Pasts Collide
Meia and the others ran full tilt their arms pumping in time to their heaving breathing. Getting back to the Nirvana wasn't going to be as easy as they had all hoped. Nothing ever was though, Meia thought as she ducked a branch as she dashed around a tree and leapt a fallen log that was covered in moss and small white mushrooms.
Jura was breathing heavily her breasts rising and falling with each huge lungful of air. "Stop," she called as she stopped running and put her hand on a tree to steady herself. Her vision was starting to swim and she knew that she really needed to do more physical labor. She was so out of shape and yet she hated physical labor. It had a tendency to make one stink of sweat. Sweat though was pouring down her face and her lungs were burning trying to get enough air to support her body.
Barnette stopped and moved to Jura, "Are you alright?" Her voice was soft and fearful. She didn't like seeing Jura like this and right now even Jura's face was red and flushed.
Meia and the others had stopped as well. Jura was right Meia knew they needed a rest. If they didn't then everyone was going to drop from exhaustion. In fact only Gascogne and Hibiki, along with Meia were doing well. Each of them for different reasons but all three in good shape for running like they were. Dita was doing alright because of her chasing Hibiki around all that time.
Meia glanced up and looked at the trees as they swayed gently in a breeze that had started to blow. The soft rustle of leaves and whistle of the wind was something that Meia in truth wasn't used to. She almost wished that she could have lived on this planet to see such beauty for that is what she was looking at.
She turned to her friends and nodded. "Yes we need time to rest and to think. That attack had taken us by surprise. I hadn't thought they would have enemies waiting in the trees for us but I was mistaken and that was foolish. I won't let that happen again," she informed her crew for that is what they were. They were her crew, her friends, and her brothers in arms.
As they had fled at Akarik's urging they had disappeared into the trees Meia feeling that was the safest route back to the Nirvana so that they weren't out in the open. She had been terribly wrong though. As they had entered the towering monoliths with their arms stretched out overhead as to protect them they found the trees more a hindrance than anything else.
They had traveled quickly entering the trees moving in a zigzag pattern and that was the only thing that had saved their lives. They had darted around a massive boulder the size of a Vanguard, when a whirring noise had sounded and the boulder had exploded, in a shower of stone spikes that were as dangerous as any knife.
The thunderous explosion rocked the woods and sent birds, deer, and other wildlife scurrying away from the battlefield. Many were annoyed at being interrupted after all it was spring and they were quite busy.
Meia and the others though weren't having the same fun in spring. They had all darted behind a large tree at the sound of the whirring. It was a noise that they knew wasn't good and as they had all gotten into place the explosion sounded nearly deafening them.
Jura had screamed as had Dita in fear. Hibiki had yelled in anger, "Aww you Bastards! You just wait until I get to my partner! I'll show you dammnit!" He had gritted his teeth though in helplessness. He had learned that his partner was what had made him change.
"Is everyone alright," Meia had asked and gotten a lot of murmurs and grumbling which meant that everyone was fine. Even Jura had complained.
"I can't believe this, another losing battle, I'm tired of these fights," she had cried out and Barnette had done her best to comfort her. Hibiki had done the same with Dita who was shaking in fight. Her eyes were wide and she was realizing just how close she had been to death right then.
Misty was shaking, her eyes wide with fear and her heart racing as though she were in a marathon. Gascogne glanced around her tree and her eyes widened. That massive boulder had been gone and shards of stone were embedded in all the trees around as though a porcupine had gotten mad, a large stone porcupine.
Meia sighed as she came back to the present. She was glad that no one had been hurt in that incident. That had been a little too close and it made her mad that she had failed to see that the enemy might realize their plan. Her hand slammed into a tree and her eyes hardened. "I won't let them get us," she whispered fiercely.
She glanced around and realized that everyone was looking at her and her cheeks colored in embarrassment over her outburst. That was not like her and she knew better. A leader needed to be calm and collected at all times. "Alright everyone we need to get moving. The enemy seems to want us dead, or captured. We won't let them have what they want. We shall safely return to the Nirvana and eliminate the enemy understood." That last was not a question so much as a statement and everyone nodded at her. They knew she was right.
Jura pushed herself away from the tree and wiped the sweat from her brow. "God I'm sweating that's just so dirty," she complained and everyone smiled at her.
"Get over it damnit we don't have time for your complaining," Hibiki barked.
Dita looked at him and her heart warmed at seeing him just like it did every time. She loved him with all her heart and soul. He was her other half. He was her heart, she had given it to him to hold and protect forever and he hadn't disappointed her as he had when first he had joined with them. He was a real man, as Misty had once said. He knew what he wanted even if he didn't tell anyone.
The vein in Jura's head throbbed as she glared at Hibiki. "Alright you, no more yelling you idiot. I am a lady and you should treat me better than that," she shot right back to him.
"Oh yeah what the hell are you talking about! I don't see a lady and what the hell does that mean anyway? Damn you're annoying the hell outta me," he growled as he looked away from her.
"What did you say you pipsqueak," she asked with a smile on her face.
"Pipsqueak huh, I'll . . .," he didn't get to finish as Dita silenced him with a warning look. They had gotten to the point where they didn't even need to say anything anymore, their looks could convey entirely what they were thinking to one another. They were truly a couple and one that was meant for each other. Dita though had a smile on her face and she giggled a little at the exchange between her friends.
"It's okay Hibiki, we have to get going right," she said that innocence in her voice. It was partly why Hibiki loved her so much. She was just so innocent and sincere in everything that she did. He had never met anyone like that before that was so interested in him and so sincere in her feelings.
"Oh alright," he growled slightly and rubbed the back of his head as he glanced to the side at her and smiled. She blushed at the smile and smiled back her smile like the morning to Hibiki so bright and bringing with it the promise of things better. The looks between the two didn't go unnoticed though by Misty who grinned even through her fear. It was good to see their relationship flourishing she thought. It is good for everyone to have these two around she had decided long ago. They had the ability to shape the future of their two planets if they wanted with the way they treated each other and how they acted.
Meia shook her head and looked at Gascogne who was smiling as well. All her soldiers were acting like there was nothing wrong. It was amazing how much they had all changed. Even with the enemy as close as it was they were still acting as though there was nothing wrong. Meia moved to Gascogne, "Well isn't it interesting how much we have all changed?"
"Yes it is, but I think it is for the better Meia," Gascogne said out of the corner of her mouth as she leaned against a rather large oak tree.
"I believe that you may be right. None of us were ever as happy as we are now," Meia said more to herself than to Gascogne who turned her gaze slightly to regard her friend. "I suppose this new man will bring things to the crew as well if we allow him to join. Maybe another of the girls will fall in love with him," she said slowly the unfamiliar words coming hard but feeling right.
"Well Meia you may be right about that. I think in his own way he has already started to influence some of the crew," Gascogne reasoned to which Meia nodded her agreement. Meia then moved to the middle of the group and got ready to issue her order. "It looks like one in particular is changing quite a bit," Gascogne whispered to herself as she watched Meia.
"Alright let's go," Meia commanded and everyone snapped back to the present and listened to her orders. They started off again weaving through the trees like some many sectioned snake their target fixed in their minds.
As they ran Misty glanced over her shoulder and couldn't help but wonder about Akarik. He seemed to be so selfless in his actions. He had told them to run as he had stayed and fought for them trying to give them a head start on their enemy. She had liked him with the way he acted; it was so different from most of the men that she had known. He was a catch she thought as they ran. He would make someone very happy, and then she wondered how he was doing.
Akarik ducked the steel arm and rolled to the side coming to his feet quickly. The humanlike mecha charged forward and he watched as its arm transformed into a blade. "Great," he muttered and ducked the slice from the mecha.
He heard the hum in time and dove forward between the legs of the mecha as he heard the laser shot from behind. The laser tore into the mecha's arm but didn't do much damage. If Akarik hadn't moved though it would have tore through his heart killing him.
He felt something tear into his leg and he growled as he looked down to see one of those tiny machines. It had grown pincers not unlike a beetle and had latched onto his leg. He reached down tore it off and tossed it at the human mecha. It sliced it from the air and advanced on him again. "Thanks," he said as he stepped back.
He watched it and his eyes narrowed. Without any weapons destroying it wasn't going to be easy. As he backed up he felt his foot hit something. He glanced back quickly and noticed that it was a large metal pole. It was about six feet long and as thick as his forearm. It was smooth most of the way except at the top where it had been broken and it was now a twisted mass of metal that was quite dangerous.
He stepped back over it quickly and rolled the pole onto his foot and kicked it up into his hands. He twirled it around and waited for the machine to advance. He watched to the sides and saw another of the small machines moving around to get a shot with its acid at him. He waited for it and then as it stopped on a small rock, its chosen vantage point, he swung the pole and crushed the machine and brought it back around in a horizontal swing at the mecha. He was too slow though and it was inside his reach. It sliced him across the inside of his outstretched arm and the stuck its fingers into his stomach. They were a little off center more to his left and he felt the fingertips release into him and explode.
He stumbled back and landed on his back, blood gushing from his wounds. "Damn," he growled as he rolled back clutching his side and gritting his teeth against the pain.
"You are to be terminated human," came the automated cold voice of the mecha.
"I don't think so." He then brought the pipe around and slammed it into the mecha but it didn't even seem to faze it. It moved forward again and he thrust with the pole. The end of it caught in a crevice in the chest plate of the mecha and tore it open slightly but he was backhanded by the mecha as it had closed the distance between them.
His head snapped back and he flew through the air hitting a stone and sliding to the ground. He was now bleeding from a cut above his eye and a split lip. The blood trailed down around his eye and down his cheek and his side was on fire. He was starting to grow weak and the wounds weren't healing at all. He felt his stomach tighten in hunger and he gritted his teeth against it.
He slowly stood up and heard the sound of gun shot and felt the bullet tear into his back in his left shoulder. He stumbled forward and lifted his head in time to see a boomerang like object flying towards him. He ducked and spun to the side but it still sliced him across the chest, and continued its flight back to the arm of the mecha.
He felt something bite into his leg again and he looked down to see another of the smaller robots. He was getting tired of destroying those damn things and he ripped it off and slammed it into a stone breaking it. He picked a large rock up the size of his chest and slammed it down on two more than had started to scuttle his way. His blood was flowing freely now and he knew he was in more trouble than he cared to admit.
He heard the crunch of stone in time to avoid a beam shot from the mecha. He rolled forward and came to his feet facing the mecha. It fired again and he ducked again. The mecha could not understand how a mere human was able to dodge its shots. It fired again and again unable to comprehend that it was missing.
It moved with blinding speed and stabbed him in the chest as it seemed it had decided dodging close quarters fighting was a bit more difficult. Its battle tactics had never included fighting someone like Akarik and it was almost lost. It was learning though and that was what made the machines like this one so difficult.
Akarik grunted as he felt the blade go through him. He leaned forward against the Mecha and coughed. Blood poured from his mouth and he was sure he was dead unless he gave in to his hunger now. He slowly looked at the mecha. "Termination complete," it reported.
"Good 019 return to ussss. We have the humansssss on the run. We can finisssh them off."
"Understood orders accepted," it answered to its masters as they were. Akarik grinned and reached up quickly where he had slightly opened its chest plate earlier. He punched again and again and then caught a hold of the plate and tore it off tossing it aside.
"Error, wires exposed threat of explosion," it recited as its programming dictated it to warning any allies to back away. Akarik wasn't an ally though and he was quite mad that he had been so hurt by this hunk of metal. It was embarrassing.
He reached into its chest and yanked out a handful of wires and it started to sputter and vibrate. "Great," he whispered as he realized he was still impaled on its arm. He started to push himself off it when the mecha exploded sending him flying backward into a tree.
He slammed into the tree and the blade arm was jarred roughly and pushed part way out of him from the impact. He felt his bones crack and his vision swam. "Can't go unconscious, I can't, I have to keep the enemy off them," he said as pushed himself to his knees. Each movement brought fresh stabs of pain as the sword like arm was still embedded in him. "This is going to hurt," he complained as he took a hold of the weapon.
He breathed deeply a couple of times and then jerked on the weapon quickly. He grunted in pain as the weapon left his body and tore free chunks of flesh. His blood poured from the wound and he placed his hand against the wound trying to stem the flow. "I don't have long I would guess," he said as he started to feel weaker and weaker. He fell forward but he caught himself with his good arm. He knew he had small bits of metal embedded in him but he couldn't do anything about it.
"I have to go," he said to himself as he grimaced in pain and forced himself to his feet. Slowly he started to move through the forest.
Kahlua was getting bored on the ship and no one would play with her. Grown ups were all such idiots. Always running around and not enjoying themselves, she thought as she watched two of the crew members go running by. "Fine," she huffed and puffed out her bottom lip. "I'll go find that guy and play with him."
She knew that he had left with Meia and the others and so she decided to go out and see them. They would be more fun than being in the ship by herself with nothing to do.
Kahlua skipped out of the ship as children do whistling to herself. She only wanted to find someone to play with and she was sure that they had gone straight so that is where she went.
She never knew that she had walked out of the safety of the ship and into a war zone. She only wanted to play with her new friend even though she didn't know his name. Kahlua was just a child and did the things that a child did irrational as they were. She continued to skip and whistle as she entered the trees heading to the decimated town.
Meia keyed into the ship and was brought up on the communications window. "Captain its Meia," Celtic said turning to the captain.
"Bring her up," the captain said as she sipped her tea and then took a bite of her pudding. Oh how she loved her pudding but it never failed. Every time she tried to eat it something came up in the middle of her meal.
"What is it Meia," BC asked as Meia came into view. She was huffing and puffing and her face was slightly flushed from exertion.
"Captain I have a request. We need the vanguards ready when we arrive at the Nirvana. It seems that this planet is inhabited by the enemy," Meia explained.
"Those damn bastards I'll," the captain and others heard Hibiki in the background ranting and raving like normal. In all that time he was still a big talker and it brought a slight smile tugging at the corners of Magno's mouth.
"Okay I'll have Parfet get on it right away," Magno agreed.
"Thank you captain."
"Meia are you all alright? I don't see everyone," Magno said growing nervous. She hadn't thought that they might get hurt or that the enemy was there. She slowly started to grow angry at herself.
"I'm fine as are the rest of us though we had a close call. The only one we are missing is Akarik the man that went with us. He stayed behind to fight so we could escape," Meia reported.
"Are you sure he wasn't working with them," BC asked with concern in her voice.
"I am sure he is not. We need the vanguards though because it seems they are closing in on the Nirvana and we will need to defend it. Our dreads haven't been configured for combat in an environment with gravity and an atmosphere."
"Understood Meia they will be ready in five minutes."
"Thank you, Meia out."
"BC can't we ever have just an uneventful trip somewhere," Magno sighed. "Everyone get ready! We have our team out there and they're coming in fast. The enemy is out there as well. Duero go and get ready in case someone is hurt," Magno ordered and everyone jumped to do their part.
Meia closed her comm. unit and turned to the others. "Alright the vanguards will be ready when we arrive. Our main priority is to get back to the Nirvana in one piece. The enemy is still out there and hunting us. We can't afford to have them find us so let's go," Meia ordered and everyone nodded.
They had been running in the forest for quite awhile now. Barnette figured it had been at least half an hour and they had been circling back on themselves to make sure they weren't being followed. It was taking a long time to make it back to the Nirvana but they had wanted to be safe about it.
Gascogne had been trying to figure out the weapon that she had found but she still couldn't. It was frustrating but at least none of them had to fight. The worst part was that they knew they were outnumbered and they knew they were being hunted. Nothing was more frustrating than knowing something and not being able to do anything about it.
They started to move again with Meia in the lead and Misty right next to her because that was where Misty felt the safest. Hibiki was next with Dita beside him and she was holding his hand for support. She was scared but she knew as long as he was there then things would be fine. Mr. Alien wouldn't let anything bad happen to her she just knew it. He had even said that he loved her! Of course that was a while ago but it still counted whether or not he would ever say it again. He just didn't know his own feelings that well she surmised.
Behind them were Jura and Barnette, and following them was Gascogne. Jura was having the worst time of all of them but that was because she was used to being pampered. She was a truly feminine woman and didn't ever do much for physical labor. It was showing now as she was breathing really heavy, and finding it hard to keep air in her lungs. They felt as though they were on fire and her legs were burning with fatigue. She pushed on though not complaining anymore, she decided it was best to save her breath.
They started at a slow jog their footfalls echoing lightly throughout the forest. The trees were silent sentinels watching as the insignificant humans passed leaving only trodden grass to mark their passing. Meia and the others wished those trees could talk and let them know where their enemy was.
They ran on sweat pouring off of them and then Misty stepped on a branch and stumbled to the ground. She caught herself with her hands but she cut her hand on a rock. Hibiki stepped on another branch and the snap of the branch resounded through the trees like a shout. He grimaced, "Sorry."
Meia shook her head as she bent down to help Misty up. It was the only thing that saved her life as a shot passed over her back and slammed into a tree. The tree exploded outward sending splinters showering out in all directions. The hole left in the trunk of the tree was as large as Hibiki's head and almost at the same height. He gulped and dropped to the ground as did the others hoping that they would be small enough that they couldn't be hit so easy.
"That was close," Meia said as she glanced around hoping to spot the enemy. Barnette was doing the same as was Gascogne. Meia saw a hint of movement next to a tree and then it was gone disappearing behind the tree. "There you are," she whispered to herself.
"Got one back here too," Gascogne called.
"To the left as well," Barnette replied as she pulled her gun out and loaded it. She figured it would do a better job against these lizards than against those harvester things that she had used them on last. These at least were flesh and blood, not a blob like creation.
"What do we do," Misty asked her voice trembled with fear. She had her eyes closed as well not wanting to see her death if it was time. She was scared and her mind went to Akarik and she wished he was there with her.
"We fight back," Dita said her voice still the same as always, so full of vitality and hope.
Barnette sat up quickly and pulled the rifle up to her shoulder. She spotted one of the enemies and caught him in her sights. She released her breath and squeezed the trigger. The shot rocked the silence of the forest and there was a crimson splash on a tree and then a brown lizard dropped to the ground a hole in its chest. "There's one."
Barnette was looking for another and saw a group of them, four in all moving in on them from a distance. She sighted again and fired another of them dropped and the birds took flight scared and angry at the foolish humans who would bring such disquiet to their home.
There was a silence then as the others found shelter behind the trees. The silence was eerie filling the world with its soft caress. All there was for sounds was the erratic breathing of the humans and the slight hiss of the enemy. Neither could hear the other which made the silence that lingered that much more unbearable. The silence was enough that it was almost hurtful to the ears as they rang.
Just then a group of three charged and Barnette fired twice killing two. The third came straight at them hard and fast. Barnette pulled down on it but her gun had jammed and all it did was nothing. "Damn," she cursed trying to dislodge the casing that was caught in the chamber. "Ancient piece of crap," she cursed again tossing it aside and pulling her pistol.
The Slythik bore down on her its teeth glistening in the light filtering through the trees. It was haloed in that light almost like an angel as it leapt at her. Her eyes went wide as she realized she wasn't going to be able to bring her gun to bear in time and then its body stiffened and it fell to the ground dead rolling to a stop at her feet, its sightless eyes staring up at her with accusation, and hatred.
Barnette was breathing heavy as she realized just how close she had come to being killed. She had never thought about it that much before but now . . . it was so near it scared her. She turned her gaze to Meia who was standing with her arm outstretched the ring on her finger winking. "Thanks Meia," Barnette breathed heavily.
"Don't mention it, lets get moving while we can," Meia said as she turned and fired again dropping another that had tried to sneak up on them. As it fell it exploded in a shower of blood and bone. Viscera flew everywhere and they all turned their gazes away from it. The stupid Slythik had been carrying an explosive that was primed and ready to explode at the slightest prodding. Its body falling on it was more than enough to set it off and now Meia and the others had blood on them as they started to run again through the woods.
They ran on as fast as possible Misty, and the others scared more than they ever had been. She had wiped the blood from her face and hands as best she could but she swore she could still feel its warm wetness on her face. She shook her head mad at herself for being so weak. None of the others were feeling what she was feeling, they were warriors and they knew that killing was something that you couldn't avoid all the time. It didn't comfort her though as she ran with them. She was starting to wish that she had stayed at the Nirvana where it was safe and then she felt ashamed for those thoughts. How could she hope she was safe while others were risking their lives? She was just so scared though that she didn't know what to think.
Dita was scared as well and what was worse was seeing the Slythik explode. She had felt the blood rain down on her and she had impressed herself by not screaming in fear. It had been difficult but Akarik had told her that sometimes killing was a necessary thing. It wasn't a good thing but necessary. She had wiped away the blood and the tears that had fallen as well. She was too kindhearted to be a killer she was learning quickly. Her heart had broken as she had watched the Slythiks die. She wasn't a warrior, not like Meia and Barnette. She wasn't strong like Gascogne and Hibiki, and she wasn't nearly as beautiful as Jura. She felt ashamed to even be a part of the group because she felt she had nothing to offer them. She didn't know that she had more to offer than most. It was her innocence that was the perfect thing to offset the rest of them. Her happiness against Hibiki's anger. Her smile to Barnette's stoic face. She was very important but she just didn't know it.
Hibiki ran with his hand on Dita's helping her along. He knew that she was scared even if she wasn't going to voice it verbally. He could feel it in the way she moved and see it in her eyes every time she looked at him. He squeezed her hand in reassurance He wanted to protect her, he wanted to protect all of them but in order to do that he needed to make it back to his partner and then he would show these damn lizards a thing or two about combat! He would beat them all!
Jura was also scared and she didn't even have a real weapon to fight them with. All she had was her sword and she had frozen when she had the chance to use it. Barnette had nearly died because of her inability to act when faced with such a threat. She had been frozen with fear and . . . and she was ashamed of herself. Her best friend and more had nearly died because she had been too afraid to step forward and attack with her sword. She had never fought anything like these Slythik's before though. She had never faced an enemy that was so hungry for blood and so primal. It was a new experience and she was learning. She vowed to herself to never let herself be paralyzed by fear again. She wouldn't let her friends die because she was scared. None of them saw her set her jaw and continue to run even though her legs felt like the jell-o that the captain was always eating.
Gascogne watched them all with a slight smile. She knew that this was testing them and pushing them to their limits but they were finding things out about themselves that was important. Each of them would come out of this for the better after they thought about things. She ran with them all and watched their back not seeing any enemies but seeing a large plume of smoke and hearing a distant explosion. "Keep safe you idiot," she whispered to Akarik as she continued on leaving him farther and farther behind.
Akarik was on his feet again after he had collapsed for a couple of minutes. He had decided that he needed to let his body rest or he was dead for sure. He had taken the time to bind his worst wounds and was now moving at a slow walk through the forest. He put his hand on the rough bark of a nearby tree and leaned against it his shoulder against the tree as well as he put his weight against the tree.
The tree was large standing over seventy feet tall and was extremely thick; Akarik couldn't put his arms around it if he wanted. Its bark was rough and flaky but it was a welcome sensation the slight prickles from the bark. He was breathing a bit heavier than he was used to and he glanced up at the tree. "You know it's been awhile since I planted you haven't it?" The tree though like all trees didn't answer it just stood swaying slightly when the wind blew and rattled its leaves at him.
"Of course you wouldn't answer that would freak me out if you did," he chuckled to himself as he started to walk again. It was then he heard the crash behind him and he turned to see a group of three machines flying towards him. They were about six foot in radius and they swooped down towards him.
"Damn," he complained as he dove to the side and a silvery tendril shot out from the first one. The tendril sliced through the tree and the tree started to collapse. Akarik looked up at it as it started to fall towards him and he scrambled out of the way. "I really need to get a weapon," he complained again.
The tree crashed to the ground sending a shudder through the ground. Other trees trembled from the impact and leaves rained down around Akarik. He watched the machines and then one shot a beam of light at him which he narrowly avoided. The light hit the ground and where it hit the ground crystallized. "What the hell are these things," he wondered aloud. He had never encountered them before in all the fights he'd had with the Slythik race.
The flew around him and rained down shot after shot of normal fire which he continued to dodge until he took a hit to the left thigh and then another just as quickly to his left side. He dropped to a knee and the discs hovered above him ten feet in the air. The whirring sound high pitched and in truth it was starting to grate on his nerves.
The smell of blood filled his nostrils and his stomach rumbled with the scent. "No," he growled dropping his forehead to the ground and grinding his teeth against the hunger he was feeling.
He heard the discs drop to the ground and then he heard the shifting of metal. He lifted his gaze and saw two silver men standing in front of him. They were robots obviously and one stepped forward. "Surrender or die human. Surrender is your best option," it intoned in its monotone voice.
He stood up slowly and he felt his blood continue to flow. "I don't surrender," Akarik stated simply.
"Then die," one replied as it raised its arm. Akarik had wanted that to happen and with his astonishing speed he moved forward and grappled with the arm of the robot. It struggled against him but Akarik was stronger than it could have known. It was only programmed with the information to fight humans not something like Akarik. It shot as it was grappled and the shot took the other robot in the chest dropping it to the ground sparking and writing about as its circuitry was fried leaving only a shell, as its artificial intelligence was wiped away.
He continued to struggle with it as he watched its arm change shape and form into a double edged blade. His hands slid down the blade slicing deeply. He stumbled back from it as it launched an attack at him. He spun to avoiding the shot and moved in close as it brought its other arm forward to shoot.
He kicked catching the arm and knocking it back as it shot. The shot caught the robot in the head exploding its head. It stood still for a moment almost as if in disbelief and then fell forward with the sound of metal scraping metal.
"This is getting old," he said as he stumbled forward his blood pouring form his wounds leaving a bloody trail for anyone to follow.
Meia and the others could see the Nirvana from their hiding place. It was going to be a sprint of more than five hundred yards but at least they were nearly there. The trees held them hidden in their loving embrace and Meia eased back down with the others. "Okay we have a sprint ahead of us now. We will rest here for a couple minutes and then run for it. Don't trip, don't fall, and don't fall behind," she informed them all and they nodded.
They sat there all of them catching their breath. Each was tired and of them all the worst off was Jura. She was too soft and feminine to be running around like she was and she knew it. Her chest was on fire and it felt as if she just couldn't get enough air. Her vision was swimming and she laid her head back and closed her eyes. The sweat poured off her and she stretched her legs out hoping to keep them from cramping.
"Aw damn why are we just waiting here huh?" Hibiki demanded.
"It would be foolish to try and run that in our current state Hibiki. We need to rest and let ourselves regain our strength," Meia reasoned with him calm as always.
"I know it's just, I hate sitting around like this when we could be acting," he said his head downcast.
"Hibiki I understand your feelings, but we can't be irrational about this."
"Big Sister," Misty asked her voice trembled slightly. "I am scared. I don't know if we can make it, and I am worried about Akarik. He stayed behind for us and we just left him. He was willing to fight for us, for us, people that were strangers to him, and we just left him. That just doesn't feel right." Misty's eyes were downcast and a tear slid down her cheek as she thought about Akarik and what might have happened to him. "What if we don't see him again?"
"Don't think like that you hear me Misty. Don't ever think like that. We don't know what happened to him and in truth I feel just as bad as you do about leaving him. I have never left anyone behind and I don't want to start now, I won't start now," she said her voice hard as the rock she was leaning against. "I won't leave him behind, I plan on going back and getting him after we take care of the enemy."
Everyone nodded their agreement at this and started to get ready for their dash to the Nirvana. "Okay everyone, ready?"
Just then a canister dropped amongst them and Gascogne looked down at it. "Shit," she cursed and picked it up tossing it aside. It landed a good fifty feet away and exploded. Gas erupted from the explosion eroding everything around in a twenty foot radius, all inorganic material that is. Everything that was living stopped moving as it inhaled the gas. A bird dropped to the ground barely alive.
"What was that," Jura asked frantic.
"It was a weapon designed to drop us in our tracks," Gascogne replied as she scanned the area. "It looks like we have some more company girls. Let's give'em hell."
Meia and the rest nodded. Barnette and Meia started to fire as a group of the Slythiks charged them. The enemy fell quickly but fired a few times themselves. Hibiki placed himself in front of Dita who seemed stunned in a protective manner. "Stay behind me Dita you'll be safe," he yelled at her and she nodded numbly.
He didn't have a weapon but he could at least protect the woman that he loved. He would protect the ones he loved in the only way he could at the moment and that was as a shield.
Barnette fired again and again dropping Slythik and Slythik. One dropped down behind his comrades though and used their dead bodies as a shield. He lifted an arm and placed the barrel of his weapon under it as he let it fall back into place to guard his head. He left a small crook in the elbow so he could see and started to fire on them.
"Damn. I can't hit him," Barnette cursed. "What are we going to do Meia?"
"We can't run just yet there are still too many and we would be out in the open. We fight here," she ordered and the others nodded. She lifted her hand and yanked the ring off her finger and tossed it to Misty. "Use this and fight with us Misty. This enemy is every bit as vicious as the humans from earth. We have to fight to survive remember?"
"Yes I understand big sister. I will do my best," Misty said as she put the finger on with a trembling hand. "How do you use it," she asked her voice trembled worse than her hand.
"Press the button on the side with your thumb. That will shoot it and aiming is just as you would think," Meia said as she hefted the sword that Akarik had given her to keep for him. "I'm sorry but I have to use this," she whispered only loud enough for herself to hear.
Dita was hunkered down behind Hibiki and she was scared for herself and everyone else. She didn't want anyone to get hurt. She didn't like to see people get hurt and she didn't like to see people die. Why was all this happening now after four years of peace? It just didn't seem fair. Just then she heard Hibiki grunt and he clutched his stomach.
Dita glanced up at him and saw a grimace of pain on his face. "Hibiki," she cried as she saw his hand start to turn red with blood. Her eyes grew wide and she caught him as he fell to the ground. "No, no, no," she repeated over and over. "You can't be hurt, you can't die. You have to live you hear me, you have to," she cried into his chest as the tears started to flow.
"I'm not dead yet you know," he said through gritted teeth. Shots rang out again and again passing over them and landing about Gascogne. "Heh you said my name."
"Oh Mr. Alien," she cried as she buried her face in his chest. His arms came up instinctively and wrapped around her almost protectively.
"Don't worry we are going to get through this. We can't die here, not after defeating earth and its world killer," he said though she could hear the pain in his voice.
"Okay we are going to be fine," she said wiping the tears away. She knew she had to be strong for him. He was strong but at times he needed others to be strong to. No one could be by themselves forever and everyone needed someone to lean on once in a while.
"Get your ass down Dita," Gascogne yelled at her and Dita did as she was ordered dropping down to lie next to Hibiki making herself a small target.
"Here comes another wave," Barnette yelled as she lay down on her stomach sighting down her gun and opening fire again.
NEW SCENE
Kahlua was skipping through the trees when she heard an explosion in the distance that made her stop in her tracks and glance around curiously. She wondered why there were explosions when all it was, was a recon mission. They weren't supposed to blow things up.
She shook her head as she continued to skip along. Gascogne probably couldn't get in somewhere she wanted and so blew it up. She didn't understand grown ups at all. She wondered if she ever would.
As she skipped she heard another sound but she couldn't place it and so she wasn't too worried about it. "Oh well I'll find them eventually," she said as she skipped around a large boulder and bumped right into the chest of a giant Slythik.
Her eyes grew wide and she opened her mouth to scream but he clamed his clawed hand down over her mouth. He pulled her in close to him and her back was to his chest as he picked her up off the ground. He was huge standing over eight feet tall and his scales were nearly black. His eyes were a hellish shade of red that had glowed with hunger at the sight of her. Saliva had dripped from his teeth as it did now and landed on her head.
She screamed against his hand and struggled with all the might her little body could muster. It wasn't near enough though and it hissed in her ear. "You will die assss they will little one. My group here is hunting one now."
She glanced around as her heart hammered against her chest trying to escape even though she couldn't. She saw a group of maybe fifteen Slythiks all large like the one holding her and all armed well. One even wore a suit of what she would call armor. She struggled again fear giving way to panic. She knew she was dead just as he promised.
She had only wanted to go see her friends and have some fun. Kahlua had only wanted to skip and play but now she was in trouble and she didn't know what she was going to do and so she did the only thing that came to mind. She bit him in the hand hard. She tasted the metallic hint of blood as he released her hand and she let out a scream that rocked the trees and carried through the trees like her voice had wings like the many birds that called the forest home. "HELP ME SOMEONE!"
NEW SCENE-
Akarik was leaning against a tree holding his side when he heard the scream. He recognized the voice as that of Kahlua. "What the hell is she doing out here," he wondered. "Oh god no," he breathed as he started towards where he thought her voice had come from.
He wasn't moving very fast and he had to fight his hunger. He didn't know how long he was going be able to continue like he was but he knew only one thing. He had to save Kahlua. She was his friend and the only child on that ship. He wouldn't let her die. He would die before he let anything happen to her. He gritted his teeth against the pain and started to run. With each step blood flowed from his wounds making him weaker and weaker but he didn't care. He only had one thought and that was to save Kahlua.
NEW SCENE
Barnette and the others had killed most of the Slythiks. There was only a few left but Barnette was out of ammo. One charged and Misty fired the ring killing him as the shot caught him in the head. "Good shot," Barnette commented but Misty blanched at what she had done. She didn't take it as hard as Dita though and that was because Dita had a softer heart and was more innocent that Misty.
Misty continued to fire as four more charged. Jura pulled her sword and stepped forward. The last ones looked to have lost their minds as they had dropped their guns and decided to use only melee weapons like fools. The first one to reach Jura died her sword piercing its heart. Another fell to her blade just as quickly a red line appearing on its throat.
Meia charged out to meet the last ones. There were still five and she had to fight to protect her team. The first let out a screech and Meia swung the blade with two hands. The creature tried to block with its arm only to have the blade cut through its arm and torso. Its body fell into two halves and Meia had swung so hard the blade continued on its path burying in the ground.
She gazed at it in wonder. It had cut through the creature with little resistance. It was like trying to cut paper. Another charged her and she brought the sword to bear and killed him just as easily. Jura was by her side and with the two of them they dispatched the rest with ease. Jura only sustained a slight claw mark on her shoulder for their small battle. The Slythiks hadn't attacked with though only bloodlust and their attacks had been clumsy at best easily avoided. It was the only thing that had saved them at the end. Meia didn't know how to use a sword but even she could kill an opponent who wasn't thinking.
"Okay everyone we are making a break for it," she called back and everyone got ready. Gascogne took up Hibiki and as one they sprinted for the Nirvana not looking back. They didn't want to see any more enemies and their only goal at the moment was to reach the Nirvana safely and defend it. As they ran they heard a distant roar as of engines starting up and they knew that the enemy was sending something big after them now that they knew where they were for sure.
NEW SCENE
The bounty hunters touched down and disembarked from their ship. The woman wrapped her arms around her husband and breathed against his neck. "This is going to be fun. A big score."
"Now, now don't get too excited honey. We don't even know if our mark is here. We just got word that they might be."
"I know but it's just that I so love the hunt."
"So let's hunt," he said back to her as he turned in her arms and kissed her.
NEW SCENE
Rabbat was closing in on where he thought the Nirvana might be but he was taking it slow. He didn't want to rush into anything for fear of finding himself in too deep if the trouble was too much. He didn't much like putting his life in danger and he didn't do it very often.
"Well let's hope they are all fine shall we," he said to Utan who was sitting at his side her bottom lip pursed out. "What have you gotten yourselves into this time," he wondered aloud as he continued to look for them.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay sorry for the wait everyone I hope you can forgive me. Things conspired to make putting this chapter up very difficult. My internet was down and yada yada. I hope I didn't lose any readers out there who liked this. I hope I don't lose any in the future. I cherish you all. Please Review and for those of you who have I thank you greatly.
This chapter was cut a little short because I didn't want it to be too massive. I hope the ending doesn't make anyone mad. Let me know your thoughts though I really like the feedback it really does help me.
I also tried to make a scene break in there but if you don't like it everyone I will remove it. I hope it helps though so that things are separated like they are supposed to be.