Multiple climax sequences, anyone?  We'll just leave the rest of the Xavier Team stranded in their doom while we continue the saga of the other parts here...

Part CXXX: The Heart of the Mothership

Date: Kapton 30th, 114 A.U.

A single explosion rattled the chamber.  Smoke slowly cleared as Monty, Zarien, Augger, and Number 994 neared the crater and at the hole blasted into the floor.

“There’s our direct pipeline,” Monty said, grabbing the rope.  “Let’s go.”  Quickly tying the rope to the nearby door knob, Monty threw the rest of the rope into the hole and then slid down, swinging from side-to-side, before landing on top of a large computer terminal.  He waited as the other slid down after him.

Leaping down from the top of the large terminal, Monty landed on the ground and looked around.  The large expanse was dim, the blinking lights of the central computer system providing the little light that escaped through the region.  Towers and small buildings made up of the many computer systems stood all around them.

“Well,” Monty said, pausing.  “I have no idea where in this mess the central computer of the entire central computer system is.”

“And I suspect that I don’t have authorized access,” Number 994 said, laying his hand on one of the computers as a spark ran from his hand into the metal.  He paused.  “Nope,” he finally said.  “I need a password that I don’t have.”

“Looks like we’ll be doing this the old-fashioned way then,” Zarien said, striding forward.  “We go through this mess of computers and figure out where the central one is.  It should be noticeable, right?”

“The elven rebels said that there were defenses around the central computer,” Augger replied.  “It should be a fairly noticeable field then, I guess.”

“Perhaps like that?” Zarien said, pointing, as in the distance, the top of a wavering blue sphere could be seen.

“Let’s investigate,” Number 994 replied.



Moving past a computer tower, Number 994 paused as he looked at the sight.  A force orb had been erected around one large cubical computer.  A force orb was a high level of electricity magic and needed a constant source to fuel it.  Number 994 noticed the circuitry behind the force orb.  So the switch to turn it off was inside of the force orb.  A minor difficulty.  He’d just need to summon enough power to break down the force orb.

“How in the world are we going to get through that thing?” Zarien said, coming up behind him with the rest of the power.

  “If I just summon enough power, I think-” Number 994 began.

“I think that your mission would still fail,” a deep voice said.

“Who-“ Monty began.

Suddenly, a streak of fire flew down from the top of one of the computer towers.  Monty threw himself to the side as it hit beside where he was standing as three figures leapt down from the tower to stand between them and force orb.

“You have made an impressive feat, getting this far,” Unyihi Garum said, summoning balls of fire over his hands to light up the faces of his two partners.  Number 994 gulped.  Number 5, a lightning orc, and Number 11, a fire orc.

“Unfortunately for you, not all allies are allies worth trusting,” Unyihi Garum smirked.  “Your governor being the case in point.”

“Governor Iraina?” Monty asked.  “But-”

“Governor Iraina has been incredibly helpful to our cause,” Unyihi Garum rumbled.  “I believe that today was the date that was set for him to lead ten battalions of elves to take Araelia.  But either way, none of that concerns us.  What matters is that we have been prepared for your assault on our central computer system.  And your mission to do so has failed.”  His words rung in the air.

“Now!” Monty yelled, and dashed to the side as he drew his gun, firing two bullets at the fire orc who ducked, causing the bullets to sizzle upon hitting the force orb.  Augger moved forward, brandishing his corsha battle axe, as he blocked Unyihi Garum’s lightning strike with the axe, allowing the axe to absorb the damage as Zarien and Number 994 moved for cover.

“Your cause is hopeless against us,” Unyihi Garum rumbled, sending out a spurt of fire that nearly roasted Zarien’s leg.  “ Surrender now, while you still can.”

“Never!” Number 994 yelled, having made it to the top of a computer tower.  Focusing his sights in on the force orb, summoning his greatest attack, Number 994 called out his lightning, sending it crashing down upon the force orb.

The force orb flickered, but stayed firm.  The lightning rebounded, causing Number 994 to throw himself to the ground just in time to avoid being skewered by his own attack.

“There!” Number 5 yelled, sending crackling lightning around another terminal that Zarien had climbed to the top of.  Zarien gave a cry as electricity sizzled around his electronic leg, crumpling on top as the barbs of electricity flowed over him.

Monty moved forward, ignoring the stream of fire that narrowly missed him.  “Nice try,” he snapped, shooting at Number 11, now only ten feet away.  Number 11 moved to the side, but not quickly enough to avoid the bullet hitting him in the chest.  Number 11 fell to the ground, blood spurting out.

“But not good enough,” Unyihi Garum yelled.  Too late, Monty looked up as lightning hit him hard in the chest, throwing him backwards to crash against another computer system.  Number 994 watched in horror, turning around to late to see that Number 5 had flanked him.  Too late, Number 994 put up an electric shield in defense as the attack overpowered his defenses, throwing him off of the computer tower to hit the force field and slowly slide down on it even as the electricity in the force field snapped at him.

“Uhhh…” Number 994 blinked, trying to keep consciousness, as he did a head count.  Monty and Zarien were both knocked out.  Augger was nowhere to be seen, likely knocked out as well.

“And so we come to the end of the road, you and I,” Unyihi Garum said, striding forward as Number 11 lay dying beside him.  Number 5 came up next to him.  Number 994 blinked, seeing something in the shadows while trying to figure out what the figure was gesturing at.

“You…  You can’t…” Number 994 gasped, even as he deciphered what the figure was saying to him.  And then realization dawned upon him.  Rule #1.  Of course.

“I can, and I will,” Unyihi Garum snapped, pointing a gauntlet at him.  “You are a traitor to the cause, Number 994!  The others will have their lives spared to be tortured and questioned by the Emperor, if he wills it.  But you are under my authority.  And no orc who willingly betrays me will do anything but die the death of a traitor, struck with the mightiest force I can conjure up to blast your body into oblivion.”  Lightning cracked around his gauntlets.  “And so you meet the end of the road.  Die traitor.”

Rule Number 1: Always use your opponent’s greatest strength against him.

Lightning thundered toward him as Unyihi Garum unleashed his powerful attack.  Against the force field, Number 994 used his remaining strength to throw himself to the side at the last second, exhausting all possible strength even as the lightning thundered past him to hit the force field.  The force field again flickered, for longer this time on account of the more powerful assault, even as the figure in the shadows leapt out of the shadows past the down force field.

Too late Unyihi Garum saw what was coming as the force field flickered on again, rebounding the lightning.  The lightning rebounded—and struck Unyihi Garum with greater force than his previous attack, smiting him in the chest.

Unyihi Garum gave a cry of pain, falling back in agony even as Augger, the figure in the shadows now inside the force field, lifted up his corsha axe, putting all his strength behind it even as his arms cycled around, smashing the full weight of the corsha axe into the central computer system.

“No…” Unyihi gasped, flailing in death’s rows from his own assault.  One strike.  Twice.  Number 5, shaking away his initial shock, leapt for the force field too late in one desperate attempt to stop Augger.  But Augger swung his third strike.  The central computer, now struck thrice, faltered, and an explosion rang out.  The force field collapsed, causing Number 994 to fall back even as Augger was engulfed in the explosion.

“No…” Number 5 said, panting as he stood next to the fallen Number 994.  “No…  No!  It can’t be!”

“Sorry,” a voice whispered.  And a bullet ripped through Number 5’s ribs.  “I guess you ought to kill people instead of trying to knock them out,” Monty said, leaning against a computer tower, even as he held the smoking gun.  “You never know when they might come back to bite you.”



“All of the computer systems are down—I’m not getting anything to work!” Number 2, the pilot of the Mothership, roared to his co-pilot.  “All the engines just shut off!  I’m not getting anything to work!”

“Can’t you fix it?” the elven co-pilot yelled back.

“I’m trying!” Number 2 yelled.  “Nothing’s working!  Where’s the Garum?”

“I don’t know where Unyihi is!” the elven co-pilot yelled back.  “The Mothership’s going down!  You have to stop it!”

“Nothing’s working!  It’s total sabotage!  Where’s Unyihi Garum?!”


“We’re falling fast, but we ought to be able to the escape pod in time,” Monty said, panting, as they rounded the corridor.  “It’s just around here—right?”

“Yes,” Augger replied, only slightly burnt from the explosion, as he carried Number 994 over his shoulder.

“All I can say is that I never would have imagined your resistance to fire would’ve been so needed,” Zarien said.  Number 994 had used the last of his energy to use his electric power to fix Zarien’s mechanical leg before succumbing into the depths of unconsciousness.

“There’s a reason that the Xavier Team called for an augger to the task,” Augger replied.  “I have merely accomplished my purpose.

“There’s the escape pods,” Monty said, pointing to the corridor.  “No one else is here yet.”

“There are other escape pods other places in the ship.  I’m sure the other ones are going to be used,” Zarien said even as he pushed the button to open the door to the escape pod.  “Let’s go.”



The white behemoth of the Mothership continued its descent even as all attempts to stop it from crashing were made.  Pilots ran around in a frenzy in the cockpit of the ship, choosing to try to salvage the ship rather than use the escape pods and face assured death from what would be a very vehement Emperor.  Escape pods from those just trying to save their skins were fired off even as the Mothership came closer to the waves, nearing a lonely desert island even as all hope was lost.

The tip of the ship hit the ground first.  Explosions flared throughout the ship as the Mothership hit the island, even as the escape pod with the Xavier Team flew away.  There was the noise of an explosion behind them.  And then a large mushroom cloud split up into the air as the entirety of the Mothership imploded upon collision.

The Mothership of the Elves was destroyed.

Question of the Day: Number 994 is obviously going up in ranks with the majority of high-ranking orcs being immediately killed.  What should I call Number 994 now?

Dun, dun, dun...  Will the Watcher be awakened to wrack havoc on Arquenia?  Or will the Xavier Team prevail against this, their one last hope?

Part CXXIX: The Lair of the Watcher

Date: Kapton 30th, 114 A.U.

“So.  Either they lived to fight the Watcher or they died,” Grandine said as the door shut behind the Xavier Team.  “Come.  We must prepare our defenses.”

“Our defenses against what?” Ranvier asked.

“If the Watcher is awakened and if the Watcher, as you claim, is evil, then we must have a defense against him,” Grandine replied.  “We must gather together the auggers to stop him.”

“Very well,” Ranvier said.  “I assume you are including Catan the Silent in that group?”  Grandine paused.

“With all due respect, leader, no matter what his failings may be, Catan has been the only one among us who has been prepared so far for this attack,” Ranvier said.

“I…  Fine.  Alert him if you must,” Grandine said.  “Tell the guards to let him go.  Mayhaps he may atone for his deeds.  I only hope that the Xavier Team will stop him in time so that it doesn’t come to that.”




The Xavier Team stood on a roadway that circled through the black void into an central cylinder chamber, which glowed white only for its light to be consumed by the black void.  The air spun frigid around them as open eyes blinked.

“Come,” Reynyagn said as he drew out the Arglem.  “They are likely in that chamber already.  Haste and stealth must be on our side.”  Moving quickly, they moved around the roadway as it spiraled down to enter into the cylinder chamber, where the roadway continued to curl around.

Torches immediately flickered up into flame, lighting their way as Reynyagn instinctively stopped, startled by the sudden new light.  Writing began lighting up on the walls around them. 

“Is that…” Flek said pointing.  “Is that what I think it is?”

“The Prophesy of the Warrior,” Jroldin whispered, reading the inscription.  “It…  It looks like more of Xavier’s prophesies!”

“We don’t have time,” Reynyagn said regretfully.  “The Emperor is still ahead of us.  We must move on—and fast.”  Moving down through the spiral road that cycled down into the chamber, they passed more prophesies and then pictures detailing magnificent events in the history of Arquenia.  Still downward it went until finally it opened up.  Reynyagn paused before passing through the archway, and then stepped out.  Before him, the ramp continued to spiral down to the bottom of the chamber, but now the inner edge was open, guarded by a railing, allowing him to look into the chamber within.  The tall chamber sported runes and images, and in the bottom, a large circular stone sat, seven indented regions cut into it.  In the center of the stone swirled a blue spherical void.  The chamber was empty.  And there were no other exits.  Quickly descending down the rest of the stairs, the four moved forward to stand near the center of the room.

“Where…  where did they go?” Jroldin asked.  “They had to be here—right?”

“It is the domain of the Watcher,” Astrid said softly.  “I have a feeling he’s in control here.”

“You would be right about that.”  And the Xavier Team whirled around, just in time, as an augger in one of the murals shifted, and his image warped to transform into Emperor Jaigran, who now descended with his black wings as he displayed the Five Golden Corsha Weapons along his belt. 

“So this was a trap,” Flek said, narrowing his eyes.

“What else would you expect?” Emperor Jaigran asked.  “I see we meet again, Reynyagn.  And I also see that you are again surrounded by pitiful fighters who would seek to challenge me—me—the Wielder of Five of the Golden Weapons!”

“I would,” Reynyagn snapped, as he raised the Arglem.  “You have left yourself open, Jaigran.  You should have used the Five Golden Weapons to awaken the Watcher while you still could.”

“Which I would have done,” Jaigran replied, stepping toward him as his wings unfurled.  “If five were enough to do it.”

Astrid froze.  “What?”

“But of course, my young girl who bears the namesake of her governor,” Jaigran replied, a smile playing across his lips.  “All seven are needed to awaken the Watcher.  For a moment in this conflict, I was worried that you might escape with the two that you had, but as you see, my worries were unfounded.  If I couldn’t beat you to the Golden Weapons, I’d lure them to myself.”

“Then you miscalculated our strength,” Reynyagn said, stepping forward, even as his eyes displayed fear.  “The Prophecy of the Xavier Team will prevail against you.”

“You wish.”  And saying so, Jaigran leapt into the air.  A beat of his wings carried him up as he unfurled his weapons from his belt.  First the gauntlets of the orcs.  Then the human spear in one hand and the elven rapier in the other before he descended toward the middle of the group and his hand pointed at Astrid. 

Before she could move, a bolt of lightning threw her aside, as Jaigran fell to land where she was even as the others turned on him.  Reynyagn whipped the Arglem as Jaigran blocked it with his rapier, stabbing at Jroldin with his spear while Jroldin defended with his battle axe, Flek moving around to try and flank Jaigran.

“You won’t beat me so fast!” Jaigran roared as he stepped back to avoid Flek’s attempted flank.  Flek pursed his lips.  He knew that he was the weakest member of the party with Astrid now out of the fighting.  He gripped his two arjla corsha blades.  He wouldn’t be able to deter Jaigran with fear either—Jaigran knew that he had lost all of his power.

Reynyagn suddenly lashed out with the whip, avoiding Jaigran’s block to cut Jaigran hard across the face, creating a jagged line from his left eye to his right cheek.  Jaigran gave a shriek of pain, stumbling back as blood poured from his face, his left eye ruined.  Flek moved upon him in victory.  But the victory was short-lived.

As Jaigran stumbled back, flesh knit together with flesh as the wound began to fade, the ruined eye being miraculously cured as the bleeding of the cut quickly stopped.  “You… forgot…  about the healing power of the Golden Corsha Weapons,” Jaigran said, slowly, as he gritted his teeth.  “You got one strike in.  But you won’t get another.”

Moving to the side, Flek raced around toward Jaigran’s backside, causing Jaigran to again have to step back as Reynyagn and Jroldin advanced.  If he could keep moving Jaigran backwards he might have a chance of helping the others enough so that they could press him against the wall so that-

Suddenly, Jaigran lurched forward, beating his wings, as he shot a bolt of lightning into Jroldin’s chest, throwing him back.  Stunned, Jroldin crashed on the floor, flailing, as Jaigran flew above him, crashing down upon him to rip the axe out of his hand, quickly girding it onto his belt before kicking Jroldin’s body aside.  Moving up as Reynyagn came near, Jaigran lashed out with the spear, blocking the strike while moving low to the ground, using his shortness as an advantage as he avoided Reynyagn’s attack to come up with his sword, blasting fire into Reynyagn’s face from his gauntlets while with the sword he struck at the hand that held the Arglem.

Reynyagn gave a cry as blade burned through flesh.  The Arglem was flung out of his hands as the sword cleaved all of his fifth, and most of his fourth finger off, dropping down to the ground in pain as Jaigran leapt to the side, sheathing his sword before grabbing the Arglem.  Jaigran stood, panting, as he looked around him.  And then he nodded his head.

“Now.”

Instantly, the Xavier Team suddenly felt themselves being pulled back, flung to the walls as manacles and chains suddenly appeared around them, chaining them to the wall, as the ghostly figure of the Watcher emerged from the void in the middle of the central stone.

“It’s over,” The Watcher said.  “Have you had your fun toying with them, Jaigran?”

“Yes,” Jaigran said confidently.  “I have shown them that I can beat them.  Now, we will awaken you.”

“As you wish,” the Watcher whispered, and he faded away into the void.

“You…  You always had the power to chain us to the wall…” Flek slowly said, realization dawning upon him.

“The Watcher always had the power while you were in his domain,” Jaigran said, setting the Arglem down in one of the depressions on the central stone.  The Arglem glowed as stone immediately grew around it to thickly encase it in.  “However, I have shown that I have not needed such help to beat you.”  Two more weapons were laid down in the depression.  “And now, having been thoroughly beaten, you will watch as I fully Awaken the Watcher to his full power.”  Two more weapons were laid down as two more remained in his hands.

“No…” Flek said.  “You can’t—you can’t do this!”

“Ah, but I already have,” Jaigran said, laying down the orc gauntlets in the 6th cavity.  He paused, holding the elven rapier, over the 7th cavity.  “And now-”

Suddenly, the darkness moved around them and darkness formed on figure as they could only watch.  Jaigran looked up just in time to see the shadowy figure diving for him, whip outstretched.

There was a collision, and Jaigran went flying back, a line of blood forming around his chest as Jaigran stood face-to-face with a Sla’ad. 

“You!” Jaigran cried out, bringing up the elven golden rapier to block the next strike.  “You—you-”

“I have watched you for months,” the nameless Sla’ad replied, lashing out upon him with his whip as Jaigran narrowly avoided.  “Waited for months for the perfect opportunity while you banished the darkness from around here.  Until here when you slipped, ignored the darkness, and abandoned all of your golden corsha weapons.  And now—you will die.”

“Stop!” Jaigran roared, backing up, fear across his face as he again blocked.  “I—I plead—I beg you!”  His voice sounded pitiful in his fright.  “What do you want—spare my life—I can give you the world!”  He let his rapier limply drop as he looked up in fright at the towering Sla’ad.

“I request only your life,” the Sla’ad snapped, bringing up the corsha whip for one final slash.  And then the Sla’ad gasped, as he suddenly looked down, the rapier protruding through his chest.

“And you have let your guard slip upon your presumed victory,” Jaigran hissed, driving the blade up further into the Sla’ad’s writhing body.  “Your shadows have been banished, for one who would have been an assassin.  May the darkness reap its rewards on you.”  And stepping back, Jaigran watched as the Sla’ad crumpled on the floor.

“Your last chance of victory is defeated!” Jaigran proclaimed, striding toward the central stone with his last golden weapon.  “Your assassin has faltered on the cusp of victory!  And now-”  He paused next to the stone.  “Now, the victory is mine!”  And Jaigran laid the last golden weapon in the last depression of the stone as the stone encased it in.  The blue spherical void glowered. 

And the Watcher was awakened.

Part CXXVIII: The Door of the Void

Date: Kapton 30th, 114 A.U.

“Augger Island approaches,” Ranvier said.  “I have sent them a signal to let them know that it is I.  We should have a smooth landing.”

“Our destiny approaches then,” Jroldin muttered.  “And we walk straight into the trap prepared for us.”

“Iraina was counseling us about this yesterday,” Astrid said.  “We may have gotten here before Jaigran and we have the entire island on our side.  We have nothing to fear.”

“I’m still not so sure how much I trust Iraina’s advice over ex-Governor Astrid’s…” Jroldin muttered.  But he said nothing else as the island drew near.



“I don’t suppose this is normal?” Flek asked.  They had just landed and opened the door to exit the ship when they were met by a small army of auggers, waiting at the end of the gangplank.

“I’ll check in with them,” Ranvier said, pushing past him.  “Hail fellow Auggers!  Your ambassador has returned with half of the legendary Xavier Team to investigate the Noon-Stone!”

“The Xavier Team!”  Whispers spun throughout the small army.

“You come at a most inopportune time then,” Grandine, leader of the auggers, said, stepping out from the group.  “You will forgive our show of arms, Ranvier.  It’s only that this morning we were attacked by a group of elves and did not know whether to believe your message or not.”

“A group of elves?!” Flek cried out, a sinking feeling in his heart.

“It would appear that Catan the Silent isn’t as silent in regards to political affairs as he may seem,” Grandine replied, turning to Ranvier.  “He and his ancestors have planted a whole defense system on our island without us knowing.  Upon spotting their ship, Catan the Silent let loose a whole barrage of missiles at them as they came near, which he thought would have most certainly destroyed them.  The ship, on the other hand, either magically repulsed, or dodged the missiles that were sent at them, made it through Catan’s extensive defense system, and then landed on top of the Council building.”  He gestured toward a large circular building with a flat roof in the middle of the city.  “Two of the occupants of the ship then proceeded to make his way down into the chamber with the Noon-Stone and disappeared into the domain of the Watcher while his companions took up nest on the top of the roof to shoot us down.  Although the elves are all slain, nine of our kind have fallen today, a most grievous woe.”

An augger swiftly made his way toward Grandine from outside the army.  Grandine turned to see him and narrowed his eyes as the augger rapidly made gestures with his hands. 

“That’s Catan the Silent,” Ranvier murmured as they slowly moved out of the ship.  “He’s mute.”

“This is our ambassador with the legendary Xavier Team,” Grandine snapped as he glared at Catan.  “They are not more threats for you to depose—or people to turn into threats like you did with the others!”  More gestures emerged from Catan.

  “You have no proof they were planning on attacking us before you tried to murder them,” Grandine snapped.  “But we’ve already been through this discussion.  Once the lawgivers set a time for the trial, we will see what defense you really do have against these allegations.”

“If I may intervene,” Ranvier said, stepping forward.  “Although I cannot get involved directly with this discussion, being absent from the circumstances that led up to this attack, what did these elves look like?”

“One was short with black wings and a circlet of gold.  Some claim to have seen four of the Golden Corsha Weapons on him,” Grandine replied.  “The other was tall, and some say the sun shone through him.”

“Then we are already too late,” Ranvier replied.  “With due respect, Grandine, these two elves are the leaders of the elven forces.  You say they went into the Door of the Void?”

“Yes.”

“Where is our Golden Corsha Weapon?”

Grandine paused as his glance flickered from Jroldin to Reynyagn, both carrying Golden Weapons.  “It was…  It was in the Council Chamber—the Chamber of the Noon-Beam,” he slowly said.

“Is it still there?”



“And so Jaigran has remained a step ahead of us,” Astrid said bitterly as she stared at the empty rack on the wall of the chamber of the Noon-Beam.  “They have all five now.”

“Then they can unleash the Watcher,” Flek whispered.  “They have what they need.  It’s over.”

“Unleash the Watcher?” Grandine asked.  “Do you mean—are they planning on awakening him?”

“Yes, Grandine, but it isn’t what you think,” Ranvier said as he turned toward him.  “The elf who seemed translucent?  He’s the Watcher—and he’s not on the good side anymore.  He’s allied himself with the elves to destroy us.”

Shock was apparent on Grandine’s face.  “But…  but-”

“We don’t have time,” Reynyagn said as he looked toward Grandine.  “Where is the Door of the Void?”

“There—but why?” Grandine asked as he pointed.

“Because we’re going to do the only thing we can do,” Reynyagn said as he turned.  “We’re going to follow him.”

“But you can’t!” Ranvier said as he moved after them.  “That’s the domain of the Watcher!  No one has set foot within those doors and lived!”

“Jaigran did, if he went through,” Reynyagn replied as he continued walking.  “And as the Xavier Team, we’ll be protected, although I don’t suggest you go with us, Ranvier.” 

“I understand,” Ranvier said.  “Do what you must do, then.  I’ll update Grandine on the situation.”

The Xavier Team quickly walked down to the other end of the room where the two double doors sat.  They paused in front of them.

“Well,” Jroldin said.  “I guess this is it.  We might be walking into immediate death.”

“Everyone else that went into the door may not have immediately been killed,” Reynyagn replied.  “And what other hope do we have?  If the Watcher is unleashed, we’re all doomed.”  He paused, and thenm turned.  “Are you with me?”

“We follow, if only…” Astrid paused as her throat caught.  “I…  I’m not ready to face death.”

“No one ever is,” Jroldin said quietly.

“No, but—but this is it,” Astrid said.  “I…  If I die…  I die guilty of my murder.”

“Must you die guilty?” Flek asked as he gently laid his hand on Astrid’s shoulder.  “I think…  I think Monty’s told you what you have to do.”  Astrid was silent, breathing deeply.  Slowly, one tear trickled out of her eyes before she finally looked up.

“I—I see it!” Astrid suddenly cried, leaping back.  “I see it!”

“You see what?”

“I see the circlet—I see the sign of the Priest-King!” Astrid cried out, pointing to his head.  “I see it—I believe!”

“I have waited so long for this day,” Reynyagn said, embracing her, as they moved together, carried along by the joy of the conversion.

“I…  I’ll be able to do it,” Astrid said.  “But come on—we have to go.  Jaigran won’t stop just because I’m converted.  We need…  We need to take it one final step.  To follow the lead of the Great One and enter the domain of the Watcher.”

“And so the Xavier Team embarks on its last quest,” Reynyagn said, opening the door.  And silently, the four members of the Xavier Team moved past the door into the void and into the domain of the Watcher.  And the door slowly shut behind them.

Part CXXVII: Launch Date

Date: Kapton 30th, 114 A.U.

Oldin moved quickly as he skidded down the tunnels, moving quickly toward the opening to get back into Araelia.  His communications were still all down, and Oldin knew that the elven terrorists were behind it.  No doubt they had sabotaged them, again maintaining their step ahead of him.  He had to get to Iraina to warn him about what was going to happen.  They had to get enough guards up to defuse the bombs that were even now waiting to rip open a clear path to the surface.

And he had to do it fast.

Moving to the door, Oldin quickly opened and slammed into it, throwing it open as he stumbled out into the wide cavern that made up the center of Araelia.  The capitol building flickered like a gem in the dimness of the cavern as Oldin looked toward the great amphitheater, where even now Iraina was planning his great speech announcing his plans for the Xavier Team.

Dashing into the street, Oldin leapt toward a man trying to get into his car.  “Official government business!” Oldin yelled, flashing his FRI badge as he drew out his gun.  “The fate of Araelia is at stake!  I need your car!”

“But-” the man interjected.

“Sorry!” Oldin yelled, flinging the man his business card as he snatched the keys out of the man’s hand.  “Come visit my office tomorrow and I’ll pay for the damages!”  Shoving the man aside, Oldin leapt into the front seat, slamming the car door shut before putting the keys in and turning it to ignition.  The car roared and Oldin slammed down on the gas pedal.  And the car roared off down the road.



“Bide your time,” the elven commander said as he glanced down at the mountain.  “Everything is nearly ready.  We just need to wait for the signal.”

“Aye, aye, commander,” the elven pilot said, only one pilot among the fifty other pilots that were here commanding their ships.  “How large of a defense force shall we plan for?”

“A meager one if anything,” the commander replied.  “Operation C-Watch has done its work and will silence most all of the possible defenders.  Today is a day of victory where we will take the city with minimal bloodshed.  And so the promise of the Great Upheaval will again be ours as we capture the last free city of the humans.”



Oldin skidded the car to a stop in front of the back of the amphitheater, quickly checking his clock.  The ceremony began in seven minutes.   He still had time to alert Iraina before he moved out on stage.  Wrenching the door opened, Oldin moved out, running across the side walk toward the guarded door.

“Oldin—Head of the F.R.I.!” Oldin yelled as he ran toward the guards.  “Open the door!  I must speak to Iraina—now!”

“I…  yes, sir,” one of the guards said, opening it up.  Racing down the corridors, Oldin could hear the low clamor of the crowd ahead as he came into the prep room where Iraina stood, hair slicked back, shades on, ready for his speech.  Outside the door, portions of the crowd could be seen as they gathered around the platform.

“Iraina!” Oldin yelled.  “Iraina—for the Great One’s sake, you have to call the ceremony off—now!  We’re in imminent danger!”

Iraina slowly turned, taking off his shades as he did as his eyes narrowed.  “And why would that be?”  His voice was cold.

“The cursed elven terrorists have duped us!” Oldin yelled.  “They have a whole line of bombs in the outside tunnels waiting to blow up a route for them to get us!  The Launch Date is today!  You-” 

“Shut up,” Iraina snapped, his lips curling back in a sneer.  He cocked his head.  “Go ahead.”

“Go ahead wha-” Oldin began, but suddenly, two men grabbed his arms, lifting him up as another confiscated his weapons.  “What’s going on?!” Oldin roared.

“Oh—you still don’t know?” Iraina asked, his voice still cold as he began to laugh.  “You really came this far without suspicions, Oldin?”

“Suspicions about what?!” Oldin roared even as his numbed mind began to work out what was happening.  “You can’t—you wouldn’t-”

“I would of thought that you of all people would have begun to figure out why we were always a step ahead of you,” Iraina hissed.  “Of course, it never occurred to you, now did it—that the leader of Araelia was a traitor.”

“But—but—but I trusted you!” Oldin cried out as his world began to crash around him.  “You can’t—you didn’t-”

“You didn’t even investigate the election results!” Iraina cried out, laughing.  “Did it never occur to the F.R.I. that there might have been election fraud?  Did it never struck you as too remarkable that in a district that Astrid was supposed to have easily won, that the last 10% of votes all came out for me?”

“You…” Oldin said, horror-struck.  “You—you meddled with the election!”

“But of course, Jaigran’s plan wasn’t so fragile as to be stopped by democracy,” Iraina snapped.  “You really are too slow to learn for being the Head of the F.R.I.  And now it’s over.  Guards, put a C-Watch on him.  He’ll experience the announcement with everyone else.”

“Ex…experience the announcement?”

“But of course,” Iraina said, raising his eyebrows.  “Or have you not figured out yet what this era is all about?”

“No…” Oldin whispered, his voice slowly raising.  “No.  No!  You can’t do this!”

“I already have,” Iraina laughed.  “And thanks to your help in getting the communicator for the Xavier Team, I convinced them to fall into Jaigran’s plan as well, which coincidentally is worked out on this same day.  Today Araelia and the Xavier Team falls in one fell-swoop.  Thanks for your help.”

“No!” Oldin screamed as the C-Watch was put on him.  “You…  You can’t.”

“Already done,” Iraina whispered and he moved out to the podium to address the crowd.

“People of Araelia!” Iraina cried out as Oldin could only watch.  “Today marks a new day in civilization—a new day for Araelia!  Today is the day when the final victor is revealed between the people of Araelia and the elves!  And today is the day when the final victor is me!”  Iraina grabbed at his ear, and as Oldin watched, pulled off a flab of skin, causing the end of his ear to spring up.  But it was only too obvious now.  Iraina flung the fake scab of ear down as his pointed ears showed, above the gasps of the crowd.

“And now!” Iraina triumphantly proclaimed, pulling out a case from his pocket.  “Now you get to hail the true victors of Araelia!”  And with that, flipping open the case, he pushed a button.

Explosions rung out in the background as the portion of the mountain that for so-long had guarded them from the elves was destroyed, even as Oldin felt a prick hit his skin under the C-Watch, even as it all became clear.  His thinking became obscured as he glanced weakly at the C-Watch.  Of course.  All the extra gadgets—the additional electric current—as the volt of electricity ran through Oldin’s body, it became all-too obvious.  The elves had created a device that had gained mass popularity with the people.  And this device had just electrocuted all 70% of the populace that had bought these devices.  And as Oldin’s body was lulled to sleep, one last thought escaped from his mind.

They’ve won.

Part CXXVI: Closing In

Date: Kapton 27th, 114 A.U.

Number 994 surged to his feet as he helplessly watched as Zarien fell backwards toward the fire vent even as Number 502 gestured toward it, the fire ready to explode out of the vent to consume Zarien.  Number 994 had to move fast.  And surging forward, thunder rolled from Number 994’s fingertips as lightning moved faster than fire to stop the fire-orc’s plan.

As fire shot upward out of the vent, a bolt of lightning struck Zarien from the side, throwing him sideways and out of the way of the blast of fire, even as Zarien was slammed into a poll.  Ducking a ball of fire shot from Number 502, Number 994 ran forward, gripping Zarien’s hand as Zarien tried to shake his head, groggy from his shock.

“Move!” Number 994 yelled, jerking Zarien out of the way to avoid the next shot from Number 502.  “We don’t have much time!”  Stumbling in his steps, Zarien followed as Number 994 moved to position the pole between him and Number 502 as they raced toward the ladder.  There was a tremor at their feet.

There was a crash, and fire vents started exploding around them, shrapnel flying as Number 502 sent power surges into the fire vents ahead of them, blowing them apart.  Skidding to a stop, Number 994 watched as Augger safely moved through the mess, unscathed by his heat-resistant scales.

“Move forward!” Number 994 hissed to Zarien.  “I’ll distract the fire orc.”

“But-”

“Move!”

Zarien moved forward, running, as Number 994 turned around to see Number 502 moving toward them, a spark appearing at his finger-tips as he looked ready to send forth his next assault.  But this time, Number 994 was prepared.  Leaping forward, Number 994 shot out a lightning bolt, forcing Number 502 to move to the side to avoid being electrocuted.

Moving quickly, Number 994 bent down and laid his hand on the inner edge of the fire vent, knowing that he had to do this before Number 502 saw him and set the vent aflame.  Sending out a snippet of electricity, Number 994 quickly hotwired the spark plugs in the vent and immediately threw himself to the side as Number 502 sent a wave of flame at him, gripping onto the inner ring of the vent as he swung himself down into it, now dangling within the vent as he sent out his electricity through the spark plugs into the system, quickly analyzing it before shooting out commands even as he vaulted himself out of the vent.

Number 994 landed on the ground as his command went into play and the four vents around Number 502 simultaneously exploded as the wiring between them was electrocuted, creating a sudden web of electricity pulsating through the metal floor that Number 502 was standing on, even as the explosion created a wall of smoke and shrapnel.  And Number 994 knew that his work was done.

Sprinting ahead even as the other orcs remained distracted with Augger, Zarien, and Monty—now at the ladder—Number 994 dashed to the ladder while Number 502 remained blinded and stunned by Number 994’s surprise attack.  Gripping the rungs, Number 994 climbed up even while shots rang all around.

“We need to move quickly,” Monty said as they quickly ascended past the ceiling of the ground-level into the next level.  Exiting the ladder, Augger quickly shut the trap door, locking it to seal it off from any pursuers. 

“Where next?” Augger asked.

“The elevators,” Number 994 pointed.  “Get in it.  Now.”  Running to the closest of the many elevators, they waited as the elevator doors opened just as noises from the trapdoor signaled that the fire-orcs were preparing to break through.  Piling in, Number 994 quickly opened a hatch and stuck his finger in, closing his eyes as his mind searched the system, before deciding on their destination and punching it in, all the while covering up his digital tracks from any other lightning-orcs.

“All right,” Number 994 said as the doors closed.  “I sent us to a portion of the Mothership that isn’t used often.  There we can re-group and await further orders.”  The elevator rose, and then began to move sideways.  And their journey began.

Kapton 29th, 114 A.U.

“We’ve received our final instructions.”  It was nearing midnight on the 29th, two days after they had made it into the Mothership.  Since then, their initiative had been all but erased as their plans had stagnated, waiting for the elven rebel group to relay instructions and for Number 994 to receive them in a way that evaded the elves’ notice.  They had already staged two scenes involving crashing elevators and collapsing passages that made it look like they had been killed, and thus had remained undetected for the past 24 hours.

“What is it?” Monty asked, itching to get back to work.

“They finally came up with the easiest path for us to make it to the central computer system,” Number 994 replied.  “It involves us taking the elevators to as close as we can get, and then using the little explosives we have to blow into the weakest part of the defenses around it.”

“I suppose it was too much to hope that they’d leave their central computer relatively unguarded,” Zarien muttered.

“Have they sent the plans?” Monty asked.

“They said it was too large to send under the elves’ radar,” Number 994 replied.  “We have to go with blind faith and reliance on their instructions.”

“Blind faith…  suppose it’s what we have to work with,” Augger said.  “We must rely on the Great One for their victory.”

“Not the Great One—just the instructions that the elven rebels gave,” Zarien interjected.  “But no time for a theological debate now.  The rest of the Xavier Team is supposed to arrive at Quelia tomorrow.  And it’s already an hour until tomorrow begins.”

“Then no point wasting time,” Monty said.  “We must set forth, and make one final attack on the Mothership’s system.”

“Let’s go.”

And so close to the end of the series, I have to make my first ret-con. :(  Apparently I wasn't paying enough attention when I wrote Part CXXIII and originally wrote Reynyagn into the scene, forgetting that he was supposed to go to Quelia. :P  Well, that mistake's been fixed, and Reynyagn's been replaced with Augger, like I had originally plotted out six months ago.  So, without further ado, let's now move onto...

Part CXXV: One Last Voyage

Date: Kapton 24th, 114 A.U.

“But…  are you sure about this?” Ranvier pursed his lips with concern.

“You may have forgiven my ancestors for their crimes against my race, but have the others?” Augger asked.  Ranvier’s silence spoke volumes.

“It is better this way,” Augger said.  “You know enough about Quelia, the land of the auggers, to guide them there.  The Mothership team will need my help, and we cannot throw the risk of the auggers rejecting me into the picture.  Stopping Jaigran is too imperative for that.  We all must make sacrifices.  Maybe after all of this is over, if I’m still alive, I can return to Quelia and make amends for my ancestor’s crimes.”

“I hope so,” Ranvier said quietly.  “Keep yourself safe.”

“And you.”

Kapton 27th, 114 A.U.

“We have now left the mainland of Arquenia,” Reynyagn said, watching out the glass windows as the land rushed behind them.  “We’re now over the open sea.”

“And it’ll be another two days likely until we arrive in Quelia,” Ranvier replied.  “It took me four days in my transport, but your ship is much faster than ours.”

“I don’t feel ready for this,” Astrid murmured, pursing her lips as she laid her hand against the glass.  “I…  I’m not ready for this all to be over.  I’m not ready for the fight.”

“According to the prophesy, your goal is not to fight, but to heal,” Flek said.  “In contrast to me, who am supposed to be the warrior but have already lost all of my fighting skills.”

 “Peace,” Reynyagn replied.  “We already have many factors on our side.  Although Jaigran may be expecting us, he couldn’t have brought a large fighting force, and we should have the whole population of Quelia on our side.  Whatever ends up happening, we ought to have the numbers on our side.”

“I hope so…” Astrid said, closing her eyes.  “I…  I just want this all to be over…  All these deaths are haunting me.  The man I murdered in Araelia.  The elves that we’ve killed.  All the dead bodies.  Death haunts me.  I just need it all to be over…”



“Our sentries caught sight of the Xavier Team’s transport ship as it left the mainland,” Emperor Jaigran said as he entered the Watcher’s cabin.  “It seems to be a full six hours behind us.”

“Their ship is unlikely to be faster than ours,” the Watcher replied, standing up as light fluttered through his ever-more translucent body.  “We’ll make it to Quelia well ahead of them in time to launch the last phase of our plans.”

“You’re positive that we’ll have no substantial trouble with the auggers on Quelia?” Jaigran asked.

“The auggers will not be expecting our presence,” the Watcher replied.  “And they will not dare to follow where we are going.  Even if they end up confronting us on our arrival, we brought enough troops to be able to fend them off while we enter my chambers.  We’ll be landing right on top of the building where the entrance to my chambers is located, so it will all go well.”

“Yes—speaking of the troops, though, what exactly are they doing after we make our exit?”

“Whatever you want them to do,” the Watcher replied, a smirk playing across his face.  “You didn’t bring anyone you legitimately cared about—right?  Let them go harass and attack the auggers if they want.  They could stay in this ship as well, but once the auggers figured out who they were, they may be dying anyways.  All we brought them for was to make sure we had a clear path into my chambers.  Once we’re in there, they can just die for all they care.  They will be useless once my full form is unleashed.”

Kapton 29th, 114 A.U.

Catan the Silent looked up from his vantage point in the Watchtower of Quelia as he noticed the movement on the horizon.  Peering down at his radar, he quickly zoomed into see the scan of the object coming their way.  An airship—and one that appeared to be of elven origins.

Outsiders were not to be trusted.  Especially those that were of the elves.

Then again, they hadn’t had a better opportunity in a long time to finally show their strength once again to the world and justify what had once been their great name.  What better chance to exhibit the power of their kind then by making an example of this elven ship?  And Catan the Silent knew what he was going to do.

Moving quickly, Catan the Silent fiddled with levers to open up the secret door that led to his computer that controlled the missile defense system of Quelia that he had put up.  Although many other auggers had preferred to leave their defenses weak, Catan the Silent and his ancestors had slowly put up a complex and efficient defense system over the past centuries that the rest of the auggers were completely oblivious too.  Although their muteness and lack of a voice was a liability, it had also left them mostly above suspicion—an opportunity which Catan the Silent had made sure to use.

Putting on his head gear, Catan the Silent zoomed in on the upcoming airship and laid his hand on the lever.  Pulling it back, he waited as the missile turrets moved up out of the ground, preparing the long-range missiles to begin their attack on the intruder.  It ought to be a short battle—just one quick barrage that left the elven airship completely defenseless.

Catan the Silent waited as he trained the missiles on the upcoming airship, waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself.  It did.  And, with a deft nod of his head, Catan fired.

Part CXXIV: Line of Bombs

Date: Kapton 30th, 114 A.U.

Oldin walked softly through the tunnels, looking around as he tried to figure out where they had all gone. For over 10 days his agents had been looking for the tunnels, looking for any signs of the elven terrorists that were and escaped into the tunnels. Still, however, they could not find them.  And Oldin was getting worried.

Oldin paused and looked at his watch. It was 11 o'clock. In two hours, Iraina was planning on giving some important speech that he claimed would speed his new policy concerning the elves. Ever since he’d gotten the communicator from Astrid, he had been itching to use it. Oldin didn't know what Iraina planned to command Xavier team to do. But he knew that Iraina planned on explaining all of that in his speech. And so, Oldin hoped that he would be able to give his investigation done in time, so that should be able to listen to the speech.

Oldin paused as he heard static coming in on his walkie-talkie. Picking it up, he held up his year as he heard the voice coming in.

"Oldin?" It was one of his agents.  “Oldin, this is Agent 54 coming in. Do you read me?"

"This is Oldin," Oldin spoke into the walkie-talkie.  “What have you found?"

"I have found suspicious items near the third tunnel," Agent 54 replies.   “Some scraps of clothing and bullet. It seems like there's more here, though."

“Like what?”

“The wall of the tunnel here—it’s unnatural,” Agent 54 said.  “When you point the flash light in certain way, it’s clear that it isn’t part of the rest of the tunnel wall.”

“Stop there,” Oldin said, mind racing.  “Stay there—don’t move.  I’ll be with you in a moment.  I’m signaling in for backup now.”



“This tunnel wall is definitely different,” Oldin said, pacing as the three agents hastily began pulling out their kits.  Oldin thought for a moment.

“Stop,” he finally said.  The agents paused.  “We don’t have time to inspect it.”

“But-” Agent 54 began.

“The elven terrorists have evaded us for too long, and you know how all the information we’ve gotten recently points to an accelerated launch date of whatever their plan is!” Oldin said.  “We’re running out of time.  How thick is it?”

Agent 54 pulled out one of the instruments and placed it against the wall, tapping the wall with a metal rod to produce a note.  He looked down at the machine.  “About six inches thick,” he said.  “It’s likely a door of some sort.”

“I’ve gotten that far already,” Oldin said.  “It’s a door, and we don’t have time to figure out how they get into this place, so we’re doing this the old-fashioned way.”

“You mean-”

“We blow it up.”



The explosion rattled the premises as Oldin lay flat against the wall.  As the debris settled, Oldin moved forward, pointing his gun at the hole in the wall of the tunnel as the other three agents helped to encircle it.  Inside was dark and empty.  Oldin flicked on his flashlight and slowly moved in, scanning the premises for any enemies.  There was none.

Inside was a room containing a large computer, a table with papers strewn around it, many filing cabinets, and weapons strewn around in various places.  One of the agents instantly fired his gun, snuffing out a security camera.  The two other agents moved over to the computer.  Oldin made for the table, quickly flipping through papers.

“This place was used recently,” one of the agents said as he put his gloves on, opening a filing cabinet.  “There’s a cup of coffee on top of this cabinet that’s still slightly warm.  Dusting for fingerprints should give us a whole slew of suspects.”

“The calendar on the wall has a countdown to today,” another of the agents by the computer quickly said.  “It’s called ‘Launch Date.’”

“Then we’re already nearly too late,” Oldin snapped as he flipped through the papers.  He paused and then slowly pulled out a large sheet of graph paper.  On it was depicted a full map of the tunnel systems, along with red ‘x’s positioned in the tunnels.  Oldin’s eyes moved over to the map key, and he suddenly froze.

Oldin cursed and looked up.  “They’ve planted explosions all throughout the tunnels,” he said.  “It’s all on this map here.  The golden circles around the ‘x’s mean that they’ve already planted them.  All the ‘x’s except one are circled, meaning that most, if not already all, of their bombs are prepared for action.”

“What good will come of planting explosives?” one of the agents asked, running over.

“Look at this!” Oldin snapped, waving his hand over the paper.  “Look at their positions—their paths.  The explosives, if powerful enough, will make one huge entry from the outside into Araelia!”

“You don’t mean-”

“And today’s the launch date!” Oldin yelled.  “Look here—we’re right in the path of these explosives!  They abandoned this place because this whole thing is blowing up here.  And I’d wager my position that there’s a whole crap-load of elves out there just waiting to come in.”

“We have to warn the Resistance immediately.”

“My cell phone has no bars!” another agent yelled, cursing.  “My walkie-talkie seems broken as well!”

“They’re two steps ahead of us!” Oldin roared.  “Take the map—find the explosives and disarm them—and fast!  We have no idea when they’re going to get off, but we have to stop them from doing this!”

“And you-”

“I’m going to warn Iraina!” Oldin yelled.  “The whole ceremony today has to be called off!  We need to get our men on the defenses and alert the dwarves!  Today is the Launch Date—and the elves have set up a pathway into our city!” 

Part CXXIII: Final Preparations

Date: Kapton 24th, 114 A.U.

“The hurdle to space is at long last completed,” the Watcher said.  “The Mothership has been fully prepared.  Once the Golden Weapons are ours, I will be able to fuel the Mothership and the others to break out of Arquenia’s orbit as it goes spinning on course to the sun.  We now await the Seven Golden Weapons to arrive in place.”

“Very well,” Emperor Jaigran replied.  “Events should be moving swiftly then.  Are we ready to take our course, then?”

“I already have our quickest ship prepared,” the Watcher replied.  “It will take us directly on course to Quelia, land of the auggers, where we will establish our position and wait for the Xavier Team.  The Mothership will follow us.”

“Very well then.  Let us go.”

Kapton 27th, 114 A.U.

“Well. It looks like we’re on our own now.”  Monty, Number 994, Zarien, and Augger looked at the Mothership which was passing over them, its white body blotting out the rays of the sun. 

“Indeed,” Monty said.  “The rest of our team will do well against Jaigran.  But it’s time for us to accomplish our part of the plan.”

“Have the full plans and guidelines been given?” Zarien asked.

“Our base has given me all the intel they have been able to decipher and send,” Number 994 replied.  “For now, I have a general gist of where the central computer is and a general idea of the steps which will need to be taken to get there.  For now, we need to get into the ship.”

“And how do you suggest we do that?” Monty asked.  “If we go into any of the loading docks, we’ll be doomed.”

“That’s why we won’t be going into one of the loading docks,” Number 994 replied, pointing up at the plumes of fire that descended from the underbelly of the ship.  “I’ve been given full instructions.  We will go through one of the chinks in their armor there up through the holes that jet out the fire.  If you look closely, not all of them are going at once.  That’s where we’ll be making our entrance.”

“That will actually lead us into the ship?” Zarien asked skeptically.  “Why would they be designed to let people inside the ship control them?”

“Because of the fire orcs,” Number 994 pointed out.  “It takes a lot less work for a fire orc to make fire than it takes other machinery.  It’s more fuel efficient this way.  They create openings so that the fire orcs control the flames.  And it’s through those openings that we’re getting in."



Number 994 gritted his teeth as their vehicle moved up quickly, dancing away from the long plumes of fire that moved all around him as he guided the vehicle toward one of the empty holes.  Although the fire was continually changing, he had full control of the ship with his electricity abilities and was slowly getting closer and closer to the open one, just big enough to allow the small ship to move through the gigantic blow-torch.  Just a little closer…  a little closer…

Suddenly, the ship passed through, moving up into the oil-covered hole as the ship moved, on of the wings cracking as it slid against the wall.  They were in the middle of a large plain that spanned the underbelly of the Mothership.  Rows upon rows of holes covered with oil covered the face of it as red-skinned orcs stood beside, pouring out their flames into the holes which, when passing by the oil and fuel, enlarged the flame to create streaking plumes underneath it, causing the Mothership to rise.

And then the wing of the ship finally broke off.  Giving a yell, Number 994 flung open a door, leaping out with the rest of his group as the fire-orcs turned to see what exactly had come up through the holes to visit them.  Number 994 moved first.

Leaping forward, Number 994 gave a yell as lightning sparked at his fingertips.  Light flashed and a nearby orc fell over, struck, as Augger raised his corsha blade above his head.  Monty ducked for cover as a ball of flame splashed against the already-damaged ship, fire-orcs moving quickly to try to surround them even as his comrades fought them off.

“There’s too many of them!” Zarien cried.  “We’re trapped!”

“We don’t have to fight all of them,” Monty muttered, quickly scanning the premises.  Fifty yards away, a ladder led up to the surface.  “Look!” Monty yelled, pointing.  “Get up there and leave the rest of them behind!  We can’t fight them off.”

“Then let’s move,” Number 994 said, shooting down a Number 1542 with a bolt of lightning.  Reynyagn moved toward the ladder, turning to the side to avoid a line of fire before moving more quickly toward the ladder.  Although somewhat-resistant to heat, Augger didn't know how hot the flames of the orcs were.  And he didn't want to find out.

“Stop!” one of the fire orcs roared.  Number 994 looked ahead as he noticed the fire orc moving to intercept them.  Battle training began to break in as Number 994’s mind became absorbed with statistics.  A Number 502—a high ranking fire orc and likely one of the commanders of this group of fire orcs that fueled the Mothership.  With such a high rating, Number 994 knew the truth—he would have no chance to beat this orc in a duel alone.  But even with the rest of the Xavier Team…

Number 502 moved forward, calling up flames as suddenly fires leapt up from the crevices around them, forming arches of fire around the Xavier Team as they ran past the holes which led down to the world beneath.  And just as Number 994 opened his mouth to give a warning, the fires moved, breaking the arches as they came down upon them to rain their heat upon them.  Throwing himself to the ground, Number 994 watched as fire arced around Zarien, Zarien covering his face as he stumbled back.  Too late, Number 994 saw Zarien trip backwards.  And, covering his face, Zarien fell backwards toward the cavity behind him, even as Number 502 lowered his hand to point at the crevice.  And a spark raced around its edge.  The flame was coming next.

Part CXXII: Parting Ways

Date: Kapton 24th, 114 A.U.

“This is Tzjearjlan of the Sla’ad calling, over…  Yes; we are doing well.  Progress made? Over…  Excellent.  We are calling to report that we have finished assembling the plans of the Mothership.  Over…  Yes, we have compiled them on our computer system into one coherent model.  We await instructions of how to relay it to you, over…  Sending it to this alternate group, but what of the elves tracking our transmissions?  Over…  I see.  Sounds like a plan.  We will send it to them.  Over…”



“The Sla’ad have finished compiling the plans of the Mothership,” Reynyagn said.  “I’ve worked it out with them and they’ll be sending it to our rebel base.  Since the rebel base is able to partially-track the Mothership’s signals, they should be able to receive the plans electronically without them being alerted.”

“Excellent,” Monty replied.  “But…”

“But what?”

“What will that do for us?”

“I talked with Tzjearjlan further on this issue,” Reynyagn replied.  “According to him, they’ve discovered the source and final engine of the entire Mothership.  And apparently all that’s needed to disable the Mothership is to take down that central computer that they’ve found which controls the whole system.”

“I see…” Monty said, pursing his lips.   “So…”

“The Mothership is on course toward the isle of the auggers,” Augger replied.  “And while my ancestors haven’t dwelt there, after what Ranvier has said, we must try and stop the Mothership from desolating their land and destroying the remnant of my race.  In addition to all this, we’ll have to take down the Mothership at some point.  And what we can’t allow either is for us to arrive at the island only to be trapped there by the Mothership.”

“So what are you saying?” Monty asked.

“I’m saying that we ought to split our team in half,” Augger said simply.  “Half of us will confront Jaigran and the other half will seek to sabotage the Mothership in a esponiage mission, assuming that it is possible for such a mission to destroy the central computer.”

  A hush fell over the group before anyone spoke.  “I will stay out of this internal discussion,” Ranvier said.

“It…  It is possible, from what Tzjearjlan said, for a small esponiage group to take it down,” Reynyagn said slowly.  “But…  but to split the team over that?  I believe that confronting Jaigran is more important.”

“We don’t need a whole team to confront Jaigran; do we?” Zarien asked.  “I sincerely doubt that I with my injured leg will do much against him with four golden weapons at his hand.  Beside, isn’t this the solution to last night’s discussion?  He is expecting us to go after him.  He will be completely unprepared for an attack on the Mothership at this time.”

“An unprepared Mothership is still dangerous,” Number 994 responded.  “I was a part of it, Zarien.  We were never “prepared” or ready for an attack.  But we were still vigilant and training enough to disable any force that came against us.  The Mothership is never unprepared.”

“But we have insider knowledge,” Zarien pointed out.  “We have you, who not only know the system, but can manipulate it.  I’ve been in the Mothership most of my life and know a good bit about how to sneak around it without anyone else knowing.  And we have a professional spy here as well—doesn’t this sort of stuff appeal to you, Monty?”

“Well…” Monty said, trying to keep himself from smiling, “It…  It does appeal to me, I must admit…  We still don’t have enough information, though.”

“Right.  We’ll need the plans first,” Zarien said.

“I don’t like the notion of you in the middle of the Mothership,” Astrid said quietly.  “That Mothership has razed cities and destroyed air fleets!  It has a system that routed out Zarien’s rebel group and made him to lose his leg!  And you think that a small group of you can go against it?”

“It’s not about safety,” Monty said.  “We’ve all thrown aside concerns for safety at the point, Astrid.  It’s…  It’s about doing what needs to be done.  And honestly, I think Augger’s right.  Yes, the Mothership may always be prepared.  But they aren’t expecting any assault from us like they might be after this.  And the fate of the race of the auggers is at stake.”

“We can’t go in without a plan…” Reynyagn murmured.  “A bit more time to plan all of this out would do us well.”

“But we don’t have time,” Ranvier said.  “I know I said I wouldn’t get involved in this discussion, but I need to say this.  I don’t know what Jaigran and the Watcher have in mind, but I know this much.  We don’t have much time and our opponent’s are enjoying a large advantage.  We can push it back for a while, but when will we ever be ready?  We currently have an elven rebel group behind us that can detect their airwaves—how long will that remain?  They aren’t expecting an attack from us and are threatening a genocide of my race once they discover us.”

“We can work with a split,” Number 994 said quietly.  “I had…  I had been against it…  But Ranvier’s right.  We can’t wait.  Assuming that Jaigran will be taking a smaller, faster ship to the island to get there first, there will only be him along with a couple of bodyguards.  Too many of us might get in the way.  And, other than Unyihi Garum, the main leaders of the elves will be gone.  We must take this opportunity or reap the costs of the genocide.”

“Then I suppose we have no choice,” Reynyagn relented.  “We will again split the Xavier Team in one last chance to stop the Emperor or die trying.  We must move forward—and quickly.”

Time for Ranvier to come back into focus...

Part CXXI: Unveiling

Date: Kapton 23rd, 114 A.U.

“The days of the goblins have been numbered.”  Jaigran walked down the hall as he followed the Watcher.  “The Mothership has completely decimated their chief city and thanks to you we now have the golden weapon of the goblins.

“Four now are in our position,” the Watcher replied.  “Two belong to the Xavier Team and the third is ready for us to grasp whenever we need it.”

“Shall we put the final step of our plan in motion?” Jaigran asked, turning around as he faced the Watcher.  “There will be no use tracking down the Xavier Team.”

“No,” the Watcher agreed.  “We will let them come to us.  And then we will spring our trap.”

“Good,” Jaigran said, solemnly nodding.  “Everything is as it should be then.  Order the guards to reveal all to Ranvier, our augger friend.  And then stage his escape in a way that causes him to reach the Xavier Team.  Victory is at our grasp.”



“Jaine was only able to explain that the Watcher was the Mothertree,” Flek said.  “And that the Watcher didn’t have an actual body.  He was trying to say something else, but he died first.”

“I see…” Reynyagn said.

“It’s a tragedy,” Lord Freglak replied bitterly.  “If not for him…  If not for him, we might have won this war…”

“The Emperor is a deceitful elf,” Zarien replied.  “And this Watcher—whoever he is—is a master of deception.  He nearly took over Flek’s mind.  Apparently he was the Mothertree as well.  I don’t know who or what he is, but he’s a force to be reckoned with and he’s the reason you lost this battle.”

“Our country is ruined,” Freglak said, shaking his head.  “Our forces are completely scattered, our capital city has been razed to the ground, and I have in essence lost my crown.  We have been entirely desolated.”

  “We cannot give up hope,” Flek said quietly.  “Mayhaps you may yet be able to rebuild your country and continue to work against Jaigran once we’ve put you in touch with the other elven rebels.”

“Aye; it is my only hope…” Freglak whispered.

“But for us—we need a plan,” Number 994 said, standing up.  “The Emperor has four golden weapons now.  Only the golden weapon of the auggers remains unclaimed.  What is our plan for finding it?”

“To find where the auggers have hid themselves…” Augger murmured.  “A near –impossible task without the radar control of the skies that the elves have.”

“So basically we’re going to hack into the Mothership,” Monty said.  “Your tribe of Sla’ad nearly had the plans finished, right, Reynyagn?  We just need to get those plans, organize with the elven rebel group, and break into the Mothership.”

“Well isn’t that a near-impossibility,” Astrid murmured.  “And all of that just to find the auggers—but wouldn’t Jaigran have found them first if it was that simple?”

            “I…  I don’t think so,” a new voice said, and they turned to see an augger emerge from the bushes. 

“Wha…” Augger began.  “Who-”

“I am Ranvier, ambassador of the auggers,” Ranvier said solemnly.  “And I think Emperor Jaigran wanted me to meet you.”



“So… let me get this straight,” Monty said.  “You were captured by them—they faked an escape—and then you thought you met one of us rebels and told them everything?”

“Yes.”

“And now…?”

“Afterwards, I realized that they had tricked me,” Ranvier replied.  “And I’ve begun to piece together their plan in bits and pieces.  They need the golden weapons to unleash the Watcher.”

“Unleash him?”

“I don’t completely understand it,” Ranvier admitted.  “But the Watcher doesn’t have a body.  But if he gains one, from what I overheard, he will gain extreme power.  And to unleash the Watcher, they need five of the seven golden corsha weapons.”

A chill ran through Flek’s spine.  “And they—they-”

“They have four of them now,” Ranvier said.  “And thanks to the information they have from me, they now know where the last one is.”

A cold silence fell upon the group as they realized what exactly what was happening.  Finally, someone spoke.

“How did you escape?” Augger asked.

“They tried to repeat the past,” Ranvier said.  “Stage another escape, but an augger can’t be fooled twice.  It was a set-up.”

“A set-up so that they can find us,” Monty whispered, instantly standing up.

“They’re nowhere nearby,” Lord Freglak muttered.  “I have a radar device right here.  We’re fine.”

“Then…  then why…?” Monty began.

“They want us to know their plan,” Reynyagn said quietly.  “Right?  Why else would they have told Ranvier?  They want us to know exactly what they’re doing.  Or what they want us to think that they’re doing.”

“So what do we do?” Flek asked.  “Do we walk right into their trap?”

“You need to go east,” Ranvier replied.  “I need to take you to the island of the auggers—to the Noon Stone—and to the third golden weapon.  We need to beat him to it.”

“He’s still playing with the strings…” Reynyagn said.  “I know that he’s expecting us to try to get the 3rd Golden Weapon.  But we have no choice.  Even if he’s lying about needing five weapons to unleash the Watcher’s power, we still need to get that golden weapon before he can.”

“So we have to walk into his plan,” Monty muttered.

“Not unless we get there first,” Ranvier said, raising an eyebrow.  “After all, would Jaigran have really done all of this if he expected us to beat him?  They might have a good guess as to where my homeland is.  But I know how to get there.  And Jaigran will not be ready for the weapons that we have to launch on them.”

“Like that would make a difference against the Mothership,” Monty pointed out.

“Either way, I believe it’s settled, is it not?” Reynyagn asked.  “None of us like this situation, but our course of action seems obvious.  The Mothership isn’t the fastest ship—we still have some working ships here that will be able to beat it.  And since we know where the last Golden Weapon is, even if Jaigran seemingly wants us to pursue it, we have no other choice.  The Golden Weapons are what is needed to save Arquenia.  And so it is there that we must go.”