Shadows of the Past

CHAPTER 4

Shadows of the Past

The ruins of Solara Prime loomed in the distance, its towering spires silhouetted against the dying sun. Once a bustling metropolis, it was now a ghost city buried deep within the desolate expanse of The Ruined Archology. A mountain of smoking debris littered the wasteland as they journeyed across, smoke bellowed from the crumbling buildings, and life was barely visible as everything seemed to have been struck by the paralyzing eyes of Medusa, just dead and almost looking hostile. The ruins were a graveyard of towering spires and shattered domes, a haunting reminder of a bygone era. Rusted vehicles and broken machines littered the streets, their purposes long forgotten.

The trio approached cautiously, navigating the maze of rubble and twisted metal that marked the city’s outskirts. Radon and Rylis were in the front defense position, as they moved cautiously through the city. Karys was lacking behind, scouring the area and avoiding open spaces where Eidolon sentries might patrol.

The trio approached cautiously, navigating the maze of rubble and twisted metal that marked the city’s outskirts. Radon and Rylis were in the front defense position, as they moved cautiously through the city. Karys was lagging behind, scouring the area and avoiding open spaces where Eidolon sentries might patrol. The air was heavy with the scent of decay and ozone, a reminder of the countless battles that had been fought here. As they moved deeper into the ruins, the air grew thick with tension. They delved deeper into the cacophony of destroyed sanctuaries and overgrown grass in abandoned parks. Every shadow seemed alive, every sound a potential threat.

Radon couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. His anxiety grew more vigorous with every gust of wind, that swept away leaves, or blew against plastic and debris. He was feeling a bit of tension, as he twitched at the sound of rumbling rocks, the sound of unstable buildings crumbling as the shockwaves of their movements destabilized the terrain. Radon’s mind drifted to his father, a legendary warrior who had once walked these very streets. "Father, would you approve of the path I've chosen?" he wondered, his heart heavy with the weight of legacy. His suspicions were confirmed when a group of Eidolon sentries descended upon them, their sleek, metallic forms gleaming in the dim light.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Karys muttered, her cybernetic arm twitching slightly. The twitch was more than a mechanical malfunction; it was a reminder of her past battles and sacrifices.

“Stay focused,” Rylis said, his voice calm but firm. “We’re not alone here.” Rylis’s eyes scanned the ruins, memories of fallen comrades flooding his mind.

Radon’s gaze flicked to a nearby alley as movement caught his eye. A sleek, metallic form emerged—a sentry of the Eidolon Rite, its glowing eyes scanning the area. "Why do they never give up?" he thought, frustration boiling within him.

“Down!” Radon hissed, pulling Karys and Rylis into cover.

The sentry moved with mechanical precision, its footsteps echoing through the ruins. Radon held his breath, his core processor humming faintly as he prepared to engage if necessary. The tension was palpable, the silence deafening.

Suddenly, the sentry’s head snapped toward their hiding spot.

“Run!” Rylis shouted, pulling Radon toward a nearby alley. "Not again, we can't keep doing this," Rylis thought, his mind racing for a solution.

“Damn it! they’re onto us,” Karys shouted, firing her weapon at the machine. Her pulse rifle hummed as it unleashed a torrent of energy, the recoil sending a jolt up her cybernetic arm.

The chase was harrowing. Radon’s body screamed in protest as he pushed his failing limbs to their limits. The Eidolon sentries were relentless, their mechanical precision unmatched. The shot distracted the sentry long enough for them to make a break for it, weaving through the ruins as more sentries joined the pursuit.

Finally, the pair managed to lose their pursuers in the labyrinth of ruins. They finally found refuge as they collapsed in the shadow of a crumbling tower. Against the marble walls of a building that resembled the remains of what used to be a network tower that brought central communication throughout the whole commercial region, gasping for breath, as the sentries moved past.

Rylis turned to Radon. “We can’t keep running. We need to reach that signal before they find us again.”

In the meantime, Radon’s body screamed in protest as his failing processor struggled to keep up, he was leaking from the side, and oil seemed to be gushing out from his bionic calf bone, which slowed him down. Karys pulled him over as they got up and hurriedly stumbled along the shadow of the building. Struggling a bit, before heading on after a little raffle with Radon’s limping weight. Her grip firm despite her own exhaustion.

“This is insane,” Rylis panted, frustrated and battered by exhaustion. “We’ll never reach the signal at this rate.”

“We don’t have a choice,” Radon replied, his voice grim. “If we turn back now, it’s over.”

Radon nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about his father, about the battles he had fought and the legacy he had left behind. Was Radon doomed to the same fate?

As they pressed on, the ruins seemed to whisper their secrets. Ancient murals and forgotten relics told tales of a once-thriving civilization. The trio’s determination was fueled by the echoes of the past, each step a defiance against the shadows that threatened to engulf them.

Songs Of the Fallen

The trio pressed on, their breaths coming in heavy gasps as they navigated the treacherous ruins of Solara Prime. The remnants of the once-glorious city loomed around them, whispering tales of past grandeur and impending doom.

Radon struggled to keep up, his bionic calf leaking oil with every step. He glanced down at the gushing fluid, knowing that his condition was worsening. Karys, sensing his distress, tightened her grip on his arm. Her cybernetic arm, a symbol of resilience, gave him a brief moment of comfort.

Rylis led the way, his keen eyes scanning for any signs of movement. The ruins were a labyrinth, each turn more foreboding than the last. The trio moved with purpose, driven by the urgent need to reach the signal before the Eidolon sentries found them again.

As they rounded a corner, a sudden noise echoed through the air. Radon’s heart raced as he peered into the shadows, his eyes straining to see the source of the sound. The tension was palpable, each second stretching into an eternity.

A faint whisper reached their ears, carried by the wind. It was a voice, faint and ghostly, speaking in an ancient tongue. Radon froze, trying to decipher the words. “Did you hear that?” he whispered; his voice barely audible.

Karys nodded, her eyes wide with fear. “It’s the spirits of the fallen,” she said, her voice trembling. “They haunt this place, trapped between worlds.”

Rylis tightened their grip on their weapon, their resolve unwavering. “We can’t let fear control us,” they said firmly. “We need to stay focused and keep moving.”

They entered a particular section in the journey through the ruins, where they found themselves embarking upon a land of Chaos and destruction. It was a place seismic activity, where echoes of past battles lingered like a heavy fog, a desolate battlefield where old soldiers had fought bravely and died with honor. The ground itself was littered with remnants of war—scorched earth, twisted metal, and the silent witnesses of countless fallen warriors, barring scars of the old and memories of the tainted.

As they moved deeper into this grim landscape, Radon began to hear the faint, haunting strains of "The Song of the Fallen." The melody was delicate, yet it pierced through the chaos like a blade. His mind filled with visions of ghostly figures and long-forgotten battles. It was as if the souls of the fallen were reaching out to him, their whispers urging him to succumb to despair.

"Karys, do you hear that?" Radon asked, his voice trembling.

Karys nodded, her eyes scanning the area warily. "Yes, it's... unsettling. Stay close."

Rylis, ever the sceptic one, scoffed. "It's just the wind playing tricks on you. Focus on the mission."

The Corpse’s Hand

As they navigated the shifting trails, Radon’s journey takes a harrowing turn when a robotic corpse’s hand bursts from the ground and grabs his foot. The ground suddenly erupted, and the robotic hand shot up, grabbing Radon’s foot.

A luminous crimson light engulfs his entire body, as a red electrocution surges through his body, causing him to scream in agony. He shifts upward and steadily tries to twist his leg, almost illegible to shoot as he is still being held by Karys. His vision blurs, and every muscle tensed as he struggles to free himself. The pain is unbearable, but the anger fuels his determination.

The red electrocution surged through him like a lightning bolt, making him scream out in pain, and almost hurting Karys’s left ribcage in the process. As Radon fights to twist his leg free, Karys holds onto him, her grip providing a lifeline amidst the chaos.

His bionics flicker with unstable energy, and he’s unable to utilize his strength. The mocking voice of Rylis cuts through the pain, taunting Radon for his perceived weakness. Rylis’ remarks sting, but they also ignite a spark of defiance within Radon.

Radon gritted his teeth, trying to twist his leg free. The pain was unbearable, but Karys held onto him, her grip steady and reassuring. Rylis’ mocking words stung, but Radon’s anger fueled his determination to escape.

“Damn it, Radon! Use your bionics!” Rylis shouted, swearing in Mandarin languages as he watched Radon struggle. “You’re useless!

Rylis shouts out in a parody of mock and pity, asking Radon why he can’t use his bionics and strength to disarm a harmless arm. Almost making funny remarks before shooting through the damned thing.

Karys aimed her weapon at a metallic sheet next to the hand, and purposely fired two sequences of shots that ricochet in Rylis’s direction.

“What Are You Doing Woman!” Rylis barked out at Karys. “Are you trying to corpsilate me as well”

“Quit being a Brat, Rylis...” Karys chuckled fixing her periscope, as if she fired in that direction by mistake.

With a final surge of strength, Karys aims and shoots the robotic hand, shattering it into pieces. Radon’s leg is freed, but the ordeal leaves him physically and mentally drained. He limps forward, each step a reminder of the battle within himself as much as the external threats they face. This whole experience left him shaken and exhausted as he now lost a lot of fluids. He limped forward to grab his balance from falling, each step a painful reminder of their dire situation.

“Leave Radon Alone Ironman!” Karys implied. “You couldn’t even get rid of those two sentries earlier on” Karys stirred a last moment of resolve to add a calm sincerity, as a form of an apology to Rylis, for almost giving him a haircut, unintentionally.

The Impact of

“The Song of the Fallen”

on Radon

Radon’s physical pain is intensified by the haunting melodies he hears in the faint but illusive song of wondering souls, spirits lost to war and turmoil. He Is currently hurt and critically injured, but his mind continues to get flashes of static images and symbol filled illusions that are too vivid to ignore.

“The Song of the Fallen” continues in the background as it envelops the entire compound. Each note triggers vivid illusions, conjuring up memories of fallen comrades and battles long past. The lyrics, laced with sorrow and despair, echo in his mind, creating a maze of confusion and fear. He constantly hears whispers of forgotten promises and sees fleeting images of ghostly figures urging him to surrender to the darkness.

“Move on, don’t be scared by these wondering souls” Radon growled, as if talking to himself.

“EXCUSE ME!” Karys exclaimed. “Chief? I didn’t quite get that…”

But the song continued to weave its spell, and Radon found himself drawn to it. He tries to push through the pain and disorientation, but he cannot seem to shake off whatever that currently had a hold on him. Fixating his eyes upon a singular line as if being summoned someone, or something.

Radon started following a wrong trail, after recalibrating his GPS into the coordinates that he heard from “The Song of The Fallen,” totally being in disarray, and in an unsuspecting trance while moving in limbo.

“Where’s He Going?” Rylis asked Karys, widening his eyes and raising his shoulders.

The trance-like state he entered, made him oblivious to the dangers around him, leading him to follow a trail that seems to disappear and reappear like a mirage. He could no longer feel any pain in his dying leg and was now walking upright as if nothing happened to him.

Speaking in total gibberish and briefly utilizing phrases in “Serpent’s Tongue” that can be heard by Rylis, the team follows behind him, as if they found strength amidst the carnage. He continues to utter the coordinates that seemed to sing to him from the depths of his mind. The team followed through, entering a dense unpopulated compartment building, along with Radon leading them on, unaware.

This building seemed to have faced an intense amount of fire, and barrel shots judging from how ruined it was. It looked like an entire school of “Big 5” animals from a nearby Zoo, came running through it from the back and out in the front. It was dilapidated and had a huge hole in the front like “Hailey’s Comet” came home to visit.

The team didn’t know what they were getting themselves into ,and they were totally unaware of the trap that lay ahead, as they continued on.

Awakening

From The Trance

Inside the eerie, abandoned building, Radon’s trance-like state grew more pronounced. It continues to cloud his judgment. The glyphs on the walls seem to dance and shift before his eyes, their meanings elusive and mysterious, with each symbol being a link to the spectral verses of “The Song of the Fallen.” Karys noticed his vacant stare and the way he moved as if guided by an unseen force. She follows closely, her concern growing with each passing moment. She wanted to hear what he was saying, recording some of it with the biometric system on her armor, as she followed the way he moved, “zig-zagging" into each corridor like he had been there before. As if he was determined to find something, something unknown, maybe something dark and mysterious.

Desperation drives Karys to act. She grabs Radon’s face, her eyes searching his soul, for any sign of recognition, as his eyes now pale and white, like he was spat on by an indigenous viper.

“Ray...Ray…” Karys called out, as if summoning him from the deep corridors of his soul. “Ray… Ray…” she whispers, her voice trembling, trying hard not to lose his gaze as she stares deep into his eyes. She leans in and kisses him, a desperate attempt to break the spell, the gesture both tender and urgent.

“Snap out of it man, you’re scaring me...” Karys says, after closing in on him reading glyphs on the wall, with the palm of his hand, as if deciphering a lost language.

The second kiss broke the spell, Radon blinks, with the trance lifting slowly as he looked at Karys. He finally awakens, after Karys calls his personal name, and softly kisses him again on the lips. Radon blinks again for the second time and his eyes changed from being white, to a blackened sclera. Before blinking again for the third time, he said a certain phrase that was then captured by Karys’s sound recognition system in her biometric analysis on her forearm that was part of her armor. His original eye color returned, appearing brighter and glistening like never before.

Radon takes a shaky breath, the trance dissipating like morning mist. He looks at Karys, the fog of confusion lifting from his mind. The pain in his leg returns with a vengeance, grounding him in reality, but he welcomes it—it’s real, it’s grounding him back into life after all, keeping him from slipping out of his senses.

“Thank you,” he murmured, squeezing her hand. He could feel pain again, the sensation in his leg returned, and the bond between them strengthened. Despite the daunting journey ahead, there was warmth in the air around them, they felt a flicker of hope, and they were more grateful for each other’s presence than ever before.

It seems like Radon was indeed in a trance after all, but Karys only realized it later on during the search within the compartment. They were brought to a conspicuous location by the new GPS directions, and right there, she understood what was going on with his Chief. She saw him walking on deadly, as if he was haunting the area, not feeling anything at all on his injured leg. After all, the incident that occurred earlier on, with the robotic corpse’s hand, did something to him that she cannot understand or come to terms with.

The haunting melodies of "The Song of the Fallen" continued to linger in Radon’s mind, but he was determined to push through. They may haunt him, but they also remind him of the courage and love that keep him fighting. With Karys and Rylis by his side, he knew they could face whatever challenges lay ahead. Together, they would find a way to honor the fallen and fight for a future free from the shadows of the past.