Chapter 1

Chattering sounds clouded in. Her vision was blocked with people walking in and out of the hallways. All she tried to focus on was her breathing. “This is it. All hell breaks loose.” She told herself.

Ava walked through the busy hallway. She kept a strong composure as she marched through to the main room, where the other Head Operators accompanied by home security marshals of the Allegiance and starship Admirals that were stationed in Earth’s blockade. As soon as she stepped into the room, voices collapsed on each other. Panic was all she felt emitted from around her.

“The enemy clearly has some connection to Earth. This is proof that our history could have some involvement with extraterrestrial factions in complete secrecy.” Violet took the stage, explaining the research to the Head Operators as she presented an image of one of Syron’s blades.

“This changes everything we understand about our history and the Dominion.” Ajay, appearing in hologram, joined the discussion. The topic quickly changed when Kal slammed his hand onto the table.

“Enough with the fucking history lesson. I wanna know how Dominion assailants slipped past a ship blockade, infiltrated two facilities in the same time frame, and only triggered the breach alarms hours prior to their attack. Isn't that the main fucking importance?” His voice raised as his anger grew.

“Our ships did not detect any anomaly, energy readings or cosmic radiation. Whatever ship they used to breach through, it’s something we’ve never faced before.” An Admiral spoke out.

“If there is an enemy who could do that amount of damage without us knowing at an instant, this war with the Dominion could end faster than any of us could have anticipated.” Destoria added on.

“The only viable reason they did so…was just to extract Syron out.” Ryan joined in.

“What makes you think they didn’t leave a garrison as a little surprise?” Kal asked, doubting Ryan’s assumption.

“Don’t forget, these people are energy wielders. Most of their leadership are them but they still require troops for grunts in the field of war. It’ll be impossible to bring a full battalion of troopers through an entire planetary blockade. My best guess is that a few more of them came in just to bring back Syron over to their side, nothing more.”

“Ryan. Don’t you think they had more in mind than just extraction?” Destoria asked, doubting as well.

“Secrecy had always been their move. They wouldn’t risk trying to destroy us from within or get information if their main goal is to remain secret from us until they can land a proper strike that would deal a huge amount of damage.” He replied swiftly.

“Either way, we’ve never dealt with a situation like this before. We need a counter attack to stand our ground and plan for the future. Our defences must be stronger than ever before.” Ryan slowly turned to Ava as he felt she had something to add. Ava looked to Ryan in a calm demeanour, unlike the panicking masses.

“Something to say, Ava?” He’d ask.

“We need someone who has dealt with energy wielders before. Someone who’s training with a faction that existed for centuries. Someone we know.” She replied.

Kal turned from Ava to Destoria, assuming who the person would be. Destoria simply smiled as she knew.

“We need Athena.”

~~

The roaring sounds of starship engines slowly softened as a massive starship landed on its designated landing platform on Fort Equator. Ava was geared up in an armoured version of her suit. The journey to what seems like the edge of the Universe made her fearful of the dangers of the galactic darkness.

Her eyes stared at the lowering ramp in front of her. She prepared herself mentally as her eyes closed to process the mission that will turn the tide of the war to their favour. Her gentle walk up the ramp halted as a hand pulled her, stopping her from entering the ship. She quickly turned.

“Stay safe.” Ryan said, seeming fearful for her life. He was disappointed he couldn’t accompany her on this journey but he knew the duties he was appointed with, now without an overseer monitoring them. She replied with a gentle smile, her emotions comforted by him. She marched up into the ship as her voyage began.

~ 

The sparkling sea of glistening lights winking through the endless stretch of the galactic cosmos was all she could see. Drifting in the endless voids of space with her mind lost in her own dreams. Months have passed since she embarked on the miracle voyage to the edge of space. Even with a ship that travels at the speed of light, her search seemed hopeless.

Deprived of food, she rationed her water as she sat on the cockpit’s seat. She stared away into the distant void of nothing. The sparkling glow of stars reflected on her tears as she felt that her trip was wasted. Perhaps it was indeed a waste to embark on a journey with no heading with no guarantee of success.

 She held onto hope for so long, but hope itself abandoned her. 

Even with nothing but breaths away from death, she was desperate. She knows Athena is the key to giving them a fighting chance. Her eyes slowly closed as life drained itself from her body. The last she saw were stars. Blinking stars that faded to darkness.

As her vision blacked out, she could hear her ship run out of fuel to go on further. Silence, followed by an erratic chime.

Her eyes slowly opened as she felt normal once again. Dreaming on, she slowly came to a rise. The divinity of her surroundings and the cooling breeze felt heavenly. She felt at peace. Accepted by her casualty, she opened her eyes.

The cooling aura of divinity, with the heinous sight of her ship. She frowned. She never expected the afterlife to look…bland.

The ship’s ramp lowered as it rested on a marbled surface. She strolled down in a hurry, only to see a marbled surface that faded into space on one end. Her eyes gazed into the endless reach of space. Behind her was an entirely different realm by itself. It was a glowing cloud that divided space. 

“The end of space…” She muttered to herself, not even knowing such a place could even logically exist. As she took a few steps closer to the cloud, a hole carved itself right by the marbled surface, revealing a golden gate.

Moulded in such an intricate design, she assumed it to be the entrance to this new territory. Before she could even grasp her hands on the golden bars, it swung open. At the other end, guards in the masses went into position. They had dense armour that appeared abnormal; a reflective shine that constantly moves without any change from the direction of light. All of them were perfectly built the same, down to their heights and positioning. At the end of the row, a man walked forward.

A man, draped in a yellow cloak with silverish armour pieces scattered across his body. A light flickered a twin-bladed sword of extra-terrestrial origin strapped behind his cloak. Even with such threatening demeanours, the reflective glow of the man’s helm made Ava resist the urge to draw her weapon.

 A mask, resembling the facial structures of a bird with twirling horns at the end and feathers behind its ears looked down on her. His mere different appearance shows he commands the legion before her.

“H-hi.” She nervously spoke.

The man continued staring at her. She was oblivious as to how to react. She felt like she was speaking to a higher life form.

“I am searching for a-”

“Ava Pentercost. It was unwise for you to seek the location of our fortress.” The man replied in a tyrannical but strict tone. His voice seemed layered under the mask.

“What- You know who I am?” 

“Surprising to see that Athena has not spoken to you about me.” He swiftly turned around, walking in the opposite direction.

“Wait, you know Athena?” She hurried over to him. Before she could come any closer, the guards that surrounded them halted her, pointing their blades at her. In synchronisation, the blades emitted a golden glow right at the bevel. It was clear to her now that every single guard that was before her were energy wielders.

“Look, I need to speak to her.” She pleaded desperately.

“It was mercy from me to permit you into the entrance of our fortress. Had I not done so, your death would be in the endless abyss of space. Dare not make any demands from me. Treat my merciful stand as indication for you to leave…”

His eyes stared down the archer.

“…and never return.” He swiftly turned, facing her. He stood without fear as he forbade her to even enter.

As he continued walking away from her, he’d hear her yell.

“The Dominion is coming!” Ava’s voice echoed across the column. The guards tilted slightly to the man, seeming almost agitated by the name drop. In response, he turned.

“How did you know that name?” He asked.

“We are at war with them. Whoever they are, they’ve conquered worlds with ease and we desperately need Athena to help us. Please…” She gave her last attempt to plead.

 There was a moment of silence as the man stared down Ava. As he walked closer to her, the guards lowered their weapon.

“Come with me.” He raised his hand.

“Where are we going? And who are you?” She wanted to know if he could be trusted.

“The end of space. The realm beyond the universe. The Fortress of the Firekeep Cauldron.”

Her eyes widened as she realised she had arrived. The months spent in space have brought her to this moment. A suffering worth paying for.

“I, Neka, Battlemaster to the Cauldron and representative of the Grand Conjurer’s roundtable, adhere to allow you to bask in the spiritual aura of our home.”