As night fell on Trench Town, everyone gathered in the town square. The air nearly crackled with nervous energy. The time had come. This was the day the people of Azaacar were going to fight for their freedom. Marley, Omnira, Marcus, Jarca, Raeni, and Moco all stood in front of the crowd, scanning the faces of those who decided to fight. They noticed that the mothers and grandmothers had stayed home with their children. This was good. Win or lose, the future of Azaacar was secure. Marley frowned, he leaned over to Omnira, "I thought we had more than this." She nodded, "It's part of the plan. We had about half of the normal night shift workers go ahead to their sites. If no one showed up for work they would come here looking for them. This buys us time. They know what to do when the fireworks start."
A smirk spread across Marley's face. "You're amazing, you know that?" She smiled and leaned against him, laying her head on his shoulder. He put an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "You better not die out there." She whispered with just a hint of tears in her voice. "It's going to take more than an enemy army to keep me from you." He breathed in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
Marcus grinned and teased them gently, "Hey lovebirds, it's time. There will be plenty of time for all that after we win this war." Marley nodded and Omnira blushed, clearing her throat. She stepped up and addressed the town.
"Listen up!" She began loudly, " Everyone get into your strike groups. We have been over this a million times. You all know what to do. I know you're scared. I know you're nervous. You know what's at stake. You know what we're fighting for. Steady yourselves. Steel yourselves. Azaacar is with us. The Champion is with us. The Legends of Azaacar are with us. Our ancestors, all of history has its eyes on you right now. Let's go take back what is ours!"
The crowd rumbled their approval as they moved to form up on the legend that would lead them. As they assembled, each group left to get into position. The plan was to hit the city from several different directions at once. Raeni's role was to use her connection to Azaacar to connect their minds so they could communicate. Marley was going to confront Greyson himself. It was a pretty straight forward plan. Everyone said a silent prayer to Azaacar that it would work.
Marcus was the first one to report in. "Team one in position." His voice clear and sharp.
Omnira was next. "Team two ready." clearly nervous but steady.
Jarka had assumed her shadow wolf form and called a few more to aid the fight. Her voice was a low growl. "Team three in place"
Moco's voice came over the connection hushed and low. "Shadow team standing by."
They all stuck to the wood line near the city, waiting for the signal to go. They were restless and anxious, watching the patrols go back and forth. Not a sound could be heard except for the quiet creaks of weapons being gripped tightly and released. Teeth clenched and boots ground into the dirt as muscled tightened like coils ready to explode forth at the slightest trip.
Finally, Marley appeared in the sky above the palace, back-dropped by the full moon. He flared his aura drawing all eyes to him. The patrols stopped their route and trained their weapons on him. As soon as they did, silent hands grabbed them, stripped them of their weapons, and left their lifeless bodies in the shadows.
"GREYSON!" Marley's voice boomed through the whole city as he called out his former brother. His energy swirled around him, crackling and forming tiny lightning bolts that ran across his form. "Greyson, Son of Lastirk! Come out and face your brother."
With that, the mother ship that served as the palace yawned open and ten soldiers, armed with the new weapon, ran out and took position. They powered up their weapons, the Wesson as they had come to call it, and took aim at the floating invader. Greyson strolled out flanked by his cabal, looking unbothered. His face twisted into a snarl when he noticed the figure floating overhead. "Kill him." He growled without a second thought. The soldier opened fire, a near endless volley of energy blasts streaked through the sky toward Marley.
Marley made no attempt to dodge. He neither flinched, nor raised a hand. He didn't need to. His aura created a protective barrier around his body. The energy blasts slammed into his barrier with bright flashes of light causing everyone except the shooters to shield their eyes. After what seemed like an eternity, Greyson called a ceasefire so he could review the damage. His jaw dropped when he saw Marley floating down in his direction, cool, calm, and completely unfazed.
Marley touched down a few paces from the line of soldiers. With a wave of his hand each of the soldiers were struck with a blast of bright blue energy. They were rocketed from their positions and flung out of sight.
Song and Bane, the only remaining member of the cabal, rushed forward. Song linked his hooked blades and swung fiercely, intent on taking Marly's head off. Marley ducked and recovered just in time to dodge a leaping punch from Bane's massive fist. The two killers attacked in tandem, putting all their might behind each swing and slash. Grayson grew increasingly angry as he watched his two greatest warriors miss time and time again. They looked like amatures as they over committed to strikes and stumbled off balance as they missed wildly. Many times they struck each other, or would fall into each other, as Marley's evading made them look like fools.
Bane roared in frustration as he clasped his hands over his head planning to try to bash Marley over the head with an overhead ax-handle strike. His roar turned into a squeak as he was suddenly struck in his abdomen and the air was driven from his lungs. He felt teeth shatter as his jaw was slammed shut by a strike to his chin. The next thing he knew he was in the air and falling. "How?" was the last thing that went through his mind before the pavement did.
Song was stunned for just a second as he watched Bane's demise. He gritted his teeth and licked his sword back together. He became a whirlwind of blades as he swung his weapon around his body, looking to keep his attacks unpredictable. He became more and more frustrated watching his target deftly dodge with a bored expression on his face. Song growled as he watched Marley spin out of the way of yet another attack. He saw his left hand flash blue, then all at once, he couldn't move. He felt something was wrong, so he looked down and fell to his knees as he saw the hole in his chest.