Ghosts of Lyarra (12 page)

‘Stand
By.’

“What do we do?” Onai asked sheepishly, her soft voice breaking the deafening silence in the Operations Control
room.

The door opened to reveal the captain of the Ifierin forces – Axyn - who had a look of uncertainty in his eyes that Lyxia had never once seen before. He was the rock on this ship; her sounding board for all the bullshit that came with command and the source of sage advice when needed. But looking at him, she was certain there was no advice as he was lost like all the others on board. It was her turn to be the rock; her turn to be the voice of reason in the eye of the
storm.

“We wait and calm ourselves.” Lyxia said, staring her captain straight in the
eyes.

She saw how desperate he was to rush into a battle somewhere to enact vengeance the only way he knew how. But this wasn’t the time, and this enemy was different than any other the Empire had ever encountered. He was cunning and careful, as well as, after someone that obviously wished to stay out of
sight.

“We study the attacks and pick them apart to look for clues.” She continued. “Analyse the explosions for any hint of the device used. Review the vids transmitted and see if we can find anything that can lead us to this creature’s identity. If we can find that, then let’s find who he’s after. If we can know that, then we will know where to find this bastard when he
strikes!”

There was a moment of silence which was broken by Axyn snapping to attention and saluting his commander with his arms crossed against his chest and a slight bow. She had given him a task; one that could occupy him and his men so that they wouldn’t dwell on vengeance and start being foolish. As he spun on his heels and left, she turned and saw her crew hard at work also. They all went to work to find any clues as they waited for orders, if there would be any forthcoming from Fleet
Com.

Lyxia sunk back in her chair and breathed deeply. She had found strength to get them back on track, but she wondered for how long. Now that she had them busy, Lyxia wondered what she could do to keep her mind busy. Although she looked strong and in control, inside her soul was shattered. First Aen, now Iana had been ripped from her heart. It would be only so much longer before she would break, and she hoped it would be in private so not to undo all the good she had started
here.

—
Sol System; Between Saturn and Jupiter

It had been a few days since the show - so to speak - and Aen was restless as he watched the small spot of light in the distance that was Sol grow larger every few hours. It had been difficult for him to let go and let the AI take control of the vessel, but he was confident it was now on their side and no longer a threat at turning them in. Even harder was, speeding farther away from the one being he wished to be with as Lyxia was the only part of his former life he remembered. It tore him apart inside to be so close yet not be able to reach out to her, but the task at hand made it impossible for him to appease his heart; everything would be undone if she knew he was
alive!

The journey to Earth would take a little over a few weeks at these speeds and although the ship was indiscernible from the blackness of space and the engine exhaust baffled and cooled to avoid detection, there was still a chance that it could be seen under the right scanner settings and under the glare of the powerful sun. As they neared the Jupiter orbital defense ring, Aen grew ever more concerned that despite his best planning, the impressive shield the humans had built may be the one thing that did them
in!

It was the part of the plan that was completely out of his control, and in the hands of the ever unpredictable and high strung Caretaker. Although he noted his past dealings with the AI were strong and trustworthy, Aen was not the same person he was five years ago. It was this little part of the plan that kept him awake now; his body could resist sleep for long periods of time but slumber clawed at him desperately now as it had been weeks since his last
rest.

“You need to rest, child.” Iana whispered as she eased herself in the seat beside
him.

Aen noticed how even away from the public eye, every movement she had was delicate and sultry. There was a fluidity to her being that amazed him and stirred feelings of lust deep within his core. But he knew this was her weapon; her way of disarming all those around her and rendered predators into prey even though she did it subconsciously. Iana was truly unique; despite it getting in the way of him chasing his heart, Aen was glad he had chosen to save this creature. Beings like her were rare and priceless; seeing her thrown to the wolves that had encircled her, would have been such a
waste.

“Once we are safely on the other side of those cannons I will.” He replied softly; matching the tone of her whisper. “This is where it all could go wrong and if I am not ready, then I can’t defend you when it all goes
south.”

“It will all be fine!” she rubbed his shoulder reassuringly. “Caretaker is already patched into the human defense grid and will create quite the distraction so we can slip by unnoticed. The ship you acquired is quite impressive and will take care of the rest with its stealth technology. The Forgotten commissioned these craft to slip in and out of warzones and such without being seen or heard; it is fitting that those who wished harm on me are the ones that supply the best tool to keep me
safe.”

“
A tool, I must say, that is nothing without the one that wields it
.” Caretaker interjected. “
And although my feelings are a bit hurt by your lack of faith in me Aen, I too am committed to the Empress’ safety. I have taken your plan and added a bit more depth to the distraction. The humans will be quite busy as we steal past them behind their
backs
.”

“And how much longer until we reach maximum sensor range of Jupiter Station?” Aen
asked.

“
Thirty six hours, fifty two minutes and seventeen seconds until we reach the normal sensor range of the Jupiter array. But given the specifications of this ship and its capabilities we should be able to get much closer to them then that before I must trigger the distraction
.” Caretaker chimed
proudly.

“So you have time to rest without worry of my safety.” Iana cooed softly. “The sleeping quarters are quite adequate considering this is a vessel of death.” She quickly stood and grabbed his hands in an attempt to lead him. “Come, I will show you the
way.”

At first, Aen was amazed at how quickly she had transitioned from a relaxed seated position beside him to standing before him and tugging at his arms for him to rise. It was inconceivable that a being of flesh and blood could move that fast, yet he began to realize there was much to Iana he had to learn. Begrudgingly, Aen rose and let her pull him away from his vigil of the stars and towards the belly of the ship to where he may rest. Her manner was loving and appreciative; her touch soothing and sincere. The mighty living weapon had been disarmed in a matter of seconds by the recently deceased Queen of
Heaven.

He followed in a trance; still not sure what kind of hold she had on him as they moved silently to the sleeping quarters. Aen didn’t even feel time pass; his surroundings were unimportant as he remained fixated on his guide. It was only as she helped him lay down on the bed that he became aware that he was in a dark room and not the brightly lit control room. As much as he tried to resist her, he was helpless like a newborn baby in her
hands.

“Nothing will change while you sleep.” Iana cooed as his eyes began to shut by themselves. “I realize the last time you slept was within the ice, but I promise you I will be here when you wake. You came for me in my darkest hour, and I will be forever in your debt for
that.”

Aen wanted to speak, but felt the energy leaving his body as sleep began to drag him down in its sweet embrace. He felt the fabric of the blanket touch his skin as she covered him where he lay. Then he felt her lips on his eyelids; as if to seal him in his trance with a kiss until she called for him once more. As he slid the rest of the way down into his sleep, he heard her voice call out to him as if she were standing on a cliff far above
him.

“Rest my angel of light; for when you awake, we will have to work hard to undo all the destruction we have
wrought.”

Quickly he fell asleep and immediately his heart took his subconscious to the one place his will had denied him; into the arms of the blue eyed Lyxia. His dreams were much the same as they were when he was lost in the ice and snow in the outlying barrens of the galaxy; he was warm and at peace in bed with her. A smile appeared on his face as he slumbered; not a huge grin, but a smile of contentment. Here at last, he was at
peace.

Iana looked down on him as he rested and watched the smile break the solemn frown he had worn over the last few months. She knew the only thing he remembered was Lyxia, and though the circumstances would deny his heart what it so longed for, she could at least let him be with her like this. After all, even the best weapon needed to be reset once in a
while.

—
Sol System; Lyarran Vessel Dark Light,
Neptune Orbit Range

It had taken a few days, but the Empire finally began to stir in the aftermath of the death of their matriarch. First thing was that Fleet Command declared martial law and took charge of the Empire as a whole. Immediately after, Fleet Com suspended the Council indefinitely as, until they caught the killer politics were the last thing that was needed. It was a move that took the governing body of the Empire by surprise, for the first time in its ten thousand year existence it now existed as a military state not a
republic.

The move didn’t surprise Lyxia; she had asked her ship’s VI to look through the emergency files to see what the contingency plans were for such an event. Though this was an extreme event, the Empire had plans for any such occurrences; except for how to deal with this new threat of a masked madman. Soon after the news broke of martial law, the Dark Light had received their orders. They were to stand guard at the borders of the newest addition to the Empire and protect the already shaken inhabitants of Terra Sol from what would surely be attempts to steal some of the bountiful resources the humans had. The Sol system was in need of protection, as the humans only had their shield of cannons to hide behind but no fleet to engage an enemy head
on.

At first, Lyxia had been happy about the orders for them to stay put. She would have ample opportunity to scroll through ancient files pertaining to something the humans called ‘terrorist activity’. She strongly believed that the key to catching this monster lay here, but yet she paused in contacting her friend Sara
Foster.

It was a nagging feeling; an odd sensation that grasped her heart strongly and she wasn’t able to shake. Shortly after receiving the new orders, she had taken leave of the Ops Con and retreated back to her quarters to compose herself when she began to feel it. Feelings of longing and hope pulled at her; feelings that had no place in the here and now considering recent events, yet here she was feeling them. Sitting on her bed, she began to understand that these were the same feelings she had whenever she had seen Aen and it puzzled
her.

Like everyone else, she had watched him die. But even though he wasn’t there with her, she never lost the faith that he actually survived. The Empress always skirted around the subject with her, saying words that led her heart and mind in circles without ever answering the question. All she knew was that he wasn’t there now, but yet in the darkest of times she began to feel him once more. Lyxia’s emotions began to break under the strain; the weight of such horrors levied upon them all came crashing down as tears flowed like rivers down her cheeks. Yet despite the desperation and sorrow surrounding her, there was a feeling of warmth in her heart. It was almost as she could feel his arms around her; a touch she had never felt but dreamt about endlessly. Closing her eyes, she laid back on the bed and let her dreams carry her away. She dreamed about the creature with the blazing black eyes with the horizon of blue fire behind them as he held her tightly. Here she could be with him; here she would never let him go and she was safe from all the terrible things that were happening. Here, she was finally with
Aen!

—
Sol System; Between Saturn and Jupiter

“
Was it wise to do that to him
?” Caretaker asked her; being ever careful not to upset the Empress of the Lyarran
Empire.

Despite being technically dead, she had just showed how powerful she really was by taming the wild and mindless beast that Aen had become and put him to sleep against his will. Despite all it knew of her - and its files held extensive research on her - it was truly amazed at what had
transpired.

“And what good what he have done us when exhaustion took him over when we need him the most?” Iana replied with a hint of annoyance. “Despite his endless power, I am sure it had been more than a few months since he rested, and maybe even three years since he truly slept. No, my dear over advanced friend, what I did was for the greater good and will serve us all well in the long
run.”

Caretaker paused to contemplate this; the simple fact that this powerhouse had been without REM sleep in three years was a testament to the power that raged inside him. Files on Aen were thin; and all were documented by its observations of him; so there was little data to go towards such a theory. But Aen did have a star burning bright within his chest and was a being unlike any other in the known universe, so there could be little to challenge the fact that he had been awake for three years consecutively. After a few seconds; a lifetime for an AI; he concurred with Iana’s theories and
methods.