Gunthix flipped himself mid-flight, connected with his target, and launched himself toward a surprised Buster. The rockets flew by their target and damaged the unprepared machine. Gunthix raised the sword with both hands and swung at Buster. Preparing for the powerful strike, Buster raised his arms together to shield himself as the blade connected.
A struggle began as Gunthix continued to drive the weapon, questioning why the weapon had not completely sliced through his opponents block, and discovered the plasma feeder had been emptied. Buster discovered this at the same time, “Guntheria herself is against you,” he commented as he spread his arms to grab Gunthix.
Gunthix delivered a kick to Buster's suit head, flipped, and plunged the blade into the damaged left thigh of his armor. A robot flew in and knocked Gunthix away from Buster. Gunthix twisted himself in the arms of the giant machine, morphed both Gatling-guns, and began to pour blue fire into the chest of the giant machine. The machine retaliated by grabbing him by both shoulders in an attempt to crush him. Gunthix continued to fire as a hole emerged in his target and continued until the machine ended its attempt at his life.
Gunthix reached up to the failing suit's arms, grabbed them, and tore the machine down the middle. Small pieces of metal and tiny explosions filled the gap that he created as he released the husk. Two more suits rushed him as Buster fired his weapons continuously, cycling between his rockets and cannons in zealous fervor.
Gunthix used the ruined suit as a launch point and charged at the twin suits approaching him. He collided with one, delivering several punches to its chest before jumping across space to the second one, attacking it the same as the first. A cannon shot from Buster blasted past Gunthix as he jetted in between both suits, morphed both Gatling-guns, and began spiraling as his weapons poured blue lines of fire into both suits. The damaged machines responded by firing their Gatling-guns and firing rockets, narrowly missing the speeding Gunthix.
Another suit approached from below and attempted to grab Gunthix and missed. He grabbed the machine around the head as a shield as he continued to fire his weapons non-stop. The hostage absorbed repeated rockets as the surrounding robots continued to fire indiscriminately. Gunthix, discovering his prisoner had shutdown due to damage, kicked the remains of his shield toward one of his attackers. The defending machine reached to move the hurling mass out of its way, giving Gunthix a clear line to morph a rocket and fire.
The rocket connected, completely destroying the suit, as Gunthix turned to give the other opponent his full attention as he launched another rocket. The suit responded by jetting to the side, but caught the rocket in the leg. Gunthix surged forward, morphed his rocket back to a Gatling-gun, connected with the escaping machine and poured his weapons into the chest of his target. The opponent fought for a moment before locking up from the massive hole in its chest.
Gunthix turned to see the final three suits charging him in a line. Raising his weapons, he aimed at the center one as he surged his jets to meet them head on. The trio of suits raised their arms to fire a storm of rockets. Gunthix twisted again to dodge them, kicked a rocket to redirect it to a suit, and collided with his target. The derelict rocket connected with a suit, destroying an arm as it exploded. He melted his weapons back into his gauntlets as he rapidly punched the machine in the head. A punch connected hard enough to shatter the armor and Gunthix kicked the suit away to meet another target.
The undamaged robot grabbed him from mid-flight, pinning his arms against the lifeless armor, and rotated him into the view of Buster. A storm of cannon and rocket fire raced toward Gunthix as he struggled to release himself. “This will end you!” screamed Buster into the helmet of Gunthix.
As the barrage of fire raced toward Gunthix, he began to fade with the robot still pinning him. Buster watched with disbelief as he disappeared and reappeared with the machine in the direct line of fire. The giant suit hesitated as the computer controlling it attempt to understand the situation and exploded from Buster's attempt at ending his opponent.
“What have you done?” demanded Buster. Gunthix continued to ride the explosion before using his thrusters to slow and turn him. Both damaged remainders of Buster's strike-force floated hesitantly in space near Buster. Gunthix morphed both Gatling-guns, but let them rest down his side as he slowly moved toward Buster.
“The Empress is misguided, just as you are,” Gunthix spoke calmly. In the moment of calm, he studied himself. His shield was drained and he was unsure of how much ammunition was left before his suit had to charge.
“The Empress's will is absolute,” responded Buster as he studied the damage done to his suit and the two remaining avatars, “I am her sword. Her entire call for war rests on my shoulders and ending you.”
“You are wrong!” yelled Gunthix.
“You are an outdated treason. Speaking your very name is a sin against the Empress. I shall kill you without any mercy.”
“I could have killed you before you even breathed your first breath. Do you know what you are?”
“I am your future killer and the future is now,” Buster screamed as the trio launched a barrage of rocket and cannon fire. Gunthix dove forward, folded space around the incoming fire, and appeared as he kicked into the chest of the armless robot. The suit attempted to fight back with its single arm, but quickly stopped any fighting as Gunthix's Gatling-gun fire carved the suit in half.
The remaining suit jetted toward Gunthix with its Gatling-guns blazing. Gunthix darted out of the way and toward the mass, connected with a powerful tackle, and grabbed a narrow space on the chest armor of the suit. The machine attempted to reach for him, but its massive size prevented it from grabbing Gunthix as he ripped apart the armor, exposing the less armored inside. After making a hole, Gunthix morphed a rocket, and launched it inside the hollow of the suit, creating a massive explosion.
Gunthix rode the shock-wave toward a distraught Buster. “You are defeated,” announced a quiet Gunthix.
Buster surveyed the nearby space, studying the damage that his sworn enemy had caused. “I am the Empress's Champion,” spoke Buster, determined still, “and I will---”
“You will die!” Gunthix responded before Buster could finish, “Before you, I was the Empress's arm of war. The Empress sees you as the means to my end.”
“And I will be your end!” Buster screamed as he braced himself to charge Gunthix.
XXX
Buster surged toward Gunthix, firing his cannons as he spiraled. Gunthix twisted himself, easily dodging the fire, as his opponent charged him. As Buster neared his target, Gunthix dashed above his enemy, and swooped down behind him. Buster attempted to turn, but Gunthix held his shoulders.
“Coward!” screamed Buster, “Fight me!” Gunthix reached down to the harness holding the cannons to the suit, grabbed both barrels, and began to wrench them back. Buster struggled, doing everything he could to shake the traitor off his back to no avail. The harness began to screech as it was forced into positions it wasn't designed for. As the barrels twisted to the rear, Gunthix curled up and kicked Buster, ripping off his weapons.
Buster flew toward the planet, his back thrusters damaged by the kick, as he turned around to defend against Gunthix. “I will kill you!” called Buster as he attempted to stabilize himself in the strengthening gravity of the moon. Gunthix dashed forward, connected with Buster, and began to attack the suit with his zealous fists.
Gravity took its full hold on the duo and Buster discovered he was no longer floating, but fully falling to the planet. He attempted to defend against his smaller opponent's rapid strikes, but any powerful strike he could manage missed. Gunthix continued to attack, nimbly moving to the side as his prey attempted to fight back.
“You will not defeat me,” called Buster, “Just as you cannot defeat the gravity of this planet!” Buster reached for Gunthix, certain he could hold him long enough to crush him beneath him as he collided with the moon. A powerful hand grabbed Gunthix
's leg as he swung him in front of him to grab him with the other arm. Gunthix understood the plan, and began to kick Buster's other arm as he attempted to ensure a hold on him. As the silent ground steadily approached, Gunthix delivered a powerful kick to Buster's head, releasing his grasp, and swooped behind him.
Buster gave up on his quest to destroy Gunthix by using him as a buffer between the ground and began to stabilize himself before landing. His on-board computer screamed malfunctions from the damage brought by Gunthix as the ground rushed the duo. Buster braced his suit against the likely damage. As the duo crashed into the ground, a massive cloud of dust filled the air, and Gunthix disappeared into the dust.
Buster began to scan the dust, searching for his opponent. He attempted to walk forward, but discovered the massive amount of damage to his thigh had crippled the leg. Reaching for the sword buried in the armor, a powerful kick knocked him off balance. He righted himself and prepared for another attack.
“Where are you!” called Buster into the smoke as he waited with both arms raised. Time slowed as he watched Gunthix race through the cloud to attack again. He dropped to a knee, caught Gunthix, and pinned him against the ground.
“I've got you!” laughed Buster as he held Gunthix's torso in a single massive hand. Gunthix fought against the hand holding him as Buster pulled him in close. A Gatling-gun on the suit began to spin up as Buster began to speak, “I will kill you. The Empress's will is absolute.” Gunthix morphed a rocket and fired at the weapon, completely destroying it.
Buster responded by preparing his other Gatling-gun, aiming it closely at Gunthix. “Prepare to die at the hands of Buster, the greatest achievement of the Lariot Program and the hero of the Empress,” announced Buster as the weapon began to spin at full speed. As the first round began to blast forward, Gunthix grabbed hold of the weapon, stopping it from loading a second round. Buster attempted to wrestle his hold off the weapon, knocking it out of his hands, but the weapon remained damaged. The weapon cleared the jammed on its own as he aimed the weapon to fire, forcing Gunthix to knock it to the side and firing a small burst beside Gunthix's helmet.
He centered the weapon on his target again, forcing Gunthix to knock it to his side again. “Fear the end,” chanted Buster, “As I am your end.” Buster released his grasp on Gunthix and secured a better grasp higher on Gunthix, pinning his arms underneath the giant hand. “Now, traitor,” bellowed Buster as the weapon continued to spin, “Show me your face!”
Buster began to slowly squeeze Gunthix, attempting to force a compliance from his victim. His suit began flashing warning signs of the imminent damage to the suit's hydraulic system as he waited for Gunthix to cave in and release his helmet. “Show me,” roared Buster, “Show me your face! I want to see the life drain from your eyes, be they blue or red.” The suit continued to issue warnings, but he ignored them.
A pop sounded and the mechanical grasp loosened, effectively freeing Gunthix as he balled up and kicked the weakened arm away. Buster began firing a volley at Gunthix as he dashed away, dodging the fire. The weapon continued for a short time, then suddenly stopped firing. A warning flashed across the Buster's face, announcing a fear: he was out of ammunition. “This stupid machine,” he roared as the suit began to split down the middle to the sound of hisses and pops.
“I don't need this suit to kill you,” muttered Buster as he began to disconnect himself from the harness. The shell unfolded, revealing the thin body of the operator. Buster undid the final strap connecting him to the awesome machine and fell forward out onto the destroyed ground.
Gunthix walked calmly into the view of Buster. “You are defeated,” announced Gunthix calmly. Buster examined his destroyed machine as he searched for a weapon. “Submit,” continued Gunthix, “You have been defeated.” He watched as his opponent approach the giant monstrosity and began to remove the ancient sword from the machine.
“I am not defeated,” began Buster as he removed the weapon, “I am the Champion of the Empress.” Gunthix shook his head, refusing to believe his opponent's zealous belief. He considered his suit's energy and knew he was near the brink. “Guntheria herself protects me,” called Buster as he prepared a fighting stance, “And you will not kill me.”
“You are misguided,” retorted Gunthix, “The Empress will kill the empire. The only true enemy of the empire is itself.”
Buster raised the sword, prepared to rush Gunthix, “You are the true enemy of the Empire. I will save the empire and be a hero for all time!” He rushed toward Gunthix and swung.
Gunthix stepped to the side, easily dodging the attack. Buster attempted to redirect his balance by swinging again, but missed his target. “Do you know what you are, Buster?” asked Gunthix as he continued to dodge the heated attacks.
“I am your killer,” called Buster as he continued, “I am a champion.”
“You are a weapon,” responded Gunthix.
“I am the sword of the empire. The might of the Empress.”
“You are an experiment, born from the fruits of the failures and successes around you.”
“I am the offspring of the Empire, born to its grace and beauty. I defend it against your tyranny.”
“You fight for her whims.”
“I fight for her honor!” screamed Buster as he swung the sword, landing a powerful blow against a rock. The weapon remained and he attempted to remove it. Gunthix attacked for the first time, grabbing Buster's silver hair and slamming his face against the same rock the sword was stuck in. The limp body remained still, and Gunthix watched the body breath shallowly. He removed the sword with ease and studied it, noting the lack of damage it had sustained. Kicking the body over onto its back, Gunthix began to decide its fate.
The breathing suddenly quickened and Gunthix watched as Buster opened his eyes. “You will not kill me,” gasped the wounded warrior, “for the Empress's will is absolute. I am her sword and I---” Gunthix ended his statement by thrusting the sword into chest of Buster.
Buster gingerly felt the blade, running his fingers up and down the edge. “You. Cannot. Kill. Me,” he snorted as blood began to pour out of his mouth, “I am the greatest warrior Guntheria has ever bore. You are a traitor, Gunthix.” Gunthix hung his head, frustrated at his lack of understanding of his impending death. “You cannot,” he continued to gasp, “you cannot kill me.”
Gunthix leaned forward over the dyeing warrior and morphed his helmet back, revealing his aged face and long silver hair. “Look at my eyes,” he commanded Buster. His opponent's eyes focused for a moment, then drifted away.
“Death itself cannot kill me,” Buster chanted, “I am the Empress's champion.” A sudden surge of blood rushed within Buster as he recollected his thoughts and recognized the face.
He attempted to lift himself, but remained pinned to the rock by the ancient weapon. Searching for Gunthix, he called out. “Gunthix! Come back, coward.” His mind began to trace back to the Empress and her words. 'You are my champion,' she had told him. “I am your champion,” he repeated aloud. 'You will become my sword,' her memory repeated to him. “I am your sword,” he called out to the battlefield. 'You will kill the traitor, Gunthix,' he remembered her command to him. “Gunthix!” he screamed, “I will kill you!”
He continued to search for his opponent. “Where are you,” he continued to call out, “Come back and fight me.” Buster continued to struggle against the blade, attempting to reach the hilt to remove it when a shadow covered his eyes.
Buster looked up, hoping to see Gunthix standing over him, but his eyes failed him. He continued to rock the sword, sending spasms of pain throughout his body, in an effort to remove it. A low roar, similar to a ship breaking atmosphere, began to sound. A fear of failure filled him as he began to fight harder against the weapon.
A moment of weakness filled Buster as he waited for his strength to rebuild. His eyes drifted above him as he spotted the source of the shadow and noise.
The unmistakable outline
of the battleship Dragon was steadily getting larger. The capital ship was far too large to land directly on the planet, but it was certainly coming in closer. Buster watched as the ship's thrusters began flaring up in an attempt to push it back out of the atmosphere. Buster watched at the impending fate of the battleship as its image began to become increasingly larger.
***
Gunthix poured everything he could into the thrusters in his boots as he continued to push the massive battleship Dragon toward the tiny moon. Frantic calls for help and desperate orders rang out inside his helmet as he listened to the doomed crew.
“Launch all escape craft now,” gave the command of an unidentified voice.
Another voice responded, “Sir, we won't be able to get everyone to the life craft. We need to wait till everyone has a chance to get to the starboard pods.” Gunthix continued pushing his shoulder into the hull, feeling steadily tired with each passing second.
“If they do not launch now, they will certainly die when the Dragon crashes. Launch them now,” the first voice responded frantically.
Gunthix became aware as several escape pods were launching individually. The crew was scared and breaking discipline. “Where is the admiral?” called a different voice. “He isn't in the command pod, I believe he is still aboard the bridge.” Atmosphere began burning the edge of the ship, it's armor wasn't designed for high heat. Gravity was easing the work for Gunthix, but he continued to push on.
“Forget about him,” called another voice, “the command pod is launching now.” Gunthix felt the ship buckle and stopped pushing to survey the damage.