SAIF

Saif had to read up on the man who had saved the space city from destruction. Yuri Gargarov, also called Elbrus. Yuri had always been resisting the Putin clones, a very bold ideal to live up to, especially when the dictator had no hesitation for murdering his opposition. Yuri had protested that day, when Saif and his fleet had docked with Putin’s infamous triple connected Space City. Saif swallowed. Rachel had still been with them, but he had still been weak. Her sacrifice was making all this possible, but it still felt like an eternity ago.

Yuri had joined the resistance when the uprising began. The heat in the old man’s blood must have been boiling. Finally, he had been given a proper opportunity to take down the Putin clones. Yes, Yuri had been over ninety years old when they first met. But that was all cut short when a combat suit from Putin’s Royal guard had slammed its gauntlet down on his head. Cracking his skull almost in two and left him on the floor, bleeding out.

That was the moment Saif had found him and the potential within the Russian’s mind was there, thus he couldn’t let him die. It would have been a waste. He had healed him, but kept the scar on his scalp. Why had he kept that? Saif couldn’t remember, and there was nothing in the document. Rachel had rejuvenated Yuri, from ninety all the way back to twenty something, and then Saif had snapped his manifestation and hook into existence. Honor and the manifestation of stone.

“Ahh, someone to match Elizabeth,” Saif muttered for himself.

Sergeant Thompson grunted, who had obviously heard him muttering.

“You don’t stand a chance against her, Sergeant, don’t even think about it,” Saif said.

“Master Saif, we have arrived,” Tom said.

-

Yuri Gargarov stood tall and proud in the docks. Technically he wasn’t taller than the dockworkers or the other bystanders, it was just that he straightened his back while all the others cowered in Saif’s presence.

“Oh thank you, the Great Saif.” Yuri went down on his knees.

Yuri’s mind was lit up beautifully, it was full of potential and strength. With his actions on Europe13, the man deserved a new assignment. His hook of honor made him a perfect candidate for coming with them on the conquest. He would be loyal even if the seeds and Saif’s control failed. He wanted to serve.

Saif put a hand on the Russian’s trimmed hair, the scar on his scalp created a ridge on the scalp which couldn’t be ignored. Why had he kept it? Saif couldn’t remember. “Yuri Gargarov, you have been given a new assignment. Stand up and join my fleet. Tom, let him meet the others and train him thoroughly.”

“Thank you,” Yuri said.

“Stand up, child,” Saif said.

Yuri hastened up on his feet. “Sorry.”

“Is that all your belongings?” Saif observed the backpack that leaned against Yuri’s leg but it was not even half full. Also, no one was waving him goodbye.

Sweetness rushed into his mouth and he dove into Yuri’s mind. Yuri’s thought stream was distinct, wide and flowed with strength. Saif yanked out several sets of thoughts. Yuri was the only one left of his family, the others had grown old and withered until death had taken them. Yuri had never married or fostered children. Yuri thought it was not right to bring children into a world which was filled with injustice. Saif yanked out another thought. The reason why Yuri had kept the scar. It was him, it was Saif who had convinced him to keep it, as a sign of the hard won victory and sacrifices he had made.

Saif pulled out from Yuri’s mind and dove back to his own, his body’s numbness dissolved. “Tom, to the training room.”

“Saaaaaaaif,” a voice whispered behind him.

Saif turned on the spot, but the voice’s owner was not there. Rachel somehow still lived inside his mind. Her central cluster was more than the core of her mind and manifestation, it had to be the container of her soul.

After entering The Rising Hope again, he made it back to his private quarters. He needed to commit this line of thought. It was not allowed to dissolve, it might be important later on.

YURI

Jelena was dead. It tugged at his heart to admit it, but it was the truth. Jelena was dead and it was that man, in that weird combat suit, who had done it. He had only known her for some weeks, but those weeks had been some of the best of his entire life. He would always remember her kindness and ability to make everybody feel as if they mattered.

They proceeded through the corridor. People in crew uniforms ran past them in both directions, probably manning different ship-functions. Starships were complex workplaces. Yuri had little knowledge of how they worked, even though he had lived for almost a hundred years. They were heading for the vanguard’s training room, it was located at the center of the starship.

“So, if you have any questions, you come to me and ask them. Don’t go and bother master Saif,” Tom said.

“You are a kid and are the right hand of Saif?” Yuri said. “In Russia it would require years upon years of training and experience to be put at a similar military rank. You must have been de-aged, just like me. But would it not be a disadvantage being so young?”

Tom sighed. “Don’t let my boyish looks deceive you, I am nineteen years old. I have never been rejuvenated. This is me. From the start, to here.”

Yuri stayed silent, the boy spoke with authority.

“With a pinch of my fingers, I can squeeze your heart. By the wave of my hand, I can throw entire starships. With both of my arms, I can level cities,” Tom said. “This way.”

“Thank you.” Yuri stepped into the new chamber.

A spacious chamber, high in ceiling. It looked as if someone had ripped out an entire apartment complex from a Space City and decided to use it as a training room. A training field this size and in the middle of the starship, no wonder why the ship had to be so large. Around forty something manifestees were spread out on the floor in ten different groups. Most of the manifestees were dueling, 1-versus-1. Ice shards were thrown and beams of liquid fire crashed into each other and the barriers of the duelists. In another duel, a beam of acid sliced across the training room’s wall. It was coming right for them.

Yuri ducked, unless he would have been hit. The sweetness rushed into his mouth and his skin flowed into white marble.

The oozing, thick green drops stung through his barrier, but never managed to penetrate down to his skin before going inert.

Tom had not ducked, but held his palm forward, the beam had ceased existing before impacting him. His expression was cold, no anger or other emotion flashed across it.

“That beam went across the wall and the ceiling before hitting us.” Yuri struggled to his feet, keeping his barrier alive.

“The room has been reinforced and been made isolated from the rest of the ship. Five meters of solid metal stops most things,” Tom said. “That acid came from Simon. He is a bit careless with it, so expect it to be splashed around with.”

Simon looked at them from below, his black dreadlocks were distinct even behind his acid barrier.

“Just Simon?” Yuri asked.

“Since Saif manifested us and enlarged our core emotion, we remade ourselves. New names, new personalities, new characters. We usually keep it simple,” Tom said. “I have still not settled on a new name, thus I still go by my former one.”

“I see,” Yuri said.

“Vanguard, line up. Beams and barriers down,” Tom said.

Yuri severed the sweetness and his skin flowed back into normal.

All ten groups obeyed without showing signs of hesitation. Simon placed himself first in line, with his group tightly behind. They were surprisingly disciplined.

“We have a new member. Yuri ‘Elbrus’ Gargarov,” Tom said. “Yuri, this is your new family. We welcome you.”

“Ay!” Rung through the line of the vanguard.

Yuri nodded. “Thank you.”

“Is it true that you fought the cyborg?” Simon asked.

“The cyborg?” Yuri asked.

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Captain Samuels Adam. The cyborg. He is covered both on the outside and the inside with cybernetic enhancements and implants,” Simon said. “Cyborg.”

Yuri looked down. “Yes, I fought the cyborg.”

“Yuri, don’t be so modest,” Tom said. “You fought him and saved Europe13 from being nuked from within. And you survived the ordeal. That is commendable. You don’t have to be shy in this lot.”

“But he lived, too?” Simon asked.

Yuri nodded.

“So, not that perfect, eh,” Simon said.

Tom extended a hand forward, formed as if he was about to pinch salt between his fingers. “Don’t.”

Simon stepped back.

Tom lowered his hand. “Vanguard, continue the exercise. Group four, with me. Yuri, come here. Shake hands. This will be your training group.”

Group four only had three members, with Yuri they became four.

“I am the Wailing Meteorite Dust. Dust for short,” Dust said. Tall with a slim build and a rough beard.

“I am Simon,” Simon said, his dreadlocks dangled as he spoke.

Being placed in the same group as Simon was not too comforting, but he would make it work. His first impression of the acid slinging man was not great. But maybe that changed when he got to know the man more personally.

“I am Lori,” Lori said. A woman in her thirties and with bluish colored hair. Her handshake was the firmest of the three.

“I am Yuri Gargarov, but you can call me Elbrus,” Yuri said.

“Tom, duels?” Simon asked, his voice was filled with anticipation. Yuri recognized the tone, it was similar to the one which Putin’s royal guards used to have. Simon was looking forward to the violence.

Tom nodded. “Yes, duels. Manifestees, line up within your groups. Proper spacing, this time. Five meters from each opponent. Start when ready.”

With that Tom implied that they had mismanaged proper spacing before. Yuri was not surprised. The training field was larger than he had expected, but there were also forty of them, with a varied array of manifestations.

“I will start with Yuri,” the Dust said.

“How did you come up with the Wailing Meteorite Dust?” Yuri asked.

Dust combed through his beard with his fingers. “Like all ideas come to anyone. Through inspiration.”

Billowing smoke streamed out from Dust’s palms, and flowed across his body. The flow covered Dust with a barrier of smoke. He extended his palms forward, the streams of smoke discharged forward.

Yuri found the sweetness too late for his skin to turn into marble, the two streams impacted him straight on. Everything turned pitch black. He inhaled. His throat hurt and his eyes stung. What was up and what was down, was impossible to tell. Breathing grew difficult and his focus shattered, even the slightest chance of his manifestation to come forth dissolved. He fell and landed on his knees on the hard floor.

“We don’t get to choose our battles most of the time. Our enemy can be anything. We never know,” Tom said in the darkness.

Yuri coughed, the little air that entered his lungs did little to settle the burning sensation.

“To learn how to overcome the unpredictable, we have to train with the unpredictable,” Tom said. “It’s tough, but it’s the only way.”

The darkness dissolved. He Inhaled deeply, the fresh and clean air giving instant relief. He came up to his feet, holding his throat and wiping his eyes. The pain was still present, but it was subsiding, getting manageable.

“Unfair.” Yuri managed between his rough breathing.

“No. This is exactly what you need to learn,” Tom said, turning to Dust. “Great, job. Don’t put him as close to death next time.”

Dust nodded, combing his beard. “Okay, boss.”

Simon and Lori joined them from the side, they were discussing something that Yuri was not able to pick up.

“Simon, your turn,” Tom said.

Simon released his arm from Lori’s shoulders. “If Dust is able to get him, I will be too. And if I am able to defeat you, then I should be able to take the cyborg too. Since, you got so close.”

“Technically,” Yuri said. The water deposit sat distinct in his mind, this time it would go different.

They placed themselves five meters between them.

“Go,” Tom said.

The sweetness rushed into Yuri’s mouth, his skin flowed into white, glimmering marble.

Simon smiled, already leaping at him, his hands glowed of green, dripping acid and his barrier was vibrantly online.

Simon crashed into Yuri before he was able to commit any pebbles at his enemy. They rolled across the floor. Simon’s fists pounded against his marble skin, every strike left drops of acid in their wake. They stung, even through his marble. Punch after punch, Yuri tried blocking them with his stone covered arms, but Simon was just too relentless. They halted as Simon locked his legs arounds him. He caught Simon’s fist, but Simon changed tactics and struck his lower side. He reeled back and Simon continued his relentless series of blows. And Simon smiled through the entire thing.

Yuri couldn’t let it end this way. He couldn’t be beat by everyone this easily. Fight back.

He struggled a hand loose and rolled, Simon fell off. He extended his palms at Simon, who was already leaping at him again. Pebbles exited the very porers of his palm and arm, merged together into a stream and discharged. The hail of impacts clattered and veered off in different directions against Simon’s barrier. Simon landed on the floor beside him instead. The beam of acid struck his marble skin, it stung even worse than the punches and dripped along his body. He tried wiping the thick liquid off, but to no avail.

Simon crashed into him again, the relentless assault of punches ensued. Simon smiled.

They were separated, as by an invisible force grabbed onto them and pulled them apart. Simon struggled, tried getting away at whatever held him back, so he was able to continue his attacks. Yuri stared at his enemy, Simon would never have stopped willingly, even if that meant killing him.

“Enough.” Tom lowered his palms, and placed them back on the floor. “This is enough for today. Group four, show Yuri his bunk, the mess hall and bathrooms. Vanguard, dismissed.”

“Come on.” Lori offered her hand to him.

Yuri grabbed it and let her help him up.

“You can let that go,” Lori said, pointing at his marble skin.

“Right.” Yuri severed the sweetness, his skin flowed back into normal and all residual pebbles were pulled back through his pores again.

Dust and Simon went ahead and left them, as did all the other groups.

“Hungry?” Lori said.

“Starving,” Yuri said.

-

The mess hall was packed with the other manifestees even though they arrived late.

“Try the lemon cake. I swear to god, it’s like the printer was made to create it. It makes nothing else as tasty. If you don’t try it, we cannot be friends,” Lori said.

Yuri printed a lemon cake, afraid to disobey her. But he also flipped through the alternative and searched for other options. No Russian dishes were present. With that in mind he decided to also print a plate of meatballs, pasta and vegetables, just to fill his stomach. A lemon cake would never be enough.

They found an empty table for two.

Yuri attacked his food, his stomach was empty and growling for it.

“What do you think? About your first day and all,” Lori said, she started with her lemon cake.

“Much to take in,” Yuri said, between having his mouth filled to the brim with food.

“Tell the truth, Yuri. You are more part of Saif’s vanguard now than before. This is not any assignment. Act like it,” Lori said. “And it is not like Tom or Saif would not find out. Saif has put his seeds in your mind, and to some extent they are controlling your mind. To the very least they are monitoring everything you do, everything you feel and every thought you create. Tell me what you think about all this.”

Yuri leaned back and looked around the room before answering, Simon and Dust were hanging out with other groups, and they were obviously the centerpiece of that discussion, or maybe it was him? “I didn’t know that, kind of disturbing being controlled from within my own mind. The duels are not fair and can never be. Some manifestations simply counters others. I was meant to have my ass kicked today. I think that was the point, but I didn’t like it. Simon’s acid stung through my marble skin and Dust’s smoke was on me before I got the chance to even open my deposit of water. There was no honor in that. They could have given me an easier time. Especially Simon, it felt like he was trying to kill me.”

Lori finished the remaining lemon cake in one fell swoop. “You are correct, that was the point. But Simon likes it too much, to beat down newcomers. He sees your hesitation and feeds off it. He can be something of a parasite.”

“That is so correctly worded!” Yuri said. “But I saw you snuggle tightly with him as you finished your duel.”

“He doesn’t like his women bruised up,” Lori said. “Don’t let them get to you. They are your standard bullies. You just have to find a way to fight back at them better and they will surely calm down.”

That was sad, but Yuri was not prepared to voice his opinion. What other people did was not of his concern.

“Lori, where are you from? The whole vanguard knows where I come from, but I know nothing about you,” Yuri said.

“Europe13. I was there when the Final Sight and its crew of traitors escaped. You know what, they sent railgun shots into the docks as they escaped. My husband served as guard for the City Commander and even though he piloted his combat suit, that railgun round tore into him. Cutting him in half as so many other people that day,” Lori said.

“That’s awful,” Yuri said.

“That crew… they don’t share the Great Saif’s opinion and thus they think it is alright to kill anyone who stands in their way. We would have celebrated our third anniversary a month after that incident. Everything spiralled out of control. Saif took me in and nurtured me back. He gave me this gift.” Lori started hovering off the floor, floating higher into the air, until the mess hall’s ceiling halted her.

“You can fly!” Yuri said.

Lori landed back into her seat. “It is not as special as it sounds. I would much rather have marble skin.”

Yuri grabbed the lemon cake and bit into it, the juicy flavors rushed into him. The perfect blend of sweetness and sourness, it was mind blowing.

“These are just wow,” Yuri said.

“I told you so,” Lori said with a smile on her lips.

Yuri nodded.

This was the moment. Yuri felt like he was home again, at last. His life had been torn up that day because of the Putin clones and their Royal guards. His entire life he had been subjected to setbacks and resistance. But now he had found a home. This was how it should be like.

“I don’t know if you have had experience living on a starship before, but the one and only rule that you need to follow is: don’t start a fire,” Lori said.

“Why would I start a fire?” Yuri waved dismissively.

Lori laughed. “I don’t know. But do not do it. The chamber will be locked and thrown into space if you do.”

Yuri nodded. “But I will not start any fires.”

“There is always somebody starting a fucking fire. You would not believe some people. They want to test if the chamber’s eject system is truthful or not, and then all of a sudden their chamber is hurled into space. Morons,” Lori said.

Yuri smiled. “I promise, I will not start any fires.”

“Good lad,” Lori said.