Chapter 22: Ploy 03
Nigel addressed Nova aloud, "Can you hear us, Nova? I know you have no trouble working in space without an EVA-Suit, so you must be able to hear us."
"Yes, Nigel. I can hear you." Nova's voice resonated through the lab, echoing inside their minds. Her form was grotesque, her tentacles writhing and twisting, stuck in the boundary of the Wandering Gate. Her face, now a grotesque parody of beauty, was streaked with tears, her eyes filled with a mix of pain, sadness, and determination.
Nigel stepped closer to the holo-screen, his voice steady despite the regret he was feeling. "Are you, okay?" Nigel asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.
Despite everything, he couldn't help but feel a pang of worry for Nova. He had known her, loved her. And even now, faced with the grotesque parody of her true form, he couldn't deny the connection they still shared.
Nova's lips twitched into a sad smile, her eyes reflecting the swirling energy of the boundary. "I've been better, Nigel. But I'll live."
Nigel sighed in relief; a sentiment not shared by all.
Doctor Orlova, who was being helped up by Bella, looked at him with a stern expression. "Captain, with all due respect, we can't just leave her out there. Regardless of what she's done, she's still Nova. And she's... she's stuck." Her voice was filled with concern, her gaze flicking between Nigel and the holo-screen.
Tatyana, having retrieved the ornate hammer, scoffed. "She's a danger Doc, why help her?" Her voice was filled with a mixture of anger and fear.
Bella was hesitant, the last to contribute to the conversation. "Captain, I agree with Tatyana. Nova's actions have shown she's a threat. But... leaving her out there, like this... it feels wrong." Her voice was soft, her expression thoughtful.
Nigel looked at each of them, his expression grave, but proud that his crew spoke their minds. He understood their concerns, their fears, their loyalty. But he also knew the truth, the danger Nova posed. He turned back to the holo-screen, his voice steady, "Nova, are you still listening?"
Nova's voice echoed, "Yes, Nigel."
"I know you can live inside a Gate, such as this, which is a miracle in its own right. I haven't seen you consume a morsel of food or drink a drop of water since we first met. I believe you can survive without our help, but I also know you're stuck. Stuck in the boundary, unable to move, unable to... live free." Nigel explained, then paused for a breath before continuing, "So, here's my offer. I'll leave you here, in the Wandering Gate. I'll make sure word gets out to the Zealots, to those who might be sympathetic to your cause. They might come, they might not. But I suspect they will. They wouldn't pass up a miracle like you, Nova. And who knows? Maybe they'll find a way to help you, to free you from this... curse."
Nova's eyes narrowed, a smile playing on her lips, "Curse, you say? Free me? Why would I need freedom from my... destiny?" she asked, her voice once again resonating a dark quality on the final word.
The Titans Pillar rocked, leaving the crew in disbelief. Nova's laughter echoed through the holo-screen, sending shivers down their spines. "Did you really think it would be that easy, Nigel? That you could just leave me here, and I'd wait for the Zealots to come save me?" Her voice dripped with mockery, her eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement.
Her tentacles began to merge with the boundary of the Wandering Gate. No longer invisible, it was a shimmering wall, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. It was as if the gate itself was reacting to Nova's presence, her power.
Nigel's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Grayson! Get us out of here! Now!" Nigel barked into the comms, his voice echoing through the ship. The Celestial Engine roared to life, the vibrations resonating through the deck. The Titans Pillar lurched forward, the sudden acceleration straining the bulkheads.
Nova's laughter echoed through the holo-screen, distorting with the movement of the ship. "You can't escape me, Nigel! My power is boundless, my reach limitless. I am the embodiment of the Celestial, its Engines and its Gates. I will not be contained!"
Nigel ignored her, his gaze fixed on the holo-screen displaying the exterior of the ship. He spoke to each of his crewmembers in turn, "Bella, get to the Bridge, help out Lucas with whatever he needs. Tatyana, the same with you, keep him calm. Doctor Orlova, we need you in Medical, be ready for any injuries. Bjorn! Keep an eye on the Celestial Engine, give us everything you got... but don't lose the Engine."
His crew acknowledged his orders, their faces a mix of determination and concern. Tatyana paused at the door, her eyes meeting his. "Father, be careful. We don't know what she's capable of," Tatyana cautioned, her voice filled with a mix of worry and determination.
Nigel nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I will, Tatyana. I promise." He watched as his daughter left, her tail swishing behind her in a determined pace. He turned back to the holo-screen, his expression grave. "Nova, if you think you can stop us, you're mistaken. We're leaving, and there's nothing you can do about it." His voice was steady, filled with a confidence he didn't quite feel.
He had never faced anything like Nova before, and the uncertainty of their situation gnawed at him. But he couldn't let his crew see that. He needed to be strong, to lead them through this storm.
Nova's laughter echoed through the holo-screen, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines. "You're right, Nigel. I can't stop you. But I won't forget this. I won't forget you."
---
On the Bridge, Lucas was struggling to keep the Titans Pillar steady. The Wandering Gate's unpredictable nature was causing the ship to lurch and sway, making precise maneuvers nearly impossible. Bella rushed to his side, her slender fingers dancing over the navigation controls with practiced ease.
"We need to find a stable point, Lucas. Somewhere we can exit, catch our breath and regroup," she said, her voice calm and steady despite the chaos around them.
Lucas nodded, his bright orange eyes focused on the swirling energy ahead. "I'm trying, Bella. But this Gate... it's unlike anything I've ever seen. It's like it's... alive," he said, his voice filled with a mix of awe and unease.
Bella nodded, her expression serious. "I know what you mean. I've never seen a Gate this active, this... sentient. It's almost as if it's responding to Nova, to her presence."
Tatyana, who had taken the Captain's Chair, looked back at them, her deep blue eyes filled with concern. "You think Nova is controlling it? Manipulating it somehow?"
Bella shrugged, her gaze flicking back to the controls. "I don't know, Tatyana. Looking at these readings, compared to the initial scans when we entered, it's almost as if Nova is... repairing the Gate, stabilizing it." she mused, her fingers tapping a rhythm on the console.
Both Tatyana and Lucas shared a worried glance. "Um, Bella, didn't this Gate use to be a Grand Spiral Arm Celestial Gate? As in, one of the largest, longest Gate types that spanned all the way to the Galactic Center?" Lucas asked.
Bella nodded, her expression grave. "Yes, that's right. According to the historical records, this Gate used to be part of the vast network of Celestial Gates that connected the spiral arms of the galaxy. It was one of the first Gates to be destroyed during the Cataclysm."
Lucas whistled low, his hands steady on the controls as he navigated the swirling energy of the Gate.
"If Nova is repairing it, what does that mean for us?" Tatyana asked her voice filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"It means I better find an exit to this cursed Gate before it's too late," Lucas muttered, his eyes scanning the swirling energy ahead, searching for any sign of stability.