Enlightenment

Enlightenment

*radio transmission* “You understand me Agent Miles? There is no margin for error the fate of the entire planet is resting on your shoulders.” I was standing at the steps of the Cathedral of Causality, the wind howling furiously. The wind carried the voices of those lost to the malice that is Lord Thanatos, a tyrant willing to kill his own people to ensure his position was recognized by all. This had to be stopped for the Hive was a plight seeking nothing but the annihilation of the federation and all who would oppose them. “Yeah I got it, no pressure.”

I mustered all the strength I had to take that first step forward, this was no ordinary mission. This was a mission that held so much in the balance and I was at the center, to think that I of all people would have been given such a responsibility is uncanny. The fate of Planet Morbus was in my hands, I looked down at my hands and gathered sand in my palm. The sand trickled through my fingers, each grain remembering the countless souls that have been lost. The pile of sand dissipated until there was no more, makes me think of the sands of time. We each have an impact on the flow of time yet we all meet an eventual end. Hourglasses housing our very existence, as time passes so does each grain of sand until the very last one falls. It is time.

“Miles stop...dilly...get...i.n…..ere!!!” the transmission began to cut, “Hello? Is anyone there?” I was on my own now, now was as good a time as any to rush fate. Given the fact that sandstorms were always evident at this time I needed to get indoors as soon as possible.. I trudged forward as the winds began to pick up, sand began to consume my vision...but I kept moving forward. Two doors both reaching about 25 feet stood, they looked almost ethereal standing motionless in the turbulent winds. The gateway to  the palace of Thanatos, he will be stopped...he has to be. I pushed against the door, using all of my weight I pressed my shoulder against it. These doors were more like walls, they must have been a couple feet thick. I could feel myself being drained of my vitality as I continued to force my way in. I pushed until the doors finally gave way, they slowly opened revealing nothing but darkness across the threshold. Silence filled these halls, I took one last breath of fresh air and I stepped forward. The air was still, you could cut the tension with a knife. The area seemed safe, at least for now, so I continued to trek forward into the enigma that was the Cathedral of Causality. I reached my hand into my pocket and pulled out a glow stick. I had at least three of these at all times and right now it was to be my only source of light for who knows how long. I took the glow stick in both hands and cracked it, the sound resonated off of the walls into the endless abyss of darkness. The glow stick provided a small source of light, I could finally see my hand in front of my face.

I looked around the entrance for any sign of life but I found none, the contours of the room took an emerald tint from the glow stick. I panned the room, slowly pivoting in place looking for another room. I must continue delving into this place of mystery. I walked into the darkness, this place held an eerie sensation to it. I have been here all this time why haven’t I heard anything yet? It was unsettling, they must be waiting for me somewhere. The darkness hides many horrors and Thanatos and his mindless subjects found it to be inviting. The task of walking through this one building was becoming very tiresome. There was no one to be seen, no one to be heard, I was beginning to feel as if there was also nothing to fear. I stepped forward but something impeded my progress. I tripped, my face colliding with the ground. I staggered to my feet  and found the glow stick close by, I reached down and something caught my eye. “Is that a shoe?” The glow stick shone on the object to reveal a corpse. I jumped back landing on the ground yet again. The corpse was drenched in blood, it reeked of death. My composure was now broken, I shone the glow stick on the corpse and found a federation patch on the shoulder of what appeared to be a uniform. Who was this person that met such an untimely fate, I must know. I moved closer to the corpse and shone the glow stick on it again, the head was missing. This is terrible, the pain that this person must have gone through. Sawing directly through the bone completely removing the head, just thinking about it made me uneasy. This was a travesty, there must be countless lifeless corpses like this one hidden amongst the darkness. The corpse didn’t frighten me, it was no longer among the living and could pose no threat to me. I was frightened by the thought of meeting a similar demise. This person must have come here to accomplish the very same task that I have taken on, am I next?

No, I can’t die here I will not die and rot in the darkness. There is too much at cost for me to just lay down and die. I reached into my shirt to reveal a locket, this locket meant alot to me. I could never put a price on it, it was of simple design nothing fancy. It was silver, untouched by the elements. Small circular standard issue locket, what made it unique was the contents hidden inside. A picture of my wife and daughter, it was taken on the day she was born. I was so happy, I helped bring something so beautiful into this world and I had to protect it. I always wore this locket into battle, it brought me good luck. I kept my wife and daughter close to my heart...always. I clenched the locket tight and kissed it, this may be the last time I ever get to see her again.

I could hear the sound of footsteps in the distance, my day of reckoning may have come but I wouldn’t die that easy. I hurried to my feet rushing into the other direction and ducking behind a wall. I caught my breath and tried to stay silent as I listened for the footsteps. They were getting closer, I could feel my heartbeat rising as the footsteps drew ever closer. I looked down at my hands, I forgot the glow stick. This was not good, an unknown hostile was approaching my current position and I had no light source. There was no time to beat myself up over it, I had to be ready. I could have never been ready for what happened next…

I tried to compose myself as best as possible, I unholstered my pistol and waited in dead silence. The footsteps had stopped, how could this be? Did they know where I was? I was afraid to stay in my current position, but I had no way of knowing where the hostile was at this moment. The moment I peeked around the corner was the moment my life changed forever...lights began to flicker on beginning at the south end of the hallway. Each one had about a four second delay in between, but I was motionless. The creature stood at the end of the hallway, staring directly at me. It stood tall, its brown exoskeleton large and its antennae reaching its back. The creature screeched and lifted its scythe-like arms. I stared in horror, the creature stepped forward. I aimed at the creature and shot hastily, hitting it in the thorax. This only served to anger it as the creature screeched once more and revealed a second set of scythe-like arms hidden in its abdomen. It salivated, its saliva hitting the ground beneath it and smoking on contact. Its saliva must have corrosive properties, but I didn’t want to find out. It waited for my next move, I bolted in the other direction. I was terrified, it followed close behind. I kept running until I couldn’t hear it behind me anymore, I must have lost it. I stopped and looked behind me, there was no sign of it anywhere. I took this moment to catch my breath, there must be more of these things crawling throughout this place. I stood silent for about a minute when I heard the sound of shuffling again. The creature must be near by but where, I aimed my pistol and looked around. There was nothing here, I leaned against the wall. I looked up to see a pair of red eyes staring at down at me. “Oh crap,” the creature pounced knocking me to the floor and my gun out of my hand. It pinned me to the floor, I struggled but it continued to pin me down. The creature leaned close to me and screeched, I turned my face so as to not look at it and suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my side. The creature quickly thrust one of its arms through my side, blood gushed forth from the wound and I howled in pain. I struggled but that only made the pain worse. The creature twisted the arm that punctured my side, ripping and tearing flesh from the bone. The pain was unbearable, my vision began to blur I was passing out from blood loss. The creature lifted his arm once more, it seemed as if this was to be the killing blow. No longer restrained I muster what was left of my strength and pulled out my knife. “I will not die yet!!!” The creature slashed, in that moment I leaned forward and thrust the knife through its chest.The arm stop short of my neck. The creature staggered backwards falling to its back. It screeched in pain, heat radiated from its chest as it began to melt right in front of me. I crawled to the wall and leaned on it for support as I watched the creature melt away from existence as if it never existed. I knew too well that it had existed, these wounds would never allow me to forget a meeting such as this one.

Safe for the moment I pushed myself to my feet, every fiber of my being forcing me to lay down. I pushed forward, walking along the wall leaving a trail of my blood in my wake. The life seeping from me with every step I took, there was a door at the end of this hallway. I couldn’t give up now, someone was waiting for me, someone I have unfinished business with. It would be rude to keep him waiting. I reached the door and kicked it open, blood squirting from my sides as I lifted my leg. I stepped forth and entered the Chamber of Thanatos, there he sat in his throne awaiting my arrival. “It would seem I have underestimated you, no one has ever survived an encounter with one of my reapers before.” I looked at him, my face held no expression other than anger, “I knew you were watching from afar you coward, and that ‘reaper’ did nothing compared to what I wanna do to you.” Thanatos smirked at my moxie and waved his hand closing the door behind me. “This my young lad is the end of your story, your incessant meddling with the inner workings of the gods tires me. You are but a toy that I wish to dispose of, you no longer offer any amusement to me.” I grit my teeth and walked forward, “Well come get rid of me then, or would you deny me that. You sit in your throne and order the genocide of your own people and watch as if it were a show on television. This ends here.” Thanatos stood, with those words spoken there was no longer any need for formality. His reapers that once filled the room stood in silence as their master rose from his throne. This was a sight that many had not gained the satisfaction of viewing, many lives have been lost to the hands of Thanatos and his reapers. I was lucky enough to get this far but how long could I keep up this game? Lord Thanatos unsheathed his sword, “This sword has seen many deaths and tasted much blood. All those that stood to oppose me met their untimely end by this sword.” Thanatos slashed the air, completely silent. I was tossed a sword, “Make this a fun fight won’t you,” angry I bolted at him.

Lord Thanatos sidestepped me and hit me with the hilt of his sword. “Why are you fighting me, you will lose everyone does,” I hit the floor and looked up at him in disgust. I slashed at him again, with no great effort Thanatos parried my attack. He kicked me and I fell backwards landing on the ground. “Why are you holding back you son of a bitch,” I staggered to my feet once more. “I am surprised that you can stand with wounds as deep as yours.” Thanatos yawned as if bored, in anger I slashed cutting his cheek. Thanatos wiped the blood from his face, “How dare you!!” Thanatos stood still ready to attack, “No more playing games, you are a child that must be punished!!!!” I ran forward, he slashed his sword and I ducked. He was wide open, I thrusted my sword upward and he disappeared. “What?!” Thanatos reappeared behind me, “You didn’t think it would be that easy now did you?” He thrust the sword through my spine, it went through to my abdomen. Blood dripping from my mouth landing on the sword. Thanatos used my back as a foothold as he pulled the sword out. I fell to my knees.  I  dropped the sword and  stared at the ground. Kneeling in a pile of my own blood at the hands of my enemy, Lord Thanatos gripped my throat. “You were a fool to come here, did you really think you could defeat me? No one can defeat me,” Lord Thanatos positioned his sword at my throat, “did you have any last words young Miles?” With the last of my willpower I reached into my shirt and pulled out my locket, my other hand revealed a detonator. “Just one, boom,” I pressed the detonator and the countdown was initiated. 10...9...8...7...6… Lord Thanatos’ eyes filled with rage, “You impudent little insect we’re both going to die!” I smiled, I chinked his armor. The tyrant that once had an iron fist on this planet would soon be no more, “That doesn’t matter, you are finally gonna get what you deserve and I get to go out with a bang.” 5...4...3...2...1. The countdown stopped and the room was soon filled with fire, I got to watch the evil tyrant burn in flames just like he deserved. I was not frightened, I was content. I had fought for what I believed in and in the end I watched as something so evil got purified in the flames of eternity. I grasped my locket and wished that my loved ones would feel no pain as I go. “I love you.”