Book 6. Chapter 21 |
I awoke slowly to sound of humming aetherite and muted voices.
I couldn’t tell who was speaking.
Painful light assaulted my eyes as I cracked them open and I winced in discomfort until I could finally withstand the brightness. Slowly I began to make out shapes. Figures standing over me. Two or three of them.
“Look. He’s waking up.”
“Marshal, can you hear us?” It was Kwan Li, I recognized now. “Do you remember anything?”
Hein’s voice came next. “He’ll be fine. He’s one tough chun.”
The deep rumble of General Gong’s chuckle joined him.
I opened my mouth to say something, dry lips parting. “Screw…you…Hein…”
Pain came with each word, my voice like sandpaper.
As I got my bearings further, I saw I was in the infirmary aboard the Xing Long. A quick glance confirmed my body was covered head to toe in bandages. I was a damn mummy that could barely move, each twitch eliciting pain.
“Take it easy, Marshal,” Kwan Li said. “You’ve been out for pretty much the whole ride.”
I had to think for a moment what that meant. “How many days?”
General Gong patted me gently on my bandaged shoulder. “We’ve entered orbit around Lung Zept now. We’ll be transferring you down to Du Gok Bhong soon. You’ll get better treatment there.”
Shit…that meant I’d been out for over a week?
And I still wasn’t done healing by the looks of it.
I tried to move again, pushing through the pain, but Kwan Li quickly stopped me. “The ship’s doctor said not to let you move. He had to stitch you up like a bag of rice. We’ll be taking you down on a stretcher.”
I was in no position to argue with her, so I just grunted instead. “Thirsty.”
Kwan Li nodded. “I’ll get the doctor. He said you might wake up for food eventually.”
As she left, General Gong gave me an appreciative smile. “You’ve got my whole ship abuzz with excitement.”
“Eh?”
“Commander Kwan Li and her men told us all about your exploits down there,” Hein said. “You really killed an entire horde of demon behemoths all by yourself?”
I actually had to think for a moment, before confirming with a mummified shrug. “Guess so.”
Hein chuckled. “Damn Chun. You really have become a god. That’s what they’re calling you now, by the way. Said you were owning them like the god of hell.”
“God of Hell?” I chuckled, eliciting a wince of pain. “Not sure if Fia’s going to like that one.”
Although it was getting closer in accuracy to what I truly was by far.
“I’m sure you’ll earn quite a few more names from what you’ve done,” Gong said. “My men can’t stop talking about it. You’ve made history yet again. Demon behemoths, plus we’ve never seen such a haul.” He then tapped something above my head, and I glanced up to see a basketball-sized chunk of aethrite dangling from the ceiling. “There’s plenty more where that came from.”
As I soaked in the harmonic resonance of the crystal, a vision of T’huet entered my mind’s eye. It was not the real her, just an echo of her true self, but with it came an avalanche of memories my mind seemed to have suppressed.
That vision of T’huet and her sister spirits all fighting against the massive Cursed Star that was the embodiment of the First Flame within the Celestial Realm filled my head. With it came the revelation that fighting the minions upon the Hell Worlds, while helpful, wasn’t doing jack squat to win the real war.
My countenance soured and the smile slipped from Gong’s face, perhaps picking up on it.
“Sorry,” he said. “I probably don’t know the half of what you truly experienced down there. I shouldn’t make so light of it.”
“It’s alright.” I shifted my thoughts, but the theme of loss and futility, didn’t change. “How many did we lose?”
Gong looked to Hein who frowned. “All told… three platoons.”
My heart jumped. “What?”
“Only five were killed.” Hein was quick to clarify. “But about two dozen or so have been badly Qi poisoned. We have them rigged up in aetherite bays like this one. A handful still haven’t awoken. For those who have its…” He then shrugged. “Let’s just say, they’ll need assistance for the rest of their lives.”
Images of my legionnaires being mindless zombies or raving lunatics raced through my mind and my stomach dropped. As strong as I was to protect them physically, it was a reminder that not everyone was built to survive a Hell World. And I’d just forced three whole platoons to make the ultimate sacrifice in facing the worst of what a Hell World had to offer.
I grimaced with guilt, accepting my accountability. “I want to see to it that they and their families are well compensated from the aetherite haul.” I then looked up at Gong. “The pilots who flew the multiple missions also.”
Gong nodded. “They would appreciate that. They weren’t as Star-shocked as your men of course, but it was taxing.”
Star-shocked…I hadn’t heard the term before, but it fit the bill perfectly.
“Well, I’d better go prepare,” Gong said. “We’ll have you down on the surface shortly.”
As the general left, Hein stepped closer and knelt down to look me in the eye. “Hey… losing men is a part of war. You know that. And for what you’ve accomplished, five dead and two dozen wounded isn’t half bad. Seven platoons of legionnaires have returned home, stronger than ever. Some even pledging to do another run.” He then chuckled. “So long as you come along, of course.”
I cracked a smile, appreciative of his efforts to cheer me up.
But if I were being honest, it wasn’t just the losses that had me feeling ill at ease. That vision from T’huet still plagued me and had me viewing those losses from a much different perspective.
Were they really all for nothing?
Her words haunted me, causing a pit to open up in my stomach.
“You ever wonder what it’s all for?” I said.
Hein furrowed his brow. “Huh?”
“All this struggle down here…if the true battle lay beyond the stars, then what purpose is there to anything we do?”
Hein jerked his head back, looking shocked. “Whoa… are you okay? What the hell did happen to you down there?”
I realized I was talking about things his mind could not perceive, or even conceive.
And perhaps never should.
“Nothing,” I said with [Indifference] as I cracked a smile to adorn my facade. “Just talking dumb shit.”
Hein didn’t say anything, clearly not buying it, but he was gracious enough to not probe any further. “You just need some more rest, Chun. You pulled off one hell of a miracle. You’ve brought home the goods to save my sister and my family. And you’ve inspired a generation of legionnaires along the way. Who cares if the universe sees it as a drop in a bottomless bucket. You made good where it matters. And in the end. That’s all that matters.”
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His words resonated with my Dao and I gave him a smile, a real one this time.
“Thanks brother. I needed to hear that.”
He stood. “Anytime. Now rest up. You’ve got a lot of travelling to do to get home.”
* * *
The next few days went by in a haze.
I missed the entire returning ceremony due to passing out again once Kwan Li returned and gave me some food and more elixirs to drink. It was if my body had indeed just awoken me to take in nourishment and then knocked me right back out again to get back to healing.
The next time I awoke, it was three days later, but I was feeling a hundred times better than before. Master Eiji had placed me in the Aethrite chamber along with the four legionnaires who were still unconscious. With luck they would wake up and be perfectly normal, sans all their memories perhaps. Eiji said that was a good possibility. Considering everything, they would probably be the luckiest of all of them.
I met with those who were not so fortunate. As I had figured, the vast majority of them were hollowed out shells of their old selves, their eyes transfixed in the nightmare visions of things that shouldn’t be seen. The worst were stuck babbling things that only I could understand. I saw them off a day later, each taking a Black Robed Phalanx as their retainer as they returned to the real world. It reminded me that while Mal’Kira and Tu’lok held the same position, that it was merely a token for me and Blue Rose. For the poor souls here, they would need their phalanx companions for the rest of their lives.
They had already held the return home ceremony, but they had no clue what to do with the next platoon that was ready to go now. President Tzu Li Zen had decided to wait until I had awoken to decide and when I finally did, he quickly sat me down in his office along with Chief Yora to figure it all out.
“I’ve been giving much consideration to this new method of yours,” Tzu Li Zen said. “It’s not without its drawbacks, but the results can’t be denied. You recovered over 123,542 taels of aetherite in a single deployment.”
Damn, that was enough to protect both cities and have a fair nest egg left over to deal with some of these massive bills.
“Granted you took ten platoons,” Yora added. “But the average is much higher due to their being no complete losses.”
I nodded. “A few platoons lost in terms of their mental capacity though.”
“It’s still better,” Tzu Li Zen said. “And largely because of your presence. My main question to you is this. Is it repeatable or not?”
“You mean me joining the platoons personally?”
“I know you have much to do, but your contribution on this front is undeniable.”
He only knew the half of it.
My involvement was pretty much mandatory now that I knew how the real battle was fought. Closing gates and killing demon hordes was one thing, but defeating the Deep Dwellers took on a whole new meaning now. It was paramount. I would need to return every so often to take out another Deep Dweller, to ensure they didn’t kill off another planetary spirit like Fhae I’ung. Everything else, even gaining the aetherite was secondary to that now.
“I’ll be back,” I said. “Can’t say when, but soon.”
“Shall we backlog the tributes in the meantime?” Yora asked.
“That has a consequence,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Our program and facilities are designed for a once through system. Having this many Black Robes will become problematic. Especially for the ones that wish to remain for a second tour.”
I thought about that for a moment. I couldn’t keep coming back that often. Three months maybe? Six? If we went back to normal though, sending a platoon every two weeks, the cost of a single trip would barely be covered by the aetherite gained.
“Keep the rotation going in the meantime,” I said. “I’ll give you plenty of advanced notice for when I’m coming back. You can start backlogging the platoons then.”
“Good. In the meantime, we’ll start scouting for more outcroppings,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Or would you wish to return to T’huet?”
“No, the rotation is still important. T’huet is fine for now. Target planets we haven’t been to in a long time. They’ll need our help the most.”
“They?” Yora said.
I waved the question way. “Nothing. Figure of speech. A Terran thing. How’s my transport home looking?”
“Your private freighter should arrive in two days,” Tzu Li Zen said. “Your brother-in-law said he has a team ready to transfer the aetherite from ship to ship in orbit as soon as it arrives.”
It would be a long ride home. With so much aetherite no way was I paying taxes on it. “It’ll take me just over a month or so to get back to Terra. I have some critical things I need to take care of before I can even think of coming back but I’ll try to be back here in six months or so.”
President Tzu Li Zen nodded. “Very well then. I’ll set the schedule.”
* * *
As I left the president’s office with Chief Yora, several Black Robes were waiting outside. They bowed to me with wide smiles and then saluted with the single fist of the legionnaires.
“Greetings, Supreme Grand Marshal.”
I didn’t know who they were, definitely not from the crew I had traveled with to T’huet. They were bright-eyed and full of hope. I did my best to return their enthusiasm, giving a head nod and asking their names before moving on.
Yora chuckled once we got out of earshot. “Seems you’ve become quite the politician since you’ve left us.”
“You think? I hate all this fanfare to be honest.”
“Is that’s what’s got you in the doldrums?”
“Huh?”
She paused and caught me by the elbow. “I know you well enough to known when you’re brooding about something. You certainly don’t seem like someone who has returned from the Hell Worlds making history once more.”
I didn’t think I was letting it show on the outside, but maybe I was. Or maybe Chief Yora had a keener eye than most. “It’s just…” I wondered if I should even try to tell her. Would it cause her mind to snap in two? “This battle against the Cursed Stars. It’s shaping up to be far more than I thought it to be. Far worse.”
Yora leaned her head back. “From what you’ve already experienced?” She let out a laugh. “I wouldn’t even want to imagine what you would consider worse.”
I chuckled at that.
“You know, I recall you were quite proficient with a brush. Do you practice still?”
“Yeah. I still got your gift to me.”
“The art set?”
I nodded.
“Why don’t you use it. Paint what you’ve seen. Add to our knowledge. Sometimes the best way to deal with something is to put it on a page and then examine it from the outside instead of within.”
Her words rang true and I gave her a bow. “Thanks Chief. I think I’ll go and do just that.”
* * *
For the next two days I secluded myself within the library, creating a new tome of secret knowledge by documenting the various behemoths I’d seen. I added pictures of Fhae I’ung and T’huet along with their corresponding Deep Dwellers. It did indeed feel good to get the pictures of them out of my mind, even if only I and a handful of others would ever see them.
I ordered two pieces of corrupted steel from the smiths to make the binding cover, but on them I placed what I truly needed to get out of my soul. Using [Brand of the Frenzied Flame] I recorded exactly what I’d seen in that vision and what the true battle of the Cursed Stars was all about.
If I am long gone, and the battle of the Cursed Stars remain, know that the only way to defeat them, may be to ascend to the next realm. I am uncertain of what lies beyond as I have not reached that stage myself as yet, but the more that is revealed, the more that reality becomes an inevitability perhaps.
I looked at the glowing characters and wondered who that hell had written them. Maybe my soul was changing, becoming more poetic, especially after my time in Muraboshi’s village. Or maybe it was the Flame itself speaking through me, born of my connection to the stars.
Whatever the case, it was recorded now.
I signed the document at the bottom.
Max Chun
The Iron Bull
Duke of Terra and Lung Zept
Supreme Grand Marshal
Legionnaire
Berserker
As I penned the last two characters, the word for Berserker, the Struggler and the Demon combined, I couldn’t help but feel like I had truly found a new level of struggle now. Not one born of adversity, but purpose. What would become of my purpose if I left the mortal realm behind?
“Supreme Grand Marshal?”
I looked up to see Master Eiji standing in the doorway.
“The skiff is here,” he said.
I nodded to him and began packing away the tome. “I’ll be right there.”
* * *
As I made my way to the top of the tower and the skyport, duffle bag in hand, I couldn’t help but feel the same melancholy pulling at my soul. I still had a world to save, Imperial duty to perform plus a family to raise, but what would it all matter if to protect them, I had to leave them all behind?
To become a god for real and face that darkness beyond the stars.
Could I even return if I did?
As I pondered the thoughts, I barely took note of the honor guard of legionnaires assembled on the roof to see me off. I returned their salutes dutifully as I approached the opened gangway of the skiff and gave deep bows of respect to the President and Chief Yora along the way. I spotted Hein waiting for me at the bottom of the gangway and seeing him lightened my mood a little. At least he would be accompanying me on my long voyage back to Earth.
He cracked a sly grin as I drew closer and then he jerked his head towards the top of the gangway. “Picked up a couple of stowaways on the way here. Hope you don’t mind.”
I looked to the top of the gangway and my heart nearly stopped.
There, beaming down at me was Fia along with Blue Rose. I then did another double take as I spotted Bryce within Fia’s arms. I could barely comprehend what I was seeing. Ling Wei stepped out from behind them and gave me a smile as well.
“What the hell is going on?”
Hein chortled. “Let’s just say I paid a lot to send a Qi Stone communication ahead to Ling Wei while you were out. Couldn’t have you travelling all that way alone.”
“Baba!” Bryce cried out, pointing to me as Fia ran with him.
I was still so stunned that all I could do was catch Fia in my arms as she crashed into me.
I squeezed her tight and pressed her lips to mine.
“Thank the heavens you’re alright,” she said after we broke apart. “Not that I was worried.”
Rationality started to take hold as I took Bryce in my arms and kissed him as well. “How did you bring him here? The risk! The Bloodmoon and I’xo—”
I stopped myself short from uttering the name, but I didn’t even need to.
Fia did that with another kiss.
“You made us these for a reason,” she said, tugging at the Frenzy inscribed pendants about her and Bryce’s neck. “And no way was I letting the opportunity to have you for a whole month to myself without any distractions pass me by.”
“What in the world…?”
Fia laughed and then took me by the hand leading me into the skiff.
I stumbled behind her stupefied.
I was barely able to greet Ling Wei and Blue Rose properly as they grinned at me like idiots. Suddenly everything I had been worried about having to leave behind was with me now.
It was as if the Flame itself was responding to the sorrow in my soul.
Could I give all this up?
My family and friends?
I still didn’t know.
But at least I could finally enjoy them, before I could even decide if I could do without them forever.
