Prologue
"Hold Fast!" The captain shouted to his crew, attempting to make out individuals though the heavy downpour. The North Star had been on it's way to a friendly port for repair when the storm had descended upon them out of nowhere, blinding and deafening the crew of the battle cruiser. The pegsai were attempting to clear away the storm clouds, but where they would clear the sky even a little bit, more storm clouds would roll in, with barely a pause in the rain.
"Where in the name of Celestia did this storm come from, sir?" The first mate asked, appearing out of the rainy gloom.
"Not sure, and I don't like this." The captain said, scanning the stormy skyline.
"Aye, doesn't seem natural, I'm worried about what this storm could me-" The first mate's thought was interrupted by a scream piercing the gloom.
"That can't be good." The captain murmured, attempting to ascertain the location of the scream, then another scream echoed, and another, and another.
"On guard sir." the first mate said, putting his back to the captain's as more and more screams rang through the storm.
"Aye, weapons at the ready, first mate." The captain said, before issuing a mental command to his battle harness to unsheathe his E-42, his eyes continually scanning his surroundings. That's when he noticed hunched forms, all around them, shuffling toward them through the downpour.
"Hold there!" The captain shouted, summoning as much metal as he could into his voice. The forms did not take heed of his command and continued their advance.
"We're surrounded, sir." the first mate grunted.
"I can see that Mr. First Mate. Take Aim."
They didn't have the chance to when a whistling sound caught their attention right before the first mate fell with a shout of surprise. The captain quickly whipped his head around, to see the first mate writhing in agony, with what appeared to be a very sharp, jet black gem sticking out of his side. That's when the captain felt a flying gem pierced his side, and he too fell in a flash of pain. As he fell, he heard many otherworldly screeches of what had to be victory and he saw the forms quickly pick up speed, going in for the kill. The captain squeezed his eyes shut tight and hoped that it'd be quick. And, mercifully, it was.
