Hearts of Darkness - Plague of the Void Seeds / 10

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Post 10

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Present

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Bulvodin was back on the Daxiste-agorian flagship with Sill. They were to provide Click with support in his efforts to train Joshua and were on their way to a hanger that had been set aside for his combat training. It was clear that Joshua represented a potentially grave security risk, despite Click’s insistence that the changes had not invaded his mind. Fortunately, the council agreed that the potential benefits were greater than the risks.
As they walked, Bulvodin mused over what had been said at the council meeting. He was right, it had been very interesting. The humans were busy making sweeps behind enemy lines, searching systems and planets once inhabited by intelligent life. They were looking for anything worth salvaging and intelligence regarding the enemy. It was a risky mission but they had taken to it with great enthusiasm and bravery.

Bulvodin was asked to recount the recent encounter on Earth. It was the first time Void Seed scouts were known to have reached the human’s planet. Naturally reports on Joshua’s condition and progress had followed. Joshua had evidently undergone a partial metamorphosis and being part Void Seed, as he now seemed to be, it was suggested that he might be taken to visit The Collector.

The Collector was a Daxiste-agori scientist who had travelled the universe seeking out the most diabolically dangerous contagious diseases. Once she found a qualifying pathogen, she would enable herself to become infected and then hold the disease at bay whilst her body manufactured neutralising agents. Whenever one of these particular diseases began an outbreak, The Collector would use her blood in order to synthesize a cure. In this manner, some of the worst pathogens in the universe had long been held at bay. The council wanted to see if any of the thousands of pathogens held within The Collector could affect the Void Seed. Joshua’s condition presented an unprecedented opportunity which could lead to the manufacture of a biological weapon. It was certainly worth looking into.

Some of the races in the Alliance were completely immune to biological harm, either through technology or an intrinsic hardiness. The Valhalconin fell into the latter group. Though Bulvodin would never become ill or die from a biological agent, he had plenty of empathy for those that could and therefore great respect for the sacrifices of The Collector.

There were other interesting developments. Dagr and Khal had raised the possibility of a mission to the Argantuan homeworld, Eod. Well, Dagr had politely explained that he would be going and anyone who wished to join him was welcome to come along. No-one could ignore the prospect of increasing their supply of white bone now the situation had become so desperate.

Emissaries had been dispatched to several advanced races who’s systems were not yet being directly threatened by the Void Seed. No response had yet been received.

Finally, the Daxiste-agori wanted to learn more about the nature of the Void Seed and the damaged gateway. They were working on a new, very powerful probe, which would be fired into the gateway from a ship which would move within range and away again, before the Void Seed could react.

“Here,” said Sill, lifting his thoughts from the council meeting.

“This should be interesting too.” he replied.

They entered the hanger…

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Present

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…Joshua was sat down on the floor in the centre illuminated a circle of blue light that was emanating from lines in the floor. Click was standing up against his back, his head resting on top of Joshua’s with his multitude of legs and arms fanned out across his back. The only movement was Joshua’s slow rhythmic breathing…..it was like they were both in a trance. Bulvodin knew they were most likely communicating telepathically. They almost looked like one being.

Sill began to move rapidly around the hanger, observing them from every angle.

Bulvodin came to a stop just outside the blue circle and stood patiently waiting. Up close, he could see some of the changes that the boy had been through. He was a great deal bigger and more muscular. The arteries and veins all over his body were black and pulsed powerfully with every beat of his heart. Part Void Seed. Part alien from another realm. Whatever happened with the war, Joshua’s future would be complicated. Still, nothing to be done about it now.

“Sill. Prepare to defend yourself.”

Bulvodin closed his eyes and reached within himself. First the pressure. He found the fire within himself, at the centre of his being and began to apply pressure. Greater and greater pressure, brought about by unswerving focus and discipline. Then the flame. A purple flame suddenly erupted from him, forming a dark, almost purple, second skin. As he opens his yellow eyes, they are filled with the same purple fire.

Sill flickers her feather-knives, which have almost all grown back, and draws a white bone dagger. She nods to Bulvodin, indicating that she is ready.

For several minutes, they remain absolutely still and silent. Then, without warning, Click suddenly whips himself away from Joshua, who launches himself at Bulvodin with a roar of anger. Though he was ready for it, Bulvodin was surprised at the power and intensity of the attack. He was also surprised to see the red glow emanating from Joshua’s eyes. In virtually no time they were locked together, each with a grip on one of the other’s arms. Cords of muscle and rock matter, rippling with enormous strain. Sill had immediately moved behind Joshua and was already flicking her feather-knives into his back. He felt Joshua bunch his shoulders and draw upon his flame as the Void Seed had done in the glade on Earth. Then, to his amazement, he was flying through the air towards where Sill had been standing and with a loud crunch, hit the hanger wall. Joshua had to be incredibly strong now in order to throw a Valhalconin. Not bad! After picking himself up, he watched as Joshua attempted to catch Sill. He had no chance. She was playing with him. Then without warning, the air temperature suddenly decreased, and Sill was rendered far slower than normal. She must have been shocked because it looked as though she did absolutely nothing before being thrown towards the hanger wall on the other side. Being exceptionally nimble, she was able to turn in mid-flight and land feet first on the wall. Before the fighting could continue, Click intervened…..his voice appearing in their minds.

“Ok, thank you. That’s enough fighting for now. It is time to analyse the results.”

Everyone looked at Joshua. He looked at everyone else, angrily. Then shrugged his shoulders and returned to the blue sphere, sat down and closed his eyes.

“Sill, Bulvodin. Thank you for your help. I will need you again soon. As you can see, he’s strong, can harvest energy, all the while, retaining a degree of control over his emotions. The rage gives him strength but it is also the source of his greatest weaknesses.” Said Click in their minds.

“Very impressive. So far so good,” said Bulvodin.

“Come back” said Sill.

“Thank you.”

Click returned to his position up against Joshua’s back…

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Present

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Crispin had moved deep into the Xandaxian ghost city with Float. They had discovered a large collection of frozen Xandaxi remains. It was terribly gruesome. They were all huddled up together in the middle of what looked like a library or archive, though there were no books.

The Xandaxi were quite tall and willowy, with a single eye that sat at the end of a stalk. His briefing on the Xandaxi had mentioned that the eye was generally held at about waist height…..but these poor things. Their eyes were all frozen on upright stalks, peering behind them, over their backs as though fearfully watching for their impending doom. There were young amongst them.

“Those bastard Void Seeds are gonna pay for this. Float. Please could you take the samples? I haven’t the stomach for it right now.”

“Certainly. I’ll see to it Crispy.”

“Thank you. I’ll wait outside.”

Crispin felt a single hot tear spring from his left eye and wend it’s way down his cheek. There had been many examples of such exterminations within the space now occupied by the Void Seed. It was difficult to fathom the scale of loss. He was just about to kick a rock to ease his anger when he saw it. A large black shape was disappearing around a corner further up the street. He began to follow immediately.

“Come in Float.”

“I’m nearly done here.”

“Good. Run minimum power and catch up with me right away. I’ve located an enemy unit and am in pursuit.”

“On my way.”

As Crispin reached the corner a peered around it, he just caught a glimpse of the Void Seed as it disappeared into a large hole in the side of a building up ahead.

“Got you.”

Float arrived silently as he was scanning everywhere to see if he could pick up anything. Nothing.

“Float my friend, we need to find out what they’re up to. I realize that we are in grave danger, they could pick up our energy trace at any time.”

“I’m with you. We must know.”

“Right. I want you to head over to that building with the hole in it and take a look. I’ll make my way over behind you.”

“Ok.”

Float flew across to the hole and slipped inside.

“Crispy! Retreat to the ship! Immediately!”

“I’m out of here. Get your ass to the ship!”

“Yes.”

“What did you see?” Asked Crispin, his voice already strained with fear and exertion.

“There was a great hole in the building. Many thousands of Void Seed were moving in it. There were tunnels and a red hued glow.”

“What are they doing?”

“They are feeding from the planetary core.”

“They could be doing that everywhere.”

“Yes.”

“We need to get this back to the Alliance.”

“Yes.”

The ship wasn’t far now and the exosuit, combined with his enhancements had given him a chance. He was sprinting for all he was worth with Float flying next to him.

“Are they in pursuit?”

“Yes.”

“Will we make it?”

“No. There are several smaller Void Seeds that have taken on a very fast form.”

“Shit.”

“I will distract them.”

“Wait Float!”

Float suddenly reversed direction and headed directly towards the Void Seeds. Just before reaching them, Float slammed into the ground and immediately overloaded it’s power cells, causing an explosion. The first three Void Seeds were thrown back by the concussion whilst the others fell upon the energy source and began to feed. A deep trumpeting sound exploded from behind the feeding Void Seed and they immediately left the destroyed drone and began chasing Crispin once more.

Crispin reached the Ziff scout ship, boarded and leapt for the controls.

“Come on, come on!”

He initialised the engines and the ship shot up, off the surface of the planet. A larger Void Seed had caught up to the smaller ones and it was now tearing their heads off and eating them. Crispin shuddered. He had to rendezvous with the Ziff cruiser so they could move back to the Alliance. He locked in the course and engaged.

“Goodbye Float, my friend.”