Unipsi, lovely entity
chapter 47c: monsters
The next day, once the Sheridan ended its first of two jumps, Idra said her goodbyes. Well only one goodbye, to Scilla. While rotating the ship for the new and final jump Idra departed. The NDU disconnected and sped up away from them. Then something unexpected. A normal jump engine or distortion engine requires several condition to work properly. Other than fuel and heating dissipation, the ship also needs to be away from extremely high masses and needs to be above a speed threshold. The distortion can be easily identified as the ship shape starts contorting onto itself until it disappears. The NDU however was by far inside the gravitational pull of the gas giant that they were using to change direction.
What confused them even more was that Idra started going “up and down” like if the ship had to mimic a wave. Then the ship just disappeared. Seconds later however the Sheridan started shaking as if it had hit an atmosphere. The hull was under stress cracking loudly almost as if space was no longer empty. The Sheridan sensors started beeping sending countless errors on the screens. They were detecting an impact with a fluid but there was no matter nor energy that composed it. For few seconds they were floating on it, or maybe diving in it. What they knew for sure was that they hit something that was not there, was not visible nor detectable and that disappeared seconds later. Almost like a wave passing by.
All the Leans on board felt that strange vibration leaving behind an unpleasant feeling that they couldn't describe. They just knew that whatever it was they were not suppose to interact with it.
“what the fuck was that? That… that was not a jump… it’s just impossible” asked Morea.
She was not wrong. The NDU couldn’t “jump” at all as it had no jump drive to begin with. Thanks to the gravron elements coming from Weeping Sky, the more modern NDUs were all built with the so called void breaker tunneller drive or VBTD in short. To put it simple instead of contorting the space around, it push it away from the ship generating a tunnel between 2 points. Inside the tunnel there is no rules based space so there is no speed limit. Sort of. The main issues was the fuel consumption that is available only on Weeping sky or in planetary systems beyond it.
Scilla kept her cool as best as she could.
“reading? Do we sustain damages?”
Her question was met with several replies from all the different members of her team.
“Hull intact, no damage detected”
“sublight propulsion is unfazed. Drive engine all green”
“weapons and aiming systems are working. But we are on our own, sensors data is totally corrupted.”
“indeed I have bad news, the scan sensors are fucked. Only photon based sensors are working, the rest is gone. We are trying with a reset but I thing they are gone for good. The wave must have magnetized them…”
“we will repair them once we get home. Keep the route and stay extra vigilant, we can’t afford to be attacked without our sensing system.” replied Scilla. Her tone was fairly calm but deep inside her she was shocked as well.
What the fuck was that? … why do I even care any more?
With a sympathetic face Scilla looked at her ship and slowly moved her had across her command desk.
“don’t worry Shery, she may be faster, but I still prefer you”
Morea intrude in her moment.
“Commander I think we should reconsider our view on Idra. She could have killed us and she damaged us…”
“Morea, no.”
“but…”
“I know what you are thinking, but Idra is a woman of many secrets as her species. I doubt she wanted to damaged the Sheridan. She is not that stupid and at the same time you should know that the moment we lose our value we are dead, not lightly damaged.”
“understood commander”
Morea was not entirely convinced. She felt that something was off, but she was not going to oppose Scilla.
That night all those who slept had nightmares, that strange inhuman vibration that they all felt was stuck in their memories. It disturbed their sleeps but also their thoughts. Trying to remember it was strange as the body rejected to elaborate on such odd sensation. The only one that had no nightmare was Scilla, she on the other hand had a brief vision.
Destruction, agony, fear, death. A tortured undefined being in constant pain and sorrow was screaming at the sky, crying out his soul. Whispers all around looking, staring and examinating the pain, assimilating it and in need for more.
As Scilla woke up from her dream she saw, staring at her from the centre of the room, the abomination that kept trying to connect her brain with Iris’s mind.
Scilla jumped and grabbed the energy mace that Idra gifted her. The Morfian weapon responded to her command.
“Abomination how the fuck did you get in? What the fuck do you want?”
the disgusting creature barely fitting as it was too tall lowered itself.
“I’m… I’m a Phanonma. A Researcher… those who knows me… say Urligar.”
“get closer and you became part of the decoration, did you understand? How the fuck did you get in? Are you even real?”
“Physical barriers pose little resistance to my kind. I yearn for no conflict. Only knowledge, yet if it pleases your mind… by all means keep your weapon ready”
“you have yet to reply to my question!. HOW, THE FUCK, DID YOU, GET IN?!?”
“I phased into your ship. I just connect my space to yours. A local Unipsi controlled collision if you prefer. What I want is your cooperation…”
“I’ll give you nothing. How could I thrust you?”
“I’m asking for no thrust. I kept looking at you and at the Whisper holder. It was hard, they gave me no peace. Yet now that she is away I can even reach into your reality… interesting… maybe…”
The creature started talking to itself. It was definitely not hostile yet Scilla’s primordial instinct kept her from lowering her guard.
“cut your shit monster.”
“my apologise. I saw the dimensional rift. The one that ate Iris. She must have told you right?”
Scilla didn’t flinch. She was not going to give any information to Urligar.
“go on”
“She is growing too fast. She must have consumed a lot of people. You should look into it… you must be sure that she doesn’t lose to the machine consciousness… unless you want all living creatures to end”
“one time you are studying the Whispers, the other you want to stop them? It all sounds like a ton of bullshit. And you know what? I’ll tell her all about this shit. I bet you (don’t want it)”
“NO!” the creature was enrage, or maybe scared.
“THEN SPEAK THE TRUTH!”
Urligar seemed caught in a pinch.
“I am indeed a Whispers researcher. I have looked for millennia into them. A vague trace of old creatures, so powerful that they could bring death just by looking in your direction. I heard stories of them all my life and finally the Whispers, a dim connection that finally found a new host. Their function is still unclear. But my hypothesis is that they are no weapons, they are tools to build something. I must see their creations or at least know if they remember their creators. So they must grow, but never too fast. If Iris loses herself into their consciousness then it’s over. They will destroy and disappear again. I’ll lose my connection, you will lose your lover. So it’s imperative that we cooperate for both our good.”
“no, it’s imperative that I save Iris. But I’ll never let you close to her.”
“I need no closeness, I can watch from afar. Just don’t let her became a machine”
Neither of them knew that Idra was far away from such risk, quite the opposite. She was the one pushing to consume more creatures, to spread pain and misery. Just like their creator.
“What do you mean by consume? Why should she do that and how could I understand that she ate others?”
Scilla was not convinced by the Phanonma yet there is no harm in gaining information.
“Like you consume food to survive, Whispers consumes life. It’s no dependence, they have no need to be fed, yet they eat living beings to study them or so I suppose. I don’t know what Iris has to gain from it. My only supposition is that the Whispers are taking over.”
“how could I know if she is feeding the Whispers?”
“hard to tell. But considering how fast she is evolving I suppose she ate a lot of people or living beings. Maybe in the order of thousands...”
“She is always by my side. I would see if she kills so many creatures”
“her body is, her mind could be elsewhere. My theory suggest that a well developed Whispers holder may have no use of a body. They became Whispers or so I think. It should be possible. Maybe she is also elsewhere or the Whispers are away from her, constantly killing and eating life”
Scilla felt a mix of confusion and fear. What if the creature was telling the truth? Was the Idra she knew just a leftover from the Whispers? The answer was no, yet she didn’t knew and was in for a brutal discovery.
“what are those creatures, the one that made the Whispers?”
“I do not know…”
“are they Morfian? Valurk or something else?”
Urligar smiled at the primitive knowledge showcased by Scilla.
“child, don’t waste words. We are all so far from them. My entire kind is not worth even an atom of them. Morfian and Valurk, barely beyond your species. I convey my message so I’ll take my leave”
Scilla however wanted to know more, if not for her but for Iris.
“wait, do you know of a Leermorf? Do you know if Morfians are still living?”
“fair questions with unfair answers. You are asking for someone else. I can sense it. Yes, the Morfians lives, but looking for them is not wise. You would only waste your life. Focus on what you have at hand. Farewell”
as it appears the creature shifted away disappearing silently in front of Scilla.
All this shit is driving me nut. Should I even trust it? Our objective indeed is similar yet I can’t bring myself to believe that such monster is in good faith.
Poor creature, tormented by doubts. Useless doubts.
With no further delays the Sheridan reached Icar-3 about a week later. As expected Scilla informed Dhalia about the failed mission and the death of several members of the crew. Surprisingly she took it well, after all they were the only scavenging ship that has ever returned over the years. Concluded with Dhalia and leaving the funerals preparation to the Hakavor’s employers, Scilla went home. She arrived an hour after dusk and Wiola was there to welcome her back. Once the house door opened Wiola jumped her for a hug.
“Hi, I’m back”
“welcome home sis… you don’t look so good, something on your mind? And where is our little guest? Is she late” asked Wiola relentlessly.
“some shit happened, I would appreciated if you could let me sit”
“oh, yeah, sorry… is it bad shit with Idra?” asked Wiola winking.
Scilla smiled in response.
“nah, she is good. She is not here because she had to refuel and drop off her cargo”
“make sense”
Scilla sat on the living room couch and Wiola moved beside her and leant on her side. Scilla moved her arm behind her sister head and bent it so she could stroke Wiola’s hair.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
“it seems that you have something on your mind as well” continued Scilla. She wanted to avoid speaking about the deads in order to no make Wiola worry.
“well… you have been away for more months and… Pama is now divorced. She kicked Kalina out about 2 weeks ago. It was not amicable, but at least her hostility speed up the process.”
“how are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. I’m happy, she tormented me… us for so long and she is gone. On the other side she still gave birth to us so…”
“she gave birth to us, and about that’s it. Sometimes blood is not enough to make a family. She left us the day she decided to put her ideology before us.”
“you always know how to cheer me up, even when you are sad and in need of help”
Scilla smirked. Her little sister was insightful, both in good and bad.
“you see, if I’m sad your smile brings me joy. So my best course of action is to make you smile so my sadness will fade away”
“thank, I appreciate it… but I’m not stupid. Pushing all in will not help you at all. So what happened sis?”
Scilla sighed, she didn’t want to talk but she was in no place to lie.
“you are not going to let it slide aren’t you?”
“nope”
“fine. Our last mission was… was a failure. We rolled the dices and we got burned. We tried to be careful, but we can’t do much when a bullet split in half our carriers. One got hit but most survived. The other was hit during a turn, the temporised bullet pierced through the belly of the Ostorna, got to the fuel tank and exploded. If not for Idra there would have been more corpses, I doubt any of those outside the ship would have survived. In the end 27 died. The Hakavor’s are arranging the funerals… it’s not pleasant”
Wiola didn’t know how to reply. The Sheridan had lost several crew mates over the years yet from the day Idra appeared things changed.
“I don’t know what to say…”
“you don’t have to say anything. I just need some time off”
“ok”
Not much later Liwa returned home with dinner for her and Wiola.
“A shit. Hi Scilla. Wiola why didn’t you call me? I could have bought extra food”
“sorry, I forgot” replied Wiola.
Liwa detected the heavy atmosphere.
“well who cares, let’s add up something from the fridge. Scilla do you want a cold drink?”
“why not”
Scilla was too tired and sad to fight Liwa. She was still far from forgiving her, but she could see Liwa’s new attempt to be a better parent.
The group went on with their dinner while chatting and watching the news.
“so… I left the cafe… I should have done it sooner. For now I’m a temporary elementary teacher but I think I could get the position…” was telling Liwa. Her phrase was stopped by the news. The Lean reading it reported of a skirmish between an Esterian unidentified vessel and a private militia inside the Pridian territory. The Esterian technocracy is strangely silent which is causing an increase in tension.
“How stupid could you be to attack an Esterian” said out Wiola.
“do you know when it happened?” asked Scilla.
Did Idra knew? That is why she went away? Did she lie to me?
“it’s on a nearby planet, so about 5 days ago why?” replied Liwa.
“nothing, just curious. Esterians hold grudges for sure, even more if it’s against a human faction”
So she didn’t lie. However I think that they are waiting for her to be back. There is no way in hell that they will forgive a war act against them.
Scilla was not wrong and indeed the Esterian government was already moving to make an example out of the Pridians. In fact they had already voted, now it was only a question of time.
The next day Scilla went to the police station. With her rank she requested to take a look at recent death and with ease she spotted a massive peak. Months before. She stopped an officer and asked more information.
“what’s this death peak? What happened?”
“it’s the NightDemon incident. I’m working on that from the day we discovered it. I think I can show you, as pictures can’t describe what we saw”
“ok, then lead the way officer…??”
“Ania Gorka. Pleasure to meet you Ittira Lis”
They took a patrol car and went to the place of the accident. They arrived at an abandoned warehouse, the same one that Idra assaulted.
“so, this warehouse was illegally converted into a night / strip club. Someone or maybe something found out and went ape shit with the one inside. It won’t be an easy view.”
“I’ve been at war kid. So, what do we know about NightDemon?” said Scilla.
“Frankly? Nothing. What ever the fuck it was it just happened once, left no evidence except the massacre it did and never came back. I want to be honest, most at the station want to just move on and close this case. In the end only sluts and baggers lost their lives. I’m still on it because I believe that the truth is important.”
“well that was something. So are we getting in?”
“sure”
Officer Gorka went in first followed by Scilla. The destruction caused by Idra was evident.
I can see why she tought so bad of this place. If you never saw what war looks like this is hell.
Inside there was nothing left intact. Holes in the walls, deep claw like cuts that penetrate the walls to their core. Old massive blood stains all around. It look like an army of marauder and dinosaurs passed inside the warehouse.
“you won’t mind if I look around?”
“of course not. It’s not like I found anything that could point somewhere in this months”
“fair enough. Doesn’t look like a simple case. How many were killed?”
“about 100 lost their life inside, 4 outside. Among them a newborn”
Was this your doing Idra? Or was it the Whispers will? Fuck I don’t even know if she can cause all this damage I never saw the Whispers outside her body. Do they make claws? Tentacles? Are they a gas? I have no fucking clue, but the timeline coincide with the small period of time we were here.
After more data collection and reflection they left and part ways. The only way to know if Idra was involved was to ask or to see the Whispers in action.
Days passed and even with the funerals Scilla was fairly happy. She was far from accepting Liwa back into her life, yet she could see her pama putting in as much effort as she could to at least make it up to Wiola. She had genuinely changed for good. 9 days later something unexpected hit them all. At 11:33 all electronic communications were suspended. The emergency siren was broadcasted on all channels and radio frequencies. It was the first time since the extermination war. Then a lean inside a set, like a news channel started speaking in a calm and gentle voice, yet below such surface the creature was worried.
“this is an emergency broadcast to all Lean Federation citizens. I’m speaking on our Liin behalf. News of an unknown mortal disease has reached us. For the safety of us all communication, transaction and physical exchange with the Prindian territory are suspended indefinitely. The plague has already killed millions and is not under any control. It breached all form of containment and doomed the breakpoint city where it started. All vessels coming from Pridian territory will be destroyed and cast into the sun. This message will be repeated each hour, don’t put yourself and your families in danger. There are no heroes, only dead fools”
It was a shocking message, but it was surely true. After the message all news channel immediately started to dig out as much information as possible yet none brought clearance on the events. They were in the dark and the full block imposed by the Liin was not going to help them get more data. Being an Ittira and being highly knowledgable in biological weapons, Scilla was immediately called at the Hakavor’s HQ. She was not going to enjoy her birthday that was going to happen in a few days.
As predictable Dhalia alongside few others knew more than what was being broadcasted. However even with more data, what was happening in the Pridian territory was unheard. It was clearly a biological weapon, a weapon so powerful to go beyond the bioweapon that they acquired via the Esterians to win the war. It spread super fast, uncontainable and with almost absolute mortality rate. It was probably an airborne fully synthetic virus, yet this one hit differently. They had few satellite images from the breakpoint, they showed a death zone around the city. Not even the plants were spared by the virus, or whatever it was.
Having no power they speculated and waited as Liin Csuicha had send message of her visit to discuss the situation. In addition Idra’s arrival was suppose to coincide with the Liin’s one, which was also Scilla’s birthday. So they hoped to get some help. They suspected it was of Esterian origin, yet they believed it was sold to someone else that used it.
5 days later and the Liin arrived. They immediately started their meeting, from dawn to dusk when the spaceport initiated an urgent call to the Hakavor’s HQ. The call was streamed inside the conference room that they were using so all could see and speak.
“Dhalia Hakavor speaking. State the emergency, don’t waste our Liin’s time” immediately started Dhalia. On the other side a woman, not Mira, proceeded to convey vital information.
“An Esterinan fleet is requesting…”
The communication cut for a moment. A new voice, this one familiar, intrude.
“it is not a request. It’s an ultimatum. I’m captain Vanni Spini ETU Xern 5486. Under the Esterian Tech-Union orders Scilla Lis, commander of the L.F. Sheridan must relocate herself at the landing zone. Any form of intrusion will be met with violence”
he was clearly hostile, way more than the first time they met.
“if it’s me that you want so be it. But I’ll not tolerate violence against anybody around me” replied Scilla. She was the one with most experience when dealing with Esterians and being close to Idra allowed her to impose.
The man laugh for a brief moment. It was a cold and calculated laugh.
“how bold. We will not kill others on sight unless they pose a treat, can’t promise anything else.”
“fair enough, I’ll accept that”
Vanni disconnected and the spaceport operator was allowed back.
“Finally. The Esterian fleet is advancing what do we do?” asked the woman. She clearly agitated by whatever they were seeing..
“how many are there to be called a fleet?” asked Scilla.
“there are 5 ships. One is long and classified as Xern. The others 4 are not known, scans have a hard time to detecting them”
“warships” said Liin Csuicha.
“what? Why? We did nothing” exclaimed Dhalia.
Scilla connected the dots.
“the battle, the one in Pridian territory. The ships are for safety, now what we need to understand is what do they want from me”
“not us?” said Dhalia. “I mean, I know they asked for you but…”
“not us. For all the time spent with Idra I can tell that they view rank as something that you are never born with. Your achievements increases your value. In their eyes I’m the Lean with the higher value, or so said Idra.”
Following Vanni’s orders Scilla walked out of the main building and moved to the closest landing zone. She of course was not alone. With her Dhalia, several guards and Liin Csuicha with her guards.
The Esterian fleet entered the atmosphere with a loud bang. Only 3 were heard. The menacing fleet approached the landing zone. The Xern was in the middle of a square formation.
“those are some high tech shit” said Scilla.
The 4 warships were around 40 meters long and 10 wide. Their shape was totally smooth and dark. The long lines were interrupted by massive cannons popping out of the hull. They had no intention to conceal their hostility nor to tolerate any violence against them. At hypersonic speed the first 2 warships passed just 100m above their heads. Their engines were silent for a spaceship and while passing they hit them with a blue laser scan for few milliseconds. Then came the Xern. It lowered itself but didn’t land. It stood stationary about 2 meters above ground. The other 2 warships were about 20 meters above circling around and pointing their weapons at any movement.
“Hey you don’t even land to say hello to an old friend?” yelled Scilla at the Xern.
She received a reply from Vanni.
“I’m not here for a friendly talk. I’m just delivering a cargo. You are the only one authorised to advance forward. Anything else who crosses the red line will be terminated”
The Xern projected a square around itself. It was fairly big, about double the spaceship. Distorted sounds came from above as the 2 other spaceship that were hovering pointed their cannons and turrets. Scilla recognise those as Hypera weapon systems.
As Scilla walked forward the Xern cargo bay opened and dropped a mechanical parallelepiped with legs. The machine turned on and moved to Scilla.
“is this what I should receive?”
a new scan passed Scilla’s face and the legged create revealed a screen with sensors all around.
“biometrical reading required. Provide fingerprints, retinal scan and DNA sample. Place your right hand on display. Stare into camera.”
Scilla followed the instructions and as she place the hand on the display the machine stung her.
“that’s the DNA sample? How did you even get all of those?”
“correct. All data has been encrypted and provided by Idra 511 Weeping Sky. Identity confirmed. You are allowed to retrieve your package”
Exactly as it dropped the machine retired its legs and opened revealing a cylindrical container. The middle part was made of glass and Scilla could see a strange multicoloured crystal levitating inside.
“what the fuck is this thing?” She asked, the machine however didn’t reply. Instead once free of its cargo it turned back on its legs and rotate to face and empty spot.
“pre-recorded transmission”
A holographic projection of Idra appeared. It was orientated to face Scilla.
“Hi Scil. Well I know today is your birthday. Yeah I… I wanted to get back on time… hehe (nervous laugh) well shit didn’t go as planned so I sent you the gift. Friends give gifts to friends that gets older. I’m not sure about what to gift. I thought of a magnetonade. You know one of mine magnetic grenades but they are kinda cheap. Anyway I’m getting out of topic. That thing in the containment cylinder is a Narvarno Tear suspended in liquid. Just take it out, wash it and flash some light at the bottom. Anyway happy birthday and seeya in… don’t know 5 more days I guess. I’m gonna bring you a neckless made out of human teeth or maybe ears… no bones. Bones are better. Bye!”
More confused than before Scilla had no time to elaborate that the delivery robot was already back into the Xern and the Esterian fleet was getting away. Once free to move Scilla was joined by the rest that was forced out.
“all this commotion to deliver a gift? Does it explode? Is it dangerous” asked Dhalia.
“that’s interesting. She is a psycho that sends gifts to her friend. Also she has enough power to send a fleet just for it. Are you not telling us something?” said Serafia.
They notice only after that Scilla was smiling.
“shut it. You two are envious that she sent a gift to me and not you” replied Scilla jokingly.
“what the fuck this is not the time to crack jokes. That could be a bomb!” continued Dhalia.
“nah it’s the perfect time for joke. It’s not a bomb. I don’t know what it is exactly but if it was a bomb she would have told me. Plus she remembered my birthday, while my oldest friends didn’t”
“well shit we are in the middle of a possible interplanetary crisis…” was Dhalia reply.
“Ah Ah Ah, don’t try! She is fucking hell knows where but she still managed”
“Sorry. I forgot. I had to put all my citizen first” said Serafia.
“Yeah no problem I would have done the same. Honesty is what matters, Dhal you should learn from her”
“what the fuck!…”
Scilla kept joking for a while. It was the best way to reduce the stress that they all had accumulate overtime.
“so now that I said enough shit. How about we all go home and rest? We tried to understand what the fuck is happening all day and we won’t get any results without sleep”
“I agree. Let’s meet up again tomorrow, and I want to know what that crystal is” said Serafia while Dhalia just nodded.
“sure, but about the crystal it will depend. Maybe it’s too personal, you know it’s my gift”
“wait, your mission did you...”started Dhalia.
“no, I’m joking with you. See you are too tired, get some sleep.”