24 Chapter 24: Aftermath

'They did what?!'

After a good long while of being quiet and calm in her bed after Cellica's body shuts down thanks to the overuse of her artifact, she literally sprung off the bed and sprinted towards the cockpit upon hearing what has transpired.

'Yeah...' Dolon is carefully maneuvering the ship through a barrage of asteroids and heading back towards the nearest acceleration gate.

Rydel and her decided that getting away from the scene of the crime as quickly as possible is the best move forward, both due to the drastic difference in power and the nature of their mission, 'We have got everything. Take a look.'

Cellica sat through the video recordings without saying a word. Then she also checked the overlay of all the things that the ship managed to scan alongside the video to try to learn more about what happened. Despite Dolon's best efforts, the amount of information she gathered is still well less than what Cellica could have done.

'I apologize for my language,' Cellica minimized the hologram screens to the corner of her personal interface, lets out a sigh and stomped the ground, 'Shit!'

'That's all we could gather without exposing ourselves. They were not bothered by a need to stay hidden and quiet at all all the way out here. Sorrry.' Dolon set the ship on autopilot and turned around.

'No, I should be the one to apologize.' Cellica closed her eyes to recall what had happened prior to she passing out, 'The black hole really overloaded my head with way too much information, and I was not quick enough to react to it and adjust for it. Because of my rookie mistake, we didn't get anything remotely useful. Urgh... this is shit!'

The other two didn't say a word and simply looked at Cellica. She's usually so calm and polite so it's quite surprising to see her this frustrated.

Cellica didn't have any time to deal with the strange looks Rydel is giving her. She took a few deep breaths to calm her thoughts and still her mind. Then the eyes opened wide and she spun around to face the direction of the wreckage. With a new found motivation and laser-like focus, she activated her power once again and looked.

The ships where Lady Lily resides in have already left the scene. All that's left are the pieces of the ship still drifting outwards thanks to the momentum given by the set explosion. There is nothing left at the scene, nothing that can really give out any useful information. Cellica will have to leave this one to her colleagues in the forensics group, who can at best describe this as an aftermath of a pirate raid turned deadly incident.

'Alright, how long will it take for us to get to the nearest gate?' Cellica asked.

'It will take until tonight with full engine power and acceleration.' Dolon replied, 'I am going to bed now since the automatic system should take care of the piloting from here on our. Life is too stressful. You two better not make too much noise.'

'Alright.' Cellica nodded, 'I am going to get some potato wedges before having to make a somewhat tragic report.'

'Are you sure you are fine?' Rydel shuffled to next to Cellica and massaged her tensed up shoulder gently, the tight muscles and tendons pulling taut like steel cables.

'Yeah. Sorry about the not so classy Cellica you just saw there.' Cellica pressed the buttons impatiently and didn't look at Rydel.

'Oh don't worry about it!' Rydel said anxiously, 'What happened was unexpected and unpredictable. I had no idea that an artifact can be that powerful...And I will always like you being more.....you.'

'Yeah. Now I feel like we have to really reconsider the threat level of that organization, which we don't even know the name of.'

'Is that scale of artifact usage possible for every artifact?' Changing the subject of discussion, Rydel thought back to when a black hole is literally formed.

'I thought I have explored pretty much all the possibilities with my own and with the bearers.' Cellica gently presses against her temple and closed her eyes, 'but that was rather arrogant for all of us. It would appear that we could do so much more with the artifacts than we have ever known before.'

'Right.' Rydel looked down at his left hand and the silver glove that's permanently attached to it. He will have to keep training to get stronger and stronger. One day, he might have to face an opponent like that, and he felt like....He never really stopped to think and reflect on what he was feeling.

Back in the space exploration core, he was trained to keep his emotions under check, especially when human lives are at stake. He should not feel guilty for what have happened, he should move on. There was nothing he could have done, right?

Rydel started grasping for air as the thoughts that were segregated and locked away due to her worry for Cellica came flooding through his head.

No. This was an observation mission and that was the order. However, because of that, people died and they all stood idly around without moving even a finger. They could have saved those people, somehow. They could have warned them about the potential danger. Instead, it was their inaction that allowed all of these to happen. Worse yet, this very decision is also rational, so logical.....

Just because a decision is correct doesn't mean it's right.

The pilots have families, their moms spent nine months bearing a child, only for them to perish in an instant. Their wives and husbands may wait at home for someone that will never return. Their kids...

'I don't want this to happen anymore...' Rydel knelt down on the ground as a single tear came out and descends down his cheek before splattering on his glove. Once the fear and anxiousness subsides, all that's left is guilt, 'We could have saved them...They are living beings just like us...with families...'

Cellica came sat down besides Rydel, and didn't say anything.

'I don't want this to happen anymore.' Rydel looked up once again. His eyes now determined and locked in. Once he set his mind to do something, it will be accomplished one way or the other, and this will not be any different, 'Cellica! Is there any way that I can help directly with the GBI to take down that organization?'

Cellica looked at him in the eye and smiled a little. Then she shook her head and said: 'Nope.'

'...'

'The GBI works independently and all their agents will go through very specialized and strict training to be allowed to go onto the field. We cannot allow for someone to just show up and join in. It's not exactly a day trip.'

'Are you going to say 'but...' ?'

'But, we can work as a team outside of GBI. This will be under my supervision, but we work together.' Cellica put her hand on Rydel's shoulder and held him firmly like how he held her before, 'The bearers. All of us. This is something that needs all of us working together. Avoidable and unavoidable deaths became part of the job, and they become nothing more than numbers when you just learned to deal with it with time. I hate it, more than you can ever imagine. But it's only through all of our efforts that we can prevent this from ever happening again. You understand?'

The learning process have always been costly.

'Yes....' Rydel wiped his eyes and nodded, 'but no more. I don't want it anymore, not when we could have done something.'

'No more.'The two sat there in silence until the food printer started beeping.

'I am sorry for getting so...emotional, it's just that....'

'You never have to apologize for showing your heart. Never.'

'...Thank you.'

'No, thank YOU. We are glad to have you with us.'

Cellica picked up the plate as the machine-printed cookie-cutter generic wedges are dropped on it like marbles dropping to the floor. They bounced around and collided with one another until more and more wedges overlaps each other and prevented any movement.

'Wow.' Rydel is glad that Cellica still has such a good appetite, but he was not expect her to eat a small mountain. She glared at him as if he was judging her, but he simply leaned in closer and asked:'Can I have some?'

'Uh yeah. I made your portion as well. Obviously.'

After a nice and quiet meal shared between the two, Cellica got up to make her official report to the bureau and discuss the next phase of plans. Meanwhile, Rydel went back into his room and took some time to get his mind together. Then he opened up his write up and started a bit of work. Focusing on something else would help take his mind off what has happened today, at least that's what he hoped would happen.

After a while of sitting and working, he opened his email account to check for any news, only to see one unread email sent less than an hour ago.

It was from Zel, using the official Galactic IST email that he was given.

Rydel stood up immediately, he stomped around the room a few times to let out the anger and opened the email right up.

It says:

Rydel, mate. I am in a bad situation right now. If this email got to you, then it means the mission we were doing have already been carried out. Depending on whether it went according to plan, a ship may or may not have been blown up. I prefer a more subtle approach to things. But if things went south, I will likely.....need your help, you can get your lady friend with crazy eyes to track the following spatial energy signature that my artifact lets out.

I know I probably don't deserve your help, but I could see your kindness, and it would appear those people mean business and I don't think what they want matches what I want. I want out, but I may have been too stupid to be able to get out safely at this point.....I am sorry to be so unreasonable and ask this of you, but.....I feel like you can help me, and I feel like you will, with your lady friend and the organization that I knew you have behind you.

I am not sure if I can get out on my own, but let's see. I will try to gain as much intel as I could, but staying alive is my main concern now, and they are monitoring my everymove.

If you can, can you apologize to the supervisor if you can? He is also really nice...

'So, that's what he said...' Cellica and Dolon didn't react too strongly to what the email says, much to Rydel's surprise.

'Yes, the timing of the message matches up with the explosion. It seems like he timed it so that the explosion would mask the email transmission if that organization is tracking all the signals in or out of that region.' Cellica commented, 'the spatial energy spectrum is actually rather handy for me, so I will get to it soon. Plus we have the marker I put on the HES, so it would be a nice way of cross-checking the two signals.'

'Yeah, but can we really trust this person?' Dolon was not convinced at all.

They both turned to look at Rydel, who's the only that knows anything about Zel.

'I...I don't know.' Rydel answered honestly, 'I think what he's saying is true, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have any plans of his own.'

'He could just want our power to get him out of there. Then he will bugger off to wherever in the galaxy.' Dolon doesn't like Zel's attitude in the letter at all.

'But we still have to help him.' Rydel said firmly, 'You all know this. Because we can, and we should.'

'A lead is a lead.' Cellica stood up, 'I will make a few calls. Pardon me.'

'Argh, this turbby business is getting more and more complicated.' Dolon leaned back into the pilot chair which very suitably alters it's angle and puts her in an extremely comfortable position, 'now there are bad guys out there, and guys that's trying to use the bad guys.'

'As long as we are the good guys, it should be fine, right?' Rydel responded.

'Famous last words.' Dolon rolled all of her eyes and yawned a little bit. Her aquarian muscles twitches violently underneath her exoskeleton before completely relaxing, 'I am going to take a proper nap now, Don't wake me up or I will beat you up.'

Rydel chuckles a little bit and leaves Dolon to her own devices.

In a sense, he felt a sense of relief, knowing that perhaps Zel didn't fall that far. He wanted to help him, and take him in with the bearers. They are a weird bunch for sure, but they had also provided him with the most fun he has had in a very long time.

He wonders what Zel's up to know, realizing that he has made a business deal with a devil, or maybe with a bunch of them.

Zel sneezed dramatically and droplets were expelled onto his mechanical arm. He wiped the surface on his trousers and looked up. He is siting in a room with Sir Deva, Lady Lily and a blurry hologram image of someone else. He could not make out the gender, age or species of that person at all, but he can clearly tell he is important.

'So, you possess one of the artifacts? ' The figure asked.

'Yes.'

'I am sure you have questions too.'

'Plenty.'

'Let's start simple then.....Do you know where they come from?'

'I found it in wild space.'

'Do you know where they ORIGINALLY come from?'

'How about you tell me?'

'Sir! Are you sure it is okay to tell him...' Sir Deva opened up for the first time throughout this conversation, but stopped talking once the figure moved slightly and looks at him with a slight shake in his head.

'Sir Deva, you usually aren't this shaken.' The figure commented, and Sir Deva fell back into silence again.

'Let me tell you a story, Zel.' The figure said, 'when someone are in pursuit of truth, truth tend to find them first. My very own artifact, was my truth. And through it, I learn about more of the truth. The universe was opened like a book in front of me, and it only told me one thing, and it confirms the one thing that we have always believed.'

'What the hell are you talking about?'

'We are to be the pinnacle of existence. We stand atop all being within the galaxy, and that is our endless pursuit.' The figure replied.

'That is our purpose.' Lady Lily continued, 'and our truth.'

'The origins.....the idea of our group extended far before this era of the artifacts. Though this very iteration only ever have one goal. In order to achieve that goal, we strive for continuous progression and enhancements, surpassing the limits of our born physical bodies. Our pursuit of living as the absolute being within the galaxy, of perfection lead us to each other. Through the ancient times of bodily fitness and survival skills, religion and mathematics, genetics and machines, nano technology and the artifacts. We have always believed in the power of progresison, and how it will help us in the upcoming crisis.'

'We can and must be as strong as we can be, it is why we existed in the universe, whether we were created or evolved.'

'This is the goal of our organization.'

'We are the Absolute Being, and we want you to be part of it.'

'Right.' Zel blinked a few times as to digest all this information, 'Um what does this have to do with the artifacts?'

'You thought the artifact are merely a product, or discovery of this era. You would be mistaken. The artifacts have always been with us, in one form or another and tangled with the history of our civilization, and many civilizations prior. They were weapons of the gods and legends, treasures of the fairy tales and myths. They were all left behind for a purpose, and that purpose is to help us achieve ever greater level of strength and power, and with that power, we will save the entire galaxy!'

'Save the galaxy how?' Zel asked, 'by blowing things up as you saw fit?'

'Then, we will use the power to lead the three races to new heights never before-seen. With my power, I can see truth and information as they are created and scattered all throughout spacetime. I see nothing, but the truth.' The figure ignored Zel's comment and continued. Obvious, a lot of thought was put into this speech that he is giving.

'Where do I come in?' Zel asked again.

'You are one of the twenty. You will be the part of us that will ascend as we accept the most advanced procedure to utilize nano-sized machines to completely transform and strengthen our physical body to levels beyond comprehension! Sir Deva is only half way through the very first phase of this journey, and did you see what he can do!'

'And I presume you would be the boss of it all?' Zel threw out the last question, but there is no answer.

It was too obvious, and no one is interested in playing around. This is a fucking cult.

'So, what is your verdict?' Lady Lily turned and looked at Zel, who's sitting in his chair all slouched over and chuckling.Oh Rydel, seems like I am in some serious shit now. Zel looked down at his trousers and scratches his itchy right shoulder, guess I am not getting paid.

'Well, allow me to apologize.' Zel looked up at the three that's towering over him, 'But I have spent my entire life under control in one form or another, and I very much appreciate the freedom I have right now.'

'Freedom is deceptive. You are never truly free and you know that.' Lady Lily countered.

'True, but the more of it I have, the happier we would be.' Zel replied, 'even if I am not free, I'd rather choose my own prisons.'

Lady Lily shook her head slightly like a disappointing mother overlooking her naughty child. Sir Deva lets out a relaxing breath and crunched his knuckles lightly.

The figure simply turned around, and gave an order: 'Keep him alive, get the artifact.'

Zel awakens his artifact as he kicked his chair backwards and stood up. The power of the pocket domain flows through his whole body and it slowly started to warp around him, taking him into the pocket domain and out of the reach of these maniacs.

'Let's get the hell out of here!' Zel yelled towards the artifact, who responded by increasing the speed of its activation.

'Not so fast.' Lady Lily picked up the pen and held it within her hand. She pointed the tip of the brush at Zel and revealed a rather sadistic smiled that chilled Zel to the bone.

She seemed... excited?

'I have waited long enough.' Lady Lily said, 'It's finally time to clean up this mess.'