Chapter 4 - Phased
Sally slowly opened her eyes. She was looking at a plain white floor that shimmered with a radiant glow. She screwed her eyes up and then opened them again. Slowly sitting up she looked around. The floor seemed to extend to infinity in all directions and above her flashed images of virtually everything imaginable. The images moved back and forth, overlapping and shifting position constantly. It was like watching a million moving TV screens. She spent a few moments just watching the screens. She couldn't understand any of them but for some reason they seemed to pull at her.
"…woah!" she said at length.
"Yes they are amazing aren't they."
Sally turned slowly to see Trinity and Talyn standing just a little way off. Sally slowly got up and then realised that she was on an eye level with Trinity instead of Talyn. She looked down at herself to find that she looked like she normally did and not a child like in her dreams. Looking back at the pair she asked an obvious question.
"What is this place?"
"It's a place in which time and place have no meaning." replied Trinity.
"The Time Stones?" asked Sally.
Trinity shook her head.
"No. The Time Stones have an anchor in the present but show the past and future as well. No this place has no anchor. It roams where it likes on an errand we have yet to fathom."
"Then what is it?"
"We don't know its real name, if it even has one, but myself and Talyn have come to call it the Phase Gem."
"Phase Gem? So what is this place?"
"I honestly don't know." replied Trinity, "Most of the time we just sit here and watch the images of Mobius fly by in a random order trying to make sense of them."
"How long have you been here?" asked Sally.
"Since we disappeared." replied Talyn, "I can't say how long ago that was. How old are you?"
Sally was slightly puzzled by the question but answered it.
"I'm thirty four."
"Ah." replied Trinity, "Then we have been here thirty four years. It seems longer and shorter at the same time. You see time doesn't exist here. For us all of infinity has passed but so has nothing. We are not bound by time any more. Neither of us have changed in appearance since we came to this place but our minds have expanded more than anything in the history of anything."
"What does it have to do with me? You asked how old I was and then said you'd been here that long. What does that have to do with anything?" asked Sally.
"Sally my dear, I didn't get to tell you this last time we met but now I can. Talyn has already said that he is your brother. He was not lying for he is my son and I know my family. You see Sally I am….your mother." said Trinity slowly.
Sally stumbled back slightly and gasped before shaking her head quickly.
"No! Father told me my mother died whilst giving birth to me." she replied.
"He said that to protect you Sally. He did it to save you from the pain of having an unanswered mystery. I didn't die, I came here. We both did."
"Its true sis." said Talyn.
Sally didn't reply. She just continued to stand perfectly still watching Trinity and Talyn. Was it true? No it couldn't be, but what if it was?
"I'm not saying I believe you but if you really are my family then explain to me what happened." she said.
"Of course. Sit with us…please?" replied Trinity.
Sally slowly walked over to Trinity and Talyn and sat down between them. As she leaned back she felt something holding her up even though there wasn't anything there. Trinity was looking into the distance with a calm expression. She slowly turned back to face Sally and gently stroked Sally's hair with her hand. For some reason Sally felt ok with her doing this, she felt….safe? Trinity stopped and started to talk.
"I don't know if your father told you how we met? The year was 3210 and I was sixteen. I was the only child of a rich household with close ties to the royal family. On my sixteenth birthday I was invited to the royal palace with my family to celebrate. My father was chief advisor to the royal court and had a good friendship with the king and queen of that time. At the party I met Max, he was only eighteen back then and a real sweetie. We started talking and from then on I found myself visiting the royal palace nearly every week just to visit him. Slowly our relationship grew and he finally asked me out on a date. I was a bit shocked at first, I mean being asked out on a date by the prince of Mobius is no small event. This had to be about a year after we first met and we continued to see each other for quite a time after that. Well anyway a few year later on Max's twenty fourth birthday he was appointed to the position of king as his parents stepped down. As soon as it had been announced he apparently fled the royal palace and raced to my house nearly two miles away. I answered the door and no sooner had I done that than he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I believe I fainted at this point so I don't know what happened for the next few hours but when I woke he was still there holding my hand. He looked worried sick the poor dear but weak as I was I got off a couple of words, 'I will.'."
Trinity stopped for a moment and sighed happily. Sally just watched her and continued to wait.
"Well we were married a few weeks later." continued Trinity, "The wedding was huge and one of the most exciting moments of my entire life. A year later little Talyn here was born and for a further four years we continued to live in peace, ruling with honour as Max told me so many times."
Sally gasped as Trinity mentioned her family's secret phrase. Trinity gave a long sigh and looked down.
"Then it happened. About three or four weeks after giving birth to you Talyn and myself were alone in the palace. You were sleeping in your room and Max had gone off to attend some military meeting. The palace was quiet and most of the palace staff were away on a short holiday. Talyn had taken me up into one of the palace towers to see the view but we got more than a view. I still can't remember how it happened but it did. We were both just sitting and watching the goings on below when we started to feel sleepy. I tried to get up so I could go back to my room to rest but I couldn't. I would have panicked if I hadn't been so sleepy."
"I felt the same." said Talyn.
"I don't know why we were pulled into this place. Maybe it was due to a disruption in the Phase Gem's fabric or something. But for whatever reason we were pulled inside and woke in this place. We spent ages trying to find a way out before we finally found out there was none. We were trapped and there was nothing we could do about it. We couldn't even contact Max to tell him what happened."
Trinity screw up her eyes, tear starting to form in them.
"The images around us started to react to our thoughts and all they showed were scattered picture of Max and you. I couldn't stop crying for a long time and neither could Talyn. Then the pictures started to go back to how they are now. Random images from every possible realm of time and space you could imagine. Alternate realities, possible futures, past and present images all mingled into one mass of gibberish. Over time we started to become more tuned to the Phase Gem's movements. It shifts from one reality to another, from the future to the past, not bound by any tethers or restraints. We then began to notice that at times the Gem would pass very close to one particular time frame. So close we felt we could almost reach and touch it….and we did."
"We tried it on another time first. An alternate reality of some kind. We found we could call out to a person and home in on their thoughts. We sunk into their dreams like we did to you and talked to them. Each time the Gem came close we tried it and each time found we could call a different person." continued Talyn, "Finally the Gem passed close to this time frame and we called to you. Maybe it was because we really wanted to call to you but for some reason the Gem has stayed here longer than anywhere else. Before we could only talk to a person once and only in their dreams. We've never been able to bring another here before."
Sally didn't really know what to say. It all made sense, well up to the point that they vanished. She looked from Trinity to Talyn and back again.
"So….what now?" she asked, "Can you come back?"
"No." replied Trinity sadly, "We've tried to break free before but we can't. I don't know why."
Just then a thought struck Sally. She went stiff and gasped.
"What about me? Can I get back?!" she asked slightly panicked.
"Relax Sally. You are not truly here. You are still on Mobius, only your mind is here."
"Back on Mobius?" said Sally slowly as her face went pale, "Oh no…"
"What's wrong Sally?" asked Talyn.
"I was in New Washington….they….they were going to blow it up!" she cried.
Trinity and Talyn both slowly closed their eyes and then slowly smiled.
"Don't worry Sally we'll protect you." said Trinity.
"How?" she asked frantically.
"Calm yourself Sally dear, its alright." said Trinity as she started to stroke Sally's hair again.
As Trinity's hand brushed against her hair Sally felt herself relaxing. Her shoulder's dropped and she slowly placed her head on Trinity's shoulder. Trinity brought her second arm round and placed it around Sally as she lay against her. Talyn scooted up next to them and started to hug Sally gently from the side. Sally was feeling sleepy but awake at the same time as she let the pair embraced her. The eons of time seemed to slip past her in a millisecond and she slowly started to feel contented. Her mind was still thinking over what they had told her but her heart had already decided on the truth. She raised her head slowly and spoke.
"Thanks mum." she said quietly.
"Hush dear, just rest. We don't have much more time together. Soon you must go back to Mobius or you'll be stuck here like us forever." replied Trinity.
Sally felt herself melting away, slipping back into a time many years ago, a time she had been dreaming off. Her facial expression changed to that of a small nervous child as she continued to look at Trinity.
"But I want to stay here with you." she said.
"You have a family Sally. Don't make them suffer like Max had to suffer. I wish you could stay too. I wish I could come back with you to Mobius and be with you again but we can't. And if you stay too long you won't be able to leave either. You have to go Sally."
"Mother."
Sally started to rub her muzzle against Trinity's shoulder before she felt something rubbing her own shoulder. She looked over to see Talyn doing the same to her.
"Talyn." she said.
"Sis." replied Talyn.
Sally wrapped an arm round her brother and pulled him closer as Trinity started to hug them both. Sally closed her eyes and started to sob slowly.
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Sonic sat on his feet with his head bowed trying not to cry. Behind him Jet and Links were leaning against a rock looking lost and to the side Bunnie was still comforting Miles. Sonic looked up at the steaming crater and then further up towards space. He clenched his fists and got to his feet.
"I'll get you for this!" he screamed, "I'll rip your damn hearts out!"
His head sunk to his chest and he started to sob slowly. Nobody made a move to do anything except Links who looked up at the crater.
"We came too late. I wasn't fast enough." he said.
"Links you can't blame yourself." said Bunnie looking up, "You didn't know she'd do this, none of us did."
"I should have gone faster on the way home." he replied, "If only…"
"Its ok Links." said Sonic slowly through his tears, "You weren't to know. It's their fault."
They all knew who he meant by they. Bunnie turned her attention back to Miles. She never knew he could be so emotional, must have got it from his father.
"Mom…" he said slowly to himself.
Bunnie hugged him tighter. She couldn't believe Sally was gone either. She and herself had been friends since infancy. They had gone through thick and thicker still together and now it was all gone. The bright personality, the committed person, the caring mother, all gone and she doubted anything would ever replace it. Links was now on his feet and had walked over to Sonic. He slowly put a hand on his shoulder and waited. Sonic looked over at him with tear stained eyes and nodded at Links slightly.
"Thanks Links." he said.
Links nodded back at him and then looked at the crater.
"We should go." said Sonic slowly, "There is nothing here for us now."
Links sighed and nodded again.
"Let's walk….I don't feel like travelling by tornado." he said.
"Me neither." replied Sonic.
The pair turned slowly away from the crater. Sonic moved over to where Miles was and took hold of his son. Bunnie released Miles into Sonic's care and Miles was only too happy to switch. Meanwhile Links had pulled Jet to his feet slowly. Bunnie also got to her feet and gradually the five all turned from the crater and began the long walk home.
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"Mom…" murmured Sally to herself.
She slowly began to recover feeling in her body and slowly opened her eyes. The white shimmering floor was no longer there and she couldn't feel Trinity or Talyn pressing against her.
"I'm back in the real world." she said to herself.
Slowly she uncurled her arms and propped herself up. Her face fell as she saw where she was. She sat on a metal clad floor with walls of bars around her, a cell.
"I've been captured…" she said looking down at her ankle pouch.
The pouch which held Nicole was empty and she swore silently to herself. She shunted closer to the bars and listened carefully. In the far distance she could hear very faint voices.
"…yeah I know, freaking odd."
"Maybe it was a prototype shield or something?"
"Dunno…but it looked odd for a shield, all shimmering and white."
"Yeah but it somehow managed to protect her from Sunscorch's cannon blast. Whatever it was the captain will no doubt be interested."
"No doubt, anything technology wise always takes his fancy. This little computer too look interesting. Wonder what it can do."
"I wouldn't try fiddling with it, might be booby trapped."
"Yeah."
"So when does the captain and commander get here?"
"Well I contacted them as we were piloting the shuttle up from the crater. They just said to stick her in holding and they'd be there as soon as they could."
"Right, well you wanna play poker or something while we wait?"
"Sure, you got a deck…"
Sally moved back from the bars and began to puzzle. So she had somehow survived a huge cannon blast from something called Sunscorch. Suncorch! That's what she had sent Links and the others off to investigate! So she had been worried with due course. Well it wasn't a priority now. So she had been found while she was still out of it and taken by shuttle to some place and put in a cell. She wondered if she was in orbit now or not. One thing was for sure, she had to escape and if possible take out this Sunscorch too. As she continued to think a loud cry echoed through the hall.
"Aaaaaa-teeeeeeeen-HUT!"
There was a moment of silence and then a number of crashes that sounded like chairs hitting the floor and various little articles, like cards and chips, hitting the floor. There were a few quiet words spoken and then Sally heard footsteps heading her way. She remained seated as two people came into view. One she recognised as Commander Morgan Jake but the other was new and to her looked funny. She drew herself to her knees and slowly stood up.
"I see our little guest is awake." said Morgan.
"It'd seem that way sir." replied the other man his voice sounding just as funny as his looks.
Sally didn't reply, she just folded her arms slowly and snorted at them.
"Got a little attitude problem there haven't we." sneered Morgan.
He leaned closer to the bars and then stood back.
"The captain and myself would like to know how you managed to survive." he said.
"Yes I bet you would." replied Sally, "But you ain't going to find out."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." said Morgan turning away, "Tanaka you can have this one to play with. I don't care what you do, have a field day."
"Thank you sir." replied the other man, "I've always wanted to try out a few things against these Mobians."
Morgan gave a small laugh and Sally could instantly tell it wasn't good whatever it was. Her face faulted but she quickly recovered her sneer. Morgan, however, noticed the fault.
"Ah don't worry your highness, it won't hurt…..for very long anyway."
He made a motion with his head to Tanaka and then walked off. Tanaka stayed for a moment looking at Sally.
"I must admit you're an interesting little specimen. I'm going to have fun with you."
He gave a small smirk and then walked off leaving Sally to sink to the floor.
"Oh hell." she said to herself.
Whatever that Tanaka guy had in store for her didn't sound too nice and she was sure he'd probably dismantle Nicole too. She had to get out of here and fast.
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Sally was still thinking a few hours later when two soldiers arrived outside her cell. She had been trying to find a way out but to no avail. There weren't any air ducts or cracks in the wall panelling or anything like that in the cell at all. One of the soldiers opened the cell and the second walked in. Sally made a move to escape and dodged the soldier but the one at the cell door grabbed her quickly. The second then slapped a pair of restraints on her and grabbed her also. Sally was fit and athletic but not what you would call strong so she was unable to break free of the two men's grip. They dragged her from the cell and out of the cell block. Sally was studying the layout closely trying to remember it.
The men carried her down a few corridors, at one point passing a few portholes in the wall. It from these that Sally realised she was in space and that her escape would be difficult from here on out. The tour finally finished in a metal door which the men carried her through into another room. Inside the room was a sight that almost made Sally hurl. The best way to describe the contents would be something along the lines of a mad scientists examination room. The room was clean for the most part but there were a few articles in it. A large metal table sat in one corner covered in various pointed implements next to which sat a long bench complete with restraints. In another corner was a vertical piece of metal also equipped with restraints above which hung an odd looking device with multiple robotic arms. A long shelf ran the length of the free wall in the room and it covered in various unhealthy looking tools like the table from earlier. Sally's fur started to bristle and stick up on end as her body went stiff.
"Interesting response." came a voice.
Out of the shadows in one corner of the room stepped the man from earlier, Tanaka. He was holding a small notebook, which he was jotting things down in. Sally just looked at him.
"Heart rate is up 20%, skin temperature is up, stimulation of hair follicles….just like any person seeing this type of sight. Don't worry though, it won't hurt for very long."
Tanaka motioned with his head towards the table in the corner and the two men holding Sally stepped forward towards it dragging her as they did. Sally began to thrash wildly trying to break free but failing. The men reached the table and one threw Sally onto it and held her down while the other secured her arms to the table. When it was done they both stepped back as they knew she couldn't escape. Sally's feet were still free though and she managed to clip one of the men round the chin as he moved back. The man staggered slightly and looked a bit mad but didn't react otherwise. Tanaka meanwhile was still making notes. Sally stopped thrashing her legs and looked up at him from her laying position. Her eyes were defiant but you could tell she was terrified. Tanaka was still making notes and didn't notice so Sally looked away. It was then that she noticed something that made her heart skip a beat. Sitting on the table next to the bench she was on, almost lost in the sea of implements, was Nicole. She was open and bleeping quietly to herself on the table.
"…Nicole." said Sally to herself.
"What?" said Tanaka looking up.
Sally quickly looked away from the table and back at Tanaka. Her scared looked had faded slightly and had been replaced by a thoughtful expression. Tanaka looked at her puzzled for a moment before putting his notebook away in his pocket.
"Well let's get started shall we." he said.
As he said this the two men stepped forwards again and quickly retrained her legs to the bench before one of them fastened a large belt round her waist. Sally could hardly move under the restraints and the worried look returned slightly. Tanaka moved to the table and picked up an item from it. Switching it on it started to buzz and he moved back towards Sally.
"Might as well start where we really need the information. I'll just clean the area for the incitation." he said.
Moving into Sally's view she could now see the item was an electric razor. Tanaka placed the razor on Sally's chest and ran it down to where the belt was at her waist. The area travelled was quickly stripped of fur leaving a line of clear skin where it had been. Tanaka moved back to the table. Sally screwed up her eyes and hissed slightly louder.
"Nicole!"
Tanaka heard this time and Nicole on the table made a single loud bleep. Tanaka looked from Sally to the computer and then back again.
"I was going to ask you about that thing but I'll find out on my own later when I dismantle it. More fun for me that way." he said moving back into Sally's view.
Sally froze solid. In Tanaka's hand was a small cylindrical object with a small energy blade sticking from one end. Tanaka moved closer to Sally making her go as stiff as a plank.
"This is the point where it will probably hurt for you." said Tanaka.
"Nicole! Theta 12!" cried Sally.
Nicole gave a couple of bleeps and suddenly a whine filled the room. Tanaka looked up at the computer just as a massive pulse of energy flew from it. He and the guards were sent flying across the room as the lights and other electrical equipment in the room shorted out. The room was pitch black but Sally hardly noticed. She was already trying to bite her hand restraints. She finally found the buckle and gave a sharp tug with her teeth forcing the buckle to unlock and free her arm. She swung her arm over and quickly undid the other buckle before using both hands to undo the belt round her waist. She sat up quickly and then unbuckled her feet before leaping off the table. Nicole was visible on the table due to her flashing display and Sally quickly picked her up.
"Light Nicole." she said.
A small torch light lit up on the side of Nicole filling most of the room with light. Sally looked at the three men, who were now unconscious on the floor, and then back at Nicole.
"Thanks Nicole." she said.
"No problem Sally." came Nicole's reply.
Sally looked around the room and found the door again before running over to it. She found the door lock had been fried in the EMP blast and the door opened easily. Peering outside the room she found the corridor was dark too. Sally wasted no time and sprinted from the room and down the darkened corridor. In her head she was thinking over how to escape. If they were in space this had to be a ship and therefore they'd have transports or something. She had to find out where they were kept. As she ran along the corridors started to get lighter ahead and she began to hear people shouting. She quickly ducked into another corridor as a large squad of men ran past heading for the room she had been in. She didn't have much time left.
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Morgan was at the point of strangling someone.
"What's going on?!" he cried.
"Sir squad B just checked in. Tanaka and the guard seeing to the queen have been found unconscious in the examination room. The queen is missing."
"WHAT?! Find her!"
"We've got squads searching all decks sir."
"Forget the squads, use the ships internal sensors."
"Sir this ship has none. It was built before internal sensors became standard equipment and we haven't been upgraded yet."
"God dammit! Find her NOW!"
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Sally slunk out of the corridor and carried on looking for any signs that might help her escape. What she found next was not the kind of sign she had been thinking off. Plastered on the wall ahead in ten foot lettering was the following:
"C Deck
B Deck launch bay left
C Deck mess right"
Sally couldn't believe it and quickly took a left at the intersection. She had to make it up another deck to the launch bay but the question was what to do then? She could steal a shuttle or something but then they would shoot her down. She needed a decoy of some kind.
"Nicole charge the pulse again and stand by for my signal." she said quietly as she ran.
"You got it Sally." replied Nicole as the computer started to emit a small whine.
Sally came to a halt at the next intersection and peered round the corner. One way led on into the ship but the other way led to a large elevator. The door was wide open and everything seemed clear. Even so Sally slunk round the corner and crept to the lift before entering and slamming her hand on the door close button. She quickly located the button marked "B" and pressed it. The lift began to move upwards slowly towards the next deck. Sally was thinking quickly.
"Ok Nicole on my signal." she said.
The elevator came to a clunking stop and the door swung open. A number of men in the next room turned to look at the lift as it opened and were amazed at the sight.
"NOW NICOLE!" she screamed.
Nicole gave a hum and another huge blast of energy flew from the computer into the room. The men were knocked to the ground in a second and the light went out suddenly. Nicole's light flared into life as Sally leapt into the room. She raced on into the hanger passing several ships as she did. She finally stopped next to one and climbed up to the cockpit. She opened it and sat Nicole down on the console.
"Ok Nicole, do it!"
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"What was that?" cried Morgan.
"We've had another massive power surge in the flight hanger on B deck sir. We've lost contact."
"That's her!"
"SIR! There's a ship launching from B deck!"
Morgan spun and started flicking a few controls on a console. A monitor lit up showing a view from the outside of the ship. A small fighter was definitely launching.
"Launch Alpha flight! Shoot that thing down!" he cried.
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The B deck hanger suddenly came to life. A door opened at one side of the room and a number of pilots ran out all holding flashlights. They sprinted across the hanger towards the remaining fighters. One man at the back of the group was trying to fit his helmet as he ran but in the process dropped his flashlight. He turned back to pick it up and was amazed to see the flashlight hovering in mid air. Before he could react the light hurtled towards him and collided with his head hard. She fell to the floor with a thud as Sally appeared in the gloom. She checked the man quickly and then picked up the flashlight and headed towards the rest of the fighters. Quickly noticing the free fighter she climbed in taking care not to be seen and threw the flashlight away.
"Ok Nicole, interface again." she said.
"Got it." replied Nicole.
A second later all the controls in the fighter lit up and the engines started. Sally looked to both sides to see the other fighters looked ready. A voice came over the radio.
"Ok Alpha flight stand by for final launch orders. On five, four, three, two, one…launch!"
"Nicole!" hissed Sally.
Nicole responded with a bleep and as the other fighters gunned their engines and left the hanger so did Sally's fighter. As she left the bay, Sally looked round. The darkness of space surrounded her but she saw what her next target was. It wasn't a ship, it wasn't her planet, it wasn't even the other fighters. A long satellite covered in solar panels floated in space near the other ships.
"That has to be it Nicole, Sunscorch!" she said, "Nicole do you still have a link with the other fighter?"
"Yes Sally."
"Change its course. Head it straight for that satellite."
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"Sir alpha flight has launched and it heading for the fighter."
Morgan just nodded.
"Just shoot the damn thing…" he started.
"Sir the fighter has changed course. Bearing 145 degrees, its…..sir! It's heading straight for Sunscorch!"
"WHAT?! Bring the ship into range and open fire!"
"Yes sir."
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Sally watched as the controlled fighter swung and headed towards the satellite. The rest of the fighter group turned to follow and Nicole made the adjustments to stay in formation.
"Nicole can you access the weapon systems?" asked Sally.
"Negative Sally."
"Damn….ok prepare…"
Just then a huge volley of bright blue shots flew past the fighter group heading for the fighter. They missed due to Nicole's exact piloting skills though.
"Nicole don't look too perfect. Let it get hit a bit but keep it heading towards that satellite. If they are this eager to protect it then my guess was probably right."
The next shots came from the fighter group around her and, as per Sally's instructions, the fighter took a few light hits but kept going.
"Nearly there Nicole, just keep it going." she urged.
Another wave of shots came in from the pursuing ship and again the fighter was hit slightly. However Nicole suddenly started to beep.
"Control link disrupted Sally, loosing control."
"What?!"
Sally looked at the fighter to see it slowing down. The next volley of shots from the fighters around her tore into its hull ripping it apart in a second. Sally shut her eyes tight and hit her fist on the console beside her.
"Dammit! So close and…..Nicole! Does this ship have an ejector system?"
"Confirmed Sally." replied Nicole.
"Set a collision course, full power to engines, after burners on my mark and set the drive systems to over load."
"Confirmed Sally waiting to engage."
"Now Nicole!"
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Morgan watched as the fighter was torn apart on his monitors. He smiled quietly.
"Tanaka will be upset that he lost his new toy but at least we saved Sunscorch. Issue the return to base order." he said.
"Aye sir."
Morgan watched his fighters bank round back towards the ship and then stopped. One fighter wasn't turning with the rest. Its engines flared and it started to fly straight toward Sunscorch.
"What's going on?" he said.
"Sir Alpha five is not responding to any orders."
"Shoot it down!"
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Sally's fighter shot towards Sunscorch at a tremendous speed. It was flattening Sally into the seat because of the G force.
"Incoming fire Sally." stated Nicole.
"Dodge it Nicole! Get us to that satellite." replied Sally.
Sally's fighter started to weave madly as Nicole detected and calculated ever shot heading their way. Sally was starting to feel light headed now as the blood rushed away from her head. Sunscorch was now large in the windows and the whine of the fighter's engines was getting louder.
"System drive nearing critical Sally."
"Nicole prepare for ejection, set fighter to…."
Sally never got chance to finish as she blacked out. Nicole continued to weave the fighter as it got even closer to Sunscorch. She turned the fighter heading it straight for the satellites dish and engaged the full afterburners. Seconds later the entire cockpit ejected from the fighter flying straight up and away from the speeding craft. The fighter itself caught a few shots but still made its target smashing straight into the dish as the core drive went critical. The blast vaporised the dish and caused a chain reaction in the satellite. A number of smaller explosions ripped across its hull until they met the fuel tanks on board. The entire satellite went up in a huge fireball throwing debris in all directions. All the nearby ships, including the Gunship, caught bits of the flying debris. The fighter's cockpit was now flying straight for the planet still under the power of its original rocket firing used to clear the fighter. All the other ships were in total disarray and none followed the cockpit as it entered the planets atmosphere.