"Birth of a Vendetta"

[Cptn Elias Moore 0]

There are places in the multiverse where basic concepts taken for granted by those on other planes of existence simply do not function--joy, compassion, humility, love, hope. These notions are not merely discouraged in such places, nor are the inabitants of such places simply ignorant to their existence. They are, in fact, prohibited by fundamental laws of reality. Attempting to achieve them within the confines of these laws would be as futile as attempting to propel an object with mass at the velocity of light in a non-subspace realm.

 

In one such place, atop an insurmountable peak of jagged rock, under a blood-red sky, is a windowless citadel constructed entirely of bone. The structure has stood for millenia, preserved against the elements by the most unusual of means. It towers a good fifty feet into the sky, and its lower levels dig straight into the mountain another two-hundred feet. Its interior is a bleak labyrinth of delirium and despair for the hundreds of innocent souls imprisoned there. Their imprisoner is the master of the citadel--a man of unfathomable age, remarkable intelligence, and incomparable cruelty. His true name stretches nigh unto infinity, but those unfortunate enough to be aware of his presence refer to him as 'Antegard' for short.

 

Antegard bears a rage that has festered in his dark soul for as long as his citadel has stood. It drives him and all of his actions toward his ultimate goal--the destruction of the planet from which he was exiled and the death or enslavement of those who exiled him. Many have been the devices that he has wrought to see these vile desires fulfilled, but none has he cherished more than the five children he sired. He cherishes them not as beloved kin, for this is possible neither in his oppressive realm nor in his black heart, but as his most useful tools. The terms of his exile prohibit him and any members of his family, current or future, from leaving his terrible realm... but in the case of his five children, Antegard managed to find a loophole. He begat them under the most unique of circumstances, such that the terms of exile would not apply to them. Freely may they leave their dread realm and carry out their father's wishes abroad. And carry out his wishes they do, out of fear for him moreso than love or even loyalty.

 

When word reached Antegard of the death of one of his children, his already colossal rage mounted even further. The loss of one of his valuable tools was inconvenient enough, but what truly enfuriated him was that the lost child failed what was perhaps the most promising attempt yet to destroy Antegard's hated former homeworld. His child's failure was not only a grave setback to Antegard, it was also a terrible injustice that needed to be avenged. It was thus that he summoned his remaining children to the dark heart of his citadel.

 

Three months ago on the Earth calendar, four robed figures kneeled at four points of the pentagram scribed on the floor of Antegard's meeting chamber. Antegard, covered from head to toe in shrouds of jet black with silver skull tracings, walked around the outside of the pentagram appraising them slowly and deliberately. He stopped at the vacant fifth point and looked upon each child's hood-shadowed face. His own face was completely concealed beneath his hood, but as he stood in silence on the point where his dead child would be kneeling, his displeasure was obvious.

 

"Quantus is dead." His raspy voice announced. After an uncomfortable pause, he resumed his menacing pacing, looking from one child to the next. "I am disgusted by the breathing filth I see before me. Quantus was the smartest among you and the boldest. He had a plan that would finally have seen accursed Midgar reduced to rubble, and he never flinched from it for even a single moment. Where, in my present company, is the sort of ingenuity and determination that he showed?"

 

Antegard stopped behind one of the crouched figures. "Is there any with you, Magnus?" He harshly grabbed the figure's head and yanked back the hood, revealing the child's blood-red skin. "You and your sister laze the days away in your little pleasure palace while I rot in this dank hole of a reality! You tell me of research, of grand machinations that you are plotting that will result in Midgar's destruction... yet I have seen NOTHING from either of you! And when Quantus formed his plan and bade you for assistance... what did you do? You spurned him! You would not share glory with him. And you feared the risks! Cowardly rats, both of you!"

 

"Tell me what it is you wish of me father, and I will see it done without delay!" Magnus said, his voice edged with fear. "Never have I allowed my commitment to your--"

 

"Silence!" Antegard kicked him hard in the back, sending him sprawling against the floor. "I did not demand the presence of your worthless speech!"

 

Antegard continued pacing as Magnus scrambled back onto his knees. "Let us now consider this little crisis of ours. Why is Quantus dead, you wonder? Why did I not conjure him here when I knew that his life was in danger? Why else? Rufus. My thrice-damned brother. His loathsome presence kept me from summoning Quantus to my side. For had I pulled Quantus away, Rufus would have sensed my intervention. He and his blasted Council still believe me to be dead; their ignorance is an advantage that I will not throw away. But the true question is this: how did Rufus locate your brother? Quantus had mastered every technique that I have taught you to conceal your whereabouts from Midgar's diviners. Unlike the rest of you, he never would have slipped up. Yet Rufus managed to find him. The answer is actually quite simple. Rufus had help from... outsiders. Outsiders ignorant of our powers, but resourceful outsiders with unique capabilities of their own. Outsiders who must now be punished."

 

Antegard walked to the center of the pentagram and circled in place to gaze upon each of his children. "For your seemingly everlasting incompetence, I should slay you all. But, because I am not without my moments of mercy, I am going to give you all the chance to clean your slates. Quantus is dead because his affairs crossed those of a race of beings known as... humans. More specifically, the passengers of a spacefaring vessel that bears the name 'Challenger.'" One of the four children stirred at the name, but Antegard did not notice. "Find this vessel... destroy it... slay as many of its passengers as you can... do not allow their leader to live."

 

Antegard turned to the stone door leading out of the meeting chamber and strode out of the pentagram. He stopped at the door to address his children one last time. "Whichever one of you brings me the head of their leader will avoid my wrath for a time. Bring me delay or failure... and you will answer to Quantus directly."