First and foremost, I apologize for the delay. This took far too long, and I will understand if any of you are a little ticked-off. I would like you to know that I worked very hard on this chapter (it's the longest one I've ever written), and that I hope you enjoy it.
I had wanted the actual battle to take place, but it just wouldn't fit in just one chapter. So, expect two more chapters.
You've waited long enough. Go read.
Chapter
14: Saviors and Martyrs
"Take my hand little one," said D-Nav.
"I'm fine," said Sonilla.
She walked on uneasy legs around her room, D-Nav watching her anxiously. She had just awaken only minutes ago from her induced sleep. D-Nav had expected the effects of the drugged potion to wear off quickly but not this quickly. Sonilla showed such a determination to regain her functionality that he was shocked. This was not the apathetic, weak and defeated human he had witnessed only hours ago. Whatever Maelos had said to her, whatever relationship they shared had revived her.
He was tempted to ask her what had caused this revival, but he had seen such things before. It was just a single something that clicked within the mind. Someone said exactly what they had to hear and that allowed them to move on. It is funny how the mind can work, he mused.
But his work and responsibility was the body as well, and he was afraid that Sonilla might be pushing it.
"You should move slower," he told her.
"Okay," Sonilla admitted.
She gently lowered herself into a chair and faced her Healer.
"I'm going too fast?" she asked.
"Yes," he answered.
"But I've never felt this good before," Sonilla explained, "I feel like I could just start running and never stop. Like I could... just do anything."
"Well," said D-Nav. "we must practice then. Come, we will go visit your friends, slowly."
"What about the Gnegnis?" questioned the concerned Sonilla. She had slept through the rescue and resulting feast but had been informed when she awoke, "I thought you said you were going to see them?"
"You are correct, I said that, but Junior Healer K-Ler is competent. And he could use the practice until I get there. Having to think for oneself encourages personal growth and perception."
Sonilla appeared thoughtful and then agreed to this. They both rose, and D-Nav led her towards Maelos's quarters. As they were meticulously walking down the corridor, the Rita Missatic lit up beside them.
'Miss Sonilla Torim and Senior Healer D-Nav, the Ambassador Maelos is asleep from the feast. Y-Cah requests that you do not disturb him. He suggests that you instead visit the blessed Savior Samus, for she does not sleep and could profit from company.'
"I have forgotten," said D-Nav, "this is the hour of sleep on Aether. Most of my brothers and sisters will be in slumber, and no doubt Maelos exhausted himself at the celebration."
"Well, it said Samus wasn't asleep. Let's go see her," suggested Sonilla.
Samus, blessed is her name, never sleeps. Especially when she has a war council to go to, thought D-Nav. Outloud, he said, "okay."
Sonilla continued to amaze D-Nav. Her stamina and level of recovery after such a near-death experience was astounding. She marched boldly on, each pace stronger than the last. Oh course, thought the Healer, if Chozo blood can bless the Savior with so many things, why wouldn't my race's blood do the same? Does she realize how special she is now? he wondered.
And yet, there was something wrong with the woman. D-Nav had not known Sonilla before her poisoning; he had never seen her innocent smile. But he could sense something was missing, something he had never known before was gone. His perception of his patients was as excellent as Samus's intuition.
They reached Samus's quarters, and D-Nav placed his hand on the opening panel. A message appeared--seeking permission, please wait. Samus had locked the doors, something the Luminoth rarely did. What was she doing in there?
Samus was sitting on her bed, clad in her bio-suit. She was trying to think clearly, the atmosphere of her power suit helping her gain control of her mind. When she heard the lock beep and saw a hologram of D-Nav and Sonilla outside her door, she seriously considered not answering. She wanted to be alone. War was coming--bravery, bloodshed, and brutality. Y-Cah was holding a council soon, and she needed a plan to present.
But she saw Sonilla. The poor girl had come all this way to see her. Samus had not spoken with her since the Unity Ball, that dark day several lifetimes away. Responsibility shoved its way into her mind, and she reluctantly rose to answer the door. 10 minutes, that's all they get!
"We have come to visit, oh Savior," said D-Nav after the door slid back.
"Hello, Samus," said Sonilla.
That was the first thing Samus noticed. Sonilla looked her directly in the eye, and she said 'hello', not 'hi' or 'oh Samus!'. Never, in all of their dealings had Sonilla voluntarily met eyes with her.
"Greetings," said Samus, and she continued to search Sonilla.
Sonilla and D-Nav took a seat. Now that she was in the presence of someone old, someone from before, Sonilla felt anxious. Of what, she knew not. D-Nav and the Luminoth did not know her past, the love she had had and then lost. But Samus did, and that knowledge made her suddenly uneasy. Don't ask me about it. Don't ask me about it! Sonilla thought. The wound, which she had thought was healing up, had been ripped open again, and by nothing more than Samus's face. This woman was her protection, but the bounty hunter was also a link to her past, to her father's death. And as she sat down in Samus's room, a panic formed in her chest. She couldn't go back to the past; she couldn't talk about it, not yet. Her life was afraid of this panic that was threatening in her throat, afraid that Samus's questions would release that fear and undo all the progress it had forced her to make.
But Samus asked no questions of the past.
"How do you like the A-Kul?" she asked. It was a safe enough question.
The panic quelled itself and Sonilla found breath to reply.
"It's nice. D-Nav's shown me quite a bit of it now as we came this way. The walls fascinate me."
"Good. Have you eaten any real food yet?" asked Samus in a business-like way.
"No. D-Nav says I am too weak," she replied.
"Said, you were too weak," corrected D-Nav. "You are now perfectly capable of eating real food. Samus, she's made real progress."
The conversation continued on in the manner of a doctor's meeting. However uncomfortable such meetings may be for normal beings, those without war looming over their heads, the conversation's format was a relief to all. Neither Samus nor D-Nav wished to upset Sonilla, and Sonilla found the question and response style a simple way of easing back into life with Samus. Repressing the memory of her father's death had caused her to abandon Samus and Maelos and to cling to the Luminoth who had attended her, especially D-Nav. But that was not the way of her life. She was in Samus's protection and in Maelos's thoughts, and she had to become re-acquainted with them.
The time came when the wall besides Samus lit up. The Rita Missatic read-'Savior Samus, Y-Cah has called his meeting in the Control Room. Please go and wake the Ambassador Maelos, for you both are invited.'
The message disappeared and the three of them sat in silence. All around them, the ship was breathing. The hour of morning on Aether had come, for they had talked far into the early hours, and the Luminoth were awakening. Breathe in, breathe out.
"Well, I have to go," Samus said slowly.
They all rose and left the room. Outside it, they paused.
"I go this way," Samus pointed.
"And we must go that way," D-Nav pointed in the opposite direction.
"Good luck, Samus," Sonilla said, a hint of her former optimism flashing in her voice.
"War is a heavy burden to bear," D-Nav said, "but a true Warrior will bear that burden, for only can light prevail against the darkness."
Samus turned and walked away. Her mind was racing with the plan she had developed, but it also ran wild with Sonilla.
And those thoughts were unsettling. There was a shadow on her; Samus had seen it all too well. The scar of death, how it darkened the eyes and smile, how it suffocated out laughter. That was not the Sonilla she had last seen, nor was she the Sonilla she'd known from that lifetime before Torim's death. This Sonilla's eyes were darker, but they were not dark like Maelos's dark eyes. His were beautiful and thoughtful, like two reflective jet stones. They carried in them all the suffering of his life but also a hope that overpowered the sorrow.
Sonilla's eyes were tragic.
And Samus realized that Sonilla was now only trying to get better because her life demanded it of her. Her soul would not suffer her to perish; it commanded her to cling to sanity and existence and to push through the hopelessness.
Samus suddenly had a growth of respect for the younger woman. Only a true fighter would be brave enough, strong enough to battle back the darkness. You did it once before, her inner voice said. Yes, she answered back, but it took me years to find myself again, not days.
She had reached Maelos's door. She raised her hand to knock but the door opened before she could.
"Samus, come in!" came Maelos's voice.
She went in and there was Maelos. He was half dressed in his tuxedo, standing before his mirror with the rest of his tux in one hand and his Luminoth robe in the other.
"Okay, I know you're not the one to ask fashion advice from, but I'm really at a loss," he started right away. "Why am I invited to this Council in the first place? I mean, I'm no Warrior. Am I supposed to represent my race? Because then I think I should wear my tuxedo. But if I'm supposed to be a guest of the Luminoth, then shouldn't I honor their invitation by wearing the robe they gave me?"
"Good question," replied Samus.
She too was wondering why he had been invited. She had an idea though. The Luminoth are leaving their mark on the Federation. They plan on winning this war, of course, and then putting Maelos in power. She looked at Maelos as he stared at her, awaiting her advice. Is he ready for such responsibility? It doesn't matter; the seeds have been planted already.
"Wear your tux," she advised him.
"Sure?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm sure."
She turned away and exited the room as he finished dressing. When he emerged and the doors closed behind him, Maelos took a deep breath, straightened his jacket, and set off with her for the Control Room.
After minutes of companionable silence, they reached the Control Room. There was no one going in or out, so they were either early or late. As she reached for the entry panel, Maelos spoke.
"I know what this means," he said in a low voice. "I said in my room that I didn't know why they'd invited me, but I was just fooling myself."
He met Samus's eyes.
"I know that the Luminoth plan to rebuild the Federation with me. Once I walk through that door…I no longer be the Ambassador."
He is ready for this, Samus thought. They entered Y-Cah's War Council.
For many hours, as the A-Kul carried the Luminoth closer to the Temport Sector and battle, Y-Cah held his War Council. The Herald, Samus, Maelos, T-Pui, G-Ire, H-Sio, and several other prominent Luminoth conversed with the leaders of the other two Luminoth battleships by way of 3D holograms. Seated in a great ring, the councilors would rise and address the entire group, after which their ideas would be scrutinized and/or rejected. Great debates raged and strategies were devoured in the deep of space. But in the end, the attack was set and all bets were taken.
Samus left the Council feeling exhausted, as if she had fought her way through an entire GF regiment. The Luminoth had further shown their respect and belief in her by giving her a squadron of Warriors to help her find her lost friends, Geros and Devajor. And after they were found, she would be free to depart from her squad and hunt Medici alone.
Maelos left feeling as if he had nearly drowned. He had been submerged in a world he did not know, and it had overwhelmed him. He had been given to the eyes of almost fifty of the most powerful beings in the galaxy, and each pair of eyes had been weighing and judging him and his actions. He was used to the politicians' game, but these creatures were not like the House. He had actually felt their wisdom and power observing him. After their scrutiny, Maelos now knew he could face anyone.
He also knew the game plan, and, in his limited knowledge, he approved. Secretly, he wished he could go with Samus to find his father and friend, but he was not naïve. He remembered the first conversation he had ever had with Samus. It had been about bounty hunting and all the reasons why Maelos could never do it. He was to stay with Sonilla on the battleship, away from the fray.
"It's a good plan, I think," he said as they reached his room.
Samus said nothing.
"We've got six hours until we reach Temport," he sighed and opened the door, "I'm taking a nap."
"I have things to do. Sleep well," Samus said and left.
There were 3 hours before they would reach Medici's stronghold, and all the Luminoth were busy with preparations. Samus could feel the weight of waiting in the air as she went into the holding bay of the A-Kul to find her ship. She had not seen it since the crash. Oh, and how it had frightened her when she had seen it so broken! Her ship, her life and her closest place to home. A place, the only place, where she could say her Chozo had been. She could remember the day Tubela had sent her away, could remember how her father, Kerune, had sat next to her in that very same Chozo huntership. If she had been forced to abandon it...I would have lost another part of me.
The circular elevator finished its descent and locked into place, the center floor piece lighting up like an illuminated emerald. The automatic doors parted, and Samus was greeted into the massive, hollow stomach of the A-Kul. Titanium was the prevailing metal, lining all the walls. The Rita Missatic flashed messages and information across every one. Holograms opened and closed all over the busy cavern; they did so, seeming random, but they all had purposes. And all the while, hundreds of Luminoth, of all hues, were moving and conversing and going about their various ways of helping prepare for war.
Samus took a few steps into the room and stopped. This place was not dedicated solely to repairing space ships; in fact, she saw no ships at all. There were sections for the forging of armor, light and strong. Weapons were being manufactured, things like bladed staffs, energy shields, light beam cannons, and others Samus did not yet recognize. It seemed that the far right corner was used for the weaving of great tapestries and the hewing of statues. And as Samus tried to take in all of the activities, for she realized that she had stumbled upon the heart of the battleship, a Luminoth approached her.
It was difficult to hear him over the noise. Hundreds of shimmery, incomprehensible voices formed a high octave above the gong of metal instrutments and the hum of light energy.
"Blessed Samus," he bowed with one arm over his abdomen, "you give us great honor to have entrusted your huntership to us. Come, we have finished it, and we have been waiting patiently for your appraisal."
He motioned for her to follow, and then began to lead her through the crowd to another elevator.
Their trip was delayed though, for Samus was still wearing her gold and red bio-suit. Upon seeing her, all of the nearest Luminoth ceased their work and bowed. They bowed low and long, all professions and ranks. Some raised their arms to the ceiling, light pouring from their fingertips, and chanted in their native tongue. Others reached out for her as if she were a prophet who could heal their sickness. Still, others tried to talk to her, thanking her a thousands times over.
Samus tried her best to not be angry and to be understanding, but the constant battle through this throng, trying always to keep up with her guide, was disturbing. First her patience worked, but it did not last long. It gave way to irritation, and she was hard pressed to keep from yelling. Finally, though, she felt afraid. It seemed that this was the fulfillment of everything the Lumionth believed of her. She really was their Savior. They had absolute belief that she had and could save them. If she wanted, they would die for her.
And isn't that what I've done? Didn't I tell Y-Cah what to do? Haven't I dragged them into this war because they felt obliged to help humans and the Chozo? I will be responsible for each and very one of their deaths, and they will die willingly.
How could they love her so much? Didn't they know about her past? Didn't they care about all the crimes and murders she had committed? And, again, her fear of letting them down, and thus the Chozo, filled her. She had never been so anxious and yet so afraid to go to battle.
They finally reached the far side of the A-Kul. A great, engraved arch like the one to the Outfitting Room separated the diverse hall from a ship hanger. Inside the hanger, dozens of sleek Luminoth combat ships were docked on both sides. The rows of dark silver ships continued for some time before they were broken by a bright orange vessel. Samus had difficulty restraining herself at the sight of her ship. It was so beautiful that she wished to embrace it and then immediately board it. Instead, she remained calm and slowly walked to it.
Three Luminoth came from around the ship, each one equipped with an utility belt full of alien tools. Her guide motioned to the ship, giving it back to her, and fell in with his colleagues. They stood at perfect attention as Samus slowly walked around her hunter-ship, inspecting it. Occasionally, she would stop and bend closer to attend to some minute detail. At such times, the four Luminoth Mechanics would take in a quiet breath and hold it until she was satisfied and continued. Samus stopped several times, pretending to be serious and judgmental, just to get that reaction; it amused her that they were waiting so fervently.
The craftsmanship was impeccable. Her ship looked as pristine and spotless as the day she had first seen it. And if the outside was any foreshadowing, then she expected the inside to be immaculate as well.
And immaculate it was. The nightmare she had found after the crash, a broken windshield and destroyed control panel, was completely erased. Comfort and relief filled Samus as the familiar lights and sounds swirled around her. Then, she remembered something else.
"Creto?" she called to the ceiling.
"Oh, my Lady," answered the ship's internal computer, "I have missed your voice."
Samus laughed, something she rarely did. It was a quiet laugh, as if she was afraid a full laugh was beyond her ability and could possibly blast her cockpit back to pieces.
"I've missed you too..." she sighed. Then, assuming her commanding air, the soft moment gone, she demanded, "all systems check?"
"Yes, Samus," replied Creto, "I supervised all the repairs and additions. All went well."
Suddenly, the control panel produced a hologram of the hunterhsip. The display rotated and moved in on the ship's belly.
"If you will direct your attention to the hologram display," began Creto, "I will tell you about the new Luminoth technology that was installed. You, of course, already know this, but Chozo technology works very well with Luminoth, and, if I may say so, I believe that in the course of a few decacycles, the Luminoth may almost equal the Chozo in weaponry."
"That's a large claim," said Samus.
"Yes, yes it is," answered Creto.
Samus peered at the hologram. Now stationary, it showed a slim, almost unpercievable cannon attached to the ship's bottom. Creto activated the display, and the cannon slid into the ship.
"This is the brand new light-dark energy burst. It's quite unique, I'd say," said Creto with some pride, as if it had had a hand (which it didn't have any) in the making of the weapon.
"Will you get on with it?" demanded Samus. "What does it do?"
"Simple, my Lady. The ship's shields have been upgraded to collect the energy of any hits we may take. The energy is relayed to the cannon, where it is converted into the appropriate amount of light or dark energy. The cannon must have at least 30 percent of either energy quality to be fired."
"Well, that may come in handy," Samus remarked with a nod of her head.
She went to the back of the room and exited the ship. Outside, she found her ship's healers waiting. She fixed each with her gaze and then addressed them as a group.
"I have appraised my ship," she said curtly.
A Luminoth's eyes are mere slits in their small, round head. For a none-Luminoth, understanding the fine body language of the moth bipeds was impossible. Samus, though, had been with the Luminoth long enough to understand the finer points of their antennae movement, which echoed that of their indiscernible eyes.
At her short statement, four pairs of antennae stood straight up with the tips slightly bent back. They were attentive and almost afraid to hear her comments.
"It is absolutely to my approval. It could not have been done any better had the Chozo themselves done it. My thanks to you."
The antennae relaxed and slowly drifted in opposite directions, the picture of relief and happiness.
After telling Samus about the expansions to her storage systems and confirming all that Creto had told her, the four Mechanics explained that she was now online with the Luminoth ships and could communicate with them as needed in the fight. They then left to assist their brothers and sisters in readying the other ships. Samus was left alone in the hanger with nothing but her ship and 2 1/2 hours to kill.
Things always go so slowly when you get down to it, she thought. She could recall countless stakeouts where she would wait for hours, doing nothing but twiddling her thumbs and obsessively counting metal studs in the wall. She reflected on it, do I have a disorder? Well, she only counted obsessively if she was bored, otherwise, she couldn't care less about he number of useless iron railings. Maybe I don't have that one, but I'm pretty sure my job entitles me to at least one disorder. I just don't know what one it is yet, maybe I'm due for one later. Whatever.
Her casual musings about mental disorders suddenly struck her as humorous, especially when she was so close to possible death. But humor was a great way to keep from falling into the trap of continuously analyzing something, a pastime that only created stress. She had long ago developed her method for keeping her sanity, and it included making light of serious matters, or not thinking of them at all.
Without an announcement, a group of nearly fifty Luminoth Warriors, fully dressed for combat, made their way into the hanger. Each one bowed as they passed her and then went to their own ship. The final Warrior was H-Sio.
"Ready your ship, oh Savior, the battle begins soon. In half an hour, I will be transmitting a briefing," he said. He bowed again and went to his ship, which was opposite Samus's. His and her ships would be the first ones to leave.
Samus had learned from T-Pui at the council that the Second-in-Command, H-Sio, was the one to lead the air strike. Apparently, Luminoth battle briefings are transmitted from the Second-in-Command's ship to all of the ships in the hanger. The unified boardcasting system of the Luminoth force allowed for synchronized voice, data, and hologram display relaying. The briefing would take place while each pilot was strapped in, able to predict the needed adjustments to any systems and able to visualize the battle.
"Any questions?" asked H-Sio after he had finished his briefing. After a few minor questions, he said, "okay, everyone power up.
The hanger suddenly roared as every ship in the metal belly came to life. The sensational humming rippled out into the cavern and to the ears of all the Luminoth there. Upstairs, the vibrations were felt by Y-Cah in his Control Room, as he sat, ready to direct the action. On the other side of the A-Kul, Sonilla lifted her head and Maelos sat rigid, listening to the rumble. In a world all her own, G-Ire the blind smiled as the echoes came to her eyes, revealing the motion of a thousand turbines.
The time was now.
The hanger opened and H-Sio transmitted to Samus, "flank me left."
His silver bullet shot out of the A-Kul and into the vacuum of space. Her heart racing as fast as her accelerating huntership, Samus took her place at his left flank, and several other Luminoth fell in behind them. She was exuberant. This was her place, right her with these other Warriors.
"Everyone cloak...now," said H-Sio.
Before, the ships had been tiny specks in the starry void, but now they were invisible to both the eye and radar.
The space station was right in front of them. Its name was the "Valiancy". It had been built before the Federation was created by a monarchy ruled planet. Then, it had been called "Efrafa", after the king, and had been the gate into his realm. Recognizing it as a key stronghold for the wealthy exporting Temport Sector, the Federation bought and remodeled it. Not long after the purchase, the newly federalized government had been tested with attacks on all major space stations by the Space Pirates. The Valiancy had been the only station to survive the series, its fresh troopers becoming scarred veterans overnight. In their honor, the station had been renamed the "Valiancy". Samus knew the story quite well, as the Chozo had once sung for her a lament which had included the destroyed stations. She also knew how Medici had ordered the station rebuilt and custom equipped with all major prototypes only one year ago.
She could see the other battleships on the other side of the Valiancy, just a few miniature toys miles away. Each ship had its set of fighting wings, and each wing was only moments away from executing the coordinated attack.
"Samus, azure wing, follow me. U-BSI, K-Ilo, and R-Etv take your wings left. N-Voc, you are to cover us. Go!" came H-Sio again.
They were finally near enough. The fight began.
Ion cannons, quantum assault cannons stolen from the Space Pirates, dark energy blasts, and missiles of all makes zoomed past the unseen hunterships and hit the Luminoth shields. The A-Kul and her Warriors fired back, their fire power barely outmatching the Valiancy's. Sweeping in from all sides, the cloaked hunterships flew under the station's shields and reeked unseen havoc. Escape pods, ELF transmitters, gun turrets, and hanger entrances were all on their list of targets, and no one was holding back. The pieces of debris floated out into space like hopeless wanderers, knowing they were now doomed to a life of haphazard nothing.
On the other fronts, the B-Stl, J-Stl, C-Yah, and J-Fme were having similar luck. Their smaller counterparts were cutting off the station's circulation, and, now, they were going of the throat.
If space had not been a void, the sound of the two forces exchanging shots would have permeated the entire Sector, every squared astronomical unit of it. But the nature of space did not permit the sound of war to carry to the heartbroken.
The fight had been going on for several minutes when the Valiancy pulled out a trick. Its depleted fighting force had scrapped up some pilots and their ships were equipped with cloak-seeing technology A dogfight ensued.
The Federation close-range ships were neither as agile nor as powerful as their enlightened rivals, but they still came out strong. Three ganged up on the last member of U-Bji's wing, and the first Luminoth casualty was taken.
"Samus, we missed an escape at grid 81, cover me," came the voice of Samus's wingmate, L-Zix.
Pulling up, Samus swung back and scanned the area for any missed turrets or federation ships.
"Clear," she said.
L-Zix dove below a floating chunk of space station and targeted in on an escape pod exit.
"Federation at 3 and 7 o'clock!" Creto informed Samus.
Twisting her neck as far right as it could go, Samus could see the first ship coming at her. She barreled rolled away from its blasts and nailed it as it went flying by. She called out to L-Zix.
"Hold them off. I'm right there!" replied the Luminoth.
"Arggg," Samus growled, her wingmate's stubbornness both impressing and distressing her.
Samus wove left and right, not letting the ship behind her target L-Zix. The Federation pilot shot at her, and the Chozo ship was rocked around by the shots. Up ahead, L-Zix set off four missiles at the escape pod exit and destroyed it absolutely.
"Go down, I'm going around," she told Samus.
L-Zix peeled off to the left, and Samus put her thrusters in reverse and pulled up. The Fed followed her, thinking he'd gotten himself any easy kill, when L-Zix came from behind and reduced him to space junk.
"Good shot," Samus commented.
"Nice lead," L-Zix said.
Y-Cah ordered the energizing of the light-dark energy cannon. Mounted on the ship's top right, the cannon took aim and released its power. The combination of light and dark was too much for the shields of grids 34-78, and just like that a hole for maximum damage was created. The Herald was ruthless. He ordered the firing of every missile into the gap, and the northeast corner of the Valiancy was ripped open, forming a vacuum that sucked out it oxygen until the pressure gates sealed off the area.
But the Luminoth battleships were taking their bruises too. The J-Fme had been forced to retreat from the fray after a blast from an ion cannon fried its five main missile launchers. Thirty-two dead Warriors and four broken ships also gave witness to the battle. Suffering the most though, was the A-Kul. Y-Cah, the red passion swelling inside him, had pushed his way into the Valiancy's crosshairs, and, while doing much damage, the champion ship was hurting itself.
"Herald Y-Cah, all targets have been destroyed," reported a Reader in the A-Kul's Control Room.
"Alright, send out the word to board," the Herald commanded.
Battered and defeated, the Valiancy stood still as hunterships docked in its hangers and the battleships locked onto the station to board. Inside, the remaining troopers were preparing, falling back into the inner sanctions. Medici had fed them the story of he Valiancy many times, and they were prepared to give it another victory. Medici, himself, he strolled into his private quarters as Samus stepped into his stronghold and shut the door.
The galaxy was quiet, recharging itself after it had been ripped apart. Y-Cah and the other Luminoth leaders had each led their forces off of their respective ships. Each one went to fight on a different level of the station, and Samus took her squad to find Geros and Devajor.
But, ten minutes after they had left, and the battleships were docked and minimally manned, a blip on the radar was found.
"Space Pirates!" shouted the Senior Reader of the A-Kul.
"Release and engage!" ordered G-Ire, who had been left in command by Y-Cah.
In the Service Hall, Sonilla screamed as the ship shuddered and fell. The other Luminoth came to attention as the Rita Missatic flashed messages everywhere. Maelos took her by the arm as the ground shook and followed the Luminoth into the Control Room. Inside, the Lumionth were all standing solemnly, and the Gnegnis family was huddled together, comforting one another.
"What's happening?" he said, his voice sounding too quiet.
"We must stop the Space Pirates from entering the station," a near-by Luminoth informed him.
"Space Pirates?" Maelos repeated in disbelief.
"Oh no," Sonilla said at his side.
The other battleships disengaged from the Valiancy and flew out to meet and intercept the pirates. Coming towards them was a small fleet made of two cruisers, several transports, and even more gunships. The first battleship that they would reach was the A-Kul, and she was in bad shape after the first round of warfare.
The cruisers parted and closed in on the A-Kul as the gunships assisted the transports in finding a docking bay. The B-Stl and J-Fme were racing to stop the transports, but they were on the other side of the station.
One, two, three direct hits from each cruiser, and the A-Kul's shields fell. Lights, alarms rang out in the corridors, and the Luminoth in the Control Room cringed. G-Ire ordered a concentration of light-dark cannon blasts on the nearest cruiser. But it was futile. The cruisers had distracted them long enough to allow most of the transports to dock.
The other Luminoth battleships arrived, but there was only one undocked transport, and it was quickly decimated. The guns were then turned on the docked transports. There would be no escape for the pirates.
The final pirate cruiser put up a good fight, but two minutes of exchanging shots with a true battleship led to its defeat. Without the ability to explode, the cruiser's torn side emitted bursts of flames that stretched outwards until the vacuum of space sucked out their life.
"Scan the sector. I want to know that's the last of them," G-Ire said.
"There is nothing, Commander," answered the Readers.
The A-Kul limped back to the Valiancy space station. She had tried to intercept the pirates, but, like the shadows they were, they had sneaked past her and her ill-equipped crew. They had sent out a message to the fighters inside, but could not be sure if they had been heard. Now, there was only one thing to do--join the battle.
The four Luminoth battleships latched onto the station. As one, they equalized the pressure and opened the gates. The small crews that had been left behind for protection formed a decent regiment, and, now, all reinforcements would be needed.
"What are we doing?" asked Sonilla as she and Maelos were being dressed in Warrior garb. "I don't want this on! I can't fight!"
Tears were in her eyes, all the fear and pain she had overcome was suddenly upon her again.
"There is nothing I can do, little one," said the Luminoth who was dressing them. He placed each piece of cobalt armor on them with expert quickness. "We must go to our Warriors' aid, and you cannot be left behind."
"But what are we supposed to do?" questioned Maelos. "We'll die."
"If you should die, oh Ambassador," he replied, "then you shall be counted as martyrs."
He snapped the last section into place and stood up straight. He bowed to them, and then joined rank. G-Ire motioned to them, and they followed her over. As they went to her, Maelos saw the Gnegnis family in the ranks. They stood proudly, even the young ones held a blade. They are willing to fight and die, he realized; they had already lost everything.
"Maelos?" asked G-Ire, "do not worry about them. They are a mightier race then you know, and, we, Luminoth, shall sing of them when the time for songs comes. But, now, listen to me."
"I am blind, yes, but I know your faces must be full of fear. There is now nothing we can do except fight. We have done everything, but now you must march with me."
G-Ire was dressed in brilliant emerald Warrior armor. She raised her staff and shouted to her soldiers in Aetheric. They responded, their cries filling the docking bay with silver echoes.
They marched out swiftly and soon reached an elevator. It was a transport elevator, used for moving shipments and repair parts to the ships in the bay, and, with some strain, held the Luminoth regiment. They packed themselves into the elevator, each breathing quickly in anticipation.
"When those doors open," the Senior Reader was telling G-Ire, "we shall be only a corridor away from where the J-Fme's group should be."
He glanced at the hologram map he was carrying and began to explain to G-Ire and to show several other Warriors about the location of the troopers.
As for the humans, they stood on the brink of disaster. Everything became numb as they waited with the Luminoth in the elevator. Both Maelos and Sonilla understood that when those doors opened that Hell would ensue and death was highly probable.
The elevator rumbled under their weight as it neared the top. It shook and stopped, then it fell a few feet before stopping itself. The shock knocked Sonilla over, but Maelos caught her in his strong arms. The lights flickered.
"We're going to make it!" he told her as he helped her stand up.
"I don't know," said Sonilla sadly. She held his hand in hers and studied it carefully, "I don't want to be a martyr."
She paused and tears gathered in her eyes.
The elevator reached the top and began to lock in place. Maelos looked at Sonilla with compassion. Even in her sorrow she was beautiful. Without thinking, Maelos kissed her. A gentle but full first kiss that finally revealed his feelings for her in this time of absolute distress.
"I'm going to take care of you," he said as their lips parted.
"And I, you," she replied.
The doors opened.
