Chapter 11

[The Final Battle]

Outside in space, only a few hundred Votals approached the almost-dead space capital ship, the Hemidal. Leading the small battalion, were the four pilots who chose to go and lead this mission. Suddenly, they stopped short and then the Votals following started to organize themselves. A picture of this to a soldier from the 20th or 21st century would have been amazed, about the technology that has been advanced, and the swiftness on how the battle was fought and finished. The dim backdrop of space and the small planet around them efficiently made the battle more dramatic. Suddenly, EvAs started to pour out of the Hemidal as the rebel pilots started to begin hesitation. Some Votals started to shuffle, but the four pilots stood firm, awaiting destiny.

Meanwhile

Anna got out of her small hiding place and started to run among the people running amongst the Votals. She looked at her Votal, the Nightsound, she had her doubts. Then her sights changed toward Angel Xero, Angel's Votal. She smiled, and started to run toward it. After climbing in, she looked around the cockpit, which looked astoundingly similar to hers. She noticed the smell of his cologne, and she smiled. Putting on the pilot's helmet, she powered on, and flew out into space.

Unknowingly, another suit joined the fray, as the four pilots lead the battalions against the EvA pilots. Suddenly, Angel and Claude were transported to an area away from the battle. The background of explosions and the illumination of those implosions slowly gave sight to Perry and Jon's Votals.

"I thought I killed you, Angel…" said Perry, starting to laugh.

"I guess I didn't die," said Angel. "Cut it kinda close, though." Angel chuckled, having a sense of humor. Out of nowhere, Jonathan drew his beam sabers. Claude and Angel followed suit, as Perry's suit disappeared in mid-air. Angel's caution heightened, and suddenly, a flash of light came out of nowhere. The reaction time by Angel quickly happened, and Perry's saber met Angel's. Sparks showered over, illuminating the Votals clashing.

Claude and Jonathan's Votals were level facing each other, and one was waiting for the other to start. Suddenly, Claude realized that this was not the Jonathan he once knew.

"Shall we dance?" questioned Claude, as he drew his weapons. The two Votals magnificently flew apart, then flew together, smashing their weapons against each other, also causing sparks. Like dancing, the Votals came apart, then came at each other, making each move precise and carefully. The retro flares fired up over and over as the weapons of death clashed over and over.

Suddenly, the view of wings and blasts of fire came from nowhere, as a couple of EvA Votals flared up in explosion. The orange glare was so bright even Anna had to shield her eyes.

"Angel?" said Claire, looking toward Angel Xero. Anna smiled, and said nothing.

"Pilot, identify yourself!" said Sean, demanding to know who was in Angel's Votal.

"It's only me!" said a meek voice. Claire's eyes lit up and her boosters lit up and she matched up with Anna.

"What are you doing here?" said Claire. "I thought Angel said you had to stay back?" Angel Xero's boosters lit up the dark area as she started to head toward the fighting EvA fleet. Claire did nothing but shrug and she went after Anna.

Meanwhile

The repeated striking of the beam plasma weapons became automatic light to see what was happening in the tensed, heated battle. Suddenly, Angel's concussion took effect, and he started to become weaker. Perry took this to advantage and struck Angel down. Sparks flying over the place and the sound of metal grinding against itself was horror to the ears and eyes. Angel could not help but glare at the screen and start to grumble to himself. Angel once again regained balance and started to fight back. Again, he was struck over and over by Perry's beam weapon as he screamed in anger.

Claude growled, because this fight was going towards nowhere. Suddenly, he remembered some training that he received from Claire.

"Play weak, so that he does think you are…" Claire looked at Claude. She smiled, and continued. " When he thinks he has the upper hand and gets too cocky, strike him down…"

Claude smiled, then started to use his plan. He matched a blow dealt by Jon, then flew back.

"Weakling!" screamed Jon, as he charged again. Claude kept playing the charade, and Jonathan in his anger, took into it. Striking out of nowhere, a heat chain came from Claude's wrist and wrapped around Jonathan's Votal. Claude hesitated at first, but then he decided he had to.

"I'm sorry, Jonathan…" Suddenly, the flamethrower mounted upon Diablo's arm lit up, melting the Genium-Diamond armor upon Jonathan's Votal. Claude flinched as he could not bear the torture or the burden of killing his own friend. Jonathan's screams of pain and death marked Claude's mind forever, and before it was too late, he had burned and totaled Jonathan's Votal to nothing but a melted piece of Genium Diamond.

Angel's mind began deteriorating (( not literally, it's because he couldn't think )) due to the severe concussion and the overload of anger that was flowing through his mind. (( reminds me of the zero system for some reason … don't ask, I had too much pepsi )) Suddenly, power and systems started to go down and Angel looked all over the control boards.

"Shit…" Angel mumbled. Suddenly, a jolt of movement sent everything to practically no power at all.

"Only movement?" said Angel, looking at his boards. "Shit!" Unexpectedly, Angel Xero came out of nowhere. Perry's eyes flashed in amazement.

"What the hell is this?" said Perry, questioning everyone. Perry raised his weapon and right before he slashed Neo Archangel in half, a blast from Angel Xero's Reitan Beam rifle shot out from the barrel and smacked into Perry's Votal. In his cockpit, almost everything lost power. Anna shrieked in exitement, happy that she saved her boyfriend's life. Perry's Votal raised it's arm and suddenly something popped out. A spear, shot out of it's wrist, heading straight at Anna.

"Anna, no!" shouted Angel. The last bit of energy in Neo Archangel was used to light up the flares. Suddenly, the sound of metal clanging into armor sounded, and Angel grabbed his chest.

"No…" he said, as he could feel blood starting to slip out. Perry laughed in victory, as his Votal exploded. Angel clenched his fist and put his hand to his chest as he felt the searing pain from the spear. He pulled the spear out, then leaned forward on the control board, smothering blood all over the controls. The last words he remembered saying, were:

"Get a medic out here!"

Angel opened his eyes, hearing some people talking, and then he felt someone wrap his arms around him. He started to cough, and he felt blood splatter all over his face. He moved his arm to wipe it off, but the person who was hugging him wiped it off first.

"I'm… so sorry Angel…" said Anna, her eyes watering. She put her hand up to the spot where he was stabbed.

"Don't be sorry…" said Angel, who was trying everything to smile. "It's better than you being here…" He flashed his grin, then blinked. "I'm not going to make it, am I?" Angel questioned, coughing again.

"Don't talk like that…" Anna said as she felt a tear roll down her cheek.

She looked deep into his eyes and felt the blood that stained his shirt, the cut that would separate them both eternally and physically. The barely grumbled words,
"I love you… I always will…" almost came out of his mouth as she looked deep into his eyes, and she could see her reflection in them. Sobbing, she wearily said no more than,
"I love you…" back and she held him close to her heart. "Don't die… please Angel…" She took his hand and kissed him on the cheek. "You can't leave me now…" The three other pilots stood by idly, not knowing what to do. Claude couldn't feel anything but sympathy.

"I…I'll always… love you, Anna…" Suddenly, she felt him become lighter as his grip on her hand slowly let go and the last thing she saw in his eyes was the look, the desire that Angel had for her and the feeling that his life ended so abruptly. She could not feel anything but sadness as beads of tears rolled down her eyes and she could not help but start to scream as the love of her life was lost in her arms, forever. Holding him, she could not stop sobbing and the hot beads of tears would not stop burning. The feelings in her mind couldn't be contained, and she couldn't help but stop crying. Her head lying on his chest, she would not stop crying and she couldn't believe that the only one she ever really cared about, the only one she ever loved, left her…

His closed eyes looked so innocent, and it looked like he was sleeping.

// Could I have prevented this? Damnit, why… No… //

Words could not even come out of her mouth as she felt his spirit slip away and her hands were drenched in his blood as she held him closer to her for one last time.
"I Love you... Angel..."