March 6, 2112
Night-Shade
More than a week later, Night-Shade had more butterflies in her stomach than ever before. The last time she was in the field, she was traumatized after that human committed suicide in front of her. That gunshot still rang in her head. And whatever beast it was that drove him to that point was very likely on this unnamed planet.
Ayeko saw her shaking and came up to comfort her. "You're going to be okay. When the time comes, Drayvan, Tank, and I will be the ones to face it. Not you. You sit this one out."
Night-Shade felt much better from the words. She wasn't going to protest. Not anymore.
The hatch of the recon ship opened to the new world. All four aces were there waiting. It was a world engulfed in a sandstorm with grains of sand flying at many kilometers an hour. Out there, it would be nearly impossible to see past your own hand. Night-Shade was glad not to have to go out there.
Drayvan stared out the opening, and after a moment to think, she said, "I see one option. Night-Shade, your time is now. Use your ability to find the Immortal hideout."
Being called into action by Drayvan sent tremors down her spine. She looked to Drayvan and protested. "Please--"
"Be brave. You're on this mission because you deserve to be. And be thankful, for with me as your leader, you can accomplish anything. Remember that."
Night-Shade nodded. She didn't want to, but Drayvan needed her, and she finally had a chance to prove her value to Drayvan. With her ability, the grains of sand would pass through her, and she would be able to scout without shielding her eyes. It would still be a challenge finding the hideout, but it was more efficient than those three wandering aimlessly through this sandstorm. And Drayvan was all about efficiency.
Night-Shade sat down on the floor and relaxed her mind.
"You got this," she heard the encouraging words from Ayeko. "Nothing will happen to you with us protecting your body."
She was out of her body and into the sandstorm. She could maybe see a meter, even without having to protect her vision. She was maybe ten meters from the recon ship when she began to wonder how she planned to do this. Was she really supposed to wander around until she found something? Even she would lose all sense of direction in no time.
She put her hands to her eyes, trying to think of a solution. Astral projection is all about spirit and mind, right? Maybe if she focused hard enough, she would be able to sense the things around her. She then remembered that feeling she felt at Station 51 when searching for Tank. If she could somehow look for what she wanted in that same manner, it would guide her.
Night-Shade focused on a single thought, searching for the presence of anything within the range of her ace ability. Anything at all. She called to it, honed her mind on that singular idea that something was out there. Then she felt it - a feeling of utter despair and darkness in the distance. It was malicious, pure hate and fear bottled in a singular spot.
Night-Shade hesitated before telling herself that she could do it. After all, the others were counting on her success. So, she forced her feet forward and marched through the sandstorm.
By her estimate, she was about five hundred meters away from the landing spot before she pushed past some kind of field. Inside was open sand, with hills throughout the nearby patch of land. This piece of the planet was shielded from the sandstorm by a dome made from the same technology used in atmospheric doors, only much larger by comparison.
The sky above had traces of clouds, or smoke, or fog. It was hard to tell, since it looked like nothing Night-Shade had seen before. Nonetheless, the weightless mass of black particles floated high in the sky. At least it looked black to her; being out of her body made everything appear in shades of gray.
Must be something with the planetary weather, she told herself.
Night-Shade marched to the top of a hill, and from the top she spotted a single structure not far from her; made from wood as sturdy as steel. Just past it she could just see the left lip of rocks protruding from the sand, and it looked to have an entrance into it. She would have to get closer to know for sure.
Night-Shade crept to the edge of the structure. Even knowing she couldn't be seen in this form, she still took precautions for the stability of her nervous mind. She was getting close to reaching her limit on how far she could venture away from her body, which she could still feel in the distance.
She peeked past the structure, and there was no doubt in her mind the rocks led downward into the sand. It was a cave entrance for sure. She remembered Ayeko mentioned this Immortals location was likely a mortan sepulcher, which was a place dedicated to their members who had fallen. The cave supposedly houses hundreds of tombs and other memorials for dead Immortal gang members, whilst the structure kept records on all their achievements while in the gang. Together the two made up the mortan sepulcher.
Interested, Night-Shade found herself wandering closer to the cave and past the structure. She stopped immediately when she saw the bodies lined up on the other side of the structure! Every one of them had been skewered like a rabid animal; no skin left, just blood, muscle, and guts impaled through and through with bones and left for the scavengers. Night-Shade felt the urge to vomit, but she was unable to in this form.
Such a horrid image brought back that feeling she had from earlier - the one of pure darkness. It was close, and her eyes looked past the massacre. It was there! The monster was there! Just staring at the entrance of the cave and as motionless as a scarecrow.
Her eyes couldn't turn away. Even though she was unable to be hurt, she dared not move closer to that monster. Her veins pumped frozen blood through her body, then she let herself fade back to safety.
"I found the threat! I found the monster!" She shouted the sentences as fast as she could upon waking up.
Drayvan was as calm as ever and spoke politely to her. "Would you be so kind as to point me in the right direction?"
Night-Shade did as asked and pointed in the direction she had traveled. Her voice was shaky. "It's a bit further than five hundred meters straight that way. You'll see a building, and it's just past that."
"You did well. Now stay put," Drayvan told Night-Shade. With her chin, she motioned the other two aces to follow her. Then they left her.
After a minute or so, Night-Shade had a sudden urge. She didn't want to be alone, and that reality was setting in for her. So she left the recon ship. She trudged through the sandstorm, shielding her eyes, until she reached the dune hills near the perimeter of the dome. Despite being closer to the monster, she felt safer knowing she could see her allies. Just seeing anything at all was assuring.
After plowing up the sand, she reached the top of the five-meter-tall sand dune. Her allies had just passed the structure and were headed towards that cave. But she wanted a closer look.
She closed her eyes and let herself pull away from her body. Everything that once had color was now shades of gray. With haste, she ran through everything until she was there with her team. Only not there at the same time.
"--and whatever those cloudy-things are in the sky, it is disrupting communications equipment," Night-Shade caught Ayeko as he finished telling Tank and Drayvan.
Drayvan stopped them once she saw the threat. "Flank around its sides. Wait for the opening that I create." Drayvan's words were directed to Tank and Ayeko.
Without seeing if they would answer or acknowledge her words, Drayvan stomped towards the creature in the distance. Night-Shade followed, feeling empowered by Drayvan's lack of fear. Tank and Ayeko waited a few seconds, then started to circle around.
The ink embedded in Drayvan's skin began to move, then pulled out of her back, tiny droplets ejecting themselves from her skin. Despite the unsavory and seemingly painful sight, it had no visible effect on Drayvan. Now outside her body, the ink spun together into two separate circles of swirling matter, each looking like black holes a meter in radius, both following Drayvan, seemingly under her control. Drayvan took a spherical device from her waist and pressed a button on the top. It activated, and the core glowed a bright orange, and Drayvan tossed it into the ink. It disappeared inside, engulfed like a stone thrown into a lake.
What was this unnatural power of hers? Night-Shade wondered.
As they neared, Night-Shade was able to make out features of the threat. And what revealed itself was not what she expected. This beast was not a beast, but a korkyran warrior. It was the first one she had ever seen in person.
Night-Shade remembered hearing that Brad Swift had killed a korkyran warlord named Dro'Zer. Was this the reason this korkyra was looking for Brad? To get revenge?
Night-Shade didn't expect the korkyras to have such a prominent muscle structure. Its physically intimidating physique was incredible, as every muscle fiber looked to be bulging against its back. Four horns protruded from its bull-esque head, and its pelts and manes were coal-black. Being unable to see color in this state, she could still tell this creature's fur color truly was black because of how dark it looked to her. As they got closer, Night-Shade noticed an odd steam or fog radiating off its skin, similar to those clouds in the sky.
It must've heard Drayvan approach, because it turned to meet her. The eyes stopped Night-Shade in her tracks; they were black, with that same dark, smoky material foaming out of them, and intense enough to make just about any sane person shivf themselves. That mad grin was a similar fear-inducing catalyst. None of that stopped Drayvan, nor did she slow in pace.
In no time at all, Drayvan stood face-to-face with the threat, nose-to-nose, only centimeters away and looking down with an arrogant smirk. Drayvan was just a hair taller, but both looked equally intimidating.
Its face carried just a hint of surprise. "What's this? You don't fear me?" it asked in a crazed voice.
"Of course not. Why would I fear someone who is obviously weaker than myself? No, all I feel is pity towards you," Drayvan taunted.
It purred, "So full of pride."
"That's who I am - Drayvan Pryde. Do well to remember my name before I bury you into the ground."
"You stand before Mara'Sane, warlord of the legion. I will enjoy tearing your intestines away and using them as a scarf." Mara'Sane let loose an overwrought, monstrous string of laughs.
"My only request for you is to make this fight memorable. Don't disappoint me as many others have."
Drayvan grabbed for her sword. That action ushered a response from Mara'Sane, who closed her hand into a fist. There was a crunching and swooshing sound as her arm distorted and two bones punctured through her skin, tearing it open and letting loose blood. The bones were sharp and grew past her fist. She lunged it at Drayvan's face. Those dark circles of ink intercepted the blow at lightning speeds. But the bones were not engulfed like the device from earlier.
Night-Shade closed her arms over her chest. What she witnessed Mara'Sane do made her feel cold.
Drayvan held a look of disgust. "I asked myself over and over, why so many bones? Seems you're the answer I sought."
Mara'Sane's neck twitched with disturbing snapping movements. "You saw my art, then. Did you appreciate its complexity?"
"The only art worth my time is that in battle."
A monstrous grin rivaling a hell spawn spread from ear to ear. "Then you shall be my next work of art. Tell me, does your blood taste sweet or salty? I would love to run my tongue in it."
"The sight of my blood will never be seen by such an unworthy foe as yourself." Drayvan had yet to pull her sword, a mistake Mara'Sane took advantage of. With her other hand, she did the same thing with her bones and came in for an uppercut-slash. Drayvan let go of the handle of her sword and swiped away the attack with ease. Her free hand balled to a fist and cracked into Mara'Sane's jaw. The force sent Mara'Sane to a knee, laughing.
Blood poured from her mouth, and she smiled with blood-soaked teeth; a crooked smile since her jaw was half-hanging from her mouth. She took a hand and snapped the jaw back into place, then laughed. "Yes! Oh please, please make it hurt more." Mara'Sane shuddered with delight.
Sick freak. Night-Shade looked on in horror.
"What you witnessed is just a taste of my prowess," Drayvan taunted.
"Pain and punishment are an art. I seek it! I want it! Give it to me!" Mara'Sane lunged up, bones protruding from her fingers.
Drayvan had her sword pulled now and blocked with the blade. Mara'Sane's eyes narrowed. As she looked at Drayvan with those all-consuming eyes, her skin began peeled away from her body. Bones broke through in all directions. Drayvan stepped backward.
Night-Shade was horrified. Every time Mara'Sane manipulated the bones in her body, it gave off horrific sounds of breaking and snapping.
Just as Mara'Sane took a step towards Drayvan, a golden sphere formed around them both, and she was stopped in her motion.
Drayvan and Night-Shade turned to see Ayeko had stepped in. "I was wondering when you would enter this fight," Drayvan said to him. Tank was beside Ayeko.
His face was filled with a hint of disgust at Mara'Sane. However, he responded, "I was just enjoying watching you fight."
"I figured as much. I am quite the sight to behold."
"I can see that." He grinned. "But as much fun as it is to watch this masochist and you go at it, we've been away from home for, like, forever. I just want to end it and leave."
"Fine, then." Drayvan took the sword and cut clean through Mara'Sane, from right shoulder to left hip. Night-Shade turned just as the blade left her body. She didn't want to see all the guts pour out of her leftover torso. "Just a nobody," said Drayvan, displeased with the outcome of the battle.
"You seem upset by that," Ayeko pressed.
"I yearn for the day that I can feel the thrill of a fight once more. Such a feeling is lost on someone as strong as me."
Night-Shade watched Ayeko drop the bubble and start walking away with Drayvan and Tank. The job was done. Night-Shade, not interesting in sticking around any longer, was ready to return to her body. But just as she was about to jump back, she saw Drayvan stop.
"What is it?" Ayeko asked.
Drayvan didn't answer. Instead, she turned back to Night-Shade, and her expression shifted in a way Night-Shade had never seen from her. Drayvan looked straight at Night-Shade with a look of disbelief and intrigue. Tank was appalled, and Ayeko's mouth dropped open. Night-Shade knew this was not her doing. It had to be what lay behind her, and she could not stop her body from turning.
The body of Mara'Sane, laying in a blood pool of its own making, carried a thick steam over where it was cut. As if on fire, black clouds radiated out of the body and hissed in the wind. Almost that instant, the stuff latched onto each other. The fluid, or whatever it was, grabbed onto itself, from one piece of the torso to the other. It pulled itself together, and the body pieces with it, and Mara'Sane was sewn back together by it.
"Did… did she just pull herself back together?!" Ayeko shouted from behind Night-Shade.
Mara'Sane moved! She was still alive! But how?!
"I was sure you killed her," said Ayeko.
As Mara'Sane stood, her head creaked from side to side, and she stretched her back.
Night-Shade didn't know what to think. Her head hurt just trying to.
Drayvan stepped through Night-Shade and marched up to Mara'Sane, chest high. A light grin was on her face. "You are full of surprises. I apologize for calling you a nobody," Drayvan commended.
"Praise gets you nowhere with me. I'm still going to bore a hole in your throat and suck the air from your lungs. Don't think you'll get off easy, because nothing you do will end the darkness within me. For I am fear incarnated."
"I'm thankful for that gift of yours. Otherwise, this fight wouldn't've been anything worth remembering." Drayvan had a thrill in her voice.
Ayeko came in hot, daggers drawn. He created another bubble around both Drayvan and Mara'Sane, slowing only Mara'Sane. "Looks like we'll have to just keep cutting until you die," he shouted.
From under the ground, tons of bones erupted outward, straight at Ayeko. He was quick enough to jump to the side but lost control of his bubble, and it popped. Mara'Sane was released.
"What an annoying fly you are. I shall treat you accordingly and squash you beyond recognition," she growled.
"Blast it! She already figured out I can't slow time below ground," Ayeko muttered to himself, within earshot of Night-Shade.
Drayvan unleashed a thunderous strike against Mara'Sane that launched her backwards a few meters. Tank had leapt in the air and was coming down near Mara'Sane. Bones sliced out of her arm and beamed for Tank. He had to maneuver that totem of his to block them, but he was still knocked away.
With a burst of speed, Drayvan was in front of Mara'Sane once more and sliced three times so fast, the motion was a blur. Blood exploded out of Mara'Sane, and multiple limbs were sliced away. Night-Shade was sure she was dead. No one could survive that much blood loss.
Mara'Sane gave herself to laugher, laughing through the blood soaking in her throat. "Yes! The pain! I've never felt so alive!" Her body was sewn back together once more. Small bones burst out of Mara'Sane's fingers like bullets, forcing Drayvan to block with her spheres of ink. They bounced off and lost much of their momentum.
She fired the bones from her fingertips. Night-Shade was stunned.
Drayvan followed up with a stronger swing of her sword. Mara'Sane laughed, and tons of bones shelled over her side like armor, which blocked the sword.
Tank was back and slammed his totem down onto Mara'Sane while she was still on the ground. Nothing. She blocked him, too, with the bones, and some actually managed to puncture his skin.
There was a sharp, sudden look of pain in his expression before Tank jumped back. The bones that had punctured inside of him had grown some. Tank placed his hand on his side, covering his wound.
"It feels good, doesn't it?" Mara'Sane taunted Tank. "Please come back over here. I want to cut you more and drown you in your own blood."
Ayeko had another bubble over them. But it was no good. More bones launched from the ground and forced him away.
Bones piled over Mara'Sane's free hand and created a long pike. She launched it at Drayvan, who blocked it with another sphere of ink. She continued to put pressure against Mara'Sane to keep her on the ground. It only made Mara'Sane fill with rage.
An entire field of bones started to jump up from the ground like spikes. Drayvan blocked a few before leaping out of range. It was a boneyard now. Tank crashed the totem to the ground and cleared the area around him of the bones. Ayeko used a bubble around himself to slow them and dodge them. All three were now a good distance away from Mara'Sane.
"Time to fill you with holes and turn you into a shower." Two objects started sliding under Mara'Sane's rib cage before popping out of her skin. They had handles and triggers. Mara'Sane pulled them out of her and pointed them at the aces. Each looked like shotguns made of bone and cartilage and drenched in Mara'Sane's blood.
She pulled the first trigger, then the other one, and repeated as dozens of tiny bone projectiles exploded from the barrels. So many, at such a massive spread. Ayeko was forced into a bubble. Tank leaped at her, which only drew her attention to him. He took some damage, but most of the tiny bone bullets seemed to bounce off his skin. Night-Shade noticed it was vibrating furiously and acted as natural armor against Mara'Sane's insane attacks.
Tank landed by Mara'Sane and bashed her with the totem. A bone spike jumped from the ground and blocked. Mara'Sane fired. Drayvan burst forward to help, and both attacked from either side. Mara'Sane was somehow holding them both off but taking some hits. Tank and Drayvan coordinated attacks managed to sneak past Mara'Sane's many attacking bones.
Her rage engulfed her, and a cloud of smoke released from Mara'Sane. She started spinning like a tornado, and her body seemed to partially turn to a gaseous state. That very instant, she fired off hundreds of bones at the same time. Tank took some major hits and was forced to run and used Mara'Sane's own boneyard for cover. Drayvan slapped the two ink spheres into one larger sphere that covered her entire front side from the storm.
Drayvan put her sword on her back and burst forward faster than even before! She landed a seismic punch on Mara'Sane and knocked her out of her tornado attack. She was sent cascading a dozen meters off the ground. She got up, a hole in her side. Drayvan covered that distance in a flash and landed a second blow. Mara'Sane didn't fly as far.
When she got up a second time, Night-Shade noticed a layer of bone membrane in her second hole. "Even though I grew a bone membrane under my skin, that powerhouse still punched through it. How can that be? It's as if she is getting stronger as the fight goes on," Mara'Sane growled to herself and Night-Shade overheard. Mara'Sane then put a hand over her face and laughed hysterically into it.
Drayvan marched up to Mara'Sane. "This fight is over. Your ability, while impressive, is inconsequential compared to mine. Submit."
Mara'Sane let her laughing die, then spoke. "The last person who talked to me that way no longer has a tongue."
"I offer this chance solely for your benefit. I don't care whether you live or not. But if you wish to continue to fight, it will end with your demise."
Mara'Sane laughed as if she had heard a joke. "Never. When I find someone as fun as you, I tend to focus on them… quite intently."
In blinding speed, Drayvan had removed her sword and sliced too many times for Night-Shade to count. The attack left a cloud of dust, and Night-Shade was sure that had to do the trick. That many cuts would've sliced Mara'Sane to tiny pieces.
The dust faded, and something was off. None of the attacks connected as they should have. She then noticed Mara'Sane's cells, every one of them, seemed to have changed into a gaseous state before becoming solid again.
"So you control more than just the bones in your body. Quite intriguing," Drayvan praised her foe.
Her ace ability seems ridiculously strong! Night-Shade awed.
A bone a meter thick suddenly erupted from the ground at Drayvan's feet. It startled her for a moment before she used the ink to block. But the speed and power behind it was immense, and it carried Drayvan far away and out of sight.
A bubble formed over Mara'Sane, to her surprise. This time, Tank was there to protect Ayeko from the attacking bones. Ayeko made his way closer to Mara'Sane, with a large grenade in his hand. He was able to maintain the bubble with Tank's help, and when he was close to Mara'Sane's near motionless body, he tossed the grenade at her. "Eat that, you demented freak show."
The grenade stuck to her head and exploded. Her entire torso and head were completely gone. Ayeko let time resume at a normal speed but maintained the bubble. What was left of Mara'Sane fell to the ground with a thud, and blood poured out like a spilled vase.
She had to be dead. She just had to. Nobody could survive without their head and body. All three aces watched, making sure this time.
A hissing sound originated from the body, shattering all their hopes and dreams. Steam omitted from the wound. This time, her body repaired itself from what was left of it, and she regrew her torso and head. Her cells multiplied and multiplied until Mara'Sane was whole once again.
She stood up and faced Ayeko and Tank with a fat grin. "I'll skin you alive for that."
"Wha-- H-how can you remember? Not only did you come back from a fraken exploded head, your neural impulses came back intact! How can you defy the very laws of nature?"
"You don't get it by now?" Mara'Sane created a blade made of her bones and shoved it into her heart. She pulled it out and shoved it into her brain next, and finally one of her eyes. Each time she pulled it out, all her wounds healed in a few seconds. "Every cell in my body is mine to control, multiply, and change. And it's the darkness within me that binds it all together. You can hit me with all you have, but I will never die."
She took just one step towards them. Ayeko and Tank took a step back. Fear covered their eyes and face. "Stop! Don't come closer, you monster." Ayeko's voice quivered.
She took another step. "Tell me, have either of you ever experienced so much pain that you wished you'd die?"
They took a step back. "I said stop," he begged.
"Those men guarding that structure. They felt that pain that I gifted them. They begged me, just as you are. They pleaded. After I had my fun, I used a razor wire of my own bones and veins and strangled them until their heads came clean off."
Mara'Sane took another step, but neither of them was moving. Paralyzed with fear, even the bubble popped. Everything that came out of Mara'Sane's mouth was dark and vile beyond all that is natural. How can someone have so much darkness in them? It was disheartening and draining to the soul to go against. Her very sight carried an encumbering presence that filled her victims with so much fear, they lost the will to fight. Night-Shade was never happier of her ability, but her mind was heavy on Tank and Ayeko. Was no one there to save them?
She had been so distracted, she didn't notice Drayvan had returned. Confidently, she marched past Tank and Ayeko and put herself in-between them and Mara'Sane.
"Drayvan. We… we can't win. Mara'Sane is immortal! And if we can't kill her, we have no hope of beating her. Please… we have to leave," Ayeko begged her, with a heavy tone.
Drayvan stuck up her hand. "Unkillable and unbeatable are entirely separate things."
"But--"
"Stop and use your head. Mara'Sane can still be contained, but as we have no method of doing so, I opt for another option. She is flesh and blood and can be knocked unconscious."
Mara'Sane halted. "You're still alive? Better enjoy it while you still can." She stuck out both arms, and the cells around her arms dispersed and showered the ground. All that organic material formed into two beasts. Made out of exoskeletal bones and black, foggy skin, they had claws for hands. All they had for their eyes were two singular glowing dots.
"So you can just create life, too… just like that? Because of course you can… why not? After all, how much stronger can she get?" Ayeko's thoughts were all over the place. He was fearful and letting it out with his words.
"You talk a lot to ease your fear." Mara'Sane laughed at him. She turned to her creatures. "Go hold them down so I may slit their throats."
The beasts bounded towards them on all fours, tongues lolling at their prey. Drayvan knocked one clear out of view, and Tank engaged with the other.
Ayeko followed Drayvan's lead and attempted to put a bubble over Mara'Sane. She dodged, and he tried again. Mara'Sane unleashed a wall of bones separating the two of them, then a dozen bones popped up and surrounded Ayeko. He bubbled himself just before the bones started firing projectiles inside. Ayeko struggled to slow them all down enough to dodge them. His nose was dripping blood!
Drayvan hurried and attacked Mara'Sane. She pounded Mara'Sane against the bone wall, breaking through it. Mara'Sane pulled her spine out of her body and used it as an extendable sword against Drayvan.
Night-Shade quivered at the gruesome sight.
Drayvan blocked with her own sword and cut the spine in half before following up against Mara'Sane. She was able to block with more bones.
"You think my attacks will stop just because you hit me? Think again," Mara'Sane taunted. Drayvan's expression shifted, and she shot her eyes to Ayeko.
He took a hit from another of those tiny bone bullets.
No. Night-Shade had tears in her eyes.
The bones stopped firing. However, Ayeko let go of the bubble because he couldn't hold it anymore. Bleeding from his nose, arm, and side, he was hunched over and wheezing.
"See what your brash and pride has cost you," Mara'Sane mocked Drayvan. "Now watch your ally die!"
The bones surrounding him shifted and speared straight towards him!
That sudden moment, a flash pushed him out of the way. Was it Drayvan? No, she was unable to make it in time. The dust cleared. Tank, having had finished off that beast earlier, made it to Ayeko's aid.
Night-Shade was in tears. It wasn't for Ayeko. It was for Tank. All those bones, all dozen of them, had impaled him. His breath was faint, eyes dull and open, blood draining down the bones. He had taken the attack meant for Ayeko and was barely alive. At that moment, Ayeko put a bubble over him to slow down his blood loss, buying him time. But Ayeko could barely hang on to it. Already his nose was beginning to bleed more.
"Night-Shade. If you are there watching, I'm counting on you to aid our comrades," said Drayvan. That instant, she launched herself at Mara'Sane. She countered with a wave of bones Drayvan had to switch to block. It pushed her away and gave Mara'Sane an opening. She didn't use it to engage Drayvan. Instead, her nightmarish gaze found Ayeko and Tank.
Mara'Sane was on the move to finish them off!
On instinct, Night-Shade fell back to her body and shot awake. Her scout rifle was over her lap. She scoped in, and without even thinking about it, she took a shot. It hit Mara'Sane in the head. Her enraged gaze then beamed in Night-Shade's direction! What an intense thirst for blood; a feeling of sharpened darkness had focused on her. Night-Shade has never felt anything so chilling, as if her own life was being choked off. Her body shook, and she dropped the weapon. That feeling of darkness had intensified and focused on her. It overwhelmed her senses. So much fear engulfed her, like a prison, and she now knew what those killed by Mara'Sane's hand must've felt.
The distraction Night-Shade bought was enough for Drayvan to come back with a strike more powerful than any previous. Mara'Sane was sent flying out of sight. Night-Shade understood that moment Drayvan was going to keep Mara'Sane far from Tank and Ayeko so she couldn't kill them. Drayvan then leaped in the direction Mara'Sane flew, disappearing out of sight herself.
Night-Shade was still shaking out of her skin, but she had to help Ayeko and Tank. They could die if she didn't. That thought carried her there. Her body moved as fast as she could manage until she passed the structure and found herself in the boneyard.
Soon, Night-Shade was by Ayeko's side. His eyes didn't see her. They were locked on Tank. With all his will power, Ayeko tried to hold on to that bubble.
She entered the bubble with Tank. "What do I do?" She begged Ayeko for an answer.
"Cut… th-the… bones," he squeezed out the words. Night-Shade began to fire her scout rifle at each of the bones. One down, then another and another. Each took at least five shots, and she had to reload often. The last one broke, and Tank was free, but his body was still near motionless due to Ayeko's efforts.
She looked back to Ayeko. "Now what?"
His eyes were starting to close, and he was blinking in and out. Night-Shade rushed to his side. "Ayeko! Hang in there! You need to stay awake." It was no good. Ayeko had exhausted his ability. That very moment, his eyes closed again and didn't open. The bubble dropped, and so did Tank.
Night-Shade ran over to him and tried to drag him back to the recon ship herself. He was too heavy for her. Then his breathing stopped. Night-Shade pulled and pulled, an effort that amounted to nothing. She was useless. Why was she so useless?
Minutes went by, and Night-Shade fell backward trying to pull Tank. She landed by Ayeko and looked for a pulse.
Please be alive, she begged.
Her plea was answered when she felt Ayeko's heart still pumping. He was unconscious, but alive. Knowing that, she went back to Tank. She started pressing against his chest and breathing into his mouth. Again. And Again. She kept at it and eventually dropped to her side. She couldn't handle it anymore. She was defeated to her very core. She had failed Tank.
Alone and in grief, Night-Shade stared into the sky for almost an hour. Her body didn't move. She didn't have the heart to. The last few minutes of that battle replayed over and over in her head. The sight of Tank being impaled by Mara'Sane haunted her thoughts. The fact that Ayeko went unconscious trying to keep Tank from dying, only to have her fail him in the end, ate at her soul. She didn't know what to do. What to think.
Hearing footsteps approach, she snapped out of her daze. She sat up, half-expecting it to be Mara'Sane. Her fear dropped away when she saw it was Drayvan.
Drayvan stopped in front of Tank and stared down for a few seconds. Her eyes turned to Night-Shade, which immediately caused her to look to the ground in shame. She couldn't face those eyes that counted on her, knowing she failed.
"In the end, Mara'Sane fled from me. Of course, with me in pursuit, I'd imagine anyone would cower from the sight. My only regret is that I wasn't able to avenge Tank's courageous sacrifice." Drayvan knelt beside Tank and closed his unmoving eyes. She heaved him up. "Rest knowing you died a warrior's death." Her voice was soft as she whispered to into Tank's ear. Drayvan was now over Night-Shade. "Would you be so kind as to bring Ayeko?"
Night-Shade nodded. "He's… he is alive," she mumbled the words.
Drayvan walked past her. "I know."
Night-Shade forced her tired body up and willed Ayeko into her arms. She followed Drayvan back to the recon ship. The journey felt much longer, and neither of them talked. When they reached the recon ship, Drayvan gently laid Tank's lifeless body on the ground. She then took over for Night-Shade and brought Ayeko to the tiny medical bay on the recon ship. Night-Shade informed their pilot it was time to leave.
Their mission to stop the threat was a failure. But that wasn't even what was so disheartening about it. Tank had died for nothing. That weighed heavily on Night-Shade. And with no way to find Mara'Sane again, they had no choice but to return to Station 51 with the bad news. Not that they should go after that thing ever again. Not ever!