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Coming of the Evil Era
036 - Ignition Arrival

036 - Ignition Arrival

"Pyxis?"

The radio crackled. Navie's voice slowly faded behind a wave of static.

"Pyxis respond."

The radio fell silent. Pyxis sighed.

"Broken... Who knew not having Crux around would cause everything to fall apart."

Pyxis leaned back, surrounded by pipes and wires with a blaring red light blinking around him. The lower parts of the airship creaked, hot air occasionally spurting out of pipes to release the building pressure pumping across the whole ship. Pyxis typed away on a holographic keyboard shooting out from his compass. His eyes scanned the various holographic screens that appeared around him—ship schematics, surveillance cameras, defensive procedures and anything needed to monitor the airship were on the screens.

As he focussed on steering the ship remotely, a new screen appeared.

Woof!

A small A.I dog appeared on the screen. Pyxis smiled softly.

"Hey, Onion."

Pyxis pet Onion with his mouse cursor.

"I'm a bit busy at the moment."

Onion barked before grabbing the scattered and cluttered screens orbiting Pyxis, rearranging them neatly and in order and removing useless screens. The airship shook violently as Pyxis tried to remain focused.

"Dammit!"

Pyxis hit the wall as Onion whimpered.

"Sorry, these hooks are harder to shake than I thought."

Pyxis scanned the Ignition warships.

"I think the hooks are digging deeper into the ship? Hold on."

Pyxis got up and ran down the winding halls of the Advance's maintenance tunnels. The red light blinked periodically and coated everything in a vibrant crimson. As the ship shook, Pyxis fell to his knees. His shoulder rammed into the wall.

Onion barked but Pyxis waved his hand.

"I'm all good. Just... not used to running so much yet."

Onion winced, looking at Pyxis's leg.

"I got it. I can pick things up pretty quickly."

Pyxis got back to running. Soon he reached exactly what he was looking for. A chain was coming from a hole in the ceiling; upon looking at the floor he saw another hole, about the same size, that the chain was slowly being pulled down. Peering down the hole he saw a small drill tearing its way through the insides of the Advance.

"So this is why I can't get us free. This almost goes through the whole ship."

Pyxis pulled up his compass, the large array of screens returning.

"Eight chains are connected to the Advance. If we can severe them then we'll be free."

Pyxis grabbed the chain before quickly reeling his hand back.

"SHIT!"

Pyxis looked down at his hand, red and burnt. He clenched his jaw.

"Hot..."

Pyxis examined the chain closer, feeling a strange sensation about it. Before he could conclude, however, the chain began to rattle violently. He stepped away when a black figure slid down the chain, appearing in front of him. Then more appeared, all stepping away from the chain. They were covered in military equipment and automatic rifles. The figures looked up, their faces hidden behind gas masks. The only visible facial features were the glowing green lenses that covered their eyes.

"Hostile! Ignition, erradicate!"

The Ignition soldiers all hold their rifles up. Pyxis wasted no time and bolted down the halls. A hail of gunfire erupting towards him.

Pyxis held up his compass as he ran.

"Onion! Gonna need some assistance."

Onion woofs as the pipes and wires along the walls snap off and bend. The Ignition soldiers chase after Pyxis but are blocked by the wall of pipes cutting them off. They run down another hall, hoping to cut Pyxis off further down.

Pyxis keeps running.

"I'm gonna need something to snap those chains. Got anything bud?"

Onion digs at the ground—the bottom of his computer window—before pulling up a picture of Crux's room.

Pyxis nods.

"Nice! Surely he left some tools behind."

Crux's room was located one floor higher so Pyxis dashed toward the stairs. Once he turned the corner the stock of a gun smacked him in the head. He fell back as the barrel of a gun touched his forehead.

"Hostile cornered. Permission to exterminate?"

The radio on the soldier's shoulder made incomprehensible grable.

"Understood."

The soldier aimed their gun at Pyxis' leg. Before he could pull it down, a gush of steam burst from the pipes. The soldier screamed as the steam blocked his vision. Pyxis used the opening to dart around the soldier. As Pyxis continued to run he saw the rest of the soldiers by the staircase. Onion barked and more pipes broke off from the wall, whacking the soldiers in the head and pinning them to the wall.

Pyxis slid beneath the twisting pipes, a flurry of them jetting out from the wall and creating an obstacle course. Pyxis vaulted over multiple pipes, sidestepped pipes bashing against the soldiers and dove through tiny gaps in the pipes. Gunfire erupted as the soldiers shot blindly. Bullets ricocheting all around Pyxis.

Onion appeared and barked before opening a small passage in the wall for Pyxis to crawl through to evade the bullets. Pyxis nodded and ducked down. He began to crawl when a hand grabbed his leg. He turned back to see one of the soldiers pulling him out. Pyxis tried to kick the soldier's hand away but soon both of his ankles were in their hold. Pyxis panicked as the soldier pulled on his leg harder, clawing on the metallic floor of the passage, his nails scrapping against the rough metal.

"NO!"

Pyxis tried to pull away but was unable to, the pain in his leg causing him to scream.

Onion growled before forcefully shutting the passage closed. The tearing and snapping of the soldier's arms caused a muffled scream from the soldier. Pyxis lay down, the two limp and detached arms of the soldier now by his feet.

"Thanks..."

Pyxis pulled himself through the rest of the passage. Once out, Pyxis leaned against the wall and looked at his legs.

"I think... I'll be okay. Just need to take it slow for a bit."

Pyxis stood up and slowly walked up the stairs. Each step was gruelling but eventually, he made it, sweat running down his cheek.

"Come on... a little further."

Pyxis pushed himself toward Crux's room. His hand reached out toward it and pulled the handle down. The door creaked open as he collapsed in.

"Argh!"

Pyxis clutched his knees.

He looked up to see the room barren. He slowly stood and locked the door behind him. A messy bed lay in the corner with piles of car magazines sitting beside it. On the workbench against the wall were buckets of paint and small figurines half-painted. Pyxis pulled himself onto the bed, his chest heaving as his legs ached. A constant thumping in his veins and creaking of his bones caused him to close his eyes and take deep breaths.

Onion winced.

Pyxis smiled.

"I'm all good bud. Just a little beat up..."

Pyxis looked around the room more, posters of women leaning over cars and movies covered the walls.

"Heh... nothing. Damnit. Nothing to cut the chains and legs as useless as TV subscriptions..."

Pyxis leaned back.

"What do I do?"

Onion whimpered, lying down and staring at Pyxis.

As Pyxis mulled over the situation his radio began to produce static. His eyes widened and he grabbed his radio.

"Navie! Meda! A-Anyone!"

His radio produced a jumble of noises.

"I'm here! I need help!"

Through the static, Navie's voice cut through.

"Hello? Hello?"

Pyxis smiled.

"Navie! It's me, Pyxis. Can you hear me?"

Navie's voice soon became clear.

"I can hear you! Pyxis are you o-o-o-okay?"

"I'm pretty beat up. I need some assistance to cut the hooks connected to the Advanced."

"Alright. I'm on my way. Where are you?"

"I'm hiding in Crux's room. My legs are pretty sore, I can't move."

Navie went silent for a moment.

"Where's Crux's room?"

Pyxis looked surprised.

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"What?"

"I forgot where his room is. I b-b-b-barely go there."

"Uh, first floor of the maintenance tunnels. Weren't you down here this morning to grab his baseball bats?"

Navie goes quiet.

"Sorry. This day has just gotten my brain all m-m-m-mixed up. I'm on my way. Stay put."

The radio turned off. Pyxis looked to Onion.

"Didn't think Navie would get confused amidst all of this. I can't blame her though."

Onion looked uneasy.

"You okay boy?"

Onion looked toward the door of Crux's room.

Pyxis looked, footsteps growing louder.

"Quiet... can't know if it's Navie."

Soon a figure stopped in front of the door.

"Is this Crux's r-r-r-room?"

Navie said wiggling the doorknob.

Pyxis relaxed.

"Thank god."

Pyxis got up and limped toward the door, unlocking it.

"Navie. Thank god you're here. We need... to... uh..."

The door slowly creaked open. Pyxis' face dropped as he took a step back.

"Something the m-m-m-matter?"

Standing at the door was a man with pale skin. He stood tall and hunched over, his head hitting the ceiling of the hallway. His body was thin, it looked like just skin on bone. His fingers were robotic and his face was distorted. His eyes missing, just holes in his head. His large grin was uncanny.

"Do I l-l-l-look different?"

The man mimicked Navie's voice before opening his mouth, his jaw snapping all the way open as he pulled Navie's radio out of his throat.

"Don't worry about your f-f-f-friend. She's in a better place now."

The man's hand shot out and grabbed Pyxis by the mouth, preventing him from screaming.

"Pyxis?"

Navie tapped her foot.

"Pyxis respond."

The radio fell dead silent.

"Not getting through."

A shadow fell over the Advance. Navie looked up to see the Advance had been dragged beneath the Ignition flagship. Flying high above the flagship was the massive Necrobeast chained to the warships. It circled above, its thousand eyes staring down at Navie.

Draco leapt down.

"I'm out of firing range. If I were to attack the warships now then the debris would just fall on top of us."

Navie held her spyglass firmly.

"It's fine. We have an opening to cut ourselves loose."

Navie approached the chains that connected the Advance to the Ignition warship.

She reached her hand out when Draco stopped her.

"Wait a second Captain. I don't believe making contact with these chains is a smart idea."

Navie nodded and backed away.

"What's wrong with them?"

Draco approached the chain and plucked out a strand of hair. The hair morphed into an arrow that Draco used to touch the chain. Once the arrow made contact it melted instantly.

Navie looked at the chain curiously.

"Strange. The chain isn't emitting any heat yet it can melt steel arrows?"

Draco turned to Navie.

"A peculiar metal. Boiling yet it emits no heat. The only indicator that it's dangerous is the odd turquoise colour."

Suddenly the chain began to rattle and Navie and Draco's attention shot up. Coming down from the flagship were Ignition soldiers, sliding down the chain like a fireman pole. The ignition soldiers landed on the deck, their guns primed.

"Eliminate hostiles."

The Ignition soldiers rushed forward. Navie twirled her bat around and Draco loaded her bow.

"Head down, batters up."

Navie dashed forward.

Navie swung her bat, whacking the gun out of a soldier. She then dropped to the floor as Draco fired an arrow. The arrow got lodged in the soldier's neck. Navie zipped around the deck, lightning sprouting off her. Navie slammed her bat into the bottom of multiple soldiers' jaws, throwing them all up into the air. Draco pulled her bow back and unleashed a barrage of arrows into the necks of all of the soldiers thrown into the air.

The Ignition soldiers quickly reacted. A steady stream of gunfire was discharged. Navie ducked behind cover as Draco drew the soldier's attention. With an opening seized, Navie ran out and slammed her bat on the ground, a surge of electricity exploding out. The electricity flew forward, using the bullets as conductors and swiftly reaching the barrels of the soldier's guns.

Before any of them could stop shooting their guns exploded throwing them all back. Navie and Draco soon cleaned up those who survived.

Navie gave a long exhale.

"Dropping down on us... they never give up."

Draco looked up, her eyes scanning the warship.

"Captain. There's one more."

Before Navie could look up, the deck was suddenly hit by an unknown object. The whole ship shook as the ground shattered around the impact zone. Once the dust settled a lanky man stood up. His grin was evil and his body was mutilated. Navie got to her feet, her heart rate increasing.

"Oh?"

The man looked at Navie and Draco with a sad expression.

"Am I late to the p-p-p-party?"

Draco didn't hesitate and fired multiple arrows at the man. When the arrows hit him they melted, exactly like the chains. Draco's eyes widened.

The man chuckled.

"Trying to pull a fast one on little ol' me?"

The man slowly waltzed toward Draco.

"You're like m-m-m-me. Not all there..."

Draco cast her bow aside and threw a punch at the man. Navie's expression shifted to horror as Draco's arm melted like her arrows.

Draco stared at the goo left where her arm once was.

"Repairs needed..."

The man stared blankly at Draco with his mouth hanging open.

"Unfortunate."

The man grabbed Draco's head firmly.

Navie shouted and ran toward him. She charged up a swing and thrust forward a surge of electricity. The man's eyes widened but as the electricity touched her it fizzled out. He was completely impervious to any attack they threw at him.

The man turned back to Draco.

"I'll get this over with. Sorry, it took so long."

Draco's head began to throb aggressively before melting into a goo.

Navie backed away.

"Shit..."

Navie threw another wave of electricity. It did nothing. The man slowly approached her but she kept throwing more attacks at him.

"What the hell are you?!"

The man looked sad.

"They call me Solution. Though I've never been too fond of that name personally."

Solution reached his hand out with a sinister grin.

Suddenly a radio on Solution's hip went off.

"Hostile cornered. Permission to exterminate?"

Solution stopped and looked surprised.

"There's more of you... hm."

Solution held the radio to his mouth. His jaw convulsed as a speaker came out of his mouth. In a gruff distorted voice, he spoke.

"D-D-D-Do not kill. Incapacitate."

"Understood."

The radio turned off.

Solution turned back to Navie who tried to hit him with her bat. Her bat was reduced to goo as well.

"Didn't work the first time. Won't work now."

Solution grabbed onto Navie's wrists.

Navie screamed as a burning sensation hit her.

"FUCK, LET GO!"

She tried to struggle but Solution leaned in close.

"That was the lower-level team. They found another of your people down there. An odd place to hide? Those levels would be dedicated to... maintenance right?"

Navie's eyes widened.

"I'll take that expression as a yes. The only type of person to hide down there would be someone small, nimble, quick. Able to run into small places and dodge pursuers."

Navie's face dropped as the burning sensation increased.

"That means those soldiers down there won't find them. Well, they won't catch them. The only way to lure a mouse is to trap it."

Solution grabbed onto Navie's throat.

"You have use yet."

Navie soon passed out. Solution grinned and reached into her mouth, his metal fingers worming their way down her throat and to her voice box. He began to tug at it before gently tearing it out. As Solution lifted Navie's voice box out, he then placed it on his tongue and swallowed. A giddy laugh escaped from his mouth.

Solution quickly covered his mouth.

"Oh, I shouldn't laugh. How rude of me. Teehee."

Solution covered his mouth like a smug, guilty teenager.

Soon more Ignition soldiers descended from the flagship and approached the unconscious Navie.

Solution turned to them.

"Take her away. I need her alive or I'll lose her beautiful voice."

The Ignition soldiers lifted Navie away.

On the ground, a radio sat. Solution picked it up and turned it on. Static greeted him.

"Broken. Let me fix that for you."

Solution swallowed the radio. A wave of voices exploded from his mouth. He threw up words and spat out emotions. Once the sickness left he stood and spoke into the radio.

"Hello? Hello?"

On the other side, a voice responded.

"Navie! It's me, Pyxis. Can you hear me?"

Solution grinned.

"I can hear you! Pyxis are you o-o-o-okay?"

Meanwhile...

Sitting atop a green field. Wind weaving its way through each tuff of fur surrounding them. A soft whistle soothed the ground in which a woman sat.

"Oh, Zerrinthuuk. Do you hear the lions roar slowly quiet?"

The woman stood up. She was covered in thick wooden armour that covered every inch of her. Talismans and dreamcatchers were strewn across her body. Ancient markings were imprinted on her armour. Horns that stood almost 3ft tall.

"I can hear them beg for us, Zerrinthuuk."

She held a wooden staff up. The top of the staff was carved into a crescent shape. In the centre was a beating heart with two strings wrapped around it.

"HEAR US! MESSIAH AND ZERRINTHUUK HAVE COME TO FREE YOU!"

She waved the staff around.

"Soon, we may begin."

Zerrinthuuk flapped its colossal wings as it circled the three Ignition warships and Advance below. Messiah slammed her staff down on Zerrinthuuk, a rumbling roar causing ripples through the entire sky. Messiah slowly walked across Zerrinthuuk's back until she stood on top of its head.

Messiah stared down at the sea of clouds.

"The Necrobeasts on this island bow to a false prophet. Let us all set them free."

Messiah turned around to face a small army of Ignition soldiers dressed like her, covered in mossy wooden armour. They all clutched onto similar staffs, beating hearts at the centre. They all kneeled to Messiah.

"YES MESSIAH!"

They shouted in unison.

Messiah spread her arms out.

"Then let us show them the way home."

Messiah let herself fall back. She slowly fell off Zerrinthuuk and descended toward Father's island. She smiled as the rest of her followers did the same, diving off the side of Zerrinthuuk. Father's island would know a war like no other...