Nameless lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, bored out of his mind. He had felt worse than when Florence had butchered him in Oasis. The medical spiders had performed near miracles keeping him alive. Even as a light bearer, he was still vulnerable. A rather comforting thought, despite the pain. Despite everything he could do, Nameless was still human.
For days he lay in bed, being visited by officers or Rachel, sometimes even Spider during his rearmament runs. There had been no new word about Aj, the lunatic had run off into some alleyway according to the Earhart Crew. The terrorist Decree was locked up in the medical portion of the brig. Nameless fully intended on questioning her for Aj’s whereabouts.
As Nameless broiled in misery, the door slammed open, startling him. Nameless slowly turned his head and saw a crazed Asian woman with black hair cut in a pixie cut, both sides of her head faded to the skin, the bangs dyed blue. She was clad in a black leather coat, black ripped jeans, heeled combat boots, a sports bra underneath the jacket. Two guns where holstered on her hips, with a sawed-off lever action shotgun strapped to her right thigh. Of course, it was Sterin, she was just as wild as when they first met on Armenium.
“Somebody order a can of whoopass?!”
Her manic voice tore at his ears, making Nameless wince. A can of whoopass?
Captain Sterin’s eyes widened as she lowered her arms.
“Yeesh. You look like you’ve had almost as bad a time as we’ve had,” Sterin sighed.
“Clearly,” Nameless chortled.
His eyes drifted down Sterin’s blood and burn stained sleeve, to her tattooed hand holding a black metal cannister. The same kind of cannister that Aryus’s A.I robot had built inside it’s chest. Nameless pondered, wondering how Sterin of all people had gotten her hands on one of Nameless’s caches. The pirate never did anything for free, someone had paid her to go fetch it.
As realization crept into his mind, Nameless saw Rachel biting her lip, leaning against the way in her silver champion armor.
“Everyone but Rachel out,” Nameless growled.
“Aw c’mon, I love a good couple squabble!” Sterin pouted.
Nameless looked up, and glared at her, fury bubbling in his chest, his energy flickering. Sterin gulped.
“I’ll, um, be outside,” Sterin squeaked.
She gingerly put the cannister down on the medical tray by the foot of his bed, and scrambled outside, the door shutting. The silence was heavy enough to crush a person, as both people stared at the cannister.
“You were dying,” Rachel stammered.
“You’re telling me, in the last five days since almost getting myself and my people killed, Sterin managed to fly all the way out there and back? I had to fight a robot using human skin as clothes to get the last cache. The gods know what she had to fight through, and she did all of that, in five days?” Nameless whispered hoarsely, his body shaking.
“It’s not like that-” Rachel blurted.
“Not like you went behind my back? Not like you sent an asset on a wild goose chase in search of something that might not have existed? How many people did she lose Rachel?” Nameless asked in a low tone, still looking at the cannister.
“I don’t know,” Rachel huffed.
“How many ships did she leave with?”
“Nine.”
“How many came back?”
“Three,” Rachel sighed.
Nameless finally looked up at her.
“Those deaths on your head,” Nameless whispered.
“Cut the altruistic shit! I did it for you! Okay? Look, I’m sorry, I lied, okay? Happy?!” Rachel seethed.
“Not even remotely.”
“Look, I figured you would just take it. I didn’t count on you being such a stuck-up prick!”
“I distinctly recall you saying you were surprised there was a decent person under the douchebagery. So what, I didn’t want to absorb this cache, so you just sent her out anyway?”
“I mean, yeah kinda…” Rachel drifted off softly.
“And then what? Wait till I almost died, then force it on me? This was just a matter of time, right?” Nameless sneered.
“God you are so fucking difficult!” Rachel grunted, pressing her palms to her temples.
“Difficult? I’m the one who’s difficult?! You went behind my back, and then just now lied trying to cover it up!” Nameless shouted.
Pain erupted in his chest as Nameless coughed violently, gasping for air. Rachel came over and reached out to hold his back as Nameless leaned over the bed, retching.
“Don’t touch me,” Nameless gasped, immediately vomiting into the trash bin.
Rachel sighed and kneeled. She held his hand and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
“You remember the after party on Zion? When you were made war captain?” Rachel asked softly.
“I said don’t-” Nameless gasped, trying to breathe.
“You blacked out with Lion after doing a fuckton of coke and drinking half the bars dry?” Rachel sighed, her emerald eyes cutting into his.
Nameless shook his head, grimacing.
“When we put you two idiots to bed, me and Aj stayed up, finishing what was left off. He told me about Carla,” Rachel nodded.
Dread created into Nameless’s mind as he sighed.
“This is not the same thing,” Nameless murmured.
“We all have to lie sometimes to people we care about. I should have told you, but I knew you’d either say no, or wait too long which would mean we lost it for good. You almost lost to the Sylos queen, what’s going to happen when you fight Shrike, or eventually face off with Alpha Centurion?”
Nameless looked her in the eyes.
“Lies with good intentions are still lies,” Nameless muttered.
“Then go tell the rest of the Vagabonds Carla betrayed you all, and nearly lost the war for you guys. See how that goes.”
“That’s different than what this is.”
“Lying to make sure your loved ones make it? Trying to win this war? I didn’t go behind your back because I wanted to, I did to make sure you win this.”
“We win this,” Nameless sighed.
Rachel smirked, her sparkling green eyes full of a misty and miserable glint.
Nameless lay back on his back and looked up at her as Rachel stood up.
“Fine. But you have to promise me two things,” Nameless sighed.
“Of course,” Rachel smiled.
“No more lying to me.”
“Done!” Rachel grinned.
“And you have to promise to kill me after I destroy Alpha Centurion.”
Rachel’s smile melted away.
“You said kill you if you went overboard,” she whispered.
“Look at everything we’ve had to do leading up to this. If he’s anywhere near as powerful as they say he is, we both know the lines I’m gonna have to cross. I will not replace Alpha Centurion, promise me Rachel,” Nameless gritted his teeth.
“You would never do that,” she murmured with misty eyes.
“Promise me Rachel!”
She bit pursed her lips; her eyes wide as she picked at her fingernails. She silently nodded.
“Say it out loud,” Nameless grunted.
“I promise to kill you if you become worse than Alpha Centurion,” Rachel whispered.
“Good enough. Hand me the fucking cannister,” Nameless sighed.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” Rachel tearfully choked.
Nameless watched as she went over and picked up the cannister. She came to his side, holding it out.
“Might wanna do this someplace else, I kinda burned down the place last time,” Nameless murmured, gently grasping the cool grey metal with his hands.
“I’ll contain it,” Rachel rolled her eyes.
Nameless looked up at her.
“If we make it, I promise to be nicer,” Nameless sighed.
“Oh, so he is self-aware of much of a douche he is!” Rachel darkly chortled.
“Hey, I never asked for any of this, okay?”
“Yeah, well no one forced you to throw yourself into harms ways for millions of strangers.”
“Still can’t believe all of this has happened,” Nameless shook his head.
“What is it you used to call it? Space magic?” Rachel asked softly.
Nameless chuckled, gently opening the cannister.
“I remember Thaddeus saying the shit beyond Mars was so much bigger than anything we could have imagined. I just thought he was blowing smoke up our asses.”
“He has his truthful moments,” Rachel smirked.
Nameless shook his head, peering into the plain metal box. Inside, lying on nearly worn away velvet, was a long Obsidian shark, just like the one he had held on Armenium. Except this one’s surface was full of blood red like veins that coursed almost like a heartbeat. The dim red light gently bathed them as they looked at each other.
“You trying to fucking kill me woman?!” Nameless gasped.
“Yeah, not gonna lie, that’s pretty fucking creepy,” Rachel laughed.
“Why can’t you power up?!”
“I’m fucking Death, genius! I hit my ceiling!”
“Gods above,” Nameless shook his head.
He carefully reached inside and pulled out the obsidian shard. With baited breath, both waited for something to happen.
“AGH!” Nameless roared, convulsing in his bed.
Rachel shrieked and jumped as Nameless roared with laughter.
“Fucking dickhead!” Rachel groaned, rubbing her eyes.
“C’mon, it was a little funny,” Nameless giggled.
Noticing the lack of response, he looked up, only to realize the room had disappeared. Awesome. Considering the last time, he had spoken to Aryus, who knew what lay in store this time. Nameless looked down, and saw he was floating in the air. He looked around and saw nothing. As he floated, a doorway popped out of thin air, startling him.
Nameless slowly floated to the closed door and frame made of wood. He grasped the metal handle, and gently opened it. Inside was a small and quaint library that smelt of old books. A cozy fire was crackling in the fireplace on the right side. Sitting behind an oak desk, was an old man, with grey hair, smoking a pipe. He wore a brown jacket over a grey sweater, and brown pants. The glass windows across from the desk where being spattered with gentle rain. The old man looked up, held the pipe in his hand, and grinned.
“Come in! Come, come!” the old man laughed, standing up.
Nameless slowly walked in, peering around as the door closed behind him.
“Let’s take a look at ya, dear lad,” the man chuckled, readjusting his glasses as he studied Nameless.
“Professor Bullshit?” Nameless gasped.
The old man looked up, and grinned.
“I swear, with every life cycle my nick names get cheekier. An enterprising young man called Aryus stepped into my office just the other day and called me all knower! At first, I thought it was a complement, but alas, it is his civilizations moniker for a smart alick!”
“Why are you talking with an old British accent? Your accent was never this heavy,” Nameless arched an eyebrow.
“Ah yes, well that is because we are in Cambridge England, nineteen thirty-five. A precursor to another terrible conflict, or so I am told at least. I am Professor Thomas Abelson, at your service!” Professor Abelson smiled, holding out his hand.
“Nameless,” he nodded, shaking the professor’s hand. Their hands sparked, and it felt like Nameless was trying to hold water as he recoiled. Abelson smirked, arching an eyebrow.
“I beg your pardon?”
“My name, is Nameless.”
“Fascinating!” Abelson cheered.
“So, this is time travel?” Nameless arched an eyebrow.
“Well, to your senses, perhaps. But truthfully, no. You see, I was on a wonderful expedition to India, oh some twenty years ago. And I found this lovely artifact!”
Abelson held up a different shard that was similar to the power caches Nameless had utilized, yet this one pure white.
“You see, I exist in a world that is not adjacent to the places you travelers refer to as citadels. Aryus called his version Martez. I assume there is quite a time difference between your current and past life?” Abelson arched an eyebrow.
“Yeah, just a few thousand years,” Nameless sighed.
“So, my theory is true! Oh, thank you, thank you! Follow me now my dear boy, imagine all our worlds heaped together in a pile. This world is at the bottom, unattached to the others. That is how so many of your lives, and other powerful beings have been able to talk to me!”
“So, I am literally here?”
Abelson held out his arm and swiped right through Nameless.
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“Heavens no, your conscious was transported here by virtue of this wonderful technology. Your worlds’ time goes by far faster than mine, so this office has become a sort of advisory anchor for you and lovely lady death, among many others,” Abelson smiled. “Speaking of which, would Seraph like me to acquire nother item? She was quite pleased with my last finding!”
“I think you’d like my worlds version of you,” Nameless chuckled.
“As much as I would love to meet him, I am afraid that would prove disastrous. Alternative world singularities meeting physically is well, let’s just say not advisable. You are, I am sure, quite the important person. Let’s say you run into my world’s version of you. But he cleans shit out of stables for a living. More than likely, you will cause quite the existential crisis for the poor chap,” Abelson nodded.
“I mean fair point, but I still think you guys can get along pretty well.”
“A mystery for the ages, I am sure. I do wish I could meet one of my alternative selves, but I have resigned myself to the role of the Librarian Between Worlds. Right, well you are undoubtably here to retrieve the parcel Aryus left for you. Or was it the other fellow? I do apologize, I have met so many versions of you. Yet you all are quite distinctly dark and moody.
And all yanks! Different worlds, different named places I am sure, but you all never have the King’s English. I am grateful you speak English though, took me several years to become fluent in Aryus’s tongue. Usually, alternative versions of people from differing worlds are widely different. Fascinating. If you don’t mind, I would love to ask some questions-”
Abelson went over to his desk and heaved upwards a massive pile of handwritten notes.
“The package?” Nameless smiled.
Abelson looked up, confused. He smiled as his glasses shifted down his nose.
“Yes, yes, quite right, quite right, terribly sorry old boy!”
Abelson went over to the drawers built into the book shelfs and started opening them all, searching wildly.
“I am sure you are no doubtedly in a hurry! So many places, so many things to do and see! My, oh how I wish I could travel the stars like you lot!” Abelson said giddily.
“Kinda hard to enjoy when you have Alpha Centurion barreling down on your head,” Nameless huffed.
The professor slowed to a halt, leaning forward as he sighed.
“What is it?” Nameless asked hesitantly.
“Always the same,” Abelson shook his head.
“I’m not the first to ask for help fighting him, am I?”
Abelson slowly turned, holding a box wrapped in brown paper. His face was mournful, his brown sad eyes glistening through his glasses.
“No, no you are not. But, this is the first-time a past life has gifted a future life something like this. A passing of the baton if you will. I pray it helps you, in your endeavor with the devil!” Abelson said firmly.
The professor slowly came back over and faced Nameless.
“Has he ever shown up? Like have any of my lives come to you after he enters our world?” Nameless arched an eyebrow. Abelson shook his head.
“Always the same. Always, he is coming, do you have any suggestions? This library you see around us, is all the comprised knowledge and wisdom granted to me by traveling beings such as yourself. None of you have returned to me after receiving my meager contribution. I like to think it’s because I helped, better sleep at night you see,” Abelson said grimly.
“Tell you what, I’ll come visit after we deal with him,” Nameless smiled.
“I look forward to it! Best of luck dear lad. I’m sure Seraph can produce another beacon, so be sure to drop by. How I miss having tea with you! Oh, and a passing on a of a warning. He said, when you wake up, take it slow. It has quite the kick, allegedly,” Abelson winked.
“Thank you. You have no idea how many you’re helping by doing this,” Nameless smiled, taking the package.
“Such burdensome weight on such young shoulders. Usually when you come to me, you are much older. But perhaps, the gift of youth is what you need for this struggle!” Abelson grinned.
“See you soon Abelson,” Nameless nodded.
“In person one day I hope!” the professor smiled.
The odd professor was almost identical to Professor Thaddeus, yet more innocent. The light in his eyes, his optimism, Abelson was clearly not from any worlds Nameless had tread upon. His smile was genuine, his demur kind and forthcoming. No tricks up his sleeve like his alternative. There was a connection, as Nameless felt as ease. As if he was in the presence of a very old family mentor.
The door opened, and Nameless walked back through it.
As Nameless once again floated in darkness, he pondered. The package was gone now, as he drifted. The Librarian Between Worlds? If Abelson had never met any of his other selves, and was thousands of years behind Thaddeus, then he truly was a singularity. A useful ally in the war against Alpha Centurion to be sure. Maybe one day Nameless would introduce Thaddeus to Abelson? Despite his warning, Nameless was sure Abelson would get along with Professor Thaddeus.
A bright light appeared, Nameless hurtled forward, dreading what was to come. His vision returned, as Nameless opened his eyes again in the medical room. A dark grey wall of energy surrounded him, as Rachel floated in the air, embraced with black flame. Nameless coughed.
“You feel anything?” Rachel asked hesitantly.
“Nah, not really,” Nameless sighed.
His body still ached, as the bandages tightly hugged his skin. Rachel disengaged her energy as she sighed.
“I’m so sorry, I thought this would work,” she with dark eyes, her pale skin framed by guilt.
Suddenly, Nameless roared, arching his back as he contorted. Rachel yelped and reengaged her energy dome around his bed. A thousand voices were screaming inside Nameless’s head, as his body healed. Visions where blurring past his eyes, so fast he could barely fathom what it was he was seeing. Battle, after battle, after battle. Of every kind. From defeat to victory. Ambushing an unsuspecting enemy, to reaction to slaughter. Taking a city or planet, defending a city or planet.
Nameless writhed and screamed, holding his head as he tossed and turned. Every decision he had ever made, in every battle, in every life he had lived came pouring into his mind. He fell off the bed, frothing at the mouth as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, convulsing. Rachel disengaged her energy, and jumped unto him, grabbing a cloth, and shoving it between his chattering teeth.
Nameless vomited, gagging as the cloth pushed back the puke. Rachel wrenched it from his clamped mouth, forced his mouth open, and rolled him unto his side. Once the puke was out, she put him back on his back, prying his mouth open, blowing air into it with hers. She then began compressing his chest rapidly, crying.
He gasped, croaking for air as he awoke, eyes glowing bright gold. Golden sparks of energy floated off his body as Rachel sat down, holding her hand over her mouth. The two were silent as Nameless slowly came back to his senses.
It felt as if someone had sawed open his head, scooped out his brain, and poured molten metal directly into the empty skull cavity. He wanted to die. The pain was unbearable as he pissed himself, crying, and grunting.
Rachel put her hand on his shoulder as he gently sobbed.
“I am so sorry,” she croaked.
Nameless shook his head.
He slowly sat upright, looking at her.
“The fucker said it had a kick, but fuck me,” Nameless spat unto the floor.
“How do you feel?”
He was silent, as the pain subsided. An idea came to him, as he took his body into account.
“Way fucking smarter,” Nameless murmured.
“What?”
“I know how to defeat Shrike!”
“No like seriously, what?! Where’s the fire, the power?” Rachel asked wildly.
Nameless clamped his hand on the railing of the medical bed as he pulled himself up.
“I need new pants, my armor, and a shuttle to the station. I know where he is,” Nameless grinned.
“But where is the power?” Rachel asked with wide eyes.
“I don’t need to be more powerful; we just needed a good strategy.”
“So, you know what to do?”
“I know what not to do,” Nameless grinned.
Nameless stood right up, stretched, and ran around the room.
“Where are my pants?” Nameless roared.
“Do you realize how powerful he is?!” Rachel shrieked.
“He absorbs the energy of light bearers to boost his own life force. I’ve fought guys like him before, but they have one fatal flaw: they’re so prideful they’re stupid!” Nameless said wildly.
“I think you have brain damage. Sit down- wait what do you mean you fought people like him before?!”
“No, not like me, me. I mean like me, but fifteen lives ago. C’mon!”
Nameless bolted out the door, startling King Alexander as Rachel followed hot on his heals.
“Is the young lord aware he has soiled his pants?” Alexander asked hesitantly.
“I think I broke him,” Rachel groaned.
“I need pants! And a radio! Where is the map, my rifle, Gods on a stick people get your act together, we have a war to win!” Nameless shouted like a ten-year-old overdosing on sugar.
Rachel clamped her hand on his shoulder and spun him around.
“What the fuck is going on?” Rachel seethed.
“He’s on the top level of the station. He wants us to come to him, so he can kill us and use our power to escape the blockade,” Nameless nodded rapidly, his eyes wide as a grin was framed by his clammy cheeks.
“We cleared the top level,” Rachel huffed.
“Not all of it,” Nameless winked.
“How do you know this?” Alexander arched an eyebrow.
“Cuz that’s what I would do,” Nameless laughed.
“Look, he’s not going anywhere, let’s just-” Rachel started.
Nameless wrapped both hands on her shoulders.
“Do you trust me?” Nameless asked, staring into her eyes.
“Yeah, but-”
“Do, you, trust me?”
“Yes.”
“Then get me pants and my shit and tell everyone we can spare to head to the top level,” Nameless nodded vigorously.
Rachel sighed, looking at him. She nodded grimly and walked away. Nameless smiled at King Alexander.
“Gather your knights, you ride with us to kill shrike,” Nameless said.
Alexander eyed him carefully, then slowly nodded. The king walked away as a medical spider scampered forward, a new pair of pants in their four hands. Nameless stripped down as people gasped and puled the new pants on. He then ran into the medical bays. As he entered, the rows of wounded men and women looked up. Faint whispers sounded as they eyed him.
“You followed us into hell, your sacrifice earned us this chance. Before I go down there, I wanted to thank each and every one of you for earning me this second chance with your pain, loss, and blood,” Nameless called.
Nameless went down the bay, shaking hands and nodding, calling soldiers by their name as he smiled. The mood lifted, as people that could sat up in their beds. Cheers slowly rose to a roar as Nameless made his way to the end of the hall. He turned and walked back down. He grinned, beating his chest as he roared.
“We did this, they think they’ve bled us dry, but we’ll show them! Barouge will be ours!” Nameless shouted.
Nameless thundered down the hangar bay as crews wildly went up and back form ships, driving carts of ammunition, people, and supplies. The radio nets where buzzing and overlapping chorus of commands as leaders on every level mobilized. Nameless stood in front of the Earhart, in his Armenium armor. Rachel stood beside him, her silver laurel resting on her head as she eyed him worriedly.
Nameless was going over the plan over and over, carefully adjusting it in his mind. He didn’t want to tell her, but he was far more powerful now. Not in a physical sense, but mentally he was beyond anything he could have dreamed of. Every light bearer glowed in the darkness like distant candles across a field. Nameless sensed them all and could track their movements. When this was over, he would have spider construct a special radio that would allow him to directly communicate to ever commander on the field personally.
Barouge was now the chess board, the army was his pieces, and he was the chess master. The top of the station was the only logical rallying point for Shrike. It was a bottle neck that would allow him to openly engage with light bearers in uneven combat, supported by his army. Nameless was sure Shrike would use his newly absorbed power to catapult himself into a portal, off to some distant world to regroup.
What Shrike wasn’t counting on, was the combined arms of a perfectly coordinated strike. Before, each taskforce had been separate, wildly trying to support the other. But now, Nameless could sense everyone, knew where every group was. He could make it seem like Zion was still disorganized and separated, when, the knot had been tied, and the noose was tightening.
Nameless looked over at the gaggle of fifteen radio operators he had summoned. He beckoned, and they followed as Nameless walked around the shuttle. He stood before the thin veil of energy that kept the oxygen in, the full view of Barouge in front of him.
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. He extended out his senses, and in the darkness, saw the faint outline of the Space station. Slowly, the dim lights of friendly units came into his mental picture. He saw them all in his mind, like fire flies in the midnight sky, as his eyes remained closed.
This new scene was dim, the energy signatures faint. But he knew where the army was now, he just needed to find the enemy.
“Tell Spider to advance up section IB-18,” Nameless called, eyes still closed.
The radio spider relayed, and Nameless saw the mechs pushing up the station main causeway. On their left side, a level over, a section of Zion troopers were laid in waiting. The mechs took contact, and Nameless could see the bright flashes of the exchange of fire.
“Tell engineer company Bear to blow through the wall on their right and deploy slicers.”
The command was sent, the wall collapsed, and the slicers deployed. The Dark Axium who had been dug in laying fire down on the mechs screamed and burned, as the Mechs advanced.
King Alexander and Rachel stood by, wide eyed, as golden veins of energy began extending from Nameless’s feet, burning routes into the floor like molten steel poured into grooves on a smith’s plate. All were silent, as the floor sizzled, rune like veins of gold slowly creeping away from Nameless as he staid rooted in place, hands held behind his back.
“Charlie and Delta, advance up to level four. Shuttle wings Executioner, Governor, Iron Sky, cluster bomb subsection C. Mech wings Xray, and Zhulu, push directly opposite once they hit the gardens. Red Beret heavy weapons, take the bus station and lay down suppressive fire for the engineers. Fist elements clear that water tower, there will snipers there. Take their maps of the bodies and relay the positions to the captains. Once the ships have their targets, all friendly units pause and rearm as the fleet hammers them. Ready? Execute.”
The radio operators all began wildly chattering, sending out the commands. He didn’t have the heart to tell them he was guessing where the enemy was, but he knew that was exactly where he would put people if he was defending Barouge.
Nameless waited, eyes closed, and watched as the Zion army pushed upward like a tidal wave, collapsing the enemy resistance like flies caught in a web that had been set on fire. He couldn’t see where the enemy was, but he saw the superstructure, and guessed where he would put his people if he was Shrike.
“Sir, water tower cleared, Dark Axium Captain killed! Coordinates are being transmitted,” one of the radio operators chattered.
“How is he doing this?” Alexander murmured.
“I don’t know,” Rachel said wide eyed.
The army halted, as the ships unleashed fire from all directions. The station began crumbling, dissolving from the accurate intersecting fire. Shrike had been smart, not only had he put his men in great defensive positions, but they were all located around crucial support sections of the structure of the Space Station itself. To hit them this hard, meant losing the station itself. Oh well, what was one Space Station compared to ridding the cosmos of a blight like Shrike?
The bombardment eased, and Nameless issued more commands. Onward and upward the Zion army advanced through the shaken station, like the unhinged jaw of a python slowly consuming a broken animal. Everyone in the hangar gathered around as Nameless flawlessly guided the army, issuing commands, adjusting the plans in a heartbeat the moment a guess was wrong, covering flanks, collapsing ceilings, and pushing jet troops up, smashing roofs and sending tanks down unto the streets below.
The Dark Axium was being pummeled in every conceivable direction. Left, right, up, down, every direction on a clock. Nameless smiled. He had staved off Legions from taking a planet, this was child’s play. Suddenly, a bright flash burned through his closed eye lids. Nameless opened his eyes and saw a long spire of light shooting out of the top of the station. So, he had been right. Like a cornered animal, the rat was trying to jump ship.
“There he is,” Nameless smiled.
He turned, looked down, and noticed he had created a twenty-foot width circle of interlacing burn marks unto the metal floor. He sighed, exhausted as he now realized he had been using energy this whole time.
“That was, astonishing,” a familiar voice said faintly.
Nameless looked up and saw Thaddeus looking at him with a pale face, Red Berets around him.
“Did you bring all of our light bearers like I asked?” Nameless smiled.
“All present and accounted for sir,” Thorn nodded firmly.
“Sir, our boys are down there without our support,” Munshi said grimly.
“Not for long,” Nameless smiled.
Nameless went over to King Alexander and Rachel, his boots sizzling as he carefully walked across the scorched ground.
“Send your knights down there and follow us as we charge him. Spider and the army will hold the flanks as we overrun him,” Nameless grinned.
“With honor, glory to the fallen,” Alexander nodded.
They clasped arms, each holding the others forearm. Alexander stomped away, his captains following. They entered a massive shuttle, big enough to fit the Calvary on their Artue. Ten shuttles left the titan, all carrying the Talaborians as they descended into the fray.
Nameless looked at Rachel, who sighed.
“This is it,” she murmured.
“Thank you, for everything,” Nameless said.
He held her, as she didn’t look him in the eye.
“You’re scaring me,” she said softly.
“Whatever it takes, right?”
Nameless pushed her chin up with his gloved hand.
“We do this, we go home, and I take you on a real date,” Nameless smiled.
“I’m gonna hold you to that fuck boy,” Rachel smiled softly.
They kissed, then Rachel shoved herself off him.
“All right Ladies, we got a terrorist to skull fuck! Let’s go!” she roared.
The Daughters of death silently followed, their long black robes drifting behind them as they entered a shuttle and shot towards the station. Nameless turned to his troops, and professor Thaddeus.
“Did you all get the requisitions I ordered from the armory?” Nameless asked.
“We did sir. But swords and shields? Why? We still have guns ya know,” Sarah arched an eyebrow.
“This entire war, we have used one light bear in support of ten normal soldier. This has been abused by the Dark Axium. Moving forward, we will all work together. When we get back to Zion, every Red Beret will become a light bearer. Even if it’s a micro dose, some energy is better than none. Now, shield wall!”
The red berets slowly locked their large round shiels, hesitantly looking at each other.
“Sergeant Major Thorn, step forward,” Nameless called.
The Samoan man gruffly stepped forward.
“You only have a micro dose of XM-801, right?” Nameless asked.
“Yes sir,” Thorn nodded.
“Deploy your energy, shield up,” Nameless nodded.
Thorn held his shield up, pressing his ignited thermal sword over the top, it’s bright white blade thrumming. His giant red fire covered his body and shield as the Sergeant Major stood ready.
“Brace!” Nameless roared.
Nameless ignited his energy and sent a ball of fire into the shield. Thorn was thorn backward. He got back up, grunting. Nameless looked at the formation of thirty light bearers. During the war with the Great Masters, he had seen thousands of Light Bearers hold back the tide with tactics like the one he was about to use.
“One particle manipulator against a superior one will always lose. But, all of you engage your energies, hold your shields together tightly, and fucking brace. First rank, lock shields, send rank press your shields into the back of the person in front of you, third rank, protect the people in front of you by holding your shield up. Now, execute!”
It was an archaic tactic that would need to surely be evolved, and perfected with more modern tools. But time wasn’t on their side, and they needed Shrike dead as soon as possible. The soldiers complied as Thorn walked over and stood by Nameless’s side. Their shields thrummed and sparked as energy overlapped energy, the wall forming.
Nameless gathered his energy and hurled another fireball into the shield wall. The golden fire smashed into the collective energies laid out over the shields, shook them, but didn’t move a single soldier. Murmuring and excitement rose from the formation as they grinned.
“On my command, you will advance one step. Move as one. Advance!” Nameless shouted.
The group awkwardly stepped forward, and Nameless saw a small gap open. He instantly chucked another fire ball, knocking several people down.
“Lock shields, rely on the people to your left and right. Hold tight, fucking advance!” Nameless roared.
The people got up, and this time the troops crushed together, shield on shield, energy on energy as they advanced on foot.
“Move with fury, the more you pour into your energy, the harder a target you become. Advance!” Nameless cried.
The formation stomped forward as one, with a war cry, each person grunting as one.
“Advance ten paces!” Nameless.
“HUH, HUH, HUH, HUH,” the blazing shield wall moved forward.
As they advanced, Nameless hurled fireball after fireball unto them, all either dissipating or bouncing off. He grinned, and nodded as the shield wall collapsed, each Red Berets elated with joy as they talked eagerly amongst themselves.
“Now, let’s go kill this mother fucker!” Nameless shouted, rifle held over his heads.