Chapter 154: Group fucking hug

Chapter 154: Group fucking hug

Everyone settled down to wait.

The whole situation was so surreal - the empty and endless expanse of the demiplane, the fact that they were accelerating into a black hole, and that theyd been sent on this missions by bona fide aliens - that James found it hard to feel immersed in the moment.

The crew stood around for a bit, then folks sat in small groups and spoke quietly amongst each other. Kimmie remained standing, alert, a vertical line between her brows. Olaf stood protectively beside her, occasionally offering words of encouragement.

Listen, everyone, said James at last. They were about to head into battle. He had to say something. Mavthua made something pretty clear at the end there.

Everyone looked his way.

Were well and truly deviating from acceptable norms here. The Systems designed to accept node breaking, skipping levels in the Pit, even teleporting into unsanctioned areas. All thats in good fun. But now weve hacked our power system and are heading into a strictly off-limits facility. This isnt part of their game anymore. And while things have always been lethal, they were dangerous in a formulaic and carefully planned manner. This? What were going up against? Theres no calibration. No intention to make sure the right percentage of our crew survives, levels up, and keeps going. The gloves are coming off. Weve no idea what well find in the facility, but its going to be tough and its going to be pissed.

Excuse me, said Serenity, raising her hand. Is this meant to be a motivational speech? Because if so, it sucks.

No. James snorted. More like a reality check. I was thinking. Were used to as a team getting served a warm-up before the real fight. Mooks we can wipe out before facing the Nem Queen, that kind of thing. Im worried weve grown to expect that. An initial fight thats easy and lets us flex before we face the real threat. An on ramp, whatever. But there might not be one this time. We may be thrown right into the main fight the second we arrive. So what Im saying is, bring your A-game. Dont hold back. Dont expect a ramp-up. Itll be life and death from go.

Agreed, said Jason quietly. Theres a feeling of finality? to this. I dont see how the Eluthaarii will let us go back to playing ball after this heist. This feels big. I dont know whats coming, but I doubt itll be working our way through the remaining level of the Pits.

It could go well, said Kimmie. Were taking them by surprise. If we acquire a bunch of Reservoir Cubes we can grow even more powerful. Should we I mean, we initially agreed to return to Arkhos so they could help us absorb the cubes, right? Should we still do that?

I dont think so, said James softly. With Mavthua dead, I doubt the others will be pleased with our kicking the ants nest. Well have to do this alone.

I can teleport us back to Earth, said Jason. We can go into hiding and work on absorbing the cubes.

And then? Denzel sounded tense. Anybody have a sense of the endgame here? What are we working toward? Anybody? Show of hands who thinks we can actually fight these Eluthaarii after a couple more cubes.

Kimmie raised her hand then quickly lowered it when she saw nobody else do the same.

All right, all right, fine. James put his hands on his hips and stared at the floor. He had to change their train of thought. Get them back on track. Fine. Ill give you a proper motivational speech.

Yay, said Serenity, clapping her hands with faux-excitement. Speech!

Look. James grimaced. Weve been defying the odds for so long that impossible victories have started to feel normal. Who here felt like they were qualified to represent our species in the final endgame of a demon invasion?

Yadriel sneered and raised his hand. Obviously.

Other than Yadriel, said James, and everyone else grinned. We know better, smarter, faster, tougher people who didnt get this far. Call it luck, call it random, but whatever has brought us this far didnt pick us because we were Olympic athletes or members of Mensa. I dont know why it was this crew that ended up being here now, and not anybody else.

Boo, said Serenity. Speech sucks again.

But while I cant explain it, I feel something. I can sense it. Theres something magical about our team. Some weird dynamic, some force that allows us to keep on winning where everyone else falls apart. Luck, sure. But theres more. James met each persons gaze as he looked around the group. I dont know that Ive ever had much truck with notions of destiny or fate, but now I cant think of any other reason wed all have made it this far. And not just made it, but made it as a team. A family. Id lay my life down for any of you, and I think youd do the same for each other. Weve been forged in fire. Weve suffered. Weve lost. But weve persevered. And now? Now were going to push that luck to an extreme. If were to survive whats coming, well need more than luck. Well need it to be fated. Well need this to be our destiny.

Ooh, said Serenity, turning to nod approvingly to the others. This is getting good now.

James ignored her. So I want you to think on this: were here because we were meant to be. Whether its Gods will or impersonal fate, whether its karma or destiny, we nine were chosen by some force that has protected us and shepherded us this far. So - no - I cant guess at the endgame. I dont know whats going to happen after this. But after all weve been through, Ive got faith. Faith that well figure it out. That our destiny will carry us through. I believe, to the depths of my soul, that were going to succeed. That if we give this our all, if we fight with everything weve got, well win through. Dont ever bet against Crimson Hydra. Dont ever count us out. Because well always win through. And whatevers waiting inside that black hole for us? Its about to have a really, really bad day.

Folks grinned, sat up straighter.

Hell yeah, said Denzel. I can get behind that. Fate. Yeah.

Jason nodded and turned to Miriam, whose eyes were glimmering with tears. Olaf inhaled and puffed out his chest, his expression resolute. Even Serenity couldnt help but grin.

Man, good speech, Kelly. Really not bad.

Heh. James swept his hands over his hair. Itd started to get long. His beard, too. He couldnt remember the last time hed gotten a trim. Thanks.

What about you, Kerim? Yadriel stared at the professor. You dont believe in any of this shit, right? So whats your take?

Yadriel hugged himself defensively and stuck out his chin. This is happening under protest, yall. This aint cool.

Aw, cmon you big softy. Serenity stepped in and wrapped her arms around Olaf and Kerims shoulders. You know you love it.

James was the last to join the group. They wrapped their arms around each other, forming a ring around Yadriel, heads bowed. For a moment they just stood thus, standing close.

Ah, fuck it. Fine. Group fucking hug. Yadriel uncrossed his arms. You pussies.

Language, warned Denzel.

You female anatomies.

Still misogynistic.

Bah!

James expected the hug to break up quickly, but nobody moved to step away. They remained thus, holding onto each other, and warmth and love arose within Jamess core. These were his people. His crew. He felt grounded by them, felt right.

Oh, watch out, said Kimmie, and everyone immediately stepped apart. Here we go. I think weve hit the exponential curve bit of the acceleration. Were starting to really zoom here.

Everyone together, said James. Olaf, get that Circle ready. Miriam, get ready to boost him. Kimmie, you ready to protect us on the substrate?

Aye aye, captain, said Kimmie tensely.

Whoa, said Denzel. Look at that.

The pearlescent sky had begun to warp. It was still the same setup, the same floor and endless sky, but now it felt as if James were looking at it through a curved lens, so that everything curved down at the edges of his vision.

Should that be happening? asked Miriam worriedly.

Nobody answered.

Super fast now, whispered Kimmie.

The demiplane was shrinking, the curvature growing more extreme, even as James intuited that the actual infinite expanse of the floor remained the same. He felt his body grow heavier, more dense.

Urgh, said Denzel. I want that Corporal Perfection back.

His voice sounded strange, muted, as if it were coming from far away.

Any second now, said Kimmie, her voice echoey and hollow as if she were speaking through a long tube.

Jamess heart was pounding, and not in the smooth, effortless manner of before when hed been rocking Corporal Perfection 125 and Stamina of almost 300. No, this felt labored, almost frenzied. His chest was tight, his mouth dry, his gut clenched.

This was it.

The final toss of the die.

James looked around, took in each of his friends faces. He wanted to think of their best moments, their highlights, but all he felt was a slurry of fear and anticipation, anger and resolve.

Serenity reached out and took his hand.

He squeezed hers back.

Bonnie and Clyde, she whispered.

You know it, said James softly. He thought of Jessica, then, a brief, momentary pang of remorse that theyd never had the time, the chance to move things forward.

Then bright light filled the demiplane, washing away all details, and James felt his body turn inside out as he was ejected into the heart of a black hole.