Birds chirped among the damp branches above. The sun was just beginning to rise, as the crew tore down camp. Sterin stood in the center of the storm of activity, gazing up at the clear sky. High above them, small flashes were showing between the faint stars. She had received no word from Umar, or Miken. But if there where flashes above them, she knew they were still fighting. She just hoped the fleet could just hold on long enough for the landing party to get the artifact.
Sterin cracked her neck, then her knuckles as Malcom groggily walked up next to her.
“Sleep well?” Sterin asked softly.
“Horribly. Could barely sleep soaked, and all those tree roots don’t help,” Malcom sighed.
“Certainly, ain’t a soldier are ya?” Sterin giggled.
“Good morning one and all!” a light voice called behind them.
Sage was stretching their four arms, a wide grin on their grey face as their four oval eyes shined with optimism.
“Somebody seemed to have slept well,” Sterin laughed.
“Simply marvelous Captain, best sleep I have gotten in ages! Oh, how I have missed soil and trees,” Sage grinned as they walked up to the captain and professor.
“I always forget the Sema live on habitation rings,” Sterin rolled her eyes.
“Habitation rings?” Malcom arched an eyebrow.
“Why yes, in order to preserve our environment, we moved ninety nine percent of our population undo rings orbiting our planet. Took us a good few hundred years, and there where most certainly growing pains, but our planet now flourishes! I myself have visited the surface twice, and might I say, does this planet remind me of home,” Sage smiled.
“Hmmph. If only we did that,” Malcom sighed.
“Human existence is only a few dozen thousand years old. That’s merely a blink of an eye in most other civilizations histories. There is still time to save your dying world,” Sage said firmly.
“That would require them to play nice with the other colonies in their solar system,” Sterin winked.
“Ah. Human proclivity for violence. A tale as old as the stars. Well, let us hope this endeavor is successful then young human! This may very well be the key to your people’s future!” Sage nodded.
“If it falls into the right hands,” Malcom said darkly, eyeing Sterin.
She brushed his dark look off as she turned, watching the Spree gather.
“Okay. Give me a squad for security, the rest of ya, go secure a foothold in the temple!” Sterin boomed.
“ZU WAH!” the Spree jumped up and down, scattering into the tree line.
A lone Spree ran up to them as the landing party got into formation, preparing to leave the bivouac.
“What is it little one?” Sage asked happily.
The grin momentarily melted from the Spree’s face as it eyed the little hooded professor, but soon returned as it looked up at Sterin.
“Iba choke! Meek meek! Rorfaben!” the Spree said giddily.
“They have assembled rafts?” Malcom arched an eyebrow.
Both Sterin and the Spree whipped their heads, looking at the human. The Spree growled.
“A human has finally managed to crack Spree? Well done friend!” Sage chuckled.
“We’re by a river, they were cutting down trees and tearing apart vines all night,” Malcom shrugged.
“Lucky guess,” Sterin grumbled.
It took everything in her not to slap the smug little turd. She brushed it off, nodding to the Spree, who stunk of the yearn to tear out the Professor’s Throat. They followed as the very angry Spree lead the way, the party not far behind.
The Spree scouts where climbing trees and running down the riverbank, as a few remained behind to man the steering contraptions of the rafts. They were wide platforms of bark and vegetation, the rudders comprised of branches fitted with animal skins to guide the crude yet efficient watercraft.
They could have fashioned something ten times better over night, but they had to maintain the illusion of their barbarity in front of Malcom and Sage. The Laydren and human pirates had always suspected the Spree were far more intelligent than they appeared, but merely shrugged it off. The battle and booze were enough for them, there was no need to psychologically examine the four foot tall brightly collard lizard chimps who ate their enemies. Not to mention all the terrible, and completely random accidents people had when they asked too many questions about the Spree while aboard the Black Fleet.
Captain Sterin confidently walked unto the lead raft, and giggled to herself, as Malcom tried to get on, but slipped and fell into the murky water. The Spree chattered happily, but where then swiftly silenced by Sterin’s glare. Sage, with a smile on their face, picked the far larger human out of the water with one of their long arms as if Malcom weighed nothing.
Sage sat contently behind Sterin as Malcom gasped and coughed. The captain looked back and watched as the party boarded the nine other craft. Once all where situated, she signaled forward. The boatswain pushed their rudders, and the rafts left the bank. Cruising along with the current as the Scouts followed at pace on the riverbank.
Far beyond them, Sterin could see the ever-looming mountain growing. To be completely honest it was more a very steep and high hill compared to some of the mountains she had seen. But it commanded the surrounding terrain for miles upon miles, so mountain it was.
The river wound its way, the current quickening as they began entering a small downgrade. Over the ages, the river had cut a lush lowland before the mountain. This provided the party with the perfect route forward, circumventing the dense jungle. Hour’s past, and it was midday before they finally arrived at the foot of the mountain.
As the rafts landed, the scouts danced up and down, screeching in their gibberish. Sterin proudly walked effortlessly unto shore. Her crew followed, splashing and thundering as they carried the weapons and equipment unto shore.
As the crew gathered themselves, Sterin looked upwards, a sense of deep dread seeping into her mind. Before them, a deep gash into the mountain side led into a cavern system. The gaping open crack in the mountainside was ominous, it’s steep incline seeming to whisper and tear at her curiosity. Sterin shrugged it off, turning to her crew.
All were eager, each crewman dedicated to their Captain. Malcom and Sage where also smiling, as they held weapons. A distant murmur called from the back of her mind, as Sterin felt the gentle call of Umar.
“Hurry child. We do not have long up here,” Umar whispered.
“How long can you hold?” Sterin asked back, looking at the sky.
“Long enough Star Listener,” Umar murmured back.
“All right everyone! We’ve lost too much, fought too hard to quit now! Follow me!” Sterin bellowed.
Sterin swiveled on the heels of her boots and stomped towards the massive cave entrance. As she moved forward, she pulled her brightly ornate helmet unto her head, activating her energy. Stars above knew what awaited them, better she went first.
The crew followed behind, carrying weapons and ammo. As they entered the cave, the crew ignited balls of fire in their hands, or fashioned torches. Sterin lead the way, stepping over the small stream of water that washed over the rocks of the floor. Her bright white energy illuminating the way as they travelled deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mountain.
As they traveled deeper, the cave narrowed and shrunk, winding left and right, creating a mind-bending maze of routes as they went onward. Sterin’s heartbeat quickly, as she scanned ahead, a drawn sword in her right hand, a ball of bright white light in her left. They passed several large carvings in the walls, columns of deeply etched texts depicting events of the great war.
The runes and hieroglyphs where in ancient Laydren, which she could read. Malcom would periodically stop and try to read it, but Sage pushed him onward. As the human protested, Sterin looked back at him.
“These are the Sorrows. They are the accounts of the losses my people suffered during the great war. Better to leave them be, Professor,” Sterin sighed.
“Should we not analyze these? Perhaps there are cluses within the text?” Malcom explained with his hands and wide eyes.
“We do not have weeks nor even days,” Sage sighed, their oval eyes studying the texts.
“Let’s go,” Sterin head nodded.
Nothing on the walls would help them. The lamentation carved into the stone was a warning if nothing else. As they walked on, Sterin recognized the distinctive figure of House Ezreharn, as they lay waste to cities within the stone. Flashes and sounds of those battles crept into her mind as Sterin grimaced.
They continued onward, the cave getting more and more cramped. As they pushed deeper and deeper, long buried memories came back to Sterin of her first life. This was why she refused to stop. Had she wished, she could have easily spent a day educating the scientists on what the carvings depicted. She remembered the battles these ancient walls showed.
The cities that burned, the mountains that shook, the planets that cracked and burst, the stars that were erased from the sky. Distant screams and explosions drifted back to her mind as she shut her eyes, pressing her palm against her head. The trillions that had lost their lives cried out, clawing at her conscious.
“Are you all right, Captain?” a voice pierced the wall of pain and sorrow.
Sterin shook her head and realized tears where streaming down her face underneath her helmet. She softly ignited her energy underneath the helmet, evaporating the tears. She shook her head.
“I’m fine,” she grumbled.
She turned, and saw Malcom’s hazel eyes studying her, his jawline and face outlined by the dancing torch light. She could smell his compassion, he actually cared about her. She brushed it off, better not to indulge in such weak emotions.
She pushed onward, going deeper into the cave. After what seemed like hours, they emerged unto a flat level ground overlooking a wide chasm. Here they stopped and gazed in wonder. Far beyond them, stood a majestic obsidian temple. It was shaped similarly to a pyramid, but with towers and windows. There were six columns at the base of the temple, each enshrined with circling threads of runes that glowed orange.
Sterin steadied herself, as thoughts from Barouge came back to her. They would not suffer the same fate. They would be victorious this day. She stomped forward, wings and energy deployed. Ahead, she noticed a small bridge carved out of stone lead across the chasm. She instructed her crew to cross it, as she leapt into the air.
The lead human party stormed forward, the Spree behind. The Laydren officers floated in the air above their subordinates, alongside the captain. Malcom and Sage followed in the rear. As Sterin flew over the chasm, her officer on her flanks, she studied the front of the temple. The six columns where deeply etched with Laydren runes, the single door wide open and doorless, darkness within. The stone steps that lead up the six columns were covered in moss, and vines. As they neared, she noticed the runes began to glow far more brightly. A low thrum was sounding. Sterin halted in midair, as several ten-foot-tall stone giants walked out of the great door of the temple.
“Star Listener,” a guttural voice called.
Sterin slammed into the ground across the bridge, as her crew rallied around her. She looked up, studying the biggest giant. Each statue was carved in the likeness of the Gods the Laydren had worshipped before discovering the Great Truth. The largest, was cast in the image of Engarleth, the ancient warrior god of war. It was a stone statue, come to life, as energy animated the stone. It’s a body carved into the shape of intricate armor, its face mask helmet looking down unto them with glowing green eyes, a twin blades sword easily eight weight in total length in their hands.
“Why have you come here, disgraced one?” the Sentinel’s voice boomed from its emotionless face.
“I have come to retrieve that which was lain here. Your duty is complete, you are no longer needed,” Sterin barked.
“We answer to the Star House Ezreharn, to Anukai, highest and greatest of the Star Listeners. You do not follow their ways, you are not welcome here, excommunicated one. Go back from whence you came,” the lead sentinel cast in Engarleth’s image barked.
“They don’t sound friendly,” Malcom murmured.
“They seem very displeased,” Sage nodded.
“I’m not leaving without the relic my mother left here,” Sterin shouted.
“You dare interfere in your better’s work? While bringing scum, and barbarians unto our sacred soil?” a female voice shrilled from a sentinel who had been carved into the likeness of the goddess of wisdoms image. Amonule, the first Star Listener, and technically Sterin’s greatest grand Mother.
“They are far better people then those who forged you,” Sterin snarled.
“Leave, or be slaughtered young one,” the head sentinel snarled.
“No,” Sterin growled.
“We have no choice then. Die, exiled one,” the lead Sentinel barked.
The Sentinels brandished their weapons, their stony blades ignited with green and orange fire. Sterin ignited both of her swords, lightening dancing from her body.
“Protect the non-light bearers! Attack!” Sterin roared.
The Laydren officers ignited their powers and stormed forward. The humans lay down machine guns, rockets and began opening fire. The Spree shamans twirled their staffs, fire and smoke erupted from their forms, as the Spree stormed forward. Sage leapt high above them all, their body vanishing as a long cloak of velvet red emerged, lightning and smoke emanating from their faceless cloaked body.
Sterin crashed into the lead sentinel, both warriors’ blades clashing against one another as fire and sparks erupted. The far larger stone warrior had the advantage, but Sterin was an underdog. She relished an uneven fight. As the twirling twin blade of fire and stone thundering down on her head, she dodged effortlessly. She swiped at a stone leg, taking a large chunk out of it. The sentinel responded by back handing her, cracking her helmet, and sending Sterin sprawling through the air.
As Sterin soared midair, she saw one of the sentinels go down, its entire body covered in Spree as they hacked and clawed away. Several Spree had been ripped apart. One was still alive, the lower half of their body gone as they pulled themselves forward along the ground with their hands and arms, their gnashing teeth frothing as their eyes where wide open pools of rage.
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Sterin hit the ground with a bone chilling crunch. Her vision spiraled and whirled as she shook her head, her ringing ears screaming. She looked up, and saw another sentinel was standing above her, its knee raised high, it’s armored boot about to stomp down unto her head. As the booted stone foot came crashing down, Sage’s cloak formed wrapped itself around the sentinel. The velvet and white cloak compressed and constricted like a snake, grinding the stone to ash as it screamed. The still animated statue fell backwards, the cloak constricting and cracking the stone within as energy melted the dying sentinel.
She turned and witnessed several Laydren officers charging the lead sentinel. It twirled the twin blades and impaled a flying Laydren. The statue effortlessly spun the weapon, the limp body of the dead officer soaring through the air, and splatting into one of the temple columns with a bright red mark as the limp and broken body slid to the ground.
Sterin snarled and roared, reaching her full form as she sprung from her spot, roaring through the air, and tackling the lead sentinel. The Sentinel was pushed back a few feet, as it’s comrades were cut down by the crew. The leader cocked back it’s stony arm, and sent it hurtling into Sterin’s side, cracking her armor and ribcage. She coughed blood and vomit inside her helmet, her holographic display flickering and dying as the fluids seeped into the controls.
Her body screamed as she gritted her teeth, squeezing with all her might around the sentinels torose. BOOM! The air left her body as Sterin was sent flying through the air. In the flickering image her helmet set, she saw the sentinel had needed her in the stomach.
Sterin’s journey through the air ended with her collapsing on the ground, the picture from inside her helmet gone as her blood and vomit had fried the circuits within. Slowly, with shaking hands, Sterin pulled the crushed helmet off, and gazed upward.
Sage had wrapped their cloak form around the head of the sentinel leader, as the crew focused fire on the last remaining protector of the temple. The captain tried to push herself off the ground, but collapsed again, as agony and despair overtook her. She looked up and saw the Sentinel rip Sage off its stony face.
The Sentinel leader grabbed both ends of the cloak and pulled it apart. Sage’s physical form fell out of the massive velvet and white cloak, their arms, and legs whirling as they fell onto the ground. The Sentinel reared up its leg and sent it crashing down unto the small grey body, crushing it entirely.
Sage’s body exploded like a ketchup packet underneath a fist as blood, entrails, and viscera was sent flying everywhere.
Sterin gritted her teeth, and slowly stood up, leaning forward.
“You mother fucker,” Sterin gasped.
The Sentinel turned its head, gazing down at her as the crew backed off.
In that moment of desperation, Sterin did something she had never done before. All her life, she had been taught the way of the Star Listeners. She had seen the destruction wrought by her kind. But she had never truly used the power such a title came with. Here and now, she would call upon, and listen the voices of the stars. She began chanting in ancient Laydren, her eyes rolling into the back of her head. She floated upwards in midair, as her vision went blank.
She was hovering in the void of nothing. No stars, or plane of existence, as she floated.
“I call upon you, wise and great ancestors. Give me strength, lend me sight of the stars. Let my blade burn with the fury of our brightest sun, Andros. Give me courage, give me resolve, help me,” Sterin pleaded.
There was nothing. She heaved in despair. Had they abandoned her, just as her family had? Was she doomed to die alone, crushed beneath the boot of the sentinels? Would the Axium succeed, and she would once again be forced to watch as the galaxy burned? As she spiraled into agonizing loss, she saw a dim glow. Slowly, the darkness was replaced by light, as millions of faceless cloaks in white approached, surrounding her. Their million voices singing and overlapping as one.
“A Star Whisper once again askes for aide,” a thousand voices thundered.
“I am just a child of the one. I am not worthy of such a title,” Sterin called.
“That is for us to decide, daughter,” they boomed back.
“I ask for the strength to save our people, and help the humans,” Sterin called.
“It is courageous of you to summon us. Or perhaps quite foolish. Your family has called upon us hundreds of times, yet we have not answered, nor given aide. What makes you think you are worthy of our gift?” the voices called.
“Because I have seen the terror and despair our people have wrought! I know our houses for what they truly are! Worthless, fat, and old people who would rather lounge in luxury, then help those we were created to shepherd. Our Empire is nothing more than a rotted house, as we whore ourselves out to the Great Masters you all once stove to liberate yourself from! I ask for the boon of your strength, so that we can change the course fate has taken,” Sterin called.
“Your mother once asked the same thing. We granted her our strength, and yet now she serves the Great Masters. Why would you act any differently?” the voices whispered.
“I am not my mother. I am the savior of Torvac, Captain of the Black Fleet, exile of the Laydren Empire. I rebuke their ways, and call for a return to the old ones, to your first and true cause,” Sterin shouted.
“A war approaches, young one. One that shall far overshadow the first great struggle. We see your heart, and know your words are true. But you know not what of what it is you seek. We shall aide you, and so you will return their prize to the humans. But doing so shall set all living upon the path that leads to fire, fury, and death. Are you prepared to face the return of the Celestial Father, young Star Listener?” the voices asked.
“I will do everything necessary to win this war!” Sterin called.
“Then it is set and agreed upon. Take our blessing, recover that which has been lost. But know this, when the Celestial Father enters your domain, and you gaze upon his true and final form, it only be then you truly understand what he is. As you weep and lament what it is you have done, the lives you have sacrificed, you will have no choice, but to follow the will of the Red Star. It will only be then, that you will truly understand what it is you have done, in exchange for the power to defeat the Great Masters,” the voices shrilled.
Sterin understood. She had to give the relic to Zion. No matter what pettiness came from it, even if the Zion humans used this gift to destroy those from Earth. If it meant victory over Alpha Centurion, then she was prepared for the blood price that would be cut from the flesh of billions.
“I know what will come to pass. I accept all responsibility, so that the future may be free,” Sterin whispered, the feeling of a mountain on her chest.
“Go forth and bring about the destruction of the Great Masters then, child. We pray you succeed, a galaxy’s past of souls gaze upon you, and pray for you to succeed, where your linage has failed. Do not trust those who call for Alpha Centurions entrance into our realm. They do not understand what, or whom he is. It is his lords who are the true foe,” the voices called.
She understood this with every fiber in her being. Alpha Centurion was a general, a lord of hosts, he served those who orchestrated the cycle of organic suffering. To kill him was step one, to truly free all peoples, would require weapons like the temples gift, to truly free one and all.
“I am ready,” Sterin whispered.
Her vision blackened, as she sailed through nothingness. A bright light appeared, and she saw her body racing towards her. Sterin’s consciousness entered her body, and a bright flash blinded all. Sterin roared, her physical body disappeared, as her form grew far behind the height of the Sentinel. All gazed upward, as a glowing white giant formed, two heads, four arms, giant wings that extended thirty feet in either direction. In their hands, the giant held a glazing white battle axe. Their eyes were comprised of molten fire balls, the long thick hair twenty feet long and glowing orange.
The armor of the Star Listener was encased and magnified around the giant, as all but the sentinel knelt. The giant looked down, gazing upon the sentinel.
“I am Star Listener , Guardian, and Steriss of house Anukai. The ancestors have blessed me, and now you will pay for the innocent blood you have spilt,” the giant thundered.
“Death to the false celestial one!” the sentinel boomed, twirling its blade.
The Sentinel and Sterin charged against one another. Sterin shot fire from her two mouths, as the Sentinel stabbed through the fire, cutting a piece from the armor. Sterin retaliated by swinging around the axe, and brining it down upon the sentinel, cutting it from the left shoulder blade to the femur. The Sentinel collapsed, cut in two from the top down.
Sterin sighed, looking around as all but Malcom knelt. She gazed upon him, his pale face sweating and shaking. She slowly walked over and knelt.
“Are you really in there?” Malcom stammered.
Sterin in her Star Listener form smiled.
“Welcome to the true mysteries of the universe, Professor Malcom. Come, everyone, let us retrieve the human boon!” Sterin roared.
The remaining crew cheered and charged into the temple. As Sterin gazed upon the ground, she noticed Sage’s mangled body underneath the cloak. Sterin looked down as Malcom, who was also looking at the body.
“Shouldn’t we bury them?” Malcom murmured.
Without saying a word, Sterin walked over, and billowed out two plumes of fire, incinerating the Sema’s corpse. Malcom shrieked, backing away as Sterin turned her heads.
“It is not a proper funeral, but at least their body will not remain here,” Sterin nodded.
Malcom shook his head and followed as Sterin marched into the massive temple doorway. The air was stale, as dust and darkness overtook them. There were dozens of rooms on each level, each subsequent room richer than the first. Each room had mountains of scientific equipment, archives, armoires, cash stores.
Sterin dissipated her form so she could maneuver through the regular sized doorways. They emerged out into the stairs that lead down into the subsequent levels of the temple. The narrow stone steps wound around, down a large hundreds of feet wide open area. Each level had been carved into the walls from the stairs, creating a honeycomb like structure. Like the eye of a hurricane, the central part of the temple underground was empty and massive. Long lines of torches circling around the stairs, providing a downward thread towards the brightly lit bottom floor, hundreds of feet below.
Sterin reentered the Star Form and jumped into the open air. She circled downward, checking each floor slowly as she descended. The crew walked down the long circular stair well, creating a long snaking line of torches descending into the dark open temple.
The captain, having discovered no threats, landed on the bottom floor. Here the floor was rich and covered in fauna, with glowing flowers and mushrooms. Waterfalls fell from the sides of the walls. Sterin looked around, marveling at the organic wonderland she now found herself in.
She drew her cutlass, pulling out her pistol, and snuck forward. As she moved, her mind felt the presence of something, or someone, whom she had never felt before. Trepidation rose, as her mind tingled. Sterin noticed a fly seemed to stop, its body stuck as Sterin peered upward. Everyone seemed to be stuck in place. Panic began to rise as she realized time had stopped, seeing the Spree locked in place, Malcom worriedly behind them. Her breath quickened as she scanned around, trying to figure out what was going on.
“Forgive the intrusion, but our creator would like a word,” Umar whispered.
Umar had been created by the Great Masters, as Sterin trembled in fear. This was exactly what she had gotten for trusting a hive mind! Umar wanted this; you could never trust something made by the Celestials!
“Hello,” a sweet voice chimed.
“AGH!” Sterin yelped as she jumped upward.
She backed away as a woman emerged from the glowing tree vines. She had green skin, purple horns, her golden and red eyes happily eyeing the Laydren, as her hands were woven together. Her feet and hands were interlaced with magnificent jewelry.
“Do not be frightened,” the woman said kindly, holding her hands up.
Sterin pointed her pistol at the woman’s face.
“Who are you?” Sterin gasped.
“A projection, nothing more silly,” the woman grinned happily.
Sterin fired off a round, and sure enough the bullet went through the woman.
“What is this?” Sterin spat.
The woman smiled, once again folding her hands together.
“My children informed me, that mortals where collaborating to bring my brother unto your physical plane. So naturally, I had to come see for myself, and I must say, I am quite impressed niece,” the woman smiled.
“Gharu,” Sterin seethed.
“Steriness,” Gharu nodded.
“If you can just pop on down here, from your high-high horse, why can’t he?” Sterin arched an eyebrow.
“Oh child, I remember the days Star Listeners would dance in my gardens and listen to the tales of Alpha Centurion. Why do you not listen to his tales there? I do miss my Nieces and Nephews coming to visit, as your mother did. I suppose, this is what happens when the guiding hand is too rough upon the pet,” Gharu sighed.
“Trillions died,” Sterin growled.
“We were trying to guide you!” Gharu huffed.
“You know, I always wondered why I never saw you on the front lines. Your family did an excellent job of roughing us up, where were you?” Sterin snarled.
“Not all of us condoned such despicable measures,” Gharu glared.
“So what? Come to gloat? To keep me trapped in here so I never get the humans their cache?” Sterin stabbed.
“Oh, sweet thing, not at all. I am here to thank you,” Gharu smiled.
“Thank, me?” Sterin asked very slowly.
“Mhm,” Gharu grinned.
“Why? The fuck? Would you, thank me?” Sterin pronounced slowly.
“Because I miss him,” Gharu said distantly, looking into the dim darkness. Sterin followed the Great Mistress’s line of sight. Across the chamber, a large and vague structure propped out of the ground.
Sterin slowly flicked her wrist, sending a ball of energy towards what was now obvious as a massive coffin. It was twenty feet long, majestically carved. On the side, was inscribed a name written in a human language long forgotten.
“Aryus,” Sterin read slowly.
Captain Sterin turned her head back to the Celestial Projection.
“And the human King smote Bastapowls legions, burying them within the forest. Shrieks and calls did sound, but none came to the aide of great Bastapowl, deep in the forest of humans and more,” Sterin recited slowly.
Gharu slowly turned her head back to Sterin, a twinkle in her sad eyes.
“You helped the humans fight your kin,” Sterin whispered with wide open eyes.
“He walks among them again, I have seen it,” Gharu said softly.
“Nameless?” Sterin arched an eyebrow.
“His soul is the same as Aryus, Obagen, and Darg. The three humans who were able to challenge my family’s house. With each war that was fought, my brother never stood foot on your plane of existence. Despite our failures and defeats, he never once left his hold,” Gharu nodded.
“Why?” Sterin asked slowly.
“I do not know. None of us can enter his realm back home. Its borders are sealed, guarded by his warriors. I fear that he is not on our plane. I believe that three times his children where smote, and he was not truly with us to stop it,” Gharu said sincerely.
“But he fights for your people, he commands the armies that were sent to kill us. Why would he care about what happens to us?” Sterin sneered.
“If you truly believe that, you know nothing.”
“Stop speaking in riddles. Tell me the truth, why are you here?!” Sterin shouted.
Gharu stiffened as she grimaced.
“I came here in good faith, to praise you. But now I can see the bitterness of mortals still poisons our blood ties. Very well, I shall only return when Alpha Centurion steps foot among you. When the white wing cleanses your cities, and the black wing tears worlds asunder, then you shall be truly happy I have returned to aide you,” Gharu snarled.
The celestial disappeared as Sterin emptied her magazine into the dimming light.
“We don’t need you! We never did! Go fuck some black holes or whatever it is you weirdos do!” Sterin screamed into the darkness.
“Who are you yelling at?” a male voice croaked.
Sterin twirled around, to see a wide-eyed Malcom.
“No one don’t worry about it,” Sterin snapped.
“Not losing your mind are ya?” Malcom grinned.
How dare she praise Sterin? Who did Gharu think she was? The last time Sterin had seen Gharu’s kind, they had burned cities, and leveled solar systems. Why this olive branch? Why the praise? She had created the Umar and was instrumental in the Great Master’s plans. So why come here, and praise Sterin? Why did she hold such affection for a human?
Pushing these questions from her mind, Sterin snarled and moved alongside Malcom. The two walked forward towards the sarcophagus. Sterin rolled her eyes as she strutted forward. They reached the coffin, and Malcom knelt, studying the silver carvings.
“This must be tens of thousands of years old! The great pharaohs could only dream of such procedures!” Malcom marveled.
“Who do you think taught them it?” Sterin chortled.
Malcom wrenched his head upwards with wide eyes as sweat ran down his forehead. Sterin huffed and pressed her hands on the top of the Sarcophagus. She pushed, grunting, and Malcom joined in. As they struggled, clawing sounds rose behind them. The Spree bolted forward, and climbed unto the coffin, pushing, and yanking as hard as they could.
The crew managed to get the top of the coffin off, and all looked inside. A human skeleton rested in a great suite of armor. Just as advanced as Sterin’s. And in its hand was an obsidian container. She reached out to grab the canister, but Malcom snatched it. He pulled away from the coffin as the entire crew unsheathed their weapons, glaring at him.
“I-I made a deal with the captain!” Malcom blustered.
All eyes turned to her.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Sterin spat.
“You said if Mai died, I’d get to keep the canister and give it to my people!” Malcom nodded vigorously.
“Yeah, but you didn’t-look this is so much more important than just your Earth, okay?!” Sterin screeched.
“You said you would help us!” Malcom roared.
The Professor’s eyes where wide, his face pale, as he slowly backed away clutching the obsidian cannister with both white knuckled hands.
“I said I’d get you an audience with my people!” Sterin shrieked.
“So far, we have encountered lizard chimpanzees, zombies, mutants, gods, demigods, and Christ knows what else! Why on Earth would I let you give this to Zion?!” Malcom shouted.
“Because this is more important than one planet,” Sterin sneered, holding her hand out.
“No. No! You don’t get to decide that! My people deserve to live, just as much as those Martian savages!” Malcom screamed, spit flying from his mouth, eyes glossed over.
“Listen to me, you’ve been through a lot, just put the canister down, and we will get you home,” Sterin held her hands up.
Malcom shook his head vigorously, his mouth wordlessly speaking as he twitched. His voice cracked as he finally brought out the words.
“Stay away from me! You evil fucking bitch!” Malcom stammered, slowly moving backward.
“Don’t make me do this,” Sterin rolled her eyes.
“Stay back!” Malcom screamed.
The terrified scientist sprinted away, canister in hand as he ran back up the stairs.
“How are you even gonna get off planet?!” Sterin shouted through her cupped hands.
The Spree all looked up at her as the human and Laydren crew grinned.
“Eat?” one of the Spree murmured.
“Try not to hurt him,” Sterin massaged the bridge of her nose.
“Beat up! Break bones!” the Spree cheered.
“Sure!” Sterin waved her arms exasperated.
“Zu Wah!” the Spree roared.
The Spree all rushed out of the room, back up the stairs. Sterin slowly followed, pulling her headset out of her bag.
“Sterin to the Exelon, Status?” Sterin murmured as she looked up.
“Exelon here, a have you retrieved the package?” Miken asked concerned.
“Yeah, do me a favor and bomb the jungle around the temple entrance. I’m not walking back to the LZ from here, just have the shuttles land in the burnt ground,” Sterin sighed.
“You got it sister,” Miken said.
Sterin looked up, and saw Malcom was pointing his rifle at the Spree a few feet back down the steps. Far, far above Sterin. The man must have lost his mind, as she could see him shaking all the way up near the third floor.
“Yo! Fucker! Don’t shoot them!” Sterin called.
“Stay back!” Malcom squealed.
“Stars above I hate humans,” Sterin huffed, hands on her hips.
“YOBA!” one the Spree shouted.
They grabbed the barrel of Malcom’s rifle, and a shot went off. The Spree looked down and saw a gaping hole in her chest. The small creatures went limp, falling off the stairs, descending several stories down, until she smacked the ground. Her body exploded with a mind numbing crack.
Malcolm looked back up at the growling Spree horde in front of him.
“Fuck me,” Sterin widened her eyes.
The Spree jumped unto the professor, who screamed as they bit into him.
“Hey fuckers! Stop!” Sterin pleaded.
The Spree ignored her, as they ripped the screaming human apart. Sterin winced, crunching her face, and gritting her teeth as pieces of Malcom splatted unto the ground by her, piece by piece. Finally, a black canister imbedded in his limb and headless corpse crashed into the ground. Sterin rolled her eyes and walked over, pulling the obsidian canister out. She wiped the blood off with her shirt.
“I’m docking your assholes’ pay! He was fucking cute, God damnit!” Sterin shrieked.
“Killed the asshole! Killed the asshole! Killed the asshole!” the dozens of Spree cheered from the stairs, jumping up and down, their voices echoing in the temple.
“I need a fucking drink,” Sterin growled.