A/N – Last chapter, and, I apologize, a lame ending.
Chapter 14 – Final Fight
It was one impossibly soundless moment, the moment after the darkness began. Mya, who had been expecting this very moment, recovered quickest and resumed her struggle. Her elbow found the muzzle of the wolf on her left and he collapsed on the floor. She grabbed the barrel of the blaster rifle held by a tiger, trying to pry the weapon from his hands by shaking the gun violently. Before she could register her chance of success, the gun split in two, thanks to the soldier triggering the safety mechanism joining the two pieces.
The lynx's balance was thrown and she fell clumsily to the ground, nearly landing on the wolf's blaster. She recovered it quickly and shot the tiger before he could react. Slowly, she stood, training the weapon on the ape who seemed to be in charge. The dim lights provided by the still-functioning computers cast an eerie shadow across the two furs.
The four other soldiers, James, and Duncan had moved to the door of the lift before the lights were killed, but once unfrozen from the surprise, they moved into action. An action that wouldn't get them very far.
"Sir, the lift isn't working," one said with pure bewilderment in his voice.
The ape slowly lifted his paw to his earpiece and spoke, "Seven, take order. Shoot the pilots and evacuate. Seven, take order. Seven?"
Tomatz nodded knowingly at Mya's triumphant smirk, "You planned this, didn't you?"
It was stated, rather than asked.
Mya said nothing as he took tentative steps towards the lynx, but brought the rifle to her shoulder. He paused momentarily, knowing the female pilot would have no reserves in shooting the enemy. His peripheral vision scanned the room for some distraction.
He caught the slight movement of Mya's finger as it squeezed the trigger and his world stopped in that instant.
The blaster rifle, the latest technology available to rogue militias controlled by the self-proclaimed emperor Andross, the blaster rifle, run by cartridges that packed enough power to shoot hundreds of devastating deadly rounds, made no sound as it dipped into a power supply that was not there.
When Mya realized the power cartridge was lying by her feet, she knew her bluff would last only an instant. She was prepared when the ape charged the lynx. His punch was blocked by the now-useful rifle and her foot found his midsection. He turned into the kick and her foot merely brushed his chest. He further turned into a back kick but Mya sidestepped and kicked his inner thigh, spinning the ape off balance. He reacted quickly as he faced towards her and used the momentum to plant his fist into Mya's cheek. He grabbed her shoulders and slammed her sternum against his knee, effectively stunning, but not winding the lynx.
She dropped the blaster as she jumped back an instant, then launched herself at the ape, feigning a right-legged kick to his stomach. His paws dropped reflexively to his waist as her foot connected with his furry chin. She landed her foot and snapped a left punch to his sternum, knocking the wind from him. Taking the sudden advantage, Mya's right leg curled around to a round house kick to his unprotected side, but he pinned her leg under his arm and pulled up so she twisted around. Then it was his advantage; he kicked the side of her left knee.
The pain was evident in her cry and fall. She clutched her knee in agony.
Tomatz nodded victoriously and turned to the six observers, "Take them down the stairs."
They shoved the two captives towards the door and Tomatz pulled a pistol from a hip holster. As he turned to face her, she rolled with the blaster, snapping the power cartridge in place. The rifle whined to life.
James and Duncan blinked in disbelief and the four soldiers froze to watch the happening.
"You just won't give up, will you," he asked irritably.
"Quitters never win, winners never quit," she said as she slowly pushed herself to a sitting position.
"Well, today you lose," he said, pulling the trigger before she could respond.
The red bolt burned a small hole through her upper left chest. The blaster in her paws clattered across the floor as she fell back, slamming into the computer consoles with a crash.
"Mya!" James screamed.
With a feral growl, the husky commander leapt onto Tomatz's back and wrapped his huge, strong paws around his throat. The four subordinate soldiers, reluctant to shoot their hostage and captive, began beating Duncan with the butts of their rifles, but he hung on, even as the ape collapsed to his knees.
James stood dumbly for a few seconds, seemingly unable to take it all in, until Duncan called his name. Abruptly he elbowed the nearest fur, a canine, in the neck and grabbed his rifle. The three remaining soldiers were soon sporting smoking wounds similar to Mya's.
The salamander kicked off the otter that had fallen onto the husky. It was then that he realized the ape was no longer moving.
"You got him," James asked.
The towering husky pushed himself up wearily and reached for the rifle. Upon taking it he promptly blasted a hole in the ape's back.
"That's for Mya," he said as he collapsed into unconscious.
Epilogue
Commander's Log- Cmder William Grey
Twenty-four hours have passed since the surprise attack by the Venomian Forces. Seventeen enemies were captured, twenty-two enemy crafts were downed, and none of my pilots were lost. Injuries in the flying units included a blaster shot to the chest and twisted knee for 1Lt Mya Tainer, minor burns to a very lucky FO Deanna Kulli, and a concussion for FO Jenzalah Roberts. Several Arwings were severely damaged and had to be scraped. Damage to the actual base was mostly cosmetic and easily repairable. However, the electricians needed extra time to repair the wiring on the generators...
Commander's Personal Log-
It was a long day, yesterday, for everyone here at Tagger. My opinion of my troops handling of the situation is very good. In reward, each member has been given a three day reprieve from duty, staggered so four remain on station. Mya is still in serious condition, the doctors said if the shot had gone a little further up, she'd be dead. She's one lucky cat. It took me almost all day to figure out exactly what had taken place at Tagger while we were in the air, but once I realized who had come up with the master plan to retake the base, I somehow wasn't surprised. It was agreed with the base commander that Mya would get her Lt Star and Wings back, with a new medal tacked on. That girl is going places... if she can stay alive and out of trouble.
Later tonight the able-bodied pilots are getting together for a celebration. I don't plan on staying late because I'm leaving early for a press conference with General Pepper. How the press got wind of the attack so quickly is beyond me, but in any case, the troops here deserve the recognition and I hope they go home to a hero's welcome.
Afterward, I plan on going home to catch some waves. It's only been a week, but I miss the ocean already.
Although this Doctor Andross, or self-proclaimed 'Emperor', seems to be politically potent, his arsenal of weaponry and battleships doesn't seem to overpower the Cornerian Forces. In the possibility of a war with him, he shouldn't be hard to overthrow. After all, he's just a fanatic leader of sorts, and they go down easy. No big deal, right?