Harem In The Intergalactic Apocalypse

"Yeah, this feels like a boss fight, and I don't think I am ready for this one yet. I beat the shit out of it, but it just shrugged it off like it was nothing. It created an army of shadow figures that reproduced faster than I could kill them if there was anything to kill in the first place. I even tried slashing through it, but its body became incorporeal, my blade going right through it," I said, rubbing my hand on my forehead, but Sofia took it in her hand.

"Papi, there are some things that you aren't going to be ready for. Just be happy that this one is contained for now. You were already able to save some people, and Mr. Tree and I had everything loaded into a massive crate on the hangers. There was a lot. You had better just start thinking about how we are going to get that back," Sofia said as she came and wrapped her arms around me. I returned the hangover and closed my eyes.

I hated hitting walls. I should be able to conquer anything, but I lacked the one thing my System thrived on. Information. Without knowing anything about this creature, I was fighting it blindly, and that was just asking for trouble, but I hated to leave it.

The Shalgoth was clearly a deadly creature, and getting loose would be the worst possible situation. Even if I didn't know the full extent of its power, I had to assume that it wasn't bluffing from the comments it had made.

"I guess you are right. What are the dimensions of the crate?" I asked, then added, "It doesn't matter the size; I can just make a disc with a crystal wall around it to fly us back. I will make sure to go slower this time."

"That sounds good, there are a lot of people that need to come back with us, but there are a few that you will have to deal with. They are more like the general whose neck you broke. I know you have had a long day, but these people need to be dealt with," Sofia said, looking up at me with a knowing look, and I sighed.

"Can't people just get in line for paradise?" I asked, and Sofia snorted.

"Hell or paradise is a matter of opinion, and the people that have been in charge their entire lives don't think that should change," Sofia said as we broke apart and started to walk down the runway.

"How many are there?" I asked.

"Including the troops standing with them, fifteen of about two hundred. They are bunkered off in one of the dual-level bomb shelters," Sofia explained, and I nodded.

"Simple enough. So I just have to get through two floors?" I asked, but Sofia shook her head.

"No, they are on the first floor, but what is under them is important. That is where the trove of valuables they have collected! No one knows exactly what is down there, but from what I have gathered from the people who worked here, it is a treasure from the aliens' crafts. I don't know about you, but that sounds like the mother load and what we came here for. All the other stuff is very nice, but it sounds like we need to investigate, eh, Papi?" Sofia asked, elbowing me in the side.

"Mighty Canadian of you there, senorita! Well, you don't have to twist my rubber arm very hard for this. After the hell that I just went through, dealing with some irritated humans might be a nice change of pace. I will go deal with them, but I will check out the bunker alone first and do some scans to ensure it is safe. After that, I will call you down. What is Eddie up to?" I asked after explaining.

"He is still down there, but he sealed the floor and then moved up a floor. Now he is helping Michael get all the plants sent up. I hear that the Xeno-Botanist has some space weed, according to Eddie, so I am slightly excited. Maybe we can roll one up when we get back and try it out before we get freaky?" Sofia asked, and I grinned.

"The space hippie is gonna give us some space reefer? I am there! You know, I always wondered if there would be dope on other planets. I mean, I am sure that there are millions, if not billions, of different things that could get you messed up recreationally," I said as we neared the trees, and then I noticed the massive wooden crate that was twenty feet tall and about as big as a football field. "Jesus Christ, Sofia! That fucking thing is huge!"

"That's what she said!" Jack laughed as he walked over to us but then put up his hands in defense. "You aren't still mad about the robot tank, right?"

"No, I am sure that nothing was done intentionally, but it was oddly suspicious timing. Still, we are all alive, and I learned that we need better tech to mess with that stuff," I said, and Jack sighed as Binder walked over.

"How did things go down below?" Binder asked as he joined us.

"Many deadly aliens were trying to kill me, and I found one I can't beat. Some kind of Dark Matter creature," I said, and Binder's eyes went big.

"You mean a Shalgoth? A mythical entity that slowly consumes worlds by covering them with darkness that burns everything in its path?" Binder asked with a worried look that I didn't like.

"Yeah, that sounds about right. Do you know anything about it or how to defeat it?" I asked, and Binder's worried look intensified.

"How would you stop the sun if it decided to come and consume the planet if it was alive?" Binder asked, and I groaned.

No such thing as easy when it comes to my life.