1Chapter 5: Reunion on Thrista
The room was quiet and none spoke, but Benedict knew the looks, long into his own training. Mellka looked ready to rip his head off with a sneer, Deande fanned herself, but nothing could hide that aura of silent death that hung on her, Kleese was disappointed (He REALLY didn't think that he could have gotten Kleese to be disappointed in him), and Reyna was polishing her pistol, a clear sign that she was ready to quickdraw that piece and put a bullet in his head for it, but Ghalt was the most challenging, he had knew Ghalt times over and he was thrown off by the humble, quiet treatment that his commanding officer was giving him, it made him more at fault than before, that Ghalt was quiet instead of shouting, he would have welcomed that from such a devoted commander. Montana and Thorn looked at each other before back at the room before Deande snapped, her fan closing as she breathed, not in anger, but a calm diameter. "Now, Benedict, it is clear you need to be the second in my session of therapy, but that can wait, we need all the help we can get in finding Alexander and getting him back on the Battleborn, his knowledge and experience in Arron is the most valuable we can obtain, the factions are... in deep." The display in the center turned on and she motioned with furrowed brow. "With the surge of the factions, they have come into confrontation with Varelsi, problem is that they are using warships, a strategy that is unheard of in all of the history of the factions." Reyna spoke next as she stopped the polishing, though the pistol remained out.
"The problem isn't strength and defense as some of these are derelict vessels lost among the stars, but it is in numbers, they can swarm without remorse and, while none of them have taken any deaths, the factions are in trouble, especially with a local planet close by." The display changed to a more aquatic world that surprised the majority of members there, but Reyna continued, clearing her throat. "This is the planet that the Varelsi are attacking, a mostly-covered aquatic world with a number of rocky crags emerging from the oceans themselves and reach to heights that could term them as mountains." She hummed as she motioned a hand to the side to something flashing on one of the crags. "Hey, Kleese, what's up with the marker?"
"I didn't put that there..." The elderly man spoke as he started to work, the area zoomed in as he spoke. "This sort of signal is on a frequency that I am familiar with, however. In case of any Battleborn shot off course, I could activate the pod's transmitter to have Nova pick them up and bring them back." The group paused to the meaning before Benedict spoke, clearing his throat as he answered, the looks not helping his standing.
"So... Alexander is on that planet right now, and don't realize that the... beacon came 'live?"
"Well, that's just... lucky or something." Mellka mused as she lightly sighed. "Just means that Benny can get a few more shots in, right?" Benedict swallowed to the meaning, but he was saved by Ghalt, finally breaking the silence.
"I am sure that Benedict didn't think of the situation as a trigger. Hell, I didn't think it was a trigger either, but what he shared with Deande and is secretive about right now may have set him off and he just snap." Mellka eased up as Ghalt spoke. "That being said, getting a launch pod to hit that crag and stay there long enough for any Battleborn to get out and on is going to be impossible. I'm afraid that Benedict is going to have to take this mission on with others."
"WHA?" Benedict squawked before he cleared again and spoke. "B-But, guys, he HATES me, I am going to be the last person he WANTS to see!"
"I know, Benedict." Ghalt sighed and all were quiet as he unloaded somewhat. "And I am not too interested in letting the pair of you get back together and resorting to violence to solve this, but we are short on able flyers, the factions need time to fight back with ease against the Varelsi, and only a few Battleborn can get there on one of the crafts provided, leaving only a short response team to engage and provide aid to whoever or whatever is on the planet and to turn the Varelsi surge back." The Aviant looked around for any objections to the idea, anyone will do, but nothing which meant that he was the sole responder on hand and he was conscripted for it, like or not. His heart soared with thank as Ghalt continued. "So the team will be Benedict, Caldarius, and Toby to go in, find out, and come back... if there are no other problems."
"Yeah, yeah, I still want some FRIED bird for that stunt." Mellka mused and Benedict didn't have a wisecracker for the situation, positive that it would just make things worse, though that was going to be impossible as he listed the reasons; One, Mellka, after learning that the bird had upset their source of info and caused him to leave, she nearly bashed his brains out... repeatedly... with the butt of her TMP if not for the aid of Montana. Two, Deande made it a personal note to therapy his feathers off and he was sure that she had discovered his letter and request, as well as his severe drinking habits related to the matter in both. And the last one, he had managed to go from team clown to target with big, fat bullseye on his back, Beatrice in general had it out for him and he had SEEN her work, it was going to be a mess in the end if he didn't redeem himself, help Alexander out, and get on the kid's GOOD side, that could save his tail from harm... maybe...
Benedict breathed as he felt the zoom of his pod barrel for the world below, the Varelsi distracted with a combined offense by Jennerit and UPR forces which is very successful, while the Battleborn helped in repelling the creatures and sending the three down, his pod mostly empty except a pic of his wife, plucking it off and looking it over, her raven cresses, her glowing smile, and her radiant red of eyes, it has been ten, maybe twelve, hell, even fifteen years since that day and he still lingered, his invisible heart, his great courage, she made him more than just an mouth without a filter, she made him into a soldier in love. He thudded his head on the wall as he groaned, he missed how much time and his two youngest wouldn't even know him if he appeared... would Circinae even want to see him after what he had just done? Deep down, he knew that she would just hate him for it, but he couldn't dismiss the thought that he was also feeling snapped and just gave nothing about his own feelings about it. He snapped out of it when Toby spoke. "Hey, Ben, wake up, we are coming close."
"Yeah... yeah, I just needed a moment to myself." He pocketed the photo for it was the one thing he didn't want to part with when he recalled Circinae, and readied his rocket launcher, his muscles bracing before the hatch popped off and he took flight, the pod soaring to the crag's rocky base and slammed, the Aviant lucky to have jumped as a mech and a assault frame joined him and they flew true, heading for the beacon before they landed and Toby groaned a little at the state of the pod, modified here and there somehow to fly Alexander to this world.
"Well... If the Cap didn't grab the wolf guy and Tusks was willing to join, I think... he could make it as a Rogue."
"You sound LESS pleased with the thought, penguin." Caldarius stated as the penguin made a motion that told Benedict that he was mouthing off and moving a flipper to give another mouth as a metal hand slid across the pod. "He leaves the pod and headed elsewhere, but why this world? I am curious as to the thought."
"Well..." Benedict shook him from the doubt that he felt and spoke. "The bugger couldn't have gone too far, he landed here and there is no nearby rocks for him to jump and land on." Both nodded slowly as the UPR bird lead the way, the treks light in the grime and dirt for the mech's weight and size, but easy to follow as the trio headed off, the surface surprisingly stable for a jolting mount of stone and rock. Soon the sounds of combat filled their ears and they hurried to the midst of a battlefield where Varelsi tried to kill something, but that something was too powerful for them, not even a Conservator was stronger enough to it as the metal clamps slammed before snatching its face and ripping it from the ink-like body, the mask and fading head dropping to the ground as Benedict slowly walked over, quickly finding his throat snatched and he lifted as the nozzle under the other hand ignited and he felt his life at the mercy of the mech with both of the other Battleborn shocked before they could bring up their weapons to disable, the voice coming out with some venom.
"WHAT are you doing here!?" Benedict gripped the clasp as he slightly struggled, his breathing getting shorter if he didn't stop the metal from crushing.
"Look, I know that it is my fault, just listen..." Nothing else came as Benedict was slammed into the ground with a gasp as Alexander continued, Cal and Toby drawing closer to put him down if it got too violent.
"You know EXACTLY what you were doing, you were never interested in shutting up, you WANTED to talk down to me and call me out as a coward, a weakling, and you have no right to beg for it if you came this far." Benedict was quickly as he plead.
"I did it because I was angry!" The mech paused with the colored eyes or lens remaining. "I was upset, okay, you were talking about her and I was so angry with you, you knew what happened to her and I just couldn't stand it, the last time I saw her, she was on a shuttle with our hatchlings to escape, I bleed and I would die for her if I had known what happened to them, I would fight with everything for avenge of their deaths and I would search the cosmos to find them alive again, just please... I was upset..." The weapons powered down as Benedict looked to the side with tears clouding his eyes. "I was wrong, you are better than me, whatever was said, you have the higher ground than me and I would submit myself to your punishment, just please... tell me before you kill me..." He looked forward again with closed eyes. "Was I that terrible of a mate and father in her talks with you...?" The fist coiled back before lashing out, Caldarius and Toby yelping for him to stop before the fist impacted... smashing the mask beside Benedict's head as Alex spoke, the yellow fading back to blue.
"No, you were the best and she told stories about you all the time, your hatchlings may not know you all that much, but she filled in the gaps for them, that you are a mouth without a filter and a heart of gold, your sense of duty saved them and they often fell asleep to your tales of valor." The fist rose and released as the holding one released Benedict from its grasp as Alexander continued. "And right now, I am here to save them and the two hundred other natives on this planet, the Varelsi accidently stirred up the Maelstrom and we only have twenty minutes to get them off this planet." To this, Toby asked with confusion within Berg.
"The Maelstrom?" Alex turned as he spoke.
"This planet was secured by weather controls, but the Varelsi destroyed one and the storm of acid rain is coming, but it is not the acid in those clouds, stored up from resources, fumes, and chemicals in the settlements on this world." He pointed out to the water as he continued. "It's the water itself, it is alive and if it is threatened by any harmful weather, it will purge itself in a world-spread torrent of water, water so dangerous and boiling that any flesh will burn and any metal will overheat." The trio felt their eyes widen at the sound of it as Alexander finished. "We have a short time frame before that and I can assure you... we don't get to the settlement and evacuate it now, those lives are gone, the settlement is not built to protect against the Maelstrom." Benedict quickly snatched his launcher and shouldered it as he shouted.
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's get rid of some Varelsi!" Toby and Caldarius nodded as Alexander followed as the bulkhead of the assault, their charge blasting through the Varelsi before they reached the walls of the settlement, the towering spires secondary as homes of Avian or rock-climbing creatures as the gate opened up and they quickly entered as it closed back up and Benedict faltered at the sight before him, a militia of likewise creatures faced them with their leader the same raven-feathered sweetheart that he fell in love with, she doing the same before he spoke. "Circinae..." The small rifle dropped before a fist clashed with his face and he mused. "...I deserve that, don't I...?"
"You think!?" Circinae lightly screeched before she breathed. "Bene, it has been several years since we talked, hell even looked at each other and I hear from a long distance message that you not only joined up with Captain Ghalt on some crazy crusade, but that you ALSO shunned out your own members?!"
"Look, I'm sorry..." Benedict started as he rubbed his jaw, gods it felt good to get hit like that, especially from his wife. "I was upset with him and I had an issue with it all this time that you were gone, our kids were gone, and I was angry and upset that I wouldn't be able to find you again!" He looked down as he spoke once more. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt them, I was... upset." Circinae paused before she sighed, gripped his armor, and pulled him into a kiss as the defenders lowered their weapons, Berg's arms raised to block out Toby's vision as he yelped to see, Caldarius turned away with a short cough as Alexander stood solemnly before Circinae released and spoke.
"It's good to hear that you are still alive and breathing, though I didn't expect a rescue mission or a capture from you, Ghalt REALLY must not have liked your own behavior about it." Benedict was left stammering as she turned to Alexander. "So, what's the damage, kid?"
"Bad, the Varelsi hit hard and destroyed one of the atmospheric weather machines, the storm is starting to kick up and we have only twenty, maybe fifteen minutes remaining to clear out." Circinae grimaced as she bit her nail.
"I was afraid of that..." She whipped about and called out. "EVERYONE, MOUNT UP AND GET READY FOR EVCAUATION, THE MAELSTROM IS COMING!" This sent a panic through the settlement as everyone started to pack up and Circinae turned as she spoke. "Ghalt is going to have to deal with this lot before we settle again, we'll talk later, for now, keep the Varelsi off our backs, our transports will need five minutes to spool up." She dashed off as Toby tapped Benedict out of his stupor and Alexander spoke as he brought a display of the geographic map.
"The Varelsi can't get too close to the settlement, but they can sure hit the walls with everything they have, we defend them from the southern side and we can save those shuttles from the wrath of the void, move it, guys!" That went without saying as the four members charged over and repelled the advancing forces that came at them, the standard stock before something huge charged and crashed into the walls, the stone and material holding strong, but not for long as Toby screamed.
"What the fudge is that!?"
"A Colossi! We are out of time!" Alexander shouted as he barraged the monster with fireballs as he shouted in the interior. "Cir, we have a Colossi, get those ships in the air NOW!"
"Buy us time please, Alexander, the shuttles are almost all out of here!" Alexander groaned as he continued in his commanding.
"Lodge your shots in the limbs, that will slow the behemoth down long enough, move it!" Toby was the more effective as his railgun dealt both serious damage and slowed the beast down long enough that the settlement was well cleared as the Nova zoomed in and landed before Ghalt shouted.
"Get your butts in here, something is going on with the planet's oceans!" The four rushed onboard and it took off as the beast roared a shattering bellow before the whole crew and party watched as the world shifted from crags to severe surges of oceans and water, they even watched as the minorly-wounded monster was suddenly ripped apart by cascades of liquids, its flesh fraying to the onslaught and its massive mask the last thing to be destroyed as the Nova left the atmosphere and headed for Bogmire IV, the shuttles following suit as the fleets withdrew, the Varelsi destroyed for the time being...
The crew on the Nova all decided to step off the ship and get some 'shore leave' on the arid world, the base cleared up some as the residents settled in as the majority of the Battleborn spread out and rested for the most part as the leaders and the agents of the recent mission met in the main meeting room and Ghalt breathed as he stared. "So BESIDES the fact that we found Benedict's wife, her kids, and a whole colony of people on a raging world of water, can I get some intel on the planet in question before I hear any more of Benedict's sudden interest in lovey-dovey poems?" Benedict made the notion to stick out his tongue before Alexander spoke, having taken some time to resolve himself and breathe.
"The planet is Thrista, a single planet with a series of four moons." All straightened up as Alex continued. "It is livable, but the weather is going to be chaotic from the long-term effects of prior colonized efforts, the oceans below the crags possess a active system to destroy any harmful 'diseases' that seek to pervert its native existence." Alex continued as her motioned to the world and its orbiting bodies. "Named the 'Maelstrom', this system can suddenly surge itself high into the sky and destroy everything in-between that course, that is why the earlier colonists built orbital stations to absorb the dangerous effects and dangers that could cause the Maelstrom, the Varelsi having destroyed one and it, in turn, has killed the planet again, it will be days, even weeks before that surge calms down and Thrista is colonized again, the people are quite hardy, but the real issue is this..." Alexander pulled up the behemoth that struck the wall and Deande frowned her brow as she asked.
"Forgive my interest, but what in the name of the Empress is that thing!?"
"That... is a Colossi." Alexander spoke as he explained. "That 'thing' is known as a Prime Varelsi, a Varelsi that other Varelsi collect around like it is a hive and they its workers and soldiers." All shifted in discomfort as Alex continued. "Normally docile, they don't seek to destroy anything until their own blood, their own kin is destroyed and killed off, it is a protective monster that was credited to destroying the planet of Cirnia, a planet in the distant system of Nox when the UPR, in its blind nature, colonized and fought back against the Varelsi in vain pride."
"Cirnia!?" Ghalt sprung up as Mellka quickly asked in the same tone.
"You know the planet, Cap?!"
"I know the planet..." Ghalt sat back down as he explained. "The UPR called it a 'failure' to colonize and wrote it off as the Varelsi attacking and destroying the planet with all hands on the world, but to know the real fate of the planet, how powerful is this beast!?"
"It is very deadly when it is provoked." Alexander rested his hands on the table. "The beast we fought at the gate was a preteen, in its mid growth, the real danger to these things is that it will root itself into the planet and devour the core of the planet with its own life." All sat in shocked silence as Alexander finished. "They are not common with that, they are a last resort to keep worlds to themselves. That is why you have never seen one in your lives, they are needles in a galactic haystack." Reyna spoke next as he demanded.
"So how did you kill it!?"
"I never did..." Alex mused as he crossed his arms. "But, The UPR positioned here, blind as they were, did the same last-ditch effort to prevent their worlds from being devoured by the Varelsi. They cooperated with LLC members, Eldrid cults, and some Jennerit plans to seal off the Star of Arron, hide it in the shadows of a Darkening, we called it Eclipse." All stood up before Deande spoke with shock.
"Darken the Star!? Were they mad!?"
"They should have been..." Alex answered as he opened his eyes. "But the plan worked and we all settled in the shadows, hiding in the darkness to keep the Varelsi guessing, learning how the Varelsi worked in that semi-dark realm, and preventing them or their Jennerit allies from finding and exploiting the Star for their own interests." The blue eyes opened once more as the mask huffed and puffed. "I was still in cryo with my mind extending out as a precaution of preventing others from evading the Star and heading into a Varelsi attack, Circinae and her people were the same with that she connected to me as a stable to keep going, to keep believing, when we watched the Star of Solus fade out before returning, we felt... some glee that somehow, the advance was cut down and that the people of the world could save us from our troubles... Too bad it was only Rendain killed in that action." Caldarius spoke as he asked.
"Only? He was the mastermind behind all of it, he sold us out for the chance to save only the select few from the dark...!"
"A blind hope and one that cost him his own life and soul... if he hasn't already died in the void." Alexander straightened up as he continued. "Yes, Rendain was the core of it all, but Arron's Eclipse was meant for another few decades, the fact that it has fallen is foreboding and Kent's information happened to open up the danger." Mellka asked in her inquire.
"What danger...?" Alex looked up and spoke.
"Lev Yen Tau, former high priestess and crazed devote to Rendain, has gotten free and she has destroyed the Eclipse's Pyramid Safeguards, efficiently shattering the veil of Darkening over Arron." Deande suddenly jumped as she shouted.
"Lev Yen Tau died when Rendain overthrew the Empress, how the hell is she still alive, she died right in front of me when Rendain killed her right then for raising protest!"
"That was a façade..." Alexander looked to the Spymistress and he spoke. "The collective factions within and myself looked over the records when she appeared and we were too close to her plans, she was leashed to Rendain's will through a form of Varelsi control, an early one that had shattered her mind into believing that Rendain was the righteous ruler and that the Empress was the usurper of the throne..." Deande sneered as Alex finished. "Now she is free, left insane and collared to the Varelsi as she intends to find the remaining safeguards, destroy them, and then open a portal to Varelsi space on a galactic scale, throwing her own life away to drown this one in the pure Darkening." All were silent before Mellka spoke up.
"How do we stop her...?" Alex nodded as he pulled up another image, the Pyramid Safeguard that he was talking about.
"The Safeguards are laced into the planets we had colonized, one is intended to be here, within this very base as the spire on Bogmire itself was the first and the opening of the plan." He trailed out his finger across the galaxy as he point each one out with questions. "Each one is a relic from a bygone age of Aztanti existence and we will required an experienced hand to find and discover where the Pyramids are now as no one knows now where they are, only that they preserve the barrier that shields us from extensive Varelsi attack and madden Jennerit raids, I express a sense of caution... Lev Yen is not of sound mind, her devotion now to her fallen lord..."
