Chapter 64 The final battle
Nolak and Larek were the first to react to the obvious threat from the human army. They both immediately put up their hands and were ready to blast around if they had to. The others behind them were clearly undecided if they should surrender or follow the example of their leader and prepare themself to fight them, too. Well, except Sean of course, he was already stepping besides the older man and held his laser sword high in the air, more than happy to kick someones ass, even if it wasn´t exactly the someone he had thought. But fighting was fighting, it didn´t matter who it was. At least in his books. Kyle tried to hold his cousin back, because they weren´t sure if those men were against them or with them. They should wait and see where they stood and then decide what to do. Tess, Max and Isabel finally choose to stand united in front of the military wheelers to show them that they wouldn´t intimidate them so easily. Besides they weren´t alone, what they noticed as soon as the door to the elevator opened and more people stepped out. Suddenly a small person jumped from one of the helicopters hovering slightly above the ground and whirling dust around. Surprised they saw that it was no one other than Maria herself, running towards them.
" Don´t shoot. They´re here to help us".
Instantly everybody minus Sean relaxed their fighting stance and breathed out with ease, glad to know that their missing friend hadn´t abandoned them and was pretty much unhurt. Kyle even pushed everyone out of his way and met her halfway. For a moment all gasped when he slapped her cheek and then embraced her. They expected an explosion on the part of Maria, but she just held onto him like a drowning woman. Her expression was apologetic and relieved. She seemed to be happy to see her friends alive and complete. Smiling brightly she took the hand of her brother and walked in the direction of the others.
Kyle wasn´t finished with her and he let out all his anger for keeping them in the suspense so long and worrying them to no end. " Don´t you dare do that again or I will be very pissed at you".
" I´m sorry, but I had things to do and I had to do it alone. As you can see I´m unharmed and heavily guarded from those nice men", she pointed with her thumb behnd her, where the army was still standing. Not one of them moved an inch, even when the air blew in their face.
Nolak shook his head at his most reckless member. Actually he should get mad at her, because for one she had been putting herself at risk by going into a base of human soldiers trained to eliminate alien threats or supposed alien threats and two for almost giving him a heartattack and leaving him alone with Larek. Unfortunately it wouldn´t get anywhere, she was just like that and not even he could change that. " How could you do that? You could have gotten killed or worse".
Maria chuckled at the older man, knowing that he wasn´t as angry as he wanted her to believe. He still thought he had to look after them, especially her. He had been at her side since...She couldn´t even remember it, just that it had been a pretty long time. And he saw her die more time than he wanted. " I had to try it, even if they would have killed me in the process. I was fully aware of that, but if you want to admit it or not, we need their help".
" Why do I even try to put any sense in your brain? You obviously do what you want without thinking about the consequences", Nolak threw his arms in the air and stalked back to take care of the many men stepping out of the elevator. At least at that he could still help.
Larek could barely hold his laughter in when he joined the siblings, both looking amused themself. " I don´t know why he´s so grouchy, he should know you better. After all he´s at your side for a really long time and I´m sure you weren´t any different than you´re now".
Kyle nodded his head in agreement. He couldn´t imagine his sister quiet, following orders given her or subordinate to someone else. She had been probably a hell of a woman in every lifetime, no matter who she represented. " Fat chance of that. I think trouble maker is like her middle name".
" Ha Ha. Are you both through with mocking me? In case you´ve forgotten we´re in the midst of the biggest battle Roswell will ever see", Maria rolled her eyes at them before turning around to have a little chat with the General again. She wanted to go through everything once more while they still had time.
Larek watched her walking away angrily. Women, he never would understand them. Thank god that Corly was different. Speaking of her, where was she? Scanning the many people standing around he looked for a blonde head. Finding her slightly apart from the rest he went to her. They had been having not so much time to talk in the last few days and he had things to tell her before it was too late.
Kyle stared after them for a few seconds until he noticed a small and soft hand slipping in his. Smiling he looked down in the beautiful blue eyes of his girlfriend. He was glad to have met her, even if their life should end today, he wouldn´t be sad, because he had loved and had been loved in return from such wonderful person. " This is it now. Today we´ll see if the movies are lying with the good guys always winning or if they told the truth".
" Yeah. Strangly I´m not as scared as I should be. The only thing I feel is anger and pain and I wish Michael would be here with us", Tess knew that if she should survive this war, she would probably cry for weeks and mourn properly. If that shouldn´t be the case, she would be meeting him again anyway. But now she just tried to keep the flame of revenge burning brightly
Kyle had been thinking the same about his parents, although he was glad that they were out of harms way. But he would be calmer if he knew they were alright and healthy, waiting at the base for the return of their children. His father would have told him some of his wisdom or gave a speech about duty or something. Well, he would give everything to hear that now. Pulling his girlfriend closer, he sighed loud. " I know what you mean".
Tess laid her head on his chest and listened to strong drumming of his heart. It was oddly comforting. But suddenly a new sound penetrated her ear and it had nothing to do with Kyle. Startled she lifted her gaze and saw something opening up in the middle of the desert. It seemed to be like a black hole. " What is that?".
Everybody stopped what they were doing and watched the hole widening. Loading their weapons, drawing their swords and lifting their arrows, every soldier was preparing themself to start firing. Maria left her place by the General and walked to her brother and Tess. Within seconds Max, Sean, Larek, Corly and Nolak joined them as well while the antarian warrior stepped behind them like a wall. Curiously they all witnessed an older man with grey hair and dark cold eyes coming out of the thing. His expression was a mix between happiness and anger while his aura seemed to freeze the desert.
Corly stepped immediately besides Maria and took her hand, to give the younger girl her support. For the first time she saw her real father from a close position and she was glad to haven´t grown up with him. She had pity with her sister, who had to endure so many years with the coldhearted bastard. " I´m here. Don´t let his presence scare you".
" I´m not scared. I´m beyond any emotion towards this monster", Maria was sure that she wouldn´t get old enough to regret not killing him sooner, but she promised herself that she would do everything in her power to take him with her. And if she had to destroy Roswell in the process.
Khivar walked calmly in the direction of the small group standing united like a front in the middle of the desert. If he had a soul he would have laughed or shown some other expression. Unfortunately he had sold it a thousand years ago. " What do we have here? Is this the reception commitee or is there a loser meeting I´m not aware of?".
Sean was in the process to dash off with his sword held high in the air and an angry cry on his lips when Maria restrained him with a wave of her hand. She turned to him and her glance told him that this bastard was hers and nobody would lay their hands on him, except her. " I didn´t know you possessed any kind of humour? Not that you´re funny. But your attempt had something. It was a little bit shaky at the start, the middle part and the end. A few years and maybe you can go on stage with your own program".
" Maybe we can do something together", Khivar stopped in front of the girl brave enough to stand up to him. If he wouldn´t hate her so much, he would have admired her spunk. But too bad that she was on the wrong side and had to die. Again. " Oh sorry I forgot. You won´t survive this day".
Maria took a step forward until she was as close to the soulless creature that had haunted her waking moments as well as her dreams without really touching him. Anger was pouring out of her in waves and her eyes darkened. Instantly her friends knew that the goddess Nemetona was lurking and waiting for her appearance. " Be warned. I will take you with me this time. Count on it".
Khivar noticed that the air prickled with many mixed emotions and something shifted in the young girls aura. She seemed to be colder and more dangerous. It felt deadly and old. He had never sensed so much energy humming around him. Well except for his own power that was. " Is that a promise or a threat? I don´t think you can´t do much damage. You´re just a human with a little alien powers. I don´t think I have to fear you, little missy".
" I wouldn´t be so sure in your position. I´m not as weak as you think I am. But you will feel it soon and I will enjoy every minute of it", Maria was through with being afraid of him. She wasn´t Marianna anymore, a girl that had been too desperate to please her supposed father that she hadn´t noticed how cruel and disgusting he had been in reality.
Khivar chuckled amused, liking her spirit. She was so different from her past self. Sure she thought she was strong and powerful in both lifes and she had a mind of her own, but other than that she was another person. Someone he even could have liked. Grasping her chin in his hands he pulled her face closer to his. " It will be a pleasure for me to see you die again. And this time it will be my hands doing it".
Maria pushed him hard away from her. She shuddered at the fact that he had touched her with his filthy hands, hands that have killed the people she had loved, hands that gave orders to make her life a living hell. " You wish, old man".
" We´ll see who´s the last man standing", Khivar turned his back on her and went towards the strange hole, which was still open but not so big like before. He waved his hand over it and within seconds it was gone. Then he lifted his hand in the air with his fist pointing upwards for a while before he whirled around and grinned at the young group of children.
Everyone was stunned when hundreds and hundreds of armed soldiers marched from the distant in their direction. The trampling of their feet was heard for miles and shook the ground slightly. Strangly they all carried human weapons instead of the ones created on Antar. Stunned Maria noticed the unusual looking belt on them with something hanging down on it that appeared to be eggs. When they stopped behind their king, she squinted her eyes and noted that there weren´t eggs but hand grenades. A little worried she glanced over her shoulder at the tanks and the jeeps with the big guns. Okay, they had a small advantage even if it wasn´t that much. Turning around she drew her attention back to the man ruining every lifetime and glared at him while he returned it with the same intensity. Both standing opposite each other with their army at their back, waiting to attack. Time seemed to be standing still, the noise if the helicopters vanished while a slight breeze blowed around them. Suddenly Khivar raised his hand and shot a blast at Maria, who expected it already and dodge it with a blast of her own. After that everyone started shooting, fighting and swinging their swords. Loud sounds of guns, the strange noise when the laser swords crashed against each other and cries from men was heard. Here and there bombs or missiles from the tanks shook the ground under their feet while the battle was raging without anyone noticing it.
Sean was in the midst of everything, striking every guy playing for the other team. Sometimes he stabbed them and other times he either beheaded or cut off some body part. The smile on his face and the twinkling in his eyes showed that he enjoyed himself, even though he wasn´t such an aggressive person any longer. Unfortunately for those bastards they fucked with the wrong people and he didn´t take it lightly when someone targetted his family. The rage inside him felt like an old friend and he was more than happy to give into his darker feelings. It had been a long time since he could work it off like that. And he noticed that the years being a hard ass had its perks, because he was really good with fighting. A few times he scanned his surroundings to look where Kyle and Maria were. But he couldn´t see them in the mass of fighting men. Thankful he knew that they both could hold their own water and were probably the last of this bunch needing any kind of help.
Meanwhile Tess and Isabel were using their gifts to take the powers of their opponent and adept it against them, a neat little trick they had from Larek. He thought it would be more their thing, seeing as they had the most mental powers in contrast to the warlike powers of the guys. And they had been warned that their enemies were mindreader, who probably were better at using their mental strength in such a chaos, whereas they would have to fight against soldiers, the noise around them and keep themself from getting shot at. But surprisingly both girls held on pretty good and could easily stiff anyone coming their way while battling off arrows and bullets flying towards them. Pain and rage was fuelling their energy level and they were adamant to take out as much of this motherfers as they could. They had promised that they wouldn´t go down without even giving their best and at least without killing most of the enemies. If they should die, they would take care that the others would rotting in hell for a very long long time.
On the other side of the battlefield Max swung his laser sword around like he had been born with it in his hand. It was like Rath had taken over his body and gave him the skills as well as the strength. Besides it hadn´t hurt that he had been hitting the gym two times a week before he even knew about his alien origin. The added bonus of muscles wasn´t so bad after all, although he wouldn´t need it. His powers were enough, but he wanted to save them for when they were really needed. He remembered the last time he had been in a battle like that. Ava and his parents had been dead, Larek together with the scientist underground and Marianna, Vilandra and Rath fighting at his side. He had felt right at that moment, standing united with these people against their enemies and doing the right thing. And this time it felt the same. He knew that this was meant to be, the place where he should be, his fate. Stabbing a man coming his way, he was sure that his parents above him would be proud, just as his parents down here would be. He was never a fighter, he had been more keeping in the background and using his communication talent to take care of things. But that was before he had been scared to lose his family and his friends. Strange how a perspectives can change when lifes are threatened. He never thought he would hold a weapon in his hands and yet he mastered the laser sword like a Rockstar his guitar, with ease and confidence.
Kyle had all hands full with keeping himself alive and making sure that the guys against them wouldn´t see the next day. Considering his human state he was doing a pretty great job at it. He was shooting with his laser gun like a pro, which wasn´t such a surprise as son of the sheriff. He had been taught to shoot from a far distance from his father before he learned to go on the toilette alone. It was easier for him to get familiar with a gun than a sword, even though he got offered that of his sister. But he thought she would need it and he wouldn´t feel good to take something from her away. Although he knew that she probably could do more damage with her powers than with a weapon. And yet he worried about her more than every other of the group. Here and there he glanced at Maria to be sure that she was holding on. Everytime he was relieved to see that she was still in good shape and raising hell without something to defend herself, except her powers. His chest swelled with pride when he thought about standing side by side with such a wonderful and caring person. Well, at least when she wasn´t fighting with someone.
In the meantime Larek and Nolak did their best to keep their charges in sight and combat against Khivars people at the same time. They took turns using their powers and their laser swords, which would save them enough energy througout this battle and they wouldn´t get exhausted so easily like their opponents. As soon as they would notice that their strength was on a low, they changed to their weapons until their strength was back again in full force. They could at least buy some time with their tactic and maybe tired their enemies out before giving them the kiss of death. Larek noted for the first time what he made wrong in his last life. He had thought he had to shift his focus on his powers, although in reality he should have put it into his physically fitness like Rath had done it. His formerly best friend hadn´t counted too much on his mental force, but his body shape. He had trained his muscles every day and even if he had died, he had done enough damage to the other army. Something Larek wouldn´t have managed, at least then. Now he had more knowledge and had been having enough time to built muscles. All right, they weren´t as visible and he would never be a Arnold Schwarzenegger, but he knew that he was strong and that made all the difference. Nolak besides him was the same. He thought he was too old for this crap, but in his heart he reached the perfect age for it. What he failed in power, he would make up with wisdom and experience, something the younger generation still had to aquire. He had been fighting for a really long time and he waited more than twice as much for this moment. If they both would survive this day, they would finally start living their life.
The human army was surprisingly keeping up with their more advanced alien allies. They shoot what ran in front of their barrels, sometimes unsure if they hit friend or foe. It was hard to make a difference betweent the good guys and the bad. The General was just sure that Brody, Maria, Kyle and their friends were on their side. But everything else was just speculation. Most of the time they could make out who they had to kill and who not, because those skins had strange empty eyes. Like there wasn´t a soul in their borrowed human bodies, in contrast to the other people from out of space. They were showing emotions like rage and pain, even disgust. With little to no effort the humans minimized the number of skins dramatically. But instead of getting smaller and smaller, they seemed to be getting more after a while. It was like the more they killed the more came. Surprisingly they just appeared out of nowhere. Thankfully the soldiers didn´t give up and tried harder to kill them, even if they knew that it may be pointless in the end. However they knew their part on the plan Maria had told them and they would stick to it until they got the sign from the girl. They just all hoped that it would work or their world would be screwed.
A little secluded from the main battle, Khivar and Maria stood opposite each other, glaring and itching to finish this fight for once and for all. Both circled around the other in hopes to catch them unprepared and having a slight advantage. Unfortunately they were more alike than they wanted to admit and all they did was walking around.
" That´s ridiculous. One more round and I will throw up", Maria had enough from their little game. She was pregnant after all and couldn´t stand something upsetting her stomach additional to her usual nauseas.
Khivar stopped his feet and stared at her cockily. He knew that she wasn´t up to a little foreplay. It wasn´t fun to just attack someone, he enjoyed the taunting at the beginning and the fear in his enemies eyes, although Maria didn´t seem to be the kind of girl who was afraid of him. " What´s up? You want to give up already?".
Maria rubbed her belly and wondered if the small ones would notice it if she should die. Or if they noticed anything right now at all. She was a bad mother and her children weren´t even born yet. But maybe she would get a new chance in her next life, because she would find rest when she killed her nemesis. " Are you kidding me? I haven´t even started yet. I´m just a little bit too eager to get it on. You know I do have a real life apart from this madness".
" You´re so different from your mother. She was always afraid of me and rightly so. Did you know that she never made a sound when I raped her? She just stared at the ceiling and waited until I was done with her", Khivar knew that most people had a weakness hidden somewhere. Thankfully he knew hers. She hadn´t really handled the death of her mother through his hands and he loved the shocked expression on her face, how it turned to something darker. Pain, disgust and fury was clearly shining in her eyes.
Maria couldn´t believe it. That bastard was more cruel than she had thought and it had been really bad without knowing that he forced himself on her mother. She fought against the urge to spew her breakfast on him. Already the imagination was making her sick to her stomach. " Shut up. Mother never deserved you. I´m so glad that she´s dead and could escape your evil clutches, you monster".
Khivar witnessed her eyes changing its color. They turned from green to black and then to red. It was a pleasure to see her trying to repress her dark side. He wondered how long she could endure that without losing the fight. " I´m curious if your human mother will be quiet, too when I´m taking her. If your human father will try to stop me, although it would be pointless, because he´s no match for me".
" You´re keeping your disgusting hands of my family!", Maria´s breathing was harsher and quicker. Sweat was slowly forming on her forehead while her heart was pumping adrenaline and blood in strong intervalls through her veins and made it harder for her to keep herself in check.
Khivar laughed about her puny efforts to stay in control. He would take care that she would play in his hands. She wasn´t so resistance against his comments like she thought she was, as he saw on the wrinkles on her face from the strain to not let the beast in her loose. She had closed her eyes, which made it a little bit harder for him to see which color they had right now. " Too bad that you´re cute little human sister is already dead. She was probably a screamer".
Maria opened her eyes and they were dark red. Within seconds her human form disappeared and Marianna took her place. Gazing heatedly at the creature in front of her, she let her arms drop at either side of her body with fire coming out of the palm of her hands. Playing with the small hot ball she watched the flames licking up her forearm without hurting her. Looking up she shoot the fireballs so fast that Khivar was thrown on the ground from the force. Calmly walking in his direction she stopped besides his fallen body to glance down at him. " I told you. LEAVE MY FAMILY OUT OF THIS".
" You think you can stop me? You´re really demented", Khivar jumped on his feet so quickly that Maria hadn´t eve the chance to react. Seconds later she was in a chokehold from him with his body tightly pressed against her own. Bending his head closer to her ear he whispered hotly in it. " Can you imagine how much I will enjoy draining the life out of you? How aroused that makes me?".
Marianna had a really good guess, because the evidence was poking her backside and made her uncomfortable. Even if they weren´t related to each other it felt still wrong. After all she grew up for a very long time thinking he was her father, she couldn´t forget that. Unfortunately. With a fast jolt she grasped his arm and threw him over her shoulder until his face was touching the floor. She had his right arm twisted on his back and was pressing with her weight on it. " Don´t you dare even think about me in that way. You disgust me, you sick bastard"
Khivar liked the pain and couldn´t describe the sense it was giving him. He didn´t have such a pain limit most people or aliens had. He savoured the feeling of the rough handling. No wonder his wife had never managed to satisfy him. " Do it a little bit harder and maybe twist my arm in the other direction".
" Don´t provoke me", Marianna was tempted to take his arm and rip it from its socket. But after his last comment, he would enjoy that too much and she wanted to let him suffer. Suffer for her mother, her second family, her baby sister and Michael. All this people were dead because of him. Even though she was partly at fault with that, he was, too. Gripping his hand tightly she turned his wrist around until she heard bones snapping loudly. " How does it feel? Huh? How does it feel to be under me, you retarded monster!".
Khivar huffed out of breath and sand was blowing up in his face. Although he hated to admit it, that had hurt. Not so much that he was close to faint, but it had been pretty noticeable. Now he should finally act or she would really kill him. He had underestimated her badly. She wasn´t so sensitive like he thought. Using his powers he rolled his body around, got his broken arm out of her grasp and shot a powerful blast at her, which propelled her a few feet in the air. A while it seemed like she was flying. Until she landed with a strong crash on the hard floor and raised dust around her. Khivar stood up from the ground and shook his hurt arm, which appeared to repair itself in seconds at that. Then he went to Marianna to check the damage he caused her. When he was close he kneeled besides her and took her pain grimacing face in his hands. Blood was pouring out of her mouth while her eyes were disorientated staring at him. " That´s for pissing me off, little girl. From now on we will fight properly".
" I´m okay with that", Marianna stepped out from the dust and surprised him. Not just he and his lackey´s had really good mindwarping powers, she had picked a few things from Tess. She almost had to laugh at his stunned expression when he realized that she wasn´t lying at his feet, but standing in front of him, unhurt and mayorly pissed. Kicking him in his chins, she waited until he was half in the air when she blasted him away. Smiling she followed after him and wondered who would be winning this time.
Sean was slowly losing his power, because the sword seemed to be weighting a ton and was close to drop on the ground. He felt a strain at places he didn´t know could hurt and a few times he was hit from knifes, which cut into his arms and one left a scratch on his cheek. A bullet grazed his shoulder and took a small part of his uniform with it. Thankfully it wasn´t anything serious yet and he was still alive. But he didn´t know how long it would stay that way with his rapidly sinking energy. Seeing a young man storming into his direction with a samurai sword, he scraped together his last strength and lifted his weapon, too. Hoping that he was strong enough to withstand the blow that would be coming he braced his feet hard on the ground and held the sword tightly in his hands. Seconds later the blades made a strange sound when they crashed against each other. For a moment both men held eye contact while trying to intimidate their opponent with their glare.
" Bastard. You think you´re the shit! Making an attempt to kill my family and you think I will just sit by and watch it. You´re wrong, martian", pulling his weapon back, he whirled aside and waited until the guy was stumbling forward before bashing his ellbow in his back to make him drop like a stone on the ground. Without giving the other man a chance to defend himself, Sean took the sword and rammed it forcefully in his body. The cry that followed was full of anguish and suffering, but it didn´t take long before the voice died down and the sand around the man was turning red. Sean pulled his weapon out and spit on the corpse. " That´s for messing with my family. And remember never fk with a DeLuca". Wiping sweat from his forehead he turned around to take another soldier. Unfortunately he never stood a chance to react to the sword coming towards him. Before he knew what was happening the blade made contact with his flesh and cut deep around the place of his right eye and even hurt it in the process. Blood was pouring from the wound and he immediately dropped his weapon to cover the injury with it. A few seconds later he dropped on his knees, as the strenght left him. He looked at the jerk hurting him with his one good eye for a minute, but he couldn´t make out something. His surroundings were a blur for him. And then everything went dark around him and he fell over.
Kyle just finished with killing two skins at once, when he saw his cousin going down. Instantly he fought his way towards him. Not looking where he was going or who was standing in his way he shoot wildly around. He had to get to Sean and either help him or at least get him out of harms way. Glancing at the enemy standing above his cousin and being close to finish the job, he ordered his feet to run quicker. But he knew that no matter how fast he would be, he would be too late.
" Noooo".
Stretching his arm out he tried to stop the motherfer to kill Sean. Surprisingly a blast was shooting from his palm and let the enemy fly through the air like an eagle for a few metres before he landed with a loud thud on the dusty earth. Stunned and a little scared Kyle made his way to Sean to see if he was still alive. Kneeling besides his cousin he turned the body around and cringed when he saw the many blood pouring out of the wound which stretched from the hairline to his jaw. The eye wasn´t there anymore, at least not visible under the amount of blood and dirt sticking on the face. But before he could feel for a pulse, he sensed someone approaching from behind. Jumping on his feet, he whirled around to shoot whoever was coming his way. Unfortunately he hadn´t even the time to do that before a blast caught him and launched him with full force at the nearest rock. Lifeless he slumped on the floor and stayed there.
Tess, having abandoned the idea to fight with the enemy with her mental powers, because she needed too much energy to keep it up, was wielding the sword she found lying around, when she witnessed her boyfriend crashing against the rock. Horrofied she gasped loudly, which attracted the attention of Isabel, who had snatched the crossbow from some soldier and was in the process to decrease the numbers of enemies. Worriedly the taller girl left her place and went instantly to her smaller friend.
" What is it?".
Tess shook her head shocked, tears filling her eyes and a knot had formed in her throat. She couldn´t believe it, she just watched her boyfriend getting killed. Lifting her hand to her mouth to keep herself from making a sound, she glanced at the girl besides her. " Kyle. He´s...he...and then...rock...and now he´s lying there motionless".
Isabel kept her surroundings in her sight, always on guard and looking for any attacks while at the same time trying to console her friend. " Maybe he´s just unconscious?".
" I don´t think so", Tess saw the amount of force Kyle had been flung at the solid surface, no one would have survived that collisation and especially not a human boy. Suddenly a small black object landed at her feet and startled her out of her thoughts. Bending down to eye it closer, she realized that it was a hand grenade. " This thing will explode every second", gripping the other girls arm both dash away from the dangerous object. Seconds later the earth shook with the explosion and the two were knocked down from the shockwave. Not one of them moved afterwards.
Max observing his friend and his sister crashing on the ground broke out in a run, not even caring about his safety. Hoping he prayed that it was not as bad as he thought. He didn´t want to tell his parents that their only daughter was dead. Not to mention the pain it would cause Mr. Dupree to hear about the loss of both of his grandchildren. Using his protective shield to dodge the blows thrown his way, he pushed everyone from his path. Nobody and nothing would stop him from getting to his sister. Here and there he swung his sword to every side in rage about the imagination to lose his twin. If one of the girls was harmed, there would be hell to pay.
" You bastards. I´m going to enjoy seeing you suffer before killing you".
Max dropped his head and stormed towards a beefy looking skin. Even if he would go down, he would make sure that he wasn´t the only one. Taking the drive from his sprint he rammed his head in the belly of the other man with the brunt of a truck and swept him off of his feet with it. Then he stuck his sword so deep in the other body that it was pinned on the ground. Smiling satisfied at the dying light in the skins eyes, he kicked him once more before moving further. Unfortunately he was so busy with watching the front that he didn´t see that someone was coming from the back and striked out with an iron rod. Before Max knew what was happening the hard pole hit him on the head and darkness engulfed him.
Nolak and Larek noticed the people dropping like flies around them. Seeing all those brave and strong people lying on the sandy ground, lifeless and unmoving, they realized that it was happening again. The war would be their downfall once more. Destiny would become real and the earth was doomed, because nobody on this planet would be powerful enough to stand against Khivar and beat him. All they had right now was the comfort that Maria was still alive and fighting her worst nightmare. But as soon as she would notice the corpses of her friends and her family, she would either go berserk or lose all her hope and follow everyone else in another level. Well both hoped that she would surprise everyone and finally grow into her role as supernatural force and the goddess of war that was living inside her soul for so long. Too bad that they hadn´t been having the time to tell her about the weapon stored within one cavern of the big rock. It could have been a real good help for her. But they were forbidden to meddle into fate and with that change the future. The book had said that a sacrifice would save them this time, but not who should do it and how it should be done. Nights and nights both men had mulled over the damn book to find a solution or even a loophole in the freaking thing. But they found nothing and now the destiny of this planet was sealed. Either the humans would be slaves for Khivar and his men or they would be all killed to make place for the aliens. However not everything was lost yet and they still could change something, even if it wouldn´t maybe make a difference, but they tried it at least. Larek pulled together the last remaining of his strength and was in the process to give his all when an arrow flew through his torso and left a small hole at the place where his heart was. Stunned he glanced at Nolak before losing his footing and falling down all the while holding his hand over the bleeding wound.
" Kill them. Kill those bastards".
Nolak watched sadly his long friend and companion closing his eyes and he felt a rage climbing up from his inside that he never thought he was capable of. Taking his sword he let out a loud cry that attracted the attention of several skins. Angrily he stormed towards them and his powers was so out of control that everyone coming in contact with him was shredded or went up in flames. He never knew strong he really was and what he could do until now. No matter what everyone thought, he saw those kids as his own and everybody hurting them was fing with him. Unfortunately he wasn´t so gingerly in that departement and was gladly taking care of this business. Suddenly something hard hit him in his back and he noticed his feet leaving the ground. The next thing he felt was unbearable pain in his back from when he collided with something solid. And then absolutely nothing while everything went black.
The General of the human army stared unbelievable at the scene playing in front of him. The best fighters just got put away like it was nothing. Even with their strong alien powers they had nothing to set against those skins while most of the human soldiers still stood their ground. But he knew that it wouldn´t take much longer until the aliens would take full force on them. At least when all their enemies were dead. A few of his men had stepped besides Maria to help her, considering her delicate state. But even from afar he saw that she wasn´t interested, she wanted to take care of that alone. After knowing the history of those two, he wasn´t so surprised. If anyone would have killed the people he loved, made his life hell and then killed him, he would wanted to finish it alone, too. He admired her fire and she would make a damn fine warrior, if not commander. Someone his men could look up to and take as an example. She had been through so much, lost so many beloved ones and still she was standing, trying to revenge them. She was truly a goddess of war in every way possible. Watching her taking every hit without showing any emotion and dishing out just the same, he knew that there were still people who thought honour and family was still things to fight for. And he was proud to be part of that, to be here at this time and place to witness it.
Marianna was close to collapse any minute. Her energy was dwindling really fast now and she felt her legs were on the brink to fail their duty. She had nothing more to give now, she had given her all to destroy Khivar. But every blow she had dished out hadn´t seemingly mattered to him, he hadn´t even made an impression like it had hurt him. Even if she managed to inflict a wound on him it had closed within seconds and she was still trying to find his weak spot, which was difficult when you had to defend yourself at the same time. She thought she could make a difference this time, because she had the power of three people inside her body. But obviously it wasn´t enough and she would let the others down again. Hopefully she was the first one biting the dust and not the other way around. She didn´t want to be present when Roswell would perish and with it a lot of people she had known and loved. Gathering the last remaining of her strength she strained herself to built the most powerful blast ever. If that wouldn´t work, she was finally throwing the towel forever. She had thought about using the granilith, but she didn´t even know where it was and how she had to handle the thing. So all she had was this one last attempt. Watching the air around her starting to crackle with energy, the wind to pick up speed and the sand circling her body, she knew that this was it now. Closing her eyes she let loose. Feeling the strength leaving her body she crashed on her knees, not even opening her eyes to see if she had hit Khivar or not. She was past the point of caring. She was done and now it was up to the others to save this planet and the people on it. Until suddenly a voice rang out.
" Don´t you dare killing her again you gutless bastard. You have to go through me first".
At that Marianna did open her eyes. Stunned she witnessed Corly standing protectively in front of her, the back turned to her and her right arm outstretched. Khivar was mimicking her stance, but didn´t attack her. At least not immediately. He seemed to be surprised to see the girl. " Out of my way. That´s something between me and her".
Corly didn´t budge from her spot and shook her head at the older man. If she would be sure that he would be playing fair she would have crossed her arms over her chest for emphasis. But unfortunately she knew him too well to be aware of his corrupt character. " Not anymore. You deal with me now. Father".
" What did you call me?", Khivar hated to be out of the loop and especially in such matters. Did that little girl try to trick him or was there something he missed? Thinking about his vast numbers of affairs while married, he thought it could be possible to have more offspring, aside from Nicolai. But her? She wasn´t even the slightest like him, contrary to Marianna, who wasn´t even his real daughter.
Corly smiled unashamedly at him, liking the fact that she had him so nicely distracted for the moment. She just hoped that she could stall long enough for Maria to charge her battery so that they both could end Khivar and this war. " I called you father. I´m sorry to drop that bomb so unexpectedly onto you, but I´m your daugther. And you have done your last breaths here on this planet".
Khivar was stunned into silence for a few seconds before he started to laugh at the young girl claiming to be from him. It was a scary sound and surprised him more than anybody else. That had to be a joke, anything else was out of the question. But he had to give her credit, because she pulled it off really well without showing any sign of lying. " You´re pretty good, I have to give you that", making a fist with his hand he stared hard at her. Within seconds she dropped on the ground while holding her throat and trying to get air in her lungs. " But not good enough for me".
" Leave her alone!", Marianna had found some strength to jump to her feet and ram her body at that of Khivar. Both landed with a bruising force on the floor, while she fell directly on him, accidently. She knew that it was just a matter of time before her body striked his job, but until then she would everything in her powers to protect her family. Pushing her ellbow at his throat she threatend to crush his windpipe if he should make a wrong move, even though she knew that it was pointless.
Khivar chuckled at the desperate attempt to scare him. He was beyond that for a long long time. Too bad that this girl hadn´t learned her lessons times and times again. It wasn´t the first time that they fought with each other. Just with the difference that she didn´t remember it while he could picture every battle they had. It was never a pretty sight, but he enjoyed it every time. " Do you think that will help? In case you haven´t noticed I´m indestructible. I sold my soul a long time ago to the devil and that means I´m immortal, sweetie".
Marianna already suspected it. She knew there had to be a reason that she hadn´t managed to kill him yet. As much as she had read in this destiny book, she had understood that this war was raging for centuries and she never accomplished to destroy him. But she also read that she had never given up and confronted him everytime. " And in case you haven´t noticed. I don´t care about that. I will try to protect my family as long as I still breath".
" What family? You´re the last one of your weak little group of soldiers", Khivar loved it to have the final say in something. And he enjoyed to see that pained expression on her face, the realisation that she had lost everyone again without the chance to save them. It was like a aphrodisiac to him.
Marianna averted her attention away from the scumbag under her and looked up. Scanning her surroundings she found Tess and Isabel lying face down closest to her, followed from Nolak and Kyle near the rocks over to Larek´s bleeding body, further down to Sean´s blood drenched face back to Max´s motionless shape. Tears were filling her eyes at the cruelsome picture and she remembered the last time she had seen that. Closing her she tried to keep herself from crying. She didn´t have the time for it now and it wouldn´t change anything anyway. No, she wouldn´t react emotional about that, not again. It was what he expected from her and she would play into his hands if she did that. Fueling the hate and the anger at him from anew she felt something comfortably changing in her. Opening her eyes she smiled at the shocked face when her body shifted itself into another form, namely that of Nemetona. " Didn´t expect that twist, did ya".
Khivar was thrown at the new developement. That face and those eyes he hadn´t seen for such a long time that he was surprised that he actually remembered it. It had been centuries since they had their last encounter. " No, but I´m not against it. In fact that doubles the pleasure for me".
" I´m sorry to disappoint you. You won´t have the time to feel pleasure in any kind", Nemetona took her arm from his throat and stood up from him. With a hard kick in his stomach she walked over to Corly, who was still sitting on the same exact spot. " Now it´s your turn. Give the bastard what he deserves. And don´t be gentle".
Corly stood up with shaking legs and grasped the arm of the person in her sister´s body. " What about you? Where are you going?".
Nemetona looked up at one of the biggest rock. She could feel the energy of the granilith pulsing from there. She had to use it, even if she couldn´t save the people she loved, she would at least taking care that everyone else would see the next day. Besides the human soldiers wouldn´t hold on any longer against the skins and she feared that more people would lose their life. " I´ve got another assigment to do".
Corly had a bad feeling after she heard the cryptic talk of this creature. But before she could say something the woman vanished from her sight, much to her astonishment. After that she turned her attention to her father. " Now it´s only me and you".
Meanwhile Nemetona appeared at some strange room with a glowing crystal in the middle. It was cold and dark in here, like a freezing cell. Looking around she noticed she was in a cave, because the walls around her were made out of stone. Walking towards the granilith and sensing the power humming under the surface, she had the sudden urge to use all this strength for herself. But as soon as the thought came it disappeared, thankfully. She wasn´t here for power, at least not for herself. She had a job to do and nothing could stop her from doing it. Touching the cool area, she felt for the first time that she could change something and make a difference. It was like this weapon was just made for her and only her. Unfortunately there wasn´t a manuel lying around that would show her what she should do to activate it and as much as she could see there wasn´t a button, a switch or even some strange glowing alien symbol to help her. Concentrating on her inner voice she hoped to find the answer there. She had to know somewhere how to use that thing or else they wouldn´t have built it for her. Listening intently on some sound, the only thing penetrating her ears were the cries and other noises from outside. Shaking her head she tried to shake off everything that could distract her in any way. Breathing evenly for a few minutes, she was close to getting dizzy from it. On the brink to give up, a flash hit her hard and almost knocked her flat on her ass. Seconds ticked by and she soaked up all the information flowing into her mind before dropping her hand and slumping on the cold ground under her. Finally she knew what she had to do and she felt sadness, because she saw her death clearly. With glistening eyes she touched her belly and the children there.
" I´m sorry to do that to you. But I have no choice. If there would be anything else I would do it gladly. Unfortunately this is the only way. I´m sorry for not giving you a chance to live for the second time and I´m sorry for being the worst mother. I didn´t even have the chance to enjoy my pregnancy", letting the tears fall freely she stroked the rounder curve there. It was finally visible that she was expecting. " I´m sure someday you will understand the choices I made, knowing the consequences. But sacrifices have to be made if you want to change something. I couldn´t save the people I loved, but I will be damned if I let this bastard take over this planet. I love you both and I hope you can forgive me".
Standing up she put both of her hands on the surface of the granilith and repressed the fear threatening to crush her. Her heart was pumping wildly in her chest while her mind opened up. Her body and the crystal formed a link to each other. Closing her eyes she let her energy flow into the devise and prayed that everything would be going smoothly. If she had to die she wanted it to be quick and painless, at least as painless as possible. Sensing the granilith starting up, she felt it pulling everything from her. It was like someone tried to part her soul from her body with brutal force. She clenched her teeths together to keep herself from crying out in pain. The more it took, the weaker she felt. Memories from many different lifes were shooting through her head and showed her what happened there. Things she forgot or didn´t remember anymore were clearly to see again. The time at the castle of King Arthur, at the side of Julius Cesar, listening to a reading of William Shakespear, riding along side of Joan D´arc, witnessing women getting burned as witches, the happy trekking with Rath through the wood on Antar and the Halloween party here on earth. Everything she ever experienced was sucked away from her, together with her feelings. And then she noticed the serenity filling her shell, the thought that every problem and her worries would be gone was making her happy. All she felt right now was this calmness that soon it would be over and she never had to concern herself with battles, having the responsibility over someones life and fearing anything. Besides she liked the thought that she would be with everyone meaning something to her again. She would see Michael, her mother and Lindsey. She would have the chance to be with them forever without having to be scared to lose them. Realizing that it was time for her to let go of her mortal life, she thanked everyone for loving her and hoping that those who survived today would remember her. On the brink to death she heard suddenly a noise that sounded like a rock was sliding over another rock. Opening her eyes she turned slowly her head around. Thinking she was hallizinating she blinked with her eyes. Strangly the person staring horrified at her was still standing there.
" Michael?".
Michael stormed towards her and caught her as soon as she collapsed. Sitting on the floor he cradled her in his strong arms while she changed back in her human shape. Watching her beautiful green eyes trying to stay open, he brushed the blonde hair from her face with one hand. " Why did you do it? You can´t just leave me here".
Maria lifted weakly her hand and stroked his cheek. She knew that she didn´t have much time left, but she wanted to touch him for the last time. A small smile played around her lips when she felt him. Tears were falling from his eyes and she wiped them away. " I´m sorry".
" No. Don´t close your eyes. Look at me. Come on, open your eyes!", but it was already too late and she couldn´t hear him anymore. Michael held her while her eyes stayed closed. Hiding his face on her chest, he started to cry violently. Rocking her like a baby he mourned her loss. He wanted to never let her go. Cursing himself for not finding her sooner, he didn´t notice the granilith beginning to glow and rotate. Well until the walls around him shook with the intensity of the power emitting from he crystal. Startled he looked up just in time to see it fly from its place and break through the ceiling. Stones and dirt fell down on him and he immediately covered Maria with his body. One big chunk hit him hard on the back of his neck and he toppled down over her.
In the mean time Corly had all hands full with fighting off her father. She had taken many hits and her body felt like one big bruise. Her face displayed cuts and wounds in all variations, not to mention the injuries at places on other parts. She was sure that she was over and done for. This was it, her last moments on earth. Making truce with god she prayed that she would be born again to maybe have another chance to finish him. Just barely keeping herself upright she glared at the man that gave her life. Expecting the last blow, she head a strange noise all of the sudden. Confused she turned to the sound and saw something glowing hovering over the rocks. Squinting her eyes she was blinded for a moment when everything around her was illuminated with a white light. Covering her eyes with her arm she waited until the light went away. Noticing the warmth leaving and the coldness returning she dropped her arm again. Shocked she witnessed Khivar bleeding heavily from many wounds on his body. Blood was pouring out of his mouth and he was pretty shaky on his legs. The stunned expression on his face was making her happy. Now she knew what the purpose of the granilith was. It was there to make him vulnverable. That was what Maria did. But that would mean she sacrificed her life for this. Pausing for a moment to honour her last effort, she picked up a dagger lying in front of her feet. Walking in Khivars direction she stopped before him while he finally lost the fight with cravity and crashed on his knees. Corly stared down at the poor creature he was becoming.
" Any last words you want to say before I´ll finish the job?".
Khivar´s eyes showed remorse for the first time. It was a shame to see such a ruthless man losing everything that was making him who he was. Now the meaning of the quote : The higher you endeavour to something, the deeper you fall, was clear. " I´m sorry".
Corly shook her head at his laughable attempt to make peace with her. She would never understand what had driven him to be this cruel monster that was enjoying to torture other people. " Too little, too late", with that she plunged the dagger as deep as she could into his none existent heart and turned the hilt around in full circle before watching him die. Wasted she slumped on the ground and covered her face with her bloody hands. Then she cried for all the people not being here to witness the end of the war and the end to a seemingly never ending nightmare.
TBC