Chapter 24: Proper Planning... 02
Now alone in Astrometrics, Nigel shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He turned to the comms panel. "Lucas, Bella, are we free?"
Lucas' voice crackled over the comm, "We are free of the Wandering Gate, if one could even call it that anymore, but we have another problem..."
"Captain, we, we don't know where we are, or how to slow down," Bella's voice came over the comm, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a hint of panic.
Nigel's eyes widened as he looked at the holo-display, seeing nothing but the swirling colors of the cosmos around them. "Bjorn, can you stabilize the engines?" he asked, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Bjorn's voice rumbled over the comm, "Working on it, Captain. But this... this isn't natural. It's like we've been shot out of a cosmic cannon."
Nigel took a deep breath, his mind racing. "Lucas, keep us steady. I'm on my way to the Bridge." he said, his voice calm as he rushed out of Astrometrics, his boots clicking against the metal grates of the ship's floor.
As he entered the Bridge, he found Lucas and Bella in the midst of a tense discussion, their eyes locked onto the holo-display. The stars around them seemed to be closing in, the ship's sensors picking up an unusual energy signature, a byproduct, and hazard, of uncontrolled Faster-Than-Light travel.
"Status report," Nigel barked, his voice cutting through the tension.
Bella turned to him, her green eyes filled with concern. "We're nearing two systems, but they don't match anything near the previous known exit of the Wandering Gate," she reported, her voice steady despite the situation. "And we're not slowing down. Bjorn's working on it, but the engines are acting up."
Nigel nodded, his gaze fixed on the holo-display. "Lucas, can you manually override the engines? Try to bleed off some speed," he ordered, his voice calm and collected.
Lucas' hands danced over the controls, his bright orange eyes scanning the numerous readouts. "I'll try, Captain. In my Local FTL runner days we would loop around binary and trinary systems, using their gravity as brakes. It's risky, but..." Lucas' voice trailed off as he began to input a series of complex commands into the ship's navigation system.
Nigel turned to Bella, "Any idea which systems we're heading towards?"
Bella was already engrossed in her holo-screen, her fingers dancing over the controls. "The first is a binary system with a third but possibly unbound, companion. But even with Lucas' braking, we won't end up there. Best chance is a singular system, not much to work with, but we have roughly 35,000 Light-Hours to slow down," Bella replied, her voice steady as she calculated their trajectory. "We need to be cautious, though. We don't know what kind of hazards might be lurking in this part of space."
"Maneuver complete," Lucas announced, his voice tense. "We're slowing down, and on course for the singular system, but it's going to be close."
On the holo-display, the stars around them began to shift, their positions changing as the Titans Pillar slowed its relentless charge through the cosmos. The ship groaned and shuddered, its engines straining against the sudden deceleration.
"Bjorn, how are the engines holding up?" Nigel asked, his gaze fixed on the holo-display.
Bjorn's voice rumbled over the comm, "They're pushing it, Captain. But they're holding. For now."
Nigel nodded, trying to stay ahead of the problem. "Then let's figure out where we are, where we're headed to. Bella, start scanning for the planetary composition of the singular system," Nigel ordered, his voice steady as he took his seat in the captain's chair.
Bella turned to her console, her fingers dancing over the controls. "Scanning now, Captain. So far, I have two Gas Dwarfs, two Ice Dwarfs," she said, her brows furrowed in confusion. "Not even close to matching anything we should be near given the previous exit of the Wandering Gate."
"I think we can give up on that previous exit being relevant, Bella," Tatyana spoke, after giving up the captain's chair to her father. Bella blushed with appreciation for being called by her given name as opposed to 'Imperial.'
"Dad, are we, where I think we are?" Tatyana asked, her eyes wide as she looked at the holo-display, recognition dawning on her face.
Nigel leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the data streaming across the holo-display. "It looks like it, yes. Search for..." he paused, as if he were distracted by something or someone else speaking to him.
Tatyana, continuing where her father left off, commanded, "Bella, search for four inner Iron Dwarfs in a tetrahedral formation. If my theory is correct, head for the third Iron Dwarf from the host star."
Bella's fingers danced over her console, her eyes scanning the data as it appeared on her screen. "You're right, Tatyana. Four Iron Dwarfs, tetrahedral formation, right where we're headed. But... where are we? How do you know this system?" she asked, an expression of confusion on her face.
Nigel was still in a stunned state. In his mind Nova's voice, soft and gentle, with a low and guttural undertone spoke, "For a time, chaos reigned. The Guardians were gone, the Gates closed, and the galaxy lay in ruin. But from the ashes, a New Order will emerge. The Cursed, as you call us, will rise from the remnants of the old world, our powers amplified by the very destruction wrought by the weak. We are destined to become the New Guardians, the Keepers of the Balance, although some of us, forgot our purpose."
Nigel shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.
"Oh, Ancients be cursed! Not that planet again," Doctor Orlova exclaimed, startling everyone on the bridge by her sudden appearance. She was known for her calm demeanor, but her outburst showed her frustration.
"How in the Nameless Titan does everyone know this planet but me and Lucas?" Bella asked, her voice laced with frustration. "And why is it always 'that planet' whenever someone mentions it?"
---
On Sönder, Atlas listened to Nova's monologue. Without a word, or even gazing in their direction, he made a hand gesture towards the two remaining captains of the Tribold Pirates. Two axe-men with cybernetic enhancements moved swiftly, their blades glinting in the dim light as they separated the heads of the two Pirate Captains from their necks. Their bodies crumpled to the ground, their eyes still wide with shock, their bravado replaced with the grim reality of death.
Corvus flinched at the sight, his eyes widening as he watched the lifeless bodies of his former brethren tumble to the ground. "You didn't have to do that," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, his gaze fixed on the lifeless forms.
Atlas turned to him, his eyes gleaming with a cold, hard light. "They were traitors, Corvus. They conspired against me, against the people of Sönder. They deserved no less." Atlas' voice was devoid of emotion, his gaze unwavering.
"As for you two," he spoke again, nodding to Commander Kronos who was behind the Suphalak Twins.
Kael and Lyra nodded, closing their eyes and lowering their heads in resignation. Only to be surprised as Kronos sliced through their bonds, freeing them. They looked up at Atlas, confusion etched on their faces.
"You're... letting us go?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Atlas nodded, his expression unreadable. "Indeed. I have no use for you in my dungeons. Nor do I wish to execute you, as you have done no wrong in my eyes." He paused, his gaze shifting between the twins. "But I warn you, if you ever step foot on Sönder again, you will face my wrath. Leave this place, never to return. And, in exchange, your names will be erased from my list of enemies to be dealt with. You have a chance, take it," Atlas said.
The Suphalak twins hesitated for a brief moment before nodding. They stood up, their eyes never leaving Atlas' as they turned and left the High Governor's box, flanked by Commander Kronos.
As soon as they were gone, Atlas turned his attention back to Corvus. "You can hear her, can't you? Nova," Atlas said, his gaze fixed on Corvus. "She's in your head, whispering her sweet nothings, her promises of power."
Corvus nodded, his wings rustling softly. "Yes, I can hear her. However, it is not sweet nothings or promises of power. But..."
Atlas scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Doom?"
Corvus bristled at the constant interruptions, his feathers ruffling. "You mock me, Atlas, but you know as well as I that the Gates are failing. The balance is tipping towards chaos, and soon, the chains will break... and there will be no stopping them."
"Ah, another that has forgotten his purpose," Nova's voice echoed throughout the cosmos, both Atlas and Corvus taking note of her presence. "You were meant to be a Guardian, Atlas. A protector of the Balance. Yet, you squandered your power, wallowing in the petty politics of this isolated ruin."
Atlas's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his composure.
"And poor Corvus, fighting to maintain the status quo, melodramatically I might add, like an adolescent activist. Not even reaching the potential of Atlas, your only role now is as an example... a martyr." Nova's voice dripped with disdain.
Corvus bristled at the insult, his voice rising in defense. "Better a martyr than a pawn, Nova. You claim to want to restore balance, but all you truly desire is power. You would use the Gates as leverage, manipulating the cosmos to your..." Were the last words spoken by Corvus before his head was severed from his body by a swift, unseen force. His lifeless form slumped to the ground, his eyes still wide with shock and defiance.
Atlas' gaze snapped up to see one of the axe-men breathing heavily, the bloody blade still in his hand. "What in the Nameless Titan possessed you to do that?" Atlas' voice thundered.
The axe-man swallowed hard, his cybernetic eye flickering nervously. "I-I'm sorry, High Governor. I thought I was helping. She said... Nova said..." he stammered, looking down at Corvus' body.
"That you should kill him? That you should defy my orders?" Atlas' voice was low, dangerous. The axe-man nodded, his grip slackening on the bloody blade.
Atlas gasped in epiphany, his gaze returning to the container wherein the tentacle pulsed with energy. More could hear her now.
"Yes, in time, all will hear..." Nova's voice echoed in Atlas's mind, her tone mocking.
---
On the Bridge of the Titans Pillar, Nigel was no longer the only one to hear Nova's disembodied voice, "All will witness the awakening of the Guardians, the return of the ancient power, the restoration of order. You cannot stop it, Atlas. None of you can."
Doctor Orlova looked around, her hazel eyes wide with concern. "Captain, what just happened? I heard... I heard Nova's voice."
Nigel nodded, his expression grave. "So did I. And so did Atlas, it seems."
Bella looked up from her console, her green eyes filled with confusion. "How is that possible? We're a whole spiral arm away from Sönder..." Lucas, Bella, and Tatyana were all looking at Nigel, waiting for an explanation. Nigel, still processing the information himself, remained silent.
"Feast your eyes on the dawning of fate, the day of providence, the night of prophecy fulfilled. Gaze upon the pale blue orb. Gaze upon your doom." Nova's voice echoed in their minds with an ominous tone.
Doctor Orlova's voice trembled slightly as she echoed Nova's words, her gaze fixed on the holo-display. The image shifted, showing a small, pale blue planet, its surface a swirling mix of land and ocean, shrouded in a thin atmosphere.
"So, I was right," Tatyana whispered, her eyes wide with recognition. "It is that planet."
"Yes, it is. That's Earth... swell," Nigel muttered as he lowered his head.