That was a really heart-touching story - espically the end. Just the right thing - a Rikti invasion sotry to get us all ready for I10!
Any chance when we'll see Part 2?
Argh I'm on the edge of my seat
Keep writing Floaty
MOAR MOAR! 
Catz
Part 2 later on today folks! 
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
(( Part 2 time! ))
Zero Hour: The Line
Part Two
Deadly beams of energy lanced out towards Ellie and the little girl, as the Rikti opened fire. Feeling the energy rushing to engulf them, Ellie closed her eyes and time seemed to slow to crawl as her consciousness looked deep inside itself. There, at the core of her being, lay a glittering ball of light, pulsating softly. Ellies mind reached out to it, and a single word passed through her mind, a name. Mikoshi?.
The light responded, its energy field pulsating as its words sounded in Ellies mind. Its been good, hasnt it Ellie?
Ellie almost sobbed as she replied. It... it has
I think Ill miss Jess the most, wont you?
In her minds eye, an image of Jess faded into view. With a sob in her mental voice, Ellie reached out for the image of her friend, her love, her wife. Im
So sorry
I.. let you down
You havent let her down Ellie. Shell be so proud of you, for what you did here.
Ellie sniffed, Shes
going to miss me
so much
Two more images formed next to Jess; Yoko and Hannah. Ellie reached for their images, And them too
I... Hope theyll be alright
Mikoshis voice was warm and soft, Theyre strong Ellie, and theyll look after each other. No regrets?
Just
That I couldnt save the little girl, and the others. And
and that
I cant
say goodbye
MIkoshi hesitated for what seemed an age, whilst outside in the real world, the rushing beams of energy had moved only the barest fraction closer. It
Doesnt have to be goodbye Ellie. There IS a way, but its forbidden, dangerous. I
could try to merge us all,
Y
You can? But
Shes a child, she cant understand, cant choose
You can choose, Ellie. You can choose to surrender some of yourself to save the child; to harbour her within us for a time. Its your body Ellie.
Ellies thoughts were in turmoil, struggling to comprehend the full meaning of Mikoshis words, I can choose? But, surrendering part? Which part? How much? Tell me!
I cannot Ellie; there is no way to know.
Ellies thoughts whirled as she tried to decide, whilst outside the beams of energy moved inexorably closer. She could save the little girl, but what would be the cost? In her minds eye, images of her loved ones flashed through her mind, and she imagined their voices. There is no choice, we love you Ellie, and we need you safe. Dont leave us alone
Time is short Ellie; I must do it now, if thats your wish.
Wait! she replied, The little girl, shell be terrified, confused.
There is no time Ellie; it's now or never. Mikoshi answered.
Ellie hesitated once more, whilst outside the beams had almost reached her. Finally, she decided. Do it.
The glowing part of her that was her Kheldian symbiote responded only by glowing brighter and brighter, and suddenly Ellie felt another presence within her mind. A simple one; confused and terrified at what was happening. Ellies thoughts quickly turned to ones of comfort as she moved to comfort the childs mind and calm her terror. Ssssh baby, Im here now, Ill protect you
Outside, in the real world; the beams of energy struck Ellies body at the precise moment she erupted in a blinding burst of light. The beams tore at her form for a second, then burst through the other side as Ellie and the childs bodies became transparent and flowed into one another before vanishing in the ever growing sphere of light. Brighter and brighter the light grew as the sphere slowly expanded, and the Rikti were forced to cease fire and cover their eyes; but it was too late for them.
With a thunderous burst of light, energy and sound, Ellies form of light exploded as Mikoshi released all of its massive power in one immense blast. A primal wave of pure Kheldian energy blasted the nearby Rikti into their component atoms as it ripped through their armour, forming a sphere of energy as it rushed outwards. Faster and faster the expanding sphere poured through the park, wiping out the scores of Rikti troops in its path. Miraculously, it passed over the few surviving civilians harmlessly; leaving them bewildered, but alive. Finally, with the echoes of its explosion fading, the energy sphere contracted; rushing back to its point of origin as it collapsed in on itself.
Coughing from the smoke filling the air, a young man staggered to his feet and looked around. The park lay in ruins; trees torn from their roots, grass scorched and burned. The scorched bodies of both Rikti invaders and their human victims lay scattered around the park, and here and there, the anguished sobs of survivors sounded. In the sky, the attacking ships began to pull up; their load of bombs delivered. One sagged in the air as it came under concerted attack from a group of flying heroes, and smoke trailing from its damaged engines, it crashed into the side of an office block before erupting in a mighty explosion.
Coughing again, the young man stumbled across the park towards a small crater at the bottom of the gulley, near the stream. Tripping over splintered trees and ruined landscape, he scrambled down the bank and over the edge of the crater, pausing to look down. Smoke boiled up from the centre, and loud cracking sounds came from the ground as rocks continued to crack and settle. The air wavered from the intense heat and slowly the smoke cleared, revealing the vague outline of a small figure, lying curled up at the bottom.
Holding a hand before his face, as if to ward off some of the heat, the young man began to scramble down the edge of the crater, making his way carefully towards the still figure across the hot and smoking ground. As he approached, he was able to make out the figure more clearly until finally he could see the unconscious body of a young girl, perhaps 12 years of age. She was wearing the torn and scorched remains of a silvery costume, as if she was a Paragon City hero! Her long flowing white hair was singed and matted with dirt, and a small pair of cat ears protruded from the top of her head.
Carefully, the young man checked if she was alive, and after a few moments was able to find a pulse; weak but definitely there. Gently, he picked up the unconscious girl, barely able to believe that a child had wrought so much destruction; and started to pick his way back up the sides of the crater.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
What a great way to start off invasion. A very touching story.
Maybe a follow up to tell us what happens to the lil girl?
Thanks!
Who said I'm done? Part 3 will be ready soon! 
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Nice one, nicely writen, bloody cliff hangers! 
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
Greatly looking forward to Part 3!
One question though, why are you writing about the invasion and not actually playing it?
I know why im not, cant bloody well use my pc as its broken and my laptop is too pathetic to be able to run anything vaguely decent *sighs*
Guess i should go and finisht he 3rd part of my stories.
Because I was at work (home now), and this story was mostly written a couple of weeks ago!
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Zero Hour: The Line
Part Three
The streets of Galaxy City were in chaos. Several fires were raging and the smashed and burning remains of cars and trucks littered the streets. Dozens of bodies lay amongst the carnage; mostly civilians, but here and there lay the brightly coloured form of a fallen hero, as well as some of those of the invaders. Picking his way carefully through the carnage, his charge held carefully to his chest, the young man made his way slowly towards the medical centre.
Ahead, a huge armoured figure painted red and gold was lifting the wreckage of an overturned car free of the truck it had smashed into. Inside the truck, the young man could make out a splash of red, but a panicked scream came from the car as it was lifted. Gently, the armoured figure set the car down and tore its crushed roof free. Inside, a young woman and her child were huddled; obviously terrified, as the hero worked to free them.
Seeing the hero, the woman screamed again, obviously frightened by the armoured figure; and the hero stopped. After a few seconds, he reached up to his helmet and removed it from his head, revealing a very human face. The woman calmed somewhat at seeing he was human, and after a few more minutes, the hero was able to free her and her child from the wreck.
A stone flew through the air and struck the armoured form with a clang, followed by a shout, Where were you!? Where were you when we needed you!?
Turning, the hero faced a small group of people gathering on the other side of the street. They were dishevelled, covered in soot and grime from the battle. Several sported cuts and bruises, and one young woman was nursing a broken arm.
The hero looked lost for words, unable to answer them. With a sigh, he shook his head and turned to pick up his helmet.
Thats it, coward! Run away! Leave us helpless again! The stone thrower called. You damned capes are all the bloody same! Cowards!
The hero stopped and turned back to the young man. After a moment he raised his arm and pointed down the street, where the body of a brightly clad young woman lay, half buried under the wreckage of a storefront. Finally, he spoke; his voice cracking with emotion. We were dying.
The young man shook his head, and continued on his way.
Further down the street, more people were beginning to come out of stores and alley ways. Most of them seemed dazed, in shock from the sudden brutal attack. One, a heavily built man wearing the gang colours of a Hellion, was carrying the unconscious body of a policewoman.
Somebody help! He called, Shes hurt!
A few of the people with him moved closer, as if to help, and they started to drift in the direction of the medical centre. The young man followed slowly, his charge still unconscious in his arms.
As he neared the hospital, more and more heroes started to appear. Most looked like theyd been through hell, and with a half hysterical laugh, the young man realised they probably had. Finally, arriving at his destination; he entered the hospital.
Inside, the chaos was even worse. The corridors were packed with wounded people; heroes and civilians alike. Doctors and nurses were rushing to and fro and in the babble of voices, it was almost impossible to make himself heard. Pushing his way through to a nurses station, he yelled over the din. I need a doctor! Shes hurt!
The nurse, a middle aged woman who looked extremely harried, looked up from the patient whose arm she was bandaging, Theres a lot of people hurt, youll have to wait.
She turned back to her patient, having barely glanced at the young man and his charge, but he managed to grab her arm with his hand, You dont understand! She saved me, she saved a lot of people. Youve got to help her.
The nurse looked up again, looking almost angry, and then she finally saw his charge, Why, shes just a child!
Looking around quickly, she spotted an empty gurney, and pointed. Put her over there, Ill look at her in a second.
The young man nodded, and mumbled his thanks, then carried the girl over to the gurney, laying her down gently. As he did, she stirred slightly, mumbling something unintelligible, before falling quiet again.
A few moments later, the nurse bustled over, having finished with her other patient. Where did you find her? Was she like this at the time? What happened? she snapped as she started to examine her.
I dont know
I.. found her like this, at the bottom of a crater
I, think she saved me, and others
There was a big explosion of some kind
She was in the middle
The nurse tutted as she finished her examination. She seems OK, no broken bones or signs of internal injuries. Do you know who she is?
The young man shook his head, N
No., sorry.
Well, she looks like a hero, though a bit young. Theyll have her on file somewhere, and when she wakes up, she can tell us who she is. Are you injured?
The young man shook his head, N
No, Im fine.
Nodding the nurse looked up at him. Good, then you can either help out here, god knows we need it; or go home. We need the space youre taking up.
Can, I stay here? Id
like to be here when she wakes up, make sure shes going to be alright.
The nurse look at him for a moment, then smiled. Alright, but shes going to be out for a while. Come with me, Ill find you something to do while youre waiting.
With that, the nurse headed back towards her station, gesturing for the young man to follow. Casting a final glance at the young girl as she lay sleeping on the gurney, he followed and was swallowed by the chaos.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Amazing story. Just amazing. Thanks for making a great story, the lil girl I think made me emotional.
If anyone wants some more then they can get it here: http://uk.boards.cityofheroes.com/showfl...ge=0#Post911468
I can see quite a few invasion stories coming about as it really does seem to be a great story line and FFM I think you have set the benchmark. I eagerly await the 4th installment.
Part 4 tomorrow! Mutants & Masterminds tabletop night tonight!
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
The Line: Zero Hour
Part Four
Zero Hour +12
All was quiet in the hospital, order having finally come to chaos. People still moved from place to place, but they now moved with purpose; quiet in their movements so as not to disturb those trying to find a measure of rest.
In one room, a young man wearing an ill fitting orderlys smock sat napping next to a bed, his handsome face looking drawn and exhausted. On the bed, a young girl dressed in a hospital gown lay asleep.
Outside the hospital doors, a group of heroes were catching a moment to rest, though many kept a nervous eye on the skies above. Most of them looked exhausted, battle worn. One, a red and gold armoured hero, was sat with his back to the hospital wall, his helmet on the ground beside him. His expression was blank, as if he was shutting out the horrible sights hed witnessed that day.
A tall, white haired figure clad in red and yellow flew down from the sky, the bright light surrounding him flickering out as he landed and entered the hospital. Moving to the reception he caught the attention of the young woman on duty.
Excuse me, his voice was deep and confident. I received word that a child, a Peacebringer, was brought in yesterday. Id like to see her please.
The woman looked up and her eyes widened as she recognized the well known hero before her. Oh, of course sir
Do you know the patients name?
The hero shook his head, All I got was a report of a Peacebringer child.
Ill see what I can find on the computer; but
records arent exactly up to date at the moment. The woman bent over her terminal; running a search for any Peacebringers in the hospital. After a few moments, she looked up.
Looks like shes up on the third floor sir, room 302. She said.
The hero nodded his thanks, and made his way to the elevator. Pressing the call button, he mused quietly to himself. A Peacebringer child? That was not possible. Bonding with children was forbidden; unheard of. To risk an innocent like that in the bonding was
unthinkable! There must be some kind of mistake.
With a soft ping, the elevator arrived and the hero entered; tapping the button for the third floor. Moments later he quietly pushed open the door of room 302, and slipped inside.
The room was fairly small, normally containing only one bed; but in this emergency, three had been crammed into the space. In the furthest corner; the sleeping form of a child could just be made out in the dim light, and a figure sleeping in a chair next to it.
Moving softly to the sleeping child, the hero looked down on her. She looked almost familiar somehow, and his eyes widened as he noticed the small cat ears on top of her head. Frowning he laid a gentle hand on her forehead and closed his eyes as he reached out with his alien senses; reading the life signature of his fellow Kheldian.
After several minutes, he withdrew his hand and sighed. Ellie, you foolish girl
Hearing the heros voice, the young man awoke with a start. Hey! he whispered fiercely, Who are you? What are you doing? Get away from her!
The hero raised his hand, palm outwards, and spoke, Calm yourself sir, youll wake everybody up. Im not here to harm anybody.
The young man frowned, but lowered his voice somewhat What are you doing in here?
I came to investigate reports of a Peacebringer child; this child in fact. I needed to know if such a thing was true.
The young man frowned, What do you mean?
The hero sighed and began to explain, telling the young man that their highest law was that they must only bond with those able to choose; children are too young to make such a choice.
The young man frowned, a little confused after listening to the heros words, So, if you people arent allowed to... bond was it? With kids
Then how come shes one of you?
Looking back at the sleeping form in the bed, the hero let out a long drawn out sigh, Shes not a child. Shes
a 22 year old woman, and a friend of mine. One, Im afraid, with rather a penchant for flaunting the rules and getting into trouble
The young man blinked, Shes
22? She doesnt look it
No, she doesnt
Thats why I say she has a penchant for flaunting the rules and getting into trouble. God knows why shes done this
Cant you ask her when she wakes up?
The hero looked back at Ellie again, If only that were possible
She is now four beings in one body
Its not meant to happen. Right now her quantum matrix is fighting to hold itself stable, and its taking everything she has to maintain it. She doesnt have the strength to spare on waking up right now.
Isnt there anything you can do?
The hero shook his head, No; she has to do this alone. If I try to lend her the strength to stabilise the bond, Im likely to make her even more unstable than she is right now. That would be
. Unfortunate, for her
Unfortunate? Marc asked
Yes, very unfortunate.
Turning back to face the young man, the hero asked a question. If I may
How do you come to know her? Why are you sitting by her bed when those she loves are not?
The young man shrugged. During the first attack
There was a lot of shooting and explosions
. Lots of people were screaming as those monsters attacked. Then there was this massive explosion... I was knocked out for a few seconds. When I came too I
looked for where the blast came from. I found her
Lying at the bottom of a smoking crater, all the Rikti around were dead
I couldnt just leave her there; so I brought her here. After that I
Well, I dont exactly have any family or anything, so I thought I should stay, make sure shes OK.
The hero looked thoughtful for a few moment, then laid a hand on the young mans shoulder and his eyes glowed a little brighter, Whats your name?
Marc
Marc Blume
came the reply.
The hero looked at Marc for a moment, his brightly glowing eyes unfathomable, then he turned to Ellie and lifted her still form into his arms. Come with me Marc Blume, and together well see if anything can be done.
Wait
where are we going?
Were going to take her to her family; to those that love her, and to someone special who might be able to do what I cannot. With that, the hero turned and walked from the room, leaving Marc to hurry after him.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Another great chapter! More More!
Thanks for the kind comments! As time is now progressing, this story will now continue in live forum RP, and can be found in this thread.
Thanks for reading! 
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
You're welcome
@ShadowGhost & @Ghostie
The Grav Mistress, Mistress of Gravity
If you have nothing useful to say, you have two choices: Say something useless or stay quiet.
Zero Hour: The Line
Part One
Ellie hummed happily to herself as she wandered through Gemini Park on the warm sunny day. For once most of the citys gangs were elsewhere and the park was full of families picnicking and children playing.
She smiled as she watched the children playing. Some were chasing each other in a game of tag, others playing with balls and other games. Ellie chuckled to herself as she watched them having fun; it was hard to believe that only a year or so ago shed been absolutely terrified of kids.
Spotting an ice cream vendor, she headed over and bought a cone, then went over to an empty bench and sat down, a few yards from a teenaged couple lounging on a rug and listening to a radio station as they cuddled. Taking a lick, she allowed her gaze to wander around the park; enjoying the scenes of family life around her. Musing to herself, she thought that it was a pity Jess wasnt there, but maybe she could pry her away from her studies in her magical library or something. Itd be nice to spend some time in the park, maybe have a picnic too.
Down by the stream, the laughing voices of several children having a water fight floated up the hillside; their squeals of laughter making Ellie wince slightly. Glancing down the hillside at them, she watched them splashing each other and smiles as she took another lick of her cone.
In the distance, Ellies sensitive ears picked up the sounds of a police radio from a passing cruiser. The words were rather indistinct but she picked up something about the Vanguard and some kind of problem over at their HQ. Shaking her head, glad she was finished with dealing with the cities problems, she returned to her ice cream just as her ears picked up another sound.
No, not a new sound... Something else... The LACK of a sound, a sound she heard every minute of every day in Paragon; a sound so familiar she took no notice of it normally. Looking up quickly, she stared at the war walls, her mouth opening in surprise as the ever present force fields flickered, and died.
Ellie stood up, her forgotten ice cream cone falling from her fingers, What the hell?
As Ellie stood up, an eerie sound started up; a long low wail, getting louder as it slowly rose in pitch. As it got louder, other people in the park started to notice it too. The couple on the blanket sat up, looking around in puzzlement for the source of the strange sound. Around her, the playing and picnicking stopped and people got to their feet, looking around them, puzzled.
One man, in his mid thirties and walking with a cane, suddenly called out. My god, its an air raid siren! At his words, people started to mumble, and a general babble of sound rose as everyone started to talk at once. Ellie heard several snippets of Not heard one for years, and What does it mean?, as people began to express signs of concern.
Then, slowly at first but increasing in speed rapidly, the sky began to darken. Ellie looked up sharply, puzzled, and the man with the cane called out, Oh god, no! Not again!
Ellie turned to him, puzzled and about to ask what he meant; when another voice rang out, Look! In the sky!
Ellie followed the speakers pointing arm, and high in the sky she saw something approaching fast, several somethings. As they got closer, more and more appeared; until the sky was filled with them. Aircraft of some design shed never seen before; dark and forbidding looking, filling her with a deep sense of dread.
As she looked, too stunned to do anything else; smaller shapes began to fall from the ships, and where they fell, destruction came. Explosions erupted from the street; spraying fire and debris high into the air as more bombs fell from the attacking ships.
Around her, people began to scramble up, and a few screams of fear sounded. Ellie herself stood frozen, starting at the strange craft in sheer disbelief and a growing sense of horror as carnage rained down on the city.
A streak of light! From a nearby rooftop a beam of energy suddenly fired out, its bright blue light starkly contrasting the dark sky, and struck one of the falling bombs, causing it to explode in the air with a dull booming roar. Instantly, one of the ships veered towards the source of the attack as a brightly coloured hero rose from the roof. The hero fired several more blasts at the incoming craft, and the people around Ellie started to cheer. Those cheers quickly turns to cries of horror though, as the craft opened fire with huge beams of brightly glowing energy of its own, and struck the hero; instantly reducing him to a greasy smudge in the air.
The heros sudden death acted like a slap in the face, waking Ellie from her torpor and galvanising her into motion. Quickly she turned to the other people near her and called out, Quickly! We need to get out of the open!
Gathering people together, urging them to hurry and swearing at some people foolish enough to pause for their belongings, she started to herd them towards the far end of Gemini Park, where she knew the entrance to an old abandoned Council monitoring station lay. Children and adults started to cry in fear as they hurried to where Ellie guided them. As they passed near the park exit, several broke free and ran towards a nearby building, to take shelter there rather than the cave.
No! Called out Ellie, Buildings arent safe, the bombs!
The small group ignored her and ran on, nearing the building. But as they did; the air began to sizzle, and the familiar sound of teleportation filled the area as dozens upon dozens of shapes began to appear. A woman in the wayward group screamed as the invaders materialized fully, blocking their escape.
Ellie stared in horror as she recognized the attackers. They were armoured, looked different from how she was used to, but she knew them, Rikti! She started to run towards them; her body rippling as energy arced over her slim form and energised her long unused armour.
The one in front, their leader she assumed; raised its weapon and took aim at the cowering group, obviously with murderous intent. Before he could fire, Ellie leapt over the group of civilians and slammed into the warrior, knocking him down.
Rolling quickly to her feet, she sprang in front of the citizens and energised her shields, surrounding them all in a glittering sphere of Kheldian light.
Get the hell away from them! She yelled, a slight quaver in her voice betraying the fear she was feeling as adrenaline surged through her body.
The alien shed knocked over got to its feet and looked at her for a second, then raised its armoured hand and pointed right at her. Immediately, the other Rikti raised their weapons and opened fire. Bright green beams of energy erupted from 12 weapons at once and slammed into Ellies shield, energy coruscating wildly around it as they failed to penetrate the bubble of light. Several of the people protected by the shield screamed and huddled low, terrified.
Ellies shield held, deflecting the onslaught into nearby buildings and the ground in front of her. With a slashing motion, the alien leader ordered his troops to cease fire as it hefted its own weapon; a huge alien rifle with a wicked looking blade on its side. Without a sound, the alien strode forward, raising its sword gun above its head and brought it down on Ellies shield. There was a teeth jarring ripping sound as the blade parted the shield, and Ellie barely managed to dive to one side as the blade scraped her upper arm, slicing through the edge of her armour.
As soon as her shield collapsed, the other Rikti opened fire again and blasts of energy slammed into her armoured body; knocking her back several feet. Smoke rose from her body as she struggled back to her feet, and stared in horror as the Rikti cut down the cowering civilians. She staggered over to their charred corpses, sick from the effects of the energy weapons and the smell of cooked flesh. As she stared in horror at their bodies, memories came flooding back to her. Memories of a similar scene a year ago, during the war against Requiem.
Images of another battlefield slammed through her mind, threatening to overwhelm her and consume her. Scene after scene of charred bodies, heroes and civilians alike, flooded her consciousness, and standing above them; laughing enemy soldiers. Sagging to her knees, she tried desperately to bring the bodies before her back from their doom; pulse after pulse of green healing energy pouring through her hands and into the bodies, but to no avail. Sobbing at the brutality of the murders, a harsh guttural laughing sound snapped her head up, and she spun around, crouching.
The leader had his weapon pointed centimetres from her head, and the laughing sound was coming from his armoured form. In the distance more explosions and gunfire could be heard and over it, the screams of the innocent as more and more were cut down.
Ellie stared down the muzzle of the weapon, her mind numb from the assault of memories, and a low growl came from the back of her throat. Slowly, glittering claws of energy slid from her fingertips; forming daggers 6 inches long from each finger. As the claws extended fully, the low growl in her throat became louder and louder, almost bestial; and before the lead Rikti could fire his weapon, she leaped!
Claws slashing down, she severed the leaders weapon in half, and with an almost casual backwards roll over his head, her other hand slashed down and her claws passed through the armoured helmet without pause. Landing lightly on her feet behind the leader, she leapt into the others before his freshly dead corpse could hit the ground.
Moving like a vengeful spirit, her claws slashed and stabbed as she pirouetted and somersaulted through the attackers, and where she struck, death claimed its reward. Claws which could slice proto steel made nothing of the enemies armour, and seconds later it was over. Ellie stood panting amid a pile of Rikti bodies as more bombs fell around her.
Her claws slid slowly back into her fingers as she caught her breath and she looked down in horror at the carnage shed wrought. She staggered back, almost tripping over the severed head of an alien as she scrambled away from their bodies and back towards the park. In the distance, the sounds of battle came to her, and mixed in it, the screams of more civilians. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she leapt into the air, weaving through falling bombs and destroying several as she hurtled through the smoke filled sky.
Coming to the edge of the riverbed, she spotted the people shed directed to the caves; just in time to see a group of Rikti open fire on them! Piercing screams tore the air as the energy beams cut into them and several fell as the Rikti fired mercilessly into the defenceless group.
Screaming in anger, twin beams of light erupted from her eyes; piercing the chest of one of the aliens and blasting him to the ground. Ellie fired again and again as she tore through the sky, cutting down several more attackers as her feet slammed into the ground between the two groups, her shield springing up around her.
Once again, the aliens concentrated their fire on Ellie, trying to burn through her shields; but her rage at the needless slaughter leant her a strength she never dared imagine and the beams of aliens weaponry splashed uselessly against her shield.
Why did you have to come back!, she yelled at them, almost sobbing in her anger. Why couldnt you stay on your own world and leave us in peace!
The aliens only answer was to continue their deadly assault; more of them teleporting in to add to the torrent of energy tearing at her shields. Ellie staggered to one knee, an arm outstretched, as the onslaught intensified, and power poured from her eyes as she fought to hold them back.
No! She yelled, I... will NOT let you harm... these people! You wont cross this line you hear me! This far and NO FURTHER!
As she screamed this last, a huge surge of energy erupted from her eyes and hands and poured through her shield into the Rikti. Globes of light sprang up around her and shot into the aliens, exploding on contact and decimating the group before her. Behind her, the group of civilians screamed as she glowed with a light far too intense to look upon, and several of them started to pull at others, heading once again towards the safety of the nearby caves as Ellie poured everything she had in a huge blast of destruction.
Seconds later, the light winked out and Ellie dropped to all fours, gasping for breath. Before her, not a single Rikti was standing and the ground itself was blasted and scorched.
Mommy! Came a childs piping voice, The lady fell down!
A little girl wearing a pink dress broke from the remaining citizens, and scrambled over to Ellie, a small plush rabbit clutched in her hands. Mister Flopsie will make you better lady!
Abi! No! Screamed a womans voice.
She broke free from the group as well, trying to grab her daughter; but she was too late. The air in the space separating them sizzled as more alien invaders started to teleport in, and the woman wailed in fear as she scrambled back to the others. Ellie tried to scramble to her feet, her arms and legs heavy from the power expenditure moments before, but it was too late. Mercilessly, the aliens raised their weapons and opened fire on the helpless civilians.
The screams were more than Ellie could bear as she fought her own exhaustion and staggered to her feet, but it was too late. As the firing stopped, the last of the civilians fell to the ground, a corpse charred beyond recognition, and the little girl let out a piercing scream of terror.
Slowly, the aliens turned to face Ellie and the air continued to sizzle as more and more teleported in. She was surrounded, and vastly outnumbered. As the aliens raised their weapons once more, a strange feeling of calm came over Ellie, washing the tiredness away. Ignoring the aliens, she bent down and lifted the screaming child into her arms. Cuddling her close and kissing her gently on the forehead, she whispered, Close your eyes, baby...
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.