Chapter 11
The portal had been opened right under the enemy base on Earth. But the place was abandoned. Judging by the blood that stained the walls and floor, and the scratch marks embedded into the stone, the team suspected Evils were under the control of the Mindworm.
Beecher led the team through the hallways, which Nox found to be strange. He always lurked to the back, being used to watching their sixes for snipers.
"Beecher?" Nox inquired.
Beecher grunted, and then stopped, only to turn and face her. He raised a brow.
Nox shook her head. "It's… nothing."
Lloyd stopped Beecher by landing a hand on his shoulder. He pulled him against the wall before he could round the next corner. Boomer and Nox froze, and then sank into the shadows, keeping their weapons close.
"What is it?" Nox whispered.
Lloyd's eyes narrowed. "I heard something." He rounded the corner, keeping his sword close. Then his breath caught. "Come check this out."
The team rounded the corner, seeing an abandoned soldier sitting in the corner. He held a pistol in his hands, a bloody deep gash in his shoulder. His eyes looked crazed as he glanced at each team member in turn.
"Lloyd? Beecher? What… what are you doing here?" Lloyd opened his mouth to say something, but Plisskin shook his head violently. "Doesn't matter. My mind was nearly smashed to bits by that thing. He took the entire military with him, twisted their minds to serve him. But I couldn't do it. I just barely slipped away."
The Elite Team had known Plisskin as their helicopter pilot since the Castle Project began. But Etrius had gotten to know him more, hence Plisskin flew him to the first and second castles.
Nox kneeled to his level. "Focus, Plisskin. We need your help. Etrius is—"
"I know. I know! He was taken by that piece of shit." His voice cracked.
"Do you know where they went?"
Plisskin's eyes darted between Nox and Lloyd. "They went back to our home. I heard them speaking, saying they wanted the heart of the city."
Lloyd's eyes swept across the floor, deep in thought. Then they widened. "The city's central generator. It holds the world's most powerful battery. Eternal energy. If that bastard tampers with it…"
"All hell will break loose." Beecher finished, his grip on his sniper instinctively tightening.
Nox fixed her full attention on Plisskin. "Look, we need your help. You're the only pilot left, and there's no quicker way to get to the central battery than by flight."
Plisskin's eyes widened. "You're not asking me to—!?"
"Relax, pilot."
"No! I'm not facing that bastard again!"
Nox stood up as Lloyd stepped forward. "Look, we're trying to make this easy," His hands unconsciously went to the hilt of his sword, holstered at his hip. "Earth is on the verge of destruction, and you are the only one who can help us stop it. Do this for us, and Etrius will be set free."
Upon saying his comrade's name, Lloyd's grip on his sword faltered, but he regained his composure.
Finally, Plisskin swallowed hard. He hesitantly climbed to his feet. "Alright. But don't come crying to me if the chopper gets blown out of the sky."
A smirk performed on Boomer's face.
As they ascended the stairs leading towards the helicopter pad, Plisskin couldn't help but ask. "Why was everyone suddenly calling you Rebels? Rumors have been spreading that you've been trying to destroy the cure for—"
He was met with Beecher's dark glare.
Lloyd avoided Plisskin's eyes. "We'll inform you about it in the chopper."
~X~
The city lay in ruins, clouds of ashes blocking out the sun. What little slices of sunlight that seeped through touched the ground below.
The Elite Rebels had the highest view of it all, within Plisskin's chopper. In the distance, gold light and shadows danced into the sky like a pyre.
It was coming from the city's central battery.
Beecher swore—The General and the Mind Worm had gotten there before them.
"Plisskin!" He shouted. "Hurry the fuck up!"
Nox stood at the edge of the door, her hair floating in the updraft of the rotors. She shouted over the roaring winds, "I'm going out! Maybe I can get there faster—"
Then she remembered. The Mind Worm had taken her powers. She was just as average as any mortal.
"Approaching enemy territory! I'll be providing air support!" Plisskin shouted over the roaring winds, his speaker having been destroyed. "Hold on to your asses and take back what's ours!"
Plisskin lowered the chopper closer to the ground. Lloyd kicked down the rope, and each team member in turn slid to the ground. They made their way into the city, towards the central battery. It was a large dome that seemed to touch the sky, electrical light running beneath the glass. Golden light and shadows danced within it, rising into the sky like a smoke signal.
"Let's move!" Beecher growled.
They made their way into the city, the number of Evils uncountable. But they were more focused on running to the generator than stopping the team. Evils darted past Nox at speeds that nearly knocked her down.
Boomer aimed for a headshot, but Beecher lowered his aim. "Don't make them angry. Let's just get this over with!"
The central generator loomed closer, and a sudden updraft stopped them. Almost as powerful as a cyclone.
Something sprang from the crest of the generator's dome, into the sky. It dropped back down before the team, creating an indent in the concrete. Etrius glared at the team with the Mind Worm's eyes. White light bled from his eyes, swirling around his form.
"Get ready to fight!" Nox held her sword shoulder-level in unison with Lloyd.
Boomer aimed his shotgun. Beecher, his sniper.
The Mind Worm raised extended an arm towards them. The light in it's eyes grew brighter.
"Fire!"
Boomer clicked the safety off and landed a round into Etrius' shoulder. It passed through his skin and embedded into the opposite building. No effect.
Beecher's finger hesitated at the trigger.
An explosion of light erupted form the Mind Worm's palm like a supernova. The team was hurled back by an invisible force.
Nox shook herself and leaped up from the dust. She charged at the form of the Mind Worm, unleashing a battle-cry. She raised her sword and slashed it down on his unmoving form. The Mind Worm vanished in a tuft of wind, and reappeared behind her. He sliced his hand through the air, white light tracing it. Nox leaped out of the way.
The Mind Worm curled his hands into fists, bright white light seeping into his pours, like he was charging up. Nox ran back to the team. "TAKE COVER!"
The team split up, taking cover behind buildings and wrecked cars. With a brutal cry, the Mind Worm lashed out with his arms, exploding light and sonic waves through the air. Like being hit by a bomb, the exterior of buildings fell away into dust, shattering the concrete.
Lloyd was thrown back by the force, his back hitting the opposite building. A piece of shrapnel was embedded in his shoulder. He coughed up blood.
His ears still rung, muffled voices shouting in the distance.
Nox whirled her attention from Lloyd to the Mind Worm. The General stood by his side, arms crossed, and a smirk performing on his face. "It's over for you all."
Red tinged the edges of Lloyd's vision. Through the haze of pain, he saw the form of The General.
~X~
~A/N~ I was planning to go into Lloyd's past but, ehhhh... -_- It just seems really tiring.