Phantasy Star Universe
A Photon's Curse

Canada crawled his way to the hummock, a large gapping hole in his right shoulder. He hadn’t survived this long for nothing he thought, he needed to know his friends were alright.
He raised his left arm and dragged himself up the final ledge and placed his face in the rain-soaked grass. He could feel his body failing him but the drive of the promise kept him going. A promise he had to keep to Hellcat. He staggered to his feet and slowly raised his head to the steeped plains of Parum.

The two Newmans entered his vision, only separated by a few feet, locked in what seemed to be a battle of the elements. They slowly advanced on one another, the rain echoing around them. Canada felt his gut churn. He had finally come to the realization that one of them would not make it out of this alive but he wished it wasn’t true. He had to stop them somehow but what could he do. He lowered his head to the boxy object in his hand. He hadn’t realized that it was still there until just that moment. He raised his head again with another new burst of energy.

“I’m sorry Hellcat…” he whispered before tossing it towards the feet of the male Newman. “This is what you’ve done…” Canada yelled. “You’ve made me kill the only true friend you have left!”

*  *  *

I stretched my arms up as two of my companions and I ventured deeper into the underground caverns of Parum. The caves were what you’d expected them to be, dark, dank and definitely not a place to hang around for long. People would say that my race would enjoy this type of terrain but they’re painting less than a perfect picture of us. I’m a Beast for a lack of a better term.

My ‘race’ was originally made buy the humans to do heavy labor in the Gurhal System, especially on Moatoob but we’ve more or less evolves since then and we pretty much run the planet now. Well if you consider rogues a stable form of government.

Shadow raised his arm suddenly making us bump into each other. I took the opportunity to flick Rukia’s long ears. She jabbed my gut with her elbow in retaliation but before I could open my mouth Shadow told me to be shut it.

These two are Newmans; a stuck up bunch most of the time but in rare occasion can be fun loving. They were created as a more advanced form of human. They are closer to the arts of magic and the like but they don’t have physical strength that there human counter parts have. They say it’s for the balance of nature but everyone knows that human’s are stuck up creatures that rarely enjoy other species with the same shall we say traits that they do. I may be over thinking it, you be the judge.
I passed my hand over PI (Personnel Inventory) machine and my axe materialized into my hands. Judging by the look on Shadow’s face I could tell there was trouble ahead. Being part of the Guardians had its perks every once and a while. Action was few and far between theses days due to the sudden decline in SEED sightings. On the outside it’s great that people don’t feel threatened anymore but for people like me I lose a purpose I’ve come accustom to.

Shadow materialized his staff and Rukia followed straight after. I decided to position myself in front of the two, hugging the corner wall waiting for my signal to rush in. I usually became the distraction while the others used their ‘precious’ magic and I’m sure you can tell how much I love being one.
I steadied my guarded and nodded to Shadow. I took a steady breath and whipped around the corner. I was immediately met by three Vahras, a breed of monkey-like creatures only found on Parum. The only difference was they had very large claws and they were afraid of impaling you with them.

I sank my axe into the first. Satisfied by the fizzling sound of my laser blade burning through its flesh I moved to the next. I brought my axe down but I felt a tug on my back muscles and realized that the second Vahra had taken hold of the axe’s handle bar. I yanked back but it hardly did anything. I was locked with this thing and I could see the third approaching from my left side. I closed my eyes. If now was the time, those Newman’s should give me some damn backup! I heard the sound of thunder and a felt my grip release as the Vahra exploded into a cloud of vapor in front of me. I took the momentum from the release and flung my axe in a sideways arc causing it to collide with the third. It flew sideways and as I watched it soar, an enormous rock slam down on it. I turned my gaze to Shadow and then Rukia and shook my head.

“Show offs…”

Shadow pushed his face long hair back and released a sigh and Rukia just laughed as if I was joking around. I decided to let her off the hook this time and stood up.

Rukia was quite stunning as far as Newmans go, long black hair, a purple lengthy body shirt that stopped around her mid-thigh and sparkling green eyes. I swear to you if I didn’t have a woman of my own that would be something to look into but even then I’d probably just get a slap across the face and moan of rejection.

Shadow on the other hand looked far from a lively character. He liked the cold-hearted stare look and his long black lab coat seemed to fit it. I can’t remember the last time he smiled and if I did it was something along the lines of crushing small bunnies in a vice. Alright, I’m exaggerating but you get the idea.

I brushed myself off and placed my hand to my ear. “Hey Hellcat, how’s the recon going?”

There was a crackle on the radio and then a light hearted voice came over the line. “I’m just finishing up some of the enemies here, but you guys should only be a few minutes away from the RELICS site entrance. I’d also be careful coming down. The walls are very unstable.”

I shook my head. “Ya, Ya, your worries are noted. We’ll see you in a bit alright.”

“Affirmative.”

Shadow looked up to me and pointed into the darkness of the cave. “Lead the way Guardian.”

“Why can’t you use my name for once,” I snorted, “I know I’m just hired muscle but I’ve been with you guys for a few weeks now. The least you could do is…”

I was stopped by the feeling of a hand on my shoulder and noticed it was Rukia. “Just leave it alone Canada, he isn’t that type of person.”

I gave out another snort and proceeded to take the lead again. I still wasn’t use to this new system that the Guardians were putting in place. Our forces were originally created for the protection of the planets and to uphold the peace between the races but it’s now dwindled down to just supporting and escorting missions. I missed the battlefield. I took part in the SEED resistance on Neudaiz two years ago and I felt that we were finally getting our backbone back until that nitwit Ethan Waber screwed it up but that’s another story that’s not worth getting into.

I jumped over a small rivet in the cave floor and aided the other two over it. I took the moment to smile at them but they just ignored me. I didn’t realize at the time that we had come to the RELICS entrance but when I turned around it almost hit me in the face.

At first glance the door seemed as if it was part of the cave wall but as I looked further I could see the subtle hints of the old technology. By subtle I mean that everything it so greatly out of proportion that it looks as if you could fit a few Cog Nadds on top of each other and still be able to fit your body through it.

I scratched my head wirily as we approached it. It didn’t feel right this time; I’ve been to many of these sights but this one just gave me the creeps. I felt the feeling break off as I caught a glimpse of Hellcat’s purple armor.

I made my way to him and tapped his chest plate. “What do you think? Ancient technology or bad construction value?” Hellcat laughed and gave me a shove before walking towards Shadow. He nodded his robotic head and pointed towards a console a few feet away from the door.

Hellcat was one of the machine race CASTs that reside here on the planet Parum. They were modeled to aid humans in mundane chores but soon evolved into quite a sophisticated race. They may not be living organisms but some of them, if only a few are better friends than any of the other races. Maybe it’s because they hardly take irrational thinking seriously so you can get away with a lot more.

I watched the three of them mingle around the terminal for a few minutes and after a yawn I decided to do a bit of mingling of my own. I kick a few loose pebbles away from in front of me and inspected the wall directly adjacent to the giant door. I put my hand on top of it and felt the cool sting of metalwork on my fingers. I felt around more and found a circular indent pattern and began to look closer at it. It was extremely dark down here even for my cat eyes but I could tell this was some sort of compartment. I pressed against the wall and felt the shelving give way. There was a short moment of silence before a rumbling noise caught my ears. I looked up and saw a large group of rocks tumble down towards me and braced myself for the impact but for some reason it never came.  I slowly lower my arms and looked up puzzled and then to the others. Hellcat had his gun out, its tip smoking and then I understood.

I gave him a grimace. “Sorry…”

I felt like a complete idiot but it wasn’t the first time so a shook off the embarrassment and looked down to my feet. A shining red key lay in front of them and I immediately picked it up. I laughed to myself and brought it to the others and placed it down on the terminal. There was a loud cranking noise and we all turned to the door. It slowly slid outwards causing a quick draft of air that caught us all off guard. I pushed my glasses back on my face and gazed deeply into the convents of the door. Light came on two by two down into a long corridor and we all looked at each other. I was the first to speak up.

“I guess we’re invited…”

No one laughed but that didn’t faze me, they were the happy go lucky bunch when it came to the important stuff. They were here on research not on a pleasant exploration trip.

I cricked my neck to the side and took the lead again. I seemed to be doing this a lot as of late but I hardly considered myself a leader. Most of the time I just let the others run the show. It was just easier but I was the distraction right?

We all made our way into the corridor and I gave a quick look to Hellcat who was using his scanners for what I hoped was to check for any dangerous life forms ahead. I gave him a few more seconds and then decided to break the silence. “You think this place is deserted?”

There was a huff from Shadow and he walked up beside me. “I would hope a sealed abandoned structure would be Mr. Guardian. I would appreciate your silence for the rest of the mission I’m getting tired of your interruptions.”

I gave the snotty Newman a glare but complied. I was hired as muscle and I guess I should act like one but it wasn’t my style. I felt like breaking out into song just to annoy him but I’d just get an ear full back at the Colony. I moved ahead of him and continued my march down the corridor opening my ears up to any conversations that may arise during our trek.

It wasn’t until we entered a large control room that the Newmans began to converse. The two huddled around computer panel and began filtering through the data. Rukia passed her scanner over the screen and began the conversation. “This is remarkable…This RELIC isn’t being run by an A-Photon. According to these records its being run by and experimental gridline.”

I knew it wasn’t my place but I decided to ask. “Could you be a little more…uhh…simpler?”

Rukia smiled at me and cleared her throat. “It’s like a new type of energy. Most of the other RELICS run off of A-photon generators. It almost seems as if it’s being run by an entity of it own. It creating its own energy but sucking the nutrients for the soil around the…”

Her speech was interrupted by the hand of Shadow. “They don’t need to hear this jumble, they can’t grasp it. Let move on…” I watched him turn around and make his way to a darken part of the control room. I felt like giving that guy a left hook but I controlled myself. I followed after him and we ventured deeper into the complex.

This place was made up of a series of blocks that weren’t easily traversed but thankfully there were no monsters to make the trail more grueling then it already was. I felt the unsettling feeling emerge again and I stopped.

Shadow past me but Rukia came to my side. “You feel it to huh?”

“I looked own at her and nodded. “It’s like something doesn’t want us here but I can’t figure out what.”

“I know the feeling is coming from all around us. I think you should be on guard. Don’t mind what Shadow says. He’s usually too uptight but today he seems eerily relaxed.” I caught on to her venting she was trying to make me feel better and in a way it did.

I nodded to her and gave a smile. “I think he’s the only guy that can be angry and sarcastic at the same time.” We both let out a laugh which made our topic of conversation turn around. We quickly put ourselves back into formation and continued farther into the complex.

It wasn’t until we hit the next big room that we were allowed a quiet conversation with ourselves. The two Newman’s were occupied at another console so I decided to make small talk with Hellcat. I nodded to him and if his robotic face could smile, it did.

I had only worked with him on a few separate occasions mainly back in the days when the Endrum Collective was still around. He was a soldier of the brigades and it was usually my job to back him up when they set off to fight the SEED. He was once of the rare CASTs that wasn’t shutdown after the Endrum Collectives outing in SEED creation because he processed key information that the Lou units needed. In exchange for the information he was rebooted and given a new life in the Guardians. He was particularly chipper for a CAST and it was quite the change from some of the more informational kind.

“You don’t seem to be too thrilled to be here Canada.” He said to me crossing his arms.

“Is it that obvious? I mean this is the third site we’ve gone to and we’re hardly making any progress. How long do you think this is going to take?”

“We’re doing it as long as Shadow needs us to. We’re doing this as a favor for a friend, remember?”
He laughed slightly and shook my head. “He’s your friend, not mine.”

Hellcat sighed and continued. “Anyways, those two seemed to be interested in this RELIC. What Rukia was describing earlier seems to be occupying their time quite a bit.” Hellcat pointed up to a large monitor and a holographic schematic of the RELIC appeared on up on it. The RELIC was circular almost a perfect sphere for a matter of fact and it seemed to have roots spreading out of it. It looked like a SEED which made my gut churn again. The feeling was coming back and this time with a more urgent sensation. I looked to Hellcat who was still staring at the graphic. I couldn’t read his face, if you called that one red dot for an eye a face. He could just be processing it or wasn’t even thinking about it. You can never tell with CAST even the chipper ones.

I decided to ask to be safe. “You don’t think this thing is alive do you?”

“The possibility is quite high actually. This RELIC isn’t like the others and from the information earlier, about it producing its own energy, it very well could be.”

I lowered my brow. Hellcat wasn’t helping my nerves and I was seriously starting to doubt that everything was going to go smoothly. I found myself thinking of worse case scenarios. Evil cell coming to kill us, stomach acid burning us and god forbid a dragon. I lowered my head in a sulk and sat down.

“You alright?” Hellcat asked.

I decided not to further my worry. “Ya, I’m alright I’m just tired of standing.”

“Well we’re heading out so get your lazy bum up Canada!” came Rukia’s voice suddenly.

I hopped to my feet immediately and saluted her. “Yes ma’am!” I heard her laugh and she waved us over. The both of us made our way to her and she tapped away at the computer. I heard a few machine clink behind us which made me jump on the defensive. I held my axe out as a chamber rose in the center of the room. It was a cone shaped object that rose about ten feet before stopping. There were a few more clanks and the cone opened into four different flaps revealing a red glowing orb.

Rukia stepped up a bit in front of us and raised her hand. “I present to you a Mental-Photon; the brain that operates this station.”

I felt my gut pull at me. She had to use brain didn’t she?

Hellcat stepped towards it. “Remarkable, it reads almost as if it was alive but you can’t definitely feel the presents of science. This is what you’ve been waiting for Shadow!”

I heard Shadow clear his throat and he stepped up in front of the two others. “You maybe right Hellcat but I’m not sure if this is truly the object I desire…”

I looked up at Shadow. That was a weird comment to make I thought to myself and from the look on Rukia’s face she seemed to portray the same thought. I decided not to say anything because of the little confrontation I had with him but it still didn’t feel right.

Shadow reached out in front and took hold of the Mental-Photon. I felt the feeling course down my spine and as it hit my tailbone I was suddenly knocked back by a large surge of red light. I smashed into the computer console causing an alarm noise to go off. I took a minute to recuperate from the unexpected shockwave and rolled over onto my back. I tilted my head backwards to see in an upside-down angle of Shadow still standing, holding the Photon in his hands.

I could here the moans of Hellcat and Rukia coming from somewhere around me but I could stop staring at Shadow. I watched as the red energy pulsing around the photon orb crept up Shadow’s Arms and burrowing into his chest. I blinked my eyes and when they opened again the red pulse had disappeared. Maybe I had imagined it.

I broke away from the sight and coughed. I slowly rolled back on to my belly and got to my knees. Whatever that shockwave had done, I could hardly move and I doubt it was the force of the impact against the control board. I turned my gaze to Shadow again who had now placed the photon back on its pedestal. He made his way to Rukia and gave her a smile.

I slowly stood up and made my way to them with Hellcat not far behind. “What in the world was that?”

Rukia coughed and looked to Shadow. “You shouldn’t have touched it. I told you it was unstable core!”

Shadow laughed and waved his hand in front of his face. “Everyone is alright, and it doesn’t seem to have caused any problems.”

I shook my head and stretched my back. A thought suddenly dawned on me. I looked back at the console and noticed several blinking red buttons and monitors blinking furiously. I slowly reached down for my axe as the sounds of machinery field my furry ears. I looked into the darkness surrounding us and noticed several blue lights emerge.

I swallowed. “Guys…I think we’ve got company…”

End of Part 1...