Fan Fiction ❯ Aether Psychoses: Tales from the Planet Solstice ❯ Phase 1, Episode 7: Web - Noise - Distortion ( Chapter 7 )

===> 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 This is an original work and may not be published without Carlos Alexandre's written consent.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 and special thanks are further down.
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1313
A Mansion in Lower Accord, Rhegos
________

"You came," the big man says.

"You bet," I answer. "Wouldn't miss this for anything."

"This way."
________

"Nice place," I praise, admiring the fancy, well furnished house.

"Thank you, Sonny," Maxwell replies. "It was my mother's."

Was? So, he's an orphan, like me. Can't say I'm surprised. "I'm sorry--"

"It is alright, my friend. It is not something I dwell on. She did not suffer the indignities of the Great Purge as I did. She died here peacefully."

Such a nice place. How would someone like her afford this?

Did she... did she abandon Maxwell? Did she know his ordeal!?

"Did she--" No, I can't ask that. I can't ask the guy if his mother knew what happened to him in the camps. "Never mind, it's nothing--"

"You are wondering," he interrupts, "what she was doing here as her son was suffering in Sklabos, right?"

I nod. Might as well go with it. "Yeah, that's right."

"Do not worry. It is not an offensive question. I would wonder the same if our roles were reversed. The truth is that she and I were on our way with other refugees to Rhegos to request asylum. A Sklabos military patrol stumbled upon us, and several of us went to fight them off. A friend and I were caught."

He hangs his head.

"It's alright, big man," I assure. "If you don't want to talk about it, don't."

"No, I cannot shy away from it," he says confidently. "As I was saying, a friend and I were caught. However, I sacrificed myself to the soldiers so my friend would have an opportunity to escape. I told him to tell my mother that I had passed away, so that she would not worry."

Wow.

Now that... is some serious strength.

Would I have done the same?

Could I have done the same had I been wearing Maxwell's shoes back then?

"Maxwell, man," I stumble, "I--I don't know what to say."

He shakes his head. "You needn't say a thing. I learned, after finally escaping the camps, that my mother had married a wealthy politician. The man sought me out; I guess my mother never gave up hope that I was still alive. He told me that she had passed away, and had wanted me to have this place."

"Who was the guy," I ask curiously, cycling through a list of Rhegos's political players, wondering which one Maxwell's impromptu "stepfather" was.

He continues walking. "It doesn't matter. This way."
________

Maxwell guides me to what appears to be a dining room.

"So you have considered my proposal?" he asks.

Meander...

If you knew what I'm planning now, you'd kill me.

Worse, you'd tell Sieg, and HE'D be none too happy.

"I have, and I'm in," I answer. "I want what you want. But, if I may say so, I'm surprised; you don't seem like the vengeful type."

"It isn't often that I show such uninhibited prejudice for any one group of people," Maxwell says, furrowing his brow. "But Sklabos is a nation of monsters. I hate them with every fiber of my being."

"You and me both, big man," I reply, agreeing wholeheartedly. "You and me both. But I still wonder why they did it."

He blinks. "What do you mean?"

"No one just goes to war or commits crime for no reason--well, so SANE person, anyway. Did we meager citizens of Sothis commit some crime? Did we possess something that Sklabos wanted?"

The big man, Maxwell, slams his hands on the table, startling me.

"DO NOT EVER THINK THAT!" he roars.

"Calm down, man!" I tell him. What's all this about all of a sudden?

"I will not calm down! They committed terrible acts against their fellow human beings! Do not ever think that the dead children and raped women were the product of anything other than Sklabos's own wretched ways!"

"A country can't torture you, Maxwell," I insist. But... why am I playing devil's advocate for Sklabos, anyway? "Only people can do such terrible things, man. People. And not everyone from Sklabos is scum; in my travels with Sieg, I met people in Sklabos that try to help each other, that preach peace instead of justify war. And I've learned that people only do terrible things out of desperation!"

"You are wrong," Maxwell retorts. "Though I wish you weren't. How many people have tried to kill you? How many have tried to hurt the Essex and her crew? Were they justified? Were they desperate?"

"There had to be a reason every time! EVERY TIME, man!!!"

He stands up. "Perhaps I was wrong about you, Sonny. Perhaps--"

"Don't get me wrong though," I add, cutting him off. "Despite what I believe, I'm still in on the plan. I still want revenge, and I'll still make them pay. I just want you to make damn well sure, big man, that you know what it is we'll be doing. We'll be killing them. We'll be destroying the lives of those that care about them. And though we've killed serving under our respective ships and leaders, you and I, we'll still be doing the wrong thing. It won't bring back the dead, it won't erase the Great Purge from history, and it, in the end, won't make us feel better."

He nods. "I see. You are wise beyond your years. Let us discuss this further at a later date. We should be getting back soon."

I shake his hand as we stand up. "You got it, big man."
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1320
The Essex, Amy's Room
________

"But why wouldn't he tell me?" Meander stammers, pacing back and forth frantically.

"Sonny has his reasons, girl," I answer, wondering how much more I'll have to say before she calms down.

"But he should tell me those reasons!--"

"Meander, you have to calm down," I interrupt sternly. "If you trust him, you have to believe that he has a good reason not to tell you."

"But doesn't that mean that he doesn't trust me, Amy?" she retorts angrily.

"NO!!!" I yell, a little louder than I thought I did. "Of course not! Withholding information from someone is not automatically a sign of mistrust!"

"But--" she tries.

"No more buts," I interrupt again, putting my hands on her shoulders and looking her straight in the eye. "He'll tell you when he's ready. Got it?"

A few moments pass, her face still confused.

Then...

"Okay," she sighs. Thank heavens; I think she's finally calming down. "I'll... I'll believe in him."

I smile. "Good girl."
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1322
Celestial Quarter
________

"My lord!" Circular's voice in my head. "Please, answer me!"

No time! No time to answer!

You fool, Amethyst! If you begin Project Estrela so soon...

"Computer, open a channel to the battleship Blues immediately!"
________

"Ah, Bart, long time no speak," the boy taunts.

"Enough, Amethyst!" I yell. "You know what you're doing, right? It is too soon to begin Project Estrela! If you execute it, you put the entire planet in jeopardy!"

The boy smiles a smile that sends chills down my spine.

"That's the plan, Celestial Knight. Come stop me, if you dare. You'll fail, though, and then this wretched world will crumble into dust."

He cuts off the transmission.

No.

No no no NO!!!

He betrayed me! No... he's been planning this from the beginning! I was a fool to work with him!

That boy, Amethyst, is more... beautiful as I thought he was.

Too much so. Such immense beauty is dangerous and must be destroyed.

"Computer, contact Atlas High Command. Priority one."
________

"I should've known your insane schemes would bring ruin to us all," Shadow Knight mocks me.

"That is enough, Shadow Knight," another voice commands, shutting the ugly one up. "We will deal with the issue of punishing you later, Celestial Knight. For now, I want to know our options."

"First, and most importantly," I begin, "we must enlist the Hyrem children's help."

"Are you mad!?" Shadow Knight barks. "Won't their presence only serve your former partner's ends perfectly?"

"Yes and no," I continue. "Look through my reports. The Hyrem children were to stabilize the anomaly I planned to create, and channel its energy into a source of unlimited power. The original plan called for them to bring stability, and even though Amethyst is executing that plan intentionally early in the hopes to destroy Solstice, the Hyrem children's presence may just prevent destruction by bringing enough stability to the Rift to contain it!"

"Or accelerate our doom!" Shadow Knight counters. "I am familiar with your work, moreso than you believe me to be. And that's why I believe, now more than ever, that you planned this, that you put all of our lives in jeopardy because you were behind schedule."

"Enough, Shadow Knight," the other voice commands again. Good; the ugly one is not helping the situation. "Celestial Knight, you said that the Rift was unstable. What if we fire at it?

Hmm... Not a bad idea. "That may work. Ruining its stability would still cause great damage to the Pathos region's space, but it would stop Project Estrela in its tracks. The Rift would either crumble into itself, or expand into a huge 'Rift explosion'. Either way, Solstice will survive!"

"Then I am dispatching warships to the Pathos island ruins; it would be best if we can stop Amethyst before he creates the anomaly, but if we cannot, we'll fire at it and destroy it."

"Agreed," I concur. "I will contact the Hyrem childre--"

"You'll do no such thing," the other voice interrupts. " This session is over."

Abruptly, and a bit unusually, the feed is cut.

"Circular," I summon. "Prepare yourself for the worst. I suspect Atlas High Command has its own motives..."
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1325
The Essex, Sieg's Room
________

"You never did tell me how you met Maxwell," I ask Tealla, whose visage is currently taking up a good portion of my comm view screen.

"You're right!" she replies cockily. "And why are you so curious?"

"Any idea where he's at?"

"Nope. Told me he had some 'personal business' to take care of."

"I see," I reply, cupping my chin. "You know, sister dearest, Sonny took off on me not too long ago as well, and for the same reason; 'personal business'. You find that odd at all?"

Tealla blinks. "No, Sieg, not really. Should I?"

"Well, I'm beginning to think that the two of them have something in common."

"You don't mean..."

"That's right, my sexy older sibling. Good to see you can still read my every thought."

Tealla shakes her head. "No way, I don't buy it!" she rejects. "That's just too convenient--"

"Is it?" I ask. "Remember that when I found Sonny, he thought he was the only survivor of the Great Purge. And suddenly, he's taken quite an interest in your latest underling. And now, why, look at this, they disappear together, telling no one, not even their most trusted friends, where they're going or why."

"... You may be right. But if you are, well, so fucking what? It doesn't matter! They have every reason to discuss something that affects both of them so deeply."

"Discuss, eh? You think that's all they're meeting about?" I turn my back to the view screen, pacing slowly.

"Sieg, this is starting to bore me. What are you getting at--"

"What I'm getting at," I interrupt, turning back to her, "is this: we men, Tealla, don't take too kindly to having our lives destroyed, let alone watching the same thing happen to loves ones and strangers alike. They're planning revenge, sis. They want to make the entire nation of Sklabos pay."

She crosses her arms. "That's just a theory, Sieg."

"Maybe. But you'd best keep a sharp eye on Maxwell. Neither of us wants to watch our friends die pointless deaths."

She nods, finally catching my drift. "I still think you're crazy, Sieg, but I'll be cautious. I'll let you know if I think something's up."

Her image disappears.

"I seriously hope I'm wrong, Tealla," I say to no one in particular.
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1331
The Battleship "Blues"
________

These people manning the battleships stations...

All of them have suffered, like me.

I entered each and every one of their hearts, and promised them salvation.

I promised them hope in the Chrysalis Syndicate--my Chrysalis Syndicate, after I killed its former leader--and swore that I would deliver them from this messed up world.

"Master Sorel," Shire's telepathic voice summons. "We have secured the necessary equipment. We can begin anytime."

"Good," I praise.

"Master Sorel, several Destroyer-class warships are approaching the outpost. From their markings, they appear to be from Atlas."

"I expected as much. Hold them off any way you must."

"Yes, Master Sorel."

So, you've come, Celestial Knight.

No matter.

Things are too far along now, and our partnership was an unnecessary hindrance. Thank you for your hard work, but you won't stop me.

Nobody will stop me!

Now all we need is to do is wait.

The stars of the show will soon arrive!

This Rift, this dimensional malevolence, will shake the entire planet of Solstice.

And I, Sylvan Sorel, will finally have my revenge...

No, I can't do this! This is my home!

Yes, I can. And I'll take the whole damn planet with me...
________

AETHER PSYCHOSES
Tales from the Planet Solstice

An original fic by Carlos Alexandre (CMA)
________

This episode was originally released on Monday, August 22, 2005.
________

AUTHOR NOTES

I meant to release this chapter a couple of weeks after the last one. My usual excuse for being late is "real life, as always, comes first." However, this time, I have no excuse; I had the time to work on this, but simply didn't. Or couldn't. I haven't figured out which.

All I know is that I needed a break from writing. I felt, for a long time, that I was a failure, that I couldn't do this. Maybe I still am a failure, pursuing a fool's dream. I don't know. But I'm back. And every week or two, there'll be a new chapter, until this "phase" is finished, no matter what.

As always, I accept, welcome, and encourage criticism. Send it to cma@triplepeeps.com or visit www.triplepeeps.com and post in the forum.
________

SPECIAL THANKS

Thanks to my fellow Triple Peeps, Grand Master Shoma (Apollo Alexandre) and Judge Neusy (Neusa Gaspar), for their support and kindness. They have good fics too, mostly of the fanfic variety, and they and I write some works together. Please check out www.triplepeeps.com for more!

Thanks to "Supafly" (David Hackman, also known as Majere) for inspiration and for letting me base a character in Aether Psychoses on him.

Thanks to the plethora of anime, movies, and video games that inspired me to envision and create this original work!
________

To truly be happy, one must first have suffered.
Suffering will always exist as long as happiness is sought.
To stop suffering, one must destroy happiness.

-= PHASE 1
--== EPISODE 7
---=== Web - Noise - Distortion
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1447
Celestial Quarter
________

"MY LORD!" Her voice, screaming in my head. "IT HURTS!"

"Circular, listen closely," I command. "Push past it. Configure your shields just as we discussed."

I don't hear her for a moment.

Then...

"My lord," she whimpers. "I am... better now."

Good. I will need you safe, my student.

"Standby," I order. "I will contact you shortly. Let me know of any new developments."

I stand and stretch.

Something about this... doesn't feel right.

High Command was simply too... calm about the situation.

"Confused?" an ugly voice asks.

Damn. I thought I was rid of you.

"Why, whatever do you mean, Shadow Knight?" I answer, turning to face the man.

He smiles. "Don't be. There's more at work here than you know."

What's this? What is he doing!?

"What is the meaning of this?" I question angrily, backing away from him as he draws a massive sword.

"High Command's orders, I'm afraid," he explains. "You've been stealing funds from our accounts and using resources without permission. Atlas does not tolerate traitors."

But... why...

Of course. I should've known.

What a beautiful plan Atlas weaves.

"I'M NOT DONE YET!" I roar, hitting a button, shielding my eyes from the bright light that engulfs the room.

He's blinded. Good. Now I can escape.

"Circular," I call telepathically. "The situation has changed. Meet me at the escape point. Be wary of Atlas ships; they are against us, now."
________

"My lord, they're coming!" Circular says as we leave Celestial Quarter.

"Go stealth, my student, and head for the Centauri's last known location," I command.

"My lord, what is happening? Why has Atlas betrayed us?"

"I suspect that they were deceived... by a very dangerous man..."
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1600
The Centauri's Bridge
________

"So have you told Lemires you want to fuck her yet?" I ask Tommy, suppressing a smile.

"TEALLA!" he blurts out, blushing madly. "That's not what I think of her!"

"Uh-huh," I tease, knowing full well how Tommy feels. "I've seen you stare, y'know. Those mammoth boobs she's packing are no joke. Bet you'd love to feel them between your fingers!"

"Well, um, yeah..."

I laugh out loud. "See!? I was right. Let me just tell Lemires to meet you in your quarters," I continue, reaching for my console.

"NO, DON'T-- Wait... incoming transmission," Tommy says. "Weird; it's from Circular's ship, but says it's from someone claiming to be 'CK'..."

"Is that right!?" I respond. Good; time for some payback. I'll put two-and-two together about Circular and 'CK' later. "Put him on!"

"Tealla Hyrem!" he yells. The hell? He seems... worried, as does the girl, Circular, who stands behind him. "You must listen to me! Everyone is in great danger!--"

"You've got a lot of gall contacting me, motherfucker, after all the shit you put me through--"

"WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!" the man screams desperately. "I swear by all that is holy, I need your help--"

"Can it, 'CK'," I interrupt, not hiding my contempt. "'Fool me once' and all that crap. You can shove your pleas for help up your ass! Oh, and despite your attempts to remain hidden, my second-in-command has already traced your signal. We'll be seeing each other shortly, and I promise that you will not like the visit."

"This isn't a game!" the idiot tries again. Boy, he sure is good at pretending he's all worked up--

"Um, Tealla?" Tommy cuts into my thoughts. "I don't think he's lying. Check this out."

I glance over Tommy's shoulder at...

... No.

No way.

That can't be right.

"Do you understand now!?" the man, 'CK', barks. "He's going to tear Solstice apart with a giant Rift!"

"Who, exactly, is he?" I demand to know. "Maybe your lackey Shire?"

"No, Shire is a subordinate of my partner--my former partner, that is."

"Keep talking. Who is your 'former partner'?"

"Tealla, please!" the girl, Circular, finally speaks. "It's Chrysalis that's doing this! I know we haven't known each other long, but you must believe my master! He is not lying!"
"Sorry, kid," I retort, "but your choice in father figures sucks. Now talk. Explain everything."

He raises his voice again. "PLEASE, THERE'S NO TIME!!!--"
We lost his signal!

"What happened, Tommy?" I ask.

"It's just like he said," the boy explains, typing away frantically. "A giant Rift is forming in the Pathos region! It's disrupting aether around the entire planet!"

Before I can answer, I hear a terrible, piercing noise.

It's bearable at first, but quickly becomes too much!

It hurts! It hurts so much!

I clutch my head, barely hearing Tommy calling my name.

I... I can sense Sieg feeling it too... But how? He's too far away...

No good, I can't think like this!

"MAX SHIELDS!" I scream. "ISOLATE US!"

As the pain dims, I fall to one knee.

"TEALLA!" Tommy worriedly calls. "What happened?"

"Get everyone up here, on the double!" I command. "Keep those shields up! No external aether gets in!"
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1606
The Essex's Bridge
________

Meander's screaming!... So loud!... Louder than the noise!...

"BABY, WHAT'S WRONG!!?" Sonny yells. "MEANDER!!!"

"WILLIS!" I roar, barely able to think. "Turn the aether shields up as high as they'll go, and shut out as much outside aether as possible!!!"

The agony seems to last forever.

But I can only imagine what Meander, who is far more sensitive to Solstice's aether flow, must be feeling.

Finally, the pain subsides, and I nearly fall out of my chair.

"SIEG!" Amy cries as she and Asha kneel beside me. "Are you alright?"

"I am now, thanks," I answer curtly as I stand and walk over to Meander.

"I'm okay now," she tells a clearly worried Sonny, the two embracing each other.

"Will you manage?" I ask her.

She nods. "I'll be alright as long as the shield holds," she says reassuringly.

"Man, Sieg, what was that shit!?" Sonny asks, still holding Meander. "It's like you and Meander were hearing a dog whistle from hell or somethin'!"

"That's not too far from the truth," I explain. "I'm more sensitive to changes in the planet's aether currents than most people. Same applies to Tealla. It's a side effect of all our training and experience; our bodies stay in tune with aether more than the average person. Meander's different, however. She is naturally in tune with aether, and while she cannot command it in the same way we do, her mind is directly connected to the 'web' of aether that envelops Solstice."

"In other words," Meander adds, "while I cannot manipulate aether the way normal people do, I can read it much more efficiently, though that same power affords me great leverage when dealing with human minds. The problem is that I cannot ever stop reading it, so when something like this happens, it... hurts. Very much."

"But what exactly happened just now!?" Asha asks.

"This did," Willis says, pointing to the view screen. "This was seen before all the information networks on Solstice suddenly stopped transmitting."

The monitor shows a sign I've always wished I would never see: a colossal Rift expanding over the seas of the Pathos island ruins.

Growing exponentially, engulfing land and sea alike, the demonic construct instills a fear in me not unlike what I felt looking at Night's Lantern.

"We need to contact the Centauri," I say.

"But how can we do that?" Asha says. "Communications are kaput!"

"Not necessarily. When I heard the noise, I felt Tealla's signature, even though I don't normally feel it unless we're within about, say, four kilometers of each other. I think that the planet's aether flows are not only changing, they're being amplified."

"I see," Meander says. "If we weaken the shields a bit, you can contact her."

"Theoretically, yes, but if she has her shields up too, it won't work."

"Didn't you say this thing formed near Pathos, Willis?" Asha questions.

"That's right," the boy answers.

"So let's go there, and keep an eye for the Centauri," she proposes. "If Tealla felt it too, she's probably all pissed off and wanting to fuck over whatever caused her the pain, right?"

I laugh. "That's the smartest thing I've ever heard you say, kid! Amy, Willis; make it happen!"

"Roger!" Amy responds.

"Why, thanks, Sieg!" Asha squeals happily, until she realizes what I said. "HEY!!! YOU SACK OF SHIT!!!"

"Later, kitten," I say, ignoring her angry glare. "We've got a serious job ahead of us."
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1613
The Shop-Ship Homie-D
________

"Ain't anybody out there listenin'?" the broad man, known only as Supafly, shouts aloud.

"UNABLE TO PENETRATE VAST EXTERNAL AETHER INFLUENCE," a static voice replies.

"I be knowin' dat, ya friggin' comp!" Supafly retorts. "But where's it all comin' from? Unless..."

The man cups his chin, seemingly "striking a pose" as he does so.

"Damn, Sieg 'n' Tealla, what shit you gettin' ol' Supafly into dis time? Computer, set course for Pathos!!!"

Supafly sits on his oversized captain's seat and crosses his arms.

"Supafly be gonna kickin' some ass and writin' names down in the notepad o' asskickery!" he exclaims.
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1708
The Essex, in the Pathos Region
________

"Y'all alright?" I say aloud.

No one seems to know how to answer.

"Are all of you okay?" I ask again. "Scared? Worried? Excited? Talk to me."

A few more moments of silence, then...

"I, for one, am afraid," Meander says.

"Me too," Willis adds. "This could be the end of the world."

I nod.

I'm not surprised. I wonder how most of the people on the planet are thinking.

The three powers and Cruz must be quaking in their boots.

Maybe this'll force them to consider peace once and for all--

And then, it hits me.

It hits me like a ton of bricks.

So this was your plan all along...

"How about you, Sieg?" Amy asks. "How are you feeling?"

Me? Well now...

"Promise you won't freak out or anything?" I ask. Amy nods. "I'm excited. Though this is, admittedly, scary, it's no doubt history in the making. I'm excited because I'll have a chance to stop it, to guarantee Solstice's survival. But I'm also angry, because I have a feeling I know who's behind all this--"

"There's the Centauri!" Asha cries. "Looks like she's preparing her ship-to-ship docking mechanisms!"

"Good." I'm glad you're here, sis. "Let's return the favor."
________

"That's all 'CK' told me before this happened, and after all the noise, he, his little bitch, and his ship were gone," Tealla explains.

"Fuck," I mutter, frustrated. "And just what is it we're supposed to do? LOOK at that thing!"

I point out the windshield at the ominous thing, the giant wall of power that's throwing the whole world for a loop.

And if what Tealla's telling me is true, than it seems our enemies are being manipulated by him as well.

"Normally I'd chastise you about openly showing, in front of your crew, that you've no idea what to do," she says, "but I really don't know myself. I know there's a ship or base out there somewhere, one where CK's partner is, but I can't see it with my own eyes and our equipment isn't picking it up."

"Going out there would be agony, especially at this range," I think aloud, trying desperately to think of that magic solution that'll set everything right.

Think, Sieg! What am I missing here?

"I have an idea!" Willis speaks up. Good lad! Please think of something I haven't yet... "What if you two go out there together, stay close to each other, and boost each other's shields? Take a few of my portable shield generators with you to help. The makeshift barrier should keep the noise out."

"That'll work fine as long as you two stay within about five meters of each other," Tommy adds. "Sound about right, Vigor?"

"Right is Tommy!" the girl squeals.

"Yes," Maxwell adds. "It will be tricky, and if it were any other two people, I'd say it's too risky. But you two, you two are beyond anything I've known."

"We're not that special, big man," I reply. "I like the plan, though. Sis?"

"Can't complain," Tealla concurs. "Do you have anything aboard like a Talon bike that'll seat two people, Sieg?"

"We've got a couple of Blazer bikes," Amy answers before I have the chance to. "They're two-seaters and, like Talons, sufficiently equipped to function even in areas of heavy aether interference. They aren't that quick, but they'll have to do."

"Alright then, let's get this over with!" Tealla exclaims. "My ship's more armored than yours; I'm thinking we'll keep the two docked like this and use the Centauri as a buffer, just in case something unexpected happens."

"Sounds good," I agree. "Keep your people here, then. Amy, Willis, make sure we're equipped with whatever Tommy, Vigor, and the others need to control the Centauri remotely."

"Got it, Sieg," Amy replies. "Be careful, please."

I laugh. "When am I not?"
________

"What if this is the end of the world, Maxwell?" I ask as I punch some commands into the console. "What of our big plans?"

The big guy hits a few keys on his TPC. "Have some faith, my friend. Lady Hyrem and her brother will not fail. Of this, I am certain. They are people of adamant character and unfathomable strength, unwilling to allow anyone to succeed at destroying the world. Of this, I am certain."

Well said, friend. Well said. "Thanks for that. I was almost lost in despair there for a moment. Let's see this through to the end."
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1720
The Battleship "Blues"
________

"They're here!" I announce. "They're finally here!!!"

I laugh, watching as the foolish Atlas ships crumble before my might.
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1725
Pathos, Vicinity of the Giant Rift
________

"Getting tough to see," Sieg yells from ahead of me, driving the Blazer as I ride in the back.

He's right; it's starting to look more and more what I'd imagine the inside of a Rift to be like, a sort of foggy violet soup that's hard to penetrate with either eyes or aether.

Fortunately, between our combined aether shields and Willis's little gadgets, we're resisting the effects of the Rift rather well. I'm worried, though; for the Rift to have this sort of effect on the surrounding space, not to mention the rest of the damn planet, means...

You know what?

I have no fucking idea what it means.

All I know is that it's bad.

"I SEE SOMETHING!" Sieg roars, pointing ahead.

Whoa.

An enormous battleship, of a make I've never seen before, is stationed right beside the Rift. But how didn't we see it before? It must be able to hide itself somehow, and neither the Essex nor the Centauri got within visual range. That has to be it, because it's too fucking big to not be noticed.

"Is it firing?" I shout, seeing streams of energy shooting from it and colliding with it.

"Yeah, it is!" Sieg confirms as we both see an army of Destroyer-class ships with unknown markings attacking the huge battleship.

"Sieg, try approaching! At our angle relative to the Rift, it might not sense us!"

"You're insane! ...I like that! Hang on!"

We speed towards the rear of the ship, getting closer to the giant Rift as we do. Good, they aren't firing at us yet.

Closer still... and then...

Uh oh...

SHIT! SHIT!

"A TURRET'S AIMED AT US!" I warn, preparing to fire at it before it has the chance to--

"Ignore it!" Sieg commands. "It won't fire!"

"How do you know!?"

"Trust me, sis! IT WON'T FIRE!!! So save your energy!"

Dammit, Sieg, you had better be right...

We get even closer, and though the turret follows us, it doesn't fire. But why!?...

Of course! It would hit the Rift!

"You get it now?" Sieg asks. "And the very fact that it won't fire means that the Rift isn't stable. If whoever's behind this is trying to destroy Solstice, he knows the Rift must be sustained. Look at the ship's shields."

He's right; the shield is set very wide, stopping the opposing armada from hitting the Rift. In some cases the ship itself is acting like a shield, using portable gravity wells to direct incoming fire across the hull.

"So why don't they just approach from the side?" I ask.

"There are probably other ships like this one," he answers. "No matter; we board this one and use its turrets to fire at the Rift!"

Good ol' Sieg, always with the suicidal plans. "Gotcha!"
________

HSD 232 - 06 - 14 - 1733
The Battleship "Blues"
________

The inside of the ship. Shielded; good. Tealla and I needn't stay close to each other. I'll keep Willis's device, though. Just in case.

Soldiers approach. No time to deal with them mercifully. They'll die.
________

Nothing elegant about it. Nothing.

That's what I think as I smash another of the soldiers into a metal wall, feeling his blood splatter over my arm.

Tealla's not holding back either. She's killed a couple of them already, and has just finished throwing one out of the hole we made in the ship's hull.

I run at a couple of them I see chanting, dodging a Flare here and a Blizzard there. Before I reach them, I'm met by others whose specialty is clearly melee-range combat, and I find myself struggling to defend against and counter their attacks.

Tealla comes to my aid soon enough, and despite their numbers, we break through the wall and reach the chanters, dispatching them easily.

Before we can continue, though...

"I've waited a long time for this," a voice beckons.

Before us stands... a boy!?

So young... he can't be older than Willis...

"And just who the hell are you, kid!?" Tealla roars. "Are you behind all this?"

The boy smiles. "Indeed." The boy gestures with his arms. "What do you think of this Rift? Magnificent, isn't it? Chrysalis's goals are soon to be met, thanks to the Rift."

"I'm going to assume that you realize this Rift will tear Solstice to shreds," I state, ready to draw my pistols.

The boy nods. "That's right."

"Why?" I ask, more confusion in my voice than I had intended to be heard. "Why destroy the planet? It's your home too, you know--"

"YOU'VE NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT, SIEG HYREM!!!" the boy yells, his calm exterior suddenly making way for rage. "YOU AND YOUR SISTER DESTROYED EVERYTHING I HAD!!!"

This boy... his mind is shattered...

"You'll have to elaborate, kid," Tealla says. "I'm not much for taking the blame for shit I didn't know I had a hand in."

The boy narrows his eyes, his glare, piercing, showing his hate, his seething anger. "Don't think, for a moment, I don't know what you two did to Hyperion."

Hyperion... no...

That day...

But... I had to...

They were hurting her...

Tealla...

"It was me," I confess. "Leave my sister out of this. Leave the rest of the world out of this, too. I give you my word, and swear on the souls of my dear parents who died needlessly, that Tealla did not help destroy Hyperion. So target me and me alone."

I feel Tealla shooting me an angry stare, but I don't return her gaze.

I keep looking at the boy's eyes.

"I... believe you," he says, "but what you don't know is that it wasn't you alone."

What!?

What the hell are you saying, kid!!?

"Ask your good friend Armen Stratos when you see him next. How do you think you managed to summon enough power to torch Hyperion as a mere boy, hmm!? HOW!?"

He approaches Tealla, who stands her ground.

"You both did it. Both of you are equally guilty. Ask Armen Stratos. Ask him after you beat me. Because I know the two of you will win this fight here today."

What the...

Tealla...

It can't be...

No!

IT'S A LIE!!!

"NO!" I yell. "IT WAS MY FAULT!!! DON'T BLAME HER!!! THE BURDEN IS MINE TO BEAR!!! MINE ALONE!!!"

The boy shakes his head. "I... I don't have much time."

Why is his tone so different? He sounds nothing like he did before. His eyes are so... so sad...

"The 'me' that wants to destroy Solstice... kill him. Kill him..."

The boy's eyes change again, this time back into the vengeful youth that initially confronted us.

"BEFORE HE KILLS YOU!!!"
________

--== EPISODE 7... END.