Freedom Saga 1: Heaven's Light

by Marcus Johnson

  He drew his rakna and spun it before them. A wave of telekinetic energy flew from the Mylor female. The energy barrier blocked most of it as Brian turned the wave towards the window. It shattered and sent shards of glass onto the street below. He quickly locked his helmet in place before jumping out the window. The wings on his exoskeleton extended as he flew into the skyline of the city planet.

  “All units are to capture the target,” Baeron ordered.

  “Yes sir!” his subordinates responded.

  “He can see it,” Siata said.

  “See what?” Baeron asked.

  Her eyes lit up. “He can see the wave patterns.”

  * * *

  Seles waited in her Zero, the prototype of all the other Phase Raknas. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of the pilot’s seat before letting out a long sigh. Every day it seems like he’s further and further away from me. I don’t understand what’s happening. Mira stepped inside the cockpit, still wearing her pilot’s suit.

  “Are you alright?” she asked.

  Seles nodded. “I’m feeling better today.”

  “I received a message from Jesela earlier today,” Mira said. “She said the Freedom’s construction is close to being finished.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Seles said. Her eyes had doubt behind them. “I feel like the ground underneath me is giving way.”

  “You need to stop this,” Mira looked her in the eyes, “I know you’re better than this.”

  “But…”

  “He’ll be okay,” Mira said.

  “I want to believe, I really do.” Seles looked off to the side. “But he sees things we can’t and talks to ghosts like they’re real. I don’t know…”

  “It’s because he’s berserked too many times,” Celi said as she stepped inside.

  “Is that the problem?” Seles asked.

  “The nanomachines inside him are reacting to something,” Celi explained. “If he can’t gain control of it soon the worst could happen.”

  “Is it a case nanopsychosis?” Mira asked.

  “It’s possible I saved him just long enough for him to say goodbye,” Celi said.

  “I don’t want to hear this,” Seles said.

  Celi shook Seles out of her doldrums. “He lived Seles, he lived for you. It’s because he believes in you. It’s not just love, its potential.”

  What should I do?” Seles asked.

  Both Mira and Celi looked at each other.

  “She’s really dense,” Mira said.

  “So clueless,” Celi said. “It’s a miracle she made it this far.”

  “What are you two talking about?”

  Celi shook her head. “Who are you? And don’t just give me your name, tell me, who are you?”

  “Seles Daevon, a lieutenant, and head of the mobile suit team,” she said. “Why are you asking me this?”

  “She’s asking because she wants you to remember who YOU are,” Mira said. “You’re thinking about this way too much.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Yes, really,” Mira said. “You’ve been caught up in his dream so much in the last few years you’ve forgotten your own.”

  “I see,” Seles said before smiling. “Maybe it’s time to fix that problem.”

  * * *

  Brian’s silhouette passed over the streets of Dega Jul. The people walking along watched as he darted from building to building with Lances in pursuit. The ground forces chasing him found the crowds of Kalaidians dominating the area resistant. The emergency alarm sounded in the districts around them as more Confederation forces deployed to arrest him. He looked to the sky and saw a number of additional Lances entering orbit to tighten the encirclement.

  “I know, they’re really pissed about this,” Brian said.

  “You can still surrender,” Siata said over the com.

  “So you’ve hacked my exoskeleton’s systems,” he said while dodging a mobile suit. He flew inside an old and abandoned skyscraper. Darkness surrounded him as he flew into the middle and away from the lights. “Now I understand why you were so vigilant on checking every week.”

  “I can guarantee your life will not be taken,” she pleaded. “The Mylor have the power to do that.”

  “To live in the comfort of a prison, no matter how luxurious, is to still live in a prison,” he said. “We survived Siata, all of us. We saw evil in its purest form and brought back the evidence. But since we returned all we’ve gotten is skepticism. If people don’t changed, if the Confederation doesn’t change, it’ll die. They’ll destroy everything you love.”

  “What are you trying to say?” Siata asked.

  Brian paused before flying down an elevator shaft until he reached the sub levels of the building. Using his rakna, he tore through the rusted doors and entered the storm sewers.

  “You’re fighting the wrong person,” he said. “Tell you superiors I’ll never surrender willingly.”

  He flipped open his wrist computer and reprogrammed the communication system in his exoskeleton. As he wandered into the sewers he noticed a single Kalaidian woman with shoulder length blue hair waiting patiently. She wore a pair of raknas. One was on her belt while she tapped the other one on the wall. She wore a silver and blue exoskeleton. As she opened her eyes he could see they were green, glinting in the low light of the tunnel lights. She looked at him with wonder in her eyes.

  “It’s been ten years sir Herald,” she said.

  Brian smiled as he recognized the young girl he met on Kalaidian prime a decade prior.

  “You’re prettier than I remember,” he said.

  “You look the same to me,” she said with a smile. “I’m your escort out of this place Commander Peterson.” She drew her second rakna before leading him through the metallic tunnels.

  “It’s Kyli, isn’t it?” he asked as he followed.

  “I’m glad you remember,” she said.

  “Celi mentioned you recently,” Brian said. “I wasn’t surprised when I heard you joined the crew of the Freedom.”

  “It’s the Maiden’s fate to such a life,” she said. “At least, that’s what I’ve been told.” She noticed Brian staring off to the side. “What?”

  He shook his head. “It’s nothing, nothing at all.”

  * * *

  Zae sat in the commander’s chair on the bridge of the Avoni. Baed sat at the right side console, opposite of the one she used for years. Baed looked like Seles’s twin save for her hair being platinum blonde. She wore a rank circlet with a single leaf, showing her to be a lieutenant commander. At the left console sat lieutenant Vae. She had shoulder length pink hair and green eyes. The three of them were busy preparing the ship for launch when Valis walked onto the bridge.

  “What’s our status?” she asked.

  “Going as planned,” Zae reported. “Brian’s with the agent and heading to the designated escape point.”

  “The Confederation has encircled us with a squadron of Lances and is asking for our surrender,” Baed reported.

  Valis smiled. “Let them try to take us by force.” She pressed the com on her chair. “Seles, ready for combat.”

  “Alright,” Seles responded.

  “What happens if they have more forces in orbit than anticipated?” Baed asked.

  “The Raulno is ready if we need them,” Valis said.

  “All combat systems are ready,” Zae said.

  “Our orbital path has been set,” Vae reported.

  “Phase two of the mission begins now,” Valis said.

  The Avoni’s engines fired up as it turned towards space.

  Chapter 4 - In the Gutter, In the Sky

  Seles was checking her mobile suit’s systems over when Meldi and Myli appeared split screen on her monitor.

  “Is everything alright?” Meldi asked.

  “You don’t seem like yourself lately,” Myli added.

  “I’m okay,” she looked at the pair and smiled, “Things have been weird
lately, that’s all.”

  “How’s he been doing?” Meldi asked.

  “It’s getting worse,” Seles said. A number of blips appeared on her monitor. “We’ll have to talk later.”

  Myli sighed. “The Confederation really likes interrupting people.”

  “At least they’re not the Greys,” Meldi said.

  “True, but bad enough,” Myli said.

  The Phase Raknas launched from their respective bays and landed on the Avoni’s hull before activating their shields. Seles glanced at the cityscape, wondering where Brian was. Come back to me you big fool. I can’t do this alone. She activated her com.

  “All units maintain defensive posture,” Seles ordered. “We’re not to fire unless fired upon.”

  “Yes lieutenant,” the other pilots responded.

  * * *

  A rumble came from above Brian and Kyli as they walked through the storm sewers of Dega Jul. Dust fell around them as silence settled in.

  “What’s going on up there?” she asked as they came into an intersection.

  “Riots,” Brian said.

  Kyli laughed as they turned down a large corridor. “This isn’t the first planet making a fuss about you.”

  “That’s what I do best,” Brian said as locked his helmet back into place. “Have our forces secured the area?”

  “Most of it,” she said. “The special task force has a few spots left, but the closer we get to the Kein estate the more secure our route will be.” She noticed he was wearing his helmet again. “They must be coming.”

  Kyli took the helmet from her backpack and locked it into place. Brian drew his sword and extended the shield on his left arm. He looked at her for a moment and closed his eyes. She stopped and turned back to him.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’ll take point,” Brian said before moving to the front.

  “But you don’t know the way,” she said.

  He pointed at her. “Now I do. Let’s go.”

  When the pair came into another intersection a barrage of pulse fire came from the far corridor. They focused their sights on the enemy and found there were twenty Minan soldiers. Using his exoskeleton’s shield, Brian moved into the center of the intersection and took the brunt of their attack. Kyli quietly snuck up to the Minan’s position before lobbing a pulse grenade over their barricade. After the blast the pulse fire stopped. Both of them noticed a number of Minans retreating down the corridor. Brian and Kyli hurried down the opposite hallway.

  “That was reckless,” she said.

  “Reckless is my way,” he said.

  * * *

  The bridge crew of the Avoni observed the situation outside. The districts around them were in chaos as the citizens of Dega Jul rioted against the crackdown. When the Avoni took flight a number of Lances approached, only to be blocked by noncombatant vessels of the Degan citizenry.

  “It’s getting ugly out there,” Zae said.

  “But it’s working to our advantage,” Valis said. “With chaos on the surface the Lances won’t be able to launch.”

  “What should we do?” Seles asked as she appeared on the monitor.

  “Hold position until we reach orbit,” Valis ordered. “Our plan changed when the people of this planet decided to voice their opinion. I’d like to avoid combat inside the atmosphere as much as possible.”

  “The Lances are landing on the surface,” Baed reported. “It looks like they’re trying to quash the unrest down there.”

  “We’ll be in orbit momentarily,” Vae reported.

  The Avoni accelerated into the sky and soon passed the orbital ring of Dega Jul. There, they found themselves surrounded by a fleet of Minan attack vessels and several squadrons of Lances. The Raknas turned their shields to full and aimed their pulse cannons at the Confederation forces. The Avoni hung close to the orbital ring as it flew away. The attack vessels closed in and opened fire with their pulse canons, shaking the Kalaidian vessel as the blasts slammed into their shields.

  “Vae, turn us about,” Valis ordered.

  “Yes captain,” Vae said as the Avoni rolled over and spun towards the Confederation attack fleet.

  “Seles, let them have it,” Valis said.

  “We’re on it,” Seles said.

  Half the mobile suits on the hull of the Avoni detached and moved out.

  * * *

  Brian and Kyli rushed through the underground of the Degan cityscape. The corridors around them filled with Minan soldiers when the pair entered a large drainage area with a dozen entrances.

  “Stay close to me,” Brian said.

  “Yes sir,” Kyli said as she moved next to him.

  He activated the force shield and surrounded the pair with a particle bubble. They slowly made their way to the center of the room as pulse fire came from multiple directions. Both scanned the enemy units as they took refuge between a pair of massive pipes.

  “What should we do?” Kyli asked.

  “Have you ever berserked before?”

  “No, I haven’t,” she said.

  “Close your eyes Kyli,” Brian instructed. “Focus your mind on the situation. Let the power within flow, but keep a song in your heart. The goddess lives within your soul, feel her words and hear what she’s singing.”

  Pulse fire continued pinning them down as she closed her eyes and focused like Brian told her. Kyli felt something strange emerge, an energy she’d never felt before. She opened her eyes as they began glowing blue. A wave nearly overcame her as she fought to control it. Time started slowing down as she heard echoes all around her.

  “You learn quickly,” Brian said.

  “What is this?” she asked.

  “It’s the heartbeat of the universe,” he said.

  Brian redirected his shield to one side and began spinning his rakna to build up for an energy blast. Kyli followed suit and did the same with her two blades. Baeron stood behind an energy barricade and watched. His soldiers moved in when Brian and Kyli split directions and fired their rakna blasts. The Minan soldiers were vaporized or knocked back from the attack. The human and Kalaidian moved faster than any of the Minans could react as they slashed through their ranks. Siata hovered near Baeron while the Minan soldiers fell one after another.

  “Pull your troops back,” the Mylor said.

  Baeron growled in frustration. “By your order,” he turned his com on, “All troops are to retreat. We’ll commence with riot control on the surface immediately.”

  “Yes commander!” his subordinates shouted with relief as they withdrew.

  Baeron stared at Brian and Kyli as they turned away from the battle and ran down the tunnels leading to the Kein estate.

  “In all me years of service under your command Lady Siata, I’ve never heard fear in your voice,” Baeron said as they left. “What happened to change you?”

  Siata floated silently for a moment as the Minan commander waited. “He’s changing.”

  “Are you talking about the Terran?” Baeron asked.

  “He’s on the threshold of something we thought would take a hundred years,” Siata said. “If he can see the waves even the Mylor can’t stop him.”

  Baeron slapped the zenti axe on his hand. “As long as he’s mortal he can be stopped.”

  * * *

  The Phase Raknas from the Avoni charged into the Confederation forces. Seles led the way by blasting through a pair of Lances while making her way to a mothership. Her Rakna drew its blade and slashed through the ship’s shields. As explosions filled the area around her, the Raulno emerged from its phase cloak and launched another hundred mobile suits. On the bridge of the Avoni Valis watched the battle unfold. The main monitor flashed on as Kivi appeared on the screen from the bridge of the Raulno. She was a tall Kalaidian near five feet in height. Like all Southlanders, the Kalaidians coming from the southern continent of their world, she had dark tan skin and red eyes. Her black hair was cut short. On her head she wore the rank circlet of a captain. On her bod
y she wore a blue sea serpent motif exoskeleton similar to Brian’s with a pair of rakna blades on her belt.

  “This is too easy,” Kivi said.

  “The situation changed when the citizens took issue with our arrest,” Valis said. “It seems the sojourners are more popular than we thought.”

  “That explains a lot,” Kivi said. “How’s Brian doing?”

  Zae looked up from her computer. “He’s about to arrive at the Kein estate.”

  “Good,” Valis said.

  Baed turned around. “We’re detecting another Confederation fleet entering orbit.”

  “Put them on the monitor,” Valis ordered.

  “Yes captain,” Baed said.

  The monitor screen split in half and displayed the enemy formation.

  “That’s far more than we planned for,” Kivi said. She looked to her first officer, a male Malcovin named Dreka. He looked very much like Grigon but younger with black feathers. “Have all our mobile suits pull back and move into formation D-12.”

  “Yes captain,” Dreka said.

  “Do the same for our forces,” Valis ordered.

  “Already on it,” Baed said.

  Outside in the melee, Seles focused her mind to not let the berserk take over. She watched as the fleet surrounded them and began a barrage of pulse fire and HV missiles.

  Chapter 5 - Fangs and Raknas

  The Minan troops ran away from Brian and Kyli as they made their way underneath the Kein estate. As the rumbling from above lessened, the pair entered a corridor lined with armed Kalaidian soldiers. One of the officers stepped forward to address them.

  “Commander Peterson, this elevator will take you to Lady Veda,” she said.

  “Thank you,” Brian said.

  He and Kyli stepped on the elevator. Both of them sheathed their blades and removed their helmets. The door closed as the metal capsule moved to the surface.

  “You’re not as tall as I remember,” Kyli said.

  “That’s because you’re taller,” Brian said. He smiled as he looked at her. “I’m glad things turned out as well as they have for you.”