Episode 15

The fighting raged outside of the Oracle facility. "Devin! Watch your back!" Vere shouted as an RPG round exploded behind Devin. "WHOO that was a close one!" Devin said. His arm was covered in stone and a stone barrier was around him. "Devin...please be careful," Attis said. Devin laughed, "We're fine," he replied. Martin, Mikiu, and Yuki ran up to Vere and Devin, exhaustion filled their face. "Where's Jayden?" Mikiu asked. Vere shrugged, "No clue I saw him heading towards the facility," he replied. Mikiu looked towards the explosions that were going off in the distance. "I hope he's okay," Mikiu said. A group of Sentinels also appeared and huddled around Mikiu and the others. "What's the status of the operation?" Martin asked. "We've taken 12 casualties, but the operation seems to be a success so far, Jayden went into the facility along with Captain Briggs, though we do not know what their status is," One of the Sentinels replied. Mikiu sighed, "We need to get to that facility now," she said as she began running down the path. As the group ran closer to the facility they could make out the silhouettes of Oracle and Sentinel operatives fighting each other through the dust cloud that was surrounding them. "I got this," Vere said as he hurled a blast of wind into the cloud. The dust disappeared and revealed the fighting that was taking place. "Attack from the rear and throw off the Oracle forces, we can then enter the facility from there," Martin said. The Sentinels began firing at the Oracle agents as Mikiu and Yuki jumped into the air hurling fire balls into the mix of Oracle operatives. "TANK!" A Sentinel Operative shouted. An Oracle tank had appeared and fired at a group of Sentinels. "ATTIS!" Devis shouted as he jumped in front of the incoming round. Devin's body encased itself in stone armor and two massive stone arms appeared, surrounding the Sentinels. The round struck the stone and exploded. "Gonna take more than that to bring me down!" Devin shouted. "STONE BREAKER!" Devon cried as he slammed the ground and giant rock spike pierced the tank. There was a large explosion followed by cheers from the Sentinels. Devin turned and gave a thumbs up. "Good shit man!" Vere said as he walked towards Devin. "Nothing to it," Devin replied as he walked forward. SNAP! There was a loud crack in the air as a blast of whitish light pierced through Devin's chest. "DEVIN!" Vere shouted as he ran towards his wounded friend. Devin stumbled forward, "Wha...What the fuck...." He said weakly as blood dropped from his mouth. SNAP! Another loud crack filled the air and once again a blast of white energy pierced Devin again. Blood flew through the air as Devin collapsed on the ground. "DEVIN NO!" Vere shouted as he slid next to Devin. "SNIPER!" The Sentinels shouted as they aimed towards the direction of the blast. Vere rolled Devin over, his eyes were glassy and blood ran down his mouth. "Ve...re..." Devin said weakly. "You're alright man...you're gonna be okay..." Vere said, "We can patch you up." Devin slowly shook his head, "It...s too late..." Devin coughed, "My...my stone....Attis is gone..." Vere stared as he realized that the blast had pierced through Devin's Embodiment Orb. "Te....tell her...I'm sorry...." Devin said. Tears swelled in Vere's eyes, "Don't say that man...don't fucking say that..." He said. Devin gave one last smiled and then took his last breath. Vere sat for a moment staring at his lifeless friend. Mikiu, Martin, and Yuki stood quietly. Meanwhile, on the roof of the facility Captain Briggs stood still, he looked through the scope of the rifle that he was given and monitored Devin's status. "The deed is done...the weapon works..." Captain Briggs said into his mic. "Good..." A voice replied, "Very good...you've done well Capatin." Captain Briggs gritted his teeth and walked away. Vere sat quietly, "Ve...Vere I'm sorry..." Yuki said as she approached him. Vere didn't answer. Yuki raised her hand towards Vere, but a stream electricity stopped her from touching him. "Vere?" Yuki asked. The air around Vere began to feel staticky and the ground around him began to rumble. Thunder was heard over head as the air around Vere began to rotate. "Vere? What's wrong?" Yuki asked. Martin pulled Yuki away, "Don't go near him...things are about to get interesting..." He said. Vere stood to his feet and looked towards the facility. Green aura streamed from Vere's eyes. "Vere...." Loki said, "You've awakened to your full power."