The ride back to the station was more of a late braking test leading to an adrenaline spike. After we confirmed that our pilot was in fact not a Kamakazi pilot about to take us out with her, I arrested back control of my body. Peeling one finger open at a time from the cargo netting behind me, I resumed breathing. The scene was as scary as it had been illuminating. Larger glass spheres around the far edges of the cluster reflected tugs shaped similarly to our vessel just with many more engines going off in rapid succession. The controlled bursts shifted the ships and controlled the movement of large asteroids towards the station. The rocks that looked like pebbles from our vantage point were disappearing through a door with an ominous red glow emitting from it. Just below the door was a large net that seemed to act as a storage area for refined materials. It seemed that something that looked like ants or spiders in space suits were inside the net securing small loads of cargo and retrieving others. After closer inspection of the station, knowing what to look for I could see small groups of these creatures repairing conduits and pipes dotted all over the cluster. “Where are we headed Melissa?” I asked. “Oh just you wait kid” came the pilot's voice around the chair. “We are going to pop around here and you won't be able to look away.”

  The pilot's words were true in every sense of the words she used. After rounding the glass where we were traveling around the cluster opened up into a megastructure. Following the design of the buildings inside, a massive hanger lined by dark metal grating slid into view. The entire cockpit view was overtaken by rows and rows of the same hanger copied across the back length of the cluster. Looking through the floor I could just make out a frame holding up what looked to be a rather oversized anchor point in the center of the docking area below all the hangers. “When a dreadnought is parked here it makes all the other hangers look small. It's a treat to have so much room to fly around” stated the pilot. “There is our hanger just past the hanger queen area. See the flashing green spot light pointed at us.”

  A slow level flight brought us up to the hanger directly in front of where we had entered from followed by a slow descent to bring us down to our hanger entrance. The pilot brought us in with a jerk and landed smoothly on the red striped zone below. One confirming click gave me a chance to relax since I had started the trudge to breakfast this morning. My already short rest was interrupted by Melissa gesturing towards the door where she was patiently waiting.

  “Melissa! This must be out V.I.P for this containment. Let me take a look will ya. I wont bite. Much” An similarly armored woman standing a head taller than Melissa peeked around the defensive guard. “Where is the male I heard about?” A dark red face with two horns protruding from the top sides of her head in a curve inwards made eye contact with me. I only held eye contact for a heartbeat before taking in the perfect symmetry of her young slim face. The dark red of her skin contrasted greatly with the bright green eyes that I could swear gave off a small glow. Her hair matched the darkness of her skin in a brown that came all the way to her mid back. “Yo” I quipped with a smile in an attempt to distract from my way to a long appraisal of the soldier. “Yo” she returned with a grin. “I'm Caps. I'll be your mount today. I was worried when they asked me to be a carrier today for a V.I.P that I'd have a hard time of it. Seems like today is my lucky day. You don't seem all that heavy so the pay will be well worth the trouble. Just try not to squirm” She said before turning back to readying her equipment.

  The other guards seemed to be Micans just like Melissa with varying frames. One stood out from the rest. While the color of the armor match black plates on black mesh like the others. The plates were far thinner than the ones Melissa and Caps wore. The containment squad readied themselves with guns about as large as I am. Seeing the ease of which the armaments were slung around I knew I was in practiced hands. This must be a team of veterans taking me out to meet the voidborn. I was not sure how the mission would go and I think I was going to be carried by the explanation Caps gave a moment ago. The shuttle pilot peeked out stepping onto a fold down door that acted as an impromptu ramp. “Get your tooshes in gear. Commander Redgate wants us in and out in time to debrief the V.I.P during lunch. I’m not about to be the weak link in her plans.”

  “Caps, outfit the V.I.P in an environment suit quickly. Don't concern yourself with the fit, just grab one and go.” came a commanding voice. The lightly armored person seemed to be in charge because they started issuing orders and picking up cargo to load onto the shuttle. Caps took one took at the wall of the hanger and one back at me before a grin ran across her face and she bolted surprisingly quickly to the racks. Only a few quick strides later and she was back with a huge white bunny suit that reminded me of the scientists in movies. A huge clear plastic helmet was shoved over my body. I gave up as I was suited up in what was obviously a joke. While attempting to ignore the manhandling I took a moment to review the combat shuttle that was before us. The size was already matching that of a mansion. Guns bristled off the hull in every direction with short barrels. Larger emplacements on the undercarriage appeared to be manned as they began the preflight checks. Engines powered on with a blue flicker that quickly grew to a soft glow. Flaps that must be for in atmosphere control moved on a deltawing that was so small I barely noticed it between the smaller guns. A spine mounted tube that only revealed itself upon being granted a higher vantage point by Caps’s shoulder mounted sling accented the spine of the craft. I want to see that thing fire I thought while being carried to the shuttle entrance. “Don’t you dare get him hurt!” shouted Melissa from behind us. Caps ignored her while adjusting her side mounted hanging cloth seat so that I would fit behind her. “Dont you worry lad. I haven't failed an escort yet. If ya know what I mean” Caps laughed the last part to herself. A theme of black metal on the bare inside of the craft matched the simplistic exterior. It seems that this material is good for most space related applications. I wonder what the super material would do to the economy back on earth.

  A few rapid thunks from the hull signaled our shuttled freedom from the docking restraints. The door flipped up and sealed shut without any visible seams. I was now stuck on this mission whether I wanted to go or not. I had not given the request of commander Redgate to see the voidborn a second thought. Could I have declined? Probably. I was shaking. I could feel my hands flexing and my legs wanting to be free from the sling holding me to Caps upper back. I was cramped with my knees on my chest Balled up inside a white bunny suit and peering through a clear plastic material at everything I could find, I noticed that I was getting a few looks myself. “What does a dwarf Mican have to do with our mission today?” A demand came from the lightly armored warrior across the shuttle's hull. I can't be left in the dark if you know something that we don't. If it endangers my team I will call off the dog and pony show. So, tell me. What is going on between you and Redgate?”

  “I am purely here to see the voidborn for the first time.” I replied meeting the earnest request with as clear a statement as possible. Somewhat to uphold any pride I had remaining, and somewhat to join in a distraction the the speed of passing obstacles outside the pilots viewport. “Bull. Shit. That's what people who know dangerous things say. Tell me the real reason you are endangering my scout’s life or you will not be leaving the shuttle until we return Ommery” the lead warrior stated. With a sigh I responded “I have orders from commander Redgate to not speak about my situation with anyone. I’d rather not piss off someone so vicious. I truly am just here to see the voidborn for the first time. I would rather not have to put on this silly environment suit and get carried out by another squad. Besides all that, I like the way Caps carries me” I said the last part smugly. Laughter from the rest of the shuttle rose up. “I getcha kid. No worries. Commander Redgate has faith in us and told us some of your situation already. I'll report back after this with a recording of your performance today. I'm sure she will be pleased with your tight lipped response.” The shuttering below me slowed as the laughter calmed. “Why do you say that the commander is vicious? Not that I'm disagreeing with ya.” Caps asked. “I am not used to the gravity of the station yet and the commander decided to test my endurance on the way to her office.” I stated plainly. “Quite bold of the lady in such a public space” replied caps. “It was just a bit of a jog through the station. It felt like forever at the time though” I said, remembering the mental strain of the jog. A shutter ran through my whole body. “Thats the reaction a lot of folks get after their first encounter with Redgate. Don’t feel bad. If she went through with the meeting without letting you rest then you passed. She has a nasty habit of testing people on the first few meetings.” the leader stated. I sighed in response.

  A mic channel opened in my suit. “You hear me, mister V.I.P?” crackled from the environmental suits coms. “Lima charley” I responded to the unknown voice. The voice continued “comms all patched in helmets are all connected. Please seal suits and prepare for portal breach”

  “Thats sim” an electrically marred voice of Caps came through the suit coms. “She is an AI that keeps out computer systems in play so we can ignore our own statuses until she brings them up.” caps further explained. “Copy” I kept my verbiage simple and short to avoid stepping on everyone else. “Dont be so stiff kid. Stay alert and clear but don't get stiff on us. We all have to adapt on the fly in these portals. Being stiff just gets ya killed” the leader said. The team's helmets closed up over the squad all in sync. Caps suit wrapped around the base of her horns and sent a thin shell to match the protrusions. The jolt of the helmet unfolding between me and caps’s back was enough to make my knees impact my forehead for a moment. “Enjoy the ride!” Caps shouted over the door hissing open.

  Sharp looking black appendages more than two feet long shoved in between the door and its frame scrambling after anything they could reach on the other side. The door finished opening with a rapid motion causing a cracking sound to reverberate through the hull. “Seems that they have trapdoors all over, I cleared all the little shits visible on the surface just watch for traps” came the pilot’s voice. “No worries. Thanks for the entrance!” the leader replied. A wave of force swept across the sickly yellow stone away from the ship's exit. Holes appeared in the ground under the wave's impact where a facade of the stone floor had been set up. The now revealed voidborn jumped out of their ambush positions and bolted for the shuttle. Kinetic sounds of gunfire from the smaller cannons flattered the would be assault in only a couple seconds. Mounds of solid black corpses laid piled on the ground around the ship.

  The worst part was the remnants of what must have once been a city block in the background. Windows were blown out of almost every part of the organic constructs. They reached high into the empty air only to be severed by a large purple dome overtop the ruined city. We had landed in a park area that had no trees or grass of any kind left growing. Only ruts existed where the carefully planned paths once weaved through the barren park. The holes that lined the paths must have held the roots of beautiful adult trees or flower beds. The scene reminded me of my first visit to a city park back home as a kid.

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  An increase in gravity hit me like a truck, nearly pulling me off Caps’s back. The jolt moved me back into reality as Caps’s voice repeated to me. “You still in one piece kid?” she asked. “Yeah, yeah I'm here. Just” I paused, just remembered something.” I continued. “Well try to stay in the present. We need you to be able to talk with that vicious monster of a commander when you get back.” Caps joked. “Dont go getting stiff on us now. Wrong time and place for that” Caps said. “Caps you are not scouting this mission but I still need you focused. Keep moving with the rest of us.” The leader ordered. “Wilco” Caps replied before bounding to the rest of the group.

  The lightly armored individual I had identified as the containment squads mage continued using the same wave of force to dislodge more of the voidborn from their hidden nests. I bumped along on Caps back while keeping an eye to our backs, just in case I told myself. We cleared a path to the central spire of the block that stood out as the tallest building here. “The queen is usually guarded at the center of the dome. It seems like she took refuge in that building. We are going to try to scale straight up the side to avoid any internal taps that may be waiting. Hope you're not afraid of heights.” the leader explained. As we approached the building a swarm of smaller voidborn in an ant like configuration flooded the base of the building and spilled out onto the yellow street. Caps moved behind the others immediately as the formation spread open in a line and released a hail of bullets into the swarm. “Supporting fire inbound” came the pilot's voice over the suits' coms. “Hold your positions” she shouted.

  The ground in front of us exploded up into the air. Yellow stone and black guts blotted out the view of the building we had been trying to enter a moment ago. A second and third explosion followed soon after, placed in between us and the building to either side of the first, digging a ditch between the swarm and us. The swarm did not run into the ditch, instead turning and sweeping around either side. “They are trying to flank. Move right!” said the leader in a calm tone. The group all rotated in place and cleared the voidborn that were trying to separate us from our ride out. Moving forward at a rapid pace, we fortified ourselves at the edge of the crater nearest the shuttle. “Caps we need your vision, Where is she watching from?” asked the leader. Caps paused her gunfire and peered up at the aged structure for a moment. “Fourth floor, she has a sensor poking out at the corner beam,” said Caps after a pause. “On it” said a new voice. The squad member turned and pulled a tube off their back. Pointing it at the building a burst of lasers shot out, catching the corner of the building right where Caps had said.

  The swarm froze for a moment before a heavy clicking echoed through the enclosed space. “Got her good Sage. Reloading” said the excited voice behind the devastating attack. “Good hit” said the mage. “And don't call me Sage in missions” she continued.

  I heard a snap of something small. Turning around I saw the world move in slow motion. An extra ugly version of the smaller swarmers was springing at Caps’s legs from behind. I attempted to shout but my mouth couldn't move fast enough. The sharp legs of the voidborn cut through the once sturdy trunks holding up caps. More of the voidborn fell onto the party from behind. The mage noticed Caps go down and focused as a shield of blue formed around the party stopping all the other assaulters in their place. The mage strained as the others fell into a melee with the assassins. Caps braced herself to fall forwards only to have the voidborn sweep her arms out from under her. The gun in her hands bounced off the ground having its strap cut free during the ambush. My sling buckled and I fell onto the ground beside caps into something mercifully soft. Taking stock of my situation I scrambled on my hands and feet to reach the rifle that had landed in front of me. Hauling the beast of a weapon upright I placed myself behind it in the prone position. Caps was face down with her attacker attempting to stab through her back plates. I dragged the heavy weapons barrel in line with the creature, braced and pulled the trigger. A burst of rounds shot through the black carapace and cleaved the voidborn in two from the vertical recoil of the gun. When the creature collapsed backwards I could see the other squad members finishing their own melees. The mage strained in place as his shield began to waver. Someone scooped up Caps on their back. I was picked up just after as everyone formed up around the mage pointed outward. Black exoskeletons had darkened the inside of the shield almost immediately and had not given up their assault. “I am going to blow a hole in the side of the pile” came the pilots voice over the coms. Small turrets were audible in the background as she spoke. “Copy” the mage responded. Everyone braces and the barrier doubled over itself. “Brace” said the pilot as an explosion eviscerated half of the swarm overtop of us. My new carrier had bolted as soon as the barrier broke, taking lead on the charge back to the shuttle.

  Everyone was huffing as the doors closed behind us and the mage communicated the injuries caps had sustained. Something was spoken about fancy drinking and we were off. Caps was placed on a stretcher with her severed legs placed next to her thighs. I moved to her head where her pain was visible through her helmet on her face. “It’s going to be okay. You are safe now” I assured her. One of the guards moved me to open a panel and pull a cord. Caps’s helmet separated into a bunch of parts which I moved away from her face. I held her head to stop her from looking down and seeing the real damage. I glanced up at the mage who was glaring at his hands angrily. Noticing me he said “I never really got the hang of healing. I can't help her right now.” Straps were being wrapped around her lower thigh to stop the blood that was coating the once shiny floor. My mind raced with my heart in a dead sprint. I knew how he felt. Completely useless as I comforted the wounded soldier. The adrenaline rush faded on the ride back which seemed to carry on forever compared to our flight out. We were greeted upon arrival at a strange docking port by light green smocks and a hovering bed. Caps was deftly moved, and we were ushered back to the shuttle. We undocked with one less amongst us and everyone looked distraught. I tempered myself and held in my feelings on the short ride back to the deployment area.

  Melissa was waiting to pick me up at the same hanger we left earlier. She had a sandwich of some kind and munched on it while we all went through a quick scan and decontamination shower. I peeled open the back of the newly painted purple environmental suit and simply stepped out as if it was a tent. The fresh air hit me immediately. I had not realized the amount of sweat that had built up either. Melissa, having finished her sandwich, greeted me “How, did you enjoy your first visit to a portal?” leaning down she waited for a response. “I don't like them” I fumed. “Thats the spirit little prince,” Melissa commented. The commander wants a rundown of your experience. Let's take a bit of a walk so you can get your thoughts collected” she said, leading me to the hangar exit.

  The gravity was as difficult to move through as it was before but I was to busy imagining all the things I should have done differently. I did not even ask for a weapon to fight with myself. The guilt built every time I saw Caps’s face reappear in my hands. Her legs sitting next to her on the stretcher. Before I knew it we had made it to Commander Redgate’s office. Melissa opened the door and I wabbled in. Guessing by the jelly feeling in my legs and the soreness catching up to me from the previous day, the walk had been a long one.

  “One moment Master Walker and I'll be right with you,” Redgate said quickly. “Yes, that was him. As he seems to still be in one piece, yes I will have him enrolled and start the candidate search immediately.” She paused in her conversation on the phone to look over at me. Continuing her conversation “That is if he is interested in enlisting. I won't force him to. An envoy has many tasks to attend to. He will already be overworked from his training. Let us not break our guest so quickly. Right, we will be sending him over early. If he agrees I will call you and let you know. Also,please prepare to have Summoner Juniper Keeps and her Living Pod moved. She will be needing more resources and I'd prefer to have the shut in close to them. You too” The commander said, pressing a button and ending a call.

  With a grin aimed through my soul commander redgate spoke “ so what can you tell this vicious lady about your experience with the voidborn. “ I almost choked on the drink I had retrieved after entering the office. “I um, It was not meant to be an insult” I tried to convince her. “Oh, I know I am vicious but you don't have to say it out loud Master Walker. Well?” she replied.

  “I don't think that they are going to be willing to give up what they have taken from the world peacefully” I looked up at the commander for any sign that I had said something incorrect. She simply sat behind her desk and menaced a wider grin toward me. “They took Caps’ legs from her and I couldn't stop them. I have replayed the scene over and over in my head. Nothing I could do would have changed that” I said with a wilt in my voice.

  “The squad tried to show off” Redgate shut me down. “Their actions were rushed and they have learned from their mistake. Even more than that they are lucky enough to have lived through it. As I see it, Caps owes her life to your actions. The actions of a civilian with no training. We will see how she lived down that embarrassment among her comrades” the commander said with a laugh. “She is going to be fine. Just a bit of damage to the whole squads pride and maybe some cool new scars. Do not mistake this as your fault” The commander finished casually.

  “Understood,” I replied after a brief pause. I collected myself and continued. “If I decide to become a mage, what resources will I be allotted?” I asked. “The slim lady behind her desk slouched and leaned back in her chair. “You are given knowledge and time to improve yourself. The education that tends to work the best is quite simple. Push the students as hard as possible and see where people fall out of line. Those that fall out first are given simple certification allowing them to act as a reserve. Those that persevere to the end of their first year are given the opportunity to carry on through more rigorous training and some specialized classes of the mages choice. These individuals will usually be seen graduating after two years with a full mage certification and a right to claim a portal clearance job for themselves ahead of lesser trained mages. After that it gets into a grey area but the certifications above two years all become specially written privileges given to help the mage in performing their job without interruption from even the station's security.” The commander paused in her rant and looked me in the eyes. “You will not be given anything else. If you enlist and join the mage school Be prepared to adapt and form your own strategy for life. No hand holding allowed” she finished pointedly.

  I pondered the many ways I would have to change. I would have to respect authorities at the school and absorb as much information as possible without prejudice for the speaker. I needed to become a sponge and collect knowledge of the voidborn along with the portals. “I looked back at the commander who was now leaning over her desk, hands splayed under her weight. She smiled, waiting for the answer she could undoubtedly tell was coming. I sighed. “Yeah, you got me. Sounds like a lot of fun” I replied. Feeling brave I threw in a wink for good measure.