Battle Beyond Earth - Box Set (Books 6-9)

by Nick S. Thomas

  Taylor was locked in combat; his shield and Assegai pressed up against the Prince he was fighting. Both stopped for a few seconds as they watched Jafar’s relentless assault. Taylor marvelled at his old friend’s power. It was like watching one of the Krys Lords of old, the ones he had fought for so many years, the Lords that almost destroyed him. They were a terrifying sight, but a wonder to see when standing with one. Finally, the Prince’s shield arm gave out as another strike from the hammer smashed it down. Jafar swung the hammer up and over his head. The Prince was powerless to do anything as it descended onto its head.

  The creature’s neck snapped, and its body crumpled as it was crushed down to the ground. But Jafar wasn’t finished. He swung the hammer once more and flattened the dead Prince’s head against the marble-like floor. Blood spewed out in every direction, and Jafar stood tall and triumphant over his vanquished enemy.

  He looked about the room at the scene of the carnage. The other Princes were hacking their way through the marines. One was fighting Sarik, and he was giving a good fight with a glaive. He delivered a slash to the inside arm of his opponent, but in turn received a thrust into his shoulder before being kicked back. Half the troops they had arrived with were dead, but three times as many enemy lay among the dead. The remaining three Princes banded together.

  The look of arrogance and confidence was gone now, and they had learnt to respect the enemy standing before them. Jafar helped Sarik back up. He was bleeding badly and had lost the strength of his left arm, but he wasn’t willing to give up fighting. There was a lull in the fighting as both sides regrouped. Most had resorted to close quarter weaponry now. It was almost medieval in the way the sides had fought one another.

  “Who’s laughing now?”

  Taylor walked towards the enemy. The Princes looked uneasy, as if no longer confident of victory. They looked as if they wanted to be somewhere else, as if wanting to run, knowing they could not.

  “You are all going to die here,” said Taylor.

  A dozen warriors came at him, but he did not hesitate to engage them. Rogers and the others rushed forward to his aid. Taylor drove his shield into the first warrior and took hold of him. He spun him around so that the creature was struck by his own people and shielded Taylor. He kicked the legs out from another and cut down onto its head. The Princes waded into the fight. Nobody was under any illusions; this was going to be a blood bath.

  Jones engaged one of the Princes, and Taylor was still fighting his way through their minions. The creature was carrying two blades that fizzled with sparks. He didn’t want to imagine what they could do, but he held up his shield as one lashed out towards him. Sparks erupted over the shield, and it flickered as it began to fail, but he pushed the blade aside, and it came back to life. Rogers backed him up with his Assegai over his shoulder, extended like a spear. But without his shield he could not stand beside Jones. The Prince cut his Assegai out of the way, and the blade fizzled, spitting out sparks as it struck the edge of the Assegai spear.

  A cry rang out, and CJ rushed the flank of the enemy with several of his team of misfits. He was carrying the glaive of a Krys warlord and slashed in a huge sweeping arc. The blade took off the heads of two enemy warriors as he ran fearlessly towards a Prince, as if wanting to claim a kill for himself. They all knew there was no ego here. They all wanted the enemy dead as much as the next man. CJ swung the weapon hard, but the creature backed off with a quick dodge, but ran onto Mirov’s Assegai. The Prince snapped around and struck the Russian hard, and he went down in a motionless heap. Nobody knew whether he was alive or not.

  CJ redoubled his efforts, attacking time and time again. King and Turan were supporting him. The Prince cut from one side to another. Despite its wound, its defences now seemed unbreakable. King was slashed with a brutal cut across her shoulder and another to her flank. She went down onto one knee. A roar rang out, and Jafar charged into the Prince, bowling him over. CJ was on him in a flash and thrust down into the creature’s chest as he sat on top of him. He stabbed the beast numerous times.

  The last two Princes were finally backing off. There was another lull as the enemy realised they couldn’t win. The Alliance forces led by Taylor had suffered horrific casualties, and many of those still standing were wounded themselves, but still they fought on like lions.

  “I’m coming for you Bolormaa!” Taylor shouted.

  A section of the room at the far end of the room suddenly started to move slowly. It was descending to block off entirely the doorway that she had come from. It looked to be made of two-metre-thick steel. Something they couldn’t hope to touch with the weapons they had.

  “She’s going to shut us out!” Jones called out.

  “We have to get there before that wall comes down,” Rogers said.

  “Why? She can’t go anywhere?”

  “You think she won’t have a way to wriggle out of this given enough time, Jones?” Taylor asked.

  They all knew it was true.

  “Come on. We have to get through. Whoever makes it takes the bitch down!”

  Taylor led a spearhead forward, and the rest followed on. He slashed his way through two enemy warriors and ducked under a powerful strike from a Prince. He didn’t stop to keep on fighting the creature. He didn’t have time. Rogers slashed at one of its legs and cut deep. CJ slashed at another so that it collapsed forward, and was immediately set upon by several marines. Many struck it as they past by. Taylor was close to a sprinting speed and seemed they were going to make it when a horde of enemy warriors burst out from the doorways on either side of the room.

  Gunfire ran out as the newly arrived enemy opened fire. Three marines were killed instantly, as well as two more of the Krys. Jafar was struck by a round that found a gap in the joint of his elbow. They turned to face this new threat with their shields activated. They were unable not keep going without being shot in the back. They continued to back off, but as Taylor looked at the wall closing behind them, it was painfully obvious that they weren't going to make it.

  Rifle fire rang out as the marines fired from behind their shields. Morohtan warriors were dropping like flies as they ran towards the wall of shields, but it wasn't quick enough, and the horde didn't seem to stop. Taylor primed and threw out the last of his grenades, and kept up the fire, but he was eager to move. He wanted to make a run for the doorway, but he knew he couldn't.

  "If we don't go now, we'll never make it!"

  "And if we go now, we'll be cut down!" replied Jones.

  "We have to split off. You go, and take as many of our best fighters with you. The rest of us will hold here," said Rogers.

  Taylor looked at the opening that was rapidly closing, but then he turned back to see the mass of hordes pouring in from either side of the room. He didn't know what to do.

  "Go on, go!" Rogers screamed at him.

  Taylor knew if they waited any longer they wouldn't make it. It was heart wrenching to leave friends behind at the mercy of the enemy, but they’d come there to do one thing. He had promised that no matter what he would get that done. No matter the price, and that price was about to be paid. The fact he would have so few to face Bolormaa had not even crossed his mind. It was the least of his problems right now.

  "I need volunteers! Who will fight Bolormaa with me?"

  He didn't have time to wait for a response.

  "Everyone else holds this ground with me!" Rogers added.

  Taylor nodded towards Rogers to say thank you and wish him luck, but there was no time to say any of it. Rogers knew his meaning, and that nod was all that was needed. He ran onwards. He saw Jafar and Jones follow, and many others, too. A few were hit in the back as they ran, but Taylor couldn't look back now. He couldn't concern himself with those who were lost or wounded, nor how many would make it through to face Bolormaa with him. A shot glanced off his helmet, but still he ran on with all the speed he could. He rushed under the barrier that was descending to the ground. Jafar ducked under and got inside, but
he didn't stop, making sure the way was clear for anyone who had come with him.

  He reached a T-junction, and it was near pitch-black. He stopped to draw a breath and wait for the others. He could barely see a thing, but Jafar was with him at least, and others were catching up. The barrier slammed shut behind them, and they were sealed in. It should have been terrifying, but it wasn't. Taylor had been looking forward to this moment for so long, a chance to finally end it. He wasn't scared because to him they were all dead anyway. It could only get better from here.

  CHAPTER 14

  "Everyone okay?" Taylor asked.

  It was near pitch-black, but suddenly lights along the passageway lit up. They flickered like flames from candles, but were cold to the touch. Jones, Jafar, and CJ had all made it through with him, as had Maloney, Pitt, Turan, two of Jafar's Krys bodyguards, and one of CJ's marines that he did not recognise. It was a ragtag group, but for having so few to face Bolormaa, he couldn't have asked for a better team. He took a deep breath and drew out his Assegai. There was no place for a gun in this fight. He still felt no fear. The only concern was that he could not deliver on his promise. He didn't want to win here for some personal victory or fame. He wanted to see the Alliance made safe from a monster.

  "I honestly have no idea what we are going to face in there, but no matter what, we have to keep moving forward. There are no egos in here but hers. If any one of you gets a shot at taking her down, you don't hesitate, you hear?"

  He knew he was telling them what they already knew. They looked like they had been through a war that day, and it was a lot to ask for them to keep on going.

  "It's on us now. Nobody else. We cannot fail."

  He looked back and forth. One of the paths was blocked, so there was no doubt which way they would go. He took one last deep breath before leading the way. He activated his shield and moved cautiously. He didn't trust Bolormaa one bit. He wouldn't put it past her to use traps to try and stop them. It was surprisingly warm, and sweat dripped down his face. The place smelt sterile as though it had been soaked with bleach, and that was assaulting his nostrils.

  They went on down the passageway for fifty metres. With every step they could feel the tension increase. Finally, they reached a round T-junction, and Taylor signalled for them to split up. He and Jafar led the teams around each corner, but then found they were entering the same room together. It was a circular chamber with statues all around. Statues of the Princes, some of which Taylor recognised. The room was lit by many concentric neon lights in the ceiling that created a harsh down lighting. Water flowed down the walls. They were some kind of artificial water feature. There was no furniture, save for a single seat at the far side of the room, a throne. And none other than the beast herself sat upon it.

  "Bolormaa," Taylor said quietly to himself.

  The ten of them lined up opposite her, waiting for Taylor to make the first move. He and Jafar were standing at the centre of them.

  Ten? So few to fight her with, and yet it’s a nice round number.

  "You impress me, Colonel Taylor. After all that you have been through, you should never have been able to reach this place and stand before me today."

  "You didn't just underestimate me. You underestimated all of us!"

  "And yet it is you that has made all this possible. It is you who changed the outcome of this war. Only you. The Krys and the Aranui could not stand in my way, and yet you did, a human. You are just a man, and look at everything you have achieved. There is a power inside you, a power like no other of your kind."

  "I didn't get here by myself. I got here because I have people I care about, and people who care about me. Your selfishness will be your undoing. Your soldiers are nothing more than slaves!"

  “They do as they are ordered, as your soldiers do."

  "But they don't fight because they have no choice. Every one of these men and women chose to be here today. They chose to fight tyranny."

  "Don't be so foolish. The universe is run by those strong enough to take power, just like you have. Nobody voted to give you power in the Alliance. You did not even earn your rank. It was from another lifetime. You got to this position with force."

  Taylor was having a hard time denying it, because to some degree, she was right.

  "You are the most fascinating being I have met in thousands of years. Think what we could achieve if we stood as one?"

  Taylor almost choked at the suggestion.

  "You want to be my friend now?"

  "Of course I do," she said as she sprang up from her throne.

  The others lifted their weapons warily, but she only took a few paces forward. Taylor didn't flinch. He was standing calmly as she carried on. He had noticed the slight limp in her movement. She didn't glide with her usual panache and grace. She was still hurt from their last fight, even though she was doing everything she could do hide it.

  "You and I could do so much. You are the only enemy that can stand up to me now. Together we would be unstoppable."

  "Seems to me we are pretty unstoppable right now," said CJ.

  "Enough, you are nothing more than an abomination!"

  She was losing her calm, and that made Taylor smile.

  "Yes, he is an abomination, but he's our abomination, and any man who stands up to you will get my vote."

  "You are a fool, Taylor."

  "That I have no doubt of, but better to be a fool than a monster."

  "I continue to take everything from you, and still you will not see an end to it when I give you the chance?"

  Another figure appeared from behind the throne. It was Alita. Taylor knew he would have to face her once more, and he dreaded that more than facing Bolormaa herself. Bolormaa held up her hand, and in it was what was undeniably a detonator.

  "Everything you hold dear in life is on this world now. Everything you care and love. All of yours friends, and all of the reasons you keep on fighting."

  "Yes, love, something you have none of."

  "I merely need to press this button, and everything on this world be gone!"

  Taylor shrugged.

  "And?" he replied as if with no care at all.

  "You have proven time and time again that you fight for them, for your love of these pathetic creatures. You could not bear to see them die. Leave this world, or die here!"

  "But I don't have to."

  She didn't seem to understand him.

  "You won't press that button!"

  "How can you be so sure?"

  "Because there is one thing you care about more than anything else in life..."

  He had her attention, and that amused him. She looked captivated.

  "More than anything, you care about preserving your own existence! You would risk fighting us all, than press that button and seal your own fate! Press that button, and you guarantee the universe remembers that you died committing suicide. You know what that will read as in the history books for thousands of years? That you could not win here, you could not beat a human. Fight us, and there is a chance you walk out of here. I know what you'll choose, because for all your bullshit, you life is the one thing that matters to you."

  She couldn't find any words, but she lowered the detonator. Taylor's bluff had played off. He was right, but more than anything, it annoyed her that he knew her so well. She stepped back to the throne and placed it down on one of the arms. Jones let out a sigh, as he didn't share Taylor's confidence. He had no idea how sane Bolormaa really was.

  "It was always going to end this way! You singled me out because I am a fighter, and this was only going to end with a fight."

  "Then fight me, by yourself, a duel to end it once and for all."

  "Not a chance. I didn't get this far in life and in war because of my own ability. I’m here because of everyone who stands with me. If you wanted a fair fight, you could have come out and asked for it before we left a trail of blood and bodies to get here. You call yourself a God. You brag that you are invincible and untouchable, well, it
's time see if you can live up to your own hype. There is nowhere to hide anymore. No more Princes to do your dirty work. You are going to pay for your crimes today, and you are going to be stopped. Not one more being in this universe will suffer again because of you."

  "You cannot destroy me, for I am eternal."

  "Enough of this shit," said CJ.

  He launched forward and sprinted at her.

  "Wait!" Taylor hollered.

  CJ was within her reach in no time at all. He went at her with his shield forward as if intending to run right over her. At the last moment, she drew a blade and stepped aside. She swung under his shield at his legs, but he had seen it coming. He leapt and rolled, the blade missing his limbs by millimetres. The fact she had not found her target was a shock to Bolormaa, and he was back onto one knee and thrusting towards her before she could strike again.

  Bolormaa parried off the blow and struck back with hers. CJ parried with his shield holding off a second strike. Taylor and the others had rushed forward and were almost at them when CJ stopped dead, and his body shot upright. Alita stepped out from behind him, and pulled out a short sword that she had struck through his back. He dropped down to one knee, wounded as well as in a great deal of pain. Bolormaa backed off to face her new attackers with a smile. CJ let out a cry before rising back up and striking towards Alita. She carried a longer blade in her other hand and fended off his blow, but he went at her with a fury as she backed away.

  Taylor headed straight for Bolormaa. He would wait no longer. He thrust forward under the cover of his shield, but she rolled over the top of it, slashing down as she came down the other side. She was still quick, but nothing like as quick as she was once. Taylor snapped his shield back around and pushed her aside. Her blade fell a long way short of him as she staggered back, surprised by his reactions. It was as if any speed she had lost, he had gained. CJ's marine leapt in to help him as the two fought on against Alita.