Returning to our heroes, we find them waiting for their doom to come from the Gordanians, or their own hands.

Twenty Three: A War To Remember

VWOOSHOOOOWOO! screeched the two giant plasma cannons as they shot their power into the sky. Koriand'r had shielded herself against Robin. He, however, couldn't look away.

The entire sky lit up bright blue as two giant rays flew through the clouds and into the Gordanian fighter ships. They hit with an amazing explosion, changing the light in sky from neon blue to fiery orange.

The sound hit Robin like a wave of water, causing him to have to dig his heals into the dirt in order to remain in his place.

Suddenly, the cannons stopped, after which followed a silence even greater then the blast. Then, as if in slow motion, the large fighter ship tilted downward, crashing into the water. The Remainders began to cheer.

They cheered louder then a rock concert; louder then a thunderstorm. In the middle of it all, there was hugging, jumping, kissing, crying, and all out screaming for joy. They had got in the first shot! And it didn't even kill them in the process! But there celebrating was short lived; the smaller ships began to land. The Remainders got ready as Gordanians began to pile out of them.

"I thought Gordanians didn't attack without all of their fleet," said Robin as his grip tightened on his axe.

"I guess they got a little angry at us for breaking their toy," replied Bee as she got herself ready.

The Gordanians began to advance, screeching all the way. The Earth people also grabbed their weapons and began to meet the aliens, including Bee, Raven, and Garfield. Robin was about ready to join them when –

"UGH!" Koriand'r groaned as she fell violently to the ground.

"Koriand'r!" Robin rushed to her and helped her up. Above them, Komand'r floated, glowing eyes and smoldering hands.

"I thought we had an agreement!" Robin shouted angrily. She through her head back and laughed.

"Oh, please," she said, "you didn't really believe me, did you?"

"What makes you think the Gordanians would ever take you back? They know what you've got up your sleeve!"

"Simple," she said, lighting up another violet energy ball, "I give them the body of my little sister."

Robin's heart quickened.

"Over my dead – !"

"No, Robin."

Robin looked over to see Koriand'r standing solemnly, her eyes locked on her sister.

"It is time I defend myself."

Her eyes became bright emerald green. And without warning, she bent her knees and jumped into the air, talking her sister mid-flight.

Robin could only stand there, shocked. She could stick up for herself now. She could fight. She didn't need him anymore.

"I wouldn't worry about them, kid," said a sly voice behind him. He turned sharply to see Red X standing there, smirk on his face. "You've got me to deal with."

Robin took firm hold of his axe and stood strongly, waiting for X to make his move.

Down in the battle field, chaos was around every turn. In the center of it, Raven and Garfield worked as a synchronized team. They moved with each other as if they were one fighting creature. But their combat was interrupted when a blast of silver energy hit their footing, making them loose their balance. Raven looked up to see Malchior clad in silver ancient armor, hands engulfed in shimmering energy.

"We have to stop meeting like this," he said snidely. Then, he fired up another ball and shot it towards her. Raven put up a shield out of pure reflex, though it was hard to hold off against his power.

Suddenly, he was barreled over by a green, big-horned ram. Garfield changed back into a human and stood between Raven and the fallen wizard.

"Garfield," she said, rushing to him, "what are you doing?"

"Hey," he said simply, "it works for Robin!"

Malchior got back to his feet and bared his teeth in anger.

"This doesn't concern you, changeling!" he shouted.

"Well it does now!" Gar shouted back. "Hey… 'Changeling'… I like that…"

"Look out!" shouted Raven as she pulled him out of Malchior's line of fire.

In the skies, two Tamaranian sisters were engaged in an aerial dog fight. They showered each other and anything around them in starbolts. They zoomed in and out of each other's way, causing collateral damage wherever they went. Then, Komand'r found herself in a corner of a building. Koriand'r approached her, hands lit and eyes aglow.

"You never helped me for my own well being," Kori spat. "You merely kept me alive so that you may have time to rejoin the Gordanians!"

"What was you're first clue?"

Then, Komand'r blasted her hard so that she flew backwards into a small group of palm trees.

"You know," Komand'r chided as she flew over to her, "you were never too bright. It's a wonder that we're even related."

In a swift move Koriand'r shot her with blasts from her eyes into an office building. Kori followed her.

"How'd you do that!" bewildered Komand'r. "I never taught you that!"

"Perhaps I am not as dull as you thought!" And with that, she ran head on into her sister, allowing them to break through the floor.

Below them, Red X and Robin were locked in hand-to-hand combat, or in this case, axe-to-axe.

Robin swung his axe down near X's feet, but he had jumped up, bring his axe down to Robin's head. Luckily, he was able to dodge it just in time with a back flip. This caused X's weapon to stick into the ground.

"Why are you doing this?" said Robin. "These are lives your toying with!"

Red X yanked the blade from the ground.

"Hey, the bigger the toys, the more fun you have."

"I don't believe that," said Robin. "I saw you when you let us go. There's more to you then you're letting on. I know it. You're not some kind of killing machine."

X used his weapon as a poll-volt and kicked Robin square in the jaw, throwing him backwards.

"Just shut up and fight," he said.

Just a few hundred yards off, Raven and Garfield were fighting off Malchior as well as they could while dodging his energy. And although their attempts were impressive, it seemed like a losing battle. Soon, they were running out of energy and ideas.

"This has become tiresome," said Malchior, dodging Garfield and Raven's attacks once again. "How about we kick it up a notch?" Then, he reared back as a red glow came off of him. And to the horror of Raven and her companion, Malchior began to transform.

His hands became huge talons and his skin became scaly and reptilian. His silver hair morphed into two demonic horns and ears. On his back, a long whipping tail began to grow. His neck elongated like a huge snake and he grew a hundred times his size. Then, when his change was complete, he slammed one of his claws into the earth and screeched to the heavens.

"What – is he?" asked Garfield, backing away.

Raven looked into the dragon's red, piercing eyes. She knew exactly who it was.

"Roarack," she said.

"What do we do?"

"Pray."

Will our heroes be defeated? Will Galfor's army come in time? And will this lead to the discovery of the gunther knife? Tune in next chappie to find out!

T.

PS – sorry this was late.