Commander Zones and (a very grumpy) Commander Riku gave the Dioxes Squad the details of their mission in private. They would depart as soon as everyone was ready, and the trio would be sent down to the planet with all the equipment they would need while the rest of the Rebel Alliance held their position from Dioxes's moon's high orbit, hidden from the Empire's sight, ready to send reinforcements should the need arise. While they waited for the Imperial army's arrival, the three Rebels would inspect the temple and set up any defenses they deemed necessary. The battle plan itself would remain entirely up to them.
"Hopefully, you guys'll figure something out that'll stop those bastards. We have faith that you will." Zones told the group, beaming. "But if you're overwhelmed, don't be ashamed to call for backup. That's what we'll be there for."
"Based on our calculations, you'll have an entire Dioxes day before the Empire gets there." Riku grumbled. "Make the most of it."
"No need to tell us that, Commander." Darreek replied softly. The Niji Army leader shot him a death glare, which Amaya hastily tried to cover up by interjecting in her trademark polite tone.
"We will, Commander Komoru. Commander Zones. We won't let you down."
"That's my girl." The older man grinned. "Now, off you go, you three. Get ready, you have quite the task ahead of you."
"Yes, sir!" Lib responded eagerly, saluting only his senior. Meanwhile, Riku chose not to come into eye contact with the alien or the demon, at least for as long as he could avoid it.
As the tiny Rebel fleet zoomed through hyperspace on their way to their destination, Amaya and Darreek conversed from their rooms on their respective ships via the comm-links installed on their desks. The short-haired girl had called the man to tell him something in particular that had been bothering her for a while. No matter how attracted she felt to him, the goddess couldn't let this thing just slide by without speaking her peace.
"You know, you shouldn't be so hard on Riku."
Darreek sighed. He didn't seem to regret it.
"I am towards him as he deserves. He acts too high and mighty for someone of such low birth. He is an incapable Commander, and has the nerve to think otherwise."
Amaya shook her head reproachfully. Demons were naturally proud creatures, but sometimes they were too proud for their own good. Riku was guilty of the same fault, even though he was just half-demon, but the white-haired man on the screen, a complete demon, was a lot guiltier of it. If she put herself in Darreek's shoes, she could see where he was coming from in that respect. Still, it did not justify his behavior.
"Hey, he's doing the best he can. Maybe he's younger and more inexperienced than Zones, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss his efforts. He's a pretty competent leader in his own right. And remember, he saved my life."
"In my eyes, you've already paid back the life debt with your time in his service. Besides, you deserve more than to be working under that halfling. You're a goddess, Amaya, and you take orders from a half-demon. It makes no sense."
"Look," Amaya replied, being stern now. "I respect my divine matron's gift, but I will see this war to the end, and I will see the Niji Army victorious by helping them as I have till now. Surely you can at least understand loyalty, even if it's beyond such a futile thing as racial hierarchy. Before anything, I am a loyal soldier to my home and my friends."
A brief silence followed her statement; an icy pause that Darreek broke with a chuckle.
"You know, that's one thing I like about you. You're headstrong and you stick to your ideals. Quite admirable, I have to say."
"It's not like you're any different." The woman answered, loosening up and blushing again. "But thank you. Just promise me you'll go a little easier on my Commander, alright?"
"I'll try my best, Your Holiness." The demon smirked mischievously. Amaya couldn't help but return that irresistible smile.
Once the fleet set up their positions on the far side of the moon, the Dioxes Squad was sent down to the planet on a small shuttle along with their equipment. From orbit, the world was quite a wonderful sight to behold. The crust was held to the subterranean layer of purple and orange gas by unique chemical compounds and magnetic phenomena, giving it its stability. The dark, rocky surface sported a few big holes in it that exposed the gaseous interior, appearing as enormous, colorful lakes of bright light. Even the witty Lib had gone speechless after seeing such a thing.
After touchdown, though, the scenery changed quite a lot. The light projected by the gas lakes created huge, marvelous walls of color against the violet sky, but the dark, swampy landscape was barren and devoid of life. Poisonous mist floated over the marshes, enveloping the twisted, black, dead trees all over the place. Nothing stirred; the air was very still.
"Yep, I wanna have my retirement home here." The Muician said, interrupting the silence.
Amaya let out a single chuckle. An unamused Darreek looked towards the distance, over a nearby forest, where a gigantic shadow loomed on a hilltop.
"That's our target, guys. Let's get moving. We should leave the shuttle here, out of sight, in case we need to escape quickly."
"Sounds good." The goddess of the night replied, straightening her backpack. "Let's go."
The stone temple of Moon Snake towered over the whole scenery like an ancient, dormant colossus, imposing its intimidating presence over what was left of Dioxes. The long cathedral-like sanctuary building stood over an equally long Aztec-like pyramid, accessible only by a long set of stairs.
"Well, they're not automatic, so we might as well." Lib remarked, starting to climb them, but stopped when he noticed his friends weren't following. The alien turned around to see what was wrong with them.
"Uh, guys?" He called to them. "We're expected! We don't wanna be late!"
Amaya and Darreek stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up at the temple entrance, hand in hand. The sight of the building was making them extremely nervous for some inexplicable reason. It was somehow very familiar to both, but at the same time, after the compelling feeling that they were supposed to be here, all they wanted to do was to get off the planet right away.
"That's the problem, Lib..." The woman whispered.
"...We are expected." The demon finished the sentence for her.
Sure enough, just as he finished saying it, a barely audible hiss of an otherworldly nature came from the temple. It made the couple shiver and Lib jump, turning back towards the entrance. After recovering his breath, the Rebel muttered:
"...Of course. I should have known it'd be an actual, literal snake. Figures."
"This is no time for jokes, Reborn." Darreek retorted.
"Says the guy behind me who hasn't even climbed a single step. Come on, you two. We got a temple to investigate." The green-haired Muician replied back, resuming his walk.
The couple looked into each other's eyes. They knew they were both afraid of what they would find in there, but they also knew it was no use to stay put or to run. The Dioxes Squad had a job to do, and they would not back off from their responsibility.
Nodding at each other to gain courage, they took a step forward together.
YOU ARE READING
I Believe in you - A GWH Story
Fantasy"I just felt this irresistible drive to go, like the name Moon Snake was calling me or something. I think it must be some goddess thing I don't know of yet..." Amaya Bard, high-ranking officer and honorary member of the Niji Army, is also the godd...
