“Lieutenant, your craft can’t take that much damage,” an ensign said over the com.
“Don’t worry about me,” Seles said. She concentrated all her energy on defending the Novas. “This mobile suit was built to take a beating. Concentrate your fire on the palace.”
“Yes lieutenant,” the fighter pilots echoed.
They fired frantically at the palace’s shields. After a few minutes of bombardment the shields began weakening. Seles glanced at her radar and noticed a craft leaving the palace at high speed. The Talons moved in to engage in melee as Seles drew the pulse cannon and fired into the air, driving the three Talons away. She flew towards the fleeing aircraft and fired an attack straight into the small Ick-Tckt ship. After the shuttle exploded the three Talons began withdrawing. Seles turned to the remaining Novas.
“All Novas are to cover this area until further orders. We have to make sure the Duchess and her associates don’t have a chance to escape,” Seles said. She turned the mobile suit to the battle between Brian and Dreka.
Chapter 47 - Dreka’s Epiphany
The Kalaidian and Shandi fleets were in the process of attacking the third of six enemy formations while holding its own.
“Fly in cautiously, something’s bothering me,” Riga said.
Their radar flashed three bogeys. “Captain, our scanners are detecting three light class crafts heading for us at full speed.”
Riga saluted Valis’s fleet. “Well met, Lady Star.”
The three Phase Raknas tore into the Malcovin fleet, destroying one ship after another.
“Captain, what…” his commander shouted as the ship was hit by a blast from one of the mobile suits. Riga’s bridge crew was thrown around as fire began popping up all over the ship. Riga sat fast in his chair.
“You fought well my friends,” he said. He found that the communications systems had been destroyed. Riga looked at the monitor and saw a Phase Rakna point its pulse rifle at his ship.
“There are so many things I wish I could go back and change,” he said to himself. “If only I had the courage back then, maybe Grigon wouldn’t have died.” The Phase Rakna fired into his ship, causing a series of explosions. “Dreka, I pray you find the happiness none of our race has seen. Wake us from the long night and blaze a trail to the future.”
The bridge was consumed in flames as the Sheldik exploded.
* * *
As the Mjolnir and Talon continued their battle, each machine strained to defend against one another. Soon their shielding systems began failing. Afterwards each craft began taking damage.
“Are you tied to your people’s fate?” Brian asked. “Is fighting, greed, and destruction all you can see?”
“Yes, because that’s all there is to this miserable world,” Dreka answered. “I fight because I have no choice.”
The two mobile suits stopped their battle and saw they were reaching at the breaking point. Dreka’s eyes widened suddenly as a flood of Brian’s memories entered his mind. The scene he saw the clearest, as if through Brian’s eyes, was when the field commander Dragik handing him the data crystal. Brian felt the same surge as he grabbed his head. He saw the image of Grigon from Dreka’s eyes when he was young. A moment later the image jumped to when he and the others were in the ocean of thought. He saw himself and the others from a distance. Turning he saw an old, grey Malcovin standing next to him.
“Dreka, he’s the one I waited for. I waited for over a century for the day he would come to us,” the old Malcovin pointed at Brian, “And now, you must follow him Dreka.
“Why?” Dreka asked. Brian felt the uncertainty in the Malcovin’s mind.
“You carry the mark of the second, the Hawk. Now take to the sky and let your wings fly with the Dragon. The future is never set Dreka. We build it new, each day, by working together, not apart. You already know this so do it you idiot!”
Brian shook his head and found he was in the Mjolnir. Dreka’s Talon hovered in front of him.
“I see,” Dreka said. “I finally understand.” He heard a shout from one of his subordinates over the com.
“Why are you hesitating Dreka?” Malke asked.
“No, wait,” Dreka said. He stared at the Mjolnir. What should I do? What am I supposed to do?
As Dreka hesitated his subordinate, along with another Talon closed in on his position.
“If he won’t destroy the Mjolnir then he’s betrayed us,” Vrekt said.
He charged with his mobile suit’s claws ready to strike. When Dreka turned he was locked in a moment of confusion, seeing his life about to end, the Mjolnir flew into the path and took a glowing claw through the cockpit. A cry of agony came from Brian’s craft.
“Brian!” Dreka shouted.
“Dreka…if you can’t accept what you are…then… you must…change,” Brian said. “Break free…from the destiny that binds your people…and lead them into a new world. Unchain yourself…from what you are…and become…what you should be.”
Brian. Seles felt the pain in Brian’s mind and the pain in his body. Her eyes began glowing blue. Turning her mobile suit towards the battle between Brian and Dreka, she saw three Talons about to strike down the Mjolnir. Dreka’s Talon quickly grabbed the Mjolnir and flew away. The three Talons followed. Aiming her pulse cannon with deadly accuracy, she fired a shot and blasted a Talon apart. The second charged her Zero and slashed with its claws, destroying her pulse cannon. She backed off quickly and drew the sword. She sparred with the two remaining Talons in the skies over Dega Jul with tears running from her eyes. Strangely, Dreka felt the young Kalaidian’s emotions and fears. He flew to an open roof nearby and landed with the Mjolnir below him. The birdman quickly unbuckled and opened the Talon’s door, using the elevator cord to go down to the Mjolnir. He held a hand scanner. Seeing through the hole the cockpit, Dreka looked upon Brian in person for the first time with fear in his heart. Climbing forward and scanning, Dreka saw Brian’s right eye socket cut into deeply and noticed his right arm was missing as well. When he moved closer he found Brian’s wound was cleanly amputated and cauterized.
“Brian!” Dreka shouted. He took out a small bandage and placed it over the destroyed eye. “Brian, can you hear me!”
His left arm grasped Dreka as his left eye opened. “Go to her…I’ll be alright.”
“What happened?” Dreka asked.
A Kalaidian shuttle land nearby.
“My arm was mangled when the Talon struck. I had to use my rakna to stop the bleeding.” Brian cringed and laughed. “I never thought pain would be so wonderful.”
From outside came a small squad of Kalaidian foot soldiers with Mira at the lead. Seeing Brian she ran to him. She looked at Dreka with confusion.
“He’ll live lieutenant Mira,” Dreka said before moving back to the hole he entered.
“Why?” she asked while setting her regenerator to full power.
“He saved me,” Dreka said. “He saved my soul.” he marched back to his Talon and reactivated all its systems. Looks like my systems are at about fifty percent. Dreka flew the suit back up into the air. Fifty percent will be enough.
“I will protect her Brian, that I promise,” Dreka said while flying the damaged mobile suit towards Seles.
Even using the berserk Seles found herself on the defensive against the two Talons. They circled and struck in waves, forcing her to parry with her shield and sword while dodging as best she could. One of the Talons charged and locked her sword and shield. The second moved in from behind to stab. A pulse shot came from behind, forcing the second mobile suit away from her. She saw Dreka’s damaged Talon, missing an arm, aiming its pulse cannon.
“Stand down,” he commanded over the com.
“Why should we listen to a traitor like you?” Vrekt asked.
“Our mission is over,” Dreka explained.
“It’s not over until we collect the money for killing him!” Rait shouted before turning and charging at Dreka.
“You can’t let go
of the past,” Dreka said calmly. His eyes glowed. “Then there’s no place for you in the future.”
He dropped his mobile suit’s rifle and aimed the single remaining claw forward while spinning the mobile suit in a pattern Rait couldn’t follow. A moment later his claw struck through the center of Rait’s Talon. Dreka’s Talon danced away as the other mobile suit exploded. Seles punched with the Zero’s shield and knocked the Talon in front of her back. With a quick slash and thrust with the sword the last Talon exploded. She saw a com channel calling her.
“Lieutenant Seles I surrender to you,” Dreka said. “He’s still alive. A young medical officer with pink hair is taking care of him.”
* * *
Brian groaned before opening his left eye. He saw Mira and Seles next to the bed. Turning his head he saw Celi, Valis, and Kivi talking outside the door.
“I had this crazy dream that I did something really stupid and lost my eye and an arm in the process,” he said. He glanced at his missing arm. “Damn, I guess it really happened.”
“You really scared us this time,” Mira said. She hugged him.
“What’s going to happen to me?” he asked as he sat up.
“We’ll make sure you’re ready for the concert on time. Celi has taken measurements for your replacements. It should take about three months to rehab,” Mira said.
Seles embraced him tightly. “You’re an idiot, you know that?”
He felt her tears. “Yeah Seles, I am.”
Chapter 48 - Birth of the Degan Republic
Brian stood on the roof of the apartment complex and gazed across the broken cityscape. He wore his green armor minus the right arm with a black patch over his right eye. Closing his left eye, he took a deep breath, feeling the morning breeze blow through him.
“You’re looking a lot better,” Seles said. She stood to his left.
“Will you still love me when I’m an android?” he asked sarcastically.
“I’m sure she would,” Mira said. She stood in his blind spot to his right.
“Of course,” Seles answered.
“As would I,” Mira said.
“What do you think is going to happen?” Seles asked.
He pointed to the construction crews. “In time the damage will be repaired. The lives lost will never return. At least we’re moving towards a better world.”
“You’re still a dreamer,” Seles said before taking his arm. Above them flew Dreka’s damaged Talon. It landed on the other side of the roof. The three turned to see the black feathered birdman descend from his mobile suit. He walked slowly towards them.
He stopped to size up Brian and the two ladies. “This is the second time we’ve met in person,” Dreka said.
“I’m glad you got the message,” Brian said, smiling.
Dreka scratched his head and glanced at his Talon. “I wasn’t sure that thing would fly me here in time.”
Brian stood face to face with Dreka. Seles and Mira stayed with him. He reached out with his left hand. Dreka did likewise to shake hands.
“The past is the past and now I’m moving on,” Dreka said. “As of tomorrow a score of my comrades and I will be joining you on the Avoni.”
“What?” Seles asked.
Brian nodded. “I asked Valis to make another exception to the single race rule on the Avoni.”
“I’ll be joining you as a field commander of small craft lieutenant Seles,” Dreka said.
“I won’t go easy on you,” Seles teased.
“Throw what you will at me young lady, I’m ready for anything now,” Dreka answered.
“Are you sure about joining us?” Mira asked.
“Yes,” Dreka said. “Brian, I owe you my life. For that you have my thanks as well as my intellect as an engineer.”
“I didn’t ask for that,” Brian said. “I’m just glad we’re not enemies anymore.”
“Indeed,” Dreka said.
* * *
Veda paced the halls of her estate palace as her servants scrambled around in a daze. She walked into the main courtyard and found Valis waiting.
“It’s been awhile since you had time off,” Veda said.
“I’m glad for it,” Valis said with relief in her voice. “Although the war lasted little more than a week it was bloody.”
“And now we wait,” Veda said before looking at the sky. “Jabril Hopart was elected as the first prime minister of Kalaidia today.”
“I know.” Valis smiled. “I cast my vote last night to get it counted on time. Nine more years and the nobility will lose official power.”
“I’ve ceded control of our former estates to the House of Commons,” Veda said. “This estate and our corporations here are all we have left. Enough to aid you on the project you mentioned the other day.”
“Brian came up with the idea first,” Valis said. “He doesn’t know I’ve started implementing it. I don’t want to tell him I read his journal entries.”
“Privacy is an outdated value,” Veda said with a smirk. “He’ll get over it, just warm up to him and he’ll listen.”
“Do you mean seduce him?” she asked.
“Of course I meant that,” Veda said, laughing afterwards. “I wish Gaelic was here to see this.”
“He is, in a way,” Valis said. “She’s still alive.”
“It’s Mira. Brian told me when the festival was held. When did she come back to us?”
“She joined my crew a few years ago,” Valis answered. “Mira slept for all those years, waiting for someone to find her. She won’t speak of how or why, but admits to who she is. She told me she wants nothing to do with the estate and won’t make a claim against you.”
“If she didn’t come here herself she must be in hiding,” Veda said. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Mira has a concert set with Brian in a few months. I thought you’d like to know before seeing her face on every screen in the solar system.” A shuttle from the Avoni landed at the far end of the courtyard. “One more thing,” Valis said.
“Yes?”
“Did you have anything to do with the attempt on her life?” Valis asked.
“No,” Veda answered solemnly. “Although I didn’t approve his relationship with a commoner I cared for my brother far too much to do something so awful.”
“Do you know who may have?”
“We suspected for a long time the Raekar family may have had something to do with it,” Veda said. “The other possible scenario that makes sense is if the Malcovin assassinated her. We just ended our war with them and had claimed much of their territory.”
“Thank you for telling me this,” Valis said as she turned to leave.
“Tell Mira to come and see me sometime in the future,” Veda said. “There are many things I’d love to talk to her about.”
Valis smiled before stepping onto the transport. “I’ll do that.”
Epilogue
“I can’t believe how much damage this thing took,” Jesela said. She looked at the half destroyed Mjolnir.
“Well, it’s our job to repair, no, to make it better,” Daes said. She headed into the cockpit and touched the computer panel. “We’ll make you as good as new.”
Please, it hurts like hell. The Mjolnir answered in text on the screen. Daes laughed.
“Not as much as your pilot friend,” she said.
Make sure he’s taken care of as well.
“Don’t worry my giant robot, Celi and Mira can take care of that,” Daes answered.
“Who are you talking to?” Jesela asked from outside.
Daes poked her head out, smiling. “The black box system is functioning Jesela.”
“The Mjolnir’s learning?” Jesela asked with excitement in her voice.
“Not just that, it seems to have Brian’s sense of humor,” Daes said.
“I’m so glad!” Jesela shouted, jumping up and down. “I didn’t think that system would ever work!”
“You did great Jesela, even better than I thoug
ht you could,” Daes said. “Let’s get back to work.”
I’m glad you and Jesela made me.
“Is there a reason we should know about?” Daes asked.
I get to enjoy the company of attractive young women.
Daes laughed again. “You really have his personality down.”
I’m trying my best with what I have. The mobile suit wrote with a smiley face after the text.
* * *
Trai Gor stood alone in the ancient temple with his falchion glowing. He stared at the statue of Brian with a strange smile on his face. The light flickered for a moment as a short figure in a grey cloak stepped out of the shadows.
“It’s been awhile Lord Gor,” Myden said telepathically.
“Twenty years or so,” Trai Gor said. He turned to Myden. “Tell me, how did you pull it off? No matter what scan I run the statue comes out as genuine.”
Myden laughed. “It’s not difficult to change the memories of a single man. As for the statue, well, that was the easy part.” He pulled out his black staff and spun it a few times. The rock around the statue took the shape of a solid block.
“I see,” Trai Gor said as he watched. “What would have happened if Brian didn’t appear?”
“The Warrior is not tied to a specific individual or species to be honest,” Myden answered. He spun his staff a few more times and the statue changed to the visage of Kivi. A moment passed and he spun his staff again, revealing the statue as Dreka. “You’re the only one who knows this secret Lord Gor. I waited for an eternity to see the plan come to fruition. Even if my name is cursed for the rest of time I’ll see it through.” He spun the staff once more and the statue changed back to Brian. He stepped back into the shadows and vanished. Trai Gor stood alone as the light flickered once more. He gazed at the statue.
“I won’t say anything old friend,” Trai Gor said before leaving.
* * *
Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius Page 23