Chapter 11- Shephard and Dels

"Hello Shephard." said Dels with a smirk. The three soldiers raised their guns and pointed them at him. "I hear you killed one of my men."
"No. That was Lorenz. But I'd be happy to pay you the same favor." Dels looked at him and stopped smiling.
"You know Shephard, you've become somewhat of a menace and become somewhat of a legend to the clones and Xenians." Adrian inched closer as Dels was speaking.
"Xenians?" he repeated.
"Oh, that's right, you don't know. The Xenians are these aliens that have been such a pain in the ass for the clones."
"And, how exactly do you know this?" Dels' smile returned.
"I made a deal with the man that controls the clones."
"Back up." blurted Martin finally realizing that Adrian was closer to them. He knew he didn't have a choice but to fight.
"Shephard, don't do anything stupid." whispered John into his ear.
"What kind of deal?" asked Adrian.
"One that would keep my men alive." Adrian moved his arm up and hit Martin's gun away and simultaneously kicked Jaques in the chest. He stumbled back and Adrian ripped Martin's gun away and tossed it over the railing into the raging water. He then grabbed Jaques' arm and swung him around into Dels and Martin sending him over the edge knowing that he would be ripped apart by the water and concrete.
Jaques tried to turn and hit him but Adrian ducked and he stumbled over the rail and grabbed it just in time to save himself from falling into the water. Dels spun and kicked Adrian in the face sending him sprawling to the floor. Dels took two strides and brought his boot down toward Adrian's face. He moved his head and heard the clang of the heavy boot on the metal.
Adrian brought his foot up and kicked Dels in the back. He fell foreword and Adrian got to his feet and punched Jaques in the face just as he climbed over the railing. Jaques fell over and off the catwalk. He screamed and disappeared beneath the water.
Dels got to his feet and faced Adrian. "Good going Shephard. You just killed my men. Now you are going to die." Adrian raised his arms in a combat stance.
"Why are you doing this Dels? You were a good example for everyone." said Adrian.
"Do you know why we tried to kill the king? He was the head doctor for this installation." said Dels harshly. "Who are we to screw around with other cultures. Now look what we did. We completely destroyed this race all because the Xenians sensed the portals."
"No, we didn't cause this, the clones did."
"Don't be so nieve Adrian." hissed Dels. "The clones are here as a clean-up team. They are here to stop the crab heads from taking over the Sa'ni and to stop the Xenians from expanding, continuing their domination of the galaxy. There are bigger powers at work here than just you and me."
"You still haven't answered my question."
"I made this deal because it is only a matter of time before the Xenians discover Earth. When they do, it's all over for the human race. I would rather be alive after it happens." Adrian couldn't believe what he was hearing. Dels would rather abandon his own species than fight for survival.
"You are a coward Dels." That statement set him off and Dels charged at Adrian. He side stepped and hit Dels. He turned and kicked at Adrian who blocked it and also blocked a punch Dels threw at the same time.
Dels kept moving toward Adrian and trying to hit him but with no avail. Shephard kept backing up and blocking the blows Dels was trying to land on him. He finally landed a punch on Adrian's vest sending him staggering back.
"Your better than I expected." said Dels wiping a bit of blood from his lip. "How old are you Shephard?"
"Twenty-one."
"You've had previous training?"
"I have. Why do you want to know?" said Adrian suspiciously.
"Well, now I can kill you knowing you at least had a chance." Dels took a step toward him and suddenly drew his knife and swung at Adrian. He stepped back to avoid it and Dels swung it back and sliced his arm. Adrian yelled and grabbed the wound, avoiding another swing. He stepped on Dels' hand and kicked the knife out of it.
He let go of his bloody arm and slammed his forearm down on the back of Dels' neck. He slipped and thumped to the floor. Adrian felt the warm blood leak down his arm and stain his shirt. Dels rolled over and kicked Adrian in the chest. He stumbled back and Dels got up. He swung his fist and hit Adrian in the face sending him over the edge. He grabbed the rail and hung on. Dels walked over and stood over him.
"You are in the same position Jaques was. Now you can suffer the same fate." Dels said with a grin. Adrian slipped off the rail and grabbed the edge of the catwalk. He saw a metal brace not three feet from him and saw his chance of survival. "You know Shephard, I really can't believe that you thought you could win against me. I was killing things when you were in diapers." he continued. "You look like you can hang on for a while. Let's talk before I kill you."
"Oh goody. You have to taunt me before I die." Dels laughed.
"Yes, I am very good at this. I've done this more times than you know." He kneeled down and looked at Adrian. "You know, I can't remember what it's like to be a civilian. I went into the Army when I was just out of high school, like you." Adrian inched over and grabbed one of the vertical rail support bars. He relaxed a little bit knowing he could hold on better. "Your only twenty-one. It's a pity, so young to die. Then again, so young to kill also. You know you killed my men. That means you are going to go to hell."
"I've killed a lot more things than just your men in the time I've been here. But it was in self defense and I won't go to hell for self defense." Dels laughed again.
"Yes you will, and sooner than you think." Adrian looked up at Dels.
"Go... to... HELL!" he yelled and let go. Everything seemed to go to slow motion as Dels tried to kick him and missed. Adrian grabbed at the support bar under the catwalk and closed his fingers around it. He felt the sudden jerk as he caught the bar and swung under the metal path. He studied himself and froze knowing Dels was looking over trying to see him in the water.
Adrian swung his legs up and crossed them over the bar and started pulling his body toward the top. He grabbed the edge and pulled himself under the rail and looked at Dels walking to the end of the walk.
Adrian got up and tackled Dels who was surprised. Adrian kicked him in the ribs and picked him up by the nylon handles on his vest and punched him. Dels fell over and again Adrian picked him up and hit him.
"You bad guys are all the same. If you would just take action, you would win."
"Same for you." said Dels. He head-butted Adrian and landed a punch in his face. Adrian kicked him back and sent him through the rail. Dels grabbed the broken metal and held on. Adrian got up and walked over. "I can't believe it." Those were his last words before the bar snapped and sent him plummeting from the catwalk. He landed on a broken jagged piece of metal and blood spurted out as it shoved through him. Adrian looked away, not wanting to see him die.
Dels looked up and saw Adrian turn away and walk across the catwalk and disappear through the door. He vision blurred and his muscles relaxed.