Across The Highway of Death

Fire reigned down from the sky. The Zion skyline was choked with flying formations of landing troop shuttles, gunships, and air to surface fire. The walls of Zion shook, as ships from space pounded it with bombardment. The ground shook as all across the levels, troops disembarked from ships, unloading armored personnel carriers, tanks, artillery, munitions, everything needed to sustain the war.

Spider stood shaking on the pile of rubble. His mind was racing, his chest heaving, sweat running down his body. Before him stood a skinny yet built man in silver armor, with a rifle slung over his back. His long mop of black hair flowing in the wind, black stubble nearly forming a beard, his mismatched grey and green eyes piercing Spider. This was not the Nameless Spider had hugged under the Oak Tree on Mars. Nor was it the same person Spider had seen before being kicked into a portal, all that time ago.

And yet, there was a very familiar sense to this man. The way he carried himself, the half-smile.

“It’s me, Spider,” Captain Spider croaked.

The man’s eyes widened as the two drew closer. He smiled.

“You’ve grown up a bit bud,” Nameless murmured, studying Spider.

“I can say the same for you. I never thought I’d see the day you would wear armor and lead an army,” Spider chortled softly, gazing at the splendid silver armor.

“What happened to you man?” Nameless asked softly.

Spider smiled.

“We have both walked our own paths, which has lead us here. I may not be the little boy you once knew, but I am still the man that was trapped inside.”

Nameless smiled and extended his arms, the two embraced, and held each other tightly. Spider gasped, tears forming in his eyes.

“It’s so good to see you,” Spider gasped.

“Same here buddy, same here,” Nameless grunted.

The two released, and Spider looked up, seeing a shuttle with a shark’s mouth paint job descend into their square.

“Commander Hera, please report to my coordinates,” Spider radioed.

“A little fucking busy right now! Or have you not noticed the fuck off amount of enemy reinforcements!”

Nameless smiled, and leaned in, holding Spider’s radio.

“Commander Hera, we are on your side. All Vagabonds report to the square, that’s an order,” Nameless said in a mock official and monotone voice.

“Who the fuck is that? I’m gonna rip his fucking balls off!” Hera roared.

Spider grinned.

“Sending the coordinates now, they would like to meet you, General,”

Spider looked over, and saw people piling out of the shuttle, barreling towards them. As they got closer, Spider saw a hulking man in silver armor with dark skin and dreads charging towards him.

“Where is Spider!” The man roared, coming within a foot of Spider, spit flying.

“Aj,” Nameless sighed.

“I don’t give a fuck if you pilot that red tin can, where is captain Spider!” Aj roared.

Spider grinned and shrugged, holding up his arms.

“Captain Spider is gone; would you like me to leave a message?” Spider giggled.

“Dude, c’mon,” Nameless laughed.

“Don’t fucking “dude” him! This is serious, where’s my little bro!” Aj shouted.

Behind Aj, Spider saw Julia and Sammy slowly approach, their eyes wide. Behind them, Spider saw two men he did not recognize, both Martians from the Chinese and Russian sectors.

Julia slowly approached, her grey eyes wide, her brow raised, Sammy right behind her.

“Spider?” Julia asked softly.

Spider nodded happily.

“Oh, my gods,” Sammy murmured.

Aj’s eyes widened.

“You’re the little man? Where’s your arms, and stutter?”

Spider pointed at the exoskeleton.

“Turned them in for an upgrade, but it’s me,” Spider smiled.

Aj was silent, then bolted forward, and picked up Spider in a rib-cracking bear hug. Spider heaved and gasped as the air left his body.

“We fucking missed you, you little shit! Don’t fucking scare us like that again!” Aj cried.

“Put him down Aj!” Julia called.

Aj sighed and put Spider down. All the vagabonds gathered around Spider, studying him from head to toe. Everyone was talking, too many voices to keep up. Spider didn’t mind, joy had overridden every sense he had. He was finally back with his family.

“Why’s your hair white?” Sammy murmured; her eyes wide.

“Turns out when you go flying through portals without any protection too many times, one of the many side effects is white hair,” Spider sighed.

Suddenly, a loud noise caught their attention. All turned, to see Hera kick down a metal door, gun at the ready, a platoon of wolves at her back. Her mohawk glistened, her fish tattoos framed by sparkling sweat and blood. Her eye was wide and bloodshot, her white teeth-gnashing, her bandaged and bloodied hands gripping the smg.

“Don’t fucking touch him you terrorist piece of fucking-fuck-shit-kunt-fucking-asshole-dickflap-fuck-bitch-whore-fucking-” Hera twitched, her face seizing as if she was having a rage induced stroke.

“Hera! It’s the vagabonds,” Spider giggled.

Hera shook her head, her eye focusing as she took in the vagabonds. Her mouth twitched.

“Hera,” Julia gasped softly.

Hera smacked her teeth, aiming her smg at the sky.

“Well, it’s about damn time you showed up! What yall standing around for, we got killing to do!” Hera roared.

“Yup, that’s Hera all right,” Sammy chortled.

“Hera!” Aj laughed, charging forward. She planted the barrel of the smg into his chest.

“Do not hug me. Good to see you too, wait….” Hera’s eye widened. She titled her head sideways, so everyone could see her from behind Aj.

“Where the fuck did yall get this shiny ass shit from? The fuck have yall been doing, sucking alien dicks or something? Who’s nuts do I gotta gargle to get me some sweet ass toaster armor?!”

“There’s probably more armor on the ships Hera, we can get you some,” Nameless offered.

“Nah, fuck all that. Guess I ain’t important enough for all the alien fondling yall been doing. I’ll keep my Martian armor, been killing just fine with it,” Hera grunted.

She walked around Aj, into their circle, inspecting each of them. She got in Nameless’s face, pointing a finger as she sneered.

“Spider tells me you can do space magic,” Hera spat.

“Yeah, yeah kinda,” Nameless chuckled.

“Good, we can’t crack the inner circle where the palace is at. Anyone else here do space magic?” Hera called.

Mai and Anatolievich slowly raised their hands.

“Sweet. Four space magic users including Spider, now we can take that stupid palace,” Hera grinned.

“Hera, we brought hundreds of people who can particle manipulate,” Julia sighed.

Hera’s eye widened. She manically smiled and looked at Spider.

“This is gonna be fun,” She grinned, giggleing.

“We also brought the Princess of Zion, our goal is to restore her to the throne, in return she’ll help Mars,” Nameless nodded.

Spider nodded, weighing the implications.

“They fucked up home. Bad,” Hera sighed.

“What do you mean?” Julia gasped.

“When Zion fell, we fled to Mars to gather strength. They followed us; the loss was severe. We will explain fully once the battle is over, now is not the time for mourning,” Spider sighed.

Nameless held his finger to his headset, listening.

“The Knights have touched down, Rachel says hurry the hell up,” Nameless said.

“We are at your disposal,” Spider nodded.

“Hera, can you take the vagabonds and guide them through these apartment buildings? Me and Spider are going to go make sure the rest of the Legions lands safely. Once all ground forces are on deck, it’s fucking game on,” Nameless said.

“Somebody found his balls. You got it hot stuff,” Hera cackled.

Hera signaled the wolfs, and the Martian fighter began flowing past the square, into the buildings that lay beyond.

“Let’s go shitheads!” Hera roared, leading the way.

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The vagabonds followed behind, their armor activating and beginning to mirror their surroundings instead of shining. Overhead, the shuttle took off, and joined with the passing formations of aircraft beginning strafing runs. Such amazing technology, Spider wondered if he could get his hands on it after all of this.

“Can you keep up in that thing?” Nameless chortled, looking at the exoskeleton.

Spider grinned.

“See that radio antenna up there?” Spider pointed.

Nameless looked up and smiled.

“The fuck off orange tower on the thirty-story building?”

“Yup. We can plan our next advance from that view. Race you there,” Spider grinned.

“You know I can fly right?” Nameless laughed as Spider made for his armor.

“Then it’ll be an even race,” Spider whooped.

Nameless shook his head and smiled, as Spider threw himself into the cockpit. The door shut, and darkness encased him for a moment. Spider ignited his energy, and the display turned on. Once again, he and the machine where one. Across the square, Nameless was fully encased in golden fire, hovering a few feet above the ground.

“Magnolia, please open comms to commander Nameless,” Spider thought.

“At once, Captain.”

“Can you hear me Nameless?” Spider commed.

“I can hear you old friend,” Nameless’s voice echoed inside the suite.

“Good, see you at the top,” Spider chuckled.

Spider ignited his energy, smoke rising from the bottom of the suite as it took off. In the blink of an eye, the suite rose higher and higher, soon cresting the skyline. Spider turned his head, as he saw the bright gold fireball that was Nameless steadily climbing towards him. The adrenaline and thrill-filled Spider as he barrel-rolled midair, closing the distance to the antenna tower.

The orange metal tower wasn’t far away, as the buildings whisked by on the left and right. The suite nimbly dodged wire lines and advertisement billboards as it rose higher and higher. Spider again looked to his left and saw he and Nameless where neck and neck. He grinned inside the suite and concentrated all of his energy into the boosters.

The armor reached the tower first, and with an outstretched hand, caught the metal with a loud clang. Spider twirled around the tower like a pole, using the massive, reinforced steel to absorb his momentum as he came to a stop. The suite looked like a hulking metal giant as it perched itself on the tower like a great beast. Nameless soon joined, hovering in midair besides the metal Samurai.

“What the hell did you do to that thing?” Nameless huffed.

“You are looking at the meeting of magic, and technology my friend. This is our future, our advantage over the enemy who relies far too heavily on particle manipulation and trickery,” Spider said happily.

“You can mass produce these suites?”

“The training for the warriors will be long and hard, and the material required to make each armor suite is rare, but yes. That is the plan, at least a few dozen of these every few years,” Spider said.

“Good, we’ll need everything we can get when we move Zion to Mars,” Nameless sighed.

Spider nearly lost his grip on the tower as he recoiled.

“When we what?!”

“Zion is not secure by itself; it requires a home planet to tether to and repair. I figured Mars would be best. Unless you have another planet in mind,” Nameless said over the radio.

Spider stammered, his eyes wide. The implications of such an idea, it would radically change the course of history, and bring Mars into a new age. The suite’s head turned and looked at Nameless.

“I never properly thanked you for putting me on the council, I am honored to stand here besides you, and lead our friends into battle,” Spider said fervently.

“You earned it; you don’t have to thank me. Speaking of our friends, I think this is about to get interesting,” Nameless grunted.

Both looked out over the battlefield. Where the living quarters section of the level ended, separated by a long, eight lane ground highway. Beyond that highway, was a long expanse of gardens. Mini forests, ponds, greenhouses dotted the artificial landscape, providing the level it’s oxygen.

Beyond the green expanse, lay a great golden wall that stood from ground to the ceiling above. In the center of that wall, was a long golden elevator shaft that a building could sit inside of. The entrance to the inner level, where the Etherals ruled Zion.

Spider watched as thousands of enemy marched forwards, unto the green park that expanded as far as the eye could see from left to right. On the opposite side of the highway, Spider saw hundreds of humans in shiny metal armor, their melee weapons ablaze with fire, riding odd, six legged creatures. Past them where the scraggly ranks of Mars forming. Besides the Martians, where the disciplined and deeply rowed formations of Armenium humans in silver metal armor, banners flying.

War drums caught their attention, and both turned their heads to see a horde of small, scaly creatures pouring out unto the battlefield. Large platforms bearing massive war drums, each a car’s width and several high, where being beaten by Spree crews with large sticks. The horde was chanting in gibberish, bearing all kinds of weapons, and pushing artillery. To the right of the odd horde, Spider recognized the coalition of alien species who had remained behind on Zion to fight the Axium from the shadows.

Spider again looked across the expanse and saw the enemy formations marching forward. He saw many balls of particle fire, and noticed at the head of the enemy army, was a red comet of fire. Spider zoomed-in, activating his thermal vision, and saw a skinny man with long dark hair. It was the Nameless god.

“Nameless,” Spider murmured.

“What is it?”

“That one, leading the army, you recognize him?”

“Yup. That’s my good old patron, the thirteenth and Nameless God of Mars,” Nameless sighed.

“That is the one who slaughtered my friends and killed me on Zeta.”

Nameless was silent. Spider noticed small red sparks dancing among the golden flame.

“I am going to take his head, as both my honor and oath demands it. From one warrior to another, I humbly ask you do not interfere, even though he is your patron.”

“All commanders, this is Nameless. Relay to all, the Nameless God is not to be touched. He is Spider’s,” Nameless seethed over the net.

“Thank you, my friend.”

“Never ask me something like that again kid. I would never stand between you and justice,” Nameless grunted.

“It was a professional courtesy,” Spider smiled.

“Let’s fucking dance brother.”

Spider pushed himself off the tower, and dove towards the ground. He ignited his energy and rolled over to the Martian formation. As he flew, he saw Nameless fly over to the front of the Silver Legion.

Spider landed, and saw Hera was now perched atop of a grog, many of the wolves behind her also on the great green mutants. Spider cocked the armor’s head.

“What? Everyone else got some bitching upgrades! I can’t ride into battle on a giant mutant now?!” Hera cackled.

Spider shook his head, smiling inside the helmet.

“Brothers and sisters of Mars! For the council tower, for your families, for our future, follow me!” Spider’s voice boomed from the speakers inside the suite, his voice echoing off the buildings.

Spider turned, ignited his sword, and charged forward. The army erupted, artillery and rockets reigning screaming overhead, the ranks charging forward. On the left, the Knights of Talabor majestically charged forward, a beautiful woman riding a pure white beast with a bow drawn leading. The Martian ranks charging forward with guns and melee weapons, grogs in front. The silver legion charged, all energies ignited, the vagabonds in the front. The Spree horde erupted out onto the highway, pushing forward like a tidal wave of every color as they screamed and gutturally throat sang. The mismatched aliens of every size and shape followed, all bounding as one.

The allied army crossed the highway, as the Axium ranks charged forward, both sides sending forth a hailstorm of fire and death. Spider nimbly dodged the incoming fire, barreling straight for the lead comet of red fire.

Too little too late, the Nameless God tried to pivot and dodge the incoming red hulk. Spider boosted his energy and slammed his metal fist into the Nameless god’s chest. The Nameless One went spiraling to the ground, as the armies clashed in a cacophony of fire and noise. Spider twirled his sword, and bared it as the Nameless God rose, his face snarling.

“Coward, filth, pig, I have come to enact my revenge!”

The Nameless God smiled.

“So brave inside your armor, am I not worthy of seeing the face of the man who will fail to kill me?”

Spider pulled one of his hands out of the inserts and ignited a ball of blue flame inside the suite. He then gingerly placed it inside the tube to his left. The energy took hold, powering the suite as he disengaged from the inserts, the chest opening.

“Please do not eject sir, we can take him on together,” Magnolia pleaded.

“Keep our family alive, I will kill him with my bare hands,” Spider seethed.

Spider jumped out from the open chest of the armor. The door closed, and the armor sprinted away, smashing into a Gurgen, cutting it in half. A female’s voice boomed from the suite, chanting an ancient Japanese war cry.

Spider held out his hand, and his Nodachi flew from the Magnolia, into his own palm. Both the sword, and the warrior erupted into blue flame, massive arms of blue light and energy extending from his ribcage. The Nameless’s god’s eyes widened. Spider pointed his sword at the god.

“I am Captain Spider, I am justice, I am the end to all misery and carnage you have wrought. Witness me and know that your time of staining reality will soon end. I have come to end your life; I have come to have my revenge. May the innocent see this from the afterlife and rejoice knowing the coward who ended them will burn in hell upon the end of this day!”

“I wonder if you will scream as shrilly as those children did when I cut them open? Come, try, and die like a man, boy. I am happy to oblige,” The Nameless God grinned.

Spider barred his sword above his head, roared, and charged. The Nameless God ignited his scimitar of red flame and flew forward. The two clashed amid the swirling tide of the two armies clawing away at each other.

Spider brought down his sword, blade encompassed in blue flame smashing into the red scimitar. The scimitar cracked and shattered, sending flame and sparks everywhere. The Nameless God recoiled and grunted. In the blink of an eye, the god ignited two dark spikes of pure black energy and darted forward.

Spider’s reach was long, as the sword was massive, but the Nameless One dodged the incoming strike, and brought down both spikes. Spider jumped back, pulling the sword with him, and cutting upward. The Nameless God sidestepped, the Nodachi cutting off some of his hair as the long blade narrowly missed his face. He then stepped inside, trying to stab Spider’s stomach. Spider rotated the blade, cutting off the upward momentum, the blade slicing sideways from high left to low right.

The Nameless god cut off his attack to parry the incoming blow, his legs in a wide stance, his eyes focused on the incoming great sword. Noticing the concentration, Spider picked up his right leg, and slammed his sandaled foot right up into the Nameless’s god’s crotch. The God’s face instantly paled, his face’s veins sticking out with pain as he recoiled, falling backward.

Spider followed his enemy’s fall with a downward swinging slice. The god used both spikes to parry midair, as he stumbled onto the ground. Though the parry protected his upper body, it didn’t stop the Nodachi from glancing off the spikes and slamming into his left leg. The god whaled in pain, the premoral artery severed as blood gushed out of his open leg wound.

“I thought the Samurai fought with honor!” The Nameless God yelped, clutching his leg and groin.

“The ones from Hollywood did,” Spider seethed, remembering all of the terrible things he had done to peasants and enemies in ancient Japan.

The Nameless god flailed on the ground, sending darts of energy flying upwards. Spider effortlessly parried them, coming over and standing above the God. Spider stomped down, smashing the injured leg, sending flesh and bone flying. The god whaled in pain. Spider held up his sword with both hands, pointing the blade at the chest of his enemy. Spider brought down the blade with all his might, the Nodachi impaling the Nameless God.

Blood erupted from the Nameless’s god’s mouth as he smiled.

“This- Cough- won’t stop- Cough- the return of Alpha Centurion….”

Spider knelt and placed his face next to the man’s ear.

“If he exists, let him come, we will kill him too,” Spider grunted.

The Nameless God cackled as he death gurgled.

“He’s closer to you, than you even realize,” the dark god whispered.

Spider rose and pulled out the Nodachi. He bore it over his head and swung down as hard as he could unto the God’s neck. The head rolled away. Captain Spider reached down, grabbed the head by the long black hair, and held it over his head, shouting triumphantly.

The army cheered, the dark Axium recognizing their fallen master and raging forward. As the battle intensified, the station suddenly shook. White light was spiraling up the elevator shaft, illuminating the level. Confused, Spider looked out, and saw the Dark Axium surging forward violently, almost as if they were trying to protect the elevator.

Nameless flew over, followed by the dark woman on the pure white stead.

“We need to get to the palace, now!” Nameless barked.

“What’s going on?” Spider shouted.

“They’re trying to move the station, we need to kill the lord of Zion before that happens,” the woman on the pale stead roared.

Spider nodded, pointing to the elevator.

“On me!”

As Spider charged forward, Magnolia came hurtling over in the air. Spider ignited his energy and propelled himself into the open cockpit. In the blink of an eye, Magnolia, and Spider where one again.

The battle raged around them like a stormy sea as he landed. He saw all of the vagabonds gathered around him, including the woman on the pale alien stead, and a blood covered man with orange eyes and blonde hair. There was also a woman with dark skin, and golden leaves on her arms as she tried to hide among the ranks. With the onboard sensors, Spider saw she was far more powerful than them all, as her body shimmered with a gargantuan store of barely concealed energy.

Spider took a knee in the armor and bowed to the woman with gold arm leaves.

“I was not aware that a Lady of Zion would fight alongside us. We stand ready to follow you, princess Zyhara,” Spider boomed.

All turned to the woman, who’s grey eyes widened, her posture mimicking melting to the ground.

“Zyhara?! What the fuck!” The woman on the pale white stead roared.

“You were supposed to stay on the flagship!” Nameless bellowed.

The girl grimaced, balling her fists, looking at them all.

“You’re going up there to stop this. The only way to stop this, is to kill my father. I love you all, but the only one who’s going to do that is me. Humans can’t kill Etherals, but I can,” The girl said firmly.

The group was silent.

“Are you sure this is what you want Kiddo?” The dark woman asked.

Zyhara nodded.

“We will be by your side, no matter what,” The blonde man with orange eyes said firmly.

“Where are the professors?” Julia asked.

“Back on the ship, arguing with my energy clone,” Zyhara said abashedly.

“Okay then, we can't stop you, but we will protect you. Spider, Hera, you guys been here longest, you take point. Let’s go kill an actual god,” Nameless barked.

Spider nodded, standing up in the Magnolia. He wiped the blood of his sword, turned, and charged towards the golden elevator.