Chapter 2

Name: Woo-Yaal

Species: Jormungand Serpent. Classification: Poison fang, Fire Drake, Drifter

Weight: 13,337 kg. Length: 27 meters

It had been a sunny morning with a warm southern wind. She was eating breakfast with her family - all nine of them - when Void had first touched her. She had stood up and left the table, offhandedly announcing she needed to go. Her family had followed, Mother and Father carrying the three littlest ones. She stood in the grass, surrounded by the people she loved the most.

Blackness.

Void swarmed up over her entire body.

She had been so afraid. She had a right to be afraid. She could feel herself moving, though she wasn’t sure how. Panic rose in her. It was so empty she was lost, betrayed. The voice in her head had left her.

“No, child, I am still here.”

That was the first time she had understood the Void’s urgings. The world. A different world than the one she had known materialized around her: a large, high, vaulted room with seats circled the center; each seat containing not bodies, but rather masses of opaque darkness and light.

The Eldars.

They explained.

They explained that they had summoned her, the Void Drifter, to help in the war. To fight back the Ascendancy and bring peace. With that short explanation of her new purpose in life, they had thrown her into battle.

Void, the power she possessed, the power she wielded - it gave her many advantages. She could channel it into her body to give herself superhuman abilities: strength, speed, healing, and discernment, among others. Void could also be used to affect the world around her; and over two years, she had also learned that she could summon weapons to herself. She wasn’t sure exactly what dictated it, but she could only summon a few very specific weapons. The oddest thing she had discovered she could do, was feed Void to being. That is how she had saved Woo-Yaal and Tei-Uun. But by far, the most useful ability she had gained was Void Drifting. The ability to warp between planets at incredible speed. She called it Drifting because that is what it felt like. Though deprived of her natural five senses she could still feel herself move. She could feel Void flowing across her skin like water. She also didn’t drift in a straight line. She drifted on an orbital gravity line. Like hitching a ride on the momentum of whatever galaxy she happened to be in. The first time she had been terrified. She had the right to be. But now, it was familiar, welcome, comfortable. Woo-Yaal And Tei-Uun could also Void drift thanks to the Void she had given them to save their lives. The sliver that remained within them, that would always remain. The child in her arm would also be able to Void drift. She hoped it wasn’t too frightening for the child but she was pretty sure it was asleep.

***

Midway through her drift, she felt a tremor in the Void as the planet they had just left suns' died.

The hall of Healing materialized around her. Nurses and staff bustled along, in and out of the main doors.

“Void Drifter! Are you hurt?!” came a voice from behind her. She spun to see the head of the Hall approaching her at a sprint, coat flapping in the faces of the two assistants that ran behind him.

“A-ah, no! I have a child I found that I would like you to see to.” she indicated the child in her arms.

“Of course. Please forgive my haste, but you must understand that when the Void Drifter arrives unannounced we assume the worst.” gasped the Head, as he took a moment to catch his breath. Heat flushed her cheeks as she realized what she had done.

They thought I was coming straight from a battle and needed immediate care.

She couldn't blame them. It was a reasonable assumption. Scratching her head to try and distract from her glowing cheeks.

“O-of course. I am so sorry to have startled you. Please forgive my rudeness.” she stammered, blood rushing to her face despite herself.

“Think nothing of it.” said the Head straightening and adjusting his glasses with a slight smirk “ it never hurts to have a surprise as long as it’s low stakes. Keeps us on our toes.” leaning in he looked at the child. “I assume you got the child stabilized?”

“Yes.”

“May I?” he asked, reaching out his arms. She hadn’t even realized she was still holding the child, and she suddenly didn’t want to let go. What if something happens? She laughed at herself inwardly. What am I even worried about? These are the best healers in this system, probably the entire Collective. Any further doubt she might have had was banished as the Head gently took the tiny child into his arms. He held it as though it were a precious jewel. He even began to sway and bounce slightly, cooing under his breath.

“There, there, little one. You have much life in you. You are going to be just fine.” Then looking back at her he said with a smile, “We will give her a full check. Non-intrusive scans and a nutrient pack that would sustain one of your Jormungand serpents. I will keep you in full contact and updated on how it is doing.”

“Thank you very much. I leave her in your care.” With that, she turned to leave for her Hall. But for a moment, she couldn’t move. She didn’t want to leave the child. She briefly considered staying with it, she had nowhere to be.

I would only get in the way. They are the best of the best. With great effort, she turned and left for her room. She could already hear the Head calling out and giving orders for prepping the scan pod and nutrient pack.