Battle Of Planets

Chapter 31: Captain Barnes
Captain Barnes watched grimly, his gaze fixed on the lone figure standing atop the rooftop across from the building. He recognized him instantly—a man who had once fought alongside the General in the tournament, a warrior who could have quickly taken the helm as General of any other city had he chosen to. But instead, he had walked a different path. A rogue’s path.”I-Is that... Coco?” the President murmured, his voice unusually tense. He knew precisely what it meant to see that man standing before them. ”I suppose he has finally decided to make his move.”

The Rangers on the third floor, assigned to guard the President, felt a heavy weight settle over them. They knew Coco’s name well. Although he rarely acted alone, his mere presence spoke volumes. He was powerful—dangerous. The kind of man who didn’t need an army to change the tide of battle.

”It’s him... What the hell are we supposed to do now?” one Ranger muttered, gripping his weapon tighter.

”We’re already short on staff up here,” another whispered in panic. ”If he’s here, that means-”

”That means we’re screwed,” a third Ranger interrupted, ”He took down our damn chopper. We’re totally cut off!”

The weight of their situation felt suffocating. They had managed to keep the President safe so far, thanks in part to Captain Barnes’ leadership. But even Dex—a loose cannon who would do whatever it took to achieve his goals—was on the enemy side. The odds were stacked against them.

They had been so close to getting the President to safety. But now, Coco stood in their way.

And with him, their final hope for ground support was fading fast.

”Why so serious?” Dex cackled, coughing and clutching his ribs. The earlier punch had taken a toll on him. ”You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Laughter erupted from the gathered rogues as they watched their leader make his grand entrance. With the sheer number of reinforcements on their side, confidence surged through them. Victory felt inevitable for them.

The Rangers were now defending, and next, their goal would be in sight even before the strongest Elrian could come to turn the tides.

”W-What do I do, sir?” a sweating lieutenant asked, holding his weapon more tightly.

”Save the President at all costs,” said Captain Barnes decisively, his voice steady. ”Find an exit. I’ll keep them busy as long as I can.”

The tension in the room grew thicker. The lieutenant hesitated before he nodded, but the doubt in his eyes remained.

The President, observing the exchange, finally spoke. ”How confident are you that you can defeat him, Captain?” His voice was steady, yet it had an edge—like he was calculating something.

Barnes stayed quiet for a moment before letting out a breath. ”Only the General can take him down. You know that, President.”

A deep silence fell. They all knew the reality behind those words.

”And yet.” the President whispered, looking at Dex and the other rogues. ”It appears Coco has ensured the General isn’t present for this battle.” His piercing eyes locked onto the rogues. ”Speak, then. What do you really want?”

Dex cocked his head and smiled. ”Me?” He waited a beat before releasing a raspy laugh. ”I don’t know. I’m in just for a fight.”

For an instant, it seemed as if the whole building shook. A shadow loomed above, and Coco leaped from the roof of the nearby building before anyone could move, his form plummeting like a meteor.

He collided forcefully with the third floor, where the President and security team awaited. The glass wall broke upon impact, shards scattering in every direction like a thousand sharp blades. His armored figure crashed through the rubble, creating a shockwave resonating in the room as he crouched down, the floor protesting beneath his weight.

A blast of wind hurried through the open gap, whirling dust and broken glass as Coco gradually rose to his full stature, his intense eyes fixed on the President. Once ablaze with agitated activity, the room was stunned into frozen silence.

”Edmund, my friend,” Coco uttered, his tone silky but accompanied by threat. ”I hope my people have kept you well amused.”

As he rose to his full height, the faint light gleamed his deep purple-black armor; the metallic plates made a soft noise with every step he took into the forefront.

The Rangers instinctively recoiled, their fear apparent. However, Captain Barnes remained steadfast, resolutely positioned next to President Edmund, his grip tightening in anticipation of what lay ahead.

”They did,” Edmund replied, maintaining his steady gaze as he surveyed the shattered glass wall below. ”So, you’ve chosen to emerge from the shadows.”

Coco chuckled softly. ”You and Edward pushed me away, my friend.”

As he spoke, his helmet dissolved into shimmering nanoparticles, retreating into his armor and revealing his face. His expression was calm, yet an undeniable fire flickered in his eyes. ”You left me no choice.”

”Will you stop this, Coco?” Edmund’s voice was firm, carrying the weight of years gone by. ”We were friends—three young men who dreamed of shaping the future of Elria together. But your vision turned into something else entirely somewhere along the way.”

The entire city knew about the strong relationship between President Edmund and General Edward—a bond cemented by years of fighting and ruling. Few people knew the third person who was once with them: a man who had grown with them but eventually walked a different road. Coco, leader of the Rogues.

Their friendship was broken when Coco returned from the Tournament of Planets. Something happened within him—he no longer wished to be a Ranger, no longer wanted to be the hope that humanity so desperately required. Instead, he went down a different path.

”Why all this ruin?” Edmund inquired, his voice heavy with disappointment and urgency. ”If you needed something, you could have approached me.”

Coco paused momentarily, his eyes darting to the Rogues behind him. They looked disturbed, not knowing what was happening in front of them. The typically irresponsible Dex stood in silence, confusion crossing his face. None of them knew their leader had a past with the President himself.

”That time has long passed,” Coco whispered, ”It’s no longer about asking; it’s about taking.”

As he spoke, the nanoparticles surged again, forming his helmet and sealing his face beneath the dark sheen of his armor. Captain Barnes instantly understood what was coming. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, positioning himself as a shield in front of the President.

”Safeguard the President!” Barnes bellowed, and the Rangers leaped into action.

Coco didn’t hesitate—a whip as long and stiff as a tree branch coiled in his hand in one swift motion. The whip cracked like a snake’s body, its tip whipping through the attacking Rangers with crushing force. They were knocked across the floor one by one, slamming into walls and broken glass as Coco’s brute power swept through their numbers.

Captain Barnes froze for an instant, taking sharp, hitching breaths. He had heard stories of Coco’s ferocity and even watched him battle through the Tournament of Planets, battling through monstrous spider-beasts and an army of man-eating ants. Coco had been a force of nature then—unrelenting, fearsome, and unstoppable.

Barnes had always sensed a shadow looming over him each time he looked at Coco’s profile in the Rangers’ files. He couldn’t help but wonder how things might have been different if Coco had remained with them. Now, however, that same individual was against them, possessing unimaginable power—his strength rated at nearly impenetrable 67 Power Points, a figure Barnes could only hope to emulate.

The whip struck out once more, crackling like a lightning bolt. Barnes acted on reflex, raising his fists, reinforced by his own armor, and parrying the blow with a crushing strike. Sparks erupted as metal met energy. Grinning through gritted teeth, Barnes stood firm, shielding the President as Coco wound up to attack once more.

”Captain Barnes,” Coco thoughtfully inclined his head. ”I’ve heard of your courage, and now, today, I see it with my own eyes. A pity that your allegiance is with Edward and not with me.”

”I’m bound to duty,” Barnes said strongly, refusing to back down. ”We don’t fight for power like you do. We fight to guard. We fight to serve.”

Coco laughed, a low, mocking sound. ”Good. Then let’s make it simple, Barnes. One-on-one duel. The winner takes the President.”

Barnes hesitated for a moment, weighing his options. But the truth was, he had none. ”It’s not like I have a choice, is it?”

”Right,” Coco sneered, facing his rogues. He held up a hand, instructing them to stand down. ”This battle is mine. But keep your open—if anyone attempts to flee, kill them.”

”Captain.” President Edmund’s tone was soft and calculated. The Rangers around him stiffened, putting themselves between him and the battle. ”Perhaps it would be best if I surrendered.”

”No.” Barnes didn’t even let him finish. His eyes burned with determination as he turned to face his leader. ”As long as I can fight, I won’t allow them to take you hostage.”

This was his duty. He might not have fought in the Tournament of Planets, but he had trained tirelessly for a day like this. He had sworn an oath to protect the people of Elria, to be the last line of defense when all else failed.

And now it was here. How could he ever look at himself again if he fled now and let terror guide his movements? How could he face General Edward, the man who had given him this task?

No. There would be no giving up. Settling his shoulders, Captain Barnes drew a breath and advanced. ”Let’s finish this”