1.15 Brimstone Part 6

“Those deals are acceptable,” answers Tar’garieth, “I agree to both of them.”

“Good,” replies Gears as Lion steps away from Tar’garieth.

Can you heal him Tea?

Of course. In fact, I can restore all of the damage we caused.

You can? Even the ones we killed?

Yes, but they aren’t dead like humans are. These things are unnatural. Bringing them back from the dead is more like fixing your armour than if I were to bring a human being back to life.

Makes sense. Could you all do that as well as healing Tar’garieth?

Of course, but why?

Gesture of goodwill.

Ahh.

Gears watches Tar’garieth is restored to his previous state and rises to his feet.

“Thank you Gears of the Guardsmen,” rumbles Tar’garieth as he picks his sword up, “Now I shall uphold my half of the deal.”

He places one of his hand on the blade of Gears’ halberd and both the hand and the halberd glow black.

Gears watches as his halberd changes, the shaft becoming a midnight black while the blade head turns into a red crystal that it looks like it is made of ruby or something similar.

Any of you guys know what Tar’garieth has done to it?

I do. He has made it stronger, self-repairing, it can reappear in your grip and fires those black beams of energy from a charge that refills itself over time or when your blade is used to kill or harm. It also burns anything it cuts and be stored in ‘hyperspace arsenal’.

How do you know all that?

Just kinda do.

Okay then.

“Thank you Prince Tar’garieth,” replies Gears and Tar’garieth moves his hand away, “Now let me fulfil the next part of our agreement.”

Hey Tea.

Yes?

If I give items from my utility belt to Tar’garieth, can you restore my belt?

Yes, I can. Interesting plan.

Good. Please refill my belt every time I give something to Tar’garieth.

As you wish.

Gears hands over the contents of his utility belt to Tar’garieth six times, explaining how each of the different items work to the Demon Prince.

“Ah, thank you for your gifts,” rumbles a pleased Tar’garieth once Gears has handed over the last of the items he is giving Tar’garieth, “You are most generous.”

“I merely seek goodwill,” replies Gears, “And I wish to strengthen the Demon Price who already respects my martial skill and understands how dangerous I can be.”

“True,” agrees Tar’garieth as he looks at Gears appreciatively, “Now it is time for you to return to your world.”

“Good,” says Gears, “I am looking forward to returning home.”

Tar’garieth sheathes his broadsword on his back and aims all four of his hands towards the centre of the room, palms facing outwards.

A large portal of swirling red energy opens in the middle of the throne room and Gears strides towards it.

Making sure he has everything and that Tea has fully restored his armour, equipment and health, Gears steps into the portal with all five of his companions.

“Good wishes Hero Prince Gears,” Gears hears Tar’garieth say as he fully enters the portal, “May we meet again on mutually favourable terms.”

Hero Prince?

He must see you as an equal.

And you did tell him that you are a hero.

And the rest of all that?

I think Tar’garieth is genuinely wishing you well.

As Gears step out of the outside of the portal, he quickly realises he isn’t back on Earth. Instead, he is in a damaged room made of metal. As he looks around the worn down room, Gears notes that now his companions are no longer physically with him, all of them confined to his mind again.

“Candor Gears,” says a smooth, clipped voice with a digital thang to it, “Please pardon my hijacking of your portal, but I wished to speak with you.”

Spin around with his halberd in his left hand and his right hand going to one of his handguns, Gears spots a being that is slightly over two metres tall with six arms.

The creature is lean and covered in sleek black power armour with an angular mask that has four red eye lenses and looks better fitted for a cat than a human.

Gears can’t help, but note the amount of equipment and gadgets dotted about on the creature’s armour.

“I am Drakvar Atrivaric,” continues the creature, “Welcome to Korvica Hallif Tren. Or what is left of it.”

“As you say,” replies Gears, “So why am I here then?”

“You know the Ordic right?” inquires Drakvar.

Ordic?

That is Deltaen for Guardian remember.

Wait, is this guy asking if we know Legacy?

No, just if we know the Guardian.

Legacy isn’t the first Guardian after all. Drakvar here probably knew a past Guardian.

“I know the current one,” answers Gears.

“I am aware of that fact that while Alpha Ceta Omegaris remains eternal, her champion will change as the eons wear on,” replies Drakvar as he holds a hand out, “Please pass this onto de current Ordic.”

In the hand of the alien is a small round device.

“What is it?” asks Gears as he takes it and puts it away in his utility belt.

“A data device containing de records of our world since our Ordic died and Omegaris moved onwards,” answers Drakvar, “I will open a portal for you to return to your world now.”

“Thank you Drakvar,” says Gears, “Where will I end up?”

“In battle against de Niltoc,” replies Drakvar as a blue-white portal appears next to Gears.

“Niltoc?” inquires Gears.

“I do not know the English name for the Niltoc,” explains Drakvar, “Please take this device. It should serve you against the Hasnin et Roraks”

Drakvar holds another device, this one definitely a weapon of some kind.

It is made of a smooth dark grey metal with a trigger at the end. Beyond that, it consists of a collect of sleek glowing metal parts connected with glow electric-like energy.

“Thank you again,” says Gears as he takes and puts into his utility belt, “I’ll be going now.”

“Good fate Deldin Gears,” says Drakvar as Gears steps into the portal, “May you send the Niltoc scurrying under your might.”

1.15 Brimstone Part 5

Gears gasps in pain as his chest is filled with agony. Letting his pistol fall from his grasp and barely holding onto halberd, Gears looks down.

The blade of Tar’garieth’s broadsword has impaled him right through the chest.

Well, that is going to be a problem.

Gears coughs, tasting blood in his mouth, as Tar’garieth grabs him by the throat before sliding the sword out of his chest.

Gears takes a moment to take in and process the situation.

My chest has suffered a severe wound, but Tar’garieth has taken worse. That said, he is probably tough enough to take that sort of injuries better than I am able to take mine. On the other hand, the majority of the right side of his head is gone, but then again, he seems to be only inconvenienced by that.

His sword is still extremely powerful while my halberd is battered and beaten. One of my guns is jammed and while the other is holstered with its current state unknown. Not only that, but most of my defences are gone.

That do I have left? A flashbang, a few electro-spheres, a molecular blade, two stun batons, a damaged gun that may or may not work and a damaged molecular Gardium halberd.

And my armour’s nuclear batteries. I wonder how Tar’garieth here will like taking an atomic explosion at point zero? If I’m going to die, might as well go out with a bang. A real big bang.

Leo! We are almost there!

As Tar’garieth pulls back his blood-spattered sword to finish Gears off, Gears draws his other pistol from its holster. He doesn’t know what type of ammunition it has been loaded with, but he has to make a last ditch effort to stop that blade coming at him.

Using his enhanced intelligence and reflexes to the limit, Gears aims at the hilt of Tar’garieth’s blade and the hands holding it. He opens fire.

He gets off a few shots before Tar’garieth squeezes his neck and throws him away a moment later.

Gears is thrown across the room, slamming into the floor face up. He has lost his grip on both his halberd and remaining handgun.

Well, at least I’m not dead.

Gears coughs again and specks of blood cover the inside of his helmet.

At least not yet.

Gears attempts to get up to his feet, but fails. He then tries to sit up right, but is also unsuccessful in that simple task.  

As he internally decides that this would be a good time to go nuclear, Gears spots an explosion of red and blue light out of the corner of his eye. A split-second later, he feels the calm and peaceful healing wave of Tea wash over him.

Gears sits up right and laughs as he checks the status of his armour and body. All injuries are completely healed and the damaged to his armour is completely repaired to as a good as new. Not only that, but his halberd has been repaired and his utility belt has been refilled, his pistols and bullets included.

Gears take a moment to look around the room. The pair of gigantic doors on the other opposite end of the room to the throne have been blown off their hinges. Meanwhile Star and Heart have the crowd cowering before them while Lion has Tar’garieth pinned to the ground. Iron and Tea both are both hovering near him, placing themselves between him and Tar’garieth.

“We told you we were almost there,” says Iron as Tea offers a hand to Gears.

“I didn’t doubt you guys for a moment,” replies Gears with a smile as Tea pulls him to his feet.

“So what about ‘now is a good time to go nuclear?’ then?” inquires Iron and Gears ignores him as he strides towards Tar’garieth.

“I yield,” rasps the Demon Prince and pauses for a moment, “Who are you? What are you?”

“I am Gears of the Guardsmen,” answers Gears as he summons his halberd, “And I am a hero.”

“You are a worthy foe and mighty warrior,” says Tar’garieth, “What do you wish to bargain for in exchange for sparing my life?”

Gears considers this for a moment.

I would spare his life, but I wouldn’t mind getting some things out of this, especially since I am the one with the upper hand.

What do we want then?

I don’t know. A way home I guess? But we could probably get more out of it than just that?

Then ask Tar’garieth what he is willing to offer.

Good idea.

“What are you willing to offer?” inquires Gears.

Tar’garieth looks like he is considering something, well as much as an inhuman monster with half of its face missing can look considerate.

“I will offer you passage to the realm of the Otherworldly Traveller,” replies Tar’garieth after a few moments, “I shall also imbue your weapon with power.”

“Acceptable,” replies Gears, “But first I would like to make you another offer.”

“What is that?” asks Tar’garieth.

“In exchange for you swearing an oath that neither you nor those that follow and/or serve shall harm my family or teammates, I shall grant you some of my technology for you to study, replicate and use,” says Gears, “In addition, I will have White Tea here heal you.”

1.15 Brimstone Part 4

As Tar’garieth swings his sword at Gears, the superhero flies over Tar’garieth’s shoulder, the blade scraping against his armour with a horrible screeching sound.

Gears spins around, opening fire with whatever bullets he has currently loaded into his two custom-built pistols, four from each one.

As the Gardium bullets tear the black back plates of Tar’garieth’s armour, Gears notes they are Render Bullets, each with a full Gardium jacket with delayed explosive core.

Tar’garieth yowls with pain as eight bullets explode inside the flesh of his back, mangling the flesh and armour of his upper back.

A bonus effect of the Renders tearing Tar’garieth’s back apart is that they also blow off his wings. Tar’garieth goes tumbling to the ground as Gears aims and unloads the rest of his mags into Tar’garieth.

The remaining sixteen bullets fly at Tar’garieth, but Demon Prince reacts swiftly. He turns around 
with a pain expression, swiping his sword at the incoming bullets. The large blade of the broadsword catches five of the bullets and knocks another three off course so they miss him completely.

But the remaining eight bullets tear through Tar’garieth’s breastplate and ripping apart the flesh beneath with explosion.

Tar’garieth staggers slightly, his entire upper body a mangled mess. But to his credit, Tar’garieth refuses to fall.

He is tough, I’ll give him that.

He is also a skilled and determined warrior.

Definitely.

As Gears reloads his handguns with Ripper bullets, Gardium hollow points, Tar’garieth aims two of his black-blood splattered hands at the superhero, palms outstretched. In the hands of Tar’garieth, orbs of black fire form.

Magic?

Magic.

Freaking magic.

I hate magic.

The fiery orbs bursts into several bolts of misty black firebolts that stream towards Gears through at the air. He fires at them with both of his pistols, unloading both mags into the firebolts.

Initially Gears only hits and takes out two of the eight firebolts, but as they grow near, he nails another four. He blasts himself to the side and forward at the last two come at him and both of his pistols click and eject empty.

One of the pair misses, but the final firebolt scrapes against the side of Gears’ right armour. It burns away a decent portion of the Gardium outer armour plating, but none of the inner armour is damaged.

We don’t want to get hit by those.

I figured that one out for myself.

I am you.

Don’t forget about the magnetic recall for your halberd.

Oh yeah.

Gears sheathes the handgun in his left hand back in its holster while he uses the autoloader on the other to put one of his two remaining Render mags into it.

Tar’garieth grips his broadsword in two hands again and Gears summons his Gardium halberd back to his hand. As the halberd zooms through the air to Gears’ outstretched left hand, the massive blade of Tar’garieth’s sword glows with rippling black energy.

Gears snatches his halberd out of the air as a beam of crackling black energy is unleashes from the tip of Tar’garieth’s blade. Gears twists out the way as the beam sears through the air towards him before firing his pistol at Tar’garieth’s head.

Gears gets off three shots when Tar’garieth swings his sword and the beam along with it towards Gears. As the energy beam smashes into him, Gears flinches as the light blinds him and fires his KEPs up at full power, sending him flying away from the black energy beam.

Damn it! My armour show have filtered that light out!

It was too strong for the armour to completely neutralise. In fact, if it weren’t for your armour, it would have permanently blinded you if you weren’t out right killed.

Speaking of which, I need to check the damage.

Gears checks his armour and weapons. All of his weaponry has been damaged, but are all still working. Not only that, but practically all of the forward facing outer armour plating been burned away.

I need to end this fight soon. I just hope I can last longer than Tar’garieth can.

Do not fret, we are on our way.

Wait, what?

We are currently in the process of making our way to you.

With much violence and destruction.

Gears notes the amusement that comes from Star with that last sentence.

Taking aim at Tar’garieth with his pistol, Gears drops his halberd and draws one of his two remaining flashbangs.

As Tar’garieth charges up with his sword for another energy beam attack, Gears tosses the flashbang as he closes with the Demon Prince.

Having experienced two already, Tar’garieth shields his face with his two empty arms, but is still slightly dazed when the flashbang goes off. Gears opens fire, unloading his remaining mag into Tar’garieth’s face while summoning his halberd back to him again.

He gets off six shots before his damaged handgun jams on the seventh shot.

Honestly, I’m surprised it work at all.

Tar’garieth yowls in pain as half his face is blown away by a series of explosions.

Why won’t he just die already?

With a wild battlecry, Gears swings his halberd at Tar’garieth.

The blade doesn’t make contact with the Demon Price.

1.15 Brimstone Part 3

Gears and others all fly at the portal, their only chance of pressing onwards at this point. As they reach the portal, Gears realises too late that others are being rebounded by an invisible force field whereas he goes through unchallenged.

Gears looks away as the swirling red energy consumes his vision. He comes crashing through the portal, but keeps his balance as he stumbles on the ground.

Steadying himself, Gears looks around this new location.

It is a throne room with multiple Drenora, massive multi-armed warriors and what are undoubtable meant to be Succubae.

On the massive black jagged throne before Gears, a four metre tall monster slouches on it, its hand resting a massive sword with a golden hilt and blood red blade.

The creature has four arms, two leathery wings on his back, a devilishly good looking face, a buff and bulky physique and black and gold plate armour.

Gears can feel the effects of the pseudo-Succubae in the room in his head, pulling at his lust. But it is practically non-existent, giving the pseudo-Succubae nothing to work with. Using his excellent mental prowess, Gears shrugs the hapless grasping hands in his mind away.

Guys, are you there?

Yes.

Our physical forms may not be with you, but we still reside in your mind.

And we still feel and experience all that you do.

Good.

Gears’ attention is focused on the big guy in front of him as he rises from the throne.

“Greetings warrior,” growls the creature as he clasps his sword hilt, his deep throaty voice rumbling throughout the room, “Why do you attack my bastion and its defenders?”

“I need a way home,” replies Gears, going with the simplest answer.

“But what brought you here in the first place?” demands the creature, “I have seen nought of your kind or those that travel with you.”

“I was sent here with them by my enemy Demonica,” explains Gears.

“The Otherworldly Traveller sent you here?” says the creature, its voice deepening even through.

“Apparently so,” replies Gears as he readies his halberd for a fight.

“No matter,” rumbles the creature, “Your fate changes not. I am Prince Tar’garieth and I still destroy you. The martial prowess of you and your fellows means however that you have earn the honour and falling to me personally.”

Moving in an inhuman flash, Tar’garieth stabs at Gears. Barely able to react in time, Gears fires his KEPs, blasting himself to the side.

With a guttural laugh, Tar’garieth swipes his sword at Gears and the hero barely blocks with his halberd in time.

Threat analysis!

Tar’garieth is bigger, stronger and most likely tougher than you. Regeneration is also probable.

That blade is stronger enough to cut through Gardium, albeit with difficulty. Your armour and halberd should both be able to take a few blows each.

Tar’garieth is also better skilled than you.

What can we do to beat him?

Dodge instead of blocking when you can.

And use your other gadgets when you can.

Thanks guys.

Flying into the air with his KEPs, Gears activates a flashbang as Tar’garieth leaps into the air after him with those two bat-like wings.

Flinching at the flashbang, Tar’garieth never sees it coming when Gears slashes his halberd across his chest.

Tar’garieth ignores the gash across his chest as he grabs for Gears with half of his arms. One snatches Gears’ leg while the other gets him by the throat.

Tar’garieth snarls and squeezes around Gears’ throat, but the superhero’s armour holds firm, barely denting inwards and not enough to cause any discomfort to Gears.

Gears snarls back as he pops another flashbang. With the sudden shock of another flashbang weakening Tar’garieth’s grip, Gears fires up his KEPs, breaking free of Tar’garieth and zooming away.

With a wild roar, Tar’garieth purses Gears across the room. As the Demon Prince closes with him, Gears spins around, swinging his halberd at Tar’garieth.

The halberd slices Tar’garieth across his cheek, but he doesn’t flinch. Instead Tar’garieth continues to come at Gears, slamming a fist into Gears’ face. As Gears is left reeling from the blow, Tar’garieth grabs the hilt of his sword with two hands and locks the blade between the blade and shaft of Gears’ halberd.

Using his superior strength, Tar’garieth wrenches the halberd from Gears’ grasp before swing his sword down at Gears himself. Gears blasts himself out of the way with his KEPs, barely dodging the blade.

Acting on instinct, Gears draws two of his four stun batons as Tar’garieth readies himself for another attack.

Tar’garieth surges forward, swing his sword at Gears. Gears uses one of his stun batons to block whilst stabbing the other at Tar’garieth.

But the stun batons are useless as the sword cuts through the first, barely missing Gears whilst the other stun baton bounces off of Tar’garieth’s breastplate.

With a throaty chuckle, Tar’garieth slams two fists into Gears, one to the face and the second to the chest. As Gears is sent flying, losing his grip on his working stun baton in the process before he stabilises himself with his KEPs.

Dammit! How I do beat this monster? He is stronger, tougher and more skilled than me.

But you have something he lacks. Guns.

I thought I was out of ammo?

I restored all of your bullets.

Thanks again guys.

As Tar’garieth comes at him again, Gears drops his broken stun baton and draws both of his handguns, aiming directly at the oncoming monster.

1.15 Brimstone Part 2

Gears leaps forward from the back of Lion, drawing his halberd in the process. As Star and Heart engage the guards at the back, Gears swings at the closest. His halberd connects with the creature, tearing into its back.

Gears wrenches it out, knocking the guard towards the charging Lion. As Lion pounces on the first guard, Gears raises his halberd to block an incoming spear stab from the second.

As his Gardium halberd blocks the hissing spear. The spearhead is a devouring black while the pole is a glistening gold.

The guard screeches at Gears in unholy tones as it draws its spear back for another strike. Before it can attack and while it is still expose, Gears boosts forward with his KEPs, stabbing the spike of his halberd into the chest of the guard.

The guard yowls in pain and Gears twists his halberd, causing the guard to cry out even louder.

Gears takes a brief moment to look around. The battle is going in their favour with half of the guards having already gone down and half of the survivors are wounded to various degrees.

Overcoming its pain, the guard Gears is fighting stabs forward with its spear even as black ichor leaks from its wound. Gears spots it coming and catches the shaft with his right hand.

He and the guard compete for control of the spear, the creature trying to stab forward while Gears tries to hold it steady. After a couple of seconds, the vigilante eventually wins, jerking the spearhead away from him.

The guard growls as it steps back and Gears does the same, removing his halberd from the creature’s body. Before either of them can make their next move, a blast of fiery red energy slams into the shoulder of the guard, ripping through the armour and whatever lies beneath.

Gears swings his halberd at the thick neck of the guard, chopping off the head with the blade. As the headless corpse topples over backwards, Gears takes another moment to look around.

All, but two of the guards are dead with Lion pinning one to the ground as he tears him apart while the other dies a moment later as Heart and Star finish him off.

“Good work guys,” says Gears with a hint of pride in his voice.

“I’ll fix you up,” says Tea and Gears feels a wave of calmness and rest wash over him.

Following a hunch, Gears looks over his armour and halberd. All have been fully restored to optimal status and then some.

“Thanks Tea,” replies Gears as he looks at the massive gates leading into the first tower, “So we enter the tower now?”

“Yes,” answers Iron as he floats next to Gears.

“Alright,” says Gears, “If you would please Star and Heart?”

Obliging him, dual beams of energy, one red and other blue, smash into the pair of large gates. The energy attacks burn through it, melting the metal down.

Once enough of a hole has been burned, Gears and the rest of his companions enter tower. A large spiral hall awaits them along with six Drenora, all dual-wielding large broadswords.

So this is where Demonica gets them from.

So it would seem.

Enough talk! Let us slay these monsters now!

Gears, his companions and the Drenora all leap into action. Trusting his companions to deal with the rest, Gears focuses on the closest, mentally alerting his companions to which one he is going after.

With a mighty roar, the Drenora swings both swords at him. Gears dodges the first and blocks the second with his halberd.

This would be a good time to have some inbuilt weaponry to my armour. Perhaps some lasers or sonic weaponry in the wrists. Or a few missiles onto the shoulders or something.

We can do that once we’re out of this dimension.

Gears jumps back and readies his halberd as the Drenora makes another pair of attacks. He lets both miss before boosting forward with his KEPs and aiming his halberd so the spike stabs into the Drenora.

He gets a direct hit and the Drenora grunts with pain. As Gears wrenches his halberd out, the Drenora lets go of one of its swords and punches Gears. The fist slams into the side of Gears’ head, but it barely affects him through the armour.

Acting on instinct, Gears headbutts the Drenora and jumps backwards, putting distance between himself and his foe using his KEPs. Using the brief moment he has in the air, Gears checks the damage to his armour from the punch.

Only minor denting to the outer plating. Once again, I am very thankful for the strength and toughness of thick Gardium armour plating.

Picking up its dropped sword, the Drenora charges at Gears, who readies himself to counter. But as the Drenora closes the distance, a glistening blue energy blast hits it in the back, sending him flying forward.

Seizing the opportunity, Gears stabs forward with his halberd at the oncoming Drenora. The spike pierces the head and Drenora’s body goes limp. As the two broadswords clatter to the ground, Gears casually pulls his halberd out of his fallen opponent.

A quick glance confirms that his foe was the last Drenora to fall and Gears thinks about the next move. There is no clear way further into the tower.

“Tea?” says Gears.

“On it,” replies the companion and Gears feels the wave of calmness and rest wash over him again, also fixing his armour and halberd again.

“Look at this,” says Star, causing Gears and the others to look up.

At the top of ceiling, another portal of blood red swirls is open.

1.15 Brimestone Part 1

After quickly and silently dropping off Necromantress at the police station, Gears swiftly heads off, leaving the supervillainess with the stunned officers.

Which member of the Slaughter Seven is closest?

Demonica.

She is actually heading towards you.

Hmm, we need to be careful then if she is willingly facing us.

Gears changes his direction to intercept Demonica, his Gardium halberd in his hand. It isn’t long before he spots his foe. The Aphrodite woman is zooming through the air right towards him.

No, not an Aphrodite, but an Abnormal.

Not that it is harder to mistake her for the former.

Very true.

Demonica is a red haired Aphrodite, not a natural copper, but an unnatural bright red that looks like blood. Her skin is an eerie pale white while her eyes are black with blood red pupils. Her costume is nothing more than a set of gold and black exposing armour.

Absolutely impractical.

She can afford to be so with her A+ Nigh Invulnerability.

It is still shameful.

Not to mention ridiculous.

Gears adjusts his position, but not slowing down as he approaches Demonica. He raises his halberd back, ready to strike the villainess.

Demonica looks up at she spots Gears approaching and pulls something out of her belt. She crushes it in her fist and throws it at Gears as he enters within a few metres of her. The vigilante rolls out of the way of the dust and brings down his halberd.

But before his blade can connect with Demonica, a red black hole-like portal appears from where the dust is. Gears tries to fly away, but he is already engulfed by it.

What the heck is this?

I don’t not know.

Let us hope it isn’t fatal.

Or at the very least, our armour can withstand whatever it is.

Within moments, Gears is sucked into the portal and his world is replaced with red and black fiery swirls. He is spat out the other side of the portal, slamming face up into crimson red ground.

Gears looks up in time just to see the portal close, the swirls of red energy imploding.

“What happened?” asks Gears as he sits upright.

My head feels so much clearer and lighter.

I know the reason for that.

We all do.

“We have been transported to another dimension,” answers Enduring Iron, “A pocket reality created by Demonica’s power.”

Gears snaps his head around to face Enduring Iron before looking around as he realises what has happened. All of this companions are surrounding him, given physical form in this pocket dimension just as they are given form in virtual reality.

“Great,” mutters Gears sarcastically before raising his voice, “So how do we get home?”

“Unknown at this point in time,” replies Iron before pointing at something in the distance, “But my guess would be that the citadel over there may contain answers.”

Following Iron’s indication, Gears looks at the multi-towered black citadel built into a mountain in the distance.

“A good a guess as any I suppose,” says Gears, “Who can fly?”

Burning Heart, Joyous Star and White Tea all raise their hands while Iron morphs pair of jetpack wings.

“Okay then,” says Gears, “I’ll ride on Lion then.”

“No problem,” replies Vigilant Lion as he kneels down on his forelegs to allow Gears to climb onto his back.

Gears does just that and clips his halberd to his back as Lion gets up. Gears holds onto Lion as he observes this dimension.

It has crimson red dirt, black rocks, rivers of lava and a blood red sky.

Geez, I wonder what place this pocket dimension was modelled after.

“So what can you guys do?” asks Gears, deciding to see what he has to work with when they run into hostiles.

“I am a brick with ability to render myself immune to some of the total damage inflicted,” answers Lion.

“I am an energy projector,” comes Star’s answer while Heart replies a moment later, “The same.”

“Healing and repair,” says Tea, “Basically restoration.”

“I can morph myself into different things and I have your Gadgeteering,” says Iron, “Except I don’t have the restraint of physical resources when I’m morphing my form.”

I got a lot to work with here.

Don’t forget we can still mental communicate.

I won’t. I just hope all of this will be enough for whatever we face.

We will be.

“Okay guys, this is the battle plan,” says Gears, “Star and Heart will be our frontline hits. Lion and I will be the second line while Tea and Iron provide support.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” agrees Lion.

“Yes, it does,” Iron also agrees.

“Contacts up ahead,” reports Heart as they near the citadel.

Using his armour’s telescopic vision, Gears looks at dozen guards of the citadel gates. Each is about two metres tall and humanoid in shape, all wearing bulky black plate armour with an assortment of weaponry.

“Looks like some fun,” says Gears, “Let’s take them down.”