Del thrust her boots firmly on the muddy and slippery ground by rain water and blood. She was lucky that she could jump and crawl toward one of the tanks intact. She was tired of hiding behind her fellow soldier's lifeless body and using them as a shield while maintaining the defensive line that had been destroyed.
Del looked around. Hell, the most appropriate word to describe the situation. She was not sure if there were any of remaining 200 other soldiers deployed for this mission left. Her tongue tasted iron, and she felt like had been swallowing blood with mud. With the increasingly heavy rains, Del was checking if there is any solar bullet left in the gun.
This was a suicide mission. No one had been bothered to give any explanation before they had been deployed to investigate suspicious activity in the Border Land of Ori. Now, she was not sure whether the emergency message for reinforcements had been received by headquarters yet ... the world had exploded when one of the sergeants made first contact with the suspicious object which had been captured by the detector. Del recalled how the suspicious object that was landed on the middle of the desert in Border Land Ori, began to float onto the air and changed into a black hole.
The black holes did not pull things around it, but spew alien monsters and deadly black substance. Del did not even know whether the object can be defeated only by solar bullet - official weapon ORI Alliance forces.
"Commander Quentin to the defense force on the borders... help on the way. ETA in about 30 minutes ..."
Del grabbed a communicator from one of the bodies of soldiers next to her. She took a deep breath.
"Lieutenant Del Solus to HQ! We cannot survive that long ... this object ... a monster. We need all the resources to destroy ..." Her voice choked when she had to double back in order to avoid a black substance that was sliming towards her. Del saw what the black substance had done to a person, a substance that can melt the standard armor and kill slowly to painful death.
"... Del!" Commander Quentin hissed, forgetting about the formalities, he asked. "How bad?"
Del sought for the appropriate response to describe the situation. "Commander, I guess it's just me alone."
"... Damn. Solus would kill me if anything happens to you. Look, Del. It's an order. Do not engage the object, understand? Hide! Pretend to be dead if necessary! Whatever you do ... stay alive! "
Del wanted to laugh at the irony of the thing that was happening. While Commander Quentin barked with desperate commands, Del knew that she could not hide any longer while now she was surrounded by black substances and shapeless monsters.
Knew that she could not escape death this time, she answered loudly in the communicator to the commander. She lied.
"Aye aye, sir."
12 hours before the Border Mission
Aletheia the vast sky and the sea may Goddess be with you
For Dear Ori Tribe the bearer of the truth, the valiant and true of thyself
Thy Empath the kindest soul of all, compassionate and wise of heart
Thy Elementals the seeker of justice, the just and keeper of nature
Thy Highlanders the walker of the time, observer and the oldest of thy all
Green sea and the Ilos moon sing the song for Theia
Dear Theia may we won't be the lost in light nor darkness
Keep me from straying, keep me close
May Theia bless of us all...
Del waited until the lullaby of Aletheia finished before she approached and greeted the owner of the most beautiful voice she had ever known.
"Salli."
The woman who was called Salli turned, half-surprised to see the person who greeted her.
"Del" Then she gave a bear hug - a little too tight to the point of suffocating Del.
"Okay, Salli. We met one cycle a month ago, you're always overreacting." Del laughed after a successful escape from the clutches of a woman she had regarded as her own older sister.
Salli was about to embrace Del for the second time, but Del was faster to take a few steps back, gave the distance a few feet between them.
"Yes, but I saw you at the academy! What kind of lieutenant who never give any news back home? Communicator has been developing rapidly and you can call or send an inter-galaxy message within a moment at least!" Salli said with exasperation. She advanced, approaching Del who insisted on standing out of her 'hug-range’.
"Lieutenant who is in half the solar cycle will be 24 years old." Del expression changed when Salli mentioned the word 'home'. She finally asked the question that for months she had been keeping inside. "How is... Chancellor Solus?" The question had left a bitter taste on her tongue.
"Your father is fine. Like you, he is using me as a messenger to make sure you are doing fine at the academy. You two should stop this ridiculous cold war!"
Del smiled, "You're not my father's messenger, Salli. You are the First Protector of Solus family’s heir ..."
"You. I'm your First Protector. The work becomes very difficult when the subject who should I protect-always dodge and run away from home to a place full of war and conflict." Del noticed that Salli slightly trembled when talking about topics that Del would like to avoid.
"... I'd rather have you as an annoying sister than a baby sitter ... I can take care of myself."
"No one doubt it, Del. You're the youngest Lieutenant ever appointed by ORI Alliance. Although some idiots think you achieve this feat because of your father ... I and the other sane people know that you are what you are because of your ability and your stubbornness. "
Del smiled broadly.
"So ... what brings you back?" Salli asked.
"Commander Quentin ordered me to meet Chancellor Solus regarding the foreign object that was detected earlier in the Border Land of Ori."
Salli nodded, "I've heard about it. They say the object is very dangerous even the Elementals are sending some of their spies to investigate the object."
Del winced, "Salli ... where did you get that information?"
"If I tell you, can I come with you on your next mission?" Salli tried.
Del shook her head, the woman who was five years older than her really is something else indeed. Salli never gave up. "The mission of the Alliance ORI must not be specified to any other civilian or military along. We directly report to the High Leaders ..."
"You mean those selfish fat old men who always hide when held accountable for their fuck up policies?" It was not a secret if the indigenous people of the Ori did not like their political leaders. Until this point, the policies made by the High Leaders were only creating more war and enemies with other tribes in Aletheia.
Aletheia was a planet consisted of several plains inhabited by four main tribes. Each tribe has unique and distinctive characteristics. Ori tribe, Empath, Elementals, and the Highlanders. Ori land is a land that lies on the east of Aletheia. Previously, Ori tribe had been inhabiting two plains throughout the eastern part of Aletheia. But hundreds of last century before, had appeared two new tribes that were now seized a part of the Land Ori, the Brute and Humanoid. Both were not native tribe of Aletheia. Brutes were born from genetic mistakes done by researchers from Ori tribe centuries ago. Brute appeared look like the Ori, but with a body size that was much larger and bad temper. According to the archaeologists of Aletheia, Ori tribe was the first tribe who had inhabited the planet Aletheia. The researchers refer Ori tribe as 'ordinary human' who have not yet been through evolution by Goddess Theia.
Humanoid was born from ambition of the Ori who had wished to advance their civilization with technology to rival those Elementals and Highlanders. Technology turned against their creators and now continued to make uprising movement against the Ori. Ori land was now flanked by the Brute populated plain in the north and humanoid had seized almost half land on the south. Other tribes such as the Empath, Elemental, and Highlander chose to remain silent and neutral stance as reaction of the war on Ori Land. They assume that the war happened because of no other action except by the Ori themselves.
A war that seemed never end resulted in Ori tribe to consist of two large groups. Soldiers and Nobles. The nobles were those who occupied the government tend to keep their royal blood by marrying their offspring to other highborn. The descendant of Nobleman who married the Soldier groups usually was despised and ostracized. However, this assumption and tradition were only believed by nobles whose the number had become less in the Land Ori. The soldiers who constitute nearly 90 percent of the population hate Ori narrow-minded Nobles and honor the military who never stopped fighting to fight for their land.
Del is a daughter of a nobleman and soldier. Her father, Chancellor Solus is the highest representative in the council. Position just below the High Leaders. Actually, Chancellor Victus Solus has been ruling ORI tribe and keeping it from the selfish high-ranking Leaders. Therefore, most of the Ori respect a Solus.
Del and her father.
Del had stopped asking about her mother to her father when she was 10 years old. As far as she knew, her mother was a soldier and how she looked like, did she love her or not ... Del would never know. Once, her father had said unintentionally how Del's eyes had reminded him of her mother. From there, Del concluded that her mother had dark green eyes like a tropical forest from centuries ago that Del had watched in one of the documentary series on tele-screen.
Del was aware that Salli's eyes were glued to the scar on her forehead. The result of the war with the Brute in the northern plain, half cycle month ago.
"... that looks hurt." Salli commented.
"Not anymore ... the Brute who did this has already been ripped to shreds by my solar bullets." Del replied. She then was half expecting Salli to change the subject. Her First Protector was always protective ever since Del had been a small kid.
"I'm serious Del ... I want to fight with you, no matter what the rules Ori Alliance have. Seeing you stand before me with new injuries every time we meet, makes me angry ... as your Main Protector, should I always be by your side and protect you."
Del saw Salli’s expression turned to upset, angry, disappointed, and ended up with sad eyes.
"Stay here ... Protect the Chancellor Solus. You help me by doing that." Del put her hand on Salli's shoulder, indicating that she would always trust her to protect her back.
"By Theia! That's Zeus's job, after all, no one dare to hurt Chancellor! All the Ori will go into rage if anyone hurt your father! You, in the other hand! You always run into where the most bullets fly and the most blood spill!"
Del wanted to refute Salli's statement, but the later shook her head. She had recovered from a momentary outburst a few seconds ago. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I will lead you to meet the Chancellor."
.
.
After the door on Chancellor's room closed, leaving Victus with the Lieutenant both in the room, Del opened the talks.
"Chancellor, I'm here by the orders of Commander Quentin regarding the suspicious object which was detected a few hours ago on the northern border area ..."
Victus Solus appeared older than Del remembered from last time. There were more white hairs on his head that once had been filled by jet black strands. More wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. Despite them all, the Chancellor of Ori Tribe still exuded an aura of power that could not be denied by anyone. Even Del.
"I know Lieutenant. I personally asked the commander to send you here." Now Victus was looking directly at Del. For a full second, Del felt he was back as 7-year-old girl who accidentally had broken his father's favorite vase when playing a hover board in the living room.
One second that did not missed by a Victus Solus.
During that one second also the eyes of the Chancellor softened. He lamented how quickly the time had passed that now his little girl had become a very strong and independent woman who secretly he was proud of. Del did not need to know how he was feeling about her.
The second also didn't go unnoticed by Del Solus.
"How are you, Del?" Victus finally asked.
"... good." Del replied briefly, preventing the emotions from her voice. "How about you ... father?" In the end, her emotion won.
"As usual ... but today I'm pleased to meet you. Are you going to stay for dinner?" His question sounded like a plea. Del knew she would not be able to resist.
When Del was about to answer, the communicator beeped. Victus held up his index finger, hinted Del to give him a minute.
Del nodded and left the room.
The message communicator was from Commander Quentin, he had asked for Del Solus to go back to headquarters and set off with other forces to investigate the foreign object in Northern Border.
Del could not stay for dinner.
Del had thought that death would've come painfully, but when she was only greeted by darkness and silence, Del thought she would prefer the pain to be her company. When she was in pain, at least she felt something and could still hope that the pain stopped. Not like the thing that was happening now. She could not even feel anything except to think that she was going to be stuck in the silence and darkness forever.
Until finally, a hint of light and sound as soft as the wind came across the darkness.
"My little Ori ..." the voice chimed.
One dot turned into the clear and now transformed into female figure Del had known her entire life.
As a kid, Salli often brought Del to visit the temple in the center of Theia with her to pray. The shrine had a statue of the Goddess Theia, the creator of Aletheia planet, with height more than 300 feet.
And now the statue was alive, the figure stood in front of her. Not as high as 300 feet, but with a height almost equal to her, standing, smiling as if ignoring Del's stunned expression.
"Theia ...?" Del murmured.
"Yes, my little Ori?"
Del realized that now she was face to face with the creator of the planet where she had been live in. Salli totally would flip and faint on the spot if the First Protector were in her position now. Her Protector was a very devout prayer to the goddess Aletheia. Del could possibly ask for her autograph later.
"... No, little Ori. Unfortunately I cannot provide a signature ... you." Theia shook her head with a smile that made Del's heart feels warm. Did the Goddess just read her mind? Of course.
"Uhm ... is this world after death?" Del looked around. Pitch darkness has now been replaced by an endless bright white room.
"No. The world of death is a realm you're going after your spirit leaves your body. You're still in Aletheia, my little Ori. It will stay that way, and will not die without my permission." Theia explained in a soft voice. But the Goddess emphasized her last sentence with a bit stern voice.
Del nodded, still did not understand what was happening.
"We don't have time to leisure ... you have to go back to Aletheia as soon as possible before your soul is lost here ... do not worry, I will stay with you, my little Ori." Theia stepped forward, slowly approaching Del who had been frozen.
"Del Solus, the daughter of Victus Solus ... Forgive me for what I'm going to burden you with. Forgive me for what you will experience after this. Whatever happens ... remember, I will never leave you." After that, Theia put her right hand on Del's chest.
Del witnessed Theia was crying and murmuring something. Whatever it was, Del was not able to hear it and even if she had heard the last message Theia, Del would not remember it.
.
.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
