IX

Decura


As Alex and Lightning ran through the streets of Eden, Alex glanced up to the skies, seeing the many massive airships in conflict. A large laser shot out of the Freedom, hitting one of the Liberator warships. The Lindblum was taking heavy fire from Liberator fighter class airships, it was an easy target due to it's massive size, but it didn't take long for a bunch of hatches to open and what seemed like a thousand laser beams erupted from it's body, destroying many of the small airships.

Turning a corner, Alex saw a massive building to their right. There was no door, it was just a massive hollow entry hall that lead to a large door deeper into the building that would lead them further in. The large, open entrance hall had been fortified by the Liberators to defend the building, but it wasn't guarded by soldiers at the minute.

"Look over there." Lightning whispered as she extended her left arm out, her index finger pointing to the left side of the really wide street. Liberator soldiers were behind cover and firing at something, most likely Sanctum soldiers since there were bullets hitting the Liberators.

"It seems they're holding up, but they intend to fall back and lead our soldiers into a trap." He then looked back at Edenhall's main entrance and decided he would sneak into the entrance hall. "Come on Light, this way."

"But shouldn't we provide assistance?" She followed him but watched the large battle that was now taking place behind them.

"That's what I have in mind, but even if we flank them, there's only two of us against all of them." He walked down the large entrance hall and spotted an armored turret. "We'll use this as soon as they retreat and try to use their fortifications against our soldiers, instead they'll be the ones in a trap. Lightning, you watch my back in case they get reinforcements from within Edenhall, it's still obviously controlled by the enemy."

"Yes, right away." She gave a nod and knelt down behind the turret, keeping her eyes focused on the large door that led deeper into Edenhall as the Lieutenant climbed up into the turret's seat.

"Well this is surprisingly comfortable." He grabbed the handles and aimed the barrel down the hallway.

A couple of minutes of nothing but the exchange of gunfire was heard in the distance before the soldiers were ordered to fall back into Edenhall. Once they started to run, they entered the large room and Sanctum soldiers began to take cover behind the barricades that the Liberator's had been using in the streets.

As soldiers fled, the Lieutenant pushed one button on the left handle and the turret's gun began to spin up. The Liberator's began to panic and wonder why the turret was spinning up without anybody in it, however it didn't take them too long before they figured out that they had fallen into their own trap.

The Lieutenant placed his thumb down on the red button of the turret's right handle, and in an instant the whole room echoed with the sound of heavy machine gun fire. Liberator soldiers fell to the ground in seconds, looking much like Swiss cheese as the room instantaneously filled with bodies of the enemy soldiers.

Alex let go of the button and smoke came off of the hot barrel of the machine gun.

He hopped out and realized that the Liberators had shot quite a few bullets at him but none of them managed to penetrate the metal barrier of the turret. He hadn't even managed to realize that they gave a considerable effort in fighting back because he had been behind a powerful and loud machine.

The few remaining Liberators were instantly put at a disadvantage, having to fight against not only Assassin Squad and the Sanctum soldiers, but also the mechanical Behemoths that had already closed in and were finishing them off with their fangs, claws, and massive cleavers.

Lightning signaled at Alex to follow her and he did so, follow her and he did so, following her around the long curvy hallway to a large throne room that was heavily decorated. Liberator banners hung from the ceiling, the room decorated in red with nobody in sight.

Alex glanced around the room, looking at the flames and Sanctum bodies around the room, still not convinced that there was nobody in the room with them. "Careful Lightning, Vark has to be here somewhere... It may be a trap."

"Right..." She sighed and looked around, afraid of what they may encounter, but showing no sign of her fear.

The sound of footsteps could be heard echoing throughout the room, it didn't take long for them to spot a man with silver hair that extended halfway down his back. He wore a large, black coat that extended down to his knees, golden trim and a shoulder pad on his left shoulder. The lights on his shoulder pad were a sky blue color, a color that anybody would recognize.

Lightning's eyes focused on the male who had appeared in front of her. "A Knight Captain? That means... he killed Vark?"

Alex narrowed his eyes and spoke in a more serious tone. "No... he's a Liberator. Remember what the soldiers said earlier?"

Lightning thought back to the squad of soldiers and realized that Alex was correct, this man was Vark's second in command.

"Smart kids... so you're the remnants of Shield Division? Led by that fool you call a Knight Captain, Advar." He narrowed his eyes and smirked at the two, looking at their ranks. "Heh, this is what they sent to kill us!? A Lieutenant and his recruit girlfriend? I didn't expect the Fal'cie's little Sanctum to be so desperate!"

"What about it? We are the ones who have been taking Liberator territory back!" Alex narrowed his eyes and looked around the room for enemies, he knew it would be impossible to conceal a lot of soldiers in the room, but he wanted to ensure that they were alone.

"Oh? So you're the annoying little pest that took away Palumpolum and the Gapra Whitewood? It's not a problem, we took your precious Eden and soon we will reach Orphan!"

"Orphan? You can't! If you destroy Orphan, Cocoon will fall from the sky!" Alex took a step forward and stared defiantly at the loud man.

"That's only one step that will lead to our Fal'cie free world!"

"So that's your true purpose? Make it look like controlling Cocoon and overthrowing the Sanctum is your goal and in reality you intend to go on a Fal'cie hunt!" Alex raised his hand and unsheathed his gunblade from it's holster.

"But you're a Knight Captain. Why not lead the Liberators yourself? Vark is just a General." Lightning stared into the mans green eyes.

"Huh? Ohhh you must mean my trophy? Missy, I was Lieutenant General when I blindly followed PSICOM... I killed this Knight Captain with my own blade!" He let out a loud laugh and narrowed his eyes at Alex, licking his lips slightly. "Hehehe you may not be a Knight Captain, but you'll prove to be a fun toy to play with... before I kill you..."

Alex's eyes widened a bit. "N..No way... you're Zack, the one who went insane and killed your whole squad!"

"Heheheh, I hope you won't disappoint my blades, they thirst for your blood!"

"Tch, I don't intend to die here! The two of us have people to fight for!" Alex changed his gunblade to gun mode and Lightning pulled out her weapon, nodding at Alex.

"Good... I'll greet them once I stain the walls in your blood!"

Lightning huffed, clearly annoyed by this guy. "The walls will be getting a new layer of blood... but it won't be ours!" She opened fire at him and he took his two swords, blocking the bullets with the hard steel of the blades. "Oh this is the warmup isn't it!? I wasn't expecting gunblade wielders!" He charged at them, quickly closing distance to Alex.

Alex noticed that by the time Zack reaches him, he wouldn't have time to react, so he switched his gunblade back to sword mode, electricity sparking across the length of the weapon.

Zack brought his blade down and it clashed with a loud "CLANK!" He regained his balance and moved his second sword at a horizontal slash. "How long will you last!?"

Alex kicked Zack in the stomach, stunning him just long enough to make a diagonal strike at the man.

The gunblade struck against Zack and he let out a scream as the lightning on the gunblade began to shock him. The instant the blade connected, Zack was sent flying back into the wall with massive force.

"Hngh!" Zack stood back up and narrowed his eyes at Alex. "Interesting... you made a customized weapon." He raised his swords into the air and he became surrounded in shadows. "Time to show you my true darkness!" He then pointed his sword at Alex and the shadows charged out at him in four tube shaped spears. They arched and tried to strike at Alex, but instead they missed their target when Alex dodged by jumping out of the way. The shadows disappeared the second they hit the ground and Alex stood back up.

"Wha!? Magic?" Alex's eyes widened and he looked around the room for where Zack had escaped off to.

"Heheheh this is what that cursed Fal'cie did to me!" He popped out of the ground and struck at Alex, his blades now enveloped in shadows.

"Tch, so you're a L'cie!?" He narrowed his eyes and focused on his enemy, blocking his attack with his gunblade.

"A curse that those infernal machines cast on me!" He then threw his left hand out and shot a massive fireball at Alex. "FIRA!"

Alex knew he wouldn't be able to dodge in time so he held out his left hand. "Water!" A bunch of water appeared out of nowhere and extinguished his fireball.

"W..what!? You're a L'cie too!?" Zack scoffed and charged at Alex with his sword ready to swing.

Alex noticed and blocked the sword by hitting Zack's sword with his gunblade, he then counter attacked by kneeing Zack in the chest and shoving his left hand into him. "THUNDARA!" He shouted as he sent Lightning through his body, sending him flying back as smoke came off his body.

Lightning had managed to move into position while they were fighting and she swung her Blazefire Saber at Zack, shredding through his robes and causing a massive cut across his chest once he turned around. He then cast a spell and disappeared, showing up behind Alex in an instant.

"Ever since that day, the Fal'cie cursed me! Made me it's slave! I refuse to obey it!" He charged at Alex and was dangerously close, not giving him enough time to turn around and hit him. As Alex turned, he felt the blade stab through his stomach, but Alex managed to stab Zack through his chest.

"Alex!" Lightning shouted as she rushed over and sheathed her gunblade.

Alex winced in pain and fell to the ground, Zack's sword sliding out of his body. As Zack also fell, Alex's grip on his gunblade pulled it out and the two breathed heavily.

"Heh... this is... the end huh? It seems my sins have finally been paid for..." Zack laughed a bit, but it wasn't a loud one like before, he had a hard time, barely being able to breathe.

"Wh..what are you talking about?" Alex asked as he turned his gaze to Zack.

"Decura Division... it was..." He coughed up some blood and grabbed his chest. "Hngh! I..It was led by Knight Captain, Decura. She was the first female..."

"The first female Knight Captain... I remember." Alex sighed and closed his eyes. "You killed her along with your division and took her shoulder pad as a trophy didn't you?"

"N..no... when I became a L'cie, I lost it... I couldn't bear..." He coughed up more blood and grasped his chest in pain. "I... couldn't bear being cursed to die, become a cie'th, or be a crystal... Y..yes I killed her and took her shoulder pad... b..but I took it because I couldn't believe what I had done... I killed the woman I loved out of my fear."
Alex's eyes widened a bit. "Y..you took her shoulder pad... because you loved her and wanted to keep her by your side forever, to keep her memory alive?"

"Yes, and by killing me you have made me pay for my crimes... heh... I always knew I'd get what I deserved all these years..." His coughing grew worse and he closed his eyes. "I.. I met a worthy opponent... Thank you for the entertainment... Rosa Decura... I'll be with you again, these soldiers they can stop Vark..."

Alex looked up to find Lightning with her hands on his stomach, he then noticed that she was wearing his manadrive engine and was charging a spell.

"Curaga!" She cast the spell on him and his body was surrounded in a bright blue light. The wounds on his body sealed up and he could feel his strength returning to him.

"Light? Y..you healed me..." He smiled lightly and placed his hand on the ground, sitting up as he looked into her eyes.

"Of course, I'm not going to just let you die." She placed her hand flat on his chest and pushed him back down to the floor. "Don't move yet, you need to rest real for a little bit."

Alex nodded, "Right, shouldn't take long... thanks Lightning, you probably saved my life..."

She nodded and sat down beside him, waiting for his body to fully heal.