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Lunara
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Chapter Fifty-Five: Musings of the Heart - Part 2
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Republic of Hekat
Solar System: D-2,946
Location: In orbit above Raven Prime’s second moon
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***
Six months before the destruction of Agora City
***
We arrive at the massive warship Hyperion, the Flagship of House Raven, which orbits above one of the moons of Raven Prime, the homeworld of the House of Raven. Where the elite of our army trains. Where my Father and I live, when not seeing to duties upon Raven Minor.
Not all citizens of the Republic can even walk upon the surface of Raven Prime. Their bodies would cease to function as they were crushed by gravity, which is many times greater than the Galactic Standard. Even those who have passed the third and fourth boundaries, or have artificially enhanced their bodies are not immune to its effects. For all these reasons, it is why we train there, why we spend most of our time beneath the firmness of its embrace.
The warriors of Raven are known in more than just the Republic of Hekat. We are feared by many other Houses, the Knights we produce are able to crush stone in hand, even without passing the second boundary. We are a people who train while others grow complacent. It is our way, we know no other.
“Lord, welcome back,” Kotina says to my father, giving him a salute, which he returns as he steps off the shuttle.
“Is the crew ready for the jump?” My father asks, moving swiftly with an even tempo.
“Keep up girl.” My Father says, not turning back to look at me.
“Yes, Lord,” I reply quickening my pace, we walk towards the gravlift which will take us to the bridge.
The escort of Knights follows, surrounding their Lord like a pack of dire wolves never leaving his side. One of the Knights scans their credentials, from the holopad on their wrist. The lift hums to life, rocketing in the air quickly as we pass through the ship. As we pass each level of the ship, all the workers, soldiers, and Knights of the ship bow their heads, placing a hand on their chest to their liege Lord Arkon Raven, my father’s face stoic and impassive as they do.
This is the power of the Primus for House Raven, thousands of obedient souls paying deference to them. Though my father, according to those I have asked, has earned it. Being one of the few Nobles to ever become a Knight Commander before becoming Primus. The majority crawl their way up from Senatorial seats and backroom deals. Not my father, he is a man cut from a different cloth, the cloth of the House of Raven, a long line of Warlords and Conquerors.
After twenty minutes we reach the bridge of the ship, a massive room expands before us, and holographic displays show the system around us and readouts of the ship's systems.
“Attention on deck!” A Knight Commander yells to the officers and senior enlisted on the bridge.
Over a hundred officers and senior enlisted line the bridge deck, everyone stands and gives the same salute of a head bow, arm across chest, and fist over their heart to him.
“At ease.” My Father says as he makes his way to his command post.
He sits down in a levitating chair with a Raven Crest on the back of it and embroidered onto the fabric of it. Obsidian in color, it hums quietly as it raises up once he is seated and presents his credentials to it, assuming complete command of the vessel.
Pulling up a holographic display he begins to broadcast to the entire ship.
“We will be departing to the Adrius system in the Theocratic Imperium’s cluster. If all goes well, you’ll be back before month’s end to see your families before our next tour in the Calenthy beltway.” He says, giving a salute before ending the communication.
He looks over to me now, pausing for a moment before speaking.
“Come, sit with us, you’ll be commanding your own ship someday.” He says waving me over.
I nod to him, trying to hide my excitement. Taking a seat to his left, to his right is his second in Command, Knight Commander Kotina, she gives me a sly wink. Father has never let me sit in a command chair before. He has barely spoken to me in the last few years. Often pulled away, having to deal with the growing threats on the borders of Republic space.
“Thank you, Lord,” I say as I punch in my credentials, and he grants access from his console. The chair is comfortable and even in temperature. It hums as it rises upwards towards theirs. We hover a few meters off the deck, in between the floors surrounding a massive circular display in the middle of the bridge.
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“I remember the first time my father let me sit upon the Hyperion’s command chairs, it was before my trials.” He says looking over at me, there was almost an inkling of emotion on his face. One that soon fades.
The flash of emotion makes me wonder what the future will hold.
We make for the Gateway of our system now, left behind by the Ancients who colonized the stars under the tutelage of the Old Gods. They have long since faded from existence, these remnants of advanced technology, which seem more akin to magic to us, are the only traces left of them.
I know little of them except what I have seen on holos, information on them is limited under the oppressive hand of the Theocratic Imperium. Kotina once told me after a night of drinking, that they keep knowledge from the people to protect their power. She has always seemed disenfranchised with them in private, provided she is plied with enough drink. In public, she is always their staunchest supporter, as is Father.
The Hyperion approaches a colossal circular object that makes it look like a toy. The object is about half the size that a moon is wide. I have seen it many times, yet still, I stare in awe of it, seeing it through the viewports in the front of the bridge. It is the Gateway between stars, for this solar system. The ionic thrusters shift the ship to a slow movement as it moves closer to the Gate.
“Entering the Gateway now, Lord.” A man says over a holo display in front of us.
“Proceed.” My Father says.
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Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Republic of Hekat
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Agora City, tunnels under the Colosseum.
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***
Six months later - Present Time
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Above me, Flagship Thorn’s ventral doors are opening, exposing its Railguns. Slagging Hells. They wouldn’t, surely not. Not a civilian city. Never a…
The air cracks like a whip as the Railguns from the belly of Thorn begin firing in sequence. The ground shakes as the railguns projectiles rain down, piercing deep through the layers of the city of Agora. Everything is rumbling, screams filling the air as holes are cleaved through the tunnels underneath. Residential skyscrapers that lined the outer wall of the Colosseum begin to collapse as they are bombarded indiscriminately… it is madness, they aren't just aiming for the Colosseum, they mean to destroy the entire city.
Where the hells is Kotina? She said she would…When I turn back to grab Kale, I see the others have already slung him over their shoulders and are fleeing. I give chase now, closing the distance in three bounds.
“Stay back or learn my blade's song.” The one who holds Kale over his shoulder says, spinning about, holding his knife between us.
The city buildings are crashing down, a deep ominous rumbling from underneath us, yet he and the others risk their lives to carry Kale. The one who spoke, his eyes are fierce like Kale’s. The others hold up their knives now, like a pack of noble dire wolves, I feel the loyalty they have for Kale in their stances as they move between us, surrounding him. It reminds me of my father’s Knights.
My eyes take a moment to look at them before I realize who they are. They are Kale’s tribe. I know them, I sponsored them.
“Akah…” I say trying to think quickly. It is what I said to Kale before… well they might not know that. Probably should have said something else.
They look at me strangely as they back away. Frack, what did Kale say to me before?
“Vada Nok…” I begin, a large piece of stone cracks above us, it's going to fall on them.
Time dilates, slowing down as I release my soul’s pressure, strength flows into my body, and clarity unclouds my mind. My leg strikes the stone as it falls, shattering it in a plume of dust and debris. I press my soul back, time returning to its normal cadence.
“Sekat…” the man I recognize as Nekam says.
I remember him, from when I watched the holos that Akaria sent me. Holos during and before the Grand Hunt. His face was less caked with blood and gore on the holo, but I am sure now it is him. I also sponsored many of the others here I realize, those not from Kale's tribe, but his grouping.
“Your leg, that was me,” I say, remembering that I had one made for him at Kale’s request.
“Sekat.” Nekam curses looking me over. “We can trust her, I think.”
“We need to move,” I say.
They follow me now, towards where Akaria should be.
“You have a plan?” Nekam asks, the others are still wary of me though, their knives still in hand as they run behind me.
“Part of one,” I admit, jumping over rubble. The air is heavy with smoke, making it hard to see clearly.
“Sekat…” one of them curses.
My holopad vibrates now, a message. Before I can check it, I hear a loud whistling over the chaos, in a normal tune and tone, as though unbothered by the pounding of the railguns firing upon the city. Who would be calm enough to whistle a tune at a time like this?
Never mind that. We need to move. Akaria is in the hanger bays helping people escape as we planned, perhaps there is still a shuttle. Opening up my holopad as I move, I see a message… from Fennec. I have not spoken to him since I ejected him from the shuttle into the vacuum of space.
For the record, go slag yourself
Not happy you knocked me out, less happy…
Never mind
Hanger Bay is tits up don’t go there
I’ll pick you up at the Colosseum
Be ready
(Sigh) My Lady
He seems upset still, I don’t blame him, but I do trust him. As my grandfather trusts him. Slagging hells.
“Change of plans,” I say, wheeling about, turning back towards where we came.
“Sekat…” another groans.
Nekam’s jaw is musing whether to follow.
“A shuttle will pick us up. Come, time is short.” I say, they turn and reluctantly follow me, little other choice not to I suppose.
The whistling is growing louder now as we head to what's left of the Colosseum. Even over the sound of the Railguns slamming all around us.
“Something is wrong with him.” The one they call Arrum says. He carries Kale on his back.
We do not stop our pace, but I see Kale’s eyes flitting open and closed, the Kuwathi glow high in them. The center of his chest illuminated crimson. Dark webbing flows back and forth as though something is fighting inside of him. Frack. Nothing we can do right now. If he does change, will I have the strength to… to give him the mercy he sought? My heart begins twisting as the lines around his snake with light and darkness.
As we reenter the Colosseum’s sands, I see a figure standing in the center, at their feet amongst the rubble from Railgun fire… I see Kotina, slumped on the ground in a heap. My heart begins to thump like thunder in my chest, matching the chorus of explosions all over the city. The figure slowly turns to face us, dust obscuring their face. My mind only now realizes they are the one who has been whistling.