Sigmafly, Enroute to Lo-nine

L’yophin

He drew from his pipe, billowing grey smoke into the sealed room. The air scrubbers were put to the test, keeping the room relatively clean.

“Aye, finest stuckle weed I ever did have,” Basil announced, sighing from beneath his bowler.

“Mm. It is good. Good- good. Gooood. Mm.”

“What're you doin’?”

He scratched at his healed throat.

“Mm, voice was healed. It... Sounds strange now. Goood- Good.”

He drew from his pipe, trying to distract from the pain of wounded friends and other unresolved feelings.

“Aye, much’ll change when one becomes a Fae! A bit of sing and a bit song, always in play, every day!”

He blinked back at the hogboon’s rhyming voice. He was an oddity, but so was everyone else aboard, including himself. A dwarf Dugrum Faekind. He had never heard of a Proturan becoming one. For all he knew, he was the first. Basil wiggled his bowler as he cleared his throat. His two caterpillar eyebrows danced as he made a face.

“Oh what luck to be a Fae,”

“To dance our cares away,”

“We take our drink,”

“As fas ‘tas a blink,”

“And be slosh’d by end a’day!”

L’yophin blinked vacantly at the hogboon’s silly limerick. Basil continued on as if no ridiculous song had been sung. He suspected the goblinkind simply moved on as fast as possible if no positive reaction was had.

“So, L’yophin ol’ pal, bein’ a Fae is a special honor. It ain’t about prankin’ gits, sitting on toadstools and all that bunkum. Being a Fae is hard work!”

“I work hard.”

“It won’ be easy!”

“What is?” he challenged back.

“You’ll wanna quit!”

“I won’t,” he shrugged. This Basil was odd. A good friend, but still, he was odd.

But who was he to judge now?

Basil barked a laugh, “Tha’s the spirit, my spidery friend! First off, ye’ll need to learn Fae energy. We all project it- all Faekind do, aye- but the idea is to grab it and focus it! Ye can feel it if ye try, aye!”

He looked down at his limbs. He decided his left forehand. He relaxed his palm, feeling the swirling energy surrounding his limb. He split his mental processes, feeling the energy coursing through his body and into his limbs. It had a taste like lavender and mint. L’yophin drew from the pipe, wafting a cloud just in front of his face. He channelled the Fae energy and caught some of the smoke, trapping it in a thin sphere.

“Dineil have mercy, you got it! You found yer Faesciath!” Basil hopped to his feet, gripping his bowler as he peered at the captured smoke.

“A what?”

“Faesciath, aye! That energy surroundin’ ye is a shield- and yers is good one too- protectin’ ye, aye!”

He blinked in a wave back at the Hogboon. He never did see him fight that demon god and fallen angels. If it weren’t for his shield, he may never have returned. He pulled his slender fingers away from the sphere, watching as it popped. He couldn’t project it far from his body, probably a few centimeters at best. But magical armor on top of his tough chitin-

Magic. I have magic now. Me. A Dugrum. Science and magic…

His mind turned at the possibilities. As if reading the room, Basil waved a hand at him.

“I think we’re done for today, ol’ L’yophin, pal!”

Basil grabbed his stein, lifting it high. L’yophin paused, his mind digging back and finding the proper etiquette for such a gesture.

Yes. Clink them together. A toast. For celebrations and luck.

The steins clanked, spilling the foamy moon ale. It was a terrible waste. They both at once sipped at the sides, catching the precious liquid.

“Now- let me ask you this- what’ll this adventure entail?”

He shrugged. Who knew what they would find on Lo-Nine?

Why are we going there anyways? The dreams. But why?

He realized he had been swept away on this journey. All because he discovered Soltana. But S’yliska also returned to him. If one had a chance at redemption, would they take it no matter the threat? The adventure that awaited was like nothing he had experienced. He finally spoke up.

“Unsure what it will bring. Either way, S’yliska is here with me. Soltana is here. Ruth is here. You are here. Diniel and Phela are here. And Maw is here.”

Basil grinned heartily, raising his stein for another toast. Another clank and more side sipping set the room quiet.

The hogboon took a large swig before crisping at the drink.

“Aye! Canna beat having friends on strange adventures, eh?”

“Yes,” he twisted his mandibles into a parody of a grin as he sipped some more.

“Basil. I must rest. Dugrum can only recall three hundred years at any one time. I must begin remembering my times exploring, flying, fighting, trading, and communicating.”

“Really? Ye Dugrum are peculiar peoples, aye! I’ll head to, get me some shut-eye, aye.”

Basil got to his feet, adjusting his bowler and taking one last chug of drink before turning, “Now, remember what I said- keep training that Fae power- aye- it’ll help in a pinch!”

The door slid shut on his way out.

He sat quietly in thought as he finished his drink.

The Underrealm was nice, but need to store it away. Keep Soltana, S’yliska, Ruth, Phela, Diniel, Basil, and Maw. Store the rest away. Mining, smelting, metalworking, architecture, farming, hosting, plumbing, Dekapillar breeder, beercraft, your adventures and suffering in the Underrealm except meeting Soltana. That was important. Now Remember: piloting, navigating, weaponry, tactics, discipline, ambassadorial duties, space routes, Proturan craft, human technology, languages, merchanting, shipwright, quantum computing… And remember, that time with S’yliska. The last time I saw her.

His metabolism slowed, as did his two hearts. His mind receded into a coma-like state as his compartmentalized mind stored what he no longer needed and unpacked what he did. While his conscious mind could carry around three-hundred years of information at any time, there was no limit to his unconscious storage as far as he was aware. He even remembered back to the old world when he was an ambassador to Primetech. The McDonough family was fascinating, as was human culture. Anforms were the second most fascinating group he had met. Like Soltana, they didn’t shy away from him like many humans did. It was an odd elevation to realize one was physically terrifying. He had known no other world but his own. At the Ancath’s request, he met humanity on their planets and vessels, learning all he could of them while the rest of the Proturan watched from afar. And now S’yliska was the last Ancath, housed in the body of the human that had helped slay them.

But Ruth does not remember. Unfair to judge her.

He stored away the deep feelings of resentment towards Ruth and her human past- those that destroyed his race. First, deal with his mistake and the loss of S’yliska. First, deal with redemption. With a final breath, he was finished. His mind updated to all that he learned in the past. He rose from his squat position. He’d first see Ruth in the medical bay. L’yophin skittered out his quarters and into the hall. He stopped, looking down at the streaking path of clean green metal deck. Diniel had used magic to clean away Ruth’s devouring blood, putting a freshly forged sheen to the alloy. He trembled at the trauma.

“Ruth… S’yliska...”

He wandered to the medical room, halting just shy of the door sensors. He clasped his front limbs in bothered agitation. He drew breath, holding it as he entered. It slid open with a hiss, revealing an empty quarter. He blinked his eyes absently.

“Ruth?”

He ducked and bobbed his head, scanning the inside of the door frame and ceiling above. Confusion set in as he scanned under the floating bed. He checked under the pillow for good measure.

“Ruth? S’yliska?”

He did a full turn, making sure it was well and truly empty. His hearts lept. Gone.

“Where?”

He spun and skittered hurriedly to the hangar. He passed by the utility closet that was now Basil’s room. He shuttered away the random thought of how odd it was for one to choose such a room when there were better luxury suites still available.

The hogboon was an odd one.

The hangar bay door was open, with the lights dim. He heard talking just inside. Two small red jewel eyes glowed out at him from the dimly lit hangar. A blue glowing silhouetted angel illuminated much of the hangar. His eyes adjusted and then he knew. Ruth and Soltana were leaning against a crate of supplies, the smaller Lambent in the arms of the larger humanoid shapeshifter. They were in turn next to Maw’s large worm-form. Phela was nestled near the back end of the hangar, wings gently tapping against the floor and ceiling.

“Ruth!”

She got to her feet, a warm smile on her face as the others looked to the commotion. Ruth hugged L’yophin with her free arm as Soltana patted him from her other arm.

“Ruth- You’re better. You’re all better…”

“L’yophin! Yes- I’m alright! Please don’t cry!”

He blinked, feeling warm tears.

“Pheh! The air filters mess with my sinuses-” he sniffed.

They all shared a laugh.

“We’re all together now,” he stated, looking at everyone.

“Where is Basil?” Soltana asked.

“He is resting. He was teaching me my Fae abilities.”

“Ah, a wise move as Lo-Nine may be perilous. Basil and I will both train you as we travel,” Diniel stated as he made his way over. His flame danced to and fro as he clasped his four hands together.

He gave a spidery smile up at the angel.

Things were suddenly going well again.

“L’yophin.”

He snapped his eyes at Ruth. She wore her golden blonde hair in a ponytail, tied together by Dugrum silk thread. She wore a plain grey silk dress that accentuated her form. She was satisfyingly symmetric to him; apart from the mark. His hearts fluttered at her look. The Seal of the Tetragrammaton upon the left side of her throat stood out against her fair skin.

“Can you show us the bridge?”

He looked down at Soltana and then back to Ruth.

“Of course- you never saw it.”

Diniel nodded, gesturing to with an arm, “I shall make sure Maw and Phela are tended to.”

The worm began scooting towards the Rhomoth, letting out a low gurgling as it moved. He turned and skittered away through the hall he came. He heard snoring from the utility closet

“L’yophin,” Ruth said again.

“Yes?”

“I wanted us to be alone together- the three of us.”

“For what reason, Ruth?” Soltana asked from within the fold of the shapeshifter’s arms.

He looked out at the viewscreen, seeing the dimensional shielding forming a kaleidoscopic barrier around the vessel.

“I’ve got a lot to talk about- a lot of catching up to do. L’yophin- you look different- you sound different. What happened?”

He nervously fidgeted with his front limbs.

“I used the Faeward and became a faerie. Part faerie? I do not know exactly,” he muttered.

Ruth giggled at his confusion.

“So that’s why your voice was healed and you look- well- periwinkle!”

He let out a quiet grunt. Ruth placed Soltana down.

“L’yophin- I was speaking to S’yliska. She says that you may still have unresolved trauma of her slaying. That you still blame yourself.”

“Oh L’yophin! It is not your fault,” Soltana began to say.

He felt the bitter twisting as the moment fully ascended to his mind. He had kept it down for so long. The raw wound hurt intensely.

“Mm- yes,” he couldn’t say anymore.

Her flesh flowed like water. Dress and hair broke down and was absorbed. A large white chitinous emerged from Ruth’s flesh, completing her transformation into S’yliska.

“L’yophin,” her low, sweet voice spoke.

He trembled, his feelings and memory associated with that time fully awake. His tears flowed like rivers.

“S’yliska… I can’t be forgiven. I failed you- you were slain because of me…”

She knelt down, gathering up the dwarf Dugrum and embracing him like a mother to a child.

“Please do not accept me…”

“You were not called to be rejected, my little de’strala. My infant of joy. You’ve made me proud beyond words, L’yophin, my advisor and ambassador. I called you to live- remember and obey!”

His tears were unceasing. His hearts throbbed in agony. He was never supposed to be redeemed. He tried to prepare for this moment, but it was a fruitless and vain task. He was a failure and his friend and god was no more because of him. His chittering sobs wracked his body. He couldn’t accept it.

“But you must,” S’yliska stated, as if reading his mind, “you must accept my forgiveness. You must accept your redemption. If we are to all survive, you must let go of your grief and remorse for something you had no control over! You were in a time of hopelessness and only thought of seeing me for comfort. Others exploited that as a weakness. I saw it- I still see it- as one of your greatest moments. And you’ve ascended beyond that- to my infinite pride. You’ve flowed like a river in the midst of change. L’yophin of old was like mossy stone, slow to change and stubborn to move. You’ve become as clay, changing into the desired shape. Adonai and I will make you a righteous vessel indeed.”

He did not expect it to come so soon. As soon as he finished his mind transposition, S’yliska was there to forgive.

He remembered the moment.

Danolath was gone. His dear Dugrum friend. Slain in the battle of Purjur. The church had ended them. He shuddered and trembled inside his quarters of their Mantodean sloop, barely surviving the retreat. He gave the commander the coordinates to S’yliska’s location. They arrived in time to the hiveship Cicatriz. Larger than a space wharf, containing over a trillion Proturan and his Ancath god.

S’yliska.

She would know what to do. He couldn’t process the grief of pain and loss. So many gone in a heartbeat. So expendable. He remembered in those final moments their desperate suicide attacks against that evil sphere of death. The Mars made vessel the Underfall Yard had torn their fleet to ash and slag. Their sacrifice only bought time.

So powerful- that rotten church. None could stand against them. They were gods and he was an ant. Not even the hosts of angels or demons could oppose them.

The sloop docked inside the hiveship, its final thumping clamp a mournful tune. He exited the quarters rushing down the halls, passing by Proturan as broken as him. He was escorted as soon as he left the ramp, the Mantodean sloop was already in the process of being broken down and rebuilt into a full craft.

He saw the eyes and antenna all focused on him as he made his journey to the hive’s center mirador. There he meets her. His Ancath. His god. S’yliska. She greets him, her white chitin and red muscle lesh glistened in the light.

“L’yophin, I’ve heard of the reports of the battle of Purjur.”

He trembled, unable to speak or excuse the failure.

She turned, her cloak of wings fluttering in the light. The room was a circumference of exact proportions, so all could see and speak to their god. He heard the scuttling and rustling of guards.

“We were the only survivors…” He began to plead. It was too much. He couldn’t say anymore.

“L’yophin, my de’strala. You did everything you could with all of your might. We must continue our fight for our survival.”

And then her extended hand blossomed in a fountain of mixed blood. She recoiled with a cry. L’yophin didn’t know what was happening. He shuddered at the sight of his god being wounded. Her guards lept into the fray, attacking the tiny silhouette with mighty fury.

And were all slain in a heartbeat in columns and explosions of gore and blood. He let out a wailing shriek as he set himself to die upon this intruder. He knew right away who she was.

It all clicked into place why they were allowed to leave. They were tailed.

“But how?”

He knew this fighter well. She was the bane of all Ancath.

Lilith the Cruel, the Church's mightiest Crusader. The reason alone they were doomed to fail. She was garbed in robes of dark grey, wielding two long sewing needles of orhicalcum, threaded with adamantite. She vanished, garroting and beheading another guard. Alarms blared. The hive quaked.

A flicker of a portal and half of a beetle guard was shewn away. It dropped and thrashed in its final moments.

“L’yophin!” S’yliska cried.

He snapped to her, stopping at her command.

“Leave here! Take the Sigmafly! Go!”

She projected her full power against Lilith, the smaller woman recoiled back from the mighty blow. She slew two more guards that blocked her path. And two more. And five more vanished into portals.

“L’yophin! I command it! Live!”

He witnessed Lilith engage, passing by the Ancath in a blur of movement far faster than his eyes could handle.

He witnessed S’yliska stumble and gasp. He watched as she fell apart into perfectly cut pieces.

His tears flowed freely as he turned and ran. And wept as he fled, bumping right into a church soldier. Acting on decades of experience, he slashed out with his dexterous hand across the man’s helmeted face. He cut the soldier to the bone, barreling past him as he cried out. Gunfire rang out from everywhere. Humans were suddenly upon them. An instant invasion force. He saw many slain as he ran.

A detonation sent him reeling. He dragged himself along, feeling intense pain of missing limbs. He couldn't cry out as blood flowed from the wound in his throat. Shrapnel. He managed to escape on the Sigmafly as Hiveship Cicatriz fell. A final glance left the image of that burning vessel within his mind to this day.

He wept as he fled into the cold universe.

He had wandered the galaxy until he caught the line encrypted signal, calling him home to the Underrealm. There he found the corpse of his race buried there.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” he softly chanted.

“L’yophin,” S’yliska gently shook him, “I have returned. In a way, Genius Loci, the evil and malevolent demon reunited us. He found my soul and the souls of the other Ancath. I don’t know how he did it, but it was so. He used us to remake Ruth and produce Maw. In his own sick way, he was our reviver. But we will never be pawns to his plan.”

He surrendered to her embrace and mercy. He allowed new memories to take hold. The times had had with her. His tutoring and learning. Her correction and discipline. And most of all, her kindness.

The trauma of the past vanished away. He was whole again.

He looked down at Soltana, seeing her stare up at them with glowing red eyes.

“L’yophin,” the tiny Lambent asked, “are you well?”

He nodded, a pained spidery smile adorned.

“I am now.”

And he was right.

They continued their journey while others fought.