Pain...
Pain like nothing he had experienced before, completely engulfed his new "Body". Even as he fled back to the ruins of his former castle.
Despite his confidence, Death Phantom had grossly underestimated the abilities of the Heavy Cruiser and was now paying the price. Numerous bullet holes and patches of burnt skin now covered his body. He could feel the liquid slowly leaking out of his wounds, followed by a burning sensation which made the pain unbearable.
But what really pained the demon incarnate, was the fact that his would be victory had been snatched away. First by Esmaaude's blissful ignorance in thinking she was the one who was actually in charge, and of course Serenity gaining the assistance of that iron cladded giant. A Giant that came in riding a war machine of unimaginable power, a war machine that had managed to drive him back and wound him gravely.
As he hid within the ruins of the palace, Death Phantom could hear the rumblings of the Siege Merciless. He though the ship was going to attack him once again and he dared to look out to see if his assailant was coming after him. But the Siege Merciless was not attacking. In fact, it was moving away with a speed. A speed which should not have been possible for a ship that size!
Impressive blue flames shooting out from the rear, as the cruiser made it's way back into orbit. Once again vanishing into the thick cloud cover that obscured the sky.
An overwhelming sense of rage once again filled the demonic entity. Not only had his plans fail, but had done so in spectacular fashion. Rather than finally defeating Neo-Queen Serenity and the damned Senshi once and for all, he was now hiding in the remains of the Black Moon's Palace. Licking his wounds like a dog which had lost a fight.
But he wasn't done, Serenity and her new ally would soon feel his wrath soon enough.
[ [ [ [ [ ¥ ] ] ] ] ]
It didn't take long for the drop ships to return to the Siege Merciless, the massive blast doors closed as they entered the hanger bays.
No sooner had this been done and the landing struts made contact with the hanger bay floor, the massive warship began to move away from the ruined city and the destroyed palace it surrounded. It's nose pointed upwards as the ship gained altitude, before the massive sub-light engines roared to life and shot out a pair of impressive cones of plasma that ripped away at the planet's gravitational pull. But it also had the unintentional effect of destroying what was left of said city and the force of the engine blast struck the rock surface and obliterated everything in it's wake.
Eventually the Siege Merciless was able to make it into orbit, before disappearing into a hastily created slip space rupture and leaving Nemesis behind.
But while this was going on, another crisis was taking place on board the Valiant-class Cruiser and unfortunately for the Senshi, they had front row seats.
No sooner had the drop ship lowered it's ramp, Henry, James and Gordon floated up with what looked like a stretcher in tow.
"Get him to the Med Bay NOW!" Hannah's voice could be heard over the intercom system, just as the three Engineers made it to the badly wounded Spartan. Even more blood had begun to pool under his body, as the three artificial constructs placed what looked looked like clamps onto Logan's Armor. Clamps that began to glow a pale blue light, as the trio lifted the Spartan with ease and placed him onto the Stretcher.
All the while, Serenity and the Senshi watched in shocked silence, as the Engineers made their way off the Drop Ship with a speed and out of the Hanger Bay. Without saying a word, Serenity began to run after the group and was soon followed by her Senshi. Who were still shocked by what had taken place just minutes earlier.
Logan had saved their Queen/Friend from certain death. He had risked his life to help Serenity rescue them from Nemesis and now he was fighting for his life because of his selfless actions. Though no one said it, Logan had most certainly gained their respect by this point and no one questioned his character anymore. The least they could do now, was follow him and be there in a show of support for someone who had risked his life to rescue them.
Eventually, the group made it to medical bay where they found a rather puzzled/Irate Haruka. Who had been trapped within the facility up until this point and was surprised to see not only Serenity, but the rest of the senshi as well. But what really caught her attention was the inert form of Logan being carried from the stretcher and towards a contraption of sorts that suddenly emerged from the floor.
"We need to remove his armor, strap him in!" Hannah barked out, as the Engineers strapped him to the machine. Suddenly, small robotic "hands" began to move about and carefully remove pieces of Logan's Power Armor. All the while, Serenity and her Senshi looked on in concern as unnaturally pale skin began to appear.
Eventually, the Armor was completely removed and the women were met with a sight they were not expecting. For now laying before them, was a muscular yet frail looking human male in this early to mid 30s. He was completely bald with grey patches about his pale skin. But what really caught their attention, was the fact that he appeared to be a double amputee. As his left arm and leg were missing when the Armor was removed.
"Get him to the surgical station!" Hannah barked out again, her synthetic voice showing signs of genuine concern for the Spartan. Carefully, Henry and Gordon placed Logan onto the operation table while James activated the Emergency Medical Program.
Much like with Haruka, a metallic casing fully enclosed the wounded Spartan. All the while the Senshi looked on in a shocked silence...
"MOM!" a new voice cried out, as a pink blur flew into Serenity. Chibiusa could not contain her tears, as she hugged her mother tightly. She didn't care if she got into trouble at this point, the young woman was just glad that her mother was alright.
"Usa..." the Royal gasped in surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"We came to save you!." Ceres replied, just as she and the rest of the Asteroid Senshi entered. "What's going on? where's Logan?"
"Begining surgical Program S-990." Hannah suddenly announced, as the sounds of mechanical movements could be heard coming from the enclosed surgical table.
The sounds could be heard for several minutes, before the casing went silent. Then without warning, the Table moved backwards and became upright.
"Patient is not stabilized, initiating BACTA Treatment. Estimated time before Patient can be removed... Seventy-Two Hours."
"He's stable now, he'll be alright." Hannah announced, much to the surprise of the Senshi. Just as the metal casing retreated and reveal Logan completely submerged in a yellowish-green solution. thus allowing the Senshi to get their first real look at the man within the Armor.
He looked muscular yet frail... despite being emersed within the healing solution, the women could clearly see Logan's ghostly pale skin. Hell,it could be argued that he was even paler that Saturn. His pale skin was complimented by the numerous scars about his body, though it was clear to see that these scars were more surgical in nature. But of course, it were his missing limbs that really caught them off guard. Only metallic implants existed were his left arm and leg would be, implants they soon came to believe we're used to connect Logan to his power armor.
Even Haruka was at a complete loss for words as this point, as she too was taken aback by the sight of Logan floating within the tank. "What the hell is he...?" Haruka asked in awe, just as her wife came along side her. "What happened to him?"
"He's a Spartan, Tenoh-Sensei." Sailor Ceres suddenly spoke up, a somber expression now forming on her face. As well as the rest of the Asteroids and Chibiusa. "He is human, but... altered."
"What do you mean... altered?" Jupiter asked the younger Senshi, "Do you know something we don't?"
"There was a war." Chibiusa replied, gaining everyone's attention. "And Logan... is a result of that war. Hannah told us everything."
By now, the Serenity and her Senshi/friends were quite confused by this statement and soon looked at Hannah. The A.I. just shrugged a bit before she replied, "I think it would be best if we discussed this in the CC and left Logan alone rest. there is alot to talk about..."
[ [ [ [ [ ¥ ] ] ] ] ]
"So... Just who or what Logan is exactly?" Haruka asked, as she and the rest of the senshi (minus the Quartet) had now assembled in the CC.
"Logan is what is known as a, Spartan" Hannah began to explain, as a holographic image of the aforementioned super soldier appeared before them. "They are individuals who were selected to undergo augmentations to enhance create physically, genetically, technologically and mentally superior super soldiers for Specialized Combat Units."
"Why would such a super soldier be needed" Rei asked, feeling a bit unnerved by what she had heard.
"Because at the time, they were seen as needed." The A.I. explained, as the imaged soon changed to that of what seemed to be the milky way Galaxy. Soon, numerous dots began to be highlighted as Hannah continued...
"By the 25th century, Humanity had managed to expand into the Galaxy and establish hundreds of colonies. Unfortunately, the problems what humanity had hoped to escape in new era, followed them and soon, numerous insurrections began to erupt on dozens of worlds." Suddenly, some of the icons changed color and from what the Senshi could see, these changes encompassed the "Outer" regions of human territory.
"One by one, Colonies began to devolve into battlefields and the U.N.S.C. found itself being stretched to it's limit. The Spartans helped turn the tide, but the Insurrections continued. This went on for years with no end in sight, but that soon changed..."
Hannah then went on to explain the eventual arrival of a coalition of Alien Races called "The Covenant", over the Colony of Harvest. As well as the war that would drive humanity to the brink of extinction. Of the planets and burned and the billions that were slaughtered. Most of all, she told them that one thing that gave humanity hope during those dark times, were the Spartans who did what ever they could to hold the line.
All the while, Serenity and her Senshi reactions soon began to mirror that of Chibiusa and the Quartet when they were first told about the War. A wave of disbelief and horror soon gripped the senior Senshi, as they tried to digest just what they had been told. Even Haruka was at a total lost for words, even as Hannah continued to display images from the War. All the while, Neptune held on to her for support.
If there was one small mercy to it all, it was that Hannah did not tell them the whole truth about the Spartan Programs and it's dark origins or just where the first Spartans came from. Serenity, nor her court didn't need to know about one of humanity's darkest secrets.
Eventually, Hannah finished her story and the CC was soon returned to normal. Though by now a thunderous silence now flooded the room, as Serenity and the rest of the Senshi now fully understood just who Logan was and why he was "Created."
"So... he is a weapon?" Haruka asked fearfully, her mind still rushing with all she had just heard.
"In a way, he is." The A.I. replied. "But you must understand that he was... is a product of the environment he existed it. The war may be over, but the Galaxy is still a dangerous place and as a result, Spartans are still seen as needed."
There was another moment of awkward silence, as the Senshi were still lost in their own thoughts after hearing Hannah's explanation. Learning that there was a war that nearly brought humanity to extinction and that Spartans like Logan were possibly one of the few things that prevented it from happening. But eventually Serenity spoke up an asked...
"What about Logan? What is his story?"
Hannah just shrugged before she replied, "I'm sorry, but I am afraid I don't have access to that information."
"But why not?" Jupiter asked out loud.
"Because I am a Emergency Artificial Intelligence Program. I was created with the purpose of taking over the functions of the ship, if the original A.I. which was assigned was either destroyed or removed from the main computer core." Hannah explained. "I would not have direct access to the the ship's personnel files."
'"So you can't tell us anything about him?" Mercury asked.
"I may not have direct access to the files, but there is a way to access them." the A.I. suddenly announced, which peaked the interest of the assembled Senshi.
"How?"
[ [ [ [ [ $ ] ] ] ] ]
Sailor Pallas could only look on helplessly at the space man, as he floated motionlessly within the BACTA Tank.
She had managed to sneak away from the rest of her sisters and had decided to personally check on Logan, even though the rest of the quartet had told her no to. But despite being one of the older than two of her sisters, Palla still had that child like innocence that made her disregard her sisters' warnings and had gone back to the medical bay to see the Space Man again. Besides, she didn't want him to feel lonely as he slowly healed
Looking up at the wounded Spartan, Pallas could not help but to wonder just what he was dreaming about at that moment. He was asleep after all, as far as she knew anyway. She wondered just what was he like when he wasn't being a "Spartan". Did he have any hobbies? Did he have any favorite foods? Did he have a family or sisters like herself? Did he have any friends?
So lost she was in her own thoughts, Palla Palla didn't notice that Serenity and the rest of the senshi had now joined her in the medical bay. But while the Royal and most of her court and now joined the Asteroid Senshi in look on at the Spartan, Mercury had made her way towards one of computer terminals and began to access it with her own device.
"I wondered what happened to him?" Jupiter suddenly spoke up, alerting the Asteroid Senshi that she was no longer alone. "I mean... look at him. What could have made him want to become... that?"
"Missing an arm and a leg..." Venus spoke next. "and he was still able to help us."
"Hopefully, his file will help." the Senshi of Thunder replied, her eyes still locked on the floating Logan before her.
"Space man will be alright, right?" Pallas asked the older women, concern being clearly heard in her voice as she spoke. "Palla Palla wants him to be alright so he can show us his ship more!"
"Hannah said he should be fine." Mars replied, as she rested her hand on the shorter woman's shoulder. "I'm sure he will be."
"Got it." Mercury announced, alerting everyone to her success. "Got his file."
"Cool!" Venus exclaimed. "Now we can know more about the man behind the... power armor."
"Uh... yea." Serenity replied, just as she and everyone else gathered around the blue haired Senshi as she began to read/translate Logan's file. Little did they know just how human Logan truly was...
[ [ [ [ [ ¥ ] ] ] ] ]
A/N: Yea .. I know it's been a while. But you know how life I can be. I just hope this Chapter was worth the wait.
Anyway,I want to thank everyone who left a review/constructive Criticism, as well as added this fic as a favorite . It really helps motivate me and I hope you guys continue to enjoy the fic.
As always, please leave a review and I will see you in the next one.