CAUTION! This manuscript takes place after the events of Ascension. If you haven't read Ascension, I suggest you start with Ascension: Birthright to get the full story behind the events of this series.

Thanks for reading,

L. Fergus aka Mountainlion2

A shuttle descended toward the unnamed red and black molten planet. Its home, the research station Roost, was a dim light in the window. It’s destination, a circular island of blue and green in the northern hemisphere, came into view as it passed over the terminator. The clamshell back of the shuttle began to open as it passed into the atmosphere.

“When the light goes green you’re free to jump,” a synthesized voice from the AI on board announced.

“How high are we?”

“We just passed one hundred and fifty thousand feet,” the AI replied.

“Awesome. I’ll see you on the ground.”

“Dammit Kita, wait!”

Kita didn’t wait. She sprinted down the ramp. At the edge, she jumped. She folded her wings to match the shuttle’s rate of decent. Kita waved to the shuttle. She folding her wings in tighter, rolled over, and dove.

“Either one of you tries that, and I’ll turn this thing around, and we’ll go home,” threatened the AI.

Kita raced downward. For fun, she tucked her wings in tighter and picked up speed. Soon, she felt the heat from the friction as she descended into the atmosphere. Around her, a red and orange halo appeared. I’m a living meteor…wonder what I should land on?

The ground began to come up, and familiar landmarks began to appear. She opened her wings slightly to increase drag, and the halo faded. Far above her, she could make out two dots gaining on her. She slowed even more, and the pair fell in behind her.

Together the trio raced toward a volcanic archipelago. The five massive volcanoes towered over the sea. Black and gray scars from countless eruptions spilled out on the bare, rocky slopes of the volcanoes. Between the lava fields and tropical forest, a buffer strip of grassy plains circled each volcano. Black rivers were running to the sea cut through the tropical forests ringing the coastal areas. Countless humble settlements sat along the coast and the plains.

The trio pulled up just above the water, heading toward the largest port town on the largest island. As the crossed from sea to land they climbed higher. As the ground raced by, Kita could see people stopping to stare and point. The trio left the town behind and spiraled up the steep slopes of the volcano. At the top, they peeled off toward the next island.

In a tight formation, they slalomed between the volcanoes. Reaching the last volcano they circled the mountain then turned inland. Streaking up the side, they rocketed back into the clouds.

On the slope of the tiniest volcano, a man sat on a rock with a large cat at his feet. A giant of a man, he stood taller by a head than anyone else in the islands. He wore a simple fiber shirt and a kilt with a sporran. Extra cloth from his kilt draped over one shoulder. A simple broach held the gathered cloth in place.

He had no hair, but a light blue hue covered his head. A giant exaggerated toothy smile of a shark went from ear to ear. On each side of his head, large black dots lay just in front of the temples. Three dark blue diagonal lines cut across his neck on each side.

A giant sword with a handle of pink corral and a blade of blue steel rested in his lap. Giant sharks teeth lined the edge. The length of the blade reached from his chin the ground.

The man looked up from sharpening the giant sword. He watched as the trio tore through the sky. Smiling, the shark’s mouth smile grew even larger. He didn’t know the trailing pair, but he did recognize the leader. He knew of only one person who had black wings. He put away his sharpening stone and stood. The war cat let out a series of happy chuffs.

The man bent down and scratched the cat’s ears. “I’m glad you saw her too, Sarge. She’s been away far too long, but it looks like she’s returned with a flock. Come, we must tell the people your mistress is back.”

The man and cat started down the volcano through an ah-ah field to a tiny fishing village below.

Kita and her companions reached the apex of their climb high above the clouds. Kita slowed, stalled, rolled over, and dove. Her followers mimicked the maneuver and soon the trio raced toward a barely visible coastline.

From the shelter of its bay, the city of Leedings came into view. Most of the buildings showed signs of damage. Those buildings that had no damage sat neglected.

From above six major avenues crisscrossed the city looking like a game of pickup sticks. Side streets from twenty feet to two feet wide created a complex network between the avenues. A large keep surrounded by a high, thick wall stood at the end of an avenue. Another avenue stopped at an enormous dock complex.

The trio pulled up a few feet above the water and raced into the bay toward the port. Giant rooster tails of water sprayed behind them as they skimmed the water’s smooth surface. The split up and chased each other through the congested ship traffic. They roared passed the traditional wooden ships and the new metal ships.

Kita watched the ships flying the Red Legion’s colors go on alert. To her amusement, they ran to weapons mounted on the rails and started to fire. The trio swerved, rolled, and laughed their way through the hail of bullets.

Kita angled toward a small patrol craft with two small weapons firing at her. She smiled viciously while drawing her swords Dawn, a long katana, and Dusk, a short wakizashi, and bursting into a brilliant flame. As she streaked toward the craft, she left a flaming trail. Steam rolled off the water as she dropped inches from the water. She struck with Dawn and Dusk just aft of the wheelhouse. Flammable objects exploded as she roared over the top of the boat. The molecularly perfect blades sliced the craft into three parts.

Kita returned to normal and joined her companions. Together they exited the harbor. They flew down a long deep-water pier. Men and horses panicked as they went by, turning the chaotic place into total disarray. Ahead, Kita saw a man with a mark branded on his head staring at them. As she went by she blew him a kiss.

The trio zigzagged through cranes, piles of goods, buildings, to exit onto the avenue. As they barreled through the broken buildings, people looked up at them. Those who remembered her and had the courage to defy their occupiers cheered. Kita waggled her wings as a sign she’d heard them.

They turned up a second avenue toward the keep, soldiers in red or black uniforms lined the sides. Both groups didn’t hesitate to fire. Bullets flew around the trio. One of Kita’s companions Dropped down and spread her hands. Kita shook her head. She pointed to the mass of civilians mixed in with the soldiers. Instead, they ran the gauntlet, laughing at the soldiers feeble attempts to hit them.

Kita spotted an opportunity. A man in a black uniform with two red pipes and a skull on his collar, stood yelling at his men. She flew just above the heads and weapons of her attackers, reached down, and grabbed the man by his collar. She turned skyward and carried her unwavering prey with her.

Kita’s entire body and hair turned coal black. A hood appeared over her head. The man didn’t flinch. She gave a low, menacing chuckle at his bravery. Her voice became higher and filled with malice. “You have been judged, Colonel. Now, you will face the retribution of the innocent for your lack of remorse or acknowledgment of your evil deeds.”

“I have no fear of you, creature. Kill me. I will happily jump into my grave with both feet.”

“Oh, but Colonel, you should fear me,” Kita roared. She placed the palm of her hand against his neck. Using her barb, she injected him with a mixture of potent hallucinogens. The bandana covering her hollow eyes vanished, revealing two deep and dark holes.

“Look Colonel, and watch. Let me show you why I’m punished. Let me show you true evil, let me show you me.” Kita let out a maniacal laugh and flew upward.

She yanked the colonel’s face close to hers and forced him to look into her eyes. The colonel watched countless images of torture, death, and destruction. She attacked him with his worst fears and destroyed his mind. The colonel’s face screwed up in terror. He shrieked and tore out his eyes.

Kita grinned as she made a large loop. Her winged companions joined her. At the bottom, they arrived in front of the keep’s main gate. Guards rushed to close the portcullis as the three streaked underneath.

They spiraled up the keep. Kita spotted her actual target standing on a balcony watching. Jeffrey wore the same uniform as the colonel, but with more decorations. He was handsome, and the eye patch with the zigzag scar running vertically down the front of his face added to it.

Kita tossed the colonel at a guard on the balcony as a flyby salute. The pair landed in a heap. She laughed as she and her companions continued spiraling up into the clouds.

Jeffrey looked at the colonel. The man curled up into a ball and started rocking back and forth. Blood leaked from under his hands as he covered his eye sockets. He began to repeat some gibberish phrase.

Jeffrey sighed. “Get him out of here and shoot him. Make sure he gets a proper Sturmtruppen funeral. He’s the first to bravely meet our enemy. Reward him with the Blood Skull Cross. Take a message for the Master.”

Jeffrey’s aide nodded his readiness for dictation. “Tell the Master my sister has returned. And it looks like she’s had chicks.” Jeffrey waved the man away and chuckled at his wit.