by Ammar Habib
“Don’t argue with me on this, Ethan.”
“I won’t let you do this.”
“Why not? I can help. I know how to shoot. If nothing else, I can provide cover fire from up here.”
“They’re coming for you. Being in the line of fire will only make that easier for them.”
“Ethan, two years ago, you almost died protecting me and so did Ivan. And now this whole city might burn because of me. You need to let me do it. If I don’t, then I won’t ever be able to live with myself.”
He was silent for a few long moments.
She put her hand on his shoulder. “Please, Ethan…”
Ethan looked over at Ivan. He nodded and Ethan glanced back at Katrina. “Alright. But Oliver is going to be with you.”
She slightly smiled.
Adam spoke up. “What’s the battle plan?”
Ethan looked back at the group. “From the ship’s deck, we have a good view of the entire dock. Oliver, Jonathan…and Katrina will be positioned on the boat and providing us cover-fire. William is trained and experienced enough to be able to take these people on, so he will be on the ground with me. Ivan knows his strengths. He can make the call whether he wants to be on the ground or up here.”
“I’ll be on the ground. Close-quarter fighting was always my strength.”
Ethan nodded.
“What about me?” Adam asked.
“You’ll be at the ship’s helm. If things start to take a turn for the worse on the ground, you pull the lever and get the ship out of here and get everyone on board to safety.”
“Okay.”
“You need to swear to me that if the fight starts to go south, you’ll get the ship out of here. Even if it means abandoning us, make sure Katrina, Jonathan, and Oliver are safe.”
Adam nodded.
“You need to say it.”
“I’ll do it, Ethan.”
“Good.” Ethan looked back at the group. “They’ll be here soon. Make sure you’re ready. We did not get to decide how this day started. But we all have one question to answer: how will this day end?”
With those words, the group began to disperse. They all began to make their way to check their weapons. But as everyone left, Oliver approached Ethan. “When the fighting starts, Ethan, you don’t have to worry about Katrina. I’ll keep her safe. Just keep your mind on the battle.”
“Thank you, Oliver.”
With a nod, Oliver turned and left. Ethan noticed William was still standing where he had been the whole time. Seeing Oliver leave, William walked up to Ethan with something in his hand.
“What do you need, Will?”
“I believe congratulations are in order.”
Ethan smirked. “Only you would think of that at time like this.”
“I might not get a chance to tell you that later.” Revealing what was in his hand, William motioned for Ethan to take it. It was The Guardian’s mask. “By the way, I think this is yours.”
“Don’t tell me you brought the whole uniform?”
“I never leave home without it. But don’t worry, I left the spares back at the base.”
Ethan took the mask and stared at it for a few long moments. Looking back at his friend, he handed the mask back to him. “It’s about time you started wearing it, William. God knows you’ve earned it.”
The ex-soldier smiled. “Maybe…but for tonight, I’ll stick to the ski mask.”
Ethan took the mask into his hands. “In case we don’t make it out alive, mind telling me what happened?”
“I needed to go dark. There were some questions I needed to get answered. Questions about Daken…and you.”
“Me?”
William nodded.
“Where did you go?”
“I tried to find out where Vixen and Danior came from before coming into Crown City. Then I just followed the rabbit hole.”
Ethan’s eyes widened as he heard that. “Were you able to find out?”
“Somewhat. I knew Vixen and Danior would lure me out and finish me off just to have you go over the edge. So I took the opportunity to let her think that she killed me.”
“How’d you do that?”
“Through a…well, a really good plan. The only part I regret was having to make you think I was dead.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me, William?”
“I knew you’d never let me go through with it. You had enough strain on you. You were already in a very dark place. I thought that if you knew what I was doing, it would break you completely.”
“But…I mean I confirmed your death myself. If it was a fake, I would have known it.”
William smirked. “After working and training with you for over two years, I’m pretty sure I know how you’d confirm my death. And I’m pretty sure I could figure out how to throw you off the scent.”
After a few long moments, Ethan slightly smiled. Right now he did not care what answers William might have found. None of that mattered. All that mattered was that his friend was back and here with him as their enemies were coming upon them. “I guess you’re right.” He put his hand on William’s shoulder. “But it’s damn good to have you back.”
“Likewise, my friend. You have a plan yet?”
“For Vixen?”
William nodded. “Once we get through her army, we’ll have to take her down.”
“When the time comes, I’ll know what to do.”
“I certainly hope so. I’m also hoping our chemistry is still there. Lord knows we’ll need it.”
“It’ll be there. As long as we all trust one another, it will be there.” Ethan paused for a long moment. “I don’t know how this night will end, William. These past two years, I never doubted that I would make it out alive. But now…now I may be facing something that even I cannot defeat. ”
William’s smile disappeared. “I know we’ll win, Ethan. We may not make it out alive, but we will win. We will save this city because we have to. And I know one more thing. If we are all to die, then we’ll die together. If this is to end in fire, then I will burn standing tall.”
Ethan saw no fear in his friend’s eyes.
“And I will burn right next to my brother.”
Chapter 30
End of the Line
The night was at its darkest. Under the black clouds, there was a frightening peace. The air was still and a chill hung over the entire private port. But the peace did not last long.
Out of the mist, Vixen emerged. Her long red locks stood out in the blackness. She was half-surprised the boat was still here, expecting her prey to have fled by now. Any sane person would have done so. Her army followed behind her. And just like their leader, their eyes were pinned on the boat.
Then, they saw them.
From the shadows between Vixen and the boat, three figures emerged: Ethan, William, and Ivan. Walking side-by-side, they stood tall. Ethan wore the uniform of The Guardian. Everything was in place: mask, cloak, daggers, and wrist cable. His belt of knives had been replenished since his last skirmish with Vixen’s force. William and Ivan both had a semi-automatic rifle in their arms, two pistols holstered around their belts, and two daggers around their waists. But covering William’s face was a black ski mask. None of their eyes showed any fear.
The two groups stopped twenty yards from each other. Vixen could feel the eyes of three snipers, but knew that they would not shoot yet. She could kill them all right now where they stood, but she would let this play out. She would show Ethan that even with all his strength, he was powerless to save his wife.
“A heroic stand, darling. But a futile one.”
“Only you and your army will die tonight.”
“You should’ve run when you had the chance. Now everyone you love will die.”
“You’re going to pay for all the lives you’ve taken.” Ethan unsheathed his long daggers. “This ends now!”
“It ends when you die and this city is filled with rotting corpses.”
With a powerf
ul growl, Ethan charged.
Vixen’s army charged.
William and Ivan raised their assault rifles and pulled the triggers.
On the boat’s deck, the three snipers let loose their fury.
Ethan collided with the Hispanic foe. His long daggers stopped his enemy’s katanas. Without hesitating, his foe sent down several more deadly strikes, but Ethan blocked them with ease. Sensing one of the gunmen coming up from behind him, Ethan leapt in the air to dodge a stream of bullets. He soared over the Hispanic before perfectly landing on his feet. Swiftly turning around, Ethan blocked several more quick blows from his foe’s blades. The loud noise of the swords and daggers clanging against one another was heard above everything else as the two expert fighters dueled. Feeling the other soldier pulling the trigger, Ethan once again soared into the air to avoid the bullets.
The roar of gunfire filled the night sky as Ethan again perfectly landed. However, this time he ended up several yards away from both opponents. In a split second, he launched a small knife at the gunman. Right before it came within arm’s reach of its target, the gunman shot the knife and shattered it in midair.
But that was what Ethan wanted. In the next instant, a sudden high-pitched flash consumed the gunman’s eyes. The gunslinger became dazed for a split second, losing sight of his opponent. And that was just what Ethan needed. Running towards him, Ethan leapt into the air and both of his boots slammed into the gunman’s chest, sending him soaring backwards. Still stunned by the concussive flash, he lost his handguns as he landed roughly on his back a good distance away.
Ethan turned back to the Hispanic as he came upon Ethan. Expertly, Ethan blocked several more swift strikes. Ethan swiftly squatted down and kicked, taking the Hispanic’s legs out from under him. But just before Ethan could finish him off, the gunman came charging from behind him, daggers in hand. Ethan instinctively leapt to the side, just in time to dodge the assault.
Not far away, the dark-skinned gunman came running at Ivan and William with a handgun in each hand. Raising their rifles, Ivan fell to a knee while William stood tall as they both pulled their triggers. Countless bullets flew at the gunman, but he easily sidestepped each and every one of them. Leaping up, he returned fire at both his foes as he soared through the air. William ran to the right while Ivan darted towards some cover. The bullets missed their mark and buried themselves into the hard ground.
Ivan turned around. His opponent had holstered his pistols and was now in hot pursuit of him. Ivan aimed his rifle and fired at the charging gunman. The deafening gunfire roared above everything else, but again the super-soldier sidestepped every single bullet as he came upon Ivan. In a swift move, he kicked the rifle out of Ivan’s hands. Backing up, Ivan pulled out two pistols. But before he could take aim, the gunman grabbed either wrist. Without hesitating, he head-butted the bodyguard square in the forehead, sounding off a deafening thud. Vixen’s soldier let go of Ivan’s wrists and the now unconscious Ivan collapsed onto the ground.
Whipping his head, the gunman looked in William’s direction. William had his rifle pointed right at him as the gunman maliciously smiled. But William was not deterred. He pulled the trigger and unleashed his fury.
***
Vixen and Alice watched the entire fight unfold from a good distance. Up on the boat, all three snipers were firing away, intending to provide William much needed help. But it was all for naught. The bullets did not even travel a few yards before Vixen stopped them from afar and forced them to harmlessly drop into the ocean. William would be on his own.
Sensing somebody on the boat, Jonathan whipped his head around just as an intruder leapt over the boat’s railing and onto the deck. The Asian soldier was only a few steps away from him. Instinctively letting go of his rifle, Jonathan took a step back as he pulled out his pistol as the soldier charged at him.
Jonathan pulled the trigger. But it was too late. Right as he did, the Asian soldier slammed his staff against Jonathan’s wrist, forcing him to miss the shot. And in the next instant, Jonathan was out cold.
Oliver came between Katrina and the soldier. Not backing down or showing any sign of fear, he whipped out two pistols and fired at the soldier from only a few feet away. The deafening sound of the discharging weapon rang in his ears. He pulled the triggers until the clips ran dry. But with lightning speed, every bullet was batted away by the soldier’s steel staff as if they were flies.
Hearing his guns run empty, Oliver took a step back. He cast them aside and pulled out a long dagger. With a malicious smile, the soldier menacingly came towards him. Oliver’s grip around his dagger tightened. He knew he could not win, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight. With an angry roar, he leapt at his nemesis. But with a quick, masterful move, the soldier disarmed Oliver and slammed his head against the boat’s metal guardrail, knocking him out.
Now alone on the boat with Katrina, the solider looked up at her. She was nearly thirty yards away, guns in hand. But they both knew how this would end. In the next instant, it began. She pulled the trigger. He charged.
***
Back on the ground, Ethan kicked away the gunman. As the soldier was knocked off of his feet, Ethan turned his attention back onto the Hispanic as the soldier charged. Ethan launched three daggers in quick succession, but they were all deflected away without a second thought.
Sensing his second foe coming back at him, Ethan knew he could not fight both his foes if they were on either side of him. He aimed his wrist cable and fired it at a tall street lamp twenty yards away before he was whisked away. Halfway to the pole, he disconnected his cable and his momentum landed him thirty yards away.
Turning around, he reloaded his wrist cable shooter with a cartridge from his belt. And in the next moment, both foes were back on him. But this time, they were in front of him. Ethan blocked six swift strikes before the gunmen came back at him as well, armed with his daggers. Ethan quickly blocked and sidestepped several more quick blows. On more than one instance, his enemies’ blades came only inches away from him. But he knew that his luck would not last long.
Slowly, he began to back up. Both foes stayed step-for-step with him. And they attacked with everything they had. Blocking, ducking, and weaving, Ethan attempted to avoid every deadly strike sent his way. At first, he masterfully avoided almost each and every strike they sent. Even with their superior speed, they could not get him.
But his advantage did not last. With each passing second, he was being worn down. He had no chance to go on the offensive as his two opponents overpowered him. And before he knew it, the blades cut open his skin. Luckily, the wound was not serious enough to slow Ethan down.
Only a little distance away, William rolled to the side to avoid his foe’s bullets. Coming to his knee, he returned fire as his opponent charged at him. Knowing that he had no chance of gunning the soldier down, William dropped his guns and unsheathed his daggers. He blocked the first few moves, but his opponent moved with such agility that William was barely able to keep up with him. Within thirty seconds of their battle beginning, his opponent powerfully kicked him in the chest, sending William on his back ten yards away.
***
On the boat, the soldier disarmed Katrina. Her gun went over the railing and into the ocean as he knocked her to the ground. Ignoring the two bullet wounds she had given him, he looked down at his now helpless prey. He twirled his staff above his head, keeping his eyes on her. “I would tell you not to be afraid.”
Katrina stared right into his eyes.
“But that would be a lie.” He brought his staff down with every intention of splitting her head in two.
But he never had the chance.
Adam rammed the soldier from behind. The Asian man staggered a few feet before Adam came at him again. But regaining his composure, the soldier dodged Adam’s assault and grabbed him by the collar. Without wasting a moment, he flung Adam headfirst into a wall.
Just as he turned around, Oliver came rushing at him with a mighty ro
ar. Blood was pouring from his head wound, but he would not let it stop him. He tackled the soldier onto the ground and landed on top of him, now a good distance from Katrina. The soldier kicked him off before leaping back to his feet right alongside the ship’s railing.
Oliver was not deterred. He charged back at the soldier. The soldier raised his staff, preparing to bash Oliver’s skull into pieces. But then he saw what the bodyguard was carrying in his hand: a grenade.
Oliver grabbed hold of the soldier. Together, they went over the railing and into the water with a loud splash.
Katrina rushed to the railing and looked at where they both had gone. And no sooner had she done so before it happened. An underwater blast kicked up a fountain of water into the air. The ship rocked with the explosion and much of the water splashed onboard.
And in her heart, Katrina knew both of them were dead.
***
In the shipyard, Ethan was nearly backed into the wall. He heard the explosion near the boat only moments ago, but did not even look its way. He was covered in sweat, bruises, and some blood. But that would not stop him or slow him down. Ignoring all the pain, he continued to dodge every attack thrown his way. His blades smashed against his enemies’. His limbs collided with theirs. Seizing every opportunity he found, he sent his own attacks. His elbows and knees slammed against them. The tips of his blade were able to cut into them. But none of his attacks were ever enough to slow either opponent down. Just like him, they would not be so easily beaten.
But then he saw it. Not far away, William was on the ground and his foe was almost upon him. He had nothing but a dagger left to defend himself with. And within a few moments, Ethan would lose his friend again.
Ethan looked back at his foes as he avoided and countered a few more successive blows. Taking advantage of a small opening, his elbow smashed against the Hispanic’s face and his boot collided with the gunman’s chest. He took advantage of their temporary daze and fired his wrist cable at another street lamp only a short distance away. Soaring above his foes, he pulled out a throwing knife while in midair. As he landed several yards away, he launched the knife at William’s attacker.
