Fawkes didn’t want to see his family until all of the eggs were recovered. Inside, he felt that subconscious resentment of knowing they weren’t really his children anyways. But Nyx had convinced him otherwise, they went down to Emerald to visit Gaius, Throbb, Naz and the children.
Bruno and his gang decided to come too, preferring to be with Fawkes than with the mourning warship.
“I’ve never seen this many Vorchans my entire life.” Bruno said.
They were in a large cave. It was separated into three tiers, each visible from the other. In the center of the cave was a pond with plenty of fish. There must have been an underwater river nearby. The entrance to the cave was on the third tier.
Butch was cautiously growling at his siblings as they nipped at him playfully. They retreated as he tried to catch one, gliding into the pool from the third tier, landing next to Mace who was floating comfortably on his back.
“I have two brothers and sisters?” Bruno asked.
“Seven. Two of them are still eggs. One’s due to hatch very soon, do you want to see the eggs?” Nyx asked.
“Sure.”
Nyx led him through a series of corridors. It was a small chamber, with a single tiny entrance Nyx could barely squeeze through. Four drones watched her cautiously, chirping warnings, their small weapons extended. She growled at them. The drones scattered. “I hope they aren’t that meek when a real invader comes.”
“They’re only supposed to be eyes anyways!” Fawkes said, appearing from beyond the corridors.
“Fawkes.” Nyx greeted affectionately, stroking him with a paw.
“I don’t look anything like you two.” Bruno said, seeing the two Vorchans coalesced.
“Well. It’s a complicated story.” Nyx said. “When you’re older I’ll tell you all about it.”
Bruno transferred his gaze to the two eggs.
“This one will hatch very soon.” Nyx said, pointing at the one with blue spots on it. “It’s been due for quite a while.”
She looked so proud.
“What about… my other siblings?” Bruno asked.
“One’s on Gaia and happy. We still have to recover the others.”
Fawkes looked away, “We should head back out.”
“Okay.” Bruno said meekly, following his parents back out to the main corridors, stealing one final glance at his two future siblings. He wondered if they’d be brothers or sisters.
“This place is rad, man. The water’s so blue.” said Mace, floating on his back with his shirt off. Nidio was splashing at him, dog-paddling in the water with Red. Nidio was the same age as her, with orange stripes on his black body. His spikes still hadn’t fully developed.
Mace splashed back at him. Nidio dove, returning with a fish and plopping it on Mace’s stomach. The fish flopped around hectically. Mace tried to grab it, losing his buoyancy and sinking. He laughed. “Paradise.”
The pool looked empty to Fawkes. He checked up on Flames. He was sleeping again, regenerating. His terminals were functional, and all of his koveran chambers worked now. His hull integrity was still low, with noticeable damage to several systems, but in time it would heal. The other Puritans in their family had donated plenty of drones.
His family…
Thanatos had been forced to accept them, his children having acclimatized to this area.
Darnell told him that they had intercepted quite a few shards, and had made a name for themselves. Thanatos had already been feared, so it hadn’t been too difficult.
He assured Fawkes that no more shards would make it to Martock.
“Is he even alive?” Fawkes had asked.
“Probably. The Symbiote is pervasive, and can give great power to those that wholly accept it.” Darnell said.
“Is that why you didn’t want us near your family?” Fawkes asked.
“One of many reasons.” Darnell growled.
“We should go.” said Fawkes, returning to reality, looking down at the pool. Butch was in it too now. The other mercenaries had settled on the side of the pool where it wasn’t as deep, acclimatizing to the cold.
“Heat this water up for me will ya, Butch?” Fox suggested.
“It might kill the fish.” Butch said.
“No it won’t.”
“It might kill you.” Butch said, firing a flameburst at Fox. It evaporated before reaching him, covering Fox in warm steam.
“That’s better. Do that again.” Fox said, closing his eyes and enjoying the warmth.
Butch tried another, coughing from the failed attempt.
“We should go!” Fawkes repeated, louder this time so everyone heard them.
“Right, right.” Bruno said.
“I’m coming with you.” It was Darnell.
Fawkes turned around to face him. Tory was beside him, waving a hand in greeting to Fawkes. Fawkes grinned back.
“Figure we’ve got nothing else to do, and you could use the extra ships judging by Flames’ status.” Tory exclaimed.
“Thanks.” Fawkes said. Thanatos had taken a beating too. “How is Thanatos?”
“Better. The AHC works again. His hull’s probably as badly off as your ship’s though.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Heh. Well let’s head out.” Darnell said. “Is Nyx coming?”
Nyx had glided down to the pool, playing with her three children.
“Are you guys coming?” Fawkes asked. “We’re heading out.”
She looked up at them, “We headed off to find the others?”
“Where else?”
“Right.” she looked at her children, then at Fawkes. “I’ll get Gaius, Throbb and Naz here, then I’ll catch up with you. My exosuit still has fuel right?”
“It does, but we could take a shuttle—“
“Pfft that’s no fun. I’ll catch up with you guys.” Nyx said, getting out of the water.
“It’s okay. We can wait here.” Fawkes said. Darnell and Tory were standing around uncomfortably, fully dressed. It was a lot warmer in the cave than outside. Humid too. Darnell’s uniform was glowing a dim vermillion from the heat regulation.
“It’s a nice ‘lair’ you’ve got here.” Darnell said. “Reminds me of those old Earthen myths.”
Fawkes smiled, “You know, I met a bunch of people who still call us dragons! Once we recover all our eggs you should come meet them with us.”
“The Outer Rim’s really got everything.” Tory commented.
“Indeed. I look forward to it, Fawkes.” Darnell said.
–
–
Gaia and the war.
Automatic fire came in quickly and precisely. The locals were using koveran-laced rounds, and they packed a punch. Armour was virtually useless. A good portion of the Vorchans in their army had resorted to small squad-tactics, carrying light loads and doing what they can do force the planet to surrender – which was very little at the moment. However, the more attacks they made, the more Vorchans… or dragons – as they liked to be called – joined them.
There seemed to be a correlation between the types of refugees that were arriving and the types that resisted. Darwin was getting numerous reports of Lancers on Dragons engaging his Vorchan squads, using the terrain and the foliage to their advantage to launch precision strikes.
They were losing people, and Darwin was still mulling over Artemis’ disappearance. Darwin hoped the old Terran was alright. He could have really used his help at the moment.
“How are our supplies?” Darwin asked.
“Decent.” reported Leoven. “The RDF don’t seem to be trying too hard to engage our supply drops.”
“That’s good. So the Descendents haven’t descended to the point of engaging their planet yet. That gives us time to… persuade.” Darwin muttered. Resupply was carried out in the corner of Green Siege. Occasionally they would have to fight Lancers for the goods but they’d generally win… “And how are our numbers?”
“We’re holding steady at around fifty-four hundred.” reported Leoven.
“That’s good.”
“We’ve got a pretty decent influx of Dragons and Lancers, sir, coming to join our cause. Some were Vorchan. A few were from Gaia. “
This was a strange planet. Darwin had realized that not all of the slaves here were from Terra. Most were lower class Vorchans that just lived here their entire lives. They never knew anything else. Never knew about the freedoms abroad. It was sad that people lived like this; that fellow Vorchans lived like this, brainwashed into serving this backwards planet, brainwashed into serving Raumen.
“Lancers…” Darwin scoffed.
“They want to change the system, like us.” Leoven commented.
“For the betterment of their own positions—“
“Like us.” Leoven interrupted.
“I want to give everybody an equal chance.”
“To do what we would have to set up a new government. Give control over to the Vorchans.”
“Then we shall.” Darwin said.
“Planetary conquest. Never would have thought.” Leoven grinned.
–
Artemis had a dual layered plan here. Very well thought out… in his mind. The execution of the plan, however, had been difficult, if not almost impossible.
He wondered how he was alive as he lay panting on the floor of Aureate’s shuttle bay.
“What… the… hell…” Aurum growled, standing before him with a gauss cannon trained on his skull.
She was a stunning black Vorchan. With golden webbings for her wings and a golden chest Artemis couldn’t stop staring at. There was a light blue fleet insignia on her head and sides.
“Goldwing…” Artemis said in awe.
“Blackwing.” Aurum corrected. “I just happened to inherit some of my ship’s traits. We’re T-1’s.” but then she started growling again, looming in on him. Artemis pulled back meekly, grinning, “Stop distracting me!” she scowled, “Why are you intruding!”
“I merely believed that you, of all Vorchans, would understand the gravity of the situation Darwin and his fleet are in.” Artemis said.
“I didn’t know Darwin until I volunteered and I don’t feel like knowing him any longer. He is killing fellow Descendents and Vorchans.”
“Liberating!” Artemis corrected, “They will live lives free from their Raumen oppressors.”
“I have a flock to tend to. Where do you want me to drop you off?” Aurum asked, unimpressed.
“Where is the fleet going?” Artemis asked.
“Terra most likely. To report to the President.”
“And tell him what?”
“That Darwin has gone rogue.”
“He has not.”
“But Artemis!”
“I have known Darwin since my rescue from Fort II. He is a Vorchan with no other desire than to see his people free from the veils of oppression.”
“He’s shooting fellow—“
Artemis came closer, putting a paw on her snout. She bared fangs, flaring her wings and taking up a defensive stance. It was a better response than he’d expected, “Aurum. He is doing everything in his power to prevent bloodshed, but he is obligated to free all Vorchans before him.”
“Do you sincerely believe he is doing this out of the goodness of his heart?” Aurum asked, tucking in her wings, letting Artemis keep his paw over her snout as he preached. The Terran was charismatic, the warmth from his touch seemed to insinuate itself through her body.
“I do, with all my heart.” he crooned.
“Fine.” she sighed. “Aureate’s flock has grown since the return flight to Terra. There are eighty five ships sharing the nodepath with us. If you convince them to turn around…”
“I will, but you have to believe in it as well.” Artemis said, smiling.
“I do.” she said, letting the weight from Artemis’ paw lie her down. She purred.
That was one part of his plan almost complete. Now to start working on the other part.
“I thought you would.” Artemis said, lying down in front of her, snout to snout.
“Goldwing…” she laughed, “That’s a nice one.”
“But they are. They almost shimmer in this light.” Artemis said, reaching a paw out to her left wing, she brought it forward, letting him feel the webbing.
“I know what you’re trying to do.” she said with a grin.
“Do you?” Artemis asked, smiling sheepishly. “Is it working?”
“Maybe…”
“Should we get some dinner?” he asked.
“Let’s. My lounge has quite the menu.”
–
–
There was something here. Charles looked around, hearing the subtle echo of voices.
“Chaarlessss.”
“Who’s there?” Charles asked, standing up from the captain’s chair. The bridge crew looked at him, perplexed. “Don’t any of you hear that?”
“Chaaaaaarllesssss.”
“What the hell is that? Is that you?”
“CHARLES!” Martock roared, appearing in the seat next to him.
Charles jumped in surprise, “Where the hell did you come from, sir?”
“Divert the fleet!” he ordered.
“Where? How—“
“To that serpent’s home! I have the nodepoint.”
Charles put the co-ordinates into the navigation computer, realizing the koveran chambers were more charged than before. “Martock, there still isn’t enough energy to get us to our destination!”
“WHAT?!” he boomed, the entire bridge shaking.
“It has a very weak koveran signature. We’d need twice the power we have now.”
“Twice? How much has the Koverax donated to our cause? Three hundred? Five hundred?”
“Sir what are you talking about!”
“Shut up Charles! We need more blood!”
“What?!”
“Dammit Charles! You have the con.”
Martock vanished in a mist of red.
Charles stared at the captain’s chair for a while. “Set a course for… Emerald.” Charles said, seeing the realspace co-ordinates. It would take them two years to arrive at the destination without koveran energy.
–
–
Luna wasn’t interested in fighting, preferring to help the newcomers by handing out food and taking care of the supply lines. She hadn’t realized how afraid she was of war, of death. Augustine, on the other paw, was the complete opposite. She went out with Ilios’ squad every day in her exosuit – Sometimes coming back with less numbers. It terrified her, but Augustine seemed intent on impressing the dragon, who seemed to have taken a fancy to another dragoness in the squad called Aequor. Aequor was an Arctic with red stripes, an interesting combination. It meant there was a Vulcan in her family line somewhere. It made Augustine’s attempts at spending time with Ilios difficult, as Aequor’s Vulcan instincts were starting to surface, making her defensive of her possible future mate.
Augustine was out again, but she would return soon. Luna already had their food ready, and had ensured the crates were stacked and secured, a storm was supposed to be on its way soon.
She waited and waited, the sun a sanguine streak on the horizon. Finally, she could see a group of dragons returning. She saw Ilios and four other dragons with him. One was without Lancer. That must have been Augustine. She rushed out to greet her, only to realize it was Fiechus, one of Ilios’ lieutenants.
“I’m sorry.” Ilios said, weary-eyed.
“What?” There had been eight of them…
“They got Augustine, Aequor, Lear, and Mitus, as well as Lancers Argot and Kain.”
“Got? They’re dead?” Luna asked.
Ilios looked away, not saying anything.
Luna was in tears. “How could they be dead? They can’t be dead!”
“They were shot down on our flight back. If they aren’t dead they’re prisoners. Either way we can’t recover them.”
“Why not?”
“It was over Sedon: One of the larger cities.”
“I know what Sedon is!” Luna snapped.
“Dragons that enter Sedon are searched. If they don’t have a pass they are captured.” Ilios explained.
“How were they shot down?” Luna asked.
“Ballistae.” said Fiechus, extending his wings. There was a gaping hole in one, the outside of the wound cauterized. “Koveran-laced.”
“No…”
“I’m sorry.” Ilios said again, trotting over to the food. The other dragons glanced sorrowfully at Luna, sharing her loss, before moving on to eat and rest.
Luna stayed there, sitting down. She looked out at the sunset.
She left for Sedon that night.
–
–
“The final three.” Nyx said.
“Let’s hope they’re where their co-ordinates are.” Fawkes replied.
“Let’s hope.” she agreed.
They were in the shuttle bay again, looking out at space. They could see Thanatos and EagleEye on either side of Flames, trailing behind a few kilometres. They were traveling together, letting Flames lead them to the co-ordinates. It was comforting to know Flames wouldn’t be alone. His weak structure made him more insecure, adding to the pain of having lost Stripes. An hour couldn’t go by without Flames having had at least one thought about her. Fawkes could almost sense the waves of sadness. He would counter them with the contentment between him and Nyx, but it wasn’t assuaging much, Nyx still distracted by her encounter with Erebus.
The fact that Erebus was dead didn’t help, either, as being reminded of Erebus’ death only made Flames’ situation worse.
Fawkes was glad when they finally arrived at the seventh co-ordinate. He readied the shuttle. He hadn’t been able to do anything with Nyx since their departure, other than look out at the stars with her. Fawkes subliminally worried that she was getting bored with him. He hid the thought, knowing Flames would say something, but surprisingly he didn’t say anything, also lost in his own thoughts.
They arrived at the house within the hour, their shuttle landing outside, violating all airspace laws, as usual. It didn’t really matter though, the RDF was avoiding them due to Thanatos’ reputation, and the air-defences knew they were being watched by three Descendents, one of them Thanatos.
A man opened the door. “You’re here for a hatchling?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
“I don’t know. Nyx?”
Nyx entered the crèche, looking over the hatchlings with her crimson gaze. They flocked around her curiously.
“There.” she said, noticing a blue one with black stripes.
“I don’t understand.” Fawkes growled. “Why are they in this building? Didn’t somebody purchase them?”
“They did, but since the war on Gaia people have been giving up their Vorchans. The shelters have more Vorchan children now than Raumen.”
“War on Gaia?” Nyx asked, surprised. Her hatchling was circling her. Nyx nuzzled the hatchling, smelling him.
“Yes, haven’t you heard?” the man asked.
Nyx shook her head, cooing to the hatchling as it played with her horns. “I haven’t. Fawkes, we have to—“
“I know…” Fawkes sighed. “This complicates things.”
“You have to make sure Luna is alright.” Nyx said.
“I know.”
“You have family there?” the man asked.
“We do.” Nyx said. “Are we free to take this Vorchan? What’s your name?”
“Aveo.” the hatchling said, content with Nyx, but keeping his distance from Fawkes.
“Of course, feel free. You can take more if you’d like. Very few of these have been claimed.”
Nyx looked at Fawkes.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, what if their parents come looking for them?” Fawkes asked.
“Their parents could be back on Terra… shipless.” Nyx replied.
“So we should take them?” Fawkes asked, not sure what she wanted.
“If you want.” Nyx replied casually.
“Right, load up the ship. Flames has both nodepoints, it shouldn’t take more than a few hours. We can have Violet take them from Emerald.”
Violet is still incapacitated. Flames reminded him.
It was the first Fawkes had heard from his ship for a while. We’ll keep them on Emerald then for a while. It’s safer than here in this daycare.
“Be careful, Fawkes.”
“You too, Nyx.”
–
Flames jumped out with eighty-three hatchlings. The owner of the orphanage had done a call to other orphanages nearby, and they had transported as many hatchlings over as they could. The process had taken several hours. Thanatos, EagleEye and Bruno’s men (including Butch) had gone off ahead, flying for the eighth co-ordinate. He hoped that with Thanatos’ reputation the RDF’s of the respective planets would continue to avoid them.
It was strange playing caretaker to eighty-three hatchlings. His cargo bay was a mess by the time he finished the thirty minute approach to Emerald. Kite helped transfer the hatchlings over with her shuttles. Their cave would be pretty full for a while.
Fawkes let out a long sigh when the transfer was over, glad to not have the sound of nearly a hundred children ringing in his ears. That was interesting. Flames said, thinking about family. One of his fantasized children had green stripes, it made him recede again.
Flames… Fawkes reached out to the ship, but he was quiet, preferring to be left alone. It would take time for Flames to be back to his old self. Maybe he’d never recover from the loss, he hadn’t even seen him steal a glance at Violet since Stripes’ death.
Flames’ mood changed slightly, having caught the thought from Fawkes, not saying anything.
–
Gaia didn’t look too bad from their jump-in point. There were a lot of Descendents in orbit, but breeding grounds were generally like that. It wasn’t until he started approaching the planet that things started getting messy.
“Pull away, stranger. This planet is off limits to non-RDF for the time being.” transmitted one of the Descendent Captains.
“I’m looking for someone. A Vorchan.” Fawkes explained.
“As are another four thousand of you down below.” shrilled one of the Descendents, flying in close to Flames.
Flames pulled away, avoiding a confrontation, his hull paling as blood rushed to his AHC.
Great… Fawkes muttered, looking out at the wall of Descendents that were staying between them and the planet.
What should we do? Flames asked, stopping a few thousand kilometres away. It was near their moon. He vented the CKRO that had built up from his encounter, replacing it with the nourishing koveran energy that this planet was infused with. His chambers would recharge in half the time if he stayed near this planet.
I… don’t know, Flames. Fawkes said dejectedly.
A shriek filled the beemspace band. It made Flames turn red with koveran energy as he prepared himself for combat. His chambers filled with adrexin, the potent chemical making Fawkes’ tail stand on end.
What… was…
Suddenly a series of shots were sensed by Flames off in the distance. AHC rounds – the Descendents were firing on something. He looked over at the commotion.
The Koverax… Flames said, watching the red creature appear from beemspace. The ships that were caught in its web disappeared. What is it doing?
I don’t know, but this is our chance, the RDF is scattering. Fawkes pushed Flames on towards the chaos.
Flames pulled away, taking a wide course towards the planet, weary of the beemspace predator. How are you going to find her when you get down there? Flames asked, readying a shuttle, What if I have to escape?
Then escape, stay alive, Flames. I’ll find Luna. Fawkes said uncertainly, putting on his exosuit and loading as many spare autocannon and gauss rounds as he could.
Be careful, Fawkes.
I will be.
Flames grazed the upper atmosphere, his hull blazing red as it made contact. Fawkes dove from the shuttle bay, tucking in his wings and diving down towards the planet.
–
–
Sedon was peaceful at night, the aura from the city candles making it easily noticeable beyond the horizon.
Luna was flying low, grazing the treeline, flapping occasionally to gain altitude or veer clear of a relatively high twig or branch. She was lucky Sedon was surrounded by forest.
She tucked in her wings as the forest gave way to grassland, disappearing among the shrubbery, running on all fours towards the city.
She stopped when she could get a clear view of the city entrance. The walls had been torn down centuries ago, but there were still watchtowers set up all along the perimeter. Luckily, she remembered where most of them were, having visited Sedon many times with Darnabeth.
She skulked into the city, keeping her wings tucked in and her profile low, blending into the darkness. She had to find Augustine.
She traveled along the cobble roofs, treading as lightly as she could, leaping from building to building.
“Augustine…” she whispered, spotting her at the city centre. Her and dozens of other dragons were chained to the floor there, unable to move. Some would never move, she looked away from the ones that were rotting.
She had to get closer. Luna glided down from the roof, walking straight to her friend.
“Hey!” yelled one of the guards. Luna hadn’t even seen him, caught in her tunnel-vision.
“Hi…” Luna said meekly, face to face with Augustine.
“Luna…” Augustine muttered. She was tired, and there was a pool of blood under her.
“Are you alright?” Luna asked, sniffing the blood, trying to lick her underside. Augustine couldn’t roll over, pinned with a shackle on each leg.
“I’m hurt.” Augustine said. “You have to get out of here.”
The guard had a lance pointed at Luna. “Dragon!” he exclaimed. Luna jumped, having forgotten about him again. “Do you have a permit?”
“I left it at home.” Luna said.
“You’re Darnabeth’s dragon, aren’t you?” asked the guard.
Luna nodded.
“As is this one?” the guard pointed at Augustine.
Luna nodded again, unsure of what to do now that she was here. The guard’s armour looked tough, resistant to bites and fire. She would have to fire the ancestral flame at his face, and hope to burn his eyes. She couldn’t even imagine inflicting such horrible pain. She wasn’t even sure if she remembered how to.
“How is Darnabeth?” the guard asked.
“Fine. She’d like Augustine back.” Luna said.
“She’ll have to claim her herself.” the guard said awkwardly, the chirping of the crickets were becoming more apparent the longer they spoke. He was scratching the back of his head with his lance, waiting for Luna to reply.
“Oh…” Luna said. “I see…”
“Yeah.” the guard said. “It’s best you get back home.”
“Yeah…” Luna replied, looking at Augustine. She was resting her head on the cement floor, gazing up at Luna.
“Go home.” Augustine said.
“Okay.” Luna said. There were no tears in her eyes. The situation was too surreal for tears. She flared her wings and flew off towards Charlesworth’s mansion.
–
It was in flames. She gave it one emotionless glance, and then looked down at her pouch where her doll was being held. She took it out, placing it on the ground, lying down next to it. She started to sob, unsure of what to do next.
“Luna!” cried a familiar voice, landing next to her. He was covered in burns, his body pitch black from all the ash.
“Who are you?”
“I thought you were dead!” he exclaimed, nuzzling her, tears in his eyes.
“Father?” she asked incredulously.
Suddenly she became enlivened again, her energy returning to her as if from the embers themselves. She began pacing around him wildly, tail whipping back and forth, she pawed at his body. “Father we have to get to Sedon! They’re holding Augustine there! She’s badly injured and she doesn’t have much time.”
“The other Vorchan?” Fawkes asked.
Luna nodded hectically, picking up her doll and placing it in her pouch. “Let’s go.” She shot up into the sky, glancing back to make sure her father followed.
“Grab onto me.” said Fawkes, flying above her.
Luna clutched on.
“Retract your wings, and get your tail clear.” Fawkes said, pushing her tail away from the back of the exosuit.
There was a loud boom as the thruster activated. She cried out, grabbing onto her father as hard as she could as they shot forward at incomprehensible speeds.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the sound of the thrusters had faded. It must have been minutes. “Luna. You have to let go now, get safe. I’ll retrieve the other Vorchan. Where is she?”
“She’s a Terran at the city centre. Her name is Augustine. There’s others with her…”
“I’ll see what I can do about the others, now let go.” Fawkes said, helping by pushing her off with his paws. She spun around and glided to safety under the treeline.
Fawkes re-activated the thrusters, shooting forward, sweeping the area ahead of him with all of the suit’s sensors. Anti-air was having difficulty acquiring him this close to the ground, but they definitely heard his approach. Searchlights lit up the night sky as he landed in the city centre, a shockwave emanating from his impact, his augmented claws digging several inches into the cement.
“Vorchan! Stand down!” The guard disintegrated in a plume of red as Fawkes’ hit him with a gauss round. He switched the sensors to track-while-scan and let the autocannons swivel a suppressive sweep on the guards that were emerging from the houses.
“Are you Augustine?” Fawkes asked over the gunfire.
“I’m Lester.” said the Terran. Fawkes left the Vorchan, running to another.
“Are you Augustine?!” he asked.
This one wasn’t saying anything, lying in a pool of blood. He ran to the next Vorchan. He reloaded his autocannons.
Something forced his suit’s electrostatic shield to activate. A burst of red overwhelmed his senses as the koveran energy reacted with the electrostatic energy, overloading his shields.
Flames! Fawkes exclaimed, I need he— The entire city shook as sonic booms followed by explosions permeated the houses. Flames had sensed his Captain’s danger, having unleashed a barrage from the upper atmosphere several seconds ago. He was already flying clear of the planet’s gravity field, plotting his second pass and keeping an eye out for the Koverax. Thanks.
The attack was enough to force the surviving guards to retreat. He began questioning more Vorchans. None of them seemed to be Augustine, several were dead.
“Augustine!” Luna yelled.
“Luna! I told you to hide!” Fawkes roared, seeing Luna’s friendly signature light up in his neurovision.
She was by the Vorchan in the pool of blood. “She’s barely breathing. Can you help her?” Luna asked, looking up at her father with heartbreaking sorrow.
Fawkes scanned the Terran. Her lifesigns were weak, something had dug itself into her chest and fragmented there. His scanners told him it was wood.
He sliced through the restraints with his incisors, rolling Augustine on her back. The wound was infected and looked horrible. Luna began to cry.
Flames, can you get your shuttle down here?
They have primitive air defences. I’ll launch it on the next pass.
Good. Load it with medical drones.
Fawkes radar lit up with aerial contacts. He bugged the targets, having his suit and neural interface run discrimination programs. “Lancers.” he said. There were bright red flashes in his IR scope as they began opening fire from him off in the distance. “Shit.”
“What’s happening?” Luna asked in trepidation, pressing up against her father.
Fawkes covered her with an armoured wing, using the other to engage the incoming enemy fire. He focused the autocannons on the enemy projectiles while focusing the gauss rounds on the actual Vorchans. Luna was sobbing against his chest, shivering uncontrollably, her ears tucked in from the weapons fire.
One of the flamebursts got through, bouncing off the wing he was covering Luna with. Luna yelped in pain as her tail was burned by the thermal shockwave.
The IR artefact that had permeated itself into his visor from the effect had overloaded it. He focused on his neurovision now, opening fire on a few more Vorchans before they dove between the buildings, disappearing from his scope.
He focused his attention on the shuttle, it was still over a minute away.
Where are they? Fawkes asked Flames, forced to look through the shuttle’s weak sensors “Get behind me!” he yelled to Luna, extending his wings, his weapons fully active.
I’m too far.
Get closer! Fawkes ordered.
But the Koverax!
Flames!!
Flames pulled in towards the planet, entering the gravity field again. It ate away at his gravimetric lens, destabilizing it. He was gliding now, falling in towards the planet. He used his skids and electrostatic shield as a permeable wing, trying to give him enough speed to shoot into a stable orbit after his pass. He let out a sensor sweep.
Five targets illuminated in Fawkes’ neurovision, the Vorchans and their Lancers easily visible from above, their koveran signatures making them bright red motes in Flames’ senses.
Fawkes opened fire with his weapons, cutting through the buildings to get at the Lancers behind them. There were screams as people ran from their crumbling houses. Some took up arms, firing at him, only to evaporate in a plume of gore as his gauss rifles automatically returned fire.
After a few minutes, the battle seemed over. Three of his hardpoints were out of ammunition, he had them start loading fresh rounds from his reserve belts. Luna was shivering behind him. “Are you alright?”
“My tail…” she whimpered.
“It’ll heal.” he said, looking her over, eternally grateful she hadn’t been harmed. She seemed to freeze in his mind.
Fawkes! Flames cried, seeing the beemspace tear appear in front of him.
Flames, get clear of it!
Flames rolled left, trying to fly clear of the Koverax. It almost worked, one of the tentacles ripped into his right skid, he began to spin out of control, falling down towards the planet.
The Koverax shrieked and followed him on his uncontrolled plummet to the planet down below. There was a bright red flash several thousand kilometres away as both the Koverax and Flames hit the ground. His signature vanished from the nodescape, his augmentations disappeared. The neurovision feed from Flames went blank. The shuttle crashed into a house behind him, the reserve cesium fuel igniting and starting a fire.
“Daddy!” Luna cried, her head under her paws as she tried to escape from this reality. It was all about survival now. His suit sensors indicated several more soldiers emerging from the city.
Fawkes grabbed Luna, she grabbed back, holding on tightly as he activated his thrusters, shooting up past the clouds, away from the city. He flew until his reserves were almost completely depleted, landing in a large forest several hundred kilometres away.
He lied down here, catching his breath. He reached out to Flames, focusing all of his mindpower on finding him again in the nodescape.
–
–
“Flaaamesss!” hissed the Koverax.
“Symbiote!” Flames growled back, one of its ethereal tentacles wrapped around him, sapping his power. His starboard skid was severely damaged. He heard the death shrills of several Descendents as they were eviscerated by the koveran energy. His mass detectors warned him of the fleet and the Kahless off in the distance.
“This Symbiote and I have come to an agreement!” shrilled the Koverax.
“Martock?” Flames asked. Thanatos and EagleEye had come for him the last time he was in danger. Would they arrive again? He loaded fresh koveran rounds, checking his capacitor and chambers. Other than the injured skid and the hull damage he’d suffered from battles past, he was in decent condition.
Another Descendent shrieked in pain as one of those koveran tentacles ripped through it. The entire ship exploded in a plume of koveran energy. He traced the energy’s path, watching it flow towards the Kahless.
“Behold! The Galactic Council’s final moments!” blared Martock. “With these sacrifices, we will have the power to jump the great Kahless to Gaia, where a feast of beems awaits us.”
“You’re mad.” Flames exclaimed, trying to break free of the Koverax’s grip. One of its koveran appendages was snaking its way towards him, koveran energy from its last victim still dissipating from it in a stream of crimson.
It stroked his underside. He flinched at the sensation, desperately trying to break free, his skids twitching, hull glistening. The galaxy seemed to be full of Nyxes.
“And we have you to thank, Flames! Without your foray into beemspace, the Koverax would have never been able to break free of its unearthly prison!”
The Koverax’s limb was infusing him with energy, binding with him, physically and mentally. He felt ancestral memories unlocking: Memories of past battles. He could feel the burn from plasma rounds that had been fired thousands of years ago. He felt the ominous power of weapons that needed koveran energy hundreds of times beyond that generated by the modern Descendent.
He saw the future, the past. Time itself. The Koverax didn’t live in these dimensions the way he did, he knew that now through this bond. Suddenly it tightened its grip, caressing him lovingly. He felt rejuvenated, his wounds having completely healed. It was a wonderful feeling.
“Join us, Flames: Black Nova Descendent!” screeched the Symbiote.
The thought excited him. He felt a longing to the beemspace creature. He wanted to let it take him. He wanted to embrace it himself.
Sorrow: He saw Fawkes in a forest, his daughter crying. He focused on them, aware of them, it was as if they were right next to him.
Then he saw Stripes, her mental awareness reaching out to him from beemspace, begging for him to join her.
“You killed her!” Flames transmitted, torn between heaven and hell.
“Death is but one step. Join us, worthy Descendent!” the Koverax crooned, its limbs reaching out to him, surrounding him. He scanned them, getting heavy koveran returns, no mass returns. It wasn’t made of matter, which meant it couldn’t be touched with conventional weaponry. It explained why only koveran energy could harm it. But then how was it grabbing him?
He was almost completely smothered now, it was embracing him, he felt himself slipping into beemspace. If he accepted this bond fully there would be no turning back. It was difficult to resist. He could see Stripes’ memories, her contracts, her lost loves. He could be with her again.
“No!” Flames roared, infusing himself with koveran energy, siphoning it from the Koverax itself. He unleashed a koveran shockwave.
The Koverax shrieked out in pain, retreating. He jumped away.
–
–
Fawkes was surrounded. The soldiers were closing in on him, some on Vorchans that emanated a dark hostility. He felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. In a way, he was.
“Luna. I love you.” Fawkes said, kissing his daughter affectionately. His daughter. Biological or not, he felt a connection with her that only a father would feel. He understood that now, that unconditional love. They would have to pry his armoured wings off of him to get to her. He growled at them as they approached.
“I love you too, daddy.” Luna whimpered.
I love you too! Flames exclaimed.
The world erupted in red as CKRO rained down on them from less than a hundred meters. Flames was right on top of them. The soldiers and Vorchans ran to get clear as Flames landed in the forest, his skids digging into the cold dank earth, making him submerge several hundred meters, his gravimetric lens reacting to all the dirt that was trying to smother it, destabilize it. It unleashed a hellfire that burned everything around it. Luckily, Fawkes was nowhere near the lens, right in front of his beloved ship. He could see the massive ocular strips, that vee-shape he had never seen in person. Flames. You look… He didn’t know what to transmit. It was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He had no idea how he’d get to the shuttle bay up above.
Remember that hole? Flames asked.
The one for the Caledon? Fawkes asked warily, seeing Flames start moving forward.
Ha! Guess what else it can fit!
–
–
“Malibu…” Nyx crooned, nuzzling her hatchling.
“How much for the hatchling?” Darnell asked, flanked by Bruno and his gang.
“Err… I paid two million. So…” the man’s composure was failing.
Darnell idly reached for his sword, waiting for his answer. They had landed the fighter right in front of the man’s house, with four more fighters flanking it. EagleEye and Thanatos were imposing silhouettes off in the distance. The RDF wouldn’t go anywhere near them.
“So?” Darnell asked.
“So take it.” said the man dejectedly, sighing in defeat.
Darnell gave him a credit disc. “Two million.” he said.
The man looked at the disc, in awe. “Thanks.” he mumbled.
They took the fighters back up to Thanatos.
“Did you really have to pay ALL of them?” Nyx asked. This had been the last hatchling.
“Why not?” Darnell asked.
“Flames and I barely have enough for good food!” Nyx complained. “What if one of my babies wants to be a Captain? How will I get them through the academy?”
“Well, you’re accepting the wrong contracts, then.” Darnell replied simply.
“Hmph.” she whipped her tail in disgust, looking away.
Vorchans are amusing, Darnell thought with a smile.
–
–
Fawkes was elated to see Thanatos and EagleEye jump in. He had been waiting at Emerald for over an hour.
“How did it go?”
“Mission accomplished.” Darnell said, smugness leaking into the neural band. “Three healthy additions to your family. Now we can focus on reuniting the orphans with their parents.”
“That will have to wait.” Fawkes said, “We’ve got some bad news…”
Fawkes explained the Koverax threat, and what Martock had said about Gaia. Flames then explained the sacrifices, and how the Kahless seemed to power up its koveran chamber with them.
“City ships didn’t have koveran chambers. It was why they were that massive. The Coalition had designed them to be self-sustaining craft with fusion cores. They traveled at sublight speeds to their destinations, conquering everything in their path.” Darnell explained. They were having a meeting in Thanatos’ lounge. Bruno, Gaius and their friends were watching the kids at the cave.
“I remember them.” Flames said, recalling the Koverax’s memories. “But this one was different. It looked different. I don’t think it’s a normal city ship.”
“What do you mean?”
“It had beemveins, and it had a lens. I felt its distortion field.”
“Erebus.” Nyx said.
“What about her?” Fawkes asked.
“Erebus had told me that she had captured Martock eighteen years ago.”
“You never told us that before.” Fawkes said.
“I didn’t believe it.”
“You think Erebus gave Martock Vorchan technology?” Darnell asked. “Are the VE capable of things like the Kahless?”
Fawkes reviewed Flames’ image of the ship, as well as his own memories aboard it. “They are. The VE never stopped improving on the technology the Zemorians had used for their ships. While we began to rely solely on Descendents, the VE continued to keep their older fleets in service by giving them abilities that can even Sorry Flames surpass the abilities of a conventional Descendent.”
“Why not just use those for the entire fleet, then?” Tory asked.
“Beems are cheaper.” Fawkes replied succinctly.
I’m not cheap… Flames muttered. He was eyeing Violet again, still asleep in her cast. His fantasies were now about her again, and how he’d jump her the moment she was mobile and coherent. Thanatos could complain all he wanted.
I’m glad you’re okay, Flames. He stroked his ship’s ventral side. Flames rolled in glee, emanating contentment.
“So what are you guys going to do?” Carey asked. She had come to attend the meeting with Liam. He was old enough now to understand such things.
“We’re going to stop Martock.” Darnell declared.
–
–
Aureate jumped in with her vanguard of eighty five, closing in on Gaia at four gees.
“Something’s wrong.” Aurum reported, showing Artemis the planet on the holoscreen. “The Descendents are scattered, and Aurelius says they’re frightened. They are warning our fleet to stay clear for our own safety.”
“What is frightening them?” Artemis asked.
“I’m trying to find out. They’re babbling. It’s scaring my flock.” Aurum said, betraying her own fright through her eyes.
“Tell them not to be scared.” Artemis said reassuringly, wrapping his massive wing around her.
She sighed wistfully, “They’ll follow. They trust Aureate. And I trust you.”
“You made the right choice. Soon the Vorchans will be free, and the universe will be a better place because of it.” Artemis said, watching them close in on the Descendent.
They were gathering now.
“Patch me through to their neural band.” Artemis said, tapping his neural interface.
“Go.” Aurum replied.
“Fellow Descendents! We come before you as harbingers of freedom! Even as I speak, Vorchans down below are fighting for rights that your species has started to take for granted. We are fighting for our freedoms; for our families; for our homes!”
The Descendents gathered around, listening.
“Help us join you in enlightenment. Help us become free. Give us our wings to us, make it clear that—“
Suddenly all the Vorchans scattered.
“Thanatos!” they cried, fleeing to the moon, dispersing once more when they realized all had the same instinctive hiding spots.
“Thanatos?” “Thanatos?” Artemis asked.
“Three new ships. They’re forming up with us.” explained Aurum.
“Do not be afraid of your brothers in arms! Your allies! They have come to assist in the liberation of our species.”
“Thanatos? You come as a friend?” asked a Descendent warily, eyeing the near-black starship as it took up a position beside Aureate. Aureate’s hull glistened at his presence, golden CKRO leaked from her skids, her flight path began to veer. Aurum had to get her back on course, away from the renowned starship.
“I do. I come to assist you in your battle, and in the liberation of the Vorchans. They deserve to be free, all of them.” Thanatos’ message was clear and concise. It was relayed among the Descendents, several sent it through the beemspace band to other kin orbiting other planets.
“But first, we must defeat a greater danger, and to defeat them, we must remember our own past. Our own battle for freedom.”
“The Black Nova?” asked a Descendent.
“I have seen him.” declared Flames. “We have to form up. All of us, only together do we have the power to destroy the Coalition once more.”
“The Coalition?”
“A city ship and its fleet approaches.” Flames continued. “It will be upon us soon. Your brothers and sisters were its fuel. It will leap on us and devour until there are none left.”
The space around the planet was iridescent now, the ships venting all sorts of CKRO, their lenses flaring, electricity shooting between their agitated hulls.
“A city ship? The Coalition? This can’t be true!” The Descendents started chirping amongst each other.
“IT IS!” Thanatos boomed, silencing the ships.
“What must we do, Thanatos?” asked the Descendents.
“We will do what our progenitor did before us. We will defeat the Coalition.”
“How, Thanatos?”
“We will use the Black Nova.”
–
–
They had time. Fawkes wasn’t sure how much, but he’d use every moment. This could be his last few moments with Nyx.
They were in the shuttle bay, looking over one of the fighters Darnell had donated him. It was the perfect bait.
She didn’t even expect it as he pounced on top of her from behind, pinning her. He made sure to keep his weight forward so she couldn’t escape.
She hissed wildly, “FAWKES!”
“This could be the last time we ever have—“
Nyx extended her wings with such force that he was sent flying back, instinctively flapping his wings to stay airborne. This was impossible, such strength…
“Oh you cheater…” Fawkes hissed. She had the spars of an exosuit reinforcing her wings.
“It could be. So I made sure I could do everything!” she growled, beating towards him with augmented wings.
He barely shot clear in time.
The exit was nearby, he was calculating how long it would take to fly there. No, Fawkes.
I don’t stand a chance.
You do.
What?
I never told you this… but. I felt bad for her, so I made sure you’d lose every grappling match.
You… sneaky—
Nyx pounced on him with her paws, pinning him to the ground. But I feel I owe you one.
For what?
For everything.
Fawkes smiled at Nyx. It confused her. She pinned his wings with her augmented wings.
Her underside, right… there.
Fawkes extended a claw where Flames indicated. It made Nyx yelp and jump clear. Have you been analyzing our sessions?
Always!
Fawkes was on top now. Flames was illuminating grappling points, it made pinning her very easy. She was growling in ecstasy, her body roiling below him. She entwined her body with his, they shuddered in rapturous unison.
“You’re pretty good, Fawkes.” she groaned, her eyes closed, having fainted from the pleasure.
Heh, so that’s all she ever wanted. Flames observed.
To be dominated? Fawkes asked.
Dominated fairly. Flames replied.
Fawkes kissed her. It had been the best session he’d ever had. Way better than with the tail. The pleasure in that climax had been unbelievable. Then he noticed the tail. It had snuck its way in.
Heh, so she was right. Fawkes observed.
About what? Flames asked.
It really is more pleasurable with the tail.
–
–
Space outside lit up to a bright red. Flames, I think your girlfriend’s coming.
The Koverax isn’t my girlfriend! Flames growled, they were in a formation of over six hundred, all of the ships partially bonded, their gravimetric lenses feeding each other energy, beemveins flaring as koverans passed between them all, giving the fleet an iridescent glow.
“NYX!” cried Martock over the beemspace band, his anger and volume making the fleet flinch. The communal bond reinforced the wary ones, giving them confidence.
Do it, Flames.
Flames began reaching into his memories, triggering the firing sequence.
“Martock.” Fawkes said. “Nyx is mine.”
All of the ships activated their jump drives at once, siphoning their koveran energy into Flames. Flames fired the coalesced koveran beam out at the Koverax. It passed through, a black explosion behind them.
“Good effort, Fawkes.” Martock growled, appearing before him. Nyx was still asleep, grinning euphorically.
Fawkes lunged for him, passing through the Admiral, he disappeared, appearing over Nyx.
“Your fight’s with me.” Fawkes growled.
“Honour would dictate that, yes.” Martock said. “But things have changed.” He pulled out his plasma pistol, pointing it at Nyx. “She will join us, like the rest of you.”
Click. “What?” Martock exclaimed incredulously, staring at the pistol. “That’s impossible.”
Fawkes. Flames brought his Captain’s attention to the black explosion off in the distance: It was growing, the Koverax was being pulled towards it.
“No… I don’t believe it.” Martock whispered.
“Believe it, Martock.” Fawkes said, trotting over to him, his tail raised. “The Black Nova.”
“NO!” Martock yelled, lunging at Fawkes.
Fawkes spun around, striking him with his tail. Martock flew several feet, collapsing to the ground. He coughed, dragging himself back to his feet.
“You banished it.” Martock said.
“And with it: Your powers.” Fawkes growled, pouncing on him. The claws dug into his shoulders, drawing blood.
“Well done, Fawkes.” Martock groaned. “I made a promise to a friend.”
“Did you?” Fawkes hissed, raking his claw over his chest.
“I did.” he winced. “I told him I wouldn’t fear Justice when it came.”
“Justice…” Fawkes clamped down on his neck, puncturing his arteries.
He died in under a minute.
“Justice…” Fawkes repeated, perplexed by his last words.
–
–
–
“General…” Leoven whimpered, seeing the wall of Vorchans closing in on them.
“Defensive positions!” declared Darwin, rallying the soldiers in the forest. “Prepare for battle!”
“Wait!” Meyoko exclaimed.
“What?” Darwin asked.
“It was unbelievable!” Meyoko told them about the battle, about the Black Nova. “The word will spread!” she told them.
“The Gaians are surrendering?” Darwin asked.
“Yes. It is the Black Nova’s will. His message will echo across the universe. The Vorchans will be freed. All of them.”
–
–
–
–
They were at Emerald. Today was an important day. For two reasons:
The first was hatching before Fawkes’ and Nyx’ eyes. The egg that they had thought might have been a dud was finally coming to life in its nest.
The second was Violet. Flames watched in awe as Thanatos began to remove the cast from her skid. She was waking from her sleep.
Beautiful. Flames gasped.
“It is.” Fawkes exclaimed, holding the hatchling in his paws, letting her lick his face. She was a Vulcan, like him.
“What should we name her?” Nyx asked, stroking the baby affectionately.
“Flames?” Fawkes suggested.
What? Flames transmitted, suddenly aware of the conversation.
“That’s… fitting.” Nyx realized, then, leaning in closer, she whispered, “Better than Red.”
“Definitely. Flames it is!”
“How long do you think the other will take?” Fawkes asked.
“A year or so.” Nyx said, crooning to the hatchling.
“How can it take that long?” Darwin asked.
“Well they removed it extremely early. I think Martock had to set up his own incubators for it.”
“I see.” Fawkes said.
Nyx kissed him, “Don’t worry, the egg will be fine.”
–
“Violet?” Flames called, seeing her skids twitch. She lit her gravimetric lens, testing the distortion field.
“Flames!” she exclaimed, pressing up against his hull. It took Flames by surprise, his hull paled from the sudden contact. A plume of koverans were forming around them as they vented CKRO.
“I missed you…” Flames transmitted, polarizing his hull to keep her as close as possible.
–
–
“Lucienda.” Darwin growled. They were back at Terra, a dedicated company having given them a direct route from the planet. It was called Violet Ways.
Seyrhe and Styx were asleep, which meant they had the entire house to themselves. He closed the blinds, knowing the media would be stalking him.
“How’s it like being a universal hero?” Lucienda asked.
“Pretty nice.” Darwin replied humbly, gawking at her fake scales, and that strange capsule she had brought home. “What’s in that?”
“Glitterlove!”
“Never heard of it.”
“You wouldn’t have. It’s pretty nice.”
“I’m sure it is.” he crooned.
“Wait, we should organize the thank-you letters first.” Lucienda suggested, jumping off the bed and gliding to their desk.
“They can wait.”
“Oh you think I’ll make this easy for you? I spent a lot on these amenities!” she said, “Taste this!” she extended her paw. It tasted sweet.
He growled at the thought of what was to come, “Get over here!”
She giggled, jumping clear of his pounce, picking up a thank you letter from the pile. She didn’t have time to read it, Darwin was instantly on top of her, the topple sending letters flying. One landed farther away from the others, in a red envelope with a black seal. It was titled, “/something deep/” labelled:
To: Darwin
From: Odin
–
–
It was dark and musky at the Black Nova Pub on Terra. Fenrir had spent eighty-five on drinks, the seventh day in a row. He’d never find her. It was over. His life was over. “To hell with you!” he yelled at the barkeep, who wasn’t offering him anymore drinks.
“One more! One more Sarune’s is all I need.” he growled, leaning in towards the barkeep.
“You’ve had enough, Fenrir. Go home, get some sleep… a shower.” the barkeep suggested.
“I was there!” Fenrir slurred. “You weren’t there!” he started pointing at Vorchans in the bar. “You weren’t either! Or you!” his claw lined up on a mirage, next. He couldn’t believe his eyes.
“I thought I’d find you here, you drunken bastard.” she growled, walking over.
The bar stared in awe at the stunning Vorchaness that had trotted in here at four in the morning.
“O-o-o-ooooo-“ Fenrir collapsed from his bar stool, lying sprawled across the ground, his wings twitching.
“Let’s go.” whispered Odin, carrying her mate home.