On the ground below, Aireon had to shield her eyes when the second beam hit Blaze. Bright rays shined down into the city, and there seemed to be only a great point of shimmering light atop the building where he had been standing. She watched as many of the mechanoids turned their attention from her and began firing at the glowing point high above them. And she took advantage of that, sprinting towards them while dragging a gust of wind with her.
Explosions rattled around her and she focused her air-shield to protect herself from the pressure waves they created. She flung her hands skyward and more than a dozen mechanoids were sent flying high into the air, and she stepped forward, throwing patches of blurry air. High-Born grunts were pulverized and tanks rattled into sight as their cloaks failed. Aireon dropped to one knee, and snatched her hands to the ground. Mechanoids rained down out of the sky at odd angles, almost seeming to be magnetized as they were drawn into several tanks, detonating on impact.
She looked around and saw that the entire High-Born force on this street was now defeated, and she watched as a beam of white light hit the central military compound. Her eyes opened wide as it rapidly made its way through the brick, steel, and mortar and cut completely through the building and burnt through the pavement on the backside.
The High-Born surrounding the central compound began shouting and running in the face of the collapsing building. It had been cut at an angle and began sliding towards ground, slowly breaking apart as large chunks of it fell down onto the army around it. Two tanks were covered in a wash of rubble, but many of the soldiers and mechanoids were able to outpace the artificial avalanche, racing just ahead of the cloud of debris and ash.
Blaze could see and feel the rail spikes hitting the outer part of the sphere of light and fire around him, but they all melted and splattered across his armor. He turned his attention to one of the larger buildings on the opposite corner of the plaza, and focused the heat lance on the skyscraper there. It struck with devastating effect and a powerful rumble. Glass, steel, and mortar shattered on the upper stories as the entire top half was sheared in two.
A horrible boom echoed throughout the entire city as it began falling toward the ground where another large force of High-Born was waiting. As the building fell, bouncing and skittering down itself, Blaze leveled his palm towards yet another skyscraper. It too shattered and began crumbling towards the ground, and he blasted yet a fourth building just across the street from him. Just as he was about to finish off that building, he saw a missile streak in the distance and destroy one of the lasers feeding him. His heat lance lost half of its power, and he had to slow his cutting so that he could get the entire top half, but another missile seemingly streaked out of mid-air and destroyed the first laser as well.
Aireon saw the sudden decrease in light and the High-Born lasers in ruins. She could hear thunderous booms on the other side of the plaza, and she felt the earth trembling beneath her as the buildings crumbled onto the High-Born. She looked into the sky at whatever had been cunning enough to realize what had happened, but she could not see anything. The screams of the High-Born being buried were drowned out by the awful cacophony of the collapsing buildings, but Blaze had been successful in destroying more than half of the army opposing them, and she had already taken care of a quarter of it. She looked at the fourth building that he had hit and it was ready to fall, but was still holding strong.
She poured her power into her voice and shouted, “Blaze!”
Thunder popped and a flash of fire flared in front of her, and there he stood, armor scalding.
“Get me up there!” she shouted, pointing to the building on which he had been standing.
He doused his flames and stepped towards her, but stopped.
“Don’t worry about burning me,” she shouted as a cloud of dust and debris from the falling buildings began approaching them. “My air-shield will protect me.”
Blaze grabbed her and they boomed out of view as the cloud rolled over where they had just been...
...And they appeared on the building top. She wasted no time and began spinning around, raising and lowering her arms as if she were painting a picture. Gusts of wind began whipping all around them, and Blaze turned to guard her back as she seemed focused on the building across the street. She gritted her teeth and grimaced as she reached towards it, closing her fists tightly and shaking them. The building began rattling and a tremendous cry echoed up to them as the High-Born on the ground below it realized they were doomed.
Loud groans came from the building and it shook. Chunks began falling here and there, and Aireon was bellowing in anguish and determination, shaking from the effort. The building rattled and Aireon threw back her head as she snatched with her arms. Glass and mortar flew as the steel beams snapped, and she went to one knee. She looked up and saw that the building was falling down onto the rest of the High-Born.
Blaze looked around, calling the fire into his eyes while Aireon knelt and caught her breath. On the outer perimeter of the city all around them were the signs of more than a dozen gunships. Rockets began streaking towards them from all angles, and before they could fire any rail spikes and before Aireon could say anything Blaze grabbed her, and they blasted from view just as the entire building top erupted in a massive explosion.
They thundered into view several buildings away, and just as quickly, they were gone again. After two more quick air-burns, they hit the first of the city’s outer ruins. Blaze and Aireon flashed in and out of sight until, all at once, there was no more sign of them.
A whirl of fire appeared in the middle of the forest and there stood Blaze and Aireon.
“Are you okay?” Blaze asked holding Aireon’s face between his palms.
“Yes,” she answered as she wiped blood from her nose. “That took a lot out of me...” she leaned over and breathed deeply. “That was all me... I didn’t have lasers to power me.”
Though she was breathing deeply, she still managed to look at him and smile. He returned her smile and said, “Let’s get out of here. We got lucky because I had no idea that was going to happen when those lasers hit me. We would’ve been toast had it not happened.”
“Nah,” she said rising up and spitting out some blood. “We would’ve gotten away, but you’re right, we need to go.”
“You gonna’ be able to pilot in your condition?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she nodded as she clicked the gunship remote in her pocket. “I’m almost fine now.”
The gunship’s door opened from the seeming nothingness that was there, and they both walked inside. It shut behind them and, in just a moment, it invisibly lifted from the ground, and they were gone.
Chapter 42
“How dare this Blaze and Aireon challenge the righteous authority that we are?” the large High-Born shouted, sweeping his hand towards the crowd. His voice came through a speaker on the side of his visored helmeted, giving it an artificial boost in volume.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!” the crowd of High-Born soldiers before him shouted.
As he peered through his visor, his eyes seemed to slightly glow white.
“But they have challenged the greatest military power this world has ever known!”
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!” the crowd shouted again.
“We have ruled unopposed in days past! And so shall that day return yet again! They have taken the lives of your brothers and sisters in New Pylos, and Cyrene! They have destroyed the works of your hands! Of our hands!” he paused.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“A few Dragons already comb the skies, and the rest are nearing readiness, and with them leading us, we all will soon unleash righteous vengeance upon them for their unspeakable crimes and their defiance of our might!” he paused.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“Make no mistake... our birthright gives us authority over all
Low-Born, and any of their so-called champions! This Blaze and this Aireon,” he had a mocking tone. “They are nothing next to the mold from which we are struck!” he paused.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“We must remember the first of the High-Born and what they stood against!” he pumped his fist in the air, and so did the crowd. “They stood against those who would have subjugated them! They stood against the greatest warriors this world has ever seen! And they won!” he paused.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“Now, this world has produced new warriors!” his helmet swept back and forth across the crowd. “But we have encountered such unknown challenges before! And we did not falter then... And we shall not falter now!” he paused.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“For they are but two!” he shouted, raising his shaking hands high. “And we are many! Make no mistake!... We are the rightful ruler of this world! Not them! This Blaze and this Aireon. These two foolish criminals shall be dragged before all High-Born in shackles! And then they will kneel before their rightful masters!” he paused.
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“Yes, my brothers and sisters!” he shook his fists. “We shall make an example of them for all future interlopers! And then we shall return ourselves to the rightful place of rule above the Low-Born, where they are in service to us!”
“For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
“Yes, my brothers and sisters!” he pumped his fists forward. “For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
The crowd of soldiers all raised their hands out in front of them and shouted, “For we are the High-Born, and we were born to overcome!”
Harold jumped up from his blanket, and shook his head. He looked around and saw that Gabby was sound asleep on her side of the gunship. He put his head in his hands, and just sat there, letting the dream fade. After a few minutes, he lay back down, but he could feel that sleep was not going to be easy to come by again. He checked the sky through the windshield and could see that it was going to be several hours before dawn. He took a deep breath and as silently as he could, he air-burned...
...And appeared just outside. Gabby had picked a nice spot to camp, and he looked across the small pond. The crescent moon reflected brilliantly across its surface, and he walked to the edge of the water. He closed his eyes and breathed in the cool night air. He heard something splash across the way, and he quickly called fire into his eyes. A large bass had just jumped out of the water, and he saw it just before it crashed back down below the surface.
He knelt down and cupped some water in his hands and took a drink, and then another. He rose to his feet and began walking around the shoreline. The night was clear, and cool, but it was not cold enough for him to see his breath. The stars shone brightly, and he focused on his ears. The sounds of the night washed over him.
…Crickets, bats, a moth several yards to his right… frogs all over the pond… He almost lost himself in it, and he nearly felt himself relax, but then... just on the edge of his enhanced hearing, he could perceive the rumblings of something... he wasn’t sure what kind of military equipment it was, but it was definitely of High-Born make.
It was too far away to be of any concern and he let himself fall into the music of nature as he stood there, silently. He just relaxed and let the night flow over him, and time itself faded. He did not know how long he had been there, but he felt a slight breeze, and he rolled his neck around, letting the air cool his neck and flow down into the back of his armor. Then he felt something sliding around his neck from behind.
“It’s nice out tonight, huh?” Gabby asked, as she put her chin on his shoulder and clasped her hands together on the front of his chest piece.
“Hey, Gabby,” Harold said as he reached up and took hold of her arms.
He felt her tense as if she did not want to let go, but he just warmly held her wrists. He felt her relax and her face was so close to his that he could even feel her smile. Harold tensed for a moment and then closed his eyes, and just let her hold him.
“You know, Harold,” she said. “It’s a really big world out here. I mean, just sitting in Marksville, I never knew the world was so big.”
“Yeah, Foxx Hole and Marksville are really small compared to things we’ve seen,” he answered.
“I feel like we haven’t seen anything yet,” she answered.
“Yeah, there’s no telling what we’re gonna’ run into,” he said. “We’re gonna’ have to grow up fast.”
“Do you ever feel like you outgrow some things?” Gabby asked.
“Like what?” Harold asked.
“Well,” Gabby pondered a moment, “I feel like I’m outgrowing Marksville, and the things there.”
Harold nodded understandingly.
“What about you?” Gabby continued. “Do you feel like you’re outgrowing the things in Foxx Hole?”
“I feel like the High-Born have stunted my growth,” Harold snickered.
Gabby giggled lightly, and said, “Well, maybe it’s time you grew into something
else.”
“Like what?” Harold asked.
“Like,” Gabby drug the word out. “Like, maybe you’re becoming what you’re supposed to be. Look at us... no one can do the things we can do... I mean, it’s like we’re meant for something great... After all... Air makes fire grow...”
Harold nodded as he took a deep breath and lightly rubbed her arm, and she nestled her cheek even tighter to his. He could feel her lips on his cheek...
…and her breath against his face...
…and he could feel himself turning his lips to hers...
Harold opened his eyes and shook his head, and stepped out of her grasp.
“Gabby,” he said as he rubbed his face. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t what?” she asked as she stepped back towards him. “How can we not be right? We’re made for each other.”
“It’s just not right,” Harold answered. “I’ve loved Sarah for a long time.”
Gabby puffed and looked up in the sky as Harold flamed out of sight...
...And he appeared in a tree about twenty yards away. Harold’s emotions raged within him...
Gabby was so gorgeous that she was actually hard to look at. And, other than Gabby, Sarah was the most beautiful young woman he had ever laid eyes on, and he was the envy of the young men in Foxx Hole. He barely knew Gabby, but he felt like he had known her his entire life. At the moment, Harold almost wished he was in the middle of battle, because at least then, he would know what to do.
Something caught his attention in the sky, and he looked up as he called his fire into his eyes. He strained at the seemingly new star that had suddenly appeared in the sky. Something about it didn’t look right. It was not a complete point of brightness, it seemed to have holes in it, and just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. As he studied the spot more closely, another small flash caught his attention against the speckled curtain of the night sky.
This new star seemed to be orange, and as he focused, it too vanished, but he caught a streaking pinpoint of blue out of the corner of his eye. And, for a moment, another orange star seemed to appear as the blue dot faded.
“Gabby,” Harold said as he looked toward the horizon.
“What?” she said as she wiped her nose.
“Gabby,” Harold said. “Get up here now.”
There was a sudden burst of wind and she was standing beside him, eager eyes locked on him.
“Look,” Harold pointed.
Gabby wrinkled her nose in disappointment as she turned to the east and then said, “What is that?”
“I don’t know,” Harold answered.
At what seemed like the edge of the horizon, they both could see dozens of blue pinpoints that formed a near-uniform line rushing up t
owards the sky.
“They’re kinda’ pretty,” Gabby said.
“Whatever they are,” Harold said. “I think they’re moving really fast.”
The blue specks resembled slowly falling stars except they were rising against the horizon. Harold and Gabby watched as they each became a momentary orange-tinted star that rapidly faded from sight. As one after the other disappeared, they sat there, silently watching the sky for several minutes. But as soon as it had started, it also ended...
…And the night settled back into stillness…
Suddenly, dozens of other blue pinpoints began crawling down from high in the sky.
“Those are some kind of aircraft,” Gabby said. “They’re controlling their descent.”
“What is that?” Harold asked and pointed at a bright point high in the sky.
“Now that is a falling star,” Gabby replied.
Quite some distance off to their left, moving almost parallel to ground, was a bright, burning ball that lit up the sky and ground for miles around. It was so luminous that a trail of thick, black smoke could be seen fluttering behind it. They watched it for a few moments before it just seemed to completely burn up.
Then, off some distance to their right, the sky lit up again. Another furiously burning star was smoldering through the night trailed by boiling smoke darker than the sky. Just as it burned into nothingness, two more lit up the sky farther south. Back to the north, one appeared, followed quickly by four more that seemed to cover the entire northern sky. As those were beginning to fade, dozens of additional fireballs brightened different parts of the night. Some were close, some were distant, some seemed to be higher than others, but they all burned bright and lasted much longer than they should have. Harold and Gabby turned and looked behind them. Some were near and some were far, and some were high while others were low, but all over the sky they could see falling fireballs. Harold was sure that one of them even hit the ground far away.
“What’s going on?” Gabby asked as she watched in wonderment.
Blaze (The High-Born Epic) Page 32