Heron and Azu dash through the central platform at speeds I struggle to comprehend. It takes us less than three minutes to reach the bridge connecting to the housing platform where our lift is. I glance back at the now-destroyed spires. Getting to the center at full sprint would have taken me at least ten minutes. I really was holding them back. As we run across the bridge, the rest of the city is shrouded the cold light from the beam, the warm glow gone. This place is no longer inviting.

We approach the lift. The civilian platform is as destroyed and covered in moss at the central platform. Hearon sets me down, and I manage to stand. The pain is completely gone, and some of my strength has returned. Hearon hands me Nebula. I look at the weapon curiously. Why didn't it weigh him down? Even Zack can't hold it. I shrug. Whatever. A mystery for another time.

Azu looks at the ruined city, "To bad this place is in such bad condition. We are the only ones left to tell the tale of such a glorious place." She goes silent as we decend, the squeaking of the lift fillling the tense silence.

When we hit the ground, not a second is wasted. Azu and Hearon rush to break down camp, only taking the most important things. We wind up leaving many tools and the lift behind. I watch, sitting beside a tree root. Zack continues to breathe quietly by my side. He sacrificed himself for me. Will I ever be able to repay that? I sigh. I have a lot to think about.

It only takes the two a few minutes to get everything set. Azu grabs Zack, jumping onto the MULE while Hearon helps me get on it. As the MULE begins to whirl to life, Azu jumps down one more time, bringing Zack's spear with us. The MULE now has a small holding room with chairs and windows to allow us a view around us.

I motion to the small resting room. Hearon sits me down before closing the door, "This is a protective room. It can only be used in retrace mode." I tilt my head in confusion. Hearon grabs the black glass wristband, tapping it a few times before showing it to me. On the screen is an icon of a map, a line going through it, "This allows us to return to the city quickly. The MULE will retrace its steps, using the environment and positional data. It is a much faster way to get back and is convenient for times of emergency." He taps Zack and my throat. I nod in reply. Makes sense.

The MULE turns on its floodlights and bounds off. I have to use the straps on the chair to keep from smashing my head onto the ceiling. He was not kidding about fast. It takes us less than an hour to pass the engraved trees. By the third, we are out of the forest.

As the MULE slams through trees, completely destroying them, Azu motions for Hearon, "We are being followed."

Hearons face pales, "It can keep up with the MULE?" She doesn't reply, but her silence speaks volumes. He grunts, "We keep going for as long as we can."

Nothing more is said as the mechanical behemoth flies onto the metal lake, its steps ringing out for all to hear. I want to stay awake, especially because an unknown creature is following us, but my eyelids can't help but close. I'm asleep before I know it.

***********************

I awake to a massive jolt. Hearon and Azu are by the door, faces focused. We've reached the edge of the pine forest, sunlight pouring into the windowed room. The MULE has frozen in its tracks. Not too far ahead, a creature stares at us, eyes filled with rage. It's like a massive black cat roughly half the size of the MULE, but where there should be a tail is a snake with elongated fangs. On its back are a ton of ivory spikes, and a set of jet-black wings are splayed out, revealing a beautiful dark green. Its eyes are literally flaming, and a single white horn adorns the bottom of its jaw.

I try to speak, but only a raspy breath escapes my lips. Neither seemed to have noticed me, their gazes fixed on the cat thing. The MULE itself has seen better days. Deep gouges mark its body, and the head is completely gone.

"Plan?" Hearon grabs his shield.

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Azu shakes her head, "I do not know. This creature is unknown to me." They silently size up the monster before stepping out. All I can do is watch as the two go face our assailant. I frantically rack my brain for anything that can help. My sword? No, it will only work with me. Zack? I glance at him. Nope. Still out. I look back at the three. None of them have moved. They can't beat that thing. It's strong. It must be fast as hell, too.

There must be something. My eyes drift to the wristband on Hearon's seat. The rail cannon. Our MULE was one of the few outfitted with one. It's still in the development phase, but we might have a chance if it can shoot. I scramble out of my straps and flip through the icons. It's not there. Shit! I slump back in my chair. As I try to find it, I remember. Override command. It's supposed to be voice-activated. I touch my throat. It's not gonna happen. As I'm thinking, Hearon and Azu jump off the MULE, starting the battle. Azu flits from tree to tree, shooting arrows at the creature. Hearon dons his shield and Zack's spear. They distract the monster as it growls in annoyance.

I'll have to activate the thing manually. Thank god I read everything about the MULE. I step outside, the fresh air and smell of pine envigorating me. I carefully make my way to the center, inserting the wristband into a small circular hole. A hologram pops up. The main console. I start sorting through programs and code. I don't understand ninety percent of it, but I don't need to. It takes a few seconds, but I find the manual override section. A warning pops up as I tap it, and I angrily swipe it away. Several screens pop up. Each one has a different option, and none of them are good for the MULE. Eventually, I find the rail cannon.

I tap it, and the MULE shutters. The main body of the MULE rotates completely, dropping me onto the ground. I hiss as I fall onto my chest wound. Clanks and whirls can be heard above as Azu lands beside me, and several scratches on her face are bleeding. "What the hell are you doing?" She hisses. I motion with my hands a railgun and point at the MULE and then at the cat thing swiping at Hearon, who is pinned against a tree, only his shield visible.

Her eyes widen, "I forgot we had one of those. Abe won't like the result, though." I stare at her, and she shakes her head, "Not our problem. I'll get Zack. and pull that thing in range." I motion for her to take me to the top. She nods, helping me reach the top where the cannon is. The Mule had completely changed. Now, a massive barrel spanned the length of the body, and several rings of metal were surrounding the thing at ten-foot intervals. I run to the very end, where the console is. There's no way for me to aim it. Hopefully, this will at least scare the beast away.

I wait for Azu to clear out before powering it on. There are several buttons situated on the side. I press the first one to my left. A whine follows a whirl as power is diverted to the cannon. The five rings surrounding the barrel light up with purple electricity, each ring connecting to the barrel. I press the second button, and electricity crackles up and down the massive tube. A clank is heard as the metal slug enters. The creature seems to have just noticed the rail cannon, its hair standing on end. Azu and Hearon have managed to situate it right in front of the barrel. Hearons shield is cut in half, and a gash travels from his hip down his left leg, but he somehow manages to slam Zack's spear into the paw of the monster.

It tries to free itself, but I hear the deep hum of the cannon. It's ready. I press the final button. Electricity crackles off the barrel, burning nearby trees and parting the mist. I run behind the cannon; the back is supposed to be the safest place. The hum intestifies, and the entire MULE shakes so hard my teeth clatter.

Then there's silence—a silence so defining and unnerving it terrifies me. Darkness. The electricity is so intense that the area goes dark. Then the bang happens. It's so loud I feel my eardrums blow but feel none of the pain. Warm blood drips out of my ears as silence engulfs my world. The MULE shakes violently but remains standing. I peek around my barrier to find the cannon completely obliterated. Only a few feet remain, the metal bending outwards. Beyond the destroyed barrel, a massive grove gouges the top of the MULE, and beyond it is a sight unlike anything I have ever seen.

A massive hole rips through the trees. Nothing remains in front of the MULE. In fact, the hole goes so far that I can just barely make out the wall of End City. I look frantically for Azu and Hearon and find them under the MULE; their eardrums burst as well. I climb down the MULE, now a smoking husk of metal. They smile at me. A smile of genuine gratitude. Neither are in good condition. Hearon is bleeding profusely from his leg, and Azu has a burn mark down her face as well as dozens of small cuts. But they are alive. I am alive. I look at the hole through the trees; the only thing remaining from the creature is a single ivory spike embedded into a tree a few hundred feet away.

We rest against a leg of the MULE, Azu helping Heaorn where she can, but her injuries are nothing to sneeze at, the brun mark having caught her left eye. It only takes command thirty minutes to reach us, a group of high-level life siphons and several MULES in tow. I sigh in relief as they come. We're safe. It's over.