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The Game of Love

Malcolm sits alone downtown seating at a local pizzeria a look of worry cresting his face. His gaze focused intently on his pizza though he’s not really make a effort to eat it.

“A nickel for your thoughts?”

“Huh? What?” Malcolm is broken out of his focus looking up to a woman about his age, African American, with a portable music player, long brown hair, glasses, sitting down across from him. “Isn’t it a penny?”

“Inflation…now why the long face.”

Malcolm pauses, it would be nice to confide in someone outside of the group but at the same time he can’t risk exposure. “You know those weird alien/mutants that attack the city…They kidnapped a good friend of mine? Sometimes I think we’d be better without those Technicolor power troopers.”

“That’s horrible!” Cautiously she places a hand on Malcolm’s shoulder “But I wouldn’t worry, I’ve had friends and family in danger and those Technicolor marines always save the day.”

“But the other day…the gold one…she…he…it…was killing people.”

“It happens, I try not to sweat what super heroes do. Their only human, they are out they’re doing what the police just can’t do. Their threats are much more deadly and more complicated. Maybe he fell from grace, maybe he’s being controlled, maybe it’s a imposter. At the end of the day all I can do to keep me sane is hope that they work it out by the end.”

“How can you be some accepting, if they weren’t around Angel’s Basin Walton be short 4 buildings and hundreds of lives.”

The woman pauses “Ya…but think about this…what would have happened if they DIDN’T intervene. Theirs only been a hand full of giant robot battles in the city, and yet we only lost 4 buildings. Did you see the big first fight, I have the news footage on tape those giant animals tried so hard just to get the cat guy out of the city before cutting loose. They could have been killed, destroyed so many times holding back like that but because of that the city was spared.”

Malcolm sighs “Thanks…”

Michael sits in the kitchen slowly nursing a sandwich a worn out look on his face.

“Yo Bro what’s up, you look like something the cat dragged in.”

Michael looked up at his step brother Michael William. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s Tara isn’t it?”

“I just feel like I should have been there.”

“You’re not a god or a super hero. Those alien mutants have what seems like anarmy. Everyone has their limits.”

Kenny is furious at work in the Command Center, a look of intense concentration on his face. The Soul Reader his focus.

“It’s not your fault.”

“No that’s just it, it is. Hydro Hag didn’t make us evil only removed our inhibitions. Tara felt so inferior she sold her soul for power and I almost killed to saved your people.”

“But you didn’t kill anyone.”

“But I came close.”

“The point is you never crossed the line, even without moral to guild you made a conscious decision not to kill. Now why is that?”

Kenny pauses “I guess, in my mind I see myself as a protector, but to kill would make me no better then my enemy. Had they never come along I may have been willing to kill to protect.”

“So it wasn’t a moral not to kill for you but you saw it as the betrayal of your very nature. Think on that.”

“I have, its one of the few things that keep me sane at the end of the day, but then I think of this device, I want to just destroy it but I can’t. While under the influence I had my greatest breakthroughs at the cost of invading an alien’s soul and putting a man in a coma. “

Rotoscope pauses suddenly unable to think “W…Wait…you read a foreign soul?”

“Yes, I did, and now I’m adding the storage medium so I can get the transfer system up.”

“I…I’m, my people, I…I am at a loss for words.”

Claire’s room in her home, she sits motionless on her bed the vial from Reeva being turned over and over in her hands. “Was it worth it for love? Is it right to make him love me?”

Malcolm and his new girl friend exit the movie theatre, Malcolm still looking morose as Tara in her new power form appears. She looks around and charges at Malcolm and his date, frozen for a moment in fear as the people around him scatter, his date trying to pull him with the fleeing crowds but she is caught by Tara and in a blink they are gone.

“Why, why did she go after her?” His gaze drifts skyward then back to his feet, there he noticed a note. Bending down he picks it up and opens it.

If you wish to see your girlfriend you will meet Tara alone in the park and surrender your powers to her.

In a cold and damp place Tara appears with the girl swiftly setting to order chaining her to the wall.

“Why are you doing this? You use to be a hero!”

“I serve my master now, and only the master.”

“You poor brainwashed thing. Is this really want you want to do?”

Tara pauses, hesitant a moment “Yes”

Tara vanishes in a flash appearing before a powered up Malcolm in the park. “Ok T, I’m here. Is this really what you want?”

“It is what the master wants, if you want your friend released safely surrender your power.”

“T, Tara you know I can’t do that, this isn’t you Tara. You may not like Zardoz but you agreed to protect the city not destroy it. Come on T come back to us.”

Tara pauses “You have made a bad decision black warrior. You forfeit the girl, and your life.”

“No wait!”

Drawing the long crescent blade into her hands she charges, the speed is unbelievable, Malcolm can barely react as she swings up wide the blade cuts deep into Malcom’s suit drawing sparks. Th e strengths is crippling. Malcolm stumbles back on his feet coughing to catch his breath. Tara swings down ready to cleave over his head before he can even react. But somehow manages to miss. Her breathing heavy and labored. Tara steps back shaking her head as if to clear it. She doesn’t get a chance to return strike as Malcolm is teleported away.

Regaining her composure she returns to the dark dimension where the girl is chained.

“Your champion has failed, your life is forfeit.”

“Wait…” the door opens as Reeva enters She raises her staff a ball of energy forming at the tip. The LEDS flash as Tara is slammed into the wall by the blast. Reeva rushes to the girl grabbing her roughly as she vanishes with her.

Elsewhere with Reeva and the girl.

“I almost didn’t make it!” Reva staggers clutching her chest and panting. “I’m to old for this.”

“You…saved my life. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“No…” Reeva pants “I do not wish to encumber you. If only I had a champion to carry on my fight. Now let us get you back to your home.”

Reeva staggers again dropping to her knees, from the folds of her robe falls a small dagger and another golden spider like gauntlet. She fumbles to retrieve them coughing “I can’t let my enemies get theses items of power…I…must…save them for…my champion.”

The girl pauses, hesitates…”I will be your champion.”

Reeva smiles weakly “Thank you.”


Trinity, Part 1 – Silver Knight

The Youth Center, working through the pain of the loss of Tara, Michael pounds away at the punching bag. Spotting him is his step brother Michael. Tired and exhausted Michael steps back sitting down on a near bench his breathing labored. Hydro Hag in her human form sits next to him beside Claire. A cup of water in her hand. Michael glares death at Hydro Hag.

“I’m gonna get my boxing gloves from the car, k bro.”

Michael catches his breath turning to Michael “Get mine as well Bro.”

Michael nods, and Claire takes the cup from Hydro Hag “Cha, Drink up.”

Michael stands grabbing Hydro Hag by the collar pressing her to the wall “You trying to poison me Bitch, this is all your fault!”

“It’s just…it’s just…”

The commotion draws watching eyes, Claire places her hand on Michael’s shoulder to calm him. Taking a gulp of the cup. “Calm down! It’s ok!”

“What’s in that shit this time, Hag!”

Hydro Hag swallows hard “It’s a stress relieving formula.”

“Cha that’s why I’m no so stressed about the big game tomorrow!”

Michael sits down slowly his voice a whisper “You don’t get it, do you?”

Michael sighs Claire putting herself between the 2 of them. “Can you like blame her?”

“I guess not.” Michael sighs leaning resting his head on Claire’s breast. Hydro Hag looks around uncomfortably “Wonder what taking Michael.”

Outside Michael with the gloves in hand locks up the car when out of nowhere Reeva appears. Taking a defensive posture Michael gauges the stmarine.

“What do you want! Who are you?”

Reeva smiles opening her hand a gold spider manacle leaps from her grip latching onto Michael’s left wrist. Her staffs LEDs glow bright as arcs of energy shoot through him. She hands him something and in as flash they are gone.

The Command Center a flash of yellow light appears as Tara enters, she looks around quickly, Rotoscope stepping in front of her “Tara are you ok? Did you break free?”

“My master commands, I Obey!”

Drawing the crescent blade she slashes it though several consoles but before Rotoscope can react she is gone again. Rotoscope scrabbles over the destroyed controls with a sunken heart “The communication system is totaled, we can not summon the champions!”

The room is silent as the grave for a moment “Zardoz?”

“Zardoz?”

Nothing the link to the voices of the core severed.

Meanwhile in town a warrior rises, clad in silver armor similar but not quite identical to the armor for the champions appears. A dagger in one hand its blade a long beam of solid energy extends it to full sword length. Moments later in a green flash another Warrior appears, clad in the extra armor worn by Tara but this one clad in green. The final flash arrives, as Tara appears the 3 stare at each other long and hard.


Trinity, Part 2 – Brothers Apart

Kenny taps the com watch but is surprised when nothing happens. “That can’t be good.” AdChrisg the com Kenny is transported to the damaged Command Center. A gasp escapes his lips as he surveys the damage. “What happened?”

Rotoscope looks grimply to where Zardoz’s head would normally be projected the room I cold and silent. “Tara was here.”

Kenny sighs “Show me where to start, lets get this thing back up and running.”

The moon palace, the dark cell. Ra approaches Michael and hands him a long twisted curving sword. Taking the sword Michael’s eyes take on a darker cast. Ra smiles “And not it is complete. Short of the destruction of that blade you are under the master’s control forever. Now wait here, Reeva is bringing a guest.”

Michael kneels in suplication to Ra as he exits. “Yes master.”

Outside the dark dimension but inside the moon palace a creature waits, crouched like a patient pet. Its form resembles some cross of saber tooth tiger and human female. Its blond fur shimmering in the artificial light. While roughly humanoid in shape its limbs and form seem to favor movement on 4 limbs. Its form bare coated only in it’s fur coat. A single strap hold a crescent shaped blade to its back and a spider-like manacle affixed to one of its arms Ra kneels, running a gold armored hand along the creatures muzzle.

“So primitive, and yet such a beauty, it is a pain being so far from my people. But you, it’s a little vision of home even if it is one savage, wild. A pale shadow but still better then none.”

The creature purrs as Ra moves on past it. Meanwhile on Earth Michael searches high and low for his missing brother. A figure emerges from an ally and comes face to face with Reeva. She raises her staff high and in a flash they are gone. Moments later they are in the Dark Dimension. Reeva is gone but Michael stands mere feet from his brother. Michael’s heart swells as he runs to embrace his brother. Michael is as still as death. As Michel throws open his arms to embrace his brother he draws a transformation device like his own.

“The Dragon Kaiser” Michael says coldly as he becomes the green warrior and with a hard back blow sends his brother reeling.

Michael rises slowly frozen with fear. Blade drawn his brother changes, he has seconds before his head is removed from his body. One chance, thought evaporates, instincts guide him “Tyransaurus Rex”. The warrior in burgundy, of red, of blood, of sacrifices appears in his place his own long sword rising to intercept the Serpent Blade of his brother. Muscles struggle against each other but the green warrior empowered by Reeva’s technology wins. Overpowering his brother he sends him to his back. Michael rolls fast to avoid the follow up swing. “Michael, break free. Come on bro!”

“You will die by my hand, brother. It is my master’s will.”

From the shadows Reeva chuckles a childlike laugh, the light hearted sound chilling Michael to the bone in the civil war of brother against brother. A fight to the death.

And Michael isn’t sure he can win.


Trinity, Part 3 – Divide and Conquer

The golden spider, a tool often employed by Reeva. But this was the original the Scorpion Queen. Ages past she was named Selket, born of the same race as Ra she was a peerless warrior. Her shining golden armor hid many secrets. Her beauty, in the eyes of Ra, unmatched. She had disappeared ages ago in battle against a Gorgonite on a backwater planet know as Earth. Her golden wings were a thing of legend. And all that remains was this one statue buried in the bowls of the 3rd planet from the Sun. Unearthed by his hand Ra wrapped his arms around the statue and in a flash was back on the moon. As he landed he settled the statue caught in mid battle charge pose steady before sweeping his eyes to Reeva. Ra was shocked their was a look on Reeva’s face of, something, a emotion she had never shown before. Regret? Familiarity? Reeva may have resembled the humans of the 3rd planet but reading her emotions was difficult. At her sides and her feet lay 3 humanoid creatures, the cat from before, some sort of rodent, and a canine.

“My master I come with a request.”

“Is that Selket?”

Ra gasps surprised “You know her?”

“Yes…” She pauses “…Back when I first acquired the green warrior’s power she was my right hand as you are my left now. But she faced an opponent, a Gorgonite. I presume that you know what they can do?”

“Yes, their icy glare turns one to stone…forever.”

“I looked for her as I would you but did not find her. Why have you brought her to me.”

“With all your technology I figured you could revive her.”

Reeva smiles “Me and my old general back together, torturing those inferior little insects below, sounds fun.”

Ra smiles “I leave her in your hands then.” Turning for the exit Ra makes his way out as Reeva admires the statue, absently stroking the fur of her 3 great beasts.

Back in the command center the 3 that remain gather.

“First Michael goes missing then Tara attacks here and now Michael is gone.” Kenny muses.

“Don’t forget Trinity.” Malcolm pauses his head low “She was my date and they took her.”

“Cha? You think they are like targeting our family?”

Rotoscope pauses “Seems logical.”

“We should split up see if we can find Michael, maybe he’s hurt, maybe if they took him they left a clue.”

“Cha lets do it!”

In a flash the 3 powered warriors appear at 3 different points in the city as they begin their search. As Kenny searches he is suddenly confronted Tara appears in a flash of gold light The crescent blade drawn. Kenny sighs “Theirs no reasoning with you is there?”

Tara pauses “Your death is at hand.”

Kenny prepares for the fight of his life drawing his pole staff. Tara charges fast swinging up with the blade Kenny raises his staff to deflect and his arms go numb from the impact. A swift knee comes up hammering into Kenny’s midsection sending him coughing and sprawling to his back. Blood spatters the inside of his helmet. Tara hesitates as she looms over him, moments later the crescent blade swings toward his head. Deftly, guided by his predecessors skills Kenny rolls away but the blade cuts into his shoulder anyway. Kenny stumbles to his feet holding hi shoulder, glad for the suits durability but still nursing the what would have cleaved bone for any mortal man.

Meanwhile Malcolm finds himself face to face with the Silver Knight.

“Who are you!”

“The helmet of the silver knight rolls away like a series of interlocking plates opening at the edges until they vanish to nothing. Trinity’s face stares back “Master Reeva has ordered your death.”

Malcolm’s heart sinks “No….not you too.”

Her energy blade extends as she dives into the fray, instinct calls the axe to aid him as she strikes. His axe intercepts the blade of light in its strike and he rolls to safety. He rolls into a leap getting air on Trinity he flips the axe position it for a blaster attack cocking the pump but he hesitates as he hangs their in the air. Trinity faces him cracking the energy blade up like a whip the beam stretching like a laser. Malcolm reacts on pure reflex and switches back to the axe mode to deflect the blow. The beam hammers him and breaks his control. The follow up strike smashes him face first to the dirt.

Now we move to Claire who faces the toughest challenge of all, Selket. As the golden light clears she stands erect, most of her body clad in armor like Ra’s but a good deal of her skin is exposed, human skin.

“Cha? So like are you a friend?”

“Of humans? Hardly.”

“But you’re like a human.”

“No…” she growls “This form is some sick joke by Reeva! Well if she wishes to see my skills are as sharp as ever, even in a weak human form so be it. Defend yourself warrior!”

“Cha! Why with all the fighting!”

She doesn’t get a answer, sword drawn Selket charges, Claire doesn’t even have time to call her weapon as she is hit hard in the chest and sent spiraling to the ground. Selket seizes the advantage, presses it. As Claire tumbles Selket kicks sending her sailing with a swift and fierce reverse axe kick. Claire hits the ground hard, she struggling to her feet only to be hammered by a stiff kick to her jawbone. Claire rolls to avoid another attack but is caught on the down swing of her reverse axe kick’s return.

Suddenly our 3 heroes, battered and beaten are left alone, their 3 attackers vanishing.

The Moon Palace

“Master why did you recall us!” demands Selket.

“Because….” She pauses, “Defeating them like that isn’t enough you must destroy their wall machines as well!”

Selket, Ra, Trinity, Michael, and Tara laugh a cold dark laugh.
Trinity, Part 4 –Shadow of the Beasts

The Command Center, the 3 gather in panic.

“She was so strong. Cold as ice!” rambles Kenny rubbing his aching shoulder.

“It was Trinity, Reeva corrupted my girlfriend turned her into that creature. She fought me without a mask and didn’t even hesitate, didn’t fluctuate. She was cold as stone.”

“Cha you were lucky.” Grumbles Claire cover in bruises all over “That new chick was savage.”

Kenny draws in his breath “Ok we need to focus Claire and Rotoscope work on getting the communication system up. Malcolm help me locate Michel with the viewer.”

“Who made you….”

A harsh slap from Claire shuts Malcolm the hell up “Do it. We need Michael! Cha we need the National Guard!”

The 4 fall into step to their tasks working feverishly. But things go from bad to worse as the viewer bring to light a giant Ra stomping into town. The warrior’s hearts sink as they watch him seeming taunting them to come. On instinct they prepare to transform. The call out their beasts name but there a surge of energy that courses across the Command Center, they fail to transform.

“W…what happened?”

Rotoscope panics “Aye-Yi-Yi-Yi! The core has shorted out. We’ve lost access the transformation grid.”

The 3’s hearts drop into the soles of there feet.

“So…like…the viewer is still working. Bot we can’t do anything.”

Rotoscope lets out a long mechanical sigh as Ra raises his sword and with one swift motion cleaves it stright through a tall building. The 4’s hearts sink into the Earth.

“No….it will not end like this!” Kenny’s voice starts a whisper raising in magnitude and ferocity. “Get back to work, NOW!”

This time no one disagrees vocally or even mentally. Though their eyes drift to the viewer hoping with some small part of there being that this can be stopped.

In the city proper Hydro Hag watches the destruction with the other helpless citizens. She rushes to the battle where medics are trying to find and evac survivors. The shadow of Ra looms over them like a oppressive god. The medics look tired and haggard Hydra Hag’s hands tremble as she fills a couple cups with an orange fluid. She weaves through the chaos to the injured and the medics efforts. Her focus wavering on her human guise returning her to her true form. Seeing the frog like creature charge toward them panic rises in the street.

“No please don’t run!”

“It’s another monster!”

A few brave police rise to the occasion stepping up to block her way. “No! You don’t understand! I want to help!”

“Get out of here freak!”

Sweat pours from her forehead, the cups slosh in her hands, she tries to push past the police push past the cups flying from her fingers sail through the air. The world hold is breath in fear of what the flying liquid will do. The 2 cups splatter on the ground but a few drops hit an open wound. The wound healing where the liquid makes contact.

The police draw their guns, prepare to kill the monster when a voice echoes behind them

“Let her up!”

The turn to see a medic approaching the police men “I don’t know who you are stmarine but I saw that juice hit my patient.”

Hydra Hag smiles “It’s a restoration formula.”

Th police hesitate, then help her up, she rushes to the triage unit feverishly pouring cups and handing them to the medics.

“It can heal and restore vitality, but works best if you can get them to drink it!”

A volunteer effort lead by the medics rises up to dispense the amber liquid at the guidance of the medics. The worst injured and most fatigued of the victims and medics get the potion first. As Hydra Hag works one of the cops approaches her, his features sheepish, torn.

“I’m sorry I almost killed you.”

Hydra Hag does even see him; her efforts focused on dispensing her formula. The world fades out around her. But she feels something grow in her. A sense of purpose, belonging. She shoves a cup into the officer’s hand. For a moment he looks down pondering drinking it but one look at the chaos and he knows better. He rushes off to join the volunteer dispensers.

Suddenly there a hush whisper as Ra’s gaze is drawn to a motorcycle engine revved on top of a building. Stopping him mid swing from demolishing another building.

“Is it one of them? Our champions.” A voice below utters in hope. Ra looks at the ant his voice booming at his size destroys all hope of their champions return. “Just a human female.”

The cycle revs launching off the roof toward Ra’s giant chest. He laughs at the futile attempt. Mid arc the figure back flips of the cycle. The cycle impacts his golden armor to no effect and as the figure begins to fall beads of sweat form on Ra’s brow. The sky catches fire and enormous 60 foot wings of pure flame erupt from the back of the woman. Fire seeming to surge from her hands in the form of a massive spear. The people watch transfixed as the woman’s voice seem to echo without size or a megaphone to amplify it.

“I am the Seriphim, Warrior of the light, charged with the destruction of the forces of the under realm. You may not be a demon but with God as my witness. Your Reign Ends…NOW!”

The spear and wings shrink down until there is but a fiery candle in the sky. A Lone woman with wings of fire and a burning sword in her hand hovering before Ra. He laughs swatting at her like an insect. She braces as the hand hits and holds her place. Ra is surprised at her strength.

Back at the command center the 4 release a breath they didn’t know they were holding. Kenny’s voice echoes a moment later. “Found him!”

In a flash Michael, battered and bruised is there among friends. Kenny and Malcolm don’t so much as greet him as the rush over to help Rotoscope and Claire. Michael looks about confused but the determined look on their faces tells him not to interrupt them to ask what the hell is going on. He turns his gaze to the viewer. His gaze drifts to the scene of Hydra Hag’s efforts to help the medics then to the candle in the sky. He prepares to transform. Claire rushes over slapping the device from his hand.

“No! You can’t!”

“Why!”

“It’s fried if you transform now you could permanently break the thing!”

“My transformer is fine.”

“No the transforming grid thingy is broken!”

Michael’s heart sinks as the gravity of the situation hits him. “What can I do to help.”

Ra pushes against the gnat now with actual effort as opposed to a casual smack like before. And yet he struggles she holds her ground. Ra again is surprised at her strength and pulls back his hand.

“Impressive strength human, but the fight is over.” Ra draws back his fist and with a swift devastating blow hammers it into the girl. She sails through a near building and out the other side. His sword catches her on the exit slapping her back through another section of the building. As she exits again he slams her with his open palm. The Seriphim hammers toward the earth. Tar melts and boils on impact from her flaming wings. She lies still in a depression of tar imprinted with the form of a winged angel.

Ra prepares to crush her under foot when he is met by machine gun fire from 4 points. An amplifiers magnifies a female voice.

“Alien stand down! This is Lieutenant Nala Tredwell of the United States Armored Core Defense Initiative. You will leave peacefully or in a body bag.”

Four 6-foot war machines circle Ra from the tops of buildings, jump jets letting them move from rooftop to top time like leaping frogs.

Ra laughs and swings at the gnats. At the last minute the jump jets fire moving them out of the way of his strike. Their bullets do damage to his armor but he can’t seem to catch them. Ra stumbles a touch as bullets fire into the weak joint at the back of his knees. Regaining his footing he moves to swipe one of the gnats and again the slip right past his fingers at the last moment. Suddenly atop a rooftop is a flash of light as Tara, Trinity, and Michael, in their powered forms appearing. As the Armored Core occupy Ra the 3 move to attack them as they land. There’s a bright flash and Michael, Kenny, Claire and Malcolm appear in their powered form.

The 3 glare at the 4 and then laugh. Michael places his ocarina to his lips and begins to play a tune. The haunting melody is definitely alien, its tempo and beat slow give a feeling of some kind of war march. The warriors jump as they hear the ocean stir. Emerging from the sea rises a large mechanical monster. A biped like the T-rex, black, gold, and green. It’s long whip like tail tipped with a drill. Large blunted arms and powerful legs. The Dragon Kaiser, the Land dragon, the King Lizard. Like the iris of camera the fingers open up as it thunders into town as 10 missiles smash into our 4 heroes. The Technicolor quartet struggle to get their already battered bodies to their feet after taking the missile salvo, again thankful for the power of their suits. Michael leaps up atop the crest of his war machine standing there like general overseeing the battle field.

Next is Tara who summons up her proud Sabertooth Tiger. She does not attack merely looks from her beast to her former friends. Their spirits drop. Ra would be enough of a challenge with just 4 war machines, add in the dragon king it was hopeless. And now the sabertooth tiger was poised to strike. That left Trinity. What ever she was going to summon was going to the final nail in the coffin. The 4 shivered in fear. Trinity leapt from the building, in moment she stood tall and proud a giant like Ra. Their hearts sank, but Malcolm trembled like a leaf in the wind.

“No not this, at least with a war mech their slow, mobility isn’t great even if fire power is immense. If she is the size of Ra then she may be weaker then a war beast but her agility will be…We’ll never hit her in our beasts.”

Ra’s voice rumbles as Selket and Reeva appear atop a roof. “This is the final battle, heroes. Your city falls.” As his attack stops the 4 Armor Cores land opposite Reeva and Selket waiting.

Selket leaps off the building, in a moment she towers as another giant. Reeva raises her staff as the city grows dark, a eclipse drowns out the sun. “And with the blocking of your sun your war beasts can not draw on it’s solar energies!” She looks to Tara “Destroy them.”

Tara hesitates the looks to her beast; she points to her friends “Eat them!”

The war beasts face inches closer, Tara makes the demand again. “Kill them!”

The Sabertooth tiger opens its maw and snaps his head forward, its grabs Tara by her large crescent blade and whips her like a rag doll in its mouth. Reluctantly Tara releases her grip on the sword to get out the death shake. She flies through the air smashing into an office building. The war beast crunches down shattering the blade diffiently.

Kenny stands tall “You may be able to control one of use, but our war beasts have their own minds!”

In a flash Tara appears atop the roof “You no longer control me either!” Tara pauses moving to her war beast and strokes its large nose “Thank you!”

Reeva just laughs as the other 4 call their war beasts in a moment the fighter formation stands tall with its 5 pilots inside against it stands the Dragon Kaiser War Beast, Selket, Ra, and Trinity. The summon their blade as the dragon attack with its drill tail. It hammers into them hard.

“We only functioning at 80% power.”

“Reeva was right the sun is our power source.”

“It doesn’t matter, we are united, we will win.”

The 4 Armored Cores return to their strafing runs as Ra and Selket Charge the mega warrior mech. Battered, bloodied, bruised, the warrior angel Seraphim raises from the ground, her blood drips like tears from haven as her flaming wings eclipse the eclipse. The sun begins to shine, her voice booms.

“By my blood, by this sacrifice I call on the Lord who art in heaven,

LET THEIR BE LIGHT!”

The sun blazes on in all its glory as the Seraphim drops back to Earth, a fallen stone. Reeva retreats to the moon to watch.

“This is unbelievable we’re functioning at 150%”

Tara shakes her head “My…blade…That’s it.” She nearly rips out her throat “Trinity’s energy blade break it. It might free her mind like it did mine!”

But despite a plan they are outmatched the Dragon’s firepower smashes even their fortified power. The stumble back crashing into another building. Selket leaps landing behind them and with a swift kick to their side cracks the super structure. Ra’s blade coming down hard to crack the chest plate. The back away Trinity moving in she swings the energy blade. The act fast moving the sword to intercept. The two blades clash and struggle against each other as the warrior beast rises. The Dragon attacks then, missiles hammers the two and the sound of shattering steel the sword of the champions clatters to the ground. But something else clatters with it, Trinity’s own blade. Slowly Trinity regains her focus a mace hangs at her hip, she draws it. The world crashes back to her. She sees Ra. She charges.

The Armored Cores switch target to distracting Selket, her soft human flesh proving more pliable to their machine gun fire but still she stands tall, hurt but not much. The warrior mech charges meeting the Dragon. Missiles hammer into it then the tail as it swings around and bores into them like a strange fusion of whip and drill. The Mega Warrior falls again. Ra slashes with his sword, it meets Trinity’s mace and he counters with a strong kick to her midsection sending her tumbling onto her back. Selket tries to swat the nimble Armored Cores as the Dragon makes it final blow smashing the Warrior Beast again. This time the Warrior Beast does not move.

Trinity’s mace smashes into Ra’s jaw drawing blood she retaliates again and again with a ferocity as the champions fail to stir behind her. Ra growls his face a mask of silver blood. In an instant he is gone again. Red welts wash across Selket form as Trinity charges her mace cuts deep drawing crimson blood. She pushes like a line backer charging Selket into the Dragon, the plow through several building before finally the Dragon tumbles and a bloody Selket smashes her own weapon into Trinity’s chest. Trinity’s power fails. She reverts to human as she hits the ground. Selket and the green warrior vanish. Cracked Trinity’s Silver necklace leaks silver fluid on to her chest. veins of electronics and metal dig into her bear flesh as she lie there still, her breaths slow and shallow.

As our heroes emerge from them Wreckage the green warrior appears in their command center. Rotoscope barely has time to react as he shoves a disc into Rotoscopes back. Rotoscope flails around confused and out of control. Sword in hand he takes to the decimation of the consoles, finishing the job Tara started.

Trinity, Part 5 – Shattered

As they stand in the wreckage Tara lowers her head in shame. “I’m…I’m sorry.” Her gaze drifts to the portion of the warrior beast that is her mecha.

“Because I wanted to be stronger they were able to control me. Make me do so many evil things. I was helpless I failed my own essence. Will to Resist Domination my ass.”

Claire looks around for Trinity and wanders off. Kenny approaches Tara pausing a moment to think “You resisted more then you imagine. Every time we fought I saw you hesitate.”

“Still, I did what I was told.”

Michael shakes as he looks over the wreckage “So much power…I can’t believe…my brother.”

The other turn to Michael “Michael? What has this to do with him?”

“He…he’s the green marine.”

“Reeva must have…” Tara shivers “First me, then Trinity and now Michael.”

Malcolm begin to panic and looks around franticly “Trinity? Trinity! We have to find her. She was so brave but she…”

With Trinity supported by her Claire returns to the group “Is totally ok.”

Malcolm takes a relived breath. Kenny looks to the 6 “We got a problem. The command center isn’t communicating with me.”

“What?!”

“No!”

Michael clears his throat “Guys I’m going to look for my brother. But someone needs to check out the command center and help the survivors.”

“You can’t go alone. His powered up just as much as I am.”

“This is not discussion Tara. We have 3 things to fix We will split up. Now move it. Kenny and Tara the command center. Malcolm and Claire support here. Trinity…” He pauses looking at the silver veins stretching over Trinity. “You rest.”

“No!”

Michael takes a hard look at her “Your hurt.”

“This is partially my fault I want to help the relive effort.”

“Fine.”

And so the 6 split up into 3 groups. Michael Teleports away scouring the area for his brother. While Tara and Kenny appear in the command center. Rotoscope flares around widely out of control. Tara acts quick restraining him. She straggles against his mechanical strength but seem to be a match for it.

“There!” Kenny moves in spotting a strange disc lodged into Rotoscope’s back and struggles to remove it. In moments Rotoscope is back to normal.

Rotoscope spies Tara and takes a defensive posture Kenny moving between them.

“It’s cool, its cool she’s back to normal!”

Rotoscope lets out a mechanical sigh. “Thank goodness…” he pauses looking at the devastation “Aye-yi-yi-yi-yi This is worse then what Tara did.”

Tara bows her head “Sorry.”

Meanwhile Hydro Hag continues her relive effort handing out the restorative liquid. She pauses a moment standing up from the car she was perched on.

“Is their something wrong Hydro Hag?” ask an officer.

“Well…I’m feeling dehydrated…” she begins.

“Get some water over her STAT!”

Theirs a flurry of movement around Hydro Hag as clean water is moved about toward her. “Wait! Wait that not why I stopped!”

The people pause waiting for the response “Well then?”

“I have a idea. cups can only go so far.” She draws the holstered hoses pointing them over a concentration of injured. A rain of the curative shoot forth sprinkling over the tired medics and wounded. The miracle rain restoring their vitality and healing them. She smiles the corners of her face cracking from dehydration. She winces in pain before a man splashes a cup of water in her face. Moisturizing her dry skin.

“Thanks.”

Just then Malcolm, Trinity and Claire arrive. Malcolm takes a defensive posture but Claire takes his shoulder and points to the victims under the rain recovering. He pauses and relaxes.

Trinity speaks up “Can we help?”

The officer turns to them “the champions! Wait only 2 of them?”

“The others are busy looking for the cause of all this. Were here to help” adds Malcolm.

“Glad to have you.”

Michael appears in a query outside town on his 5th teleport. He looks around and is blindsided by a rock to the head. Luckily his helmet protects him. He turns to see the green marine.

“Bro!”

“Took ya long enough to find me. I’ve been waiting here to destroy you.”

“Snap out of it bro!”

In a instant Michael is upon him, Michael has a instannt to summon his sword and block the swipe from the dragon blade. His arms tremble from his brother superior strength. He is pused back a few steps. “The Sword is the key.” He reflects reaching for the serpent blade to help him support his grip. Michael tigtens his grip as he stiff kicks Michael to the side of his ribs. Michel is sent flying. The duo both loosing their swords In the momentum and Michael tumbleing to his back. They and Michael pauses seeing the swords on the ground.

“Yo Bro you ok.”

“Did you think a few words would make me betray my master?”

“Damn!” he thinks, “he’s still under the spell. I’ve got to bust that sword. Not just disarm him.”

Michael acts quick drawing his blaster. Michael charges him ocarina in hand. Michael rolls to avoid the impact and charges toward the blade. Michael leaps hammering into Michael’s back with a Arial kick. Michael tumbles to the ground landing by the serpent blade. Michael lands, his foot holding it down and looking down.

“You won’t be using my sword against me bro.”

“That’s not the plan! BRO!”

Michael rolls griping the blade handle and he fires the blaster. He pulls swiftly the metal reddening from the laser fire and then CRACK. Michael drops the shattered blade and his bro staggers.

“Bro?”

Michael stagger collapsing into his brothers arm “Bro…t…thanks.”

Theirs a sudden surge of energy as the two brothers embrace. The green light surges into the core in the command center as a flash of energy begin to restore what was destroyed. The 5 colors surge into a course of bodies in the command center and then are joined by a large group of green holograms.

Rotoscope gasps “Michael did it. He re connected the Power Of Determination, of green to the core!”