Hey everyone, good new. I finally decided to get off my lazy butt and finish my proof-reading of the last few chapters. So if you're looking at this as soon as it's going up, the next 2 chapters will be up in just a few minutes. So enjoy.
Chapter 13: Confrontation
The members of Fireteam Nemesis opened fire on Velkis while Jewel carried Aaron over to cover.
"I, can, help." Aaron said.
"You're in no position to fight."
"I, can, still, shoot."
"No!" She stated aggressively. "Stay here and keep your head down. In your state you'll just get in the way." Jewel left the conversation at that and ran back to join the fight with her scout rifle in hand.
The five remaining guardians spread out to avoid the splash damage of Velkis' Scorch Cannon and they all unloaded all they had on the Kell. Jewel rushed over to cover next to Lance who still seemed a little dazed from being thrown into Max.
"You alright?" Jewel asked over the sound of gunfire.
"I think I have a concussion, we're fighting a giant alien who's not only trying to kill us but who caused said concussion and back-handed my girlfriend and he's just absorbing our shots. Other then that I'm good."
"Any ideas on what to do?"
"Well we all used our super charges to get out of the Ketch so that's out. What we need is something that can take down his shield really easy."
"Sorry, Jewel." Aaron said over their comm chanel.
As Aaron spoke a disc of arc energy flew through the air and struck Velkis then a second disc did the same with a static pop the Kell's shield broke. Jewel pulled out her Stillpiercer and joined the others in firing on Velkis.
Velkis screamed as the guardians continued to fire and in a flash he vanished for a moment before appearing next to Jewel and Lance. Velkis raised his foot and the two guardians scattered as the massive Kell crushed their cover and quickly turned and fired at Lance.
The Scorch Cannon blast hit the ground next to Lance and threw him over into a rock severely injuring him.
"Lance!" Val yelled as she rushed to his side.
Velkis gave a gutteral bellow that sounded like a sinister chuckle. Another bolt from Aaron's Bolt-Caster flew toward the Kell but Velkis activated a void shield and the bolt fizzled away hardly affecting the shield.
"Val how's Lance?" Kore asked over the comm.
"He's in really bad shape. He's unconscious and I his back might be broken. I'm getting him to some cover."
"Don't." Kore said. "If you move him you risk making the damage worse."
"Draw the Kell away from Lance and Aaron." Jewel ordered as she fired on him with her Stillpiercer, the void weapon still having a less than stellar affect on the shield.
Velkis laughed as he fired again at Jewel. The hunter dived to the side to avoid the blast only to be met by a second shot. As she attempted to jump away from the second shot the blast knocked her back and she found herself being caught by Kore.
"Thanks Kore."
"Don't thank me yet." Kore said as he grabbed a void powered rocket launcher from his back. "Syd?" Syd run up next to Kore with her Truth rocket launcher in hand.
"Light him up!" Syd said as both guardians fired a rocket at Velkis.
Unfazed by the assault Velkis teleported again reappearing in the mix of Jewel, Kore and Syd. Velkis raised a hand and as it glowed with power he fired a shockwave that knocked the three guardians back.
Jewel sprang up first and with rage evident in her eyes she fired on the Kell despite knowing her fire was futile. Jewel looked over her shoulder an saw Kore and Syd reloading their rockets, likewise she saw Max and Val separated on the other side of Velkis.
Getting an idea Jewel ran straight at Velkis. The Kell fired at her and Jewel jumped over the shot as Velkis fired a second time. Jewel let herself fall to the ground avoiding the second shot and as she approached Velkis brought his fist down to the earth and Jewel dove between the Kells legs avoiding his attack again.
"Max, Val on me rifles ready." Max and Val followed Jewel's order and the three hunters lined up with their respective primaries and opened fire on Velkis.
Closing the gap Velkis teleported again getting within range of them and brought up his scorch cannon to obliterate the three hunters. Before he could fire however two void rockets collided with his back followed quickly another which provided enough damage to break the shield.
"Now!" Jewel yelled as the three hunters shouldered their sniper rifles and focused their fire on Velkis' head.
Velkis screamed as he endured their fire and backed away. Velkis teleported again to get away from the guardians and retreated to cover as he brought up a solar shield.
"That's right, run!" Kore yelled. Jewel watched and realized that Velkis was moving back toward Aaron.
"He's going for Aaron." She said as she took off after the kell.
"Nevermind stop running!" Kore yelled as he joined the others in chasing Velkis.
Velkis approached the rubble where Aaron was hidden and started to smash his way through looking for the crippled guardian. Aaron did his best to keep low and stay hidden. As Velkis continued to search for Aaron the other guardians arrived and fired on Velkis, Kore with his Perun's Fire tried to bring down the kell's shield but it had minimal effect. Getting frustrated Velkis decided to just start shooting around the field of rubble in an effort to deal as much damage as he could. Jewel and the others continued their fire while also avoiding Velki's fire. As Velkis fired randomly Jewel looked up to see Aaron get blown back from one of the shots. He flew straight across the ground before slamming into another heap of rubble.
"Aaron!" Jewel yelled as she run to check on him, meanwhile the others managed to get Velkis' attention and draw him away from Jewel.
Jewel ran up to Aaron and would likely be in tears had her adrenaline not been rushing. Aaron was in a similar boat to Lance as he was unconscious and his armor was smashed.
"Rex are you there?" Jewel asked desperately.
"Yes I'm here."
"How is he?"
"He was already in bad shape. Luckily his armor took most of the impact, though he still has some fractures in his spine and another rib broke on him."
"Let's get him to cover."
"No don't." Rex said. "We don't want to risk causing more damage. The best way to help is to kill that kell."
"We need a bigger solar weapon, all we have is Max's machine gun since mine and Val's rocket are both arc."
"Why do you think you need to use your gun?" Rex asked.
Jewel thought for a moment before looking back toward the others and Velkis. Jewel watched them fight until her gaze focused on Velkis' Scorch Cannon, then it all clicked.
"Rex you're a genius." Jewel said as she grabbed her rifle and ran in to join the fight. "Syd, Kore I need your help. Max, Val keep his attention on you as best you can."
Val and Max quickly tossed some grenades at Velkis and started to unload their rifles on him to no avail in damaging the kell though it did catch his attention and he turned and opened fire on the two hunters.
Meanwhile Jewel met up with Kore and Syd and after briefly conversing with them they returned their weapons to their back and Syd took a few steps back while Jewel and Kore each threw a grenade at Velkis.
Velkis started to turn around and as he did Kore and Jewel linked their hands and Syd ran toward them. Upon reaching them Syd stepped up into Jewel and Kore's hands and together the two guardians threw the titan at the kell. Syd reared back and when she reached Velkis she gave him a solid punch to the face which caused him to stumble back. As she started to fall back to the ground she grabbed Velkis' Scorch Cannon and punched him again in the arm and he dropped his weapon.
When Velkis recovered he looked down at Syd to see her pick up the front of his over-sized scorch cannon and at the same time Kore ran up to pick up the back end to help aim the weapon at Velkis. As the kell started to reach down to grab his weapon Jewel ran up grabbed hold of the trigger and as she glared up at the kell, staring fiery daggers at him through her helmet, she pulled the trigger.
The blast collided with Velkis' chest which caused him to stumble back, then she pulled the trigger again firing a second shot right at the kell shattering his shield. Firing a third shot Jewel held the trigger as the shot stuck to Velkis' chest and glowed brighter and brighter. Velkis made a final charge at the guardians when Jewel released the trigger and in a final massive explosion blasted back the Kell and the explosion kicked up a large cloud of dust around them.
Jewel, Kore and Syd dropped the scorch cannon as it's flames burned out from it's lack of ammo. Jewel stared into the dust cloud while Syd and Kore gave one another a crisp high five and fist bump. Jewel continued to stare as the dust began to settle. In the dim cloud of smoke and dust Jewel saw a faint shadow shift.
Suddenly with a roar Velkis dove out of the dust and with one of his massive arms he grabbed Jewel and with his other three he slammed his fists in the ground, throwing Kore and Syd back into the ground. Max and Val ran up into the fray only for Velkis to whip around and swat Val away and with another arm he pinned Max to the ground.
Velkis lifted Max into the air and slammed Jewel and Max into each other before throwing them back down to the earth. The five guardians, exhausted and in pain, layed in their places on the ground. Panting for breath and attempting to stand, the kell stood over them with fury burning in his eyes. Jewel looked around at her fellow guardians as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She knew that they had no more to give, that this was the end.
Velkis stood over the five guardians and Jewel watched as he scanned over them and as his gaze shifted behind her. Jewel turned to see where he was looking as was shocked to see Aaron standing behind her. The Titan was clutching his stomach with his left arm as he limped slowly closer to the Kell.
"Aaron what are you doing?" Jewel called out through the pain, but Aaron ignored her and kept walking.
Velkis gave a sinister chuckle as he stepped toward the Titan.
"Aaron no!" Jewel said as she tried to stand and when she fell back to the ground she began to crawl. "Aaron stop he'll kill you!"
Aaron and Velkis stepped up to one another and stopped, taking a moment to stare each other down.
"Your resolve I admire human." Velkis said. "However, survive this fight, you will not."
"Try…..me." Aaron said weakly.
Velkis brought down his arm to crush Aaron, and Aaron brought up his arms to catch Velkis' strike. The force of the attack brought Aaron to his knees and the titan screamed out in pain, yet despite his injuries he held the kell back.
"Die you will, human." Aaron held back Velkis and as he did his fists began to glow green and they glowed brighter and brighter as he started to push Velkis back.
"NO!" Aaron yelled as he pushed upward and shoved Velkis back. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" Aaron yelled and in a bright flash of green light power surged through his body.
The other five guardians watched in awe at Aaron's specticle. Meanwhile Jewel, who was closest to Aaron, started to hear a clicking sound from her ghost.
"Opal what is that?"
"Aaron's giving off radiation."
"Radiation?" Jewel asked in surprise as she looked back at Aaron who was now standing seemingly unfazed by his injuries.
Velkis screamed at the guardian and Aaron yelled right back as the two charged at one another. Velkis tried to punch the titan but Aaron punched back and shattered the kell's fist. Screaming in pain the kell stepped back and Aaron stepped forward and punched Velkis' knee breaking his leg as well. Velkis dropped to the ground and tried to smash Aaron again but the titan simpy stepped forward and punch Velkis in the gut knocking the kell to the ground.
Spurred by his wrath Aaron jumped up onto the kells chest and began to repeatedly punch Velkis in the face. Over and over again the titan pounded the kell, each strike slowly breaking apart the aliens helmet and mask. Finally Aaron stopped and grabbed Velkis by the collar and pulled his head up toward him.
"Die YOU will!" Aaron said as he reared his fist back and punched Velkis so hard in the face that he punched through the kell's skull. Aaron pulled back his fist and looked at his arm now coated in Fallen blood and watched as ether seeped from Velkis' wound, the now lifeless kell laying the dirt.
The other five who were watching where in total shock at what Aaron had just done. And they simply started at their friend who stood over the corpse of the kell and started at his victim. As he did so the green energy dissipated from his body, and shortly after Aaron himself fell to the ground unconscious.