Chapter Twenty: The Death of God

11:30 PMA thousand soldiers stood in front of Commander James Gunner.
Commander Gunner
Alright men, we are now, after many years of waiting, starting Operation Gears.
The room filled with cheers, they’d been waiting for this.
Commander Gunner
The President might be under attack and we’ve been given the green light to start this. Now in just a moment you will load yourselves onto your Gear and be put on standby.
The whole room let out a hoorah.
Gunner
Now, we don’t know fully who our enemy is, but you’ve gone through your training, and they’d be idiotic if they were to stand against a Gear.
There was a wave of agreement.
Gunner
The world will watch as Gears take the field of battle and we show that the United States will not bow to an Empire of madness.
They all cheered. Just as they were, the door behind James opened and a young man dressed in white walked in. He had short blond hair and he had his face in his hand as he looked down.
Stranger
How amusing. 
Gunner
Excuse me son, who the hell do you think you are? You’re on government property. 
Stranger
I’ve seem to have lost my way. You see, I was looking for some tools and one thing led to another and I ended up here. 
Gunner
Tools, there are no tools here, this is a military base. 
Stranger
Oh, is that where I am? Well, it seems like I did find my tools.
He looked up at everyone and they all looked back into his silver eyes.
11:45 PM 
Velis
Why are you here?
Velis and Akasha were crouched low on the tip of the Washington Monument.
Akasha
Master thought this would be a bit more difficult. I will only cover you from above. 
Velis
The lightning of Akasha watching my back, I don’t think I’ll find anything better.
 11:50 PM
Amya stood in front of her followers.
Amya
Roselyn,
Roselyn stood in front of Amya with long red hair and a dark green robe with a large bow in her hand.
Roselyn
My lady?
Amya
I have a bad feeling.
 Roselyn
You need not worry, we have time. 
11:55 PM 
Nicholas
Someone’s about to turn off all the lights.
Nicholas looked outside the window.
Nicholas
If you’re out there, you’ll get me through this. 
11:59 PM
Suri pulled her lips away from Arkain’s.
Suri
Here we go. 
Arkain
Yeah, scared?
Suri
Kind of, I just don’t want to fall on my face. Life is about to get turned upside down again. Aren’t you afraid?
Arkain
I never found it scary after the first time my life was turned upside down. Since then, I’ve just learned how to walk upside down. That's all you can do when life turns upside down if you're tired of falling flat on your face.
Suri looked down at the world from over Arkain’s shoulder.
12:01 AM
Nicholas held onto his desk as the room shook and explosions erupted outside. Outside giant lightning bolts were striking the entire area that surrounded the White House.
Nicholas
Damn. They have started early.
He pushed the side button on his watch.
Nicholas
Amya, where are you?
The glass above him shattered and he saw a body fall in front of him.
Nicholas
Who are you?
The girl rose from behind the desk.
Velis
Hello, Mr. Romberg. 
Nicholas
So you’re that young girl I’ve heard so much about.
The room shook and Romberg fell to the side but kept his stance by holding onto the desk.
Nicholas
You’ve come to kill me? 
Velis
Yes.
She smiled.
Nicholas
You’d end peace with my life. 
Velis
Fake peace. Not all of us are ignorant Mr. Romberg.
She put her hand on the desk.
Velis
We know the only reason the treaty of the United Nations was signed was because of your giant robots, your Operations Gears. 
Nicholas
I see you all are aware of some things the general public isn’t. 
Velis
Why else would the world bow down together in front of the United States? 
Nicholas
It has saved lives.
Velis
It has. I won’t argue with that. Now the time has come to shift leadership. I’m sure you won’t mind. 
Nicholas
People will die under your leadership. 
Velis
Good, I don’t care. 
Nicholas
One day, one day you will. Even you have to care about someone. One day you'll regret that you murdered someone! 
Velis
The end is present.
Nicholas closed his eyes. The top of the roof was pulled from the walls. Giant robots stood above in the dark sky. Nicholas opened his eyes.
Nicholas
Present for you my dear?
One Gear pointed its arm at Nicholas.
Velis
Kill him.
Nicholas did not know what was going on, the Gear was aiming at him. Arrows appeared in the Gear’s arm and giant roots began to break through its metal.
Velis
Damn!
Velis jumped back as arrows flew her way.
Roselyn
Mr. Romberg, get behind me.
Nicholas ran behind Roselyn. Five Gears began to fight the other Gears.
Roselyn
The Gears are rogue. Five Gears are manned by our people, we don’t have much time.
Nicholas
How did this happen?
Velis walked forward a bit.
Velis
Did you think you had it all under control? 
Roselyn
Quiet woman!
Cameron
Only if you will.
Cameron appeared on the tip of the wall where the roof had been.
Velis
Cameron, where are the others?
Malic appeared on the other side of the wall as Cameron.
Malic
Hello friends. Pleasure to meet you Mr. Romberg. Sorry guys, Merdos and Masato never showed up. 
Akasha
Quiet idiot.
Akasha appeared next to Velis.
Akasha
Roselyn, you’re surrounded. 
Roselyn
I will die if I must.
Velis
I like you. 
Roselyn
Hold your tongue, whore.
Velis licked her lips.
Nicholas
Roselyn, it’s over. 
Roselyn
No, Mr. Romberg it is not.
Velis
Very hopeful, you are.
Cameron dropped down next to Velis.
Cameron
Can we get this over with? I want them both dead. 
Akasha
Roselyn, you don’t have to die.
Cameron
Yes she does.
Velis
Calm down, Cameron. 
Elijah
Hold your fire men, or your people die as well.
They all looked up to see five Gears pointing down on them.
Elijah
We hold nuclear devices that will obliterate this entire area should you continue to fire.
Every Gear lowered their weapon.
Akasha
He is watching as well. 
Elijah
I advise all of you to leave or you will die. 
Velis
Come on roboboy, do it!
Cameron
This is irritating.
Malic
They won’t do it, Nicholas means too much. 
Akasha
You do not want to die here, none of you. Even you Roselyn who speaks so highly of suicide for her mission. Give us the president, and you all will live. 
Nicholas
So much chaos. 
Roselyn
We will all give our lives.
Cameron
Where is Amya? 
Amya
Here.
She appeared on the window behind Nicholas and Roselyn.
Amya
It’s over. 
Akasha
I’m glad you finally agree, Amya.
Nicholas did not understand this, he turned around.
Nicholas
Amya, no!
Amya’s hand was about to touch his chest.
Amya
I’m sorry, Nicholas.
Nicholas closed his eyes and just as he did he felt as if he’d gotten hit by a boulder on his right side and he fell to the ground.
Amya
An angel?
Amya’s hand was placed on a bare chest. Nicholas looked up at the person who was now standing in his place.
Nicholas
It’s you, I knew you’d come.
 Elijah
Run!
Elijah was now outside his Gear and everything turned white.

Ximendos
I am not fond of deceit.
Velis was on the floor squirming around in pain.
Cameron
We did not know.
 Saliva fell out of her mouth, she did everything but scream.
Ximendos
You made a claim, and you did not even make sure it was true.
They all stood watching.
Akasha
My love, forgive her. 
Ximendos
I do not forgive. I am not running a show of imbeciles.
Velis put her hands on her head.
Ximendos
Nicholas got away because of your lack of intelligence. 
Malic
At least we have a new person. 
Ximendos
Shut up!
Malic lowered his head.
Ximendos
Orthak,
The hooded figure in the back moved forward.
Ximendos
I grow tired of all this. Find me the boy, find me them all. 
Cameron
The plan is still in motion. 
Ximendos
Silence, I now have to address the billions of idiotic humans in the world.
The skies were filled with Ximendos’ voice again.
Ximendos
Listen closely humans.
The whole world dropped what they were doing.
Ximendos
Just a few moments ago, your nation died. Human reign over the world is at an end.
Everyone was at a loss for words.
Ximendos
Please turn your television sets on now.
Every human on the face of the earth ran for their television sets.
Ximendos
I’ve taken the liberty of inviting every news broadcaster to what was, the White House.
As Television sets turned on, they were showing a black dark room with one chair in the middle. A hand was visible on the arm rest and feet at the bottom.
Ximendos
Please allow me to make introduction to your new lords.
 Eyes were glued onto this image.
Ximendos
Prince Ilias Anselia.
Ilias walked forward, dressed in a white and silver suit as his short blond hair glowed in the dark along with his silver eyes.
Ximendos
Princess Iris Anselia.
 Iris walked forward, dressed in a white and yellow suit as her long blond hair glowed in the dark along with her silver eyes as well.
Ximendos
Prince Cameron Anselia.
Cameron walked forward dressed in a blue and black suit.
Ximendos
Princess Gemma Anselia.
Gemma walked forward dressed in red and black suit.
Ximendos
These are my children, these are your masters.
Everyone around the world could not believe what they were seeing.
Ximendos
Also, Queen Amya Anselia and Akasha Anselia.
They both walked forward dressed in all white suits.
Ximendos
I am your Emperor, but you’re not worthy enough to rest your vision on my face. Humanity is too savage and slow to be fit to rule. This is your new Empire, the Solace Empire. You will bow, or you will die.
The TV’s now showed the Washington Monument behind Cameron.
Ximendos
View, the extent of our power.
Cameron lifted his hand and an explosion erupted in the middle of the monument and it crumbled down.
Ximendos
You all believed in death you will go to a better place, one some of you call heaven. I beseech you now to die and go there because living now, is truly the hell you feared.
Cries across the world began.
Ximendos
No God can save you now. Witness now, the death of God, and the rise of another, Ximendos Anselia.