Chapter Four

"Now that we have talked shop, let's get down to business shall we…"

"Yes, let's-" Just as Vuui was about to continue a deafening roar erupted throughout the Throne Room, shaking the stained glass windows from their sills and shattering a few in its wake. Recognizing the call for what it was she stiffened, face falling into the familiar mask of a warrior and pushing the Princess behind her to act as a living shield. "Stay behind me!" Guards began to fill in like bees on the defense, weapons drawn and at the ready, looking for the source of the attack. Another piercing roar echoed around them, this one louder than the one from before, only for this time to be followed by the familiar form of Nightmare crashing into the Throne Room like he owned the place, blazing eyes furious and alive with power as his mighty wings propelled himself forward towards his master, landing gracefully with a poise that didn't seemed to match the ferocious beast.

Eirawen screamed, the guards prepared to strike, no one save Vuui recognizing the beast that had crashed landed in their midst. "Stand down!" Unleashing a quick spell Vuui knocked the weapons from each of the guard's hands before striding forward to her familiar and caressing his maul. "This is Nightmare, my familiar, something is wrong," continuing to gently caress the bony beasts jaw she melded her mind with the dragon before her. What happened Nightmare? Is Andras alright? Where you attacked?

Andras and the human battalion stationed at Taillteann are trapped within their headquarters. Alarm overtook Vuui's features. The citizens are revolting on all sides. The elves and Giants appear to be faring better when I had flown above them but it lies uncertain. Andras sent me to find you and bring help. Understood love, you did well. I need you to go find Fury now and wait with her, help guard Tracey and make sure no one gets to him, Eirawen gave me her word we could help him but I do not trust that fully. It's best to stay on our toes. Do you plan to go to Andras's aid Master? I do. Then would you rather I take you there, the trip would be faster and time is of the essence. No…. You have worked hard, I cannot ask any more of you than what I have done already today, go and rest and watch Tracey with Fury. It will be an easy job. Besides, I'm going to be taking a more… unconventional way to Taill.

Separating from the others minds the duo nodded to each other, staring into each other's eyes for a moment, before Nightmare expanded his wings and gave a mighty push into the air, speeding back into the sky with the setting of the sun. Turning towards the baffled crowd behind her Vuui radiated power, the Guards before her inwardly terrified by her new demeanor and look that shrouded her normally calm face.

"My mission starts now Eirawen," her voice was a frightening calm as she spoke, "Taillteann is under attack by its civilians and the militant there are outnumbered, weakened and trapped. Contact the Elves and Giants, tell them to send in rescue units and squads to detain rebel rousers. Also, send for the coordinates of the last location that the 'Hunters' had been cited, I'll be needing those after this. Talvish will need to come as well, and to bring only his second and third in command no one else. I will be needing to speak with him also once this is over. As for this," with a wave of her hand the shattered glass flew back into their original panes and reformed once more, "Sorry about that, but there was no time to delay and Nightmare had to deliver me the message as soon as possible." She then turned to the leader of the Guards, "send out forces to every city within Ulahd, leave no stone unturned and destroy all of these that you come by," she handed him the flier that Andras had given her, "place troops all along the border of the castle and entryways, from windows to doors there needs to be a patrolman do you understand! No one is to harm the Princess while I am not here." Finishing her list of orders Vuui removed her limiters once more and left in a shield of smoke so that no one would see her true form and flew forward into the darkened sky like a deadly angel about to strike.

"General, we can't hold out for much longer!" One of the Privates yelled over the chants and screams of the rioters outside their door, body pressed against its frame alongside his comrades as they struggled to keep it closed from the mob that wanted nothing more than vigilante justice. The situation was escalating beyond control. Within moments the door would be shattered by the crowd and panicked grief-stricken emotional justice wanting civilians would flood in and tear them to pieces, or at least attempt to, they were soldiers after all and were stronger than the average run-of-the-mill milletian but they were still outnumbered significantly enough that the odds of them surviving without a successful retreat were almost slim-to-none. Their only hope was Vuui coming in with reinforcements and freezing everyone so that the rioters could easily – and safely – detained in a reasonable matter so that the issues could be resolved. It had only been ten minutes that Andras had sent Nightmare with the message for Vuui and though she knew that getting here would take time and that the General would never abandon them – Vuui having proven that countless times – time was of the essence and this time, lady luck seemed to not be on their side.

If they were going to survive this, they may very well have to do this without the help of their fearless and powerful leader to save them when the goings got tough. They would have to do this on their own and Andras was starting to realize that. Whether Vuui arrived in time or not, that door wouldn't be able to hold much longer and they needed a plan of action, and as the highest official within the vicinity that left Andras in charge, which meant that whatever happened here before Vuui finally did show up would be all on her.

"Privates!" Taking charge Andras began her orders. "On the count of three, each of you is to go into Trans and bust through the ceiling as fast as possible! Once through you stay in the air and keep going up until you are clear from the vicinity of projectiles! You do not stop, that's an order! Reinforcements should be on their way and us being trapped her only causes more work for the troops so it is up to us to get out of the situation! This will hurt but what that crowd will do to you I can promise will be much worst! Does everyone understand?!" Everyone nodded and gave the OK. Pausing for a moment Andras began to slowly breathe in and out, in and out, calming herself and separating herself from the situation at hand. Focusing back on her troops she began to count, "One… Two… Three!"

Instantly everyone within the Headquarters transformed into their Trans forms, glowing white armor closing itself over their previously armor-clad skin, their heights expanding, wings sprouting from their backs and power radiating off of them in waves. As soon as they had transformed and pushed from the door it flew open, citizen after citizen flooding in and whooping with victory, then shrieking as the soldiers simultaneously pushed off the ground with all their strength and broke through the ceiling above them and into the open air. They flew and the flew, dodging stray arrows and bullets – occasionally being scratched and lightly wounded – until they soared high enough towards the heaven that they wouldn't get struck. Gazing around the area Andras inspected the condition of Taillteann as the rioting continued, the frenzy of the people magnifying in proportions shockingly with each passing second. The whole village was in chaos. Fire lapped at various locations throughout the village, cheers and roars of the people were all that could be heard and drowned out any other sound within the vicinity completely. The Giants seemed to be having little to no trouble after defending their property, most of the citizens even in their crazed state understanding their weakness compared to the massive soldiers defending their headquarters. The Elves were faring pretty much the same as the Giants, their quick reflexes and advanced minds overpowering the humans far easier than Andras's troops could have ever hoped to have accomplished in the chaos.

"We need to land we won't be ab- " The sky turned black, lights flashed against the sky, sickening chills ran up the spines of every person in Taillteann, the riots stopping completely. Everyone held still as before them, looming over the walls of the village were the forms of multiple Girgashiy appeared before them. Demons riding their flanks and dropping like flies all around them…