...
...
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...mipha may had something to do with it...
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...
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...mipha may had something to do with it...
CHAPTER 21.2 [8/26/17]
Spoiler!
COLONY SHIP 02, UR: DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
“Try to keep up, you two.”
The Caseal sheathed in blue and white bounded gracefully from rooftop to rooftop. Never stopping, never slowing down. Her wired lance doubled as a grappling hook where the gaps between buildings were too wide to jump.
“Sorry, Captain. We’re doing our best down here.”
In the street below, the man in the navy blue Punish Jacket was working up a sweat. He’d been sprinting for several blocks without rest and the exertion was starting to take its toll. Not that he wanted to admit it, of course.
“Then your best isn’t good enough. I expect at least a hundred and ten percent from you, Mr. Malloch.”
Ivan groaned. Beside him, the copper-skinned Newearl wasn’t faring much better. She was nearly out of breath. “That is so not fair,” Akasha huffed as they ran. “Galatea can only say stuff like that because she’s a CAST. She never gets tired!”
Spoiler!
“I heard that,” said the Caseal, two stories above them. “And my name is Galatea Mark-5. You would do well to remember it.”
Spoiler!
The three of them were on their way to a rendezvous point at the northern end of downtown. That’s where the ARKS were gathering to stage a final showdown against the monstrous terror known as Typhon. It was a high-stakes, high-pressure gambit, one they couldn’t afford to fail. Failure would spell the end of Ur. The end of everything—and everyone—they knew and loved. Obviously, time was of the essence. So they kept running.
“It doesn’t feel right.”
“What doesn’t?” Ivan asked Akasha.
“Leaving Sahara and Yoshi behind,” the girl replied. “It’s just, we finally got the band back together, you know? Delta Squad. Now we’re splitting up again.”
“They have their part to play, we have ours. Don’t worry about them, Pipsqueak. Trust me, they’re safer up in that gunship than we are down here.”
“There’s a comforting thought.”
Reinforcing Ivan’s statement, a trio of Dagans skittered into the street ahead of them. Akasha leapt at the first one, her twin daggers vivisecting it like a lab experiment. The second Darker let out an angry screech and tried to ram her with its pointed horns. Bad move. The Newearl spun out of the way, simultaneously lopping off its head as it charged past. Ivan zapped the last one with a bolt of Zonde from his talis.
Three Darkers up, three Darkers down, just like that. They continued onward.
A few blocks north, Ivan spotted a familiar red-and-black figure in the distance. That figure was accompanied by someone half her size carrying a yellow hammer-shaped rod. As they drew closer, any doubts about their identities quickly vanished.
Galatea swung down from the roof of a nearby building. She landed in the street ahead of Ivan and Akasha, reaching the two figures before they did. “Captain Aki02!” she called out, one hand raised in greeting.
Aki02 and her support partner, Luna, turned to regard them. “Captain Galatea Mark-5, Akasha, Ivan,” the red-haired Caseal responded warmly. “I am glad you’re still with us. After what happened on Terra Nova, I was rather… worried.”
“Yeah, nice to see the two lovebirds still in one piece,” Luna teased, making kissy gestures at Akasha. The Newearl swung her foot at the little robot but Luna jumped out of the way, laughing maniacally.
Spoiler!
Ivan wasn’t paying attention to their exchange. He had something else on his mind, a question he decided to put into words. “Captain Aki? What are you doing down here? I thought the ranged classes were providing support from the gunships.”
Aki cocked her head slightly to one side. “You’re not wrong. However, Captain Colton asked me to be his eyes and ears on the ground. Also, thanks to the shared memories I received from my sisters, I do have some experience as a melee fighter.” She paused for a moment, then added, “Not that I expect to need it.”
Akasha must have been listening to their exchange because she stopped chasing Luna and ran up to Aki. “You’re in touch with Captain Colton?”
“I am.”
“I need you to tell him something for me. It’s, like, really important.”
“Of course. The captain has been busy overseeing this operation, but I’m sure he will make time for you. What is the message?”
“Tell him to have the gunships attack Typhon’s eyes. They’re its weak point. It’s the only place Typhon isn’t protected by armor.”
Aki nodded in understanding. “I will relay the information.”
The Caseal stepped away from the group to confer with Colton via radio. She returned a minute later with his response. “The Captain wishes to express his thanks for the ‘hot tip,’ as he called it, as well as his relief at hearing you’re alive and well. He says he has been working on a plan to deal with Typhon and will make an announcement over the general frequency momentarily.”
As if on cue, everyone’s radios crackled to life. “This is Captain Colton, acting field commander. The time has finally come to put down this monster once and for all. So listen up. Thus far, every attempt to subdue Typhon through brute force has failed. That’s why we’re going to try something a little different this time. I am hereby initiating an ‘Emergency Code: Capture’ to all ARKS forces in the downtown area. Your target this time is—you guessed it—Typhon itself. We’ll be setting up an LTF at the corner of Fifth and Central. Your job will be to lure Typhon inside the field. From there, we’ll teleport it outside the ship and hit that monster with every missile and gun battery Ur’s got. We’re going to pulverize the bastard into space dust. Easy, right? Now let’s get it done. Colton out.”
Spoiler!
The line fell silent. Everyone looked at each other for a moment. Then Akasha said, “‘Code: Capture,’ huh? That’s gonna take a teleporter ring bigger than… well, bigger than any I’ve ever seen, that’s for sure. Just setting it up’s going to be a total nightmare. I wonder who got roped into pulling off that little stunt.”
“We did, actually,” Aki replied.
“Oh.” Akasha blinked twice. “Wait, what?!”
“We are going to set up the teleporter ring. I already discussed it with Captain Colton.”
While Akasha’s mouth hung open in shock, Galatea didn’t hesitate to accept the assignment. “We are ready to serve. Tell us what you need and we’ll get it done.”
Aki’s explanation was fairly straightforward. Apparently, a crate of teleporter nodes had already been delivered to the target zone. There were eight nodes total, two for each corner of the intersection. Their job was to activate one node at ground level and the other on the roofs of various buildings. When all eight nodes were activated, it would generate a massive LTF, or Localized Teleportation Field, in the space between the nodes. If the rest of the ARKS could lure Typhon inside the LTF, they could lock onto its unique spatial signature and teleport the giant Darker off the ship.
It sounded simple enough. One last job, one more task, and they could finally all go home. At last they’d reached the end of the line, the final showdown.
So why did Ivan feel so unsettled?
* * * * * * * * *
The intersection of Fifth and Central was eerily quiet when they arrived. This was the downtown district, the busiest part of Ur, yet there wasn’t a single soul in sight. Just rows of tomb-like skyscrapers lining the streets in every direction. At least they found the crate right where it was supposed to be. Without saying a word, Aki02 popped the lid and began distributing teleporter nodes to the group. She handed a pair to Akasha, a pair to Galatea, a pair to Luna, and held onto a pair herself.
“What about me?” asked Ivan.
“You’re a civilian now. Technically you shouldn’t be here at all. But we can use all the help we can get, and I know you wouldn’t leave even if I asked. So instead, I want you to stick close to Akasha and do whatever you can.”
He nodded to Aki. “Will do.”
A moment of silent camaraderie passed between the group. Everyone knew what needed to be done. Moreover, they were totally committed to the cause. Five people on a single wavelength, ready to give it their all.
Then the moment passed and they split up to tackle their respective duties. Each claimed a different corner of the intersection—except Ivan, who followed behind Akasha. The Newearl headed for an office tower in the southwest quadrant. She pushed open the heavy glass entrance doors and the two pressed onward.
Inside, the main lobby was predictably deserted. The office workers probably fled during the first few minutes of the Darker attack. Considering the situation, Ivan couldn’t help but wonder if they were the smart ones in all this.
Akasha got to work right away setting up one of the teleporter nodes in the center of the room. Each node resembled a meter-long gray tube with a cylindrical base. With the press of a button, the contraption extended itself by another meter. A string of circular emitters lining the node began glowing yellow as it came online. The glow was accompanied by a soft humming sound.
“One down, one to go,” said Akasha.
* * * * * * * * *
A long elevator ride and a quick jaunt up a flight of stairs brought them to the roof. The office tower was sixteen stories high—not exceptionally tall, not exceptionally short. The roof itself was mostly bare aside from the stairwell, a large air conditioning unit, and a few metal pipes of unknown purpose.
Akasha turned and tossed Ivan the remaining node. “Make yourself useful and take care of this one,” she teased.
Ivan threw her a lopsided grin. “What would you do without me?” he teased back.
He set the teleporter node down near the center of the roof and repeated the same procedure Akasha had done on the ground floor. The device hummed to life, but this time something else happened as well. Semi-transparent beams of blue energy projected from both sides of the node. The twin energy beams curved outward, beyond the edges of the building, across the street, eventually meeting similar beams being projected from the nodes on the other side. The end result was the formation of a great energy ring, one that encompassed the entire intersection of Fifth and Central. It marked the boundary of the now-active LTF.
“That was easy,” said Ivan, hands on his hips. “Now what?”
“Now we wait for Typhon.”
So they waited. They stood side by side at the edge of the roof, arms resting on the raised lip, staring out at the great city before them. The breeze tugged faintly at their hair.
“Do you think we’ll make it through this?” asked Akasha. Her voice was calm and steady, but there was something in her eyes. An uncertainty.
Ivan laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Hey, don’t you start having doubts now. What happened to the Akasha I met at the Academy? The one overflowing with confidence, ready to charge recklessly into any situation?”
“She grew up.” Then the girl remembered her current predicament and added, “Or in my case, down. Whatever. We’ve lost a lot of people, Ivan. Our teammates, our friends. I just… I can’t help but wonder if we’re next.”
“Come on, what kind of talk is that? Of course we’re going to make it.”
“How can you be so confident?”
“Because,” he replied, adopting an overly dramatic pose and manner of speech, “I am not merely the ruggedly handsome, multi-talented half-Newman standing before you. No! In truth I am much, much more than that. You see, during my many travels, I once stumbled upon an ancient and powerful Lillipan shaman. With his dying breath, he bestowed upon me an incredible gift—the gift of foresight. This power allows me to see things, to know things, beyond the mortal world. Including—but not limited to—your future!”
Ivan waggled his fingers ominously. Akasha stared back at him, completely flabbergasted. He waggled his fingers some more. Finally the girl couldn’t take it anymore. She snickered, then totally cracked up. “You dork,” she laughed, socking him in the arm.
“Watch it, Pipsqueak, or I’ll curse you for a thousand years.” Ivan cleared his throat, finally dropping the act. “But seriously though, we’re going to be fine. Know why? Because we’ve got people like Colton, and Aki, and you on our side. Trust me, Typhon doesn’t even stand a chance. We’re going to win this thing, all of us, and after that we’ll go home and live long and happy lives. I’ll start my residency at Saint Gaibon and become a full-fledged doctor, saving people one patient at a time. And you… what do you want to do after this, anyway?”
“I, uh… hadn’t really thought about it, to be honest,” she answered sheepishly, scratching her head.
“Akasha… Being a soldier is fine, but you have to want more than that out of life. A goal; a dream; an aspiration. Something. So tell me, what is it you want to be?”
The Newearl thought about it for a minute. Then she smiled and said, “Your hero.”
Ivan couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Mission accomplished, then. Didn’t you know? You already are. Always have been, right from the start.”
The two of them flashed toothy grins at each other. It was one of those endearing moments, the kind that perfectly defines a friendship, where two people can share something real without speaking a single word.
The kind you wish could last forever.
Then they heard it: Typhon’s thunderous roar. The sound instantly shook them out of their reverie. Ivan scanned the horizon and quickly located its source. Several blocks to the east, the great Darker was tromping down the boulevard at a hurried clip. Predictably, it was headed their way.
A series of tiny explosions erupted near Typhon’s feet. That was the ARKS’ doing, Ivan figured. Though he couldn’t see any soldiers yet, he knew they were there, goading the creature into chasing them. Attacking to make it angry, then leading it towards the LTF. Keep going, guys, he urged them. Just a little farther.
A pair of gunships roared past overhead. The sleek black transports dipped their starboard wings in unison, banking east to begin their attack run. They approached Typhon low and fast. A block away, each craft’s twin gatling guns came to life, spewing a steady stream of fire directly into the creature’s eyes. Typhon shielded its face with one clawed hand and lashed out with the other, swatting one of the gunships from the sky. The craft spiraled into a nearby skyscraper and exploded in a brilliant orange fireball. The other gunship skimmed up and over the Darker to safety, temporarily spared the same gruesome fate.
Typhon continued onward. It was three blocks away, then two. Then one. Ivan swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure. Beside him, Akasha looked grim but determined. A little longer, just a little longer. A few more minutes and it’ll all be over.
Thirty seconds later Typhon reached the intersection of Fifth and Central. The twenty-story goliath was a mere stone’s throw from the office tower, giant and imposing and deadly. Its jet black armor plates glistened in the midday sun. Its crimson eyes glowed with an otherworldly power.
As soon as it entered the LTF, a hundred ARKS appeared out of nowhere to harass the beast. They came out of doorways and from in between buildings. They leapt out of windows and climbed out of manholes. Soon a veritable army of soldiers had the Darker surrounded. They began pummeling it from all sides, keeping it pinned down.
On the roof of the office tower, Akasha punched the air in solidarity with the soldiers fighting below. Ivan could tell she wanted to be down there in the street battling alongside them. Personally and secretly, however, he was glad she wasn’t. Relatively speaking, their current location was the safer place to be.
“Keep it up,” Colton’s voice said over the radio. “Thirty seconds to teleporter lock.”
Thirty seconds is a long time, thought Ivan. But he had no idea just how long that thirty seconds would turn out to be. No idea at all.
With twenty-five seconds to go, Typhon reared back its ugly head and let loose the most powerful roar Ivan had ever heard. Everyone, including the soldiers on the ground, was forced to stop attacking and cover their ears. Typhon instantly pivoted to the side, its massive tail sweeping an entire ARKS team off their feet. Next the creature stomped from left to right, trampling half a dozen soldiers in the process.
With fifteen seconds to go, Typhon shifted its attention to the office tower—the same tower Akasha and Ivan were currently standing on. Three big steps brought the Darker right up next to it. Menacing red eyes gazed down at the two figures on the rooftop. Incredibly, it recognized them.
With seven seconds to go, Typhon raised its right hand as though it meant to crush them. There was a momentary pause, a slight hesitation. Then the hand dropped.
“Look out!” Ivan shouted. He shoved Akasha one direction and dove to safety in the other. The gargantuan hand came crashing down between them.
But Typhon wasn’t aiming for them in the first place. Ivan turned just in time to see the teleporter node get pulverized, smashed flat as a pancake. At the same time, the energy rings marking the edge of the LTF flickered and vanished. That meant the entire field was down.
With three seconds to go, the ARKS’ plan had failed. Three seconds… just three. Was it merely a coincidence? Or had Typhon known what they were trying to do?
Ivan didn’t have time to worry about that. As he pulled himself to his feet, he spotted the same giant hand hovering over Akasha’s prone form. This time, however, something was different. A gaggle of tentacles emerged from the beast’s armored palm. The appendages snaked through the air, slowly but deliberately, silent predators stalking their prey.
Akasha! Ivan started forward, ready to do battle. Ready to fight Typhon himself if need be. There was no way he was going to stand idly by while his friend got slaughtered.
Almost immediately, the man stopped in his tracks. It was too late. The tentacles found Akasha and quickly wrapped themselves around her arms, her legs, her chest, her head. They enveloped her entire body like a cocoon. Ivan frantically called her name as the last traces of the girl disappeared beneath the wriggling black mass, lost somewhere within the creature known as Typhon.
TO BE CONTINUED
Sig art by Aussei ^_^
Spoiler!Firstly, i'd like to strongly disagree with gunships being safe. Other than though, interesting chapter. Shame the transport didn't work. Would have made for an interesting space battle though. Imagine the kind of energy that would use too without a massive power source available. Though in hindsight, I guess its nothing compared to warping an entire cruiser through space. With all the Arks coming out of the wood works, its also kind of amusing to imagine tons of missiles and techniques aiming for the eyes. So you would see an endless cloud of explosions on Typhon's face. So that gave me a laugh. Would also make Typhon pretty angry too I bet. Born in a pod (I think), out from an egg, engulfed by black mass; If she doesn't develop a fear, one should hope Akasha doesn't develop a fetish from all this. wacko
@yoshiblue:
Spoiler!The keyword here is "relatively." It was relatively safer aboard the gunship because most of the Darkers were down in the streets with Akasha and Ivan. Also, Ivan was trying to put Akasha's mind at ease, that's why he said it.
Since Typhon's invulnerable to most weapons, I was trying to come up with a strategy for defeating it. That's how I came up with the idea of using a Code: Capture to teleport it away. But of course, things are never that easy.
And lol~
Sig art by Aussei ^_^
Much like Zorafim, I too have a lot of catching up to do! I'm going to be reviewing entire chapters as I finish them, starting with 18 today.
Spoiler!One of my favorite chapters you've ever written, hands-down. It kicks off with the super-intense approach to Terra Nova scene and really doesn't let up on the action, but it has plenty of very emotional interludes and intriguing plot development that strikes a great balance. It had no low points and didn't ever feel overwhelming.
The most interesting part to me is the presence of Ka'li, who is a rather ingenious look into how Akasha would have turned out had she followed along with Shankar's plans...and it leads into perhaps one of my favorite scenes you've ever written--Akasha making her decision and leaving Shankar to die on his own terms, reminding him of everything he took from her and Ivan. It was personal, emotional, gripping, and was the perfect response to him. I have a feeling this is far from the last we've seen of Shankar, and Ka'li for that matter, but it was a very fitting resolution to that issue for now. Too bad we still have Typhon to deal with...
This chapter was incredibly bloody too, and you once again accomplish making the Darkers seem fearsome and deadly, while providing a grim reminder that our heroes are very much on their turf. So many lives were lost in the approach to Terra Nova and certainly on board Orpheus, nearly leading to even Colton's death, but fortunately Kolba showed up. I really like Sammy too, he's just a fun character. Kolba's obviously far from a "hero" character, but I'm really, really pulling for him here. For him to contribute to Lee's fall would be some real satisfying justice, given their history.
Looking forward to the encounter with Typhon, and seeing what the others back on Ur are up to. Fantastic chapter all throughout.
PSO2: Cocona - GU/HU / FI/HU / BO/HU
--AR PHANTASY - PSO2 Fanfic! [Updated 05-21-14]--
Holy butts, I type words on them there Tumblrs
Oh god look a Twitters too
@CelestialBlade:
Spoiler!I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.I definitely had a lot of fun writing the scenes with Ka'li. I'd been hinting at her existence for a while, but I think most people assumed the mysterious figure with Shankar was someone else, so hopefully the truth came as something of a surprise. As for Akasha's decision to spare Shankar, that was the culmination of her experience to that point. I had that scene in my head for a long time, and it always ended the same way--with Akasha leaving him to die slowly, alone.
There's a lot going on in Chapter 19, so if you're looking for answers and plot developments, you won't have to wait long.
CHAPTER 21.3 [9/2/17]
Spoiler!
COLONY SHIP 02, UR: DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
A gloved hand tightly gripping a metal handrail. A well-groomed head of hair and matching beard, grayed by time, being ruffled in the turbulent wind. A pair of alert, steely blue eyes filled with dread.
This was Captain Arin Colton as he watched the scene unfolding below him. He saw it happen from the bay door of his gunship as it circled the sky above Fifth and Central. An event so unexpected, so terrifying, it numbed his mind and chilled his spirit. And yet, despite his most fervent wishes, he was powerless to stop it.
Spoiler!
What Colton saw was this: Typhon, pressed up against the edge of an office tower, one clawed hand hovering over Akasha’s prone form. From the Darker’s open palm, a gaggle of tentacles weaved through the air and wrapped themselves around the girl’s body. They enveloped her until she completely disappeared beneath the slithering mass. Gone, just like that.
That was over a minute ago. Since then, Typhon hadn’t moved. It was completely still, not attacking, not reacting, as though it had entered a state of temporary hibernation.
Colton didn’t know what to make of it. What he did know was that he’d been given an opportunity, a brief window of time to either seize or squander. He also knew what was expected of him. “Use any chance to strike at your opponent.” It was the obvious choice. But sometimes, the obvious conflicted with the personal. Sometimes it was your own family on the line.
Akasha wasn’t technically family, but she may as well have been. Colton had taken responsibility for her in the aftermath of the Aether Labs fire. Over the past ten months he’d watched over her, guided her, and worried about her the same way any father would. So when the time came to order the attack, Colton hesitated. He couldn’t bring himself to do it.
As fate would have it, however, he didn’t have to. An overzealous Ranger launched a rocket from one of the gunships circling the area. The projectile streaked through the afternoon sky, its exhaust trail painting a larger-than-life arrow straight to Typhon. When it struck, an orange fireball blossomed against Typhon’s armored shoulder.
The damage was negligible, but it didn’t matter. Crowd mentality took over from there. Soon, a chorus of gunfire rose up from all sides, the bullets and missiles hammering the Darker’s outer shell.
Colton gritted his teeth. If this keeps up, then…
He pressed the button to activate his radio. “This is Colton. All forces, hold your fire!”
“But sir—,” one of the junior lieutenants responded over the same channel.
“I said hold your fire!” Colton bellowed. “That’s an order! Hold! Your! Fire!”
The attack abruptly died off. Typhon was still standing in the same spot, still unmoving. Their weapons hadn’t fazed it in the least. As for the strange tentacle cocoon, the one that had enveloped Akasha, Colton noted with relief that it was still intact. He only hoped the Newearl was still alive inside it.
Calling off the attack went against every instinct Colton had as a soldier. And yet, somehow, some part of him knew it was the right thing to do. He couldn’t explain why. Didn’t even really understand it himself. But he knew that whatever was going on down there, it was something that shouldn’t be interrupted.
At least, that’s what Colton told himself. He just prayed he was right…
* * * * * * * * *
Blackness. Infinity.
No matter which way she turned, a dark void stretched out in front of her. At first Akasha thought she was dead—again. But the more she thought about it, the more she doubted that was true. First of all—and most importantly—she didn’t remember dying. The tentacles from Typhon’s palm had swallowed her up, then she felt a prick on the back of her neck, and then… nothing. Suddenly she found herself here. Wherever here was. But there had been no dying involved.
Spoiler!
There was also the fact that she could see herself. Last time she died, Akasha had been completely incorporeal, little more than a ball of consciousness floating in space. This time she was clearly visible. Akasha waved her hands in front of her face. Hands? Check. Next she looked down at her feet. Spun around and skipped in place. Feet? Check.
Obviously, this time something was different. What that meant, however, Akasha had no idea. She could see herself… but nothing else. With nothing to see, she had no idea where to go. So she picked a direction at random and started walking. She walked and walked and then she walked some more. The further she walked, the more it felt like she wasn’t going anywhere at all. Finally she gave up and sat down, waiting for something to happen.
And eventually, of course, something did.
It was some miniscule sound, maybe, or a slight movement at the periphery of her vision. Whatever it was, it caused Akasha to look up. Directly in front of her, perhaps ten meters away, stood a lone figure. Someone Akasha knew very well, and the last person she expected. Yet there she was, nonetheless.
Akasha’s breath caught in her throat. No, it can’t be…
“Hello, Kasha.”
That voice, that face, they undoubtedly belonged to her fallen friend. But those eyes… those red, patterned, glowing eyes… they belonged to something else entirely. A monster in human clothing.
“You’re… not Kira, are you?”
The lone figure stared back at her, unmoving. Unblinking. Studying her in silence.
Spoiler!
“You’re Typhon, aren’t you?”
Still no response. That wasn’t a denial…
Akasha decided to try again. “There’s only one person in the whole world who called me Kasha, and she’s gone now. But maybe, just maybe, there’s some trace of her left inside you. Am I wrong?”
The creature with Kira’s face looked down at its human-shaped palms. Squeezed them shut, then opened them again. Finally, it spoke. “The one called ‘Kira’… Her energy has already been consumed, but I still retain her knowledge. I remember all those I have absorbed, including you.”
So I was right, thought Akasha. In that case, she still had a chance. Not to save her friend, unfortunately. It was far too late for that. But maybe the small piece of Kira residing inside Typhon would listen to reason. Perhaps they could still have peace. Fighting back painful tears, Akasha said, “If that’s true, can’t you see what you’re doing is wrong? Look inside Kira’s memories! Look inside mine. This world has its problems, I get that, but I still believe it’s worth saving. And so should you! You’re more than just some mindless monster, I see that now. You can think, and feel, and choose. This cycle of violence, it has to stop. Can’t we find a way to work things out?”
Not-Kira stared blankly back at her. “You have misjudged me,” it replied flatly. “I chose this form to facilitate communication, but I have no interest in ‘working things out.’ What I desire is to feed and grow strong. I am always hungry, Kasha. I must satiate that hunger.”
“Then why?!” Akasha demanded, her tone pleading. “Why bother talking to me at all? Why not just absorb my energy and be done with it?”
“Curiosity, I suppose. It is not often I get a chance to speak with a fellow traveler, a kindred spirit. We are both products of the same experiment. Opposite sides of the same coin. You, a creature of the light. And I, of the dark. Before I fused with the one called ‘Shankar,’ you and I could have become symbiotes. In a sense, we were created for each other.”
“Yeah, I heard that story. But I made a choice, a choice to be something else. Something more. It’s a choice you can still make. You were created from Darker cells but you’re not quite one of them, are you? Like me, you’re… unique. We don’t have to be enemies, you know. You don’t have to be what they wanted you to be.”
Not-Kira’s eyes narrowed. “They wanted to use me. They created me to turn the Darkers against each other. That was my purpose. But they underestimated my power… and the power of the Darkers flowing through me. I will show them the consequence of that arrogance. I will show them how little control they truly have… when I destroy them all.”
It was useless. No matter how hard she tried, Akasha wasn’t making any headway. Then a thought struck her. Maybe she couldn’t get through to Typhon, but what about Kira? Or at least, the miniscule part of her that remained inside the beast. It was worth a shot…
Akasha stepped forward, hands stretched out in front of her. Then she did the most unexpected thing of all. Without fear or hesitation, she reached out and pinched Not-Kira’s cheeks.
The creature recoiled in surprise. “That was… unpleasant. Why did you do that?”
“To prove you can feel. That you’re not just some ghost in my head. Because if you’re here, and you’re real, then there’s a chance you can learn. You said you have our memories, right? If that’s true, you should know how Kira and I first met. Do you remember what she told me back then?”
The dark void surrounding them started to glow. Like paint on a canvas, swirls of color preceded form as an entire world took shape. As their location came into focus, Akasha realized she recognized it: the ARKS Training Academy on Ur. They were outside, on one of the pathways between a pair of buildings. Random cadets were milling about.
As the Newearl glanced around in wonder, her gaze fell upon a particular section of wall outside the science building. There were a few people gathered off to the side, one much larger than the rest. Akasha did a double take when realized who it was—herself. Or rather, it was her older, adult self. She was looking at a memory, a recreation of her first meeting with Kira.
But in that case, where was Kira? It took Akasha a moment to figure it out. Once she did, however, the answer seemed obvious. Typhon was accessing Kira’s memories, therefore the image she was seeing was from Kira’s point of view. This is how I looked when she found me that day…
As Akasha looked on, the scene played out exactly as she remembered it. A trio of cadets fishing for trouble confronted her older self. The big Newearl reacted—violently—and a one-sided fight ensued. Within moments, the Older Akasha had their leader, a scowling red-headed punk, shoved up against the wall. Just when she was about to deliver the finishing blow, Kira intervened.
“Alright, that’s enough!”
Surprised by the sudden outburst, Older Akasha and the three goons turned towards Kira.
“Hey! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”
The big Newearl was completely taken aback—and nearly at a loss for words. “N-No, I… I mean, they were picking on me first…”
“I know. I was talking to them, not you.”
After a brief but heated exchange, the goon trio left in a huff. Kira finally got around to introducing herself, and—in her typical blunt manner—offered Older Akasha some much-needed advice:
“But you know, you’re not exactly helping things either. You want to stick to yourself—fine, that’s your choice. But it’s more than that, like you’ve given up trying to get along with people. You’re different, I get it. You’ll probably always have people look at you funny because of it, and there will probably always be morons like that jerk and his buddies around. But so what? You can’t control them, but you can control how you deal with them. Be the bigger person—literally and figuratively. If they laugh at you, laugh right along with them. Show them who you really are and I bet they’ll forget all about the bad things they’ve heard.”
“I…” The tall woman started to reply, then trailed off. “No, you’re right. I tried to hold it all in, but at some point I… I stopped looking at other people, I mean really seeing them. I guess I just didn’t want to get hurt any more, but that only made things worse. And now…”
“Hey, it’s okay. Everyone’s got their own burdens to bear.”
“Yeah… yeah, I know. It was a mistake, one I won’t make again. Thank you.”
“You already thanked me. But if you ever want someone to talk to, come find me. See you around, Akasha.”
As the scene came to a close, the memory world began to grow hazy, its colors less distinct. The sights and sounds of the Academy trickled away like falling raindrops and evaporated into the ether. Just as quickly as it appeared, the landscape faded away into nothingness. Into oblivion. And once again, Akasha found herself back in the void alongside Typhon’s human form.
The Newearl took a moment to compose herself. Though she didn’t want to admit it, reliving that memory had shaken her. A poignant reminder of days long gone, simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.
But this was no time to lose her cool.
“Even though I didn’t want it, and probably didn’t deserve it, she saved me—you saved me, Kira. Just like you saved me on Lillipa. Remember that? It was during the mission to infiltrate Solomondi’s palace. I was so angry back then because I thought you’d taken Ivan from me. I was ready to quit the mission, to give up on everything. I nearly lost my way but you brought me back. You refused to let me go, even if that meant beating some sense into me. Literally.”
Akasha chuckled in spite of herself. She could feel hot tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. “We were something else back then, weren’t we? A real pair of goofballs. But you know, it’s funny… Despite the pain, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world.”
Not-Kira stood there quietly. Not reacting, but not interrupting, either. When Akasha was done, the creature fixed her with its red-eyed gaze. “You are attempting to confuse me. To manipulate my emotions using this one’s memories.”
Akasha ignored the remark and continued: “You could’ve given up on me so many times but you didn’t. You saw something good in me that I didn’t even see myself. That belief kept me going, Kira. It kept me sane. And now that I’ve started looking, I see the good in people too. I want to save them just like you saved me.”
“Your efforts to elicit a favorable response will not succeed. My thoughts cannot be corrupted by the memories of those I absorb. The information I retain is merely a byproduct of the feeding process, nothing more.”
There was no anger in the creature’s words. They were merely a statement of fact. Even so, Akasha wasn’t willing to give up. Not yet. “If I can’t convince you, maybe there’s somebody else who can. I know a certain idiot who has this pesky habit of always putting others before himself. He cares a little too much, you know? And when things get bad, I mean really bad, he always lets you know everything’s going to be alright.” The girl smiled. “You know who I’m talking about, don’t you?”
All around them, another memory world took shape. Akasha recognized it as the balcony outside Kira’s apartment. In the distance, the artificial sun was setting against the lower edge of the Great Dome. The city lights were beginning to wink on one by one, a sea of sparkling color to match the ocean of stars above.
And leaning against the balcony, gazing out at the distant skyline, was the “certain idiot” in question: Ivan Malloch.
Spoiler!
Akasha knew the place and the person, but this wasn’t a memory she shared. This one belonged to Kira and Ivan alone.
The man at the balcony turned to Not-Kira and smiled gently, even lovingly. He didn’t appear to see Akasha at all. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “A lot, actually. And I’ve decided to apply for Saint Gaibon. Now, look, I know what you’re going to say—that your family’s problems aren’t my burden to bear. We’ve been over this before, and I get it. But I want to help, Spitfire.”
Ivan took two steps closer to Typhon. “With your sister gone, you can’t keep supporting your father forever. And the doctors, they don’t know what’s wrong with him. They’ve all but given up. But Saint Gaibon is the best of the best. They have the best instructors, the best resources. I know it’s still a long shot, but if there’s any chance I can save him, I want to take it.”
Akasha was stunned. Absolutely floored. Ivan never told her that the reason he wanted to attend Saint Gaibon was to help Kira’s ailing father. Even now, with Kira gone, attending that school was still his dream. Akasha felt a bitter pang deep in her heart. It was the realization, sudden and poignant, of the depth of caring he still had for Kira.
“Enough,” Not-Kira demanded. “I grow tired of this game.”
Undeterred, the imaginary Ivan continued reenacting the memory. “Everything’s going to be alright, Spitfire. You’ll see. I’ll be there for you and your father, I promise. I care about you too damn much not to be.”
Ivan stooped forward and wrapped Not-Kira in a warm embrace. The creature tensed up, reacting visibly to his touch.
Akasha let the scene play out with cautious optimism. Had Typhon finally started to come around? Was this the emotional trigger it needed?
Things seemed promising. But then, just as quickly, everything fell apart. The imaginary Ivan gasped in sudden pain and staggered backwards. Not-Kira’s right forearm, pointed stiff like a blade, had impaled him right through his midsection. The man cried out again and doubled over, his body burning apart from the inside out. Akasha watched as the fire consumed him, disintegrating into little more than a pile of charred ashes.
The memory world itself followed soon after. On the horizon, Ur’s skyline erupted in flames. It became an apocalyptic hellscape… one that Typhon undoubtedly hoped to make a reality.
The monster spread its arms wide in proclamation. Its words took on an ominous tone. “This is the future I seek, one consumed in all-cleansing fire. I will burn Oracle to ashes. I will destroy… everything. And when it is done, I will absorb the Darkness itself and become the new god of this world. All will be remade as I envision it. All will bow before my power.”
Akasha stood her ground, unfazed and unafraid. Without saying a word, she leaned in and gave the creature a big hug. “You were my best friend, Kira,” she said quietly during the embrace. “I loved you like a sister. You’ll never know how much you meant to me… how much you still mean to me. But I promise, I’m gonna make you proud. Goodbye, my friend. And… I’m sorry for this.”
In one swift motion, Akasha plunged one of her daggers deep into Not-Kira’s gut. The sapphire blade went straight through the Darker, its tip poking out of the creature’s back.
Akasha stepped back as Not-Kira let out a bloodcurdling, inhuman screech. It was the sound of a thousand beasts crying out in pure agony. Even though the red-haired girl was merely a projection, Akasha had already proven it was linked to Typhon’s senses. Back when she pinched Not-Kira’s cheeks, the creature had reacted with discomfort. That’s how she knew the pain it felt now was real.
With Typhon distracted, the void world they currently inhabited began to fall apart. Patches of white brilliance appeared at the edges of Akasha’s vision. The patches grew and spread, quickly replacing the endless abyss. The last thing Akasha saw before the light overwhelmed her was the blue glow of a photon dagger, the one still protruding from Not-Kira’s back.
* * * * * * * * *
Akasha awoke to a different kind of void. This wasn’t the empty darkness of the mind, however. It was the inside of a cocoon-like mass of Darker tentacles. One of those tentacles was currently stuck in the back of her neck. Must be how ol’ dragon-face initiated the mental link…
The girl could have panicked. Given the circumstances, that would’ve been a totally reasonable reaction. But she was in no hurry to get free. At least, not yet. Her surprise attack against Typhon had blindsided the creature, thrown it off balance. Before it could recover, there was something Akasha had to do. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The image of a stream formed in her mind. Water flowing steadily along a fixed course. As she focused harder, the stream appeared to halt in place. Then, as if by magic, the water reversed direction. Now it was going backwards, back to its source. The stream quickly picked up in speed and intensity. Soon it had grown into a raging river.
Akasha felt a tingling sensation spreading throughout her body. The mental image of the river, while metaphorical, was also an apt one. But it wasn’t water that was flowing into her. It was photon energy.
The function of Typhon’s tentacles was to extract photon energy from its victims. Essentially, what Akasha had done was reverse the direction of that current. Instead of draining her energy, she was stealing what Typhon had taken from countless others. It filled her up to the brim, supercharging her with more energy than she’d ever had before. The experience was… invigorating.
Within the darkness of the tentacle cocoon, a singular light began to shine. That light was Akasha herself. Unable to contain the vast reservoir of energy inside her, it began spilling out in the form of a glowing, whitish aura. A cloak of pure warmth that sheathed her from head to toe.
At last it was time for Akasha to go. She reached behind her neck and pulled out the tip of the tentacle stuck in her skin. Doing so completely severed her connection to Typhon, yet she was still far from free. There was still the matter of being trapped.
Akasha knew she didn’t have much time until the creature recovered. Summoning all of her strength, she released a burst of energy that expanded outward in all directions. Its holy radiance burned through the wall of Darker appendages surrounding her. Unable to withstand the onslaught, the tentacles disintegrated and fell away.
Suddenly free, Akasha dropped two meters to the roof of the office tower. A stunned Ivan—the real one—was there to greet her. The Newearl craned her neck and gazed up at the twenty-story Darker standing before her. There was no fear left in her mind. No uncertainty in her heart. With steady hands, she pulled the twin daggers from her back and assumed a fighting stance.
It was time for the real fight to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED
Sig art by Aussei ^_^
Spoiler!Heh, that closure and then Akasha making showings of being a proper main villain. Between the memory manipulation, her test, one paragraph that stuck out and the stabbing, that was pretty main villain of her, heh heh. If you took the paragraph about how she made her choice and how it wasn't too late for change, and made Shankar say it instead, I think it would have fit perfectly. Also amusing that at this point, she can shrug off things stabbing into her body now. So that's cool.
I wonder how so plans to defeat the Titan now?
@yoshiblue:
Spoiler!Hahaha. xD I hadn't thought of it that way. In my mind, Akasha was simply trying to appeal to Typhon any way she could. When that failed, the only option left was to fight. In order to fight she had to escape first, hence the stabbing.
Oh, and the Darker tentacle was only stuck in her neck a short distance--just enough to connect to her brain stem, in order to create the mental link. That's why pulling it out wasn't such a big deal.
Sig art by Aussei ^_^
CHAPTER 21.4 [9/9/17]
Spoiler!
COLONY SHIP 02, UR: DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
The time had finally come.
Akasha was ready for it. Her body was literally overflowing with photon energy, radiating outward in the form of a glowing, whitish aura. Its warmth sheathed her from head to toe. The girl had stolen the energy from her opponent, Typhon, and now she intended to return it back a hundredfold.
For Kira, for myself, for the countless others you’ve murdered… I will stop you. Your reign of terror ends here.
Spoiler!
Calmly, resolutely, the Newearl reached behind her back and grabbed the pair of twin daggers hanging there. She thumbed the activation switches and the blades hummed to life with an intense sapphire glow. One foot edged forward, the other back, as she assumed a fighting stance.
Then she looked up.
Akasha was currently on the roof of a sixteen-story office tower. Typhon, just to the side of it, stood four stories higher than that. With its glowing crimson eyes, mouth full of jagged fangs, and curved horns protruding from its forehead, it presented quite an imposing sight.
But Akasha was no longer afraid. She knew what had to be done, and she was determined to do it. “Bring it on, you monster,” she growled under her breath.
Typhon focused its gaze on the copper-skinned girl. Its reptilian eyes narrowed in recognition and a low rumble escaped its throat. The creature was upset that Akasha had escaped its clutches. Moreover, it was angry that such a trivial being caused it pain. Now it wanted revenge.
Akasha’s eyes darted to the left. Ivan was standing ten meters away, his expressing suggesting he was both relieved to see her and deathly afraid for her safety. In this case, however, she was more concerned about him. Ivan was a decent fighter but he was in way over his head here. No matter what, Akasha was determined to keep him out of it.
Spoiler!
That meant keeping Typhon’s attention fixed solely on her. “Hey, ugly!” she shouted. “That’s right, I’m talking to you! If you want to destroy the world so bad, you’re going to have to go through me first!”
The girl bolted to the right—away from Ivan. “Akasha!” he called after her, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t afford to.
Behind her, Typhon let out a furious roar. Guess that means I’ve got the big guy’s attention…
Ahead of her, the edge of the roof was approaching fast. Akasha charged straight for it. She sprung up onto the lip of the building and, without stopping or slowing down, leapt off the edge. Suddenly she found herself soaring over the boulevard far below. The structure directly across the street, a fifteen-story hotel, was at least twenty meters away. Even with her running start, there was no way Akasha could reach it. Not normally, anyway.
But at that moment, things were far from normal. The wellspring of photon energy flowing through her enhanced her Techniques far beyond their normal limits. She used some of that energy to generate a gust of wind that propelled her the rest of the distance. A second, smaller gust in front of her cushioned the impact. Akasha hit the roof of the hotel, somersaulted forward to dispel the momentum, and was back on her feet a second later.
The girl turned around and stared in awe at what she’d done. It was an impossible jump even for a CAST, but somehow she had pulled it off.
“Whoa.”
“Nice landing,” came a familiar voice. “I give it a nine out of ten. Not to mention, you spared me the trouble of peeling you off the sidewalk down there.”
Akasha looked right, then lowered her gaze. A small, pink-haired figure stepped out from behind a towering billboard. “Luna.”
Spoiler!
The little robot stood three meters away, arms crossed in vexation. “What the heck’re you trying to do, anyway? Lure fang-face right to my doorstep?”
“That was the idea, yeah.” Akasha scratched the side of her head. “To be honest, I kinda forgot you were up here.”
“Well isn’t that just great,” Luna replied, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Tell you what. How about I run this way, you run that way, and I hope the giant dragon monster chases you instead of me?”
Akasha smirked. “Funny, I was about to suggest the same thing.”
An ear-piercing roar cut their conversation short. Akasha and Luna took off in opposite directions just as Typhon reached their building. A clawed hand came down with the force of a wrecking ball, easily smashing through the roof of the hotel. Akasha didn’t stop. She leapt to the adjacent rooftop—a mere five-meter gap this time—and kept running. As expected, Typhon decided to go after her and not Luna. Good, she thought. I’m more than ready to take you on.
But first, she had to run. The girl bounded effortlessly from building to building. Typhon was on the warpath behind her, an unstoppable juggernaut of total destruction. It was pulverizing everything in its way trying to get to Akasha. Fortunately, the entire area finished evacuating a while ago. No need to worry about innocent bystanders getting caught up in the crossfire.
Akasha used wind energy to jump from the edge of an office building to the top of a broadcasting studio. Typhon was maybe six seconds behind her. Turning around, Akasha stretched out her arms and concentrated. A huge wall of solid ice formed in the space between the buildings. It was as tall as the studio and nearly half as wide.
Sadly, it lasted only a moment. The giant Darker plowed into the wall at full speed, shattering it into a thousand frozen splinters.
“So much for that idea,” Akasha muttered dryly.
Before the girl could plan her next move, Typhon opened its mouth and released a powerful energy beam at the base of the studio. The blast erupted into a void of pure destructive force, swallowing anything and everything in its expanding radius. The building shook violently, groaned in protest, then began to topple.
Knowing she didn’t have much time, Akasha raced to the opposite end of the roof and leapt off—blindly. She was already in midair by the time she realized the next building was a lot lower than she’d anticipated, not to mention a lot farther. Utilizing her enhanced abilities, Akasha generated an icy slide in the air beneath her feet. She angled her body and let gravity do the rest. Down, down, down she slid, picking up speed along the way. It felt a bit like riding an airboard, except she had no way of slowing her descent.
Eventually she landed on the roof of the nearest building. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to catch her breath. A mighty roar confirmed what she already knew: Typhon was right behind her. Akasha took off running once again.
The problem was, this time she didn’t have a six-second head start. The giant Darker was practically breathing down her neck. Akasha barely cleared each building before Typhon demolished it. There was no way she could outrun the beast, not even in her current state. The only option was to make a stand. That’s why, when Typhon’s hand smashed into the roof behind her, Akasha abruptly reversed course and backflipped right on top of it.
From there she charged straight up the Darker’s arm. Typhon tried to swat at her but missed. It was hard to hit a moving target, especially one as relatively small and agile as Akasha. The girl passed Typhon’s elbow joint and continued climbing. She passed the patch of rough, glassy spikes on its shoulder. A wind-assisted jump carried her the rest of the way up, landing atop the creature’s dragon-like snout. Directly ahead of her, a pair of glowing red eyes regarded Akasha with something between irritation and fury.
“Didn’t anybody ever teach you not to pick on people smaller than you?” she quipped, grinning sadistically.
Arms outstretched, Akasha unleashed a torrent of fire energy right into the Darker’s face. More specifically, into its big menacing eyes. Typhon recoiled violently in response. It howled in pain and rage, nearly shaking the Newearl from her perch.
But Akasha wasn’t going down that easily. She jumped one final time, ending up on the back of Typhon’s neck. The monster thrashed about, trying to dislodge her, but Akasha remained firmly in place and out of sight. She discharged burst after burst of Razonde lightning against her enemy. The storm of electrical energy danced over its body, dissipating harmlessly against Typhon’s thick armor. Its eyes and mouth remained vulnerable, however, and the repeated attacks drove the creature into a frenzy. When it could take no more, Typhon abruptly unfurled its four gigantic wings and, with a push off the ground, launched itself into the sky.
What the hell? Dragon-face can actually fly?! Akasha hadn’t counted on that. Despite having wings, no one had seen the Darker use them… until now. It was flying upwards at an incredible rate of speed. A speed so fast, in fact, that Akasha had a hard time holding on. She was gripping onto one of several dorsal ridges running the length of the creature’s back. The wind whipped at her face and hair. Her ears popped from the sudden change in altitude.
Akasha squinted her eyes, trying to see where they were going. That’s when she realized the horrible truth: they were headed straight for the Great Dome! If Typhon shattered the bubble covering the city, it would be a disaster. Thousands of people would die. Maybe more.
She couldn’t let that happen. But what could she do to stop it? Akasha ran through the checklist of options in her head. Defeating Typhon wasn’t possible, at least not in the next few seconds. Putting up a barrier wouldn’t work. The creature already smashed through her ice wall once. Making another would undoubtedly lead to the same result.
But wait… Maybe the ice could be used another way, one that would turn the beast’s own strength against it. Clinging tightly to Typhon’s back with one hand, Akasha stretched out with the other and focused her energy. A pale whitish glow quickly turned into a fierce gust of Gibarta. The cold storm blew downward, catching Typhon’s leathery wings in the process. Ice crystals rapidly formed and multiplied. Soon all four wings were encased in huge, jagged blocks of ice.
Typhon’s rate of ascent slowed, then stopped, then turned negative as the creature began falling back towards the city. The weight from the ice was an anchor dragging it down. And without the use of its wings, Typhon had no choice but to drop like an oversized brick.
That meant the Great Dome was safe. Unfortunately, Akasha now had the opposite problem—the Darker was plummeting toward the city instead! Or at least that’s what she assumed at first. When Akasha looked down, she realized they were actually headed towards the lake at its center. Its crystal blue waters were approaching at an alarming rate.
Not wanting to get dragged into the depths, Akasha released her grip on Typhon and angled herself away from the creature. She tried to put as much distance between them as possible. Five seconds from impact, she extended her arms downward and released a powerful blast of wind. It wasn’t enough to keep her afloat, but it prevented her from hitting the water at terminal speed.
Splash! The cold water swallowed her up in an instant. She was sucked down three meters before her momentum finally stopped. After that, a few strong kicks were enough to bring her back up to the surface of the lake.
Akasha gasped for breath, her lungs tasting some much-needed air. Well, I’m not dead. That’s a plus, she thought. On the downside, she was at least half a kilometer from shore and there were no rescue boats in sight. And what of Typhon? Akasha turned to look—
“Oh… crap.”
The water displaced by Typhon’s mass had taken the form of a massive tsunami—and it was still growing. Akasha used her powers to form a surfboard made of ice, hopped aboard, and let the wave carry her the entire way back to land, all the while dodging energy blasts from the mouth of a very angry, very persistent Typhon.
Up ahead, the flood barriers began to rise. Akasha steadied herself on top of the ice board. At the last possible moment, just as the tsunami was about to slam her into the barrier wall, Akasha jumped. She cleared the wall easily. Unfortunately, given her momentum and the fact that she was twenty meters above the ground, Akasha knew she was in for a rough landing.
Suddenly instinct took over. Wings of pure light materialized on Akasha’s back as if by magic. Combined with her wind powers, Akasha was able to stay aloft. She soared between rows of metal skyscrapers, dipping and swooping, gliding and coasting, her flight pattern just like a bird’s. The girl let out of a whoop of delight. That elation turned to fear, however, when Typhon came charging down the street behind her. The Darker seemed determined to snuff her out at any cost.
It was also faster than she was. The creature snapped at Akasha with its mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. She dodged right—barely in time. It tried again and she juked left. Despite her best efforts, Akasha knew it was only a matter of time before she ended up a Darker snack. She banked hard to the left, flying up and over a row of buildings. It was no help—Typhon simply smashed right through them.
This is nuts! If I don’t end this, and soon, the whole city’s gonna get dusted, and me along with it.
Typhon lunged forward, swiping at her with one of its clawed hands. Somehow she managed to slip through its fingers—literally—but her energy wings got clipped in the process, sending her spiraling out of control. Like a Newman rocket, Akasha hurtled towards the nearest building. She barely had time to protect herself with a gust of wind before slamming into the roof of the fourteen-story tower.
By the time she rolled to a stop, Akasha was covered in scrapes and bruises from head to toe. Her entire body ached. A few bones were probably broken. The girl staggered to her feet, wondering if the situation could possibly get any worse.
It could. Typhon was half a block away, charging straight at her. Each thunderous footfall shook the ground beneath it. Ba-thoom! Ba-thoom! BA-THOOM! Akasha didn’t have the time or the strength to get out of the way. All she could do was stand there, paralyzed, as the behemoth bore down on her.
But just as things looked their most dire, a miracle happened. At least that’s how it seemed to Akasha. Out of nowhere, a swarm of ARKS gunships roared past overhead. They let loose with every weapon at their disposal. A hail of bullets and missiles slammed into Typhon’s head, forcing the monster to halt its advance. The Darker covered its face with its hands and let out a mighty roar.
Akasha grinned. Somewhere up there, Colton, Sahara, and Yoshi were still looking out for her. They had given her a chance—just one, but it was the only one she needed.
Channeling her remaining energy, the Newearl summoned a great blade of light. Its power crackled and shimmered in her hands. Impressive, to be sure, but it wasn’t enough. Akasha focused harder, pushing herself to the limit. The energy blade doubled in size, then tripled. Then it doubled again. Now it was over five times taller than Akasha herself.
The girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was it. No turning back.
Kira… this one’s for you.
She sprinted to the edge of the roof, gathering wind energy beneath her feet along the way, and jumped. It was a magnificent leap. The wind carried her upwards, her blade held in front of her like a jousting lance.
Directly ahead, Typhon was still being pinned down by cover fire from the gunships. As Akasha drew closer, she noticed a long, jagged gash across the Darker’s chest. She had no way of knowing it was the wound inflicted by Major Krauser earlier that day. All she knew was that it presented her with a perfect target.
Uttering a determined yell, Akasha drove her energy blade directly into the gash. It went in nearly to the hilt, piercing the Master Core embedded deep within the beast. Typhon reared back and bellowed in mortal anguish. Its glowing red eyes, so harsh and menacing before, faded and went dark.
No Darker could survive the loss of its core, not even a behemoth like Typhon. It was their fatal weakness. And so, just like that, the fight was over.
Lifelessly, the creature staggered sideways and began to collapse. At the same time, Akasha let go of the energy blade stuck in Typhon’s chest. She, too, started to fall.
If she hadn’t used up the last of her strength in that attack, Akasha might have saved herself. But her energy was completely spent. There was nothing she could do except drop straight down… straight to her impending death.
She was fifteen stories from the ground. Then ten. With less than five stories to go, a familiar-looking blur zipped beneath her and scooped her out of the air.
“I told you I’ve always got your back, didn’t I?”
Akasha was so dazed, it took her a second to realize who was speaking to her: Ivan. He had swooped in to save her riding a borrowed hoverbike.
“My hero,” she whispered into his chest, before consciousness left her.
The battle for Ur lasted another three hours. It was fought in the streets and in the skies, inside houses and department stores, until every last Darker had been hunted down and eliminated. More than a hundred ARKS lost their lives. Entire city blocks lay in ruins.
In the days that followed, many stories would be told. It seemed like every soldier had a tale of survival and heroism in the face of overwhelming danger. But none were as memorable as the story of a Newman girl who took on the greatest Darker of them all… and won.
For on that day, as the rest of the ARKS looked on, the legend of Akasha the Giant Slayer was born.
* * * * * * * * *
DOCKING BAY 7, UR
He finally made it. Despite the setbacks and the close calls, he was safe.
The docking bay was empty when Lee arrived. Not a single soul in sight. His personal shuttle, on the other hand, was right where it belonged. Lee crossed the bay with determination and purpose, his footfalls echoing loudly in the silence. He keyed in the passcode to unlock his ship. After a moment of delay, the boarding ramp lowered to admit him. Five long strides brought him inside. The ramp retracted automatically behind him, sealing the entrance with a soft hiss.
Spoiler!
Lee nagivated the corridor to the cockpit and sat down in the pilot’s chair. It had been some time since he’d done any piloting himself—several years, in fact—but he still remembered the basics. Enough, at least, to get away from this wretched colony ship once and for all.
His plan to control the ARKS and Oracle had failed. It had all come apart in the final act, the pieces on the board scattered like leaves in the wind. But that was alright. Lee would simply start over again. He still had his life and, more importantly, his wealth and influence. He was still the head of a criminal syndicate that spanned the stars. Despite everything, he would be just fine.
Lee initiated the ship’s startup sequence. The main console began scrolling through a list of system checks. While he waited, Lee gazed out the forward viewport and contemplated the future. What would he do? Where would he go? Feoh was his first stop—his family’s old estate resided there. After that, perhaps a visit to his estranged brother…
He’d been thinking for some time when he spotted the reflection in the viewport. It was so still, so lifeless, that Lee hadn’t noticed it before. But there it was, watching him: a white face with piercing yellow eyes, an insidious grin, and a pair of curved horns. A demon’s face.
“I’m not a ghost, if that’s what you’re thinking,” said the voice behind him.
Spoiler!
Lee didn’t bother turning around. “No, I suppose not.” He also didn’t bother asking how the man in the demon mask got aboard his ship. At that point, it didn’t seem to matter much.
“Do you remember what I said I’d do to you the next time we met?”
Lee’s lip twitched. For all the thoughts racing through his head, there was nothing he could say. No witty comeback, no sharp rebuke.
“You left me to die aboard Orpheus,” the masked man growled. “A piece of advice from one professional to another: If you plan to get rid of a business associate, I suggest you do it yourself. But then, you never did like getting those delicate little hands dirty, did you?”
Lee reached up, slowly, and removed the dark glasses covering his eyes. His gaze never left the reflection in the viewport. “Is there any room for… negotiation?”
“No.”
“I have meseta, property, resources. Whatever you want, name it. It’s yours.”
“I said I don’t want your dirty money. They can bury you with it for all I care. See how much good it does you then.”
Lee nodded slowly, reluctantly. Not to the masked man, but the cruel fate awaiting him. So, he thought to himself, that’s that, then. This is how my story ends.
He had no doubt they would find him later—what was left of him—and they would piece it all together. All of his secrets, his lies, the side of him that he tried so desperately to hide, would be laid bare before them. Exposed for all the world to see. And in their smug, assured self-righteousness, they would write him off as a two-dimensional villain, the product of twisted ambition and unbridled ego.
But they knew nothing. No one had every truly known him. No one, except…
“Kolba.” The corners of Lee’s lips curled upwards with the faintest hint of a smile. “I am glad it was you.”
In the empty stillness of the docking bay, a single gunshot rang out. It was the sound of inevitability. Then the quiet claimed it, consumed it, and silence reigned once more.
CHAPTER 21: END
Sig art by Aussei ^_^
Spoiler!RIP, gone out without any proper justice delivered. I wonder how much damage the lift off caused in the area? Also would have been funny if Typhon managed to hit the ceiling by accident too. Sucks for anyone in the general area where it happened. Also makes me wonder how long Akasha could hold all the energy before her body starts to break down. I was reminded of people becoming CASTs when their bodies can't handle the amount of photons in their bodies. Also makes me wonder what Akasha would be like if she became a cast after that, heh. Doubt it would happen though.
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