A flaming streak shot across the blue sky over Regis. Spotting it, Kate looked up and pointed. "Dad! A shooting star!"
Kate's father held a hand above his eyes and watched it. "It's too big to be a star. Must be an asteroid."
The bolt's path curved and it fell toward the colony.
"Umm… dad?" She gripped his hand tightly.
Eyes fixed on the fireball, he pulled her toward the nearest building. "We should get inside."
Running toward shelter, Kate glanced back as the object crashed to the ground, a thick cloud of dust rising in its wake. A dark mass stood at the impact's center, light glinting faintly off its armor-plated shoulders. Turning its head, its white eyes locked with hers and it drove its arm into the ground, shockwaves shooting through the earth.
xXxXx
Amity brushed her hair anxiously as stars streaked past the cockpit window. "How much time now?" She glanced at Jx.
"Still a few hours," he frowned.
Amity leaned against the chair's armrest and rubbed her forehead. "We should've seen this coming…"
Jx shook his head. "We have no idea why Nega picks the targets he does. Don't blame yourself."
Amity closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "How do we stop him? Does Athena have a weakness?"
Jx grimaced. "Time. When Ethereals age, eventually their skin wears thin, rips, and they die. Aside from that, I don't know."
Amity clenched her fist. "But she's over a hundred! There must be something we can do now."
"We'll have to find her and ask," Jx replied.
Amity nodded. "So what's the plan?"
"We'll need a quick escape." Jx checked the console, then turned to Amity. "You'll need to scour the surface. Find everyone you can and bring them back to the ship." He shook his head. "I wish I could go with you, but only I can pilot this ship and we can't risk being grounded. If you find Athena, she can help you."
"Understood." Amity nodded. "I hope we make it in time."
xXxXx
Flying in low over the burning refugee camp, Jx lowered the boarding ramp and Amity stepped out onto it, then called back, "Look for us at the edge of the colony!" Wind blowing through her hair, she hopped out, landing in a crouch and rising to her feet. She winced and flexed her arm, then looked around.
The tents were mostly in cinders, bits of cloth and ash blown about in the breeze. Fires shot up from the metal structures of the city, the streets deserted except for corpses. Amity made her way down the dirt path, using her sleeve to cover her face from the dust. Glancing into an alley, she spotted Kate squatted beside a building, head wrapped tightly behind her arms, and ran to her.
"Kate! Are you okay?"
She shook her head.
"Where's your dad?" Amity knelt beside her.
"He killed him."
"Nega? Nega killed him?"
Kate looked up and glared, tears streaming down her face. "HE'S DEAD!"
Amity put an arm around her. "Let's get you out of here."
Leading her back to the street, Amity glanced further down, then turned to Kate. "Do you know if anyone else is here?"
"They ran away," Kate replied, wiping her eyes. "Or he killed them. They're all gone."
Amity set an arm around her, then spun to cover her as the front wall of the building to their left blew out. Carrying Kate further away, Amity turned and saw Nega step from the debris, spear in hand, head held high. Gripping her sword tightly, Amity moved Kate behind her and faced Nega.
Turning his head, Nega's slitted white eyes narrowed on Amity. "At last."
"You will pay for what you've done here," Amity scowled.
Nega tilted his head. "You do not realize, do you? How you have defied the balance of life and death?"
"What're you talking about?" Amity shook her head.
"You are dead."
Amity stepped back. "What? Is that a threat?"
"Cerinia. Two years ago. You died."
"I-," Amity stared hard at him. "How am I here now?"
"The Ammehkuc broke the law," Nega replied. "They defied death and brought you back." He lifted his spear. "I am here to return to death what was rightfully his."
"So you killed all these people!" Amity waved to the burning buildings. "Slaughtered two colonies just to get to me!"
"All have their appointed time," Nega's brow tightened. "Theirs had come. Yours is long overdue." His spear revved to life.
"Amity!" a voice called from above.
She looked up and saw Athena standing atop a building, dress tattered and ashen.
"Run!" she shouted, throwing off the remains of her dress and leaping down. As she fell, her figure shifted to become sleeker, losing its distinction. She hit the ground on all fours and Nega swung his spear at her, but she rolled to the side.
Nega thrust with the spear but Athena grappled it, pulling herself in close and wrapping her hands around his neck. Her fingers glowed bright red and Nega's face rippled violently, screaming in an inaudible tone. He kicked her back with his knee and slapped with the side of his spear, flinging her into the wall.
Amity moved toward her, sword in hand, but Athena stopped her, pointing a finger at Kate. "Get that girl out of here! The others have fled to safety! Go!"
Amity nodded and took Kate's hand, heading back to where the ship landed. Athena stood and turned to Nega, pulsing a wordless message across her body.
Nega's eyes narrowed and he stabbed at her, but she vaulted over the spear and wrapped her legs around his neck, using her hands to tear off his shoulderpads.
Flipping backward, Nega kicked her off and jumped at her, using his feet to pin her neck and right arm to the ground. She grabbed at him with the left and caught hold of the spear, but he revved it to high speed, shaking her until she let go. Lifting the spear, he prepared to stab, but she grabbed his ankle and pulled him off balance.
Rolling out from under him, Athena swept at his leg, but he jumped back. Stepping forward, Nega thrust but Athena backflipped out of the way. Swinging his spear horizontally, Nega lunged forward again, but Athena rolled and grappled him around the neck. Before she could follow-up her attack, Nega arched forward, flipping her over his back and running her through the gut with his upraised spear.
Athena twitched, her inside substance trickling down Nega's arm. Nega's eyes narrowed and he flicked the spear, casting her onto the dusty ground, then turned and watched as Jx's ship lifted off in the distance.