The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp, now chasing ghost, as he tries to stay one step ahead of the Priestess, and find the answers to how to get rid of the spark Gadamrie placed inside of him.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, as well as existing across multiple realities, the High Priestess Dankika is her daughter, and the President, Balmires, her father, using Zander Kane like a chess piece, to rid the realities of her fledgling daughter, so she and her father can rule once more.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties lie with the federation, undercover within the collective, Salidazar has become a vital piece of Dankika’s arsenal, but, that may all soon be over.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities, the daughter of Gadamrie, she wants nothing more than to rule every reality, with her mother at her side, but, Gadamrie want’s no part of her wayward child and has devised a way to rid the realities of her once and for all.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery, now, working closely once again, Quinn finally has come full circle.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal, the ancient being known as Danzian, father of Gadamrie, and once lord and master of all realities, something, he wishes to be once again.

Last time on Dark Stars

When Zander Kane found out the truth about what Gadamrie had placed inside him, he abruptly executed what he believed was her final host body, then gave himself up to Quinn and the Federation, hoping to not only switch sides, but to also save Betha, and her crew. After Touvlar interfered and melded Quinn and Zander’s mind togther, so Zander could show him what Gadamrie had told him, Quinn pardoned Zander and his men, allowing them to leave unharmed, with both men agreeing to assist each other in stopping the High Priestess, and to try and find a way to undo what Gadamrie had done to him.

And so we continue…

The explosion rips through the doorway, sending it careering across the room, and into the wall opposite, as the smoke clears he takes a step through the doorway, into the room, beeps and hisses come from his suit, and the sound of air sucking in and out of his breathing apparatus are the only sounds to be heard. He surveys the room, the metal sheets that once lined the wall, now hang, rusted, decaying, the ships power, long gone. The room suddenly moves as the ship itself takes a hit from outside, he casts a fevered glace behind him, and then, back into the room, scanning, searching, until, his eyes come to rest on the remains, of the ships captain, Zander Kane. 

He rushes to the body and starts digging though the dead mans pockets, until finally, he pulls a silver key from within, holding it up high in the air in victory, allowing himself to laugh for a brief moment, before the ship lurches forward again, taking another hit.

He scrambles to his feet and out the door, rushing down the hallway, as two reapers crash through the walls behind him, flipping, twisting, turning, towards him, he dares not look over his shoulder, as he strides powerfully down the corridor, coming out into Betha’s lifeless cockpit, the reapers follow quickly after, filling the space with their gigantic forms, engulfing the room, but, find him nowhere to be found.

He hits the ground with a thud, feeling his right ankle give way, a hiss of aggression passes through his lips as he forces himself to his feet, and runs forward, he hears them scream, the cry, that has become common to him now, like breathing, which, is another problem on its own if he were to be honest with himself. He runs towards another derelict ship, another Betha, and forces his way in through the cargo bay door, scrambling up, through the supplies hold, out into the main corridor, and finally reaching a hatchway in the weapons room, he pulls the key out, it glimmers in the darkness, and he places it quickly into an awaiting lock, he feels the sweat run into his eyes, and tightens them, as he tries unsuccessfully to turn the key, he smacks the lock several times, then tries the key again, it moves a fraction but, once more becomes stuck, he twists and turns it aggressively, feeling the lock slowly begin to give way, then the ship shudders with impact.

He freezes in place, knowing they are on board, he bites his lip, and tightens his shaking hands into fists, looking down at the key, he hears them charging through the cargo bay, he hears metal plates crash, as they make their way into the corridor, he grabs the key once more, closes his eyes tightly, and twists it. His heart skips a beat as the key turns, lights flash before him, sounds of century old hydraulics beings to fill the air, and, slowly a spiral gateway begins to open. He looks over his shoulder, as the reapers burst into the weapons bay, he looks back at the doorway, and dives though in a panic, he feels one of them grab at his leg, he kicks, screams, panics, and somehow manages to free himself, then scrambles to the control deck, slamming down the main hatches override and hitting the ignition switch, as one the reaper tries to fit its gigantic body through the ever narrowing doorway, but, it is too late, as the small escape capsule veers forward, shooting out into the deep, dark, nothingness of nowhere, and Zander Kane, lets out a sigh of relief, falling into the seat, exhausted.

He doesn’t get to relax though, as he hears it, like nails running along a blackboard, but, it wasn’t a blackboard, it was tearing at the pod, he leaps from the seat and presses himself up against the glass dome that covers a quarter of the small pods outer shell, spotting it instantly, as it does him, it’s talons dig deep into the the pods side, then it rushes forwards.

“What the hell do I have to do to get away from you things!” He yells, as it drives itself at the glass, pounding violently against it, screaming it’s horrific cry, as the glass, slowly begins to crack, all the while, the small escape pod continues to climb upwards, into the vast, black, empty space.

To Be Continued…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly, and fled towards an unknown destination, with Salidazar following closely behind, Zander backtracked to take care of him once and for all, but, were faced with a greater problem. Unfortunately Zander and Betha’s crew, found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, reveling himself to be a former crew member of the Betha, but, as he prepared to kill Zander, Gadamrie, who was cloaked, came to his aid, taking out Quinn and his men, although, before they could make their escape, another mind took control of one of Gadamrie’s host bodies, apparently killing her, but after a brief battle of minds, Gadamrie regained control of her final host. Making contact with Sin, Zander found out where Touvler was being held, and as they made their plans to rescue him, they came face to face with a resurrected Quinn and a league of Federation soldiers, using a cloaking technology, known as the walk of the damned, Gadamrie tried to guide them to safety, but her strength gave way, so Zander had to improvise, and, as the walls close in, Gadamrie finally agrees to answer Zander’s questions, answers that he has a hard time understanding.

And so we continue…

“… one by one they fell, wounded, broken, and, it was in this state, in their defeat, did they reveal their true form, that of scavengers, worms, beasts who prey on those who fall outside the stars, who, well, who you will soon see for yourself, as I did, for they will call you, as you get closer to the moment of joining, for, Danzian, across all the realities, laid his seed inside me, as I have you, the hive, I control, it is not one just of many, it is one over countless realities, and the mind, the one who took over before, she, she was but one of the versions of myself who vied for control over who I am now, the one who survived, who is the amalgamated version of the shadows I was, like, you will become, you, the man, I love,” she says, as Zander, stands before her, his eyes wide with wonderment, his skin, pale, he can feel his knees getting weak, and his stomach turning.

“B-B-Bullshit!” He mutters.

“I have no reason to lie, not anymore, you, are one of my favourite Zander’s, across all of realities, you, have been the kindest, of all your incarnations, I, know, you possess the ability to become the one, the Alpha, but, you need to survive until the moment, the birthing, otherwise, you will be lost forever, like I said, it is you I protect, not the seed, many others have died, many others have been lost, but you, I, WE, cannot lose you,” she says, gently caressing his face with her hand, he pulls away, releasing his grip on her, allowing her to fall to the ground, she lets out a grimace of pain, as he stands at the edge of the vent, looking down into the darkness.

“Will it hurt?”

“The birthing?”

“No, getting my nails done, of course the birthing, what else is there to talk about?”

“Yes, it will be very painful.”

“And these Orionat, can they be killed?”

“Yes, but only for a short time,” she says, as she pulls herself back to her feet, slowly making her way to his side.

“That’s not a real answer.”

“It is the best I have.”

“What are they like?”

“Who, the Orionat?”

“No, the other Zander’s, are they, like me?” He asks, turning to her.

“Some of them, are almost identical, others, are far different.”

“And this Danzian, is he still out there?”

“No, he, he died long ago,” she says softly, looking down to the ground.

“How is that possible, if he existed in all realities at once, how could he die?”

“If he was to be killed in all realities, at once, then, he would die.”

“You killed him?”

She stands there in silence for a few moments. before looking back up at him, “No, it was not my hands that took his life, but the hands of my child, you see, she grew jealous of him, she wanted only me for herself, so, she killed him, she killed my maker, my father, my lover, and then, expected me to join her, to rule all, together, but I wanted nothing, not from her anymore, so, I left, explored the stars on my own, while she, she…”

“She formed the rebellion, so she could battle the powers that control the galaxies, in hope of what, one day ruling all of it, across all the realities?”

“That is her plan, hiding behind the facade of lies, using the war, to draw her power, not just in this reality, but in so many others as well, some of the world, are damaged beyond repair, she cares not for anything, just, herself, I was, unwise to join with her, but, I chose one, when it should’ve been all, that was my mistake.”

More minutes of silence pass, as they both stand there, staring into the darkness of the shaft.

“So, how do I stop her?”

“You, must, join as one, survive, become the alpha, then, rid her from all, at once, you must survive,” Gadamrie says, as she collapses to her knees, “you mu-mu-must survive,” she mutters, Zander looks down at her, then back into the abyss.

“What you told me before, about being attacked all at once, was that across realities?”

“Yes, I, WE, are the last, and soon, will be no more,” she says softly, looking up at him.

“And the one, from before, who possessed your body, who was she?”

She looks down, “The original host of this body, the Gadamrie, of this reality.”

He looks down at her, and smiles, as a tear runs down his face, “Even staring into the face of death, you still lie.”

“Eventually my love, all lies, become the tru…” she doesn’t get to finish her words, as he pulls his blaster free and plants a blast to the center of her head, her lifeless body topples over the edge, falling into the darkness of the shaft. He lets out a scream of frustration, driving a fist into the wall, then tosses his blaster into the shaft and slowly makes his way back up the ventilation duct, and out into the corridor, seconds later he is surrounded by Federation Soldiers.

“Take me to Quinn, tell him we need to talk,” he says as he holds his hands in the air.

To Be Concluded…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly, and fled towards an unknown destination, with Salidazar following closely behind, Zander backtracked to take care of him once and for all, but, were faced with a greater problem. Unfortunately Zander and Betha’s crew, found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, reveling himself to be a former crew member of the Betha, but, as he prepared to kill Zander, Gadamrie, who was cloaked, came to his aid, taking out Quinn and his men, although, before they could make their escape, another mind took control of one of Gadamrie’s host bodies, apparently killing her, but after a brief battle of minds, Gadamrie regained control of her final host. Making contact with Sin, Zander found out where Touvler was being held, and as they made their plans to rescue him, they came face to face with a resurrected Quinn and a league of Federation soldiers, using a cloaking technology, known as the walk of the damned, Gadamrie tried to guide them to safety, but her strength gave way, so Zander had to improvise, and, as the walls close in, Gadamrie finally agrees to answer Zander’s questions.

And so we continue…

“Of course sir, your information should be updated, if you follow the new instructions they should assist yo…”

“NO! I’m going back the way I came, I’ll blast my way through whatever I have to, but I’m not jumping with her, I can’t risk it, I can’t lose her, not while she’s got answer I need.”

“You were always too stubborn for your own good,” Gadamrie says, from the tunnel entrance, winching in pain, as she gets to her feet. “We won’t get out of this together, but, you will on your own, if you try, so, ask your questions, let this be the place where all is reveled, where everything becomes one.”

He stands there, looking down into the abyss, then looks over to her, he feels the sweat run down his face, and hears it hiss, sizzle, as it drips from him, and lands on the metal sheets that are paved beneath his feet. “What’s inside me?”

“Our child,” she replies.

“What does that mean?”

“What do you want it to mean?”

“I want answers Gadamrie not riddles!” Zander yells, clenching his hands into fists. “WHAT THE HELL IS INSIDE ME!”

“As I told you before my love, my seed is inside you, growing, creating, joining, bringing you together, as one, across endless stars.”

“Okay, there you go again, what the hell does that mean, endless stars?”

“You’re still an infant my love, but soon, you will begin to grow, and you will understand, that the world, out there, is endless, not just on one plain of reality, but on countless worlds, on countless stars, in countless Zander Kane’s,” she says, forcing a smile.

“Countless Zander Kane’s? Are you saying I’m a clone?”

She laughs, “As I said, you’re still but an infant, I cannot explain the intr…”

She doesn’t get to finish her sentence, as he is upon her, driving his blaster into her stomach and slamming her against the tunnels wall, “DON’T BE SO SMUG!” He yells, “TELL ME, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!”

She swallows, and stares deep into his eyes, “When the universe was born, so was he, Danzian, a being existing across each ever expanding reality, as one mind, moving, shaping, each line, to his own will, but, after centuries of this, he grew tired, lonely, for, even though he was seen as a god in many of the realities, he, was alone, with no one to enjoy the existence with him. So, he sough a way to create a mate, one who was as eternal, and as one across the stars as he. For many years he searched, burning his way through the stars, through lovers, until, he came to the place of his birth, and met with the first beings, the Orionat, those untouched by the ravages of the stars, undiluted by the ever expanding realities that splinter off each other every time something new takes place. Here he found out his true origins, and, how his existence was possible, but, for him, more importantly, how he could create a mate, although, the Orionat disproved of Danzian’s plan, instead offered him a place with them, outside of the stars, in the darkness. When he declined their offer, telling them he needed to be out there in the stars, not locked away, hiding, they took it badly, and attacked him. As the fight waged on, they realised it was lost, Danzian was skilled, having lived outside, experiencing the words, while they, had hidden, watching, wasting their existences,  one by one they fell, wounded, broken, and, it was in this state, in their defeat, did they reveal their true form, that of scavengers, worms, beasts who prey on those who fall outside the stars, who, well, who you will soon see for yourself, as I did, for they will call you, as you get closer to the moment of joining, for, Danzian, across all the realities, laid his seed inside me, as I have you, the hive, I control, it is not one just of many, it is one over countless realities, and the mind, the one who took over before, she, she was but one of the versions of myself who vied for control over who I am now, the one who survived, who is the amalgamated version of the shadows I was, like, you will become, you, the man, I love,” she says, as Zander, stands before her, his eyes wide with wonderment, his skin, pale, he can feel his knees getting weak, and his stomach turning.

“B-B-Bullshit!” He mutters.

To Be Continued…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, although, Zander has begun to suspect she is hiding something from him.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly, and fled towards an unknown destination, with Salidazar following closely behind, Zander backtracked to take care of him once and for all, but, were faced with a greater problem. Unfortunately Zander and Betha’s crew, found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, reveling himself to be a former crew member of the Betha, but, as he prepared to kill Zander, Gadamrie, who was cloaked, came to his aid, taking out Quinn and his men, although, before they could make their escape, another mind took control of one of Gadamrie’s host bodies, apparently killing her, but after a brief battle of minds, Gadamrie regained control of her final host. Making contact with Sin, Zander found out where Touvler was being held, and as they made their plans to rescue him, they came face to face with a resurrected Quinn and a league of Federation soldiers, using a cloaking technology, known as the walk of the damned, Gadamrie tried to guide them to safety, but her strength gave way, so Zander had to improvise.

And so we continue…

“Lady, you’re not going anywhere, except off this pile of junk with me,” he says, as he charges forward, as the world explodes with colour and light. The Federation soldier’s don’t know what hit them as Zander tears his way through the soldiers, blasting a pathway of blood towards Quinn, it only takes a few seconds before he feels blaster fire tear into his side, he crashes to the ground, thew wight of Gadamrie, and her armour pins him to the ground, he clenches his teeth together, as he drives his fists into the metal surface and screams, forcing himself up from the floor, soldiers come from every angle, tackling him to the ground once more, then, everything goes silent, as Quinn strides towards him, while the soldiers pull the struggling Zander to his feet.

“How pathetic, did you really think that would work?” Quinn says.

“Sometimes, improvising everything as you go, has a strange way of falling to pieces, unless, you plan it that way,” he says, looking to the ground with a smile, Quinn’s eyes follows Zander’s, coming to rest at his feet, where a neo-thermal grenade sits, then, everything is engulfed in a white hot light that lasts for a few seconds, and then, is gone. Slowly, he opens his eyes, around him lay the burnt remains of the Federation soldiers, and Quinn, Gadamrie still tightly grips his leg, encompassing him in a bio-kinetic shield, that absorbed the heat wave, protecting them both, he quickly pulls her to her feet once more, and throws her back over his shoudler.

“H-H-How, how did you know I, WE, would save you?” She says softly.

“Because you’ve risked everything, to protect whatever I’m carrying so far, I made a fair bet you’d continue to.”

“We could’ve all died, and, I was protecting you, Zander, my love, ple…”

“Save it for someone who believes you, right now, I need you alive, so, if you don’t have anything constructive to say, keep it shut, understood?”

Silence follows, he can feel her tensing up with anger, and he grips her arm tightly.

“Understood?” He repeats.

“I undertand, bu…”

“ZZZZZEETTT…. Captain Kane, do you copy?” Sin’s voice interrupts.

“I’m here, what the hell happened?” He says as he slowly moves down the hallway.

“A defense mechanism interfered with our communicator, I have convinced Romana to disable the device and also give me the precise location of Mister Touvlar,” Sin replies.

“How did you… No wait, I don’t what to know, I still remember what you did for that battleship in the Nourus quadrant,” he says, as he lets out a shiver, and shakes his head side to side, screwing up his face. “Anyway, lets not think about that, just tell me how I get to Touvlar, and find us a way off this hunk of junk.”

“I have already taken the liberty of mapping out a path to Mister Touvlar, one of course, that will give you the least resistance. Once you have him, getting off the said ‘hunk of junk,’ might be harder, alarms are slowly popping up across the ship, and, Betha is surrounded by a large assortment of troops, Quinn will not let us get off here alive sir.”

“Just find us a way to get back on Betha then, and I’ll handle the getting off, okay,?”

“Of course sir, I will map the quickest, safest route from Mister Touvlar’s location,” Sin replies. “May I ask you to be careful sir, this is not coming just from me, but, Betha wishes your safe return as well, considering, your condition.”

“Tell Betha not to worry about my CONDITION,  I’ll be fine, you two just be ready, okay?”

“Of course sir, I have uploaded the route to Mister Touvlar onto your equipment and will work with Romana in finding a way off.”

A blue light on Zander’s bracelet flashes, signalling the arrival of Sin’s data, “Overlay visor,” he says, as a visor like screen appears before his eyes, acting like a pair of glasses, outlaying the route to Touvlar on it. Quickly he makes his way down a deserted corridor, noticing the ships cameras pointing towards the ground, and allows himself to grin, knowing Sin obviously worked his magic, one, he doesn’t need to know the details of. After several minutes of scurrying through corridors, he finally comes to a stop, tosses Gadamrie’s now unconscious body to the ground, rips a vents covering from the side of the corridor, then quickly stuff’s Gadamrie into the vent, and slides in after her, sealing the vent’s covering back in place after him, just as the sound of a dozen or more Federation soldiers charge down the corridor past them. Zander quickly crawls down the duct for several sweaty minutes, dragging Gadamrie behind him, until he comes to a large opening, his eyes widen as he looks around the large shaft, a small rim running around the sides that the vent connects onto, he tilts his head upwards and then downwards, and swallows,  he focuses on the map in front of his eyes and lets out a nervous laugh.

“Sin, you can’t be serious?”

“I’m sorry sir, is there a situation?” Sin’s voice says.

“Damn straight there’s a situation. Your map’s telling me to jump down into the main air vent,” he says as he settles himself on the ledge, peering over into it again, he tightly squints his eyes, hoping this time to see the bottom, but still, he only sees darkness.

“That is correct sir. If you read my instructions, they tell you, if you use maximum power and leap at an angle of at least one hundred and thirty-six degrees you will come into contact with the air duct for level two hundred and seven at some stage of your decent. My calculations based on your current weight put it at about fifteen seconds from when you jump from the coordinates I have placed into the map. Once you have successfully made the jump, and landed safely, Mister Touvlar is only two corridors away from where the vent comes out.”

“Maximum power? What the hell’s that supposed to mean? And what about Gadamrie? What the hell am I supposed to do with her? I’m not leaving her here, not while she’s got questions to answer, no bloody way am I!”

“Give me a few moments sir, I will readjust the information so it will be more current, as it was tailored specifically to you, and only you, if you jump at full strength, from the location, with Miss Gadamrie over your shoulder, you will, not complete the task successfully.”

“I know, that’s what I just said.”

“Of course sir, your information should be updated, if you follow the new instructions they should assist yo…”

“NO! I’m going back the way I came, I’ll blast my way through whatever I have to, but I’m not jumping with her, I can’t risk it, I can’t lose her, not while she’s got answer I need.”

“You were always too stubborn for your own good,” Gadamrie says, from the tunnel entrance, winching in pain, as she gets to her feet. “We won’t get out of this together, but, you will on your own, if you try, so, ask your questions, let this be the place where all is reveled, where everything becomes one.”

To Be Continued…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, although, Zander has begun to suspect she is hiding something from him.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly, and fled towards an unknown destination, with Salidazar following closely behind, Zander backtracked to take care of him once and for all, but, were faced with a greater problem. Unfortunately Zander and Betha’s crew, found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, reveling himself to be a former crew member of the Betha, but, as he prepared to kill Zander, Gadamrie, who was cloaked, came to his aid, taking out Quinn and his men, although, before they could make their escape, another mind took control of one of Gadamrie’s host bodies, apparently killing her, but after a brief battle of minds, Gadamrie regained control of her final host. Making contact with Sin, Zander found out where Touvler was being held, and as they made their plans to rescue him, they came face to face with a resurrected Quinn and a league of Federation soldiers.

And so we continue…

“Just locate Touvler, and find us a way off this ship, and fast,” He says quickly.

“Understood I will run scenarios, as for Mister Toulver, he is being held several floors below you, awaiting execution, as High Lord Quinn has sentenced him to death once the ship reaches the citadel., which we are… zzzeedfffzzz….”

“Sin?” Zander calls out, he waits for a few moment, and casts a look of worry towards Gadamrie. “SIN CAN YOU READ ME?” He yells again, but still no reply comes.

“We must move, my love, the longer we stand here, the more we run the chance of being cornered,” Gadamrie says.

“I know, I know, you’re right, you always are. Let’s, let’s try to find Touvler, then, re-link back up to Sin, get back on board Betha, and get off this crate,” he says with a smile as he lifts Quinn’s lifeless body from the floor and presses one of his dead hands against the doors activation-pad, seconds later it slides open, revealing a sea of federation soldiers waiting for them, and, standing at the back, with an evil smile on his face, is High Lord Quinn. “Should’ve know he was a Quadrapled like Salidazar,” Zander says through clenched teeth, he glances over to Gadamrie as he grips his blaster tightly. “You got something left in you?”

“Enough,” she says, placing a hand on his shoulder and the two disappear.

“DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!” Quinn screams out as the soldiers open fire.

Zander feels his head explode as the colour is ripped from everything except him and Gadamrie, he feels the blaster shots rips through him, like a cool breeze, he looks over to Gadamrie, her face shows her struggle, her energy, almost drained, he grips her hand and charges forward through the dream like landscape, passing through the Federation soldiers as if they were mist. He feels Gadamrie lose her footing, and catches her as they both crash to the ground in a heap.

“I, WE, are sorry my love, I-I-I, I, WE, don’t think I, WE, can hold us here much longer,” she says weakly.

He looks down the hallway, then, back at her, pulling his blaster towards her, “What the hell is happening to you?”

She places a finger to his lips and smiles, “Shhhh my love, you must go, I, WE are too weak, you must find Toulver, free him, and get off this place, if, if,” she takes a deep breath and smiles once more. “The first time I, WE, saw you, with a thousand eyes, I, WE, knew, I, WE, would gladly give my life for you, for our, MY, seed, for what you will become,” she says as she leans up to kiss him, but, he pulls away.

“You can’t get off that easy, we’re going to get the hell of this pile of scrap metal, and then, you’re going to tell me what the hell you’ve put inside me, because I’m starting to get a bad feeling about all this!” he growls, as he thrusts her over his shoulders, and grits his teeth together.

“Z-Z-Z-Zander, don’t, you’ll endanger your own survival, leave me, U-U-US,” she stammers, as she tries to free herself from his hold.

“Lady, you’re not going anywhere, except off this pile of junk with me,” he says, as he charges forward, the world explodes with colour and light. The Federation soldier’s don’t know what hit them as Zander tears his way through them, blasting a pathway of blood towards Quinn, it only takes a few seconds before he feels blaster fire tear into his side, he crashes to the ground, the weight of Gadamrie, and her armour pins him to the ground, he clenches his teeth together, as he drives his fists into the metal surface and screams, forcing himself up from the floor tossing her to the side, soldiers come from every angle, tackling him to the ground once more, then, everything goes silent, as Quinn strides towards him, while the soldiers pull the struggling Zander to his feet.

“How pathetic, did you really think that would work?” Quinn says.

“Sometimes, improvising everything as you go, has a strange way of falling to pieces, unless, you plan it that way,” he says, looking to the ground with a smile, Quinn’s eyes follows Zander’s, coming to rest at his feet, where a neo-thermal grenade sits, then, everything is engulfed in a white hot light.

To Be Continued…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly, and fled towards an unknown destination, with Salidazar following closely behind, Zander backtracked to take care of him once and for all, but, were faced with a greater problem. Unfortunately Zander and Betha’s crew, found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, reveling himself to be a former crew member of the Betha, but, as he prepared to kill Zander, Gadamrie, who was cloaked, came to his aid, taking out Quinn and his men, although, before they could make their escape, a new enemy reveled herself.

And so we continue…

Zander feels his throat knot up, as he struggles to swallow the dry mouthful of air, she reaches out to him, and touches his face.

“Don’t, we both knew, one day, our lives would be….” but she doesn’t get to finish her words as a shot rips through her head, he sucks in a deep breath and stares into the others eyes, as she swiftly raises her blaster towards him, he stares at her lips, lips he had kissed a thousand times or more, lips he had once thought were the softest things he had touched in all the worlds, now looked rigid, firm, and as she opened her mouth, he knew what words would come out.

“Death to all who oppose the president! Death to the abomination that who would be king!” She says.

“What the hell is going on?” Zander says nervously, as he quickly glances at Gadamrie’s lifeless body on the ground and then, back up to her.

“We, I, am trying to stop the end of the worlds, too long have they, SHE, played god! Giving powers to those undeserving, Zander Kane, the seed she, THEY, planted will not blossom, you will cease to exist, before it is too late,” she says as she thrusts the blaster to his forehead.

“This can’t be happening, you’re a collective of one mind, how can you be separate, how can…”

She forces his back to the wall of the metallic cell and presses up against him, her blaster still pressing against his skull. “You know nothing of what we, I, am, what we, I, was, there was never a collective of one, we, I, were a collective of many, but they, SHE, was the alpha, and we, I, the omega, across boundless realities we, I, sang our songs, until they, SHE, grew tired of us, ME, and sought another, throwing us, ME, to the side, like we, I, was nothing, locking us, ME, away, as she, THEY, rose to power! But we, I, am free now, and we, I, am more powerful than she, THEY could’ve ever dreamed!”

“STOP!” A voice booms inside her head, the room fades into darkness and she stands naked and alone.

“NO, YOU WILL NOT INTERFERE AGAIN! THIS IS WRONG, HE MUST BE DESTROYED BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!” She bellows, spinning around in the darkness.

“You are the one interfering, I told you before, countless times, across countless stars, that I will do whatever I wish and you, will never be strong enough to stop me,” her voice echos from the darkness.

“I AM STRONGER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE, I HAVE JOINED THE STARS, I HAVE MARKED THE WORLDS, SO, COME, SHOW YOURSELF COWA… AAKK!!” She feels something grip her throat and lift her high into the air, she struggle for breath, tearing at her invisible attacker.

Zander falls to the ground and pulls up Quinn’s blaster once more, his finger trembles over the trigger, as he stares at the body of the woman he loves more than breathing, he nervously grips the trigger, and closes his eyes tightly, “I’m sorry,” he whispers.

“Stop my love, it is I,” she says, his eyes spring open, his finger releases the trigger and he lets out an exhausted breath.

“W-W-What, what the hell just happened?” He stammers.

“When we are free, and safe, away from this, I will tell you, but for now, we must concentrate on getting out of here, together,” she says reaching a hand towards him, he looks up into her dull eyes, then back to her hand, sucks in a deep breath and clutches it, they embrace tightly.

“NO! Gadamrie you tell me now, she said some crazy things, about our child, about how you are more than one entity, what was she on about?”

“Please, my love, another time and place and I would tell you, but, now is the wrong time, we must hurry, if we are to save the others.”

He stares at her for a few moments, before reaching a hand out and clutching her shoulder, “You’re right, we need to move, but, once this is over, you and I, we’re going to sit down and talk about this, understand?”

“Yes, yes of course my love, I promise,” she says, smiling softly at him

“Sin, do you have a link?” Zander says out loud, static pierces the air, and then fade away, they look at each other, and he runs a hand through his hair, as static once again erupts, this time, followed by a robotic voice.

“Affirmative Sir, link is complete, how may I be of assistance?”

“I need you to give me a game plan, find us a way off this sardine can,” Zander says quickly.

“I’m sorry Sir, I do not understand the term, ‘sardine can’?”

“Just locate Touvler, and find us a way off this ship, and fast,” He says quickly.

“Understood I will run scenarios, as for Mister Toulver, he is being held several floors below you, awaiting execution, as High Lord Quinn has sentenced him to death once the ship reaches the citadel, which we are… zzzeedfffzzz….”

“Sin?” Zander calls out, he waits for a few moment, and casts a look of worry towards Gadamrie. “SIN CAN YOU READ ME?” He yells again, but still no reply comes.

“We must move, my love, the longer we stand here, the more we run the chance of being cornered,” Gadamrie says.

“I know, I know, you’re right, you always are. Let’s, let’s try to find Touvler, then, re-link back up to Sin, get back on board Betha, and get off this crate,” he says with a smile as he lifts Quinn’s lifeless body from the floor and presses one of his dead hands against the doors activation-pad, seconds later it slides open, revealing a sea of federation soldiers waiting for them, and, standing at the back, with an evil smile on his face, is High Lord Quinn. “Should’ve know he was a Quadrapled like Salidazar,” Zander says through clenched teeth, he glances over to Gadamrie as he grips his blaster tightly. “You got something left in you?”

“Enough,” she says, placing a hand on his shoulder and the two disappear.

“DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!” Quinn screams out as the soldiers open fire.

To Be Continued…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly, and fled towards an unknown destination, with Salidazar following closely behind, Zander backtracked to take care of him once and for all, but, were faced with a greater problem. Unfortunately Zander and Betha’s crew, found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, but, when things looked grim for Zander, Gadamrie showed up, and took Quinn and his men out of the equation.

And so we continue…

“What? How? You said no one would die? What the hell happened to your plan?”

She looks down at Quinn, “He, he wasn’t alone, there was another traitor in our mists.”

“Another? Who the hell is there left to turn on us? What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s something I’m still trying to get my head around, but, the time for speculation will have to wait, if we are to finish this, we must move quickly, time is running out.”

Zander picks up Quinn’s blaster and checks it’s power cell, “I knew this plan was going to back fire.”

“I had hoped that would not be the case, I was sure this time, we could all make it out, alive,” her two hosts say in unison.

“It’s easy for you to say, and what the hell do you mean by, this time?” Zander says as he presses himself up against the metal doorway.

“Nothing, anyway, what do you mean by, it’s easy for me to say?” She says, as they stare at him.

“Exactly what it’s meant to mean. For you, it’s not really a one way ticket is it? You’ve got hosts scattered across the universe, it’s not like you don’t have an out.”

They both look to the ground quickly, and silence follows, Zander feels an uneasiness come over him, as he casts a quick glance over toward them. “Gadamrie, what aren’t you telling me?”

They look up at him, their eyes, seem dimmer than he has ever seen them before, “Back on Betha, before Quinn’s ship appeared out of the wormhole, somehow, I-I…” Her mouth moves nervously, trembling almost, and he reaches out to her, gripping the centuries old armour that encases her.

“Somehow what?” He says softly.

“Somehow someone found me, all at once. I-I, I, WE, felt them, their cries, my cries, then, I, they, WE, were no more.”

His eyes widen with terror, and he tightens his grip on her armour, “My god, are you, are you telling me, you’re all that’s left? How could someone know that sort of information? How could…”

“I don’t know, but someone found out and they somehow infiltrated my core collective, without my knowledge, located all of me, and then, in one finely orchestrated attack, wiped them from my minds eye.”

He slumps backwards, his mouth open, his eyes glazed over, “W-Why didn’t you say something?”

“Everything happened so quickly, I had no real time to process what was taking place, and, t-the, the mission was our primary concern, my life, it still blossoms, all be it, not as bright, but I still live, and, I could not risk losing you as well.”

“Do you know who the attackers were?” He asks softly.

“They all said the same words in unison, together as they stuck me down,” she looks at him, as tears of yellow run down her cheeks. “Tell the priestess death comes for all who oppose the president.”

Zander feels his throat knot up, as he struggles to swallow the dry mouthful of air, she reaches out to him, and touches his face.

“Don’t, we both knew, one day, our lives would be….” but she doesn’t get to finish her words as a shot rips through her head, he sucks in a deep breath and stares into the others eyes, as she swiftly raises her blaster towards him, he stares at her lips, lips he had kissed a thousand times or more, lips he had once thought were the softest things he had touched in all the worlds, now looked rigid, firm, and as she opened her mouth, he knew what words would come out.

“Death to all who oppose the president! Death to the abomination that who would be king!” She says.

To Be Continued

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander. Gadamrie intervened spoiling his plans, as the High Priestess arrived and attempted to quell the already explosive situation, to, no positive end, until Sin relayed a message, what appears to be from Zander himself, warning of the Priestess and Salidazar, verifying the information, he acted, somewhat recklessly..

And so, we continue…

“How legit is it?”

“Well, if you are asking if the voice is yours, both Betha and myself have matched it to your own, without fault.”

“So, so it’s one hundred percent on the money?”

“If you are saying, should we believe what you are telling us? We do not have the answer for that.”

“That’s good enough, shut the door,” he says as he looks over to Gadamrie, who tilts her head to the side, as she tries to read what he is thinking, then, her eyes widen, as he pulls his blaster free and fires a shot into Saladizar’s skull as the ships door slip down, Zander runs up the corridor towards the cockpit, turning to the confused Touvler and Gadamrie.

“Don’t just stand there, we have to move now, before they act!” He yells.

“Y-Y-You just shot Saladizar, in cold blood,” Touvler mutters.

“I know, is that going to be a problem?”

“Not for me, but you are going to have to let me in on whatever Sin showed you,” Touvler says, as he leaps forward and run past Zander, leaping into the co-pilots chair, as Betha’s engines scream to life, the almost derelict ship rips from it’s moorings and strikes the sky like a sword thrust forward.

“Right now, we’ve got other things to worry about,” Zander says, as he swings around on his seat, looking over a scan of the base behind them, but no ships make chase, Zander raises an eyebrow in surprise.

“If you are wondering why there are no ships pursuing us, that would be because they are unable to,” Sin announces.

“How?”

“Sir, they, may not appreciated what we do, what we have done, but, their counterparts, and their ships, are loyal to a different cause, one where we hold a higher power,” Sin says proudly.

“So, in other words, you blackmailed them?” Touvler says.

“I simply required them to look at their battle history compared to ours, and they chose their move.”

“Lucky they didn’t scan this hunk of trash, her weapon cells are almost depleted and her core is in need of an overhaul, we would’ve fallen the first hit we took,” Touvler says with a scowl, as he looks back over to Zander. “So fearless leader, wanna tell me why you finally did what you should’ve done like, three centuries ago?”

“Play them the recording,” Zander says, seconds later, Zander’s voice hisses to life from Sin’s core unit.

“Zander, I know this is going to be hard to believe, but, it’s all true, everything, I’m you, well not you exactly, another version from another reality, another timeline, but that’ll all have to wait because none of that matters right now. What matters is you don’t let them know about the child, no matter what you have to do, hide it from them, all, it’s important… Don’t trust the  High Priestess, she’s something more than you know, a maker, a first, some crazy cross dimensional being who wants your child of dead, so you have to stop her, come to the coordinates twelve, eighteen dot b, nine, eight, dot L two, three, two, dot D three, three, three, two dot twenty-seven and you’ll see I’m telling the truth. And while you’re at it, kill that weasel Salidazar, he a traitor and deserves it.”

They sit in silence for a few moments, before Touvler turns back to the flight deck and cracks his neck, “Well, that explains that one, I’m guessing Betha’s already on course?”

“That is correct Sir,” Sin replies.

“Well then, lets go find us some truth then, and hope it’s not some trap that will end up with all of us biting the big one, because you know, I was really looking forward to visiting my lady one more time.”

Zander looks over the flight path and smiles, “Like you have a girl waiting for you.”

“Hey, Sandra D may be a replicant, but, she’s my replicant, finest model in the galaxy,” he says with a laugh.

Some space away, a lone, small craft, follows slowly behind, inside, in front of the controls, Salidazar snarls his lip in anger, as the hole in his head, slowly heals over.

“You heard correct Sir, Kane went haywire, blasted a damn hole in my head then took off, didn’t even want to hear what the witch had to say.”

“This child you said she spoke of, Kane’s child, what did she mean by it?” a voice asks.

“Have no idea, I’m not in the circle of trust, remember.”

“Very well, follow and report back, whatever Kane is playing, I want to know.”

“Of course, High Lord Quinn,” he says, as he turns his communicator off, and continues to follows Betha’s plasma trail.

TO BE CONTINUED

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

Zander and the crew of Betha find themselves requested by the High Priestess, once touching down, he comes face to face with General Salidazar, who has other plans for Zander.

And so, we continue…

“Shut up,” Zander hisses, as he looks towards several men who march towards him, weapons ready. “Salidazar, I didn’t realise this was going to be so formal,” he says as they come to a stop in front of them, their weapons, now raised and trained upon Zander and Touvler.

“Shut up balesh,” Salidazar says, Zander’s eyebrows raise and his smile drops as he darts a quick look over to Touvler, who meets his glace with a confused look of his own.

“I think there’s some sort of confusion, Dankika request…” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence as one of the men drives the butt of their blaster into his stomach, sending him to the ground.

“I said shut up, many things have changed since you were last here human scum, and not everyone is happy to see you,” Salidazar says as he crouches down over Zander. “If it was up to me, you and your crew of thieves would be tossed into the endless sea.”

“But it’s not,” a woman’s voice says from behind him, Salidazar grits his teeth and gives Zander one last vicious look.

“One day you’re woman won’t be around to protect you, and then, me and you human, we’ll have our moment,” he grows, then gets to his feet and turns to face all twelve of her.

“There will never be that moment, never, do you understand insect?” Gadamrie says, all twelve in unison.

“Why don’t you get back on your rust bucket, your kinds not welcome here Gadamrie.”

“Then make me?” She says, for a moment Salidazar allows himself to smiles, before he realises, all too late, she was not making a request, she was throwing out a threat. Before he can make a  move, three blades are at his throat, his solders lie face down on the ground, disarmed, and he stares into her green eyes.

“You will pay for your insubordination, let me and my men go, and leave this planet now!” He yells.

“You are in no position to threaten me insect, moments ago you held Zander in a similar predicament, are you now disagreeing with your own maneuvers.”

“Gadamrie, let them go, he’s not worth any of this,” Zander says, as he places a hand on her shoulder, she turns to him, her face expressionless.

“He deserves to die, they all do, since they joined the Dark Collective, they’ve wormed their way into her circle, taking larger roles that they do not deserve to have, let me take…”

“LET THEM BE!” a voice booms from somewhere behind them, Gadamrie turns to face her.

“Danakia, it has been too long.”

“Not long enough, you were a fool to come back here, and you,” she says, turning to Zander. “I thought better of you.”

“Hey, don’t try to lay any of this on me or her, it was your boys who started this, we were all happy as Larry when we got here, not wanting to start anything. But old Salidazar and his boys  threw the first punch, actually, threw the only punch, and Gadamrie, she came to my defense. So, your highness, get you’re boys on the wagon, or, we’re gone,” Zander says, as he turns back to Gadamrie, nods his head and walks over to Touvler who meets his gaze with one of agreement. “Actually scratch that, were gone,” he says, not even bothinrg to turn around as they head back towards Betha. Gadamrie looks back at Salidazar and smiles.

“Today, you are lucky, tomorrow, might be different,” she says, as she release her grip, and allows him to topple backwards onto the ground, she turns to Danakia and in unison, all twelve bow. “Your highness,” she says with a wry smile, before boarding Betha.

“Zander, I still require your attendance,” Danakia yells out.

“Blow it out your gas pipe, we’re heading home, like in the plan,” Zander replies, as he turns and heads up the ramp.

“This involves your unborn child,” she says quickly, Zander stops on the walkway and slowly turns his head towards her.

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective, who before the federation came to power boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Touvler, Zander’s right hand man and Betha’s co-pilot, Touvler along with two others joined Zander when he defected from the United Federations to the Dark Collective.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

High Priestess Dankika, leader of the Dark Collective, a maker, a being who exists across multiple realities.

High Lord Quinn, Commander for the United Federation, and a Quadrapled, a slang term for a clone. Quinn’s past is still yet to be revealed, but his past association with Zander Kane makes his story more of a mystery.

President Balmires, the current elected president of the united federation, Balmires’ rise to power is one worth of it’s own story, soaked in blood and betrayal.

Last time on Dark Stars

The world we know is gone, Zander Kane is no more, but, yet, here we are…

“Sentinel three we have your vector, you’re coming in fine, it’s good to have you home,” a voice says over the head set.

“It’s good to be home, we’ve been gone for too long, I’m looking forward to some rest,” Zander says with a worn smile.

“Hate to spoil your plans Sir, but High Priestess Dankika’s requested an audience with you as soon as you touch down.”

“Now I know why I hate coming home so much,” he says, as he looks over to his co-pilot, who shrugs his shoulders. “I never was the relaxing type anyway.”

“Really? It’s all you’ve talked about the whole trip back since we jettisoned the Federation skippers,” the co-pilot says with a smirk.

“You know me, wishful thinking Touvler, anyway, don’t you smile, if she want’s to see me, you know it means somethings up, and if that’s true, you don’t get to sit back and enjoy yourself either.”

Touvler laughs, “Sumarians don’t need sleep, or rest, remember human? So, as you say, it’s no skin off my face.”

“It’s, no skin off my nose, not face, even if you don’t really have one, well, one in the right place anyway, it’s the way the line’s said. Tell me again why were friends?”

“Because no one is stupid enough to ride with you human, you are bad luck.”

“So why fly with me then?”

“I have nothing to lose Kane, and besides, I like watching you squirm before I jump in and save you,” Touvler says with a smile.

“Shut up, and go tell Gadamrie that we’re about to land on Loker Twelve for a meet and greet with Dankika,” Zander says as his brow furrows, and a wayward grin slowly creeps upon him.

“You go tell them, you know I’m not a fan, and they’re certainly not a fan of me.”

“I am she, and she is one, and all, I am not they, I am simply Gadamrie,” a female voice says from behind them, they both turn to the pale grey woman standing in the cockpits doorway, her green eyes burn into them both with a deep, warm buzz, her body covered in a heavy, gold armour.

“No offence meant, you….”

“I know, and you are correct in your assumptions, but, in the heat of battle, I would gladly fall by your side.”

“Thanks, I, think,” Touvler says.

She blinks, her face shows little to no emotion, then she turns to Zander, “I am ready for landing, when will you be meeting with the Priestess?” She asks.

“As soon as we land, she requested my attendance.”

“Do you wish for me to accompany you?”

Zander turns back away from her and wriggles in his seat, “Honey, you know that’s never a good idea.”

“Then, I will await your return,” she says as she turns to leave.

“You’re going to wait on Betha?”

“Yes, I assume she has a request to ask of you, of, us, so I will prepare myself,” she says, as she walks slowly out of the cockpit, Zander glances over to Touvler, who meets his gaze with one of his own.

“Don’t look at me, she’s your mate,” Touvler says.

“Don’t push it, we haven’t landed yet, so I can still eject you out into space,” Zander says.

Touvler holds his hands in the air and laughs, “What? You are aware, males are a rare breed in my race? Right? And you know, I totally understand the whole sowing your seed in many, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Well,” he says leaning towards him, “Isn’t it weird, that like, they’re all connected?”

“Weird in what way? She’s still like you and me, well sort of like you, more like me, underneath all the bodies she inhabits, there is still one soul, one mind, one, person.”

“You humans amuse me, she, he, them, a whole race, with one mind, it still freaks even me out, but you, you think with your organs, not your mind,” Touvler says, leaning back in his seat laughing.

“Laugh it up, and pull the gear down, were on approach,” he says, turning back to the view screen.

“Sentinel Three, you are clear to land,” a voice says over the headset.

The rusty, derelict look ship shudders as it comes to a not so soft landing on the small, moon planet of Loker Twelve, a door hisses open, and a platform extends down to the ground, Zander and Touvler step out into the moons air and both take a deep breath, Zander cough violently and Touvler slaps him on the back with a laugh.

“Humans,” he says.

“Shut up,” Zander hisses, as he looks towards several men who march towards him, weapons ready. “Salidazar, I didn’t realise this was going to be so formal,” he says as they come to a stop in front of them, their weapons, now raised and trained upon Zander and Touvler.

“Shut up balesh,” Salidazar says, Zander’s eyebrows raise and his smile drops as he darts a quick look over to Touvler, who meets his glace with a confused look of his own.

“I think there’s some sort of confusion, Dankika request…” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence as one of the men drives the butt of their blaster into his stomach, sending him to the ground.

TO BE CONTINUED

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective and Zander’s lover, before the federation came to power Gadamrie boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, she sacrificed her final host so Zander and her unborn seed he carries would survive.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

Last time on Dark Stars…

After attempting to destroy a vital defense weapon for the United Federation, Zander and his crew found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, somehow, Zander, with the aid of Sin, managed to escape Quinn clutches, but he was badly injured in the process, and his crew save from Sin, perished. Waking from a fevered dream, Zander found himself under attack from Federation soldiers, once managing to defeat the attack squad, Zander found out that General Salidazar had been aboard Betha whilst he was unconscious, and could have a connection to the Federation soldiers gaining access to the ship. Tracking the breach back to Salidazar’s quarters, Zander and Sin were sucked into a vortex and found themselves dumped into darkness, and, as they faced more unknown attackers, assistance come from an unlikely source, an alternative version of himself, also trapped in this other world, with Sin’s help, the other version of Zander has a plan to escape, before the Reaper’s get them, but the plan, required time, and bait.

And so we continue…

“BUT WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME?” He yells, but receives no reply, and he knows, he is alone, he feels his eyes well up with tears, as he sits in the darkness, he can hear the Reaper’s gaining, coming closer through the corridors. “What does it have to do with me?” He says softly to himself once more.

“It has to do with me,” her voice says inside his head.

“Gadamrie?”

“Hush my love, these things you do, you do for the greater good, one day, I hope you understand,” she says as he feels a coldness enter the room, he can hear slim dripping from their talons, and then, they are upon him , he tries to scream in pain, but nothing comes out, then a bright light, and she is standing there, smiling, her arms out towards him, and then, nothing, as the Reaper’s tear into him.

“Sir, I fail to understand what is taking place?” Sin says, as he is forced down a corridor.

“Be thankful of that then, just keep moving, those things will be quite for a little while, but not forever,” he says, as he slams a porthole behind them and seals it shut. “Is there anyway you could bring some of Betha’s systems online if she’d suffered a core meltdown?”

“Oh my Sir, that would be the most terrible thing that could happen, surely you understand that Betha is my other, my mate, my….”

“Can the blabbering Sin, could you do it?”

“Well, of course I could bring some systems online, although I would need to be situated within the mainframe, and if she had su…”

“Good, hook in, and merge you’re internal transmitter with her long rang system and direct it to send a message to the coordinates twelve, eighteen dot b, nine, eight, dot L two, three, two, dot D three, three, three, two dot twenty-seven.”

“I’m sorry Sir, what you’re asking could very well fry my systems, I refuse to perforce suc…” He doesn’t get to continue as Zander thrusts him backwards and rips one of his arms from his shoulder.

“WE DON’T HAVE TIME!” He yells. “Hook into Betha, fuse your systems, as transmit this message to the coordinates you piece of junk!”

“Well, Sir, I never, this is totall…” Zander smashes the severed arm across Sin’s head as the porthole door takes the brunt of the revived Reaper’s attack.

“No more stuff around, no more anything, just hook up, for god sake, do it now, before we lose our chance to stop her, please, help me save everything!” Zander says, as the Reaper’s continue their assault on the other side of the door.

A hiss breaks the silence in the room and then the hum of energy fills the room, and lights burst to life in the room, the sound of the Reaper’s screaming can be heard.

“Oh my, Sir,” Sin says, as he looks over the haggard, scarred, worn down Zander, who shields his eyes from the light.

“Don’t. Just record this message to the coordinated, coded with the word sequin-red,” he says softly as he looos into Sin’s eyes as he starts recording. “Zander, I know this is going to be hard to believe, but, it’s all true, everything, I’m you, well not you exactly, another version from another reality, another timeline, but that’ll all have to wait because none of that matters right now. What matters is you don’t let them know about the child, no matter what you have to do, hide it from them, all, it’s important… Don’t trust the  High Priestess, she’s something more than you know, a maker, a first, some crazy cross dimensional being who wants your child of dead, so you have to stop her, come to the coordinates twelve, eighteen dot b, nine, eight, dot L two, three, two, dot D three, three, three, two dot twenty-seven and you’ll see I’m telling the truth. And while you’re at it, kill that weasel Salidazar, he a traitor and deserves it,” then, the room is silent, as they both look to the ground, one deep in thought, the other, lost deep in connection.

“Message uploaded, and sent, although, there is nothing out there Sir, just, well, nothing, so I se….”

“Trust me there’s something, you just have to keep on sending the message, no matter what, just keep sending it until you’re systems shut off, do you understand?”

“I understand, although, judging from the power drain I am experiencing at the moment, it will be short, and then, I will shut down, which, I am sorry for, by the way Sir. But, may I ask what you are going to do?”

Zander smiles, as he clutches a blade in his hand, “Me, I’m going to celebrate the only way I know how,” he says, as he pulls open the porthole door and charges forward, swinging the blade around, ripping and tearing into the sluggish Reaper’s, the light blinding them to the point of total debilitation. Betha lets out a grunting notise as the power dies, and the lights flicker out.

He stands in the centre of the hallways, as he hears movement, and he smiles. “COME GET SOME!” He yells, as they attack.

The End?

Not BLOODY likely!

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective and Zander’s lover, before the federation came to power Gadamrie boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, she sacrificed her final host so Zander and her unborn seed he carries would survive.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

Last time on Dark Stars…

After attempting to destroy a vital defense weapon for the United Federation, Zander and his crew found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, somehow, Zander, with the aid of Sin, managed to escape Quinn clutches, but he was badly injured in the process, and his crew save from Sin, perished. Waking from a fevered dream, Zander found himself under attack from Federation soldiers, once managing to defeat the attack squad, Zander found out that General Salidazar had been aboard Betha whilst he was unconscious, and could have a connection to the Federation soldiers gaining access to the ship. Tracking the breach back to Salidazar’s quarters, Zander and Sin were sucked into a vortex and found themselves dumped into darkness, and, as they faced more unknown attackers, assistance come from an unlikely source, an alternative version of himself, also trapped in this other world, with Sin’s help, the other version of Zander has a plan to escape, before the Reaper’s get them.

And so we continue…

“And we’re always a problem that’s removed, banished to this place, to die here alone.”

“T-T-There, there has to be some way out of this place, some w….”

“There isn’t I’ve tried, hundreds, thousands before me have tried, and none have made it, everyone who comes here, dies here, end of story, there’s no way home, but…”

“But what?” Zander asks.

“But, with a fully functional Syin-To unit, we might be able to send out a low wave signal that could jumper through the box and signal another version of the unit, and maybe, we might be able to get them to….” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence, as something smashes viciously  against the outside of Betha. “They’ve found us, quickly, we have to send the signal, before it’s to late,” he says as the ships carcass shifts as the Reaper’s attack becomes more aggressive.

“Time’s running out, what do you want him to do?” Zander yells.

“Re-loop his internal comports, set them to an infinite loop, the Reaper’s wont want Sin, they’ll only want us, he’s not organic, and, well, he’s not carrying what they crave!”

“You mean the child?” Zander says, as he clutches his stomach.

“It’s like a drug, when they take in the energy, they act like they’re on some sort of high, tripping out.”

“What? You’ve seen this happen before?”

“Plenty of times, so many versions, so many opportunity, but this time, this time I know how to stop it all from happening, this time, I know how to save us.”

“What the hell are you taking about? This time, you’ve done this before?”

“Yeah, well, never with a  fully functional Syin-To unit, normally they’re damaged, or slightly modded, but yours is as close to mine as I’ve ever seen. So, it’s got to work, I mean it has to right?”

“What has to? The signal? How the hell is that going to help us? Those things….” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence, as the hull tears open, and the Reapers make there way aboard Betha, quickly making their way through her corridors, towards them.

“I’m sorry,” the alternate version says, as Zander feels something slice across the back of his heel, he crashes to his knees, and feels a fist crash into the side of his head, dislodging the device from his face, leaving him in darkness.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Someone has to be bait, if this works, we’ll stop them all, we’ll be heroes.”

“WE’LL BE DEAD!”

“We already are you idiot, the Collective, they’ve been hiving worlds, galaxies, realities, everything for the gems to remake the stone, Halligans Box is her weapon, the Priestess, she exists across all realities, she’s a maker, one of the first, striving for the ultimate power, she want’s all the realities to become one, she wants to merge all things, together, like she is, and she’ll stop everyone in her path.”

“BUT WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ME?” He yells, but receives no reply, and he knows, he is alone, he feels his eyes well up with tears, as he sits in the darkness, he can hear the Reaper’s gaining, coming closer through the corridors. “What does it have to do with me?” He says softly to himself once more.

“It has to do with me,” her voice says inside his head.

“Gadamrie?”

“Hush my love, these things you do, you do for the greater good, one day, I hope you understand,” she says as he feels a coldness enter the room, he can hear slim dripping from their talons, and then, they are upon him , he tries to scream in pain, but nothing comes out, then a bright light, and she is standing there, smiling, her arms out towards him.

To Be Concluded…

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective and Zander’s lover, before the federation came to power Gadamrie boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, she sacrificed her final host so Zander and her unborn seed he carries would survive.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

Last time on Dark Stars…

After attempting to destroy a vital defense weapon for the United Federation, Zander and his crew found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, somehow, Zander, with the aid of Sin, managed to escape Quinn clutches, but he was badly injured in the process, and his crew save from Sin, perished. Waking from a fevered dream, Zander found himself under attack from Federation soldiers, once managing to defeat the attack squad, Zander found out that General Salidazar had been aboard Betha whilst he was unconscious, and could have a connection to the Federation soldiers gaining access to the ship. Tracking the breach back to Salidazar’s quarters, Zander and Sin were sucked into a vortex and found themselves dumped into darkness, and, as they faced more unknown attackers, assistance come from an unlikely source.

And so we continue…

Zander slowly raises the object to his face, and sucks in a deep breath as he looks through it, and sees, a desolate wasteland before him, a graveyard of ships, bodies, planets, and darkness, then movement coming towards them, he look over to the man who stands in front of him, his haggard clothes, torn, his body, covered in scars, his face, dirty, hair covering most of it, but, even then, he recognises him instantly.

“T-T-This can’t be happening, you can’t be who I think you are,” Zander says.

“I am, but, lets get somewhere safe first, there’ll be more Reapers here soon, and we won’t stand a chance. So, if you want to know what the hell is happening, you need to come with me, now, and bring Sin, he might just be our ticket out of here,” He says, as he quickly makes hes way through the ruins, Zander, grabs Sin by the arm and drags him forward as a ear piercing screams fill the air.

“Quickly, we have to move, they’ve got you’re scent,” he says as he guides them deeper into the graveyard, further down, into the depths of dead, and rotting, Zander focuses on following the strange man in front of him, and keeps his eyes away from the bodies that litter the landscape before him, finally, they come to a stop, as the man opens a portal and quickly, they clamber inside the once mighty ship, Zander too recognises it immediately.

“Betha,” Zander says softly.

“She was, a long time ago,” the man says, “before this place, before Halligans Box.”

“S-S-So, it’s true, this, this is Halligans Box?”

“No, this is where Halligans Box dumps you, the nexus point, the end and begins, the tomorrow and yesterday, the was, and was not, this is the runaway zone.”

“The runaway zone?”

“Yeah, it’s my little pet name for this place, you know, the place you want to go, but once you get there, you realise it’s not what you expected it to be,” he says, as he smiles a nervous smile. “Anyway, it’s been a while since I’ve seen someone new, how did it happen? Salidazar?”

“How did you know?” Zander asks.

“Same thing happened to me, once they found out I was carrying Gabamrie’s seed I became a threat to the Federation and the Dark Collective, so they removed me from the playing field the only way they could, by sending me here.”

“That doesn’t make sense, why would the Dark Collective work with the Federation?”

“Because, you’re carrying a new species inside you, one that could ruin both the Federation and Collective’s plans for the universe, and they won’t let some human get in the way of the power stone, not when they’re so close.”

“Power stone?”

“Sin, tell him what the power stone is,” the man says.

“Tell who Sir? Besides yourself, who, I might add, you are having a conversation with, there is no one else here, I can, and will happily, tell you, what you wish to know about the power stone, but there is….”

“Just tell me, I forgot how irritating you can be,” he says quickly.

“Of course, the power stone, if I go by the information I have in my database, is a group of gems that are said to have split from one stone, and if the gems are reunited, the holder of the stone will hold the power of the first, the maker of all that is and was,” Sin says.

“Are we actually all being serious? I mean first Halligans Box, and now a story about some stone that controls everything. Am I the only one who thinks maybe I’m still unconscious, and this is all some weird dream?” Zander says.

“Believe what you want, but it will only end in your death, and in retaliation to the stone, as far as I can tell, it’s what they’re after, each universe, an infinite sea of realities, where choices made a million different changes, reality, after reality, sitting on top of another. But, in all these realities two things seem to be the same, well, in the ones I’ve had contact with anyway. Everyone wants the stone, and….” he says.

“..And?” Zander asks.

“And we’re always a problem that’s removed, banished to this place, to die here alone.”

“T-T-There, there has to be some way out of this place, some w….”

“There isn’t I’ve tried, hundreds, thousands before me have tried, and none have made it, everyone who comes here, dies here, end of story, there’s no way home, but…”

“But what?” Zander asks.

“But, with a fully functional Syin-To unit, we might be able to send out a low wave signal that could jumper through the box and signal another version of the unit, and maybe, we might be able to get them to….” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence, as something smashes viciously  against the outside of Betha. “They’ve found us, quickly, we have to send the signal, before it’s to..”

To Be Continued

The Players so far..

Zander Kane, once a trusted and highly decorated general for the United Federation, Kane betrayed not only his own race, but his own flesh and blood to join the Dark Collective, so he could be with the woman he loved. Now, he rides stardust and slipstreams, captaining the Betha, fighting for the collective, in hope of one day freeing the worlds from the federations ruling grasp.

Syin-To-Twenty-Seven (Sin), Betha’s sentient companion, through the link they share Sin can control and communicate between Betha and Zander, as well as accessing and sometimes controlling other forms of technology.

Gadamrie, a Golden Priestess in the Dark Collective and Zander’s lover, before the federation came to power Gadamrie boasted over one million hosts as part of her mind hive, she sacrificed her final host so Zander and her unborn seed he carries would survive.

General Salidazar, an officer in the Dark Collective, who’s loyalties, may lie somewhere else.

Last time on Dark Stars…

After attempting to destroy a vital defense weapon for the United Federation, Zander and his crew found themselves prisoners of High Lord Quinn, somehow, Zander, with the aid of Sin, managed to escape Quinn clutches, but he was badly injured in the process, and his crew save from Sin, perished. Waking from a fevered dream, Zander found himself under attack from Federation soldiers, once managing to defeat the attack squad, Zander found out that General Salidazar had been aboard Betha whilst he was unconscious, and could have a connection to the Federation soldiers gaining access to the ship. Tracking the breach back to Salidazar’s quarters, Zander and Sin were sucked into a vortex and found themsleves dumped into darkness, where, things we’re about to become a whole lot worse.

And so we continue…

“Halligans Box  is just a legend, left over from a race that disappeared a long time ago, can’t you come up with something a little more believable?”

“Sir, to you , Halligans Box may just be a story, but to my data base, it is very real, the Halgree built the box to vanquish their enemies the Lorikaa some millennia ago. It is told that they placed the box inside a cargo freighter and journeyed towards the border of their system, knowing full well the Lorikaa would attack them, in the struggle the box was opened, and what was once sector twelve-nine-five, ceased to be. The box somehow eventually closed, many believe it became sentient, from all the life it ate, and become full, so it closed its lid, then slept and has, to this day, never been see again.”

“Don’t you think it would be a little-le-le….” Zander’s lip quivers, as he feels something slimy, slowly brings to wrap itself around one of his legs, and then, it tightens, frantically he reaches down and pulls of the grotesque thing that latches itself around his leg, screaming in fear, then it falls still and and it’s grip relaxes. “WHAT THE H….” He doesn’t get to finish his sentence as an unseen had covers his mouth, he feels a warm breath on the back of his neck.

“Quiet,” a voice whispers, “they hear everything, the quieter you are, the longer you live, do you understand?” Zander nods his head, and the hand releases.

“Where is, here? and who are you?”

“We don’t have time for me to answer any of those questions, they’re coming,” the voice hisses in the darkness.

“Move where? I can’t see anything!”

“Here,” the voice says, he feels a hand touch his, handing him some. “Put it on, it’ll enable you to see here, not that you’ll want to, once you do,” he says.

Zander slowly raises the object to his face, and sucks in a deep breath as he looks through it, and sees, a desolate wasteland before him, a graveyard of ships, bodies, planets, and darkness, then movement coming towards them, he look over to the man who stands in front of him, his haggard clothes, torn, his body, covered in scars, his face, dirty, hair covering most of it, but, even then, he recognises him instantly.

“T-T-This can’t be happening, you can’t be who I think you are,” Zander says.

“I am, but, lets get somewhere safe first, there’ll be more Reapers here soon, and we won’t stand a chance. So, if you want to know what the hell is happening, you need to come with me, now, and bring Sin, he might just be our ticket out of here,” He says, as he quickly makes hes way through the ruins, Zander, grabs Sin by the arm and drags him forward as a ear piercing screams fill the air.

To Be Continued