Chrysalis
Book One: Trial by Fire
By: Jessica
"Allronix" Krucek
Chapter Eleven
D'Len hovered in the doorway. "I cannot go any further, Niko. You have a last chance to leave here, and forget Chrysalis."
Niko turned. "No, Mistress. I have to do this. Not just for me, but for my friends, and for my worlds."
"Very well," D'Len said. "Then may the Gods be with you." The door closed behind her, trapping Niko in the room with the bright green light.
Niko approached the crystal. It almost seemed to call out to them with a life of its own. She could almost sense something coming from the crystal...a strange calm. Pushing aside her doubts and hesitations, Niko threw her shoulders back and resolutely walked forward....*Emptiness...* she remembered the meditation state. *Think of Emptiness...
She tried to close her eyes, and push away her curiosity, awe, and fear. Slowly, she reached up, and touched the green crystal. PAIN.... Searing pain ripped through her, and she found that she couldn't move...Images, emotions flashed before her eyes. Sounds filled her ears. Emotions, sensations, touches and smells...everything flooded around her like a tornado. Niko felt like she was going to be torn to pieces by the flood of emotions....
The shields D'Len erected were shattered, leaving her raw again, unshielded. The pain intensified. Her hands burned, and the awful images started to obtain cohesion into memory fragments. If she could have moved, she would have fallen to her knees in agony. She REMEMBERED! All the blocks were gone as her mind was ripped open once more, and exposed. The memories surged through her at once. Leaving her homeworld, the blue and white uniform she had worked to attain. The honor of being chosen...
The attack on her mind and body by the Scarecrow. Desperately trying to communicate with an alien race. Risking her life to save those in danger. Watching her friends battle alongside her. Having to attack a brainwashed Doc, watching Zachary go half-mad with mind-pain, seeing Shane shot outside the Tortuna space port tower....
More things inside her mind shattered as memories suppressed by the new shields came roaring to the surface. You could close your eyes to an awful sight, but how can you close your mind?
She had to endure this...she HAD to. Niko shivered. Now she remembered what had shattered her shields.
The Queen of the Crown....
Hearing her evil laughter. The telepathic onslaught...the keen pain...The cracks and stings of the laser whip, and the burning of poison. It all flooded back at once. Including the awful agony of the Queen's physical and psychic attack that had forced her into that intense three-way rapport...Feeling his anguish and grief, and the Queen's insane triumph, as the attack had burned its way through mind and body alike. Her mind being blown open. Feeling so much pain with no shields at all to protect her
If she could move, she'd pull away. If she could open her mouth, she'd scream. Niko fought to breathe, she didn't know how much more she could take....The sensations washed over her like a tidal wave swamping a small raft. The fever that followed...the violent tearing away of the mind-link when the Crown guards threw Shane into the Psychocrypt chamber...Oh, Gods. She had all but died...If Doc hadn't been there, she would have perished in that cell.
It surged through her, tearing her soul and mind to pieces, bringing all that she had suppressed roaring to the surface. Would she survive now?
*Emptiness...* she thought, trying not to let the currents of power push her. She had to live down her fear....her fear of losing control of her talents....The intensity burned open new paths in her mind. They ached, but Niko kept concentrating. She had to accept this change. If she pulled away now, the power inside the crystal would destroy her, but it would be so tempting to pull away, to be destroyed...
*No,* some inner part of her challenged. *What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.* Somehow that silly saying had more meaning now. She would *not* give in! She had to survive. She could not, would not just give in...The pain-storm was starting to abate. Her Thought-Sensing Gift was opened. Niko's instinct was to recoil back, and try to close it down. After all, it was this...this *curse* that put her here, that nearly destroyed her...that left her vulnerable to attack.
In a moment of clarity, Niko realized that in order to survive this, she must deal with the new Ability...the crystal was now showing her memories reminding her that the Gift hadn't been so bad...The times where it saved her life, or saved another's. It was her ability that saved the life of her teammates when Shane cancelled the self-destruct. It was that ability she had used to locate the General, and try to save Zachary and Doc...The close rapport with Shane...Opening their minds and hearts to each other as they shared more intimate moments.
The Gift was a two-edged sword. It was only a curse if she let it be a curse, if she allowed it to unbalance her. That same little inner voice once again prompted her that NOW she was thinking along the right lines...
Niko took a deep breath in astonishment. She had grown. She had left Xanadau barely past girlhood. Oh, Gods...look at what she had done in those short years. She had gone so far, saved so many. It wasn't a curse, it was growth. The challenge facing her now was that she had to learn to quit "leaning" on her implant, and let her power come from within.
*Girlhood ends...* she remembered, thinking of her reliance on the implant, and the extreme control from D'Len. *When you put away your crutches, and stand alone...*
The glow from the crystal became less and less painful. Instead, it became warmer, and more welcoming, healing.... Niko's confidence was coming back. She could start to sense the world outside the chamber again. Her Gifts were restored...ALL of them! And she could remember what happened to her without the painful clarity she had when first awakening.
*It's like I had a fever...and now, it's broken and faded away. I'm in control of myself now.*She could move again. Instead of a scream, Niko laughed with sheer joy. It was like being reborn. The possibility of total change. Niko felt strong now. She no longer hid from herself, or was relying on some sort of implant. What she was now was entirely of her own making. Niko gasped and fell to the floor of the Vault. She was blinded with a vision.
She saw...no, she heard...no, she *felt* a presence, calling out. She could see it dimly...She was familiar with FarSight, but not THIS! Three Slaverlords emerged from the white light. Niko felt strangely calm - somehow sensed she had nothing to fear from them. Their leader reached up, and pulled down the white hood that obscured its face. The presence was another woman. A human woman with mouse-brown hair and kind blue eyes set in a heart-shaped face. Niko didn't recall knowing her, but somehow, she was familiar.
*Please...Don't be afraid.* Niko was still frightened, but the woman had a gentle, almost motherly smile.
*I... know you, don't I?* Niko asked, recognition tingling at the back of her mind.
*In a way,* the woman answered. *I don't want to harm you. Please, I can't talk to you much longer. Zachary is dying.*
Niko straightened, and concentrated on Emptiness. Her questioning thoughts would only get into the way right now. Niko was puzzled. *Zachary? He's alive?*
*Yes, and he is relatively safe, physically.* the woman sent. *But inside, he's dying. The Queen is taking his life and his mind in a way more cruel than the Psychocrypt.*
*What can I do?* Niko said, *And am I ready?*
*I only know that you are his best hope, and the best hope for all your people.*
*But, how? I'm just one person.* Niko was truly puzzled.
*You are one person who has touched many. I think it's time you reminded some of that. You can do what I can't. My link to the Queen can only cause him more harm. As his friend, you have the strength.*
Realization dawned on Niko....she *knew* who she was talking to now! *You're Zachary's wife...You're Eliza!*
Eliza nodded. *Yes. Will you help my husband?*
This realization gave Niko new strength, maybe there WAS a way to defeat the Queen's Psychocrypt. If Eliza had held on to herself for two years, maybe there was a chance...Niko reached out and took the woman's hands. *I will. I promise. Tell me how.*
*The way is up to you.* The woman said. *She can enslave us, but not control us.*
*Thank you.* Niko told her. *I'll remember that. I...I think I'm ready now.*
*Then, there is nothing more. Best of luck, Ranger,* Eliza said.
She gestured to the other two Slaverlords, and replaced her hood. She left with the Slaverlord on the right. The Slaverlord on the left stayed behind, then removed its hood.
Niko could hardly believe her eyes. *Shane?*
*I led them here,* he answered. *Through the crystal.*
*Shane. Oh, there's so much I want to say.*
*It can wait until I'm rescued, babe,* he said with a wry smile. *The Queen will know when we've blocked her out.* Niko could swear that she could feel his hand lightly caressing her cheek...
*I won't let you down.* she sent. *I love you.*
*I know,* he answered. *Good-bye, Niko. *
What more could she say? For now...
The image faded away gradually, going from bright light to complete darkness...
Niko was pulled back to herself with a start. Opening her hand revealed that a small, green shard had broken off the crystal, and rested in her hand. When Niko was finally able to stand, she walked out of the Vault of Change. There were only a few preparations to make. The wounds (both inside and out) were still tender, and the preparations would give her the time to heal.
********
"And if there is no further business for the Circle..." Lannon said, waving his gavel.
There was silence as he picked up his gavel, ready to slam it down and conclude the last Council session for this Season. There was a heavy thunk, like the sound of a bolt being dislodged. The great wooden door creaked open, and Niko strode through.
She was dressed in formal, yet simple, attire. A golden-yellow tunic belted across her waist, and matching leggings. A small green crystal around her neck completed the outfit. Several sets of eyes went wide as they saw the green shard. The word "Chrysalis" was murmured in surprised and hushed whispers.
"Scholars, Mages," she said formally. "May I petition the Circle?"
Lannon nodded nervously. "Of course, Niko Dal'Ariel. What is your request?"
"I formally request to leave Xanadau."
Sjen's comeback was bitter. "You will not leave the planet, only to endanger us all."
Lannon recovered his bearings. "You chose to go outside our society. You must stay here. Don't blame us for preventing your suicide."
"I'm not blaming this council for anything, Lannon," Niko said acidly. "Except for being so thoughtless as to release Jesset Dal'Kest onto an unknowing galaxy."
Several shocked gasps and a flurry of mutterings filled the chamber. Lannon banged his gavel. "Quiet!" He stared down Niko. "What the rest of the galaxy becomes is not our concern."
Niko walked up to Lannon, and stared him in the face. "You exiled Jesset - you allowed her to become the Queen of the Crowns, and you allow her to do this."
Niko pulled down the shoulder on her tunic, revealing an angry set of welts and burns. The Council gasped and pulled back reflectively. "Look at these!" she cried. "This was *child's play* to Jesset's torturer, just as the wounds in my mind were child's play to her. I'll have to live with some of these the rest of my life. I've seen Jesset's atrocities first-hand. I've seen worlds brutalized, and entire races of sentients she's hunted to the point of near-extinction."
"Think first of your own people," Sjen admonished.
Niko turned to her, eyes blazing. "I am human, and I am also a Galaxy Ranger. I took an oath to uphold the laws the League, and to protect ALL life."
"The outside world can tear itself apart with its own self-serving wars. We were formed as a Sanctuary for the innocent."
"I'm afraid," said Niko, "that ignorance is not innocence. I'm not the innocent girl who left Xanadau six years ago. I've lived through things many of you only can read about. I have experience to supplant my intellect, and my experience tells me that Jesset poses a danger to all of the galaxy, Xanadau included."
"We cannot let outsiders know of our existence," Lannon argued, obviously flustered.
"Outsiders already know." Niko pressed her case further. "An outsider, my captain and friend Zachary, aided us in our fight against the MegaMind. If I recall, Lannon, you were the one who held him in the air. If it weren't for his help, this council and world wouldn't be standing!"
Several nervous glances flashed around the Council, as they realized the truth in Niko's words. Her voice dropped. "Jesset has abused him almost constantly for two years. She's invaded his mind on many occasions, and holds the soul of his life-mate hostage. He's languishing in the her prison as we speak. Even in exile, and with much of her power gone, she still laughs in the face of our world's mission and laws."
"We cannot risk our safety," Sjen said, offering the last voice of opposition..
"If the Queen really wanted to, she would find Xanadu, cloaked or not. I have no intention of staying, even though I realize BETA will be defeated without help," Niko said. "While I love my world, I can't sit here in comfort and watch my people be destroyed."
The door on the far wall opened, and D'Len almost glided into the room. She was dressed formally. Walking over to Niko's side, she looked up at the council. "I side with Adept Niko," D'Len proclaimed.
Ariel stood, and walked over to Niko's side as well. "As do I."
"Xanadau was formed for a purpose," D'Len proclaimed. "As an eye on the universe, and a place to shelter the wounded. In our zeal to cover our error we have lost sight of that purpose."
D'Len's eyes went to Niko, but she was not harsh, or inscrutable. Her ancient eyes were sympathetic. Niko didn't quite know how to read this change in D'Len, but she was honored by it.
"Adept Niko showed great courage leaving our world so young, and risking so much in the service of others. Many of us have decided to shelter ourselves from the consequences of our actions by not venturing from Paradise. We have much to learn from this young set of eyes."
The elder's eyes turned to Ariel. "Mistress Ariel, you have trained her well."
Ariel nodded respectfully.
"And she is correct. If nothing, this Circle owes a debt to Zachary the Outsider. If Adept Niko wishes to fight among her people, then I see no reason to stop her."
"And," said Niko. "I ask others to come with me. My people aren't prepared for what Jesset's sorcery will throw at them. Maybe it's time for some sorcery of our own."
Lannon rose from his seat. "I will go."
"As will I," said Master Adept Jadus.
"I'll go as well," Scholar-Adept Lini volunteered.
At the end of the council session, thirteen members of the Circle of Thought had agreed to accompany Niko. In less than an hour, they were making a Magic Gate to teleport them to Commander Walsh.
********
"How many hours until Crown space, Ensign?"
"Five hours, thirteen minutes," the young Kiwi at the helm answered.
Five hours...not very much time left...*God, whichever the way the battle goes, let us have our best chance.*
"What the?!" the human communications officer said. He checked the panel again, then let out a whoop. "Commander!"
"What?" Walsh said, whipping around in his seat.
"The cavalry just arrived. I'm picking up a Traash fleet thirty clicks and closing. They're sending out an offer of assistance."
"But we didn't contact the Traash," said Walsh, stunned. "Who could have --?"
There was a crackling of lightning on the bridge, and something like a gate opened before him. Walsh readied his wand and was about to fire when something...no *someone* stepped through the portal. He gasped and blinked in utter shock. One of his Rangers was alive, well, and came with reinforcements.
"Niko? But Zach told me..."
"Commander, we don't have much time. We have a plan against the Queen of
the Crown, but it involves getting all the ship captains here for a
briefing."
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