Metroid Saga: Mythos

by Mental Omega

A collection of stories set in a reimagining of Metroid; here we start with the beginnings of the universe's two greatest warriors; Samus and Sylux. The Hatchling and the Neophyte. Born of K-2L and Cylosis, and bound by fate to decide the destiny of the cosmos. Note that this project started long before Prime 4 came out.

22. Prodigy: Shadow Dance (SA & AS)

Dreamscape

Arne's mind drifted far from his usual meditative dreams. His mind drifted towards a sight beyond his sphere, a dancing light of deepest crimson in contrast to his cool blue. He chanced a look at his thread of fate, the conduits of possibilities hanging just beyond the dreamscape like seaweed beneath the ocean surface. It was not something he often enjoyed doing; so many possibilities seemed to end in pain or unpleasantries. The apparition of a figure with a bifurcated blue helm, divided by a green line with a blade-like cannon haunted him in particular, something that stalked around possible futures and growled like a beast.

Its voice to him was like family, its gaze towards him more inviting than menacing despite its facelessness. Like it was beckoning him towards the abyss, towards a line where his and Samus' fates could go as they were, bind together stronger than ever...or split in discord and agony. Each branch of the cables of the future splitting into possibilities that would tether into all other things. A degree of responsibility that made him quail and shiver inside. Could he really be expected to handle that much pressure when he struggled to stand on his own two feet? But he turned his attention away from the blue and green figure, turning his attentions to the more immediate future.

The red whisp was once again there, running at the head of a great swarm, entwined with a brutal green cable and its retinue. The red road it carved into the paths of fate was short, but its influence was heavy and its tributaries coiled around a massive swarm of other individuals making their way through time. He took a chance to look a little closer, and saw a pink thread roping into the red one. Orange, Blue, Red, Green, Pink and a myriad of other colours danced around into a spirograph of potentialities. Something important was about to happen. And when he took a closer look at the red thread, he got a visage of a singular yellow eye amidst a red tear dropped shaped head staring right back at him.

"=Get out of my head.=" A shrill, scornful yet imperious and domineering voice commanded. Disdain dripped from the voice as if he had stepped into something foul and Arne realised his abilities had caused him to wander into someone else's thoughts. A combination of his inexperience, his brute force methods, and the other's all-consuming personality had alerted them to Arne's presence.

Their displeasure was experienced in a short, sharp manner, stabbing a sharp limb towards Arne and jolting him awake from the brief sleep he had. He woke up with a start, breathing hard and pushing himself out of his blanket as he wiped some sweat off his brow. The pale skin over his impressively toned and shaped leaned muscles were slick with sweat as he brought his mind back to reality; the bed below him automatically adjusting its shape to account for him no longer resting his back on it.

Arne's Room, Dormitory Cluster Tertius, Magnus Academy

He slept not out of necessity, but more out of finding peace in not having to face the waking world's problems for a few hours. He never allowed himself more than a few hours though, for one he didn't need to sleep to begin with and so it gave him no added restfulness. For another, he had too much to do to waste it with idleness such as sleep. It was a pleasant distraction and a way to spend some free time, nothing more.

He pulled the weighted covers off of himself with a simple tug, rubbing at his eyes and looking around. The darkness of his room concealed nothing from his vision, and he heard the heartbeat of tiny flea-like insectoids hopping around, looking for dead skin cells to munch. The sound of their minuscule muscles moving inside of their carapaces, the sight of their every micronic hair twitching and ruffling together in motion so slow they seemed almost still. Despite their bullet speed jumps, they looked like photographs to him. He realised that he was hyperfixating again, and he shook his head to look towards the poster Solveig got for him; of his parents in full gear.

Gyda standing tall and proud with her weapon in hand, her husband by her side and her team around her in a dramatic pose to give off a sense of heroism as they stood between ghoulish oppressors and the shivering victims of imperialism. Bold colours and even bolder stylised contrast. His heart raced a bit, and a small smile formed on his face at the sight of it as he stood up, brushing his finger against the holoposter to feel the resistance of the hard light. He wondered if his parents would be proud of him now, and sighed as he realised that he couldn't get any answers out of them.

"Hope you're resting well..." He said to himself as he went to get himself washed. The hot water was pleasant, a luxury he was rarely afforded on Sentus Primaris where luxuries were always in short supply. He let his muscles relax and scrubbed himself off thoroughly; not bothering with the cleaning nanites out of not wanting to have the work be done for him. After finishing up with his cleansing rituals, he fetched some clothes, pulling on some underwear and a simple set of practical shorts and a shirt. He didn't really see the point in pyjamas when keeping cool was such an important part of sleep and they only meant another set of clothes in need of cleaning. He slipped on some socks and practical shoes and looked towards the computer terminal placed on a desk in a corner.

Sitting himself down and scooching forward, he typed something on the keyboard. Sure a hard-light or neurotextual interface would be fancier, but the mechanical feedback of pressing keys and receiving output was satisfying in an odd way he couldn't put his finger on. A few clicks and screen taps and he was at the chat application Samus and himself had programmed as a way to fill a lazy afternoon more than a year ago; shared with a few friends as a way to hang out with minimal hassle. All designed to accomodate the two teenagers' immense need for stimulation.

A text conversation with Samus was perhaps a low tech method of communicating with her, but he wanted something more discrete than the holochamber. Plus, he liked feeling like a computer master when he managed to encrypt the conversation in such a way that the Mind-Spider wouldn't notice rather than just relying on his armour or their psychic bond to speak to her. Of course he was sure Zurvduat would have criticised something about his coding, some unnecessarily sloppy structuring or inefficient compilation. Those harsh words had driven him to make it as neat as possible, but he couldn't help but think maybe he made some errors somewhere, maybe there were unneeded holes...maybe the Mind Spider was aware of his work after all.

Samus' profile image of a drawing of herself in armour with her helmet off with Pyonchi on her head and her robotic Gecko pet crawling on her shoulder while she beamed and gave a thumbs up showed up and dragged him from his musings. His own profile image of himself reaching a hand out for his ravens with his helmet removed, looking into the sunset of Sentus Primaris followed suit.

hatchingSentinel: hey arne! :D
novaKnight: Hello Samus. 3
hatchingSentinel: 3!
novaKnight: You alright?
hatchingSentinel: yeah things are going pretty good! Just you know, getting used to how things work around here. I'll get the hang of it!
hatchingSentinel: Buuuut...
novaKnight: :?
hatchingSentinel: What about yoouuuuuu? :eek:
novaKnight: Oh well, yeah things are pretty good here too. Nothing to complain about really. Happier to be talking to you again though, Samus. :) 3.
hatchingSentinel: heehee, awww, thanks, Arne. 3
hatchingSentinel: You know I'm always happier to be talking to you! c:
hatchingSentinel: Now I know you've probably got something important to tell me soooo...well don't keep me waiting! ^_^
novaKnight: Has anyone ever told you that you are relentlessly adorable?
hatchingSentinel: you do every five seconds ;D!
novaKnight: Ah, damn, you've got me there.
novaKnight: Okay, getting more serious now.
hatchingSentinel: serious mode on! :)
novaKnight: Hahaha XD!
hatchingSentinel: :p
novaKnight: Okay...okay.

It was time to get a bit more serious now, this was fun and all of course, but Arne knew that he wasn't just here to catch up with his girlfriend. He thought only briefly about how to broach the topic of what he had just seen in his sleep before committing, his fingers hitting the keys at speeds no unaugmented human would have been able to follow. He breathed in a bit, his typography immaculate as always thanks to Zurvduat's all-consuming perfectionism.

Samus knew that too, she could just feel his pensiveness despite the distance of space that separated them. She knew a lot of people who were involved with one another said that they had a sort of connection, but she imagined when she said it regarding herself and Arne; it was rather more literal than it was with most non-psychics. The grey sensation of his worries was just palpable before her young mind's eye and it drew a frown from her on the other end of the computer.

novaKnight: I just had a dream-vision, similar to what you told me after your trance earlier. I think our problems might be connected somehow? The shapeshifter and the pirate drones.
hatchingSentinel: huh...Okay, that's definitely serious then. :(
hatchingSentinel: What else did you find in the dreamscape?
novaKnight: Well, I think a Kriken Prince might also be involved. I'm not sure how, but my distant sight drew me towards some articles about Trace, and I think I saw him in my vision?
hatchingSentinel: Oh, okay, that is absolutely not a good thing.
hatchingSentinel: Trace is one of the worst out of the whole bunch, and that's saying something, but I can't think of how he could be tied into this. :?
novaKnight: Well, maybe they're not aware of how they tie into each other? What I do know is that they intersect in the dreamscape, and the consequences that lead out from there are huge.
hatchingSentinel: ...yeah I think I know what you're referring to. It's weird though; I don't think I saw Trace in the dreamscape? Unless you poking around changed some possibilities?
novaKnight: I hope I'm not the one responsible for setting all this into motion. Because so many of those potentials looked so...grim, so...
hatchingSentinel: Arne! Listen!
hatchingSentinel: It's not your fault, you're not the one who made Trace who he is! Don't blame yourself for things you have no control over! :mad:
novaKnight: I...yeah you're right Samus. Besides, I saw his whisp diverging to that path before I poked around. Couldn't really tell what they're planning to do though, too complicated to look that far ahead. Or at least, I'm not experienced enough yet.
hatchingSentinel: ugh I know, I wish we didn't have to wait so long for esoteric training. _
novaKnight: Yeah, I know. :(
hatchingSentinel: well arne. I think that I can do something on my end. we're going to go and see if we can't find more of the drones.
hatchingSentinel: piece together more of their logs and see if we can't get some solid clues from that.
hatchingSentinel: probably more infiltrators wandering around too, so we're going to see if we can't break the spy ring around here.
hatchingSentinel: if it is all connected, it'd probably help you out too! :)

The thought brought a smile to Arne's face, he really would like to join with her in solving a mystery. Even as far apart as they were, doing stuff together was always fun; even when it was as incredibly dangerous as taking on two of the Old Foe and saving a whole sector from annihilation.

A sentiment that Samus of course, couldn't agree with more. After all, if they couldn't help each other even when apart, then could they really be said to be close? Something like this she figured, would be a cakewalk compared to the prior life or death adventure she was in, even with the complicating factor of far more people in harm's way.

novaKnight: Thanks, I'd really appreciate that. :)
novaKnight: I'm going to check around for any possible anomalies. Maybe just explore a bit too, that should help keep my mind at ease.
hatchingSentinel: a good bit of exploration does the mind good!
hatchingSentinel: we probably have time anyway, so don't feel bad about taking a bit for yourself you know?
novaKnight: I've been taught that there's a saying regarding pots, kettles, and their black colouration that applies here.
novaKnight: You're not exactly the universal champion at rest and relaxation yourself, have you even been to any of the recreation facilities at your academy yet?
hatchingSentinel: well...i uh...the swimming facilities are full of really cute people and the gym looks...you're right i don't really relax all that often.
hatchingSentinel: there's just so much to do and see.
hatchingSentinel: just feels like a waste of time to sit around and absorb any of them at a time.
novaKnight: I know that feeling, I feel like even taking a nap is wasting hours I could be using to do anything else.
novaKnight: I feel bad even trying the games Solveig wants to show me sometimes.
hatchingSentinel: hah you too? :D
hatchingSentinel: my podmates are soo pretty and i dont know who to flirt with first.
novaKnight: Honestly, same here. I'd like to be with most of them you know? Maybe one day we could all do a group date?
hatchingSentinel: ooooh that would be so much fun!
novaKnight: I know right? :)
hatchingSentinel: :)
novaKnight: 3
hatchingSentinel: 3
novaKnight: I'm going to do some checking around now. Nice talking to you, and see you soon Samus. I love you.
hatchingSentinel: see you soon too arne. I love you too!

Arne smiled mostly to himself. While he'd certainly like a more physical encounter with her, he always loved their chats together. Whatever Zurvduat or Grey Voice said, they loved each other, and he hoped that would never change. Yet these long-distance meetings had a touch of bittersweetness to them. Even the sight of her self-drawn profile picture reminded him of every micron of distance between the two of them. He thought about the group date idea, and what could happen afterwards when they got somewhere quiet and comfy...then he blushed hard and adjusted his shorts. It probably wouldn't go down like that, but at his age, it was hard to not think of it.

"Okay, ah, I should get busy at least." Arne said as he looked back to his computer to break his thoughts away from his hormonal daydreams. He took a moment to think about his objectives. Find something about the Krikens he could report back to Samus so they could compare notes. Hopefully, something useful to both of them would turn up.

He decided to chance a look at any returning alumni of the Magnus academy that might be of interest to him. He sifted through the database with the focus of a laser, doing his utmost to avoid the trap of diving into the endless links and search chains that could lead one astray if they weren't careful. Taking the skills he learned to become a Knight of the Tetrarch Order, he narrowed his search down with a few keystrokes.

Search For: Current Freelancer

Okay, still a very large number of possible persons of interest, too large for him to sift through in one night before it would be time for his next planned outing with friends.

Anti-Kriken Empire activity.

Barely a dent in the parameters, the Kriken Empire; or the Imperial State of Akratik to be more formal; was the boogeyman of a very large array of beings across the universe.

Associated with Magna Lodbrok.

Still way too many people, a smaller list sure, but she had a long life and trained or associated with a great many people who came to this place. Still, he was getting close.

Cosmic Grade Prestige.

That narrowed the list tremendously. The Cosmic Grade of prestige was reserved for the very best of the best; a percentage so small as to be statistically insignificant. Still, this place produced quite a few of that lustrous category. More than he'd want to look for in one night.

Associated with Gyda Skjoldr.

The list dropped to a handful, but one caught his eye. Ordna.

"Whoa...no way she'd be here." Arne muttered in awe, a smile forming on his face before he sensed someone behind him and flicked his head behind him. He was almost ready to summon his armour then and there, but relaxed after the next heartbeat cleared his foresight and he caught a glimpse of red hair.

"Might need to unwind a bit there Urglik." Illarion said as he walked in dressed in little more than boxers to keep cool, Arne flushing in his cheeks as he turned back to his computer.

"So, what are you doing?" The Aelva asked curiously as he approached Arne, sought permission to lay his hand on his shoulder; and after a bit of hesitation, was allowed to do so.

"Looking for people who might be able to help with some Kriken related issues who'd be willing to hear me out for a bit." He reached for a flask filled with self-cooling drink. He took a few sips before swallowing slightly hard and swinging his feet idly. Illarion looked at the electric Azdarchid like alien whose crested head almost seemed too big for her winged body to stand in a bipedal stance, let alone fly properly. Yet he knew that she was regarded as one of the very best that there had ever been.

"Ordna huh?" He said, looking back down to Arne, clearly wishing he'd arrived a bit earlier when he heard Arne using the shower. Oh well. Arne gulped a bit when he caught wind of those thoughts from Illarion and cleared his throat.

"Yeah, I've been following her career a lot recently. She's gotten up to a lot of interesting stuff." Arne said, trying his best to remain focused on his appointed task and closing his eyes.

He took a moment to breathe, then reopened them and flicked through the article presented to him. While he knew most of the stuff that this article spoke of already, he still carefully picked through the presented information to search for anything that might be of interest.

Illarion sat himself on the table and took a look at the screen again, tapping his chin. It was certainly interesting to him, and he sensed that Arne had other priorities for the moment so he'd let this slide until Skjoldr showed he'd be interested in giving it a shot. He was intrigued by him, but he wasn't going to be insistent when Arne was so busy with other things. Especially things he could tell were personal.

"So, how will a top-level freelancer be able to help you with your current situation?" Illarion said, yanking some clothes with his telekinesis towards him to quickly throw on a shirt and some shorts to make the conversation a bit less awkward. Arne gave him a nod of thanks and turned his eyes back to the screen and pointed over to some select paragraphs. He particularly highlighted the portions that spoke of her actions against the house of Zakaza that had ruled the Empire for thousands of years.

"She's managed to meet the Kriken Emperor face to face and fought some of his children. If there's anyone who might know what Archprince Trace is up to, it'd be her." Arne explained, showing Illarion images of Ordna in combat with Imperial Blooded Krikens and attacking assets marked with the sigil of the Zakaza dynasty. A triangle the colour of blood with a single orange eye in its midst amidst a field of rust, sharp blades below of pure white crossed just below, and a circle of deepest black around them. A very hated and feared sigil by many, and one that made Illarion tense slightly. It was a sigil many feared more than even the Triskelion of swords symbol of the Empire itself.

Arne could sense the negative energy that the sigil had, and almost regretted showing it to Illarion based on his negative response. He felt bad, like he had shown him something taboo. Already his mind was thinking of ways to earn his forgiveness so that this wouldn't hang over them in times where he could indulge their mutual interest. But Illarion put that aside by shaking his head and telling him it was fine.

Though Arne wasn't sure on that himself, he accepted the need to move on and carry on with his explanation. He needed to work on swimming around in his tendency to blame himself for everything anyway he reminded himself as he brought up some additional info.

"I've...gotten premonitions revolving around Trace. Dangerous ones, I think he's either involved in something that concerns us now, or is going to get involved soon." Arne said, letting out a sigh and flicking his red eyes over to Illarion who gave a nod of understanding and then a look of contemplation.

"And what would the Archprince even want with us?" Illarion asked. It was a fair question, just one academy in a galaxy on the periphery of Kriken influence was a bit of a small target for someone of Trace's stature. But with his rite of passage years away and his need to prove himself above his siblings as high as it was...

"This is a pretty prestigious place and he is trying to get his credits in...he might also figure there's something being studied here that would get him acclaim back home too. There's a lot of research being done here besides educational services in the lower levels." Arne said, taking a moment to bring up some screens of stuff he'd dug around while bored after his first-day orientation. So far it was all stuff available to anyone with so much as student access. Given the philosophy of the school little was closed off to the public besides what was necessary for privacy reasons.

He flicked through a number of programs involving extranormals, particularly those with especially abnormal mental capabilities or forms of awareness that allowed them to contribute immensely to research. Most of it stuff relating to general civilian science, few things that would really interest a conqueror or a warlord. But he stopped when he got to efforts to explore into the storage void dimensions the Alimbics used to cache away their resources somewhere the couldn't be plundered. Every storage facility had its own individual dimension created just for it, to ensure that no breach would be able to spread even in the unlikely scenario that one was made.

"You think he might be looking into Progenitor studies?" Illarion said, folding his arms and looming over Arne's shoulder as he looked at the screen and folded his lips, staring at other research being done on progenitor relics and knowledge. Perhaps the most precious resource in the universe, far more so than any quantity of Fuel Gel, Xelemir, Psionite, or Cosmium.

"I'd bet he is." Arne said, smirking until Solveig opened the door and gave a courteous knock on the other side of it after having entered. Her characteristic massive beaming smile was written all over her expression, and she giggled like a manic schoolgirl as she held a tablet in her hands. Keeping it close to her chest so that Arne and Illarion couldn't see, she tiptoed over to them, resting her head atop Arne's and making him suddenly aware of the sensation of her chest pressing into his back to get another blush out of him.

"Hey Gremlin girl." Illarion said to Solveig's response of smiling and blowing a kiss at him as she then brought her arms around Arne and showed him what was on the tablet, getting a raised brow out of him as soon as he looked at what was on the screen.

"I figured you could use some help before we went out so because I'm suuuuuper into thinking ahead and just you know, great? I did some digging on my own. And with a bit of my ultra-sleuthing I got some juicy deets to share with you all." Solveig said with enthusiasm as Arne analysed the information presented in front of him.

What immediately caught Arne's attention were some of the materials highlighted by Solveig, a number of suspicious shipments, heavily encrypted communications, and a few people nobody quite recognised slipping in and out of class repeatedly. However, of particular interest to him was a note that the facility was recently visited by an ambassador of the Kriken Empire who was part of the personal retinue of...Archprince Trace! Eureka!

"How did you get some of this stuff? It's...it's great! Honestly, I could just kiss you." Arne said, an enthusiastic Solveig flushing brilliantly and a few bashful glances between the two being exchanged rapidly while Illarion laughed so hard Arne worried he might just fall off the table.

"Well...what's stopping you?" Solveig said almost daringly in a way that made Arne freeze up, not sure if this was a joke or not. He looked at her to confirm, and then leaned in to sneak in a smooch from her as she giggled. A smirk grew on her lips as Illarion then snuck one in from Arne just a little later, getting him to flush even more as he chuckled nervously.

"Ah, gods, we should probably get going before I die of flustration." Arne said with a bright tint to his cheeks. He stood up and as he already had his shoes on, walked outside, looking briefly back at Solveig and Illarion sizing each other up and stealing kisses from each other before they nodded at him to go ahead.

He didn't have to wait for long, as Solveig and Illarion had both come out in their exosuits while Arne's own armour manifested over his body, encapsulating it in the familiar embrace of the ferrochitin he wore so often. It made him feel safe he admitted, as well as powerful. It felt good to be back in the armour, and it felt good to have his friends by his side as they approached behind him.

"Ready to get going Arne? Shouldn't take too long to find Ordna!" She said, smirking as she put the tablet away.

"Yeah, let's get go." Arne said with a nod.

Arne weaved his way through the mass of people gathered in the halls as deftly as he threaded the needle of hailstorms of incoming fire time and time again. He was quick as always, carefully keeping close to his group while avoiding bumping into anyone as the nocturnal student and faculty body milled about. It almost reminded him of some of the bugs that dwelled on Sentus Primaris, swarming around in their hive patterns according to a logic he found endlessly fascinating.

He had his new helmet on, letting the V-shaped visor feed information into his suit, while the more knightly styled armour fitted comfortably over his body. More rounded looking spaulders fitted over his shoulders, straighter and smoother plating to give a more humanoid, heroic look than something so alien and insectoid, still the same overall colour scheme of course; with his purple varia visor staring out into the world and a darker blue colour scheme to his limb armour. People looked at him and nodded, it felt nice; especially to not be stared at quite so hard.

Taellarja waved over to him as soon as she caught sight of him, the Aelva quickly forming a sly smirk as she swung her legs a bit as she sat atop a large plant pot's rim. Her twin-tailed lustrous black hair hidden by the conical helm she wore, its eyepieces giving a somewhat menacing glare, the bifurcated mouthpiece calling to mind old medieval helms and the hand length blade-shaped horns on the side making her seem considerably more monstrous than she actually was. Lithe and limber and coloured primarily green with some yellow and black, her armour shifted like a living thing as she stood up and then flipped off of her vantage point.

He returned the smile and wave before she dropped onto her feet and made a quick "ta-da!" gesture as she made landfall. Solveig offered a clap while Illarion gave two thumbs up as Taellarja looked inordinately pleased with herself to an almost unbecoming degree based on the avatar she had chosen for the subtitles her suit was sending out for her speech to the others. But she soon slinked over to Arne, taking her time and not seeming to be in a rush as she approached with a catlike smirk on the recorded avatar for her subtitles.

"Whatcha up to at this hour?" She asked slyly, her expression almost smug in its surety that she commanded his attention and focus. He didn't mind this assumption, after all, it wasn't an inaccurate one, and he had to resist the urge to play with her hair as it waved slightly with her movements beneath her helmet as her communications avat showed. It was a tempting distraction from his current tasks, but a distraction all the same.

"I'm looking for Ordna, trying to see if she might have anything on Trace she might not be willing to speak about unless it's well...face to face." Arne said, getting a nod out of the Aelva as she stroked at her face and tapped her foot on the ground in contemplation. She nodded and then raised a finger in triumph as Arne could just about see the light bulb appearing over her head.

"Ah-hah! Ordna's been seen in the building, but she's a bit busy. On the other hand, though, I know a way to get her attention. One that should work every time." She said, proudly rubbing at her chest and giving a cocky grin that made Illarion raise an eyebrow. One could almost take a knife and just cut the scepticism that was radiating off of Illarion as he folded his arms.

"Every time huh?" He said before Taellarja nodded with a smile and almost instant affirmation from Solveig who almost seemed offended that Illarion would even be doubting at all.

"Six million and one per cent sure it'll work!" Solveig said with a thumbs-up as she walked ahead.

"That is...a lot of certainty wow. Okay if you're that confident." Arne said, tapping his chin briefly before nodding at her, stretching slightly and letting the tension in his arms melt a bit as he sensed something he couldn't quite place. Something that made him scratch a bit at the back of his neck and look behind him. He thought he saw a flash of pink for a moment, but it was gone before he could focus on it for too long. He quickened his pace noticeably, drawing his lips into a fine line as he kept close to his friends, just far away enough for him to move into position if needed.

Perhaps it was paranoia; perhaps he did feel something that was truly worth being concerned about. What he did know was that he felt like something was amiss, and it was likely going to keep bothering him for a while yet. He looked towards one of his friends...and being able to call them that did indeed feel nice...and made a small gesture.

"I think someone's watching us." He said quietly, low enough to be sure nobody could hear as the other three looked back at him; their helmets now already up to communicate with the data network around them continually; just as his own was. It was unnecessary, they were speaking through helmet transmissions, but he felt the urge to maintain secrecy all the same. His mind drifting somewhat as he huddled closer to them, moments stretching into eternities as he kept close and part of himself found it impossible to not drift into the past. A reminder of why he had to be on his guard with what he said.

Sentus Primaris, six months ago

The two were exploring a set of abandoned fortifications, the cold architecture offering little in the way of attempted warmth or familiarity. Spartan and utilitarian even by the strange aesthetic standards of the Alimbics as cyclopean reminders of duty no longer possible to fulfill gazed upon the people of the present.

The two of them had secured permission from Elmorni to poke into it, see what they could reclaim from the site. They'd already acquired a number of upgrades even. Yet Samus felt uneasy, looking at the light in the eyes of some of the statues shifting. "I think your dad is watching us." Samus said, making Arne look towards her with concern as he cradled his helmet in his free hand, sitting on a vantage point to look down a hallway while she played around with a terminal.

"Are you sure? He said the security systems here weren't under central control yet." Arne said, chewing on his lower lip slightly as she nodded, Elmorni making a complicated series of hand gestures nearby to access a sealed door. Elmorni being nearby made him feel safe, secure, and protected, but the idea of Zurvduat watching him only made him feel anxious.

"Arne." She said through the Comms in the hopes that Elmorni nor Zurvduat would be able to hear.

"Do you really believe that he hasn't gotten everything running by now?" She asked.

"I...I don't know...maybe?" He remembered saying before the world seemed to fade as he felt something worming into his mind. He could shut it out if he wanted, but the moment he felt the texture of the tendril worming into his thoughts his will to resist melted as the world began to stretch away from his vision until all was black.

"-Why do you waste time on small talk when your mission remains unfulfilled?-" The cold voice of Zurvduat made him feel chills as he just about choked at the feeling of being probed in such a way in this bleak mindspace. The grey form of Zurvduat hovered near him, wispy and nightmarish like some manner of wraith with a dreadful yellow eye staring at him judgingly.

"-Why are you letting her fill you with doubts, Primoris? You have a duty to the Order as a Squire. A duty you have yet to fulfil.-" He said with whispered menace that reverberated in his mind as he yelped and shirked away, hiding his face while the neckless head of the Alimbic got frightfully close to his face.

"W-we're just t...t-talking l-like how friends are supposed to...p-please we'll do the mission!" Arne choked, tears flowing down his eyes as his adoptive fath-

Zurvduat's apparition grew darker shades and the mindspace began to quake with anger while hellish screeching filled his mind's ears. "-YOU ARE NOT MY SON! HOW MANY TIMES MUST YOU LEARN THIS LESSON!? YOU ARE BOUND TO ME BY DUTY, NOT FAMILY!-" A sour thunder in Arne's thoughts made him wail as he hid away, blubbering out apologies.

"-STOP CRYING ALREADY! A KNIGHT HAS NO USE FOR TEARS-" He howled as he started to reach for him before he could feel someone tugging at him, a friendlier presence dragging him back to the light.

"Arne." Samus said before he opened his eyes and then looked at Samus who tilted her head in concern.

Present

"Arne." The voice was wrong, too soft and a bit too high pitched.

He blinked and saw Solveig instead, realising he had spaced out for a period of a few seconds.

"You okay?" She asked. He nodded and shook his head, helmet and all as if to shake off the evil spirits that had clouded his mind.

"Sorry, got lost in thought for a bit." He said, though the avatar expression that Solveig pinged him back with informed him immediately that she wasn't buying that. Though to be entirely honest, just the sensation of soft concern and fizzing doubt that his psychic senses were able to detect would have told him that.

"Traumatic flashback, wasn't it?" Illarion said as Arne felt the need to protest burn inside for a second. He wasn't weak...he didn't need...he bit his lower lip and just gave a small nod, a compromise. Not fully admitting it out loud, but not keeping that truth from them. He felt briefly ashamed at his inability to hide such information from them, but did his best to suppress it.

"Hey, we're all here for you if you need it." Taellarja said as she brought an arm around Arne and helped walk him towards the destination she had in mind. She took a second to look behind herself and squinted and moved a bit quicker as she felt a bit of unease herself.

"So what's all this about Trace anyway?" She asked, humming a bit as she looked to the other two surrounding Arne.

"Arne had a vision dream where Trace singled him out. Maaaaybe, he might have something to do with the feeling of being stalked around here? I mean, I'm not the biggest Kriken expert, but Trace is operating in this galaxy sooo maybe..." Solveig said, her voice almost immediately drowned out by Taellarja choking on her own spittle beneath her helmet as she looked to her friends in stammering disbelief. Solveig's horned helmeted head's darkly coloured visor glinted as she stopped, the flight mask like mouthguard hissing as she sucked in filtrated air while Illarion's crested conical helm clasped the wing like crests at its side a bit closer to his head in surprise.

The next few seconds were quiet enough for Arne to be overly aware of his own heartbeat, his next words coming out largely for the sake of breaking the sudden silence. "I have a feeling that this is supposed to be really, really bad." Arne said, chewing on his lower lip slightly as Taellarja's dialogue avatar looked like she was about to have a heart attack.

"Trace knows about you? Like...you personally?" She said in a whisper as if saying his name too loudly would get the attention of some manner of demon king.

"Well, I don't think he knows my name, but he acknowledged me personally when I strayed into his fatestrand in the Morphoscape." He said as Taellarja tugged at the horns on her helmet and let out a long, wheezing exhale.

"Oooookay we definitely need to get Ordna now then." She hissed.

"You talk about Trace like he's an archdevil rather than a person." Arne said, clearly mystified about how a single Kriken could command this much fear. But then, he had stared down the Sun Stalker and Moon Hunter and triumphed, so it was hard to feel properly afraid of so many mundane terrors.

"He's just...a Kriken at the end of the day. This is far from Kriken territory, whatever he's planning well...we've got the skill and talent here to put a stop to whatever he's got planned. Just...have a bit of faith really." Arne said, pausing periodically as he tried to guess at what to say next to make sure the others were following. The lack of rapport he had, something that made his conversations with Samus flow so easily, was a bit of a stumbling bloc, his mind constantly worrying about misstepping.

"Arne...Arnie...Trace basically is an Archdevil. The Kriken Imperial Family is...infernally powerful. Like, personally. Like...progenitor warrior strong. And he's got entire armies and fleets under his personal command and he's got more war crimes to his name than he's got centimetres to his height!" She paused before realising what she said and added "Which...admittedly isn't saying much." She added, huffing a bit.

"Oh...yeah that is kind of problematic. Still, I think I can handle myself against him. Just like I'm sure Samus can handle Weavel." Arne said as Solveig stopped and raised her eyebrows in concern.

"She's going to try taking on one of Weavel's schemes...on her own?" She asked, utterly incredulous.

"Not on her own." Solveig at first seemed relieved. As if she hadn't gone off the deep end, holding onto the hope that maybe Samus wasn't completely out of her mind.

"I'll help her, as soon as we've got an opening." Solveig's relief shattered instantly as she shook her head rapidly and muttered "nonononono" even faster, the alarm written on her face making Arne's heart sink as Illarion also stopped to side-eye him, the flash of emoticons on his visor informing Arne he may have made a misstep somewhere.

"Arne, you and Samus are planning to take on Neutronium class war criminals...on your own? War Criminals with huge fleets and armies?" Illarion said, resting his hand on Arne's shoulder as he tilted his head at him, the last of Gyda's line making an embarrassed looking face beneath his helmet, feeling a rush of shame beneath his helmet after all this scrutiny.

"Arne, we're thirteen. Even if you're strong enough to beat them all on your own, how are you going to stop their soldiers from killing trillions? Quadrillions? Quintillions? We're talking armies that can lay waste to entire galaxies. Unless you can tear apart a huge chunk of the universe, you can't stop them from their plans. Not unless it all hinges around something a small group of people can fight over." Illarion said, trying his best to be the voice of reason as Arne slowly nodded and sighed.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" He asked, not wanting to just throw in the towel when there was clearly something he could do. "I can't not use the power I was given. There's got to be something especially important for Weavel and Trace to go so far from their usual operating areas. Something we can stop. I just...look I just have the premonitions. I know there's something I have to do." Arne said, shaking h is head and building his reservoirs of confidence and determination back up. He hardened his resolve, clenching his fists and straightening himself.

"Ordna knows people who can work on that sort of scale. We're talking like...the work of a very large number of Freelancers and Ultramilitants; standing armies and all that. But...you...you're here to be a kid, like us. You can't live your entire life on adventure, even if its fun! And Gods know it'd be really fun to just bounce from one place to the next, never putting down roots...going on quests, helping people in need, raiding dangerous places...but it's a very lonely life. And...and I think you deserve better than that." Solveig said, continually upping her voice every time Arne tried to get his own word in to let him know that she wasn't done talking until she finally nodded her head beneath her helmet and got a look of understanding out of Arne as he reached a hand out to the chin of her helmet and tilted her head upwards to him.

She smiled, her expression visible on his heads up display. "You've suffered enough Arne...can't you take a break at least a little? Throwing yourself so hard into your destiny without thinking about yourself isn't going to end well." She said, her voice soft and full of concern.

"I'm not afraid to die." Arne said.

"It's not that...it's that it's going to be a path of heartbreak and loneliness. You need love and happiness too." She said, Arne taking a look around at the others as Taellarja looked up; having sent a signal ping out to what Arne could only presume was Ordna as the four crossed into a high ceiling room, where airborne or arboreal individuals were busily traversing above them, others moving on walkways or on the ground level alongside them.

"Come on Arne, we didn't say you should do nothing, just...don't do it alone. There's people who can help. Always will be. You and Samus don't have to hold the only two torches in the universe." Taellarja said, putting her hands on her hip and pushing them a little forward, looking up at Arne as he backed a little away from Solveig and gave a small nod.

"Besides, what would be more fun, trying to take on the Inferno Pack and the Tracer Hussars on your own or with friends and a whole bunch of badasses?" Illarion said with a smile as Arne nodded, he did after all have a point that he could hardly just ignore.

Ordna, however, interrupted his thoughts, descending atop a perch that he had his attention away from for a few moments, electricity crackling around her form briefly as straightened her beaked head and scraped her hind claws atop the rock in the room's garden, her lightning-filled eyes humming before she dimmed the glow and stood herself onto her hind legs, her wings collapsing so neatly into the sides of her arms that he could hardly imagine how she could unfurl them again; looking like enormous tonfas projecting past her elbows with hints of feathery sails covered in her electric toned armour more than wings.

Arne swallowed a bit as Ordna reared herself up to a rather formidable height that reminded him that she was about the size of a Quetzalcoatlus, though humans and aelva really were on the rather shorter side of the many sapient species that lived across the universe. Rundas was nearly four meters tall when he properly stretched out his legs, the average Urtraghian space pirate was three and a half meters tall, even Trace for as much as they mocked him was taller than the human average by a considerable margin when he wasn't crouching.

Ordna though?

Ordna made him feel tiny in a way that tickled the animal part of his brain that wanted him to avoid staring back at anything that read like a predator and made him have to look up to meet them in the eye. He fought the instinct down in a hurry but the overall structure of Ordna as her long sinuous spaded tail curled over her head and then straightened back down made him feel a tinge of unpleasant memories. He was thankful for a moment that she only had a single head and primarily was bipedal, and added to that with thanks that her colouration was all wrong to be the five faces of his nightmares.

Yet being in her presence sparked something in him. Awe? She was a legendary warrior whom his mother considered to be a peer worthy of respect. It would only be natural then, for him to offer her his own deference, but without getting on his knees, out of a sensation that such would be construed by the Proud Omdynian as patronising and a sign of having been cowed out of his own sense of self-worth. He gulped and remained standing, standing straight and trying to make sure she couldn't perceive any faltering in his stance or his salutations to her as he offered her a traditional Grendakal salute and extended his hand.

"Hey there...I'm...the son of Gyda." He said clearing his throat and feeling some sweat roll down his forehead as she looked towards him dead on, snapping her beaked head away from the others and crouching somewhat to make it easier to speak to him, all without getting so close as to invade his personal space. He could just about feel the electricity around her, her presence like living storm clouds and her gaze akin to that of the thunder gods of ancient legend or modern religion. She clacked her beak a bit and let out a cawing sound, not one of displeasure, but excitement. She buzzed with delight and clasped her hands together.

"...Gyda and Erik's child? Alive?" She said, looking around and then gesturing to Arne to follow her to somewhere more private, crawling into a room with a number of impressive looking garden spaces whose door closed behind Arne's group as soon as they were through and she could readjust herself. She checked around to make sure nobody was here who shouldn't be, and then looked back at him, turning her head down towards him and letting out a small squawking sound before bringing herself onto all fours in a way that made Arne reflexively flinch backwards.

"So uh...I'm Arne...Eriksen." He said, the other three around him giving him nods of encouragement as she hummed in satisfaction.

"I have been waiting a long time to speak to you Arne. I thought I'd never get the chance...when I got word of what happened to your family I, assumed you were lost to us as well." Her voice broke slightly, the surprisingly high pitched tone buzzing and humming as if autotuned or filtered through an old radio. But the sadness in her tone disappeared quickly as she took another look at Arne, just happy to see that he was alive, healthy, and clad in such wondrous armour. She reached out a hand, asking permission to touch him, and was granted it, rubbing her claws against him and cooing briefly before turning to his new friends.

"You know how lucky you are to be able to know him, yes?" She said, getting a series of nods in response.

"Taellarja, why didn't you tell me he'd be coming here? I'd have had so much more prepared to show him." She said, almost disappointed in the Aelva who leaned against a tree and shrugged.

"I just thought maybe it'd be a bit more secure to let you find out yourself." She said, getting a trilling noise out of Ordna in response.

"So...I heard you might have something that would help us with a problem I've got with Trace and Weavel?" Arne said, the joy from Ordna's expression disappearing frightfully fast as those names were mentioned.

"Tell me everything you know." She said, her voice so cold one could just about imagine the icicles hanging off from her beak while she loomed near Arne, listening intently as he explained his conundrum to her. She remained still throughout the explanation, and when he finished she stood herself up to her full height and flicked her foreclaws up and down in a sign of acceptance. She had heard what she needed to hear.

"I will take a look as soon as I am able to, as for you Arne, I expect you and Samus to take the academic duties given to you seriously. When the time calls that I have something for you, I will give the call and we will hunt together. But keep in mind; you're here to learn to live amongst your own kind, and part of that is learning to let others help you. A knight such as you shouldn't stand on your own." She said, laying a hand on his back and kneeling towards him.

"Ordna...I'd just feel so...useless sitting around when there's things I can do with what I've been given. When I was given this armour...this blood, it was to help people...wasn't it?" He said as Ordna once again made the affirmation claw dip.

"You are, but I'm sure you've been told that you can't bear everyone's burdens on your own. You're still new to the world; let us show you how to navigate it. But don't think I don't want to fight alongside you soon." She said, humming in contentment as Arne sighed and nodded back at her.

"Yeah, Arne we've barely even shown you around. Just...have a little break some times you know? Besides, there's so much fun to be had here!" Solveig said, standing closer to Arne and offering her hand; a gesture he responded to by taking it and Illarion's hand when it was offered as well, feeling a bit flustered to be at the center of this much attention.

"Don't be afraid Arne, I know many who will be able to help make sure that your wait for action won't be long. Now...this...shapeshifter you see so often, that is something that is more your concern. Don't let them know you are aware of being followed. Not just yet." She said, taking another look around and then lowering her head close to him again.

"I was already planning on that. Just, trying to do something to get them into the open." Arne said with a sigh.

"Hrm. Maybe give us a few days, we should think of something to do that." Taellarja said with a grin.

"I'm glad we could come to this understanding. When the streams bring us together again, I hope to fly by your side, brave eagle. Until then, I will stay in touch with you whenever you ask." She said, giving a light peck to his helmeted head and then stretching out her wings to push herself off the ground, the crackle of lightning following her as her wingtips whipped towards the ground and then pushed her through the air.

"I won't forget." Arne said, looking back towards his trio of friends and managing a smile beneath his helmet.

"So where do you guys want to go?" He asked.

"Well, back to the dorm would be nice. I had stuff I wanted to show you." Solveig said, touching her fingers together.

"Same." Illarion added, with Taellarja also raising her hand.

"Oh well, I guess that settles it." Arne said, somewhat surprised at their responses to say the least, having expected to want to show him the nightlife around here.

After a pleasant time, Arne checked his messages briefly and was pleased to see that as he expected, Samus had more messages for him. He responded to them as soon as he was able, humming as he tapped at the keyboard that the nanites generated and input his message. He felt a bit of unease and remained in an elevated state of caution, but he had fun, so he was somewhat relaxed at least. Enough so to remove his armour and return to wearing a simple pair of shorts and a shirt, tapping one foot to release some nervous energy while drinking something out of a bottle in one hand.

hatchingSentinel: arne! ive got some really big news! :D
novaKnight: Oh?
hatchingSentinel: i managed to get some leads on trace and weavel!
novaKnight: That's really fantastic news! Ordna says we should probably lay low for a bit first though...but uh. Yeah go on, I'm interested. :)
hatchingSentinel: what, just let the adults handle it for a bit? :?
novaKnight: Yeah I know that's kind of...not our thing.
hatchingSentinel: oh you bet! most of them could get hurt or worse! we can't just sit back and do nothing :mad:
novaKnight: Well, no we can't but aren't our lessons going to start soon?
hatchingSentinel: yeah i know but...we can make time right? Not all of the leads we pursue need to be on foot.
novaKnight: True I guess.
hatchingSentinel: well, what do you have for your first lessons?
novaKnight: History it seems. Should be interesting! You can tell a lot about a society by how they portray history.
hatchingSentinel: oooooooh. same here! i'm just hoping that they don't say too many inaccurate things. its going to be really hard to resist the urge to correct them if they do.
novaKnight: Haha! Yeah, I hope your classes are ready for you.
hatchingSentinel: there's also squad fighting too. Hrm, think our drills with our mechanoids or the other kids on Arganti would be useful here? So used to fighting either on my own or well...just with you!
novaKnight: I mean...we built our mechanoid companions like Qaeystra or Ivar.
hatchingSentinel: trueeee but a mechanoid you built to have tea parties with you isn't the same as fighting alongside people who were well...born and have a personality you don't set!
hatchingSentinel: or well, people who don't know as much about the progenitors as we do in general are going to be...weird and hard to deal with.
hatchingSentinel: i just hrm...i'm just wondering if this really is the right place for me? structured schedules and lessons...i've been so used to learning things at my pace.
hatchingSentinel: having to slow down for my teacher sounds hard.
novaKnight: Yeah. Neither of us are really well, familiar with conventional education. Especially just being one in a class and not the single prodigy.
hatchingSentinel: yeah, and well, i guess we're here to learn how to deal with other people and all?
novaKnight: Correct. I think we can handle it...maybe. People here seem nice at least.
hatchingSentinel: don't you mean are nice?
novaKnight: I...yeah I don't think anyone's faking it but I still fear sometimes that well...not everyone's being sincere you know?
novaKnight: Everyone is so nice to me even though I haven't done anything to earn it. Can it be real?
novaKnight: I'm probably just being paranoid honestly. But I just, I'm not sure you know?
novaKnight: I'm not like you, dedicated, caring, energetic, and devoted...you make everything look so effortless and fun. I just, feel like sometimes...what have I actually done to earn your love? Share a tragic backstory with you? Be relatable?
hatchingSentinel: Arne.
novaKnight: Yes Samus?
hatchingSentinel: you deserve friends, being happy and loved! don't let your...former caretaker get in your head. that's what he wants you to think, that you're worthless and don't deserve to be happy!
hatchingSentinel: i love you because you're sweet, because you care so much and are willing to go so far to help people. because you've been nothing but understanding with me and i can trust you so much. i can tell you things i just...can't share with anyone else. and you can share me things nobody else will understand. it's just...how many other people in the universe can either of us really relate to?
novaKnight: I...yeah.
novaKnight: You've been nothing but the best to me and I'm happy to have met you. Sorry for the mood swing Samus.
hatchingSentinel: arne, you have nothing to apologise for!
novaKnight: Alright. :)
hatchingSentinel: :)
novaKnight: I'm really uh, looking forward to our next holodate. Heh...
hatchingSentinenl: what's so funny :?
novaKnight: It's just that well, this is so...mundane and domestic. Setting up a long-distance relationship date and talking about classes and friends we've made.
hatchingSentinel: heeheee! :D
hatchingSentinel: yeah it is very...normal teenage couple stuff huh?
hatchingSentinel: oh right, the stuff about trace and weavel! duh, can't not finish that.
novaKnight: Hrm?
hatchingSentinel: i looked at some more of weavel's drones and i think trace and weavel are planning some sort of exchange facilitated by a third party.
hatchingSentinel: it's over progenitor relics, they need access to something big enough to get the kriken empire and the confederacy to call at least a local truce.
novaKnight: They're going to stab each other in the back as soon as they have access I'd imagine.
hatchingSentinel: ian's told me that we'd call that sort of thing a "sucker's bet".
novaKnight: I don't see what this has to do with suction.
hatchingSentinel: something about being easy to mislead? like a baby still sucking their bottle.
novaKnight: Ooooh that makes more sense.
novaKnight: Any idea of where it might take place?
hatchingSentinel: not sure, but they probably know that they need some sort of biometric access to progenitor relics.
novaKnight: ...
hatchingSentinel: which i know, means we're direct targets. so stay safe arne.
novaKnight: I will.
novaKnight: Hold on...I don't think I'm alone in the room.

Arne paused as he felt something nearby, air being displaced, something making a move in the causeways of destiny. Possibilities fraying around him as he slowly backed away from the terminal and felt it more than heard it. Air being displaced. A silenced teleport. A sudden elevated sense of danger. A laser already fired just before the tip of the cannon could touch his head.

He ducked out of the way, avoiding the point-blank shot of the stun beam and grabbing at the arm gun of the invisible kidnapper. Hissing and crackling like a combination of rattlesnake and cricket filled his ears as the agent brought a shock gauntlet and jabbed it towards the boy, who sidestepped and smashed the other arm down with an elbow, skin smashing into shielding and making the invisible, once again silenced agent reel. Arne could feel the anti-contact electric charge preparing, not just through his precognition but also through his fingers and his augmented senses. While letting go would spare him the shock, it would give the agent free range of motion.

He gritted his teeth and powered his way through a shock that would have reduced a herd of elephants to ash and plasma, feeling the jolt of pain while ozone filled his nostrils but using the diversion of energy to grab the figure's cannon and smash it into their face, overpowering augmented muscle and power suit mechanics to throw it back, panting slightly and shaking his hand before he conjured up his paralyzer pistol with a thought and shot once at full charge, an ovoid bolt of neutral plasma arresting their energy and allowing Arne to slam them in the chest twice more with his fists; air slightly burning to get out of the way of his fists. He grabbed them and slammed them into the ground, striking them repeatedly in the face until he felt its shields splintering beneath thunderous impacts.

The agent fired off a sizzling blade that he recognised as a matter disruption field that would cut to the subatomic level. He sidestepped the first slash, waited for the displacement of air to inform him they had moved silently to his left and the ducked below their swing. They teleported again behind him, lining up another shot that he dodged with a flip to the side before firing off his next paralyzer shot, the agent managing to deflect it with a parry that prompted Skjoldr to sidestep, jumping back when they teleported again in an effort to cut off his legs at the knee with the blade. His toughened flesh and skin would offer great resistance to the sword, but it'd hurt.

Firing off a shot and wishing that he had more than one stored charged shot at a time on the pistol as the enemy deflected the shot again and forced him out of the way of the deflected bolt, he came to a realisation. If nobody else had been awakened by this point they had to have put something to prevent them from being aware of it.

"You put a silencer field around the room." He said firing off the energy blade mode to his pistol to block their next slash, a twisting strike meant to get at one of his shoulders. He skidded down the blade in the lock and brought his foot down onto the agent's thigh, knowing from sensation that something broke. The two traded a series of exchanges and parries, the agent clearly having had extensive training and experience in fencing and dueling; making usage of what Arne deemed to be a style best suited to rapiers. Very thrust focused, emphasis on the nimbleness of the blade work.

Arne's shirt was a bit loose and a slash dug through it, making him grunt with annoyance as his midriff was shown through the torn cloth. Tossing off his shirt and throwing it forward to provide a quick distraction, he backed up and jabbed the other in the midsection when they had approached to thrust into his gut, deflecting the stab with another movement. He pushed his annoyance to the back of his mind, he needed answers; so he couldn't kill them or overwhelm them to the point that they'd flee immediately. But he was getting tired of this as he pressed the agent towards a wall, his skill with the blade easily outmatching the agent's even with their invisibility and teleportation.

Arne brought up his armour's arm-sword in a flash of blue light after gaining some space by quickly extending the energy blade into a whip and then smashed right where he sensed the hilt of the other's blade, smashing it open and then pinning them to the wall with his next thrust, impaling them through the shoulder and then crumpling their cannon with a clenched hand before enwrapping them with the whip and setting the paralysis field up to maximum. Well, now it was over and he could at last get some answers.

Their armour's stealth field shorted out and Arne could clearly see the burgundy and maroon armour of a Kriken hitman. Their relatively slender armour and tall frame dwarfing the boy, especially in his civilian outfit. Insectoid, with an uncomfortably alimbic esque neckless tear drop shaped floating head with a single cyclopean red eye with no other features on its helmet. Its body spindly and ending in a number of spiked limbs with equally spiked shoulders and knees. They had been rendered unconscious by the paralysis whip's entanglement, and he took a look at the hilt of their blade.

"Kriken deathshiv." He said, mostly to himself as the silencer field came to an end and Solveig, this time hoping to get him on his own, crept into the room with a grin on her face before stopping and looking at the Kriken on the wall and yelping.

Arne looked back at her, the broken sword in his hand as he shrugged. "Oh uh...this guy tried to kidnap me." He said casually, trying to play it off as if this wasn't a complete violation of the entirety of Solveig's idea of safety and security while she rushed towards him, not even caring that he was shirtless as she pawed at him, examing every bit of him in a frenzy to make sure he was okay.

"Arne...you tried to fight a hitman on your own?!" She said with alarm clearly present in her voice.

"I could have won sooner but I wanted them alive for capture and well...silenced invisibility, needed to figure out their capabilities without tipping them off by using a different visor mode that could have seen them." He said, combat was his element. The violation of the idea of safety like this was almost...mundane to him, but he could see that she was on the verge of panicking. This wasn't something that was supposed to happen.

"I'm okay though...I'll look around for any way they could have gott-" He started.

"NO! ARNE NO! STOP! THIS ISN'T...TRAINING TIME THIS IS SERIOUS! SOMEBODY TRIED TO BLACKSHIP YOU AND YOU CAN'T JUST...ACT LIKE THIS IS NORMAL!? ARNE PLEASE JUST...Please, you could have been hurt and...Gods of the Clan please don't put yourself in harm's way like that." She said, hugging him close and burying her face in his chest where he realised she was mostly in just a shirt and underwear and flushed a bit.

"I...what do you want me to do?" He asked, looking at the Kriken as they twitched from the energy being fed into it by his pistol.

"I'll get the security team with a Rune." She said, making a few incantations and gestures to create a runic energy letter in the air and blowing it out of the room to reach the school's security personnel, who came running in almost immediate, teleporting where they had to in order to shave down their response time while Arne extracted his sword from the Kriken and let them collect it.

"I'll need some answers at least though. Just...why would they attack me here and now." He said as the Kriken was quickly put in stasis by the synths, one of whom presented him his pistol and nodded.

"Not to worry, we will send you relevant interrogation details as they arise. For the time being though, you will require a security detail." The mechanoid said, getting a glare from Arne.

"A security detail...I can handle mys-" He started before the mechanoid raised a digit.

"Arne Skjoldr, regardless of your combat capability you are thirteen years old. Your priority should be your maturation, not finding battle. Should we require your assistance, we will ask for you. But for now, please try to find safety in the Magnus academy while we attempt to pinpoint the source of this security breach." The Mechanoid said as Arne swallowed his reply and nodded.

"I'm sure they'll call you up...don't worry." Solveig said as she smiled and backed away, slowing her breaths while some of the Mechanoids stayed behind and she looked back at them through her AR glasses.

"Do you require momentary privacy?" One asked.

"Uhhh...we'll be fine." She said.

---

Consolidated Logbook Entries

Individuals: Royalty: Male: Kriken: Arkatika: Trace

One of the Archprinces of the Imperial State of Arkatik and a son to Emperor Mould and Empress Muse, Trace is considerably far down in the line of succession and has little chance of ascending to the throne himself. However, he makes up for his distance in the succession from Crown Archprince Skulpt with sheer viciousness, mean-spirited cruelty and blazing ambition. Trace is, like all members of the Zakaza dynasty, is equipped with extremely advanced technology derivative of the Alimbics whom the Krikens consider themselves the sole proper inheritors of. As a true purebred member of the dynasty, Trace carries a genemarker of unknown origins allowing him to make use of Alimbic and Progenitor technology and makes him into a rare breed of warrior above and beyond the majority of even his household. Despite his young age, Trace is already considered a universally renown war criminal responsible for galactic scale cleansings and numerous genocides and massacres. Trace's personal Imperial Army is known as the Ymakazin Ilagzi, the Red Shroud of Death, and is one of the most infamous military forces in the entirety of the known universe.

Samus' Notes: He's a cruel, horrid little monster of a boy and I don't think I have enough foul words memorised to properly describe how he makes me feel. I'm hoping that when the time comes we can either make him reconsider his life, or at least bring it to an end.

Arne's Notes: The worst sort of spoiled brat never told no throughout his entire life, a monster without functioning empathy for most of the rest of the living beings in existence. There's nothing in there but cold malice, and I'm afraid to have to face that.

Individuals: Heads of State: Royalty: Kriken: Emperor Mould

Emperor Mould is one of the most widely and intensely feared beings in the entire known universe. Head of the house of Zakaza, Mould stands at the apex of the hierarchy of Kriken society and has been the reigning Emperor of the Imperial State for the past thirteen and a half thousand Earth years; an immense achievement when until his ascension the average reigning period of an Arkatiki Emperor was less than fifteen years due to the continual assassinations and power plays within the imperial court. Mould has innumerable offspring, most of whom have not survived as long as he has. Many having been killed by Mould himself for failing to live up to his standards. Mould is known for being highly manipulative, ensuring none can overthrow him by keeping all possible claimants constantly locking horns with each other and unable to focus on himself, which has proven to be one of his greatest assets in his quest to ensure that his reign is perpetual. His paranoia is also well known amongst the political spheres of the universe, and few are able to get a physical audience with the Emperor without being carefully screened first.

Samus' Notes: Nobody should be given a crown just for a bloodline. And Mould's cruelty seems to confirm why. He's one of the longest lasting and cruelest tyrants in the universe and he has no claim to it besides his ancestry. The average Kriken lives in misery under him, and all he has to his name is butchery.

Arne's Notes: That the crowned heads of ancient empires are cruel and despotic isn't any surprise. The main surprise is that Mould has endured for so long despite all his cruelty and all the enemies he's made. I can only guess he has more than enough personal combat power to throw off any number of assassins.

Enemies: Sophontic: Organic: Power Armour Equipped: Kriken: Royal Hitman

Royal Hitmen are assassins and kidnappers in service to the Zakazan dynasty; sent out to deal with individuals that the Dynasty has particular ire for. Royal Hitmen are equipped with silencing fields, cloaking devices, variable weapon arm cannons, stasis generators, and disruptor blades all meant to ensure either a quick kill or a clean capture. Royal Hitmen are expected to remain silent and calm at all times, to never give any indication of why they are at their location, who sent them, or even whether the target is slated for death or capture. All to ensure operational secrecy and to prevent their handlers from being targeted for retaliation should a Hitman fail. Hitmen are also extensively augmented beneath their special purpose combat suits to allow them to preform feats far beyond any conventional Kriken soldier, allowing them to have a relatively high chance of dealing with their target with little in the way of backup and should they be discovered before they can fulfill their duty; fight their way to success. A broad array of failsafes are placed on Hitmen to ensure that even if captured, they will not be able to divulge any information they might have on them.

Samus' Notes: How did they get through all the security in the Magnus academy? Even for elite commandos that should be an impossible feat. This has to be some progenitor device allowing them to tunnel through the usual teleportation blocks.

Arne's Notes: A pretty decent fight for me unarmoured, but in my zero suit or my armour it should be pretty easy if this is what the Kriken assassin department has to offer. But I'm curious as to how they ascertained my location so quickly.

States: Monarchist: Superpowers: Imperial State of Arkatika

The Imperial State of Arkatika, better known as the Kriken Empire, is a monarchial state that emerged in the aftermath of the fall of the Alimbic Tetrarch Order. Once an associated and potentially related species of the Alimbics, the Krikens were left with control over a great swathe of former Alimbic Space following the Order's mysterious collapse and the even more shadowy extinction of the Alimbics in the space of a mere handful of years. With the Alimbics gone and most of their technology unusable and incomprehensible to the great majority of the universe, the Krikens simply parasite off of the infrastructure they could use to quickly crawl their way into a major power; spreading far beyond the Tetra galaxy of their origin. A fundamentally autocratic state, Arkatika is predicated on the inherent righteousness of the conquests of the Krikens, believing themselves to be the chosen species of a progenitor culture and therefore above all others. The State is also infamous for sending out the youth of its nobility to constantly find new worlds or prizes for the Empire's enormous military to conquer and absorb and stave off its internal issues a while longer with further growth, and as such is regarded as virtually a rogue state and a universal security risk.

Samus' Notes: One of the great blights on the universe, we're going to have to work hard to win the people who live within it freedom from those who rule over and enslave them. Hopefully soon, before their nobles plunge the cosmos into war.

Arne's Notes: I know that Section 9 has been trying to engender and support revolution within the Imperial State for centuries, but they've never been able to get more than supercluster level rebellions ongoing. We'd need to deal with the leadership to topple the whole thing, I think.

Individuals: Freelancers: Female: Darchida: Omdyni: Ordna

Ordna is regarded as one of the peaks of the Freelancer profession; a consummate fighter, explorer, troubleshooter, commando, and hero whose accolades are as numerous as they are awe-inspiring. Well known for her ability to control and produce electricity in excess of what is typical for her species and her tremendous speed and physical prowess, Ordna further enhances these with a host of customised battlesuits continually being upgraded and modified to fit her ever shifting standards. These abilities have combined with her sense of honour, duty, and responsibility to make her one of the most trusted, adored, and valued freelancers to have ever operated in Omdyn space in the millennia of the Omdyn's operations. While originally born on the world of Zalimi, Ordna has ranged far from her home world and galaxy and has engaged in nearly constant missions across much of the universe, going from galaxy to galaxy or planet to planet and rarely staying in one place for long. Perhaps the only frequent exception being her habit of returning to the Magnus academy where she had honed her abilities originally and made much of the friends she holds now.

Samus' Notes: She's got an amazing career! c: I'm hoping I can get to know her as soon as possible, it says here in her record that she's even on good terms with Rundas.

Arne's Notes: Absolutely astounding in her feats and capabilities, an icon to measure up to and an example for me to set myself by. I can only hope to match or surpass her story.

Cultures: Omdyni: Uskarling

The Uskarling Culture is regarded as one of the most martial yet practical in the cosmos; originally founded by the Uskarling Nation of the Zekunso Species on the homeworld of Agradhof and known for its requirement that all members put in socially necessary labour in exchange for much greater amounts of free time after the burdens of society were fairly shared with all citizens. This included defense and warmaking, leading to every single member of the culture being raised to fight both individually and as units throughout their lives; with regular drills being expected of most members and any member of the culture who has disabilities that would prevent them from fighting at optimal capability being required to receive treatment without charge. While not making a habit of using child soldiers, when Uskarling settlements are attacked and the adults and synths have failed to keep the attacker at bay; all remaining citizens over a certain age are required to mobilise, don levy armour and weapons, and form into units for one last line of defense to either repel the foe or allow some to escape; with the age line being all Uskarlings over the age of ten for humans. When war is declared, all citizens of adulthood who are not needed elsewhere are made to form into units and prepare for mustering orders according to the elected officer corps commands, and civilian craft are submitted for conversion to military purposes where practical while proper military vessels are mobilised or unmothballed. As the Uskarlings accept any who can share the burdens, will uphold the traditions of the Uskarlings and their chosen clan, and follow the standards of honour in return for the rewards regardless of creed or species; most Uskarlings are not Zekunso, and the Union of the Clans of Agradhofa that is the home state of the Uskarlings is one of the most diverse members of the Omdyn. More than half of the Omdyn human population is Uskarling in fact; the largest in the universe outside of the United Nations of Sol.

Samus' Notes: It's a very interesting society from what Arne has shown me of it. I just love the attitude towards the sharing of the burdens of society that they have. It seems so equitable, but I'm worried about their demand that everyone in society needs to be ready for battle at all times. It seems like such a harsh demand.

Arne's Notes: The Uskarlings have endured for tens of thousands of years and shall endure for tens of thousands of years more. Harder than the Herskald we wear as armour, older than the mountains of home, stronger than the sword of Oldoxyr the World Cleaver. We are warriors, explorers, poets, thinkers, revolutionaries, and artists.

Consolidated Headlines and Article Excerpts

Local Level News: Private: Internal Magnus Academy Bulletin: Clan Grendakal representatives hopes to initiate Arne Skjoldr

After discovering the survival of the sole son of Gyda and Erik Skjoldr, the Clan Speakers of Grendakal at the Magnus Academy have agreed on a motion to put Arne; or Vadzidylk to use the warrior name given to him by the clan seer who oversaw his birth; through some of the trials that he has missed in his time away from the embrace of his clan, should he wish to formally join his clan now that he is old enough to be considered ready for battle in Uskarling culture. While it is unclear to the exact degree that he has been augmented, it is expected that he will easily pass the trials based on what evidence exists of his combat capabilities. An event that the seer who had originally given him his warrior name and accompanied his mother during her birthing of the young Skjoldr looks forward to overseeing to ensure that he walks the path with the same honour and dignity that his mother did.

Samus' Notes: Aww, I hope he does well in his initiations. c:

Arne's Notes: Oh...well...I hope I'm ready, I think I'm ready at least.

International News: Engenoid: Republican Triumph: Rantik Mechanical Swarm entering Styrmandin Galaxy

The Rantik Mechanical Swarm, classified as a category-A aggressive hegemonic swarm known for forcibly uploading of cyberizing other life forms and intelligences it encounters has started to enter the Styrmandin Galaxy, putting forces there on high alert in the hopes of driving the swarm back out of the galaxy. Active for over what is estimated to be roughly three billion years based on its first recorded mention in Chozo histories, the Rantik has been diminished from its prior glory days by the progenitors, but has managed to find ways to survive and plague the universe time and time again despite numerous efforts to eradicate them. With much of the attention of the Engenoid Union focused on the Rantik, many are questioning as to whether the embattled Union can deal with Kriken, Ivasti, or Space Pirate interests Styrmandin galaxy that are already taking advantage of the redeployment of forces to deal with the Rantik. The Alliance of Democratic Star Nations has offered its support to their Engenoid allies in these trying times as well in the hopes of propping their comrades up against the Swarm and the opportunists.

Samus' Notes: Well, that is something roughly three billion light-years away, but this was marked in Trace's files of interest. Which means that he regards this as important, which means I have to as well.

Arne's Notes: I feel somewhat drawn to the swarm, maybe I'm supposed to put a stop to it? There's a lot about the duties of the inheritors and ultimas that I'm not very familiar with.

International News: Omdyni: People's Investigation: Kriken activity in Black-Eye galaxy intensifies

The Arkitan Imperial State has in recent days massively increased the flow of its special forces into the black eye galaxy in the search for what might be progenitor relics based on unconfirmed reports by investigators who have managed to break the veil of Kriken secrecy. While this cannot be verified at the moment, it has lead to a major mobilisation order for reservists in the Black Eye Galaxy who are preparing to repel the Kriken incursion force pressing into their space. Already significant skirmishing has begun between the military forces of the Imperial State and thE Omdyn, with attempts to raise protest against the Imperial government falling on deaf ears and the threat of intensifying containment efforts against the Krikens being raised; though as the state of war between the Imperial State and the Omdyn has never ceased since first contact; there is little expectation of any diplomatic solution. Galactic Battlefleet Commander Fiercer than Most has promised a significant retaliation if the Krikens do not withdraw.

Samus' Notes: Oh no! All-out war between major powers at this point in history would do nothing but slaughter multitudes. I'm hoping if we put a stop to Trace's plan mass death can be avoided.

Arne's Notes: A massive amount of life is at stake, but I don't think anything short of stopping Trace from getting what he wants and embarrassing him is going to get him to stop.

National News: Omdyni: Tribune of the Populace: New Omdyn Premier elected to helm Supreme Council

Following the recent general elections across the Omdyn, the Supreme Council has a new Premier in the form of the Synthetic Conscious Mind-Spider known as Andarastim Stylxikt of the member Republic of the Xakil Democratic Council Omnipragmatist Republic, replacing the incumbent Haestomol Vagrami. Representing a movement that seeks to more aggressively respond to threats by external powers while also maximising technological development and the bolstering of the quality of life throughout the Omdyn to allow for outlying spaces to enjoy the same quality of life as the core regions while still improving the core; Andarastim's central executive council is formed with an overwhelming mandate and the approval of the general populace. While her term is to start immediately, she is expected to face her first test in the form of yet another flare-up in conflicts with the Imperial state of Arkatik.

Samus' Notes: I'm always concerned when a more war-hungry leadership is chosen by the populace, but from what I understand the ODCOR is nothing if not eminently democratic. We'll see how she performs soon, I'm hoping my fears are unrealised.

Arne's Notes: She seems to be someone my father held in tremendous regard in particular, while my mother was somewhat cooler in her opinion of her. I'll need to monitor them closely to gauge the shifts they'll bring about.