Apocalypse Rising, Part 3 by Fearless
The docking bay.
Whyte: When we launch the transport, even though she’s cloaked we’ll be detected by the wake of our engines. We’ll have ten seconds tops before their weapons can lock onto us. We’re going to have to be inside the Gantrithors shields by then.
Darkangel: And if we’re not?
Dark Nexus: By the time we realize we aren’t, we’ll be in a million pieces.
Dorg: English please.
Fearless: Many, many, many pieces.
Dorg: Damn.
The door to the transport begins to close, but just before it does, a hand reaches in, stopping it. It is Deamon.
Deamon: Do you have room for a few more?
The door opens, Deamon, and Fjorxc are standing there.
Fjorxc: I heard you needed a near sucidal pilot to fly a near immposible mission, so I hurried right down.
Dark Nexus: And why are you here?
Deamon: I couldn’t let you hog all the fun DN.
Dark Nexus: Welcome aboard.
Fjorxc: Start the pre-lauch checklist.
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Dauntless, aboard his ship, still waits.
Macduff: How long do we just sit here?
A look of anger comes across Dauntless’ face. Without a second thought he draws his gun and shoots Macduff between the eyes. Macduff drops like a sack of potatoes.
Dauntless: Let that serve as a warning to all of you. No one questions my orders. If I say we wait, we wait.
Macduff lies dead in a pool of his own blood.
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The docking clamps on the transport disengage. Dauntless’ massive fleet stands only a few hundred meters away.
Dark Nexus: Brace yourselves.
Fjorxc: Let’s rock and roll.
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As attendants drag Macduffs carcus off of the bridge, a proximity alarm sounds.
Yorick: Sir, we have a contact one hundred and seventy five meters straight ahead, it’s a cloaked ship.
Dauntless: It’s about time, destroy it.
Mercutio: Locking weapons.
Dauntless: Fire.
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Legion007: They’re firing.
Dark Nexus: Quickly Forks, advasive maneouvers.
Fjorxc: There are a hundred ships with a weapons lock, no strategy in the book can get us out of this.
Whyte: Fifty meters to the Gantrithor.
Dark Nexus: Then you’d better invent something.
Fjorxc: Roger.
The transport goes into a nosedive and in an instant hits the water. Weapons of all sorts and calibers discharge on the surface. Seconds later, the transport emerges under the belly of the Gantrithor and attaches itself to the hull of the monster-sized ship. As they come to an abrupt halt, the CWALers, COTSers, OEEPer and CARVer all gather themselves.
Fjorxc: Let’s call that the Forks Manouver.
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Dauntless: Where did they go?
Yorick: Into the water, sir.
Dauntless: Have they surfaced?
Yorick: It doesn’t look like it.
Dauntless: Alert me as soon as they do.
Dauntless smiles.
Dauntless: Those heros have given their whole fleet away.
Banquo: What fleet?
Dauntless walks over to Banquos station.
Dauntless: Signal one of the wraiths to head full speed into the water at these coordinates. (Pointing to the panel).
Banquo: But there’s nothing there.
Dauntless: I have a feeling that there is. CWALers have a way of always traveling in bunches.
Banquo: The wraith is on course sir.
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Dark Chrono stands as he sees the wraith break formation.
MorpherX2: The transport has made it safely to the Gantrithor.
Sofielisk: With only minimal damage.
Dark Chrono: Why is that wraith breaking formation?
MorpherX2: I have no idea.
Morpher, Dark Chrono and Sofielisk watch on the viewscreen as the wraith speeds toward them.
MorpherX2: It’s on a collision course.
Dark Chrono: Brace for impact.
The the crew brace themselves the wraith speeds even closer, at the last moment dropping away and into the water. The impact sends water flying high into the air, spraying dozens of the CWAL, OEEP, COTS and CARV ships.
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Dauntless: Send a message on all frequencies.
Yorick: Standing by.
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MorpherX2: We’re being hailed, by the Gantrithor.
Dark Chrono: Put it through.
Dauntless: (On com) Our revels now are ended Dark Chrono.
Dark Chrono: Reusing quotes, this story must nearly be over. We’re done hiding from this bastard. Decloak the fleet, all hell is about to break loose.
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Act Eight: Rattle the Sabre.
Inside the Gantrithor, the massive boarding party make their way through the airlock. This time however, they encounter stiff resistance. As everyone scrambles to take cover, shots ring out and large amounts of firepower are exchanged. Fearless rushes to Dark
Nexus who is pinned down behind a bulkhead.
Fearless: We have to get to the engine room.
Dark Nexus: The corridor is infested with marines, we wont make it fifty feet.
Fearless: I didn’t expect you to give up so easily.
Dark Nexus: Oh I’m not giving up. We just have to find another alternative.
Fearless: Such as?
Dark Nexus: You tell me, you’re the superhuman.
Fearless: Then maybe it’s time I starting acting like one. Cover me.
Without hesitation, Fearless jumps for a ventalation grate. Dark Nexus is quick to rise to his feet and provide cover fire. Fearless removes the cover and climbs inside.
Fearless: Be back in a jiffy.
Dark Nexus: Come back alive.
Fearless: No quarantees.
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Outside, the battle does not go well. Ship after ship is shot out of the sky as history seems to repeat itself. Fortunately, no CWALers, OEEPers, COTSers, CARVers or WWMMers have yet died. But inside the Gantrithor, the tide may be about to turn.
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Fearless slips out of the vent and in the distance can hear the fierce battle at the airlock. He truns to see a door labeled with the Protoss word for “Engineering”. The door opens automatically, and he walks in. When inside he sees two guards directly infront of him, but
before he can hide, they spot him.
Marine: Hey, who’s there.
Fearless thinks quickly, then walks out unarmed.
Fearless: It’s me you idiots.
As the guards see Fearless they put down their guns. They then stand at attention.
Marine: Sorry, Mr. Dauntless, sir. Mercutio told us to keep an eye out for intruders in this section sir.
Fearless: That bloody Mercutio, he has disappointed me for the last time. Find Mercutio, and shoot him.
Marines: Yes sir.
The Marines hurry off, but before they are out of earshot, Fearless signals them back.
Fearless: I had almost forgot. Engineering may soon fall to the CWAL forces, they are only a few hundred meters down that corridor. Bring me the TMM, immediately.
Fearless stares at his watch.
Fearless: I am timing you.
Marines: Yes sir.
The Marines hurry of in the same direction that Intruder and Shadow had once headed off in. They return in short order, TMM in hand. They give it to Fearless.
Fearless: Excellent work. Now I have something for you.
Fearless turns around and loads his automatic shotgun.
Marine: What is it sir?
Fearless: This.
Fearless turns around and puts two shells into each of them. They fall to the ground, some parts faster than others. Fearless cracks a grin.
Fearless: I’ll let Dauntless clean up this mess. I have a mess of my own to clean up.
Fearless puts the TMM on the ground and takes aim at it. He fires, the TMM moves, but continues to function.
Fearless: The one time the pentagon listens to my recommendations and makes it bulletproof, just had to be this one.
Without warning, a hand lands on Fearless’ shoulder, drawing his gun, he turns around. Dark Chrono stands before him.
Dark Chrono: I think I can help you with that.
Dark Chrono reaches down for the TMM, picking it up, he grabs it in his huge palm and squeezes with all his might, it shatters.
Dark Chrono: Now maybe our boys can do some damage.
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Aboard the leed OEEP ship.
Zenogias: We’re taking heavy loses, destruction is imminent.
Krusader: Zeno, wait. The TMMs electro-magnetic shield has collapsed, we can do damage to their fleet.
Zenogias: Signal our forces to halt their retreat. We have a carrier to bring down.
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Back in the Gantrithors Engine room, the whole ship briefly shakes.
Fearless: I think they know the shield is down. But I though you were on the cruiser.
Dark Chrono: I was, then I realized this is where I should have been all along. I have a score to settle.
Dark Chrono is about to leave.
Fearless: No DC, this is my score to settle.
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Act Nine: Apocalypse Rising.
As the battle rages bitterly outside, Fearless and Dark Chrono make their way to the bridge. The ship shakes more and more. Dark Chrono kneels down and puts his hand on the deckplate.
Dark Chrono: I’ve been aboard enough carriers to know that this one is going down.
They walk up to the door marked with the Protossian word for “Bridge”, together, they force it open. They then enter to find a horrifying scene. Macduff, Mercutio, Yorick, Banquo and the rest of Dauntless’ minions, all dead, slain in cold blood.. Dauntless himself
sits in his captains chair, fixated on the viewscreen where he sees his forces taking a thrashing and the allied forces of OEEP, CARV, COTS and CWAL prevailing.
Dauntless: They had to be killed, they were imperfect. They wanted to negotiate our surrender, so they had to be exterminated.
Dauntless rises from his chair and walks to the viewscreen.
Dauntless: In a world filled with imperfect beings, we could have been Gods Fearless.
Dauntless notices Dark Chrono.
Dauntless: This is no concern of yours, thilty Protossian pigdog.
Dark Chrono: It is every concern of mine.
Dark Chrono holds out his hand with something inside. In one motion, he throws it. Landing by Dauntless’ feet it is a small patch of cloth, tattered and worn. Yet, the the symbol on it is still unmistakable, the American flag. Seeing it, Dauntless looks to the
missing patch on his arm.
Dauntless: Chronomodra. We meet again.
Fearless: Why Dauntless?
Dauntless: Hilarious question, ecspecially from you. Did we ever ask why we toppled all those dicators, undermined all those regimes. Just to come home and hear “Great job, good show. But everything you’ve risked your life and limb for has changed”. We should be running this world Fearless, this ship was built for that purpose. Once the TMM was created, I had an opportunity greater than any opportunity anyone has ever had. I merely took advantage of it.
Fearless: I give you a chance Dauntless. To die on your feet, with a weapon in your hands.
Dauntless: I accept.
Both Fearless and Dauntless move towrd the center of the bridge, they draw knifes and just as he and Arcturus did, begin to circle.
Dauntless: Can you be so sure that you will win?
Fearless: I was knife fighting Nazis when you were just a puddle of goo in a laboratory.
Fearless stabs at Dauntless, missing him.
Dauntless: I shall miss our petty arguments.
Fearless: As shall I.
Dauntless stabs at Fearless, missing him.
Dauntless: Don’t let it end like this Fearless.
Dauntless stabs at Fearless, but as he misses Fearless knocks his knife away and plunges the dagger right into Dauntless’ heart.
Fearless: I’m sorry.
Dauntless falls to the ground, the knife pertruding from his chest. Blood trickles from the side of his mouth. Fearless rushes to him, as Dauntless rolls over, seconds from death.
Dauntless: (Whispering) Out, out brief candle….
Dark Chrono: What’s he saying?
Fearless: He’s quoting shakespeare.
Dauntless: ….It is a tale told by an idiot, remembered by no one, and signifying nothing.
Dauntless dies.
Fearless: He’s dead.
There is silence. With the exception of one strange beeping.
Fearless: What is that beeping?
Dark Chrono hurries to the control consol.
Dark Chrono: He’s set the auto-destruct sequence.
Fearless: I didn’t think that Protoss ships had auto-distruct sequences.
Dark Chrono: They don’t. A Protoss warrior would never take his own life, they would only die honorably in battle. He must have installed it himself.
Fearless: He doesn’t take any chances.
Dark Chrono: With all the armaments that this ship is carrying, we have less than two minutes before this ship blows and takes both fleets with it.
Fearless: We have to get out of here, now. You had better know a shortcut.
Dark Chrono: Does Jolt know the Devil? Of course I do, let’s go.
With minutes left until the ship explodes, Dark Chrono and Fearless hurry off of the bridge.
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Fjorxc: Sensors show that this ship is going to blow in less than a minute, we have to be in other timezone when it does.
Dark Nexus: Signal the fleet that they can leave, we’re not leaving without Fearless.
Dorg: Can we take a vote on that?
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Meanwhile, outside. Only a few of Dauntless’ ships remain, as the allied forces get word that they are ordered to retreat. The Gantrithor however, is spinning out of control as it shakes violently.
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Fjorxc: Our time is up.
Whyte: If we don’t leave now, we wont make it out of the explosion.
Dark Nexus struggles with his decision.
Dark Nexus: Ok, close the door. Get us out of here.
Fjorxc: Closing door.
The door slams shut.
Fjorxc: Ignition sequence started.
Just then, a fist slams on the door, making an imprint.
Dark Nexus: Wait, open the door.
They open the door and see Fearless, and Dark Chrono who has his fist in the door. They hurry in. Dark Chrono walks up to Dark Nexus.
Dark Chrono: I’m sorry I doubted you.
Dark Nexus: Then do me a favour, leave getting Brood War to us.
Dark Chrono: I’m not that sorry.
The transport disengages and speeds away from the Gantrithor.
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Aboard the lead OEEP ship, the OEEPers watch on their viewscreen as the transport speeds away and the Gantrithor explodes.
Krusader: They’re not going to make it.
DBD: Break out the champagne.
Frog: Darkangel is aboard that ship, he’ll be killed.
Darkangel: In way he’s Darkangel I suppose.
Zenogias: But if I know Forks, he’s still got something up his sleave.
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The shockwave of fire extends, filling the sky and destroying the rest of Dauntless’ fleet. But then encompasses the transport. CWALers, COTSers, OEEPers, CARVers and WWMMers all hold their breath and watch in silence as the wave front disapates, nothing but flaming debris is left.
Dragoneyes: You know, it’s really a shame that stories don’t end like this.
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Out from the Pacific, shoots the transport.
Fjorxc: The Forks manouver strikes again.
The CWALers celebrate. But all is not well. The dopplegangers of Arcturus, Legion007, Smoke, Shadow, Intruder, Darkangel and Dorg start to faze before their very eyes.
Arcturus: Looks like it’s time to go.
Dark Chrono: Are they returning to their own time?
Whyte: Impossible, that timeline no longer exists.
Arcturus and the others now become hard to see and hear as they slowly faze away. But not before The other Arcturus shakes his hand.
Arcturus: Great work, you wont die. You’ll always live on as a part
of me.
Arcturus: Just glad I could make a difference. I always wondered what infinity was like.
With that, our heros fade away, as his last words echo into oblivion. Leaving only Dark Nexus, Deamon, Fron, Whyte, Dark Chrono, Fearless, Arcturus and Fjorxc remaining.
Dark Nexus: Is Dauntless dead?
Dark Chrono: By Fearless’ own hand.
Arcturus: Does this mean that you’re going to stay?
Fearless: Yes Arcturus. I’m back.