Wanderer Ch 32: A Planets End, The Path To Escape!

The planet Veydris bustled with life, its twin suns casting golden light upon vast oceans, towering spires of crystalline cities, and lush emerald fields that stretched beyond the horizon. It was a world of peace, a world that had long known prosperity under the protection of the Federation. Children laughed as they played in the bustling streets of Zanethis, the planet's capital city. Merchants called out their wares, and lovers strolled hand in hand beneath the luminescent trees that lined the plazas. It was an ordinary day.

Until the sky burned.

A deep, unnatural roar resonated across the heavens as black, insect-like crafts tore through the clouds, blocking out the suns. Fear gripped the hearts of Veydris's people as the air itself seemed to tremble. Then, with a flicker of dark energy, a massive hologram materialized above the skyline, stretching over the capital and beyond.

A face appeared within the crimson glow of the projection—a cold, metallic visage adorned with glowing red eyes. Dr. Thanoros. His voice, synthetic yet laced with unmistakable arrogance, reverberated through every street, every home, every soul that dared to listen.

"You bask in the illusion of peace," Thanoros declared. "You build your lives upon the foundations of complacency, never questioning the frailty of the order you so blindly serve. But I have come to liberate you from this lie. This world, like many before it, is a relic of a flawed existence—one that must be erased for true order to emerge.

"You should not despair. Your sacrifice is not in vain. It is the price of progress, the cornerstone of a new utopia."

Gasps filled the air, followed by terrified whispers. Parents clutched their children tighter, shielding them as if their embrace could hold back the horror that loomed. Some fell to their knees, others screamed in protest. But all knew—deep down—that there would be no salvation.

Thanoros raised a hand, the hologram flickering for a moment before his final decree echoed across the planet.

"Farewell."

And then he was gone.

A second of silence. Then the sky cracked.

A blinding crimson beam tore through the atmosphere, its descent like the judgment of an unfeeling god. The capital city of Zanethis, home to millions, was the first to be struck. The energy blast consumed everything in an instant, turning structures, streets, and living beings to ash before they could even comprehend what was happening.

The earth beneath them split apart, molten rock bursting forth in violent tremors. Entire districts fell into the abyss, their screams swallowed by the roar of destruction. Those who had clung to the hope that they could run, that they could hide, found themselves overtaken by the relentless advance of devastation.

A mother held her child tightly, whispering reassurances even as the searing heat of the blast turned everything around them to flame. "It's going to be okay," she murmured, stroking the child's trembling back. But her own eyes betrayed the truth—there was no escape, no mercy. The light consumed them both, leaving nothing behind.

Across the planet, in villages, in towering spires, in underground shelters, people watched in horror as the capital city became a sea of fire. And then, the planet itself began to fracture. Cracks splintered across its surface, molten rivers pouring forth as the very core of Veydris became unstable. Chunks of landmass broke away, entire continents swallowed by the expanding inferno.

Above it all, Thanoros watched from the bridge of his flagship. His expression was unreadable, his red eyes reflecting the final moments of Veydris.

The planet convulsed, magma erupting into space as the gravitational forces collapsed inward. And then, with a deafening, silent explosion, Veydris ceased to be.

All that remained was a field of debris, glowing embers drifting in the void. A testament to a world that once thrived but was now nothing more than dust in the abyss.

Thanoros exhaled, his fingers tapping the armrest of his throne.

"One step closer," he murmured. "To true order."

***

(JACK)

I ran through the endless black corridors of the ship, my breaths ragged, my pulse hammering in my ears. The red veins pulsed along the steel walls, casting eerie shadows as I sprinted past. I had no idea where I was going, just that I needed to keep moving.

Then, I saw it—a wide window overlooking the abyss of space. I skidded to a stop, my hands pressing against the cold glass. My stomach twisted. Outside, where there should have been a thriving planet, there was only ruin.

The world was split in half, its molten core spilling outward, spewing fire and death into the void. Jagged pieces of land, once home to who knows how many, drifted lifelessly in space. The planet's destruction painted the surrounding darkness with a fiery glow, a silent testament to the horror that had just unfolded.

"My God..." I whispered, my throat dry.

I knew running was the smart choice. Get out. Get as far away as possible. But looking at that broken world, I felt something gnaw at me. If I just escaped, how long until another planet met the same fate? How many more people would die while I hid?

I clenched my fists. No, I had to do something.

I ducked into a nearby hallway, keeping close to the walls, peering around every corner. Room after room, I searched for anything—controls, a weapon, some kind of advantage. Then I found it: a weapons room.

I slipped inside, my eyes widening at the arsenal before me. Rows of alien weaponry lined the walls, some looking like traditional firearms, others completely foreign in design. I grabbed a sleek, black rifle that seemed to hum as I touched it. Too heavy. Then, something else caught my eye.

A weapon, nearly as tall as I was, but when I lifted it, it felt weightless. The moment my fingers wrapped around the grip, it expanded, latching onto my arm and shoulder like it had a mind of its own.

"Okay, that's either really good or really bad," I muttered, flexing my arm. The weapon adjusted with me, responding like an extension of my own body. A smile crept onto my lips. "This'll make things easier."

I stepped back into the hall—and immediately locked eyes with one of the black-armored soldiers.

"Aw, crap."

The soldier raised his weapon, and I dove sideways just as a red energy blast scorched the air where I had been standing. I hit the ground rolling, lifted my new gun, and squeezed the trigger. A pulse of blue light shot out, slamming into the soldier's chest, sending him flying back into the wall with a metallic crunch.

I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding. As I approached the fallen enemy, I realized something—the soldier wasn't human. Beneath the black armor, wires sparked, and mechanical limbs twitched.

I let out a breath. "Oh, thank God. Guilt-free shooting."

I pressed on, ducking through another hallway, taking down two more robotic guards with well-placed shots. Finally, I found a room filled with consoles and controls, screens displaying data in alien symbols. And in the center—two more robotic soldiers, too focused on their work to notice me.

I didn't hesitate.

I took out the first one with a shot to the back, sending it crashing into the console. The second one whirled around, red optics flaring, and opened fire. I dodged, rolling behind a pillar as a hail of energy blasts tore through the air. Sparks showered from the walls as I peeked out and fired back.

The soldier was fast. It ducked, moving with unnatural precision, firing as it advanced. I barely had time to move before another blast nearly singed my arm.

"Alright, pal. You wanna play hardball?" I muttered, gripping my weapon tight.

I charged forward, zigzagging to avoid its shots. At the last second, I dropped low, sliding across the floor beneath its fire, and aimed up.

"Surprise!" I pulled the trigger.

The blast sent the soldier flying, its body smashing into the wall before slumping to the ground, motionless.

I exhaled sharply. "Gotta say, I'm really liking this gun."

Turning my attention to the controls, I scanned the screens. The text was mostly unreadable, but some symbols were obvious—prison controls, energy siphoning, hangar bay doors. And then, there they were: the Wanderers.

My eyes locked onto the brown-haired one—Thalassa. She looked... weak. Her usual overwhelming presence was gone, her eyes dim with exhaustion, her body struggling against the restraints. Even in her current state, she radiated power, but it was being drained from her, stolen away.

I hesitated. I didn't know much about Wanderers. But I knew one thing—no one deserved to be locked up like this.

I cracked my knuckles. "Let's turn the tables."

I started flipping switches, pressing buttons, hoping I wasn't about to blow us all up. The restraints around Thalassa loosened, the dark metal peeling away. She twitched, her massive body trembling as if confused by the sudden freedom.

Her eyes slowly lifted, unfocused and weak. I smirked.

"That should even the odds."