Back on Grondon, Jai sat upon a small boulder deep inside a cliff cavern. Limp hands hung from dirty knees, soaking up warmth from a small campfire. A flickering flame reflected off tired eyes. Cracked lips emerged from a layer of frozen saliva, giving his mouth a much-needed soak. He stared at the opposite wall several meters away, a blank canvas of blackened stone that allowed his mind to reset.
Jai and his Trevor cloak had followed the river basin and discovered an ancient lava chute. He gathered an armful of twigs and brush, then ventured down into the cave until he could feel his face again. The craggy tunnel offered a warm reprieve from the unforgiving landscape. The local wildlife used the tunnel for the exact same reason, as evidenced by the putrid air and fresh droppings. Jai had pressed on until he stubbed his toe on a small boulder. A stumble, yelp, and sigh concluded his exploration. He dropped the brush, set it aflame, and cursed the need to do so.
Despite the predicament, Jai enjoyed a rare moment of peace and quiet. The roaring wind faded to a distant hum. For once, he could hear his own breath and sense his heart beating inside his chest. Neck bones popped as he rolled his head from side to side, prompting a moan and scowl. His gaze fell to a blood-stained blazer that raised and lowered with each breath. The corner of his comdev poked through the fabric, hooking his attention. He reached into his breast pocket and retrieved the device. The screen was shattered, likely from the crash or the freezing water, maybe both. He grunted and tossed it into the floor muck.
A steady drip of blood echoed around the hollow, even though Jai was unharmed. Green drops spurted from his fashionable Trevor cloak. They splashed into the muck, only to slither back into the gutted body and fall again. Chunks of flesh had followed Jai into the cavern, desperate to reunite with their owner. Trevor’s lifeless head flopped backwards like a sweater hood. Flimsy arms draped across Jai’s chest with hands bound at the wrists. A bloody torso sliced from groin to neck clung to Jai’s back like a grisly cape.
Having restored some circulation, Jai removed his gory cloak and tossed it over the fire. It splatted against a rock on the other side, like a wet towel hitting a tile floor. Flesh nubs and green puddles rushed over to merge with the pile. Soon after, a reconstituted Trevor began to stir. An array of wet snaps filled the cavern, like a rookie doctor resetting a bone over and over. With a final clack, Trevor blinked to life and started to assess the situation. The crackling embers hooked his attention first. He eyed the broken comdev, then raked his gaze over the interior. It took a little while, but he finally locked eyes with the meaty thug staring at him through the flames. Trevor flinch-yelped, then grumbled and crossed his arms like a petulant child.
“That was a dick move,” he said.
Jai raised an eyebrow.
“We could have cuddled to achieve the same effect.”
Jai lowered the eyebrow.
“But, but, I can see why you did it. Just, warn me next time.” Trevor grimaced as he stretched away some gutting soreness. “So where are we?”
“In a cave.”
“Duh.”
Jai tightened his gaze.
Trevor immediately tempered his attitude. “No, sorry, I mean, are we still on Grondon or what?”
“Yeah, a few klicks up from the crash. But, we have no coms, no food, no nothing. We need a workable plan to get off this rock.”
“On it.” Trevor crossed his legs, folded his hands, and closed his eyes, assuming a contemplation pose.
Jai shook his head.
Trevor thought for a while, then grasped his knees and opened his eyes. “Any chance the ship coms survived?”
“The ship was on fire before it sank into an icy river.”
“So, no chance?”
“Feel free to swim out and check.”
Trevor sneered in response.
Jai rubbed his face and exhaled a heavy sigh. “Our best bet is to hike back to the rebel outpost. Maybe they deserted in haste, left some ports unlocked. If we’re lucky, we might be able to—” Jai froze for a moment, then raised a puzzled gaze to the ceiling.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Did you hear that?”
Trevor shrugged. “Hear what?”
Jai grabbed a burning branch from the fire and climbed to his feet. He held the torch overhead and started walking towards the entrance. Trevor stood from the dirty floor and followed close behind as Jai hurried down the tunnel with a laser-like focus. The peculiar thumps, like bass drums off in the distance, grew louder and louder as they neared the exit. Jai rounded a final corner, bringing the white landscape of Grondon into view. He stepped outside onto the cliff ledge and surveyed the river basin. Nothing. The rumbling rapids served as a muted backdrop. Puffs of steam rose from the torch as snow flurries needled the flame.
Another boom, this time distinctly overhead.
Jai clenched his lips and lifted his gaze to the sky.
Trevor unleashed a blood-curdling shriek and staggered backwards. He tripped over a rock, tumbled to the ground, scrambled to his feet, and disappeared into the cave.
Jai continued his perplexing study of the sky, wondering when his brain would stop fucking with him. The ground rumbled beneath his feet, spilling snow over the ledge and confirming the batshit crazy insanity infecting his eye holes. He nodded, spun around, and sprinted back into the cave while screaming like a banshee.
The image of shattered planetary pillars filled the skies of Grondon (and every other world inside the Terramesh). Gigantic shards of steel shimmered overhead, the remnants of massive nuclear blasts. The sky bridges had peeled back like mangled flowers, freeing the worlds from bondage. A lethal rain of shrapnel tore through the space in between, destroying ships and painting atmospheres with streaks of fire. The unbound planets began to roam inside a cauldron of gravitational chaos.
A monstrous shockwave hit the planet surface, jostling the cavern and ripping cracks along the interior. Slabs of rock detached from the ceiling and splashed into the muck. Trevor shuffled his screams and curses as he trotted down the tunnel. Jai caught up and slammed Trevor into the wall as he passed. Another shockwave hit the surface. Fissures swelled, dropping giant boulders into the cavern. Jai kept a frantic pace with torch outstretched, wearing an expression of terrified determination. The guiding flame faded into the distance as Trevor lagged behind.
Jai skidded to a halt inside a large opening. His meager torch failed to illuminate the whole interior. Frightened eyes scanned the darkness for a glimmer of hope. Trevor caught up soon after, opting to hang back at the cavern mouth. Jai spun around in the dark empty, his hurried breaths turning into grunts of panic.
A deafening crash shook the hollow, triggering a violent earthquake. The impact tossed them to the ground. A fissure split the opening down the center, revealing a lake of boiling lava far below. A fiery glow filled the crevasse as sections of the floor crumbled and fell away. Jai scurried back from the chasm and pinned himself against the wall. He glanced over to Trevor, who clung to the cave mouth for dear life. Stone and dust continued to rain into the tunnel. Another violent crash ripped chunks of rock from the walls and ceiling. Jai waved Trevor over, only to watch a boulder fall and crush him. A splatter of blood and guts painted the floor green.
Jai recoiled, then shrugged. “He’ll be fine.”
He continued down the perilous ledge, crawling on all fours towards another cave. The lava below started to rise, prompting Jai to yelp and scurry forward like a frightened toddler. A thunderous crack pierced his ears as a section of the floor ahead broke off and fell away. It splashed into the lava below, tossing ribbons of molten rock onto the walls. Jai barked with frustration and whipped his gaze around for another out. Nothing. With death closing in, he was forced to climb to the next ledge. He grabbed a solid hold along the jagged wall and lifted his meaty frame. At that moment, the ledge beneath him gave way and fell into the fire, leaving him to the mercy of his own grip.
Jai Ferenhal dangled above a lake of lava with nothing but his finger strength preventing death. He glanced at the tunnel, then down to the lava, then back to the tunnel, then over to the splatter that used to be Trevor. With his fate all but determined, he closed his eyes and banged his forehead against the rock, barking curses with each hit.
And now he saw stars. Or rather, what he thought were stars. Ribbons of light started swirling around his dangling body. His fingers trembled as the glowing cocoon built to a crescendo. He closed his eyes and gnashed his teeth, but the last of his strength left his body. Wails of despair escaped his lungs as he started to fall, but a blinding flash yanked him into the ether.
* * *
Lord Essien squealed with delight as the 86 unshackled planets of the Terramesh crashed into each other. The shiny red button had triggered a monumental fireworks display, compliments of cleaver nukes placed along the pylons. The blasts severed the mighty pillars like razors through string. Their signature red discs expanded from white-hot bursts, freeing every world from bondage and gifting them to the gods of gravity. The planets swirled like marbles in a bowl before succumbing to a colossal crunch. The city planet of Jarovy disappeared beneath an onslaught of falling sky. 86 worlds fused into a single lumpy mass. The impacts threw giant chunks of earth into orbit, resembling a haze of dust. The red rings of annihilation faded into nothing, leaving a calamity of unspeakable proportions.
Nifan floated over to her mistress and cradled her arm while gauging her reaction. Essien remained enchanted by the grisly sight, sporting a wide grin that exposed her teeth. She squeezed Nifan’s hand and sniffled.
“This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” she said, then met eyes with Nifan. “Thank you.”
“My gift to you,” Nifan said.
They leaned in for a kiss.
Zoey, Perra, and Max stood off to the side, donning an array of horrified faces. Zoey cupped the back of her head and contorted her mouth like a baby eating broccoli. Perra covered her face with both hands and peeked through her fingers, as if hate-watching a snuff film. Max spanned the spectrum, shifting between utter confusion and dry heaves. Even Henry raised his eyebrows, the Boobybork equivalent of a terrified gasp. Ross, on the other hand, responded with a nod of admiration and remained on the couch for a crotch licking session. After all, the Fifth Force of Nature had seen (and caused) some serious shit.
“And just like that,” Nifan said to Essien, “you are the sole survivor of your race, just like me.”
“I haven’t the words,” Essien said. “It’s more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.”
“Like you.”
Essien giggled and cradled her lover’s arm.
“Let me get this straight,” Perra said as she lowered her hands to her chest. “You planned this entire thing ... to win back your girlfriend?”
Nifan smirked. “We do anything for the ones we love.”
Perra twitched an eye. “What?”
Zoey clawed at her lips and cheeks. “You just murdered countless civilizations to impress an ex? Fuck me sideways, what’s wrong with flowers?”
Essien shrugged. “Genocide is kinda my thing.”
“I know my Essy Wessy,” Nifan said.
The ladies giggled and kissed again.
“That ...” Max said, searching for the proper phrase to convey her shock and awe, “... is hardcore.”
“You guys are easily impressed,” Ross said.
The group turned to the feline on the couch.
“Just saying, I’ve seen grander tokens of affection.”
Nifan grunted and crossed her arms. “Like what?”
“Ever heard of the Sheevian Titans?”
Blank stares responded.
Ross grimaced and shook his head. “No, of course you haven’t. They were godlike beings that once roamed the far reaches of the universe. When they copulated, they triggered radioactive discharges that made gamma-ray bursts look like firecrackers. Their lustful thrusting created enough force and energy to forge new elements. There’s a better than average chance that the metal around your neck was created during one of their star-destroying orgasms. Their courtship dances disrupted the flows of galaxies, causing gravitational waves that warped the very fabric of spacetime.”
Essien deflated a bit.
Nifan glared at the feline.
“But no, this was cute.” Ross shrug-nodded and offered a furry thumbs-up. “Good job.”
Nifan stepped to the couch and leaned over it, resting her fists on the cushions. “Cute? Cute? This was a brilliant fucking piece of intricate planning, you little shit. This was an opera of chaos, a symphony of destruction. Every felled city, every snuffed civilization, every death, all of it, for the woman I love. I wrought—”
Ross yawned. “Sorry, keep going.”
Nifan huffed in a rare moment of fluster.
Essien rushed over to intervene. She hooked Nifan’s arm and pulled her from the couch while rubbing her back like a comforting mother. “It’s okay, just ignore him. The gift was perfect. I loved it, truly and honestly.”
Nifan lowered her voice. “Little prick thinks he knows true love.”
“I know, he thinks he knows everything.”
Ross winked at Nifan.
“Dude,” Max said to Ross, then spread her arms as if to shout why the fuck are you goading a criminal mastermind that just joined the mass-murdering hall of fame?
Ross smirked and tilted his head, replying with like, duh, ye forget who I am?
Max slouched and grimaced.
“Question,” Zoey said with a touch of bother. “Am I the only one here still tripping biscuits over 86 planets worth of cold-blooded carnage?”
Perra raised her hand.
Nifan jerked free from Essien’s grasp and stomped over to Zoey. Her malicious gaze burned into the Mulgawat as a final step brought them face to face. “Carnage? No, this is creation. I have given birth to a new empire.”
Zoey shook her head. “Only a coward kills from afar.”
Nifan slapped her across the cheek, whipping her head to the side. Zoey returned her gaze with a slow twist, eyeing her adversary through a spiteful glare. Perra stepped behind her beau and grasped her shoulder.
“Mind your tongue, Mulgawat. You retain your head by my grace alone.”
“You said our obligation was fulfilled,” Perra said from over Zoey’s shoulder. “I think it’s time for us to go.”
Nifan let out a sinister chuckle. “Silly girl, you think this is over? Oh no, little lamb. Your role in this revival has just begun.”
Zoey wiped a dollop of blood from her lip. “I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”
“Yes you did.”
“You want to roll those dice with the Council of Loken? Or the PCDS?”
Nifan glanced into the black where the Terramesh husk floated like a mangled corpse. “What makes you think I fear a bunch of peacekeepers or a courier company?”
Zoey stowed her breath.
Nifan locked eyes with her. “On this day, I render their power and influence obsolete. I do not fear them, nor do I contend with them. I am them.”
Zoey glanced back to Perra, who reflected the dejection. A heavy sigh escaped her lungs as she surveyed the field of destruction. She bowed her head for a moment, then donned a submissive gaze.
“Good girl,” Nifan said with a soft whisper and stroked her cheek with the back of her hand.
Zoey squirmed and recoiled.
“Your role from here is actually quite simple. Remember what you saw today and proclaim it to the universe. I want every Loken member, every courier, and every drunkard in every port to know that a new era has begun. You tell them all that The Dossier and Lord Essien have united to rule the black. Our reign shall—”
A violent crash jostled the stealth ship, yanking everyone off their feet. Nifan and Essien tumbled backwards into the bar and kissed the floor. Snifters shot from the counter and smashed to pieces. Henry pinned himself against a wall and drew his pistol. Zoey and Perra staggered into the nearby couch and tumbled over the side. Ross sank his claws into the cushions, ripping the expensive fabric. The coffee table hurled into the wall and shattered on impact, raining penis treats and other noms around the room. Max thumped her back to the floor, forcing the air from her lungs. She hooked an arm around a bar leg and gasped for breath.
Lord Essien scrambled to her feet and whipped her gaze around the chamber. “The fuck was that?!”
Another blast rattled the ship and sent her tumbling to the floor.
“Tatia, report!” Nifan said.
“Unknown assailants,” the stealth ship AI said. “Shields ineffective.”
“What?! That’s impossible!”
“What tech are you using?” Essien said.
“Halim design, above high-military. It’s impenetrable.”
“Apparently not.”
Another blast rumbled the ship, prompting a barrage of yelps and curses. Nifan clung to a bar leg as glasses smashed the floor around her. Zoey and Perra fought for balance atop a wandering sofa. Ross remained affixed to the cushion and rode it like a plush surfboard. Lord Essien pressed her palms to the transparent wall and tried to assess the situation. Her gaze darted around the black before spotting a curious sight above the ship.
“What the fuck are those things?”
Max angled for a view, then burst into laughter.
“What is it?” Zoey said.
Max slowed to a giggle and turned to Nifan. “Oh wow, you done pissed off the nerd brigade.”