Hunter inched along the edge of the room, hoping to avoid any attention. Guard Captain Bell was being given the grand tour, and the room housing the Asutnahem shield was on his itinerary. Hunter would not let an opportunity to see and sense the ancient device pass him by.
“You’re saying it can survive anything?” Guard Captain Bell asked the off-duty shield operator who had just been about to head back to his quarters when the Guard Captain arrived.
Hunter found the Guard Captain shorter than expected, but built and swaggering with typical lethal confidence. He had an unruly crewcut and a few scars across his face that stressed the general air of a warrior that the man exuded.
“With enough etherium, yes, sir. It’s far more advanced than anything we’ve ever seen, much less dreamed of.” The crewman explained, his awe of the technology he was charged to operate clear for all to see.
Talk about a dream job.
Hunter stayed quiet and got as close as he dared to the Asutnahem shield generator, using his sixth sense to feel whatever he could from the object. He found something mesmerizing—the etherium didn’t so much follow channels as manifest at different glyphs. The glyphs didn’t appear to be linked in anything like a network syntax, instead they spread out like a matrix, and the etherium rapidly cycled through the various glyphs in random patterns a dozen times a second, far too fast for him to discern any pattern. Everything he thought he knew about construct design was defied by it.
It was almost like the construct was guiding itself, making choices based on some yet-unknown criteria.
His sensitivity to etherium had deepened by a great degree over the last year, and he realized that what he’d once described as ‘desires’ were no longer sufficient as a descriptor for what he felt from etherium as its charge shifted. It wasn’t just desire, it was something deeper. Something more whole, something with integrating parts and subtle conditions that he was having trouble defining.
He was itching to get his hands on the construct and get a peak inside, but he knew he couldn’t let the ship go without its shield. So he did his best to remind himself that just being able to be near it at all was a gift.
He noted all the glyphs he didn’t recognize, and all how they seemed to interact with each other. He spotted some familiar ones, but what he felt from them wasn’t at all what he was used to feeling from them.
How curious, he mused.
Perhaps the true power of glyphs was yet to be discovered, far exceeding current estimations. He needed to know more, but he had no way of getting his hands on the information right now.
It was agonizing, but he soldiered through it as best as he could.
“So we can thank the shield for keeping the flagship intact,” Guard Captain Bell said, nodding to himself.
“Absolutely, sir. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get it up in time to stop the first missiles from hitting the ship, but apart from that, we landed in one piece,” the shield operator said, squeezing his hands as he spoke. The Guard Captain seemed to pick up on the man’s nerves, and he frowned.
“Well, I appreciate the tour, crewman. As you were,” the Guard Captain turned his eyes widened as he spotted Hunter. He stopped and saluted.
“At ease,” Hunter said. It almost felt natural now.
“I wasn’t aware you’d be joining me today, sir,” the Guard Captain said, relaxing his shoulders and offering Hunter a friendly smile, “And I appreciate the opportunity to thank you in person. I know you were instrumental in my scout team survive out there.”
Hunter felt awkward talking to the Guard Captain in the shield room, so he opened the door and let the Guard Captain out first. The Guard Captain took the invitation with a nod, and they both walked toward the bridge.
“I’m not sure I’d have survived on my own,” Hunter said. “They fished me out from a river and it was non-stop movement until we hit the lake. The beastwave, the cave, the anomaly. The team saved me; otherwise, I would have been lost or worse.
“They all sang your praises, sir. Lieutenant Pellar was especially impressed for someone so young to have, and I quote, ‘such refined inner fortitude.’ He said that you never complained and were always quick to help when it was required. To be honest, sir,” the Guard Captain said, leaning in towards Hunter and lowering his voice, “and I hope you don’t mind me being blunt, but I wasn’t a fan of Trey Oberon bringing a Koar into the company. But after reading about what you did at Barnum — the way you fought against overwhelming odds and held up the company’s honour — you’ve turned skeptics into believers, and not just me. And more important than that?” He
looked Hunter straight in his eyes.
“In one of the most turbulent moments on the last fee centuries, when the fate of tens of thousands of men, women, and children are uncertain, when we have all been taken from our homes and sent to a new and untamed land further away than anyone has gone before, you have proven that the judgement of Trey Oberon can and should be trusted.”
Hunter might have been growing used to authority, but being beamed with praise like this was still something he would need to adjust to.
“I’ve found myself impressed with Trey as well,” Hunter said, employing one of his favourite skills he’d picked up: deflection.
It helped that he meant what he’d said. Trey Oberon was the genuine article, a Council Seat with a heart. Hunter corrected himself, as out here there were no more Council Seats. Oberon Enterprises was the only authority.
Well, them and mother nature, he supposed. The Brontogon, the serpent, the anomaly at the lake, the beastwaves. They were all reminders that humanity had a lot of room to grow. And where was the ceiling of the large room they were growing into? A year ago, he’d never have imagined that such power could exist.
How much more powerful could a single living organism get? More importantly to Hunter, what does that say about the potential of humanity in this new world?
He’d wondered about how relevant his father’s Internal Etheric Arts were to him now that he’d solved his handicap, but all the signs seemed to say that the work was more important than ever.
Hunter and the Guard Captain shared polite conversations on the way to the bridge. He took a liking to the old soldier, and was once more reminded of the distinct contrast between what he’d thought about people at the higher levels of society and corporations, and who they actually were.
Even where someone was a self-serving body-puppet for their ego, there was a humanity there that he hadn’t let himself see before. It was a reminder that just because he was right about something sometimes, didn’t mean he was right about everything all the time. The world always turned out to be far more complex, and hold many more shades of colour, ethics, morality, mystery, and wonder than he’d ever dared to believe.
“Sirs,” the crewman attending the bridge door saluted them as they passed, and Hunter, following the Guard Captain’s lead, returned a casual salute as the door slid open and they entered.
“Bell, Hunter, welcome,” Trey said, meeting them both and shaking their hands. “The meeting was just about to begin. Hunter, we’ve got your favourite brew on drip. Get it before it’s gone.”
Hunter hastened his pace into the meeting room and only paused for a split second when he saw how packed the meeting room was. He squeezed himself between various Guardsmen and ship officers. He saluted to Captain Gregor, who was conversing quietly with Commander Striker at the coffee machine.
“Sirs,” Hunter said, and the Captain gave Hunter a knowing smile and a nod towards the machine. Hunter took it as permission to indulge, grabbing the largest cup he could find and filling it to the brim after adding only a single sugar and enough cream to make it drinkable without having to wait.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
It was his first coffee since coming aboard, and although it was over-brewed, it was a heavenly balm to all the worries he had accumulated over the last little while. He closed his eyes as the warmth seemed to spread all throughout his body. One sip was all it took for him to relax the tension he hadn’t realized he’d been holding on to.
“Sweet divinity,” he whispered, “heavenly nectar.”
Guard Captain Niklaus huffed a short laugh nearby, while the Captain and the Commander shook their heads in amusement. Hunter might have been ashamed if he wasn’t so relieved. He resolved to forgive their incivility. It was difficult for barbarians to appreciate such a sacred substance.
Guard Captain Bell entered the room, and Niklaus stood with a big smile on his face. They grasped each other’s forearms and grinned before Niklaus slapped his friend’s shoulder, causing his colleague to move a step to the right.
“Look’s like you’re still not convinced,” Guard Captain Bell said to Niklaus.
“You caught me by surprise last time,” Guard Captain Niklaus said. “Next time you won’t be so lucky.”
Aera’s white hair entering the room attracted Hunter’s attention, and Trey followed her.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Trey’s voice sounded above the general hubbub bubbling throughout the room, “thank you for coming. If everyone will take their seats?”
There weren’t enough seats for everyone, and Hunter sacrificed his own to a nearby lieutenant. At first, the lieutenant refused to take Hunter’s seat, but Hunter insisted and since he was a superior officer, the lieutenant relented.
“I’ve gathered you all here to discuss our next step. Thanks to the anomaly, we’ve moved Guard Captain Bell’s platoon to safety. 35 survivors are now enjoying their first proper meal and shower in weeks, and will all be able to sleep in safety and warmth. Once everyone has had time to rest and recover, we will deploy to secure Skyhold.”
He paused, letting everyone have time to react and process. The room was quiet — after all, these were seasoned employees. Veterans and experts. Guard Captain Bell was the only one to raise his hand.
Trey nodded, and the Guard Captain spoke.
“How are we going to deal with Clarke?”
Trey pursed his lips.
“I’d prefer to take him alive,” Trey said, “but I understand how these things can go. The battlefield is chaotic, and even our best plans don’t always survive contact with the enemy.”
Bell was about to say something, but Trey held up a hand.
“Let me be very clear. We are going to aim to reduce collateral damage as much as possible, which means we’ll be going in fast. We need to know what to expect and where Clarke is going to be once we attack.”
“So we need intel,” Guard Captain Niklaus said, “and we need to get in without alerting Clarke unless we have a way of controlling his movements.”
“Do we have any way of contacting people inside the compound? I don’t imagine that Clarke would have been able to justify his attack on our ships to all of them. We can exploit any internal resistance,” a Guardsman Hunter hadn’t met said.
“That’ll be on the list of things to figure out. There’s a lot we don’t know about this situation and as of now I’ve given us 36 hours to learn as much as we can, and then execute on what we find out. Within 48 hours, Skyhold will be under our occupation once more. Do you all understand your assignments?”
“Yes, sir,” was the unanimous answer.
Trey’s smile was grim. He did not hide his weariness.
“This is the last stretch. Once we’ve secured the outpost, we’ll have time to breathe. The Ambition and her sister ships will arrive soon with everything we need to expand the outpost’s borders. The faster we get this done, the more time we’ll have to recuperate before we get back to work. You’re all dismissed,” Trey said. Everyone who wasn’t already standing stood from their seats to meet the room’s salute towards Trey, and filed out of the room. Hunter stayed behind to talk with Trey and Aera.
“Now that we’ve got that done, I believe we have some time to catch up,” Trey said to Hunter as he walked to the coffee machine. He scowled when he saw the urn was empty. Trey spoke into the room’s intercom, asking for someone to grab him a coffee from the mess hall.
“I’ve received the official debrief from Bell and his platoon, but you and I haven’t sat down yet. Consider this your official debrief, Hunter,” Trey said, sitting down and inviting Hunter and Aera to do the same. He remembered the last time he was about to talk about a harrowing experience he’d just been through.
He remembered the last time Trey had invited him to share his story of the harrowing experience at the museum. Now, she was leaning forward, one hand on her lap, the other supported her chin as her elbow rested on the table.
“We were on the observation deck when the missile hit,” Hunter said, recalling the scene. The force of the blast had blown him off his feet.
“I remember the fall. I think I can recall the canopy breaking my momentum before I woke up in a pool of filth. Have either of you heard of pteraphids?”
Trey leaned back with an amused grin on his face, and Aera just nodded.
“Well, I hadn’t,” Hunter said, “and I can say they are my least favourite animal of all time. That being said, I imagine the pool of feces ended up saving me. The smell must have woken me up before they found me.”
Hunter left nothing out. He took the time to explain his encounter with the Brontogon and the giant serpent. Trey interjected.
“I don’t recall ever seeing any reports about etherically mutated wildlife,” Aera said.
Trey sighed.
“It was why we set up an outpost all the way out here,” Trey said. “We had hoped that studying them would lead to new discoveries about etherium.”
“I feel like that would have been important information to know about,” Aera said.
Trey shrugged.
“I’ll take the blame for that. The official reason for Skyhold’s inception was beyond classified. If the Council got wind of it, we’d have to give up exclusive access to the realm. I couldn’t justify the potential loss of such a strong scientific advantage.”
“Why were any findings related to etheric mutations excluded from reports?” Aera asked, her voice rising. Trey raised an eyebrow at her and she pursed her lips, forcing herself to settle down.
“Be-yond, class-if-ied,” Trey repeated. “Not even a hint of what we found here was to be leaked.”
“So what have the research team discovered?”
“Well,” Trey said, scratching at his overgrown beard, “nothing. Between the beastwaves, and the fact that any mutated fauna the team’s have come across has been overwhelmingly powerful, securing samples to study an exercise in futility. The mutated fauna’s immunity to the mechanism causing the beastwaves is the only reason the outpost received funding before becoming a likely target for Operation Exodus.
“So it IS etheric!” Hunter exclaimed, almost jumping out of his seat, “the source of the beastwaves! If sufficient etheric—uh, let’s just say AR—Oh! Even better, let’s call it Etheric Saturation — If the beast’s etheric saturation is sufficient, then it’s immune. Or perhaps it’s the mutation itself that blocks the mechanism.”
He tapped his chin, and then deflated, sitting back down and huffing out a brief sigh. The more he thought, the more he realized that he couldn’t conclude that the source of the beastwaves was etheric. But it appeared to be the most promising area of research for them to pursue.
Aera smirked as the rollercoaster of emotions rose and fell within him.
“I guess it’s too early to say for sure what the mechanism is,” Hunter said, “But this feels like a significant step.”
“One that we’re already aware of, I’m afraid,” Trey said. Hunter deflated further, and Trey continued; “that being said, I believe we now have a way to overcome our lack of progress in understanding the etheric phenomena we’ve observed here.”
Aera smiled and looked at Hunter.
“You mean my sensitivity? Yeah, I suppose. I just wasn’t sure if you would let me devote more time to that, given how much of a rush we’re going to be in to get everything set up in time for the next waves of colonizers.”
“Given your impression of the wildlife, and your unique ability to help us build countermeasures, I think it’s worth a shift in priorities. We’ll get the colony set up either way, and it’s not like you won’t have any time to spare. In fact, you can think of it like the old days — only your research will take precedence over other matters. And you will need to schedule a few days a week to coach our Artisans about your, what did you call them, synergies?”
Hunter nodded. He met Aera’s eyes, and she was smirking at him.
“You said that the workload seemed intimidating. Is this any better?” she asked.
He felt a hint of heat reach his cheeks. Did Trey have to know about that conversation? He wondered, trying to stuff the sense of embarrassment aside.
He’ll get her back for that.
“It’s better,” he said.
“So long as we’re on the topic of etheric anomalies, I’m curious about your experience with the anomaly-class creature you and the scout team encountered at the lake. What was that lake called again?” Trey asked, tapping his chin and looking at Hunter.
Hunter cleared his throat.
“Oh, I’m not sure we ever decided on a name. We can just call it Lake Anomaly,” he said.
Trey shook his head.
“No, no. There was something specific I heard it called during the debriefings. It’s on the tip of my tongue. Was it Lake Lingerie? No, that’s not right. Lake Lapdance?”
The mild embarrassment that Hunter had defused had returned with the intensity of an ether storm. First Aera, and now Trey? Was this an ambush? Had they planned this?
“Lake Striptease,” he sighed, ripping off the metaphorical bandaid, “it was Jeren’s idea.”
Aera’s eyes bulged out of her head.
“Please tell me we’re censoring that in the records,” she said.
“Of course. Officially, we’ll refer to it as something else. Unofficially though, well, I’m afraid to say it’s already caught on.”
“So, the lake,” Hunter said, desperate to move the conversation along, “I suppose I should start from when I first notice a large quantity of moving etherium while I was in the cave…”
They were both focused on him as he spoke. The presence of such powerful creatures here was something that was troubling — however, given the jellyfish-beast—
“Can we call it something else?” Aera asked.
“Anomaly-Class Entity is in vogue. We will classify entities with sufficiently strong mutations as Anomaly-Class until a better classification is developed. All in favour?” Trey asked, raising his own hand.
Hunter shrugged and raised his own.
Aera followed suit while pinching the bridge of her nose.
Hunter did his best to illustrating the power from the Anomaly-Class Entity. When Hunter finished, Trey nodded, but seemed lost in thought.
“If there’s one, there could be more. I’ll speak with my command staff, but I might have to assert my authority to prioritize our defence research. I’m sure we’ll need some exploration teams working around the clock, with field-trained researchers to accompany them. Not only that, but I’ll reiterate that we need all our artisans caught up on what you can share with them, Hunter.
Trey leaned forward on the table.
“Here’s the plan.”