The Stars that Fall
The realm of Order. Such a beautiful place it is. The everlasting streams of water. The bright sun and floating clouds. Is this what Edenia was like?
Jade sighs as she steps away from the end of the platform. She turns her attention to General Reiko and Khameleon as they stood before one another discussing their plans. With the three of them were the remaining members of the Locust Klan. Everyone was preparing for the signal from Anomaly, especially with Outworld's portals being reopened. Jade felt refreshed after reawakening from her death. She was surprised by how Reiko seemed to not be bothered by the fact that he was randomly resurrected as well. Neither of them even knew the reason they sought to assist the woman who took their realms from them. The same woman who caused their deaths.
"The Kamidogu must be secured once the realm's defenses have been called," Khameleon says. "The Locust Klan and I will be the distraction for Hotaru's sector to draw him from the third platform to the fourth. Jade will go in his building on the third floor alone. Reiko, you'll remain outside for Hotaru's return once he realizes what's going on."
"What if we're caught?" Jade asked.
"We won't be the only ones aiming to get the Kamidogu," Reiko responded. "I made sure of that."
"Fine," Jade responded. "Let's make this quick."
"Halt trespassers!" a voice shouted. Jade & Co looked back at the lone Seidan Guardsman approaching them.
"One guard isn't an issue," Reiko exclaimed. "Take care of him." The Locust members and Jade nod as they ready their weapons. In the blink of an eye, a ball of fire travels towards them from the sky like a meteor.
"By the law of Seido, you are hereby sentenced to death."
The blaze of fire lands, destroying part of the area and taking Anomaly's forces with it. The heat completely disintegrates them into ash. That is, all except Jade. The young Edenian was shrouded in a purple aura, allowing her to completely phase through the guardsman's attack. As she walks from the flames, the shroud begins to wane.
"A cheap trick like that won't work on me," Jade boasted as she summoned her pole. She starts twirling it with her right hand and prepares to attack. With one step, she feels her body soaring across the sky. Her eyes go dull as she stares at the back of the Seidan Guardsman. A faint smile cracks before she takes her last breath as the man's helmet falls beside him. The white bun atop of his head gave away his identity as the one called Hotaru. He looks back at her before sticking his blade in the ground.
"You can thank Princess Kitana for the advice she gave us years ago," he said with a stern look. Hotaru taps on his wrist, opening a portal away from the area. With another tap while inside the portal, the bridge connecting the platform to the rest of Seido unlatches, causing the entire sector to fall towards the endless abyss below.
As the portal closes shut, Hotaru finds himself walking through his tower. He greets many of his subordinates along the way, rushing up the stairs to his room. Third Floor, room Red C7. Always the same room. As he cracks open the door, he observes the realm's Kamidogu hanging on his wall. He places his hand on it, hearing whispers within his ears. He immediately yanks his hand away.
"It still speaks," he said. He taps on her helmet and closes the visor. A few taps on the wrist transforms his surroundings into that of Eunomia's office. The room was clad in white and blue, a much different contrast from other buildings. The glass behind her showed the outside of the realm, but no one would be able to see the insides of the room from outside the building. Around the room were six silhouette figures standing in place. One Slender individual with wild curly hair. One bulkier individual with a strange hat. Two wearing Seidan gourmets hiding their identities.
"This is everyone," Eunomia announces. She looks around at her five generals. "General Dairou, will you be returning soon?" she asks.
"Dairou?" Hotaru questioned.
"One of the Earthrealmers that were trapped here found a way to reopen one of the Portals in Outworld. He and four others escaped."
"Through the portal I assume," one of the Silhouettes muttered.
"Two other Earthrealmers and the Emperor Kotal Kahn halted my progress. It seems everything is going to hell here," Dairou explained.
"The realm of Outworld is no longer ours to deal with," Eunomia declared. "I need you here."
"That will be an issue," he says. "I will do my best to return as soon as possible."
"Not soon enough," another silhouette responds.
"Did something come up?"
"Aisa is coming," she says. "Her armies will bring chaos to our realm. Such a thing will bring power and opportunity to the denizens of the realm of Chaos."
"I believe she might've caused Earthrealm to merge with Outworld," Dairou says.
"Do not speak of things we have no concrete proof of, Dairou," Hotaru says. "We must uphold ALL order and fairness if we are to keep our realm safe."
"You are right," Dairou says, nodding. "Let's just say it's a theory of mine."
"One we should not take lightly," Eunomia says.
"Since it is relevant to the current discussion," Hotaru began, "the intruders on the seventh platform were Outworld's warriors and Zaterrians."
"How did they enter the realm?" Dairou asks.
"We are still investigating that question now," he responded. "However, I can assure you that they were from Outworld."
"Do you know who?" a silhouette questioned.
"The only one I recognized was Empress Kitana's friend."
"The one dressed in green?" Dairou asked.
"Yes." Dairou sighs and shakes his head.
"This is the concrete evidence you were looking for," Dairou said to them.
"How so?" Eunomia asked.
"Ma'am," he said, "Jade's been dead for the past two years."
"And Aisa destroyed the portals a year ago," said the larger silhouette.
"Which means she likely had those Saurians drag the girl's body here," Eunomia said. "Dairou, the other general. Where is he now?"
"Is he not here?" he asked, looking at the sixth silhouette that had been sitting quietly. Eunomia huffs and cuts off communication with the silent man.
"We have been compromised. The enemy is among us," Eunomia said.
"Should we activate the weapon of Judgment?" the larger silhouette asks.
"Such a weapon might plunge this city into chaos as it did decades ago." Eunomia stretches her arm forward. "Defend your platforms. Stand your ground. Drive any invaders out of the realm," she commanded. "There is another way to do this without the Weapon of Judgment. I just need time."
"How long do you expect Anomaly to arrive?" Dairou asks.
"The woman has arrived," said the slender silhouette. He shuts off his holograms as the meeting adjourns.
One by one, each of the holograms were deactivated before only Hotaru and Eunomia were left. The Seidan leader bowed to Eunomia before cutting his own hologram off. He raises his visor and stares into the skies above Seido. Numerous portals emerge above the many different platforms of Seido. Although many warriors fall from the skies, their numbers are not as numerous as they may have expected. Eunomia was correct in the end. Deception was Anomaly's strongest weapon.
End of Chapter 7
(Upcoming—The Order of Six)