Last of the Legion (Short Story)


OminousVoice

 

Posted

I don't often write but when I do I like to share. This was written several months ago, around the time of I21's release. I had the urge to give some of my characters epic send offs. Let me know what you think.

Last of the Legion

All dead. Every last one. As the lightning cut the ravaged sky, Commander Union, last of the Union Legion, stood defiant as the unnaturally cold wind snapped at his flesh. He glared at the vast monstrosities before him. The Well had chosen its new champion, however the price was far too high. The Storm had arrived and it had cut its path through hundreds of thousands of lives.

The Legion had all fallen during the Battle of Paragon. They died deaths worthy of legend and song. The War Walls that had for so long kept the city safe from invaders fell like sand castles before the Storms might. The Knight Phantom was the first to go. He had witnessed the unconditional bravery and sacrifice of those around him. Through them he had seen the light in the city's heart that he once believed extinguished. He charged into battle, his own heart fuelled by a renewed passion and hope. An ordinary man empowered by desperate hope can accomplish truly amazing things. But as an ordinary man ordinary human frailties betrayed him.

The Warshade Narada unleashed the full might of her Kheldian life force upon one of the Storms vast servants. It was the only way to stop the relentless beast from causing any more death. The blast annihilated the Storms colossal minion. She fell to the ground, her energy utterly spent and her host dead. Three thousand years of knowledge, experience and wisdom ended that day.

Colonel Viper died as he lived, a soldier to the end. Duty bound to defend his home -- his world. When the bullets ran out and the gadgets were used up he used his fists and feet. Even with his incredible resolve and military skill he was no match for the Storms might.

Even the mighty Val Halen was unable to withstand the onslaught. The Thunderer Incarnate battled one of the Storms generals relentlessly for three days without food nor sleep. He finally managed to fell the monster, but much like the Norse Thundergod he had modelled himself after, Val Halen took nine steps before succumbing to his injuries. To this day no-one has been able to lift his warhammer from where it fell.

Captain Epic truly earned his name. He had been helping evacuate Independence Port when the Storm hit. As the horde poured forth, he ordered the other heroes to continue evacuation while he held the dock. He turned to his comrades and said "Time to be epic" before rushing headlong into the fray. The evacuees say that as they sailed away they saw a shining white and gold light bursting through the gaps in the horde. The light persisted for several minutes before fading. It was then they realised his last words were not in reference to himself, but to those he gave his life for.

The loss that pained Commander Union the most was that of his own brother, Alex. Better known as Anbarus, Alex Sage was an Incarnate like his sibling. His power was truly incredible. He was nothing short of a living lightning storm, cutting his way through the invaders as they had done through Paragon's people. When the two Storms collided it shook the very earth itself. But for all his power, for all his courage, he was still as fragile as any other man. All it took was two lucky strikes and Anbarus fell.

Commander Union was the name of an indomitable hero, right now he was merely Stan Sage. His eyes grew hot as the memories burned. His friends -- his family deserved to be remembered for their sacrifices. He balled his fists he whispered a vow to himself; They will be remembered, even if by only one.

He raised his tear filled eyes to the Storms general in front of him, a being so vast it blocked what little sunlight pierced the ruined sky. Behind the behemoth stood the innumerable horde, thousands, perhaps millions of them. He didn't care if it took a hundred years, he would see them all defeated.

He heard footsteps behind him, he turned to see a handful of survivors emerging from the ruins of Paragon; other battered but persevering heroes whose eyes each told the same tale of loss and vengeance. He didn't know their names, but he knew their hearts in that moment. He turned to face the storm once more.

An ordinary man empowered by desperate hope can accomplish truly amazing things, but an extraordinary man empowered by profound grief can accomplish the impossible. Today that extraordinary man was Commander Union, last of the Legion.



----- Union's finest underachiever -----
Farewell CITY of HEROES
The First, the Last, the One.

Union: @ominousvoice2059