"Back from the Abyss"
A Phantasy Star Online fanfiction by
M_BlackHawk
Chapter 1:
Tragedy and Aftermath
Rhiana had woke early that morning, in
her room, to see a message showing in her BEE uplink. She clicked the small
machine's "read" button and checked the messages.
"Rhiana," the message read, "Gov. Tyrell has asked me to get a partner for an
emergency quest, starting tomorrow at noon. I can only bring one person with me,
as we'll be accompanied by two members of the colony military group, WORKS. They
will act as our special government liason. I'll tell you more when we meet at
the guild tomorrow at 11:00am. Please meet me then. Takezo."
"That's strange," she thinks to herself, "His messages usually have more to them
than this." A worried look comes to the young FOmarl's face as she continues to
think about the message. After picking out a suit and fixing her long, sandy
brown hair, she walked down to be met by her mother, Lara.
"Is something wrong?" the mother asks of her daughter, "You look a little
worried."
"I got a message from Takezo on the BEE uplink," Rhiana answers, "But it wasn't
like the others I've received from him. I've got a strange feeling that
something's wrong with this emergency quest."
"Emergency quest? Don't tell me Tyrell's handed down another one. Didn't we just
destroy the Pioneer 1 Central dome for that jackass?"
"I know. Something tells me there's more to this than we think. Takezo's message
sounded like he was worried. I'll know more later. If I need help, I'll call
you."
"Ok, Rhiana." Lara says, hugging her middle child, "Just be careful. I'll call
in a favor and see if I can find out more about this."
Time goes by and 11:00am arrives as Rhiana's waiting at the Hunter's guild for
her long time friend, Takezo. The HUmar arrives just shortly after 11, with a
strange RAmar and RAmarl with him. Rhiana notices the strange way he's behaving,
and his worried facial expression, and walking manner
She looks over the female ranger, noticing one or two similarities between her
and her mother, but dismisses the thought. The RAmar looked like he wasn't long
before retiring from service. His dark hair had streaks of gray across the sides
of his head. She wagered that he was roughly in his mid 60's and really wasn't
keen on going on this mission.
"Rhiana?" the RAmarl says, "You're the partner that Takezo is bringing?"
"How do you know me?" the FOmarl asks, "I've never seen you."
"I'm your aunt, Shiara Mano," she answers, "Does Lara know you're on this
quest?"
"I'm already 17, Aunt Shiara. I can take care of myself, and got the highest
marks in my class at the force academy. I've helped Mom and Dad on several
quests already. It's not like I'm some green newbie who just started."
"Ok, Ok," Shiara tells her, "You look like you can fend for yourself with your
techs. I'll back off."
"Just what is this quest?" Rhiana asks, fearing the worst, "From Takezo's
worried tone in his message, it sounds urgent."
"It is," the RAmar answers, "I'm Brig. General James Morgan of military
intelligence. Tyrell was going to send WORKS on this, but I used my pull in
military affairs to get Shiara and myself placed on this mission. We have reason
to believe that someone is messing with several different items of immense
power. We've detected the energy signatures on Gal Da Val island. The signatures
are closely related to the dark crystals in the old ruins that were sent away
after the Shade Stalker incident, as well as having several similarities to the
D-Cells that took over Heathcliff Flowen, and a strange relic that was destroyed
by your grandfather before Pioneer 1 left our homeworld of Coral, not to mention
the artificial falz that Master created. If someone is merging those powers,
then it could only be for no good. Mike and Lara have the most experience in
these matters, but they're retired from active service. We wanted to get Jessica
to help, but it seems that Takezo contacted you instead of your sister."
"You'll need an experienced force anyway," Rhiana advises him, "I'll do my
best."
"I just hope it's enough," Takezo says, "Whatever's merging those powers," his
voice trails off as Gen. Morgan leads the party to a teleporter. They transport
from their location to a secluded area of Gal Da Val island, where they come
acoss the energy signatures again. A pillar of megid-like energy is shooting up
from the heart of the central control area, into the skies over the island.
There are, strangely, no monsters in the area, as they proceed cautiously toward
Central Control. Not a word is said between the four as the doors open, allowing
them to press further in.
The strange energies get stronger and stronger the further in the party goes.
Rhiana can somehow feel the influence of master's artificial falz and the
twisted song project mixed in with the power of Dark Falz, which she felt from
Shade Stalker, and two sources she couldn't recognize. She looks over at Takezo,
who still doesn't like the idea of coming on this mission. The young FOmarl then
looks over to her aunt, Shiara, who gives her a reassuring look, then continues
on without speaking.
The party comes to a locked door, where Shiara takes out a small computer and
begins to hack the security code. In a matter of minutes the door silently
opens, as the group looks in to see a man, probably a force, dressed in all
black, with black hair and a, strangely, not carrying a cane, rod or wand.
"With the power from these artifacts," the strange FOmar mutters, "I can
resurrect my lord before the millennial cycle comes again. That creature that
they killed before was but a fraction of the true beast that is my lord, Dark
Force."
"Dark Force?" Takezo asks, "Rhiana, have you read anything about a Dark Force,
in your studies?"
"No, this is all new to me," Rhiana answers, "Apparently this wacko is going to
try to use those relics to release something more powerful than Dark Falz. Aunt
Shiara, Gen. Morgan, what now?"
"We've got to stop this, no matter what," Morgan answers, as he shoulders his
rifle, and fires off a shot at the black force's head. The photon bullet
dissipates as it hits a barrier.
"I do so hate when insects try to interfere in my work," the force mutters,
"Especially those that do not know who or what they are messing with. You cannot
stop the arrival of my ultimate lord and master, Dark Force, with those mere
weapons. Dark Force will live again, and he will destroy all." He stands there
as Morgan unloads volley after volley from his rifle, but the shots do no good.
"Is this really all the resistance that you people can muster?" the black clad
force asks, "You really are pathetic." He unleashes a wave of black magic
towards Rhiana.
"LOOK OUT!" Takezo yelled as he rushed at his long-time friend, shoulder rushing
her out of the way of the powerful megid spell. Rhiana is pushed from the path
of the spell, but Takezo's body is engulfed in the magic power and falls to the
side, right into the young FOmarl's arms.
"Takezo?" she asks quietly to the limp body of her friend. With no response, she
tries a reverser spell, but it has no effect. She clutches his body as she
starts to sob.
"Rhiana, we have to get out of here," Shiara Mano tells her niece, "We can't
stop this guy with what we have here. Come on!" Rhiana doesn't move from the
spot where she fell and caught Takezo. Shiara runs over and grabs Rhiana,
pulling her and Takezo through a telepipe that Morgan had dropped to make their
escape. The two arrive back at the Colony's medical center, where Takezo is
pronounced deceased upon arrival. Rhiana doesn't leave his side until he's taken
to the mortuary.
Three days later, in the Hunter's Memorial Park, the BlackHawk family, Shiara
Mano, and a good number of hunters stood, paying memory to the young HUmar who
fell. Rhiana, herself, had placed a few mums on the grave. After the others had
dispersed, She stood there for a while longer.
"What happened out there, Shiara," Mike asked, "What could have caused that
surge of power?"
"That FOmar is using powers from a cracked crystal from the old Ruins, shards of
a relic your father had destroyed, D-Cells from the corpse of Heathcliff Flowen,
and a portion of Master's Twisted Song to bring back something called 'Dark
Force'," Shiara answered, "Nothing we could do would break through his barrier,
and his Megid spell seemed like a lance of black power. It was headed toward
Rhiana, when Takezo threw himself in front of the spell. The rest, as you
know.."
"Is history," Lara says, finishing her sister's statement, "Well, I guess we
have to talk to someone about that relic, then. Mike's father never told him
about that thing, but there's one person who may know something that could prove
useful."
Back at the gravesite, Rhiana kneeled on her knees, her head in her hands. Her
sister, Jessica, stood over her, a hand on her shoulder, wishing she knew what
to say to her younger sibling.
Just what'll happen
next? Find out in the next chapter of
"Back from the Abyss."