadow.

"What are you?" Asked Max as the ship shook.

"Pritari."

"So...the first species ever?"

"Not quite. The High Elder Gods were the first, then we came along. Followed, of course, by the Low Elder Gods including Khahrahk who remains the only of his kind."

"Why are you helping us?" Asked Gwen.

"Because Death said you needed help and that too much was resting on you for you to die now."

"Thanks for you confidence. Where are we going?"

"The ship just arrived in Premis, dimension 9559. Former headquarters of Sol Galactic Command, currently headquarters for the Ethereal Legion until the station in the world between worlds is rebuilt."

"Nobody just waltzes up and helps us, especially when I need help. What's the catch?"

"No catch. We just go about our lives and run the occasional erand for Death."

Gwen pushed past Cosa and through the doors of the transfer room, only to stop and look around. She seemed to be in some sort of void; at least she couldn't see anything.

"OK..."

"Creatures of the Void, I told you." Explained Cosa.

Gwen turned to her, trying to wrap her mind around this.

"How do you even see stuff?"

"Do I look like I have eyes?"

"I can't tell."

"I don't. We see by knowing where things are and we see where things are by knowing where they aren't."

"OK, just send us back to the Legion before I freak out."

"Very well."

More energy consumed Max and Gwen. This time, they found themselves standing in a corridor. Conall stopped and frowned.

"Hold on...how did you do that?"

"I've no idea." Muttered Max.

Crossovers in this Chapter

- SCP Foundation