Disclaimer: See previous chapters
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Chap. 45
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Bloodhand, Havoc and Glaive all stood around the black machine, IBIS, who had up until now, beating them all. The three Ravens were strained, wounded, and tired, but they remained standing, ready to fight together as they have done in the past.
The Hands of God…
"What's with the black?" Koemai muttered, noticing Glaive's new color scheme, as opposed to his usual white and blue. When Glaive had flew in earlier, everyone though that he was one of the Death Dealers, more likely Reaper himself. But the glow of the Moonlight showed them all differently.
"I have yet to survive death." Cain replied. After his fight with Reaper, he had the machine repainted while under repairs, making it as dark as before when the dust of Reaper's explosion blackened his machine.
"The black is to represent that."
Elijah shook his head and chuckled (albeit painfully). "Weird as always."
The conversation was silenced as IBIS went on the move again, shadowing toward the closet prey, which was Bloodhand. The AC instantly took to flight, firing back as he did. IBIS had no trouble dodging the bullet fire though as it moved in close for a laser blade slash. But before IBIS could lash out, it halted, wheeled around and fired upon Glaive, who had been approaching it from behind. Cain had to break away from his intended attack, but still managed to let out a grenade shell on IBIS. But the machine seemed to warp out of the way and the blast narrowly flew over the retreating Bloodhand's head.
"Whoa! Watch it, Cain!"
But Cain had other problems as IBIS was now pursuing him, coming up close and slashing at him. Due to the increased speed, it seemed as though it was attacking with FOUR blades. Cain was beginning to break down when IBIS disengaged and flew away, charging to Havoc before he could even get a decent lock. But Elijah didn't retreat.
"I won't be reduced to a slow death. RAH!"
Havoc continued to charge at IBIS as the black machine fired at him. The shot flailed all around Havoc, but the machine continued to come in a mad fury. At least until one of the blast hit the shoulder, sending the entire right arm flying off in pieces and throwing Havoc to the ground.
'Maybe…that wasn't such a good idea…'
IBIS moved in for the kill, energy blade ignited and it reeled back to strike. Or it seemed as it did, for instant, the machine whirled around completely, snagging the incoming blade of Glaive and forcing it aside. But as Glaive was knocked away, from behind, Bloodhand soared in, firing its machine gun upon the black machine. IBIS dashed back and away, avoiding all the bullets effortlessly.
"I don't know about this, guys." Elijah groaned as he lifted Havoc upright. "It's like he has eyes on the back of his head or something."
"Not only that, but he knows how to hit us too." Koemiai frowned as he added. "And hard. We could use a plan right now."
Cain watched IBIS beginning to skitter around and then replied. "…Final Judgment…"
"Final Jud…? Are you crazy!" Elijah shouted. "We haven't even perfected that when we first tried. And we only did it once, which didn't work."
"But you remember it, right?"
"Well, yes…"
"Then that's what we have to do."
"I have to agree with the kid on this one." Koemai replied. "That is an insane idea, even for me."
Final Judgment was a combination attack tactic for the Hands of God team. Cain had originally thought of it as a way to defeat larger, more heavily armored opponents, but later made it useable for any single opponent, like IBIS. However, the tactic requires both incredible focus and timing, not to mention the three would have to be positioned properly for it to even start. During the test run in VR, the three failed badly in that both Glaive and Havoc were destroyed for improper timing.
"Don't worry about it." Cain answered, looking over at Bloodhand for a minute. "I studied it over and we did nothing wrong. The only problem was the circumstances. We were only testing it out before." Looking back at IBIS, his voice hardened. "Now we have to make it work."
Koemai looked at the now approaching IBIS as well, realizing that they really didn't have any choice but to try this plan, this insanely twisted plan that could leave them completely defeated and destroyed.
"If this doesn't work…"
Cain cut him off. "I know. That's why it has to work."
Koemai shook his head. "Really, you have to stop speaking in riddles one day. But I got you." With a pained wince, he tightened his grip on the controls. "Ready to do this, kid?"
"I'm ready if you are, slacker." Elijah spat back.
"Slacker? Ha, that's a good one." Dismissing the pain and incoming grogginess, he focused on the task. "Let's do this."
The three soared off, moving into the positions that were needed for them. Bloodhand's was the easiest. He was to be the center attacker on this, since his grenade launcher would be key. However, this meant that he would be wide open for an attack by IBIS.
'Oh well. Who wants to live forever…?'Bloodhand ceased in its dash and began to settle down, unlocking its grenade launcher. But as soon as he sighted IBIS, the black machine disappeared from his screen, only to reappear…right in front of him!
"What the hell!"
The rifle pointed at the core, IBIS was ready to shoot when it suddenly flew away again, just as a laser cannon soared in from the sidelines. Koemai looked over in wonder and then smiled at his rescuer.
"Di…"
Cloak was badly damaged, due to IBIS's earlier laser bombardment. Inside, Diana was covered with several burns and scars, but still in the fight. It had taken her some time to adjust her FCS to function properly, but she had managed to pull it off. And in good timing too, as Koemai was just seconds away from being blasted. But there was a bad side to this.
She took his place on the chopping block…
Phzzz! Phzzzz!IBIS swooped in to attack her with a literal storm of energy fire. Diana quickly made a run for it, ejecting her laser cannon in order to fly away again. But like before, IBIS quickly caught up with her and continued to pelt her with energy.
"Diana!"
Koemai began to reel Bloodhand around and take aim. But then he paused. If he took the shot now, then he would waste the entire attack sequence. And he knew that IBIS would only dodge them and come back after him. But he couldn't just let Diana get slaughtered before his eyes. Locking on to the dark machine, he took aim and pulled the…
"Don't waste it."
Koemai blinked out and saw an object flying right past him. It was neither black, nor red, so it wasn't Glaive or Havoc. This machine was tan in color.
Professional…Charles…
The said machine flew in behind IBIS, weapon trained on IBIS, but not firing. Charles was well aware that firing would be a waste as IBIS could detect and avoid all incoming fire. But by locking on, he was able to test the extent of those programmed reflexes. True enough, as soon as he locked on, IBIS dashed away, leaving Cloak alone and soaring after Professional. Charles smiled. 'It reacts to lock-ons.' That meant that it could be manipulated. Unfortunately, its speed made that a difficult task as IBIS swirled around toward him and Charles was in retreat now. He took a glance back at the settled Bloodhand.
'I guess…I'll be the distraction this time.'
Meanwhile, Glaive and Havoc had moved over to their positions of attack. At that moment, Professional was doing his best to avoid IBIS and getting pummeled. But the lead Raven knew what the team was planning and was keeping IBIS centered. Elijah leaned forward, ready to do probably the craziest stunt he had ever done.
"Cain, are you sure you want to try this?"
"No."
Elijah blinked. "Huh?"
"Elijah, there is a saying." the elder Raven explained. "Do, or do not. There is no try."
"…Oh." At this point, he was well aware of his friend's unusual use of speech, right up to where he actually understood it (mostly). With an affirmative nod, Elijah gunned the controls.
"Well, let's do it!"
The boosters of the two machines roared as they swooped in from behind IBIS. Professional, seeing the incoming duo, flew out of the way, almost burning out all of his fuel in the process as IBIS turned to them as well. Glaive locked on with its energy cannon, but Cain didn't fire. Like Charles, he had noticed IBIS's reaction to lock-ons and was using it to his advantage. Besides, he couldn't risk firing, as he would need all the fuel he has to perform the maneuver.
IBIS's sensors caught the lock-on and it swiftly dashed aside in avoidance of fire that never came. Rather, Havoc and Glaive swirled around the still settled Bloodhand and they charged at him single-file, with Glaive in the lead. IBIS fired upon the rushing pair and Glaive flew off to the side slightly, with Havoc dodging as well. Yet the two continued on their path toward the machine. In a change of tactics, IBIS began to rush forward, igniting it energy saber for attack. Havoc saw the distance between them and the target and knew what was to happen now.
'This is it. Havoc, don't fail me now.'
Glaive lifted his energy cannon again as IBIS charged and the black machine suddenly swooped off to the side and in the air, disarming the saber and lifting up its laser rifle. But Glaive didn't fire and suddenly activated its OB and veered off to the right; opposite of where IBIS was going. But from behind Glaive, Havoc now swooped up…at an even faster speed than IBIS!
Had there been a pilot, it would have been surprised by this outcome. By staying behind Glaive, Havoc was able to reduce the drag of air until Glaive move away. This allowed for a temporary, but high burst of speed from the AC. IBIS quickly lifted its rifle to fire, only to miss Havoc altogether…
And be blown back by a grenade launcher…
Since their combined charge, Bloodhand had maintained a lock on IBIS, which caused the machine to move in the first place, thinking it was from Glaive and then Havoc. Also, by seeing where it moved, Koemai would had little trouble in tracking it as it flew and was distracted by the flying Havoc which is where he fired. The distance was close, but the hit was clean. IBIS was knocked down from the sky and landed hard on its feet.
Where a Moolight blade slashed across the core…
When Glaive veered off to the side, he quickly swooped back, using his OB to charge back in time to catch the falling IBIS. Its energy blade ripped right across and sent shrapnel flying. IBIS staggered back, almost falling to the ground. At that moment, Havoc, the final Raven in the attack, locked on with his machine gun and aimed straight at the damaged area.
"Hasta las vista, baby!"
Havoc unleashed all the remaining ammo it had, causing IBIS to stagger back more and more until finally, it crumbled to the floor. Sparks and smoke flew up from the ravaged machine as the computer within became scrambled. The attack was perfect; the three Ravens hit it heavily in sequence before it could retaliate and adapt its systems, resulting in extreme damage.
"We did it?" Elijah said in disbelief. Seeing the wreckage of IBIS on the ground, he grinned broadly, with only one word coming out of his mouth.
"YAHOOOO!"
Bloodhand rose from its position and Glaive turned to look as well. Indeed, IBIS had fallen; Final Judgment has been passed.
And then…
"Wait… What the hell?"
In a shocking move, the black machine rose up from the ground before them. Havoc backed away as it reached full height and fired, only to remember that his machine gun was void of bullets. IBIS looked over at him, smoke still billowing form out from the damages and let out one last line.
-"Raven…The rest is up to you…"-
'What?'But his unspoken question was not answered, for IBIS suddenly knelt down and exploded altogether. But as it did, the entire chamber began lighting up with wisps of explosion that began to increase in force. The others looked around as parts of the chamber began falling in, bring flames and debris of the team.
"We've got to get out of here, now!" Charles warned.
The entire chamber was falling apart before their eyes as they moved over to the entry points and entered one. Cloak and Professional moved first, and soon Havoc and Bloodhand joined in. However, something was soon amiss to Elijah and upon turning around, he soon saw what
Glaive was not moving…
"Cain, what are you doing? Let's go."
"My fuel has been depleted." he answered back as his machine stood amid the rain of fire and metal. "Go on ahead."
"Are you kidding me?" Elijah exclaimed. Depleted fuel was no excuse for standing around waiting for death to fall on him. "The place is about to blow. We can't just leave you here."
"Yes you can. Don't worry. I'll be fine."
"No. Not this time." He didn't want to deal with this. He had already lost one of his friends and the fate of the other one is unknown. But he couldn't let Cain sit around begging for death. He began to move his machine back, but Bloodhand stopped him.
"What are you doing? He'll die here."
Koemai shook his head within. "We'll die if don't go. Don't worry about him."
"He's right." Cain spoke. By this time, the entire chamber had become a sea of fire, with Glaive standing in the middle of it. The black paint seemed to peel off, revealing patches of the white armor underneath. Glaive turned away from his retreating comrade and said finally.
"Paradise…is still waiting for me. "
As Glaive disappeared in the fire, Elijah sat in disbelief, not understanding anything at all at this point. Only when the loud clang of debris hit his ears did he then come out of his stupor. Bloodhand had moved aside and began moving down the pathway.
"Come on kid. We can't waste time here."