Chapter 17: Chapter Seventeen: Tip of the Spear

 Plasma fireworks and flashing lights filled my eyes as I sat in a comfortable chair. The dark sky was alive with bursts of harmless light. Music filled the streets as citizens drank, danced, and celebrated the return of Davin.

I eyed Nora and Hope as they retold the harrowing adventure to rescue Xull Prime’s mana storm. Hope was doing most of the talking, reliving each moment with excited flair. Beside the large group, stood a statue with a large version of Xull, holding her hands up to the sky. On the raised, stone base, Nora sat, kicking her legs and glancing over to me.

I lifted my beer and gave her a nod. She smiled and shyly looked away.

Davin was among the crowd, taking to many citizens of Dream City. Some of the people were in tears, sobbing about how they mourned what they thought was his passing. I focused my hearing to listen to Davin as he tried to comfort them. He even hugged a few citizens, telling them he would never take such risks again for he planned to be here a long time.

In a chair beside me, Xull sat. She looked at the immense crowd with golden, mechanical eyes. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” I said before taking a sip of my beer.

Xull spoke as she continued to look forward, “I’m processing billions of tasks at the moment to ensure everything across Xull Prime is functioning, but there is a small part of my core that is pleased Davin has been recused and brought back home.”

She turned her golden eyes to me and smiled. “You have honored our agreement. Thank you, Quinn.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We still have a long way to go to make sure this alliance is rock solid. Omega is still out there, and there is the threat to my world.”

Xull nodded. “The Harvester Legion. Yes, I can see that our work is far from complete. When we first spoke of our shared alliance, circumstances were not what they are now. I had no evidence that Davin had been captured and experimented on by Omega. The discovery has shifted many of my computations. Now that Davin has returned, both of our worlds have a better than average survival rate against those in the Ten Million Year War.”

A sudden cheer drew my attention back to Hope and Nora. The pair were both on the base of the statue, mimicking what they did during the battle. The crowd stood in awe, before many of them cheered on them on. There was something to be said about old-fashion storytelling. I’m sure they could have simply projected what was recorded from the battle, or have Xull show them, but the citizens gathered were enthralled to the wolf woman and botanist as they acted out the heroic battle. My name was mentioned several times, but clearly, the focus was on them, and I was happier for it. I liked sitting back and enjoying my drink in victory.

“What have you come up with?” I asked as I turned my attention back to Xull.

The air grew silent for a moment, before she answered.

“If any of the factions target any world under my protection, and two or more join forces, it will be a bloody war that would mean the end of my world, and my people. Despite my vast resources, many of the factions have turned warfare into an artform, or are so brutal, they don’t need finesse, or cunning, but only send waves of troops to each of my worlds and eradicate them.

“You and Davin have only started your journey as mana storms, but with time, you both will become very powerful. Powerful enough to stop whole armies and fleets.

“I propose, we further solidify our alliance. I have witnessed several incidents along the border of our quadrant. My data is limited, but what I witnessed indicated that while some of the factions are technologically advanced, they are not too advanced beyond my own capabilities. What they have are numbers, and experience, but do no have anything that can match mana storms on other worlds. In this respect, we may have an advantage.

“But, mana storms, and their worlds, are not organized. If we can work together to form a strong alliance, it may change some minds on other worlds. They may entertain the notion of combining our forces, against those part of the Ten Million Years War, and the coming dark matter that will consume everything in its path.”

Xull shifted in her seat to face me fully. “If we can build on this alliance, our quadrant may have a fifty-four percent survival rate. Our odds will improve with every planet, or realm, that joins us.”

It was my turn to sit up and face her. “Sounds like a bold plan. Do you think we can pull it off?”

Xull nodded. “I have reviewed the computations several million times, and they offer the same result with the current data we have now. As with the nature of chaos, and universal laws, these results may change, but it strongly indicates we will have a much better chance to save all of our worlds.”

I knew Xull had an incredible intellect and computing power, but to me, it was simple math. If I left and just returned home, sure, I believe I could defend my world from many threats, local and cosmic. But to fight off factions and worlds embroiled in conflicts for millions of years, never mind the evil dark matter approaching that may drain all worlds of their mana, it might be a tall order for someone, even with my power.

It felt plain as day that we had to keep our alliance and make it stronger. Omega and Xull were confident that a danger was coming and it was going to wipe out everything. This was a moment that being selfish didn’t serve anyone’s benefit. For a time, I had to see this out.

Xull continued, “At first, I was hesitant to offer battleships to aid in the defense of Urth. Percentages increased, our worlds gaining more and more notice to those fighting in their wars. There was a baseline concern that any direct action taken will draw more of the enemy to our distant borders, but that this time, we can no longer hide from protentional enemies.

“My scans of your moon indicate there is a force of a hundred thousand Harvester Legion troops buried under the surface, not including war-machines of their own design. The black pyramid houses their command nodes, power core, and equipment needed to drain your planet of all mana. Should the pyramid land on your world, it will scan the planet, and begin the drilling process. It will also send a signal burst to its kind, signaling that it has found what they are searching for. A fleet will be dispatched to defend the drilling until it is complete, and marking your solar system under their control.”

“How long will the drilling process take?” I asked with dread in my heart.

“It will take weeks for the planet to be drained. The Harvester fleets will arrive, and attack the planet, further draining from the living creatures on it.”

“Tell me more about the actual harvesters?”

Xull didn’t hesitate, “They are robotic beings with enslaved souls. The harvesters have skeletal-like bodies, made of black metal. They wear flexible, metal shrouds, and carry unusual weapons. Standard troops use a rifle designated as extractors. Each extractor rifle can fire a green-ish energy bolt that can leech away living mana. The rifles have a dual method for fighting, switching from extraction to standard plasma bolts.

“From what I’ve recorded, they cannot be reasoned with. They are a scourge across the galaxy, either attacking living worlds, or setting their black pyramids close to a world for mana extraction at an opportune time.

“When they pull a living soul from a body, it is kept within their chests. After a battle, they will return to a pyramid and create new bodies to place captured souls, adding to their numbers.”

I felt my eyes widened. “The Harvester Legion will use the souls from my world to increase their numbers?”

Xull nodded. “All souls will be added to the legion, and they will have no choice but to fight, conquer, and grow their faction. That is why, when the time comes…” Xull trailed off.

“Xull?”

The carapace’s eyes moved in short, darting fashion. After a few seconds, she seemed to returned to herself. She looked me in the eyes with her golden stare.

“We must speak in private. There has been an update from your moon.”

I stood up from my chair. “I’ll get Nora and Hope,” I began.

Xull shook her head.

“This conversation is better suited for you, myself, and Davin. Hope and Nora will only worry. I will send a drone to tell Davin we need to speak. Join us in the building to your left. I will have a secure conference room waiting for us,” Xull said through my implant.

I glanced over to Hope and Nora. They sat together below the statue, finishing their story to the attentive crowd. I tore at me to leave them out of it, but I couldn’t just leave without saying anything.

I walked away from Xull. I made my way to them. They stopped talking, and turned to me with big smiles.

“The hero of the hour!” Hope said with a warm grin.

“Hi everyone,” I said to the small crowd before looking at Hope and Nora again. “I have to go and speak with Xull in private.”

“We can come,” Nora said with warm eyes and a small, shy smile.

I shook my head. “We have to discuss a few things. Please, enjoy the celebration. We will talk afterwards.”

The pair eyed me.

“Something happened?” Hope said.

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I couldn’t stop my head from making a single nod. “It’s complicated.”

Nora’s shy smile melted away as her eyes took on a suspicious gleam. “Complicated enough to not include us? I thought we were a team?”

Shit.

“We are. Xull and I have to talk, and I didn’t want to just walk away,” I said, trying to be as cryptic as possible without coming off alarming.

I was failing, big time.

Nora hopped off the base of the statute and stepped up to me. She looked up with such a stern gaze, if she had powers, she would have melted my entire head.

“We can help,” Nora said with a hard edge.

I looked down at her, and I found my heart beating a little harder at the sight of her. It was the same feeling I felt when I crashed through the dome of her research base and saw her the first time. Was it a moment of mutual attraction, or was it because of my heightened senses, I couldn’t say. I just knew, there was something there and it needled at me.

Hope moved to Nora’s side and touched her shoulder. “Nora, I’m sure Quinn will tell us after he speaks with Xull.”

Nora’s hard expression wilted. “You’re going home, aren’t you,” she said as she looked away.

I noticed the crowd began to pull away, giving us a moment.

I returned my gaze to Nora’s almost defeated look. “I do have to return to my home world. I was only meant to stay here for a time, to help your world. But that doesn’t mean I won’t return. Xull and I have discussed a stronger alliance and that means I will have to come back.”

Hope squeezed Nora’s shoulder. The short woman with long, green pigtails, kept her gaze low.

“Quinn, I never told you why I love plants. They never leave you. They spend their whole lives rooted to one place. They get to know you, and you get to know them. There is no judgement between you and them. You get to live a life together with them.”

Nora lifted her gaze and looked into my eyes. Her expression was soft, with edges of sorrow.

“We here on Xull Prime, don’t grow up in family units. Xull takes care of all of us, as we all grow and mature. It allows people to live their lives, without rearing their young. I never felt right about it, but continued to live my life as I grew. I took the science path, so I could help heal Xull. It gave me purpose.

“My path allowed me access to more databases, and I happened upon some information on other worlds. I came across your world, and many others, that have family units who take care of each other, and form deep bonds. Very few on Xull Prime follow this tradition, but it spoke to me.

“Hope, and plants became my family. I knew, my life would be my work, cultivating new breeds of plants that will heal my home world. And then, you fell through my dome, shattering everything, and showing me, that there was more than just my work. I can’t explain it, but there is something there, between us, and I can’t seem to ignore it.

“We were taught, from an early age, to express ourselves and be honest. In truth, I am difficult to be around, and I know it. Despite my truth, only Hope has remained my friend, my family.

“But after hearing telling Davin you were there to help him, and how you defended all of us, and even after that night we had dinner, I knew there was something there, between us. And now, you’re leaving.”

My heart cracked. I didn’t completely consider what this meant to her, to all of us. They both risked their lives to help me and Xull to stop Omega, and get Davin back home. It wasn’t out of some patriotic duty, or basic friendship. It was her way of showing that she accepted the risks because she deeply cared. And here I was, ready to push her away because I wanted her to be safe.

My hand twitched before I curled and flexed my fingers. I reached over and gently took her hand into mine. Nora looked down and blinked as I gave it a gentle squeeze. She then looked up into my serious eyes.

“Nora, I care for you and Hope, deeper than any words can say. My home world needs me, but afterwards, I do want to come back so we can…see where this goes, if that’s okay?”

Nora’s eyes gleamed with a wet shine. She quickly looked away.

“No, it’s not okay,” she said with a small voice.

Nora pulled her hand from mine, turned, and walked away.

Hope gave me an exasperated look. “I’ll talk to her,” she said before turning and rushing to her friend’s side.

I stood and watched as Hope moved to Nora’s side and gave her hug. Nora leaned her head on her friend’s shoulder. She didn’t look back as my sensitive ears caught Hope talking to her.

Seconds passed. I turned and began walking away. Arrows appeared in the corner of my gaze, leading me to the building Xull told me to meet her at. I reached the doors and they opened automatically. As soon as I entered, I felt a gaze at my back, and the barest of whispers, hearing my name. I wanted to turn around, to see Nora looking at me, but it was much harder to do, since I was going to fly back into battle again.

I stepped into the building lobby, glass doors closing shut behind me. I made my way to an elevator, but I couldn’t stop myself as I turned my head to see Nora and Hope looking at me from the distance.

I didn’t want them in danger again, but I couldn’t stop my warm smile. The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside.

My heart was heavy in my chest. I followed the directions, getting off a higher floor and making my way down a corridor. I reached a door and opened it.

A small conference room was before me, with a simple long table and three chairs. Xull and Davin were already there, stopping their conversation and looking up to me. I made my way over and sat in the third, empty seat.

“The legion’s black pyramid’s core has been activated, and is powering up. We have less than forty hours before they gather their forces, take off, and make their way to Urth.

“We were just discussing some strategies,” Xull informed.

Davin turned his serious gaze to me. “I know I just came back, but it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t help you take on this threat to your home world. Two mana storms are better than one,” Davin winked.

I smiled. “Glad for the help. Thank you.”

Xull spoke up, “This battle is only the tip of the spear. Once we enter the conflict, our worlds may be known to the warring factions. There will be no way to mask or hide it, so we should approach from a strong vantage point.

“I will pledge five battleships, each one with a compliment of five thousand war drones and enough dropships for each. Twenty-five thousand war drones may not seem adequate, but the battleships will provide surpassing fire, and will be enough for a ground assault.”

“I assume the black pyramid will have its own defenses?”

Xull nodded. “I have accumulated data from several distant encounters with the legion. Their pyramids are able to generate a strong energy shield. They can also fire strong plasma beams against space to surface attacks. The shield cannot stop a slow transition through it. Ground forces, including you and Davin, can penetrate it easily on the moon’s surface.”

I leaned forward with interested eyes. “So, this is going to be an up close and dirty fight.”

Xull nodded. “It will take three hours to get the fleet mobilized for a strike mission, and another several hours to hyper warp to Urth. Despite automation, it still requires time to gather our forces and prepare. I will have iterations of myself to captain each battleship and coordinate our forces.”

My thoughts slipped to Nora and Hope, before I pushed the image of them away.

“Let’s work out the details. I’m ready to give the Harvester Legion a black eye and make sure they never want to come back,” I said sternly as I tried to focus, but a faint image of Nora drifted back into my thoughts. 

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