From the Ashes

The morning winds of Albios tried in vain to push the Summer Crow out of the new morning sky. Instead, she stayed true, soaring through the sky well enough to shame any bird of prey. Celgo Zoiji was at the helm, his cybernetic right eye scanning the horizon for the so called 'Amaranthine Fleet' the Vizier had at his command. If what Ryo and Virra had told them was true, it would be just up ahead. Setting the ship on autopilot, he turned to the two behind him and said,

"So you're sure you're ready for this?"

Almost immediately, Ryo and Virra replied,

'Absolutely. We'll do whatever it takes."

Celgo furrowed his brow and the metal iris of his right eye flashed yellow. The two had learned that this meant he didn't quite believe what he was hearing.

"No, I mean, are you ready? Once you fire the first shots, there's no turning back," he said firmly, gesturing at the turret entry ladders as he did so.

The siblings' faces became more pensive, and Celgo didn't need his 'good eye' to see the synapses going off as they mulled it over…

Below, at the edge of the Vizier's fortress…

Korgo Zoiji stood in front of the thousand-strong Hearth Brotherhood, his cyan-colored lightsaber blazing bright, his father Orono and the others beside him, and looked over the army he had trained for a year straight. There had been some setbacks and struggles of course, but now each of them brandished makeshift lightsaber and blaster of their own, with strong metal armor to match. In his steel edged voice that commanded attention, he declared,

"Friends and comrades, today your freedom is at hand. Many of you were doubtful that this day would come. But no cowards march on the Vizier today--no, I see brave warriors, willing to take what is rightfully theirs. Today, a new age begins: the Age of the Phoenix!"

With a raucous cheer, the Hearth Brotherhood charged forward and into the enemy compound. The equally strong guardsman responded in kind, enveloping the area in a storm of blades, blaster fire, and blood. At the same time, the Summer Crow let fly a hail of crimson energy, blasting the fleet of galleons, brigantines and triremes to bits. Moments later, the ship passed over the central palace, with Celgo, Ryo and Virra jumping off the rear ramp and out into the sky. Celgo's Force energy absorbed most of the damage, but they still landed with a heavy THUD! Here, the first-born of the Zoiji showcased his signature power: speed shooting. The movements of blaster and hand together were so fas that it appeared as a blur. However, Ryo and Virra slew their fair share as well, for several bodies lined the entrance to the palace. They found it largely deserted; the guards were fighting beyond the compound walls, and only a wrinkled, portly old man with a wispy mustache remained, cowering in his throne. He made no attempt to escape, merely recoiling as a trio of blasters were aimed at his face.

"Pl-Please! Don't you know who I am!? I am Vizier My'mas Voy, and by the power vested in my by the gods, I order that you spare me!" he ordered, the response coming out like a squeal instead. Celgo let out a short chuckle,

"My'mas Voy? That's funny; sounded like mama's boy to me!"

With that, three blaster shots fired, and Vizier My'mas Voy sprawled back against the throne. In a flash, Celgo drew a vibroknife, and in a single fluid motion, decapitated him. He handed the grisly trophy to the siblings,

"Keep this." he said calmly, as if it were nothing but a simple knickknack, "to remember the price of power."

The siblings nodded and held it up high for all to see…