CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Skittering clicks of a once coherent language haunted the warehouse. The fidgeting of post-human shells fostered a permanent air of agitation. Unperturbed by the chorus of suffering, the conspicuous guise in which the twins appeared had Soran ensnared. Rearmost loomed a giant. Hunched over, it still achieved a stature not too dissimilar to Kaligan, eight or nine feet at least. Set into a sharpened square jaw, two sets of diamond-encrusted teeth chattered in frustration, jostling the metal extrusions that poured from its chin. Wound together to fashion a course, this nest of wiry strands formed a metallic beard that trailed down to a meticulously tailored three-piece suit, a massive gauntlet pouring from each perfectly folded cuff. 'Twins' was a deceptive description. The android stood in the trembling behemoth's shadow represented its antithesis. The size of an average man and slender as a rake, it slumped on a fresh pile of Accran soldiers. Wire braids ran down its neck, weaved into a neat ponytail between the shoulders. Golden rings ornamented its svelte fingers, and its neck dripped with jewel-laden chains. Like its brother, it donned a stylish suit, artisanally crafted for the perfect fit. Both had their outer plates engraved with countless tattoos depicting innumerable symbols of pirate allegiance.

  With a snap of its finger, the slender Lord cast the Horizon crew to their knees. The android escorts held the hunters in place to force the appropriate genuflection. Soran gazed upward at the lords; the letter T carved ominously into their foreheads snatched his attention. Its significance returned him to the bleak memories of the Hyacinth attack. The notion of the Pirate King's legend as mere fantasy had lost its certitude. Despite their evident maladies, the machine Lords before him didn't seem the type to chase childish delusions. The undeniable dedication of the twins annihilated all skepticism, forcing him to accept the sincerity of their convictions.

  First to approach was the slender Cybel, sauntering his way through the crowds of shivering androids. A faint ping sounded with each step he took, repeating at an ever-increasing speed as he advanced. He stood directly before Ranna and flicked open the top two buttons of his spotless white shirt, revealing a radar device welded into his chest. By the sound of things, it had found its target. Golden fingers pried their way into Ranna's jacket pocket to retrieve the hidden shard. Soran needed no further convincing. First Malig, then Kaligan, and now the Cybel. The Pirate Lords would go to any length to acquire the object, acutely aware of the power it possessed. Would they use it as a weapon, or did they know something he didn't? A fragment of esoteric utility that Soran had yet to discover. After feeling its power firsthand, he knew of the destructive force it contained. Yet something within him refused to contemplate the damage it would do under malevolent control.

  Throughout the whole ordeal, Ranna's silence reigned unbroken. An invisible weight pulled his head to the ground, and sunken pits replaced his once gleaming eyes. It was anyone's guess how long he had gone without sleep, the black circles becoming a shadowy mask draped over his face.

  Reaching deep into the jacket pocket of his suit, the android pulled out a series of chains, holding them up for all to behold. Disbelief spread through the crew. Even Ranna's blank stare was drawn to the display. Terror sliced through his daze, dragging him into the moment. Tipping each chain was another shard, unique in shape and design. Not only had Soran been mistaken about the singular nature of the object, but the android had accumulated nine of his own. Attaching his newly acquired treasure to an empty chain, he introduced a tenth to his collection.

  "Thank you." He said, placing his hand on Ranna's shoulder. His voice was beautiful, that of a mild-mannered teacher or benign priest. Unfit to fall from the lips of the murderous golem that spoke them.

  "My brother and I have searched every corner of this galaxy, and now our pilgrimage is almost complete. These keystones form the foundation of our great work, and once the remaining two are acquired, Atlazar's promises will finally be realized." He looked Ranna directly in the eyes as he spoke. His words echoed like a sermon to the devout, a preacher delivering the good news to his flock. His crew was certainly captivated, drinking in his words. Their eyes were drowned in hope as dreams of the divinity soothed their radioactive cores. Some dropped to their knees, arms raised in the air, crossing their fingers to mimic the letter they had diligently carved into their bodies.

  "The endless ocean has seen fit to grant us your services in this, our time of great need. Your being here is no coincidence. The freedom my men granted to you can be repaid. Reciprocated in the form of another kind deed." As he spoke, he returned to his corpse mound and placed his hand on his brother's arm. The colossal Cybel displayed symptoms similar to those of their escorts. His head shook erratically, forcing his palms against his temples to fight against the unrelenting pain. His brother's touch seemed to calm him, granting a reprieve from the torment of the Tetraphage.

  Soran had entered a world where childhood stories of Pirate Kings and paradise realms were becoming reality. Although the soft and welcoming voice of the android Lord made him feel a strange sense of calm, the pile of dead bodies he sat upon betrayed his demure facade.

  "I am Volka, and this is my brother Khan. Our enemies label us the Cybel twins and have attempted to thwart the great work at every turn. For a century, we have waited, waited for this very moment." He paced back and forth as he spoke, making expressive gestures with his hands. "However, a final test has been placed before us. One last evaluation of our dedication. A test to prove our loyalty to the true King. It is in this task that you shall aid us." Learning that they were already part of the plan demystified the reason for the continued existence.

  "The form we currently occupy cannot pass the threshold that shields the core of this world. The heart of Accrakos is where the Keystone resides and, therefore, where you must go. Retrieval of the Keystone will be generously rewarded, of course." His face curled into a smile. The request was non-negotiable, and compliance was the only acceptable response. It seemed the boy was to join the ranks of yet another pirate crew.

  Soran stepped forward, his action met by an immediate draw of the army's weapons. Suddenly, they were facing down the barrels of hundreds of energy rifles, and Ranna found his body instinctively shielding the boy.

  "What if we can't find the Keystone?" Soran asked in a low voice, barely able to muster the words.

  "Completion of the great work has been foretold, promised to us by our King. By your hands, it shall be delivered. You will not fail, as our faith has never failed us. However, your fish will remain in our custody. In the event you elect to shirk destiny, its life will be forfeit." His eyes moved over to Tugg, who snarled at the derogatory remark. El and Ranna both scowled, but in the interest of his life, they relinquished Tugg into the twins' custody. They watched helplessly as he shuffled toward a holding cell in the back. The tiny cage currently housed two other Accran soldiers, presumably awaiting their turn to become furniture.

  "If you please," Volka gestured to a freshly excavated tunnel in the rear of the warehouse. Thoughts of defiance tempted Soran as he stood mere feet from the androids turned backs. Only three of Volka's men accompanied them; their skull-fashioned head units differentiated them from the masses, the mark of elite warriors. Despite being unarmed and outmanned, if the hunters were going to make a move, it had to be now. Taking a step closer to one of the guards, a thought dragged Soran from disaster.

  What am I doing?

  Something was happening to him. The boy was slipping away, being replaced with someone he didn't recognize, someone rotten. The thought quelled his violent ambitions. Having seen the Pirate Lords' murderous potential, he conceded it would be unwise to attempt escape, especially with Tugg's life in the balance. Whatever darkness was growing within him, he would never endanger the life of another. With that, there would be no compromise.