Chapter 75: Echoes of Destruction and Fading Lights
Following the destruction of the Living Void rift and the Inquisitor that ruled it, an eerie silence fell over the dark, twisted surface of the Obsidian Keep. Kael could barely stand; his body, his soul, and his Chitauri core had been completely exhausted in that final, desperate struggle. The core was now nothing more than cold, unresponsive metal in his palm. His echo senses had faded, and he could barely sense the familiar, eerie presence of the Void.
Aslan lay slumped next to Kael, suffering from numerous wounds. He was drifting in and out of consciousness, his breathing ragged. Kael put aside his own exhaustion and ran to Aslan. "Aslan! Hang on, my friend! Don't leave me!"
The few surviving Aethel warriors approached them, expressions mixed with shock and gratitude. The small Aethel crystal, a gift from their leader Orion, still glowed faintly around Kael's neck; perhaps the only remaining ray of hope in this darkness.
"Odyssey! Captain Rostova! Can you hear me?" Kael shouted into his communicator. "We need medical assistance immediately! Aslan... Aslan is badly injured!"
Captain Rostova's voice was barely audible over the static after a long, disconcerting silence. "Kael... I hear you. The ship... the ship is badly damaged. The energy wave from that rift... has disabled most of our systems. But... but we will try. We will get you out of there."
This was both a hope and a new concern for Kael. How long would it take for Odyssey to get them out of here? And would Aslan be able to hold out that long?
As Kael worked to tend to Aslan's wounds, the menacing whisper of that last Void Lord echoed in his mind: "Our game is not over... The next time we meet, your little light will be completely extinguished in our endless darkness." It was not just a threat, but a declaration of a personal duel. The Lords of the Void knew him now; they would target him.
The surviving Aethel warriors had formed a defensive perimeter around Kael. Although exhausted and outnumbered, they were determined to protect the Echo Carrier and its wounded companion. This dead planet was still filled with the remnants and sinister creatures of the Void.
After what seemed like hours of waiting, the flickering lights of the Odyssey appeared in the sky. The ship was descending like a ghost, smoke rising from its damaged engines, looking as if it were about to crash at any moment. With incredible piloting skills, Captain Rostova managed to land the ship on a relatively flat surface amidst the wreckage.
When the ship's cargo ramp opened, Dr. Aris Thorne and several S.H.I.E.L.D. medics rushed out. They loaded Aslan and the other wounded onto stretchers and carried them to the ship's infirmary. Kael struggled to stand with all his strength, eager to learn Aslan's condition.
"His condition is... critical, Kael," Dr. Thorne said, a look of concern on his face. "He has lost a lot of blood and has internal injuries. Our resources on the ship are limited. We may need a miracle... to keep him alive."
Kael's world seemed to be falling apart. All these battles, all these sacrifices... If he lost Aslan, everything would be meaningless. He looked at the lifeless Chitauri core in his palm. The ancient artifact that had once guided him, that had given him strength, was now silent.
But in that moment of despair, the Aethel crystal around his neck suddenly glowed brighter. A warm energy emanating from the crystal flowed through Kael's body and then into the Chitauri core. The core began to tremble weakly. It was not a revival, but a spark of hope.
And in that moment, Kael knew what he had to do. If anything could save Aslan, it was pure, purifying Echo energy. But how could he generate it when his core was so weak?
"Dr. Thorne," Kael said, his voice firm. "Take me to Aslan. And… and give me access to the ship's main energy reactor."
Dr. Thorne didn't understand what Kael was trying to do, but when he saw the unwavering determination in his eyes, he didn't object. He led Kael to the infirmary where Aslan lay. Aslan was pale and motionless, hooked up to countless devices.
Kael took Aslan's hand. He placed the Chitauri core and the Aethel crystal into Aslan's chest. And then, closing his eyes, he focused with all his being on those last bits of Echo within him and the infinite life energy of the universe. This was something he had never tried before, something extremely dangerous. He would use his own life force to bring someone else back to life.
This would be one of the Echo Carrier's greatest tests: How much of her own light would she sacrifice to save a friend?