Grey War Saga 1: Twilight of Innocence (25 page)

The battle
outside ended abruptly after all the Grey ships gravity jumped away. The Red
Star stood alone with all the allied fleets surrounding it. The shield went
down before the Freedom flew inside. Sunadin ordered all his subordinates away
and stood alone in the center chamber. After the glowing ship landed Brian
stopped using his power and took a moment to catch his breath. After grabbing
his sword he touched the com.

“This is Captain
Peterson speaking to all allied forces,” he said. “You are to retreat for the
time being. I will deal with their leader.”

Valis appeared
on the monitor. “We’re moving away now. Good luck.”

“Thanks,” Brian
said.

He used his
power for a moment to step through the floor of the Freedom until he landed on
the surface below. He walked across the colossal chamber until he saw the red
armor clad Sunadin waiting for him. Once he was ten paces away the Grey showed
his staff and took a battle pose.

“I am General
Sunadin Malkas of the Naerendi Empire,” the Grey said.

Brian took a
pose with his sword and shield in place. “I am Captain Brian Peterson of the
Freedom.”

The two warriors
stared at each other for a long time while the scanner on the Freedom showed
the battle to everyone outside.

“You look
happy,” Brian commented when the two started circling each other.

“Before the
machine was turned on the Naerendi were warriors,” Sunadin said. “I have waited
for a long time for my blood to boil again.”

“I’m glad to
oblige you,” Brian said.

The two charged
each another. Brian began the dual with a long arching slash with his sword.
Sunadin quickly deflected it and went in with a jab with his staff. Brian
blocked with his shield and turned about with a whirling slash. Sunadin danced
backwards before rolling to his feet again. With the spin of his staff he fired
an energy blast at Brian. The human blocked with his shield before spinning his
rakna
blade to return the favor. Sunadin used his staff to block the
blast before charging in again. He caught Brian off balanced and jabbed with
his staff. Though Brian was able to back away he found his shield was damaged.
Sunadin circled with a smile on his face while Brian tossed the shield away and
grasped his
rakna
blade with both hands.

“You’re fast,”
Brian said.

“And you’re
strong,” Sunadin said.

The two circled
each other before moving in again. Brian attacked with a series of quick two
handed slashes. The Grey general deflected each perfectly with his staff before
taking a quick jab. The leg on Brian’s armor cracked under the strain. Brian
choked up on his sword and renewed his attack. Sunadin jumped away as the armor
on his right arm cracked and broke away. Brian shifted his hands back to normal
before charging the Grey with a series of spinning slashes. When he was able to
he used the momentum to fire an energy blast. Each time Sunadin either
deflected the attack or dodged out of the way. The pair paused to catch their
breath.

“You’re enjoying
this,” Brian said.

“I haven’t
enjoyed anything for centuries,” Sunadin said.

The two warriors
laughed before taking another battle pose. Sunadin spun his staff to gather
some energy while Brian did the same with his sword. The pair fired at the same
time, causing an explosion in the room. Once the smoke cleared Brian found
Sunadin right under his blade. The human tried stepping back but tripped. The
Grey jabbed with his staff and smacked Brian in the face. Using his sword,
Brian knocked the Grey away while grasping the area where his right eye once was.

“You’ve seen
many battles in your short life,” Sunadin said. “That eye was artificial,
wasn’t it?”

Brian smiled. “I
kept the scar to remind me to not do stupid things.”

He pulled his
hand away to reveal the empty socket. Afterwards, he tossed the remains of the
eye onto the floor. After wrapping a patch around the area Brian took his
battle stance again.

“Good,” Sunadin
said. “I don’t want to win this cheaply.”

“Neither would
I,” Brian said.

The two stared
one another down again, searching for a weakness in the other. Sunadin smiled
again as he charged. Brian tried following but found without his right eye his
depth perception and field of vision were terrible. The Grey general went on
the offensive with swipes and jabs. Brian did all he could to keep on his feet
while dodging and deflecting what he could. The smaller but faster Grey used
his staff to break Brian’s sword in half before whirling around and shattering
the human’s right arm. Brian screamed in agony as he fell to the floor. He
quickly recovered himself and jumped to his feet with half a sword in his left
hand. He noticed Sunadin salute him.

“You are a
worthy opponent human,” the Grey said.

Sunadin twirled
the staff before moving in for the kill. Brian threw the broken
rakna
blade at the Grey. When Sunadin deflected it Brian drew a smaller, curved
rakna
blade from his back and leapt forward. Sunadin stood motionless as the blade
entered his chest. Inside the general’s mind the memory of his days training
under Myden filled his thoughts.
“Remember Sunadin, always carry a second
weapon. You never know when your opponent will destroy your first.”
He
stared at the blade while coughing up some clear blood. Sunadin reached out and
took Brian’s hand.

“Thank
you…for…setting me free,” the Grey uttered.

Brian smiled. “I
didn’t hit your heart.”

The human pulled
the sword out and sheathed it on his back again. Before Sunadin could fall to
the ground Brian grabbed him with his remaining arm. The Grey noticed the
remains of Brian’s right arm were mechanical.

“You…fooled me,”
Sunadin said.

“A crafty
warrior will lead their opponent on,” Brian said. As he carried the general
back to the Freedom the machine god started screaming. Brian looked at the main
frame. “Go fuck yourself.”

Sunadin used his
mental energy to stop the machine. When he did the place started rumbling.

“We have…five
minutes before it gravity jumps away,” the Grey said.

“Five minutes is
more than enough time,” Brian said as he ran to the Freedom with the general.

“Why are you
saving me?” Sunadin asked.

“You’re a lot
like the guy who cost me my first eye and arm,” Brian said. “You’re stubborn
and think you know everything. But deep inside you’re searching for something
to believe in.”

“The crimes I
have committed are too many to count,” Sunadin said.

“Then spend the
rest of your days saving as many as you can,” Brian said. “You can’t change the
past, but you can change the future.” Brian used his power one more time to fly
them inside the Freedom and onto the bridge. “All soldiers are killers Sunadin.
It’s only a matter of who we’re killing. And though the blood on our hands will
never wash away it doesn’t mean we can’t do better.”

“You don’t think
of yourself as their savior, do you?” Sunadin asked as Brian placed him in the
captain’s chair.

“No, I’m just a
warrior now,” Brian said. “Killing is what I do best and living is what I do
worst.”

“You don’t give
yourself much credit,” Sunadin said.

“History will be
the judge of my actions,” Brian said.

Sunadin laughed.
“Indeed.”

Brian started
flying the Freedom out of the Red Star. An explosion half way caused a mass of
wreckage to block their path. The cannons proved ineffective when Brian tried
blasting them out.

“I don’t suppose
you have anything left?” Sunadin asked.

“I’m all spent,”
Brian admitted. “Where exactly will this thing end up?”

“Halfway between
Alden and Kelden,” Sunadin answered.

“I hope you like
blackjack because I suck at poker,” Brian said as he shrugged his shoulders.

The structure
shook as it charged up for a massive gravity jump. The blockage in front of the
Freedom suddenly started moving. Pulse blasts were making their way through
when the Artemis, Gemini, and Mjolnir punched through.

“You don’t plan
on leaving without us, do you?” Seles asked over the monitor.

“Thanks,” Brian
said.

The Freedom
quickly made its way out of the Red Star with the three mobile suits at its
head. As they flew away the massive ship flashed before disappearing. The sound
of cheering filled the com lines, along with the chanting of Brian’s name. He
touched the intercom system and rang the bell before speaking.

“We are Heaven’s
Light, the light that shines liberty upon the world. Wherever tyranny appears
we will strike. Until the Freedom’s bell rings eternal our mission will never
end.”

Feeling
exhausted, Brian fell to the ground unconscious. Sunadin weakly leaned forward
and touched the human’s head with his hand.

“Defeat at the
hands of a warrior like you, that’s something I can accept,” Sunadin said. “The
victory is yours Brian Peterson, revel in it.”

Brian woke up
and saw Mira standing over him with a scanner in her hand. By the lack of
feeling in his right arm and lack of vision from his right eye he knew they
were really gone.

“I did something
stupid again, didn’t I?” he asked.

“Yes, but they
can be replaced,” Mira said. “Because Celi made your first set I’ve called her
over to help.”

“Thanks,” Brian
said. “How long have I been out?”

“A day,” Mira
said.

“What happened
after the battle?”

“The Mylor used
their ships to transport the two dead planet killers away,” Mira answered.
“They said they’d mess with the gravity around Kalaidia if they didn’t.”

“Makes sense,
those things are the size of moons,” Brian said.

The door opened
and Celi walked in with a metal case. She opened it and revealed a perfect of
copy of Brian’s original artificial arm.

“I kept this
just in case,” Celi said. “You have a bad habit of getting hurt.”

“I know,” Brian
said before laughing.

Celi removed the
remaining part of the damaged arm from Brian’s shoulder and began the process
of attaching the new one. After a few minutes she turned it on.

“Give it a try,”
she instructed.

Brian moved the
new arm around a bit clumsily but was able to do everything he could with a
normal arm.

“Looks like
it’ll work faster than the original,” Celi said.

“His nerves in
the shoulder socket are probably keyed into it by now,” Mira said.

“Thanks,” Brian
said. “I don’t suppose you have an extra eye sitting around?”

Celi smiled.
“No, that was a delicate piece of technology. We’ll have it ready in a week or
so.”

“We’ll just have
to get used to the patch,” Mira said.

Brian touched
the patch over his right eye. “I’ll manage. What happened to General Sunadin?”

“I treated his
injuries under Myden’s supervision,” Mira said. “He’s currently being kept in
our brig with Myden watching over him.”

“Then I’m not
worried,” Brian said. He went to stand up but found he couldn’t. “I’d like to
speak with the others.”

“The sedatives
should wear off in a few hours, so be patient,” Mira said.

“You need to concentrate
on getting better,” Celi said. “Rushing things will only lead to further
complications.”

He leaned back
on the bed. “Alright, you two win.”

* *
*

Myden stood
outside the cell in the Freedom’s brig. Sunadin opened his eyes and sat up with
an alarmed look on his face.

“I can’t hear
anything,” Sunadin said.

“I used the drug
to suppress your telepathic powers,” Myden said.

Sunadin laughed.
“It’s really odd to hear nothing.” He stood up and turned to Myden. “I lost.”

“You didn’t lose
to me,” Myden said.

“In a way I
did,” Sunadin said. “What’s going to happen to me?”

“The High
Council will treat you as a prisoner of war and grant you all the rights of
such,” Myden said. “Your life will be spared, though they would like you to
answer some questions.”

“I’ll answer as
many of them as I can,” Sunadin said. “My life is no longer my own. Tell me,
why did Brian save me? I don’t understand why.”

“He’s a kind man
at heart,” Myden said. “He fights in spite of his dislike for fighting. But
what he’s best at is sensing another’s character. He could tell you were worth
saving by the dual with you. I believe he was right.”

“I was the
spearhead on this side of Alden,” Sunadin said. “With this defeat the machine
god’s plans are set back greatly.”

“How long of a
respite do we have?” Myden asked.

“I’d guess
several months,” Sunadin answered. “The war on all the other fronts has
stalled. I suspect General Regen will move in to plug the hole.”

“Then we’ll meet
him before he enters this area,” Myden said. “A few months is time enough to
plan for Heaven’s Light.”

“I hope you’re
right,” Sunadin said.

* *
*

Seles landed the
Artemis inside the palace grounds. When she got out she saw the Apollo kneeling
in the nearby garden. Celestia walked outside before going to her daughter for
a hug. After a long embrace Celestia stepped back to look Seles in the eyes.

“You look well,”
Celestia said.

“The same as
always,” Seles said.

“How’s the
Maigar
doing?”

Seles smiled.
“He’s recovering nicely.” She looked around. “We almost lost this.”

“Yes,” Celestia
said. “Everyone’s demanding a celebration in light of our victory.”

“I think we need
it,” Seles said. “All we’ve seen for the last few months is darkness. It’s time
to enjoy the light, even if it’s only for a little while.”

“Will I get a chance
to hear you sing?”

Seles nodded.
“The others say I’m ready to go on my own.”

“I’m glad you
took to it,” Celestia said. “You should know I was an off note for years.”

“I suspected as
much, talents like Mira and Zae are rare,” Seles said.

“I don’t suppose
Brian will grace us with a song?” Celestia asked.

“His injuries
will prevent that for a while,” Seles said. “But he will deliver a speech.”

“A speech will
be good enough,” Celestia said. She pointed at the Apollo. “He’s glad his
siblings are around.”

“I’m sure he’s
been lonely,” Seles said. “I’ll stay down here for a while so he and his sister
can talk.”

“Shouldn’t you
be at his side?” Celestia asked.

“Brian wouldn’t
like it if I did that,” Seles said. “He’d tell me to visit you and tease me
until I did so.”

“If you’re going
to be down here do you want me to put you to work?” her mother asked.

“I’ll cook,”
Seles said. “There are a few recipes from Earth I’ve wanted to try but the
ship’s stores don’t have all the ingredients. If you want you can act as my
taste tester.”

“You’re the best
chef I’ve ever known, so it’s an honor,” Celestia said.

“Thanks for
saying so,” Seles said.

* *
*

The following
evening all the cities of Kalaidia were lit up with celebration. Singers of
every type took to the stage as the people of Kali praised their goddess and
the warriors who fought in the terrible battle. All of the bases in space were
the same after Heaven’s Light and the Confederation joined in. On the palace
grounds Celestia led a grand ceremony with Mira, Zae, and Seles as the main
singers. All of the leaders of Heaven’s Light were on the surface. After
avoiding the others for a while Brian found himself standing with Shiken Ka at
the edge of the event.

“It’s moments
like this that I’m thankful to be alive,” Shiken said.

“I wish we
could’ve done more,” Brian said. “Too many died before we could act.”

“The Shandi will
live on,” Shiken said, “as will the Viken and Reiki. Like the Braiden, we’ve
become orphans of the universe.” The bright lights from the concert flashed
through the whole palace grounds. “The Kalaidians have a beautiful culture. I’m
sorry it took me so long to notice.”

“Culture is what
separates us from the Greys,” Brian said. “Their god has no place for things
like this.”

“Life is meant
to be enjoyed,” Shiken said. “Without it all do is exist.”

“Are you and Miv
able to handle the affairs of your people?” Brian asked.

“Without the
others it’s been difficult,” Shiken said. “But we’re managing.” He looked at
Celestia and Jabril as they spoke with Veda. “The leaders of this world have
granted us access to a number of resource systems. I’m thankful for it.”

A group of
musicians using old style Kalaidian instruments took to the stage. As they did
so a number of the people in the crowd got into position to start dancing. Seles
made her way to Brian wearing her usual stage dress.

“Can I request a
dance with this
Maigar
?” she asked.

Brian took her
hand, “Gladly.”

When the two
went to join the others Shiken stood quietly with a grin on his face.
Enjoy
this time my brother.
He thought to himself as the music played.

* *
*

After a few hours
Brian was signaled to do his speech. He looked at everyone before heading to the
stage. As he prepared the com system from the Freedom sent the signal to
everyone in space near Kalaidia.

“Today is a day
for celebration, for tomorrow we will mourn the fallen,” Brian said. “The
mission of Heaven’s Light is to destroy tyranny wherever it may appear. As of
now the Greys are that tyranny. For centuries they’ve plotted this war and
schemed in every way to win it. But in this last battle justice was finally
heard. The line has been broken and now we have a chance to seize the victory!
Together we are much stronger than the Greys ever believed. And together we
will win this war. This I promise you.”

The crowd
cheered when he saluted. Brian then left the stage to rejoin the party. Through
the crowd Daes and Jesela made their way to him while holding something
together. When he saw the ladies he noticed their dresses matched their hair color.

“You two look
beautiful,” he said.

“Thanks,” Jesela
said.

“We brought you
a gift,” Daes said.

The two offered
him the object. When he removed the fabric wrap he found it was a new
rakna
blade. Whereas his old one was the size of a bastard sword the new one was
sized like a claymore. Though it was much thicker and longer the sword still
weighed very little.

“This is great,”
Brian said.

“You said the
old one didn’t stand up as well as it should,” Daes said. “It was a pain to
forge this though.”

“That’s because
I didn’t know how to,” Jesela said.

“Thanks you
two,” Brian said. He slung the sheath around his shoulder to let the blade rest
on his back. “I can’t wait to try it out.”