Elites Chapter III: New Empire Rising

XXXIV

Atlantis: Endgame's Headquarters
Stone and Aquamarine were past the ice wall as Bismuth, Guardian, Inferno, and the others continued taking down Endgame soldiers. Stone noticed that Kaiser was being carried by another soldier, climbing up a metal structure that lead to a hatch. Stone quickly noticed and shot another tethered spike at the tower and landed beneath Kaiser. Aquamarine did the same, landing above Kaiser and the soldier. "Leaving so soon?" Aquamarine said cheerfully. "The party's just getting started." Kaiser looked down and saw Stone directly beneath him. He was cornered. Kaiser slowly spoke "Your little game will not hold up forever. For a time we've simply been letting you wipe out our pawns, clear the playing field. I've analyzed your strategies for years, and know exactly how this game will play out. It is not to your advantage." Suddenly, the floor of the chamber opened up fifty feet away. Out of the floor rose hundreds of humanoid drones. Artificial soldiers specially made to take on enhanced individuals. They instantly began swarming every single Elite on the ground. The now freed Redman, took down several of these drones, but was quickly overwhelmed. Lovelock continued to fight, but was also losing. It was an uphill battle for every one of them. "What's it going to be Stone? Will you help your friends? Or will you take me, but leave a hollow victory." Stone paused for a second, torn with his decision. After a few seconds, he grunted, and jumped off the structure, firing another spike into the ceiling to swing himself down.
As Stone left, Aquamarine shot off a blast of water, and froze it on the soldier's arm. She then let herself fall, knocking Kaiser from the soldier's grip. She held Kaiser in front of her as they struck the ground violently. When the dust settled, she stood atop Kaiser's metal body, it's bottom half frozen to the floor.
Meanwhile, everyone on the ground was struggling. For every drone they each took down, two more would continue the attack. In all the chaos, Barnes was able to break away from Ruby and Bluestone and make a break for the exits. There was nothing the others could do to stop him. If they turned their backs for even a second, they'd probably be killed.
There were five drones on top of Bluestone, and they were beginning to claw through his Endgame armor when suddenly there was a bright flash that incinerated twenty of the drones. A white beam of light was shooting itself through every surface of the citadel. As the beam was becoming thinner, bolts of lightning were being spat from the beam in every direction. Unlike Bluestone's light blue bolts, they were a fiery orange. The blasts wiped out countless drones, and freed nearly every Elite immobilized by them. Finally, the beam faded away. Out stepped Amber in a black tunic and cloak. Unlike everyone else, she looked exactly the way she did when they were in London months ago. Her body was emitting orange lightning towards the floor, and her eyes were glowing orange. In her hands she carried her mother's silver sword, which was radiating light as well. Ruby stared in disbelief, and Bluestone got off the ground, also in shock. While her eyes were still glowing, she yelled "Bring it home!" A rallying cry that echoed through the massive citadel, in the hearts of every Elite present, and struck fear in every member of Endgame for a split second.
As the drones went after Amber, she jumped fifteen feet into the air and embedded her sword in the ground. Lightning burst out of the sword and shocked every last drone to pieces. During the skirmish, Bluestone managed to track down Barnes as he was taking the steps out of the center forum. "I'm not done with you yet!" He yelled. Barnes quickly drew a gun on the unarmed Bluestone. "You've never been able to take me one-on-one. You made a mistake in coming after me alone." Ruby responded from behind Barnes "But he's not alone." She had a staff in her left hand, and a black sword in her right. She tossed the staff to Bluestone. As Barnes went for the staff, Bluestone slid beneath him and knocked him onto the ground, catching the staff. Bluestone then split the staff into two batons, and channeled electricity through both. Ruby then attacked Barnes with her sword, which Barnes blocked using the metal gauntlets he was wearing. Bluestone then struck him in the shoulder, electrocuting him. Barnes then swung at Bluestone, and continued to block the incoming strikes from both him and Ruby. Suddenly, he had punched Bluestone in the face, knocking him backwards. Before Barnes could shoot at Bluestone, Ruby shot flames from her hands at Barnes, burning the sleeves off her Endgame disguise. The flames circled around Barnes, making a barrier between him and Bluestone. As the flames dissipated, Bluestone swung the combined staff at Barnes, striking him across the chest. Barnes stumbled backwards, and fell to his knees. His breathing was sharp and unsteady, the result of a collapsed lung.
In a matter of minutes, the massive swarms of drones had been wiped out. Amber took out the vast majority of the drones, with Redman, Bismuth, and Inferno taking down the remaining few when the facility fell silent.
Kaiser struggled to break free from the ice that pinned him to the floor. When he finally did, he stood face-to-face with all the Elites that had been freed. The battle was over. Stone walked through to the front of the crowd, and spoke to Kaiser. "We finally beat you at your own game." Kaiser slowly responded "You are fools to think that this is the end. Others will rise to take my place, they will succeed where I have failed. No matter what happens next, humanity will know a world where our influence is in every country, where we are in control of the fate of every man. Sooner or later, humanity will know a world without the Elites." As soon as Kaiser finished  his monologue, his metallic body began lighting up. Aquamarine quickly jumped back as he began to heat up. Uncontrollable energy was blowing holes in Kaiser's metal husk, while also blowing holes in the citadel. Just before Kaiser could do more damage, Amber quickly trapped him in an energy bubble to slow the blast. "We need to get rid of it!" She yelled. At the same time, sea water burst into the citadel. It was Kaiser's ditch effort to drown them, or blow them up. As more water flooded the citadel, Aquamarine raised her hands, and stopped the water from reaching the others. She then began to freeze the water at the holes, but water was pouring through faster than she could freeze it.
To get rid of Kaiser's bomb, Lovelock tore open a portal into her pocket dimension. Amber moved the bubble and tossed it in. Kaiser detonated just as Lovelock began closing the portal. Much of the blast made it's way back into the physical world. Luckily Ruby came back and dispersed the flames. However, the citadel was beginning to flood. "There's too much water, I can't stop it all!" Aquamarine yelled, as Sapphire continued to freeze the water seeping in, with little success. Stone stood by the others, and saw the water pour in as more of the metal frame split open. "We need to get out of here." He said. Bluestone then yelled "Everyone retreat! We need to get out of here now before it fills up!" Bismuth then continued "I know the way out, everyone follow me!"
Stone and Bismuth lead the crowd of Elites to the submarines. Bluestone and Redman continued to power through remaining operatives in their way. Ruby, Inferno, Aquamarine, and Sapphire stayed at the back of the crowd, freezing or evaporating the water as it followed them. After a few minutes, they reached the submarine they had arrived in. Ruby instantly took to the controls. The gate was locked, and nobody could be on the outside of the sub when it opened. "Screw it." Ruby muttered as she fired a torpedo at the doors. Water burst through the massive hole, filling the hangar with water. "Punch it!" Stone yelled from the co-pilots seat. Ruby then floored the thrust on the submarine, and powered through the hole. They were out of harm's way.
Stone looked out a peephole in the back of the sub as he saw the lights of Atlantis fade away, taking Endgame with it. The ice covering his left hand had melted away, and the pain was coming back as he had moved around too much. Stone removed his mask, and leaned back. He was overwhelmed with a combination of pain, relief, and drowsiness. Finally, Robert closed his eyes, and rested in a peaceful world.