Chapter 34 - Ancient Technology
High above the Earth, closer than any other body within the vast area of space, was the moon, a single structure hovering millions of miles from the world that we live on. Up close, the surface is desolate. Craters abound, some spilling a light grey vapor, wafting upward into space. Earthquakes, or so it seemed, tore across the surface, shattering Luna's delicate crust, the shattered pieces floating upward for a moment before dropping back down to touch against the surface. The 'earthquake' broke through the crust and rumbled downward many yards into the inner shell of the massive body of rock. A spiral gate warped the view of space in a solitary area, the black of space, grey of the moon, and white of the far off stars swirled into a mixture. What seemed to be lightning crackled around the edges of the phenomenal and unnatural event, as a single figure stepped through the portal.
The large gargoyle-like figure swung his left leg forward and set it down against the moon's surface, another rumble shook the body of rock, shattering the surface with another 'earthquake.' The spiraling void behind him shifted, twisted, and then finally closed in upon itself, vanishing from sight as quick as it had come, leaving the figure to stand alone on the surface on Luna.
"Where am I.." His voice was very deep-toned, speaking through the dark gray mask covering his face.
He turned his large body slowly, blinking all six eyes upon his helmet at once, a solitary eye placed upon his chest, unblinking as it followed the gaze of the three pairs of main eyes. As he turned around completely, he saw the Earth. A large beautiful sphere hovering far from him, yet it looked to be so close that he could just leap and land there in a matter of seconds. He watched the white forms shifted across the Earth's surface, spiraling around and within themselves, before meeting a certain point and ending, vanishing from sight.
Four figures came to a stop behind the gargoyle, the sun glinting magnificently off their armor. The one in front was a deep azure color, tall and straight, his eyes covered with a golden vizor. His feet had claws attached to them, as did his gauntlets. At his right, stood a figure just as tall as the first one, but his armor was red on his chest, gauntlets, and legs, but a cream-tan color on his shoulders and feet. The two colors were mixed on the helmet. At the blue figure's left stood a figure that stood awkwardly. The knees bent the wrong way, it seemed, and it had insect like antennae attached to his helmet, with a tail that lay limp behind his body. In his right hand was a large staff, that came up to his shoulders. His armor was entirely red, a deep blood-like red. The final figure stood shorter than all the others, it was in the shape of a panther, with fangs bared. It had a mane, made of large metallic spikes, with claws lancing outward from both pairs of paws.
"It's about time you got here.." The large blue one was the one that spoke, the gargoyle turned his head back to stare at the four of them.
"Who.."
"You'll learn that soon enough, but our time here is limited."
The Egyptian Desert had unleashed another squall of sand upon its landscape, the storm flew across the golden brown surface, wailing like a banshee, driving straight over multiple pyramids, leaving them covered in a thick layer of sand, that slid right off and returned to the sea of sand. A group of Reploids stood around a small rectangular hole in the southern edge of the pyramid.
"Hurry up Grover." Growled a dark purple Reploid standing off to the side.
"The passage isn't easy to find, Darkshine, give him some time." A bulky Reploid spoke up a few feet to Darkshine's left.
"I don't want to have to stand out here any longer, so just hurry." Darkshine crossed his hands over his chest, closing his eyes.
Grover's drill crashed down into the hole, a rumbling immediately following. A yelp of surprise swept out through the hole, alongside a rush of dust, as the hole gave away and Grover was swept down through it.
"Dammit.. Go after him!" Darkshine called, shoving the two of the closest Reploids toward the hole.
Deep within the bowels of the pyramid, through the almost endless maze of corridors, tunnels, and traps, was a single room. A single, empty room. Well, empty except for the sarcophagus. It was covered with multiple layers of dust. A rumble shook the room slightly, sending a wave of dirt from one side of the room all the way across to the other, sprinkling the top of the relic with small chunks of rock and dirt. A tiny rock landed in the center of the sarcophagus, hitting a small purple gem, sending a shutter through the tomb. Latches at each corner of the casket flipped open, moving clockwise from the top of the head. As the final latch clicked back and flipped open, a loud grinding noise filled the small chamber. Metal gears crunched together as the lid of the sarcophagus slowly lifted and slid it to the left, age and dust having corrupted the gears, making them turn slowly. As the lid finally reached its destination, a pair of soft green eyes erupting within the room, shimmering slightly.
"Please.. Tell me your names." The large blue one sighed heavily.
"If you insist, Befallen.. My name is Alcedes," The red insect-like figure spoke up, his voice accented strangely, but Befallen couldn't place it.
"My name is Triton, and this is Panthera," The cream-colored militaristic figure said, while gesturing toward the panther-like one of the group.
"And who is he?" Befallen's eyes settled on to the final figure; the large blue one.
"My name is Xardion, and we're part of a secret group in the Multiverse Police." His voice was deep, and yet tinged with compassion, "We were sent here to assist you in becoming an asset to this dimension."
"But why this one exactly?"
"Because it's one of the few you can help save. No one here knows of you or your past counterparts, it seems to be one of the few dimensions where you never existed," Alcedes antennae twitched.
Panthera strode forward, his mouth slightly ajar, carrying something within his fangs. He dropped it down in front of Befallen's large figure, walking backward into his place, never emitting a sound. Befallen gazed down at what Panthera had brought him, he dropped down to one knee and scooped it up in one hand.
"Is this.." Befallen began.
"Yes, it is. We specifically brought you to this spot for that power crystal," Alcedes grinned, which looked rather creepy on his insect-like face.
"Now, we have to teach you a new trick before we run out of time. The agency didn't allot us a lot of time here." Xardion's arms crossed over his chest.
"Alright."
The green-eyed figure sat up slowly, shaking his head a few times, his mane of silver hair falling easily down to his ear and jaw, the braided ponytail whipping against the bottom of the sarcophagus. He pushed himself up and slid out of the sarcophagus, his light grey armor gleaming slightly within the dim light of the tomb.
"Ugh.. I can't believe I let him stick me in there."
"It's about time you woke up, Phaiy."
The voice came from his wrist and he lifted his right arm, a small light flashing on his gauntlet. He pressed the light, a hologram activating immediately, projecting the image of a man before him. The man was adorned in dull red armor with gold trimming. The armor plates around his mid-section were articulated to allow for freer movement. His hair was black and slicked back, a golden circlet, with an emerald embedded within the center of it, swept down to frame his face and then crept back up to make wings over his ears. The same green gem was embedded into his gauntlets and one of the plates in his mid-section. A deep purple cape swung freely behind him, like there was a breeze. The clasps for the cloak also had emeralds set in them.
"Hmph.. Hello Nexys," Phaiy's voice was clearly filled with distaste.
"It's nice to see you as well, son. It's been quite a long time."
"Why did I have to stay in this dismal tomb?"
"It was for your protection. I'm in Larune.." Phaiy's eyes widened at the name. Larune was the name of a pocket dimension that Nexys has told him about before he was imprisoned in the sarcophagus. It was the location of the Taogus, a machine made to play God.
"Has Rift arrived yet?" Nexys nodded his head, "So why are you talking to me?"
"I have a little bit of time.." Rift was the name of Nexys' hellbent double. Rift believed that he is right and just, and planned on using Taogus to remove all the "unjust" within the universe. Nexys thought that neither of them had the right to make that decision. But that.. Is another story altogether.
"It's been three hundred years, Phaiy." Phaiy's eyes widened greatly, "Do not freak out, son. I did not expect you to be locked away that long, but now is the perfect time for you to be awakened."
"I feel so out of date.." Nexys laughed, sounding hollow through the hologram, "You were out of date when you came to be, but I also plan on updating you."
Nexys' right hand lifted from his side and he snapped his fingers. The green gem in the center of Phaiy's belt shimmered and exploded in a flash of light, forcing him to close his eyes. The light swept over his entire form, covering him in the brilliant green light. As it faded, he blinked a few times, his eyes now a dark purple color. His light grey armor had changed into a dark red color, with purple gems located on his shoulders and gauntlets. The emerald in his belt had morphed into an amethyst, sparkling a soft purple, and his chest plate also gained an amethyst. Golden trimming lined each plate of armor. The carbon rubber suit darkened into an almost black grey.
"There now, much better. Don't you agree, son?" Phaiy only nodded, staring down at his new armor.
"I must leave you now.. The time has come for me to confront Rift."
"Wait, I still need.."
"I have no more time. I will talk to you again sometime, I promise."
The hologram faded out, the light fading away as well, leaving Phaiy in the darkness of the tomb. A loud grinding noise immediately came to his ears, making him lift his head. His right arm immediately morphed into an oval-shaped buster, three barrels jutting from the end.
Darkshine slid down the tunnel behind the two other Reploids with him, who were behind Grover. His wings dug into the steep incline the farther down he went, making him wince in pain as they threatened to be torn right out of his back.
"How much farther!" Darkshine yelled down the tunnel. Grover's reply was a grunt and then a slight yelp.
Darkshine heard a thud, and then two more thuds. He then reached the end of the tunnel himself and slipped down through the hole, throwing himself forward as to not land on Grover and his two partners. He landed in a crouch, lifting his helmet to see someone standing in front of him, with their buster out.
"Oh shit.."
"Oh shit.."
Phaiy smirked and he mentally programmed his buster to switch to 'Plasma Mode.' He steadied his buster with his free hand and fired, energy pellets ripping out from the barrels within his buster, spraying the far wall of the small tomb with plasma. The Reploid that had landed in front of him swept a pair of black wings to protect himself, the plasma just splashing across the surface.
'I can still get the other three..'
Phaiy lurched forward and slammed his foot against the pair of wings, shoving himself upward. He switched his buster from 'Plasma Mode' to 'Shotgun Mode' and aimed his buster again. The recoil from the shot sending him flying back over the crouched Reploid. The shotgun blast exploded violently against the three Reploids and the wall, tearing them to pieces, three explosions happening in rapid succession as he landed back by the sarcophagus, sliding to a stop.
"Haha, such power."
'Fuck, fuck, fuck..'
Darkshine swung his wings backward, leaping backward toward the tunnel hole. He watched the Reploid re-aim his buster, intent on firing. The resounding click sent a wave of relief over him.
"Out of ammo, huh? You're screwed now."
"I'd leave now, it doesn't take too long for it to recharge. You want to end up like your buddies?"
'Ah.. He's make a very good point.. Screw this.'
"Dammit.."
He pulled his wings in around him and leapt, shooting straight up the tunnel hole, triangle-kicking off the wall until he was out of the hole, landing in the sand. He slammed his fists into the ground.
"Dammit! Grover.. Xin.. Broad.."
"Ah.. He took the bluff.."
Phaiy morphed his buster back into his gauntlet and stepped over to the tunnel that the group had made. He shook his head and walked back over to the sarcophagus. He slid it to the side and dropped down through the hole. He landed with a metal clank and swatted to the side with his right hand, activating a switch.
"Good thing I remembered the elevator system."
A small panel glimmered faintly and then sparked, and stuttered to life. A few overhead lights began to blink to life, very faintly and then enough to illuminate the panel and a five foot radius around it. The panel was attached to a deactivated pod. The panel continued to spark and glimmer, before the picture went to snow, making loud static noises. After a few minutes, the panel faded to black and blinked slowly. It flashed brightly, slowly forming a large, white 'W' in the center, activating the pod. The lights within the ruins clicked on all at once, illuminating the large underground lab. The room was covered in large 'W' logos all along the walls.
"Ah.. I'm finally alive again."
Xardion took hold of the power crystal in Befallen's hand and squeezed it sharply. The crystal glowed within his touch and then shuddered within his grasp. As Xardion lifted his hand away, the crystal's glow traveled up Befallen's large arm and flowed over his entire body. He closed all of his eyes, aside from the eye on the chest. Xardion took a step back, standing in front of the other three as the glow brightened.
"What's going on?"
"You will understand in a moment, Devon." The name calmed him almost immediately as the glow continued to brighten for a moment, and then began to fade once more.
Befallen opened his eyes, all of them simultaneously, and blinked rapidly. He glanced around for a moment, before noticing the shorter figure standing at his side. The figure was about half his size, with the same shaped helmet, dark red carbon suit, and dark grey armor that he had. The figure lifted the helmet from his head and shook his head of brown hair, grinning up at him.
"A.. Mini me?"
"Exactly."
"Why?"
"You're a large guy, Devon. You can't go everywhere. With a smaller you around, you can perform things you couldn't before. Believe me, Devon, this is a good thing." Alcedes nodded to him, Befallen nodded back.
"Now that you've learned the trick, we must ask you to head to Earth now. We have to get back to the Multiverse Police HQ." Triton hefted his rifle on to his shoulder.
"Alright.. But-"
"To make him appear, just think of him being there. To make him vanish, just think of him gone. You have to keep your hand on the crystal when you do it."
Befallen nodded, thinking of the mini-him being gone and it vanished in a sparkle of red light. He turned toward the Earth, looking toward the large blue mass before leaping into the space, activating his thrusts and shooting out through space, heading down toward the Earth.
"Multiverse Police Headquarters, this is Xardion. Leader of Special Squad 697." Xardion's hand rested against the side of his helmet.
"Multiverse Police Headquarters, relay your information Unit 765." Xardion grimaced at his unit number, "Befallen has acquired the power crystal and the ability. He's on his way to Earth now to assist in keeping this dimension from collapsing."
"Unit 765, Sentinel Duo was released to Earth a few hours ago. Can you confirm his arrival?"
"Say what?" Alcedes looked to Xardion in confusion.
"They sent Duo.." Triton watched Befallen's figure make his way toward the planet.
"Confirmed, Headquarters. Duo has arrived on the planet."
"Is Special Unit 482 still with you, Unit 765?" Xardion nodded faintly, "Confirmed, Special Unit 482 is still with us."
"You can return to your previous mission until further notice, Special Squad 697."
The transmission cut out and Xardion dropped his hand from his helmet. Panthera laid down on the moon's surface and closed his eyes. A small figure made his way out from behind a moon rock, standing with his weight on his right foot. He had dark brown hair and a pair of sharp blue eyes.
"Are we heading back now, Xardion?"
"Yes, Ender, we're heading back now."