Dawn of the Void

Chapter 89: Bronze

The Anima found them a trio of Nem3s stalking down the center of an avenue as if they owned it, dragging their sword-arms behind them and tearing up the asphalt.

James observed them from sixty yards up, the others arranged just behind him. I think Ill take these solo.

Well be on overwatch, said Serenity. Everybody with Deadeye and ready to rain down death if they prove too much.

Something tells me that wont be the case, said Jason wryly. Not with Mr. Bronze Aura here able to drop a Heavenly Assault in an emergency.

Even so, said Serenity. Be careful.

You know it. James lowered the Wing till they were fifteen feet above the avenue and then leaped. He landed lightly, skeggox in hand, a good block down from the suddenly alert Nem3s.

Serenity lifted away and then it was just him against the three hulking shapes. It hit James again just how massive they were. His whole body was about the size of one arm. Their hugely muscled chests and backs were as big as a bulls body, and their tail whipped from side to side with eager cracks, easily ten feet long.

The three demons reached an unspoken agreement; they hunched over as one and fired their bone harpoons.

James didnt flinch as he strode forward. He knew his team had his back. A second later glimmering shields appeared before him, materializing in a wedge so that the spears bounced off and slammed into the buildings on either side of James.

Cmere, you fuckers, he whispered, rippling his fingers along the Sun Skeggoxs handle. He felt within him the power of Aeviternum, the ability to drop gloria-enhanced Heavenly Assaults. But he restrained his might and instead simply approached, waiting, daring the demons to leap upon him.

It didnt take long. They crouched and sprang with all the awful agility of the Nem1 gremlins, leaping high into the air, sword-arms opened wide, maws gaping, tongue lashing as they fell upon him.

Jamess gut clenched, his grip on his axe tightened till his knuckles popped, but he willed himself to remain still.

To just stare up as death fell upon him.

The point demon slashed both sword-arms in a widening X at the last second, a blow that would have - should have - cut him in half.

But when the black bone blades hit, and James felt a great outrush of power from his divine pool. One second he stood as himself, alone, another bronze encased him like a second skin.

The blades didnt even ash where they touched him. They simply ceased to be. The two huge tips of each sword flew out across the street, disconnected, to clatter on the pavement, and the Nem3 fell upon James a moment later.

Only to then fall apart into two halves, a James-sized hole appearing down its center.

The other demons rushed him, shrieking and swinging their blades, only to fall apart as well as the bronze aura caused whatever part of them touched him to simply cease to exist.

In seconds the street was silent.

James lifted his hand. The bronze looked painted over his skin, not a uniform color but with whorls of what might have been copper throughout, whorls that slowly moved like clouds of smoke across the air of a room.

It was beautiful.

Looking down, James saw that his clothing had been shredded by the Nem3 attacks; the aura was literally skintight, and he could see his bronze chest through the gaping holes.

The other Wings landed in a circle around him. The members of Crimson Hydra gaped as he lowered his arms.

You look amazing, said Serenity. Did that hurt?

No. The aura was fading from view. A few seconds later it was gone. Not at all.

Nobody seemed to know what to say.

James thumbed on his radio. Command, this is Kelly. Ive tested the Bronze aura. It makes me immune to Nem3s. Whatever part of them touches me disappears.

Kelly, this is Hackworth. The colonels voice was tight with control. Please confirm what you just said.

The Bronze aura makes me immune to Nem3s. I just killed three of them by standing still and letting them fall on me.

A long aching pause sounded through the radio. Copy, Kelly. Hackworths voice fairly trembled with excitement. Were going to need to send you to a number of hotspots far outside our Area of Operations. Please return to base asap.

Copy, command. Out.

What does that mean? asked Serenity. Hotspots?

Kerim pushed his spectacles up his nose. I would imagine the colonel is referring to cities who do not benefit from Blue Lights presence.

But weve got the Fourth Wave hitting tomorrow, protested Joanna. We need James here.

Kerim shrugged. Not, perhaps, as much as other cities do.

One way to find out, said James. Im going to head back to the Marriott. You guys want to stay out here and hunt Nems?

No sense in breaking up the synergy, said Denzel. Right? We might as well tag along. Not that youre going to need us.

Maybe. James frowned. But the folks here fighting the demons would still appreciate it.

As if in response a Killer Egg flew by a block or two over, spotlight burning the night as they searched the street.

Nah, said Serenity. Well stick together.

We all agreed? James looked around. Then lets head back.

Twenty minutes later James and his crew ascended to the Marriotts control center inside the ballroom. The place was alive with voices and communications, Hackworth standing in the center monitoring the screens and reports while people at workstations monitored maps and reports that James couldnt begin to figure out.

James. Hackworth swung around as if he could sense their approach. His face was haunted, new lines of concern carved into his handsome features, but his eyes burned with energy. Were getting reports from around the country that shits going south. Its easier to list where things are going right than wrong. Right now we need to get you to Philly, then down to Baltimore, then DC. There are six hives that have activated their black fire columns in those three cities, and theyre sucking up Nem3s as we speak. I want you to walk through each one and shut them down.

Local forces overwhelmed?

Yes. It takes time to build a culture, and without a presence like yours to steady them those branches have had difficulty maintaining coherency in battle. Your showing up will not only alleviate the pressure theyre feeling but will give them a second wind for whats coming tomorrow. How much Aeviternum do you have?

Havent spent one yet. Four.

Excellent. Were going to fly you to Philly immediately in a Chinook. Your team will go with you to benefit from your leveling.

Leaving now?

Leaving now, agreed Hackworth. Weve got twelve hours till the Fourth Wave hits. Were going to make the most of them.

And the rest of NYC?

Hackworth hesitated. Not good. Obviously. But weve got thousands of trained operators working on it. These other cities dont.

James nodded slowly, absorbing this. Well all right. Ready when you are.

Then lets get you to Philadelphia.

In the end it was fastest for them to simply fly their Wings directly south to Fort Hamilton where the Chinook was waiting for them. James was tempted to make the whole trip on their Wings, but it was over a 500-mile round trip journey.

Twenty minutes after talking to Hackworth their Wings flew over the Fort Hamilton boundaries. The fort itself was more like a massive sprawling campus right on the southern shore of Brooklyn, surrounded by a chain link fence and with a huge park on its left flank. Parking lots were full of civilian cars and hummers, and they slid over a football field, nondescript warehouse looking buildings, and finally alighted on a central field where the Chinook itself was waiting.

The helicopter was massive, with a rotor at each end atop a turret and a fat, ungainly body painted a dull green. Military folks waved them down with glow sticks, and James and his team were swarmed and processed the moment they alighted, though nobody was able to restrain the awe they felt at the sight of the otherworldly Wings.

Nobody wasted any time. James and his crew were shepherded to the rear of the Chinook where they ascended a ramp into the helicopter proper; James was surprised to see that the chopper was hollow, just a metal throat with red pull-down seating along each side and a couple of porthole windows along each wall. The walls and ceiling were metallic and covered in a diamond pattern, and everything looked functional and sturdy has hell.

Aides got them seated, strapped them in, and then before James knew it the rear ramp was rising, closing, and the whole chopper came to life as the twin rotors began to thrum overhead. Kerim was seated across from James, the rest of their crew filling less than half the hold, and after a couple of minutes the Chinook suddenly lifted up, the floor feeling as if it had started to slip from side to side, and then they were up and roaring into the sky.

Nobody bothered shouting over the noise. They instead simply stared at each other, not bothering to try and look out of the windows, and in about twenty minutes time they started to descend again. Down they went, and then the Chinook landed with surprising ease, touching down on some runway. The back ramp lowered and an army man strode in.

Master Sergeant?

James rose and collected his skeggox which hed wrapped in a towel and thrust into a duffel bag. Yes?

Lieutenant Bixby. If you and your squad will follow me?

They descended the ramp onto what turned out to be a football field, and then crossed the green to waiting hummers. Bixby turned out to be a tight ass who clearly resented the whole situation, but hed been given a job and performed it. As they drove through the streets of Philadelphia he gave James a bare bone run down of the situation.

Weve six symbols over the city. We managed to clear all six of them out, but two of them re-activated last week as Nemesis 2s infiltrated the area and began to capture locals. Our Blue Light force is small. Some local politics got in the way of its expansion, something I believe the higher ups now deeply regret. Regardless, the arrival of the Nem3s prevented us from clearing out the remaining symbols, and now - well. Weve got thousands of them marching into the hives and disappearing inside.

Understood. To be honest, James didnt really care about the details. We heading to a hive now?

Yes. Its located in the dead center of South Philly. Very densely populated area. Its not over any particular landmark, just where South Broadway intersects Passyunk. Well reach it in five minutes.

Got it. James stared ahead. He could feel Bixbys gaze. Yes?

Bixby flushed. Youre just going to walk in there?

Yeah. He knew the man wanted him to elaborate, but he just couldnt be bothered.

Bixby licked his lips. And the Nemeses wont they cant?

No, said James. They cant.

Bixby nodded, pretending he understood, though it was clear he didnt.

The hummers stopped. Everyone climbed out. They could have been in Brooklyn. A broad avenue, four lanes wide, ran forever in both directions, with three story buildings on either side. Stoops and trees growing out of the sidewalk plots, rowhouses and ground floor shops.

But two long blocks ahead - south, James figured - rose the dome of black fire that marked the edge of the hive. Looking up, James saw the column of flame rising to the demonic symbol which hovered five hundred feet up.

Shit, said Yadriel softly, getting out of the second hummer. We going in there?

I am, said James.

We all are, said Serenity.

Several hummers were already here, blocking off the road, with a platoon in place with machine guns and M4s strained on the hive. They watched Crimson Hydra with something akin to skepticism married with hopeful wonder.

James took his skeggox out of the duffel bag and propped it over his shoulder. Might as well get started.

Serenity was unstrapping her M2 from where it had been bound across the hummers roof. Give me a second, will ya?

Everyone else limbered up, but there was no hiding the teams nervousness.

Weve got this, said Kimmie confidently. With James leading the way, well be absolutely fine.

The tension bled out of the team. James chuckled under his breath, almost made a wry comment, then decided that wouldnt be good for morale.

There, said Serenity, heaving the M2 up as if it were a regular rifle and leaping down to prop it over her shoulder. Ready.

You, ah, I mean, are you going to need back-up? asked Bixby.

Well be fine. James turned to face the hive. Back in a few.

He knew he was making an impression the local platoon, but that was his intention. Bless Green and forward march. Let me take point.

The four Blesses hit them all, raising every stat by +4, and Crimson Hydra followed James between the parked hummers and out into the open. James could feel the weight of the soldiers regard as he strode forward, but he didnt look back. Made no sign that he was feeling his stomach knotting up.

Because it was one thing to kill a few Nem3s on the street.

Another altogether to march into a burning hive. As far as he knew, nobody had ever entered one and returned.

But there was always a first time.

Shoulders squared, breath steady, he led his friends down the avenue. The dull, distant roar from the hive sounded like that of a waterfall. There was no heat, but the closer they got the more oppressive the air became, as if an unseen murk were lowering over them all.

Nice and steady, said Kimmie, again lifting their spirits.

James led the way. Step by step, till the dome of black fire rose up before them, flames sheeting ever upwards to curve out of sight.

What he wouldnt have done for his Angel Wing.

Im not sure this is a good idea, said his Anima, hovering just behind his shoulder. But it is exciting. If we all die, it was fun while it lasted.

Were not going to die,said James, Kimmies inspiration adding certainty to his words.

Circle is up, said Olaf as the white burning perimeter appeared around them. Communal Dark Vision.

And suddenly the wall of darkness became translucent; a rushing gray film remained in place, but within James saw hundreds of Nem3s milling about, a thick crowd that clogged the avenue that led up to the flesh fortress directly under the symbol.

Once were in, everyone focus on Shields, said James. Play it defensive while I do what needs doing. Clear?

Clear, everybody intoned.

Then lets do this.

And James stepped through the translucent wall of ebon flame.