Demiran smiled.
“Another one of your friends? Shame."
Taylor got to his feet and kept his distance. He opened up the gap between his Assegai and shield just enough to invite a thrust, which Demiran fell for. He lunged quickly and powerfully forward. Instead of parrying, Taylor stepped aside a few centimetres and released his shield. The glaive passed between his left arm and body, and in one quick action Taylor wrapped his arm around the shaft, locking it against his body.
Demiran tried to tug the blade, but it was too late. Taylor threw his Assegai. It embedded in the creature’s chest and forced him to release his grip. Taylor quickly grasped the shaft with his other hand also and spun it around and up over his head.
"This is for Chandra!" he cried, as he brought the blade down with all his strength. Demiran lifted his arm in defence, but the massive blade cut straight through and into his skull. Taylor released his grip, and the alien Lord fell flat to the ground with the glaive firmly embedded. All watching were utterly silent and could not think of a response. Taylor quickly remembered Tsengal and rushed to his body. He spun over his friend who was wearing a full Mech suit.
"Tsengal! Tsengal!"
The alien opened its eyes for a second and spat blood.
"He's alive! Get some help over here!" he shouted to his friends. The Mechs around him watched in utter shock as he held Tsengal like one of his own. Tsengal tried to speak but passed out.
"Get some God damn medical attention here!"
Jafar staggered over to see his comrade lying in Taylor's arms.
"He's alive?"
"Barely."
Taylor realised that it was still silent and looked up to the faceless Mechs. They were gazing at the scene. It was an odd sensation, but he knew he must address them. They could see two of their own with Taylor, and that alone was clearly confusing them.
"Demiran is dead. Your reason for being here is over. You don't have to keep fighting this war! Lay down your weapons, and you will not be harmed!"
It was obviously an alien concept to them. Many looked to Jafar for answers. He was the only one of their own race standing at Taylor's side. He nodded in agreement and added his own comments. Though he spoke in English, so both sides could understand.
"The war is over! Don't die for Demiran. He is no longer your master!"
With that comment, the first few Mechs began to drop their weapons in front of Taylor and Demiran's body. Several raised their faceplates, revealing themselves to the humans.
"Spread word through your army. This is over!" Taylor shouted.
The gunfire in the distance began to die down as the message was spread.
"This is Taylor to HQ. Demiran's army is laying down arms."
Phillips could not believe what he was hearing, but he too had watched the whole seen from the camera feeds. He looked along the line of screens to see battle had all but stopped. Many of the Mechs simply lay down their weapons and retreated back towards the K'til. Others just froze where they stood.
Medics began to pour onto the scene, and Jafar was quick to strip Tsengal's armour and carry him to one of the copters. The medics appeared utterly shocked at the sight. Few had ever seen the enemy alive, let alone had to treat one. Taylor moved to Tsengal's side, as he was loaded aboard the medical copter. He regained consciousness for just a few seconds, which gave them hope. He uttered just a few words.
"Red 1, hundreds of thousands of, of, pe..."
He faded out once again.
"Tsengal!"
There was nothing more Taylor would get from their alien friend.
"Go with him," he said to Jafar.
"Thank you."
Taylor stepped aside to let them lift off. Jones hobbled up to his position.
"What did he say?"
"God only knows. We can only hope he makes it."
"You really did it. It worked."
"No, we did it."
Gallo rushed to the Colonel, weeping.
"I am so sorry, Colonel. I thought, I thought."
"Save it, you couldn't have known. Tsengal is a tough one. He'll pull through.
Tsengal had not been able to deliver Chandra's message. Taylor could see whatever he had to say was important, and that bothered him, but for now he turned to the scene of carnage before them.
"We paid a heavy price here, Yorath, Monty, Blinker, all dead. I saw dozens of others drop but not sure who. Silva's in a bad way too, Mitch.”
"Eli? Where is she?"
He turned, looking across the battlefield where they had made their charge. He couldn't believe she wouldn't have been there for the final fight. She staggered towards with him, using her rifle as a crutch. He rushed to her, grabbing her so tight thatshe squirmed in pain.
"God you scared me, Mitch."
"Demiran is dead, and most of the Mechs have surrendered or laid down arms."
She could barely believe it but sighed in relief.
"What do we do now?"
"What we fought all this time to do, live. Earth is ours."
Tsengal's words still preyed on Taylor's mind, but for now he knew they had entered a new age of peace. He was going to enjoy it while it lasted.
Battle Earth VI (Book 6) Page 21