Story

## Insula

Story: Sins of Aether: Insula

Chapter Summary

Synopsis:

The first story in the universe of *Sins of Aether*.

The crew of a Class III space-mining ship, the Insula, experience a powerful lightning storm in the middle of drilling on planet PL-0490. It causes extreme damage to the ship forcing it do go offline into emergency power mode. As the crew collects themselves to assess and repair the damage, they begin to be attacked by an unknown assailant. At first, it is believed one of the crew members is behind the attacks, but the truth surfaces that the assailant is actually from cargo they mined from the planet. They learn the cargo was a fossilized ancient creature that was awakened by the lightning storm. It has the power to imitate those around it.

The crew tries to radio for help but they are abandoned by their higher-ups, who they believe wish to contain and capture the unknown creature post the crew's demise. Instead the crew is forced to abandon the ship but not before destroying the ship, and hopefully, the creature with it. The plan is faltered when more members of the crew are attacked. Only two crew members-- also sisters-- are able to escape: Aloe and Faa Muri.

Their pod is rescued by another ship. While Aloe is unconscious, Faa -- infected by the creatures-- begins to attack the crew. When Aloe awakens she notices the creature -- not realizing its her sister-- and jettisons it out the hull. Later, the ship is found by the military force, Legionnaires. Aloe is arrested after the logs are reviewed. She is charge with the murder of the whole crew and sent to Ebon prison.

## Orb of Anamnesis

The second story of the *Sins of Aether* universe.

There are several character arcs occurring simultaneously.

* **Heln's arc:**

*Ch 1:*
Heln and Malu are exploring the ruins among a dessert world of an ancient alien society. There inside a large structure with tall statues, their faces too worn out to make out. The structure appears to be some kind of temple.
Heln wanders away from Malu despite her warning. He comes across a chamber with an altar. When touches the table at the top of it, the room activates.
Without warning, Heln cringes from pain in his head. The pain ceases and suddenly finds a woman standing at the altar, her back to him. She speaks a strange tongue but he is about to understand it.
She lifts a unique dagger, offering up herself for an object she calls the Orb before plunging the blade into her stomach. Heln cries out for her to stop but she doesn't hear him. He rushes over to her to see her face; it isn't human.
This is occurring to Heln in a dream. In reality, Malu discovers him on the ground, seizing uncontrollably. She attempting to keep his neck straight as she radioes her ship.

*Ch 2:*
Heln awakens in frightened frenzy. Malu appears to comfort him. They are back on the ship, still on the planet. Malu explains that she dragged him to the ship to stabilize him.
She questions what happened. As he starts to explain about the woman's appearance resembled his own. That's when he realizes his human guise is gone and his alien appearance, that like the woman, is returned.
He becomes distraught and ashamed, wishing for Malu to look away. She, however, doesn't understand why, having known what Heln is and seen his true face. Still, Heln is ashamed and conjures up his human appearance with a mere thought.
Heln continues to explain the dream but is interrupted when several ships land around them. They announce they are Legionaries and force their way onto the ship.
The two question their arrival to which they state they are taking over the site by decree of COL Blank.
* (Later they'll find out that Heln was able to activate the room because he is Omnia. This activity attracted the Legionaries who have been closely watching ancient ruins of Omnia)

* **Aloe's arc:**

* **Malu's arc:**