Chapter 42

Haledon listened as the chirps of the Astralaceaes quickened, and the cicadas within the room grew louder. Swivelling his head around the Nexus, he looked to his Guild and stared at their firm stance as they observed the visuals within their helmets. He adjusted his gaze outward, watching as the Mecharrion Scouts finished their transformation before beginning their slow movement toward the Druid fleet. And there, filling the void in their wake, the oppressive Comet loomed.

"Sparrow?" Haledon heard a nervous Witch-Hazel ask.

"I know. It shouldn't be here." Sparrow stepped forward and gripped Haledon by the SOIL. Her helmet disappeared, revealing her worried eyes to him. They pierced his visor, matching his gaze as she continued. "Haledon, your design is sufficient. Take your Guild to the edge of the pod and be prepared to seal the root."

"Seal the root?" Haledon panicked. "The other Druids—"

"Hold up," Mek-Tek interrupted, leaping from Spark to Haledon before climbing his shoulder and taking a stand. Mek-Tek pointed to Sparrow and chirped loudly. "I need my Mecharrion spud in the Hilum! I will not sacrifice that tuber of bioaccumulated data."

Haledon watched Sparrow huff in disagreement, but the agitated Mek-Tek only chirped louder.

"You needed me to come out here—into the void—to research the Mecharrion! Let me fill my niche, Sparrow."

A new sound filled the room as Birchbark grew into a column of flowers that quickly merged into the Astralaceaes. The cicadas chirped at a faster, higher pitch with a sharp buzz at the end.

"Incoming gravitational anomalies," Birchbark warned as a chill rushed down Haledon's spine.

Focusing back on the mirage in his helmet, Haledon watched as six small stars burned through the darkness of space. Approaching the fleet, they slowly disappeared as the black hole within consumed the fuel.

The first two stars quickly disappeared, detonating at the fleet's rear with a flash of blinding light. Haledon felt the gravitational wave wash over the Astralaceaes, rocking it gently.

The second set of suns approached a nearby Astralaceaes. But before the fuel could be fully consumed, an adjacent Megacolides moved into position and absorbed the hit. Where the twin suns had collided, a pair of explosions, not as bright as the first, caused Haledon to blink his eyes as he waited for the third weapon to detonate.

As an invisible hand lifted him, Haledon felt a sudden tug of gravity towards the top of the room. His body lifted, with his stomach reaching into his chest, and his feet leaving the floor. Then the sensation passed as soon as it arrived, and his SOIL stepped again to the floral mat below.

"What was that?" Haledon asked as he looked around the room.

"The external decomposers were adapted with a gravorepulsive carapace," Birchbark informed with an exhale. "Allowing them to repulse the Mecharrion singularity weapons safely away from our hull."

"That's some defence mechanism," Witch-Hazel remarked, looking to Mek-Tek. "We should hurry to the Hilum and back. I don't think that trick will work twice."

Haledon looked through his visor again and observed the carnage following the Mecharrion's first assault. The debris of two Megacolides and one Astra drifted through space after the first explosion. Only the one Megacolides had been destroyed with the second detonation, saving the Astralaceaes it had protected.

Looking beyond the Scouts, the dark of space was illuminated by sparks erupting across the Mecharrion Comet's bell. They danced along the surface like flashes of lightning against a churning ocean of metal. Haledon observed closely as the sap built up over half of his visor, pushing the limits of his mirage. And as he inspected the surface, watching the lightning flashes begin to slow, he witnessed a final strike.

Haledon had been focusing on a long metal fork that emerged from the Comet before a white light drew his attention to its base. He watched as the structure produced an arc of light before jettisoning a metallic sphere towards the Astralaceaes fleet.

"Haledon," The voice of Gazeas snapped him from his trance. He observed the group standing at the edge of the Nexus's grass veil as Gazeas continued. "We have to go now."

Haledon nodded and, without question, followed her through the grass and into the corridor.

"Birchbark, why didn't you transport us?" Haledon asked, inspecting the space curiously.

"All nutrient lines are flowing towards the Hypogeal Nexus to aid in biomodification," Birchbark explained as the coolness reached Haledon's mind. "Outgoing nutrient flows are blocked."

"Looks like we're on foot," Spark announced as she looked towards the Hilum and the hundreds of Druids that had begun to flow through the taproot into the Hypogeal Nexus pod. "This is quite the herd..."

Instantly, a platform grew before the group, revealing root-woven steps that elevated them above the crowd. From the corridor's ceiling, vines began to dangle, creating hanging lily pads every few feet.

"I have created a path for you," Birchbark announced. "Now hurry. I have detected metalloids jettisoned from the Mecharrion Comet on a collision course with our hull."

"Great, space junk," Witch-Hazel muttered as they spun their staff. Haledon watched as the rigid bark turned into whipping roots and disappeared into their body. "Let's move, Asteraceae."

Following the sprinting Witch-Hazel, as they gracefully left from pad to pad, the Asteraceae Guild rushed above the compacted corridor towards the front of the pod. Astralaceaes Druids looked up from the cramped passage with confused expressions and outstretched hands as the Guild raced overhead. They whimpered and cried, frightened for their lives as they reached up at the passing Druids.

"Seral Druid Haledon!" Haledon could hear someone call out. "Seral Druid Gazeas!" Another voice cried. "Help us!" "What's happening?" "Where are you going? The Astralaceaes said to stay here!"

Ignoring the cries, the Guild ran as fast as their adrenaline could push them and quickly neared the edge of the pod. As he approached the last lilypads, Haledon readied himself to launch forward. But before he did, the Astralaceaes began to shake, and screams filled the halls.

"Impact," Birchbark announced. "Brace for—"

Another quake shook the ship, followed by a second and third.

Missing the lily pad before him, Haledon tumbled to the ground. He instinctively braced himself to impact the floor, but instead experienced a uniquely familiar sensation. Haledon suddenly felt his body being ripped up toward the ceiling. Terrified cries filled the windswept taproot as a hole opened in the canopy, and the emptiness of space hungrily consumed the unprepared Druids.

With a flourish of his hands, Haledon felt his SOIL reach out with supporting vines. They connected to the walls and floor, tethering him in place as the vacuum gripped at his chest, angrily pulling him towards the void. He watched as several Druids he had grown up with were pulled into space, their bodies disappearing into the darkness. Instinctively reaching for them, he tried to grab hold of their SOIL but missed their foliage and had to watch them vanish from view.

The hole vined over quickly, sap hardening and sealing the area again. And as it closed, Haledon promptly fell to the floor as cries and screams echoed around him.

"Everyone here?" Spark asked excitedly, the near-death experience seeming to elevate her mood. "Haledon?"

"Here," Haledon groaned and heard the rest of the Guild calling out as he pushed himself up. The group quickly gathered away from where the tear had opened up and examined each other closely.

Haledon, content with his friends' safety, quickly observed the taproot. Initially looking for survivors, his gaze stopped at a hovering silver sphere the size of the first massive arbornaut he had encountered. Glancing back at him from the matte surface was the distorted image of himself.

Haledon could hear the sound of muted footsteps approaching through the cacophony of cries and screams as a dozen Sequoia Druids encircled the orb. They stood with their weapons drawn and hands ready to trace the Druidic runes.

"We're almost there," Mek-Tek announced as he examined the orb. "We should..."

His words became drawn out as the object began to twist and transform. The Sequoia Druids shouted and fired their crossbows. Haledon watched as the metal bolts, laden with fibrous roots, impacted the outer plate and erupted in a twisted web of vines that quickly hardened into a dense root ball. 

The splintering of bark disrupted the brief silence as an inverted pyramid-shaped head with half a dozen rubies for eyes on each face emerged, breaking through the vines with ease. As the head spun and examined the space, a pair of thin, spindly arms emerged, flexing chitinous fingers. Finally, eight legs broke through the vines, reaching down to the floor and supporting the previously hovering form.

With a shake of its massive body, Haledon watched as the Mecharrion absorbed the metal bolts and plant material that had previously attempted to bind it.

An earsplitting metallic shriek echoed through the corridor as the legs twitched and slammed the body down to the ground. The sound intensified, bringing the Sequoia Druids to their knees, and with a sudden blast of energy, the Druids screamed before vanishing into a cloud of pallid mist. The plants around the Mecharrion began to wilt and die, creating a rapidly expanding sphere of putrefaction.

"Oh, vastum!" Haledon cried out as he turned to his companions.

Reaching out, he placed a hand on Witch-Hazel. Raising the opposite hand towards the Mecharrion, he released a vine from his wrist that wove a tangled web between its numerous legs. Bellowing another metallic whine, the creature turned its attention toward the group and consumed the foliage into its form.

"Run!" Haledon yelled and began to race away.

"Why would you do that?" Gazeas screamed at him in panicked pursuit.

"We can't have it reaching the Hypogeal Nexus."

"So you bring it to us?"

"Do you have a better idea?" Haledon asked frantically as he slowed and looked behind. "Is it even following us?"

He watched as the hulking form of the Mecharrion marched forward. Its many legs viciously reached out with every step, clawing at the walls as it raced after the Guild.

"Run faster!" Haledon yelled as he turned back around, willing himself to run as fast as possible.

A group of Druids stepped from a lateral root in front of the Guild, locking eyes with them as they ran past.

"Hide, everyone, hide!" Gazeas pleaded as she passed the group and pointed back. "Mecharrion."

Haledon looked back and watched as the fearful Astralaceaes Druids stared ahead at the approaching Mecharrion before disappearing back into their lateral root. Returning his gaze ahead, towards the front of the pod, he saw a dozen more Sequoia Druids approaching with their weapons drawn. They levelled their crossbows and fired as the Asteraceae Guild rushed past.

Unable to help himself, Haledon watched the bolts sinking into the beast's side. The Mecharrion reached out an arm with a shriek, and a pale white cloud consumed the passage like a tidal wave. The screams of the Druids erupted and quieted, replaced with the sound of choking and final gasps. The foliage withered and rotted ahead of the cloud as it raced to catch up with the Guild.

"Biocides," Mek-Tek called out, and Haledon saw the Druid slapping Spark's Helmet. "Biocides!"

The metallic screech cried out louder, and Haledon glanced back to observe it again. The form shifted and moved out of the noxious cloud as the four faces of its head spun wildly, and its dozens of glowing red eyes searched for something. Millions of tiny insects skittered over the body like rings over the surface of a pond. The exterior suddenly became engorged as it released a grackle-like cry. In the opposite direction of the Guild, Haledon heard a second similar screech as another Mecharrion responded.

"That's not good," Witch-Hazel said as they stopped at the last lateral root internode before the Hilum. "We're compacted."

"What do we do?" Gazeas asked.

"Can we shortcut through some of the lateral roots?" Spark followed quickly.

"It would take too long," Haledon responded instantly, looking around. His eyes observed the space, looking for any way out. "I don't know—" He began to panic.

"Conceal yourself in a lateral root..." Birchbark spoke calmly to the group.

Looking back to the approaching Mecharrion, Haledon stared beyond the dissipated cloud. The hallway behind had withered and died, exposing a well of darkness with only the distant light of the healthy plants to reveal the carnage. Then, as he watched, the light disappeared. 

The Mecharrion's head spun, giving its multitude of eyes each a view of the corridor before the arms pivoted to face the approaching darkness. At that point, Haledon could hear the droning noise of buzzing. The sound grew louder until he finally made out the shapes of thousands of tumbling pumpkins clumsily bumping their way toward the Mecharrion.

Ducking back into position, the group hid in the lateral root and waited as the buzzing sound became louder. A metallic whine filled the air before the hissing sound of biocides replaced it. But even this was quickly drowned out as the echoing buzz of thousands of wings filled the hall.

As the creatures came in contact with the biocidal spray, the pumpkin-sized bumblebees began to fall to the floor with dull thuds. But the flying force overwhelmed the Mecharrion in an impressive display, toppling the beast as the bodies pushed through like a battering ram, dissipating the spray as they moved. Haledon watched as the stream of awkward bumblebees filled the hall and carried the Mecharrion away.

Moments later, the second Mecharrion whined from down the taproot. Haledon rushed over to the edge of the lateral root and observed the swarm as it overwhelmed the beast, pushing it back.

"You have an open patch. Hurry, Asteraceae." Birchbark informed them as the last of the bees buzzed by.

"Let's go," Haledon announced to the Guild before noticing a group of cowering Astralaceaes Druids hiding opposite their corridor. "Get to the Hypogeal Nexus! Now!" He yelled out.

Emerging from the lateral root, Haledon examined the cleared passage of the taproot. To one end, plants hastily tried to reclaim the destroyed corridor leading to the Hypogeal Nexus. To the other, the back of the swarm pushed farther away from the group.

They followed the bees, running as fast as they could before reaching the passage to the Hilum.

"It's clear. Hurry up!" Spark announced as she waved the group down the lateral root and into the familiar amphitheatre. One by one, they entered the room a final time.

Looking around for frightened Druids, Haledon immediately noticed the room's walls had begun to atrophy as nutrients were being siphoned to the Nexus. The once lush foliage had turned sickly, and rotting wood decomposed where natural tables had once stood.

"Where's the spud?" Witch-Hazel asked.

"I don't know," Mek-Tek replied. "Birchbark, could you direct us a little here?"

"Top of the steps, near the cosmophyllon thicket." Birchbark groaned in pain.

"Birchbark?" Haledon asked as Spark, Mek-Tek, and Witch-Hazel made their way up the steps.

"Mecharrion herbicides..." She struggled. "Disrupting my ecosystem—look out!"

Haledon looked over his shoulder in time to watch the earthen wall separating the Hilum from the lateral root decompose into toxic, black sludge. Two silver, towering figures emerged with their aggressive limbs reaching and clawing as they ripped into the room.

"Forswyn..." Haledon muttered to himself.