Chapter ~ Twelve

Chapter ~ Twelve

       Let the battle begin!

Quorra:

Trains are suppose to be soothing! Not stressful!!!!
[says who?]
Me!!

For the first half of the train ride, we did nothing but lay out battle plans.
So apparently, Matrix was able to get most of The Averse together, and they were now on their way to Konsor.
Matrix never said how many exactly, but he said their was going to be a big number. Amongst the hundreds, kind of big.
It was hard to believe that soon the streets of Konsor would be flooded with Averse members. It was funny, but at least it would be safe. Of course that also depended on how many Fallen members where there... this might prove to be the most difficult thing we've done yet!
But the trouble started even before we got to Konsor.

"I will be right back." I stated, rising from the edge of the bench in our blocked off section of the train.
"And where are you going?" Sav asked from right next to me. I looked at him like he was asking a very dumb question.
"The bathroom. And no. I don't need an escort." I chuckled at flushed cheeks and opened the sliding glass door and walked down the short hall.

After using the restroom, I was on my way back, humming a little song when a chill went down my back.
"Well aren't you little 'Miss Above It All'"
I spun on my heel, sending my blond hair in my face.
Stepping out from one of the compartments, was a Fallen.
I had never seen this member before, from what little knowledge I have about them. He didn't ring a bell with me.
"What do you want?" I asked. Giving him a glare. "Come to pick a fight?" I asked, my guns appearing in my hands as I braced myself. He laughed.
"Careful." He pointed a finger to either side of him. "Don't want to frighten the very people your trying to protect now do we?" I looked past him and saw that we were standing right in front of my compartment. I watched as Kylun said something that sent everyone laughing, Zaydie smacked him playfully and he gave her an apologizing kiss.
I was confused, why didn't they notice us?
"What's wrong with them? why don't they see me?" I asked, still a little confused.
The boy chuckled.
"People are gullible, they only see what they want to see."
I groaned.
"I came to give a warning, and maybe a peaceful solution." I scoffed. He cocked an eyebrow. "You hand over the Three Chosen Ones, and the simulation room freely, and well spare everyone in Konsor."
I gave him a look that told him I didn't believe a word he said.
"Think about it Quorra." I was slightly shocked hat he knew my name. He pushed himself off the opposite wall and took a step closer. "If you did that you could be anything you wanted. With out having to point a gun at someone's head."
My fingers flexed around my pistols.
Don't be fooled Quorra. I told myself.
"You could be with how ever you wanted to be."
Ok that hit a nerve. I couldn't help the side glance to back in the compartment.
It was weird to see how they acted with out me there.
Savrin was laughing really hard, Kigo was breaking out jokes left and right, which was sending everyone into one fit of laughter after another.
They looked happy... content almost.
But...
"your not going to fall for that old trick are you?"
I can't say i was to terribly shocked when I heard his voice again. I suspected that he'd come around again...sooner or latter.
I turned my head and found Havrin leaning against the window beside me with his arms crossed over his chest, and his eyes closed.
"Nah. I was just making you ask questions." I stated. I turned my attention back to the boy.
"Forget it!" I called out. "Why even ask such a dumb question? My own sister is a Chosen One, and her husband. Not to mention my best friend is. That would be betraying my whole family!! And who may I ask would be left after I handed them over to "be with"?!" I demanded with my hands on my hips.
The boy's mouth slacked, and I saw that sideways glance he gave to Havrin.
"Don't look at me dude. She'd kill me if I even thought about it." Havrin said with an amused tone.
"So beat it. Before I make you." I warned.
The boy sighed.
"So much for the diplomatic approach." He said to himself. "Well fine, you've chosen your path. I can only hope that the god you worship will spare you a painful death. Though I highly doubt it."
Then he disappeared.

I sighed and slumped against the wall. My guns disappeared, and so did my hard face and tough wit.
"Are you ok?" I was shocked by this question, from Havrin.
[your right that is a little out of character for him]

"To be completely honest? no." I said as I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.
"What's up?" I opened my eyes and looked at him. I studied him for a minute. He looked the same. Same set jaw, same black hair that hung in his red eyes, same Havrin as I've always seen him. But... somehow... he'd changed a little. His eyes seemed kinder, and more considerate. Like now he might actually be able to care for someone other then himself! Now there's a thought!
"Maybe I should be asking you that question. What's gotten into you?" I asked suspicously.
"What do you mean?!" He looked offended! He was actually capable of displaying an emotion other then hatred!!
"You! Your...different." I said.
"is... that a good thing? or a bad thing?"
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet."
He rolled his eyes and muttered something along the line of "girls"
"You still didn't answer my question." He said. Getting back on topic.
"which one?"
"The first one."
"'What's up?'"
He nodded.
"Well... that's vague, and it covers a lot seeing as there's tons 'up' with me." I stated.
"Ok... why are you down?"
"Ah..." I let out another sigh and rubbed my arms, trying to get warmth back in them.
"well, my sister's leaving me behind, I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up like a stooge or something.-"
Havrin actually laughed!!!!! It was just down right freaky!!
"You worry to much Quorra. If you keep on doing that, your going to get worry lines." did he just give a joke? What is going on?!
"Ok now I have a question for you." I stated. "Why are you so... different? all of a sudden?"
He rubbed the back of his head like he was nerves or something.
"Well.... I guess I figured out that I don't have to be so cold all the time."
My jaw dropped and I just starred at him.
"What?"
"Are you sure your Havrin? I mean sure you kind of look like him, but definately don't act like him!"
He laughed.
"I'll see you soon Quorra." And he started to walk off.
"How soon is 'soon'?" I called after him. He paused, and glanced at me over his shoulder.
"Soon."
I rolled my eyes.
"That's not an answer!"
"Ok how about this. When you need me most, I'll be there."
"Uh... ok. See ya then... I guess."
He gave me a lazy two fingered salute and a smile that was still strange to see.
"Yup! See ya around. Latter." Then he too was gone.
"Oi, that was just weird." I muttered to myself.
There was a knock on glass, and I looked up to see Savrin becoming for me to come in.
I forced a smile and stepped in.
Though it's safe to say I was moody the rest of the trip.

****

"...Quorra?....Quorra....Quorra!"
I jerked and looked around.
"Huh?"
Zaydie was standing over me with a concerned look. I noticed that everyone else in the compartment had left. So it was just Zaydie and I.
"Are you ok? you fell asleep. We didn't want to wake you, but the train's stopped, and we're here." my sister explained.
I nodded and rubbed my eyes.
"Yeah.... just a little tired that's all..." I wished it was that simple.
My sister knew I was lying, but she didn't push it.
"Well come on then. Lets get going. We've got a lot to do!" she said, giving me a hand from the bench.

Outside in the train station we met the rest of the gang. Sav handed me an ice cream bar with a grin.
"Something to wake you up." He said.
I gave him a weak smile and took the frozen bar.
"Thanks!" Chocolate mixed with strawberry. Yummy!
I noticed that everyone had one, only different flavors.
"How did you know my favorite flavors were chocolate and strawberry?" I asked as I started to lick the ice cream.
Savrin laughed.
"How long have I known you Quorra?" He asked.
"Um...." My tongue froze the bar, with a gentle tug it came loose. "probably sense I was three."
"Exactly. And you don't think that with thin that extremely long time of knowing you, that I wouldn't figure out what your favorite ice cream flavors are?"
I burst out laughing. Kigo and Lexi were slightly taken aback, but Kylun and Zaydie smiled at me. Savrin started to laugh along and it was as if we were the kids we use to be. With no worries in the world, and all we did each and every day was fool around and eat ice cream under a shady tree. Aw now wouldn't that be nice!
"Well come on. You can eat your ice cream bars on the way there." Kylun said, as he led the way out of the busy train station.
Outside we stepped out into the familiar streets of Konsor.
Home sweet home.
Not so much.

Konsor was in ruin! I'm not kidding!! we all stood and gapped.
"this can't be..." Zaydie muttered quietly.
"What...happened?" I asked in astonishment.
Konsor's buildings looked like they had just been bombed, and badly!
The people walked around in rags and most of them had scars and bruises, and all of them were dirty with ash.
There was an aura that rolled off this place. A sad one, full of despair, sorrow, loss, and hopelessness.
"This is... way to familiar." Sav said as we made our way down the streets toward the President mansion.
"How could Kaleb let this happen?" Kylun muttered as he looked around at the wreckage.
Zaydie slipped her hand in his and squeezed tight.
Another reminder that I probably was going to end up a boring old maid.
I focused my attention on the city.
How in the Creator's creation did this happen??
Some homes were burnt to the ground, which left families with out a place to stay. Some of them were camped out on the side of the streets. Lots of them were.

"come on honey, we need to get to the mansion." I turned to see a father pulling his little daughter down the street as they made their way to the mansion.
"Excuse me, but why are you headed to the mansion?" I asked. The man looked me over before answering.
"The President is kind enough to give us a place to stay for those who's homes have been reduced to nothing." he gestured to the houses around us that were just large piles of ash.
"Ah. Thank you for your time." I said kindly. Forgetting to ask the big question.

"So at least Kaleb is doing something." Kylun commented when I told them what I had just found out.
I nodded. "but how did this happen? And what if it happens again?"
We all turned grave.
'Come on, let's hurry." I said and ran off down the streets, and across the black snow. That had been mixed with ashes.
I could hear them following after me so I didn't stop till I came to gates of the mansion.
People were flooding in to the gates like a river. They were coming from all over the place! and more and more of them came every minute!
"We have to evacuate all these people!" I exclaimed as we wove our way through the crowds.
"I know, I know!" Kylun shouted. "Ok here's the deal." He pulled all of us off to one side so people could go by. "Zaydie and I will go and talk to Kaleb, while the rest of you get to the dudgeons and see if The Fallen have figured out where the thing is."
We all glanced around nervously.
"Ok, meet back in the grass square just in front of the mansion." Matrix said.
We all agreed and Kylun quickly said a prayer and a blessing on all of us.
Then we went our separate ways.

Sav and I led the way through the halls, and down to the dudgeons with the rest of the gang following behind us quickly.
"The Averse should be here soon." Matrix said, as we slid around a corner to avoid knocking into people.
"Along with The Fallen." Vegg reminded. We jumped over people that were sprawled out on the floor.
"Ok. Sav! Watch it!" I jumped forward and pulled him out of the way just as a small child was about to be stepped on by him. Kultzy boy. "Be more careful." I said quietly. Not letting go of his hand, and taking the lead. Dragging him along with me but making sure he didn't step on anyone else.

We came to the dudgeons and I tried to remember which cell.
I finally picked the right one,
[the one with all the bones on the ground right?]
haha yeah.

And quickly stepped in.
"Uh Quorra...why are there bones on the ground?" Lexi asked as we stepped over them.
"Their fake. it was Kylun's brilliant idea of keeping intruders out."
"Oh. So it's an idiotic idea is that what your saying?" she asked. I chuckled.
"Yup."
I found the door at the other end in the dark. I quickly threw it open and everyone stepped in.
After I quickly closed the door behind them, we swept Kylun's old appartment.
It was clean.
And still looked exactly the same as when we left.

I led the way into the computer room and walked over to the simulation chamber that sat in the corner.
"Whoa. So this is the one and only that can go back in time huh?" Rix asked. I nodded as I tapped away on the key board.
"Hey Vegg, come here." I called. She stepped over and together we set the simulation chamber for self destruct mode.
"Here." Vegg said, giving me a small tablet. "push the 'yes' and the simulation chamber will explode."
I nodded.
"But don't destroy it if you don't have to." Rix piped up. "just think of all the history we could uncover, that is still not clear to us." he exclaimed. We all just stared at him.
"Think of all the things we could change!"
"Rix get that out of your head. The past is something that has already unfolded. Hence the reason why they call it 'history'. Because it's happened in the past. And no one can, or should, change the past. what's done is done. If we look to far in the past, we loose the future." I said.
"But if we learn from the past we can change the future-"
"Enough Matrix. If the situation calls for me to destroy it, then that's exactly what I'll do." I stated.
I could see that he was agitated, but hew knew I was right. Not that he was happy about that.
I shook my head and moved into the kitchen. I was shocked to see that their was still food in here! not that I'd be eating any of it! it's probably bad by now.
I grabbed a cup, and grabbed some water.
"You ok?" Sav asked, coming up beside me. I sighed in fustration and set the glass down on the counter with a clatter.
"No I am not ok. We're going into battle where we might not live through. I'm stressed because I have to keep my sister safe and make sure she doesn't do something stupid and hurt the baby, I'm depressed because she is having a baby. those good enough for you?" I asked. My anger getting the better of me.
Sav looked shocked at my sudden out burst.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm my nerves.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you" I apologized. Sav shook his head.
"It's fine, I expected you to jump at me some time soon."
"Really?"
"yeah, you usually do when your under a lot of stress."
I sighed.
"That doesn't really make me feel any better."
"Well I can't say that right now is the best time to feel better. We've got a big battle coming, and we need our wits about us. But I forgive you."
I nodded grimly, I finally gained control over my anger again and we moved out into the black and red living room.
"Well come on then! we had better get going and meet up with the others." I said. Everyone nodded and we all ran back out of the room, careful to close and lock the door behind us.

Back out in the courtyard, we watched as people started to flood out of the mansion.
In fact the noise level was decreasing in the whole city all together!
"Looks like they were able to get every evacuated. Well at least... you know... they started to." I stumbled. Everyone nodded, but didn't say anything.
Zaydie and Kylun ran out of the mansion and over to us. They both looked a little winded, but at least they accomplished something.
"Ok their evacuating the city to the other Areas. They should be safe. Now all we have to do is...wait...for the...." She was starring past us when she failed to form a sentence.
[meanie]
Ha!

We all turned and our jaws dropped. Coming at us where dozens, and dozens of people!!
Some of them were even familiar!
Like Jinx, and Juwela's mother where were leading the large, and I mean large group of people.
I even saw Mama Bear with them!
I grinned as the big army of people made it's way down the evacuated streets.
Soon they all came into the courtyard, and as i looked at them all, hope sprouted up inside me.
"We might actually stand a chance." I said with a grin. crossing my arms over my chest and shifting my weight.
"Are you kidding?' Sav asked, taking up my stance. "We stand way more then a chance." He got a warm grin on his face. "we're going to cream 'em!"
We all agreed and a few of The Averse agreed with us
I grinned.
"Yes we are Savrin... yes we are. Let's do this!!!" I cried. This time everyone cheered out, raising their fists and pumping them in the air.
"Quiet the little cheerleader aren't we?" Sav asked with a grin. I ignored him.

****

Sav took over, making sure everybody knew what they were suppose to be doing, and the rest of us readied ourselves. Sharpening blades, getting more magazines. Well except me, my guns don't run out of bullets. Lucky me huh? hahaha.
I found Zaydie in a quiet corner on her knees with her hands folded in front of her. My guns disappeared in the familiar wash of light, and I knelt down next to her and prayed right along side her.

Dear Creator, please help all of us. We're going into a large battle, and I don't know if all of us will make it out. I know there will be sacrifices... And I'm willing to make them if it means keeping my sister safe, and to spare the world The Fallen's cruelty. But please... I'm begging you Creator. Keep Zaydie and the baby safe.

We opened our eyes at the same time and gazed at each other. Zaydie was on the verge of tears. She threw her arms around my neck and squeezed. I could feel her trembling, but I was doing the same.
"Don't do anything reckless ok?" I asked. She laughed to get rid of the tension.
"Ok. Just so long as you do the same."
"ha! I'm not the one who's pregnant, I can be reckless, you however, can not. Because Kylun won't let you.-"
"And you promised me that you'd stay out of direct combat." Kylun chimed in, coming up behind us.
Zaydie nodded.
"Alright, alright. No recklessness. But the same goes for you Quorra."
I laughed.
"We'll see about that sister." I said with an evil grin.
"Quorra!"
"Alright!" It really pained her even when I just made jokes like that. "I won't do anything that'll get me killed...at least not intentionally."
Zaydie figured that was the best she was going to get out of me, so she just went with it.
There was a loud cry and we all jumped to our feet.
"Their here!!"
"Their here!!"
"Their here!!"
It echoed through the camp we had made on the grass. Everyone jumped to their feet and we all barred our weapons, and braced ourselves.

Sure enough, coming down the abandoned streets was two darkly dressed people. One was taller, with his hands clasped behind his back, and his grey hair slicked back. The other was shorter and wore a short skirt. Her long blond hair was swept around her dramatically by the wind.
At first it was just two of them. Then another joined. And another, and another. Until they had become a huge army as big as The Averse! maybe even bigger!!

They spilled out into the courtyard, half taken up by Averse, the other, by The Fallen.
We starred daggers at each other, while we sized each other up.
"I see you have now multiplied in strength. it's no longer just the four of you. Of course I already knew about the traitors that joined your ranks," The Captain gestured to Kigo and Lexi. Who's faces grew harder and we all stepped in front of them defensively.
The Captain scoffed.
"I'll deal with you two latter. But it's you three," He gestured to my sister and the two boys. We all tensed. "That will be dying today."
"No one's dying but you and your lot." I stated through gritted teeth. Captain laughed.
"So I take it that you have refused the offer."
Everybody's eyes turned to me.
I bit my bottom lip and didn't answer.
"Ah... so they are blissfully unaware. How quaint. Well don't blame me if your love ones die today."
I groaned.
"your exactly the person I'm going to blame bonehead. It's you that wants all the power and glory."
"Ha! you sure are one smart girl when it comes to pinning the blame on someone."
"What's that suppose to mean?!" Savrin shouted.
Captain held up his hand to silence him.
"I suppose we are now to fight and see who ever is last standing wins?"
We all nodded.
"Very well. But I guarantee that it will be me."
"We'll see about that." Kylun stated.
"Prepare yourselves!" The Captain's long pole came into his hand and he held it behind his back. Willa smeared at us and the two of them disappeared into the back of their crowd.
Then... it began.

The courtyard was quickly transformed into a battle ground, which in turn would probably turn into a graveyard.
[well aren't you little Miss Optimistic?]
I'm just saying!

It was a darn good thing we had The Averse! Or we would have died with in the first ten minutes!!
There was so many Fallen!! It was insane!!!! When ever we struck down one, another would pop back up in his place.

I struck down my opponent with both a bullet and a rock simultaneously. He fell to the ground, dead. but like I said, another one took up his place.
I took a deep breath and I quickly brought him down with a giant rock.
"Someone's become cold." Lexi said from behind me as she warded off attacks from a boy wielding a polearm.
"Well sorry if I skip the formalities." I said. She laughed as she sliced the boy's throat.
"Fine by me. Seeing as I'm doing the same. A girls got to do what a girls got to do."
I nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. Duck!!" She fell to her knees as I shot someone that was sneaking up behind her.
She turned around, still on her knees.
"Oh! thanks! Holler if you need help! I'm going to go check on Zaydie. See if she's been able to stay out of trouble."
"Let me give you a hand." She knew exactly what I meant.
We turned back to back and linked our arms. I started to spin fast, and it sounded like she was kicking people in the head. Once I got enough momentum, I let her go and shot her as far as i could. Next thing I saw from her was she was walking on top of people's heads!
Freaky ninja person. Hahaha! But she was awesome I've got to say.

My attention quickly turned to a bigger opponent.
He was a large, large man. His head was shaved, and covered in what looked like tribal tattoos. His big beefy hands held a HUGE saber that looked like something you'd see in the East.
He gave me a toothy grin and I chuckled.
"Right." I muttered.
He started to swing his sword around real fancy and I pulled up several decent size rocks from the ground and had them levitate around him.
He was the first to make a move.
Being so large I expected him to be slower.
My bad.

He jumped in the air while swinging his sword around like a propeller. I barely dodged it, my left arm go cut up pretty bad, but I didn't worry about it, I could still move it.
He landed on one knee and the ground shook. I used the grounds momentum to propel myself over the mans head. I spun acrobatically over him, while shooting down at him simultaneously.
I got him several times in various parts of his body, but that wasn't enough to stop him. While I was in midair, he reached up and grabbed my ankle.
I gasped as he spun me around just like I had done to Lexi. He swung me up and down, hitting my head on the rocks I had kept levitated. Which I quickly forced down. When he was done, he threw me, he threw me strait for a wall.
I quickly flipped over and landed in a crouch on the wall. Not getting hurt a bit. You know, other then hitting rocks with my head. All I got from that though was a bloody lip. I wiped the blood away with my fist.
I was using the earth in the wall as a gravity pull. Keeping me anchored.
I glanced around and laid eyes a pillar that had fallen. That would be big enough.
I found Savrin fighting a girl a little ways off. He glanced up at me and looked for my opponent as he finished his off.
He spotted him and started to make his way to him, but he had to fight through several people in order to get to me.
I "rose" to my full height. Though I was standing sideways which was weird. I ran along the walls, and jumped from building to building.
I kept the man in my sights as I quickly made my way to the fallen pillar.
"Stop running around like a hamster." the man called.
Haha! yeah right.
I flipped off the wall and landed behind the pillar.
I didn't have much time the man was closing in.
I quickly sent a few rocks his way, hoping to slow him down, not by much though. But I quickly turned my full attention to the pillar.
Using the Power I had over the earth, I focused on the dirt inside the pillar. Gathering up all the strength I could spare, I tried to move it. My first attempt failed. It was really, REALLY heavy!!
I gave more strength over to the Power, I was able to move the pillar a little. But like I said it was very heavy.
I had only been able to move it a few inches before the man was back onto me again. I quickly brought up a wall of rock in between the two of us to ward off some of his fast swordsmanship. That made it hard to defend myself. But indo that I also didn't have enough strength to move the pillar.
I groaned in frustration, and let the wall down. I moved in close to the man and knocked him about a little. But then with several close calls, I moved off and got far enough away to use my guns. It's annoying when you just have long range weapons.


I  let him get to close and he lashed down on the ground, causing what seemed like a ripple. If it had been a body of water.
Using the earth's momentum again, I propelled myself up into the air, hovering momentarily as the wave passed under me. But it was only momentarily. I soon fell down to the ground again, but the after shock of the wave hit me and threw me backwards, causing me to roll across the ground. It had hit my chest, and caused all the air to leave me.
I groaned as I tried to pick myself up off the ground. Black splotches ran across my field of vision, and a massive headache split my head open.
My arms started to shake as they supported my upper body weight. Through my blurred vision as the man walked up to me and grabbed me by my shirt, lifting me up off the ground.
"Quorra!" I glanced over and saw Savrin but he was still fighting someone, and it didn't look like she'd wear out soon.
I looked back at the man as he grinned and raised his sword to my neck.
"Say good bye pretty girl."
I grittend my teeth and reached out my hand for the pillar. giving it everything I had, it finally decided to move for me.
The man was unaware of what I was doing, thank goodness! so I was able to get it quiet close behind him before he noticed anything.
When he did, he turned around and was smacked in the face with a concrete pillar!!
He fell to the ground, taking me with him.
But not for long. He fell to his bum, and rubbed his head.
"That hurt!!" He cried at me. Taking up his sword again.
I had fallen to the ground on my face, I watched him as he swung that huge sword around.
I let out a defeated sigh.
That last stunt had cost me tons and tons of energy, I was starting to get washed over by fatigue. It was hard just to hold my head up to watch the man!
I dropped my head to the ground and accepted my fate. If this was how I was going to die, so be it.
I closed my eyes and waited for the pain.
"Hey! Giving up already?" I looked up in shock has Havrin stood over me with a grin. His reaper was slung over his shoulder lazily, and I noticed that the man I had been fighting was knocked out on the ground.
"Come on. Let's get you back to your feet." He said, offering me a hand. At that moment I probably would have accepted anybody's help.
I took his hand and he pulled me up to my feet.
I stood there for a minute, but my full energy wasn't back yet, and my legs gave way.
"Whoa! easy does it." Havrin caught me and I had to use him as support.
Juwela's mother came over to me and handed me a vile.
"Here dear. It's an energy booster. Your energy should return soon. And this one's for the cuts."
"Thank you." I took them both quickly and cringed. "They taste awefull!"
"well what did you expect? Strawberry and chocolate?" She asked with a wink. I smiled.
"Thank you."
"Now hurry! I see you have business to tend to."
Havrin and I glanced over out shoulders to see the guy coming around again.
I groaned.
"Don't you ever die?!"
Havrin laughed.
"Let's find out shall we?" He asked.
I nodded and summoned my guns.
"Let's."