Hey all I am back! God law school finals were unbelievably painful. I survived is the only way to describe that. BUT more importantly the next chapter is up! Comment and most of all Enjoy :D Oliver hovered in silence. Alexander was struggling against the containment cell and Dr. Shim had lost consciousness. He looked around in disbelief. A grey smoke rose into the air and everything was still. His eye widened only for a moment before narrowing again. He quickly turned and shot away, determined. There was one signal still up and one person who could still do something, anything. Ila. Alexander took in quick breaths. The dirt and grime scratched his throat and burned his lungs. The shocks had stopped but the containment cell of data still circled above his head. Atheon was statuesque its hand held high in the air. Pain had numbed everything and Alexander’s vision was blurry. He could feel metal from his helmet cutting into his jaw and the smell of melted plastic and superheated armor pierced his nose. His shotgun was inches out of his grasp and empty. The electronics in his visor were decimated, save the flashing red shield alert. The light kept flashing out of the corner of his eyes keeping him from falling into the darkness. [i]Defender[/i], he thought, reaching out for his shotgun. Every muscle screeched and howled like a banshee in response. [i]Thirty seconds… artificial shield[/i]. Alexander’s fingers fell just short of the shotgun, raking in bits of rocks as his arm collapsed. [i]Gotta move…[/i] Dr. Shim closed her eyes. A warm tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. She chucked a little to herself; she had spent more time crying the last few hours than as long as she could remember. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. The black oblivion around her had quieted and she was alone. Atheon’s simulations destroyed her world and as a result of those simulations she broke times loop. It was hard at first, but gradually she came to understand. Dr. Shim originally existed in one world. She was a researcher working on the study of Atheon. It created simulations of their worlds, possibilities in its own mind about what people would think and do given different circumstances. She was not the original Dr. Shim however, that Shim was lost. She was a copy, the last copy, the copy that exceeded this timeline and melded it with another. Life burst her from the past and in a chance meeting placed her with the group of guardians, Alexander. She smiled to herself as more tears rolled down her cheek. The one man who spoke softly and firmly, a gentle giant. [i]What am I thinking[/i], she thought. I haven’t even seen his face. Dr. Shim heard something in the distance. A powerful roar that shook the void. She opened her eyes and a white light illuminated the surroundings. Everything came to focus as she heard another roar. A sharp pain raced down her neck as she looked up. Her eyes widened in astonishment. Alexander stood despite all the pain. His joints scraped against each other and his muscles pulled hard on the tendons. He put his shotgun on the magnetic strip on the back of his armor, locking it in place. He raised both arms and put his hands over his helmet. A dark cloud, the color of a television tuned to a dead channel. Electrostatic rang in the air as metal began to tear into the dimension. Alexander ripped the metal helmet from his head and pulled his arm back as the metal pieces fell to the floor. He ripped his fist forward. The data bulged and the stasis field burst. A brilliant blue light surrounded his body just as Goblins and Minotaurs clanked onto the ground. Their burning crimson eyes glared down at Alexander. They quickly brought their weapons to bear. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. He pulled his shotgun off his back and aimed down its sights. Every ounce of energy went into his burst forward. Oliver searched the rubble and scanned everything, leaving no rock unturned. Ila’s ping grew closer as he moved. Oliver hovered for a second expanding his body, scanning a large pile of debris. “Ila!” Oliver shouted. “Oliver,” Ila responded, “Where are you?” “Directly above you, can you get out?” “No, I’ve only managed to get Holly and Raven awake but Ophelia is really hurt.” “Can they get out?” “Not without compromising Ophelia’s status.” “Alexander and Dr. Shim need help ASAP…” Oliver paused for a moment. “Can anyone help?” “I can if I can get out,” Holly spoke up. “There are structural weaknesses located throughout the rubble if you can punch a hole I can protect Ophelia.” Raven sounded sure and ready. Alexander jumped into the group of Vex. He took two Goblins by the neck and and slammed them together. Metal scraped against metal as light faded from their eyes. Aiming his shotgun at the nearest Minotaur, he fired three quick shots to down it. One more shot took the head off a Goblin, and the final round kicked the weapon so hard it blew a hole clear through the head of the second Minotaur. It stood for a second before falling back in a sparking mess. Alexander dropped the gun, out of ammo reserves, and turned to more Goblins ripping into his dimension. A fire burned in his chest as he tackled the Vex machines. Each time he did he pounded into the machine and ripped out its green goo covered mind core. Every thirty seconds his shield replenished. He was careful to avoid the onslaught of weapon fire keeping the blue light alive as long as possible. Dr. Shim watched in awe as her defender grappled an endless army of Vex. They kept coming but there was a noticeably smaller amount. Alexander had been fighting for what seemed like hours. The stasis field hummed but stopped shocking her. She pushed herself up her jaw slacking a little. One by one everything fell before the titanic wave crashing down upon the Vex. Atheon remained unmoved. Alexander panted as he took the last Goblin by the neck. He swallowed and tasted iron. The machine struggled against his overpowering grip. He slammed it into the ground creating a small crater. The light flickered in its eye. Alexander let go and formed a fist with his right hand. Striking the Vex in its mind core a burst of green liquid exploded onto the ground. He stood, the world spinning. Turning to Dr. Shim, he approached the stasis bubble. He punched through it and released her. Atheon looked down, mechanically roaring. Alexander looked up the whole of his body wailing in agony. Atheon took one step and shook the ground, turning toward the pair. It did not fire its weapon but rather screeched electronically. Bright green orbs materialized and chimed. Alexander weakly fell to one knee, his eyes widening. “I can’t see,” he said. Everything around him was fading to black. The song of the Oracle’s was beautiful but deadly. Atheon took another step and raised its arm. It swung down. Alexander could see everything in slow motion, focusing his light in his wrists, he brought them together and ripped them apart forming a bubble. Atheon’s fist collided with the bubble and cratered it into the ground. The shockwave buckled Alexander. A familiar weight bore down on his shoulders. He kept his arms stretched upward as Atheon struck again. An excruciatingly audible snap echoed. “Hey!” Holly shouted, “Over here!” Both Atheon and Alexander turned. Holly unleashed a cackling storm of electricity as a sound of thunder echoed. Lighting flew from her body and climbed the Vex monstrosity. Atheon shook and twitched but the Oracle’s song kept going. Alexander’s vision was fading darker and darker as he watched Holly valiantly attack Atheon alone. It was in vain. Oliver, Ila, Ophelia, and Raven approached the battle field. The sight was horrific. Bodies of Vex were twisted and broken, scattered all over the laboratory floor. Atheon had beaten Alexander’s bubble into a cracked shell and was fighting off Holly. Atheon roared in frustration and stomped the ground. The shockwave sent Holly into the air. The force was stunning and Atheon quickly snatched her into its grasp. The most ear piercing, glass shattering, scream reverberated across the laboratory. Everyone watched in painful terror as Atheon took one of its digits and ripped into Holly. It shattered her shields like glass, ripped through her armor like paper, and gouged her body like a scorching blade. There was a quick flash of light as it closed its fist and Atheon crushed Holly’s body out of existence. It was the last thing Alexander saw before everything faded to black.