[TheFightingSpirit]

Incursion Eleven: Betrayal.

Weeks ago, Agency HQ

After Black Water’s attack in the hangar, General Bryant was rushed to the med bay.

“Let me go. That’s an order,” he yelled. He’d just seen his own people turn against one another, corpses infected by the infection. Now was not a time to be sitting around on hospital bed while quacks wasted effort.

When they eventually got him onto a bed, the base’s chief medical officer approached wearily.

“Sir, I’m sorry. I’m only doing my job,” she said. “I have the final verdict on whether or not you can return to duty.”

“I know that you blithering idiot. I’m a General damn it!” he roared.

She backed away at this, “Yes, sir, of course, sir.” She gestured for a subordinate to fetch her instruments. “Only… you just had a run in with pure Black Water. You and I both know what that means.”

He narrowed his eyes at the CMO. “Make it quick.”

Though the nurse had only been gone a few seconds, the doctor decided it was best she chase up on the matter and left the General alone.

By the time she got back with the diagnostic tools she need, Bryant had gone.

o0o

The General stumbled into his office and collapsed in his chair. He yanked a rag from the desk draw and coughed into it, doubling over almost.

He pulled back gasping for stolen breath. Black gunk stained the rag.

“Dammit!” He threw it clean across the room and stood suddenly, toppling his chair. The clattering would soon attract the attention of his secretary but frankly he didn’t care.

The rangers… they talked big, they had the power, but did they lift a finger to stop the Black Water from infecting him?

“Too bloody right they didn’t!”

His secretary poked his head around the door, speaking meekly, “Are you alright, General? Should I call for Doctor-“

“You’ll do no such thing!”

“As you wish, sir.” He left as quickly as he arrived, knowing not to trifle with the General when he was mood.

o0o
Days later.

General Bryant stood alone in the hangar. He’d just had a meeting with Lieutenant Moses to discuss the Ranger situation and felt the need to let off some steam.

Though the CMO had attempt to recall him for the check-up he’d walked out on, he assured her he had never felt better. And it was only half a lie. The coughing had gotten worse. His chest felt… waterlogged and no matter how he tried, he couldn’t clear it.

But now he felt different. Every time the thought of the Rangers crossed his mind, anger surged through him, and that anger made him stronger.

He gazed wide eyed at the back of his hands. The sight of the two glowing symbols on made it all the more worse.

Darkness descended across his vision and he yelled obscenities into the empty hangar.

o0o

Black Cross prised Maria’s hands from around his throat, flipped her over his shoulder and forced her mass to the ground. A textbook example of judo technique.

He stood on her stomach and gleefully pushed the air from her lungs. “I considered you one of my best accomplishments.”

“Well, I’m sorry… sir… you’ll have to … rethink that,” she gasped.

Though Green Cross knew next to nothing about the General-turned-Ranger, he couldn’t stand idly by a watch him pick on a woman—soldier or not. He dashed forward and threw a punch at Black Cross’ head. The ranger stumbled backwards.

Meanwhile, Red Cross helped Maria to her feet.

She clutched her chest and studied the morpher on her hand.

Though she’d hardly admit it to anyone present, Maria had wanted the Ranger power for herself. At first, she’d wanted to take it from Robert and the gang. Surely it could be put to better use by the military. Then it dawned on her… she didn’t want that, not really.

She wanted to join them in their fight.

Only so much I can do as a conventional solider.

And so she did what she’d seen every Ranger do thus far, she ranked up with the other four and crossed her arms in a x-like fashion at her waist.

“Cross Form,” instinct compelled her to shout.

She swung her arms in wide, opposing arcs of glowing yellow magi power and recrossed them in a plus at her chest. The light overtook her and the Yellow Cross armour materialised around her, first the suit and then the helmet showing the combined symbols of fire and a stylised sound wave; what she now knew to be the symbol of the sonic clan.

White Cross took the centre of their formation and called out to Black Cross. “I don’t want to fight you anymore... In fact I’d rather us magi worked together, against our common enemy.”

Black Cross ignored her entirely and leapt forward, drawing his gun. He fired shadow bullets amongst them, intending to miss.

The Rangers scattered, but soon wished they hadn’t.

Black Cross lashed out with his magi power. “Shadow Advent!” A wave of darkness burst from him and spread in all directions, sparking against the five rangers armour.

o0o

With magical energies whipping up the ground, Lt. Moses ordered Maria’s troops to cover behind their APVs. Many wanted to join the fight. Some with the Rangers and some with General Bryant.

“Stop it!” She bellowed. Her sudden outburst surprised them enough they did as they were told. They knew Catherine Moses as a meek, quiet officer. A lackey and nothing more. To see her stepping out of her shell and taking charge was … unthinkable. “In-fighting will do us no good.”

She stood to attention where they could all see her, ignoring the battle raging beyond. “You heard White Cross. We all have a common enemy. The infection devastating our country, destroying lives, creating monsters like the one you fought today, from innocent wildlife no less! Is this really the time to squabble amongst ourselves?”

The soldiers merely murmured to themselves. None seemed completely happy, but no one put a toe out of line.

A hail of bullets cut a line between Lt Moses and the soldiers.

The General’s elite lowered their guns, their squad leader stepped forward. “It really doesn’t matter what any of you think. You’ve betrayed General Bryant.”

Maria’s troops jumped to their feet and raised their weapons again. It quickly became a stand-off.

The Elite leader continued, “And what do we do with deserters in times of war?”

o0o

Yellow Cross rolled into a crouched position. “Resonance Advent.”

She flung her arms out and a humming pure tone wave of sound burst from her. The concussive effect of the wave knocked Black Cross back a few metres, but didn’t stop there. The perfect tone resonated against his helmet. A crack snaked and webbed across his visor.

“You’ll pay for that, Austin,” he shouted, evidently the attack had blown his ear drums.

Red Cross grabbed her by the shoulder before she could take out any more of her fury on the man.

“Stop.” He didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t shout, he didn’t even command her—after all, she was the captain, not him—but he couldn’t let her go all out against Black Cross.

“Let me go, Red,” she warned.

“No.” Blue Cross stepped forward mimicking the red ranger. The others followed him and formed a circle around Yellow Cross.

“There are more important things to accomplish than beat up some…” White Cross turned her head to look at Black Cross, to make sure he got the full impact of what she was about to say. “… Some twisted mad man.”

Black Cross burst out laughing. “See?! This is why I wanted to keep you fools out of the picture. You’re pitiful moral code is stopping you from doing... anything!” He advanced toward them. “You don’t know war like I do. You don’t understand the real impact of this invasion. But what do I know…” He shrugged and held up his hands, palms to the sky. “I’m just some twisted mad man.”

He pulled his gun from its holster and fired it wildly into the air. “Cyclone Blitz!”

As the shadow bullets rained down they spun and corkscrewed, whipping up a violent wind that picked the rangers up and tossed them around like rag dolls. The fires smouldering in the ruined carcass of the Howlerdillo were blown clean out like birthday candles, and a thick screen of dust obscured their view of just about everything.

When the wind settled down, the Rangers lay broken and battered on the ground; their suits torn, shredded, and their helmets shattered.

To top it all off, Black Cross, his elite guard and Maria’s troops were nowhere to be seen.

o0o
Three years ago

“General Bryant.” Maria Austin snapped a salute at her new commanding officer. “First Lieutenant Maria Austin reporting, sir.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Lieutenant,” Bryant said, standing from behind his desk and offering the young officer a hand to shake.

Here was a man whose influence preceded him. A man who’d taken it upon himself to form the nation’s first and so far only defence initiative against the growing Black Water threat. Maria had positively jump at the chance to serve under him.

“I look forward to working for you, sir.”