《Reclamation Battalion》


 Volume 1, Chapter 1: Summer Vacation Begins

    Sitting here, my brain hears something it almost sounds mumbo jumbo. I only take a look around where did it come from, and there are still some people. It could be one of them but all of them are too far more than 5 meters. And my head feels... foggy, even I have sleep enough this morning.


    "Ugh, man! He''s late." as I said annoying. I lay down on the flat rock bench. I''ll have to use my hands as a pillow.


    "Hm, this bench looks long enough to become my bed."


    It didn''t took long before I''ve fallen asleep.


    My name is Alexander Toshiro Ting, 17 years old and a high school student. My friends and parents called me Alex, simply because it¡¯s short enough.


    It''s a sunny day in the morning and today is my first day of summer vacation. The first day... and what I get is a brain fog. It feels hot since it''s a sunny day. Thankfully, a bunch of palm trees line up alongside street walk. Plus, the feeling chill of the wind and hearing the wave sound feels relaxing.


    Well, this is not the first time that happens. I was getting brain fog two years ago. The teacher got mad when I didn''t pay attention and my classmate laughing at me. Thankfully, that is a one time. I thought it will never happen again.


    But three months ago, it happen again. And it started every month. I don''t know why, but I thought it was not a big deal. Even so, that didn''t stop my mom not worrying and taking me to the doctor. They didn''t find anything wrong with me.


    What I do know is, it''s happening after I have a dream. I can only hear the voice but can''t make up what it is. But I decide to ignore it. I''m sure it will go away soon.


    ...or so I thought. Man, my head is killing me.


    As I open my eyes a little bit before going back to sleep again...


    "Hey dude, what''s up?!"


    A guy came out of nowhere pop up at my face.


    "AHH, WHAT THE-!!!"


    My torso getting up in a reflex action and my brain feeling in shock.


    "Rafiq, what the hell? You scared me!"


    Taking a look at the guy who laughing at me. This guy is my classmate, and my best friend, Rafiq.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    He has a tan skin and black bowl haircut. He wasn''t ugly, I just think he''s look average. But he was a friendly guy who never afraid to express himself. You can feel with him around, you''re feeling comfortable with him, including me.


    "Alex, you''re sleeping way too much."


    It''s not like I wanted to, I just can''t help it. Anyone would want to lie down with their head spinning.


    "Are you trying to become Sleeping Princess?"


    "Yeah, I been waiting for a prince to wake me up!" We laughed. "What took you so long, Rafiq?"


    He folded his hands with a clap sound. "Sorry about that, bro. I was about to come early, but I was detained by my mom doing housework."


    I can tell he''s feeling guilty for being late at the meeting. His whole body are sweating and his breath rapidly puff.


    I was only waiting for him for almost an hour. Well, at least he came at time. Otherwise, I would keep sleeping until evening.


    Strangely, my head feels clear now. Probably because of shock feeling.


    "Oh, look at the time. Come on, let''s go Alex. We can still make it." when he takes a look at his watch.


    "But the parade is already stared an hour ago. It most likely over."


    Just a week ago they announced a military parade at Penang Island. Apparently, they said the war is almost soon. Of course, I never heard it once the enemy begin to surrender.


    I heard that The League of Dames has almost reached the capital of Union of Amazon and it''s only a matter of time before they''re surrounded. So, the Amazons have no choice but to surrender.


    "Better than not coming at all, come on!"


    "Alright, I''m coming."


    But before I follow him, I''ve pick up a flyer on the bench I took earlier.


    Taking a look again, I smiled. It was a military recruitment flyer. It says "Come and join us. Only you can stop Amazon invasion." with an attractive female officer making a pose like trying to call us to take her hand. Back of the flyer, there are list of recruitment post location across the New Malaya.


    One of the lists is where I was born and raised, Penang Island.


    "Alex, are you coming or what? I''m going to left you behind."


    The war may be almost over. But I didn''t want to join because I want to fight, because I want to explore the world.


    "Yeah, I''m coming. Ah! Wait for me, you little-"


    This guy. He trying to make a run for it as if he wants to race me. I see he still got some stamina left. Well, I''m not going to lose him.


    And so, this is my day of summer vacation begins.

 Volume 1, Chapter 2: Urban Legend

    We¡¯ve been running for like 10 minutes. We have finally reached the destination called Back Area, located in the middle of the island.


    Well, rather I was here first before he came second few seconds.


    "Haha, I win. Treat me an orange juice." while my breath puff rapidly, slightly bending my knees to resting my palms on them. Pointing my finger at him with a smug face.


    "Huff, huff. Oh man, you always winning. Next time I will win in shooting range. Just you wait for it."


    This is sorta how we hangout. We always like to compete with each other whenever racing or two-man game of basketball. For all the total challenge we had, I won almost all of them.


    I¡¯m still surprised he''s still won''t give up despite how many times I have won. And yet he''s still hanging out with me.


    I guess this is because of our bonding as rivals.


    Yet, we''re still friends for 5 years. What a long time...


    "Alright, I will treat you as promise. Come on, let''s take a look."


    The parade is located on the soccer field, surround by loads of people. We push them to make way for us, but there are loads of people that I was squished by them. Just them I have finally reached to front for a clear view.


    Columns of female soldiers marched, wearing futuristic silver armor called, Armupeau. Every step they marched followed the tune of drums and trumpets. Behind them, are of course are playing instruments without Armupeau, wearing a blue uniform and white cap.


    All of them has stop, even the music. Just the moments of silence.


    The back of the Armupeau is open, and then the Dames came out from it. They wore the silver formal military uniform and their hair is either short or in hair bun.


    Synchronizing of their moves, they pick up the rifle where those inactive Armupeau were holding, marching forward into the line.


    The Dames doing looking like the rifle spinning. From side to side placing, to jugging their rifle into the air. As the finale, only one Dames is in front of the line against one of them. Both of them jugging theirs rifle each other, as if like trying to pass theirs rifle each other.


    Their moves are... elegance, like everything they do, are perfect.


    The crowds are impressed and making the applause.


    ¡°Whoah look, Alex! I think she¡¯s looking at me.¡± he''s pointing at them.


    While Rafiq said this to me, excited, all Dames saluted and turned their heads to their right. In other words, we¡¯re standing at where they were looking.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "You''re exaggerating, Rafiq. They just doing a salute."


    Ten minutes later, the marching is over. Our governor begin to make her speech.


    "Ahh... come on, Alex. Let''s go."


    We''re leaving. Well, it''s more like Rafiq wants to leave first. He can''t stand long speech. Now I think about at school, we were forced to listen to our headmaster and teachers doing long speech. Well, I''m with him.


    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


    We walk on our way to the shooting range, our usual hanging place. We could just race each other, but we have to save our energy before we can compete. And yeah, this is going to take some time.


    "Hey Alex, what are the chances you will be surrounded by the ladies if you can wear Armupeau? You know, just like 5 years ago." while he¡¯s poking at me with his elbow.


    "What, are you talking about this urban legend again? Come on, there''s no way I have the chances."


    We all know only females can only wear Armupeau. But there is the story about a mysterious man wearing Armupeau in the battle.


    I think it was 5 years ago, people were shocked to hear about the news. But then, this was died down due to lack of evidence and witnesses. Most people were skeptical about this, thinking males couldn''t wear Armupeau. There is anyone who says otherwise, but people think they are crazy soothsayers.


    Even so, Rafiq still excited about this urban legend for some reason. While I kinda take interested in it but I find it hard to believe.


    Maybe I will love to find him, but I don''t believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes. Although, I''m not so sure about myself.


    ¡°Alright, here we are.¡±


    It took us 20 minutes to walk here. It was located at the beach, not far from where we meet up.


    Originally, we were meet up to compete there at first. But because Rafiq insisted that watching the parade first before we go to the shooting range.


    In front of the shooting range, the board at the top says ¡°Uncle Ken¡¯s Eletrogun Shop.¡± The cubic looking building is not painted at all. All looking like a stack of bricks together.


    I¡¯ve noticed there are a lot of cargo ships around the ocean. This is unusual since it was like this in the morning. And my head is started to get a bit dizzy.


    ¡°Come on Alex, what are you standing for!?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡±


    Thanks to Rafiq snap back my consciousness, we¡¯re going in together.


    ¡°Welcome!!! Oh, it¡¯s you two.¡±


    Uncle Ken greeted us with his strong voice. It¡¯s been a year since we¡¯re his regulars, after all. There are filled with electro guns hanging on the walls, and the transparent counter as well. From pistols to rifles. everything.


    This is the gun shop we know. There is another at George Town from the other side of the island. I heard gun shops are very common in LOD territories.


    ¡°Hey there, Uncle Ken. How¡¯s the business?¡± I asked.


    He¡¯s big and muscular middle-age man comparer to the rest of us, has a bald head and a mustache. He wearing a white tank top and jeans.


    ¡°Ah, same as yesterday. But someday, I¡¯ll catch a bigger fry.¡±


    ¡°What''s the bigger fry?¡±


    ¡°Mmm... it¡¯s a secret.¡±


    ¡°Aww, come on man.¡±


    Rafiq is making a ¡°please tell me¡± face straight in front of him. He is sort of guys wants to know everything. I wonder what Uncle Ken meant by it?


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when the time is right, but let¡¯s never mind that. I guess you boys want to go for shooting range, right?¡±


    We both nodded.


    ¡°Bhahaha! Alright, boys. Pay up as usual and you¡¯re good to go.¡± he sounded so pleased for himself.


    We pay the entry fee and we go to the door at the back of the counter. We¡¯ve entered the range. Uncle Ken has already provided us the electro pistol. The shop does provide his customers the rifle for them to try. But because we¡¯re minors by law, pistol is the only we can use.


    Ugh, this is boring and the law pissed me off. I want to try the rifle, but he said to wait for my next birthday.


    Once we are 18, we are free to do whatever we want, including leaving Penang Island.


    ¡°Come on, Alex. Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    I guess Rafiq is a little bit cheerful to feel that way. Somehow, I felt I have lost against of his cheerfulness.


    ¡°Alright. Bring it on, Rafiq.¡±


    Even so, I won¡¯t lose. And so, we begin our shooting challenge.