"The decision must be made" Abyssal Arbiter roars, its loud, the ground trembles from the roar, his spikes shake, standing on end like raised hackles, the roar carry's on, the very air around arbiter distorts from the roar.
The roar ceases "my power will no longer remain classified" Abyssal Arbiter's chest resonates a deep guttural thump, the ground jumping with each thump, Xam pushes himself up, eyes still fixated on Abyssal Arbiter as he falls forward, Xam's broken femur gives way under his own weight, he catches himself by the arm, Xam snaps of anger, still enraged from Salamanders fire, Xam's eyes dilute as they shift to his leg, Xam takes his fist and slams it into the break, severing his leg from the rest of him, Abyssal Arbiter widens his stance, gliding his left foot across the ground, breathing with a low growl, hissing of steam with each exhale, Xam's leg explodes of regeneration, healing fully in the blink of an eye.
Salamander coughs of life, Sol hears the sputter of blood, she leans down to Rogue, gracing his face with her hand and races off to Salamanders aid, appearing instantly by his side "by the Elements… " Salamander clings onto what strength he can to remain conscious despite losing half of his body from the waist down, his leg neurons spontaneously fire, having an epileptic spasm next to Salamander, Salamander watch's them morbidly, realisation setting in.
Sol lays layers of light over Salamanders waist, slowing the bleeding "you are going to be ok Salamander, god wills it upon you, and so do I" Xam runs back at Abyssal Arbiter, ground trembling under each slam, Abyssal Arbiter walks, marching toward the damned, Xam continues bolting at 60km/h, gaining ground at a rapid pace, Xam rugby tackles Abyssal Arbiter, Abyssal Arbiter scrapes backwards across the ground, feet staying planted, Arbiter raises his right arm and slams his elbow into Xam's back, Xam's hold on Arbiter slips a little, a bone spike shoots out from his elbow, impaling Xam in the back, Arbiter pushes Xam away, tearing his elbow blade through Xam's shoulder, creating a deep cut down Xam's shoulder and into his back, the bone blade sheaths back into Arbiter's arm, Arbiter steps forward launching a fist in to Xam, Xam responds with a fist of his own, both fists gather close, plasma forming from the sheer destructive power from the both of them, impact, another shockwave bursts free of the collision, Sol raises Wall of Dawn, protect herself and Salamander, his legs get blown away, Ahuic spouts water in front of her, shielding her from the shockwave, Hurricane fails to respond, still restrained against the wall, the force reverberates throughout the area, Arbiters crimson turns to neon green, vines spring from his fist now drilling into Xam's arm, locking them both together, Arbiter smiles and rips his arm up, hurling Xam up and over him, then slamming Xam into the ground, he's hurled again, slamming again, hurl, slam, hurl, slam, Arbiter performs a 360 by the waist and lets go of Xam, launching Xam outward into the pillar of Alard left by the Maiden of Protection, the pillar shakes lightly but remains intact, Xam catches himself on the ground, Xam stares down Arbiter, Arbiter's green turns back to crimson, he slams his own fist into his head and roars at Arbiter, Xam bolts for Arbiter again, running on pure animal instincts, Arbiter side steps, posture up and straight, dodging an animalistic swing at Arbiter, he misses, Arbiter returns to sender, the fist contacts Xam's gut, ribs shatter, Arbiters other hand hurls for Xam's head, Xam's head ripples on impact, neck breaking, Xam's head lul's back, Arbiter steps back, crouches and ready's a fist for a low hit, Arbiters fist hurls forward, air parting, Arbiter takes a chunk of Xam's right pelvis, bone and skin fly like a shotgun, Xam's neck heals, allowing Xam to see Arbiter's axe kick, Xam moves to the defensive, raises both arms in a cross pattern, and blocks Arbiter's axe kick, the brutal impact disturbs the air and the dust on the ground, chunks of rubble are disturbed from the force of the guard, Xam wraps his right arm around Arbiters leg, raises his left arm and roars down, eyes fixated on Arbiters leg, Arbiter twists his body right, forcing himself to spin up, turn horizontally and use his momentum to kick Xam in the right side of his head, skin ripples and teeth fly, Arbiter sticks the landing with his right foot dragging across the ground, Xam staggers, he gathers himself and looks at Arbiter, Xam's head has a concave where Arbiters kick landed, Arbiter walks forward toward Xam, Xam takes a step back, he looks nervous, head symmetrical again, Arbiter gets close before swinging his left arm at Xam, Xam deflects it, the fist hurling past Xam's head, Arbiters right fist is thrown, the impact shatters Xam's ribs, Arbiter throws his left arm again, Xam steps off to the right, Arbiter now between Xam and the pillar left by Maiden of Protection, Xam nervously holds his arms up, realising that roaring doesn't impact Arbiters moral, Arbiter breaks into sprint, throwing Xam off guard, Arbiter rugby tackles Xam, Arbiters momentum takes Xam with him, they both fly and roll on the ground, Arbiter catches himself on all fours and skids to a halt, Xam lands back down, disorientated, Arbiter slams Xam's head into the ground, Arbiter picks Xam up by the head, he twists his body by the waist, breaking it doing a 360 and throwing Xam back toward the pillar, Xam is lodged into the pillar, dust pluming where Xam is.
What's left of the Abyssal Prisons halls resonate the warped alarms of a level 5 threat, the broken structure doesn't allow the Paladins to hear it, as far as they know, the alarm failed to sound, they're on their own.
But far away, a facility has received the call for aid.
Military personnel scramble, the base alarm hollers, the level 5 threat at the Abyssal Prison has alerted Alard's Corewalker Military Forces, the ACMF, and Alard's Consumed Response Team, ACRT. the alarms scream "ALERT, ALERT, LEVEL 5 THREAT LEVELS RECEIVED FROM ABYSSAL PRISON, TRANSMISSIONS RECEIVED, ROGUE ASSAULT MODE, ROGUE ASSAULT MODE, MOBOLISE COREWALKERS, ALERT, ALERT" the alarm repeats itself.
Three airborne vehicles, fit with nacelle rotation systems on both jet engines on the ends of each wings, built to be light and durable, are fitted each with weapons, engines ramped and ready to go, blowing air everywhere, "WE'RE LOADED UP" the person bangs the vehicle a couple times "GET THESE PUPPIES IN THE SKY! NOW!"
"Star Zero, this is Ground Control, you are clear for lift off" The jet powered CR-34 Osprey's slowly take lift, the pilot comments "these fucking things are heavy, opening overdrive hatch" he flicks a lever, each engine on each wing has three outputs, generally only two are open during action, however the flicked lever opens the 3rd output on each wing, it ignites, more powerful than the other's, allows the Ospreys to takeoff faster, burning more fuel whilst doing so, the Ospreys take lift "up we go!" the other two Ospreys ignite their overdrive hatches as well, they catch up to the first Osprey, comms come over the Ospreys from the ACMF base "Star Zero, this is Ground Control, give them hell Star Zero" each Osprey responses "GC, this is Star One, giving hell" each Osprey moves their jets from hover mode to fixed-wing mode.
One by one, the Ospreys crest a hill, the sound of howling thunder roars by, each Osprey hauls one walking mech each, Corewalkers, two of them have the same set up, 7.5 tons, 3 metres tall, tempered Uralalienite coating the entire mech, mineral unique to Alard, both have two tri-railguns mounted on both arms, built to melt anything they point at with 460 rounds per second. The last Osprey carry's a different Corewalker, one with every variation of weapon available, 11 tons total, 3.5 metres tall, a massive Twin Rail Machine Cannon, each barrel 16mm thick, triple tri railguns, rocket pods and a distinct pack on its back, all 3 built for operations far more brutal than this.
6 personnel enter a room filled with hundreds of horizontal pods, all wirelessly operational and cyber elementally enhanced to deter malware and cyber security breach's, 3 of the 6 personnel jump into a pre-opened pod, jumping straight into a 10cm deep pool of softening gel, built for comfort during long operating missions, the last 3 all follow their designated partner to get them ready for neural embodiment.
Xam rugby tackles Abyssal Arbiter again, pushing Abyssal Arbiter back a few metres, Arbiter grabs Xam and kicks his knee into Xam's stomach, he kicks again, Xam holds firm, feet slipping across the ground as his push comes to a slow crawl, Arbiter raises both his arms up and slams them down into Xam's back, vines sprout from Xam's legs and dig into the ground, securing himself in place before twisting his body anti clockwise, ripping Abyssal Arbiter off the ground, Arbiter's left temple slams into the ground, knocking him a daze, Xam's upper body pivots on his pelvis tearing it apart as it completes a 360, Xam lifts his now free leg up and slams it down at Arbiter's head, it caves in and Arbiter goes limp, Xam smiles as he raises his foot out of Arbiters head, his face lighting up into joy, his chest makes a low rumble, beginning to boil atomic green.
Arbiter arm lunges toward Xam's head, grabbing with crushing force and roaring it down into the ground, creating a crater the size of Xam's head, a web of cracked Alard homes in on Xam's head, the Paladins feel the tremor beneath their body's. Arbiter's head slowly reforms itself, Arbiter pushes his body up, just enough kinetic energy to get him upright as if acutely calculated, Xam unplugs his head from the ground, Arbiter turns to face Xam, the crimson glow pulsating around Arbiter's entire body shifts hues to a bright pink, the elemental colour of death, with Manifest Death still in play, Arbiter takes the opportunity to mimic it, a red string remains between Xam and Arbiter, Truth through Deception remains in play, Arbiter takes a step forward, Xam rears back up, staggered from the unsuspecting head slam, Arbiter brings the fingers of his right hand together, as if forming a spear, Arbiter winds his arm back, readying himself for a strike.
Abyssal Arbiter stops, halted by nothing but himself, Xam takes one look at him, seeing Arbiter ready to strike him, Xam takes a step back, Abyssal Arbiter's eyes slowly miosis, his head pounds at his skull, his eyes dart from side to side, Axium calls over the speakers, the prison AI "Sir, your 15 minute timer on Perfection Personified has reached its limit, i strongly suggest you break combat and disengage" Abyssal Arbiter's eyes concentrate, and snap toward Xam, killers intent settles, Sol who is watching like the rest of the sentinels, turns and looks over at Hurricane, she's freed, she glances at Ahuic, Ahuic glances back at Sol, all are confused.
Arbiter punches his own face to force away the pain, then lunges at Xam, the two clasp hands again, Axium try's to ward off Abyssal Arbiter again "Sir" Arbiter pulls at Xam, he punches Xam in the face, nose breaking, Xam steps back and recuperates himself "continuing like this will strain you" Xam swings haphazardly at Arbiter, Arbiter blocks it and checks Xam in the gut, and again, both punches ripple throughout Xam's body "i advice you to retreat Sir" Arbiter is ignoring the warnings, Xam goes to kick Arbiters left leg out, targeting his shin, Arbiter signals his leg to step back and avoid the kick, but instead his right arm raises up, Xam's kick lands, shattering Arbiter's shin bone, Arbiter collapses, his leg oddly doesn't heal as fast as it once was "Ferus, disengage!" Arbiter's chest brews a deep crimson, readying for a roar, Xam raises his leg and stomps down on Arbiter's chest, destroying Arbiter's vocals, the crimson stops brewing, neon green brews in Xam's chest, Xam gets right down to Arbiters face as Arbiter lays chest to the sky, Xam roars, the roar's low, vibrating the ground with violent force, and increases to a shrieking mess, Arbiter grabs Xam by the throat, crushing his neck and pulling Xam off of him, but his neurons misfire again, his hand cling tight to Xam's throat, Arbiter try's to stand while holding onto Xam, Arbiter manages to put his weight on a half healed leg, the bone intact but fractured, Xam grabs onto Arbiters upper arm and yanks hard, pulling Arbiters right arm free from his body at the shoulder, a drizzle of nervous system comes with the arm, Arbiter screams of pain, his screams are shrieked, warped by the crushed chest, every injury before this was hardly felt, but this was felt as if Abyssal Arbiter was merely human, Arbiter lets go of Xam and collapses to the ground, Arbiters left arms cups the tear at his shoulder.
Xam's comical grin comes back to his face after hearing the screams of agony, the white teeth show through like vantablack in pure white, Xam doesn't worry about the Sentinels, he knows they cant defeat him. And they know they cant win against a monster like that.
In the Ospreys, alarms ring "Abyssal Arbiters E-signs are spiking! engage overdrive!" the third output ignites again, pushing the ospreys from 730km/h to 860km/h
Abyssal Arbiter roles onto his chest and claws with his only arm, his body refusing to heal as he drags it across the ground, Xam sees Arbiter pulling away, Xam turns toward Arbiter and begins to walk, enjoying Arbiters cry's, Arbiter keeps trying to pull away, Axium calls again "Ferus, do not change out of Assault Mode, or you will die!" Xam's leg lands next to Arbiter abdomen, the next leg landing next to Arbiters head, Arbiter pulls once more before Xam slams Arbiter head into the ground, Xam pulls at Arbiters head, lifting him up off the ground, Arbiter's chest is caved in, face deformed with broken skull fragments, right arm missing from the shoulder and his leg never fully healed, Xam suspends Arbiter in the air, legs off the ground, Assault Mode Elementals are nearly impossible to kill, being able to recover from blows no ordinary elemental could ever return from, Xam presses his arm against Arbiters back, vines begin to sprout from Xam's arm, they pierce Arbiters skin, parting flesh and muscle, coiling around bones and crushing organs, no blood leaks for an Assault Mode pumps none, vines scatter throughout Arbiters entire body, and eventually drill into Arbiters brain, yet Arbiter in Assault Mode doesn't allow him to die, only to suffer endlessly, Arbiter cannot move, arm mangled beyond repair, legs dangling like jelly, vines sprout out of Arbiters mouth, a grotesque sight for the weak.
Ahuic vomits bile, Sol covers her mouth as tears stream down her face, she cant move away from Salamander otherwise he'll die instantly, Hurricane's body gave out long ago, and Rogue passed out from exhaustion, Xam's wide grin shrinks, lessening to a blank stare, Xam's head tilts, looking at a motionless Arbiter, Xam drops him, vines remain inside of Arbiter leaving Arbiter immobile, Xam continues to stare at Arbiter, he remains motionless.
Sol whispers to herself, voice shaking as she does "No..." Xam's head lifts up slowly, sounds like creaking with how still he was, and in the blink of an eye, his head snaps to stare at Sol, live prey, Xam grins again, he turns toward Sol, takes one step forward and... he stops, his head turns toward Ahuic who is now scrambling backwards, Sol stays put, keeping Salamander alive as he too watches on, Xam drops his jaw, his chest puffs and shrinks like he's laughing, his chest brews atomic green, taking in litres of air, Xam plants his left leg forward and leans toward the Sentinels like preparing for recoil, the area drops to zero sound before Xam roars, the beginning is low, vibrating the ground, it increases into a warped shriek of fractured vocal cords, to the Sentinels, it reinstalls fear into the Sentinels.
The roar is interrupted, Axium comes live on speaker, an alerted tone "RECEIVING TRANSMISSION" Xam cuts the roar short, shifting his smiling gaze upwards... something is approaching "ALARD COREWALKER MILITARY FORCE AND ALARD CONSUMED RESPONSE TEAM ARRIVING, T-MINUS" a portion of the ceiling begins to glow a super hot red "5" all is quiet "4" anticipation chokes the air "3" everyone does nothing "2" they just look up "1"
The ceiling erupts, tearing itself open to let the bright sky inside, 7km of burrowed Alard allows the ACMF and ACRT to drop down.
The Ospreys hover over the tunnel, each Ospreys belly is opened up with Corewalkers suspended, ready to descend "DROP THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS!" each Corewalker is let loose, the 11 ton devastator drops first "MAKE THAT THING WISH IT NEVER EXISTED!" the descending Corewalker robots whistle through the ripped Alard, nuclear fission engines running quiet as ever, below the cockpit of the lead Osprey, a medium size drone, flying via 4 propellers and a wing span of nearly 2 metres detaches, it hovers over the hole and cuts engine power, a soldier over the radio calls "Deploying ED-X12 Drone"
Xam bolts toward the tunnel, smelling the sweet scent of the surface.
Corewalkers warp the air around them as they descend, 300km/h but remain strong, the Corewalkers come online one by one.
The personnel in the pods are neurologically transferred into each of the Corewalkers, embodying the steel clad body's, they announce their presence "Light Assault Series, Swift Streak. Online" a calm, mechanised voice calls out "Light Assault Series, Magma Walker. Online" another calm and mechanised voice, followed by the lead of the assault, an authoritative voice "Light Devastator Series, Ruination. Online" the ground quickly approaches "prepare for impact" the ED-X12 drone whirs to life again, slowing its descent.
Ruination makes first contact, stirring the air and dust around her, clouding the other walkers landings, Xam knows they landed, the Alard trembling slams say enough, ED-X12's rotors disperses the dust, revealing the chunky Corewalkers, Ruination stands before the other two LAS Corewalkers, Ruination commands the others "weapons hot" the tri-railguns of the LAS's begin spinning, they appear to have 9 barrels at full speed "ED-X12, engage Essence Wavelength Disruptors" Xam grunts, he sprints forward toward the Corewalkers sensing danger, a voice calls over coms "EWD's live"
The ED-X12 drone hovers just ahead of the squad, a wavelength of sound emits from small speakers on ED-X12, the soundwaves disrupt the air, stirring dust everywhere, coming in contact with Xam, stopping him in his tracks, the high pitch screeches from ED-X12 ring through Xam's skull, he clutches his head as he try's to roar to combat the sound, the roar warps uncontrollably, his head pounds at his skull, Xam's right leg staggers to the side, his left follows back, Xam fights the sound, his left leg steps forward, followed by his right, Ruination utters another command as she raises her Twin Rail Machine Cannon "OPEN FIRE" Swift Streak and Magma Walker both sing a song of their combined 920RPM, Ruination pulls the trigger to her TRMC, the rail of the top barrel slings back, hauling the kinetic round through the barrel at speeds up to mach 7, the rail hits the end of its line, pulling a new round into the chamber, the rail is sent back to front as the bottom rail begins moving to the back of the barrel, launching the round chambered in the second barrel, the round discards its cartridge until nothing but the depleted steel uranium sabot is left to split the air like a blade, each round from the tri-railguns and the TRMC over penetrate Xam, in through the front, out through the back, fire rate so fast it out competes Xam's healing factor.
"MARCH" Ruination and the LAS's begin walking forward, ED-X12 still emitting EWD's as it remains in front of the Corewalkers, Xam can do nothing but wallow from the constant element disruption, causing his element to respond incorrectly and the sheer firepower of rounds tearing him apart, Ruination calls "CEASE EWD's" the ED-X12 drone ceases the disruptor, Xam is riddled with holes as more are opened up, legs wandering improperly. Xam musters what strength he can to shoot a blast of syphoning power, Alard is kicked up underneath the blast as the beam of life turns the area from day to night, illuminating only himself and the immediate ground around him, Ruination responds promptly "FLARES" a pod in Ruinations pack fires 5 flares designed to lightning rod elemental essence, the beam of life curves involuntarily, changing trajectory for the flares, LDS and both LAS's kneel down to avoid oncoming fire incase flares fail, they cease fire in the process, the beam contacts the ceiling, Ruination calls out in an urgent tone "RE-ENGAGE EWD's" ED-X12 resumes, Xam clasps his head once more, Ruination and the LAS's stand again, resuming saturation against Xam "MARCH" Ruination and the LAS's move forward again, Xam gets down on one knee and uses his left arm in an attempt to shield himself, Magma Walker sees the Paladins on their left "CAPTAIN, 9 O'CLOCK, INJURED" Ruination makes a decision "HOLD HIM" Ruin holds fire while the LAS's continue, Ruination steps back and contacts HQ "GC this is Ruination, Over" ACMF base where the Corewalkers were launched from responds "Ruination this is GC, Go ahead, Over" "GC this is Ruination, requesting an immediate medical evac, we have injured and KIA present, Over" "Ruination this is GC, mobilising medical response team, Over" "Acknowledged, Out" the line is cut and Ruination turns back to the LAS's and Xam, Xam lays flat on the ground but still a high threat.
"Star Zero this is Ruination, switching to capture" both arms on the LAS's ceasefire, the tri railguns unhinge and role to sit on the back side of the arms of the Corewalkers, falling from the shoulder down to sit where the tri railguns were, Corewalker grade tasers unveil themselves, both Swift Streak and Magma Walker fire their tasers "tasers out" they connect with Xam whose still receiving EWD's throughout his body, a smaller drone pops out from the tunnel and approaches Ruination, Ruination hooks her TRMC to the side of her pack and takes two devices from the drone, a needle like device and a tablet, Ruination than moves to Xam, both LAS's cease fire incase of blue on blue action, Ruination attaches a device to Xam then looks at the tablet "ED-X12 cease EWD's" she gestures to the LAS's "you two keep weapons trained and hot on him" tasers remain attached as they're put away and the tri railguns come out again, tri railguns spin to max speed once more, the tablet comes online after the ED-X12 drone disengages, Ruination presses a button and turns to Xam "Star Zero this is Ruination, placing the target under cryostasis" a coating of freezing ice coats over all of Xam, it originates from the device Ruination stuck into him, the ice coating completely covers Xam, halting all possible regenerative abilities "Star Zero, hook, line and sinker, mission accomplished" Xam's eyes remain open but it's as if time is completely frozen for him.
The Ospreys all sit static on the ground, holding all the Corewalkers once again, a 4th Osprey specialised in high value transport loads and takes away Xam, the military suspects something is wrong with him, ambulances in the dozens aid the minorly injured, Sol, Ahuic and Rupture. Hurricane, Warden, Salamander and Rogue are all taken to the Genium Paragon Hospital while Abyssal Arbiter is air lifted to the Royal Isthmus Hospital in Muthara as his treatment requires more advanced processes, Somniblade sits with Rupture whose getting his tendons disinfected.
"Sir... " Rupture shuts him up "not a word" Somniblade lowers his head... "you did well today, extracting Warden and I" Rupture turns his head as he's face down on a stretcher in an ambulance, Somniblade looks over to see Rupture "thanks to you, Warden and I get to live to fight another day" Somniblade cracks a small smile, it fades quickly as he turns away "i cant help but think there was more i could've done, you know?" Rupture forms a rock in his mouth and spits it out at Somniblade, Somniblade rubs his head looking back at Rupture "had you done anymore, we may've had more losses on our hands" Somniblade keeps looking at Rupture, he raises his head a little bit "what matters is you saved two lives today, and your own" Somniblade feels a little happier about himself, but he cant shake the feeling of survivors guilt.
Ahuic walks over with a towel around her, her face is still pale, the image of surges head in her lap remains in her mind "R-rupture?" rupture groans "I... I may need some time... to myself... " Rupture responds, calling her closer, Surge gets up into the ambulance, nearly tripping on her way in, Rupture looks at her the best he can "that moment still playing in your head?" Ahuic nods apologetically, tears roll down her face "today has brought you trauma, i would be stunned if you didn't ask for time off" Ahuic sniffles as she wipes her tears away "take as much time as you need Sasha, don't convince yourself you must return early either" more tears stream down Ahuic's face "you'll be government funded while you're gone so you shouldn't be short on cash" Ahuic nods she hugs Rupture the best she can, Rupture winces due to his achilles moving "and if- ow- if Warden returns to service before you do, ill fill him in and flick you a message when he returns" Ahuic sniffles again "thank you... "
Genium Paragon Hospital, Salamander and Warden are rushed through the hospital, they're monitored by life elemental doctors, followed by the less serious and stable Hurricane and Rogue "4 PALADINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION, 2 ARE STABLE BUT THESE ONES NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, I WANT MY BEST PEOPLE ON THESE PATIENTS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEM DIE ON US!" each of them get their separate room.
Hurricane is put on the waiting bench, a doctor takes care of her "patient has been identified as 45 year old Delilah Grande, possesses the Wind Element and part of the 10 Sentinels of Genium, not the first Sentinel in hospital and certainly not gonna be the last" the doctor puts her metaboard down on a tray and moves to a small console, she turns a small dial "administering 10mg of morphine, 6mg higher to potentially overcome the elements immune system" Hurricane feels the morphine work from her right arm where the morphine enters her body and up to her shoulder, the morphine dies out "how does that feel Delilah?" hurricane painstakingly shakes her head lightly "moving from 10mg to 20mg" the morphine does a better job this time, Hurricane forms a thumbs up with her right hand "wonderful, i will leave you here to rest and will return in an hour"
Sol approaches Ruptures ambulance, Ahuic and Somniblade sit together at the step of the ambulance, they're keeping each other company, Sol climbs in with Rupture whose still face down on the stretcher, she sits on a chair where Somniblade was once sitting "how do you feel Rupture?" he responds, clearly drugged on pain killers "fucking fantastic man, I've never felt better" Sol holds onto the stretcher with her right hand, she lays back, resting "this morning has been quite the morning" Rupture groans "can say that again" Sol stare's off into the ceiling of the ambulance "seems god had it out for us, almost 70 years without a single death then wham, only three of us are clear for duty" rupture corrects her "two" Sol looks briefly at Rupture "Ahuic's taking forced leave, what transpired today has left her shaken" Sol glances over at Ahuic, she's still pale and shaking but Somniblade is keeping her mind occupied "she's traumatised Sol, i don't expect her to be fighting for the next dozen months" Sol looks down abit "so then, its only Somniblade and I who are cleared for combat" Rupture groans in agreeance.
Sol continues to look down at the floor "how would we cover this up?" she lays back, starring at the ceiling again "we have ambulance's, police, the military, i hear the press has arrived and wants everything they can get their sticky hands on" Sol continues looking up as she day dreams... Rupture responds "we cant" Sol, taken aback by ruptures words reluctantly looks down at Rupture "this isn't another run of the mill crime, this is a catastrophe, the country's #1 most high tech and advanced prison has been reduced to ruins, not to mention inmates are trapped below in the abyss sector without regulations to keep them cool, those people are going to die down there" Ruptures rant gets the attention of Ahuic and Somniblade, Sol doesn't say anything "we went in with 10 guys and the Arbiter and we walked away with only 2 left in service and Arbiter being shipped to Royal Isthmus Hospital" Ahuic falls to her knees with a pale face and a thousand mile stare, Somniblade kneels down to comfort her, Sol stumbles "there is nothing we can hide"
Earlier.
Amidst the rubble of rock, Abby and Azazel lay still, beatless hearts reside in both of them, before Azazel suddenly spurs to life, inhaling a ton of air and lunging forward, he pats himself down checking for injury's, his chest suddenly shoots of a sharp pain "Ah- ow." he presses his ribcage, feeling a break in his ribs, he noticed it hurt to speak, he caresses his neck, its sore to touch, using the last of the glass in his tank, he forms a small mirror, he sees his neck is purple, a popped blood vessel perhaps, cant be an artery, Azazel uses a rock to help him stand, he hears a low roar, its dominant and deafeningly loud, or so it would be if it wasn't drowned out by distance and ruins, Azazel looks down at Abby, her right legs crushed under some rubble but he deems her salvageable, he tries to rock Abby awake, no response, he grabs her shoulders and jerks her around, no response, he presses his finger into a section of her collar bone, nothing, he pronounces her dead, Azazel thinks to himself 'how do i get out of this?' another roar can be heard, this one starts low, then grows to a warped shriek, Azazel makes his way to the surface, taking in rubble on the way as ammunition, stone, rebar, dirt, tech, steel, anything he could get his hands on wasn't safe.
Azazel slips closer and closer to the battle between Abyssal Arbiter and Xam, he sees the Paladins are fixated on the battle, as much as he would love to kill one, he prioritises escape over one more paladin, he tunnels into the Alard using the Feldspar element to dig.
he gets closer and closer to the surface until a good 4 hours after he started digging, he reaches the surface, surrounded by trees for cover, he turns around to see the Abyssal Prison outer walls, he sacrifices what little healing happened to say one last goodbye to the Abyssal prison after so many years.
"Fuck you's"
The following days, Rupture and the Mayor of Genium City have discussed back and fourth what they can and cant tell the public eye about what happened at the Abyssal Prison, an operation to get the prison back into operating order is underway, first priority being saving the lives of those trapped inside in the Abyss, as much as some people would disagree, a human is still human.
Ahuic is planned to travel to Muthara by air to see therapy there, gets her away from the place that caused her trauma, all expenses are covered under Paladin laws, she's also ordered to avoid getting herself involved with conflicts such as robbery's and such.
Salamander, Warden, and Rogue are all receiving extensive care, Salamander being of highest priority, they call it a miracle he continues to live, on the other hand his brain scans show he's upset, he dreamed of passing on his bloodline to kids he planned on having, but now that dreams been torn from him.
Hurricane is recovering quickly, she's speaking again but remains immobile, late x-ray showed fractures that weren't previously identified, working theory is adrenaline drowned out everything in a fight for survival.
Abyssal Arbiter is whole again however having been in assault mode for hours longer than his element normally allows resulted in severe neurological injury with motor and speech dysfunction, he cant walk, talk, read properly or so much as grip a pencil, but his brain waves show he's cognitively functioning at full capacity, his brain sends the correct neurological commands but the damages disrupt the commands, forcing his body to disobey, Arbiter has showed anger and sadness.
Somniblade and Sol continue being dispatched to crimes the police cant handle, in the span of three days, dozens of cops have asked the same question.
Where is everyone else?