Dark Arrival

By Colin D. Hamilton

A woman known as Neyli travels to the distant, isolated planet of Uloh to witness the enigmatic figure known only as the Hierophant make an appearance. She reunites with an old friend, and sees something that shakes her to her core... but also provides her with a spectacular opportunity.

(A short story set in the Entropy's Slaves universe.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Colin D. Hamilton
• Release date: Apr 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005471712

Colin D. Hamilton

Greetings! I am Colin Hamilton, better known around the internet as NIM. I write short stories and flash fiction mostly in the realms of science-fiction and science-fantasy, often with a dark twist about it. My works are often tied to expansive fictional worlds or metaplots, chief among them being my primary worldbuilding endeavor: "Entropy's Slaves." Outside of this, I enjoy browsing art and writing that deals with the strange and mysterious, or that which is just plain cool to look at (I've got quite the thing for crazy-looking mechs and guns). I play video games, do the occasional bit of audio work or extend an offer of extra help, and always enjoy a peaceful night walk in my home city of Ithaca, NY.Consider supporting me on Patreon if you really enjoy my work. You can get a lot of cool stuff!https://www.patreon.com/user?u=61195313&fan_landing=true

Book preview

Dark Arrival

By Colin D. Hamilton

Copyright 2021 Colin D. Hamilton

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This book is licensed under Creative Commons and may be freely reproduced, distributed, edited, remixed or otherwise changed and adapted, provided appropriate accreditation is given to the original author, Colin D. Hamilton. Thank you!

4122 C.E.

NEMEXA SYSTEM, NORTHERN ORION SPUR

Under most circumstances, Neyli was a woman that took pride in her ever-reliable, ice-cold nerves. Worry was a concept largely unknown to her, and even in situations where her life was in immediate peril, her mental tenacity rarely faltered. It was this confidence in her own steely resolve that made it all the more surprising when she actually felt nervous, which just so happened to be what she was feeling right now, as she sat idly in a cramped starship cabin. In her defense, she had every reason to be worried. The compact transport ship she was hitching a ride on was taking her to a barren world dubbed Uloh, in what was already one of the most remote star systems in this region of the galaxy, more than a hundred parsecs from Consolidate core space. She was traveling to an area utterly devoid of any traces of civilization, a prospect that could make almost anyone nervous. However, Neyli was far from the average Consolidate spacefarer. What worried her about this trip wasn't the isolation, she could easily deal with that. Rather, it was what she expected to be on the planet that made her nervous. With a quiet sigh, she slid in her booth gently towards the window of her cabin, gazing out into the inky, star-speckled abyss, a sight that usually brought her comfort. This time though, it didn't do much to quell her anxieties.

How much time had passed since she had last convened directly with the Cabal? Many, many decades, most likely. At least before the Fracture Conflict had broken out. Freshly-awakened Unstill were often warned by their Overlords that their newfound immortality would eventually cause them to lose track of time. When she was an Underling, Neyli had scoffed at this warning, but now, she found herself remembering it again, and it unsettled her. This was no ordinary meeting, either. Her former Overlord had recently contacted her to say that Uloh would be the planet upon which the one and only Hierophant would meet with one of his close compatriots, an event that would no doubt draw numerous Unstill and Cabal loyalists to the planet in order to see their dark god in the flesh, herself included. She had heard so many tales of the Hierophant, of his legendary feats and battles against the forces of the Alabaster King, but seeing him in person was something Neyli never thought she would get the opportunity to do. It was equal parts exciting, and troubling. Staring off into space, Neyli brought her hands together in a circular shape, closed her eyes, and said a quick prayer to ease her