Feb 24th
Ripplescale Redfeather fell through the sky buffeted by the air and the blooming terror and fear in the Force, coming far stronger than normal yet meeting their ragged mental defenses and parting around them in the Force, like they were a rock in a flood. Their left arm lacked any feathers at all, a large blaster burn prominent in the forefront of their final moments before… this. It was not the only wound they had had, but it seemed to be the only one that made the trip.
They had felt something grab them, as they died to the blaster fire of soldiers they had led for three long years as a General of the Grand Army of the Republic. Something monstrously distant in the Force had reached out of the foam of reality and grasped their soul as they died, pulling them out of communion with the Force. And then the changes began.
In a single moment that lasted forever, Ripplescale's connection to the Force was sundered and reforged stronger than ever, but bound to an alien presence, a distant thing that radiated a strange cloying affection. They had always known how to handle a hydrospanner and replace a power coupling, but in that single moment their mind burned with knowledge, an endless bonfire of the technologies of the Corsuca Galaxy, past, present and even future. And then there were the new abilities. Amidst all of this, their body turning strong as steel, their mind burning and their soul reforged, they saw a vision.
In the far distance, as they floated in the depths of space, they watched two crystalline worms undulating through a myriad of dimensions.
[IGNORANCE] blossomed a commanding Voice, laced with information and context. These two worms were ignorant savages, slash-and-burning sentient species in the search of the Answer, to eternal life. The voice considered itself above them. And it had a plan to kill them, with Ripplescale as the keystone.
The vision jumped, and Ripplescale now could see the Voice, another worm spiraling through dimensions, but leaner and alone. It was getting farther away, as they fell towards the blue-green planet. [CURIOSITY] spoke the closest worm, covering half the vision, broadcasting almost child-like feelings of glee at Ripplescale.
[DESTINATION] the farther worm said.
[AGREEMENT] the closer one said, almost absently.
The worms were going to infest this world and hundreds, thousands, millions more. Untold trillions of sentient beings would die when the worms finally turned. Something no Jedi would or could let happen willingly. And the suffering before it happened would be out of the worst exploitation vids of the underbelly of Coruscant.
It was with this knowledge in them they fell through the sky of the blue-green planet they knew was called Earth Bet in entirely different universe, let alone galaxy. They wanted to go back, to question Captain Jax why the Clones turn on them, but knew they couldn't and let the feeling go into the Force. There would be time for questions and mourning later, Ripplescale told themself. They were several thousand feet above a metropolis sitting on a wide winding river, filled with white-hot fear and black despair, vehicles fleeing on roads like tiny shiny bugs. They had their lightsaber, their general's uniform, and several new and old powers. They could feel feathers and scales eagerly drinking the sunlight, their body hardening, their reserves growing. They knew what they need to do. Where to go was the question?
A question answered by rotation of their head, their third eye catching a glimpse of figures appearing out of nowhere in a circle on top of a hill, which had what appeared to be tents set up in a somewhat military style. They focused on the hill, and found it a hive of activity, and bafflingly had the presence of sentients that appeared to fly without packs or wings, something they themself was supposed to be able to do, but had never seen before. With intent and ease, Ripplescale's falling smoothed out into a glide, before they accelerated for the encampment.
As they approached, one of the fliers headed for them, meeting them a couple hundred feet above the fast-growing camp, a woman in purple and gold jumpsuit with an iridescent wavy-cut cape and a gold helmet with a plume of white.
"Greetings," Ripplescale called out in English, the dominant trade language of the world. "I have come to assist whatever battle is at hand."
"Mauvelight. Are you new? You, uh, you look like a dinosaur. You some kind of Changer, or a Case 53?" the woman asked, as she floated, not getting closer than ten feet.
From what Ripplescale knew with the implanted knowledge of this world, and of its potential future, Case 53s were victims of a horrific crime against sentients, stripped of their lives and often forced into villainhood for the benefit of supposed heroes who purchased their powers or simply because they knew no better. They were most often plucked from other Earths, and sent to Earth Bet once the barbaric 'procedure' was finished, similar to how Ripplescale themself was plucked and changed. They would be honored to be considered one, but that was not who they were.
"Neither. I am Ripplescale Redfeather, an honorable Jedi Knight of the Galactic Republic. Of course, I suppose that will be hard to believe without proof."
She snorted good-naturedly, amusement bubbling, clearly not believing them. "Okay, Changer it is. Is this your first Endbringer battle?"
"Yes, I am unfamiliar with any procedures."
"When you land, grab an armband. The Sidekicks will be handing them out, carrying boxes. From there, they'll direct you where you need to go."
"Thank you. I hope to see you again when this finishes. May the Force be with you." With a gentle hand motion, they smoothed the whirling eddies of uncertainty and doubt, and strengthened the resolve of Mauvelight.
She nodded, a bubble of humor in her voice, "And also with you, Jedi Knight." She giggled. "I needed that. See you on the other side."
A brightly colored young man with fear in his heart gave them a wristband, a sleek thing that held a screen with a map of the city, and a couple simple buttons.
"Press the red for override, the green to send a message, and both for a hard override that will address every wristband. And-and when you put it on, press the green button and give your cape name."
A cape name. A name for which ones with power are known by, to hide behind. There would be no hiding for a Jedi Knight, no skulking. And their form wouldn't let them, even if they wanted to. They pressed the button and said, "Knight Ripplescale."
"Name 'Knight Ripplescale' confirmed," the wristband said in a soft, feminine voice.
"N-now," the boy said, trying to not stare at their long, serrated teeth, "the Capes are gathering further down. F-from there you'll be given directions."
They followed the other 'capes'—a misnomer given the dearth of actual capes—down the hill, where nearly a hundred had gathered, and more were coming. Floating above, in the center of the crowd, were three people. In the first they saw a strong hero's heart. He wore a blue jumpsuit with grey flames, and blue and grey halfmask, his blond hair and hearty smile visible. In the second, a worn and pitted thing, black and shriveled. She wore a black and grey costume with a skirt, knee-high boots and elbow-length gloves with a wide, heavy cape that flowed over her shoulders and draped onto the ground beside and behind her, and a steel helm like a Spartan helmet, with her hair spilling out behind her. The third, a thick and bitter rind of jealousy and inadequacy over a hero's heart. He wore a green-white skintight suit, with a heavy hood and cape built in and sleeves that draped over his hands. The interior of his hood and sleeves were filled with a soft green light, and he wore an opaque glassy helm that glowed blue-green, his eyes barely visible.
The Triumvirate. Legend, Alexandria, and Eidolon. Two were redeemable. The third… They had to remind themself that one can always come back to the Light, and even the Darkest of people had some Light in them. Still, they knew only the barest breadth of the crimes committed by Alexandria and that was enough to condem her for life. Legend was in the middle of a speech as they approached through the crowd, humans having always been particularly tense with sharing their space. It seems that didn't change in a new universe.
Legend spoke of hope, of change, and chances. "This is the earliest we've known of an Endbringer's arrival, ever. We have had an unprecedented thirty minutes to prepare, and if the Simurgh—" At that word a ripple of fear and terror goes through the crowd, and Ripplescale casually calms it with the immense power of the Force flowing through them. "—continues her current pace, we expect another half hour longer."
He continued on, explaining how the battle would be fought, having previous attenders raise hands so capes would know who to follow in the heat of battle. They would be divided in to groups based on ability and desire, and staggered, so that not too many capes would be off cycle, resting and counting down the minutes until they had to go back in. It seemed all very… amateurish, and likely to fall apart in the chaos. From what they knew of the future, that's often what happened. If they had been a little more militant, a little more focused, could Earth Bet have already killed one? Perhaps. And perhaps one would die today, by a Jedi Knight's hand. One could hope.
It was as the speech was ending that Alexandria locked eyes with Ripplescale. They stared at each other for maybe half a minute, their three eyes on hers. A myriad of emotions went through the woman, faint like they came from great distance, ending in cautious curiosity, before she broke their gaze.
"All Brutes and frontline fighters, gather around Alexandria, all Blasters and ranged fighters with me. Search and Rescue with Prism, here," Legend said, pointing to a young blonde woman in a shining dress.
With the sun shining on Ripplescale, their feathers rippling in the wind, their daggerclaws clicking rhythmically, they made their way to Alexandria, their lightsaber in their good hand. Once more the crowd parted around them, leaving them space for their tail lash slightly, the only hint of any nervousness in their tightly controlled form.
"Fliers are with me, form groups of four. These will be your flight groups. Dinosaur, you're with me," she said, pointing to them. "Land based, gather around Kingcobra. He'll be your lead for this battle."
They approached Alexandria, gently lifting off the ground, secretly delighting in flight. "My name is Knight Ripplescale, Alexandria."
"Ripplescale, then. I wanted to ask you some questions. Do you have any memory issues, any amnesia?"
"No, I am no Case 53. You are not the first to ask."
"Then you are a Changer," she said, feeling of faint relief.
"No, I am no Changer. I was born this way, and the Force willing, I will die this way. I am a Sauraptorian."
Something seemed to click in her eyes, and she dismissed whatever curiosity she had. "I understand. What are your powers?"
"I am powered by the sun, with flesh of steel, speed, flight and beams of light. I have telekinesis, precognition and enhanced reaction times, and most importantly, a sword that can cut through almost anything. I am a veteran martial artist with decades of rigorous training."
Alexandria nodded. "I suspect one thing it will not cut through is an Endbringer, but we shall see."
"The Force is with me, today. Perhaps it shall be with us all, and we shall kill the Simurgh."
She only nodded, and then made her way through the crowd, picking two other capes, a brute of a human named Olympic, and a slight woman in a black and white costume named Permanence. Both seemed awed to be chosen, with kernels of fear.
They could literally feel themselves getting stronger the longer they stood in direct sunlight. Not strong enough, but stronger, and it synergized with the Force, deepening and widening the river that rushed through him by little bits. If only the miasma of fear and despair and hopelessness didn't fill the air. They would have enjoyed their first couple hours on Earth Bet sunbathing and contemplating their place.
Instead, they flew to meet a strange figure that fell from the sky sedately, human-like if a giant, fifteen feet tall, naked and covering her modesty with wings. Alexandria and her team, would be the first to engage, starting an aerial battle before the Endbringer lands, with the Blasters setting up at the calculated landing spot, and those who can taking potshots at the Simurgh. The next Brutes would come in a half a minute later, and the next half a minute after them, and so on, until it would be time for Alexandria's group to rotate out, back to the tents for decompression from the Song.
Speaking of which, the Force rippled as the Simurgh began to sing when they got close enough, her mouth opening despite no audible sound. They could feel a pressure trying to worm it way into their minds, but their defenses, natural and new, blocked it out. Silence filled their mind, and their heart beat a little easier, knowing they were unaffected by such a terrifying thing. To either side of them, Permanence and Olympic winced, before shaking their heads and pushing a little faster. Alexandria had no reaction.
And then the battle engaged, as Alexandria accelerated and slammed into the Endbringer like a rocket, cracking skin and sending a spray of black ichor. Next Olympic took a wing and wrenched, tearing feathers, while Permanence grappled a leg and squeezed with her whole body, the leg beginning to decay. And Knight Ripplescale of the Grand Army of the Republic, waited.
Another wing swung and batted Olympic off at speed, while her other leg lifted and twisted, to push off Permanence with the side of her foot. And that was when Ripplescale made their move. Lunging forward, their blue lightsaber igniting only moment before it connected and sheared through the leg in a diagonal cut at the calf. The Simurgh left foot went tumbling down, smoking heavily, and the lightsaber felt hot in their hand, like they had pushed it near its limit.
The Simurgh reacted a moment later, the psychic pressure she exuded increasing, and she flailed, grabbing Alexandria as she came rocketing by, and swinging her down where Ripplescale had been just moments ago, sending Alexandria into the ground. But not where they were now. Could this being not see them? Were they one of these so-called 'blindspots?'
More Brutes piled on as the Simurgh got closer, causing cracks and bruises on the surface of the perfect skin, but not doing much more. Twice more there was a chance to detach an errant limb, and Ripplescale darted into the crush, letting the Force guide their blow. Half a wing and a hand detached, smoking, the lightsaber now dangerously hot.
They put it away, and leapt onto an empty space on the creatures back, tearing small furrows and cracks with their steel daggerclaws, holding on with their hands, even biting the creature's neck. She tasted like salt and rock and metal and their teeth only made the barest of scratches.
Then Alexandria was yelling, "All off. Blasters ready!" and they immediately fled, a warning in the Force screaming to move. Searing light in a rainbow of colors pounded the Endbringer, sloughing of flesh and feathers, as she defended her torso. The psychic pressure was slowly building. Buildings tore themselves apart, rising to block and defend the Simurgh, moving in a frantic fashion, as beams tore through them or she didn't move quickly enough. For over a minute, Ripplescale watched as defenses slowly grew, and the great bombardment slowly stopped doing damage.
What hope had been building plummeted, when the Blasters finished and the Simurgh still stood strong. Then the death began. What had been a defensive measure was suddenly offensive, as debris raced out in the momentary pause and smeared cape parts over Canberra. The Blasters broke, quickly fleeing the rain of debris, only to pause when a huge green energy shield appeared defending their retreat.
The armband broadcast endless injuries and deaths, helping no one.
"This ends today, foul mockery!" cried out Eidolon, from where he flew, his voice somehow carrying. With a hand, he swept a horrid-looking yellow beam that caused the debris shield to melt like acid, before it splashed against the Simurgh. Alexandria, meanwhile lead a renewed charge on the Endbringer, bringing the land-based Brutes with her, as they were injured, and died from errant blaster blasts that had started up again, and debris from the battle.
Permanence was with them, watching from the side, slightly shaking. Ripplescale put a hand on her shoulder and she tensed.
"The Force is with us today. Trust and hope, Permanence."
She nodded and stood straighter. "With that damn sword of yours, maybe so."
It still sat hot in its holster, slowly ticking as it cooled down.
"It will not be a single person who brings down such a beast, but a group, together. A lone hunter dies, but the pack survives."
While they spoke, death granted a reprieve to a half-dozen souls, and then their timers were going off. Olympic did not return with them.
For a long fifteen minutes the two sat in a tent listening to soothing music that muffled the sound of fighting in the distance, as more and more Brute and Blaster teams returned from the fray, missing teammates, some bearing minor injuries that didn't need the attention of the medical tents. Then Alexandria entered and the mood lifted briefly at the sight of her.
"Knight Ripplescale and Permanence, it's time."
As she lead us into the air, they could see the fight had moved more than a couple city blocks, to some sort of sprawling campus on the river. One of the buildings had its roof peeled like a can, and debris rained up into the air, into something that warbled danger in the Force. A growing danger that must be stopped.
"She has begun to build some sort of device. It must be destroyed. The Smirugh has trouble with other precognitives, and she seemed to have trouble with you, Ripplescale. If I distract her, could you destroy it?"
They nodded and gave a hiss of affirmation. "It radiates danger in the Force. I will deal with it as swiftly as one deals with a CIS superweapon and prepare for it to explode in the aftermath."
There was a distant sense of bemusement from Alexandria, and confusion from Permanence.
"You know the Force isn't real, right? It's made up."
They gave her a closelipped grin. Humans never understood their actual smile. "You have much to learn, young one. Let this elder show you that the Force is very real, and with us."
The battle raged when they arrived, a desperate struggle that seemed to be futile against the deft telekinesis and precognition of the Simurgh. She stood amidst clear air, seemingly singing with her eyes closed. One hand was missing, and her left leg beneath the knee, cracks and bruises covered her, and her shoulder was melted and warped, revealing perfect black bone. Three of the nine wings were completely gone, and of the six only one remained undamaged, her smallest. Yet she stood in the air without a care for the world.
It made them sick.
With resolve, while Alexandria battled the Simurgh, and Permanence followed her, looking for an in, Ripplescale Redfeather, Jedi Knight, sat atop a roof overlooking the battlefield and meditated. What they were attempting to do was something only Knight Skywalker could reasonably do with his ridiculous strength, but with their Solar reserves and their new, deeper connection to the Force, and a little luck, perhaps they could pull it off.
Deaths and injuries cycled from the armband, but they paid little attention to it.
Cycling their breathing, and letting go of all the little emotions, the despair, the fear, the worry, the disgust, into the Force, they reached out and pulled. They could feel, through the swirling cloud of debris and unfortunate humans caught in the crossfire, the object that screamed danger in the Force. It was a slowly growing sphere of material, building itself in the air like some mad scientists daydream. What would happen if they just went and squeezed it? At the errant thought, there was no sense of danger, so they went and followed through. It was surprisingly easy.
Immediately the sphere destabilized, wobbling and breaking apart with a squeal of tearing metal and the shatter of crystal, and the Simurgh turned and looked at them. The building they were on exploded, sending them tumbling through the air, before they corrected themselves, contorting their body to dodge debris as the Force warned them again and again. Still, it wasn't enough as speeding rebar launched itself against their skull, sending them stumbling through the air, their head ringing. Something else crashed against them, cracking ribs, and they let go of flight, slamming into the grass outside a campus building, and scampering for cover, as the Force warned against another dangerous series of attacks. They crashed through a window into a building, only for the building to began to shake.
The armband squealed about mass casualties.
A growing sense of danger had them fleeing through a cafeteria and down a hallway, headed south and out a set of double doors, their claws clicking on the linoleum floors, as dust fell and the building groaned. The door led to an empty street with abandoned cars; the air filled the sound of crackling beams of fire, and laser discharge and the thud and whistle of heavy objects flying.
They did not slow, knowing they risked death if they stayed in one place. But the Simurgh would expect them to flee, to run scared like a rat. It was how these creatures worked, on terror and fear. Well, Ripplescale already died once, and it wasn't so bad before they were stolen away. If they die here, killing the Simurgh, it would be a good death. So they arced themselves back around towards the Angel, taking to the air, as the building they were just in fell on itself.
A rictus frown marked the Simurgh's face, as she lashed out in swathes of telekinetic destructions, while Blasters and Brutes put up a desperate struggle. For over a minute Knight Ripplescale watched, waiting, every second, every injury, every needless death weighing on them, but the Force said hold, and so the Jedi Knight held.
A single slice through the undamaged wing, flared out for only a few moments. Something ground against the blade, causing the handle to heat exponentially. There was the briefest sense of give, of tearing through, and then the lightsaber exploded, incinerating Ripplescale's hand and blasting them off the Endbringer.
By the time they recover, the cheering had started.