- Audio Log of King Jrax Ferno
Imperia
The room on Imperia that had held the secret meeting was now empty aside from the Pyran king. It had not gone well, but it went better than Jrax had anticipated. Darex Voltus had been in contact with him for nearly a half-year. The fool had seemed so certain that he would unite all the Elementi under his cause.
Jrax could not care less if the other Elementi remained or stayed. He simply saw Darex as his way out. Out of New Jhori and out of a kingship that was never supposed to be his to begin with.
He took another deep drink from his flask. Feeling the liquid warm his insides and dull his guilt. He wondered what Darex would think now that he had officially been turned down by the Onyxian and Aerosi royals. The self-imagined savior of their people. The one to mend the divide that the Jhori had created.
Jrax thought the man a fool. 25 years of peace had softened the Jhori Elementi. They would not be leaving their cushy little castles just because someone asked nicely. He was surprised they had even won over the Lunanites. Did King Davus and Queen Marcella really know what they had signed up for? Though, it seemed that regardless of who you gave your loyalty to in this galaxy, blood would always find its way onto your hands.
Just as when Jrax had entered the room a quarter-day earlier, the planetwide storm was still raging on. The balcony was high enough and the rain thick enough that Jrax could not make out what was beneath him. He could barely make out the outline of his starship. It was the last one left and rested on the farthest landing pad from the tower.
As he got closer, green lightning struck in the distance, and he noticed several figures standing in between him and his ship. He moved forward cautiously. The next time lightning struck he could see that there were four of them, and they were all wearing different colored masks. The masks looked as if they were made up to resemble angry dragons.
Jrax stopped seven paces away from them. “What in the abyss are you supposed to be?”
The masked figures on the far left and far right began to circle around him. Making clear their malicious intent.
“Really?” Jrax laughed. He focused his bril to the tips of his fingers on his left hand. Small dense fires crowned each one excluding his thumb. He held them up for his attackers to see. “Four flames for four fools.”
Violet mask was the closest. Jrax swung his arm around and threw the flame on his pinky finger straight through their heart. They promptly hit the ground void of life.
“One down,” he taunted.
Yellow mask was a bit bigger than the rest. They hit a button on their wristband, and it turned into a large dark metal shield.
Jrax threw the flame that hovered above his ring finger. It shot through the shield and yellow mask’s throat. They dropped dead with a loud thud that could still be heard over the heavy rain.
“I was hoping one of you could at least make this fun.” He held up the other two flames. One for green mask and one for orange.
He threw the flame on his pointer finger at orange mask, and they were quick to dodge it by performing a back handspring. It was mildly impressive, but it made little difference. He simply manipulated the dense flame into turning around and coming back at them. They were able to evade it a couple more times, but eventually the flame pierced their abdomen causing them to double over in agony.
Jrax held his middle finger up towards the final assailant. The last flame glowing above it. “And then there was one.”
He threw the flame aiming for the center of the green mask. They swatted it away with the back of their hand. It shot into the darkness below the hangar and vanished from sight. Now things were getting interesting. This one showed promise.
Green mask held their hand up into the air palm up. Lightning crashed down onto it and the electricity surrounded the fighter. They gave out an aggressive battle cry as it did. The electricity around them gave Jrax enough light to make out the curves of a woman. She had long white brittle hair, and a sword in its hilt at her waist.
He barely had time to put up a wall of flame to protect himself from the blitz of lightning strikes she started sending his way. As the lightning bolted from her right hand, her left hand was storing bril to send her next attack and so on. This gave Jrax little time to prepare a counterattack.
Still yet, he managed to focus his own bril over the entirety of his body. Once he was in sync with it, he ignited it into brilliant red flames. The legendary All-Flame technique. With it he was virtually indestructible. The rain sizzled and evaporated before ever reaching him. Now he would show this Imperian why it was that his royal family was so hated among their people.
He pounced over his flame wall and with his increased agility, he evaded the lightning that came his way. Even in mid-air he was too quick to be struck. The ability to shoot flames from anywhere on his body allowed him to change positions and dodge at incredible speeds.
Just as he got within one pace of her, she unleashed another battle cry. This time all the electricity surrounding her shot off in a wave of energy that Jrax could not avoid.
The repercussion from the blast sent him sailing up and back through the wall of the tower. He landed on the octagon table that had hosted the previous meeting. He quickly melted through it, and he was soon laying on the floor in the rubble. His flames had absorbed nearly all the force of the blast, but his bril was draining fast. He needed to end this soon.
He sat up and saw the Imperian making their way across the balcony. She lifted her hand up and more green lightning shot down and surrounded her.
Just as Jrax was about to get to his feet the woman jumped back to avoid being struck by an immense bolt of bright blue lightning. The booming thunder made Jrax’s heart skip a beat. This happened two more times before Jrax saw Darex drop down from his starship. He shot lightning beneath him to ease his landing.
Jrax jumped down from the room he’d been knocked into and got into a fighting stance beside him. “Friend of yours?”
Darex shot another large blue bolt at the green masked woman that she narrowly avoided. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
The woman was now at the edge of the hangar as she continued to hop away from Darex’s attacks. Taking on both the king of Pyra and the self-proclaimed godking of Farako was apparently more than she had bargained for.
The warrior kings closed in on her, but she did a black flip over the low railing, stopping them in their tracks. Soon after, a starship rose with her hanging on the side of it. It started to dash off and Darex unleashed the largest bolt he had created thus far up at it.
The Imperian woman jumped off the ship and shot an equally large amount of green lightning down in response. When the two bolts met, it shot enormous streaks of electricity both into the sky and the ocean below. The force was enough to send the green masked Imperian back onto her ship. It sped off into the horizon and was swiftly concealed by the thick rain.
Jrax extinguished the flames that enveloped his body. “That woman was not from New Jhori. We don’t have Imperians of that caliber.”
“Are you trying to imply something?” Darex asked.
Jrax took another pull from his flask. Beads of sweat mixed with rain raced down his cheeks as he tilted his head back. It had been a long time since someone had tried to kill him. He forgot how much he liked the feeling of turning hunters into the hunted. “It’s suspicious,” he said.
“I will get my people on it. Keep in mind, the free Elementi of Farako are not all accounted for. They come and go as they please. The surname Ferno is not very popular in my corner of the galaxy.”
“I suppose we did kill a lot of your lot.”
“Likewise,” Darex added in his deep voice. “I cannot blame you for your ill-mannered accusation. I still hope to see the day that the blood-feud between all Elementi has come to an end.”
“Wishful thinking,” said Jrax. He took another pull from his flask.
“Our forefathers created this storm,” said Darex. “Jhori records suggest that it was an error in the terraforming. That it is possible the error may have been intentional. This is a Jhori lie. The terraforming was a complete success just like the other four moons. My forefathers invited the elite of all the other Elementi to help them create the storm. The Onyxians erected large high plateaus that still stand today. These plateaus were where the other Elementi fused their bril to anger the skies forever.”
“Does this have a point?” asked Jrax. “I’m not a big fan of the rain.”
Darex extended his arms out and lifted his face into the sky. “This is my home, Jrax. Though, I’ve never stepped foot on it until now. I feel Imperia right down to my bones. In my very soul. I’m sure you feel the same of Pyra.”
“Eh,” Jrax mumbled. He had become king at the same time as Darex. Since Darex had stopped sending warriors to New Jhori, Jrax was no longer allowed to leave Pyra to go and fight them off. Being king meant he could not become an agent either. Immediate royalty always stayed near Elementa and her moons in case they were needed. After nearly 25 years, Jrax had grown quite restless, being confined to his homeworld.
“With the combined efforts of all the Elementi, our ancestors manifested a permanent storm that nearly engulfs an entire celestial body!” Darex said with a booming voice. “Imagine the things we could do for the galaxy if we could undo what the Jhori have done to us.”
“You know, I’ve always wondered,” Jrax said with a mischievous smirk. “Who would have won had we actually been able to have our fight all those years ago?”
Darex was annoyed at the narrow mindedness of his supposed ally but laughed regardless, “I cannot lie! It has plagued my mind as well!” Lightning struck near the hangar giving everything a brief green shade.
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Jrax made the slightest movement to get into a fighting stance and he noticed Darex do the same. He had never stopped training. He always sought to become more powerful. Lightning lit the area once again and as soon as it left, everything fell into a brief darkness. His eyes took time to adjust. For a while, only the red lights that hugged the edge of the hanger were visible.
Another streak of lightning shot across the sky and Darex was gone.
Jrax quickly scanned his surroundings but saw no sign of the large man. Lightning struck again and he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“I believe that together we can do great and terrible things,” Darex said as he gave a light squeeze. “Like bring oppressive galactic empires to their knees.”
Jrax jumped away from Darex in case he decided to tighten the grip he had on his shoulder any further. “I’m afraid to ask what you plan on replacing it with Godking Darex.”
“I merely want to free our people. Let them taste true unadulterated freedom.” Darex replied. “You have two sons, yes?”
“Yes. Though, I don’t see what concern that is of yours.”
“Don’t take me for a fool, Jrax. I know about Jraken.” His voice grew cold and bitter. Like a man who felt he had been cheated in a game of cards.
Jrax was not too surprised to hear his youngest son was brought up. It seemed he had been gaining a lot of attention as of late. “You must be very well connected,” he admitted. “Even the Jhori were ignorant to his abilities until a few days ago.”
“Nothing remains hidden from my priestess, Lys,” said Darex. “Jraken’s abilities are on track to be comparable to that of our ancient legends. It won’t be long before he surpasses the majority of our warriors.”
“Speak for yourself! The little brat isn’t surpassing me anytime soon.”
Darex chuckled, but soon his face again became serious. “I know you are forced to send your children off to be brainwashed by the Jhori academy. If Jraken were to oppose our cause, then I’m told our chances of victory will be greatly reduced.”
“That’s ridiculous! I will grant you the boy is gifted, but he is nowhere near being a deciding factor in any war.”
“I didn’t say it would be today. All I’m saying is that a time may come when he will force our hand.”
“And what are you suggesting?” asked Jrax.
“That it may be in our best interest to make our move before your son gets too powerful. Should he oppose us…” Darex watched Jrax’s face carefully. “We will need to take care of him while we still can.”
“You would ask a father to kill his own son?” Jrax knew what he had heard. He just wanted Darex to call it what it was.
“I hope it never comes to that. If we wait too long and let his mind become warped by the Jhori, then it might very well be one of us that would have to get the job done.”
“This job you are referring to is the murder of a child!” Jrax snapped. “And he is not some Jhori loyalist fool! He is my son! He will do as his father tells him when the time comes.” He turned and started walking towards his ship.
“I trust you’ll do the right thing should you have to!” was the last thing Jrax heard Darex say before boarding his starship.
After Jrax broke through the storm clouds that surrounded Imperia, he decided to cruise. The stars above combined with the cloudy light show below him made for grand scenery. He took another long pull from his flask.
Jrax felt the crippling shadow of guilt start to creep over him again. How did things get so messed up? It had been 13 years since Drelaine died giving birth to Jraken. She was convinced that the Jhori would take him. Steal him away and say that he died from complications.
He should have known she was prone to hysteria. She never once believed that her first child had died. No matter how many Jhori doctors came and told her there was nothing they could have done. She always believed her daughter was still out there somewhere. Being raised up and turned into a weapon for a New Jhori political leader.
It was Dravon’s birth that had lowered his guard. She had no issue giving birth in a Jhori hospital when it came to Dravon. She had been of a sound mind through the whole experience. Far more stable than Jrax had been. He had been a nervous wreck through the whole pregnancy. Having watched her struggle through one miscarriage had been hard enough. He couldn’t bear to see her lose a second child.
It was a day before Drelaine was due to give birth to Jraken that Jrax had been called away to settle a dispute between two elite families. He had told Dravon to keep an eye on his mother. To not let her leave the palace. But what could a 6-year-old boy do but obediently follow his mother’s instructions?
It took several days for his guards to track down the whereabouts of the royal starship Dravon and Drelaine had escaped in. When they had caught up to it, Drelaine had already passed on. A large pool of blood stained the floor beneath her.
Dravon was swaying back and forth with Jraken screaming in his arms. He was so traumatized it took weeks for the boy to start speaking again. Jrax did his best not to blame him. To be a good father and train the boy. As the years went on, his bitterness only grew. Towards himself and towards Dravon. Eventually the two stopped talking to each other. By the time Dravon was to be sent off to the academy, they had gone four years without being alone in the same room.
Darex’s starship shot up out of the storm and engaged its warp immediately. Jrax watched as the clouds slowly started to reform after being ripped apart by the repercussion of its engines.
He took another deep drink and threw the flask on the floor. He put his hands on the controls and thrust his own ship up out of the atmosphere.
Pyra
The Pyran palace where Jrax and several other royal family members lived was an enormous structure that sat in the middle of a large city. Ever since the Imperians left in a large convoy nearly 300 years ago, starships became extremely limited for Elementi. And the ones they were issued had either outdated or no hyper-hop drives at all.
Jrax saw very few other ships as he flew above the city. His throne room was the highest room in the palace and right next to the balcony that he kept his ship on.
His sister, Versa Pyre, had been eagerly waiting for his arrival and greeted him at the entrance of his ship. Her long red hair was down, and she wore a slim black dress that stopped just above the knees.
“You look like shit,” she said. “Of course, that doesn’t really give me anything to work with because you always look like shit.”
“Thanks,” Jrax slurred.
“Well?” she asked with a soft voice.
He walked past her and headed for his throne. He felt she respected him a little more when he sat in it. Though, it was most likely all in his head.
“The Lunanites will join us,” he said. “The Onyxians and the Aerosi can stay here and burn.”
Versa grabbed his jacket and pulled him around. “Straighten up,” she whispered. “And keep your voice down. I know you’re a hopeless drunk, but why did this occasion warrant extra lubrication?”
“Someone sent a hit squad after me,” he replied. Though, they both knew that was not the reason for extra drinking.
“Been awhile,” said Versa. "Jhori agents?”
“I don’t think so. I killed three of them, but the last one. She was Imperian. An elite one too.”
“So, Darex sent them then?” she asked.
Jrax shook his head. “I don’t think so. He tried to shoot down her ship as she got away.”
“Perhaps it was a rogue Imperian? One that still has a vendetta against our family. You know we’re not too popular over there.”
“So, I’ve heard,” Jrax said as he sat down on a bench beside the entrance of the throne room. “Doesn’t give off the impression we will be very welcome in our new residence.”
“We’ll have to put out that fire when we get to it. Right now, you need to sober up for your next meeting.” Versa handed him some pills.
“Another one?” he asked. “I don’t remember you saying anything about a second meeting.” He took the pills and started chewing on them. He knew it was her chemical concoction for sobering him up to perform kingly duties.
“Councilor Laski has sent her lackey up from the academy for an audience,” Versa told him.
“Abyss take me,” he said while rubbing his temples. “When?”
Versa gestured him toward his throne. “Now.”
Jrax swallowed down what was left of the pills. He wanted to be sharp if he was going to have to deal with any Jhori bureaucracy. He knew his every word would be scrutinized and reported to the Jhori Council.
He felt his heart start to race. Then he felt the contents of his stomach start to churn. He quickly ran over to a large vase and violently puked up what he had been drinking all day.
“Not feeling well?” asked a tall woman with fluorescent green skin.
Jrax wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Just some bad bird,” he said rubbing his stomach. “I take it you must be from the academy?”
“My name is Skyla. I am an instructor at the New Jhori academy where I teach philosophies.” She told him.
“Is this about one of my sons then?” asked Jrax.
“Neither,” Skyla said sharply. “Though, they are responsible for a couple large explosions that lead to a forest fire earlier today. The reason I have been informed to seek an audience with you is because we received reports of several ships leaving Imperia. It wouldn’t be the first time a Farakan Elementi went on a pilgrimage to see their forsaken homeworld.”
“What does that have to do with me?” asked Jrax.
“We were curious if you had heard anything about this tradition from Farakans you have fought against in the past.”
“I didn’t do a whole lot of talking during the war,” said Jrax. “At least not with the enemy.”
“So, you are saying you weren’t on Imperia today looking for a fight?”
“Well, clearly, I’ve been here,” he said pointing back at the vase of vomit.
“Clearly,” she replied. She rubbed her necklace, and it threw up a projection of his ship being sloppily landed on the balcony only moments ago.
Jrax did his best to act surprised. “When I find out who’s been out joy riding in my ship, I’ll see to it they are properly disciplined!”
“King Jrax,” she spoke in a very condescending tone. “It would be a shame if your people went hungry because you were uncompliant with a Jhori ambassador.”
“I didn’t leave the system or anything. I just went for a little cruise around the moons. Had I spotted an enemy ship I would have most certainly engaged.” Jrax had made the mistake of losing his temper in front of a Jhori ambassador before and his people had paid the price. Rations were severely reduced and the Pyrans had to double the number of troops they sent to guard the Jhori Capitol before their rations were restored. Forever ruining his chances at gaining the love of his people.
“If you say so.” Her long sleeves concealed her hands as she put her arms behind her back. “I never witnessed any battles from the Elementi Civil War, but I hear it was quite devastating. Some planets are still rebuilding from all the destruction it caused. Utterly amazing what your race is capable of.”
“Glad we have a fan. Don’t imagine you all will lift the travel ban any time soon.”
“You know we can’t allow that. Darex Voltus is a perfect example of why not.”
“Oh? Do tell.” Jrax wanted to sound as na?ve as possible when it came to Darex. If the Jhori suspected he had been in communication with him then he and his family would be imprisoned, or worse.
“He’s conquered nine more star systems in his time as ruler. Two of which are pivotal places for Farako to launch their next assault on New Jhori. His cult has also grown exponentially and we’re already receiving word of him sending millions of envoys to convert citizens from the other great nations. Darex’s cult combined with the planets his predecessors had already conquered gives him access to an uncomfortable number of resources and manpower. It is looking more and more everyday like we will have to face the renegades again. Their little empire left unchecked will soon become a great hinderance to our progress.”
Jrax frowned. “What progress? I see no benefit from taking on such a force. I’m sure someone reaps in a fine profit, but it certainly isn’t us.” He could feel his anger getting the best of him. The image of setting her ablaze dominated his mind.
“New Jhori provides everything for you. Your people no longer worry about whether or not their king had the farmers grow enough food, or if there will be enough clean water. Have your people experienced any plagues? No. So long as you can keep from falling back into your unfortunate habit of insubordination, then your people have not a care in the world.” Skyla explained.
“Do you enjoy travelling to distant planets?” Jrax took in several deep breaths. He had to stay calm. There was too much at stake for him to lose his temper right now. Not this close to the evacuation.
Skyla took a few steps towards the throne. “When your people can prove that they won’t take advantage of the weak, then you will be free to travel the stars as you please, King Jrax. We also have more than one opportunity provided to let Elementi break curfew.”
“To use as tools for your profit,” he replied bitterly.
“All our Jhori agents are handsomely rewarded. Jrax, it is not my fault that you were never allowed to become an agent. Your people created the law that kings, queens, and firstborn never leave Elementa. If you don’t want to be king, then perhaps you should step down.” She said in finality.
Jrax leaned back into his throne and took another deep breath to better control his temper. “So, have you obtained all you had come for?”
“I’m afraid not. The Jhori Council believe it is in all our best interest to bolster our military. We are asking all the systems in Jhori for additional aide.”
“I’m sure you are,” he said unenthusiastically. “However, if there is threat of war then I need my troops here.”
“If our resource planets get taken then can you guess who will be first on the list to not receive rations? The other Elementi royals have already pledged to provide us with the troops we have requested. I would hate to see what would become of your people if you did not comply.”
Jrax rubbed his temples. The thought of killing her right where she stood still crossed his mind more than anything else that he could come up with.
“It’s a fairly easy decision, Jrax. There’s no sense in having this much power all in one place. We must ensure that our farm worlds remain unscathed in the event of war. Just the mere presence of Elementi troops will deter any potential for attack.”
He could see no way out. The only thing that kept him in check was knowing that someday soon this would all be behind him. “So be it,” he spat as he waved her away.
Skyla bowed. “The Jhori nation thanks you for your wise decision,” she replied.