Chicago, IL
gardy720
Battle
Kara watched helplessly as the world's greatest superhero spun slowly end over end towards the sun. She hid her face in her hands. Supergirl felt more than saw or heard the disruption in the cold silence of space. "No!" She turned just in time to witness three waves of starships shimmer into view, surrounding them. The first wave of ships split from the others and took up eight equidistant points encircling the Earth.
The second wave formed a loose arc between the moon and Earth, while the third wave set out towards Mars. Suddenly Clark's progress toward the sun stopped. Kara watched in horror as Kal was dragged back near her by an unseen force. Half of the second wave of starships rotated in place to face the way they'd come, the other half spread out, releasing scores of smaller ships. Neither of them had seen this style of spaceship. "Those aren't Black Fleet fighters!" Kal observed tiredly. The miniature ships were each about the size of semi-tractor trucks, though they were delta shaped.
The fighters separated into groups of four. They quickly darted toward the Earth's surface in diamond-like formations, placing themselves within the atmosphere. They began to circle the globe, like an Air Force patrol squadron. "That doesn't make any sense." Kara remarked. "Why wouldn't Darkseid just blast Earth?"
Two much larger starships assumed positions roughly above Earth's shrinking Polar Regions. They weren't as streamlined as the other ships. They resembled pictures Kara had seen of antique Earth dirigibles. Another ship was medium-sized dagger shaped, and appeared to be the center of attention. "A command ship?" Superman guessed. Kara floated beside Clark worriedly.
A young alien female stood confidently on the command center platform of her starship. She viewed a holographic array of the force's positions. She had multicolored long stringy hair, a small face, was petite in size, and her most unusual feature was two pointed ears jutting outward from a position on her head higher than a human's. She wore a simple blue and gray tunic, tied at her slim waist. She also wore a golden colored belt with a number of alien devices attached to it.
The alien girl was obviously in command. An 'R' shaped golden pin was displayed in a prominent place on her ample chest. "Fleetwide, Communications officer." She directed. "Yes Captain." A middle-aged male with greenish colored skin and red eyes confirmed. "Fleetwide."
"This is Captain Ryla Stardragon of the Dragon's Beckon. All departments report." The girl's high tinny voice boomed throughout the fleet, as well as echoing through Kal and Kara's minds. They winced at the loud volume. Reports poured in from every section and every ship.
"Lieutenant Kaloth, are your snubfighters in place?" Ryla singled out the young squadron commander leading the patrols across Earth. "Yes Captain, welcome to Earth." He quipped. "What's left of it,"Ryla sneered. "Interdictor ships Katenga and Paramount, are you in position as well?" There was a crackling of interference during the response. "In position, Captain." Lt. Kol Mekk affirmed. "Commander Bel Coros, are the net drones in place?" Ryla questioned.
The tall dark-haired thirtyish human responded. "All set, Ryla." Dyken Bel Coros was not used to responding to authority, being the rogue captain of his own ship for many years. Ryla cut him some slack, as she gave the next set of orders. "By your command." Areka Thaca replied more formally. "Prepare neural net…engage." Ryla gave the final order. The eight drone ships were unmanned and served a single purpose. "Net deployed." Lt. Thaca confirmed.
An orange colored grid appeared, invisible to the naked eye, but brilliantly displayed on the holographic mission planner array. Each of the eight drones was an anchor for an energy net that encircled Earth like a giant blanket. "Force net secured Captain." Lt. Thaca concluded.
"Nothing gets into or off planet." Ryla explained to everyone on her control platform. "It's not perfect, but it should give us a temporary edge against Darkseid's Black Fleet." Brandon Kaloth spun his lead snubfighter into a tight corkscrew above central North America.
"Lt. Kaloth, what are you doing?" Ryla asked angrily. "Just getting used to the Earth's atmosphere, Captain." Ryla sighed. "Fine. Can you survey the damage from there?" Brandon flipped on his cockpit viewscreen. "Yes Captain. Here's the live feed."
A highly detailed map of the United States appeared beside the mission planning hologram. It was pockmarked similarly to the rest of the world. Several cities had been completely destroyed.
"It's just like Kargonis all over again." Ryla spat angrily. Another ship roughly the size of the Dragon's Beckon shimmered out of hyperspace. Its momentum carried it past the outer rim of defense starships along the perimeter of Mars and its moons. Captain Ryla grinned.
"The Akbaht's Folly." "Greetings sis'" A cheerful male voice crackled over the comm. units.
"Brother Ronin, welcome!" Ryla sounded relieved. "I'm sorry that we were late to the party. You wouldn't believe the traffic in this quadrant." He joked. Ronin and his shipmates had to fight through the Black Fleet's defenses as well. "Glad you can join us." Ryla shot back. "Are Rialo and Fralek with you?" Ronin spun his uncle's ship around to face the Dragon's Beckon. "Affirmative, sis', as well as Jaina Solo." Ryla gasped. "You brought a Jedi with you?"
Ryla turned her attention back toward the superheroes. "Let's continue our mission." The young captain's nimble fingers flipped across her communications console. "Hello Kal El and Kara!" Ryla began. "It is said that Kryptonians have superior hearing to most beings…" Her voice seemed to be coming at Clark and Kara from all directions. "If you can hear me please acknowledge in your normal voices." She directed. "A highly focused sound array is pointed at your location."
"Uh…this is Kara…who are you again?" The young commander of the starship waved at her communications officer. "Boost the gain please." The officer complied. "I am Captain Ryla Stardragon of the Dragon's Beckon, that gold starship on your right. We are here to assist." Clark couldn't believe his ears, an entire fleet of help? It was unimaginable. Would it be enough?
"This is Kal El." He croaked. "Do you understand what you're up against?" Ryla smirked, a very human-like gesture for the alien to pick up. "We are well aware of the Black Fleet's capabilities, Kal El. We just fought our way through an entire quadrant of Darkseid's forces."
"Prepare to transport Kal El and Kara to the medical frigate." Ryla ordered her Medical Officer. "No." Clark protested. "I'm severely injured and there's nothing…" Ryla interrupted him. "Then it is fortunate that we have an expert in Kryptonian physiology on board. She calls herself Alexandra Kent." Kara gasped. "Alexandra Kent?" She parroted.
Ryla gestured for Alexandra to approach the communications console. "Hi Kal El…uh…it's an honor to meet you." Alexa began nervously. "I guess I'm your great, great, there's a few more greats in there, granddaughter." Clark reddened. "How?" Alexa sighed. "We don't have time to get into it. Suffice it to say that somewhere along the timeline you found a way to reproduce." Alexa sheepishly admitted.
Kara snickered, though she was still in shock. The young medical sciences officer continued: "I have something of yours…or at least of Krypton's. It's a colorful artifact…interested?" Alexa teased. "The Eye of Rao?" Kara's big blue eyes widened. "Yes." Alexa confirmed. Kal was skeptical. "That's a little too convenient."
"Hardly Kal El." Ryla butted in. "Our current mission is to bring you this Eye of Rao, in hopes that you can right many wrongs. We are part of the Interstellar Resistance Movement, sworn to oppose Darkseid, and his insatiable lust for conquest and subjugation. Darkseid's forces are formidable, and we lost thousands of IRM soldiers. That pales in comparison to Earth's losses, projected to be in the billions. Earth was to play an important role in the galaxy's future."
"Permission to leave the ship, Captain?" Alexa formally requested. "Granted. Take a snubfighter Dr. Kent, and be quick about it. We're almost out of time." Ryla instructed. "Kal, Kara, I'm coming out to get you." Alexa stated. "We can make it to your ship." Kara offered.
"Negative." Alexa said over her shoulder to the array. "Our access codes are genetically based. Only crewmembers are allowed on or off ship. I've been monitoring your vital signs Kal, and you are near death. Conserve your energy." Kara was horrified. "I'll bring him closer."
Alexa quickly zipped through the airlocks using her Kryptonian hyper speed. She found the launch deck and hopped into an orange and black snubfighter. Leaving the Dragon's Beckon, she rocketed close to Kal and Kara. Putting the two-man fighter on hover, Alexa and Kara helped Kal into the cockpit, closed the canopy and spun the fighter around to return to the launch bay.
"Kal El and Kara of Krypton, welcome aboard." Ryla greeted them formally over shipwide. Immediately, Alexa had her staff bring them to the med-deck. Ryla closed her eyes, using the force to contact Jaina Solo. We have completed the first phase of our mission, she reported to the young Jedi.
Alexa covered Clark with a warm blanket as she and Kara placed him on a type of stretcher that flew under its own power. Though he was dazed, Clark still managed to glance at his great-granddaughter. There was a definite family resemblance. Alexa had long black hair tied neatly in a ponytail, bright blue eyes, and... Lois's high cheekbones? Clark was amazed.
Back on the control deck, Ryla checked over her viewscreen one more time. Every ship remained in place. "Commander Z'Beth (pronounced Zee Ah Beth) you have the con." She instructed her second in command. The cat-like alien nodded.
"By your command." Z'beth confirmed, slurring her 'R'. "If there is any change in status, contact me immediately, i'm going to personally greet our guests." Ryla quickly headed for the med-deck, under the watchful eyes of Dyken who shook his head with disapproval.
Clark reluctantly lie in a hover bed, with Alexa and Kara at his side. "I hate being such a bother." He grumbled. "No bother at all, grandfather." Alexa taunted as Kara smiled. Yes, she had Lois's smart alecky sense of humor, Clark mused.
Alexa pulled out a number of blue and yellow crystals from beneath a cabinet. "This is going to hurt." She warned as she placed one crystal on each leg, arm, and neck of the injured superhero. "Whoa!" Clark grimaced as the room spun. Pain shot up and down his spine. Kara helped hold Kal down in the bed.
Ryla reached the medical bay just after Clark's 'surgery'. "How's our patient, Dr. Kent?" She inquired as Kara beamed. "He'll be fine, Captain. Though he'll be sore and have a bad attitude for a while." Alexa quipped, and Kara burst into laughter.
"Not so fast, missy." Alexa said. "Let me see that arm of yours, and your ribcage." Kara quieted. Alexa used her x-ray vision to assess Kara's injuries. "I have just the thing for you." The young doctor shoved a blue crystal underneath Kara's breastplate where it contacted bare skin. "Yeow!" The supergirl yelped.
Ryla grinned. She immediately took a liking to her 'ancient' guests. "Kal El, we are kindred spirits." She began as Clark paid full attention to her, all seriousness again. "My brother Ronin and I are the last survivors of our race, the D'Zan (pronounced Dee ah zonn). An evil species of conquerors attacked our home world of Kargonis many years ago, destroying it and most of my people."
"I'm sorry." Clark commented. "It is we who are sorry, Kal El. If we could've reached Earth sooner, perhaps we might have been able to prevent some of the deaths. However, Darkseid is a formidable warlord. Ronin and I are 'beings of light' meaning we draw our energy from light or goodness. Darkseid, as his name suggests, draws his energy from darkness, or evil."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Alexa remarked. "Exactly." Ryla agreed. "Part of your mission Kal El, should be to contact us sooner, that we may begin preparations to save Earth from Darkseid, and by doing so, would save this entire quadrant from falling into the hands of his minions."
"Mission?" Clark questioned. "Yes. This is your battle, Kal El. Only you, of all beings in the galaxy, can go back in time and prevent centuries of bloody wars."
"So Doc, when can I get out of here?" Superman began. "Soon, Kal, I'd like you to rest for a while." Alexa answered. "We have very little time, Alexa." Ryla reminded her. "Perhaps you should retrieve the artifact?" The Captain suggested. "Sure." Dr. Kent pointed at her patients. "I mean it Kal, you and Kara need rest." Alexa used her hyper speed to head for her cabin.
"Amazing." Kara watched as Alexa sped away. "Kal, you old dog!" She teased her cousin. "I never knew." Clark defended. Ryla grinned. "Neither did I, until recently. Maybe the timeline has already been altered." She remarked. "I should think that you'd remember your offspring."
Alexa returned promptly with the Eye of Rao safely secured in a transparent case. It sparkled under the intense lighting of the medical bay. "It's beautiful." Kara observed. The light glinted off the artifact and created a rainbow effect against the sterile white walls of the room. "Don't let its beauty deceive you, Kara." Ryla warned. "The item has tremendous power. I've felt its influence through the Tide." Clark's eyebrows rose. "The Tide?" Alexa reverently removed the Eye of Rao from its case.
"It's a long complicated explanation Kal El." Ryla began. "The simple version is that the Tide, or the Force, as its called in some cultures, is a type of universal energy that binds all things together. It can be used for good or evil, depending on one's preference."
Alexa handed the Eye of Rao to Clark. It was circular in shape, about the size of Superman's fist. The majority of the gem was forged in gold with silver edges. As predicted, it had nine facets, each containing a multicolored crystal within it. The crystals continued to refract light.
"Any idea how it works?" Clark asked his great granddaughter. "All I know is what the Kryptonian legend tells us." Alexa replied. "You hold it in your hand, press a crystal, and you are supposed to be transported back or forward into the space and time of your choosing."
Clark flipped it carefully over. Sure enough, a series of ancient Kryptonian symbols were imprinted into the gem's backside.
Kara examined it closely as well. "What if I press a shard and it doesn't do anything?" Clark wondered out loud. Kara put her hands on her shapely hips.
"Unfortunately, we don't have time to analyze it." Ryla's gaze grew distant. "They're here." She said menacingly. "Who's here?" Superman asked warily. "The Black Fleet. Our time is up." Ryla stepped away from the medical bed. "How could you know that?" Kara was astounded.
"The Tide, or the Force, if you prefer, gives me a warning when something of great importance is about to happen." Ryla added. "Think of it as a stone being tossed into a placid body of water. The surface ripples away from the stone. It creates a type of shockwave." As if on cue, Z'beth was paging Ryla on the ship's intercom system. Kara and Kal exchanged glances.
"Captain Stardragon, there are several subspace distortions beginning to appear on the long range scanner." The cat-like Felinahri (Fee lin are ee) was already excited and began to slur her speech. Ryla pressed the golden 'R' on her chest and said simply; "Fleetwide! Battlestations!" Her tinny voice echoed across the fleet. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Kal El, Kara."
Ryla bolted for the door. "I must return to my command post. As the humans say, good luck!" With that the young commander was gone and Alexa frowned. Clark attempted to get up. Kara roughly shoved him back down. "Rest! Remember Kal? Doctor's orders." She joked.
"I can't just sit here and let Darkseid wipe out all of these good people!" Superman protested. "This is no longer your fight, Kal." Alexa argued. "When Darkseid attacked the IRM worlds, it became our fight. You need to concentrate on getting well and learning how to use the Eye of Rao. Let us handle this battle, grandfather." Alexa teased. "Should you learn how to work the Eye, I'd suggest you take some healing crystals back with you. They'll prove useful."
"Where'd you get them?" Clark pressed. "From New Krypton." Alexa stated proudly, shocking them both. "New Krypton?" Kara echoed. "Yes, it's a beautiful planet, far from here. There are hundreds of thousands of residents, directly descended from your families. They'll be in danger as well if Darkseid is allowed to continue on his destructive path. That's why this must end here."
"Some of us survived?" Kara was skeptical. "Yes, at least a few." Alexa responded as she bent over and kissed Clark's forehead. "Save us all, grandfather." She added tearfully. Kara was already running into hyper speed, as Alexa followed close behind. Clark was left alone in the medical bay. He sighed and examined the artifact. This is a real longshot, he silently reasoned.
Meanwhile Ryla was at her command center directing the melee. "Z'Beth, modulate the grid sections of the net to change frequencies. We don't need Darkseid to catch on to our little ploy." She instructed. "As you wish." Zbeth hissed, baring her fangs. Ryla spun her console assembly to face the rear of the deck. "Commander Dyken, are you ready to man the quad laser canons?"
The tall human seated himself in the weapons array console, which gave him nearly three hundred sixty degrees of firing angles. "On it, Ryla! Let's kick some butt!" He adjusted the sights on his display. Ryla spun back to her holographic imaging array. She checked the positions of all craft.
"Lt. Kaloth! Its up to you and the other squadrons to reinforce the shield net from below, checking for any weak points." Ryla stated. "No doubt that Darkseid's forces will attack the same section grids repeatedly." Eight sets of four snubfighters spread out along the Earth's upper atmosphere. They could remain flying within the light gravity indefinitely.
At some point they would still need to be refueled. Ryla would have to deal with that at the appropriate time. It was Ryla's hope that the battle would be mostly over by then. "Way ahead of you Captain." Brandon reassured her. For emphasis, the cocky young fighter pilot spiraled through the air above Canada. Ryla's personal communication pin buzzed. "Yes? Captain Stardragon here."
A determined young female voice crackled over the comm badge: "Jaina Solo. Darkseid is approaching. I can feel his cold presence within the Force. Captain Stardragon, his reign of terror must end here." Jaina menaced. "Understood. We will see to it personally, Jaina Solo."
Kara and Alexa dashed into the snubfighter launch bay. Alexa's genetic code was needed to access the bay and the ships within it. "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?" Alexa offered. "No Alexa, your medical service will be needed here. Darkseid is my problem, now!"Kara replied.
Meanwhile, Ryla was was at her command console.
"Weapons on line?" She questioned her best friend Dyken. "Yes Ryla. I've checked with Ronin, Rialo, and Fralek on the Akbaht's Folly. They're standing by as well." Ryla nodded. "Very well, Commander. Fleetwide!" Ryla snapped at her communications officer.
"Everyone! This battle is the single most important one we've faced. Failure is not an option." Ryla directed. "Any slight spatial distortion in your sector is a boom tube. The standing directive is to fire immediately, without hesitation, and without communication. Let's get it done!"
The first circular rip in space began to appear on Dyken's viewscreen. He fired the quad laser battery into its center. Several rapid rounds made the boom tube collapse on itself. That closed the entrance into Earth's solar system. "Yeah!" Dyken shouted as he blasted two more boom tubes out of existence. The battle would wage on. Eventually, a boom tube would be missed, allowing a Black Fleet starship or one-man fighter into the area.
Those craft would have to be destroyed ship to ship. A hyper powered boom tube opened just beyond Mars. It was too massive for any single starship to eliminate. Darkseid was here. A second large boom tube spiraled into existence at the opposite end of the battle theater.
Alexa hugged Kara farewell. "I hope that Kal El is successful. As I stated, far into Earth's future, New Krypton will be created. You and Kal are no longer the only ones left of our race. I don't know exactly how, but you, Lois, and Kal will figure it out."
"Yes we will." Kara affirmed. "Thanks for all of your help." She grinned. "But don't ever call me great grandmother!" Alexa laughed and stepped back into the safety zone. She used her genetic code to open the Dragon's Beckon's launch bay. Kara glided out into open space again. She didn't have long. Kal had to succeed now. There was simply no other way.
The bay doors closed behind her as the airlock hissed shut. Kara looped around the Dragon's Beckon, circled the moon, and switched into hyper speed, extending her arms before her. She made two fists and accelerated to the highest possible speed she could manage.
Kara spied her target. She would ram Darkseid's ship broadside. An unfamiliar voice echoed through her head. Kara, you don't need to sacrifice yourself, we will defeat Darkseid. Kara ripped into the massive starship. Some of Darkseid's minions will be killed, Kara mused, as she tore through the outer hull and then the secondary hull. I never wanted to kill anybody, but this is war. She skewered control panel after control panel, as the ship caught fire.
Kara felt as though some unseen hand was guiding her. She blasted through decks with her heat vision. You can't kill. The voice in her mind said. "What do you expect me to do, smile them to death?" She asked out loud. Who am I talking to? She wondered silently.
Kara you must put aside your feelings, vengeance, anger, fear are the tools of the Dark Side. The voice in her mind was female. "Huh?" She asked the empty corridor. I still have to fight my way through Darkseid's minions. He'll be protected to the max. Kara flew over a group of soldiers. They all fired their hand laser disruptor weapons at her.
Naturally, the bolts of energy bounced harmlessly off the Supergirl. She barely noticed any of the hits. In fact, Kara didn't really feel anything. You can't kill, the irritating voice repeated. "Fine!" Kara swooped low above the soldiers and smacked their heads together. It wouldn't kill them.
They fired their weapons at each other and did substantial damage to the starship. Kara suddenly went vertical, rocketing through floors and ceilings in her quest to confront Darkseid. Alarms whooped, sirens flashed, and a myriad of warnings were issued in dozens of languages. The starship would explode soon. She entered a large area that was likely the communications center.
Kara slowed to a stop high above the floor. About half dozen or so technicians gazed up from their consoles. "Get out!" She shouted and blasted conduit after conduit of wiring with her heat vision. The techs ran from the room without any argument. Kara trained her laser vision on the central command console, and blew it to pieces. The starship was effectively dead in space.
Next, Kara tore through some bulkheads, and ended up in a large deserted room. Using her x-ray vision, she spotted Darkseid in the next room atop his throne. She flew straight towards the door. Suddenly she dropped to the floor, plastered against a metal deckplate. Kara felt like she'd been swatted like a fly. Her sensitive hearing picked up Darkseid's maniacal laughter.
"Kara Zor El. Welcome!" The demon alien said, knowing that she could hear him. "By now you've figured out that I've increased the gravity in that room to 10 times that of Krypton. Foolish girl, you thought you could defeat me alone?" Kara barely forced her head up a few inches.
She strained to use her x-ray vision to locate the room's control panel. Kara used all of her energy to burn the inner workings of the door with her laser vision. Soon the panel overheated and caught fire. Kara was immediately thrust to the ceiling as the room went zero gravity.
From the room's top Kara hit hyper speed and smashed into the door to Darkseid's lair. She punched it several times, only denting it. Time to think outside the box, girl, she encouraged herself. Kara flew in a right angle, bursting through a sidewall to the demon warlord's room.
"Impressive." Darkseid praised. "No matter." Kara instantly used her heat vision to blast the evil dictator. Her entire shot deflected off an unseen forcefield in front of Darkseid, setting the carpeting, and part of the wall behind him on fire. The demon lord looked surprised.
He returned a blast of his own, as twin fireballs shot from his eyes, stopping at his side of the forcefield. "What?" Darkseid yelled as the fireballs spun back into his eyes, temporarily blinding him. "Auuughh!" Kara lunged at the black skinned alien with both fists extended. She aimed for his chin. Her punches bounced off the forcefield and sent her tumbling backwards onto the floor.
One more time, Kara used her red-beamed laser vision to hopefully disect the murderous thug. The beams deflected off the invisible shield and shot upwards, tearing through the upper two decks of the ship and opening two holes into outer space. The vacuum sucked out equipment, and broken ship pieces. Fortunately, the decks were already unmanned.
Green energy bolts shot into the hull of the ship where Kara's laser blasts had weakened it. The hole widened enough for a single snubfighter to zip through. The two-person fighter landed softly on the deck above them. Kara was ready to attack Darkseid, when a forcefield imprisoned her. She couldn't move in any direction. The demon alien's vision had cleared and he was about to retaliate, when the fighter's canopy popped off and two figures emerged. They jumped down the two to three stories of decking to land before Darkseid. One was male the other female.
Kara watched helplessly as the newcomers flanked the demon warlord. "Darkseid, I am Ronin Stardragon, representing the Interstellar Resistance Movement. You have been charged with high treason, genocide, and attempted genocide. We're placing you under arrest."
Darkseid laughed throatily. "Do you think I care about your insignificant rules and your paltry rebellion?" The female gazed at the evil dictator. "You are also charged with high crimes against the New Republic, such as conquest, enslavement of New Republic subjects, and the destruction of worlds. You are ordered to appear before the Jedi Council." She added, and with one wave of her hand, reduced the flames surrounding them to mere smoldering smoke.
"Silly children!" Darkseid scoffed. "You have no idea who you're dealing with!" The girl was unimpressed. "Haven't I? Does this mean that you refuse?" She taunted. Kara looked over the two outworlders. Ronin was about Alexa's age, which she estimated to be 21 in Earth years. He had long brown hair tied in a neat ponytail, vivid violet eyes, was a bit stocky in build, and wore a simple silver and black tunic. There was an "R" shaped communications pin on his shirt pocket.
Kara remembered that Ryla also sported a similar brown belt with several items attached to it. One item in particular intrigued her. It resembled an ancient Earth flashlight. Ronin reverently detached the flashlight-like thing and held it before him, a weapon of some sort?
"Who dares to order me around?" Darkseid bellowed. "Jaina Solo, Jedi Knight." The girl who answered had long reddish blonde hair, looked to be about the same age as Ronin, was average in height and build, wore a loose fitting white tunic and she carried one simple item on her thin belt. It reminded Kara of one of her Aunt Martha's candleholders back in Smallville.
"Do you refuse to come back to N ew Republic headquarters on Coruscant?" Jaina put the challenge to him again. Darkseid battered the invisible force field with his gigantic fists. "I'll take that as a no!" Jaina quipped. "Very well." She detached the candleholder and waved it at Darkseid. "This is your last chance." She warned. "No!" Kara yelled. "This is my fight!"
Ronin turned slowly to check out Kara. "When Darkseid attacked the IRM and the New Republic, it became our fight. This is not your battle, Kara Kent." Jaina spun quickly around to face her as well. "You can't kill." She simply stated. "You? You were the voice inside my head?" Kara was incredulous. "There is a right way and a wrong way to do things." The young Jedi continued.
"Now you sound like my cousin Kal." Kara grumbled. Jaina smirked. "Darkseid!" She turned back to the demon lord. "Your reign of terror ends here." She moved her hand downward, as the candleholder hissed to life. Kara saw a bright red beam shoot out of the item's end and remain in place. Ronin readied his light stick as well. It had a vivid purple beam extending from it.
The two young people advanced on Darkseid. Jaina quickly finished dropping her hand. Immediately, the demon warlord fired two blasts of yellow and orange flame from his eyes. Ronin deflected one blast with his stick. Jaina deflected the other with her light saber.
Darkseid, freed from Jaina's invisible shield, lunged for the Jedi Knight. It would prove to be one of the last things he did in this world. Jaina easily sliced one thick arm off of Darkseid's torso. Kara gasped in horror. "Give it up, Darkseid!" Ronin challenged. Darkseid howled in pain.
Jaina somersaulted above the demon writhing on the floor, as Ronin zipped across the room to defend Kara if need be. He placed himself between Darkseid and Jaina. With his remaining arm, the demon warlord groped for Ronin's foot. He easily sidestepped the attack. Darkseid clambered up to his knees. "End this now, Darkseid!" Ronin threatened. "Call off your assault fleet!"
"I will not be dictated to!" Darkseid countered arrogantly. Jaina pointed her light saber at Darkseid's throat. "So be it!" Jaina said menacingly. "This ends now." The demon warlord sneered. "It is of little consequence. There are other dimensions and realms to conquer." He stood up as straight as he could and tried to smash Jaina's skull in. Kara hid her eyes. Ronin was at the ready.
Jaina easily dodged his arm and with a neat pirouette, sliced Darkseid's head off with her light saber. Finally the light in the demon lord's eyes went out. His head hit the singed floor, followed by his bulky body. Darkseid was finished…for now. Kara gasped, but wanted to cheer. Ronin shook his head. "Let's go!" Jaina urged. "We still have an intergalactic war to stop."
"Kara, remember what I've said." The young Jedi reminded her. "If Kal succeeds in his plan to rearrange the past, this battle may never take place. We know that billions of humans' lives were lost. Darkseid will return somewhere in your past. Earth must be ready. After you and Kal's friends and loves are long dead, you two still have a greater destiny to fufill."
With that, Jaina and Ronin vaulted upwards, landing cleanly next to the snubfighter. Kara watched them spin the vehicle around and zip out into the blackness of space, exiting the way they'd come. I better see how Kal is doing.
Kara glanced at the grim remains of Darkseid, turned her back, and flew off through the starship. The Black Fleet flagship was about to explode. It was likely that she could survive, but decided against the risk. About halfway through her route, she spotted three of Darkseid's minions trapped beneath some fallen wreckage.
Sighing, she freed them. The multicolored aliens looked confused. Kara chased them away towards the escape pods. They didn't look too swift. Darkseid had probably plundered their worlds and kept them as slaves, Kara mused.
She did one final sweep of the ship, and saw no one moving. Kara left as the Black Fleet flagship began to explode from the center on out. She flew into the vacuum of space and headed for the Dragon's Beckon. Kara stopped. Where had it gone?
"Captain Stardragon!" Came Z'beth's frantic warning. "There is another ship entering the solar system through a boom tube." Ryla whirled to check her holographic viewscreen. "Configuration?" She pressed her science officer. "Its hyper drive signature indicates a Daemonstrata warship, roughly twice the size of the Dragon's Beckon."
"It's powering up weapons…firing at Earth!" Z'beth hissed. Ryla watched as two large bursts of energy impacted the Neural Net that the IRM fleet had set up to encircle Earth. The blasts bounded off the shielding and into open space. "Shield integrity?" Ryla questioned.
"Down to ninety seven percent, Captain." The Science Officer replied. "Unacceptable!" Ryla exclaimed. "Explain it to them, weapons officer!" The thin, lizard-like sub-commander complied. The Dragon's Beckon hurled two powerful bursts of superheated plasma at the enemy warship.
Both hit their mark. A piece of the Daemonstrata flagship's outer hull burned to a crisp, but the overall damage effect was minimal. "She's heavily armored!" Dyken added unnecessarily. "Analysis, Z'beth." Ryla inquired. "We cannot defeat the Daemonstrata warship alone. It will require at least one more of our assault craft, preferably of the same mass and weaponry as the Dragons Beckon to begin its destruction." Ryla paced across her command deck.
"Very well. When Ronin and Jaina return to the Akbaht's Folly, we will begin a simultaneous assault." Ryla directed. "Captain!" Areka Thaca yelled into the fleetwide comm system. "The Black Fleet's flagship, The Death's Face, is going to explode!" Ryla silently cursed. "Evacuate the front line of defense!" She ordered. The communications officer relayed the coded directive.
Seven of the IRM attack starships scattered like frightened birds, taking up positions along the rest of the solar system in roughly a straight line, placing themselves between the Daemonstrata warship and the Dragon's Beckon. Exploding in a fiery mess, The Death's Face shattered and its twin hyper drive reactors caused a major shockwave that buffeted all of the ships in system.
The Neural Net was briefly disrupted, like a strong wind blowing through a curtain. Fortunately, the Daemonstrata missed their opportunity to create some more damage, as the massive warship listed over to one side before righting itself. The Black Fleet starships slowed to a crawl. They knew that Darkseid had been killed in the blast, and a major power struggle ensued.
Ryla could use the confusion to advance their agenda. As soon as the shockwave dissipated, she reset the fleet to take up positions between the Black Fleet, Earth, and the moon. Even the powerful Daemonstrata warship was no match for a fully ready and weaponized IRM assault force. The black and gray hulk held back near the rear of the solar system.
"He's lost his nerve." Dyken assumed. Ryla tended to agree, but was cautious. "Lt. Kaloth, have you solidified the weakened parts of the Neural Net?" She asked the young snubfighter pilot. "Already on it, Captain." He responded. "Quite the fireworks show tonight, wasn't it?" He joked.
"Indeed, Lt." Ryla forced a thin grin. "Our mission is nearly complete." She added quietly, so only Dyken and Z'beth could hear. The Felinahr's large ears perked up as she listened intently. "We are apparently at a stalemate, Commander Dyken. Now is a good time to check on our guest." Ryla concluded.
Like to read more about Ryla Stardragon and the D'zan? Check the Star Trek or Star Wars fandoms soon. - Author.
link to Chapter 3
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