Heroes of Mavia: Scorched Earth

Phoenixfire083 | BOGG

Mira closed her eyes as hot water rushed out of the showerhead, cascading down her body in a torrential stream. Her purple hair clung to her head and face, as murky sediment and sewage pooled at her feet. The air was humid and heavy as thick steam roiled around her in an opaque cloud, giving her a sense of serene solitude. She breathed a sigh of relief as the water washed away what little pain she felt from the many yellowed bruises on her body, already rapidly healing. Yet, she couldn’t wash away the feeling of uncertainty and doubt that clung to her. Mira struggled to understand what why the disappointed gaze of Diamond Hands on her return clung to her more stubbornly than the remnants grime that swirled the drain at her feet. Her mind desperately trying to make sense of multitude of images in her mind that flashed in a dizzying array. As she tried to piece together the moments that led her to chase after the Mad Engineer, the one behind the Big Hammer King’s evil machinations. He was the keystone to this encroaching war, the piece of the puzzle that could give them the fighting chance to stop the world from plummeting into chaos. Every calculated choice she made had consequences, she knew that, and deep down she knew she had done the right thing. Mira had hoped that returning victorious with the Mad Engineer in tow and a bag full of Ruby would ease the blow, but it hadn’t.

Would it have made any difference if she had waited for DH to return to the base?

Would his look have changed to approval if there wasn’t a massive force marching towards them?

No.

Mira shook her head in frustration in response to her own question. She did the right thing, she repeated to in her mind over again. The guilt she felt was nothing more than unnecessary rationalized thoughts of her actions in response to DH’s disapproval. He couldn’t understand the choices she made because he wasn’t there when the facts presented themselves. Knowing deep down that if the roles were reversed, he would have offered to go himself in some selfish attempt to martyr himself. Mira wouldn’t beat herself up worrying about what her mentor thought. The pipes shuttered as she turned off the water, their echoed groan amplified in the small room. All that mattered right now was defending the base from the threat that was slowly marching their way.

Not long after, Mira stepped out of her quarters and into the sun-bathed lanes of the base. Troops ran frantically from different posts bringing supplies and ammo to defensible positions. A few stopped to salute her as she passed, and not to her surprise a few ignored her. Mira remained stoic as she continued rationalizing that it was due to their focus on the threat as the reason. There were more important things to worry about besides the formality of a salute, or their collective disagreement with her choices. The ground rumbled from a trio of tanks that drove towards the north gate, and her hair flailed wildly from the down burst of a squad of AI helicopters flying by overhead. Whale blimps hovered outside the east and western edges of the base. Everything was set precisely where DH wanted them as soon as he was made aware of the approaching threat. Mira stopped to watch a few laborers who were coordinating the moving of a defensive turret to another part of the base. Four heavy supply choppers lifting the massive turret on thick chains over the base. Mira forced a smile when they saw her staring, but deep down she felt a growing annoyance. Realizing she was being kept out of the loop in the defensive formation of the base. It was DH’s passive aggressive attempt to punish her for her actions, she knew. Following the path of the tanks she moved towards the north end of the base and to the many silhouettes manning the wall, and specifically one massive frame towering over them all. Mira ascended the stairs to where her mentor stood, loudly ordering the soldiers to their final tasks.

“I just want to make sure the mines are spread apart enough,” DH explained to one of the bases engineers, his diamond finger pointing towards the ground below, “This way we won’t risk triggering other mines when they explode. Giving a greater area of coverage.”

“On it chief,” the engineer responded with a nod, quickly adjusting her yellow hardhat as it became displaced.

Diamond Hand’s gaze followed the engineer’s as she ran down the stairs, his eyes locked onto Mira’s as he realized she had joined him on the wall. He quickly averted his disapproving eyes back to the northern grounds outside the base.

“How are things looking?” Mira asked hopefully as she approached her mentor, standing next to him and matching his gaze.

“Good,” DH responded simply, a coldness in his voice that gave Mira goosebumps.

“I see that you are moving the turrets towards the north, aren’t you worried about them encircling the base?” Mira challenged, but her question rolled off DH, an awkward silence forced him to answer.

“The Big Hammer King isn’t going to approach this attack tactically Mira. He is going to want to make a statement and overwhelm us from one side, to prove how much stronger they are. So, I’ve exhausted as many resources as we could upgrading our defenses and equipment and set them all up to the north,” He answered honestly, causing Mira to give him a sideways glance of concern.

“So, you already are acting as if we’ve lost?” Mira countered with a bitter tone.

“The force marching towards us is larger than we have ever handled Mira,” DH growled as he turned to face her challenging gaze. “The reality is that it is likely that we are going to be unable to push them back. All we can do is plan, prepare, and hope we take more of them out and mitigate our losses.”

“Or we can beat them back, why are you being so pessimistic DH?” Mira asked defiantly, which caused DH to glare with anger.

“I’m realistic Mira,” DH replied with a whispered growl to keep those nearby unaware. “A good leader always plans for victory, but in times when the cards are stacked against you, you do your best to keep your troops hopeful and alive. Something I thought you were aware of before you latest stunt.”

“Excuse me,” Mira scoffed loudly, causing a couple nearby troops to cast worried glances in their direction.

Diamond Hands feigned a smile and nodded towards the nearest group troops to ease their uncertainty, then leaned towards Mira who stood defiantly before him.

“You have the gall to think I acted irrationally? Don’t think I didn’t weigh the consequences before I made my choice?” Mira scoffed as quietly as she could, “It was all I could do when you were gone DH, weigh every option before me. Like a leader should. Like you trusted me to do.”

Skepticism crept over his face as he rolled his eyes as Mira explained herself, “You abandoned your post to pursue your own selfish means,” DH responded bluntly.

“Now you listen here, you big baboon,” Mira responded angrily causing DH to recoil in surprise, “you say that I acted rashly. That is bull, DH. I asked to go with you to Axel’s base, but you said no. Because you feared it would lower the morale of the base. I waited until I knew you would be back and there was no direct threat. We both know Daphne is more than capable to lead and is more than qualified to cover any of our positions. I risked my life to go after the man we both know is responsible for the Big Hammer King’s power and try and apprehend him. All the while knowing you would be upset, that’s why I didn’t communicate the plan with you, because I didn’t want to waste time arguing with your passive reasoning. Sometimes DH, you need to take a chance.”

Mira paused and saw DH weighing her words, but it didn’t deter her from continuing, “The issue, King,” she emphasized the title with a bitter tone, “is that you don’t like to lose control. No matter how much you say you trust me, or believe in me, you just can’t help but try and make my own choices for me, and worst of all, you think you are doing it to protect me.” DH’s jaw dropped at the accusation. “I trust you DH, and I respect your wisdom, but it pained me to watch you go off on your own to secure our alliance. Not out of jealousy, but because I wanted to do my part as well. So, I did. You think we have all this time to wait and do things your way, but the truth is, the forces marching on us have always been there, and it was a matter of time before the enemy attacked.”

“Mira, I…” Diamond Hands started to speak, but stopped as Mira held up her hand to continue.

“We both have a responsibility DH. With this power we have been blessed with, we are the heroes that Mavia needs right now, and there will never be a perfect time for war,” Mira finally stopped, she breathed heavily from the avalanche of words.

Diamond Hand’s stood flabbergasted and in awestruck as he contemplated the words that Mira spoke.

“Know that I didn’t do anything to spite you or put our people at risk. However, if we can control the knowledge of Ruby infusion, we are in a much better position overall for this fight, we both know it.” Mira finally finished, her face flushed red.

“You’re right,” DH said with a sigh, nodding his head slightly, “I was angry because I can’t control what is happening right now, and I fear of us losing control of the situation we started, and seeing those we care about suffering for it. I wasn’t thinking logically, I was thinking emotionally,” DH paused, as he saw Mira taken aback, “That being said, the part that hurts the most Mira, is that you hid your decision from me.”

The frustration in Mira ebbed as DH finished.

“You would have just tried to talk me out of it, DH, don’t act like you wouldn’t have,” Mira replied, still trying to justify her actions.

“You’re right Mira, I would have. But you forget that I do respect you. I respect your abilities, perspectives, and your mind. Since coming together, have I ever prevented you from doing what you wanted?” He paused and watched Mira try to think of a time to counter his question, a smile crept on his face as she realized the answer.

“We compliment each other, Mira. I would have questioned every aspect of your plan. But I only do so to ensure that you are thinking of every angle and outcome. In the end, I would have been more than happy to support you. Instead, I came back to base to find out that you left to some heavily defended base on your own. Unable to get a hold of you, and unsure if you were dead, captured. I was worried. Worried that I would have to tell the soldiers who adore you, that you didn’t trust them enough to fight beside you.”

“DH,” Mira said sullenly, realizing the truth of his frustrations, and seeing her selfishness, “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry too,” DH replied with a soft smile, “I know I’m at fault for my overprotectiveness and need for control, and I never meant for it to make you feel inadequate.”

“So, can we bury the hatchet and focus on the enemy?” Mira asked holding out her arms to offer a hug.

“Of course,” Diamond Hand’s answered as he embraced her in his massive arms, Mira felt tiny against his large body, but she felt relieved.

Sirens erupted suddenly in a long, ominous, shrill cry. Mira felt Diamond Hand’s body tense as they sounded. Both their gazes drifted north, a soft plumb of dust drifting over the peaks of the distant green hills. Tanks appeared, their treads tearing up lush green grass beneath them. Whale blimps crested next, their ominous presence bathing the land in splotches of dark shadows. AI choppers buzzed around them like bees to their nests. Then came the multiple columns of troops. A unit of soldiers carrying machine guns, paired with snipers. A squad of barbarian warriors, carrying axes and led by the Viking woman that Mira fought earlier. Next came a column of Doge shock troops, all carrying rocket launchers, and headed by the familiar Doge warrior, Chad. But those weren’t the most shocking as DH tensed when he saw a group of diamond hand gorillas led by a massive black furred Diamond Hand gorilla.

“It can’t be,” DH whispered in shock as the forces crept closer, “Nero?”

“Do you know him?” Mira asked, looking towards her friend with concern.

“Yea,” DH replied with a disdained sigh. Memories of the war of his homeland flashed before him, and the one companion that he came to rely on. The one spurned by the fire of battle within and became elated at the suffering of his enemies.

Mira looked back to the field and the approaching forces. They moved in unison until they stopped just out of range of their mortars. Pausing and standing in menacing silence, letting the worried and uncertain murmurs of the defenders to be carried in the wind.

“Stay strong everyone, let’s make them regret coming to our walls,” Mira said loudly with determined strength to increase the soldiers resolve. Cheers rang down the line as she looked to DH to finally see him pry his gaze from enemy.

“You going to be okay?” Mira asked with concern.

Diamond Hands nodded with stern resolve, his nostrils flaring with each deep breath. Mira saw pain in his eyes, and it reminded her of when he told her of his time during the war. Was it just a coincidence that this Nero was on the battlefield today? Or was it due to the malicious machinations of the Big Hammer King? Mira knew there wasn’t a thing she could say to ease his mind, so she opted to hold his hand. Feeling the rough texture of his skin, and the flinching tenseness of the touch. But he gently squeezed her hand in gratitude, and he looked down to her with a somber smile. It was enough for Mira to know that he was here with her, and not lost in his memories.

The air was electric as the combatants stared at each other. No breeze could be felt, and the sun pelted down on them with ruthless ferocity. Time seemed to slow to a standstill, Mira felt the dryness of her parched tongue as it scraped against her dry mouth. Hearts raced throughout the base as they shared uneasy stares, answered with reassured nods. The Doge Chad stepped forward and broke the silence with a piercing howl which was followed by the other Doge warriors, and the bloodthirsty screams of the rest. Then all hell broke loose.

Tanks rolled forward as the shells whistled through the air with shrilled intensity. Explosions erupted through out the base and against the walls, the defenders felt the walls vibrate beneath their feet as they absorbed the force of the explosions.

“Fire,” Diamond Hand’s ordered with a mighty scream.

Turrets erupted as the tanks came into range, and lines of bullets sprayed forth in a torrent of red tracers. Dirt sprayed into the air with concussive force as the ground burst apart with mortar fire. An explosion rocked the base outside the wall as a tank rolled over a mine, blasting the tank apart in a shower of metal shrapnel. Out of the growing clouds of smoke and fire, drove a wave of suicide cars, wide eyes and smiling as they drove towards their demise.

“Focus fire on those suicide cars,” Mira ordered frantically over the comms, “Don’t let them reach the wall.”

Sniper fire popped off in sporadic shots, as well as soldiers desperately trying to shoot from atop the wall. A few cars sparked and sputtered to a stop as they were taken out, but they drove in such an erratic pattern that it made it difficult to hit them. Mira looked to Diamond Hands as they both knew what was about to happen. Three cars made to the base of a wall and exploded in unison causing the metal wall to groan and lean outward. Soldiers cried out as they rushed to get off the section before it collapsed. More howls sounded as the Chad stepped forth, aiming his rocket launcher. The missile flew with purpose, as it connected against the base of the wall, DH and Mira watched as the wall fell to the ground. Soldiers on thew all called down to the soldiers in the base to cover the breach from within, but their voices cut off suddenly as the enemy snipers started to pick them off from afar. Another war cry erupted from over the battlefield as the Viking woman lead the charge of the barbarian horde towards the breach. DH and Mira both looked at each other with determined eyes, and with a nod, they both jumped from the wall to the smoldering breach to meet the charge.

“Snipers cover us,” Diamond Hand’s ordered as he landed, the charging screams growing louder with each second.

“Have the turrets focus on the tanks, soldiers start to set up defensive positions with and guide those who breach to our choke points,” Mira added as she drew her sword activating its energy edge.

“You ready for this Mira?” DH asked as he cracked his diamond knuckles.

“As ready as you are when you have to eat a banana infused dish at a formal dinner,” Mira replied with a mischievous grin.

“Really!?” Diamond Hands said with a disapproving scowl, only to have it twist into a smile when he saw Mira grinning, as the first outlines of barbarians appeared in the breach.

Then Mira was gone, a crimson outline of her body fading before DH’s confused face as he followed the tracer to where she appeared in the middle of charging barbarians. She kicked high from behind, connecting with the back of one barbarian’s head causing him to tumble forward and into the fist of DH. Mira raised her sword to block an axe, twisting her arms to bring it towards the ground, then flipping over the barbarian to land behind him. She impaled the attacker with her sword as two more barbarians rushed her. Dodging the low swing of a hammer, she spun her body and used the force to jump over the attack of the second attacker. Grabbing the face of the first barbarian and slamming his face into the fallen metal wall on the ground. Mira rolled back just as the other barbarian recovered, a shocked look appeared on his face as the head of his hammer was caught in the diamond grip of DH. Diamond Hand’s picked him up and started to spin quickly, launching the barbarian into the air. The throw was well timed as the barbarian’s body flew into an approaching chopper’s propellers in a spray of red. The chopper fell to the ground in a twist of metal and sparks. The propeller broke off and rolled across the ground in front of the base, slicing a tank in two.

Mira jumped up and with a quick smile, turning in time to face the next wave. The two friends fell into the dance of battle. DH slammed his Ruby infused hands into the ground causing a wave of crimson energy to flow forth. Barbarians tripped and fell as the wave washed over them, and a tank flipped as the wave hit it. Its barrel sticking into the ground just as it fired causing a backfire within. Jumping over the tank with a battle cry was the Viking woman, her sword raised high, and her massive shield leading her charge. Diamond Hand’s met her charge with a powerful haymaker, he expected the force of his blow to throw her back, instead her feet dug into the ground as her shield absorbed the blow. Thrusting her sword, it nicked him on the side, drawing a line of red. He swiped the sword away with his hand, and backhanded with his other arm. The Viking jumped back to avoid the attack, but she didn’t see Mira as she slid behind her with an extended leg, tripping her. The Viking fell backward but tucked into a roll. They both waited for her to charge, but instead she lifted her shield over her head, and to their surprise they watched as Nero used it as a platform to enter the fray. DH growled defiantly as the younger gorilla descended towards him, opening his stance to meet the charge. Nero tackled him and they both fell backwards in a ferocious roll.

Mira saw the two collide, and she turned to run and help her friend, but the Viking slid between her and her friend.

“Though you could get away so easily?” the Viking taunted as she spun her sword, and shifter her feet into a battle stance.

“Not at all, but I’m not the only one who let little old me escape,” Mira mocked in retaliation, gripping her sword tightly.

“You won’t get away from us this time,” Chad’s voice added as he materialized from the smoke that saturated the area, Mira felt a pit in her stomach.

“Nero, why are you here?” DH grimaced as he fought to gain the upper hand of their wrestling match, both hands locked as they struggled to overpower each other.

“When I found out my once proud king was here on Mavia, I had to find you,” the younger gorilla grunted as he wrestled one hand free, punching DH in the face. “I have so much to pay you back for that I didn’t get the chance to before you got exiled.”

Diamond Hand’s vision blurred, and speckles of light appeared like stars, just focusing enough to catch the next punch.

“You don’t know what you are doing,” DH replied as he shifted his feet to give himself more leverage to pull and twist Nero’s arm behind his back. Forcing Nero’s other arm across his face, and pinning him enough, but for how long DH didn’t know as he felt the significant strength of his opponent. Nero was infused with Ruby, he had to be.

“You’ve been deceived Nero, whatever reason you had to come here, you know vengeance isn’t the way of our people.”

Diamond Hand’s tried to hold on, but Nero began to growl. DH felt the body of Nero tingle in his arms, and he knew that he was drawing Ruby power. Closing his eyes to brace for whatever was about to happen, Nero bent his legs and jumped, easily carrying DH into the air with him. DH’s legs flailed below him, and Nero twisted his body to direct DH beneath him, as Nero broke free of his grip. At the apex of their jump, Nero lifted his arms above him, the sun refracted within his diamond hands, and he slammed them down at DH. DH didn’t feel the contact of the hit, but all he heard was the wild rush of wind as he was propelled back towards the ground. DH was able to tuck his legs in beneath him, and landed with a tremendous crash, sending a wave of dust away from him, knocking over a few soldiers fighting nearby. Reaching into the air, Nero came screaming down, and DH drew the Ruby power into his arms, and to the surprise of Nero he caught him mid air. Lifting Nero over his head, DH threw him into a metal wall nearby, leaving a solid dent in the centre. Nero shook his head and used his elbows to pry himself out of the hole. He hit the ground in a roll, and he walked calmly through the chaos of battle around him to face DH again.

“The old ways are gone old man,” Nero sneered as he approached, punching the air before him, “My way is the new way of our people, and when I prove that I am stronger than the Fallen King, I will go back to our land, and lead them on a new path, and the world will no longer mock us.”

Diamond Hands growled and charged in with a flurry of blows. Jab after jab, low body shots, all which Nero was able to deflect or absorb without flinching. DH kept up the onslaught, but soon he started to lose his momentum as Nero was able to shift his defensive stance into an offensive one, and soon was leading the attack.

Sparks erupted with each clash of metal on metal as Mira and the Viking traded attacks with their swords. The Viking’s shield was marred with lines of dark scars from Mira’s energy blade. Chad charged in after being incapacitated by one of Mira’s stun grenades. Mira tried to roll around the Viking to get behind her, in hopes of having Chad barrel into her. But the woman had impeccable awareness and was able to turn quick enough to keep Mira squared in her vision. Mira fell into pure focus when both attacked, her reflexes pristine as she felt the ruby energy tingle within. She felt a blur, as both Chad’s claws and the Viking’s sword missed only by millimeters, still leaving shallow gashes in her torso and arm. Mira’s body shifted where it had to go, lifting her leg, and twisting it at the right angle to barely avoid receiving deeper bites from their attacks. Bending backwards at an impossible angle, Chad’s clawed hand impacted the Viking’s shield with a thunderous clang. Both opponents stepped away, both panting heavily as their flurry of attacks ended, both shocked to see Mira balancing on one leg, her body in the shape of “T,” marred but still in one piece. Standing back up, Mira smiled at them both.

“Are you even trying to hit me?” Mira mocked, even daring to chuckle aloud. Deep down she didn’t know how long she could hold out, and as time ticked by, she knew it was less likely DH would appear to give her a hand.

A cloud of smoke drifted between Mira and her opponents, and she pulled forth the power of the Ruby. Chad charged forth, and as the cloud dissipated before him, he skidded to a stop when he realized Mira was gone. He looked around frantically, thinking she was about to pounce. Which he was correct, but being cloaked, Mira had a different plan. She unlatched her grappling gun, and another stun grenade sticking it his back. As he convulsed from another shock, he growled in annoyance as he let his muscles tense through the blast. Before he could get his senses back, Mira attached her grapple gun to his belt, and launched it towards a tank driving past them and into the base. Chad reached down and grabbed Mira as he felt her mess with his belt and grabbed her by the neck.

“You can’t get the drop on me, Chad,” the Doge proclaimed loudly before Mira’s grapple wire tensed and pulled him into the base behind the tank, letting her go in the process.

The Viking seeing Mira rematerialize, didn’t give Mira a chance to breath and pressed her attack. The Vikings attacked pushed Mira’s back against the wall of the base. Mira timed her approach, and when the Viking grinned in victory, Mira focused again on her Ruby power and in a blur of crimson, she flashed behind her. Thinking she had the advantage over her opponent Mira thrusted her sword forward. The Viking jumped into a forward flip before the bite of her blade could find its mark. The rear foot of the Viking elevated clipped Mira under her jaw, causing her to fly onto her back in a daze.

“You think you’re the only one with tricks up your sleeves?” The muscular woman taunted as she charged forth.

Mira shook her head as she stood up, her vision briefly blurred. As her vision refocused, she watched as the Viking jumped into the air towards her. Time slowed for Mira, as she watched in admiration as the Viking’s shield glowed with a familiar crimson hue as she descended. Pulling an energy shield from her utility belt and activating it just as the Viking landed. The Viking screamed when she unleashed a blast of crimson energy from her shield. Mira didn’t know what happened after that, she didn’t see her blue shield absorb the blast, or the cool sensation of wind as she flew backwards from the impact. Mira had been hit hard before in her life, even taking a few punches from Diamond Hand’s that he didn’t hold back during training, but this was different. It was as if the Elite’s shield had built up all the kinetic energy it received and turned it into a battering ram. Mira didn’t feel her body hit the ground, nor did she register her tumbling like a rag doll. Everything went dark.

The once peaceful base surrounded by pristine, rolling green hills, was now nothing but a cloud of chaos and destruction. The bases turrets fell one by one, as the tanks and choppers finally overwhelmed them. Screams filled the air as the sniper towers began to topple to the ground, and fires spread hungrily throughout the base. The few whale blimps they had anchored fell to the ground in flaming wreckages. Barbarians, and diamond hand gorilla’s roared in triumph as they swelled into the base. Gleefully destroying anything or anyone they came across. Diamond Hand’s saw Mira’s body fly like a helpless heap, and he knew in that moment that what resistance they had was faltering. DH was honest with himself when he first saw the forces marching against them, but he wanted to stay hopeful. A tower fell and landed between him and Nero, giving him a much-needed reprieve, in which he heard his comms crackle to life with screams of disdain and helplessness. A shadow enveloped him, and it drew his vision skyward as he watched the approaching enemy whale blimps starting to enter the fray.

“Fall back to the Headquarters, get to the bunker,” DH ordered with a scream, as he started to wave towards any of his troops that were near by.

Nero jumped over the fallen tower landing before him, the flash of memories of a young, steadfast, and honorable youth that once fought beside him. How many times they had saved each other’s lives during that war. Seeing Nero before him now as an enemy hurt him more than any injuries he had ever sustained. The smoke-filled breach was an area of carnage, smoke swirled in coils as AI choppers flew over head, their gatling guns raining hot shells onto the ground below.

“How the mighty have fallen,” Nero spat on the ground at his feet, “I once idolized you Fallen King, but seeing how weak you have become makes me realize how foolish I was to follow you in the first place.”

The words stung, and Diamond Hand’s showed how much they hurt as his face contorted into a sullen frown.

“No,” DH Countered, “we were strong because we were united. Defending our people to save them from unnecessary suffering. I will admit you have grown remarkably strong young one, but your narrow vision is what makes you weak and will keep you from true greatness.”

“We’ll see,” Nero said with a narrowed gaze, he burst forward.

Diamond Hand’s reached within himself to draw what Ruby power he could find, his hands began to glow red. With a defiant scream he punched deep into the earth at his feet and lifted with all his might. The ground shifted and cracked, and as he lifted a chunk of earth lifted free. Flinging it towards the young charging gorilla who tried to skid to a stop. Diamond Hand’s expected the large mass of earth to bury his old protégé, instead it burst apart. A large cylindrical beam of energy evaporated the mass, shot from the hands of Nero and towards him. DH eye’s widened in shock and barely got his hands up in front of him to absorb the blast. Like Mira before him, he flew backwards. He didn’t feel the impact as his massive form crashed into one of the destroyed barracks. Nor did he feel anything as it collapsed on top of him.

“Boss!?” a voice desperately cried out through the black void of Mira’s mind, “wake up, we need you.”

The quiet of her mind evaporated and the din of battle grew from a muffled, inaudible noises, too the clamorous, cacophony of battle. Mira opened her eyes to see Daphne looking down at her with a ash covered, tear-streaked cheeks. Daphne’s normally pristine blonde hair was scorched and matted from battle. Two other soldiers helped Mira sit up, and she looked around to see that they were behind an interior set of defenses that guarded the bases headquarters. The horror of what she witnessed hit her heart. Black clouds of smoke filled the sky bathing the base in a shadow of dismay and death. Bodies of soldiers lined the lanes from both sides of the battle as the enemy pushed their way deeper to victory.

“Are you with us boss?” Daphne asked again drawing the attention of Mira’s gaze.

Mira nodded and forced a sullen smile, as the soldiers helped to her feet. “Yes, I’m here Daphne,” she turned to give a reassuring nod to the few soldiers nearby. But she could see in their eyes that their spirits were crushed, their morale dwindled, “update.”

“All the engineers, and laborers have made it into the bunker under the HQ, as well as the wounded that couldn’t keep fighting,” Daphne explained with a determined focus.

Mira was thankful that they had people safe and secure in the bunker below. All bases had a bunker underneath for the inevitable reality of a sweeping defeat. Mira was always hopeful that they would be the exception to that rule, but she realized her naivety with that hope. Screams and cheers erupted form the end of the long lane ahead of them, as the enemy forces gathered for the final push.

“Any sign of Diamond Hands?” Mira asked quickly, only to see heads shake in loss.

Mira wanted to keep fighting and hold onto the hope that they could pull of a victory, but she knew deep down that they were defeated. She hoped that DH would appear any moment, but she knew that if the rolls were reversed, he would wait if he could, but would inevitably call out the final order.

“Everyone, full retreat, get to the bunker,” she ordered to the shocked look of her soldiers, “Now.”

Calls carried down around the base where the defenders fought in pockets to desperately push back the invaders. A diamond hand gorilla bounded forth and punched a light post, causing it to fall over. He caught it and threw it forward like a javelin. It flew towards the sandbag barricade that the defenders hid behind causing them to explode in a cloud of sand. It ran eagerly into the breach it created but ran into Mira instead. Mira was grateful for the time she spent sparring with DH, as this young gorilla was an impatient version of her mentor. She let her anger, and pain to shrug through the pain and stiffness in her body. Easily dodging each attack, she removed her last stun grenade and quickly tossed it. The gorilla caught it, then started to shake his hand vigorously realizing it was stuck fast. Soon blue tendrils of energy wrapped around its body, and it fell to the ground convulsing.

“Hurry it up,” Mira ordered desperately as she saw more soldiers making their way to the headquarters.

Mira and Daphne ran to the entrance of the Headquarters behind a group of battle-weary soldiers. As she stood in the main entrance, she turned one final time to see if Diamond Hands was coming. With a sigh, she reluctantly pushed the button to seal the blast door. The two moved through the main level of the base and towards the stairs that would take them to the bunker where they could wait out the storm. The exhaustion of battle started to weigh on her with each step, as the adrenaline began to wear out, and with the over exertion of using Ruby energy. Then she realized she almost forgot their prisoner.

“Boss?” Daphne asked realizing Mira had stopped.

“Keep going, I’ll be right there,” Mira replied with a determined look, Daphne looked with confusion but didn’t argue.

As Daphne disappeared through a doorway, Mira turned and ran back to the bases prison. Running to the end of the corridor and to the glass door of the cell that housed the Mad Engineer. The man sat calmly on his bed facing the door, his back was straight, his posture perfect, his face stoic and emotionless, even as the door slid open.

“Alright, come with me,” Mira demanded angrily, holding out a pair of handcuffs.

“I think not,” the Mad Engineer replied, but it wasn’t his normal insane voice. Instead, it was low, guttural, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

“Wha…?” Mira stammered in confusion as the body started to shutter. A split appeared down the centre of the man’s face, and across his mouth, which gave him a malicious looking grin. Then the head split apart, like a blooming metal flower.

Mira didn’t know what to expect, but she did look away expecting to see a gruesome site, but to her surprise all she saw was spinning gears, and wiring. It wasn’t the real engineer, but a lifelike automaton. A small box slowly raised out from where the jaw was, and the sinister voice echoed throughout the cell.

“The infamous purple haired woman,” the voice called out, and Mira knew in that moment who was speaking to her, “You think yourself so clever, so brave,” it mocked.

“H…How,” Mira replied quietly to herself.

“You think I have gotten to where I am by being careless?” the Big Hammer King asked, “No, as soon as I knew of your annoying existence, I learned a great deal about you.”

The body stood up, the arms and torso twitching and shiver with inhuman movements as it started to step forward. “Mira of Agartha, the Indigo Ghost, who desperately helped all she could from the destructive chaos of war. I know you more than you know. How obsessive you can be. How you lack discipline in the face of adversity. I knew you would be desperate to find my engineer, so I had him make multiple versions of himself. The bait was set, and I knew you would be too stupid to come after him. I also wanted to see what you were capable of. Impressive as you are, you just gave me a reason to destroy your base.”

Mira’s lips quivered; her breath caught in her throat as he was unable to speak through the shock of the revelations. She was played from the start, and responsible for the destruction of her base, and the fall of her soldiers. Tears pooled under her eyes as she realized they never had a chance to under mind this madman.

“You won’t get away with this,” Mira threatened meekly.

“I already have, and you and your troops will learn that you cannot stop me, or my path,” the ominous voice continued, “this is your punishment for trying to defy me, and your only warning to stop trying to get in my way.”

“Why?” Why go through this trouble?” Mira asked with confusion, her gaze suddenly shifted back to the hallway around her as the building shook violently from the whale blimps starting to bomb the base.

“You have impressed me, and I always seek opportunity when it arises,” the sinister voice explained, “You can join my cause, and be on the side that brings balance and order to this world.”

“What makes you think we will join you?” Mira countered, her anger at his request evaporating the doubt and disappointment in her mind.

“We?” the voice chuckled, “just you, King Diamond Hand’s is too honorable, and too many on myside wants to kill him. It would be too much of a distraction. Truly, it matters not to me,” the Big Hammer continued calmly, “you join me, and I succeed. Or you defy me, and I destroy you, and still succeed.”

“I will never join you,” Mira challenged, but the automaton didn’t move.

“Cute, but think about it,” the machine’s voice faded, then its body started to shudder violently, beeping wildly in increased tempo, and Mira knew what it was.

Mira turned and ran from the prison, darting through the hall towards the entrance of the bunker as the engineer’s body exploded. Waves of fire washed through the interior of the base. Mira descended into the bowels of the bunker to join those who coward within. The survivors huddled together silently as the headquarters exploded above them. Each shudder of the earth shook them to their core, as the blimps decimated their home above. Mira moved to a quiet corner of the bunker, not wanting the others to see the despair she felt. Above them, the Big Hammer Kings forces wiped the base clean, brought every structure to rubble, and purged all their resources from their stores, leaving nothing left. Each explosion shook her to her core as malicious voice echoed in her mind repeatedly, filling her with doubt.

Diamond Hand’s awoke in a startled gasp. He felt the weight of the metal framing of the building that had collapsed on top of him. Sharp pain radiated through his body, and he struggled to breath. The sullen moan of the wind was all that could be heard as it filtered through the twisted remains of bent metal. With what strength he could muster, he pushed and shifted the metal beam that pinned him to the ground and was able to wiggle himself free. Pushing chunks of cement, and debris free, he was able to finally crawl out into the lane of the base. The sun was just a morose red splotch in a sky filled with dark smoke. He was able to walk deeper into the base, until his knees buckled and the weight of what he witnessed became too much. Nothing moved around him, no screams of injured could be heard, the silence was maddening. Bodies of soldiers he had led into battle littered the ground. Despair filled his heart, and he felt nothing but regret. It felt surreal, as if he were living in a nightmare. How unprepared they were. How unmatched. The fury of the Big Hammer King’s forces, and of course seeing Nero and his fellow diamond hands apes on the wrong side made him sick. Eventually, DH was able to make his way to the centre of the base to the remnants of their headquarters. Hoping that there were survivors.

“Hello?” Diamond Hand’s yelled out, but he was greeted only with the sound of fire as it hungrily consumed the structures around him.

Falling to his knees again. He leaned forward and landed on his diamond hands. Splotches of dark spots started to speckle the ash caked ground around his hands as tears fell from his eyes. Clenching both fists, he heard the diamond skin scrape together, and grown under his strength. The Big Hammer King will suffer for this, and he would soon find out how much fury the King of the Diamond Hand gorillas was capable of.