Growth Spurt

The stars gently flowed past the hallway window. Smoke filled the causeway as sailors and legionaries avoided the cot sitting outside the Princess’s bedroom. Rachel sat upright on her cot, back against the wall, smoking her pipe. The muffled sounds of the Vagabonds partying drifted to her through the shut door. She had a few shots, but as soon as Zyhara retired, so too did Rachel.

She felt a myriad of emotions. She hadn’t really had a chance to stop and think about everything. She sighed, looking at her hand, the soft glow of her life force flickering. Rachel looked away, shutting her eyes. This was not what she had intended when she agreed to help Professor Thaddeus on that fateful day. That day the woman in the black robe had appeared before her, as Rachel’s Earth burned; oh, how she had tried to bury that memory.

It must have been some sort of near-death hallucination; there was no way the very concept of Death had an actual, physical ambassador. A form of a shepherd or guardian. It was impossible! But here she was, able to see the life forces of every living thing. She had fed off the last breaths, the remaining life forces flooding to her, enabling her to evolve, grow more powerful, and hold off the Axium. She truly was becoming Death itself upon the physical plane.

Rachel slammed her fist into the wall, tears flowing down her face. Despair and anguish filled her as she ran her hands through her hair. The poor woman could feel her humanity dissolving away. An empty, greyness filling the gaping, burning hole that had been in her chest. Her mind was a whirlpool of fog that echoed with the whispers and groans of the dead.

Memories of her original team on Earth flooded back to her. She could still see them. Mathew, Abraham, every soldier, every knight that had died on Talabor. She had felt their energies move on into the void.

The door opened, wrenching Rachel’s attention back to reality as she wiped her face dry. She looked up to see Nameless. In the dim light from space, his grey energy glowed like a candle, blood pooling around his feet, droplets of red falling from each fingertip, his hollow eyes and defined jaw making his face seem like a skull to her. Somehow, he was even more terrifying to her now than on the battlefield.

“You all right?” His voice echoed.

Rachel blinked, snapping out of her ethereal gaze. She looked again to see a skinny yet built man in his twenties, forest camo pants, a leather battle belt, and a white tank top. His hair was a pitch-black mess, his defined jaw and mouth stuck in a never-ending grimace.

“The fuck you want?”

He smirked, holding out a bottle of whiskey.

“Been talking to Sapphire bout ya,” He chortled.

Rachel groaned. Of course. Great, now he had Sapphire’s interpretation of her. So what? Neither of them truly knew Rachel.

“Her stories bout you seem very different than Lion’s.”

Rachel resisted the urge to curse out loud.

Nameless shook the bottle like a bunch of keys over a baby. She grimaced and took it, taking a swig. She pointed a finger, never taking her eyes off him. His eyes widened as she cleared nearly a fourth of the bottle, then let it go, gasping.

“This- Belch – does not mean we’re cool.”

Nameless laughed, an odd, twisted expression on his face. Was this how he showed joy? Rachel couldn’t read him for the life of her. And that was saying something; she had built a career out of reading people. He held his hands up.

“Just trying to make peace, feel like we got off on the wrong foot back there. That’s all.”

“Well, maybe if you didn’t march straight unto my A.O and act like such a pretentious dick, then maybe that wouldn’t a happened!”

“Mhm.”

Rachel cocked her head, her eyebrows raised. He had to be messing with her.

“You’re a real piece of fucking work, you know that, right?” She spat.

“So everyone tells me,” He shrugged. “Look, I’m not really a people person; I know I piss everyone off. Hell, I almost started a second war when they made the mistake of sending diplomats to talk to me-”

“They sent diplomats,” She emphasized harshly, “to talk to you?!”

“Yeah!” He grinned like a child. “Well, it was Professor Thaddeus and me, but yeah. But um, yeah, my mouth word no good speak to important people.”

Rachel laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth, snorting a bit, her face glowing red. Nameless pierced his lips.

“Oh my fucking god,” Rachel wiped a tear, “You’re a fucking idiot!”

Nameless grinned, taking a swig.

“I mean-”

“Be very careful how you say whatever shit is gonna come out of that mouth.”

“We’re all a bunch of kids, really, gearing up to fight some crazy space magic terrorist organization run by the very gods we once worshiped? We might all be idiots at this point.”

Rachel paused, weighing his words. She sighed.

“Yeah, guess we are.”

She took the bottle back, looking at him grin with his arms crossed. She sighed.

“Well, are you gonna stand there like a kid all day, or do you wanna sit down with me?”

His eyes widened.

“Oh! The mighty Rachel offers me a seat on her cot; I feel honored!”

“Holy shit, you are honestly the most insufferable human being I have ever encountered,” She groaned.

The dark man child slowly leaned down and, with cracking knees, thudded next to her, a few inches of space for their comfort.

Nameless put up a finger, about to say something.

“Lion ain’t human,” She grunted.

“Damn close, shit, he’s more human than half of the people I met.”

The two were silent, passing the bottle.

“What did he tell you about me?” Rachel asked.

Nameless cleared his throat.

“Dude! Hombre, she’s like totally a bad bitch man, a real one! I, like, killed so many baddies with her, dude; she’s super awesome, bro!”

Rachel giggled.

“That is pretty spot on, actually. Hold on, I gotta get into my sitcom Jock voice. Okay. Duuuuuuude! Have I told you about the Great Truth? Good, cuz I never will! I like to surround myself with homies as crazy as I am!”

Nameless’s grin hung from ear to ear, his grey and green eyes flickering with a spark. He was smiling. His gaze reminded Rachel of the dead eyes of a very old predator or some doll. Like a mask attempting to imitate human emotion. There was pain and so much regret behind those eyes. And yet, like a tiny spark in a dark forest, she could see a sliver of joy behind the mask.

“How long have you worked with him?” He asked.

“Urgh, god, fuck me like years, and I’m talking Zion years here. Hold on, twenty eighteen, I left my Earth, met that fucker in like nineteen. I dunno, what year was it on your Mars?”

Nameless’s smile faded, his eyes growing wide.

“2372.”

Rachel nodded, still smiling.

“Bet, so I’d say like maybe four or five Zion years we’ve been working together.”

“That’s a few hundred-year gaps right there.”

“Yeah, but Zion kinda floats outside the current of time; it's how they can hop dimensions. Not really time travel, as it is just precisely jumping from one platform to another.”

“But that means they could totally time travel!”

“Not really, okay, think of it like this. A planet is millions of light-years away from another one. That means that time passes differently on planet A, while planet B is slower or even faster. The same shit happens with dimensions; there isn’t one current of time for all of them; each universe has its own unique time river, ya know?”

Nameless shook his head, his eyes wide.

“Didn’t have many schools on Mars, did they, big guy?”

“Nah, not really. Spent most of my childhood killing.”

“Jeez, dude! At least warm up a little before you go down the dark orphan introduction.”

“How’d you know I was an orphan?”

Rachel pierced her lips.

“Please do not tell me that you’re the guy for your world? Ya know, the one who everyone looks to?”

“Oh, so because I don’t know any space magic or don’t read much, I’m unintelligent now? Come with me to Mars and try and survive out in the wastes for weeks with nothing but your own wit.”

“Yeah, that’s called street smarts; we all need that to survive here. Don’t mean you’re intelligent!”

Sniffling cut them off, and both turned to see Lion leaning against the hallway wall, an empty bottle in his hand. He must have gone down to the bathroom and been eavesdropping since.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Fucker’s been listening to the whole time!” Nameless cackled.

Lion wiped his nose.

“I’m sorry, you guys are just so fucking cute.”

Rachel immediately shot off the cot like a rocket while Nameless clutched his belly in laughter.

“Do not ever, ever say some shit like that again!” Rachel barked, shivering.

“Bring it in, homies; you guys are the coolest humans I know, man,” Lion whimpered.

Rachel groaned while Nameless got up.

“Dude is trashed,” He giggled.

“No! Really?”

The three embraced, Lion, wrapping his arms around their necks and pulling them in tight.

“The Witch and the King have returned,” Lion whispered. “Armenium was founded by you both; get ready for some fuckery.”

“Excuse me?” Rachel asked.

“Dude, what the fuck are you talking about?”

Lion broke away from the hug, walking around them with his arms.

“I love you guys!”

The drunken General collided face-first into the wall, misjudging it for the open door a few inches to his left. Rachel grabbed his arm, yanking him back towards them. Nameless leaned into Lion’s face once again with an emotionless mask.

“What do you mean, the King and the Witch have returned?” Nameless growled.

Lion hiccupped his eyes, mismatching, staring at them.

“You two are veeeeeeery important, where we’re going,” He smiled.

Rachel snapped her fingers in his face.

“Hey, dipshit, I’ve neither have been to Armenium before.”

“Not in this life.”

The three were silent. Rachel mouthed wordlessly while Nameless looked at Lion with a vacant expression, his eyes darting. A thud and muffled crying rung out from the Princess’s room.

Nameless drew his pistol and knife, Rachel shoved Lion out of the way; Lion howled in surprise as he was suddenly falling. Rachel sprinted past Nameless towards the Princess’s door. She could feel him right behind her, his energy already glowing and stinging the back of her neck. Lion growled, pulled out brass knuckles, and pushed himself upright against the wall.

Rachel kicked with all her might, breaking the door to the Princess’s cabin, Nameless’s hand on her shoulder, his pistol extending out and over her body, already scanning inside the cabin. The two emerged into the spacious cabin with full furry, merely seconds after the crash and crying.

Inside the spacious military cabin, the lights were dim, and a single bed in the center of the wall, with a small desk and chair. A holographic screen was open, with several people talking. A thud rang out in the hallway; by Rachel’s best guess, Lion had face planted unto the floor, and by the grunting and scraping metal sounds, was low crawling down the hallway towards Zyhara’s room.

Lion kicked the Vagabonds door, grunting. Princess Zyhara was kneeling in the corner; she was hyperventilating. Her chest heaving uncontrollably, her eyes bloodshot, streaming tears, her teeth gritted. Rachel pounced on her, shielding her with her body. Nameless swept the room with the pistol.

“Thur Princwess! Thur Princwess!” Lion grunted from the floor.

Most of the Vagabonds poured out of the neighboring door, flowing into the cabin. Some had weapons drawn; others had chairs, stools, and broken bottles raised over their heads.

Zyhara whispered something into Rachels’s shoulder, but her words were indistinguishable.

“What is it, kiddo? What’s wrong?”

“Please, make them leave.”

“Why kiddo, we’re right here.”

“Rachel?” Nameless called.

She looked over and saw the holographic recording was from Zion.

“Everyone except Nameless and Lion out. Right, fucking, now.”

“Gibs much stims!” Lion gurgled on the floor.

Sammy plunged a stim chem into Lion’s chest, causing him to gasp, his face turning red. Sammy hastily retreated and returned with her medic bag. Everyone else moaned and complained, Julia giving them all a concerned look, but they all left.

Lion spat onto the floor, nodding in gratitude. Sammy half smirked, rose, and awkwardly pulled the door off the ground, semi-closing it on her way out. Lion slowly got to his feet, holding his head. Nameless slowly walked over to the recording. Rachel sat on the floor and leaned Zyhara against her shoulder. Nameless gave her a searching look, his finger on the play button. Rachel nodded grimly.

“Citizens of the Cosmos.” A dark-skinned man said from the recording.

Dear God, is that her Father? Rachel thought.

Centered in the hologram, at a podium, was a dark-skinned man, his face highlighted with gold makeup, a golden wreathe upon his head. Besides the lord stood the Nameless One, Maruintor, and a bald, pale woman with black makeup.

“Today marks a grim day for the Institution of Zion,” Zyhara’s Father said. “Today, my fellow council members were brutally murdered in their homes, butchered on the steps of our sacred halls. The light-bearers suffered the most tremendous losses we have seen since the founding. I am sorry to say that my wife has abandoned our people in her treacherous and cowardly ways, fleeing back to the grand haven.

“But let us rejoice, for our common enemy has revealed their hand too early! The institution of Zion is safe and in the hands of the just! The rumored Dark Axium, these traitors are nothing more than feeble-minded terrorists who wish to end our very way of life.

“With a heavy heart and the greatest shame a father could feel, I now reveal the person who has orchestrated these attacks and this attempted coup. My daughter, Zyhara Firstborn, was the one who snuck away and sought to bring down our beloved community upon our heads, ending our democracy.”

“Turn that off. Right now,” Rachel growled, Zyhara’s weeping off-setting her breathing.

“Wait,” Lion said.

“I am calling on all loyal worlds to hunt down and eradicate these charlatans. I rescind all title, property, and claim to my daughter. I cast her name into oblivion; may she and her mother, who has abandoned the wellbeing of the masses, both suffer the righteous fury of our citadel!

“The task forces known as Sapphire and Vagabond are hereby exiled for attempting to protect the former Princess. You are all traitors, dirty wastetrals who squandered Zion’s gift. Let it be known to all worlds who accommodate these traitors that you also shall be our enemy. May your names be struck from our records, your bones crushed beneath the boot of our brave warriors.

“As the sole remaining member of the council, it is with profound respect to our customs and democracy that I accept emergency powers. I shall temporarily take the newly created title of High King of Zion until peace has been restored.”

“Please, turn that off,” Zyhara croaked through her tears.

Nameless shut off the hologram.

The room was gut-clenching quiet.

Rachel pulled Princess Zyhara into her chest, tightly embracing the small girl, holding her head against Rachel’s chest. Lion bowed his head, sighing. Nameless slowly sat down, his hand covering his mouth, his steely eyes darting, pistol still in hand.

Nameless slowly raised his palm. Fury and anger slowly bubbled inside Rachel. He didn’t deserve to speak; he didn’t know Zyhara. She just wanted to hold the poor girl and absorb the anguish. If she could have squeezed all of the sadness out of the Princess’s fragile body, stored it in her own, and given her every last ounce of happiness she had left, Rachel would have in that very moment.

“Why is he framing a little girl?” Nameless asked.

“Fuck off!” Rachel seethed as Zyhara cried.

“Cuz she ain't,” Lion croaked.

“What the fuck is wrong with you two!” Rachel spat.

“I’m not a little girl,” Zyhara sobbed.

Rachel shushed her, gently stroking the back of her head.

“I know you’re not, sweetheart; it’s okay.”

“No, I mean, I am literally not a little girl,” Zyhara sighed.

Nameless gently smirked.

“Back on our Mars, we have these people called stuntlings. Poor little guys never physically aged past ten, but internally were fifty, maybe sixty, hell even eighty years old sometimes. Your Majesty, how old are you?”

Zyhara wiped her tears and gently pushed herself off Rachel. She tried reaching out, but the Princess tearfully smiled, backing away.

“Well, it’s hard to say,” Zyhara murmured, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

“She’s an Ethereal. They project their bodies like my people can do. Their body projections match their maturity,” Lion sighed.

Rachel looked at Lion, then Nameless with rage. She then looked at Zyhara, who slowly nodded.

“Oh my god,” Rachel groaned.

“I was born when Zion became a citadel,” Zyhara said softly.

“That makes you like really, really old,” Lion murmured.

“Kiddo,” Rachel said softly.

“The soul of Zion,” Nameless whispered.

“What?” Rachel asked.

“In her file, she’s called the soul of Zion.”

Lion nodded.

“Our life spans are measured in cycles of years; hers is millennium. That’s why they were trying to kill her. You end her; you take out Zion’s soul. Then you can do whatever you want to with the husk,” Lion said gently.

Rachel huffed, standing up. She pointed at Zyhara.

“You’re telling me this sweet little girl is thousands of years old?!”

Zyhara groaned, twitching on the ground, covering her face.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to do anything!” Rachel whaled.

Lion stood up and put a hand on Rachel’s shoulder.

“I think our little princess is growing up,” Lion sighed.

Nameless walked over slowly, his eyes wide, his mouth open. On the ground, Zyhara’s face changed; her limbs grew longer, her face fuller. She now seemed fifteen, maybe even sixteen. The ten-year-old Princess they had known was gone.

“Nothing ages a soul like trauma,” Lion chortled.

Rachel formed a fist, and the hammer struck directly into Lion's chest, sending him backward, pushing all the air out of his lunges. Zyhara buried her face in her arms, weeping again. Nameless and Rachel shared a look. Both knelt next to the Princess.

“Your Majesty. You have us, and if you have us, you have Mars,” Nameless sighed.

“I will always protect you, kiddo. And hey, Armenium is clearly on your side.”

“You don’t know that,” Zyhara cried.

“Sure we do. Anna and Tygo would never betray you; they saved all of us,” Rachel soothed.

Lion knelt beside them, massaging his chest.

“My lady, I promise you, the Laydren don’t care what your Father says. They care about what I have to say, and I say you are all good people. The Laydren have your back.”

Zyhara sniffled, gently smiling, dark strands of hair slightly concealing her face.

“My parents always hated that I chose the human form,” She mumbled.

“So do mine,” Lion giggled.

Darkly chuckling, Zyhara wiped her tears.

“I’m going to look thirty by the end of this,” She pouted.

All four softly chortled.

“I think if we all looked how mature we were, we’d need diapers and canes by now.” Nameless laughed.

“Try a pacifier and a crib for you, bud,” Rachel spat.

“Stone toss in a glasshouse, girly,” Lion grinned.

“Says the man-child prince who fucks around as a profession.”

Zyhara laughed for the first time, light reentering her eye.

“Thanks, guys,” She mumbled.

“We got your back, kiddo,” Rachel smiled.

Soft knocking at the door caught their attention. Rachel turned to see Julia entering.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Julia began. She halted when she saw that Zyhara now looked like a mid-teenager.

“Uh.”

“What’s up, Julia?” Nameless asked warmly.

“We-we uh, we’re here? At Armenium, I’m sorry, did the little girl just age five years, or is it me?”

“Just a growth spurt,” Zyhara sighed.

“Right. Sorry, your Majesty, not used to non-humans yet,” Julia blushed.

“Damn, guess I haven’t been trying hard enough,” Lion grinned.

“You’ve done more than enough,” Julia spat, turning around, and leaving.

The four were silent.

“You sure you’re good, kiddo?”

“Yeah, this is all just a lot.”

“We’re gonna get through this together. You’re stuck with us now man, sorry,” Lion grinned.

“We promised Anna we’d protect you with our lives. I grew up an outlaw; I don’t care what space magic man says,” Nameless nodded.

Zyhara smirked.

“Ya know, once this is all over, I will need some new war captains,” Zyhara grinned.

“Oh, hell no, I like my stripes,” Rachel huffed.

“Let’s see Armenium before we start talking promotions, your majesty,” Nameless sighed.

The four stood, each measuring all that had happened. Julia stuck her head back into the room.

“Yo! Let’s go, dorks!” Julia called.

“Yes, mother!” Nameless called.

Julia’s middle finger entered the door frame, then flew away.

“Damn shame she doesn’t like you like that hombre; you guys would be perfect together,” Lion smiled.

“Fuck off.”

“Oh wow. The dark silent brooding man has no girlfriend? Shocking,” Rachel smiled.

Nameless pierced his lips, studying her.

Rachel leaned forward with a manic smile. She loved this game; she liked making men uncomfortable, pulling apart the scales, and getting into the armor.

“Say it.”

Nameless smiled.

“Maybe we can change that one day.”

Nameless walked off, flowing through the door.

Lion stood in place, eyes wide, mouth open. Zyhara’s face was frozen in a shocked, joyful expression as she waited for the usual explosion. Rachel stood here. He might have thrown a glass of ice-cold water in her face. The audacity! He was so ugly and brooding clearly; he didn’t care about anything; how could he care about her? He didn’t even look at her that often and show any signs of warmth. Oh hooooo. This was the game; he could play too. Good, she liked this game.

Lion whistled.

“Where the fuck was that smoothness when he was asking Julia out?”

“Lion!?” Zyhara smiled, holding her open hand to her chin with a sideways turned face.

Rachel chewed her smile. So, he was a whore, perfect. She was the last resort after blondie turned him down; suitable, Rachel could use that. Get under his skin, irritate him, or maybe lead him on? No, that would lead to him touching her. God, the very thought, she wanted to vomit. No, this would have to remain a verbal duel.

“Thanks for the intel Lion,” Rachel grinned.

“You’re welcome?” Lion asked with upturned eyebrows.

Lion followed as Rachel walked away, a giggling Zyhara in toe.

“Have I mentioned yet you two are easily the scariest fuckers on the team?” Lion squeaked.

“No but keeping saying that, I like competition,” Rachel laughed.

“I think I’m bout to have a growth spurt myself now,” Lion groaned.

The three joined the rest of the vagabonds, all gathered in the hallway, staring out the window. Rachel gazed over their shoulders, taking in her first sight of Armenium.

She had heard the legends. That Armenium was a paradise planet, its population precisely cultivated throughout dozens if not hundreds of generations. The environment was in perfect balance with the burgeoning industry. Continent-wide factory districts and fortresses surrounded by oceans, forests, and mountain ranges. For both the professional soldier and seasoned guerrilla fighter, this was a planet that could be held indefinitely.

As the navy gently entered Armenium’s orbit, passing the extended planet-encircling disc of orbital defense arrays, stations, and satellites, it was clear the legends were true. The oceans were untainted and pure, the air clean, the tall sky fortresses glistening like crystals sticking out of green grass. Smaller ships flew alongside the naval warships, long banners fluttering in the wind to their tails, blasting their horns.

The Vagabonds eagerly gazed like children who had just seen their first candy shop. Doubt filled Rachel. If her prior experience with Mathew and Tygo set any precedent, the people of Armenium weren’t going to take kindly to feral warriors who could barely keep their mouths shut.

Approaching footsteps caught their attention, and the vagabonds turned to see Mistress Anna appear. She wore a magnificent grey tunic, with medals and ribbons on her chest, a black leather belt, and pauldrons. A long purple cape gently clasped her shoulders; her pure white hair braided behind her head.

“Welcome to Armenium children. Prepare yourselves. Given Zion's last broadcast, we all have much explaining to do.”