Terran Knights: Chapter 45

Pushing a heavy block of cement off his back, Jack coughed and hacked away. He couldn’t see through the haze of smoke and coughed again. Staring down he saw his hand covered in dust and tried to stand but then realized what he really saw. Looking down at himself he saw his regular clothes and his bare skin.

Turning his hand over he stared at the ring on his finger and it was in one piece. The emerald stone stared at him just the same except there was a thin crack in the pieces. “That can’t be good,” he said to himself and looked around.

What was left of the mall had entirely been demolished, fallen to ruins from the aftermath of the laser. The sun was clouded over by smoke rising from the few fires that were flickering around him but, he couldn’t tell where anyone else was or if they were even alive at this point.

No, they were alive. He just got everyone back. He wasn’t going to even believe that they hadn’t survived it. Looking around he watched a pile of rubble shift, a sign slid away and walls break away. A blue bubble dissipated and Kathryn slumped to the side before Sarah and Cal caught her. Her armor was gone except for her gloves and those faded finally away as well. Neither Cal or Sarah had theirs on either.

Jack walked over to them quickly grunting with every step. Looking at his leg he saw the cut in his shin and shook his head. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks to Kat,” Cal said and she looked at them through dazed eyes. “Though I don’t think she’s going to be doing much more with us.”

“Yeah. I’m tapped out,” she said shutting her eyes. The stone at her throat was cracked just like Jack’s. She made an attempt to stand and just fell back over into Cal’s chest. “Where’s Seth and Marco?”

“I don’t know,” Jack and Sarah met each other’s gaze and the shared worry was palpable. “I guess all of our stones are sporting some wear.”

They looked at theirs and seeing the wounds on them made each of them flinch slightly

The ground shook and the four of them turned and stared at the massive machine that was coming to life again. They had run far and been blasted further than a quarter of a mile away it was starting to move. It was stomping forward and they paled one by one. “It’s still working. Come the fuck on,” Sarah growled. “It can’t just slow down. For like an hour or something?”

They moved as best they could, trying to run and put some more distance between the Taq-Law and them. Climbing over a crack in the ground and helping each other move as it worked forward. As Jack climbed he paused and then pointed, “Sarah. Over there!”

She followed where he was pointing and her heart skipped a beat. Seth was walking with Marco’s arm over his shoulder. Marco was barely walking and his head was down as they moved. Sarah was helping with Kathryn but Cal shook his head, “I got her. Go.”

She nodded and stepped away making sure she was okay and then she and Jack rushed past them. Seth nodded toward them and slowly stepped away as Jack put his arm over Marco’s shoulder and Sarah raised his head to look at him. He smiled but half his face was covered in blood from above his hairline. “Well, at least everyone is alive.”

“Yeah we are,” Sarah kissed above his clean eye and then his lips. Jack kissed his forehead and held onto him tighter. But they turned and looked at the Taq-Law as it made its way toward them. It had gotten a bead on them. Knew that they had all survived.

Marco raised his head slowly and reached for his cracked necklace but his arm fell down again and he shook slightly. He raised his hand again though and grabbed the necklace and grit his teeth together. “Marco stop. You’re barely standing right now,” Sarah said reaching for his hand.

“I have to do something,” he choked out. “Or else you’re all going to die. And I’m never letting that happen again!”

Jack took her hand and shook his head lowering it slowly, “Marco hold out your hand.”

“What for?” he asked breaking his gaze from the machine to him.

“Because you’re going to help us take that thing down. Once and for all,” Putting his fingers in his mouth he whistled and got the attention of the other three.  Cal, Kathryn and Seth made their ways over to them slowly until the six of them were together. “Everyone take your stones and give them to Marco.”

“What crazy idea do you have?” Cal asked feigning between sarcasm and hopelessness.

“Marco can channel all of our stones. And he’ll be the one to take that thing down. Just trust me on this one. Come on Marco.”

Jack took Marco’s hand and used his own to support it as the shaking continued. He took his ring off slowly and placed it in Marco’s hand, the stone glowing in response to the contact.

Sarah took off her bracelet and set it into Marco’s hand squeezing his arms. The yellow stone gleamed and Marco sucked in a breath his hands no longer shaking. His eyes were focused and he managed to stand on his own two feet looking at them shocked.

Kathryn, Seth and Cal gave him their stones and he stepped forward suddenly bathed in white light, his armor coming. Instead of deep red it was a brilliant white. The armor covered his entire body like an old classic knight. A golden scarf wrapped around his mouth and he stared at the Taq-Law machine. He called for his weapon, conjuring a sleek rocket launcher.

“Talk about an upgrade,” Seth whispered.

Kathryn glanced at Cal, “Did I look that cool when I did it?”

“Not even close,” he replied in awe.

“I’ll say,” Sarah whistled as she stared at him.

“He got the scarf from me,” Jack smirked.

The Taq-Law focused on Marco and its arm raised glowing red as the lasers in its hand and arms prepared to fire. Resting the weapon across his shoulder he squared his feet, aimed taking a slow breath, and fired. Instead of a missile it was a solid beam of energy. Before the Taq-Law could even get its lasers off the beam pierced through its chest like nothing.

When the light died down there was a large sizzling hole in its chest. It wobbled slightly then sank down to the ground. What few lights were on it faded away and it beeped a few times and then went silent. The six of them stared at the hulking mess that had been the giant Taq-Law. Marco turned around facing his team and let the rocket launcher fade away.

Marco held a thumbs up and smiled, “Well team. I think we did it.”