Chapter 14: Awakening

Kryantixx Galaxy: Planet Evukar

Erus and his daughter Andromeda were now deep below the surface of Evukar. A hidden tunnel in the basement emptied into a cave system which would lead them to their next destination. Just have to wait until I know the hour is at hand. Erus mused. All of his waiting, his plotting, would finally be rewarded. So many dead at the hands of Maa'jer, not the least of which being his wife. His cherished Andromeda, still so young at the time, almost didn't make it. If it wasn't for the quick thinking of him and Max, she too would have been lost.

Couldn't anyone else see? Tribes, races, planets. They were all just arbitrary boxes to separate us. It was all Maa'jer. He poisoned the minds of the Agani. He caused Galaecia to die. Erus thought bitterly. But he used the anger and hate building inside him to fuel his march onward. He and Andromeda had left his home shortly after he ended his call with Ratchet, and they were now deep within the cave system that connected his home with what was once Galaecia's home. Some of the tunnels wherein were natural formations, others the product of an ancient civilization that had carved tunnels connecting the various chambers long before anyone else lived on this planet.

Their way was illuminated by the faint glowing of crystal veins embedded in the rock formations and by the dim light of Eru's flashlight. They made slow progress due to Erus' age and Andromeda's condition. She had since fully awakened from her prolonged suspension, but her body was ill-suited for such rough terrain having not been used for so many years. She was also unsteady on her crutch, having woken up realizing that part of her body was missing. Despite her body being that of a young adult, Andromeda's mind was still very much that of a child's; not having the opportunity to grow and learn within her chamber.

"Father, vhere are ve going?" Andromeda asked, confused about her aged body, and what she and her father were doing. She stumbled over an outcropping of rock which jutted out of their path, causing her to cry out. "Pleaze, papa! Can't ve rest?" she complained. "Can't ve go home?"

"No, we can't!" He yelled at his daughter as he spun around on his heels. Andromeda's eyes welled up with tears as her father raised his voice to her. Erus knelt before his daughter, taking in just how much she looked like her mother. If things had gone a different way, she would be preparing for her investiture right now instead of hiding in some dark hole with him. She would have had friends and hobbies. Her stunning beauty paired with the best education that Erus could have provided for her would have made her one of the most formidable leaders of her time. Erus reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek with one of his thumbs.

"I'm sorry, my dear. I did not mean to get angry with you. It's just…we haven't got much time. We have to go collect The Gem." Erus calmly explained to his daughter. Her eyes widened in fear at the mention of The Gem.

"But, papa! You and Mother zaid that it should never be uzed!" Andromeda exclaimed as she stood up and took a step back from her father. She didn't recognize this Erus. This wasn't the man that had raised her after her own had died when she was just a babe.

"I know, I know Andromeda" Erus said, standing up once more and stepping towards his daughter, steadying her with his many hands. "But you have to understand, things have changed. You very well may be the last of the Marukar in this galaxy." He reasoned with her, "We cannot allow Maa'jer to get away with what he's done. If he succeeds, then this galaxy will fall to hate." Erus finished, pleading with his daughter. Andromeda stopped in her tracks and hugged herself with her one remaining arm. Ever since she had woken up, a thousand questions swarmed her mind. Her father had only answered a few pertinent ones but had since seemed focused on only reaching the settlement. Her shoulders shook, tussling her long auburn hair which almost swept the floor. Hot, salty tears fell from her face as she broke out in a heaving cry.

"I-I just vant to go home. I vant to zee mama. I vant to go back-" but her words were choked out by her forceful cries of grief. Erus gently turned her to face him once more and wrapped her in all four of his arms. Andromeda always had loved the hugs that Erus gave; his body enveloping hers in a protective, loving embrace. She rested her head on his shoulder and continued to cry for some time, as Erus brushed her hair and consoled her.

"I know, I know" he softly said, "But any chance of that happening is long past gone, Andromeda, I am sorry. That is why it is important that collect The Gem. You can give this galaxy a second chance." He said as he pulled her face back and cupped it in two of his hands. "You will be the light in the darkness that will bring to justice all of those with hatred in their hearts. Don't you want to bring to justice the man you killed your mother?" He said finally. Andromeda still wasn't sure if this was the best plan, but she did feel an anger build up within her as she thought of the loss of her mother. She simply nodded and clung to her father for a bit more before they continued their trek through the dark maw of the cave. Erus tried to push Andromeda's fears out of his mind, but it couldn't stop him from drifting back to many years ago.

Erus kissed the glass of Andromeda's stasis pod as she floated softly in the suspended space within. It had been several weeks since the attack on the Marukar village, and the death of his wife. For a moment it almost seemed as if Andromeda would die as well. But thankfully he and his closest confidant Max had been able to save her. Her injuries were much greater than he had originally thought. While Galaecia had protected her from the main brunt of the blast, her arm and leg were damaged severely. The only hope they had to save Erus' daughter was to amputate. The scars from the operation were still fresh and red. Erus bid his daughter good night, before returning to his office where his friend Max was waiting for him.

Erus entered the room and tiredly crossed the room with a slow, shuffling walk. The past few weeks had been hell for him. After Maa'jer had killed Galaecia, he largely left the Marukar alone, focusing instead on joining the rest of the Agani tribes. However, it wasn't uncommon for his armies to kill any Marukar they came across. Without any sense of government or safety, those remaining scattered to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and beyond. His friend, Max Apogee, had stayed behind for Erus, for Andromeda, but his frustration for his friend's choices had reached its tipping point.

"Erus! I told you that this plan of yours was too dangerous! So what if a few of the Agani tribes joined together? This siege was because you provoked him!" Max argued with his longtime friend and colleague. "You said so yourself, the Agani never stay together long, but you had to keep reminding everyone about the blasted prophecy!" Erus hung his head as he slowly walked to his desk and lowered himself in his chair.

"Must you dig into me now Max? I've barely just buried my wife. My daughter is maimed. You don't think I wish things had gone differently!?" Erus shouted. "And let's not forget who we are talking about here, Maa'jer won't stop with the Agani. He won't stop until he controls the entire galaxy!"

"Yes, yes, I know all about your long feud with Maa'jer, Erus. But he never targeted the Marukar until you started waving around your wife like a weapon!" Max finished, slamming his fist onto the desk across from Erus. "I told you, the Marukar never really believed in the prophecy. It was just a part of our culture!"

"What point is a warning, if you don't use it!?" Erus argued back. "Are you saying that the Marukar would have just stood idly by as they watched their world be conquered?" Erus yelled as he stood up from his chair and stared Max down.

"We could have left, Erus!" Max countered, "There are billions of galaxies, many where our people already live!" Max had seen this for himself. Marukar in other galaxies, often going by other names, living peacefully among the other races there. He had always thought that the best plan they had at their disposal was one of relocation.

"And you would have my daughter abandon her home?" Erus eyed Max coldly. In his opinion, leaving would have meant admitting defeat. He could never bring himself to stand by and allow Maa'jer to succeed where he hadn't.

"Yes! If it means that we live to come back another day, let Maa'jer's hubris destroy himself!" Max pleaded with his friend. So many had been lost already, they could prevent more death if they encouraged the rest of the Marukar to follow Erus and Andromeda to another home.

"You know there's no guarantee that would happen. We needed power!" Erus yelled defiantly. I needed power. He thought to himself. As a young Agani, he had tried to unite the tribes as well. Albeit in a more diplomatic manner than Maa'jer's approach. He quickly learned the error of his foolhardy ways and abandoned his plans. But something else deep within him had been planted. A bitterness of sorts slowly grew over the years as his young colleague Maa'jer started to succeed where Erus had failed. Erus didn't want to admit it, but he was at times jealous of Maa'jer.

"We could have gone and gotten help! The Lombaxes-" Max tried to reason with his friend, though he was soon cut off by Erus.

"I've heard enough about your blasted research!" Erus interjected, his voice booming against the walls of his office. "You've spent years trying to find their secret weapon and you've failed. We needed a solution now."

"Well, a whole good lot of help the prophecy will be now!" Max challenged his tall counterpart. He paced the office, thinking aloud. "It can only be called forth by a royal of Marukar, and Andromeda is decades away from coming of age. The Gem won't answer her until then." His eyes widened as he realized what Erus' plan was. "No…Erus, you aren't seriously still going to go through with this? I would have never built this machine if I thought you were still determined to go with this suicidal plan!" Max spun around, pointing a finger at Erus. "I won't let you do this. I won't let you raise that little girl just to be a lamb to the slaughter!"

Erus' eyes narrowed as he pulled a blaster from the pocket of his robe and slowly leveled it at his friend. "Max, you've been a friend for a long time, so I'll forgive you just this once. But I am warning you, do not make me your enemy, or else-"

"Else what? You'll kill me?" Max spread his arms wide. "Look at what this has done to you Erus. This isn't about the Marukar anymore, or even your wife, this is about you wanting the power that Maa'jer has but you won't admit it!" A blaster shot zoomed by his face, just missing him by mere millimeters. He collected himself and stood straight. "So, that's the decision you've made then?"

"Max, if you want to leave this galaxy, then leave. Leave and never return. But this I swear, if I ever see you here again, you will meet the same fate as Galaecia." Max turned on his heel and stormed out of the office. He paused briefly at the door and sighed.

"I hope that you decide to join me, Erus. If you ever need me, I will be at my station in Polaris. Take care, friend." Max pushed his way through the door and out of Erus' life. As much as it hurt him to lose such a dear friend, it gave him that much more motivation to find the Lombax Secret. Maybe if he could find it in time, he could save his friend from the disastrous plan he was set on.