No one slept for the remainder of that 'night', the ship was blazing even deeper into the void of space away from the territories of human civilization. Towards an Eldritch kingdom straight out of a nightmare.
Zephyr was sitting in Danny's bunkroom. Doing everything she could to relax.
Her and her brother weren't unfeeling psychopaths. But they grew up around them. On a ship most times. Nomadically roaming place to place on the search for telepaths to sell to whoever would buy them. Sometimes taking special requests to hunt certain people down.
They never wanted any part of that. But they did what they had to in order to survive. They wore masks, they played the part. Looking out for each other all the while.
Their mother was a monster who would make them do terrible things if they ever showed any hesitation. She'd put a gun in their hands and order them to kill. Innocent people.
So what could they do? They learned to lie. To play the part. To do the bare minimum of evil they had to in order to survive.
And she messed up this time. Old habits died hard.
"We'll survive, Zephyr." Danny said. He was leaning against the far end wall of the bunkroom.
Zephyr look at him with her sapphire blue eyes. Full of anxiety and fear.
"How? When they revive Aboleth she'll tell Selene everything..."
Danny pushed off from the wall and sat across from her. An expression of complex negative emotions; "We can run."
"No we can't. This ship has no escape pods and we're way outside of Protectorate space. The odds of us running across a colony is slim to none out here." she said defeatedly.
He got mad then—standing up; "We don't give up! We could talk, maybe Selene would understand why you did what you did if you explained it to her."
Danny whispered the second part.
Zephyr shook her head; "Selene is a nice person. But no one is that nice. Did you see how she reacted? Who reacts like that to someone they knew for days? Would she of reacted like that if it was me instead?" she had a confused expression as she said so.
"We're not telepath hunters anymore." Danny said finally. "We have to stop this. We don't have to do this anymore. You made a mistake. A huge mistake."
Zephyr tilted her head back against the wall on the bunk. She thought back to all the times she seduced, manipulated and schemed during her time on the ship before Selene. When it was her mother giving the orders.
She thought about why she did what she did.
It was an accident. It happened so fast and she probably would've died anyway. Secondly, it was a unique opportunity to remove a bad influence on Selene. Someone who was competing with Zephyr for control. And finally the Zykra were a massive threat. If Zephyr could control them she would never have to pretend again.
But now? Zephyr didn't like the version of herself she currently saw. It was easier to justify when it was her mother running things. Neither of them blamed Selene for doing what she did the day she took over. If anything they were somewhat grateful. And as time went on they realized who she was as a person.
Danny saw that his sister was lost in thought and sighed. He left the room.
It was about midday now in ship hours, but exhaustion was beginning to hit Zephyr. She'd need to be fresh if she was going to make her final case to Selene. When everything comes to light.
She laid down on the bed she had sat on and rolled over.
Danny went into the kitchen and pulled a bottle of gin from a steel cabinet. He slapped a glass down and began to fill it.
It burned as he swallowed it. He began to feel it's affects almost immediately. He poured another slammed it too. When he lowered the glass he saw Raymond staring at him from the table across the room.
"What?" he asked, pouring another drink.
"Why'd she do it?" Raymond asked.
Danny glared at him as he put the gin bottle to the side and drank.
"It was an accident. That thing didn't exactly come with an instruction manual." he said annoyedly.
Raymond looked away. Clearly unconvinced.
"Why would you think she did it?" Danny asked.
Raymond shrugged; "I haven't known her that long. But Zephyr seems like the type of person who is the center of her own universe. Popular. I think maybe it's how she controls things. Feels safe."
Danny was surprised at that. This guy seemed like a complete idiot. He just always had that complacent look about him, some stray Selene adopted. But they haven't talked that much, maybe there was more to him than it seemed. Danny chortled as he poured himself another drink, earning a judgmental glance from Raymond.
"I think maybe..." Raymond continued after a moment; "After seeing what Selene is capable of, how fast she can make Zykra like her... And after learning who Selene was like as a person—maybe she got a bit too clingy and Aboleth got suspicious. Maybe they were arguing about her hidden motives."
"Detective farm boy over here." Danny joked angrily. He sat down on a stool by the kitchen counter and spun around to face Raymond; "You people are too sheltered. Sometimes death just happens."
"I've been thinking about it, that's all. I liked Zephyr. But now I can't help but think that's her tactic. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am. I hope you're right." he said it in entirely good faith. As if he wasn't happy about it at all. And that annoyed Danny. This guys entire vibe was getting on his nerves.
"You—" Danny began to say but the door to the pantry opened. Hardened carapace could be seen coating the walls within. And shadowed shapes of Zykra moved in the dark. A pair of bright purple eyes shone.
Selene stepped out. Transformed.
The door closed behind her as she strode across the room a look of annoyed stoicism painted across her face. Completely ignoring either of them as she went into the hall beyond the kitchen.
Danny was nervous as hell and as soon as she left he let out a sigh and swiveled back around on the stool facing the bottle of gin. He poured another.
"Fuck." he mumbled.
Selene entered the pilots cabin. Still transformed.
She'd change back soon, being in this form had a way of making her feel inhuman. Which was the last thing she wanted recently.
Dr. Bryant was standing at the helm, leaning over some consoles. He glanced over his shoulder; "The psyphera is emitting the proper signal then?"
Selene nodded. Ku'senai's Zykra should know they come in peace. To hold a 'crucible' or whatever. A meeting of queens.
"And the Zykra on Endelon 2 are back in the hive. And those on the other planet are still reproducing... They're growing fast." Selene said distantly. She was looking past him. Into space. At warp speed the stars moved. It was a calming sight.
Dr. Bryant had followed her gaze and watched with her for a moment.
Zephyr groaned as she woke.
She wiped her mouth and felt cool stone beneath her. It was smoothed and slightly textured. Uneven.
"What the-?" she looked around herself quickly.
Silver arches swept over her like a grand cathedral. The chamber she was in made her immediately feel small and vulnerable. White concrete made up most of it. Almost roman in the way they were carved into simplistic shapes.
And beneath her was a floor of rough slate stone. Which filled the entire chamber. It broke up in places revealing dirt, root and grass growing up between cracks in the floor.
Green ivy and vine grew up the sides of the silver arches and white pillars around. And a golden light shone down from the center of the cathedral from behind a prism of glass like an amber jewel.
Beyond the chamber she was surrounded on all sides from massive corridors inlayed with the same silver arches. Stars and the void of space surrounded this cathedral. How was she breathing? It felt too real to be a dream.
A voice drew her gaze.
"Welcome." it said. It was perfect and even. Like they were singing.
A tall alien similar to the one Selene had killed stood there looking down at her. About 3 meters away.
"W-where am I?" she asked. She stood up but had difficulty standing up straight in a place like this. She was hunched like a cat on the verge of running.
"Do not fear. You may call me Elias Solis. My human name. You have located the gauntlet—which means your species has become adept at crossing the void of space."
Zephyr couldn't explain it but—she felt at ease in their presence. Her confusion of the fact must've been written on her face, because the alien smiled gently; "My people have known yours since it's birth. No doubt there are species on your planet with an instinctual trust and favor towards humans? We did leave you as caretakers of your world after all."
Zephyr swallowed. "You haven't answered my question."
The alien Elias walked towards one end of the chamber and folded his spindly arms behind his back. He was draped in white and gold clothe. Which hung from his white limbs loosely. They wore gold woven like lace with decorative geometric designs which hung from his saucer-like head like a reverse widows veil, chains of blue sapphires suspended at different points.
"You are where you sleep. I've brought your spiritual body here—something your kind refers to as astral projection. This place is designed to conceal my peoples true architecture. We can not risk influencing your peoples culture unless absolutely necessary. It is against our ways to intervene as we have for this reason."
"Our culture? What are you to us? Did you create us? Why?" - the question of existence itself. A question many priests have of many religions.
Elias turned to face her; "Why does anyone plant a seed? For it to grow. With roots to ground the soil, shade to shelter the weak. Fruits to feed the hungry."
How cryptic. Zephyr found herself feeling annoyed. Which the alien detected.
"We can't give you knowledge your people are not ready for. If you must know, know this; we would not of created your people for selfish reasons. Humans may see yourselves as many different peoples. But to us, you are all one. With the same potential and grand purpose. That device you wear will help you in this purpose."
Zephyr glanced down at her wrist. The gleaming silver metal twinkled back at her. There was now a blue gem embedded in the center of the triangle. The size of her palm.
"You decorated it?" she asked.
They nodded. "Do you dislike it? We could change it, but I feel that it is fitting. You are one who has a taste for aesthetics are you not?"
How did they know that? If Elias knew so much did he know...?
The alien turned away then once more. Clutching his hands together more firmly behind his back.
"Yes. I know of your situation. I've been watching since before you wore the device."
Zephyr's breath hitched. "Then why did you let the device kill Aboleth! I had no idea they could just revive her, and if I known it was going to- I would've- ugh!" she threw up her hands and paced around.
"Do not worry." they said. Staring out at the stars. "We would not intervene in how you choose to utilize the power we gift. Our faith in humanity is not misplaced. Unlike the unending legion—we understand the great song. Their discordance will be their undoing. But that is another matter."
"I'm screwed. When Aboleth comes back she'll tell Selene what I did." Zephyr said sullenly.
"I can speak to Selene on your behalf." Elias said.
Zephyr looked up at him then. "What? How? ...Why? I thought you said you would not intervene."
They shook their head. "In this way, I already have. Speaking with your people carefully is one of the few compromises we have chosen to make in these dire times. I have met with our other champion before. She knows of me."
She does? That's a pretty intense secret. So that's what Selene meant when she said 'I was on your side' to that preserver before killing it.
Elias spoke as if he could read her mind; "Not all of my people are aware of our desperate plan. Most of them are even more devoted to the great song than we. Once our plan is fulfilled, we will submit ourselves to their judgement. For now, we must work. I brought you here to instruct you on the device's uses, and to guide you."
"I can't take it off. Ever since I changed out of the space suit it hasn't been able to come off..." she tugged at it. It gripped her skin as if it was apart of her.
"It can not be removed once it comes in contact with your skin. But it can conceal itself. The device functions as thus; there are high priority functions and low priority ones. Low priority functions such as concealment requires a mental or verbal order. High priority ones such as shielding or being a weapon for you, can respond to the wearers emotions and instincts."
"Go away." Zephyr said then. And the device evaporated into glowing blue dust that quickly faded into the air. "Come back." it did the reversed, reassembling itself from reappearing dust in the air. "Go away, come back, go away."
She repeated this a few times.
If Elias was the type to groan in annoyance he probably would have now.
"It will appear automatically if it needs to fulfill a high priority function."
"You said it can shield me?" Zephyr said.
"Yes. I am aware of your resonance with the great song—your natural affinity with it allows you to call upon it to shield you. The device's functions are enhanced by the great song. Typically it would encase the wearer in a form fitting lattice of ionized particles in a low-energy plasma matrix. But with your ability it will instead create a larger barrier of the same means capable of encasing larger structures. Potentially the size of the ship you are in now."
Wow. That was an upgrade.
"There are many functions you will learn of in time. For now, I should alert you to the fact that it can disrupt the Zykra's psionic communications. A powerful ability most of those who obey the great song are forbidden from using. I have deactivated it for now, as it would be a great annoyance to Selene."
That caused Zephyr to stare at him curiously for a moment; "...What's your deal with her? You seem like you hate the Zykra. The unending legion or whatever."
"Yes... My people are at odds with them. They believe they can create their own song. A song of madness and chaos. But your friend is our champion. Not theirs. We are using Selene as an example to them of what consequences their methods bring about... There is a reason my people follow the great song. But that is a long tale—it would take more time than we have to tell. End your feud with her if you can, ask forgiveness. I will do my part. And when you reach this demons dominion do not reveal yourself. Use the device to make yourself unknown. This is an ability of it as well. Simply command it to make yourself invisible."
Zephyr didn't know how she felt about that. What she did to Aboleth wasn't the first time. She'd convinced people to trust her, and eliminated them when she felt it was necessary to her goals before. Enforcers, officials, drydock workers... Anyone who was an obstacle.
It was a bad habit. One she blamed herself for not being able to stop. She didn't want forgiveness. Aboleth was a huge bitch. One that was going to ruin everything for her and her brother.
But that didn't mean she deserved that. Zephyr had bad instincts. Ingrained ways of reacting to problems. Shit she learned from following her mother around the cosmos. It was too deep to stop.
Elias Solis saw the look of consternation on her face. The complex expression and feelings conveyed everything to him. He walked to her and put a large hand on her shoulder gently. She looked up at him curiously. His bright orange eyes seemed to look through her.
"Once a weapon is forged and the metal cools, it is difficult to change the weapons purpose then. You are as you are, a deceiver. A viper in the dark. But that does not mean you can not learn to have allies that you trust. Confide in them. Ask for forgiveness. And offer those you wronged just recompense."
Recompense? Zephyr killed Aboleth. What kind of pay-back could she offer? 'I stabbed you so you can stab me?', how would that work?
Elias smiled at her then. An expression he had been practicing since his meeting with Selene.
"Take heart young one... And do not tell anyone of our meeting. Only Selene could know, but that is up to you. I will appear to you when the next device is found."
"I have so many questions..."
Elias nodded. "Consider them, seek wisdom from the great song. Your ability holds answers concealed with in. You only need to seek them. It is more than a genetic mutation that human scientists believe. Go now, return to your ship. Prepare. You near the beasts den."
Zephyr went to speak but her feet lifted from the smoothed stone and it flew away from her. The stars blurred around her and she felt herself pass through the Sequesters walls and into her own body.
She flew up in cold sweats. Banging her head on the bunk above her.
"—Oh! Dammit!" she rubbed her forehead.