The shuttle thrummed as Sterin headed towards the end of the seat rows, next to the door. Out the window, she saw the smoldering remains of the Black Fleet. Large smoking sections of molten steel and sparking bulwark sections were floating in space, as bodies and broken parts of the ships permeated the empty vacuum around the planet. Only the Exelon and the Daggers had survived, the rest had exploded or fallen to the surface in flames as the battle had raged. Sterin fidgeted in her chair, her left leg bouncing up and down as she stared at the floor. The sound of the black metal canister twisting in her hands was the only sound as the rest of the crew was quiet.
Soon, the craft landed in the Exelon, the cargo door dropping. Sterin bolted upright, and silently stormed forward. The Exelon was badly damaged, as human and Spree crews ran about, welding and plugging holes in the bulwark. Large piles of Dark Axium bodies were stacked every which way, clear evidence the enemy had attempted to board numerous times but had been beaten back.
The crew stopped what they were doing, and bowed or nodded silently, as Captain Sterin stormed past them. They entered the elevator, and shot upward, as Sterin stared at the dark metal door. Her body was vibrating, her eyes glossy, her mind silent. She had lost everyone. Majority of the scientists where dead, most of her ships where gone, her crew barely survived, her brother was dead, and her lovers where gone.
The doors slid open, and Sterin stormed forward unto the bridge. Miken and Emur turned, walking towards her. As she moved steadily towards them, rage bubbled up within her. Sterin drew her pistol and pointed it at Emur as the crew gathered around her.
“Whoa, whoa! Aye, c’mon!” Miken yelped, his hands up as his wide eyes studied her.
“This walking, talking fungus tricked me,” Sterin growled.
“We only initiated that which was predetermined,” Emur whispered.
“This talking Mushroom tricked me into meeting his creator!” Sterin roared.
“What happened?!” Miken gasped desperately.
“We simply arranged a meeting between our mother, and your sister,” Emur nodded.
Miken arched an eyebrow, his wide eyes studying them.
“This hive mind was created by a Great Master called Gharu! I met her down there!” Sterin snapped.
“What was she like?” Miken asked in awe.
Sterin snapped her head to him, her wide-open eyes burrowing into his soul, as Miken instantly looked at the floor.
“The Green Mother, and ourselves are not your foe, captain,” Emur whispered insides their heads.
“Bullshit!” Sterin screeched, spit flying from her mouth, as her wide eyes aimed down the sights of her pistol.
“Cub!” a voice called.
Sterin turned her head, and saw Chief Baba surrounded by fifty Spree approaching them.
“What?!” Sterin snarled.
Baba waddled next to Sterin, and gently put his aged hand on her pistol, using his claws to bring it down to her side.
“Smart flower, no problem. Green Mother, no problem. We need friends. She is friend,” Baba nodded.
“Drop the Barbarian act Baba, none of the other scientists made it back,” Miken shook his head.
Chief Baba looked up at Sterin.
“It’s true, Sage and Malcom are gone,” Sterin sighed.
“A pity, I am sure. I was rather fond of the young human and the Sema,” Chief Baba nodded, holding his hands behind his back. The Chief walked in between Emur and the Captain, as his eyes studied Sterin.
“Get out of the way, old one. I need to kill this talking plant!” Sterin barked.
“Have you learned nothing child? If they were able to facilitate a meeting between the Great Green Mother Gharu, and a Star Listener, this is truly a boon to us all. When the next great war comes, is it not beneficial to have a Great Master on our side?” Baba arched an eyebrow.
“But he tricked me,” Sterin growled.
“And we are clear of any blame? Have we not swindled, lied, and pillaged our way across the stars? Think, young one, and learn from past mistakes. You were blessed with a presence of a Great Master. Not all of them think alike. When the Celestial Father enters our domain, we must gather all the Strength we can,” Baba said grimly.
“Mother Gharu has always taken pity on lesser life forms. She is a friend to us all,” Emur nodded.
“I don’t care what she’s done! She is a great master, and you tricked me!” Sterin roared.
“Then take this one’s life. But know this: we shall remember your cruelty. You cannot prevent Alpha Centurion entering our plane of existence. We all can only prepare. When that day comes, when planets crumble, and armies fall, we shall remember how you rebuked the great Mother’s gift,” Emur whispered.
Sterin bit her lip, looking at all of them. She huffed hotly and holstered her pistol.
“Fine. But if you fucks ever trick me like that again, I’m burning down your garden world,” Sterin growled.
“We are all aligned for the greater purpose now, Captain,” Emur nodded.
“Greaaaaaat,” Sterin rolled her eyes.
She strolled forward and reached her throne. The view beyond the window was beautiful, the lush green continents of the planet before the wide window. Sterin sighed, and sat down in her throne, reclining backwards as Miken came up to her side.
“I’m guessing they all had accidents?” Miken asked carefully, and softly.
“Nah, they all mostly died good deaths,” Sterin said, fist on her chin.
“Shame, they were good people,” Miken nodded.
“Stupid people,” Sterin sighed.
The ship vibrated as the engines ignited.
“All right everyone, this sucked ass. We lost a lot of good people, but it ain’t over yet. Miken, plot a course for Zion space! The sooner we drop the cargo off, the sooner we get paid!” Sterin shouted with glee.
The crew nodded and shifted around with purpose, as controls and buttons where pressed. Sterin reclined in her throne, as a Spree brought her a drink. She nodded, sipping it. She grimaced; it was far too sour.
Her pets had perfected her cocktail, as Sterin sulked. Her leg went up and down rapidly as she tapped her booted foot. She looked over, and saw Miken was once again by her side.
“What?” Sterin growled.
“The humans will not be pleased with the loss of their top explorer,” Miken said slowly.
“The Earth humans will care, but Zion won’t. We need to placate their petty tribes carefully, but my best guess is, once we get Death this canister, we will have earned the allegiance of the winning side,” Sterin said into her fold hands.
“We are playing a dangerous game, playing favorites with them.”
“The games rigged anyway, all the Earth humans can do now is play nice with their colonies,” Sterin shrugged.
Miken looked down, with wide eyes.
“So, mother did talk to you,” Miken growled.
“Never said she did.”
“But I know you. You would play both sides for maximum profit. This isn’t like you to pick one employer like this. Only times I’ve ever seen you do something like this was when our Mother was in your head.”
Sterin looked up, grimacing.
“You try and go against her will, see how that works out for ya,” she spat.
“Have you forgotten how I wound up stuck with your psycho ass?” Miken snapped.
He stomped away, as Sterin sighed. She gazed out the vast window at the vast expanse of dark space, the ships hurtling forward. She spent several hours getting wasted, drinking glass after glass of the sour drinks that where steadily getting better. Sterin kicked her boots off and reclined unto the throne as the pain was numbed by the alcohol.
As time passed, Sterin melted into the throne. The guilt of watching Malcom to die being overwhelmed by the alcohol. A tap on her shoulder sent her rocketing upwards in the seat, instantly drawing her pistol, and shoving it in the face of her triplet. Miken arched an eyebrow, unbothered by the pistol barrel pressed under his chin.
“The humans wanna talk to you,” Miken shrugged.
“Sorry,” Sterin mumbled.
She stood up and stretched. She peeled her armor off and walked forward in her underwear as the Spree hastily leapt forward and carefully picked up the armor, stowing it. The Captain snapped her fingers, and a Laydren officer brought her a bottle of her favorite wine. Sterin pulled the cork out with her teeth, chugging the red wine as she entered the elevator. She hit the button with her elbow as she leaned her back against the cold steel.
Her mind swam as she cracked her neck, her black hair tinted blue with dye in a pixie cut framing her Asian features as she studied her reflection in the steel. She held no personal affection for humans of the Asian continents of Earth, but rather liked the aesthetic for her human form projection. The doors swung open, and Sterin meandered down the hall.
Her cabin door slid open on her right. The messy and dark room lit up with the ambient lights as Sterin stowed the metal canister in a box. She then pressed her thumb on a glowing button on her console, turned and pulled her robe on. She turned again, to see the life-sized hologram of Rachel. She looked terrible.
“Having as much fun as I am, I see,” Sterin sighed.
“Do you have the cache?” Rachel asked quickly.
“Yup,” Sterin nodded, taking a swig from her bottle.
Rachel sighed, pressing her palm against her head.
“You good, gorgeous? You look awful,” Sterin arched an eyebrow.
“It’s been a long fucking month,” Rachel sighed.
The hologram looked up, arching an eyebrow.
“Where’s Mai?” Rachel asked slowly.
“Dead,” Sterin shrugged.
“What?!”
“Shrike snuck onboard my fleet, killed almost everyone. I only got three ships left, and I am charging extra for it,” Sterin snarled.
“Jesus,” Rachel shook her head.
“What? No bargaining?” Sterin chortled.
“We’ll pay whatever you want, just get to Barouge as quickly as possible.”
“Hell to the fucking no girlfriend! That’s where this whole shit show started!” Sterin shrieked.
“Either you get us that fucking cache, or Shrike wins!” Rachel shouted.
Both where silent as each looked into the other eyes.
“Guessing you lost some good people too,” Sterin sighed.
“Yeah. Shrike nearly killed Nameless, and almost wiped out half the army. We need that power up, so he can kill the fucker,” Rachel said grimly.
Sterin was silent as she crossed her arms.
“I’m assuming you guys don’t know how to perma-kill a Laydren,” Sterin scoffed.
Rachel arched an eyebrow.
“We will triple what was offered,” Rachel said.
“Nah. Killing that incestuous piece of shit is on the house. But the kill will be mine,” Sterin nodded.
“Works for us. How soon can you guys get here?” Rachel asked.
“Just bouta jump into portal, with less ships I’m thinking five days. Can you guys hold?”
“Yeah, just means some over time for me,” Rachel said with a dark glint her eye.
Sterin bit her lip, heat rising in her chest. The dark hair, green eyes, that vicious glint in her eyes. Rachel had always stunk of death, her sharp face always in a permanent sneer. The mere memory of the smell alone made Sterin lightheaded as she played with her hair cocking her head.
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“Ya know, the bed of a war hero can get pretty lonely. I can keep ya company when I get there. I don’t bite, less you want me too,” Sterin grinned.
“I already have someone,” Rachel rolled her eyes.
“Perfect! The more the merrier! What’s her name?!” Sterin chuckled, taking a swig from the wine.
“Nameless.”
Sterin snorted so harshly wine went out her nose. She gagged as her eyes watered from the searing pain, made worse by Rachel laughing.
“You’re straight?!” Sterin choked and coughed.
“Yup, I mean, mostly. High School was wild,” Rachel shrugged.
“What in the ever-living fuck is such a prime piece of ass doing with that brick of a man?!” Sterin roared.
“Hey! He’s nice!”
“He has to be hung like a fucking Gurgen to keep that locked down. So much wasted on one man,” Sterin lay her eyes upon Rachel as a customer did upon ac prime steak.
“Just get your grimy pirate crew here so we can win this war,” Rachel snarled.
“Yes ma’am,” Sterin said silky.
“Fucking Laydren,” Rachel shook her head.
The hologram cut off, as Sterin grimaced. Fucking Laydren? Who did that stuck up bitch think she was?! The audacity of humans. Sterin should have chucked the cannister out the garbage shoot, taken the cash off the cold corpse of the Queen and gone back to deep space. All of this was for nothing, she was so stupid.
Sterin stomped over to the metal box, wrenching it open. With blood red eyes, she gripped the cannister and cocked it over her head. She hurled it across the room as hard as she could, screaming. The metal canister flew through the air and was caught by a hand. Sterin shook her head and saw Miken holding the canister in his raised fist.
“How the fuck did you get in here,” Sterin slurred.
“I forged a key for times when clients piss you off, and you almost blow the contract,” Miken sighed.
“Aine woulda let me chuck it!”
“He’s literally been dead for less than a few days, and you’re already using him as leverage?”
“He’ll be back in a few hundred years,” Sterin shrugged.
“Didn’t you say if we don’t get this to the humans, there won’t be any more lives?” Miken growled.
Sterin flipped him off, strolling across the room to her refrigerator. She pulled out another bottle, opened it, and took a swig.
“Yeah, go drink yourself to death. Meanwhile, the rest of us will cover your sorry ass, and actually do all the work!” Miken shouted.
“The fuck you say to me you little shit?” Sterin screamed.
“You never take anything seriously unless it benefits you! We lost pretty much everyone! How do you live with yourself?!”
Sterin titled her head and shook the bottle as she shrugged exaggeratively.
“You know, it’d be nice to talk to the sister I always hear about. The Star Child, the daughter of the high priestess, the avenger of Torvac, blah, blah, blah. If only everyone knew what a sloppy piece of shit drunk you are,” Miken sneered.
“Hey! I do drugs too. Can’t forget those,” Sterin smiled crookedly.
Miken gritted his teeth.
“Do you take anything seriously?!”
“Yeah. Money, pussy, dick, and bullets. Everything else means fuck all,” Sterin shrugged.
“There are millions if not billions of lives riding on this contract. We chose a side in a human conflict, we-” Miken started.
“Oh, shut up about Earth. They had hundreds of years to deal with their wayward colony. They’re just jealous the Martians grew some balls and decided to run the show. They ain’t gonna do shit!” Sterin cackled.
“They orbitally bombarded Mars, killing nearly everyone, over something half as potent as this,” Miken sighed, holding up the cannister.
Sterin pierced her lips together tightly, as she silently nodded, holding her pointer fingers up, wine bottle held in the left hand.
“Theeeeeeey, won’t do shit again?” Sterin cocked her head to the left, slowly speaking out of the corner of her mouth.
Miken shook his head, eyes narrowed.
“Doesn’t matter to you right? Long as you get paid and laid, who cares how many die?”
“Paid and laid baby! God damn you’re smart, that’s my new catchphrase!” Sterin cackled.
Miken scoffed, as he walked over and put the cannister back in the box, shutting the lid.
“I chose to leave with you, ya know? Big sister gets framed, everyone told me not to abandon my destiny for some Duchess who had lost her way,” Miken sighed, looking at the box.
“If you miss it so much then go back!” Sterin spat.
“I could have been a general!”
“You would have been another corpse in a shiny suite of armor on some back water planet while the nobles get fat and rich!” Sterin howled, beating her chest.
Miken arched an eyebrow.
“Careful, you were almost authentic for a second there,” Miken smirked.
“Get the fuck out of my cabin,” Sterin grumbled.
Miken nodded, turning his back to her, and walked to the door. He turned his head.
“Ya know, one day you’re gonna have to let me in. We both know the drunkard act just hides that evil genius of yours. I might not be as viscous as Aine, but I can help with whatever the hell it is you’re trying to pull off,” Miken said over his shoulder.
“Paid and laid baby,” Sterin shook her head.
Miken sighed, nodded, and left the cabin, the door closing behind him.
Sterin turned and looked out her cabin window.
“You can come out now Baba,” she called.
The vent creaked, as the cover shifted. Chief baba crawled along the ceiling, hung his legs down, and fell onto the floor with a soft thump.
“I’m going to pretend you don’t watch me fuck from up there,” Sterin sighed as she drank.
“I do not pry on intimate relations, only when clients are speaking to you,” Chief Baba nodded.
“Why is the entire crew hell bent on babysitting me?!” Sterin moaned.
She went over and sat on the bed, glaring at the old chief. He folded his clawed hands as he slouched forward in the Spree sign of respect.
“Well? What is it?” Sterin cocked back her head, drinking.
“We have news, from Torvac.”
Sterin coughed, as she thumped her chest with her fist.
“I am not here to babysit, I am here to provide council,” Baba smiled.
“Sorry, used to acting like I’m an idiot,” Sterin choked.
“Perhaps not consuming alcohol at all available times may improve your image among others of notoriety.”
Sterin rolled her eyes. There was a heavy moment of silence followed by Baba clearing his throat.
“It is confirmed. The Nexus is stirring. Our shamans have not seen this much activity since the great war,” Baba said grimly.
Sterin’s stomach dropped as she stared at the floor. The Nexus had been the exact spot the Great Master on Torvac had been slain. Though it was nearly impossible to describe, the Spree had developed the residual trace energy mark into an ability to observe the ascended race. The Nexus was essentially the charted universes’ only beacon that could be lit, in warning of the approach of any being like Alpha Centurion, or Gharu physically entering the physical plane.
“So, it’s him?”
“Either it is Alpha Centurion, or one of the captains equivalent to his status.”
“How long?”
“Months, years, decades, we are but the ear laid against the ground listening for distant footsteps miles away. There is no sure way of telling since their technology is so far beyond us. But, they are indeed on the move, and headed directly for us.”
Sterin shook her head. This drastically increased the urgency of her plans.
“Soon as we deal with Draycerion, plot a course for Torvac. With Lion and Decree causing trouble, the high houses will be distracted. We need to make our move soon,” Sterin said firmly.
“Yes, mistress,” Baba bowed.
Chief Baba exited out of the door, as Sterin stood up. She put the bottle down, crossed her arms, and stared out the window. So, it had begun. The second struggle, when the celestials once again walked amongst mortals. She had prepared well, and now siding with Zion would bear true fruition. She needed the bloodline of Aryus, Lady Death in full command of the light bearers of the human race, and Lythdorian as Emperor of Laydra. Sterin hadn’t sided with Zion because they paid more, she had sided with them because they were the first mortals ever to earn the loyalty of an Ethereal.
If Sterin was going to overthrow the Emperor of Laydra, kill her mother, and restore the Golden Bloodline, she would need Zion, and the humans. Only through a firmly united Laydra, humanity, and the cooperation of the Etherals, could mortals even stand a chance against the coming onslaught. The war drums where beating, the feet of armies were starting to sound in the ground, as cities and planets burned.
No wonder the Dark Axium was acting with such concentrated ferocity. They had long been a mere fringe threat, a mismatched band of zealots who fought amongst themselves as they did others. But now they weren’t some mad dog bent on causing terror. They were a viscous, well-coordinated and funded vanguard burning a landing zone for their masters. But not if Sterin had anything to say about it.
The journey to Barouge was quiet as the black fleet licked their wounds. The crews did their best to repair what they could and tend to the wounded. Sterin spent most of her time locked inside her cabin, pouring over her plans with Baba. Neither Aine nor Miken knew her true intentions. They were too young, and inexperienced to gain the knowledge that the Great Truth was a lie. Or that Sterin had spent every life since her banishment plotting a revolution that would shake the millennia old empire to its very core.
On the fifth day, Sterin emerged from her cabin in her full armor. She strolled down the long corridor and descended to the elevator, which climbed to the bridge. There the crew stood at attention in full kit. Miken stood by the throne on the left, garbed in his tactical gear. Chief Baba stood on the right, covered in scale armor, an ornate red headdress made of bones and exotic feathers several feet long on his head.
Sterin advanced and sat on the throne. They were silent as the portal slowly ended, the hulking mass of Barouge coming into sight. All were astonished at the damage. Many levels where smoking or had collapsed. Large sections of the station had been blown away by bombardment, as a slurry of crafts streamed to and from the damaged station.
Massive warships, each far bigger than the black fleet ships blockaded the station at every angle. Every now and again, a bright beam of light would burst from one of the ships, smashing into Barouge’s bulwark, sending molten metal and shards of buildings hurtling into the vacuum of space. As the black fleet came into range, the radio crackled from Sterin’s throne.
“Unidentified craft, acknowledge this transmission and lower your shields for identification or you will be fired upon,” a stern male voice said.
“This is Captain Sterin, with the black fleet. I have a delivery for the Champion of Zion, Lady Rachel,” Sterin said firmly.
“Stand by.”
Sterin knitted her fingers together as she stared at the Zion navy. The crew worked furiously, lowering their shields, and transmitting the unique binary code that was essentially each ships serial number.
“Identity confirmed Black Fleet, proceed to docking range of the Titan. Transmitting approach vectors, do not stray from the path or you will risk friendly fire. The bombardment is still in effect.”
“Understood,” Sterin nodded.
Miken walked over, and ensured the ship was steered correctly, the Daggers falling into single file behind the Exelon. As the Black Fleet made its way into the blockade, a massive dark grey battleship came into view. Sterin’s eyes widened as she took in the majestic vessel.
She had heard rumors of the Titan of Mars, but to see it in action, it made her mouth water. The battleship was nearly as large as a Laydren warship. A dozen levels, twelve miles long, four wide, shaped like a spear head. A large structure emerged from the top, and bottom of the vessel, making seem like two pyramids where fuzzed by the bottoms to the center of the ship. Giving it a hilt like look when viewed from the side.
The sides of the titan bristled with rows of turrets, while the bottom pyramid like structure was rowed with long shield bays that shuttles came in and out of. The top pyramid seemed to be where the bridge was, as there were no shield bays. The top of the ship was covered in large antenna and scanners as the Black Fleet came in.
Sterin rose from her throne and walked with Miken and Baba en toe as they entered the elevator. After a short ride, the doors opened, and they walked out into the hangar bay. Here a shuttle had been prepared, manned by the Laydren officers. The left and right sides of the bay where lined with other landing craft, all facing outward, prepared to disembark.
The Spree and human crew members stood by their shuttles, silent as statues as Sterin’s footsteps echoed. They arrived by her shuttle, and Sterin turned to Baba.
“Soon as we disembark, you have command of our boys. Make them pay for bleeding us nearly dry,” Sterin snarled.
“Zuh wah,” Baba nodded grimly.
“Good luck old man,” Miken smiled.
“You as well, young pup,” Baba smiled.
“I’m two hundred and thirty for Truth’s sake, he’s younger than me!” Miken rolled his eyes.
“Let’s go fifth life,” Sterin head nodded.
The Captain and Miken entered the shuttle, the officers filing in and filling the seats down the benches of the shuttle. The door shut, and the vessel sprang forward, hurtling towards the Titan. As they made the short journey, Sterin held the cool metal canister in her hands. Thumping her foot as she breathed rapidly.
The shuttle shuttered as it entered the shields of the Titan, the large hangar bay replacing the star view from Sterin’s window. The shuttle landed and shut down as the door opened. Sterin stood up, and walked down the ram, Miken, and the officers behind.
Out on the ground, Rachel stood with a large human in grey metal armor, who’s beard was braided and magnificent.
“So, these are the mighty privateers of Zion, welcome!” the giant human said cheerfully.
“Sterin, meet King Alexander,” Rachel nodded.
“Pleasure,” Sterin nodded.
“Is that it?” Rachel asked.
Sterin held up the cannister.
“Yup, unopened, un-fucked with. As agreed,” Sterin grinned.
“I’ll take it, my people will load your payment unto the shuttle,” Rachel held her hand out.
Sterin held the canister back, up by her shoulder as she tutted.
“I did not slog across charted space and lose most my people just to hand this off. I wanna hand this right to Aryus,” Sterin smiled.
“That wasn’t what we had agreed upon!” Rachel spat.
“Surely Lord Nameless will be grateful to see this deliverer in person. The Captain has done her duty valiantly after all,” Alexander smiled.
“Alex,” Rachel growled under her breathe.
Sterin grinned widely, her teeth showing as her eyes popped, realization sparking her mind.
“You went behind your boy toy’s back for this little job, didn’t cha sweat cheeks?” Sterin toyed.
“We don’t have time for this,” Rachel said hurriedly.
“What is she talking about, my lady?” Alexander asked.
“See, I thought it was pretty fucking weird that the Sema and Umar just handed over their best and brightest for this trip, seeing as they aren’t exactly on the best of terms with Zion. The only way they’d agree to this was if the Queen promised them this wouldn’t be used for military purposes. Then that creepy fucker Mai, he never mentioned Nameless once. Zion this, the Queen that. Typical humans, always maneuvering around without keeping their own in the loop,” Sterin chortled.
“And you people wonder why no one trusts humans,” Miken laughed.
“Enough! If I wanted to listen to Laydren spew their uppity bullshit all day I’d keep Lion around me!” Rachel snarled.
“Ah! So, I am right, you did never tell your little boyfriend about getting him his power up. Lemme guess, an anniversary gift? A nice little surprise? I sure hope you aren’t trying to force him to level up, or anything sneaky like that,” Sterin laughed.
Rachel eyes glowed grey, as small black flames lapped from her form.
“Hand it over, now,” she growled.
“Or what? You’ll kill me? What if I lied too, and I rigged this thing to explode if you guys hurt me? Hmm?” Sterin giggled, white sparks starting to flicker from her eyes.
King Alexander stepped in between them.
“We have all undergone quite the toil this past moon, let us be good comrades in arms, and work together in good faith. I know not what either of you are toying at but let us drop this and be on our way. Let her hand him the package Lady Rachel, and Captain Sterin, please be civil. We are very grateful for your hard work,” Alexander nodded.
“He is so adorable! Where did you find him, I want one!” Sterin giggled.
“Fine,” Rachel snapped.
The Champion of Zion stomped away, as women in black robes followed in a two single file line formations. Alexander wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Sterin.
“You are either very brave, or very foolish to toy with death in such a way,” Alexander sighed.
“Honey, laughing in death’s face is my personal passion. Onward sir knight! Take me to your brooding general!” Sterin laughed.
King Alexander nodded and led the pirate crew to the zero-gravity shaft. He whooshed away, as Sterin stuck her head in the tunnel, scowling.
“Why do these Barbarians have a better elevator than us?!” Sterin spat in Laydren.
“Perhaps you would like to hijack the ship?” Miken chuckled.
“Good idea, remind me of that next time we’re in Zion territory,” Sterin nodded.
Sterin grabbed a metal handle and hurtled upwards, whooping with excitement as Miken shook his place below her. The handles stopped next to an open causeway, and Sterin stepped through the thin veil of energy, the gravity taking hold once again.
This level was clearly the medical bay, as Sterin followed Alexander past long rows of rooms full of wounded and dying on hundreds of medical beds. Rachel stood by a door; arms crossed as she scowled. Alexander stepped to the side as Sterin faced off with Rachel.
“Just so you know, this is more fun than getting paid,” Sterin smiled.
“Enjoy it for now you little bitch,” Rachel seethed.
“Meow, he’s one lucky fucker to have someone as feisty as you,” Sterin purred.
Captain Sterin ducked into the room before Rachel could smote her.
“Somebody order a large order of whoopass?!” Sterin cheered, arms wide.
The broken man in the medical bed looked up. He was covered in bloody bandages, his black hair in his face, as Iv’s where protruding from his right arm. Sterin’s smile melted away as her arms dropped. The poor guy was clearly on death’s doorstep.
“Yeesh. You look like you’ve had almost as bad a time as we’ve had,” Sterin sighed.
“Clearly,” the man darkly chuckled.
His mismatched grey and green eyes fell unto the canister in her hand. The color drained from his face as he balled his fist.
“I can explain,” Rachel said hurriedly.
“Everyone but Rachel out,” Nameless grunted.
“Aw c’mon, I love a good couple squabble!” Sterin pouted.
Even broken, nearly dead, the scent Sterin caught from him made her skin crawl. His eyes glowed gold, as he narrowed them.
“I’ll, um, be outside,” Sterin squeaked.
She put the canister on the medical tray by the foot of his bed, and quickly left the room. Outside, Miken was looking at her with wide eyes, alongside Alexander.
“Are you, actually scared?” he asked hesitantly.
“Just get back to the fucking shuttle,” Sterin said in a hushed tone.
There was no doubt in her mind. The scent, the power, his eyes. That was Aryus, that was the King who had once untied humanity and defied the Great Masters. She had only smelt that wrath once before and would never forget the carnage he had rendered.