14. Tyrxie
Chapter 14
Tyrxie
Execution
W e dash inside, weapons raised, my gaze scanning the room for any flicker of movement. Finding nothing, I breathe a sigh of relief. “Clear,” I declare, my tension giving way to wonder as I see the myriad of laser weapons lining the walls, along with racks carrying dangling suits of segmented Nebian armor, most in the color of purple or brown.
Hyanxa whistles, echoing my awe. “Shame, my arm is shit,” she laments, running her good hand over a long laser rifle.
I’m more interested in the armor, knowing how useful the shields will be. I run my hand through the suits, growing more frustrated as each one is too small and squat to wear. “Felixus, is there any armor we can wear?” I inquire, noticing the noisy arrival of the others.
“We only make armor for my own people,” Felixus announces, his words stoking my disappointment. “But we do sometimes hire mercs,” he adds with a smile, moving towards a large metal locker. He climbs inside grumbling before reappearing, clutching strange blinking black discs with crisscrossing polymer straps. “These little buggers generate laser shields. Not as durable as our armor, mind you, but still beats any crap the Scythians come up with.”
“I was sold on laser shields. ” I beam with excitement, looping my arms through the straps. The disc sits between my chest, now emitting a low hum, and the blinking light shifts to solid red. “Oh, now we’re ready,” I state, seeing the others greedily snatch their own ones.
“What’s this?” Quad booms, after flipping over the lid of a massive metal chest, scratching his head.
Felixus rushes over, tip-toeing to peer inside the huge container. “Um, I don’t think you need to worry about this one, big lad,” he says in a rush. But Quad only smiles, reaching into the chest and retrieving an immense multi-barreled repeater laser cannon, which would look more at home on a spaceship than in someone’s hands.
But Quad handles it with relative ease, using three arms to support the immense weapon. “Big boomer!” He declares, laughing while Felixus’ blue skin pales as he looks on with disbelief, shaking his head, his mouth working soundlessly.
I can’t help but laugh, overcome with adrenaline and excitement. “I don’t suppose this one has a stun mode?” I ask in jest, knowing it’s a silly notion.
“Actually, it does.” Felixus perks up at my words, moving to press a button at the base of the giant gun. “Thanks for reminding me.” He nods.
“Oh,” Quads laments in disappointment, but thankfully doesn’t change it back. My eyes fall on the others, all equipped with portable shields. Mod and Job exchange their pistols for larger caliber laser rifles. Hyanxa pockets some ominous-looking knives and throwing devices, while Felixus slides a long narrow box from under a standing drawer.
“I think Xandor will get a kick out of this,” Felixus says with a smile, beckoning me over. “You know how the Klendathians like the up-close and personnel, touch... bloody barbarians,” he says with a soft chuckle. Standing behind him, I gasp, seeing the huge curved sword, taller than me, crafted in polished black metal, engraved with intricate golden swirling patterns.
“Some battlesuits pilots use these. But Xandor’s massive, I reckon he can manage it,” Felixus continues, running his hand over the long handle that takes up almost a third of its length and a switch at the guard, hinting that the sword might be laser-edged. “Do you think he’ll like it?”
His question hits me with a pang of shame—I don’t know if Xandor will like it. He’d always fought with claws, and I never asked him such questions, enjoying his humor more than talk of fighting. “It’s beautiful,” is all I say in answer—the simple truth.
Felixus nods in satisfaction before grunting with titanic effort, prying the massive weapon out of its container. I rush to help, straining to lift one end as it teeters in Felixus’s arms. “Void, it’s heavy!” he complains, echoing my thoughts.
“Quad, give us a hand, please,” I ask, stunned to see the hulking Barlyxian striking poses with his massive laser cannon.
“Nope, I hold big boomer!” Quad declares, shaking his head.
The one time he doesn’t want to pick something up!
“It’s fine, I’ve got it,” Felixus stresses, leaning back, the weapon cradled in his trembling arms, looking like he might pop a vein at any moment.
“If you’re sure...” I state with a lingering, uncertain look. The others stand impatient and idle, signaling it’s time to go. The sooner we find Xandor, the less chance Felixus will keel over. “Let’s go,” I declare.
We stalk out of the armory, now probably the best-equipped mercenary crew ever to grace the universe—hoping we don’t need it. But Kaanus always said: Failing to plan is planning to fail. And I’m not planning to take any chances. Every fiber of my being screams to charge down those stairs to find Xandor, but I can’t risk the others’ lives—I’d never forgive myself.
The entrance to the stairwell looms, a dark, yawning space stretching up and down. The air here is cooler, a refreshing contrast against my clammy skin. Solid metal stairs lead both directions and I take tentative steps, creeping downward. The ground creaks under my weight, causing me to wince, but I press onward, alert to any danger.
A dozen steps down, the stairs shift back on themselves, leading to the next level—where Xandor suffers. Two purple-armored guards stand with their backs turned, causing me to halt in my tracks, my heart thumping in my chest. I signal back to Hyanxa, who nods in acknowledgement before passing the information to the others.
Like a creeping shadow, I descend, each step a delicate caress. My muscles coiled and ready to act in a flash. I level my gun at the guard to my left, wondering what my next move should be until the thudding footsteps of the humming Quad crush such na?ve thoughts.
The guards turn towards the stairwell, greeted by volleys of my laser rifle. I roar in defiance, not firing precision bursts, but unloading a barrage of crimson beams at this close range—the best option. My targets’ shields warp and bend, absorbing the onslaught. I leap to the side, dodging their deadly retaliatory shots.
Midair, I continue my assault until the jarring thud of my fall from the remaining stairs rattles my aim. My heart drops, and I wince as a blast strikes me in the chest, expecting the pain, expecting my death, only to find my laser shield shimmering like a crimson miracle. “Intruders!” A guard roars as I scurry along the ground, trying to angle around the stairs.
I fire over my shoulder as the sound of snaps and whizzes whirl overhead in a frantic cacophony. Some blasts singe the surrounding walls, forcing me to duck further as the scent of partially melted arcweave and burned dust fills my senses.
Then, as quick as it started, a surprising silence lingers. “You can stop shitting yourself now,” Hyanxa declares with a laugh. I peek out in disbelief to see Hyanxa, Mod, and Job aligned on the stairs, their bearings proud, their weapons glowing, aimed at the two collapsed guards.
Elated, I leap out of cover, dusting myself off. “Void, I’ve never been shot before. Thanks.” I beam towards the others.
Hyanxa smiles. “We’ve got your back, Tyrxie.”
Quad and Felixus lumber down the stairs, both labored, carrying their gigantic weapons. “Ah, I missed it,” Quad laments with a drooping head.
“You bring plasma grinder to hammer nail? Yes?” Job quips as Quad thuds down the stairs, each step seeming to vibrate the entire area.
My pulse races as I look down the now empty corridor, feeling Xandor is close. A sudden frantic need grips me, sending me running down the metal passageway as quickly as I can.
I’m here Xandor, I’m coming!
I reach a heavily fortified door on the left, knowing with absolute certainty he lies beyond. But the door won’t open. I bang on the hateful barrier with my rifle. “Open you bastard!” I scream, my eyes threatening to spill tears, my desperation too much. Standing back, I unleash a torrent of laser blasts, the streaks almost blinding, the sparks stinging my hands, but I can’t stop.
“Wait for void’s sake! Before you fuse the seam,” Felixus reprimands, causing me to lower my weapon, my breathing haggard and hands shaking. He sets down the massive sword and moves to a nearby terminal that feels like an eternity. “Only the most special cell for our Xandor—the bloody door has its own private security terminal, if you can believe it.”
“Open it,” I command, my tone devoid of any concern beyond seeing him.
“Give me a second. This is tricky.”
“Open it!” I scream, my chest rising and falling, my hands strangling my rifle.
Felixus doesn’t reply, only the sound of his hands darting over the holographic terminal reaches me. The door slides open with a hiss, bellowing plumes of compressed air obscure my vision, thick with the scent of blood and sweat.
No Xandor!
I rush forward, my heart pounding. As I penetrate the smoke, I see him—Xandor, shackled and weak. “Xandor!” I scream in horror, seeing the horrific abuse they’ve inflicted on him. Tears stream down my face and I fall to my knees. Why didn’t I come sooner? Why did I take so long?
It hurts too much to look upon him, his left arm cruelly cut off, his head drooping, his breathing faint as a whisper—a shadow of the glorious hero I grew to love. How could they do this to him? Why did they destroy my Xandor? I sob, overcome with hatred and despair, until to my shock I notice the glowing red collar resting beneath his green hair.
“Void...” Felixus mutters, his voice trailing off behind, but I barely hear him.
I rush over to remove the hateful collar that burns the mind with the heat of a blazing sun. “Hold on, Xandor!” I yell, touching his skin, shocked by how cold and pale he is, clinging to life with the faintest flicker. Tip-toeing, I reach the collar, shifting it forward.
“Behind you!” Felixus roars, prompting me to perform a frantic tumble. The world spins until I right myself, seeing a massive mechanical robot with an array of horrific instruments in each arm. It moves with surprising grace and speed, filling me with terror. I raise my rifle, flicking it to lethal mode, blasting it with a hail of laser beams, but it only slows the machine, scorching and burning its armored surface.
It dashes towards me, swinging a red cutting laser, forcing me to leap back on nimble feet. “Get out of the way. We can’t get a clear shot!” Hyanxa yells from the entrance. But I can’t. The terrifying machine presses me with pitiless speed. I rain a hail of laser fire as I leap back, struggling to maintain my distance, until I feel the solid wall at my back.
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
The white machine, riddled with holes, looms closer with its red laser instrument, dazzling my eyes. Averting my gaze, I catch a flicker of movement above. A rotund Nebian with brown hair watches from a window—his wicked smirk, the smirk of a sadist, boils my blood. With my heart-pounding driven by utter hatred, I aim at the torturer.
The robot looms close, almost blocking my target. But I don’t care. I aim over its shoulder, desperate to take the sick bastard with me. The corpulent Nebian throws his hands up as time seems to slow, his face shifting to frantic panic. It’s too late for him. I squeeze the trigger with a smoothness that belies my torrent of rage.
My laser beam punches straight through the polymer window into the sadist’s face, burning through the top half of his head. The machine’s laser is so close now, its heat causes me to wince. I brace against the wall, expecting my agonizing death. But as my frantic heartbeats pass, death eludes me.
With a surprised peek, I see the machine towering over me, unmoving. Its laser cutter silent and deactivated. “Smart move, taking out the remote operator,” Felixus states in a frantic tone. I could cry or laugh, not understanding that’s what I did, only wanting raw, brutal revenge for Xandor’s suffering.
I squeeze past the machine, rushing over to Xandor, my heart pounding as I adjust the torturous red collar. “Bloody bastards, left it on punish mode...” Felixus whispers. “Tyrxie... there mightn’t be much left of him.”
“I don’t want to hear it!” I roar back, turning to the others in fury. They all stand with downcast eyes, unable to meet mine, unable to speak, showing only despair. Even Quad looks away, filling me with disgust—disgust at them, myself and the entire cruel universe that allowed this to happen.
“I’m here, Xandor,” I whisper, taking my rifle and shooting off the collar. It clangs to the ground, broken, but Xandor still doesn’t stir, filling me with dread. “Please Xandor, it’s me, Tyrxie, your Rebecca. Remember?” I plead, reaching up to cup his face in my hands, only now noticing the dried tears of green blood weeping from an empty eye socket.
“Oh, no!” I wail, with a hand to my mouth, the horror overwhelms my senses. Only the faint rise and fall of his chest gives me any semblance of hope. “It’s okay. I’m going to get you out of here,” I promise, as tears of anguish stream down my face, threatening to pull me into a bottomless pit of pain.
Through blurry eyes and frantic sobs, I shoot off the metal clasps around Xandor’s wrist and legs. He falls forward, and I try to catch him, but he’s too heavy, knocking the wind from me as we both tumble to the ground.
Hyanxa tsks, “Quad, grab him. We don’t have time for this.”
“Give them a moment, for pity’s sake!” Felixus snaps back.
I barely hear them, only seeing Xandor, his head resting on my lap. He’s so pretty. They could never take that away from him. My mind is a blur as I stroke his green hair. “You’re safe now,” I mutter, repeating the words like a healing mantra. My tears spill onto his handsome face, and I smile, brushing them away, cleaning his blood.
Xandor gasps as if awakening from a nightmare, his eye snapping to my face, a look of surprise turning to one of love. “Tyrxie...” he mutters, the sweetest sound in the universe. His massive hand reaches up, brushing the tears from my face. “Is this real?”
“Yes!” I exclaim, my heart soaring, tears of joy streaming down my face. “It’s real... I’m real.” I splutter through wet laughter. “See, it was me that found you this time,” I say, kissing his rough hand, wishing I could soothe and take away all his pain.
Xandor smiles, “But your eyes are glowing,” he states, his voice growing stronger. He cups my cheek, peering deeply into my eyes. “They dance like emerald stars, behind a beautiful eclipse,” he says, his tone full of wonder.
Again?
He jerks upright, clutching my wrist, looking at my hand, which also glows with a faint green hue. I gasp in shock, drawing my hand back. “What the void is happening to me?” I ask, staring at Xandor in disbelief.
“Our bond—we’re ascending!” he declares, and within his golden eye I glimpse traces of green glowing in the swirling mix. “Your love brought me back, Tyrxie, and because of that, a path of victory remains.” He stares off as if seeing something else, his words unsettling. “The cycle can be completed.”
His words elicit echoes of that strange dream I had, sending a chill down my spine. An eerie sense that everything I took to be solid suddenly feels shaky, opening up possibilities of bonds, powers, and void knows what else that shouldn’t exist.
Sensing my unease, he rubs his nose against mine. The simple motion is the most soothing touch to my weary heart. “I know how hard you fought, Tyrxie. I see the paths that lead you to me, the courage and desperate strength you displayed.” He smiles, then lowers his head. “Your beautiful soul sets the darkness ablaze. I’m sorry I ever doubted you. I was a fool not to see it sooner.” He rises to his feet, towering above me, his hand extended.
My heart soars at his dramatic words, but I know something’s changed within him. He speaks of things he cannot know, with an unnatural clarity. “There’s nothing to forgive, Xandor.” I smile, taking his hand. “My light was more like a confused, blinking strobe until... I fell in love with you.” I chuckle, feeling giddy, speaking the words, overwhelmed with joy that I can finally say them to him.
“In every path, I always love you, Tyrxie.” Xandor hoists me to my feet, laughing in a rich, deep voice.
“But there’s another light that needs extinguished,” he sneers, revealing fangs.