When Clans Collide -- Team Bravo

When Clans Collide!

"Team Bravo"

The resistance fire aproaching the Rokkan mothership was intense ... so much so that Graeme and his team had encountered (by his count) at least four patrol parties trying to keep them away from their goal.

After the last of the patrollers had been taken care of, Caligo alighted next to the team leader. "You call this a stealth party?"

Graeme growled under his breath. The beaked gray gargoyle next to him had been giving him nothing but criticism during the whole flight, and all of their battles. He was starting to wonder about having taken this team into the fight, the internal conflicts weren't helping his mental health any.

"Look, Caligo ... I didn't plan this, Rosanna did. If you have a problem with it, you talk to her, okay?"

"Who said I had a problem with it?" And with that, Caligo backed off toward the rest of the party. Liberty took Caligo's place at Graeme's side.

"You're worried."

"Have you seen what this party's doing, Libby? What between Caligo lecturing me, Topaz trying to come on to Smith and Wesson, Ravyn and Alex bickering ..."

"You're their leader. Take command."

Behind the couple, though, another conflict was beginning. Rachel Xanatos' eyes narrowed as she watched Liberty and Graeme together.

Robyn Canmore saw what was happening, and moved to nip the situation in the bud. "Focus, girl. Remember, he's not your Graeme."

"He told me he loved me ..."

"Maybe so, but this Graeme's been with us this whole war. Face facts, not every Graeme in every universe is going to be yours ... this particular one is Liberty's."

Rachel sighed sadly, continuing with the rest of the party toward their goal.

"But I love him ..."

"Mothership approaching. Radio silence from here on in!"

With that command, everyone in the party switched their radios to a scrambled channel. As they approached, even more resistance came at them, in the form of the shipboard guns firing. Three Macgonagall clansmen fell under the fire ... the rest of the party found their way to a narrow deck circling the ship.

Graeme was the last to alight, coming in the center of the group. Clutching against the sides of the ship's hull, he turned his head side to side and bellowed his orders, his voice fighting for purchase in the battle noise.

"Three teams, three entry points! Only one has the charge, find the central power control room, set it and take off! Rendezvous at the Castle!"

Searching the panel behind him, Graeme finally found an escape hatch, popping it open and backing into a passage. "Follow me!"

A smaller group followed Graeme into the passageway. The other two groups, having been separated by the center of their numbers entering, searched their way around the panels for entry points.

Robyn Canmore led her party into a passageway, only to be confronted by a swarming party of Rokkans. At their head was an unwelcome sight, especially for Mercedes, alongside her captain.

"Oh no, don't tell me the Black Sword is here, too!"

The three women leading the Rokkan defense party glared at the otherworldly gargess. Suddenly the middle one, Desi-Rae, screamed an order to their party.

"ATTAAAACK!!"

The Rokkans swarmed upon their prey.

Liberty's party met similar resistance, but was able to swat them aside easily, the captain of the defenders obviously not prepared for Liberty's massive size. As quickly as they had been confronted, the Rokkans were sent running for cover.

Smith and Wesson looked down at the prone body of the defending captain.

"Hey Wes, isn't that ..."

Wesson turned her over. "Yeah it is. Wonder what Aili's doing here."

"If she's here, what about the rest of the Black Sword?"

"Dunno ... watch out!"

The two Outklaws backed away just as Aili faded into mist.

"That ... was weird."

"You won't hear me argue that point."

Topaz suddenly ran up to the two. "Are you coming, or are you going to stand there staring at the floor all day?!"

Snapped out of their shock, the two looked up at the gargess who had been giving them so much attention earlier. They looked at each other, then simultaneously gave their answer.

"Ohh yeah, we're comin'!"

Graeme's team, surprisingly enough, had met little to no resistance. All weapons were drawn ... Graeme's pistols, Caligo's sword, various rifles and blades ... but nothing. They spent more time freaking each other out in the darkness of the passage.

At one of these freak-outs, Ravyn Maza and Alex Wonder backed into each other. They both spun around, weapons drawn, then put them away sighing when they recognized each other.

"We've really got to stop this, Alex."

He nodded in agreement. "We need to encounter someone."

"No, I mean our fighting."

The party continued down the passage, but Alex and Ravyn stood in one place. Alex was dumbfounded. "What?"

Ravyn sighed, approaching him. "This whole fight has been silly, and being in this place hasn't helped us very much. Oh, Lord, the stress of this place has been getting the better of us."

Alex sighed. "Yeah."

"For what it's worth," she started, approaching Alex, "I'm sorry it ever got to this point between us. Sorry that we almost got to the point of hating each other's guts."

He nodded, his eyes focused on Ravyn. "And I guess I did get a little possessive there ..."

"A little?!"

"Okay, a lot possessive. I should know by now that I don't own you, that you're your own woman. Whatever happens here, I swear I'll be your friend."

Ravyn smiled at last, extending her hand. "Deal."

Alex couldn't hold himself back ... he impulsively pulled Ravyn into a bear hug.

"Whoa there! Come on, we've got us a war to fight."

Alex put her down. "Right." Together, they made their way back to the rest of their party.

Robyn and her group fought with abandon with the combined Rokkan/Black Sword defense party, blasts and blades ringing throughout the passageway. Though the fight remained at a standstill, Robyn couldn't help but feel that her group was losing ground.

She was acutely worried, though, about Mercedes, who was attacking with tremendous fury at the Black Sword. Lilith joined her side, trying to keep her from falling to the swarming attack.

"Fall back, Mercedes! You're gonna kill yourself at this rate!"

"You don't know! You can't know anything!"

Lilith pulled her back, just as Runs-With-Shadows launched an attack of her own. It took both Lilith and Maui to hold the enraged Mercedes back.

"All right, now that we have some control ..."

An unearthly voice behind Robyn made her blood suddenly run cold. "Control this, Hunter!" Before anyone could react, a gargess shimmered into view, grasping Robyn securely by her shoulders and sinking her fangs into the former Hunter's neck.

Robyn's scream reverberated throughout the passage, drawing attention from her teammates. Some of them struggled with the creature that had latched itself to Robyn, only to be thrown off. Finally, Pandora and Ivory were able to pull off the vampiric gargess.

"Check on Robyn! And as for you ..."

The gargess glared at Ivory, her interrogator. "Don't be sure she'll be the last! By the time I'm done, you'll all die!" The gargess' incensed laughter echoed around them as she shimmered out, leaving Pandora clutching but the air.

Ivory was mildly unnerved, but turned back to the rest of the team. "What's her condition?"

Maui looked up. "She's not doing too well. I don't think she'll be able to continue ..."

"No!"

Robyn's cracking voice surprised everyone. Maui turned back to the human woman.

"I want to continue. I need to, my brother's promise ... I have to ..."

"You have to rest, you're nowhere near fighting shape." Maui's words finally calmed Robyn down. "I'll take her back to the Castle, you guys go on without us."

"Let us know the moment you get there."

Maui nodded, picking up the weakened Hunter and jogging back down the passage. In the confusion, the battle had been all but forgotten, but Pandora and Ivory quickly found their way back into the action.

Liberty's party, of the three, had hit the worst resistance. Every corner they turned, they ran into another defense patrol, it was seemingly endless.

More Rokkans had jumped down from the ceiling, taking the entire team from behind. About ten minutes later they had been disposed of by Mahret, without any concern to her own well-being.

This prompted a knee-jerk reaction from Nightsky. "Are you crazy?! They could've killed you!"

Mahret only laughed. "I'm immortal, friend. 'Die' isn't exactly in my vocabulary."

Nightsky shrugged, but had no further time to ponder the point as another attack force threw Liberty forcefully into her, sending both gargesses into the far wall.

"This isn't working."

Liberty was about to agree when a black-clad figure sped past everyone, swinging a large sword into the defense party. Quickly, two Rokkan defenders had lost their heads, rolling through the team's numbers and down the passage. The bodies remained behind, slumped to the floor.

"And all is balanced once more." The figure turned to the rest of Liberty's party, bowed deeply, then ran off.

Smith was the first to react. "Who ... the hell was that?!"

Liberty had made it back to her feet. "I don't know, but he's turned the tide of the fight! Attack!"

After what seemed like an unadulterated trip, Graeme's party had finally made it to the door of the power control center. Quickly, Rachel Xanatos was at his side.

"This was too easy."

Graeme sighed. "Tell me about it. I don't even know if we have the damn charge or not." He looked down at his radio antenna, clicking a switch. "All teams, converge on my signal."

Rachel leaned against the captain of her team. "Well, only one thing left to do."

Graeme looked at her sideways, confused. "What're you talking about?"

Rachel looked in the eyes of this Graeme ... and into eyes she had never known. "I'm sorry, Graeme, it's just ..."

He put his hand on hers, which was resting on his shoulder. "Robyn told me all about it. And really, I'm flattered ... I can certainly see what my counterpart sees in you."

Rachel smiled sadly, absently wiping a tear away. "But will I see you ... my Graeme ... again?"

"I'll get you through this. I promise." Graeme turned finally and embraced the girl. The clearing of a throat behind him snapped him back to the task at hand.

"If you two don't mind ..."

Graeme rolled his eyes. "Yes, Caligo, we're going. Rachel, if you would?"

She nodded, closing her eyes and focusing her power toward the doors before them. Almost before anyone expected it, they opened.

"All inside, now!"

Three Macleoid clansmen ran into the room, but were instantly thrown out, dead, their bodies dissipating into mist. Graeme peeked quickly in the room, then turned away.

"Damnation, it's a trap! Get ready to repel them!"

Now being led by Mercedes, the Canmore party continued through their passage, now following Mercedes' direction. She, on the other hand, had centered her search on Graeme's radio signal, and was trying to find her way there.

"Look out!"

The warning almost came too late. Almost as soon as Mercedes had jumped aside, a gigantic beast had stormed through the party, centering its run on the center of the group. Some of the fighters were caught unawares, and trampled; Sahara had managed to beat it aside, but not before her mate Slaine had been caught in its jaws. She leaped on top of the beast, screaming and clawing at the monster.

Pandora pulled out her weapon, doing her best to aim it between the creature's eyes. "Go back to the Hell that spawned you, Typhon!!"

Pulling the trigger savagely, the shot found its way into the beast's skull, splitting it. As soon as it fell, it disappeared into mist, dropping Slaine mauled but otherwise unhurt. He brushed himself off, regaining his weapon and rejoining the group just as they met up with Graeme's party just outside of the main goal of their mission.

The fight had already spilled out into the passageway, as Rokkans and otherworlders alike were in the thick of things. Sheridan slashed at a Rokkan, throwing him up for Sahara to take out.

"We were wondering when you'd get here!"

"Got a little distracted." Sahara, Slaine and Pandora ran up to join in on the group fully.

Liberty's party had finally made its way through the destruction and the Rokkans, forcing another defense party back into seclusion. Liberty checked her radio, then the passage ahead.

"The others are just up there a bit!"

"But you won't make it ... not a chance!" The echoing voice came from all around them, finally focusing when a gargess shimmered into view before them all, latching herself to Liberty. Her eyes glowed with maniacal glee as she brought her head down toward Liberty's neck.

"Stop her! Stop, Okali!"

Another voice behind them distracted the party once again, as another gargess flew through the passage, approaching the vampiric one. Too late, her warning went unheeded as Okali bit into the flesh of Liberty's neck ... and was promptly thrown back.

"What was that?!" Dazedly, she looked up at her companion who had just joined her. "Tara?"

"I tried to warn you, sister ... she's layered with magic, you can't touch her."

Okali's eyes widened as she screeched into the passage. Tara had to pull her away.

The entire party stood, stunned for a moment. Liberty rubbed her neck where Okali had bitten her ... the gargess hadn't been able to drink, but she had still drawn blood.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Graeme, Caligo and Ravyn had fought their way into the control room, weapons swinging. The Rokkans defending the place had been kept at bay by the attackers outside, but the attackers were getting tired. Krystiana was cruelly thrown into the room, but rebounded, growling. And she would have rejoined the battle, had she not been stopped by a hand grabbing her, throwing her into the center of the room and knocking her unconscious.

Caligo bristled as he saw the owner of the hand. "Zanthe ... I was wondering when I would see you here."

The cruel Black Sword matriarch glared down at Caligo, with Mitsu by her side. "And I was hoping not to see you, Caligo. But, however, you deal with the hand you're dealt."

She turned to the kitsune next to her. "Mitsu, destroy them!"

Mitsu growled, launching herself at the three attackers, only to be tossed aside by Caligo. He continued on his march toward Zanthe as Mitsu turned her attention to Graeme and Ravyn.

The hallway was cleared with little trouble on Liberty's end. She was suddenly distracted by a soft brogue behind her.

"Milady Liberty ... I believe they're going to need this."

Liberty turned to see the lone Meirleach Sgaith representative of the team, Sebeth, holding in her hands the very charge they needed to get inside the room.

"We've got to get that inside! Give it to me!"

Sebeth hurriedly tossed the explosive device to Liberty, turning to fight another Rokkan behind her. Liberty, unsure of what to do next, suddenly saw Rachel fighting off the aliens forces.

And an idea came to her.

"Rachel! Catch!"

The otherworldly mutant caught the charge. "What should I do with this?"

"Get it in the control room! I'll give suppressing fire, just go!"

Rachel hesitated for a moment ...

"I trust you, Rachel. Now go!"

Rachel nodded, turning back toward the door. She was quickly joined at one side by Alex Wonder, who escorted her into the room while Liberty supplied her promised cover fire.

"It ends, Caligo!"

Zanthe's attacks had become too much for Caligo to take, and he had finally fallen to the floor. His sword clattered to his side, before the feet of Graeme.

"NOW!"

Zanthe raised her own weapon over her head, preparing the deathblow. Desperate, Caligo looked to the green gargoyle by his side.

And inspiration hit him, as he finally realized the boy's bloodline.

"Take ... the sword, Graeme. Only you can wield it."

Graeme's eyes widened. "How ..."

"In my universe ... your father is my son. All the benefits that go along with that ... are good as long as I'm here." Smiling cryptically, Caligo closed his eyes, slipping into unconsciousness.

Graeme's eyes flashed, and suddenly he was acting before he knew what he was doing. He swept the sword into his grip in one motion, and in the followup ...

... deflected Zanthe's attack.

The matriarch staggered backward, in shock. "How can this be? He is not of your world, this is IMPOSSIBLE!"

Graeme smirked. "I'm just fulla surprises!" Assuming an offensive stance with the katana, memories of his mother's lessons with blades suddenly swarmed over him.

At once, he knew what to do.

The attack was fast and furious, taking Zanthe nearly as much by surprise as Graeme's ability to wield the sword had. His strokes were lightning fast, years of bushido training swarming through the gargoyle's head like a horde of angry bees.

And much to Zanthe's chagrin, a stampede behind her finally ended the battle, knocking her into Graeme at such an angle that she impaled herself on the katana. Graeme took the initiative at that point, jerking the blade up to make sure she didn't recover.

Zanthe only laughed. "You ... fool. I know the rules too well." And with that, the Black Sword matriarch faded into mist.

Zanthe's defeat demoralized Mitsu to the point that the Resistance forces were able to take her captive. Sheridan and Pandora volunteered to escort the kitsune back to the Castle. Finally, it came down to setting the charge.

"Almost ... there ..."

Tapping three more keys, Liberty finally had the charge set. "One minute and counting. Clear out!"

They were about to do so, until a message came over the loudspeaker ... and not a good one.

=Militia alert, general quarters. Command center, main power center. Terminate with extreme prejudice.=

"Oh, CRAP!" Graeme's exclamation spurred the attackers into a full retreat.

But Alex Wonder stayed behind.

Ravyn's eyes widened. "Alex, what are you doing?!"

"Rav, this thing has a simple enough detonator that anybody could disarm it if they find it." He drew his pistol, cocking it. "I'm staying behind to make sure nobody does."

"Alex, you'll be killed! Come on!"

"I can't, Rav." The pain showed in his eyes. "Everyone counting on this bomb to go off, we're all screwed if it doesn't."

Ravyn could barely think straight. Finally she rushed up to Alex and kissed him as long as she could before he pushed her away.

"Go on, Rav, get out of here." He smirked a little. "And if that Coyote fella shows up ... give him my best."

Ravyn nodded, finally being herded out of the room by Ivory and Topaz. Just as they retreated, a full defense party rushed in to see Alex standing there, weapon drawn.

They stood each other off for about half a minute. Alex finally looked down at the timer on the detonator.

0:05

"You guys ..."

0:04

"... are SO screwed!"

0:03

0:02

As realization finally struck the Rokkans, Alex gave the defenders the finger.

0:01

0:00

The explosion rocked the mothership, but fortunately enough most of Graeme's team had made it out alive. But for those who did survive, the thought of Alex Wonder's sacrifice hung heavy over them, more so than the joy of their mission's success.

Graeme looked behind him, seeing Ravyn carried in the arms of Ivory, already mourning. The sacrifice was lost on some, though ... Topaz had resumed her amorous pursuits of Smith and Wesson.

He looked over at Liberty, whose face shone her own sadness at the sacrifice. In her arms, she carried Rachel Xanatos, sad but proud and determined to face down the threat more than ever.

In his own arms, Graeme carried the prone body of Caligo, who while he had not died from his greivous wounds, he was severely wounded. Graeme's attention turned to the long katana that now hung low from his belt ... Caligo's weapon.

Their mission had been accomplished ... but at great cost, mental and physical. He turned to his microphone headset.

"Team Bravo to Wyvern Central, returning to base. Mission accomplished, repeat mission accomplished, but we have heavy casualties."

And Team Bravo glided off into the night.