Chapter 27
Colin
They were chanting as Ruby slowly lifted into the air. They followed and kept going up, through the roof and out of the ship. They ascended about 200 feet above the ship before slowing to a halt. They continued chanting in Inocian. Rings of white energy appeared around them and as they started spinning Ruby's eyes opened, they were bright white. Wings of pure energy began to form, starting at her shoulders. She tried to take a breath and swallowed a white ball of mist. She gasped and shook before calming and taking breaths, where there was no air. Her wings were almost done forming when Colin felt a presence. Then Ruby's eyes turned black and her voice changed, it was deep and made him shudder. "We are here, we are awake." Came the voice out of Ruby's mouth that was not Ruby's as black tendrils began coming from her back. Her eyes turned Black and her wings started dissolving.
Colin gritted his teeth and both he and Ian pushed against the Entity that was trying to take over Ruby's body. He was pushing against the darkness with everything he had, giving it 100%, he started screaming as the darkness began to attack him and his soul. Roaring in defiance his brother put everything he had into protecting them both. But it still wasn't enough, the darkness was going to get them, done, dead, over. These thoughts flashed through his mind as he looked over at his brother, not needing to say a word. Ian knew what he was going to do and disappeared. Colin began glowing a white so bright and intense he looked like a star, and at the last second Ruby disappeared, appearing safe and sound in a hospital bed.
The medical ship made an emergency jump, as did the rest of the fleet. Then Colin directed all of his energy at the oncoming darkness, throwing all he had left into his body. Creating the only thing he knew was going to delay the death of his family and friends, a human bomb. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he prepared. The white light went out for a second as tendrils of darkness wrapped around him, believing they had won. Then with a final roar of defiance, he exploded, sending a massive explosion of light towards the inky black and blowing it away like smoke in the wind. The shockwave went on for light years and annihilated any darkness in its way. As it slowly subsided the fleet jumped back to their previous location, only to find nothing.
Ian
Knowing what his brother was going to do hurt, but someone had to hold this ancient adversary back and save the fleet. He teleported to the bridge of the medical cruiser "Fleet wide emergency jump NOW!" he screamed and the jump drive spooled up in seconds and they jumped. Ian fell to his knees as the psychic link with his brother was broken, and he knew why. Getting up and ignoring the excruciating pain in his head he ran to the room Ruby was in to see if she was there, she was there but she had been horribly burned over all of her body. The three other girls were trying to get to her side but were being pushed away by guards so doctors could go to work. He sat in a chair next to them "She will be fine I have seen these doctors work miracles." He said to comfort the group. "What did you do to my sister out there?!" The yellow haired girl asked, he could see she was getting angry.
"Colin tried to save her from the infection by turning her into one of us." He solemnly "What went wrong? Why is she hurt?" yang asked grasping for answers "What we were trying to do hadn't been done in millennia, and we awoke something ancient. It attacked us during the process, it was too strong I couldn't stop it, neither of us could." Ian said keeping himself as composed as possible. "Where did Colin go?" the White haired girl asked. "When he knew we were going to lose, he chose to save us….. By sacrificing himself. He gave his life to complete the transformation process, and buy us time against this new enemy." Ian said calmly as tears ran down his cheeks. The news his the group like a truck, they just sat in silence staring at each other in disbelief.
He got up and left, leaving the group to mourn. He got to the bridge and called the Eclipse. A radio communications officer picked up. "Eclipse to medical frigate, what is the emergency?" the female voice asked. "Relay this message to the fleet." There was a pause as the operator pressed some buttons. "This is Ian, It is my solemn duty to report the death of one of our number today. A member of the family and a friend to all, my brother Colin has given his life in the line of duty to protect us all. We should mourn his passing and do our best to prepare for the enemy. He will not have given his life for nothing." He finished slowly before hanging up the mic. The room was dead silent, everyone was processing what he had just said. Colin had been a friend to all, even in a fleet of millions, he knew everyone and cared for them all as family. They had just lost one of their brothers.
God (AKA Morgan Freeman)
He was lying in bed enjoying one of his favorite movies of all time. Sharknado, it was just so bad he had to keep watching. Then an assistant knocked on the door, "Come in" he said getting up and pausing the movie. The man walked in a few steps then stopped. "Sir, The Aether is awake." He said and was about to go on before being interrupted. "How did this happen? Never mind, give Colin and Ian a call. Tell then I will need to speak with them as soon as possible." He said walking over to his closet and grabbing a white suit. "Sir, Colin has died in the first battle with the Aether. He committed suicide to save the Third Hellhounds Fleet." The assistant said. He stopped his hand on the coat and sighed. "Send Ian my condolences, and notify them I will be there within the hour." He said resuming the task of putting his suit on.
1 Hour later
He stood in the ceremony room of the Eclipse, a tall and wide room with the pictures and medal of those lost along the walls. Commander Keys and Sub Admiral Dvorak were receiving the white cross. A medal bestowed to the family of the lost. He placed it on an empty casket as it slowly made its way to the launching dock past thousands of soldiers at attention. He and the two other followed it until it reached the loading tube, where it stopped momentarily to allow loved ones to pay their respects. Ian walked over and laid his hand on the casket before walking back into line. Maria laid both hands on the casket and cried, she was completely silent. After a minute she stood back up and joined Ian at attention in formation. "For all that he has given, to all that he has touched, all that he has built. Let us remember what he has done, and look back with joy. Colin did more than most in his short time with us, let his memory live on in the minds and hearts of all." He said before the firing squad lined up. The drill instructor lined up. "AAATEN HUT!" the sounds of thousands of boots rang through the ship. "PRESENT ARMS!" The men with rifles raised them into the air. Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom. Rang the shots, "ATTENTION!" the men with rifled went back to attention.
The casket slowly moved into the firing tube and was locked into place. "We now lay you to rest, in the calmest of waters." He said. BOOM! The casket rocketed away from the ship.
