Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius

by Marcus Johnson

  * * *

  Kivi shook her head in disbelief. “You’re the smallest aircraft they’ve ever picked up.”

  “I know. It feels pretty weird to be flying like this. Good luck Kivi, hopefully we’ll meet up soon.” Brian’s com left range and all Kivi heard was the Mjolnir’s engine.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  After a moment she noticed red flashing inside the cockpit shifted to a blue and music started playing. A sense of calm filled the air. She glanced at the monitor and saw a text message.

  Don’t worry Commander, I’m here with you.

  She looked around, confused. The lights flashed again, still keeping the light blue color. She looked at the monitor and another text message appeared.

  My master is a survivor Kivi. You know that better than anyone.

  She looked around as the colors shift in a pattern with the music. “Did Daes install an A.I. in the Mjolnir?” she asked out loud. Another message came on the screen.

  Yes Commander. Although I have little experience now, and I’m unable to speak as of yet, I’m the A.I. of the Mjolnir.

  “Do you understand the current situation?”

  Yes. I’ve located a supply base nearby that should suffice for repairs. If the needed, please voice command Auto Golem Activation. That will allow me to act on my own.

  “Does he know about this?”

  Yes. Although he hasn’t checked in a while, he was the one who put in the command for independent action. Brian has worked tirelessly to record his memories in my core systems, so in a way, I am him.

  Kivi laughed. “Are you his back up?”

  You might say that.

  * * *

  Brian flew a few hundred feet off the dunes below with his head facing forward and body flat against the sky. The sound of the exoskeleton’s jets filled the air. Turning his head he began picking up heat signatures. He aimed straight at one of the incoming Spits. As the two met in the air he grabbed the left wing. He saw the pilot inside panicking while trying to shake him off. With a quick draw of his rakna, he activated its heat power and stabbed into the Spit’s engine. With an effort of both hands, Brian managed to carve the sword out as the engine started exploding. He jumped off as the Spit swirled to the ground. He then latched onto another Spit and gutted the engine, forcing the craft from the sky. As he swirled away a pair opened fire as he successfully dodged their attacks. He moved to tackle another Spit, but it evaded his attempt. They came around for another pass and fired. Using everything he had he dodged the blasts and hooked onto another one. Before he finished destroying the engine the pilot ejected. Brian turned to look behind him, seeing the other Spit ready to fire. He leapt off as it was blasted by the last of the four. He took to the air once more. Checking his radar, he noticed the Spits were fleeing. I wonder what their commander has in mind. Power levels are at seventy five percent. Everything looks good at the moment.

  * * *

  The officer on the Shandi vessel turned to Shiken Ka with a funny look on his face. “My Lord, it seems that the bogey has destroyed three Spits.”

  Shiken laughed, “Well done Terran.” He turned the officer, “How is it accomplishing that?”

  The officer shook his head. “It latches onto the Spit and uses a rakna to do the rest.”

  Shiken smiled, “Excellent. I didn’t expect something like this to happen, but interesting nonetheless. His exoskeleton must surpass that of the Maigars of old.” He looked at Mira, “You trained him, didn’t you?”

  Mira nodded, “Yes. He’s the best I’ve ever seen.”

  “I have no doubts about that,” Shiken said as he turned to El Kar. “What about the Mjolnir?”

  “It seems that the orbital bombardment uncovered nothing my lord.”

  “That’s alright. It’s obvious to me now the Terran wasn’t alone in that craft. He’s giving them a chance to escape. So let’s claim our prize. Order the bombardment onto the Terran; let’s see how much his armor can take.”

  “But,” Mira was stopped as Shiken raised his hand.

  “Worry not,” he said. “My plan is to take him alive. If nothing else is gained, I will see that Terran before me in chains.”

  * * *

  Brian hacked away the engine of the fourth Spit. He leapt off the crashing aircraft, flying away in an attempt to escape. His heat scanners started going crazy. Energy blasts fell in mass from above with a beam smashing into his back, forcing him into the sand below. The sand kicked up around his body, filling the air around the small crater. All around, massive energy pulses smashed into the ground, kicking up sand and adding to the sand storm already starting. After a few minutes the barrage stopped. He rolled out from under the dune to take a look around. He scanned the skies before checking the ground around him. He checked the power of the exoskeleton. That’s not good. The meter read thirty four percent with flying capabilities gone, heavy shields gone, and everything else in the red. Scanning the horizon, Brian could make out a number of vessels rolling towards him.

  “You better have gotten out of here Kivi!” he shouted into the wind as he drew his sword.

  * * *

  “It appears we’ve pinned him down,” El Kar said, pointing to the dot representing Brian on the radar.

  “Good,” Shiken looked at the sand storm picking up. “Damn. He picked a fine time to try and escape us.”

  “What are you planning?” Mira asked.

  Shiken turned to El Kar, “I’ll personally command our ground forces. No matter what the cost I will capture him.”

  “A landing transport is ready my lord,” said El Kar.

  “You’ll be coming with us little lady,” Shiken said to Mira. She went with him to the back of the bridge and onto the elevator.

  “If he sees me it’ll only make him more difficult to defeat,” Mira said as they left the bridge.

  “That’s my intention young lady,” Shiken said. “I want to see him at peak combat ability.”

  Chapter 20 - Escape and Capture

  We’re almost there Commander.

  Kivi saw the supply base come up on the monitor along with a few Shandi standing guard.

  “Are you capable of fighting without a pilot?”

  Yes, but only for limited time periods. Daes built in a time limit until I can speak.

  “How long will that take?”

  Once I’ve accumulated enough personal and battle data I’ll be able to act on my own. At the current rate I’d estimate another five years of operation.

  “That’s a long time,” Kivi said. She checked the scans of the complex. “All we need is two drive converters, right? There should be a number in a small base like this.”

  The supply warehouse is under the ground near the northeastern section of the base.

  “Thank you,” she said as she changed the Mjolnir to humanoid shape and drew the blade. “After opening the warehouse I’m going to have to leave to get what we need.”

  I’m able to fight independently for ten minutes. After that I’ll enter standby mode.

  Kivi dropped the phase cloak and launched a pair of HV missiles at the base. A number of guards panicked when the Mjolnir appeared. The explosion ripped a massive hole in the ground. She donned her helmet and grabbed the pair of rakna blades from the back room. As she went for the hatch, the Mjolnir knelt down next to the hole as pulse blasts flashed from all sides. Kivi grabbed the elevator cord and lowered herself into the warehouse. Quickly drawing her blades, she was attacked by a pair of guards. She dodged their shots and cut them both in half. She turned as another three headed towards her. She charged, dodging their pulse blasts, killing them with a series of slashes. On the surface, the Mjolnir aimed its right arm at those attacking from the ground. Large cylindrical guns emerged from the arm. The mobile suit fired a volley of HV bullets, killing the Shandi in mass as the mobile suit showered bullets in all directions. After a few minutes the remaining Shandi fled. Searching the warehouse in haste, Kivi found the converters needed
. Taking a bundle of the metallic cords, she wrapped them around herself and made her way back to the surface to the elevator cord, still lying on the ground where she had left it. Taking the cord and tugging the mobile suit pulled her up. She watched as the Mjolnir shot down a pair of Spits flying over them. She jumped into the hatch, flipped off her helmet, and dropped the converters on the floor of the cockpit.

  She took the controls. “Let’s get out of here with the speed of the goddess!”

  Yes Commander.

  The Mjolnir stopped firing and turned its phase cloak back on. When the mobile suit got off the ground it shifted to ship form. An orbital barrage decimated the base as they flew away.

  “That’s pretty cold,” Kivi said as she flew the Mjolnir towards a nearby mountain range.

  * * *

  Shiken Ka and El Kar stood outside and watched Brian’s every move.

  “Sir, this is madness,” said El Kar.

  “Yes, that it is,” Shiken said before turning to Mira. “How long can he keep this up?”

  “That depends on how angry you’ve made him,” Mira said with a grin. “This fight could go for hours before he shows any fatigue.”

  Shiken checked through is binoculars again, zooming in on Brian’s helmet. “Tell me, do his exoskeleton’s eyes glow?”

  “No,” Mira answered.

  “Then he must be able to berserk like the Maigars of old,” Shiken concluded. “I heard stories that before they died out, each Maigar had the strength of a hundred knights of Kali. Now I know why they were so feared in battle.”

  “What should we do my lord? We’ve already taken over a hundred casualties. With the sand storm blocking an aerial strike he has the advantage,” El Kar said as Brian killed another pair of ground troops.

  “It’s funny that he’s outnumbered hundreds to one and yet has the upper hand.” He drew the falchion from his back and slithered onto the sand. “Vor dai un malic to,” Shiken said as he moved towards Brian.

  “You shouldn’t fight him alone!” El Kar shouted as he tried stopping his commander.

  Shiken scowled at his friend. “The only one who is worthy of fighting this Terran is myself. Order our troops to contain him.”

  “You’re going to fight him personally?”

  “Yes old friend, I must.” Shiken looked at all the dead troops of his. “Honor dictates I defeat him or die trying.”

  “Yes my lord.”

  * * *

  Brian stopped to rest for a moment, humming a song. Looking around, the ground was littered with the bodies of dead Shandi. When the rakna blade’s glow began fading he felt the weight of the exoskeleton. The power meters read zero percent before the helmet’s systems went black. With the sand blowing Brian couldn’t see anything with it on. Shiken Ka approached cautiously with his falchion drawn. He saw the Terran breathing hard, covered in the blood of his soldiers. Shiken’s troops circled around and surrounded Brian on all sides. He came within ten feet of Brian.

  “Even with all the odds in my favor one Terran seems to be the end of me,” Shiken said.

  Not able to see anything Brian twisted his helmet off and revealed his face and hair, but most strikingly, his glowing blue eyes. Shiken’s grim face changed to shock, seeing a face all too familiar to him. It’s not possible! He remembered the statue he’d seen in his youth, how it looked just like Brian, down to the hair style and armor. It’s him. He couldn’t hold back the laughter because of the absurd situation before him.

  “What’s so funny?” Brian asked as his eyes turned back to normal.

  “Nothing young warrior, at least, nothing you need be concerned with. I am Shiken Ka, lord of this planet and head of the Ka family.” Shiken held his sword horizontal in front with both hands. “Vor dai un malic to.”

  Brian did likewise, “Quuntai.”

  Shiken smiled as he took a battle stance, “I see you’ve studied my people’s language and tradition.”

  “One can never know enough in this universe,” Brian said.

  Shiken began with a quick slash forward. The strength of the attack almost knocked Brian over as he blocked with his sword. He backed off to regain his footing. Shiken charged forward, his snake bottom flowing through the sand as if he was a fish swimming in the ocean. Brian blocked another attack, this time rolling around to Shiken’s back. He jumped to his feet and thrust his sword. The Shandi lord twisted around and blocked with a loud ring of metal. Brian backed away while watching the Shandi lord take another stance.

  “You’re quite good,” said Shiken.

  “You’re not bad either,” said Brian.

  “What happened to your glowing eyes and super speed?”

  “You noticed that, didn’t you Shiken? Well, my armor has 0% power, and as for my berserk, well I’ve been fighting for hours. And to tell you the truth I’m damned hungry right now.”

  Shiken laughed, “If you defeat me you’re welcome to my palace’s food stores.”

  “That’s all the motivation I need.”

  * * *

  Mira watched the two dueling from a distance. El Kar stood next to her, watching through the binoculars.

  “This battle could go on for hours.”

  “What did he say as he left?” Mira asked.

  El Kar lowered the binoculars. “Roughly, it translates to “On my life and honor.” It means he’s betting his life on this fight. If he loses all that’s his is to be rewarded to the Terran.”

  “He would put that much on the line?”

  “Think about it,” El Kar said. “If you put everything you own, including your life on the line you’re forced to perform at your best. My lord will give everything of his being to this duel. In our society the strong rule because they are strong. Strength is righteousness because it’s born from thoughts. Thoughts become actions and action changes reality. Without strength, nothing changes and nothing ascends. It leads to a pathetic death on the sharp end of an enemies’ blade.”

  “What if I told you Brian feels that way?”

  “If he is then he’ll be victorious. He’s strong, stronger than any being I’ve ever seen.” El Kar narrowed his eyes, still watching the battle, “If he fought a Mylor, I’d bet on the Terran.”

  “Then by your own words you believe Brian will win.”

  “No, he’s been worn down too much. It’s only a matter of time before the Terran falls to exhaustion.”

  * * *

  Brian shook with exhaustion, barely able to dodge an attack.

  “Brian, can you hear me?” Kivi asked over the com.

  “Yeah, I can.”

  “I’ll be there to pick you up shortly.”

  He stared at Shiken and the ground forces surrounding him. “No Kivi. If you come back both of us will be captured.”

  “But Brian,” she said.

  “I’ll be alright,” he said. “Tell the others I’m alright. And if you can give Seles a kiss for me.”

  “What?”

  Brian shook his armor. “It seems my armor is now completely drained.”

  “Now I understand.” Shiken closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You risked your life so she could escape. I commend you.”

  “Let her go and I’ll surrender.”

  Shiken sheathed his sword. “I accept your terms.”

  Brian dropped his sword and fell to his knees. “Thank you,” he said before falling unconscious.

  Shiken placed a hand on the now sleeping Terran’s shoulder. “You fought with the strength of two hundred knights.” He turned to his soldiers, “As the Maigar bargained, I hereby order no one block the escape of the Mjolnir. Now, take him back to my ship!” He took Brian’s rakna and studied the blade closely. “Magnificent design,” Shiken said as he headed back to his ship.

  * * *

  Kivi placed the last drive converter into place, turning to see a message on the com. She turned it on and saw Mira.

  “I’ve surrendered the remaining ground forces. Brian‘s also been captured.”<
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  “I understand,” Kivi said with concern on her face. “He’s alive, right?”

  “Yes.” Mira smiled, “Shiken Ka has given me this opportunity to tell you that for the next twenty four hours no one will pursue you or the Mjolnir.”

  “Thank you Mira,” Kivi said as she brought the mobile suit to full power. “We will return for you and the others, I promise that. I pray Kali watches over you.”

  “And you as well Kivi,” Mira said as the message ended.

  Night fell as the stars flickering brightly in the clear sky.

  “You must feel the same as I right now,” she said as she patted the Mjolnir’s monitor.

  Yes. But we must go.

  Chapter 21 - Ransom and Relief

  Brian opened his eyes to find himself chained to the wall wearing only his sleeveless white shirt and dark brown pants. Looking from side to side and up and down, he noticed he was inside a well-lit cubic cell with a solid metal door. He tested the chains and found them quite restrictive. After a few seconds the door opened. He saw Mira with her med kit while Shiken Ka followed behind her.

  “Brian!” she shouted with joy as she dashed forward to hug him. “I was so worried you’d been killed,” Mira said as she buried her head in his chest.

  “You must mean a lot to her,” Shiken said as he watched them quietly.

  “I’m glad that you’re alright Mira,” he said before grimacing.

  Mira grabbed her med kit and took out the regenerator. “I’m sorry Brian; I should have taken care of your injuries before getting excited.”

  “It’s not a problem,” Brian replied. He noticed Shiken was waiting patiently.

  “I have sent notice to your captain of your capture,” Shiken said. “No doubt she’ll find a way to pay your contracts.”

  Both Brian and Mira laughed.

  “I must be missing something.” Shiken said, surprised by their reaction.