CHAPTER 13

THE BATTLE BETWEEN

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

When I stepped onto the front deck I saw him, and felt the cold wash even stronger then before.

He was different from when I had last seen him, in flesh and in dreams.

He was holding him self less dignified then before. Instead he was slumped over, his arms hanging limply in front of him.

His teeth were bared in a grotesque sort of smile and his eyes…his eyes were blood red, and glowed menacingly.

What was most disturbing however was the darkness that seemed to emanate from him. Pulsing around him like the shedding layers of a dying star.

Noycorp cocked his head on one side and gave a lopsided grin.

"So Captain Daniel Kennedy Dearing," he said in a deep rumbling voice that sounded like it was in two tones, "We meet again. For the last time!"

"Oh please! Like that line has been said at least once in every sci-fi movie ever made," I replied mildly with a smile.

Noycorp chuckled, "Your wit amuses me."

"And your ugliness amuses me," I shot back.

"Ah, but ugliness is only skin deep," Noycorp countered, "For example. Although you and me look different, we actually have a lot in common,"

"And people say the Procyon Confederacy has no sense of humour," I said, the sarcasm dripping from my voice, "Fine. Give me a list of things we have in common. Go on! I dare you!"

"With pleasure. We are both men of our word. You promised your wife you would return from this little quest your on. I vowed to take over the Galaxy with Aidacra."

He indicated to the large black sphere as we shot by.

"We both captain the finest ships the galaxy has ever known. We both have loyalties. Yours is to your wife, family and friends, while mine is to myself and Aidacra. And finally," his grin seemed to get even more insane, "We both have a Moon Crystal encased in our hearts!"

My eyes widened in horror.

"Yes," Noycorp continued mildly, "You have the Silver Crystal, I have the Black Crystal. A battle between light and darkness if you will,"

He suddenly drew a sword from his side. A sword that seemed to emanate as much darkness as it's owner.

Without a moments hesitation, I shed my blue tunic, revealing the black turtle neck I was wearing underneath, and the armour of Enrique Vadeck, fused with silver magic, so it could not be damaged..

It didn't look like much, it simply protected my upper torso and shoulders, but with it's help, and the guidance Amelia had taught me in fencing, I would either win, or go down fighting.

Slowly, I drew my Serpent Strike from it's sheath, and saluted Noycorp before taking fighting stance.

Noycorp threw his head back and laughed manically.

"It's time Daniel Dearing!" he cried as a glowing black symbol suddenly appeared on his forehead, a circle with a cross in the centre, "Time for the Darkness to terminate the light and rule the Galaxy!"

Then he lunged at me, and the fighting began.

Steel clashed onto steel as we fought, the battle still continuing over our heads, the Delphinus soaring towards the sun.

We exchanged blow after blow, each time we managed to block the other. Eventually I managed to force the dark beast that had been Noycorp to the railing, the both of us panting deeply.

"So what now Daniel Dearing?" Noycorp managed to spit out, "We two immortals locked in battle until judgement day and trumpets sound, hm?"

I shrugged, "Or you could surrender."
That just seemed to infuriate the Procyon even more, for he gave a anguished cry, and let off another barrage, forcing me to retreat.

"It's no use Captain," Noycorp had a smile on his face, "You can't win."
I sighed quietly, before sheathing my sword and opening my hands wide.

"You know your right Leinad," I said mildly as I approached him, causing him to back away slightly, "This could be the end for me. I could very much surrender here and now," I smiled slightly, "but that's not going to be the case."

Before I had left, Fina had taught me one last thing. A attack that that should only be used as a last resort.

This was my only chance.

Slowly I put my arms into the air, my hands together in a praying stance, before bringing them down to my sides.

As I did so, small images of the six moons of Arcadia appeared behind me.

The Red, Green and Yellow Moons on my left, The Silver, Purple and Blue Moons on my right.

I began to chant:

"In dire need!

I call forth!

The power!

Of the ancients!

TO BATTLE MY FOE!"

As I spoke these words, the six moons began to glow. As I finished the chant I got down onto one knee, my arms outstretched, my hands like claws, connected at my wrists.

As I finished the chant, suddenly, all six moons shot a brilliant white beam of light to the centre of my back.

I felt the tattoos on my forehead and shoulders light up as the energy streamed though my arms and into a pure energy ball in my hands. Suddenly a powerful white light erupted from my outstretched hands, heading straight towards Noycorp.

Unfortunately, Noycorp wasn't going to give up so easily.

"In dire need!

I call forth!

The Power!

Of the Civilisation of the Black Moon!

TO DESTROY MY FOE!"

As he got down into the same position I was in, a much larger image of a black moon appeared behind him.

As it glowed, it suddenly shot forth a glowing red beam, which shot out of Noycorp's hands and intercepted my own attack.

The glow was intense, where the two beams met, a great explosion of energy erupted. We battled tirelessly to get the energy to get closer to the opponent. After a while however, it was obvious it was getting closer to me then Noycorp.

Then I suddenly realised something. Noycorp was using the power of one Moon, while I had the power of six. If I could increase the moon power of my attack, I could overthrow the attack. But where could I find the power? Then it clicked. Of course, the Terran Solar system itself! If what I heard from Physics class was true, there had to be sixty one moons in total in the Solar system.

I had to concentrate.

"Moons of the Terran Solar system," I muttered, "Give my your strength."

I smiled as I knew what was happening, just my looking at Noycorp's face.

Behind me, more and more images of moons were appearing in ever increasing circles from the large planet sized moons of Jupiter, to the strange Asteroid like Moons of Mars, and at the very top, sat Earth's own moon.

"NO!" Noycorp screamed as he pushed all his energy into the beam, "I WILL NOT BE BEATEN BY HUMAN!"
"I AM NOT HUMAN!" I bellowed over the slowly becoming deafening scream as the moon's power was channelled into my hands, "I AM A SILVITE, NOT BORN OF SILVITE PARENTAGE!"

And with that I gave the beam it's final push.

"BY THE POWER OF THE MOONS! YE…ARE…GUILTY!"

The beams light intensified sixty fold! Blasting out towards Noycorp, totally obliterating his attack in the process. The blinding beam hit the former Procyon square in the chest, throwing him off his feet and sending him clear of the deck itself, punching through the crystal shield and out into space.

"DANIEL DEARING!" I heard him cry as the beam threw him through several Procyon starships, "I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!"

I sighed as the beam dissipated and the shield reformed around the hole.

As I looked towards planet Earth, I noticed the Moon. It was little more of a asteroid field now, most likely how the other moons in the system were. But I couldn't dwell on this right now.

As quick as I could, I ran back up to the Bridge, ready to deliver the final blow.

"Are we there yet?" Peter complained as I ran onto the Bridge.

"We're just about to enter Cannon range," Silver called from his console.

"Very good," I said, making everyone jump. I settled into my chair and activated the computer.

"Computer: Recognise Dearing Daniel T. Captain, Authorization code: Dearing Alpha one. Deploy the Legacy Cannon. Authorization Code: Dearing Beta Two."

"Authorization Code confirmed, Moonstone Cannon activated."

Outside the ship, the Delphinus' bow suddenly split in two, revealing a large and rather lethal looking cannon. It's shiny barrel glinting in the sunlight.

"Moonstone Cannon deployed," the computer announced, "Select target."

At that moment, a small holographic map of the Solar System appeared in front of me, showing every ship and planet currently there.

With a sigh I glanced over the holo-planet Earth, a disgusting black and grey covering the entire surface.

"It was nice knowing you," I muttered silently, before gently pushing the glowing sphere in the centre of the map, the Sun.

"Target selected," Fina's voice said calmly, "Awaiting final firing orders."

I stood from my chair and walked to the centre of the room, where the map lay.

I looked back and saw the map, noticing that the remained of the Procyon Fleet was gathering in a large circle around the star.

"The Gunners are inside Danny…I mean Cap'n," I heard Silver call, "You know what ta do."

I nodded silently before glaring out the window.

"Go to hell you bastards." I muttered, before raising my arm and bringing it down.

"LEGACY CANNON FIRE!"

Outside the tip of the cannon began to glow a brilliant white, slowly growing in intensity. As the glow increased, it started to envelop the cannon itself, bouncing back and forth along the barrel.

Meanwhile, Leinad had managed to fly back to his beloved Gigas, clinging onto it's large side like there was no tomorrow.

Which, for him, there wasn't.

A sudden sound caught his attention and he turned round in time to see the Legacy Cannon power up.

"No," he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief as the light grew, "No, no, it's not fair…"

The Legacy Cannon fired, sending a brilliant white beam across space, causing the former Procyon Captain to shield his eyes.

The beam shot towards the sun, never faltering until it hit the Terran star dead centre.

The effect was instantaneous. The sun exploded causing me to remember the Pelusa incident as the waves shot out.

"We have to get out of here!" I cried as the waves got closer, "Jim, get us out of here!"

"Aye Captain!"

I felt the ship swerve and thrust forward, barely ahead of the killer wave behind us, but somehow the ship managed to keep ahead of us.

"Jenny, open the gate home."

She nodded and headed over to the sphere, he tried tapping the button.

Nothing.

She tried again.

Nothing.

"Ah, Houston, we have a problem,"

I raised an eyebrow at this, but before I could say anything, Peter jumped in.

"I think we have a bigger problem right now."

I looked up at the main window, only to see the remnants of the Procyon fleet, (what we hadn't shot down anyway) create a blockade.

"Trapped, like rats," I thought to myself. Then it clicked, Telepathy.

"Fina," I thought desperately, "Fina, open the Gate. We're in trouble! Come on Fina open the Gate!"

At that moment, a chorus of gasps echoed around the Bridge, and I looked up just in time to see a window in space, a window leading to a grassy field, with a trench going through the middle, before we passed through it and out onto Fina's planet.

Leinad clung for dear life to Aidacra as the waves hit, watching in horror as the Delphinus escaped through a Gateway, the rest of the Procyon armada being wiped out.

It was then he began to realise something.

He was alive.

He began to laugh, then his laughter increased, before turning into full scale maniacal laughter.

"YOU LOST DANIEL DEARING!" he cried to the universe as bits of Star stuff bounced off Aidacra, "YOU HAD YOU CHANCE AND YOU FAILED!"

He threw his head back and laughed again, only to stop as the moon sized Gigas shuddered underneath him.

Upon looking back towards the old star, he immediately convulsed in fear.

A black hole was forming, sucking in everything it could reach, for star stuff and planet remains, to the mighty Gigas itself.

"No," Leinad gasped, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! AIDACRA, ALMIGHTY AND ETERNAL GIGAS, SAVE ME!"

As if answering his pleas, Noycorp suddenly found himself sinking. Sinking down into the Gigas. At first he panicked, but then he realised, that the father he sank, the larger he felt. He realised he was fusing with the Gigas.

A small, evil smile crossed his face, the smile turned into a grin, then he began to laugh again as the Gigas sank towards the black hole. He threw his head back and laughed out loud as the Gigas consumed him.

As the last part of him was consumed, the Gigas finally fell into the Hole.

As it did, a cataclysmic explosion ripped through space, sending shockwaves in every direction.

When the waves dissipated, the black hole was gone.

As was Leinad Noycorp, and Aidacra, the Black Gigas.