【76 - The Trojan Ruse and Last Ditch Effort to Save Humanity!】


"What in God's name…?"

Urobach shoved his way through double doors, and then shoved his way through two personnel who tripped - a folder was dropped and papers scattered all over the floor. Urobach wasn't shouting or barking orders, and somehow that was even more intimidating. He strode to the rows of panels before the wide screen, then looked at a waiting soldier who was hovering his finger over a button. "Do it!"

A nod and the screen flashed. Henka was on the call, standing resolute and moistening her dry lips, "Hi, Sir…"


A day earlier, the team was sitting in the Roly poly and amidst their planning phase. The mystic of the group opened her eyes. She'd been sitting away from them, part listening and part in trance.

"So Hillary," Engyo asked, "what is your psychic contribution to the plan so far?"

"I think Urobach is going to go for it. It feels like his paranoia is working against him - our story will confirm his fears and he's not going to ask for too many details." Her smile wavered, "We will need to take every precaution anyway. The future is always subject to change, and psychic input is rarely concrete."

"You've been a great source of encouragement."

"I just don't want you all to base too much trust in what I'm feeling," her gaze lowered. "We know how that's been wrong before…"

"We're good - enough - on the psychic front," Henka leant forward and the fold-out bed creaked under her, "now we need to make sure the story is air-tight."


Urobach stared at Henka over the call and breathed in deeply once. "How?"

Henka gathered herself to explain, "It was the Gatekeeper."

Urobach said nothing for a moment. The workers around the room were out of view of the camera, and they looked at him and amongst each other. This was the explanation Urobach was dreading, but at once he was able to accept it. Urobach pinched his nose and exhaled.

Henka continued, "The Gatekeeper appeared to me at my station. H-he broke our mental connection and told me he was assigning me to General Amira."

"And is she with you now?" Urobach asked through his teeth.

"No." That surprised him. "She doesn't know yet that I'm talking to you. I called because…" Henka fought for a moment, and then her expression showed both loyalty and determination. "I don't want to be Amira's subordinate. You're my general. Aurellia is rightfully your planet, and I want to be at your side while you rule it."


"Are all of us going?" Jayden asked, eighteen hours prior.

"We have enough C2 charges between us. The more of us that go, the more likely one will get to the station's engine room," Engyo admitted. "Though we may have to split up. We'll be smaller targets that way, and if one group doesn't make it another still might."

"Worry not!" M-006 chirped, unable to quite read the atmosphere. "With the water chosen's and my assistance, we'll have intel and be free from any technological barrier!" The smilie-face lighting up his screen felt out of place.

"Actually, you will not be accompanying us, M-006." Engyo stated, making him whir back in surprise. "You can't keep up with us. If you stay with the Roly poly you can stay in contact with the water chosen should they need your intel, and then they can relay back to us."

"That probably is for the best," M-006 conceded.

"So that means, us eight humans are going?" Jayden repeated and there were nods all around before everyone looked at Sinan.

Sinan nodded then too, "We can't let Urobach destroy everything."


"Curious…" back in present time, Urobach mused.

He said nothing for a few seconds before whipping around, "All of you clear out!" The soldiers left readily enough; it was likely a command he'd given enough times before. As the last person left, the door swung shut. Urobach looked up at Henka in a peculiar fashion, "While you've not been disloyal to me, are you truly willing to disobey my - our superior?"

"Aurellia is your planet," Henka emphasised and once more Urobach pinched his nose. Then Henka said the words she knew would reverberate inside him: "The Gatekeeper shouldn't even be here."

Urobach looked up and squinted at her, "...so you want both of us to disobey? Both of us will die the moment Pluto becomes aware that we're going against his wishes."


"This might be enough," Henka spoke with some optimism, three hours earlier, flicking through the pages in a folder. She was sitting on the Roly poly's step while the others were outside and stretching their legs by a hill, getting fresh air. It was little comfort for what they were preparing to do.

"I drafted it with help from Tsukumo and the water chosen," Engyo spoke for the group to hear and they drifted closer. "We did it these past few hours while you were all familiarising yourselves with the equipment and out getting what we need. It's a fake plan to eliminate Urobach, written as if I were Amira, and it relies on her power too."

Tsukumo spoke with unmasked pride, "We had to get into Amira's mindset and write how she'd go about it."

"Yes," Engyo nodded, though remained business-like. "While Urobach is reading this, and the other statistics we fudged, we may have more time - to do what we must."

Henka looked up from it, "And if me and Urobach debrief in his pocket-space, that gives you all even more time because we won't notice anything going on until we get back."


"You're right that Pluto might kill us…" Henka deflated, speaking in the present once more. "But… if Amira were no longer in the picture…" Henka saw Urobach's gaze snap back and she struggled, "Amira is a native. She's not truly one of us. It goes against our culture that she rule this planet instead of you, but if Pluto believes she's the better General…"

"Stop." Urobach ordered and Henka shut her mouth. "Even if you wanted to serve me again, our mental connection is broken, so what value do you have for me? You're just like any other soldier now."

"I have a truck with me full of weapons, supplies, intel and plans that I stole from Amira's base. She intends to betray you and take over, you know?"

Urobach was shocked on both accounts. Gatekeeper Pluto's words from their last exchange went through his head: dispensable entertainment. His fists clenched.

"You raided your new general's base, stole a truck and drove away, and you're asking me now to teleport you here. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"I'm surprised by your audacity. And Amira does not yet know?"

"She's likely to find out, soon."

Urobach squeezed his chin, "Pluto gave her my cards, now he's giving her my lieutenants. What's next, territory?" His voice became quieter still, "Does he already know about…?"

Henka brought his attention back, "If Amira's already planning to take you out, then taking her out would just be self-defence, right?"

"Fine… I will investigate the evidence you've gathered to see if there's truth to your claim of Amira's betrayal. Send me your location."


Henka sat in the truck to make sure she wouldn't be separated from the group. Hopefully it would look like she wasn't standing in the open because Amira could find her first, and then appear with troops to shoot her down. In reality, Amira didn't seem to have the people skills or know-how to find gunmen who'd swear their loyalty to her. She wasn't nearly ambitious enough to want to rule the world - all she seemed to want was to be safe. And yet, with her new powers Amira had been changing before their eyes. She'd always pushed the envelope by testing Urobach's patience. So who could say that this farce was far-fetched?

Urobach teleported to Henka's location a few minutes later, hidden amidst a whole troop of armour-glad gunmen who were pointing their weapons in all directions. It looked like a precaution in case Amira was behind Henka's message and luring him to his death.

The area was an open dirt road without any highpoints from which one could snipe. After the surroundings were scoped by the men and deemed secure, Urobach stepped out from his cover and over to Henka. She tried a weak smile that he didn't return. Henka unconsciously gulped, then hoped he hadn't noticed through the semi-tinted screen. Urobach came to a stop and planted his hand on the bonnet. Everything combusted in black and went cold as they travelled through space, moving to…?


They were in a hangar. Another squadron of soldiers surrounded the truck with guns strapped over their shoulders. Urobach turned away and summoned the previous squad from where they'd just been. Henka watched the inferno of black through the windscreen, hoping they were in Dahron. Surely Urobach would want to keep everything together, right? It would make for less blind teleporting and having to keep track of multiple bases. Henka could only hope for the sake of the plan.

Urobach walked to her car door and Henka opened it, then he offered his gloved hand. He helped her down. They stared at each other.

"Show me," Urobach said.

Henka nodded and went quickly to the back of the truck. She opened it and revealed many black bags. A few were open, one revealed ammunition and another papers that looked like they'd been ransacked from a filing cabinet. Henka reached in and pulled out a blue folder that she opened and handed to him wordlessly.

Urobach studied Henka's servile posture before taking it. The papers detailed an assassination plan that involved using Amira's teleporting to bring armed gunmen into Urobach's control room. Slowly, a smile began to creep up his face. The proof of Amira's treachery was right here in his hand.

"Come with me," he said to Henka and she nodded. They started walking, Urobach with a confident stride and Henka clutching her arm but keeping pace. Urobach waved his arm back at whichever soldiers happened to be to his left, "Catalogue the contents of the truck. Everyone else: back to your stations."

Most of the soldiers dispersed. Urobach glanced up at a security camera that was blinking red and zooming in toward the truck. He watched it, but thought nothing of it. He put an arm around Henka's shoulder and teleported them both mid-stride to his pocket dimension.


Three soldiers were unloading the truck, and they began taking out the bags. The hanger was mostly empty now. A soldier turned for the next bag and paused when he thought he saw the imprint of a leg - and then it moved slightly. Before his comrades noticed there was an explosion of tear gas, a cloud instantly swallowed the truck.

The stowaways ripped themselves free of the bags and there were hits and grunts - the choking men were overpowered, their guns confiscated by a group in black suits with gas masks.

"You want the door on the far side," the water chosen's voice came through their communicators.

They ran and saw the door light switch from red to green before it opened for them.

They went through a corridor and within seconds red lights were flashing. An alarm blared, followed by an announcement: "Code red: intruders in the facility!"

"Well that didn't take them long, unfortunately." Tsukumo remarked, his voice was muffled through the mask.

The group of seven made it to a wider room that curved around with various doorways and shutters.

"Which way?" Engyo asked.

"Uhhh, the fastest way is no longer the safest. Let me think here…"

While the water chosen ruminated they all turned around as the shutters pulled up, revealing the kaijudo-bots all standing in lifeless rows. Their heart canisters ignited with different colours. The screens lifted as they switched on, displaying angry faces with red eyes. The group took nervous steps back.

"Oh crap. Just run forward!"

They bolted.

Whenever they saw more robots ahead they'd double back and take a turn. Sometimes doorways would close, blocking off soldiers or simply keeping them en route. Strapped to each of their backs were blocks of C2 - all that mattered was that one of them stops Urobach's space station. Heidi was fast enough to lead the group with Tsukumo; she hoped she'd live long enough afterwards to kill Urobach too.


Urobach finished reading and dropped the folder on the onyx table. It was as perfectly smooth as the floor - like glass. Henka stood staring at the back of his throne, cut from a stalagmite. She turned to Urobach.

"Hmm…" he was thoughtful, "Have you read this?"

"I skimmed to get the gist of it, but I didn't have time," Henka answered.

"Amira shouldn't be able to reach your mind in here. But then again, she wasn't supposed to be able to teleport here either…"

"I've not heard her."

He lowered his gaze to the folder. He let it fall shut, staring at it while thinking, "...this plan is detailed enough, and yet feels so simple." He knitted his fingers together and stared at the swirling purple boundary. "Amira…?"

Henka watched him think. As soon as he stood she went to his side. He could've teleported himself first and then her, but she'd stepped over to his side anyway.

He looked at her and considered the unusual intimacy, "While I appreciate your show of genuine loyalty, I'm also somewhat confused by it… You'd risk your life just to be rid of Amira and return to me?"

"Amira doesn't know how to rule a planet. She doesn't have our training. She doesn't deserve my loyalty," Henka tried her hardest to make earnestness show through her face.

"I suppose she's a blight to us all," Urobach raised his arm for her to take. "We'll deal with her. And when Pluto faces me, I'll tell him all you've shown me."

Henka hesitated for a brief moment. She didn't think she could stall him any longer without him noticing. With head down, she reached up and held his arm.

They both ignited in black and suddenly a siren was blaring in their ears. Urobach whipped around in the flashing red lights, bewildered. At his waist and ear, communication devices were suddenly demanding now they were receiving - soldiers were asking for his orders. Henka stepped away from Urobach.

"What the… what the hell's going on here!?" The realisation began to set in. The ruse - the truck - a trojan horse.

Henka pulled out a knife and went for his throat, but Urobach caught her wrist. Her teeth were clenched, spit working out the corners as she desperately summoned as much strength as she could. Urobach was stronger, but still working through the surprise as he backed toward the corridor wall and kept the knife centimetres from his jugular vein.

"You will die… a slow, painful death!" He promised viciously.

"Sorry boss," she turned him into the wall.

Urobach kneed her and she grunted, curling forward. He pushed her and that knife away from him. Henka raced away down the hall.

Urobach reached for his ear-com, "Henka is a traitor. Capture on sight. She has a small knife - do not allow her to take her own life," he lowered his hand as more revelations came one after the other, "...they must be here to interfere with the launch." He got back on the coms, quickly lashing orders.


A swarm of kaijudo-bots in a lobby forcibly split them up. Heidi was being followed by who she assumed was Engyo, due to his slower speed and the lack of youthful dexterity. Her urgent breaths were fogging up the visor of her mask. Coming to rest outside a doorway she finally tugged it off and discarded it. Engyo too removed his mask. They ran to a bin and crouched as half a dozen soldiers ran by. Once they were gone a security door sealed shut behind them.

"Left, Heidi." The water chosen instructed.

They followed a path that bent in a few places and then they were running in an empty chamber. Suddenly all the curved infrastructure made sense - they could peer up and down to various levels. Above was a coned tip - they were inside some kind of giant rocket. A red door at the far end said "Engineer Room" in large letters. It brought a spark of hope - that died as black fire ignited before them. Heidi quickly ducked and slid behind the upturned edge of the ramping. Engyo couldn't move as fast. Urobach looked over his shoulder and saw him standing there.

"Well this is interesting," Urobach smirked. "I recognize your face: Engyo, the principle of that wimpy duelling academy."

"The one you destroyed - yes," the old man responded somberly.

"Of course. Good to finally meet."

Engyo planted his feet and put his arms behind his back. Heidi saw him swish his hand - indicating for her to get past Urobach via another ramp.

"My academy was not wimpy," Engyo said to him.

"Everything about this planet is soft and ridiculous."

"If you believe your duelling skills are so superior, then why not duel me?" Engyo retrieved his deck. "Unless, you don't like even odds, seeing as we both have up-to-date decks?"

"Your attempt to stall me means nothing. It was an elaborate ruse, I admit. You and those children you're working with won't get far." Urobach grinned maliciously, and took out his deck.

Duelling tables appeared and they stepped up to take their marks. Heidi sensed she was supposed to wait for Urobach to be appropriately distracted before running to the door behind him. For some reason she didn't want to leave Engyo.

Engyo went first and charged nature, "I summon Primal Giant!" Its torso and small legs swung on the larger limbs it stood with.

Heidi's sensing was more attuned now she had Mars. Primal Giant will put a creature Urobach plays from anywhere other than his hand into the mana zone.

Urobach's eyes narrowed infinitesimally and he charged fire-light. According to Sinan, Dormaggeddon had once belonged to Urobach before it was given to Amira. In that case, what deck was he using now?

Engyo charged fire, water and light next.

Then Urobach went, "I expand FORBIDDEN SUNRISE ~Dawn of Forbidden~!" Four familiar gold tablets arose, but they did so around a swirling maroon star, no larger than a creature. Four cards slid off Urobach's deck to become the seals.

A forbidden field - what does it do? Heidi was uncertain but Engyo remained undeterred. Urobach only smirked, displaying confidence as his turn ended.

Engyo charged dark-fire and passed back.

"I cast Oniyose's Jutsu!" Urobach began. "I reduce Borof, Final Dragon Edge's mana cost by four, and then by another two thanks to Forbidden Sunrise." One of the tablets shuddered then ruptured into rolling pieces of rubble. A shield also dissolved prettily and the card bounced up into Urobach's hand. The plush Borof floated down, giggling maniacally. "I mill one and recover Oniyose's Jutsu. Then with my draguner I'll call out Gaiheart, Galaxy Sword!" Electric chains whipped out and Borof raised his boxing glove, directing them upward. The blue starry sword sank into Borof's grip.

Urobach pointed with murderous excitement, "And now he's a speed attacker, so he'll attack and parallel invasion! Redzone X, Temporal Forbidden! Emerge!"

The card levitated from out his hyperspatial zone and stalled in mid-air, sparking green - jammed.

Urobach's grin wavered, "Its come into play effect lets me discard a card to give -9000 power to Primal Giant! So it's destroyed before the coming into play resolves." He dropped a card and waited while nothing happened.

Redzone X's card bounced from the air into his mana zone before leaping back to where it started. Urobach was outraged.

"That's the trouble with using decks you aren't familiar with," Engyo shook his head. "Been too busy plotting and fretting about betrayals, I expect…?"

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH, OLD MAN!"

"It goes to the mana zone instead of the battle zone," Heidi realised the distinction with glee.

"At any rate, Borof's attack continues," Engyo stated with cool confidence and the creature leapt out then, swinging the sword through a shield. Shards scattered down the drop. The card appeared in Engyo's hand with a simple flash - they were four shields apiece.

"T-turn end," Urobach tried to recover some dignity.

"I know," Engyo drew. "I cast Faerie Miracle! I have all five civilizations in my mana zone so I boost two mana. Primal Giant attacks Borof, ike!" He turned the card and the unexpectedly useful giant spun its arms while flying forward, punching out the plush wolf and flinging the sword back into hyperspace. "Your turn."

Urobach's teeth were gritted as he pulled a card, "I summon Evil Heat, Screaming Demon Dragon for three mana!" Another tablet blew apart. "I mill one and recover Sonic Boom Sonic to my hand. Evil Heat attack Primal Giant!" The eagerness to see it destroyed was obvious, but it was still a turn too late. The purple and skeletal dragon had flowers blooming off its carapace, with skulls in the centre of each. Its shriek was unnerving, and it shredded its target with razor claws. "Your move, old man!"

Next turn he'd be able to invade that Redzone X. Engyo seemed well aware.

"I summon Zardiclica, Hybrid Winds Dragon!" It was a fire-light-water dispecter, resembling a four-armed deity of some kind. "Ex-Life! I shieldify!" A panel appeared behind it. "Then I can cast Dragon's Sign for free." He held out the shining yellow card. "Unfortunately, I have nothing to bring out and it goes to the bottom of my deck, but as I end my turn I get to destroy Evil Heat and draw one." It leapt across the zones and swung its rod through its target which promptly brightened before exploding.

Engyo had the upper hand. Urobach had fallen behind in tempo and he was off his game due to that initial mistake. It really seemed like Engyo would win, but a single call ruined all of that.

"Is that so?" Urobach touched the communicator in his ear, smiling in a way that unnerved Engyo and Heidi. "What excellent timing. Bring him in."

From behind - Heidi had to scamper further along to stay out of sight - was Tsukumo. He was held tight by armed soldiers who were keeping him at gunpoint.

"This one… he's your protegee, isn't he?" Urobach asked. Engyo's face was horrified before it immediately settled into acceptance - he'd lost. "Unless you want to see his brains blown out all over the floor, you'll want to reconsider how you finish this game."

Urobach's grin grew even wider and Engyo said nothing, resolved.

"No, you can't!" Tsukumo shrieked. "He's just going to kill me anyway! He'll kill all of us!"

"Keep him quiet," Urobach ordered while pulling a card from his deck. A soldier whacked Tsukumo with the butt of his gun and he fell to his knees. Urobach played, "I expand a second FORBIDDEN SUNRISE ~Dawn of Forbidden~. I summon a second Evil Heat and attack, this time nothing can stop the arrival of Redzone X, Temporal Forbidden!" Dark lightning crashed about the space and winds circulated. Heidi peered around, crouching, thinking desperately about how she could free Tsukumo before Urobach convinced Engyo to throw the match.

The 11,000 darkness psychic creature first emerged as light from hyperspace that absorbed Evil Heat. The screams changed pitch as its body transformed. A tall dark robot with violet blades was the finished form.

Four seals were then lost from the Forbidden stars, one of them imploding, "Forbidden Big Bang, I shuffle it back into my deck and take Evil Heat from my graveyard to my hand. Next I discard Dogiragon Nova to destroy Zardiclica!"

"...The Ex-life shield goes in its place."

As the new panel burst, the resigned tone in Engyo's voice was more terrifying than the growling creatures or Urobach's gloating. It made Heidi's hands twitch, frenzied, as she tried sliding on her knees, getting closer to the bend and praying to not be seen.

"Redzone X, attack! Double break!" It flew out, its blade humming and vibrating before it slashed glass. Cuts appeared on Engyo's skin and clothes.

He was breathing deeply.

Shards rewound into place. The colours were red, green and blue.

"Dondon Volcanic Now…" Tsukumo recognized.

"Well, Engyo?" Urobach taunted.

"No trigger," Engyo stated in a empty voice.

"Then I shall proceed-"

"NO!" Tsukumo yelled and struggled, leaning over with angry tears falling from his eyes. "Why are you making our deaths worth nothing!?"

"I could never willingly let harm come to you, Tsukumo. No matter the cost," the twinkle in the old man's eyes looked like dying lights. "You've always been like a son to me. I am sorry." Engyo stared forward then and drew a card - he did nothing. "I end my turn."

Heidi was crying furious tears now too. She could see the soldiers and had no idea how she could cover the distance to them without being seen and shot. She had no clue what to do.

"How gracious of you. Then it's back to me," Urobach said with a nasty expression. "Meteorburn Awaken: I put all cards under Redzone X into the graveyard for psychic awakening! Redzone X becomes Redzone Basara, Final Awakened!" The robot became larger, more jagged in its parts and electric - coated in blue and purple energy. It was now a 15,000 triple-breaker. "I summon Evil Heat, Screaming Demon Dragon! And now Redzone Basara breaks your final shields!" A sonic boom was released from its hands, a shockwave with lightning that blew them apart.

Heidi went with the noise and ran toward Tsukumo. A soldier saw her and raised his gun - Heidi felt her breathing slow, she was still moving toward him. Tsukumo elbowed backwards then grabbed his gun arm. There were three soldiers - one swung his arm and knocked Heidi down while the other got Tsukumo back under control.

Meanwhile, a shield trigger. It was infuriating that Engyo had a second Dondon Volcanic Now. He stared between the card and the leering, ravenous Evil Heat.

"Well?" Urobach asked, impatient.

Engyo just shook his head.

Urobach smiled, "You've fallen at my hands, just like your pathetic academy. Evil Heat, todomeda!" The dragon flew the distance between them.

Heidi and Tsukumo froze - their worlds seemed to stop. But it didn't stop for their attackers who used the time to land hits, getting their captives into better holds.

Engyo gave a single cry as he spun to the floor, his blood sprayed out from a swipe of Evil Heat's claw. A splash of it painted the ramp, and it became a growing puddle as he curled up, resembling an old man now more than ever, and got colder.

An explosion shook the room, spewing dust and debris. Heidi had wasted her C2 by planting it before running over, to use as a distraction. Grips loosened, allowing Heidi and Tsukumo to pull free. In the chaos they got to Engyo and dragged him back a few metres before a security door sealed shut after them.

"No no no! You can't die! Not like this…" Tsukumo was clutching Engyo's hand. Heidi was on his other side.

Their mentor stared up, clenching back with blood running out the corners of his mouth. He smiled, seeming only glad that they were safe.

Heidi could only watch, feeling like she was sinking in place. She internally flashed to the first time she'd seen Engyo as a different man: clean-shaven and head of a prestigious school, a place she'd coveted attending. The first time she stepped on the Starbolt Cruiser before ever travelling across the world she spoke to him over a hologram call, so long ago. And then there were the times they met in his office. He'd always done his best to help them. He'd always been willing to throw his life away for them, and now he had.

"You must do it…" Engyo struggled and barely got the words out. He obviously meant to say more - that he was proud, that he believed in them. He could only say this with his eyes though. They were shaky and shining before his strength finally left him, his head falling slack against the metal floor.

Tsukumo was overcome then - leaning over and fighting sobs while the tears fell. Heidi leaned across and hugged him.

After some choking and tears, Tsukumo managed to spit out: "I hate him… he has to die."

"He's hurt a lot of people. And he's killed people special to me too," Heidi said tearfully.

They were kneeling there alone in the corridor, over Engyo's lifeless body.

Heidi clenched her fists, "We have to finish this. Even if Engyo's gone, all his training and knowledge went to you. You can still lead us, and be the chosen you always wanted to be… right?"

Tsukumo nodded weakly. He'd known it all along, he just needed the words to get himself up and to keep moving. He stood, refusing to look at the body and spoke in a deadpan voice, "Sorry…"

Heidi wiped her face with the back of her arm, sniffling as she stood, "I am too. Let's finish this." She offered her hand and he stared at it, taking a breath before holding on and together they pressed on.


AN: I just drove over 8 hours to Brisbane ~ yewww ~ And I'm more confident than ever that I've aced my exams. I can now rejoin friends Acuma and Shuriken who are also writing. But what's this? New fren ConvergenceShatteredDimensions who is also gonna review my stuff. It could take years - or never - for him to get to this point in time, but right now he has just reviewed chapter 1. He may not be a writer for this fandom, but he writes Minecraft which is also fun and creative. Anyways, my objective is to finish this arc in the next coming days. I hope you liked this first instalment for the end of Light!