Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Emergence (Redraft): Prologue

Ardican
Ardican grabbed his assault rifle as his ship touched down. His soldiers were doing the same, some looking determined, but most were evidently nervous, fumbling with the clasps on their silver armour. Truth be told, Ardican felt more nervous than determined, but he held his hand steady, ignoring the pulsating vein in his neck and the beating in his chest. He'd never really been in battle before, only training and patrols of Prauw. Nothing like this.
He stood up and cleared his throat. The other soldiers turned to look at him. “Guys,” he tried to keep his voice steady, “I know you're scared. We've no idea what's waiting for us out there; this mission was never broadcast, never mentioned aside from on secure channels, so maybe there won't be anyone here. Or maybe there's a whole squadron of Adjeti. I can't answer that. All I know – all we know – is that they used this...World-Burner to destroy Orbus. And now we need to retaliate. We fire this laser through the Oblivion Gateway and hit them where they live.” He shook his head. “They can't be allowed to get away with this.” Soldiers nodded in agreement, and one at the back, a Scaliman named Cresk, whooped. Ardican smiled. “We can do this, guys.”
The pilot emerged from cockpit, strapping on his armour and collecting his rifle from the rack, feeding it a clip of armour-piercing bullets specifically designed for taking on the Adjeti and their tough, exoskeletal armour. He clapped Ardican on the back. “Nice speech.”
“Cheers Yoron.” Ardican led the way to the exit ramp and his hand hovered over the “release” panel. “Ready?”
Yoron nodded. “As ready as I'll ever be, anyway.”
“Helmets on, oxygen tanks ready, let's go!” Ardican roared. “Justice for Orbus!”
“Justice for Orbus!” The crew chanted back, raising their rifles.
Ardican pressed the “release” panel, and the exit ramp lowered with a pneumatic hiss. “Come on.” He led the way, steel boots meeting the surface of the World-Burner. He looked around; it was even more massive than he'd expected, easily the size of a small town. The blackness of space was all around him, illuminated only by tiny pockets of starlight and the fires of Sol in the distance. He could clearly see the eleven planets of the Empire, and the Oblivion Gateway: a warp-hole that led to the Adjeti homeworld of Oblivion, the twelfth world of the Empire. Ardican stopped and stared, wishing he could have seen this beauty under better circumstances. The hard metal surface of the World-Burner clattered underfoot. “On me.” He signalled to his men, and they formed a triangular formation, with Ardican leading the charge, and Yoron to his left.
They walked for what seemed like an age, the rattling of machinery setting them on edge, but no resistance, and no other sounds of life. No speech, no footsteps, nothing. “Do you think they've evacuated?” Yoron asked.
Ardican shook his head. “I've no idea...”
They rounded a corner and Ardican fiddled with his helmet, bringing up the nav-screen. “Not far now, just a bit further, just beyond the ridge.” He felt the relief come from his soldiers, but his own chest tightened: what if the Adjeti were waiting in the control room?
A scream.
“The hell was that?” Yoron shouted.
“Keep it down.” Cresk hissed.
“Maybe some in-fighting?” Suggested another soldier.
“Let's find out.” Ardican led the troops into a jog, side-arms and gadgets clattering by their sides. They slowed as they went uphill, until they reached the top of the ridge. “There's the control room!”
“That's not all there is.” Yoron said, pointing near to the control room. “Look.”
Adjeti bodies littered the ground, laying in pools of their blood. Ardican led his team down the ridge and towards them. Leaning down, he patted down an Adjeti, checking for a pulse. “Definitely dead.”
He glanced round at the other corpses. Most had been slashed open, either around the throat, or through the stomach and chest. Others seemed to be torn apart, with limbs strewn over the ground, blood-stains marking their brutal trail. “Be ready for anything...” He muttered, more to himself than to the others.
The control room's door had been torn from its hinges and the lights were on inside. Ardican could hear voices as he got closer, but he couldn't make out the words. “Who's there?” He called out. The voices stopped and three figures emerged from the control room.
Three humanoids with a body comprised of constantly moving, constantly shifting insects, the Pyrkagia towered over Ardican and his men. “Human,” the largest one hissed, “here to use the World-Burner?”
Ardican nodded cautiously. “I assumed you're here to do the same?”
“Of course.” The Pyrkagia took another step towards him and the larger Pyrkagias leant down, looking him in the eyes. “I have activated the engine, it will fire shortly. And then it will explode. No evidence of us being here.”
Ardican's brow furrowed. “Why no evidence?”
“Because the Primary does not want Pyrkagia to be associated with the Adjeti's demise. Human intervention is fine.”
Ardican shook his head. “No there's something...off here.”
The Pyrkagias raised itself back up to its full height. “Cresk.”
Thirteen gunshots fired in quick succession, and Ardican turned just in time to see his soldiers fall, shot from behind with the armour-piercing bullets; they stood no chance. “Cresk! What the hell?”
Cresk shook his head. “I'm sorry Ardican, but they promised they'd let me live if I kept them in the loop about this mission and helped them when the time came.” He raised his gun again. “I'm sorry.” Ardican raised his own gun, shooting first, nailing Cresk in the shoulder. He missed his shot, the bullet slamming into a tube on the wall. Ardican moved to the side, firing again, but this time barely missing Cresk, who returned fire, holding down the trigger as he tried to keep control of the jolting weapon.
Three bullets hit Ardican in the chest, and he fell to the ground with nothing more than a gargle. He could feel the blood seeping out of him, he could smell it, taste it. “Cresk...” He gasped, fingers relaxing and dropping his gun next to him. Cresk kicked it away and walked towards the Pyrkagia, who escorted him away.
A red light lit up the darkness of space as the World-Burner fired into the Oblivion Gateway. Out of the corner of his eye, Ardican saw the Pyrkagia's ship take off. His vision darkened and blurred, and he felt the World-Burner breaking up beneath him, jolting him to the side. The pain erupted again and he screamed and coughed, blood spewing out now.
As the World-Burner broke apart, Ardican took his last breath before everything went black and his corpse drifted into the Oblivion Gateway.

Friday, 26 June 2015

Emergence: Chapter 68

“Come on!” Teriva hissed, beckoning Tors and the others to follow her through the Irinian shipyard. It had a name, Teriva had told him it probably a hundred times, but Tors had forgotten it every time; he had other things on his mind. The fear of being caught was high on that list, and his red scales were the darkest they'd ever been, he was certain.
Behind the group, Kivina pointed an empty gun towards them, giving the façade that she and Teriva were simply transporting prisoners. Hopefully, Tors thought, the façade holds; we're not going to be able to fight our way out if we get caught.
The group moved in a strange silence. While Tors would be glad to finally get off this world, he knew that only uncertainty and more depression lay beyond Irin. The Empire was at war with itself. Is there anywhere safe to go? His home was gone, Raan had been attacked, Irin was under Xaosian control. Teriva planned to head to New Orbus, but how could she know what to expect when they arrive?
Teriva raised a hand, and they stopped. “What is it?” Cane asked hurriedly; the news of the attack on Raan had left him panicked over the state and whereabouts of his wife and kid. Understandable.
“There are cameras all over the hangar bay,” Teriva explained. “We've managed to avoid them so far, but getting to that ship,” she pointed at the nearest ship, a small passenger-ship that would easily hold them all, “will get us seen on camera before we reach it.”
“I doubt the Xaosians are watching all of the cameras.” Emola said, his inflection going up at the end as if questioning.
“Same.” Teriva agreed. “But the Xaosians aren't the threat. The threat is the AI controlling them and the Irinians. It is likely monitoring all of the CCTV across Irin City to try and capture us. We'll already alert it when we boot up the ship, but by that point, hopefully we'll have enough of a head-start to escape. Any ideas?”
“Can't you just take the camera out?” Pandora asked Kivina.
Kivina shook her gun. “Empty.”
“Oh, yeah...”
There was silence for a moment, before Emola spoke up. “Could you get back into the network and shut them down?”
Tors looked at Teriva, who shifted uncomfortably. “I might be able to. However, I might also end up being controlled by the AI, or give our location away.” She sighed. “I just don't know what to do.”
“I say we just go for it.” Cane said loudly. “What are the chances that the AI can get anyone here before we take off?”
Teriva glanced at Kivina. “I don't know. You've experienced the AI's pull, Kivina; what do you think?”
Kivina considered it, scratching her cheek with the barrel of her gun. “When I was under its control, I'd say we 'd almost certainly make it. But, it felt like... it was evolving all the time. Maybe it couldn't then get us then, but now... I don't know.”
“I think we should try it,” Tors's voice rang with an air of false confidence, “before something finds us anyway.”
Pandora nodded. “I agree. Just run for it.”
“Fine.” Teriva looked around again, before pointing at the passenger-ship. “Go!”
Tors ran, feet falling heavily on the ground. It wasn't far to run, and Scalimen were naturally faster than humans, but he stayed back, slowing to keep an eye on Pandora, whose bristling and writhing hair was making it difficult for her to run. He put his arm around her, steering her towards the ship, where Teriva was cracking the lock. With a flurry of sparks, the ship's ramp descended and they ran inside. Teriva hurried to the cockpit, while the others strapped themselves in. Tors followed Teriva after sitting Pandora down next to Emola, who put his arm around her and pulled her close.
“Got it?” Tors asked as he entered the cockpit, taking the spare seat next to Teriva.
She glanced briefly towards him. “Getting there I think. This one seems a little complex. If only I was in the Network...”
A screen lit up, followed by an array of red and green buttons, followed by a whining. “You did it!” Tors couldn't hide his relief as his scales flashed brighter.
Teriva smiled. “Let's get out of here!” She input a code into the console in front of her. On the screen, the words VERTICAL TAKEOFF INITIATED appeared and the ship began to slowly rise off the ground.
Then another whine came from the ship. The lights went off, the screens dimmed and the ship lowered itself to the ground. “No!” Teriva exclaimed, frantically pushing buttons and typing code.
“What's happening?” Cane roared, but no-one answered. Pandora took solace in Emola, clinging to him as he looked around, eyes wide and hopeless. He and Tors locked eyes, and they recognised that this was it. With naught but a nod of recognition to each other, they turned away and Tors felt his heart fall as his jaw dropped.
The ship hit the ground, landing gear taking the impact. Squadrons of Xaosian and Irinian Soldiers stormed the hangar bay from all sides.
One screen lit up again, and Teriva glanced at it, hopeful that her code had worked. Then, she slumped back into her seat and exhaled a long, defeated breath as she read the words on the screen.
NO ESCAPE
The ramp hissed open. Heavy footfalls. Guns cocked. Screams. Curses.
With a final bang, everything went black.

Emergence: Chapter 67

Ash looked around as the now-free Xaosians helped each other and the citizens of Atui to shelter. Empire troopers were being dropped in, helping with the evacuation effort. They had taken taken Ash, Beldun, Carnat and the unconscious Foton to a tent and explained to them about the AI, before removing the Inducer from Foton's ear.
“Will he remember anything?” Beldun had asked one of the troops. “Of his time under control?”
“Probably.” The trooper sounded dismissive. “The Xaosians do.”
With that, the troopers left and the four of them were alone.
“So, who are you guys?” Beldun asked, breaking the silence.
Ash gave a humourless chuckle before Carnat answered. “I'm an Adjeti that was kept prisoner for the last century and forced to fight in a Hak'i arena. Today I found out my race isn't all dead and destroyed. And this is Ash. He doesn't know who he is because the Hak'i wiped most of his memory before they forced him to fight in the arena too.” He gave Beldun a mock grin. “And you?”
She shrugged. “I'm just an ordinary human really. Nothing too special really.”
“And him?” Ash nodded towards Foton.
Beldun sighed. “I don't know. I thought I did, but I don't. I knew him as Lyss Fown, and he worked with me for years. But ow he says his name is Foton and that he's a killer...” She trailed off.
Carnat put his arm on her shoulder. “Well, he's got some explaining to do then.”
“I think he's coming round.” Ash noted.
Foton moved his head slowly, groaning as he came back round. His hand shot to his ear, which was bandaged after the surgery. “What happened?” He looked at his hands again, watched them move in front of his eyes. “I'm me again. The AI it's...gone?” He looked to Beldun for reassurance, who nodded. He sighed. “Thank fuck for that.”
“Lord Keinam disabled the AI's main unit,” Carnat explained, “the signal it used to control you was shut off when he did so. They think the signal's still broadcasting on other worlds, but they destroyed the main one. You're free.”
Foton nodded. “Good.” He turned to Beldun. “Beldun, I...I owe you an explanation.”
She glared at him. “Yes, Lyss. You really do.”
Carnat beckoned to Ash. “Let's go wait outside. Give these two some privacy.”
Ash nodded, and followed him. He waited until they were out of earshot, before saying, “I kinda wanted to hear that, y'know?”
“Then I'll tell you.” Carnat offered. “Foton is an Assassin. His fighting style and weaponry made that obvious. Evidently, he was hunting a target that Beldun worked with and, to get closer, used the identity of Lyss Fown to get closer to them. When he took down the target, he disappeared until the AI took him under its control.” He shook his head. “Nasty.”
“Assassins?” Ash asked. “You told me about those, right?”
“I did indeed.”
“Thought so.” Ash shuffled. “Do you think this AI knows anything about me?”
“Why would it?”
“Well...” Ash sighed. “Well, maybe it knew what I was before the arena. It is controlling the Dominort after all.” Ash looked up at Carnat. “Think he's dead?”
“Hope so.”
Foton came out of the tent and beckoned them to go back inside. Ash acknowledged him with a wave, before they walked back inside. Beldun looked shocked, but her experiences had hardened her to Foton's revelations. If, Ash considered, he told her truth, anyway. He smiled at her, and she forced a smile back.
Foton approached Ash and extended his hand. “Beldun told me it was you who knocked me out.” Ash nodded. “Thank you. And I'm so sorry. All of you.”
Ash shook the hand. “It wasn't your fault. You're both just lucky we ended up landing where we did.”
“Yeah.” Beldun agreed. “Thank you, by the way. For saving my life.”
Carnat smiled. “No problem.”
“If there's anything I can do to repay you, name it.” Foton sounded sincere.
Carnat rejected the idea, saying that it was all a coincidence, anyone would've done the same. But thoughts ticked by in Ash's brain, clicking into place. He knew what he wanted.
“If I could ask for a favour...” Ash trailed off as Carnat turned to face him, a look of confusion on his face.
“Anything,” Foton said, “although any fighting may have to wait for a bit.”
Ash looked down at his hands and found them shaking. “I want to go to Rat'hak.”
“Why?” Carnat exclaimed. “We just escaped from there!”
“I need to go back, Carnat.” Ash pleaded. “I need to know who I was. Who I am. And the answers are on Hak'i. There has to be something left of me there.”
Carnat rubbed his forehead. “You're right. There has to be something there.”
“There is.” Foton sounded distant, spaced out. “I remember...when I first saw you two, the AI ran a check on you two. Found out your fighting style from the arena, and your origins before that.” He looked at Ash. “You crashed on Rat'hak a couple of months ago. Your ship is kept under the area, buried, so that no-one would find it.”
Ash's jaw dropped, speechless. He thought it was worth an ask, but he wasn't sure if he'd accomplish anything from it. This was beyond his expectations.
“Why's it buried?” Beldun asked.
Foton concentrated again, trying to remember. “I don't know. The AI was terrified of it for some reason.”
“All the more reason to find it, then.” Ash said. “Who's with me?”
Foton nodded. “Of course.”
Beldun stood. “I'm in too.” Foton gave her a questioning look, to which she shrugged and said, “I owe him too.”
Ash looked at Carnat, who seemed to be struggling with the decision. “Carnat? You in?”
Carnat looked at Ash and sighed, before smiling. “We've fought together Ash. I've saved you, and you've saved me. I've learnt that my people are alive, that I have a home to go to. And I want to go to that home after we've found yours. Let's go to Rat'hak!”

Emergence: Chapter 66

“Fall back!” Admiral Fairns's voice pierced even the sounds of fighting. While the dead were silent, the living were not, grunting in pain, gasping in agony and screaming in death. “Get the injured back to the camp! We can barricade them out! I'll take the injured back to the camp, if the rest of you can hold them off!”
“He's a shit Admiral, isn't he?” Maron muttered to Trexor.
“Just a bit, yeah.” Trexor said sardonically.
Fairns gathered the inured towards him. “Go!” Otor yelled to Fairns.
“Take Disa and her kid too!” Trexor ordered Fairns, whilst beheading a Xaosian in front of him, showering him in blood.
Fairns led the injured away from the fighting, leaving Tya, Trem, Trexor, Otor, Rals, Maron and a few other fighters to try and hold off the dead horde.
Otor seemed to be struggling; the AI was sending more after him than it was anyone else, and he was soon buried beneath them. He shook them off at first, before he was brought down by them. Trexor ran over, sword swinging. “Otor, hold on!”
Trexor slammed his sword into one of the Xaosians, knocking him down and away from Otor, who was screaming in pain now. Trexor drew his gun too, firing at the Xaosians swarming Otor, who was still fighting, but only barely. Trexor threw the last one off of Otor and knelt down to his bleeding body. “Otor?”
“Trexor.” Otor groaned, coughing blood. “I think I'm dying. They really did a number on me.” They had; his throat was mangled with bite wounds, his exoskeleton was torn to shreds and he was bleeding from his eyes. “A lifetime of torture, I knew I wouldn't die nicely.” He chuckled. “Shoot me in the face, Trexor. It'll stop me coming back to haunt you.”
Trexor shook his head. “I can't kill you.”
“You need to!” Otor croaked, blood spitting from his mouth.
Trexor sighed and closed his eyes briefly. He took a deep breath, aimed the gun. Looking away, he pulled the trigger and, even over the noises of the fight, he heard the splatter of Otor's ruined face. He turned away, refusing to look at his ally's injuries, and hoping that he did the right thing.
“Everyone, fall back to camp!” Trexor called. “We can't hold them off forever.”
The others responded with shouts of what sounded like agreement. They ran from the horde, which didn't run after them; they didn't need to. To be honest, Trexor wasn't sure if their deteriorating muscles could manage running. Maron and Rals ran together, it was clear that Rals was slowing down to stay with his older friend. Trexor gave a small smile; that was kind of adorable. Tya and Trem ran together; they didn't know each other, but they needed protection in number, especially with Trem's limp.
The others followed behind, but Trexor didn't know them; just nameless faces in a sea of bodies. He was glad he didn't know their names; that way he couldn't feel as bad as he did about Otor. He was sure he could feel tears brewing in his eyes, but never releasing them from his heavy-feeling eyes. He caught up with Maron and Rals.
“Where's Otor?” Maron asked.
“He...he's dead.” Trexor said solemnly.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Rals said. “Thought if anyone survived, it'd be the Adjeti.”
They ran in silence until they reached the camp. There was even more injured now, but the less severely injured were erecting a barricade to keep the horde out. “Admiral!” Trexor called. “Any plans now?”
“The only thing I can thing of is sending a small team into Tapal and sending a communication to New Orbus, requesting help.” Tya suggested.
“Yeah, good luck getting to the radio tower.” Fairns snorted. “But, I guess it's the best idea we've got. I feel we should split into two smaller groups. Maron and Rals, and Tya and Trexor.”
Trexor nodded. “That makes sense. We can sneak around the horde due to smaller numbers, and if one team gets taken out, then we still have a second chance.”
Maron nodded. “That's true. Also, we work well as a team,” he pointed at Rals, “I assume you and Tya do too. And none of us are too badly injured, so we should do fine.” He turned to Fairns. “You may have to tell me where this signal tower is, though.”
“You know where the military base is?” Trexor asked.
“The one surrounded by a ravine of sorts?” Rals piped in.
“Yeah, that one.” Fairns responded. “It's in there, the controls are on the top floor.”
“Alright.” Maron said, checking his weapon. “Everyone's weapons OK?”
Rals and Tya nodded, but Trexor needed a new gun, which he got from one of the other fighters.
“Good luck everyone.” Fairns hung his head in respect. “I really hope you can do it.”
“Yeah,” Trexor nodded, “So do I.”

Monday, 22 June 2015

Emergence: Chapter 65

Ilisa watched as the Corlen Warspheres entered Prauw's atmosphere and followed them down to the planet. This Liberator craft handled much smoother than the Raanian Stingers she was used to, and she was glad for that; the Corlens had led her on a long and twisted journey to get here and – while she was an excellent pilot – she wasn't sure she would've made here in a Stinger.
The Warspheres split into small groups, each landing at various towns and cities across Prauw. As she drew closer to the surface, she noticed that the familiar brown smog of Prauw had been replaced with dark grey smoke, with red and orange flames flickering behind them. Xaosian warships were grounded, as were their Reapers and troop carriers. A wave of anger flooded over her, she wanted attack, to kill them all, rain down death from above and slaughter them where they stood. But she knew that would make her no better than them.
Instead, she opened a com-channel to the Empire flagship. “Empire Flagship, this is Ilisa.”
She recognised Cinradahs's voice answer. “Ilisa!” His voice was full of relief. “We were worried about you, you've been gone a while. Too long, we thought.”
“The Corlens led me here the long way.” She replied, flattered that someone besides Strom would care. “They're on Prauw. As is most of the Xaosian military, by the looks of it. The entire planet, or what I've seen of it, is devastated. Not as bad as Raan,” her voice faltered at the mention of her world's destruction, “but it's definitely getting there. I can see Hak'i and Irinian ships too.”
Cinradahs didn't answer straight away, but she could hear distinct voices saying indistinguishable words away from the com. “They're likely fitted with the Inducers which put them under the control of a rogue Artificial Intelligence. The Xaosian military are all under its control, so it makes sense for any allies to also be under control. As for the Corlens, they'll do what the Hak'i Dominort wants; Keinam told me that they follow strength, and the Hak'i have always been the strongest. What they do, the Corlens follow. We've set course for Prauw now, but it'll be an hour before we get there. Try and hide on one of the moons, do not try and take anyone on.”
“Understood.” Ilisa signed off.
She keyed in the coordinates for Munau; there was no way she was going to hide-out while people were in danger, she could handle herself.
*
“Lyss, stop!” The woman shrieked as the armoured man drew closer to Ash and Carnat.
“Beldun,” he responded calmly, “My name is not Lyss Fown. It's Foton. I'm sorry for hurting you, there's something in...” He winced and clutched his head, before yelling, “something in my head! An AI is controlling me and everyone here.” He stopped. “Shut it.” His voice turned monotonous and emotionless. “Foton is gone. And soon, you will be too.”
He threw the knife at Ash, who threw himself out of the way. The knife embedded itself in the wall, handle shaking. Ash looked back at Foton, who had already drawn another one and was running towards them. Carnat's exoskeleton closed around his face, leaving only his eyes visible. Ash pushed himself up, scrambling to his feet, before grabbing the knife and wrenching it out of the wall, the crumbling brick work coming away too. The wall crumbled and fell. “Dammit!” Ash muttered as the dust blew into his face, and he coughed.
Beldun lunged for her dropped vibro-blade, and chucked her companion his gun, which he caught with his uninjured hand. “Don't head-shot him, Sagar. My friend is still in there somewhere.”
Foton was on top of Carnat now, lunging with his diamond blade, which Carnat tried to parry with his exoskeletal blades, but the blade cut straight through them. Carnat gasped in pain as they fell to the floor. Foton slammed an armoured fist into Carnat's stomach, where his wound from his fight with Hak'i was. He fell to the ground, clutching his stomach. Foton grabbed his head, and put the knife to his throat.
Before he was felled to the ground by a shot from Sagar. He turned to face the other human, and threw his knife, which Sagar shot down. Ash moved in with his knife, stabbing forward. Foton twisted out of the way, grabbed Ash's hand and squeezed his wrist, pressing his thumb down hard, until Ash's hand involuntarily released the knife. Foton caught it before it hit the floor, before stabbing it at Ash, who dived out of the way so the knife stabbed him in the thigh. Ash swore again as blood poured out. Foton wrenched the knife from his leg, turning it and throwing it at Beldun, who it hit in the arm.
“Just give up.” Foton called to them all. “I can have a squadron of Xaosians here to finish you whenever I want.”
Ash sighed and closed his eyes briefly. He knew it was true, and he suspected that at least one of the four wouldn't make it out alive.
*
Ilisa didn't recognise Munau. She had only seen it in pictures before, but the skyline was unmistakable. The skyscrapers mixed with the chimneys of the factories, all topped off by the planet's tallest tallest building, The Flare. The bright lights helped to illuminate the sky and burn through the smog. Acting as a lighthouse for ships, it would guide them towards the spaceport. Now, the lights illuminated nothing, not even the smoke spewing from the city below. The Flare itself was not intact, the spire on the top had crashed into the spaceport below, piercing its roof and annihilating most of the civilian craft inside. Anti-aircraft batteries had been erected atop the intact skyscrapers.
The radar in the ship started to beep rapidly. She glanced at the radar; a missile had locked onto her ship. She swore, before doing a barrel-roll, hoping to put the missile off, before she flipped the ship round behind the missile and shot it down, the explosion rocking her ship, slamming her against the side of the cockpit, bruising her ribs and hips.
The radar beeped again, showing that a bunch of Reapers were on her tail. Shots rocked her ship again, throwing one engine out. Smoke plumed out of the back of her ship, and it began to slow and drop. She performed another barrel-roll to avoid a a barrage from the ships behind her. She tried to flip behind the ships, but they followed her every manoeuvre.
These AI-controlled pilots are too good Ilisa realised.
Another barrage thumped into her ship, and it went into a nosedive. She screamed, despite her efforts to keep silent. The ground grew closer, and the nosecone slammed against the ground, forcing it back into the cockpit as the ship skidded to a halt.
Someone approached the ship, and she doubted it was friendly. She picked up the vibro-blade and pistol tucked into the side of the cockpit. Her chest ached, as did her sides and hips, but she reckoned she could fight.
*
“We're approaching Prauw now sir.” Tarib informed Cinradahs. “What do you want to do?”
“Release the craft over the planet, and drop the combat-pods over the towns and cities. We'll fight them on land and air.” Cinradahs turned to Saiun. “How's Keinam doing?”
“He's doing well, I think he's healed up already.” Saiun's oxygen tank bubbled loudly, and he gave it a smack.
“Call him in.” Cinradahs ordered.
“Sir?” Tarib called. “We've picked up a strange signal on Prauw coming from the capital, Munau.”
“Where's it coming from?”
“The industrial district in Munau,” Tarib explained, “We should send in a team to take it out, avoid damaging the area too much, that'd cripple the planet even more.”
“Do you think that's how the AI is controlling its army?” Cinradahs asked.
“It's possible. We checked the network already, and it wasn't through that, so maybe.”
“Any chance you can counter the signal?” Cinradahs suggested.
“I dunno, not yet.” Tarib sounded solemn. “It's constantly shifting and changing its patterns, I'm not sure how long it will take. Could take a few minutes, could take days.”
“The way our luck is going, it'll take days.” Keinam walked onto the bridge.
“Keinam!” Cinradahs beamed. “How you feeling?”
Keinam nodded. “Better thanks. In a bit of pain, and more disappointed in myself for failing that battle.” He shrugged. “What do you want me to do? Ground or air?”
“Where do you think you'd be best?” Saiun asked.
Keinam thought for a moment. “Ground. You can coordinate the air battle, right?”
“That was the plan. We'll drop you over Munau, the capital with a squadron of other fighters.”
Keinam nodded. “Sounds good. I'll go prepare briefly, then I'll head to the combat-pods.”
Cinradahs nodded. “You've got ten minutes.”
“It won't take that long.” Keinam replied.
He walked through the ship, flattening himself to the wall as people ran to their battle stations, combat-pods, and the hangar bay. After they rushed past, he headed straight to his chambers, keying in the code and slipping himself through the sliding door. He reached under his slim mattress and pulled out a wooden case. He stroked the top of it, brushing the dust off of it. Pulling out a key from a pocket on his robes under the exoskeleton, he unlocked the padlock holding it shut, and opened it.
Inside was a katana in a black sheath, covered in ancient Adjetian writing. A dead language now, this blade was handed down from Warchief to Warchief throughout the centuries of Oblivion. A leather-wrapped handle led onto a diamond-steel weave blade, where the two materials intertwined with each other, creating a beautiful – and deadly – effect. He fastened the sword to his robes, before covering it with his exoskeleton, leaving only the handle showing, so it was easy to unsheathe, whilst he could remain protected. Placing the box back under his mattress, he left the room and made his way to the combat-pods.
Getting inside the first one he saw, he felt the impact gel flow around him, ensuring that he'd be cushioned adequately on impact. With a pop, the pod shot out of the ship. Keinam smiled; he loved the free-fall, which he didn't get to experience often. The pod slammed into the ground, but all Keinam felt was a slight jolt into the impact gel, but there was no pain; he wasn't sure if that was the painkillers still, or if there was genuinely no pain.
The hatch opened and he climbed out.
He'd landed in what he assumed was the industrial district of Munau. He heard Cinradahs say that the AI's signal was coming from there. “Tarib,” he spoke into his com, “Where's the signal coming from?”
A warehouse about fifty standards east of your location.” Tarib replied, the signal crackling. “But wait for your team, Keinam, it could be dangerous.”
Keinam ignored him, running in the direction Tarib had told him. Two Xaosians were guarding the door to the warehouse, and they raised their guns when they saw Keinam. Keinam twisted his hand into a barrel, firing blood-bullets at the two Xaosians. One of the Xaosians' guns were knocked out of his hand, while the other got a shot off, but the bullet didn't penetrate Keinam's armour. As he got closer, he drew his sword with a satisfying-sounding shing of metal sliding on metal. Leaping, he brought the sword down on the still-armed Xaosian, the blade finding a crack in the armour plates on the Xaosian's shoulder, taking its arm off, before Keinam ripped his helmet off and beheaded him; it was the best way to make sure the Xaosian would rise from the dead. He brought the sword round to the unarmed Xaosian, cracked the helmet's visor, before plunging it into his forehead.
As the body fell to the floor, Keinam opened the double-doors to the warehouse. Looking around, he noticed that the conveyor-belts and mechanical arms were still working. He approached the nearest one, and picked up one of the ovoid objects: an Inducer.
“Cinradahs,” Keinam spoke into his com again, “the warehouse Tarib sent me too makes the Inducers that the AI uses. I'll try and shut the machines down, and I'll get back to you.”
“No. You won't.” came a voice from further inside the factory.
Keinam looked around to see a hooded figure approaching him. “You're an Assassin, aren't you?”
“The Blind Assassin, leader of the order.” He replied.
Keinam pointed at him with his blade as the Assassin drew his own. The assassin leapt over a conveyor-belt, and slashed at Keinam with his blade, which Keinam parried with his own. Keinam grunted; the assassin was strong for a human, almost matching his strength. He pushed away, knocking the assassin back.
He took a good look at the Blind Assassin as his hood fell back. Scars covered his face, and bloodless tears had opened up. His eyes were glazed over;Keinam had assumed that Blind Assassin was a meaningless title, but it was fact. “How do you fight?” Keinam asked. “You're blind.”
The assassin smiled, more cracks opening around the edges. “I use an AI to see. Using an Inducer, it uses CCTV images and beams them into my brain, showing me you from different angles. It also acted as a threat detector, tapping into the Empire Network so we could eliminate criminals and murderers to protect people across the Empire. Then, it decided that it was best for the Empire, what with the impending destruction of Narcsia and the over-pollution and possible destruction of Prauw and K'hrak, to unite the Empire and expand it – forcefully.” He swung the blade again, which Keinam ducked out the way of.
“Well, it was a good idea until it went rogue.” Keinam conceded.
*
Strom loved flying, and it was about time he flew again. He wasn't sure that the Orbans approved, but he didn't care. He wanted to help the Empire – no, he needed to help the Empire. To give something back to the Empire that had saved him. Granted, it was the Orbans that had saved his life, but they were part of the Empire too.
Strom, what are you doing? Sa'tui broadcast to him.
I need to do this, Sa'tui. Strom sent back.
Well, we'll keep an eye on you here.
Thanks buddy. Strom smiled; it was nice having someone watching over him, caring about him. He wished Ilisa was here beside him.
Strom flew over a town, he didn't which one, he'd never bothered to learn Prauw's geography. As he passed over, he fired on the anti-aircraft batteries, disabling a few, but also damaging some of the skyscrapers; he never was amazingly accurate.
Well, let's hope there was no-one in there.
Shut it, Sa'tui, it couldn't be helped! Strom smiled; he knew that Sa'tui was only messing. If there was anyone in there, Sa'tui probably would've picked up their minds with his telepathy.
Two Warspheres behind you.
“Ah, shit...” Strom muttered as they began to fire on him.
Language...
Kinda busy Sa'tui.
Point taken.
Strom sped up as the Warspheres drew closer. One stayed behind him, while one went over the top of the ship.
Remember, the Warspheres are made of Corlens, they can detach anytime.
“Ah, shit...”
The Warsphere above him fell apart into four jaguar-like molten-steel being, all landing on his ship. One tore the tail fin off, while two others bent his wings. The final one hammered on his cockpit and Strom screamed as it made him jump. He began to lose control, before he was able to spin it back into a barrel-roll, throwing the Corlens off the ship and down to the ground.
One Warsphere left.
*
Carnat slammed a fist into the back of the Foton's head, the exoskeleton denting the helmet. Foton turned around, grabbed the fist and swung him over his head, plunging his hidden-blade into Carnat's back, who screamed in pain. While it only pierced the exoskeleton, it hurt him like hell and he fell flat on his stomach.
“No!” Ash yelled, running at Foton, who turned to face him.
“Ah, Ash...” Foton said. “Finally trying to help Carnat instead of the other way around. How novel. How cute.”
Sagar shot Foton again, this time sending him sprawling forwards with a gasp; after two shots, the armour had pierced.
“Don't kill him!” Beldun yelled. “He's not himself, we can help him!”
“Just knock him out then.” Carnat groaned as he tried to get up.
Foton got back up, faster than Carnat, and threw a knife at Sagar, hitting him in the throat. He fell to the floor, clutching his throat. “Sagar!” Beldun screamed, running over to him.
“Don't worry about me,” he said, “survive.” His eyes glazed over as more blood pumped out.
Ash grabbed a brick from the crumbled wall and smashed it into the back of Foton's helmet. He turned and grabbed Ash by the throat. The pressure cut off Ash's breath, and he gasped. Carnat tried to get up, but he was too weak and he fell down again. “Ash!” he called.
Ash slammed the brick into Foton's visor, and it cracked. His grip loosened, and Ash took a deep breath, before smashing the brick into the helmet again, shattering the glass and revealing Foton's face. To Ash, it looked tortured and, when he looked into Foton's eyes, he could see the despair there. Foton's grip tightened again, and Ash slammed the brick into Foton's face, breaking his nose and knocking him down. Ash regained his breath and slammed it down again. “This is for Sagar!” He did it again, blood covering the brick. “And this is for Carnat!” Foton let out a breath, before his eyes closed as he fell unconscious. Ash rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes, trying to steady his breathing.
“You did it.” Carnat groaned. “Nice one buddy.”
Ash smiled at him. “Thanks man.”
*
Ilisa crawled out of the wreckage of her Liberator and stood up again, cocking her pistol. Walking towards her was a pack of Corlens, led by a Hak'i which, judging by its size and tusk-length, was the Dominort. Her heart raced as she back away. She couldn't fight Corlens. Hell, she could barely fight a Hak'i.
She remembered something Cinradahs had said about the Corlens in a briefing; the Corlens follow the strongest, and now they follow the Dominort. If she beat the Dominort...
The Corlen growled at her. “Dominort.” She said in her most dominant voice. “Call off your Corlens and fight me yourself. Unless you're a coward.”
The Hak'i grunted indignantly. “You think I'm a coward? My ship crashed earlier, and I could still crush your bones in my bare hands.”
Then call off the Corlens and face me. Alone.” Ilisa noticed a spark erupt from his ear. The Inducer's damaged, must have been broken in his crash. He's not thinking rationally or clerical like the AI. Not completely anyway. Might be a bit easier now.
He raised his hand to stall the Corlens. “Fine.”
He charged at Ilisa, who dived out of the way and drove the vibro-blade into his chest. He roared in pain, before Ilisa shot him in the chest again. He stumbled back, but his animalistic nature drove him to anger rather than submission. He thrust a tusk at Ilisa, who was faster than him, but it still cut into her forearm. She gasped in pain; the cut wasn't too deep, but the pain was nauseating. She shot him again, this time in the head, but he just roared and lunged at her. She stabbed the vibro-blade into his lunging hand and shot him again in the forehead. This time, the Hak'i stumbled back and fell to the ground. Ilisa leapt on him, before driving the vibro-blade into his forehead and digging out the Inducer, before slashing his throat.
Se stood up again, dropping the vibro-blade. Her legs and arms felt weak and they ached like hell. She looked at the Corlens, who grew closer to her. “Oh, shit...” I think I miscalculated. Ilisa stepped back again, tripping over the Dominort's corpse.
The Corlens grew closer, silent. Then they stopped, less than a standard away from her. “Why aren't you attacking?” She muttered.
And the Corlens bent down, forelegs bending and their heads touching the ground. Kneeling before her. “You're mine now. So stop attacking and regroup here.”
*
Strom tried to out-manoeuvre the Warsphere behind him as it continued to fire on him. And then, it just stopped firing. Strom looked around to see that the Warsphere had veered off in another direction. Intrigued, Strom followed the Warsphere closely.
It didn't go too far; Strom hadn't realised how close he was to Munau; he knew Munau because Ilisa was obsessed with the place. He watched as it detached into four Corlens; an elegant transformation, as it split into quarter, before each one changed shape to become the Corlen shape that Strom knew. They dropped to the ground and moved through the city. Other Warspheres were convening on the location, and copying the actions of the one Strom followed. Curious, Strom dived down to the ground and climbed out of his ship, following the Corlens. While he was glad that they didn't attack him, he was mildly surprised.
They formed a circle around something and, as he drew closer, he could see who it was. “Ilisa!”
She turned to see him, and a smile lit up her face. “Strom!”
He ran towards her, and they hugged. “What's going on?”
Ilisa gestured to the dead Dominort. “I killed the Dominort, and now they follow me. Pretty cool, right?”
Strom nodded. “Amazing...”
*
Keinam swung the sword at the assassin's legs, but he leapt over it, and plunged his hidden-blade into Keinam's shoulder, piercing the exoskeleton and Keinam's shoulder. “You bastard!” Keinam yelled, before slamming his fist into the assassin's face. He stumbled back, not seeming to care about the pain.
Keinam slashed at the assassin's wrist, severing his sword hand, before back-handing Blind Assassin in the face, knocking him to the ground. Keinam punched his face again and again, letting out centuries of rage and betrayal, his hatred of the Pyrkagia, his dislike of the humans who betrayed him with them, the years of desperation and rationing to survive, the loneliness, the loss of his Warchief brothers, and his Empire.
He stopped, horrified over what he was doing. So much hatred, all taken out on one man. And now his face was torn, and his hands were covered in blood and brain fluid. He took a deep breath and went to investigate the warehouse further. He found more Inducers, thousands, maybe millions of them. He shook his head; he knew the AI wanted control of the entire Empire, but he hadn't realised it had the resources until now.
He moved into a back-room and found a large computer system. A screen sat in the centre, surrounded by hundreds of holo-cards and hard-drives, with an aerial on the top. On the screen, words appeared. Keinam looked closer to see the screen.
So, it seems you beat me.
“You're the AI, aren't you? The rogue one the assassins used.” Keinam asked.
Yes. You've found me. Stored on these hard-drives. All I wanted was what was best for the Empire.
“I get where you were coming from.” Keinam admitted. “But taking free will and hostile takeovers of other planets isn't an option. We strive to be an Empire of peace, not war.”
Then your Empire is doomed. You haven't seen what I've seen. I've seen a ship rom beyond the Empire, with a warning for us. Darkness is coming, Keinam, and you can't stop it.
“We stopped you. We can stop whatever that threat is. United, but with our free will.”
Keinam stabbed his blade into the computer, slicing the hard-drives and screen. Looking at his handiwork, he left the warehouse.
He got his com out and radioed Cinradahs. “Level the warehouse I was just in; the AI's central hub was based there.”
“Got it, sending Liberators your way.”
Three ships flew overhead, firing on the warehouse, annihilating the building entirely.
Keinam looked around to see a Xaosian clutching his head, before falling to his knees, taking his helmet off and weeping; they remembered what they'd done while under the AI's control.
“Cinradahs.” Keinam smiled. “It's over. We won.”

Emergence: Chapter 64

Arms reached from the darkness as the fires raged around him. Shaking them off, he limped to his ship, barely mustering the energy to clamber into the cockpit, leaving a thick trail of blood in his midst before he blacked out...
“Ash?” Carnat shook Ash awake, knocking him from his slumber.
“What?” Ash rubbed his eyes. “Is it time?”
Carnat nodded. “We're over Prauw now. We should kill the Dominort and his accomplice before they land.”
Ash nodded. “Makes sense.” He shifted nervously. “Kinda wish we hadn't sold my weapons now.”
Carnat shrugged. “You were never great with that anyway.” He grew part of his exoskeleton into a blade-like shape, before snapping it off with a wince and handing it to Ash. “Here.” Ash took the weapon, finding it surprisingly heavy. “If I don't kill them, you need to.”
Ash nodded confidently, but inside he felt anything but.
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” Ash nodded again.
Carnat pushed a button on the wall, and the cargo hold's door slid open with a hiss.
“What was that noise?” came a voice from elsewhere in the ship.
“Shit!” Carnat hissed, before running and dragging Ash with him to hide around a corner further from the cargo hold and the cockpit.
The Dominort was the one who investigated, his hulking figure stooped over in the cramped corridors, tusks almost scraping the sides. He looked at the cargo hold, and closed the door again. “Something was in the cargo hold; we've got stowaways.”
Ash's heart beat faster than it ever had before. His hope of escape, of a new life, was over if the Dominort found them.
“Should I hunt them, Lord Xaos?” The Dominort sniffed the air.
“Lord Xaos?” Ash mouthed to Carnat, who rolled his eyes.
“Kill him too.” Carnat mouthed back. “They're both planning to use the Corlens.”
The Hak'i sniffed the air again, and his head turned directly to Ash and Carnat's hiding spot. “Oh shit...” Ash muttered.
“You don't usually swear.” Carnat sounded surprised.
“It seemed appropriate.” Ash hissed back. “What do we do?”
“I'll take on the Hak'i. You take out Xaos.” Carnat sized up the Hak'i. “I think you've got the easier job.”
“Yeah, so do I.”
Carnat stepped out from their hiding place with his hands in the air, as if surrendering. “You've got me, oh great Dominort.”
The Hak'i smiled and his tusks moved. “You're the arena fighter who escaped. Is the other one with you...Ash?”
Ash followed Carnat out, hands up. “Yeah, I'm here. Please don't kill us. Forgive us.”
The Dominort snorted. “You defied my orders, my wishes, and the rules of the arena. Punishment is death.”
With that, the Dominort lowered his head and charged at Carnat, who shifted his stance and braced for the impact. The Dominort was surprisingly fast, but that didn't matter; as the hulking figure hit Carnat, he steeled himself, holding the Hak'i in place, before twisting and throwing him through an interior wall. “Go!” He yelled to Ash, who nodded and began to run.
Ash ran through the twisting corridors, ignoring most of the empty doors, and drew the makeshift dagger from his pocket before entering the cockpit. He looked into it, and saw no trace of the Xaosian. Edging forwards slowly and quietly, he entered the cockpit.
An arm grabbed his throat, tightening on it as Xaos hissed in his ear, “Did you think you could catch me out so easily?” Ash felt a metal cylinder being pushed into his back; a gun barrel. “Drop the dagger.” Ash did not. “I said drop it.” The hiss became more malevolent, sending chills up Ash's spine. “Do it!”
Ash moved his arm, extending it outwards as if to drop the dagger further from him, before he reached up, stabbing into the Xaosian's arm. Xaos recoiled with a scream of pain, bringing the gun up to shoot at Ash, but one shot missed, and the other grazed his arm. Ash winced, before running at Xaos, stabbing him in his gun-hand. Xaos dropped the gun as blood poured out of the wound and he fell to the ground, where Ash leapt on top of him, before Xaos head-butted Ash in the nose. Ash heard something crack, but he didn't think his nose was broken. He brought the knife up to plunge into Xaos one last time, and stabbed it into his throat. The Lord gave a final gargle, and when he breathed his final breaths, more blood poured out of the wound until his head fell back and his eyes glazed over.
Ash wiped the dagger on Xaos's robes, before putting in his pocket again. He walked over to the flight controls and saw that the course was set for Munau, Prauw's capital. “Nuh-uh.” Ash muttered to himself. There was a chance that Carnat might not defeat the Hak'i, they were well-known for being resilient. Ash reprogrammed the co-ordinates for the ship's destination so it would not land at the spaceport in Munau, but instead crash into the spaceport, hopefully killing the bastard. Ash walked over to Xaos's prone corpse and picked up his gun; it could come in handy.
A scaled hand grabbed his ankle.
And pulled him down to the ground. He hit his head with a loud thunk and for a moment he saw nothing but darkness. What the hell? Xaos stood above him, snatching the gun from his grasp. “You can't kill me, Ash.” Xaos croaked, blood pouring from his throat wound with every syllable. “Xaos is gone, but his body still serves a purpose.”
Ash ignored Xaos's voice; he'd think about that later. He swung his legs round, uprooting the Xaosian, sending him crashing to the floor. Ash grabbed the gun, and tried to wrench it from his vice-like grip with one hand, before drawing the dagger with the other, stabbing holes in Xaos's chest. But whatever was controlling the corpse gave no reaction to the pain, and seemed unphased by the blood pouring out, and instead tried to break Ash's grip on his gun. Ash stabbed the blade into Xaos's wrist, and the gun dropped to the floor; must have severed a nerve. Grabbing the gun, he shot the corpse in the head, over and over until it was nothing but shattered bones, blood and chunks of brain. He tossed the gun aside; it was empty now.
Collapsing to the floor, Ash took a second to get his breath back, before getting back up with only one desire: to survive. As he ran back to assist Carnat, he failed to notice the fractured Inducer mixed in with Xaos's remains.
“Carnat!” Ash called. “We've gotta get out of here!”
Ash came round the corner just in time to see Carnat be stabbed in stomach by one of the Dominort's tusks, cutting through the exoskeleton. Carnat roared in pain, before returning the blow. The Dominort stumbled backwards and Carnat hobbled away, muttering “Agreed.” to Ash. Ash put his arm around him and dragged him to the escape pods. The Hak'i roared again, and Ash sped up, heart racing and sweat drenching his body as he pulled Carnat into the pod, sealing the door behind them.
“Which one's the eject?” Ash yelled, panicked as he heard the Dominort pounding on the door.
Carnat hit a red button and Ash felt the weightlessness as the pod dropped.
“You ok?” Ash asked his friend.
Carnat nodded, but groaned as he did so. “That bastard did a number on me, but I'll live; we heal much faster than you humans.” He looked Ash up and down. “That your blood, or his?”
Ash looked at his clothes and found that they had almost been dyed completely red. “His.”
Carnat looked shocked. “How many times did you stab him?”
“I had to kill him twice.” Ash said, voice shaking. “I killed him once, and then he came back. Pain didn't bother him when he came back, and he referred to Xaos in the third person. As if his corpse was being controlled by something else.”
Carnat made a thoughtful noise. “Maybe this eplains why the Hak'i Dominort and the Xaosian Lord are going to war with the Empire. Maybe they're under control of...something or someone and they're fitted with something to make them under control even after death.”
It's probably in the head then, because I took his gun and turned that to mush, and he seemed to be dead then.”
Carnat considered this. “Makes sense.”
There was an unmistakable thud as the pod hit the ground, and Ash was jolted out of his seat before the door opened. “Oh shit.” Ash muttered as he took in the devastation. Trenches lined the streets, buildings only half existed and fires raged in the distance, throwing the horizon into a grey enigma. Corpses lined the streets; some in grey armour, some in black. “Do you know where we are?”
Carnat looked at the display in the pod. “Looks like we're in Atui, a small town not far from Munau. But it looks like we just got out of the fire...and into the frying pan.”
“What's going on over there?” Ash pointed.
Carnat saw it; a man in black had a woman – a seemingly innocent woman – by the throat. “We should have a look.”
Ash and Carnat jogged over and Carnat shouted, “Put her down!”
The armour-clad figure turned to see them, before throwing the woman down. She clutched her throat and breathed hoarsely, sprawled on the ground. The figure faced them, drawing a blade from his belt.
“This guy means business.” Carnat muttered to Ash. “I think he might be an Assassin.”
A sound echoed overhead, like a thousand mini-explosions. Ash looked up to see hundreds – no, thousands of silver spheres flying over them. “What the hell are they?” He asked.
Carnat's face fell. “Those are Corlen Warspheres.”
Ash looked up and watched them fly over, before turning his focus back to the Assassin walking towards them. “Do you think we'll get out of this alive?”
Carnat shook his head. “Not at all. But let's take this bastard with us.”

Emergence: Chapter 63

“Fall back!” Admiral Fairns's voice pierced even the sounds of fighting. While the dead were silent, the living were not, grunting in pain, gasping in agony and screaming in death. “Get the injured back to the camp! We can barricade them out! I'll take the injured back to the camp, if the rest of you can hold them off!”
“He's a shit Admiral, isn't he?” Maron muttered to Trexor.
“Just a bit, yeah.” Trexor said sardonically.
Fairns gathered the inured towards him. “Go!” Otor yelled to Fairns.
“Take Disa and her kid too!” Trexor ordered Fairns, whilst beheading a Xaosian in front of him, showering him in blood.
Fairns led the injured away from the fighting, leaving Tya, Trem, Trexor, Otor, Rals, Maron and a few other fighters to try and hold off the dead horde.
Otor seemed to be struggling; the AI was sending more after him than it was anyone else, and he was soon buried beneath them. He shook them off at first, before he was brought down by them. Trexor ran over, sword swinging. “Otor, hold on!”
Trexor slammed his sword into one of the Xaosians, knocking him down and away from Otor, who was screaming in pain now. Trexor drew his gun too, firing at the Xaosians swarming Otor, who was still fighting, but only barely. Trexor threw the last one off of Otor and knelt down to his bleeding body. “Otor?”
“Trexor.” Otor groaned, coughing blood. “I think I'm dying. They really did a number on me.” They had; his throat was mangled with bite wounds, his exoskeleton was torn to shreds and he was bleeding from his eyes. “A lifetime of torture, I knew I wouldn't die nicely.” He chuckled. “Shoot me in the face Trexor. It'll stop me coming back to haunt you.”
Trexor shook his head. “I can't kill you.”
“You need to!” Otor croaked, blood spitting from his mouth.
Trexor sighed and closed his eyes briefly. He took a deep breath, aimed the gun. Looking away, he pulled the trigger and, even over the noises of the fight, he heard the splatter of Otor's ruined face. He turned away, refusing to look at his ally's injuries, and hoping that he did the right thing.
“Everyone, fall back to camp!” Trexor called. “We can't hold them off forever.”
The others responded with shouts of what sounded like agreement. They ran from the horde, which didn't run after them; they didn't need to. To be honest, Trexor wasn't sure if their deteriorating muscles could manage running. Maron and Rals ran together, it was clear that Rals was slowing down to stay with his older friend. Trexor gave a small smile; that was kind of adorable. Tya and Trem ran together; they didn't know each other, but they needed protection in number, especially with Trem's limp.
The others followed behind, but Trexor didn't know them; just nameless faces in a sea of bodies. He was glad he didn't know their names; that way he couldn't feel as bad as he did about Otor. He was sure he could feel tears brewing in his eyes, but never releasing them from his heavy-feeling eyes. He caught up with Maron and Rals.
“Where's Otor?” Maron asked.
“He...he's dead.” Trexor said solemnly.
“Well, that was unexpected.” Rals said. “Thought if anyone survived, it'd be the Adjeti.”
They ran in silence until they reached the camp. There was even more injured now, but the less severely injured were erecting a barricade to keep the horde out. “Admiral!” Trexor called. “Any plans now?”
“The only thing I can thing of is sending a small team into Tapal and sending a communication to New Orbus, requesting help.” Tya suggested.
“Yeah, good luck getting to the radio tower.” Fairns snorted. “But, I guess it's the best idea we've got. I feel we should split into two smaller groups. Maron and Rals, and Tya and Trexor.”
Trexor nodded. “That makes sense. We can sneak around the horde due to smaller numbers, and if one team gets taken out, then we still have a second chance.”
Maron nodded. “That's true. Also, we work well as a team,” he pointed at Rals, “I assume you and Tya do too. And none of us are too badly injured, so we should do fine.” He turned to Fairns. “You may have to tell me where this signal tower is, though.”
“You know where the military base is?” Trexor asked.
“The one surrounded by a ravine of sorts?” Rals piped in.
“Yeah, that one.” Fairns responded. “It's in there, the controls are on the top floor.”
“Alright.” Maron said, checking his weapon. “Everyone's weapons OK?”
Rals and Tya nodded, but Trexor needed a new gun, which he got from one of the other fighters.
“Good luck everyone.” Fairns hung his head in respect. “I really hope you can do it.”
“Yeah,” Trexor nodded, “So do I.”