The door swung open, and everyone’s eyes focused on the two entering. Mainly Maxwell as he came in, head stooped down.
Tobias folded his arms and said: “Well you guys, first thing is first. If we are going to go hunting, we need to get some weaponry and have some sort of defense.”
“Like I said, I can try to make us some gear. Or if we can get clearance from the planetary council, which I’m surprised we haven't yet, can be given some.” Lydon said.
“Any ideas on why, or why not Maxwell, any updates or special clearances?”
“We can get the basics and anything. No one should give us a hard time, If so just let me know.” Maxwell said, wiping tears from his eyes.
“Are you alright there Maxy? What did Tobias do to you?” Lydon asked.
Maxwell waved him off.
“Do we really want to go after this thing?” Tobias asked.
“We are fragile. With how big and violent these things can be, do we really have a chance?”
“I can make us some armor to protect us as I said. Not sure how much good that will do if they have the ability to melt us down to ashes, though. Lydon said.
“All we know is at some point they stopped. Ran out of power or whatever caused them to fall. Most still remain untouched frozen in time. Save for the ones the world has personally broken down.” Tobias said.
“Sure, there are methods to slow them. Such as the sphere the CGA used yesterday. Whatever that was. We can scrounge records but all we have are Batons, guns and other means of battle.”
“We are hardly soldiers ourselves, besides Helix. How we fought against Grayland rogue psychopaths should not be counted. We have lacked action ever since.” Maxwell said.
“Then why us? Surely by now there are other teams or operations that can make things easier.” Lydon said.
“I am sure there are. Right now we are the only ones that have had multiple encounters with these things and have come back alive. Probably believe we can figure something out. Gears must be in place in case something goes down.” Maxwell said.
“I am fine with it.” Grant said suddenly.
“Life in and at the forge can get pretty boring. I can probably get us some scraps for weapons and armor.”
“Then we can modify it back at Ballistic.” Lydon said. “We should try to take some parts of the frozen Archveil. The idle ones, if we are allowed to.”
“That might be too much to ask for, I reckon. But why not? They have been ill omens for a little over a century.” Grant said.
“If the Idle ones did decide to wake up, you think the rest would. It would be a disaster.”
“For all we know the ones we have encountered are just that.” Tobias said.
“We better get ready for what's to come, I will go get us started and grab things from the forge.” Grant said.
Outside of the station a slimy hand gripped the stone. Solace looked up at the windows. His vision blurred in and out. The glasses he usually wore were missing. Fingers began to splay open. Transforming more into web like fish hands. Teeth began to fall out. New ones grew in its place. Long, thin and razer-like. He punched the stone, forming a crater. Walking to the station he tried to keep himself under control. As he made his way up something was controlling his movements towards the annals. A whisper in his head. The swollen parts of his head bulged and squirmed.
Down there! The secrets of our banishers. FIND IT. The voice was sinister, dark and commanding.
With his head about to explode, he clenched his new teeth. They nearly pierced through his mouth. It was enough to shake him free and he ran upstairs. He burst through the door as Maxwell finished talking.
“Everyone, meet at the docks tomorrow.” Maxwell stated.
Solace threw himself through the door and spread his hands out panting.
“Nailed it.” He said with a whimper.
Everyone save Eralar, who watched with furrowed brows, went to help him up.
“What happened to you?” Tobias said. An arm under his shoulder. He felt strangely cold. His back was wet, not sweaty, however.
“Just a terrible fever. Couldn't miss out on what you guys were up to. I saw what that creature did down here.” Solace said. The others raised him to his feat. He swiped at his chest removing dust.
“Take it easy now. Will get you caught up. Just rest for a moment. Tobias said.
“Well you just missed all the action partners. Would stay for a moment but we got some serious work to do. I’m going down to the forge. See what I can't find. Grant said.
“Yes, take a breather mate.I’ll go with you. There must be some good salvaged goods to be used.” Lydon said.
“I am going down to the Annuals. Just to check records and see if there is anything that could be useful.” Tobias said.
Solace sat up as his eyes watered. That squirming feeling in the back of his mind nearly took over.
“I will join you. Got enough energy to get up. Can sit down and read while you do your thing.” Solace said.
“If any request comes up for any specifics you would like to use, just let me know.” Grant said.
“Seconded, like I said, will break it down and transform it.” Lydon said as he and Grant left the third floor.
As the room emptied out, Maxwell stood and paced around the room.
Solace seemed to regain his strength as he kept up with Tobias.
“How are you doing Solace? We did not hear from you, also looking grim.”
“Better now, but I had an incredibly terrible morning.”
“I can see that, what in the world happened?”
“Well, it was a nightmare I had last night. Have not spoken to anyone about it.”
“All of us have had terrible dreams, or day dreams rather. Hallucinating. Go ahead and shoot my friend.”
“Found myself in a tunnel, with our favorite shades. Did not recognize the place. Egg sacks on the ceiling with what I’m guessing baby creatures. Fell down and this person, thing, whatever that abomination was chewed a part of my face. Then I woke up. Drenched in sweat.”
“What in the… I’m sorry man. I had a few things attempt to swallow me whole, spit vile in my face and crush my chest. All of that felt real. The last part especially so.” Tobias said.
“Between you and me, we are both going to get cannibalized and consumed. Crapped out and left for dead.”
“No shit. Did you get any help?”
“I did. Doc said there was a ton of swelling in my brain. Had to get some needles in my head.”
Tobias wretched his head back.
“I dont know how you are still standing. Feeling any better?”
Solace stopped. He scanned over his body. Praying there wasn't any abnormalities showing. Luck had graced him, nothing at the moment.
“Yeah, yeah I'm feeling a little better. My head is not pounding as much. Still hurts though. Hearing some voices, nothing to worry about.”
Tobias came over and gripped his shoulder. Still clammy and cold.
“I haven't heard any voices. Seen lots of disturbing stuff. If ANYTHING is out of the ordinary, let me know.” Tobias said.
Solace’s eyes seemed paler than usual. He nodded. Shadows of the day crawled over the desk and maps. What had been clear, now partly obscured.
“Of course.” Solace said.
As Tobias took his hand off and turned around, Solace’s eyes rolled back into his head. More akin to a fish, black pupils stared him down, as red formed the iris. He had to fight quickly to gain back control.
“As long as you are feeling better. What do you think of these dreams of ours?” Tobias asked.
“These nightmares I would call them, started when we got home. That thing must have done something to us.” Solace said.
“How interesting,” A voice said from behind them.
It was Eralar. Tobias and Solace spun around to see her. Partly in the shade, small rays of light shimmered on her skin. Tobias inhaled and guided a hand on the back of his neck.
“You are like a ninja. Could have leapt out of my skin if it was any quieter. He said.
“Sorry. Just following you boys to help out down there. Can help you search. Getting involved in all this other action packed stuff.” She said.
“Why does this intrigue you?” Solace asked.
“Well if you want to know. Since getting to Clausum Mare I have had strange dreams as well.”
“Well that bodes well.” Tobias said.
“I have asked others about these dreams. They slept soundly with no problems.” She said. Gracefully she walked towards them, each step silent and methodical.
“What happened in yours?” Solace asked.
“Suffering of a group of people. A battle that they seemed to be losing. Myself included. Faces were formless or empty. I remember a distinctive tattoo. Gray and black, a dragon. As they bled down their arm.” Eralar said. Now just a few steps away from them.
Tobias clutched his arm, eyes fell to the floor. Muscles in his throat tightened.
One of those machines, like a scorpion, had just shredded his arm. There was also something lurking behind a wall of fog. Giant and pale, its presence felt threatening. A pair of shattered glasses on the ground.” She said.
Solace put his hand to his face, as if he was going to adjust his glasses. In this case it may have been better, they were not on.
“Wow, I'm not sure what to say. That is unfortunate. Glad we weren't in it huh Tobias?” Solace said. Quickly a smile turned into a frown. He stood still and looked out the corner of his eye.
“For sure. Sounds like the Tulere. Lydon had something similar. Should convene with him later. For now let’s hit the books.” Tobias said with a hurried pace into the Annuals.
Inside Tobias stopped and ran his finger over book covers and took a book.
“Let us split up here, just yell if you find anything that correlates with what's going on.” He said.
Solace stopped on the second floor and Eralar went one level lower. Tobias flipped through the many pages of history. The first one dealing with political strife through the times. The first level did contain newer information for the past decade, most likely edited. For the next book it was heavily detailed on the starlight impact. Drawings of asteroids falling from the sky. People trying to flee as the landscape around them vaporized and crumbled. Finally in the later half of the book, he ran across Archveil as it was. One single shot of the giant mass of land, followed by a map on the next page.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
A few more pages in, and it showed the indigenous people alongside what looked to be animals. These people were never named. It was unclear just like the Thara, if they had and shaped these technologies, or if they were there before.
Tobias stared at the picture. People holding staffs with gems on the top. Tiger and panther-like shapes next to them. Two majestic creatures now extinct. A blank sheet scribbled with initials ended the book. Running his fingers across the engraved comet on the front. How did the starlight impact and Archveil relate?
His hand reached for his hilt. Fingers lingered on it as he touched the cover once more. They felt similar. It would make sense, as the hilt was made from the fragments of the impact.
There has got to be more you can tell me. Tobias thought as held the book. He put back the hilt for the moment. The pages of the book glowed blue as it motioned near it. He had to keep searching. The only noise inside the Annuals was the flipping of pages. He caught the sound of Solace letting out a long sigh.
After an hour of searching Tobias got up and went to the second level. Solace had a hand been leaning over a scroll.
“No luck so far?”Tobias asked.“
“I did find something. Personal though, not anything for Archveil just yet.” Solace said. A crooked smile swept across his face. Arms trembled and his head shook.
“Are you okay? You are looking worse for the wear.”
Solace was pale and he struggled to stand.
“Yeah, I'm okay. Just the medicine from the needles I bet. Fighting off the sickness.” He said.
Let me see the scroll. The fear you harbor will consume you soon. Nothing can save you. The voice inside his head said bluntly.
Solace rolled up the scroll and clenched it.
“When we find out what's going on, do me a favor Tobi. Do not be afraid and let fear steer you through life.” Solace said pleadingly.
Tobias smiled and gave his friend a hug.
"Of course. Have you and the gang. We will figure things out one way or another.” He said.
“Good. I’m going to get some rest. Let me know if you find anything. Will try to avoid the doctor and be on standby.” Solace said.
“No problem. Go rest up and we will see you later.” Tobias said.
Solace gave a quick wave and left. Eralar came up as Solace made his way out. She gave a cold stare as left.
“He’s out of here, not feeling well?” She asked.
“Yeah, I think he has been sick since we got home. Some rest should get him back up to speed.”
“Have you found anything?”
“Yeah I did. Need to go through it some more. He held up the book about the Starlight Impact.
“Let's go down and check the last floor then. That is where the oldest records lie.” Tobias said.
“Sounds like you had some serious trouble with Archveil. How did you piss them off?” Eralar said. Her hand cleaning the railing, as dust swept off.
“Well, other than fishing, nothing. We haven’t even been remotely close to their waters either.” Tobias said.
“Well that may have been enough to have them after you.” Eralar said.
“It may have been, however that thing had other plans.”
“Just throwing things out there, I have no idea! The history of them sure is sparse.” Eralar said as they got to the dimly lit bottom of the Annuals. She went over to her backpack and took out an elegant feathered pen and some kind of bottle.
“Why is the place called the Annals of sleep?” She asked.
“Libraries are not boring, there is so much you can learn.”
“It got its name for our climate. The clouds, the Gray. The feelings of weariness creeping into their bones.” Tobias said. He stared down a dark aisle of books. Calmness washed over him. It was quiet and safe here.
“Well that is creepy I must say.” She said with a worried look on her face.
“Are you tired?” Tobias asked.
“Nope! And after hearing that I am even more awake and aware.”
“I have a question for you.”
“Oh?”
“Are you able to read any other languages? That may help. I only know a few words here and there from all kinds of cultures.”
“Of course. I am a Weaver after all.Have not seen any books of ours here. No surprise.”
“We do have some sections of your home in a few books. If that makes you feel better.”
“A little bit. It’s okay to keep us off the radar. If this place was used regularly I am sure you would have more books on us.”
“I wouldn’t doubt that. I am going to request something from Lyon. Do you have any requests?” Tobias said, taking out his holoframe waiting to send a message.
She snatched it out of his hands. Tobias gave her a disapproving look. She wrote a quick message and gave it back to him. With a goofy look, she waved the feathered pen and went back to searching. He smiled and rolled his eyes.
Tobias took the hilt out again. A gift from his parents before they went off to Grayland. The black side carved out from a supposed chunk of the Starlight Impact. The ashen gray side from some type of sedimentary rock. He often thought about where they got this from. If there was any time to do something with it, it was now.
He sent Lydon and Grant a message for what he intended to do with it. Also included was grabbing Onyx some armor. He did not want to bring him along. All this was sudden and there was no one he wanted to leave him with.
A quick reply from Lydon said:
Getting busy already huh? Wow, that's the second one today!
On the previous page of light, Eralar wrote:
Hello! Tobias gave me his phone. I would like you to customize my armor to have tsunami waves going across the middle thank you! -Eralar
“Thanks.” He thought with a grin.
Shaking his head, he saw another message coming in telling to meet at Lydon’s later tonight. It would not take long withall the technology at his disposal to make everything quickly.
He took another dark path to the back of the Annuals, he looked at dusty books. Most titles down here were based on Religion, Animals, The World, Time and Space, The heavens, The soul, Demons, Angels, Guardians and so on. If there was any place for some kind of hint, it would surely be here.
One of the books he flipped open had pictures that had disturbed him. Must have been the way it was drawn. Even after everything so far, it did not get any easier. Bodies strung up and torn apart above a cauldron. Animals of all kinds mixed in along with them. There was a giant man stirring a pot filled with their remains. He slammed the book shut.
The brutality of Humankind just never ends. That is how the universe is, however. Does not give us the right to continue the cycle. He thought.
Dust fell and settled in his hair. Dirty fingers stopped on wooden books. There had to be something in here. With a handful of books in one arm, he dropped them on a large square table and used his Holoframe to see. A small circle of stone turtles sit at the center. The first few books offered much more of the same. Staffs and Jewels graced the cover.
The first third of the book was just that. Fire being discovered, alchemy, iron and lots of warfare. Archveil’s symbol appeared before a new chapter started. A sigil with five comets across the sky. Three people holding staffs, with a mask over their face. A dragon, kraken for the second and lastly a majestic bird.
“Finally, this should at least show something new. What the—?” The pages had been stuck together.
Gently, he tried to pull the pages apart then stopped. Forcing this open was the last thing he needed to do. Softly closing he stared at the cover. A turtle in the middle and nothing else. His eyes crept over the book and to the turtles on the table.
I sure hope you weren’t the mascot for them. That would ruin my appreciation for you guys. He thought.
Back where the light forced the particles to show, Eralar was sitting criss-crossed, hand on her face flipping through pages.
“You look like you are having loads of fun. Find anything?” Tobias said, carrying the two books he found.
“I did find one thing but I don't think its any help. A tree with a single person, wearing a mask with antlers.”
“Sounds nice. I found something similar, with 3 people and 5 comets. The pages are stuck though.”
“Let me see it.” She said hoping to her feet.
He handed it to her before he could snatch it away. Running her fingers through the pages and feeling the spine of the book she let out a “hmmm.”
“I can try but I can't promise anything. It is in really rough shape. We would have to get lucky and find another copy somewhere else.”
“Figures, how many could be left and where? If this is the last one…” Tobias trailed off and groaned.
“Let us give it a try. Tracking down another one sounds impossible.”
“Okay then. Ready to see a part of my secret?” She asked.
“Sure.”
“All right, come watch carefully.”
Tobias stood next to her and waited. She held the book open with one hand. The other at the edge of the stuck pages. Ink bubbled on her hand. It dripped down her shoulder. She extended her fingers, water droplets formed at the end. Carefully she dotted the ends of the pages with the water.
“This better not rip it.” She said clenching her teeth.
Tobias just watched her hands. The inky symbols moving and swirling around. When the pages got wet enough, she got some pages to open. The first ones were a scribbled mess of ink, lots of words. The next two pages before they got stuck revealed something he had never seen.
On the left was another hand drawn map. The right side had an altar. With tubes coming out of the water and rocks meeting in the center. It could hardly be made out. The image was fading away. Giant wings could be seen, maybe it was their god they worshiped.
Tobias took out the hilt once more.
“I had hop–” Blue light began to spill out from the pages of the book. Tobias and Eralar looked at each other, then back at the book.
He dropped the hilt on the table. It landed straight up and seemingly pierced through the table. The images of the book had come into view.
The creature they had seen was in the middle of the altar. It was much smaller in this picture. Tubes and metal converged into it. Black liquid either being taken out, or drawn in. The three figures with masks kneeled in front of it. A different color crystal above their heads. Purple, white and orange. The next page showed the creature once more, this time more of them. As he flipped, more creatures filled the pages. They had been altered, bodies transformed.
Eralar got closer to Tobias and touched the pages. She traced a finger along the beings in silence.
Black armor coated these animals. As these unknown, ancient people, held large stones of meteorite. Arms extended to each one. Prosperity rained through the land as the pages flipped. Stability and order held up through the pages, until war began. They fought strange creatures, nearly like the ones in their nightmares. Battles throughout the ages as well. Knights, swords and the clashes of steel. Even more modern fights as well. Beast with red eyes attacking tanks and soldiers with guns. Black blood leaking from both sides of the fallen. A meteor drawn in under the waves. The core of the rock cracked open. Traces of black reaching up. Towards the end of the book, those three figures sat apart from each other. It looked like they had been inside a modern castle. With crystals above their heads, creatures seemingly jumped off the page. The vastness of space above them. The moon, sun and stars hanging over them.
“What happened here? Fighting beings like the ones in our dreams, how is that even possible?” Tobias said. One hand gripped the table, the other the dragon hilt.
“They must be enemies to them. Perhaps those beasts that have tubes in them, are somehow related to the ones of the nightmares.” Eralar said.
“Could be, they seem to be at battle with everyone, and thing.” Tobias said.
He turned to the final page. With the dragon mask on, this figure knelt before a large mural. With hands held out. The hilt held two dragons on each side. A long faded green blade went from hand to hand. Heaps of machine parts to his left. Three bodies to his right. Each with a mask on.
Tobias also noticed a necklace on each of them. Barring the sun and moon.
From what I saw in the elevator, to those two before I left, something is brewing. It is bad news if there is more of that creature. Eralar was right. We need to find that nest before much more is destroyed. If this book is retelling our history. Tobias thought.
“What do you think that blade is meant for? Is it just a memento?” Eralar said. As she went back to look at the meteor under the waves.
Tobia went to pick up the hilt but was met with some resistance. He pulled and wood splintered into pieces as a long, faded green blade joined the dusty dark light on the annals.
“Doesn't seem like this is a decoration after all” Tobias said as his eyes dashed back from the page to the hilt.
“Looks like we have a couple things to go on. It was a good thing I followed you guys down here.” Eralar said.
“Agreed. I’m going to contact the others so we can meet up and discuss what we found. Want to come with?” Tobias asked.
“I will stay here and scour some more books. See if there isn't any other hidden knowledge. Will let you know if I find something that relates.” Eralar said.
“Alright, I am going to have to ask how you do that trick later. It’s cool.” Tobias said. He held up the blade and the green shimmered out of view.
Strange. Seems like it needs to be juiced up or something. Tobias though.
“That is just a tiny amount I can do. Leave the book here and I will try to open it some more.” Eralar said. With a jolt she clapped her hands together and started browsing down the aisle.
Tobias held the book in front of him. Excitement raced through him. The answers he wanted would have to wait for now. He placed the book on the table and left. The meteors glint reflecting off the sword hilt as he left the annals.
Metlock paced out in front of his house, gun in hand. He smacked it against his knee as he went about. The CGA had questioned him far more than he liked. He had missed the meeting with the others. A vehicle approached the shack and Maxwell stepped out. As the two got closer Maxwell put a hand out, for the gun to be lowered. Metlock placed the gun on his opposite shoulder.
“Well how did everything go here?” Maxwell asked.
“How do you think Max? It was terrible and now here you are.”
“Just worried about you friend. I know you want to come with us but how will you be able to fight with one arm?”
“By being careful, locked and ready to go.”
“It will be hard for you to reload with one arm.”
“Don’t worry about that, man. I have been practicing for years. Not here, of course, where I will be bothered for every shot.”
“If you insist. We are leaving tomorrow. Do you want anything? I will get it for you.”
“Just get me a gun belt and a load of shotgun mags.”
“Will do, you sure you don’t want your companion there modified?”
“Get Lockjaw here, a suppressor. Do you have access to any blow backs?”
“I can try to find some rounds. CGA should have some for riot control.”
“I will take those.”
Metlock chucked Lockjaw to him.
“If you can make it lighter, that would be sweet.”
Maxwell pointed the barrel down and nodded.
“Will see what we can cook up and Metlock. I know you are searching for him. The news has hit my office. The timing could not be worse, as the killings are similar. Even more gruesome than before.”
“He will be sorry that he let me live.” Metlock scowled, clenching his fist.
“I doubt we will cross paths, we will help you but he is insane. Don’t know if we could handle him.” Maxwell said.
“I know, we got some fish to follow. I will be ready nonetheless.”
Okay rest up and try not to get worked up too much.”
Maxwell gave him a pat on the shoulder and left.
Metlock went back inside and sat on a bar stool. He downed a shot of who knows what, he forgot what he poured. It dulled the senses. On a holographic image, a robotic-like man stood. Giant steel teeth flashed as he held out two hands. The man known as Avaron stood there. The photo felt like it was mocking him. A long hooded robe draped over him. For years now, there have been many incidents of forced conversion dotting all over the world. If any one or thing was able to do it, it was him. Rumor has it that entire cities have been caught under his grasp. Along with sabotaging entire countries to fight against themselves and others. The strangest rumor was him spearheading his own church, and faith. What that entails, no one knows. Some say the symbols are the sun and the moon, with stars and flames.
Fitting. But a more fitting image for him would be the devil with his pawns at the ready. Metlock slammed his fist on the image and it blurred in and out. Absolutely atrocious timing. Fingers begin to tremble, then the rest of his body. He laughed like a maniac, sure enough to scare away those freak birds if they tried showing up again.
“I am going to blow that head clean off his shoulders.” Metlock said hysterically.