Chapter 45: Mors & Vita

  Mother Phoenix's voice exploded in Ravine's head. "BACK OUT NOW!"

  With a loud gasp, Ravine dashed backward in a hurry, creating distance between herself and Vita.

  "I've never seen you this panicked before," Ravine said. "What's going on?"

  Mother Phoenix paused. "These two—her and the other one—they're not like previous squadron captains. They've been tampered with beyond what I thought was possible. We need to get back to the sentinel, quick! Its legs are done for, but its body remains active. We need to act now!"

  Ravine nodded. "Got it."

  But as she stepped toward the sentinel, a tentacle erupted from the ground, grabbed her like a vice, and dragged her all the way back to Vita. The android pulled Ravine up to her face.

  "As I said, you are predictable... so predictable. And yet you keep going for the obvious." Vita threw her backward.

  Ravine landed on the sand with a soft thud and quickly recovered. "It's like she knows what I'm going to do before I even do something," she muttered.

  "They can't risk killing us," Mother Phoenix said, "so they won't do anything drastic to either of you. However, this doesn't change the fact that we need a direct link to the ZRX."

  A screech came through the comms, then Zhon's voice crackled to life. "I was just able to reestablish contact. I saw the sentinel took a major hit to the legs." He swallowed. "Other than that, how are things looking on your end?"

  "These two androids, Vita and Mors—they're trouble. We just can't get through them. And Roan's in pretty rough shape, too. Think you could help us out?"

  Zhon sighed. "Okay, give me a few tests real quick. Just keep their attention away from the ship. I'll find something for you."

  "Got it. Thank you, Cap."

  The transmission ended.

  Vita's eyes narrowed. "Another plan? Hmph. Soon enough, I'll figure it out."

  Not too far away, Roan stumbled back to his feet. I took a lot of damage. I need something I can fight with. He looked around and spotted an android crawling away slowly in the distance. He glanced around again. Looks like Ravine got most of them. No sign of that other guy either. Now's my chance.

  Clutching his leg, he stumbled toward the android. Come on, come on. Now's not the time for me to be useless. As he approached, he pulled his weight onto it to pin it down.

  "Sorry, but I can't have you be a problem later." He grabbed its arm and ripped it off clean. As the android's grip faded, it dropped a medium-length blade.

  Roan lifted it up, testing the weight. I've never held a close-ranged weapon before. He swung it around, feeling the weight shift. Looking closer, he noticed the mechanism. Looks like this one can extend as well. Alright then.

  As he turned to regroup with Ravine, he heard a vibration behind him. He blocked and parried an attack from below as Mors landed.

  "Looks like you won't be as much of a pushover as you've been these last few minutes." Mors smirked. "More fun for me." He ignited his laser blade and walked toward Roan slowly.

  Roan glanced at his blade. Please don't let me down now.

  Mors retracted the laser blade to just a regular one and pointed it at Roan. "Let us see how you fare against me."

  He dashed forward swiftly, striking multiple times and aiming for Roan's torso. In a panic, Roan backed away, blocking and groaning with each blow that came close to his body. He's not stopping at all. I need to startle him, but how?

  Mors smiled as spikes grew from his forearms. He inserted them into Roan's armor, headbutted him, and kicked his knee, making him bend.

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  "Mere attempts to stall will not work on me. I intend to have my fun with you whether you like it or not." He touched his blade. "The only choice you have now is whether you want to make it enjoyable for both of us... or squeal. We were ordered not to kill you, but nothing was said about how damaged we could get you."

  Roan rolled his eyes. "Give me a break. Why do I always get the weird ones?"

  He pressed on the hilt of his blade, extending its length in an attempt to pierce Mors's leg. Mors pulled back, striking the blade outward and leaving his body open.

  In that split moment, time seemed to slow for Roan. He smirked. Now's my chance. Using all his speed, he caught Mors while he was still in motion and tackled him, pinning him under his weight.

  "How's that for stalling, huh?"

  Mors struggled to break free. "Unhand me and fight me right, you pissant!"

  Roan smiled. "Not so fun now, is it? It's my rules now."

  Suddenly, Mors stopped fighting back and looked directly into Roan's eyes.

  "What, giving up already?"

  "Just not the way you might think."

  Roan felt a stab in his leg, piercing his armor. He looked down and saw a tail with its tip embedded inside his leg. His eyes widened. "W-what are you?" he stammered.

  Mors dragged him back with his tail as he stood up and stretched. "Looks like you're finally understanding now, do you?" He stared at Roan as he walked around him slowly. "You never would have been able to take me down, for I am the Lord's Blade." He fully stretched his mechanical tail, its tip glowing purple.

  He looked at the wound he'd inflicted on Roan. "Looks like it marked you. This is bad news for you, I fear. Once the substance spreads into your core, you will be reborn as one of us."

  He crouched to Roan's level. Roan's breathing had become fast and uneven as he touched his leg. Mors brought Roan's face to his level.

  "Do you know why I was given that name?"

  Roan kept silent, his breathing still ragged.

  "Because not only can I dispose of any being I come across, but I can turn them to our side. And there is nothing they can do to stop me."

  "Y-you're lying. There has to be a way."

  Mors stood up. "Maybe there is, but will you be there long enough to figure it out?" He paused, looking down at Roan. "I think I've finally broken you. I don't think you'll bring me much entertainment anymore, so now I'll go for your friend, and then that coward hiding in the ship."

  Roan's eyes widened. "Don't you dare touch—"

  "You have other things to worry about right now, so how about you just stay put, okay?"

  With that, Mors slowly walked away toward Ravine.

  "COME BACK HERE!" Roan screamed. He touched his temple, trying to use the comms, but a loud screech erupted. "DAMN IT ALL!"

  Away from the ship, Zhon had witnessed the fight between Roan and Mors. "I have to be quick. The others are distracting these two, but we don't have much time." He glanced around. "Thankfully, it seems the temporary camouflage is working right now."

  He stayed crouched as he softly walked across the cold sand toward the sentinel. There are still androids around, it seems, but from what I gathered, they're mostly attack types. Which is good for us. As long as they don't detect me, I should be fine.

  Androids from Squadron 14 got back on their feet, legs damaged. They seem to be of the same generation as the sentinel, so according to my tests, they shouldn't be able to detect me. He glanced down at his utility belt. But just in case, I brought my bailout items.

  As he continued forward, he saw some of the androids heading in the direction of Roan and Ravine. His jaw tightened. "I wish I could help you guys, but right now, the sentinel comes first. But I promise I'll come for you too."

  As he approached the sentinel, he muttered, "Look at what they've done to you, buddy." He touched its head. "Don't worry. Once we've got this all cleared up, I'll make sure to repair you. Thank you for the distraction."

  He began analyzing the ZRX. "Looks like the emoticon's core is still intact. Thank goodness. This will hurt, so bear with me."

  He used a scalpel to work on severing the head from the body. From what I got, they don't need their body to operate, so it should be fine. As he worked, he kept glancing around, trying to see if anyone had noticed, keeping an eye on everything.

  After a few minutes, he smiled. "Looks like it worked!" Holding the head, he said, "Now to get it to Ravine."

  He briefly closed his eyes. The comms are still not working. I can't just get it to her with Vita around. If she catches the head, it's over. He looked at his utility belt and the spheres of grace. "Looks like I'll have to step out of the shadows after all, huh?"

  He exhaled and opened his eyes. "Okay, let's do this!"

  He gripped the massive head with all his strength, placed one sphere on himself, and threw the other as close as he could to Ravine. "This should be more than enough."

  He jumped as high as he could. The thin Martian air made it easy to gain massive altitude. Then he screamed at the top of his lungs as he reappeared, "RAVINE, HEADS UP!"

  Ravine turned in shock. As she saw Zhon, she mouthed, What are you doing?

  "CATCH IT!" He gestured as if he was about to throw the head like a football.

  Vita shook her head. "So predictable." With swift speed, one of the tentacles holding her in the air shot forward. "It is a sad day for Squadron 11. Every attempt at success has been a miserable failure. Pathetic."

  She caught Zhon, yet he still clutched the head. He muttered, "Gotcha."

  The sphere close to Ravine activated, and Zhon swapped places, appearing right behind her. He threw a stunning bead toward Vita. She caught it but got zapped temporarily, making her mechanical tentacles unusable.

  With all his strength, he threw the head to Ravine. As she caught it, he smiled. "Not bad for a weakling, huh?"

  Ravine smiled back. "Not bad at all."

  He got back on his feet. "Ball's in your court. Get 'em."

  Ravine nodded. You ready, Kyomi?

  Mother Phoenix answered. "It's been a while since I got to link as many androids." She paused for a brief instant, exhaling. "Let's see if I still got it."