Benjamin Oliver's Story

The Forbidden World

Chapter 1

Blaster shots are hitting the walls around me creating showers of sparks. I keep running down the corridor of the Raeldia Space Station trying to get to the ship hanger. The Cosmic Destructors took over the Core Foundation and are releasing a lot of dangerous entities to gain power and control of the Galaxy. The Foundation was meant to contain and research these anomalous artifacts. I was trying to tell the Raeldia leaders of the Foundation’s plans but the system is so corrupt, the Foundation has taken over Raeldia.

I get into a four-way hall and take a left. The metal walls still showering with sparks as the stations security teams chase after me. Six years ago I was working with the Foundation and tried to expose their secrets. They found out I was planning on telling the system’s leaders and they decided to make me a lab rat. I escaped a week before my termination through a containment breach and was met by the Voidrunner Syndicate and they took me prisoner. I told them my plan and they decided I should work as an Voidrunner.

A three-way path is ahead and there are more units in front of me. I take a right recalling the layout. If I go straight ahead and take a left I should be in the back section of the hanger. A blaster shot hit the door lock causing it to malfunction.

“Dr. Oliver. You are hereby under arrest on multiple accounts of breaking and entering, illegal transactions with fugitives, harboring fugitives and obstruction of justice, one of the guards said.

I gotta put my hands up, I’m done. As I’m thinking that I heard the soft creak of metal being stepped on. I look up and notice a vent door above me and step to the side. The vent burst open and in dropped four Voidrunners. They quickly shot and killed all of the guards chasing me and their bodies feel to the floor. One of the Voidrunners pointed down the hall and handed me a blaster. I ran down the hall and stood guard as the Voidrunners stuck a small explosive in the sliding door and ran towards me. The Voidrunner who handed me the blaster signaled me to get down and I braced against the wall. There was a loud explosion and alarms sounded and I ran straight for the hanger door. It was made of Vecrasteel so it didn’t open very far and one of the Voidrunners squeezed through the door and took point. There were two ahead of me and two behind me. I squeezed through and started looking at the ships trying to find which one to take when a Voidrunner pointed to the airlocks. We ran over to the airlocks when a blaster shot right by me and hit the wall with a shower of sparks. The Voidrunners took aim and fired at the incoming security units. I flipped the blaster’s safety switch off and fired into the incoming crowd of units. One of the Voidrunners reached to his belt and threw a small disk onto the ground a few feet in front of us. A portable shield assembled itself in front of us. It was metal, Raeldi, mined from the core of Rictar, a planet that was blown in half by a failed dissectium transport. The barricade was only a few feet high so we had to crouch to take cover but it was long enough to fit a few of the units.

We kept exchanging blaster shots but the guards seemed to be never-ending and we lost an Voidrunner. One of the Voidrunners next to me told me to put on the fallen’s helmet. I put on the helmet and radio chatter is instantly filled.

“Dr. Oliver, you’re lucky we were here to save you. They would have killed you!” one of the Voidrunners said. “Go into the airlock and get a space suit on. We’ll cover you,” I ducked into the airlock and threw the helmet to the ground and replaced it with a suit behind a glass sliding door. I quickly put on the helmet, suit, and rocket pack.

“I’m ready to get out of here, let’s go!” I say through the mic and see the Voidrunners move towards me and shoot at a raised platform emitting sparks distracting the guards. The unit ran into the airlock and I close the door activating the airlock pressure system.

“Remember to use your jet fuel sparingly and only if you’re in danger of drifting off,” one of the units commanded. We open the door and make out way around the side of the station and start climbing to the top.

About halfway up, a blaster shot exploded beneath me pushing me forward and I grab onto a ladder and stop myself to look down. The station’s security units are chasing us still. We reach the top and I notice a small space craft anchored to the station by cable. It looks like a schooner meant for a small crew of five or six. The traditional red stripes on a black body indicate the team’s original colors.

“There’s out ship. A class K Myrtle. Be careful with it we just had the paint re-done,” a blaster shot hit the ship and a Voidrunner shot the station next to the group and that blasted them away from the station.

We sped up and used some of our pack fuel to get to the ship faster. One of the Voidrunners kicked off of the station and shot the tether keeping the ship with the station. He disappeared into the airlock and not long after the engines roared to life. We got into the airlock and closed the doors and cut the blaster shots off behind us.

As I stepped into the lounge of the ship I saw one of the Voidrunners sitting down without his helmet on looking sad. He must have noticed me watching him because he straightened in his seat and cleared his throat, “Hello Doctor, it's a pleasure to be found on this journey with you,” he said with a thick Curtian accent. “I’m Unokos. I joined the Syndic-” I cut him off with a wave of my hand and told him I needed to sleep. I went to the quarters and crawled into a bed. They were arranged like most other ship’s quarters. A few rows of bunk beds. Plain cots with white sheets and pillows. I set the blaster next to the bed and looked at the cot above me. It only took a few minutes for my adrenaline to subside and I felt extremely tired and quickly fell asleep.

Chapter 2

I was dreaming about that night, not so much dreaming because it was a nightmare. I was moving into a room and saw that, thing, and I jolted awake and sat up too fast so I hit my head off the top bunk. The horrors that day disclosed upon me, or was it night I don’t even know. I just know that’s when the Syndicate found me and when I became an outlaw. We escaped from Thör and have been fighting the Foundation since. The moment I saw it things started to get weird. The Foundation, they ruined my life, and now I’m trying to get it back- there was a sudden pulse and the ship’s alarms started blaring as if we were being attacked. I ran out to the crew leaving the blaster by the cot and asked them what was happening. The pilot turned off the alarm and noted we were experiencing some form of solar turbulence that knocked out the power and we shouldn’t worry. The power should be back on in a few minutes.

After about ten minutes we began to worry we would be lost adrift in the cosmos when another burst rocked the ship and a planet began to expand in the distance. Unokos was the first to notice the object flying toward us. We must have been pulled into the object’s orbit because we were slung around the body and straight at the planet.

“Everyone to the escape pods. NOW!” the pilot ordered. We started running to the different pods around the ship. There were six in total with two in each section. To get to the nearest pods we just needed to exit the control room and go down either the left or right halls branching from the path. In the lounge the pods were next to the airlocks. In the quarters they were right outside in the hall like the control room. I start for the quarters to grab the blaster and the furthest pod but I was pushed down the hall to the left of the control room and I tried to yell for my blaster but the hatch closed and I was jettisoned towards the planet. There aren’t any windows in the pod but there was a small digital screen displaying 6 digits that were rapidly decreasing. Sixty-thousand, fifty-thousand. All of a sudden the numbers drop to less than five-hundred and as I notice it the pod crashes into the ground and is flung back into the air. Few seconds go by and the pod crashes hard and I’m knocked unconscious.

Chapter 3

There’s a bright red light and the smell of smoke. I feel a burning sensation on my right arm and notice a lick of flame and I’m instantly alert. An alarm is blaring and the fire keeps burning. I unbuckle myself and pull the emergency latch above the door firing it open. I quickly clamber and stumble out of the pod and fall into the mud. I need to get away from the pod and I crawl through the mud for a couple minutes and I’m knocked into the jungle by the explosion of the craft. My arm and back are burning and I want to scream but I’m stopped by the pounding in my head. My stomach was rumbling and my mouth was parched. Fatigue is already starting to take me over and my muscles are sore from the crash. I try and crawl to what’s left of the pod and sleep takes over me.

When I awaken the sun is high above my head. The thirst and hunger tearing my body apart. There’s supposed to be a survival pack connected to the door. The wreckage from the pod has cooled off and the door was launched a few feet into the jungle and I pulled myself towards it. Just as I suspected, there’s a small leather sack containing a couple bottles of water, a few days worth of MREs, a fire starter, drink packets, an informational tablet and a solar battery charger, a small disc, a thick jacket and blanket, a notebook, and a first-aid kit. I grab an MRE and tear it open and fork the contents into my mouth. There’s a crunchy, cheesy taste to it and I read the label: Cheesy Potatoes. I look at the other labels and there are: Steak, Mychaforan Bread, cooked noodles, and some duplicates. I opened a water and took a drink. The liquid was warm and as it poured down my throat my head started feeling less heavy. I grab the first-aid kit hoping for anti-burn items but there were only rags that I grabbed and dabbed with the water. I held the wet rag to my arm until I felt the warmth from the water. I removed the rags and grabbed the notebook. I flipped through the book and saw empty pages and wrote an entry on the first page.

Day 1,

The planet came out of nowhere. An electrical blast knocked out the ship’s power and a while later the planet just, appeared. The crew, I have to find the crew. As my pod crashed onto the surface it caught fire and exploded, but luckily I made it out with only a few bumps and burns. My name is Benjamin Oliver. I know not what star-date it is and I know nothing of this planet, perhaps I could learn more about it with the tablet. Hopefully I will be willing to explore and gather resources tomorrow.

I close the book and stow the pencil. I grab the tablet and switch it on. I am prompted with a selection screen. There were multiple options including: Survival Basics, Planet Scan, Disc Programs, Dangerous Creatures List, Interacting with Humanoids, Bag Instructions, Berry Guide. At the bottom of the screen it was labeled “Core Foundation,” my blood ran cold when I read the words. Out of curiosity I selected ‘Disc Programs’ and the screen changed. It read:

Before selecting any of the following programs make sure your Maroon Survival Multi-tool (MSM) is placed in a 2m x 2m clearing with no obstacles blocking the path of expansion. Please select a tool you would request for use.

Storing Disc:

The default setting, meant for transportation and storing uses for the multi-tool. Made of Vecrasteel for durability.

Small Tent:

A small 2m x 2m canvas tent made for shelter against harsh conditions.

Wood Cutter Axe:

An axe made for chopping down trees.

Wood Splitter Axe:

An axe made for splitting wood.

Fire-Starter:

Flint and steel used to create sparks.

Shovel:

Used to displace loose materials.

Fishing Rod:

A metal rod with string on it used for catching fish.

Hunting Bow:

Bow used to fire arrows to kill animals.

Spear:

Throwable, can be used as a tool for hunting or a weapon for protection.

Knife:

Stainless steel blade. Used for carving carcasses and slicing meat.

Signal Transmitter:

Transmits radio signals.

I select the Knife and the Vecrasteel Materializer quickly expands into a steel hunting knife. I select the Hunting Bow and a small bow expands and stretches. I must need to craft the arrows myself. I selected the disc and it turned back into the three inch disc it was at the start. I go back to the main screen and entered the planet scan section. It prompts me to change the disc into the Signal Transmitter in order to scan. I do so and the disc forms into a radio. I go back to the scanning section and press scan. The screen informs the scan will take a few minutes to complete so I sit around taking in the scenery for a minute. I was in a small clearing surrounded by lush Jungle. I can only see a few feet in. I look to the sky and notice the large silver and gold moon and felt curious. The tablet made a beep and came to life. A small automated voice came through the speakers. “Planet: Meltar. Habitability: Extremely hostile depending on the seasons. Survival on this planet is limited to its dormant period recurring every six years. If you are stranded on this planet, there may be no help for you. Read more about Meltar in the Dangerous Creatures List section of the survival tablet.” A link then replaced the scan button. Beignian Watch Guard on Entity 7046.

My heart sank. I was on a planet, but it wasn’t just another planet. This was a dangerous place. I’ve read about this place, the homeworld of many different dangerous objects. I enter the link and it brings me to a Beignian’s File labeled The Forbidden World. The file looked like any other from the Foundation, I didn’t want to read it but I knew I had to so I knew what I was up against.

Item # 7046

Special Containment Procedures:

The object in question is a large planet with extremely rare materials. The planet was first documented when it was noticeable moving from system to system. The first recorded movement was on ██/██/████, by Dr. [redacted]. We later sent pods to the planet to figure out why the planet was jumping. The subjects landed on the planet and sent back logs. We lost contact with the subjects ██ hours after they landed.

Description:

The celestial body has a dormant period where the planet doesn’t move but it still changes occurring every six [6] years. The last recorded period occurred █/█/████ to ██/██/████. The planet’s surface is constantly changing, although there are few sections of the surface that have not changed since the planet was first found. A volcanic region and a [data expunged]. The changes along with the system changes haven’t been recorded due to technical issues within four [4] hours of the movement. It is assumed the planet changes and moves every thirty-four [34] to thirty-eight [38], equal to its rotation speed. Both moons are close enough to the planet to move with it. It was assumed to have three [3] moons at one time but the third was just outside the movement zone. The bigger moon, Rholly, is made mostly of iron and gold with trace amounts of dissectium and other extremely rare materials. The other smaller moon, Mirona, consists of many metals like Raeldi, Amethyst, Vecrasteel and many more smaller pockets of metals and elements. Mine crews were sent to mine within the dormant periods but were called back due to the planet being unstable.

The planet is noticeably home to many dangerous objects. WARNING! AVOID LANDING ON, GOING TO, OR EVEN NEARING THE ATMOSPHERE.

There is so much to this planet I don’t know and need to find out. I crawled away from the wreckage and threw up what was left in my stomach. The planet I crash landed on will take me throughout the galaxy and will be changing non-stop for the next few years. It's also home to some of the most dangerous objects known to the Foundation. I grabbed the notebook and flipped to the page that I wrote on.

I have just found out… I will most likely die here unless I can get someone to get me off this planet. I have many threats here. If you find this, GET OFF THIS PLANET, NOW!

As I close the book I can hear a faint cry coming from the jungle. Thinking it was a person I got up and slowly combed my way through the thick brush. As I part a couple ferns I notice a flash of white out of the corner of my eye. I keep going and find myself on a small footpath. It goes both to my left and right but the cries are coming from the right. As I rounded a corner the crying got louder and I see a slumped white figure standing in the middle of the path with arms extending to its ankles. I remember hearing these cries from that night. The cries were coming from a humanoid. The figure standing in front of me was a vicious, ruthless creature. Known as a Shy Guy.

Chapter 4

I quickly avert my eyes and turn my back. The knot in my stomach is back and I rush along the path back to my camp. If there are dangerous objects  on this planet like those, I will have to keep my eyes open but with the Shy Guy around, I can't look at his face. I'm having even stronger doubts of survival as night begins to fall. I took the bag and turned it into a rain catcher and went to find water. There was a small creek along the trail I came from. I changed the materializer into the knife and slipped the tablet into my pocket and made my way through the brush to the small river.

When I got to it, it was only a few inches deep and flowing to the left, opposite from the area the Shy Guy was. I followed the stream for about five minutes before the jungle cleared to a small pond with clear water. I stuck my fingers into the water and pulled back expecting cold water but as I looked closer I noticed the steam rising from the water. The temperature of the air was noticeably getting warmer. The ground started to rumble and I dipped the bag into the water and took off back to the pod. When I came to the clearing the sky was dark and I could smell sulfur. A strong smell and I climbed onto the pod trying to look over the trees. There's smoke coming from a few sources. A large tremor, and an explosion. One of the stacks shot out dark gases and large boulders. The sky is blanketed with what appears to be pumice as more volcanoes explode and I start to duck into the pod but feel a hard knock on my head and I fall into the pod, unconscious.

I awake with a lump on my head and my face is in the seat of the pod. I push myself up struggling and look outside. It looks no different but something feels off. Where was all the volcanic debris? Why was it so bright? Why am I sinking? I climb out of the pod and surely enough it’s being swallowed by the planet. That's when I see it. Behind the pod is no longer jungle. Instead its sand, and beyond that is a shimmering blue ocean. The pod stopped sinking and is partially submerged in sand. I climb atop and look to where the volcanoes were and there was ash on the sides of the mountains. I grab the notebook and write a new entry.

Day 2,

The planet is strange. I imagine it's brought me to a new system because the surface has changed. What was once lush jungle is now a vast ocean. Hopefully I can use it for food and water, though I'm not sure if I have any means of purifying it. Yesterday, I stumbled upon a Shy Guy who, thank god, had his back turned to me. When the planet changes, the volcanoes erupt, blanketing the surface exception for a few places. Under the cover of volcanic ash the surface changes like, a planet sized materializer.

I grab the tablet and change the materializer into a fishing rod. Bait seems to appear on the end and I walk to the edge of the ocean and cast the lure. Of course this would probably take a while to ca-.

There was a tug on the line and I jumped up to grab the pole and reel it in. The surface of the water started to bubble and I pulled the line out of the water as a large creature stood from the water. This creature was extremely large. Like the biggest  thing I've ever seen. I stepped aside and couldn't see the rest of its body. Only its head. It was watching me. It was just standing there, staring at me, dripping. He was black with huge scales. Its huge hazel eyes held my reflection. It turned its gaze to the volcanoes. When It looked up like this I was engulfed in its exhales, but I didn't move. After about a minute he turned and slid back into the water. I couldn't move. I wanted to run but my legs wouldn't move. Finally, after what felt like half an hour, I fell into the sand. I pulled myself and the pole back away from the water never taking my eyes off of it.I ran back to the pod. I collected the supplies and dumped the water from the collector. I put the rest of the supplies in and ran off. Straight into the forest away from the water. What was once a lush jungles is now a vast oak forest. I kept running and tripped over a fallen tree hidden by needles.

"Hello," a cold metallic voice said from somewhere behind me. I spun onto my back to see a dark figure walking towards me. Under the trees there wasn't much light so all I could see was its silhouette. "Oh my, yet another victim of the disease," I jumped to my feet and ran in the opposite direction. "Do not be afraid, I am the cure," I ran until my lungs gave out and stopped. There seemed to be a blue mist of fog surrounding me. I was running on a small dirt path. I kept walking and saw a silhouette with bright yellow eyes behind a tree. Though I'm not sure where its from.I can hear calming music.

I keep walking. The fog is growing thicker. I stumble across a paper that reads:

Log #1

Something seems to have gone wrong. The moment I entered the forest, communication with the researchers was lost. My headset is playing soft music instead. It's very calming. The blue hue is beautiful, and I've never felt more at ease in my life.

I didn't notice it before but the fog IS quite beautiful. A little more walking and I find another piece of paper.

Log #2

I just noticed but the path here is made of cobblestones. That is odd. I recall it being made of dirt when I first entered the forest. I'm hearing howls in the distance, but they don't seem aggressive. It's like they're calling me. Warm light shines between the trees. My headset keeps playing music.

I look at my feet and surely enough the path is made of cobblestone. I look up and there is a pair of eyes from the darkness. As if on cue, there was a howl in the distance. I keep walking. The path leads to a corner and turns into dirt. Another paper lies at my feet.

Log #3

Golden eyes watch me from every direction and they howl nonstop. The wind carries whispers and curses. It's been like this for years now. Or has it been hours? I can't recall. Twigs snap and leafs rustle close by. Sometimes I hear them breathing in my neck. Yet I'm not afraid? The wind they blow is warm and comforting. I haven't sleep since I entered here. Maybe it's time to take a nap? I'll wake when you get here, Doctor. I'm kinda hungry.

That tightened my stomach because when I lowered the paper there were a bunch of eyes invading from the forest. The howl's grew louder and more frequent. I heard loud footsteps crushing twigs and leaves and turn around. A large bear-like feline jumps from the forest onto the path and looks up at me. It's skin looks like bark and it has yellow glowing swirls under it's big yellow eyes. I can just barely see a large yellow spot on it's back and stomach. I don't waste another second so I turned and ran.

My heart was pounding and the fog was thickening. I come across a three-way path and take a left. My lungs start to burn and I glance behind me, seeing nothing I slow to a walk. When I turned my back around the creature is right in front of me standing on its back legs and swings at me. I roll out of the way and jump to my feet and take off in the other direction. The howls have turned to a constant sound. When I get back to the three-way path I go straight. The fog begins to clear, and the howling stops. I kept running. I turned around and saw the beast pacing at the edge of the path. I turn and keep walking.

The forest opens into a greener area with streams. There was a large rock with moss that covers an area beneath it. I move into the hut and find a comfortable place to rest. I put my bag beneath my head. I'm about to fall asleep when I hear bushes rustling as if someone's running from something.

Then I hear concrete scraping the rock above me.

Chapter 5

I stay still. The noises retreat. They were moving-

"AARGH!" a blood curdling scream arises from the forest and I know someone from the ship just died.

I lay for what felt like an hour before I moved. I dared a peek out of the cave and felt the ground start to shake. The sky quickly darkened and I receded back into the cave waiting for everything to change, and for me to be thrown further from home.

I tried to sleep but the quakes wouldn't stop. I could barely see, but what I could see was the dark ash covering the forest that once surrounded me. Finally, after a few minutes, I found sleep.

                                         []                      []   []

A freezing cold breeze brushed my face. I opened my eyes and saw pure white, from the mouth of the cave I could see for miles to the volcanoes. Another blast came in and I pulled the jacket and blanket out of the bag. It's amazing how much they fit into these, "Maybe this is in the strange objects list, too," I chuckle to myself. I wrap the blanket around my body and throw the winter jacket on. Its extremely warm, but when the wind hits me, my legs and face are extremely cold. I pull the blanket out and tear off a small strip and wrap it around my face, I wrap the rest of the blanket around my legs. I stepped out of the cave into the freezing whiteout around me. Across from the entrance of the cave was the volcanoes. I look to the other end of the planet and see a sparkling light. I squint and notice a metal building on the horizon. A large metal building. I start walking towards the object, my feet sinking in the false snow.

                                         []                         [] []

I've been walking for what feels like an hour or so and the cold is starting to get to me, my stomach rumbles and I need water. A strong gust of wind and snow have been beating my back and face for ten minutes.

I take a step and my foot sinks until my knee is covered. I fall forward and almost roll into a huge crevasse. I look up and down it knowing how dead I would be if I fell in. I decided I should set up camp. I climbed out of the hole and stepped back from the edge pulling out the tablet and materializer.

I go into the programs menu, throw the disc into the air and select the shovel. The materializer reached its peak and stretched into a shovel. It falls, burying its head in the  snow. I grab the shovel and start digging a pit up to my neck.

                                     []                                  [] []

The wind isn't reaching me in here. I grab a water bottle from the bag to find it frozen. I hold the bottle to warm it but the cold is too much to do anything. I slide the bottle under my jacket and wince at the frozen bottle. Before long I have to move the bottle because it's freezing my stomach. After what felt like an eternity I look at the bottle, there’s still a huge block of ice inside but it's mostly water. I crack the cap and drink the cool liquid. As the icy drink slides down my throat I’m relieved. I should wait out the next shift. I won’t be able to do anything in this state.

Chapter 6

The storm was never ending, I found sleep though and when I woke I was almost baked. I opened my eyes to find desert, just sand, rolling dunes, dust devils and the hot sun. I took off the jacket and grabbed the bag.

“Hurry,” there was a hushed whisper in my right ear. I spun to find sand, “You must hurry,” I kept spinning. I try to stop but the world is spinning. I’m growing anxious, I can’t go on like this! Gotta…

                                     []                                  [] []

I woke up leaning against a wall. I opened my eyes but saw nothing. I can’t remember where I am, or what happened. I can’t even remember my name. I can hear a rapid tap of plastic on metal. It stops, my vision begins to clear. The room is dark and has a green tint to everything. Movement. I look to my left down the hall where I saw movement. More rapid taps, the crash, the desert, the Cosmic Destructors, Him. My memories came like a flood.

“Ben,” a harsh whisper in my right ear. I look around, panicking, “Hurry,” the voice said again.

“Hurry,” another whispered.

“Hurry.”

“Hurry,” the voices lapped over each other and in seconds they were all that filled my mind. The word ‘hurry’ flashed under my eyes everytime I blinked. In those seconds, my only purpose was to hurry, but to hurry some place I need a destination. With no destination I have no purpose, with no purpose, I’m a waste of space…

I put my head between my legs, put my hands on the back of my head and closed my eyes.

The voices began to whisper to each other, telling one another to hush, the voices stopped and I realised I’d been crying.

More taps. I lifted my head and saw a dark hooded figure approaching me from the left hall. Blink. The image of a skull in a black hood flashed behind my eyes. I stood, and the figure motioned for me to move towards it. I shook my head and the creature produced a falx.

“Come, you must hurry, before it’s too late,” the figure said. More rapid taps and a door opened behind me. It opened into a large room with a green hue on the walls, but the majority of the room was lit white. A large throne sat in the center. A shadow, wearing a top-hat sat atop the throne. I felt a cold hand push me into the room. I looked at the hooded figure and saw nothing but emptiness under the hood.

“Welcome, Ben,” the shadow called. It picked up a black square that looked like playing dice. The dots inside of it were a gold-yellow. The shadow dropped the dice and the rapid tapping returned for a moment.

“Ho-How do you know my name?” I ask.

“I know many things. The creature you met moments ago is my Puppet. You may call me, the Storyteller,” he answered.

“So, you, tell stories?” I asked.

“Not just any story, this one. I control this universe with the roll of the dice,” he tossed me the dice and I caught it, feeling its curves and bumps, its beautiful. “Every decision made anywhere in this universe, is left up to chance. Well, every major decision. Like if you were to attack me,” the dice morphed into a flat coin with each side displaying one dot or two. I flipped it and it came up one, “Ah, just as I suspected, a no,” the coin returned to his hand, a six sided dice. “Listen, I need something from you, and you need something from me. You want to leave this place, correct?” I nodded. The dice morphed into a more round object. “Tell you what, I’ll let you roll for the ship you will be granted when you complete this task,” I rolled the dice in my hand and counted 26 sides. I rolled the dice and it came up 24, “Ah, if you complete my task, I will grant you a Class x ship.”

“What must I do?” I ask.

“Take a ring from my son, King. Believe me, it will be no easy task,” the Storyteller spoke. The dice transformed again, “This is your probability of success,” he reasoned. The dice rolled onto the floor and came up twenty-seven.

“I don’t like those odds, but if I must, I shall,” I told the Storyteller.

“Good. Go to the volcanoes and search for a blue ring. Bring it back here once you have it,” the Storyteller ordered.

Chapter 7

"You understand what you must do, yes?" The Storyteller asked.

"I have to search the labyrinth for a ring, but why? What's there?" I ask.

"My son, my real son. He is one of the many things in this universe that was put here by mistake. Without the ring he won't have so much power, and eventually that 'corrosion' as you call it, will have destroyed his body. This is the one thing I ask of you."

"Why can't you do it?"

The Storyteller rose from his seat and looked down at me, "Do you have a child, Doctor?" I shook my head, "Then once you do, you'll understand. Now, go," I turned and left.

I can hear the Storyteller mumble something as I turn the corner to leave the room. I can hear loud footsteps behind me and turn to find the Puppet approaching me. I ran backwards and heard the footsteps running after me. I glance back and slow my pace.

   "You better keep going, we wouldn't want you to get stuck in the change," the Puppet whispers in my ear. I spin to where the voice came from and find only a wall. A tall wall with silver-ish green glowing from it. I return to making my way towards the entrance.

                                      []                               [] []

   "Finally, this place is a maze," I say to the walls.

   "Of course, it keeps people from finding Him. He will only allow it if he thinks you're worthy," the Puppet's voice echoes.

    I step out onto the cool grass plane. It must have changed while I was in there. I'm standing in the middle of a large field, it seems like the mountains are closer as well. I put on the mask and started running, not needing to catch a breath with the powers the mask gives. It takes only twenty minutes to get to the mountains.

   I pull the notebook from the bag.

Day I don't even know what day it is,

The Storyteller appeared to me. Why he's called that, I have no idea, but he's given me the task of taking a ring from his son's labyrinth... IN the volcanoes.

   I started walking up the mountainside. As I approach the crater the inside of the volcano isn't what I expected it to be. What I expected to be a huge dip with lava inside was actually a large cave with what looked like a net, like a trampoline... "It'll catch me," I whisper. I leaned forward no longer in control of my actions and fell into the crater.

   Blink. The net was above me and I looked down. The ground was rapidly approaching and I hit the ground. My breath is knocked out but instantly regained because of the mask. I get to my feet. No pain. I looked around and saw no cuts or bruises or any signs of injury. The floor and walls are a dark red. There's a large throne in front of me with a dark figure atop it.

   "So, my father sent you?" he asked in a harsh voice. "Bow, and all will be forgotten," even from down here I could see his creepy smile. Another silhouette appeared from behind the throne, this one, about my size. As it emerged from the shadows my heart sank.

   "Hello, Doctor," it was Unokos. One of the crew from the ship.

   "Unokos? I thought you were killed by the statues, or anything else on this planet."

   "No, I was given a task, so I could get out of here, and I need you in order to complete that task."

   "Oh, enough of this. Unokos, kill him," King ordered.

   Unokos grabbed a blast rifle and aimed it at me. I rolled out of the way and ran at Unokos as he pulled the trigger and missed his shot. As I slammed into him I wrapped my arms around his body to take him to the ground.

   We both rolled and he was back to his feet quicker. As I started to stand he grabbed my throat and pushed me against the wall. I can't breathe, I'm going to die. The knife! The materializer is a knife, I never turned it back.

   I grabbed at the knife on my belt. It came off easily and Unokos hasn't noticed.

   "Sorry, Doc," he says slyly.

   "No, I'm sorry," I choke out. His eyes widen and I brought the knife to his head and stab his temple, releasing the knife.

   His grip loosens and I push him off of me collapsing to the ground, coughing. He pulled the mask off of me when he pushed me to the wall.

   "Well done, my child," King rasps.

   I get to my feet and cough, collecting my breath. I pull the knife from Unokos' head and grab the mask that fell to the ground. "I," I cough, "am not, your son."

   King lifted his head and chuckled, "Of course you see it that way. That's what my father's told you after all."

   I put the mask on and ran to the other side of the room where there was a large door. I pulled it open and immediately hear laughter. I shut the door behind me and I'm transported to a different area. The red walls turned white. The new room I'm in is a long white hallway. Lights are in the floor where the wall and floor meets. My stomach turned.

   There was a cracking sound and I looked to my feet to see a dark puddle with a head poking out of it. The figure was rising and I recognized it to be King. I took off in the opposite end of the hall and pressed the button to open the door. Another long hall except this one had two doors off to the side in the center. I closed the door and King melted from the wall beside me leaving a black puddle with every step. A deep guttural sound and the smell of melting plastic.

   I ran into the next room, which led to a three-way hallway. A large black circle in the center. I ran around the circle and opened the door on my left. I was met face to face with King, he smiled at me and I turned and ran. My foot must have been caught in his sludge and I tripped. He laughed again.

   The world started to change again and I was in a dark circular room with eight doorways each leading to a dark abyss. I look down each one and pick the one on my right side from where I started. I could feel myself falling and I was back in the throne room, coughing. I looked up at the empty throne and saw the ring. It was bright blue, glowing. It was beautiful.

The guttural sound was coming from behind me now, “I’m giving you one last chance. BOW!” King barked. I looked at him and smiled, he returned it. I then turned my face straight, and climbed the throne, removing the ring from its placeholder, “NO! What are you doing?!” King began to turn to dust, “Put it back! I beg you,” his body was all ash and in his final second he called for his father.

Epilogue

   Benjamin Oliver was a seemingly simple man to the people of Fling. He kept to himself, paid his dues, and was always in the local bar, drowning his memories with Fling’s finest brew.

   “Want another, Ben?” the barkeep asked.

   In response Ben tossed a credit onto the counter. The coin was spinning, but was slapped onto the table, and slid back to Ben, “I got this one,” a stranger said from beside him.

   “Well thanks, stranger, but I’m not interested in what you’re selling,” Ben spoke to the shadow.

   “Doctor Benjamin Oliver? Senior researcher for the Core Foundation turned Voidrunner at site-15?” the stranger asked.

   Ben turned and noticed three people surrounding him. Ben had a cold look in his eyes, “How do you know this?” he asked.

   “My name is Yayvin Dorza, this is my crew, and we need your help.”

                                                 []           [] []

  “Sorry my place is a mess,” Ben was cleaning some tables off that held empty bottles.

   “Don’t worry about cleaning this place. We’re leaving anyway,” Yayvin explained.

   Ben looked at him. He was shorter yet better built, mostly because Ben has been drinking himself away for years. Yayvin was a mercenary, built for fighting for money, but he was also a collector of rare materials and items. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t know you-”

   “No, you don’t know us, but we know you. We know of your old plans against the Cosmic Destructors. We know you used to be a Voidrunner, which is just the more public of the rebels. If you think about it we are all Voidrunners, fighting to keep the peace.”

   “Listen, Yayvin. I gave up those plans a long time ago-” Ben was moving a bag of empty glass bottles into his kitchen area.

   “We also know of your encounters on The Forbidden World,” Yayvin exposed. Ben stopped moving, half bent over putting down the bag. He stood, sighed and leaned against the wall.

   “What do you need?” Ben asked.