A/N: This chapter will be different then the previous ones, with the story told from a different perspective. The chapter may look like it has nothing to do with the story, but it will all make sense eventually.

Chapter 12: Darkness and Light Part 1

The building continued to rattle from the fight upstairs. Even several stories underground, he was far from safe. The sounds of guns firing continually filtered down from the ceiling. The last explosion caused the entire structure to shake. He could tell they didn't care about their own lives, but only their mission.

Rattan rose from his quiet meditation and opened the door that led to the stairs. He could hear the screams of death and pain from above him as he quietly climbed the steps. It amazed him how large of a force his enemies could have thrown into one battle. They had been a thorn in his side for as long as he had been in command, but he never would have thought they would actually be able to destroy him like this.

The commander arrived at the next story and could see how badly his forces were outnumbered. Blood covered the floor, as it flowed out from the fallen soldiers. Only about 10 of his men remained with most of them crouching behind crates to avoid the gunfire. It looked like there were nearly 50 enemies in their camouflage clothing. While it might aid them in hiding at night, under the lights of the building, they stood out easily. They were at the opposite end of the room, also hiding behind the crates. While they might have had the advantage, they did not want to lose it with a reckless assault.

One of the enemies spotted Rattan as he surveyed the battlefield. The commander quickly ducked behind the metal container to avoid the bullets. He made it safely, but a bullet did graze his sleeve.

"Is this all that's left?" Rattan asked one of his officers.

"There is still some fighting up stairs, but I doubt they will last much longer. I think this is the majority of the enemy's attack."

"Well at least we knew what we are up against. I never would have guessed the Order would be able to overwhelm our defenses so fast."

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of rockets flying through the air. The rockets slammed into the crates, causing a massive explosion that sent metal soaring into the bodies of many of the remaining soldiers. He looked and saw the dead body of the one he was just talking to. Blood flowed down his own arms and legs due to the metal just shoved into them.

The sound of machine guns soon followed the attack. Rattan knew he had to turn this battle around. He brought forth a wall of darkness that stopped the bullets in their tracks. "He's the one we want. If we kill him it's over."

"I'll handle this," Rattan said to his wounded companions. Many of the Order's soldiers left the safety of the crates to charge at him. He brought forth a dark missed that inhibited the army as it blinded them. "Taste the darkness as it fills your lungs," he said with a smirk. Those who were trapped could not receive the oxygen they required as the darkness filled the air. A few of them were able to escape before they suffocated.

One of them charged at Rattan once he had regained his breath. He had dropped his gun in the surprise of the mist, but hoped he could physically release Rattan's control on the mist.

As the enemy charged at him, Rattan reached into his trench coat, pulled out a pistol, and fired a single bullet into the young man's heart. All his hoped of winning the battle died with him. The few others that climbed out of the mist alive, soon fell victim to darkness reaching out of the floor and grasping their throats, until they too became victims of the darkness.

Those that had not yet reached Rattan's floor saw the hopelessness of trying to best him, so retreated to fight another day. They saw the waste of confronting a foe, knowing they had no hope to win. They were willing to give their lives, if the situation called for it, but they wanted it to count for something.

Rattan saw his wounded companions. He used his darkness to mend their wounds along with his own. The battle had been costly, but he was able survive, along with delivering a terrible blow to the Order.

A few hours later, he and his remaining guards assembled to discuss their course of action.

"How many survived?" Rattan asked.

"Out of the 25 that were guarding this place, only 4," one answered.

"What is our total number of soldiers now?"

"Our division currently has 116 remaining. 22 of them are out of various tasks and can not be utilized at this time."

"The order has been a constant annoyance to us. They have grown strong enough to be a legitimate worry to us. Tomorrow night I will lead an all out assault on their base. We will use every man possible to ensure success. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," they all responded.

A/N: I bet you were expecting adventure at the falls, but I thought showing you other people involved in the story would work better. If you would be kind enough to review, I would appreciate it greatly!