The Power Array Saga - Season Four - Part XXV

Part XXV – The Void and the Compromise

Outside the stone walls of High Garden Clearing, an organized chaos was taking place. The mayor stood huddled in a tight group of high ranking officials that had exited the city once the threat from the Ura was over. Takeshi Hakizimana and Mayor Warren were doing most of the talking.

                Several dozen meters away from the group of officials stood Momotaru, surrounded by some of the deadliest females on the planet.

                “So does this mean that we’ll get to visit the capital of this country?” asked Arif Zahur whose personality was bubbly compared to when she had first met Momotaru.

                “I can see that traveling with The Butterfly Samurai has changed you a great deal,” said Momotaru. “Your aura is almost completely different. It seems like you’re more comfortable with yourself now.”

                “And yes,” said Iris with a beaming smile. “I take full credit for helping our young friend here embrace who she really is. She has great power inside of her, if only she’s willing to accept it.”

                “Who exactly are these people my liege,” asked Kya who looked at the other two females with narrowed eyes and her arms folded across her chest.

                “They’re… friends,” Momotaru replied hesitantly. “From my home country.”

                “Do we have to take them with us when you show me around your home country?” asked Monel with a sly smile as she seductively rubbed her fingers along Momotaru’s neck.

                Momotaru bristled slightly at the gesture but remained standing stiffly. “Let’s hurry up and get this nonsense with my father out of the way so I can be done with him,” said Momotaru. He ignored his companions and strolled towards the officials. “Are you and your flunkies ready to travel to the capital?”

                Takeshi and the other officials turned to look at Momotaru while wearing frowns and furrowed brows. Each of the officials wore shocked expressions. Wearing a smile, Takeshi stepped forward.

                “I’m just glad to see you show some enthusiasm for once,” said Takeshi. “But to answer your question, yes, we have an impromptu meeting with the emperor so just stick close to me and keep your mouth shut. If you follow my lead then all of this should be over quickly. Then we’ll be able to discuss the terms of you going back to Aver.”

                “Keep my mouth shut--” said Momotaru heatedly.

                Takeshi held up a hand. “Oh, just relax. You remind me so much of myself that it’s like looking into a mirror. Trust me my son; this meeting will go much better for everyone involved if you just follow my lead… like I said. You must understand that you still have much to learn when it comes to politics. Besides, you’ve spent your entire life dwelling amongst the elves so you have no idea how we humans handle things. Believe me when I tell you this, I only have your best interests in mind.”

                “Why the hell should I believe you,” said Momotaru.

                “I can understand why you would not believe my words,” said Takeshi. “So instead just give me the chance to let my actions speak for themselves.”

                Momotaru responded with a frown. He crossed his arms over his chest.

                In a matter of moments, Momotaru and his group of deadly ladies were sitting down inside of a large hover shuttle while his father and several high ranking officials were inside of another hover shuttle. After an hour ride through the sparse air traffic, the hover shuttles touched down in the city of Ardile, which was not the capital, but instead considered the political capital of Eioda. The city was located along the eastern shore of the country and was home to the building known as “the pyramid”, located near the black sand beaches of the cities shore. It was where the emperor and all of the other politicians and military officials were located.

                As soon as the shuttles landed and everyone exited to stand on solid ground again, several platoons of troops stormed forward to stand in formation.

                “We stand ready and waiting for your orders, sir!” said the lead soldier.

                Momotaru stood watching with a furrowed brow and gingerly rubbed at his chin.

                “Excellent,” said Takeshi while wringing his hands together.

                Before Momotaru or his team of killers knew what was happening, Takeshi Hakizimana casually threw on an exosuit helmet and suit of body armor. They watched in horror as if things were unfolding in slow motion. His father gave the order.

“To those of you who have put your trust in me,” said Takeshi. “Your patience is now being rewarded. Storm the pyramid and take no prisoners… that is, until you get to the emperor. Save him for me.” 

The Power Array Saga - Season Four - Part XXIV

Part XXIV – The Void and the Friend

The aftermath of the battle was just as chaotic. Sirens blared in the distance. Medics ran. The screams of the wounded filled the air along with the smell of smoke, blood, and fecal matter. The Ura corpses were thrown into a mound and burnt.

                Nearby in a quiet spot, Momotaru sat on the ground with his legs crossed. He was absentmindedly stabbing his sword into the ground over and over while his mind wandered in and out of daydreams. His team of assassin sisters kept their distance and stood huddled together several meters away. He was so distracted that he did not notice anyone approaching until two shadows fell across him.

                “Now do you see why we need you to join our forces?” said Mayor Warren.

                “Think long and hard about this offer Mo,” said Takeshi Hakizimana. “Your people need you to do the right thing.”

                “My people!” said Momotaru heatedly. He rose to his feet. “My people are an ocean’s distance away from me.”

                Takeshi stepped forward with his hands outstretched while patting the air in a soothing gesture in an attempt to get his son to stay calm. “Just relax Mo,” said the elder Hakizimana.

                Momotaru slapped his father’s hands away. “Get away from me you manipulative bastard,” said Momotaru. “After what you’ve done I would never help someone like you. As far as I know, it’s your fault that I was kicked out of Aver and banished to this demon infested land. Not only that but you sent your wenches to spy on me. I knew that there was a reason why my mother always told me not to trust you.” He spun around and walked away from his father.

                “Hey, you don’t get to walk away from me boy,” said Takeshi heatedly. He stormed after his son and with a firm hand on Momotaru’s shoulder tried to spin him around.

                Momotaru reacted on instinct as his martial arts training kicked in. He grabbed his father’s wrist and quickly twisted while using the momentum to throw his father off balance, then turned his father’s arm awkwardly and painfully behind the man’s back.

Takeshi Hakizimana’s face contorted into a grimace yet he refused to cry out.

                In seconds, Iris Longwing was by the side of her longtime friend. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I know that you’re angry Momo,” whispered Iris. “But let your dad go. Just think about this logically. You’re the best martial artist in the world and have found no equal on the whole of Threa. Not only that, but think about how privileged you are; no one else on this planet has the opportunity that you have been afforded. Not only are you the son of the elven princess, you also have the unique position of having a father that could one day be emperor over the humans. The world is your playground… but only if you accept your destiny and appreciate it for what it is.”

                Momotaru let her words wash over him for several seconds before he released his grip on his father.

                “I could have you arrested for assaulting a government official,” said Mayor Warren who ran up to stand beside Takeshi. With a wave of his hand, Mayor Warren summoned his security detail. They formed a semi-circle behind the mayor.

                The situation escalated quickly as the assassin sisters quickly sprung into action and stood side by side behind Momotaru. Iris was forced to jump in between both parties in order to keep the situation from getting out of hand.

                “Momo. Please don’t do this,” said Iris in a soothing voice. “This has escalated too quickly. I originally came to this country to help you and your mother, but most importantly to get my friend back.”

                The words from Momotaru’s longtime friend soothed the rage that was boiling inside of him.

                “I don’t trust anyone here,” said Momotaru. “And I’ve got no reason to trust anyone based on everything that’s happened since I’ve arrived here.”

                Iris approached her friend slowly. She gently grabbed him by the elbow to lead him away from the group. Once the two of them were in isolation, she whispered: “Look Momo,” said Iris with her eyes wide and pleading. “I know that we haven’t always got along but to be honest… you’re my best and only friend. I know that this may be selfish of me but I don’t want to go back to Aver unless you’re with me.”

                Momotaru looked at her with his mouth hanging open.

                “Besides,” said Iris. “I’m getting tired of babysitting your little run-away mage.” She giggled while nudging Momotaru in the arm.

                They both shared a brief laugh before Momotaru closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He strolled over to stand before his father and the mayor.

                “Fine,” said Momotaru with a grimace. “I’ll play along with whatever nonsense that you have planned… for now. But I’m warning you… father, you had better live up to your word and get me back home so that I can see my mother again. Just so you know, if anyone tries to spy on me again… I will execute them myself.”

The Power Array Saga - Season Four - Part XXIII

Part XXIII – The Void and the Rivalry

Before Monel could get close to the Ura leader, several lower level demons formed a wall in front of her. Without missing a beat, Monel smoothly pulled a pair of kunai from her belt and twirled them in a brief flourish before tightly gripping their handles. She gritted her teeth in frustration. She knew that there were too many. As the first demon drew close, Monel activated her ocular powers. Her bright blue eyes flared with a brilliant light as the first Ura made eye contact with her. The demon froze in his tracks, paralyzed. The other demons flowed around their stiff brethren and continued to charge forward, pushing Monel backwards as she used her kunai to fend off their elongated nails.

                Before Monel could take the offensive, she sensed a presence by her side. She did not have time to react although she sensed that the person was not her enemy. From the corner of her eye, Monel witnessed a thick, longsword with a unique design cleaving an Ura in two. The other demons paused.

                “Don’t tell me that this garbage is giving you trouble after all that big talk,” said Iris playfully.

                Monel responded with a growl.

                The Ura standing between the two females and the Ura leader charged with renewed vigor. Before the demons could get close, Monel threw her two kunai. Two of the charging demons were struck in the forehead and they fell to the floor in a heap. She quickly pulled two more kunai from her belt and braced herself in a defensive stance. Before the group of demons could bear down on her, Iris stepped in front of her, spinning while her broadsword twirled as if it were a cane in her hands. Any demon that got too close to her deadly dance was struck down.

                Monel watched closely as Iris used her Acro eyes and her uniquely shaped broadsword in unison to take down several demons. Monel bristled at the sight but would not let herself be outdone. She charged forward, leaping and spinning past her rival before sliding on her knees between the legs of an unsuspecting Ura who was caught off guard. As Monel slid along the dirt, she used her kunai to slice the tendons on the back of the demon’s ankles. Several Ura hit the floor screaming in agony, their ankle muscles no longer able to support their weight. Monel and Iris stood so that they were back to back. Then, throwing her last two remaining kunai, Monel struck two of the demons dead. She drew her last two weapons, two rare daggers that she only used as a last resort during battle.

                Only a few Ura now remained. They were dispatched with ease. From the edge of the forest the Ura leader watched with growing anger. He surveyed the battlefield. He realized his forces were being pushed back. The majority of the Ura forces were being engaged by human soldiers with shields and lasguns on the ground, laser bolts firing into the masses whilst the snipers and grenade launchers stationed atop the ramparts provided cover.

                On the ground, in the heat of the hand to hand combat that raged around him, Momotaru stood unscathed with his straight blade sword at his side, dripping blood. His three assassin sisters formed a triangle around him. None of the Ura wanted to get close. In a brazen act, Momotaru lifted his blade and pointed it at the Ura leader. Just as Momotaru began to take a few steps forward, the undead creature let out a low growl of frustration as a frown appeared on his face.

                The leader brought two fingers to his mouth and whistled. His howl filled with regret and anger, he gave the signal to retreat back into the Ura Forest.

                Before the leader disappeared into the darkness, Momotaru charged forward and screamed, “You’ve not seen the last of me, coward!”

The Power Array Saga - Season Three - Part XX

Part XX – A Smile and a Gleam

A young and pretty hostess showed Momotaru and his group to their suite. She swiped a key card in front of the door and it opened. As the team stepped through into the luxurious suite she handed the card to him. The suite’s front door led into a hallway with a bathroom to the left and a walk-in closet to the right. The hallway gave way to an expansive open area with a kitchen to the left and a living room area straight ahead. At the back of the living room was another hallway that led to the three bedrooms.

                Chyntel, awake from her ordeal, strolled into the living room, staring around with wonder and amazement in her hazel eyes. Her twin sister, Cynia, was close on her heels as she marveled at the size of the hotel room that had been gifted to them by the High Garden Clearing mayor.

                “What I can’t figure out,” said Monel, “is why the mayor would give us this expensive room for free.”

                “If I had to guess,” said Momotaru, “it would be to curry favor with my father.”

                “Well if we can continue to get perks like this,” said Cynia with a bright smile, “then we made the right choice in following you.”

                “I hate people who play politics,” said Momotaru with a frown. “This is something that I had to deal with on a daily basis while growing up in the United Elven Kingdom. It’s why I became a nomad. Sitting here in the lap of luxury is not my definition of living life to the fullest… I would rather be out in nature with the wind to my back and the sun on my face.”

                “Yeah, we noticed,” said Cynia with a roll of her eyes.

                “Cynia stop it,” Kya scolded her younger sister. She turned to face Momotaru. “We thank you for your hospitality, my liege.” She gave a deep bow.

                “Nonsense,” said Momotaru with a smile. He gently reached out and cupped Kya’s chin in his hand. He raised her head until their eyes met. “From the little bit of fighting that I’ve seen from you young ladies so far, it is I who should be thanking you. With all of you by my side I will finally be able to unroll my master plan.”

                “And what master plan is that?” asked Kya with a curious eyebrow raised.

                Momotaru laughed slightly. “Don’t worry about that right now,” he said. “We all need some rest after the night that we’ve had. I’m sure that the mayor will come calling on us before long.”

                “Don’t you think that he will demand some sort of reimbursement for giving us this room?” said Monel. She stood in the kitchen and guzzled down a glass of tap water.

                “I’m sure that he will,” said Momotaru. “He just doesn’t understand who he’s dealing with… the sun elves are master politicians and I’ve learned from the best. I’m sure that we will walk away from this without owing him anything.”

                “And what if you’re wrong,” said Monel approaching Momotaru with fire in her bright blue eyes. “What if we end up having to do this man’s dirty work? Our father worked hard so that we would be under no man’s thumb. I will refuse if we’re demanded to do the bidding of this lecherous mayor.”

                “Monel!” shouted Kya as she grabbed her sister by the shoulder and spun her around. “Watch your mouth. You will do as our liege lord commands us… that’s the oath that we’ve sworn. That attitude is what got us here in the first place. This is our lot in life so you had better hurry and accept it. It’s time to grow up.”

                “Shove off, Kya,” said Monel glaring at her sister. “You forget your place… me and you are the same age. You can’t boss me around like you do the twins. I’m your equal in every way.”

                “Except where it counts,” Kya fired back.

                Monel let out a growl before she lunged for the throat of her sister. Momotaru was between the two women in an instant. He held Monel back by pinning her arms to her sides in a bear hug. Monel swiveled and slithered loose as if her body had no bones. She slipped past him and darted towards her sister. Momotaru was forced to use one of his special techniques. With a three fingered pinch to Monel’s neck, the woman lost all her energy and nearly collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Momotaru caught her before she smashed her face on the brown carpet.

                “I apologize for my sister,” said Kya with a deep bow.

                Momotaru slung Monel over his shoulder as if she were a bag of grain. “No need to apologize,” said Momotaru. “I’ll keep an eye on her until she cools down. Let’s all try to get some sleep in the meantime.”

                Several hours later Monel awoke. She lay on the king-size bed inside of the master room. Momotaru sat in a chair on the other side of the room watching her with a blank expression.

                “What happened?” asked Monel as she grabbed her head. “Where am I?”

                “Relax,” said Momotaru. “When you went after your sister I had to incapacitate you.”

                “You presumptuous arse hole,” said Monel with a scowl as she rose from the bed. “How dare you interrupt a discussion between me and my sisters.”

                “You two were on the verge of killing each other,” said Momotaru. “And besides, you work for me now… I can’t have you two constantly going at it.”

                Monel stalked closer.

                Momotaru remained seated. He stared expressionless. Bands of light streaked across the darkened room from the blinds.

                “You have no idea what it’s like,” said Monel. She stood in front of Momotaru. Shades of light and shadow fell across her lithe form. Her face was covered in darkness but Momotaru could still make out a frown. She looked as if she might say more but instead chose to shake her head and stroll away.

                Momotaru stood. “You’re right,” he said. “I shouldn’t have interfered. But whatever issues you two had in the past, you’ll need to put them aside. You work for me now. I need a cohesive unit if we’re to launch on assault on the sun elves’ sun-sky island.”

                Monel looked at him askew. “That’s what your ultimate plan is. To get all of us killed.”

                “If you all learn to work together,” said Momoratu. He approached her, grasping both of her shoulders in a tight grip. “If you all work as a unit with one mind… from what I saw in the Ura Forest, the four of you working in coordination is powerful tool.” He smiled brightly as he spoke. The fire in his eyes as he pictured the future was contagious. In moments that fire had spread to Monel and, just for a moment, she could see his vision for the future as well.

                When they both pulled their eyes away from their inner ponderings, their eyes connected. Momotaru looked deep into Monel’s pools of blue. He wondered if he were caught up and trapped in one of her ocular illusions but ultimately did not care. He leaned in, closed his eyes and could feel her breath on his lips.

                Yet, even in a moment of total bliss, Momotaru’s warrior senses would not allow him to fully succumb to emotional pleasure. He sensed a presence approaching. His eyes sprung open. The window on the other side of the room crashed inwards. Momotaru spun around and caught a glimpse of someone slipping into the hotel room and diving behind a plush cranberry reclining chair. Momotaru let out a growl as he turned towards the intruder. His eyes began swirling like a hurricane as the white of his iris mixed with the blackness from the Void.

                “My, my, my,” said a familiar voice with a giggle.

                Momotaru stopped in his tracks and let the Void seep away. “What’re you doing here Butterlfy… have you flown so far from home only to land in the lion’s den?”

                “Looks like I’ve interrupted something,” said Iris - Butterfly Samurai - Longwing. She let out another mocking laugh.

                “I’m only going to ask you one more time before I strike you down… what are you doing here?”

                The sound of breaking glass from the open window caught Momotaru’s attention. He lost the will to fight when he saw Arif Zahur creep through the window. He was surprised to see that Arif actually resembled a young woman. She wore a lose fitting yellow sundress and her dark purplish blue hair fell to her shoulders in a bob-cut.

                “Now do you get it?” said Iris. She rose from behind the chair. “Your mother sent me to find you… so if you must blame someone for interrupting your booty call then blame her.” She laughed as she stared at Monel.

                Monel’s temper flared like a firecracker. She tried to dive towards Iris but Momotaru held out a hand which held her back.

                “Don’t bother getting upset,” said Momotaru. “She’s just jealous.”

                Next it was Iris’ turn to growl in anger. “Like I said,” Iris strolled casually towards Momotaru, “your mother sent me.”

                “Get to the point already,” said Momotaru.

                “She wants you to come back,” said Iris. She stood less than a meter in front of her old friend.

                Monel eyed her cautiously.

                “There’s no way I can come back,” said Momotaru. “And she knows it.”

                “There may not be a way for you to get back… legally,” said Iris with a devilish smirk.

                “I would be a fugitive in my own land,” said Momotaru. He turned to look out the window of the hotel. A city expanse divided by large stone walls spread out before him. A city and a vast land beyond that he may never get a chance to explore should he take his mother up on her offer and return home.

                “So what say you?” asked Iris.

                “And what would she have me do?” said Momotaru. He continued to stare out of the window with his hands clasped behind his back.

                “What else… but to take your rightful place as heir to the throne,” said Iris with fire burning in her Acro eyes that swirled and flashed every color of the rainbow.

                The Void within Momotaru activated automatically, his eyes quickly turning into pools as dark as black ink. The Void within him sparked to life as a defensive response to her Acro eyes. They alone could absorb the mind altering rays that emanated from her special eye ability.

                Monel almost activated her own ocular powers and jumped between the two of them but Momotaru held out his arm to block her path. Momotaru looked away with a cold smile.

                “It’s quite alright, Monel,” said Momotaru. “She knows full well that her abilities have no effect on me… but she knew that I wouldn’t be expecting my mother to turn against the sun elf elite.”

                “Does this mean that I’ll get to see your home sooner rather than later,” said Monel as her fingers delicately caressed Momotaru’s chin.

                Iris bristled, unnoticed.

                “Very soon perhaps,” Momotaru replied with a smile and a gleam in his dark eyes.

The Power Array Saga - Season Three - Part XIX

Part XIX – Insert Rescue Mission

As they saw their youngest sibling carried away by a small group of blood sucking Ura, the three remaining sisters let out a wail filled with agony. They lashed out with renewed vigor striking down the surrounding Ura.

                Momotaru let out a roar. He was surrounded by the undead demons. While slashing furiously at the creatures that sought to rip him to shreds and drink his blood, Momotaru drew in more energy. His pitch-black eyes seemed to grow darker. They drew in latent energy that swirled like the light of a sun trying to escape the gravity well of a black hole. Momotaru gathered energy until he felt as if his individual cells would burst. So he let his body do what it was on the verge of doing, releasing the stored energy in a massive burst of radiation that shot outward. Several small tornadoes of bluish, white, and black wind swirled him. Dark clouds formed underneath the canopy of the forest from which lightning struck. Several fires started. Somehow, Momotaru had summoned a weather disturbance that fit within less than a kilometer and devastated the area as if it were a natural disaster.

                In a matter of minutes, all of the Ura that had assaulted the humans had been destroyed. Kya ran up to Momotaru with a scowl plastered on her face.

                “Now do you see why we should never have come here?” said Kya. “Hurry, we have to go after her.”

                “I still have enough energy,” said Momotaru. A small twister of dark wind circled his feet and lifted him into the air. “While within The Void, I can conjure up enough energy in order to burn this entire forest to the ground.” He stretched out his hand.

                The eldest twin, Cynia ran forward to block his path. She reached upwards, standing on the tips of her toes and clasped Momotaru’s calloused caramel hand within hers. Their eyes connected, Momotaru slowly descended back to the ground and let the power from The Void leave his body. He breathed deep, chest heaving up and down.

                “Please don’t do that,” said Cynia. “Right now Chyntel is unhurt. I can still feel her presence. She’s afraid but safe. If you destroy this forest you might hurt my sister or prompt the demons into killing her.”

                “If we have any hope of finding her,” said Monel. “We had better hurry before the trail disappears.”

                With a nod of his head, Momotaru and his team of assassin sisters set out. Kya and Monel took the lead. They followed the trail of broken tree limbs and crushed underbrush. Quietly creeping through decomposing leaves and dry pine needles, they crept up behind the small group of Ura. They stood concealed in the underbrush, huddled several meters away, observing their adversaries. Soon they had located their sister. For some unknown reason, the Ura had chosen to stop their mad dash through the forest. The humans had to be very careful as they crept closer since the senses of the undead creatures were far better than theirs.

                The assassin sisters used unique hand symbols to communicate with one another. They formulated a plan to save their sister. Momotaru looked at the group in confusion. The sisters used basic, universal hand gestures to inform him that he should just wait here. After the eldest sister, Kya gave out orders, each of them moved silently into position. They crept through the forest and positioned themselves into a wide triangular formation around the group of Ura in order to make sure the demons could not escape.

                With everyone in position, they sprung their trap. Monel was the first to act. She threw a smoke bomb down in front of the Ura. Monel leapt from behind a bush. She used the fog to her advantage and crept through it with silent footsteps. Once the Ura locked eyes with her, they were unable to look away. Monel’s special ability allowed her to alter someone’s reality once they fell under the control of her ocular power. The ancient saying from her home of High Garden Clearing was that, “the eyes are the gateway to one’s inner temple” was one that Monel exploited at every opportunity. With her unique ability she was able to gain access to that temple and once inside, kick her shoes off and make herself comfortable. For the individual under the ocular spell, time was a strange notion, it extended forever, seconds felt like years.

                As Momotaru watched from a distance, he marveled at the sight in front of him. The Ura that had locked eyes with Monel now stood in a stunned trance, slightly swaying back and forth.

                Cynia was the next sister to spring into action. She dashed forward like a squirrel skittering underneath the feet of giants. Once she was amongst the Ura, she picked her sister up and carried her to safety, eventually making her way to where Momotaru watched in amazement.

                The last of the sisters to jump into the fray was Kya. Just as the ocular power of Monel was fading, Kya crept up behind the Ura. The Ura shook their heads as they came back to reality, looking around, stunned and confused. Before they could gather their bearings Kya struck. She sliced the throats of the demons. She watched as they clawed at their ruined necks to try and stem the blood that gushed. The demons fell to the ground. She stood over them with a frown on her face, looking down on them as the life drained from their bodies and the creatures turned to ash.

                Momotaru knew that he had chosen his bodyguards well. Together they would make a powerful team. In short order they found their way out of the Ura Forest and back to the outskirts of the High Garden Clearing town walls. In the distance, the glow of the rising sun transformed the cloudless horizon from a blackish blue to a rich navy. As the front gate of the city slowly opened, the group was surprised to see the mayor of High Garden Clearing standing in the entrance and smiling at them warmly.