Chapter 5: Siege
The Capital, War room
Riddler looked over the holographic image of the Kingdome, he knew what had happened, they where both dead. And that meant Joe was heading right towards them. The reports had been flooding in, a pair of darkened figures destroying base after base , leaving a burning trail of destroyed buildings , Joe was making his way to the capital, and god help them, he didn't know if he would be able to hold him off.
He walked down the hallways as Soldiers scurried to bolster the defences or grab more ammunition, the coming battle was going to be hard, if the could even win. Anna had gathered the kids, they where being taken away to a secure bunker where they would be safe there. She was her husband walked over him "The Kids are nearly ready to go, "
"Have you told Andre, Alice and the Twins what happened" He asked
"No, what's happening now is stress full enough, we don't need to give them news like this now" Said Anna,
Riddler nodded, "Alight, where's Caitlin"
"I don't know, last I saw her she was down in C's old lab I think she..." Anna was interrupted when the sirens began to sound around the palace, "Damn it" Said Riddler, "He's reached the gates
What remained of the gates lay in a burning puddle of boiling metal dozens of bodies lay burned and mangled around it. Above another intense battle was taking place. Jets and helicopter battled with the enraged Joe, the dark energy user fired into a nearby jet, causing it to explode in a ball of burning fuel, he flew forward dodging helicopter fire, slamming his fists into the copters side cracking it and sending it spiralling to the ground, he laughed as more jets flew forward, unleashing several salvos of missiles at him, he summoned an energy shield, the missiles slammed into it, he grinned, my turn
A lance of darkness flew from his finger tips tearing one of the jets apart, he flew forward firing dark bolts straight into the oncoming Jets, he flew straight at the remaining jet, kicking through the windshield and crushing the pilots throat and letting the jet loose control and plummet to the ground. He watched as it smashed into the city, sending up a cloud of dust, he took a small satisfaction before he heard a missile being fired and saw a rocket slam into him, exploding and sending Joe plummeting to the ground.
A small battalion of mechs advanced on Joe, "Riddler we've found him, he's alone; I don't know where the other one is suppose to be"
Joe pulled himself up, he saw the mechs advancing forward, It's time to call in the cavalry , he thought
The mech battalion lowered their guns and prepared to fire, when a gut wrenching scream came from above them, they all looked up to the skies darken "Mary Mother of God" One of them managed to say as they saw more twisted reptilian Darksiders descended from the sky
"I had a few stops on the way here So I thought I'd make a few friends" Said Joe licking his wounds
The Mech pilots screamed as the legion of twisted monsters descended upon them tearing at their armour, then clawing at their exposed flesh.
Riddler watched as the Video feed went black, "They've breached the perimeter, pull back, fortify the palace, we make our stand here," He said into the coms, he got a few responses, but also several screams of agony as the darksiders over ran the perimeter.
Joe sat atop a ruined building as he watched his army advance through the city, they where slaughtering every single thing they found, cutting a bloody swathe towards the palace, he smiled, the time was approaching , he would soon crush the empire, then, everyone, everyone would fall, the entire world in a bloody war, and he would be right at the centre of it, ohh it would be glorious.
Anna gathered the assembled kids and put them onto the teleporter "But Mommy, I don't want to go" Said Lizzie still terrified
"Sweetie you have to be brave for mommy , take care of your little brother," Said Anna as she typed in the coordinates
"Aunty Anna you'll be coming back to get us right, " Said Andre
"Yes, Yes I will" She pressed the final button and in a flash of light the children disappeared,
Anna closed her eyes, In the distance she heard the sound of gunfire and explosions, he was getting closer
Mephis Palace, Riddlers Workshop
Riddler hurriedly made tweaks to his project, it was originally just an idea , a simple thought, now in around two days he had built it to be their last chance against Joe, he had other safety measures , but if this didn't work he didn't know what would.
The Palace entrance
An explosion tore through the walls scattering the guards as the horde of Darksiders descended upon them, tearing them apart , Joe strode into the Palace, he looked around , and smiled, " So it comes to this , and I couldn't be happier"