Vigilants/Story

This is the story writeup for Vigilants.
==Chapter 1: Lethargy==
The camera opens on a view of a large ship of sorts that looks a bit battered.
??? (narrating): It's been a rough time for us.
The camera zooms in on Yikkal, the krexxon leader of the Vigilants, standing at the bridge of the ship. He then sighs before walking down the nearby hallway.
Yikkal: Nothing but failed missions and a few missed opportunities due to the lack of technological advancement with our gear. But we keep going.
Yikkal walks past Tuuki, who's dangling from an air pipe on her tail as she eats a sandwich. She looks at Yikkal walk past for a few seconds, but then shrugs before continuing to eat.
Yikkal: I chose this path because of the ones I admired. The ones I heard stories about. If they could handle the mercenary life, why couldn't I?
Arigu is sitting in a workshop of sorts, fiddling with a gun as he watches Yikkal walk through the ship's hallway. While he does look concerned, the gun immediately lets out a small electric burst that causes Arigu to panic as he rushes to repair the thing.
Yikkal: Fortunately, I did manage to put together a nice team. A hotshot pilot, an engineering prodigy, and someone who can tell us the right path to go down.
Kumah is busy looking through a tablet of sorts as Yikkal walks by. While he raises an eye as the krexxon walks by, he simply shakes his head before continuing to look at his tablet.
Yikkal: But in the end, it's been nothing but mediocrity for us. We haven't "hit it big" yet I guess. Hopefully one day we can prove ourselves.
Yikkal enters his quarters, and sits down on the edge of his bed. A tear forms in his eye as he looks at a tablet in his hands. On it is a to-do list of sorts, labeled as follows:
#Find your niche in the team.
#Work as hard as you can.
#Have fun!
Yikkal, frustrated, buries his head into his pillow, crying. Through the doorway, Tuuki, Arigu, and Kumah look at him in pity. As the door closes, they look at each other with grim expressions.
Arigu: He's been like this for days. He seems lethargic and worried.
Tuuki: I mean, you win some, you lose some. I guess he's in the latter category now.
Arigu: Hey, don't speak about him like that! He's our friend, remember?
Kumah: If I were to make an educated guess, it seems like he's fallen into a state where he feels inferior. After all, we've got our "niches" I guess, but he doesn't really. He's just a leader who looked to us for our own skills.
Tuuki: I hope he gets better.
----
Yikkal is in a meeting with the other members of the team in a room with a large table of sorts. He seems nervous.
Yikkal: You guys didn't need to stage an intervention like this.
Kumah: We've just been concerned lately. You don't seem like yourself.
Yikkal: Well, the amount of failure we've faced should give you a pretty big clue as to why.
Arigu: If that was the case, wouldn't we be in the same mood?
Tuuki: Yeah, don't get all depressed and whiny. We're in this together.
Yikkal: I have no clue why you guys stick with the team. I'm not exactly a fine leader. Just a guy who wanted to follow in the footsteps of the ones he idolized.
Kumah: When I was your age, I had these moments. But you know what I did to get rid of 'em?
Yikkal: What?
Kumah: I simply kept going in my work. No reason to halt it if you're depressed.
Yikkal: Maybe I have just lost my spark.
Yikkal gets up from his seat.
Yikkal: Let's take the ship over to Neolight and see if we can find work there.
Tuuki: That's the spirit!
----
Yikkal is at the bridge of the ship alongside his crew, setting up the journey to Neolight Station.
Yikkal: When we get there, we'll hit the bars and see if anyone's hiring. Just don't drink too much guys.
Arigu: I don't know about that, I'm quite the drinker.
Yikkal chuckles.
Yikkal: Maybe I am getting better. I don't know though.
==Chapter 2: Potential Resources==
The ship lands within a landing bay in Neolight Station, with the Vigilants stepping out. Yikkal takes a moment to breathe in the city air, before walking along.
Kumah: We can head down to the lower levels of the city. There's usually people hiring there.
As the group walks through the streets, Yikkal seems to walk behind the others, thinking to himself.
Tuuki: Hey, brighten up a bit!
Yikkal: Eh, maybe.
As the group walks through the streets, ships can be seen unloading crates of a reddish mineral of sorts.
Arigu: Looks like Astrium's got here.
Kumah: I've never understood why that stuff's so good.
Arigu: Believe me, I'd kill to work with it. From what I've heard, it's extremely versatile and can be used to make all sorts of stuff. Weapons, armor, ships, all kinds of stuff.
Tuuki: I mean, that could be something useful to go for. Yikkal, what do you think?
Yikkal: I mean, yeah, we could. Actually-
Yikkal does some thinking for a bit, before snapping his fingers.
Yikkal: Now that I think about it, we've lost jobs due to our lack of Astrium-based equipment, yeah?
Kumah: Yeah, we have. Times are different now from when I was active as a mercenary.
Yikkal: So why don't we go on a little journey of sorts to get ahold of the Astrium? Just "plunder" it I guess.
Tuuki: Yeah! That's the spirit!
Arigu: Then what are we doing here? Let's head back to the ship!
Yikkal: Well, we gotta know the best places to find the stuff, not to mention that we'll need to gear up for the endeavor. I know someone who can help us.
----
The Vigilants walk into a store as a human merchant looks towards Yikkal, smirking. She has an eyepatch on and a tattoo on her arm, and has a rifle slung along her back.
Shoza: Yikkal, good to see you again!
Yikkal: You too Shoza. So, the crew and I are looking to secure some Astrium. You know any good places?
Shoza: You bet I do. From what I've heard, this one planet called Ochao has tons of the stuff. The planet's more or less a tropical one, but apparently Astrium's been washing up on the shores of the islands. The stuff seems to just emerge from there so to speak.
Arigu: It's that easy?
Shoza: There's a catch. A lot of factions control various islands and regions of the planet, so I'd say your best bet is to conduct raids or find uninhabited islands to set up shop on. It's tough.
Kumah: Reminds me of when I used to steal from space pirate groups. It was often ridiculous and I drank a lot at the time to say the least.
Shoza: Anyways, I assume you guys are also here to restock on weapons?
Tuuki: That's correct. Got anything useful for what we're doing?
Shoza: Actually, I've got some custom stuff for you guys to do field tests with. Free of charge.
Shoza walks into a back room, before slamming down a box onto the counter. Opening it up, she pulls out a hammer with a bomb on the end of it, a grenade launcher, a staff and a sniper rifle.
Shoza: These three weapons are more or less custom ones I've made, inspired by some of the tech coming in from other galaxies. The hammer has a bomb attached to it for extra oomph, the grenade launcher also shoots EMP grenades, the staff has a stun feature, and the sniper rifle here has a unique homing function.
Tuuki immediately grabs the hammer, tossing it between her hands as the others shake their hands for her to stop. She simply chuckles.
Shoza: ...might wanna be careful with that one.
Tuuki: I can't guarantee that knowing myself.
Arigu: I'll take the sniper rifle. What about you two?
Kumah: I've always loved grenade launchers, so this one's a no-brainer.
Yikkal: And I guess that leaves me with the staff. I know my people are particularly well-versed with close-range weaponry anyways.
Shoza: Then it's settled. Just bring it all back in one piece, will ya?
----
The group is busy eating aboard the ship, though Yikkal seems more silent than the others.
Kumah: You seem upset again. Something on your mind?
Yikkal: The usual. Not knowing my niche and all that. Admittedly I didn't really have a preference for any of those weapons so I guess that fits into this.
Tuuki: Maybe this is an opportunity for you to, y'know, find it? We've got a whole operation ahead of us to secure the Astrium, so I'm sure something will happen along the way!
Yikkal: Or maybe nothing'll happen. Maybe I might fuck up along the way and put all of you in danger.
Kumah: We stick with you for a reason, y'know? You brought us all together as a team.
Arigu: Yeah! We're like a family here.
Yikkal: Sometimes family members aren't on equal grounds with each other.
==Chapter 3: Introducing Blackguard==
The ship warps into place above Ochao as the Vigilants look at it from the window. The tropical world has countless warships above it, though it still retains its natural beauty from space.
Tuuki: Tons of warships here. They probably belong to pirate groups and the like.
Yikkal: Let's find a gap in the blockade and exploit that.
The ship carefully navigates around the planet, with the camera showing views of the undersides of the warships. Yikkal gulps slightly as he watches.
Arigu: Hopefully we can find a spot to enter through. Those ships look like they're armed to the teeth.
Kumah: Look, we can make it if we're careful enough. I did the same thing years ago.
After some time, the group finds a gap in the blockade, and begins to fly through.
Yikkal: How would you guys feel if we were to...wrest control of an island from another group?
Tuuki: It's about time we got some action!
The group eventually finds a decently-sized island with a large warship around the size of theirs on it. On the ground, four individuals are gathering Astrium and placing it in their ship.
Yikkal: Get to the hangar. We'll attack from the air.
The camera focuses on Yikkal as he gets into the cockpit of his ship. Gulping slightly, he gets on a headset and readies the ship's engines.
Yikkal: Go time!
The group's fighters fly out of the hangar, flying down towards the island. On the ground, a fish-like humanoid, an armored figure, a human with cybernetic implants, and a small reptile of sorts brace for impact as the Vigilants' ships fire at their assets.After the first few shots, the fish humanoid rushes to the warship.
Chuma: We'll take them down ourselves!
The others nod before their own fighters fly out of the warship as a dogfight ensues. During the battle, Yikkal finds himself getting a call on his communicator, and immediately answers it.
Chuma: What the HELL do you think you're doing?!?!
Yikkal: I'm the leader of the Vigilants, and we're here to take your place on the island. That Astrium's OURS!!!
Chuma: I'm not so sure about that. Name's Chuma, leader of Blackguard. Another mercenary group.
Yikkal: Oh yeah, you guys. I've heard you're wanted by over twenty different planets.
Chuma: Bold statement, but it'll be your LAST!
Chuma's fighter begins to barrel roll constantly as it shoots a flurry of lasers at Yikkal. He flies past the shots and fires a missile at Chuma's ship, leading to her spinning out of control.
Chuma: Dammit! Koroi, Yuwaka, Onak, how are you three doing?
The armored figure known as Koroi answers first.
Koroi: This...monkey just can't catch a break. She's flying really fast!
The small lizard known as Onak answers next.
Onak: This huge panda I'm dealing with seems to know a lot of tricks! Nothing but barrel rolls and somersaults!
Lastly, the human cyborg known as Yuwaka answers with a smirk on her face.
Yuwaka: This crocodile guy's ship has tools I can't really deal with. I'd rather go after the krexxon you're chasing.
Chuma: Well, let's see how they like this.
Chuma inputs some commands into her ship, before a giant cannon rises out of the groundbound warship. It begins to charge up with red energy before firing off massive blasts of energy at each of the Vigilants' ships.
Yikkal: I think...was that Astrium-powered?!?!
Arigu: It has to be. That energy signal is like nothing I've seen before.
Yikkal thinks for a moment, shedding a tear. He's failed once again.
Yikkal: Retreat.
Tuuki: Retreat?!?! We can just take the cannon out.
Yikkal: That's an ORDER! I can't risk our lives again like that!
Kumah: You okay?
Yikkal: We just risked our lives there. I can't let that happen again.
The group flies past the blasts, into their flagship. Yikkal steps out of his fighter with a grim expression on his face.
Yikkal: Set a course for Nefreon. I heard there's some Astrium there. I just need to be alone for a bit.
----
Chuma and the rest of Blackguard are entering their flagship, with Chuma smirking.
Chuma: Follow that ship. Did you manage to shoot the tracking device onto Yikkal's ship Yuwaka?
Yuwaka smirks slightly.
Yuwaka: I did mistress. Hopefully I...I mean we, can locate him. His team too.
Onak: They'll pay for attempting to take OUR hard-earned Astrium!
Koroi: I've been itching for a viable opponent. These guys fit the bill.
Chuma: Patience. You know what we all stand for, right? The motto?
Koroi: Right. Blackguard exists to keep corruption in check.
Yuwaka: To ensure that greed doesn't consume people.
Onak: And most importantly, to preserve order.
Chuma: Exactly. Those "Vigilants" seemed motivated by their greed for Astrium. Why else would they ambush us?
----
Yikkal finds himself sitting on the edge of his bed, crying to himself. However, he gets up after a while, and grabs his energy staff from a nearby shelf, walking through the ship and taking an elevator down to an empty room. After flicking a few switches, a robot emerges from the floor.
Robot: Greetings Master Yikkal. Training today I presume?
Yikkal: Just gotta unload some stress and whatnot. Why not prepare for the battles ahead while doing so?
Robot: Excellent choice sir. Using the staff I presume?
Yikkal: Indeed. Did Arigu program you to fight against users of it?
Robot: He did.
The robot clenches its fists as Yikkal pulls his staff off of his back.
==Chapter 4: In Transit==
Arigu, Tuuki, and Kumah are sitting down at a table aboard the ship, talking.
Arigu: Yikkal's just training downstairs using the system I developed. Let's leave him be for now.
Tuuki: Yeah, I agree. So those Blackguard guys were super vicious. Plus they've got access to Astrium too.
Kumah: I've seen cannons like that before, but not powered by Astrium. It's really weird seeing this.
Arigu: Hopefully one day we can get our hands on some. I can't wait to work with it.
Tuuki: I'm a bit thirsty, so I'm gonna go grab a drink from the fridge. Anyone want anything?
Kumah: Bring me a Spiced Six, and I think you want a Melonade Arigu?
Arigu: Yeah, I do. I don't know why you guys hate the idea of drinking something based on melon juice.
Kumah: Melon's meant to be eaten whole. Not in the form of a liquid!
Arigu: The health benefits are more profound in liquid form!
As Arigu and Kumah argue, Tuuki rolls her eyes as she walks into the kitchen. Inside the fridge are a few other drinks and the like, but Tuuki grabs the Spiced Six, the Melonade, and her own Ancient Rage.
Arigu: Studies have shown that the citrulline in the melon can help your arteries relax and work better!
Kumah: It still tastes disgusting!
Tuuki puts the drinks on the table as Arigu and Kumah continue to argue.
----
Yikkal is still training, sparring with one of the robots. He seems to be getting the hang of the staff in his hands, using it to repel the robot's fists.
Yikkal: Pause!
Robot: Training paused. Continue, or quit?
Yikkal: Quit.
The robot folds up before descending through an elevator built into the floor. Yikkal breathes deeply before walking through the ship. On the way however, he finds himself attracted to a storage room. Back when he first got the ship, he used it to store his old belongings. He walks through the room, rifling through a box. At the very bottom, he finds an old picture of the team's first mission together, with all of them posing in front of their ship. He can't help but feel happy slightly.
Yikkal (internally): Simpler times.
Yikkal puts the picture back as he enters the elevator and returns to the main floor of the ship, where the others are playing some sort of video game.
Kumah: That's three headshots in a row! Looks like I win again!
Arigu: I can never handle the sniper rifles. I just use vehicles.
Tuuki: Vehicles are easy to exploit.
Yikkal leans along the side of the wall, smiling. The others quickly notice him.
Arigu: Back from training?
Yikkal: You could say that. Though I owe you guys...an apology.
Tuuki: Apology? What for?
Yikkal: I've been a complete ass lately, moping around and being on a pity party. I can't stand exposing you guys to this.
Kumah: It's understandable.
Yikkal: Yeah, it is. Let's get ready to land on Nefreon soon. We've got work to do.
==Chapter 5: Ambush==
The Vigilants' flagship arrives on the surface of Nefreon, near a cave. The planet seems to be mostly dominated by land as opposed to sea, with many, many trees. As the team walks out, Yikkal grasps his staff.
Yikkal: Let's scout the area. Arigu, can you set up those robots to watch the ship?
Arigu: Can do.
Arigu presses a few buttons on a wristwatch of his before several robots emerge from the ship, standing guard. The group then walks into the cavern.
Kumah: How are you sure if there's Astrium here?
Yikkal: Word of mouth I guess. This is a pretty uninhabited area too.
Within the cave, skeletons can be seen, implying that people died here.
Tuuki: Definitely a reason for their deaths...
A faint rumble can be heard throughout the cave as the group looks around.
Arigu: What was THAT?!?!
Kumah: Keep your eyes out. There's something here.
After some walking, the group stumbles upon a dead end of the cave. Yet, giant shards of Astrium can be seen poking out of it. They've hit the jackpot! Arigu simply smiles.
Yikkal: Let's each grab a batch of it using the mining tools we got. Arigu, you know how to work with this stuff?
Arigu: You know me. I can work with new materials really effectively.
Yikkal chuckles slightly as the group does their work. However, they shortly feel a rumble as a giant worm comes tunneling through the wall. Astrium is protruding from its body as it roars. Immediately, the group grabs their weapons as the worm flings rocks and dust in their way.
Yikkal: I'll take it up close with Tuuki. Aim for the head!
The others nod as they fire their weapons at the worm. Yet, to shield itself from the projectiles, it smashes the Astrium in its body against the wall, causing an electrical pulse that deflects incoming projectiles.
Tuuki: This thing's tough!
Tuuki however manages to land a strike from her bomb hammer, unleashing a ferocious explosion that knocks the worm back, and causes it to be impaled by a piece of rock. As it bleeds out, the Astrium on its body falls to the ground. Arigu whistles to himself as he stealthily grabs it, putting it in his backpack. Yikkal however is furious.
Yikkal: What the FUCK did you just do?!?!
Tuuki: I killed the thing?
Yikkal: Yeah, by using an explosion that could've KILLED US ALL.
Tuuki: The hammer's MEANT to cause an explosion upon impact!
Yikkal: Then use the non-bomb side of it to hit the worm!
As Yikkal and Tuuki bicker and argue, Arigu gets a warning on his wristwatch. The camera zooms in to show a ship nearing their location.
Kumah: They followed us here.
Arigu nods before looking at Yikkal and Tuuki.
Arigu: Hey, pay attention! We've got company!
Yikkal and Tuuki look on urgently as the group rushes out of the cave. On the way out, Arigu grabs some Astrium from his pocket and places it into his sniper rifle as the energy source. As soon as the group exits the cave, they see Blackguard's flagship landing as the group exits it.
Chuma: Gotta say, it was pretty easy to track you guys down. Have you not dealt with tracking devices before?
Arigu: Ohh, that's how you found us.
Onak: Gotta think ahead. But for now, we've gotta deal with you guys.
Chuma grabs a rifle off of her back, with a blade at the end of it like a bayonet. Koroi grabs a sword, Yuwaka pulls out her dual pistols, and Onak grabs a gatling gun. As the two groups stand before each other, they begin to fight. Yikkal in particular finds himself against Chuma, repelling her rifle's blade.
Chuma: A staff? Really? I thought better of you as a fighter.
Yikkal: My people hate guns. How about yours?
Chuma: We Sak'ann love them. How can you go without shooting stuff?
Elsewhere, Arigu is hiding behind a rock, readying his sniper rifle. He takes a shot at the incoming Onak, but something extraordinary happens. His sniper rifle fires a massive bolt of red energy at the lizard, sending him flying straight into Yuwaka. Unfortunately, he was relatively uninjured.
Yuwaka: What the HELL was that?!?
Arigu smirks before firing at Chuma and Koroi, before motioning towards the rest of the group.
Arigu: Let's get the hell out of here!
The Vigilants rush into the flagship, before flying off. While Yikkal manages the ship from the bridge, Arigu finds himself in the hangar, noticing the tracking device on Yikkal's Templar-class Assault Fighter, commonly referred to by the Vigilants as the Templawing.
Arigu: Gotcha.
Arigu pulls the tracking device off.
----
Yikkal is sitting down on a chair within the ship, thinking to himself.
Kumah: What're you worrying about? We escaped them.
Yikkal: True, but at what cost? We risked our lives in the cave with the worm.
Kumah: Y'know, when I was your age I often worried about leading my teammates to their deaths.
Yikkal: You did?
Kumah: Mhm. But I learned to trust my teammates. They know what they're doing. Plus, we all have faith in you. You're the leader of this bunch, remember?
Yikkal: I guess so.
Yikkal gets up from his seat, before clenching his fist.
Yikkal: We'll stop in Neolight for a bit and see what we can do with the Astrium we got.
==Chapter 6: Distress Call==
Yikkal is training against one of the practice robots again, managing to use his staff to hit the robot's head multiple times. As a laser beam from another robot flies past, Yikkal leaps out of the way, smirking as he fights. After some time, the robots yield.
Robot 1: Critical damage level.
Robot 2: Any further practice will damage our actual hardware.
Yikkal nods as the robots fold up and lower into the floor. He then walks back to the elevator and returns to the main floor of the ship, where Arigu is experimenting with Astrium as Tuuki and Kumah watch.
Arigu: Came just in time. I managed to make a fuel cell using Astrium.
Yikkal: Fuel cell?
Tuuki: It'll essentially allow for our weapons to use Astrium as the main power source. You saw how devastating it was with Arigu's sniper rifle, right?
Yikkal: Yeah, I did. So how does it work?
Kumah: Let's take your staff for a second.
Yikkal hands Kumah his staff, who then hands it to Arigu. Arigu opens up a small compartment in the tip of the staff, before taking out an existing fuel cell. He then places the Astrium fuel cell into this spot, before handing it back to Yikkal. The tip of the staff now glows red.
Arigu: There we go! I did it with the rest of our weapons too.
A beeping noise can be heard from a nearby computer console. Yikkal immediately rushes towards it, noticing a map of the nearby area. One planet, a city world labeled as "Zaotis", has the words "Distress Signal" next to it.
Yikkal: Nearby distress signal. Let's go for it.
The rest of the group nods as Yikkal heads to the bridge of the ship, bringing it to Zaotis. The distress signal seems to be coming from a small freighter ship, with a large battleship attacking it. The larger battleship has an orangish color scheme, with some blue sprinkled in. After some time, the team's fighters enter the fray.
Yikkal: Focus your fire on the battleship!
The Vigilants' ships break away from each other as they harass the larger ship, avoiding turret fire. Yikkal however receives an incoming transmission from a shadowed figure.
???: Turn back. This isn't your fight.
Yikkal: We're the Vigilants. We don't shy away from the fight.
???: Very well.
The transmission ends as massive cannons emerge from the battleship and begin to fire on the team's ships. They seem to be powered by Astrium.
Yikkal: Dive below the ship and aim for the engines! We can at least prevent their escape!
The team's ships fly below the enemy battleship. Yikkal activates his targeting computer, aiming for the back of the ship. Smaller turrets shoot at the Vigilants, but they perform various maneuvers to avoid the blasts. They work well as a team.
Tuuki: Readying missiles!
Yikkal and the team perform an upwards turn in front of the engine, before letting loose their ships' missiles at the enemy ship's engines. A series of explosions occur as the enemy warship is crippled.
Yikkal: Let's head inside and see what's going on.
==Chapter 7: A Strange Prisoner==
Yikkal and the rest of the Vigilants fly straight into the warship hangar. As they land, insect-like humanoids wielding giant spears come flooding into the hangar. However, a bunch of grenades come flying out of the cockpit of Kumah's ship, tearing them apart. The Vigilants then exit their ships, finding themselves in the hangar.
Tuuki: This is a weird ship. Seen nothing like it.
Yikkal: Well, we'll just keep following the source of the distress signal.
The group walks through the hallways of the ship, armed to the teeth. Two more of the insectlike beings come through the hallway, armed with rifles.
Guard 1: There's the intruders!
Guard 2: Get them!
A fight breaks out. As Arigu and Kumah fight from afar, Yikkal and Tuuki charge at their foes. Yikkal in particular finds himself pushing his staff against his opponent's rifle, before kicking them back into a nearby wall. He then pokes his staff right up to their neck.
Yikkal: What are you?
Guard 2: A Konsai. Yeah, we're new here. So what?
Yikkal: Bugs, bugs, bugs. Ain't my thing.
Yikkal stabs the Konsai in the chest with his staff as he looks around. The other guard has been dealt with.
Yikkal: You guys okay? These things are tough.
Arigu: We're fine.
----
From a control room, one of the Konsai, a beetle-like one to be specific, is watching the ship's security cameras. He notices the Vigilants on it, and has a face of fear.
Technician 1: The intruders made it into the prison wing!
Technician 2: Sound the alarms!
The first Konsai presses a button on the console. On his arm, the insignia of the Doomuli can be seen.
----
The alarms sound as the Vigilants look around in concern.
Kumah: No going back now. Let's get to the distress signal and get out of here!
The team rushes through the hallways, knocking away guards and evading laserfire. Eventually, they come across a prison cell, and knock the door open. Inside is a member of the Konsai race, who has spiderlike legs, but a humanoid body for the mostpart.
???: Oh thank god the distress signal worked.
Yikkal: You kinda look like those guys we've run into on this ship.
???: Same species, yeah. Name's Sutera. I'll explain everything once we escape.
Yikkal nods as the group exits the cell. However, a large number of Konsai soldiers can be seen flooding into the prison wing of the ship.
Sutera: There's a ventilation shaft we can use to escape.
Sutera climbs the wall, busting open the shaft. She then reaches out with her arms.
Sutera: C'mon, I'll help you climb up!
As the Konsai fire on the team, they barely make it into the shaft. As they crawl through, Arigu pulls up a map of the ship.
Arigu: Just gotta make a left here, then we should be at the hangar.
The group finds themselves at the end of the shaft. However, their ships are being inspected by enemy soldiers.
Yikkal: Please tell me you prepared for this Arigu.
Arigu simply nods as he inputs a few button presses into his watch. Almost immediately, his own fighter begins shooting at the nearby soldiers, clearing the path.
Sutera: I like this guy. You seem prepared.
Arigu smirks as the team exits the air vent. However, there's no room for Sutera, who looks at Yikkal with concern.
Yikkal: I'll open up the cargo hatch if that's okay.
The underside of Yikkal's ship opens up, and Sutera crawls inside with a face of discomfort. The team then flies over to their flagship, which has managed to withstand damage due to an automated defense system.
----
Sutera comes crawling out of the underside of the ship, coughing.
Sutera: Did you really have to throw me in the cargo hatch?
Yikkal: Would you have preferred to sit on my lap?
The rest of the team starts snickering as Yikkal puts out his hand.
Yikkal: Well, either way we got your distress signal. Name's Yikkal. Leader of the Vigilants team. My teammates here are Tuuki, Kumah, and Arigu.
Sutera: Good to meet you Yikkal. Now I've got quite the story for you.
----
One of the Konsai is speaking with a familiar figure via hologram: Doomulus Xyne.
Konsai: The spy escaped. Some mercenaries rescued her.
Xyne: That spy holds vital information. Looks like some of your species isn't exactly loyal to us.
Konsai: Even though our prophecies told of beings similar to your forces, some had their doubts. I assure you, those rebels will be dealt with swiftly.
Xyne: Perhaps a talk with your Grand Priestess will motivate you to do so Commander?
Konsai: Er...
Xyne: I thought so. Find the traitor and bring her back into our custody.
==Chapter 8: Prophetic Calamity==
The Vigilants sit down at a table within their ship, alongside Sutera. She seems nervous.
Tuuki: So you said you've got a story for us?
Sutera: Indeed. I assume you're aware of my species and how they attacked you aboard that warship, correct?
Yikkal: Yeah. So you're not with them?
Sutera: Precisely. We Konsai were once isolated on our homeworld of Yugasha. We lacked the technology necessary for space travel, so we built an empire for ourselves that spanned the entire planet.
Arigu: A planetwide empire?
Sutera: Mhm. The entire planet was essentially a city. We called it Eiengos: the city of eternity. Our society was fervently religious, and we believed in a prophecy of sorts.
Kumah: Prophecies always seemed dumb to me.
Sutera: This one wasn't. It spoke of a race of cybernetic beings who could swap out their body parts at will. Beings who had destroyed far-off worlds. The prophecy told us that should those beings arrive, we would need to side with them in order to survive.
Yikkal: Please tell me this isn't going where I think it is.
Sutera smirks.
Sutera: Turns out those beings did exist, and called themselves the "Doomuli". Initially they came to conquer our world, but we Konsai bowed down before them. Our leader, the so-called "Grand Priestess", urged us to side with them. Our planet was quickly industrialized to take advantage of that Astrium stuff that's been popping up. Turns out our world was a hotbed of it.
Tuuki: So we have your race serving some terrifying organization. Scares me.
Sutera: Not all of us chose to bow down to the foreigners. Some of us escaped the planet and began a burgeoning resistance movement. Unfortunately, we haven't achieved many victories. Mostly just espionage, like what I was doing.
Kumah: Risky work. Back in my day I did some of it. Ain't my thing.
Sutera: Our rebellion is growing lately however. We recently recruited someone from another galaxy, who says they came here representing another cell of resistance against the Doomuli. We're hoping to one day unite our forces.
Yikkal: So I'm guessing you're here to recruit us?
Sutera: We can talk about that when the time comes. For now, all I want is to be able to reunite with the rest of my allies. They're based on the desert world of Keranor.
Arigu: Keranor? That hellhole?
Yikkal: I heard that any ships that crash there never return.
Sutera: Well, we managed to settle the place. I can assure you there's a hefty reward if you help me get back there.
Yikkal: I mean, it's not like we have any other option. I can't just keep you captive here.
Sutera: Excellent. Let's get moving!
Yikkal: One condition. If we come under attack, you'll pull your weight. We could use the extra...
Yikkal looks at Sutera and her many, many spiderlike limbs. She chuckles slightly.
Yikkal: ...limbs. Yeah, limbs.
Sutera: Oh, don't you worry. I'm one hell of a fighter.
----
The members of Blackguard are aboard their flagship, looking out for signals that could lead them to other ships.
Chuma: Those...Vigilants will be ours soon. Any luck Yuwaka?
Yuwaka: I've been monitoring the signals for hours. No luck.
Koroi: Did you try setting the sensitivity to its highest setting?
Yuwaka: It's on one-hundred. Highest setting ya brute.
Koroi: Brute? BRUTE? I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S THE BRUTE HERE!
Koroi lunges at Yuwaka. Chuma stands between them, pushing their heads away from each other.
Chuma: Both of you, CALM YOURSELVES! We're a team, remember?
Yuwaka: We can't be a team if he keeps asking the most stupid shit!
Koroi: Well excuse me for lacking technological literacy! I'm just here to kick ass!
While Yuwaka and Koroi bicker, Onak motions for Chuma to come up to him.
Onak: There's a ship leaving Zaotis with a familiar signal coming from it.
Chuma smirks as she walks over to Yuwaka and Koroi, who are close to coming to blows with each other.
Chuma: Calm down you two. We've got them.
==Chapter 9: Surprise Attack==
An explosion ravages the Vigilants' flagship as the group looks to the window. Blackguard is present, with their fighters flying for their ship.
Yikkal: Get to the hangar! We'll take them on!
Sutera: Looks like it's time for me to show my skills. You guys got an extra fighter?
Kumah: You can take mine. I'll control this ship here.
The rest of the team nods at Kumah as they get to the hangar, and fly into the fray. Immediately, a transmission comes in from Chuma.
Chuma: Looks like we found you Vigilants once again. We want our Astrium back.
Arigu: I already used it to enhance our weapons systems, so that won't happen.
Sutera: I'm sorry, you guys know each other?
Chuma: Sutera? You're with these thieves?
Sutera: Well, they came for my distress call. I knew we shouldn't have trusted you with the Astrium we lent.
Chuma: Guess I'll be doing something I should've done a while back.
The dogfight begins, with the two teams engaging each other. Yikkal finds himself being chased by Yuwaka's fighter.
Yuwaka: You'll be mine soon sweetie. Believe me, the last thing I'd want to do to you is attack you.
Yikkal: You seem clingy.
Yuwaka: I've been tracking you down for a while Yikkal. Something about you...intrigues me. I need to get a closer look.
Yikkal's ship barrel rolls out of the way, before unleashing a flurry of laserfire at Yuwaka's fighter.
----
Kumah arrives at the bridge of the Vigilants' command ship, watching the dogfight. Immediately, he gets into position and turns on the communicator.
Kumah: Testing, testing...
Tuuki: We can hear you loud and clear. You know how to operate this thing?
Kumah: I did some stuff like this in the past. I'll learn.
Kumah presses a few buttons on the main console as the primary lasers come into place. They start firing on Blackguard's fighters, causing heavy damage. Yet, Blackguard turns its focus to the flagship, flying towards it.
Yikkal: This is our chance! Fire on them as they go for the flagship!
Yikkal and the rest of the team fly for Blackguard's fighters, unleashing a spray of laserfire. However, Blackguard's fighters break away and come behind the Vigilants.
Kumah: Mind if I try the reverse?
Sutera: Like attacking their flagship?
Kumah: Mhm. Then we can try and force a retreat.
Kumah activates the main cannon of the warship, before aiming it at the Blackguard flagship. He then has it fire on the ship. A devastating, Astrium-fueled blast of energy hits the Blackguard ship, taking down one of its wings.
Koroi: One more blast and we're stranded here!
Onak: I recommend that we use this opportunity to escape. We can't risk another attack like this.
Arigu: Running away, eh?
Chuma: No choice. You win this round Vigilants.
The Blackguard ships fly off to their flagship, evading fire from the Vigilants. After their flagship departs, the Vigilants return to their main ship, reuniting with Kumah in the hangar.
Kumah: That was exhilarating!
Sutera: I have to admit, it was fun being in the cockpit. I'll have to try it again sometime.
----
Later on, Kumah is sitting down on a bench as Sutera approaches him.
Sutera: Hey, thanks for letting me use your fighter earlier. I hope I didn't mess up anything.
Kumah: Nah, it's fine. You did a hell of a job out there.
Sutera: Thanks. Hopefully we can get to Keranor soon. I have findings to deliver.
Kumah: What kinds of findings?
Sutera: Confidential. It's war stuff.
Kumah: Ah. A while back I helped with a small rebellion of sorts. Got paid nicely for it.
Sutera: Yeah, you look like you're quite the veteran. How long have you been doing this for?
Kumah: I was actually living the mercenary life as young as ten years old. Space pirates raised me and taught me a few things. It was a rough life.
Sutera: I'm so sorry.
Kumah: I did eventually start doing freelance work. I have quite a few stories to tell regarding that.
Sutera: I'd love to hear some.
----
Yikkal, Tuuki, and Arigu finish up a round in the shooter game from earlier.
Yikkal: And this is why you never ask me to play with you guys. I kick your asses every time!
Arigu: You've gotta show me how to use the Fist. That thing's strong.
Tuuki: The Fist ain't good enough compared to the use of a jetpack.
Yikkal: I don't know, I don't know.
Yikkal sighs slightly as Arigu and Tuuki look at him.
Arigu: You seem happier than usual. Any particular reason?
Yikkal: I guess I'm just satisfied. Things are going good for us.
Tuuki: You sure?
Yikkal looks down at the ground with a grim expression.
Yikkal: ...no. Not really. How do you guys stay happy?
Arigu: I guess I'm just happy doing what I love. I like working with all of this tech.
Tuuki: For me, I guess I'm just content as a whole. Nothing bad affecting me all that much. I try to ignore the negatives and be happy that I'm around people who care for me.
Yikkal: People who care for me...
Yikkal suddenly has a flashback of sorts within his head.
----
A large krexxon towers over an eight-year-old Yikkal as he expresses a face of anger.
Yikkal: Dad, why can't I be friends with the other kids?
Dad: They're not krexxon. They're not like you.
Yikkal: But they get along despite being different species!
Dad: Son, when I was your age I learned one thing. Being around people that are different makes you weaker. You have to embrace your own people in order to find your true self.
Yikkal: You're dodging the question!
Dad: I DON'T TRUST THEM! At all.
Yikkal begins to cry as his dad looks at him angrily.
Dad: Crying is for the weak.
----
Yikkal is crying on the couch as Arigu and Tuuki comfort him.
Yikkal: You guys...you guys care for me! My dad was wrong!
Arigu: Your...dad?
Yikkal: The guy was racist. When I was a kid I wasn't allowed to socialize with non-krexxon.
Tuuki: That's horrible man. I'm so sorry.
Yikkal: But now I know. I know that I'm around some of the best friends I could ever ask for. I can lead us to victory safely.
==Chapter 10: A Foreign Ally==
The Vigilants' ship lands in the deserts of Keranor, outside a ruin.
Arigu: This doesn't look like a base.
Sutera: It's called hiding ya goof. We can't be visible.
The group walks into the ruins, descending down a staircase and finding a large area full of people. Some are training, and others are conducting work.
Yikkal: So where we headed?
Sutera: To deliver my findings.
The group enters a room, where a tall, horned individual stands before them. Recognizing Sutera, he hugs her tightly.
???: Sutera, you survived! I feared the worst when I heard about your cover being blown.
Sutera: These guys helped me escape the Doomuli. Apparently they've also been in scuffles with Blackguard before as well.
The horned individual looks at Yikkal and his team, smiling. He then puts out his hand towards Yikkal.
???: Oh excuse me, where are my manners? My name's Shixtan, a Siandrall.
Yikkal: Call me Yikkal, and this is Tuuki, Arigu, and Kumah. We form the mercenary team known as the Vigilants.
Shixtan: Great to meet you Yikkal. I assure you, there will be a proper reward for returning our agent to us safely.
----
As Yikkal, Sutera, and Shixtan discuss matters in another room, Tuuki, Arigu, and Kumah walk around the base. As they do, Arigu feels someone tapping on his shoulder. He turns around to see a human behind him, one with a a bandana and a relatively small build. Arigu simply smirks as he looks at him, pulling him in for a hug.
Arigu: Never thought I'd see you again Haiten.
Haiten: You too ya big lug.
Tuuki: How do you two know each other?
Arigu: We were colleagues at the engineering school in Neolight. So what've you been up to man?
Haiten: Joined with these guys due to the pay. Though a while back I did do some work with some abandoned Circle of Shadows tech.
Arigu: The magic-infused stuff? No fuckin' way.
Haiten: Mhm. I've got some you guys can look at if you want.
----
Yikkal, Sutera, and Shixtan are busy in another room, talking.
Shixtan: I think your team could be a great ally of ours.
Yikkal: Well, we're on good terms so I wouldn't refuse. What kind of mission are we talking?
Shixtan: The Doomuli, or rather their Konsai allies, are currently stripping the snow world of Ayrus of its Astrium deposits. If you guys can help us with an attack on the planet, we'll give you some of the Astrium there.
Yikkal: It's a deal.
==Chapter 11: Breaking Through the Fleet==
The Vigilants flagship arrives above Ayrus alongside two battleships belonging to Shixtan's forces. The Vigilants stand within their ship alongside Sutera.
Kumah: You guys get down to the ships. I'll stay up here.
Tuuki: You're not coming with us?
Kumah: I've taken a liking to being your eyes and ears.
Yikkal nods as the team rushes down to the hangar.
Sutera: So I guess I'm part of the team now kinda?
Yikkal: You could say that. You're a good pilot.
Sutera smirks as the group's ships take off into the battle. Waves of Doomuli-loyal fighters come for the group, but they blast their way through the ships.
Arigu: Be careful, I'm noticing some Astrium-powered weapons up ahead.
Tuuki: Of course you would ya nerd. I'll handle this one up ahead.
As the team approaches a large warship with an Astrium cannon, Tuuki performs several barrel rolls as she flies towards it. She then unleashes a flurry of laserfire at the cannon while it's busy shooting another target, blowing it to smithereens.
Yikkal: Well, that's one way to do it.
Tuuki: The trick is to attack while they're distracted. Risky, but rewarding.
Sutera: Well, you might wanna save that for the fleet up ahead!
Another wave of Doomuli ships comes up. Tuuki simply smirks as her ship dives below the incoming fighters, blasting them apart before they even have time to act.
Sutera: ...that was quick. Where'd you learn these tactics?
Tuuki: My parents dropped me in a flight school when I was ten. I caught on pretty quickly and graduated the top of my class.
Yikkal: You never told me that.
Tuuki: There's a lot of things you guys don't know about me.
Kumah: You've got some kind of experimental battleship coming up!
A large warship arrives in front of the team, before unfolding into a giant mech-like robot of sorts.
Arigu: This thing looks weird. Let's take it out!
The team and the enemy ship begin to clash, with Tuuki in particular landing hits behind the ship. However, it's cunning enough to turn around and swat Tuuki with its hand, dealing immense damage.
Tuuki: Don't worry, I'm fine! Just focus on the enemy!
The fight continues, with the team eventually managing to blow open the ship's core. As Yikkal flies in for the final shot, he's immediately swatted by the robot and sent spiraling down to the planet below, his ship heavily damaged.
Kumah: Yikkal!
Sutera: No!
The team begins to shoot at the robot's core, finishing it off. As they fly away from the explosion, it destroys several other enemy ships, paving the way open for an arrival on Ayrus.
----
The group sits aboard the Vigilants flagship, worried.
Kumah: Arigu, didn't you put a life support system in the fighters?
Arigu: I did actually. Maybe we have a chance of saving Yikkal!
Sutera: We can probably track him based on the last signal his ship sent here.
Kumah pulls up a tablet with status reports on the Vigilants' fighters. Yikkal's seems to have given out its last signal at the western end of the planet.
Kumah: Western end. Let's head down there.
----
Two Konsai soldiers toss Yikkal into a prison cell, before activating the prison doors. He simply sits down, leaning on the cell wall as he sighs to himself.
Yikkal: Why did I make that maneuver...
==Chapter 12: Prison Break==
The Vigilants land at the site of Yikkal's crashed fighter, before rushing to the wreck. It seems like it was broken into, but is mostly intact.
Arigu: No sign of him.
Tuuki: You sure you didn't see those footprints over there?
Tuuki points to a set of footprints in the snow. Strangely, there's two sets and they don't resemble Yikkal's feet at all.
Sutera: Those are Konsai footprints. He's been captured.
Kumah: I'm surprised they managed to track him down.
Tuuki: Well, you'd think seeing a ship crashing on the surface of a planet would attract the attention of the locals.
----
Yikkal is sitting in his cell until the door is suddenly blown open. On the other end, he sees the members of Blackguard, and immediately starts pushing himself back towards the wall out of fear, shuddering. Chuma looks at Yikkal with intrigue. The other members of Blackguard seem intrigued as well, with Yuwaka in particular smirking slightly.
Chuma: We didn't come here for you. We came here for the Astrium. These Doomuli guys are hoarding the stuff and I can't tolerate it.
Yikkal: We actually came here with the resistance movement against them. We're working to liberate the planet.
Yuwaka: Well, it seems like we have a common enemy then. Let's join tog-
Chuma: Hold on Yuwaka. I'm not sure if we can still trust him. Him and his team did damage our ship after all.
Koroi: I mean, he's a meatshield more or less. The guy's got no weapons currently.
Onak: Yeah, we can just use him! It's not like he can refuse.
Yikkal: I will admit that I don't want us fighting anymore. The past is behind us.
Yuwaka: He does have a point. He means us no harm.
Chuma sighs as Yuwaka cheers and hugs Yikkal tightly. He seems weirded out by it.
Chuma: We'll find you some weapons. But all I can guarantee you is safe passage.
----
The Vigilants stand before a battlefield outside the mining camp, where Doomuli-loyal Konsai and the resistance fighters are squaring off. They enter the fray, and begin to attack.
Tuuki: If we can push our way into the mining camp, we might be able to find Yikkal!
A Konsai that resembles a giant beetle comes charging after Tuuki. As she pushes her bomb hammer against his giant horn, Tuuki does a backflip, knocking the Konsai onto its back. She then hammers it in the chest while it's struggling to get up.
Arigu: You handle that well. Be careful not to unleash an explosion.
Tuuki: I'll try.
The group continues fighting their way through the battlefield, avoiding laserfire and explosions. Eventually, the path is clear to the mines.
Kumah: Let's go find Yikkal.
----
Blackguard, alongside a re-armed Yikkal, knock down the door to the command room of the mining camp. There, a Konsai with cybernetic parts is busy handling some tasks on the nearby computer before he spots the group. From there, his arms shift into blades.
Konsai: So the prisoner escaped. Lord Xyne wants you dead you know.
Yikkal: Lord Xyne?
Konsai: The one who approached my people.
Chuma: Your people are abominations. I can't let you LIVE!
Chuma charges at the Konsai, but he grins before dodging the rifle stab. He then unleashes a vicious strike towards Chuma that knocks her out, with the rest of Blackguard looking on in horror.
Konsai: Who's next?
Yikkal pulls out his staff, before activating it. Spinning it around, he lunges at the Konsai, knocking him into the nearby wall. The two of them duke it out, destroying machinery as the Blackguard members grab Chuma's body and ditch the room. Eventually, Yikkal has the Konsai pinned down with his staff.
Yikkal: Last words?
Konsai: Xyne will...avenge me...
Yikkal stabs the Konsai in the head, finishing him off. He then looks through the nearby window to see that the mining camp has been reclaimed.
Yikkal: Looks like they're here.
==Chapter 13: Inspirations==
Yikkal runs out of the command tower towards the rest of his team, hugging them tightly.
Tuuki: You made it!
Arigu: We were so worried.
Yikkal: I have one hell of a story to tell you guys.
Shixtan walks towards the team, with a smile on his face.
Shixtan: Looks like we did it. Don't worry, Haiten is delivering your payment into your ship.
Arigu: He's a good guy. So I guess this is it then?
Shixtan: Well, we do have one more assignment if you're interested.
Kumah: What kind of assignment are we talking?
Shixtan: We noticed some signals coming from former Circle of Shadows territory that may belong to Doomuli forces. We'd like you guys to investigate them.
Yikkal: Seems easy enough.
Sutera: I'll come with you guys too. I have to admit, it's fun.
Shixtan: Good luck out there.
As the group heads to the ship, they notice Haiten doing some repairs. Arigu smirks upon seeing the guy.
Arigu: Fixing up our ship?
Haiten: You bet. Made some technical upgrades too.
Tuuki: How thoughtful.
Haiten: As someone who's gone out to Circle of Shadows space, I can say it's not safe there. There's a lot of holdouts of shadow magic users from after Jalgor blew up.
Yikkal: Magic's weird. But we'll get through it.
As the team enters the ship, Haiten smirks slightly as he looks at a tracking device in his jacket pocket.
----
As the ship takes off, Yikkal sits down at a table alongside the others.
Yikkal: Y'know, going into Circle of Shadows territory got me a bit nostalgic.
Sutera: Nostalgic?
Yikkal: Nostalgic about why I became a mercenary. When I was in Neolight I had heard stories of some ruthless mercenary known as the "Silent Scythe".
Kumah: Yeah, I heard a few stories about her. Didn't she end up joining that Vanguard of Spirits organization?
Yikkal: She did I believe. From what I heard she was even the one to personally end the war.
Arigu: You seem to hold her in high regard.
Yikkal: Believe me, I do in a professional way. I've always wanted to make it big as a mercenary. Get some recognition, y'know?
Tuuki: That...explains a lot about you Yikkal.
Yikkal: Yeah, it does I guess.
----
Blackguard's ship is closely following the Vigilants, with the group standing at the bridge.
Onak: Remind me again, why are we following these guys?
Chuma: Well, it seems like wherever they are, the Astrium is. I don't really want to engage them personally though.
Yuwaka: And you know my reasons.
Koroi: Your obsession with their leader is so fucking weird. It's bordering on stalker behavior.
Yuwaka chuckles slightly.
Yuwaka: Well, there's something about him that just...drives me crazy.
----
Arigu is finishing up some adjustments with the Astrium aboard the ship as Yikkal walks in.
Yikkal: You wanted to see me?
Arigu: I've got something here for you.
Arigu presses a few buttons on a remote before a closet door opens to reveal a suit of armor of sorts.
Arigu: Made this for you. Armor specialized for melee combat. And the best part of it?
Arigu taps a few buttons on the wrist of the armor. It then suddenly turns into a lightweight bodysuit of sorts.
Arigu: Easily portable. Try it on!
Yikkal: I like where this is going.
Yikkal gets into the body armor, before activating it again.
Yikkal: Whoa! This is trippy, but I like it!
Arigu: It'll be useful when we get into this next assignment.
==Chapter 14: Abandonment==
The Vigilants' ship arrives near an abandoned space station of sorts. Debris flies through the area.
Tuuki: What the hell is this place?
Kumah: Looks as if it's been abandoned for some time.
Yikkal: I say we check it out.
Sutera: I don't think the signals we were told to investigate are coming from there.
Arigu: Well, it's just a small detour.
Sutera: Fine. This better be worth it.
The team maneuvers the ship to a landing platform of the space station, before heading inside. They're all wearing armor to protect against the low oxygen levels of the station.' The hallways are barely lit, and full of damaged equipment.
Yikkal: Seems like this place was attacked.
Tuuki: Yeah, a lot of the equipment here is broken.
The team arrives at a locked door. However, Tuuki kneels down towards the lock, pulling a lockpick out of her pocket.
Kumah: When did you learn how to lockpick?
Tuuki: Taught it to myself as a kid. Let's just say my parents weren't happy.
Tuuki manages to unlock the door as the group heads inside. It seems to be a control room of sorts, with several monitors. Strangely, there's very little damage here, aside from what appears to be a skeleton on the floor.
Arigu: I wonder if there's any files on here.
Yikkal begins to look through the files, eventually finding one labeled "DANGER: INVASION". He clicks on it as a video pops up.
----
A man is busy at the computer system, scared. In the background, gunshots and explosions can be heard. He has a tattoo over his right eye
Man: If you're watching this, you're probably here long after I die. What's important to know is that me and some colleagues hid out here after Jalgor blew up. We were wanted men for using shadow magic, and decided to remain in this space station.
The man looks at a monitor, hearing the words "Is that all of 'em?" from it?
Man: But this exile didn't last long. We had heard stories of other Circle of Shadows holdouts falling to some organization. I think they were called the Koomuleye or something? I dunno. Point is, right now they're here.
Footsteps can be heard.
Man: But what they don't know is that I'm currently overloading the stations' life support systems to take those fuckers down with me. They should explode right...now.
A massive explosion can be heard from a distance. Immediately, the man feels light-headed and falls to the floor due to a lack of oxygen.
----
Yikkal: That explains the skeleton here. And why the room was locked.
As Yikkal continues looking through the computer system, he sees a ship landing at the station, with two Konsai stepping out.
Sutera: Shit. They found us.
Kumah: Well, let's go get them!
The group exits the security room, weapons in hand. It's dark, and they can only hear footsteps.
Arigu: Seems like there is a bit of air to allow for the flow of sound. Just not breathing.
Tuuki: SHH!
As the group turns around a corner, they see the two Konsai talking.
Konsai 1: I think I heard something.
Konsai 2: I think I did too. There's definitely someone here.
Kumah carefully fires two grenades at their feet.
Konsai 2: Ah fuck. We're so easily distracted, aren't we?
Konsai 1: Yep. Just a couple of dumba-
The grenades detonate, causing a chain reaction of sorts that causes more explosions.
Yikkal: Get to the ship!
The team runs through the hallways, heading for the ship. They barely make it as the explosions consume the space station, leaving nothing but debris.
Sutera: Weird place. Good move with the grenades there.
Kumah: I really didn't want to risk a fight in an area without oxygen. So I took care of 'em easily.
----
Aboard the ship, Yikkal is looking into the signals.
Yikkal: This is weird. The signals are coming from where Jalgor historically was.
Sutera: Jalgor's gone. This is weird.
Arigu: Well, this is no reason not to investigate them. And hey, maybe it's just a ship near it.
==Chapter 15: Hell is Still Alive==
The ship warps into place above what appears to be the remnants of Jalgor. It's more or less just floating islands held together by magical energy, with portals all over the planet for some apparent reason. The remnants of the Citadel of Anguish still stand.
Yikkal: THIS is Jalgor?!?!
Kumah: It survived...
The ship flies down to the planet as the group heads out. Crashed ships dot the landscape, evidence of a war fought here in the past.
Arigu: Well, the signals came from here. Seems like this planet took quite the beating.
A roar can be heard in the distance, frightening the team.
Sutera: Seems like this hellhole is still dangerous.
As the group keeps moving, they watch the area. Portals seem to be opening up erratically, spewing out abberations of magical energy. Some areas of the planet seem more lush than others, and look exotic to a degree.
Tuuki: It's like it's become some hotspot of dimensional activity. Look, the skies are even weird too.
True to her word, Jalgor's skies are strangely colored and there's no sight of the planets nearby. It's almost as if it's in another dimension to a degree. After some walking, the team notices a camp of sorts filled with Konsai. They duck behind a rock as they watch. It seems as if the Konsai there are practicing the use of magic while old Circle of Shadows tech is being dismantled by several engineers. Watching them is a familiar figure.
Haiten.
Arigu: No fucking way. He's working with the Doomuli?
Yikkal: I mean, didn't you tell us he worked with all sorts of weird tech? This seems up his alley.
Haiten turns around to see the group behind the rock, smirking.
Haiten: Capture the trespassers!
Konsai: Yes sir!
The Konsai charge towards the group. Despite the Vigilants' best efforts to repel them, they're disarmed and brought into the camp, thrown onto the ground. They look at Haiten with contempt as he smirks.
Haiten: I knew you'd be oblivious to the tracking device I placed in your ship. I thought you'd check on that Arigu. Consider me disappointed.
Arigu: Well, maybe you could tell us why you're with these guys?
Haiten chuckles slightly.
Haiten: All of my life I've had one desire: to make the most powerful weaponry imaginable. Yet all of these groups I work for have "standards". The Galactic Security Council. Neolight. That resistance movement. But the Doomuli...the Doomuli have no such standards. It was enticing for me to join them.
Sutera: You're motivated by weapons development? WHY!?!
Haiten: It's more than that dear. But for now, I've heard that Lord Xyne wants the five of you personally.
As Haiten orders for several Konsai to take the captives to a ship, an explosion can be seen in the distance. Four fighters fly over the camp, blasting their holdings.
Blackguard.
Tuuki: Am I seeing things, or is Blackguard helping us out?
Yikkal: I mean, they were the ones who helped me escape the mines.
Haiten hurriedly flees from the camp within a small shuttle. Despite being chased briefly, it escapes to the ruined Citadel of Anguish. The fighters then land as the Blackguard team exits.
Chuma: Time and time again you guys need our assistance. Just be glad we share a common enemy.
Yikkal: I never thought you guys would find us.
Yuwaka: I actually placed a tracking device on your armor back in the prison cell.
Yuwaka smirks at Yikkal in a weird manner. He simply shrugs it off.
Arigu: So I guess we're on the same team then?
Onak: The only thing we can't stand more than you guys is the Doomuli and their Konsai allies. Consider this an "enemy of my enemy" situation.
Kumah: Gotcha. Let's get that bastard and bring the Doomuli out of here.
Sutera: I'll contact Shixtan and arrange for reinforcements to get here.
----
Haiten kneels before a hologram of Doomulus Xyne.
Xyne: Haiten, Haiten, Haiten...you disappoint me.
Haiten: I assure you Lord Xyne, we will get them.
Xyne: This does reveal a new opportunity for you. Now that your cover is blown, you can...become a full-on Doomulus.
Haiten: Of course, you're right! I've yearned for the day when I could become one with my own technology.
Xyne: I assume you can arrange for your own transformation.
Haiten: Believe me, I can.
Xyne: Go forth Haiten. Be forever known as...Doomulus Trine.
The hologram turns off as Doomulus Trine opens up a box. Inside is the broken helmet of the Soul Grazer.
Haiten: Let's give this bad boy a new purpose.
==Chapter 16: Confrontation at the Citadel==
The Vigilants and Blackguard are in their ships, flying for the Citadel of Anguish.
Yikkal: Good move attacking from the air.
Chuma: Ground is too risky. Plus we have a numbers advantage.
A fleet of Doomuli ships comes flying for the group. Almost immediately they're taken out by a cannon shot from the Vigilants' command ship.
Kumah: Did you guys want to take those ones out?
Onak: Keep firing old man. We'll pave our way there in style.
A montage is shown of the group pushing their way to the citadel, taking down waves of ships together. At one point, a small robot latches onto Yikkal's ship, and begins drilling at the wing.
Tuuki: Careful Yikkal!
Yikkal performs a barrel roll, yet the robot remains on the ship. Yuwaka however shoots it, destroying it but causing minor damage.
Yikkal: Hey, watch it!
Yuwaka: At least you're not dead.
Yikkal sighs as the group arrives at the heart of the citadel. Getting out of their ships, they enter the central chamber, where Doomulus Trine sits on a throne of sorts. He has a similar head to the Soul Grazer's helmet, but the rest of the body is more bulky and mechanical. His left arm transforms into a cannon as he walks towards the group.
Doomulus Trine: I dreamed of this day Arigu. The day I'd become one with my own tech.
Arigu: Look at you! You're like a fuckin' Transformer or something. What're you gonna do, turn into a car?
Doomulus Trine: No, actually. I'm gonna do this.
Doomulus Trine fires a barrage of lasers at Arigu. He rolls out of the way, but one hits him in the shoulder as he reels in pain.
Yikkal: You "Doomuli" don't belong here. This is OUR territory!
Doomulus Trine: I was born here too ya dummy. I simply know to stick with the stronger faction. Survival instincts.
Doomulus Trine's left arm transforms into a blade.
Doomulus Trine: And now, it's time for the main event.
Doomulus Trine charges at Yikkal. He blocks the blade with his staff as he parries, before kicking Doomulus Trine into a nearby wall. The others also brandish their weapons, preparing for a fight.
Doomulus Trine: Nine versus one then? Easy.
Doomulus Trine tosses a series of grenades around him. They let loose electrical energy, "imprisoning" the others in a sense.
Doomulus Trine: Just you and me Yikkal. The unconfident krexxon versus the Doomuli mechanical genius.
Yikkal: How did you know that?
Doomulus Trine: When I repaired your ship I found out all about you. Past mercenary jobs, favorite knock-knock jokes, and even those diary entries.
Yikkal: Well I'm different now. I know what it means to be a leader.
Doomulus Trine: Well, Mr. "Leader", let's see how you do against ME!
Doomulus Trine lunges at Yikkal, who blocks the blow with his staff. The two of them begin to fight, with Doomulus Trine proving to be a formidable match for Yikkal. At one point, he lands a swift blow to his right leg, damaging the armor surrounding it.
Doomulus Trine: Easy pickings.
Yikkal: Not necessarily.
Yikkal smacks Doomulus Trine in the head with his staff, before hitting him in the chest repeatedly with it. Electrical energy goes flying around the place.
Doomulus Trine: You handle that staff well. But it's no match for-
An explosion can be heard. The resistance movement is here.
Yikkal: Running out of time, eh?
Doomulus Trine: Lucky circumstances for the hero it is. But this isn't your story Yikkal. There's no such thing as a happy ending.
Doomulus Trine lands a vicious stab towards Yikkal's right leg. The krexxon howls in pain as he kneels down from the damage, bleeding out. The rest of the group is shocked.
Yikkal: Land the final hit..I'm clearly worthless...
Doomulus Trine: If you were worthless, why would I choose to fight you of all people?
Suddenly, an explosion hits the wall nearby. The debris manages to hit the imprisoning bombs, rendering the rest of the team freed. Doomulus Trine, seeing the writing on the wall, begins to flee.
Doomulus Trine: Either you tend to your friend's wounds and let me escape, or there's two unnecessary deaths today. The choice is yours.
Doomulus Trine manages to escape the room as the others look at the injured Yikkal.
Yikkal: Why didn't you go for Trine?
Kumah: Your life is more valuable to us.
----
Yikkal gets off of a medical bed with a cybernetic right leg as he looks to the others, who are all smiling.
Yikkal: I gotta say, this is a good leg. Thanks Yuwaka.
Yuwaka: You know me and my knowledge of cybernetics.
Yuwaka blushes intensely as Onak and Koroi shrug collectively.
Sutera: So what now?
Shixtan: We celebrate this victory.
Shixtan walks into the room, much to the shock of the Blackguard members.
Shixtan: The nine of you have done us a great service. With all of us working together, we can begin to build the foundation of a new resistance movement against the Doomuli.
Chuma: I have to admit, you guys fight well.
Yikkal: Yeah, you guys too.
Shixtan: Yikkal, I have a bit of a..special assignment for you and your team. Come with me if you will.
Shixtan leads Yikkal into a private room.
Yikkal: What's up?
Shixtan: According to some contacts of mine, the mercenary you know as the Silent Scythe, along with her team, is currently travelling through other galaxies. From what I've heard of her time with the Vanguard of Spirits, we'll need her skills.
Yikkal: So you want us to find her?
Shixtan: Precisely. We're also willing to offer the necessary equipment to help with the job. It's outside of this galaxy after all.
Yikkal: Well, I accept. This'll be fun.
----
Yikkal and the team ready for takeoff within their ship. Yikkal simply looks up at the stars with a smirk on his face.
Tuuki: You seem way happier.
Yikkal: Well, it's a case of me being optimistic for the future. I know my purpose.
Arigu: That's great! Now let's get going. We've got some new lands to see!
The ship takes off as Yikkal breathes in, with an expression of happiness.
THE END
----
Doomulus Trine kneels before a hologram of Doomulus Xyne once again.
Xyne: I'm disappointed Trine. But perhaps we can utilize your skills where they work best.
Trine: Weapons development?
Xyne: Mhm. Your research into magitech has proven to be astounding. I'd like you to continue.
Trine: Right away sir.
As the hologram conversation ends, the camera cuts to Doomulus Xyne looking at a map of the galaxy. Ascerth is labeled as "Operation in Progress".
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