PSUFF - A Bleeding Planet

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[COLOR="Black"]Chapter Nine
The Motauri


They entered the scene of devastation with no idea what to expect. They plotted a little, but they couldn’t really think of much. Aroma stopped on the fourth floor, while Rejik and Lucieus went down one extra floor, switched elevator and rose up to the fourth floor from that side. The only plan they had was to rescue whoever was surrounded at the Linear Line. Aroma was to provide cover from this side and, should she come under fire, she could fall back to the elevator.

Rejik and Lucieus moved quickly and quietly towards the Linear Line. They paused as they reached parallel to the Moatoob gate. There were several Beasts arrayed there, on the lookout for Guardians undoubtedly. One Beast stood out from the rest. He was wearing a ceremonial robe instead of the typical Beast apparel. His hair was held back from his face with the red hair band that denoted rank amongst his people. The hair band was different however. It held a large, round Ruby in place on his forehead and kept his long, red hair running down his back out of his eyes. His eyes were horrible. Their beetle black colour contrasted sharply with his white as snow skin. This gave the impression that a six foot ghost had appeared in the Guardian’s Colony. Lucieus recognised him instantly. In truth, a face like that is impossible to forget. His name was Gorthus Motauri, chief sorcere of the Motauri family.

He seemed to be the major source of damage in the place. Some of the spells he was launching across to the Linear Line looked immense.

As planned it was at this point that Aroma provided her distraction. She dodged out of her cover and took three quick shots. After the first Beast was hit Gorthus turned towards the sound and threw up his right arm. The resulting wave of energy swallowed the other shots and heavily dented the wall above the Parum gate. Knowing that Aroma would be safely heading down in the elevator, Lucieus and Rejik moved quickly on to the Linear Line. Gorthus moved his troops to hunt Aroma.

They dashed into the Linear Line, Twin Sabers drawn and spent less than a second examining what they were up against. None of the Beasts were capable of defending themselves against Guardians of this rank and calibur. It was over before any of them even knew what was coming. As the final body fell the boys with blades were left staring at the exhausted bodies of Lucy Harliter and Tiffany Firebrand.

“Keep quiet,” Lucieus commanded in a whisper, “once Aroma’s task is finished we have to go out fighting. Gorthus is in charge by the looks of things so we have to take him out.”

“Gorthus?” questioned Tiffany, “Gorthus can’t be in charge. Tylian is here. Gorthus shouldn’t even be here.”

“Well who do you think has been throwing all those spells this way? I haven’t seen Tylian but I’ve seen Gorthus. He is the one in charge.”

“I saw Tylian.”

“You were wrong.”

“Excuse me,” Rejik interjected, “if you’d both quiet down a little. Perhaps they’re both here.”

“No,” Lucieus answered, returning to his whisper, “if both his generals were here Aramus would be too.”

“So what if he were here?”

“You’ve seen Aramus!?”

“Again, Louie, quiet down.”

“Well have you seen him or not?”

“I don’t even know what he looks like.”

A violent outcry came from outside, followed by the sounds of an even more violent explosion. The four of them moved out to the attack and as all abruptly fell silent they all had to stop and stare.

A great pillar of rubble and flame had burst out of the far elevator and, stood before it with arms raised, Gorthus had frozen it in time.

“What are you doing!?” Aroma screamed as she ran towards them from the nearer and more intact elevator, “kill him while he’s distracted!”

For a moment the explosion continued with a sudden and almost deafening roar before the sorcerer regained control. At the same time his men started firing from multiple positions between the frozen explosion and the Moatoob gate. Aroma threw herself flat to the ground and Lucy rushed towards her. Rejik and Tiffany led the charge towards the other side, with Lucieus not far behind.

Their deflections from their daggers and sabers bought them enough time to find cover near the Neudaiz gate, but not much further. A strange thing was happening with the explosion. It seemed to be moving backwards, returning to how the elevator was before it exploded. They had to move fast before Gorthus could get back into the fight.

Aroma and Lucy provided the opening for them. Lucy loaded Aroma’s Angelous handgun with her Grants magic. The next shot from the Angelous was a mammoth blast of light energy that literally disintegrated the Beasts it was shot at.

It was a famous move amongst the Guardians, the Beasts stared.

They reached the Motauri gate, rather unfortunately, as more Beasts made their entrance. Even more unfortunately, as more Beasts made their entrance. Even more unfortunate was the arrival of Aramus Motauri himself.

Rejik halted to take on the snarling Beast while Lucieus made to flank him and Tiffany continued on towards Gorthus.

In the first swing of his behemoth of a sword Aramus bore Rejik to the ground. Seven foot of muscle with the texture of granite was not wasted on him. Lucieus came under attack himself in moments. Lucy lined herself up to throw fire into the masses while Aroma moved up to support Tiffany.

Rejik rose to face his yellow-eyed opponent again. He used his twin sabers to move in to the attack, but was forced to bring them back to defend against another brutal swipe.

As their blades clashed and Lucieus struggled to defend himself Aroma finally landed a hit on Gorthus. As he dropped to the ground, trying to stem the blood coming from his arm, the pillar of fire burst outwards with a deafening roar. The Colony was showered with rubble.

In the ensuing shock Rejik hooked a saber under Aramus’ sword, then dragged him stumbling forwards so that their heads smashed together. Neither of them went down, but Rejik felt better for having got a hit in. Aramus’ response was to head butt Rejik back. Rejik went down, losing his still-hooked saber in the process.

With Gorthus down and his entourage sporting dagger wounds of the fatal variety Tiffany moved in to help the overwhelmed Lucieus.

Aroma paused with her head still swimming to survey the scene around her, Lucy had gone down, a victim to the violently scattered debris of the elevator explosion. Her forehead was bleeding profusely. She might have been dead, Aroma couldn’t tell. Rejik was down too. Dodging and blocking Aramus’ sword, but leaving himself open to equally damaging kicks.

With the arrival up the stairs of a female Beast the Motauri considered the battle over. As a unit they returned through the gate. Aroma sent a rain of bullets after them but the female’s daggers covered their back effortlessly. In response she launched one of her daggers, but Aroma’s aim sent it launching back, plunging deep into the Beast’s leg. The last thing Aroma saw before the airlock closed was a look of absolute hatred aimed her way.

Then the Guardian Barracks exploded.[/COLOR]