Abomination
As Logan’s consciousness faded, he knew where he would find himself.
In the endless Void.
All around him the stars twinkled in the epic distances, with Logan suspended among them. The cold radiated along his body, but it felt cool and refreshing, instead of the absolute frigidity of empty space.
Afraid to turn around, Logan kept staring out into the distance, like it would delay what was about to happen. He knew that it was the methodology of children, that something didn’t exist if you weren’t looking at it, but Logan’s panic was threatening to overwhelm all reason. Hence, he relied on a child’s tactics, in prayer.
Unfortunately, the reason for his dread wasn’t the boogeyman under the bed. Instead, it was the endless presence that Logan could physically feel, even with his back turned. The Being Beyond the Void. Despite Logan’s desperate hopes and prayers, there would be no avoiding this next interaction with this cosmic being.
‘Turn’ , the endless entity emitted into Logan’s cranium. As before, no words were spoken, just the intense implication of a concept being burned into his brain.
However, unlike Logan's last interaction with this being, this wasn’t the end of the meeting. A wave of pressure settled over Logan’s mind, but he fought through it, and heeded the cosmic entity’s desire.
Coming face to… well endless Void, Logan supposed. Being able to withstand at least some of the pressure this entity gave off, Logan was able to examine it. Or at least attempt to.
It was hard to accurately understand what he was looking at. On one hand, Logan could tell that it was completely empty, lacking even the stars out in the distance, like Logan was looking out the edge of the expanding universe.
But in Logan’s soulsight, well, that’s where words started to lose value. It appeared almost as though the entity’s essence was... using an Ability, if Abilities required the soul to create a pattern the size of a solar system. Endless writhing connections appeared and faded in the primordial power of the cosmic entity’s existence.
Logan thought he may be able to discern some higher meaning from its endless complexity, but before he could, the Being connected to Logan once more.
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‘Herald’, ‘Lead’, ‘Void’.
Each concept battered its way into Logan’s increasingly fragile mind, shaking his consciousness and redoubling the pressure on him. The being was either unknowing of Logan’s pain, as it continued.
‘Herald’, ‘Lead’, ‘Void’.
The concepts once again were drilled directly into Logan’s thoughts, battering his brain even further. At this point, Logan felt like he had gone rounds with Mike Tyson after riding roller coasters all day. He was slowly turning into a human slurry.
‘Herald’, ‘Lead’, ‘Void’.
Once more Logan was bombarded, and he finally called out to the entity.
“O-Ok! I’ll … I’ll do it. Just stop, please. I-I don’t think I can survive too much more…”
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His words seemed to appease the being, who let off some of the pressure on Logan. The human let out a sigh of relief, even if he still felt like he was in a vice grip. Then, he realized he should figure out exactly what he was supposed to do, or the next visit would assuredly be his last. Logan harbored no illusions about being awake for the entirety of his life.
“W-what exactly do you want me to lead? I don’t think I can control the Void’s power ye-”
The force on Logan immediately increased, and this time, beyond inserting a concept into his mind, Logan felt the entity do something else. It started rummaging through his head, its uncaring touch causing unimaginable pain to its own herald.
Eventually though, it found what it was looking for. Dragging an image from a memory into Logan’s mind eye, the entity once again repeated itself.
‘Void’.
As his awareness shattered into a hundred million fragments, Logan was aware of only a singular focus. The image the entity had shown Logan was of one thing, and one thing only, allowing no room for interpretation. It was Logan’s memory of the Depth Wyrm, about to roar. The cosmic entity wanted Logan to lead the Abominations.
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When Logan awoke, he was surprised his head wasn’t throbbing. Instead, he found his entire body to feel fresh, and even more strangely, to smell like pine cones. Logan would have preferred a sandalwood musk, but it wasn’t a bad scent by any stretch so he ignored that peculiarity.
Instead, Logan sat up from yet another cot, trying to convince himself becoming a mattress salesman wasn’t in the cards for him or this planet. Looking around, it looked like he was back at the base. Logan wasn’t in his barracks, but instead a single room that appeared to be of the same model and likeness, down to the well worn floors.
They had done it. Logan had almost been convinced it was a fruitless effort, but somehow Gregor had managed to slay the Abomination, and save the town. A tension eased from his shoulders that Logan must have carried even through his slumber. Being alive was relaxing.
Then, the door to the room burst in, and Captain Frear strode confidently into the room. Actually, she was probably Major Frear by now, Logan supposed. She wasn’t smiling, but Major Frear looked less perpetually pissed off than usual. He snapped a salute, in greeting.
“Logan. At ease. How are you feeling?” Her voice was uncommonly reserved, causing some tension to creep back into Logan.
“I- uh…” It felt like to him that she wanted him to say something specific, but Logan didn’t know what. “I’m fine, I guess. Surprisingly so, Ma’am.”
“Hmmm.” This didn’t seem to be what the Major was looking for, but she did look entirely displeased, just… reluctant.
“Well, I’m sorry to do this so soon, but I’m afraid it can no longer wait. What, exactly, are you?”
Logan’s mind flashed back to his recent visions, and a reactionary pain flashed through his head. Reaching up, Logan palmed his scalp, trying to relieve the pressure. Slowly, it faded, leaving Logan panting in his cot.
“I… I think I’m supposed to…” Logan didn’t want to say it, because he didn’t want to believe it. He was in a world of magic and wonders, but there would always be evil forces that would push for death and destruction. Logan knew that, he just never thought he would be one of them. “Lead the Abominations against the world.”
And then Logan vomited.
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Major Frear questioned Logan at length, from his origins to every detail he could remember about his visions. Eventually, Logan just ended up telling the story of his time here in a single go, letting the Major ask questions and probe further when required.
It took them a little more than an hour, but Logan never felt hostility from the Major, even though Logan was sure that much of what he was admitting would make him a threat to the Austen Kingdom. Still, she left no stone unturned in her pursuit of the truth, and learned just about every detail Logan could remember.
Eventually, the light interrogation was finished, and the new Major let out a deep sigh. It was clear that Logan’s existence was going to prove an annoyance to her, and for that he felt guilty, but there was nothing he could do except trust that Major Frear would have his back.
“Recruit Logan, until further notice, you are not to leave this room, understood?”
Logan nodded in response. “Yes ma’am.”
“Alright, I’ll be back shortly.”
Then, she walked out the room, leaving Logan alone with his thoughts. There weren’t many of them.
Logan felt sick. On one hand, he was relieved to have told the truth, finally, but on the other, dread was welling up inside of him over the consequences. All of that was also overlapping with his pride at surviving, and his worries about Amar, Gregor, Remy, and the rest of the Frear Squadron.
These four states warred in him, all too extreme and powerful to grapple with, leaving Logan feeling like he was being drawn and quartered emotionally. It wasn’t pleasant, and Logan's thoughts spiraled back to his recent visions, and he thought he may vomit again.
Instead, a popping noise and sudden weight caught his attention. Remy had just teleported to the foot of the bed. Logan immediately grabbed him up in a big hug, pulling the Rizzel against his chest. Tears started to fall unbidden, but Logan realized holding back wasn’t to his benefit anymore.
-It ok, Remy here now.-
Thanks, little guy.