BDS: Chapter Thirty-Six

I hate the waiting,Jarek said from his point of surveillance on the southern outskirts of the city. I'd rather go hunt them down.

Go figure, said Valora.

Exactly what Elder Master Syam said not to do, Hoshi added.

Gyan looked up at the stars in the night sky as he paced beneath them. I know what you mean, Jarek. It's like my mind and body are repeatedly shifting between fatigue and focus.

It is almost dawn,said Tarak. That will help some with focus.

You won't have to wait much longer, Brogan said as he pulled his hand back from the ground. The glow of his thorn markings lit up brightly in the surrounding dark as they spread across his cheeks and forearms. They are getting closer. It feels more like a stampede than soldiers in stealth.

I'm sure they're not worried about masking their arrival, given they think we don't know about the tunnels, said Danika.

Sir Malik said that Akila had the Bardoc dig tunnels into Kraundor over all these years. I guess she had them continue into Alsar, Hoshi speculated.

Besides killing Sir Malik, I think destroying Yevani was a large part of her plan all along, Jalena said. The tunnels must have been incomplete when she showed for the Aléise and poisoned the falls during the last Master ceremony, but she avoided escaping through them in case Sir Malik followed her.

Do you think the recent attack on the tribal warriors was a distraction for the completion of the tunnels into Alsar? Gyan asked.

Yes, replied Jalena. I think it was also a distraction for the arrival of the Avehkal within Elsaria's atmosphere.

She certainly had enough time to plan all of it, Lorcan said.

Hoshi stood; her halo swirled yellow as double glowing crosses formed around her eyes. She peered across the distance and saw the glowing marks of the Avehkal as they emerged from a small river at the edge of the city. They are here.

Do you think everyone has made it to the bunkers okay? asked Danika.

Yes, Gyan replied. All that were willing to go, anyway. I sent some additional protection along with them.

Make sure you watch the shoreline, Jalena told the warriors stationed further north.

They are spreading through the forest now, too, said Hoshi. I haven't seen the Black Sector Vaznaun yet though.

The masters each held an arm out to the side. The Avehkal spilling across the outer fields of the city stopped in surprise as a light flashed in the eyes of each warrior, and their gladaés formed in the grip of their hands within a swirling vortex of light.

"They knew we were coming," Thron announced to his troops. "We attack now."

Rays of gold light from the Avehkal blasters lit up the night as the warriors teleported and blocked the beams with their gladaés.

The Avehkal's gold and black discs splashed water into the air as they shot up from the sea. Green and gold light lit the surface of the sea as the Order and Alpherian pilots engaged the Avehkal in the dawning sky.

Syam stared out over the city from the temple roof as he watched the Avehkal and Vaznaun swarm the streets beneath him. An aura of white light expanded around him as his eyes brightened. Have you encountered a weapon yet? he asked Faelán.

Assessing the data now, Faelán replied from his position below. He reached for the thoughts of the entire team. I'm sending you the feel and focus of how to create the frequency to destroy their weapons in one hit. Direct the vibration through your gladaé.

Syam turned to the elder masters that stood beside him.

We are ready, Nyhra said as light filled her gaze. Zenobia's and Zareb's eyes mimicked Nyhra's as they each held an arm out to the side. Their fingers grasped the hilt of their gladaé as it formed.

The Kolar Cloaks, dressed in their black camouflaged attire, waited on nearby rooftops for Syam's signal. He held up a hand to Shenia. They leaped from rooftop to rooftop and somersaulted into the enemy crowd below as each of the elder masters disappeared in a bright burst of light.

***

Gyan allowed the vibrational analytics Faelán shared to internalize within him as two Avehkal advanced his way. He shifted the frequency of his sword and teleported as the golden ray of a gun flew at him. Appearing directly beside the Avehkal, Gyan swept his sword up, slicing right through the enemy's weapon. He thrust out a sidekick to another at his other side. The Avehkal slammed sideways into his comrade as a ray of piercing blue light extended from Gyan's hand and through the chest of both enemies.

His breath deepened as he opened his senses even more to the energy around him. He lowered his stance and allowed the flow of Chiséi to guide his movements. Moving forward with great speed,  his added Shanlo strength served to his benefit as he encountered the Avehkal.

Each of the light warriors flashed in and out of battle in a synchronistic fashion, moving faster than ever before as more Avehkal surrounded them.

Brogan and Valora remained near each other, doubling the power of their light as they took out multiple groups of Avehkal at once.

Hey, our light energy is like fire, just way hotter, Jarek suddenly spoke.

Wow, said Brogan. That's some deep thinking, Jarek.

Jarek smiled. I need some…so shoot me.

What?

I don't know how to shoot light like you, so shoot some light at me. I can use it like I use fire. The halo in his eyes swirled with varying colors as his fire markings appeared around his eyes.

No way, Jarek, said Valora. It may not work the same.

It will. I'm a warrior—same frequency, remember? Just shoot me.

Jarek glanced behind him as a group of Avehkal ran at him. I'm improvising. Just do it!

Valora and Brogan shared a skeptical look and then each held up a palm to Jarek. In the same instant, an Avehkal ship above shot a green ray of light directly at them. The two immediately teleported, turned back to Jarek, and released a thick ray of light.

Jarek gave a diabolical laugh as the light swallowed him. "Yeah, that's more like it." He turned on the spot, aiming at the group of Avehkal, now only several feet from him. Piercing blades of light flew from the swirling bright rings now around both of his wrists and thighs. The Avehkal fell one by one as Jarek's blades sliced through them.

***

Below Ceiabré Forest in the safety of the bunkers, Miliani flinched as the ground shook and muffled explosions were heard in the distance.

Lesiana, who was knelt beside Miliani, stared at the bunker doors. "It's okay, Mili. Gyan is out there."

"Sounds like a million of them. There's just one Gyan—"

"—and his team," Lesiana interrupted.

"And your father," whispered Sahdika.

"One thing I know is that Gyan won't let anything happen to anyone he cares about," Lesiana stated in a determined tone.

"Still, I worry…"

"I've seen him fight, Mili," Lesiana continued. "He gets this look—as if his whole existence depends on saving you." She stood. "He makes you want to fight alongside him."

Sahdika and Haji abruptly stood as a loud banging reverberated through the bunker.

Shouting voices came from the other side of the doors.

"Help!"

"Let us in!"

"They're coming!"

Lesiana threw off her cloak and moved forward as the Order workers near the front area of the bunker hurriedly unbolted the doors. One pressed a rectangular strip on the wall. The doors slowly slid open. Swarms of new citizens refusing to evacuate Yevani at the requested time filed into the room in a panic. The worker pressed the strip again, and the doors began to shut.

Lesiana sprinted forward, pushing past people in the crowd.

"Lesiana!" Miliani shouted.

A large gray hand covered in black markings grabbed one side of the door before it closed completely. More gray hands joined the first. The bunker doors slid back the opposite way as Black Sector Vaznaun pushed their way through. The Vaznaun peered at the crowd with their orange eyes and smirked in satisfaction at the fearful faces before them.

From where he slept in Miliani's arms, Sheldrían stirred and began to cry. Some of the citizens screamed and shrunk against the bunker walls. Lesiana unsheathed Aderes's gladaé and kept pushing through the retreating citizens.

"Miss!" A man standing nearby shouted. "Let the Order workers handle this! You'll be hurt!"

Ignoring him, Lesiana bolted through the Order workers who were hurriedly forming a line between the Vaznaun and the citizens.

"Get out!" she yelled as she burst through the line of workers and the Vaznaun.

Many of the Vaznaun laughed.

"She has a sword," another said with a chuckle. The Vaznaun laughed harder.

She pointed the sword at the Vaznaun and tightened her grip. A gleam of silver light ran the length of the blade. "I said…GET OUT!" she screamed with a look of fury.

The smiles of the Vaznaun instantly disappeared as a bright burst of silver and blue light erupted from the sword. Miliani grasped the hilt with her other hand as the power of the sword vibrated harder.

Vaznaun turned to flee but were swallowed by the light as it surged beyond the bunker doorway. The intruders disintegrated completely as the light expanded the length of the tunnel and continued to spread into the adjoining passageways.

Complete silence fell across the bunker. An Order worker immediately hit the control near the door again to close it fully.

The light of the sword faded and Lesiana re-sheathed the gladaé. "Hmph," she breathed as she turned up her nose. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and turned on her heel to march back to Sahdika and Miliani but jumped in startled surprise as the entire bunker erupted in cheers. Those near her pounded her on the back and hugged her in relief.

Sahdika approached her hurriedly and grabbed her in for a tight hug. "Don't ever scare me like that again!" she scolded. She sighed and put a hand over her heart. "But, thankfully you knew what to do."

Lesiana's grin widened. "Thanks to my two brothers."

***