Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius (16 page)

“A
landing transport is ready my lord,” said El Kar.

“You’ll
be coming with us little lady,” Shiken said to Mira. She went with him to the
back of the bridge and onto the elevator.

“If
he sees me it’ll only make him more difficult to defeat,” Mira said as they
left the bridge.

“That’s
my intention young lady,” Shiken said. “I want to see him at peak combat
ability.”

We’re
almost there Commander.

Kivi
saw the supply base come up on the monitor along with a few Shandi standing
guard.

“Are
you capable of fighting without a pilot?”

Yes,
but only for limited time periods. Daes built in a time limit until I can
speak.

“How
long will that take?”

Once
I’ve accumulated enough personal and battle data I’ll be able to act on my own.
At the current rate I’d estimate another five years of operation.

“That’s
a long time,” Kivi said. She checked the scans of the complex. “All we need is
two drive converters, right? There should be a number in a small base like
this.”

The
supply warehouse is under the ground near the northeastern section of the base.

“Thank
you,” she said as she changed the Mjolnir to humanoid shape and drew the blade.
“After opening the warehouse I’m going to have to leave to get what we need.”

I’m
able to fight independently for ten minutes. After that I’ll enter standby
mode.

Kivi
dropped the phase cloak and launched a pair of HV missiles at the base. A
number of guards panicked when the Mjolnir appeared. The explosion ripped a massive
hole in the ground. She donned her helmet and grabbed the pair of
rakna
blades from the back room. As she went for the hatch, the Mjolnir knelt down
next to the hole as pulse blasts flashed from all sides. Kivi grabbed the
elevator cord and lowered herself into the warehouse. Quickly drawing her
blades, she was attacked by a pair of guards. She dodged their shots and cut
them both in half. She turned as another three headed towards her. She charged,
dodging their pulse blasts, killing them with a series of slashes. On the
surface, the Mjolnir aimed its right arm at those attacking from the ground.
Large cylindrical guns emerged from the arm. The mobile suit fired a volley of
HV bullets, killing the Shandi in mass as the mobile suit showered bullets in
all directions. After a few minutes the remaining Shandi fled. Searching the
warehouse in haste, Kivi found the converters needed. Taking a bundle of the
metallic cords, she wrapped them around herself and made her way back to the
surface to the elevator cord, still lying on the ground where she had left it.
Taking the cord and tugging the mobile suit pulled her up. She watched as the
Mjolnir shot down a pair of Spits flying over them. She jumped into the hatch,
flipped off her helmet, and dropped the converters on the floor of the cockpit.

She
took the controls. “Let’s get out of here with the speed of the goddess!”

Yes
Commander.

The
Mjolnir stopped firing and turned its phase cloak back on. When the mobile suit
got off the ground it shifted to ship form. An orbital barrage decimated the
base as they flew away.

“That’s
pretty cold,” Kivi said as she flew the Mjolnir towards a nearby mountain
range.

* * *

Shiken
Ka and El Kar stood outside and watched Brian’s every move.

“Sir,
this is madness,” said El Kar.

“Yes,
that it is,” Shiken said before turning to Mira. “How long can he keep this
up?”

“That
depends on how angry you’ve made him,” Mira said with a grin. “This fight could
go for hours before he shows any fatigue.”

Shiken
checked through is binoculars again, zooming in on Brian’s helmet. “Tell me, do
his exoskeleton’s eyes glow?”

“No,”
Mira answered.

“Then
he must be able to berserk like the
Maigars
of old,” Shiken concluded.
“I heard stories that before they died out, each
Maigar
had the strength
of a hundred knights of Kali. Now I know why they were so feared in battle.”

“What
should we do my lord? We’ve already taken over a hundred casualties. With the
sand storm blocking an aerial strike he has the advantage,” El Kar said as
Brian killed another pair of ground troops.

“It’s
funny that he’s outnumbered hundreds to one and yet has the upper hand.” He
drew the falchion from his back and slithered onto the sand.
“Vor dai un
malic to,”
Shiken said as he moved towards Brian.

“You
shouldn’t fight him alone!” El Kar shouted as he tried stopping his commander.

Shiken
scowled at his friend. “The only one who is worthy of fighting this Terran is
myself. Order our troops to contain him.”

“You’re
going to fight him personally?”

“Yes
old friend, I must.” Shiken looked at all the dead troops of his. “Honor
dictates I defeat him or die trying.”

“Yes
my lord.”

* * *

Brian
stopped to rest for a moment, humming a song. Looking around, the ground was
littered with the bodies of dead Shandi. When the
rakna
blade’s glow
began fading he felt the weight of the exoskeleton. The power meters read zero
percent before the helmet’s systems went black. With the sand blowing Brian
couldn’t see anything with it on. Shiken Ka approached cautiously with his
falchion drawn. He saw the Terran breathing hard, covered in the blood of his
soldiers. Shiken’s troops circled around and surrounded Brian on all sides. He
came within ten feet of Brian.

“Even
with all the odds in my favor one Terran seems to be the end of me,” Shiken
said.

Not
able to see anything Brian twisted his helmet off and revealed his face and
hair, but most strikingly, his glowing blue eyes. Shiken’s grim face changed to
shock, seeing a face all too familiar to him.
It’s not possible!
He
remembered the statue he’d seen in his youth, how it looked just like Brian,
down to the hair style and armor.
It’s him.
He couldn’t hold back the
laughter because of the absurd situation before him.

“What’s
so funny?” Brian asked as his eyes turned back to normal.

“Nothing
young warrior, at least, nothing you need be concerned with. I am Shiken Ka,
lord of this planet and head of the Ka family.” Shiken held his sword
horizontal in front with both hands.
“Vor dai un malic to.”

Brian
did likewise,
“Quuntai.”

Shiken
smiled as he took a battle stance, “I see you’ve studied my people’s language
and tradition.”

“One
can never know enough in this universe,” Brian said.

Shiken
began with a quick slash forward. The strength of the attack almost knocked
Brian over as he blocked with his sword. He backed off to regain his footing.
Shiken charged forward, his snake bottom flowing through the sand as if he was
a fish swimming in the ocean. Brian blocked another attack, this time rolling
around to Shiken’s back. He jumped to his feet and thrust his sword. The Shandi
lord twisted around and blocked with a loud ring of metal. Brian backed away
while watching the Shandi lord take another stance.

“You’re
quite good,” said Shiken.

“You’re
not bad either,” said Brian.

“What
happened to your glowing eyes and super speed?”

“You
noticed that, didn’t you Shiken? Well, my armor has 0% power, and as for my berserk,
well I’ve been fighting for hours. And to tell you the truth I’m damned hungry
right now.”

Shiken
laughed, “If you defeat me you’re welcome to my palace’s food stores.”

“That’s
all the motivation I need.”

* * *

Mira
watched the two dueling from a distance. El Kar stood next to her, watching
through the binoculars.

“This
battle could go on for hours.”

“What
did he say as he left?” Mira asked.

El
Kar lowered the binoculars. “Roughly, it translates to “On my life and honor.”
It means he’s betting his life on this fight. If he loses all that’s his is to
be rewarded to the Terran.”

“He
would put that much on the line?”

“Think
about it,” El Kar said. “If you put everything you own, including your life on
the line you’re forced to perform at your best. My lord will give everything of
his being to this duel. In our society the strong rule because they are strong.
Strength is righteousness because it’s born from thoughts. Thoughts become
actions and action changes reality. Without strength, nothing changes and
nothing ascends. It leads to a pathetic death on the sharp end of an enemies’
blade.”

“What
if I told you Brian feels that way?”

“If
he is then he’ll be victorious. He’s strong, stronger than any being I’ve ever
seen.” El Kar narrowed his eyes, still watching the battle, “If he fought a
Mylor, I’d bet on the Terran.”

“Then
by your own words you believe Brian will win.”

“No,
he’s been worn down too much. It’s only a matter of time before the Terran
falls to exhaustion.”

* * *

Brian
shook with exhaustion, barely able to dodge an attack.

“Brian,
can you hear me?” Kivi asked over the com.

“Yeah,
I can.”

“I’ll
be there to pick you up shortly.”

He
stared at Shiken and the ground forces surrounding him. “No Kivi. If you come
back both of us will be captured.”

“But
Brian,” she said.

“I’ll
be alright,” he said. “Tell the others I’m alright. And if you can give Seles a
kiss for me.”

“What?”

Brian
shook his armor. “It seems my armor is now completely drained.”

“Now
I understand.” Shiken closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “You risked your
life so she could escape. I commend you.”

“Let
her go and I’ll surrender.”

Shiken
sheathed his sword. “I accept your terms.”

Brian
dropped his sword and fell to his knees. “Thank you,” he said before falling unconscious.

Shiken
placed a hand on the now sleeping Terran’s shoulder. “You fought with the
strength of two hundred knights.” He turned to his soldiers, “As the
Maigar
bargained, I hereby order no one block the escape of the Mjolnir. Now, take him
back to my ship!” He took Brian’s
rakna
and studied the blade closely.
“Magnificent design,” Shiken said as he headed back to his ship.

* * *

Kivi
placed the last drive converter into place, turning to see a message on the
com. She turned it on and saw Mira.

“I’ve
surrendered the remaining ground forces. Brian‘s also been captured.”

“I
understand,” Kivi said with concern on her face. “He’s alive, right?”

“Yes.”
Mira smiled, “Shiken Ka has given me this opportunity to tell you that for the
next twenty four hours no one will pursue you or the Mjolnir.”

“Thank
you Mira,” Kivi said as she brought the mobile suit to full power. “We will
return for you and the others, I promise that. I pray Kali watches over you.”

“And
you as well Kivi,” Mira said as the message ended.

Night
fell as the stars flickering brightly in the clear sky.

“You
must feel the same as I right now,” she said as she patted the Mjolnir’s
monitor.

Yes.
But we must go.

Brian
opened his eyes to find himself chained to the wall wearing only his sleeveless
white shirt and dark brown pants. Looking from side to side and up and down, he
noticed he was inside a well-lit cubic cell with a solid metal door. He tested
the chains and found them quite restrictive. After a few seconds the door
opened. He saw Mira with her med kit while Shiken Ka followed behind her.

“Brian!”
she shouted with joy as she dashed forward to hug him. “I was so worried you’d
been killed,” Mira said as she buried her head in his chest.

“You
must mean a lot to her,” Shiken said as he watched them quietly.

“I’m
glad that you’re alright Mira,” he said before grimacing.

Mira
grabbed her med kit and took out the regenerator. “I’m sorry Brian; I should
have taken care of your injuries before getting excited.”

“It’s
not a problem,” Brian replied. He noticed Shiken was waiting patiently.

“I
have sent notice to your captain of your capture,” Shiken said. “No doubt she’ll
find a way to pay your contracts.”