Shadows of Atlantis: Emergence of the Engi (3 page)

“Very well.” said Commander Zale.

“Our old friends Kinol and Allura would be proud of this moment.” said Aurora.

“Yes, they certainly would.” said Masters.

Clasping forearms with Commander Zale in a gesture of respect, Masters and Aurora boarded the Atlantian frigate and raced to the planet’s atmosphere.

“Plasma propulsion systems online Lieutenant.” informed the Atlantian frigate pilot.

“Good, I want them at full capacity. The planet needs our help and fast.” ordered Aurora.

“Yes Captain.” replied the pilot.

“Masters you look distressed, what’s troubling you?” asked Aurora.

“I’m worried for my son and for the future of Undaria, our beautiful solar system. Everything Kinol and Allura fought for seems to have died with them. The Darkren fleet never responded to our distress call.” gloomed Masters.

“Yes, I agree. That’s why the message we will send these aggressors is so important. We’ll show them what Undarians can do when we stand united.” said Aurora.

“United indeed.” smiled Masters.

“And speaking of the future of Undaria, I believe our fortunes may change very soon.” said Aurora.

“I don’t understand.” said Masters.

“Not yet you don’t. But if we survive this battle, I’ll explain everything.” said Aurora.

“That’s a big IF.” laughed Masters.

The sensors began buzzing loudly. Three ion cannons hit the starboard side of the Atlantian frigate
.

“What was that?! asked Aurora.

“Squadrons of Engi destroyers dead ahead! They’re coming right at us!”

“Aurora.” cued Masters.

Taking that cue, Aurora inhaled deeply and slowly blinked her eyes, revealing focused glowing blue irises. She then raised her palms facing upward and began making slow, formative movements. As she did, the rings around the planet Areolus began fluctuating up and down. Manipulating the water in them, she willed the large ice rocks directly into the oncoming Engi Starfighters, destroying dozens of them.

“Etwilonian fleet, break formation and engage the hostiles! Make sure the Evac routes are clear! The Atlantian fleet will begin landing on the surface and evacuating the planet!” commanded Aurora.

“Copy that.” responded Commander Zale.

As the Atlantian frigate Aurora and Masters were in landed in Celestia Central, Aurora sent the other frigates to evacuate the remaining cities throughout the planet. Seeing that Celestia Central was being decimated, she immediately began firing the ship's plasma cannons, destroying dozens of Engi and saving some nearby Areolian soldiers.

“What will you have me do my friend?” asked Masters.

“I’ll take the hydrocycle and clear a path. You take the Atlantian ground forces to the deflector bunker and get as many Areolians on the Atlantian frigate as possible. The city is already lost.” replied Aurora.

Masters then clasped forearms with Aurora as she climbed on the hydrocycle. Speeding down the surface ramp onto the battle-filled streets of Celestia Central, she fired plasma beams from the frontal turrets, helping nearby Areolian soldiers. Masters led the Atlantian ground forces to the deflector bunker.

As they helped nearby Areolian soldiers, dozens of Engi began firing plasma beams at them, forcing them to take cover. Then Masters blinked his eyes. Opened, his irises were now glowing white as he used his elemental abilities to bond the plasma in the Engi weapons and return their beams at them. Now with a window to use their parkour and freerunning training, the Atlantian ground forces charged at the Engi firing plasma beams until they were close enough to engage them in close combat.

While the Atlantian ground forces battled with the Engi in the city square, Masters headed to the deflector bunker but was met by several Engi at the entrance. He drew his plasma chargers and began firing. Once they were taken care of, he ran to the entrance and put in the access code, opening the primary deflector gate to the bunker. Huddled inside were thousands of Areolians, young and old, waiting on a miracle.

“Everyone, the Undarian Fleets have come to aid in evacuations! The Atlantian council has kindly made arrangements for us to have sanctuary on Atlantis. The Engi are about to destroy the city, we must make haste into the Atlantian frigate now!”

“No way! I’d rather die than trust a kelp sucker and a tree hugger!” yelled an Areolian from the crowds.

“Yeah! What have the other races ever done for us?! For all we know they could’ve planned this whole thing!” yelled another.

“Is that so?” said Masters sarcastically. “Well I’ll tell you what. Anyone who
wouldn’t
rather die than trust an Atlantian and Etwilonian, follow me!!! Let’s not turn away the hand of the Undarians risking their lives to save ours!” he glared.

Heeding those words, the thousands of Areolians streamed outside past the fierce battle into the colossal Atlantian frigate waiting to escort them to safety. Masters helped guide the mass of evacuees to the frigate, protecting them from Engi along the way.

“Father!” yelled a young Areolian, trying to get his attention.

“Azonei, are you alright?” asked Masters.

“Yes sir. Is Soran anywhere around here?”

“No, he isn’t I’m afraid. I’ll explain everything later, but for now I need your help getting our people to safety.” said Masters.

“Yes sir.” said Azonei, helping people into the frigate.

When the frigate began filling up, Masters noticed a blinding blue light building power right above the planet. Realizing what was about to happen, he made a daring attempt to rescue a group of Areolian soldiers being overrun nearby. Firing dual plasma weapons as he ran, Masters picked some of the Engi off before engaging them in close combat.

“They’re about to fire a superweapon! Get to the ship NOW!!!” ordered Masters.

The soldiers began running to the ship while Masters covered them. All of a sudden, a powerful shock blast hit their location, knocking them in different directions. Masters flew onto the side of a torched vehicle, unconscious.

“FATHER!!!” yelled Azonei.

“He’s not gonna make it.” Aurora said to herself as she looked on. “Pilot, start getting this frigate off the ground NOW!” ordered Aurora.

“Yes Captain!” the pilot replied.

Aurora then lowered the boarding ramp and flew towards Masters on her hydrocycle, firing plasma beams at the Engi as they attacked her. Passing the lifeless bodies of the other soldiers, her anger grew fiercer. Once she reached him, he began to regain consciousness.

“You shouldn’t have come back.” said a groggy Masters.

“Oh don’t be so dramatic.” joked Aurora as she fired on the Engi closing in on their position.

“What of the other soldiers?” asked Masters.

“There’s nothing more we can do for them.” gloomed Aurora. “But we need to go now.”

Masters nodded and hopped on the back of her hydrocycle as the Atlantian frigate began to ascend into the planet’s lower atmosphere. As she drove he fired plasma beams at the surrounding Engi.

“So what’s the plan?” asked Masters.

Aurora just glanced back and smiled before speeding to a long, narrow street.

“Oh no.” said Masters as he caught sight of her plan.

Soon after they sped towards the vaulted cliff edge, the blue light overloaded and a powerful particle beam shot right into the planet’s surface, causing the streets to ripple. The seismic activity caused the hydrocycle to shake as the crumbling streets waved in their direction.

“We’re not gonna make it!” yelled Masters.

“Oh yes we are.” smiled Aurora.

As she focused her aim on the boarding ramp hovering over the cliff edge, they became airborne.

“We have to jump!!!” she yelled.

Then they acrobatically scaled the airborne hydrocycle and jumped to the boarding ramp, reaching for its edge. As the planet began to implode, they managed to grab the edge and were helped aboard by an Atlantian soldier in disbelief.

“Punch it Pilot!!!” ordered Aurora as she closed the boarding ramp.

As the
Leviathan
sped past the escort into the Arc, the Areolians began to wail and cry at the horror of seeing the planet they’d called home for thousands of years, implode into a terrible supernova-like effect.

The Seattle morning rains painted the trees and muddied the grass while Eiris stood under the makeshift gazebo he’d built on his room, in the outdoor shed. Studying the large drops, he was mesmerized at the unique pattern in which they fell, sensing the energy in them. Although he was unable to reasonably explain why, Eiris always felt at home in the rain.

Suddenly the strange sensation that he felt from time to time rippled through his body. It always felt like someone was nearby. But who? No one was around, especially since the small shed he lived in was somewhat far away from the main house. Thinking about a dream he’d had since his early teens, he took a deep breath and focused his mind in an effort to key in on the direction of the sensation.

There! He finally got a center on where the strong feeling was coming from and looked intently in that direction. But to his surprise, no one was there. He continued to stare in that direction for some time until he heard a voice he’d grown to hate over the years.

“Hey pretty eyes, Greavesly said get in here!” yelled Spike.

Spike Bresbin, fellow orphan and star defenseman of the Alki High School Predators was a plague on the local community of nerds in Alki, Seattle. Unfortunately, Eiris learned firsthand of Spike’s hatred for the intellectually inclined when they were both very young, hence his decision to move to the small shed eight years ago. As Eiris made his way through the back door of the main house, he could see Spike smirking at him as he stood proudly on the stairs. He knew whatever Mr. Greavesly wanted, wouldn’t be good.

As he walked into the living room, Mr. Greavesly was sitting on the sofa drinking beer and watching sports like he always did.

“You wanted to see me Mr. Greavesly?” asked Eiris.

“Ya got double cleaning duties again boy.” he replied.

“But Mr. Greaves………I mean is Spike hurt or something?” asked Eiris.

“What Spike can or caint do ain’t none of ya business! I’m in charge and I said ya got double duties! Now is ya a star athlete?!” growled Mr. Greavesly.

“No sir.” replied Eiris.

“And ya ain’t bout to be rich eitha is ya?! he yelled.

“No. But I’m the team water boy and I have to be………………....” Eiris trailed off as he looked sadly at the floor.

“Well I think the undefeated Alki Predators can do without a dumb water boy tonight!!! What boutchu Spike?” laughed Mr. Greavesly, cutting Eiris off.

“Never needed em’ in the first place.” smirked Spike.

“Well there ya have it.” said Mr. Greavesly. “Now if by some impossible chance ya get this place clean by tonight, ya free to do as ya please. But since that ain’t very likely, we’ll be seein’ ya when we get back. After the game.” he smirked.

After Mr. Greavesly and Spike left, Eiris began the impossible task of cleaning the entire house before six o’clock. Scrubbing the toilets, he began to wonder how long he would accept this kind of treatment. For as long as he could remember he had felt like the whipping boy, the brunt of every bad joke and the last one to catch any breaks. Just when he was about to give up any hope of finishing his chores on time, he began to hear taps on the small window in the bathroom.

He turned his head to see a small bird sitting on the window sill looking directly at him. Puzzled, he continued to clean the toilet again until he heard the tapping sound again. As he studied the strange little bird it began frantically chirping, like it was talking to him.

Realizing this was no normal bird, he opened the window and the bird flew inside, perching itself on the inside window sill. It then began frantically flapping its wings and chirping, as if it was trying to tell him something.

“What are you trying to tell me?” asked Eiris aloud in amazement.

Suddenly he felt another sensation ripple through his body, this one far more threatening. He grabbed the mop and walked to the front door with it in a defensive posture. As he opened the front door he saw nothing but the rain, so he closed it and went back inside the bathroom.