9th Generation; The Celestial Knight Part 1

Trust Not In Your Blade But In Your Skill

"Tony! Behind you!" Ian yelled!

I spun around to see that one of the crimson stingers had followed us down the hole we'd just fell into. It crawled at us with infinite slowness. It's black feelers flicking at the air, undoubtedly sensing our presence. It's sharp jagged mandibles twitched in anticipation for the kill.

As I shone my light at it's face, it let out a screach and then it's abdomen started to glow red. It reared up exposing it's deadly stinger, although at this point it's more appropriate to call it a rear mounted lava-cannon. It's aim was not at me however, but at Ian.

I regretted a whole bunch of things right there and then; bringing a near extinct baby alien to school, not suiting up when a fight was unavoidable, not stopping Ian when I had the chance and told him about everything and probably many more things I happened to do wrong along the way...
Just my luck...

It fired a searing jet of lava, so hot it was as liquid as water. Ian wasn't going to be fast enough to dodge it. I jumped in front of the blast, barely intercepting it...

It hit me in the side, punching through flesh and bone... but it wasn't enough, it passed through me and landed half a metre away from Ian...

"Ahh! Too close! Wait, Tony!! You're hurt!"

I tried answering but I couldn't. My lungs weren't working. I didn't feel pain when I probably should have but I didn't need to feel it to knew I was't in good shape.  For one thing there was a hole going through my right lung. The shock probably prevented any sense of pain, but it was there and blood was pouring out of it in mass. I had to act quickly.

The tunnel was too small for the alien to take flight. It would have been an easy fight if I had my Gunblades drawn. The only weapon I had was the gauntlet blaster attached to my wrist, the thing I wanted to bet my and Ian's life on the least. Gunblades were easy enough to get the hang of. After all they are just a pair of swords with the ability to fire like guns. Not that I've ever used either before becoming a Guardian but I can't say I've never fantasized about wielding swords as a kid. An alien blaster strapped to your wrist, that was a whole other story. There was no way to aim such a thing! Not to mention the fact that I didn't ever get the chance to practice at home...well, duh, because it was at home! 

I didn't have much time to complain. The Crimson Stinger had backed up for a brief moment but it was now inching ever closer. I had to take it out before it charged up another shot. I aimed my only weapon, not at it, but at the roof of the tunnel. The pellet detonated. It blew apart a large slab of rock, which landed directly onto the creature's head. It reared back and shook it's head, then roared at the ceiling. I concluded that the creature was not very intelligent but kept on shooting. After a few more shots, the enough of the ceiling broke apart that a pile of rubble formed between us an the creature.

I didn't know if the Crimson Stinger was still alive on the other side or if it were buried under the stone but either way, we were safe for the time being. It'd take it a while to dig through all that rubble if it were still alive. 

I fell to my knees clutching my chest. Blood was still pouring out of my would. Gallons of it. A pool of red formed around me and I collapsed into it. I was fading fast. Why wasn't I regenerating? 

Ian rushed over and turned me on my back. His face was a red blurry mess. His voice sounded as if it were underwater. Maybe I was  slowly being drowned in my own blood... Was that even possible!? How could blood still be pouring out of me... 

Faint yelling... 
He was clearly saying something...

Then I felt a drip on my cheek. I assumed it was just blood...