Chapter 4: The Assault

Miori was frightened out of her life when the alarms blared stating there is an attack. She guessed this must be a raid from mercenaries or space pirates.

She wondered how they got information about the Pexis. She waited at the bridge wondering how her friends are doing and weather they could get out of this alive.

From the security camera screen she could see guards are running towards the entrance of the ship positioning themselves behind corners,

crates and anything they could find for cover at the main entrance.

Miori could see sparks appeared at the door, "Wait a minute? Why are they boring holes on four corners of the door?" she peered at the screen for a closer look.

She could see 4 small tubes suddenly appeared at the holes and gas poured into the ship then followed by a blast that blew the door away and incinerating the area near the door.

Those who were close by were engulfed in flames, screaming in pain rolling over on to the floor. Miori's eyes went wide in shock at the horrible scene.

Those who didn't manage to put out the fire on them were quickly burned to death. Their charred remains on the floor and made her almost throw up at the sight.

The guards open fire with their blasters intent on hitting anybody who is coming through. Miori then saw something flew from the door and landed onto the ground.

Suddenly there is a flash of white light that covered the screen and then she saw the guards rubbing their eyes blinded by the flash grenade.

The raiders swarmed in and gunned down every guard in the area then they ran out of the sight of the camera, she counted 30 of them.

Looking around the bridge she saw that it was empty, everyone seems to be reinforcing the main entrance. She ran out of the bridge down the corridor, BOOM!

The ship jerked suddenly from enemy fire tossing Miori to the side. Metal beams fell in front of her.

She clung at the wall for dear life too afraid to move, then with a will of effort she pushed herself from the wall and ran.

She came round the corner then stopped when she saw a guard fighting a raider dressed in red at a distance,

the guard tried to shoot the raider on the chest but missed as he dodged out of the way. With a leap the raider jumped grabbed the guard's hand holding the blaster

and elbowed him in the chest. Then using the guards body weight the raider back-throw him onto the floor.

The raider then quickly took out his knife strapped at his thigh and sliced the guard's throat. Miori could hear the guard burbling to breath then died in a pool of blood.

The raider then looked up and noticed Miori watching him. Licking the blood stained dagger he sneered then ran at her holding his dagger above his head.

She screamed running back around the corner not daring to risk a look. She could hear the raider's footsteps coming closer and she concentrated every

nerve and muscle in her body and ran faster. Just as she rounded from another corner a pair of hands grabbed her mouth and dragged into a room and the

door hissed behind them, then the hands released her.

She was about to turn around and punch the assailant when she noticed Sarah putting he finger on her lips telling her to be silent.

Then they both heard footsteps running past them and breathed a sight of relief. "Sarah! I'm so glad to see you. Where is everyone?" she hugged Sarah.

"Alexis is knocked unconscious, I laid him on the corner over there," she pointed, "and as for he rest of the research team I'm not sure."

Miori looked around her surroundings, " Where are we? " she asked. "We are at the medical storage area," said Sarah "Are you hurt?" she asked.

"No, luckily you dragged me in here on time or I'll end up with a sliced throat," Miori shivered remembering the scene.

"Well there is nothing to do hear but wait," said Sarah with a sigh.

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~~ At the battle scene ~~

Bryan was harassing the enemy that was attacking the research ships, " Jack I need you at my wing, where are you?" he asked through the intercom,

the battle is getting intense at the moment. "Yeah, yeah I read ya," said Jack pivoting his Swift to his side. They could see six enemy fighter ships in line formation coming

towards them. "Ready, GO!" they zoomed their ship in full throttle towards them. The enemy fired and they dodged the lasers moving away from each other.

Bryan to was on the left and Jack on the right.

Six of the fighters break their formation and chased them (three enemy fighters tailing one of them each) and furiously raining lasers at them.

Then both pilots turned in a wide arc and flied towards each other with enemies tailing them. So intent was the enemy on their target that they failed to see their plan.

When Bryan and Jack passed by each other they fired scatter missiles at the fighters that tailed them.

KABOOM! An explosion ignited sending pieces of metal through space. "TAKE THAT YOU SUCKERS!" Bryan and Jack shouted. "Good job Jack!"

Bryan gave a thumb up at Jack flying beside him. "Will do Alpha lead," Jack saluted. "OK, lets fry the rest of them!" Bryan pressed on full throttle with Jack behind him.

Then as he came to the RS-002 he noticed that two enemy transport ships docked at the main entrance a horrible thought struck him "Oh no! Miori!"

"Jack contact for troop reinforcements ask them to dock at the RS-002. The ship has been boarded and I'm going in,"

with that he speed towards the RS-002 as Jack contacted for help.

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~~ The Perchion, at the bridge ~~

Captain Panaka was pacing back and forth near his seat, "Damage Report!" he cried. "The ship has taken about 40% damage and half of turrets on the left are damaged sir!"

cried one of the bridge crew. "At this rate we won't last for another 15 minutes," he snarled.

"What about our fighters? How many of them are still available?" he asked.

" Thirty five Swifts had been destroyed on the first wave, we have another 25 to resist the second wave, " said the same person.

"We managed to take down 20 of the fighters in the first attack, the enemy is regrouping for a second strike, " he swallowed knowing the Captain will work himself into a fury.

"DAMMIT!" Panaka cursed rubbing his chin considering other options.

" Launch static missiles when the second wave hits!" said the Captain. "But captain some of our comrades are still out there!" cried his sub-command.

"It is either the enemy or us soldier! We'll pick up the survivors after the battle," said Panaka. "But captain…" he was cut of with a glare from Panaka,

"THAT'S AN ORDER SOLDIER!" "Y-yes, sir," he stammered.

Jack was docking at the mother ship to reload his ammunition when he saw two huge missiles fired from their salvo.

They made their way towards the swarm of fighters and exploded emitting an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) shockwave around the area.

Most fighters have shutdown due to malfunction some are zooming around space out of control. The only thing he can do now is hope that his comrades are all right out there.

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~~ The RS-002, at the medical storage ~~

"What are we going to do now?" asked Sarah. " I don't know. I hope everyone is okay," said Miori sitting beside Sarah with her chin between her knees.

They have been waiting inside the storeroom for nearly half an hour. "Well luckily Alexis and I were near this room when he was knocked out. I was able to…" said Sarah but

she was cut short when Miori placed her finger on her lips. "I can hear someone coming," she whispered in a few moments footsteps echoed through the corridor.

They held their breath listening and waiting. The footsteps stopped in front of the door, Miori quietly grabbed the fire extinguisher hanging nearby and positioned

her self beside the door. The door opened and a she could see a shadow on the floor and the figure stepped in. CLANG! She brought the fire extinguisher on the figure's

head knocking him unconscious onto the floor. She was about to give another hit when she noticed it was Bryan, "Oh! My God! Bryan are you all right,"

Miori putting down the extinguisher and kneeled down beside him.

Turning him over she slapped his face, "Mommy I dun wanna go to school today," Bryan whined in a semi conscious state.

"Oh God he is suffering from brain damage!" exclaimed Sarah, "Why did you hit him?" she asked.

"How should I know it was him," Miori cried using her fingers she opened his eyes to check if he is ok.

She leaned forward for a closer look, suddenly she felt a hand clasped behind her neck and find her lips into Bryans.

She paused moment on that position, it reminded her of Hiroki then coming back to her senses she shot her head up.

"YOU IDIOT!" she thumped her fists on his chest. Bryan roared in laughter and Sarah couldn't help but join in.

"That was quite a hit, luckily I was wearing my cockpit helmet," he giggled. "Do not pull a stunt like that again!" Miori yelled in frustration.

Suddenly another shadow covered the doorway, "Miori look out!" Bryan cried.

Miori turned around to see a figure clad in an old brown military uniform but before she could react the figure fire a shot at her shoulder.

She dropped onto the floor and succumbed into darkness.

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Miori…Miori...

" Huh? Who said that? " she asked. "Hello Miori it is I," said the Pexis. "Oh hello," she greeted. "We need to talk," said the Pexis.

She noticed she was lying down, she stood up and looked around, "Where am I?" she asked. "You are in a dream in your unconscious state," said the Pexis.

"Ok, what do you want to talk about?" asked Miori. " I sense lust and anger in these people who attacked you and from what I gather in their

unconscious state before they died, they call themselves the 'Red Eye', ". " The Red Eye? Who are they and what do they want with you?" asked Miori.

"I know not of their purpose but I can sense that they are influenced by a great evil.

Be vigilant for the group that you manage to hold against are part of The Red Eye and more will come," said the Pexis.

" What about you will you be alright?" Miori asked in a worried tone. " Yes, for the time being I'm safe with you and your friends," said the Pexis.

" What is this great evil you talked about?" asked Miori. " I know not and I am not sure if this evil plays a big role in The Red Eye but I can sense that it is the

fuel that drives them to attack your group, even if they are outnumbered," said the Pexis.

" Little was I able to gather during the battle from the survivors, when I tried to pry out information from those that are terribly wounded.

They suddenly screamed as if in an intense pain and died," said the Pexis in a sad voice, "and I'm not risking to read another mind," .

Miori was shocked to hear that something would kill someone just to hide itself.

" What would do such a thing?" she said in a worried tone. " I know not and for the first time I am frightened.

I can sense great power within the group," said the Pexis.

Miori was thinking over what the Pexis had said, The Red Eye? She had never heard of such a group,

maybe they are hidden out of sight and hearing buying their time to attack at the right moment but what do they want with the Pexis?

" I sense that there is another life form in you," said the Pexis changing the subject.

" Yes, there is, there is a baby inside my womb," said Miori. "What is a baby?" the Pexis inquired.

" It is another human growing inside me and will be born out when it is ready," explained Miori.

" Interesting," said the Pexis.

"Do you humans reproduce yourself?" asked the Pexis. "What? No, we need two human's one male and the other the female to produce a baby,"said Miori covering

her mouth to hide her smile. " Fascinating!" said the Pexis astounded.

" Take care of this young one Miori, I sense that that this one will play a great part when the time comes," .

"Good-bye for now," Miori could feel that the Pexis is going away.

"Wait, how do you know?" said Miori but the Pexis didn't answer.