Omega 17

(Chapter Ten) Hells Forge

*Jake leans back in his seat his eyes wide his body unmoving as he speeds thru the hyper Travel phase his tears running freely as the last few moments play over in his mind seeming to be stuck on replay the pain and guilt washing over him like a tidal wave. the tears fall into his lap his hands trembling the shock too much. Shaoun and Dippers Fighters ride alongside his but he barely notices them. he doesn't hear the voice over the comms as Dipper and Shaoun try to reach him their voices so distant....it was his fault..all his fault...he brought them along he put them in danger and now it cost him the life of one of his best friends....one of his only friends....with a scream of rage he pounds down hard on the console denting it and sending sparks along the frame his rage and despair over taking him. he begins to weep more openly his cries of anguish echoing inside the small cockpit his shades falling off his silvery eyes wet and red. he covers his face as his shoulders shake the ship cruising along.as suddenly as it all began it ends the ship coming to a slow down then to a soft gentle pace as it exits Hyper Travel and a large red plaent comes into view: Garvon Six. ringing the planet sits a metallic ring of planetary defenses which immediately target the ships. a voice crackles over the intercom of all of the ships a gravelly and sluggish voice*
"Who dares enters the space of Garvon Six without invitation? State your name and business here before we blow you to bits!"
*Shaoun thinking quickly conjures up the Shadow Fighters stats and codes and speaks rapidly in a somewhat decent accent of a British Officer*
"This is Officer Bradly Kuun of the Blackwell Corporation Investigation Squadron. we are here on Council permission sending documents now"
*he sends a list of names and orders hoping the bluff will pay off. moments drag by that seem like eternity before the voice crackles again*
"Very well you may enter. we will verify your identity upon landing. force will be used if needed have a good day"
*the comm flickers off and Shaoun breathes with relief. turning the comms back to private he tries to talk to Jake*
"Jake....Jake please listen to me....i...i know what just happened its..its difficult but we gotta keep moving come on i-"
*Jakes voice rings over the comms chocked and cracked*
"Just shut up...just...just shut up...its my fault...its my fault...ITS MY FAULT HES DEAD! I KILLED HIM! JUST LIKE I LOST AMARA I KILLED HIM ITS MY FAULT!"
*he bursts into fresh tears his weeping heard over the comms Violetta starting to cry herself but she speaks firmly*
"Jake....its not your fault...he went along with you because he cared...he knew the dangers...he knew what we were all getting into...its not your fault...he sacrificed himself to save all of us...please..."
*Jake seems to find a measure of control and stifles his sobs gaining a measure of his blaze from before. wiping his eyes he puts his shades back on and veers his Fighter down to the planet. the others follow suit as they begin to enter the upper atmosphere. the ships shake and tremble upon reentry. looking closer upon this planet of Garvon Six you will notice if you look for just a moment a red planet that shows malice and desperation and death even from high above. the lands are desolate and barren only sand dunes for miles around and no water to be seen anywhere. a single structure floats above this wasteland: a fortress made of solid metal and carbon fibers its outside as red as the planet itself the spires rising like some twisted visage of Hell cages hang outside where the remains of previous prisoners are picked clean by the Velon Birds twisted creatures just as hellish as the fortress itself and swinging in the winds of Garvon Six. this Fortress is rightly named as well...Hells Forge the most brutal prison for Meta-humans...you go in..but never come out...in one piece at least. the most terrible experiments are performed here and the most cruel punishments are delivered inside its bowels torture chambers fill its dungeons and test tubes fill its labs. the only refuge the prisoners of Hell's Forge ever get is the two hours of freedom inside a massive white room dubbed the Play Room. here the prisoners may do as they wish under supervision by armed guards at all times...many fights have broken out in this room when one Meta-human meets another and dislikes him....but that is not the worst of it....the children brought to this fortress are harnessed and kept as personnel slaves for the Garvons serving them with whatever they need:food,drink entertainment what have you. luckily even the Garvons have some sense of morality and do not kill the children but if they misstep they are brutally beaten...some would say death is preferable to Garvon tortures.....it is upon seeing this hellish place once again that finally snaps Jake out of his own hell and into another. his memories flood back memories of those very same torture rooms the experiment labs the pain...the agony of wishing death wishing for it to end...his scars burn as he recalls and he shakes himself rage consuming his mind driving out the sorrow. piloting his craft down the others follow suit and they land on one of the many docking bays around the fortress. several armed Garvons come out holding up large rifles that look oddly like spears but with a jagged hook instead of a point and barrels under the hooks. the Garvons are a horrible race even by other Galactic standards. they stand roughly seven feet tall with large bulbous red eyes and pale skin. slightly humanoid in shape they have muzzles like a bears and hands that end in cruel claws. each hand sports only three fingers large and sausage like their feet only having two toes each. the Garvon guards grunt at each other as the ships land wary and cautious of the new comers. Garvonians are never known for their trust not even of their allies in Blackwell. the sudden arrival of three ships claiming to under Council orders do not help to alleviate these fears. raising their rifles they take aim steady and watchful. the back bay doors of the Fighters open up and Jake,Shaoun,Dipper and Violetta step out their hands help up in surrender and showing good will. the Garvons do not relax but they calm themselves slightly not expecting any trouble...they thought wrong. as they start to lower their rifles a bolt of lightning slams into the most frontal Garvon sending him reeling dead instantly. before the rest can register what just happened a massive hammer slams into another and twin energy katanas slice thru another. yelping and screaming in confusion the rest try to mount a defense but they are no match for they fury of Jake as he swoops upon them setting them ablaze and ripping them apart. green blood sprays the air as his rage is unleashed. moving quickly they dispatch the few remaining guards after the initial surprise and hurry inside. screams immediately greet them the sounds of tortured Meta-humans and the gleeful laughter of Garvons and Blackwell Troopers alike. Jake seethes in hate but keeps himself calm as they hurry further into the bowels of Hell's Forge. moving along a dark corridor they come upon the Play Room its white walls almost blinding. down below dozens of prisoners mill about some stupid beyond all belief from the experiments simply sitting on the floor and staring into the distance some simply wandering about and others playing games with what little sanity they have left. men and women of many ages mill about and the disgust in Jakes stomach rises at this sight. so many proud men and women reduced to..this. a blabbering drooling idiot all for the sake of entertainment and advancement of so called human evolution.looking around quickly Jake spots the control room where the guards lull about playing cards watching over the prisoners not caring at all when a fight breaks out between a earth Meta-human and a metal Meta-human. they go at each other like animals with nothing left to lose. moving quickly Jake rushes into the control room much to the shock of the guards. they jump up but get no further before a bolt of lightning sears in in the face and a firebolt sears thru the others heart. they drop dead without so much as a squeak.they move thru the control room and head down the stairs into the Play Room pushing past several drooling Meta-humans. Jake's fear begins to rise as he searches for the girl he came for the one he risked all for the girl he wont leave without. Dipper stifles a choking sob as she sees the desperate state these people are in and Violetta blinks her eyes rapidly hiding the tears. only Shaoun and Jake remain stout and steeled but the bile rising in their throats is hard to fight back*
"my god...look at what they have done to these people...its fucking disgusting and vile....we...we cant just leave them here like this...we cant...."
*Shaouns voice is low but seems to ring like a bullhorn in the massive empty space. the fight between the Earth Meta-human and the Metal Meta-human has ended the Earth Meta-human victorious clutching a small black teddy bear and he crawls to a corner to cuddle it the Metal Meta-human beaten and bloody but alive. as they move thru the crowd a voice blares over the comms...a voice shockingly known to Jake*
"Mr.Brackson....i thought we might meet again...and looks like you brought your friends with you....oh but where is dear Mr.Ryan? did he get lost or maybe...blown up?"
*the voice laughs and Jakes hate boils over. looking up to the control room he sees Captain Derrickson standing with a squad of Blackwell Troopers and Garvon Guards*
"Well as nice as it is to see you again i believe your visit has come to an end...kill them"
*The Troopers and Garvons charge out blasting their way thru the stupefied prisoners not caring who they kill. Shaoun leaps up and begins to hack his way thru them Dipper and Violetta doing the same knocking aside and vaporizing Guards left and right. Jake takes off heading straight for the Control Room Derrickson smiling the entire time. screams echo as both Meta-humans and Guards are killed in the crossfire from both sides the air filled with the sizzle of lightning and plasma fire. knocking aside several Troopers Jake makes his way to the stairs and begin climbing them three at a time. making it to the top he stares directly at Derrickson his rage becoming all consuming again. he starts to move forward intent on killing the bastard once and for all when he speaks*
"Ah ah ah....i wouldnt do that young Jake...you came here for a particular someone....i have her right here"
*with a shock so great his rage evaporates on the spot a girl steps from behind Derrickson:Waist length brown hair deep beautiful hazel eyes and delightful peach skin her eyes meet his. but something is wrong. her eyes hold no life in them they stare blankly and dull*
"ah yes....a wonderful reunion don't you think Jake Brackson? came all this way to save little Amara here and here she is right in front of you...yet...you cant quite get her can you? oh hohoho thats ok...i can help"
*with the grin of a madman he looks at Amara and gently pats her head. Jake rages and lights his hands on fire*
"I am going to rip your FUCKING GUTS OUT!"
*Derrickson tuts*
"oh no no no we cant have that dear Jake oh no i am afraid that my guts will remain right where they are...besides your going to be preoccupied with your little lover"
*confusion sweeps over Jake as he looks at Derrickson and his smile only widens*
"Oh Amara.....Attack"
*with one fluid motion Amara flings into motion flying straight for Jake intent on murder*