“Attention, radiation of the seventh degree has been detected in the central district and West to walls. Evacuation is to be carried immediately. Repeat…” blue alert was given, the numbers spoke for themselves – there was no salvation, all should leave. News of the event was transmitted to all colonies around the planet and became a source of great concern.
The measure of someone’s power was done by raw radiation amount, separated by degrees or levels. Each new level brings about an exponentially high power curve, the seventh being the maximum value. With that being said, no known creature has ever surpassed the fifth degree. Reaching the sixth degree was the dream of every high star. The seventh, however, was only possible in theory.
An emergency meeting was being held by the most influential individuals of the world to discuss their next move. It was a dark hall, like an underground coliseum with only a few chairs made of stone. Soon, every council member would teleport to their respective seats and the white light would fill the center of the room.
“As you have been informed, level seven radiation has been detected in the eastern colony of Kalima and its vicinities. The colony is under evacuation and the areas are unaccessible as of now.”
The figure held a completely dark body in which swirled a few greyed out dots. All he would emit was darkness, yet he possessed a strange looking brilliance, most likely an aura. His hair was nebulous and lashed back and forth in slow motion, like tentacles trying to wrap themselves in anything that came near. He was a black hole, and one of the most dangerous ones. Black holes were one of the few exceptions to the radiation-based scale of power, and even the weakest of them could end a life as easily as snapping his fingers.
“It’s bullshit, such a power doesn’t exist between us”, claimed an old star whose light was already dying. The black hole turned at him immediately with menacing words.
“Do you mean to say the sensors your people developed failed to measure something as simple as an energy level? Or is it that stars are so idealistic that they created a degree that doesn’t exist?” Another star tried to argue back, but got cut off.
“I am no fool. This is real and it’s happening right now as we argue about useless matters. If you can’t even believe in yourself, then I’ll show you proof”.
None dared to oppose him. Lifting his dominant arm, the black hole pointed his finger towards the white light at the center. At his orders, a live feed on Kalima appeared on a holographic screen. However, no one there was prepared for the images being shown.
The colony was painted white by snow and an enormous tree without leaves stood at its heart, roots expanding towards every building. No matter where they dared to look, citizens were being skewed by sharp smaller trees that rose up from the ground while roots were furiously hacking their limbs, cutting off their heads and destroying their masks. Some of them turned cold to the point of freezing and became ice statues that shattered to the violent wind.
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It was a bloody massacre.
“… What the hell is this?”
“Prepare the teleportation device. I’ll go there as soon as possible” said the black hole. When he finished speaking, a wild explosion took over the screen and the connection ended abruptly.
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A large fire boulder came in contact with the ground, splitting open and causing a huge explosion from the impact. The nearby area only showed debris, burning corpses, carbonized remains and unrecognizable chunks of dark flesh. A desperate symphony was running, made by the crepitating sound of the fire, the strong blows of the wind, the slashing, puncturing and snapping noises and the cries and horrified screams of the living.
The air reeked of death.
One half of the boulder crumbled, revealing a strange bud kept inside it, like an open plum – or maybe peach would be a better description. Its texture was vivid like magma and the upper side was covered by orange red threads that reverberated with an odd blue fire.
“Wake up… Wake up sister…” The bud moved an inch, but otherwise didn’t react so strongly.
“We’re here. We are home again” With a cracking sound, the bud unfolded and a tall star that looked like a woman clad of molten rock surged out of the boulder. Her mask was cryptic, as black as charcoal and strange marks were deeply ingrained in it. She wore a skeptical look that was unfazed by all the devastation she had caused on landing.
“This place stinks. And it’s utterly destroyed.”
“Sister, don’t say it like that… See the bright side, it’s our home, full of our memories. It’s here that our journey began, where we met the others for the first time”.
“What bright side… No matter where i go, it will suck. But this is way worse than before”
“If it is worse than before, before was better than now, right?” he responded, gently.
“Nonsense. Let’s just get it done and leave. I’m sick of running around”.
“Then why don’t you take a rest?”
“Running around is better than lazing around” she looked at the snow globe to the distance and sighed in annoyance.
“Hey, I know that technique! Is Uranus over there? Why don’t you go say hello?”
“That’s not such a bad idea. Then again, i was gonna do it even if you hadn’t suggested”