A Phoenix From The Ashes
By Majin Magus
Chapter Five
"Should we go now?"
"No, they'll be expecting us."
"How do we know they aren't expecting us?"
Bob sighed. Matrix's overanxious desire to take revenge on Megabyte was getting a little out of hand. Quickly selecting the reason that would make most sense, Bob spoke.
"We also have to take in account that girl, and someone saw Hexadecimal go into the Principle Office too," Bob explained, crushing Matrix's ambition, but not much.
Matrix crossed his arms. "Fine, but if Megabyte escapes, it'll be on your conscience."
*
"So we have fifty virals along this wall, with three in the tower and four on zip boards. There's just about the same on the opposite side, but more are in the air," Phoenix muttered, looking at a chart of viral positions.
"They'll attack from one single side, that's a basic pattern. But they might spilt up and attack from all sides. They'll come swift and hard." Phoenix turned to Megabyte and Hexadecimal.
Hexadecimal wasn't really paying attention, but that was fine because only Megabyte and Phoenix were planning for Bob and the others' attack.
"We should tell the virals to be on the lookout. You know if I leave the Principal Office and go off, they'll come. So I'll go out a bit then flip around and help with the battle," Phoenix said with a 'matter-of-fact' air. Her hand gripped her sword like she was itching to go off and fight. Indeed, she might have been.
Phong, in the mean time, was watching everything from the little glass tube. Translating the portal code was forgotten for now, but as soon as this ordeal was done they'd be back to copying his memory.
Suddenly a there was a loud bang and the Principle Office shook. Distant sounds of screams and battle cries echoed down the hall. Phoenix's sword was out in a second and she bounded down the hall.
Megabyte looked at Hexadecimal. "I don't suppose you're going to help?" he asked sarcastically.
"I didn't say I was on your side, brother. I just came here looking for something out of the ordinary, and that girl is unusual enough," Hexadecimal replied, grinning and laughing wildly.
"Do what you want to!" Megabyte snapped, unsheathed his blades and ran to the entrance.
*
As is a tradition in this series, there was a battle raging outside. Only difference is, this is the final confrontation. How different from the actual final battle will this be? Let's see…
*
Phoenix chopped every rebel 1 or 0 she saw. Her sword, which she cut through enemies with painfully slow, seemed to get sharper with every hit. She was maneuvering on a zip board, apparently trying to get to Bob or Matrix.
No rebel was spared they were all there. All the virals in Megabyte's fleet fought all the rebels. The sprites mowed through the virals, but were halted by Phoenix who blocked the doorway.
"Anyone who wants to get in has to get past me," she stated, grasping her sword. Bob flew forward.
"If you help us, we can get you healed, and you can help to defeat Daemon. Then you can be a Guardian again," Bob said to Phoenix.
"No! Don't you see I'm the same no matter what form I have! Take this!!" Phoenix cried a roar of fury and stabbed at Bob. The blade skimmed his waist, and he fell a little.
Bob motioned for the rest to go on, and turned to Phoenix. He shot a bolt of energy at her, but she dodged and landed nimbly on the ground. Phoenix leapt forward, and as she flew at Bob, she moved slightly to the right, and….and…
Megabyte was directly behind Phoenix. Bob dodged as Phoenix sliced with her sword and when Megabyte slashed with his blades. When Bob tried a counterattack, Megabyte and Phoenix just jumped to the side.
"Damn it, I can't get a hit in!" Bob cried, avoiding another attack. His companions were doing a little better yet seemed to be fighting an endless stream of virals.
Bob threw an energy blade at Phoenix and it sliced a hole in her left shoulder. Black blood cascaded out of the wound as she raced towards Bob. Reaching him, Phoenix punched him in the face.
Megabyte then lunged forward and dug his blades in Bob's right thigh. The Guardian moaned and fell onto his left knee. He put up a small force field around him that would hold for a little while, but not long. Phoenix and Megabyte thrashed at the shield as Bob rested and watched his companions, unable to do anything.
Phoenix and Megabyte were just about to launch another attack on Bob's shield, when they stopped in mid attack and looked stunned. At that moment, Hexadecimal stumbled out of the Principal Office looking shocked. Matrix and the rest had stopped attacking, but they didn't see what was happening.
"Aaah…what power!" Phoenix moaned. Only sounds of astonishment escaped her open mouth, as she stared at the sky. Megabyte's eyes were narrowed and he too gazed into the sky.
Bob felt something inside of him and he looked up too, along with Matrix. All the others, virals and rebels alike, wondered what was going on that only the Guardians and Viruses could feel.
Phoenix sheathed her sword and clenched her fists. "I know that energy…that dismal, infinite energy…" she muttered.
Megabyte realized what she was talking about. "Daemon?" he asked.
"Yes," Phoenix answered with a dark look on her face. Bob stepped over to her.
"Why would Daemon come here, and how? Mouse programmed…" he started.
"I suppose I left the barrier open when I followed you here. Daemon must know of you and I. We, Matrix and Megabyte too, pose a great threat to this super virus, so she must be to eradicate us," Phoenix replied, looking at a forming portal in the sky. The portal floated before them all.
Come to my lair and we can settle this little issue once and for all.
A disembodied voice came from the portal, and Phoenix closed her eyes.
The two Guardians and the Viruses Phoenix and Megabyte only. All others will perish upon entry to my realm, I'll make sure of that. the voice added.
"Well, we're screwed if we do and screwed if we don't, so let's go," Phoenix sighed, stepping into the portal.
"What should we do during your absence, Lord Megabyte?" a viral shouted.
Megabyte turned. "Nothing. Ignore all rebels, as they probably won't attack while their Guardians are gone. I can't care for this dead system anymore, I have a big score to settle with Daemon," he commanded.
"Odd you haven't even met Daemon yet, Megabyte," Bob said, and stepped into the portal. Matrix followed him. All the rebels and virals were silent as the portal disappeared along with their leaders and heroes.
"Good luck, Matrix and Bob," AndrAIa murmured softly.