Spacequake
By Mardrena
On the surface of a roaming asteroid, simple organisms milled about, having adapted to the harshness of outer space. They nibbled away on the rocky surface, feeding upon lesser lichen-like growths on the side facing a distant star. They had no ambitions nor expectations nor dreams of their own, merely day-to-day survival on their little chunk of space.
Suddenly a massive wave of greenish light cascaded over the asteroid, sweeping past and withering what little life on the surface in mere seconds. Far beyond Sol's heliosphere, beyond the cares and worries of mortal man, a colossal swath of hate and destruction barreled through space.
Aboard the Nsenagvvik, Mal Daggur's personal flagship, the Supreme High Overlord of the Thunthen fleet observed his crew as they in turn observed nervously the readings on their screens as the wave loomed far in the distance. "W...W...Worry not, good Mal Daggur," Phitdaitiarona, Thanged's outcast Goddess of Wickedness and the Empress of Night, assured as she paced behind Mal Daggur's command chair. Her voice emerged in a musical triple-echo, alternating from a whisper to a booming roll as she spoke. "As long as I am here, your fleet is protected. The rest of your forces en route had the good sense to give my power a wide enough berth. I...I...In a matter of time, my power will expunge all life from this pitiful world which has given you so much trouble."
Mal Daggur glanced worriedly from the screen to his second-in-command, Bru Ranir, who shared his misgivings. "Do not mistake doubt for ungratefulness, Milady, but our goal has always been to seize the Oldworld intact. Stripping it of all life would prove counterproductive for my people."
"Oh, but that is the beauty of my plan. Where your precious Maw of Flame failed, my power shall succeed! The fires that consumed Banguk and its people instead denied you your prize. With this, the planet shall be left a barren husk: Imagine!" Phitdaitiarona darted behind Mal Daggur and wrapped her arms around his shoulders between his neck and his shell, caressing his right cheek with her right hand and rapping her left fingers on his left shoulder. "A blank slate to shape as you see fit! To harvest resources or create a paradise for your people…" Mal Daggur glanced at her and stroked his beard thoughtfully. Off to the side, Bru Ranir stood with his hands clasped under his shell.
I do not like this. This is not our way! We have always forged our own path, independent of 'gods'. To be so dependent-no-subservient...I fear this would weaken, not strengthen our resolve… Bru Ranir scowled as he observed Phitdaitiarona whispering enticingly to Mal Daggur. It bothered him seeing the Butcher of Banguk reduced to a mere pawn. He shifted uncomfortably in place. Ahh, I should not think such things! The Empress would not approve of such errant thoughts.
"Indeed I would not, and indeed you should, good Bru Ranir," Phitdaitiarona said abruptly. Bru Ranir's gaze snapped to her and he saw her fixing him with a cold glare, her nails digging into Mal Daggur's shoulder armor slightly. Bru Ranir caught sight of Mal Daggur's eyes and the Supreme High Overlord made the very slightest shake of his head: NOW IS NOT THE TIME! his fearful gaze conveyed. Bru Ranir's eyes widened and he cleared his throat and straightened himself.
"Forgive me, Milady! The mind while idle tends to wander. We Thunthen relish trudging into battle. This...observing from afar, contradicts our nature," Bru Ranir offered, his voice cracking slightly.
"H...H...Have I proven unfaithful? Have I not kept my promise? Roth and the other Queens are content to sit back and let the Thangiens spill blood without abandon in their name. Here I offer you swift victory on a gilded platter, and you still doubt my sincerity? Still, you are right: a god is without glory if there is not but one mortal to doubt and be proven so staggeringly wrong.
"E...E...Even the Ronin Warriors cannot hope to save every mortal, every microbe, from my wrath! Lo, for I have poured my vast powers into this unstoppable tide, they will be as a pebble before a wave!" Phitdaitiarona stepped away and danced out onto the bridge, spinning as she moved with her arms wide and her gown furling. A Common that sat close to where she moved promptly scrambled out of his seat, leaving his chair spinning until Phitdaitiarona sprawled into the seat and lifted her legs over the armrest, laying her left arm atop the back of the seat and propping her right elbow on the other armrest. Her blood-red lips spread wide and her knuckles pressed into her pale cheeks.
Mal Daggur glanced from her to the main screen as long-range scanners showed the distance closing between the wave and the heliosphere. "Not that I am ungrateful for your beneficence, Milady, but what do you hope to achieve by all of this? What payment can we possibly render for this deed?"
"O...O...Only that I shall be your god, and that you shall worship me," Phitdaitiarona replied smoothly. Mal Daggur and Bru Ranir exchanged looks before Mal Daggur pushed himself out of his chair and drew himself up tall. For all of his intimidating stature, standing twice as tall as an average human, he felt as nervous as a hatchling fresh out of the egg in the face of the Goddess of Wickedness.
"It is not the nature of the Thunthen to worship gods. We have no temples, no prayers nor psalms as Humans and Thangiens do…" Phitdaitiarona's smile spread wider and her eyes: Black irises with glittering green pupils, fixed upon Mal Daggur expectantly. "But...we will honor you, as is befitting of one such as you, and as our culture and custom allows…" Mal Daggur shell-bowed slowly.
"Shrewdly put, Mal Daggur. As you are about to witness, with this act, I will prove myself deserving of your unconditional love, for I am a generous and loving god." The wave reached the heliosphere.
No one noticed the tiny form coming down the cable lift in the Roost. Tiny soft hands clutched onto the grip and short legs sat on the support plate at the base of the cable. Bak Thraplek and some of his crew gathered around the fighter craft Raider in the main cavern as they made repairs and upgrades in preparation of future engagements. Not since the fall of Beastlord had any other enemy of the Ronin Warriors made any effort to launch an offensive upon the Mortal Realm. Talpa still licked his wounds after losing the bulk of his armies to Beastlord's Menagerie and Mal Daggur nursed his pride after his failed invasion. In the lull since the Blood Dawn on Thanged, the Ronin Warriors had spent time either with close family or rigorous training. Such calm, however fleeting, they indulged as long as possible.
The tiny form arrived on the floor of the main cavern and rolled off the disc. The Thunthen remained so engrossed in their work, and being so tall, they did not even notice the tiny form crawl along the floor towards them. "I still don't see why I'm the one doing this. Ita is far superior when it comes to programming and delicate wiring…" Miz Paufan grumbled as he perched on the outer rim of the cockpit. He leaned inside tinkering with the controls while his tail hung down outside the chassis.
"You're as small as a human; just the right size to make adjustments to their liking," Naz Dassyr reasoned as he and Sul Phathrax dismantled and inspected the engines.
"Ita's just as small…" The tiny form approached the towering Thunthen.
"Ita working on new guidance software, recommend Miz cease bleating!" Ita Tarmvun hissed.
"If no one is hitting you, that means there's no rush, little Miz. Take as much time as you need. Things have been so slow lately I've even allowed Koi to take over observation duty for you. Outside of any heavy lifting that might be needed, he will keep tireless watch in the comm. room," Bak Thraplek assured. Sure enough, Koi Udsarrin sat on the floor behind the console chair staring impassively at the array of screens from under his bushy eyebrows. He did not know how to use the key panels, but he could easily alert anyone nearby if he spotted anything out of the ordinary.
"If you say so, but if my clumsy hands mess up anything I'll be the one getting-WAAUGH!" Miz sprang up without warning, letting out such a series of yelps and cries as he flipped forward into the cockpit and landed shell-first, the rim wedging into the seat. "Something grabbed my tail!" he yelped.
"Well now you've gone and done it. Look at the fine mess you've gotten yourself into," Bau Daophyn scooted over from where he worked on Raider's wings. "I hope you don't expect me to chisel you out of there…" Bau grabbed the rim of the cockpit with his artificial hand and tapped the metallic claws on the interior. Miz squirmed and struggled. "Don't the humans use 'butter' in situations such as thi-ooh!" Bau backed away from the cockpit abruptly. "Something touched my foot!"
"Fenda down here?" Ita asked, using the Thunthen word for feline. The other Thunthen looked around, expecting to see Whiteblaze or WILDCAT nosing about. Bak's gaze roved about as he listened. His eyes widened when he thought he heard a faint sound, almost like a muffled laugh.
"No one move. Keep your tails still…" he stepped away slowly and leaned down, moving his head under Raider. "Someone...is here….someone...is about….now who. Could. That. Be?" he moved his nose towards the rear landing gear. The tiny form hid in the shadows under the Raider as Bak's rectangular snout came close. "Ooh!" Bak blinked and backed away, keeping his head lowered until he fully cleared the Raider's wings before standing up and showing off the form that gripped his nostrils. "Why, hello there Little Dragon," Bak greeted as he saw Ryu Sanada dangling from the end of his snout, a hand gripping each nostril securely. Ryu wore a white onesie his grandmother Renee Sanada had custom sewn for him themed after the White Dragon, Raurgoth. It had a little hood with short felt 'horns' and 'wings' and 'claws' on the back and feet. Even a little tail hung down the back.
"Ba!" Ryu burbled as peered around his arms at the Thunthen captain. Bak smiled as he gazed down his snout at the baby boy. He knew 'Ryu' meant 'dragon', and since most humans viewed Thunthen as dragons, he referred to Ryu by this nickname. Bak cupped his palms under Ryu's bottom but the baby gave no indication of tiring as he held firm. He even kicked and squirmed as he clambered ontop of Bak's muzzle entirely and Bak grimaced and closed his eyes slightly as Ryu crawled atop his head and behind Bak's neck, seating himself between the neck and shell rim.
"I dare say he likes you, Captain," Naz teased as Ryu nuzzled the scaly skin and settled in for a nap.
"Um...I'm still stuck.," Miz said pitiably from where remained lodged upside down in the cockpit.
"Ryu? RYU?" Bak turned around when he heard the frantic cry.
"He is here, Mia!" Bak called out and turned around as Mia Koji ran over quickly.
"I am terribly sorry about that! He completely got away from me. He's been a regular motorbug lately; I turned around for a second and he slipped out of his highchair and ends up all the way down here! Ryu, you shouldn't run off like that! You could've hurt yourself!" Mia scolded, her voice a mix of anger and fright. Ryu gripped Bak's horns with his hands and ducked behind Bak's head.
"The cable lifts are designed not to move unless the passenger has a firm grip. This prevents any risk of falling. Young Ryu had the presence of mind-and the strength- to maintain a solid hold on the handles," Bau assured. Bak bowed down so Mia could retrieve Ryu. Mia reached over carefully, trying to avoid snagging her sleeves on Bak's horns or shell spikes. Ryu fussed and tried to duck away from Mia's grasp, but Mia slipped her hands under his arms and lifted him carefully up from his seat, avoiding snagging his onesie on any sharp points. Once she had Ryu securely in her arms, Bak stood back up and shrugged his shoulders. Ryu reached out for him and babbled.
"I think he's trying to say 'dinosaur'. He hasn't said any complete words yet, but he's come awfully close lately…" Mia chuckled.
"A little help here?" Miz flailed his arms and legs. Ita ignored him and walked over to Mia and leaned close to Ryu. She spoke to him in a way Mia had not heard from her before, cooing and chiding gently in the Thunthen language. Ryu reached up and tried to grab Ita's whiskers as she spoke and Ita waggled a finger at him. She gave Ryu the gentlest tap on his nose before stepping away.
"I'm not familiar with your language...what did she say?" Mia asked and wrinkled her brow. She knew some words like the word for obedience but not enough to understand whole sentences.
"She said 'Silly boy! We are not dinosaurs, we are dragons! For dinosaurs are extinct and no longer walk this world, while we live and breathe. And you should not go giving your mother such a fright! You must be good and obey her, for she is your mother and cares very much for you. Grow older and strong and wise, and one day you will stand alongside dragons yourself!'" Bak explained gently.
"I'm sure he will…" Mia laughed before falling quiet as she remembered the delirious vision she'd had during childbirth of a grown Ryu in a spectacular sub-armor fashioned after a dragon unlike anything she'd seen before. She recomposed herself and tickled Ryu on the chin. Years ago she never would have expected to be married to a Ronin Warrior and have a son, or be friends with alien dragons, and yet here she stood. They'd pulled through no matter how dire the situation.
Inside the comm. room, Koi kept his vigil. Nothing appeared out of place at the moment. Suddenly the main monitor flashed and brought up a map of the solar system. Alerts flashed at the outer edge of the asteroid belt where Bak had enlisted Thangien Pegasi riders to plant sensors some time ago to warn of Mal Daggur's fleet movements. Koi sat bolt upright in his seat and his bushy gray eyebrows rose in alarm when the outermost sensors flashed before being replaced by bold red X's, indicating the sensors themselves were either destroyed or disabled. More and more sensors became unresponsive as something cut a swath through the alert network. Koi pushed himself to stand and threw back his head.
Everyone inside the Roost, from the main cavern all the way into the residential halls heard the piercing bellow. Mia jumped upon hearing the sound and Ryu's eyes widened in surprise. "Ita, check on Koi! Alert the Ronin! Bau, you and Naz finish here!" Bak ordered in response to hearing Koi's frantic roar. He moved to follow after Ita but paused and backtracked to the Raider cockpit where Miz still remained. He reached down and grabbed Miz's shell rim then turned him to the side slightly as if jostling a hubcap loose. He successfully freed Miz from his predicament and set him down on the floor then slapped him on the shell. "Come along, you!" he scolded and ran towards the comm. room.
Mia didn't know what to think of what just happened: Koi would not have made such a cry for no reason. She had to fight down her own curiosity and walked towards the cable lift to take Ryu back up to his room. Whatever new danger had presented itself, the Ronin Warriors would face it as always.
"Is it Mal Daggur's fleet?" Bak demanded as he walked into the room to find Miz and Ita at their customary seats with Koi standing towards the back of the chamber, shifting about on his feet looking awfully nervous despite being the biggest Nobeyl alive.
"I'm not detecting any signatures...something is cutting through the sensor array at an alarming pace! Could Mal Daggur have discovered them?" Miz asked.
"All at once?! Simultaneously?" Ita argued. "Energy readings inconsistent with phergon weaponry!"
"Bak! What's going on? We came as soon as we heard the alarm," Ryo Sanada and Rowen Hashiba entered the room, both wearing sub-armor. Anubis entered shortly after, having been roused from his studies in his room in the residential hall. Bak didn't immediately answer as he tried to make sense of the multiple readouts coming up on the screens.
"I'm pulling up visual on sensors in the path, trying to get a view of the leading edge," Miz stated and called up camera views of mostly empty space with only a few drifting asteroids in the distance. Everything seemed quiet at first. Suddenly the view lit up bright green before going dark. Other sensor feeds met with a similar fate. The distance covered by the disruption looked small on the solar map but in reality covered a distance big enough to encompass Planet Earth. Indeed, the disruption seemed to be making a beeline for the human world. "….T-T-Tell me I didn't see that…" Miz stammered.
"Blessed Mother of Roth…a...a...spacequake!" Bak whispered, his skin blanching as he paced to the side. Ita snapped her gaze to him in alarm and Miz shrank in his seat.
"Wait, what the heck is a 'spacequake'?" Ryo asked, wrinkling his face in confusion.
"It's an upheaval of ambient matter in space. Most such disruptions occur without anyone even realizing it, but this...this is...far beyond anything I've seen before! The speed and scope of its movement...defies all conventions! It's…it's almost as if it's being 'directed' somehow…"
"What are we talking about here? A solar flare?" Rowen asked.
"A solar flare would be a bad case of sunburn compared to this…" Bak fretted. "A spacequake...I have not seen nor heard of one of this magnitude…not since…." Bak looked genuinely frightened, his lips quivered around his teeth. "Not since Nexxus vaporized himself...and consigned his entire race to oblivion!" Ryo and Rowen exchanged confused glances.
"Okay, so what's the plan? Raise the Argonauth? Call up the Northern Garrison?" Ryo suggested.
"Evacuate!" Bak snapped as he moved to a side key panel and hurriedly typed commands.
"Wait, what?" Ryo made an incredulous grimace. "You can't possibly mean the entire planet…"
"No! Immediate family, close allies, essential personnel! This is far beyond Mal Daggur's capability to produce, but I have no doubt he will capitalize on its outcome. Naz, call the Apprentices, execute emergency protocols. Prep the Argonauth for takeoff. Raider will have to wait! All the Pegasi on Thanged will not be able to stop what is coming. Ryo, summon the other Ronin. If there is any possibility of staving off this catastrophe, you must deploy the World Armor." Ryo opened his mouth to voice an objection but paused when he saw the raw terror in Bak's eyes. He wouldn't even suggest using Gea if the need weren't dire. Only Gea managed to thwart the Totalitary in the distant past.
"At the speed it's moving...I'd say we have several hours before it reaches Earth. That should give us time to round up everyone and get them to safety. So we'll send them aboard the Argonauth and they can chill out on Thanged until things blow over," Rowen recommended.
"A force such as this will tax you all to your very limits. Should you prevail-and you must-the shock will leave all of you severely incapacitated. Even Thanged might not be able to provide safe refuge. No, you'll need a secure location where not even Mal Daggur or Ouagli would be able to follow."
"I can think of a more suitable location. One Mal Daggur would not even think of looking," Anubis spoke up suddenly and glanced at Ryo, who nodded grimly. He raised his wrist-com.
"RONIN TO ARMS!"
The giant air platform Argonauth bustled with activity as Bak's crew loaded up supplies and members of the Ronin's immediate circle boarded and either milled about the deck or went inside to seat themselves in the passengers cabin. "The others aren't going to call their families?" Tanya Sanada asked and looked to the side at Kento Rei Faun.
"That's the rub, isn't it? Argonauth can only fit so many, and even during the Cataclysm it could hold ten thousand people packed like sardines. If we can't stop this thing in its tracks, the whole world gets wiped out. As...as terrible as it sounds, we can't bring the rest of our families with us, because we need them to be there, need them to protect so we can give it our all." Kento stared out from the deck and looked like he wanted to say something else but hesitated. Tanya wrinkled her brow and gave him a warning look before frowning understandingly. "Even if we pull through, there's no guarantee we'll come out in one piece. Bak says Gea's the only thing strong enough, and even that's a crapshoot."
"Danae has a kid on the way...Dais might not be there for her because of this…" Tanya whispered as she spotted Roxi Hirochner and Brianna Johansen helping Chi Chi Lina, Danae up the ramp. The two of them solemnly watched more passengers embark. Without warning, Tanya hugged Kento tightly. He blinked, startled at first before wrapping his arms around her. They had only been together a relatively brief time. They might not get the chance to start a family…
"So this is really it, huh? After all the fights we've been through, our biggest threat is something we have no idea where it came from," Sehkmet grumbled from where he, Cale, and Dais loitered.
"The Northern Garrison's already been recalled to Thanged. Not even the Metraind can do anything about this. As usual everything always falls to us," Dais added.
"Of course. After all, we're the heroes Thanged always sings of. I won't lose sleep over this. This is the sort of fight we were made for," Cale grinned and clapped Sehkmet on the shoulder. Sage Date stood off to the side close to the entryway to the interior. He looked up when he heard Cale speak and immediately recalled part of his vision where the Ronin found themselves facing not an extraterrestrial threat or demonic invasion, but fellow humans who had betrayed them. Likewise Cye Mouri brooded over his own hellish vision of a future without Ronin Warriors, where "even Thanged had fallen". Neither of the two knew what the other had seen, only that they faced a dire threat.
"Uhh…Captain? I'm picking up two unknown silhouettes incoming. They're big! Titanodracoasaur-class!" Miz said from his seat on the bridge of Argonauth. Two wire-frame images appeared on the main screen, one of a colossal winged form and the other almost serpentine.
"It's Vaughisdrough!" Yulie Yamano announced over the open channel.
"Vaugh? What the heck is he doing here?" Ryo asked as he saw the approaching Norwegian Thunder Wyrm. "I thought he chose to stay in the Vortex Realm to keep tabs on the people there."
"I guess he got bored and agreed to sign on with us," Rowen commented. "Check it out! There's Yulie and his team!" Alongside the Chinese lung known only as Dragon Master flew Yulie astride White Wind as well as Ru Ru Tiki, T'plaureth's sons Ph'li and Ko'li on their loaned Pegasi. Yulie's friend from the other realm rode her drake and another girl the Ronin had yet to meet surprisingly enough rode a flying carpet. The five youths waved down at the Ronin enthusiastically.
"Momma, can I get a Pegasi someday?" Kayli Sanada asked her mother Renee as they walked up the ramp. Renee let out an awkward chuckle. Sage watched the two dragon titans circle above.
Everything is coming together...pieces coming into play...all roads lead to the End Tide...
"I certainly hope they don't expect to come aboard. Even Argonauth isn't big enough to hold one dragon let alone two," Anubis commented while the Neo Ronin filed onboard.
"Nah, they'll be flying escort. Where are we sending the Argonauth anyway?" Rowen asked.
"A place where neither Mal Daggur nor even Talpa can breach: the Nether Realm," Anubis said, drawing a startled glance from Rowen. "Kayura crafted the wards to be ironclad, but as demonstrated with Black Hawk's uninvited appearance, there are ways to bypass the wards. The plan is to use the Transgalactic Gate to divert the destination into the Nether Realm. Ryu is the only Armor Heir we currently know of, and no one else has Ignited. For all of their skill and strength, the Neo Ronin are not Armor Heirs. Until such a time our successors appear, we must guard those close to us," Anubis explained and glanced at the ramp as his daughter Michelle Lonely Coyote arrived along with Kayura and Shannon O'Connor. The final preparations had completed and Argonauth would soon depart.
"Shout 'Lion' if you wanna call Lyor, turn this part to the side and shout 'Dragon' if you need Raurgoth, but don't call him unless you absolutely have to or else he'll eat like it's going out of style," Ryo said to Mia as he handed her his AnimArmor ring. Mia took the ring in one hand while holding Ryu in the other arm. She held Ryu to the side slightly and hugged Ryo, who returned her embrace. Despite everything they'd been through together in the past, this was one battle she would not be able to come along, not even for morale support, not even at the 11th hour. Ryo pulled away and reached down and tousled Ryu's hair playfully. Ryu had yet to even say "Dad" and burbled up at Ryo.
"We're ready for takeoff, Captain!" Naz Dassyr shouted into his comm in the engine room where he worked alongside Ita, Koi, Miz, and Rgn Chorrez. Up in the bridge, Sul, Dhr Aurir, Vud Wyherer, and Tuv Anarach manned the helm controls. Bak sat in the command chair. The Ronin Warriors stood close by, apprehensive as Argonauth's engines roared to life. The air platform jolted as it rose.
"Tar has volunteered to remain behind in the Roost and maintain contact with Thanged. He is the oldest among my crew, and Shannon is more than capable of providing medical care in event of emergency." Tar Uhnin sat alone in the comm. room observing readouts. "We will bring the Argonauth into the upper stratosphere before we part ways. Pegasi can use their air shields to protect them in flight, and I am told the new arrivals have similar powers by which they can proof themselves against space. When Kayura is ready to open the path, the dragons will follow."
"Come on, take your seats kids!" Brianna scolded as some of the Neo Ronin had yet to buckle in. Mia fastened Ryu in his safety seat. Renee and Kayli sat to either side of him and Whiteblaze lounged on the floor. The passenger cabin had enough room to fit everyone comfortably and securely.
"Don't expect in-flight service here. This is serious," Roxi added. She had bought along a revolver and her Sharps but left Goldheart at her cabin. She'd only heard stories about the Nether Realm and it sounded like no place for a Labrador Retriever. Kaosu sat next to Michelle and Shannon and kept his head bowed. Despite the loss of his powers, he could sense a malevolent Power behind this crisis.
"ETA of the leading edge one hour thirty minutes. We'll be cutting it close," Sul stated from his station. Bak nodded in reply and everyone watched the view outside as Argonauth ascended.
"Approaching lower-Earth-orbit. The Gate is not far ahead," Dhr noted. He glanced over his shoulder at his fellow Apprentices and scowled.
"Um...? We have a problem…" Vud said meekly. "Argonauth won't fit."
"...What do you mean 'Argonauth won't fit'?" Ryo demanded, exasperated.
"It won't fit through the Gate! The deck is too wide! If we try to cram through we'll risk shearing off both sides!" Vud explained and shrugged his shoulders helplessly. Ryo hissed through his teeth.
"Fine. We'll get Shannon to create a Sol Gate like we did when we went to Thanged."
"A Sol Gate won't work, Ryo! Kayura is the only mystic with intrinsic knowledge of the wards on the Nether Realm, and she requires this gate structure to create the bypass," Anubis argued. Ryo, Rowen, and Anubis bickered amongst themselves about which course to take with Ryo arguing in favor of Thanged as a backup and Rowen stating an all-out war between Thanged and Thunthen would put everyone in greater danger. Everyone on the bridge remained so engrossed observing the debate no one noticed a screen window pop up with an incoming signal.
"Avast...me hearties…" the voice of an elderly woman purred tauntingly. Ryo's eyes widened.
"Oh great, not this woman again!" he snapped his gaze forward. Outside above the Argonauth the air rippled and winged craft decorated with the goddess Isis came into view, coming in close to hover just above the bridge. The image of an elderly woman appeared on the main screen.
"Hooooooow's my favorite son?" she greeted as she reclined in her command chair.
"Try your only son," Dais snorted and folded his arms over his chest.
"Captain Caroline Wendell...what a pleasant surprise…" Ryo growled through his teeth. Caroline closed her eyes and batted a hand in his direction coquettishly.
"Oh stooooop! You're going to make an old woman blush," she teased.
"So what brings you around these parts, Cap'n?" Rowen greeted with more cheer than Ryo and Dais put together. Caroline shrugged and wove her fingers together infront of her chest.
"Well, word going around High Space is you all managed to piss off Phitdaitiarona something fierce and she's gunning for you hard-core." Ryo raised an eyebrow upon hearing that and Cye's eyes widened in alarm. Before either of them could voice their confusion, Caroline continued speaking. "What ever you may think of me, I am still an expectant grandmother, and thus have a vested interest in the safety of my unborn grandson. To that end, I offer my services as a security escort: Free of charge," Caroline tented her fingers infront of her chest and flicked her thumbs, nodding solemnly.
"Ryo...we're gonna have our hands full dealing with this thing…" Rowen whispered. Ryo growled softly in his throat, grinding his teeth and scowling before composing himself.
"Fine! But if we hear about you pulling anything while we're-" he warned.
"Good! Now that that's out of the way," Caroline cut him off and smiled. "I couldn't help but overhear your predicament on my way over. Sit tight and buckle up, kids. You're in for a real treat." Caroline reclined in her chair and tilted her chin up as she focused on something on her screen.
High above them, just outside of the atmosphere, the Transgalactic Gate linking Earth to Thanged let out an echoing clank. Parts of the anchor ring began sliding and moving outward and the four orbital spires split in half and began shifting, breaking into sections that moved inwards as the anchor ring expanded outward bit by bit. Dererium plates clanked and groaned as the ring yawned wide, the lower rim reaching down into the stratosphere. All the while the Ronin watched in disbelief.
"Say hello to the Mega Gate. I've only ever heard of it being deployed twice before in history: once during the Totalitary's original attack, and once during the Battle of Banguk. You should consider yourselves blessed. Such a thing happens only once in a lifetime," Caroline explained.
"Wait, who deployed it?" Cye demanded. He'd always assumed the Gates operated as autonomous structures, similar to an escalator or the sliding doors at a grocery store. No one else seemed interested in pushing that line of inquiry.
"Mal Daggur's fleet relies on special drives to hitchhike along the path generated by the rings, that's why he had to take the scenic route when he first arrived. The Gates are designed to keep un-wanted visitors from attacking Thanged, with the Mega Gate only used to ferry large forces simultaneously. Now, I imagine you all need to get going with Phitdaitiarona breathing down your necks. Women and children first. Roth guide and guard you all," with that, Caroline closed the visual link and Blue Isis pulled back and idled towards the rear of Argonauth along with the dragons.
"Is it just me or is everyone and their literal mum bringing up the Thangien Gods lately?" Cye asked sullenly. Between his vision and Suzunagi's warning he'd seen too many coincidences.
"This is it then...Bak, we're heading out onto the deck. As soon as Gea is summoned, head on through. Once you arrive in the Nether Realm, ring up Lord Mabu. He's a friendly."
"Understood. Kayura is waiting on standby to open the bypass. Roth guide and guard you."
"It'll be safe for us outside. I've got an air shield up on the deck," Rowen said as the ten Ronin made their way to the exit and out onto the deck. The door hissed shut behind them and while Rowen's shield made the air breathable for them, the wind whipped about mightily, sending their hair flagging.
"I know it was the Ancient's wish not to use Gea unless there was no other option, but...it's looking like there is no other option, definitely not this time. If...if we don't come back from this...well, it's been an honor, everyone," Ryo said, fighting hard to suppress tears welling up in his eyes, trying to attribute it to the wind and high altitude. Sage flicked a glance at Ryo.
We will make it out of this. We must. End Tide will not happen this day... Kento and Tanya exchanged glances and clasped hands. The Elders looked eager for battle and Dais looked up at Blue Isis. Rowen clapped a hand on Ryo's shoulder and nodded in agreement. Ryo inhaled deeply.
"RONIN WARRIORS! I SUMMON YOU SPIRITS TO MY SIDE!" Ryo shouted and raised his hand high. Bak and his crew flinched from the blinding light that enveloped the Ronin Warriors. When it subsided, only Ryo remained, fully clad in the terrifying yet beautiful World Armor. The Six Swords spread from Ryo's back like wings, and the gems embedded in the cross-guards glittered as the spirits of the other Ronin took up the battle within the Armor itself, keeping the shadowy spirit chained within at bay. Ryo's feet left the deck as he rose into the air, leaving the stratosphere entirely.
"Gea is active! Taking us into lower-Earth-orbit!" Sul announced and Argonauth rose towards the yawning Mega Gate. "Gauraax Kayura, you're up!"
Magnetically-charged boots clanked into the decompression chamber separating the outer deck from the interior. The bulky-suited figure waited until the door sealed shut behind and the door outside hissed open. Lights turned red and the figure ambled outside onto the exposed deck of the Argonauth as it hovered infront of the fully-expanded Mega Gate.
"How is the suit holding up, Lady Kayura?" Bak asked over the comm.
"The suit fits just fine, Bak. Though I must admit...this is the first time I've ever cast a spell in outer space…" Kayura commented within the confines of the pressure suit. The Staff's rings floated idly in the low gravity. Kayura moved towards the middle of the deck step by ponderous step.
"Technically this is lower-Earth-orbit..."
"You know what I mean," Kayura chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"Shouldn't the other psychokinetics be out there with her?" Vud asked on the bridge.
"From what I understand, she is the only one capable of opening the path to this other Realm," Tuv replied. At his seat, Dhr listened in on their chatter and narrowed his eyes. He reached one hand under his shell quietly. Back outside, Kayura planted her feet and raised the Staff horizontally.
"By the power of the Staff of Ancients, by the blood of my Clan, I call upon the Heavens: Let the Path be opened! Let the door to the Nether Realm swing wide and grant us passage!" With the simple incantation, the rings began gyrating soundlessly. Within the confines of the anchor ring, the vortex seemed to flip vertically, changing from the swirling wormhole to a view of a vast gold-hued landscape. "It's done! The bypass will only last a short while! I'm on my way back inside!"
"Captain, Naz is requesting your presence down in the engine room," Dhr Aurir looked over his shoulder. Bak made a puzzled frown, wondering why Naz simply didn't contact him directly. He wrinkled his brow then nodded and rose from the command chair. "Sul, you have the bridge."
Outside, Ryo watched from a distance as Argonauth began moving through the Gate. Blue Isis remained close to the bridge and the two dragons and Yulie's companions approached the lower edge of the ring. "Gauraax Ryo, I don't know if you can hear this," Sul Phathrax spoke over the channel as Argonauth had moved roughly half-way into the portal. "We've long theorized that the Armor of Gea draws its power from the field of charged particles encircling the planet. Your people refer to these as the Van Allen Belts. You quite literally have the power of the entire world at your disposal..."
I have the entire world at my back... Ryo removed the sword wheel from his back and held it forward. Inside the Argonauth, Kayura waited for the airlock to signal green before entering the next room and shucking the bulky pressure suit. She retrieved the Staff and headed for the passenger cabin. Bak Thraplek headed down the corridor leading to the engine room.
"You have no hope of stopping this outright. The best you can achieve is to shunt it away from the planet. It appears invisible until reacting with opposing energies or matter. You will not see it until it is very nearly on top of you, so you must steel yourself at all times. Roth guide and guard you."
"Copy that." Ryo watched as Argonauth disappeared into the portal, followed by Blue Isis and the dragons. The portal flipped once more, reverting to the vortex before the Gate began re-configuring to its original size. Ryo turned away from the Gate and tilted his head up, rising further and further into space. He took his bearings then turned away from the planet to face the direction of the incoming spacequake. Back in the Roost, elderly Tar Uhnin watched sensor readouts indicating the position of Ryo's World Armor and the leading edge as it chewed up any electronics in its path.
Ryo's breathing sounded noisy inside the Armor. His arms felt leaden with tension. He saw only the star-strewn expanse Thangiens and Thunthen referred to as the Vault of Stars. He could see no cataclysmic comet trail or swarm of asteroids. Despite Gea being the product of all ten Armors united, he felt anxious and he gulped nervously. Still nothing. Ryo had to fight the urge to relax even for a second. Time ticked inexorably away and Ryo kept his breathing measured.
The space before him erupted into brilliant green light. "Holy sh-!" Ryo steeled his body and braced himself as the wave slammed into him: spanning farther than the eye could see, staggeringly vast and bigger than belief. Wisps of energy rippled vertically like an impossibly large aurora. His power kept it at bay far from the Earth itself, but the sheer size of it made it seem much closer, almost right infront of him. "NNNYAAAAGHH! UUUHNNNNHHH!" Ryo growled as he stood fast against the spacequake. His arms shuddered from the effort. It felt as if a thousand-times a million tides bore down on him. Energy trickled off to either side of his shield, moving past the planet harmlessly.
"And so the hero focused all of his will, and channeled all of his might, and turned aside the tide of fate!" Mal Daggur orated mockingly and shook his fist from his command chair on the bridge of the Nsenagvvik. "It seems once more, the Ronin Warriors have once again prevailed against all odds," he teased and glanced at Bru Ranir, who stood beside him. He noticed the horrified expression on Bru Ranir's face and followed his gaze to where Phitdaitiarona stood.
"Wh...wh...what is this? Even in the face of my stupendous might, they still think they can defy me!? I WILL NOT HAVE IT!" Mal Daggur, Bru Ranir, and other Thunthen on the bridge observed with awe as Phitdaitiarona planted her feet on the deck and held her arms at her sides, splaying her fingers. Her black hair billowed like a tide of shadow and the star-shaped ornaments on her crown flickered with energy. Her gown whipped about her legs and a green glow crept over her body, engulfing her until her form distorted into rippling greenish light.
"Huh?" Ryo blinked, not sure what to think when it seemed as if lines of green light began pinching together. So far he'd been able to maintain his strength and position with great effort. The spacequake had yet to show signs of petering out, and Ryo could only watch as the leading edge slowly shifted. At first it looked like gaps opened up in the wave. The leading edge took on a more definitive form, and Ryo could make out features like a nasal bridge and brows. Eyes stared back at him, full of hate and ageless malice. The irises appeared black with distant space visible through the gaps, and the pupils remained brilliant green. Energy whipped along the front of the colossal portrait, from the tip of the "nose" to the top of the "brow". Ryo remembered a line about space staring back, but this was new.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND AGAINST THE MIGHT OF A GOD?! a voice thundered like an eruption. Ryo flinched but stood fast against the unabating onslaught.
"THE FAITH OF MY FRIENDS!" Ryo bellowed in reply. The "eyes" narrowed as if in amusement before the "brow" wrinkled in a scowl.
SILLY BOY, I WILL PROVE YOU WRONG! The spacequake pressed against him mightily as the force behind it redoubled its effort to snuff out all life on earth, down to every last microbe.
"HAAAAAAHHH!" Ryo refused to buckle and held the sword wheel firmly in his grip.
Inside the Argonauth, passengers fidgeted anxiously in their seats or chatted with each other idly. Brit wrinkled her brow and glanced at the ceiling, flicking her gaze from side to side. "...um...why are we moving?" she asked. Roxi raised an eyebrow at her.
"You do know we're inside a dimensional wormhole, right?"
"No, no, no! I mean, it feels like we're turning!" Brit insisted. Kayura had buckled in with the others after returning from her foray out onto the deck earlier and now gazed up at the ceiling and to the side. The passenger cabin had no portholes or view screens to show outside, but Kayura could definitely sense a shift in the vessel.
"That's because we are…everyone, stay here. I'm going to go to the bridge to see what's going on," Kayura unbuckled herself and rose from her seat, retrieving the Staff. No sooner had she left did Danae lean forward in her seat and gripped the armrest tightly with one hand and clasp her free hand over her abdomen. Shannon noticed her distress and frowned.
"Whoa, Danae? You okay there?" Shannon asked. Danae grimaced and gulped down breaths. Mia noticed the commotion and unbuckled herself and moved from her seat, followed by Renee. While everyone else focused on the ailing Thangien, no one seemed to have noticed the empty safety seat where Ryu had been just a moment before.
Kayura walked down the corridor and glanced over her shoulder when she heard heavy footsteps and saw Bak Thraplek coming from the direction of the engine room. "Captain! You likewise sensed something amiss?" Kayura asked as Bak approached.
"Yes. Dhr insisted Naz required my presence, but Naz said he made no such request." All of a sudden the entire Argonauth shuddered. "Something is wrong! Hurry! Ita, Rgn, come to the bridge!" Bak shouted into his com as he and Kayura pelted towards the bridge. The doors slid open as they approached and Kayura gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth when she saw Sul sprawled on the floor with a dark bruise on one side of his head. Vud slouched on the floor next to his station with one hand clutched over a wound in his shoulder. The other two Apprentices remained by the helm station.
"Dhr! What is going on here-!" Bak demanded and stepped forward. Dhr Aurir whirled around and aimed a phergon pistol at his captain. Tuv Anarach hunkered in his seat but before he could move, Dhr swung the barrel back towards him in warning and Tuv cowered from the threat. Kayura knelt down to examine Sul. Ragged breathing emitted from his nostrils. "Dhr, what is the meaning of all this?"
"S-S-Sstay back!" Dhr aimed the pistol at Bak again and turned to the side and kicked Tuv out of his seat. "Useless!" Tuv tumbled away and crawled over to Vud. Dhr kept the pistol raised with one hand and began typing commands on the console with the other. Outside, the Argonauth pitched to the side slowly. "I don't expect you to understand! I'm doing this for your own good: for all of our own good! Running and hiding solves nothing!" Back out in the corridor, a tiny form staggered towards the bridge. Little Ryu kept one hand braced against the wall, occasionally using his other palm as support. Kayura remained so focused on Sul's injury she didn't see Ryu arrive.
"Dhr…Dhr, this isn't you…" Bak argued softly took another step forward.
"I SAID STAY BACK!" Dhr screamed and squeezed the trigger. A beam of green phergon-fire pierced Bak's right leg just above the knee, barely missing his femur but cauterizing the flesh. The Thunthen Nobeyl gasped and dropped onto his other knee, clutching one hand over the wound.
"BAAAAAAAAAAK!" Ryu cried and ran forward, clutching onto Bak's right shin. Startled, Bak gently placed one hand on Ryu's back and looked up at Dhr.
"DHR! LISTEN TO REASON: THERE ARE CHILDREN ON BOARD!" Bak pleaded.
"And whose fault is that? Huh? Who had the bright idea to drag us to the middle of Roth-forsaken nowhere instead of joining the Highlord and reclaiming the homeworld? We never should have come here! You expect us to depend on swords and sorcery to fight against the Totalitary!?"
Just then Rgn Chorrez and Ita Tarmvun arrived at the bridge to see the chaos unfolding. Dhr aimed the pistol at them warningly and Ita and Rgn held up both hands and knelt down to assist Bak.
"Is...is this because of what happened to your tail?" Bak wrinkled his muzzle in confusion.
"THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY TAIIIIIL!" Dhr shrieked in such a way that indicated it had everything to do with it. He seethed then turned his gaze to Kayura as she tended to Sul "You!" Kayura blinked, startled at being singled out. "You will open the portal! You will take us back!"
"I will do no such thing!" Kayura scowled and rose to her feet, keeping the Staff in one hand.
"DO IT NOOOOOOOOOOWWW! OR ELSE I'LL-!" Dhr screamed and shook the pistol.
"OR ELSE YOU'LL WHAT!? KILL ME!?" Kayura bellowed defiantly and squared her shoulders. "GO AHEAD!" Ita's eyes widened in alarm upon hearing Kayura endanger herself so readily. "I am the last of my kind!" Kayura lashed an arm to one side. "If I die, so too will the knowledge you crave so dearly!" Dhr bared his teeth and let out a petulant growling whine as he moved his finger off the trigger. I spent a thousand years living as Talpa's puppet, I will not submit to the likes of you! Kayura set her jaw defiantly, hoping Dhr wouldn't call her bluff and remember Kaosu happened to be on board. Then again, he had admitted to losing all of his greater powers…
Dhr yelped when the air platform shuddered. Outside, even in the depths of the dimensional vortex, Vaughisdrough and Dragon Master remained flying and one by one rammed against the Argonauth's hull, keeping it from turning around. Dhr glanced at a screen indicating the vessel's position and then back at Kayura. "Tell them to stop!"
"How?! They're dragons! They don't exactly have coms!" Kayura shot back.
Dhr growled again, enraged as his control of the situation slipped. He narrowed his eyes and reached under his shell and pulled out a metallic band. "I didn't want to have to use this...but it seems you've given me no other choice..." Dhr stepped towards Kayura. Kayura glanced from the frenzied Nobeyl to the band he held: she had no idea what it was, only that she wanted it nowhere near her.
"That is subjugation collar! Where obtain that?" Ita demanded, incredulous. Kayura backed away from Dhr as he came closer until she bumped up against the wall. Seeing the device brought back unpleasant memories of the ensorcelled amulet she had worn in Talpa's service.
"I snuck it in with our last supply shipment. I hoped to one day use it on Mal Daggur or his lackey...I never imagined I'd have to resort to using it on a helpless woman like this."
"That is forbidden! What reason? What purpose? You would harm Gauraax Kayura because insecurity!?" Ita hissed and rose to her feet from beside the injured Bak.
"Ita, don't try to be a hero. I don't want to take any lives…" Dhr warned and flicked the barrel at her. Ita didn't seem fazed by the threat and took a step forward. Kayura tried to use the distraction to slip away but Dhr lashed out with his tail and pressed her against the wall, keeping the collar in one hand and the pistol in the other.
"We swore oath! In Roth's Name! In Witheren's Name! We swore oath, not lightly!" Ita snarled.
"Ita, don't test me…" Dhr tightened his grip on the pistol and moved to push the collar onto Kayura.
"Fiend...COWAAAAAAAAAARD!" Ita shrieked and lunged, ducking under the line of fire and tackling Dhr away from Kayura. Bak and Rgn scooted away towards the wall and hunkered against the floor to avoid any stray blasts. Bak kept his right arm over Ryu as the babe watched two dragons fight. Kayura skipped away from the brawl and tried desperately to rouse Sul from his coma.
Kayura had never seen two Nobeyls fight before, and wouldn't have thought that a dame could hold her own against a mature sire, and yet here Ita Tarmvun grappled with Dhr Aurir ferociously, clutching his wrists with her hands and keeping him from using his claws or the phergon pistol. She dug her short claws into his wrist trying to force him to drop it while keeping her tail tangled with his so he couldn't use the club. The two circumvented each other, hissing and shrieking, bellowing and roaring. Kayura could only stand by and watch as Dhr and Ita fought, clawing and thrashing and screaming dreadfully. Ita lashed out with her tongue, trying to spear Dhr's eyes and blind him. Dhr turned his head from side to side and kept his eyes squeezed shut. He pitched forward abruptly and headbutted Ita in the face before kneeing her in the gut then kicking her away powerfully. Ita tumbled back onto the deck and sprawled onto her side. She propped herself up on one elbow and gasped as Dhr took aim.
"So this is it, huh? You're going to keep fighting, risking your life needlessly? I'll have no choice then...but to kill all of you!" Dhr turned his back towards the doorway. "I take no pleasure in this! You wouldn't listen! You forced me into this situation!" Rgn raised his arm to speak into his com. "Not! One! Word! Out of you Rgn!" Dhr snapped and aimed at him. Rgn closed his mouth and flinched. "Don't even think about calling Koi for help! I know that pea-brain can't function without any input from you!" Dhr sneered and moved his finger over the trigger and bared his teeth. "THAT SIMPLETON CAN'T SAVE YOU NOOOOOOOW!" Dhr Aurir shrieked throatily.
*SPLUTCH!* Dhr gasped and gurgled as something struck him from behind and lifted him off the floor. Ryu instinctively turned away, burying his face in Bak's leg armor while Bak himself pressed his claws together to shield Ryu's face from the gruesome sight. Dhr's arms hung limp and the phergon pistol tumbled out of his grasp and clattered to the floor. He twitched feebly and looked down to see long claws protruding from his chest cavity with chunks of bone and tissue caking the tips. He tilted his head back jerkily and saw Koi Udsarrin glaring down at him. Kayura and the other Thunthen watched in awe and horror at the sight of Koi impaling Dhr with one arm all the way through the shell and chest.
"Koi….NOT….DUMB!" Koi growled angrily before swinging his arm down and flinging Dhr's body off onto the floor with disgust. Dhr's mouth hung open in shock as life ebbed away. Koi snorted dismissively and stepped past the body to where Ita lay on the floor. She shook her head as she struggled to regain focus. Much to her surprise, Koi hunkered beside her and hummed in concern. "IIIIItaaaa," he rumbled. Ita's skin turned pale in a blush and she blinked up at him, not sure what to think of this sudden gesture. If Kayura had to guess, Koi seemed to be positively smitten with Ita.
"Ita!" All eyes turned to the doorway as Mia arrived. She apparently didn't notice the injured Nobeyls or the slain Dhr, or Ryu who remained at Bak's side. "Ita! Do you have any experience delivering babies?!" Mia demanded, bracing her hands on the door frame.
"What? No! We lay eggs!" Ita replied, making a face.
"Well you're about to get a crash course! Shannon needs your help in the cabin! Danae just went into labor!" Mia said and turned and ran back down the corridor.
"Bhazzaaaaaak…" Ita swore and stumbled to her feet and jogged after Mia.
"Tuv! Get the Argonauth back on course! Rgn, Kayura, do what you can for Vud and Sul," Bak ordered and pushed himself to stand, favoring his injured leg. He held Ryu cradled in his right palm.
"Captain...what...what do we do about Dhr?" Rgn asked cautiously. Bak looked over his shoulder at the young Nobeyl's corpse. Kayura read immense grief and sadness.
"We were allies...compatriots...brothers-in-arms...we swore oaths to Roth and Witheren that we would join the fight alongside Human and Thangiens...that we would stand together...had I known he harbored such bitterness…we could have talked this out…" Bak's voice cracked. Ryu sat in his palm quietly. Bak set his jaw and inhaled through his nostrils, scowling angrily. "Jettison the body."
The dragons had stopped their assault when Argonauth turned back forward and resumed their flight formation. Neither of the titans noticed as a hatch opened up on the lower hull and out drifted a limp form. The body of Dhr Aurir floated into the swirling expanse, no grave to mark his rest, no one to mourn his passing, no god to welcome him into the Afterworld. He floated in the vortex as Argonauth, Blue Isis, the dragon titans and Yulie's friends flew ahead. His face remained frozen in a mask of agony and regret, instead of dying a hero at the end of all things, he died a crazed coward.
Ryo's gaze flicked to the side when he heard the sound, like a faint grinding scrape. While his arms remained forward, bracing the Six Swords against the relentless tide of hate, the sound drew his eyes to his forearm and he saw it: a very faint crack that started near his wrist and began branching towards the edges of the gauntlet. His eyes followed the hairline crack as it crept up his arm. He heard another crunching sound and noticed a crack forming inside the face mask close to the eye. More cracks appeared on his hands and arms, and much to his horror, cracks started forming on the blades of the Six Swords. The wicked eyes embedded in the spacequake narrowed with glee, sensing his resolve beginning to falter. None of the fatal energy had yet touched the planet. Ryo's gaze darted about as tiny chips of metal began flaking away from the blades and Gea itself. Ryo screamed in defiant rage.
"Okay, Danae! I need you to push! Breathe!" Shannon O'Connor encouraged. Ita sat behind Danae with her head resting in her lap and Ita gripping her shoulders to keep her steady. Mia sat at her side grasping her hand for support while Shannon took up position infront of her. "I've never seen someone go into labor this fast before!" Kaosu set opposite of Mia and offered Danae some of the herbal remedies he kept in his satchel. Sweat rolled down Danae's face.
"Thangiens have phrase: long bake, fast out oven," Ita commented as Danae writhed. "Not envy you, Danae Ander's-Daughter! Honestly, prefer egg-laying!" she teased.
"What's going on?" "Everyone, stay back!" "Give them room!" "She's having her baby!" "Now?!" "Go find some towels and water, or something! Make yourself useful!" Brianna Johansen, Roxi Hirochner, and Renee Sanada shooed away the excited Neo Ronin gathered around Danae.
I-I don't know...how much longer...I can keep this up... Ryo grit his teeth, pushing his body and Gea to the breaking point. Pieces of the crystalline shoulder armor snapped off and the tips of his helmet crest began cracking down the middle. The wicked eyes, full of cruelty and discord, relished his predicament: would he give up and let the spacequake wash over the planet, destroying all life more completely than the Vyerrdeklagn could ever hope? Or would he first die, his last living moments grasping the full scope of his failure? The massive "face" tilted sideways slightly, regarding him with the disdain one would give an insect. Increasingly larger fragments of Armor began peeling away from the sub-armor with cracks forming in the secondary plating on his legs and arms.
This can't be it! I can't fail! I CAN'T! There's too many people depending on me...on us! It can't end like this…. Cracks deepened along the blades of the Six Swords. If they failed first…
Ita held Danae's shoulders firm to keep her from thrashing as she arched her back, letting out a series of croaking screams. Mia had to shift her grip to Danae's wrist to avoid her hands being crushed in Danae's powerful grip. Shannon shouted encouragement to Danae, who let out an almighty scream.
Ryo's eyes widened when he heard a sharp cry through time and space; the peal of a newborn babe. Back aboard the Argonauth, Shannon hurriedly swaddled the newborn in a soft blanket and gently deposited the bundle in Danae's arms. Ita helped Danae adjust her position slightly so her shoulders reclined on Ita's lap. Danae held her child close and caressed the face gently.
"Dais…DAIS! YOU HAVE A SON!" Ryo cried, newfound strength filling his body. "And you'll live to see him! We'll all live to return to our loved ones!" Thoughts from their shared consciousness filled Ryo's mind: each and every one of their families and relatives, whether in Japan or abroad. "We will make it through this!" Rowen thought of his eccentric father and bubbly mother, Sage his stern grandfather, Cye's ailing mother and his sister and brother-in-law, Kento his parents and many siblings. "WE WILL SURVIVE!" Tanya resolved to be there for her little sister. Anubis thought of Michelle and her mentor William Walking Cloud. Dais kept Danae and his newborn son in his heart. Sehkmet remembered of the energetic girl from the Yucatan rainforest, and Cale thought of Jacqueline O'Connor and anyone from his past who might have yet to find him. "WE STAND TOGETHER; OUR SPIRITS AS ONE!" Crackling light of various spectrum coursed over the Six Swords, expanding outward and pushing back against the cruel spacequake.
"FOR OUR FRIENDS! FOR OUR FAMILY! TO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARMS!" Immense power rippled from Gea as the World Armor drew upon the vast reserves of Earth's might. "WREATH OF CREATION!" Against all odds, defying all scientific logic and convention, the power of the World Armor began pushing back the spacequake.
I...I...I THINK NOT! The eyes widened fully and with a flash unleashed a terrific shock.
Ryo didn't have time to react or register what just happened as his head jerked back from the force that sent his body recoiling. Everything happened in mere seconds and at the same time seemed to drag on excruciatingly. Ryo's entire body went numb and he hung there helplessly in space. The Six Swords shattered completely, all the way down to the pommel and the disc holding them together. The shoulder plates and chest armor fractured and broke apart entirely, peeling away from his skin. Energy bled from the edges of the broken Armor, enveloping Ryo from head to toe. He stared ahead at the leading edge of the spacequake, eyes wide in shock and horror as pieces of his helmet fell away and remaining shards of Armor on his arms and waist disintegrated. Before the shadowy spirit shackled by the Six Swords had a chance to seize control, the Armor crumbled completely, leaving Ryo utterly exposed. Waves of residual energy from the broken World Armor surged around Ryo as he screamed.
And Rowen screamed.
And Sage screamed.
And Cye screamed.
And Kento screamed.
And Tanya screamed.
And Anubis screamed.
And Dais screamed.
And Cale screamed.
And Sehkmet screamed.
Violent energies erupted outward, seeming to consume Ryo as the burst expanded and cut a hole straight through the middle of the spacequake, tearing the "face" asunder. The explosion pushed the disruptive energies to either side, sending them flowing past Earth harmlessly. A flash of light erupted from where Ryo had once been before sending ten brilliant spheres cascading towards Earth.
Remnants of the spacequake broke into smaller and smaller wakes as they collided with solid bodies. One wake crashed through Saturn's rings, shattering chunks of ice in its path before breaking apart completely. Another sliced through Jupiter's Great Red Spot, splitting gas belts in half neatly before the clouds resumed their shape and continued swirling as they always had for countless millennia. Any remnants of the spacequake that didn't immediately break apart inside the Sol System continued moving outward into space, back outside the heliosphere, severely weakened. On the planet's surface, the everyday person did not know what had just happened. To the most avid skywatcher they interpreted the spectacle as a gigantic aurora, or an errant prominence. Any instruments remaining in orbit spat out data that would keep scientists scrambling for weeks to explain.
"...Why does the planet not burn?" Mal Daggur whispered from his command chair. He rose to his feet quickly and stalked forward, staring at the screen showing a fully intact and unscathed Earth. "WHY DOES THE PLANET NOT BURN!?" he demanded and whirled to face Phitdaitiarona.
The Empress of Night tottered on her feet. Her arms hung at her sides and her formerly silky black hair looked disheveled. The crown of star ornaments appeared dulled and her gown looked dim. Her form seemed to flicker like a faulty video screen, and while she did not immediately reply to Mal Daggur, he caught the briefest glimpse of a frail, wizened form beneath the glamour: wrinkles marring the skin under her eyes and white streaking her hair. She stared ahead in numb shock.
"Hey!" Captain Wendell shouted over the video feed as the channel regained function. "What the heck happened over there!? You all went completely dead on the comms!" she demanded, worried. Bak reclined in the command chair while Ryu snoozed in the crook of his arm.
"Mutiny, dear Captain," Bak admitted and glanced down at Ryu before returning his gaze to the screen. "One of my crew attempted to take matters into his own hands and jeopardized the lives of all on board. He is dead now, and all of the passengers are safe." Caroline frowned sadly.
"...I'm terribly sorry to hear about that...Roth knows I've seen my share of mutiny…"
"Not all news is ill, however. Danaetanera has given birth this day: a son!"
"Hah hah HAAAAH! Can I call it or can I call it?!" Caroline crowed triumphantly. "Any news from the Ronin on their end? Did they manage to pull it off?"
"That is what we are trying to ascertain. Kayura is attempting to make contact…" Bak glanced over to where Kayura had set up a shallow bowl of water on an empty spot next to a control console. Tuv watched intrigued as Kayura dipped the orb of the Staff into the water and began swirling around gently. The water turned black and flickered with the reflection of stars.
"Ryo? Can you hear me?" Kayura asked cautiously. Tuv peered into the augury bowl.
"I can still see the Oldworld...it looks safe...that means they were successful, yes?"
"Ryo! Respond!" Kayura furrowed her brow, concerned when she had yet to hear a reply. "Ryo, Ryo! Are you there? Please answer me!" Kayura called once more. Bak sat upright in the chair, apprehensive. Ryu woke from his nap and stared off into space. Tuv glanced from the bowl to Kayura.
"...They...they can't be dead! We would know!…wouldn't we?" Tuv asked timidly. Kayura didn't have a suitable response for the young Nobeyl and stared ahead with a haunted expression.
A phantasmal bespectacled humanoid resembling a Nether Spirit scrambled out onto one of the decks of the royal palace. He looked to the side and flailed his arms excitedly as he scurried over to a tall figure standing out on the balcony. "Lord Mabu! Lord Mabu! It seems we have visitors!"
"Indeed we do…" the regal-looking Lord Mabu acknowledged his chamberlain and gazed back up at the sky. Chatter amongst the phantasmal citizens of the city and Nether Soldiers loyal to Lord Mabu reached a fever pitch as they observed the incoming airborne objects.
Argonauth soared above the glittering golden waters of the Nether Realm, flanked by Vaughisdrough and Dragon Master. Vaugh's wings beat powerfully at his sides while Dragon Master's coils rolled forward into the air. Blue Isis followed close behind Argonauth's bridge and Yulie and his friends flew alongside the lower hull. Captain Caroline Wendell sat in her command chair flanked by First Mate T'Brandon and Quartermaster Ker Barzduk. She held her hands clasped infront of her chest and stared at the screen stoically. Most of the Argonauth's passengers had emerged onto the deck with the exception of Danae, who slumbered on a makeshift bed clutching her newborn son, and Ita who kept vigil beside her. Mia held little Ryu in her arms and stared off into the otherworldly horizon. Kayura stood off to the side of her, likewise gazing out at the surreal landscape. Neither of them expected to ever return to this world. Unlike his mother and Lady Kayura, Ryu seemed calm.
"Why's the water yellow? Did someone pee in it?" Harlann Wallhanger asked from where he peered through the deck railing and into the lake below.
"It's cuz the sky's yellow! Besides, these guys are literally a bunch 'o suits! They can't pee!" Harry Holmes replied to his adopted younger brother.
"Then why's the sky yellow?"
"Cuz we're in the Nether Realm: duh!"
"What a magnificent sight…a fortress that sails the sky...and escorted by dragons!" Lord Mabu whispered, awestruck at the sight of the gigantic air platform and the two dragon titans. Bak Thraplek stared solemnly at the main viewscreen on Argonauth's bridge. The surviving three Apprentices manned the helm stations, guiding the air platform towards the largest body of water capable of harboring such a massive hull. Argonauth completely dwarfed and eclipsed all nearby barges.
Roxi, Shannon, and Brit stood side by side, each of them wondering if any of the Ronin Warriors had survived. They all remained silent with only the flap of Vaugh's wings and the roar of ship engines in the background. Renee Sanada stood behind Kayli and kept both hands on her shoulders. Kayli held her blanket wrapped around her shoulder and gazed up at her mother then back towards the horizon. Emma Coburn and the rest of the Neo Ronin stood close to the forward deck.
Emma blinked when she saw Harlann scamper past and hop up onto the rail, bracing his feet against the lower bar and spreading his arms wide. She scowled and made a disgusted snort before grabbing Harlann by the waist and yanking him back down.
A faint fragment of the spacequake had made its way into the Thurukian system, narrowly missing any of the inhabited outer worlds, even passing the Thunthen homeworld entirely. It barely registered on any sensors as it flickered from exposure to Thuruk 2's solar winds, as if being harried and shamed by the younger of the two stars. The fragment sped into what looked like an empty black expanse.
The fragment collided with a rocky surface and fizzled out at last, briefly lighting up the jagged landscape. Eyelids peeled back over green irises and black slit-shaped pupils. Instead of producing a glow, the eyes shone as if backlit. The pupil roved about and the eye blinked in confusion.
"...th...th..the time has come…" a stern voice spoke in a curious triple-echo. A shape blacker than shadow pushed up from the inhospitable rock, bereft of any light from the Twin Suns. Small lights flickered to life, faintly outlining a horizontal barrel-shaped chest and a wedge-shaped head. Silvery plates adorned the chest, forearms, and the top of the head. "A...A...Awaken! Trankandalaktar!"
AOD Soundtrack
1. Their Journey Thus Far-Imaginaerum-Nightwish
2. Against All Odds-How Far We've Come-Matchbox 20
3. Empress of Night-Femme Fatale-Thomas Bergersen
4. Bigger Than Belief-Mountains-Hans Zimmer
5. A Thousand Times a Million Tides-Stand A Chance- The Big O OST
6. Escorted by Dragons-Fall of the Fountain World-Two Steps From Hell
"The world needs you as a Ronin Warrior...and your son needs his father."
"My….son?"
Return of Ryo of the Wildfire