Awoken

by Alex South

  “The garb is an old tradition of the order. Your confusion is understandable. I have returned to inform you that the Legion has moved faster than we anticipated so we will not be able to deliver the refugees. Our timetable has been advanced, and we have already joined the Windhammer. Your vessel will fight alongside the Sky Sentinel squadron, protecting the Windhammer’s back,” Abur explained. “Do you still desire to help us?” he asked after a brief pause. Oa nodded in reply.

  “Good, I will be in command of the Sky Sentinels. I shall relay orders via ray-com to you. Windhammer will spearhead the attack. Our goal is to protect her back until the Void command ship is destroyed. That should halt the Void’s advance on this front,” Abur explained.

  “How many other fronts are there?” Ohm asked.

  “One other. The remaining two Defender-class warships are being dispatched. They will do their duty, and we will do ours,” Abur clarified curtly. The crew of the ARI nodded in understanding. Abur waited briefly for any more questions. There were none.

  “May the fallen protect you. We go to battle,” he said reverently. Abur spun on his heels and led his two warriors back to their squadron.

  “Yeah, you too,” Ohm replied with less conviction.

  The three friends stood in a circle and took hold of each other’s hands for a moment, finding courage in community. Then they walked out of the engine room and into front section of the ARI. Ohm took his seat at the power hub while Oa, Kai, and Susan went to the cockpit.

  “I’ll fly this time,” Oa suggested.

  “Yeah, there’s no way you’re gonna be the gunner. These are my weapons,” Kai agreed lightheartedly.

  “I patched us in to Fred’s ray-com so we can all hear Abur’s orders. I’ll manage the ship’s defenses. If Kai didn’t replace it, there should still be a sealed tank beneath the power hub attached to a piping system that runs to the outer hull. Fred can fill the tank with water, and I can use that to ice over parts of the hull. I can shield us from most attacks, but I cannot protect us from too many at once,” Ohm informed them, his voice transmitting over the ARI’s unseen communication system.

  “Yeah, I was wondering what in the name of sanity that storage tank and all those irrigation tubes were for. They took me forever to put back together,” Kai complained.

  “I am glad you did. We stand more of a chance now,” Ohm replied.

  The ARI’s engines activated, rumbling deeply. The craft rose into a shallow hover as the Z-7 Torches of the Sky Sentinel squadrons accelerated out of the hangar. Oa waited for Abur’s command before falling into formation at the rear of the procession. The ARI followed the Sky Sentinels out into open air as they rose toward the dawning glow of a new cycle. It was a red sky, as red as the eyes that lurked within Eol’s shrouds. It was as if the demon himself were above them, watching with gleeful anticipation for the outcome of the brewing storm. The orange army of Torches coasted dangerously close to the churning clouds. The sparks and flares of lightning masked the Enlightened forces as they charged toward the inevitable fight. Abur organized his troops, ordering them into a wide chevron shaped attack formation. The ARI flew behind the spearhead of fighters. Abur had tasked them to deal with any Legion ships that got through his ranks. Far off in the distance, Oa could see that the Windhammer had nearly reached the Void.

  “Full speed ahead. Our timing must be exact. We will initiate a counterstrike the instant our enemy attacks the Windhammer,” Abur commanded.

  A thousand thrusters burned hot and bright in front of Oa as they accelerated to overtake the warship. Below them, the Stormfell followed slowly, staying out of range to protect the safety of the refugees it carried.

  As they neared the edge, Oa saw the Legion vessel protruding from the Void. It was a monstrous sight; cylindrical, hollow, and even bigger than the Stormfell. Three grizzly structures jutted out from the prow, like teeth. The vessel formed a gaping maw into the Void. At the end of each blade sat a mighty thruster. The jets were pointed back at the Void, hauling it forward, feeding the Great Planes to the darkness. The Legion was driving inward, and the Void was coming with them. From the core of the ship, a black swarm of Tridents spewed out. Their glowing red cockpits made for an eerie and intimidating sight.

  “Slow to three-fifths speed and wait for my signal,” Abur commanded calmly.

  Up ahead, the Windhammer approached the Legion horde, yet the warship launched no fighters. For a moment, all was calm as the two forces approached each other. Then shockwaves thundered through the air as the Windhammer opened fire. Hundreds of cannons blasted, shooting out meteors of blazing white light. The Tridents broke formation, dispersing to avoid the volley. The missiles of light shattered the Legion formation, obliterating those too slow to maneuver away from the attack. Oa noticed that the missiles dissipated far short of hitting the Legion command ship.

  “They aren’t in range yet,” Kai muttered, worried.

  The Legion reformed their echelons. The deft fighters maneuvered around the dangerous but slow cannons. The swarm swooped over the forward bow of the Warship, seeking to attack it from the rear. Suddenly, Z-7’s came zipping out of several of the forward cannons. Oa realized that the Windhammer’s crew had constructed launch tubes to allow their fighters to exit the front of the aircraft. They had been disguised as cannons. The Torches flew in behind the Legion, blasting away at the Void dwellers.

  The Trident swarm was caught off guard, but it banked a hard turn, coming about to make a strafing run on the exposed hangar bays of the Windhammer. They were met with a head-on attack, as the remainder of the warship’s fighter complement poured out to engage them. Chaos ensued as the attack from both sides devolved the Legion’s formations. Their numbers were too great to be overpowered for long. The Tridents quickly recovered, engaging in a fierce dogfight with the outnumbered forces of the Windhammer.

  “All squadrons stay in formation. We will strike through the center of their ranks!” Abur commanded sharply. The Sky Sentinels hurtled down into the battle to aid their comrades.

  Oa and Kai looked at each other as they flew toward the chaos. Kai put a hand on her friends shoulder.

  “We got this,” she said confidently.

  “Yes, we do,” Oa said. His nervousness hardened into courage as he pushed the throttle to full.

  “Let’s show them what the ARI can do,” Ohm called from the power hub chamber.

  “Activating the deck shield,” Kai called as she pulled a lever on the console. The broad metal plates stacked at the back of the open deck slid around the railing, forming a metal shield to guard the vulnerable side of the ARI.

  “Open Fire!” Abur yelled over the ray-com.

  Kai dropped down her targeting controls and began to blast away at the nearest targets. Oa followed the Sky Sentinels, diving down through the maelstrom of combat. Black and white rays filled the air. Oa dodged through the chaos, his concentration pushed to its limit. Next to him, Kai rapidly unloaded the ARI’s firepower into the Legion. The twin azure beams sliced through Tridents with each blast the cannons sounded. The ARI was rocked from explosions all around.

  Ohm grunted as he strained to merge his senses with the ship. He felt an incoming missile heading toward the engine and knew Oa could not dodge it in time. With a thought, Ohm sent water to the hull, casting his ice over the threatened spot. The barrier took the full force of the blow. The reinforced structure shook violently but remained undamaged. Ohm immediately melted the ice and redirected it to the underbelly of the hull just in time to deflect another deadly missile. Oa rolled and spiraled the ARI through the sea of conflict. He kept his movements erratic to shake off any ambitious Tridents trying to get into position behind them.

  Screams of doomed pilots came in over the open ray-com. The victorious surprise attack was not without losses.

  “We must defend the Windhammer until she is in range to attack the Legion command vessel. Regroup now and prepare for another run,” Abur called out as the Sky Sentinels pa
ssed through the thick of the battle. The fighters leveled out, speeding over the desolate ground as they reformed their lines.

  “Reengage,” Abur barked as soon as his forces were ready. They looped back up for another strafing run.

  Oa flipped the ARI end-over-end in a barrel roll, then looped around and sent the ship back into the fray. Kai toggled to another weapon on her guidance goggles. A cannon from the belly of the ship began to fire, spitting out projectiles faster than Oa could keep track of. Kai’s accuracy made sure most of them struck Tridents that had slipped through Abur’s lines. None of her shots hit the orange and white hulls of the Z-7 Torches.

  “These are just the tracers. We will need to make another pass through when we reach the other side,” Kai informed.

  Oa looked over quickly, and nodded an affirmative. He noticed Susan floating protectively over Kai. The varl’s two soft paws rested on either side of her friend.

  “I hope you have enough of those, ‘cuz the other side of this fight is a long way off,” Oa said. His voice strained as he banked a hard left to avoid an exploding Torch.

  “I built the cannon to hold five-thousand tracers. Let’s just say I had a lot of time on my hands back in those caves. We have enough,” Kai assured him.

  “I’ll say,” Oa agreed.

  “You should’ve gotten a hobby,” Ohm teased, joining the banter.

  “Yeah, because building the coolest gliders and exploring every rock of those canyons doesn’t really count,” Kai retorted.

  “We’re almost through the thick of it,” Ohm called back, refocusing the crew on the battle.

  The ARI rocketed out of the fighting just behind the Sky Sentinels. Abur commanded another strafing run, and the Torches prepared to make another pass. Oa took a little extra time looping around so he could rest his mind and reflexes.

  “Activating the Sky Blade,” Kai said, as she flipped another lever on the control panel. “I really hope this thing works,” she muttered. Outside, the ARI’s wing folded out to its full length. Along the front blade of the wing, panels popped up slightly then slid back to reveal a crackling bank of blue energy.

  “Take us in!” Kai yelled. The hum of the Sky Blade filled the cockpit, rising to a screeching drone. Oa pushed the throttle to full power, sending the ARI racing past the other Z-7s and back into the fight.

  “Stay in formation,” Abur barked.

  “Nah, how about you clean up after us this time,” Kai called back.

  Just as they were about to reenter the fray, Kai pulled the trigger on her targeting controls. All along the front blade of the wing, blue lightning shot forth, seeking out the tracers Kai had fired previously. The ARI cut through the middle of the warfare like a blue sword of light, searing a grim swath of destruction through the Legion ranks. The ARI’s blade was inescapable. Tridents exploded all around them. The crew cheered in unison as the Sky Blade ripped through their enemy, in a strafing run for the ages.

  The Legion’s numbers had been greatly reduced, and the tide of the battle was turned. It seemed as though the Enlightened would be victorious. The Sky Sentinels and the ARI pulled out of their dive and headed back up to finish the fight. Over the ray-com, Oa could hear the cheering of the other pilots.

  “Crew of the ARI,” Abur said, his stern voice breaking through the cheers. Oa cringed inwardly hoping they hadn’t offended the hero too much.

  “Your reckless actions have paid off. The Windhammer is nearly in range,” Abur congratulated. “All squadrons, pick your targets and finish off the remainder of these Tr—”

  Suddenly, explosions shook the ARI. Enlightened pilots called out in surprise as their Torches were attacked from behind. Oa heard their dying screams over the ray-com. The enemy had launched a surprise counterattack. Sections of the ground below crumbled away as Legion reinforcements poured from gaping wounds in the Great Plane. The Legion had drilled through the foundation of the edge lands and waited for the Windhammer to pass before springing their trap. The Sky Sentinels were forced to scramble and reengage, but they were overwhelmed as the sheer number of incoming Tridents blew past them to attack the exposed Windhammer.

  Pandemonium ensued as the ARI was hit with the full weight of the Legion’s assault. Ohm did his best to protect the ship and Oa flew with skill unmatched while Kai shattered copious amounts of Tridents with her deadly cannons. But the crew’s efforts were not enough. The hull of the ARI was torn apart by missile after missile. All around them, the Enlightened forces were being annihilated. The Windhammer was in flames. Its cannons boomed out, desperately trying to hit the Legion flagship; but it was still out of range.

  Oa instinctively dove down to avoid a head-on attack from an oncoming Trident. His evasion was too fast for Ohm to register, and it placed the ARI in the path of an exploding Z-7. The debris struck the unprotected hull. The cockpit window shattered as pieces of the wreckage crashed through it. Oa grunted as he pulled the ARI around and accelerated out of the fight.

  “We took a bad hit Ohm. I can still move. Kai, is—” Oa looked over at Kai, his voice catching in horror. “Kai is hit! She has a piece of debris through her torso.”

  Oa set the ship on a straight course away from the fight. He shoved himself out of the pilot’s seat and knelt next to Kai. Her head moved slowly as she recognized him.

  “Oa, that was some great flying. T-too bad that stuff got in the way,” Kai laughed, though her voice faltered with pain. Susan hovered next to her, sparking in agitation and worry.

  “Ohm, I don’t care what happens. I’m using Seeker to fix her,” Oa yelled, his voice panicked.

  “Oa, don’t!” Ohm called back, but he was too late. Oa already had Seeker glowing above his hands as he frantically called upon the power he had been suppressing. He dove headlong into the universal programing, throwing his will toward Kai. Seeker blazed with light, unleashing the power of creation. Tendrils of life reached out toward Kai. The orbs power was too glorious and pure to go unchallenged, so the Legion answered.

  A lone Trident left its bombing run. It turned away and raced after the ARI, moving faster than any Legion vessel should. The Trident leveled off directly over the ARI, and the front hatch popped open. A Legion soldier dropped down onto the ARI. The Void warrior swung through the smashed cockpit window, tackling Oa to the ground. Oa’s concentration ruptured, and Seeker dropped to the floor, no longer glowing. Susan growled and grabbed the intruder in her paws. She crushed the enemy and threw it back out of the cockpit as the soldier crumbled into Void dust.

  Immediately, several more Legion fighters peeled away from their attack to pursue the ARI. Ohm darted out of the power hub and raced to the cockpit, arriving in time to see Susan defend Oa. Oa reached for Seeker, but his focus was fractured; and the silver orb did not respond. He grabbed Seeker, trying to reenter his inner sight. He yelled in frustration. Ohm wrapped his arm around Oa and snatched Seeker from his hands.

  “Oa, we have to go! They’re coming for you!” Ohm yelled. Oa struggled, not wanting to leave his friend.

  Kai raised her head, lifting her arm up feebly. She grasped Oa’s hand and spoke softly. “I know you’ll change things, Oa. Thanks for everything.”

  Oa continued to resist Ohm. “No, wait! I can fix this,” he said frantically.

  Kai turned her head towards Ohm. “Get him out of here!” she growled. The Traveler nodded silently in farewell. Oa fought as Ohm aqua jetted them out of the broken window and away from the ship. They fled as the Legion fighters hurtled toward the ARI.

  Inside the cockpit, Kai moaned in pain. She strained in effort to pull the jagged piece of metal from her midriff but was unable to remove the shard.

  “Susan, help me with this will ya?” she murmured. The lightning varl took the piece of debris in her paws and pulled it free. Kai cried out but stayed upright. She heaved herself over to the pilot’s chair. Susan assisted her wounded companion, using her gentle paws to support Kai’s crippled body. The varl floated next to Kai, nuzzling her
snout against Kai’s shoulder.

  “Susan, you have to go … Please, I need you to protect Oa now,” Kai said, her voice breaking.

  Susan growled in understanding but refused to leave her partner’s side. Kai reached forward, whimpering in agony as she strained to take control of her ship. She spun the ARI around and dropped underneath the oncoming enemy fighters. Kai sent the ARI on a course around the dying Windhammer and toward the massive Legion flagship.

  “Let’s see how good my work really was, eh, Susan?” Kai said, her voice still cheerful despite the fatigue each word exacted on her mangled body. She reached across the console, nearly collapsing before Susan caught her. The varl supported Kai as she reactivated the ARI’s Sky Blade. The weapon hummed to life, and Susan nudged Kai back into the pilot’s seat. Her head rolled back weakly as she fell into the chair.

  “Susan, you need to go now,” Kai said, her voice growing quiet. She reached up to pet Susan’s big soft head as she had so many times before. Kai rubbed the spot between Susan’s pointy ears. Her fingers gradually lost their feeling until all she could fight to hold onto was the moment. Kai’s hand fell limply to her side, all of her strength gone.

  Susan nestled herself around Kai, resting her snout against the Awoken’s chest.

  “You’re m-my best friend S-susan …” Kai fought to get the words out. “Thank y-you … .” Her voice faded completely as life left her. Kai’s head slumped forward to rest on Susan’s brow. She was an empty shell, no longer the playmate Susan had loved so much. As if in response, the energy in the ARI’s Sky Blade sputtered and died as well. Susan stayed holding her head against Kai’s. The energy in her body dimmed and throbbed in grief. She would not leave her fallen comrade as the ARI made its dying flight toward the Legion flagship, pursued by the Trident fighters. A small, meaningless scrap of metal, fated to wreck itself upon the unstoppable force of the Void.

  Susan started to growl, a noise that grew from a grief stricken whine to a roar. Her energy began to churn, as heartache and rage consumed the gentle creature. She held onto Kai for a moment longer before barreling through the cockpit’s shattered window, out into open air. Susan’s roar was unending. It resonated through the sky, haunting and powerful: a eulogy to the spunky Awoken she had rescued from the darkness of Istaar. Her eyes narrowed to slits as tears of purple lightning leaked out, crackling and sparking. The Legion fighters had overtaken the ARI; to their great misfortune, as the lightning varl let loose her fury. She swelled to the size of a Trident, and each swipe of her vengeful claws ripped a foe into oblivion. Susan’s eyes seared as she wept bolts of violet light. Coils of electric fire spewed from her mouth, consuming the creatures of the Void.