More than a dozen Surge assassins surround them at the end of the channel. They swing their blades menacingly at Xiao and the group.
Solving the killers is a difficult and agonizing ordeal.
Xiao Yan grabbed the blade of one of the killers and moved to slash toward the killers, struggling to work with Heien and make it to the next node.
These killers care nothing for their lives or bodies. No matter if their hands and feet are cut off, they do not give up their goal of trapping them within the ship. Their lives belong to the ghost of Valentin. Even after death, his violence still weaves around this world.
More and more killers pour in and Xiao desperately tried to close the passage off, but he is just a step too late. He knows that the longer they remain in the frigid water, the more energy they consume. Not to mention that the fighting has taxed their bodies to the limit, the combination has rapidly consumed their oxygen stores.
A killer was cut down by Heine, yet still refused to loosen his grip on his weapon. He grabbed Xiao Yan and tried to hold his hands and pull him deeper into the water. Heine single-handedly demolished a large group of killers approaching him and desperately reached a hand out to grab Xiao's shoulder. The blade of the killer landed on his wrist and almost severed his hand off at the wrist.
Xiao Yan is startled and filled with adrenaline. He frantically fought against the killer. Without a weapon he must rely on hand to hand combat. He nearly broke their arms and twisted their necks. They still fight against such grave injuries, continually blocking Heine's blade.
They fought to reach the node, and Jane struggled to push Casey toward the door as he turned to help Heine grab Xiao Yan. Finally Heine is able to extricate Xiao from the savage situation and Winn and Mark protect his side. Jane does not mimic their actions, instead he moves forward and dropped the killers that struggled to reach them.
Finally they all reached the door and Xiao gestured toward them. Jane turned back to Xiao and motioned for him to close off the passage, isolating him on the other end to deal with the killers.
Xiao Yan shook his head and along with Casey reached his hand out, forcing Jane to come back to them.
Jane is not able to reach them easily. The assassins flocked toward them, they grabbed onto Jane's, legs holding him back. Xiao was frenzied and he screamed internally.
Hurry! Come one!
Finally Jane reached him, just as the group of Surge assassins took a hold of his waist and shoulder, others followed and went to pull Jane's entire body down before he reached the opening. Suddenly, Jane grabbed the terminal from Xiao and pushed him through the door.
Winn killed the Surge clones as they tried to slip past the node and Liv's actions were equally decisive and lethal. She swung her blade in focused savagery as Mark protected her.
Xiao saw that Jane was stabbed through by one of the killers, still he gestured toward Heine and used the terminal to shut the door.
With widened eyes Xiao watched as Jane's smiling face disappeared amid the gap that rapidly shut closed. His eyes and expression seemed to scream 'Don't look back.'
More killers made it through before the doors shut and rushed at Xiao and his eyes went blood shot as he cut them down instantly. The rushing waters tinged red and Xiao's mind fell into an enraged chaos until they all fell beneath his blade.
Heine hurried to his side and cupped his cheeks, kissing his lips with a passionate force and breathed heavily into his mouth, forcing air into his lungs.
Xiao looked at Heine amid the confusion, he saw the lines of Heine's face set in a ferocious determination.
He had gone through all of this death and sacrificed so much...it could not end with him trapped in this graveyard of a ship forever. He wants to leave this haunted craft with Heine at his side.
He grabbed Heine's hand and hurried toward the exit.
Casey slumped weakly in the middle of the channel. Xiao removed his terminal from his back and carried him around the corner along with Heine. Liv was losing consciousness and Mark and Winn were rapidly weakening. They can't even keep up with Xiao and Casey.
Xiao reached the open door and he turned to find Winn succumbing to the lack of oxygen. Mark alone could not carry both Winn and Liv. Winn pushed Mark forward and told him to take Liv, but Mark refused to give up trying to bring them both.
Xiao removed his ropes and tied them around Winn and Liv's waist . He moved forward with Mark and Heine unhesitatingly tied his own to Xiao. Mark's strength is rapidly sapped and soon he can no longer move. He reached to unlock his ropes that connect to Xiao.
Xiao looked back at him stunned and shook his head firmly.
We have already killed Valentin, which is an achievement of a lifetime. If I am a rocket breaking through to the universe, does that mean I have to abandon everyone I care about? I have reached the summit of my life and I will not sacrifice any more!
Mark looked at Xiao astonished. This rookie has grown into such a strong and responsible man. In that moment Mark felt relief. He doesn't know or care if they can make it out of here. All he can think of is that this guy assured him that they will breathe air again.
The wight of four people proves an enormous burden on Xiao and Heine, they rapidly deplete their stores of oxygen in the struggle. They are both close to collapse.
This time Xiao is not staring at the back of Heine, because Heine is trailing behind him.
He felt like a new born bird frantically seeking the sun and unfurling his wings. He was exhausting all his strength just to touch a beam of flight. Behind him Heine's strength propels him forward. No matter how sapped his bodyis, or how far he falls, he knows that Heine is an unfailing net ready to catch him if he falls. The farthest distance seems to creep closer.
The large ship is now completely submerged. Ritz and Lock hover in the craft overhead, anxiously waiting for them.
What else can they do?
With tightened hearts they lower the craft and let down the ropes. The ropes make it through the hull and and they grabbed onto them. As they pulled them rapidly upward, the downward force of the ship threatens to to drag them with it and Ritz and Loch fight against the force, like a bird trying to shake off a mountain. Even if they can grant them a second...in this moment...it matters.
"Alarm! Alarm! Engine is overloaded!"
"Alarm! Alarm! Engine overheated!"
No matter how many alarms sound, they refuse to give up, even if it means they will be dragged into the sea with them.
Suddenly countless crafts appear in the sky. Maya looked down from the cabin.
"All troops, pay attention. There is only one mission. We must not let that shup sink until we get out comrades on board.
Thousands of ropes eject from the crafts and pierce the hull, the sky is densely packed with the Shire's crafts, casting a huge shadow over the surface of the water.
The destroyer has succumbed to the sea and the water smashes it apart like an eagle getting its wings torn apart.
Xiao looked a the small light peeking through and moved toward. Every cell in his body was screaming and focusing on that pinprick of light.
The promise of life.
As the light became clearer he saw a glimpse of the sun and his heart raced with longing. His flesh and bones threatened to tear apart, but still he moved forward.
Finally his fingers reach the exit. He looked up, longing to take a breath of air but the water still occupied all space. His fingers slip as he attempted to leverage himself, behind him Heine put him on his shoulders. One hand holding the exit open as the other held him up.
For that brief moment XIao can feel the sheer power that radiates from Heine. An explosive desperate force, like a comet slamming into the earth. In this last moment where despair battles with hope Xiao can feel Heine's heart stop. His chest muscles are taut and stretched beyond their limit.
All things, no matter how ruthless or indifferent have a limit.
Xiao finally breaks through the water, salty and soaked. Fresh air poured into his chest and he gulped it, greedily panting it down.
He climbed up through the opening and in the gap between the destroyer and the aircraft he seeks the endless stretch of blue sky and sea...Freedom!
He turned and pulled on the ropes with all his strength. Mark Casey Liv and Winn are pulled up one by one.
But...Where is Heine?
Where did he go?
Xiao's fear immobilizes him. He reached the end of the rope but there is still no trace of Heine.
'Heine! Heine Burton!"
Xiao did not hesitate to jump back in.
Pulling Xiao up must have exhausted the last of Heine's strength!
Xiao cut through the water and watched Heine's body sink into the ocean's depths.
Xiao went crazy and frantically dove to catch up to him.
No, Heine! Wake up! Wake up!
Xiao stretched his arms up to bridge the distance between them...but it was not enough.
Suddenly Heine raised his head and his fingers softly grazed his arm before extending to grab a hold of his hand. That indescribable force of Heine Burton's passed along Xiao's fingertips, energizing every cell in his body.
Heine pulled him toward the exit they had just left and jumped up.
"Hah...Hah." XIao panted and laid down near the door, breathing in large gulps of air and refusing to relinquish Heine's hand.
"Why didn't you jump?!" Heine turned his face to the side and even amid his immense exhaustion, his commanding presence was unaffected.
"I thought... thought..."
His mind battled the lingering feelings of despair and the heights of joy that still tangled his thoughts, XIao was unable to complete the sentence.
"Did you think I would leave you? I told you that no matter what happens, or how it all ends, I will always be by your side."
Xiao didn't answer, he simply looked over at Heine with a disconcertingly serious look on his face.
"This is real..Right?" Xiao asked dumbly.
Heine wove an arm around his chest and pressed his upper body to his as he claimed his lips.
"Who else can make you feel this way?"
The ship continued to tremble and it rose from the water. Xiao removed his terminal and opened all the nodes of the ship , allowing the water to drain out. As they moved from the sea and rose into the air, the glimmering sun was like a miraculous beacon of hope.
Epilogue:
A month later the President of the Shire delivered the most famous speech of his life in the central square. He encouraged all the citizen to leave the illusion of the Shire and feel the true light of day.
This day became a historic moment and humanity entered a new era of existence.
Xiao was promoted to Major General and became the youngest General of the Central Academy of Sciences.
His inauguration did not have brilliant fireworks or an extravagant ball. Still a thousand people showed up and looked up at him as he gave his speech.
Amid the strangers in the crowd he saw a familiar figure.
The curve of their lips pulled upward and the lazy slope of his eyes accentuated his jovial smile. He put a finger to his lips and then gently lowered it.
Xiao couldn't make out what he said. In a blink of an eye the man disappeared as though he were nothing more than a mirage.
Heine's fingers suddenly pinched Xiao's neckline and smoothed the wrinkles along his collar.
"What are you looking at?"
Even though the entire Shire was watching him, Xiao leaned forward and kissed Heine. He backed away and smiled up at him with a grin more dazzling than the the sun.
"Freedom."
*****Well? Was the ending satisfying? Don't worry there is a little more. I am so sad that it is ending. I hope that it all made sense. The action scenes are a bit difficult for me.
BTW I love Jane. I love Jane so much. I know he is hated my most but he is one of my favorite characters.******