The Fourth Entry

The mask became a helmet, meshing and sealing with the top armor plating. Floating amongst the debris of my vessel allowed a momentary silence, even with the crashing and twisting metal parts of the shuttle. It felt soothing to remain in this frozen state, but rest was secondary to my quest. Rest would have to wait.

The heat vents flared within my armor and allowed my limbs to function once more – ice scattering into the void. Pulling upon the remnants of the vessel, I propelled forward toward the hive of scattered juggernauts and cruisers. When I cleared the debris, the turrets again silently whirred to life. They fired concentrated energy, their rays of radiating deep blue creating shadows upon my armor. They ricocheted off my own created energy barrier, and in a quick movement, I telekinetically crushed the two turrets.

Sensing the imminent danger, the hive of stuck vessels broke into activity. The sticking purple flesh parted, showing the broadside of several ships that began opening fire. A plethora of energy dotted the void, and in the scattered fire I propelled forward quickly. Several shots landed upon their intended target, yet none penetrated my barrier. With one hand, I dismissed the entirety of the broadside fire.

The flesh shrieked in horror at the fires of the turrets, the ammunition exploding below their decks. In the confusion, I rammed against an airlock, the door shattering into the blackness of the vessel. Behind me, the airlock sealed itself with an emergency bulkhead. The lights flickered on, and the scanners of my suit indicated that the vessel had oxygen.

The cruiser rocked slightly, no doubt the damage of the exploding ammunition still freshly cut. Though my scanners indicated no sign of toxins, I remained sealed from the oxygen – using the ample supply hidden within the layers. The inside of the vessel was covered in more of the flesh and walking upon the metal felt like stepping in more of it. Whatever awaited in the bowels of the hive - had assimilated everything.

I walked through the dark hallways for several minutes, but I would not be alone for long. In the shadows of the hallways screeched creatures tangled in the flesh armed with energy and plasma-based weapons. Their flesh pulled from their skeletons by the purple flesh oozing onto the floor, though some even mechanical in nature. They were the denizens of the lost vessels.

Though unnecessary, I pulled upon my own soul, and called upon the Excess. The Excess unclipped itself from me in the form of ashes that roiled down my right arm, as if uncoiling from the armor itself, and materialized a sword in my hand. I cut through the blasting husks and made my way through the maze of vessels.

The crew was relentless, no matter how many I cut down more flowed from the dark. They reminded me of the Host, though lacked imagination. I sensed, however, a strange feeling emanating from the creatures. It was as if they were trapped in their own dreams, puppets in decaying bodies.

In what felt like hours of forcing myself through layers upon layers of cruisers, frigates, and battleships, I found myself at the core of the fleshy hive. The transition was obvious, the walls and floor becoming nothing more than the purple flesh. Exiting one of the hallways, I found myself in a large fleshy open room; the remnants of the crew being burned off my armor.

At the top of the room was a cocoon, which hatched with an oozy cracking. Flesh descended from the cocoon, still attached above, and a faceless creature hung low from the tendril. Perhaps once one of the crew made into a host, or perhaps something else entirely – the head was the lowest part. It looked up at my being, before moving closer and becoming eye level. Its mouth parted and ooze splattered on the floor before parting even more and into four pieces.

This being was old. I could feel the weight of its influence on the waking world around us shaking the matter. Yet, it was wise enough to understand that if it attacked it would die. It did not speak, perhaps incapable of doing so, but created a link between us to communicate with our minds.

“You destroy my home, dark one, take what you want – but please do not destroy more of it.” It communicated, tinged in sadness.

“You have what I seek.” I replied.

It at first said nothing, then recoiled in surprise. I could feel the fear burst from its mind before it appeared to calm itself as if coming to a realization. It was a wise creature, allowing only our communication and capable of shielding itself from my own prying mind. I could only feel the surface of its emotions, but it had let slip its feeling of relief. This creature knew something of me.

“Have you met me before?” I asked.

“No.” It replied.

Strange, I could not feel it lying – it had to be telling the truth.

“You are a messenger of one of the Reverent?” I asked.

“I am one of The Failed.” It replied.

The Reverent, the oldest of all creation, and before me was one of their failed.

“You seek a part of my soul.” It said.

Had it seen into my intentions? Perhaps I had underestimated the creature.

“A part.” I replied.

It bore into itself, its fleshy forehead parting, and its vibrating purple soul showed itself. It tendrilled into the walls, casting an invisible shadow upon the walls. The Failed retrieved a small part of the soul, the piece I sought, with a small tendril, and its attention fell upon me.

“I will give this to you in exchange for something else.” It said.

I did not deal, but Aberus’s words of mercy bounced within my skull.

“What do you desire?” I asked, masking my own frustration.

“I am lonely in this place. You of all creatures must understand what it is I seek. I seek total being. I only need for you to retrieve the final step.” It said.

It asked something dangerous, but I did not worry.

“Fine.” I replied, “Where must I go?”

It looked to its left, and out of nothing a blackened rift formed in the space beside us.

“Go through the portal and retrieve what I seek. You will know it. When you find it I will bring you back.” It said.

I contained my desire to growl at The Failed and walked towards the rift. If it deceived me, I would return to destroy it, it knew this. Fear was all I could trust.

I stepped into the rift.