Erica Olafson Rise of the Dark One Vol 10 Chapter 15 Ice Demons
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“The Rundiranz?” I repeated. So what do you know about all this?”
“Lize Biz, Captinz.” Meeze said, looking at the greenish goob of organic substance in one of his small hands. He took a bite.”Iz baaz Captinz buz maybez I puz the salz or ze strawberriez onz ze Rundiranz.”
“Mr. Meeze can you pause your culinary experiments for a moment and tell me what you know?”
The worm creature gave the green glob a last look and then tossed it back into the cracked open cryotube.”Meeze knows lize biz. The Rundiranz anz ze otzers travelz from ze planez zo ze planez anz changz ze lifez. The Rundiranz noz likez ze otzers.”
I tried hard to understand, but the worm’s explanation made little sense.
TheOther stepped next to me and exchanged sentences in an alien language with Meeze and then said to me.”Meeze thinks, the beings in these cryotubes were ready to be seeded but somehow had not been deployed or released by the Life changers. Meeze remembers Mora legends about two distinct life seeding mega societies. Each trying to spread their particular brand of life and opposing the efforts of the other society.”
I digested the information, even though it was much clearer, I was not sure how it applied to our situation, but it was more than we had before. “You speak the native language of Meeze?”
“Yes captain, I believe Meeze and Y’All are related somehow, we share basic genetic similarities. The other Yehaa aboard have taught me Mora language.”
Luitenant Bergdorf one of the Mini Terran buzzed close and hovered at eye-level before me.”Captain, we discovered tanks full of these.” He held up a plastic container and inside was something that reminded me of a tiny organic shaped throw dart.
He continued, “Shea examined our scans and we think these things are rained onto a planet by the billions, then they sting lifeforms and inject an aggressive gene code changing virus. Captain, I think we discovered a Seeder ship.”
Our expedition to the alien wreck was un-eventful and while we now had the outline of an idea what we had encountered, there were lots of unanswered questions.
I had returned to the Tigershark and went to Circuit to check on the progress of the repair work.
My X101 Centmac engineer told me that everything was progressing nicely. The Dime-Tap was almost ready to go online and that the Janus device was also close to being restored. The science department had completed a planetary survey and reported the existence of a stone-age society of lizard beings on another continent, unable to cross the oceans. Open contact with a primitive culture was strongly discouraged and if at all to be avoided.
I permitted Shea to lead an excursion to the alien wreck to give it a closer look.
All this activity kept my crew busy, but there was little I needed to do. So, after an extensive swim, I decided to take the opportunity for a leisure day and a nice long sleep.
I just closed my eyes and was ready to catch a few zees, when I found myself inside a dark glowing shapeless environment without clearly defined ground or any other solid boundaries. I felt my brother’s mind, more substantial than before. Whatever he was, he was gaining awareness and with that, he began to separate himself from me. The distinct feeling of him being a completely separate person had grown.
“I am indeed growing and becoming more and more aware of what I am. The bonds that tie me to this body and you are weakening.”
“Does that mean, I have to fear you? I am mortal and tied to this body, unlike you, there aren’t mystical trinkets for me.”
“Sister, you need to listen to our friend Narth. I am forever tied to you, you are more than a temporary vessel. Even without me, you will be a powerful psion user. It was you who the Narth Supreme invited.”
“There is a reason other than some weird mental sibling chit chat we are talking, right?”
“Yes, sister, the pace of my ultimate awakening is quickening and the Omniverse is preparing for that. Some forces fear my coming, some believe they can affect my essence and become the vessel. Others believe it can be prevented. The closer we approach this time, the more powerful and potent these forces will become.”
“That means exactly what?”
“Nothing can harm or stop me, but until I am what must be, you can be harmed. If you, my vessel is harmed or killed. I can not incarnate as pre-ordained and the Decision can not be made. Sister, we must seek out the remaining tokens.”
“You know, I am a Starship Captain, no matter what. I can’t just go on a quest of my own.
“We crossed many light-years stepping over trans-spatial thresholds. We traveled with Luci Fera, bypassing space via the Netherrealms and we traveled with the Narth Supreme, Time and space have a different meaning to us ... to me. We know where the gauntlets are. Let us go to Netlor and retrieve them, we will be gone for less than five minutes.”
I sighed, opened my eyes and got out of bed
“Tell SHIP that we will be back. You are a Starship captain indeed, and able to make decisions, you come to the aid of anyone asking. I am your brother.”
“You know how to get there?”
“In theory sister, as I have never done it before as you know. Take our ax, it cuts everything including the very fabric of time and space.”
“And if it does cut it, how do we mend it?”
“Such cut or tear is not permanent.”
I sighed got up from the bed and it took only a thought to summon the shroud. It appeared out of nowhere and replaced the nighty I was wearing. With the shroud, my boots appeared.
A metal belt girded the loose shroud above my hips.
“Sister, I know this is not your style but it is mine.”
“Let us just hope no one gets a heart attack seeing me like that.”
“SHIP, I will be gone for five minutes or so. Don’t be alarmed, if anything urgent happens, let Har-Hi know.”
I raised my hand, the ax grew to full size. My mind filled with images of Netlor.I knew this was not me, but the growing abilities of my brother able to see a distant world with such incredible detail. These images were so substantial. I swiped the ax in an arch through the air, creating a glowing rift and I stepped through.
Har-Hi sat brooding in the command chair and stared through the front viewport. As usual, the viewscreen had been raised to allow a direct view over the dust-dry desert landscape. He had asked Xon, who was sitting behind the Comm Channel to keep the common channels open, so he could listen to the science team aboard the shipwreck. Their voices were excited in the usual science geek way, but there was no distress or any indication they were in danger. He was still worried, despite the armed marines, half of them conscripted Y’All.
Har-Hi’s lips curled to a faint smile as he was thinking about these terrifying brutes. Beings of a dozen galaxies felt panic like fear, just hearing these brutes were coming.
Yet, in Quarva the hollow asteroid moon in the Leo II galaxy when they faced a whole troop of these genetically constructed warrior beasts, but true to the unexplainable Tigershark magic, fifty revived Y’All joined the crew, then argued and pleaded with the Admiral to have them remain aboard. To the Tigershark crew, they weren’t fear-inducing, of course mainly due to TheOther, who had long ceased to be frightening but was the welcome sight of a dear friend.
But Har-Hi was not just a Union Officer, he was also Dai, boarding ships to plunder them was a way of life. He knew of many stories when inert and dead wrecks and concealed lethal terrors.
He shifted his position. “Of course no Dai boarding party ever had Y’All warriors in heavy destroyer suits, Petharians, and a dozen Cerberus to keep guard.
He was actually glad when the ship bell announced the begin of the next watch. Not that this had been his shift, but like the Captain, he sometimes extended his shift just to make sure everything was running smoothly.
Har-Hi had no words for it, nor did he consciously know he had it, but he too had this unexplainable sense, humans called gut-feeling. Something didn’t feel right, the Tigershark was almost back to normal, but almost was just not good enough for him, until the Dime-Tab was back online, they were sitting Kanthus. Easy prey in other words.”
The Dai got up, so Roghor could occupy the command chair. He briefed the magnificent Togar cat on the status of things and walked to the rear bridge access, He decided to forego the planned meal and do the same the Captain did, take a nap. Even though a Dai warrior could forego days without sleep. If his vague insubstantial feeling of something looming, he might as well find some rest now.
He glanced back and watched Roghor adjust field screens and ask for a mission and repair update, He agreed with Erica, that Togar cat was technically just a Luitenant, without even a month at the academy, but Roghor was, in experience and demeanor a seasoned commanding officer. Captain Olafson kept calling Roghor by its old Togar rank of Commander. Everyone picked to serve as a watch officer and hold the Conn as this particular task was called in the Union Navy was doing an excellent job, but Roghor added an almost feelable element of confidence to it. The Tigershark was in good paws and Har-Hi was certain the day would come when Roghor would wear Union Captain’s gold on his sleeves and command a Battleship.
As he stepped in the brightly lit corridor of the command deck and the heavy iris doors of the bridge closed behind him, a dark shrouded being peeled out of the air right next to him and kept pace.
While the being looked exactly like his dear friend Narth, he instantly knew this was not Narth, but the Narth Supreme himself.
“Permission to come aboard, Commander Hi.”
“Permission granted. You are the Narth Supreme are you not?”
“Indeed. your senses are developing remarkably well.”
Har-Hi did not know what the Narth Supreme wanted to say with that.”Not that it would do much good denying it, you Narth can appear inside any ship.”
The shrouded being sounded amused.”This ship is transparent to me because our mutual friend Erica allows it. SHIP would never let me pass her defenses if it was not so.”
“I was trying to make a sarcastic joke, Honorable Supreme Narth. You are always a most welcomed visitor. We are not far from our never used Officer’s lounge, can I interest you in some refreshments perhaps? My friend Narth has developed quite a taste for real food.”
“All Narth knows, and there are more and more that embrace food, not as a source of sustenance, as we do no longer require it in this form, but as a source joy through taste and flavor. Let us then proceed to this lounge, a portion of the famous Tigershark coffee would be appreciated indeed. While the venue of your Den would be far more welcome, I came to speak to you.”
Har-Hi sighed.”I was certain you would say that, hot that I appreciate your visit and presence, but you are an entity of god-like level and hardly waste time on a simple Dai if it wasn’t necessary.”
“Har-Hi, I am not a god. Far from it, but you share the vicinity with an entity that will be the closest definition of an omniscient, omnipotent condition able to alter the fabric of space and time.”
“It is about Erica, is it?”
“Only indirect, Har-Hi. She is not aboard, I came to see you.”
They had walked past the Captain’s quarters, his quarters and approached the entrance to the Tigershark’s officer lounge. Har-Hi remembered being here once, back when the Tigershark was given to them, and he made a point to walk every deck.
His chin fell as he heard those words.”She is not aboard? Abducted again?”
“Oh no, she can no longer be abducted all that easily. She used her Ax to split time and space to retrieve things that belong to her.”
The doors slid open with a faint whisper, Instead of the expected unused officer’s galley. They had walked into a food and meat locker. Boxes and bags of all sort of food items, piled scrap metal and system parts.
Har-Hi was stopped dead in his tracks.”SHIP, what in Trauks infected eyeballs is going on here?”
“Midshipman Meeze asked, if he could utilize an unused room to store a few personal items, you approved it by signature.”
“A few personal items? I think I read the request line item. This looks like a ton of things.” Har-Hi’s eyes were caught by a bloody thing in a vacuum seak pack.”Spirit of the Universe, is that a Thauran arm, didn’t we get rid of all that?”
SHIP tried to sound innocent.”This is the least used room of any and there was no stipulation on weight, type or amount.”
Har-Hi wanted to say something when he heard the sound of chewing and a sharp burp. There behind a plastic barrel, with raw gag reflex inducing odor fish and meat bits sat Fafnir, the not so little dragon blissfully chewing on what looked like the thigh of something big. Puffs of black smoke escaped its nostrils now and then between bites.
“SHIP, I am busy with an important guest. When I come back I want Mr. Meeze on the carpet and discuss this, this ... mess!”
Apologetic he said to the Narth Supreme.”I am so sorry, this is not suitable. My quarters include an office, maybe we can go there.”
Never was he more afraid than now. The statuesque med-tech hummed a little tune, while she kept an eye on the read-outs. He was completely immobilized, not a single muscle in his body reacted to his mind. She stepped next to him and padded his cheek.”Ten more minutes and I know where to attach the neuro path scrubbers. Every brain is a little different. A simple mind wipe would be easier, but you going to be a very valuable asset. Just as your friend, Alegar. Through you two, we can control a Narth, how delightful.”
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Lord Lumis regained some of his old composure, the remaining knights affirmed their allegiance. He had just traveled back to Avondur and was greeted by Uritel at the gates of Sandakaar the old city. Uritel had not been recruited by him but joined the Knights of Light. Crea herself hinted that Uritel was perhaps as powerful as Lumis and was an entity that came to the Prime Universe from an Upper realm. The creature certainly looked very impressive in his segmented armor of a metal that...
Everything was right as snow to me. I sat in a command seat surrounded by many of my friends. We were in Union Space inside a very fast and very well armed ship and were on our way to meet the rest of my friends and crew. I was really looking forward to my ship, my own quarters and whatever mission lay ahead. I reclined comfortable, had my legs crossed and almost dozed off, looking at the soothing sight of deep space displayed on our main viewer, some stars showing as Quasi streaks of...
Tobaia the magnificent had ascended upon the highest spire of her palace. The Seventh Claw spire had never seen a queen before. She stood there, her arms wrapped around her body and just below her breasts. Below her the sprawling city of Hi-Togr, the very heart of the mighty Togar empire. Malmorus, the sun had just disappeared behind the crests of the Kreigha mountains in the distance, but Torgu the largest of the planet’s two moons was soon to rise and provide its magnificent cool...
“How?” TheOther yelled. “Restore the main energy feed to this system. It has been severed. This system no longer has physical controls.” A holographic image established itself. It was a representation of the Chamber he was in, and a big console not to far was highlighted. “Proceed to the panel indicated and restore the energy feed to the Yah-ha Al drones. They will obey me and restore what must be restored.” TheOther was about to do exactly that, but he stopped. “These drones will also...
The thing didn’t move. Narth said. “I am holding it. It is strong but not unmanageable. “SHIP called. “The asteroid has revealed previously unknown weaponry. It is taxing our shields to almost 20 percent. ““Are you in danger?” “Oh, no captain. That tech is quite advanced, and I think it is Orlan but Mao took those weapons out with kilo loads. I was just reporting. “I dialed my TKU to 10 and said. “It’s going to get mighty hot in here. Narth your shields are on, right?” “No, captain. I...
Our ship had settled down on its landing gear and Shaka powered down the Arti Gravs. Har-Hi pointed at a large number of tanks and artillery pieces that had been assembled around the vast empty plane, that was designated to us as a place to land. “I don’t think those are all for military honors. I think they are still quite nervous about us.” Narth agreed with my XO. “To describe the entire planet’s population, the terms anxiety and fear would be on top of my choices.” Mehdi occupying a...
From the open door, Dusty stepped into the room.”I am containing the Dai.” The living dust cloud flowed like a sand storm around me and engulfed both Dai. The Dustcloud said.”Captain, they are riding on electromagnetic waves. They infiltrated us as we set the shields transparent for radio waves.” Both Dai looked like living statues. Now Orthbeer passed through the deck plating. I could not hear what he was trying to say, then he came closer and closer and his greenish hand passed into my...
The Dragon stood in his cargo bay and his eyes glowed as his pirates dumped loads of Iridium and other highly valuable goods only to return to get more. He cursed himself for not remembering the right planet. He was so sure he had been here before and now he could not remember any details. He was so certain the suit told him these coordinates. Of course, he had not kept any files on the coordinates but his suit knew where it was and now it was silent and did not respond to anything. All there...
Hans due to his size and strength was often seen as a bruiser with tremendous strength but little else. This was not the case since he was with the Olafson gang. He was asked about his opinion about other things. The woman across him was about as opposite as a being could be to a Saturnian, she was a Delicate. While Brana was certainly not a member of the original gang, she like the rest became like family. She had just stepped into his security office and without any hesitation floated...
A muscular being covered with a brown shroud came running our way. It had a nonhuman snout sticking out from under his hood. What was exposed of him was covered with a short gray fur. In his right, he held an elegant looking weapon. It appeared to be an energy beamer of sort, he had fired it twice into the direction he was coming from. Now he turned and with it his weapon and he aimed at me. Lucky for me I was close, unfortunate for him, I had already drawn the Dai blade. I moved fast into...
About ten armed Trontigmakader entered the tavern, led by an insectoid in a flashy bright blue and white armor of some kind. “The four Masters declared martial law until we can determine who released the Cleanser beasts from their hold. This place has been identified as a meeting place of the Discrepant Element. You are all considered potential collaborators, perhaps even supplying weapons to these criminals. You are...” A high pitched humming voice screamed from somewhere else. “The Four...
Har-Hi had left over two hours ago with the first twenty and reported the city was orderly. The crew members with him had a good time and the locals were used to visitors and merchants from other places. He also reported that there was a market and Circuit excited. I warned him not to buy any more eggs. Even though I had to admit Fenris had turned out to be liked by the crew and more or less fit right in. Two of the minis were out near the Red Dragon watching I suspected the Red Dragon...
Har-Hi was led to a Wisdom keeper, who was without question an old Dai. The revelation that there was a Dai was quite a surprise for Har-Hi. He had not expected that, but since he had become a Union officer and traveled with Erica, he had met and seen the unthinkable. Living dust clouds, planet surface covering creatures and a planet-bound, desert scavenging Dai. He had met Dai that were born in captivity and knew a Dai tribe leader was engaged in selling Dai Than as slaves. Meeting a Dai...
The Dai Nest so I learned a week later, was a huge space station in an otherwise empty star system. It was deep in Union space. The star had been named Dai-Core. The station was made of several Gigamon stations, interconnected with girder-like structures that acted as docks and mooring arms for Dai ships and the humongous Dai Mothers. The system and the station were busy. From my visually unaided vista, a simple viewport I counted eleven Dai Mothers, I was sure there were many more outside...
Prelude Part 4: Volund 4999, OTT The crumbling walls of Olafson Burg were no longer on his mind. Volund was now the steward of Ragnarsson Rock. Erik Gustav had kept his word and had given him the stewardship and rule of all that was Ragnarsson on this world. There were tanneries in the extensive basements, several Nubhir farms on the permanent ice of the southern polar region, and large Fangsnapper herds. Best of all, there were five modern and well-kept fishing boats and three hunting...
Mr.Flensburger was now gone for a week and we had a new teacher. Mr. Walters was his name and he was much different to the jovial and gentle Mr. Flensburger. He was stern and had a no nonsense approach. This Monday morning, right by the main doors I saw Yngve Lofdahl waiting for me. He had a busted; bleeding lip and his left eye was swelling. Like me he was wearing a fur vest over a linen tunic that reached halfway to the knees, linen breeches and boots. Usually he always looked like he wore...
TheOther was injured. The wounds he received from the relentless attacks of these smaller Y’All versions were too deep and too severe for his incredible healing abilities to cope with. He regretted the fact that he opted to forego the AutoDoc adjustment, Cateria recommended for months now. The original factory-issued unit, requested a species update because this amazing piece of Union technology was deploying medical nanites and his own bodies defense mechanisms fought the nanites and...
This situation reminded me of my first visit to Sin 4. I did not know where I was, brought here against my will. Abducted, stripped of everything I owned. I was once again bare feet, had several blisters and burn wounds. My hair was a mess, at least In didn’t have to go pee. Darn it thinking about it, made realize I actually did. I was still running across that landing field, not knowing where I was going, but I knew I still stuck out like a sore thumb, being the only pin skinned human. The...