Children Of Gaia

Chapter 14

With his arm around her and his face absolutely beaming, Felix escorted Maddison toward the Emissary's pod. Maddison was so mesmerised by the luminous craft and her vision still skewed from tears that she didn't even notice the Emissary at first.

"Niezen!" Maddison cackled, "so, you pulled it off and saved this sorry lot I see," she laughed obnoxiously. Before Lloyd could answer Maddison recognised Eva and was on edge immediately, just until she noticed the Emissary. Felix had to tighten his grip on Maddison's arm as she fainted.

"There we go, she's coming to," Felix announced softly as he cradled Maddison on the ground after she passed out. "Hey Maddie," he uttered in a relieved voice, "try to stay calm, you're not hallucinating."

Maddison rubbed her eyes as she sat up, "but she's a traitor, what's going on here?" she demanded while staring down Eva.

"First of all, I'm done with the military, so call just me Lloyd now and she, she saved us. Felix was there, he watched her kill Sova," answered Lloyd holding Maddison's hand. She looked to Felix, he smiled saying nothing. "But before you get up, I have more to tell you," declared Lloyd in a serious voice.

Maddison cringed knowing what was coming, "who made it?" she uttered in a low voice.

Lloyd sighed, "it was horrific, but we won in the end. We would all be dead if the Drusai hadn't helped us, but the price was high. We did lose Baxter, only Felix was captured that day."

Maddison's face turned bleak, "Who else? No more padding just tell me," she demanded.

"Alright," Lloyd paused taking a deep breath. "Carl, Fletcher and Sunisa all died re-taking the ship," he told her as she started to weep. "We lost most of our forces. Only four Troopers came out unscathed and two Medics. There were a dozen critical that we lost in the hours following and another six with less serious injuries that will recover."

"I should have been there," mumbled Maddison.

"No!" cut in Felix, "then you would have died with them, you know you're not a fighter and besides you thought I was lost, I can only imagine you would've been unable to fight anyway," argued Felix.

"What about Chance? Did anyone find him?" she asked reluctantly.

"He wasn't in the battle, he was cowering inside," answered Felix trying to hide his malice, "when Eva set me free I chased him down but he got the upper hand. Luckily Argai heard my thoughts and came to my rescue."

"So he's dead?" Maddison asked seeking confirmation.

"Yes. And good riddance," answered Felix, "but there's something else I want to ask you." Maddison's face relaxed, "did you find some weird artefact back down South?"

"Find?" she scoffed, "Argus and Ronai conned me into touching it, why, do you know what it was?" She asked with a slight lingering fear in her voice. Lloyd and Eva both snickered.

"Oh yes, we have a pretty good idea what it was," he chuckled as he pointed to the Emissary's pod. "You can come out now," he called to the Emissary who smiled and waved to Maddison as she popped her head out.

"Ehh!" Maddison shrieked, "What the fuck? I made her?" She asked looking to Felix for reassurance.

"Well sort of, but we're really glad you did," added Lloyd, "she saved our skins, we were convinced the end had come."

Felix placed his hand on Maddison's shoulder, "maybe it would be easier this way." Relaxed by his touch Maddison closed her eyes, and began to see images through her minds eye. As if reliving Felix's memories she watched on as Eva slaughtered Sova and his men before setting Felix free. The chase after Chance and the showdown resolved by Argai. Reuniting with Lloyd in the aftermath and the monstrous clash of the Titans. All leading to the divine intervention of the mysterious Sphere.