The New Era Chapter 18

IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW ERA
Hans couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What do you mean it's up to us?"
"Look, I know you how you feel, but we can't go against the Titos now. If the gods have our technology, that means the Titos probably do too. If the Titos have our technology, they could defeat a force sent against them. What's more, this could be a trap. While we're fighting the Titos, the gods attack our ships. We can't afford to take that risk."
Hans grabbed the man roughly by his shoulders. "You can't be serious."
"Hans, please, try and understand."
"I understand. I understand all too well. You smell a trap, so you don't want to take any chances, but Kyoko and I, we're expendable . Whether we live or die doesn't matter."
"That's one way of putting it, yes."
Hans quickly glanced at Kyoko. Her eyes offered nothing but support for him. Confident, Hans turned and gave his answer. "Well you can just forget about it. We're not going to fight your war for you, you'll have to fight your own bloody war."
The man smiled. "Hans, we thought you might act this way. We have a little bit of incentive for you. Now we know that you want Gaius stopped as much as we do, that's one reason you should defeat him. Also, if you fight Gaius, even if he kills you both and you accomplish nothing, you have our solemn word of honor that we will do no harm to The Watchers. The Watchers can stay in their precious city forever, and we will lay no hand on them. They will be forced to do nothing against their will. We will even protect them from the gods as much as we can."
"Can I trust your word?"
"I guess you'll have to be the judge of that. All I can say is that we Renegades value our word very much. Now, if you refuse to fight Gaius not only will he continue his rampage of destruction, but you will have demonstrated to us that you Watchers can't even control your own. Then, you have our solemn word of honor that the city will be evacuated as quickly as possible by any means necessary, and The Watchers will be left to fend for themselves."
Hans and Kyoko exchanged glances. "Alright," Hans said, "you win."
The man smiled again. "I knew you'd see it our way Hans. Now off course we wouldn't send you into battle unarmed, so if you'd be so kind as to step outside with me we'll give you some equipment." The three went outside of the room into the hallway, where the equipment was lying on a table.
The man gave Hans and Kyoko each a laser gun. "I trust you both know how to use these."
Kyoko turned her gun over in her hands. "I do," she said. Hans rolled his eyes, that was an understatement. Kyoko used to have a hobby practicing on the target range with the laser guns. She had the best aim Hans had ever seen. Hans had practiced with her on a number of occasions, but wasn't anywhere as good as she was.
"Good, now hold still." The man lightly pressed a small cylinder shaped object against Kyoko's skin. "This device serves much the same purpose as a syringe," he explained. "With it, I am putting into your bloodstream a chemical solution that will temporarily allow you to survive Gaius' laser shots."
"Like the device that your ambassadors had?" Hans asked as the man pressed the same object against his skin.
"Yes, yes a lot like that. Of course, their device was in their clothing, and wasn't temporary. This chemical solution will only last about twenty four hours."
"So we're protected from the laser gun. What about the Titos' powers?" inquired Kyoko.
"That you'll have to watch out for. The Titos aren't as powerful as the gods, but don't underestimate them. They've told Gaius they can do anything he wants, but in fact their powers are limited. They can create and transport matter, and to some extent deceive your senses, but that's it. They're not immune to your laser guns either. They can take a hit or two and keep it in stride, but if you hit them enough times they'll be destroyed. I recommend you switch your laser gun to rapid fire and hit them repeatedly, they'll be wiped soon enough. Also, and this is important, their power can only be utilized when it's accompanied by a gesture of some sort. A snap of the fingers, a nod of the head, pointing their hand, that sort of thing. If you keep hitting them with the laser gun so that they don't have time to gesture, you'll be safe. Any questions? No? Good, lets go." The man turned to lead the way, and then suddenly turned back again. "You know, we've spent so much time talking, I feel silly but I don't believe I told either of you my name. The name's Uther." By now, Hans was used to this type of abrupt change of manner by the man he now knew as Uther. It ceased to surprise him.
"You've probably noticed by now," Uther said as they walked down the hallway, "that we've developed a kind of matter transporter. With this, we can transport you anywhere you like with in a certain distance. I'm going to send you right to where Gaius is now, so have your laser guns ready to start shooting."


When the transport was done, Hans found himself staring at three green boxes, in each box a person. Hans recognized all three, having seen Kile and Drusus on the monitor back in the city. Hans hand was on the trigger of his gun, and he quickly surved the area for a target. He saw neither the Titos nor Gaius. Kyoko was a few meters to his left, also holding her laser gun looking for a target.
"Hans, good to see you again." Hans head snapped toward the direction of the voice. It was Gaius, he was standing by one of the boxes, the one with Pericula in it. Gaius aimed one of his laser guns at Pericula's head, and the other one at Hans. Gaius, quite confident, looked at Kyoko, her laser gun aimed at him. "You must be Kyoko. I've heard so much about you, your even more beautiful then they said you were."
Hans didn't take the time to wonder where Gaius had come from, or where the Titos were. "Gaius, let them go. You can't keep this up forever."
"Yesterday Hans, I might have agreed with that statement. Now, I laugh at it. Indeed, I can keep this up forever. Your certainly not going to stop me. Now Hans, put your gun down, or I'll kill Pericula right now."
Hans knew it was a long shot, but he had to try it anyway. "You wouldn't kill a fellow Watcher Gaius."
"Oh really, is that what you think? Jistap killed seven hundred Watchers. Bakes killed a Watcher and I hear he's a hero back in the city, and Hans I'm crazier then them both."
Alright, so much for that attempt. He knew it was a long shot anyway, now it was time to fight Gaius on his level. "Gaius, if you shoot Pericula, I'll shoot you, and if I miss, you can bet Kyoko won't."
"Really Hans, would you kill another Watcher? You're as bad as I am Hans, if you shoot me. Drop your gun now or I'll shoot Pericula."
Hans didn't drop his gun, and Gaius loved his own life too much to risk shooting Pericula. The three remained in a standoff for a minute, then Gaius said, "I'll see you in hell, Hans," and disappeared. Hans and Kyoko looked all around for him.
Hans heard Gaius laughing from behind him. As Hans was turning around, he was hit by a laser beam. He felt like every part of his body was exploding as he flew through the air, then tumbled along the ground. He felt thoroughly exhausted once he came to a stop, every muscle in his body hurt. Yet he was still alive, a good sign that the chemical solution was working.
Out of the coroner of his eye, Hans could see that Kyoko was hit too. Although he had dropped his laser gun, Hans got to his feet as soon as his body would let him. Gaius was confused to see Hans alive, yet did not hesitate to shoot him several more times with his laser guns. Hans plan had worked, Gaius' attention had been focused on him, so that Gaius did not see Kyoko pick up her laser gun and shoot him. As Gaius fell to the ground, Hans forced himself to stand up and grab his laser gun.
Hans wasn't too surprised to see Gaius wasn't dead either. He had suspected the Titos would shield him from most of the energy blast. As Gaius stood up, two balls of light appeared, one on each side of him. The balls changed into human shape, and Hans knew they were the Titos. His laser gun on rapid fire, Hans picked the one closest to him and shot it. Kyoko did the same thing with the other Titos, and soon both Titos were laying on the ground helpless against the lasers. Gaius, meanwhile, picked up his two laser guns and shot Hans and Kyoko. Hans was knocked backwards. He had tried to hold on to his laser gun this time, but it was impossible. Hans dived for his gun as soon as he regained his senses, knowing he had to act before the Titos could strike. Gaius shot him in mid air. Not wanting to fall for the same trick twice, Gaius quickly turned around so Kyoko could not shoot him while he was dealing with Hans. Unfortunately for Gaius, Kyoko had moved faster then he anticipated, and he was hit by her once again.
While Gaius was down, Kyoko grabbed one of his laser guns. Then she aimed both guns at the Titos and fired rapidly. They were both knocked to the ground again. Kyoko sighed with relief as she realized how close that had been. Both had been in the middle of snapping their fingers when they were hit.
When Hans saw Gaius standing up and aiming his remaining laser gun at Kyoko, panic seized him. Kyoko was too busy with the Titos to worry about Gaius. Hans didn't have time to grab his laser gun, he just sprinted for Gaius. Just as Gaius' fingers were pulling back on the trigger, Hans slammed into him. Both Gaius and Hans fell down, the laser went harmlessly past Kyoko, barely missing her.
Hans was now on top of Gaius. Gaius pointed his gun at Hans, but Hans pushed the gun to the side and punched Gaius in the nose. Gaius' right fist hit Hans face, and Hans fell off him. Quickly, Gaius aimed his gun at Hans. Hans' leg shot out before Gaius had time to fire. His foot hit the gun, knocking it out of Gaius' hand. Then Hans was on his feet almost as quickly as Gaius was.
Gaius' left fist hit Hans in the stomach. Well Hans was reacting to the blow, Gaius' right hit him across the face. An uppercut with the left sent Hans to the ground. Realizing that Gaius was going for his laser gun, Hans got to his feet as soon as he could. Gaius grabbed the gun, but when he turned around to fire it Hans' fist came across his face. Gaius stumbled backwards, and Hans grabbed his right hand, in which he held the gun. Gaius left fist struck Hans' face. The blow weakened Hans concentration, and Gaius was able to successfully struggle against Hans' grip on his hand and aim his laser gun at Hans. Gaius fired the gun and Hans was hit. He fell to the ground.
A laser beam hit Gaius gun and knocked it right out of his hand. Gaius turned in shock to see Kyoko smiling at him, both laser guns aimed straight at his head. Cretal and Elim were nowhere in sight. "Hello Gaius," she said, her smile broadening.
The danger past, Hans began to feel how sore his body was. Being hit repeatedly by laser blasts, not to mention Gaius' fists, had taken their toll. He got to his feet and very slowly walked over to where Kyoko was tying Gaius up with a rope. "Where are the Titos?" he asked.
"They disappeared," Kyoko answered. "I guess the gods saved them from destruction."


"Cretal and Elim, you have failed the gods. This council finds you guilty of being defeated by a mortal. You must pay the price." An instant later, ashes were all that remained where Cretal and Elim had stood.