Archive of Our Own ^beta

        CORDYLL
    So this is the end.

        KAEL
    So it seems, my friend.

The WARDENS OF LIGHT wait in somber acceptance on their fate. The walls are 
rough on their bare skin as they struggle in the dark.

        RYEN
    We were so close...

        NYRIA
    Do not despair, Ryen. Do not despair...

        THALRIC
    At least we gave them something to think about, eh...? Every tale must have 
    an end, and every warrior must one day fall.

        CORAX
    Blood and ashes to that!
      (Struggling)
    I cannot die! Corax will live forever!

THE SHAPER cannot feel fear. THE SHAPER cannot feel fear. THE SHAPER cannot feel 
fear. THE SHAPER cannot---

* * *

"Doubtless you have heard of the attack on our Central Command... And doubtless you know of the creature which ravages our once peaceful countrysides."

I sat and stared at the broadcast, transfixed by the Apex's presence. I glanced at unfinished drafts as they stared judgementally from my terminal, but I could not forsake Zharr's public appearance.

"It is time you knew the truth of the matter. Seven days ago, one of our ships encountered an unknown organism headed for the Khellus system. It was this very creature. That creature was captured despite its violent nature and was brought to Luoma on the orders of an Admiral Omnalius Nestiri."

The Apex was nothing short of inspirational. The subtle emanations, the effortless swirl he projected. It was like I was standing where he was standing, speaking what he was speaking. There was no wonder why he was the Apex. I'd heard that the synthesizer modules can't even do his speeches justice. It was a grim reminder just how far there was to go. I glanced back at my draft and felt a pang of contrition.

"It was studied, but it had been lying in wait. It played dumb, and deceived the admiral as well as all those who studied it. This 'howler' was not a simple organism, but a weapon. It was created by outside forces by a jealousy so great that they would defy the 4th Mandate."

The Apex paused for effect, clasping his hands neatly in front of his pristine white robes.

"That purpose was almost realized last night when it attempted to take my life."

I stared in disbelief as the image panned over the damage to the outside of Central Command. It switched to a recording of the horrific beast as it charged and trampled through the crowd outside. I had to cover my eyes as its hollow gaze raked over the camera, but inside my rage burned. The Apex's mollifying emanations soothed me and I let my arms fall to watch him appear on the screen..

"I understand your anger. I understand your fury...! This attempt to destroy our pride will not go unpunished! It is only a matter of time before we track down this creature's creators, and when that happens we shall retaliate with a force and ferocity that will make their beast seem as tame as a djeni!"

I leaned in. It was unbelievable...! To think that that creature was such a thing...! In that moment, if they'd asked, I would've volunteered for the military in an instant.

"How could things have gone so far, you may wonder...? They knew the peace we lived in; they saw it and exploited it. We were unprepared, but it was Admiral Nestiri who is truly responsible. He brought the howler here. He facilitated its escape. He hid the truth of the matter from the public, putting everyone at risk to save his own esteem. A choice which cost someone her beloved pet. He assumed control of the situation, only so that he could push others out and attempt to salvage his own eminence, each attempt only reducing his viraas even further. His final failure was last night, and now the one once known as Nestiri is viraathi no more."

To think that it had all been the fault of a viraathi...! I'd heard of the name before. He was quite prominent. This was shocking. When was the last time a viraathi had been put to an aratrost? I couldn't even remember. I felt for his whifts and anyone who bore his viraas. They'd need to do their own mini aratrost to get his stench out of them. The way he'd spiralled trying to recover his prominence... I'd need to use that in my next affective.

"The creature is still on the loose..." The broadcast continued and I felt my heart seize, but it was soothed by the Apex's distant emanations, "...But rest assured that with Nestiri no longer in command, we will use everything at our disposal to restore the peace you so richly deserve. We are calling in four extra fleets to assist in the eradication as well as deploying a swarm of drones to track it down. Up until now it has used our drainage systems to evade us, but no longer. This morning we sealed off the spillway and started to flood the tunnels. The damage will be unfortunate, but is a small price to pay for peace of mind, so be patient."

The drainage system?!

Is that why my repair drone never showed up...?

"Those who live near overflows are encouraged to seal them in order to avoid collateral, but it will not be long before it is driven out and run down like an escaped ginru. Glory to the Fyrix."

The broadcast cut out. Without the Apex's emanations I felt subtly lost, but quickly recovered. I'd watched in the hopes that the thing would be dead, but now they say it's still on the loose? Even worse, it wasn't just a wild animal, they're saying it's some sort of biologically augmented super soldier that had almost assassinated the most powerful Fyrix!

That was so much worse! I still had so much work to do! I hadn't gotten anything done in the past few days. I looked at the sorry state of my plants and twisted my palps.

Wait, hadn't the Apex said something about people who live next to overflows...? That was me...! I leapt out of my seat and ran to the door, dragging the seats out of the way and straining against the cabinet. I didn't have the viraas to demand repairs if it flooded!

I opened the door and ran outside. It was fortunate there was no one else around to see such an unsightly sprint, but I didn't want to be out here any longer than necessary. The leafy clearing came into view. I felt my tarsi dig into the forest litter and scatter it behind me.

I crashed against the tube protruding from the ground. The filtration and drainage system was still malfunctioning and the lid was still where I'd left it. The tube gurgled ominously as I approached and bent down. I heard the water as it splashed and gargled even more violently. They weren't kidding about flooding it!

I flicked on a light and peered over the rim, curious to see just how high the water had risen, but it was strange... it didn't seem that high up at all. I pointed it further down and then dropped the light. It hit it in the face, and then I screamed.

I tore away, arms flailing and legs stumbling, cursing and crying and wailing for all the heavens to hear as my shoulder crashed through the door. The ground felt slanted, or folded, or unsteady as I tripped reaching for my interface. I slid and my back struck the bottom of the counters. The interface fell into my lap and I reached for it, nearly throwing it as my limbs tangled and spasmed.

"Contact Central Command!" I ordered urgently.

It was down there...! That thing...! It was on my estate...! I tucked my knees to my thorax and gripped my abdomen as the interface struggled to connect me. Those hateful eyes...! This will haunt my nightmares for as long as I live! The terminal suddenly chimed.

I didn't even listen to the first words they spoke.

"It's here! T-the thing! T-the... Howler!" I shouted, hoping it was a whift on the other end of the connection because I couldn't possibly control my volume, "Yes! N-no it isn't---Yes...! I don't know! Yes I'm sure! I locked eyes with it! Just come here quickly!"

I hugged my abdomen tight. It's okay. Get a hold of yourself, Nithry. It was stuck in that tube. It wouldn't escape. The Apex's plan had been perfect. The thing had probably been down there when it started flooding and was forced to flee to the first exit it could find; except that exit had been a little too small for its massive body.

To think it would be on my estate...!

My antennae suddenly stood on end as the thought struck me. The howler was stuck... on my estate... It would probably get broadcast all over as soon as it was dead. The Apex himself might even announce it...! Everyone would be watching and cheering.

I let my abdomen fall flat against the floor and my legs go slack. I glanced at my terminal and the unfinished draft still glowing on the screen as space seemed to expand around me. That thing had evaded the military for days, so what if an ordinary vyrek managed to capture it...?

They'd definitely earn some viraas from the viraathi in charge of the operation, but with an incident as infamous as this, they might even earn some from the Apex himself!

I gripped the counter for balance and slowly stood. The things you could do with the Apex's viraas...! I'd bet even a viraathi like Vaeren would leap over backwards just for a fraction of it! I'd bet he'd publish anything they'd ask, and once it was out there, who could resist consuming the affective of the one who'd captured the howler?

My heart hammered against my chitin as my rising excitement mixed with the abject terror in my blood.

But if the enforcers showed up and pulled it out of that drainage pipe, they wouldn't say 'Nithry captured the howler!' They'd just say they pulled it out of a pipe on a vyrek's estate. My name probably wouldn't even appear!

I paced around frantically. Come on, Nithry...! One moment of courage is all it will take, and then your entire future will be secure! Endless eminence and all those eyes on your works...! Maybe even a seat amongst the viraathi one day. I wouldn't even need to make anything new. I could just reuse my first submission. All that anxiety and stress, gone in an instant!

Just be like one of the heroes in your stories.

I crept outside, each step taking all the willpower I could muster. My estate was far from the nearest garrison, but the skimmer wouldn't wait forever. I had to do it fast. I walked with long, labored strides, and every time I thought my heart couldn't get faster, my next step proving me wrong. It felt like I was going to faint.

The howler was still stuck in there. It couldn't hurt you.

I reached out with trembling hands to grip the rim of the drainage pipe and peeked over the edge. I leapt back. Yep...! It was still there...! The light was trapped against its body, giving me a horribly illuminated view from below. I'd seen it before, but it was totally different in person! I couldn't even imagine if it was coming after you and not stuck in a tube. Those enforcers were so brave...

It took a moment to collect myself, but eventually I made it over to the maintenance panel. There was a spool inside, something for lowering tools and drones in and out, but it was a sturdy metal. This should be enough, right...?

I fashioned it into a loop, trying to shut out the grunts and groans and the other strange noises it was making. I'd heard it made weird noises over the broadcasts, but I wasn't prepared for just how petrifying they truly were. It seemed to reverberate down to my chitin. When it seemed secure I lowered it into the mouth of the drain.

I'd made the loop big enough for its head and it would tighten as soon as I started the winch in the other direction. It would probably kill it. I felt a little sick at the thought, but it was going to be killed anyway. I just hope it wasn't so stuck that its head would come off!

I peered over the rim to make sure it was on trajectory, but couldn't bring myself to look any longer. I saw the line go slack as it laid atop the howler below. I clenched my fists, and reversed the winch, watching the wire suddenly spring taut. It caught on something. I was *probably* its neck... What else was there for it to catch on?

* * *

The WARDENS OF LIGHT see a figure peer over the rim of the tube. The CHITOKYN 
shines a light into their faces and blocks the circular view of the sky above.  
The light hits THE SHAPER'S forehead. It makes the noise they all make and vanishes.

        CORDYLL
    Can't even die in peace from these things...

THE SHAPER struggles to move his arms and legs. He felt the water lapping at his 
waist as the level rises, pressuring against the seal his body had made. He'd 
struggled for what felt like and hour, one arm pinned to his clavicle, the other 
pinned to his waist.

        KAEL
    Maybe it will shoot us. That would be better than drowning all stuck like 
    this, don't you think?

        NYRIA
    Morbid as it may be, I'm inclined to agree...

        CORAX
    You're all too sangfroid about this!

        THALRIC
      (Pointing up)
    It's back.

The WARDENS OF LIGHT peer up as the CHITOKYN peers down again, clicking and 
squealing in a piercing pitch before ducking away again. Something is thrown 
over the edge. It glimmers in the light from above and comes into focus as it's 
lowered. THE SHAPER squints his eyes and sees the looped cable.

        RYEN
    An ally...?

The wire slips off his head and falls against his shoulders. THE SHAPER wiggles 
his fingers, brushing against the cable. With everything he can muster, he frees 
another inch of finger and clutches the cable tight. It goes taut and starts 
to tug. It threatens to slip his grasp and his knuckles go white, but he refuses to 
let go even as it digs into his hand.

THE SHAPER'S shoulders abrade painfully against the cylindrical walls. It would 
bleed. His shoulder joint felt like it would slip, but slowly, the WARDENS OF 
LIGHT rose towards the light at the top of the tunnel.

        RYEN
    An ally...!