Dawnbreaker Episode II: Shattered Worlds/Part 10

CHAPTER 28

Slowly coming back to consciousness, Deathstrike is still for a moment, listening. A faint clicking sound can be heard coming from behind and to the right. Opening her eyes and slowly turning her head, she can see one of the Creatures behind her, working at some sort of computer console in the right corner of a strange room, the room's walls seemingly made of pure flesh, alive and pulsing. She can no longer feel the weight of the lightsaber at her belt, it is gone. Something is driving in her back, and she pulls out a small orange crystal. The crystal infuses in her skin, granting her a non-Force power.

As the bugs disperse, Lord Darkon is shocked that his apprentice has seemingly vanished. All that is left behind is her lightsaber, which he picks up. There is no sign of any kind as to what might have happened to Deathstrike, and without the Force, he cannot even tell if she is alive or dead. Searching the scene, he finds another small crystal, violet this time. As before, the crystal infuses into his skin, granting him a new non-Force power.

"Deathstrike's disappearance must be connected with that illusion of the Mercenary, somehow. Kane is more manipulative than I anticipated... I should follow that illusion. Perhaps more clues will be revealed."

He runs off in the direction he saw the illusory Mercenary take. Darkon enters a hangar, similar in appearence to the one that the others had found their ship. As he does, he sees the duel engines of a small-fighter craft rocket to life and propel the ship out of the hangar.

Ty294 sits in the cockpit of a small fighter he located in one of the hangars. The controls are similar to his Z-95 so he has no trouble getting the craft to function. As he exits the planet's atmosphere, he begins to talk into the radio.

"This is Ty294, Assailant, are you still here?"

No response.

"Damn it! Ty294 to Assailant, do you read me?"

A faint broken voice comes over the static.

"Merce ... ssailant, what were .... send cordi ... mee ... rendevous poi ..."

The radio goes dead, Ty294's scopes locate a ship at the edge of the system. A second later, it drops off the sensers; likely it's gone into hyperspace. The computer suddenly displays a set of hyper coordinates. Ty ponders for a moment whether or not this is a trap.

"It's my only chance." he decides.

As Deathstrike makes her way through the corridors of the building, voices begin to swirl in her head.

"You do not know what forces are at work here..."

"Shut up Kane! You feeble attempts don't scare me!"

As she turns the corner, she sees Darkon.

"Master!" she cries dashing toward him.

Darkon turns and faces Deathstrike. Deathstrike realizes, that it's not really Darkon. The vision laughs in a deep, raspy, inhuman voice then vanishes. Deathstrike continues, but at every turn she sees someone she knows: Darkon's officers, Grage, Patten, Rattler, Ty294, the Gatekeeper. Each time she hears the voice and the visions disappear.

"You don't understand a thing Deathstrike..."

Deathstrike begins to crawl carefully and silently toward the room's exit on the far side of the Creature sitting at its console. Unfortunately, the Creature's ears are VERY acute. It rises to its feet and turns to Deathstrike, who likewise leaps to her feet.

Deathstrike's green eyes take on a black shadow-cast, as they always do when she is furious. She snarls: "Your precious Kane is simply another miserable worm in the way of Lord Darkon and the True Sith! And now, you shall see that I am not as 'feeble' as you think..."

Dimensional Displacement - orange crystal power - The Creature's body becomes two-dimensional. Not having any width, it is no longer able to support itself, and it flops to the floor like a piece of thin paper. The effect is temporary, and the Creature is still alive, but will pose no threat for some time.

"Now, let's see what this console is all about..."

She taps a few keys at random, and suddenly a map of what appears the layout of this particular dimensional plane appears on the screen. On it are denoted two green dots, clearly herself and Lord Darkon, as well as a myriad of red dots... Creatures, their demonic minions, and probably Kane. She smiles sweetly to herself, remembering one of Lord Darkon's teachings.

"Valuable intelligence on enemy movements is the most lethal weapon on any battlefield."

Deathstrike finds a datapad next to the terminal, and copies this dynamically updating map program to it, then runs out of the room on her way to meet her Master, carefully avoiding enemy concentrations.

The Gatekeeper stands on the new Uberweapon, organizing a massive attack fleet, which has appeared out of nowhere. He turns to the Admiral. "Hold off on the attack. I can sense Lord Darkon and Deathstike down on the planet... Kane is still alive... I'm going." Before the Admiral can say a word, he vanishes. He reappears right next to Lord Darkon. "What a surprise..." Said the Gatekeeper. "Darkon, I don't want to do this, but seeing as the circumstances call for it, I don't have a choice. I'm going to give you your powers back, then I'm going to find Deathstrike and give hers back as well. As the creator of the Force, I'm still connected to it wherever I go, as it flows throughout my body. Long story short, your welcome, and don't abuse this privilage." He waves his hand, and Darkon feels his powers return, but before he can say anything, the Gatekeeper vanishes. Just as suddenly as he appeared, Lord Darkon feels his Force powers leaving him again. Clearly, Kane can easily counter any change in his domain. Only this time, he underestimated his adversary! Even as his powers fade out again, Lord Darkon can feel the connection between Kane, the Gatekeeper, and their ability to drain or infuse the Force. He can feel it... and he can now counter its effects completely! The Force once again empowers him, and this time, no one, NO ONE... could possibly negate it again! Not Kane, not the Gatekeeper, nor anyone else! In an instant, he senses his apprentice, rushing towards him with critical information in her hands. Phasing right next to her, Lord Darkon restores her Force connection as well.

"My lord... how...wha-?!" -Deathstrike is struck speechless.

"My supreme power is mine again, more secure than EVER before, as is yours, my apprentice! Now, let me see that map you bring, and begin to plan our move on Kane as his dear brother distracts him by his assault!"

"At once, Master!"

CHAPTER 29

Meanwhile, the Gatekeeper is stalking through hallways, slaughtering these "Creatures" one by one with ease: They are not a match for the unequaled power of the Gatekeeper. He walks into a massive dueling room, and finds Kane, flanked by 20 of the creatures. Force Whirlwind: The Gatekeeper starts waving his arms around his body, and the creatures start flying around him in circles, as red lightning engulfs their helpless bodies, mysteriously draining them of their resiliency. The Gatekeeper tosses his arms out to his sides, and the creatures go rocketing outwards, destroying everything they come into contact with and killing them instantly. The Gatekeeper turns back to his brother, only to find that he was an illusion. He walks on, more determined than ever to kill his own flesh and blood...

"I feel it, my apprentice... Kane... he is exerting himself! The Gatekeeper is making his assault. Kane's energies are substantially drained. The time has come! Do you have the location?"

Deathstrike hands Lord Darkon the datapad with a map, an eager smile on her face, bloodlust in her eyes.

"Yes, Master..."

Force Designation - through the Force, Lord Darkon becomes one with the instrument, divining instinctively Kane's true location by the flurry of power Kane expends on his illusions, and the battle with his brother...

"There!"

Lord Darkon and Deathstrike traverse the corridors, using the shortest and most efficient route to Kane's location, while the Gatekeeper continues to waste his time with Kane's pathetic Creatures and other minions. In no time at all, they find themselves in a massive oval chamber, with the walls, ceiling and floor made from pulsing live flesh, as Kane sits on a throne made from skulls and bones of all the others he disposed of in his domain.

No words were said. No words were required. After a brief locking of gazes with Kane, Lord Darkon launches his attack, Deathstrike charging to the left flank.

Force Annihilation - Lord Darkon's arms emit a massive discharge of polarized neutron energy, equivalent in power to 6 Force Destruction attacks. Kane extends his hand and blocks it, sending it straight at Deathstrike, who barely dodges it in time, however while doing so she mysteriously gets paralyzed. Kane turns his attention to Lord Darkon, just as the Gatekeeper enters the room.

Who would have imagined that the time would come when I am glad to see his ugly face? Darkon thought.

Preparatory power1 - Force Palisade - an enhanced version of Force Protection Preparatory power2 - Force Dissipation - enhanced Force Absorb Preparatory power3 - Blood Fury Rage - supremely enhanced Dark Rage

A pulsar of death, Lord Darkon is a reddish blur of pure murder as he charges at Kane, his lightsaber whirling like a hyper-fast turbojet. As Kane meets Lord Darkon's savage rush with a conterattack, and the two are engaged in a fierce close-blade duel, rainbow-coloured energies enfolding them, while the Gatekeeper rushes in to join the fray, Deathstrike stirs, her power managing to overcome the paralysis effect.

"YOU WILL NOT deny me battle, Kane... it is what I live for!!!" - she growls, that manic, blood-crazed look in her eyes once again.

Force Bloodslayer - Deathstrike's speed and reactions quadruple, and her lightsaber begins to leave behind a blood-red trail. She gathers addtional power by drinking blood directly from the flesh walls, before she charges, her entire body covered red with blood.

"FOR THE TRUE SITH!"

Admiral Patten and his elite team, Eagle Squad, suddenly uncloak just outside the throne room. "We've been doing some recon, planting traps and creating defensive position in the meantime. We'll cover the entrance!" he shouts, as he looks on in amazement at the battle unfold inside. "OK men, lets do what we do best!" he yells to his squad as he views hordes of creatures and a previously unseen robitic creation moving in his direction. "Carter, take 2 men and guard the left flank! Julia, you take the right! The rest of us will guard the center! All Guardians, ENGAGE!"

CHAPTER 30

Rattler, O'Neill and the Assailant stand on the flight deck of the TCS Excalibur.

Lt. "Mags" Wilkins and the rest of the Black Knight Squadron gather around their Wing Commander. It had been a few hours since they returned on a stolen ship, and Captain O'Neill ordered all hands to battle stations as soon as they got on board. Rattler briefs not only his squadron, but the seven other squadrons as well.

"Ok listen up. We got ourselves a 'fate of the universe' thing here again. We will be coordinating with local forces in a joint operation against unknown hostiles. Our job is to provide fighter support as the TCS Kyushu gets into position to use her Phase Transit Cannon. We don't know what we are gonna be facing in the way of resistance, but expect it to be substantial. Get to your ships. We hit space in five. Good luck, and give 'em hell."

The pilots disperse, but Mags stays behind.

"Good to have you back." She said quietly to Rattler. She hugs him quickly, before rushing to get to her Rapier.

"Good to be back."

As allied forces engage the enemy on the ground, the Confed Expeditionary Fleet engages the enemy in space. Fighters from the TCS Kyushu and TCS Excalibur harass an orbital defense platform until the massive Confederation class Dreadnaught fires its Phase Transit Cannon for the first time. The massive blast leaves a hole in the platform big enough to fly a Raptor Heavy fighter through with room to spare.

Rattler banks, and lights up a turret with combined Particle Cannon and Laser Cannon fire.

"Time for a little payback."

A second blast from the Phase Transit Cannon rips the Orbital Defense Platform apart. The Black Knights enter the atmosphere to provide air support for the ground forces if needed.

The Assailant stepped up to Mags. "Do you still have my ship?" He asked.

"Yes," Mags replied. "Hanger bay 631, it's..." The Assailant runs out of the room.

Patten and his troopers fire hundreds of shots into the horde of incoming hostiles. Many fall. Just as it seems the Guardians are about to be overrun, the mines that were placed earlier suddenly detonate, cutting a large portion of hostiles down. When Patten's M12 assault rifle is out of ammunition, he throws it aside. He shouts, "You... will... all... die!" He suddenly charges forward, throwing a plasma grenade into the horde of hostiles running towards him. Yelling a savage battlecry, he ignites the plasma swords attached to his forearm armor and jumps into the middle of the advancing force, hacking, parrying, slashing, killing and destroying everything in his way. One of the creatures manage to get a severe hit in, but Patten's shield takes the brunt of the blow. "You will NOT defeat me that easily!" he shouts as he slices the creature cleanly in two. He looks up, seeing that the hallway is now clear. As he turns around, he hears metallic groan behind him. He looks over his shoulder just in time to see a stream of flames heading towards him. He rolls to the side, taking a newly designed M78 HE Tactical Shotgun out of the holster on his back. He lunges towards the robot, jumping into 5 feet into the air to avoid another jet of flame. He unloads a round into the robotic creation's head, then, while still in the air, ignites the plasma sword on his right arm, using a backhand swing to cleanly slice its head off. As he gets up, he sees 7 more running down the hallway towards him.

Lord Darkon and the Gatekeeper are momentarily on the back foot under the onslaught of Kane's assaults, Kane proving to be a very worthy opponent for both of them, when Deathstrike surges in a flash for Kane's rear. He parries a flurry of attacks, but is caught by surprise, and Deathstrike manages to score a furrow across his abdomen before she is repelled and flung back against the far wall. The stall in Kane's onslaught allows Lord Darkon and the Gatekeeper to regain the initiative. Battered, and with a shallow lightsaber burn across her right cheek, but even more invigorated by the battle, Deathstrike leaps back to her feet!

"YES!!! Yes... Hurt me, Kane... I shall hurt you far more!!!" - Even more frenzied, she unleashes another battle cry, and rushes back in.

The Gatekeeper stiffens up and extends his hands forward.

Lightning Trials; A seemingly endless amount of lightning shoots from his fingertips and into Kane, who blocks it for all of half a second before being thrown against the far wall. After the lightning stops, Kane's body is severly burnt from head to toe. He looks beat, but then he presses a button on the wall, and over a hundred of these creatures, only more advanced with stronger armor and much more mechanical in nature, yet still organic.

Lord Darkon uses force death sight to superheat Kane's skin and flesh and distract him as he issues orders to his apprentice: "Deathstrike! Do not re-engage Kane! Leave him to Gatekeeper and myself! Concentrate on those abominations! It seems this battle will be waged on more than one front! I am providing you with required backup."

She anwers reluctantly, "Yes, Master..."

"I know you thirst for his blood now, but remember the other thing I have tried to teach you, Deathstrike: Never allow bloodlust to overpower tactical objectives in battle. Bloodlust is useful as a tool of battle mastery, but not to the point that it masters you! That direction lies weakness and death!"

She answers more firmly, icy calm, but with fire underneath: "Understood, Master."

Lord Darkon summens 50 Sith Uberspectres to help Deathstrike attack the robotic abominations. Deathstrike is already upon them, a blur of motion as the first five abominations are slashed to pieces. The Spectres soon annihilate another twelve.

Lord Darkon turns back to Kane, dueling his brother, and rejoins the battle.

The Assailant, realizing that his plan is falling apart, contacts one of the only 'intelligent' people he knows.

"Ty294, do you copy? Ty294, do you copy? These idiots aren't killing a damn thing, the enemy will be hear any second now, we need to get them out!"

He drops the comm, and bursts into the throne room.

"I hate to break up you three shutta's fun, but I need to take Darkon and the Gatekeeper out with me."

Kane raises his hand, intent on destroying the Intruder, but he cannot use the force... The Gatekeeper's comm crackles

"...Sir!...t...Uberweap...destroy...." Static.

Neither the Gatekeeper, nor Darkon could use the force anymore. The Assailant realizes what has happened.

"They're here."