by Paul Ormond
As the robot disappeared into the mist, Mitch checked in both directions before activating his device. Taking a full breath of air, he watched the ripple of energy flowing along his limbs while the sound of battle rang out through the fumes.
After glancing down the passageway leading away from the platform to check for hostiles, Mitch pulled himself from his hiding place and faced the spire of energy towering above him. With one swift shove he launched himself into the air and shot toward the metallic hub powering the beam.
Shots rang out to his left, and he spotted a sentinel firing on him. Dodging the incoming fire, he extended his arm and the bulbous end of his spear opened on command. A quick blast decimated the robot, and he pushed ahead toward the platform.
Landing on the floor with little more than a thud, Mitch assessed his surroundings in search of a weak point, but more shots rained down upon him as a squadron of sentinels approached his position from above. He dove into a cover behind a thick plate covering a railing to avoid taking any more damage. Leveling his weapon, he jumped up and returned fire while the robots closed in. He released several quick blasts and managed to take down a few more robots, but he had to drop back into hiding after more sentinels poured in from his left.
A barrage of fire pounded the metal plate covering his crouched form, and he felt the heat of the blasts burning into the floor. Feeling a pause in the onslaught, Mitch jumped to his feet and let loose a spray of fire. More sentinels fell under his attack, only to replaced by a fresh set of reinforcements flooding in from every direction.
As he dropped down, he heard a few excited whoops ring out over the noise of battle. Jumping back to his feet, he spotted Kate, TaeJun and Gaelin cutting through the wall of sentinels firing on his position. While his companions rushed to join him, he let loose several large blasts cutting a path through the robots.
“It was a good plan,” Mitch said before his friends dropped down beside him.
“I knew there were going to be robots, but how was I supposed to know there were going to be this many robots,” Kate said as she opened fire.
“It must suck being right all the time,” Mitch said while he continued to blast their attackers.
“I don’t know about being right, but it will certainly suck if we all die,” Kate shouted before she fired again. “I thought you were going to take out this beam.”
“I was going to, but the welcoming committee had other ideas,” Mitch said.
“We’re not going to last much longer under this much fire,” Gaelin shouted after he dropped behind a plate. “You’d better cut a hole in the roof while we keep them at bay.”
“That was the plan,” Mitch shouted before he dropped down. “But I got a little distracted.”
“Get ready to head up,” TaeJun said. “Spray ‘em while you rise, and we’ll cut into them from here. When you get close, cut a hole and we’ll make our exit. Once we’re all out, you concentrate everything you got on the beam, and we’ll cover you.”
“I don’t think we’ve got any other option,” Mitch shouted. “I’ll do as much damage as I can on my up.”
“We’ll keep you covered,” TaeJun said before Mitch launched into the air.
Letting loose a broad swathe of fire, Mitch rose toward the ceiling as he watched his robot opponents fall out of the sky. Kate, TaeJun and Gaelin continued to attack the sentinels closing in on their position at the base of the column, but the robots quickly caught onto Mitch’s plan and pursued him to the ceiling.
As the robots gave chase, Mitch cut into their numbers with his spear, but he was unable to eliminate them all. Without another option, he aimed his weapon at the ceiling and took the brunt of the attacking robots’ fire with his shield. Cutting into the thick stone, he felt the impact of hundreds of orbs pounding into his shield. A banner popped in his vision, indicating shield damage. He cursed to himself while he watched the numbers deplete, but a swathe of light poured down from overhead as a crack opened in the ceiling.
Glancing below, he spotted his friends pinned down by dozens of robots, but he was forced to retreat when several robots flooded into the hole from above. Before they had a chance to fire upon him, he unleashed a wide torrent of energy incinerating every sentinel in view.
Without hesitating, he dove down and sent another volley of fire toward the robots attacking his companions at the base of the spire. As the sentinels crumbled under his flame, TaeJun, Kate and Gaelin launched into the air and pushed toward the opening.
“Don’t worry about us,” Kate shouted after she shot past Mitch. “Take that thing out before more killer robots show up.”
“Just keep me covered,” Mitch shouted before he pointed his spear at the metallic hub at the base of the spire.
“We’ve got you, but you’d better hurry up,” TaeJun shouted as he fired in the opposite direction. “It looks like these guys have an endless supply of reinforcements. If we don’t get out of here soon, we’re going to be robot barbecue.”
“I’m on it, but I’m going to need a little more time,” Mitch shouted while he blasted the hub. Several explosions occurred near the base, and Mitch dropped several feet before concentrating his fire on one of the tubes connecting to the hub.
“We need to get moving, Mitch,” Kate shouted after she let loose a hail of orbs. “We’re going to be more than out numbered in less time than it takes for you to rub one out.”
“I’m almost there,” Mitch shouted, pushing to his left.
“Way too much innuendo there than I know what to do with,” Kate shouted.
“How can you possibly think like that in a moment like this?” Mitch shouted as several explosions occurred at the base of the spire. “I think that should do it. Let’s get out of here.”
“Hit ’em with all you’ve got, and then we’ll cut and run,” TaeJun shouted, rising toward the opening.
“You lead the way,” Mitch said before he turned his attention toward the attacking robots. Beneath him, a billowing cloud of fire built up at the base of the spire. “It looks like that thing is going to blow at any moment.”
“There are just too many ways to read into what you just said,” Kate shouted as she cut down a row of approaching robots.
“Only you would think that way,” Mitch shouted while racing toward the opening. “We need to clear the site. I’m going to bet that this explosion is going to be messy.”
“Now you’re doing it on purpose,” Kate shouted before following Mitch out of the opening.
Clearing the gap, Mitch felt several pulses of energy pound through him. Looking down as he sped away, he watched the stone tiles composing the roof of the complex buckle and sway as violent waves of energy rippled over its surface. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted the spire of light rising out of the complex sputter several times while flames licked at its base.
As he turned to face the horizon, the blast tore through the complex and he was sent sprawling through the air alongside his companions.
Struggling to control himself, Mitch fell from the sky and pounded into a windswept desert floor. He fought against clumps of sand while he climbed out of a small crater formed by the impact of his crash. After cresting the lip, he dropped to the ground on all fours before rolling over onto his back.
An orange sky stared back at him as he stared up to the heavens, but he noticed clouds of billowing smoke passing overhead. Lifting his chin, he looked back to where the spire should have been, but only a pile of smoking rubble remained. He spotted three more craters to his left, and he launched into the air to assist his companions.
“You certainly blew your load, Mitch Mythic,” Kate said, clawing at the edge of the crater. “Now would you help me out of this orifice?”
“There is no off switch for you, is there?” Mitch asked before he reached down to help her out.
“You know me, full volume and no filter,” Kate said, reaching into her pack after she dropped to the ground. “It’s a good thing they put some water
in these packs. It would be a shame to die of thirst after surviving all that carnage.”
“I’m going to check on Gaelin,” Mitch said. “Help your boyfriend.”
“I hope nothing happened to his sexy body,” Kate said, drinking more water. “I’ll have to check him over.”
“Gross,” Mitch said while he neared Gaelin, crawling out of his hole.
“You break anything?” Mitch said, reaching down to help up his companion.
“I don’t think so,” Gaelin said after he rose to his feet. “Maybe I’m growing used to getting blasted out of the sky.”
“As long as you’re in one piece,” Mitch said. “It looks like we pulled it off, but I have no idea if the shield is down.”
“No way to tell unless we go to the source,” Gaelin said, pulling up his panel. “How are your stats? I’ve got 50% shields, and they are refilling now that we are not taking any fire.”
“I took quite a few hits cutting through the roof. I’m down to 20%, but I should be able to recover by the time we get there. Hopefully, Varalis was right about these people rising up against the UAFC, or we’ll all be screwed.”
“We certainly will, but I’m surprised we haven’t drawn any more attention out here,” Gaelin said, scanning the horizon. “I thought they would know where we were as soon as we fired up our devices.”
“So did I,” Mitch said while looking at his panel.
“Uh, it looks like they know exactly where we are,” Kate said as she pointed up.
“What do you mean?” Mitch said, following Kate’s finger.
A crackling of energy over a ridge in the distance caught his attention before a tall sliver of light expanded into an open circle before his eyes.
“Is that what I think it is?” Mitch asked as the portal fully dilated.
“When you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all,” Kate said after several figures emerged through the opening.
“Is that innuendo?” Mitch asked.
“I can’t tell anymore,” Kate said.
“It doesn’t matter. We’re going to have company,” TaeJun shouted, activating his device. “Get your shields ready.”
“I think it’s best if we cut and run,” Mitch said while he eyed the portal.
“I think you’re right,” TaeJun said before a pulse of energy tore through the opening and a single figure considerably larger than the rest emerged.
Dropping out of the sky, the figure landed on the ground below the portal, and Mitch felt the impact ripple through his torso.
“That sounded heavy duty,” Kate said after crossing her arms over her chest.
“No kidding,” Mitch said, launching into the air. “It’s time to go.”
As he gained elevation, a heavy blast shot past him and he looked back to see the large figure on the ground holding a familiar-looking spear. A huge swathe of red energy billowed at its tip.
“KiGuan?” Mitch mouthed to himself before the figure aimed its spear at him again.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
WITH A THUNDEROUS rage, the Chronath struck out at Drak as it dove across the arena. Slamming into the translucent barrier, it roared in anger after Drak dodged its attack.
“He’s putting up quite a fight,” the Priestess said to SoHee, standing to her right. “I’m surprised he has lasted this long. Perhaps the gods favor him, but I find it unlikely.”
“Perhaps, perhaps not,” SoHee said, trying to suppress the anger growing in her chest while she watched Drak fight for his life.
“Perhaps you could enlighten me on the ways of the Gods,” the Priestess said, casting her eyes upon SoHee. “I have heard much about you and your exploits. But I’ve yet to witness a demonstration of these god-like abilities.”
“I can arrange that,” SoHee said as she watched Drak avoid another strike from the Chronath.
“I’m certain you could, but unfortunately for you, you have already demonstrated your skills on full display for the multi-verse. Attacking our allies with those traitors was a bad move on your part, not very God-like in my opinion,” the priestess said before the Chronath let loose a terrible roar.
“I’m sorry to have disappointed you,” SoHee said, looking the priestess directly in the eye. “But nothing is ever what it seems.”
“I understand,” the Priestess replied. “It is my duty as the voice of the Gods to see through false prophecies, to cut to the heart of the matter and reveal those that wish to deceive my loyal followers.”
“And how is that you can tell the truth and no other?” SoHee asked.
“Because I know the true voice of the Gods. When they speak, I alone know how to listen,” the Priestess said.
“And are they speaking to you now? Do you hear them calling to you?”
“Yes, and they are telling me it’s time to reveal the imposter,” the priestess said before she rose from her throne. “Guards, seize the girl. Let’s show the multi-verse just how powerful this Goddess truly is.”
As the guards rushed forward, a shudder of energy rippled through the midday sky followed by a tremendous explosion that rocked the arena. The audience shrieked with terror while quakes rippled through the stands.
“Somebody, tell me what the hell is going on,” Captain Juvius shouted as SoHee was led to the side by a pair of guards.
“There has been an explosion at the main power generator. The shield has been crippled,” an aide to the Captain said, looking at his display.
“Crippled? The RGC will pay for this,” Juvius shouted. “We need to get these prisoners out of here. I’m not letting anything compromise the transfer.”
“You’ll get your reward, Captain Juvius, but the Goddess and I have unfinished business,” the priestess said.
“Your Holiness, I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your work unless it was absolutely necessary. As unfortunate as it is, it appears Horamus has worked his way into your plans. To see Joru’s will fulfilled, I must ensure the safety of the prisoners, or we will compromise our arrangement and sacrifice the peace we have fought so hard to attain.”
“The Gods are not concerned with your arrangements as they are concerned with false idols. This girl is no goddess, and I will prove it to the multi-verse here and now.”
“The girl is invaluable to our federation as a prisoner. I will not allow you to sacrifice her in order to prove some kind of point about your faith,” Juvius said.
“That is blasphemy, Captain Juvius,” the priestess said.
Before Juvius had a chance to reply, a few dozen figures appeared above the stadium, hovering in the midday sun.
“People of Chalthantar,” a woman’s voice projected over the chaos in the stadium. “The blockade on technology imposed by the UAFC has been destroyed. If you value your freedom, rise up in arms and join us, the Revolutionary Guard of Chalthantar, as we fight for our independence. The UAFC has betrayed us all. They work with our enemies to suck this planet dry. It is time to put an end to their tyranny.”
As the woman finished speaking, her companions unloaded a blast of fire on the dome containing Drak and the Chronath. Upon impact, the dome shattered, sending energy hurtling into the air. For a brief moment, the arena stood silent as the audience looked on in shock.
“What are you waiting for? Fire on those bastards,” Captain Juvius hollered before his troops fell into position along the rail and let loose a furious barrage of fire at the attackers in the sky. Evading the onslaught, the RGC forces retreated beyond the walls of the stadium as the terrified spectators streamed toward the exits in a rushed panic.
“We need to get inside the complex,” Captain Juvius shouted at the High Priestess while she stood motionless on her throne. “The prisoners are of no value to us dead.”
“They are of no value to you dead, Captain Juvius,” the priestess said before the enormous Chronath let loose a blood-curdling shriek in the center of the arena. “But it looks like you’ve upset the Gods with your little scheme. And now I’ve got to go and make thin
gs right.”
“This isn’t the time to appease the Gods,” Juvius said as he retreated toward an exit, clutching SoHee by the arm.
“That is where you are mistaken,” the Priestess said, striding toward the edge of the arena. As she neared the stone lip, she waved her arm, and her chariot elevated on command. A set of translucent stairs dropped off the back of the craft. Mounting the chariot, the priestess flung off the elegant white gown covering her lean frame to reveal a muscular torso encased in a set of gleaming armor, silver steel shining under the light of the sun.
“Take the rest of the prisoners below, but the Goddess stays with me,” The priestess commanded from her chariot.
“She is our most valuable asset,” Captain Juvius pleaded before the Chronath took several lumbering steps in their direction. “If she dies, the Masters will be furious.”
“The Masters are nothing in the eyes of the Gods. If you do not follow my command, you will feel their true wrath,” the priestess said while the Chronath neared. Its hungry eyes scanning the crowd for its next meal.
“That thing is going to eat us all alive,” one soldier shouted while the Chronath reared its head.
“Don’t be a fool, Captain Juvius,” the priestess shouted, raising her arm. A beam of energy stretched out of her open hand and seized SoHee by the waist. With one quick tug, the priestess levitated SoHee and dropped her into the back of the chariot before launching into the air.
As the vehicle raced away, the Chronath lunged toward it, swinging its massive arm and cleaving away a section of the stadium. Clinging to the chariot in fear, SoHee felt the beam tighten around her waist before it bound her to the side of the craft. Unable to move, she watched the priestess with hateful eyes as she guided the vehicle into a turn.
Rising from a pile of rubble, Drak watched the massive Chronath trudge past him toward the throne. Thousands of people screamed in horror as they attempted to escape the stadium while the UAFC soldiers fired on the Chronath and the attacking RGC fighters in cover beyond the walls of the stadium.
