They are all that's left. They have to fight through hell and beyond. And Death comes for them on a mechanical horse. They have to keep fighting on, no matter what. they intend to fix a simple, stupid mistake- one that caused the deaths of billions. Tonight is the night. If one lives, they all live. If they don't, they all die.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Havok landed hard, wheels churning up the thousand-year old dust. The entry craft wasn’t called a landing craft for a reason- it smashed itself to bits when it collided with one of the 50-foot corrals. We were at full speed when the wheels connected to the ground. Thankfully, there was no attackers. Yet.
'Erie, being back...’ Zilgan said as we trudged through the dust. Bones of the long dead cracked under the wheels.
'Enjoy this calm while it lasts. Train yourself with those turrets, we’re going to need them.’ I shouted back.
We spun around a large rock and noticed a hole in it. Clunkers were coming from the ground!
'Hang on!’ I ran straight into the Clunkers, sending them flying. The plow did its job well.
'Destroy them!’ A Clunker roared. It was quickly dispatched by a gauss shot from Zilgan’s turret.
‘You know, I think we’re set for what’s to come.’ I said to myself as I ran down a treaded variety. A clunker grabbed onto my viewport and tried to shoot me through the space. I, in turn, shot off the thing’s face with my pistol I had ready next to the driver’s seat.
We quickly killed at least three hundred Clunkers in our little attack, and only suffered a dent in the left side. Zilgan was sad that the painting was damaged.
‘So, the Havok’s a godly vehicle. We may actually stand a chance.’ Zilgan said.
‘Hey, anyone keeping a kill-count?’ Sprix shouted out as we smashed down the last Clunker.
‘I think I ran down at least 80.’ I replied.
‘I think I took down 30 or so, Hard to notice when you chaps kept blasting them before I got a shot off. good shooting, by the way.’ Cvran put in. He was on the automatic turret just behind me chair.
‘Alright, everyone start keeping count of your kills. Have a little fun, eh?’ I said.
'I’ll do my best.’ Vrach put in.
'That’s all that I can expect.’ I replied as we continued on. This used to be the Yefistal Sea- it was known throughout the planet for its beauty and the landscapes. I once took a boat ride on the surface of the water to see it when I was a young one. These spires of rock reached above the water like still standing watchmen. Small ecosystems grew on the 30 by 30 foot tops on the rocks, complete with their own bugs, plants, predators, and prey. Each one was different due to the type of rock and the height of the rock. Some had miniature jungles, even complete with very small rodents living just on the stone and dirt under their little paws. I remember seeing one that was just this massive nest build around a solitary tree where millions of sapphire blue bugs lived. We accidentally disturbed them, and they covered the boat with their sparkling shells. They died due to the fact that they left the nest. Tragic.
Now, they were barren stalks of stone, only suitable for dust.
'Reminiscing, Zakara?’ Cvran asked.
'Yeah. I traveled out here as a hatchling- I remember the beauty. Now- it’s all gone...’ I replied.
'Aye. I remember them well. The Metalists shall pay for their destruction.’ Cvran replied back. I nodded.
We sped past a stalk that was the centerpiece of the whole area. It was nearly 100 feet in circumference and at least 250 feet tall, made of pure diamond. I know that diamond was especially valuable on Earth, but here it’s as common as quartz. Still, it was magnificent.
The ecosystem that lived on it was the oddest of all. Because the diamond was created out of massive amounts of heat, and that fact that it was still connected to the volcanic fissure, it was always blistering hot to the touch. Even the water evaporated when it came close, creating a whirlpool around it. The creatures that lived on it were reptilian, but also somewhat aquatic. Some called it Hell’s Jewel. Others called it the birthplace of the Azaraxian race because the creatures that lived on top of it held remarkable resemblance to the Azarax of old. Now, it was nothing more than a memorial to all the species lost.
We sped past it, not even stopping for a quick mourning. We had a job to do.
Zilgan had been keeping an eye of the war happening in the sky.
'This doesn’t look good...’ He said. I stopped the Havok to see.
The Liberty’s Flame was being pounded from all sides, heavily damaged. She had fired off the Ship-buster more times then safely possible, and chunks were streaming off the massive laser. Hangar A-2 was nothing more than a large hole in the side of the ship and there was a massive hole about a third of a mile across near the rear thrusters. The cruiser may be nearly three miles long, but such damage like this it won’t survive much longer. I heard a crackle of static from the radio behind me.
'Zakara, we’re getting a transmission from Jaxx!’ Vrach cried. We tuned it in.
'...Damn it, hold that panel together! This is the last transmission of the Liberty’s Flame, ADF Flagship ID number 31! We are under heavy fire, sustaining massive casualties, and our Ship-buster is inactive! We have destroyed nine Metalist attack cruisers and one flagship of theirs, but they’ve succeeded in nearly destroying us! We’ve lost just about everyone... Any survivors, scatter! You don’t need to die this day.’ There was a big explosion on his side. 'Shit! Keep firing! Stop those Clunkers from entering!’ Another explosion, plus some screams. 'This is probably my last transmission. This is Jaxx; Second in command of the Anthro Defense Force, Part of the Four Anthros Of the Apocalypse, and Commander of the Seige That Never Was. Or hopefully shall never exist. This is Jaxx, signing off.’
We saw a large line of explosions rack the Liberty’s Flame, ending in a massive radial explosion when that ship’s main thrusters imploded. It was falling and breaking up!
'No!’ I cried.
'Oh god...’ Kiweni muttered. Cvran hugged her.
'Damn you bastard Metalists! All of you will taste my wrath!’ Sprix screamed at the burning sky. We turned to look ahead just to see a massive crowd of Metalists in front of us.
'Shit! Turn, now!’ Zilgan shouted over the gunfire. He quickly took a largebullet to the arm as we sped away.
'Everyone, keep shooting!’ I shouted out, plowing down a smaller corral. It fell on top of the crowd, but barely changed their ranks. Of course, the Liberty’s Flame was falling towards the direction we were being forced to... Very close...
'They’re trying to crush us under the wreckage!’ Vrach shouted over the roar the cruiser was making. I watched the Liberty’s Flame activate all the thruster that it could to give it more speed forward. Jaxx, you are an amazing person...
'Alright, this is going to be close!’ I screamed over the shattering roar of the falling cruiser and the gunfire. I think a few of us took some high-caliber bullets. The Cruiser was about to hit the ground...
'Cover your ear-holes, everyone!’ I screamed. the Cruiser started skidding along the ground, all of it apart from the back mile of it. The Ship-buster was still there... And it was a half-mile wide hole in the ship.
The trench it made as it skidded created a ramp and threw the ground up under us. It was sliding at insane speeds- I’d say 300 MPH. We jumped at it... And jumped through the Ship-buster! Well, landed in it and got flung out due to its speed. We flew through the air sideways at speeds not made for the Havok, landing and flipping nearly a dozen times before skidding to a halt. I think I may have broken a rib- I was battered to hell. But I strapped myself in, so I’m ok.
'Everyone still here?’ I shouted.
‘Gah- I’m here.’ Vrach said.
Cvran coughed. ‘I made it. Barely.’
‘Think I may have broken an arm...’ Kiweni said. Cvran shoved her arm back into the joint- just dislocated.
‘Ouch. I made it, though. Get a little more speed when jumping through a hole that’s going at 300 MPH next time, eh?’ She said.
‘Wait- Where’s Richi, Sprix, and Zilgan?’ Vrach asked. We jumped out of the Havok- we were safe for now; the crash took out the Metalists.
'Richi! Sprix, Zilgan, you guys here?!’ Cvran shouted. There was a cough in the dust and Richi pulled herself out. She had a large gash across her stomach and what seemed to be a broken arm. Vrach ran over.
'Damn Richi, you alright?’ He asked.
'Of course not! God damn, this hurts alot...’ She replied.
'Hang on, I’ll grab the first-aid kit.’ Vrach said. He ran back to the Havok.
'Sprix! Zilgan! Where are you?!’ I shouted into the dust. They were gunning, so they probably got flung far. Better look for them.
The Liberty’s Flame had skidded across the landscape for nearly ten miles, ripping a massive gash in the age-old dry sea. It had broken in half at the Ship-buster, and the rear half was about a fourth of a mile away, stuck in the ground at an angle. There was debris everywhere, along with bodies, fires, and flung-up corrals.
After some searching, we found our missing two.
'Wake up, Sprix! Wake up! Damn it, get up...’ Zilgan cried. He had a gash to his brow and probably some broken ribs, but otherwise he just sustained some cuts and bruises. Sprix, on the other hand, found her chest right in the path of a large, jagged pole that was attached to the center of a cross-beam. She was pinned to it, bleeding from her mouth. She was dead, crucified like a saint.
'God damn it...’ I muttered, clenching my fists. We had barely even started, and we had lost a friend due to my stupid ass stunt.
'Don’t beat yourself up about it, Zakara. If it wasn’t for your well-timed jump, we’d all be dead and smeared across the landscape by now. Or riddled by bullets.’ Vrach said after coming out of the dust.
'Sprix, please...’ Zilgan muttered.
'Come on, old friend. We can’t loose two people just yet.’ I said, giving him a hand.
'It’s just hard to belive she’s gone.’ Zilgan replied, staggering up.
'We have to fight on. She would’ve wanted us to keep fighting.’ I replied. Zilgan nodded, then picked up Sprix’s favorite sniper rifle which she always had with her. She had dropped it when she died.
'I will kill every last damn one of those robots, in return for what they’ve caused tonight. One shall be killed with her rifle for each one that even gave her the slightest discomfort.’
'Good words, Zilgan. But we must go.’ I said. He nodded and ran to the Havok. I and Vrach followed.

We were all injured badly now, but we could still fight. We would fight harder, even.
We left Sprix where she lay, on top of the cross. She shall be a grim reminder to the Metalists of their doom.
'We’ve been fighting for but two hours and the ADF flagship’s been destroyed and we’ve lost one person. What luck...’ I muttered as we trundled on. Vrach had taken the turret Sprix used to gun.
'It wasn’t your fault.’ Cvran replied.
'But I feel like it was. I was the one who drove through the hole like that, I should’ve expected to get caught by the surface and flung. I should’ve magnetized the wheels so that we would ride on the ship, not get flung by it.’
'But the back half ended up flipping. If we had been stuck to it, then we would’ve been flung off anyhow. Just further and higher.’ Cvran replied. 'This is war, chap. We will loose people.’
'Very true...’
We were exiting the Barren Sea and entering the shoreline area. We were entering a thin part of land that split the sea from a swamp on the other side. The city that we’re going to was made in that swamp on a massive foundation. It was all one piece.
Our planned path was to take a route up to the shoreline, find an old drainage pipe which carried the waste matter of the city into dumping areas, travel the 100+ miles through it, and then enter the city, fight to the power station, travel back in time, and so on.
The Havok ramped up the stone beach and into a dead forest. The Metalists killed every other living thing, including all plant and animal life. The forest was petrified- a grim memorial.
I used to walk these forests when they were still alive. The trees were 100 feet tall with leaves strong enough to climb on. I remember playing in the trees with the birds, watching the sunset from the top of the pillar-like trunks, and the hard climb down. I once hauled a pack of food and survival tools up to the top of a tree and I happily lived up at those treetops for several weeks until I dropped my knife to the ground below. Lost a bet and all.
'This old landscape... why did the Metalists have to do this?’ Kiweni said.
'Because they were made to kill. They were only supposed to be military- super soldiers, travel systems, the like. The man who bought the designs from me and Vrach altered them to where they killed or converted everything.
A high-caliber bullet put a crack in our thick armor before bouncing off.
'Snipers!’ Vrach shouted. We sped up, watching the tops of the dead trunks. Zilgan was pissed, firing off with the turret and the rifle at the same time. Two snipers fell from the rooftops- one from missing its legs, the other from having a bullet through its head.
'That’s one...’ He murmured.
I smashed down a smaller sapling of a tree, sending the trunk flying behind us. There was a humming sound around us...
'Guys... Remember the Crabs from that first ship?’ Zilgan said.
'Yeah. They were just workers with not many combat abilities. Why?’ I responded.
'Look to your left.’
To my left, a canal was being made. What it would carry is a mystery; there’s no water left on the dead Azaraxia. It was a good thousand feet to our side, through the trees. The trees were thinning out, so we could see it better. The Crabs working on it were coming our way. There were a couple hundred!
Cvran jumped over to the empty automatic turret on the side, helping Richi shoot down as many as possible. Kiweni was trying to help, but with no success due to there being no turrets left and the rifle she was using was having a hard time hitting them at this range.
'Oh shit... Put on some speed, Zakara! Get us the hell out of here!’ Vrach shouted. shots were raining down on us from above. Snipers and Crabs. Great.
I hit a hill at full speed, catching about three seconds of air before landing in a dusty dead riverbed. I sped down that, giving us some cover. A bullet from a sniper pinged off the metal about two inches from my face, giving me quite the scare. The Crabs were faster than I thought possible; they were gaining on us! These must be different models.
I hit a large rock in the riverbed, almost flipping the Havok. The two on the left side got some dirt in their faces, but no more.
'Careful!’ Richi shouted. I responded by smashing through a hollow tree trunk.
The riverbed grew wider at this point, but also deeper. We had to find an exit point, only because the Crabs were behind us, flooding the riverbed like a new tide of water.
'I swear, their numbers must of tripled!’ Vrach shouted out in despair. His gun was jammed. Zilgan, on the other claw, was shredding the Crabs with well-placed gauss shots, screaming in rage as he did it.
'Die, all you bastards! You killed one of my own; I’ll make sure to take as many of you fuckers down as possible with me!’ He screamed, firing the turret at a speed that couldn’t be safe. His eyes were glowing...
'Son of a bitch! He’s lost himself to the Blood Lust!’ Cvran shouted. 'Was that really a good idea, Zakara?’
'If we’re to have any chance, then it was. Give him cover.’ I replied.
Zilgan was roaring- in rage, pain, or despair, I don’t know- but he was being overtaken by the dreaded Blood Lust. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all... As I said, physical and mental changes happen. How- That’s a good question. Why is obvious.
Bony growths developed, protecting his joints. His eyes burned bright, seemingly alight with a flame. His claws on his hands and feet grew somewhat too, now usable for ripping instead of gripping. His tail grew in length and strength as well, making it about 6 feet. I don’t know if he even knew it was happening.
I was to distracted with him to notice a large boulder in the path of the right wheels. I hit it, flipping the Havok onto her side and throwing everyone about. Zilgan’s pure weight ripped the gauss turret off of the mounting.
We all climbed out an ran to the side, hoping that we could right the 80-ton APC.
'Zakara, you should let someone else drive...’ Vrach said, rubbing his head from where he fell. The Havok has spilt some weapons when it fell, including an automatic shotgun, which he picked up. Zilgan got up quick, and got back to firing with the detached turret that he had. that thing must of weighed 300 kilos; he didn’t care.
'Quickly!’ Kiweni shouted as everyone tried to force up the Havok. They were having no luck.
Hema had told me about a righting mechanism, in case the Havok got flipped. I opened up a panel on the side of the Havok right where Zilgan painted an exploding Clunker and flipped the switch inside. Two massive pistons came out from the side armor and started pushing the Havok up.
'Thank god, we’re not dead after all!’ Cvran shouted over the roar of the Crabs. Zilgan ran out of ammo in his turret and proceeded to take out his energy-powered blades. He threw them down and backwards.
'Vrach, give me that shotgun. NOW.’ He growled. Vrach complied tossing it over to him along with our other automatic.
'Shit... I just realized. We flipped near what used to be a waterfall!’ Richi added. We all turned to look- there was a hole in the ground where the water must have fallen in, like a crack in the earth. There was another side, but about 30 feet over and 20 feet down.
'We can make it.’ I said just as the Havok righted herself. We all ran in; all but Zilgan. He gave us his blades and Sprix’s sniper.
'You guys go. I’ll give you as much time as possible.’ He said.
'We can make it with you!’ Richi said to him.
'No, no you can’t. I’d be pulling you back. Just go, remember me and Sprix by our weapons. And all the bastard Metalists we killed, eh?’ He responded. He then started running at the crowd of Crabs about 200 feet behind us, blasting from both of the automatic shotguns. He was roaring in rage for sure this time.
'God damn it, man...’ Vrach muttered from his turret.
'Go!’ Cvran cried. I hit the gas, and we sped up. We hit the jump almost perfectly, landing on the other side with space to spare. We sped on through the trees, praying for our friend...

And we’ve lost another to the Metalists. First Sprix, now Zilgan. Who’s next?
I had put Zilgan’s energy blades near my seat, leaning on it. They shook every time I hit a bump. Sprix’s rifle was hanging on a hook near the back door.
'We’re loosing people already... But who’s going to die next?’ Richi asked.
'That’s a good question. Whoever it may be, don’t despair. If at least one of us makes it, all of our deaths would not be in vain. Hell, they would’ve never happened. We have to keep fighting on. We can’t let a good chunk of the ADF die in vain. Millions of lives are at stake here; not just the ADF and the Azarax, but the billions on countless worlds that the Metalists effected. Billions apon billions of sentient life forms are counting on us. We can’t stop now.’
'Good words, Zakara.’ She replied.
There was a large hole in the ground, and an open pipe in one of the walls, about five feet down. The hole was only ten feet wide, but a good fifty feet long. The pipe was about 50 by 50 feet in area, so the Havok could easily fit in it. The pipe used to carry the city’s waste and then dispose it into a massive chasm where it would fall for miles until it hit the molten magma near the planet’s core. It would be incinerated. A great way of getting rid of your trash- every trash can in the city was linked to this tunnel, and they would be carried down by a sluggish stream of polluted water. Best way to do it. But now, it was just an empty pipe.
We easily jumped into it, leaving slight dents in the floor.
'So, we’re entering the city through the crap tunnel?’ Kiweni asked.
'The disposal system, actually.’ I replied.
'So it’s the ass of the city.’ She remarked.
'I guess you can put it like that.’ I said. 'Thankfully, the sides of this pipe are magnetic, so the sticky wheels will be helpful here. Just incase anything attacks.’
'With our luck, something will.’ Vrach said from his lone turret. The other gauss turret was gone by Zilgan’s final Blood Lust. the painting was scratched off in places, including the whole “Hope” sign.
The headlights mounted on the roof switched on, giving us visibility to several hundred feet. There were a few Crabs down here, but nothing else. They gave us no trouble. Then there was that creaking noise...
'Oh hell... not another attacker!’ Vrach cried out, readying his turret to fight behind us. the side turrets weren’t able to do anything like this.
The ground opened up like a pustule and a drilled device flew out. It was massive- at least forty feet long and a good 30 feet wide. The drill was a good twenty feet long, and spinning. There was only about fifteen feet of space above it, and I noticed some heavy turrets mounted next to the drill and some on the roof.
'Hell-spit! Get us out of here!’ Vrach shouted, firing wildly at the drill. Each shot bounced off, one putting a hole in the back of the Havok and nearly putting a hole in Cvran’s head.
'Don’t shoot at the drill! Aim at the turrets!’ Cvran shouted. He grabbed Sprix’s sniper rifle and climber into the hole that used to hold the other gauss turret.
'Careful!’ Kiweni shouted. Richi was trying to hit the driller with the back left machine gun turret, but having no luck.
Cvran climbed out into the slot that used to hold the turret, then onto the roof. His trench coat flapped in the cold air and because of the speed that we were traveling at. He expertly took out one of the heavy turrets on the right side of the driller, then almost got one on the left.
'Zakara, I got an idea! Magnetize us to the roof, get behind it!’ Cvran shouted out.
'Alright, but hang on!’ I replied over the roar of the drill behind us. I flicked a switch and started driving up a wall.
'Hang on tight.’ Cvran said to Vrach as we approached a 90-degree angle. The turrets on the left were firing at us hard, getting a few burns on Cvran and Vrach, but little else.
I pulled us onto the top, strapping myself into the seat. Vrach was hanging on by his feet onto a bar inside of the turret, and Cvran was just hanging on by his feet onto the rails that surrounded the turret. He was hanging like a flag without any wind when I slammed on the brakes, letting the driller speed past us. Cvran and Vrach let off a hail of high-powered shots on the exposed rear, destroying one of the treads that powered it. It suddenly drilled into the side wall as we got back down to the ground level.
'Shit...’ Richi muttered. These Drillers were versatile.
We heard a rumbling noise just before the Driller appeared right behind us, almost flipping the Havok and sending Vrach flying. The Driller vanished into an other hole.
'Vrach, get back on! Now!’ Cvarn shouted. He landed hard- his leg looked badly injured. He was running then suddenly... gone. Two holes in either wall adjacent to him.
'NO!’ I cried. Vrach and I had been almost brothers for almost our whole lives. And now he’s gone...
'Damn it!’ Cvran cried, leaping into the now empty gauss turret. The Driller appeared again, for about three seconds- Cvran blasted it in the motor that powered the drill, causing it to only go partially into a hole before the drill powered down. He destroyed it.
'God damn it, you son of a bitch...’ He slammed the roof with his fist. 'Why must so many die?!’ He screamed. I shed a silent tear for my lost friend and brother that never was before continuing on.

There were few of us left. Cvran, Richi, Kiweni, and myself. Three have died at the robotic hands of the Metalists- now, no mater what, all of the bastards will die.

We exited the tunnel via a large hole which would’ve entered into a large pool made for throwing debris into. It was dry, of course. We were just outside the city- what luck. There was one final obstruction stopping us from getting inside.
The city was built on the top of a lage cliff, so the only way getting in was via a massive elevator, and that elevator was protected. It was a few hundred feet tall, and the elevator could carry three Havoks with ease. It was activated by a button in a stall next to the elevator too, so it should be easy. There was one problem, though...
'What’s that red energy field doing there?’ Cvran asked.
'I think I know what it may be. A Organic Evaporation Field, or an OEF. It gives things like robots or vehicles access, but nothing organic. It was made about the same time I made the first Clunker. If we went up there, we would be killed. But...’ I said. I pointed to a door built into the metal wall near the elevator. '...We shall have to fight our way up. Grab your weapons!’

We sent the Havok up before us so we could meet it up there. We entered the complex- it was dark.
If I remember correctly, this place was basically customs for in between cities. If you weren’t a citizen of this city, you’d have to go through here, making sure everything was safe. The field would remove and Azaraxians trying to smuggle themselves into the city. Usually, for citizens, the field was switched off. I guess we weren’t citizens anymore.
We entered a large lobby with our guns ready. Nothing in here but a few flickering lights, chairs, and a singular desk.
'Everyone best switch on their flashlights.’ I said. We all switched on the lights mounted on the front of our guns. Richi switched on her light right into the face of a Clunker in the darkness. She switched it off quickly.
'Whoops!’ She shouted, swinging the stock of her gun into its face. It smacked down on the ground as two dozen more stepped out of the shadows, all around us. A Spindle was there as well.
'Bravo, bravo.’ The Spindle chimed. 'You four are the last. We intend to destroy the lot of you. Give up now, or suffer a horrible death at the hands of my troops.’ The Spindle was a very high ranked one- perhaps a commander. Looked alot like the one that controlled the first Metalist ship we were stuck on.
I observed his “Troops”. They were common-as-weeds Clunkers armed with little more than the usual assault rifle. Evidentially this Spindle wasn’t informed- those bullets just about bounce off.
'Get ready...’ Cvran muttered. He loaded his rifle.
'FIRE!’ The Spindle screeched with a voice like a rusty hinge. We ducked, aloowing the bots to shoot each other, leaving the Spindle un-touched but all of his robots dead.
'Please... Don’t hurt me- The Rebuilding stations are offline right now! I Don’t want to die!’ It screeched. I picked it up by the head.
'Tell us everything we need to know.’ I hissed. It beeped in fright.

The city was just past the elevator- but it was heavily fortified. 5000 Clunkers, 300 Dancers, 200 Chameleons, 500 of that treaded variant, 5 of the massive ape-shaped bots, 50 Watchtowers, and nearly 1000 Crabs scattered throughout the city, building turrets, missiles, and other tools of mass destruction. The Spindle ran off once I let it go.
'Shit, I hope that thing was lying.’ Richi muttered.
'If it wasn’t, we’ll have alot of driving to do.’ I replied. 'And avoiding bullets, explosives, the like.’
'Yeah...’ Kiweni said. The thin robot was scrambling down the halls- Cvran quickly dispatched it with Sprix’s old sniper rifle.
'What’d ya do that for?’ Kiweni asked.
'The bastard probably would’ve revealed our location. We best keep moving.’ Cvran quickly responded.
'Agreed.’ I added.
We continued down the halls, and into the staff area. The Metalists were thinner around here, until we tried to enter the stairwell.
'What the hell, they took the stairwell out!’ Cvran cried because he nearly stepped into a hole that went a good 70 feet down where the stairs used to be.
'Looks like we’re going to route all those immigrants took.’ Richi said. She turned her head to the hole. There was the hum of jets.
'Dancers! Run!’ Richi screamed as the agile death machines floated down- about a dozen of them!
We ran fast. We ran hard. but they were quick. And they had guns that weren’t the usual. High-powered rifles, I’d think.
We were nearing a door that lead to a series of rooms where visitors were inspected when the Dancers fired a couple of shots. One took off part of Richi’s side.
'ARGH!’ She cried, falling, her blood pooling.
'Richi, get up! I’m not going to loose another friend today!’ I shouted.
'No, go. I’ll give you some time.’ She said, loading her automatic rifle. A Dancer neared me- I fought a brief close-quarters battle with it using Zilgan’s energy blades. I shredded the thing’s head.
'Go! You have more important things to do then die in here with me!’ She shouted at me. I cringed.
'Good luck.’ I said, giving her one of the rifles strapped to my back.
'Come on!’ Cvran shouted to me, I ran past him and through the door into the chambers.
We ran for our lives. We entered the security room when Richi started firing with both of her rifles at once. I could hear the Dancers screaming in metallic voices...
Three Clunkers charged us. I knocked down two with the energy blades, and the third was dispatched by a good shot to the head; a gift from Kiweni.
'Damn it, I won’t let anything stop us!’ I roared, smashing down the next door into the de-contamination room. The bastards had numbers- we had skills. Even if I’m the only one left, I intend to finish this.
I kicked down a quick Treaded Metalist, and Cvran pulverized the un-armored underside of it. A Dancer made it behind us, I fought it. Block, swing, dodge, swing. Chop.
We exited the de-contamination room quickly, firing at full speed. A dozen Clunkers were awaiting us inside the next room- not sure which one this was, the lights were mostly off, others flickering and dim. We plowed down those with ease. Why did they even bother sending the Clunkers against us?
I smashed down the door into one of the last rooms- a room where Azarax new to the city would have to wait for access in long lines. It was a 200 foot across cube- and very dark, with one flickering light in the center.
'This room doesn’t feel very empty...’ Cvran muttered. The lights flickered on all around, just for a second. We were surrounded! And not by a dozen this time, but two hundred!
'Christ!’ Kiweni shouted. I readied my energy blades.
'No, Zakara. You run- I saw a door at the far end. We’ll take care of them.’ Cvran said. Kiweni hugged Cvran.
'Together.’ She added, smiling. Cvran handed me Sprix’s sniper, I in turn, gave them my shotguns and the last automatic.
'We’ll be able to handle ourselves. Go.’ Cvran said, loading his dual shotguns. Kiweni had a large caliber pistol and an automatic rifle with a massive cartridge.
The eyes of every single Clunker in the room fizzled into brilliant red life... And I slashed.
I ran through the crowd, swinging the energy blades as fast as I could. The hooked shape sliced them to pieces- I only killed three dozen before making it to the door. I gave the pair one last look- they were back-to-back, firing at full power. Their tails were intertwined, and Cvran was roaring a battle cry. Both of their eyes were starting to glow.
'Good luck, both of you.’ I muttered, shedding a silent tear. I kicked down the door and ran out onto the elevator where the Havok awaited me. I slammed the doors behind me first, so the Clunkers couldn’t get out.
The Havok was battered, damaged, dented, and partially smashed. Only one of the big turrets remained, along with two of the machine turrets. The painting was worn mostly off, and the signs were gone. I opened the back- the bikes were still there.
'Well, it’s my last option.’ I said to myself. I found two holes made for weapons on the front of it- I jacked the Energy-blades in those- they stuck out the side, just incase I ram down some Clunkers. There was another hole near the handlebars- I put the sniper inside of that. It was fitted to where it aimed perfectly ahead.
I collected what other guns I could from the Havok; An automatic shotgun with several belts of ammo, two large revolvers, and an automatic rifle that looked alot like the one Kiweni was using. I strapped the shotgun onto my back, threw the belts around my shoulders, put the two revolvers in the holsters I was given for exactly this reason, and tied the automatic rifle down on the back of the motorcycle.
Two Clunkers slammed the door open and tried shooting at me; I instead shot them down with one of the revolvers. There was still gunfire inside: Good luck, you two.
I pushed the bike to full-throttle, speeding down the long street into the massive city. The towers were hundreds of feet tall, but the power center was at the far end of the city, built in the center of a lake. I would have to fight through all of them alone. I shall do my best; It’s all I can do. These may be my final hours, but I don’t care. I’m destroying the scourge which killed my planet, redeeming myself for my sins.
Time to fight the good fight- it’s time to end it all. It’s either my final run or a new beginning- everything is now at stake here. Billions on millions of worlds are depending on me today; I shall not let them down.