Three Square Meals Ch. 071

His heart sunk in his chest and he was filled with despair as he remembered the effortless way John Blake had smashed his way into the complex. The vault door was hardly going to be a challenge to someone so insanely strong.

He could hardly believe it when he spotted Malifica sprinting up the ramp directly opposite, running full tilt towards him. "Grab her!" he yelled at his men, pointing towards her.

A couple of Bloodnovas dived towards the fleeing woman, knocking her to the floor as they grappled with her. "No, let me go!" she screamed, absolutely frantic. "He'll kill us all!"

Malifica thrashed in their grip, her desperation giving her added strength, and she managed to twist away from one of the pirates before kicking him in the groin.

Hades rose from his cover, and blurted out, "Stop fucking around, and grab her you fucking idiots!" He gestured to two more of his men, who ran over to help.

A flash of white drew his attention to the ramps, and figures in white armour glided smoothly into the room, appearing from all three entrances simultaneously. That was when the killing began again in earnest.

Blue laser fire from the groups to the left and right ripped through the two running pirates, catching them in a crossfire, as they sprinted towards the grappling group on the floor. The first was sawn in half by a deadly sweep of high-energy pulses, while the other was hit in the chest and throat, the blast to his neck neatly decapitating him. Both smouldering bodies crashed to the floor, as the armoured group coming up the ramp in the middle opened fire on the pirates trying to restrain Malifica.

The one clutching at his groin was shot in the head, killing him instantly, while the one attempting to grab the terrified woman was shot in the shoulder, melting through the joint. His arm fell to the metal deck with a wet thump, and he screamed in horror before being silenced abruptly by a shot to the face.

Free once more, Malifica scuttled backwards, staring at John in absolute terror. She scrambled to her feet and ran deeper into the room, her path cleared of pirates by the sweep of laser fire.

Hades saw John striding after the fleeing woman, and as the last of the Bloodnovas died around him, he seized at the one chance he had to try and escape the carnage. He darted out from behind the console to intercept Malifica, arms outstretched to catch her.

John moved in a blur, his long blade sweeping through the air as he charged across the room at incredible speed. He neatly cleaved through both of Hades' outstretched arms, slicing through them just below the wrist.

Hades crashed into Malifica, sending them both tumbling across the floor, and while he gaped at his bloodied stumps in horror, she tried to untangle herself to break free.

Irillith had followed John in his run across the room, leaping nimbly over the Bloodnova corpses in her path. She pulled off her helmet as she skidded to a halt in front of Malifica, and she gasped, "Tashana, it's me! Irillith! We're here to rescue you!"

Tashana froze, staring at her own beautiful face that loomed in front of her. It had been years since her features had been ruined, and she'd removed every mirror in her quarters to avoid any painful reminders. Seeing that glorious vision of her unspoilt beauty once again, pierced through her terror, and she held out her hand in wonder.

"I'll take care of you now," Irillith said, giving her a reassuring smile.

The words were an echo of something Irillith had told her over forty years ago, and to hear them again snapped Tashana out of her shocked state. Laughing maniacally, she tore away her golden mask, revealing her ravaged features. Irillith's smile was wiped off her beautiful face as she stared at her twin in horror.

"It's all your fault!" Tashana screamed, leaping forward and smashing her sister in the face with a roundhouse punch.

Irillith was knocked sprawling backwards, blue blood spraying from her nose as John and the girls moved in to break up the fight.

With her rage spent, Tashana collapsed on the floor, and hugging herself she began to weep. "It's all her fault," she sobbed brokenly.