Nameless fell through the darkness, air washing past his body. His energy was ignited, as golden fire leapt from his armored body. Two hundred commandos followed by jetpack, as the Earhart and several other shuttles followed behind the flying humans, chock full of more soldiers and equipment. The large group descended through the darkness, as time seemed to crawl by.

“Nameless, what the fuck are you doing?” Rachel shrilled over the radio.

“I’m cutting this siege in half,” Nameless called back.

“Do not take her on by yourself! Do you hear me? Do not fucking try it!” Rachel roared.

“I’ll see you when you get here,” Nameless murmured.

He cut the radio feed and looked over at Thorn who was flying besides him. The two men shared a look through their emotionless helmets, as they continued their flight.

“Approaching the ground sir. Five hundred feet and descending,” Captain Nim called over the net.

Nameless signaled a halt, and the formation leveled out, hovering in the air.

“On my mark, deploy flares,” Nameless called.

The commanders acknowledged, and a large stream of yellow and red flares rained down as if the sky was on fire, raining down comets towards the distant, and eerie ground. Nameless’s eyes widened at the sight below them. The sewage management level had clearly once been a sprawling maze of factories, massive pipes, and sewer systems. But like plastic before the open flame, the structures had crumpled, the ground covered in murky slug.

Far distant memories of Nameless diving into the chemical treatment plant back on Mars returned to his mind. There was no telling just how toxic the ground had to be. Nameless cursed himself as a plan formed in his mind.

“Sarah, you got an approximate location on the queen?” Nameless asked hesitantly.

“Yeah, but you’re not gonna like it. She’s at the bottom of the main treatment center,” Sarah sighed.

“Great,” Nameless rolled his eyes.

“I am pushing towards the sewer level,” Spider said over the radio net.

“Lady Rachel and I not far as well!” King alexander called.

“Okay. We hit the ground running, secure a foothold. We’ll fight until reinforcements arrive, we can’t let her escape,” Nameless said over the net.

“Stay alive long enough so I can strangle you myself, you stupid fuckboy!” Rachel spat over the net.

“Yeah, yeah,” Nameless chortled.

The commandos began to descend once again, as the shuttle flew on the sides.

“Clear a path for us Nim,” Nameless ordered.

“You got it sir, all wings on me!” Captain Nim called.

The shuttles barreled past the commandos, forming wing like formations. Nameless watched with glee as rockets and bombs fell from the swooping shuttles, blanketing the ground in fire. Whatever was on the ground burst, instantly erupting in a blaze of hellish red as every spare inch of ground burned.

Nameless lead the way as the shuttles did strafing run after strafing run. He was the first to land on top of a ruined factory. The ruined tiles shifted beneath his weight as he landed. The commando team lead by Thorn landed besides Nameless, as other teams landed on ruined roofs in the distance.

“Leaders, establish sectors of fire! I want every corner covered!” Nameless roared, twirling his burning lance.

The commandos assumed a strong posture on the roof, weapons pointed in every direction. Overhead, shuttles came barreling in, hovering a few inches off the roofs of more buildings. More commandos began streaming out, as the smoke and fire began filling the air. Nameless looked around, carefully mapping his soldiers’ positions in his head, forming a structured strategy on how they would hold.

Suddenly, screams and shouts caught his attention. Nameless looked to his left, and to his horror saw dozens of mindless husks streaming onto the roof. They charged point blank into the commandos, using the momentum of the wave of rotting flesh to literally push the commandos off the roof. Soldiers and animated corpses alike fell into the flames far below.

More commotion ripped Nameless’s eyes away, and he saw the same thing starting to happen on other roof tops. Some squads where better off, as the Assaults ignited their energy and cut into the oncoming undead with ease, while others jumped off their roofs, igniting their jetpacks, shooting down unto the corpse with accuracy.

“Assume mobile defense! Defend the people to your flanks, never stay in one spot for too long!” Nameless roared.

“Acknowledged!” the net responded.

Nameless leapt into the air, and from his vantage point, saw Sarah facing off against a wave of Sylos corpses. Her trident of white light glowed with ferocity as lightening danced from her body. Nameless barreled towards her, smashing into the wave of Sylos.

He swung his spear like a flaming scythe, melting empty eyed corpses as they melted and fell. As he worked, Sarah charged on his left, engaging another half of the tidal wave. The two swung and hacked away, bodies stacking high as the stench of blood and burned flesh filled Nameless’s nostrils.

He wanted to wretch, but there was no time. They just kept coming and coming. They were pushed to the very ledge of the roof top. As a dozen Sylos jumped at them, Nameless turned, and wrapped his arms around Sarah’s body. He jumped, propelling them off the roof. She squealed and held unto him tightly as the Sylos poured off the room, unto the burning swamp of fire.

“Please don’t drop me,” Sarah wailed.

“Forgot not everyone can fly,” Nameless sighed.

He flew her over to another squad that was holding on. They were perched on one of the larger roofs, where they had set up mortars and were raining down fire at the rapid. The mortar tubes smoked, and the bursts of rounds going off deafened him as he came in. Nameless landed, and let Sarah go. She bent over, wrenching her helmet off as she vomited. Nameless turned and walked towards the radio operators.

“Sir! Alpha is cut off!”

“Bravo is reporting major casualties!”

“Charlie is being overrun!”

The radio operators where all overlapping each other with their as their fearful reports where shouted.

“Everyone settle down! Get Nim on the net, tell him to bring more wings in to support Alpha, in the meantime I want him frying the sum bitches that go near our guys!” Nameless shouted, pointing his gloved finger.

“Sir!” one of the radio operators called.

“Ask Kim, can she hold?” Nameless called.

“She says she can sir,” the other radio operator nodded.

“Tell her to burn everything she’s got; more ammo is on the way! Tell her to hold that fucking roof!” Nameless shouted.

“Yes sir!”

“Where is Charlie?” Nameless called to the radio operator on the far side.

“Two blocks down sir, they landed in one of the major plants!” the radio man said.

Nameless looked back at Sarah.

“Want some payback, Lieutenant?” Nameless grinned.

Sarah’s blood shot eyes burned with anger, as the corners of her mouth covered in dried spit and vomit twitched. She pulled her helmet on, loaded a fresh magazine, and nodded firmly.

“Take who we can spare, and reinforce Charlie,” Nameless nodded.

“With pleasure sir,” Sarah snarled.

She bent over, ripped a jetpack off a dead commando, put it on, and soared into the sky. Nameless walked to the edge of the roof, examining the chaos.

CRACK!

Nameless’s head was shoved backwards so far, he nearly fell over. His holographic display was static, as his eyes and ears burned. Nameless grunted and ripped the helmet off. Perfectly centered in between where the eyes would be, was a bullet hole in the front of the helmet.

“Take cover!” Nameless roared.

The surrounding buildings lit up as enemy machine gun and rocket crew unleashed their fury. Snipers where taking precise shots as countless commandos fell dead. He helplessly watched as his men died around him. Was this it? Had Nameless doomed his soldiers?

Nameless looked out, at the biggest building closest to them. It was four stories tall, sinking to the right side as machine gun crews and enemy snips picked off the commandos. An idea popped into Nameless’s head. He didn’t have to kill them all, he just needed to deny them cover. He grinned, as he ignited his full energy.

Nameless sprung from the rooftop like a rocket, towards the face of the large building. Like a comet of golden fury, he flew through the air. Too late, the enemy realized what his intent was, as gunfire tried to intercept him. His flaming fist smashed into the outer face of the building, collapsing it as he smashed through wall, after wall. Enemies that were caught in his path where eviscerated as the flaming comet of golden fire smashed through their citadel.

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Nameless smashed through the back end of the building and pivoted midair. He watched with glee as the structure collapsed entirely, killing all inside instantly. The Dark Axium wanted to play dirty? Fine.

“My dear boy, what the hell is going on up there?” Thaddeus thundered over the net.

“We’re having a fucking picnic!” Nameless shouted into his headset.

“It sounds like you’re smashing into buildings,” King Alexander said slowly.

“If you collapse that level on our heads before I get up there-” Rachel started.

“Just hurry the fuck up!” Nameless snarled.

Nameless turned in maid air, as a fire storm of enemy anti-aircraft fire came up towards him. He dove, face first towards the fire as explosions and tracer fire tore the air apart. Nameless leveled out, nearly touching the burning sewage, cutting through the fog and smoke as he hurtled full speed into another building.

Once again, he smashed like a wrecking ball through the front of a building, collapsing it as he shot out the other side. He didn’t hesitate as he continued course, slamming into the right side of a warehouse, coming out the left. This time he emerged holding a Darktar by the jugular.

The bald man in black armor squirmed, his pale eyes wide and tearing as Nameless clamped down on the man’s throat. He leveled out as the battle shifted, the commandos using the distraction to gain leverage in the battle. As the tide of war turned, Nameless shook the dark clad man in the air, almost a hundred feet from the ground.

“Where is the Sylos Queen?” Nameless barked, shaking the trembling man.

Searing pain erupted across Nameless face as he saw several bright white lines of flashing light. The Darktar had swiped at his face with several fishing line like arcs of white light emerging from their fingertips. Nameless roared, as blood flooded into his eyes, blinding him. He cocked his arm back, and punched the Darktar in the face, crumpling it like paper. The faceless Darktar fell limp unto the burning ground far below, as Nameless wiped the blood from his eyes.

It felt like someone had cut his face open with three knives as he spat blood. His body was trembling as pain and exhaustion were creeping in. Suddenly, a massive red bolt of fire shot out from a dark window and hit Nameless in the chest.

Nameless looked down and saw a long black lance of energy sticking out of his chest. He grabbed it, his gloves melting as they contacted the metal like black energy. As he pulled, gasping, a massive force hit him in the rib cage on the left side. Nameless looked down, as blood dripped from the corners of his mouth, as another lance was protruding from his right side.

BAM, BAM, BAM!

It felt like three trucks had hit him simultaneously, as three distinct bolts of fire from different angles smashed into his body. Nameless’s vision blacked out as he fell limp from the sky. The world around him spun as he gasped, the pain ebbing away as warmth took over his body.

He smashed unto a roof top, his body crumbling unto the piles of Sylos and dead commandos. In his blurry vision, he saw shuttles crashing into the ground, fire exuding from their tails. Commandos where being thrown off rooftops, assaults where being torn apart. They were losing.

Nameless tried to get up but couldn’t move his arms as he lay there dying. Warm took over, as he lay there staring at the dark ceiling. So, this was what it had come to? Mars, Zion, the death of two Vagabonds, trying to form his own way, all lost. He would die here, crumpled on the rooftop of some far-gone space station.

A dark form appeared out of the corner of his eye. He looked up, and saw Rachel, except it wasn’t. She had Rachel’s face, but her eyes where bright red, skin pale as bone, hair silk white as her dark black robes hid her body.

Death slowly walked over and knelt beside Nameless. She smiled as she knelt, a soft ease resting over his broken body.

“I’m sorry,” Nameless choked.

“Shush,” Death said softly, studying his broken body.

“I should have waited,” Nameless sighed.

“Her physical form is not far, but I am not here as Rachel. I am here to either guide you, or witness you,” Death said kindly.

“Witness me?”

Death nodded, smiling gently.

“There is still some life left in you. You may follow me to the nether, or you may rise. We will meet again, and I shall guide your soul back to where it came. But it does not have to be today,” Death said gently.

Nameless sat up, perplexed. He looked down and saw his broken body besides him.

“You’re not really her, are you? This is some kind of hallucination, isn’t it?” Nameless grumbled.

“She holds my mantle, so I wear her face. But she is merely my vessel. I am quite real,” Death nodded.

“Isn’t this you playing favorites then?”

“I do not bestow any energy or aide unto those upon my doorstep. I merely offer a choice, should one as strong as you have the ability to go back the way you came,” Death sighed.

Nameless looked out across the losing battlefield. In the far distance, a hulking creature was slowly crawling out of a pit in the center of the level. Nameless watched with disgust, as the Sylos Queen revealed herself, reveling in her apparent victory.

“How is it fair? That normal people, and evil things like that exist in the same life?” Nameless sighed.

“Not all things mortals do not understand, are inherently evil. In your eyes, she is a monster. In her eyes, you are prey. Is the spider evil for eating a fly? Is a supernova terrible for destroying a populated world? Both are fulfilling their natural function. The devastation that follows is merely a byproduct of nature,” Death said.

Nameless looked at her.

“I’d say that’s cold, but you are death,” Nameless sighed.

“You are losing what little there is left of your life force. You must choose,” Death said gently.

Nameless looked down at his soldiers, who were heroically rallying. Sarah was gathering what remained of her company, Thorn was carrying a wounded commando to safety. The crew of the Earhart were defending their landed shuttle with every weapon at their disposal. Nim was hanging out of a window, mowing down Sylos with his pistol, Vulture was pulling wounded onboard as Sasha hip fired her smg.

Nameless looked up again at the Sylos Queen. A heaping, fifty-foot-tall monster, with a horned head, it’s body hulking and saggy as it pulled itself along with eighteen legs. The upper torse was barely humanoid, while the lower body was shaped like the abdomen of a centipede.

“You give everyone a second chance?” he murmured.

“Only those who can recover from my doorstep,” Death smiled.

“I choose to fight,” Nameless gritted his teeth.

“Until we meet again, Light Bearer. Rise,” Death whispered softly.

Nameless gasped, as his eyes opened. Every fiber of his being screamed in agony, as Nameless slowly pushed himself off the ground. The black energy bolts had dissolved, severely burning him, and no doubt poisoning his insides. If he was to die today, it wouldn’t be like this.

Nameless ignited his lance and slammed the pummel of the spear into the ground, shaking the building. Just as Death had said, there was still as sliver of fight left inside his mutilated body. A deep, guttural rage. Carla, Sammy, AJ, Thaddeus, Rachel, Julia, Spider, all of his loved ones face, and voices called to him. He knelt, coughing blood, as flame slowly began to lap from his body. His energy flickered as he pulled himself upright using the lance. He stumbled forward, towards the roof’s edge.

The Dark Axium had not noticed he had gotten back up, as they flew overhead. Nameless let loose the loudest war cry he had ever shouted. The level shook, as all eyes turned to him.

“Follow me!” Nameless roared.

He sprung from the rooftop, every iota of power behind his jump as he soared through the air. The commandos cheered and began pushing forward. The Dark Axium responded with a gut clenching fire storm as every gun and energy manipulator opened up. The air was torn apart by fire and arcs of energy as the two sides clashed.

Several Darktars tried to intercept, but their bolts were deflected by Nameless’s energy. He had only used his full force once before, when fighting Zyhara’s father in the throne room of Zion. But here and now, he used every ounce of power he had.

The Sylos Queen, faltered, holding her hands up as she tried to retreat into the pit. Nameless shot towards her, lance leveled at the monster’s chest. Suddenly, a wide shield of blood red energy formed around the queen. The Dark Axium was trying to protect her by projecting a dome of energy around her.

Nameless smashed into the shield, shattering it as his body crumpled. He fell through the air, rolling along the trash heaps like a ragdoll thrown from a speeding vehicle. He eventually stopped by the Queen’s feet. The creature chuckled darkly, raising a meaty fist to bring down unto him.

A torrent of rockets smashed into her body as the commandos unleashed their weapons. Crew served weapons bore into her slimy and burgeoning flesh as the Sylos Queen screamed, trying to crawl away. Nameless slowly stood up, holding unto his lance for dear life.

He took a step forward, as pain exploded throughout his body. He took another, then another, entering a very slow jog. That jog slowly turned into a run, which exploded into a sprint as Nameless ran forward screaming like a mad man.

He hefted the lance, aimed, and threw it as hard as he could. He collapsed to his knees, as the golden lance flew. The lance met its mark and bore deep into the Queen’s chest. The monster screeched, falling unto it’s side as its arms and legs twisted and frantically kicked.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Nameless saw dark shapes flooding towards him. He sighed, accepting his fate as he pulled out his thermal knife. The blade ignited as he balled a fist, preparing to die.

“Let’s dance,” Nameless hoarsely choked.

The figures sprinted past him, and Nameless realized they were his troops. The commandos where sprinting forward, Sarah at the front with her pure white trident of electricity. Another scourge ran past, and Nameless saw Munshi following with fresh troops. More shuttles and bombers were screaming over here, destroying the enemy as they fled.

Hands grabbed him and pulled him across the ground as medics swarmed Nameless. The loud screeching of the queen was cut short, followed by cheering. Nameless looked up and saw Sergeant Major Thorn kneeling besides him. The grizzled veteran took his helmet off and put a hand on Nameless’s shoulder.

“You did good kid,” Thorn nodded grimly.

Nameless sighed, feeling himself drifting away.

“We’re losing him!” one of the medics cried out.

“Just hold on Nameless, we’re gonna take care of you buddy. Hey! Hey, look at me! What’s your girlfriend’s name?” Thorn roared.

“Rachel,” Nameless murmured.

“Who’s the only fucker crazy enough to date death? Huh?!” Thorn yelled, shaking Nameless.

“I am.”

“What kind of car does she drive?!” Thorn nodded, his eyes wide.

“Bara-bara-” Nameless drifted off.

A searing pain erupted in Nameless’s chest. His eyes shot open as he gasped, he looked down, and saw the medics had jabbed a syringe into his chest.

“That’s it, good man. Stay awake, stay with me kid!” Thorn grunted.

A blinding light overhead blotted out Nameless’s eyes. He squinted, and saw several massive mech suites decent from above, searchlights on. The magnolia landed near them and began unleashing a hailstorm of rockets as her sword cut through buildings and enemy alike.

Everything was so blurry now. Nameless was drifting in and out as he rose off the ground, carried by the medics on a litter. As they moved quickly, Nameless saw a dark woman by his side. Was it, Rachel? Her green eyes where tearing, as she jogged alongside the litter. He lifted his head and saw the hooded woman standing by the Sylos queen’s corpse, her hands folded together as Death smiled.

Nameless put his head back down, as the overhead of a shuttle overtook the bright gaping hole in the level’s ceiling. Fire rained down from the gaping hole, as dozens of shuttles and mech suites rained down like a water fall unto the battlefield. He felt his litter being carefully put down, as medic went to work. An oxygen mask was put over his face, as IVs were inserted into his arms. Nameless looked over and saw Rachel sitting on the bench above him.

She gently reached down and held his hand as they worked.

“He’s stabilized, but we need to move,” a distant voice said to Rachel.

The medics jumped off the shuttle, to go help more wounded. Rachel pulled herself off the bench and lay besides Nameless. The door closed, and shuttle leapt into the air, the ground fell far below them according to the view from the windows. The shuttle shook and vibrated as they soared upwards. The burning chaos of the battle falling far below them.

“Don’t look so scared, I’m fine,” Nameless whispered softly.

Rachel darkly chortled as she held his hand to her cheek.

“I’m gonna have grey hair by the time this is over,” Rachel sighed.

“Still wanna be with me?” Nameless smirked, followed by deep coughing.

“Stop talking so fucking much!” Rachel growled.

Nameless nodded, peering at her pale face as she studied him with wide eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere. But next time you do something as stupid as that, I better be by your side. Okay?” Rachel asked softly.

Nameless slowly nodded.

“I’m still gonna choke you out for doing that,” Rachel seethed softly.

“Jokes on you- cough-I like that shit,” Nameless whispered faintly.

“He cracks jokes as he’s literally dying!” Rachel shouted to the shuttle.

“That’s our nameless!” Sasha’s voice called over the intercom.

“Sounds like a match made in heaven. Or the underworld? Whatever hole your spooky ass crawled out of,” Nim’s voice cackled from the intercoms.

“You know I can fly this thing without you right? Keep talking smart ass, and I’m throwing you out the cockpit window!” Rachel sneered.

“Hey,” Nameless murmured.

“Zip it! Save your strength,” Rachel sighed.

“I love you.”

Rachel’s eyes widened; she looked like he had slapped her. She gripped his hand tightly as she sighed.

“I love you too, shithead.”