Kenny pressed down on the one of his armored plates, fitting it comfortably around his shoulder. He rotated it to ensure complete freedom of movement and adjusted when he felt it press too firmly on the space between his shoulder and collar. Then, he stepped into his boots, sliding his feet in one at a time, and pulling the straps on them to fasten tight. When he rose, he held out his hand. His sheathed sword left the bed where he had slept the night before and attached to the fabric sleeve on his arm, but he quickly reached back and allowed the metal sheath to attach there. He stopped to look at himself in the mirror, staring at his face.
Perhaps it was just corny sentimentality from watching too many cartoons and movies, or perhaps it was the first time he looked so closely at himself, but something about his face looked unfamiliar. He leaned in close and ran the tips of his fingers along his jawline and was quickly distracted then by the metal chevrons that capped the back of his gloves. He held his hand up and reflected the plate on the back in the mirror for his study. He studied his other armor pieces; his hands, his shoulders, one forearm, his chest, his back… He wore his jacket over top many of them, hiding them from view, but he could feel them all.
His father made that armor. Forged in the deepest parts of Locksmouth’s Fabricatory. It likely cost more than his dad would ever have admitted. Gerald knew that Kenny had larger concerns, and he supported them. He always had, one way or another, usually through hard work. Making that armor was probably the most familiar way for the father to help bear the burden of the son.
Kenny was lucky. Despite everything he’d done and all his failures, he was blessed with a good father, and good friends.
His fingers inked over, stark red and shining in the dim light of the room.
“Today, we fight not only for our own redemption,” Polaris spoke, “But for them.”
Kenny clenched those fingers into a fist, grinning. “Yeah,” He said, “We’ll protect them.”
“Respect weakness, and constitute yourself as the defender of them,” Polaris said, “Together, we will champion what is right and good against injustice and evil. Epheral will pay for her crimes tonight.”
“One way or the other…” Kenny said.
“As we are to shade, I pledge myself to your cause, m’lord.” Polaris said, then chuckled, “Outdated as that may sound. Now, be sure to enjoy one last indulgence before we depart. Our potential final memories should be of something good.”
“Heh…” Kenny turned away from the mirror and stepped over to the ottoman in the room Kelvalde had let him use. He took from it a single bottle of milk. Strawberry. His favourite. “This’ll have to do.” He popped the cap with his thumb, letting it fall to the floor and not stopping to pick it up. He upturned it, drinking heavily from the sweet beverage as he made for the door, closing it behind him as he passed through.
-
--
-
Laila pressed her lips to Valyrie’s forehead, careful not to wake the sleeping girl. For several moments, she lingered there, and withdrew silently when she felt ready. She paused as her hand pressed onto the bed, where it should have rested against her sister’s leg. Today was probably the day that she would get her prosthetics, assuming everything ran on schedule. Laila hoped that when she returned, Valyrie would run to meet her. She stood, feeling that she had made all the necessary preparations to leave. She turned to catch her mother staring at her through tired, darkened eyes. The woman sat with her father in a couple of chairs. Gunther was still fast asleep, his chin resting on his wife’s head, the two of them warmly embraced.
Eden clicked her tongue. “Look at you…” She spoke quietly, “Ready to go to war, half-dressed in a work suit.”
Laila looked down at herself. She still wore the same forest-green suit that she wore to tend the fields. It was only half on, her upper body exposed as she simply tied the sleeves of the suit around her waist. A small, loose tank top and work boots were the only other things she wore, aside from her rifle. The strap of it was secured across her chest, and the weapon itself was seen over her shoulder, where she could have drawn it from above or below using the sling.
“You look like a soldier…” Eden upturned her brows, “Of all the things. Saying goodbye to your family. Walking out the door. I don’t want the last thing I see to be your back, sweetheart…”
Laila shouldered her weapon. “I know I ain’t always done right by you, mom,” She said, “But I swear, this time I will.”
“I know.” Eden closed her eyes again and breathed in deep. “You weren’t ever bad, Laila. Lost, maybe, but never bad. Never a disappointment. You’re a good girl. You’re just a little… wild. My wild child.” She smiled. “Valyrie starts acting more like you every day. Won’t be long before I’ll have two wild, rowdy kids on my hands. But you need that. All this work we do, all this responsibility… I don’t blame you one bit. It’s not easy. You have to enjoy your youth while you can. I know that’s why you acted out.”
There as a sense of truth, especially to those final words, that made Laila feel ashamed. She had always been good at farm work, and she did enjoy it… but having it as an expectation had forced her in the past to act poorly to others’ detriment. She was a far shot from that as she stood there ready to go fight an intergalactic monster, but she never forgot it.
“So, for your sake,” Eden said, “Take down that monster. Then, fly to your heart’s content and don’t ever look back.”
Laila nodded firmly,
Eden tilted her head toward the door then. “Go,” She said, “Get out of here.”
The girl turned on her heels to march out, but stopped abruptly. She looked back to her mother and said, “I love ya, mom.”
“I love you too,” Eden smiled, “With all my heart.”
Laila hesitantly left the room. In the hall, she recognized many who had gathered to see her off. They were all wearing work suits like hers. All the workers at her farm that she had to pick up and take away at a moment’s notice when Epheral attacked. There were so many of them, several with their own families. When they saw her, their eyes lit up bright with hope. Laila froze when she saw them all, lined down the hallway at either side.
“Go get ‘er Laila!”
“Go show that thing what happens when you mess with us!”
“You can do it, Laila!”
“You’re our girl, Laila!”
“Send that thing back to space!”
“We love ya, Laila!”
Laila quickly lowered her head to hide her eyes, but she couldn’t make it subtle as she wiped away tears. Emotion overflowed and she was paralyzed. She couldn’t find it in herself to take even a step forward. The workers, her family’s employees, the faces she saw every single day, they cheered for her. They clapped their hands and they shouted, making it clear that they stood behind her one hundred percent. Something about that was terrifying. It gripped at her heart and seemed to tear it in two.
“HEY!”
Jimmy’s voice rose loud over everyone, and Laila looked up to see him, hospital gown tied off at the shoulder, marching toward her. Before she could even be confused, he had grabbed her hand. “Quit your crying and get a move on, Laila!” He barked, “You’re not just going to let her make a fool out of me, are you?!”
Lincoln practically tumbled down the hall, his wings buzzing to occasionally lift his feet from the floor and make his scrambling gait all the wilder. He ran into Laila, using her to stop him, where he grabbed her other hand and pulled. “Don’t just stand there!” He said, nearly grinding his own teeth as he trembled, his nerves shot, “Go, go, go!!”
Abigail casually strolled up, circled around Laila, planted her hands on her back, and pushed. Together, the three of them forced Laila to move one step at a time, despite her bumbling confusion. “What’re ya’ll…? Wait a second…!” She said, one foot awkwardly stepping after the first. It wasn’t long before her legs inked over, and the cloud-blue took over for her and stepped in time, with purpose. “C’mon girl!” Sylph added, “If I gotta, you gotta! So, let’s shake a leg!”
Amidst the cheering crowd, they walked Laila toward the nearest exit stairwell. They passed through the door with her, and upon entering the landing they released her. Jimmy stood back and leaned against the wall while Abigail hopped up to sit upon the railing. Jimmy stood nearby her, and together they looked on at Laila expectantly. “Well?” Jimmy said, “You made it this far, didn’t you?”
“You probably shouldn’t be up walkin’ around, I reckon,” Laila said, noting Jimmy’s lack of arm. “What are ya’ll doin’ here?”
Jimmy scoffed. “Making sure that the girl who had the guts to turn her back on me doesn’t get cold feet over this too!”
“We might hate you,” Abigail shrugged, “But, you know.”
“It hasn’t been as much fun since you left!” Lincoln blurted out, receiving a soft smack upside the back of his head by Abigail. He flinched.
Laila laughed. “Seriously? Are ya’ll getting’ sappy on me now?” She took a moment to breathe, rubbing her nose, “You varmints… ya’ll can’t just come ‘round and do that now.”
“I can do whatever the hell I want,” Jimmy said, “Because we live in a world where I’m free to do as I please. So, this Epheral hag can’t end it yet. I’m not done with it. If that means I have to rely on you, then you’ve got no choice but to blast her to bits, you hear me?”
“Easy for you to say,” Laila said, “You ain’t the one everyone’s expectin’ to make miracles.”
“Bah, screw them,” Jimmy spat, “So what if they’re expecting things? They always expect things! Get good grades, get along with everyone, don’t run at the pool, don’t talk in the library, grow up and have kids… They want you to follow their rules all the time, and for what? Their own selfish reasons. If it wasn’t this, what would it be? Oh, right. Run the farm. Because you have to. That’s what they expect from you.”
“Yeah!” Lincoln agreed, “It’s always so much… pressure!”
Laila frowned at them. She let out a soft sigh and shook her head. “You… idiots.” She said, “It ain’t like that. It’s more complicated than that. Ya’ll just don’t understand.”
“Meh…” Abigail shrugged again, staring flatly at Laila, “What we do understand is that life would suck if it stopped tomorrow. Whatever they want from you… eh. Compared to that?”
“I’d go out there myself, but I lost an arm taking a bullet for them. As far as I’m concerned, they can stuff it.” Jimmy said, “You just do whatever you want to do. Nobody’s forcing you to do anything. If you’re gonna stand there crying in the hall because you’re scared, then whatever. Be scared. You’re allowed.”
Laila shot him a look. “Just because I’m afraid don’t mean I ain’t gonna fight,” She said, “I’m goin’ out there. If I ain’t then that arm ain’t gonna mean nothin’.”
Jimmy showed his teeth, staring intensely into her eyes. Then, he grinned and let out a barking laugh. “Ha!” He said, “Right answer. Nobody who stands up to me gets to back down to anything else. Then get out there and give her a shot in the mouth for us.”
“Yeah!” Lincoln concurred. Abigail smirked and held up her hand, gesturing a thumb-up when her lengthy sweater sleeve rolled down.
“We’ll take care of things here,” The jellyfish said, “Alright?”
“You all are so confusin’!” Sylph piped up, “Are ya friend ‘er foe?! You’re throwin’ my brain through a loop!”
“We’re whatever we wanna be!” Jimmy barked, “And don’t you forget it!”
“Whatever,” Sylph said, “Laila, let’s get goin’. We gotta save these idiots from the big bad boogieman.”
“Reckon yer right,” Laila said, “Try not to hurt yerselves doin’ anythin’ decent for a change. I know ya’ll ain’t in practice.”
She resumed going down the stairs, and the trio watched her leave. Abigail snorted. “So, what do we do?”
“Keep people from losing their damn minds,” Jimmy said, “If I can keep it together and I’m missing an arm, then everybody ought to keep from freaking out.” He looked straight to Lincoln. “Starting with you, you little spaz.”
Lincoln hunched down, fidgeting. “Sorry!” He said, “This is very stressful!”
“To you, everything’s very stressful.” Abigail hopped down from the railing and made for the exit, patting Lincoln on the back to get him moving.
“You just saying that is stressful!” Lincoln complained, “This entire situation is very stressful!”
“Hmph…” Jimmy grumbled, “Let’s give this hero thing a try. But we’re doing it my way.”
-
--
-
Daxton had to stop and admire himself in the mirror for a moment before striking his hanmi stance, holding his arms parallel with his centre, one extended out, the other kept drawn in. He deflected a blow in his mind and twisted his arm around to draw it in and manipulate it – then he came crashing back with his other arm in a strong haymaker to take the unseen opponent off their feet. He shook out the stance and relaxed his body, swaying with a combat rhythm only he could hear, watching the way his arms flexed in the mirror.
Then a tight constriction around his abdomen took the air out of him. “Hnngh! Oof…!”
Quincey pulled a bandage around his abdomen tight, forcing him to suck in his stomach. “Would you hold still?” She chastised him, “I can’t do this when you’re swinging around so much.”
“I’m just practicing,” He said, lifting his arms so she could work. He ran his fingers through his hair, peeling back his bangs to study the patches over his eyes. “What’d you call this again?”
“Sarashi,” Quincey said, tucking the bandages so they remained snuggly wrapped. “It’s supposed to withstand injury, and only big tough guys like you wore it. It was from that project on pre-splice Japanese culture. Remember?”
Daxton looked at the bandages around his hands, which were more there for his injuries than anything. A patch on his cheek covered a bruise, and a couple on his legs were tending to some cuts. “I’m starting to look like the thing from the pyramids,” He said, “A damn mummy.”
Having finished dressing him, Quincey moved in to press up against his back and embrace him with one arm. He sighed pleasantly, only to suck in a sudden hiss when she surprised him by sticking his bicep with a common painkiller pen. “Gngh…!” He winced, holding his breath until she withdrew it, almost immediately feeling the numbing warmth wash over him. He relaxed, and Quincey settled her chin down on his shoulder, looking at their reflection in the mirror.
“So… I know you told me not to think about it, but…” Quincey said, “… I can’t help but worry.”
She was shaking. Daxton rested his hands over hers. “That’s fine, you’re right to worry. One of us has to,” Daxton reasoned, “I have to believe we can do it. When diplomacy fails… and you know it will fail, right? When it does, I’m gonna have to really let her have it until she’s ready to listen.”
“I know,” Quincey said, “It’s… unlikely that she’ll listen to anything we have to say at first.”
Daxton breathed in and exhaled slowly. “Quincey, you do realize that it’s possible she won’t listen at all.”
“Mm…” Quincey nodded her head, caressing Daxton’s chest and taking in the scent of the shampoo from their earlier shower. “I guess then… we’d have to destroy her core. It’s sad, but we don’t have a choice.”
“Well, you don’t have to. I’ll smash it to bits, so just leave that to me. I’ll shoulder that.” He looked down at her and smiled, “But honestly? You’re so darn sweet, I don’t think it’s possible to resist. If she really ever was as good as Duplex says, then there’s gotta be some little part of her that’ll listen.”
“Maybe.” Quincey stepped back, and Daxton turned around. She stood there, meek and unassuming, kind of swaying in place with a twist of her hips. “So… do I look ready?”
Daxton crossed his arms, then raised a hand to stroke his chin thoughtfully as he looked her over. “Well, let’s see… Teenage girl, vest, undershirt, under-undershirt, plaid skirt, long socks, dress shoes, glasses…” Quincey blushed as he rattled of her apparel by list, shrugging her shoulders. He hid his smile with his hand, maintaining an otherwise studious expression. “Beautiful eyes… adorable freckles… amazing smile… This girl really lights up a room.”
“Stop,” She almost laughed, holding a hand up to her chest, “My heart is pounding lightyears in a minute, I-I can’t deal with all of this at once… I’m shaking, I feel like I’m going to faint.”
Daxton stepped forward and gently held her hands. “If there was ever a force for everything that was good in this world, it’s you.” He said, “That’s the way you’ve always been to me.”
A smile broke through on her face and she quickly kissed him. It was brief, but tender, and when she withdrew, she continued to sway nervously. Her thumbs gently massaged the back of his strong, but injured hands. “Um… so… together, then?” She said, tilting her head just a little.
Daxton chuckled and clicked his tongue when he nodded. “Just let me put my shirt back on.”
“O-Okay, but seriously, if you wait too much longer you’re going to have to carry me…!” Quincey said, “My knees are gelatin!”
“Hey, what a coincidence,” Daxton said as he reached for his shirt that had been draped across the bed, “So are mine.”
-
--
-
The sounds of machinery buzzed all throughout the vehicle bay. Workers had been working non-stop around the clock, and deadline was upon them. Even then, several suited men and women were just finishing casting the shell on their charge. Sal rubbed his antlers as he paced around the vehicle, tablet in hand, checking, double-checking, and triple-checking every corner and every system. The Digger had been made new again and had become quite patchwork. Where the rust had eaten away the chassis, it had been affixed with construct-plastic equivalents in triple layering. Select parts of the outside had been reinforced with Curon to resist impact and absorb shock. The laser’s firing mechanism had been coated with heat-resistant Starlite, and the mechanics of it had been pulled out, rewired, and reset. The cockpit had been re-done very basically. Much of the dashboard mechanics remained exposed, just enough to be operable and nothing more. The steering had been simplified, and the controls had been shifted to more resemble the typical residential-brand. Fewer levers, more buttons, and all-direction steering.
The back-end had been scraped as free of rust as possible and the seating had been replaced with safety harnessed, heavy-duty seats – six of them in all, without even the slightest space for another. The doors had been replaced, and the very back of it was made to open. The thing looked like a chimera of old and new-age parts. One part mining laser, one part personnel vehicle, and one part garbage truck, it appeared sloppily built. Sal, however, was certain that it wasn’t simply in working order. It was extra-functional.
As he came around to the cockpit again, he looked up to see Erwin inside testing the auxiliary steering. He leaned down sideways to get a better look at the side panels of the vehicle, watching them flex open and closed like fins. Standing back up, he hovered his finger over a selection on his tablet. “Checks out, kid?”
Satisfied, Erwin turned and climbed down from the vehicle. “It works great, Sal!” He said, “Amazing how you could do this in such short notice. You’re a legend.”
“This was the hard work of about fifteen people!” Sal said, “We were trippin’ over each other just to get everything on!”
Erwin checked his PET. “Well, we have almost an hour to spare. We made it.”
“Yeah, well, it’s almost a good thing that alien whatever is looming over us. Couldn’t have slept no matter how much I want to. I’ll rest easy once this thing’s out of our hair.” Sal said, “Where’s the super-kids?”
“They should be…” Erwin trailed off as he caught sight of the Harbington kids out of the corner of his eye. “Right there,” He said, hustling over to meet them, “You made it!”
Daxton, Quincey, Kenny, and Laila stopped at Erwin’s approach. They looked past him, however, at the vehicle sitting ready in the spotlights from above. Workers were just putting the finishing touches on it and had stood up and stepped away to bask in the accomplishment. Some of the smoke from the casting still hung in the air around it, and the vehicle bay smelled of welded plastic and metal. They were taken away by the spectacle of it – a mechanized creation sitting amid an epicenter of construction. Even when the work had stopped, the sounds of bustling workers echoed throughout the wide-open area where scrap parts and discards still lay scattered. Erwin didn’t waste any time with pleasantries, and he stepped aside to show off what had been done. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Prana Island Express.” He said, standing next to them as they marvelled at it.
Kenny was almost twitching. “Whoa,” He said, “This is modelled after one of the last LEEUs, isn’t it? Right at the tail-end of Locksmouth’s excavations. I didn’t know you guys still had any laying around.”
“That would be thanks to Kei finding it for us,” Erwin explained, “I guess we can gawk at it for now until everyone else gets here.”
“Ohhh my…” Quincey said, nestling in against Daxton. “I never expected something like this. It seems so… g-grandiose.”
“Well, reckon we need all the power of an ornery mule to kick her door in,” Laila said, “This thing’s at least seven of those.”
“Alright, get that thing onto the pad!” Sal shouted, “Let’s go, people! End of the world, comin’ up! Move it!”
Without so much ceremony, the platform that the Digger was stationed on began to rotate. Erwin rubbed his head. “Alright maybe we can’t gawk at it,” He said, “Well, I hope they get here soon.”
The five of them stepped away, watching as the Digger was raised, turned to face the upper shuttle doors. Machinery came to life, operated by the dutiful workers, moving mechanical arms and cranes to begin constructing a gravital accelerator – something to launch the vehicle at incredible speeds. Based upon the orientation of the place, outside those shuttle doors undoubtedly lay the horizon, where Epheral’s spire awaited. Soon, the kids were ushered aside, walked to one of the observation rooms where they could watch the process without being in the way. When they entered, several people had already gathered; namely the arbitrators of both Locksmouth and Harbington, as well as some of their combined police force.
“Aha, there you are,” Eddie had been waiting for those doors to open, and he approached his son and the others with a big smile, “I think you’re a little late, but I suppose there’s no point chewing you out now.”
“I can, and I will,” Edward joined his husband, the beaver leaning forward to get right in Daxton’s face, “Daxton Kemberge, this is by far the craziest thing you’ve ever done. There is no limit in the known universe, even where these Inklings come from, to the number of things I want to say are your worst, stupidest ideas yet in these last few days alone.”
He then grabbed Daxton and hugged him hard enough to pick him up. “Ohhh, you frustrating boy!” Edward chastised him, “I love you so much!”
Daxton groaned as he father squeezed him. Eddie laughed and joined in the little family hug. While that was going on, Quincey’s mother hustled in to bombard her daughter in kind. “Quincey, honey!” She said, seeming exasperated and relieved at the same time. Her husband, Walter, was with her. He approached much more timidly, his dark hair matted, his clothes looking frumpy and rough. Quincey blinked at him, and when her eyes met him, he teared up. “Uuuuweh, Quincey!” He whined, sniffling as he got in close and pulled his daughter into a hug, nuzzling his head against hers, “You’ve grown up so much!”
“Walter, please,” Paula sighed, “Get a hold of yourself.”
“Why?” Walter rebutted, “My baby girl is going to fight an intergalactic monstrosity, and it’s scaring the heck out of me! I’m at wit’s end, Paula!”
Quincey maintained her composure and gently pat her father’s arm. “A… Ahaha…” She laughed nervously, habitually. “S-Sorry, Dad… I don’t mean to make you worry.”
Walter choked at Quincey’s words, and then burst out into blubbering sobs. He hugged her tighter against him, crying like a baby. “You’re so good!” He said, “Too good! Too good for this!”
Paula sighed and turned her head, pressing her fingers against her forehead. “Oh brother…” She said, “My little crybabies.”
Gerald had been standing at the observation window patiently, waiting for Kenny to notice him. The second he did, Gerald snapped his fingers and gestured firmly to the spot beside him. Kenny smiled somewhat. “Uh oh,” He muttered, stepping forward at his father’s request and standing where he was instructed to. Gerald turned to him, his gaze lingering on the bulky mining laser they had rigged up into their escort. “You’re really going to ride that thing?” The gruff lemming said, finally addressing his son, “… It’s good that I didn’t skip your shots.”
The man turned to Kenny and started fussing. He began by checking over the armor plating he wore. “Is it all holding up alright?” He asked, pausing as he gently drifted his fingers over some of the worn scratches that had been drawn into the metal. Gerald groused, his mustache drooping with his frown. “I could have buffed these out, Kenny,” He said, “Now you’re going out there in this shoddy-looking work.”
“It’s fine, Dad,” Kenny chuckled, “It’s still gonna do its job.”
“Hmph…” Gerald huffed, “I suppose.” He studied Kenny’s face for a moment. He then withdrew a hand to lick his thumb and use that to smooth down some of Kenny’s fur along his cheek. Kenny winced and turned his head away in embarrassed defiance, but Gerald just reaffirmed his grip on the boy’s shoulder and kept him in place. “Floria’d have my head if I let you go out like this. Who dressed you?”
“I dressed myself!” Kenny pouted, “And I brushed my own damn hair!”
“Not very well!” Gerald said, “If you’re going to do this hero thing, at least look the part.”
“… I barely even have hair!” Kenny snidely responded, “And you wouldn’t even know what a hero looks like, so whatever.”
Gerald stifled a little smile. He pat Kenny on the shoulder and carefully withdrew his hand. “Looks like you, I guess…” He said, “Still… suppose that’s just my way of worrying about you.”
“Well d…” Kenny paused, stopping himself. He calmed down and thought carefully about what he was going to say and changed gears. With a hand over his heart, he nodded. “No, uh… Thanks, Dad. I promise I’ll be careful.”
“I’ll be rooting for you from here,” Gerald said, “And your mother, she’ll be watching you too.”
“… Yeah,” Kenny said somewhat apprehensively, “Thanks.”
“Oh, boy…” Laila snickered, winking at Quincey. “Couldn’t ya’ll have kept a lid on this family mushy stuff? Shoulda been like me, got it outta the way before ya left.”
Quincey gave her a sideways glance and shrugged. Laila clicked her tongue and moved to stand by the viewing window, crossing her arms and leaning back against the wall. She sighed, letting her shoulders droop. “Well then,” She muttered, “Saddle up. We’re about to go for a ride.”
-
--
-
As preparations neared completion, Natalie arrived at the vehicle bay. Outside, a massive crowd had amassed, all gathering to see their heroes off. It was possible that many expected to see her there, and when she came upon this realization, she pulled her hood up over her head to hide herself. She was still far too weak to be doing any world-saving… something her mother, who had accompanied her, had reminded her of more than once. Natalie had long since surrendered to this fact, but she wasn’t the sort to sit around and do nothing while everyone else was putting in work. Joined by Carrie, Jacent, Max, Sam, and Lorna, Natalie and her group pushed their way past the bustling crowds. That excursion alone took what felt like ages, but when they arrived at the entrance, the police let them pass without a fuss.
Inside, they came upon the very moment Quincey and her pack were about to board the Digger. Quincey had just gripped the ladder to climb inside when she spotted Natalie at the doors. She immediately abandoned the notion of getting inside and hurried to meet the group part-way. “Natalie!” She exclaimed, “You shouldn’t be up and walking around yet!”
“I know,” Lorna responded flatly, “I told her that.”
Jacent chuckled. “She was very insistent.”
“Yeah real antsy for someone who had trouble putting on her own shoes!” Carrie hooked an arm around Natalie’s shoulders and pulled her into an almost crushing hug, “But I wuv dressing up my puppu, yes I do.”
Natalie made a pathetic “nyeh” sound as she was squeezed, but she smiled at Quincey all the same. “Hey Quincey,” She said, “I had to come and see you off…”
Samantha stepped forward with Max in tow, posing flamboyantly. “And you certainly didn’t think that you’d be going to save the world all by yourselves, did you?” She asked, “Were you not even going to wait for us?”
“I had to tell Sully to be ready with his boat for when things got cray-zee!” Max added, practically lunging into the conversation and throwing his hands down in a punk gesture, “That’s why we were so lizzity-late!”
Quincey looked to each of Natalie’s packmates, a little embarrassed that the thought hadn’t occurred to her. “O-Oh, I… I thought maybe you were tired…” She said, “You’ve all done so much already.”
“Yes, well, unfortunately only Max and I are in any condition to join you,” Samantha explained, making Carrie grouse. “However, don’t mistake that as me saying you won’t be getting our best. Max and I were two of the three that drove that ghastly despot out of Canvas, after all.”
“We beat her once, we can do it again!” Max bobbled his head in a nod, striking a kung-fu pose, “Time flows like a river, and history repeats! The small rebellion army will once again overthrow the tyrant of the East, just as before.”
Quincey turned her attention to Carrie with a bit of a start. The cat seemed to avoid making eye-contact with her, arms crossed, and shoulders bunched up, clearly irritated. “Carrie…? Weren’t you also going to come…?”
Carrie knit her brows and seemed to struggle just to get the words out of her mouth. “Nnnh… I can’t!” She proclaimed, slumping immediately.
To keep Quincey form being too distressed, Natalie stepped in. “Yeah, so… apparently, face-tanking an attack that could literally pull Duplex from your body is kind of tough on ol’ Arus…” Natalie explained, “Honestly, Arus is the only one who could probably take something like that head-on… once, anyway.”
“She’s got no juice left!” Carrie bemoaned her circumstances, hands held out to curse the fates. “I was gonna come, honest I was! But Arus decided to wait before telling me there was nothing left in the tank!” She paused and considered something before adding, “… At least, she couldn’t really tell me until I went to sleep.”
“Oh no…” Quincey said, covering her lips somewhat in concern. “Is Arus alright?”
“Yeah, she’s okay. Just, like Nat said, she can take it once. Not twice.” Carrie grumbled. “So, sorry… if I went with you right now, I’d just hold you back. Instead, I’m gonna wait here. Just in case.”
“Just in case…?” Quincey was about to ask what for, but she came to the right conclusion on her own. “… O-Oh.”
Quincey’s pack joined her, and Daxton grinned. “Hey, are you guys coming too?” He asked, “Well hey, thanks! Always happy to have Mhend around.”
Samantha narrowed her eyes somewhat at him. “Mister Kemberge, do not get it in your head that Mhend’s healing powers permit you to act recklessly.”
“Don’t throw your healer at the MVP, bro!” Max said, “She’s the precious. We keep the precious safe.”
“… We’ll do our best to make sure nothing happens to you,” Quincey said, regarding Natalie after, “I promise, Natalie. I promise I’ll fight as hard as I can if I have to. I won’t let you down.”
Natalie moved away from her girlfriend’s support and stood before Quincey with a little smile on her face. “It’s your show, Quincey,” She said, “I know it won’t be easy, but I believe you’ll do your best.”
Regarding Carrie next, Quincey gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m really sorry, Carrie, I understand how you feel…” She said, “It’s good enough knowing that we have your support.”
Carrie pricked up her ears and stuck out her hands as if to keep Quincey at a distance. “Whoa, don’t you get all sympathetic on me!” She said, “You just have to kick Epheral’s butt. That’s all I want.”
Quincey nodded. “O-Of course.”
“Epheral’s going to get one heck of a surprise,” Natalie said, “She’s probably expecting me, and definitely not expecting you.”
Quincey’s form shimmered turquoise green, and Duplex stepped apart from her. The Inkling took Natalie’s hands to assure her. “I’m ready, Natalie. If Epheral won’t listen to reason, then I’ll be sure to use everything you’ve given me. I’m… not in the habit of wasting second chances. Or third chances.”
“Oh!” Natalie perked up in surprise, “Duplex, you’re dry? Huh. I guess that whole thing fixed you up better than I thought.”
“I’ve never felt better, Natalie.” Duplex smiled, “And it’s all because of you and Echelon… and in a way, because of Epheral’s power. Sometimes, when I think about the exact circumstances that needed to come together for this to happen… I-It’s almost unreal. Well, it’s beyond unreal. I hope Echelon is doing okay. I know it’s both of your power that’s inside me now. I hope I didn’t take too much…”
“Honestly, I think it took more out of her than it did out of me,” Natalie said, “But she’s okay. She’s just taking a biiiiig nap. She’ll be fine in a couple of days probably. Probably around the same time I’m feeling better. And you didn’t take too much. If anything about that was too much, it’s because we gave you too much.”
“Because my Nat-Bat doesn’t half-ass anything!” Carrie grinned, “Even if half her ass is all most people ever need.”
Natalie flattened her ears and glared at Carrie, who returned with an affectionate, cat-like smile. At that moment, a loud buzzer sounded off in the building that drowned out all other noise. It lasted for maybe a second at best, unignorable in its volume and pitch. Right on its heels, Erwin hurried over. “It’s time to go, guys,” He said, “We don’t have a lot more time before Epheral just assumes you’re not coming.” He paused, seeing Natalie, and he waved. “Oh hi, Natalie! You look good. I mean, you’re looking better. Not that you… never mind. I’m tired.”
“Smooth,” Daxton grinned, “Alright, all’s aboard that’s comin’ aboard. Last one in has to sit on Kenny’s lap.”
“Oh,” Samantha said, sauntering forward and pausing to flick one of her fingers along Kenny’s chest plate. “You know, to some girls, a knight in shining armor doesn’t sound that bad.”
“There’s enough seats for all of us,” Kenny said through his teeth, “We’re good.”
“Oh, poo.” Samantha pouted. She then turned and waved to Natalie. “Natalie dear, we’ll be back before you know it.”
“You drink your juice and get plenty of rest!” Max added, scampering forward on his hands and feet in a mad dash toward the Digger. “I’ve wanted to see one of these things in action since forever!”
Duplex gave Natalie a quick hug, and then returned to Quincey, merging with her again. Natalie waved to them. “Remember, shade. Prana will be going between you so quick, Epheral won’t be able to just suck it out of you. But it won’t last long. Hit her fast and hit her hard.”
“If she won’t listen to reason, we’ll do exactly that.” Quincey said, “Goodbye, Natalie. Thank you for everything.”
“Could you sound any more fatal?” Kenny scoffed, “We’ll seeya soon, Natalie.”
They turned their backs on their friends and made for the Digger. It was all set to go, risen on a platform they had to climb up to one at a time, where they waited for everyone else before getting inside. Kenny made for the driver’s side quickly, but just as he was set to climb in, Laila butt in. She planted her hand on his head and shoved him to the ground, taking his place and climbing up. She opened the door to see a pilot inside – a small marmoset girl who was very clearly ready to ferry them to their destination. “Awright you,” Laila said, sticking her thumb back over her shoulder, “Out.”
“Huh?” The girl blinked in confusion.
She found herself pulled out of the seat, and Laila stepped back down the ladder just to deposit the would-be pilot safely onto the ground before climbing inside herself. Kenny had moved around to the other side of the cockpit and climbed inside, finding that his legs barely had any room on that side due to the haphazard design of the dash. Laila settled into the driver’s seat and closed the doors, beginning to study the steering systems with interest. “Would ya lookit this thing?” She said, “Practically a zombie!”
“Definitely looks like…” Kenny paused after studying the make of the vehicle’s interior for a while, shifting into a seat designed more for function than comfort. “… Like crap. This thing is pretty crap.”
“But I bet it sure is sturdy,” Laila gripped the steering with a big grin, “Can take a real whallopin’, I reckon!”
“Laila, do not break our brand-new mining thing.” Kenny narrowed his eyes at her, “This isn’t a joy-ride!”
Laila sighed and sat back. “Yeah, yer right,” She said, “Under better circumstances, I’d love to take this thing out and just… beat the tar outta it. Reckon I’ll settle for beatin’ the tar outta Epheral usin’ it instead.”
“I think it’ll get the… tar… beat out of it pretty well just getting in there.” Kenny said as he half-stood to reach a screen that hung above them in the cockpit, pushing on the buttons to try turning it on. A light blinked on at the corner, and soon the screen flickered to life and displayed an inside view of the vehicle’s cargo. The others were getting settled into their equally uncomfortable-looking seats, Quincey specifically attempting to wriggle her way into something vaguely resembling a comfortable position without being too squashed up. “Oh, hey guys.” Kenny said, “Looks… I’ll say cozy, back there.”
The seats were crammed side-by-side in a row of three on each side. When the back door closed, they were left in darkness save for the light of the visible monitor that Kenny and Laila were watching them through. Daxton appeared unreasonably close to the screen, grabbing it by both sides and adjusting it, making the feed flicker. “Yeah it’s a real treat,” He said, “This thing’s like a can and it’s like fifty million degrees in here.”
“Don’t worry!” Max said, the boy trying to fit into his chair by tumbling into it, flipping upside down, and sideways, and every which way before he ended up in a proper seated position, “I’m too cool for school, so I’ll chill the place out!”
“Would you hold still?” Samantha chastised the boy, seating herself next to him. She was so small that she had the space to cross her legs, but her blouse was starting to look a little… stuck-on. She fanned herself with one hand and sighed. “I suppose this is just fitting, isn’t it? We haven’t even taken off and it’s already horrendously uncomfortable, not to mention horrible for my hair!”
“Oh, I can fix that!” Max offered.
Kenny and Laila couldn’t really see what happened, but they certainly heard it when Sam shrieked, “MAX! DISGUSTING!”
“Yeah, not exactly how I imagined the departure, but I suppose it beats being all grim and crap,” Daxton chuckled, “How’s it look up there?”
“Looks easy enough to steer,” Laila said, “And, it’s got this big ol’ red button, which I reckon…”
Sal’s face crowded into the corner of the display screen. “First thing’s first, DO NOT TOUCH THE BUTTON.” He practically shouted, making Laila wince and withdraw her finger. “You don’t wanna blow the doors off this place and dig a hole straight through the next two buildings, do ya? You push that button when we tell you to!”
Laila sat back and saluted. Sal sighed. “This thing’s got a minimum clearance of pretty much half a block. Now the range ain’t that impressive past that either, so you can’t go blowin’ it early. You’ll mess up your speed if you do that, and you need all we’re gonna be pulling from that heap of scrap if you don’t wanna use your hands to dig the rest of the way. That’s assuming Erwin’s calculations were accurate.”
Laila and Kenny shrugged. Sal mulled over the details for a while, and then shook his head in denial of any concerns. “We double and triple checked everything with calculations of our own. It has to be right. Anyway, as soon as you’re all ready, we’ll launch ya. Don’t worry, I’ll be right here, we’ll be monitoring you, and I’ll tell you when to set that laser off.”
For a moment, Kenny and Laila simply sat there in the silence of the cockpit. Kenny uncomfortably shifted in his seat as his sword pressed against his back, keeping him from fully sitting back. Laila, too, had trouble as her own weapon caused her the same discomfort. Kenny looked at his hands, which he kept clenched into fists on his lap. The metal chevron coverings on the back of them shined back up at him as they caught the light. Laila glanced over at him, and she shrugged.
“So… what’re we supposed to do at a time like this?” She asked, “Ain’t never been off to save the world before. I guess it’s do or don’t.”
“Yeah…” Kenny said, “I keep trying to think of the things I want to do when we get back, but I guess I can’t get rid of the possibility that I might just… not.”
“Well, what do ya wanna do when you get back?” Laila asked, “Me, I just wanna get that farm up and runnin’ again. I just want things to go back to normal.”
Kenny looked at her, envious of her comparatively simple mindset. It wasn’t complicated or loaded – just get back to normal, that’s all it was. “Well…” He said, “I just wanna… start over. I wanna go back, clean up the messes I made in the past, and then just try to live a whole new life.”
Laila raised an eyebrow at him. “Huh,” She said, “Well that’s unexpected, but… at the same time, it’s mighty noble of ya, pardner. Sounds like somethin’ worth doin’.”
“Yup.” Kenny shot her a nervous sort of grin, “Just gotta get over this… pretty substantially big hurdle, and I can get right on that.” He chuckled a little, despite himself and soon lowered his eyes back toward his lap. “Yeah, no big deal…”
Laila leaned over, pressing her elbow down on the boy’s shoulder to rest on him and shove him a little. “Well hey now, if’n the creek don’t rise, I think ya’ll will do just fine. I’m all about reinventin’ yerself and take it from me: just slow down, think about what you’re gonna do, and then pretty much do the opposite of what ya’ll’re thinkin’ if it’s what ya’ll would usually think. Do that every now n’ then and eventually you’ll change.”
“Gee,” Kenny said, pushing her back with a grumble, “You make it sound so easy.”
“Heck no!” Laila almost laughed, “It’s hard as heck! But that’s kinda the point. Ain’t nothin’ worth doin’ was ever gone and done easy. It ain’t easy for me to stop thinkin’ like I ain’t got no control over my life. Had it all just set up, n’… well, I banked too hard into high-tailin’ it as far away from that as I could get. If I didn’t draw the line, well… suppose I’d still be runnin’. It’s hard swimmin’ back upstream after lettin’ it carry you off so far.”
She tapped him on the nose. “You just gotta start swimmin’ yer little heart out, darlin’. I promise the metaphorical current eases up after enough. But as long as ya don’t go over the falls, there’s still hope goin’.”
“Right now, though,” She gripped the wheel and looked forward, “Epheral’s keen on makin’ sure that ain’t none of us are gonna be makin’ them choices ever again. Bless her little heart.”
“Well… I ain’t keen on that,” Kenny said, “So let’s send her packing already.”
“Can I get a ‘heck yeah?’” Laila muttered, reaching over to switch the screen feed back to the cargo. “Ya’ll ready back there?”
The four teens in the back had gotten their harnesses fastened so they were secure in their seats. Daxton sat next to Quincey, and once they were settled, he took her hand and squeezed it. The girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Sinking into her seat, she tried to clear her mind of her worries and her biting doubts. Knowing full well that the others might hear her, she kept her voice low, and as she held Daxton’s hand, she focused inward, and the noise around her dimmed.
“… I have never felt sorrow without reason… I have not closed my ears to truth… I have not worked evil…”
-
--
-
“Dormence… Tranquil…”
“It’s going to be alright, Epheral. You’re going to be fine. Just rest now.”
“… Why do they always hurt me?”
“…”
“They don’t understand. They’re afraid.”
“I’m trying to help them!”
“We know that. We know. Epheral, pain is… pervasive. If they hadn’t been hurt by Osoth already, I’m sure that they wouldn’t be so quick to hurt you.”
“… I can change it, can’t I? That’s what you said.”
“Yes. Of course. It’s just going to take more time.”
“Can I make it so that nobody ever gets hurt again?”
“… Nobody? Ever? Epheral, I don’t know… Pain is part of living. Everyone hurts sometimes.”
“But you said! You said I could change everything for Inklings and their hosts! If Osoth wasn’t hurting everyone, they wouldn’t hurt me! They wouldn’t hurt you! They wouldn’t have to! Can I do that or not? I have the power, don’t I?”
“… Yes. Yes, of course.”
“You do. I think… that maybe you do. It’s just going to take more time. For now, just rest. We can try again tomorrow.”
-
--
-
“Beg your pardon, monsieur, but… is she talking to herself?” Samantha addressed Daxton while looking concerned at Quincey, who had fallen mostly quiet save for some incomprehensible muttering as she went through the 42 Laws of Maat, out of order.
Daxton kept a hold on Quincey’s hand, and waved Sam’s concern off with his other. “Oh, she gets like that sometimes… like, before tests and stuff, or things she’s stressed about.” He explained, smirking at Quincey and briefly taking comfort in her regular, normal, albeit odd habit. “She’s fine. Well, ish. She’ll be alright. She just needs a sec.”
Samantha shifted her gaze left and right. “Should we… wait?”
“Nah,” Daxton said, addressing the monitor next, “Start ‘er up, guys. We’ve got a date with the big bad.”
The platform had rotated until the Digger was directed toward the bay doors a few stories off the ground. When they exited there, the vehicle would travel a clear shot over the buildings and out toward the sea. Those gathered in the bay watched with bated breath as the mechanisms set in motion, and the bay doors began to open and let in the evening sunset. Laila and Kenny squinted as the light came pouring in through the viewscreen, small as the screen was. When the entire platform jerked beneath them, making it clear that everything had locked into place, everyone made sure that their harnesses were fastened and that they were ready to go. Kenny and Laila made sure that their weapons were secured in the cockpit, tucked down by their feet at the very least, and Laila began the ignition sequence.
“Alright,” Sal said over the communicator, “Activate the grav and let the jumper do the rest of the work. This is the moment, people, after this we’re just left sitting on our hands until you get back!”
Laila flipped the necessary switches and then sat back, fully extending her arms to grip the steering. The metal contraption came to life, its bulky frame lifting off the platform a short way when the grav skiffs kicked on. The energy pulsed, and to everyone within, it felt as sluggish as it must have been. Perhaps the frame wasn’t as perfectly adjusted to the new tech as it could be. The thought nagged at them in the backs of their minds, but when the Digger settled into a rather normal idling, they had to remind themselves that there was no time for further calibrations. Everything had to proceed the way it was with no room for doubt.
“Alright, launching in T-minus ten.” A voice spoke over the comm, likely not just to them but also to those in the control room and the remainder of the bay. People cleared off, giving the entire space to the launch.
“Hold on to your butts!” Max said, crossing his legs as he gripped the harness he wore, childishly excited to experience the vehicle in motion. Samantha nervously tried to settle in but was so unclear of the protocol that she couldn’t decide on the proper way to sit. Daxton looked to Quincey, the girl keeping her eyes closed. Her muttering had gone silent, but it was clear she was deep within her own mind, thinking hard on something she was unwilling to share. She looked distressed. Daxton rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb and settled in as the vehicle was picked up by the launcher, hoisted higher in the air, captured in the gyroscope and rattling as pressure and energy built around them. Laila jammed her thumb into one final button, erecting the Digger’s strong-force containment around them. The air around it barely rippled as the egg-shaped force surrounded them, all but invisible to the naked eye.
The air around them became energized. It thrummed with gathering force, and as the countdown reached zero, the entire thing jerked into a sudden, intense forward momentum. Like being fired from a cannon, they shot off the platform and straight ahead through the sky. The g-forces of the launch took them, the rushing air around them only slightly muffled by the risen force field. The interior of the cargo hold rattled, as if a panel was put on too loose somewhere but the space was so compact that it was impossible to tell where. Quincey felt her stomach move, her entire body pushed to one side as the Digger rushed forward. She couldn’t see just how quickly they cleared the buildings and left the crowds below behind. It had taken less than a second.
They had cleared the beach’s shores in almost no time at all, and the force of their jettison carved a clear parting in the ocean.
Having watched them leave, Carrie slouched. “Man, I should be out there.”
“Aww,” Natalie gently rubbed her back, “I know babe, but I’d rather you be safe than sorry.”
Carrie smiled at Natalie, then looked back toward the open bay doors. “What do you think?”
“I think they’ll be okay,” Natalie said, “Quincey and Duplex… they might not be the best fighters, but I think they’ll keep them safe.”
Carried sighed. “Yeah, but what if she’s got to fight? She’s not in my top five for that. Maybe not even my top ten. The others are alright, but her?”
Natalie laughed. “I get the feeling that Epheral better hope it doesn’t get that far.” She almost reminisced of the times she had seen Quincey in action. Very little of it was combat, but the things Quincey did were impressive, nonetheless. The lengths that girl would go to in order to protect others surprised even her sometimes. Most girls like Quincey didn’t jump in front of bullets to protect girls like Natalie. The roles were unquestionably reversed, and yet that was just the sort of thing Quincey had been doing ever since they met.
“I just don’t think most people can resist her for long.”
-
--
-
“Epheral, get away from her!”
“I have her beaten, Tranquil. It’s fine.”
“Yes, I suppose you do, don’t you? And what will you do now, hm?”
“Don’t listen to her, Epheral. She’s trying to get into your head.”
“… Parthal, you will leave this place, and leave these people alone.”
“What are you? Stupid? It won’t matter whether I stay here or not. These failures are already done. Their puny brains can’t fathom the power Osoth and the Inklings can give them. They’re meat and nothing more. You think you can save them from ineptitude? You can’t even help yourselves. There’s only one way to change anything, and if you could do it, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“… What do you mean?”
“Don’t you see? Your power. It’s why Osoth had me toss you away. Do you honestly think that all your power can do is make constructs and regenerate prana? You stupid, stupid child. With control over prana like that, you could end me. You could end Osoth. With just a thought, you could snuff me out here and now, and yet… here you sit, throwing words.”
“That’s Osoth’s way. That’s your way. That’s not my way.”
“Oh? Says who? Them? You’re going to listen to those two rejects? Let’s recount how well that’s worked for you so far. Is it three worlds you’ve been forced off of now? While you’re out here wasting your time, we’re getting exactly what we want. We’re winning, and you’re losing. Even now, what are you accomplishing? Nothing. Because you’re too weak to do what needs to be done.”
“Epheral, please! Let’s just leave!”
“… Aha, I see it in your eyes. You know. You’ve known you can do this. What did they tell you? That there was a better way? Do you honestly think that if that were true, Dormence and Tranquil wouldn’t be outcast with you, abandoned by their Empress? If they knew what was best, you wouldn’t be here at all. Believe me, Epheral… if you want to make any change at all and apply any meaning to your pitiful efforts… you’ll need to use force. The universe isn’t going to just roll over for you. That’s never been how it works.”
“Shut up. I’m never going to lower myself to your level.”
“Then by all means, turn around and run away. You will regret it.”
“I understand your power better than before. Using it, I can catch Osoth…”
“… And then what? Mm? Pacify her? Bargain with her? Beg? Life won’t bend to your will with such limp efforts, and Osoth doubly so. She will crush you if you hesitate for even a moment.”
“…”
“Mark my words, Epheral… if you can’t get your hands dirty, you’ll be doomed to fail over, and over, and over again. You will stand in the Empress’ shadow for eternity. Power is useless if one does not wield it.”
-
--
-
“AH!” Quincey squealed when the cargo hold was suddenly rocked by some tremendous force pushing back against the Digger. Her head bobbed forward, and then she was broken out of her daze by her head snapping back and hitting the chair she sat in. It hurt a little and made her teeth gnash together, but aside from a little dazing and her glasses being knocked crooked, she was fine. The others were similarly rattled around and forced to shake off the sudden tumbling they had received.
Laila and Kenny had watched the negative field surrounding Epheral’s spire very suddenly expand, and it overtook their vehicle in a wave. The shaking was jarring, but that was far from the only effort Epheral was fit to make. Kenny gripped the dash and leaned forward to watch as the spire ahead of them began to shift and alter its structure almost organically. Sections of the crystalline spire slid and angled until the entire thing spread out like a blooming flower. “Well, we called it!” He said, “Evasive maneuvers, Laila!”
“So y’mean dodge? Dodge what?” She asked, her answer coming in a barrage from the spire. Crystal spikes launched from it and arched like javelins in the air toward them. Laila had barely a moment to put the engine on full throttle and take over the steering, banking over the ocean waters hard. The pressure from the upturned water made everything rumble, and the barrage of spikes only made it worse as Laila narrowly avoided them. They crashed into the strong-force containment and fractured, shooting off in splinters in several places, their impacts sounding alien. The solid prana reverberated strangely with every strike, leaving a ringing in their ears.
“Tarnation!” Laila shouted, swerving left and right to avoid the falling crystal.
“Don’t turn too much!” Kenny said, “Keep our speed!”
Laila shot him a brief wide-eye. “S’either that or get kebabbed, make yer choice!”
Forced to make a hard-right turn, Laila punched it. The body of the vehicle tilted, leaning to one side and raising the other in a fluid, but sharp motion that threatened to send the entire thing rolling. She slammed the steering in the opposing direction at the very apex of the turn and activated the brake, harshly jerking the bulky metal frame back to level. She threw the other passengers around relentlessly, not having much choice in the matter as she did her best to straighten their path again. The loud splashes of the falling crystal could be heard even from inside the cargo hold, sea water raining down over the roof and the sides of it harshly.
“Eek!” Samatha screamed. “Ack! Hnnngh, I’m going to be sick!”
“Yeah!” Daxton shouted back, “Welcome to Laila’s driving! She’s insane!”
“Left, Laila! We gotta hit the right spot!” Kenny said, never taking his eyes off the spire as it rapidly neared. He paused, digging his fingers into the dash and eyeing their destination. “Wait… it’s moving! Damnit, the entire thing’s changing shape!”
“Where’m I goin’?!” Laila demanded some sort of instruction, not able to both avoid the immediate threat and calculate a new path.
“I think… down! No, wait, up!” Kenny said, “The thing’s… aw, shit.”
The spire jutted out near its base, a wall of jagged spikes extending toward them defensively, like barbs. In a moment, that wall of spikes launched toward them, tearing up the water’s surface like a missile barrage all its own. There hadn’t been enough room left to turn, and the speed at which they could expect to meet the assault left little to no room for reaction. The blackened, sharpened spikes cut through the very air to make a slipstream over the ocean’s surface, the sound of the rushing air a wailing screech that was loud even through the bulk of the Digger.
Kenny slapped his palm down on the dash. A sudden rush of force dipped the chassis down, plunging it beneath the ocean’s surface and once more rocking all the passengers as the pressure immediately hit their speed and slowed them. Very narrowly, they avoided the rushing onslaught of parana spikes, passing beneath them in but a moment. Once clear, a similar force pushed them back up, harshly ejecting them from the ocean blue and into the air, hurtling the vehicle toward the spire in a lob. They sailed an arc in the air, coming at the spire at a new downward angle too close for comfort.
Laila slammed her fist onto the big red button. The laser mounted on the front spooled up, a sudden ignition of red-hot light energy building and launching from the muzzle of the metal beast with enough power to push back against their forward momentum. The brilliant laser light penetrated the crystalline prana and bore into it, shredding it apart and carving a path with force. The mechanics of the mining laser worked double-time, the fusion core picking up to such a pitch that the kids couldn’t hear anything else, even as the vehicle was wedged inside the created opening. It was the most intense rocking yet; the cockpit and the cargo hold being shaken violently around as they dug into several feet of solid prana.
They must have breached, though from the inside, that was difficult to discern at that speed and so suddenly. The laser lurched forward, everyone inside being forced against their seats first, and then their harnesses second as they crashed. The Digger dragged a short way after everyone inside nearly threw out their necks in the whiplash. Quincey had been struggling to get a sense of what was going on, but a sudden impact rocked her body, whipped her head aside, and struck her temple on the side of her seat in just such a way that she immediately lost consciousness.
-
--
-
“We have to help her.”
“Epheral, let’s think this through for a moment.”
“She’s lost down here, and if we help her, they’ll finally see that I’m not their enemy! We HAVE to do this!”
“But how? They know to avoid this place. No one has come here for years. Why now?”
“I don’t believe you two! You’re the ones who said we have to help them. You said you’d always support me. Why not now?”
“Things aren’t as simple as before.”
“How?! We can’t just leave her down here anyway! This is the only chance I have, I can’t just not take it!”
“That’s… possibly true, but…”
“Why don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not that we don’t trust you, it’s just…”
“I can do this. I have to do this. I don’t care what you say, I’m going to get her home safe with or without you. I don’t need your help anyway.”
“What?! Epheral!”
“That’s it! I don’t care! You can either come with me or stay here!”
“Epheral wait!”
“…”
“… I don’t like this, Dormence. I don’t know if she can take any more. What if something goes wrong?”
“I don’t know. I’m scared of that.”
-
--
-
“… cey? … u…cy…”
It was dark. Quincey’s head rolled side to side as feeling came back to her, just in time for her to feel how heavily her head pounded. It throbbed in pain so intensely that her stomach spun for a moment, and her entire world seemed to twist around. She moaned pitifully, wincing, her lips tightening up as she sobbed. She felt Daxton place his hands on the sides of her head and gently coax her into staying still. He continued to call her name until he got some verbal response out of her. It took a while for her head to clear, she swallowed and coughed, and Daxton unfastened her harness as her body shook.
“Quincey, are you okay?” He asked again, and the words finally registered with her.
“Nnh…” She whined, not finding the words to answer him with.
“Excuse me, dear, medic coming through.” Daxton looked aside and then backed off. Samantha took his place, looking over Quincey’s head and face carefully. “Hold still, dear. You took one nasty bump on the head.” Quincey, unable to do anything but hold still, found compliance coming easily to her. Samantha tenderly kissed the girl upon her forehead, and when she did an immediate sense of numbness came over Quincey’s skull. The swelling and bruising were quickly relieved, flattening out and returning to a healthy, if slightly red hue.
“There you are,” Samantha soothed the girl, carefully running her fingers once through Quincey’s hair. “All better.”
“Ohh… Unngh…” Quincey groaned, getting her wits about her and pushing herself to sit up. “What happened…?” She couldn’t help but rub her face, kneading at her forehead and scrunching her face up when she felt a stiff tightness in her neck.
Samantha looked out toward the open back-end of the cargo hold. “I believe we have arrived.”
Quincey pawed around her seat for her glasses. She got out of her seat and checked the floor to find them there, broken clear in two. This left the world a little blurry at long distances, but there was nothing she could do. She turned and followed Samantha to step outside, both she and the bat hesitating to put their feet on what went for solid ground amid the blackened crystal expanse. It seemed to smoothly resemble the walls as ceiling, making it appear as in infinite black void, only the clear hole dug to the outside from where they had entered providing some sense of space. Even so, it seemed that light played no part in there. Quincey could still see Samantha perfectly in the dark as if she were standing in a shadow-less, midday sun. She saw Daxton, Max, Kenny and Laila just the same.
Everyone had gathered around the Digger to inspect it while they waited for Quincey to join them. The driver and passenger side doors remained open as Kenny stepped into view from around the frontside. A quick, cursory glance made it clear to Quincey that the Digger had survived the crash with barely a dent. The force field had taken most of the blow. It dug into black ground at its nose, pushing fragments up just under the laser. The edges of the shattered crystal were white, to clearly define them amid the otherwise featureless and dark.
“Ah, you’re alright!” Daxton said, his voice echoing, as did his footsteps as he approached Quincey. “Well, we’re here.”
“And Epheral must be over there!” Max declared. He pointed into the distance at what appeared to be a little speck of light. It was the only other thing of colour in the dark. The teens quizzically noted the distance at which they found themselves apart from Epheral. With a rough estimate of the prana island’s dimensions in mind, it was impossible for there to be enough ground to cover to allow for such a thing. It didn’t make any sense. Epheral’s world was cold, dark, and nonsensically spacious. Even standing next to one another, all they could feel was a nagging sense of isolation in the silence.
For a moment, they simply looked to one another for an answer to the obvious question: what next? Samantha looked to Max, who looked to Laila, who looked to Kenny, who looked to Daxton and Quincey. Eventually, Daxton turned up his hands in a shrug and furrowed his brow before stepping forward to lead the way. One by one, the others followed, with Quincey taking up the rear. The only sound going forward were their footsteps echoing into the darkness. They did their best to sound more like they were marching, and less like a tour group at a museum.
Quincey looked to each one of their backs. In her mind, she worried. She clutched her hands together while she walked and tried to think of anything else. Memories she felt as if she had forgotten came to mind.
-
--
-
“We’re almost there!”
“Epheral, wait!”
“What?”
“I… Epheral. This is all… I can’t shake the feeling that some of those things we ran into…”
“They were too coincidental. I think they were traps. I think… she might have been leading us into them.”
“… You two are pathetic. All this time, you’ve been doubting! You’ve never had any faith in me! B’ieta is just a girl! Little girls aren’t evil, they’re just kids! All she wants is to go home. Why would you not want that for her? That’s all we want, so why not have a little sympathy?!”
“We’re just saying! It’s too coincidental! We’ve spent so much time working around Osoth’s forces, is it really so out of the question?”
“This time it is! You two have been doing this too long. You can’t even live without thinking something bad is waiting around the corner. What’s wrong with you?”
“Us? What about you? You’re being too rash. This is desperation. You’re too invested in this. What happens if we’re right?”
“You’re wrong! Now shut up, and lets get moving! It’s only a little further now. B’ieta, wait for us!”
“Epheral, hold on!”
“B’ieta, we made it! We’re out of the mountain and you’re finally…”
“… Oh no. Laibon.”
“Ah, there you are. Have a safe trip down?”
“What are you doing here?!”
“Isn’t it obvious? Thank you, B’ieta. Your service to Osoth will be recognized.”
“S… Service? B’ieta, you… that can’t… you didn’t…”
“… I’m sorry, Epheral. They said they’d kill us if we didn’t.”
“I couldn’t send someone who was Inked. No, you would have sniffed that out right away. In this case, a little diplomacy went quite a long way. And now that you’re here, it’s about time we ended this. And we’ll start with those two…”
“What? Ah! Epheral! Ahh!”
“Ghk! Agh, no!”
“Hey! Leave them alone!”
“Make sure their punishment is severe. I care not if they live or die. And as for you… I command you, destroy her. Leave no trace of her behind. Even the smallest piece spells failure, and any failure will be met with total annihilation. Osoth is not known for her merciful nature. Now go!”
“Laibon! You… you…! Stay back! I’m warning you! If you come any closer, I’ll…! How could you do this to me?! I helped you! I’m trying to save you from them!”
“Epheral, run! G… Get out of here!”
“If any of you take even one more step, I swear…”
“…”
“I swear I’ll kill every single one of you. I mean it! Don’t take another step!!”
-
--
-
Cold, dark, lifeless.
One could only compare it to stepping foot directly into outer space. Though there was air to breathe, though Earth was still all around them, it was clear that this place Epheral had created was not meant for humans. It was not meant for animals. It was not meant for life as they knew it. Perhaps like Canvas, it was simply meant for a different kind of life; something their minds couldn’t entirely comprehend. It was prana but reversed. How does one characterize the essence of life, except backwards? Death was the obvious choice, but even in that mindset, there was undoubtedly some sense of life about the place. It was an eerie feeling. Everything about it was wrong.
There was sound. A droning ambiance toned in their ears. It wasn’t wind, though it seemed similar. The energies about the place, moving and stirring, created that noise. It created the presence around them that they felt in their cores. An oppressive force bore in and seemed to smother something inside of them. Whatever it was, it was the same thing that connected an Inkling to their host. For a moment, if just a moment, the feeling of oneness with the Inklings was erased. Quincey and all the others felt for the first time as if they had been abandoned. It was a credit to the Inklings themselves that the feeling gradually returned. As they stepped closer to their destination, it came back in bits and pieces. They weren’t backing down, not then.
The final footstep echoed into the dark expanse loudly, as if to announce that they had arrived.
Epheral stood with her back to the children that had come to face her. The cosmic strands of blue that draped down from her cowl flowed on a breeze that didn’t exist. Raw energy moved her. Over her shoulder, the blade of her scythe loomed behind her like the crescent of an eclipsed sun. Pitch black, with a brilliant lining at its edge, standing stark against the white, prismatic crystal of Epheral’s form.
For a moment, they simply observed her in silence. Her body looked better-defined than before. The exaggerated shapes that made her humanoid form wide at the shoulders, exceptionally narrow in the middle, and wide again at the hip seemed as if they’d been smoothed out, aside from the almost horn-like points that jutted from her elbows and knees. Her claws seemed sharpened, and her small feet had transformed into talon-like shapes. She had certainly spent her time recovering, just as they had.
“Hey!” Daxton shouted out at her. His voice echoed into the distance.
Epheral only slightly turned her head.
“Sorry if we’re a bit late,” The boy said, “Traffic was such a bitch.”
Epheral flicked her wrist dismissively. As she cast the constricted gaze of her one eye upon them, they felt the oppressive force pushing down on their Inklings once more, and they paused. Epheral’s eyes were so clearly defined against the shadowy darkness beneath her cowl, beacons of light that pierced outward. What was unusual about them is that they bore pupils, unlike any time before. Her right eye was an almond shape, fully formed, the dark pupil amid it wild and small. Her other eye sagged at a downward crescent, gazing out in calm, calculating judgement. Her mouth was turned downward. On the left side, the white shape of her mouth seemed connected by the dark flesh, stuck together so that it might only open so far.
Indeed, each side of her face seemed different. One half appeared insane, chaotic; the other, morose and tired.
Slowly, she extended her arm and upturned her palm. Without any more warning, she unleashed a blast. A beam of light raced toward them. Kenny leapt out in front, his shield ready, taking the blast head-on and deflecting it with a swing of his arm. The light shot off into the distance, striking the edge of the dark space with force. Withdrawing her arm, Epheral looked to each one of them until her eyes settled on Quincey. Her expression shifted.
“You?” She asked, “What are you doing here?”
Quincey froze under the sudden scrutiny. Something about Epheral’s direct gaze made her more than uncomfortable. She felt afraid.
“Speak!” Epheral demanded.
-
--
-
“E… Epheral… what have you done?”
“Those… traitors. They… they deserved it.”
“They were people. They were afraid.”
“I’m tired of that excuse. Why do I have to care how they feel? Why do I always have to put them above myself? All they ever do is attack me. All they ever do is hurt me. Don’t you care about that? About me? It’s always about them with you. Well now they’re prana, and you don’t have to worry about how they feel any more!”
“I’m sorry.”
“… Well then get up. We’re going. There’s nothing left here.”
“Going? Where?”
“To the next world. If Osoth isn’t there, then we’ll go to the next. I’ll keep going, I’ll keep fighting until I find her; and when I do, I’ll destroy her. It’s the only way this will ever stop. I’ll turn every one of them to dust if I have to.”
“E-Epheral, that’s…”
“It’s the only way. All this time we’ve been doing it your way… well, I’m not doing it your way anymore. I’m doing this my way, and if you don’t like it, you can stay here.”
“No, Epheral, we can’t!”
“Tch… then unless you have a better idea, shut your mouths and get ready to leave.”
“… Okay. Okay, Epheral, we’ll… we’ll do it your way. Just… you don’t have to destroy the hosts. It’s not their fault.”
“If they try to hurt me, they get what they deserve. That’s all there is to it. I’m done rolling over for them.”
“Okay. Okay, Epheral. We… understand.”
-
--
-
“Quincey?” Daxton touched her shoulder, snapping her out of her daze.
“S-Sorry…” She stuttered, meeting Epheral’s gaze again and swallowing her fear. She stepped forward to present herself. “E-Epheral…”
Epheral narrowed her eyes.
Quincey hesitated. She lowered her head, looking at her feet. She did her best to stay calm. It was only a few moments before Duplex inked her over, covering her body in the turquoise green skin that had become new to it. Her entire body shuddered. The effort to ink over seemed more forced than normal, and it was. Duplex pushed out against the energy surrounding her, and soon opened her mismatched eyes to meet Epheral’s stare again. Epheral’s own gaze faltered, if only for a moment. She tasted of Duplex the second she revealed herself and knew the inking right away. Disbelief took her, and her expression sank.
“Dormence? Tranquil? How?”
Duplex shook her head. “No, Epheral. Dormence and Tranquil are gone. They’re gone because of you.” She held out her arms to present herself to her old friend, standing up straight. “But I always told you that you had the power to make truly amazing things happen. Me being here, like this, is proof of that. I am alive because of you, too.”
It didn’t take long for Epheral to piece together what had transpired. She scowled. “Echelon…”
“Yes,” Duplex confirmed, “And because of her. At great personal risk, she saved me. She endangered herself for me. Now I’m alive, whole again. The others helped too, and Quincey… without her, I never would have gotten this far. They all worked together for my sake. Dormence and Tranquil… I remember them, but they’re gone now. I’m Duplex now.”
“… Is that so?” Epheral said, “And I suppose you’re going to chastise me now? You’re going to tell me that if I had put myself on the line, I could have been performing such miracles as well, yes? Save your breath. The day you chose them over me, I couldn’t have cared less if you lived or died.”
“…” Duplex averted her attention away from Epheral. “What choice did we have? The way you were going was only going to end in pain and suffering. We didn’t want that for you or for anyone.”
“This is a pain I will endure for myself,” Epheral said, “Pain is part of living, isn’t that right? It’s unavoidable. However, I’ve put myself through enough for the likes of you.”
Duplex looked back to Epheral intensely. “You don’t have to, Epheral. Osoth is gone. We’re changing now. You can help us, and we can work together. It’s not too late!”
Epheral fell silent and sank into a sullen contemplation. For a long while, she stood quiet, her eyes closed in thought. Duplex looked on uneasily, with the others behind her ready to spring into action.
“… Help you?”
Epheral’s voice trembled quietly with anger.
“Help you?!” She spat in their faces, swiping at the air with her claws and clenching them into a fist. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth! You’re weak and spineless! Helping you serves me nothing! I am beyond you! To lower myself to your level is to deny me my destiny! It’s holding me back! Keeping you alive is my greatest failure! My biggest mistake! The gall of you, to ask such a thing!”
Unshouldering her massive crescent blade, she thrust it outward toward Duplex. “The way I see it,” She said, “You owe me a debt. The only repayment I desire is your life. This time, I will tear you into so many pieces, you’ll never come back. Yours is a face I never want to see again.”
“Epheral, please!” Duplex begged, “Think about what you’re doing! Destroying everything won’t get you anything more either!”
Daxton held out his hand in front of Duplex, pushing the Inkling back. “Save it,” He said, “It seems diplomacy has failed.”
Duplex stared at him. “But, but…!”
Daxton stepped forward, placing a hand on his neck and craning his head until something in it cracked. “You heard her, she thinks she’s so far above us, we’re basically bugs trying to ask someone not to step on us. What she needs is a hefty helping of humble pie, shoved right down her throat.”
Kenny unsheathed his sword and held it at the ready. Laila’s rifle hummed to life with power. Samantha brandished her air pistol and medigun. Max bounced on his feet, bobbing up and down and shaking his arms loose. Duplex fretted, raising her hands to try to calm everyone. “Wait, just… just wait a moment!”
“Last chance, Ephy.” Daxton said, “Either listen to reason, or we’ll beat you until you do.”
Epheral took up her weapon. “I will cleave your soul from your body.”
Daxton grinned. “Good luck.”
Epheral took up her blade and cut through the air. The energies of the place went wild around them suddenly, shaking the very foundation of the ground beneath their feet. In their vision, cracks formed in the air, splitting in a web like pattern like fracturing glass. Daxton barely had enough time to lift his arms to protect himself before the cracks ruptured, shattering their reality around them, striking them with enough force to send them all flying. Daxton fought against it. “Let’s go, Lumina!” He cried, his body suddenly igniting in a brilliant aura of light. He endured the attack, and lashed out to smash through, the sudden movement lighting his body up from head to toe. For a moment, his physical form gave way to light, passing him through the attack and out the other side in less than half a second. He emerged, a bright, pale outline surrounding his body.
He set his eyes on Epheral, who was rushing forward, aloft from the ground and spiraling to carve through them with her blade. Daxton charged in to meet her, his body giving way to pure light once again. He flashed forward in the blink of an eye, a ray of light that formed back into his shape just in time for him to strike. He punched through Epheral’s stance and palmed her face, crying out as he stopped her momentum and pushed forward, taking her whole body back to slam the back of her head off the ground. White cracks cratered beneath Epheral’s body before Daxton once again blinked out. He shot forward, dragging Epheral through the crystal ground, carving a path with her body for several yards before he reformed, crashed into her chest with one foot, and dragged her around with it before kicking her away.
Epheral rolled, tumbling across the ground before digging her claws in to drag herself to a stop. She found her footing swiftly and rose back to her feet to set her sights on Daxton. The boy’s eyes blazed brightly beneath his patchwork STOP, ignited brilliantly enough that sunken sockets were illuminated against the fabric. Standing ready to fight, Daxton turned out one of his hands and gestured at her, goading her to come at him.
He had done less to her than seemed possible. Having steeled herself, she endured it perfectly with little more than some scratches. These scratches sealed and smoothed over in less than a second. She spun her scythe to counterbalance it along her arm, her one wide eye straining as she stared him down.
“Very well, Daxton. You’ll be the first to fall.”
