Man Without A Cross

The small rod in Vallion’s hand extended into a six-foot shaft, and he back-flipped over one of the rushing NaCos as he sliced upward. Though the NaCo’s beam missed him, Vallion’s downswing connected with the rushing commando. The end of the pole crashed down on the NaCo’s skull, knocking him unconscious. Vallion landed on the ground, went into a crouch, and spun around with the pole outstretched before him in one fluid motion. The pole caught the surprised squad leader in the back of his knees and knocked him to the ground. The NaCo kicked-up his feet as he fell, tucking his head, and forcing himself to roll backwards. As he leapt to his feet, the other two NaCos rushed forward and Vallion charged to meet them.

As the first slashed at him, Vallion ducked, and then executed a front flip over the second blade. He kicked out to the side and staggered a NaCo before spinning on the ball of his other heel and throwing his rod, javelin-style. A blade shot out of the front and extended for nearly three feet as the rod flew through the air towards a NaCo. The soldier tried to dodge aside, but Vallion’s throw had been too quick. The spear pinned the NaCo to a piece of concrete debris. With two of their number down, and most of their attack force destroyed or missing, the remaining NaCos tried to retreat. Vallion grasped another two-inch bar from his waist and pursued them. As he did so, the small bar transformed into a four-foot laser-sword at the same time that his forearm nano-armor expanded into a large, buckler-style shield. Vallion closed with the fleeing NaCos. As they turned to fight him, Vallion sliced the handle of the first NaCo’s laser sword in two, and then blocked the second’s slash with his buckler. The laser sliced part-way through the armor but failed to penetrate fully. The disarmed NaCo dropped into a crouch and kicked out with both feet as his hand swept towards his holstered pistol. Vallion nimbly flipped over him, slamming his shield into the side of the NaCo’s head as he did so, spread-eagling the NaCo. The last NaCo sprang forward, mad with fear. Vallion ducked a swing and knocked the NaCo onto the ground. Before he could move, Vallion put the laser sword to his throat and ripped off the commando’s helmet.

The NaCo looked steadily at Vallion with fear in his eyes, but then it died out and was replaced by a cold defiance. His intense training had won out, and Vallion could tell that the NaCo was ready for whatever was to come.

Vallion deactivated his sword shield, and stood. The NaCo instantly seized the moment to flip backwards over a piece of debris. As he landed, however, the wreckage exploded, knocking him backward. He landed hard on his back, tucked his head, and rolled. As he did so, a hand grabbed him by the neck and swung him up into the air. The NaCo used all of his combat skills to break the hold, but he could do nothing against the black armor. Vallion lifted him as high as he could and then the NaCo kicked him in the chin.

Vallion’s head snapped back as though on a hinge, but he did not loosen his grip. The NaCo’s fear returned, for nothing in his training, intense as it had been, had prepared him for a foe of this caliber.

Vallion spoke, “Tell Vohn that I want him. Tell him to release his hold on the nations he now controls, and to repeal his unjust laws and restore the properties he has taken. Tell him that if he doesn’t, I will kill him. Do you think I can?”

The NaCo stared down defiantly. Vallion shook him hard, but the NaCo would not say. His eyes told all, though, for Vallion could see the fear. That was good. If he could strike fear into the hearts of the most lethal, most feared commandos in the world, then his job would be made that much easier.

Inside his visor, Vallion looked at another icon similar to the telescopic hologram. He blinked twice. The sensors in his suit probed the NaCo’s body with invisible lasers, recording everything about his health. Slowly, Vallion began to squeeze the NaCo’s throat. He carefully watched the health displays, and, when they flashed warning signs and an alarm tone sounded, the NaCo went limp. Immediately, Vallion released his grip so that the NaCo would not suffocate, and eased him to the ground.

Vallion retraced his steps and retrieved his spear. The NaCo that lay nearby stirred but did not regain consciousness. At that moment, the remaining guerillas climbed past the debris and entered the small alcove. They stood in a staggered line, weapons at the ready. Vallion looked at them as he cleaned his spear. When he finished, Vallion pressed a switch and it shrunk back to its two inch carry size.

“Who are you?” asked the leader as Vallion turned towards him, “What are you and why are you here?”

When Vallion didn’t answer, the leader became angry and raised his weapon threateningly. So did the rest of his force.

“I said who are you?”

Vallion sighed as he pressed buttons on his left wrist computer.

“Stop! What are you doing?”

Vallion finished the commands and then carefully held his hands at his sides, elbows crooked, so that his wrists faced ahead of him. He then answered, “All of you are coming with me.”

They stared at him, and then the leader started to laugh.

“If that’s the way you want it buddy,” he said, “but I can’t be responsible for what we do to you if you try to take us.”

Vallion shifted his hands and a steel cable shot out of each. They slammed into both of the grenade-launchers that the group possessed, the barbed ends smashing all the way through and hooking into the barrels. Vallion jerked hard and the guns were wrenched from the rebels’ hands. He crouched as one of them fired a portable rocket-launcher at him. As it passed over his head, Vallion swung the guns around. Each one acted like a whip, slinging around the barrel of the rocket-launcher. Vallion wrenched it away and swung the launcher around, knocking over two of the guerillas. The cables detached, and the tangled weapons slammed into a third member, knocking him to the ground before he could get behind cover. By then, all the guerillas had reached cover and had opened fire on Vallion. Bullets blasted off shards of armor and a grenade exploded several yards to his left.