Samnia, Heilang System / 13·973

D8.18.3 T2.12.53+D12.14.37

Samnia had been the shining beacon of the Heilang Empire, an symbol of what they had achieved, turning the barren planet into a largest producer of crops in the system.

And now Malevenus, the planet's glorious capital city, now lay in ruins, the pure white skyscrapers now nothing more than dirty, bombed-out shells. The once beautiful green sky now glowed red with fire and destruction, screams of fear and desperation ringing through the air.

On the ground fires burned at the forces of the Cyros Federation and the Heilang Empire battled, both in the shells of destroyed buildings and hastily constructed trenches.

A bolt of red streaked overhead.

“Vul!”

A man dressed in dirty and ripped battle robes jumped down into the half-destroyed trench, a mixture of mud and blood splashing him as his boots hit the ground.

Romulus had known this whole mission had been destined for disaster since its conception.

Who thought dropping them into the middle of a battlefield to find and extract a Heilang superweapon what a good idea?

They hadn’t even touched down before their dropship had blasted out the sky, only four of the seven members of the squad surviving til their boots hit terra firma.

Of them, only Vul and himself still breathed.

“VUL!” called Romulus again, desperation clear in his voice as the stench of smoke burned at his nostrils.

Romulus raced forwards, tripping over a discarded and badly damaged Exosuit helmet.

With only two of them left, he and Vul had to go off book, choosing to destroy the superweapon instead of extracting, although, their distrust of Lord General Du'luth had also played a part in that decision.

The energy requirement to safely neutralise the weapon had been high, with Vul deliberately taking the brunt of the drain, leaving with barely enough power to light a candle.

To make matters worse, they had then become separated after an ambush, leaving Romulus to race towards Vul's last known transponder position, this filthy, forsaken trench.

Nearly falling, Romulus righted himself as a bolt of red energy sailed over his shoulder, hitting the ground and detonating, spraying him with dirt.

“Don't let the target escape!”

Romulus came to halt as two figures dropped into the trench in front of him, both clad in grey and green Exosuits, one Fortis-class, heavily-armoured, but slow, the other Rixor-class, standard issue, a jack-of-all trades.

Eyes flicking to the sigil stencilled in to their Exosuits, Romulus sighed, a vertical line with diagonal line protruding upwards from it, the image of a Wyvern intertwined with it.

It was a mark of Heilang Empire, one given only to the most elite soldiers in the Imperial Legion.

Romulus turned, preparing himself to flee in the direction he had come, only to find two more soldiers blocking his path, another Rixor-class, however the other was Velox-class, fast, agile, but fragile.

“Gaius Romulus Nullus, you are under arrest by the authority of his grace, Claudius Maxminus, 64th Emperor of Great Heilang Empire,” announced the soldier in the Velox Exosuit, his voice masculine, tone clipped and to the point.

Romulus sighed, slowly raising his hands.

“By the decree of Emperor Maximinus, you will be sentenced to immediate execution for espionage, aiding the Cyros Federation, crimes against the senate, high treas-”

“I really don't have time for this,” interrupted Romulus, speaking through gritted teeth. “I'll give you one chance, walk away now.”

The soldier in the Fortis Exosuit laughed, almost dropping his Pulse Rifle in amusement.

Romulus clicked his tongue. “That was a mistake. You know, just for the that, I'm going to save you for last, I'll savour it.”

Exploding into motion, Romulus rolled to dodge a hail of pulse fire from the Heilang soldiers. Swinging his body around to face the Velox, Romulus raised his right hand, fingers stretched out towards his foe.

A blue symbol, shaped like a lightning bolt, appeared in the air in front of Romulus’ palm, before more runes began to appear in a circular pattern, surrounding the lightning bolt.

Red flames burst from the circle of runes, spewing towards the Velox.

“Get down!” called the Velox as his dodged to one side, barely managing to avoid the flames.

The Rixor at his side wasn’t so lucky, red flames engulfed him before he could move, melting the chassis of his Exosuit, leaving him unable to move as the flames continued to assault him.

Romulus canceled the flames and drew a Cyros-issue Pulse Blaster as the Fortis charged towards him. Flicking the sidearm with his wrist, the barrel of the weapon extended, before Romulus raised the Blaster and aimed at the Fortis Exosuit's helmet.

Pulling the trigger, a shot rang out, destroying the optic-input of the Fortis Exosuit, leaving him blind.

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Romulus dodged the stumbling form of the Fortis and charged at the second Rixor as his Pulse Blaster returned to its original length. Aiming at his enemy, Romulus released a hail of laser fire, all the while discreetly constructing a new circle of runes on his off hand.

The Rixor raised his free arm, a shield of red energy absorbing the shots, protecting him.

“Romulus Nullus, surrender yourself immediately!” barked the Rixor.

“Not likely,” grunted Romulus as he reached the Rixor, dropping into a slide and passing between the legs of the Exosuit, his off hand brushing the armour as he did.

Romulus slowed himself and jumped to his feet, his Pulse Blaster aimed at the Rixor’s back, only to find an energy shield protecting the area.

“Neat trick,” scoffed the Rixor as he turned to face Romulus, aiming his Pulse Rifle. “Shame it didn’t work.”

Romulus allowed himself a small smile. “You soldiers, all you ever see is the gun, you’re never looking to see what the other hand’s doing.”

The Rixor looked down, releasing a small sigh at the sight of a glowing circle of runes on the leg of his Exosuit. “Well, that’s not good.”

The runic array detonated, the Rixor vanishing in an explosion of blue light.

“Two down, two to go,” muttered Romulus, before a force smashed into him, slamming him back against the wall of the trench, ropes of red energy binding him in place.

“You won’t leave here alive, Nullus,” sneered the Velox, aiming his Pulse Rifle at Romulus as he approached him.

“Don’t call me that,” retorted Romulus, glaring as he struggled to escape.

The Velox laughed. “Why shouldn’t I?”

“You’re a criminal, an outlaw from the Heilang Empire,” continued the Velox, preparing to fire. “Someone so foul that Emperor Maximinus felt it necessary to invoke Obliviscor Sanction, you will die, forgotten and alone.”

“He’s not alone.”

A figure charged, male and dressed in battle robes, tackling the Velox to the ground, Pulse Rifle falling to one side.

“Vul!” called Romulus, redoubling his efforts to free himself.

“Elpis!” sneered the Velox, his helmet discarded. “So you've come to save your pathetic apprentice, I'll just have to kill you as well.”

The two wrestled in the mud, kicking and punching at each other wildly, a stray strike hitting Vul's helmet, the iconic symbol of the legend Elpis represented, knocking it clean off, falling to one side.

“You know, today's really not been a good day,” grunted Vul, grasping wildly with his free hand. “How about a nap?”

Vul's hand gripped his discarded helmet, swinging it with grunt and hitting the Velox across the head, watching as he collapsed, unconscious.

Releasing a weary sigh, Vul reached down and pressed a button on the gauntlet of the Velox’s Exosuit, releasing the binds holding Romulus in place.

“You really know how to get yourself in a mess, don’t you?” questioned Vul as stood up, grinning.

A shot rang, a burning hole appearing in Vul’s chest, before he slumped to the ground.

“Vul!” called Romulus, turning his head to see the Fortis, his helmet removed, smoking Pulse Rifle in his grip.

The red mist descended, fury building inside Romulus as blue energy rippled down his arms.

Releasing a yell of anger, Romulus launched himself at the Fortis, closing the gap between them in a matter of seconds, wrenching the rifle from his grip in seconds before he could fire again.

Fortis chuckled, the giant arms of his Exosuit pressing down on Romulus.

“I did it, I killed the mighty Elpis!” sneered the Fortis. “Tens of lifetimes he's been a thorn in the side of the Heilang Empire. And now he's dead!”

Fire raged in the eyes of Romulus as pushed against the oppressive weight of the Exosuit.

The blue energy surrounding Romulus flickered black for a few seconds, before a circle of runes appeared over his hand.

Thrusting it forwards, a spear of ice appeared from the projection, passing through a small gap in the Fortis Exosuit, impaling the pilot.

The Fortis pilot release a grunt of pain, before he collapsed forwards, Romulus stepping out of the way.

“I told you laughing was a mistake,” spat Romulus.

“R-Rom.”

“Vul!” called Romulus, rushing to his friend's side and dropping to the ground. “Don't move, I get a healing array ready, you'll be back on your feet in seconds.”

Vul coughed, flecks of blood flying from his mouth. “It's too late, my injuries are too massive. But, I need you to promise me.”

“Promise you what?” asked Romulus, his composure threatening to break.

“Don't let it end with me,” urged Vul. “Elpis is a title, it always has been, and now I'm passing it on to you.”

Vul reached out, grasping Romulus’ arm with his own, a pulse of white light travelling down his arm and into Romulus.

Romulus shook his head. “I'm sorry, I should have stopped-”

“It isn't your fault,” assured Vul with a smile.

Romulus couldn't lose him, he'd already lost everything else he held dear, his parents, his home, his life, even his name.

“No, no, no!” denied Romulus. “I can lose you, I'm not ready.”

“You don't need me,” coughed Vul, squeezing Romulus’ hand to reassure him.

Romulus shook his head. “I'm not as strong as you, I never was.”

“You're right,” answered Vul. “You're stronger.”

Vul released his grip on Romulus's hand.

“Maybe not here.”

Vul tapped Romulus' hand, before moving his fingers to point at Romulus’ chest.

“But there, definitely.”

Vul gave another wrenching cough.

“Power means n-nothing compared to heart,” murmured Vul, his voice losing its strength as he stumbled over his words. “Without heart, the strength to a-act, even the most powerful stand by, stand by and let darkness win.”

Grasping Romulus' hand again, Vul smiled at his former apprentice, before his head slumped back, his body falling still.

Romulus gripped Vul's hand. “Sleep well, my friend.”

Carefully releasing Vul's hand, Romulus grabbed Vul's fallen helmet as he rose to his feet.

Reaching up and pressing a finger to his ear, Romulus spoke. “Command, this is Lupus. Eagle is down, repeat. Eagle is down.”

“Lupus, this is Command, message received,” replied a tinny voice in Romulus’ ear. “He was a good man.”

Romulus allowed his hand to fall to his side.

“He was.”

Turning the helmet over in his hands, Romulus stared at the visage synonymous with Elpis, the immortal hero who had protected the Cyros Federation for countless toshen, thousands and thousands of them.

“I'll make you proud,” muttered Romulus, turning the helmet over and sliding it on.

We create the shadows that haunt us.

The spectres of our past become the enemies of the present. I knew that then, and I know it now.

I have been careless, reckless even, even after my exile from Heilang Empire, I allowed myself to become close to someone, to care for them.

And now the spectres of the past have pulled them from me. I will not make the same mistake again.

I will make Vul proud, I will live up to the legacy he has left behind.

To protect those who need protecting, to help those who need helping and to save those who need saving.

Never cruel, never cowardly. And above all, kind.

From now on, I am Elpis.