“No!!”
Ignoring Odium, I stumble to Ron’s side. My hand desperately grabs him by the back of his uniform as I shake uncontrollably.
“Dude, wake up!”
The crystal mocks me within my own mind.
“F i n n…l o o k b e h i n d y o u”
Sweat coats my brows, running down the firm crease between my eyes. My own labored breath fogs up the bottom of my glasses as I turn to stare at Odium. He stalks towards me. Hand raised.
I need to do something! We’ll die if we stay here!
I scoop Ron up in my arms attempting to lift him off the ground fireman style, but my stupid foot trips over a rock causing me to stumble back to the floor.
“Do you know why it’s my voice that calls to you from the shard?”
Shard? I grimace. So we only have a piece of the crystal. How many more can there be?!
“Because I am unified with it. My spirit is within each gem. My will penetrates your mind, finding what it is you seek most and gifting it to you.”
Odium is inches away. Defending Ron is the first thing on my mind. I grab my plasma pistol and fire three shots. Each hitting their mark right on Odium’s mask. But before they can break the outer shell he waves his hand, another ripple of psychic energy misdirecting the force field into nearby walls.
“H- how? How did you do that!?”
It’s more of a demand than a question. Odium’s arm stretches towards me, paralyzing me with fear. His hand grips my neck, fingers digging into the soft flesh. Ron slips from my arms landing with a heavy- thwack! I’m lifted several feet off the ground, choking and squirming. My inner alarms are screaming to do whatever necessary to break free. I kick his armor and throw my arms about, but my hits are akin to a breath of wind.
“I can see your mind, Finn.”
My lips are cold, vision...turning blurry…
“You're hiding something from yourself. Deep in the recess of your mind. You’ve blocked out the truth of what you really are. But I know the truth. That’s why I’ll watch you suffer.”
“Wh- what are you...talking about?!”
“Why don’t you let me...remind you!”
My world tumbles into a massive cartwheel as I’m thrown with supernatural force out of the throne room. My back cracks as I hit the solid tiles of the exterior corridor. My eyes remain shut, my entire body throbbing with unimaginable pain.
We need help!
My vision flickers, remaining unfocused. Yet instinct lifts my right arm, slamming my palm over my Jericho Watch. Bits of broken glass from the left frame of my glasses tumble to the floor as I flip onto my stomach, crawling away as I desperately search for Altairs direct line.
“Finn Bates, this is Altair HQ. Aver Gold Socrates speaking. What do you want?”
Oh for the love of...why does it have to be the spider-jerk!?
“Socrates-” I spit. “Life or death! Please, please, patch me through to Godsonion Ulmu right now!”
Rumble….blam!!
Another shockwave of psychic energy hit’s me in the back- slamming my head into the tiles. Within the darkness, Socrates gives a surprisingly supportive reply.
“Right away!”
Beep! Ulmu’s voice calls out from my Jericho Watch with clear panic.
“Finn? What is the matter?! Where are you!?”
“Help us!”
I manage to lift myself onto my hands and knees. I catch Ulmu’s concerned projection as I crawl towards the staircase. The guards' bodies lay unconscious around the vicinity.
“We are on Aronevia, W-14-7351. Odium is here, he launched an attack! R- Ron...he’s unconscious!”
“Son of a- why are you two on Aronevia!?”
Odium’s boot crashes down onto my wrist, crushing my watch and cutting off the Godsonions disturbed reply.
“I’m impressed, you're still conscious. You have remarkable will-power.”
I glare up at him, eyes watering from both shock and pain.
“Let’s make a deal, Finn Bates from planet Earth.”
Odium puts further pressure on my wrist. I stifle a whimper.
“Tell me what you're hiding.” he hisses, “If you do, I’ll help you accept the pain, and allow you to rule the galaxies with me.”
“You…”
My teeth grind together, the molars chipping due to the pressure.
“...idiot, I’m not hiding anything, and I would never-ever-ever join you and your stupid crusade!”
Lunging into my pocket, I grip one of my argon bombs flicking the plastic cover.
Odium leaps backwards, even behind his mask I can imagine a grin on his face. He raises his hand, ready to parry my attack. Instead, I throw the bomb directly onto the ground.
BOOM!
The resulting shower of dust and debris creates the perfect cover. The obvious pain from being right next to an explosion burns every inch of my body, but my adrenaline is coursing far too powerfully to notice. Lunging for the stairs I half-trip, half-stumble down each step as my clammy hands grip the cold metal railings.
Odiums footfalls echo behind me. Step, step...step. I hear a whooshing sound approaching.
“Move memorizor!” I demand, you better not be broken. “Access file: Ron Bates!”
“Confirmed-” The A.I sends me a wave of relief. “-Ron Bates.”
My arm moves to my D.P.E, a tingle of psychic energy burns the back of my neck.
Now!
My hook lances into the floor of the main hall. As I leap off the railing, an explosion rings out behind me, propelling me faster through the open air. The stairs crumble into dust as my feet land squarely on the tiles. My boots- squeakkkk with traction as I vault directly out the front door. Odium is still hot on my tail.
I hesitate upon hearing a whooshing sound, Perfect, I can dodge his physic blasts if I listen carefully!
Just like back on Creyenia, I dodge a magic-projectile aiming right for my back. I barrel-roll into the garden. The ray of invisible energy cuts the landmass in half, and slices into a nearby transport vehicle, setting it on fire.
Yet another explosion batters my face as sparks flicker past my hair and arms. The orangy amber hues create a startling backdrop for the city's chaos.
∆∆∆
In the clouded and darkened sky, swarms of Spawn come sweeping in past gigantic spaceships filled with Raiders. Trios of cannons fire explosive weapons down onto the city streets. Each explosion sends a wave of energy across the Zara center, forcing innocent Aronevian citizens to their knees. A volley of screams can be heard in the distance. A woman lunges around the corner with a child in hand. Following hot on their tail is an alien with huge ram horns and a wolfish face.
A Raider?! So that’s what they look like!
Their uniforms resemble one-piece orange jumpsuits, covered by brown leather jackets. A skull is firmly stamped upon the black fabric. This particular Raider is wearing a yellow helmet, splattered in bloodstains.
I lift my gun, aiming at the Raider, but a familiar laugh echoes behind me. I twist my head. Odium is walking out of the tower, his hands raised as if demanding a thunderous applause. His flowing cape catches the light of the fire, sending sparks across his helmet. A ripple of fear runs through me.
I can’t circle back to save Ron until I lose this freakazoid!
Both of Odium’s hands come together. The clap sends a shockwave towards me. The ground slices in a v-shape. I twist my heels, digging into the upturned pavement and roll behind a flaming vehicle. Ash blots out my vision.
“Are you impressed!?”
A bolt of energy singes my feet as I race straight for the platform.
“My army is vast, and soon we will destroy all of the Citadel’s pathetic outposts!”
I need to get to Eunoia. Where is the building again? Frantically I search my photographic memory while dodging Odium’s devastating blasts. I barrel roll behind a vehicle taking a pause to think. Should be a few blocks away. The question is, how much longer c
an I outrun this guy!?
I hear a noise...wheeeeeennnn- boom!
The shuttle I'm hiding behind catapults into the air performing a rather impressive backflip. I’m on my feet before the contraption makes contact with the ground. Odium’s desire to show off his power may have given me a chance to get ahead of him!
This last explosion has caused a massive cloud of dust to form. Then the ground trembles. My eyes widen. I gawk at a building a block away. It’s smaller than it’s siblings and is catapulting towards the ground like a tree chopped down by a woodsman. It collapses directly between me and him.
This is my one chance. This roadblock may hold him up long enough for me to make it to Euonia with time to get airborne.
On the streets of Zara, it’s a full on, action-packed war. Spawn and Raider troops are clashing head on with Zara’s military fleet. Thankfully, the Aronevian’s seem well prepared. Blasts of bright blue shells zip through the air. They make a startling contrast to the bonfires in the city.
I look back at my own surroundings and spot an open doorway. It gives me a clear line of sight to a metal platform...that’s it! Pure adrenaline gives me the strength to get to the landing pad and I code the entry door to open.
Before it is even fully open, I squeeze through and command the door to close again. I make it up to the flight deck as fast as I can.
Time to get outta here! I activate the AI.
“Take me to the roof!”
It works. The panel glows blue and I begin to rise, leaving Odium on the bottom level inside the empty war-bay. With all the tanks and people cleared out, he circles the area freely. He cannot fail to see me landing on the palace roof. I hurry down to the airlock and open the entry hatch
I head quickly to the parapet and look down at the street below. As I watch in disbelief, Odium looks up at me and waves. He’s clearly on his way up to the roof. He’s fast but, with the staircase now rubble, it may delay him a little.
I need every second I can get!
I race back to Eunoia, praying that the voice recognition function still works. Thankfully, EON obeys my request to- “Let me in!”
Missiles rain down from above. I protect my face with my arms and debris showers my body.
“Close the door, EON. Flippin’ close it!”
“Confirmed, Finn Bates, closing all doors.”
Watching the doors shut is as painful as sitting in the living room while your ninety-year-old grandfather tells you stories about the good-ol-days, but I don’t have time to wait around. I race up to the flight deck and into the pilot’s seat
“Incoming enemy projectiles. Initiating all defense mechanisms?”
“Roger that!”
I’m suddenly hit with a wave of realization. Now that I’m in full control of EON, I don’t know how to fly her!
If I Told You This Ends Well, I’d Be Lying
The doors are locked. Odium stands outside the ship like an abandoned puppy. I stare at the large array of glowing buttons and protruding switches.
“This isn’t good…” I bite my lower lip. “Eunoia, you got an auto-pilot?”
“Confirmed, auto-pilot automatically engaged.”
I grin. Thank god for advanced technology.
The plasma engines come on-line immediately, blasting a deadly energy stream across the landing pad. With Eunoia being a transport ship, I can’t see anything around me. Instead, I’m forced to face the battlefield in all its horror.
BAM!
The windshield goes alight with energy, the thick glass threatening to crack under pressure.
“Oh, for the love of-” Odium catapults through the air landing on the face of the ship like a mad-man.
“EON get us in the air!”
The control panel vibrates as we lift off the ground. Odium is forced to hold onto the metal plating. His left-hand raises for a moment before being forced back down. We remain suspended hundreds of feet off the ground.
“EON, what are you doing?!”
“Awaiting destination instructions.”
“Just get us in the air, this dude is trying to kill us!”
“‘This dude is trying to kill us’, is not a valid destination. Please order specific coordinate requests.”
BAM!
One more hit and the shield will be toast!
Lunging forward I grab a random throttle and push as hard as I can. We zoom off of the roof, the nose facing downwards towards the street below.
“AHHHH!”
I scream as Eunoia, Odium and I hurtle towards the pavement below. I flick five more switches. The lights turn off. The neon-plasma shield erupts, and finally we dip out of our nosedive. The energy wave from Eunoia’s propulsion system plays havoc with the street below, destroying a handful of vehicles.
Odium is a bug on my windshield. He’s barely holding on with the tips of his fingers.
“Buzz off!”
Twisting a knob sends us careening to the right. That’s when Odium flies off the windshield. He tumbles off the right-hand side of the ship, hopefully smashing into a bloody pulp on the city streets.
Wish I could say I’m in the clear...but.
I’m heading right towards another Aronevian tower, with my lack of skill I’m going to kamikaze myself into a fireball.
“EON, bring me into Aronevia’s thermosphere!”
“Confirmed. Aronevia Thermosphere.”
The A.I takes control of the ship just as our right-wing is shattering a set of windows in an adjacent building. We blast straight into the air leaving the city-center behind. Eunoia levels out a moment later, allowing us to linger in the air for a brief moment.
My hands are trembling from excursion and trauma.
I can’t believe it...I’m alive?! My next immediate thought is. Oh no...RON!!
∆∆∆
“EON, patch me through to Ron’s Jericho watch.”
“Link established.” EON reports, but all I hear is static.
Oh no! He’s not picking up!
All I can imagine is Ron crushed and left for dead underneath the ruins of the King and Queens tower. Lunging out of my chair, I examine the burning city below. I try to find the towers with the crystal projected upon it. It takes only a minute to set my sights on the half-demolished building.
“Eunoia, you see that tower?”
“Scanning city limits…” She goes silent for a second. “Confirmed, map generated for Zara city limits.”
“Take me there, and call Ron’s Jericho one more time.”
Despite EON being an A.I program, I can tell there's a hint of concern in her reply.
“Right away.”
We swoop back down into the abandoned and ruined city. It takes a few seconds to reach the tower at our increased velocity. Eunoia alights outside the entrance way. My eyes scan for Odium but he is nowhere in sight.
Guess, I’ll just have to risk it!
“Eunoia, remain on station. Keep the engines running and set main functions at full power but to respond only to voice commands from Ron or myself”.”
“Confirmed.”
I retrieve a fresh set of Argon Bombs from the weapons locker before heading into Euonia’s launch bay. My Moon Series 200 sits ready.
“Voice recognition. Finn Bates. Moon Series 200, begin complete start-up procedures.” Luna opens the cockpit. I jump in. As the cockpit shield closes,
I strap in...
“EON, open the hangar door.”
“Affirmative.”
As soon as the launch exit is clear, I accelerate out of the hangar and sweep down into the city streets. I have no difficulty spotting the heavily damaged palace. With my fighter under manual control, I can now hold back on the acceleration allowing me to lift straight up the tower.
That’s when I spot the hole that Odium created when he slayed the King and Queen. It’s a huge opening, large enough to fit my craft. I hover into the pile of debris. The King and Queen still lay inert by their thrones. I swallow my wave of pity an
d instruct Luna to - “Keep the cockpit open, while I try to find Ron and get him out of here.”
“Confirmed.”
With the cockpit open I leap onto the ground. My entire body is on fire with pain, but I force my brain to ignore it. I need to find Ron...no, I have to find him!
Scanning the area, I see no signs of life.
“Ron!” I scream. “Come on bro, where are you!?”
Getting on my hands and knees, I begin fishing through some fresh chunks of concrete.
“Please…” I whisper under my breath, between a cracked note. “...don’t be dead, I really need you.”
“H- how sweet…”
My eyes widen in alarm. Several feet away, a pale hand protrudes from the mess of concrete.
“So, you do care.”
“Ron!”
I make my way towards him. He’s a mess. His hair looks like a tumbleweed covered in hundred-year-old dirt. His arms are loose by his sides and his face is pale with shades of green around the ears.
“Didja’ shake off the bad-guy?”
Ron attempts to joke but is racked by a series of violent coughs. Meanwhile I go to work shoving the hunk of concrete pinning his legs to the floor.
“Odium might be dead. I’m not sure.”
“And the crystal?”
“Still in my pocket.”
Wrapping his arm over my shoulder I hoist him to his feet. We limp out of the debris towards Luna.
“What should we do with it?” I ask.
“That’s a very good question. Let me think for a moment.”
He frowns with concentration. Then he opens his palm, gesturing for me to give him the crystal. I’m happy to give him the alien object.
“We need to destroy it.”
“Wait, what?”
“We know that Odium is in control of it, and that it’s the main power source for his legions. It can’t help us anymore...and if what he said is true, about it amplifying evil intentions, if it gets into the wrong hands, we’re screwed.”
A new voice chimes from above on the rooftop, a males, fresh and devilish.
“Smart move, boys. I couldn’t agree more. If you are so eager to get rid of it, why not give it to me!?”
Hypernova Series: Worlds At war Page 6