Chapter Two : The Heart Of Darkness

*The ride back across the Interstate was incredibly tense and uncomfortable , not only because of the massive militia surrounding the New York-New Jersey border , but because of the heavy feeling of wanting to throw up . Spica was incredibly full of things in her head , all of them hurting , badly . She needs sleep . Yes , sleep . She would sleep and wake up tomorrow morning , ready to formulate a plan .*

*>>>>>*

*The next day , a bad rainstorm had been fluttering about overhead for a few hours , dumping a lot of rain over that small window of time .Flood alerts were put in place for many across the East Coast as a hurricane were to brush by the weekend ahead . Some rain and a lot of wind was expected . This didn't deter Spica and what was going on in her mind . The Cassiopites were near Earth , she thought . A well few hundred thousand miles . That meant that they could reach in five days , but , no , their machinery is faster . Three ? Maybe even one ? Not enough time . Spica and Brandon went to the dining table , forging a plan . Due to the severity of the situation , Rigel's cousin , Windy , was called to help them . Windy is a short girl , roughly 5 feet in height , with messy , black hair , dyed gray to resemble clouds .*

*" Alright , " Spica said , standing in front of the store's bulletin board . A line , wavy and distorted was supposed to resemble the ocean , while a circle under water and one above represented their targets . A pink marker was circled around the poorly drawn diagrams ." We need to take out my ship and both the Heart Of Darkness before the day is done . This won't* *guarantee no sort of an attack at all , but can completely heighten our chances of winning . I already auto-piloted it to go below the ocean , but I have reason to believe that it may be hijacked . "*

*" Well what's the plan ?" Misty asked anxiously .*

*" I have been building a boat of mine that I previously planned to be a surprise for our honeymoon , but the stakes are high now . " Spica winced a bit . " Sorry , sweetie , maybe next month ? "*

*Brandon smiled and kissed her on the cheek . " Its alright . We've got a planet to save . "*

*Misty , Rigel and Windy all cleared their throats in a noisy cacophony .*

*" Like I said , what's the plan ."*

*Spica took a deep breath , annoyed . " When we get out to sea , we will go into two teams , you , me and Dahlia . Brandon , Rigel , Windy will take out my ship . We'll take out the Heart Of Darkness . We have to destroy it before it launches , and if it does launch , we'll have the Coast Guard assist with destroying it when it's in the sky . "*

*"The Heart Of Darkness ? " Windy gasped . " Spica , what is going on here ? "*

*"You're just going to have to trust me when I say that the entire world may be at stake , and only we can save it . "*

*" What about Adalene ? "*

*" You all go ," Adalene added . " I will stay near the island . If you need me , I will have my cellphone . I will also have my family members contact the NYPD ."*

*" Alright , then , we'll commence our plans at noon . " Spica decided .*

*As noon approached , the wind and rains of a nearby storm , one Hurricane Magnellan , was churning up quite a commotion over the past few hours , as the shores were placed under mandatory evacuation .*

*Rigel , Misty and Spica were all in his car , whilst Dahlia , Brandon and Windy were in hers . With a farewell wave and hugs from Adalene , the group began on their commute to New York , searching for the two machines that could mean total annihilation of Earth itself . The drive was tense as before , the waves crashing onto the harbor as they entered the city's limits again . A destroyed car was being pulled up from the bay underneath the overpass , with a family weeping feverishly . A body was being placed into the back of a nearby ambulance . The air had its thick , solid feature again , with no one saying anything at all in both vehicles .*

*The waters were choppy , the air heavy and dark . It was , sullen and depressing .*

*They turned off onto Hudson Bay , to the dockyards , leaving their vehicles and stepping onto the wooden tapestry that led to Spica's boat . As the team split up , Brandon and Spica shared one last kiss before entering the boat themselves , looking up to see helicopters and large gunboats veer out to the stormy sea .*

*" I really hope this is worth the trouble . " Misty sneered .*

*Dahlia patted her shoulder .*

*" It will be ." she consoled .*

*The boat , white and trim , veered out to the ocean as well , under the protection of the military . The chopping of helicopters and the roar of massive ships passed as well . Spica knew that they weren't after them , but the massive black capsule that stood erect in the choppy seas . The Heart Of Darkness . Inside that thing was a weapon capable of destroying worlds at a time with startling proficiency .*

*As the team drifted closer to the thing , Spica's boat made a repetitive pinging sound . They slowed down , the boat being rocked gently by the rough waves as Brandon , Rigel and Windy got into their group . The wind made their hair flail about in their faces , making the situation a bit awkward . A helicopter also stopped a few feet ahead of them as a soldier gave them the all clear to continue . They responded back with a thumbs up .*

*" Alright , team , let's do this . " Misty proclaimed . A glass dome encircled the boat as it pierced the water , going under its surface to the shallow bottom , a mere two hundred feet down . Passing through the water gave off a mystical sort of appeal as they approached the bottom .*

*" It's so beautiful . " , Dahlia exclaimed . Ever since her time on Earth , it seemed as if she grew more fond of the planet and all it have to offer . Some of the teammates began to say that she might actually stay here permanently . What a dream that would be . They continued their voyage through the water , a handful of fish passing by like a swarm of bees in a field . The beauty of the ocean was one to behold .*

*The submarine came onto the submerged ship as everyone got ready for their respective tasks .*

*"It's go time . " Brandon said , as he kicked in a window of the ship and entered , along with Windy and Rigel . The three had began to start down a hallway that led to the scout ship hanger , needing to place a bomb in the middle that would destroy the entire ship . Windy , however noticed a gleam on the floor of the hall , sleek and nearly unnoticeable . It was a trip wire of sorts .*

*" Wait ! " Windy shouted .*

*\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_*

*Spica , Misty and Dahlia had steered out above the water , returning to its choppy surface , gaining speed to meet the capsule before them . Black , huge and cumbersome to look at , Spica had to blow it before the Cassiopites made it to Earth . Intently , as they reached the ship , the three had made it to the entrance of the structure , taking a look at the intricate architecture and such of the like . The thing was dark , needless to say . Dark and scary . And although its assumed that to be afraid of the dark is childish , this darkness was different . It was......alive .*

*" Hey , what is this ? " Misty called out . A faint red glow emanated from a massive ring , chrome and shiny in design . It had the smell of bad eggs . Sulfur . It had just completed being recharged , the smell of the magma clinging to the machine . It was there . The Heart Of Darkness , only a few feet ahead of them .*

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

*Rigel had stepped in the wire , setting off an alarm , and feeling the eerie shudder of the ship as it risen out of the seafloor and began to ascend . The walls of the ship had shot out these small robots that had began to move in their direction .*

*" Uh , Brandon ? " Windy asked . Brandon was preoccupied with tampering with the ship's security system .*

*" Yeah ? " He responded .*

*" Fucking run !!!"*

*Brandon turned back to see the small robots shooting at them with lasers . A few barely grazed him as he got up and ran . The three ducked and dodged these white-hot projectiles as they came upon the control bridge .*

*" In here , hurry !! " Rigel shouted back . The crew ran in and closed the door behind them . The control bridge was roomy and chrome , the only thing being a dashboard and a futuristic looking chair . The three were astonished , but also very conflicted as time was running out .*

*Suddenly , a loud , peculiar sounding alarm began to ring , much to everyone's displeasure .*

*" What is that ?! " Brandon asked as Windy pressed a few buttons on the dashboard . The windshield turned into a screen , as a massive diamond - shaped ship came onto the screen , surrounded by many smaller ones .*

*" The --the Cassiopites ?!!" Everyone exclaimed in horror .*

*One of the smaller diamond -shaped ships detached itself from the larger one and began a descent into the Earth's atmosphere .*

*" Oh god . We got to call Spica and the others ! " Brandon said . He began to call them , but stopped as the other three plunged into the control room .*

*"Spica ! " Windy shouted . " We're in some deep shit ."*

*" We know . " Spica responded . " Come on , we have to--"*

*The screen switched over to show a face none of them wanted to see . Andromeda Vexan . She was wearing a white , elegant captain attire , obviously the leader of the entire invasion fleet .*

*" Greetings , sub-lifeforms of Earth ," She said . " I'am Andromeda Vexan of the Cassiopeian Empire . As you may or may not know , your planet is under siege by a group of insidious , destructive criminals that have escaped our security . They are a hellish team , bent on turning the Earth into a barren wasteland . We Cassiopites will eliminated these evil pests , freeing you all of their plans . Unfortunately , your world will be exterminated as well . That is all . " Everyone was deathly afraid as of now , even Dahlia . " And please , have a terrific day . "*

*" Oh my god . It's actually happening . " Spica said . " They're actually invading !! "*