December 16, 2111
Catharine Darcrose
Their starship was on fire, and falling fast! Red lights flashed in sync with an ear throbbing alarm. Even after heeding the advice of Wouren Lightbourne, disaster struck. A hovercraft with impressive assault capabilities stopped their starship over the clouds and didn't bother to hail Cathy. They did what omelics are stereotyped for; they shot first, without caring to ask any questions.
"Everyone strap in! Now!" Cathy shouted over her dropship's intercom.
She had no time to check on her crew. But she knew she wouldn't need to. They could handle themselves. She had a duty to land the ship the best she could and not kill everyone aboard. And that duty was closing in fast.
As the ship dipped below the clouds, Cathy had a few precious moments to take in her surroundings; a vast swampland and swampy forest surrounding a few steep mountains. There was an edge to the forest coming in fast, but there looked to be a large village with walls thickened towards the forest end. Innocent lives could be lost if she aimed at the village. Lucky for her, there was a large moor deep in swampland. That was her chance.
Cathy pulled up on the steering control with all her strength, clinching her jaw and holding the control with a vise grip. The ship angled itself toward the moor.
Shaking as if in a windstorm, the starship scraped against the tops of some trees before touching ground, burying itself in the dirt with a massive crash. It came to rest quickly, which of course was no help to Cathy, as the lock-in straps barely were able to brace her from the impact.
Dazed, she held her hand to her head, feeling as though her brain collided with her skull. She took a few moments to shake off the pain and slight confusion.
There was no time to waste. Cathy forced herself from her seat and pulled a lever to open the door. She soon found her way to her squad, with slightly swaying steps. She was relieved she saw her allies already up. Kenny was still by the closed dropship hatch. But he didn't stand still for long. His attention, followed by his movements, went another direction.
Cathy's eyes followed to the seat of Vayhara Lomia'dicia, who sat docile in her seat; no movement, no motion of her chest. As Cathy's eyes adjusted, she saw a river of blood flowing from her shoulder, at the point where a piece of the ship had impaled itself in her, and trailed down over her lap. Her head hung over the lock-in straps, and her arms rested in the pool of blood.
Kenny stared as Cathy went to her neck to check for a pulse. Nothing. She used her cyberwatch to confirm that Vayhara was dead.
The reality set in, and Cathy felt a pain in her chest; a pain that didn't so much come because of her dead ally, rather she felt sick for not feeling more grief than she did. That was Cathy's reality. Many of the captains she knew had such close bonds with their unit, bonds like brothers and sisters. Cathy was not one of those captains. Her unit was loyal to her as she was to them, but she always held an emotional distance from the people under her.
Still, Vayhara was the first person to die in her unit in over two years. That was where Cathy felt she failed Vayhara the most.
Cathy turned to Kenny and shook her head. "She's gone."
"We should bury her," said Edward McCollister, who was now up.
"Impossible. The metal in her shoulder made sure of that. And whoever shot us down may come looking. We'd best go."
Her unit understood the situation. Times like these demanded them to wait and grieve later. Tommlar Wloque already had the hatch open. The rest of the crew marched outside, with Cathy being the last.
There was no denying the heat. Cathy could feel the cloth under her armor, clinging to her chest. Thick, moist air covered the moor like a damp woolen blanket, and the nearby swampland had grown unruly with the breeze.
"Fraken omelic bastards just had to make it hard on us," Cathy cursed.
"No wonder outsiders rarely visit this shivfhole," Edward added.
Tommlar, on a knee with both eyes looking through a landscape scanner, pointed toward the trees leading to the mountain they'd seen earlier. "Scanner indicates structures that way. Roughly a kilometer from here."
Cathy looked at the map of Omulice on her cyberwatch. It indicated they were in the deep north of the Tolkran Kingdom. And the structures would lead them south and towards where they needed to be - a stronghold known as Direclaw. That was where the king would be.
"Time to move out," Cathy commanded. She took the lead. Her squad positioned themselves as they followed the wide open heath until they reached the tree line of the marshes.
They entered, pushing in past the brush. This was no glade. The fallen trees and branches all pushed together, creating a wet web of moss, branches, and leaves. Ancient willow, hardwood, and cypress trees dominated the area, which was larger than on Earth and with branches darker in color. Vines interlaced through the branches and then hung to the ground. The vegetation had an aura to it, like a mystic life force surrounding them like a fog. There was a path to follow that went around infected trunks of decay, others full of moss. Unconcerned, a speckled frog, all brown skin and beige dots, blinked lazily as a swarm of gnats buzzed by. A large frog at that, likely three times the size of one on Earth. Overhead, some creature hooted.
Soon, the path led to swamp water that was thin like a tiny river; mists off the river had wreathed it in wisps of gray. They followed the bank towards the direction they needed to go.
Kenny was at the head with Cathy. "Captain, you are glowering more than usual, I must say."
"I don't glower," she responded. Her thoughts about her dead second lieutenant were hard to ignore and undeniably the culprit of her semi-sour mood.
"Not that it's a bad thing. Nobody glowers quite like you. Well, none that I've met anyway."
"You sure are a talker," Cathy remarked.
Kenny chuckled. "I met this girl I think you'd like. She's quite like you. Dutiful and loyal, yet stiff. Fair and just, but wooden and uncharismatic. Damn, now that I think about it, she's practically your twin."
Cathy ignored him.
"You know what? Maybe we should all visit one of the brothels when we arrive. Get us a whore each with the exception of Skolla. Actually, frak it, let's get him one, too. We could all use something to help us grieve," Kenny joked.
"Vayhara's death isn't something to joke over. And we're not here to bed harlots. Do well to remember that we're on mission."
"There she is, serious as ever." Kenny pointed at Cathy. "Finally got you to stop glowering."
"You should switch positions with Tommlar. Skolla would be a better conversationalist than me."
"Your call, Captain. But we both know you'll miss me." Kenny dropped back and out of Cathy's view.
He was right in a way. And she couldn't much blame him for joking. It was in his character, and also his way of getting through the loss of Vayhara. Kenny, along with everyone else, was loyal to her, and she was to them. They had been together as a unit for years, sewn as one team by the harsh trials of combat. She has never wanted anyone else on her unit, and never will.
After a couple hours of hiking, the path eventually led into a town, which was clearly long abandoned. The architecture looked at least a century old by modern omelic standards; buildings rotted away, streets started to give way to vegetation, and wreckage lay all over the town.
"Man, it is bizarre how similar omelics and humans are… even down to their architecture. Gable roofs, solid brick siding, concrete foundation, shingles-- If you went back to the mid-1900s on Earth, these buildings would fit right in," Tommlar said.
"The saying that omelics and humans derive from the same tree seems to hold true," Edward added.
"Only the omelics never left their medieval era," Cathy said.
"Their technology sure did, though," said Kenny.
In those streets, her unit seemed to be the only beating hearts, the only things of warm blood and flesh. The structures around were once homes to many, yet now it was a shadow of its former past. The light of the sun was high over the streets, and buildings caste low shadows over the ruble and debris, unaware that the civilians had vanished. Silence covered the place like a fog, no boots to walk the streets, save the wolf-pack.
They kept marching onward. "It's quiet." Tommlar swayed his weapon from door to door.
"I hate the quiet," Cathy heard Kenny say from behind her.
Banners hung with sigils to be read only by the dust-laden wind. A market was all set up like it was awaiting the stall holders arrival any moment, only now it was covered in webs. Ahead was a clock tower, forever stuck at a time long ago.
They then stopped at a sudden crash of wood and metal coming from the clock tower. Skolla halted, head and tail up. All weapons were raised.
Cathy signed towards the door. "Skolla, Tommlar. Clear the door."
Tommlar nodded and stepped with slow steps towards the wooden door. He stacked his body against the side of the door, Skolla was behind him as he pulled down the knob with caution. Suddenly, he flung open the door! No! It was kicked open!
Two knights, armored in silver metal, rushed out. Tommlar fired his laser pistol, the first shot of which hit the armor of the omelic knight. He seemed to take notice of the hit but still ignited a sword made of finely focused and rapidly spinning energy from a plate of armor just over his wrist. Tommlar's second laser shot was absorbed by the sword just as it came down and through his neck!
"NO!" Kenny shouted, starting to fire his assault rifle. Cathy's adrenaline spiked, and she fired as well.
Skolla growled and sprung at the knight that killed Tommlar, bashing him to the ground. His paw stepped on the wrist omitting the sword before Skolla's barred teeth dug into the space between the knight's helmet and chest plate. Blood squirted over his face as his teeth tore into the knight's neck.
The kinetic damage from Cathy's and Kenny's assault rifle had a much greater impact against the knight's armor than laser weapons. It tore holes in the plates, and the second knight fell to the ground dead before even pulling a sword.
Two more omelics revealed themselves in the shadows inside the clock tower and started to shoot bolts coated in energy using their advanced looking crossbows. The wolf-pack returned fire, sending the two back into cover.
That moment was short-lived as the knights bolted for a back door, shouting in fear.
"Damn grunts!" Kenny spat at the ground.
As Cathy turned her head to face Kenny and Edward on her left side, the sight of moving stone caught her attention. That was all was able to see before fingers extended into long needles, one of which stabbed Edward right through the heart. His eyes went wide, and he dropped his weapon. Cathy dodged to the side to avoid more needles, as did Kenny.
She was now on full alert at the monster before her. What she saw stunned her. A beast of stone-like skin, mossed over, and moldy-brown in color. Thin eyes and a symbolled chest marked similar as to what you would see on a black widow, both glowed a hot red. No mouth or ears, but twin horns extending from both sides of the head, this monster was three times the height of Cathy, but not much wider. And its fingers were long and thin, sharp at the ends. Edward, who was still impaled by one, began to turn to stone before her eyes!
Almost in a trance, and not seeming to be paying attention to Cathy or Kenny, it pulled back its fingers and lashed them out again. Of course, that move caught Cathy off-guard, but it was a testament to her training that she was able to jump away.
She fired her weapon but might as well not been firing at all, as the bullets did nothing.
"Cathy!" Kenny's voice pulled her attention, and her eyes met his haunted face. His hand covered his check before he pulled it away to reveal a tiny slice in the skin. A single drop of blood leaked out a moment before the skin started to turn to stone. Another member of her unit died a death straight out of a horror film. His screams rang in Cathy's ears; every pitch and blood-filled gurgle. Soon, his fearful eyes were forever looking back at Cathy, after giving in completely to the transformation.
Cathy was utterly horrorstruck. In mere minutes, her teammates had fallen before her eyes, and she was helpless. Never had she felt that out of control.
Skolla came running to her side, growling, but she held out her hand to stop him from attacking the beast. She then took off, with Skolla running in front of her. The monster gave chase, its long legs seeming to glide over the streets.
The wind picked up all of a sudden. The trees in front her swayed, and the debris was blown away. A hovercraft had just flown over the abandoned town, stopping above. Ten knights, wearing different banners than those before jumped from the open hatches on the side of the dropship - landing between her and the monster.
She stopped and looked back to see them in formation. Nine knights in black metal with white stripes, and one in all white and shiny armor. They ignited their swords; seven were silver, one was blue, one was yellow, and the one in all white ignited a sword to match his color.
They charged at the beast, and it sliced right through one knight's armor like a hot knife through butter. Another knight sliced the monster's leg. That was the opening the rest needed, and they slashed right into the monster, cutting it down with ease. Each energy empowered sword hacked through its skin with what looked to be little-to-no resistance.
The creature was dead, and Cathy held her weapon ready as the knight in all white came up to her. The blade sheathed itself back into the handle, and he placed the handle back into his arm piece, which retracted over it. He allowed his helmet to retreat from his face. Without knowing why, he looked familiar to Cathy. "My name is Mauga Lightbourne, head of House Lightbourne, Warden of Northpoint, and First Under-Reign." Those words took away all her fear and stress, and she now understood why he looked familiar. She was looking into the face of another Lightborune. In some way, Mauga was related to Wouren, who she met in the Space Guard.
"I'm Catharine Darcrose." She was motionless.
"We saw your ship crash and came to offer aid. Only, it looks like--" Mauga took half a step backward and looked to the tragedy that befell her soldiers. "I'm sorry for your loss. Grenjores - they're brutal and merciless."
"Grenjores, huh. That's what killed my men." Cathy's nose flared, and her face filled with hatred towards the beast.
"Some call them stone giants. And I really hate to be the one to say that those two in stone aren't dead."
"Aren't dead?! How's that possible?"
"When stone giants cut into skin and infect the blood, the victims will become stone giants themselves soon enough."
"So they might as well be dead." Cathy clinched her fist.
"Sorry to say," Mauga confirmed. His head dropped, feeling her pain.
Cathy stared at her closed fist. She knew what had to be done, but she was silent. All she saw was her shaking hand as she struggled to ask, "How do I stop them from turning?"
"Blade to the heart or removal of their head," Mauga said softly.
Cathy was not ready to do the deed, but it had to be done, and she preferred the former approach - a blade to the heart.
She marched forth, letting duty muscle her feet forward. It was duty alone that kept her moving until she reached Edward first. She looked into his stunned face. Skolla whimpered at his unmoving feet, pressing his nose to the stone.
"I need a sword." Cathy looked at Mauga. He nodded to one his men.
He came up to her and held out his right arm, palm facing the ground. The metal plate over his wrist retracted, and a hilt became visible. He pulled it off his arm and handed it to Cathy.
She looked over it; brown hilt with tan grip, basic circular pommel, and a cross guard. She ignited the blade, and first came blocks of thin metal extending out of the center of the hilt, one after the other until it was about a meter long; altogether the metal blocks were called a stearth, as she recalled from an omelic book. Then the energy, silver in color, roared over one end of the cross guard and around the extendable metal, or stearth, to the other cross guard. It formed into the shape of a longsword, only with intensely focused energy rotating so fast, it looked motionless.
She placed her free hand over the stone cheek of Edward and thrust the blade into his heart. She felt every motion of it, as if the act was done to her and she was unable to hold back a tear as it came down her check. Edward crumbled into nothing.
Somehow, she held the will to make it to Kenny. She clenched her jaw and drove the blade into him. She wanted to scream but held it in. His haunted gaze was soon no more as he fell apart just like Edward.
Wouren warned her about the creatures, but she never expected this. Seeing it for real, she realized many of the creatures of Omulice were ancient predators of immense power and strength. When she was young, she read stories that some could grow as tall as mountains. It seems everything on this planet was extreme in size; trees as high as skyscrapers, flowers and brushes as thick as buildings, and bugs as big as birds. Knowing that now, she had a feeling mountain-sized monsters must be true, too.
She stood there in grief for her lost soldiers, and she already missed them. When she finally was able to come to her senses, she realized all the knights had moved over to the bodies of Tommlar and the two knights who initially attacked her and her unit. She was so focused on her duty to her stone-turned men, she didn't realize the knights had moved in the first place.
"Did you kill these two?" Mauga asked.
"We did. They attacked us, and we retaliated."
His eyes went back down to the knight he was inspecting. "Hmm, this is troubling. They are knights of our neighboring kingdom to the northwest. We were supposed to be at peace with them, but their uninvited presence in our kingdom may hinder that peace." He looked to Cathy. "I must travel to Northpoint, but I'll have our dropship take you to Direclaw."
"Before you go, please… can you please bury them? I hate to ask this of you, because you've done so much already."
"You can never sacrifice enough for those in trouble. I will do this for you." A bright smile was on Mauga's face.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Mauga nodded to her and instructed one of his men to take Cathy to the dropship.
Skolla scurried to her side as they departed. Despite the tragedy, she couldn't lose her head. She must remain focused on the task at hand. If she can't, the mission would be over before it began, and that simply cannot be allowed to happen. It was her duty, not only to her commander, but to her lost sister. For once she finishes the mission, she can focus on finding her.
Soon, they were on the dropship and off to Direclaw.