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*Maybe they were stronger than other Progenitors while they were still alive?* Alyssa suggested, staring at the barbed tentacles lashing from its many mouths.
John shook his head. *Rahn said they always get worn down in protracted wars before they're defeated. They must all be pretty weak by the time they're killed.*
Alyssa considered that for a moment. *What about their strength at their peak? Didn't Mael'nerak say 'they've sent their strongest'?*
*Yeah... my father,* John muttered. *He said the same thing when he was bragging about how powerful he used to be. Rahn also said that at one time, Mael'nerak used to be stronger than he was.*
With a shiver of revulsion, Tashana said in a hushed voice, *So that... thing... could actually be Mael'nerak?*
John watched the colossal leviathan lurching through the mists and felt a surge of pity for Tashana's great ancestor. Mael'nerak might have started life as a cruel Progenitor tyrant, but the millennia spent under the protection of the Shroud had given him the opportunity to choose a new path. He'd started to create life rather than destroy it, ultimately becoming the creator of the Trankarans, the Ashanath, the Drakkar, and even humanity. Mael'nerak eventually went on to valiantly sacrifice himself to protect his creations... and Valada, his beloved Maliri matriarch.
It saddened John to think of that noble hero meeting such an ignoble end, as a hideously deformed beast in Xar'aziuth's shambling armies.
*John, watch out!* Tashana exclaimed in alarm. *Something's coming!*
He looked out towards the horizon, searching for whatever had frightened the Maliri. He spotted a huge shape rushing towards them, then smiled as he recognised the lofty spires of the magnificent Kyth'faren fortress. It was a peculiarity of the Astral Plane that objects appeared to be moving towards you, when you were actually travelling towards your destination.
*Relax, honey... that's the Kyth'faren sanctuary,* he said, his calm tone putting her at ease.
They soared towards the ancient castle, flying higher as they approached the pale stonework buttresses that formed the outer wall. John brought them over the parapet, where they landed safely on the battlements of the citadel.
Alyssa released his hand and crouched down, running her gauntlets over the smooth, perfectly chiselled fortifications. *It's just like my fortress in the pocket plane,* she said quietly, her eyes wide with a mixture of apprehension and wonder.
*Yeah, I recognised it too.* John squatted down beside her to study the masonry. *What made you choose to build your castle using these exact same blocks?*
*I... don't know,* she murmured, gazing away into the distance. *It was the first structure that came to mind. I didn't even give it any conscious thought... I just started building.*
Tashana stood next to them, her fascinated gaze sweeping over the fortress. *Rahn'hagon researched these Kyth'faren sanctuaries before creating John, then John created Athena to guide you,* she said, turning to look down at Alyssa.
Alyssa rose to her feet and nodded. *So the design originated here and was passed on to me.*
*Let's see what else we can find!* Tashana said, her eyes glinting with excitement. *Maybe Rahn missed something!*
John smiled at the eager Maliri and set off towards a towering door that led into the central keep. *Alright then, follow me. It's this way to the Kyth'faren archives...*
- COMMENTS
Anonymous6 days agoBecause you are constantly adding new women to the crew the only thing John is now good for is sex.
And why the soft attitude towards Alyssa? Just dump her as matriarch, she still didn’t talk to Sakura about the task and if she could do anything to help her. And she also didn’t ask Sakura why she didn’t trust Alyssa enough to share het feelings with her. Only Rachel tried but was ordered not to by Alyssa.
Besides that, she didn’t talk to Lynette either. She is starting to behave like a Maliri bitch, holding John’s leach. Why does he accepts her behavior??
Anonymousabout 2 months agoWhen the brimordians installed the kill switch on the shield generator it was a big betrayal. Then to send the codes to the invading Kintark was even worse. That had a chance ( if the crew didnt find it in like three seconds) to cost them not only the battle of terra, but also their lives. John is like a lot of us. There is no peace for those that hurt or try to hurt our family.
I understand talking doesn't cost anything, but talking to the people that tried to kill you? ok to be honest the people that set you up to be killed by others. Diplomacy is not even in the realm of thought.
I also agree that John unless further provoked is not going to commit genocide on them. Maybe just there deep pool?
Just my opinion,
Raven
FVLL3N2 months agoBecause they tried to kill John and the girls. John was gonna kill the Deep Lord at any rate due to that and he probably see who else needs purging while there. I highly doubt he is about to commit genocide
Anonymous4 months agoI'm puzzled that John and all the girls seem to have a huge blind spot when it comes to handling the Brimorians. No one has suggested talking to them. Diplomacy is, after all, just warfare through other means. (Paraphrasing Clausewitz) It can do no harm to speak to the Brimorians, and it might just put the fear of God into them since they've sent their entire fleet into dragon territory and a threat to bomb a few of their planets into rubble as reprisals for not calling off their invasion might do a lot of persuading. Especially notifying them that some planets they just took had been ceded to humanity as reparations, and that the T-Fed would look unfavorably on the Brimorians for taking what didn't belong to them, might give them pause.
And yeah, I know that the Brimorians just spanked a human fleet, and just took back the *mumble* shoals that they had lost earlier to humanity, so they aren't feeling too afraid of humanity right now. But John can easily point out that he isn't exactly a representative of only humanity right now, and that his one ship managed to destroy the bulk of the dragon invasion fleet. And threaten to do the same to the Brimorians if they don't back down. And sure, it might not work. But again, talking doesn't cost anything, and not even considering the tactic seems odd to me.
