Ultraya: Origins

Chapter 23: A.E.R.

28/05/4013 AD – 11:25 – Lavamelt – Anti-Earth Rebellion Headquarters – Throne Room

Lavamelt was a planet close to Ultraya's sun. It was quite different to Earth: where blue skies covered Earth, constant ash cluttered Lavamelt's atmosphere. Where rivers would lay on Earth, a stream of lava flowed throughout the land. Where magnificent mountain ranges lined the horizon on Earth, cracked volcanoes leaked out over the ground. The planet was known for its ancient ruins and temples that held powerful treasures. Many came here in search of these riches, but due to the nature of the planet, it was hard for the average Wyperian to navigate, let alone traverse the molten plains. There were less than fifteen cities populating the entire planet; the unreliable, ever-changing land made man-made habitation difficult, and the nature of the planet made growing one's own food almost an impossibility. It wasn't a lifeless planet; fiery sludge-like monsters with rocky exo-skeletons littered the surface. These bizarre creatures were known as 'Slarkeluns' and were fairly docile, only attacking when one entered their territory. They fed on exposed lava, so they were necessary in order to maintain the planet and prevent it from becoming an ocean of fire.

Somewhere on this planet, rested the headquarters for the Anti-Earth Rebellion. The Ultrayan Alliance knew that they operated from this planet but did not know exactly where this base was and, considering that the enemy had at least two fire-type Angels, exploring the planet for long periods of time was not something that the U.A. were looking into. In the deepest part of the A.E.R. base, there was a room with a jagged, stone chair that lay atop some rocky stairs. The room was lit through the small hellish-red cracks in the ground; magma that was barely being contained under the floor of this room. Three people, Wyperians in Human form, stood looking at a computer monitor hanging from the ceiling whilst a fourth Wyperian sat upon the stone chair: a false throne for a treacherous, murderous Angel. He remained in his Wyperian form, cloaked in shadow. The screen had just finished showing the battle between Sollikarr and Hyperzio; it was currently showing the aftermath, including interviews with the combatants.

"What a farce!" Elimiphlaren scoffed. His Human form had brown eyes, dark grey hair and a short stubble covering his chin. He wore a short-sleeved, dark-red t-shirt, formal black trousers, and thick black boots. This uniform was shared by the other two Wyperians below the throne. A young girl with dark-pink hair stood very close to him.

"I agree, Dad", said the girl. "That fight was barely five minutes long!" Her voice was very high-pitched; it was clear that she was in her teens.

"Well if we are to believe what they say, which is that really is Hyperzio, this fight should have ended a lot sooner", commented the last uniformed Wyperian; she was an older woman with dusty, brown hair, in her forties. Her blue eyes had been rolling constantly throughout the fight.

"It's not who they are", came an old man's croaked voice from the rotten throne. "It's what they stand for, Starnava".

"What do you mean, Sir?" replied Starnava.

"Whoever that new Wyperian is, he is officially the new General of the U.A.", the A.E.R. leader stated. "Sollikarr was trying to fight to discover the whereabouts of your father".

"And all that Hyper guy wants to do is help out Earth!" spat Elimiphlaren's child.

Elimiphlaren gave her a small hit on her arm, "Do not interrupt the General, Ru-Flare!"

"Eek, I'm sorry, Sir!" squealed Ru-Flare as she rapidly bowed before the man in the chair.

"I wonder", the leader pondered. "Maybe that fake Hyperzio doesn't want to find the others because he'll be discovered. Novaran, Millenicel and Relical would quickly expose this imposter, and he would lose his precious position of 'General'". The man's tone was manipulative and cruel, almost as if he wasn't even trying to hide his deception. A replay of the moment the two Wyperians used their shadow abilities played out on the monitor.