Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 28

Chapter 271

The group was outside and near their own boat. They had just gathered back together from being inside the battleship, and then the hyena man spoke first.

Fractura, "I'd love to help that person stuck waaaay over there." He pointed his thumb to the east. "But we could do it while heavily armed."

Iratus, "It sounded urgent."

Fractura, "This will just take a few minutes. Trust me, you are going to love guns."

Ignis, "My people's guns are woefully behind your technological standards."

Fractura, "As long as it isn't a musket or flintlock, it is the best upgrade to arms there is."

Iratus, "To speed things up, I will relent. Let's do a quick grab and get over there."

Fractura, "Now you're talking."

Venatio, "I'll continue to idle down here."

Aestus, "It would be better if I stayed out here and keep an eye out."

Resonantia, "I'm not so pregnant that I can't roll around. I'll join the combat party."

Clamor, "I'm not sure if I am properly equipped for close-quarters combat. I'll protect our rear guard."

Ignis, "I wish to fortify Clamor's position then. Still traveling, but I can be safe."

Iratus, "Alright. Let's do this."

Fractura led the group to the superstructure, where the party took a telescope, signal flags, radio equipment, and medical supplies. Ignis looked over the navigation charts and the maps.

Ignis, "Wait! From my world, most of this stuff certainly is. However, half of this stuff—these notes and these maps over here—I don't recall."

Fractura, "What, could the crew, or at least a crew, drove this thing around in Nexus Prime?"

Ignis pointed to a rough skin map.

Ignis, "First off, we used paper. This is clearly not supposed to be here. The lines present mimic the waterfront before us. I even see the walled place on the western bank. It is labeled a military base."

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Chapter 272

Fractura, "Take them."

Iratus, "A military base? Now that's worth looting."

Fractura, "Now he gets it."

Clamor, "Mark down for later; we already have a lot of other areas to delve into."

The crew quarters offered very little in loot that the group would care about. There was only a cursory glance before it was left behind. However, the presence of ashes in most rooms did cause some alarm in the group.

Tempestas, "What's with the ash?"

Fractura, "Clearly not from the fungal creatures. Let's stay on guard. I mean more than usual."

They headed back to the engine room, and inside was a massive chamber with dormant engines and boilers with thick slabs of mushroom growth over them. Dim beams of sunlight filter through broken windows from above, casting the entire room in an eerie shadow. A catwalk was suspended above, which also had fungal growth all along it.

Fractura, "This place is infested."

Scattered tools and stacks of coal littered the area, with faded blueprints pinned to a wall as well as a small pile of ashes scattered around the area. There was complete silence at first, but soon there was movement as several creatures started rumbling to life. It was the Edax Examina. Besides this ship, Iratus had only seen a few of these creatures since he came to Nexus Prime. There was that failed invasion of theirs when they attacked the stone city when it still stood, as well as one snaking on a giant python near the cabins.

In this room, there were eight of these things. These were the classical blue-tented green fungal bodies with four spider-like legs and two small arms. Its face had three large red glows that one could assume were eyes, and while no mouth could be seen, these things only needed to touch creatures to absorb them.

The group slowly back out as the creatures watched hungryly.

The front group finally left the engine room, but Clamor and Ignis ran into the hallway.

Clamor, "We have a major malfunction happening!"

From their path, an Edax rammed into the wall behind them.

Iratus, "Edax?"

Ignis, "Worse!"

A floating black blade stabbed right into the Edax, and the fungal creature started turning to ash.

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Chapter 273

With some sort of static, a flicker of an outline of a featureless humanoid was briefly visible. The black blade was not suspended in the air but was held by something seemingly invisible, and it looked like only the people out in front, like Iratus, saw it.

Fractura, "Yo, what's going on? I can't see past everyone!"

The sword turned towards the party, with everyone scrambling through the halls to get away from what they couldn't understand. Iratus tried to follow Resonantia and Ignis, but was stopped when Tempestas went to fight the monster by holding out a spear. Iratus was about to join her when the sword slashed the spear and effortlessly cut the spear without any force pushing against the spear, as if the black sword had phased through it.

The badger woman fled by running into another door and trying to slam it behind her. The black sword moved through the door like it just phased through it, leaving no trail but making quite the metallic straining sound as it moved through.

Iratus chased after Tempestas and slammed open the door to attack the invisible figure. The sword got a slash off, and while it barely nicked the badger woman, the damage was severe enough for a rush of blood to flow out. Iratus swung at the creature but hit nothing, and then the static-like image briefly appeared, turning to look at Iratus. There wasn't a face, but the figure was bipedal enough to understand when it was looking around. Iratus went on the defensive and deftly avoided the strikes coming at him, for the black blade gave plenty of clues to where it would strike.

Once Iratus backed up to the door, his movements were limited as he was passing through it. The sword lurched forward, and Iratus did his best but could only fall down to avoid the strike. On the ground, Iratus swung his own sword and hit the handle of the black blade, which seemed to stagger the figure.

Iratus stood back up, but the blade also recovered as well. Iratus had moved all the way back to the engine room, suffering a strike across his back. The mouse boy shut the door behind him and was then facing the many Edax that had moved closer to the door. Once the black blade moved through the door, the Edax started to nope out while two still stood, trying to think if attacking Iratus was still a good move. Iratus himself kept going and ran past the two remaining Edax, who would eventually be slaughtered by the blade.

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Chapter 274

Iratus expertly crawled around the engine room and avoided the fungal clusters. He risked a look to see if the remaining six Edax Examina were able to lift away from the blade and remain out of the blade's reach. The blade swatted around in anger before going out to search for Iratus. The mouse boy slowly moved around until he was at the backside of the blade. Seeing no reaction, he then silently moved to the door and, using as much stealth as he could, opened and left through it.

In the hallway, some of the party had reconvened. Tempestas, Ignis, and Clamor had met back up.

Ignis, "My love, you are unharmed."

Iratus, "No, I got this stinging on my back." He showed his wounds and then said, "Time to get you out of here."

Ignis, "Without Fractura here, I will have to suture your wounds. The medical should be in this direction, and you dutifully should follow my guidance."

Iratus sighed and followed Ignis to the sickbay, where he would take off his armor and reveal his cut.

Tempestas, "Did that hurt?"

Iratus, "It stung, but I didn't really feel much pain."

Ignis, "Sometimes wounds look worse than they actually are. This is but one of such situations."

Iratus, "Just hurry, please. There is a floating sword wandering around here, and we shouldn't stay too long."

Soon, Fractura and Resonantia showed up as well, greeting the others. Iratus would be putting on his bloodied gambeson at the time, and after the greetings, Iratus stood up.

Iratus, "Glad you all survived."

Resonantia, "We waited outside for a bit, but when you never showed up, I came back to find you. I know it's dangerous, but I think I could get away from these fungal creatures and the sword."

Iratus, "That black blade passed through the doors like a ghost."

Resonantia, "By God."

Tempestas, "I don't know why; that thing could just disintegrate them and not have to slow itself down."

The mouse boy would just shrug, and then Fractura spoke up.

Fractura, "While we are here, how about we start some looting? Look at all the goodies."

Tempestas, "I'll keep an eye out."

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Chapter 275

The group grabbed some medical tools and supplies before moving into the medical rooms in the back, but when they did, they quickly saw a redpandafolk sitting on a stool. She was wearing something similar to a nurse outfit with a very voluptuous and busty appearance. She had long black hair with vibrant red fur. Before anyone could speak, the woman would flicker in and out like some sort of digital image. The woman was still able to look around and even looked up to see Fractura and Iratus enter the room. First she spoke her foreign language, but it soon changed to folkish when the others spoke.

Iratus, "What kind of monster is this?"

Nurse, "Ah, there we go. Hello and welcome to Anguis Marinus. How may I be of service?"

With such a positive and non-threatening demeanor, Iratus let the other in.

Fractura, "Oh, duh." He slapped his head. "This isn't a monster; it's tech. This is what we call these things holograms."

Ignis, "What is that, and why does it mimic my kind?"

Nurse, "This one is System 110. Good day, and forgive this one; it has insulted the memory of the people once here."

Fractura, "Is she responding to us? Interesting."

Iratus, "We are going to need more information on what this thing is."

Fractura, "Breaking into the Nexus Prime itself will yield certain technologies. I'm not completely certain how these things are made, but they are like living light constructs."

Iratus, "Light golems?"

Fractura, "A little less solid, but basically yes."

Iratus, "Is it dangerous or not?"

Fractura, "They are individually programmed, so it's who ever made them that decides that."

Ignis, "Why here?"

System 110, "This one was activated four hundred and eighty-two days ago to act as support for the medical staff here. I cannot recall what I was before that."

Ignis, "Uh. Okay then."

Iratus, "What happened to the crew?"

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Chapter 276

System 110, "The crew was slain three hundred and eleven days ago. The fungal infestation was too much, and even their security device failed to properly deal with the threat and even turned on the crew."

Fractura, "In hindsight, I really should have figured that thing was also a hologram."

Iratus, "Is it?"

Fractura, "A floating sword is new to me, but yes, I'm positive it was the same thing as this thing before us."

Iratus, "Hm, yeah. It did flicker similar, I guess."

Clamor, "What else is there to know about these things?"

Fractura, "Pah, I looked up information on holograms, and the section was nearly empty. Trying to harvest the Nexus itself is a fast way to meet an ungodly drome army. Now, that does not mean summoner tech ends up on their planets, but it is rare enough that information isn't something a normal person can just find. I don't even think it's public knowledge on how or what the technology is or how one makes a hologram."

Ignis, "Maybe my people are just affluent in learning and figuring things out."

Fractura, "Let's see, uh, System whatever, can we take you out of here?"

System 110, "This one cannot leave this room, for I would stop existing."

Resonantia, "And of course the black blade gets the whole ship."

System 110, "Negative, only below deck."

Ignis, "Tell us more of the ones who once crewed this vessel."

System 110, "I only have bits of information, as I was never made aware of the information that wasn't needed to fulfill my role. The crew of this ship was small to the point that they couldn't fully utilize it. It also had a number of junior crew members as well. The folk of Anguis Marinus called themselves super nomads and traveled around for a while. Wherever this ship is now, it has been for some time. I believe the ship was no longer able to function, or perhaps it was fuel problems, and even that fungal stuff could be the cause. This is about the extent of my knowledge from being here."

Ignis turning to Fractura, "What, did everyone die and end up here at the same time or something?"

Fractura, "The time of death is irrelevant. Maybe the summoners saw this vessel at a certain point and gathered the crew from that period. Though, given the junior crew statement, perhaps most people died rather close to together from what you have told me about the crew."

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Chapter 277

The party quickly grabbed the medical supplies around and started to get ready to move out. Fractura was filling in Tempestas while Iratus would escort the two pregnant girls outside.

Iratus, "I'll be out soon."

Resonantia, "Don't keep us waiting, love."

Iratus, "Zip in, zip out. You'll see me soon. How are you holding up, Ignis?"

Ignis, "Unhappy, but I am fine enough. My only wish is to destroy all these things that have slain my kinsmen."

Iratus, "I'll see what I can do."

He gave her neck a lick and then went back inside, where the other three were waiting.

Tempestas, "I've never heard of these things. Are they like the 3D images we have?"

Fractura, "Sort of, but no. I don't know who coined the name, but it's stupid. So a hologram is the device; it flickers lights and solidifies it into a form."

Clamor, "I didn't see anything inside of the hologram."

Fractura, "The device becomes the light; it is why it is solid."

Tempestas, "Even considering our tech, that sounds pretty crazy."

Fractura, "If you want a better explanation, I don't have it since I could never find more than a scrape of information on these things."

Iratus, "Ok, now explain the sword."

Fractura, "I can't. I assume that the device concentrated and solidified into that sword. It should still have some body to hold itself, though."

Tempestas, "What about their location limitations? Couldn't they just wonder the world?"

Iratus, "And can we hurt it?"

Fractura, "I also don't know, and yes, we should be able to destroy a hologram. Since the light is the machine, just hitting it could break it. Anyway, let's find an armory among other places. This ship isn't going to loot itself."

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Chapter 278

The group waited as the black blade wandered down the hall. They all did their best to hold their breath when they heard the metallic sound of the blade moving through a door. Then, after they checked to see if the way was clear, Fractura spoke up.

Fractura, "It left no damage?"

Iratus, "How are you going to explain that?"

Fractura, "It should just filter through the cracks, so maybe the sword passing through is some sort of illusion of sorts."

They passed the door and got to the other side of the ship.

Fractura, "Yes, if we watched it, I bet we would see the sword de-materialize and flow through the open areas on the door."

Tempestas, "That metal sound could be it cutting through a sealed door."

Clamor, "It's been a year, and it still has not carved out a path through every door."

Fractura, "All the rooms in the crew quarters were open, as well as many others. Perhaps it did not need to search behind every closed door. All in all, this is still just a theory, so don't take it too seriously."

The party arrived in a large room and closed the door behind them.

Iratus, "So, I kept hearing about a fungal infection. Are these Edax diseases?"

The group had entered a storage area that wasn't completely barebones yet.

Fractura, "Infection as in a location. Don't worry about it."

Fractura grabbed some spare parts, while Ignis grabbed a spare uniform that looked like it would fit her. Tempestas took some canned food, and Clamor took some mechanical tools. Finally, Iratus stuffed some radio equipment and the only remaining floatation device left. At one point, there would be a lot more stuff down here, but after some time, it looks like this place has already used up many of their resources.

The group tried to circle around to get outside, but their path was blocked by a wall of fungus that wasn't bad enough that they couldn't get through, but a number of Edax started to stir. When the group tried to go back, they saw the black blade running down the hall towards them.

Most of the Edax that had not moved simply laid still, camouflaging well enough in their nest, while the other Edax fled and bounced away. The group headed into a room and closed the door. When the group turned around, they saw that they were in some sort of ammo room.

Many ammunition crates, toolkits, manuals, and explosives were stored in this room. Off to the side was another door that Tempestas was starting to head towards.

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Chapter 279

Iratus, "Wait, are those explosives?"

Clamor, "No time, kid. Let's go!"

The black blade was going through the door, and the group quickly ran through the second door, but they were quickly met with another fungal roadblock, one that was much worse. The group managed to jump into another hallway and circle around, but only Fractura and Clamor ran the correct paths to get ahead enough to avoid the black blade. Iratus and the others were stuck behind the black blade, which recognized the situation and kept guard at the crossway leading to the ammo room.

Tempestas, "Uh, did we just get trapped in here?"

The group was separated into two groups and was yelling back and forth with the black blade, seemingly wondering if it should keep pursuing or wait for someone to come forward.

Fractura, "Just a minute, and I will get you free. Hang tight."

Iratus, "What's the plan?"

Fractura, "I'm going to set off some explosives. Just don't die for a second."

Iratus, "Can you rig it? It's from another world; I assume it can't be that easy."

Fractura, "Hardly."

Iratus and Tempestas looked for another way out but quickly stopped when they saw Edax starting to fill the hallways. Back at the cross section, Tempestas started the conversation.

Tempestas, "Uh, Fractura, we got Edax starting to search for us. How is that rescue plan coming along?"

Fractura, "I need a few more minutes because they are trapping me in here. I sent Clamor ahead while I set this up, but I'm stuck in here with you as well."

Fractura with a deadly serious tone, "...Just hold out for a few more minutes."

And in those few minutes, Fractura had set up a deadly maze of death in the room.

Fractura, "Are you all still alive back there? I'm coming through, so distract the blade for me!"

Iratus charged forward at the blade, which readied itself. Fractura also left the ammo room and made a run for it. Iratus stopped and then slowly back away, and then the blade turned around to see Fractura running forward, who then rolled under it, but while getting up, the blade stabbed through him, with Iratus swinging his own blade and slammed the black blade.

Fractura screamed in pain but kept going, with Iratus following behind him.

Fractura, "Go, we need the most armored place we can find."

They found the perfect place to close off the ship with heavy doors while the black blade moved back to guard the only way out, though a few Edax were unfortunate as they were in its path.

Tempestas, "Why are we doing this?"

Fractura, "In order to free you, I needed time. I didn't have time and got stuck in the room, so there is only one way to clear our path. Sorry if we all die, by the way."

Before anyone could respond, they covered their ears when Fractura did. In another minute, an absolutely catastrophic explosion and secondary explosions rang out, knocking the group around.

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Chapter 280

Once the group got their standings, Tempestas threw a fit.

Tempestas, "What if all the hells man? Was this really the best idea you could come up with?"

Fractura, "I was in trouble; you were in trouble, so I was like, Enough of this crap, everything dies."

Tempestas was about to yell some more when Iratus spoke next.

Iratus, "Thanks for saving us."

Fractura, "No problem. Just another week in Nexus Prime."

Tempestas, "For the love of...grab any fire extinguishers around and let's go."

The Edax were on fire and screeching out as they died, with the party doing their best not to burn themselves or inhale too much smoke. They wondered around the breaking ship and couldn't find a way out. They eventually found a breach in the ship. Iratus was trying to figure out the floatation device and was helped by Tempestas, and when everyone was ready, they hurried forward to the hole, rushing water. The ship was starting to tilt to one side while the group did their best to avoid the twisted metal and wreckage. One by one, they dove into the icy, cold ocean.

Iratus was burned by the cold waters, and the water blurred his vision terribly. Eventually, he floated to the surface and desperately tried to clear his eyes. Their own vessel was away from the ship and was coming back around to pick the group up. After some time, everyone was picked up, and the battleship finally started to dive under the waves.

Soon they reached back to the docks and started to dismount.

Iratus, "Hold on. That one person still needs help."

Clamor, "I am in no state to help anyone."

Fractura finished fixing up his wounds from being stabbed and collapsed on the boat.

Tempestas, "I'll cover him. Just go home."

Resonantia, "But someone's life is at stake."

Ignis, "Resonantia, I don't think we are currently capable of mounting a rescue operation. Tomorrow, we can see."

Iratus frowned and was about to go anyway, but he found himself too tired to protest.

Iratus, "Darn it. For now, fine."

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EPISDOE 28: END

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Episode 28 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
Coverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork, a lot of minor damage, and torso tear), leather gloves, tactical vest, tailorcraft backpack, leather plate helmet
Weapons: Long Sword, 3x Knifes, Short Sword
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 33 oval copper coins, 7 small silver bricks, 6 gemstones, 20 fine silver coins,20 fine gold coins

Wounds: Shoulder, stab wound (minor), Stomach, stab wound (minor), Back, long cut (moderate).

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 3 glass jar, 12 empty bottles, 1 fish net, fishing gear and other supplies, primitive sewing kit, trowel, woodcutting axe, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, metal scrap, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets, a strange device (Gameboy-like device), compass, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, lots of rope, a large barrel, writing material, 80 cloaks and other clothing materials, some primitive medicine, some fabrics, 6 carts, 11 tattered tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenary, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing, rope ladder.

Armory: 10 wooden spears, 56 short swords, 53 knifes, 25 daggers, 34 metal spears, 2 hand bombs, 21 rusted weapons, many armor pieces, ruined metal armor, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), box of unknown ammo, 4 hunting traps, 3 snares, 2 pistols (no ammo), 12 unknown bullets, 4 backpacks
Aestus: leather vest, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword
Victoria: scrap metal breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, flashlight
Resonanita: breastplate, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, compound bow, flashlight
Ignis: leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar

Treasure: 88 oval copper coins, 33 oval silver coins 74 ancient metal coins, 20 fine silver coins, 44 fine gold coins, 23 fine copper coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a handful of sparkling glass beads, a small wooden trinket box, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, 107 copper lion coins, 5 silver lion coins, 14 gold lion coins, 115 wolfen metal coins

Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates, clay pots, and wooden chests), Basic Workshop Area (lots of tools, woodcarving tools, glue, sandpaper), Kitchen Area (many tools, many cutlery items, pots&pans, makeshift grill), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools, first aid kit), Guest Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding)

Outside Base: Butchering Hut (modern butchery kit, smoking rack), Tannery Hut, Underground Storage Area, Garden Area (fenced in)

Books: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), Special documentary on Nexus Prime #34, 16 Broken Tower documents, Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series)

Year 0, Day 132

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