Duel on Luna

This was a short story piece I submitted to the Master's Review but never won it.

I want to get my name out there as a fiction writer.

This story will be one among many stories; taking place in a war-torn Earth that is overrun by machines that enslave them when they are not slaughtering them.

Whereas this story takes place on the moon as the title implies.

It will feature a race of humanoids known as the Mazians.

Nîô Otan, the Ninth Warrior, had fought against many Saiberions, Battle-Drones and Sai-men, all in service to a being known as SAION (Supreme Artificial Intelligence Online). But never once had she fought down a Sai-Lord. She had been told of who they were by renegade Saibers, but what she was facing down was certainly living up to its name.

"Die xeno scum" the Sai-Lord shouted as he charged at her with slashing swords.

The Sai-Lord she was facing down was known as Reichsleiter Helzorg and it did not have one sword in his right hand, it had five more with one being in its left hand while the rest came from four more arms that sprung out from its side. For Niô, this would be a challenge worthy of the ages. ____________________________________________________

Before

"From what we can gather, SAION forces have their command center in what the humans call the Sea of Serenity" Supreme Commander Arn Thane explained in the briefing room that was setup for the Striking Wind and Death Wind troops of the Mazian Army. The people of the Mazian worlds were not known for their military might, they were mostly a race devoted to the sciences, logic and reason. But when it came to a fight, especially one that involved the liberation of a world and the saving of a species from extinction, they had plenty to fight a war even if it lasted a thousand years.

"We will attack here while the main force causes a diversion at the Ocean of Storms and the Sea of Fecundity, causing SAION forces to split up their forces. The Humboldt crater will be struck by Striking Wind led by Niô Otan and the Tycho crater will be struck the Death Wind troops led by myself. We will not strike both craters until the diversionary forces of the Stone-Fist and Fire-Storm armies, have drawn out SAION forces. The Daen and Thawk attack ships will transport and aide Death Wind troops into reaching the Sea of Serenity" Thane concluded. As the lights came back on the troops rose to attention.

"As usual I will not lie to you. The causalities in this conflict will not be low, many of you may not live past the day. But on this day the forces of SAION will regret having invaded the Mazian worlds. On this day they will regret having fought the Mazians, and on this day it will forever be known as the day that the human race knew that they did not fight and die alone. Glory to our descendants, glory to Mazia!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone in the room raised their fists as one, chanting the small same as their leader. ____________________________________________________

After she and the Striking Wind troops had been deployed, she had gotten word that Stone-Fist and Fire-Storm armies were in position. It was time for her unit to carry out their part of the operation. As they begun, Striking Wind troops began taking fire.

"Two scythes reap the grain" Otan commanded calmly. The maneuver she stated meant that the unit should split in two and attack from both sides. Van Tar was her second and lead his half of the unit on the right flank while she led the rest on the left flank.

As she unsheathed her swords she finally had a chance to look at who her unit was fighting. She wasn't as appalled by the sight as were her fellow initiates.

The enemy combatants had the physical appearances of human beings and their armor was grayish silver, but it was what they were wearing that was most shocking.

They were wearing what looked like human bones and skulls for jewelry and flesh for capes or banners. She could not stand the sight of such evil and decided to deliver justice.

"Thawk swoops in for the Meo" she shouted out as she and the initiates charged towards the enemy ranks.

____________________________________________________

"Why don't you just die scum?" Helzorg shouted out as he locked two of his swords against the pair Niô had.

She was forced to jump backwards as the other four of the blades came down upon her. She needed to rethink her strategy, for this Sai-Lord was in charge of all the forces here on Luna and defeating it would cause confusion among the ranks of the troops.

She had her plan. It was one in a Dazillion chance, but she knew she needed to take it.

"Dakken-Kar, Master of Swords, give me strength" she said to herself as she then crossed both her blades. She then closed her eyes and then started to hum as she began to poor all her mental and spiritual energy into her swords. They too began to hum and glow.

"Your inferior blood shall look good on my blades, just as your flayed skin will make a nice cloak" Helzorg gave what sounded like a snarl as he charged at her with all his blades pointed at her like a spear.

As his swords were about to collide with hers, she opened her eyes and the world around both her and Helzorg exploded.

Helzorg's arms had been evaporated and his body had been badly damaged. Sparks were coming out of all orifices and his visor blinked rapidly.

"How can I, a member of the master race be so easily defeated?" Helzorg garbled in what sounded like shock.

"There is no master race, only a master of self" she replied as she swung both her swords from left to right at the same time, slicing Helzorg's head off.

Fortunately, Niô was aware of his self-destruct sequence and walked away long before Helzorg exploded. She had proven herself worthy in the eyes of her ancestors and her fellow Mazians. Her duel on Luna had concluded and the real war was just beginning.