Martin King and the Prison of Ice (Martin King Series) (16 page)

“Ready?” said
Falcon.

They all
nodded, not quite sure they were ready for. Falcon flicked a switch on the
wall, and a glowing humanoid figure appeared. Martin guessed that it was some
kind of holographic projection. It was moving about quickly.

“To be
effective soldiers you need to be able to hit a moving target,” Falcon
explained. “Now who will try first?”

Tommy swung his
gun around, trying to aim at the target. But it was moving very fast. Tommy
pressed the trigger and there was a flash. But he missed. He tried again, and
again. Finally, he managed to aim correctly and a burning diamond shot through
the hologram. With a crackle, it disappeared.

“Oh, well done,
Tommy!” shouted Falcon.

Suddenly, three
more holographic figures appeared. Darcy and Martin both stepped to the edge of
the white line and began to fire. It was very hard to aim correctly. Martin
managed to take two of the figures down, and Darcy got the third.

“Brilliant!”
said Falcon.

He pressed
another switch and four figures appeared. This time they were travelling more
quickly than ever before. Tommy raised his gun and fired four times. He hit all
of them.

“Excellent
shooting, Tommy!” said Falcon. “I’ve never seen such skill—and you’ve never
used one of these before?”

“Well,” said
Tommy, “I’ve never used a Blazing Diamond gun before, but my dad takes me clay
pigeon shooting once a fortnight so I suppose I’ve had a bit of practice.”

“I think you
should come with me, Tommy,” said Falcon. “You can show the other troops how it
is done. Come on.”

Falcon led
Tommy from the room, leaving Darcy and Martin alone with the holograms. Martin
tried to aim at the figures, but he was distracted. He turned to Darcy.

“I’m scared,
Darcy,” he said.

“Why?” said
Darcy, who was still trying to hit the projections.

Martin flicked
the switch on the wall and the holograms vanished.

Darcy groaned.
“What did you do that for? I was enjoying myself.” She sighed. “Sorry—you said
you were scared?”

“Not for
myself.” Martin paused. “So many people that I love are here—on the Battle
Island. You, my mum, my granddad, Tommy, Slater, Falcon… I mean, what if we
lose, Darcy? What then?”

“I’ve been
thinking the same thing,” said Darcy. “I couldn’t bear to lose you, Martin.”

Martin sighed.
“And what if the worst thing happened? What if everyone died but me? What if
everyone I care about was lost—and I was left alive? How could I live after
that?”

Darcy hugged
him. “We can’t think like that Martin. If we do, then we will lose. We need to
be strong.”

Martin nodded.
“I suppose you’re right.” He glanced at his indestructible watch. “Just over an
hour left now. And then it starts.”

He reached out
and held Darcy’s hand, and made a silent promise that if anyone had to die, it
would be him.

It was time for the battle. The
soldiers were all lined up on the snow. The white frost was firm beneath their
feet. The army stood in silence, facing the sky, waiting for the inevitable
arrival of the enemy.

“Remember,”
said Agamon. “We will only attack if they attack first. Until then, we will keep
our defensive position. As soon as the Axis Lords are in sight, Mulciber will
cast a shield over us. We will not fight until they do.”

Falcon, Agamon,
Slater and Mulciber were in the centre of the line. To Mulciber’s right stood
the 50 other Axis Lord warriors. Martin, Darcy, Tommy, Fire Opal and Laser Wolf
stood to Falcon’s left, and the Pendulum Officers were next to them. The SAS
men stood to the left of the Pendulum Officers, followed by Jaspin Zegrak,
Aurora King, Levanté, Stone and Dr Peter Ackerman.

Nobody spoke.
Martin glanced at his watch again. It was two minutes until the Axis Lords
arrived. He glanced at his comrades, squeezing Darcy’s hand more tightly. He,
Darcy and Tommy were wearing their Thieron armour and carrying Blazing Diamond
guns. All of the soldiers were wearing armour of some kind.

They all stood
in silence. Martin looked again at his two best friends. He lifted up Darcy’s
hand and kissed it, and then kissed her on the lips. Was this it—was this going
to be the end? Even if they did win the battle, there would almost certainly be
casualties. Even if the Earth was saved, Darcy and Tommy might be killed.

There was only
one possible way to win the battle without any casualties. It was a stupid
idea, and it had hardly any chance of success. But it might just save his
friends.

“You’re hurting
my hand,” whispered Darcy.

“Oh, sorry.”

Martin let go
of his girlfriend’s hand. He hadn’t realised how tightly he had been gripping
it. Suddenly, there was a flash in the white clouds—almost like a glimmer of
sunlight. But it flashed again, and Martin realised that it wasn’t sunlight.

All of the
soldiers raised their guns. Immediately, a hundred shapes burst through the
clouds. It was the Axis Lords. They were riding horses that seemed to be made
of fire. Martin sweated as his finger hovered over the trigger of his Blazing
Diamond gun. Tension crackled like electricity through their army, but nobody
fired.

The flaming
horses galloped down from the clouds in a stream of fire, and landed on the
snow a long distance away from their army.

Five Axis Lords
stepped down from their horses. Martin squinted; he recognised them as the
members of the Axis Council that he had met on Hope—Nymon, Anova, Daniz, Ilyssa
and Orbin. The five Axis Lords began to walk slowly forwards; the other 95 Axis
Lords stayed behind on their fiery horses.

Agamon,
Mulciber, Slater and Falcon walked forward to meet the members of the council.
They stood still for a while. Martin guessed that they were going over the
agreed terms of the battle. He looked at Darcy again. He tried to think about
what life would be like without her, but it was too terrible to contemplate.

He thought
about his reckless plan, which he had formed after reading the book that he had
found under his chair.

“I love you,
Darcy,” he said suddenly, kissing her. He stroked her hair. “And I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for
what?”

Without waiting
to answer, Martin ran towards the Axis Council.

“Come back!”
Darcy shouted, but he didn’t listen.

The shield
crackled as he passed through it.

“What are you
doing?” yelled Aurora.

He didn’t stop
running. Some of the Axis Lords on the horses pointed their guns at him, but
Nymon waved a hand. Martin stopped in front of the Axis Council, breathless.

“Lower your
weapons,” said Nymon gently, smiling when Martin arrived. “Hello again,
Martin.”

“Hello,” Martin
replied.

“Have you
changed your mind about fighting us?” said Nymon. “If you have, believe me when
I say that you will be treated with the utmost courtesy. You will be honoured
as a royal member of the Axis Lords for the rest of your life.” He smiled.
“Look at those people you are with, Martin—all those degenerate Axis Lords and
weak humans. You are different, Martin, I know you are. Join us. Leave them all
behind.”

“What are you
doing, Martin?” said Slater.

“I’m not going
to join you,” Martin told Nymon. “I want to volunteer as a champion for the
Earth.”

“You can’t!”
shouted Falcon.

Nymon looked
astounded.

“I’m afraid he
can,” said Anova, with a nasty grin. “You know the rules, Falcon. Any member of
any army can choose to become a champion, as long as the other side agrees.”

“Don’t do this,
Martin,” said Slater. “Please. We have been through so much together. To see
you die—I do not think I could live through it.” He put a hand on Martin’s
shoulder. “Revoke your championship. You can fight, but fight alongside your
friends. We stand a much greater chance together.”

Agamon nodded.
“Valdragor is right. It would be suicide.”

Martin shook
his head. “I’m sorry. But I have to do this.”

Falcon turned
to Nymon. “Please, Nymon. Do the right thing. Do not offer a champion. Then we
can fight a just war.”

Anova laughed.
“I hardly think so, Falcon. As it happens, we have a very excellent Axis Lord
already prepared for this eventuality.”

Nymon nodded.
“Anova is right. This boy has volunteered as champion, and the rules of combat
are very clear—to volunteer is the right of any soldier.”

Martin turned
around to glance at Darcy and Tommy. Then he turned back.

“I won’t change
my mind,” said Martin firmly.

“Very well,”
said Nymon. “We shall prepare. All step back.”

Nymon and the
Axis Council took a few steps back from Martin. Left with no choice, Agamon,
Slater, Mulciber and Falcon also stepped back. Martin glanced at his
grandfather—he didn’t look angry or upset; he was actually smiling.

“Activate the
Combat Stage,” said Nymon.

Ilyssa lifted
her arm; there was a small control panel built into her armour. She pressed a
button, and the ground beneath Martin began to stir. Suddenly, he felt himself
rising into the air. A large white platform was ascending from beneath the
snow, lifting him up with it.

A few seconds
later, the platform stopped moving. It was about the size of a football pitch,
and completely white. Martin glanced over the edge—it was a long way down. Now
he could only see his friends as tiny specks in the distance.

Nymon’s voice
filled the whole island.

“Martin King
has volunteered as champion,” he was saying. “As you all know, the outcome of
the battle now depends on this single fight. The final result cannot be
altered. If Martin wins, the Earth will be spared. If our champion wins, the
Earth will be destroyed.”

Martin
swallowed. What was he thinking? Whoever the Axis Lords chose, it would
certainly be a powerful warrior. And what could he do? Of course, he could fly,
but what use was that in a battle? And he only had a single gun. Martin didn’t
even know how many diamonds were inside it.

If Martin died,
all of his friends would die too because the Earth would be destroyed. Unless
he managed to defeat the champion, he had actually consigned his friends to
their fate.

“What have I
done?” he muttered, shivering.

Before he could
have time to prepare himself, an Axis Lord appeared. Martin raised the gun, but
it was a face he recognised.

“Falcon?” he
said.

The alien
forced a smile. “Hello again,” said Falcon. “I’ve brought you something.”

He held out a
sword to Martin. It was the sword with a ruby in the handle—Dominus’ sword.
Martin took the sword from Falcon.

“I’ll take
that,” said Falcon, taking the Blazing Diamond gun from Martin. “It won’t be
any good against their champion; it won’t even pierce his armour.”

Martin handled
the sword. It felt… right. As if it was designed for his personal use. He swung
it from his arm; it was almost as natural as breathing.

“Thank you,”
said Martin.

“I wish you
would reconsider,” said Falcon. “Their champion—Diagoras—is a born warrior. The
Axis Lords have not engaged in war for thousands of years, but they have always
been ready for one. Their warrior has been training for over 100 years.”

“I need to
try,” said Martin quietly.

Falcon put a
hand on his shoulder. “Then I wish you very good fortune, Martin.”

Martin smiled.
“Thanks, Falcon.”

The Axis Lord
vanished, and Martin was left alone on the white platform. The surface was
strange; it looked very smooth, but it was easy to walk on without slipping.

Another Axis
Lord appeared. He was three times the size of Falcon, and he was wearing black
armour that was covered with vicious-looking spikes. The alien was holding a
large golden axe. Martin held up his sword.

“The champions
are both in place,” said Nymon’s voice. “Diagoras and Martin King will fight to
the death. The final result will decide the fate of the Earth.” He paused.
“Now, let the battle begin.”

Martin hadn’t
taken his eyes off Diagoras, who was smiling at Martin. He had large, pointed
teeth.

“I feel almost
bad about this,” said Diagoras. He had a surprisingly refined voice despite his
monstrous appearance.

“Don’t,” said
Martin, raising his sword.

“I’ll let you
start,” said Diagoras. “Nymon has set up video screens. Both sides of the army
are watching the battle. I’ll make it look like you had a fighting chance.”

Martin leapt
forward; he stabbed at Diagoras’ leg with the sword. The alien easily dodged
it. Martin tried again, but missed. Diagoras brought his axe down on Martin; it
hit his white helmet and rebounded. Martin didn’t feel anything. Diagoras
looked amazed.

Thanks,
Falcon
, Martin thought.

Taking advantage
of Diagoras’ surprise, Martin thrust out with his blade again. It easily
penetrated Diagoras’ black armour and pierced his stomach. The Axis Lord cried
out with rage and tried to attack Martin with the axe again.

The axe bounced
off Martin’s body armour and the back of it collided with the alien’s face.
Martin jumped up and stabbed the blade into the Axis Lord’s arm. He could have
stabbed him in the heart and ended the battle—but for some reason, he couldn’t
bring himself to kill Diagoras. He had never killed anyone before.

Suddenly,
Diagoras began to laugh. His face began to ripple, and his body began to
shrink. A few seconds later, he had transformed into an exact replica of Darcy,
although he was still wearing the black armour. His stomach and arm were still
bleeding.

Martin stepped
back, horrified by the transformation.

“What’s the
matter?” said Diagoras, in Darcy’s voice.

He knew that it
wasn’t Darcy, but the disguise was so realistic. The alien had captured her
likeness perfectly—her flawless skin, her blonde hair, her blue eyes. Martin
raised his sword, ready to strike Diagoras again. But he couldn’t do it. Martin
lowered the sword.

The alien
laughed. Martin knew that he was being stupid. But he couldn’t bring himself to
kill the alien when he had Darcy’s face. Diagoras, still in Darcy’s form, tore
off the front of Martin’s armour. He didn’t try to fight. He stood facing
Diagoras, his chest bare.

The alien
raised the axe. Then he swung it at Martin. The weapon pierced his chest; he
could feel blood pouring out, and he began to lose consciousness. He looked up
at Diagoras, who still looked like Darcy, and the last thing he saw was its
laughing face…

Diagoras kicked
the body over the edge of the platform.

*

The real Darcy
watched in horror as Martin’s body came tumbling down from the white platform.
Tommy tried to hold her back, but she went running towards him.

“MARTIN!” she
yelled.

His body was
broken and crumpled at the bottom of the platform. He was covered in blood.
Darcy screamed and grabbed his arm, trying to find a pulse.

“It is no use,”
said Slater, who had appeared at her side. He was holding up his pocket watch,
scanning the body. “There are no life signs. Martin King is dead.”

Slater tried to
lead Darcy away from the body but she was grabbing hold of it so tightly her
nails were digging into the flesh.

“No!” she
screamed. “He can’t be! He can’t be dead! Martin!”

She felt like
she was in some terrible nightmare. The world around her seemed to blur away.
It couldn’t be true. Her boyfriend couldn’t be dead.

“He’s half Axis
Lord,” she cried. “He can fix himself—just like you did.”