Black Feather: Episode LVI
"Lenore and Nevermore"
???
11:41 p.m., 03/25
A warming and chilling draft rose up against Qastor and Iris as they walked along a lengthy bridge, high above a vast, comfortably lit storehouse or hangar of some sort, boasting a size of at least three arenas. It walls weren't metal, but were composed of limestone cliffs, which ascended high beyond the ceiling. Hundreds of stalls lined up inside the grid partitions far down below them. Much of the stalls were empty, while some nested ancient limbs of ACs, all of which were of the same design and style.
"What... is this place?" Iris gasped in astonishment. Qastor scanned about for an answer as they slowly proceeded ahead. They were halfway to the nearby corridor ahead.
"Some sort of... hangar... It must be..." He spotted a peculiar emblem upon one of the distant, lifeless limbs. It was a black circle with a distinct '9' in the center. "...Nine-Ball...?"
"That's correct!!" Both Qastor and Iris were thrown back against the railing of the bridge as Qain boomed into existence. Ark Omnis broke down from the high ceiling, instantly colliding with an adjacent bridge, which screeched and proceeded to descend down. Arms spread like wings, Ark Omnis folded them in its trademark fashion. "You all escaped! I just hope Angelus is more than enough for the other Children to handle..."
Qastor helped Iris up while keeping a slashing expression at Qain. He whispered.
"Iris... Go! Escape without me. I've got unfinished matters to settle..." His instructions were solid and strict, and Iris realized the situation.
"But, you can't fight him without an AC!" Iris whispered urgently back.
"Don't you worry, just go! I'll... I'll catch up with you later." Iris bolted to the corridor; Qain was quite content on letting her escape, for some unknown reason. Things stood still, even after Iris exited the area, until...
"Qain! Why all this? Why did you change all of a sudden?"
"It is in my very veins... It is power that drives one mad! But, no, not this case... I am. the very first to drive the very heart of power itself insane! Insanity is blind emotion... blind emotions lead to frustration, frustration begets hatred, and hatred... is who I am." Qain's voice was clear and crisp, despite the fact that he was inside an AC.
"You're not answering my question..." Qastor's words were low and cutting.
"Then perhaps you must dig deeper?" With a sudden click, the AC stalls far below descended into the ground. The stray AC limbs and parts dissipated into an ephemeral dream-like smoke. "I let the others escape, but I won't let you go... for I have unfinished business with you as well..."
A stunning flash banged, Qastor began to tremble, the entire hangar quaked, Qain grinned.
"Qain! I can't let you live! Not after what you've done to us all!" In that instant, Nova Omnis erupted from the metallic floor below, exploding through the bridge with menacing tenacity and speed. Qastor disappeared from the scene, the bridge fragments rising in slow motion around Nova Omnis. Qain might've flinched from such a spectacle.
Nova Omnis extended both of its black-blue laserblades to the opposite ends of the bridge, bringing its arms down and vaporizing every molecule it touched, completely disintegrating the bridge. Qain descended gracefully onto the floor, reverting back into Nine-Ball. Without a word, Qastor did the same.
"Shall it be an honorable duel?" Qastor jettisoned his CROW extensions in response to Qain's request. Xanthippius proceeded to crushing them with its feet. "Hahahah! An honorable duel it shall be!"
In a flash, Qain blasted a grenade shell and strafe boosted right. Instinctively, Qastor retreated back, hardly keeping pace with the rushing grenade as it inched closer and closer to his core. The thermometer steadily rose...
Qastor exploded up, slicing the nearing grenade with his laserblade. Qain overboosted straight for him out of nowhere, his LEVANTINE blade laughing. Qastor broke left with his OB just in time, letting go of the strafe and charging ahead. Both he and Qain landed hard; Qastor turned quickly, acquired his target, and allowed his chain gun to spit out its bullets with a continuous chuckle. Nine-Ball strafed to the right again, first in a jog, then boosting as the chain bullets tore away at the metal floor dangerously close to its side. OB activated, Qain charged in for Qastor again.
Their blades clashed in a raging pulsar of cackling plasma and electricity. Struggling to gain an advantage, Qastor drew his rifle. Qain instantly ascended upon catching sight of the rifle with nightmarish agility. Qastor reacted, striking Nine-Ball's left foot with his blade. A chunk of smoldering titanium clamored on the floor as Nine-Ball spun uncontrollably above Qastor from the impact, but with revenge on his mind, Qain drew his blade and, in a single rotational swipe, cleft Qastor's SKYEYE asunder into blazing fragments.
WARNING: HEAD COMPONENT OFF-LINE.
"Damn you!" Qastor retreated with his OB far away from Qain, who quickly regained control of his airborne position. Almost out of energy, Qastor deactivated the OB, switching the systems to secondary mode.
Secondary Systems Activated. Core camera on-line.
The main HUD now restored, Qastor spotted Qain patiently waiting for him in the distance. In a blind rage, Qastor abandoned his rifle, running forward and firing his chain gun without a lock-on, waiting for his energy to replenish. Nine-Ball was stolid, absorbing the punishment with little or no worry.
Qastor overboosted immediately, armed his rail gun, and blasted away frantically. Qain reacted, jumping up and quickly rotating around, with Qastor thundering past under him. He activated his own OB, chasing after his prey at ungodly velocities. Indeed, the hunter caught his prey.
Qain, with his LEVANTINE, devastated Qastor's still-thrusting OB, which exploded violently.
"Aaaghh!" Xanthippius twisted out of control, a road of flames and electricity trailing behind it. Its legs faltered, and Xanthippius plunged to the ground, skidding on its right side with a nerve-scorching shriek against the steel floor. Its right arm disconnected from the force, leaving Xanthippius to slide for another half-kilometer. Qastor, having been thrown about the cockpit like soda in a can, was barely holding on. Xanthippius lied vulnerable and surmounted near the limestone wall.
Quiet it was. The silence of defeat...
"...You lose... I win..." Nine-Ball strolled closer and closer. Qastor was speechless. "...This is the end of your saga, my young Nevermore..."
An angel exploded from the eastern wall, unleashing a hurricane of cerulean plasma ribbons from its shimmering wings directly at Qain. Transfixed, Nine-Ball was completely dismembered, erupting into a bloodthirsty conflagration.
"GAAAAAGGHHH!!!" Qain's metallic cry sliced about the air.
"Qastor! You're hurt!"
"Iris!? Damnit, I told you to escape!!"
"I just couldn't leave you behind!"
"Damnit... that was stupid... foolish..." Qastor stumbled in speech as tears streamed from his eyes.
"Qastor... let's go-" Qastor's heart skipped...
For there...
Behind Iris...
Was Ark Omnis...
With its blade protruding from Iris' core...
"...Foolish girl!" Ark Omnis removed its laserblade, allowing Lunarius to fall to the ground... "Don't ever try a stunt like that again..."
"I... I... Ir... is..." Qastor gasped, his eyes wide and watery. He clenched the controls. Xanthippius made a silent transition.
"..." Qain watched on without words.
His hand trembling with enmity, Qastor pushed the controls all the way forward. Nova Omnis reacted, screaming straight for Qain with its dual blades storming from its arms.
"QAIN!!!"
"Lenore and Nevermore"
???
11:41 p.m., 03/25
A warming and chilling draft rose up against Qastor and Iris as they walked along a lengthy bridge, high above a vast, comfortably lit storehouse or hangar of some sort, boasting a size of at least three arenas. It walls weren't metal, but were composed of limestone cliffs, which ascended high beyond the ceiling. Hundreds of stalls lined up inside the grid partitions far down below them. Much of the stalls were empty, while some nested ancient limbs of ACs, all of which were of the same design and style.
"What... is this place?" Iris gasped in astonishment. Qastor scanned about for an answer as they slowly proceeded ahead. They were halfway to the nearby corridor ahead.
"Some sort of... hangar... It must be..." He spotted a peculiar emblem upon one of the distant, lifeless limbs. It was a black circle with a distinct '9' in the center. "...Nine-Ball...?"
"That's correct!!" Both Qastor and Iris were thrown back against the railing of the bridge as Qain boomed into existence. Ark Omnis broke down from the high ceiling, instantly colliding with an adjacent bridge, which screeched and proceeded to descend down. Arms spread like wings, Ark Omnis folded them in its trademark fashion. "You all escaped! I just hope Angelus is more than enough for the other Children to handle..."
Qastor helped Iris up while keeping a slashing expression at Qain. He whispered.
"Iris... Go! Escape without me. I've got unfinished matters to settle..." His instructions were solid and strict, and Iris realized the situation.
"But, you can't fight him without an AC!" Iris whispered urgently back.
"Don't you worry, just go! I'll... I'll catch up with you later." Iris bolted to the corridor; Qain was quite content on letting her escape, for some unknown reason. Things stood still, even after Iris exited the area, until...
"Qain! Why all this? Why did you change all of a sudden?"
"It is in my very veins... It is power that drives one mad! But, no, not this case... I am. the very first to drive the very heart of power itself insane! Insanity is blind emotion... blind emotions lead to frustration, frustration begets hatred, and hatred... is who I am." Qain's voice was clear and crisp, despite the fact that he was inside an AC.
"You're not answering my question..." Qastor's words were low and cutting.
"Then perhaps you must dig deeper?" With a sudden click, the AC stalls far below descended into the ground. The stray AC limbs and parts dissipated into an ephemeral dream-like smoke. "I let the others escape, but I won't let you go... for I have unfinished business with you as well..."
A stunning flash banged, Qastor began to tremble, the entire hangar quaked, Qain grinned.
"Qain! I can't let you live! Not after what you've done to us all!" In that instant, Nova Omnis erupted from the metallic floor below, exploding through the bridge with menacing tenacity and speed. Qastor disappeared from the scene, the bridge fragments rising in slow motion around Nova Omnis. Qain might've flinched from such a spectacle.
Nova Omnis extended both of its black-blue laserblades to the opposite ends of the bridge, bringing its arms down and vaporizing every molecule it touched, completely disintegrating the bridge. Qain descended gracefully onto the floor, reverting back into Nine-Ball. Without a word, Qastor did the same.
"Shall it be an honorable duel?" Qastor jettisoned his CROW extensions in response to Qain's request. Xanthippius proceeded to crushing them with its feet. "Hahahah! An honorable duel it shall be!"
In a flash, Qain blasted a grenade shell and strafe boosted right. Instinctively, Qastor retreated back, hardly keeping pace with the rushing grenade as it inched closer and closer to his core. The thermometer steadily rose...
Qastor exploded up, slicing the nearing grenade with his laserblade. Qain overboosted straight for him out of nowhere, his LEVANTINE blade laughing. Qastor broke left with his OB just in time, letting go of the strafe and charging ahead. Both he and Qain landed hard; Qastor turned quickly, acquired his target, and allowed his chain gun to spit out its bullets with a continuous chuckle. Nine-Ball strafed to the right again, first in a jog, then boosting as the chain bullets tore away at the metal floor dangerously close to its side. OB activated, Qain charged in for Qastor again.
Their blades clashed in a raging pulsar of cackling plasma and electricity. Struggling to gain an advantage, Qastor drew his rifle. Qain instantly ascended upon catching sight of the rifle with nightmarish agility. Qastor reacted, striking Nine-Ball's left foot with his blade. A chunk of smoldering titanium clamored on the floor as Nine-Ball spun uncontrollably above Qastor from the impact, but with revenge on his mind, Qain drew his blade and, in a single rotational swipe, cleft Qastor's SKYEYE asunder into blazing fragments.
WARNING: HEAD COMPONENT OFF-LINE.
"Damn you!" Qastor retreated with his OB far away from Qain, who quickly regained control of his airborne position. Almost out of energy, Qastor deactivated the OB, switching the systems to secondary mode.
Secondary Systems Activated. Core camera on-line.
The main HUD now restored, Qastor spotted Qain patiently waiting for him in the distance. In a blind rage, Qastor abandoned his rifle, running forward and firing his chain gun without a lock-on, waiting for his energy to replenish. Nine-Ball was stolid, absorbing the punishment with little or no worry.
Qastor overboosted immediately, armed his rail gun, and blasted away frantically. Qain reacted, jumping up and quickly rotating around, with Qastor thundering past under him. He activated his own OB, chasing after his prey at ungodly velocities. Indeed, the hunter caught his prey.
Qain, with his LEVANTINE, devastated Qastor's still-thrusting OB, which exploded violently.
"Aaaghh!" Xanthippius twisted out of control, a road of flames and electricity trailing behind it. Its legs faltered, and Xanthippius plunged to the ground, skidding on its right side with a nerve-scorching shriek against the steel floor. Its right arm disconnected from the force, leaving Xanthippius to slide for another half-kilometer. Qastor, having been thrown about the cockpit like soda in a can, was barely holding on. Xanthippius lied vulnerable and surmounted near the limestone wall.
Quiet it was. The silence of defeat...
"...You lose... I win..." Nine-Ball strolled closer and closer. Qastor was speechless. "...This is the end of your saga, my young Nevermore..."
An angel exploded from the eastern wall, unleashing a hurricane of cerulean plasma ribbons from its shimmering wings directly at Qain. Transfixed, Nine-Ball was completely dismembered, erupting into a bloodthirsty conflagration.
"GAAAAAGGHHH!!!" Qain's metallic cry sliced about the air.
"Qastor! You're hurt!"
"Iris!? Damnit, I told you to escape!!"
"I just couldn't leave you behind!"
"Damnit... that was stupid... foolish..." Qastor stumbled in speech as tears streamed from his eyes.
"Qastor... let's go-" Qastor's heart skipped...
For there...
Behind Iris...
Was Ark Omnis...
With its blade protruding from Iris' core...
"...Foolish girl!" Ark Omnis removed its laserblade, allowing Lunarius to fall to the ground... "Don't ever try a stunt like that again..."
"I... I... Ir... is..." Qastor gasped, his eyes wide and watery. He clenched the controls. Xanthippius made a silent transition.
"..." Qain watched on without words.
His hand trembling with enmity, Qastor pushed the controls all the way forward. Nova Omnis reacted, screaming straight for Qain with its dual blades storming from its arms.
"QAIN!!!"