“Mitch!” Parker shouted.
He looked over to see she was pointing directly above him. He looked up and saw three Juggernauts descending towards him on a triangular steel rig with thrusters built in. He rolled out of the way as it smashed to the ground, and the beasts were released.
Taylor let go of his rifle and drew out his Assegai, knowing it was the only weapon he had that was worth using now. The three Juggernauts all turned their attention to him, almost as if they had been programmed to seek him out personally. He circled them and watched their every move. He knew he was playing with fire now because he had barely survived against one of them.
Where are you, Jafar? I need you now!
One of the Juggernauts finally rushed at him, and he spun out of the way, but the beast lightly clipped his shield. As he spun, he tried to thrust with his Assegai, but the strike went wide. In the open ground they now fought, he was finding out just how fast they were in a straight line.
“Taylor!” he heard a voice yell.
It was Jafar. His deep tone was unmistakeable. He looked over. Jafar was brandishing one of the 50CMGs, and Abbot stood before him with one of the modified shields supporting the barrel. Taylor quickly ducked down, watching and listening as Jafar pulled the trigger. The gun was horrendously loud compared to anything they used as infantry. Shots ripped through the first Juggernaut and cut it down quickly. The other two quickly responded to the danger as their programming forced them to do so. They rushed towards Jafar.
The Atlantis aliens watched the situation unfold without moving. It was as if they did not fear the battle before them at all and only viewed it out of curiosity, trying to understand the history that had led to this point. Most of all, Taylor could see the one who had spoken to him watching Jafar bravely take on the Juggernauts and risk his life for Taylor.
Jafar struck down another with the heavy weapon, but it jammed as it overheated from the sustained fire. He let it drop and drew his Assegai as the last Juggernaut smashed into him and sent him flying. Taylor rushed on over to help. As he approached the Juggernaut, Jafar leapt up and struck the creature with a wild swing that hit it so hard it staggered back. As it did so, Taylor thrust his Assegai into its back.
The ferocious creature straightened and then swung around to try and reach him. He ducked under and turned in the same direction it was turning and stabbed again. It let out a scream in pain and tried once more to reach for him, but this time Jafar got a hold of the creature and stabbed into its head. It quivered and finally dropped dead. Taylor stepped aside in time to save from being crushed by the corpse.
He nodded in appreciation to Jafar who wobbled a little, and it was clear he was still weak. Taylor took a hold of him as he dropped to one knee. He looked over to the Atlantis aliens who still watched him above all else. They seemed utterly oblivious to the battle. Pulses ignited around them, and yet somehow they were not hurt. He was not sure if they were invincible to the weapons in use, or merely mesmerised by what they saw.
Taylor looked around. The other 50CMG was still blazing away but finally jammed. The crew got to their feet and drew their Assegais and joined in the battle. He saw Abbot get hit by two pulses and another two of Parker’s platoon struck down as she rushed past and engaged their attackers in hand-to-hand.
Hundreds more Mechs descended from the sky and more Juggernauts with them. Taylor knew it was far more than they could handle on their own. He looked back to the mysterious aliens who still watched the battle while their two robots stood idle like statues.
“They are the enemy!” he screamed, “Will you do nothing?”
The three looked at each other as if trying to find consensus. They eventually looked back and began walking towards him. Still they showed no concern for their own lives. A pulse rushed towards one and past through and struck the ground with no resistance at all, neither any damage.
‘They’re holograms,” whispered Taylor, “Just like Erdogan had been when he taunted me.”
He looked down at Jafar, who was down on one knee once again and clearly wounded badly.
“I do not know who they are,” he said, “But if you must give them my life in return for their help, you do it.”
Taylor shook his head.
“Not a chance in hell.”
He helped Jafar back to his feet and stood before the three aliens approaching them. He didn’t know whether to stand in defence or offer his hand in friendship. Either way, he could tell they were far more technologically advanced than either race and should be respected as such. They stopped before him and carefully studied him and Jafar once again. The one who had spoken before addressed him again.
“These animals that invade our world. They are not your allies?”
“No, Sir,” replied Taylor, “They are as far from allies as you can possibly get. We are fighting for our lives, and hopefully fighting to return to our homeworld some day.”
“And this creature who fights with you. You trust him?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because he is my brother. He has been my brother since I met him. He has been through every hell I have been through, and been there every time for me.”
“And you would risk your life for him?”
“I would. I would for any one of my people you see here.”
He looked around at the battle still on going. His people were cutting down Mechs at an alarming rate, but more came to fill their place. He looked back to the three aliens, and they were still studying him. He pulled off his helmet and dropped it down by his side so they could get a better look at him. The air was putrid compared to what he was used to, but it was still nice to feel natural air on his sweaty face.
“All I want is for my people to be safe. We don’t want to take anything from you, but we will take everything we can from our enemies until the very last one of us still draws breath. You seem to hate them as much as we do. Will you let them carry on ripping up your planet?”
He prayed his pleading would have some result. He didn’t care for the future. All he cared about was then and there. Another fifteen minutes and they’d all be dead. One of the Mechs stormed towards him as he spoke. He ducked under as it thrust at him with its spear-like weapon and drove his Assegai deep before moving on to its comrade that followed soon after. He leapt over and turned until he landed on its back. Taylor drove his Assegai down into its collarbone, and it dropped dead beneath him.
“Please! Help us!” he shouted.
He saw a blade coming out of the corner of his eye and turned just in time for the impact to only brush his armour. Still it cut through and sliced deep into his arm. As he reeled from the pain, Jafar summoned all the strength he could and charged at the Mech and smashed it down. He punched at its faceplate until it shattered, and he struck through to its head; blood spewed out over his hands.
Taylor was on his knees, looking up at the projections of the creatures and held out his empty bloody hands.
“I beg you. Fight with us. Fight these invaders of your lands. We had no idea there were living creatures on this planet. But they did, and you know it. Help us, and we will leave here and never return. Help us to fight them!”
They looked at each other as if they were making their decision. Suddenly their projections vanished into thin air.