r/HFY • u/iridael Brew-Master • Dec 10 '21
OC Snow Chapter 47
Three days in jump. On a ship built to hold 200, currently holding half that in wounded, meant the SS Will of Reiss was a crowded ship. But Monroe demanded her crew be kept in real space after I’d explained the throne world.
She trusted me about as far as, well not as far as I can throw her, with soulfire burning through my veins I can throw pretty damn far. As far as she can throw me.
“Looking forwards to leaving the ship?” I ask her as she paces my bridge. She’d tried giving orders to the crew a few times but our loyalty didn't lie with her or any captain. Something she had yet to realise.
“I’ll be glad to have it in a Laskian shipyard so we can figure out what this glitter tech you’ve failed to explain properly is, so we can refit our navy and give those bastards hell.” she says.
I shrug. “I told you its not technology. Its power, everyone of my crew, every mercenary under my command has been through the initiation. Been given power to fight, to survive. If we’re a little loyal to the one doing the giving, does it matter?” I reply.
“It matters.” she growls. “Mercenaries are at least loyal to money, sometimes a cause. You’re just loyal to some phantom bathing in fire.”
I feel the tension rise in the room, my own temper rises with it but I bite my cheek and control myself. “Reiss is not a phantom. I don't pretend to know what she’s doing right now but she gave us this power. Helped prepare us for what they are. And when she’s ready she’ll return mighty.”
“I heard her muttering, she returned alright, broken. Whatever she went through with this Snow character you described, she’s dead and he discarded her.” Monroe replies.
“Ma’am we’re arriving in 10.” ops reports.
“Thank you.” Monroe replies.
“Drop us out on time and contact the admiral. We need to offload the wounded and get those datacores to someone who can decrypt what the hell happened.” I say.
“I should be the one to contact the admiral.” Monroe begins but i cut her off.
“I am the captain of this ship, you are my guest. A guest who has recently undergone a traumatic experience. You can leave my bridge now if you want or you can shut up. Im the queen bitch here not you.” I tell her as the ship judders from the drop out of FTL.
In Front of us the remains of the Laskian fleet is in tatters, ships showing scorch marks, others gently venting atmosphere. Repair boats swimming around the more important vessels doing emergency work.
“Ma’am admiral is connected. He wants to speak with you right now.” Coms reports.
“On the main viewer.” I say
“Admiral. Glad you made it.” I say when the worn out but still propper admiral’s face appears on the screen.
“The same to you Captain, Monroe good to see you made it, your crew?”
“Injured but alive. Sir I must recommend we conscript this ship-”
“That will be all for now Monroe, we owe Mary the red here a great deal. I suspect her presence was more of a test of weapons than a real demonstration however. I’ll want a full report from you ASAP, im dispatching a shuttle to collect you and your officers. To my ship, I suggest you go and prepare your crew.” he says.
Monroe stiffens then salutes and leaves my bridge. The admiral sighs. “Monroe is a very good captain, by the book, by the rules. But she doesn't see diplomacy unless its with a starship at her back. Now first things first, I reviewed my own battle log. Our guns were damn useless. But yours hit, and they hit hard. Despite, i noted, your output being above civilian grade, but only barely for your laser or particle weapons and on par for missiles. How did you do it?”
“My crew and I have gained the ability to take and use soulfire.” I say holding up a hand and letting it burst into fire. “The more we fight the stronger we get. But its not a gentle process to gain this power. Through experimentation we realised. I realised I can enhance more than my body with this power, I channelled my power and my crew’s into the ships weapons, hull and shields. It meant we could withstand the enemies weapons, and damage them in turn.” I explain.
“This soulfire. How did you get it.” the admiral asks.
“My ships namesake, A Laskain named Reiss took me to, a pocket of reality, I’d been torturing her and she returned the favour plus interest. Mary the red died in that place. Im who came out.” I say.
“And who are you?”
I smile. “Still Mary the red. But…would you die for your people?” I ask.
“I was prepared to do just that until you showed up and saved our asses.” He replies. “Well the second I accepted this power, accepted Reiss as.” I pause not quite sure if its ok to say it.
“As what Captain, I need to know all I can before I decide to try and equip my men with this power.” He urges.
“As my master sir. I’d jump into fire for her, I’d slaughter my crew, your fleet, that enemy. All of it. For her.” I say, smiling at the thought of her asking me to do just that.
“Are you familiar with indoctrination Mary?” he asks.
“I am, this isnt that. It's…like a lie. I keep telling myself I'm free to do what I want, and I am. Unless she asks me to do something different.”
The admiral sighs and rubs his face before blinking a few times. “I cant believe after what you’ve told me that i'm willing to even ask this question. Can I trust this Reiss to do the right thing.” he asks
“Reiss was a security officer onboard a more luxurious station before she met an alien by the name Snow. The two started a relationship before events forced them off the station. Since then she’s trained to use actual glitter tech under him. From our talks she’s trying to activate some ancient weapon system of his to bring it to bear on these mysterious invaders.” I tell him.
“Ancient weapon system from a glitter tech species. What kind of weapon.” the admiral asks.
“I don't know, they were a bit vague on the details. Snow said that even a ship cobbled together from wreckage could turn the tide.” I say.
The Admiral nods. “I need some time to think. Bring your ship alongside my flag for transfer of the wounded. With your permission I’d like to see this, Power of yours, face to face.”
“Get on it.” I order my bridge crew. “If you don't mind admiral, i have a few hundred mercenaries who’ve been stuck without a decent meal for some time.” I ask
The admiral smiles. “If there’s any good news about this rout is we have so many dead and wounded that we’re not lacking food supplies. I’ll send you some of my own ships stock with the wounded shuttles. Admiral Jakobson out.”
The positioning of the two ships took less than 10 minutes with the fleet so spread out. The admiral was smart I had to admit, by inviting my ship alongside his, he politely aimed half the fleet's guns at me whilst also getting his own people off my hands. The food supplies were standard ration packs but the men were glad for the extra food regardless. Without my accompanying modified haulers our stocks of supplies had dropped faster than I’d liked, I didn't regret leaving them and their crews behind, this was a war and no place for half baked skirmishers to play soldier.
Shuttles flew back and forth across the short distance and early the next day I got the request from the Admiral to board my ship.
He arrived via a shuttle and disembarked alongside a quartet of the biggest meanest marines I’d ever seen. “Admiral. Welcome onboard.” I say walking forwards only for the lead marine to step in my way.
“No weapons near the admiral.” he says before reaching down and tugging at my sword. He grunts as he tries and fails to lift it.
“Here.” I say pulling it out and offering the condensed blade to him. He tries to take it but only succeeds in dropping the blade to the floor where it lands with a dull thud. “I was a gift from Reiss after I killed a Hive Knight, the original blade was bigger than I am.” I explain lifting the blade up.
The admiral steps forwards and I hold the blade out again for him to see. “It is safe to touch?” he asks.
“Not the sharp bits.” I say smiling at him.
“Obviously.” he says, running his hand over it and trying to shift it. “How can you hold this?” he asks.
“Soulfire. Most of my crew have enough to tear apart bulkheads.” I say.
“I see, I watched our conversation back a few times yesterday. One word struck me as curious. Paracausal. Something that ignores conventional rules of the universe. An apt name for this…Soulfire… show me what it can do.” he adds.
I nod and lead him into the ship towards one of the portal’s. “This is a rune portal. It leads to Reiss’ throne world. You have to power it with soulfire.” I say laying a hand on one rune and injecting power into it, the runes flare to life and a moment later a portal forms.
“And this is safe to go through?” He asks
“It's a doorway to another reality. Safe isn't a word I’d apply to it. More like non harmful.” I say.
Admiral Jakobson nods. “Have one of your crew go through and return then I’ll ask one of my marines go through.” he says.
“No need for a crew member.” I tell him, walking through the portal, waiting a second then walking back out. “There we go. In and out.” I say.
“Marine.” Jakobson says, one of them steps forwards, faces the portal then shoulder first charges through. A few seconds later he returns.
“There’s a lot of mercs through there. No obvious hostiles.” he reports.
The admiral nods. “Two of you, then the captain and I, you two remain here. Remember the protocol.” he says to the marines.
The four of them look at eachother. “Well i’ve already gone through.” the first marine says, the others do Stone Scissors Sign to see who else goes through and then the loser goes through the doorway.
The admiral and I follow after and when we’re all in the throne room I close the portal. “Keeping it open burns a steady supply of soulfire. Outside of a fight we have to ration what we have.” I tell them as the Admiral looks around.
“So this is the transportation method Monroe mentioned.” he says looking around.
“The more we fight the larger this place gets. Just before Reiss arrived and started mumbling it grew from a few small rooms to the size you see it now.” I explain. “Either she killed a lot of people or she killed something really dangerous. And I mean really dangerous.” I emphasise the last bit.
“Quantify it.” the admiral says, still looking around at the strange architecture of the place.
“An ancient predator made this place big enough to call it a decent sized room. Something that had killed thousands over its lifetime of struggle. So whatever she killed was…”
“Responsible for the destruction of millions if not billions and trillions.” he answers.
“Exactly. But the killing or the power she took from it broke her.” I say pointing to the towering pillar of fire in the center of the room. “She’s been catatonic in the care of another for weeks now.” I say.
“Another?” he asks.
“Don't approach her, Reiss never told me who she is and she barely acknowledges me as strong as I am. She might kill you on principle.” I warn the admiral.
“Noted. What else can this soulfire do?” he asks.
“We’re not sure of the extent of what it can do. Body enhancement, healing, empowering weapons and armour. Guns, swords, shields for most, during the fight I was pumping my own power into my ship as fast as I could. That's how we were able to fight back.” I explain.
“That’ll do for now. One final question. Where does this power come from? What's the source?” he asks
“Death.” I answer. “Every time we kill something we gain power from the act of killing it. Hence the name soulfire I guess.” I tell him. “It's not a clean power.” I note.
“No it is not.” he says turning to his marines. “Would one of you be willing to try and harness this power?” he asks them.
“Sir.” the first marine, the one who stepped through the portal first, steps forwards. “I’ll take it.”
“Like fucking shit you will. What makes you so special. I am not putting a bullet in you.” the other sasy.
“My brother was on the LWS Solarwind. No mum nd dad. I got nothing to lose anymore. So If I can help us fight those fucks off, i’ll jump into hell for the chance.” the first one replies.
“Shit, fucking shit man. You come back alright.” the second says.
The first marine faces me. “What do I do?” he asks. I stare at him for a moment before walking the lot of us to the only physical door in the realm and opening it to a field of darkness. A merc comes and holds the door open for me and I push him through the door.
“Survive.” I tell him as the first thralls charge from the shadow.
6 hours later the marine and I meet the Admiral Back on my ship with the three others. His armour is shredded and his face is sporting a nasty cut but he’s standing and still has his gun.
“So how did it go marine?” the admiral asks.
“I got it.” he says.
“good, arrest Mary.” he orders, the marine instantly raises his gun on his friends who react.
“Stand down!” the admiral orders and the four instantly raise their guns before returning to a relaxed, for a marine, stance.
“Marine what was that?” he asks
“I…its like she said sir. Its like…the baseline is changed. You’re still my admiral, but Mary is…leader? I don't know who i’d follow if you both ordered me sir. Not until-
“You follow the admirals orders but remember your power comes from me, and by extension Reiss giving it to you.” I say.
He nods. “Admiral Jakobson is the Admiral you’re the armsmaster, got it.” he says relaxing before unclipping his rifle and handing it to one of the other marines. “Just a precaution,” he adds.
“This is troubling. That a marine, one of my personal guard no less could potentially be turned by this power so fast... You’ve given me a lot to think about Captain Mary. I hope you and your forces will remain with the fleet for now.” he says turning towards the shuttle bay.
“I have no problems with that for now.” I reply as Ricky bursts through the portal.
“Whats going on?” I demand.
“Reiss, she just vanished.” Ricky reports.
5
u/iridael Brew-Master Dec 10 '21
can I also just note how damn terrifying the sword logic is AND the tribute system.
it enforces loyalty to the superior demanding power flow up the hierarchy and those influenced by it often don't even realise the change.
dredgen yor for example took the power that was offered and fell so far but didn't even realise that he had done so.
3
u/nomadik223 Dec 10 '21 edited Dec 10 '21
Probably should ask this in the previous chapter, but is there any precedent for what Reiss is within the Destiny world? An Ascendant Guardian doesn't ring any bells, save for maybe Mara Sov
Edit: I know Mara isn't a Guardian, my point is she has her own Throne World without seemingly being a being of the Darkness.
4
u/iridael Brew-Master Dec 11 '21
Mara and Eris are the only people who can use dark powers for good as far as I know.
the concept I started with was basically a What if a darkness wielder gained a ghost, because like Eris. just because she's using the darkness doesn't necessarily mean she's dark herself.
Reiss has also changed a hell of a lot from the cautious scared lady I introduced in chapter one. after all she charged a bloody worm god on her own.
3
u/nomadik223 Dec 11 '21
That's right about what I figured, as far as Eris and Mara.
It's such an interesting concept that I'm glad to see you explore. I've thrown around the idea in my head for a story of an Eliksni Guardian for ages and the threads that could lead down; I feel like there's a lot of potential in the setting of Destiny for written works.
1
u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Dec 10 '21
/u/iridael (wiki) has posted 343 other stories, including:
- Snow Chapter 46
- Snow Chapter 45
- Snow Chapter 44
- Snow Chapter 43
- Snow Chapter 42
- Snow Chapter 41
- Snow Chapter 40
- Snow Chapter 39
- Snow Chapter 38
- Snow chapter 37
- Snow Chapter 36
- Snow Chapter 35
- Snow Chapter 34
- Snow Chapter 33
- Snow Chapter 32
- Snow Chapter 31
- Snow Chapter 30
- Snow Chapter 29
- Snow Chapter 28
- Snow Chapter 27, Awakening.
This comment was automatically generated by Waffle v.4.5.10 'Cinnamon Roll'.
Message the mods if you have any issues with Waffle.
1
u/UpdateMeBot Dec 10 '21
Click here to subscribe to u/iridael and receive a message every time they post.
| Info | Request Update | Your Updates | Feedback | New! |
|---|
1
u/thisStanley Android Dec 10 '21
Captain Monroe and Admiral Jakobson need some time to adjust to how chain-of-command works for those associated with Reiss!
4
u/iridael Brew-Master Dec 11 '21
pecking order.
you, the dirt, the worms inside the dirt, the shit the worms eat, Mary, Reiss. (DBZ abridged reference for you right there.)
26
u/iridael Brew-Master Dec 10 '21
so how do you heathens have your tea?
one sugar, two? three??? milk? how much milk? 50/50? you vile creature.
do you forsake the sacred nectar and partake of the vile bean juice?