AN: I envisioned from this chapter to the end of the story, everything happens in a two to three-hour period. So, everything that happens from this point on, is occurring in a rapid succession, meaning the characters are not being given enough time to process one event before another happens.
Chapter 9: Here Comes the Calvary?
Shego woke the next morning to the sight of Hope asleep in the bed beside her. She smiled at the notion of them just being on vacation. As she smiled, she swore she heard music coming from outside. This intrigued her while she laid in bed and listened to the music, before it stopped playing. After narrowing her eyes at what she heard, she heard several people laughing.
After a moment, she decided to get out of bed and see what was going on outside. Right as she came outside, she saw a small ring of clovers in the parking lot. While she studied the group, she spotted a small cd player in the middle of the ring, and someone pressing a button on the player. Shego almost laugh at the sight of Amber in the middle of the ring and knew then that the woman was responsible for the music she heard.
While she watched the group, Shego heard the song "Celebration" by Kool and Gang start to play, and she saw Amber start to dance to the song. The sight of the woman dancing caused Shego to laugh out loud not only at the sight of her dancing to the song, but her lip sync the words to the song while bobbing her head and pointing at the clovers. She watched Amber try to get the men to join her in enjoying the song, and they all eventually did. Shego could not contain her laughter at the silly sight. During her laughter, she saw Amber smile at her while she continue to dance to the song.
Finally, you guys are getting along, Shego thought while she watched the group have fun.
Apparently, the commotion woke Jes, and Shego saw him come out of the room beside the one she was sharing with Hope. She watched him come out of his room, while he stretched and rubbed his eyes. He stopped rubbing his eyes abruptly at the sight of Amber having fun with the clovers. He looked back at Shego with an astonished smile and Shego only smiled back at him.
They watched the display until the song was over, and Amber turned the player off. She told the men around her that was it for the day, and they made sounds of disappointment while they dispersed to do their duties for the day. Amber promised the men as they left, they will get to have more fun later in the day, which seemed to please the men. Shego watched the woman smile at the men wanting to have more fun before Amber started walking toward her.
Amber's look of happiness, however, melted into complete fear and worry when out of the blue, Cage screamed from the upper balcony, "Everyone find cover! The Lowardians are here!"
Before Shego could question him, she heard a whistling sound grow louder, and to her horror, she watched Amber look up at the sound, and right before an explosion appeared right behind her, Amber glanced back at Shego with a sad and grim look. The explosion threw fire and asphalt up into the air behind the woman and sent her to flying through the air in the direction of the office rubble. Shego gasped at the sight of Amber slamming back first into the very metal rods she had pointed out the day before. In a state of shock over what she just witnessed, Shego glanced back at Jes, who had the same expression she also had on her face.
All she could manage to say was, "Jes! Help Amber, I get Hope!"
The man could only nod at the request and ran to Amber. Right as he got to her, he saw she was still alive, but she had rebar sticking out of her chest and abdominal region, and blood coming from her mouth. As he knelt down to pull her from the metal sticks, Amber grabbed him by the collar and shook her head at him.
While he narrowed his eyes at her, Amber commanded, "Kid, keep them…safe…until they get…here."
"They," was all Jes questioned, which caused Amber to point past Jes to the sky with a bloody and shaking hand.
Jes watched her point to the sky and he glanced behind him and saw the sky had hundreds of small balls of fire in it. He widen his eyes at the sight and only looked back at Amber when he felt she had stopped holding his collar. When he looked back at her, he saw her eyes were closed and she was not moving.
Moments before, Wardom stood in the room he had not been in for a while. The smell of burnt fresh had filled the room during the time their guest was in the room. He had chosen to avoid the room as much as he could, the smell that was in the room was sickening to him. He, however, was summoned to the room by the guard, because of news about their guest. Wardom had hoped their guest had finally decided to at least share his name.
Wardom's hope was dashed away, however, the moment he entered the room. A sound from the vitals monitor, told him why he was summoned to the room. He stared blankly at the flat line scroll across the monitor for a time. He could not understand how an individual would willingly allow themselves to be tortured to the point of death instead of stating their name to avoid more punishment.
Wardom finally asked after studying the monitor, "How long ago did this happen?"
"About ten minutes ago," the guard replied while he stood at the controls for the devices that suspended their guest.
Wardom groaned with annoyance and said, "Release him and dispose of the body…what a waste," before he left the guard to his task.
Wardom shook his head at the insanity of the lifeless body as it fell to the floor. He could not understand how foolish the individual was. He had even pleaded with him to just tell them anything so the torture would end, even his pity was not enough to prevent the unnecessary death.
After Wardom left the room to return to the bridge, the guard walked to the body on the floor to do the job he was tasked with. Right as he reached down to lift up the body, he saw a blue mist start to come from the shrouded hood of the individual. He watched the mist with wonder while it floated in the air above the hooded man. A moment later, to the shock of the guard, a pair of glowing blue eyes appeared in the hood and they were looking right at him. Before he could react to the sight, the guard was thrown across the room by an unseen force, causing him to slam into the cell's wall and he slid to the floor, where he laid unconscious, in a crumbled state. A laugh escaped the hood of the shrouded individual while he laid on the floor, and in the next instance, the figure disappeared a blue mist and was no longer in the room.
Unaware to what just happened in the cell after he left, Wardom walked onto the bridge and surveyed the crew working at their stations while he made his way to his seat. Right as he sat down, a beeping sound started to be heard from one of the crew station. Wardom looked at the crew member as she worked at the controls before her.
After a moment, Wardom asked, "What is it, ensign?"
"Sir, we just pick up a signal that past by us, heading to the planet," the Lowardian explained while she looked at Wardom with a concerned look.
"What do you mean past by us? I didn't see anything," Wardom questioned while he looked out the windows on the bridge.
"Sir, the whole fleet is reporting that they are picking up signals as well," another Lowardian stated while he looked at Wardom.
Wardom looked at the man with narrowed eyes, before he said with annoyance, "What does the signal sound like!?"
After the female Lowardian worked at her controls for a moment, the song "Citizen Soldier," by Three Doors Down started to play on the bridge. Wardom and the crew listened to the song with wonder because they never heard that type of music before.
Before the song had finished, a Lowardian spoke up and said, "Sir, hundreds of objects are entering this planet's atmosphere, the whole fleet is reporting the same sightings."
"Are there any life readings, and put it on the screen," Wardom said while he began to wonder what was going on.
Wardom only got a no about life readings from the Lowardian while the screen on the bridge showed the planet and as the Lowardian stated, the planet had hundreds of small fire balls in its atmosphere. While they watched the fireballs, they noticed the flaming comets were concentrating over the land masses for the planet. The admiral narrowed his eyes at the sight and before he could question the strange spectacle, an alarm started to blare on the bridge.
"What is the matter," Wardom questioned while his attention was diverted from the screen to the Lowardian beside him.
"Sir, we are getting an urgent message from Lowardia," the Lowardian replied while she lowered her headset from her head and a concern look etched over her face.
Wardom narrowed his eyes at the Lowardians look before he said, "Put it on the screen."
A moment later, the screen switched from view of the planet to a decorated Lowardian standing in front of a large window that showed a view overlooking the capital of Lowardia. Wardom and the bridge crew saw the man looking at the city, while they saw smoke and fires all over the capital and a massive fleet of ships they never seen before patrolling the skies over the city. Occasionally, a squadron of small crafts would be seen in the distance while the crafts would fly by the ships. After a moment watching the scene out the window, the Lowardian on the screen turned his attention to Wardom and his crew, showing he had a sad, concern expression on his face.
After watching the sight, Wardom questioned with concern, "What is going on Chancellor Warda?"
Chancellor Warda took a deep breathe before he said a word, then he said, "Admiral Wardom, this fleet appeared in our skies twelve hours ago, in their initial assault, they destroyed the High Council and sweep aside our defense forces, I only survived the attack because I was not at the Capital building, I am the only surviving government official left."
"Who are they? Have they stated why they attacked Lowardia? Have they tried to communicate with you," Wardom questioned in a rapid succession while reeling from the shock of his home world under attack.
The man on the screen glanced back at the scene behind him, before he said, "At day break we finally got a message from them, all they said was, 'Lowardia surrender or all will perish,' we had no choice Admiral, we caved to their demand, and as I speak their forces are landing all over planet…Wardom, Lowardia is under occupation by an unknown force."
"Lowardians don't surrender, Chancellor," Wardom replied with fiery anger.
Warda only smiled at the outburst before he said, "Admiral there is honor in never surrendering on a battle field. However, you must understand, we are at their mercy. If we resist, every Lowardian here will die. Only a fool would risk the deaths of billions for a noble idea. They allowed me to inform you what's going on here, Wardom. I want you to take your fleet and leave that forsaken planet, find somewhere to colonize and rebuild Lowardia. Goodbye, Admiral Wardom."
After Warda's farewell, the screen went blank and the Lowardians on the bridge looked at the emptiness of space with expressionless faces. Wardom sat in his seat and looked at the vastness of space while contemplating what to do next. He glanced at the crew and saw they were looking at him with shock and hopelessness. However, reality set back in when an alarm started to sound on the bridge and Wardom came out of his trance at the sound of the alarm, while the crew went to work at their controls.
"What is the matter," Wardom finally asked after a moment of hearing the alarm.
"The guard for cellblock nine tripped the alarm, sir," a Lowardian answered while she peeked at Wardom.
Wardom narrowed his eyes at hearing the cellblock number and he pressed a button on his chair before he said, "Guard, what is the matter?"
"Sir, our guest escaped," a voice was heard saying threw the speaker that was on Wardom's chair.
"What do you mean escape? He was dead when I left," Wardom questioned with confusion.
"I can't explain it, sir. I was knocked out by something after you left, when I came to the prisoner was gone," the voice replied back to Wardom's question.
Wardom pressed the button on his chair again and looked up at his bridge crew. They only looked back at Wardom for a moment before they busied themselves at their station.
After a moment, one of them said, "I located the prisoner, he's on deck ten, correction he's now on deck twenty-one…now he's in hanger bay four…he's stealing a fighter, sir!"
"Close all hangar doors," Wardom ordered while he stood up and wonder how the individual was even alive still.
After a moment, Wardom watch the Lowardian shake his head before saying to Wardom, "Sorry, sir. He managed to launch."
The crew and Wardom watch as a Lowardian fighter appeared out of the side of the ship before it banked over the top of the ship and headed right at the bridge. Wardom was astonished at the sight of not only the individual being alive but was able to pilot a Lowardian fighter with ease. The sight made him forget about the tragedy taking place back at his home world.
"What you want us to do," a Lowardian questioned while they watched the small craft near the bridge.
Wardom looked at the fighter for a moment longer before he said, "Shoot him…"
Before Wardom could finish his command, an alarm sounded in the bridge, causing Wardom to take his eyes off the fighter. He glanced at his crew, as if expecting an explanation for the alarm.
"Sir…we have pick up a ship signal heading to us," a Lowardian said with fear in his voice.
Wardom narrowed his eyes at the man because of how he sounded, before Wardom said, "On screen."
"Sir, what about the fighter," a Lowardian question, which caused Wardom to divert his eyes to the fighter as it past the bridge. He saw a pair of glowing blue eyes, in the cockpit of the fighter, seemly looking right him as the fighter shot by the bridge.
Wardom said after the fighter was out of sight, "Let him go, His Highness can deal with him."
After his words, Wardom looked at the screen in time to see a ship streak in view before them. His look of wonder turned to rage at recognizing the ship. The ship was exactly like the ones at his home world and after it came into view it stopped its movement. He wondered, however, why a single ship like the ones at Lowardia, was here before them.
He received his answer when a Lowardian said, "Sir, they are trying to communicate."
"On screen," was all Wardom said while he started walking to the screen.
"Audio only, sir," the Lowardian replied while he watched Wardom walk by him.
Wardom stopped his walk and said back to the Lowardian, "Very well."
A moment later, a voice came over the bridge speakers demanding, "Lowardian fleet, surrender now, or be destroyed."
Wardom was amazed that a single ship was demanding an entire fleet surrender to it. He stood where he was and studied the ship, while his eyes darted in random directions at the vastness of space before them.
"Is that the only ship you detect," Wardom questioned while he stared at the ship on the screen.
"Yes, sir…nothing detected even on the long-range scan," a Lowardian replied while he worked at his controls.
"Sir, how should we respond," another Lowardian questioned as he looked at Wardom studying the ship.
Wardom looked back at the Lowardian after the question and said, "Comm, inform all ships, that can, to target that ship and destroy it."
"Yes, sir," came a reply from a Lowardian while Wardom returned to his seat.
Right as Wardom sat down, a Lowardian said, "The fleet is ready, sir."
Wardom looked at his crew for a moment before he said, "Let's show who ever they are, that there are still warriors among the Lowardians…order the fleet to attack."
After his order, Wardom watched as hundreds of red lasers streaked toward the lone ship. The ship did not try to evade the incoming fire, nor did it tried to return fire. This amazed Wardom as he watched as the lasers struck the ship, causing explosions and fire to appear all over the ship. A moment later, the ship was consumed by massive explosions and the ship broke into large fragments that went in multiple directions.
After the destruction of the ship, Wardom said, "Inform the fleet to break orbit and…"
"Sir, we are picking up multiple signals," a Lowardian said interrupting Wardom's orders.
"What kind of signals," Wardom while he stood up again.
"Just this, sir," the Lowardian replied before he worked at his controls.
A moment later, the speakers on the bridge started playing Franklin Delano Roosevelt's D-day prayer. The Lowardians listened in silence as the prayer played. Wardom narrowed his eyes at the words while questioning the meaning behind why the prayer was being played in the vacuum of space. After the prayer ended, Wardom looked at his crew and saw they too were puzzled at the odd event.
Before Wardom could comment on the event, a Lowardian stated with terror in his voice, "Sir, ships are appearing front of us…sir the entire fleet is reporting ships appearing."
Wardom shot a look of surprise at the Lowardian before he said, "On screen!"
To everyone's amazement on the bridge, the screen showed ship after ship streaked in and the ships looked just like the one, they just destroyed. Wardom could only look at the ships of varies sizes appearing, with the largest of them able to rival his ship in size. He watched the scene in bewilderment, he knew of the fleet at his home planet, but another fleet had just appeared at this planet too. The sheer size of their apparent enemy amazed him, and he wondered who this unnamed adversary was.
"How many are they," Wardom said while he questioned his wondering thoughts out loud as he sat in his chair.
His crew heard the question and one of them said, "As of right now, they outnumber us two to one, but they are still appearing."
Wardom only looked at the Lowardian that spoke for a moment before another Lowardian said, "Sir, their launching fighters and preparing to attack. What's your orders, sir?"
"Inform the fleet to prepare for battle, tell them to target what they can," Wardom said as he trailed off in thought before saying, "We are about to be in the fight of our lives-battle stations!"
After his orders, an alarm sounded on the bridge and the crew on the bridge busy themselves at their stations. Wardom watched the activity on the bridge before he glanced at the screen. He watched groups of small crafts leaving the ships and started toward his fleet. Moments later, he watched as white flashes came off every single enemy ship and saw hundreds of white lasers streak toward his fleet.
On Earth, Jes studied the lifeless body of Amber and the feeling of sadness started to consume him while the sounds of war echoed around him. They did not have the best of relationships; one would even call it a bitter loathing of each other. However, for Jes to see the woman dead, was not a wish Jes ever had for Amber, and for it to be a fact before his eyes, depressed him.
While he looked at the woman, he heard Shego and Hope run to his side and them gasp at the sight of Amber. He heard them question if she was alive and he responded with a slow shake of his head from side to side. His answer caused the women to kneel beside him and he heard their cries of mourning while he continued to look upon Amber.
Reality set back in for Jes when he heard a voice screaming at him saying, "Kid, get it together! There's nothing we can do for her now!"
At hearing the voice, Jes look to the source of the voice, and he saw Cage peering down at him from the upper balcony, while red lasers shot by him and he would return fire at his attackers. The sight of this caused Jes to peer across the parking lot. He saw clovers and Lowardians exchanging fire at each other, while some were fighting one another in close quarters. Jes looked back at Cage, who was concentrating on the attacking Lowardians.
"Can you hold them," Jes managed to questioned while he watched Cage in his firefight with the Lowardians.
While Cage hid behind a column for the balcony, he looked down at Jes and said, "We will do our damnest, now get the ladies out of here! Remember our promise," before he bent around the pillar and fired at the Lowardians.
Jes nodded to the promise and stood while he forced the women with him to stand as well. They first resisted the idea of leaving Amber, but when Jes told them he had to get them to safety, they hesitantly stood and followed him to the road. Once they were to the road, Jes lead them down the side walk toward the white house in the distance while the sound of battle at the motel continued.
When they had traveled down the sidewalk some distance, they saw a large group of Lowardians appeared in the road, right at the white house. The moment the Lowardians appeared, an explosion appeared in the sky behind the ever-nearing comets streaking to the surface. At hearing the sound of the explosion, the three people quickly looked into the sky, before they searched for a way to get out of sight of the Lowardians heading up the road to them.
After they crossed the street and went into an alley, Shego said sadly, "They're finally here…just they're a little too late."
"Who are 'they'," Jes questioned again while he lead the ladies down the alley.
"I don't know…Amber was the one who discover someone was coming to help us," Shego explained before she peeked up at the sky.
"Well, we might want to find cover from them also," Hope stated, causing the others to stop and look at her standing with her back to them, and they saw she was looking to the skies.
Shego and Jes looked to the skies as well, and they saw the fire balls were nearly to the city. To their amazement, they watched some of the comets disappear behind buildings on the other side of the main road, throwing dirt into the sky upon impact with the ground. While they watched a fireball slam into a building on the other side of the main street, they saw Lowardians appeared in the alley way and the Lowardians saw them.
The sight of the Lowardians looking at them caused the three people to run down the alley away from the Lowardians. While they ran, an occasional red laser streaked by them, causing the three of them to run as fast as them could go. Their chase ended abruptly because when they turned the corner, they saw the alley ended at a dead end. They looked around frantically for an escape, and they saw a single door in the alley, which was locked with a padlock.
"Get that opened…I keep them at bay," Shego said to Jes while her hands flamed up.
Jes only nodded to Shego and went to kicking the door and slamming his shoulder into the door. While Jes worked to get the door open, Shego pressed herself against the wall and eased to the corner. Once she was to the corner, Shego peeked around it and saw the Lowardians were running to them. She eased out past the corner, exposing only half her body and took aim with a flaming hand.
The Lowardians stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of a woman pointing a flaming green hand at them and before they could react, Shego shot her green plasma at one of them. The moment the green projectile struck the Lowardian, he collapsed to the ground. The other Lowardians scattered for cover after seeing the Lowardian hit the ground and the remaining Lowardians tried to return fire at the woman with glowing green hands. Shego, however, ducked back behind the corner, and would only expose part of her face and one of her hands, while she held the Lowardians off. After a moment, Jes managed to get the door to open and Shego made one last parting shot at the Lowardians before she followed along behind Jes and Hope into the building.
After Shego was in the building, she saw they were in a hallway with many doors. She watched Jes try ever door he came to, while she kept her flaming hands pointed at the door to the outside and walked backwards with the others. Finally, after checking several doors, Jes found one that was open, and the group entered into the room. After they were inside, Jes locked the door behind them and because of Shego's flaming hands, they saw they were in an apartment. After Jes had settled in at the door, and the ladies knelt by the couch in the room, Shego allowed her hands' flame to die out.
A moment later, they heard the Lowardians enter the building, and the three people heard doors being checked and Lowardian voices question where the people go to. They listened in silence as the footsteps neared the door to the room, they were in. They heard the footsteps stop at the door and heard someone try the locked doorknob. A sound of annoyance came from the other side of the door, then the footsteps continued on until it seemed the Lowardians had checked every door in the hall. The three people listened to the footsteps go back by the door and slowly fade away as if the Lowardians had left the building.
In the dim lit room, the ladies heard Jes sigh in the silence. However, the sound of a door being kicked open from down the hall, caused the three of them to panic. They listened to the doors, one by one. be kicked open as the sound grew closer to them. Right as whoever was forcing the doors open got to the door to the room they were in, there was a pause of silence, which unnerved the three of them. Before Jes could react, the door threw open with violent force, causing the door to hit Jes, knocking him to the floor right in the doorway.
At the sight of a Lowardian standing In the doorway, Shego flamed up her hands again, but before she could react, the Lowardian kicked Jes in the side of the head while Jes tried to get up, sending him rolling toward the ladies. Before the Lowardian could do anything else, Shego shot him with a green projectile, which send him flying into the opposite wall for the hallway. After the commotion, the ladies heard several Lowardian voices from the end of the hall. The voices caused Shego to jump to her feet and run to Jes.
Once she was to him, she grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and she started to drag him to the couch. However, she stopped dragging him at the sight of a ball, with blinking lights, fly through the doorway, right into the room with them. Shego could only gasp at the sight and she closed her eyes while she tighten her grip onto Jes. Even with her eyes closed, she saw the flash and she heard a loud explosion. She thought it was the end for them, but after a moment, she realized nothing happened.
This realization caused her to open her eyes and to her surprise, she saw that Jes and she were inside a dome of blue energy, while the blue energy kept the grenade's explosion from them. As the explosion went over the dome, Shego glanced beside her and saw Hope was beside her and her hands were glowing blue. She watched the woman with amazement, because she never knew Hope had Go powers.
"How long did you know you had Go powers," Shego questioned Hope while the explosion made it past them.
"Ever since I was a kid," Hope stated while her flaming hands went out.
"Did your mom know," Shego managed to ask before she started coughing from the smoke in the room.
Hope shook her head at the question and said, "She didn't, only Amber knew, and she told me to never reveal the powers unless it was absolutely necessary."
As Shego coughed from the smoke from the explosion, she heard several footsteps approaching the doorway. She looked at Hope and nodded to her while she stood up. The moment she stood, several Lowardians stormed into the room and they stopped just in the doorway at the sight of the women still alive and standing.
"You pop that force field when they attack and keep it up until I tell you otherwise," Shego told Hope right before both of the women's hands started to bath the room in green and blue glows.
Before anyone could move a muscle, a rumbling sound was heard in the building above them. Everyone in the room looked up at the ceiling as sound got louder and closer. In the next instance, something crashed through the ceiling right where the Lowardians were. None of them could react in time and whatever came through the ceiling fell right on top of them, burying all but one of them under rubble and debris. The lone survivor of the incident only had a leg trapped under the wreckage, and he tried to free himself, but he could not.
The moment something crashed through the ceiling, Shego out of reaction grabbed Hope and ran behind the back of the couch, using it as cover. After they were behind cover, Shego peeked the between the seats of the couch to see what had happened. While she looked through the slits between the seats, she saw a lone Lowardian trying to free himself from the wreckage and she spotted what came through the ceiling. Sitting among the remains of the building, sat a metal egg shaped pod, only large enough for a man to be inside of.
After a moment of silence, Shego watched the center of the pod start form lines and indentions. She watched the markings start to lap and fold away, revealing a doorway into the pod. After the door was revealed, Shego glanced at the Lowardian, who she saw became frantic in trying to free himself once he saw the door be revealed on the side of the pod.
However, nothing happened after the doorway was seen at first, but a moment later, sounds of popping, crackling, and static came from the shrouded interior of the pod. Shego recognized the sounds immediately and she saw a glowing red triangle shape appear inside the pod, before it rose higher inside the pod. Before she could question the sight, she watch the glowing triangle come to the doorway, and a man geared for war walk out of the pod.
The soldier that came out of the pod was dressed head to toe in body armor that was painted with an urban tiger camouflage pattern and under his armor he wore a grey, tight fitting jumpsuit. From the top of his helmet, to the tip of his boots, every square inch of the man appeared to be covered with custom molded, fitted armor and clothing only appeared where the armor did not cover. His boots ran all the away up to the top of his calves. On top of his boots was armor that covered from his knee, down to his mid shin. It covered the front of his knee and wrapped his calves and shins.
Past his knees, was armor that covered both the front and back of his thighs. Strapped on his left thigh was a water canteen, which told Shego that this was in fact a man since he needed water. Strapped to the man's right thigh was an eight-inch ka-bar knife. Around his hips and waist was a combination of armor and utility belt.
The compartments on the belt varied in size. Some appeared to be of a size that were small enough to hold ammunition as well as smaller gun magazines. Other compartments appeared to be larger, and Shego could only guess what they held, but she did not want to find out if she ended up on the wrong side of the utility belt.
Up above the belt was a vest that covered the entirely of the man's torso. The armored vest covered from his shoulders to the bottom of his neck, to the very farthest that the utility belt would allow it to cover. The vest covered his chest and back, indicating that vest was to give him a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree protection for his vital organs. The only unprotected part of the vest was where his arms came out at. On his vest was more satchels of larger size, seemly to carry magazines for the rifle that hung at his hip by a strap that draped across his chest. Shego spotted a pistol in a holster that was attached to his vest as well, that was positioned in an easy to access area for the man.
Finally, Shego paid attention to the man's helmet, she realized that it seemed to be the most distinguished feature of the soldier's armor. She saw that the red triangle shape she saw was the visor on the face of the soldier's helmet. The visor had a glow to it, but once light hit the visor, the glow seemed to disappear, and the visor would lack luster and be dull.
Shego watched the man of war walk out of the pod and descend out of the rubble. During the soldier's walk, the Lowardian frantically tried to free himself and reach his weapon that he lost when the pod crashed through the ceiling. The man stopped walking at the sight of the Lowardian not being able to reach the weapon. Shego watched the soldier draw his pistol and saw the Lowardian hold his hands up to the man. The man, however, fired three shots of white energy bolts in rapid succession into the Lowardian, causing the room to light up white and sparks to come off the Lowardian. While Shego watched the killing of the Lowardian, she was surprised at the man's callousness.
As she watched the man, she saw he returned his pistol to its place, and he snapped his look right at Jes when Jes coughed. She watched the man start walking straight at them while he accessed a pouch on his utility belt. Shego did not wait to see what he pulled from the pouch because the moment the man was to Jes, she sprung from her hiding place with flaming hands at the ready. Before the man could react, Shego had a flaming hand right in the shrouded man's face, and her flaming hand allowed her to see what looked like a pair of eyes looking through the visor back at her. While she studied the man's eyes, she watched lines travel up and down the visor, and she realized the visor was made of energy, as If it was a force field.
"Stay away from him," Shego commanded right before Hope revealed herself with glowing blue hands.
The man looked at Shego holding him up and held his hands up, revealing a small device in his hand, before he said only above a whisper, "Relax, ma'am. I'm one of the good guys."
Shego narrowed her eyes at the man's statement, and her outstretched arm started to relax before the man said, "I need to check his injuries," as he slowly lowered his hands and gradually lowered himself down on one knee by Jes, while he watched Shego the during his movements. Shego watched the man continue to look at her for a moment before he started scanning Jes with the device in his hand.
"Who are you," Shego asked while she knelt down beside Jes while her hand's glow disappeared.
"I'm Sergeant Gabriel of rat one three, but you can call me Gabe," the man replied just above a whisper, as he replaced the device, he used to scan Jes, back in its pouch, "He's going to be ok, other than having a wicked headache when he wakes."
"Rat," Shego questioned with amusement while Hope knelt down beside her.
"Recon advance team, ma'am," Gabe said as Jes started to wake.
The moment Jes woke, he moaned and held his head until he saw Gabe looking at him. The sight of the man startled Jes and he scampered away from him, right into Hope's lap. Upon feeling Hope had stopped him, Jes looked up at her and back at Gabe with confusion.
Gabe only chuckled a bit at the display before he said, "Relax, kid. I won't hurt you."
"You're are part of an advance team for who," Shego questioned Gabe after Jes had settled down beside her.
Gabe, however, acted like he did not hear her because he said between pops and clicks, "Commander…I found three civilians…ok, I'll ask," before he looked at the three people and asked, "What are your names?"
Shego was surprised at the request and looked at Jes and Hope, who she saw was looking at her, as if they wanted her to answer.
She finally did after a moment by saying, "I'm the supreme one, this is Hope and Jes."
"Sir…it's priority…yes sir…queen of spades…jack and queen of hearts…no, sir…no ace of spades or clubs," Gabe said while he looked at the others with him.
The reference to cards told Shego who all Gabe was referring to, and she sighed at the ace of spades. She knew that card meant Amber, and grief started to set in for her while she finally had a moment for it. She, however, only allowed the feelings for a brief moment, she knew if she survived the day, she had time to grief later.
"Yes sir…" Gabe said while he lifted his left wrist as if he was looking at a watch and a 3d hologram rendering of the city appeared above his wrist while Gabe said, "We are two clicks from you and in the middle of green skins," while everyone looked at the map, which showed their exact location in the city by a dot on the map.
After the map disappeared into Gabe's wrist, he said, "Squad! Relocate at predetermined location," before he looked at everyone with him and asked, "Everyone ready to move?"
"Where you taking us," Shego questioned while she stood along with Gabe.
"Commander Michael wants me to get you guys to the courthouse he's at," Gabe explained while he headed to the rubble his pod caused, "So, stay on my tail and follow me. We'll try to link up with my squad."
Not another word was spoken as Shego and the couple filed in behind their 'escort' and they headed out of the apartment. They slithered through the debris Gabe caused, right out into the now blocked hallway, and through the only doorway that lead out of the hallway. After they made their way to the lobby for the apartment complex, they saw the entry for the building had collapsed in due to decades of neglect, and perhaps from Gabe's grand entrance.
At the sight of the maze of twisted building remains, Gabe sighed and started to navigate through the wreckage while everyone followed him. As they transverse the rubble, they could hear the sounds of war erupt all over the city with explosions and laser fire seemly coming from everywhere. As they were coming to the end of their trek through the building remains, they heard voices which caused Gabe to motion everyone to stop. Shego and the couple watched Gabe slowly ease his head past the debris in front of him, and he darted his head quickly behind the cover.
"Everyone be quiet. We got Lowardians in the street…we will let them pass before we head to the alley across the street," Gabe whispered to the group before he snuck a peek again.
After a moment, the voices started to fade away, and Gabe slowly started to advance to the street while he motioned the group to follow him. The group watched Gabe painstakingly ease through the rubble until everyone was out of the debris and were on the sidewalk. Once they were on the sidewalk, they saw several Lowardians with their backs to them, while the Lowardians walked away from them.
"Be quiet, and get to the alley quickly," Gabe told in a whisper to the group while he knelt on the edge of the street and watched the Lowardians.
Everyone did as Gabe asked and made it to the alley without an incident. Once they were in the alley, the group watched their 'escort' slowly side step across the street in a half crouch while he watched the Lowardians until he was in the alley. After they were in the alley, Gabe motioned the group to follow with a nod as he past, and everyone with him could have swore they heard him made a sigh of relief as he went by them.
After Shego felt they were in the clear, she asked softly, "So, what are you an advance team for?
"For the main force. We are to clear a landing spot for them, but they won't come down until the fleet breaks the blockade," Gabe explained while he slowly checked an alcove in the alley.
"Oh," was all Shego replied before she peeked up at the sky, and she saw several explosions appear.
I don't know if I would like to see what's going on up there, Shego mentally commented to herself while she wondered why these people are risking their lives for Earth.
"Yeah, we hoped the Lowardian fleet would have made it easy for us and surrendered to the drone ship, but they fired on it instead, now we have to force a surrender," Gabe explained as they neared another street.
"Why you want them to surrender for," Jes inquired while the group eased up to the road, and Gabe checked both ways, before he slowly crossed the road with the group following along behind.
After they were out of sight in the next alley, Gabe said, "We have two missions in the universe. To ensure peace in the universe and to ensure the survival of all alien species unless they are deemed too dangerous to exist in the universe. We could easily wipe out the Lowardians…we already control their home world and forcing the Lowardians to surrender here would end this conflict."
"So, the Lowardians aren't too dangerous for the universe," Jes questioned with disbelief.
"Nope," was all Gabe replied as he eased up to a door in the alley, and once he was to it, he kicked it open.
Gabe motioned everyone to go into the building with a nod while he stood outside by the door and watched both ways down the alley. After everyone was in the building, Gabe came in after them and started leading them down a hallway lined by metal shelves. Once they were through the doorway at the end of the hall, they saw they came into a large long forgotten kitchen. As the group followed Gabe through the galley, they eyed the remnants of the once food preparation stations.
After a moment of walking between the kitchen staff positions, Gabe chuckled before he said, "You know, I wonder how long a lizard could survive in a freezer," while he peeked at the opened freezer at one end of the kitchen.
The odd comment caused everyone with him to narrow their eyes at him. However, before they could question what Gabe meant, Gabe dropped to one knee all of the sudden right as they neared the doorway leading into the diner.
Before anyone could say anything, Gabe whispered, "Hold up," and he whistled softly. A faint counter whistle came from the diner area and a moment later, a man dressed like Gabe slowly cornered the doorway until he was looking right at the group with his gun pointed at them. At the sight of the group, the man lifted his gun and saluted Gabe.
While the man was dressed like Gabe, with the exception of satchels and extra weapons arranged different, the group saw his helmet and visor was not like Gabe's. Instead of a red triangle shaped visor, the man had glowing blue hash marks, slanting toward the side of his head with most of his visor was covered by metal. The metal on his visor was arranged in a way that made it seem like he had a face on his visor, and on the sides of his helmet, he had small domes that made it look like he had ear muffs on his helmet.
After the soldier saluted Gabe, he disappeared back into the diner while Gabe stood up and started walking to the diner. Once everyone entered the diner, Shego and the couple saw that the diner was positioned on the corner of a four-way intersection, with the front door facing the intersection and large windows of the diner allowed long ago customers a view of the streets, which were flanked by buildings.
In the diner, Shego and the couple saw along with the soldier that appeared in the doorway, four other soldiers were in the diner. They saw all of the soldiers had different designs for their helmets and visors, along with different color visors. None of them had the same or even similar design on the face of their visor. Either they had a visor like Gabe, but had metal protrude into the visor, giving them a teeth like appearance in the visor, or they had an actual face appearance like the soldier they saw in the doorway.
Shego became curious about the different appearances. She wonder why they all only looked similar from the neck down. It was as if the soldiers had no conformity other than their armor had the same camouflage pattern, and the head wear they had seemed more of a personal choice.
Before she could question Gabe about the curiosity, Gabe asked the soldier from the doorway, "What's our situation, Corporal?"
"Well, sir, four men are unaccounted for, and a company of Lowardians, down the street have this intersection locked down, we managed to slip in here before they saw us, but I think their about to move this way," the corporal stated as he pressed against a wall of the diner and looked out one of its large windows.
Gabe sighed and said, "That's the price we had to pay for deploying hot, " before he looked right at Shego and said, "Your Highness, it might be best if your entourage and you get behind the counter, it's about to get crazy up in here."
Shego only nodded at the advise and went behind the counter for cover while Jes and Hope followed behind her. Once they were behind the counter, the group watched through one the large windows, observing down the street the soldier hinted the Lowardians might come up. A moment later, Shego and the others heard several voices coming from down the street.
At hearing the voices, Gabe's soft whispering voice from before became gruff and fiery while he said, "Alright, boys, stack up! We are to hold this point until Captain Christopher and first company break through to us! Nothing gets through! Nothing harms priority," before he pointed right at Shego and the couple behind the counter.
After Gabe's words, all the soldiers along with Gabe lined the wall of the diner, positioning themselves to face the advancing unseen Lowardians, while they hunkered down below the windows. A moment later, Shego saw dozens of Lowardians walking down the street toward them. She gasped at the sheer numbers of them and she lowered herself behind the counter to the point only her eyes could be seen above the counter. She glanced beside her and saw Jes and Hope were doing exactly what she was doing.
While the Lowardians marched down the street to them, Gabe said, "On a count of three, light them up. Show no mercy," while he glance at the men with him, before he asked the men, "ready?"
Once all the men nodded yes, Gabe sighed and said, "One…two…three," and all the men sprang from their hiding places and appeared into view of the Lowardians, only allowing their helmets and visors to be seen while they pointed their rifles at the Lowardians.
Right before the soldiers started firing, one of them screamed out, "You aliens better call home," and the restaurant started lighting up with dozens of white flashes.
Shego watched as the bewildered Lowardians scattered for cover as several of them fell to the relentless fire of Gabe's squad. In the chaos, the surviving Lowardians managed to find cover among the buildings and rusted out cars before they started firing back at the squad. Many of the Lowardians return fire was hitting all along the restaurant's outside wall, while some made it through the windows, striking the wall above Shego and the couple. However, Gabe's squad held their positions with little regard at the volume of fire coming at them. The only time one of them would duck for cover was to reload their gun, before they returned to the fray. The sheer lack of fear amazed Shego, she was not sure Gabe's squad could hold out against such numbers, but that did not seem to bother them as they faced dozens of enemies at once with just six men.
For a time, it was as if the Lowardians did not dare to advance on the soldiers, who kept the Lowardians at bay. However, their numbers started to divide the soldiers attention, and the Lowardians started to slowly move closer to the restaurant with the help of cover along the way. As the unenviable advancement of the Lowardians continued, something caused a rumbling sound to echo down the street from the direction the Lowardians came from, and a moment later a metal leg appeared in the street, before a Lowardian robot appeared in the street.
At the sight of the Lowardian robot appearing in the street, the one Gabe called corporal screamed out, "They have a walker!"
" Do we have any launchers," Gabe questioned, and he received a no response from the other soldiers, before he said, "Maybe if we focused on that walker, we can take it down."
However, Gabe's suggestion could not be implemented because the Lowardian robot focused down on the squad and started firing at the restaurant. Before any of Gabe's squad could duck into cover, one of the soldiers was hit by the red lasers, sending sparks to fly off the man's helmet and chest. After the man went down, one of the other soldiers left his position and started dragging the down man to cover while red lasers flew by him, and the remaining four soldiers tried to continue the fight. Nevertheless, the volume of fire kept Gabe's squad pinned down, and Shego watched as the Lowardians advanced right at them unhindered.
She watched as the closest three Lowardians start to cross the road, heading straight at the windows Gabe and his squad were hiding under. For a moment, she thought she might have to get Hope to use her Go powers to protect Gabe and his squad. Right as she was about ask Hope to use her powers, she saw an armor vehicle with six wheels appear on the street the Lowardians were crossing. She watched the vehicle streak into view in the restaurant window as it barreled at full speed right at a lone Lowardian in the middle of the street.
The Lowardian was too focused on the restaurant and was unaware of the silent vehicle closing in on him. However, he was made aware of its presence, because right before the vehicle struck him, a 'la cucaracha' car horn sound came from the vehicle, which caused the Lowardian to briefly glance in horror at the sound. Shego witnessed the absurd scene and watched the Lowardian bounced off the vehicle and roll to a stop by the road while the vehicle cross the intersection, disappearing behind the buildings. Everyone heard the car horn sound again as it faded away down the street, and Shego peeked back at the other two Lowardians that were going to cross the road.
Shego wanted to laugh at the expressions on their faces while they looked at each other and down the road the way the vehicle went. They, however, turned and ran away from the restaurant when one of them looked down the road in the direction the vehicle came from. He went wide eyed at something and patted the other Lowardian on the shoulder before he pointed at something while he ran back to the other Lowardians.
A moment later, Shego saw three vehicles like the one that committed a hit and run, appeared in the restaurant window and turned the corner to face the Lowardians. She let out a sigh of relief when she watched the vehicles stop and the back of the vehicles lowered to the ground before several soldiers, like Gabe's squad, came out and started fighting the Lowardians in the street. Shego saw that everyone of the disembarking soldiers helmets and visor were different, just like her guardians in the restaurant, none were the same as the next. While she watched the battle unfold, a thunderous boom came from the other street beside the restaurant and Shego watched a large white laser streak across the sky, heading right at the Lowardian walker.
The moment the laser struck the robot, a massive explosion appeared on the side of it and it collapsed in a building on side of the road. Once the robot was no longer a threat, Shego saw a vehicle, like the others, appear on the street from which the loud boom came from and it came to a stop at the front door of the diner. The only difference this vehicle had was it had a turret sitting on top of the vehicle and the turret had a long cannon barrel protruding out of it. During the scene, Shego saw Jes and Hope had witnessed the scenes with her, and they looked amazed at all the events.
While the battle moved down the street in direction that the Lowardians came from, Gabe and his squad no longer were pinned down and were able to freely stand in the restaurant. While everyone watch the fight in the street start to favor the soldiers like Gabe, Shego and the couple's guardians checked their equipment and the wounded soldier. The soldier that got wounded, amazingly gave his squad a thumbs up after the soldier that pulled him to cover, gave him a shot of some sort. While Shego watched her protectors, she saw dozens of soldiers like Gabe and his squad, appear in the streets by the restaurant and they joined the fray, and they too had custom helmets and visors. Shego began to realize while she observed all the soldiers, that the different head wear seemed to be like the faces of individual people, no one had the exact same face as another person.
"Run green skins run," Gabe's corporal screamed at the Lowardians when he saw the Lowardians breaking contact at the sight of all the soldiers and the mass of Lowardians started to run away.
"Man, you guy aren't taking any crap," Jes stated with amazement at the sight of all the soldiers.
Gabe chuckled at the statement, before he said, "We aren't some white clad troopers that can't hit the broad side of a barn while standing on the inside."
"Huh," was all Jes could ask with confusion at Gabe's statement.
Shego, however, smiled at the reference and told Jes, "They been referencing earth movies from before Hope and your time," before she asked Gabe, "But why all the movie references?"
"Oh, we are like little green monsters when we go to the theaters to watch earth movies," Gabe replied while he headed to the front door of the restaurant.
His statement caused Shego to smile again because he answered her with a movie reference, and she managed to contain her laughter at the sight of the confused look on the couple's faces. While she looked at the couple and smiled at them, she never dreamed things from her past self would be so enjoyable for her to remember. She was a relict in the time period she was in, and no one else knew the world before it was lost to an evil man. She enjoyed the memories of the past now, it reminded her of what things were like, and could be again.
Once Gabe walked out the front door of the diner, a hatch opened on the top of the turret for the 'tank' sitting there and a soldier looking just like Gabe appeared out of the turret with everything above his waist showing, while the hatch shielded him from the battle in the street. His helmet resembled a more traditional helmet and his visor had two blue flame designs showing that angled to the side of his head. The moment the soldier looked at Gabe, Gabe saluted him, and the soldier returned the salute.
After the salutes, Gabe said, "Glad you could join the party, Captain Christopher."
"Too bad we couldn't get here sooner, sergeant. But your way should be mostly clear now…just watch out for stragglers," the captain said right before a red laser bolt struck the hatch, causing sparks to fly off it and the hatch rang like a bell.
The sparks caused Christopher to jerk back out of reaction, causing him to say, "I know he just didn't," before he looked into the turret and say in a fiery tone, "Gunner! Two degrees high!"
Everyone watch the turret move and the cannon barrel adjust its height, while the captain peered over the hatch.
Once the turret and barrel stopped moving, Christopher screamed, "Fire," and a massive flash came from the end of the barrel, while a large hull kicked out of the back of the turret and rattled off the side of the 'tank.'
Everyone watched as a large white laser streaked across the sky and slammed into a second story window of a building down the street. After the laser struck the building, a massive explosion appeared, and the upper story of the building crumbled into the street. This displayed amazed Shego, just the amount of destruction these soldiers were willing to commit to win and the absolute overkill that Christopher just committed.
"Carry on, sergeant," Christopher said with a laugh while he reached for the hatch, closing the hatch while he disappeared into the turret of the 'tank,' and Gabe saluted him again until he was out of sight.
While the vehicle headed toward the now unseen battle down the street, Gabe motion his squad to follow as he headed down the street that the 'tank' came from. Their walk down the street was mostly uneventful, with occasional intersections that the squad checked as they crossed them. The group saw pods everywhere like the one Gabe came out of embedded in buildings or the road. However, some of the pods were larger in size, and one only could assume those carried the vehicles that the Shego and the others had seen from before.
While Hope and Jes walked ahead with most of the group, Shego walked with Gabe and his corporal. She was taking in the sights of the city after the soldiers arrival and she wondered where these soldiers came from. She also wondered where they were when the Lowardians attacked Earth the last time. The events were similar to some degree, and if it was not for the combine effort of her archenemy and sidekick along with her and her former employer, the Lowardians would have never needed to attack again. Shego questioned the arrival of these people, and she began to speculate that perhaps they did not exist during the last invasion. Although she was grateful for their existence and willingness to help during the current invasion.
As they walked, the corporal said, "Hey, sarge. I been wondering something."
"What's that, Gregor," Gabe questioned while he glanced at the man walking beside him.
"Well, what's the deal with those cartoon princess movies?"
"What you mean," Gabe asked for clarity.
"In every one of them, the princess sings and something magical happens."
"Yeah, and your point?"
"Well, do you think if we started singing something magical happen to us," Gregor asked with humor in his voice.
Gabe shook his head at the notion, before he said, "It doesn't work that way in the real world."
"Why not," Gregor asked with disappointment.
Gabe sighed at the question and said, "Well first of all, your not a princess, and second of all this is the real world, singing won't cause something magical to happen," and Gabe air quoted magical when he said the word.
"It wouldn't hurt to try," Gabe said in defeat.
If Gabe's face was not hidden by his visor, Shego would have said Gabe rolled his eyes at what Gregor said, she could only tell such by Gabe's body language and how he moved his head. She was amused at what the two men were discussing, even with the seriousness about them, the men could find something trivial to debate. She began to notice who ever these people were, they were not taking the whole situation seriously. It was as if they already knew the outcome of the struggle, and they were just waiting for the end.
After his apparent hurting of Gregor's feeling, Gabe said, "Fine, corporal…knock your self out, but you just be setting yourself up for a disappointment."
"Alright," was all Gregor said happily before he started singing a rendition of 'I'm a little tea pot.'
The moment Gregor started singing his song, Gabe stopped in his tracks and looked at Shego. By his reaction, Shego could tell, even though she could not see it, he had a surprised look on his face. She smiled at his reaction and watched Gabe shake his head before they continued their walk.
After most of the group crossed another intersection without an incident, Gregor just finished his song and was crossing the intersection just ahead of Gabe and Shego. Right as Gabe and Shego were about to appear in the junction, they heard a bolt of energy crackle through the air and in the next instance, saw a red bolt of energy strike Gregor in the side, sending sparks into the air and Gregor collapsing to the ground. Out of reaction to the sight, Shego felt Gabe wheel an arm against her, pushing her back behind the corner to cover. Before she was out of sight behind the corner, she managed to see three Lowardians were in the street from the direction the red laser came from.
While Gabe had Shego pressed against the corner with his arm, they looked at Gregor lying in the street and he was not moving. After a moment, Gabe eased his arm from Shego and knelt at the edge of the corner, while he studied Gregor lying in the street. He made hand gestures to his men on the other side of the road and they nodded to him, while Gabe and his squad eased to the corners to engage the Lowardians. While they made their movements, Shego eased to the corner with Gabe and flamed up her hands. At the sight of Shego wanting to help, Gabe glanced back at her and sighed while he nodded to her. Gabe held up a hand and started a countdown with his fingers. The moment he counted to zero, the soldiers and Shego sprang from cover and at the sight of the Lowardians in the street, three loud gun shots rang out. In rapid succession, Shego watch the Lowardians be hit by gun fire and all three Lowardians fell to the ground.
"Who did that," Shego questioned while she looked around, because she heard actual gun fire sounds instead of energy weapon sounds.
Gabe chuckled at the questioned and pointed at the roof of a building across the street from them, before he said, "Cherubs."
"Cherubs," Shego questioned while she looked at the roof of the building, and she saw the muzzles for three guns poking out past the building.
"Yep, although I didn't know they were going to provide overwatch," Gabe replied while he stood by Shego and looked at the gun muzzles, before crackling and static sounds came from him, causing him to say, "It's safe to cross now."
"Who are they," Shego questioned while she crossed the street to the others.
As Gabe side stepped into the street and faced the direction of where the Lowardians were, he said, "Our sniper unit," after he stopped at Gregor and knelt by him, and he said, "Gregor, are you ok," while he glanced back at the man before he returned to watching the street the Lowardians were lying on.
A laugh came from the man lying on the ground, before Gregor said, "I'm peachy, sarge. I told you singing would cause something magical to happen."
"No, you were just lucky. Now on your feet and file in," Gabe said as he glanced at the man and he looked at the melted pit in the side of Gregor's armor.
Shego and the couple watch the men clasp hands and watch Gabe help Gregor to his feet, before the men joined the others on the corner. After everyone was together, Gabe motioned everyone to continue while he hanged back and back stepped from the corner. Shego peeked back at the man, and she saw he was looking over the scene from before. She saw he shook his head while he decided to join everyone in their walk up the street.
Your care about your men, that reminds me of someone else that was like that, Shego thought to herself,before Shego sighed at the sad memory.
The group's walk became uneventful again, except for the occasional squad like Gabe and his men passing the group. Shego started to make a game of looking at any new soldiers she saw during their walk. She was trying to see if any of them had the same helmet and visor as any she had seen before. Alas, she never spotted two that were identical, and she became amazed at how the soldiers were able to maintain the differences in their head wear since their were so many of them.
After a short walk, the group turned a corner and Shego saw the courthouse she spotted the day before, only a couple blocks from them. Only this time, there were soldiers occupying the area, along with a vehicle like the one that committed the hit and run, parked in the middle of the road. As the group entered the area around the courthouse, they saw there was not just one vehicle, but four, and all were in the streets that lead up to the court house, and soldiers everywhere setting up camp in the parking lot surrounding the court house.
As the group past a squad of soldiers, the squad one by one, said "your highness," to Shego until she past the last one, who said forcefully, "Kawai ko-chan," in Japanese to her.
What he said caused Shego to stop and look at him with confusion, which caused the soldier to chuckle at her expression.
The Japanese speaking soldier, however, stopped laughing when Gabe walked up and said, "Get your translator fix, private," which caused the soldier to salute him and reply, "Kashikomarimashita."
The soldier's reply caused Gabe to look at Shego and shake his head. Shego, again, if it was not for Gabe's face being hidden by his visor, swore Gabe rolled his eyes. She was starting to enjoy the soldiers company. Their quirky habits had become entertaining to her, and she was waiting around for the next odd moment from these soldiers. She, however, never knew when that would be since the events were so random. After the group made it to the front steps that lead into the courthouse, Gabe's squad stayed at the bottom of the steps and Gabe motioned Shego and the couple up the steps.
After they were to the top of the stairs, Gabe said, "Commander Michael awaits you inside, feel free to ask him questions," as they made it to the front door.
"Oh, I have plenty of questions," Shego stated before she went through the front door.
After the four of them were inside, Shego and the couple saw all kinds of activity in the lobby of the court house. While they watched the soldiers busy about, they spotted two soldiers at a table with a blue hologram of the city on the table. One of the soldiers at the table had his back to them while he hovered over the table and studied the map. The other individual was leaning up against the wall by the table and had their arms folded in front of them. While Shego and the couple studied the two individuals, they realized the one against the wall was a woman. The only reason they could tell was because her armor seemed more tight fitting, showing her physique.
While Gabe lead them to the individuals at the table, Shego paid attention to the woman, since she was the first, they witnessed among the soldiers. Her helmet and visor was the thing that stood out the most to Shego. It seemed to be custom made because the woman's head looked like a wolf head with glowing blue eyes, which was a first for Shego. During her observing of the soldiers' head wear, she never saw an individual have a detailed design like the woman's helmet.
Right as they got to the table, Gabe said, "Priority delivered, commander," before he saluted the man's backside.
The man turned his head to Gabe when he heard the command title, and everyone saw he had a glowing blue cross on the front of his helmet, while he peeked over his shoulder at them.
He only saluted back at Gabe and he said, "Well done, Gabe," before he went to studying the map and said, "All I can spare at the moment, rat two four, is a couple squads."
After clicks and pops came from the man, he turned and looked right at Gabe before he said, "Gabe, take your squad, along with Sergeant Daniel's, and go reinforce Commander Mack's two four."
Gabe saluted at the order, and said, "Yes, sir," before he started to leave everyone.
As he went by Shego, she said sadly, "Thank you, Gabe."
"Any time, Your Highness," Gabe replied after Shego's statement caused him to stop.
Shego and Gabe only return stares for a moment, and Gabe continued on with his orders to carry out. Shego was saddened over Gabe leaving them. He was the first one they witnessed of the group that now were everywhere in the city. During the entire time he was with them, he watched over them. Now he was leaving them, and Shego knew they perhaps may never see him again. Shego and the couple watched the man's backside as he walked away until he left the building.
Their attention was diverted from the door Gabe left through after they heard the man at the table say, "Commander Micha, Commander Mark, please take over one three for a moment, I need to discuss things with priority. "
His words caused Shego and the couple to look at him, and they saw he along with the woman were looking right at them.
"Who are you and are you the one in charge here," Shego questioned while wasting no time with a hint of anger in her voice.
The man folded his arms in front of him and sighed at how Shego sounded before he said, "I'm Commander Michael and I'm only in charge of rat one three."
"Well, I rather speak to the one you answer to," Shego said while her anger started to show on her face.
"That would be General Mickey," the woman said while she stopped leaning against the wall.
"So, where is this General Mickey, I have lots to ask him about."
"He still in space, and he won't be able to come down to the surface until the main force is able to come down," the woman answered which caused Michael to glance back at her.
"Fine, I guess you two will do then," Shego stated in defeat, because she realized they were her only choices to get answers.
"We be happy to answer any question we have answers to, we realize you probably have several," Michael said while he sat on the table.
"Oh, I do. First of all, who are you people?"
Michael said, "All you seeing right now, are rat units for the main force," which caused the woman soldier to clear her throat, causing Michael to look at her before he said, "along with Captain Grey's Cherubs."
"Yes, I know that much, but who are you people," Shego stated with annoyance.
Michael chuckled at how Shego sounded before he said, "Collectively we are loosely translated in your language to…Angels."
"Angels? Like the heavenly beings that watch over people," Hope asked with wonder.
Michael laughed slightly at the notion before he said, "Well, we did fall from the heavens, dear lady."
"Well, couldn't you just say your race's name in your language," Shego questioned, which caused Michael to glance at Grey for a moment.
While Michael looked back at Shego he said, "Your Highness, we been speaking our language this entire time."
"But your speaking English," Shego stated with confusion.
"Yes, you are hearing your language because of the translator in our helmets, it allows us to speak our language and allows natives of a planet to hear their language…it cut out the need to learn ten bazillion different languages," Michael explained with humor in his voice.
"Oh, couldn't you just remove your helmet and state your race's name in your language," Shego said slyly, because not once had they seen the faces of these people and Shego thought maybe she could get one of them to show their face.
Michael shook his head at the notion before he said, "That would be a bad idea for any of us to do, we never been exposed to the pathogens on your planet, and what would give you the sniffles, may very well kill us."
"Ok," Shego said in defeat, before she said, "It would have been nice if you 'Angels' had showed up before the Lowardians did."
Michael nodded in agreement to Shego's statement before he said, "You must forgive us, Your Highness. The Lowardian fleet, originally, weren't supposed to get anywhere near your solar system."
"What you mean," Shego questioned, while she wondered how the 'Angels' even knew about the Lowardian's plan to attack Earth.
"Our original plan was to engage the Lowardian fleet before they threatened your planet, but because of a star, in one of the few solar systems we had to travel through, decided to go super nova a week in advance of our predictions, we had to divert course to save the fleet, and because of that detour we fell behind, and had to play catch up," Michael explained with empathy.
"It's just we lost a lot of people since the Lowardians started attacking us," Shego said sadly because the world was her responsibly now and she had to answer for the tragedy.
"Forgive us again, Your Highness, but your planet isn't the only one that suffered lost in this conflict, we…lost half our fleet to that super nova. We are here now, and we plan to minimize any farther lost of human life," Michael said while he rose from the table.
"How you going to do that from here," Shego question with wonder.
Grey laughed lightly at the question before she said, "Your highness, we have hundreds of units all over this planet, either supporting the local population and military, or like us, engaging the Lowardians directly…this is a simultaneously, global event."
Shego went wide eyed at the realization, and she wondered how many Angels were there. She remembered Gabe saying they already controlled the Lowardian home world. Now there was a group at earth with half of their original numbers, and Shego could only fathom their numbers since their were all over the world. She only wondered what things would look like if the Angels were at full strength, because of what half their strength were able to accomplish.
After Shego got over the realization, she asked, "How many units are just here?"
"Well, there's four rat teams just in the city, along with Grey's cherubs, and the first rangers under Commander Connor, but the rangers are in the woods behind the Lowardians," Michael explained while he peeked at Grey sighing in annoyance, "What is it, Captain?"
"Those rangers would do better to lose those tomahawks and use their guns instead," Grey replied with irritation.
"That's true, but Commander Connor and his rangers are a diversion, their taking on the Lowardian main force after all," Michael explained while he looked at Shego and the couple.
After Michael went silent, Shego asked, "So, now what, Commander?"
"Well, we will handle things from here, and buy the fleet time, so they be able to break through and land the main force, until then you three are welcome to crash here…I imagine after the hour you all had, you need a moment to rest, eat something…or just gather your thoughts," Michael said before he returned to the map on the table, and he said, "Alright one eight and two eight, I'm able to take over one three again."
Shego and couple looked at the man's backside for a moment and watch him direct his men, until a soldier came up to them. He directed them to a table and chairs that were in the lobby, and the group watched the activity in the building while the soldier lead them to the resting place. While they settled into their resting spot, a couple soldiers brought them breakfast in the form of food in tubes. As they hesitantly started to enjoy the unknown food, Shego and the couple watched the soldiers go about their duties.
A blue skinned man studied the city before him, in the distance, from the hill top he stood on from the night before. He watched as explosions appeared all over the city, heard the explosions after a moment and the sounds of gunfights all over the city. The sight amazed and confused him at once, ever since he watched hundreds of flaming comets descent into the city and woods behind him, he wondered what was going on. The reports from his commanders in the city, told him he was dealing with an unexpected event.
He could not even get his fleet in orbit to respond, while the sights in the sky made it even more urgent for him to find out what was going on. He watched the sky for signs ever since the first explosion appeared. The occasional explosion that appeared after, did nothing to inform him of the situation in space. However, every attempt he made to reach Admiral Wardom was in vain and he grew restless at the unknowns that were happening.
"Report Commander," the blue tinted man demanded while he peered at the Lowardian on the screen, of the device the blue skin was holding in his hand.
While explosions, along with red and white lasers tracing behind him, the Lowardian on the screen screamed over the noise, "Sir, these sky troopers are everywhere…no matter where we go…they show up and start shooting at us."
"You kill…" Calamous started to say but he stop speaking at the sight of dozens of sparks come off the Lowardian, and the screen's view changed to the sight of the road's asphalt.
Calamous questioned, "Commander," several times while he looked at the road on the screen.
After a moment, the screen showed the device was moving, and to Calamous' surprise, a man with a red, black, and gold digital camouflage painted on his armor, and a skull image being projected on his green visor, appeared on the screen. The man looked right at Calamous on the screen and cocked his head at the sight.
"Your commander is busy at this moment…well actually, he's kind of dead," the man said to Calamous before the man glanced to his side at something, before he looked back at Calamous.
"Who are you," Calamous demanded with rage in his voice.
The man chuckled at how Calamous sounded, before he said, "I'm Captain Jeremiah of rat one eight…now if you will excuse me, I need to get back to killing your men."
Calamous watched as the captain dropped the device, and the moment it hit the ground, he watch the captain point a pistol at the device. In the next instance, Calamous saw a white flash come from the captain's pistol, and the screen went black. Calamous went into a rage and crushed the device in his hand, right as a Lowardian ran up to him.
Calamous looked at the man with hatred and screamed, "What is it!?"
"Sir, we have sky troopers attacking our rear guard," the Lowardian stated after he flinched from being screamed at.
Calamous narrowed his eyes at the statement, and before he could question the news, an explosion appeared in the woods, then battle erupted everywhere in the woods. During the commotion, Calamous watched as a group of Lowardians streamed out of the woods and joined all the other Lowardians. They all stood and watched the woods with their weapons at the ready.
After a moment of nothing happening, the Lowardians relaxed their guard. To their surprise, a man wearing a trench coat, geared for war, appeared out of thin air, right in front of the nearest Lowardian. They saw the man had what looked like a pair of horns on his helmet, and his green visor was made to look like a sadistic smile. Before any of the Lowardians could react, the man struck the Lowardian in the leg with a tomahawk, causing the Lowardian to fall to the ground. The moment the Lowardian hit the ground, the man, without mercy, struck him in the side of the head with the tomahawk. Once the Lowardian was dead, the man disappeared, and the Lowardians fired wildly where the man once was. After the Lowardians stopped firing their weapons, the man appeared again at the edge of the woods, with no evidence they hit him. He mocked them with a two-finger salute, and he headed back into the woods while he disappeared again.
Calamous was bewildered and amazed at the scene. He stared blankly at the spot where he last saw the man. He was snapped back to reality when he heard a whining sound above him. Hearing the sound, Calamous looked to the sky and to his amazement, he saw a lone Lowardian fighter in a nose dive, heading right at him. Before he could even think to react, he watch the fighter come at him and right before it struck him, he swore he saw a blue mist come from the cockpit.
The Lowardians watched the fighter strike Calamous, and he disappeared in an explosion of fire and twisted metal. After the event, the nearest Lowardians eased to the wreckage, and they wondered if Calamous was dead. Their question was answered when they saw Calamous crawl out of the flaming remains of the Lowardian fighter, and they saw he only had smut marks on him after he stood before them. All the Lowardians that witnessed the scene, stood in awe at the scene.
After Shego finished her breakfast, she watched the activity in the court house for a moment. However, it did not take her long to get restless, and she wondered what happened to Cage and his clovers. She left the couple at the table and went straight to Michael and Grey, who were still studying the hologram map on the table before them.
When she was to them, Shego said, "Is there any news from the motel on the outskirts of the city?"
"One three hasn't made it that far yet, but it will be secure in a little bit," Michael replied without looking away from the map.
"Is it safe for me to make my way there," Shego questioned while she stepped beside Michael and looked at the map.
Michael looked at Shego standing beside him for a moment, before he said, "I can't guarantee it will completely safe for you to be walking around alone."
"Well, I want to go to the motel, we have…friends we had to leave there when the Lowardians attacked us, and I want to know what happened to them," Shego said sadly
Michael shook his head at the notion and said, "I'm sorry, your highness. I don't have anyone I could spare to escort you there," which caused Shego to slum her shoulders in defeat, and she looked at Grey, who was looking back at her.
"Commander, I could free up a platoon of Cherubs, and we could escort her highness to the motel," Grey said after she studied the expression on Shego's face, which brightened after Grey's suggestion.
Grey's suggestion caused Michael to look at her for a moment, before he asked, "Which platoon?"
"The only one I have available is first platoon," Grey replied cheerfully for some reason.
"I don't know captain…what if we need the platoon," Michael counter with disbelief.
"Commander…you know as well as I do, that the other three platoons can support your boys," Grey stated as she walked around the table to Michael and Shego.
Michael sighed at her words and said, "Yeah…I know."
"Besides, June will be ok…I watch over her for you," Grey said tenderly, causing Shego to wonder what Grey was talking about.
A sigh of relief came from Michael while he studied the map, and he said, "Ok, Captain. Be safe out there."
Grey saluted Michael after his words before she said, "First platoon…meet me outside the court house…on the double," and sounds of clicks and static came from her helmet for a moment.
Shego watched Grey return to the spot she originally was at and saw her pick up a long rifle that was propped up against the wall. While Grey returned to Shego, she sling the rifle across her back with the barrel pointed at the floor. Once she was to Shego, she waved Shego to follow her, and they started walking toward the front door. When they were at the couple still sitting at the table, Shego motioned them to come with her. As everyone started leaving, clicks and static came from Grey, before she stopped and looked at Shego.
After a moment, Grey questioned with uncertainly, "Do any of you know an individual with glowing blue eyes…wearing a hood and cloak that's hiding their face?"
Shego and Jes narrowed their eyes at the question because they both knew an individual that had that very description. They looked at each other as if they were questioning why Grey was asking about the demon. Shego saw Jes had excitement on his face, while she however had a concerned look.
"We do," Shego finally answered with nervousness in her voice.
Grey cocked her head at the sound of Shego's voice, before she said, "Well…he's outside waiting, said he wants to talk to you, your highness, but don't worry, my ladies have him at gun point."
Shego went wide eyed at a realization, and stated, "Oh, no," before she ran to the front door.
The moment Shego stormed out of the front door, she saw a ring of women soldiers like Grey, and all of them had their rifles pointed at an individual in the middle of the ring. At the sight of the man, Shego saw he was glancing around at all the women pointing their guns at him, while he stood where he was and had an eight-foot-tall metal suit of some sort standing with him. However, after Shego studied the suit for a moment, she saw it resembled the legendary Orion suits of long ago.
"Captain tell them to stand down, he's a friend…I think," Shego said back to Grey once she was outside with Shego.
"Alright, ladies, you heard her…go on about your business," Grey commanded, which caused the ring of women to slowly lower their guns from the man inside the ring, and many looked at Grey with uncertainty.
While the women dispersed, a chuckle came from the individual while he watched the women walk away from him. After a moment, he looked up at Shego descending slowly down the stairs to him, while she watched him with suspicion. Another chuckle came from him at the look Shego was giving him, and he continue to watch her until she was at the bottom of the stairs.
After a moment of silence, the individual said, "We weren't…always…friends, Shego.," in a voice that changed tone and cut out during speech, allowing Shego to see what Cage was trying to describe about the demon's voice.
"I'm sorry for what they did to you at the prison, Doa. If I had known what was going on there…I would have put a stop to it," Shego stated sadly.
"Well, thank…you. But I'm…curious, are you being-sincere, or you saying that out of-fear?"
"A little of both actually…it's hard to forget the things you have done, and the things your capable of."
A chuckle came from the individual before he said, "Oh, that's…when I wasn't…right in the- head…but I'm better now," before Shego saw his glowing eyes widen for a moment.
Shego sighed before she said, "What you had to endure at the prison didn't help with that."
"Oh, I wasn't-right in the…head before I was-locked up… I was mental."
Shego narrowed her eyes at the individual, and asked, "Who are you, Doa?"
While Doa lifted his hands, he said, "I'm not…him."
"I'm aware of that," Shego said sadly.
"What was your-first clue," Doa asked amusingly.
Shego sighed at the question, before she said, "You calling me Shego instead of Shelia."
"He loved saying…your name as much as-he loved hearing…you call him…Mal," Doa said with humor.
Shego narrow her eyes at the man again, while she said, "That's right."
"Now, what was…the reason you called-him that," Doa pondered out loud, before he said, "Oh, that's right…because he hated to be called-Alex."
Shego cocked her head at the man knowing the answer, before she said, "That's right, but how do you know that?"
Doa chuckled again before he said, "I could just…lie and say I-learned it while I was-teleporting, but the truth…is I heard you say it."
Shego went wide eyed at a thought, before she said with amazement, "There's only two people who ever heard me say the reason, but both of them I thought were dead."
"And which…one do you think-I am," Doa questioned wittily.
"I hope you're one over the other…but either way, it be hard to believe how your alive," Shego said while she stared down the individual before her with wonder.
Doa laughed as if he went mental before he said, "Seeing is…believing, so do-you really want to know…who I am?"
"Yes, please, Doa," Shego said while excitement and fear built up in her.
Doa chuckle again before he said, "You might…want to sit-down for this then," but Shego stood where she was, causing Doa to say, "Ok, your…highness, don't say I didn't-warn you.
After his words, Doa reached for the button that held his cloak and hood in place, watching Shego during the whole motion. The moment the button was undid, he reached for the hood that shrouded his face in darkness. In one fell swoop, he threw the hood back, and the garment that hide his identity for so many years, fell to the ground.
At the sight of the individual's face, Shego's face was locked into a look of shock and her mouth half open. Her knees became weak at the shock, and she fought against fainting at the surprise while she sat on the bottom step of the stairs that lead up to the courthouse. She looked on at the person before her with wonder, and only managed to say, "How can you be alive?"
While in shock and amazement, Shego looked at the smiling face of a woman, with red hair, looking back at her.
AN 2: I went through several scenarios with different characters from the tv series and my stories in my decision of who the demon was, the process had been on going since I finished Legacy, I settled on one character eventually, which everyone should realize who it is by the only description I shown. Also, to readers, please don't comment about the identity in the reviews. The identity was the reason for this story.
Next Chapter: The Fallen Shall Rise
"I think I know who Jacob is."
"Her name was Amber Thompson."
"Are you seriously going to stand there and watch them die?"