"Let your courage guide you. Be true."
With the mental command of maximum thrust, the Starfighter One rushed at top speed across the brief gap of space to his destiny. He was upon the Fleet in a matter of minutes and he halted his charge just short of the massive Flagship, Kron. Flanking the Kron were the five Cruisers in battle formation and awaiting the return of their compliment of fighters. The Fleet sat deathly silent as its countless guns who could obliterate the Starfighter One a thousand times over, remained inactive. An invisible force latched onto the Starfighter with a powerful grip and pulled it towards an opening mouth on the belly of the Flagship.
An alarmed synthesised voice sounded within his helmet. "Warning, tractor beam has engaged. Evasive action imperative! Do you request any escape scenarios?"
"Negative Becky, were going in."
"Do you request termination code?"
"Negative."
"Admiral, it is against my primary directive to land upon an enemy vessel without resistance. If you do not take evasive action, I will have to activate the pilot override." Becky replied.
"Don't try it Becky, remember I built you."
"If you do not take evasive action, I will have to activate the pilot override." She repeated.
"Okay then, we'll do it the hard way. Commence shutdown on onboard computer's higher brain functions."
"No, don't do that. It's not necessary..." Becky said in a computer enhanced tone of fear.
A more basic synthesised voice replied to Ryan's command. "Enter access code."
"No, stop...stop." Becky pleaded.
"Three one five three." Ryan answered.
"Noooooooo..." The sophisticated voice faded away as her higher brain functions were deactivated.
"Be true!"
Ryan's eyes dashed over the instruments before him to check if all other systems were functioning correctly. Now a great number of his voice and thought commands were inoperative, but the tractor beam made the use of such commands pointless. His digits upon his right hand called up the engine control system and with the prompt - all engines stop, he cancelled the forward thrust from the ships powerful engines. He released his mind from the burden of piloting the Starfighter One and did his best to relax as his ship was dragged towards the awaiting aperture of the belly containment dock. The dark hull of the Kron ominously loomed overhead as its shadow cast a blanket of gloom upon the Starfighter One. The intricate detail of the hull became more defined as the gap closed to within a few hundred metres and the dock entrance dominated the view from the cockpit. The Starfighter One was engulfed in the gaping mouth of the dock and was carefully positioned upon the dock floor. Behind, the massive dock doors slowly closed, sealing off the cold, silent world of outerspace.
The sound of oxygen being pumped into the dock reverberated via the dock floor to the Starfighter until the atmosphere was sufficient to carry sound waves directly, and amplify the clamour. The noise ceased abruptly leaving the dock in complete silence. Unlike the landing bays upon the Endeavour, the containment dock possessed no force field to restrain the air from expelling into space. This dock was rarely utilised and the need of a sealing dock was more practical.
The silence was brief as the opening of two air locks infiltrated the hush and two platoons of elite Warrian soldiers marched into the dock. The platoons surrounded the Starfighter then positioned themselves about the ship with their guns trained upon the cockpit. Ryan activated the canopy release and it abruptly slid back over the fuselage, then stood from the reclined seat of the fighter and jumped to the floor of the dock. With the placing of his hand upon the fuselage, the canopy closed swiftly, followed by the start of the distinct hum from the ships shields. They may have captured him but not Starfighter One. With the shields up, she was quiet impenetrable and only a devastating blast from a megagun would pierce it and destroy the ship in the process.
A single armoured soldier entered dock and approached the pilot that stood beside his spacecraft. Ryan observed the golden sword emblem upon his shoulders and realised that this was the infamous Warlord Zen. The commanding officer of the entire Warrian Battle Fleet and sole adviser to the Emperor. A mechanically translated voice omitted from behind the intimidating mask. "Remove your helmet." Zen commanded.
Ryan reached for the hoses that connected the life support system to his helmet and with a twist, they fell away while omitting a sharp hiss. He rotated his helmet fifteen degrees to the right, then lifted it from his head and dropped it to the floor. Zen was wise in his demand for now Ryan was as helpless as if he were a naked child. Now, he was completely cut off from all the vital systems that his suit provided. He had no means of communicating with his ship or the Endeavour and spinning sensation caused by the continual mental conflict was no longer compensated for. If it were not for the micro-hydraulic assistance, he would have collapsed to the floor next to his discarded helmet.
"The Emperor awaits your presence." Zen announced. He turned on his heels and marched back through the air lock.
Ryan felt the shove of two large gloved hands upon his back as he staggered forward in the direction that Zen had gone. He glanced behind to see two towering black armoured forms with red aluminous eyes staring back at him. With the jab of two photon guns in his back, he followed the commander of the Warrian Fleet.
********************
Mission control shuddered violently as her crew hung onto their seats. Officer Stone's heart sank as he announced the data before him. "Squadron's eight one five and two eleven have been destroyed. Only one hundred and fifty squadrons remaining."
"What remains of the Warrian strike force?" Charlie inquired.
"They have suffered heavy casualties but still number over twenty thousand."
Charlie did his best to conceal his anguish but Katie could see right through him. The look in his eyes told her that the situation was grim. She met his gaze and decided to risk the inquiry that dominated her mind. "Things aren't looking to good are they?"
"They out number us six to one now." He said quietly. "It won't be long before all of our ships are gone." He redirected his attention to one of the Mission Control crew. "Recall all fighters to the defence of the Endeavour."
"Yes General." Whitely replied.
Charlie's thoughts darted back and forth from the battle to Ryan. The gradual demise of Intersect's Spaceforce by the Warrians hastened the need for Ryan's confrontation with Zardon. It was obvious now that Ryan was right, the quicker he got it over with the better. "What is the current location of Starfighter One?"
Officer Whitely responded. "Entering Starfighter One in the tactical computer....sector eight five niner." A blue dot appeared on the imager, millimetres away from the Warrian Fleet and steadily approaching. "General, the Flagship Kron has Starfighter One in a tractor beam. Notifying squadron three one five to intercept."
"Negative. No assistance is to be dispatched." Charlie commanded.
Whitely looked up at her general in confusion. "Sir, the Admiral is about to be captured!"
"It's a part of the plan Officer Whitely and don't question my orders."
"Sorry General. It won't happen again."
Katie looked down at Charlie and said sarcastically. "That's some plan you have General!"
"There is no other solution Officer Mitchell. Our only hope now is that Ryan succeeds."
********************
Ryan entered the large elevator with the two guards behind him, while Zen leered at Ryan from the back of the elevator. As the doors slid quickly together, the Warlord spoke something in his native tongue and the elevator promptly moved in reaction. Ryan looked up at the towering form and met his scrutinising stare.
Zen spoke again, but this time it was through the translator. "You have been a very formidable opponent, human. I have met many a warrior in my one hundred and twenty years of battle, though none were as resourceful as you. It would have been a great pleasure to kill you in hand to hand combat, only the Emperor wishes t
o reserve that enjoyment for himself."
Ryan showed no fear as he spoke his words of defiance. "When I have defeated Zardon, I will come back and we'll have that battle you speak off."
Zen barked a sound that imitated a deep guttural laugh. "You boast tall things for such a small creature."
"I may be small but my but blade is keen."
"Do you honestly believe you can conquer the Emperor? A master in hand to hand combat with the strength and agility that is vastly superior to your own puny limbs? Maybe I was wrong about you human, maybe you are just a fool who has had a couple of lucky breaks."
Ryan stuck his arms out for Zen to behold. The Warlord looked down and recognised the mystic glow that transpired through his A.A.E.E.V. suit. "Magic", the one thing he feared was the tool of this small creature and the scales upon the back of his neck flared up causing him to cower back a step.
"In my world there is no such thing as luck." Ryan spat.
With a slight change in the gravitational effect upon their bodies, the elevator halted its souring passage and the doors slid open to reveal a dimly lit corridor. Ryan lowered his arms and he stepped out of the elevator without the usual incentive from the two guards. The three large armoured figures followed him out and Zen then led them through the complex maze of the Kron's interior.
As they proceeded, Ryan studied the unusual architecture of the Warrian race. The roof of the passage ways soured into the darkness above while the walls were ribbed and glistening with moisture, like the insides of a large oesophagus. The coldness of the air stung his face as if countless needles bombarded him and soon his ears ached from the cruel environment. There was minimal light projected from sparsely placed red lights that made it difficult for Ryan to clearly define the true features about him. His own feet were cloaked in darkness as he trod upon an imperceptible floor. The Warrian vision was different to human sight; it perceived only the low infrared frequencies. To the Warrian eye, white light was like a blank wall of unperceivable colour. They were a nocturnal creature that thrived on the chilling darkness of their prolonged native night. To the three lizard like companions, the corridor was brightly lit and clearly defined.
Zen stopped outside a bulky door, then turned to face his captor. "If you think your magic will save your vile hide beyond this door, then you truly are a fool human." He reached for the sword hilt at his side and unsheathed the energy powered weapon and instantly the red, radiant blade extended to its full one metre length. The sudden brightness made Ryan squint but the warrians seemed unaffected by the sudden change in light. Zen pointed the tip at Ryan's face, then turned the sword around so the hilt was presented to him. "This is in case your magic does not suffice and you require the need of a real weapon." Ryan took the sword from the large gloved hand and felt the precise balance of the exquisite energy sword. "This has been in my family for many generations. It has conquered a thousand powerful adversaries and is yet to know defeat. Do not mock its heritage by meeting an impetuous death."
"If it is so valuable, then why are you giving it to me?"
"Because the Emperor desires it. I believe it is the custom of your race to wish one good luck before an ordeal. Since you do not believe in luck, then I will spare you the custom." He said in a scornful tone. "I must return to the demise of your pathetic race. Goodbye human!" He turned on his heels and strode off towards the end of the corridor.
The bulky door slide aside and with a fierce shove from the guards, he entered the chamber beyond.
"Be true!"
The moment he was through the door closed abruptly behind him, sealing off what little light that came from the corridor. The chamber he had entered seemed as bare and bleak as the rest of this perverted vessel. The cold atmosphere continued to taunt his face as the darkness seemed to amplify the desolation. Again the roof was too high to be seen and the extremities of the chamber were concealed in darkness. At the far end where another dim light shone, was a bazaar structure that appeared like a bony hand reaching for the ceiling. Within the shadows of the structure were two red illuminous eyes that were as bitter as their surroundings. Ryan sensed those eyes were penetrating right through to his very soul and in reaction, a shiver travelled down his spin.
A deep and commanding sound echoed through the dark chamber. "At lazt we meet little human." The articulation of the words were poor, as the speaker struggled with the pronunciation. "I zee you have Zen'z energy zword. Thiz iz good, your destruction will be more challenging with a worthy weapon. Tell me, where did you get zuch fine battleshipz? Their ztructure doez not correspond with anything we have on file." Inquired the mind behind the sinister eyes.
Ryan sucked in the bleak air to answer the shrouded occupant. "The black hole's gravity effected your instruments to give you an incorrect reading. Your trajectory into the black hole was a fraction out as well as your speed. You arrived ten years later than I and it was all the time I needed to construct a suitable strike force. Our ships were never built in the future."
A gross sound omitted from the far side of the Chamber as the shrouded figure hissed. "Zo it waz you in my chamber that day! Ah it all beginz to make zenze now. Come closer, let me zee you."
"It is small and weak of thew. Your mighty blade will cut his flesh with ease." Hellion hissed.
"Why don't you come here, or are you afraid of me?" Ryan announced in defiance.
"Good, you have zprit." The eyes slowly moved from the structure and floated down to floor below, then moved smoothly and silently towards Ryan. Upon his forearms were two glowing beacons of red loathing that pulsed in synchronicity with the large heart that centred his chest. Ryan shuddered to think that those two objects were the source of all that is ill in the universe. The nucleus of terror. "Little man, I fear nothing, but the wize fear me, az you do. I can zenze your heart trembling with anxiety."
"Do not let his words infect your spirit. Your heart is true and your courage will prevail." Valour encouraged.
"Then come here and let me end the fear with the heat of this worthy sword."
The Emperor's form came into view and overshadowed Ryan like a plague that casts its evil over its victims. He had never been face to face with an unarmoured Warrian before and the unveiled face was more threatening than the masks that hid them. Saliva dripped from the shark-like teeth and at the end of the mouth was a wet glistening nose that steamed carbondioxide in the bleak environment. His bat-like ears were forever in motion to achieve maximum clarity while two bright red, unblinking orbs stared from under a pronounced scaly brow. The mouth contorted as it fought to articulate the alien language that it was never evolved to pronounce. "You are zo impetuouz. Do you have any idea of the power I will pozzezz when I zecure the Ringz of Karn from your inzignificant limbz? The Great Talizman will be whole again. The very key that unlocked creation itzelf. I will control everything and everyone, all will be my zlave. I will become a God. Not even the Creator will be untouchable from my might. Zoon, even he will bow down before me!"
"I see you have some big plans. What a shame they won't come true." Ryan said in an effort to torment the Emperor.
"You boazt triumph over me? How foolish you are human. Prepare to die!" His entire form lit up in a wave of concentrated evil and discharged at Ryan through the tips of his fingers.
Six deadly beams shot at his heart and only his lightening reflexes separated him from death. He dropped the sword and threw his body to one side as the beams ripped a great hole in the wall behind him. Ryan returned to his feet then slammed the Bracelets together and projected his retaliation at the bulky form that opposed him. Zardon generated a red shield on his left arm and deflected the tectonic charge, causing numerous layers of solid ceramic alloy were torn through as the charge ricocheted and penetrated to the limits of the vast hull. He omitted a continuous beam of hate from his right fist and moved it in the direction of Ryan's retreating form. The beam cut a clean hole like a giant knife through the ship, annihilating all in its path. Ryan generated
his own defensive shield of white hope as the beam intersected his escape path. The beam struck like a battering ram and hurled his body through many levels of the ship as floor and sealing tore apart under the force. His body would have been disintegrated under the vast force, but the Bracelets generated a protective shield around him.
The Emperor ceased the beam of hate to assay the damage upon his victim. With the momentary silence, the sounds of minor explosions and fires from distant levels were revealed as the Kron suffered under the mighty battle that took place within its interior. A powerful force impacted with the Emperor and shot his bulk through several kilometres of the Kron's superstructure. The calamity about him blurred his senses as countless layers of ceramic alloy were penetrated by himself and the driving force that wielded him. When the assault upon his body halted, the deafening sound of the exploding panels was replaced by a loud ringing in his ears. He opened his sinister eyes to see a human fist containing a ball of white fire that was about to hurl at him. With all his mental strength, Zardon commanded the Rings of Venal to repel his assailant and a massive burst of energy emitted from his body, sending assailant and walls of ceramic ally in all directions. He gazed about him to see his own soldiers being hurled against walls, ceilings and floors with lethal repercussions. Numerous explosions inflicted the Kron as more vital functions were torn apart by Zardon's will. The Emperor was disturbed little by the site as the possession of the other Bracelets made his army obsolete. He commanded the Bracelets to locate his prey and in reaction, the entire flagship became transparent to his vision. As he looked up in the direction that he came, Zardon beheld his quarry. With the speed of a bolt of lightning, the Emperor dashed to Ryan's location in the Emperor's chambers, high above. He exited through the large hole in the floor and landed upon his sandaled feet, then turned about to see Ryan paused at the ready with Zen's energy sword in hand. His whole body was now illuminated and the pure light engulfed the weapon in his hand. With the added power of the Bracelets, the sword had become a deadly tool to even the Emperor.
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