The Earhart vibrated, as Nameless sat, gloved hands folded, over the butt-stock of the Beowulf. Thaddeus sat across form him, as the officers of the shield formation lined the benches on either side of the shuttle. Outside the windows, the Space Station burned as spires and towers rushed past. They were heading directly for the spire of light.
He looked up, as chuckling caught his attention over the headset. Thaddeus was smiling.
“What?” Nameless arched an eyebrow.
“Just, very interesting. In all my years of war and struggle, I never thought Light Bears would ever employ such archaic tactics,” Thaddeus grinned.
“Hey, it works,” Nameless shrugged.
“I see a great future for Zion with you in command.”
“We have to win this first.”
“That we do dear boy, that we do,” Thaddeus nodded.
The shuttle shook, as silent explosions erupted in the vacuum of space.
“Here we go,” Captain Nim’s voice said over the net.
The nose of the Earhart pointed downward, and they plunged towards the surface of the station. As Nameless looked out, he saw the Talaborain, and Rachel’s shuttles nearby, the Magnolia leading four giant mech suites in formation as they hurtled forward in space. They all plunged into a gaping hole in the station’s walls, darkness overtaking the view from the windows.
The shuttle touched down, and the door opened. All thrust their helmets on and charged outward. Nameless lead the way, gun up, as they advanced into the dark cold. The view before them was astonishing. A long, wide tower rose from the ground, through an open causeway in the ceiling into space. Power stations dotted the metal ground, a story or two tall, surrounding the tower.
The enemy opened up, long lines of tracer fire peppering them. The vanguard of the Red Berets deployed their energy, advancing forward as Nameless fired. Overhead, the mech warriors thrummed by rockets launching from their armor. On the left and right, wings of Talaborain calvary charged, blazing swords and lances of energy deployed as they galloped.
Plumes of black smoke interlaced the formation, and Nameless saw Rachel’s face as she plunged ahead, wings deployed as black fire and smoke rose from her body. The army charged forward, when Nameless saw a bright flash come from the base of the tower.
“Shield wall on me!” Nameless roared.
The vanguard quickly came to together and overlapped their energy covered shields on his left and right. Nameless braced, putting his full measure into his shield comprised of golden flame. The energy beam smashed into the shield wall, shaking them. The soldiers grunted as the energy dissipated. The beam ended, and Nameless broke the shield wall, charging forward. His men fell in behind him, forming an arrow formation as they charged into the firestorm of explosions and gun fire.
The battle was joined as both armies smashed into one another. Soldiers fell left and right, a mech suit exploded, several daughters of death charged a Gurgen in full amor, ripping off its limbs and disemboweling it with swords of grey light. The daughters of death had no human faces, only skulls shown beneath their hoods as they cut down the enemy like demons.
The Talaborians smashed into the enemy lines, King Alexander leading the charge. He swung a mighty war hammer in his hands comprised of golden flame as he smashed dozens of enemies at a time.
The two armies clashed inside the dome, like two hurricanes meeting. The battle lines ebbed and shifted, as tanks and fighters fought each other. Mech suites where unleashing fury, as the Magnolia fought a flock of Darktars. The battle seemed to be going in their favor, when Nameless saw him.
Shrike Prime, banished High Prince Draycerion, the Puppet Master was strolling forward leisurely through his army. His seven-foot-tall body encased in bright light, wings sprouting from his back. As he twirled his sword, an explosion ripped a hole in the ground to the right.
Nameless turned his head, and saw a massive woman made of bright white light, two heads, and four wings emerge from the hole. A horde of Spree behind her, followed by crude tanks as they smashed into the far-right flank of the Dark Axium army. The Axium flank began to curl inward, towards Nameless and Shrike. But the prime didn’t seem to care, as he continued strolling forward.
Nameless slung the beowulf, and ignited his lance, bashing it against his shield. He roared, and ran forward, his troops behind him. Rachel and Alexander on the left, Spider in the Magnolia, and Sterin in her Star Listener form on the right. All met in the center of the battlefield.
Shrike lunged, and the head of Alexander’s Artue went flying away. The creature fell dead, as Alexander jumped from his saddle, warhammer held in both hands over his head as the King Roared. Rachel flew below him. Shrike swiped, and Alexander was sent hurtling back. He then impaled Rachel with his sword.
Nameless roared with fury, as he thrust his lance. Shrike grabbed the spear with his hand, smiling. Sterin came swinging down with her swords, but Shrike simply kicked her away. Spider powered up the Magnolia, aiming with both palms at the prime. Two bolts of bright light shot from the Prime’s eyes, and the mech suite crumpled to the ground, the cockpit exposed, the middle left arm melted away, as Spider ejected from the ruined suite. The Vagabonds slowly backed away as Shrike cackled.
“Did you really think you filthy insects can defeat a god?!” Shrike boomed.
Nameless looked over at Rachel, who spat blood unto the ground, gritting her teeth as she kneeled. All leveled their weapons, preparing for the final charge. Here and now, the fate of the Republic of Zion would be decided. They had to win, for everyone back home. Shrike twirled his sword, cackling as his replicants prepared to charge.
As Nameless calculated, he noticed a small, dim orange hue build behind the Dark Axium. Some kind of small fire no doubt. No matter, Nameless charged forward, all following. Shrike laughed and brought his sword down on Nameless’s held up lance. It felt like Nameless was holding up a mountain as he grunted, his body screaming. Rachel ignited her full form, trying to absorb Shrike’s life force. Though it worked, it was like peeling an Onion as all she was doing was slowly draining life forces one by one that he had consumed. Alexander swung with his war hammer, hitting Shrike in the left leg. It merely impacted with a thunk, as the King was repelled like a boy who had swung an axe at a metal light post.
On the left, Yuri and the Russians entered the fray. His purple sword and shield holding back the advancing Axium who were trying to swarm forward to support their master. The Russians of Mars held the line, but were losing people rapidly.
Spider stabbed with his nodachi; Thaddeus hurtled forward comprised of an electric storm on the right. The two landed blows as well, but nothing happened. Shrike simply clamped both hands on the handle of his sword and pushed down harder. Nameless knelt, bending under the weight as he gritted his teeth. As his vision swam, Nameless noticed the orange hue behind the Dark Axium had grown, as now the entire back half of the dome was on fire.
“Rejoice, for your deaths will herald the coming of the celestial father. When I absorb him, I will become the one and true god! All shall bow before me!” Shrike grinned.
The Dark Axium surged forward, as the Zion army faltered. Nameless tried his best, but his hands were searing with pain, the lance slipping. Then, a faint roar could be heard, as Shrike’s grin flickered. Screams and cries slowly rose, as the back of the Dark Axium army began fleeing.
Nameless looked over, and saw small, pitch-black creatures storming forward, charging, and tearing the enemy apart. A man, covered in grey robes, with blood red fire spewing from his form, was walking towards them all. Shrike pulled the sword away, facing the grey robed man.
Nameless planted the butt of his spear on the ground, huffing and catching his breathe. He looked up, and thought he recognized the man in grey robes as he got closer.
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“AJ?”
The man came close to them. He was bald, his skin smoky grey, runes made of fire cut deeply into his skin, covering him from head to toe, embers emerging from the open wounds. All gazed upon him with awe and fear.
“Aj is no more,” the man croaked softly.
The man held up his hands, as an Army of small, burnt creatures flowed from behind, tearing the enemy apart.
“I am Carnage.”
A gargantuan geyser of flame shot from Carnage, smashing into Shriek as he screeched. His energy melted, his armor eroding, his skin and hair burning away.
“Now!” Nameless cried.
Nameless plunged his lance deep into the back of Shrike. Spider swung the Nodachi, hacking off the right arm. Sterin brought her swords down, stabbing from above, impaling the puppet master through the shoulder blade. Alexander roared, and crushed Shrikes left kneecap with the war hammer. Rachel floated upward and unleashed black lightening along with Thaddeus into the withering corpse.
Shrike melted into the ground, his flesh and bones collapsing from the onslaught of energy. All ceased, as the enemy was slaughtered around them. Sterin quickly assumed human form and ran over.
“Death, get your ass over here!” Sterin screeched.
Rachel hovered through the air, her face gone, as she appeared like a floating miasmic robe.
“Bring your daughters here,” Sterin nodded as she shifted through the ashes. The daughters of death circled above as all watched. Sterin looked up at Rachel as she knelt.
“I need you to use your power, and search beyond this plane. Find his tether to the Great Ether. Find his string!” Sterin called.
Rachel nodded silently, as she hovered.
“The fuck are you talking about?” Nameless huffed.
“Look, its way more complicated than that but we don’t have a lot of time, so lamens terms it is,” Sterin snarled.
“Found you,” Rachel’s voice whispered like a soft wind in a long dark tunnel.
Rachel hovered over Shrike’s body, and grabbed the open air with her left hand, an obsidian knife forming in her right. She cut the empty air, and all saw a small spark, like two fuses of a wire coming together.
“It is done,” Rachel whispered.
Sterin collapsed on the ground, clutching her face as she softly sobbed, grinning.
Everyone else slowly turned and looked at Carnage who was standing silently.
“What happened to you?” Nameless asked hoarsely.
Carnage looked up, and into Nameless’s eyes. As they made eye contact, Nameless cringed. It was like staring into a furnace full of people burning alive.
“In his hubris, he attempted to create something more potent that what ascended you. I consumed it, so that I may kill him, and avenge my family,” Carnage said softly.
“Jesus,” Rachel whispered, back in human form.
“We shall honor your sacrifice, old boy,” Thaddeus said carefully.
Carnage looked at them all.
“I ask that you all leave this place. This ground is now a tomb, and the birthplace of my people,” Carnage whispered.
“Fine by me, nothing left worth salvaging anyway,” Sterin spat, standing up and dusting herself off.
“Your people?” Nameless arched an eyebrow.
Chattering caught their attention, as a featureless, charcoal black creature came up, and rubbed their head against Carnage’s leg. He reached down, and gently patted it.
“So long as Zion acknowledges our sovereignty, and leaves us be, we shall answer the call when Alpha Centurion enters this plane,” Carnage said softly.
“That can easily be arranged. But the war is over, we won!” Thaddeus smiled.
Carnage looked up at the Professor, who winced.
“This fight has merely begun. Not Shrike, Zyhara’s father, nor Mr. Eyes created the Dark Axium. Their founder is still out there, and they still have close ties to the Great Masters. We must prepare, and safeguard our holds,” Carnage said.
All were silent as each contemplated.
“He’s right, the Spree have seen it,” Sterin nodded.
“How is that possible? The Spree are stunted savages,” Thaddeus asked gently.
As he spoke, Nameless saw a small four-foot-tall grey scaled Spree come forward, standing by Captain Sterin. She looked down caringly.
“I think its time they know, old friend,” she gently said.
The Spree sighed and nodded.
“When our people slew a Great Master on our home world, Torvac, they discovered a remnant of great power. It is directly linked to the realm of the Great Masters. It pulses when one approaches, preparing to enter our physical plane. Now, we are seeing more activity than ever before. He is coming,” the old Spree said firmly.
All were silent in shock. The Spree where intelligent? And they held the key to the Struggle? This was amazing, an actual warning system.
“Never before have mortals gathered together like this, in unison with Ethereals, and equipped with a warning beacon,” Thaddeus pondered, finger on his chin.
“We might actually win this,” Rachel grinned.
Nameless nodded.
“All right. Sterin, I’m guessing you’re heading back to Torvac? Whatever you guys need, Zion will provide,” Nameless said.
“Thank you,” Sterin smiled.
“My people are ready, so long as the Humans do not ally themselves with Laydra against us,” the old Spree said firmly.
“They haven’t helped us yet,” Spider shrugged.
“Where is Lion?” Carnage arched an eyebrow.
All where silent as Nameless pierced his lips.
“He is back in Zion,” Yuri sighed.
“Aj lost everything due to his negligence. Be wary of trusting him in the future. Laydra is watching, and I cannot not say with certainty they will aide us when he arrives,” Carnage grimaced.
“Don’t worry about my people, plans are in place for that,” Sterin nodded.
Carnage looked at her.
“I am assuming they involve Decree?” Carnage asked.
“Here we go again with working with them,” Spider spat.
“I got a feeling I might run into my cousin,” Sterin smiled.
“She will be a potent ally in the struggle to come,” Carnage said.
“You didn’t have anything to do with her disappearing, did you? She vanished as soon as she got out of surgery,” Spider growled.
Carnage looked at him.
“Carnage did not help her escape,” he nodded.
“But that doesn’t mean you-” Spider hotly blustered.
“Just drop it man,” Nameless sighed.
Spider shook his head, grimacing.
“For now, it’s over. Tally up the missing and wounded, we’ll leave here soon as we can. Everyone, you know what to do,” Nameless barked.
The group dissolved, as each person went to their formations. Only Nameless and Carnage remained. Carnage slowly stepped forward, and sighed, taking his hood off.
“I’m sorry brother,” Nameless said softly, taking his helmet off.
The cold air smacked his skin, and he looked at his brother with his own eyes.
“We each have our own struggles. But tell me, did you all find out…” Carnage drifted off.
“It was a girl. Zion confirmed it,” Nameless sighed.
Carnage nodded grimly, then looked him in the eyes.
“Lion must pay for his failure.”
“What happened?”
“He left her alone in the medical room, the doctor was a Shrike Replicant,” Carnage seethed.
Nameless nodded grimly.
“I don’t know how to rectify that man,” Nameless shook his head.
“There is nothing either of us can do. But I know the universe has a way of punishing fools. He shall receive justice soon,” Carnage said.
“Fair enough,” Nameless sighed.
The two were silent, staring out over the battlefield.
“You will always be my brother, no matter what,” Nameless said softly.
“You as well. We shall stand tall, together as one when the fateful day comes, he enters our domain,” Carnage said grimly.
The hallway was illuminated by bright lights. Nameless, Rachel, and Spider stood in their uniforms. Across from them stood Julia, Hera, and Lion. Lion had been avoiding eye contact with Nameless and had been uncharity sober the past few weeks. They were lined up on either side of the richly decorated corridor, massive double doors to their left. It opened, and all stood to attention as Queen Zyhara walked out. She looked at them all, pain her eyes, folded hands held together.
“Thank you all, for your sacrifice, and hard work. This day would not be possible without you all, both living, and the fallen. War Captain Hera, I wish to visit the resting places of vagabonds Mai, Sammy, and Aj after this,” Zyhara sighed.
“It will be arranged, your majesty,” Hera nodded firmly.
“Thank you. Shall we?” Zyhara asked lightly.
All nodded and followed as the majestic Queen strolled down the hall in her silver and gold dress. They reached the end of the hallway, and the guards pulled open the doors. They emerged to a wide and massive circular room; the sides tiered by seats. Thunderous applause pummeled their ears as a thousand delegates from a thousand worlds stood up, clapping vigorously.
The War Captains took their seats on the sides, as Zyhara stood in the center of the room in front a decorated chair.
“Today marks a grand day in our history. Today, I rescind my crown, and usher in a new age. An age of enlightenment, of discovery and good faith between Zion, and all worlds. No longer shall a monarch sit atop a single council of ten beings decide the course of history. May the first true, and fair parliament of the stars adjourn. Let our realm be a beacon of hope for all,” Zyhara called.
The room cheered and clapped as Zyhara took her seat. Rachel slowly walked up the steps, and stood by Zyhara in her armor, studying them all with her green eyes.
“Trades in her crown for a seat as Prime Minister. Is there really any difference?” Julia seethed under her breathe.
“If you truly feel that way, then perhaps you should not have voted for her,” Spider grinned form his seat.
Julia grimaced; arms crossed as Nameless chuckled. The vote had been unanimous, and now the former Queen would sit her first term as Prime Minister over the Galactic Parliament comprised of representatives of every space traveling world in Zion territory. Pride and joy filled Nameless as he grinned. Rachel met his gaze, and the corner of her mouth smirked as she winked.
No matter what happened, no matter what they faced, the Vagabonds would do so together.