The StarForger was on the drift between Sehnack and Evinia as Ono had returned to a catatonic state. Her consciousness was overrun by the soul infusions from Sarker, Sylvex and Kinubec. The world around her was pink—just like the AccuHomi. She was sitting in a meditation position as she opened her eyes. Theriac was across from her.
How do you feel, Contessa?
Stronger.
And? Don’t be afraid. You can tell me.
More aware. Like I can feel beyond the physical.
Can you feel Kalene?
Yes. I can. She’s angry with me.
No. She isn’t. She just doesn’t understand what you have done for her. What you have done for them all. The Lodricans persisted in a terrible way. Their kind nearly wiped out through generations of war and unrest. You have alleviated their burdens. Washed away their iniquities. You have liberated them.
Then why doesn’t it feel like I’m doing the right thing?
Because doing the right thing takes courage. You were chosen for a reason. The AccuHomi was waiting for you. Not Kalene. Not Sylvex. Not Kinubec. The same that it had done for me. You were chosen because you are strong. The perfect steward for a new era.
Ono gazed upon the Conesan. His disposition was warm and inviting. She desperately wanted to please him and the AccuHomi.
Now finish what I started so long ago.
Before she could even process his words, Theriac jumped forward—directly into her body. She started convulsing as she was having a metaphysical experience. The AccuHomi’s energy surged through her as the souls of Sarker, Sylvex and Kinubec became dormant. She had them under control—just as Theriac said she would. The pink world that surrounded her came crashing down. She opened her eyes—Evinia was still up ahead.
The StarForger’s autopilot had brought her right where she needed to be, even though she didn’t remember turning it on. She deactivated it and took control of the reins. The fighter entered the moon’s airspace—traveling high above the rocky surface.
Ono was more determined than ever to heed the cull and fulfill her destiny.
⧖
The StarForger was closing in on the Evinia moon base. The Yellow Rover was docked at the landing zone, underneath the transparent biodome that led to the facility. Ono flew the fighter over top—angling the reins to her right, so she could observe the surface below. On the backside of the compound was a second, smaller LZ—that appeared to be large enough for the StarForger to fit within.
She slowed the StarForger’s velocity—swirling above the base until she had quelled its momentum almost completely. The fighter’s brackets extended as she descended it slowly, very slowly. It touched down with barely a bounce. That may have been her best landing yet. She looked above her and noticed that the biodome was still open.
How did she do this again?
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, she was transported to the StarForger’s navigational seat. The display screen revealed the command prompt as Sarker activated the biodome at the Cirix facility.
A smooth landing would aid her in her quest, while a loud one would only delay the inevitable. Ono snapped out of her vision and searched through the StarForger’s system interface. She located the command prompt and activated it. The surface shifted beneath her as a secondary biodome was forming above her.
Ono smiled. The fact that she was now able to tap into Sarker’s consciousness for vital information was a godsend. Theriac’s words rang true. The AccuHomi was a gift—one that she should be grateful she was selected for.
She opened the canopy and raised her hands. She smiled as there was no hard vacuum against her. She unfastened her harness and rose to her feet, turning back to the corpse of Sarker. She unfastened Sarker’s harness and yanked on her spacesuit neckline. With her free hand, Ono snatched her sidearm—tethering it to her left hip. Now, she had two sidearms. She put her backpack on next before climbing out of the StarForger. She walked to the compound’s rear entrance.
There was another hexagonal control panel awaiting her. She smirked. Theriac’s consciousness was also inside her and would be able to guide her from here. She raised her hand to the top of the panel and ran it straight across before changing direction and descending vertically at a forty-five-degree angle to her left. She then went back across the bottom to her right before completing the hourglass pyramid with another forty-five-degree angle ascending vertically to her left.
She waited as the compound’s internal system processed the alignment. All of the hexagonal pieces pushed inward, opening the door. She entered the decompression area to see another control panel. She completed the same process again as the outer door closed behind her.
At the end of this decompression area was a mirror. Only, the mirror was showing the base corridor on the other side of it. She pushed against the door with one hand, but it did not budge. She tried again—this time using both hands as it began to move.
Ono entered the corridor and scanned the area before her. It was empty and quiet. The perfect storm. She turned back to the decompression door and brought the mirrored door back to its original position. She turned back to the corridor and took a deep breath. Kinubec’s consciousness was now back to the forefront of her own. His enhanced vision was allowing her to see that there were two lifeforms in a room to her left. The lifeforms were not static though.
She moved towards the door and quietly entered. It was steamy and there was a superfluous amount of grunting and moaning happening ahead of her. Ono observed Zepeda and Hartwell stark naked, kissing—while engaged in aggressive, missionary style sex on a slab. This was not love. It was lust. In all of its beautiful glory.
“Uh. Don’t stop Quin. Harder. Harder. Oh. I’m almost there. Don’t stop.”
Hartwell was pumping with every fiber of his being. The amount of strength he had was impressive—maybe even a tad animalistic. Ono closed the door behind her. She pulled her sidearm from its right tether and took a deep breath. She turned back to them and raised her sidearm. She aimed the sidearm until she located the area of his back that would be closest to his heart.
She released a single fusion bullet as it entered through Hartwell’s back and exited through his chest. He gasped and collapsed on top of Zepeda, covering her in his blood. She screamed—trying to push Hartwell off of her.
Ono tethered her sidearm and quietly approached them. She assimilated Hartwell’s soul while waiting for her former sister in flight to acknowledge her presence. Zepeda finally freed herself—only to discover Ono standing over her.
“Tess?”
Ono unloaded a vicious right hand—knocking her out cold. She placed her right hand around Zepeda’s throat and began squeezing the essence out of her. A few seconds later, Zepeda’s eyes opened as she realized what was happening—but it was still too late. Ono’s newfound strength—aided by the potency of the AccuHomi allowed her to crush Zepeda’s windpipe. She watched as Zepeda released one last gasp—leaving little doubt that she was no longer among the living. Her soul rose as Ono assimilated it—adding it to Hartwell, Sarker and the two Lodricans.
She released her grip of Zepeda’s neck and detached her helmet—letting her hair flow free. A smile adorned her face as she glanced at Zepeda and Hartwell. This experience was even more pleasurable than her previous cullings. All of a sudden, Ono felt an intense pain in her chest and abdomen. Paralysis hit her legs next as she collapsed to the floor. The pain spread throughout her body as she was unable to move.
Theriac. Please. Tell me, what did I do wrong? Please. Make it stop. Make it stop.