Chapter 32: The Battle for Hel's Throne

Part 3:

What seems like scant minutes later she is shaken awake by the sounds of gunfire rocking the entire tram. Arcane glances out the side and sees plasma bolts falling among black turtle-like vehicles, then a silver shuttle swooping down among them. The vehicles are decimated while the soldiers whoop at the save from above.

“Alright!”

“Show them who’s boss!”

“That’s the way!”

“Okay boys, get to work! We’re going down that tunnel while the shuttle keep em busy! Move!” Williams shouts as he walks back into the cabin, dark with sweat which is quickly absorbed by the military uniform. The soldiers salute and obey while he sits heavily in the chair in front of the display. Arcane sits up and stretches behind him.

“Give it to me straight, Davis.” Williams says when the large soldier comes up to the other side. “How much of a chance they aren’t ready for us now?”

“Practically none, sir.” Davis says with a glance at the screen. “We’ll be lucky to only run into the one fight on the other side.”

“Damn it.” Williams curses, hitting the table. “How did we not see this?”

“Stealth forces, keeping quiet while waiting for something. We’ve revealed them, and the fliers will probably have them wiped out soon, but we had the bad luck to run into them first.” Davis explains, his voice stiff and formal.

“Infernal Hells, Davis, do you think I don’t know that.” Williams replies with a heavy sigh. “Is there any other option you can offer?”

“Shoot fast, shoot hard, and keep shooting.” Davis replies with a fist over his heart. “That’s all I’ve got.”

“When you’re right, you’re right.” Williams nods. “Get to it then.”

“Sir, yes sir.” Davis salutes, turning smartly on his heel and marching away from his commander.

Arcane walks over to the side and sits down next to the window, eyes looking at the pitch black tunnel punctuated by occasional flashing alarms of scarlet light. The tram runs swiftly and quietly, frictionless fields driving it through the tunnel. Arcane reaches out and touches the energy field that surrounds the tram, feeling a slight wind on her fingers and the tiny deviations in the trams motion. She withdraws her hand, but covers the entire vehicle in a shell of invisible energy that only allowed things to go out, not in. The air within the shell would slowly dissipate under its effects, but it was better than being instantly killed by plasma bolts or kinetic projectiles.

She sits down again and stares blankly out the window, watching nothing but imagining she could see everything. Potent energy barriers were set all throughout the Throne, preventing her from doing so, but she wishes she could take a peek at the massive space battle sure to be waging just outside. A few of the mighty world breaker ships had already risen from low orbit when they entered, and she is sure many more had joined the fray. But the enemy has world breakers, too, and an advantage in numbers not even the great ships can overturn quickly.

On the smaller scale, fighters, of a thousand colors and shapes, will dance around the great behemoths that tear space apart with every blast. Most are impotent, merely there for decoration or to disguise the few that are actually dangerous. Fighters are good for attacking other fighters or intercepting the attacks from major weapons; that is why none of the great disruption weapons have been fired by Finale’s forces, nor whatever their equivalent is for the enemy. So long as fighters remain, nobody will risk deploying them when a single fighter can sacrifice itself to rebound the weapon on its user.

In between are troop transports ferrying boarding parties and evacuating orbital habitats, some combat based, most not. They are heavily armored, too tough to be felled by fighters and not worth the trouble for the capital ships that need to focus on each other. There are also high speed cruisers, circling the planet multiple times an hour to strike from unusual directions, and the nanotech swarms ripping ships apart or recovering raw materials for use in rebuilding.

Space would be gleaming in reflective silver and absorbing black. Light surpassing that of a thousand suns blossoms around the world every few hours, the destructive annihilation of a paradise reactor. The fighting is mostly smooth sailing while endlessly waiting to react to any change in situations for a living crew, millions of calculations every second for the overworked Artificial intelligences doing the actual fighting.

Hopefully, Arcane is not imagining the increased heat she was feeling in the Throne. Dawn’s light magic has no trouble picking off individual targets no matter how far away they are, but it will be Flame’s ability to modify the entire battlefield at once that is critical in this fight. Finale’s forces wear disruption shields and energy absorbing barriers, both of which serve to nullify and even benefit from an increase in stellar energy flowing onto them every second, but the enemy’s shields seemed able to overload and fail far more easily. Arcane hopes the heating causes them to fail quickly and thus leave vulnerable the thin hulls below, which will tear like paper before kinetic artillery and plasma blasts.

If Flame does her best, and Arcane can seize the Throne, this battle could be won by Finale’s forces without Dominion reinforcements, Arcane believes. Making a fist to renew her determination, she fixes her eyes on the growing light ahead of them that swells and engulfs them far too quickly.

“Enemy attack!?” Williams bellows, looking around suspiciously. Just as he seems to calm down, fire splashes against the reinforced shields and he shouts again. “Enemy contact, 1:00!”

The tram shakes as the great guns renew fire, plasma bolts filling the air with heat and smoke as they rip towards the source of the previous fire. The constant pounding of rapid artillery fire fills the space between the great booming roars of the plasma cannons, lead filling the cabin ahead of them and lighting the darkness with tracer rounds and sparks.

A dozen black robots swarm towards them from directly ahead, a few hanging back to rip up the rails and support structure for the tram. Davis sees that, and his eyes go wide. He frantically runs back into the cabin and starts typing onto the screen, ordering a course change. Williams sees him doing so and doesn’t comment, pulling out a smaller rifle and adding his fire to that coming from the heavy guns.

Arcane stretches out her hand, her fingers open towards the enemy forces. As the tram shudders and twists, throwing most of the soldiers off balance, she remains steady and simply closes her fist.

The black robots explode as one, a few pieces flying away as the majority of their bodies are crushed into a tiny ball of metal that ignites and bursts open with terrifying force. A roar of fire and destruction chases them as the tram ducks back into another dark tunnel, a few of the soldiers climbing to their feet while Williams looks at her with awe.

“How the hell did you do that?” He asks, dumbfounded.

Arcane steps away from the window and shakes her head at him, putting her finger to her lips. “I follow the path of secrets, remember?”

“Magic…” He mutters, astounded. “That is pretty damn terrifying.”

Arcane twitches her lips in suppressed mirth, walking over and taking a seat again. She ignores the awed gazes of the soldiers and goes back to resting, looking at Davis and their new course and frowning.

“This was your best plan?” She asks, seeing the tram go through half a dozen red dots.

Davis shakes his head. “My plan was to abandon the tram and walk. This route should get us there in good…”

“You’ll be ambushed before you get halfway.” Arcane interrupts, pointing to a concentration of red close to the footpath. “What else do you have?”

“Milady, there’s no easy path through.” Williams says, pulling the view of the map out and showing that they were surrounded by almost solid red in every direction. “We’re going to have to fight, one way or another.”

“...” Arcane looks it over and nods. “Not necessarily. There is this tram path that won’t hit any enemies.”

“Yeah, but they’ll figure out we’re heading that way long before we can get there and cut it off.” Davis says, tracing the path and pointing out the nearby enemy locations.

“Not if they think we abandoned the tram.” Arcane suggests.

“... What are you thinking?” Williams asks, frowning down at her.

“We stop the tram here, then program it to follow this route.” Arcane runs her finger along the clear route she just proposed and points at a nearby stop close to an enemy camp, but also pretty close to the ‘safe’ zone. “You leave a few guards with the tram, just enough to man the big guns, then have the civilians hide inside and ride it to safety. Meanwhile, the rest of us break through this camp and draw their attention, breaking directly through and reaching another safe zone.”

“... That would get the civilians to safety.” Williams admits. “But my priority is to get you safely to the…”

“There is nothing in this station that can harm me, Sergeant.” Arcane says easily. “And my magic is the only chance you have at breaking through. I can turn this tram into an impenetrable battering ram, but it won’t help if they tear up the propulsion fields. However, if I am protecting humans who only need to be kept safe from external influences… Mere impenetrability is more than enough.”

Williams remains silent, looking over it and considering what he had seen of her abilities. Finally, he reluctantly nods. “Alright, we’ll do it your way. But you are to stay out of harm’s way and let my men lead, you understand? Don’t strain yourself, either, no matter how many you have to sacrifice to do it. If I say you run, you run and don’t look back, understand?”

“So be it.” Arcane agrees easily. “But it will not come to that, Sergeant.”

“I certainly hope so.” he mutters. “I’m putting an awful lot on a prayer here.”

“Not a prayer, sergeant.” Arcane smiles. “A magus.”

The soldier smiles slightly at that, before moving to begin preparations to stop the tram and move on foot. They take up a few supplies, type on the computers, draw lots to assign who would be staying back. Those chosen go to explain to the civilians while the rest gather in the front car. The tram starts slowing down just as they finish, coming to a gentle stop hovering above a platform in the midst of a rather large and open plaza with a domed glass roof and artificial sky.

“Everyone, move out!” Williams calls, leaping off the tram first with Davis beside him. Arcane waits a few seconds for politeness and then leaps down as well. As soon as she does a burst of light explodes from her body, lightning swirling around her as electrons nearby are forcibly accelerated by the rampant energy fields that are the universe's reaction to the immense amount of power flowing through a single point.

That power strikes out and surrounds every soldier, lightening their limbs, removing their fatigue, sharpening their minds. Williams gives her a look filled with gratitude, and then starts running towards the passage to their chosen route.

Faster than humanly possible they reach it just as the tram rises and starts on its journey to safety. Williams calls out “Weapons free” as they race down the tunnel, plasma guns heating up and projectile weapons locked and loaded. Arcane allows lightning to flow over her body, looking like an avatar of the old gods filled with righteous fury and power. Empowered by her magic, the soldiers burst through the doors at the end of the tunnel and emerge in the midst of a convoy of armored soldiers carrying older weapons and armor.

“Enemy attack!” Several call as the glowing garrison troops explode into their midst. The front rank drops with remarkable discipline to allow for longer range shots to enter the fray. The garrison troops do the same, plasma shots flowing from their guns to incinerate the air all around them while Arcane’s shields prevent any of them from being harmed. Enemy fire bounces harmlessly off the distortions in the air, while dozens are massacred in an instant.

“Don’t waste time! Let’s move!” Williams orders, firing wildly while starting to run towards the opposite side. “Now, boys!”

The garrison troops reluctantly disengage and run ahead of the chaos in the enemy’s ranks, entering another tunnel on the other side and racing through it much as they did the prior one. Several soldiers sent Arcane appreciative looks, fully aware of how suicidal that sort of action would have been without her help. Behind them, Arcane melts the ceiling steel and allows the river of molten metal to block their path of advance. The enemies scream and start radioing for support, drawing attention to the group of soldiers just as they intended.

Lightning surges ahead as Arcane breaks through a steel wall and has them emerge onto a larger thoroughfare. A patrol of two enemies is instantly slaughtered by concentrated fire, their bodies disintegrated by the neutralization of electromagnetic force and the dust scattered in a sudden wind. Shouts came from the direction of the wind, as well as signs of distant motion and large metal forms.

“Heavy Artillery!” Williams calls out, and Arcane drops one of the massive kinetic launchers in the hallway for a pair of soldiers to quickly man and begin firing. He turns to Arcane and points towards the opposite wall with a questioning look.

“Half a kilometer down this hall, then left.” Arcane explains, moving in that direction already.

“Got it. Set charges, then retreat!” He orders, grabbing a couple energy cores and adjusting them to start blinking bright red. “Two minutes!” he specifies as the soldiers start to copy him.

The group abandons the heavy gun and races off after Arcane, who leads the way to the next tunnel. They barely make it inside before a blast of energy and heat washes over them, along with the largest shaking of Hel’s throne they’d experienced yet. A few of the men stagger until Arcane looks at them, then they seem to be full of energy and bursting to go.

“Don’t push yourself yet.” Williams warns her before turning to his men. “Let’s keep moving, boys.”

“Sir yes sir.” they chant, pulling themselves off the wall and starting another grueling run down the tight tunnel towards the next engagement. Arcane feels herself growing faint and pushes more energy into her body, grimacing at her own lack of stamina. Still, there is plenty more power available, so she doesn’t feel any threat yet, even after Williams’ warning.

The group turns a corner and fell into formation as they entered a larger hallway, listening for the growing sounds of explosions that told them where the battlefront and thus allied territory was. Arcane has them stop twice and roll charges down isolated tunnels, the explosions destroying several enemy groups who are trying to slip through the less guarded side tunnels. They continue their destructive path through another enemy camp, this time encountering several large humanoid robots.

“HEAR!” Williams calls, causing Arcane to look at him blankly until he spells it out. “High Energy Anti-Robot, smart artillery!”

“Oh.” Arcane makes a sound of comprehension and throws out two spider legged guns with rotating heads, armed and activated. While Williams pulls his own forces back, the spider guns open fire on the massive hominids and tear one of them to pieces in short order. Of course they don’t take it lying down, returning fire with rockets and lasers that bounce against the shields the robots make around themselves. One of them flickers and fails to block a concentrated barrage, collapsing to the side but still managing to fire another barrage of massive shells that blast another robot out of the way.

Arcane narrows her eyes at the poor progress, lightning gathering around her like a storm. Pure energy manifests itself as a beam of deadly power rips through space from right in front of her, several more joining it and cutting the robots to pieces. As the blinding cyan light fades, the last spider robot crawls forward to begin assaulting the disordered enemies reeling from the loss of their heavy weapons.

“That’s enough, let’s move!” Williams calls over the din of explosions and screaming, putting his words into action and racing towards the opposite edge of the battlefield. “Milady, now!”

Arcane propels herself with pure force, shooting through the air to land next to him before falling into a run beside him. The remaining soldiers follow after, a few wounded but still moving enough that Arcane didn’t waste her time healing them just yet. However, they barely managed to turn the corner before being hit by another wave of enemies.

“Take cover!” Williams orders as the opening wave of plasma and lead is deflected into the ceiling by Arcane, which causes it to tremble ominously. “Belay that, keep moving!” he changes his mind when the ceiling starts to fall in pieces.

The crash of the collapsed tunnel resounds behind them as the group races through the energy group, magic and technological firepower combining to open a path. They take heavy fire, a pair of men falling by the side and Arcane turning towards them before Williams shouts her back. “Leave them! We have to keep moving!”

Arcane glares at him before obeying, a wave of power clearing the area around them long enough for them to crawl behind some cover and start shooting at the enemies. Then they are gone from sight, most of the enemy with them. Arcane takes the chance to heal the worst of the soldiers’ injuries, kicking herself for not doing so earlier. They don’t stop moving, though, as the explosions that have been their guide this entire run are now loud enough to ring in the ears. They’re close to the front.

“Just a bit further, lads.” Williams encourages the exhausted soldiers, physical fatigue no longer their only issue and mental starting to pile up. “We can do it!”

“Yes Sir!” They call weakly, breathing hard while maintaining their speed.

When they reach the source of the sounds, though, they stop involuntarily. The entire hall is on fire, plasma streams locking onto plasma streams and a wall of fire and energy forming to signify the forward line of battle. Lasers dance in every direction, cutting down bullets and drones alike, no one living foolish enough to attempt the crossing between the two sides. The soldiers look at each other, and then at Arcane. She examines the border and nods her head once. Williams gives her a long and hard look until she meets his eyes and nods again, after which he raises his arm.

“Alright, on my signal… GO!!!” He screams, taking off towards the wall of fire with the soldiers in tow. They don’t bother shooting at anyone, the enemy fire the least of their worries compared to the barrier of pure starfire that would instantly kill any living thing that dared come close to it.

The enemies are stunned into inaction, even their commanders unable to do anything but watch in awe at the brave or suicidal squad driving towards the wall of flame and the safety behind it. Arcane sighs in relief at that; she can only block bullets around herself, not around everyone else, if she is to neutralize the flame barrier.

Then she focuses ahead at the fire. Her mind traces six sources creating the wall of flame directly before them, targeting all of them and several surrounding points of the flame. Lightning surges around her, the electromagnetic force feeling interference taking control of its every aspect. Streams of electrical energy strike as the fields are twisted according to the will of a single being, lashing out to grab the flame like cyan fingers of sparkling light. They rip it to shreds, throwing the fire in every direction to scourge the enemy forces who dive beneath cover to avoid the starfire scattering in every direction.

Creating a narrow tunnel, Arcane reinforces it before allowing her power to rend the space around the plasma launchers, redirecting all of them into the main enemy camps and defenses. As starfire consumes them in an instant, the wall of flame quickly fades from existence and allows clear passage through a small section shielded from residual radiation and heat. Williams leads the soldiers straight through, taking no chances of deviating from the path Arcane made, and racing towards the tunnels at the other edge. A quick scan turns the allied fire away from the oncoming squad and allows them to pass unmolested, the great guns resuming their barrage behind them and closing off the border between the two sides once again.

“Sergeant Williams, seventeenth ring garrison!” Williams gasps out as they are retrieved by several people in similar uniforms and pulled back from the explosive renewed fighting at the front. They pass quickly into a crowded camp and are pushed into a tent with several chairs around a plain table. “Throne Security forces, delivering a high value escort.”

“Major Orimoto, Central security commander.” a uniformed black haired man responds with a salute of his own. “Rest now, Sergeant. I’ll take it from here.”

He then turns to Arcane, who watches the soldiers collapse around her and takes a seat herself on one of the chairs provided. “You took it too far, young lady. I hope you’re aware the enemy could very well be targeting you personally.” he growls, shaking his head. “They will know you’re still on the Throne now.”

“I was aware, but…” Arcane starts.

“But nothing, young lady.” Orimoto snaps. “If you are harmed, this battle can be considered a loss no matter what happens.”

Arcane glares at him but remains silent. He sighs and pats her on the head, nodding appreciatively. “Still, you did well so far. There have been far fewer casualties than if you’d tried to force the evac or sneak through the Throne. I want you to pull back to center itself, though. You can support from there as much as you want.”

“Alright.” Arcane agrees reluctantly, shaking her head to get his hand out of her hair. “These men will escort me.”

“Acceptable.” Orimoto agrees, looking around at them and nodding. “You’ll have six hours rest; don’t waste it.”

“Thank you.” Arcane bows her head in thanks as Orimoto leaves, watching as Williams pulls himself up to sit beside her.

“We’ve got to get you a bit further, is it?” He asks with a shake of his head. “Alright, I’ll let him know to be on the lookout for our civilians then catch a bit of rest. That run pushed me something fierce.”

Arcane nods, telekinetically lifting the soldiers and sending them towards open cots scattered around the makeshift campsite. Williams staggers to his feet and goes after Orimoto. Arcane sits alone in the tent, then gets up to go towards the stoves cooking food in a corner of the camp.

“Magus…”

“Champion of Magia…”

“She broke the front…”

“Damn…”

Scattered whispers follow her, which she listens to and frowns. She had revealed herself a bit too much in breaking through directly, and if there was any chance the enemy had her in its target list they would be coming hard to kill her. Still, she doesn’t feel like thinking about it. She grabs a tray and receives a set of protein steak and carbohydrate mush, easy to digest for quick energy. Taking a seat off to the side, she ate by herself while listening to the fear and awe of the soldiers around her.

“It’s terrifying what they can do if they’re mad…”

“She’s like, the strongest mage, isn’t she? But she’s just a kid…”

“For magic, the younger the better. The old ones came back when they didn’t know how to make ‘em so well.”

“Make them? She’s…”

“Nobody knows. It’s all kept secret, hush hush you understand?”

“If only everyone could have that power…”

“Only on our side, you idiot! Can you imagine fighting that?”

“Even if she is, it’s still scary as hell…”

She closes her eyes and focuses on the taste of the meal, the bland flavorless food still better than the whispers of distrust and fear coming from around her. A few, those with more contact with Magia than most, try to stop the suspicious whispers, but honestly seem to make them worse in Arcane’s mind. Finishing, she pushes the plate away and moves to escape the relentless whispers, finding herself on a platform above the courtyard-made-campsite and near the commander’s tent. Only Orimoto is there, pouring over a map as she lets herself in and takes a seat.

“Want me to shut them up?” he asks, seeming to know exactly what she’s concerned about. She glances at him and sees a hint of symmetry in his features, shaking her head.

“No. Any attempt to squash it only makes it worse. And being scared of mages is not illogical; we are far more frightening than any other type of person.” She reasons, leaning back in her chair and examining the tent ceiling.

“Logical.” Orimoto snorts. “Applying that word to most humans is a mistake.”

“You’re at least three quarters.” Arcane points out, raising an eyebrow out him.

“I’m not saying we’re anything different, mind you.” Orimoto replies. “Humans, every one of us; even elves and demigods are no different. And with that comes all the flaws of being human: illogic, fear, hate, and discrimination. We make mistakes, we mess things up. All we can do is notice them, and do everything we can to fix it.”

“You’re not wrong.” Arcane admits with a slight smiles. “I’ve had quite a few screwups of my own. Hopefully I have time to correct them.”

“That’s my job, then.” Orimoto gives her a bow. “Princess Arcane of Magia.”

“Then I put myself in your capable hands, Lord Orimoto of the same.” Arcane bows in return, leaning back on the seat and looking over the map. “I hope you do not let me down.”

“Of course not, your majesty.” He teases.

Arcane grimaces and shakes her head. “Magia doesn’t have a queen, and I hope it never needs one.” She declares in disgust.

“So do I, my lady.” Orimoto agrees, looking out across the campsite. “So do I.”

At that moment massive explosions sound from the border, the shockwaves visibly propagating across the campsite and forcibly shaking the sleeping soldiers awake. Orimoto frowns as Arcane rises to her feet and scans the direction of the sounds, making visible an immense force of enemy soldiers and tanks throwing themselves forward and destroying the barrier with a concentrated assault of terrifying proportions.

“... It seems our enemy wishes you dead, lady Arcane.” Orimoto notes, glancing at the map and wiping it all away. “And they are willing to pay any price to have it done.”

“I can destroy that entire assault in five minutes, Major.” Arcane replies, shaking her head. “This is proof of nothing.”

“I doesn’t matter. I can’t take the risk anymore. We’re leaving now; I’ve given the men orders to hold at any cost.” Orimoto declares, grabbing a few weapons resting against the table and strapping them to himself. “Follow me.”

Arcane stares at him then back at the camp. He grabs her and pulls her out of the chair. “Move, Arcane!” he shouts into her face. “If you don’t leave now these men will die for nothing; I expect you to make something of this and for that you need to survive.”

Arcane shakes him off, angrily glaring back and pulling herself up to her full height. “Major, this army cannot possibly do me…”

“I’ve confirmed a dozen shadowkillers among the enemy.” Orimoto said in a deadly tone. “We are leaving now.”

“What?!” Arcane gasps in shock, too stunned to resist Orimoto pulling her out of the tent and running after him towards the opposite tunnel. “Shadowkillers? Among the enemy? That means…”

“The great powers have split. The Association is broken.” Orimoto answers grimly. “This is highly classified information that I expect you to keep to yourself at any cost, do you understand?”

Arcane mutely nods, suddenly able comprehend exactly how and why this attack had come. Which of the great powers had launched it was still an open question, but if the Intergalactic Association of Superpowers had broken, then universal war was not merely on the horizon; it had already begun. This was not an attempt to incite it, but a preemptive strike.

Arcane runs after Orimoto, ignoring everyone behind her in sudden desperation to reach a communicator and warn her sisters. A shout made her pause for a second, half turning to see several men running after her. “Wait!” Sergeant Williams shouts with a few of his men in hot pursuit. “We’ll take her out of here, Major.”

Orimoto nods and runs ahead, not replying as he drags Arcane through the tunnel and away from the brewing battle. Williams and the others pursue, doggedly keeping pace even when clearly exhausted.

They race through tunnel after tunnel, darkness and tight enclosures casting shadows out of which Arcane sees danger emerging constantly, her eyes peeled and wary for any sign of an attack before it strikes.

Yet when it comes, she is unprepared. A black figure emerges from a shadow right in front of them and swings at her with a black knife. She collapses and puts up an arm to block, but Orimoto cuts in between with a silvery sword humming at extremely high frequency. As he locks blades with the dark figure, he shouts back at the rest. “GO!!”

Williams grabs Arcane and pulls her up, running as fast as he can with a few men behind him. They emerge into a larger tunnel and hear ominous explosions in the distance. As they turn to run the other way several enemy soldiers turn the corner and open fire on them, hitting several men who throw themselves in front of Arcane.

“Hold as long as you can!” Williams shouts back towards them, getting a nod from Corporal Morninglow who kneels down among the wounded soldiers and starts firing back with several others. Only five people run towards the next tunnel, Arcane stumbling after Williams with Davis and two more soldiers in pursuit after them.

“Seal this entrance. Nobody gets past, you understand?” Williams orders Davis, who nods and slows down, grabbing the other two soldiers with him. They quickly lay some explosives and then run after them, the concussive blast bringing down the tunnel and sealing the passageway.

At that exact moment an immense pain unlike anything she’d ever felt slams into Arcane’s head and seems to try and kill her through sheer pain alone. “ggaaaaAAAAAAIEEEEEE!!!!” Arcane screams aloud, the merest hint of the sound her soul would be making if it could express the agony it felt.

“What’s wrong?” Williams asks as she collapses like a puppet with its strings cut, thrashing about on the ground while whimpering.

“Arcan… matrix… invert… pain…” Arcane manages to vocalize before another wave of pain hits her like a solar flare and she screams again. “AAAAAAAAA!!!!!”

“Dammit! Davis, help me grab her!” Williams orders, grabbing her and trying to pick her up but failing due to her spasmodically thrashing limbs and torso. The two soldiers between them manage to get her onto Williams’ back and strap her in place, the four soldiers setting off at a much faster pace with desperation.

“Gah!” One of them gasps as he is impaled by a black knife, a hand made of shadows emerging before the rest of the body follows. Davis draws a metallic hilt and activates it to ignite a laser sword, the other soldier doing the same as they both throw themselves at the shadowkiller. Williams doesn’t spare them a glance and continues to run, his eyes fixed on the passage ahead. Arcane is still unable to think of anything but the pain in her head.

Then she is sent rolling across the floor, Williams cursing fluidly as he is cut across the leg. A figure in black emerges and aims a gun at him, a soft crack sounding out several times as Williams manages to roll to dodge and fires back, forcing the figure back into the shadows.

“Dammit, dammit, dammit. Garrison duty, a nice, safe, easy gig. Protect Finale, the world nobody in their right mind attacks, and even if they did they’ll lose before anybody gets hurt.” Williams mutters over and over again, tying something around his leg and staggering over to pull Arcane up into his arms, stumbling down the hallway towards the center of the station. For her part, she lies still, no longer even having the energy to move even as the pain subsides. Magic seems to drain away from her the second she tries to use it, rendering her impotent and weak. “Come on, girl. Let’s go. Just a little further… we can do it. Come on.”

They emerge into a well lit tunnel empty of people, with the nearest explosions far in the distance. Williams staggers a bit further before collapsing, his skin turning black around the wound and foam coming from his mouth. “Urgh…” He gargles as he chokes, pushing Arcane a bit further in an admirable last effort to fulfill his mission.

Arcane pulls herself together. Even without magic, she had strength of will and personality. The pain still surged in her head, making it hard to think, but she could focus on a single goal: reaching the center of Hel’s Throne. She staggered down the hallway, steel walls closing in on her from all directions. She couldn’t see the tunnels, only endless metal walls to the sides. They seemed to be on fire, rocking with distant explosions and the light of battle far behind. She glances behind her; the shadows seem to devour Williams’ corpse, a darkness so deep she couldn’t see through it coming after her.

Fire and death. Pain and suffering. That is all she can think about, the desire to escape it, the desire to reach hope at the end of the passage. She staggers forward, step by step, pain-filled bit by bit. She is strong, she is talented, she is not weak enough to be defeated by this little. Take her magic? Leave her just a weak little girl? That will not be enough. Reaching through the pain she tries to pull a sword or gun out of her storage, but can’t feel anything. She reaches down to her waist, and finds a pistol the Captain snuck onto her dress when she wasn’t looking. Thanking the Elven woman in her mind, she draws it out and holds it unsteadily in front of her.

A sudden sharp sound, and another pain surges through her body, starting from her thigh. Looking down, she sees a spreading stain of red in her leg before it gives out and she collapses to the ground. Her wound seems to get worse every second, pain and agony almost overwhelming her ability to think before she pulls herself together and puts her back to the wall. Forcing herself to sit straight, she aims the pistol through hazy vision at the moving shadow and fires twice.

Bright plasma splits the air, even the light recoil causing her arms to shake and her shots to go wild. The shadow is still blown away, revealing nothing but darkness there. Laughter comes from nearby, as another shadow seems to move and a cracking sound accompanies a blow to the pistol in her hands, blowing it away.

“I have to admire that.” A voice sounds as a dark figure materializes out of the shadow, its black hands clapping in the quiet hallway. “Stripped of magic, feeling pain beyond what any mortal can imagine, and yet you still try to fight with a cheap plasma pistol that you don’t even know how to use, and almost succeed. With all my heart, I am impressed.”

Arcane pushes herself up, putting pressure on her leg while trying to stand. “Who… sent you?”

“Hm? Still trying to fight? Man, I feel ashamed of myself.” The figure says, shaking its head. “After all, even in this state you’re so scary I’ve brought a dozen friends, God of Magic itself.”

Arcane stiffens at that title, her eyes fixing on the black figure and the dozen others materializing around, all with knives or guns pointed at her and wariness shown in every part of their bodies. “How… do you… know… that name?”

The black figure seems to shake its head, the shadows wobbling along with it. “Contract killing 101, little missy. Know your target. Especially if they’re supposed to be invincible.” It levels a gun at her and seems to smile, a flash of white appearing in the darkness. “But I think I’ve waited long enough. The witness is here, the recording ready. Time to die, Arcane of Magia. You who denies fairness, freedom, and humanity. Without you, mankind will finally move towards the true ideals: Egalite. Liberate. Familate.”

Arcane glares back at the figure, watching as it slowly squeezes the trigger. She doesn’t close her eyes, allowing the brewing cyan fury in them to batter it with all the power she can muster. The figure shakes its head sadly in the middle of shooting. “Such a pity, but this is the result of your birth…” it mutters, then a crack resounds.

“NO!!” A scream splits the air, Arcane and the black figures widening their eyes in unison as a blur shoots into the middle of them and passes between Arcane and the fired bullet. All gathered stare as a pale haired girl identical to Arcane in every aspect freezes in between the gun and Arcane, standing with her arms spread wide and her back towards the men around her.

“Fate…” Arcane mumbles in disbelief, staring at the girl who saved her. Then her thoughts stop.

Fate doesn’t say anything, merely looking down at herself. There,

In the middle of her chest,

Right above her heart,

A crimson flower blooms.