Star Warden 2.5: TD'S. Chapter 2

 2

Rushing through dark corridors lit only by energy conduits. The Star Warden dodged particle fire as he fought through the cramped hallways. Kaguya at his side casting supporting spells with Sir Gareth of the Order of Lancelot smashing or blasting any robot in reach. While outside the airships Stormsong and the Arrow of Loxely had deployed their marauders. Who were fighting to free all captives in the prison section and distracting the rest of security from the Warden's mission deeper in the processing center.

Domain processing centers were part work camp part prison. Similar to the Soviet gulags from Earth's 20^th century. Faeries and elves were brought to such places for work and as a form of population control. Their days were long and harsh as they recycled scrap metal or disposed of radioactive waste. Breaking down stone or chopping down trees. Any and all tasks that could be done with simple brute strength, barring mining certain resources, were left for them.

No need to waste precious resources building machines to do such things.

Some camps were vast farms that provided food for Minotaurs or to grow certain crops for the cultivation of chemicals. But what they all had in common were their laboratories where prisoners were experimented on. Those who survived these experiments alongside the weakest or the soon-to-be-dead would later be processed. Code for conversion into a servitor.

This specific center was Processing center 003 located on the island of Dis. Formerly known as Tengu Island, the southernmost island of the former Dawn Islands archipelago. Normally attacking a facility in Daimos's backyard would not be considered. But the opportunity of accessing the schematics and data of the Soul Extractor overrode the usual objections.

Add the fact that it was in the Domain's core territory meant that this device would have had more use. There would be more data to sample from and a better chance to find a way to reverse a conversion. Sam had faith that there was a way. Peace found his own freedom, even if it was by accident. It would be more difficult now since Servitors were fully roboticized, but he would not give up hope. Speaking of Peace, he was on the Stormsong providing electronic warfare support and jamming local communications.

Peace had disabled the anti-personnel security, weapons designed to kill people without damaging the equipment. That left only the SWAT-bots who were providing fierce resistance. In various firefights, one or two of them would enter from hidden doorways to strike at the flanks. A few dropped down from above and engaged in melee while shooting beams at point-blank range.

Perseverance and teamwork won the day in the end. As they arrived at their destination dispatching the last of the guards as they did so. Sam activated a USB drive on his Talisman and inserted it into the terminal's port. The Soul Extractor's mainframe was not networked to the rest of the complex. Thus requiring them to access it directly.

Merlin deployed Peace's program, part seeker, and part malware. It logged and copied all information relevant to the Extractor. While the worm would search for software vulnerabilities. Even if reversing the condition wasn't possible immediately they could at least improve their cyber warfare capabilities.

Gareth walked over to another terminal. “Merlin, can you connect this terminal to the rest of the facility's network?” Merlin answered in the affirmative. Gareth got to work.

Sam said. “Find whatever you're looking for quick.”

“Found it.” He brought up an image of a machine. It stood on four legs and had a pod-like body with three guns. Two on the side of the head and one in the front beneath the eyes.

“Enforcement Walker-209,” said Sam reading the screen. “Looks almost like a Tarantula.”

“I spotted the servitors constructing at least one hundred units in the lower levels,” said Gareth. “According to this data, this model plans to replace the tripedal 208 model. There are also other files relating to some experimental technology and preparations for a 210 model.”

Merlin interjected. “It is not recommended one look into those files they are well protected. This unit lacks the necessary resources to copy or uncover this information safely at the current time.”

“We'll have to look through files Peace got us when we rescued him,” said Sam. “See which scientific horror branch The Dark Lord has delved into.”

Merlin beeped twice signaling his mission was complete. Sam grabbed the Talisman. “Good work, Merlin. Now for some physical damage.”

He placed a set of explosives on the extractor. Then had Merlin call Daniel. “We got it. Time to bug out.”

“Not a moment too soon lad. Peace is saying communications are back up. Reinforcements will be here soon.”

Warden and company rushed back to the Stormsong in record time. They aided the last few captives into the airship. Many of them were malnourished and had clear signs of advanced aging. Both ships then fled off into the night sky as the EMP explosions left behind went off. The Soul Extractor and the factory part of the complex would be dead for a good while.

There were no cheers on board the Stormsong, nobody wanted to let their guard down until they were in friendlier skies. Sam helped an exhausted Peace to his quarters. Gareth went to the gunnery station taking the place for anyone that needed to rest. Kaguya left for the cargo hold to provide medical attention to the former captives. Hours went by in near silence and concern. But fortune was on their side as no hostiles were encountered. Only when they rendezvoused with the second Marauder group did some let out a cry of cheer and relief.

These ships were in charge of providing another diversion. An attack on a Domain communications relay. Their mission was successful but not without cost. Two ships were destroyed with all hands and many crew members had been left behind and captured during the retreat. Many more were missing in action and all ships were damaged in some way.

All things considered, the mission still went well. The enemy had been distracted and many ships lived to fight another day. The latter was a victory in and of itself due to the need to have many ships as possible on hand.

For the remainder of the trip, Sam retired to his cabin. Daniel had one reserved for him whenever he was on board. He was grateful that the Stormsong had enough room for the rescued that he didn't need to turn it over. Sam would have willingly done so, but he was thankful that he could rest easy. His body felt it was running on fumes. Since Ramia he had been working daily preparing for the Unicorn Kingdom and making up for the events on said planet.

The death of Benjamin and the Guardians still weighed on his mind. Rationally there was nothing he could have done differently. But honor demanded he atones for his failure. Honor and Guilt. He couldn't dwell on what he had no power to change, but when did guilt ever bow to rationality? It was a combination of this guilt and sense of honor two ate away at Sam's conscience taking the form of a nightmare.

It was brief at least and fuzzy compared to others. All he could recall was being chained against something while innocents cried for help. When he awakened Kaguya was in his arms sound asleep. Looking at her made the world so much simpler. No, not the world their own little world. The war, the pain, the loss, all of it melted away into married bliss. He gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead.

A noise caught his attention. It was the melody of several well-synchronized wind chimes. Sam threw a robe on and walked over to the edge of the cabin. He pulled down drapes uncovering the magic mirror. The Enchantress's stoic face manifested itself from the shadows.

“Champion.”

“Your Ladyship.” Sam yawned the words. “Good Morning or is it still evening?”

“It is currently ten minutes past three in the morning. But that is beside the point. Congratulations are in order for your successful mission. But sadly there is no time for rest or cheer. You are needed immediately.”

“Of course.” His bitterness was clear in his voice. “It doesn't rain it pours.” Sam shook his head then apologized. Visibly showcasing his frustrations was unbecoming of a knight.

The Enchantress's face softened. “We understand your frustrations. Considering your recent mission. But this matter is urgent.”

Her face shifted into an image of another world. The Enchantress explained that this is the planet Pythia.

“It is a stellar engine. An artificial world designed with faster than light capabilities. Used originally to act as a scale model for making habitable worlds. Until it was transformed into a research station.”

“A research station that Daimos knows about and wants to get his metal claws into.”

The Enchantress's stoic face returned “Correct, Champion. His forces have already begun an invasion of the world.”

Sam folded his arms. “That explains the urgency then. You think they would just FTL out of dodge or use planetary shields.”

“A tractor beam is holding the planet in place and any shields would be deactivated once it arrives in a planet's atmosphere.”

Sam raised an eyebrow “The shields automatically deactivate in the atmosphere?”

“Their primary function was to maintain an atmosphere, not for defense. As it could flee from any potential danger. There is also the matter that the current inhabitants may be unaware of how the world functions itself. At least to control the machinery with proficiency.”

“Which means even if they wanted to flee they may not know-how. Well, I got my orders then. Once we put into port at Monmouth. We'll head to Fort Aquarius.” The Port had become a safe haven after its liberation. Strong defenses in places had repelled Domain retaliation so far.

“Understood. Good Hunting, Star Warden.”

The Enchantress's face faded away and the mirror returned to its black reflective surface.

“Another mission so soon?” Sam turned to Kaguya as she stretched her body out like a cat. His eyes traveled over her curvaceous form in such a pose.

“Note to self,” he thought. “Wake up just a few minutes before her. Every day. For the rest of my life.”

“Sad to say no rest for the weary,” he said out loud.

His wife rested her head on the palm of her hand. Sam relayed all that the Enchantress had told him as he rejoined her in bed.

“Thankfully it is truly urgent. If not I would have argued for you to decline the mission. I love your work ethic. But that does not grant a license for you to overexert yourself. Even if you still feel guilty over past events.”

“Well don't worry after we stop Daimos from taking Pythia. We'll have plenty of time to rest before we have to go to the Unicorn Kingdom.”

Kaguya climbed on top of her husband. Her beautiful purple eyes stared into his sky blue ones. “Good. For I have some special plans to keep you well-rested.” Her grin made it clear exactly what was in store.

Sam returned it. “I can't wait.”

Chapter 3

Chapter 1