The Cycles of Revelation Series

Artifact of the Dawn: Helpful (A Queer Sci-Fi Adventure)

Episode 67: Unable to keep watching the battle, Ardyn distracts himself by lending a helping hand with various tasks around the ship.

Ardyn paced in the control center, unable to sit still as his eyes remained glued to the continued feed coming from the satellite in orbit. Two ships from the battalion flew to the rescue and disabled the Maara’dahl ships after they fired on the Wah’kah’ria a second time.

Worried for Jevan, all Ardyn could do now was stare at the display, monitoring the ship highlighted in blue. Several other ships from the battalion put themselves between the Wah’kah’ria and the Maara’dahl ships, protecting her from further damage, while another group of ships broke off to engage the large ship that had been attacking the Rahn’naa.

Those explosions looked bad. Ardyn thought back to the last time he saw Jevan. I was foolish for being jealous. Jevan has always been charming with every new Athla’naa he meets. Why would I expect this time to be different?

Takyra, Aerys and the rest of the crew were busy maintaining the shields and coordinating teams of techs to work on repairs and get wounded to the hospital wing, while the battle raged on far above them.

“Ardyn, what’s going on up there?” Takyra asked without taking her eyes off the console and display in front of her.

Taking a breath, Ardyn sat down and studied his display for a moment. “The Wah’kah’ria was damaged, but it’s still in one piece. Some of the battalion appear to be protecting it, while others are attacking that large ship that was firing on us.”

“Good, they’re buying us time,” Takyra said. “Thank you. Let us know immediately if you see anything change.”

“Yes, Chief,” Ardyn replied.

Time seemed to drag as Ardyn watched the battle. At first it looked like the battalion was pushing the Maara’dahl back, and then the Maara’dahl would press forward again. The ships that had broken off to focus their weapons on the largest ship thwarted two attempts of attacks against the Rahn’naa, intercepting the energy beams before they reached Med’nor. However, Ardyn didn’t think they could keep doing that indefinitely.

“Our shields are back up to seventy-five percent,” Aerys informed Takyra.

Ardyn felt a glimmer of hope when, before his eyes, the ship intercepting another barrage exploded. “No!”

“What happened?” Takyra asked.

“The… the ship that was putting itself between us and the energy blasts. It’s gone!” Ardyn said, with a lump of emotion in his throat and his ears completely lowered. “All those people…”

“They sacrificed themselves for us,” Takyra said. “We will take time to mourn them later. Communications, inform the battalion that our shields can withstand another blast.”

With the message conveyed, Ardyn saw the ships taking the brunt of the damage withdraw, followed immediately by another wave of energy beams aimed directly at them. He braced himself just before the Rahn’naa shook violently.

After the dust settled, Ardyn tried to reach out to his father via the communicator, but all he heard was the soft crackle of static. “Takyra! I can’t reach Elder Taesys!”

“They damaged our communications array,” the communications tech informed them.

“Why can I still see what’s going on up there?” Ardyn questioned, as he watched the battalion continuing to fight the Maara’dahl fleet.

“That feed is coming in through a new array that Keryth’s engineers installed,” Takyra explained. “It must be able to withstand the blast more than our twelve-hundred-year-old array could.”

Turning back to his display, Ardyn noticed two ships flying around the much larger ship. “I think they’re planning to do something,” Ardyn said, as Aerys and Takyra switched their displays to the same satellite feed he had been watching.

Moments later, the back end of the large ship erupted in several explosions that set off a chain reaction traveling the length of the ship, utterly destroying it. The control center erupted in jubilation as everyone jumped out of their seats, hugging each other and cheering. For a moment Ardyn reveled in their joy, although still worried about his father and Jevan.

Once the clamor died down, Takyra immediately went back to work, turning to one of her techs. “Find some engineers and get that communications array repaired,” she ordered, and then turned to another tech. “Run to the hospital wing and bring me a status report.”

“Yes, Chief!” they both said before sprinting out of the room.

Ardyn looked back at the display, and the rest of the Maara’dahl fleet appeared to have surrendered. Those not disabled now gathered into a small group with the battalion surrounding them. The Wah’kah’ria hadn’t moved from the same spot it had been, although it looked like there were now shuttles flying between her and the battalion ships that had been protecting her.

“Takyra, I can’t watch this anymore,” Ardyn said. “Is there anything else I can do to help until we restore communications?”

For the next few hours, Ardyn ran throughout the ship, conveying messages and orders, before going to the surface to check on his father and the encampment.

Approaching the encampment, it was so still, Ardyn at first feared the worst, until someone peeking out of a tent spotted him. Slowly, people emerged, and eventually Ardyn spotted his father. Running over to him, he gave him a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Ardyn said, relief flooding through him. “How is everyone?”

“We’re rattled, but otherwise okay,” Taesys replied. “Those shields did their job and kept us safe. However, we saw some explosions outside of the forcefield. I fear they also hit some settlements and villages, but I can’t be sure.”

“As soon as the repairs are complete, they’ll be able to scan the area and determine how much damage there is,” Ardyn said. “I’m just glad you’re all safe.”

“Any word from your friend, Jevan?”

Ears drooping, Ardyn gave his father a tight-lipped head shake. “They are still repairing the communications array at the top of the tower. Until it’s repaired, we won’t know anything.”

Taesys reached out and placed a hand on Ardyn’s shoulder. “He’ll be fine. Why don’t you go check on his sister and your mother?”

“Good idea. Thank you, Father.”

It was when Ardyn was sitting with Jenira and Saelyn, catching them up on the events he’d witnessed, that his communicator came to life with a message from Takyra. “Ardyn, we’ve reestablished communication with Commander Keryth. He wants to transport you to his ship immediately. It’s Jevan. He’s badly hurt.”

Ardyn sprang from his place on the couch, his heart leaping into his throat. “Thank you. Please tell them I am ready to be transported.”

“What’s going on?” Jenira asked.

“They have restored communications,” Ardyn informed her. “They want to transport me to the Wah’kah’ria. Jevan’s been hurt.”

Jenira immediately stood up. “Take me with you, please!”

“Ardyn? We’re ready to transport you on board the Wah’kah’ria,” a voice came through his communicator.

“Can you transport two of us? Jevan’s sister would like to come, too,” Ardyn replied.

“Yes. Stand by.”

“Okay, hang on. This is going to feel really weird, but don’t be afraid,” Ardyn said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

“Afraid of — ?”