CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Meandering networks of iridescent coral laminated the tunnel in cool natural light. Volka navigated its branching forks deep into Accrakos' crust, following a series of near-imperceptible symbols carved into the basalt. The narrow confines of the subterranean passage widened, and the group emerged into a cavern of mountainous proportion. Tucked in between the garden of coral were glittering ore deposits, bathing the surroundings in an animated display of prismatic light. Hung centrally in the vast expanse was an enormous spherical machine, suspended in midair by a triad of colossal chains that bore deep into the basalt. Aiding the chains in defying gravity was a magnetic resonance field that encircled the sphere. Gigantic pipes hung from the orb's underbelly, burrowing deep into the planet's mantle to siphon residual energy from the molten core.
Swallowed by the enormity of the android construction, the hunters were baffled as to how the Cybel had infiltrated the Accran world with such a massive vessel. For a century, they had buried themselves in the deepest fathoms of Accrakos, biding their time until the keystones were gathered and their great work could finally come to fruition.
Without a word from the Pirate Lord, a floating silver disk approached their position, landing gracefully on the uneven stone. Volka stepped forward, motioning for the others to follow. With everyone on board, they levitated to an outstretched pontoon on the spheres' upper half, leading to an opening in the outer shell. The hull was near faultless, constructed of countless octagonal plates intersected by spiraling energy pylons. Soran recognized the technology from the Hyacinth, used for gathering sunlight and extracting usable particles from the surrounding atmosphere. Volka admired the perfection of his craftsmanship, staring in awe as they approached the glowing concentric rings that proceeded the entrance.
"Basilica, the name gifted to our vessel. She carries the weight of the great work on her back. Millions of your kind have been liberated along our journey and now serve to bring forth our promised future. Elyssia's offerings to its faithful are bountiful indeed."
Concentric rings folded in on one another, revealing the grand expanse of the Basilica's inner sanctum. Through expanding segments of golden light, towers of complex machinery shot bolts of energy, loading the atmosphere with the purr of efficiency. Soran caught Ranna looking directly above and, following his line of sight, knew precisely what had him fixated. The octagonal segments that made up the Basilica's hull were purposed as more than just structural support. They housed its crew.
Housed within each geometric residence lay an android, plugged into the mainframe in a state of blissful unconsciousness. Their minds, untethered from the physical realm, were allowed to sail unimpeded through endless data streams.
"Our vessel is the only construct that offers respite from the sickness, lessening the burden as our minds connect as one. They can live and think as they did before, released from the cruelties of their reality." Volka explained, melancholic as he described the plight of the androids. Soran began to understand why their crew was so numerous.
Most androids that succumbed to the Tetraphage wandered the galaxy blind. Easy prey for slavers and other degenerates, cursed to be subjugated or simply melted down for scrap. As they awaited the culmination of the great work and the spiritual riches that accompanied it, the sanctuary offered by the Basilica was a paradise unto itself. Sympathetic to their predicament, Soran could see how the promise of eternal life could sway even the strongest minds, no matter the cost. Despite this, he remained steadfast that handing over the keystones to Volka was not in anyone's best interest. All they could do for now was play along and hope fate was smiling their way.
Volka continued his march through the central walkway, culminating at a much smaller orb at the ship's core. Most of the energy collected by the outer pylons was stored here, and a small gaggle of crewmen was performing maintenance on the surrounding consoles.
"Before you descend, I want you to witness a rebirth. The transference chamber that sits before you will extract a soul from its fragile biology, ferrying it to a more durable vessel." Volka said, grinning as he described the process. Unsure of the demonstration's purpose but morbidly intrigued, the hunters stood anxiously as the outer casing of the orb peeled away. Layers of sculpted steel unfurled to reveal a glassy membrane beneath. Inside the transparent half dome sat two chairs, each draped in restraints. Various hanging contraptions hovered menacingly above the chairs, clearly surgical in their application. The silence of the three hunters' was compounded as they saw a man strapped into the leftmost chair. It was Teege.
Sharp surgical light flooded his eyes as the blinds retracted from his cage. Teege stared longingly at his audience. Fear had consumed him. He didn't need to ask for help, for his expression screamed desperation. No explanation of his situation was required. He knew the fate that awaited him.
Volka scattered the maintenance crew and initiated the sequence at the consoles. His inputs coaxed the equipment in the room to life. The hunters watched in compelled sympathy as shrieks of protest burst through Teege's lips. His forehead, clasped by a mechanical arm, was held perfectly still. His incessant writhing did nothing but tighten the grip. A second instrument lowered into view, and a white-hot light swelled at the tip. Without warning, a concentrated laser burned a small incision along the circumference of Teege's skull. The screams ceased as searing agony overwhelmed his senses. Flung through his pain thresh-hold in a split second, his mouth lay agape, and his body twitched violently. With his system in shock, the forehead vice loosened its grip and removed the skull cap, exposing his brain for the final stage of the process. El clasped her hand to her mouth in an attempt to still the bile climbing from her stomach. The laser yielded to a scanning device connected by several long wires to an uninhabited android husk that occupied the adjacent seat. The device flashed in a strobe-like fashion, filling the room with vibrant green light. With each close of the shutter, a nanometer slice of Teege's brain matter was atomized and instantly transferred to the silicon processing unit stored in the android head. In its entirety, the process only took two minutes, a lifetime of experience stolen, locked away in an inescapable prison. The Teege they knew was now a brainless corpse, ready to be processed into fuel for the Basilica. What was once an empty vessel began to stir.
Teege climbed to his feet in a daze, examining the new body that Volka had gifted to him. The physical sensation of the transference was formidable. Ranna and company watched as he staggered toward them, unable to operate the mechanoid limbs fully. It was like watching an infant take their first steps but instead of celebration and pride, all they felt was pity. Despite his intention to throw them into the darkest dungeon the universe had to offer, -- not before giving them the luxury of spending a few days in Accrakos' finest jail -- sympathy managed to cut through their resentment. Although he no longer had to fear death, the end that would inevitably come wore a far more terrifying guise. Upon reaching the transparent boundary of his cage, Teege let out a defiant scream and flung his arms against the glass, rage scarred onto his face.
"Synthetic life often requires a period of adjustment for the recently transferred. I will enroll our friend Teege for orientation when I return." Volka said calmly. He had doubtless witnessed these terror-inspired theatrics on previous occasions. Well aware of Teege's purpose here on Accrakos, the satisfaction of adding an aggressor to his ranks was a victory Volka would savor.
"It's time to proceed. Your role in the great work begins now." Volka said, descending a staircase to the very base of the sphere. This area was home to another strange contraption: a cylindrical pod with four seats suspended above an exposed pipe that bore deep into the planet's crust.
"Though many of my brothers have attempted to access the core, the deep magnetic resonance cripples our systems and causes vital aspects of our being to malfunction. Irreparably. The Accran we propositioned all declined the calling and thus were useless to us. The only other human we encountered also chose to decline our prestigious offer, and you just witnessed his consolation prize. This leaves only you." Volka gestured to a workbench with four Nanofibre suits pristinely folded on its surface. Soran thought it best not to imagine the fate of their previous owners, and the prospect of wearing something other than the torn rags that adorned his body was all too welcome.
Suited and ready to go, they advanced across a small boarding ramp suspended over the subterranean void. With Ranna taking the lead, they each took a seat. Thick belts sprung from various slits around them, strapping them in tight. The containment hatch slammed closed, sealing them inside the egg-shaped machine.
"Our scans inform us the keystone is located at the deepest section of the inner core. The tunnel system is almost perfectly linear, so navigation will be simple enough. With heavenly vision guiding you, I have absolute confidence in your success." Volka gave a farewell nod, and a one-finger tap released the mechanism, sending the hunters into free fall, cascading into darkness.
With fists clenched to the straps that bound them, the pod careened into the abyss. Deeper and deeper into the planet they fell, the world around them an indecipherable mirage of shifting terrain. Abruptly, their descent was halted by the deployment of the collision foam, encasing them in a spongy tomb. Surrounded by blackness and shaking from spiked adrenalin, the hunters checked themselves for injury. Despite minor bruising, disorientation, and the unwelcome urge to vomit, they remained unharmed.
"Not much for warnings, those buckets." Ranna sneered as he removed his belts. He reviled artificial life. Too many good men suckered in by false promises, only to degrade into half-sentient sludge a few years later.
"Are we gonna talk about that?" asked El, still shaken from the surgical demonstration. Having been bounced between surveillance and incarceration for so long without the ability to communicate, each hunter harbored their fair share of unresolved trauma.
"What's to say? Teege's gone. Let's focus on the mission: get Tugg and get out. Don't tell me you feel sorry for him. He got what he deserved." Ranna replied flippantly as he opened up the containment hatch. He broke through the outer layer of foam to a blast of dense humidity. The atmosphere of the core was unforgiving. Oxygen was scarce, and the heat was almost unbearable. Soran quickly shut the hatch and pushed Ranna back down into his seat.
"You stay silent for days, and that's the first thing you say? We all saw the same thing. Don't tell me you think the twins will hand over Tugg and send us on our way. Or are you that stupid?" Soran said in a raised voice. Ranna was perplexed, unable to recognize the commanding presence. For a brief second, he forgot that it was he who was in charge.
"We need a plan. If somehow we survive this, we need a quick escape once we surface. I know one thing: whatever they did to Teege is not happening to me." The boy crossed his arms, waiting for his Captain's response, less forthcoming than usual.
"The kid's right. He might talk like a saint, but we all know what he's capable of. Never mind that Goliath of a brother." Ranna paused for a second.
"We will have something they want. The keystone will be our leverage, so follow my lead and watch my back. It's time to hunt our treasure." He smiled as he exited the pod. El looked at Soran and realized they were both thinking the same thing. Ranna was back.
Their suits would offer them little protection down here. Regardless of their pristine condition, the oxygen stores wouldn't last forever. El tapped her shoulder light into action, revealing the graveyard of test pods that had proceeded them. The remains of the four unfortunate volunteers that occupied each vessel had rusted beyond salvation. Seeing how readily the Cybel twins sacrificed their crew in the name of progress was staggering. It seemed no price was too high to complete their great work; the mass grave in which they stood was a testament to that.
El took the lead and proceeded further into the tunnel, only a cone of light separating them from absolute darkness. The uncertainty of what lay ahead would have been reason enough to turn back for Soran. But now, with a friend's life in the balance, there was no question. He had to move forward.
