Chapter 22: Nightmare's End
The tunnel fell to a great depth before reaching solid terra firma again. Xero looked up and scanned the area surrounding Adrenaline. He was in a long dark corridor; piping and vents ran the full length of the tunnel, intertwining and jutting from the walls and ceiling. There was no end to speak of. The wings glowed with energy and propelled Adrenaline down the hall.
The hall emptied out into a large rectangular room with the same pipes and vents gripping the walls and high ceiling.
There was a flash of red and a clawed fist flew from the darkness, the controlling entity flying close behind. Xero brought up his left katana to parry the blow and pushed the fist to his outside and at the same moment stabbed the right katana forward but the blade was also pushed away by Cataclysma's own hand. The wings flapped and Adrenaline took to the air, there was limited flight space but was high enough to get Adrenaline's feet away from Cataclysma's sweeping leg.
Cataclysma spun and planted the leg once more into the ground next to the other before springing upwards towards Xero. Cataclysma clenched both fists together and swung them downwards together like a hammer as it came to Xero's height. Xero brought up both blades in an X block and stopped the hammer-fist but the force of the blow still pushed Adrenaline back onto solid ground.
"I will destroy you here and now!" Cataclysma's mechanical voice rang through Xero's cockpit, coupled with the intense ringing that followed one of Cataclysma's hits making it through Xero's guard.
He couldn't keep up. Cataclysma was moving too fast. "Damnit, bare fists are a lot faster than weapons…" Xero thought to himself as he barely managed to dodge another of Cataclysma's kicks.
Cataclysma's eyes suddenly glowed a deep red and sparked as energy flowed through its chest out to its fingertips. It clenched both fists and pointed them at Xero. "Finished…" was all that Cataclysma said as its fists laughed with power.
Xero took the split second and flapped the wings once to launch himself, then pulled his legs up to his chin and brought the wings down and wrapped them around Adrenaline. Xero flew over Cataclysma's head as it released the energy in its fists like a shotgun, the heat gauge spiked but was brought back down quickly, the wings were scorched but returned to their shimmery white just as quickly. Xero landed behind Cataclysma and used the second it took to turn to bring the wings back down to defend from another shotgun blast.
"Xero! Jump!" It was Morrow, Xero peeked under Cataclysma's arms to see Morrow kneeling a few hundred yards behind Cataclysma charging his advanced blast cannon. Xero took the hint and leaped upwards just as the cannon discharged.
"you bitch! You better learn to check your surroundings!" Xero yelled at Cataclysma as it turned to see the enormous red energy wall charging meters from its face.
But suddenly the wall stopped, Cataclysma had drawn up a barrier and was stopping the blast a mere two meters away. Cataclysma however was obviously putting a great deal of effort into this shield, it was standing with straggled footing and had both hands up in front pushing the barrier back.
As soon as the blast was over Dash flew up from absolutely no where in front of Cataclysma and while in midair he pushed both of his arms straight outwards and opened his fists. The walls and pipes around his hands seemed to turn to liquid and poured into his hands, forming two more identical battleaxes, the same that he had done when fighting Xero. The blades formed as he started falling back towards Cataclysma, he raised one above his head and held one horizontally outwards. He brought both of the axes together as he leveled with Cataclysma.
Cataclysma brought both of its arms up to defend against his attack and at the impact the clang reverberated throughout the large room. Dash hit his overboosters as he was being held in midair by Cataclysma's block. The powerful thrusters forced him past Cataclysma's guard and he brought his AC's knee up to Cataclysma's head as he flew past Cataclysma's arms. The impact actually forced Cataclysma into the air and followed by landing Cataclysma hard on the ground with Dash landing hard on its chest. Axes raised again both parallel and started falling down towards Cataclysma's head, however, Cataclysma kicked its leg up, kicking Dash in the back, forcing him to rollover his own head and land on his back beyond Cataclysma.
Cataclysma arched its back and bounded up onto its feet as Blaze fell from the ceiling above it, the entire fall raining down rapid fire depleted uranium onto Cataclysma. Blaze drew her blade as she neared Cataclysma but it raised its hand up into the hell fire coming from Blaze's muzzles and grabbed her blade-hand. Cataclysma pulled on her arm and twisted, causing it to rip free from its joint as her Tempest was forced to the ground flat on its back, ruining Blaze's back weapons and EO.
"Why are you all here!" Xero yelled into the comm as everyone regained themselves. Blaze struggled to her feet, as did Dash. Morrow was standing ready at the entrance to the corridor and Xero was standing a distance behind Cataclysma. "I already told you that enough blood was spilled today."
"no there hasn't been enough!" Morrow yelled back, "that things blood has not been allowed to soak the ground yet." Morrow raised his left hand and ignited his moonlight, pointing it at Cataclysma. "that thing killed Angel, I won't let you have all the fun Xero, I have a score to settle with that damn thing as well."
"That's right!" Blaze was on her feet and moved to stand slightly behind Morrow, machine gun raised. "I couldn't leave you to do this alone Xero, and don't even think of telling me to leave, you can't make me go. I won't leave you, not this time…"
"I have unfinished business with it as well…" Dash was on his feet and standing in front of Xero, axes ready. "it manipulated Nydem to its own whims, and it caused me to turn against the few friends I had, I won't let it have a chance to do that to anyone else."
"and we all vowed to finish this thing off a long time ago…" three more ACs walked in from the corridor. Xero recognized them to be Matthew, Tyre, and an unknown AC that identified itself as White Rose, piloted by Matthew's wife, Robin; it was identical to Black Rose, which was piloted by Matthew except it was painted white.
"Matt! Tyre!" Xero gave up and accepted it, "thanks for coming… all of you…"
Cataclysma stirred, apparently not perturbed at the thought of now facing seven ACs instead of one or four. Instead, it gave a great roar and arched its back, black energy began focusing around it. The energy flowed around it until moving and focusing on its fist and back. The energy reddened and focused into distinct shapes; changing into a pair of dark demonic wings and a demonic looking scythe with a long, blood-red blade.
"Fear, is a great weapon…" Cataclysma recovered and stood straight, its eyes shone black, the wings and scythe rang with power begging to be tapped into. "now you must face it!" Cataclysma vanished
"Blaze, boost!" Matt yelled into the comm. Blaze didn't have much time to think but tried to boost nevertheless, Cataclysma appeared in front of her as she started to leave the ground, the scythe swung horizontally, catching Tempest in the hip joint; easily shredding the bottom half of the AC from the top.
Blaze screamed as the sound of screeching metal, alarms, and sparks filled her cockpit. The AC fell back to the ground, devoid of life; Blaze having passed out from the impact of the fall.
Morrow reacted quickly, spinning on his feet, blade still ignited. But Cataclysma had vanished again before he had gotten around, the plasma blade slicing nothing but stale air. "Damnit, where did it go?"
"Morrow, front! Fast!" Cataclysma had reappeared in front of Morrow, with the scythe raised high. Morrow spun back around just in time for the blade to come down and pierce through the top of Morrow's head and down all the way through to core, the tip coming out down between the legs. Morrow's AC was very nearly cut in half.
"Morrow!" three voices screamed in sync as Xero, Dash, and Tyre burst into action. Cataclysma pulled its blade out of Morrow's lifeless shell of an AC and vanished again. Morrow's mammoth of an AC seemed so frail suddenly; it merely stood there like a statue, its hands out at its sides as if it was jumping back from something, the blade was still ignited. The AC fell to its knees, the blade withdrew, and then it happened; Morrow's great AC that had led mankind for the past two years fell forward and landed hard on its front side. The forward armour and head crushed like tin foil under the AC's own weight.
Cataclysma had vanished once more but Xero could feel; he could feel where it would be next. He swung both katanas above his head and caught the scythe blade as it returned to reality, already swinging down towards Adrenaline. "You killed him! You piece of shit!" Xero screamed as he pushed the katanas up, forcing the blade upwards, actually holding Cataclysma in the air. Cataclysma somersaulted backwards and landed in front of Xero. Xero, however, was already moving, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes as he thought of his best friend, dead in the AC lying on the ground. His mind switched, all thoughts focused on the beast that was standing in front of him, the one that had just ended his friends life.
Xero swung once, twice, three, four, five times. He was stringing an endless staccato of blade flashes together. Cataclysma was the one having trouble keeping up this time, the swings began passing its guard and with each one that made it through, a solid shot of neon blood splashed on the ground around Cataclysma.
It vanished again to save itself from Xero's onslaught of attacks and appeared next to Tyre who swung his sniper rifle up and fired of a shot two feet from Cataclysma's head just as it appeared, it disappeared again just as fast to avoid the shot. "Those tricks won't work on anyone else in this room Cataclysma."
It appeared again in front of Black Rose and White Rose, each with their dual blades charged and beaming, waiting for it. They rushed forward, all four blades swinging at a seemingly wild rate, but in fact, each wave was a carefully calculated strike meant to pull Cataclysma off balance.
It happened, Cataclysma stepped back to dodge another pass and caught its foot on the nearly severed arm of Blaze's AC.
Xero took the advantage and swept forwards, pushing both of the katanas forward.
Straight up through Cataclysma's lower back.
Both blades shot forward, out of Cataclysma's front sides. Xero turned both blades outwards and ripped them out sideways.
There was no screaming, Cataclysma was silent as it fell to one knee and dropped the scythe to its side. "I commend your skill to work together; however, you have got a long way to go…"
Dash stepped up in front of Cataclysma, holding a large double-battle axe instead of the normal single bladed axes. "I beg to differ…" he held the axe high and brought it down with deft speed.
Cataclysma launched itself upwards and caught the axe in one hand and Dash's AC's head in the other. "like I said, you have a long ways to go!" Cataclysma threw Dash's AC away, sparks flying from the neck and back as it collided with the opposite wall.
Cataclysma disappeared again and materialized directly behind White Rose, both fists boiling over with energy.
Robin didn't have time to turn or scream. The large energy shotgun pulses lanced forward and ripped through White Rose. The left arm and head were completely ruined, and the left arm fell off a few seconds later. Both of the generators on the back were separated from the AC and were now leaking plasma and radiation, the whole core was completely torn apart; the lower left portion was ripped apart and thrown aside from the blast. The rest of the core was littered with large holes and was starting to melt itself apart. White Rose fell to the ground and pieces started falling off and melting to the ground.
Matthew said nothing but responded with his own blades and launched after Cataclysma. Cataclysma parried the right blade with its left forearm as it swung across and managed to get its right arm inside of Matthew's other arm as it came upwards.
The result was devastating. Cataclysma punched Black Rose in the center of the core, lifting the heavy AC off its feet and crumbling the front of the core. Black Rose was being held in the air when the back of the core began to glow before more energy pulsed burst from Black Rose's back. The heat melted the core in half through the middle; the weight of the legs pulling the bottom half of the melting core away from the top. The legs hit the ground and buckled as Cataclysma threw the top half away. Another shower of sparks met the AC as it impacted and slid across the wall it was thrown to.
Xero launched forward with a cry to rattle the ancients. Cataclysma disappeared again as Xero swung both blades together exactly where Cataclysma's head was a split second ago. It reappeared right behind Xero with both fists charged.
But it did not fire. Xero turned to look at the beast and found it merely standing there like a statue.
Protruding from its chest was a large hunting pike, the same that Dash had used on Xero days prior.
And sure enough, Dash was standing behind Cataclysma, pushing the pike through further, twisting and writhing it at the same time.
The silence was broken, "Do it Xero!" Tyre yelled from behind Xero.
Xero wasted no time and pulled both blades above his head, flipping both blades down at the same time.
Xero looked straight into Cataclysma's eyes, "Fuck You!"
Both blades dropped with lighting speed and accuracy, piercing straight through the top of its core and exiting down through each opposite hip.
Xero, the rift! Let me use it! It was Kirel.
"Do it!" Xero pulled both of the blades out and Dash withdrew his pike, both stepped back as the wings began glowing a staccato of rippling colors not meant to ever be seen by human eyes.
Cataclysma lifted its head up and peered up at Xero who mounted both blades back to his hips. Its wings lifted so as to warp again, though they dropped again as a giant crimson blade burst forth from the front of its chest, Tyre standing behind Cataclysma, holding its scythe.
"Xero, get Blaze and Morrow, they are still alive. Get out of here; I will follow this thing to make sure it stays in Hell." Tyre twisted the scythe a bit inside of Cataclysma.
Xero contemplated protesting but thought it would be best not to argue. "thank you for everything Tyre. You won't be forgotten."
"no problem, it was an honor to fight with you Xero." Xero could almost feel the smile coming through Tyre's voice.
He wasted no time in stepping over to Blaze's AC while Dash went over to Morrow. Xero peeled back the core armour and pulled out the cockpit sphere which held Blaze's weak body, Dash did the same after turning Morrow's AC over onto its back.
Dash turned towards the exit hall and quickly boosted away and out of the tunnel. Xero walked to the edge of the tunnel before turning back to face Tyre. Xero stood stock still for a second to admire Tyre before the comm came up.
"here Xero, take this, Matt would have wanted you to have it. It's the key codes to his house and workshop; you should find some interesting things down there." A small window appeared on the side of the sphere screen with a small list of letter and number combinations.
"thank you again Tyre." This time it was Xero smiling.
Xero turned back to the tunnel and the comms opened up again, "Xero, I'm nOt doNe WitH YoU yeT!" Cataclysma lifted an arm, reaching for Xero, the voice was cut out when Tyre again twisted the scythe inside of Cataclysma. Xero responded with two words that caused a large dimensional rift to open up behind Tyre.
Xero saw Tyre drag Cataclysma to the void and jump in with it.
He flapped the wings and flew down the tunnel and turned upwards when the time came, coming once again into the sunlight. The communication blocks ended and Xero's comms were flooded with more cheering as he landed over by the crowd of AC pilots that had gathered in front of their AC's.
Xero set Blaze's sphere down and disembarked from his own AC. He ran around Adrenaline's leg and pulled the emergency purge. The cockpit sphere hatch lit up and launched off of the pod. Blaze stumbled out holding her head.
Xero caught her by the arms as she fell from the hole. She looked up at him, "that wasn't that hard was it?" Xero smiled as she fell asleep in his arms.
He stood, carrying her and looked around. The other pilots were still cheering and celebrating. Dash was standing a distance away embracing Nydem in a tight hug. They separated and walked over to Xero. Nydem bowed her head slightly and introduced herself, "I'm sure you already know who I am. But I am sorry for all the trouble I caused, I'm afraid I wasn't completely myself."
"no, its alright. I understand." Xero smiled and faced Dash who smiled back.
Morrow walked up behind Xero and patted him on the back, "and so ends another stereotypical day in the life of Xero." Xero looked up at him and cocked an eyebrow. Morrow returned the look for a second before doubling over with laughter.
Xero rolled his eyes and walked towards the crowd of pilots. Morrow still standing there, supporting himself on his knees, laughing himself out of breath.
FIN