Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Call ❯ Entry the Ninth ( Chapter 9 )

Entry the Ninth

My story, mine! Characters, plot, etc, belong to me! and of course, the respective parties they were borrowed from.

 

The camp had to encompass miles. It was huge, sprawling, and had like, no only light perimeter defense, that is, wood and wire fences with just the beginnings of concrete ones, and steel watchtowers, which probably had machine guns. I assumed there were more defenses that our height and invisibility had allowed us to ignore.

 

We left the bike parked hidden, and slipped past with a small crowd, both still under Leon's camo. The Crowd was all dressed in long cloaks and hoods, because of the dust, and there was tons of it. They must have dug out this whole place just to fit the refugee camp. After we got in, we released that, or at least Leon broke contact, and I melted into the crowd. Leon already knew what to do and who to look for. Starting with his own family.

 

I walked about, looking around. It seemed the outskirts were a sort of “market” where all the smart and crazy people who went out and gathered food and commodities by vandalizing and robbing stores, set up shop, bartering for things, money apparently probably being worthless. I walked about, observing the stark contrasts next door to each other. One place, a hovel, small, barely a sheet to keep the wind out, the next, a grand tent, in some cases canvas, large and seemingly spacious. I wondered at, but I stopped wondering about soon after.

 

I turned my eyes on the people, who showed the same stark contrast, but, with a more dire resignation, a seeming lack of hope. As I proceeded further in, I started seeing kids playing soccer, or football, or baseball, or tag, or a myriad of other outdoor games available to them. I didn't see any familiar faces. I began stopping to question people, dropping names here and there, when I was stopped in my track.

 

“Hello Corben, I knew you'd be here soon. It's rather… unfortunate though, as Mallory would have said..” It was Julie, Jewels as I called her. She was another friend, this one I met at the library. We were regulars at the anime club, which was held once a month. But that's mostly another story. She was dressed in black and red, an odd color choice, I though, considering the location and the approximate time of year. She had on a dust cloak like most others.

 

“Jewels…” she tackled me, and hugged me.

 

“What took you so long, you idiot, I've been expecting you for a month now.”

 

I blinked. `expecting me? for a month?' it didn't make sense. So I asked. “what do you mean expecting me?”

 

“I saw you a month ago, while I was asleep, you walked into camp, invisible, with another guy, in the midst of a small crowd. You walked around, and then you ran into me. I've been waiting here everyday since.” She looked up at me, having released me, and smiled.

 

“But how did you know…?”

 

“That people call you Corben now? Another dream, this time while I was awake.”

 

“What? Are you having…?”

 

“Prophetic dreams? Premonitions, whatever you prefer to call it. I can now finish just about anybodies sentence for them. Wait wait, let me say it. `that's amazing jewels, but… I have more pressing things, like getting a school full of people rescued.' Good huh?” she smiled again.

 

“Yeah, I'd say that counts. So um, let's go do that? Do you know where the blue Springs group is, or are people just mixed all together?”

 

“you might want to just spread the word you're looking for people from blue springs, or O'Hara, or other places like that. I know where the library set up at!”

 

“Wait the library is still here?”

 

“Yeah! Mr. Anime Night director is even still doing anime nights! He gets like, 60 people to come. And it's every Monday now.”

 

“Well, least some people still appreciate good anime. And the rest just want something to do. Can you take me there? Might get lucky. How many books did they save?” We continued the conversation as we headed there, but I struck out. We continued around, when I started running into one or two people I knew. At which point, I started spreading the word about O'Hara and trying to find people. It wasn't easy finding anyone, and somehow my parents location was a mystery.

 

About then I came across Pat. “Pat! Hey!” dashing over, Jewels following me a little like a lost puppy. She hated crowds of strangers. She avoided them if she didn't have a really good reason not to.

 

Pat looked at me in shock. “Yo… yo… you! Where the hell have you been man!”

 

“Trapped with over 500 people in a high school, fending off imitation canivores of various and sundry, and trying not to get killed.”

 

“Really? You aren't messing with me here? I didn't even know for a month why we had to leave our homes, and I'm still not sure I believe what they told us, about some alien invasion.”

 

“Alien invasion isn't that far off. In fact, its technically correct, if you consider anything not of this earth as alien, even if they're other dimensional, and um, it is an invasion.”

 

He blinked, looked at me, double checked how serious I looked, then nodded. “ok, so, invasion. But what are they?”

 

“Imitations of reptiles of every variety that is fit for combat. I expect more varieties are appearing over time. And they have a purpose, but I can't get into this now… do you know where my parents are?”

 

“Yeah! A bunch of the old parish families all congregated together, and a bunch of the families with kids are your school. Is everyone ok?”

 

“we haven't lost a single person yet. Somehow… oh, um, Pat. This is Jewels.”

She popped out from behind me shoulder, and offered her hand. “Hi.” She smiled sweetly as Pat accepted her hand.

 

“Pat, can you take me there then? And spread the word everywhere, O'Hara is alive. And um, can you direct me to somebody military?”

 

“Come on then. And you look around for military, there's always somebody around.”

 

Pat led us through a veritable maze of people, tents, workings, and everything else. We passed the “library” on the way, and stopped for a chat. There is a conversation I must recount for you, twas rather funny, at least for me and Jewels.

 

We were looking around quickly, or at least I was, when one of the librarians came over. I recognized him instantly. “Hey, you're…”

 

“Mr. Anime Night director is my now official nickname. Just stick with that.” He offered me a hand, he finally recognized me, and then Pat led us off, laughing at a joke he shouldn't get, that most people wouldn't find funny anyways. But Pat laughs at everything. So it's all good.

 

Although we got to where my parents and other parents from my church and my school were staying, actually meeting them wasn't to be. I ran into Franky. Well, that was her nickname. And yes, she is called “Franky.” I don't have a clue how she got that nickname, but I assume it had something to do with the similarities between that and her real name.

 

She was just walking past, carrying a bag. She was dressed in red, a Chiefs jersey, and shorts. She wasn't wearing a cloak, but then most people weren't, because the wind didn't seem to get through this far into the tightly clustered camp. Her hair was unkempt, which was only a minor surprise. She stopped when she saw us, but it was to Pat she said hello. Julie sniggered. I could only assume she'd “seen” something.

 

“Hey Pat, what's up? You look off. And who's with you?”

 

“Hey Franky, well, this is…” I silenced him by placing my hand out infront of him, and pushing on him to fall back a little.

 

I pulled off my hood, which I had put back on, hoping to go unrecognized for now. But I found I couldn't hold back. “Hey Franky. It's me, I'm with the CIA. Hope you remember NaxCerfs, miss wing foot.”

 

All of these were of course, things that would hold meaning only between the two of us. The CIA was a class, after school, that I used to go to, extracurricular religion. Catholics in Action. Naxcerfs is the “Nobody” name for her dreamer character, which I had used in my stories about Musouka. As for miss wing foot, she had tattoos of tiny wings, you can guess where.

 

She blinked, looked closer, then tears came to her eyes and she tackled me too, nearly knocking me off my feet. Jewels was grinning like the cat in Alice in Wonderland, and Pat just looked a little confused, then recognition hit him, and he just shrugged. Franky hugged me tight, the bag dropped to the ground behind her.

 

“You! You…you…you…you… you! Where, what, how? When?” she looked at me inquiringly, but with a shot of “tell or else” mixed in. so I told. A short summary, but it covered what was important.

 

“Two months? You want me to believe that for two months, and 500 other people have been surviving inside the city, where we thought everyone was dead? Even I'd given up hope on anyone being alive?” she laughed, and wiped another tear of joy from her eye.

 

“How come you aren't questioning the whole “Mysterious powers and abilities” thing?”

 

“I have my reasons, but now's not,”

 

“BOOM!” and extremely loud explosion, followed by the faint sounds of gun fire, and the louder sounds of screams.

 

 

“Tonight, ladies and Gentlemen, fellow New Yorkers, fellow survivors of this strange siege, we have some very unusual news. I am honestly not sure what to make of it.”

 

Neth turned up the volume and leaned forward. Something unusual in these times? In this place? If it was actually unusually, it was definetly news. But was it good?”

 

“We have a live report, provide to us by sources outside the siege, and video footage, of something that occurred about 3 hours ago, near a refugee camp outside KC MO. We go now live to our correspondent, Michel. Mich?” the screen went to a want with a mike, standing in the midst of what must be the refugee camp.

 

“Susan, this is what happened, according to an eye witness account. The Camp came under attack by a large group of the alien lifeforms, which witnesses insist, including several of my fellow reporters who are too busy to go live, was most definetly an Intelligently coordinated attack. The military units stationed at the perimeter attempted to stop them, but things quickly got out of hand, and those units were by all appearances overwhelmed. The creatures attacked the camp, specifically running to ground people, completely ignoring the tents and such erected there.

 

About this point, a witness, who did not wish to be identified, claims to have seen this site. A young man, cloaked in a rippling cloak that seemed to shift between black and grey, with a hood down, goggles on his head, and an extremely short metal rod in his hand. He was walking calmly against the flow of fleeing people. The face was described as that of a person determined and set on a particular goal. The witness said that he felt instantly reassured by looking at that face, if not entirely safe. Yet, despite the fact his mind still said run, his body relaxed and stopped fleeing. He said it was nearly the death of him, as one of the creatures leapt to kill him. It was stopped, midair, by what he described as `Nothing at all. There was nothing there, it was just, stopped, couldn't get past. And this guy, this kid, walks up to me and offers me a hand, me having fallen over as I turned round at the sound of the thing. He helps me up, smiling all the while, and then has the nerve to say, “Don't worry, everythings fine. Just a little infestation to clean out, nothing major.” Then he just, like, takes the rod, and suddenly, there's this like, Snap-hiss sound, and a glowing blade of light appears. Then he runs the thing through, and proceeds on, striking at the things as they try to swarm him. It like he was a, well, a Jedi or something.'”

 

“According to other witnesses, a young man matching this description, but with two blades, was seen following the creatures, or rather chasing after them, as they fled out of the camp. The soldiers at the perimeter, those still living, started to man defenses and other soldiers, and refugees, all armed, chased others of the creatures out. But apparently, the creatures had been ordered out by the thing that commanded them. It was a huge reptile, almost manlike, at least in that it stood on two limbs, wore clothes, and had a giant sword strapped to its back, with a crossbow of some sort in its hand. At this point, we have taped footage to show you of the battle, provided by someone there who happened to have saved their video camera. Several people actually, so the angle will change every few minutes or so.”

 

 

I stared out at the being, obviously a Reptildra, who commanded the fakes. He was dark scaled, but whether that was natural, or something done to reflect his fallen status, I don't know. I know he was most definetly a fallen warrior, one of those who'd raised the creatures now driving what was currently conquering our home. “Hello! So I finally meet one of you! Fallen Warrior, what are you doing?”

 

He looked at me, letting no surprise, if indeed there actually was any, show on his face. “So, Earth child, you think to question me? then I shall answer. I seek the conquer and enslave those within the camp behind you, for use by my masters, who I am bound body and soul to serve for eternity. I live only to serve their will.”

 

“It seems you've told me more than I asked, but thankyou, for now I know the price you have paid for your sins. But I can't let you accomplish what you seek to do.” I stepped forward and pointed straight at him. “But come, we seem to have reached an impass. You'll find, if you check your senses, you can no longer sense what you can still see, that is, your target.”

 

He laughed, a high, hissing, rather sinister, laugh. “You seek to lecture me? it is a price I am still paying, small one! So it is you, the Mighty Corben Cypher, who have come to challenge me? what then of your friends, have you abandoned them?”

 

“They are far safer than you.”

 

He laughed again. “Threats now is it? Now now, do you have a proposal or not? Should I simply lay siege? I have more than enough numbers to do so, if I chose, you could not stop that. And there are too many in there to survive such as that, in so small a space.”

 

“then here is my proposition. Single combat, the winner backs down. I can promise nothing for the actions of the defenders of these people, but I will lower my shield if you defeat me, and then surrender myself into your custody. I'm sure those you serve will enjoy having someone of actually annoyance to toy with.”

 

“They already toy with you. And I suppose if you win, I am to command all my forces to return whence they came, or some such? And will you give me what I am truly denied?”

 

“Yes, you have my word.”

 

“And you truly believe that you, a puny human, can defeat me? I may be a Fallen Warrior, but it has rusted known of my battle prowess, and my power is boosted by the power of those I serve.”

 

“I can't beat you with the power of an ordinary person, but my power isn't that of an ordinary person.” I tossed off my cloak, pulled out the blade I had received from the HG, flipped the activator, and pointed it at him. “I am the High Guardian of Humanity, appointed so by the Last High Guardian upon his death. He died defending me and my fellows from the minions of those you serve. I shall do the same if I must. I shall weild the power appointed to me, by him, but I shall weild something else too, a power given by that which dwarfs those you call master. I wield the Divine Gift of God, given to me to defend my people, and I shall defend them with it.”

 

“Then let us begin then,” he snarled and raised his crossbow.

 

I walked forward to begin the battle, blades drawn. But I also opened up a “passage” in the bubble of my field, through which people could walk, and the soldiers could fire. I had no idea what happened to my fields if I died, but it was possible that they would remain up, and I didn't want to permanently trap everyone inside it plus, as I had said, I did not speak for the soldiers. Though had no doubt heard what was said, but that didn't mean they wouldn't interfere, and I wanted them to have that option. I doubted I would win, or at least live, but if I could only buy time, perhaps the other soldiers in the camp could assemble and coordinate a defense of some sort.

 

He fired the crossbow, and I dashed out of the way. I didn't want to use my fields yet, that was later. Had to buy time. Mostly, he fired, I dodged. He scowled after a few minutes. “come now, coward, you are stalling. Afraid of death? You should embrace it? If you die in battle, you will not have to suffer at my masters' claws.”

 

“it isn't my death I fear. Or at least, it isn't my death I will not embrace.”

 

“HAHA! One who understands the what courage really is! Not lack of fear, but overcoming! You speak of their deaths, don't you? Prolonging the fight to give them time for a defense? Then I shall ruin your plans.” He tossed aside his crossbow, after one last blast of energy, which was the closest yet, then drew his sword and charged.

 

He was so fast, I barely blocked in time. His blade could actually meet the touch of mine, and not be cut. I realized it was the vibrating edge, it was moving so fast the molecules couldn't be cut because the energy couldn't work in at all. I dove then rolled, and flung up a field to block his thrust. He struck it, and moved around it. I tried to boost myself over him, swing down with a blade in an attempt at his shoulder, but he dodge that. I tried again, this time trapping enough of him in a field that he couldn't dodge. I landed, and tried trapping the rest of him. He started straining against the fields, bashing at them with the slightest movement. I felt myself growing tired by the second. I ripped the fields off as I swung again, but again, his speed far outwayed expectations, and he delivered a cut to my side, then another, a third, a fourth, before I fielded again just to gain time. The fight continued, but I was now way to slow. Soon, I was pinned behind my own field, his foot on it, pushing down and laughing at me.

 

 

Jewels and Franky had followed behind, running, Pat too, to see me fighting the creature. As I would later learn, things went something like this.

 

Jewels looked at the battle, and suddenly she collapsed to her knees. “No no no NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not the key, not the key, no key, all lost, can't unlock, save the key, save the key, save Corben!” she had her hands to her head, then to her eyes, and she sobbed into them.

 

Franky knelt next to her, a comforting hand around her shoulder. “Julie, what is it? What? What key?”

 

“Corben1 Corben is one of the keys to the whole puzzle, we can't unlock it without him, and if we don't unlock it, we can't win, we'll all die or be enslaved. If he dies now, it, all of it, it's all over! Save him, stop the battle, we have to do something!”

 

Franky hugged Jewels tighter to her, and whispered, smiling reassurance, “Don't worry, I think I can do something.”

 

 

“Sir, this isn't good.” Seagull took the binoculars from his subordinate, a sergeant equivalent, and got a closer look. “We can't let those things win, and what's with the fight?”

 

Seagull gasped, grinned, and then burst out laughing, yet, at the same time, tears of sadness rolled down his cheeks. “Him, of all people, here, of all places. Now that is something! Sergeant, that is a duel to the death, with the honor of both, and the lives of the camp, on the line. But really, it's just a ploy for time.”

 

The comm. officer came up the line, and whispered something to Seagull's ear. “The Paladins, you sure? So those guys are still alive out here? well well, surprise after surprise. Which company spotted them?”

 

 

“Hey prodigy, we've been spotted. Not by the Enemy, but by the Gulls.” Babow looked over at Prodigy, whose unkempt hair partially obscured his eyes, even in the helmet.

 

“oh really? Well, since we know their here, and we know they know we're here, let's put us all on a more even playing field. And ask if he'd like to cooperate, not get in each others way.

 

Babow grinned, and closed his eyes. Prodigy motioned one of the other Paladins of the Spider forward, and indicated what he was thinking. The man nodded, and relayed the proper instructions. Now if Prodigy could only think of some really witty line to express the moment when it came.

 

 

“Um, ahem, hermm, Knights of the Gull. Seagull you there? This is Babow. We know you guys are there, did you really think we wouldn't?” Babows voice popped out of the shortwave radio, as quietly as it could. “Prodigy wants to know if you'd like to cooperate on this, he's got a plan.”

 

Seagull suddenly grinned. “I bet I know what it is, too. Tell him yes.”

 

 

“I am sorry, truly, but I must obey my Masters, and you must die. I know you have already opened up a portal by which people may both leave and enter, in your barrier.”

 

“Field, it's a field asshole.”

 

“Defiant even now? But what happened to your brave and boastful words, High Guardian? Well, can you answer?”

 

“Maybe he can't,” came the reply, not from me, but from a girl by the sound, not just any girl either, but Franky. “But I sure as hell can!” I could see, and feel, the blast of flame as it impacted above me, knocking the FW back. He was hit twice more, and I dropped the field just as hands grasped me and pulled me up. “stand, if you can.” I stood.

 

“What is this, you break you're word? You caste aside you're honor?”

 

She looked straight at him, and said with a savage menace in her voice, “He said he could speak only for himself, so he did. I gave no word.” Then I felt her arms around me again, and I felt the sensation of flying. I though I saw wings flapping, but the positioning of them seemed all wrong. I hadn't quite blacked out as I looked back. I saw the FW start to roar, when a buzz saw blade went flying into a raptor next to him. Two more went into two other raptors, killing them instantly. A shadow appeared over him, and we both looked up. a huge log appeared over him, and dropped. He leapt out of the way, and a croc was squashed. Bullets started flying as the buzzsaw blades rose out of their victims, and attacked more.

 

In that final moment, before I blacked out from exhaustion, I did two things. I dropped the field around the camp, which had really only covered the front, and I found that I looked straight into the eyes of the FW. His reptilian eyes blazed with competing emotions, but the most distinct, the most dominate, was saddnes, regret, for the death still denied him. Then, I knew no more.

 

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