Ollie sat beside him, chewing the brick with not much enthusiasm. Kyle and Clyde sat together at the opposite side while Lily and Rachel looked down at their plates while slowly chewing.
"This isn't food," Kyle forced down another bite. "This is punishment."
"At least it's not trying to kill us," Clyde said.
Erin stood just a step away from the round table. She licked the crumbs from the nutrition brick off her fingers. For some reason, she looked satisfied with the meal. Maybe being in stasis for who knows how many years made her crazy and see a brown grayish brick as good food.
"Your complaints about nutrition are irrelevant," she said. "We must focus on securing the Origin Cores."
"Right. So what's the plan?" Ollie pushed off his plate with half of the brick still intact.
Erin tapped her bracer. An orb at the centre of the round table opened up, and a holographic map of the tomb's 12 sectors displayed before them in 3D. The image rotated slowly, lighting up the familiarly labelled sector.
Erin's fingers moved across her bracer, projecting a holographic map of the Tomb's sectors in three dimensions above the table. The image rotated slowly, sections lighting up as she spoke.
"Harmony sector shall be our first target," Erin said. "Its defenses are compromised. You all have already traversed the sector. The Core Chamber is also exposed. An easy access. It is the fruit that bears the most with the least amount of effort."
"Well yeah. That's where we started," Rachel said.
"Indeed. The lack of active defense systems makes it the most efficient first extraction point," Erin said. She rotated the map with a flick of her wrist. "Following that, we must breach Prosperity sector."
The map shifted to highlight another hexagon-shaped section at the other side of the world, but next to Protection sector.
"This sector bears the most difficulty," Erin said. "Its defenses remain active."
"What kind of defenses?" Ollie asked.
"I cannot say with certainty," Erin replied. "The abominations have attempted infiltration numerous times without success. The sector cannot be breached through brute force alone."
"Wait, you don't know?" Kyle said. "I thought you were supposed to be the all-knowing boss lady of this place."
"My knowledge extends to areas within my purview," Erin said. "The Architect did not share all defenses with me."
"Great," Clyde muttered. "Blind spot number one."
"How are we supposed to get in if we don't know what we're up against?" Lily asked.
"You will assess and adapt," Erin said. "The Core must be extracted regardless of obstacles."
"And once we have both cores from Harmony and Prosperity, we take the one from here, right? From Protection sector?"
"Correct," Erin nodded. "All three must be collected before we launch our assault on Wisdom."
"And how exactly do we extract these cores?" Ollie asked. "From what I remember, they're pretty well secured in their chambers."
"The Origin Cores were never intended to be disassembled," Erin said. "Their installation was designed to be permanent. Therefore, extraction must be conducted through forceful means."
"You mean we just... break them out?" Lily asked.
"Precisely," Erin said.
Kyle grinned. "So we get to blow stuff up? Now you're speaking my language."
"Do not damage the cores. They must remain intact," Erin said.
"And where do we put them after extraction?" Rachel asked. "Won't they give off some kind of signal that those spider mechs can detect?"
Erin pointed to Ollie. "The child possesses a storage device capable of concealing the cores' signatures."
"I'm not a child," Ollie said.
"While the team secures the cores, Gale will undertake separate missions to retrieve specific artifacts that will prove useful to our endeavours," Erin said.
"Hold up," Ollie said. "We're splitting up? That's a terrible idea."
"For once, I agree with the rich boy," Kyle said. "We need the full squad to operate at full capacity. We already got our routine down to the T."
"Gale's abilities make him uniquely suited for solo retrieval," Erin said. "The artifacts are located in areas too dangerous for conventional approach."
"That doesn't mean he should go alone," Rachel said. "We've survived this far by sticking together."
Vianne's fragment and Cev's sword. Those were Gale's targets that she's talking about, and Erin covered for him. Was it really that important to keep it a secret? If he told them, they'd find out that he's a Dainv. Who knows what would happen once they got back to Earth. Though... it wasn't a good feeling to keep secrets.
"Rachel, I'll be fine," Gale said.
"Seriously, Gale?" Rachel asked firmly. "We were supposed to fight together."
The words made Gale wince, but all he could do was look to Erin.
"The decision is not subject to debate," Erin said firmly. "Gale's mission is critical to our success."
"I still don't like it," Lily said.
"Your approval is not required," Erin replied.
"What about communication?" Clyde asked. "If we're split up, how do we stay in contact?"
"I will remain here in the Protection sector," Erin said. "Acting as control centre for both teams. I require one of your communication devices."
"You mean our phones?" Ollie asked.
"If that is what you call them, yes."
Ollie pulled out his phone. "Take mine."
Erin took the device, examining it briefly before pressing it between her palms. Water seeped from her fingers, coating the phone in a thin blue film. The device glowed for several seconds before the water evaporated.
"I have modified this to utilize the Tomb's frequency bands," she handed it back to Ollie. "We can now communicate regardless of location within the structure."
"That's... handy," Ollie said, turning the phone over in his hands. It looked exactly the same as before.
"What about the abominations?" Rachel asked. "Are there any in Harmony sector right now?"
"Current surveillance suggests minimal presence," Erin said. "The invaders appear to have focused their attention elsewhere for the moment."
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Kyle stretched his arms above his head. "When do we start this suicide mission?"
"After six hours of rest," Erin said. "Your bodies require recovery time for optimal results."
"Finally, something we agree on," Clyde said.
"That's settled then," Ollie said.
Lily leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "What's in the armament section? If we're going up against all this stuff, I'd like to know what we have to work with."
Erin glanced toward the door labelled Armament Vault across the room. "You may explore it yourselves. There are items of use within."
"You're not going to tell us what's in there?" Kyle asked.
"Why waste words describing what you shall see with your own eyes? However, all of you must follow me to the Star Forge first." Erin turned without waiting for a response and strode toward the door.
Rachel caught Gale's eye, clearly asking him what to do. He nodded, getting up from his seat. Better to follow the blue haired lady controlling everything now.
The group moved toward Erin who stood waiting by the door. When everyone had gathered in front of the Star Forge's door, she pressed her palm at the centre of the door that contained the same rhombus and circle pattern. It slid open without a sound, heat emanating outwards from the door.
The chamber beyond was large, maybe a hundred feet high and wide in a circular shape with smooth white walls that didn't look to be concrete and more like metal alloy. Cubes littered all over the floor of varying sizes and shades of gray. Some cubes were even as big as a shed. But what dominated the space was a massive floor to ceiling glass wall that split the room in half. Behind the glass, two giant horizontal pillars protruded from opposite walls, almost meeting in the centre. Between them, a small yellow ball of flame no bigger than a basketball floated. It was the source of the heat.
Erin stepped to a control panel and tapped her bracer. The horizontal pillars immediately began to retract into the walls, bearing no seam at the base. As they moved, the small yellow ball of flame expanded, growing larger and brighter until it filled the entire space behind the glass wall.
The heat turned up a notch as it radiated from the glass that Gale thought a blow dryer was blowing on his face. The yellow-white ball of flame pulsed and occasional flares shot out that hit the glass.
"Welcome to the Star Forge," Erin said.
"Holy shit," Kyle whispered. "That's an actual star?"
"Correct," Erin said.
"What do you use it for?" Lily asked.
"Creation," Erin said. "Now, hand over your weapons."
"Our weapons?" Ollie asked.
"Yes. Present your armaments for examination," Erin extended her hand. "Specifically Ollie, Lily, and the twins."
"You want us to hand over our only means of defense?" Clyde asked.
"If I wished to harm you," Erin said, "I would not require deception to do so."
Ollie sighed. "She's got a point."
Kyle reluctantly drew his pistol and placed it in Erin's outstretched hand. Clyde followed with his long gun onto a workbench in front of the glass. Lily placed her twin deagles on the same bench, and Ollie added his own Desert Eagle to the pile.
Erin studied each weapon in turn. She telekinetically grabbed the ones in the pile, putting them close to her face before saying, "I understand what these are. Primitive projectile launchers that utilize kinetic energy transfer."
"They're guns," Kyle said. "And they work just fine."
"I shall forge protection and upgraded versions of your armaments," Erin turned to the star. A blank white circle formed on the top and bottom of the star. From inside the circles, a spiral spun in opposite motions from one another.
"You're going to upgrade our guns?" Ollie asked.
"No," Erin said. "I shall create new ones."
She turned to Kyle first. "For the loud one."
3 random metal cubes on the floor floated into the air. They gathered atop Erin's palm. She blew into them, and etches formed on the surfaces of the cubes. The cubes then floated through the glass wall as if it weren't there. The metal entered the star for 6 seconds before out came a blob of metal that slowly formed a pistol. It passed through the glass wall again, and the red glow of the hot metal was quenched by a blob of water that formed on it.
Erin turned to Kyle and slowly floated the pistol in front of him. The pistol looked nothing like his Glock. It was slimmer, less rugged than the pistol he had used before. It had flowing organic lines at the barrel that made it look more like an ornamental piece rather than an actual gun. It had a clear receiver, barrel, and a magwell that would fit the magazines they used. From the bottom of the magwell to the tip of the barrel, it was covered in etchings of similar patterns they had found in Harmony sector. It had a rhombus with dense etchings at the receiver part on both sides.
"Weber R0-Balista," Erin said. "It shall amplify the velocity of your projectiles without requiring additional propellant."
Kyle took the hovering pistol in front of him and turned it over a couple of times. "Holy shit. This is…"
"Fucking beautiful," Clyde said.
Erin turned back to the forge. "For the quiet twin."
She repeated the process, this time picking up 4 metal cubes. When the forge finished, a long gun floated out, similar in style to the pistol but larger, with the same flowing lines and embedded patterns.
"Weber SS0-Trebuchet," Erin said as the weapon settled into Clyde's hands. "It enhances the effects of your projectiles rather than their speed. Explosive rounds become more volatile. Incendiary rounds burn hotter. Ice rounds freeze deeper."
Clyde ran his fingers along the barrel. "This is way better than Path-issued gear. How much you think this would sell for?"
"Fool. Should you sell this, you will gain ill will from the Weber family," Erin said.
"…I was just wondering."
Next, Erin turned to Lily and her deagles on the workbench. Unlike the others, the deagles floated into the air along with a single cube of metal of the same size as the guns. The deagles floated through the glass, and the star pulsed once. The two deagles emerged, looking the same as before, but now bore similar dense etchings to the twins' new guns. At the end of the deagles' barrels, a small rhombus with dense etchings glinted in the starlight.
"Your connection to blue etheric forces is strong," Erin said to Lily. "These will allow you to empower your bullets with your blue lances. It shall amplify your innate attunement to the blue ether. They retain their original function but now serve as a conduit for your power."
Lily smiled as she holstered her new deagles. "Thank you."
Ollie stepped forward. "What about me?"
"You possess the storage device," Erin said. "That makes you valuable in other ways."
She repeated the process once again, taking four cubes into the star. The forge processed it quickly, producing a long gun similar to Clyde's but it had a lever on its side.
"Weber Prudence," Erin said as it floated to Ollie. "Single shot bolt action. Amplification of telekinetic abilities and automatic application of telekinetic connection to bullets, giving you more accuracy on each shot."
Ollie couldn't hide his smile and drool as he looked at the new elegant organic flowing edged sniper rifle. He grabbed it immediately as soon as it floated close enough to him. He looked harshly at Kyle and Clyde watching them to tell them, 'don't steal my shit.'
"Your storage box," Erin extended her hand.
Ollie hesitated before pulling out the RS28 and handing it over. Erin floated it directly into the star forge. When it emerged, the box looked identical except for new etchings along its edges.
"I have modified it to link with your telekinesis," Erin said. "You may access its contents without physical contact, provided you remain within ten metres of the device."
Ollie took the box with as much vigour as he had with Weber Prudence.
"What about me?" Rachel asked, looking between the new weapons. "Is there anything for me?"
"Yes. Follow me to the armament section." Erin led them out of the star forge and strode through the area to the armament vault near the entrance. Thick metal double doors parted as they walked near it.
The vault stretched inwards with rows and rows and rows of weapon racks. Gale felt like he'd seen this scene before in the Dainv ship in the Eclipsed. The racks housed some of the weird weapons. One was a triangle that looked like it was for music class. And there it was again, a gun that had a spiral shape that looked more like a drill with an eerie green glow.
"This is seriously weird shit," Kyle reached toward a device shaped like a horseshoe. "What's this do?"
Erin slapped his hand away without looking. "Touch nothing without permission. These are not toys for children."
"I wasn't going to do anything… just a little touch."
"Do not touch what you do not know," Erin said. "That is a bomb."
Kyle immediately stepped back, and so did the others.
"How are we supposed to know? Some of these don't even look like weapons," Ollie asked.
"Your primitive understanding of combat is limited to projectiles and blades," Erin said. "My people have long perfected the art of warfare through billions of stars."
"Like what?" Clyde asked.
Erin's emotionless facade failed. She gave them a look of annoyance that could cut and ignored them. She continued leading the group to the far end of the vault where a simple metal shelf stood against the wall.
Erin reached for a set of knuckle guards. Simple, rugged, and an orb laid on the bottom end of each knuckle guard. They were charcoal black with a texture of wood, but that was the effect of the etchings that littered each nanometre of the metal.
"For the flame wielder," Erin held them out to Rachel.
Rachel took them hesitantly.
"This is named the ASAIN-W Pugilist Firebrand. They will channel and amplify your natural fire affinity," Erin said.
Rachel put on the guards. When she put them on, they pulsed a dim glow orange that spread into her veins. "Whoa."
"A barbaric weapon for a barbaric fighting style," Erin watched Rachel flex her fingers. "Yet it suits you well."
Rachel sighed. "Thanks... I guess."
Kyle peered over her shoulder. "Can she punch through walls with those?"
"She could before," Erin said, then turned back toward the entrance. "We shall return to the central area."
"Wait," Rachel said before they could leave. "What about Gale? He needs something too."
The others turned to look at Gale, who stood empty-handed seemingly ignored by Erin for new upgrades.
"His mission differs from yours," Erin said. "He shall receive appropriate equipment when the time comes."
"Really? He can't be the only one that gets nothing," Rachel said.
"Worry not," Erin said. "Gale shall get his in his mission."
"It's fine. I've got a Weber already." Gale smiled at Rachel.
"S6L96 ," Erin said. "Standard front line issue. It is enough for the upcoming tasks."
They filed out of the armament vault. Outside, Erin turned to address the group once more.
"Rest now. You have five hours and forty-three minutes remaining before we commence the assault on Harmony sector." She looked at each of them in turn. "Utilize the sleeping quarters. Your human bodies require recovery."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Kyle said, already heading toward the bunks. "Dibs on the top bunk again!"
"I'm going to shower first," Lily said. "Even if the water's only lukewarm."
The group dispersed, leaving Gale standing with Rachel and Erin. Rachel was giving a death stare to Erin who casually and unemotionally did not care.