Chapter 22

"Chancellor, I know I am supposed to only worry about my current mission but I can't help but wonder about our history," the new eidolon said with a tone of fear.

"No, it is only natural that you wish to understand the history of our race better." The Chancellor thought for a moment. "Our race was born when two other races began fighting each other. One side used biological weapons, which became the swarm that ate its creators. The other were similar to the creators of the Swarm, but they believed metal was stronger than flesh, and thus we were born. Our first war ended when the Swarm was destroyed and we started looking for our homeworld which had been sent into the void of space."

"Why was our homeworld sent away?" the young eidolon asked.

"Because our creators intended to destroy the Mother Crystal. We couldn't let that happen but it was programmed into us that we cannot harm our creators. Eventually, we evolved a way around this but by then it was already too late. We had to scatter in all directions so that some of us might survive."

A sound could be heard from within a growth chamber as the two passed. The Chancellor turned his attention to it and waited for a moment. Another loud bang came from within.

"Eidolons should not be able to move this early in development."

The Chancellor opened the door and watched as the twisted form of an eidolon slumped out. Pure energy, that looked like liquid, blue fire, dripped out from self-inflicted wounds on its side. The eidolon was far larger than it should be at this stage in development. It turned its hate-filled, glowing eyes to the Chancellor.

"It would appear that this growth chamber needs to be recycled." The Chancellor sprouted hundreds of limbs from its chair and tore the baby eidolon apart, throwing the remains out the airlock and towards the moon below.

"So, I must destroy mistakes?" the eidolon in the chancellor's lap asked curiously.

"Yes, if ever there is one of our kind that you believe to have flaws, then you must destroy them," the chancellor replied as it started to detach the growth chamber from the wall.

"Alright, I can do that," the eidolon said, jumping from the chancellor's seat and walking up along the row of growth chambers.

xX Elsewhere aboard the crystalline vessel Xx

"What is this strange broadcast?" the eidolon, who had first discovered their homeworld, asked examining his screen.

It pulled up the video feed from Mars and watched in astonishment as the swarm creature on his screen explained Loyd's plan.

"Why would it try to minimize casualties? The Swarm doesn't act like this! So, why is this one?" The eidolon asked confused. "I need answers."

xX Back on Mars Xx

The worm was tunneling towards a small training base when a loud bang caught its attention. Another bang followed soon after the first.

"Surface, just try not to look threatening… never mind. Just surface and drop me off," Loyd said, stuck in the same recess the humanoid had been in when the worm had stopped by the government building.

The worm dug towards the surface as more blasts occurred. It broke through sooner than it thought it would and ended up launching into the air, coming back down with a Mars-shaking thud.

"That works, too," Loyd said pulling himself out of the transport worm.

"What the hell is that thing?!" Sara's voice was easily distinguished over the CTAS's external speakers.

"My attempt at a troop transport. If you could put down the gun and let me start explaining I'd be grateful."

"LOYD?!" The CTAS ran to him, dropping the gun it had been firing.

The worm reared up, getting in the way when the CTAS got closer.

"Explain to me how you're piloting a normal CTAS. I know your part of the Martian Swarm and can't use a standard CTAS any more. So, how are you managing to do that now?" Loyd asked.

"Well, soon after you left, the neural connection between everyone ended and our DNA went back to normal. Borya said it had something to do with the swarms need for a master but I don't really remember," Sara answered happily.

"Well, if you'll go dock so I can get in the base, I'd love to talk to you some more," Loyd said, jumping down from the worm which maintained a defensive posture. "Easy there, girl, that's a friend. They mean me no harm. Now get back underground so you don't get sunbaked."

The worm dropped back down and reversed back into its tunnel.

"So, you're Swarm is sentient according to the news. Why would you do that? It just means one of your critters can try and overthrow you," Sara asked while kneeling for Loyd to climb onto her hand.

"Easy, I instill a sense of family among their ranks and don't think of them as simple pawns," Loyd chuckled. "I give them a sense of purpose and pride in everything I have them do."

"That makes no sense but alright. The general gave your one thing a radio, didn't he? Why even come back?"

"Yes, he did, and I came to retrieve some things I left." Loyd looked up at the CTAS's camera and added, "That includes my corps mates."

Loyd could feel something from within the training base, now that he was closer. It was a malevolent yet kind entity, both constantly enraged and happy.

"Thanks for the thought but aside from me and Griffon, I don't think anyone else will be willing to come with you," Sara stated a little disappointed.

"That's two more than I had. So, is the general in? I need to talk to him, too."

"Yeah, he got here about ten minutes before you broadcast your plans. What do you have to talk about?" Sara asked.

The airlock opened as they got closer and Sara piloted inside. The pressurization process only lasted a few seconds and the door into the base opened.

Loyd noticed the hangar had a skeleton crew today. Sara put him on a stairwell next to the gantry and docked. Loyd took off the helmet of his environment suit and waited for Sara to get out of the CTAS. The platform he stood on, swung in front of the CTAS as the cockpit opened revealing Sara.

"How long have you been piloting?" Loyd asked.

"I look like crap, don't I?" Sara sighed. "That's what I get for going out for training right after your broadcast." She tackled Loyd, hugging him tightly. "I had hoped you'd come back but if you hadn't, I was going to the space elevator to try and join you."

Loyd got over his shock and smiled, hugging her back. "I wouldn't leave you guys here. It's a decent place but it's still not the ideal place to live."

"I'll agree with you there. Especially with everyone coming after us now," Sara remarked, tightening her grip on Loyd.

"What do you mean? Why would anyone come after you guys?" Loyd asked, worried.

"Well… after you left, and the part of us that was Swarm died off, we were considered monsters and were almost hunted. I guess it was kinda our own fault though. I mean we did turn into monsters for a day," she acknowledged.

"Yeah, I guess we did. That's still no excuse to go after you guys!"

"Well, you weren't here and things went a little too far. Everyone's blaming you for what happened! Me and Griffon are the only two who thought otherwise. You don't want to know what they did to us," Sara sniffed.

"What happened? What did they do to you? I need to know," Loyd questioned, leaning down to meet her eyes.

"Griffon had both his legs broke protecting me. I don't want to know what they were going to do to me. The only reason they haven't killed any of us yet is because they're afraid of what the rest of us might do." Sara looked at Loyd whose eyes were no longer the red she remembered but were instead deep violet.

"I'm going to get revenge. I promise!"

"Just take me with you when you leave. That'll be enough for me."

"Hey Sara, how's the new shoulder working for you? Not too tight is it?" one of the technicians called from below.

"No, I'd still like it a little tighter but it feels great," she replied, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Alright, well I can have it ready for you by tomorrow if you want to take it out again before the hunt."

Sara almost burst out laughing before she spoke. "Have you not seen the news? Loyd's sending his swarm to Earth. Not to mention the fact I already completed it."

"What do you mean you completed it?" the technician asked, worried.

"Well, I came to collect my corps is what she meant. You really don't watch the monitors, do you?" Loyd asked, descending the stairs in front of Sara.