Face to Face

After finally arriving at the suspected entrance, the cargo bay doors of the vessel opened once more. The hiss of the hydraulics, a last comforting sound before they embarked on their mission of utmost importance. Each one of the trio had a backpack, filled with whatever supplies they deemed necessary. Their clothing, the same standard issue jackets as always, with the addition of one piece of worn plate armour at the chest, one around each forearm, and a helmet. Camden and Levo had on shoulder pads as well, whilst the Madam opted for more agility at the sacrifice of some protection. Levo, on the other hand, had gone in the complete opposite direction, having additional armor on his upper arms and legs, resembling more of a steam-age knight than not. These pieces of metal had once protected many a soldier against The Iron Hand in their time. Here’s hoping that they wouldn’t fail now.

After sharing one last look at each other, the trio stepped out into the outside, ending up in front of quite the strange structure, its design not quite like anything one would see in the city. The structure itself was in the shape of a pyramid, with a door on the one side. The location was overgrown with foliage, but gently brushing it away revealed a glossy black exterior underneath, extremely reminiscent of the featureless shells of the drones. So their theories were right, then. Who else but The Iron Hand would have constructed a building out of such a material?

The trio approached the door cautiously, and after some time, were able to pry it open with a crowbar. The crooked metal that composed the door creaked open as they scraped across the ground, their sliding mechanisms having long rusted over. It was evident from the interior that this entrance had not been used in quite a while. Which made sense, to a degree. After all, with The Iron Hand not employing very many human beings, and Lord Stone having not been seen in the flesh for decades, who would have been there to use it?

The scent of aging metal permeated the stuffy inside air, as did the look of the rust that played at the walls. There was a basic control panel on the far side of the room, its buttons fairly limited. One labeled “biometric scan”, the other simply labeled “enter”. The Madam approached it, hand hovering over the buttons.

She looked at Levo and Camden with a serious expression, though it didn’t fully obscure the nervousness that she was feeling. “Are you both ready?”

Levo was uncharacteristically determined and focused as well, though Camden knew exactly why. “Yes,” he replied. A single word that spoke volumes to his current headspace.

Camden took a deep breath in and out, before replying. “As ready as I'll ever be.”

“Good,” the Madam replied. “Prepare yourselves.”

She first pressed the “biometric scan” button, holding out the canister that contained Camden’s grandmother’s DNA. The whole room illuminated with a soft red glow, the scanning taking place as it did. And in less than half a minute, the speaker in the ceiling chimed. They were in. Madam Cecilia stored the canister back in her bag, pausing before she pressed the second button, preparing to bring them face to face with their destiny.

The glow grew intense, the room shook, and they were all very briefly blinded by the light. But as soon as it had started, it was over. The trio took stock of the land around them.

The ground was composed of jagged plates of rock, massive obsidian shards making up the mountainous landscape. Light reflected off of their glass-like surface, bouncing this way and that. Static electricity danced through the unnaturally dry air, causing the hairs on Camden’s neck to stand up. If there was any place for a final stand, it was here.

A hauntingly long runway late before them, each side lined with hovering drones. Levo pulled out his gun, Camden drew his sword, and the Madam pulled out her own Blaster as well. Their plan was supposed to be sneaking in, but it appeared that that was no longer an option. They were ready to fight.

…

But nothing happened. The drones simply hovered in place. Were they even active? Were they simply idling? Questions that did not need an answer. It seemed that there was only one direction to go, and that was forward. And so, hesitantly and cautiously, the trio continued their trek towards their final confrontation.

The runway was almost overwhelmingly long, but they continued their journey onwards. The silence was almost deafening. After all, how do you prepare for something like this? To face something you almost certainly will lose to. To stand against truly insurmountable odds.

How do you prepare for your death?

Camden gripped his blade’s hilt tightly in his hand, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Anything to take his mind off of what laid ahead.

Madam Cecilia walked with her head down, clearly deep in thought. Though it didn’t stop her face from betraying her mind, a worried expression evident to even the least observant.

Levo on the other hand, was constantly looking around, weapon at the ready in case of any ambush. Camden had nerve seen him so on edge. It made sense, Camden thought to himself. Considering what happened to Levo last time he was here, he wasn’t about to fall at the first hurdle again. Though considering how the drones hadn’t yet attacked, an ambush was unlikely at this point in time. A fact that ultimately did little to sooth Levo’s paranoia.

The path seemed to drag on forever, but even forever has it ends. Eventually they saw something in the distance. A humanoid form sitting idly on a throne. It was him. It was Lozanthos Stone. They approached him slowly, weapons drawn. He donned a metallic gray armor, with various other plates of the same glossy black finish as his drones. Its form was one of sharp lines and geometry, each piece ending in its own menacingly long point that reached for the sky like the obsidian shards that surrounded them. His hair was equally jet black with various grey strands, its long and messy form tied back in a rough ponytail. There were bags beneath his eyes, wrinkles across his skin. Tubes seemed to run up his arms, and into his back, a familiar pink liquid flowing through. He wore a steel mask on the bottom of his face, somewhat reminiscent of the front grill of a car. Everything on his person seemed optimized to the utmost degree, precision built to be the very best it could. He eventually looked up, seeing the trio as they made their approach. He stood to greet them, gears and machinery in his armor clacking, hissing, and whirring as he did so. His height nearly towered above them, his armour accentuating his already tall build.

“Oh ho ho, I was wondering when I would make your acquaintance. Welcome dear travelers, to the beating heart of the force you've known and fought for so long. The beating heart of The Iron Hand!” he exclaimed, his arms gesturing proudly to the air, his eyes filled with a burning desire to rule. His voice was deep and gravelly, with a sense of theatrical joy that seeped through the mask’s modulation.

“We didn't come here for your theatrics, Stone,” Camden replied, his worry painted over with a confident exterior. “And you know that just as well as anyone.”

“You're right! I know exactly why you're here,” he crooned. One could tell that even behind the mask that obscured his mouth, he was smiling. A deceptive and wicked smile. “After all, my drones have been chasing you all across the planet, haven't they? You made quick work of them the first time, but I heard that they proved to be quite the formidable foe over in the South.”

He took a step forwards, causing the trio to flinch backwards. “If you think that I'm just going to kneel your feet Mr. Hero, then you are sorely mistaken.”

Lord Stone turned to look at Levo, a sense of curiosity in his voice. “Huh. You look familiar, Mr. Moody. Have we met before?”

Levo didn't respond, his expression solidifying into a deadly stare, his hand tightening around his weapon.

A look of recognition came over Lord Stone's face. “Oh my days! I didn't think I would be seeing you ever again. Back for a round two are we?”

Madam Cecilia's eyes started over to Levo before snapping back to look at Lord Stone. “Round two?” she inquired. “What is he talking about?”

Levo kept staring at Lord Stone. “Irrelevant. I’ll tell you later. Focus on what we’re here for.”

Lord Stone ignored their discussion. “You’ve made it further than last time. Though one could attribute that to the… removal of my guards. I look forward to seeing the floor wiped with your face for a second time,” he taunted. He then turned to face the Madam. “Now you, my fierce looking foe, I haven't ever encountered. It’s always good to meet a new face. Unless we have met, and I’ve forgotten?”

The Madam’s jaw clenched. “We haven’t. But believe me, you'll never forget our encounter when I'm through with you,” she stated.

“Oh, I do love a good threat,” Lord Stone cackled. “You sound like you're going to be fun.”

He then turned to face the last of the trio, Camden Valaraki. “Hello young one,” he sneered. “And to think. That the prophesized saviour, the champion of legend, is but an inexperienced fool. I'm going to be honest, I was expecting something a little more.”

Camden tried to retort, but found himself unable to come up with anything to say as he continued to stare at the enemy. The Madam responded for him.

“Looks can be deceiving, Mr. Stone. Now, are you going to kill us or what?”

Lord Stone crossed his arms, leaning forward slightly. “You can make the first move. I'm gracious that way.”

Of course, Levo was the one to go first. Blaster already raised he fired, again and again and again. The first shot bounced off of Lord Stone's armor, causing him to jerk slightly backwards. He moved with an unnatural speed, dodging the next few shots as he ran at Levo. Levo took a step back, but it was too late, as the Lord Stone punched him full force, sending him flying ten meters back. Clearly the armor gave him some form of super strength, of super speed. It went without saying, but this was not going to be an easy fight.

Camden rushed towards Lord Stone while he was distracted, adrenaline flowing through his veins, sword swinging through the air, attempting to hit him in the head. But he was too slow, as the villain was able to duck, and then elbow Camden in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.

The Madam was the one able to get the next actual hit on Lord Stone, landing a couple shots while his back was turned. It was clear to her that shooting at the armour would have done nothing, so she aimed for the tubes instead. And luckily, she was able to hit the one on his right arm, pink liquid spurting out of it like blood. His arm involuntarily contracted as he whipped his head back to look at who’d shot him. If the Valos Alnovarium was what was giving him his power, he’d at least be marginally weaker now.

His eyes narrowed, as he deployed an impossibly sharp, katana-like blade from a compartment on his left arm. He ran, dodging the next few shots, and then lunging at the Madam. She blocked his first swing, barely able to put up against the force of the hit. Another swing, this one dodged thanks to her agility. But then, she felt her legs get kicked out from under her, and she fell forward. A searing pain sliced through the right side of her back as she fell, the feeling of a blade slicing through flesh as she landed with a thud. She looked up from where she laid on the ground, Lord Stone’s sword dripping with her blood. Her mind was foggy from the injury, but she could see with crystal clarity what he was next going to do. He raised his sword once more, its dark metallic form glistening in the grim daylight.

Just as it was swinging down, he got pushed out of the way by Camden, who had made his way back to his feet. The weapon of legend spun in his hand, holding it backhanded as he stabbed the armour. It actually managed to pierce the sturdy metal exterior, though was stopped just before making it too deep into the Lord’s skin.

“Oh, feisty, are we?” Lord Stone asked mockingly, before hitting Camden skidding across the floor and removing the sword from where it laid in his armour. He tossed it on the ground in front of Camden, who looked up at him.

“Well? Go on,” the villain taunted. From his vantage point on the cold rocky floor, Camden saw Levo beginning to recover. A plan formulated in his head: distract Lord Stone long enough to give Levo another window of opportunity. Lord Stone may have had them out gunned, but they had him outnumbered, assuming that the drones remained dormant. The element of surprise might be their only path to victory. Camden gathered his courage, scrambling up from the ground, grabbing the sword, and sprinting at his target. He swung the legendary blade once more, attempting hit after hit, each one being parried or blocked with ease. Camden’s next swing was equally blocked, but he held the sword in place, shifting his weight forwards. Lord Stone, in turn, also shifted his weight forwards. With his armour and extra muscle, he was significantly heavier than Camden. Exactly what Camden had been counting on. Camden ducked, causing his adversary to stumble forwards, disorienting him briefly.

Now was his moment to strike. Camden swung up, then brought the sword down hard, it just barely managing to cut through his left shoulder armour. He swiftly pulled it out in a sliding motion, a thin spray of blood following its path. Lord Stone faltered back slightly as he rose, gently gliding his fingers over his newly inflicted wound. He looked at the small amount of red liquid that coated his fingers, then back up at Camden.

“You actually landed a hit,” he sneered, seeming almost impressed. His voice lowered as his eyes focused, like a lion stalking its prey. “It’ll be the last one you get.”

Lord Stone attacked full force, his speed matched only by his fury. Camden was barely able to block most of them, the impacts sending shockwaves of pain rattling through his bones, but the ones that he missed were near devastating. One sliced finely through the side of his thigh, another cutting a gash out of his now dented arm guard, the metal giving way to the flesh underneath. A stabbing motion nicked him in the rib, and another swing just barely missed his left eye. He was too focused on the sword, giving Lord Stone the window to land an uppercut, the metal-clad fist throwing him up, then crashing back down to the ground. Camden laid battered and bruised, but he wasn’t about to give up just yet.

Any time now, Levo.

Lord Stone prepared to deal a finishing blow, however his attack was interrupted by another flurry of shots coming from Levo’s blaster. Each one bounced and ricocheted off of the plated armour, but it was enough to draw his attention away from the injured Camden. The adversary turned to face Levo, seeming more peeved than afraid. He deployed a sort of cannon from a compartment on his right arm, raising it slowly to aim.

Levo’s eyes widened, as he quickly dashed out of the way. He dodged the first one, but was ultimately too slow. The second blast hit him head on, throwing him spinning a good X meters, like a child tossing a ragdoll. The extra armour he opted for saved him the brunt of the damage, its metal form now dented and deformed, but the unprotected areas on his person burned and screamed with an agonizing pain. His shoulder felt like it had dislocated from the fall, his right arm bent back in an unnatural manner.

With Levo thoroughly disposed of, Lord Stone turned back to the other two, only to find the Madam standing next to Camden’s fallen form, her blaster aimed steadily forwards. She stood as best as she could, struggling against the pain and dizziness to continue fighting.

Lord Stone scoffed. “Look at you. You can barely stand upright.”

“And yet still I stand,” she replied, her voice fighting through laboured breaths.

Her blaster held high, she fired shot after shot after shot at the adversary that laughed in the face of her resilience. She couldn’t have possibly expected to do any significant damage, but that wasn’t any reason to stop. Alive and fighting was better than surrendered and deceased. The shots did little to slow Lord Stone’s advance, him tanking a few hits as he lunged forward, landing a punch to the chest that sent the Madam careening to the ground, landing with a loud cracking thud next to Camden. She could see stars floating in her vision, a headache pounding in her skull. But the battle wasn’t over yet. She grabbed the legendary sword, whipped herself around to face Lord stone, and wielded the blade against her nigh-undefeatable foe. Her swings were wide and lacked control, her ordinarily precise movements impaired by the agony and lightheadedness that spread throughout her body.

Each hit was blocked with ease, the sounds of dueling metals echoing across the landing. Sword against sword, a forgotten past against an overpowering future, a fight to save what’s left against the one who wants it all to be over. Lord stone swung fast, his blade slicing a cut through the front of the Madam’s right shoulder. He took his opportunity to strike, his fist coming into contact with her jaw.

“And yet you continue to fall,” he grinned, watching her collapse.

She heard something within her head crack as she was hit back down to the ground, the faint taste of blood lining her mouth. She tried and she tried, but her body lacked the power to get back up. Her head was spinning as she faded in and out of consciousness.

Camden raised his head just in time to see the Madam’s head connecting with the ground, the sound of her fracturing jaw ringing in his ears. The legendary blade fell out of her hand, flying through the air, and then embedding itself point-first into the rocky ground directly in front of Camden. This was it. He summoned all of his strength and willpower, ignoring the pain as he drew the blade from its concrete-like entombment, and rushed towards Lord Stone. His first swing went too high, his next one too wide. Camden went in for another hit, raising his weapon up, and then bringing it down with all of his strength. Lord stone raised his arm to block it.

…

Camden wasn’t sure if he heard, saw, or felt what happened first. The sword fractured. Then shattered. Fragments and shards of the once glorious metal flew scattered against the rocky ground.

Camden fell forwards, catching himself. He stood, frozen in shock, staring at the jagged remnants of the once legendary weapon. Metal wasn’t supposed to do that, to just shatter on impact like glass. Silence, as neither of them spoke a word..

That is, until Lord Stone began to cackle maniacally, his laughter grating through the static filled air.

“Dear god,” he laughed. “And here I thought you were supposed to be a threat.”

He raised his cannon at Camden’s face, at point blank range. Camden was too stunned to move, simply staring at his inevitable demise. But the Madam, with one last bout of energy, wasn't about to let that happen. She shoved Camden to the side, them both just barely moving out of the way in time, falling to the ground. The blast grazed Camden’s jacket, leaving a singed trail in its wake.

Lord Stone began to gloat, his voice more demeaning ever. “Oh Mr Saviour. Mr Mysterious Traveler. Mr Prodigal Star. You’re nothing more than a farce.”

He turned to look at Levo, who was still laid on the ground, alive but no longer putting up a fight. “Just like your friend here. Two failed saviours. Two inconsequential blemishes on the legend of my crusade.”

He paused, savouring the moment before he continued, his voice a taunting snarl. “They’ll write about you in the history books, you know. I’ll make sure of it. Nobody will ever forget your little trio, the three who were deluded enough to take a stand.”

He turned back to Camden and the Madam, and began to walk forwards. “I could kill you all right now, if I wanted to,” he mused out loud. “In fact, it would probably be in my best interest to do so.”

He stopped, just a few feet in front of them. “But I don't think I will. Run away. Retreat. Head back to the rolling junkyard you call home.”

Camden eyed him, his eyes squinting, his mind filled with a confused fog.

Lord Stone cocked his head slightly to the right. “What? I'm feeling generous today,” he claimed, his voice a blatantly phony tone of kindness.

Though it soon lowered in pitch, dripping with a hateful menace. “Leave this place at once, and don't ever come back. If you do, there will be hell to pay. Your loved ones will never know peace. Do you understand?”

A silence held between the two, if only briefly.

“Screw you,” Camden spat.

Lord Stone chuckled. “That's what I like to hear. You really do have the spirit of a fighter. You would do well as my protege, if you so desired. And, well, if I so desired. And I don't think I do.”

Camden looked at the Lord through his blurry vision, his breaths laboured, his adrenaline quickly fading, giving way to a near overwhelming exhaustion.

“You want the core, don't you?” Lord Stone inquired. “I can see it in your eyes. The desire to escape it all. To run, to hide, to cower. I knew of someone like that once. And she was every bit as afraid as you are now.”

Lord Stone reached into a compartment in his armour, retrieving an ornate metal sphere. One with intricate designs and swooping patterns carved into the metal plating. Had… had he really had it on his person the whole time? Why?

“Here, take it. Wouldn't want you leaving… empty handed,” he said, as he tossed it lazily at Camden’s feet. It clattered unceremoniously to the ground, what should have been a glamorous moment turned into one of humiliation.

“Not like it's of any use to me anyways.”

The Madam eyed him with a foggy suspicion. But there was nothing any of them could do.

Slowly, carefully, the trio gathered the sword fragments and the core, and then limped their way back to the entrance. Nobody said a word as they made the journey, the aching and burning pain of their freshly bleeding wounds second only to the feeling of disappointment and defeat that lingered in the static-filled air.