Chapter 3

"Attention, crew members of the Kakopathos." I call, leaning down into the speaker. "You may know of me." I say.

Nike snorts in derision. She stands still in the juggernaut armor, looking bored.

I smile at her, "But for those of you who haven't heard, let me fill you in. My name is Zeus of Crete, son of Queen Rhea, vanquisher of pain, and I have claimed this vessel as my own, and in extension you as well."

I pause dramatically, knowing they could feel rising tension. "You have seen our hand, you know there is nothing you can do on your own, even your master tried to flee and he was a Titan."

"Your entire lives have been dedicated to one vocation or another. I ask that you continue to do as you have done for my uncle, in a few minutes we will be heading far past the reach of the Aether, where only darkness reigns. One mistake, could cost us our lives, and there will be no coming back from that, the darkness will consume us, there will be no revivals, no second chances."

The tension in the ship is palpable as I speak, the weight of my words hanging heavy in the air. I can sense the fear and uncertainty even among my crew members.

"You have a choice," I continue, my voice steady and commanding. "You can resist and face the consequences, or you can join us, stand with us as we venture into the unknown."

"The choice is yours."

The comms turn off with a click.

"Inspiring." Nike smiles.

I shrug, "I thought it was fine, very merciful." 

She rolls her eyes, "You threatened them with endless death."

"No." I smirk, "I give them the choice not to die, they were my enemies, as most are concerned, they shouldn't even be getting this choice."

She tilts her head backwards and laughs, it was a harsh, wild laugh, I wanted to laugh with her, there was something about her that brought out a wildness in me. She just exuded so much confidence, it was hard to feel anything else in her presence. 

"True that my liege." 

I turn away from her, focusing on a man, he wore the uniforms of a commander. "You." I pointed, "What is your name."

He bowed, "I am Thalos, commander of the Kakopathos." "My liege." He added.

"Good." I say, "Plot a course here." I hand him a small device.

He activates it. "But there's nothing there. My liege."

"Just do it." I order.

He stands still for a moment before bowing and shouting out orders to the others.

"We're really doing this?" Nike frowns.

"Yes, why? You scared?" I smirk at her.

Her frown deepens and she fold her arms, "No just making sure you aren't."

I shake my head. To be honest I was feeling a little apprehensive. Aether did more than function as a means of communication or as a warp speed navigator. It was essential to to the continued existence of dead. Usually when people died, they simply cease to exist, their souls or consciousness his thrown out of their deceased bodies, and like a water in a sea of fire, they evaporate. What the Aether does is essentially work as a net, to catch the souls, it gives them a sort of life after death. That way no one ever really stays dead, at least not for long, if you have the means.

But here we were, sailing beyond its reach, but oddly enough I did not feel the fear I thought I would, yes I felt apprehension, after all this was the first time in years that the threat of death would be so looming, and perhaps I would, if I were only what I am now, but before I was Zeus, immortal in both flesh and mind, I was John, and John was mortal.

.....

The darkness surrounds us, we sail through the empty void of Tartarus. The only sources of light being the ship itself, and the faraway galaxy.

There was something of-putting about this. The knowledge that we were floating through what might as well be an infinite void. The mind was not made to comprehend such a thing, it needed small spaces, things it could calculate, not this vast unending expanse of nothingness.

I cycle through the ships visuals, nothing yet, no uprisings, no attempts made to retake the ship. Paralyzed with fear they were, they could do nothing but continue moving farther and farther away.

"My liege." Thalos bows, his face was paper white and the stink of fear surrounded him, "Please, there's nothing out here. We've sailed to far from the Aether, if any of us dies.."

He pauses unable to form the words. "My liege, please."

I ignore him. Staring out into the void, Nike jumps in to intervene, "Get back to your post deilós." She bits at him, "Anymore complaints, and I might decide myself to end those fears. Permanently."

He backs away, even without the juggernaut armor, Nike outclasses him in all aspects. She's a warrior through and through, fierce and unyielding.

The bridge is silent. A hours tick by, the feeling of dread is overwhelming, but the fear of death by my hand or my men's hands is even more distinct.

"My liege." Thalos calls from his console. "We've spotted something."

I turn on the video feed to the outside, in front of us is a massive white ship. It looms in the vast expanse of space like a colossal beast. Its gleaming white hull stretches for kilometers in every direction. Towering cell blocks protrude from its surface, each windowless and devoid of any signs of life. The ship sits silently in the void, a silent sentinel of captivity.

"Alright." I say, "Nike. Hold down the fort." "You." I point to Thalos, "Ready the ship for immediate departure."

"Yes my liege."

I watch as Nike takes command of the ship and sets orders. Satisfied I quickly make my way towards to the shuttle bay, as expected, twelve of those who had followed me in conquering this ship, wait for me there.

"Ready?" I sign to them. I'm wearing my helmet now, and without Aether, there's no comms to talk.

They nod. Already I noticed their eagerness, it was expected, the redskins were made for war, from the genetic manipulations that geared them towards near sadistic temperaments and the fine tuned, fast twitch fibers that made up of 60% of their muscular structure to the warrior culture that was intentionally taught to them from their early ages. 

They unlike most other life in the galaxy were not made to live long lives, a hundred and fifty years maximum, which in this world, was like a candle in front of the others. They were meant to burn brightly and fiercely but not forever.

We enter the pods, adrenaline numbing our fears. And for the second time in 24 hours, I'm hurling at wind breaking speeds towards an enemy ship.