Empyrean
CHAPTER 1
For centuries, the Banished had lived in peace on their small planet. They had been rebuilding their civilization ever since the day they had been banished from their home world. Exiled by their own kind for their refusal to join an unwinnable war. Despite this however, the Banished grew content with their way of life. Their unique abilities to manipulate energy and light had made the transition to this new world possible. It made a bleak life livable. Had they never received the gift of light they may have never survived the harshness of the planet upon arrival. With the gift of the light they were able to somewhat terraform the sections of the planet to a small degree. They built cities and villages in such a way that the structures would bend light in a seemingly impossible way. The refraction of light would exemplify heat and the little sunlight they would receive, making habitable spaces on the planet despite its distance from the sun.This is all they would need to live their lives however, the peaceful existence of the Banished was about to be shattered.
Near the village of Liac, a strange object appeared in the sky above. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before - a massive spaceship, hovering silently in the atmosphere. The Banished watched in awe and fear as the ship descended and landed near their settlement. They knew that visitors from other worlds were rare and often dangerous, and judging the appearance of this ship could only mean trouble. Mounted cannons and auto turrets. A dense steel exterior with chipped paint and signs of energy burns covered the ship.
The Banished huddled together, their energy shields and swords raised in anticipation of whatever threat may come their way. As the ship's doors slowly opened, a group of beings stepped out. They were humanoid in shape, their armor was thick and menacing. The Banished feared that they were not here to make peaceful contact. Dread filled the air as the two groups faced each other, waiting to see who would make the first move.
One of the humanoid figures steps forward first out of the massive ship, with another figure by its side. The metallic being speaks and waits for a response. The banished hesitate. A few breaking eye contact and chatter amongst themselves. A banished soldier clad in intricately woven armor layered with blue tinted metal plates steps forward and speaks in an unrecognizable language.
The other humanoid from the ships also steps forward intently listening to the being. Listening so intently almost as if it could understand the Banished being. The mechanical humanoid turns to the other and speaks to the figure standing at his side, "Remi, if I’m understanding correctly he seems to be calling himself Dryden. He wants to know what we are, I think. I can replicate their vocal patterns to some degree but I need to hear more of their language. It only slightly resembles one of the languages I have in my database. It seems to be old cordial, but I need to hear more to decipher the rest.” Remi turns to the mechanical man and responds, "I think we should start with our names as well if that's all you can make out."
Kiyoshi nods and turns back to the humanoid figure. "My name is Kiyoshi, and this is Remi. We come from a planet called Earth, a planet within this system. We're peaceful and are hoping to establish communication and possibly even trade." Kiyoshi explained, his metallic voice sounding strange to the ears of the Banished.
The Banished exchanged wary glances, uncertain of how to proceed. The armored soldier, who had stepped forward earlier, spoke up again. "Your dialect sounds strange. I don’t know how you know our language but it's clear your words are not our own. Why have you come to our planet? We have been living here peacefully for centuries and have no need for trade or communication with outsiders. Especially not soldiers."
Remi turns to Kiyoshi as he attempts to translate the language. He uploads the language codec to Remi's armor systems. Remi steps forward, and removes her helmet revealing a pale face and purple eyes. Her long silver hair swayed behind her. Her fingers press against the collar of her armor activating a transcriber. "We understand your desire for isolation, but we come with a proposition. Our planet has advanced technology that could greatly benefit your people. We offer to share this knowledge with you in exchange for your own knowledge and resources."
The Banished murmured amongst themselves shocked by the beings ability to speak in their native tongue, leading to many of them to consider the offer. As they spoke amongst themselves the same soldier in armor stepped forward again. "We will discuss your proposal among ourselves. Until then, you are welcome to explore the area, but we ask that you do not venture beyond that in the meantime."
Kiyoshi and Remi nodded, and with that, the Banished began to disperse, leaving the two Earthlings standing alone on the icy rocky terrain.
Another voice emerges from the ship,
"Well Kiyoshi I think that went well, thankfully Remi was there to ease the tension."
Kiyoshi and Remi turn to face the man stepping out of the ship. Kiyoshi responds to the man
"I still think we should have told them.."
Remi interjects,
"I think we should follow Kael's lead. Telling them that we had been in a battle just outside of their planet might have put them on edge."
Kiyoshi shifts his robotic eyes away from Remi to the ground, seemingly deep in thought. He responds after a momentary pause,
"I suppose you are right. It just feels like the wrong thing to do."
Kael puts his hand on Kiyoshi's shoulder,
"have some faith in me. We need this trade to go over well. We have to make repairs to the ship and get coms back online and warn the others that there's Forsaken on the outer rim."
Remi suddenly makes a gesture to the two as she spots the banished making their return.
The banished approach cautiously, their eyes studying the three humanoids from Earth. Dryden steps forward again, his voice steady but guarded, "We appreciate your offer for communication and trade, and forgive us for being cautious. We have been banished for a long time, and our trust in outsiders is limited." Kiyoshi nods, understanding their hesitation, but lingers on his remark about being banished. Was this a mistranslation on his part? "We completely understand, Dryden. We don't mean to impose on your territory or cause any trouble. We only want to offer our assistance and possibly make new allies." Dryden's eyes narrow slightly, studying Kiyoshi's robotic face. After a long moment, he nods in agreement. "We will consider your offer, Kiyoshi of Earth. But we must consult with our leaders first." Kiyoshi bows respectfully, "Of course. We will await your decision." And with that, the banished turn and make their way back to their village, leaving the Earthlings standing on the barren, icy terrain.
"I know you can't feel the cold Kiyoshi but I'm freezing." Remi remarks as she walks back into the ship. Kael turns to Kiyoshi and says "You gonna join us, or do you plan on waiting out here until they get back?" Kiyoshi responds, "I think I will wait." Kael walks back into the ship, a metallic door shutting behind him. Kiyoshi stands seemingly deep in thought. Despite being a machine his face displayed an expression of concern. He in truth was somewhat worried that their time was too limited to wait around. He was especially worried about withholding the truth. He decided to run simulations in his mind on possible reactions to being caught in a lie. He was afterall a machine. It was part of his design to function this way...
As he ran simulations he couldn't help but feel it was a mistake to lie. The risk was too great, if they couldn’t trade it would take too long to manually refuel and without metal plates they couldn’t patch the energy burns on the ship either. His mechanical eyes began peering across the frozen waste before him. He began walking in the direction the banished disappeared into. As he cleared the hill before him he spotted an almost alien village. His mind began racing through possible scenarios and outcomes of the situation at hand. He was going against Kael's instructions. Kael’s judgements would never usually fail them, but these weren’t usual circumstances. At that moment Kiyoshi came to a conclusion, he would act on his own accord.
Kiyoshi's decision was made, he was going to do what he thought was right. He made his way down the hill and approached the village, hoping to establish a more honest and open dialogue with the banished. As he neared the village, he noticed the banished were gathered around a large fire pit, with a few of them roasting some kind of meat on spits. They looked up in surprise as Kiyoshi approached, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
Kiyoshi held his hands up in a gesture of good faith and said, "Please, do not be alarmed. I come in peace, and I wish to speak with you." The banished hesitated at the sound of his metallic voice, but one of them stepped forward, a middle-aged woman with short gray hair and a kind face. "What is it that you want?" she asked, eyeing Kiyoshi warily.
Kiyoshi took a deep breath and said, "I apologize for not being completely honest earlier. We were in fact in a battle just outside of your planet, and we landed here as we were forced to make emergency repairs. But we do come in peace, and we wish to establish a dialogue with your people, to hopefully trade for the materials we need to complete our repairs. Perhaps we can learn more about you and hopefully find a way to coexist peacefully in our time here." The banished looked at each other, their expressions slightly turning to unease.
The woman spoke again, "We too believe in peace, we were in fact banished from our own kind for refusing war. We have been living here in isolation for centuries, trying to rebuild our lives and our society. We are wary of outsiders, especially ones who speak of battle.. but we are also curious about you. What do you offer?" Kiyoshi smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope. "We’re offering to trade knowledge, and technology."
Kiyoshi’s first priority was fixing the ship, but he also knew that if he could make a successful trade that their technologies would greatly help the Empyrean forces back home. He had been fixating on the weapons of light the banished seemingly willed into existence since they landed. Not only the weapons but when he entered the village his sensors pulsed with energy. There was an otherworldly warmth on his metallic body that had not been there before stepping into the village. Kiyoshi remembered something at that moment. The “dreams,” the dreams shared by everyone within the Ai race. The frozen tundra being eerily similar to the barren wastes, the sensation of energy that he felt. It was all very familiar. He hid momentary discomfort and was sure to keep his expression from changing in front of his new friends.
Bzzzt, "Kiyoshi? Where are you, what happened?" it was Remi on the coms. Kiyoshi turned to the Banished, "I'm going back to my ship to talk to my companions about getting together a trade, forgive me for cutting our conversation short." The old woman nods at Kiyoshi as if to say she understands. At that moment Kiyoshi starts to make his return. As Kiyoshi leaves, Dryden steps out forward from the crowd and speaks to the woman, "they're lying to us." the woman turns to Dryden to respond.
"What do you mean, Dryden?" she asks, confusion etched on her face. "They said they come in peace and hope to establish communication and trade with us. They even told us about the incident outside of our planet. What do you think they lied about?" Dryden looks at her, determination in his eyes. "They are not who they say they are. I have seen their kind before. They bring destruction and chaos wherever they go. We must prepare for the worst." The woman looks at him skeptically, "How can you be so sure? We have never seen beings like them before." Dryden replies, "I have seen their ships in my visions. They are the Forsaken, and they seek to destroy us all." The woman ponders his words for a moment before turning to the others, "We must prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. We cannot be certain of their intentions, but we must also not jump to conclusions. Let us be cautious, and let us pray that they come in peace."
As Kiyoshi enters the ship he sees Remi and Kael are standing in front of a holographic console displaying the damaged part of the ship. They turn to Kiyoshi, "you did it again didn't you?" Kael says in a disappointed tone. "Go easy on him Kael, you know he only did what he thought was right." Remi said in response. "He can speak for himself Remi, you know I'm your fireteam leader right Kiyoshi? Tell me why I shouldn't regard this as mutiny?" "They want to make the trade, '' Kiyoshi responds. "See I knew you'd mess this.. wait.. you said they want to trade?" Kael responds pleasantly surprised. Remi smiles at Kiyoshi and his eyes glow a bright blue and he responds to Kael, "yes, I told them I was coming back to prepare items and knowledge for a trade." Remi is visibly excited and pleased as well and asks the both of them, "well what should we prepare?" "We should bring a holotome and our spare gear and armor, I say we should leave credits as well in case we trade again in the future." Kael responds. Kiyoshi nods in agreement.
Kiyoshi also tells them he came forward about their situation. Kael seems displeased, but he doesn't complain as it did secure potential supplies for repairs. Kael tells Remi and Kiyoshi that since the Banished are aware of the situation he's going to tell them about the Forsaken and that their planet might be in danger. He would also offer his assistance should the Forsaken make a move against the Banished. Kiyoshi and Remi agree and they pack a pod in preparation for the trade. They exit the ship and make their way to the village.
As they approach the village, they can see that the Banished have gathered in the center, seemingly waiting for their return. Kiyoshi, Remi, and Kael make their way towards them, carrying the pod filled with their offerings. As they approach, the old woman from before steps forward and greets them. "Greetings, travelers. We are pleased to see you have returned." Kael steps forward and speaks, "We have come to offer our assistance and our technology in exchange for your supplies." The woman nods and responds, "We are willing to trade with you, but we must discuss the terms first." They all agree and make their way to a nearby hut where they can negotiate.
As they sit down to negotiate, Kiyoshi pulls out the holotome and begins to display the various technologies and knowledge they have to offer. The Banished are impressed with what they see and are eager to learn more. They discuss the terms of the trade and eventually come to an agreement. The Banished will provide them with the supplies they need for repairs in exchange for the technologies and knowledge they have to offer.
As they finish up the negotiations, Kael brings up the topic of the Forsaken and the danger they pose. He offers to assist the Banished should the Forsaken make a move against them. The old woman nods and responds, "We are aware of the Forsaken and the danger they pose. We have been preparing for their arrival, but any assistance would be greatly appreciated." Kael nods and they agree to keep in touch in case of any emergency.
As they make their way back to the ship, Kiyoshi, Remi, and Kael feel a sense of relief and accomplishment. They had secured the supplies they needed for repairs and made a valuable trade with the Banished. They had also established a relationship with the Banished and had offered their assistance in case of danger. It was a successful mission, and Kiyohi knew he had made the right choice in disclosing the truth about their recent battle.
Night befalls the plant. It's suddenly much colder than it was before. Kael and Remi go back into the ship gesturing to Kiyoshi to join them. "We should all rest Kiyoshi." Remi says. Kiyoshi, still working on the ship turns to Remi, his eyes dim and flickering at the thought of sleeping. "You can't be scared of the dreams Kiyoshi." Remi tells him. Kiyoshi turns back to the ship, his metallic hands clanking against the components of the ship. Remi looks heartbroken as she walks into the ship and seals the door. The wind begins to howl and heavy snow starts to fall. The darkness of the planet drowning the snowy waste. Kiyoshi stops working for a moment to look out into the distance. Could he have been mistaken? He stands up and walks a few feet away from the ship glancing around the waste trying to make out the terrain. It's no use, despite being a machine he just can't see more than a few meters ahead of himself. As he turns to walk back to the ship he's suddenly knocked to the ground, rolling down the hill in front of him.
Kiyoshi's sensors quickly assess the situation as he tumbles down the hill. He realizes that he's being attacked and quickly activates his combat protocols. As he reaches the bottom of the hill, he quickly stands up and assesses his surroundings. He sees several figures emerging from the darkness, their weapons at the ready. Kiyoshi's eyes glow a bright blue as he prepares to defend himself.
The figures advance towards him, their weapons raised. Kiyoshi quickly calculates the trajectory of their attack and moves to dodge their blows. He retaliates with a swift strike, his metallic fists connecting with their armor with a resounding clang.
Despite their numbers, Kiyoshi manages to hold his ground, his advanced combat protocols allowing him to anticipate their moves and counter their attacks. However, he soon realizes that he's outnumbered and outmatched. The attackers seem to be well-trained and well-equipped, and Kiyoshi's attacks are barely making a dent in their armor.
Kiyoshi knows that he needs to retreat and seek backup from his fireteam. He quickly turns and runs towards the ship, his attackers in hot pursuit. He reaches the ship and quickly activates the door, stepping inside just as his attackers reach him.
Kiyoshi takes a moment to catch his breath, his sensors scanning the area for any signs of danger. He realizes that they need to come up with a plan to defend themselves against this new threat. He turns to Remi and Kael, "We have a problem, we're being attacked."
Remi and Kael quickly tumble out of their sleeping units and begin to gear up half asleep. "Attacked? by who?" Kael just barely makes out a coherent sentence. "Is it the Forsaken?" Remi asks Kiyoshi. "I don't know, I was ambushed. I barely made it back." Kiyoshi tells both of them. Loud clanking can be heard outside the ship. "You didn't see them?" Kael asks Kiyoshi in disbelief, "you're an Ai!" he follows up. "Now's not the time." Remi was visibly angered by Kael's statement. A glowing blade pierces the door, "it's the Banished?" Remi says looking in confusion at both Kael and Kiyoshi.
As the Banished forces break into the ship, Kiyoshi recognizes Dryden among them. "Dryden, what is the meaning of this?" Kiyoshi demands, rising to his feet and adopting a defensive stance. "We cannot trust outsiders," Dryden replies, his voice filled with suspicion and hostility. "Especially not those who are allied with the Forsaken." "We are not allied with the Forsaken," Kael protests, raising his own weapon. "We are here to trade and to help defend your planet if necessary." "I don't believe you," Dryden says, his blade glowing brighter. "But if you truly wish to prove your loyalty, then you will come with us." Kiyoshi, Kael, and Remi exchange a glance before nodding in agreement. They follow the Banished forces out of the ship and into the snowy wasteland, unsure of what their fate may be.
The cold stings Remi's face as they walk in the dark of the night. Dryden and the Banished navigating the wastes wearing some sort of visors and head gear unfamiliar to her. "We trusted you." Remi speaks out. Dryden remains silent and continues forward. This was not the way to the village before, Kiyoshi could tell based on the terrain. He had previously mapped out everywhere he had been since arriving onto the planet and this was nowhere near the village. Kiyoshi turned to look at Kael, he half expected to see an expression of I told you so plastered across his face but as his eyes met Kael's he only saw anger. Kiyoshi knew this was not an ideal situation to be in. He tried to speak up as best he could but his speech synthesis was muffled by the snow.
"Dryden, we trusted you. Why are you doing this?" Kiyoshi asked, trying to reason with the Banished leader. Dryden turned to face Kiyoshi, his visor hiding his expression. "You think you can just come onto our planet and take what you want? We won't let you." He replied coldly. Remi stepped forward, "we came here to trade, not to take anything from you." Dryden laughed, "oh, I know what you came here for. And I'm not going to let you take it." Kael stepped forward, his weapon raised, "you’re wasting our time!" Dryden's men surrounded the fireteam, their weapons at the ready. "And you’re all LIARS." He replied, before signaling for his men to attack.
It was at this moment a loud siren could be heard in the distance. The electronic panels on armor the fireteam was wearing began rapidly blinking, shocked by the sudden flashes and siren in the distance Dryden asked "what are you doing, what is that!" his men looked to Dryden, too stunned to make a move at the moment. "The forsaken?" Remi asks as she looks to her fireteam. Kael, although a hothead was very rational when it mattered, he struck the confrontation from his mind. His eyes locked with Dryden's ,"we don't have time for this, we need to get back! I know this is asking a lot but I need you to trust us." Suddenly a loud otherworldly sound could be heard in the sky above. Kiyoshi mutters, "the Forsaken.."
The ground beneath them shook with the impact of the Forsaken's ships landing. Kiyoshi's sensors detected multiple heat signatures, all too close for comfort. "We need to move now," Kiyoshi said as he led the way, following the path back to the ship. The Banished and the fireteam quickly followed, weapons at the ready. They ran as fast as they could through the snow, but they could hear the sound of weapons firing and explosions getting closer and closer.
As they approached the ship, they saw that it was surrounded by Forsaken soldiers. Kael signaled for the Banished to take cover behind nearby rocks, while the fireteam prepared to engage the enemy. Remi, Kiyoshi, and Kael took up positions behind a nearby boulder, their weapons trained on the enemy.
The Forsaken soldiers moved in, firing their weapons and launching grenades. The fireteam returned fire, taking down several of the enemy. Kael coordinated his team's movements and attacks. Meanwhile, Kiyoshi's advanced targeting systems allowed him to take precise shots, quickly eliminating targets.
But the Forsaken soldiers seemed to be never-ending, and their attacks were getting more intense. "We can't hold them off much longer," Remi said, her voice filled with urgency.
Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling sound, and the ground shook beneath them once again. The Forsaken soldiers looked up in confusion, giving the fireteam the opening they needed to take them out.
As the dust settled, they saw a massive ship descending from the sky, landing between the fireteam and the remaining Forsaken soldiers. The door of the ship opened, and out stepped a figure dressed in a long cloak.
Kael looks at the figure, “Arin?!”
Dryden turns to his men, "this was it, this was my vision!" He felt guilty for doubting Kiyoshi but seeing that they truly weren’t with the Forsaken he knew he had to take action. Dryden urges his company to join the fight. The banished were a proud people and they would not let their new home fall. Kiyoshi immediately spots Dryden leaping into action and is quick to join him in battle.
Kael looks at Arin and smiles, what took you so long? " We were expecting you in the first fight against these assholes!" "Sorry Kael, we were ambushed on our way to your location!" Arin responds. "You guys can kiss and tell later we need to help Kiyoshi and Dryden!" Remi shouts over the rumbling ship and gunfire.
Kael and Arin nod in agreement and follow Remi into battle, their weapons firing in unison with the rest of the fireteam. The Forsaken were powerful and numerous, but the fireteam fought with a fierce determination. Kiyoshi, with his advanced systems, was able to analyze the enemy movements and adapt accordingly, while Dryden and his Banished company provided a much-needed reinforcement. It was a long and intense battle, but in the end, the fireteam emerged victorious.
As the dust settled, Kael walked over to Dryden, "I'm sorry for doubting you earlier. You really do care about this planet and its people." Dryden looked at him, "I was wrong to distrust you as well. We are all fighting for the same cause." Kiyoshi, Remi, and Arin all approached, nodding in agreement.
Dryden turns to the group, "we need to warn the village." Remi nods in agreement. Arin looks to Dryden and asks about some of the other structures and heat signatures her ship pinged on their way into the planet. "My ship pinged multiple inhabited locations, are there more of you?" Dryden responds, "yes, there's actually quite a bit of us. We're split into tribes each with our own villages and towns. Some are bigger than others. That's actually where I was taking Kiyoshi and his friends." "Why another village?" Kael asks. "To get a second opinion on you, Shai, our town's wise woman claims she can see people's souls and read their hearts' intent." Kiyoshi's eyes dart towards Dryden, he listens intently to Dryden go into detail about the wisewoman. Intrigued by his words. Kiyoshi often thought about his existence and whether or not he had a soul. He thought about his dreams, about his nightmares. He thought about how he could see all of his kind in his dream and how they could all sense each other. Though improbable he wondered if this wise woman could see his soul.The ship neared the village and they landed nearby to make a short walk to the village to discuss their options.
As they walk towards the village center Dryden formally introduces them to the wise woman, Shai. She had a kind face and was dressed in traditional tribal clothing adorned with various symbols and trinkets. Upon seeing her Kiyoshi couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity with her. Shai listened intently as Dryden explained their situation and the attack from the Forsaken. "We should evacuate the people," she says calmly. "The Prophet has foreseen this, and we must heed his warnings. Gather our people and make preparations for a retreat."
Kael and Arin exchange a concerned look, "but where would you go?" Arin asks. Shai looks towards the horizon, "We’ll seek refuge within the ruins of glass. They’re on the small moon of this planet." The group falls silent as they consider the gravity of the situation.
Dryden speaks up, "there are many of us in the Banished, not all will be willing to leave. Especially those who haven’t seen the Forsaken. We will need to convince them." Kiyoshi nods in agreement, "I can speak to them, perhaps appeal to their sense of self-preservation."
As they continue to discuss their plan, Shai's visage turns to one of concern. One of the trinkets she's wearing glows a deep red, "I'm receiving a distress signal, it must be him.” Shai explains that the transmitter she's wearing works as a beacon of sorts and shares her location with that of another, she provides the group with the coordinates of the signal and urges them to investigate.
Kael, confused by the situation unfolding, turns to Shai and says, “You do realize the Forsaken are on their way?”
“If he’s in trouble we have more to worry about than just the Forsaken.” Shai responds with her voice trembling.
Dryden turns to the group and speaks up, "I want to join you on your journey. I know this planet and our moon better than anyone else here, I can help you navigate through any obstacles that we might face."
Kael looks at him skeptically, "Why should we trust you? Especially after what happened earlier?"
Dryden sighs, "I understand you might now trust me now, but I can assure you, I have no ill intentions. I have been among the Banished my whole life, I want to protect my people. We all have heavy hearts. We were outcasted once before and we don't deserve to suffer the same fate at the hands of the forsaken."
Kiyoshi steps in, "I trust him. He saved our lives back there Kael, and I think he genuinely wants to help."
After a brief moment of silence, Kael nods in agreement, "Fine. You can come with us. But if you try anything reckless, I won't hesitate to stop you."
Dryden nods, "I understand. Thank you. Trust me I won't try anything, what happened before was well.. a misunderstanding."
Kael nodded, and together they made their way to the ship. As they walked, Dryden told them more about the Banished and their ways. He spoke with pride about the strength and resilience of his people, and how they had survived on the harsh icy planet for generations after their banishment.
They boarded Arin’s ship and departed the planet towards the distress signal. As they approached the moon, Kiyoshi noticed that the landscape was barren and rocky, with deep craters and sharp ridges. The ship's scanners detected a structure in the distance, and Kael set a course towards it. “That’s the ruin of glass.” Dryden unlatched his belt and walked towards the front of the ship. “There isn’t a clearing next to the ruins so we’ll have to make our way through some of the terrain nearby.”
As they neared the structure they landed as close as Dryden had instructed they could. They pass through a clearing of jagged black rocks that were glasslike in appearance. In the center of the clearing surrounded by massive glasslike rocks, they see a large structure that seemed to be made of a material that Kael and his team have never seen before.
They cautiously approach the structure, and as they get closer, they see a figure standing at the entrance. He is tall and imposing, with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes with pale white skin. Kael and his team draw their weapons, unsure of what to expect, but the figure simply stands there and watches them approach.
As they get closer, they can see that the figure is dressed in tattered robes and is carrying a staff adorned with strange symbols. The figure further emerged from the inside, looking on at the fireteam with a calm expression, as if he had been expecting them.
As they approach, the figure looks up, and the fireteam is surprised to see that it is a Cordial. He looked weak and frail, and his eyes were clouded with pain.
Kiyoshi steps forward, "Are you the one who sent the distress signal?"
The figure nods weakly, "Yes. I have been searching for the Alchemist, but I fear I have been unsuccessful. My powers are weakening, and I am in great pain."
Kael steps forward, "What do you mean, your powers and who’s the Alchemist?"
Dryden steps forward to confront the man before him, “You’re the Prophet, Shai is always going on about you.”
The Prophet looks at him with a knowing expression, "Yes, she calls me the Prophet but now isn’t the time to stand idly by; we must hurry, there is not much time left."
The fireteam is taken aback by the Prophet's words, unsure of what to make of them. As they follow him into the structure, they notice the walls are lined with strange symbols and intricate designs. The air is thick, and Kiyoshi's sensors pick up an otherworldly energy in the air. The descend a winding stairwell and as they reach the bottom Kiyoshi senses that the energy seems to be emanating from the structure ahead, and the closer they get, the stronger the feeling becomes. The atmosphere becomes heavy with a palpable sense of danger, and Kiyoshi runs a diagnostic check on himself and then scans the area. Kiyoshi hadn't felt fear before but he thought perhaps he was sensing it for the first time in this moment.
As they descended deeper into the structure, they came across strange artifacts and relics that seem to be from another time and place. The Prophet explains that they were left behind by an ancient civilization that once inhabited the moon.
As they continued to walk they finally reached a large chamber at the center of the structure. In the center of the room was a glowing crystal radiating a powerful energy. The Prophet explains that this crystal is what gives him his powers, and it is one of the reasons he came to the moon in the first place. The prophet turns to the group, "I believe with help of this artifact and the runes inscribed on these walls I can find him."
"And by him you mean the Alchemist, who is that and why do you need to find him?" asks Remi. Kael follows her question with, "I'd like to know that too."
The Prophet explains that he has been searching for the Alchemist, and claims that according to things written within these walls that it is someone who had found a way to hone the powers gifted by the Empyrean. He tells them that he believes that the Alchemist holds the key to defeating the Darkness.
Remi looks to Kael, and Kael to Kiyoshi. "How do you know of the darkness?" Kael asks the Prophet, shocked by the mention of the entity. The Prophet looks to the team and recounts the events of the great collapse, he explains that he was part of a fleet fighting the darkness when the calamity began. He goes into great detail of the moment the great light had revealed itself. He explains how he was absorbed into a vast dark cloud as soon as he witnessed the great light. He describes a starless and void domain. His ship's systems were immediately knocked offline, no navigation, no coms, no hyper drives. Suddenly there was a blinding flash that shone in the distance. He explained that he flew towards the light and when he emerged he was in the outer rim. His ship was heavily damaged and his fuel close to being completely empty. He ran a scan for nearby planets and found only one. A lone blue planet in the cold of space.
After making an emergency landing on the planet he was unsure if he was going to be able to extract any carbon from the planet to refuel. He would’ve ran a planetary scan, but couldn’t risk wasting any more power. He began exploring the area and stumbled upon the banish. They were weary of him for quite some time, but in the month he had spent gathering resources for a manual refuel they finally took a liking to him, realizing he wasn’t a threat. Kael and his team listen carefully to the Prophet's story, unsure of what to make of the void he had spoken of. They were skeptical of his claims. The great collapse after all was over 200 years ago. The prophet, seeing their skepticism, reached towards his belt and opened a pouch and took out an old sigil. It wasn’t something Kael or Remi had seen before but Kiyoshi recognized it instantly. “You’re the commander of the 1st legion!” Kiyoshi’s words rang in disbelief and excitement, his bright eyes fixated on the Prophet trying to understand how this could be possible.
Suddenly, the chamber began to shake, and a loud rumbling filled the air. The crystal cracked, and the Prophet fell to the ground in agony. Kael and his team rush to his side, but they are powerless to stop the crystal from shattering into a million pieces.
As the dust begins to settle, the fireteam realizes that they are no longer alone in the chamber. A dark figure emerges from the shadows, its eyes glowing with an eerie red light. The figure speaks in a strange harsh language, and Kael and his team can feel its malevolent energy wash over them.
Kiyoshi readies his weapon, but before he can act, the Prophet rises to his feet. His eyes are glowing with an intense light, and his body is surrounded by a powerful aura. The Prophet grinding his teeth in pain lets out a burst of energy knocking everyone back against the wall. The dark figure recoils in fear, and Kael and his team can feel its energy weakening.
The Prophet speaks in a language that Kael and his team do not understand, and the dark figure slowly fades away into nothingness. The chamber falls silent, and the Prophet collapses to the ground, weak and exhausted.
Kael and his team rush to his side, but the Prophet waves them off. "I am at the end of my journey," he says. "But for you, your journey is just beginning. You must use your powers wisely and protect this system from the darkness that threatens it."
With those final words, the Prophet closes his eyes and takes his last breath. Kael and his team are left alone in the chamber, surrounded by the relics of an ancient civilization and the remains of a powerful being who sacrificed everything to protect them.
Kiyoshi breaks the silence, "we need the Alchemist."
Remi nods in agreement, "We need to find the Alchemist and learn how to use the power of the Empyrean."
Kael puts a hand on Kiyoshi's shoulder, "Let's go back to the Banish and figure out our next move."
Kiyoshi stops for a moment before leaving the chamber as he spots a large chunk of the crystal from the center of the room. He picks it up and stows it away underneath his armor before following the other on their way out.
As they make their way back through the structure, Kael and his team can feel the weight of the Prophet's words and the responsibility that has been placed upon them. They know that the fate of the system is resting on their shoulders, and they must find a way to stop the Shadow before another calamity happens.
But for now, they must regroup and come up with a plan. They have a long and difficult journey ahead of them, but they are determined to see it through to the end.
