Awoken (24 page)

Suddenly, the peak above burst forth in the dawning of a final cycle, radiant and piercing. The sky was filled with a deep, cold blue light. From behind Oa, a thunderous crack boomed through the temple. He wheeled around and saw the gates of the temple crashing to the ground, broken in pieces. Standing tall in the entrance was Ohm, tattered clothes whipping about in the wind. The Traveler looked like a statue that had stood for all of time. Though broken and battered, the old one’s will held strong; his ocular plate burned blue to match the sky above.

“Enough!” Ohm roared. His voice cut through the air strong and resilient. The voice that had woken the world had returned to protect it.

Episode 11 - Ohm’s Purpose

“The Destroyer! Eol, you said you stopped him,” Lida cried out, her soft voice growing shrill with fright.

“Destroyer?” Oa questioned, confused. Below him the same puzzled question was being echoed through the ranks of the Enlightened warriors. He turned back to look at Lida, thinking he had misheard her. Eol moved suddenly. He leaped from the top of the stairs toward Oa, staff held high overhead.

Oa had no intention of evading the strike. He bowed his head in acceptance, averting his gaze from the impending doom. He dimly heard Ohm’s shout, “Susan!”

Just as Eol’s staff was about to split Oa in half, a sparking snout latched onto the weapon, halting Eol’s blitz. Susan quickly let go of the staff and, with blinding speed, she head-butted the villain. Eol tumbled backwards up the steps, landing nimbly on his feet next to Lida. Oa had been knocked off balance by Susan’s hasty rescue, and he slipped backwards. Ohm saw his friend tumble. Instinctively, he sprinted toward the steps. The instant Ohm’s attention diverted from Eol, the demon sprung his trap. Eol whipped out a nihilistol from within his shrouds and fired. The Void bullet silenced the room for a moment. Sound returned in time for the clang of Ohm’s knees hitting the floor to ring through the chamber. The bolt had pierced through his side. He did not immediately dissolve away. Instead, the wound slowly grew as the Void gnawed away at his body.

Susan had reacted immediately to Oa’s fall, spinning around to catch him. As Oa fell, he saw the nihilistol being fired, watching as Ohm crumpled. Oa’s scream was drowned out in the silence of the shot; and he looked away, not wanting to see his friend disappear. The lightning varl flew him down to the bottom of the stairs. Oa looked up at Eol, resting his hand on Susan for comfort. He knew there was only one way to end the monster. No one else would die. He took a step up.

“The Destroyer was never a threat,” Eol snarled smugly. He never even looked at Ohm as he tossed the nihilistol away in disgust. The weapon flickered out of existence as it left his hand.

Oa halted abruptly. “What do you mean by
Destroyer
?” he asked angrily. His heart began to fear the answer.

Eol kept silent as Lida responded. “I don’t know what he told you, but Ohm has another name: Destroyer, whose right hand held the power of annihilation—”

“But he rejected his purpose, and thus was powerless to save himself. Now come to me, Oa, before anyone else dies,” Eol commanded, cutting Lida off. He beckoned to Oa.

The pieces tumbled into place in Oa’s mind. Traveler, Destroyer, Peacekeeper: each title a different alias of the same Awoken. Could it be his friend? Could it be Ohm? Oa knew the answer. Purpose drove through his grief and he took another step. Soon he would be reunited with his comrades.

***

Ohm sat on his knees, hunched over in pain. He knew he had to act fast. “Fred, why haven’t I dissolved away yet?” he asked as he reached back and pulled a microbur canister from the pack.

“I am unsure, but we are not going to last very long,” Fred replied grimly.

“I was never going to live forever,” Ohm growled as he crushed the canister in his hand. The metal cracked and the microburs began to leak out slowly. Ohm jammed the canister into his wound, stiffening in pain. The microburs leaked out into the gash, filling it with alloy and slowing the advance of the Void.

Ohm grunted in pain as he rose to his feet. He glimpsed Oa starting up the steps again. “Oa, get over here! Susan, grab that idiot!” he yelled across the room.

***

Oa was surprised to hear Ohm’s voice. He turned and was snatched off the steps again by Susan. She whisked him over the heads of the Enlightened warriors to Ohm.

Eol’s head snapped around; his crimson eyes blazed. “Impossible! You cannot resist my will!” he said furiously.

“Clearly, I can,” Ohm mumbled to himself. He stood tall, straining against the heavy ache in his side.

Susan dumped Oa next to Ohm and spun around to face toward Eol, her fangs bared. Oa picked himself up and was swatted on the head by his mentor.

“What were you doing?” Ohm demanded.

“I was going to save everyone,” Oa replied stiffly.

Ohm laughed, then stopped as pain quelled his amusement. “By dying? That’s not how we are going to stop Eol,” he stated determinedly.

“Ohm, there is no other way. If I fight Eol, you’ll all die,” Oa insisted.

“So stand aside, Oa. You are the opposite of me; you will heal where I have wounded. This is my duty. It always has been. I am the Destroyer. Not a researcher or wise teacher but an ender of conflicts. I cannot redeem my reputation, but I will use it to finish Eol once and for all. I am sorry I concealed the truth from you, but I had my reasons,” Ohm said, stepping in front of Oa.

Oa patted his friend on the back. “I understand. You will never be just the Destroyer to me.” He was not bothered by Ohm’s actions. Time and disfigurement had blinded the ancient Awoken to his own nature, but Oa knew who Ohm truly was. The Traveler turned and put his remaining hand on Oa’s shoulder in gratitude.

At the top of the stairs Lida’s faceplate pulsed rapidly in fear. “Destroyer, why are you getting in the way?”

Ohm bowed his head for a moment, then whirled around angrily. “I have been measuring this world’s worth since its birth, and it pales in comparison to Oa’s potential. You would selfishly sacrifice him to try and hold onto the belief that you were meant for great things. We both remember what you did. You and I are responsible for what happened to the Great Planes.”

“It was your power that desolated this world, and you’ll only fail it again,” Lida accused.

“Only because you sought to control it, or do they not know?” Ohm roared furiously, scanning the soldiers motionless before him.

“You all follow a coward and a fraud. The head of the regime that brought this world to its current state stands before you, and yet you follow blindly,” Ohm shouted out for all the Enlightened to hear.

Several of the warriors turned and stared at Ohm “Why should we trust you? If you’re the fabled Destroyer, then you have more ember dust on your hands then anyone alive,” a random voice in the crowd spoke up.

“The Awoken would choose now of all times to reject my help,” Ohm grumbled in frustration. His time was short. Water was leaking from his side. “None of you are old enough to truly know what the world used to be. Lida has led you to worship the past. Her vision will only leave you with longing and regret for what you can never recover. Here stands Oa, an impossible Awoken with no ember. With nothing to leave behind—he only moves forward. He can forge life where none exists. His mind is meant to see the path ahead that we cannot.

“You ask him to die for you? Well, I say we fight for him. If we stand together, we can defeat Eol. Even if it costs all our lives, it would be better to fight for someone who can make this world beautiful again than to submit and continue our stagnant existence. If you let me, I will lead you this final time,” Ohm said stiffly. Resolve sounded clearly through his pain.

Oa looked at his friend. He was thankful for Ohm’s faith in him. Every Awoken in the chamber had turned to listen to Ohm. Oa felt their gaze on him as well. He stood to the side of Ohm, not knowing what to say. One by one, the Enlightened soldiers stepped forward to show their allegiance. Only Abur, Trae, and Kendry did not move; hampered by their loyalty to Lida.

“Very well. I shall kill that abomination atop a pile of your corpses,” Eol hissed down at the warriors. He casually spun around and drove his Void staff through Lida. “You proved less than inspiring,” he taunted as she faded away into Void.

With a yell, Abur, Trae, and Kendry raced up the steps at Eol. Their hands swirled with ember energy. Eol spun the Void staff casually in his hand as Abur sprinted up the last few steps. Eol halted the staff’s spin to hold the weapon behind his back. The noble Abur swung his fists, but the monster deftly dodged between the blows. Eol took a slight step back then moved with unnatural speed as he whipped his staff forward, driving it through Abur’s chest.

“Now!” Abur cried out, as he gripped the staff and dropped to his knees. His whole body surged with ember energy holding off the consuming power of the Void. Trae and Kendry bounded over their fallen leader, simultaneously striking down on their enemy.

Eol was caught off guard by the ferocity of the attack. He stumbled back onto one knee, letting go of his weapon. He did not shatter from the ember-energy attack, but instead began to flicker in and out of existence. On the ground, Abur pulled the staff from his chest and melted away, unable to fight the Void any longer. Trae and Kendry were unable to grieve as they stood ready and wary of their foe. Eol flickered more erratically, emitting a screech of rage. He lifted his hand and the Void staff leaped from the ground toward him. It caught Trae and Kendry in the back of the knees cutting them down. As soon as the deadly weapon hit his hand, Eol vanished. His screech remained, echoing eerily throughout the temple.

One of the Enlightened warriors cheered awkwardly. “Too soon, stupid! It can’t be that easy,” his comrade whispered harshly, nudging the applauding fool.

Sirens sounded from the city below. The wailing echoed through the hall. Everyone spun to face the doors as the sound rang ominously through the chamber. Suddenly, the guard from outside the gates came rushing in screaming. “It’s the city. We’re under attack by the Le—” His words were cut off as a nihilistol blast silenced him forever.

Eol strode through the temple archway; the Legion following behind him. Far below, the Void ravenously feasted on the final city of the Awoken. Oa and Ohm looked at each other in shock. There was no time to register the sudden tragic turn of events.

The ice sword and shield formed on Ohm’s arms. He raised the shield up, shouting for all the Enlightened to hear. “Warriors of the fallen, you know better than I how to draw strength from the memories of those you loved. Remember your past, hope in our future, now defend the moment!”

Together, the final hundred Awoken rushed to meet the Legion. Ohm tapped Oa on the chest with the ice shield. “You stay safe while we take care of these guys. When it’s over, you’ll be free to make that vision of yours a reality. Just promise me you won’t forget why I woke you,” Ohm said. His voice was hopeful and courageous, drowning out the weariness his wound was causing.

“Thank you, Ohm. I won’t doubt my purpose again,” Oa promised. He climbed onto Susan’s back and wrapped his arms around her neck. Together, they flew to the top of the stairs.

Ohm waved to his friend one last time before he turned and sprinted to join the battle. He pushed the pain and fatigue from his mind as he lunged into the fray alongside the other Awoken. Ohm became a blur as he blocked Legion attacks, spinning rapidly as he sliced through his foes. Around him the Enlightened soldiers fought valiantly, their hand-to-hand combat unmatched. Countless cycles of training and discipline had rewarded the Awoken with the strength to hold back the tide of doom at the entrance to the temple. The close quarters kept the Legion from using their weapons to full effect. They began to burn through the protective shell around the arch. The walls melted away under the onslaught of the Void. The Legion opened a gash in the Temple of Souls through which they pushed forward, stronger in numbers and unrelenting in will. Ohm watched noble warriors fall around him as they fatigued under the unending flood.

“Fred, we have to reach Eol and end this,” Ohm shouted through the fury of the battle.

“I would not advise it. We will be vulnerable from nearly every angle,” Fred warned his master.

“We have to try. For those that are giving their lives right now,” Ohm insisted, accepting the risk.

“Reckless as ever,” Fred responded.

“This time, it’s necessary, my friend,” Ohm said grimly. He lifted his shield and plowed through the Legion soldier in front of him. He dove under a nihilistol shot then rolled to his feet, slicing the legs out from under several Legion. Ohm gave a mighty leap and the aqua jet activated, aiding his jump toward Eol. He held his shield in front of him with sword drawn high for a final blow. Fred’s concern proved valid. Ohm’s speed was not great enough to evade a stray bolt that grazed the pack’s side panel. The aqua jet shut off, and Ohm tumbled to the ground short of his target. He felt the blow as if it were to his own body. “Fred, are you alright?” he called out in pain.

“My wound is consuming me at a rate much faster than yours. I am afraid my functions will be fully impeded shortly,” Fred replied, his voice cutting in and out.

Ohm cried out in frustration. He lashed out at the nearest Legion soldier, slicing it in two. He spun around trying to find his way out of the chaos. All at once, the Legion backed away. Ohm realized he was alone. The remainder of the brave Enlightened warriors had fallen. Eol stood at the center of the gateway, his minions surrounding Ohm completely.

From the top of the stairs Oa started to rush down. “Stay there, Oa!” Ohm yelled, turning slightly. The young Awoken obeyed, watching in horror.

Eol’s chilling voice spoke. “A worthy effor—”

“Shut up!” Ohm snapped cutting him off. “Fred, can you still activate a full fusion?” he asked softly.

“Aff-ir-mati-ve” Fred replied, faltering as his circuitry broke down.

“One last time then!” Ohm yelled. Fred lit up bright blue as he poured water forth. The liquid gushed out of the pack, spreading rapidly across the floor of the chamber. The light within Fred became dazzling until it sparked, flickered, then faded altogether. The water stopped, and the pack dropped lifeless from Ohm’s back. Fred’s final act had been to detach from Ohm to keep the second Void wound from spreading to his master.

Ohm hunched over as the injury in his side crippled him with pain. The microbur canister was empty and the Void was now eating away at his body. He did not let himself collapse. He knew he had one final gambit.

“This one’s for you, Fred,” Ohm said quietly as the pack disappeared behind him. He concentrated and droplets of water rose into the air. The drops closest to the old Awoken began to wheel around him slowly.