Chapter 111: Chapter One Hundred Ten

Galactic Calendar 259872/ 2000 [ Sol Year 4387/ Day 153 of 365. Sol standard year]

Days after of Crash landing/ 2

Unknown Island / Run/ Corridor out of Cavern Entrance/ Field of Centipedes / Complex Left side

Galactic Standard Time / 0745

Je’ndra looked at the spider centaurs as she waited for them to reply. But from the muttering her mask could hear, they were talking about using them. Let them try, the first time beings tried to do that, it was usually the last attempt. She heard her team move around behind her and knew they could hear the same as she did. She wanted to say something, but all she did was look at the female leader. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Je’ndra. The people I’m with crashed here a few days ago. We’re trying to get back into sunlight. We don’t mean any harm!”

“[Boss, I just had a thought. What if their religion is against going up into the light? If they’re hiding here],” Ken’tricx muttered over the comm-line.

“[Then how did they learn Fed Standard]?” Ro’borlar muttered.

“No harm?? You crossed from the Field of Death then?” The female spider centaur declared.

The others started to screech and mutter to each other loudly. If Je’ndra hadn’t heard them plan this out, she might have been convinced by their acting. But she had and there was nothing that these things could do to trick her if they just talked quietly.

“Yes, we did. We and three others are just trying to get to a place of safety. We mean no harm nor do we want any territory or resources here. We just want to move on,” Je’ndra said with a soft tone.

The spider centaurs looked at each other and tried to keep their talks soft. But from the looks that they were shooting at the team, Je’ndra knew that this time they weren’t acting. But then they probably didn’t believe her, but she expected that. She knew she wouldn’t believe that if a Federation ship crashed on the Throne-World by accident. But then she just needed them to think that they could use the team. And then to strike harder than these things did.

“Strong must you be to get through the Field alive! How many did you lose to get through the middle of them all?” The female asked

“We went along the side of the closest wall to get here. We were lucky that something caused the long beasts to look away from us. We were fast enough to escape silently. As we knew they would beat our strength,” Je’ndra said with a calm and steady voice. She didn’t say that the only reason the monsters would have won was because they outnumbered the party. There was no need to give away anything that these things could use. If the party was seen as weak then so much the better. Any ambush would have many enemies then, and that was something that the party could handle.

“[Smart boss. Very smart],” Ken’tricx muttered.

“[Yeah, let the things plotting how to use us think they can out-muscle us. That way all of us can kill them that much easier],” Ro’borlar said in a jovial tone.

“This one is Starlsia! Beyond the great doors above are the enemies of this one! They will see you as our friends if we pass through with you. Banished here were we,” The female leader, Starlsia said.

“Then would these foes of yours be willing to talk to someone else? My people have some experience in getting two sides to understand each other. It’s something we've done many times,” Je’ndra suggested with a smile. Starlsia just looked at her and then muttered under her breath. Je’ndra felt a scowl grow as she heard the words for fool and weak there in an older dialect of Fed Standard.

“We have much to talk of. You say you from where? Where did you….. crash? Strange word that,” Starlsia said with a probing tone.

“It means that the great spaceship we were on broke apart for some reason. We are the survivors who had crashed into a cavern. We’ve been fighting to escape back to the surface and find a place to rest and plan. Any help that you could give us would be a great help,” Je’ndra explained, trying to make her voice sound hopeful.

The spider centaurs all went still and Starlsia’s eyes widened for a moment. “So old tales true. Always thought so!”

“What do your people know about this place great Starlsia?” Je’ndra asked and tried to sound like she was complimenting her.

“This place of entrapment for our people. Old stories say that our past ones were great soldiers and fighters! They were captured from great and Mighty warship of the Federation! They part of great fight against merchants who had grown too strong and vile!” Starlsia said with anger in her voice.

Je’ndra only nodded, a strange feeling going through her.

“[Did that thing say they were from a Federation ship fighting Merchants? That means the Corp war. That was a long time ago],”

“[I want to know how they became like that. It doesn’t make……no. It makes sense],” Tar’lroia said with a shocked and horrified tone.

“It is an honor to meet warriors of such heritage!” Je’ndra said with cheer in her voice. “[Tar’lroia, what do you mean? What do you know]?”

“[There is only one thing that can make a species like this from human stock! The Forbidden of Chimera]!” Tar’lroia exclaimed in horrified tones.

“Honor to us, who are you? And why ask who past ones were?” Starlsia asked as she crossed her arms.

Je’ndra felt her blood leave her face. The Aether Forbidden, the worst things that a person could use Aether to do. To even think that that thing was used on sentient beings, made her stare in horror. For a second, she was glad her mask kept them from seeing her face, they might not have reacted the right way.

“As I said my name is Je’ndra. My part and I were traveling on a civilian ship to make it to a ceremony. We hope to find a way out of this place and try to contact our people. But if you’re here, then we have to get in contact even more so. All Casterways must be rescued, that’s the Spacer’s creed!” Je’ndra said crossing her hand over her heart.

“[How do we know that whoever did this to them is dead? Could these things have escaped? Could that force be whatever enemy is behind the doors? How’s that work if so]?” Ro’borlar asked with a hard tone. “[Slavers rarely let their property escape]!”

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

“[And can Chimera even breed true? How long ago was this revolt we’re talking about]?” Ken’tricx rumbled over the coms.

Je’ndra felt her heart clench as she looked at the spider centaurs. That one comment had made her ask herself one question, one very important question. Did these things still follow their creator?

<>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>

Starlsia looked at the figures before her and felt her heart race. These things weren’t some of the Builder’s creations, they were star travelers! And that meant that the old tales were true, something her swarm was still absorbing. She had believed that the Gods at the start of the world had created their people to rule. The way this place was set up was all to allow their chosen to find the Great Beast. And from studying that great beast did Enlightenment come, that was the belief. And it was by studying its flesh that the Skill to assume their War Form came about.

But the dogma of the Kingdom was true! This was something that she was still having a hard time believing. She had spent most of her life fighting with the belief that the Great Beast would reward her in the next world, but now? Now all she felt was rage and anger. The High Priest had to know the truth, or did he? The way he had changed the beliefs once they had broken into the Realm suddenly made sense.

“Is there a problem great Starlsia?” The one called Je’ndra asked her.

Starlsia looked at the newcomers and forced herself to smile. “Just thinking, maybe one who is not part of fight could end it.”

“You talking truth boss? And why are you talking so stupidly?” One of her followers asked softly in a murmur.

For a second she almost exploded, but Starlsia kept silent. She couldn’t let these ones figure out the truth about all of them. No, the best thing was to kill these ones and take all their gear. If they had a weapon, then so much the better. The old stories told of weapons that were beyond anything that the Kingdom had, and to have one of those weapons? This was the single greatest thing that could happen to them.

All Starlsia could do was smile at the fools before her. Making sure that they couldn’t see her, she flashed a sign with her hands behind her back to her swarm. She needed to hope that the others would understand what she was doing. If they tried to rush these things, the game would be up.

“She’s trying to get them to lower their guard. So stay silent and follow the boss. We’ll all have our vengeance sooner at this rate!” One of the other spider centaurs chastised the murmur just as softly.

“Well, that is something that we can do. All we need to something that can get their attention. Do you people have any rules about parlays down here?” Je’ndra asked with a kind voice.

Starlsia looked at the space traveler and wondered how she could be such a mark. Tricking this one would be easier than she thought. And if this one led her people into an ambush, then that was the betrayed one's fault. And if this was what the Starborn were light, then that whatever captured her ancestors did them a favor. For the question that this foolish one just asked was the perfect setup to lead them. Lead these strangers to their deaths, deaths that would give her Swarm prosperity!

“We have thing that when raised all must talk! It far from here, and in mess. I send one of my guards away. Those there find it and bring it to staircase. Best way to use time!” Starlsia said with a grin.

One of her swarm started to snicker, and Starlsia felt her mouth almost scowl. No, she needed to keep up the act. Play this like she was happy and outside was here to bring peace. No reason to deny it.

“That’s a good idea noble Starlsia. We can wait for your guard if he’s late. We can’t leave until we can help you after all,” Je’ndra said pleasantly.

Starlsia waved at the snicker and flashed him a sign in a way that the void travelers couldn’t see. The sign of ‘ambush’ and ‘all’.

<>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>

As the spider centaur scurried away, Tar’lroia watched him go. That thing was fast and the way it moved was the perfect reason to create some gear. But then the monster that created these things probably saw their creation as easier. The one fact that these things were so quick to try and trick them all told her a lot.

”[So that one is going to get the hordes. We all know that right]?” Ken’tricx mused.

Tar’lroia kept from sighing and shaking her head. They couldn’t let the enemy, the spider centaurs, know that the group could understand them. “[Of course it is Ken’tricx. But we can’t let them know that yet]!”

“[I say that we just start blasting boss. Let’s put the fear of us into them]!” Ro’borlar rumbled as he moved his body, keeping his eyes on the lone spider centaur. Tar’lroia watched with him as the native walked up the right wall until it reached a hole it went through. Looking up, Tar’lroia saw more holes, each one set so these beings could watch the cages from safety.

“[Got a bad feeling Ro’borlar? Why]?” Je’ndra asked and even Tar’lroia was wondering what had brought this on.

“[We’re acting like these things won’t be able to kill us! And they were probably created by one of the Forbidden! Everything and anything is able to get one over us if we let them! And the way we’re acting, I don’t like it]!” Ro’borlar said with a hard edge in his voice.

As much as she didn’t want to admit it, Ro’borlar had a point. Luck and tactics could defeat anything if it was used right. But the best way to guard against that was not to let anything have an edge. It might be giving these things too much credit, but the potential was there.

“[You’re right Ro’borlar. But we’ve gotta move carefully. If these things aren’t an enemy and are just defending what’s their’s, do you want to kill them for that]?”

“[Well, no! But still boss, we can’t act like we’re invincible]!” Ken’tricx said with a hard edge.

As much as she wanted to argue, Tar’lroia knew that he was right.

“Is everything alright miss Je’ndra?” Starlsia asked and Tar’lroia looked up. “Your friends seem to be walking about something. Is anything wrong?”

“No noble Starlsia. My friends were just worried about these cages,” Je’ndra said pleasantly.

Tar’lroia smirked. That was just like her friend, always fishing for information that could help them. And it might be interesting to see just how she would explain this to them.

“It bothers my friends that such things are here. They look like they were for people. You must understand my friend's worry. We hear stories you see,” Je’ndra said with worry in her voice.

“Oh, them? They for the sick. Bad sickness came through years ago. Made all who suffer from it mad in final stages. Were once made to hold prisoners, but was moved. Long story,” Starlsia said in a rushed tone.

“Oh my. I hope that whatever disease didn’t take any lives?” Je’ndra said with concern.

Tar’lroia grinned and looked at her friend’s back. With her skills, she should have been an actor instead of a warrior. There was always after she served the end of this tour after all. Tar’lroia had plans to go into medical research for a while after all.

“No, well. If those in last stages attacked people, some killed others. Others dragged people into field of monsters. Bad time all around,” Starlsia said bitterly.

“[Think that’s the truth? Never heard of a virus like that, even from Ruins],” Ro’borlar muttered.

“[Not too far out there really. I can think of a few ways that a virus can hijack the body to make that happen. If that happened here, I can see the cages. And this place could have been used as a prison. But somehow, I doubt it],” Tar’lroia said as she looked at the cages. With a single thought, she activated a sensor built into her mask and examined them closer. There were a few things in there, a hair, a scale, and blood of all colors. Whatever had been in here, they weren’t the spider centaurs.

“Guard left, we should too. Follow this one!” Starlsia said brightly as she started to move forward and onto the wall. Her guards followed behind her and soon they had passed the group, moving towards the door.

<>------------------------------------------------<>------------------------------------------------<>

Je’ndra looked at the spider centaur as she led the way. As much as Je’ndra didn’t want to admit it, there was something that told her this was wrong. The way the other spider centaurs moved, they had lived as they were for a long time. But the scraps of clothing they wore, that was where everything was off to her. In a cave on this side, there wasn’t really wind, but still. Did their bodies protect them from the cold down here? Did they have sources of heat around here that made clothing not necessary?

As they moved through the structure, one question forced itself to the front of her mind. Where did these things live? The room they were walking through looked as abandoned as the others behind them. The more they walked, the more she had to wonder what this place was used for.

“Might Starlsia. I have to wonder where you live? These places seem to be…. Not used?” Je’ndra asked, probing a little. Anything these things might say could help the group.

Starlsia and her guards all chuckled, a feeling of joy and laughter in their voices. “Live here, no. We live farther up! This old place of tears and pain!”

Je’ndra looked at the spider centaur and wondered just how they were lying to her. The way they spoke, it wasn’t as if something was painful. She knew enough about humans that she could tell that these things were still human enough to lie like them. And that was enough to tell her that this was going to be very bad soon.

“Will you share your pain with us?” Je’ndra asked, hoping that she hadn’t overplayed her hand. If she was right, then this might be useful. “[And the ambush is looking even more likely people. Activate all sensors and say anything at the first sign of trouble. I don’t want them to surprise us].”

“[Got it boss. Still, where could that abomination that created these things have happened? I mean there’s no sign of Rune work at all! And how did one of us even get here]?” Ken’tricx muttered as he looked around.

Ro’borlar only chuckled and shook his head. “[You’re thinking that one of us was behind this horror. There is another answer].”

“[What, you mean that idea? That all races can learn to use Aether? I mean the evidence is there, but how did could the Chimera even have been discovered]?” Tar’lroia asked dryly.

Je’ndra knew that her friend was talking about. There were those who believed that Aether was not the result of evolution but of being alive. That meant that as long as one was alive, they could learn to use Aether no matter what race they were. The idea wasn’t believed that much, but it was there. And the miracle of those people were proof enough. Some of the greatest of their scholars had such interesting family trees. And with the secret that all those of her rank knew, the answer was there.

“[Who even knows how the Chimera was discovered, I don’t! It’s possible that others can do the same, follow same path as the first scumbag. We can’t know for sure, and that’s scary! We’ve gotta find the Prince before we find out there are other Aether Horrors in play]!” Ro’borlar said with a scowl.

“Is long and old story, you sure want to know? Once known, can’t know,” Starlsia said with a hard look.

“Please, let me know. Anything that can help me to understand you might be needed to help you,” Je’ndra said. Privately, she wondered how much would be truth and how much would be lies.