Fan Fiction ❯ Aether Psychoses: Tales from the Planet Solstice ❯ Phase 1, Episode 4: Haven - Rift - Home ( Chapter 4 )

===> C M A <===

RATING: This story is rated "R" for mature subject matter, violence, and language.

DISCLAIMER: This story, its settings, its characters, and all its distinctive likenesses are Copyright 2004-2005 Carlos Alexandre. This is an original work and may not be published without Carlos Alexandre's written consent. Characters, settings, personas, etc. may not be used without, again, Carlos Alexandre's written consent. Any relation to this story and any real-life events, past or present, is entirely coincidental. And all that other crap.

If you're reading this anywhere but at www.triplepeeps.com, I recommend you go there instead; some places this fic is posted in might not be formatted or italicized/bolded/underlined correctly.

Author notes are further down.
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HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 0703
The Centauri, Tealla's Room
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Sleepy... bed... comfy...

"Tealla!"

Must... ignore... voice...

"Tealla! Waking is time! Waking is time!"

Clenching... fist... angry...

"Tealla! Tealla! Tealla! Waking is time!"

Must... destroy... intercom...

"Wake up wake up wake up!"

Grinding... teeth... rage...

"GET UP, TEALLA!!!"

Must... kill... Vigor...

"TEALLA!!!--"

"ALRIGHT ALREADY, VIGOR!!! I'M UP!!!" I roar angrily, sitting up in bed.

"Hurray! Hurray!" I hear Vigor cheer over the intercom.

I sigh heavily. "Good morning to you, too," I say. "Did your brother get in last night?"

"Answer is yes!" she replies, never speaking, well, normally, which always irritates the hell out of me. "Brother Tommy was Essex-riding! Mr. Sieg, regards he sends to Tealla! And brother Tommy was concerned about Tealla! Wondering why Tealla went sleepy early!"

"Tell him I want to talk to him on the bridge at oh-eight-hundred," I tell Vigor.

"Understanding is Vigor!"

With a low audible click, the intercom shuts down, and I am free to sleep once more!

... No, I better not.

Yawning, I force myself to stand up. Rubbing my eyes, I make my way to my bathroom.

I stop for a moment in front of my vanity mirror. A tank top and panties; the ultimate sleeping attire. To hell with all those who speak of pajamas like they're the be-all end-all bedtime gear; that shit itches like nothing else.

I stretch and feel a kink in my left wrist. Hurt myself training yesterday. I heal fast, though, so I'll probably be one-hundred percent in no time at all, and in fact it already feels much better.

My body heals itself more efficiently than his does. Even if he can use basic healing aether, he has to stop and chant it. But the human body's built-in aether self-healing is involuntary, and with the extra training I've been doing, including--but certainly not limited to--strengthening my regenerative ability, he'll have to work a lot harder to hurt me.

I'll definitely use that to my advantage... next time...

I clench my fists.

Next time, little brother... you're mine.
________

Ah, clean, dressed, and ready to face the day!

I take another look at the mirror, wearing my usual attire. Blue form-fitting shirt, slit sleeves ending a little past my shoulders... check. I pull it down a bit, knowing it'll ride up slightly again showing a tiny glimpse of my fit stomach. Not that I mind or anything, but I always subconsciously try to pull the shirt back down regardless. Not too sure why I do; just a bad habit, I guess.

I have some new tops being specially made that should be ready... today, actually! I have to remember to call the place again. This one and the others I have like it will soon--hopefully--be unnecessary. Sieg taught me a valuable lesson on Phoenix Station; my clothing must be more... resilient from now on.

Black pants, silver buttons, silver zipper... check. I have a ton of these pants, all special-order. Compromising my flexibility is not an option, and these pants let me kick and move any way I want. Plus, I love the look of silver on black. Very nice. My belt is similarly black, lined with oversized silver-rimmed holes. My boots follow suit; black with silver zippers. I'm told they're quite "chic," whatever that means. They're also special-order and made to lock with and ride on a G-board. No raised heels for me, thanks; these boots, too, must never limit my mobility.

I run a hand through my brown hair, letting some of it fall to my forehead and cheeks. It runs down to a little above my waist. Sieg always says I should cut it short so it doesn't get in the way when I fight, but it's never been a problem. I always consider where my hair will flail when I move, plus I've always just loved having my hair long.

I look at the clock on my night table. Just about twenty to eight. I'll swing by the lounge real quick and grab a bite.
________

"You know, Tealla," a voice observes, "you shouldn't leave the fridge door open while deciding on what you want. It wastes energy."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," I reply to the voice, who I recognize as belonging to Galvanos.

I pull out a plastic container of leftover... something and pop it into the microwave.

"Man, Galvanos, don't you ever get hot in that?" I ask.

I think it's a legitimate question. The guy's tall; only fifteen but he's five-foot-nine, an inch taller than me. It makes his whole "arcane robe" getup look all the more... uncomfortable.

Galvanos always dresses in heavy ceremonial-looking robes adorned with various aether-affecting runic symbols, charms, trinkets, and a couple of things that I can't even imagine ever wearing myself under any set of circumstances. See, the kid is what some call an aether "mage," one who dismisses most forms of direct utilization and physical attacks in favor of a pure incantation-based combat style. As such, his clothing is tailor-made and selected to provide optimum incantation output and efficiency.

His head and face remain uncovered, his long black hair braided and falling all the way down to the calves of his legs. He wears small earrings embedded with jewels that, again, have some effect on the incantations he chants.

Along the lengthy braid are several weighted bands used to surprise opponents who get too close; it makes a surprisingly effective whip. The first time he used it on me while training was a rather painful lesson; despite appearances, the fighting style, and the heavy clothes, this kid is surprisingly quick and agile. I still won, of course, but that "hair-whip" shit stung something fierce for a good while.

"Like I've explained before, Tealla," he politely replies, "I regulate my body temperature using aether. Similar to how you train with weighted clothing to build strength and stamina, wearing this every day improves my aether control."

"I get all that," I explain, "but I don't wear the weights all the damn time. There's something to be said for comfort, too. Besides, how long does that crap take you to put on every morning?"

"I have it down to thirty minutes," he boasts proudly.

"Including washing the hair?"

"Yes. By manipulating water-type aether, I can--"

"Okay, okay, I get it," I interrupt as the microwave finishes. "Yeesh. Just slap a shirt and some pants on; you can cut that time by twenty-nine minutes."
________

HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 0800
The Centauri's Bridge
________

Man, I must not have slept very well. I yawn again as I sit in the captain's chair.

It's called a "captain's" chair, but I make it clear to my crew that anyone who calls me "captain" dies. I lead this ship and this crew, but I do not want any titles, thanks.

"Good morning, Tealla!" Tommy greets, entering the bridge. "What's wrong? I heard you went to bed very early yesterday."

Ah, Tommy. Met him and his sister shortly after Sieg and I... parted ways. The three of us started this ragtag group we now call a family, and the three of us are the first to call this ship, the Centauri, our home.

Tommy's always had talent. He's a little naive and is very much still a young, immature boy of sixteen years, but behind the child's face lies a keen, calculating mind. I chose him as the second in command of this ship for good reason, and he has never, ever let me down.

"Fatigue is all," I explain, examining my trim fingernails. "I was training most of the day yesterday."

"Ah, that explains it."

He's never, ever let me down... but...

"So, Tommy," I begin, "how much did you tell Sieg?"

"Oh, um, whatever do you mean?" he stumbles, knowing full well he isn't getting out of this and that he's not fooling anyone.

"Don't insult my intelligence, kid," I tell him. "You and Lemires have a fight, she comes back alone, clothed only in one of your trench coats for some reason, and leaves you to your own devices. Sieg just so happens to be at Sky Current, probably visiting the ship maker Corsair, whom you've been speaking with about Chrysalis, and you ask Sieg for a ride back here. You spill the beans, conspire to gather information together, and promise you won't tell me. Bullseye?"

He nods nervously.

I sigh. The crews of the Essex and the Centauri share a rather... unconventional relationship. We can get along and banter like the closest of friends, or fight one another fiercely like the bitterest of rivals.

It... concerns me. It really does. I'm always afraid that this friendship we've forged with Sieg and his crew is only setting us up for a fall. We clash often, and it isn't always pretty. We've fired on each other, fought each other, and hurt each other.

What happens if one of Sieg's crew kills one of my own? This friendship would shatter in a moment. Will I ever forgive? Will I seek retribution?

What happens if one of my people kills one of the Essex's? Will I expect no mercy from Sieg? Will that fragile thread keeping us together as brother and sister snap? After all, our relationship is strained enough as it is.

Bah, I shouldn't think about this sort of fucking thing so early in the damn day.

"Relax, you aren't in shit," I assure him. "Did he help you find out anything more?"

"He did and shared it all. Also, Supafly was at Sky Current and wanted to speak with you personally about Chrysalis and the Rifts. His ship should be nearby, actually."

"Cool. Hail him; let's get this over with."
________

His image comes up on the screen. A hefty man, dressed casually in baggy jeans, he wears a white t-shirt, an expensive-looking black leather vest, sunglasses, and a blue bandana tied with the knot on his forehead. Opting to tie the bandana like a headband as opposed to covering his head with it, a bed of messy yet somehow kempt short brown hair is revealed.

"It's been a while, Supafly," I say to him. "You look good."

"Supafly always looks good!" he replies confidently, speaking quickly and to-the-point, but still retaining an air of modest arrogance. "How's it hangin', Tommy?"

"Not bad, Supafly!" Tommy returns.

"I heard, my friend," I start, "that you've got some rather interesting gossip about Chrysalis and their plans for the Rifts."

"Yo, Supafly doesn't gossip, T!" he answers. "All Supafly's information is top-notch and quality, backed with a one hundred percent 'supa' guarantee!"

"Have you already given this 'supa top-notch quality' information to my brother?"

"He paid the price, he rolled the dice, says the Supafly!"

I cock an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"I says YES, woman!" he barks, seemingly offended. "You hearin' right? Cuz Supafly be speakin' right, y' hear?"

"Yes, yes," I acknowledge, ignoring the subtle pun. "So what's your price, then?"

"None for you, T. Supafly pays off his debts, and Supafly be owin' you one."

Oh, yeah, that's right too. Not that long ago, the Centauri supported Supafly's shop-ship, the bizarrely named Homie-D, during a skirmish with some Rhegos border guards. The man's a little strange, yes, but Supafly has a sense of honor about him not usually displayed from the wandering bargain-hunting merchant variety. When someone does him a favor, he always returns it.

"Well, much obliged!" I thank. "So spill the beans then. What do you know?"

"Alright, here's the digs," Supafly begins. "The Chrysalis Syndicate has already set up shop around the Pathos island ruins. The Supafly has learned from the shop-ship grapevine that work's begun to change the trajectory of the local Rift. Well, try to, anyway. Supafly be thinkin' that shit's crazy!"

"Do you know where they plan to point it?"

"Supafly can't be certain of this," he says, looking more concerned than he sounds, "but the word is that it's going to be aimed at Cipher."

"WHAT!?" Tommy exclaims, clearly as shocked as I am. "What part of Cipher?"

Cipher is the continent located between the three countries waging the Trinity War. It holds Cruz Foundation's central headquarters, lies under the floating city Phoenix Station, and hosts a variety of other cities and towns, including the port city Sky Current.

Hyperion City, where Sieg and I grew up, is on Cipher, too.

Well, "was on Cipher" is a more appropriate thing to say. Was on Cipher, before the... incident.

"The trajectory is supposed to engulf both Sky Current and Phoenix Station," Supafly explains.

Sky Current and Phoenix Station...

"Thanks, Supafly!" I say. "We have to go. Keep in touch!"

"Supafly signin' off! You keep 'er real, T! And be careful, will ya?"

"This is madness!" Tommy echoes my thoughts as the view screen shuts off. "Why!? Tealla, I don't understand! Why would they do that? What purpose does it serve?"

"Calm down, kid," I advise. "Keep your wits about you. Supafly's a reliable source but he himself said he wasn't sure. He's been wrong before, and he's only presenting us information he's heard, not confirmed."

"Still, we can't ignore this!"

"No, we can't," I answer as I set the intercom to broadcast to the entire ship. "This is Tealla! Everyone to the bridge, on the double!"
________

AETHER PSYCHOSES
Tales from the Planet Solstice

An original fic by Carlos Alexandre (CMA)
________

This episode was originally released on March 18, 2005.
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AUTHOR NOTES

No real specific notes for this chapter. As always, I accept, welcome, and encourage criticism. Send it to cma@triplepeeps.com or visit www.triplepeeps.com and post in the forum.
________

We hate, in others, what we see in ourselves.
We love, in others, qualities we lack.
Commit thyself to denial only if you seek the destruction of your very being.

-= PHASE 1
--== EPISODE 4
---=== Haven - Rift - Home
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HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 0824
The Centauri's Bridge, en route to Pathos
________

"Course set and on our way to the Pathos island ruins," Galvanos states. "We'll be there in an hour and forty-five minutes at our current speed."

"So you suspect Chrysalis is going to try changing the trajectory the Rift?" Lemires asks me, sounding skeptical. "Is anyone really that crazy, Tealla? Really?"

"You'd be surprised what people are capable of," I answer simply.

"Tealla is contacting Sieg? Tealla is contacting Sieg?" Vigor asks, twice for some reason.

"No," I tell her, "and I'm not going to, either."

"If I might ask, Lady Hyrem, why not?" Maxwell questions. The giant man is as polite as always, but he still insists on using that blasted "Lady Hyrem" title.

"Because I already know where Sieg is going," I explain. "His first concern will be Corsair and the people of Sky Current. He's probably going to Phoenix Station to see what he can find out about Chrysalis from Armen Stratos."

"Why wouldn't he just head to Pathos island?" Lemires asks again.

"Because Sieg knows that's exactly where we're going," Tommy replies, beating me to it. "He'll leave it to us."

"Not to question your judgment," Lemires says, still seemingly angry with Tommy, "but how do you know that for sure?"

"It's my job to be sure of these things, Lemires," he answers firmly. "Think about it. Supafly said he spoke to Sieg and told him the same thing he told us. The two would have spoken while still fairly close to Cipher. Sieg knows full well that Supafly is good friends not only with him, but with Tealla as well, so Sieg had no reason to believe Supafly wouldn't seek out Tealla next, and knows full well that she'd want to see Chrysalis's work first hand."

"Okay, that all makes sense, I guess," she says, seemingly understanding. "But why not just contact him to confirm? It can't hurt, right?"

"Vigor is agreeing!" Vigor chimes in. "It cannot hurt! It cannot hurt!"

"You're forgetting one important thing," I begin. "We don't owe Sieg or the Essex jack shit. Never forget what it is we do, people. Never forget what I told you you'd be doing when you joined me. We're mercenaries. We don't work for free; we work for gain. Sure, it's okay to help out folks here and there; we aren't cruel, indifferent bastards. However, first and foremost, we have ourselves to think about."

"But, Tealla--" Vigor tries to interrupt, but I continue regardless.

"The Essex's people are our friends, yes, but they are also our foremost contenders for money and reputation. As long as that holds true, we must always be looking to secure the advantage. Of course, I am all for stopping anyone stupid enough to mess with the Rifts, but at the same time, this is an opportunity."

I stand up. "Knowledge is power," I go on. "The more we learn about Chrysalis, what they've done, and what they're doing, the more we stand to gain from this. Also, this is our shit to handle, and I'll never ask Sieg for help unless I face someone or something I couldn't possibly hope to beat on my own."

"That's right!" Galvanos suddenly adds optimistically. "The Centauri and her crew stands on its own two feet! We follow our own rules and hold allegiance to no one except each other!"

"Well put," Tommy says, looking at the rest of the crew. "Any doubts?"

"If I doubted Lady Hyrem I would never have set foot on this ship," Maxwell states. "Let us move forward!"

"The word 'doubt' isn't in my dictionary!" Lemires exclaims. "Then again, neither are a lot of other words, but who cares!"

"Vigor too! Vigor too!" Vigor squeals, afraid to be left out. "Not doubting! Not doubting one single bit!"

"Good!" I say, smiling. "We're all in this together!"
________

Just about nine-thirty. Less than an hour away. Only me, my sister, and Maxwell remain on the bridge.

"Brother Tommy!"

I cringe a little, still typing away at my terminal. "Yes, Vigor? What is it?"

"Brother Tommy!"

"Yes, Vigor, I can hear you!" I reply, more than just a little annoyed.

"Brother Tommy!--"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!?" I scream, turning and staring her dead in the eyes.

"Made you look!"

I could choke her to death. Yes, that'd work!

No, no, you may not strangle her! Remember, she's your sister! You love her!

"Don't you have scans to run?" I ask Vigor. "Logs to update and maintain? Anything!?"

"Nope!" she squeaks, smiling that infectious smile.

Always an odd one, my sister. Always has been.

Pretty, though. She may be, oh, how do I put it... FLIPPIN' CRAZY, but she's still cute. Bright red hair, cut short, dances about her young, innocent face and brown eyes. Her cream-colored sundress partly conceals the snug jet-black bodysuit she always seems to wear. The bodysuit itself goes down to a few inches above her knees, up to her neck, and covers her arms a little like a t-shirt would--

"Brother Tommy is staring at Vigor!?" she suddenly blurts, blushing.

"WHAT!?" I shout, blushing in return. "What the hell are you accusing me of?"

"Brother Tommy is staring at Vigor!" she sings, prancing about the bridge. "Brother Tommy's an incestuous pervert!"

"I am NOT an incestuous pervert!" I yell defensively.

"Actually, you were staring fairly... intently," Maxwell observes.

"I was admiring the pretty picture that is my little sister!" I bark. "No different from a father admiring his beautiful daughter!"

"Brother Tommy says I'm beautiful!" Vigor practically yells. "Next brother Tommy will lure me into his bedroom with candy!"

"WILL YOU SHUT UP!?" I shout. "And I told you not to steal candy from my room! You're too hyperactive as it is!"

"I don't know, Thomas," Maxwell says, using my real name. "If I was a fourteen year old girl like Victoria and my father eyed me the way you were just doing, I would be most uncomfortable."

"DAMMIT, I'M NOT SIEG!" I fire back.

"No, you are not," he says. "I'm fairly certain that Sieg makes such advances at Tealla in jest. Your vacant expression was one of sincere lust."

First Lemires, and now this. "I NEVER WIN!!!"
________

Tealla shakes her head in shame. She's going to lecture me, I know it.

I... I've let her down again...

"That's, how many, three times you've lost that same fucking way, Lemires?" she accuses.

"But, Tealla, you don't understand!" I say in a panic. "He had backup!"

"He had backup, did he?"

"Yes! Asha taunted me the entire time!"

"So," Tealla starts, "Asha taunted you so much that you had no choice but to jump into the air and attempt an attack that Sieg could see coming a mile away, the same shitty attack that you've tried on both him and me before?"

"Well," I murmur, twiddling my thumbs, "I didn't think he'd do the same thing against two swords--"

She slaps me on the back of the head! Freaking hard, too!

That's just freaking mean! I think I'm going to cry here!

"Why didn't you fight the way you did the last time we sparred!?" she questions. "You're tons better than you were when we first met! Why would you open a fight against Sieg, or anyone for that matter, with such a stupid move? A crappy engineering bot would've read you like a book and beat your ass senseless, you stupid broad!"

Stupid broad?

I rub the sore spot where she hit me. "I... I wasn't thinking..."

"You're damn straight you weren't thinking!" Tealla indicts. "And I need you to start thinking from now on, Lemires! What if you have to fight Sieg for real? What if you have to fend him off long enough for your crewmates to finish their mission?"

I'm so stupid.

So, so stupid.

I'll never be good enough, not as long as I keep doing the stupid, stupid things I do.

I lower my head apologetically, fighting back a few tears.

"I know, I'm sorry," I apologize. "You're right, Tealla--"

"Yes, I know I'm right!" she says. "Now, buck up! Stop looking so down! And for fuck's sake, make up with Tommy. I don't want a lovers' quarrel to interfere--"

"We aren't lovers!" I interrupt defensively. What an absurd idea! "He's just a kid! I'm eighteen, I'll have you know--"

"Whatever! Make up with him, kiss him, fuck him, I don't give a shit! But the bad blood stops now!"

"Yes, ma'am," I confirm, nodding.

"Good. Now let's head to the br--"
________

I feel the ship shaking a little. Not enough to make me lose my footing or anything, but if the Centauri's stabilizers cannot completely negate the shock of something hitting us, that means we've either run into some mountain or airship, or--

"Lady Hyrem!" I hear Maxwell exclaim over the intercom. "We are under attack!"

"By what!?" I ask.

"This is bad, Tealla," Tommy's voice replies. "It's a Rift Wraith! It's fast, too; we've tried firing back but it just dodges everything!"

"Just one!? No problem! Get a G-board ready--"

"Tealla, this one's strong. Its EPL reads at about seventeen thousand!"

Bah, EPL. A worthless measuring tool invented by the Cruz Foundation. It's an estimated power level for a reason; it sucks ass. It can measure one's raw strength and one's command over aether, but there are far too many other factors it ignores.

Amongst those factors is the sheer desire to win. And I'm not about to lose to some prissy Rift Wraith!

"I don't give two shits about its estimated power level! Ready a G-board!" I order. "Keep as much distance between the Centauri and the Rift Wraith as reasonably possible! Only fire on it if you have a clean shot or on my command!"

"Tealla, now I'm reading more than just one!" Tommy's voice says. "Several more have appeared out of thin air surrounding the main one! We can't outrun them; they're too fast!"

"Are they as strong?" I ask, now suddenly a little worried.

"No, note quite. They read about three thousand each! Can't tell how many of them there are; they keep appearing--TEALLA, I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT THEY'RE PHASING THROUGH THE AETHER SHIELDS AS IF THEY WEREN'T THERE!!!"

Rift Wraiths... Ethereal creatures born of the Rifts. They don't tend to wander too far from said Rifts, and usually leave airships alone unless provoked. But some actively attack anything in sight. Aether shielding can usually repel the Wraiths, but otherwise they can easily phase through most non-living matter.

"Send a distress call and slow us down!" I command. "Make sure the engineering bots are set to attack Wraiths on site!"

"If these ones can bypass our shields," Lemires says, echoing my earlier thoughts, "they can get in, no problem."

"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" I roar into my TPC, set to broadcast to the whole ship. "We're about to be boarded by Rift Wraiths! Tommy and Maxwell, stay on the bridge! Vigor, meet with Galvanos and comb the halls together! Lemires and I will head for engineering! Fight to kill; hold nothing back!"
________

I tag another one with my aether-charged foot. Pesky little shits.

Though they can't pass through living matter, Wraiths can easily mold around conventional punches and kicks like mine. I have to put a little aether into every strike just to hurt them.

They aren't that pretty to look at, either. For lack of a better description, they look like ghostly, transparent violet torsos with flowing rags, vaguely humanoid. The only limbs they have, though, are gangly ghostly arms with claw-like hands; no legs present, which they don't really need, being able to fly at will and all. Their faces are dark purple silhouettes with glowing red eyes.

Of course, that appearance isn't set in stone. They can change shape and density at a whim, though they always retain the same color and transparency.

"It's like there's no end!" Lemires says, flinging electric-type aether--her specialty--at the invaders. She isn't using her swords, which makes sense; she's not too adept at imbuing her weapons with her own aether just yet, so using them would prove futile.

"I know, I know!" I shout, jumping, kicking off of one Wraith to strike another. "And I get the feeling this won't stop until the big one's taken out!"

Finally, engineering. Good, the bots seem to be holding the Wraiths at bay. I fire an ice blast at a group of the ghosts, freezing one of them solid. One well-placed kick smashes the frozen statue to pieces.

"Tealla!" Tommy's voice calls through my TPC. "Maxwell's keeping the bridge nice and safe. We've reached the Homie-D, and Supafly is on the way, but he'll only arrive in about thirty minutes!"

"Good work, Tommy!" I commend.

"That's still too long," Lemires notes.

"Yup. Lemires, can you take care of engineering on your own?"

"I think so, Tealla."

"Good." I pull out the TPC again. "Tommy, I'm going to take out the Wraiths' resident kingpin. I'm headed outside. Make sure a G-board's ready--"

"Already done!" he says. "Be careful, Tealla!"

I leave Lemires behind and race through the corridor, eventually reaching the steps to descend to the lower decks.

How did the Wraiths phase through my shields--

Him.

Of course.

"CK"... my former client who managed to disable the Centauri back at Phoenix Station.

Note to self: ask Sieg to get Corsair to fix up the Centauri so that prick CK can't pull this shit anymore.

I've reached the G-boards. Jumping on one, willing my boots to lock into place, I give the mental command to open the hatch below. I fall, commanding the hatch to close behind me.

The Centauri. My ship. As beautiful as she is deadly. Being ravaged by these fucking ghosts.

Oh yeah, baby; the next time I see CK, I'm going to slowly break each and every one of his ribs.
________

"I am trying everything I can think of, Tommy," Maxwell shouts from the terminal, "but nothing keeps them from penetrating our shields!"

"Same here!" I respond. "It's up to Tealla now--THE MAIN ONE'S APPROACHING THE BRIDGE!!!"

"I see him," Maxwell says, his voice low and cautious.

I look through the windshields.

Is that...

Is that really a Rift Wraith?

"Tommy, contact Tealla! Quickly!" Maxwell tells me as the Wraith phases through the glass and metal. Shit, he's on the bridge with us!

Before I can move, something snags my arm. Then, my other arm. Finally, my legs. I fall, helpless.

"RELEASE HIM, BEAST!!!" Maxwell roars, taking a swing at the thing with his massive fist.

Unfortunately, the attack doesn't find its mark, and soon what appears to be a ghostly chain wraps around Maxwell's huge frame, bringing him down with me.

The next thing I feel is my chained body being pulled through the windshield, smashing through the reinforced glass rather painfully. Barely got a shield up in time; thanks to it I'm not hurt too badly.

Tealla, I hope you're a match for this thing...
________

HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 0945
Outside the Centauri
________

I've traced the outside of the ship a couple of times now, offing Rift Wraiths as I see them, but still no sign of the big one Tommy spoke of.

"Come in, Tommy," I speak. "I still don't see the head Wraith."

No reply.

"Tommy, come in," I try again.

Nothing.

"Talk to me if you're there, Tommy!" I yell, a little more urgency in my voice than I had intended to be heard.

Still nothing.

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck FUCK.

"FUCK!!!" I scream, frustrated. With all the Wraiths around, it's hard to pinpoint where anyone is via either my scanner or my mind. Sensing aether signatures in this sort of situation is a little hopeless, I'm afraid--

Wait, what's that?

A voice.

I focus, shutting out all other noise.

It's... calling me... from the upper deck...

"Tealla!" Who is it? I can't make it out.

"TEALLA!!!"

It's Tommy!
________

I disengage my boots' lock with the G-board and jump off, staring down the creature.

A Rift Wraith like this I've never seen before. It retains the violet aura and ghostly complexion of its brethren, but it looks decidedly human. Specifically, a large, muscular, male human, with wide arms and legs. His face is that of a middle-aged man, stoic and rough, showing off white hair and a beard, both cut short. A huge metal chain drapes the man, appearing just a little more... tangible than the rest of him.

Of course, what concerns me most is the two hostages this human-like Wraith has taken. The long chain is wrapped tightly around Tommy and Maxwell, the two bruised and battered.

"They are unhurt," the apparition states, his voice, echoing in my mind, carrying about it some unusual air of dignity.

"TEALLA! BE CAREFUL! HE'S STRONG!" Tommy shouts. "HE PULLED US CLEAN THROUGH THE BRIDGE'S WINDSHIELDS!!!"

Through!? No wonder they look so roughed up--

Dammit! That shit's going to cost a fortune to repair!

"He is a formidable opponent indeed, Lady Hyrem!" Maxwell adds. "You must NOT underestimate him! He is unlike any man or beast I have faced!"

"What do you want from us!?" I ask, taking a step closer.

"I want you, young Tealla Hyrem," it states, simply. The creature speaks sincerely.

"I appreciate the honesty," I taunt snidely, taking another step, "but you'll need a better pickup line than that. Who are you, Rift Wraith?"

"Of course, please forgive me," he says apologetically. Well, at least he's got manners. Won't save him from a shit-kicking for roughing up my crew and setting me back months' worth of credits on repairs, but it's something. "My human name was Samson Montoya, but I am now known as Shire."

"Your... human name?" I question.

"Ah, yes, allow me to explain--" the man, Shire, begins, but I cut him off.

"You can explain all you want AFTER you call off your thugs and return my crew."

"I am afraid I cannot comply," he answers.

I nod. "Very well."

In an instant I'm on him, my foot finding its mark on the side of his head. I think I took him by surprise; he grunts and falls back a few steps.

Now's my chance. I hold the chain binding Tommy and Maxwell to the ghost under my left foot, and with one powerful downward punch, I smash it, freeing my crew.

"Thank you, Lady Hyrem," Maxwell says.

"Get moving, big guy!" I instruct. "You can thank me later. Get inside and do what you can; this all ends soon enough."

"Good luck, Tealla!" Tommy wishes as he and Maxwell board the ship again.

"Now where were we?" I say arrogantly, turning to face Shire--

He's gone!?

Where--

So fast. Before I can react, the chain is around me, and I can't move my arms and legs. I fall to the deck.

"It is as he predicted," Shire's voice taunts, his form re-materializing before me. "Few can break the Twilight Chain. Yet you did so as if it were nothing. An amazing feat for someone so young."

"I'm twenty-six, pal," I grunt, struggling against the chain. "I'm no kid. Don't forget it!"

"But you are, my dear," he continues. "You are still a young, tormented child at heart, continually haunted by the past."

The chain tightens.

"Still haunted not only by the violation of your being when you were a child," he goes on, "but also by your brother's sins as well--"

"You better shut the fuck up, man," I growl, my voice low and deadly serious. "You're treading on thin ice. And pissing me off isn't a particularly smart thing to do, motherfucker."

"Why should I be silent?" Shire asks. "Do you truly believe silence, of all the foolish and petty tactics humans employ to maintain their comfortable, shallow lives, helps anyone or solves anything?"

He lowers his face to mine, our noses less than an inch apart.

"Listen well, child: the cause of all your pain is your own silence," he says. "And it will continue to be so until the moment you die, unless you realize your mistake."

"Do you realize yours, Rift Wraith?" I ask.

"My mistake, child?"

I've had just about enough of this. "Yeah, jackass, your mistake."

I thrust my right arm through a gap in the chains that hold me, clenching what tangible matter I can find on Shire's chest. Imbuing my hand with ice-type aether, I squeeze harder, watching his ghostly essence freeze.

He screams in pain, his voice still echoing in my head. The chain loosens enough for me to break free.

Bad move, pissing me off. He just had to keep talking, didn't he?

"HAIL!" I shout, firing off the most basic of ice-type incantations. A shower of icy pellets bombards Shire, each exploding in a small cloud of white energy that freezes all it touches.

He's reeling, still stunned. This seems to be working; let's roll with it. I chant again.

"BLIZZARD!" I yell. This incantation is a little stronger than the basic Hail, covering a wider area in cold energy. Shire tries to resist, falling further back.

But... something's wrong. This is too easy.

I don't really believe in EPL, but Tommy did say this guy read somewhere around seventeen thousand. I know for sure that I'm somewhere around ninety-one hundred. While that's an astounding level for any normal person, from what Tommy tells me, it nevertheless means that this Rift Wraith should be giving me a bit more of a fight--

The chain's around my neck!

When!?

I didn't see it!!!
________

HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 0955
Within the Centauri
________

"Behind! Galvanos! Behind!" Vigor alerts me.

"INFERNO!" I command, willing a pillar of aether-fueled flames to life from thin air that engulfs and dissipates another two Rift Wraiths.

"Hooray! Hooray! Galvanos is so cool!" Vigor cheers.

I blush at the compliment, laughing a little. "Well, I do practice every day!"

"Galvanos! Galvanos!" she shouts, this time sounding worried as she pulls out her now-beeping personal scanner. "Alarms in computer system! Hacking the Centauri's computer, they are!"

What!? "Who? The Rift Wraiths?"

"Uncertain, but Vigor doesn't believe Wraiths can do that!"

"From where?"

"Off ship!" she yells, typing fanatically into the device. "Too much aether interference present to pinpoint exact location!"

"Lovely," I comment dryly. "Is there any way you can stop it, or at least slow it down?"

"There is, there is!" she says. "But only if Vigor can get to her quarters!"

"Lead the way!" I instruct. "I'll cover you!"

This isn't good. Not good at all. Just way too convenient for a hacker to start slicing into our computers just when we've been attacked by Rift Wraiths that know exactly how to compromise our shields.

This is all just one big plan. Of this I'm certain.

I just wish I knew what the point of it all is.

Tailing Vigor through the corridors, I run through the possibilities in my head.

Revenge? Certainly a possibility. We've pissed off more than our fair share of criminal syndicates, governments, and the occasional army.

Information? Another probable motive. We have ties deep within Cruz Foundation, amongst other somewhat less important organizations.

Maybe we aren't all being targeted; maybe our attacker is after only one of us.

If that's the case, then who is the intended target? Neither Vigor nor her brother hold any deep dark secrets as far as I know. Same goes for me; I'm... well, I'm just a kid with no place else to go. It couldn't possibly be Lemires; she's an open book, that one, and none of her "pages" are mission-critical to anyone except occasionally us.

That leaves Maxwell and our fearless but sometimes crazy leader, Tealla.

Maxwell is a mystery. He's only been with us a short while but has earned our trust time and time again. I'm certain that if he believed himself to be anyone's target, he would tell us.

Tealla, though, is one of those types with a soul both annoyingly open and frustratingly closed all at once. We know so much about her and yet know nothing at all. Her time before the Centauri is a mystery to all of us; not even Tommy and Vigor, who amongst our crew have known and been with Tealla the longest, have been able to pry that far back.

"Just ahead!" Vigor squeals. Coast is clear. Hopefully, we've taken out the majority of them, and they haven't, say, simply focused their attention to some other part of the ship...
________

Why the fuck are there so many now!? It's like they're focusing on this part of the ship!

"STUPID FUCKING RIFT WRAITHS!!!" I scream as a zap them with more and more aether lightning. "I FREAKING HATE YOU!!!"

This isn't good. There are too many of them. Most of the engineering bots have been taken out, too. Crap, Tealla's going to be pissed! Again!

So many of them.

I'm... scared!?

Why?

Why am I suddenly so afraid?

Stupid Sieg. I haven't been thinking straight since he embarrassed me again.

My confidence is shattered, my resolve broken. My body feels tired, these feelings taking a heavy toll on it.

Tommy was so right. I was stupid. If I was so gung-ho on having a match with Sieg, I should've given it my all. The way Tealla would've.

Tealla...

She let me on this ship.

She gave me a home when I had nowhere else to go.

I've been running for so long, making mistakes I knew I shouldn't be making. And, by chance, one of those mistakes led me here to this wonderful place and these wonderful people.

These wonderful people... that I do not deserve.

I hate myself. For always running. For being so damn weak.

I couldn't stop what happened at home. So I ran.

And eventually, punishing myself became so comfortable, so normal.

Tommy was so right. And he acted the way he did because he cares about me and sought to help me when I simply wouldn't help myself.

And I left him behind, running again, back to this comfortable place I call home.

My home.

"My home," I think aloud, feeling a ball of rage building within. "This is my home."

There's so many of them. So many of them... attacking my home. Attacking my family.

"My family," I murmur, feeling the anger swell. "This is my family."

I know. I know what I have to do.

I have to stop punishing myself. It has gone on long enough.

It MUST stop! If not for myself, then for Tealla, and for Tommy, and for my family here on the Centauri! Because this place is my home!

"This place... IS MY HOME!!!" I roar with deadly conviction, unsheathing my blades.

That's it; I can do it! You ghosts don't stand a chance, now.

I channel the electric aether into my blades, watching them crackle and writhe with power uninhibited and pure.

"This is my all, Tealla and Tommy!" I announce. This doubt ends today. "This is what I can do when I think of what I have to protect!"

They attack all at once.

I'LL TAKE THEM ALL DOWN!!!

"VOLT SPLICE!!!" I scream, slashing horizontally with both blades, sending an expanding wave of electrical aether into the wall of Wraiths before me.

The energy slams into the ghosts, pushing back some and tearing straight through others.

Amazing. Did I just do that? All but just a handful of the beasts are gone, destroyed outright by this power I didn't know I had.

So this is a unique incantation. And the name I just gave it, "Volt Splice"...

Yes, this will do nicely!

I maintain the electrical energy within my swords and slash away at the rest, cutting them down with little effort.

So this is true strength, then.

I'd say this is a... beautiful discovery.

Not to mention mastering direct utilization and a unique incantation I can truly call my own all in one day...

Man, I rock!!!

"WOOHOO, BITCHES!!!" I yell. "WHO'S IN CHARGE NOW, HUH!? BOOYAH!"
________

HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 0955
Outside the Centauri
________

God dammit! It feels like my whole body is being weighed down, even though this thing is only around my neck.

Getting harder... to breathe...

I tug at the chain, pulling at it with all my might.

Fuck. I can't loosen it, not even a bit.

"I do not make such foolish mistakes, Tealla Hyrem," Shire states simply, seemingly undamaged. Bastard's been holding back on me, clearly. "And I do not underestimate my opponents. That is a lesson you should learn."

I try... I try to speak... but...

"There are many lessons you can learn from me," he says.

Getting harder to breathe... can't speak...

"I know more about you than you know about yourself," he says.

Getting tough to focus... vision's going black...

"You saw your brother's out-of-control power," he says.

Sieg...

"Did you know... that you possess that very same power, and, deep down, the very same intent to use that power?" he says.

Sieg... please help me...

"You cannot deny your true nature, Tealla Hyrem," he says.

Sieg... please help me... please...

"It will explode from you one day, just as it did from Sieg Hyrem fifteen years ago," he says.

Please... please Sieg--

NO!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

I do NOT need Sieg's help!!!

I WON'T ask for it!!!

DO YOU HEAR ME, SIEG!!? DO YOU!!?

I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP!!!

I jerk my body back hard, pulling Shire along with his stupid chain. He didn't expect that, but he'll react soon enough.

If I give him the chance to, that is. And I won't.

As he falls towards me, I start another chant, intent on finishing this fight.

He may be an extremely strong Rift Wraith, but very little can take the absolute strongest of common ice-type incantations full blast at point blank range and live, especially when its chanter wields icy aether as easily as she can walk.

"AVALANCHE!!!" I roar, thrusting both arms out, hands open, channeling the brutality of nature's cold fury into Shire.

The white light crackles, surrounding him in a very localized tornado of ice and snow, tearing away at his ghostly essence.

Normally, Avalanche is used over a wide area to attack multiple targets at once. It's rather difficult to focus it into such a small area like this.
Well, difficult for most people... but not for me.

"This is not the end," Shire speaks, his voice more calm than it should be, considering almost all of his body is now gone. "This is but a temporary shell. I am more than a simple Rift Wraith, Tealla Hyrem. And I will make you see both your glory and your folly. You have my promise."

Shire's voice fades, the last traces of his purple being disappearing from view. I can't sense him around; he's gone.

I relax, kneeling and breathing heavily.

Difficult for most people... but not for me. Still tiring, though.

But I don't mind. I had to win. If I couldn't beat some Rift Wraith that talks too much and thinks it's people, what chance would I have the next time I faced Sieg?

Better get back inside. There's a lot of cleaning up to do...
________

HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 1011
The Centauri's Bridge
________

What's left of our engineering bots are hard at work repairing the shattered glass. I hope they finish soon; that's an annoying draft.

"I'm proud of you Lemires," I tell my now prideful crewmate after hearing her story. "I knew you'd get the hang of it someday."

"I have to protect this ship, Tealla," she says. "It's my home, and all of you are my family."

"Your... family?" Galvanos asks, curious.

"Yes, that's right!" Tommy agrees, looking at Lemires and smiling. "We're all family! And anyone that attacks us doesn't stand a chance as long as we're together!"

A family, eh?

I smile. How very quaint. A family, she says.

"So what exactly was this hacker trying to steal?" I ask Vigor.

"Relationship!" she shouts suddenly, startling me.

"What she means," Galvanos explains, "is that the hacker was looking for information pertaining to our activities with the Essex."

"Do we have any idea why?" I question.

"None. Vigor was able to make a complete system backup yesterday so we opted to simply purge all data not essential to basic operation. That cut off the attempt."

"Do we know how much the hacker got?"

"Not yet, and unfortunately, it doesn't look like we're going to find out. The purge overwrites all non-used sectors of the drives with zeroes, destroying all possibility of data ghost recovery."

"Fuck. This doesn't sit well with me. Not one bit."

"Let us worry about repairs for now," Maxwell states. "Mr. Supafly should arrive shortly. We should have him escort us to Sky Current."

"Are you going to kill me if I suggest we ask Sieg for a favor?" Tommy says, well outside the reach of my limbs.

I sigh. "No, because that's probably best, and I was thinking about doing it myself. Send him a message. When he replies I'll take it in my room."
________

HSD 232 - 05 - 31 - 1023
The Centauri, Tealla's Room
________

"You sure took your sweet time replying."

"I was busy, sis. No biggie. What's the problem?"

"I need repairs, big time. And some major aether system reconfiguration."

"What happened!? Is everyone okay!?"

"Yeah, yeah, we're fine, little brother. Don't get your panties in a wad."

"Good. Hey, why am I audio-only exactly? Turn on the video if you're decent."

"Alright, alright. There. Happy?"

"You look like shit, Tealla. Fight something you couldn't take on?"

"Oh, I took him on, and won, I'll have you know. But not before he messed up the Centauri something fierce. My former client seems to know more about my ship than I thought."

"Ah, it all becomes clear now. Who was this guy again, 'CK'?"

"Yeah, that's right. He knows too much about my ship and how to defeat her."

"I see. Take it to Corsair; I'll let him know you're coming. He's been wanting to meet you, actually. Wants to know more about the other apples of the tree I fell from. Oh, and he will insist you all spend the night. His place is huge, and he's a great cook, so I suggest you take advantage of it."

"You think one night will do it?"

"Richard and his crew are the best there is at what they do. If you're there today you'll be taking off either tomorrow or the day after at the most."

"Cool. Thanks, Sieg."

"This isn't free, you know. Though Richard will likely give you a heavy discount, the kind of work you're asking for won't be cheap. And I'll still consider this a personal favor."

"Yes, yes, I owe you one, shut up."

"You owe me one, eh? Okay, then. Strip naked. Right now."

"... You got it, little brother."

"HEY! TURN THE VIDEO BACK ON! C'MON, TEALLA, THAT'S LOW!"

"... Done. I'm completely naked. You have my sworn word. My debt to you is repaid."

"GODDAMMIT!!! ... Talk dirty?"

"No. So what are you planning to do now, Sieg?"

"Turn the video back on and I'll tell you, babe."

"Here you go!"

"You weren't supposed to put your clothes back on yet."

"Not part of the deal, brother dearest. Now talk."

"Well, since the Centauri's out of commission, the Essex will take her place and head to the Pathos island ruins."

"I thought you'd say that."

"Care to tag along? I don't mind waiting. We have room."

"I'll pass, but you better tell me everything that happens."

"Deal. Oh, and one last thing."

"What?"

"STRIP NAKED WITH THE VIDEO ON, WOMAN!"

"Later, Sieg."

"DON'T YOU DARE CUT THE LINE, TEALLA! SIEG DEMANDS SATISFACTION!"
________

"DON'T YOU DARE CUT THE LINE, TEALLA! SIEG DEMANDS SATISFACTION!" he exclaims like a twit as I cut him off.

I look out my window at the water below, the sun shining off of it. Looks like it's going to be a nice day.

Having to sit still while Sieg has all the fun... Not fair.

Maybe later I'll hitch a ride to Phoenix Station--

Of course!

OF FREAKING COURSE!!!

Man, am I ever dumb! Why didn't I think of this before!?

Maybe, just maybe, this will be a profitable week after all.

Sieg will interfere, for sure.

But you won't win, little brother. Not this time.

I promise.
________

--== EPISODE 4... END.
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