Chapters He ran, fleeing from his pursers he had no other choice: if he stopped in one place for a single moment the monsters would find him and kill him. They had killed everyone else already, ever since that damned moon showed up everything went to hell. Two or three of the creatures he could deal with but 9 or 10 was another matter altogether. Jumping off a ledge towards the nearby roof of a ruined apartment building, he drew his weapon; An unusual black blade with a midnight blue blade edge, it was unusual because of the rifle like hilt it possessed, aiming as he fell towards his destination he took a few shots at the pursing creatures.
The black creatures snarled and hissed in pain as a couple of shots hit them dead on in the abdomen, while in any other circumstances the injury would have been fatal as the rounds fired were made to pierce the armour of a tank. it was only enough to get the creatures to back off and regroup. They let out various hisses and screeches which to him translated as a “We’ll be back.” He just calmly gave them a middle finger as a reply.
He was relieved to have some breathing space, if only for a little while. He was tired of running but if he wanted to live that’s all he could do. He entered the ruined building pulling down his hood as he did so.
“C’mon Raines get some food and rest, you’re in desperate need of some.” He muttered to himself: his own stomach growling in agreement. Taking a torch from his rucksack and shining it around the dark ruins, cautiously examining his surroundings he noticed a part of the ceiling was caved in, or rather something had fallen through it. He knew something was off but not in the usual way, his experience in dealing with those monsters had taught him how to sense their presence and how to track them. This presence was different, otherworldly like the creatures but it was more soothing, arming himself he slowly made his way to the rubble. Despite how fearless he looked he was only a civilian for the most part, a simple mechanic by trade and as such he was frightened.
As he shone the light of his torch down the hole in the floor, he saw something stir and groan slightly in pain; from what he could tell the creature itself was mostly blue and didn’t look like any of those monsters, at least any he’s seen. He could just walk away right now, but something about this creature intrigued him.
“Heh, Mom always did say curiosity was my biggest weakness.” He laughed bitterly to himself, as he leapt down into the hole containing the creature. He landed with a dull thud and the soft hum of the device attached to the soles of his boots, the device was designed to alter gravity for the wearer but only for a few seconds at a time. He pointed his weapon at the creature as it slowly began to stir as he approached it.
“W-Who’s…there?” It said weakly, He said nothing in reply and waited for the creature to get up. “S-sister where are you?”
“Well this is new.” He thought to himself. He knew fine well what the creatures used to be but none of them had spoken plain English; in fact he was pretty sure they only spoke through hisses and screeches. Getting a better look at the creature in front of him, he noticed that it was probably no bigger than half his own height, covered head to hoof in dark blue fur and had a mane and tail that reminded him of the night sky for some odd reason. It had dark patch of fur upon its flank with a star and crescent moon like mark upon it. The creature finally aware of its surroundings finally turned its head towards him.
“Who are you? And where am I?” It spoke in a soft, gentle manner. He was unsure how to answer.
“I could ask you the same thing!” He said firmly, “Are you with those monsters?” He cocked his weapon and aimed.
“Monsters?” She asked confused, “As royalty is this how you address us? Do you not know who I am, creature?” She sighed, muttering something he didn’t quite understand to herself, “I am Luna, Princess of the moon and co-ruler of Equestria!”
“Sorry, never heard of you.” He answered politely, “You’re the first thing I’ve seen in months that hasn’t tried to kill me on sight.” He paused for a moment, “While I am pleased to see something other than those monsters, the fact you mentioned the moon is a deep concern.”
“How may I ask?” Luna asked, becoming frustrated that he hadn’t introduced himself yet.
“It was the moon that brought them here…” He said flatly.
“Is there anyone else here?” She asked him.
“…” He remained silent for long moment, “No, I’m all that’s left…” This caught Luna by surprise.
“Surely you must have friends and family?” She asked disbelievingly, he just shook his head.
“My friends and family have been hunting me relentlessly the past month or so…” He answered with a hint of sorrow in his voice, “Look I explain once we get somewhere less exposed. Follow me.”
As they made their way through the labyrinth of hallways, Luna couldn’t help but wonder what he had meant by his family and friends hunting him. This talk of monsters and the moon was concerning her greatly.
“What happened here?” She muttered to herself, as she examined the ruins of the building.
“Genocide…” He stated simply, opening a door to what seemed to be a dimly lit bedroom. “What you smell now is the stench of blood.” He shone his torch around the abandoned room, “I think it would be best if we rested here for the night.”
“Just who are you exactly?” Luna asked again.
“Raines, Cillen Raines of the 5th division maintenance team.” Cillen introduced himself, “I’m the last human being on this entire damned planet.”
“What happened to the rest?” Luna asked regretfully.
“What do you think the monsters are?” He answered, no emotion betraying his statement.
Cillen sat down on a nearby chair, frowning slightly. He was wondering on how to explain all this to his newfound…guest.
“Over 7 months ago that moon appeared from some sort of rift, as it appeared it sent out a pulse disabling every bit of electrical and mechanical equipment. It went dormant for a while, our scientists tried to study it and figure out where exactly it came from.” Cillen explained, “Apparently the research base went silent and they sent in a rescue team.”
“Were they alright?” Luna asked, hoping this wouldn’t get any worse than it sounded.
“Oh they found the research team alright, or rather what they had become.” Cillen continued, “They’re called Memoria from what I have been told, their appearance seems to vary from what they originally were. They are all viscous, can impersonate what their original form was and blend in to the environment at will, and seem to be impervious to all standard issue weapons.”
“Surely they can’t be that tough.” The princess said in disbelief.
“No one’s ever killed one…” Cillen replied disheartened, “Everyone who has been killed by one of them, has become one of those monsters…and I do mean everyone.” Cillen’s voice was full of regret and anger, “I tried to save as many people as I could, but I couldn’t save a single one of them. I had to watch as my family was burnt from head to toe as they became one of the things as they picked us off one by one.”
“What will you do now? Surely you can’t save this world by yourself.” Luna stated, “Not when everything is…” She hesitated to finish her sentence.
“I have no intention of saving this damn planet.” Cillen replied, “If anything…I’m going to destroy every last thing on this god forsaken rock.” The finality of his statement shocked Luna, “It was my father’s idea, there’s a machine in a ruined city that’s few weeks journey from here. It’s really the only option I have left now…”
“Cillen…” Luna muttered, “Is this really the only way?” He just nodded in response.
“How’d you end up in here anyway?” Cillen asked.
“I was following that abomination of a creature impersonating a moon, it tried to pull the same thing with my own world but I managed to fend it off. It fled in cowardice unfortunately I got dragged along with it. After that though, I remember nothing.” Luna explained; Cillen had a grim look on his face.
“So it’s because of you that…thing came here?” He asked his voice emotionless.
“No, I think it jumps from one world to another hoping to make a meal out of whatever it sets its sight on.” Luna explained.
“Luna I suggest you get some rest, we’ll be leaving here in the morning. I’m going to have a look around to see if I can find some supplies.” He said as he smashed a bottle of florescent blue liquid against the wall. “The scent of this stuff seems to drive those things away, so this place should be safe for tonight at least.” The door shut behind him with a resounding click, leaving Luna alone in the dimming light of the room.
Cillen made his way through the hallways towards the garage of the building, hoping to find some form of transportation that would make the journey ahead a bit easier. A small part of him was debating on leaving her behind, but he decided against it. The past 3 months had been hard for him and to be honest he was lonely, the company alone would be a godsend for him.
As he looked around the garage, he had the feeling he was being watched by one of those creatures. It didn’t surprise him much really.
“C’mon out dad, why don’t you fight me like a man!” He called out and dared the creature stalking him, “What’s wrong afraid to have a go! Come on out you old fart!”
A heavy thump echoed throughout the room, slowly rising from the ground behind Cillen was a hulking creature easily over 7 foot tall, hunched over in a gorilla fashion. Its spear like tail swaying threating him, ready to strike in an instant. The creature let out a low hiss at Cillen before it screamed and launched its attack.
“…” Cillen dodged the attack, rolling out of the way of its spear like tail. He cut at one of the creature’s upper arms, just below its shoulder which seemed to injure it. “Interesting…” He noted as he recognised something on the creature’s back: a pitch black spiral like spear.
Cutting away at the creature’s tail, Cillen attempted to get that blasted thrashing tail off. Its hide however had other ideas in mind as the tail threw Cillen off its owner and into a nearby wall. Cillen grunted in pain from the impact, but smirked none the less.
“Betrayal…MARK TARGET!” He ordered the spear impaled on the creatures back. Upon the command the spear extended and multiple tips shot out of the creatures hided causing it untold agony as it howled and screeched writhing in untold amounts of pain.
“You know what old man…” Cillen spoke as he walked slowly towards the pinned monster, “I can forgive what happened between us in the past, but what you did to everyone I ever loved when you became what you are now…” Cillen pointed his sword at the creatures head and pulled the trigger.
“…W…a…i…t…” The creature hissed.
Again Cillen pulled the trigger without any remorse.
“…St…op…Ple…ase…” The creature rasped out, Cillen only responded by pulling the trigger again.
“…W…hy…?” It hissed, Cillen gave out angry yell as he began to impale the creatures head with his sword.
“Why?” He asked angrily, “WHY.WON’T.YOU.FUCKING.DIE!!!” Cillen roared as he slammed his sword through the creature’s skull and into the floor.
“…W…hy…?” The creature rasped out once again, frowning Cillen ordered the Betrayal spear to sever the tail. The spear itself had little issue doing as asked, and as he walked over to pick up the spear like tail. Cillen spoke in a cold, calm manner towards the creature.
“Everything we’ve tried on you bastards only seems to slow you down. So let’s see if one of your own weapons can finish the job.” In a sense of finality Cillen slammed the tail into the creature’s spine. To his amazement the creature howled in agony as it died, right in front of him.
“DNA analysis completed…” The spear impaling the creature stated, “Applying patch data to all nearby compatible systems…”
“Explain…” Cillen ordered, still astounded he had actually killed the creature.
“DNA has been modified on genetic level, resulting in the creature before you now. The creature emits a temporal field that protects it from harm. As the creature has now been killed, the frequency this field uses can be applied to all medical equipment and weaponry.” Cillen looked impressed, “When the patch it applied to medical equipment and antibodies it is impossible for the creatures to infect you, and all weaponry becomes lethal towards the creatures.” Cillen began laughing,
“Apply the patch to all weaponry and living things in the building.” He ordered, as he withdrew the blade and continued his exploration of the garage. A smirk never left his lips as he explored the abandoned garage, a smirk which became a full blown grin at the sight before him.
Luna woke up startled as the door opened; Cillen came into room and sat down upon the dusty chair. What concerned Luna was the content smile upon his face, which was unusual considering how grim he looked earlier.
“I take it you have had some good news.” She inquired.
“Yes.” He said simply, “A lot of good news in fact.”
“So what happens now?” She asked curious, “Surely your plans haven’t changed.”
“You’re right.” He shrugged, “From here on out I’m going to get you home to where you’re from and I’m going to destroy this entire damned planet. I found us a ride out of here earlier and rid myself of big problem.”
“So you want my co-operation in destroying a planet?” Luna stated in disbelief.
“Oh dear lord no…” Cillen corrected, “More like some company for the journey, you know last human being on the planet and all that.” He poured himself a drink from his flask and offered her one, “Where this weapon is located is the technological superpower of the world, the city of Babel.” Cillen explained, “If there is any way of getting you back home I would imagine it would be there.”
“Hmm, that does sound acceptable.” Luna stated, “How far is it from here?”
“On foot it’s a two week journey, but with what I’ve found it should shave a day or two off the journey.” Cillen answered happily, “Sadly though we have to go through the Disaster Valley to get there.”
“Disaster Valley…” Luna wondered, “What’s there?”
“Imagine if you will, an entire region filled with nothing but tornados and hurricanes, every last one of them out to close in on you and everything moving in the area and I do mean they are literally hunting you down.” Cillen answered her, “its real nightmare fuel if you ask me.”
“I take it you have found a way through?” Luna inquired as Cillen pulled out a 3D Map.
“In the garage of this building is a HARDFRAME, a combat suit used by the military on this world. At present it’s missing one of its arms but it’ll be fully functional once I’m done repairing and refuelled it.” Cillen pointed at the 3D map, “The HARDFRAME is what will get us through that valley, as it was made be used in inhospitable environments.”
“And the monsters?” Luna asked.
“They won’t be as big of an issue until we actually get to Babel.” Cillen said sadly, “Once we are there we would have 24 Hours to find and ready the weapon, and of course get you home.”
“Why are you so sad…?” Luna said softly.
“Because that’s where I’m going to die…” He answered, “I would have to use Babel’s defences to hold off every single Memoria on this planet while the weapon prepares to fire.”
“…” Luna could say nothing to comfort him.
“Either way Luna, I’m not walking away from this alive…” He said with finality.
Forget Everything You Hold Dear.
It was well into the early morning hours; Luna stirred from her restless sleep, woken up by the sounds of cursing, various clicks and banging coming from the floor below. She made her way out of the abandoned room towards the source of the noise. The hallways were empty and silent except from the constant noise echoing around the ruined building.
Luna was thankful for her night vision, as the dim light of the building would make it very hard to see for anyone else. The various clicks and banging got louder as she got closer to the source. As she entered the garage her eyes befell on the corpse of a hulking creature with a spear like object embedded into its spine.
“What in the name of my sister is that monstrosity?!” She wondered aloud in shock, and disgust.
“Sadly…that would be my old man.” Cillen stated as he emerged from underneath the machine he was repairing. “It’s a shame you couldn’t meet under better circumstances.”
“H-How did he end up like this?” Luna asked, but was hesitant to hear the answer.
“I killed him earlier, didn’t have much choice…” He said regretfully, “He was stubborn to a fault, but a good man none the less.” Cillen resumed repairing the HARDFRAME, paying Luna very little mind.
“Don’t you regret doing this?” Luna pleaded, worried about Cillen’s lack of concern. Cillen stopped what he was doing.
“Luna…everyone I know is dead, turned into one of those creatures.” He said without a trace of emotion, but the way he composed himself told Luna otherwise, “That is something I have to come to terms with, in the months that have past, I don’t want to kill but I have no option to do so.”
“Cillen…” Luna spoke but was interrupted by Cillen.
“Luna, please don’t pity me…” He pleaded; there was uncomfortable silence between two as Cillen once again returned to his repairs. Luna couldn’t help but feel sorry for him; she wondered what her sister would do in a situation like this.
“I-I…” Luna hesitated, but words seemed to fail her. “I know how it feels to be all alone…”
“Bad memories…?” Cillen inquired,
“Yes…” Luna admitted, “I still have nightmares about it…” She had lost count of how many times she had woken up in a cold sweat because of them.
“I know the feeling, I’m lucky If I catch two or three hours of sleep a day because of what happened. I miss the days when I could curl up with my girlfriend and relax for a while.” Cillen confessed, “You never really realise how much you miss the little everyday things in life until you lose them…”
“What was she like?” Luna asked.
“Serena? Well she was a doctor in the 3rd medical division, “She was…certainly a handful that’s for sure. “ He chuckled, “Serena had a spark in her eyes, she was kind and caring but she had one hell of a temper.” Cillen sighed, “Being with her was one the happiest times of my life.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Luna replied.
“Don’t you worry yourself about it.” He told Luna, “What’s gone is gone and dwelling on the past will get you nowhere.” The silence returned, along with a feeling of unease.
“What is it that you’re doing anyway?” Luna inquired, looking up at the HARDFRAME. It was easily 5 metres in height, painted in various shades of greys and dark blues. From what she could make of the machine it seemed to be humanoid in shape, and missing one of its arms. “What manner of construction is this?”
“This was the HARDFRAME I was telling you about.” Cillen explained, “Even though it’s missing an arm and a bit of roughed up, most of the necessary equipment works and I’m doing what I can to repair the rest.”
“So you know how to ride this thing?” Luna asked,
“Technically speaking.” He replied, “This is a military model, but the interface is basically the same. The pilot slot allows the HARDFRAME to mimic how your body moves. The HARDFRAME was originally designed to allow humans like myself to survive in hazardous environments, such as where we are headed or in the vacuum of space.”
“How long will it last?”
“As it is now?” He asked, “We would have ranged weapons and the Over-boost for at least two days, before we would have to continue in the HARDFRAME using only the Auxiliary and Quick boosters.”
“Won’t we be unarmed?” Luna asked, but Cillen just chuckled.
“Watch this.” He told her, “Betrayal, Lancer mode!” The black spiral spear did as it was ordered as it extended into long double bladed spear easily big enough for the HARDFRAME to carry and use as a weapon.
“What manner of sorcery is this?!” Luna exclaimed.
“This a weapon passed down in my family, it’s said to be a cursed blade that has killed everyone who has ever wielded it, but has the ability to change into any melee weapon that user has knowledge of.” He explained, “Normally the HARDFRAME would have a weapon of its own for close combat, but as you can see it’s missing the arm it would be on.”
*Crack*
Luna and Cillen watched in horror as the creature began to make a sickening sound, as its bones began to snap and reshape itself, growing larger by the second. It began emitting a steam like black miasma from tears in its hide and skin.
“Luna get in the HARDFRAME now!!” Cillen shouted, as they both climbed in the pilot slot.
“It’s too tight in here!” Luna cried.
“It’s only meant for one person, I never finished modifying it!” Cillen snapped back, “Damn it all I thought I killed that thing!” Finally in the pilot slot, Cillen started up the HARDFRAME and began to set it to full Auxiliary boost. “Hold on Luna, and try not to wriggle around so much!”
At a blinding speed they sped out of the ruined building as the creature behind them continued to get larger and larger. The building collapsing behind them, the creature rose to its full height and let out primal howl.
“RAINES!!!!!!” The creature roared, its warped speech echoing throughout the ruins.
“Oh fuck me it just got a lot smarter…” Cillen deadpanned, looking back through the HARDFRAMES sensor array. The colossal creature began its pursuit, gaining at an impressive speed.
“Cillen!” Luna shouted snapping out of his stupor.
“Hold on! Just a few more metres!” Cillen reassured her as the HARDFRAME was boosting and jumping from wall to wall in an attempt to pick up speed. Each wall collapsed from the force of each leap as it kicked off each building, the HARDFRAME gaining velocity as it did so. They finally cleared the ruins as the creatures spear like tail came crashing down behind them.
“OVER-BOOST!!!” Cillen roared as the HARDFRAMES boosters went full out as they picked up enough speed to break the sound barrier. To their dismay the creature remained in pursuit of them, the ground beneath it shaking and shattering with each step it ran. “OH COME ON!!!” He swore profusely under his breath.
“RAINES!!!!!” The creature roared.
“We’re boosting at 761.2 MPH and that thing can still catch up! Arm the rear Exceed Orbit!” Cillen ordered, from the back of the HARDFRAME’s core a small floating turret emerged and targeted the pursuing creature. “Load the Anti-NEXT rounds!” Turret opened fire upon the creature as Cillen pulled the trigger.
“NICE TRY RAINES!!!” The creature laughed darkly, the creatures laughter died as soon as it felt the rounds pierce through the back of its skull. As it fell back from the impact from the ground shook from the resounding blow. Cillen broke out of the Over Boost and spun the HARDFRAME around to face the creature and charged full speed at the creature’s chest.
“BETRAYAL! EXECUTIONER MODE!!” He ordered, as spear changed its shape wrapping it’s self around the remaining arm of the HARDFRAME becoming a mounted axe in the HARDFRAME’s hand. Cillen brought the axe upon the creature’s neck and with all the force he could muster tore open the Memoria’s throat. He continued his assault on the monster’s throat until he had severed its head from its body with a sickening snap of the monster’s neck.
Finally calming down from his rage, he tried to steady his breath. The creature’s form began to crack and dissolve from underneath him, they both watched on as the creature melted and evaporated into nothing. To them both it was horrific but they couldn’t look away, what was said next is what horrified Luna.
“What was that?” Cillen asked her, confused to what exactly that monster was.
“That creature used to be your father?” She told him, he just looked at her strangely.
“I’ve never met my father; I don’t even know what he looks like.” He tried to remind her, “I told you that remember?”
“What did you say what that creature was called again?” She asked.
“A Memoria, why?” He reminded her. Luna had a sad look on her face…finally realising the connection of the creature’s species.
“Where I’m from the word ‘Memoria’ would be used in chants and spells, the word means ‘Memory’.” Luna explained, “When you killed that creature, it took away any memory you had of who that creature used to be.” Cillen realised what Luna was telling him.
“…in other words, every one of those things I kill I would lose the memories I have of who they used to be?” Cillen summarized, Luna just nodded slowly in confirmation. “…” Cillen said nothing, but slammed the wall of the pilot slot. “Damn it! How much more do I have to lose?”
“Cillen…I-I’m so sorry…” Luna apologised.
“…”
“…Let’s just get out of here.” Cillen mumbled, as the HARDFRAME sped off into the distance.
Youtube Video
There was nothing but silence in the pilot slot of the HARDFRAME; as it sped through the seemingly endless wasteland. Cillen had not spoken a word since he had found out he was slowly losing his memories with each of the Memoria he killed, Luna wasn’t sure what to make of his situation but she could easily imagine how horrifying losing loved ones was. She had for the most part experienced countless times herself over the course of her long immortal life, but with Cillen’s case; he had been the one to snuff out their flames of life, assuming they were still alive after they were turned into those monsters.
It was his hand that did it in the end, and for the brief time she had known him; she had seen him make jokes, laugh at inopportune times and was surprisingly upbeat about his situation despite losing everything dear to him.
“How do you do it?” She whispered to herself “How do you keep going on?”
“…” There was no indication that he even heard her question, just focused expression of a man who was doing his best to keep himself from breaking. Luna said nothing more, but still she worried. Surely there must be something that would get him speaking again.
“Luna…” His voice a little rough sounding from being silent for so long, “I’m sorry if I’m worrying you…” Cillen paused for a moment, “It’s just a lot to take in that’s all. Just give me some time…please.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Luna suggested, “Even if it doesn’t help, I’m willing to listen.”
“…” Cillen took a moment to think of how to word it. “I’m a civilian from Babel; my mother raised me along with my younger brother and sister. I don’t remember who my father is, but you know the reason why that is…”
“Can you tell me what your family was like?” She asked.
“Mom…Mom was the kind of person who held high expectations from everyone, but she was loving mother.” Cillen laughed weakly, “She was completely pissed when she found out I had got into the maintenance division.” He stopped laughing right there and then, “After I left we kind of drifted apart.”
“…” Luna said nothing, but urged him to go on.
“My little brother practically looked up to me, and I enjoyed teasing him from time to time.” A small smile appeared on his lips, “I remember when we pulled a prank on Mom, and she was so pissed.” Again another weak laugh, “She grounded us both for it.”
“And your sister?” Luna asked.
“My sister wanted to study animals, we clashed from time to time but that’s family for you right?” Luna just nodded in agreement, recalling her own arguments with her own sister, “She loved to draw, hell I even taught her a thing or two.” His smile suddenly faded, “She was successful in becoming a wild life researcher, but…”
“What happened…?” Luna asked but she had a feeling she didn’t want to know the answer.
“She was stationed at research centre, where the Memoria first appeared…” He answered solemnly. “By the time I found out my entire family was killed and transformed into one of those monsters.”
“I-I…” Luna was lost for words.
“Serena tried to stop me, but I took the nearest HARDFRAME I could find and took off towards the Research Centre.” Cillen paused, “When I got there I found nothing but rubble. I got a transmission from Serena but it was…i-it was…” Cillen was trying his best not to break down. Luna did her best to get herself in a position to comfort him.
“…It’s alright just let it all out.” Luna cooed softly, as she hugged him tightly.
“…My home, my friends, my family…” Cillen cried, “…Serena…everyone is gone!! Those monsters took everything from me…and even now…after I’ve lost everything…they continue to take…and they won’t ever stop!”
“Cillen…” Luna was speechless.
“DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!!!” Cillen struck the wall of pilot slot in frustration and rage. “I would have rather have died than lose them all! And the worst part of it all…” Cillen sobbed, “It’ll be my hand that will finally kill them…and I won’t even have my memories of them…”
“…” Luna could say nothing, as Cillen went silent once again.
“…I’m going to go back to that city…” Cillen said darkly, “…get you home…and then I’m going to kill every fucking thing on this damned planet!” The eerie calmness of his voice frightened her. “I’m the last man standing…and as such this world belongs to me…and even if I have to bring the sky crashing down on their heads. They. Will. Pay!” Luna had to calm him down somehow…so she kissed him.
“?!” Cillen was silent from the shock, the kiss was brief and it reminded him of how Serena would kiss him to shut him up or calm him down when he was stressed.
“L-Luna…I-I…” He stuttered,
“I’m amazed you held it in this long.” Luna told him, “Any lesser man would have went insane after all that’s happened.” She reassured, “You’re only one man…even if you had all the time in the world you can only do so much.”
“…” Cillen took a moment to take her words all in. “You remind me of Serena so much it’s not even funny, do you know that?” Luna said nothing, as Cillen activated the Over Boost as they closed in the Valley of Disasters.
Cillen slowly came back to the realm of consciousness, doing his best to shake off any sense of grogginess. He winced in pain as he shifted his weight; from the pain he could tell he had broken a couple of ribs in the crash. He looked down at Luna who was still out cold, from what he could tell with the little light that was left in the cockpit; he saw Luna had a few cuts and scrapes but she wasn’t as worse for wear than he was.
“Bring up the map…” He coughed, “Nearest outpost…” The 3D map he carried around lit up and showed him the route to the nearest outpost, which from the look of it wasn’t that far off. “…Heh, lucky us.” He grinned, “Let’s just hope our luck holds out.”
“Nrgh…” Luna groaned wincing in pain, “…anyone get the number of that runaway cart?”
“Well good morning to you, gorgeous.” Cillen grinned, “…How are you holding up?” Luna didn’t bother answering him, but shot him an unamused glare.
“Ugh…What next?” She asked.
“We get our wounds treated and some rest, three days in that HARDFRAME hasn’t left us in a good position.” Cillen explained as he opened the pilot slot, wincing in pain as he did so. “Yeah, definitely broken a couple of ribs.” He muttered to himself grabbing his side to check, making him wince once more. “It a mile down the tunnel, a half hour walk tops.”
“…Good.” Luna replied, “I’m sure it would do us both some good.”
They both walked through the huge cavern like tunnel, lights were flickering on and off as an indication of how bad things were down there. Cillen stopped for a moment,
“Luna, wait a moment.” He said, Luna stopped in mid limp and turned to face him, “A head of the outpost there is a sealed off section we would have to travel through.” He explained, “We would have to both wear a survival suit to get through there.”
“Why would I need to?” Luna inquired, he just shrugged.
“Better safe than sorry, the place is sealed of due to gravity field and life support malfunction” He continued, showing her the area on the 3D map display. “Only problem is you would need to be a human to wear one.”
“Is that all?” Luna asked, a delicate brow rose in amusement. “Trust me it won’t be an issue.” Cillen just sighed and shook his head.
“The medical equipment there only works on a human as well, but judging from that expression of yours…” Cillen went quiet for a moment, “Meh, you probably got that covered too.”
As they continued on, they both took a moment to examine their surroundings; it was dark and almost impossible to see without the light of the torch and the dim amount of light from the few that were flickering. The stench of blood and charred metal was heavy in the air, and from the looks of the walls…something had literally painted the walls red with the people stationed here.
“This is very bad, there’s probably a nest of the Memoria further on down the tunnels.” Cillen whispered, “Thousands of the fuckers crawling around the lowest levels from the looks of it.” He held the 3D map in front of him, pointing to the floor they were on. “We’re gonna have to be quiet…” Luna just nodded as they continued on their way to the outpost.
Cillen took point, being sure to take his time and check every inch of the tunnel as they progressed. The silence between them both was heavy as they pressed on, injured and tired doing their best not to make a noise.
“SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!” Cillen readied his weapon, as he heard the death cry echo from further down the tunnel from where they just came. Both of them froze as the noise was suddenly silenced, but to Cillen something felt wrong as he felt a wetness fall down his cheek.
“Cillen, are you alright…?” Luna asked, “You’re crying…” Cillen just dried his eyes with his sleeves.
“I…think another Memoria was just killed just now…” Cillen guess, “Probably killed by the weather outside.” Luna just looked at him concerned.
“What do you remember?” Luna asked dreading the answer.
“My mother, sister and Serena…” Cillen answered. “Let’s just get going…”
Not another word was spoken between them as they continued the long walk to the outpost; Luna could tell Cillen’s silence was his own way of mourning the loss of his now forgotten little brother. What Cillen was going through was just horrific, it was like some slow torture the fates seemed to be enjoying inflicting on him and they’ll most likely continue their sick game of picking apart his sanity until he begs for death.
“Luna…C’mon we’re here…” Cillen whispered in a soft quiet voice.
The outpost for the most part was still fully functional, and it had that odd scent of that stuff Cillen had used to keep the Memoria from tracking them. The outpost for the most part was a series of small to medium sized rooms suitable for five to six people.
“I’m going to grab a shower to clean my wounds, feel free to have a look around and get something to eat.” Cillen spoke. “I’ll get around treating yours once I’m done; you only have a few cuts and scratches.” He laughed bitterly, “From the looks of it I took most of the damage when we crashed.”
Luna was left alone once again, she did as Cillen suggested and had good look around. The Cafeteria seemed to be the largest of the rooms, and for the most part seemed tidy aside from the signs of people rushing out in a hurry. She wondered how Cillen knew about this place, and did he know the people here? She dismissed the thought as she continued looking throughout the outpost, but it was the same story in most of the rooms.
“By my sister this is horrible.” Luna muttered to herself, the state of the outpost was one thing but there was clear signs of people being dragged off to goodness knows where.
Cillen was right about one thing though, she would have to take a human form if they were to continue deeper into the tunnels. There was a brief glow in the room filled up with magic, her form slipped into something that was more suitable for the environment. She still had her injuries, and for the most part felt exhausted. She decided a shower would be a good idea right now…
Cillen for the most part remained silent as he treated and disinfected his own cuts, being careful not to cause himself anymore grief to his broken ribs. The water that sprayed from the shower calmed his stiff muscles and as he craned his own neck in an effort to ease some of the stress out of it.
Another of the Memoria had been killed, but it was another member of his family gone…practically erased from his own memory when it died. He wondered what he would do if he encountered the remaining three, but he quickly pushed those thoughts aside.
“Cillen…” A soft and familiar voice spoke.
Cillen turned around and immediately was rendered speechless by the sight in front of him; there stood a gorgeous raven haired, pale skinned nude woman. Her expressive blue eyes looked at him with a look of concern at Cillen’s apparent reaction. Cillen just got up, still silent and bearing an expression that made him look like he was looking at a ghost.
“…S-Serena!?” Cillen wasted no time in hugging the woman in front of him, “…O-oh thank god you’re alive!” The woman didn’t know how to respond to Cillen’s actions, as the man in front of her began to cry, “…I-I’m so sorry I left…please forgive me…p-please babe I’m so sorry I took off like that…”
“Cillen…I-I…” She was cut off by Cillen kissing her, the happiness, relief and the love in his voice in his earlier words rang throughout her mind. She didn’t want to do this to him, but the harsh reality had to come crashing down… “Cillen…It’s me, Luna…”
Cillen’s heart sank when he heard those words; he took a step back in the utter shock. He leaned against the nearest wall as he slid down into a sitting position, the world was fucking with him he was sure of it.
“L-Luna…? But…” Cillen stammered out confused and horrified, “…you look like my Serena…” Luna looked back in confusion and then down at herself, did she really look exactly like Serena. “…O-oh god…and I was just about to…”
Luna leaned down underneath the shower with Cillen, not sure of what to say to explain this to him.
“…” Cillen could say nothing, “Cillen…I’m sorry…I honestly didn’t know…” Luna spoke softly, “…Everything must seem like one big nightmare to you right now doesn’t it? And it’s one you can’t wake up from…”
“…” Again Cillen said nothing.
“…Please don’t hate me Cillen.” Luna whispered, “I don’t think I could bear it…” Luna felt wetness on her cheeks but she knew it wasn’t from the water cascading down from the shower. She felt Cillen’s hand gently turn her head to face him, his dark blue eyes hard and stern.
“…I don’t hate you Luna.” Cillen reassured her, “After the past few days together I don’t think I could anyway.” He gave her wry smile, “…I shouldn’t have reacted like that, not when I know Serena’s gone…” His smile fell, replacing his expression with one of loss and sorrow. “…But the likeness…even your personality…it’s downright scary…”
“…” Luna could say nothing; the blush was evident on both their cheeks. They could only both stare each other in the eyes, inching closer and closer. They were both soaked from head to toe from the hot water of the shower, both Luna and Cillen’s hair was drenched and clinging around their faces as they kissed. Cillen’s arms wrapping around Luna’s waist as she straddled him…
Somewhere in the back of both their minds, they both knew they needed this badly…even if they would never admit it to themselves…
When Cillen woke he felt for the most part a lot better than had done in weeks, he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since this nightmare began. He felt a weight next to him on his uninjured side, breathing softly and from the sounds of it content. He looked down at Luna’s sleeping form, she looked completely serene as she was now, letting out a small smile he decided he would letter stay like this for a little longer.
Cillen for his own part couldn’t believe that happened between them, and to be honest did he only allow it just because Luna looked like Serena, or was there something more between them now? Cillen debated this for few moments and decided it would be better off not questioning it at present, and enjoy what little comfort he could get on this god forsaken rock.
Cillen had been long since questioning his own sanity since he had to watch his family become those monsters and the memories that were missing since two had them were killed, to him it wasn’t a question of if he was going to die but rather would there be anything left of him by the end of it all. The saying ‘He who fights monsters’ briefly came to mind…
He had his own questions about these monsters, but he had a fair idea of what they were. In his own heart he knew that his loved ones were well and truly dead, and every time one of them died he would lose any memory of who they used to be. So to him it would only stand to reason that these creatures were their namesake…literally.
“Ignorance is bliss in its cruellest form…” He muttered to himself. Luna stirred a bit, slowly waking up as her bright blue eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him with a small content smile that was befitting of the princess of the moon; the sheets covering them both covered her small body. Luna gave Cillen soft kiss on his cheek.
“…How are you feeling?” She asked.
“Better…all things considered.” Cillen answered, his answer was true enough. “I admit, I haven’t slept that well in weeks.” Luna let out a giggle, which made Cillen raise a brow.
“I haven’t had anyone touch me like that in over a thousand years…” She admitted, Cillen was about to question but remembered the part about her being an immortal goddess. Her gaze turned serious for a moment. “I guess we should finish treating our wounds…” She told him as she got up, the bed sheets falling upon the floor. As she stood in the dim light of the sleeping quarters, Cillen had soon realised just how beautiful Luna actually was in her human form.
He had stated how frighteningly similar she was to Serena in appearance, but know that he had a clearer mind he could see a few more subtle differences; Luna’s body language was more…graceful while Serena’s was more…Harsh. He decided that would be the better term to describe it Luna didn’t have the experience of what life was like here before it all went down the drain. Cillen noted that Luna’s hair, while the same colour as Serena’s was slightly longer reaching down to her mid back. She was slightly smaller too give or a take an inch or two, creamy white legs that went into a very firm but curvy looking backside; Cillen personally thought was easily her best feature, if you didn’t count her eyes of course. Her breasts were small, for the most part he guessed around a C cup; Luna had a body worthy of a goddess, and if any of his friends were still alive he was sure they would be congratulating him on hitting the jackpot.
“Heh…” He let out a weak laugh, “For someone who is over a thousand years old, you don’t look a day over 22.” Luna just turned and laughed alongside him, vaguely remembering something her sister had told her…
“Well, you shameless flatterer if you play your cards right you might get another round.” Luna flirted shamelessly, as she left the room leaving Cillen with a look of utter shock on his face…
Cillen followed suit into the armoury of the outpost, Luna for the most part was looking through the available lockers for some clothing that would actually fit her; Cillen mused that he would be quite happy to admire that sexy backside of hers but they both had better and more important things to do at the present moment.
“Warning! Sentiment class threat in the outpost!” “Warning! Sentiment class threat in the outpost!”
“The hell?” Cillen spoke; a Memoria on its own was an Alpha class at the most, a Sentiment class threat was considered a global threat. “Computer is this threat outside?”
“Negative…” “Sentiment class threat is currently confined to the outpost…”
“Tch, lousy hunk of junk.” Cillen cursed, “Must have blown a sensor array…” Ignoring the computer’s warnings, he made his way towards an arming station at the end of the room making a motion for Luna to follow him.
The Arming station was open alcove in the wall upon a turn table; in the centre of the alcove was a human shaped indent for a person to step into. Cillen began typing something upon the key panel next to it.
“What are you doing?” Luna asked, as she watched Cillen scroll through what seemed to be a selection screen of various pieces of equipment.
“Preparing for the journey ahead…” He said simply, “This station is going to provide us both with the equipment to get us through the sealed area.” Cillen went quiet for a moment, “Hmm, it seems my own personal set up is still on record, which means the main server in Babel is still up and running.” He stepped into the alcove and told the computer to begin.
The alcove shut around him while Luna watched on in confusion, there was a thin beam of light traveling up and down before the metal doors opened up again. Cillen walked out now wearing a form fitting black full body suit with various pieces of equipment on the waist, lower legs and the left arm. Cillen began typing away on the interface on his left arm, and soon enough a replica of his hooded denim jacket, jeans, shirt and a black cloak like material around his right arm and belt manifested themselves over the body suit.
“Much better.” He said smiling; Luna just looked on shaking her head in disbelief.
“How is that supposed to get us through that sealed area?” She asked unamused, her answer was met with a mask like helm unfolding around Cillen’s head.
“I’d like to introduce you the Maintenance Division Survivalist Suit.” Cillen replied, “It has everything we need to survive and traverse a zero gravity environment with little to no life support.” Luna knew Cillen was grinning underneath that helmet, “It also has the tools required to repair any damaged gates we may come across and will tend to my broken ribs as we travel.”
“I suppose you have something else in mind for me?” Luna asked with a raised brow, “And skin tight I assume?”
“It’s skin tight for a reason, the body suit was designed to keep pressure equal to this planet’s gravity to avoid long term damage to the bodies muscle and skeleton in zero gravity environments.” Cillen explained, “Some of the rookies it the combat and maintenance divisions would often nickname it the ‘Zero Suit’ after some game they played as kids.”
Luna just gave Cillen an unamused glare and stepped into the alcove, the steel doors closing behind her as it began the process once again. A moment later the doors opened up and Luna walked out covered in a light blue suit with dark blue and black sections adorning her hips, bust and arms and legs with similar equipment Cillen had on his; Luna looked down at her new attire and stretched and moved her body to get used to the tightness of the suit.
She took note that it hugged every last curve of her body like a second skin, Cillen wolf whistled catching her attention.
“Alright I’m impressed, but how do I get something like you’re wearing?” Luna asked, Cillen said nothing and pointed to the blue button on her wrist mounted interface. Curious she pushed it…
“Gravity Enhancement Assist and Rescue Suit online…”
“…” Luna took a moment to compose herself, “Is this supposed to look this…fetishy?”
“I blame the guys at the R’n’D.” Cillen commented, “Despite how it looks, that suit is designed to withstand pretty much any sort of hazard, provide the maximum amount of flexibility, enhance physical strength and it also comes with a thin layer of shielding that will repel most small arms fire.” He explained, “For the most part, it’s pretty much power armour.”
“This suit did all that?” Luna thought looking impressed at Cillen’s explanation. “Well if all else fails I have my magic to back me up as well.”
“As long as it doesn’t set anything on fire then we’ll be fine.” Cillen told her, before Luna could ask why he just mouthed ‘boom’ and she quickly caught on to what he meant. Cillen picked up his rifle and the Betrayal, the latter of which wrapped itself around his right arm giving it a mechanical appearance.
Cillen brought up the map on the main display and showed her the sealed area.
“As I told you the area a head of us has had all power cut from it, meaning there is no gravity or life support. Giving what we are now equipped with we shouldn’t have any problem getting through,” He paused for a moment, “Unfortunately this means we have no idea what is in their waiting for us…” Cillen pointed to the area in question which was blacked out compared to the rest of the map which had various red dots indicating a single Memoria. “Power is cut off and can only be activated from a backup generator inside that area, which will be our first priority.”
“And if we run into any Memoria?” Luna asked.
“Betrayal apply the patch for the Memoria shielding frequency to our equipment.” Cillen ordered, both Cillen and Luna’s interface lit up confirming the patch was applied. “You sever the head or go for the heart, and make sure you kill them in one go.” Cillen warned, “I’m sure you can tear things apart with telekinesis or something, if not throw them into anything sharp and pointy.” Luna nodded at his suggestion. “Wouldn’t hurt to help yourself to a weapon, most of the stuff here is designed to use the Gravity Drive to propel ammunition instead of the more traditional methods used in most firearms.”
Luna searched through the remaining available weapons that were left in the lockers, she eventually came across a long silver coloured rifle that when she went examine it; two long wings opened up making the rifle reminiscent of a futuristic crossbow.
“A Gravity cannon?” Cillen looked impressed, “Nice choice, if you can’t kill them then pin them.” He laughed. Cillen motioned Luna to follow him out of the outpost, ignoring the computer’s warnings. Luna left first and waited for him outside, as he left the door behind him locked.
Inside the outpost the warning stopped…
“Situation normal, Sentiment class threat has left the outpost…systems shutting down.”
Into the Nightmares Beginning.
As Cillen and Luna walked down towards the sealed area, both cautious as they surveyed the area around them. The tunnel was getting darker as they progressed and getting larger with each step, Luna shivered a bit reminded of a nightmare long since passed. Cillen on the other hand as he scanned the area, there was extensive damage to the walls and ceiling most likely caused by the Memoria stalking around somewhere in the tunnel. A sense of unease came over them both, the damage was there, and the signs of a bloodbath were there…
“W-Where are all the bodies?” Luna asked nervously, “This place is nothing but a blood bath, but there’s no sign of any bodies.” Cillen put a hand on Luna’s shoulder to calm her down, before saying anything however he did note something was very off with situation.
“Luna please calm down…” He told her, “I’ve seen this sort of thing too many times before, this is the kind of damage Memoria do…” Cillen paused for a moment, which worried Luna. “You’re right there are usually remnants of the bodies from the people they transformed. This however is worrying, there’s no sign what-so-ever…” Cillen pointed to the ground lighting it up with his torch revealing claw prints engraved into the concrete and foot prints running the way they both just came. “From the looks of it both the Memoria and people here were running from something?”
“W-Why?!” Luna panicked.
“Good question…” Cillen responded, “But what I want to know is…What the hell could scare a Memoria?” Cillen took a few steps forward examining the tracks; he noticed some of the tracks from the humans fleeing had been dragged back into the deeper parts of the tunnel. Cillen brought up the 3D display on his wrist with a look of worry.
“What’s wrong?” Luna inquired.
“Something isn’t right about this…I’m going to see if we can take another route...” Cillen answered, “Memoria can shrug off pretty much anything unless you have their frequency like we do, what the hell could make a Memoria run? This is not good for us in the slightest.” A moment passed before Cillen swore profusely under his breath.
“…” Luna said nothing, gripping her weapon a little tighter.
“We’re stuck going this way, I guess they cut off life support and gravity in an effort to kill whatever it was that is in the sealed area.” Cillen said solemnly. “I guess we should get a move on then…” Luna just nodded, as they both continued onwards.
As they walked through the tunnel, the collateral damage from whatever had happened here became worse the closer they got to the sealed area. Whatever had happened here wasn’t of human design Cillen was sure of that and he has never seen any Memoria cause this much damage. The tunnel around them began to feel more…unnatural, organic, and alien and was quickly becoming unrecognisable of what the area previously was.
Both Luna and Cillen stopped dead in their tracks, they were witnessing something that should be was completely impossible…Various bits of rubble, debris and now unrecognisable vehicles were thrown into the air and frozen in place like statues. Cillen checked his wrist display which confirmed the gravity was still on in this area. Cillen and Luna looked at each other hoping the other would have an explanation but none came to mind.
“L-Let’s continue…” Cillen suggested, “I don’t think we want to be here any longer than we have to.” They pressed onwards, deeper into the tunnel towards the sealed areas entrance. Luna had to supress a scream when she realised what they were walking on was.
“L-Luna!!” Cillen cried, pointing his rifle at the spot Luna was staring at. He faltered when he realised what exactly had made Luna scream…
Below them both were countless tendrils writhing around embedded into the ground, twisting, pulsating and oozing from countless pores.
“Shit! Disengage the gravity!” He ordered his on-board computer. As Luna and Cillen began to float in mid-air due to the lack of gravity, jets of compressed air flared out as they were propelled towards the entrance.
“Luna get ready for anything!” He warned, “Whatever is waiting ahead of us is going to cause us big problems if we linger here too long! Betrayal! Slasher Mode!” The Betrayal morphed itself into a jagged edged blade in Cillen’s hand, the teeth roared into life like a chainsaw.
“I thought that could only transform into melee weapons?” Luna asked, trying to get her mind off the situation at hand.
“You’re right, but like I told you before any weapon the wielder has working knowledge of…” Cillen explained, “Meaning it will even take on the wielder’s skillset as well, I’m trained to repair various pieces of machinery so that knowledge is carried over to the Betrayal’s transformations.”
“Just what is that thing anyway?” Luna inquired, “Even in my own world we never had anything that could perform such a feat.”
“The R’n’D have been trying to figure that out for decades…” Cillen told her, “I vaguely remember them referring to it as an ‘Out of place artefact’ or something similar to that…”
“…Then that would mean it shouldn’t even exist yet!” Luna exclaimed, Cillen looked at the weapon in question with an expression of uncertainty.
“…They said the Betrayal got its name by killing everything that’s ever tried to wield it, some sort of curse from where they first discovered it.” Cillen answered.
“How did it go?” Luna urged.
“Be warned as this spear shall bring only destruction to memories lost to time and unworthy, when sentimental memories are lost only then will this spear bring its rightful heir’s true form…” Cillen recited, “…an eternal memory unfazed by time, erased from history who knows nothing but liberation.”
“Looks like we have some company a head of us…” Luna warned. “I guess there’s no going back now…” Cillen and Luna plunged into the sealed area, uncertain of what lay ahead.
Unknown to them this was only the beginning of the nightmare ahead…
The Cruel Nature of the World.
As the quietly drifted through the dark corridor, Cillen and Luna prepared themselves for what horrors awaited them. The deafening silence the reverberated throughout the air intensified; they passed by various pieces of debris, body parts too mangled to be recognisable and shredded pieces of clothing of the people that were here.
The tendrils on the floor pulsed and spread out across the walls and ceiling; Cillen could only imagine what kind of monster those things could belong to, Luna on the other hand was noticeably sickened by the sight of those tendrils and she tightened her grip around her weapon.
They both floated through the enclosed tunnel for what seemed like hours, neither one of them had so much as uttered a word to the other in fear of waking whatever was lurking down there with them. Cillen came to an abrupt halt with Luna soon stopping as well; he looked around for a moment, searching for some indication of something out of the ordinary.
“What’s wrong Cillen?” Luna asked, uncertain if she really wanted to know. Cillen froze and shone a light in the direction he was looking.
Where the light shone was the remains of a woman; her clothes shredded and face warped in a disfigured manner. She was attached to the wall by her legs and arms, ensnared in the countless tendrils and they looked like they were forced into the woman’s body via her mouth and more intimate areas. Where her clothes were shredded the woman’s breast were swollen to the point of bursting and her stomach and ribcage looked like something had torn its way out of her.
“I think I’m going to be sick…” Cillen muttered to himself. He looked around to see countless other bodies in the same position, “It’s not just women either…but men, children and I can see a few Memoria as well…”
“What manner of a monster would commit such an atrocity?” Luna stated, before looking back at the woman’s mutilated corpse. “…better yet I don’t want to know…”
“…” Cillen just nodded in agreement, “I don’t know what’s worse…the fact these people died in such a grotesque and horrific manner or that there’s something in here that can do that to a Memoria…”
Cillen motioned Luna to follow into a nearby corridor. Unlike the rest of the tunnel this lead down wasn’t covered in those tendrils, Cillen walked engaged his suits gravity drive and landed firmly on the ground with Luna following suit.
“There should be a power room around here somewhere down this corridor.” Cillen informed her, “I’ve also set our radios to silent for now, so we can communicate without being heard by anything…unwanted.” Luna was sure that was wise idea, but what she had just bore witness to…was beyond horrifying. “You okay Luna?” He asked.
“That has got to be the most sickening thing I have ever seen in my whole life.” Luna commented, “Never in all my time on Eques…” Cillen stopped dead in his tracks, Luna’s last comment catching his attention.
“What did you say your home world was called again?” Cillen asked.
“Eques…why do you ask?” Luna asked back, “Equestria is a country on my own world.” Cillen didn’t know how to answer her, he was afraid of how she might react.
“Luna…” He started, “That’s the name of this world…” Luna looked at him in disbelief.
“How could you say such a thing?!” Luna shouted at him, “Even if that were true my sister wouldn’t all such monstrosities to lurk around her kingdom!” Luna shook her head, “If what you say is true then prove it!”
“Well for one, humans aren’t originally from this world as our own was destroyed when the sun went supernova.” Cillen explained, “And two…your sister wouldn’t happen to be large winged, white alicorn with a prismatic mane by any chance?”
Luna just stared at him, something was wrong to her, very wrong.
“W-where are the rest of my kind?” Luna stammered out, “P-please…tell me!”
“…I don’t know.” Cillen said solemnly, “When my race first arrived here there was nothing but ruins and that was over a hundred thousand years ago…from what I know about this world’s history they were wiped out by some entity called dark matter.”
“M-my home…” Luna sobbed, “M-m-my family, all of it gone…all because of that damned…” She trailed off as she broke into sobs, as the reality of it all came crashing down on her.
“L-Luna…please…” Cillen pleaded, “What happened?”
“T-the moon…” She said in between sobs, “The one that has appeared in this world…” Cillen understood what this meant. “T-the creature inside the moon…I-I tried to defend my home, but the E-elements of Harmony…and the C-crystal heart…destroyed and even with the nightmare’s power…I-I couldn’t do anything!!”
“…” Cillen said nothing.
“T-the moon…I-it called itself…D-dark Matter.” Luna said in between sobs. Something inside Cillen snapped…
“…Our home, our families and friends…” Cillen muttered angrily, a dark black aura beginning to envelop him, as the pressure in the room began to shoot up. Luna could hardly breathe from the sheer pressure he was giving off from the aura around him.
“C-Cillen…please you’re…hurting me!” Luna cried out. The pressure and aura went as quickly as it came, as Cillen snapped out of his rage.
“L-Luna…I’m sorry…” Cillen stammered out, “I-I…didn’t mean…” They both remained silent for a moment, Cillen waited for Luna to compose herself before heading back down the corridor to find the power room. Cillen remained quiet, as he contemplated what to do next…
“Even if I find a way to send her back…” He thought bitterly, “She would most likely die along with the rest of her kind…there must be away to stop all that from happening.”
“You know fine well what kind of power that would require Raines!” A stern voice whispered in the back of his mind, but Cillen just ignored his own thoughts.
“Luna…” Cillen paused, “Is there a way to send you back to your own time?” Luna just shook her head no.
“There is away but even with the Elements it would only send me back for a few minutes at most…” Luna told him, “We would have to find another way to do so…”
“I know of one…” Cillen said uncertain. “…but it’s a longshot at best.”
“What is it Cillen,” Luna asked,
“Remember what I told you about the Betrayal…how it was an Out Of Place Artefact?” Cillen asked her, Luna just nodded in confirmation. “It’s not a human made weapon…it never was…” Luna just stared at him in disbelief, “The only thing my kind knows about this weapon is that it’s not made by any technology we possess…and that it’s over a hundred thousand years old…”
“I-I don’t quite follow Cillen…” Luna replied, unsure of what he was getting at.
“We also found four others…or rather what little evidence of them that remains…” Cillen told her, “Including the Betrayal Spear, there was also evidence of weapons known as the Deceiver’s Hammer, the Avarice Blade, the Cruel Mark, and the Sorrow’s Dirge.”
“B-but that would mean…” Luna stammered, “…Where are they now…and where’s the Sixth?” Cillen shook his head and shrugged.
“I don’t know, the Betrayal Spear was the only one they found Luna.” Cillen answered, “The rest were discovered but they just vanished the same night they were found…There isn’t any record of a sixth…”
Luna said nothing and walked on down the corridor…
Shall Reveal the Insanity of Science.
After an hour of traveling down the corridor, Luna silently wondered if she would ever be able to return home. Upon the realisation that she had been thrown into Equestria’s future, a future for all intents and purposes shouldn’t have even happened in the first place…at least in her own opinion. Luna held no contempt for Cillen or his own race for making Equestria for their own home, she briefly wondered how her sister would handle this situation.
“How do you do it?” Luna asked, not sure if she was muttering herself or asking a question.
“Do what?” Cillen asked over their suits intercom.
“How do you manage to stay sane in all that’s happened?” Luna continued, “How can you cope that your entire home and everything you love is gone?” Her voice was laced with sorrow.
“…” Cillen wasn’t sure how to answer; it never really occurred to him how he had maintained his own sanity so far. “I wonder that myself sometimes, I’ve come too close to losing it so many times now I’ve lost count.”
“The Memoria?” Luna wondered,
“Yes…” Cillen answered, “Despite what they are, in the end they are still family and loved ones.” Luna took a moment to ponder this.
“Even with this in mind you still despise them…” She inquired, wondering how Cillen was going to answer this.
“I despise the monsters they are, not who they used to be…” Cillen explained, “The only reason I’ve been killing them in such a brutal manner is that the normal methods barely hurt them, I had my way I would rather give them a quick painless death…”
“Even knowing that you’ll lose all the memories you had of them…” The finality of Luna’s statement felt like a sword in Cillen’s heart.
“…” Cillen remained quiet.
“Cillen, is this why you’re going to destroy Eques?” Luna asked, “Because you believe it to be some form of cruel mercy...Is our home really not worth saving?”
“It isn’t that it isn’t worth saving Luna, it’s because there’s nothing left to save.” Cillen told her, “I’m not the hero here, and even if I was I can’t save everyone. When you agreed to travel with me I never expected you to agree with some of the decisions I would have to make.”
“But…” Luna spoke before Cillen stopped her.
“But nothing Luna.” He said gently, “We’ve both done everything we possibly could to save our home; you know that better than I do, you fought tooth and nail to protect everything you ever loved.”
“But even so I still failed…” Luna replied sadly.
“You’re still alive Luna and because of that fact alone you haven’t failed.” Cillen said reassuringly, “As long as you’re alive you can’t fail.”
“So how do you do it?” Luna replied,
“…Luna, I’m constantly trying to keep myself from going insane.” Cillen answered, “Day by day I lose it a little bit more because of the things I’ve seen and done. If I was any other time I would have lost it by now…Serena used to tell me: that no matter what happens. Think about what is important to you and let that give you the strength to go on.”
“…” Luna remained silent, contemplating what Cillen had just said.
“There are only two reasons I’m sane right now Luna…” Cillen paused a moment before continuing, “One part of it is the sheer utter refusal to let those monster get away with what they’ve done, and the other is…you Luna, it’s the little talks like this helps me calm down and reminds me of what it means to be human.”
“You really mean that?” Luna asked bewildered.
“I’m not the type of person who says things like that lightly Luna.” Cillen stated before stopping outside a massive wire gate. “This is what we’re looking for, inside should be the power room…”
“I have a bad feeling about this…” Luna muttered, feeling a familiar shiver down her spine.
“Good…” Cillen commented, “Because once we restore the power, the end gate will open in the tunnel we came in from, along with life support and artificial gravity…and it’ll most likely wake whatever is lurking down here up…” Luna didn’t miss the deadpan tone in his voice.
“Worried about what we saw back there?” Luna asked, but was answered by the sound of Cillen’s rifle being readied.
As they opened the gate and entered, Cillen shone the light of his torch into the dark room checking for any signs of damage. Sighing at the sight before them, Luna wondered what Cillen was looking for.
“What’s wrong?” She asked, confused at exactly they were looking at.
“Signs of damage, but it’s odd…” Cillen answered, pointing to one of the generators which looked rusted and worn beyond all repair. “ Damage like that takes decades to form, and it’s a standard routine to perform a maintenance check at least three times a week on a generator such as that.” Cillen walked closer, and began looking around the scrapped generator. “Hm…I could understand it being shut off after overheating, but this has clearly been left to rust.” Cillen cleared some of the scrapped metal around it. “This is a newer model too, according to this panel this generator was installed over six months ago.”
“What could cause it to rust this quickly?” Luna wondered,
“Nothing natural, that’s for certain…” Cillen frowned, shining his torch on the other three generators in the room. “Two more are in a similar condition but the remaining one looks untouched.”
“Judging from what we are seeing, do you think whatever is down here can manipulate time?” Luna wondered, wondering if that was indeed possible.
“It’s a possibility, but that aside I can get enough power going to open the far gate, and get life support in up in a couple of areas.” Cillen noted, “But like I said it will most likely attract some unwanted attention…”
“What do you think?” Luna asked,
“I’d rather not wake it up to be honest; pardon my language here but this thing scares Memoria and that alone states it shouldn’t be fucked with.”
Cillen set about making the repairs, after few moments of silence aside from the various clinks and clanks of the generators parts as they were looked over, took apart, repaired and put back together. Luna leaned on upon the corner of the entry way keeping one eye on the corridor they came down.
“Ha-Hah!” Cillen declared triumphantly, as the power generator sprang back into life with an audible hum. “From the looks of it, the problem was a few out of place and misplaced parts. Not too uncommon, but it does suggest it was a quick work around…” Luna watched on as Cillen muttered on about various technological problems that went over her head.
“So…is the gate open now?” Luna asked dumbfounded, “I hate to sound a little ignorant but I can’t understand what you’re saying…” Cillen snapped out of his train of thought, and gave stared at Luna as if she had grown an extra head.
“…Didn’t you have stuff like this in Equestria?” Cillen asked, just as dumbfounded as Luna was. “Surely you must have had some sort of technology like this?” Luna shrugged her shoulders in response.
“As far as I was aware, if Equestria did have such machines I never got around to learning about them…a thousand years is a lot of history to catch up on…” Luna explained, Cillen just shook his head as he walked over to the generator control panel, “The majority of things pony kind was mainly done with magic.”
“…I see.” Cillen said in acknowledgement, “Humans can’t do anything like you can, at least not without some sort of technology to give them that ability.” Luna looked confused for a moment.
“Is this like how you can defy gravity?” She asked, pointing at his boots.
“Yeah, everything we humans have accomplished is partly due to the technology we possess and developed over the years.” Cillen explained, “Sadly though, the majority of the time we have a major technological advancement is usually in great times of need.”
“That sounds…unusual.” Luna commented, “Surely you must have some abilities similar to ours naturally?”
“Not really, you’d be surprised that when we first came to Eques we couldn’t even breathe the air here, and the gravity is so low here that Humankind has to wear a full body suit to keep the pressure on our bodies to prevent lasting damage.” Cillen explained, “Though I’d imagine we would eventually evolve and adapt to the environment here…eventually.”
“if you couldn’t breathe the air here how can you survive when we were back in the ruined city a few days ago?” Luna inquired.
“We terraformed the planet: making the atmosphere similar to our home world Earth.” Cillen said simply, “Though the gravity remains an issue though, but eventually we developed technology to take advantage of that.”
Cillen began typing in a command on the screen of the control panel, and within a moment the lights in the room flickered back into life. A dull hiss echoed throughout the room as the air was purified of the poisonous gasses in the air.
“That’s odd…” Cillen muttered, examining the screen. “According to this there was traces of insecticide in the air, probably a last ditch attempt to kill the Memoria in the tunnel and whatever else is down here.” Luna took a moment to look around the newly lit room, before long she spied a small tablet like screen flickering underneath some of the rubble.
“Cillen, I think I found something.” Luna exclaimed, Cillen looked over at the device as Luna picked it up and handed it to him. “Could it be something important?”
Cillen said nothing as he tampered with various icons on the screen, Luna gazed over his shoulder to make out what was written but it only served to confuse her.
“What language is that?” She asked, “I can’t understand any of it.”
“It’s plain English, you’ve been speaking it the entire time but you can’t read it?” Cillen inquired.
“I’ve been speaking in Equestrian, not English…” Luna stopped for a moment, “Then how can we understand one another?” Cillen stopped and thought for a moment.
“Most likely a due to you being an Out of Place Artefact yourself, from what I gather the Betrayal seems to recognise you.” Cillen guessed, “I honestly think you had some connection to in the past.” Luna considered the idea, but decided to save the question for later.
“So what does it say then?” She asked, Cillen just smiled underneath his mask like helmet and pushed a button on the screen. A hologram appeared above the device, it wasn’t a clear image as most of the hologram was static.
“Is the test subject ready?” a disembodied voice asked, there a moment of silence, “Good…good, how was she infected?” another pause, “Ah I see not long after her partner made off to the south facility.” A man in a white research coat appeared as the image cleared slightly, “We have the DNA from the Queen sample? Good now inject her with it and keep her under stasis.”
Cillen and Luna both shared a look of disgust, before continuing…
The scene changed to depict a slender framed woman, her features remained obscured by the recording as it focused on the two of the researchers.
“Do think this project will be able to create a Sentiment?” One asked, the other shrugged at his collegue.
“Don’t know but hopefully it could yield some interesting results, all we know that there are seven other Sentiments in existence right now, I mean that spear isn’t even human in origin. It’s killed everyone who has tried to wield it so far.” The other spoke, “I swear that thing is sentient!”
“But think of the possibilities!” The former spoke up, “Harnessing this kind of technology would be let us advance our own civilisation by thousands of years.”
“You heard the rumours though?” his comrade interrupted, “If we create a Sentiment, the others will take notice!”
“What with those creatures on the loose?” He scoffed, “It’s only a matter of time one shows up…”
“MAKE IT STOP!!!” The restrained woman screamed, “MAKEITSTOP! MAKEITSTOP! MAKEITSTOP!” both researchers were blown away by the tendrils erupting from the woman’s body, ensnaring them as the invaded every orifice on their bodies. “HE’LL KILL US ALL! HE’S COMING TO KILL US ALL! STOP HIM! STOP HIM! WE HAVE TO STOP HIM!” The tendrils encroached on out the door as the woman continued screaming. “WE HAVE TO EVOLVE! HAVE TO STOP HIM! KILL HIM! ERASE HIM! THE SENTIMENT IS COMING! DEATH IS COMING! WE HAVE TO STOP HIM!”
Cillen and Luna looked confused at the woman’s ramblings...
“MUST FEED! COMSUME! EVOLVE! THE MEMORIES SENTIMENT IS COMING! CI….LEN…SAVE…ME! MAKEITSTOP! MAKEITSTOP! RAAAAAINNNNNNEEESSSS!!!!!”
The video feed cut off there…Leaving a sense of dread across Cillen’s face.
View Online
Awakening the Sentiments of the past and future
Luna got up and began pacing, deep in the thought of the woman’s panicked words. She looked in Cillen’s direction, who seemed to be wearing a blank expression underneath the his help and hood.
“That woman kept mentioning something about a Sentiment.” Cillen spoke calmly, “I’ve heard the term mentioned before in the historical records and my sister mentioned it once or twice, but she would never elaborate on what a Sentiment was…”
Luna paused for a moment, wondering how to explain.
“A Sentiment is a being of unimaginable power, each embody a remnant of a living being created to protect a specific part of the Omniverse from these creatures.” She explained, “Before you even say anything about this ‘Memories Sentiment’ that woman mentioned I have no clue of who the identity of that Sentiment is. All I know about these Sentiments is that they don’t age, are powerful enough to keep beings like myself and creatures like the Memoria in check, and trying to freeze them in time doesn’t even affect them.”
Cillen looked onwards, thinking about his sister and the research she was involved in. He got up and began to walk down the corridor on the opposite end of the room.
“I’m going to check out where this containment cell is, I don’t know what they were trying to accomplish here but I intend to find out.” Cillen looked back at Luna, “I would advise watch yourself in here, because we’re being watched by that…thing from the recording.”
Cillen and Luna made their way carefully down twisting hallways; Cillen noted the wrecked walls, clearly torn into pieces as if it were nothing but paper and whatever was left of the research and security staff.
“Tch…they look like they were drained and eaten from the inside out.” He commented, “These poor fools…didn’t deserve this….” Cillen felt a brief remorse wash over him, but it quickly faded as he focused again at the task at hand.
Peering around a corner Cillen scanned the dark room a head, carefully making his way into a thick miasma that seemed to fill the room. A low pained growl could be heard; Luna and Cillen raised their weapons at the source of the sound.
Trapped behind a wall of rubble lay a Memoria chained down, crucified and critically injured as it was missing the lower half of its body.
“...Well I was beginning to wonder when you would show your nerve monster!” The creature spoke, eyes narrowed. “Picking us off one by one as if we are some sort of animal you hunt for sport!”
“I was beginning to wonder where you disappeared to.” Cillen said coldly, “The last time I saw you was a month ago.” The Memoria snarled, hissed and shrieked in response. It’s eyes never left Cillen for a second.
“Don’t talk to me as if you’re my equal, a monster in the making that’s what you are!” “You have the same look as that woman they brought here…those fools and their so called ‘Sentiment’.”
“A Sentiment here?” Luna wondered.
“Bah, those fools unleashed a monster inside that woman. By now it should have evolved into something as dangerous as an alpha.” “The Memoires Sentiment is coming indeed…”
“I’m only going to ask once….” Cillen warned as he aimed his rifle at the creatures head, “Who is that woman that creature used to be?”
“Is that any way to talk to your own mother Raines?” “I see, you’ve killed two of the others…” “and with each one…the woman was right, the Memoires Sentiment is coming…”
“Answer my question….Who was she!?” Cillen roared in anger.
“Why don’t you check the cell behind you…?”
The remnants of the cell was a wreck; a clear testament of the creatures strength and madness. The gashes and blood spatter was abundant across the walls and floor, with remnants of clothing here and there.
“Giving what I am, even a Memoria like myself wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
“…Shut up!” Cillen whispered quietly, his tone ice cold.
“Cillen please calm down.“ Luna pleaded, “Getting angry won’t solve anything.”
“….I-I know,” Cillen replied.
Something caught the attention of Luna, shimmering in the dim light of room was a small locket. It was heart shaped or rather it seemed to be half of one as if it was made fit another piece.
“Do you recognise this Cillen?” Luna asked as she turned to see Cillen’s horrified face. His hands were shaking as he reached out to take the locket.
“….S-Serena…” Cillen choked out.
In a brief moment everything was frozen in place as it was engulfed in a bright flash of light. Cillen looked around him and examined his surroundings; there was nothing but endless white with occasional black water like droplets rising from the ground.
“So…My heir has finally come…” A tomboyish voice called out,
Cillen looked for the source of the voice, only to again find nothing around him. He could feel a unearthly presence around him but he couldn’t tell where.
“W-who’s there?” Cillen panicked, “Where am I?”
“…” In a flash of light, a small winged horse like figure clad in armour that stood around halve of Cillen’s height. “We stand in a Lane of Memory, Element of Betrayal. I am the Sentiment of Loyalty or rather what is left of her.”
“…?” Cillen said nothing as the Sentiment in front of him continued her speech.
“The very fact you stand here before me…means you are the very last of your kind and are true owner of the Betrayal. I must say that weapon has been waiting for you for a very long time, but I digress it would also mean the Memoria are plaguing your world as well.” The Sentiment spoke.
“Hold on if you’re a Sentiment, why didn’t you stop the Memoria!?” Cillen shouted angrily. Cillen was sent flying back by a hurricane wind.
“Don’t you dare take that tone with me, Betrayer!” The Armoured Pegasus roared back. Cillen just readied his weapon in response, his mask removed and hood up covering his features in its shadow. The Sentiment took flight, “Bring it on Betrayer! This will be your trial! Take up your mantle and show me your power as the Memories Sentiment!”
They both dashed forward, Cillen swung the Betrayal down upon, cutting against the tough armour of the Mare. The Sentiment knocked back Cillen’s blow as if it was nothing, kicking him in the chest launching him into the air. As the Sentiment of Loyalty began a follow up attack, Cillen aimed his rifle square into the armoured chest of the Mare, pulling the trigger and sending the Sentiment back into the ground.
“Look at you?” The Sentiment mocked, “Do you really think you’d have a real chance against me? Nothing can keep up with my speed!”
“Betrayal! Liberation Mode!” The Betrayal unfurled itself and began to wrap itself around Cillen’s arms and legs becoming a pair of gauntlets and greaves, “We’ll see about that once I beat the answers out of you!”
The two charged at each other once again, clashing into each other as Cillen’s fist came into contact with the Sentiment’s helm at inhumane speeds, cracking it from the force of the blow. A Loud thunk echoed as the Sentiment countered with a punch of her own, knocking Cillen back a few metres.
The Sentiment took to the skies in sound breaking speeds, releasing a multi coloured shockwave as she broke the sounds barrier. The sheer raw force blow Cillen into the air as the Mare intended to bring the very sky upon him, tackling him at speeds that exceeded Mach Ten they both crashed into the ground.
“W-What I…I missed?” The Sentiment gasped, before being sent flying by Cillen. The Sentiment caught a glimpse of once blue eyes that now shone a brilliant gold.
“Tell me did you forget where you were aiming?” Cillen asked, “Or rather did you forget what you called me? What was it now…ah that’s right, you called me the Memories Sentiment.”
“I see…” The Mare answered back, “Liberation has already begun…each sentiment has absolute control of one particular thing, in my case it’s what I did best in life but you…have absolute control of memory in any shape or form.”
“…” Cillen said nothing and remained silent.
“But heed this Memories Sentiment, this power comes at price and it is one you can’t avoid paying.” Everything vanished in a flash of light leaving Cillen back in the room with Luna and the Memoria.
Into the Heart of Disaster.
Youtube Video
As they entered the edge of the valley, Cillen suddenly stopped the HARDFRAME; as it skidded to a halt he took a moment to look around through the sensor array. It was calm and quiet…unnaturally so. The black clouds covering the night sky, Cillen just stared at the pitch black storm clouds as if he was expecting something.
“Cillen, what’s wrong?” Luna asked.
“We’re about to enter the Valley.” He answered her, “From this point onwards we won’t be able to use the HARDFRAME’s on board weapon systems.”
“Why?” She inquired, “Wouldn’t that leave us vulnerable?”
“In any other circumstances yes, “He replied, “The Memoria are still chasing after us, but they would have to go underground to get past the valley. As I already told you this place is filled with unnatural sentient Tornados and Hurricanes, and once they get wind of us every one them will come hunting us down until we get to a tunnel at the heart of the valley; from there on we’re travelling on foot through the tunnel. These tornados and hurricanes clock in at speeds exceeding Mach 5, to get through above ground we would have to be travelling twice that otherwise we would get torn apart.” Cillen explained, “One of my modifications to this HARDFRAME was to overclock the Over Boost, but doing so would drain the remaining energy of the HARDFRAME.”
“I see…” Luna acknowledged, “Just do what you have to Cillen.”
“You might want to hold on tight.” Cillen warned her, “This is going to be rough couple of hours.” Luna hugged Cillen tighter.
The HARDFRAME lowered itself into a stance like Olympic athlete would before the start of a race, both of its feet embedded into the ground for better footing.
“Engage Gravity Drive!” Cillen ordered the on board computer. Various bits of loose rubble and stone began to float into the air from the lack of gravity. “Engage Over Boost at 200% power!” The Boosters flared into life, scorching the earth behind the HARDFRAME. “Power 300%.” The HARDFRAME began to grip into the ground, causing it to crack as the boosters output tripled in size, heat and thrust. “FIRE! VANGUARD OVER BOOST!”
The HARDFRAME shot off in an instant, a loud thunderous boom that echoed throughout the valley as it broke the sound barrier in seconds. Anything that would have been caught in the take-off would have been incinerated in a fraction of a second.
Even with Gravity Drive on, they both felt the force of travelling at Mach 10. Without the Gravity Drive they would have been crushed from the force of the take-off, as they sped through the valley the storm clouds roared to life. The savage winds began spinning down in nature’s full fury, pursing them relentlessly and tearing the very ground apart. Five hurricanes became ten, then twenty; every single one of them howled with bloodlust that wouldn’t satisfied until they tore the HARDFRAME and its occupants apart.
Tornados crashed down in an attempt to intercept them and cut off their route, but with the HARDFRAME’s sheer speed it wove in between each one in an act of defiance. Angered by this act the skies rained down lightning, each boom of thunder roared throughout the valley signifying its dissatisfaction and anger towards the two trespassers.
This continued for hours; the ducking, weaving and the angry primal roars and howls of nature. Hurricanes and Tornados came at them by the hundreds, as the sky drenched the earth with gods own lightning, and the rubble of countless torn up mountains that formerly populated the region.
They had to keep pushing forward as there was no looking back: they had to succeed, they needed to succeed, and they will succeed. Everything was riding on getting through this enormous valley of death. Cillen could see a glimpse of the tunnel ahead of them miles away.
The ground shook around them as it cracked, tearing itself apart becoming a chasm in one last final act to stop them. Collision warning flared up in the pilot slot of the HARDFRAME, Cillen did his best to weave in and out to avoid the very earth collapse on them as it tried to swallow them whole. A few more miles was all that was needed, The HARDFRAME’s remaining arm collided with the chasm wall tearing off the HARDFRAME as it crashed about the chasm before finally exploding behind them.
“LUNA! BRACE YOURSELF!” Cillen roared, “GRAVITY DRIVE FULL POWER! OVER BOOST 500%!” The HARDFRAME increased its speed to Mach 15, the thrust output tripling in size as the sheer speed the HARDFRAME was travelling was beginning to tear it apart piece by piece.
As the remnants of the HARDFRAME crashed and tumbled into the ground as it finally entered into the promised safety of the tunnel, the force of the crash knocked them both unconscious as they slammed into the tunnel wall. The tunnel entrance collapsed sealing them in, preventing them from going back the way they came.
Cillen and Luna were both unconscious and injured, but alive thanks to the HARDFRAME’s Gravity Drive. They wouldn’t wake for a few more hours yet.
