Xen'tarza
Chapter Two

Upon the Precipice of Diplomacy

I

Priorities

One hour passed since Vei-Pyirye had crumbled into oblivion, the planet’s last remnant wiped from existence. During this time, Shirakaya brought her brother up to speed with everything that she had been through. She was surprised when Khal’jan appeared fascinated by her allegiance with Vokken, expecting him to be furious considering the former emperor had almost killed them one cycle ago. Her brother’s quirky mentality and passion for discovering extraordinary things sure came in handy, she thought to herself.

In the meantime, Narja navigated out of the asteroid field and nebula. Since all forms of communication had become available, Shirakaya and her brother contacted their sister and managed to convince her to help Rah’tera as well as the wounded miners and soldiers whom Commander Jeyphen was overseeing.

“Thank you, Doctor,” the commander said, watching her across the patient’s bed.

“Oh, I’m just a teacher of medicine,” Radesha said, applying an antibiotic ointment to an officer’s gashed leg. “But you are most welcome.”

Though the commander appeared concerned, he did not respond.

“She’s much more than a teacher,” Shirakaya said, entering the room. “She’s a professor, teaching at Reun Uyae University of Medicine. If you ask me, she’s the best undocumented nurse in Ensar.”

Jeyphen shrugged, turning his attention to the freelancer. “So long as my soldiers survive, I won’t question your methods.”

“My methods?”

He let out a brief laugh. “Your crew is composed of an illegal doctor, a mutant, a disabled teenager, excommunicated soldiers, and aliens whose leaders are not allied with the Tal’manac Order. Yes, your methods. But like I said, keep my men alive and I won’t question whatever it is you’re doing.”

The commander exited the infirmary. An awkward moment of silence fell, broken only when the patient groaned.

“This isn’t good, Shira,” Radesha said.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t stay here.”

Shirakaya lowered her head. “We need you. I can’t keep going out on dangerous missions without a nurse on board. And don’t get me started on the whole ‘not a nurse’ nonsense. I know deep down inside this is your passion.”

“The semester isn’t finished yet. I still have another three months of teaching before classes end. Let’s face it, you need to hire a fulltime doctor.”

“There’s no way I can afford that. And right now, even though it’s sort of a secret, I’m trying to save money for Myris to undergo a medical operation so she can walk.”

Radesha finished wrapping a bandage over the soldier’s wound as she went on, “I don’t know what to tell you...”

“I get it. I’m way in over my head. Can you at least stay here when you’re not teaching? I have plenty of cabins. You’ll be very comfortable. I’ll also pay you ten thousand reons every month.”

“Ugh,” uttered Radesha, grabbing her medical bag. “I don’t want your money.”

The nurse left, making her way to the sandstalker’s room. Shirakaya followed her, but as soon as the pair arrived, they froze and stood still, shocked to see Rah’tera standing strong beside his bed. Shirakaya focused on his face; the upper portion of his environmental helmet had been removed. For the first time, they saw half of his facial features: crimson skin, amber irises, subtle veins across his long forehead, and dreadlocks drooping to his spine.

“You’re all right!” Shirakaya rejoiced, her eyes wide.

“If you’re referring to my body being exposed to a different atmosphere, artificial or not, then we’re equally astonished.”

Since the lower half of his elongated face was covered with a gasmask, Rah’tera’s voice still had a husky tone to it. Radesha rushed over to treat his burns, but he nudged her away with his scarred hand.

“I can help your skin heal. Please. Let me help.”

“Your aid is appreciated but not needed.”

The nurse withdrew, disappointed at his response.

“What happened to your armor?” Shirakaya asked.

Rah’tera inhaled and exhaled deeply. “It malfunctioned. Only my breathing apparatus is working.”

“You can’t breathe without it?”

He shook his head. “Not yet at least.”

“Go help the others, sis,” Shirakaya said. At her sister’s nod, she went on, “I’m still a bit worried. Are you really okay?”

Rah’tera responded, “I always manage no matter—”

“Shira,” Narja interjected via KLD. “Xethren is on our screen. He has a mission for us.”

The freelancer sighed. “I’m on my way,” she said, ending the link. “I need you alive,” she added to Rah’tera before leaving. “Don’t let me down.”

Struggling to breathe, the sandstalker saluted her.

II

Solar Fields

Shirakaya returned to the bridge. As expected, the contact appeared on the visual screen at the fore. Xethren had been pacing back and forth in his office until she arrived. He waited for her to sit before speaking.

“Thank you for meeting me on such short notice,” he said in a tone of sarcasm.

“I’ve been busy,” she snapped, fingers drumming on her armchair. “How can we serve you?”

Xethren grinned at her. “Remember that delicate, diplomatic mission I mentioned before your Death Ships escapade?” As she glumly nodded her head, he went on, “Very good. It’s time for us to make our move. Let me explain. Every hundred cycles, there is a shift of power in Jye Xeu Zeikein—better known to us as Star City. Your job is to make sure the next leader rises to power without fault. Problem is, ninety percent of the population do not like her. I don’t even like her and I’m not a citizen there.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me...”

“I’m afraid not,” he said, irked. “There is no one better for the job. Your reward will be eighty-five thousand reons. Now, unless you wish for the Guild Master to be notified of your resentment, you will accept this mission.”

“What else is there to know?”

The contact let out a snigger. “This will be the first time a female rules as Praetor. Her name is Feya Morgesis, Viceroy of planet Sephyen in the Wulga Fein Galaxy. House Morgesis, however, is currently residing in the awe-inspiring Star City. That’s where you’ll replace her. Good luck.”

Silence descended over the flight deck for a long moment after Xethren ended the kinetic link transmission. The freelancer sat in her command chair, frustrated. All she wanted to do was continue her quest to regain her arcane power. A part of her wanted to ignore the new mission, but she knew without guilds she would never have risen up again after being excommunicated from the military. Furthermore, choosing to ignore this mission would be tantamount to suicide what with her name being put on a kill list in the assassin’s guild.

“Vokken,” she called out, “inform the others of what has transpired and that I’d like them to come here so we can discuss what to do next.”

“Done,” he said.

Within just a few minutes, the crew joined her at the bridge. With the exception of Rah’tera, who was still recovering, they all stood before the freelancer. Even her brother had come along, which made Shirakaya feel confident that he had willingly joined her band of mercenaries. And though Dojin was present, he didn’t seem happy.

“Star City?” the renegade said, grimacing. “You do realize that if the arcane barrier fails for even a microsecond, we’d be vaporized, right?”

“Don’t be a dumbass,” Myris responded. “That’s never happened before.”

“Regardless, we don’t have a choice,” Shirakaya said. “Quite frankly, I don’t like this mission. It’s a major setback. What frustrates me the most is we just got Khal to join us. We were supposed to start working on getting my power back. Anything political is usually time-consuming, which means we’re going to be stuck at Star City for a while. Worse—”

“This may actually work in your favor, sis,” Khal’jan interjected.

“Huh?”

“First off, it’s a good place to let Commander Jeyphen and his platoon off. Once they’re there, it’ll be easy for them to get transportation to Pravura. Second, the artifact that Rah’tera helped me recover is something you’ll probably want on this quest of yours. Problem is, it needs to be rejuvenated with magical ions. But fear not, at Star City we can regenerate its enchantment by tapping into the sun’s power.”

“Khal, you’re a genius!”

“Nah,” he blushed.

“Maybe you should split us into two groups,” Dojin suggested. “A few of us can help you while the others assist Khal with that thing.”

“It’s called the Eye of Soth’yugon,” Khal’jan said.

“Eye of Suck-my-cock…got it.”

Xorvaj clamped his fists together. “Then we have a plan. Kick the military off our battleship, pilfer Star City’s energy, and kill the Praetor.”

“Not funny, Xorvaj,” Shirakaya said.

“I found it amusing,” Rah’tera said, emerging from an X-Phaser.

The crew gave him a warm welcome, patting him on his back. Xeza joined in, producing multiple sing-song urps.

“Welcome back to the living, Rah’tera,” Khal’jan said.

“You look like a corpse that someone shitted on five times,” Dojin said, shaking his scarred hand. “Hope you can survive another round of shit.”

“Quite possibly,” he replied with a smirk that pained him.

“All right,” Shirakaya said. “We all know what needs to be done. Narja, set a course for Jye Xeu Zeikein.”

“Aye,” she said, activating Marauder’s cosmodrive.

The crew went to their seats. Shortly after, the interstellar battleship entered a chasm and zoomed through dimensional space faster than the speed of magic. They left the Syichi-Photh Kos Galaxy and flew noquria. At first, the mercenaries caught a glimpse of blurry stars and planets. In time, however, even the celestial bodies vanished altogether.

For the next hour, Marauder advanced through a glistening, prismatic realm between dimensions. The cosmic passage left Myris dazzled. She never once took her eyes off it. Even the sìsô stared at it, her furry face fixed on the gleaming, multicolored lights shaped like beams. Glancing at the sìsô, Shirakaya chuckled softly.

This is it, she told herself. This is my home. This is my second family. It may not be today or tomorrow…but someday my magic will return.

“Approaching the Wulga Fein Galaxy,” Narja said.

Returning to the present moment, Shirakaya fixed her eyes ahead. “Perfect. Let’s give the cosmodrive a break and use the arcane engine.”

Narja complied, exiting dimensional space. The prismatic chasm collapsed, Marauder breaking away from the void tunnel. Just then, the battleship accelerated at an unnatural speed past several rogue stars and intergalactic planets. At far-flung distances, the mercenaries noticed two galaxies. One spiraled esoria while the other swirled in the noqurian quadrant—Narja flew toward the latter.

“Are we getting close?” Xorvaj asked impatiently.

“To say galaxies are enormous is an understatement,” Vokken responded. “That being said, we are currently eighty-five million light cycles away from Jye Xeu Zeikein, better known as Star City.”

Xorvaj suddenly regretted asking his question, craning his neck and giving the crew a derisive expression.

“We’re almost there, big guy,” Myris said, cracking a smile.

Eventually, the Marauder entered Wulga Fein. The crew passed by three solar systems where a multitude of xentari spacecrafts were entering and exiting nearby moons. Several other vessels drifted about, trading in space. Other commercial vehicles among them were transporting passengers to different planets within the same quadrant.

A couple of xentari merchants sent signals to the Marauder in an attempt to trade, but Narja ignored them and left the soudarian quadrant of Wulga Fein. She increased her velocity, flying toward what first appeared to be a blank region of space. Yet, as they drew closer, the battleship’s primary radar pulsed; it revealed something in the deep blackness.

Sure enough, ten minutes later, Jye Xeu Zeikein became visible to the crew. Myris brought the sìsô to the fore, gazing in awe at the incredible sight. Like the other passengers in Marauder, they witnessed an onyx-colored, spherical city larger than a sun. Suspended in space, it glowed like a black star with a circumference of three million, six-hundred thousand and fifty-three miles.

Shirakaya had never been to this city before. Even though she’d seen images of it on the TDE, nothing could quite describe the feeling she experienced now as she looked at it with her own eyes for the first time. She stood up, slack-jawed. The city could fit over a million planets the size of Pravura into it. Jye Xeu Zeikein was, without a doubt, the size of a sun.

“Holy mother of balls,” Dojin blurted out. “Who would’ve freakin’ thought I’d live to see this epic shit.”

“Yah,” the oracle said. “It’s totally wicked.”

“The legendary Star City,” Yarasuro said, mesmerized.

Xorvaj drooled. “It looks like an impenetrable, metallic black hole. I should’ve hijacked this city instead of Eternimus.”

“Are the rumors true?” Rah’tera asked, his tone conveying a degree of pain.

The archeologist eagerly responded, “It may be hard to believe, but yes. At the core of this solar-powered paradise of a city dwells one of the largest stars in the universe. It took the xyimorphs an entire millennium to build around the veiled sun, using its corona as the primary power source.”

“Really?” Narja said, her eyebrows raised. “A thousand cycles?”

“Indeed,” Khal’jan confirmed. “It may not look like heaven from the outside, but believe me...inside is the epitome of bliss hidden from all existence.”

Shirakaya smiled. “Fancy words, Khal. You sound like you’ve been there.”

“Despite all my research on Jye Xeu Zeikein, I’m afraid that even I have never had the honor of entering such a majestic place. The Guild Master must have some serious power considering he authorized us to visit.”

“This is no ordinary parley,” Shirakaya said. “We’re dealing with an extremely primordial ritual that requires delicate diplomacy.”

“Your missions are intense as always, sis.”

Vokken appeared on the screen. “Your sister will be fine as long as she doesn’t respond to them the way she did to me when we first met.”

“Unlike you, they won’t be shooting me on sight.”

The arcane intelligence merely grinned at her before dematerializing.

“He’s a real piece of work,” Shirakaya commented.

“As incredible as it is to witness the former Nempada emperor integrated into your ship as an arcane intelligence, I don’t understand how you could trust him,” Khal’jan said. “I mean, he could potentially go rogue at any moment.”

“He wouldn’t dare.”

Before anyone could disagree with the freelancer, a signal resonated on the flight deck’s primary interface.

“The xyimorphs are hailing us,” Narja said.

“Here we go,” Shirakaya acknowledged. “Open a telecommunications channel to their frequency.”

“Aye.”

Once the channel activated, the crew saw a trio of warrior-like beings. Two of them were guards who had golden irises, long white hair, pointy ears that grew downward, a pair of beige feathered wings, and fair light-colored skin. Clad in dalikonium, their silvery armor shone with gold trimming throughout their hauberks, pauldrons, and greaves.

While both muscular warriors were male, the third was unmistakably female—her defining breasts unable to be hidden. Cleavage aside, she appeared quite different from her comrades with twilight skin, crimson irises, and blackened wings. She wore a gemmed circlet over her fiery red hair and donned onyx plated armor purposely designed to reveal her bosom.

“Greetings,” the freelancer said.

“Prostrate before the chosen one: Her Eternity,” one of the xyimorphs stated, wielding a staff on the screen.

With the exception of Myris who merely bowed her head, the crew complied. Dojin resisted at first, but for the sake of the mission, he uncomfortably decided to prostrate like the others.

“I am Eternity. Past. Present. Future. I am Feya Morgesis,” the female xyimorph said with absolution. “This realm is destined to be mine, and you shall serve me well to obtain it.”

“Yes, Your Eternity,” Shirakaya said, trying not to smirk after hearing Dojin poorly disguise a snigger with a cough. “We are beyond honored to be in your presence. It will be a blessing to serve you. Together, we shall see to it that you reach the Solar Throne without the slightest dispute.”

Feya fixed her eyes on the humyn. “Rise,” she said smugly, waiting for Shirakaya and her squad to stand. “You comprehend politics very well. I approve you to be in my presence until my ascension. Serve my conclave, and you shall be rewarded.”

“Thank you, Your Eternity.”

“Find my servant Teiga at Lengdos Citadel and rest in my realm for the duration of this solar day. By dawn, you may arrive at House Morgesis to become my shield.”

As the transmission ended, Marauder was caught in a tractor beam. Narja deactivated her vessel, declining to resist. Drawing closer to the portal-like gateway, there came a point when the crew could only see the city’s exterior walls rather than stars and nebulae. Reaching the gateway, Marauder went through it as if entering a black hole and vanished from outer space.

III

Division

After rematerializing, the mercenaries found themselves exiting a gargantuan cavern bordered by seemingly endless mountains. Many of them gawked as they laid their eyes on an artificial atmosphere with floating islands high above the mainland. Their battleship continued to be guided, maneuvering away from a valley. Beyond the vale lay a lush jungle where a radiant citadel stood surrounded by crenellated towers and numerous structures whose curved eaves extended far past the walls.

The citadel itself resembled a divine fortress that looked as if it had been carved by a god through a celestial mountain. Stone bridges, ramparts, and turrets rose from the structure, enveloped in nature. And at the center of the dazzling citadel lay a steamy fissure where jamna poured like a waterfall into a shimmering lake.

No one could replace the words to express what they were witnessing. They simply remained silent as their vessel advanced. Even the sìsô couldn’t take her eyes off the nature-rich metropolis, at least until she caught sight of a xyimorph flying from one floating island to another with his ivory wings. Not a moment later, another flew alongside their craft, gliding toward a tower ahead. Xeza produced an urp several times and clocked her head in wonder as the crew rapidly realized that seeing a denizen in the sky was an ordinary part of life there.

After a short time, Marauder reached one of the citadel’s many mountainous turrets. As they approached, an enormous part of its granite wall lifted open. The ship maneuvered inside the lit-up lair, stonework sealing behind it. Flying down, a legion of armored xyimorphs marched toward the battleship in column formation.

Commander Jeyphen soon saw them from a porthole, his face becoming contorted. “Star City?” he said to himself, his brow furrowed. With haste, he ported to the bridge. “Shirakaya, what in all the heavens are we doing here?”

“I have a mission here that determines the future of xyimorphs,” she said. “You’re free to seek out a xentari shuttle with your platoon and return to Pravura. We, however, cannot leave until Her Eternity—Feya Morgesis—is seated on the Solar Throne.” She hastily walked past the commander as if he meant nothing while signaling her crew. “All right, Shadow Mercs, let’s move out.”

Shirakaya and her crew abandoned the open-mouthed commander who eventually started to gather his distraught brigade. In the meantime, a dozen xyimorphs were blowing trumpets as the Shadow Mercs disembarked from their vessel. Though startled by the extravagant welcome, the mercenaries greeted as many of them as possible.

“Why do I want to punch them all in their faces?” Dojin said.

“Uhhh...maybe cos you’re a dumbass?” the oracle retorted. “What they’re doing for us is super cool.”

Shirakaya glanced at her. “It does seem nice, Myris, but deep down inside many of them probably resent our presence. Although we can all agree that Dojin is a dumbass, it’s important for us to be on guard. Search your feelings. I’m sure you’ll see the ugly truth.”

“Agreed,” the mutant said. “Your divination is key here.”

“Okie dokie,” the young oracle said in a slightly disappointed tone. “If there’re any wild emotions I sense, I’ll let you know.”

The freelancer smiled at her, leaving the cavernous docking lair. Once outside, they strode freely across a bridge where a river ran several hundred feet beneath it. Past the bridge, the squad followed a pathway through a jungle where feyzalas chirped from thick branches. Their singsong tweets soothed the mercenaries, relieving their stress.

Xeza produced a series of urps, as if trying to chirp with the feyzalas. Myris kissed her tiny snout, appreciating her loving behavior. Despite feeling calm, the ghensoth wore a ghastly visage when he heard the sounds. Such peace defied his being, yet he somehow surrendered to it. Dojin was the only one who resisted such tranquility, illogically bringing the premature death of Zadoya to his mind in order to keep himself bitter.

“Truly remarkable,” Khal’jan said.

“Is this what utopia is supposed to be like?” Rah’tera asked.

“Call me crazy,” Dojin blurted out, “but I prefer the slums of Pravura any day over this angelic shit.”

“You’re crazy,” Myris said.

Most of the mercenaries laughed as they walked deeper through the forest. Countless fresh fruits and vegetables were growing on trees around them. The colorful foliage swayed in the gentle breeze. And along their path, water trickled peacefully, forming into a creek ahead. After traveling by foot for a kilometer, they reached a crossroad with cascading waterfalls.

Not seeing anyone else around, the freelancer halted. “This is a good spot to talk for a moment. Rah’tera, are you sure you’re alright?”

“What do you need?”

“Your cloaking device is invaluable. Work with my brother and guide him to the core of the city. Narja, you’ll assist them too.”

“I won’t let you down,” she said.

“Shira, I can handle this myself,” Khal’jan said adamantly.

“It’s too risky alone. I want Rah’tera to be your eyes and ears. While cloaked, he’ll be able to see nearby guards and alert you. Narja will be your backup. And if there are any security droids, Vokken can disable them.”

The arcane intelligence responded, “Glad to know I’m a part of this mission. Yes, hacking shouldn’t be difficult.”

“You’re up to no good again,” Radesha said.

Shirakaya let out an irritated sigh. “You don’t understand, Resha. The artifact that Khal discovered can help me regain my magic. Problem is, it needs to be reenergized. The sun herein is our answer. I don’t want to cause trouble with the xyimorphs, so it’s better to do this without them knowing about it.”

“Why not just ask?”

“Asking is stupid,” Dojin intervened.

“What?”

The freelancer rolled her eyes. “Ignore him. But yes, asking is pointless because this star of theirs is beyond sacred and they won’t let foreigners go near it. That I am certain of. Trust me on this.”

“I just can’t be a part of this, Shira.”

“Come on,” the archeologist said. “It’ll be fun. Brother and sisters working together.”

“This isn’t a game,” Radesha snapped. “Listen to me...I love you both. Truly, with all my heart. But I cannot watch either of you continuously break laws. I’ll be in the ship until you’re ready to leave.”

The siblings watched their sister walk off. Neither of them called out to her. Even though Khal’jan did appear somewhat ashamed, he nevertheless remained. Shirakaya wasn’t resentful or angry with her sister. On the contrary, she respected her. There were, however, too many things at stake, so she mentally erased Radesha’s holier-than-thou words from her mind.

“Should we lock her up in the brig?” Xorvaj asked.

Khal’jan flinched. “Are you insane? That’s our sister.”

“Let her be,” Shirakaya said. “She might be high and mighty but she’s ignorant. Perhaps she’ll change in time. Either way, she wouldn’t expose us. Now, we all have a lot to do here and I want everything to go smoothly.”

“Wait a minute,” the archeologist said, taken aback. “You’re not upset by his psychotic suggestion?”

“He’s a ghensoth, Khal,” she said indifferently. “The fact that he didn’t suggest we’d kill her is what matters. You weren’t around when we first met him. Progress. Think about progress. Can we please get started?”

Despite his nod, Khal’jan couldn’t believe what she had just said.

“Good luck!” Shirakaya called out as her brother left with Rah’tera and Narja. Turning her attention to the others, she added, “Let’s head to the citadel and replace Teiga.”

The others complied, following her. Together they ascended a staircase whose treads were covered with roots. Atop the steps, Shirakaya and her comrades reached a village built around a cluster of trees. The mercenaries noticed many boutiques and emporiums as they strode directly toward the citadel that rose above the jungle like an escarpment.

Shirakaya was delighted to see a fountain beyond the tranquil village, watching its jamna spring skyward. She let droplets sprinkle her while passing it, feeling refreshed. Just ahead, two enormous statues of heroic xyimorphs stood on either side. The quintet passed them, reaching a set of fifty steps. With the exception of Myris, who simply hovered upward, the mercenaries were drained by the time they reached the top.

After they collectively caught their breath, Shirakaya and her comrades took a moment to gaze at the nearby fortress. Though the freelancer had always been captivated by Iyonji Palace, she couldn’t help but think that this stronghold was just as grandiose. It reminded her of a castle constructed by magic in ancient times, nestled within a celestial mountain.

Turrets, bridges, and ramparts rose sky high, nearly kissing the clouds. Jamna poured down from its fissures, splashing into a colorful plunge pool near them. They went around the glowing pool, most of them in awe. As they approached the citadel’s threshold, its silvery gates opened.

Entering an atrium, the group was greeted by a female xyimorph whose mottled skin appeared as black as night. Her wrinkled, gaunt visage informed them that she must be old—not to mention the fact that her hair lacked color. Despite this, she raised her wings and approached the group with pride.

“Greetings,” Shirakaya said.

“I have been expecting you,” the xyimorph replied. “Welcome to Jye Xeu Zeikein. I am Teiga, First Servant of Her Eternity, Feya Morgesis. Our Everlasting Radiance has commanded me to serve your every need. Your private quarters are on the ninety-seventh floor. They shall be your home until Her Eternity is seated on the Solar Throne.”

Shirakaya bowed. “Thank you so much, Teiga.”

The xyimorph lowered her head. “It may be in your interest to call me First Servant.” At the freelancer’s awkward shrug, Teiga went on, “Until morrow’s dawn, all of you may explore this sanctuary freely. Should you need me, I shall be standing guard here.”

“Thank you again.”

Teiga rose in the air and flew out of a nearby window, impressing most of the Shadow Mercs. Only the oracle appeared unaffected. In fact, she pressed a hand against her chest and hovered over to her leader with a frown.

“Shira,” she whispered, “I’m sensing an insane amount of hatred. Somebody’s mental, and it ain’t me.”

The freelancer’s smile vanished. “I certainly hope it’s not Teiga.” She took a long, deep breath. “Your gift is a great help, Myris. During the parley, please let me know if there are any individuals with resentment.”

“Of course.”

Moving on, they used an X-Phaser nestled in a wall nearby and materialized on the ninety-seventh level. Their floor-sized guestroom contained canopy beds, cushioned quilts blanketing the marble floor, decorated tables with fresh food, and a stone balcony facing a rainbow. They could also see several floating islands in the distance.

“This place is hot tits!” Dojin said.

“Not exactly the words I’d use,” Yarasuro began, “but yes, this fortress of nature is quite superb.”

“Yup,” the oracle said. “The xyimorphs seem a tad bit dodgy, but their world is sick.”

Xeza urped, jumping off the oracle’s shoulder. She leapt up onto a divan, snuggling between two pillows. Her actions were contagious because the others immediately settled down, each choosing their respective bed and lying on it. Shirakaya was the only one who remained awake for a little while longer, sitting by the balustrade. She gazed skyward at the drifting islands, pondering tomorrow’s political ordeal.

“Goddess, help us,” she whispered to the air before closing the balcony’s light-blocking drapes and retiring to bed.

IV

Into the Shadows

Twilight arrived, which prompted Khal’jan and Rah’tera to stop wandering around the majestic realm of Lengdos. Narja had just bought a little bottle of color-changing nail polish before the emporium closed. She was about to try it when the others approached her.

“It’s time,” Rah’tera said.

Narja gave a nod, porting her newly-purchased item into her kinetic link device’s digital databank. The trio left the market district, following a passage lit by crystal lights embedded in the bark of trees. Gazing upward, the archeologist noticed artificial stars shimmering within the synthetic atmosphere.

“So,” Narja began, “any idea where we should start looking?”

Khal’jan stopped stargazing. “This is my first time here, but I read that while xyimorphs rely on technology as much as we do, they try to hide it. Did you notice how their docking bay and X-Phaser were in a cavern?” At her acknowledgement, he went on, “I’m going to assume all their X-Phasers are inside structures.”

“We need to avoid crowded places,” Rah’tera said.

“Good idea,” Narja said in agreement.

The archeologist thought fast and responded, “In that case, we should search for a cavern. Remember, don’t be fooled by the nature around us. It’s all artificial. Caves may be aesthetically pleasing to them, but there must be a deeper purpose for them.”

“An impressive observation, fleshling,” Vokken said via their KLDs. “The nearest cavern is north of your location, which is technically noquria since this is a pseudo planet. I just updated your KLDs with the coordinates. Enter the jungle and you will eventually reach it.”

“Thanks,” the sandstalker replied, answering for the others since nobody else was willing to express gratitude.

Before going anywhere, Rah’tera made sure there were no guards around. Upon spotting a clear path, he signaled them to follow him. Straying from the well-lit passage, they crossed into the twilight jungle. Unlike the others, Narja kept trying to avoid stepping on the many plants and flowers.

“Narja, you’re falling behind,” Rah’tera said.

“Sorry,” she responded, pushing a vine out of way while trying to walk quicker. “It’s just that this place is so beautiful.”

Vokken snorted. “This realm is not even real.”

“I wouldn’t say Star City isn’t real,” Khal’jan replied. “It’s just that everything around us is synthetic. The air we’re breathing. These colorful trees and plants. The grass and loam. It’s all real. Just not natural.”

“At least someone agrees with me,” Narja said.

Rah’tera looked at her, amused. He continued leading the way, using his KLD as a map since the arcane intelligence assisted with uploading the coordinates. Avoiding conversation, he focused on his surroundings; the most important objective to him was not only reaching the X-Phaser without being caught but to also make sure that Khal’jan would be able to recharge the Eye of Soth’yugon.

Sliding down a hill, their sabatons quickly became dirty. The sandstalker crawled under large protruding roots, the others not far behind him. Upon reaching a cluster of trees, Rah’tera warily climbed several of the most protruding branches and leapt down on the other side where he saw a cave ahead. He waited for his comrades while checking their flank. After regrouping, the trio approached the cavern’s entrance when they abruptly heard wings flapping.

“Hide in the bushes,” Rah’tera directed.

They ducked, concealing themselves in the thicket. Just as the assassin suspected, a xyimorph flew down and walked into the cave. Silence descended. They waited one minute before advancing.

“Is it clear?” Narja whispered.

“I’ll replace out,” the sandstalker said, activating his cloaking field. “The two of you stay here until I confirm it’s safe.”

Invisible to others, he sauntered toward the cave. His gentle steps on the grass were so stealthy it was as if only the artificial wind caused them to stir. Despite the descent of another xyimorph, his subtle progress went unnoticed. Rah’tera pursued the emerging guard into the cavern from a safe distance. The same radiant crystals he had seen outside lay within, embedded in the granite floor and walls.

Reaching a junction, Rah’tera grabbed the xyimorph and put her in a headlock until she fell unconscious. With no time to spare, he dragged her to a tunnel that lacked an X-Phaser and injected her with sleeping serum. Knowing she would not wake up for hours, he thoroughly checked the tunnel to make sure it was clear and then made his way back outside.

“Clear!” he blurted, causing his companions to flinch.

“Scare the heck out of me, why don’t you,” Narja complained.

Khal’jan laughed softly, walking forward. The assassin uncloaked himself so they could follow him with ease. Once they stepped inside the cavern, Rah’tera brought them to the fork. He then strode through the left passage. Not long after, they came across a capsule nestled within the granite.

“I’ll take it from here,” Vokken said. “Just step inside the pod.”

Even though the trio did not want to put their lives in his hands, they obeyed him and entered the capsule. Vokken attempted to hack the console as the mercenaries waited. Moments later, they heard a couple of xyimorphs conversing. Though their voices didn’t sound too close to them, they were within earshot.

“We have company,” Rah’tera whispered.

Khal’jan cursed under his breath. “Vokken...”

The approaching xyimorphs turned to enter the X-Phaser just as it teleported Khal’jan and his retinue. No longer in the realm of Lengdos, the trio materialized and exited the pod, replaceing themselves inside another tunnel. Yet this one didn’t resemble a cave. Instead, its floor and walls were made of tetrigonium and hummed with energy.

“Any idea where we are?” Narja asked.

“Nope,” the archeologist answered, touching a glistening wall that faintly vibrated. “But we’re probably not far from our target.”

“Correct,” Vokken said. “You are inside Jye Xeu Zeikein’s foundation. It is a region that xyimorph astrophysicists utilize for maintenance, system upgrades, and miscellaneous repairs if need be. Think of this as the city’s soul—an invisible mind linked to the brain. Follow the solar-powered corridors and replace a less secure X-Phaser so I can hack it. Then I’ll be able to transport all three of you to the concealed sun.”

Khal’jan frowned. “Any reason why you brought us here instead of just teleporting us there in the first place?”

“X-Phasers accessible to the public herein have proven to be extremely difficult to hack—even for a divine god such as myself. Hence, the reason why you need to search for an unsecure capsule.”

Narja sighed. “Something tells me that won’t be easy.”

“In any case, we’d better start looking now,” Rah’tera said, heading off through the corridor.

V

Double-Edged Debates

By nightfall, Shirakaya and her crew had awoken. Only a couple of hours remained before dusk would lift. They ate fruits and vegetables to their hearts content. Afterwards, the group started to get prepared, equipping themselves with armor and weapons. Sitting on a bench on the balcony outside, Shirakaya logged on to the TDE and made a payment for her sword to be reenchanted. She felt humiliated at being unable to cast the enchantment herself. Before sinking further into depression, however, she heard the abrupt sound of an animal trumpeting.

The mercenaries joined her, trying to figure out the sound’s origin. Just then, the balcony darkened. Something emerged from behind, casting a colossal shadow over them. Gazing up at the sky, Shirakaya and her comrades shared the same bedazzled expressions. Floating down to them was a flying mammal known as an uttaziod.

It shone in the light with the whitest fur they had ever seen. While a fleece-like coat covered the animal’s body, its head and eight tentacles lacked fur. The creature raised its twenty-foot-long trunk and produced a loud yet harmonious trumpeting sound. Reaching the balcony, the uttaziod hovered beside the Shadow Mercs, its dozen eyes staring at them.

“What the fuck is that shit?”

“And all this time you thought I was the ugliest thing you’d ever seen,” Xorvaj said, his smile more hideous than uplifting.

“Oh, rubbish! I’m sensing no hostility whatsoever from it,” the oracle said.

Xeza agreed with a zesty, “Urp!”

Yarasuro crossed his arms. “Perhaps it belongs to Her Eternity and wants us to climb on it?”

“Probably,” the freelancer said, forcing herself not to wince.

The five of them clambered onto its huge back, careful not to antagonize the gargantuan beast. Without wasting any time, the uttaziod flapped its fore and hind wings. Returning to the sky, it flew fast toward one of the floating islands amid the clouds. Atop the vast island lay a lake with waterfalls pouring from its southern precipice to the mainland’s artificial ocean. Beyond the basin stood a manor with acres of greenery.

“That must be House Morgesis,” the mutant knight said.

Shirakaya agreed, a knot of anxiety forming in her stomach. This wasn’t due to her attraction to Feya; rather, it was because she resented politics and wanted to stay away from it. Representing all guilds and working as a freelancer, however, made her revulsion all the more difficult since any political figure could hire her.

When the uttaziod arrived at the manor, Shirakaya and her companions dismounted. The creature produced more loud trumpeting as it flew off the island. Xeza kept staring at the flying beast while the team approached the mansion. No one greeted them, not even at the entrance. The mercenaries exchanged shrugs and glanced around.

Refusing to wait further, Shirakaya stepped inside. The atrium reminded her of an art gallery, with at least a dozen statues decorating the entrance hall. Striding ahead, she opened a set of doors that led to a chamber resembling a courtroom. Once again, sculptures littered the chamber.

“Something doesn’t feel right,” Myris whispered to herself.

Shirakaya observed the effigies but primarily fixed her eyes on one directly ahead. “By the Goddess!” she shuddered, taking a step back. “Her Eternity!” The statue before her was none other than Feya Morgesis. “These are not sculptures!”

“You’re joking, right?” Dojin said.

The entire group felt a wave of nausea wash over them.

“We need to leave immediately,” Xorvaj said. “In fact, we should get out of Star City altogether and never return.”

Shirakaya pressed a hand to her forehead. “Someone did this...someone who knew we’d be guarding her at dawn. Myris, do you sense anything malevolent?”

“Bloody hell!” she said, panicky. “I sense nothing but emptiness. Absolutely nothing.” She paused, having the urge to vomit. “They have become nothing more than petrified husks, absent of life.”

“We need to get the fuck out of here now,” Dojin said gruffly.

That instant, the doors behind them burst open. “Treason!” bellowed a dark-skinned xyimorph, his enchanted lance pointing at the mercenaries. “Spies! Criminals! You shall all be purged for such malicious treachery!”

Behind him emerged a dozen guards, wings extended and weapons unsheathed. Dojin ported his shotgun, aiming it at the supposed leader who had accused them of the crime. Within seconds, the renegade and his comrades were surrounded. Lances enchanted with lightning, flame, and frost magic were pointed at their throats.

“Relinquish your faggot-ass twig before I blow a hole through your rotten skull.”

“Such evil words prove your mortal sin against our civilization.”

“Put your weapon down, Dojin,” Shirakaya demanded. “We’re better than this. Someone clearly used our unwanted arrival to their advantage, and we fell right into their trap. If we’re to discover who’s truly responsible, we must surrender.”

Dojin glanced at her. “You’re right. Too bad I don’t give a shit.”

The leader flinched at the renegade’s words, at which point Dojin triggered his gun and vaporized the xyimorph’s head. Swiftly evading a thrust, Yarasuro unsheathed both his swords and counterattacked. Myris, meanwhile, cast a nimbus that blinded the attackers as she hovered away from danger. The other mercenaries had no choice but to repeat the mutant’s actions and fight for their survival.

A xyimorph pierced the ghensoth’s throat, but his hardened exoskeleton prevented the blade from being fatal. Grunting with ferocity, Xorvaj raised his axe and sliced his foe’s body in half. With its plasma energy at maximum power, he unleashed a shockwave that disintegrated two of his nearest enemies and sent three others to the ground.

Using flamethrowers attached to her armored wrists, Shirakaya incinerated the xyimorphs who had been knocked off their feet. The fire practically blew out from her hands as if by magic. Others saw what she’d done, some reacting by shrieking in hysteria while others cringed in fear. Avoiding a counterattack from them, Shirakaya promptly unleashed a wave of anti-inertia from her technological hauberk; the force of it was so powerful that it cut through the skin of four xyimorphs and shattered their bones. They immediately collapsed, dead.

“There is a witch among them!” a xyimorph shouted, attempting to fly.

Yarasuro rolled toward the doorway and gutted her. He then kicked her down, sheathing his swords.

“Nice,” the renegade said. “Your elemental suit is still fooling aliens.”

The freelancer slapped him. “Sometimes...sometimes I want to hate you. Why did you do it? Why did you pull the trigger?”

“Don’t be so fucking gullible, Shira,” he said, standing toe-to-toe with her. “They were waiting for us. We were fucked the moment we came in. And you better believe me when I say that stepping outside will be suicide.”

“What do you mean, suicide?” Yarasuro asked.

“Whoever turned Her Eternal Dumbass and those garbage servants to stone is no doubt watching. These dead bitches were supposed to walk out of here alive with us either in shackles or as corpses.”

“This means a real witch is upon us,” Xorvaj said.

Shirakaya cursed under her breath, pacing. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Ummm,” Myris began while pointing up at a corner, “there might be something that he can do.”

The group turned, their eyes fixed on a xyimorph hiding behind a statue. He stepped away from the petrified servant and jumped down. His features were similar to his compatriots: indigo skin mottled with dark spots, violet-colored hair, and soft blue eyes. Clad in a sleeveless breastplate, his bulky arms revealed glyphic tattoos along the biceps and forearms. Appearing less afraid than his compatriots, he spread his black wings while approaching the group.

Xorvaj stomped in front of him, wielding his battleaxe. “Ally or foe?”

“Ally,” he replied, trying to conceal a heavy gulp. “We were betrayed by Teiga, Her Eternity’s right hand.”

“Bollocks!” the oracle blurted. “I knew it!”

“None of us thought Teiga capable of such malevolence,” the xyimorph continued. “She was Her Eternity’s most loyal servant.”

Dojin leaned against a statue. “Yes, extremely loyal.”

The freelancer waved her hand in protest at his remark. “We’re here to help. Can you tell us your name and what happened?”

“My name is Zadek Fel Nuro,” he said. “Teiga arrived an hour before you. She claimed to have a divine pet for Her Eternity as a gift and summoned a wyrekar. Before anyone could even scream, it spewed enzymes that turned everyone to stone.”

“That’s awful,” Myris said sympathetically.

“Yes, it is quite tragic,” Yarasuro stated, hands at the hilts of his sheathed swords. “Tell us, how is it you survived this horrific onslaught?”

“Before the initiation, Her Eternity commanded me to obtain her amulet in the treasury above. By the time I retrieved it and returned, Teiga had already unleashed her ferocious pet on everyone.”

“Show me the amulet,” Shirakaya said. Upon the xyimorph showing it, she added, “What is so special about it?”

The xyimorph hesitated for a moment. “It’s enchanted and worth a billion pailos.”

“I’ll hold on to that,” she said, snatching it. “We need to hide these dead bodies before more guards come and discover what happened. If we can replace Teiga and force her to dispel this curse, we’ll be safe.”

Zadek shook his head. “The moment I step out of Her Eternity’s manor, Teiga will accuse me of what has transpired. Furthermore, she’ll replace a way to convince the Conclave that you were working for me. I’m sure you know this to be more than mere paranoia. We must escape without being noticed.”

“He’s got a point,” Dojin said.

Xorvaj ignored them, lifting several corpses over his shoulder and carrying them to a chamber on the side that was partially hidden by pillars. Yarasuro and Dojin promptly assisted him, heaving the remaining bodies upstairs. Meanwhile, the freelancer tried to think of a scheme that would allow them to leave unharmed.

“Is there a secret way out of here?” she asked.

The xyimorph shook his head. “It’s not a secret, but there’s an X-Phaser in Her Eternity’s bedchamber that only those of House Morgesis can use.”

“Why the hell didn’t you mention this sooner?” Dojin said, grimacing.

“Because it leads to her second home,” the xyimorph said. “If it’s not already surrounded by guards, going there will merely delay the inevitable.”

“We don’t have time to be pessimistic,” Yarasuro said.

“Agreed,” the freelancer said. “The odds are against us, but I’ll take my chances. Activate the capsule and take us to her other home.”

The xyimorph led them upstairs to Feya’s sleeping chamber, which was festooned with a canopy bed, silky-smooth drapes, and paintings of her ancestors. There were also many bookshelves around the room. Zadek approached one and removed a compendium, revealing a lever that he pulled. Another shelf opposite him opened sideways like a door. Beyond it stood an X-Phaser. Without hesitation, the group stepped into it and teleported.

VI

Dark Descent

Although exhausted, Khal’jan and his retinue continued searching the maze-like tunnels deep within Jye Xeu Zeikein’s engineering sector. Every nook and cranny resembled a mainframe. They strode through corridors whose walls were blanketed by pipes, circuits, wireless nodes, and pulsating lights. Narja eventually stopped near a workstation, frowning.

“He’s misleading us on purpose,” she said.

“You might be right,” Khal’jan replied, concerned.

Rah’tera slowed down. “I’m not sure. He may be powerful, but not even I was able to hack those last three consoles.”

“Isn’t he supposed to be some wanna-be hacking god?” Narja said in frustration.

Snowy particles in the shape of Vokken’s face appeared on their KLDs. “Do not insult or doubt me. If it was not for my brilliance, none of you would even be in this sector. I simply need to locate a less secure X-Phaser. Keep searching this zone.”

Narja glowered at him. “Whatever...”

The sandstalker still led the way since he remained cloaked. At one corner, he spotted a xyimorph repairing one of numerous processing units. He halted the others, approaching the worker in stealth. Once he was right behind him, Rah’tera covered the engineer’s mouth with one hand and used the other to inject serum into his neck. Within seconds, he fell unconscious.

“Move out.”

The others joined him. Together they went deeper into the tunnel until reaching a ledge that lacked a banister. Below them lay a seemingly endless cavity from which tremendous energy surged and fizzed like lightning. Narrow passages on either side lay before them. At first, each pathway appeared endless. About a kilometer away, however, Rah’tera noticed that both passages curved.

“Where are we?” Narja asked.

The archeologist shrugged.

“I think this chamber is cylindrical like the pit,” Rah’tera said, changing a filter on his breathing apparatus. “Whether we go left or right, the conduits probably converge. Problem is, these paths force both of you to be out in the open.”

“Guess we’ll have to take our chances,” Khal’jan said.

Narja ported her sniper rifle, loading a new cartridge. “My weapon is set to stun. If we’re spotted by any xyimorphs, I can paralyze them.”

“Sounds good,” the archeologist said.

The sandstalker gave a quick nod. “Let’s get this over with.”

Khal’jan and his retinue strode along the left footway. They often found themselves leaning against the pulsating wall, trying to stay away from the ledge. None of them were afraid of heights, but the seemingly bottomless, illuminated pit of circuitry didn’t exactly make them feel at ease.

After advancing another couple of kilometers, the trio came across a bridge. Just as they were about to set foot on it, an ear-splitting alarm went off. Khal’jan froze while Narja looked around, trying to locate the xyimorph who must have spotted them. Not seeing anyone, she used her advanced scope.

“Don’t bother,” Vokken said. “The alarm isn’t for you. Something has gone wrong with the freelancer’s guild mission.”

“What?” Khal’jan blurted, unnerved. “Is my sister all right?”

“For now, yes. I’ll try to assist them. In the meantime, I suggest the three of you make haste before the situation worsens.”

“We don’t even know where to go!” Narja snapped, losing her composure.

Vokken remained silent for a brief moment. “You’re on the correct path. At the bridge’s center lies a nucleus where scholarly students studying astrophysics are allowed to visit in order to learn more about the city’s technology. Reach it and I’ll handle it from there. In point of fact, I already hacked into it.”

“Let’s go,” Rah’tera said.

The trio broke into a run, no longer concerned about the echoing noise of their clomping steps. Up ahead, they saw an illuminated column flowing with pure energy. It rose so high, none of them could see the top. As suspected, they spotted a few xyimorphs standing guard around the pillar.

“I’ve got this,” Narja said, looking through her rifle’s scope.

She pulled her gun’s trigger multiple times while rapidly adjusting her aim. One by one, the xyimorphs were stunned by her tranquilizer beams and dropped to the grated floor. Only two out of seven managed to take cover, at which point Rah’tera hurled stun darts at the neck of one guard when she peeked out.

The remaining xyimorph unexpectedly leapt into the air, wings extended. Flying fast, he evaded their projectiles. Ascending high, he hurled his lance through Narja’s torso, sending her toppling off the bridge. Her agonizing scream tormented Khal’jan as he helplessly watched her fall. She vanished within seconds into the void-like pit.

“Move out of the way!” Rah’tera shouted, uncloaking and pushing him down.

Khal’jan slammed against the grating as the xyimorph descended with a long sword, attempting to pierce his ribcage. His heart raced as he rolled aside, unable to take cover on such a narrow and exposed bridge. Rah’tera ported two enchanted daggers and struck the armored guard who blocked one blade with his shield while parrying the other dagger with his sword. Both warriors attacked, evaded, and riposted with skill.

“Surrender!” the xyimorph demanded.

The assassin ignored him, pirouetting and landing a roundhouse kick that sent his foe a couple of steps back. Spewing blood from his mouth, the xyimorph threw his shield at him and charged, sword in both hands. Rah’tera ducked, evading the shield, and then jumped over the xyimorph. Landing behind him, the assassin jabbed a dagger into his unprotected armpit.

Although severely wounded, the xyimorph swiped his sword in a one-hundred-eighty-degree maneuver. Rah’tera flipped backwards, the blade’s edge missing him by a thread. Blood leaked from the xyimorph’s armpit. Covering his mortal wound, he thrust his weapon forward several times. As the sword drew closer, Rah’tera performed a split to avoid it. Rising back up, he dug both his daggers into the guard’s hauberk. The blades, however, did not pierce the armor.

“Time to die, criminal!” the xyimorph exclaimed.

With the last of his strength, he swung his sword in an angle when a beam blasted him in the face. His head cocked back as his features melted off. Khal’jan charged his gun to shoot again, but before he could do so, Rah’tera shoved his daggers beneath the xyimorph’s chin and kicked him off the bridge. Without so much as a shriek, the dead guard fell into the abyss.

The duo stood silent. Neither of them had been close to Narja, but they felt a deep loss. Khal’jan gazed at the pit in total shock. He hoped she had somehow caught on to something to break her fall but then remembered that a spear had torn through her body. Rah’tera placed his hand on the archeologist’s shoulder and walked onward. He reached the center, eyes fixed on an X-Phaser.

“Vokken,” the assassin called out. “Are you ready to transport us?”

“Get inside,” he answered indifferently.

The archeologist joined Rah’tera, sorrow carved on his face. Using the hacked capsule, they vanished and rematerialized in a polarized chamber whose semi-transparent walls revealed the city’s star. To consider the imprisoned sun as gargantuan would be an understatement, Khal’jan thought to himself. From where he and his comrade stood, it looked like a never-ending barricade of raging flame and light.

“Geysarpa,” the sandstalker muttered, struggling to bow before it.

Khal’jan couldn’t get Narja’s death out of his mind, but he stared at the star in awe. “It’s a once-in-a-life-time beauty to behold.”

The only reason why their eyes didn’t disintegrate was because of all the polarized panes of glass and mana shields protecting them from immediate blindness. As the archeologist dared to step forward, his artifact reacted to the sun’s magical ions. Quicker than a dark spell brewing, its primordial enchantment recharged.

“Looks like we’re in business,” Khal’jan said, holding the now-glowing relic.

“If we’re done here, let’s leave this place and rendezvous with Shirakaya,” the sandstalker said.

Vokken grumbled. “Do not be foolish. They are in serious trouble. I recommend the two of you hide aboard Marauder until I sort out this catastrophic nightmare that Shirakaya and the others are in.”

“I can’t and won’t abandon my sister.”

“Fool! You are not abandoning her. Risk getting caught and not only will they confiscate the Eye of Soth’yugon, but your fate will be the same as hers. I urge you to stand down and let me handle this.”

Khal’jan gritted his teeth, fists clenched.

“I don’t like this either,” the sandstalker began, “but we already lost Narja. I think it’s time we start trusting this AI. He did come through for us. Perhaps we need to take a leap of faith.”

The archeologist ported his rejuvenated artifact away, cursing under his breath. “I’d better not regret this...”

VII

Ulterior Motive

Zadek and the Shadow Mercs materialized in another bedchamber. The decor of the room, however, was quite different from the royal chamber at House Morgesis. Furnished with a cushioned waterbed and quilts blanketing the floor, it revealed a much cozier setting. Shirakaya gazed up at the skylight, but she couldn’t see any ships or xyimorphs above. Though she had a limited view, it calmed her down for the time being.

“Check the windows,” she commanded.

The group obeyed, looking through every pane of glass upstairs. They were relieved not to see any guards outside. Shirakaya and her companions went downstairs, searching the lower level for possible hidden enemies. With them being the only people inside the building, Shirakaya’s heart started beating normally once again.

“Damn. I was hoping for a fight,” Xorvaj said.

Myris rolled her eyes at his comment. “What now?”

Zadek responded, “If you can slay the beast that petrified Her Eternity and bring its head to the Praetor, His Radiance may believe us.”

“Why would His Radiant Ass do such an honorable thing like that?”

“I said he may,” the xyimorph answered gruffly. “The biggest challenge is bringing me to him without Teiga knowing I am alive. The moment she sees me with you, she’ll pin everything on me, and we’ll all be doomed for sure.”

Shirakaya paced by the front entrance. “How can we replace that creature?”

“Good question,” he said, his eyes fixed on a window revealing a canal. “The wyrekar is an extremely vicious fiend that lacks any allegiance whatsoever. Because of the danger it poses, there’s no way Teiga will keep it as her pet. I’m going to assume she returned the beast to its lair. I can lead all of you to it.”

“Then lead on,” Shirakaya said.

The xyimorph exited Her Eternity’s second home, followed by Shirakaya and her fellow mercenaries. Although most of them were on edge, they couldn’t help but notice the town’s beauty. Situated atop a floating island, their vantage point revealed an entire settlement built upon a bog forest.

Descending a long staircase accompanied by cascading waterfalls on either side, Shadow Mercs entered a tourist district where aliens shopped and ate at restaurants owned by the xentari. Striding alongside a wide canal of water, Zadek and the mercenaries crossed over a narrow bridge to reach the other side.

A dense mist brewed as they descended through the town. Vines grew between many of the colorful structures, reaching up to each roof. More trees stood near the buildings. Shirakaya had an appreciation for such nature but nevertheless made haste. Eventually, Zadek guided them along another canal where several schooners were moored. He then boarded one that featured an actual sculpture of Feya Morgesis and cut its rope. The vessel drifted while the xyimorph made his way to the aft section.

“I sure hope no one notices what you’re doing,” Shirakaya said.

Zadek shook his head. “I’m confident no one here knows of what has transpired yet, so we are safe.”

“This isn’t stealing?” she responded, raising an eyebrow.

“No. All servants of House Morgesis are allowed to use Her Eternity’s property, including this boat.”

“Finally, something that makes sense,” Xorvaj said.

“Look!” the mutant blurted, pointing at the thick mist above.

“Can’t see shit,” Dojin replied.

Myris wheezed. “I sense them. Beyond the mist. There are xyimorph guards at the other home now.”

“Then we’d best hurry,” Zadek said, helming the wheel.

Steering the vessel, he sailed through the foggy canal. Although their vision was hazy due to the mist, they could make out a cliff ahead. The xyimorph guided the schooner toward it, making the group more uncomfortable as they drew closer. Even the renegade twitched as he saw the canal’s body pouring down like a waterfall into what seemed like an atmospheric abyss.

“You’re almost as clever as me,” Xorvaj said, bringing the edge of his battleaxe to Zadek’s throat. “Your scheme ends here.”

The xyimorph appeared insulted. “Don’t you know anything about magic?”

Without further ado, the schooner glided off from the edge of the canal, floating beneath the suspended island. The ghensoth snorted, disappointingly withdrawing his weapon. Myris clapped, watching the schooner fly. Xeza gave out an excited urp. The other mercenaries sat down, feeling nauseous.

In the meantime, Zadek continued helming the vessel toward the realm’s mainland. As they approached a lagoon, the xyimorph grabbed an anchor and flung it down into a body of water. When the schooner smoothly landed on the water, he promptly moored it at an adjacent dock.

“We’re here, mateys!” Myris said, beaming.

“Shut your face,” Dojin retorted.

“Yers first, scurvy cur!”

The others ignored them, trying not to lose their composure.

Zadek rejoined the mercenaries, extending a plank. “Prepare yourselves. The wyrekar’s lair is just ahead.”

“At last,” the ghensoth said, unsheathing his axe. “Something to kill.”

Shirakaya and her fellow mercenaries disembarked from the magical airship, following the xyimorph into the artificial lagoon. A chorus of insects sang throughout the bog, hidden among the wet thickets, mucky water, and meadow.

They weren’t deep into the lagoon when the synthetic heavens abruptly changed from a blue sky to a dome-shaped screen. That instant, a fair-skinned xyimorph with amber irises, white dreadlocks, and golden armor appeared on the celestial monitor. His beard was so untamed that it covered more than half his face and reached his waist. Without thought, Zadek prostrated.

“Who the hell is that glowing fag?”

Shirakaya replied, “I’m going to assume he’s the current praetor, Ghenim Yef Sarphon, otherwise known as His Radiance.”

“Greetings, my beloved people,” Ghenim said. “It grieves me ever-so-deeply to announce that this morning Her Eternity was murdered.” He paused, allowing listeners throughout the realm to react. Although she wasn’t famous, a great many people gasped in horror at the news while those faithful to her wept. “The perpetrators used an ancient wyrekar to petrify Her Eternity. Such dark magic, as we know, cannot be reversed. But fear not, my people, Her Eternity’s last championess, Lady Teiga, managed to slay the accursed beast.”

“You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me...”

“Demons be damned,” Xorvaj said, glowering. “I was looking forward to killing that wyrekar creature.”

“Jeepers,” the young oracle said. “I didn’t see that one coming.”

Ghenim continued, “All that remains are the original perpetrators who interfered in our ways and condemned Her Radiance to an eternity of stone.” The heavenly screen momentarily switched to an image of Marauder and its remaining passengers. “We managed to confiscate their battleship—”

“Radesha!” the freelancer shouted. She knelt down on the wet strands of grass, palms pressed against her forehead.

“We have reason to believe the others are hiding somewhere in the realm of Gladiosus, second home of House Morgesis,” he added. “Dead or alive, bring them to me and the reward shall be serving me as Second Prime of the Solar Throne.”

“This is bad,” Yarasuro said as the screen changed back to an artificial sky.

Myris pursed her lips in thought. “It seems we’ll have to get wing boy here to the praetor before we lose our heads.”

The sìsô produced a worried urp.

“Don’t worry, Xeza. We’ll be okay,” the oracle said with confidence, petting her. “Right, guys?”

“If they’re already reconnoitering Gladiosus,” Zadek began, “it’s only a matter of time before they expand their search down here. There should be another X-Phaser near the beast’s lair, which should bring us closer to the solar throne.” He fiddled with his KLD and went on, “I recommend we maintain our course and replace that X-Phaser before they replace us.”

“They already have my sister,” Shirakaya said.

“If you can take me to His Radiance without Teiga spotting me, I can elucidate the truth of what occurred at House Morgesis and exonerate all of you...your sister and any others aboard your battleship included.”

“Sounds reasonable,” Dojin said.

The freelancer inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to remain calm. “Keep leading the way, Zadek.”

Not wanting to waste any more time, the group ventured farther east through the lagoon. Together, they climbed across muddy knolls and avoided a creek whose tide raged against their direction. While the xyimorph had the ability to fly over it, the others couldn’t. The mercenaries had no choice but to take a longer route, passing between numerous trees.

Vines blocked their path, forcing Xorvaj to slash them with his axe. Dojin assisted him with his plasma shotgun, blasting clusters of creeping vines riddled with thorns. Hoping the sound of his gun hadn’t been heard, they made haste downhill. At the bottom, they waded across a wetland littered with mud-covered leaves and wilted flowers.

Beyond the marsh, Zadek pointed eastward. The mercenaries gazed in the direction of his gesture and saw a cave. Charging forward, they reached its threshold in less than a minute. With the exception of Myris, who hovered forward with ease, they needed to catch their breath when they arrived. Xorvaj was the only one who stopped panting right away and promptly entered the cavern.

“Is this the lair?” Shirakaya asked, panting.

Zadek nodded. “Forgive me,” he wheezed. “I’m not used to being on my feet like this. An X-Phaser should be up ahead.”

“Hold on,” Dojin said. “Now that I think about it, why would a teleporter be in a cave?”

“Because they’re not aesthetically pleasing to our eyes. We live in nature, even if it is artificial. We don’t want to be reminded at every turn that our city is a technological marvel. Instead we immerse ourselves in nature, hiding tech—”

“All right, I freakin’ get it,” Dojin interjected. “You’re all gay and love prancing around in nature.”

Myris couldn’t help but giggle at his absurd comment. The xyimorph merely shrugged. Just then, Xorvaj stepped outside, revealing his jagged, razor-sharp teeth. As gruesome as it made him appear, it was his attempt at smiling.

“Found it.”

“Excellent,” the freelancer said, approaching him. “No more small talk. Let’s get the heck out of here so our names can be cleared.”

Dojin loaded his gun with a plasma clip before entering the cave. The others followed after him. Xorvaj led the way for a change. With the exception of the ghensoth and mutant, the others struggled to see. Activating her pauldrons’ built-in flashlights, Shirakaya lit the way for everyone else and allowed them to press on.

At a fork in the tunnel, Xorvaj chose the left passage. After a couple of twists and turns through the moist cave whose jagged walls appeared wet, they came across an X-Phaser. It stood behind a couple of thick stalagmites in a corner. Zadek went inside the capsule, inputting a code on a panel.

“All right, it is safe to enter,” he said.

The mercenaries joined him inside the large capsule. As usual, Xorvaj needed to hunch over in order to fit. Within seconds, they vanished from the cavern. Rematerializing inside another cave, the Shadow Mercs swiftly exited the pod and sprinted until they were outside. Breathing in what felt like fresh air to them, they basked in the sunlight and beauty of the surrounding waterfalls—at least until a hundred winged xyimorphs flew down, weapons of all kinds at their throats.

“Should we surrender or waste these scrawny faggots?”

Shirakaya cursed under her breath at Dojin’s question. “Let me think. An army of a hundred against six...hmmm?”

“Make that five,” Zadek said, stepping away from the group.

The legion of xyimorphs bowed as a beam of light appeared all the way from the high heavens down to the ground, at which point Praetor Ghenim and Lady Teiga emerged. They strode at a leisurely pace toward the band of mercenaries. Zadek, meanwhile, advanced in their direction with confidence. As soon as Teiga saw him, however, she flinched.

“Zadek?” she gasped. “You’re alive...”

“Precisely,” he said, bowing before His Radiance. “Praetor Ghenim, I witnessed the attack at House Morgesis. It was Lady Teiga who unleashed the wyrekar, betraying Her Eternity.” An uproar began among the surrounding legion. “She also hired these taxing aliens to deal with any loose ends. In fact, she even planned to have them assassinate you so she could steal the Solar Throne.”

“Lies!” she shouted, waving a hand in protest. “These are horrid lies, Your Radiance. I would never commit such atrocities.”

The legion’s tumult grew louder.

“Silence!” the praetor bellowed. “There is only one way to deal with this troublesome situation.” He struck lightning at both Zadek and Teiga, sending them across the canyon of waterfalls until such power disintegrated them. “As for these miscreants, they shall receive Fury’s Judgment!”

Before the freelancer or her comrades had a chance to present alibis, xyimorph guards knocked them all hard on their heads, rendering them unconscious.

VIII

The Witch’s Ultimatum

A few hours later, Shirakaya awoke. At first, her vision remained blurry. She took deep breaths, filled with anxiety. Eventually, she was able to see better and found herself hanging inside a dungeon—her limbs chained in dalikonium manacles. While irrationally pulling against the enchanted shackles, she heard a girl weeping.

“Myris?” she called out. “Myris, don’t cry.”

“Too late, bitch,” Dojin said, dangling beside the freelancer. “She’s been crying for...let me think...over a fucking hour!”

“It hu-hurts,” the young oracle said between sobs. “An-and the-they took Xe-xeza.”

Shirakaya gulped heavily. She remained silent, accepting the abysmal situation. As soon as her vision returned to normal, she saw that her crew were shackled in the same cell as her, including Radesha. With the exception of Khal’jan and Rah’tera, they were all imprisoned. Though it pained her neck, she gazed up at her sister.

“Resha, are you all right?”

“Don’t speak to me,” she rasped, coughing hard.

Hanging near the ceiling, Yarasuro looked down. “I’m relieved you’re awake. You had us worried.”

“Thank you, Yaro. Not sure why I was the last one to wake up, but we need to get out of here fast. I’m going to assume not even Xorvaj can break these manacles.” His answer was a growl, at which point the freelancer went on, “Vokken? Vokken? I know you can hear me. We’re in trouble and need your help.”

His face appeared on her kinetic link device. “I was wondering when you’d reach out to me. I saw everything. Though you may not be able to comprehend my interpretation, what has transpired is exhilarating in a tragic way.”

“Typical asshole,” Dojin said.

“This is not the time for your twisted retorts,” the freelancer groaned through her bodily aches. “How are the others? Is my brother all right?”

“I dare say they are much better than you are. But until this ordeal gets resolved, I’m afraid everyone will be stranded at Jye Xeu Zeikein. Fortunately, there is a solution to this most unfortunate turn of events.”

Xorvaj roared. “Spit it out!”

“But of course. I managed to record Teiga’s attack at House Morgesis.” In a heartbeat, the prisoners’ eyes widened as Vokken went on, “Showing the video during Fury’s Judgment would be rather simple. There is, however, a catch. Considering that Feya Morgesis has been petrified and is considered dead, I’ll be more than willing to reveal this footage if and only if my queen can have her body.”

Shirakaya scoffed. “Eladoris wouldn’t want a petrified xyimorph.”

“We have all seen her magic,” Vokken said. “There is nothing that can compare to it. Her power would, beyond the shadow of a doubt, reverse such petrification. Furthermore, her power is exactly what we need to vanquish Koth’tura.”

“I’m not sure,” Shirakaya said.

“Don’t do anything you’ll regret later, Shira,” the mutant said. “Perhaps there is another way out of this?”

The renegade scowled at them, “No, there isn’t. Just fucking agree already.”

“Please,” the oracle said weakly. “I told you there’s good in her. If she helps us, we may be able to save Xeza.”

Shirakaya sighed, eventually giving a feeble nod.

“One door closes and another opens,” Vokken said, producing a cybernetic smile. “Stand by for exoneration.”

Vokken ended the kinetic link.

“That artificial scumbag better not double-cross us,” Dojin said.

The freelancer shook her head. “Vokken could’ve told her about the body and left us to rot in here without even informing us that he recorded the video. Whether or not his motive is truly to eliminate Koth’tura, he apparently believes we’re significant.”

“Interesting,” the mutant said. “I would’ve never been able to see that perspective. You are as insightful as always.”

Dojin rolled his eyes. “Yes, so insightful...who gives a shit! I just want to get the fuck—”

“Judgment is upon you,” interjected a xyimorph, approaching their jail cell and unlocking the door.

Once the door opened, a brigade of xyimorphs flew up and unsealed their shackles while flapping their wings in midair. Still cuffed in manacles, the prisoners were taken to an X-Phaser where they ported to a celestial chamber with seating akin to a coliseum but on a much larger scale. From there, they were carried to a bridge surrounded by what seemed like the entire populace of Jye Xeu Zeikein. Across from it was a glowing plinth suspended in midair, where His Radiance sat on the solar throne.

At the bridge’s arch, Shadow Mercs passed a statue of an empowering female xyimorph with a memorial at its feet. Looking back, Shirakaya realized it was none other than Her Eternity, trapped in stone. Behind the praetor and crowd—beyond the polarized walls and multiple force fields—was the entrapped star. Suspended in majesty, it radiated with flares, empowering the artificial planet.

To the freelancer, Jye Xeu Zeikein’s star looked like an endless wall of flame and energy. She couldn’t take her weary eyes off it while she and her comrades were led to Praetor Ghenim who glared at them with wrath from his throne. When the xyimorph guards reached the end of the bridge, they halted with their prisoners.

“Welcome to Fury’s Judgment,” the praetor said, rising from his throne and descending steps leading to the bridge. “Here, the Eternal Fury looks upon each and every one of you. The Eternal Fury alone brings condemnation. Once purified, the life-force of your souls will merge with the sun and be used as an additional means of rejuvenating our sacred realm.”

The crowd cheered at his words.

“He makes execution sound good,” Dojin whispered to the freelancer, at which point she jabbed his stomach. “Ow! Feisty as always.”

“That witch better come through for us,” Xorvaj said.

“Silence!” the praetor roared. “For your treacherous crimes against Her Eternity, you shall all face the sun’s fury. Furthermore, your races shall be banned from our city for a decade. Those already visiting our divine sanctuary will be deported. My brothers and sisters, today we witness justice.”

“I don’t wanna die,” Myris said between sobs.

The citizens of Jye Xeu Zeikein praised him, applauding in agreement. As they cheered, an unexpected sphere of energy erupted from within the star. The audience and mercenaries gazed at it in wonder. Some of the crowd winced or shrieked, afraid that something dreadful had happened to their precious star. Praetor Ghenim turned, his eyes fixed on the pulsating power.

At a speed that nearly matched FTM travel, the spherical energy reformed into a wavy entity and launched from the sun’s corona. It zoomed through the barriers and semitransparent walls like a beam, directly toward the central statue. Thousands of people screamed, most of them rising from their seats. Just then, the sculpture cracked. Pieces of stone split and crumbled as if being chiseled off the statue by an unseen force. Xyimorphs gaped at the phenomenon in utter disbelief. Even the praetor gawped, shoving the haggard prisoners out of his way as he approached the fractured sculpture.

Seconds later, an explosion ignited from within the statue. The blast sent Praetor Ghenim to the floor. Mere meters from the crumbled stone, Her Eternity stepped forward. The populace had never liked her, but millions of them gawked at her in disbelief while others lowered their heads out of respect. She sneered at the audience, approaching the praetor.

“Feya, you’re alive!” Ghenim said, scrambling to his feet. “It is a miracle. But how can this be? Our ancestors warned us time and time again that the dark magic of a wyrekar’s petrification is irreversible.”

“Behold!” she shouted, raising a hand to the heavens.

When the xyimorphs gazed up, Vokken replayed a recording of Teiga entering House Morgesis before dawn. They watched her unleash the wyrekar whose coat of sharp spines ejected venomous quills around the chamber. Teiga hid behind a column while several servants tried attacking it, only to be struck by the fatal needles and turn to stone. Finally, when she believed herself to be the last xyimorph standing, she unsheathed her enchanted sword and emerged with a glorious strike, beheading the beast.

“So it was Teiga after all,” the praetor said, crossing his arms. “Yet this doesn’t explain how you’re alive.”

Feya finally made eye contact with him. “Unsatisfied?”

“Of course not,” he said, forcing a smile. “Today was supposed to be your ascension to the Solar Throne.”

“And it shall be.”

Without hesitation, she lifted him by means of telekinesis and hurled him past the bridge. The praetor bawled as he fell into a golden void that teleported him over to Fury’s Judgment. His Radiance materialized before the sun, disintegrating in an instant. The populace witnessed his death, their faces contorted.

“Hear me now, xyimorphs!” she bellowed, her voice echoing throughout the immense chamber as she ascended the stairs and sat on the solar throne. “I am the chosen one! I am Eternity! Bow down before me or join your former praetor in oblivion!”

One of the guards stepped forward. “Your Eternity, can you at least explain how you survived against such dark magic?”

Feya extended a finger, unleashing a glistening bolt of lightning that obliterated him. “A most fascinating question, but the answer will be revealed when I choose. No one shall question me. No one shall oppose me. Everyone will bow down to me. I am the Solar Throne! I am Fury’s Judgment! I am Eternity!”

The populace bowed their heads.

“So much for being politically correct,” Yarasuro commented.

Shirakaya struggled to maintain a straight face.

“Guards!” Feya called out, hearing the mutant’s remark. “Release these deplorable vagabonds from bondage and return them to their toy of a vessel. I have little use for them and wish to never see their like again.”

Origins

My soul sisters and brothers, life is a voyage amid the elements of nature. Through the forces of Order and Chaos, you shall embark on myriad journeys without measure. Yet no matter the distance of such a trek, even I have returned to my origin. Just so, allow yourself to release the obstacles at hand. If need be, crawl beyond each and every loophole—beyond the cosmic voids that negate us—and arrive at the inner source. Blessed be those who seek not what is innately within their eternal spirits; for the celestial umbilical cord has yet to be severed from our one true parent, and She will graciously await our return to the infinite arcane.

Aphorisms of Yun’sara 14:37