Chapter 30: Meaningless Without You
After defeating the patrols, Emerson, Leghorn, and Terrchel started walking out of the factory. Knowing staying here any longer would be pointless. As they emerged from the ravaged factory, Emerson, Leghorn, and Terrchel stepped out into the desolate, isolated landscape, the eerie silence a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped. The ground beneath their feet was littered with the lifeless bodies of their defeated foes, a grim reminder of the intense battle they had fought.
The trio trudged wearily through the carnage, their footsteps echoing off the barren hills that stretched out before them like a vast, unforgiving sea. The sky above was a deep, foreboding grey, casting a pall of hopelessness over the already bleak landscape. Emerson's stomach growled with hunger, his energy dwindling after the prolonged fight. Leghorn limped along, a pained expression etched on his face as he clutched at the wound he had sustained during the battle. Terrchel's eyes drooped with exhaustion, his usual resilience worn down by the relentless onslaught they had faced. As they walked, the only sound being the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet, the weight of their ordeal hung heavy in the air, a tangible reminder of the trials they had endured, and those yet to come.
Terrchel yawned, his voice heavy with fatigue. "Leghorn, could you please open a portal to get us back to base?".
Leghorn, looking confused, replied, "No, certainly not".
Terrchel, his curiosity piqued despite his exhaustion, explained, "I know Meriella has that ability as of recent because of the celestial orb energy".
"Being from the Light Realm and being a celestial being does not necessarily imply that I possess power," Leghorn clarified, his voice a little strained. "Hence, why I have this equipment that's like your Arcadian High Tech gear, but essentially it's powered by Celestial Energy, a larger amount than what Lawrence got his hands on, and now he calls it Artificial Intelligence and purely science, but its main energy stems from the fallen star".
"Thank goodness Arcadia only snagged a tiny bit of power, or we'd be in trouble!" Terrchel exclaimed, a flicker of his usual wit returning.
Emerson shook his head, a grim expression on his face. "I can only imagine what monstrosities robots they would have created if they had the full power of the celestial orb".
"I think now I can tell you, I don't regret saving Meriella and putting that power in her instead," Leghorn said, his voice softer, almost reflective. "It's in better hands. Her gentle spirit hasn't yet awakened to its true power, but it's better that way".
"Yeah, I saw Meriella use her celestial energy once, and it felt like a movie scene, but it really tired her out," Terrchel remembered, a wistful note in his voice.
"I think it's best she reserves her energy for powering her body to be alive," Leghorn explained. "It may seem small, but the power of life is one of The Light Realm's greatest gifts, and that core is keeping her alive. If it died out, she'd be nothing but a corpse".
Terrchel and Emerson looked at Leghorn, horrified by the stark reality of his words, but said nothing. They reached the outside of the factory. Terrchel walked slower than usual, his shoulders seemed heavier than before. His eyes were weak, but he kept walking.
Emerson observed Terrchel's flagging energy. "Terrchel, you appear quite fatigued to travel back home," he said, his tone filled with concern. "That is likely the reason you inquired about the portal, correct?".
They now stood a distance away from the factory, staring off into the vast expanse between here and getting home. Terrchel nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on some point in the distance. "Yeah... I'm gonna crash any second," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Leghorn's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with concern. He glanced around, taking in their desolate surroundings. The factory loomed behind them, a stark reminder of the battle that awaits them soon if this factory is not stopped. The landscape stretched out before them, barren and unforgiving.
"Well, essentially, Meraki and Bucky were supposed to be here by now to get us with the Velox," Emerson said, his hands rising in a gesture of confusion. "I better dial them in". Emerson lifted his wrist, his eyes fixed on the swatch as he waited for Meraki to answer. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of their own ragged breathing. The air was heavy with the scent of smoke and sweat. As they stood there, waiting for Meraki's response, the weight of their exhaustion settled in. Terrchel's eyes began to droop, his head nodding forward as he struggled to stay awake. Leghorn's eyes never left his friend's face, his concern growing with each passing moment.
Leghorn's voice cut through the exhaustion-induced haze, a hint of dark humor lacing his words. "Terrchel, I forgot to inform you that your swatch is still inside. It seemed to have been captured in a cube, because, you know, that's exactly what we needed - more cube-related trauma. Should we go back for it?".
Terrchel's eyes flickered open, a wry smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, about that. I recorded some footage of the factory and got most of me being captured and held against my will on the swatch, so it would probably be helpful to retrieve it. But honestly, I don't think I can stand going back in there right now. I'm running on fumes, and my PTSD is already drafting a strongly-worded letter to the factory's management".
Leghorn chuckled, a low, dry sound. "Emerson luckily recorded a lot of the things we found as well, and already sent it back to the base for analysis. I'm sure we have enough for now. I know going back in there right now won't be wise. We'd just end up as permanent fixtures in the factory's 'Wall of Captives' exhibit".
Terrchel snorted, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "By the way, I think I deserve some new tech. Can I get some of the Light Realm equipment instead? Why use Arcadian power if I can just get equipped straight from the source? I mean, who needs loyalty to the Arcadian cause when you can have shiny new gear, am I right?".
Leghorn let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "Ahahha, nice try, Flyboy".
Emerson's eyes lit up as he finally got a response on his comms device. "Meraki, finally! You answered! Where are you guys?". There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Emerson wondered if he'd lost the connection. But then, a voice came through, sending a jolt through Terrchel. "It's Meriella," the voice said, and Terrchel's ears perked up like a shot. He immediately ran to Emerson's side, his exhaustion forgotten in an instant.
"What about her?" Terrchel demanded, his voice low and urgent.
There was another pause, and this time, Emerson's heart sank. "She's dead," Meraki's voice came through, flat and emotionless.
Terrchel's face went white, his eyes wide with shock. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, all the air sucked out of him. He stumbled backward, his legs feeling like jelly.
Emerson's eyes met Terrchel's, and he could see the pain and grief written all over his face. He felt a surge of anger and frustration, but he knew he had to keep a level head. "What happened?" Emerson demanded, his voice firm but controlled.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Meraki's voice came through again. "We were on our way to you in the Velox as planned, but en route, we found her down a back alleyway".
Terrchel felt like he was going to throw up. He stumbled away from Emerson, his eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for something. Anything. Leghorn's voice was low and somber. "We need to get out of here. Now". Emerson nodded, his eyes never leaving Terrchel's face. "Agreed. Let's move out". But Terrchel just stood there, frozen in shock and grief. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. All he could do was stare out at the horizon, his heart heavy with sorrow.