Chapter 3: Lamentation
Veronakh sat upon his throne in contemplation as he continued to receive wireless information from his cryptek Du'Maat. He had just finished securing the colony and was now sending him all the information that he had gleaned from the data drives and servers of the humans. However, Veronakh parsed through it he found it all disturbing. The inconsistencies, different history compared to what should be known. Either these people were consummate fools, ignorant of greater galactic history or what Du'Maat suggested from his own interpretation of the data was correct. That this galaxy was not their own and they were now stranded in this new galaxy with no support. If true, the denizens of the Empyrean had gotten the last laugh and there would be no return to their dynasty, no restoration of what was.
After he was done shifting through the data, he emitted a rasping from his internal speaker that sounded like an angry metallic sigh. Kor'Pharas was at his post along with the Lychguard but he took notice of Veronakh's displeasure,
"Something disturbs you Lord Veronakh?" he asked.
"Yes...it would seem a change in plans will need to be made." Veronakh replied, a slight edge to his metallic voice. One of irritability that was only getting stronger the more he stewed in thought. Kor'Pharas turned to Veronakh as he became curious to what was making his lord this way,
"How so?" asked the Praetorian.
"If Du'Maat's theory is correct...then...we are in the galactic north...of another galaxy entirely." answered Veronakh. Though he was trying to stay in control, it seemed his anger was getting the better of him.
Kor'Pharas looked closely at Veronakh, noting his lord's right hand increasing pressure on the right arm of his throne as his anger was building. A slight rasping sound emitted from Veronakh, but Kor'Pharas kept silent and merely let his lord speak,
"Do you know what this means Praetorian?" said Veronakh his growing irritation rising. Kor'Pharas merely nodded his head in acknowledgement to show he was listening.
"It means that all those who had wronged us will go unpunished...those who would dare sully our tomb worlds with their unworthy hands." Veronakh continued, his anger now reaching toward its peak. His right hand upon his throne arm was slightly shaking from the intensity of the pressure.
"Most heinous of all, the wretched Aeldari who murdered our Phaeron...my father...will continue to live!" Veronakh was now inflicting so much pressure on the throne arm it slightly cracked.
At that moment Veronakh angrily grabbed his staff, stood up from his throne and with a metallic growl slammed it into the steps. A burst of energy washed over the throne chamber and all the Necrons present. As it dissipated Veronakh emitted another growl of frustration. Kor'Pharas' gaze was distant as he recalled the memory, when the lords of the Solvatakh dynasty awoke to find their Phaeron Kotorin's remains along with Veronakh's elder brothers. Through some Empyrean sorcery the Aeldari had destroyed the Phaeron and other Necrontyr lords as they slept to ensure they would never awake. But they weren't able to disentegrate Kazarakh, Kotorin's brother without waking the rest of the tomb world. Despite the Necrontyr's best efforts however, the Aeldari witches escaped their grasp. Kazarakh was enraged and when crowned the new Phaeron of Solvatakh he went on a campaign to destroy all trespassers within their realm. Veronakh lead raiding parties with other scout contingents to hunt down Aeldari corsairs in order to find those who had wronged him and his fellows. Unfortunately he couldn't complete the search and had to be recalled to the main fleet to aid in the attack on Feridia Prime. It would seem that now his vengeance against the Aeldari would never be sated. Another angry rasp came from Veronakh before he continued,
"If I could, I would have those Aeldari fiends brought before me and then flayed slowly! Our kin would watch justice be done all while listening to those witches screams of agony, as I send them to meet their Empyrean creation!" he shouted angrily. Then his head drooped and a resigning metallic sigh emanated from him. "But now...that can never be."
Veronakh sat back down in his throne, his anger spent. Kor'Pharas could only droop his own head slightly, as he thought of duties he can now never completely fulfill. The failure to protect Kotorin and now Kazarakh's death weighed upon him. The utmost duty of the Triarch Praetorians was to ensure that the Necrontyr dynasties never fell. Yet now, it was possible Kor'Pharas was witnessing the fall of another dynasty in his service. Despite the odds however, they had survived. A fraction of Solvatakh but even a small piece of the dynasty that can allow it to rise again. This conclusion is what gave Kor'Pharas hope, as small and insignificant as it was within his artificial mind. That the Necrontyr could possibly rise to prominence once more. The Praetorian came out of thought and looked to Veronakh on his throne, his head still hanging low. The other lords would be arriving soon, the Praetorian needed Veronakh to be strong in order to ensure the dynasty could endure.
"Indeed, but Solvatakh itself still lives on Lord Veronakh." Kor'Pharas stated.
"The dynasty... three small vessels and three lords with a handful of warriors. Not even a small kingdom by the standard of Solvatakh. Merely ash of what was once our mighty legions. I can never rise above my forebears with this Praetorian. A mere pauper lord such as I, is unworthy of the title Phaeron..." Veronakh replied forlornly.
"Even from ash, growth can still emerge Lord Veronakh. Remember who you are...you are not just the son of a fallen Phaeron. You are Veronakh, one of Solvatakh's most cunning lords. Your creative solution and sharp mind saved the dynasty from complete oblivion. You succeeded where even the mighty Kazarakh did not." Kor'Pharas said boldy.
Veronakh looked to the Praetorian, a new focus begining to appear in his eyes that only another Necron could see. He paid more attention to the Praetorian as he continued,
"Make this dynasty your own Veronakh. You do not have the legions of old, nor the dynasty's battlements, but you have enough to fight war in your own way. Fight our foes on your terms and bring glory to the dynasty. Use that creativity so few of us now possess and you can find solutions on even the most arduous of campaigns."
Veronakh sat up straight in his throne, no longer sulking. It seems Kor'Pharas words had worked, at least for now. The Praetorian sensed another of their kind coming, the sound of metal footsteps could barely be heard but were coming closer.
"It would seem your fellow lord from the Shuvat has arrived Lord Veronakh."
"Quite...and I know this one particularly well." replied Veronakh as he mentally braced himself. In all honesty he wasn't looking forward to dealing with this but it needed to be done.
Kor'Pharas turned to the sounds of the footsteps while Veronakh sighed, putting a skeletal hand upon his gaunt cheek as he laid back in his throne. A moment later the Necron lord of the Shuvat finally entered the throne chamber. Compared to Veronakh who was rather plain this lord had gold gilded bands of necrodermis along its cheeks and chin that bore the Necron script of their dynasty. The lord was also slightly shorter with a bluish green tint to its necrodermis cape that glistened in the light of the chamber. Her green eyes took note of the Lychguard and the Triarch Praetorian present before meeting her eyes with Veronakh's.
"Welcome...Thanatar Solvatas" Veronakh said formerly.
"Hail...Vymark Veronakh" Solvatas replied, giving a slight bow to him.
"I trust your present form is at nominal functionality?" Veronakh asked.
"Of course, I would not wish to appear tardy before the future Phaeron of our dynasty. Though your vessel has seen better days brother." said Solvatas feigning respect somewhat while pointing out the obvious.
"An issue that will be dealt with soon enough." replied Veronakh.
"I would hope so. It would look dreadful for you to begin your tenure as Phaeron in a sub standard light cruiser." Solvatas said, emphasising that last point regarding a sub standard ship. An obvious slight that Veronakh noticed.
Veronakh responded to the female Necron lord's chiding with a rasping grunt. Being torn to pieces and reconstructed certainly did not dull Solvatas' sharp tongue. She had been this way even before the transference and had always chided Veronakh's decision making. Solvatas was once a vymark herself, before she spoke her mind at the worst possible moment in court. Their father reduced her rank to thanatar as punishment and she had not taken it well. While she still respected protocol as far as she was called to, Solvatas always made sure to chide Veronakh for any fault that she felt he had made. She looked to Kor'Pharas and made a slight bow to him while saying,
"Honour to you mighty Praetorian."
"Lord Solvatas." replied Kor'Pharas as he returned a slight bow in turn.
"While it may not be an appropriate time to bring this forward I wish to voice a grievance." said the female Necron Lord. Of course she does, thought Veronakh as he braced himself for more unnecessary drama.
"Is this really the time for such trifling matters sister? I am the host of this meeting and if you wished to bring forth grievances, you could do so with me privately at another time." he said.
"It is important, especially since it reveals flaws in your character when you are placed in overall command. Besides, better to deal with this now while we wait for the last of us to gather." replied Solvatas with a hint of irritation. Kor'Pharas looked to Veronakh and responded,
"As Praetorian and arbiter of Necrontyr law, your sister does have the right. Speak of your issue with the vymark, thanatar." he said as he opened the floor to Solvatas.
"Thank you for entreating me Praetorian. I may not be the most knowledgeable on all protocol regarding the interactions between lords, but I do know the vymark present did not regard me in his invasion plans of the planet below. He subverted my authority and used my forces without waiting for my regeneration so that he could pursue his own agenda. While I understand you did this for the sake of the reconstruction of your ship and by extension the dynasty brother, I cannot ignore this breach of protocol." Solvatas said, though her tone was respectful, Veronakh easily saw the reasoning behind her bringing this up. Her pride as a lord was obviously wounded, not only from her defeat but also that he had to send Du'Maat to clean up her mess.
"Sigh...dear sister. While it is true that we did not wait for your regeneration, technically it was Du'Maat who took command of your vessel and by extension its warriors. As you well know, Crypteks are not subject to the same protocols as we." Veronakh replied.
"Yet he is a part of your retinue, doesn't that infer that he represents your interests? I do not recall Crypteks being entirely autonomous, they still need to ask permission from their lord before they act." Solvatas said.
"Yes he is a part of my retinue, but at the time he was merely acting out of duty to ensure your ship's repair. Therefore when he took command, by right he is temporarily given the privileges that come with such a role. You were not fully reconstituted by the time we invaded the planet and thus he was still well within his right to lead your forces. Is this not in line with our dynasty's laws Praetorian?" Veronakh asked as he looked to the Praetorian.
"It is vymark, by the decrees of the Phaerons of old Du'Maat was well within his right to lead in place of Solvatas." confirmed Kor'Pharas.
A sigh of defeat was emitted by Solvatas before she continued, "I suppose I have no option other then to withdraw my complaint. However I would ask that next time, I am given proper time for regeneration so that I may lead my forces properly. Is it not within my right to be given the respect that I deserve as befitting my station?"
"Indeed sister, but understand that once I am Phaeron I too will demand more respect from you in the future. Though I will take your request into account, be aware that I cannot guarantee such things. Given our current circumstances, a slight to one's pride may need to be simply endured for our survival." replied Veronakh, emphasising his demand for more respect. He was not in the mood for her games and while he could tolerate it for awhile his patience was not infinite.
"Very well...I will...endure as you bid vymark." said Solvatas. Though she was still annoyed by her brother going over her head, his words were valid.
More footsteps were coming and another Necron lord came into the chamber. His head and body was slightly darker than other Necrons and he bore golden pauldrons on his shoulders. When he came into the chamber, Veronakh noted this lord's more aggressive gait and speed as he quickly approached the assembled lords.
"Veronakh, where is my father?" demanded the arriving lord. Veronakh was slightly annoyed at the lack of courtesy when entering his chamber, but he knew this lord tended to have even less tact in court than his sister.
"Ah Xamutet...I see you still do not know, show him Kor'Pharas." commanded Veronakh.
The Triarch Praetorian turned to Xamutet, his eyes glowed a brighter green as his memory banks were shared with Xamutet whose eyes did the same. After a moment both of their eyes returned to normal before the Necron lord responded, "No...he truly is lost? I didn't wish to believe it, I was fighting the forces of the formless horror and then...I failed him."
"Yes cousin, we did fail. Our Phaeron underestimated the Empyreal Ones slaves and how far they were willing to go to achieve victory. However, so long as we remain then we are a testament to our foes failure to see us completely undone. As the Praetorian mentioned earlier, so long as a part of the Solvatakh dynasty remains, then it can rise once more." Veronakh said, his posture and tone shifting to one of pride in spite of current circumstances. Solvatas was not convinced,
"Truly? The three of us, with three ships, and a mere few thousand warriors?"
"It is possible Solvatas, though we cannot wage open battle against a united enemy from multiple fronts. Thankfully we happen to be in a perfect position to excert our influence." Veronakh replied. However Xamutet stepped forward saying,
"Hold Veronakh, who said that you should be nemesor?"
The Triarch Praetorian turned to Xamutet and declared, "It was I, who deemed Veronakh to be next in line for Phaeron. As he is of higher standing and greater accomplishment. My word is absolute in this Xamutet." In response a huff was emitted from Xamutet saying,
"Of course...fitting my father passes over me and onto you Veronakh, you always were his sycophant."
"Do not mistake my admiration for Kazarakh with bootlicking Xamutet. Your arrogance and disrepect does little to aid your case for the role." Veronakh replied.
It was annoying to Veronakh how much Xamutet continued to show such blatent disrespect, but there was a reason that Kazarakh had assigned his own son to the Serap. He was becoming too aggresive, more than what was usual for him. Perhaps Kazarkh believed putting him in charge of a scout would force him to curtail his aggression in order to be more successful in his father's eyes. Either that or perhaps the rumors from the court were correct, that Kazarakh exiled his own son from the ground campaign for his excessive violence. It was surprising to find out Xamutet was a part of the fleet during the battle of Feridia Prime, but to defeat the combined enemy fleets required as many ships as possible. Xamutet currently wasn't backing down as he turned to the Praetorian.
"Does my relation and accomplishments mean so little Praetorian? I was Kazarakh's son in flesh, I fought along side him in countless campaigns both old and recent! Am I owed nothing for this at the very least?!" he said.
Solvatas could only shake her head at the display of her cousin's muling adding, "What have you actually accomplished Xamutet? Perhaps it's an error in my memory systems but I cannot think of anything you did as extrordinary. Yes you fought with your father on many campaigns but I don't recall you winning great accolades. Our fathers overthrew Phaeron Cal'Vertekh to dispel such nepitisim. Maybe if you had done better for yourself you would have been owed something. But alas such mediocrity has become a theme for our dynasty as of late...a pity."
"How dare you!" exclaimed Xamutet, his eyes glowing brighter in anger as he made ready his staff. Veronakh was not going to allow fighting in his chamber as he stood from his throne shouting,
"Enough! You both know the Praetorian's word represents the law of our kind. This bickering will not change his decision. In several days time I will be crowned Phaeron and that will be the end of it. If you wanted it so badly Xamutet, perhaps you should have done more for the dynasty other than underwhelmingly serve Kazarakh!"
Silence permeated the chamber, broken by a huff from Xamutet as the two lords eyed each other. Still, the message seemed to have been received with Veronakh adding,
"Any other grievance to bring forward?" he asked.
The only response the two lords gave was to finally look away from each other and face Veronakh though they avoided eye contact. It was clear Solvatas had nothing left to argue over and that his words had made Xamutet self-conscious of his inadequacy. Veronakh felt in his matrix a slight pleasure at the sight as he prepared to move on. He sat back in his throne content that peace had been settled and activated the pedestal in the center of the chamber.
"Good...now let us focus on the task at hand." Veronakh said.
The pedestal in the center of the room now drew their attention as the holographic image of the current galaxy was displayed. A green highlighted portion of it was shown as Veronakh continued to explain,
"We are here, in the galactic north. The denizens of this new galaxy call it the Terminus systems. The races here are fragmented, constantly warring and asserting their own independence. However, their independence from the current galactic powers has become their own undoing. Should one world or two be conquered there would be no one that could aid them, not without stirring a war with the other independent systems of course. Our current position is that in a cluster of stars called Sigurd's Cradle by the human faction called the Systems Alliance. They have a small presence in the cluster but only to defend the colony called Watson. It will be dealt with when we are ready to reach the endgame of my initial strategy." Veronakh explained.
"So what is your plan Veronakh?" asked Xamutet bluntly.
"It is simple, we will need to establish a base of power first. For now I am having Du'Maat establish an outpost on the planet below to repair the Teqyt, as it is currently the heaviest vessel at our disposal. It will take time but it will be easy to develop under our rival's notice. But we cannot rest idle, not so long as the humans control this in the cluster."
The holographic display changed to that of a diagram of a strange structure. According to the data being displayed it was fifteen kilometers long with a blue energy core surrounded by a set of revolving rings.
"What is it?" inquired Solvatas.
"They are apparently called 'Mass Relays' by the humans. They function in a similar fashion to our Dolmen Gates, though how they accomplish it is rather odd. They simply reduce the mass of the ship that-"
"It matters not how they function Veronakh" Interrupted Xamutet, " I already see what you intend. Control the gates and deny entry to what will be our domain."
"I doubt the denizens of this star cluster will simply sit by and allow us to control these relays without a struggle, as futile as it would be." said Solvatas as she reflected on the star map in her own mind.
"Direct confrontation for now is not our priority, gathering intelligence and recovering our strength is. The relay is currently located within the Skepsis system. As your vessels are the only ones capable of phase shifting your mission will be scouting. Solvatas, you will go to Skepsis while Xamutet proceeds to Decoris."
The hologram shifted from the Mass Relay to displaying both star systems simultaneously. As they took in the information being shown to them, Xamutet gruffed at his assignment.
"Why does she get such an important task and I am stuck nosing over this frozen orb?"
"Because it will require more tact and subtlety then your demeanor allows cousin. Make no mistake both missions are important. Decoris is home to a colony on the planet designated Sanctum. It is vastly larger than our current holdings and contains more subjects as well as resources that can be acquired. My future action will depend upon what you both bring to me and I expect you to complete your tasks before the time of my coronation."
"I appreciate your confidence in my abilities brother. A shame father is not here to see his son rise to the occasion."
"I have much more to do yet sister, even so I suggest you accomplish your task with care."
"Of course, though if I may ask what will you be doing in the meantime brother?"
"I will oversee Du'Maat's work on the outpost and begin our...interrogations."
"Why not just shackle their minds and be done with it Veronakh? Interrogation is useless on such fools, we already have all the information we need."
"In order to achieve the deception I require, I may need some...cooperation. My experiences against the Imperium of Man with excessive mind shackling resulted in many of my operatives being found out. Thus I am trying a different course utilizing persuasion."
A slight laugh came from Solvatas, "Ah, but do you really think that humans could truly betray their people of their own free will? The ones I have faced and defeated constantly spat out quotes and monologues of defiance. I practically had to break them into pieces before they would bend the knee."
"It all depends upon the individual sister...as well as what they have to lose." replied Veronakh with a sinister tone.
All there was for her was blackness, but the world was slowly coming back into focus. She could feel her feet dragging on a cold floor. There was also a constantly repeating sound of metal hitting a floor and robotic motors that were growing louder as her vision started coming back. Laura found herself looking at a moving floor that was now obsidian in coloration and she could feel herself being carried. Metallic limbs were moving in her periphreal vision as adrenaline kicked in. Laura suddenly started coming to and her eyes began looking side to side. She found herself being carried by two of the metal skeletons that had taken control of the colony. They were carrying her under her armpits and their grip was strong as she attempted to struggle free. The machines maintained their hold as they took her to a dark chamber lit in green lights. As she looked around it was a fairly large room with metallic skeletal bodies suspended by claw arms on the floor and ceiling holding their metal arms and legs in place. In front of a holographic display was the same cyclops skeleton that had taken the colonists from before. Laura saw an empty pair of claw arms that the two machines were taking her to and she soon began to panic. They drew closer and she struggled strongly as adrenaline and fear took hold of her. Her struggling was for naught however, as they lifted her up and began putting her limbs into the waiting claw arms. Once they were done, the machine guards left the room which left her and the cyclopean robot alone within this place that felt like a cold tomb. She struggled against the claw arms at first but their grip too was strong. She tried to tap into her biotics but found no strength to do so, all the while the cyclops kept working at his holographic interface being emitted by a pedestal in front of him. She heard a noise behind her and tried to take a look only to glean a faint outline of some kind of machine coming up from the ground, then she could hear panels opening up.
"Please stop! You don't have to do this, I can tell you anything you want to know! Just...please don't!" Laura said fearfully.
Laura thought she was going to be tortured for information as she saw the hologram that the cyclops was working on was showing her vital signs. At first the machine looked at her and then just as quickly went back to working typing in commands. It pressed one and she could hear behind her the sound of a machine warming up. Then she felt heat upon the back of her shirt which caused her to scream. The heat scorched her back lightly and then she felt the fall of ash. Laura could feel the cold air behind her as more whirring and hissing sounds were made. Laura tried to look behind her again and thought she saw some kind of metallic tubular object with a pointed end coming up behind her, one of many.
Her panic grew as she cried out, "Please...don't! Don't do this!"
But the cyclops continued to ignore her, focusing on his screen. A sudden loud hissing sound was emitted and then she felt her spine getting punctured. She screamed out in pain as her spine continued to be probed along her back. With the terrible pain was the feeling of smaller hair-like objects coming from the multiple probes that impaled her spine. They began to interface with her spinal cord causing multiple shocks of pain. The final probe inserted itself into her cervical vertebrae where her neck met her back and it was the worst of all of them. It initiated her gag reflex and she vomited from all the terrible sensations of the probes before breaking down into tears while in pain.
The cyclopean robot continued to work, inputting another command while ignoring Laura's suffering. Suddenly she felt a surge of electricity course through her nervous system interrupting her sobbing as she jolted forward slightly. Her breathing became shallow as she recovered from the initial shock before she started to cry,
"...Why...why are you doing this?" she asked with tears dripping down her face.
Another shock followed her question, though there wasn't much pain this time from the shock. She felt her muscles and limbs began to move independant of her will however. Then the reason started to become clear as she felt her biotics begin to become active. Another shock and a biotic field flowed up to her hand, but without focus from her own mind the field became unstable and dissipated. The cyclops stroked its chin in thought as it looked over the data being compiled from its experimental test. Laura was still crying and already becoming sore from her muscles spasming from the electrical shocks. The cyclopean robot began to input some commands again. Then a sustained electrical current flowed into her nervous system and her body began being wrapped in a biotic field against her will. Her muscles tightened across her body and it felt like her body was experiencing a charlie horse tiring her and making her cry out. After a moment of this the current ceased as did the field. It reminded Laura of being back on Thessia, when she trained in sustaining a biotic field in her younger days. The memory provided a little comfort, a means for her conscious mind to escape this hell for a few seconds.
But the memory was short lived as the door to the room opened and two skeletal guards came in carrying a man this time. One that she recognized even through her haze of pain and exhaustion.
"...Darrel." she said weakly.
Darrel's head perked up at hearing her voice, he started coming to and saw her,
"...Laura..? Ah, wha!" said Darrel as he became more aware of his surroundings.
By that point however, the machines were already setting him up next to Laura in another set of claw arms. He began to struggle and curse his captors before they also ripped off his shirt and threw its remains to the ground. Darrel continued to curse as the machines then left the room,
"Fucking bastards!" Darrel haggerdly shouted, still tired from whatever they did to him before bringing him here. He then looked and saw Laura, the back of her shirt had been burned away cleanly, exposing her spine which had metallic tubes connected all along it up to her neck. The tubes were connected to a black obelisk with weird alien symbols
"Oh honey...what did they do to you?" said Darrel mortified at Laura's state.
"..Darrel.." she replied weakly while sobbing.
Darrel then looked to the cyclops that was responsible for his lover's condition and gritted his teeth. He struggled against his bonds but they wouldn't budge making him growl in anger. Darrel certainly would have loved to throttle the bastard and smash his face with a biotic fist but even his biotics wouldn't activate. The machine man brought up another holographic display and it showed the vital signs of a human male. Then the sound of a machine coming up behind him was heard. Darrel couldn't see it as he tried to look behind but Laura saw it. It was another small black obelisk coming up from the floor behind Darrel. Panels on its surface opened up and hissing sounds came from it as mettalic tubes with pointed glowing ends slithered out like snakes. As Laura watched it all unfold all she could do was cry, because what happened to her was about to happen to Darrel. Darrel noticed her distress and tried to calm her down.
"It'll be okay honey. Everything will be okay."
"..No.." Laura meekly replied.
The hissing grew louder and suddenly the tubes shot out and into Darrel's spine. He cried out in pain as each metallic tube attached itself to his body. Laura could only sob as Darrel continued to get impaled. After getting hit in the back of his neck, the robot gave him a moment to recover, allowing Darrel to respond with,
"Agh...*cough*...this...this is...nothing you fucking asshole.."
The cyclopean machine looked to Darrel and simply activated a command prompt on the holographic display with his vitals. Then it was Darrel's turn to be flooded with electricity although it seems the skeletal robot was improving on getting quicker in regards to the correct voltage to get what it wanted. Darrel cried out in pain as the machine went through the same experiments of getting him to create a biotic field as Laura. His muscles across his body spasmed and his biotics flared against his will as the machine took control of his nervous system. Though again the same result with being unable to sustain the field as before with the asari. The skeletal cycops let Darrel rest for a moment to allow his vitals to stabilize. Darrel's head was low, his muscles sore and breathing shallow from enduring the torture. He gradually looked to Laura and saw her distraught face with tears flowing from her eyes.
"..I'm...still here...Laura. Don't...*cough*...don't give..." Darrel couldn't finish his thought before he lost consciousness.
It seemingly annoyed the cyclopean robot as a metallic gruff was emitted by it. It pressed another command on its holographic screen and jolted Darrel with a shock of electricity snapping him out of unconsciousness. He now wore a panicked expression on his face that soon turned into worry as he looked to Laura. He was angry at his weakness to protect her, that the illusion of strength he tried to convey was so easily shattered by that cyclops bastard. They could hear the machines behind them power up another charge again, as said skeletal robot was now preparing to work on them both. As Laura sobbed slightly, even Darrel began to cry as well before the pain came again causing both of them to cry out. Their tormented cries echoed throughout the building filling it with an anguished cacophony.
He woke up, startled by the sound of screaming. Jarold Knox, called Jerry by his peers and head administrator of the Veridine colony now found himself in some sort of small cell with an unconscious middle aged man. The man's head was balding and his skin was of a brown complexion. It was Matthew Varkin, one of the largest investors in the colony and its mining venture. As Jerry's memory slowly came back he started to remember how he got here. He remembered Laura over his comm piece in his ear telling him to get himself and the VIP to shelter. When they got to one he found Ashley and other members of the engineering team inside, but their names escaped his recollection. Then he recalled the sounds of something heavy stomping outside the shelter doors. Something had smashed into the shelter and pried the doors open with massive claws and then...swarms of bugs filled the shelter. They attached to everyone and pinned them to the ground and then...skeletal machines came in and took them..somwhere. He couldn't remember what happened after that. The cell was large enough for the two of them to at least move a bit so Jerry got up and took in his surroundings. The walls and floor were obsidian black and the lighting was a green tint. There were two skeletal guards now posted outside their cell looking at them which made Jerry step back. They just stared at him, with their soul-less eyes watching with the intensity only a machine could produce. There were no bars outside the cell but the lighting along the entrance walls of it made him think some kind of barrier was in place. Besides given what he had heard while in the shelters he shuddered to think what those weapons the guards had could do to him. There were no windows or any other kind of means to see outside besides the entrance as well as no toilets or sinks. Given the screaming he had heard before its obvious that these guys didn't care about fair treatment of prisoners. Thankfully the screaming died down but then he heard another sound. It was the sound of groaning, Jerry looked and saw Matthew slowly rising up from the floor.
"Wha...where am I?" The older man asked.
"Take it easy Matt and don't freak out." Jerry said calmly.
"What are you talking abo-" Matthew looked up and saw the skeletal machines which caused him to quickly back away into the cell away from the entrance.
"Fuck! I thought I was just having a god damn nightmare! Those things are fucking real!?"
"Calm down Matt!"
"Calm down?! Fuck you Jerry! This is all your fault! You talked me into investing in this place and then you wake up some fucked up alien shit and now I'm stuck here with you about to get probed or something!"
"We don't know anything yet! It could all just be a misunderstanding, if they give us a chance to talk then maybe we can still work out something." explained Jerry.
Then the screaming started up again, which only lent more credence to Matt's belief that they were all going to get probed or tortured.
"Fuck...I knew it. All because of you Jerry I get to spend the last days of my life getting fucked by these fucking robots!"
Jerry didn't bother to respond this time. Part of him knew Matt was right, maybe if they had done a more thorough survey they could have avoided this. But when he reflected on it, he did have Ashley do everything she could to make sure they weren't disturbing anything that could come back to bite them. According to her this was a new world with no previous civilization that they could detect. As he walked along the left wall of the cell, his left hand feeling the coarse black surface of the cell, he listened carefully to the screaming. Jerry thought he recognized whose voice it was.
"I know those voices..."
"Wha? The screamers in the backdrop down there?" Matt replied fearfully.
"Yeah...I think..it's Laura." Jerry closed his eyes and focused on the other voice screaming. "Possibly Darrel too...no..."
"Well...glad to see I won't be alone in being fucked over by you." Matt said accusingly.
"Shut the hell up Matt! I did everything I was supposed to do, I had the planet surveyed, I got the right people in place to get the operation up and running! I even got some early clients with orders coming in, you were going to make fucking bank!"
"Guess I never will now, thanks to you and that Ashley woman who didn't bother to do her job properly."
"Leave her out of it, she did everything right!"
Matt merely responded with a grunt towards Jerry and then as the screams in the backdrop faded again they heard the sounds of metal feet coming to their cell. Jerry backed away from the entrance as they drew closer. Matt began to sweat and panic again saying,
"Oh god, we're next...shit!"
Jerry didn't say anything but he remained standing while Matt stayed sitting in the opposite corner trembling. The guards in front of their cell parted, leaving a space in between them as another figure stepped in. It was another of their kind but taller as he had to slightly bend over to look inside the cell. It had a small bronze crown on its head and a dark face contrasted by its bright green eyes. The skeletal figure then pointed its finger towards Jerry, who only gulped nervously in response.
"Jarold Knox..." Said the metal giant. Its raspy metallic voice reminded him of a synthesized undead lich, like those from the fantasy games he played as a kid. Jerry could only nod his head in response but stood up straight to try to maintain some dignity. The giant robot then gestured him to step forward saying, "Follow..."
Jerry looked to Matt who only huddled in his corner looking at him. Jerry did what he was told to and stepped forward out of the cell. He found another of the taller machines waiting on the other side of the walkway. The cell had a catwalk outside allowing overview of the interior. Jerry recognized this place, it was the processing building but now turned into something else entirely. His cell was one of many that lined the wall of what used to be material storage, a green energy field covered each entrance of all of them. As he stepped through his own cell an energy field activated in front of its entrance and he saw Matt get wrapped in some kind of field. It reminded him of stasis, a biotic ability that he saw biotics do in a vid once. The tall robots didn't give him much time to take in everything ushering him with force to follow the one that had talked to him previously. As they proceeded through what was once the processing plant, Jerry wondered how long they had been in here. Days? Weeks? Months? Then he felt a jab from the other robot behind him to maintain pace bringing him out of thought. The screaming started again as they passed by where it was coming from and it sent chills down Jerry's spine. But his guards didn't let him reflect on it for long as they pressed him onward. It looked like they were still working on converting the building as he saw more of those beetle robots moving along the walls and adding more of that obsidian colored material on it.
When they got outside Jerry saw an extrordinary sight. The whole mining operation was being converted into some kind of alien facility. The residential sector had been completely stripped with pyramid monoliths anchored in their place. More of those beetles were working on building what looked to be some kind of defense system and other structures. The roads were patrolled by squads of skeletal machines and larger robotic beetles as well as other kinds of robotic insects levitating around with cubes of raw material in their claws. When he looked behind to see the processing building he noted they were turning it into a pyramid as well. Guess they really like the whole Egyptian pyramid aesthetic, Jerry thought to himself. Then he heard a sound like that of a skycar only louder and with a more deep reverberation in it's engine noise. It came from their left and Jerry soon saw what looked like some kind of skimmer appear in front of him and his entourage. The design almost reminded him like the frame of an ancient boat used by man in the ancient days. Only within the ribcage like structure were spine like contraptions with pads that had connections upon them. Suddenly Jerry's escorts grabbed him under his arms on either side of him and took him up with them onto the skimmer as it landed. They inserted themselves into the pad structures all while holding Jerry under his armpits. The skimmer took off and Jerry was jostled by the g-forces hitting him from the takeoff. Thankfully it wasn't going too quickly and the large skeletal machines grip was strong enough to keep him from falling, but it wasn't exactly comfortable.
Eventually their destination came into view. It was a ship hovering above the outpost about a few kilometers up. It looked almost like a giant black bug with its bladed crescent wings along the side and another bladed crescent on its front end that looked like a pair of mandibles. They were headed for the top of the vessel which featured yet another pyramid structure. Arriving at its base the skimmer set down and the giant guards with their captive disembarked. Although Jerry was cold from the excursion and it was difficult to breathe as the ship was so high up, but his giant machine guards pushed him onwards through to a doorway which opened in the base of the pyramid. Inside he was taken down many hallways and corridors before finally arriving at a kind of chamber within. It was dark with little light coming from within the chamber except around some kind of pedestal. Eventually he was brought before steps up to what looked like a throne in the darkness. Then a pair of glowing green eyes appeared suddenly from the throne and an eerie voice spoke his name.
"Welcome Jarold Knox.." spoke a metallic voice from the throne.
Jerry simply froze in place at the edge of the light before the steps. One of the large guards flanking him looked towards him with its eerie glowing green eyes.
"Kneel..." it rasped to him menacingly.
Jerry complied with the guard's order and bent the knee before the dark throne. He kept his head low and finally found words that he hoped would give him some leniancy,
"Fo...Forgive me. We didn't know..." Jerry rasped out, his throat dry and raw from the journey. "We didn't know that this world was yours... we had no inten-"
"Be silent!" commanded the voice. Jerry nervously complied and listened,
"You will answer when spoken to and not before in my presence. Do you understand?" spoke the voice.
"Yes." Jerry meekly replied.
"Good, I have questions to ask you and you will answer them honestly. If I suspect any kind of deceit, there will be consequences for you and those under you. Is that clear?" the voice asked.
"...yes." replied Jerry, even more meek than before.
Jerry didn't know how long he was questioned, it felt like hours. At first it was simple questions concerning the voice's own information that it no doubt gathered from the colony's servers. But then it started asking questions regarding pirates and mercenaries and if the colony was supplying them in some way. Jerry knew of several merc groups that paid for some orders but the colony never dealt with pirates. Hell they were worried about pirate attacks from the very beginning hence all the security. After answering for some time he was surprised when the voice asked,
"Now...do you have any questions for me?"
"Uh..." It took Jerry a moment to think of something after being terrified for so long. "What will happen to me and my people?"
"That depends upon you." said the voice. Jerry then saw movement in the darkness as he looked up and then lighting around the steps and throne turned on. A figure sitting on the throne was lit up in eerie green light. It was similar to the other skeletal robots but with a cape of metallic green and a staff in its right hand. It continued to speak,
"I offer you a choice Jarold Knox...I can either return you to your cell to await whatever fate I see fit...or you and your people swear loyalty to me and my dynasty. Then you can continue to live as you have thus far."
"...That's it?" Jerry asked slightly flabbergasted that it was that simple.
"Yes, in fact we will provide the raw ores that were requested of you by your 'clients'. We have no use for your currency so you may keep all the profits. Does this arrangement sound sufficient?" asked the skeletal machine.
"...Why? Why do you seek to make a deal with us now?" Jerry replied, still confused by the sudden change in tone by the machine.
"I made the attack on your colony due to...misinformation. An unfortunate reality of war, thus I am seeking a means to make...reperations in a way. But do not confuse my charity with guilt or shame. Merely to balance out the damage that has already been done." said the skeletal lord.
"Even if you do provide the ore, our facilities are practically gone. You built on top of everything and our transport ship is destroyed." Jerry replied.
"Not all of your equipment was lost, it was simply moved. As for the destroyed facilities, remember what you sent to Mr. Varkin several months prior?" asked the machine.
Jerry tried to remember, he sent alot of messages over the past few months but then he thought what he was sending to Matt and then he remembered,
"Something about...insurance?"
"That's right, I have the message right here." said the skeletal figure as it pointed to the pedestal behind Jerry. He looked behind and saw the message as it appeared upon the holographic display. It said, "Hey Matt, I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your investment in us and thanks to one of the other investors we have now enough money to insure most of the facilities and equipment. I hope this peace of mind will maintain the confidence you have in me and the people working here. We should be ready to ramp up production in the next few months. Hope to hear from you soon!"
"Don't you see Mr. Knox?" The machine queried. "The solution is quite simple, you and your fellows will repair your communications suite and send a message saying that there was an unfortunate accident. A meteroid passed through the atmosphere and split into pieces that smashed into the colony and surrounding mountainside. There were many casualties as well as severe damage to the facilities. Thus you will send a report specifying replacement material and cargo to be sent via automated freighter to another location that I will designate. From there you will be able to make at least a replacement facility that will serve my purposes and those of your clients."
"What if they send someone to investigate the claim?" Jerry asked.
"I doubt they will, considering the pictures I will have you send as well as data you will also provide. According to what I understand of the company that you used, that evidence will be more than enough to satisfy them. After all you have been good on your payments and your investors hold you in high regard." said the metal figure.
"...I suppose but I am still confused. Why do you need us? Your technology and machines are more capable of anything we could do and more." replied Jerry, still unsure as to what this machine's intentions were for all this.
"True, however my people are not ready to reveal themselves to the greater galaxy just yet. Thus we need someone to...cooperate with us in order to advance our interests. Thus far you have heard my proposal and solutions to any issues. Yet I still have not heard your answer Mr. Knox."
Jerry was silent for a moment as he considered his choice. It didn't take him too long to reach a decision though, he wasn't an idiot. Better to serve and live to see another day, as long as nobody else had to die. He looked to the gaunt metal face looking down on him, still kneeling. Though remembering the screaming back at the processing facility reminded him of one last thing to ask.
"If I do this...will you release Laura and Darrel? They're good people they don't deserve what's happening to them."
"I am afraid that is not possible, they and the other alien species are now in the...care of one of my retinue. I cannot simply renege on my word, especially to one of my fellows. However, I can promise that they will live as I did stress to him that I wanted them to be alive when he was finished with his...examinations." explained the skeletal machine.
"But..that's..too cruel I-" but Jerry was interrupted by a now incensed robot lord.
"It is incredibly generous considering your alternative Jarold Knox! Cooperate and you may live to serve a higher purpose or refuse and return to your cell to meet your fate! Make your choice, for I will not ask a third time."
Jerry's head hung low and he was silent for a moment, he knew he was out of time. Part of him hated what he was going to have to do, though there were far worse things weighing on his mind. Right now for the sake of everyone who still wanted to live, he had to do the right thing. He looked back up to the robotic skeleton on the throne and answered,
" I speak as administrator of this colony and everyone who is still alive. I, Jarold Knox, swear loyalty to you uhm...oh I didn't ask who you were."
The skeletal figure gave a light chuckle at the realization as well, "Heh heh heh, ah yes, it has been some time since I gave my name to those not of my kind."
The figure then stood up revealing its towering presence over Jerry, which intimidated him even more. Then the caped metallic skeleton proclaimed, "I am Veronakh, Lord of the Solvatakh dynasty. Be grateful Jarold Knox, for in time you will bear witness to such sights that have not been seen by mortal eyes in eons."