CHAPTER 4
A monomolecular net was an insidious weapon.
It was designed specifically against any type of body armour, including eka shields, and took advantage of any gap in defences no matter how small. It worked by projecting a network of intelligent filaments that could contract down to the width of a molecule, if needed, and burrow through any chinks it could find, expanding back on the other side. Its range was mercifully small, five or six paces at most and then the smart network started to dissipate.
An Order shield could have been impervious if correctly done. A shield of Frost was not perfectly sealed, through adequate against most kind of threats. Not against a monomolecular net, shot point-blank by an angry bird.
Both Del and Ortense were stopped in their tracks by the shiny net splashing against the adept’s shield. Splashing and passing right through. The Frost mistress had the presence of mind to throw an ice plate immediately behind the shield, but couldn’t complete it in time, and in any event, it was just a temporary measure that only gained her a blink of an eye. Enough for me to shroud both Haillar in a cocoon of Order. They were both out of action though, the Sen’Galahad bleeding from a thousand shallow cuts, Del’s chest churned into a mess of raw meat. Not far from them, a corpse laid in a pool of blood. Second Legate Halora hadn’t survived, after all.
I was left standing in the open door, flanked by the two remaining adepts who were in any shape to fight. Quars Mendina and another diplomate whose name I couldn’t remember found shelter further back, behind a bulkhead.
“Ah, the young diplomat turned hero, leading the charge,” croaked Krestellar, his hand stretched towards us, monomolecular glove ready to fire. On either side of him, four burly reptiloids looked eager to use their high calibre weapons levelled our way. The kreussa were already here.
“Are they your fabled suppliers, master Krestellar?”
The avian issued an odd sound I belatedly realised was a chuckle.
“Quite the contrary, young lady. They are the customers, I’m afraid. And there is an entire fleet of them on the way, ready to make a point if needed.”
I had expected a net in my face or maybe a hail of penetrators. The last thing I expected was to have a chat with this traitor over the bleeding body of my friend.
The station master appeared to be in a chatty mood, or most likely wanted something from us. Having removed any serious threats, I seemed to be the one he had chosen for stating his demands.
“Your meddling has complicated an otherwise neat transaction, Haillar. I had promised these gentlemen half of the funds received for arming this station, in exchange for their support. The issue is, now I don’t have those credits, and after having to take care of your lot not even a fool like Erdolminer would be stupid enough to make the transfer.”
So, this entire affair was just an ordinary theft, albeit a grand scale robbery by the look of it. A scam that looked increasingly likely to evolve into extorsion, if I read the situation correctly. A step down from high treason and collusion with the Scourge, but only just.
I had to wrap this out as soon as possible. Del was bleeding to death on the floor, and the Resident didn’t look much better. We had another wounded adept left behind.
“What do you want from us,” I asked.
Krestellar gave an unspoken command, and the bridge screen came to life. A mottled assortment of warships looked to be suspended in space above a blue moon I recognised in an instance. The kreussa fleet must now be close, hidden on the other side of Caldeor’s satellite.
“I need you to be a messenger of sorts, young lady. I need you to pass my requests to the Dominion authorities. I want them to double Caldeor’s funds initially assigned for this station, or the entire colony below would suffer a terrible accident. I’ll undertake to convince the King myself to cover his share, as per our original plan. Oh, and of course, if any Dominion carrier shows itself in the system, this planet burns.”
Well, I had news for this pirate and thief. The relevant Dominion authorities were already in the system.
“Consider the Suzerain Queen informed,” I say, gathering my eka at the same time.
An Oblivion blast is instantaneous, and there is no mundane defence against it. Furthermore, it has the added benefit of only affecting living matter. We couldn’t quite afford to wreck the remaining part of the Huynar station, or we’d be left breathing vacuum in orbit around Caldeor.
An Oblivion blast is an ugly way to die, but I didn’t have time to be nice. I was strong enough to make it mercifully quick. With a clatter, five heavy calibre guns and a monomolecular glove hot the deck in quick succession.
I crouched immediately by Del’s side. Oh Flame, her chest was a bloody mess of shards of bone and raw tissue. I started feeding as much eka I could, feeling it wouldn’t be enough. Next to me, the grizzled healer kneeled and joined me, melding his Life tendrils with my own. I caught his eyes, and he shook his head sadly.
“Stay with me, Delora! Stay with me, my friend! Don’t die on me, Del. Don’t die, remember your promise.”
Delora’s eyes widened for a moment, pools of black on her pain-stricken face. I was the only one calling her Del, the only one knowing about her promise. The two of us together, bringing a new race into the Dominion.
“Xendara, is that you? But how, my queen?”
“I’m here with you, my friend. Hold on and let me help. Hold on and live, it’s not your time to die.”
I never lied, but in those moments, I knew myself to be a liar, for no one, not even the Life Queen could hope to bring Delora back. Not the way her chest was shattered. Not here, on an empty station, with no way to keep her alive while bones and tissues would be slowly regrown. Not here, surrounded by enemies and waiting for the kreussa fleet to act any moment from now.
Del grasped my hand, her fist clenched in my fist. A final hold, so much similar with the way we used to clasp hands when she was the Novitiate Delora Hardun and me a newly ascended queen, pretty much as I was now. Moments later her hand opened and fell weakly, as the last tortured breath left her shattered chest and her spirit raised to the stars.
I knew myself for being a fraud then and there. I kneeled next to the body of my friend on Huynar’s Bridge, or whatever name the driang gave to their command centre. I was supposed to be the powerful one, the immortal defender of my race. Yet, I was unable to cheat death, no not really, not when it mattered. I even failed the people I loved.
I should have told Del the truth. I should have been by her side. I, the Chaos Queen, not the Sen’Galahad Resident. My friend was dead, and it was mostly my fault.
I was like a puppet on strings, playing the same act over and over again and each time hoping it would end differently. Each time to the same tragic finale. Everyone died, and I was the only one left standing, to start the life and death cycle once again.
“My lady, is it true? Are you her, are you the Chaos Queen reborn?”
I raised my eyes to the blood-drenched silhouette of Ortens Sen’Galahad, her white dress shredded by a hundred cuts, her shoulder a mess. I looked around and noticed the survivors. Quars Mendina, no longer prim and groomed. The other diplomat, miraculously unhurt. The two surviving adepts from Ortens’ detail, one of them the elderly healer.
“I am,” I said, gathering my last shards of will and slowly raising up. Turning to face the screen and the space panorama outside. The planet below, dotted with city lights and the blue satellite in the distance. Dozens of shimmering shards coming around the moon, coming towards us. The kreussa.
“I am Ellandra Ashar Sen Dorien, the Chaos Queen and Suzerain Lady of Caldeor. And I fear we have a marauder fleet to welcome.” And a friend to avenge.