Chapter Thirteen. Inner Ace Breaking Point
Flash, Baylin, Zarkov and Castra ventured further into the maze.
"I cannot believe that Ming would use the illusion of my own son to try to get me!" Flash exclaimed in anger.
"That is my father for you." Castra replied, "Doing everything he can to conquer the universe."
"We are not out of the woods though." Baylin told the others, "I have a feeling that Ming has more tricks up his sleeve than just illusions."
As if on cue, ice soldiers and claymen appeared before the group.
"You spoke a bit too soon, Baylin." Zarkov stated.
"Actually Hans," Flash replied, "Baylin was right on time!"
Flash fired at the ice robots, which destroyed them with ease. Baylin was able to take them down with ease as well. Zarkov and Castra helped out as well, mainly with the clay people. As the clay people had become more hostile than they were last time they saw Astra, Flash and Baylin helped out Zarkov and Castra as soon as they eliminated the ice soldiers.
"Thank you, Flash." Castra stated as each of the clay people in the area were being defeated.
"It seems not a moment too soon that we have defeated our opponents." Zarkov stated.
"A bit too easy." Baylin added, "Remain on guard."
"What is that?" Castra asked, pointing to something. They looked to see a wide opening near the corridor that they were close to.
"What could that be the doorway to?" Flash asked.
"I think that we should enter inside." Baylin answered, "I have no clue what we will face, but something tells me it will be more dangerous if we continue through this maze."
"Good call, Baylin." Flash replied, "Let's go."
He, the Verden native, Zarkov and Castra entered inside the doorway, not knowing what to expect once they were inside.
The Phantom, Jedda, Kisa and Barin faced off against their opponents also consisting of ice soldiers and clay people. They were doing well at first, but the opponents would gain upper hand after awhile.
"We have to arm up!" Barin exclaimed.
"By jungle law," the Phantom called forth his powers, "the ghost who walks calls forth the strength of ten tigers!"
His ten tiger power helped the Phantom take down the ice soldiers and claymen that he was facing and he eventually defeated his opponents. Kisa helped Jedda defeat her opponents.
"Good work, Kisa." Jedda replied petting her panther, "Good girl."
Eventually, Barin defeated the last of the group's opponents with help from Jedda and her father.
"Thank you guys." Barin told his group, "It pays to have valuable members with you."
"You are correct, Barin." the Phantom replied.
"We need to keep going." Jedda told the others, "Rick is counting on us."
The group continued on through the maze.
Mandrake, Kshin, Zuffy, Kendra and Vultan were facing off against their opponents. Kendra had a plan that she wanted to set in motion.
"Say Vultan," Kendra looked over at the Hawkman in question, "You would not mind if I borrowed your staff a minute would you?"
"Sure." Vultan was surprised at the question, "but why do you need to borrow my mace for, lass?"
"You are about to find out." Kendra replied as she took the mace and managed to find a good hiding place, where the ice soldiers and clay men could not find her.
"What is she doing?" Kshin asked. Zuffy stammered in agreement as the zuffoid was confused as well.
"I honestly have no clue." Mandrake answered.
"Where is the small female Earthling?" one of the ice soldiers asked.
"Who are you calling small?!" boomed Kendra's voice before she stepped out and started to bludgeon the ice soldier to bits. She did the same thing with the second ice soldier. Kshin and Zuffy ducked out of the way as the soldiers were being torn to bits.
"So that is what she had planned." Mandrake stated.
"I like this one." Vultan replied.
"I have always wanted to do that." Kendra stated as she gave Vultan his mace back. The soldiers suddenly exploded and it ended up creating a giant hole in the maze the group was trapped in.
"Kendra just gave us an exit for this maze!" Kshin exclaimed. Zuffy exclaimed happily.
"That was magnificent!" Mandrake told the newest Defender as he was impressed with her.
"Thank you, Mandrake." Kendra replied.
"Let's head towards the exit!" Vultan told the group. They did as they were intending to do.
Lothar, LJ, Thun and Tavrok were face to face against their opponents of ice soldiers and claymen.
"They are not letting up!" LJ exclaimed.
"And neither shall we!" Thun replied, "We shall defeat workers of Ming!"
The group proceeded to take on their opponents. They were able to defeat the ice robots with ease, but with the clay people being more hostile and angry than ever, it was a little bit harder for them than usual. Lothar was the first to defeat his opponents.
"That should put those clay people in their place!" Lothar exclaimed. Thun was able to defeat his opponents with ease and LJ got help from Tavrok in defeating his opponents.
"Thank you." LJ told the prince, "Any second more, I would have been toast."
"We should head for the exit of this maze." Tavrok told the others.
As for Ming and his forces, Shanna noticed that Rick was beginning to come to.
"Ming," Shanna informed the tyrant, "our prisoner is beginning to come around. Shall we proceed further with the torture?"
"Just what kind of torture are you implying to be exact?" Ming asked as he wondered if Shanna and/or Astra had something else up their sleeves, possibly against him. She first whispered the idea to the emperor, who appeared to be pleased with the idea she had in mind.
"That sounds like an excellent idea, Shanna." Ming stated.
"What is it that she has planned?" Astra asked. Shanna swiftly whispered her idea onto her ear as well.
"Well." Astra replied, "I do not see how that can be a problem. It could be a way for us to break him."
Minutes later, Rick regained consciousness and wondered what was in store for him now. What more could Ming and his forces want from him.
"It seems this young Defender has came to, Ming." Astra announced.
"I am aware of that, Astra." Ming replied.
"Morning, sleepy head." Shanna taunted Rick, "It appears that you have woken up in time to learn that your father and the rest of those Defenders of the Earth have now been destroyed!"
"What?!" Rick exclaimed in shock and denial, "No. It is not true! It cannot be! I do not believe you!"
"You speak so bravely for one who is doomed." Astra added.
"Really ladies," Ming stepped forward himself, "You both are so cruel. I was hoping to spare young Gordon from that blow before he joins the others in meeting the same fate. Since you let the cat out of the bag Shanna, let Rick Gordon see for himself."
"Absolutely." Shanna replied before lifting her staff which projected an image of each group being destroyed by Ming's forces. First, Rick saw his father being destroyed along with the rest of his group, then he saw Jedda and her group being killed by Ming's forces as well as the other two groups. Rick saw all this in horror and fell into deep despair, "No. No! It cannot be! No!"
"But it is young Gordon." Ming replied happily, "Now you know what will happen to all who defy me! Do not despair. You will soon join your friends. Very soon. Take him to a private cell until we decide what to do with him."
Rick looked down and started to cry, believing this to be true, "No. Dad, Jedda. No."
The guards proceeded to take Rick away to a private cell, that was not located in the dungeon.