Fiction:An Echo of Ruin

 · · · ·= "Good things come to those who wait."
 * -|• • OVERRIDE LOCKDOWN • •=
 * -|• • OVERRIDE LOCKDOWN • •=

- Human proverb The shuttle touched down slowly, barely disturbing the rocks below it. It was not long before its pilot stepped off the boarding ramp, adorned in a space suit seemingly twice as grimy as the moon's barren surface. Above, rays of sunlight crept over the horizon of an immense gas giant. The moon itself was littered with craters, some natural, others not. A storm was building on the hoizon, almost echoing the battles that had been fought here centuries before. The pilot who was now climbing down the side of a nearby crater was a young Lommakkian, the markings on their space suit indicating that they were a member of the Mpilenhle dynasty. They ended their descent some distance from the center of the crater, lifting several loose rocks beneath them to an opening - the blast that created this crater had torn into some form of underground facility. Reattaching their climbing equipment to their space suit, the Lommakkian crawled inside. The room was strewn with rocks and debris, and its walls and ceiling had begun to decay. Several doors had been ripped open, now barely visible under the dust that carpeted the floor. What lay beyond was shrouded in darkness. The Lommakkian took out a flashlight, heading towards one of the passageways. It was not long before they found themselves in another room, less cluttered than the first, but for the most part identical. Something clattered behind them, and they spun around in surprise. Lommakkian - "There's no need to sneak up on me like that." The figure that now stood before the Mpilenhle was also Lommakkian, clad in an intimidating suit of armour interwoven with elaborate robes; the attire of an Arbiter. Arbiter - "You should be more aware of your surroundings, Sifiso of Mpilenhle." Sifiso- "It's this place. Everything about it unnerves me." Arbiter - "That is to be expected. That which we face is... potent." Sifiso- "That's why you're here, is it not, Arbiter Nkosingiphile?" Nkosingiphile - "My orders come from the highest authority. The Archpriest himself. Do you understand our purpose here?" Sifiso- "The briefing was ambiguous at best." Nkosingiphile - "Very well. This fortress was constructed during the Hyperspatial Revolution, and served as the primary store of supplies for the discordant known as Unathi. A former Arbiter of the Singularity." Sifiso- "I've never heard of him." Nkosingiphile - "And you shall endeavour to keep it that way. Unathi experimented with tainted power, believing that he could prolong his own life indefinitely. The Singularity was forced to take action. He fell here, as his fortress and fleet were burnt to ash." Sifiso- "You quarantined the moon. It doesn't appear on an known records." Nkosingiphile - "Precisely. But a number of arbiters have sensed something stirring here." Sifiso- "And we've been sent to find it." Nkosingiphile - "We have been sent to destroy it." Sifiso- "I see. Where do we start." Nkosingiphile - "This place already feels... familiar to me. We must go down." It did not take long for the pair to locate a turbolift shaft. The doors had already been torn open, and they were soon climbing down. Leaving the shaft at the lowest floor, they found themselves in a large chamber. Unlike the interior of the uppermost level, this room was built out of stone. A row of pillars on each side of the room supported a heavily ornamented ceiling. At the end, a large set of doors. Nkosingiphile - "Proceed with caution." The pair were barely halfway across the room when the Arbiter came to a sudden halt. Before Sifiso could speak, Nkosingiphile threw him to the side, a beam of energy passing through the space that he had been occupying moments before. Behind them, a barely functional drone began to recharge its weapon, lit only by the glow of its visor. The Arbiter did not hesitate to draw a jagged sword, leaping at the drone and splitting it in half. Getting back on his feet, Sifiso looked at her in confusion. Sifiso- "How did you know?" Nkosingiphile - "I felt it. I know not how." Sifiso- "Somehow, that's more concerning than comforting. Let's move quickly." Behind the doors was a set of corridors leading in five directions. Nkosingiphile chose one and strode forwards briskly. As they moved deeper into the complex, a cry for help could be heard in the distance. Nkosingiphile - "But... that shouldn't be possible." Sifiso- "Whoever that is couldn't have survived since the attack. Perhaps the Singularity sent someone else to investigate?" Nkosingiphile - "No. That cry - I've heard it before." Sifiso- "You heard it before? Where?" Nkosingiphile - "Here." Sifiso- "What do you mean?" The Arbiter didn't respond. Instead, she began to walk forwards again, rapidly picking up pace. The crying grew louder; soon, they arrived at a heavy-looking door, plain but for a single window. Another Lommakkian stood behind it. Lommakkian - "I've been waiting for you." Nkosingiphile - "What have you done?" Lommakkian - "I gave you another chance, my friend. I see you used it well." The Lommakkian turned to Sifiso. Lommakkian - "So you must be Sifiso of Mpilenhle. Nkosingiphile here told me all about you." He smiled. Sifiso- "Who are you? When did you speak with the Arbiter?" Lommakkian - "Now, now, little Mpilenhle. Let's not be too hasty. Let me go and I'll answer your questions." Nkosingiphile - "Don't do it." Lommakkian - "Silence. You have proven yourself to be useless to me, and are no longer my concern." The Lommakkian turned back to Sifiso. Lommakkian - "If you open this door, you need not fear me. You know I speak the truth." Sifiso glanced at the door's control panel.

There was no turning back now.