The Orion Project (Rewrite) (indefinite hiatus)

Chapter 36

A nagging instinct stabbed at the core in Jackson's chest, he felt something that he hadn't since he was brought to Orion.

"MOVE!" He bellowed.

The man raised his staff and four beams of blue fire erupted from its gem. They had just barely managed to avoid its searing heat. The attack had left the ground scorched and super heated, making the stone beneath where they had been standing looking like molten magma.

"Hmmm....intriguing." The man mused. "You have greater instincts and insight than I had previously thought."

Blake raised her rifle and fired from behind the remains of a pillar. The few shots she fired fizzled out into nothing but ash as they neared the man's back.

"My dear," he looked over his shoulder, "you must do better than that."

He pointed his staff at her and an explosion erupted at her feet, sending her flying across the courtyard.

"You bastard!" Terra spat as she rushed him.

She swung her axes at him with wild fury. The man swiftly and lazily dogged her attacks. He seemed upset and he eventually used his staff to block her blades.

"Hmmm....how upsetting. I had hoped you would be better. If young Johnathan sent you, I can only come to the conclusion that you are the results of his so called 'miracle project'." The man said.

"Ha! Big talk from an old man!" She laughed. "You've got no idea what we're capable of!"

Nora suddenly appeared behind him with her fist cocked back. She was ready to deliver a brutal uppercut to the man. He sighed and raised his other hand calmly.

"Ignara fel Helmin." He chanted.

Nora was suddenly lifted into the air by a wall of flames. He turned to look at her while still holding Terra off. He looked her up and down before he nodded and chanted.

"Felarin de lo Birad."

The flames morphed and warped into a creature that looked like a mix between a large falcon and a lizard. Nora watched as the beast grabbed her by her shoulders and threw her through a wall and into the next room.

"It seems that young Johnathan has not trained you well enough to fight against someone of my caliber." The man said. "I would hate it if I had to put you all in your place, or worse, if I had to end your young lives."

He turned back to Terra and pushed her away as his summon returned to his side and hovered over his shoulder. "I do not want to end the lives of children who have so much more to offer this world." He solemnly said.

Jackson rolled to his left as the man fired off another spell at him. He locked his rifle on his back and drew his spear. He twirled it in front of him like a shield and the man's next attack bounced harmlessly off it.

Jackson's spear was soon encased in water as he sucked the moisture from the air. He grabbed his weapon in both hands and thrusted in forward at the man. A barrage of water like missiles erupted from the tip and soared towards the man.

The man sidestepped one at it impacted the ground and started backpedaling away from the others. He nodded in surprise and looked up at Jackson.

"Chantless magic is a difficult skill to master." He mused. "To do so at your age is a great accomplishment!"

"Yeah? You'd think so, that is, if we all couldn't do it." Jackson smirked.

The man glanced around him and saw the others with their own melee weapons drawn, each shimmering with their own spells. The man brought his staff to his forehead before he raised it into the air. A burst of light erupted from the gem and they were all forced to cover their eyes. Even with their helmets, the light was just too bright.

Once the light faded, the man was gone. Jackson looked up and saw him standing on the back of a massive bird made of flames. He gave them all a slight bow and a wave before they flew off into the night.

"Shit! He's getting away!" Nora yelled.

"He's already gone." Jason said. "We failed."

"Shut it Jason!" Terra bellowed.

"Guys, let's calm down." Blake started but was cut off by Nora.

"NO! What are we supposed to tell Doctor Seraph?! I can't calm down!" She smashed her fist through a pillar and sent debris everywhere.

Jackson crossed his arms and looked at the aftermath of their fight. He looked down the hallway and thought of an answer to their problem.

"Then we take one of his men." Jackson said.

"W-What?" Blake asked.

"We'll take one of his men and then interrogate him back at Orion. Maybe one of them will know where he went. Let's go." He took off down the hallway with his team close behind.

Jackson shoulder charged through a door to the surprise of the men left in the room. He drew his rifle off his back and aimed it at the men.

"I'll ask you all this once." He growled. "Where'd your boss go?!"

A bald man with a stocky build pushed past a few of his comrades with a bit of swagger. Twin machetes rested on his waist and his hands were on his hips.

"And if we say no?" He taunted.

The rest of Jackson's team entered the room with their own weapons drawn. The man lost his smirk and drew his machetes. The rest of the men raised their rifles and awaited his order.

"Then we'll make you." Jackson said.

The man nodded to his men and they open fired and he rushed Jackson. Nora and Terra ran into the gunfire with reckless abandon as the rounds bounced harmlessly off their armor. Blake and Jason started to pick off those that they could safely hit without shooting their teammates.

The swung his blades wildly at Jackson, making him back up. Jackson growled used his forearm to block the man's strike. The blades struck his arm and shattered upon impact. The man looked shocked and devastated at the sight while Jackson looked down at him. Even behind his helmet, the man could feel a deathly gaze upon him. He slowly glanced up only to be met with Jackson's fist connecting with his face and sent him flying across the room and crashing into a wall.

By the time the man's body crumbled to the ground, Jackson's team had already wiped out the rest of the enemy. Blake placed a hand on Jackson's shoulder and he nodded.

"Bind him with something," he spat. "We're taking him with us."

Nora and Terra grabbed both of the man's arms while Jason was already radioing Arcturus for a pickup.

"You okay?" Blake asked.

"I will be when he spills every bit of information on that Warlock. I refuse to tell Seraph that we failed without some kind of good news to soften the blow." Jackson sighed. "Let's get out of here."

"You know that you can talk to us, right?" Blake gently squeezed.

"I know. I'll let you know if I need a 'therapist'." He chuckled.

"Sure, I'll be waiting."