5 Rebirth

<Hello, Herman> said a disembodied voice.

Commander Herman Wrath awoke in what looked like an incomplete computer render of a strange city. It had flat blue hexagonal towers of different heights that seemed to fill the entire landscape. The air was unnaturally still and the main source of light could not be determined.

"Don't call me Herman. I prefer Wrath," he said as he got to his feet.

The voice was coming from a floating grey orb the size of a football.

<Commander Wrath it is, then> the voice replied.

"No. Just Wrath," he corrected. "I want no titles."

<Alright> the voice said.

"Am I dead?" He replied.

<Yes> the voice replied. <But not for long, I have an offer for you>

"No thanks," Wrath replied. "I'm done. Just send me to wherever I'm supposed to be."

<And where is that?> the voice replied.

"Hopefully some sort of eternal sleep but I'll take hell over becoming a ghost in someone's attic."

<You don't even want to hear my offer?> the voice said in a bemused voice.

"Like I said, I'm done," he replied.

<Even if you refuse, I will send you to paradise> the voice replied.

Wrath straightened and eyed the orb with curiosity.

"Since when do mass murderers go to the good place in the sky?" Wrath asked.

<I'll answer all your questions if you agree to hear my offer> the voice said.

"Agreed. However, I'm not making any promises," Wrath replied.

<You may call me the keeper of stories and I've been observing you with keem interest all your life> the voice said <From a hopeless refugee in Triskelion, you worked your way up to a commander of the United Nations first fleet. Suffice it to say, you've notched up quite a number of impressive achievements>

"I still don't hear your offer," Wrath replied.

<I'm a big fan of you humans. Don't get me wrong, I love all the races but you humans are the only ones capable of acting on emotions rather than necessity> the voice said <No other race could have gone to three costly wars in defence of others. The United Nations of Earth has earned my admiration in your universe>

"What do you mean by 'your universe'?" he asked. "Are there others?"

<Yes, but I need a leader as skilled as you are to go back there and save them from the doom that approaches> the voice said <You've demonstrated that you're capable of doing what must be done to save others>

"You mean from what I saw on the UNS Omen"

<Precisely. But I will not try to control your actions. You may go back and seek retribution on them if you so choose>

"Revenge is futile," he said through gritted teeth. "I spent half my life chasing a ghost and felt only emptiness after catching him."

<You mean the man responsible for your family's demise…> the voice said. <You eventually granted him mercy. I believe his new name is Link>

"If you're so intent on saving humanity why not stop me from making a decision that would doom them?" Wrath asked.

<Simple. I believe in free will but I know enough about you to be sure that you will make the right decision>

Wrath looked into the featureless sky and turned around to observe the barren landscape.

<It seems that we have an accord> the voice said. <I will allow you to request any item you need to be able to carry out your quest>

"What's the limit?" Wrath asked.

<No limit> the voice said. <You can ask for whatever-->

"Then I want the Skyforge," Wrath said before he could finish. "Repair it and give it to me."

<What do you know of the Skyforge?> the voice asked.

"I know that it is a mythic class object the size of a large planet that the Enjarians used to build ships, destroy stars and move planets between systems... before they disappeared without a trace," Wrath said.

<Ah, the Enjarians. It's been a while since I've given them some thought. I always loved their poetry…> the voice said. <Would you like to hear about them?>

"No," Wrath answered curtly.

<Very well, I will repair the Sky forge and put it at your disposal. As a bonus, I will reincarnate you among a fierce and loyal race as their chosen one. Do we have an accord?>

"Yes."