CHAPTER 47

'Obviously they aren't real men' Lillith said to Mordecai, who still had his revolver raised and at the ready.

'I dont care what they are, I just wanna know how to kill em!' Mordecai grumbled. Duraph had positioned himself on a sentry tower, from which he had a perfect view of the impending battle.

'Idiots! They cant be killed! Most likely it was one of you that killed them in the first place! Oh how Jack laughed at my ideas, said we wouldn't need the army once he had Warrior. But, as per usual, I was right, he was wrong' Duraph shrugged. 'He was too caught up in releasing the Warrior to take care of you mob when he had the chance. But I certainly wont be making that mistake!' Duraph assured them.

'Guys? You hear me?' Axtons voice came over their echos once again.

'Axton!' Mordecai said with relief 'Whats your status man? Not gonna rush you or anything, but we're gonna need some backup in hear real soon!'

'Angel has taken back the echo system, but she cant get into the security system. Something is happening to Maya, she cant get close enough to the place, something about her siren energy she says. She keeps fainting when she tries to use so much energy. Willy and Brick are scouting around for more ammo...' Axton spoke very fast, worried he could be cut off again at any moment.

'I know, Duraph is using some kind of eridian technology to steal our energy,' Lillith said into her headset 'Tell Maya to avoid using her phase powers wherever possible'

'Sure, will do' Axtons voice crackled with static. 'Whats going on in there?'

'Well, we are up against a dead army!' Mordecai fired a shot at the approaching soldiers once again. The dead man stumbled, but didn't fall.

'What the hell? What do you mean a dead army?'

'Just hurry the hell up and get in here!' Lillith yelled, firing at the advancing troops. Both Mordecai and Lillith ducked as the soldiers began to return fire, and they could hear Duraphs laugh in the background.

'We need to take cover!' Mordecai began moving for the barrier that surrounded the platform, when an electric barrier appeared around them.

'Shit!' Lillith cursed. The dead men walked through the electrified field barrier without any harm. Lillith rushed forward, and lifted her palm, phase-blasting a dead man into smithereens The pile of rotting pulp remained exactly that. Mordecai drew his sword as he came up beside Lillith, poking at a shiny object in the goo.

'Look, its a chip of some sort!'

'I'm guessing this is what animates the corpses' Lillith fired her incendiary revolver at more approaching men. But it had little effect. 'So if we destroy the chip, we kill the soldier.'

'Just one problem, how do we know where the chip is?' Mordecai yelled, swinging his blade at another approaching soldier. It severed the head easily, and the lifeless body dropped in a heap on the ground, but the heads eyes continued to stare up at Mordecai. 'Head, Lillith! It's in their heads!' Mordecai called to the siren, who had phase blasted a group of zombie soldiers into a pulp. Mordecai continued to lop the heads off the continues stream of dead soldiers. He narrowly dodged bullets, and tried fervently to ignore Duraphs cackle in the background. More and more dead men appeared, and it wasn't long before he was back to back with Lillith, in the centre of the sectioned off platform.

'My energy's low' Lilliths breathing was laboured also 'And I'm getting low on ammo'

'Same' Mordecai grumbled.

'Argh!' Lillith screamed first as a bullet nicked the inside of her right arm, and continued through to graze Mordecais left side. He clutched at his ribcage, and ground his teeth together, pushing back the thought of pain.

'You know,' Lillith began 'If there was, you know, something you wanted to say... to a certain someone, before this all goes to shit... now would probably be the time to do it' Lillith gasped, trying to reserve all her remaining energy. She pulled a grenade from her belt, and lobbed it into the pack of approaching soldiers, which now surrounded them on all sides. They were approaching ever so slowly, as if drawing out the pairs inevitable demise for Duraphs own pleasure. Mordecai sighed. Things indeed were looking dismal. He tapped the buttons on his echo, and waited.

'I am still trying to get into the system.' Angels stern voice came over his echo.

'Angel, Its Mordecai. I only wanted to speak to Montayva. Is she there?'

'Oh, sorry, I was expecting Axton again. Speak, she is right here'

'Mord?' Her voice quavered as she spoke first, and he knew instantly she had been worrying for him.

'Babe, look, er, things are pretty bad here' He started, not really knowing how to proceed. 'But I just wanted to warn you, if we dont return, you need to find a way off this planet. Duraph is crazy, he has somehow recreated some sort of Eridian technology, and its soaking up all of Lil and Mayas energy.'

'I can help, I can be there in a moment...' The younger siren started.

'No!' Mordecai yelled 'Its too dangerous, Lillith cant even explain it, you're already weakened as it is. Please, just stay there' He begged.

'Please...' Her soft voice continued.

'No!' He yelled again, more forcefully 'Promise me you wont!'

'But Mordecai, I'm stronger than you think' he continued to plead.

'We seriously underestimated this place. Its far too dangerous. I'm sorry babe, I really am. But you need to go, you need to save yourself. Please, do it for me' He heard her soft sobs, and it tore at him worse than any bullet wound. 'Please'

'Ok' She sobbed, finally. He let out a sigh, if he could save his siren, it would all be worth it.

'Promise me...' He urged.

'I promise' She managed to choke out the words between sobs, but she was cut off once more as the line went static. The electric field barrier dropped then, and the soldiers began to advance once more.

'Enough chit chat!' Duraph bellowed pressing more buttons on the control panel on his arm. 'I'll finish you pair off, then go and take care of your measly friends'

'Guess this is it buddy' Lilliths back was pressed against Mordecais as they waited. 'You never know, we might come out of it lucky?'

'Wishful thinking' Mordecai grumbled, trying to accept the fact that his death was near. He removed his hand that was pressed against the bullet wound in his side. He took a deep breath.