The Helldiving Knights

Chapter 8 Elegy

For the success of a mission of the same magnitude and significance as this one would typically call for a celebration, all that remained was depressing silence. The empty vacuum of space felt soulless and cold, like a fate worse than death. All while the super colossal black hole where Meridia once was groaned and howled, clouds parting around its curvature, and an ominous purple and blue glow highlighting its edges. The very same shade of blue that Nemesis' visor used to glow. The Aussie Knights stood in silence, showing nothing but pure respect for their leader. Even Marevyn, a metal being incapable of feeling or expressing emotions remained silent, his endless gaze bickering sadness and confusion. Jiron placed his hand on the automaton's shoulder, struggling to wipe tears from under his thick helmet. Inventor and Sentinel stared at the black hole before them, mirroring the black hole within their hearts. Spartan couldn't hold back his anguish and pain, collapsing to the floor in a fit of heartache. Even Spawn, his parasite couldn't maintain its composure, its tendrils limp and lifeless against the cool metal floor. Hope sat on her knees, hiding her tears away from the lights and view of others. Shadow held his mouth shut, his half black, half white armour signifying the façade of is emotions. One side of his helmet bore a bright smile, whilst the other was breaking down, just like how he was beneath the mask.

Minutes passed, and slowly the knights began to shy away from the light of the dawning day, seeking comfort and refuge within themselves. Sentinel retreated back to his private quarters, silently speaking with his parasite who offered far more sympathy than Spartan's. Inventor locked himself away in his workshop inside his super destroyer, hammering away at different devices and gadgets, trying to keep his mind from drifting back to the source of his pain. Jiron and Marevyn found comfort within their shared pain of not being human, yet understanding what it was like to be like one. Hope stayed in the vast main area of the Spear of Democracy, bawling her eyes out until they turned as red as Nemesis' fear gas. Spartan locked himself in his room, slamming his fists against the walls until he felt the bruises blister and bleed and his bones crack. His hands bleeding blood of the same hue as the flowing cloak Nemesis wore. Shadow sat cradling himself in the viewing deck of his super destroyer, struggling with the different performances and mindsets of his fractured persona. Gently and quietly, he rocked himself like a baby in a cot, swiping away any tears that ventured out from under his helmet. Meanwhile, in his burst of rage, Spartan had returned to the actions and behaviours of Tahimik, literally ripping the cupboard door out from the wall and throwing it aside with a loud crash. As his eyes looked over the box from where he had obtained his armour, he lunged at it like an animal, tearing it apart and throwing that too. The crate crashed to the ground and broke into little pieces. Tahimik grappled at his head, banging it against the walls before crashing back down onto the floor, right next to the remains of the box. As he lay there on his back, a silver glint of light caught his attention. Using his tendrils he lifted the scrapes of metal from the box, allowing him to see what was underneath. Just like with Nemesis hours prior, an ancient surprise awaited him. Spartan reached down his hand and pulled up his favourite weapon, Heartbreaker. As he lifted the spear, he noticed something strapped to the grip. It was a tiny slip of paper. He raised his spear so he could read the tiny writing scripted on the paper. He was surprised at the writing and what it said. "Just like the golden rabbit from the poem we read together, this world cannot rid me from its boundaries. The hands of death cannot hold me, the wicked demons cannot kill me, I always come back!"

Just as Spartan read the final line of writing, Shadow was jolted from his depressive episode by a sharp scraping noise coming from the front of his super destroyer. Slowly and cautiously, he approached the window and looked around. At first, he could see nothing, just the empty black canvas of space, and the looming black hole of Meridia. That is, until he peered down. Somehow clinging to a metal rod beneath the window was the blade of an axe, but not just any axe, that was Nemesis' axe. Shadow's eyes widened with shock. How is this possible? He kept watching as a clawed hand reached up and grabbed the metal rod, digging its claws deep into the steel lining. "Nemesis!" Shadow shouted with delight. He was alive! The commander of the Aussie Knights raised his head, his bright blue visor flashing like the eyes of an anime protagonist as he pulled himself up. His armour was smoking with curls of flames emanating from his cloak and back. With one hand still clinging to the rod, he detached his axe from the rod and swung it back. With a mighty heave he twirled the axe around, making the mace head mounted to the bottom of the handle crash into the glass. A massive circle of cracks splintered over the pane. Nemesis veered his arm back again and swung. With a smash the glass shattered into thousands of pieces. With a grunt Nemesis hauled himself inside, still clutching his axe with a firm grip. Shadow stood there too stunned to speak. It was like he was seeing a ghost. Nemesis exhaled a whiff of fear gas and dusted off his fiery shoulders. His cloak was severely burned, being torn in half with long thin strips of the fabric trailing down to his knees. His boots and lower legs were as black as coal, looking like he had just walked through a pool of lava. Black lines stained his golden grin, and beneath his faded blue visor, you could see his horribly bloodshot eyes. The orange and gold trims on his curved horns were scratched and scorched. His right glove had the finger armour and plating completely severed; burned off exposing his human fingers underneath. Shadow shakily reached to his comms unit and turned on his mic, tuning it to channel three. "Uh, guys." He said, breaking the silence. "What's going on?" Sentinel asked. Gradually one by one each of the knights joined the voice channel. Shadow calmed himself with a slow and steady breath. "N-Nemesis, he's alive," he announced. "How? We watched his ship go down!" Inventor yelled. Suddenly a static beep came from the call. A deep raspy breathing came from the call. It was ominous and disturbing. "Nemesis, is that you?" Jiron asked. "Indeed, it is," Their commander said. The call erupted into cheers of joy. Shadow approached Nemesis, looking him in the eyes. "How did you do it? How did you survive?" Nemesis looked down at him, opening his mouth to speak but replaying the memory in his head first.