The dark clouds and smog of Kalcoa was smothering presence even on the tiny island that they were standing on. The ground was a smudged and stained by the wind. It was rocky with one large mountain on the far edge of the island. They could all hear the swirling storm even after they abandoned the edge of Kalcoa’s inhabitable island.
Being on the island was like being isolated from the world. There were very few if any clouds in the sky, the wall of smog separate from it. There was some light being cast down so but it was hard for it to pass through the walls of clouds around them.
When they landed Rizier raised their arms to their head and started concentrating, scanning for any signs of life or the crystal. Ya’Cahin did the same, and with some coaching Marco added his psykik energy to the net. While they worked their mojo the others spread out.
Gen walked across the crunching ground and took a slow breath. The air felt heavy to her. Even walking was different. But she knew if she needed to she could jump, punch and kick just as easily as normal. Whatever new armor she was wearing it felt night and day compared to her old.
And it looked differently too.
It was still a full plate armor style, doing a similar shift that Owen’s did to match the other Celestial Knights. Something she noticed though was that starting at her right leg, going up her back, wrapping around her chest and finally resting on her head was a black scaled dragon.
“You okay?” Owen asked walking with her.
“Never been to space before. And the first date you bring me on is this place? Really know how to treat a girl Owen.”
“What? Wait this isn’t a date. And I’d take you to space. But you didn’t have a stone. And we didn’t have a way to figure out safe travels. And. You’re messing with me aren’t you?”
“I am,” she smiled and he sighed. “I’m okay. As for as alien planets go this isn’t exactly exotic or interesting. But we’re here to kill Legion. After everything settles down then we can talk about a real space date.”
“I’d like that.”
“How’s this for your second space trip?” Seth asked as Jack walked beside him.
“It sucks,” Jack groaned. “Why did you guys get all the cool space missions.”
“Luck of the draw,” Seth shrugged. “You remember everything when we were under?”
“All of it.”
Seth shuddered, “I’m going to need some serious therapy after that.”
“You and me both. But what do we even tell the therapist. We got possessed by an alien and watched ourselves beat up our friends. What does it mean?”
“Means we seriously need a new job,” Seth laughed. “Maybe we should let Jeff and Bale take over for us.”
Jack snorted, “Yeah. Jeff would love having super powers. And can you imagine Bale as a knight?”
“June would loser her mind.”
“I still haven’t met her yet. But her cookies are out of this world,” Jack leaned his head back. “I hope we still have some at home.”
“So you’re the girl dating my daughter,” Sarah said resting one of her axes against her palm.
“Yes ma’am,” Alice said walking a bit more upright. She’d met Sarah as an adult and they had a great relationship because she’d all but grown up with her. She was a loving woman, always throwing parties or taking them places and going out on weekends. She was the cool mom. But this was her around her own age and she didn’t know how to treat her.
Sarah stopped walking and stared at the smog wall that leeched toward the ground. The majority of it just roiled and coiled backwards staying in its lane. Sarah stared at the darkness letting out a tense breath. Glancing over at Alice she smiled, “Don’t be so stiff. Not gonna bite your head off. After we’re done here I wanna get you both some coffee. Get to know you before you go back.”
Alice visibly relaxed, “I know Jenny would love that. I’d like it too.”
Sarah reached over and squeezed her shoulder, “Good. And don’t mind Gen. She’ll come around.”
“How did you?”
“I notice things here and there. Especially at breakfast,” she shrugged. “And Jenny talks a lot. She’s way too much like Jack.”
“Guys we found something over here! We’ve got a Legion sighting!”
They all heard Jenny’s voice in their helmets and Marco’s voice came in soon after. “We’ve found the crystal. We’re on our way Jenny! Just stay put!”
Jenny took a step back bringing her bow up. She pointed at the legions of the machines that started to dig out of the ground. The remains of Legion’s soldiers were interspaced within them. The machines jerked and then started running at them in a wave.
Jenny shot down a few as Kathryn brought up a shield sweeping them aside. Tapping the ground she shot up a wall and the soldier threw themselves into her barrier. Kathryn jumped to Jenny’s side turning her staff around when a large soldier barreled toward them like a ton of bricks. Jenny jumped forward and turned her box into her axe. She cleaved through its head and blew it back with a clap of thunder. Stumbling on her landing she went back to move beside Kathryn.
Jenny frowned, “So auntie Kat. Just us against the world huh?”
“Not for long,” Kathryn replied. “In fact.”
They worked their way backwards when red and purple light exploded as it hit the ground. The others rushed over to them, flashes of light keeping Legion’s soldier’s back. Jenny worked back to get beside Marco while Kathryn took her spot on the sides. “Perfect timing leader.”
“Celestial Knights. Astro Knights,” Legion said as it approached in the overlapping tones of the bodies it inhabited. “You’ve chased me here but it was as I predicted. You’ve fallen into my web and you will be crushed.”
As one they surged like a wave of organic and mechanical minions to stomp out the knights that had chased it here. But they weren’t going down without a fight.
The Harlequin Library 