PART 1

Kaladin leapt off the balcony with Lamir a second ahead of him. The air rushed past his face and he couldn’t hear anything but the rushing wind before he landed on the cobblestone below. His suit absorbed the impact as he slammed into the ground. Using all four limbs, Kal’s footprints were left in the stone as he rolled with the momentum.

Lamir simply crashed to the ground, using his legs and crouching to use his hands to stop the force. His weight shattered the bricked streets several spans wide, creating a small crater. Without waiting, Kal sprinted off toward the wall where Yvlana stood. He had seen during the drop that all the soldiers had taken position and the archers remained further inward with the Vog to protect them.

There were nearly one hundred thousand human soldiers, guarding the walls with their lives. And five times that, were citizens who had rushed to the capital for safety.

Before Kal and Lamir reached the wall, the Thrak were already coming over the top. Looking up, he could see the aliens pouring over the shield walls as only a small percentage were killed before leaping over. The soldiers stabbed upward as the Thrak clambered over them but there were simply too many and the weight of the creatures was starting to crush them.

Fatigue would set in quickly with such an onslaught as this. He pitied those on the front line. He pitied those shieldmen. Giving their lives to a seemingly hopeless cause.

A dreaded feeling of doom kept wrenching his gut. One he couldn’t seem to shake.

A glimpse of Yvlana gave Kal a sense of relief but she was fighting fiercely, her blade slicing through scores of Thrak. The hordes of beasts ignored them mostly, going straight for the archers and the defenseless civilians inside.

Blasts of light lit the roofs as the archers used their L.E.C. weapons. An incredible volley of energy blasted the line of Thrak, bursting them into bloody heaps of flesh. Blood sprayed everywhere as the Emarine weapons did their work but would soon need to be recharged. They continued in intervals, trying their best to keep a steady volley going.

The moment the volley stopped, Thrak immediately continued over the wall, still ignoring the shield wall and leaping over. Blood and bodies poured over the side and into the streets of the city. It was a massacre on both sides.

As well as the humans fought, their numbers dwindled quickly. The Thrak had a seemingly endless amount of bodies to throw at them and no respite would come.

More flashes encircled the city as the soldiers on the wall used the L.E.C. shotguns. Shooting in between the shields and blasting upward or down over the sides. A few L.E.C. sniper rifles picked off Thrak within the city but it still wasn’t nearly enough.

Less than ten minutes had passed and they were already overwhelmed. “Lamir!” Kal tossed two E.E. grenades to his friend. “Get to the north wall.”

“On it, boss.” Lamir snatched the grenades out of the air and veered northward. “Kal’s coming your way Yv.”

His helmet hadn’t finished repairing itself after the fight with Cassius but would soon be usable again.

“Hurry,” he thought.

Several Vog were fighting Thrak as he sprinted by but at the corner of his eyes, he saw a group of archers in danger as Thrak climbed up the side. The archers were ignorant of the imminent threat.

Skidding to a halt, Kal turned and jumped with all his strength, cracking the stone beneath him again. Mid-air, Kal pulled his sword free and slashed at the climbing creatures. Killing three in one swing, Kal twisted and kicked off the wall to land a blow on two Thrak a moment away from pouncing on an archer.

Cutting one head clean off, Kal slammed to the tile roof startling the archers as he pinned the second Thrak with his knee.

“Keep an eye on the streets,” he ordered. “The Vog can’t stop them all. Protect each other. The Vog need your support too.” Kal pointed to two Vog fighting six Thrak.

Bending down, Kal grabbed the struggling Thrak under his knee and squeezed. Its head imploded in a mess of gore.

Jumping into action several archers pelted the Thrak below. For the first time, Kal realized how divided they all truly were. They didn’t even think to help the Vog but rather focus on supporting their own kind.

A memory of Henry popped back into his mind. A drawing king Armin had left in his sketchbook. It was a drawing of humans, Vog, and Emarine fighting as one. “Was this that day? Was this the day Armin had predicted?” he wondered.

He frowned from the memory. Henry had shown it to him. Now the boy was likely dead.

Kaladin looked up and addressed the archers and any in earshot.

“In order to survive… we must work together,” he shouted, though he doubted many heard him.

“Y-yes sir.” one close to him said.

“You’re doing good, men.” Kal encouraged. “Don’t get distracted from your flank again. Watch each other’s backs.”

Leaving them with that, Kal crouched and leapt to the next roof, making his way to Yvlana. She was still fighting fiercely but there were too many to stop them all. Drawing closer, he dared to call out to her.

“Yvlana!” he shouted as he leapt from another roof, hoping not to distract her but rather inform her of his approach.

She turned for an instant, showing him she heard then continued fighting.

“Take this!” he yelled as he jumped again.

He planned to throw her one and use another further down the wall, however, that plan was quickly interrupted. Several Thrak lunged at him from the street and roofs. The aliens crashed into him, mid-air and changed his trajectory.

Yvlana shouted something but was too late. One arm wrestling a Thrak on his hip, Kal held one in his hands and another gnawed on his elbow, its jaws clamping down hard. One more clung to his leg, trying to claw up to his face. Kal used his free hand to toss the grenade to her before plunging to the stone below.

Before hitting the ground, he saw her snatch it out of the air. An instant before landing, Kal twisted and pulled the two Thrak on his arm beneath him then crashed into the stone, crushing them both against the ground. The impact killed them instantly but the third leapt up and clawed at his exposed face.

Reaching his arm over, he clipped his elbow around its neck and slammed down. The force snapped its neck and only flesh held its head to its body.

Standing to his feet, a massive explosion rocked the wall next to him and a giant pillar of smoke reached for the sky. A sickening stench wafted over them as burning flesh and bone filled the air.

Taking a deep breath, Kal once again leapt onto the roof of a house and looked for Yvlana. She appeared out of the smoky gusts of the blast. Yvlana must have immediately used the grenade which would give them a momentary respite. This time, Kal landed onto the wall and touched her arm as she still looked disoriented from the grenade.

“Are you alright?” Kal asked.

“Yes. Yes.” Yvlana waved him off. “Kal…” she paused. “We can’t win this. It’s hopeless.”

Glancing to the east and west, that same sinking dread filled him as Thrak poured over the wall uncontested. The humans had been overrun without them but thankfully Felkuru and Lamir held the northside but in the grand scheme, it meant little. Thousands of them rushed into the city and began slaughtering the women and children.

“I’ve got one more of these.” Kal fondled the E.E. grenade in his hand.

“That won’t be enough,” Yvlana said while her helmet pulled back. Her blonde hair and face were untouched. The rest of her suit was covered in dust and black sticky blood.

“I know.” Kal sighed.

He couldn’t accept that this was the end for them. He deeply wanted to spend the rest of his life with Yvlana, on a remote planet. A life free from suffering and death. Intervals of panic and fear washed over him but he fought it back each time. He racked his brain for a solution but kept coming up empty-handed.

“It’s okay.” Yvlana grabbed his hand. “You don’t always have to have an answer. This isn’t your fault.”

She knew him too well. She could tell by the look on his face what he was thinking. He wished things could have been different. “If only. If only.” the thought repeated, but her words and gentle touch calmed him.

“I know,” he mumbled. “I’m sorry I didn’t run away with you,” Kal said out of the blue. “A part of me wishes that we did. If only it gave me more time with you.”

Despite their situation and the carnage around them, Yvlana laughed wholeheartedly.

“I forgive you,” she smirked. “Kal,” she said more seriously. “Where you go… I go. If you die… I die. I’m not here to help the humans. I don’t care about them or the Vog. I’m here for one reason. When will you get that through your thick skull?”

With a frown of disappointment, not just from the thought of death but of her death, “I love you.” he whispered.

“I love you too, you idiot.” she chuckled in spite of herself and kissed him passionately.

“My only regret is you. That I won’t be able to grow old with you.” Yvlana whispered. “That I won’t get to see the wonderful father you would have been to our children.”

In that moment, Yvlana Arthas looked frail and defeated. Quickly, Kal pulled her close again and kissed her gently on the lips, and held her tight.

“I want that too,” he mumbled through the kiss.

Another explosion shot into the sky from the north, interrupting them and pulling them back into reality. Lamir must have used one of the E.E. grenades which sent another pillar of smoke into the sky.

“Lamir,” Kal said. “I gave him two.”

“You still have one,” Yvlana said. “We should pull back and defend the castle.”

Another enormous explosion several hundred feet from the last, shook the ground as smoke blasted into the air. Turning, Kal saw the Thrak had nearly climbed back up where Yvlana had thrown her grenade.

There was no retreating in formation, only chaos as Thrak gushed into Xerixes like an open wound. The streets became filled with the aliens, causing havoc wherever they went.

“Retreat!” Kal bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Several horns sounded the retreat and thousands of men turned to flee. A mass panic to get further into the city ensued. From their vantage point, he could see crowds of people already clumped together at the entrance of the castle. The outer gates had fallen and there was already a mad scramble to get further inside to safety.

The utter chaos that ensued was sickening. Fleeing soldiers were overtaken with ease and slaughtered. Those brave enough to turn and stand their ground gave those still running a chance to get to safety.

Moments later, Kal watched as hundreds of female Thrak lined the walls and release a wave of death that rained down upon the humans and Vog alike. The female Thrak had finally shown themselves and didn’t waste any time wreaking havoc. The devastating destruction of one volley alone was horrendous.

Buildings collapsed and humans and Vog were skewered and slaughtered. Nothing escaped the bone projectiles, even the male Thrak were caught in the fire. It was a bloodbath and only more Thrak joined in.

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A dozen turned their aim at them.

Yanking Yvlana’s arm, Kal flung her off the wall just in time as a volley of spikes sprayed the tops of the walls. Some of the men used their shields to ricochet most of the fire but many were pierced and shoved off the wall. Kaladin ducked as he threw Yvlana down but was smacked in the thigh and rib by the bullet-like bones.

The impact sent him flying off the wall and caused him to spin out of control through the air. Unable to see which way was up, Kal braced himself before hitting the ground, tucking in his arms and legs. Thankfully, Yvlana slammed into him mid-air and stopped him from spinning in time for him to land on his feet. She crashed onto a roof on her back and looked at him through her helmet.

Seeing her helmet, Kal checked the status of his own and was relieved to see it had repaired itself in the time it had taken him to run across the city. Activating his helmet, he immediately spoke into his com-link.

“Thanks for that.” Kal huffed, out of breath. “Let's get moving!”

Taking her arm, he whipped her to her feet.

“Don’t mention it.” Yvlana huffed.

“Where are you guys?” Lamir chimed in. “We’ve retreated to the castle. The Vog can’t hold them off much longer and Felkuru is in trouble.”

“Where is he?” Kal asked, worried for his alien friend.

“He’s holding the gate with what's left of the Vog,” Lamir responded. “Everyone is trying to get in and is blocking the entrance.”

“We’re on our way,” Kal said as he jumped over to Yvlana.

“Get here fast,” Lamir said. “I need you two. Now!”

“We’re coming, Lamir,” Yvlana said. “Just hold on.”

Sprinting at top speed, Kal and Yvlana jumped the gaps of the buildings and quickly made their way toward the palace. The west side of the city was nearly rubble, only a few buildings remained. There was chaos everywhere but they could do little to stop it.

The north and east looked to still be standing somewhat as small groups of soldiers fought on bravely.

Everyone on the wall was wiped out and any remaining archers had already fled, falling back to the inner walls. The battle was in the streets now and the horde rushed in continuously, without remorse.

“There isn’t enough room for them,” Lamir said over the com. “Thousands of people are flocking in. I can’t save them, Kal. What do we do?” he sounded desperate.

“Just hold on!” Kaladin said forcefully. “I’ve got one last grenade we can use. It might give us enough time to get everyone inside.”

“We have to close the gates,” Lamir said. “Literally, there isn’t enough room for everyone. The palace is full to the brim and the courtyard is full of soldiers.”

Kal landed on a building, then saw what Lamir meant. Fel was battling hundreds of Thrak, and they kept crowding around him, trying to get at his stomach. His underbelly was his weakest point and the Thrak were taking full advantage of that weakness. Slamming into him from one side, they tried to unbalance him and the female Vog were trying to protect his sides but the humans were getting in the way.

It became a bloodbath of bodies and crowded close-quarters combat. There was hardly any room to maneuver.

“FEL!” Kal spoke to him with his mind. “Get back over the wall. You can’t save them. Lamir is closing the gates.”

“No, Kaladin,” Fel grumbled. “If this is our end, I am fighting here. I will not leave my daughters.”

“You have to!” Kal said desperately, pulling out his L.E.C. pistol and firing it into the Thrak horde.

“I only hope he comes to save us,” Fel said sadly. “He will come. He must.”

“I-I…” Kal stuttered. “What do we do?” he asked.

“I am sorry, Kaladin, my end is near. My time has come. Get into the castle. I can hold them off for a while longer.” Fel said. “Do not lose hope, my friend. Malik will save us.”

It was the first time he had used that name. He had heard Cassius say it several times, “Was this that being Felkuru spoke of?” he thought. “Mulguran’s enemy? Jebbin’s master?”

“There has to be something we can do!” Kal shouted, his fear rising. “No one is coming to save us. We have to save ourselves, Fel! Fall back. Now.” Kal ordered desperately.

“You can’t fix this, my dear friend,” Fel grunted as he sank his teeth into three Thrak. “Do not lose faith now. Never lose your faith.”

“Fel-” Kal began.

“Watch out!” Lamir yelled over the com.

Kaladin whipped his head around to see the entire outer wall. Every inch was full of the female Thrak, readying their aim. Yvlana tackled him off the building and into the street below as a volley of spikes sprayed the city.

They tore the city to shreds. Rubble became shards of stone. Buildings became collapsed heaps, stone toppled over, crushing hundreds of humans and Thrak. The volley peppered the entire city like cannons.

Almost every man, woman, and child were ruthlessly skewered, along with dozens of Vog, and Fel was struck many times but his armor protected him. Praying it would all stop, Kal watched as the building in which Yvlana and he hid behind, collapsed over them. Kaladin flipped Yvlana over and he braced himself on top, shielding her from the stones.

Engulfed in debris, Kal grunted from the effort but did his best to protect her.

The stones did little to damage his shields but the weight was immense. They were completely buried in rubble and Yvlana began supporting him with her legs and arms, keeping some of the weight off of his back.

“Thank you,” Yvlana muttered. “Are you alright?”

“Don’t mention it.” Kal groaned from the strain. “Help me with this.” he gritted his teeth and pushed with all his might.

Heaving, Kal shoved the main wall off of them as Yvlana protected his sides from any more falling debris. Pushing out of the stone, Kal caught the last glimpse of Felkuru being hit by a volley of spikes and his sides were exposed.

“NO!” Kal screamed.

Felkuru howled in pain as bones pierced his hide and sunk deep into his throat and stomach. Blood and pieces of flesh lay around him and without pause, the male Thrak went in for the kill.

“Run,” Fel said as he was torn to pieces. “Goodbye old friend.”

“Come on!” Yvlana yelled, dragging him to his feet. “We have to go!”

The sky was still blackened by the storm above but that wasn’t what caught his attention. Shadows warned him of an incoming attack. Kal looked up to see a veil of spikes coming down on top of them, nearly blocking out the sky. Kal pushed Yvlana over, and jumped on top of her once again, covering her body with his own.

The force of the impact was incredible as the bones shattered off his armor but slammed him into the ground. Yvlana cushioned the blows but her body sunk into the stone from the force.

Kaladin’s arms and legs shattered the stone from the pressure as the wave of bones continued. It felt like a destructive rain pounded his back into oblivion.

The spikes sunk into his armor, quickly weakening the Frostrum steel. Dozens of projectiles sprayed his back relentlessly. He felt intense pain as one pierced his side and left shoulder. The back of his head was hit, which caused him to smash his own head into Yvlana’s.

Another intense pain told him his chest had been pierced and he felt blood seep into his lungs. One pinned his hand to the ground puncturing a hole in his wrist.

He cried out in pain but he couldn’t even hear himself over the noise.

As quickly as it came, it stopped. Kal collapsed onto Yvlana, exhausted and in agony. Hundreds of bodies lay strewn across the wide street. He felt Yvlana move under him and his wrist was pulled free from the spike.

Rough hands lifted him into the air as his vision was blurred and he couldn’t hear or see properly. His head spun from the shot to the helmet, which he knew brought on the dizziness.

He vaguely saw a dozen spikes being brushed off of his back, scattering to the ground.

His vision slowly cleared and he snapped out of his daze. Lamir was carrying him over his shoulder and Yvlana was behind them, limping. Her left leg had been pierced in two places, the spikes still protruded from her thigh and calf. Her shields had been depleted, and her armor was battered but not nearly as bad as his own.

Her helmet was severely damaged and she held a hand to one shoulder. “Yv-” he coughed up blood.

Along with waking, the pain did too. His shoulder felt like it had been ripped off and his chest and stomach felt like they had been stabbed by a thousand needles. Glancing down he saw the bone spikes protruding from his chest and lower stomach where he had been hit all the way through. He couldn’t move his left hand properly, the nerves had been severed. He couldn’t move his entire left arm for that matter. A blinding pain blackened his vision again and he shook his head to stay conscious.

At the corner of his eye, Kal saw Thrak approach from behind, silently creeping up on them.

“Be-hind.” Kal managed to spit out, lifting his one good arm.

Yvlana noticed and whirled on one leg. With a shout, she cut down two Thrak but one sunk its teeth on her knee. She cried out in pain and dug a dagger into its skull with her left hand.

A dozen wounded Thrak rushed her, pinning her to the ground. She struggled and stabbed frantically, keeping them away from her neck. Before Lamir could turn to help her, one caught her forearm in its jaws and pulled down, tearing flesh and armor.

An instant later, another lunged straight for her neck. Kaladin watched in horror as Yvlana’s scream was cut off as razor-sharp teeth ripped at her throat

Lamir dropped Kal to the ground, making him scream in pain, his shoulder and stomach clenching instinctively. He made quick work of the Thrak and then lifted Yvlana over his shoulder without a word. She was limp and unmoving. Fear and worry out did the pain coming from his body.

“Yv-lana.” he sputtered through a mouthful of blood.

Lamir grabbed his good arm and started dragging him to the gate of the castle, with Yvlana still on his shoulders.

Blood soaked down Lamir’s armor dripping on the ground, making a trail.

Too much blood. Yvlana’s blood.

Arrows and blasts of energy came from the walls, killing the stragglers. The humans on the wall were desperately trying to cover them. The Thrak had been temporarily stopped due to the mass explosion of volleys and the men on the walls shouted at them to hurry.

Lamir stopped dragging him a moment later and the gates slammed shut behind them. He collapsed to the ground and Yvlana rolled onto the ground next to him. Kal grunted and crawled over to get a look at Yvlana, praying she was still alive.

With sorrow and horror, Lamir looked back at him, laying next to his sister. “She’s dead,” he whispered. “She’s gone.”

Kaladin’s heart froze mid-beat. His body went cold and he couldn’t feel anything for a long moment. Lamir didn’t cry but he knelt there, mourning his sister as he watched in horrific realization that the woman he loved was dead.

Something inside Kaladin snapped. A hopeless rage boiled over. He had been powerless to save her. And now… she was dead. They all were.

PART 2

Kaladin crawled to Yvlana’s motionless body. He was bleeding profusely from his wounds and his left arm dragged along the ground, useless.

Howls and pounding at the gate interrupted his moment of mourning.

The guards shouted and screamed but there was nothing anyone could do. “This is it.” he thought. “We all die here.”

“Get up!” Lamir said. “She wouldn’t want you to die like this. Help me fight one last time.”

Kal knew Lamir was only trying to get his mind off of Yvlana and point his anger toward the Thrak, but it worked anyway. Kal grunted in pain but he managed to stand on his feet, though he was clutching his side and his left arm dangled like a noodle.

He noticed Lamir was also wounded. A large gash on his side trickled blood down to his feet.

Kal coughed up more blood and agonizing pain shot through his whole body. Kaladin knew he wasn’t in any state to fight, let alone move.

“I’ve got one last thing to do.” Kal puked up blood and croaked.

Pulling out the E.E. grenade, Kaladin gave his friend a devilish smile.

Lamir returned the smile and sprinted off toward the stairs, the crowded soldiers parted quickly. Everyone stared at them in horror. An Emarine, dead. One nearly dead and the other unwilling to give up. They parted for him too as he made his way to the wall. Kaladin followed after Lamir, albeit at a slower pace.

Less than a hundred humans fought at the wall, dead lay everywhere. Most were archers, firing down at the Thrak. The footmen were below, waiting for the gate to break or the Thrak to pour over the wall, either way, they all waited in anticipation.

Reaching the top, Kal looked below. Women and children lay bloodied and mutilated. Men’s bodies lay in pieces. And Felkuru, in a giant heap of carcasses, lay motionless.

Kal’s heart froze again at seeing his friend in such a state. Those twenty years he spent with him came flooding back for an instant. He dragged his feet and kept moving.

A massive pile of Thrak climbed up the wall, nearly to the top. Like always, the Thrak ignored the gates and opted to climb. Lamir was hacking away with his sword, cutting them down mercilessly. He screamed a warcry, filling the rest of the men with a rage and fury like no other. The humans fought like beasts, without backing down.

Arrows flew, swords swung, and the Thrak kept coming. Never-ending.

Every person here knew this was the day they all died, yet they fought on as no man had. Filled with strength and the need to avenge their fellow man, their war cries echoed over the bustle of the clanging of steel.

Kal slumped against the wall’s edge, and spit up more blood. His legs were shaking and his left arm was twitching in a numbed spasm.

Grenade in hand, Kal activated it and threw it toward the largest pile of Thrak he could see. They were moments from clambering over the side. The small metal ball soared through the air and landed at the base of the pyramid. An instant later, everyone ducked behind the stone as the E.E. blast incinerated everything in its vicinity.

Chunks of dead Thrak flew everywhere and rained down upon them. A misty black haze sprayed over them. Ashes.

The stench wafted into the castle and each man stifled a gag. But the blast did little to stop the Thrak. Instantly climbing over their dead comrades and using them as stepping stones.

He turned just in time to see a row of females take aim from their sides.

“Incoming.” Kal croaked as another volley hurtled toward them.

Lamir and a dozen others were directly hit, sending them all flying. Lamir's leg had been pinned first. Shot through the thigh and straight into the stone. What followed was what brought a gut-wrenching howl from Kaladin’s lips. Lamir’s entire upper body was riddled with bones and shattered armor. He slumped but couldn’t fall as his body was stuck against the lip of the wall.

Kal tried to stand but only made it two steps before collapsing. He dragged himself over to Lamir who couldn’t move.

“K-Kal.” Lamir sputtered.

Blood gushed from his mouth and through his suit. One arm had been shot off but he was still alive. Lamir couldn’t move but his eyes were trained on him, panic in them.

“L-Lamir…” Kal coughed again, spitting up blood of his own. “I’m s-sorry. I c-couldn’t s-save us.” he breathed out, tears forming in his eyes.

“I kn-.” Lamir choked, then fell silent.

Kaladin watched as the light faded from his eyes. Sprawled on the ground, Kal reached for Lamir’s boot and cried for the first time. His sorrow boiled over and he couldn’t control himself.

“Where are you?” he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Immediately he spat up more blood and his lungs seared in pain.

“You were supposed to save us! Fel believed in you!” Kaladin screamed through the pain. “Malik! Are you watching? Is this what you wanted?”

Kal twisted and sat up, using the wall for support. Few soldiers remained, still fighting but other than that… it was over. The Thrak were surrounding anyone still left alive and six Thrak crowded around him.

They had lost.

Kal lamely pulled out his pistol but couldn’t find the strength to even lift it. He looked over the edge to where Yvlana’s body lay. “I love you,” he whispered.

The Thrak’s eyes brightened and honed in on him. They barred their leech-like mouths and lunged for him. Turning his head, Kal closed his eyes and took a deep breath, waiting to be devoured.

A moment passed and nothing happened. Blinking, Kal’s mouth dropped as he took in the sight before him. Everything was frozen. The Thrak crowded around him, unmoving. The few men below, stuck in place. As if time had stopped, Kal looked around, wondering what had happened.

“Am…” Kal stuttered. “I dead?”

“No.” a deep and calming voice overhead spoke. It was the same voice he had heard from the dagger. “You are not dead, Kaladin Valhorn.”