“The war against the unknown species seemed never to end; generation after generation were marched aboard ships only to see their lives pass in constant battle across a hundred star systems holding the line against the enemy advances.

Years would pass as the same systems would change hands. Back and forth, none came out as the victor.

No war was fought on planets anymore, only in the depth of space or in the gravity of a star. The imperial legions were no longer being reinforced. The training was too grueling, and the enchantments were time-consuming.

A few could see that this was a deliberate action by someone pulling strings in the background but with no new training camps being built. All legions either locked in combat or spread across the stars to find something that would give humanity an advantage. The legions slowly began to shrink and, as some would say, deprive the empire of mankind of its greatest peacekeeping force, both from external and internal enemies.“

- Elistar Iscariot, Grand Magister during the second Kingfisher dynasty.

Another row of jail cells, torture rooms and guard rooms. This place was enormous.

Hewn out of granite with large streaks of quarts running through it, the fortress had a somber beauty to it if you could ignore the persistent smell of sulfur and ozone. At least the inside of it. I had yet to see the outside, but my voidlings told me it was the same there. Being a trusting fellow, I chose to withhold judgment until I saw it myself.

So far, we have traveled six levels of empty cells and rooms. The only occupants had been the two of us at the bottom level of the dungeon. Apparently, the guards for the bottom level were the very same that so conveniently came to visit the cell opposite mine.

Scrunching my brow, I tried thinking about a better way to go about this, but so far, my options were lacking. I was too weak to get us out of here alone. Sacrifices would have to be made.

Having chewed some of my dried fruit and cheese into mush, I spit it in my hand and gently placed it in the mouth of my passenger. Without a tongue, there was too much of a danger for her to choke on large pieces.

It had been difficult to convince her that this wasn't another trick or way to torture her when she first woke, but either she had just given up on everything, or she accepted what I had said as truth out of apathy. That I returned to our cells to show her the dead bodies probably helped.

Grunting twice, she told me she was ready for more.

After a short rest, I made sure the cloth over her lidless eyes was damp; getting blood in your eyes when you couldn't blink was probably not very fun.

Tightening the rope like the tentacle I had strapped her with to my back while using the remaining four to hoist us in the air. We were ready to continue our march to freedom.

Luckily, my sixth one was almost ready to be used again, or the next few levels would become a bit more difficult than necessary.

The seven voidlings I had running through the fortress spying for me was probably the biggest advantage I held. The last one was supposed to be hiding in Mira's shadow, and I didn't want to recall it in case we didn't know where we were or where the exit of this place was.

Knowing what the next level looked like, I hoisted us up to the roof before activating Darkness across the entire ceiling of the halfway.

Unlike the other ones, there were guards here; the problem was they were on the other side of the jail cells, so I didn't want to give them a chance to sound the alarm. I hoped that the ritual would hide our advance long enough for me to take them out. Hopefully, none of them thought about looking up.

Scuttling along the sealing, I finally made it to the other side without being caught. There were only three remdra here, as my voidlings had informed me, and they seemed to be playing a game involving what looked like throwing bones toward a mark on the wall.

Patiently, I waited as the one holding the bones seemed to be giving a speech while shaking its hands before throwing a fist full of bones toward the wall.

The moment all three were watching the bones rattling across the ground, I dropped to the floor and struck with three of my tentacles.

A quick search of the still-warm bodies didn't give me anything useful. Despite the next floor containing prisoners, I didn't exactly need a key to let them loose.

Carefully making my way to the next exit, I peered out from the doorway. Being covered in Darkness, I took notes and confirmed the same things my voidlings had reported.

Five levels of cells, a thin walkway of metal being the only access to each level of cells. The jail contained what I suspected was close to four thousand prisoners, most of the species I had never encountered before, but a few with humans.

The constant drone of that many people in the same space was almost deafening. Cages stacked on cages with people ranging from half dead to roaring in defiance.

I am positive this stack of cages was some mad god's idea of perfection, torture without effort. Filth and squalor were prevalent throughout the entire room. You can only watch someone from the topmost cages defecate down on the ones beneath until it loses its novelty.

The room had two doorways leading out, well, three with the one we were occupying, but I had already seen the sights that were worth seeing down there. If I wanted dank and gloomy, I am sure I could find better travel destinations.

The guard count was less than a hundred, but I had little doubt more would come if something happened, especially since the majority of guards were the large hulking type of remdra. They were seen more as animals, as were their smaller front-heavy cousins, by the least numerous class of remdra. The ones that wielded weapons and tools. As I understood it, they were the administrators and rulers. The two other classes didn't have the same rights in the tribe.

I knew the one on the top left was the one I wanted, but my spirit was drawn to the rightmost one. The same one they were periodically dragging away screaming prisoners through, according to my voidlings. I needed to go there.

As I could see it, I had three ways to go about this, and since I wasn't letting them get their hands on the lady strapped to my back again, and my ritual of Darkness wasn't powerful enough to cover the entire prison.

That left me with Tremor, to cause a distraction. I really wanted access to the second level of rituals one of these years. Sure, there were almost a hundred level-one rituals. Still, they were mostly circumstantial in their usefulness or needed to be used for a substantial length of time before they became powerful enough to be viable options.

I'll admit I was a bit envious of those with regular abilities at the moment. Sure, they didn't have the plethora of options my rituals offered, but their abilities were often versatile and easy to understand from the moment their ability crystal was ingrained. That, and the major bonus of the boons they were given.

Giving myself to the count of three to hype myself up. I stuffed half a sausage in my mouth and said.

“One, Two, Three.”

It may not have sounded like that with my mouth filled to the brim, but I wasn't performing for an audience exactly.

Activating the Tremor ritual and praying that the ceiling didn't cave in, I started my prison riot plan by running to the left and started ripping iron doors from the cages and cutting chains. It was but a moment's work for my tentacles.

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I don't know if I was lucky or if the guards were just stupid, but I'm willing to put coins on both. No alarm was raised until I had almost done a full round of the bottom floor, and the ground stopped shaking from my ritual depleting.

The ceiling took it just fine, so I almost considered activating it again, but I feared it would affect the prisoners more than the guards.

Vaulting up to the second floor of cages, I started freeing prisoners as fast as my abused body could. Meanwhile, the prisoners from the first floor were wandering out into the center of the floor, looking dazed and confused.

I almost made it a quarter around the second row of cells when the first of the guards was on me.

Sliding under the clumsy grab of the brute, I took a hold around its ankle with my remaining hand and swung it around with my momentum into the next one, sending both flying into the center of the first floor, where they landed with a thud.

That seemed to be the spark that was needed as the prisoners, who were still confused, finally broke out, shouting in a dozen different languages and gathering in groups of similar-looking people. While I didn't understand any of the words they shouted. Not even from those who looked completely human, I could hear the confusion receding and the anger building. It felt like clouds gathering before the storm.

It was someone who looked like an enormous mantis that took the first step, literally. Driving its leg through the dazed head of one guard, sending purple blood squirting all over the place.

The other one didn't last many seconds longer.

I was already working my way towards the halfway point of the second row.

Behind me, befuddled prisoners were making their way out of cells, looking down at the dead guards and other freed prisoners.

Meeting another group of guards, this time four of them. I didn't bother being fancy. Sending them hurling back with Push, sending their prone and battered bodies hurling toward prisoners below with flicks of a tentacle. I was starting to feel the energy drain.

They seemed to be catching on and gathering in groups of similar species now. The guards died moments after hitting the ground. One of the former prisoners seemed to have come to the appropriate conclusion as he frisked the guards and held up keys in triumph.

It didn't take long until groups of former prisoners were running up and working the opposite side of the second level, freeing prisoners.

That marked the start of part two of my plan.

Not bothering with freeing any more prisoners, I focused on throwing as many guards as I could to the growing hoard of prisoners.

Sending my tentacles up a level, I grabbed the feet of another set of guards before setting them hurling from the third floor. Momentum was building; I just needed to give them enough time to get properly started, I thought while hurling myself across the room into another group of guards.

Standing at the top level, I looked towards the exit as a group of mantis people was scything their way through the incoming reinforcement, followed by bear shifters smashing and tearing apart any enemies they could reach.

It was time for us to part ways with the former prisoners. A few thousand people running riot should give even a disciplined army some time to put down. I could only hope the possibility of freedom was enough to offset the eventual torture and slaughter I had doomed these people to.

Biting my teeth together, I promised myself to try my best to help them when I caught up with them later.

With a grunt, I left the prison to walk the tunnel of tortured souls if the voidlings were to be believed. They hadn't dared to scout too far because there was an Awakened untekhi close by. The stench of it was thick in the air.

On the positive side, I doubt anyone here had heard the commotion coming from behind me. The sharp turns of the tunnel dampened sounds from afar.

As I turned another corner, it was there, walking out of the only door I had seen in these tunnels so far.

We both looked at each other for a moment. It, was no doubt confused. While I was trying to figure out how to get close to it before it filled the hallway with fire or something similarly inconvenient.

With true sight on, I saw it draw its power toward its right arm and both legs. Was it mocking me?

Not wasting any more time, I activated Jump, facing my body forward as I shot like an arrow down the hallway.

A bolt of plasma hurled towards me from its right hand. Twisting to avoid it, I almost got away, but it cost me a tentacle. That left me with four, including the one carrying the lady on my back.

It tried to move away, but my momentum was too high, and I plowed into it, tentacles first, sending it smacking against the next sharp turn of the tunnel.

Using two tentacles to move towards it, I started whipping and stabbing it with my last free tentacle until I doubted it knew what was happening.

Then I was in front of it, hitting it with my remaining fist in addition to the tentacle.

It was like working a pig carcass during training. Just punch after punch with my working arm as I straddled it with my stumps, My tentacles slamming down on it only to rebound off its barrier until they didn't, and its blood started shooting across the hallway as I brutally hammered at it until there was nothing living left.

Power filled me as I rose on my tentacles. Nothing was supposed to be between me and my destination now, but if there was, it was not an Awakened.

Onward, we traveled as I tried to justify the sacrifice of thousands of prisoners to save my own hide. It was galling to think how weak I was now.

My plans changed with my new perspective.

When we got out of here, and we would. I had decided it had to be so. I would not wait for my aunt's plans to unfold anymore. Waiting on her to make her move had been stupid beyond belief. From now on, I will be the one she needs to counter.

Sure, I had laid plans. Sent scouts and spies, who had still not reported back. But what had I done in the meantime? Where was my army? How had I been foolish enough to think my aunt would just let me waltz back to my throne without a fight? The worst part was that plans were made to stop what I thought she was doing.

Then we were there. The smell of ozone was getting stronger, and I could hear a slight hum in the air. Dark rock turned to smooth black metal with purple streaks running through it. I felt at home.

Walking across the dark metal, it didn't take long to reach the end of the corridor.

A red orb suddenly appeared on the door.

“Warning! Warning! Warning! This is a restricted area. Please vacate the area within the next twenty seconds. 20…19…”

A smooth male voice said in a language I hadn't heard in this lifetime.

“Security override. Sierra. Mike. India. Lima. Echo. Yankee. One. Six. One. Password: India. Hotel. Alfa. Tango. Echo. Papa. Alfa. Sierra. Sierra. Whiskey. Oscar. Romeo. Delta. Sierra. Six. Niner. November. India. Charlie. Echo.”

“Error. Tribune Smiley is listed as killed in action in 36,592 imperial standard years prior to planetfall. Sending query about further instructions. Please stand by. Obliteration is put on hold until the appropriate protocol is received.”

“Query. What is the expected time until the protocol is received? Medical attention is needed by a civilian and myself, immediately. Civilian life is in danger of ceasing without minor biological medical care.

“Time until correct protocol is received is unknown. Connection to Cloud Oberon lost during unscheduled landing on the current planet. Stand by while appropriate facilities are being assembled.”

I was sweating bullets. Letting out a relieved sigh as the red orb disappeared. One wrong deduction by the protocol and we would have become dust.

At least they hadn't changed the doctrine of human safety being the priority in what seemed to be 36,592 plus whatever years humans had been on this planet since I was traveling among the stars. Wonder what has changed.

In less than a minute, a crack appeared on the dark purple door, letting out the unnatural bright white light I was so familiar with. It almost brought a tear to my eye. I was going coming home, sort of.

Entering the first chamber, we stood still for a moment, letting the multicolored light and sound frequencies do their thing to kill anything that shouldn't be brought to the next chamber.

The dark and purple metal turned to bright steel and white paneling. Making the next chamber even brighter and more sterile.

A bed came out of the floor beside me, and I deposited the broken body of the lady on it. Soon a dome covered the entire bed from the floor and well above the bed. Arms with medical instruments rose from around the bed to start doing tests for nanite treatment and scanning for abnormalities. At least, that's what they would have done in my day.

A new door opened to a room the same size and with almost the same layout as the one I was in. The only difference was a bench meant for my items and clothes.

Not wasting a moment on instructions, I stripped out of clothes only fit for burning before planting my naked butt on the bed.

“Request. Check physical compatibility with integration in the program Orphans of Mars, Crimson Legion.”

“Can not comply. The Orphan programs were discontinued by imperial decree 21,451 years prior to planetfall. Even with the program, you would be unable to integrate the necessary operations with your spirit. Magi can not integrate legionary body enchantments without damaging their ability to use the spirit arts. This was established during Tribune Smiley's lifetime, so you should be aware of this according to your own statements.”

“I did not know I was classified as a Magi.”

“Scans of your spirit body suggest you are walking the path of the Magi. With the discontinuation of the legions, only non-citizens, citizens, and the Magi with their rank specifications within their subgroups remain as functional classifications of power level and status. My scans classify you as a rank one Magi.”

Too much information I didn't need. I wanted to keep digging to satisfy my own curiosity, but I knew it wouldn't serve any purpose. The empire of humanity held no sway on this planet, I doubt anyone, but me remembered our origins. With what I suspected was part of a frigate or cruiser buried here, I had a much better idea of the timeline and how this world, or at least the continent I was on, came to be dominated by humans.

If there had been humans here prior to the emergency landing of the planet, they would long ago have been integrated into the technologically advanced refugees. That did make me wonder what had happened in the meantime since people here clearly did not rely on much in the way of advanced technology. They seemed to lean more towards what I would consider sticks and stones.

With a tired sigh, I lay myself down on the bed and said.

“Please start with administering medical attention. I advise against letting my companion be brought out of the induced coma until we have left this installation. There are safety concerns.”

Then, everything became distant for a moment before the sweet nothing embraced my mind.