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After grabbing one of the thermal detonators, she closed up the metal container and replaced it into the storage compartment and rose to face Brian. "You need to get your men back to the town. Now that you know what they look like, you can inform the military and police."

"Alright." He turned to leave and noticed that she wasn't following. "You're coming also, right?"

She shook her head. "He's going to want to take me out first while his men are attacking Crestview and soon the base. I'll meet him here."

Motioning to Todd, "I'll catch up with you guys in town. Radio in what we've seen out here and get them ready."

"Meet you at the car," the taller agent stated as the combat team ran back into the woods.

"No. Go on, I'm staying here."

"No you're not," she interjected, prompting him to turn. "Go back with them. He'll kill you and I don't need any distractions."

"You could use the extra gun when he lands. I'll stay in the woods on his flank."

"You'll do what I told you to do," orange eyes sparkled brighter as she placed a hand on her hip. "Go. You can't help me with this one."

He sighed as he shook his head. "I thought I was a pain in the ass."

"Surprise." Feeling the combat resume in the air high above them, she knew she was running out of time. "He's coming, get out of here. Hurry."

"Alright," he backed. "You know how to get in touch when this is over."

She nodded, eyes to the dark grey sky as she blinked away rain. Calmly, she walked over to the opposite side of the small clearing and knelt down. Slowing her breathing, she began meditating and felt the aggression in the skies as well as in space high above them. Moving towards the engineering area, she found the main power core, swept with her hand and timed the baseball-sized bomb. After setting it undeneath the large, circular container, she withdrew her hand from the small, round gate and then closed it. That done, she realized that Brian wasn't going to keep his word as she felt him lay within the thick underbrush not far from the crashed pod. Encompassing her mind around him, she opened her arms in an oblong circle, joining her hands and swept another gate around him and closed it after clearing his feet.

* * *

Swirling in a massive dogfight, Sith pilots in sleek, Z-95 Headhunters attacked and evaded fighters who rose from various bases within Florida, Alabama and Georgia as their main assault force screamed through the sky on their way to through the grey cloud cover. Red bolts, missiles and explosions filled the sky in and around the enormous thunderheads rising from the pillowy, golden carpet as evening fell.

Within the command shuttle, Becuma felt his student preparing for his arrival and he smiled darkly. Once she was eliminated, his road to ruling this backwards system would be smooth and quick. He also felt the chaos around him as his vessel descended and he reveled in it, soaking up the death and agonizing pain that the pilots felt as they fell to the earth. Rumbling, the shuttle soon found it's destination as their Adim general moved to the gangway and pushed the green button to his right, opening the door as the ramp lowered. Stepping down into the swirling, windy maelstrom, he crouched as the darker treetops soon came into view as he readied for his descent. Once he felt her presence near, he leaped into the air and controlled his fall until landing near the pod's exit and the body of his trusted lieutenant.

Igniting his saber, he charged as she rose, angry red blade in her own hand. "You've done well, my love," he began as their blades clashed, swung and parried. Angrily, he pressed his attack, noticing her weakened state after being nearly burned to death by Derixor's lightning. Feinting, he motioned with his left hand, knocking her backwards onto the ground. Leaping, he attacked, swinging down mightily as she dodged right and blocked his backswing that threatened to cleave her in two. Laughing, he continued his assault, dodging fallen trees as he prepped his next trick, waiting for the right moment. Backing, she parried and feinted until he had her backed near the pod, yellowing teeth smiled in disdain at her weakness.

"You disappoint me. After all the knowledge that I let you attain, this is the best you could muster?" He blocked her blade upward and kicked. As she dodged, spun and shoved, he found himself slammed into the doorway of the pod. Hatred flowing through him, he spun as energy coursed to his right arm as her blade flashed. Red lightning burst from his fingertips as the arm was severed. Screaming, he cut downward and caught her in the shoulder as she tried to block. Suddenly, she backed and blended with the background.

"Your reign is at an end, you filthy bastard."

He threw his lightsaber, nearly catching her in the midsection but watched in amazement as she disappeared and he felt the burning explosion that filled his eyes and mind...

* * *

Brian watched as the wet, long grass was suddenly replaced by the white, sterile walls of the hospital. Footsteps on the tiled floor in the hallway beyond the door to his distant right made him realize where he was, but not how he suddenly got here. Laying his head on the cold floor, he sighed. 'Damnit', he thought, then pushed himself up, holstering his pistol. As he walked through the empty room, he listened and heard the commotion within the voices as he opened the door. Nurses raced with victims burned, wet and bandaged and he realized that the attack had begun. Rumbling outside resembled thunder as well as the sound of explosions which prompted him to race through the flow of people and gurneys until reaching the front lobby, also full of waiting patients, crying children and two policemen trying to calm everyone down. Once outside, he noticed the lines of burning wreckage that rained down along with green bolts searing through the clouds and hitting the base to the south. In amazement, he stood, helpless and for the first time without any idea what to do or where to help first.

Two screaming jets passed overhead which prompted him to crouch reflexively as two other fighters of some odd configuration chased them, firing red bolts from their wings. He stared in amazement as they disappeared into the grey soup above as another, older man stood nearby.

"Sure never thought I'd live to see this," he commented, matter-of-factly.

Brian turned to him. "Get inside, hurry." He sprinted to the patrol car still parked in the circle drive and jumped in. Somehow he had to reach her before it was too late, he thought as he looked for the keys.

"Hey, get out of there," a male voice yelled as Brian perked up, then stepped out.

"I'm Agent Strauss, FBI," he informed the sheriff. "I need to borrow your car," he flashed his identification. "Come on." Catching the keys, he sat in as he slammed the door shut and cranked the ignition. Punching the accelerator, he raced through the quiet streets, passed occasional burning buildings full of wreckage. Once on the highway, he pushed the car northward. Suddenly, he noticed the bright flash to his right that lit up the sky like a nuclear blast and his heart fell. With an enormous wave, the shock blew the car sideways and he saw his life flash before his eyes in a swirl of dark and light.

* * *

Brian awoke to the quiet, echoing voices and foosteps as brown eyes opened to eye the tall ceiling whose dark girders and large hanging lights made him realize that he wasn't in a hospital. His body ached and he soon noticed that his lower left arm was in a cast. As he looked around, the gymnasium was full of miltiary style cots, each housing a person. To his immediate left, an older women slept soundly underneath a thick quilt, beyond her the snoring of some larger gentleman echoed in time with several others within the large room. His right hand searched and found his gun, badge and wallet in a plastic bag next to his leg and underneath the olive blanket that covered him. His mind soon reminded him of the explosion that he saw within the grey curtain and his heart melted. She didn't have to sacrifice herself like that, he thought. There had to have been a better way, fight on ground of their choosing, not his. Emotions welled as he raised his right hand and covered his eyes and soon, he felt the necklace settled on his chest. Clearing his eyes, he reached in and pulled out the familiar silver pendant that he had found on the pod. Tears turned quickly to hope.