The endless swarm and merciless Coalts pursued the armored tank with the Xenton defending the convoy both on land and in the sky. As they appeared to leave the city they managed to make it to more remote territory, nonetheless, the Coalts still pursued.

Dye and his clones did their best to protect the General and father. They sped through and kicked, punched, and heatblast any Coalt that decided to get close. Sam and Corrine used their powers to take out any pods and did what they could to lessen the swarm that began targeting them more instead of the convoy. Mack and Jason were on the tail end of the line. They worked to keep the Coalts back. Jason slinged water while Mack hurled boulders. That did little to slow them down as now the pursuing beasts looked nothing more than ravaging tidal waves of blue fur.

Suddenly they started to fall back.

It was though a switch was turned on and they immediately obeyed.

Oddly enough, this didn’t sit right with Jason and Mack seeing it for themselves.

“Uh — what just happened?” asked Jason.

“Don’t know, bro, be on your gu—” Just as Mack was about to finish his words, a loud boom erupted in the skies, like a massive bomb had gone off.

Everyone turned their head towards the skies, even Sam and Corrine who had noticed the swarm backed off too.

One of the cigar shaped ships in the sky had broken in two. It began to detach itself as the giant mechanical gears and latches could be seen by the group. The removed half fell towards the ground and as it did it transformed. Mechanical legs and cannons emerged from hidden compartments of the object and when it crashed, it landed on its spider-like legs.

“What’s going on out there, Private?” asked the General, clearly distraught.

“It looks like one of the ships deployed some kind of mech.” the Private replied. “It’s preparing to fire.”

“Use evasive maneuvers now!”

The walker looked like an entire building in Downtown decided to get up and walk, and its cannon was about ready to fire.

It fired a heavy round and the tank immediately swerved from a direct hit. The explosion pushed the tank from its wheels but nonetheless it was unharmed. Mack and Jason moved just in time while Dye and his clones were blown away; his clones disintegrating to ash.

“Ready the Omega Cannon!” commanded the General.

“Omega Cannon Ready!”

“FIRE!”

The rail gun shot a blast of electricity but it was ineffective.

“In—Ineffective, Sir.” said the Private, who was just as surprised, looking at the scanners and trying to believe the results.

“What?” The General said in an angry shout.

The orb of raw power did nothing to the shell of the giant mech. Though moving slowly, the mech showed signs of being immensely more equipped to stop the convoy and the closer they approached, the easier it would be.

“Sir,” the Private who had been driving noticed they were approaching the machine quickly. “I will deviate from our current course and try to go around. But their weapons are very powerful. We can’t get hit by that and circling we’ll be fish in a barrel.”

“Understood. Do what you can. Perhaps our new allies will assist.”

Sam and Corrine dove down towards the mech. Sam gathered storm clouds around the machine, it was like they were orbiting it. With the snap of his fingers, the ring of clouds struck the mech with thousands of lightning bolts.

It did nothing.

Sam was left scratching his head.

“How?” he said.

Corrine flew towards the mech and using her gravity she tried to topple the walker but it was too big. She did, however, halt its progression as it shook under the weight of her immense gravity trying to walk.

That’s when she noticed the swarms descended upon her.

“SAM!” she cried.

Lighting struck everywhere but it wasn’t enough to get them all. Corrine let go of the walker and nearly avoided being hit by an array of blasters. The mech turned its cannon as it noticed the tank veering off course to go around.

“Sir, it’s preparing to fire again!” said the Private facing the General.

Mr. Haven was silent as can be. It was believed that he was holding his breath as they were about to try and maneuver through the next attack.

The Private piloting the tank revved the engine more and sped up.

The shell was fired and was on track to destroy the military vehicle. That’s when the entire tank was surrounded by a golden barrier. The oncoming projectile slammed into the shield and exploded instantly, but the tank was left unharmed as it moved through what was now desert land.

“Private! Report!” commanded the General.

“The shot was ineffective, Sir,” the Private replied.

“How?”

That’s when he arrived. Mr. Haven looked through the window and saw someone with a heavenly, red aura flying near the tank. His hair was long and his staff was raised.

The General smiled. “Private! Get us back to base! It appears our reinforcements have arrived!”

Zeta flew near the tank keeping his barrier up and strong.

Sam and Corrine, who had directed their attention towards the pod swarm, noticed a whole line of the array was destroyed. Neither of them had done anything to do that.

“Yo!” said Stro, his voice echoing as though he was speaking from afar. Alas he was floating near them with his body set aglow blue. His two swords were in hand and we’re powered. “Let me give you a hand.”

He shot off like a blue firefly and hacked and slashed his way through a large portion of the swarm. His swords shot powerful beams of energy and like a chain reaction, more of the swarm was obliterated.

Sam and Corrine didn’t question anything. They immediately returned to battle.

From afar, Dye heard the loud booms of the battle taking place. As he stirred, regaining consciousness, he looked up to see the giant walker in the distance.

“Get up,” said a voice.

When Dye looked up to see who it was, it was the bronze-armored Xenton offering him a hand. Dye ignored it and got to his feet on his own.

“I’m going to rip that thing apart!” he said, but his voice was raspy.

“You don’t look so well,” said the bronze female Xenton.

Dye turned to her. “I’m fine!” he said, clearing his throat as his voice returned to normal. Just before Dye was about to blast off she stopped him.

“Don’t bother,” she said. “That shell is impenetrable. Made from mined Oltalian Ore.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I don’t care what it's made of. I’m going to tear it apart leg by leg and beat the crap out of it!”

Before he had the chance to speed off, an object of beautiful light shot passed them. Dye was nearly thrown off balance as the brief appearance of the jet of light seemed to make him light headed. As he recovered his stature, he saw the light speeding towards the mech.

“What was that?” he asked.

“The only thing that can destroy that thing!”

“NO! I’m going to destroy that thing! Even if it's with my bare hands!” with those words being said in another raspy voice, and in almost a snarl, Dye sped off, leaving the bronze armored Xenton to look upon the battle.

The light sped through the desert quickly approaching the mech as Dye did his beast to catch up. He burst with speed as his fire started to cover his body; little black flames flickering in his coat.

“Bro, what’s that?” asked Jason, seeing the light quickly approaching.

“Dude, what is any of this?” Mack replied.

The light jolted past the two Xenton brothers, passed the tank and Zeta, and went off towards the mech. Dye had finally caught up and the closer he got to light the more woozy he got. He tripped over a rock and tumbled on the desert floor just as the light left him. When he picked his head up from the dirt he saw the light get brighter as it approached the mech.

With almost no effort, the light plowed through the giant machine. It came out through the other side, circled around, and then plowed through it again. The mech paused and without warning exploded with the light flying upwards, almost to look down upon its work.

“NO! THAT WAS MINE!” Dye shouted in contempt.

The light got the attention of everyone as the group made their way through the desert. As they looked, they saw bright, incorporeal wings, six of them to be exact, attached to a central body that seemed to be the source of the immense light.

Sam and Corrine, who shared the airspace with the being, looked at it and just as they were beginning to make out what it was, it shot off into the sky and flew off.

“That show off,” said Stro, as he slashed through more of the swarm.

With the destruction of the mech, Jason began to notice something creeping up over the horizon.

Jason tapped Mack.

“Um, Bro…they’re back.”

Mack looked towards the back and saw the massive army of blue furred wolves steadily approaching.

“Great…” said Mack.

“Hey, long-haired dude, you think you can cast a spell or something to get rid of that?” Jason pointed at the approached rush of blue wolves.

Zeta heard the Xenton’s words but didn’t bother to turn his head.

“No! That would be unwise! We must assist the General in returning to base to protect the artifact,” Zeta replied, but his voice echoed as though he spoke from a vast place.

“Dude! This base is over four hundred miles away. These things will overrun us way before then!”

“On the contrary, we are nearly there!” Zeta replied.

Through everything that was going on, they didn’t notice how far they had traveled. Jason looked around and the entire terrain was nothing but a vast desert.

“General, we are approaching the base,” said the Private.

“Good! Open comms.” The General said while putting on a headset.

“Comms open,” said the Private.

“This is General Robert Michael Haven. We are under attack and need immediate assistance. We have hordes of hostile creatures in pursuit on both land and air. Open the gates, and activate the shields now. That is an order. We will be arriving in two minutes.”

Someone on the other end responded with “Acknowledged!”

Sam, Corrine and Stro, noticed more ships beginning to separate and deploy more mechs. The halves of the ships slammed into the grounds and began their assault on the convoy. Zeta noticed the oncoming assaults and strengthened his shield.

The attacks were ineffective and they drove past a security line.

Restricted

Area 51

No Trespassing Beyond this point.

Photography is Prohibited

Use of deadly force authorized.

“Told you,” Jason said, slapping the arm of his brother.

“Oh shut up,” Mack replied with a sigh.

The base was coming into view and as the line came closer something happened. A fountain of energy shot up from what looked to be the center of the base and began falling over the entire property.

“Pick it up, Private!” commanded the General.

The private picked up speed.

The mech fired another round and as it did Dye plowed into it but it did no damage.

Enraged, Dye shot flames at the machine and did his best to do some damage but it was futile. Still he continued on with his onslaught, completely unconcerned with making it to the base. Just as he was about to strike the leg of the walker, he was sucked through a portal.

Up in the sky, Sam and Corrine were also pulled through a portal leaving Stro by himself.

The warrior looked around and instead of finishing the battle, he dove down towards the convoy that was steadily approaching the base.

The shield was nearly done surrounding the base and as the last of the energy dropped down, the convoy made it through just in time. Stro was the last to make it through and as he landed his blue aura dissipated.

Mack and Jason leaped off the floating rocks just to see the army of Coalts slam into the forcefield. They lunged and clawed at the shield but their attempts were useless. The few mechs just outside shot their cannons and the reverberating ricochet was enough to worry Jason.

“Uh, is that going to hold?” he asked.

“No, it’s still a prototype. It’ll buy us some time to plan a counter though.” The General got out of the tank along with their father who was pale and clearly shaken.

“Great driving, Private.” said the General. “Be sure to note in your report the effectiveness of Project Zero and what can be improved.”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Private!”

The other private who rode with him said “Sir!

“Impeccable quick thinking as always. Secure the artifact in Level Nine. No one gets in without my authorization. No exceptions!”

“Yes, sir!”

“I must inform Private Daniel’s family of his service after this is all over.” the General sighed. “He was a good soldier.”

“Robert, what is this?” asked Mr. Haven.

“I cannot answer that considering this place doesn’t exist.”

Mr. Haven looked around, catching the amazing armor of Mack and Jason as they stared at the forcefield.

“Dude,” Jason nudged Mack. “Dad is staring at us.”

“Stop acting weird and he wont connect the dots!”

“Right!”

Jason turned to his father. “Hello there, fellow Citizen. Are you injured?” Mack face-palmed.

“Uh…no? Mr. Haven raised an eyebrow. “You sound familiar though.”

Jason deepened his voice. He cleared his throat. “Whatever could you mean, Citizen? We have never met. I would recall such a strapping man in his prime!”

“Stop! Stop! Stop!” Mack whispered desperately.

Mr. Haven, making a face of being a bit weirded out, walked off towards his brother.

“See? Now he doesn’t suspect a thing.” said Jason, turning to Mack.

“Real smooth,” Mack replied sarcastically, walking off.

“What?”

More blasts from the assault rocked the forcefield. as Stro approached the General.

“Thank you for the back up!” said the General to Stro.

“No problem!” said Stro, as Zeta approached his partner.

“General, we only allied with you because you have the means to protect the object. We can not allow the Coalts to get their hands on it.” Zeta said sternly.

“I’m aware. It’s currently being secured as we speak.”

“Where?” Stro asked

“That is none of your concern.”

“General, need I remind you my associate and I have the means to take the blade at any time. You will tell us where you have taken it or our deal is voided.” Zeta’s face was serious. The General knew this.

“It has been taken to Level Nine.” the General responded. “I will grant you access.”

“Thank you! Come. We have much to discuss.”

Zeta and Stro began off towards the main part of the base. While Jason and Mack approached the General.

“You all know each other?” asked Jason.

“It’s a long story,” the General replied. “As for you two, and the rest of you clad allies, we have much to discuss.”

That’s when Mack and Jason realized they were the only two Xenton present.

“Wait, where is everyone else?” frantically asked Jason.

Zeta heard his concerning words and turned. “They have been taken by the one called Arayan back to their base. They are safe. Once we are done here we will embark with you as we have much to discuss. Come.”

“Man, dude has his hand in all sorts of cookie jars, don’t he?”

Mr. Haven stood idly by, observing everything outside the forcefield happening at once. Ravaging blue aliens relentlessly attacking and mechs opening fire every few minutes or so.

“Come on Russell, we’ll be safe down on Level Nine.”

“Ye–Yeah, he said. “You guys do have a phone here right? I need to check on Jessica and Corrine.”

“Of course.” the General said.