The Split Sun and The Mechanical Moon

Chapter Thirty-Six: There is no Salvation for the Unforgiven.

I haven't seen Vee fight, I haven't even seen him strike someone down. He did kill Leo, but he was already on the ground. So now, seeing Vee and Promise slowly walk around each other, Vee's cat features were hidden, like they usually are, as Promise continued to mock and jab.

"You act like you're some hero, like you're some one man army. I took down both of those guys, and I was about to take down The Dove too. Name one person that's done more damage to her than me!"

"Name one person who's done any kind of damage to me."

"Hello? Leo?!"

"I killed Leo."

"Doesn't matter, he still tainted you. I know what he did, just because the 26th fell doesn't mean Leo's followers did too."

Vee scoffed, getting closer to Promise with his blade sheathed. It was still Ki's carbon fiber sheathe, except now it had multiple bulky attachments and dangling cords, as well as a red tank bolted to its back. The tank looked like it would hold an explosive substance, and tubes ran across the sheathe into the opening where the hand guard was.

"You'll never beat me! You're just some lost lap cat who's lost his place!"

"Don't. Call me that."

Promise laughed once, and then braced. 

"Enough talk lap cat!"

Vee grunted, and now ran at Promise. Their swords collided, sparks flew to the sides as the clanging steel made my ears ring. They continued onto exchange blows, as I managed to get near Hawkins. He was fine, just out for the count. I heard buzzing on my earpiece, and heard Brandon chiming through.

"D-dove... j-j-am...jammer..."

We're being jammed, I sighed. The brick wall next to me suddenly burst into dust, Vee had been thrown into it. He yelled out, a painful way to ignore his wounds. He reengaged with Promise, as I looked around for the jammer. Atop a nearly building, I saw a strange device on the edge of the roof. If I can take that down, Brandon can assist Vee. I looked around, and spotted a lighter in Hawkins pocket. I picked it up, as Promise was tossed my way. 

"Outta the way Dove!"

She pushed me, ignoring me for Vee. They countered each other, as their strikes shook the earth. I clicked the lighter, and a flame emerged from the small device. 

"Cmon Dove, you controlled fire once you can do it again."

I imagined the flame turning into a thin dart, and with enough concentration it did so. I could pick it up in my hands, and I didn't feel the heat at all. I stood up, and aimed it at the device. With a good chuck, it flew in the air and struck the base of the tall device. The supports gave way, and it fell down the wall. The cables snapped as it collided with the ground, and almost instantly I heard Brandon clearly on the mic.

"Dove! Dove! I have eyes on Promise and Vee, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Hawkins and Fred are down...I don't know how to help Vee."

"I can finally use this... Delilah, launch O-3..."

I heard a strange sound, and I looked above me. In the clouds, I saw a flash of red light as if something activated. I heard Brandon again.

"I need Vee to isolate Promise so I don't hit him! Restrain her somehow!"

I looked to Vee, who was still tackling Promises ruthless strikes. Vee kicked Promise back, and now he was right next to me.

"Vee, you need to take her down!"

"Don't worry Dove, I like playing with my food sometimes."

Vee sheathed, and now walked to the center of the arena. Standing still, he put his heels together in an L shape and put a hand in front of him with his body twisted to the side a bit, his other hand on his hilt ready to strike. Except he didn't, he didn't move at all. Promise ran up, her blade at the ready. Vee's eyes were closed! I expected him to deflect her, but... Promise dug her blade into Vee's chest... jutting out his back. She pulled out.

"What?! How are you still standing?!"

Promise now ignited her blade, slashing at Vee he singed his clothes, made him bleed from multiple spots, but he didn't move. Promise tired herself out, and I heard Brandon again.

"That's... the stance he used to kill Leo's father, I remember hearing about it... the final words Leo's dad heard were-"

"Divide My Heart."

Spawning from Vee's feet, bolts of lighting shot out as he took a step forward, the tubes running along his were filled with blood as Vee brought it to his side. Promise was wide open, all of Vee's injuries were gone, as his hands now laid on his sheathe and hilt, he vanished for a second and slashed across Promises body once. He slashed again in the air beside him, on his knee now facing away from Promise he sheathed. On Promises left chest, a small slash across her heart squirted blood across the floor. She was dazed, and now stumbled back. I heard Delilah over comms, as the flash of red light in the sky turned into a thin red beam aiming down at Promise.

"Orbital Inbound!"

With a plasmic blast, chunks of concrete and brick were thrown around. When the dust settled, Promise was still standing. She laughed, bleeding from many spots. She limped forward, as Vee slowly approached. Promise struggled to breath, as I heard Brandon again.

"Vee! We want her alive!"

Promise heard that, and gritted her teeth. Throwing out her arms.

"I won't have it! I won't be some prisoner! You... why you!"

Promise gripped onto her upper arms, and I heard a low pitched hum slowly get louder and higher. Promise began to rapidly shake, flames around here started to spire high into the air. Her body started to glow, Vee quickly backed away. The ground began to shake, and we heard Promise painfully yell out. Her voice echoed throughout Erun, just as an explosion knocked me off my feet.

I awoke shortly after to sirens, blue and red lights flashing in my face. My vision was blurry, but I saw armed guards storm into the now destroyed stadium. I looked around, where did these flowers come from? The entire stadiums field were filled with red flowers, their petals dancing in the air. In the heart of the stadium, Vee had his sword driven deep into Promises chest, as she laid in a pool of water that somehow spawned from her attack. She had lived her second fatal encounter, and looks like she was gonna live her third. With the EPD closing in, Vee had to leave Promise injured on the floor. Fred was gone, and so was Hawkins. Vee helped me to my feet, and we ran away as fast as we could. I could see Promise being air lifted out of the scene... but then... I looked up.

On the moons surface, high above the stadium, a single square was glitching like it was a broken TV screen. Broken like glass, it flickered as the land below had their first change in lighting since the day was stolen from them. Had Promises explosion really reach that far up, the real question is...

What exactly, IS Erun's moon?

Vee was rushing me somewhere, I wasn't exactly injured but I couldn't fight dazed like this. I had lost my earpiece, and I'm kind of upset I didn't have a part when dealing with Promise. Vee had brought me to this ghetto looking, cramped, and compact district. I was breathing funny, and I couldn't see clearly when we entered what appeared to be a flower shop. I could hear Vee talking to someone, but I faded into sleep when they laid me down on a sofa.

I hope Hawkins and Fred got out safe.

I don't know what to think?

What's real anymore?

And... why did I see that girl in that red dress?