Devius Morto

Smoke drifted into Corrin's lungs. He coughed and looked back. The laboratory was a smoking ruin. The fire had left nothing. His eyes were raw from the tears he was barely restraining. The trio was rushing across the plain.

The village was hell. He could hear the screams from afar. He heard weapons fire. He heard marching. The Imperial reinforcements had arrived. "Damn it, Corrin. What's going on? Where are we?" Grange asked, loosing his hold on the questions.

"This is my hometown, Grange. That was my wife." Corrin said with a sob. The last remnants of his true life were burning before his very eyes. Grange shook his head.

"I'm sorry…Where is Riktus?" The adept asked tentatively as they sped down the hill towards the town.

"Mason has fallen. He has besieged Prometheus City. The Philosophers…" Krieg was cut off.

"I don't care what the philosophers say!" Grange roared. Krieg turned away exasperatedly. Corrin smiled slightly. He raised his slug rifle. They had arrived. The three men moved slowly into the town.

The streets were alive with war. Men scrambled back and forth across the streets, felling surprised Imperials. As the group entered, several people fell still. "Corrin Grant…?" One muttered. The man buckled and fell to the ground as a bolt ripped his head into shreds. Corrin roared in rage and blasted forward.

Several Imperials stood, shaken by the staggering speed of Corrin's movements. He squeezed the trigger with fury. The slugs rent the flesh of the Imperials instantly and they were brought to the floor.

He heard the gun fire of his companions as they followed behind him. He careened around an alley way. The next moment, his face hit the floor. He had collided with something, or someone. He looked slowly up.

"Son!" The man said happily. Corrin lifted himself up. Grange and Krieg stood beside him. His father looked suspiciously at the other men, and smiled at Corrin. "The fight does not go well. The Imperials have been reinforced. They are descending on the city like the rodents they are."

Corrin spat. "What can we do?"

"Nothing, son, we are in retreat!" He looked sadly at Corrin's shocked face. "We cannot allow our people to die! Where are the…?" Corrin shook his head. His father frowned and bowed his head. "May they rest in peace." Corrin knew they had no chance to do that, but he kept silent.

The town was silent for a moment. It was as though the battle had stopped entirely. Then, one single, Imperial word echoed the streets. "Retreat!" Corrin spun around, stunned. They were falling back, but why? An object on the far mountain caught his eye.

"God…They are purging the town!" As soon as Corrin uttered the words, it began. Fire and brimstone fell from the sky. The building beside them melted into a pile of rock, slag, and fire. His father grabbed his shirt and dragged him down the alley. The two others followed quickly.

They burst from the alley and into the burning darkness of the doomed town. There was a slight buzz. Corrin thought for a moment, recognizing the noise. "Father!" He pulled back on the man's shirt, but it was too late.

He dove backwards. His father's shirt ripped, leaving the old man stranded in the middle of the street. A great shell plummeted to the earth. There was a crash. Smoke clouded Corrin's eyes. He glanced up.

The street was empty. His father was gone. No remains covered the ground. He was gone. Grange lifted Corrin up. "Corrin, forget it! We have time to morn later. We need to get the Frak out of here!"

Krieg patted his back. "I'm so sorry about…" Corrin shook his head.

"Not either of your faults…" He said faintly. He looked up and rushed after the adept. More shells landed all around them. The town, his town, was destroyed. It was a useless wreck, a shadow of its former pride and glory.

They exited the town perimeter and moved into the darkness. A huge line of men stretched across the hills before them. Corrin's friends made for them. "No." He said flatly. They looked back. "We will not put them in more danger."

They nodded and followed after Corrin's hunched form into the mountains. "Which way is Prometheus?" He asked quietly.

"Over the mountains." Krieg responded. "I can lead you two there." Corrin nodded and turned from them. They began the slow hike up the mountain.

They wound around large boulders and across tiny, stone paths. Corrin kept the line of refugees in sight at all times. He feared for their protection. It was his fault. It was his entire fault. If he had not arrived, they would have been under Imperial rule…safely. But they wouldn't have stood for that! He brushed the thoughts away.

He couldn't keep his companions in danger. He had to speak. He suddenly stopped. "Corrin?" Krieg asked.

"Krieg, you saw what happened in the lab." He turned to Grange. "You infected me, Grange. You got me with a needle."

Krieg sighed. Grange looked in sorrow. "I…no, I…"

"You did. I forgive you. You were not yourself. You couldn't control yourself." Corrin said flatly. "But soon, I won't be able to either. I can't stay with you two. I have to do this on my own." The two men looked at him. Grange smiled, and laughed.

"You didn't give up on me, I won't on you. No matter how hard you try Corrin, you're stuck with me!" The adept said with a grin.

"And me!" Krieg said defiantly.

Corrin turned away. He hunched over. His mind exploded in horrible pain. His eyes filled with blood. He fell to the floor. It was his fight.