The Imperial Warship:
The Bridge
Back aboard the imperial warship, a high ranked government official stood at the bridge of the ship. His name is Cozar Glacius. He has slicked back black hair, brown eyes, and wore a standard red and black imperial uniform.
He is the fleet admiral who was second in command of this operation. The general in charge had to step away to deal with another threat that was targeting their ship. Clearly a decoy, but the threat was real which required the general to leave the ship in the hands of Admiral Glacius.
Unfortunately, he was not up to the task of dealing with the thief who infiltrated their ship. But this wasn't just any thief, she is the most wanted criminal within the empire. Ziera. They wanted to follow her in their Omni fighters but Ziera had already damagedthem with her EMP before she stole the gauntlet. Not to mention all the damagedequipment on the bridge, several staff members injured, and some were even still unconscious from the EMP blast.
Needless to say they were powerless but not yet defeated. Ziera was clearly severely injured at the time of her escape. Once they pinpointed her location, even with the general, the admiral was confident that he could deal with her himself.
Admiral Glacius was now tasked with both retrieving the gauntlet and capturing Ziera to bring her back to the empire. But he had other plans in mind. Suddenly, the alarm coming from the bridge's computer systems blasted through.
"Sir! We've finally managed to pinpoint Ziera's location. She's hiding out in one of our towns. Lockwood sir!"
"Excellent! And what about the transport ships?"
"Most of them are still powered down but we have managed to get 4 up and running again sir!"
"Good. Set course for Lockwood immediately!"
"Yes sir!" The ship changed course and headed towards Lockwood.
Ziera Pov
Lockwood
Few hours later.
The next morning.
What happened? Where am I? My vision is blurry. I can barely keep myself conscious.
"Hey! Stay with me alright! You're gonna be okay!"
Who was that? I could barely make out who it was. Hold on. Was I on a couch or something? How did I even get here? Why am I here? I tried to speak but I just grunted. I was in so much pain that all I could do was breath slowly.
"Hey don't try to speak! I'll be right there! Crap! Where did mom move the medical supplies!?"
I hear noises in the background. What is he....?
"Aha! Got it! Okay hold on! This will only take a second."
He walked towards me and took a knee. What is that glowing light in his hands? A rock? No wait. It's a mana crystal. Those are not easy to come by within the domain of the empire. He rested the crystal on my head and it began to blow brighter. I could feel all the mana from the crystalentering my body. My wounds began to heal and my vision became more clear. I saw him. The guy who saved my life. He looks about my age.
But wait a second. I still don't know where I am. I swiftly sat up on the couch in shock trying to get my bearings. The guy took a step back with his hands raised.
"Whoa! Easy there! It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you!"
I looked at him and at my surroundings. This clearly wasn't an imperial cell. And this guy obviously wasn't with the empire.
"Look uh, you were falling from the sky and came crashing down right on top of me. Hard. And you told me no hospitals so I took you back to my apartment to save you. You remember?"
Now that he mentions it I do vaguely remember that. Yeah. I just barely escaped that warship and crashed into the ground. I was injured, powerless and.....scared. As I looked down at my hands I thought back to my feelings earlier. I thought they would capture me or finish me off right there and then. I really thought it was over for me but this guy, a complete stranger, took me into his home and saved my life. I...I couldn't believe it.
"Uh hey are you okay?"
I recovered from my shock to look back up at him. Whoever he was I had to thank him at the very least.
"Yes I am. Thank you, for saving my life. I don't know how to repay you."
He responded with a smile. "That's alright you don't need to really. I'm just glad you're okay."
I felt embarrassed and looked away. Twirling the strands of my hair with my fingers. It's a habit of mine whenever I get embarrassed or flustered. It's been awhile since someone has shown genuine concern for me. It was....nice.
"Thank you. Uh..". Damn I forgot to ask his name.
"Oh it's Jayden. My friends and family call me Jay."
"Well, thank you again for saving my life Jayden."
"Like I said, it's all good. But if you don't mind me asking who were you talking about before? The people who are chasing you I mean."
Crap. I knew he was gonna start asking those questions. Even so I can't tell him. I appreciate him saving me but I can't involve a civilian in this it would only get him killed. "I'm sorry but I can't say."
That didn't seem to convince him to let it go at all. It looked like he was genuinely concerned for me and he had just met me. Are there really people out there like that in the world? He then got up and went over to a drawer. He opened it up and pulled out something. It was the gauntlet! He went back over to me.
"Look I know it's none of my business but is this the reason why they're chasing after you?" He inquired. Out of instinct I immediately reached over and snatched it from his hand.
"Don't touch that!" I exclaimed.
"Whoa! Sorry! Sorry. I didn't mean to-....sorry"
I immediately regretted how I reacted. I didn't mean to snap at him, it wasn't his fault. He doesn't know. But it's better that way. The less people know the better, and he seems like a good person so I don't want to involve him any further.
"No it's...it's okay. I just can't tell you about this either. It's not safe." He still wasn't convinced. Sheesh this guy was stubborn. But he nodded and didn't pry any further. Guess he didn't want to upset me.
"Alright well changing the subject I got some clothes that could fit your size, since yours are torn up and all."
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"Oh you don't have to do that, you've done enough for me as is."
"Nah it's fine. I don't really wear them anymore. Besides, I think you would have done the same for me." He said as he walked towards his room.
"How would you know that? You just met me." Jay stopped and looked back with a smile.
"Just a feeling." He went into his room and closed the door. What a strange guy. I would have done the same huh? I don't know about that. I'm not that good of a person. Still that was sweet of him to say. But after he offers me his clothes I'm leaving before the empire finds me and gets this guy dragged into it. I tried to contact my allies through my systems but I couldn't reach them. Must be a jammer around here or something. And what's worse is I'm still low on mana.
Just what did that gauntlet do to me when I reached out for it?
Jayden POV
I'm glad she's feeling better. I was worried that I was too late and she'd die on me. Man this was not I wanted to bring a girl back to my crib. Not that I'd ever tell mom about this. But why do I feel like I've seen her somewhere here before? Well whatever, probably overthinking it. Still, I can't believe I wasted so much time hesitating instead of helping her immediately. Did I actually consider letting her die? What is wrong with me!?
No, I can't think about that right now. All that matters is that she's safe and in good health. Good thing mom still had some mana crystals lying around. When the empire came decades ago they stripped the land of these crystals to make fuel for their magitech. Now the only medical supplies we can rely on are from magitech. But mom's grandparents had some stashed away so that the empire couldn't find them and that's that.
Also now that I'm getting a good look at her, not gonna lie.....she's pretty hot. Dammit Jay get it together she's gonna think you're a creep!!!! Besides this girl is still in danger so you gotta stay focused.
I tried to get some information out of her regarding her situation but she wouldn't tell me anything. Like what was up with that gauntlet? It looked straight out of a Guardians of Esos comic. She wouldn't even tell me her name. I mean I get it. I'm a stranger to her so she's probably just being cautious. It was just so frustrating that I couldn't do more than give her some clothes. What if she gets hurt again? Or worse, killed? And why do I care so much about what happens to her when I've just met her?
Suddenly, an image of my father flashed through my mind.
Sigh. "God dammit".
Then without warning I heard a crash. It sounded like my door got busted down! Am I getting robbed or something!?
"SHIT!"
That voice! It's her! "Hey!" I called out to her while running back to the living room. As I ran I heard her say
"No! Stay back!" But it was too late. I was greeted with the butt of a gun to the face and knocked onto the ground with a thud.
"Jayden!"
"Ugh! What the hell?" I was then further greeted with two soldiers pointing their rifles at me. Then they picked me up and grabbed me, restraining my arms. While she was on the ground with handcuffs on and one of the soldiers had Ziera's gauntlet in their hands. These guys, they're soldiers of the Machina Empire! What the hell? Was the empire who she was running from this whole time!?
"Well what do we have here?" A man entered my apartment. He looked like some government official. What the hell is going on!? "It would seem that we have found our quarry, and more." He said as he looked directly at me. At the moment I was more angry than scared. This asshole and his goons broke down my damn door and broke my moms stuff.
"Who the hell are you!?"
"Why I am an honorable fleet admiral serving the great Machina Empire. Cozar Glacius. And you, boy, are a filthy traitor to our nation." He said venomously.
"What!?" The hell is he talking about!?
"Harboring a dangerous fugitive is an act of treason. Instead of reporting her, you kept her hidden. Do you know how dangerous that is for our good loyal citizens? That makes you a co-conspirator and accomplice."
What!? That doesn't even make any sense. This guy is nuts!
"You see boy she may not look it but this here is the most wanted and dangerous criminal within the empire. THE FORMER PRINCESS OF THE EMPIRE! ZIERA!"
Wait did he just say...the princess!? I mean I know she looks kinda like her but her face is a bit different. Not to mention her hairstyle, color and eye color. Looking at her from afar you wouldn't think she'd be the princess at all. But that explains why the empire was after her. I read about it, Ziera betrayed the empire and left over a year ago. But no one has seen her since. Until now.
"Stop! He has nothing to do with this! I forced him to help me! He didn't even know, he's innocent!" Ziera pleaded my case. She was really trying to help me get out of this.
"Even so, ignorance is not the same as innocence. The boy will be punished. But you? You won't get off so easily you traitorous wench!" He said as he grabbed onto her face hard.
"Get your hands off her you bastard!" I screamed at him without even thinking about the consequences. In response he snapped his fingers and one of his men punched me hard in the face.
"STOP!" Ziera cried out but the soldier kept punching in the face and gut. Since he's a machine his lunches hit harder than normal humans. I began spitting out blood but he didn't let up. He punched me so hard in the jaw I even lost one of my teeth.
"PLEASE STOP IT!"
"Alright that's enough!" Admiral Glacius ordered.
The soldier stopped hitting me and the other two finally dropped me as I fell face first onto the floor. I was bruised up pretty bad. I couldn't stand up and my head was spinning. The admiral then stepped on the back of my head with his boot.
"Well now, I hope you learned your lesson here boy. This is what happens when you bite the hand that feeds you. You thought you could be someone's hero but all you did was fail miserably. Just face reality. You. Are. Nothing."
Damn it. DAMN IT! I hate this. I hate all of it. This bastard, the empire, and worse myself. Because he's right, I'm powerless. Always was, and always will be. I mean seriously who did I think I was?
["The kid's a screw up"]
I am a screw up. If I didn't get involved none of this would have happened.
["He acts before he thinks, and doesn't care about how it'll affect others.]
That's right. I wasn't thinking at all. Did I really believe I could save someone? Did I really believe I could fight back against the empire?
["Unless he shapes up he'll keep making the same mistakes and get somebody hurt. Just like he did with his father".]
"Dad.....I..I can't.."
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU CALLING A NOBODY!?"
I got out of my thoughts. That voice. I looked up as best I could. It was Ziera!
"You're saying he's nothing!? What a load of bullshit! You dare call someone who risked their lives for a total stranger, even with the risk of putting themselves in danger all of that!? Are you stupid!? I may not have known him for very long but Jayden is already a hundred times the man you are. Unlike you he doesn't judge others or look down on them. He even saved my life even when I didn't deserve it! So you're wrong, he didn't fail you hear me! HE SAVED MY LIFE!"
Ziera's words hit me hard. Am I really that kind of guy? I shut my eyes as I thought no. No she's wrong I can't be. I'm a screw up! I've made things worse for other people. I even...I even kil-..
"Jay, look at me!"
My eyes snapped open. She called me by my nickname. I did what she said and looked up at her. The look she gave me. It wasn't a look of pity or doubt, it was a smile. A warm gentle smile.
"Your a good person Jay. I know you'd do the same for anyone else, and I'm my eyes that's pretty heroic."
"But Ziera. How can you be so sure? How can you be sure that's who I am?"
"Oh nothing. Just a feeling. Right?" She giggled and winked at me. Her smile. I completely forgot about the pain when I saw her smile. And not only that, Ziera didn't look at me like a sad case or a nuisance, she just saw....me.
"Enough of this! Guards execute the traitor!" Glacius ordered.
"But sir! Our orders were to bring her back alive! If princess Zariah finds out about this she'll...."
"Shut up! I don't care what that bitch thinks! If I kill the princess here and now I'm haru teed to be protected!"
"Protected? Ugh, it must be my brother." Ziera grumbled.
"You are correct Ziera. I'm afraid luck just isn't on your side today. But enough of that. KILL HER NOW!"
Damn it! I can't let this happen. Before I met Ziera, I would have just walked away, kept my head down and stayed out of trouble like people wanted. But not this time! Ziera she...she sees something in me. Something I can't even fathom to see in myself. I'd do this for anyone? Me heroic? I don't know about all that. Not after what I've done.
But...even so....I want to see it. I want to see what Ziera sees in me! No! I want to become the person Ziera knows I can be!If that means I get to kick the shit out of this asshole, then sign me up! Unbeknownst to everyone, the gauntlet slowly began to glow in a blue color from the jewel in the middle.
I began lifting my head from under his foot. I grunted and cried out in pain from the blood coming out of my mouth but I endured.
"Wha-what do you think you're doing!? Are you trying to embarrass yourself further!? Face! You aren't some hero! You are powerless! A nobody!"
"Powerless, sure. But I am somebody!" I kept rising up until his foot was off me. He tried to stomp down on me again but I caught his boot. "I'm the guy that's gonna kick your scrawny ass!" I then threw the hardest punch I could right into his jaw. He yelped as I sent him flying onto the floor.
"GAH! You bastard! Kill him now!" The guards aimed their guns at me. Welp, it was nice while it lasted. But at the last quick second, the gauntlet blasted the room with a bright blue light blinding everyone. The gauntlet that was in one of the soldier's grasp flew out of his hand and right into my left arm.
"What the hell!?" I called out. But then I heard a mysterious voice in my head.
"So you finally made your decision aye boy?"
"What? Who said that?"
"I am the one who determines who is worthy of wielding my power. You were weak before but your determination and new found purpose has peaked my interest. So I will lend you my power to save the lives of your friend."
"Yeah I've got no idea what you're talking about buddy. What do you mean by lending me your power?" Seriously what was going on and who was this guy in my head? As he talked I could feel his name at the back of my head. Wait? Could it be?
"Enough! Whether you accept or not is of no concern to me. If you refuse both you and the girl will die here. Now make your decision. However, I should warn you that if you accept, you must carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. There is no turning back from this. Do you accept it or not?"
Gods this is insane. First a former princess falls out of the sky and now this!? I don't get it at all. Well I don't really have a choice. I have to save Ziera. I don't trust this guy but I can't let her die either. Like my parents always say, "Never give up and never surrender." Our family is built like that.
"Okay fine! If it means saving Ziera then I'll gladly accept your power!"
"Excellent. Now call upon my name! And you will receive the power to even kill gods! CALL UPON MY NAME!"
He didn't have to tell me twice. I screamed at the top of my lungs shouting:
"RAGNAROK!!!!!"
Then suddenly, I felt my entire body change. I looked down at my body and watched as my skin became metallic. It was armor, I wasn't getting armor on, my whole body was becoming it. The blue light grew even brighter and brighter until it finally deemed out. Ziera and the rest finally saw what I looked like. The armor was all colored in blue and silver. My face was gone and replaced with a helmet with a blue visor and pointy mechanical ears. And finally on the chest was the mana crystal of ragnarok glowing blue.
Omni-Suit:
The Omni-Suit once worn by Zenith, the goddess of machines herself [https://img.wattpad.com/03161bb27bd5fffa954fd05a0b08733c861a80aa/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f75304448546642657766376253773d3d2d313434353630323033372e313764303231316264313039396233313530313431343331363538372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Whoa! What the!?" I took a moment to look at myself. "Okay this is pretty wild".
"What the!? How can he use it!? That's impossible!"
Ziera looked at me with just awe. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Enough of this open fire now!"
"Jayden watch out!"
"Oh shit!" I covered my face with my arms trying to shield the bullets but surprisingly....I didn't feel a single shot. The bullets just bounced off me and broke off. My body was completely bulletproof.
"Whoa! I'M BULLETPROOF!" I said with excitement.
"What!?? Thi-this is impossible!!!!" Admiral Glacius was sweating buckets now. The look of fear in his eyes was undeniable.
I turned my attention back to Glacius. I still owe him for how he treated Ziera and my mom's place. I got a ton of questions but right now beating this guy's ass is number 1 on my to do list. "Alright jackass, my turn." Without a second thought I dashed towards Glacius.
"No! Stay back! NOO!" I punched him hard in the chest, sending him flying through the wall of his apartment in a plasma explosion. The force was so strong it blew a hole through Glacius' chest as he flew through 5 blocks down the street and into a car, shattering it.
"A-admiral Glacius!" Ziera still just looked at me with shock.
"So this is the power of Ragnarok. And it chose you, Jayden."
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