Jinhai Niang

 “Jinhai, do you have to go?” Isrina asked her husband, holding baby Shien.

“Wo de hong niao. Don’t worry, we’re only buying time,” The tall man pat Isrina’s head.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

While Jinhai stroked the face of their sleeping baby, Cecilius and the UICA directed the tired refugees across the train station. Saitori, Rahim, and Naphthien comforted the families as Grandmaster Aian and the young apprentice Oreic cared for their Vulpi children. The Federation was about to storm the Middle East with a massive force, and the UICA had limited time to get the people on board before the attack.

“I think Little Chickadee sounds better than the black-and-white warbler,” Jinhai tickled Shien, making their baby giggle.

Isrina laughed. “Well, you lost that game of Mahjong, Jinhai.”

“True, but I win sometimes, wo de hong niao.”

“Like what?”

“Having a beautiful wife like you,” Jinhai leaned his forehead on Isrina’s. “And our lovely baby.”

Isrina blushed as the couple embraced each other.

“I got to go now,” Jinhai noticed the rebel volunteers giving him a signal. “They’re waiting for me.

The two kissed.

“Promise you’ll be back,” Isrina cried.

“I will. You know me, wo de hong niao. I always do.”

***

“Panthereal Shiva: Ire of Vishnu!”

“Tigris Ifrit: Fists of Durga!”

“Avian Form: Woodpecker Beak Strikes!”

While the refugee train traveled to Europe, the fleet of Federation chimaera battlecruisers burned the Middle East. Jinhai rapidly launched rolling punches against the two Shin-Kaminari, Amitonyx and Sychrom. It was a long hard battle.

“Panthereal Shiva: Monsoons of Vritra!”

“Tigris Ifrit: Aditya’s Fury!”

“Avian Form: Riflebird’s Wingbeat!”

Ice dragons and shards of igneous rocks rained hell as Jinhai blew them away. Fire and ice scoured the countries as the Reaper Squad and droid army killed the rebels. When the timing was right, Jinhai stunned Amitonyx with a Chickadee’s Touch to fight Sychrom one-on-one.

“Panthereal Shiva: Enlightenment of Bodhisattva!” Sychrom summoned a giant ice buddha to attack Jinhai with a snowy fist.

“Avian Form: Shoebill Thunderforce!” Jinhai shoved a hard fist against the buddha. “Avian Form: Avocet Lancer!”

Jinhai’s hand extended into a spear shape, piercing the icy summon into misty pieces that blinded Sychrom.

“Avian Form: Great Titmouse Strike!” Jinhai pierced Sychrom’s head, instantly killing him and leaving Amitonyx in boiling wrath.

“You and Cecilius already took Saitori away from me! You have the nerve to take a dear friend of mine too!” The leader of the Shin-Kaminari cried. “Time to let all you people burn! Tigris Ifrit: Maharaja, the Scarlet King!”

As volcanoes exploded, Amitonyx morphed into the colossal Scarlet King. “Tigris Ifrit: Penultimate Ulka!”

Amitonyx breathed fire into the sky to shower the Middle East with a meteor storm. Jinhai dodged the fireballs and quickly paralyzed the Scarlet King with Pitohui Stinger Strikes.

“No!” Jinhai noticed Hernamidos zoom past their battle with his jet shoes toward the refugee train afar.

***

“Look what I found here!” Hernamidos flew toward the train cart where a terrified Isrina and crying baby Shien sat. “Two dead Niangs. Two dead birdies!”

“Avian Form: Kingfisher’s Axe!” Jinhai swung his foot to plummet Hernamidos head to the hard floor.

“Jinhai!” Isrina yelled through the window, seeing her husband fight the King of the Reaper Squad.

“You won’t hurt my wife and son, Hernamidos! I won’t let any more of my family die!” Jinhai roared. “Avian Form: Wryneck Scythe!”

“Try and stop me, loser!” Hernamidos unsheathed wrist blades against Jinhai’s cutting palms.

Isrina and the passengers gasped at the battle. Soon, Hernamidos’ blade held Jinhai’s palms in a deadlock. The Reaper Squad leader grinned, aiming his boot under Jinhai. The hidden dart launcher fired into Jinhai’s heart, killing him.

“No! Jinhai!” Isrina and the passengers wailed in tears as Hernamidos pulled the cheap shot.

“You Niangs hear me? Isrina! Sweet little Shien! You’re next! I’ll kill you both!” Hernamidos laughed at the fleeing train, giving a thumbs down. “Heh. Run along, little birdies. Run while you can! Run from your doom! Sleep tight whittle Shien! Hahahaha!”

“Jinhai! Please come back! I love you! Our son needs you!” Isrina sobbed as her baby whined. “Don’t leave us!”

The UICA huddled with Isrina, devastated at their loss. Shien and Isrina were the last Niangs left in the world.

***

“Isrina? Wo de hong niao?”

“J-Jinhai?” Isrina opened her eyes awake.

It was nighttime, and everyone was fast asleep. Isrina looked around, holding her sleeping baby.

“Isrina, wo de hong niao,” The voice echoed. “Where are you?”

“Jinhai?” Isrina stood and followed the voice.

She walked across the cabin cars in the dark. Isrina stopped when she saw Jinhai smiling at her.

“There you are, wo de hong niao!”

“Jinhai!” Isrina ran towards him in tears.

She bumped into something. Isrina touched the PC screen portraying Jinhai.

“Isrina! No!” Saitori burst through the doors.

“Hehehehe! Worm meat! It’s time to play!” Zentroid’s screen blinked into a bleeding smile as Saitori swung her blade against his tentacles, protecting Isrina and Shien in time. “I can feel your organs wriggling inside me! Weee!”

Alarms sounded as everyone snapped awake at the bloodbath that awaited them. As Saitori led Isrina away, Zentroid charged after Isrina, chomping families down. Shien cried as Isrina ran for their lives, burying her head with Shien’s so her baby wouldn’t see the horror behind them.

“Quickly! Plant bombs in this cart. Trap Zentroid in the bottleneck!” Saitori ordered the soldiers.

While the bombs were placed, the wives and children ran past while the husbands and fathers jumped on Zentroid to slow him down. Saitori detonated the bombs while Rahim used a scythe to cut the train connector. The bombs blew Zentroid into oblivion, sending the train flying to crash-land in Europe.