Chapter 27: The Siege and Victory
Hikaru and Kurumi, along with the other Cross Realm Commanders, were gathered in Washu's control center. They were preparing for the final attack against Derek. The seats were arranged in a circle around a holo projector. The room was black and silver, with several consoles nearby manned by persocoms. Washu appeared through a hole in the ceiling riding her hover chair.
"All right, we've been able to pinpoint Derek's location through the use of my brilliant invention, the Quantum Tracer. A spy drone brought back these images." A screen appeared and displayed a black castle. It was massive, with over a dozen towers and spiked walls. "Now while the probe wasn't able to get detailed scans without going to active sensors, we do know the castle is defended by several layers of energy shields, and that stone is definitely not garden variety. It probably has hundreds of concealed weapons and more. The most important thing is the low number of visible defenders. We believe that Derek expended most of his army in the attack on the Cross Realm. If we strike now we can catch him when he's at his weakest. So, any questions?" Asked Washu.
"When do we move?" Hikaru asked.
"Tomorrow, once we've assembled the heavy weapons and armor. Our artillery will take down the castle's shields before our ground forces move it. This is a total destroy mission. We can't allow even one of Derek's soldiers to survive. Is that clear?"
"What about Sasaki and Kiriko?" Sasami asked. She was still a bit shaky from her time as Dark Sasami.
"Sasaki has come over to our side and will participate in the attack. Kiriko is still in medical. She should be fine if a few days," Washu replied. "I know how you feel Sasami, but believe me you'd feel a lot worse if Kiriko had killed us. We're gonna need you, so try and cheer up a bit."
"Ok," Sasami sniffed. Hikaru moved over and held her hand.
"All right. Everybody go and get some rest. You're going to need your strength for tomorrow." As everyone left, Hikaru caught up with Sasami.
"Hey, you wanna go get something to eat?" Hikaru asked.
"Ok," Sasami replied. The two of them stepped into a small diner and ordered pasta. Sasami mostly picked at her food.
"Are you not hungry?" Hikaru asked.
"I don't know. Every time I close my eyes, I see myself cutting off Kiriko's wings a-and killing all those people." Sasami started tearing up. Hikaru scooted her chair over and took Sasami's hand.
"I know you must feel terrible, but you have to understand being angry at yourself won't make it better. I've done some things I'm not proud of, but I know I can't change them. You're a beautiful and strong girl Sasami. Don't let this ruin you." Sasami smiled.
"Thanks Hikaru. I think I can eat now."
After eating, Hikaru and Sasami went to a bath house before splitting up. Hikaru knew Sasami was still troubled, but she would be able to fight tomorrow. Hikaru spent several hours in a training dome before returning to her room in the castle where she went out like a light.
…
Morning came to the Cross Realm, and with it came the sounds of preparation. Combat units were boarding their transport, tanks and other vehicles were being armed and loaded, and the sky darkened under the wings of Steel Angels and Ryokos. Jurai ships hovered overhead along with wings of Veritech fighters. Hikaru and Kurumi, along with the other senior commanders, stood on a balcony watching.
"Derek has no chance," Washu proclaimed. "Our army will trash him and his precious fortress so fast his head'll hit the ground after the last brick."
"I'm just glad this will finally be over," Hikaru replied. "There's been enough pain and suffering."
"I agree," Kurumi added, her red hair gleaming in the new sunlight. "Once he's gone life here can finally return to normal."
Hikaru stepped up to the balcony and placed a microphone to her lips. "Warriors of the Cross Realm, today we strike the final blow against our enemy Derek. His fortress will be heavily defended, and there's a good chance many of you won't make it back. But for every one of you who falls, a thousand of our enemy will die! For every loss we suffer Derek will feel it a hundred fold! And once Derek if beaten, no one will ever challenge us again!" The cheers were deafening. Hikaru raised her sword, the light making it shine like a beacon. "TO VICTORY!"
"TO VICTORY!" The army shouted back. Hikaru jumped to the ground and spent some time talking to the troops. Their moral was high, and most of them were looking forward to the end of the war. Now all they had to do was win.
…
Derek paced the battlements of his fortress. He knew he had to rebuild quickly. His breeding pits were working round the clock to spawn more soldiers. There was no time to grow a new Kiriko so Derek would fight this time. He had to anyway, since if his fortress fell everything was doomed. Dr. Satome walked up.
"Are you all right my Lord?"
"Is everything over Satome? Can we really win against the entire army of the cross realm. Their force is ten times stronger than the one my parents faced."
"You are stronger than you realize my Lord. Look what you have accomplished. You have drawn together some of the strongest creatures in the realms. You have laid siege to the Cross Realm itself. You have faced their best and lived to tell the tale. You can win this Derek. All you have to do is believe in yourself and those around you."
"Thank you Satome. That was very…inspiring of you."
"I try," Satome replied. "If you will excuse me, I have some warriors to spawn." As Satome walked away, a smile spread across Derek's face. Then, just as he was relaxing, hundreds of portals opened a few miles from his fortress, giving birth to the advance wave of the Cross Realm army.
"All warriors to battle stations! NOW!" Derek cried. He watched as the long range batteries mounted on his fortress began firing shells into the gathering forces, but most of the shells were deflected by Sasami and Tenchi's Light Hawk Wings. Then Washu's own artillery began shelling Derek. The shields held but were steadily weakening. Forces streamed out of the castle to engage the Cross Realm army. Derek began powering up for his battle with Hikaru.
…
Hikaru drove her sword through the body of an Invader and severed another's head with a vicious kick. All around her warriors fight and died. She saw a Ryoko impaled by the spikes fist of an invader and a group of battle androids die under a barrage of artillery.
"Washu!" Hikaru called.
"On it!" The genius replied. Her command tank trundled forward, firing a beam from its main cannon into the shields of Derek's fortress, causing them to glow brightly under the barrage and collapse. "Ok, let's move in!"
"Follow me!" Hikaru cried, taking to the air. The Cross Realm army followed her, a massive wave massacring everything in their war. The ground ran red with blood as thousands were killed, but Hikaru's army never stopped. Barrages of energy blasts and beams from the Dark Kurumis swept across the black fortress, collapsing towers and splitting walls, but still the fortress stood. Cannons mounted on the walls thundered into personal shields.
A flight of Veritech fighters strafed the gun nests on the towers, taking down three and loosing only two of their number.
"All right guys, keep it tight," Alpha leader said. "Coming around for another pass." Suddenly a volley of missiles came and sent three of the Veritechs crashing to the ground. "Break off!"
As the fighters withdrew the Cross Realm army had finally reached the walls. EMP grenades disabled mines, allowing Ryokos to phase through the walls and open the gates. Many died to defense weapons and traps, and when Hikaru and the lead elements made it inside the walls were painted with Blood. Hikaru ran over to a Ryoko whose stomach had been blown open.
"Hang on, you're going to be fine." Hikaru pressed her hands against the Ryoko's bloody midsection. A soft blue light reached out and the Ryoko's injuries vanished.
"Thanks, now let's keep going." The Ryoko replied.
Hikaru nodded and two other girls pressed forward. The fortresses' defenses were inflicting tremendous casualties on the Cross Realm army, but slowly Derek's fortress was being taken. Already the spawning chambers had been destroyed and Dr. Satome killed. He hadn't been easy to take down, but a black arrow from Ruriko had killed him. Now all that remained was Derek.
…
Derek was waiting when Hikaru and the first soldiers broke into his throne room. His guards opened fire but Sasami, who had met up with Hikaru in the battle, blocked it with her Light Hawk Wings. The two Ryokos returned fire with their energy blasts, blowing Derek's guards apart.
"It's over Derek. There's nowhere for you to run," Hikaru said.
"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I can't still kill you!" Derek yelled, launching himself at Hikaru. She blocked with her wings and both flew into the walls.
"I go this," the first Ryoko said, charging in with her energy sword.
"No Ryoko! Stay back!" Hikaru shouted, but Ryoko didn't listen. As she slashed at Derek he used his vectors to slip around Ryoko's guard and cut her in half. Blood washed over Hikaru and the others, including the second Ryoko. "That's it Derek. That's the last life you take!" Hikaru cried. "You know one of the good things about being a girl? It doesn't hurt when you get hit by this!" Hikaru nailed Derek between the legs with her iron toed boot. Derek's voice rose a few octaves and he fell to the ground.
"Is that all you've got!" Derek cried.
"No, but this is!" Hikaru replied. She summoned all her power and lashed at Derek, striking faster than the eye could see. Her wings went volleys of black feathers cutting into Derek, and her vectors dueled with his. Her sword cracked Derek's saber and shattered it. Derek jumped away but Hikaru followed. They burst through the roof and into the sky.
Washu saw two figures burst from within the castle, Derek and Hikaru. They both fought with energies strong enough to level cities. Their back wings sent waves of razor feathers and bursts of energy at each other. Derek's attacks were faster, but Hikaru's were more powerful. Washu send a telepathic bust to Hikaru, who replied with a smile and turned so that Derek's back was facing the main battle. Washu hefted a sniper rifle and snapped a targeting reticule over her left eye. She took careful aim and fired. A large blue energy pulse flashed out and struck directly between Derek's wings, exiting through his chest. Hikaru deflected the bullet and caught Derek as he plummeted to the ground.
"Nice shot Washu," Hikaru praised when she and Derek's body landed. "Would you like to do the honors Ryoko? He did kill a lot of your duplicates in the fortress."
"But he nearly killed YOU," Ryoko replied.
"Just get on with it," Derek coughed.
"Let's do it together," Hikaru suggested. Ryoko nodded and together she and Hikaru both plunged a fist into Derek's chest, crushing his heart and exploding his chest cavity. His bloody body dropped to the ground, the ice around him stained red. "It's over."
"What about your body?" Washu asked. "It might not be possible to repair that kind of damage."
"What damage? I feel fine. I told you Washu, I'm Hikaru now. Steven died when Derek attacked me the first time. Even if I could I doubt I'd go back." Washu smiled.
"Glad to hear, so now what? Derek's gone and the war's over. That means we'll all have to give up the power we were given, and all the duplicates will be rejoined with their originals."
"That's fine with me," Hikaru replied. "Ok girls, let's make one final sweep and make sure nothing's left, then we'll use Washu's dimensional cannon to destroy this realm so it can never be used again."
"Ok," Washu replied. A final sweep was made of Derek's small realm. A few beasts were found and killed, then the army left and Washu fired her dimensional cannon, forever vaporizing Derek's realm. The war was finally over.
…
A week had passed since Derek's death and the end of the war, and the Cross Realm had returned to normal. Hikaru and everyone else had their powers reduced to what they had been before the war.
Hikaru was relaxing in her room when a knock came on the door. "Come in." The door opened and Yusuke entered.
"Hey, you are you doin' Hikaru?"
"Fine, how about you?"
"All right I guess. I actually came by to give you this." Yusuke handed Hikaru a large golden trophy with the words Cross Realm Champion written on the side.
"Thanks, but I thought you were the top contender before the war started." The tournament had been cancelled because of the war and had never been finished.
"Yeah, but I've already got three of these things. Besides, from what I saw of your skills, you'd have been a tough one."
Hikaru smiled. "Thanks. What's say we find out? I got some free time." Yusuke returned Hikaru's smile.
"You're on!" So Hikaru and Yusuke went off to spar, and from down the hallway Marik watched them.
"Hmm. Maybe I should challenge Hikaru to another shadow duel."
Outside, the sun rose, casting its light over the now revived cross realm.
So how was that? I guess I'll do an epilogue to end the story. Well, see you next chapter Rose. The Emperor protects.
ENTILZA