Neo Nova Eclipse

Neo Nova Eclipse By Melody McCusker

The tape clicks as the message ends. Her husband’s voice echoes inside her mind, “If you’re hearing this, that means Lom gave this to you and I’m gone.” Tears start pooling in Nova’s vision as she sets the tape to rewind. Neo, what happened? She took you down even with your matching powers. Shaking as she selected play again.

“DS - 10:85 7.7.07

I’ve prepared the failsafe against Kathia at the agreed coordinates. I’ve developed a potion that can let someone use my shapeshifting for one hour. It is a gamble for every test as not everyone reverts to their original form. I finalized the tests before setting out. Wish me luck as I take her on tomorrow.”

The tape clicks, continuing to the next entry.

“DS - 1:90 7.8.07

Today is the day the plan launches. I have Lom with me as support for Plan Shift. I will also give this record to him in case the plan goes wrong. So, if you’re hearing this, that means I must be gone. Phase claw needs to be executed. I’ve left the potion for you and two others in case you need it… I love you Nova… I’ll be home in time for your starburst launch. I promise.”

Clicking cued the final entry.

“DS - 10:40 7.10.07

I’m changing the launch to tonight. She suspected me and locked me up in front of the gathering, so that is why the delay occurred. Lom just got me out and I’m giving my logs to him. Since she knows about me again, I won’t have the surprise we hoped for. In case I don’t make it, be careful. I want you, our best shot, to operate in Phase Claw. So… If you’re hearing this, that means Lom gave this to you and I’m gone. I love you, Nova.”

Whirs fill the silence until their right-hand man, Lom, stops the player.

“Lom… Is it true?” she shakes. “Did you see him go down?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so, Captain Nova.” He bows his head in defeat. Tears trickle down her nose. 

“Ok.” She sniffs, “You heard my husband… let’s execute Phase Claw.”

“You sure, Captain?” He asks, resting his hand on her shoulder.

“Yes, time’s what we need now.” She rises from her chair.

“Almar! Set sail for Dathan!” She calls out to her first mate. The murmur on the deck hushes.

“Aye, Captain!” Almar barks, and all scurry to set off from port. The plan had to keep going, even without her love at her side.

Kathia, you will be stopped. Even if this is the last thing I do. We’ll keep coming till you go down for your crimes. 

Waves crash as they land on the Isle of Dathan. Setting out for their home base, Nova contemplates her part. As a Reenu it may work, but they never had a chance to test it with her abilities. The working theory was her manipulation abilities could allow the transformation a longer time and less focus. Today they would test it… and possibly all die trying a last stitch effort. Lom relayed that Neo was able to hold his own for five minutes as the desired transformation. This last stitch for the cuffs was Nova’s turn for the desired transformation.

They had taken account of all the strengths Kathia had possessed before the first phase was executed. She couldn’t turn into a monstrosity, so this became the best option with her husband being a shifter himself. He too hit the ceiling on this plan. An artificer friend had lent their potions for a better transformation chance. They had a successful test a month ago. Neo’s transformation proved it worked. They didn’t know how long this would work. He and the artificer created a backup potion for a non-shifter. In the case plan shift fell through, they incorporated his DNA into it for a full replication. 

Many were opposed to their captain taking the potion. It was understandable for them to worry knowing what must have happened to get to this point. 

“Crew! I know you are all worried about the plan now that my husband, Captain Neo, is gone. I promise his sacrifice will not be in vain in our fight against Kathia! For today we fly in Phase Claw!”

Cheering echoes through her crew.

“Now raise your flask! This will not be the end of it if we fall. But if we do fall, let's take her down with us!”

“Hear hear!” Echoes across the ocean.

“Onward to our victory!”

“For victory!!” All drink from their flask for the courage ahead.

The plan would launch from their cave home in Mountain Mimbi. The agreed place was the south caves for sparring near the southern balding hills. At the cave entrance, the crew stayed behind as this would be an unpredictable shift. Nova denied Lom’s request to join her. Insisting this was her task alone, she marches into the cave. She slows as she reaches their locker. The last one on the left, identical to the others. The last place some would think of finding a potion. Inhaling deeply for courage, she pulls out the only explosive-tipped arrow in their quiver, a tiny capsule that housed the potion. 

Walking to the center of the training arena, she carefully unscrews the capsule, drinking the purple potion. It excites her cells as she prepares her molecules for transformation. Her skin oozes purple lacquer to develop a cocoon. She lays down in the center of the training arena and surrenders to the changes. Phase claw is a go.

The purple cocoon cracks, hissing with ash and smoke, filling the air. Cracks reveal an iridescent monstrosity of a black dragon. The only clue it was Nova was purple eyes shining through the smoke. Nova stumbles from the cocoon, adjusting to her new size and form. Her claws were long with blue and white streaks. She was now quadruped with a tail as long as 7 meters. She had full wings that could reach 15 meters in wingspan. She had a mane of deep purple that went from her black horns to the fins of her tail. 

The watchmen outside the cave shouted to the camp outside. “She’s out!! To arms! To arms!”

Dinner preparations halted as they ran to glimpse into the cave. More oriented now, she steps forward out of the cave. Rising to her full height in the fading sunlight, she roars for her crew.

“RISE!!! WE FIGHT NOW FOR SANCTUM!!” She booms. Five minutes… can we rescue them in five minutes? We ride or die now, hold fast to your courage, Nova.

Turning she notices roaring to second her bellows. A gray shadow approaches from the cave network. a smaller navy dragon pushes through revealing purple horns. Silence rolls through the crew.

The beast drones as he bows to Nova’s larger form in submission. “You look wonderful, my love.”

“Neo…?” She rushes to him, embracing him in a collapsing hug. “Where have you been?”

“Did you wait long?” he murmured through their embrace.

“Five whole days… we heard nothing of your battle after the earthquake. We evacuated everyone on the mainland!”

“Four days actually… Nova took only half the time it took your full transformation, Captain.” Lom approached, bowing before the thought dead captain.

They release from their embrace to face their crew. Together roaring, with courage and strength they call, “To arms, Crew of the Magda!!”

“To arms! We have double the chance now!!’

“TO ARMS!!!” They all cheer and get ready for the battle to come.