Chapter 38 Danivra      

“They’re not back yet. But I mean it Dani, don’t take any fucking risks,”

The overprotective rant had become stale a long time ago, but I listened patiently. He always deserved that at least.

“Of course we won’t, Clive. It is an honor to be asked to carry out this duty. We have the skill now to totem into Talitus under stealth, and right back out again. We will not be caught.”

“I know. I know. But it’s more than that. Even if the entire population of Talitus are being slaughtered and you can see a perfect but time sensitive opportunity to intervene, don’t do it. Come and let me know and we’ll deal with it together.”

“Do you just want to go, Clive?” I asked. “It would be a lot quicker and we wouldn’t have to go through all of this unnecessary preparatory talk,” I replied.

He huffed. “Alright. I’ll shut it. Just…” I could feel him struggling not to go on again. Thankfully he won the victory with his anxious mind. “Just, get it done. You’re practically a goddess now. You’ve got this.”

“Yes. We have. Good luck in Holse. Hopefully, we will all be back in good time to assist with the attack. I’m sure Destruction would love to be involved and I know we three would too.”

“Perfect. I’ll see you soon then.”

With that, he closed the portal to us and I could finally get on with our new task. I beckoned over Andalar and Aslin.

“Yes, Danivra?” Andalar said, still looking at the army outside as he spoke.

“We have another task to see to. Destruction and Mal are not yet back from Talitus and Lord Clive is worried. He has asked us to carry out some reconnaissance.”

“A mission!” Aslin said brightly. “I thought the day would never come.”

“It’s good he’s decided to let us fly the nest,” Andalar said summoning his scythe as he always did when he felt the occasion if not situation called for it.

“It is, dear Andalar, but I’ve been given very explicit instructions not to get embroiled or bogged down in any situations there. It’s in, look and out only.”

“I see,” The gruff but solid king replied. “Still, it is progress. And I look forward to using Shade Echo in a live situation. I have high hopes for it.”

“As do I. If we’re right about its effectiveness against enemies, then it’s of far more use to us than Shadow Step.” Aslin added.

“I still miss having Shadow step,” Andalar replied wistfully. “I still miss following Death, despite all of this potential we have now.”

“That’s because you’re old,” Aslin replied with a chuckle.

“We’re all getting old, standing about here,” I warned. “To Talitus we must go.

We traversed quickly from Toukal to the hub on Talitus and then brought out the Totems with the intention of travelling to Clive’s temple here. But that’s where our travels came to a halt. The Totems failed to activate.

When none of us transported away, we all looked at each other in confusion. Nothing really needed to be said to each other.

“Aly, dear. Do you have any idea what is going on with the transport totems here? They don’t appear to be operating as they usually do.

Allow me to check, Administrator Danivra.

“Thank you Aly. And Danivra is just fine.” There was no reply and we had to wait a long minute before she returned with any information on the problem.

The Totems are working within normal parameters. However there appears to be some kind of interference in the atmosphere of Talitus.

“Hakan’s doing?” I asked.

I cannot answer that question with facts, but with all of the data I have accrued, I believe it a strong assumption to make.

“Then how do we get out past the Distortion Field?" Andalar growled.

I didn’t have an answer, and nor did Aly.

“I will look for alternatives, but I must say, short of dropping the Distortion Field around Talitus, I cannot see how you can get out.

“Can you at least tell if Destruction and Mal are okay?” Aslin wisely asked.

Another long pause from the AI.

I can tell you that they are alive and that they still have their totems, but cannot return here. I can send out a drone through the Distortion Field if you authorize the action.

I was taken aback by the requirement of me authorizing something for Aly, but I kept my surprise and discomfort in. “That would be very helpful, Aly. Thank you.”

As soon as I agreed, words flashed across my vision. It was a first for me outside of levelling and the words had a different, more Ethereal quality to them.

Please be warned that sending a Drone out through the Disruption field of Administration Hub 3 to interfere with a less advanced civilization may cause irrevocable issues with the inhabitants of this planet. It is in the Creators best interests to remain out of the lives of the lesser races.

It is strongly advised that you do not reveal the Administration hub and its technology to the local population.

Send Drone to inspect planetary situation?:

Y/N

It was an interesting message and told me a more little more about the Creators. Or rather the Alo-im, as they were no Creators in my eyes, merely fortunate to be born first and closest to the source of all Neuma. In the end, it appeared they had all of the same weaknesses as any of the other races. There was nothing in the warning that made me concerned.

“Yes!” I declared. “Send the drone. Our enemies know we are here and the populus will do well to survive what is coming.”

I hadn’t realized just how close to the truth my words rang. Not until we received the first report from the drone around twenty tense minutes later.  

Drone 3091 report:

The planet of Talitus is currently undergoing great upheaval. An invading army of warped undead are scouring the planet for any sentient beings and killing them on sight.

Current estimates put the death toll at around thirty percent of the planet’s population.

It is unclear who is controlling the undead, but there is a large contingent surrounding the mountain in which Administration Hub 3 is hidden.

Current advice is to lock down the Administration Hub and inform the high Council of the situation.

Standard Universal Administration Response will be to purge the undead and locate the source.

Do you wish me to pass my findings on to the High Council and the Universal administrator so a resolution can be reached?

Y/N

“Yes! Please do.” I replied swiftly. I noticed Andalar looking angry.

“Is there a problem?”

“We should go and look ourselves. We haven’t actually done our duty to Clive by staying in here and having a robot do our task. Are we really so worthless?”

“Andalar!” Aslin hissed. “Show some restraint. You know good and well we are not worthless.”

He slammed the butt of his scythe down. “I would if we went to investigate like we were asked. Yet we hide in here like incompetent cowards.”

Aslin shook his head though he had  wry grin on his face. “You’re so dramatic brother. Take a breath.”

“A breath!” Andalar shouted.

“Calm, King Andalar,” I said finally joining in. “Aslin is right. You are being too dramatic.”

He bristled, but I kept right on talking. “Though I do agree with you. We still have to find Mal and Destruction. I will have Aly send a message to Clive detailing what’s going on, but we three will still work out a way to get into Talitus and find our team mates.”

“I agree,” Aslin said. “I see in myself what I see in you two. An impotence borne of relying on too much on Clive. We owe it to ourselves and to him to achieve what we came here for. With that in mind, if Aly doesn’t know how to get out of here, then perhaps we should ask the Guardians. This place should have them too, surely.”

It was  a very good point and I offered Aslin a respectful nod before asking Aly the question.

I can check Danivra. However, I will have to initiate the emergency protocol in order to access the portal room and activate it.

“Fantastic, Aly. I imagine the access will be the same as in Falritas?”

That is correct. The entrance is opening now and I can access the systems down there now. I feel obliged to inform you that the entryway and the area beyond it are more much smaller in size compared with Admin Hubs 1 and 2.

Upon hearing that, I promptly made my way towards the exit with Aslin and Andalar hot on my heals. Launching myself from the top balcony of the transport tower I reveled at the air whipping past my face and hair as I Iet gravity do its work.

Catching myself a ten feet from the ground I transitioned smoothly into flight and swept into the underground entrance.

The difference in scale was obvious immediately, and that difference was magnified again as I reached the underground portal chamber.

To begin with, there was no static portal ring. It had a portal activation altar and that looked to be damaged. I stifled a groan. The next thing of note was the number of Guardians. Only one representative for each Neuma and all twelve were watching me with a look of concern.

“Good afternoon, Guardians. My name is Danivra and I am an Administrator serving directly under the Universal Administrator.”

The Guardian of Stone cut in with a booming male voice. “This Hub is not under direct attack, Administrator. Please explain why we have been roused.”

“That is your reply?” The Guardian of Dark snapped. I wasn’t quite sure if they were male or female and their armor didn’t give it away, either.

“The Guardian Altar is broken. It’s just as well we were awoken or we would have been lost forever.”

“It supplies your Guardian Avatars with Neuma, correct?” I ventured.

“Yes,” The Dark Guardian answered swiftly. “Without it we’re doomed.”

I felt my confidence rise at their fear. “Not so. Onnekus has fallen, but the Guardians from Admin Hub 1 have been reassigned to Admin Hub 2. We can do the same for you.”

“That is not allowed. Regulations state…”

“The Universe has changed and you all have a lot to catch up on. TO do that, you need to speak with the other Guardians on Falritas as I have pressing matters to attend to.”

“Then send us,” The Stone Guardian snapped again. I was beginning to suspect that was just how he spoke.

“I will. But first I need your assistance. The world of Talitus is under attack. That attack will soon involve this Administration Hub if we are not carful. We intend to deal with the threat, but our enemy has somehow managed to prevent our Totems from working outside of the Distortion Field. We don't know how. We don't know if it is possible to rectify the situation. I wondered, with your vast knowledge of the past, is there anything we could do to get outside still. Bear in mind that we are not Alo-im and cannot pass through the distortion field.”

“Not Alo-im?” The Fire Guardian gasped in a deep female voice.

“No. Alo-im abandoned this universe a few millennia ago. This is part of what you need to catch up on. For now, though, I really need any information you might have on getting out.”

The Guardian of Light stepped forward. "I care not what race you belong to. If times have changed, then so be it. I am happy to assist and I happen to have some knowledge in this area. The totems are teleportation devices that are attuned to the frequency of the Distortion Field allowing them to negate the effects for the traveler.  Sadly, anyone with a working knowledge of Neuma frequencies can throw out their abilities. I suspect our enemy has erected a barrier around the admin hub that filter out the frequency of the totems. A simple and effective measure against them.”

“So we need to drop their barrier?” Andalar growled, flexing his fists and corded forearm muscles and looking very ready to go to war.

The Light Guardian laughed. “Oh no. Nothing so mundane. You merely need to alter the frequency of the totems. If your enemy is canny, you may need to continue altering frequencies as you go. That will have to be done from inside the Admin Hub from the Distortion Field emitter."

"And will that alter the totems of my friends who are already out there?" I asked.

“Ah, sadly it will not. You will have to create an Admin Master Totem. They are specific to this hub."

My mind was racing as the Guardian spoke and as soon as she finished, I was talking to Aly. "Aly! Do you think you can create something like that?"

Yes. I have the blueprint for the Master Totems in our records. I have also located the totem frequency transmitter within the headquarters.

“That is incredible to hear.”

I do not know how to change the frequencies. However, I can offer what information I find on the subject. The task itself is for someone with administrator privileges.

My heart sank, but the Light Guardian was rapid with a response. “If we are not to be used for physical defense at this moment in time, I am more than happy to offer my services in this regard. Alidere, if you would assist me in this process it should run more smoothly."

I have available capacity to help providing I have an Administrator’s approval?

It took me a moment to realize she was waiting for my approval. “Oh Yes! Of course, Aly. Please do.”