Heaven Saga 3: Sojourn Into Despair (24 page)

Is
this how my life is going to end?
Brian opened his eyes and saw nothing
but darkness. He tried flexing his hand and nothing could be felt. His body was
numb and unfeeling without any sense extending beyond his mind. He tried
shouting and no sound came from his mouth. Straining and breathing heavily he laid
alone in the dark room without a soul in sight. A tear began falling from his
unseeing eyes and streamed slowly to the pillow below.

No.
This can’t be how it ends. I don’t want to die, not like this. This is worse
than the Kai. I’m beginning to understand what it was like near the end Gaelic.
I understand why you hid yourself from everyone. Who wants to see this
breathing corpse in its last moments? Even so, I can’t blame them for not being
here with me. They have the right to live, don’t they? Should I accept my death?
Is it time to give in to the darkness?
 He was unable to move. Above the door
the alert system started blinking bright red as the sound of the alarm
followed. He tried focusing his blind eyes and turned his head slightly to hear
the faint sound of the alert. Brian thought he heard Zae’s voice over the com
but wasn’t sure it was her. The alarm echoed through the Avoni and echoed
through him. He felt the ship shake violently as if it was under attack.

No.
Not like this. I won’t die here alone in the dark. I’ll save them. It’s all I
can do to save what’s left of the crew.
He thought of the women of the Avoni and
savored each one of them slowly in his mind. Those who died came into his mind
one by one and then those still alive flashed through.
I owe them that.
Summoning
all of his remaining strength he blinked his eyes and felt the berserk come
over him. It didn’t give him much feeling, but enough to roll off the bed and
onto the floor. He dragged himself to the desk and slowly opened the bottom
drawer before feeling around with his barely coherent hand. He pulled out a small
wooden case and opened it to reveal a number of
Kai
needles. He smiled
strangely as he took them in his numbed hands.
Thank you Delne, this should
jolt my nerves long enough to do what I need to. I owe it to the crew of this
ship, to Grigon, and especially to the Braiden.
Brian took each needle and
drove them into his body at the joints. Each needle caused him to scream out in
agony. Though racked with pain the numbness melted away. Bleeding and
stumbling, he walked to the door and took his
rakna
to use as a crutch.
Feeling around the frame of the door he pressed the switch. As the door opened
he stumbled into the dark hallway.

This
is the right way. At least I won’t be a burden to them any longer.

* * *

The
Mjolnir’s haunting cries flowed throughout the Avoni.

“I
can hear you old friend,” Brian uttered as he staggered to launching bay. “I
know you’re afraid. I am to.” As he made his way through the halls of the Avoni
he felt the crew all around him. Out of an elevator three engineers ran and
stopped to see the Brian before them.

“I
can see you’re afraid as well,” Brian said while glancing with his blind eyes
at the engineers. “You weren’t expecting me to look like this either.” He
tilted his head back before laughing.

“Brian,”
one of the engineers said as she went to give him a hand. Using his blood covered
hand he gently pushed her away.

“I
won’t be needing your help ensign Kalas, but thank you for the concern,” he
said as he turned on his com to reach all of those onboard. He resumed his slow
march while the crew gazed in awe and fear as he passed them in this bleeding
and disheveled form. “In one’s life, there are moments when we simply know
things,” he began as he walked. Everyone onboard stopped and listened to his
ragged speech. “In this moment I can hear all of your thoughts, all of your
fears…and all of your worries. Even though I’m blind and deaf I can hear you…I
can see each one of you separately. Perhaps this is the ranting of a mad and
dying man…but I can’t but help think it’s not. I want you to burn this image of
me into your minds...to know my final thoughts and words…and remember that I
lived. And when I am gone, I have but one command. Live…live as long as you
can. For as long as you exist your enemies will never succeed. Even if all you
can do is act as a thorn in their side…it’s better than giving in to oblivion.
Because that my friends…is what this battle is about. The Greys aren’t looking
for conquest. They don’t seek to subdue us. No…they seek to destroy us. In
their universe there’s no place for us. There’s no home for the vanquished…only
death. I ask you to never give up the preciousness of your life. Fight…fight as
long as you can. Never go in silence and if you must die…then go in fire.
Better to shout one final insult at your enemy than die quietly. And now…that’s
what I’ll do. If I am fated to die then I will do it for those I love. The
Avoni is my home and all of you are my family. In my time here I have learned
so much. I’ve seen a lifetime of joy and sorrow in the last few years. I’m glad
we met. I’m glad we could share this time together. My only regret is our time
together…didn’t last longer. But as we part ways I have something to ask each
of you. To defeat the Greys…you must change what you are…and become what you
should be. Words alone can’t show you…so I will. Watch as I fly for the last
time…and in a short while you’ll see what I mean.”

Brian
finally came to the door of the launching bay.  He staggered inside with an uneven
gate. Grigon watched him walk to the Mjolnir as its cry echoed.

“Grigon,
I know there’s more to this mobile suit than what’s on the specs,” Brian said. “I’m
going to try and activate the black box system.” His eyes began changing from
glowing blue to glowing red. As he neared the Mjolnir the mobile suit began
emitting a similar color.

“I’m
glad we had a chance to meet Brian,” Grigon said as he saluted the Terran.

“As
am I,” Brian said as he returned the salute with a smile. As he entered the
Mjolnir the mobile suit stopped keening and activated all its systems
automatically. “Send my journal entries to Baed Daevon’s computer.”

“Yes
Brian,” the Mjolnir said using Brian’s voice.

“Your
speech function has activated,” Brian said with a laugh. “I’m glad.”

“Are
you sure this is the way?” the Mjolnir asked.

“Yes,
this is the way,” Brian answered. “You’ll have to act as my eyes once we get
out there.”

“Of
course,” the mobile suit responded.

“Zae,
continue with the mission plan as is,” Brian ordered. “I’m going to open a path
for you in a moment. You’re to consider the Mjolnir and myself casualties. I
don’t have much longer left to live anyway. And Baed, I’ve transferred all the
things we discussed last night to your computer.” He could tell Zae was trying
to contact him and ignored the call.
No distractions.
He thought as the
Mjolnir powered up. He opened his eyes and looked up.
I can see it. I can
see the path.
The Mjolnir’s drive system suddenly sped up and enveloped the
mobile suit in a glowing aura of blue energy.

* * *

Zae
banged her fist on the console. “Dammit!” she shouted with tears in her eyes. “He
won’t respond to my call!” When Baed turned to comfort her a pulse of energy
flowed throughout the ship.

“Even
if this body expires I know I won’t die,” Brian said over the com to everyone.
“I’ll live on in each of you. Farewell.”

Zae
and the others watched the Mjolnir fly from the ship at a speed never seen
before. They gazed in awe as the mobile suit flashed and appeared near the Grey
ships and slashed through their shields as if they weren’t there. Their pulse
fire passed through the glowing mobile suit like it was incorporeal.

“What’s
happening?” Zae asked before wiping away the tears.

“He’s
activated it,” Jesela said. “I didn’t think I’d ever witness it. But now I know
it’s true.”

The
Mjolnir tore through the enemy forces with no resistance.

“It’s
like he’s ignoring the laws of physics,” Zae said.

Baed’s
eyes began glowing. “No, that’s not it,” she said. “I see what’s happening.”

“Baed,
your eyes,” Zae said.

“An
awakened being has the ability to surpass their physical form and evolve to the
next level of existence,” Baed explained. “In all cases it allows subtle
telepathic contact between minds. But in each species a different expression of
evolution is brought out. This is why Terrans are feared by the older races.”

“You
sound like you’re reading from a statement,” Zae said.

“She’s
right,” Jesela said. Her eyes began to glow. “Whatever Brian is doing it
started awakening all of us.”

Zae
felt a strange power emerging from within.
It’s like time is slowing down. I
can clearly see what’s happening now.

* * *

Meldi
and the other twenty six pilots continued their defensive barrage when the Mjolnir
flew into the teeth of the Grey forces. With each slash the Mjolnir blinked and
passed through the ship’s shields and then materialized long enough to slash
through the hull of the enemy ship. As the minutes passed the Mjolnir made its
way to the carrier ships. The Avoni moved towards the gas giant and watched as
the spectacle occurred. In the launching bay Grigon held a clawed fist in the
air.

“Show
them,” the old Malcovin said. “Show them why they must feel fear once more.”

“Could
you explain what’s happening?” Zae asked over the com. He went to the console
nearby.

“Brian
has successfully activated the system I put in there a long time ago lieutenant
commander,” Grigon answered. “The Mjolnir’s drive system is very different from
the system we’re used to. But it can only be activated by a fully awakened
Terran. A more appropriate term for the device is a dimensional drive. As you
can see Brian can now pierce their shields and avoid their weapons without
dodging them. He simply perceives another dimension or two while passing through
the three we know as standard.” He looked over to the Aegis. “Now all that
remains is for her to and fly this one out.”

Tears
came to Celi’s glowing eyes as she finished preparing the final serum to save
Brian.
I can save him!
She turned to the com. “Is Brian still in his
room?”

There
was a silence for a moment. “He’s gone,” Zae said. “He left on the Mjolnir
before ordering us to escape without him.”

“No!”
Celi shouted as she pounded her fist.

With
her eyes glowing she took the vial and ran out of sickbay. The crew stopped and
stared as they saw her eyes. Celi made her way into the launching bay.
I
know he left it here for me.
She thought as she made her way to the giant.
Grigon was still running tests on it. He turned to see Celi with the elevator
cord in her hand.

“You
will allow me launch this,” Celi said.

He
looked at her glowing eyes. “It seems the Terran was right for me to make
this,” he said as he backed away. “Everything should be functioning. But you
haven’t had a test flight yet.”

“It
doesn’t matter Grigon,” she said. “I have the only thing that can save him here
in my hand.” She showed him the vial of fluid.

Grigon
squawked in approval. “You’re just as crazy as he is. The giants name is the
Aegis. It’s the equal of the Mjolnir in every way. But its shielding system can
defend against any attack. Make sure you call it by its name before activating
its systems.”

Celi
took the elevator cord of Aegis and went inside the mobile suit’s cockpit.
“Aegis, give me the power to save him,” she said.

The
mobile suit’s eyes flared up as all its systems came online. The Aegis’s gravity
drive started to speed up before enveloping the giant with glowing blue
particles.

* * *

“He’s
broken through their defense line and is moving towards the carriers,” Baed
reported.

“Now
I know what Grigon was talking about,” Zae said as she narrowed her eyes.

A
moment later a glowing silver mobile suit flew from the Avoni and sped towards
the Mjolnir. A wave of energy pulsed through the Avoni and Raknas outside. Those
whose eyes weren’t glowing yet started.

“Celi,
what are you doing?” Zae asked.

“No
matter what orders he gave you Zae I won’t abandon him,” Celi said. “He’s the
one who’ll lead us into the next era. I was born to save him. It’s the only
reason I exist. If he dies the dream dies with him.”

Zae
touched the mark behind her ear. “I understand,” she said.

“As
do I,” Baed said as she touched the mark on her breast.

“Meldi,
shift to formation A-17,” Zae ordered.

“Yes
commander,” Meldi answered.

“Grigon,
I want the Vomada and Talons to assume the same formation,” Zae ordered.

“Of
course,” Grigon answered. The Vomada and Talons matched the Avoni.

Zae
held her head and heard all the voices of the crew in her mind.

“We
all feel a bit strange right now Zae,” Jesela said. “But right now all of us
are one mind.”

“You’re
right,” Zae said. “Let’s save him. If we can’t save one life, how can we expect
to save any others?”

The
Avoni and Vomada, along with their remaining mobile suits, turned from the gas
giant and started flying after the Mjolnir and Aegis. Celi noticed each attack
fired upon her mobile suit reflected back on the attacker.

“I’ll
save you,” Celi said.

* * *

After
the Mjolnir slashed its way through the fourth carrier Brian felt something
inside him stop. His eyes stopped glowing as his body went limp.
That’s all I
can do for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.
He thought as he fell into
unconsciousness. The Mjolnir stopped moving and began drifting in space. The
ships around the mobile suit pummeled the Mjolnir with blasts of energy. The
Aegis flew in a moment later as its shields reflected the attacks. Celi linked
the two suits together and extended a barrier to link their cockpits. Checking
to make sure she had everything, she programmed the Aegis to enter full
defensive mode and not move at all. With the injector in hand she floated her
way over to the Mjolnir’s cockpit and opened it from the outside.

“Brian!”
she yelled. Celi went to him and injected his body with the serum. She checked
his pulse and found there was no heartbeat. “You’re not going to leave me, not now!”
She tore his shirt off before grabbed a pair of electrodes from her med kit.
She made sure their power was working before hitting him with some electricity.
She did this a few times and finally heard a faint heart beat when she put her
head to his chest. She put her equipment away.

“It
doesn’t look like he’s going to make it,” the Mjolnir said with sadness in its
voice.

“Don’t
worry,” Celi said. “I know how to save him.” She kissed Brian and started glowing
with blue energy. Celi then hugged him close and concentrated. “Come back to
me. Come back to all of us,” she said as she fell unconscious.

* * *

What
is this place?
Brian thought. He saw nothing but the pitch black all around him. He heard no
sounds and felt nothing in the empty void.
So this is what it’s like to die.
I feel as if I’m fading into nothingness. I can’t feel anything anymore. Maybe
it’s time to go. In a few short years I lived a lifetime of experiences. I fell
in love with a number of great women. I helped change the course of two worlds.
I think I’m ready to leave.
He closed his eyes as he felt darkness wash
over his existence. After a moment of drifting he thought he heard something in
the distance. He turned as he felt the dark void part in front of him. Looking
forward with his hand in front of his eyes, Brian saw the faint outline of
someone coming towards him.

“Are
you the goddess?” he asked as he watched the figure fly towards him. It looked
like a Kalaidian wrapped in an aura of white light. “Have you come to take me
to the afterlife?”

“I
thought you said you didn’t believe in such things,” Celi said.

“Why
are you here Celi?” he asked. She floated to him and embraced him tightly.

“I’ve
come to take you back,” Celi said. She looked into his eyes. “Everyone’s
waiting for you.”

“Did
you save me?”

“Just
in time,” Celi said before she kissed him passionately.

“Then
what is this place?” he asked after she parted and held onto his hand.

“Both
of us have awakened,” she answered. “This is the place beyond what we were. I
was afraid to lose you, but now it’s time. The Aegis is shielding us as we
speak.” She took Brian’s ethereal hand and flew back to the light. He followed
slowly, almost as if his body was made of lead. As they came closer and closer
he felt his senses explode as the pair entered the light.

Brian
opened his eyes. Pain wracked his weakened body. His sight had not returned but
he sensed he was onboard the Mjolnir. He felt something warm on top of him as
it filled him with energy. Brushing his hand he could tell it was Celi. Her
body and eyes stopped glowing as exhaustion overcame her. She looked up to see
he was moving again.

“Thank
the goddess,” she said.

“No,
thank you,” Brian said as he held her close. “You saved my life. For that, I
owe you much more than thanks.”

“I’ll
be expecting payment when we reach home,” she said.

“Alright,
I’ll do that.”

Outside,
the Aegis continued clinging to the Mjolnir with its shields deployed. The
Avoni and Vomada with their mobile suit forces opened fire at the remaining Grey
ships. All of the Raknas moved much faster than usual. They moved at speeds
unseen as one mind and soul. She and Brian felt their desire as they fought.
Each fought with the two of them on their mind.

“I
can see the stars dancing,” Brian said. “They’re burning brighter than I ever
imagined.”

“They’re
fighting to save us,” Celi said.

After
a few more minutes the battle ended in victory. The com on the Mjolnir
activated.

“Celi,
Brian, are the two of you alright?” Zae asked.

“I’m
alive,” Brian answered.

“We’re
alright,” Celi said.