After Mephist left, his men uncovered the cart to reveal a warhead identical to the one that had damaged Eternity. Mephist was able to save one of the prototypes. Perhaps he had planned on selling it for enough money to rebuild a fleet or maybe he planned on finding some scientists capable of studying it and building more, but whatever his original plans were, all that was changed now.
With the warhead uncovered one of the Nietzcheans was instantly busy making adjustments and inputting various numbers into a small keypad attached to the warhead.
With one final adjustment the Uber raised up. "It's ready Hercule." He said, addressing a larger Nietzchean that was obviously his superior.
"It's fully armed?"
"Yes sir, and Lord Mephist will be able to activate it with his remote."
"Good job Brak." Hercule replied. "Now cover it back up. You and Caben put these rags on and take the cart as close as you can get it to that ship."
"Yes sir." They replied, and proceeded to carry out the command of their superior.
Harper and his friends continued on their way back the place where Eternity had landed, followed by the members of their squadrons.
Harper was lost in his thoughts. It was hard for him to believe that after all this time, Boston was free. He looked around at the shattered buildings on both sides of the road, and thought, "Someday there will be a school over there and a library here, and families could live in beautiful homes down there."
Becka looked at Harper and realized his mind was thinking of the future.
"You're thinking of the future aren't you?" Becka asked.
"That obvious huh?"
"Harper Boston is free." Becka told him. "Soon the entire planet will be liberated from Nietzchean rule and it's all because of you."
"That's where you're wrong Boss." Harper said. "It wouldn't have happened without the help of my friends and my fellow Earthers fighting for what they believed in."
"Yes." Rommie said. "But we wouldn't be here if not for you. Your decision to become Eternity's captain and your determination to free Earth is why Earth will be free. A revolution often starts with one man, and this time Harper you are that man."
"Oh great!" Becka exclaimed. "Way to go Rommie. Give him a big head. Now he'll be expecting a statue or something."
"A statue?" Harper asked. "I hadn't thought of that. Maybe they'll tear down that Uber statue in front of the Hall and place a statue of me there instead."
"See what you did Rommie?" Becka asked.
"Me? You're the one that mentioned a statue." Rommie defended.
"They could have my statue holding a gauss gun in one hand and my nano welder in the other." Harper continued.
"We'll never hear the end of this." Becka groaned.
At that moment, they saw a man nearing their position coming from the opposite direction. As he drew nearer, they could see that he was a Nietzchean, and not just any Nietzchean but Lord Mephist himself. Everybody immediately drew their weapons and aimed them at the former dictator of Boston.
"Am I glad we ran into you." Harper said as he approached Mephist. "I was afraid you had decided to leave the party without saying goodbye, and we was having so much fun with your Uber friends."
"Oh I wouldn't dream of leaving without saying goodbye to Seamus Harper." Mephist replied with a big grin on his face. Harper figured the big Uber must have cracked up. What did he have to be happy about? He's lost everything.
"It is with much shame that I admit my defeat." Mephist continued. "It is still beyond me how a Kludge could defeat me, but I swear your victory will be a hollow one. Never will you be able to look back to this day and feel joy or pride. No, for you this day will be remembered as a day of great sorrow and pain. You may have succeeded in freeing Boston, but you Mister Harper still lose."
As Mephist finished speaking, he pressed a button on the remote detonator. Harper and everyone with him instantly saw and heard a great explosion in the distance. It was in the direction they were headed. It had to be near Eternity. Harper quickly activated his communicator.
"Trance! Trance come in!" Harper shouted into the communicator. "Eternity! Report!" There was no answer, only static. Tears began to fall from Harper's eyes but almost as quickly as they started, they stopped. Grief was overcome with anger. His love had just been murdered and the monster that did it was standing in front of him still alive. That, Harper decided couldn't be right.
Harper raised both of his hands out toward Mephist. His hands and arms began to glow brightly. Harper then began to tremble all over. He wasn't sure what was happening to him, but he knew what he was going to do,... what he had to do. Before anyone could stop him, a very powerful fireball shot out from his hands and hit Mephist. Mephist was totally incinerated instantly.
Harper fell to the ground. Never before had he focused so much energy. He knew it was more energy needed to kill, but he couldn't stop himself. He remained on the ground for many minutes. He expected Becka or Rommie to help him up or ask if he was ok, but no help came.
He finally managed to stand on his own and was surprised to discover that he was alone.