The Complete Void Wraith Saga #1-6

by Chris Fox

Nolan waited for Annie to finish disembarking from her mech. She trotted over, spitting a gob of black into a cluster of plants. “Hope you’re okay with a bit of a climb.” “They don’t have any beer on this world. Now you want me to exercise? I should’ve stayed with Bock.” Annie laughed, then started up the stairs. “I ain’t as fast as you, so you feel free to run on ahead with Kokar. I’ll be along eventually.” Nolan patted her shoulder as he passed, then trotted up the stairs after Kokar. This was going to take a while. He was in good shape, but there were a lot of stairs. Within a few flights, he’d broken into a thin sheen of sweat; by the time he’d passed the first twenty, his breathing was ragged. By thirty there was a stitch in his side, and by fifty he knew he wasn’t in as good a shape as he thought he was. Nearly an hour passed before he finally reached the top—almost a thousand stories, if his count was accurate. Nolan grabbed the top of the stairwell, leaning hard against it as he sucked in deep breaths. Sweat poured off him, splattering the metal floor. “It took you long enough. I’ve been here for ages.” Kokar clapped Nolan on the shoulder. “It is a difficult climb, but worth it. Come see what I have seen.” Kokar led Nolan across a narrow U-shaped chamber filled with rows of consoles. On the far side, a two-meter-wide bridge of blue energy extended to the back of the Omega’s head. The wind howled outside, rocking the Omega gently. “I guess we may as well get on with...