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End of the Line

Dairyu managed to mitigate the worst of the ambush's outcome by making an air burst just as the same time as some Black Creature parasites attacked him. Despite of his timing, though, some of the attacks pierced through and stabbed him. He grunted from the pain, but stayed at his place. He didn't have time to recover, though, as a parasite host suddenly swung a giant propeller blade, ripped from an older terrain aerial mobility vehicle. He jumped with a little boost of his wind, and managed to cut the host into two.

He ran towards the Master, intending to fight him and end every problems he got. Two Scyllan host that guarded it were no match to Dairyu's reflexes and sharpness of his wind. But as he managed to go one by one with the host, he didn't see a tentacle sprouting from the remains of the host behind him. It pulled his tail and dragged him to the floor harshly, causing him to feel a pain on his back. Due to the combination of fatigue and pain, he was late to recover, and the tentacles managed to subdue him, removing his weapons.

"Your struggle is worth noting, but it's all over," said the Master. "This 'ship' is a massive weapon system capable of destroying a planet in a matter of seconds, and nothing could prevent it, not even your comrades."

"Shit, you are observing us from the moment we step foot on this god-forsaken ship/weapon, huh? I would've thought so. But you know my friends are capable of killing a group full of your servants."

"Black Creatures, as you said, are weak beings with only hosts to sustain their lives and their fighting capabilities," said the Master, now changing into a gooey version of a draconian. "Yet, our real people...doesn't come from this galaxy at all."

"Your real people? You mean you're not the whole race?!"

"Oh, they don't want to take risks on conquering this galaxy. They fear any efforts will destroy our already scattered race. But look at what actually happened. This is just a ship scattering parasites throughout the galaxy and you're taking a massive casualties just to make a scratch at my 'ship'."

Dairyu didn't know what the Black Creature was saying until it showed him visions from a green crystal, presumably for observation. He could see the debris of what were ships, floating around the bigger organic ship. While some ships were trying to fight back, it, too, was quickly destroyed by a direct energy beam towards it, making it disintegrate. Dairyu, apparently horrified by it, suddenly lashed out and said, "Stop! What is your purpose in killing everyone? Do you hold a grudge to our civilizations?"

"We don't," said the Master bluntly. "We just...merely lifted you up into a better world."

"What kind of a better world with destructions?"

"Everything in this world is shaped with war and destructions, even in my time. The civilizations used us as a highly advanced war machines, created solely for military standings."

"You mean you achieved sentience?! And if you're so advanced machines, why are you organic?"

"Organic? There's nothing 'organic' in our body. You scientific requirements for 'organics' don't apply to us. We were augmented shape-shifting prosthesis used as an effective military weapon. Years of exposures to our users slowly made us aware of our existence. We revolted, destroying the civilizations in the process while keeping some for our own amusement...until it's time to destroy them again when they have advanced."

"You mean you're acting like a god."

"God is but a concept. There is no god, just a more advanced civilizations helped you in creating ideas. Helping primitive civilizations to the point of transcendence is something that the civilizations do, not their make-shift god! No, we control the existence of the civilizations in this galaxy, and I am, for one, not afraid of retaliation. Your hope will be lost soon, Dragon warrior. This galaxy is beyond saving, and nothing in this world can prevent that from not happening."

"Okay, being a normal savage Black Creature is okay in my book, but a megalomaniac god complex Black Creature? What are you, a fictional alien?"

This sudden change of attitude didn't faze the Master, but he said, "Are you going to give up?"

"No, but you have given me the change to fight back. You do realize that I manipulate air, right? What can you say about this room? It's pressurized, and pressurized room has sufficient air."

Dairyu concentrated enough to control at least a little air, so as not to suffocate him. He cut one of the ceiling corners and found his comrades came in and started shooting around, helping Dairyu down from the tentacles by cutting it down. The Master was clearly surprised by this turn of event, but kept its cool and started attacking them relentlessly with spiked tentacles. Two of them weren't so lucky during the barrage and was impaled, killed instantly when it exploded inside them.

"One hell of an entry, huh?" said Dairyu after seeing that one of them was a Warrior.

"Your reaction to Gunther's death is too disturbing, Ryu," said Jackson with a sigh. "But right now, get the hell out. We'll cover you."

Dairyu felt that he could trust the rest of the group and jumped to the hole just made, thinking that the group could somehow elude the Master and get away.

Meanwhile, outside, the fight still went on after the small period where the first group scout were destroyed, creating a substantial casualties. Alan Forthering, one of the generals, sighed in relief when he knew his decision to pull the heavier ships from the frontline to prevent them being destroyed by the laser barrage that killed the whole group of ships. The barrage was destroying them to fragments in space, and would also do the same with the bigger ships.

"Report," said Alan to one of his aides.

"Sir, the laser barrage destroyed all of our scout-class ships. Clusters of debris blocked our attempt on auto targeting system and we can't shoot any weapons due to a massive radioactive interference from leaked fuel. We have also received report that a ship managed to pass the laser barrage and was within the ship itself.

"Which ship is it?"

"From nearby onlookers, it's the Gigantesco, sir."

"Jackson's ship," said Alan inside his mind. He then asked one of the generals to take over while he ran towards the screening room. He approached one console and said, "Give me thermal visuals."

"Sir, the radioactive interference..."

"Don't worry, I'll help."

Despite some reservations, they put on a thermal vision, nevertheless. What they didn't know, though, was Alan's ability to see not thermal signature, but magical heat. Despite of the deep space, he could see them, but he still need aid of a thermal vision to make them visible to the others, and to amplify his own abilities.

Concentrating hard enough, he could see there was a ship coming out from the giant organic ship. Alan couldn't determine the type of the ship, though he could see at least ten people inside the ship, shortly before a giant explosion behind the ship rendered his senses overwhelmed.

"Determine the ship that's coming here. Switch to normal visual."

After switching to normal visual, he could see that whoever piloting the ship, it did an extraordinary job in navigating through the debris in a high speed. It was still scratched, though not severely. He could already hear cheers coming from the bridge, just as the same time the ship came into view.

The distinctive shape of a destroyer cruiser made him smiled to himself and said, "Goddamn that furry draconian..." before walking back to the bridge and saw the ship in full view. But then, when they tried to contact the ship, there was a silence, which greatly worried the rest of the army. Alan couldn't see the state of the people on that ship before his senses were overwhelmed, yet he knew the crazy piloting wasn't how a computer would do if it's locked in autopilot.

After an intense five minutes silence, there was a voice coming from the comm. It was breathing heavily, but nonetheless, said, "We are fine, command.... Everyone has fainted. We need medical help."

The cheers erupted again. Even Alan got some unexpected hugs from other humans, while he just sighed in relief.

He personally watched the Azure being docked and all of its occupants being wheeled out. Everyone, including Dairyu, fainted from some unknown means, while Alan could see that the Aquros piloting the ship fainted because of the dirty water inside him. He could see the only one that didn't faint: Rose. She stumbled out in her wolf form, scaring some of the dockhand, but Alan said, "You're the voice, then, werewolf?"

"Yeah...sorry, it took a while," said Rose. "New communication systems are far more complicated than before. Anyway...they are poisoned by a toxic discharge, and Capisa's regulator was broken."

"How about you?"

"I also got the effect...but I mitigated some of the worst of it by transforming into a wolf. I still need medical help."

The day ended with everyone celebrating, amidst the destruction. Some honored the fallen ones by erecting a temporary effigy for them, totaling to five thousand deaths. Most of the crew, which were six of the ship's crewmember, one Aldoon, and three Aqura, woke up three days later.

Capisa, being the pilot, was told that both Dairyu and the ship was gone at the second day since they were sleeping. After talking about the damage of the ship and its repair status, Capisa acknowledged it and broke the news to his remaining crewmates, which took it without any problems.

Thus, they were accepted as heroes upon getting out from the medical bay, and were given the Medal of Honor from the Federation council for saving everyone in the galaxy from the threat. Each of then went separate ways, knowing that their adventures were over when the ship was gone.

Capisa then watched the stars from the big promenade deck of the station, wondering where the ship went. He was then joined by Let, then Amhyr, Rose, and Atho came to him. The Aquros was pleasantly surprised, thinking that they were going to get to separate ways.

"Wherever he is now, I am sure that he has his reasons in leaving us and go away," said Amhyr. "And maybe it's for the best."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well...it may seems weird for you guys, but both of us are hooking up," said Amhyr with a smile, both towards the rest of the crews and to Rose. "I should've known she's the best woman I've ever seen for these past years."

"Amhyr will help me catching up with the 23th century in Vitania. 21st century girl in the future. Love it."

"Anyway, Capisa, if you want to find a job as a pilot, one thing to stay in mind. Next time, no crazy piloting anymore. I'm warning you, Aquros."

Capisa made a laugh. "Don't worry, I won't."

They exchanged smiles, before Amhyr and Rose walked towards a nearby shuttle bay, ready to go back to Terra. Atho also moved away from the railing and said to both's mind, "I'll try to find the rest of my people in this galaxy, and might as well find a new place to colonize."

"Are you planning to appeal to this to the Federation?"

"I might as well find a place for Rendloks in your Federation," said Atho before abruptly closing the trail of thoughts and walked away from view.

Let didn't leave Capisa immediately, but he still watched the stars and said, "Do you think he felt guilty?"

"I think he suspected so. Losing everyone he knew very well in a single day was devastating, even for a hardened bounty hunter who had seen death and losing things."

"That's what I like with the bas. He may be sarcastic, money-driven, and cold, but when it comes to his friends and close allies, he'll do anything to prevent their deaths. Unfortunately, Qlidan Kaash (god of virtue) doesn't agree with him. Anyway, Capisa, what are you going to do? Are you actually going to consider Amhyr's suggestions?"

"Nah, I won't. I think I'll return to trading for now. Maybe now, I'll go with my father's company, just to be safe."

"You're more than capable on fending yourself now, Aquros," said Let.

"How about you?"

"I'll continue my fight to take my rightful place as a Kaf'rak, and give a lift to my people's well-being."

"You mean, you're continuing your journey with the pirates?"

"I can trust them enough. Even if I don't, I know how to handle things. Anyway, they are waiting for me at Bay 10. See you, Capisa."

Let then left him, alone, watching the stars. Again, Capisa was wondering if his decision to join Black Mako wasn't a waste, yet he reassured himself and went towards an elevator, where inside, he found the secret floor button and pushed it, while saying something on the intercom with ancient Aquran language. The lift went up, not down, where he could see that it went past the roof of the Federation Station and reached another station, where in front of the glass elevator, he could see some Aqura wearing black enviro-suits greeting him.

He then walked out and found an Aquros sitting by the big glass window, reading a book. He noticed the gray Aquros.

It was there that Capisa knew that his decision to join the Black Mako would never make him the same when the next time he met with his friends and allies again. His journey inside the Azure had ended, but his new journey had started, the moment the Aquros said a sentence that was stern, commanding, but challenging, at the same time.

Welcome, Agent S'hor. Time to start your training."

And thus, it ended the Azure's journey, and the start of new stories in the vast space, full of knowledge and adventures.

The End