《Earth Warriors》


 Prologue - Last Day of Peace

    In each universe and galaxy, there lie many mysteries for many to uncover, teeming with wonders and secrets alike; all filled with planets of hope, and some of despair.


    Millions of lifeforms coexisting and cooperating with each other, while others live as colonies shifting into civilizations. Others live unaware of what''s going around because they''re not advanced yet. Take us, human beings, as an example.


    Under the reign of the United Committee of Planets, entire galaxies prosper under their benevolent wing. However, such generosity can come at a high price...This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    On a distant planet called Zlocu, located far east in the Milky Way galaxy, a powerful yet savage general by the name Malgan Tormentradi advocated for the period of peace to end and took power through a coup in the kingdom. In his own words, it ''hindered the natural progress of the universe itself and all lifeforms in it''. The peace had destroyed that progression, causing the newest generation of people to become soft and weak. Something to him that meant stagnation. Something that he was prepared to do anything to prevent.


    As the Earth aptly licked its wounds of the 40-month war that ravaged part of the world, something not seen ever since World War 1 and 2, it was blissfully unaware of what destruction was heading its way. While the markets crashed, creatures were slaughtered. While the governments squandered forthe creation of new laws, land filled with life was torn apart. How many planets and civilizations had fallen at the hands of a tyrannical species?


    The dire year of 2026, one supposed to be of peace, now turned into war right when the Zlocu arrived.


    At this point, it appears that nothing could stop them. Nothing could stop the Zlocu from their tyrannical and evolutionist ways.


    Not the many governments of Earth, not the other space civilizations, not even the combined strength of the galactic community, no one could resist them.


    Until at the last moment, four bright lights emerged...

 Chapter 1 - Robbed of their Pasts

    It is nearing sunset on route 108 California. A blue transport bus is driving across the road, carrying a handful of people. They carry packed bags or luggage. There are also others trying to comfort their babies while others are trying to sleep in peace. Six soldiers on guard with their M4 rifles are among the people inside as well.


    Among the passengers is a tan-skinned man who is sitting next to a window. He isn''t sitting properly, mostly slumping downwards. He looks neat yet timid, his slicked back hair is proof of it. The only thing that is unusual about him is the brown ahoge that stands above the seats. Other than that, he''s more or less someone you could find anywhere.


    His eyes are puffy, almost dull and distant, looking down.


    He looks at his iPhone, which contains a photo.


    It was him smiling alongside what it looks like to be his parents.


    Next to his parents was an elderly person wearing a military officer outfit from the Navy, having a cane. He was wearing some medals, which his father shared.


    He uses his thumb to swipe to the right, changing the picture into another one. This one had him standing in front of his students in a classroom while they smiled, mostly young teens and adults. The billboard behind them reads: "A THOUSAND THANKS FOR YOUR TEACHINGS!"


    He swipes again. This time showing a picture of him holding two trophies, one which has the figure of a rapier in his left hand, and the one in his right being a figure of a Katana. They had inscriptions which say: "First place winner of European Fencing/Japanese Arts Tournament".


    He then looks at his left hand, staring at it for some seconds. He''s looking carefully, like a gift he really liked was suddenly away from his arms.


    All he has...is himself.


    He eventually closes his hand, then puts it near his chest while putting his phone in his pocket. He presses it, a bit roughly.


    His eyes close down. Some small tears fall down from his face.


    My own blood, the shared blood...all left undone. For my unseen future...I''ll do my best...to start anew. he says internally while pressing his hand and trying to hold back his tears. He lost everything close to him just recently.


    He wipes away most of them while trying to stay firm.


    The bus then stops near a bus stop on the road. One of the doors then opens, allowing a middle-aged lady to enter. She goes to the nearest seat, most of the seats are already taken.


    She sees one near the row with the young teacher and tries to go to it, but next to him is a bald man with a rugged face. When he saw the woman trying to sit, he puts his foot in the seat.


    This catches the lady off guard, as she fixes her glance towards the rugged man.


    "Excuse me mister...am I doing something wrong?" she asks.


    "Yes. Your presence here is not good for the well-being of the others, so I suggest you go somewhere else to sit," the man says.


    "But...I''ve just arrived here. I came from a long way to look for a bus to take me to the safe zone and right now this is the closest seat I can find. I just want to sit down and relax, I just want to be away from all the violence that''s happening out there, that''s all."


    "Sorry, I''m not comfortable with you here sitting next to me," the man says.


    "But, why?" the lady asks in a sadder tone.


    "Now listen to me you stupid kike, just shut up and find another seat. You''re bothering the good men around here!" the man yells back.


    Those words sets off a reaction from the young teacher, who then grabs the man''s hand and starts pressing it roughly. This makes the man wince in pain.


    "What the hell are you doing?!" heasks as he looks at the young teacher who''s holding his hand without even looking at him.


    "That lady is just a lady, just like everyone else. She needs her own time as she says, there''s nothing wrong with her race," the young teacher replies with a cold tone.


    The rugged man tries to get his hand away from the young teacher, but almost to no avail. His grip is too tight and strong to let go of it.


    "Well, I have the right to my own personal-"


    "This is a land for everyone, mister. If I ever hear you being loathsome one more time..."


    This scuffle gains the attention of a soldier who notices the quarrel and goes to it in an effort to stop it.


    "What. Is. It. Gonna. Be?" the young teacher asks once more, his voice becoming sterner and even menacing.


    "What''s going on here, you two?!" the soldier demandingly asks.


    The rugged man proceeds to lower the foot from the seat which was blocking the lady, eventually allowing her to sit on it.


    The young teacher then releases his grip from the bigot''s hand and puts it back in place, all while the man tries to hold them together from the pain.


    "My deepest apologies, soldier. As an advocate for the rights to any sort of public service, I strongly condemn any sort of violation of such right," the young teacher says.


    "I see. But you could have simply called and let us handle the situation instead of yourself. Not to mention, the way you did it to solve it."


    "It''s just...something that is provoking me to do it. Something I''ve been trying to control..."


    "Well, no matter, all is settled. In the meantime, we can all continue the trip to reach the safe zone in Carson City, and I hope you two will behave better this time around, understood?"


    "I do."


    "I''ll try..." the man replies begrudgingly.


    "Good," the soldier says as he goes back to his post.


    The bus door then closes, allowing the bus to continue its trip to Carson City.


    After a brief period of silence, the young teacher leans forward near the driver''s seat to ask him something.


    "Hey...mind if you can turn the radio on?"


    "Sure thing," he says as he pushes a button near the radio, which activates.


    Initially, the sound was some static, which the driver pushes some buttons to find something with the signal until he eventually settles with one channel.


    A news channel to be exact, with a female''s voice heard talking.


    "In the latest reports from military and war correspondents, the outsiders recently known as the Zlocu has been making rapid progress in their U.S conquest. Texas, Florida, Maine, and Vermont have been overrun with California, Nevada, Colorado, and Kansas to follow suit.


    The Zlocu race has also been reported in Africa, India, Siberia, and China. The massive exodus of refugees from the countries Russia, Mexico, and various countries in Africa have put a strain on the current systems of surviving nations. Massive casualties have been reported in the contested zones.


    "One week later in the Gulf of Mexico, the Philippines, Argentina, and Canada is what many consider to be the most dangerous threat to have ever occurred in mankind''s history, called something deadlier than the Spanish Flu and WWII combined.


    With their rapid progress in their conquest and reports of surprise attacks coming left and right, one who can only wonder when and where the Zlocu will strike to keep on to install their fear to the population of Earth, which all military commanders advise to stay aler-"


    PHEEEEEEEEWWW!


    A huge red laser blast pierces through the bus and then splits it in half, with the force of the blast causing it to derail both, with the forward part crashing near a tree, and causing all passengers to fall down and get injured.


    Some of the people near the blast lie around the street, most of them dismembered and gravely injured from the blast. Many lifeless bodies lie around the road, while others try to reach to safety almost to no avail.


    Cries for help, wailing, and screams of pain can be heard around the area.


    The young teacher, lying down on the floor, tries to crawl down outside the bus while trying to know what happened. He uses his strength to get up from the impact while trying to keep on going outside.


    And just before he could think that the time to be the hero is now, he couldn''t be more wrong.


    As he exits the bus, he then sees something he would never expect to see again soon, something far worse than his nightmares.


    Zlocan walkers and Knights have arrived, having dropped off from cargo ships. The Knights all look a bit like medieval knights, ones from the Holy Roman Empire to be exact. All with metallic breastplates, gauntlets, helmets, and tassets with red and black coloring around them.The Walkers are bipedal-like machines with high-impact armor, a pair of heavy cannons on the front and just like the armored knights, all colored with black and red lines around the vehicle. The Walkers have also been stationed there in secret, fully cloaked while being prepared to strike any transport coming by. They all start to pick up the survivors, rounding them up and putting them in cages built by them. All while the battleships started to appear in the sky.


    The cages would be then picked up from the cargo ships and then transported to another place.


    The young teacher then uses the energy he just gained to stand up, but not before he''s knocked out harshly by a Knight.


    He tries to get up, but the Knight stomps him on his chest, causing the teacher to wince in pain.


    "I bet you''ll be a perfect specimen for our new way to recruit people for the Inquisition...enjoy this new trip, Human..."


    But before the Knight could put him in a cage to be made prisoner and being transformed into something much worse, he gets tackled by none other than the man who refused the seat from before, who tries his best to beat him down.


    "YOU. DON''T. SCREW. WITH. US!!!" he says as he tries to pound the knight into submission.


    He tries to continue in punching the Knight, but his weakened state makes him completely vulnerable to the Zlocan''s skills, quickly grabbing his arms and then break them painfully while pushing him to the ground.


    The man stares at the young teacher, whom with his last breath, gives out something he won''t expect.


    "RUN, YOU FOOL!"


    Which he does, and not something he may have wanted.


    He wanted to help others...but he''s too weak to do it.


    All he can do now is run deep into the woods.


    The Knight notices it, but he''s too busy restraining the man while trying to keep the others in their work.


    He pulls his hand on the intercom inside him.


    "To the Xelgea division, there''s an escapee heading towards the forest! Your new orders are to find and capture the human, no killing unless authorized!"


    "Understood!" They say as soon they give chase to the young teacher.


    The young teacher runs faster and faster as he can, all while noticing the arriving Zlocan troops everywhere.


    And who knows what will happen to him once he finds out the salvation he needs...or everyone needs.


    --------------------------------


    High above in the skies of California, near the same place, a G650 plane is flying above the clouds, all while the sun shined on the plane''s bright coat of paint.


    Inside there are 10 people aboard, each sitting near the windows and alongside other people.


    Either they''re sleeping, awake doing their own business while some few were comforting others over what happened.


    Whatever had happened to them beforehand, they truly needed to be away from the horrors.


    There''s also a TV screen near one of the windows showing the news. No sound can be heard from it, meaning it''s likely muted for the sake of the sleepy passengers.


    The TV''s showing a news anchor talking about the recent events while images of the Zlocan invasion around the world are shown.


    Among the headlines shown are: "Outsider force expanding, Humanity''s judgment day?" "4% of millionaires reported missing in the US following the invasion." "UN Summit: Emergency meeting in UN headquarters from remaining nations in response to the invasion." among others.


    Near the front seat with a window next to passengers, there was a particular dark-skinned guy who was sitting next to someone else sleeping with a table in front of them. He appears like someone for a new generation of scientists, as his short spiky hair, unusual yellow eyes and a neat pair of glasses show.


    But as what many say, there''s always something that can hide a seemingly perfect exterior.


    He''s staring at one of the TV screens in front of him with the news shown, looking almost nonchalant about it, while breathing unusually.


    Is it just a matter of having seen everything he just learned? Or something more?


    He picks a glass of water in the table, but as he tries to raise it, his left-hand start to shake, almost to point of spilling some of the water to the floor.


    The scientist clutches to the glass, trying to keep his hand steady, but almost to no avail.


    Then, a guy wearing a neat, tidy tuxedo notices his plight while hanging up the phone he had in his hand.


    "Hey hey, is there something concerning you?" he asks.


    "No...just trying to relax, Salim." the scientist says


    "Are you sure about it?"


    "Y-yes, I am." He replies while his head and shake almost uncontrollably.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Salim won''t bulge as he leans his head forward to him and places his hand near the scientist''s shoulder.


    "Hey...I know you''ve just experienced some hot shit back there in Harvard, but I assure you that whatever Carson City may bring, you''ll get a second chance in who you can be."


    "But what about...the aliens?"


    "Eh, the military will find the way, I presume."


    "...I-I see."


    "But, even so, what you did back then in Boston was surely something worth for heroics, maybe if they were alive at the moment, your baby brother and parents would be proud of the brave action their own child just did, like a good boy."


    Then, the scientist''s expression changes into something much more. His neck stiffens, he starts to hyperventilate and he tosses the glass to the floor, breaking it into pieces.


    He gets up from his seat while pushing aside Salim, rushing to the nearby bathroom.


    He enters, his hands terribly shaking while trying to turn on the water from the sink.


    He then takes his glasses off and puts them in his pocket, almost falling down because of the force of the shaking.


    Sweating, on the verge of tears, almost out of breath, it all feels like his life is being drained away in a matter of seconds.


    He wets his hands from the sink and starts splashing it on his face while trying to breathe normally. He tries again and again almost to no avail.


    After a moment or two of washing his face. He stops to look at the mirror while still trying to keep himself steady.


    His eyes as wide enough to show the whites, his blood almost flowing down in the extremities and clutching his left fist harshly, truly in need to let it out.


    He quickly punches the mirror in the sink while roaring in rage.


    He calms down while trying to breathe normally, looking at his left hand that now looks messy and bloody, almost embedded with the glass shards.


    After a moment of silence, he sobs from the sight of it while trying to clutch the wounded hand.


    Whatever Salim was trying to mean "good boy" to him, it was something like the forbidden words of a certain group.


    And like with these rules, they''re met with severe punishment.


    He ends up clearing his tears after what happened, quickly grabbing an aid kits box near the bathroom as he exits.


    The rest look on him with worried concerns. All wondering the state of such a young man.


    What happened back in Harvard to him? Just what happened?


    All these kinds of questions met with certain doubt in what to believe.


    He pulls some bandages while carefully removing the shards from the hand.


    In the end, in an effort to conceal the shameful wound, he pulls out some green gloves from his bag near him and wears them on his hands.


    With them, he now knows when to feel secure from something shameful.


    Salim approaches him once more, but before he could say anything, the scientist lifts his index finger to him, as if to indicate an order.


    In this case, to stop him from asking anything.


    "I. Do. Not. Want.To." he says with a raspy voice. This startles Salim briefly, but he puts his hand near the cheek.


    "I guess what I said was really foolish on my part...but I can assure you that as long you can stick together with someone and know who you are, then you''ll make it fine. Just be sure that you keep control of what you do."


    "...But what if I don''t?" the scientist says with an almost somber tone in his voice.


    "You''ll still find a way out. Trust me."


    "OK..."


    For a moment or two, it seems that tranquility has finally returned to the scientist himself.


    He could then try to enjoy the airplane trip with no trouble at all, as he then pulls some pencils and piece of paper, containing some algebraic equations in which he starts to solve immediately.


    A few minutes passed by, and just when everything seems calm, the flight is going well. Nothing seems to disturb this gentle flight towards the safe zone.


    But, the best things sometimes have to come to an end.


    The plane starts to stagger as if there was a turbulence nearby, even though there are not that many clouds around them or even a storm.


    Then, loud knocks could be heard simultaneously in both the forward and back part of the plane. Everyone gets up to notice what''s going on.


    Salim then tries to calm down the masses while trying to find out the origin of the situation.


    The scientist goes to the window on the left side of the plane.


    Leaning closely as far as he can, he noticed something he couldn''t ever imagine.


    An electric cable attached near the plane, coming from something above. He notices another behind.


    This means that there are others on the right side as well, he deduced immediately.


    The cable hoists upwards, starting to pull, making the plane''s tail lift, tilting the plane downwards.


    The entire cabin upends, causing many of the people inside to fall down helplessly. Others like the scientist guy hold to the wall near the gate, holding steadily while trying to help others in getting to the safety.


    He notices that the wings are then torn down by the pressure of the lift.


    Then, the tail of the plane starts to get cut down by a quick laser strike, causing it to be taken off as well.


    Now they could see clearly what was going on.


    A huge Zlocan assault ship flying above them is holding the electric cables that captured the plane.


    Then, five figures start to jump down from the assault ship, with their backs drawing some purple ignition that makes them rush towards the plane.


    They''re Zlocan Commandos, lightly-armored but deadly, equipped with jetpacks. They all start to shock the passengers into unconsciousness while grappling them into other ropes from the ship above.


    One by one, they''re taken outside to the other ship as the plane continues to be torn apart.


    Salim quickly grabs a parachute, the only one from the plane. He quickly tosses it to the scientist who confusingly grabs it while puzzled by his action.


    "Dude! Whatever''s going on, I just want to ensure you''ll be safe from further harm, all you need to is to escape now and try to find a safe zone as fast as you can!"


    "No! I''d rather stay than-"


    "Listen to me! Do you think you will live for much longer if you keep on going like that!? Just for once, be safe instead of trying to do something foolish!"


    "I''d rather die trying then!"


    Salim slaps him while quickly opening the passenger door, releasing it in the middle of the air while it starts to tear down as well.


    He then pulls the scientist on his shoulder as he holds him near the door. The scientist tries to fight him off to no avail.


    "LISTEN TO ME!!" he shouts while holding him as tight as he can.


    "JUST FOR ONCE, DON''T BE A HERO! TRY TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! AND TRY STAYING ALIVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!"


    "BUT DO YOU-" the scientist protests back.


    "GO!!!" He shouts as he soon kicks him out of the plane.


    He initially panics in what to do, not knowing what to control while spinning around in the air and feeling in a state of chaos while seeing the arriving Zlocan ships as well. He dangerously comes close to the ground. Then, in a matter of rationality, he pulls the ripcord of the parachute, releasing the huge chute from the backpack. Starting to descend near the Stanislaus National Forest.


    Zlocan knights in the ground notice him, enabling one, likely the CO, to signal his troops to go after him.


    Whatever he may do next, it may not be fully bright for him, right choice or not.


    --------------------------------


    Bumblebee Creek, a piece of green beauty of American forests. Full of tall trees and other plant life, it''s quite a place to travel when camping or trekking around the nation. The sunset certainly helps as well.


    And surprisingly, it''s still looking well as ever, holding beautiful wildlife.


    But right now, it has some peculiar wildlife. Something that hasn''t been seen by a common human yet, but at least by animals.


    Deep inside the forest, a squirrel''s climbing a tree while picking up their nuts from it.


    As the squirrel tried to climb again, a piece of wood in the trunk dents, causing the squirrel to lose balance.


    After some desperate attempts to climb back, the squirrel falls down into the ground, seemingly to its death.


    But then, just before that happens, the squirrel lands safely into a hand.


    But a very peculiar hand, it''s one in grey color. It was hard to notice the rest due to the dim sunlight.


    The figure holding the squirrel then releases it away.


    After some moment of silence, the figure spoke.


    "Such interesting creatures...this planet does indeed hold a life, something like the expanding stars," the figure says, sounding feminine.


    She quickly steps out from the shadow where she was hiding from the sunlight.


    Her looks are one of pure enchantingness like no other, as pure as the angels who seek out and protect all of Humankind.


    Her body looks almost slim yet with a noticeable large bust on her chest, like the one of a beautiful and fitting princess, especially a Human one.


    Her alluring clothes are also proof of it. Her hair as long and green like many gardens, her droopy low ears, noseless face, eyes as red as the most gorgeous looking emeralds and lastly, a pair of green wings in her back.


    She indeed looks like a verycharming being from another place, another time, another ideal.


    A visitor it seems, a special visitor.


    The Alien girl then touches the trunk of the tree, tilting her head side to side.


    It''s like she wants to examine every bit of beauty in it, after all, she''s on Earth.


    She stops touching it and proceeds to crouch, looking at most of the plants in the ground, and seeing if there is one that catches her interest.


    "Hey, sis! You finished now?" a voice says, this time it''s a male one.


    But it wasn''t something that it could be audibly heard by anyone nearby to hear it. Rather, it was inside her head where she listened to his words.


    "Yeah, coming back now."


    She then uses her wings to fly away to the location of her brother where he called her out. Quickly jumping inwards, she could fly as fast as a bald eagle.


    With her flapping wings, she could keep inflight while maintaining the serene demeanor she has.


    She eventually locates her brother, sitting atop in one of the branches of the tall tree.


    He has the same looks like her, but he has a mullet instead, and some decorated brown armor, meaning a high position in the force he served.


    His sister then lands next to him on the branch, carefully landing near him.


    He has a pleased yet firm expression on his face as if she had something that could absolutely please him very much.


    "So, took a good peek at today''s study?"


    "I guess so, my dear brother."


    He chuckles in response.


    "I see, probably some good animals worth checking for here after all."


    "Yes...but what''s more interesting is that the beings here don''t have an advanced mindset as the creatures in the galaxy."


    "Hmm, primitive life forms it seems. At least compared to other planets."


    "Or just maybe they''re just the beings that seem to evolve very slowly...aren''t they?"


    He then pats her shoulder. She smiles back.


    "You''d probably need a bit more checking on them if you want to seek the answer you desire, sis."


    She giggles in response, while he smiled back.


    Whatever species they are, maybe they can hold the best secrets a Human being could know.


    But of course, one also doesn''t know if it can apply in a social way as well.


    Learning for Humanity is still out there, and these beings may just be proof of something beyond in what they can expect.


    While the birds chirped around the forest and they shared a nice little hug, the sister then wonders something.


    "Brother...I don''t know if this is..."


    "Something wrong?"


    "I don''t know how to put it...but it''s something I''ve been wondering for some time..."


    "Go on...don''t worry, I''m all ears for it."


    "Well...it''s about the inhabitants of this planet..."


    The brother''s face then turned one into puzzled confusion, as he didn''t expect that kind of question.


    "Hu-humanity...? Are you truly sure?"


    "What else do I need to learn? I''ve already studied the majority of lifeforms on this new planet, but I really want to know about these Humans as well."


    "Oh no, not that, please. You know how well our uncle fared when he tried to visit this planet. And what they do to each other, do you honestly expect they''ll welcome you with open arms?"


    "But, what if there''s still a good heart inside them? What if-"


    "No. You should know well of what we''ve learned from the books or any stuff we''ve watched and learned from them, this race is both unworthy and too violent to become part of the galactic community even if the Zlocu don''t reach the place and lose the war. Now all I want you is to learn that regardless of what you believe, Terra is classified as hazardous for a good reason, and no way the Humans are gonna bulge even with that presence of yours, because right now, we don''t want the last of the Soranians being killed by the worst of the worst compared to the Zlocans, understand?"


    The sister falls silent for a moment, maybe she clearly wanted to know more about the Human race herself, but her brother clearly is one that doesn''t need any of it.


    Perhaps sadly, Humanity may never be ready to evolve beyond to the stars.


    But that alone is something that can be challenged.


    The brother notices her crestfallen demeanor, now with her head tilted downwards.


    Maybe indeed he went too harsh in his thoughts of the Human race.


    Maybe they do deserve a second chance.


    "Look, I''m deeply sorry if you didn''t like it...it''s just..."


    But before he could continue speaking, a bolt of electricity then strikes from behind, quickly paralyzing him completely.


    The bolt then turns into a long rope as it starts to pull him away to somewhere.


    She quickly notices another one coming her way but she swiftly dodges it by jumping off the tree branch.


    "What the?" she says with an extremely worried tone.


    Could it be? she wonders.


    Did the Humans...?


    She quickly turns back and sees what happened.


    It''s something she never asked for, as her eyes widened and bulged, her mouth trembling, breathing heavily.


    Zlocan battleships arriving near the forest. And Varris being taken to a nearby assault ship.


    They thought they could be safe for a long time.


    They thought they could never find them.


    They were wrong.


    Very, horribly wrong.


    "No...NO!!!!" She screams as she then starts to jump again to fly.


    However, it doesn''t last long as the nearby assault ship, the one that captured her brother starts to fire at her wildly, almost knocking her off balance.


    Eventually, she has to settle in going ground as she lands hastily on the ground.


    "This can''t be happening...this can''t be happening...this can''t be happening...This CAN''T BE HAPPENING!" she says to herself as she starts to run away deep into the forest. Luckily, the tall trees, manage to provide some cover for the alien to escape.


    Inside the ship, the Zlocan gunners face a hard time in tracking her down, while others pick the unconscious brother while injecting something to him.


    "That filthy Soranian is getting away from us!" a gunner says.


    "If there''s something else that can equal to her determination, then we could repay her with equal measure. Drop it."


    The ship then drops a figure to the ground, something almost animal-like, which then starts to chase her.


    It''s said that there are some nightmares that can''t be turned off... even this one, a long one for any survivor.


    --------------------------------


    Cow Creek, same place, same time.


    In there, there are four people walking by, each looking distinct from each other.


    One is a tall man with a mullet, almost looking like a rock fan, the other is a blonde as beautiful like Goldilocks, the other is a youthful looking man with gel hair, and lastly, a curious looking girl with the appearance to match every schoolgirl people can imagine.


    She has a slender body yet also with slightly big breasts. Her hair brushed like some girl who likes some fun, a nice, tiny blue hairband in the back of her hair, with some nice red rose near her open vest.


    She''s walking happily alongside her supposed friends, who have some clear discomfort in their faces.


    "Oh man, never thought we could get a trip as long as in Niagara Falls. I hate this kind of things you know!" the youthful guy says.


    "Hey there Freddie, this one should be mandatory enough for you to know if you want to live." the blonde girl replies.


    "You said like it''s a good thing, Amelia." the tall man says.


    "Oh shut it, Ted, you always side with him!"


    "Whoa whoa hey! I mean come on guys, don''t you think we''ve at least lucky enough to get away from a furball like in good ol''Dallas to bring this far? You can bet for sure we can get some hot stuff in Carson City as well!" the schoolgirl says.


    "Well, that city''s already packed anyways so I think it doesn''t matter anyway," Ted says.


    "But it has the necessary elements for all the escapees around the nation guys, plus it''s a humanitarian thing to help others because it''s the right thing in the long run," Amelia says.


    "Oh yeah...but let''s hope not too many, we''re too low on anything anyways," Freddie says.


    The schoolgirl could only then tap on his shoulder, likely a way to cheer him up. He doesn''t change his already bored expression.


    "Oh Freddie, don''t you always love that cutey slape?"


    "How can I when we''re at war?"


    She scoffs at the notion of it, she may probably don''t care of what the war entails to them.


    "Oh silly Fredito, always worried to the top percent, you know that? Well, I guess that as long as we''re together with our fullest hearts and great fun for everything, we may be sure that we''ll live longer for it! And then afterward, SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS!"


    The whole group could only stare silently at her response, at least Ted let out a small chuckle of it, if only for the joke of terrible taste.


    "...You wouldn''t mind with some alfredo?" She asks in a puzzled manner as she stands in front of them.


    "Guys..." she says sadly as her expression then changed.


    "No no! Please, don''t be upset. I mean, sure thing my friend but maybe in the case that you should know how all of this looks. Right now, it''s not the time to crack jokes, not with those freaks out there."


    "Not good?! Ha! As if that will prevent me from not being able to save you at all, I mean, with all of us together, we''re all sure to survive this long trip without harm right?!"


    "I think you''re blocking our-"


    "Look, I simply want to tell you how amazing friends like you can be guaranteed to-"


    "LOOK OUT!!!"


    Ted yells as he pushes the schoolgirl aside, noticing something from behind.


    It''s a red laser bolt, which then impacts on both eyes, leaving them black marked and scorched.


    The group itself stares in shock from the dead body of their fallen friend, as they soon notice where the blast came from.


    A battalion of Zlocan troops headed in front of them, emerging from the woods.


    "Oh god no! Please!" Freddie yells as he and the rest stand back from the Knights.


    A Zlocan Knight then chuckles in response.


    "Oh, how kind of you to take good care of your old friend. Too bad that his stupidity was in vain because you won''t live for long anyway. Now, say goodbye to your old selves." he says while aiming his rifle towards the gang.


    But before he could fire back, a bullet lands on the head, bringing him down to the ground.


    The other two checked where it came from, it''s from none other than an elderly inspector with a greying balding hair yet with a firm body enough to be part of the competent force, leaning outside the window of a speeding police car, wielding a magnum revolver. He''s accompanied by other police officers in their cars.


    The Knights start to return fire, the officers do the same while they brake their cars and get out to take cover.


    The group then tries to hide near one of the cars of the elderly officer, but before they could fully do it, Freddie is ultimately shot in the back near his heart, dropping dead soon after.


    "FREDDIE!!!" the schoolgirl yells in anguish.


    They soon continued to take over as the two forces kept on in their gunfight.


    Bullets after bullets.


    Lasers after lasers.


    An interesting showdown it seems.


    Then, in midst of everything that is happening, Amelia quickly grabs her friend''s collar.


    "Listen to me! I know you don''t want this, but to ensure your safety, you must flee from this!"


    "But...what about you!?"


    "Don''t worry about me, I''ll try to survive with the others! I don''t want you to keep on suffering while seeing a scenery like this, so go now please!"


    The schoolgirl could only try so hard at holding her tears to no avail as she soon shakes her friend.


    "BUT I DON''T WANT TO LOSE YOU!!! NOT AT ALL, NOT AGAIN!!!"


    "And how the hell does that even matter!? Do you want to cling on to something you may not even hold forever!?"


    "But...I don''t..."


    "Listen to me ye girl, if there''s one thing you need to know is that sometimes one must sacrifice for the good of many, and if any of ye don''t try, then this war will be more lost than it should be!" the inspector says.


    "But-"


    "Just listen to him and me! Run, don''t hold back! And remember, always look for the fun as much as you always want! Please my friend..."


    After some brief moment of hesitation, she certainly could still try to evade the enemy fire.


    But before she could try to answer her long-life friend, a laser bolt strikes near her skull, quickly taking her life away, causing the schoolgirl to scream in terror and in tears.


    "GO!!! THAT''S AN ORDER!!!" the inspector yells.


    She then takes her fateful choice of running away.


    She does as fast as she can, like the everlasting wind she ever wanted to feel.


    A Zlocan knight notices the girl running away as they soon press some buttons in his waist, causing some drones from their back and soon start to give chase towards the schoolgirl.


    Whatever happens next to all the four souls, it will change their lives forever.


    And for Earth and the Universe, is it truly their judgment day after all?

 Chapter 2 - Distrust, Curiosity and Bonding

    August 13th, 2026. 19:05 PST


    Somewhere in the middle of the Stanislaus National Forest located in California, it''s a slightly dark, descending sunset. There is a chase, not just an ordinary chase but a hunting chase. Zlocu spaceships were surrounding most of the forest, with their red and black coloring making them look like beings from hell itself, except the hell in question, it''s from space. Surprisingly, it also seems that even in the face of war, the forest doesn''t look damaged.


    On the ground, Zlocan machine walkers are moving fast like a Leopard chasing its prey.  The "prey" they are chasing is the young teacher, he''s looking tired and dirty, his face covered with dust and mud, but nonetheless, he continued to run as fast as he could. Quickly dodging every bush and leaf in the path, no matter how big or small they are, he''s determined to run away.


    The walkers, even with their heavyweight, can keep up with the chase, continuing to advance menacingly towards the young teacher, who''s running as fast as he can.


    The young teacher turns backward, the walker still on his back. He looks in both directions until he sees something nearby. He sprints rapidly to quickly turn left to a bushy field.


    "Ha! Turning left to everything is for suckers!"  One of the pilots said amusingly as he continues to advance and turn to the direction of the escapee. But before he could try anything, he saw nothing. Not even the escapee running far away.


    "Where did that pest go? Let me check outside." the pilot says.


    "Why not simply use Galga to ram through the forest?" another one asks.


    "The trees are too thick for me to enter with this, and I don''t want to risk it."


    "Understood. Also, set the gun to stun, you know the orders." the CO of the platoon says.


    He then exits from the walker and pulls out a gun from his holster, now ready to find the lost human. As soon as he approached a tree where the Human is supposedly is, he steadily aims gun near below his arm. Soon he jumps vertically and shoots to the supposed Human who is hiding which would be stunned from the gun.


    The result? Nothing.


    Bewildered as such unexpected occurrence, he soon tries to scout again. But before he could try anything, something grabs him from below, it was the young teacher who camouflaged himself to hide from them. He soon picks up his ax and proceeds to chop off the head of the Zlocan pilot, all quickly and swiftly.


    And when the other pilots find out what''s happening, they see the Human himself holding the head of the dead pilot who then proceeds to toss it near the walker were the pilot was. He then puts his ax near a tree before running off once more.


    The pilots looked utterly outraged at such action, as soon holds the control pad in a stressful manner.


    "Damn him! Requesting immediate order to shoot!" one of the walker pilots says.


    "Negative, our orders are simple and clear, capture any surviving Humans to ensure they can join our ranks." says another who was likely the commanding officer of the group.


    The pilot hesitates for a moment to talk, as he clearly has the urge to kill any opposing enemy in his path. Their path.


    Ultimately, he sighed at such order as he and the rest continued to advance towards the deeper parts of the forest once more, all to chase down the Human.


    But he''s not alone. On the other side of the forest, there''s the young scientist running as fast as he could, this time from the eponymous servants of the Zlocu Empire, the Zlocan Knights, all with red and black streamlined armor with helmets with T-shaped visors. He didn''t look dirty like the young teacher but he still didn''t look very clean, he was also filled with multiple cuts around his shoulder and a bloodied forehead.


    While the Knights are pursuing him, he saw something that he thought could potentially distract them. He saw a nearby lake, which he saw as an opportunity to hide. But as he could know, he''s just Human, he surely can''t breathe for that long. But if there''s one thing he can do to overcome it, it''s to use a known technique used by many mammals even possibly Humans.


    First off, he takes his glasses off and puts them in his pocket, then he then dives into the river, which was luckily deep enough to hide him from the Zlocan patrols.  But before he can keep himself underwater, he exhales and inhales two and four times, with the last ones being done from his diaphragm.


    Eventually, he submerges deep enough before one Knight can notice him submerging underwater.


    The guy is laying still while underwater, to ensure a relaxed state of mind in order to ensure that the oxygen inside his body can flow properly alongside the blood.  Four minutes pass by, he nervously yet steadily still keeps up in breathing underwater, likely estimating how long it can take from the hunter to stop pursuing its prey. The Zlocan Knights keep on checking the lake, using their lights to spot the escapee. The Scientist tries to hide by diving deeper and deeper underwater.


    Two minutes pass by, and just when the Scientist can''t hold any further...


    "Subject not found, let''s keep on with the search." a general says while going to another sector.


    I''ve endured enough danger in my life from anything ...but this...would I be even the same anymore? My family...I''m deeply sorry for this...  Those are the thoughts of the scientist before eventually emerging from the lake. Even if he''s now all wet, he can have the chance for a nice running to keep himself dry now that the enemy has lost track of him, at least for now.


    In any war, who can feel safe, who truly does?


    Again, neither the young teacher nor the young scientist are the only ones running away, near the lake, there''s the Alien girl, still fleeing from an animal-like creature pursuing her. Suddenly, the creature leaps towards her, almost trying to bite her off. The creature was almost Wolf-like.


    With no choice left, she picks a metal hilt, igniting a red-looking blade made of light.


    She then uses it to swing towards the vicious wolf-like creature.


    Viciously trying to maul her alive with their metallic teeth, she holds its mouth as it continued to try to bite her. In the end, the Alien found the necessary spot for the kill as she then swings her blade vertically, beheading the wolf.


    She pants heavily afterward, with her red eyes looking watery.


    Then, just before she thought she could be safe, a Zlocan patrol approaches near her position, noticing that the wolf was killed. In a state of panic, she then ran away as fast as she could from the Knights. Unfortunately, they eventually notice her and the commander give the order to chase her, all with a simple, yet chilling order.


    "Bring her to the daughter. She needs satisfaction," he says before he and his troops continued to give chase.


    There is the young schoolgirl who is running away from Zlocu drones, trying to capture her. They all had aspects similar to a dark crane overlooking the prey to chase, all while trying to fire nets at her in which swiftly dodges. Like the rest, she looks dirty and tired, but likewise, also running bravely from her hostile pursuers.


    She then hides near a tree full of plants and bushes, perfect for camouflage, to prevent the drones from seeing her. It''s briefly successful as some of the drones start dropping the chase...but not all, only one remains, having heard a bit of noise being heard from the nearby tree.


    After a brief moment of nervousness, she notices a pack of rocks in front of her. Smirking from her discovery, she then picks a large one, but not before she could something more daring. She whistled high enough to make one of the drones to notice her, but before the drone could do something, all it could see is the sight of a giant rock approaching it at high speed, soon supposedly ending the miserable existence of a tool like the pitiful drone.


    She then briefly pulls a raspberry to the wreckage of the drone.


    But to her misfortune, it turned out that the drone re-activates itself while eventually flying again, it also signaled the others who now are coming back with a vengeance.


    "Oh, nutty!" She says before she runs off like hell again.


    As all the four escapees continued to run to safety, they at first felt that while the captors were no longer after them, they still feel the urgency to hide somewhere so they can''t found again.


    With the whole place being dark, it can''t be helped at all. Not to mention that with sun almost setting, it would be much harder in trying to look carefully, leading them to find somewhere else to keep on evading the troops.


    As they reached to a certain spot so they could try to feel safe, they kept running until from a split second, they collided face to face as they coincidentally tripped over to a nearby trench in the forest. Maybe it was built in preparation for the invasion or maybe some unknown event.


    They''re briefly dazed for at least just one minute until they woke up simultaneously and the young teacher felt dizzy for a moment. Actually, so does the young scientist, the alien girl, and the schoolgirl. It was like a slumber party gone wrong.


    After a brief moment of an unexpected collision, the young teacher then turns towards the scientist who''s also noticeably hurt, holding his left hand over his forehead.


    "Ugh, my head, huh? Hey...Are you OK man? Feeling lost as well?" said the young teacher as he tries to approach him.


    Suddenly, the scientist shoved his hand away.


    "Don''t touch me, you could have me and the rest killed!" snaps the scientist.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Hey, it was simply an accident!" he protests back.


    "Accident or not, we would have been dead already for that clumsiness of yours. Now, out of the way."


    "No no no no no! Don''t argue at this moment, there is danger around us right now! I mean, who do you think you are, some sort of edgy guy?!" says the schoolgirl.


    "Who you''re calling edgy, pickle-head?!"


    They then started to argue with the scientist in a very aggressive manner, almost bordering on a fight.


    "You think you can be just as much of a douche even if you''re aware of what''s going on?!" the young teacher asks.


    "Why do you rush to death when you''re not even thinking?!"


    "CUT IT OUT, OR ELSE I''LL SING THE OLD MACDONALD TO YOU ALL!" the schoolgirl shouts back.


    The scientist then turns his glance towards her.


    "What the hell are you blabbering on, are you dense or something!?"


    The humanoid looking girl is scared for a moment, stepping back from them, thinking they''re going to attack and beat her until she died if they notice her. She''s crawling back, afraid of the arguments being held by them. On the verge of tears, almost clearly whimpering in fear to them.


    The three of them notice her, causing them to stop arguing, all to stare at her in confusion yet awe.


    "Don''t move...scum." the scientist says.


    "Oooooohhhh, just found a goodie being! Uh, right?" the schoolgirl says.


    "P-p-please, Do-on-on-t hurt me, dear hu-uu-mans" the humanoid girl stutters nervously.


    "She-she can speak to us?!" the scientist says in a surprised tone as his eyes widen towards her surprise in speaking the Human language.


    But as she was about to get up, she couldn''t, feeling too weak from both running endlessly and facing the wolf which scarred her.


    "I think we can get a few words out of her and know what the hell is going with those Aliens out there..." the scientist says as he gets up to approach the alien.


    Then, the young teacher approaches him and blocks him with his arm.


    The scientist gets startled as such action.


    "What the?!"


    "I don''t think it''s a good idea to jump to conclusions just yet. I can notice she''s different from them."


    "How the bloody hell do you know?"


    "Cause...I know what they look like. And while some of her facial features are similar...she feels very distinct."


    "Ohhhhh, maybe we truly feel safe, righty right?" the schoolgirl cheerfully asks.


    "I don''t trust her still, so out of the way!"


    " Stop it! I know why you cannot trust her now...I''m not quite sure as well if I can...but sometimes, a bit of discovery is needed if you need to understand better."


    He quietly approaches the scared young Alien girl, who''s slightly stopping from moving away from them as she noticed the young teacher''s interest, and perhaps tenderness towards her.


    But even with his newfound sympathy for her, the young teacher hesitantly continues to walk towards the Alien girls, with his arms and legs feeling tense, his hands shaking and almost stepping back in nervousness. He glances back briefly to the other two, who look at him in either frustration or simply curiosity.


    After a moment of reluctance or two, he proceeds to step forward, almost feeling ready to meet the Alien.


    "No...no..." she whispers.


    The man then extends his hand towards her.


    "There there, don''t be scared."


    The Alien girl at first hesitates in trying to grab his hand, still feeling insecure in what he may bring to her.


    "Calm down. And I''m truly sorry for what you saw...whatever you are, it''s just that these Aliens...kinda messed things up, OK?" says the young teacher.


    "A-aliens...?" the young Alien whispers again.


    "I...can try to explain. Just maybe..." the young teacher says sheepishly.


    After some brief moment of hesitation, all while the scientist was preparing to hurl things towards her in case she does something suspicious.


    A miracle then happens.


    The Alien eventually grabs the young teacher''s hand.


    She could feel the warmness in the hand, almost feeling like feeling interested in looking for something she always wanted to know.


    That eventually makes her smile while her eyes still remain watery.


    The young teacher as well, though confused, looks in interest as he examines her in every way, almost never showing any discomfort at all.


    This is...nice...maybe a bit too much from someone I''ve never seen in my life. But yet, I feel some innocence in her..or maybe just wait after all.  he thought inside.


    Never in her life, she felt something so warm from other beings she knew in her life.


    "How daring..." the scientist guy whispers, still unconvinced as he rolls his eyes.


    "Such beauty...from an Alien, haha!" says the human girl.


    "Huh?" The alien girl replied in a confused tone as she then lets go of the young teacher''s hand. "What do you mean by "Alien", dear human?"


    "Well, an alien is a term we "Earthlings" use to describe beings that are not from our planet, for instance, you. I mean, the Universe around us is supposed to be something around 14 billion parsecs with a dim chance of a lifeform like you to appear. Now we have seen that they weren''t the only as well I must say unless you can convince me otherwise," says the scientist.


    "Really? Well with that description I think it also fits you in my world. After all, we are aliens in every way," she says sheepishly.


    "Hahahaha! That''s a pretty statement you got there dear girlie! But hey, tell me, what tricks do you have, do you fly, do you fight, do you fly, do you breathe underwater, anything?" the Human girl says rapidly like her running beforehand.


    "Well, I can fly with these wings...And something else that''s amazing but I can''t do it right now. I''m not old enough to do it."


    "And what could that be?" she asks.


    "The Norai technique. A force shared among the Soranians. It involves being able to manipulate objects around the area with the simple power of a thought.  But I''m not old enough to have it yet, I need only a year to gain such power. Yet...I feel that I really want to experience it."


    "I see...but can''t you use your wings for something yet?" the scientist looking guy says.


    The Alien could only shake her head in response.


    "Why the bloody hell not?" asks the scientist.


    "Because I''m injured...and I don''t want to attract their attention towards us."


    "Their? The Aliens?" the scientist asks once more.


    "The Zlocu..." she says.


    The Scientist then wondered for something for a moment.


    "Let me guess, you''re a mutant out of them, or not? Gimme some quick answers if you want to live!" he barks angrily at her. This briefly scares her out.


    "Shut it!" the young teacher says.


    "I''m a Soranian, an inhabitant of the planet Sorania-Or rather, I''m what I''m left  of my people..."


    "Just get straight to the point." the scientist still demands.


    "The thing is...all of this happened even though we only wanted peace. The rest of the galaxy was in peace for a long time, providing the security and services for the well-being of the other beings in the Galaxy. But I never expected a poor race like the Zlocu could turn to war like this. And all in the name for the next of "evolution". They''ve become stronger in the years that passed, taking controls of most of the spaceports, colonies and warp gates to their advantage, and slaughtering anyone deemed weak to their cause...my race included."


    "All for despising peace? And now you believe the whole galactic community could have followed a stronger yet stricter model if they could have survived much longer?" the young teacher asks incredulously.


    "Unfortunately yes."


    All of them can only stare in silence worriedly, every one of them has lost something dear to them, all for the common goals of the Zlocu: evolution and eradication of the weak. Perhaps the nature of war itself could expand to other races after all.


    "Well now, let''s keep the rest of the story for later. Can someone build a fireplace, please? It''s getting very dark here," the young teacher asks.


    "Are you kidding me? We''ll get spotted by the fire itself. Not to mention that the Zlocans may just hear us at any minute. We should move a bit more far away into the woods. I may still use my spotlight though," the scientist says in a whispering tone.


    "OK," the young man says.


    Soon, he and the rest went a bit further into the woods while hiding beneath some tree that nearly obscured them.


    "By the way, can I know all of your names? It''s strange that it''s our first day together and we haven''t known each other that much yet, but I guess it would be fun to have some new fellas around here." the young teacher asks.


    "S-sure thing. I am Amira Dhorian. Former princess of the kingdom...now a fugitive." says the Alien girl.


    "Seiner Butch, and if you ask, yes I''m not a freaking bloke." the scientist replies.


    "I''m Tania Maestas, but you can call me Tany, nice to meet you all!" the girl says.


    "Well, my name is Logan Preaker Hijikata, but simply use Preaker if you like.  At your service." The young teacher replies.


    Knowing each other brings a slight smile on her face. Perhaps this is the time she needs after all.


    "It''s very enchanting to know you all dear humans."


    "Don''t bother with that, we''ve just met," Seiner replies.


    "Yeah, sweetie! You will have lots of fun having good lessons from all of us!"


    "As if we''re good enough..." Seiner scoffs.


    "Well, my years in teaching High School and camping could perhaps help her in her situation. Perhaps. But if we''re careful enough, then she''ll know us better, and perhaps we will to her."


    "As if...oh screw it," Seiner said as he then realized he can''t keep up with his sardonic behavior.


    "Well well well, now...here''s a big question for you to answer, and It''s very, highly, hugely, important..." Tany says with a surprisingly sinister tone. The others could only stare at her like she''s hiding something mysterious.


    Finally...


    "How did you all get into this messy mess? I came here when a bunch of cops led by a guy who looked like those wild-west cowboys led me to safety. And here''s hoping they''re still alive..."


    "Oh...well, long story short, I got away from my home all the way here for some refugee camp," Logan says.


    "Well, I was taking transport for a safe-haven until it was attacked by those blokes struck down the plane...and I was the only survivor in it," Seiner says.


    "I see...I came here while trying to ask the monstrous Zlocans after kidnapping Varris."


    "Another one of your race? This is getting interesting from the suspicious Amira." Seiner asks incredulously and also in a hostile way.


    "Seiner, please..." Logan says sternly towards him.


    "Now, if you mind?"


    "He''s my brother since we arrived here he heard that our uncle crash landed here on Earth in a desert, Roswell to be exact."


    "You mean the incident from 1947? I should have suspected." Seiner says.


    "You know that all along? Well, that''s very interesting. Well, as I was saying, Varris started to have a grudge against humans when he heard that they made cruel experiments on him once he arrived for a scouting mission. He had that sentiment for two years ever since we arrived here. Despite that, I thought I could be feeling safe now from the grip of the Zlocu...but I was wrong...so much wrong...and know with you, I can''t even feel secure."


    A brief moment of silence falls for a moment, all until.


    "You know, we''ve heard each other enough for the day, but for all the talk you give to us and something for us to expect sympathy, I won''t bulge not at all. Hell, we''re not supposed to! And if I get the chance, I''ll make sure the authorities will do the best to extract the truth from you."


    "Seiner!" Logan yells as he grabs him.


    "What!? You know that in war-"


    "I already know, and I too I''m unsure of what to do with her...but if we don''t give her the chance in accompanying us and let her live, then we''ll still be in the place that leads us to what we dread the most in all history," Logan says while still trying to hold him.


    "Are you really that naive?"


    "Like there''s nothing wrong with your cynicism..."


    Seiner eventually sits down once more, groaning in frustration. He for some reason has no time to engage in sweet talk yet in what Logan said, it should be enough to not restart another fight.


    "Oh my...but hey, once we can rest, we''ll cheer ya up goodie Amira for a sweet tomorrow, righty?"


    "Can you stop with the stupid righty?"


    "Ugh, naughty dog...now, where was I? Oh! Well, surely they knew their mistake right, righty right? You know that as Humans, we aren''t that much of dorks anyways." Tania asks.


    Seiner could only eye-roll at such statement.


    "I''m afraid I don''t know that, but its very likely that given their nature, they regret nothing...is it? Judging from you...I don''t know what to think of it." Amira says.


    "Don''t worry Amira, I''m pretty sure they did. We all can." Logan replies as he stands up next to her.


    "You really think so? How can you be so sure?"


    "Well, you see..."


    Just as he was about to answer the question, the Zlocu Knights and machines popped out of nowhere, surrounding them near the place. The Walkers, the Knights, and the drones all eventually spot them in spite of trying to keep the secret.


    "They found us!?" Seiner shouts.


    "Because we used our own technology to sense your heat, Human dip-shit!" one of the Knights replies.


    "Enough talk! Knights, terminate those weaklings in front of me and prove that we are the strongest!" says one of the generals.


    "But wasn''t our orders to-"


    "Change of orders! We may have no need for these weaklings! Men, get ready!"


    Soon all the Knights, Walkers and drones aim their guns at the four escapees, in which they suddenly hold each other tightly as their execution awaits.


    "1...2..."


    This is it?


    Truly no one can stop them?


    No one?


    Then, as it all comes down to a tragic close, a huge beam of light appears, surrounding the whole place between the Zlocu and the escapees. Then, it expands to the place, then the other nations, and other planets, and to the whole galaxy, forming a line between the supposed extent of the Zlocan conquest.


    A new turn of events has just opened...

 Chapter 3 - Rise of the Heroes

    Never in life could such turn of events turn the encounter into something more surprising.


    The four persons suddenly encountered themselves in a white empty place, as if they are in the afterlife. All surrounded by shiny pillars around them, with mirrors around each corner.


    "Where are we?" Logan asks.


    "Just what is this bloody place...?!" Seiner asks while raising his voice.


    "Are-are-are...we...in heaven? D-dead...? Oh dios, please no..." Tany says while biting her lips and looking everything around her.


    "I think not, Tany. I feel this is a place that looks exactly like the one described in the books relating to the Guardians..." Amira says.


    "What Guardians?" Seiner asks.


    "I''ve heard they''re some sort of entities, almost like observers from beyond...not sure if they''re gods or anything, but they could be something that extends beyond the stars."


    Seiner scoffs in response.


    "As if like we''re all just their hamsters if that''s what you mean. All rolling for eternity...let me tell ya, I still feel lots of bull coming from you."


    "I may not be sure of what you say, but whatever this place is, is something way beyond us."


    "Ehhhhh? oh cool!" Tany says so as she reaches for her pocket to look for her phone, but as with most instances, it''s very trivial to do such thing, especially when drained.


    Tany could only look quietly at her phone for a moment while the rest turn to look at her.


    "Ehhhh, if you truly know them, call them later because I truly want to show this. No, nothing malicious at all, hehe..." Tany says as she then sheepishly hides her phone back.


    Seiner could only glare at her in irritation.


    "Next you''ll pick the option for a boy band, which is quite a wonder..." Seiner sarcastically replies.


    But before they could react to anything, a smooth and elegant sound could be heard from the distance.


    Logan is the first to notice the sound and soon sees that it''s coming from a nearby stairway to another altar.


    He soon slowly walks into it, with the rest following suit.


    With each climbing step, the more the smooth sound could be heard closer.


    And even if they''re slow ones, they''re clearly ones well deserved for a suitable curiosity for such sound.


    Then, the sound heard could be identified as something similar to one of a cello.


    Getting closer and closer, they see a white hooded figure with black stripes around the robe''s arms.


    The figure''s playing delicately, almost to the point that it almost doesn''t change of tenor. Just like a true musician would do it every time they can play something.


    Even in war.


    The four finally reach the altar while locking their glances towards the hooded figure.


    After some moment of playing the melody with the cello, the figure then stopped playing, laying down the cello while holding the fiddle near one of the strings.


    Some of the silence passes by, the four must be still in awe of such mysterious music.


    "Excuse me, whatever you are...do you know where are we?" Logan asks.


    Silence is the only answer coming from it.


    "Maybe what I said could be impolite for you, but as new visitors around here, it would be appreciated if you could tell us something at least."


    Silence again...


    Seiner then approaches him in a fit of irritation


    "Excuse me! Stop being such a flimsy mute tosser and give us-" Seiner says while trying to touch the figure''s shoulder. His hand falls down empty.


    Nobody, no nothing.


    Seiner and the others get goosebumps as they step back from the fallen robes.


    Just what is this place anyway? That''s the known question everyone wants to answer at the moment.


    "What the hell...?!" Seiner says incredulously.


    "OK, whatever''s going on, I''m gonna slap it silly to the dude who ran away because he maybe hates answers!" Tany replies.


    "That would be way too rude, Tany..." Logan replies.


    "Oh, sorry...well, make it listen to...pop!"


    Amira could only giggle in response while holding her hand near chin in amusement.


    "Your thoughts are quite dazzling at the moment, Tany. Maybe Humanity is really interesting to study after all."


    "What? My head?!" Tany says as she then proceeds to kneel while pressing her hands on her ears.


    The rest looked a bit confused yet amused at her reaction.


    "Don''t read me...please!" Tany says sheepishly.


    "I...well, OK, Tany."


    Logan could only let out a heartfelt chuckle from the fun the two were having, Seiner on the hand was mostly indifferent to it, with crossed arms and such.


    Then, Seiner noticed something near the fiddle placed in the center string of the cello.


    "Eh? Hey guys, look." Seiner says as he pointed to the fiddle.


    The hair of the fiddle then starts to glow in a bright, bluish color, all pointing to the right side outside the altar.


    When they turn to see the direction where the fiddle is pointing, it leads to another seemingly empty white space shrouded in mist.


    After carefully analyzing the left side, Seiner then finds a split gap amidst the mist where the cello is pointing.


    They soon walk towards the indicated area, in which as soon they carefully step on it, a stairway downstairs could be felt.


    They descend for some minutes, all carefully to check if there''s nothing suspicious around.


    After a minute or so from walking, the group then enters to a dimly lit room, almost like the entrance of a chamber in medieval times.


    They continued to descend a bit more, until eventually, they stop near room, where there''s only a wall in front of them, with an inscription in front of it.


    Looking in awe, it''s like something they too would never notice in real life.


    "This inscription appears to have a vaguely worded language, almost like a mix of Latin and Old English from what I''m seeing," Logan said.


    "Hmm, what should we call it? Latingus?" Tany asks jokingly.


    Seiner, of course, could only glare, causing her smile to drop immediately.


    "Wait, that language...it''s the language of the Cosmos. Maybe I can help you translate it." Amira says.


    "Ah, an interpreter then. For a moment I thought this would be another lesson for this intergalactic type of education but oh well." Logan replies.


    "Well, only if it''s a bloody good one. But given who you are, I''m calling bull." Seiner replies as well.


    "Just observe and lower you distrust...let me do it."


    "That won''t-"


    But before he could tackle Amira, he''s then pushed back by Logan, all with a stern look on his over his discrimination towards Amira.


    "Whatever. Just do it."


    She then uses her hand to touch part of the inscription, first touching the first line of it and then moving the hand while continuing to read on.


    The translation is:


    A principle is thy part of eternal life. The component for the common being of peace. Thy union grants the beloved a wishful eternity. For thou who sin thy principle, will serve the condemned. Rising up, the valor of the surpassing of fear alights us, Guided by the closeness of the children of all creation. The will to serve the children grants gratitude alongside the choice of anything. Oh, Guardians, I send thou thy peace, thus the cycle will live on, for all times and forever.


    There''s a brief period of pause going on, maybe it was a simple inscription after all or some sort of ancient mechanism that can be opened through another means.


    "Are you sure that''s the language? Because congrats, you just gave a good lesson in the language and nothing else. Can we get a move on?" Seiner quips.


    Without the blink of an eye, the inscription glows into a greenish light which then spreads across the walls of the chamber.


    The wall with the inscription then rises upwards, revealing another hidden room.


    It looks similar to the previous one, only this time, it contained four boxes, each with their own color for the lock. And for some reason, it also contained four sunflowers stacked in the pot on a table.


    As for the boxes, one is red, another is yellow, the other is green and the last one''s blue.


    Then, each of the group then approaches to one of their boxes, like there''s some force that''s attracting their attention to a specific box.


    "What''s this, we''re getting each of our own goodie treasure? Then I''ll be filthy rich! Well, don''t like being one anyways." Tany says.


    "Shut up..."


    "Oh, meanie!"


    They soon open their respective boxes slowly, revealing a handful of things they wouldn''t soon believe.


    For Logan, it contained a golden hilt that has an empty blade, alongside a red stone.


    For Seiner, it contained a golden looking gun with a belt containing boxes colored in chrome and some metal hilts.


    For Amira, it simply contained a goblet that contained some green glowing liquid in it.


    And last but not least for Tany, it contained a long blue staff with a cyan orb in it.


    A moment of hesitation occurs to the four of them, they just feel that these objects have some connection to them, but don''t remember anything related to them. Just how they can feel such attraction to them?


    Logan looks at his left hand for a moment, then puts near his chest and presses down for a moment. Afterward, he reaches for the hilt and the red stone, grabbing them carefully.


    Seiner adjusts his glasses while grabbing the objects in front of them.


    Amira simply picks up the goblet and after some moment of hesitation, she drinks it up fully.


    Tany...just quickly grabs the staff and proceeds to swing it around for a while.


    At first, it all felt normal, like nothing at all out of the ordinary is happening at the moment for the four.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Hmm, Blackbeard wouldn''t be too keen to get those anyways," Logan quipps.


    Then without warning, they all get a stiff posture while holding the items except for Amira who drops the goblet to the ground.


    Their eyes widen, slowly turning into a respective color of the lock they''ve picked.


    Red for Logan, light yellow for Seiner, green for Amira and blue for Tany.


    After a brief pause maintaining their stiff postures while staring closely at the items, they all soon shake their heads and began to act normally once more.


    "These objects...I feel like they have something for us." Logan says.


    "Yeah, I can feel it too..." Seiner replies.


    "My body, it''s all feeling so smoother...could it is?" Amira replies as well.


    "Methinks that this funny staff can grant me anything!"


    Then, before they could react to anything, the wall on the left then starts to open, revealing nothing more but a bright white light outside.


    A wind then enters the room which then picks up the sunflowers outside while lightly blowing the room.


    "Guys...whatever I may be feeling right now and you as well...I feel something uneasy." Seiner says nervously.


    "I know...but if anything, we''re learning more of the unknown," Logan replies.


    Seiner then turns to glance towards Logan with his eyes widening and a noticeable frown.


    "Well, you''ll be lucky if you''re so sure it''s a good unknown, because if not, then your own responsibility lies on yours only."


    "Humans...please don''t try to..."


    "Shut it, Alien, this is none of your concern and you may share the fault as everyone else."


    "Seiner, you''re not going to get us anywhere with that tone. We can still keep an eye on her but she doesn''t look like an enemy so far, you know that."


    "Excuse me, you naive dumbass?"


    But before they could start another scuffle, they soon notice the flowers coming back to the room.


    However, something felt off from them.


    They weren''t sunflowers anymore, not truly.


    One''s now an Aster, another is a Star of Bethlehem, the other is a Mullein and lastly, a red and yellow rose.


    Whatever the change was, the group soon noticed what it could mean.


    Amira''s expression then became more nervous and unsure. She knows what could happen if they come to the supposed exit.


    "Dear Humans, maybe you could hear this out...whatever brought us here is likely allowed us to see what we''re going to face in the war now that we have those artifacts. Because right now...I''m afraid of what''ll happen next. Once we exit, everything we''d had in our lives before, everything that we did, will be all gone forever."


    "Forever?! You can''t be absolutely serious," Seiner says incredulously.


    "No, Seiner, I feel the same thing," Logan says.


    "I...me too," Tany replies in a surprisingly sad tone.


    "So what, you want us to commit suicide?" Seiner scoffs once more.


    "We''re not sure, and that would be what could happen, but right now...there''s a world in flames-nay- a galaxy in flames right now, we''ve all been waiting for a miracle that could make us wish the Zlocu will eventually be stopped for good. And sometimes, a miracle must happen by the hands of anyone. In this case, it is us who should make it work. Right now, even if it may not be good...what we should do next is necessary for all of us." Logan replies.


    "No...you don''t mean..." Seiner replies, this time in a more insecure tone.


    "Just tell me people...are you truly prepared for what may come next? Just know what I''ve said. Think about it carefully."


    Silence filled the room for a moment,  thinking of what this decision could bring them. Should try to commit their ideology for a just cause and a changing world even if it means not being the same anymore and not getting back to their past lives? Could they withstand what they could face in the future? So many questions to be heard in their heads.


    Then, after a period of silence, Seiner raises his head to face Logan.


    "Well...not much of a choice I guess."


    "Same. It doesn''t matter what may happen to us now...I''ll be willing to do anything to stop them," Amira says.


    "Let''s just say, I''m in for the fun!" Tany says excitedly, even though some signs of nervousness could be felt in her voice.


    Logan then slightly smiles at them, knowing that despite everything, a right choice is they need to settle things.


    And without any second thoughts, they all head to the exit, now ready for a new step in their lives.


    A new step in becoming something better they could possibly imagine.


    -----------------------------------------


    Back in the forest, the confused knights are trying to find out what is happening, not knowing where the four people went. Ever since losing sight of them when the light beam came, they became determined but paranoid in finding them out, going to the point of digging the ground in case if they were transported underground.


    "Go, keep on digging! Use your sensors to find them at once!" A commander barks at the troops.


    They keep on searching for them, still determined in looking for them.


    However, amidst the shadows, a figure appears near a tree branch, overlooking the troops from afar.


    The figure almost looked like it''s armored, with a cape flowing from behind.


    The figure then unsheathes something from their belt, revealing a familiar looking hilt. A green one. Holding it from their right hand while moving their left one near the chest.


    It presses the hand near the chest while extending the right one holding the hilt, pointing inwards.


    A green glowing light emerges from the empty hole of the hilt where the blade is supposed to be located. Looking thin as a Rapier.


    Suddenly, the figure leaps out of the shadows, proceeding to pierce one of the walkers, carving hundreds of holes to the body itself, while vertically slicing one of the legs of said mecha, being cut in half with a green glow among the sliced part.


    "What the hell?!" A common cry heard among the troops who start to disperse from the sight of the figure who sliced the walker into oblivion while proceeding to do more or less the same with the other ones.


    The last one tries to fire towards the figure, but they manage to deflect the laser bolts while eventually start to use both hands, causing the light blade to change form into a larger form, similar to one of a Katana. The figure then slices the mecha in half, cutting the pilot as well.


    But before anyone could start firing, a pink laser bolt emerges deep from the woods, hitting one of the drones that makes it explode massively.  The other drones start to suffer the same fate. The Zlocan group, in a state of panic, proceed to fire at all directions of the forest, trying to eliminate the unknown threats.


    "FIRE ANYTHING!!! WHATEVER THEY ARE, JUST FIRE AT THEM!!" One of the officers screams at the troops while trying to fire everything.


    The figure with the transforming sword swiftly deflects most of the blasts while taking cover in the trees, using their agility to dodge every laser bolt while using their sword to deflect them back.


    Then, a pair of metal balls is tossed towards four Knights, who soon take notice of it.


    But before they could react to them, the balls explode with an electric blast, shocking most of the troops severely while being surrounded by bolts around the body.


    They are then struck by four simultaneous laser bolts, ending their lives.


    A pair of heavily armored Knights starts to fire near the location where the bolts came from, firing at any direction of the woods while trying to use their sensors to detect if it''s still alive or not.


    "If the Humans are that good, then they''re still a hell of a pain!" One of the heavy troopers says while firing


    Then, they''re pushed away by a green flow of wind, hitting a nearby tree with the other troops caught in it as well. The heavy troopers try to get up and continue firing, but before they could do so, they soon levitate with a green aura surrounding them. After a brief pause, the group of heavy Knights is thrown away to a faraway place.


    The remaining group of Knights tries to get up to continue with the attack, trying to pinpoint the location of the other attack.


    Desperation and fear soon took over their minds as they jerkily aim their guns in whatever place they can aim at.


    "JUST WHAT ARE THEY!?" A Knight asks with her agitated voice.


    Then without warning, a huge water wave emerges out of nowhere, hitting the remaining Knights which are then flushed away roughly to an unknown distance.


    All of the Knights were either killed or gravely injure or even missing, all except for one, sole, scared Knight. He''s scared and nervous, not aware of what is happening.


    He tries to run away in fear, but then he''s shot in the leg from a white laser blast, but this one causes the leg to freeze, causing him to drop his weapon. And before he could know it, he saw a group of four individuals. Even with the helmet on, albeit a bit cracked, and with his eyes almost shut, he could feel something he would never have thought to be possible.


    Audibly gulping, terribly shaking his head, breathing harshly. He then notices what attacked them, as he soon opens his eyes.


    "You were expecting something else?" a familiar, young male voice can be heard.


    None other from Logan itself, smiling confidently, with an armor worthy of a knight like him, with the aster now embedded in his right glove.


    And alongside him, Seiner, Amira, and Tany.


    Seiner with his Star of Bethlehem in his pocket pouch.


    Amira with her Mullein placed in her chest armor.


    And Tany with her red and yellow rose placed near her vest.


    The same four persons that were running away from them, now all back with a vengeance!


    This causes the Knight to let out a loud primal scream.


    "IMPOSSIBLE!!!" The knight yells.


    The Knight would not believe what he sees but before he could run away, he''s held at gunpoint by Seiner.


    "Ho-ho-how could this be?! We thought you were defenseless!" The Knight asks nervously.


    "We were, but not anymore you filthy bastard."


    Amira then approaches towards the Knight, who''s shaking in extreme fear.


    "Now please answer me if you don''t want any more violence, where is my brother?"


    Despite the life and death situation the knight''s having, he then pulls a defiant smirk on his face.


    "You''ll never know, my loyalties will be always with my Kujar, my secrets will never be spoken to the likes of you!"


    "Just please..."


    "Piss off, you weak whore!"


    His words suddenly make Amira tightly choke his neck where he was sitting. Her once face of peace now swiftly turns into one no one could think could come from her. With her nostrils flaring, her eyes were as wide as they can be, this wasn''t something you don''t want from her.


    "Life or death, the choice is yours! Tell this poor girl or else you''ll get a naughty wack!" Tania replies.


    "Go to hell!"


    Amira then tries to touch his head in search for answers and to see if he''s aware of it.


    Then to her horror, as her eyes widen...


    "My mind''s been implanted with machines capable of deflecting mind waves, and so is your brother when he got captured! There''s no way you''ll make know!"


    Amira activates her red glowing blade and then starts pointing it almost near the Knight''s face. This makes his once cautiously smirk turn one into abject horror.


    "No no no NO!!!, I WILL TALK! But please get that blade off me! TAKE IT OFF!!!"


    Amira then deactivates her blade while still maintaining her furious expression.


    "Your brother... Has been taken away to a faraway place you''ll never reach that easily."


    "TELL ME WHERE YOU MURDERER!!!" Amira shouts furiously that even causes Seiner to be taken aback.


    "Amira...?" Logan quietly whispers in response to it.


    "STOP! I''ll give you a clue, it''s on the air, on the sea, and on the ground, but you need more than eyes to find him. It''s a place called Metis..."


    Amira then pushes her saber closer to his neck, causing him to shake in terror while tears start to drop down from him.


    This causes the Knight to glance towards the others.


    "Please! Don''t let her kill me!"


    "Amira! Stop!" Logan says as he approaches her.


    "Not until he tells me more of it. Not when he''s just mouthed off right away without any trace of loyalty to his faction of murderers!" She snarls in fury.


    "No! Please! I told you enough! If they find out I gave everything...me and my family will..."


    It''s at this very moment where Amira''s expression changed.


    She turns off the saber and holstered it back, with her hand cupping her mouth in a shaking manner while still breathing heavily.


    "F-f-family...?" she says while her voice cracks.


    After a brief pause, she lets him go, running deep into the forest.


    Amira closes her eyes while she started to breathe normally once more. But even so, she''s uncertain about something, as she looks down and kneels.


    "Amira?" Logan asks as his armor digitizes piece by piece, transforming back in the red stone, the original form. He deactivates his blade as well.


    "My brother...if the knight''s words are true, then my journey to rescue him might take years to complete, but otherwise he would have been killed already. I''m supposed to sense him but now I can''t...just why...why did we do to deserve this...? Not to mention...the Knight has a family...why me...?" Amira replies in a saddened tone as tears begin to fall down from her face.


    Fortunately, Logan was quick in comforting her as he pats her gently on her shoulder.


    "Eh, not now man..." Seiner whispers in irritation.


    Tany could only smile gently at such gesture, even if she''s unsure, she would still be happy in trying to form a new circle of friendship.


    "Don''t worry Amira, with the new power we have in our hands, we will help you find your brother..."


    "And the...?"


    "The Universe...? We are sure to try, don''t know how long, but we''ll try." Logan replies cautiously.


    "But even so...I barely know you...and what if even after this..."


    "That doesn''t matter, with time you will know forming new bonds will be the best thing you can think of like no tomorrow. Not to mention, we''ll do the best in taking care of you and knowing better, and then show to the galactic community that we are worth co-existing. Isn''t that right guys?" Logan replies as he glances at Seiner and Tania.


    "We must not get too cocky on this, remember what we know, and that is to be cautious, Logan. She still might be a spy among us and even in regards to what she did today, that doesn''t make me bulge into her stories. And if what I suspected is true, then you''ll pay the major prize of all mankind, Logan. Not to mention, maybe we won''t be worth jack at all, so let''s just do as we can do and not push ourselves too far." Seiner replies.


    "But still, Seiny-boy! Are you that willing to let the poor goodie people die while you doubt in what we can do? We came for a reason, a personal invitation to some circle or something and even if  I don''t know what else this may do, I can still use my imagination to make everything possible. So, please, cheer up a bit more, will ya!" Tany says.


    Only silence could be noticed from Seiner, who simply stared at them angrily, with arms crossed and nothing more.


    "If you insist on becoming fools...then let me supervise you all, that''s my condition for me to join." He replies grudgingly.


    "Yipeee! Also, I can''t wait to show my powers to my friends! If they were alive anyways..." Tania replies in a saddened tone.


    "Who?" Seiner asks.


    "Just forget it, I don''t want to be so sad right now..." she replies.


    "There there now, dear girl. But as we should know,  the four of us can''t be the only ones trying to fight off the Zlocu in this planet, we need to find more, more brave people who are willing to stand against tyranny, oppression, and greed. And it doesn''t matter if they may not trust us or not, what''s important is to do anything we can to survive and perhaps win in this war. And of course, we shouldn''t depart, because we alone won''t win anything, we must stand together. For now on, our pasts are now put behind us as we forge new identities. As of today, we are...the Earth Warriors."


    A brief awkward silence could be heard from the group, all while the wildlife could be heard around them.


    Tany''s expression becomes a cheery one once more.


    "Nah, these ones are better! The Mega Squadron of Doom! The Ultra-Doers! The New Justice League!" Tany says rapidly.


    "Hell no. Have you ever thought of trying to think of something that makes sense? You know we are on Earth and we''re fighting for our lives in a way you can''t imagine!"


    "Hmm...maybe warriors like us or others in this whole war should be given a name suited to what they need," Amira says.


    "OK...Earth Warriors then!" Tany says.


    "But didn''t you...? Never mind, girls can be contradictory some days but oh well." Logan says in a sheepish tone.


    "That''s kinda ridiculous for a name you know," Seiner replies.


    "But it fits us, Seiner, well, relatively. Anyways, this has been a rough day for all of us, now we take a rest and find a place to hide from them, but tomorrow, our new great journey starts."


    "But before we depart...who should lead this group? Don''t tell me because of your age, you should be the one." Seiner askes sheepishly.


    "Well, to be honest, as even from my teacher days, I believe that any of you could be as fit to lead, but given my experience, I may give out the main directives and guidance to you all."


    "Yep Yep Yep! That is going be the greatest vacation of my life! More than in Paris or Tokyo or Berlin!"


    "I don''t think we can call this a "Vacation" Tany, we have enemies in this journey so is not going not to be that easy, or are you asking a quick visit to death itself?" Seiner replies.


    "Oh well," Tania then yawns. "I think I''m becoming sleepy right now."


    "Very well, come on guys lets head to a place where we can sleep," Logan says.


    The four "Earth Warriors" then departed into the unknown, about to take a good a rest but now about to embark on a journey that will be dangerous but they must do it for the sake of humanity, freedom, peace and the entire universe in general.


    Especially for Amira, it''s her first time with Humans with mixed feelings around her. Now she''s wondering this, would her presence and the others ''cause a new step in Humanity? Or just further stagnate them into continuing their ways beyond the stars. But right now, she will try her best in knowing the potential Humanity has, and whether others will get the same mixed thoughts of her as well.


    The great quest for freedom has begun. It may not go without cost, that''s for sure...but what better thing there is when there''s nothing left you had before? A new life should be taken care of, always.

 Chapter 4 - Welcome to the Inquisition

    August 13th. 20:30 PST


    The dark desert of Nevada, a place full of mysteries and tragedies. It was the place where the Nuclear tests were executed by the American government during the second world war and the cold war. But that is not the most interesting aspect of said desert. This aspect is the enigmatic base; Area 51.


    While official reports say that is actually just a USAF base for prototype planes, many people believe that it is actually a base containing secrets coming from outer space, including extraterrestrial life.


    It later turned out to be actually true, because it was occupied and revealed to the public by the Zlocu during the invasion, now the base serves as F.O.B for Zlocu activities in North America.


    Everything aspect has changed. Every aspect of Zlocan machinery is present in every corner. Walkers, dropships, charge tanks, it didn''t matter what type they were, all that mattered is that now an important zone from the American government has been stripped away from enemy hands.


    Inside the main room on one of the bases, there''s a figure sitting in their chair looking at a computer. The computer shows a handful of images such as huge lines of people being rounded up in occupied cities, Zlocan banners being put in place in various cities, etc. Perhaps the figure must be interested in the work the Zlocu have done recently. In spite of the old-fashioned looking room, it still gathered enough advancement to make the Zlocu operate in it.


    "This invasion seems to be going smoother than expected..." the figure mutters while crossing its hands and looking at the monitor, with a mechanized, male voice coming from it.


    The figure is wearing a black fedora hat, with a black visor composed of known stainless steel, a long coat worthy of a Man in Black, and two pairs of red plate gloves, and two bags on his back, likely containing some sort of technological equipment.


    He''s Raven, the leader of the Human Inquisitors, a group of Humans who cooperate with the Zlocans.  Voluntarily or forced, that''s what it takes to take part of it.


    "Sir, we have someone waiting at the door. He''s requesting to talk to you about what happened this evening." says someone in the intercom, likely a guard outside the room.


    "Bring him in," Raven replies.


    The door opens behind him while he''s sitting at his desk, the man that waited outside is none other than the same knight who escaped the Earth Warriors'' first attack. He seems traumatized and scared, shaking uncontrollably while trying to take a seat near one of the tables that are in the room.


    "I heard that the patrols that headed to California for collective recruitment got wiped out by a mysterious force, right?" Raven asks while he stands up and walks near the knight.


    All the knight could do is to stutter. Everything he saw, is something that hasn''t proven to break the spirit of a Zlocan so easily.


    "Y-y-"


    "Spit it out," Raven interrupts in a cold tone, he clearly doesn''t have the patience for any sort of comfort.


    "Yes, sir! It''s just...we were doing our jobs in what you said. It was all going well until...the attackers ambushed and killed most of the units except me..." the knight replies, still in a scared and shaky tone.


    "Who were they? Did you manage to identify them?"


    Yes, they we-ee-re...Damn it! I don''t think you''re going to believe this but, they were the same persons we were trying to hunt and then recruit them! Four ordinary people just turned the tide!"


    "So, the hunted becomes the hunter right?"


    "I...I don''t know sir if you put it like that..."


    "Hm-hmm. But whoever they are, I hope you have a good excuse as to why your team was able to be wiped out by these "ordinary" ones."


    "It''s...it''s...impossible for you to believe..."


    "Mouth it off, I don''t care what is right now," Raven replies again.


    "Well, for a moment we found four fugitives hiding in the woods, each one being hunted down by a different unit with the objective of recruiting them, but we thought we wasted too much time and ordered us to execute them. They were in clear sight, I swear it...But then a white light appeared and we were blinded for a moment. Afterward, the light disappeared, and so were they!" The Knight says in his increasingly desperate tone.


    "We tried to find them again, even digging underground to find them but suddenly, our walkers and drones started to get trashed by something, then the general and the rest were levitated by something and thrown away, and some sort of water wave splashed the remaining ones again... It was them, sir! The people we were looking for! And one of them, likely the sister of the man we captured recently started to interrogate me so she can know where he was taken!"


    "One of the last of the Soranians? I never expected that one of them was going to take revenge against the Zlocu for this. But nonetheless, quite interesting, and ironic." Raven says.


    The Knight could only nod in response rapidly, still wanting to go away from the terrible memories he''s enduring to tell.


    But tell me, did you slip out our secret?"


    "Not fully...I was forced to give a hint to them in regards to the name and something that surrounds it but don''t worry, they''ll never find our secret weapon!"


    "I see, let''s hope that is the case."


    "Good, good, good....but sir, can I leave now?"


    "No. You know the consequences of letting your comrades die and letting the enemy get some information. All Zlocans are expected to be the strongest in any sort of battle and letting their secrets go unchecked. And it''s just like the old saying: Your brothers are your brothers, you must be always with them, even in death. And as the Zlocan command established, break both of these rules and you''ll face the consequences." Raven says as soon as he walks from him and steps behind him.


    The Knight then gets increasingly agitated and now tries to reason with Raven, with tears falling down with eyes as red as they can get.


    "No no no! Please! NO!!! I do like being with my comrades but this is the first time it happens to me! Just please give me another chance, I swear to you that we will find these weak humans for killing my brothers and demonstrate that we-"


    Just as he''s continuing his rant, he suddenly stopped speaking, as if something affected him, making him gargle violently as orange blood starts coming out of his mouth.


    He then tilts downwards and sees the cause.


    He''s stabbed in the back by a metal claw, coming from a hand, the one hand that belongs to Raven himself. Blood dripping outside of it, gushing out in many droplets. After a brief pause, the knight stops moving and Raven takes out his claw out of the knight''s chest and later kicks him out of his table to the floor.


    The Zlocu may have the best soldiers, but the consequences of failure are grave, pretty grave.


    "Failure is not an option in this empire," Raven replies callously.


    Raven then heads toward the door where the Knight entered and proceeds to knock outside.


    "He''s finished with his therapy. Now let''s hope he has time in reuniting with his brothers."


    The guard did as he''s told and took the dead Knight out of his room, later, Raven sat on his desk again, crossing his fingers while thinking about what happened.


    "This seems really interesting, a group of humans going from weaklings to warriors. Now, they may think that their new founded strength may stop us, but we have our Humans as well. But whether they kill them or not, it will show them that there''s no such thing as a hero, only monsters."


    --------------


    In another part of the complex, there''s a man with silverish-blue-hair in a ponytail, his eyes as yellow like coming from a sickness, a black tidy bandanna on his forehead, and an armband on his left arm. He''s slicing and dicing many things he sees on sight, both up and down, holding his golden curved sword in all positions.


    He''s panting heavily with each slice, but he kept a determined look on his face, not willing to stop. After vertically slashing a mechanical drone, he then impales the remains of the drone, all in a victorious way.


    "This is it...I''m truly the best!" the man says.


    "Best novice at least." a voice can be heard, likely outside the room.


    "Oh shut the hell up, I''m just getting started and I already turned these idiotic things into scrap metal!"


    "Dakrin Cavendish, just because you did this at least in level 1 doesn''t make you into a great warrior just yet."


    "If you insist...give me the level 20 course!"


    A door then opens, in which a bulky, industrial looking machine emerged, with a vertical visor and shiny red glowing eyes. It looks like a dumb, monotonous scrap of metal at first.


    "Alright, are you ready to taste this sleek example of-"


    But before he could finish his line, the robot then thrusts forward towards him, then knocks him out cold before he could even react. All because he was distracted boasting about his "great" combat skills.


    This makes the technicians chuckle to his misfortune while the machine got deactivated and put back to one of the gates.


    --------------


    In another dimly lit room, there are eight prisoners stripped down to their underwear, all looking beaten down and sweaty. All of them had many kinds of injuries people could expect, cuts, slashes, damaged eyes, the usual, but some were even dismembered from their bodies. One had an amputated hand as well.


    In front of them is quite probably a total opposite attract of Amira. A yellow skinned, purplish- -short-hair that covers her green eyes, looking as venomous like a poison ivy, with high-elf like ears and a slim body as well, her metallic armor proof of it.


    She''s Yamja Tomentradi, the daughter of the Zlocan emperor, Malgan. If there''s someone as wicked as a killer like him, the answer lies within the offspring.


    She stares condescendingly towards the prisoners, looking down like prey who were captured and ready to be served. The prisoners are in a kneeling position. And even though none of them have their hands tied up, they''re too weak to strike back against her. Her sly, sneaky smile is something that can catch them off guard as well.


    "Oh my, my! Look what we have here! Bunch of new kids eager to learn from their new instructors!" She tauntingly says as she cackles with a hint of madness in her.


    "But, we''re gonna learn you may ask? Well, allow me to give you the lesson. Your age of superiority has come to an end. All your days of savoring your own hubris and asinine ideas led to your own downfall at the hands of the Empire. And what do you think what you will do next? Rot painfully and being left behind with a worthless death not worth even remembering for future generations and perhaps serving as feculent remains for the unworthy? Or restart once more...at the hands of the Inquisitors, in other words, you''ll serve all of us, for my daddy''s great big conquest!"


    One of the prisoners, which is an Asian looking man, didn''t take kindly her words.


    "And then sacrifice our own cause for something so heinous?!"


    "Speak for yourself, you hypocritical Human. Our way is one that can guarantee that your own race is redeemed in the eyes of the galactic community. Genocide and wars, all unnecessary elements for your race that don''t mean anything to you. And yet for all these years when you committed to making things more peaceful, you went on in exterminating those who don''t share the ideals of yours But now with the Inquisitors, you will learn respect and well-deserved power among the weak. Now, here''s the choice. In order to prove someone''s worth of sticking up to what they truly believe, then they should step forward and accept immediate execution while the rest is spared. But, if no one here makes a decision in twenty seconds, then better pray for a journey to the next life."


    All of the prisoners soon became more anxious and terrified, all while looking at each other and telling each other to do it. The needs of many should outweigh the needs of few as well. But who can tell which one can suit best in a conflict? Ten seconds pass, and just as she was about to raise her hand, the same Asian guy then stands up in front of her.


    "How about if you take me instead!? Kill me, and I won''t watch any more people suffer! Just please..."


    Yamja is surprised as such gesture, for someone who tried to defy, he too would also sacrifice for his fellow Human beings, known and unknown. With her sole focus on him, she grabs his arm and helps him stand up. She smiles "gently" at him, surprised at his conviction.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "There, now you see a great man of pure conviction that shows how much you mean to him. I must congratulate him for his bravery...but unfortunately, there can only be one out of many for a war like this. So, dear man, bid farewell to your comrades. It must have been nice for you to meet your baby-brothers but I guess it''s the time to be raised into a grown up."


    "What?! Stop it now!"


    His pleas fell on deaf ears, as soon she starts charging electricity between the soles of her hands, turning into a  zig-zagged pattern while wildly zapping some things close to her.


    Such is the way of the Zlocu...and some of the worst of demons that inhabited Earth for years.


    --------------


    In another room, there are many different posts that are surrounded by walls, all of them showing a long range of objects filled with bullet holes. Some of the people present can be seen practicing their skills with their guns with varying success. Some are Human, some areZlocans.


    But among them, there are 20 target models approaching towards an unknown person. It''s a woman.


    She''s blonde with pulled hair, a black eye patch on her right eye, an indication of her expertise in what she''s capable of. Well-suited yet at the same time with a relentless demeanor towards her target, she''s probably the candidate for the deadliest killer in the Universe. She''s Jane Worren, the most deadly female mercenary of the UK, and the world to some extent.


    She continuously shoots every target she sees, almost never turning to another direction with her Walther CCP gun. Her direction is clear, all in the head, not turning away or anything, all hitting the same spot from the same target practice model that emerged.


    An alarm could then be heard, and the models stop moving.


    "Clear. High score of today go to Jane Worren, a whole new record of shooting all targets in just 45 seconds." a voice says.


    Some either applaud at her records while other watches her silently yet with visible scorn on their faces, in which soon they turn away from her. Nonetheless, Jane doesn''t mind at all, she''s just herself, nothing else, nothing more.


    The Inquisition is truly something at hand, nothing to be underestimated.


    2 hours later.


    Meanwhile, in Big Meadow, while Zlocan activity in there is relatively small, the low presence of military forces from Humans make it a landing place of operations for Zlocan troops into American territory. Walkers, Knights, and tanks have already rolled in for action and in preparation for their next operation.


    But even then, the warriors of their nation can still be found in some capacity.


    Hidden in the bushes, six figures are laying prone, quietly observing a landing Zlocan ship with some troops observing.


    One is a man with dark skin, and a pompadour worthy of a cool guy, in spite of a visible scar on his right cheek. Wearing a long purple trench-coat and with a bag-pack, he seems like a man who''s ready for anything.


    "Sae jackie, ye think thes is the hot stuff we expect? another figure says, with a thick, feminine, Scottish accent.


    The man is known as Jackson Bairman, and if you expect the best, he can come up with it.


    "Ah, Luce...you always need that the hot stuff always comes with a great reward for taking out ugly mugs in here," Jack replies with his deep, smooth voice.


    Alongside him is Lucy Henderson, a former journalist, and photographer of various magazines around the world. With her ginger hair, pink lush eyes and medium weight body and a bag with a handful of knives inside, she can truly provide some tricks beneath her sleeve.


    "Ah, don''t be hasty! It''s not like we can all grab it one go, or unless you truly possess something incredible inside you, right?" Lucy replies back while slightly smacking him in the arm.


    He''s unfazed and soon draws an amused smirk.


    "Heh, you surely still think of it, don''t you?" Jackson says.


    "Listen to her man, you might get the proper sense in knowing what to do in situations like this, former soldier or not." Another figure replies, this time coming from a man wearing a dirty, wrapped police uniform.


    "You think Murph?" Jack replies slyly to Murph. He groans in frustration.


    "You and your bleeding mouth..." he replies.


    "Well no shit, that''s the best we know of him." Another man said, this time being one having dark rugged hair, wearing a dark blue leather jacket and with a double-barreled shotgun near his holster.


    "Maxie-boy, you that ain''t the half of him by now," Luce replies back as she pointed her binoculars to him. This makes him scoff.


    "Well, there may be an extra reward if you behave like proper children." another figure says, this time a woman with brown hair and blue jumpsuit, with a huge flamethrower next to her.


    "Sure thing Ellen, but you should know that I''m not tolerant of sugar as you think," Jackson replied back with sarcasm.


    "Boys as usual..." the final figure replies, is also a woman with brown curled hair and some white robes. Luce only chuckled in response to her annoyed tone.


    "Oh Laiya, you sure do bring the fun," Jackson replies.


    "OK, that''s sure is enough my buddies, keep mouthing off like that and we may spend the next weeks transporting crap to their prisons," Luce says, this time with an annoyed tone and raised an eyebrow.


    "Yeah right...well, where was I? Well, we know that our movements in this war zone are downright limited and therefore we can''t achieve with it. But if there''s one person I can rely on my life and turn the tide, is someone located near the north. Government forces have reunited with others to form some form of alliance to take back our lands." Jackson says while Lucy''s taking some photos of the group stationed on the ground while having a conversation with a shadowy figure.


    "And right now, we need to gather enough intel in the occupied zones so they can get the idea of what''s going on."


    "Now that you think of it, maybe this one group may bring something interesting, but we''re not seeing anything that horrible yet," Lucy says.


    "Isn''t an invasion that horrible enough to you?" Murphy replies angrily.


    "Well yeah...but more than that, there''s the need of a special weapon that can be needed to get public support on our side; Evidence of more actions. One of the oldest rules of war journalism by the book and you should know every inch of it, ya got it?" Lucy says while still looking at Murphy with her binoculars.


    "Well if you insist..."


    She then turns back to the Zlocan group, she starts to frown as she notices something she couldn''t expect.


    "Oh dear..."


    "What is it, Luce?" Jackson says, this time with a more concerned tone.


    "I see them bringing up a group of prisoners from a cargo truck, appear to be civies, four of them to be exact...Oh no, they''re being strapped by some sort of collar in their necks..." Lucy says, her tone becoming more concerning as well.


    As they do that, they also handcuff the civilians together, all while the shadowy figure approaches them.


    None other than Raven himself.


    "By deciding to run away, you''ve decided to become part of the weak. One should know that a true warrior is one the knows how the job should be done and what''s the right action to take it. If you honestly believe that rejecting your second chance was the solution, then you''ll be dead wrong." he then turns to the Zlocan Knight.


    "Do it."


    The Knight salutes him as he then proceeds to push a button on the collar that ties the civilians together.


    A beeping sound from the collar is heard as well.


    Jackson, angry at such action being committed, tries to stand up but Lucy holds him back to the ground.


    "Hold it! You don''t want us to get caught simply because of your insistence on going all hero. There''s nothing we can do for now." Lucy says solemnly as she records what''s happening.


    Looking closely, it appears that nothing is truly happening among the civilians.


    Not at least until the beeping sound comes faster and faster.


    Without warning, the four heads of the civilians collectively exploded from the force of the collar itself, soon dropping dead to the ground while the headless remains gush out the blood from the neck.


    And it can''t get any worse for Jackson himself.


    Flaring his nostrils heavily, his eyes as wide they can be and shaking extremities nothing could be coming for him right now.


    "Jackson I know that-" Lucy tries to reassure him but...


    "They took many of my countrymen already, my family, my friends, everyone...but now...I WILL KILL THE SONS OF BITCHES!!!"


    He shouts at the top of his lungs as he soon stands up and grabs his M16A4 rifle with grenade launcher and shots a shell to the position of the group.


    The Zlocan group then notices the source of the loud voice but before they could react, the shell hits near a handful of them, being thrown back by the force of the explosion.


    Even if it didn''t kill them, they still get injured from the strike.


    Jackson then proceeds to fire wildly at the group while Lucy and the others are forced to stand up and try to hold Jackson back to no avail.


    The Zlocan troops then take notice of the attackers and proceed to fire their blasters at them.


    "I TOLD YOU TO KEEP CALM!" Lucy yells while taking cover from the laser bolts.


    "AND CARRY ON WHILE LETTING OTHERS DIE!?! HELL NO!!" Jackson yells back.


    "We have no time left, let''s move!" Laiya says as she and the others pull out their guns and start firing back to the troops and dodging as many bolts as they can.


    Jackson managed to hit some of the troops, but many could still be seen coming.


    And know him getting low on ammo, given that the rest is in the bag, he too now runs while taking cover alongside the rest.


    Running as fast they can, they try to outrun the Zlocan troops giving chase and being lead by Raven himself.


    It''s no easy task to do, so they all soon split up in order to distract them.


    Murphy, quickly twirling his SIG Sauer P226, proceeds to fire at some Zloca Knights while taking cover from a tree.


    Almost being grazed from every blast, he fires back as much as he can.


    "God-damn it!" he says, stressed from the fire he''s receiving.


    But before he could continue, he notices that the Zlocan troops stopped firing, almost if they ran out of ammo or energy.


    Trying to get out of cover while aiming his gun, he gets grabbed by him and tackled to the ground.


    It''s Raven, now holding him at his mercy.


    "Policemen...always the supposed defenders for the public trust and law, and yet your kind largely did the opposite. So in the name of the Zlocu, it''s time for your dues."


    Raven then holds Murphy and reveals him in the open, turning that the Zlocan Knights noticed Raven beforehand and then allowed him to do the work so he can prepare a signal from him.


    Murphy tries to fight him off but Raven kicks severely in the right leg, causing to wince in pain as it gets dislocated from the force.


    Raven then raises his closed fist, then later opens the palm, indicating their signal, soon walking away from Murphy.


    They start firing at Murphy with many of the laser bolts that they have, this time larger, hitting various parts of his body while he screams in pain.


    Some seconds last, but eventually the Zlocans stop firing their heavy loading, now leaving Murphy as a limbless person with smoking holes around the body.


    "One down." he callously said before moving out to the next target.


    On the other side, Max takes his double-barreled shotgun in trying to fire the Zlocan Knights, and like Murphy, he too takes cover from the fire.


    "Those hellish bastards, you want some of this!?" Max says as he leaps sideways and proceeds to quickly shot the Zlocan Knights who are after him, flawlessly hitting two of them.


    Max then stands proudly while carefully reloading his shotgun.


    "Some people these days just don''t learn..."


    Then, a blade is pierced through his jaw, causing a handful of blood to gush out from it.


    Said blade is golden-looking, all coming at the hands of Dakrin Cavendish himself, who stood there while he was distracted with his bravado.


    "Well, I guess you haven''t learned in paying attention." Dak snarks.


    Dakrin then slices down the jaw and proceeds to impale Max''s cranium. Then, he detracts the blade from the cranium, causing max to drop dead.


    Dakrin could only chuckle at such unfortunate event and then proceeds to walk away.


    In another part of the place, Ellen''s trying to hold off the enemy by spraying them with her flamethrower, trying to block their sight and path while trying to burn any of them.


    She does so while running both left and right, trying to hold off as much as she can while trying to keep the enemy at bay.


    It appears that she''s doing well, as so far, nothing is hitting her, likely from the spreading flames.


    She then tries for another circling around the area but then notices a shadowy figure nearly next to the fire.


    Ellen then tries to unleash the flames once more, but this time, the flames are then stopped mid-air.


    All done by the figure extending their hand.


    Said figure is none other than Yamja herself, who''s smirking in amusement for the "primitive" use of such weapon with the element of fire.


    "Pfff, are you, Humans, really that simplistic?"


    "What the hell do you mean by that!?"


    Yamja answers by pushing the flames back at her at full force, quickly scorching her apart painfully.


    Ellen tries to put down the flames, but the heat makes it too unbearable to contain it.


    She then drops dead, with her scorched body being the only thing left, almost unrecognizable.


    For Laiya, she holds her ground while shooting her enemies with her Desert Eagle, shooting each of the nine-round the .357 revolver cartridge contained with the gun.


    Surprisingly, she manages to shoot her enemies in spite of her inexperience.


    She lets out a sigh of relief, maybe believing she''s off the hook now.


    "Funny, I can tell the luck you have with the gun, at least from someone like you who hasn''t seen any real combat yet, or even at all." someone says, this time from Jane Worren herself.


    Laiya quickly reacts and aims her gun at her.


    But unfortunately, she forgot the number of bullets she just fired, and now it stands empty while staring at her nervously.


    "That''s an IMI Desert Eagle with a .357 Magnum cartridge, and you''ve had your nine."


    Jane pulls her Walther P99 gun and quickly shoots Laiya in her chest, causing her to drop to the ground.


    She then tries to crawl back to safety while holding her wound in check and trying to resist the pain.


    Unfortunately, Jane notices, proceeding to shoot her in the back.


    This time, the body stands lifeless, while blood oozed to the ground.


    Jane then walks away once more, this time unloading the cartridge and checking the number of bullets she has left.


    Now Lucy''s almost by herself, but even so, she can hold her ground pretty well.


    Using her quick perception of the surroundings, she manages to throw her knives to the enemies she sees while taking cover as well.


    Quickly hiding near a tree, she quickly notices the surroundings around here and notices the pattern in the enemies shooting her.


    Almost five or four, she notices.


    After a brief moment of hesitation, she then pulls a pair of knives from her bag and then throws at two Zlocan Knights in the open, swiftly leaping to the other tree the knives impact the two knights chasing her.


    Quickly noticing the lack of fire, she lets out a small chuckle of relief while walking near the corpses to pull the knives from the impacted areas.


    "Poor boys, they miss the point of this as usual..." she mutters to herself while then trying to search for Jackson.


    But as she''s trying to find him, Raven then emerges from the obscured landscape once more, this time catching Lucy by surprise as she steps back in shaky tone.


    "It seemed we''re missing another piece, but compared to you...you seem the penitent one for us. If you want to live, please tell us what you and your colleagues have been hiding from us."


    "Go to hell!" she shouts as she pulls one of her knives.


    Then, her body stops moving, in which she quickly notices as she can know only move her eyes and head.


    Wondering nervously why it''s happening to her.


    She then notices why.


    It''s Yamja using her dark arts once more to paralyze her almost completely.


    Dakrin and Jane emerged from the other sides as well, surrounding the poor Scottish lady as well.


    Biting her lips, breathing irregularly, it''s something Lucy never wanted to have on her.


    Raven then walks next to her, who then grabs a mini syringe and stabs her in the neck, causing her to wince in pain before eventually passing out.


    "So, we''re gonna kill this bitch or what?" Dakrin eagerly says.


    "The others may be already dead, and we need to extract the secrets of what this secret base is," Jane replies.


    Raven then noticed an assault ship arriving in the area, ready to pick up the Inquisitors and some of the surviving Zlocan knights.


    "Inquisitors, mission accomplished," Raven says as he carries Lucy in his back while the others follow suit. Carefully carrying the body, he enters inside and puts Lucy in one of the seats. He later detaches some wires coming from his chest and wraps it around Lucy, covering it around her chest up to the ground of the ship near the seat


    Unbeknownst to them, they underestimated the chance of survival for the former soldier.


    Jackson himself seems to be running to the distance after killing some Knights, meaning he''s likely trying to find the rest of his team.


    "MURPH?! MAX?! ELLEN?! LAIYA?!" He shouts as he continues running. That is until he notices the ship lifting away. With his long eye-sight, he notices something he didn''t want to see. Lucy being held captive as the ship''s door remain open for Raven and the rest to remind Jackson of his failure.


    Enraged, Jackson quickly tries to chase the leaving transport ship while firing wildly at it.


    "LUCY!!!" Jackson yells at the top of his lungs, all eager in trying to recover his colleague.


    Sadly, it''s too late as the ship takes off right when he appeared, all while trying to leave to safety.


    Enraged and consumed with grief, Jackson stomps the ground many times while throwing his bag away in a fit of frustration, shouting in anger, apparently knowing that the others have been killed as well, and now someone close to him has been captured.


    "DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM ALL!!! WHEN WILL YOU STOP GOING OUT FOR OUR BLOOD, YOU MURDERING BASTARDS?!!!"


    After a brief period of venting his anger, he then kneels sadly while looking down and trying to breathe normally.


    "Why...all of this...just why.....?" he mutters to himself, his voice as shaky yet doing his best to stay firm.


    Some silence for him happens, all to try to keep himself calm.


    Soldiers are always told to sacrifice everything they know if they want their mission to succeed.


    But, is it really that necessary?


    After some period of silent mourning, Jackson then stands up once more, now with a determined yet also restrained expression while gripping his hands.


    They may have taken everything from him, but if he wants to, then he may just take everyone who wronged him.


    Quickly picking his bag, he then departs to another place, ready to prepare himself for another day.


    Another day to perhaps start anew.

 Chapter 5 - New Friends, New Foes

    August 14th, 08:40 PST


    Back on Stanislaus National Forest, normality seemed to have returned to the place. It still looks green and shiny. Even with the destruction caused by the Zlocan patrols, the forest still remained quiet like always. On a house made of wood, the four heroes are there, resting well. They may have new powers but there is always a rest after a fight. Tany is the first one to wake up, making a long yawn that nearly awakes the others.


    Her hair is a bit ruffled but still as nice it can be. Her eyes open gently, revealing some tired yet with some hint of confidence as well. She picks up her magic staff. Why? Some fun perhaps?


    Noticing that the others haven''t woke up yet, she takes a drastic measure to ensure the continuation of their journey regardless of their resting state.


    She...starts poking the other three with the orb attached to the staff, all gently too while rubbing it on their faces. She smiles for a bit, she may know the consequences of doing that but at least she can have some in doing so. That''s all she needs


    It worked, but at the cost of Seiner''s mood. He wakes up, groaning in frustration while looking for his glasses on the nearby table, which he does. Once he puts them on, he sets his sights on Tania, his eyes almost shut and scowling in frustration from what he''s seeing.


    "Good morning sleeping beauties!" she enthusiastically says while shoving them around in their beds as they wake up.


    Seiner picks his glasses from a nearby table near the bed while irritatingly adjusting his glance towards Tany, who still smiled at him joyously.


    "How was your goodie nice sleep?!"


    "Ugh, gimme a break Tany, do we look like beauties at this moment? And all of yesterday was plain bollocks, to begin with." Seiner replies.


    Logan then wakes up as well, yawning for a little but pretty less irritated than Seiner. Unlike Seiner, he opens his eyes wide enough to be awake and simply greets Tany with a slight smile on his face.


    "I had a dream, a dream of being asleep in a way that I like it. Until something magical poked my cheek. It''s a good morning...to be alive at least. Don''t you think?" Logan replies, this time with a more gentle tone.


    As for Amira, she simply wakes up while adjusting her hair and turning around for a little bit to look around. She looks at the three of them slowly, all while they stare back at her in curiosity. After a brief moment of awkward silence, she responds.


    "I''m good, thanks, Tany. Now to think about it...sleep is just as common in this Earth-like in other planets as well." Amira replies in a curious tone.


    "OK, I like to hear that! Lots of new surprise to learn and get excited about our enjoyment! Anyways, what''s today''s plan?" Tany says as she turns her head back and forth impatiently.


    "Well, we have two plans to be exact. One: We must find other people who are strong enough to stand against the Zlocu in this area, and if possible, reunite with the remaining armed forces in the country and try to convince them to let us join them." Logan says.


    "And what''s number two I wonder?" Seiner asks.


    "Find some breakfast before we starve the hell out of it. I truly mean it! It''s just like what the camp said, always be ready for food before a journey."


    "Oh yes indeed Logie, I hope we can eat some delicious pancakes or better yet eggs before we start this beautiful journey! Let''s go find some nice place for it while we can!" Tania replies enthusiastically.


    "That could be quite nice Tany. But there just one problem, one which...oh screw it, we don''t have money and there are no restaurants here."


    "Can''t we teleport to a goodie one then!?"


    "Uhhhh, they may be already destroyed I''m afraid."


    "Awwww..."


    "Don''t worry, I bought some apples from yesterday. " Seiner replies.


    "Apples...they seem something delicate. Thanks, Seiner, that was nice of you, to be honest, Humans suddenly looks more interesting than I thought." Amira says.


    "Eh, no need to thank me Amira, it is always necessary to pick up things before setting up for another day, food included."


    Logan shakes his head in confusion and surprise, a common thing for him it seems?


    "You went to a summer camp before?"


    "Ah...no. Just a hobby in case I got lost, or is it because I know a script like this, am I right, mate?" Seiner asks in a sarcastic tone, all while spouting as smile as authentic as an old school doll.


    "Guys these days are always prepared, eh? Well good job Seiner, objective 2 complete," Logan says as he grabs the apple and proceeded to munch every bit of it. He could clearly enjoy every second of it, while Amira as well tried one and could feel the sweetness of the fruit as well. But sneaky Tany has other plans.


    "Boopie Multiplus!" she uses her staff to cast a spell on the apple. Then, hundreds of apples emerged out of nowhere in her place, all seemingly looking ready for a dish.


    "Ah thank you Tany...that magic is quite useful, compared to the Miaras Wizards," Amira says while looking in awe yet simple curiosity.


    "Mia-who? Nah, gonna eat ten and keep the rest for other goodie days! Haha! Gigantus!" she then used her spell to turn her bag a bit bigger to fit the other hundreds of apples just summoned.


    Seiner, jealous, couldn''t believe in such creation, all while looking in shame to his own belt...but he didn''t mind, he needed to move on from such things.


    "Now it''s time for objective one, right Logan?" Seiner asks.


    "Yes, but first let''s finish our apples, we can''t start a journey bordering on a war on an empty stomach. Lesson two of survival as well," Logan says.


    "Keep on like that mate and you''ll be sure to be the ultimate summer camp teacher..."


    Sometime later, the group went out of the wooden house and proceeded to walk towards a nearby river. They don''t know what to do next but it''s certain that walking by foot isn''t going to do anything faster for them.


    "Logan, I think walking will be hard in finding survivors, I suggest we use a vehicle with radar so it could be faster and easier to locate," Amira suggests.


    "You''re right Amira, we need to find a transport so we can go faster, but unfortunately I can''t see a vehicle nearby...no car, no bicycles, no nothin''!" Logan says.


    Seiner then stands next to Logan, who then proceeded to point with his finger at his waist. A metallic, long, silverish belt with numerous cubes attached to it.


    Logan, however, didn''t get the idea of what he was referring to, staring in confusion while looking awkwardly at Seiner. Seiner scowls in response while looking irritated at Logan. Something so special on the belt yet nobody notices?


    "Uh, yes, that''s a belt," Logan says.


    "Not just one belt, a special Chrome belt," Seiner replies with a confident tone.


    "Special? You truly sure Seiner? I mean, it''s not like you could suddenly have the sudden thought of becoming the ultimate gadgetry man at all..."


    "Oh, Let me handle this Logan, ever since I gained technological powers, the guardians also gave me this chrome belt. One beyond your whole imagination combined!"


    "Does that belt contain some sort of transportation? How curious! Come on, create a rocket to kick the Zlocans back to the moon!" Tania says while crouching and fawning over the belt.


    "But they''re from another planet," Amira replies


    "The moon doesn''t count!"


    "First off, no. And second, YES it has many functions Tany. I think the better choice is to go by air so we can find the survivors more easily."


    "Wise choice, Seiner. But wouldn''t that mean that Zlocan spaceships might find us more easily? I still can feel more of them nearby..." Amira asks.


    "Well get this darling, my vehicles are programmed to go invisible if it detects an enemy nearby. At least that''s what I think...oh am I kidding, let''s go pick up on the ground anyways."


    "For a chosen one, you surely are the luckiest of all of us! Oh, I''m so jealous right now." Tany says in an felt down tone.


    "Please shut up..." he replies irritatingly while pressing one of the cubes as hard as he could while staring menacingly at Tany.


    Logan then walks next to each other with his arms holding each other back.


    "You know we''re in this together now and there''s no need for further fights. Just keep that in mind, OK? Now...up up and away now!" Logan says.


    Seiner takes one of his cubics chromes, pressing a button in the center of the cube and a hologram of a helicopter appears.


    "CHROME TRUCK, ACTIVATE!" Seiner yells as he tosses the cube to the ground.


    The cube suddenly starts gaining the form of a huge cargo truck like those by armies; Large and with loads of cargo needed. First, it appears in wire-frame, then finally it becomes a fully solid object with chrome paint. This action makes Tania clap a lot like she just went to her best concert in her life.


    "Bravo~! Bravo~!" Tany yells as she hoops in excitement.


    "Damn it Tany, I know you are fascinated by great things but no need to shout like a freaking cheerleader!"


    "You talk later guys, we need to hurry up on our journey to save the universe or else we might not get any more geniuses left," Logan says.


    "You''re right Logan, let''s go now! Quick quick!" Tany says.


    The group enters the truck. From the inside, it looks big and comfortable to rest and travel, but when it''s in a war zone, serious precautions are needed. Logan, Amira, and Tania are the passenger''s seats while Seiner is the driver.


    "Hey Seiner, are you sure you can drive this thing?" Logan asks.


    "Of course I am."


    "Since when?"


    "Since today! You know what? Let''s just go already before I reconsider my choice of being your pilot. And to keep this in mind, my devices, for now, seem to only travel by maximum of two hours so I should use them sparingly."


    The truck starts to ignite and then drives away, ready to travel into the unknown. At least it goes too shaken to the point it nearly crashes into a tree but manages to dodge it, only to come near a tree again, and dodge again while trying to stay firm. A few turns later, the truck eventually stays on a single track, now able to ride in peace.


    The travel is taking several minutes so far. Inside, Tany is sleeping while Logan and Amira are awake, waiting for the ride to end.


    "Logan..." Amira says.


    "Yes, Amira?"


    "Yesterday, you told me that maybe the scientists who experimented on my uncle likely regretted what they did, tell me, how can you be sure of that?"


    "Well, you see, Humans for years have tried to know the meaning of their actions, thinking if they were for the good or for the worse. Something these actions might take their morality to the limits. Things like the treaty of Versailles and the invention of the atomic bomb were proofs of such behavior. Our curiosity in trying to discover and prove new things has been a good trait for all humans, or it was supposed to be. But still, Humans can know their mistakes before and after such events, and might know how its curiosity has been driven by its limits."


    "That''s...nice. But, what if they don''t regret it?"


    "Maybe they are not pure enough and science and selfish wishes consumed them, but we humans want to do good for the most inner parts coming from our hearts. Maybe in this journey, you will learn more about our nature, Amira."


    "Let''s hope so Logan." Amira then hugs Logan by his shoulder, with gentle warmth and tranquillity all present with her. At least hopefully.


    Logan looks a bit uneasy on her. After all, it''s just one day after the encounter and they don''t know anything fully from her. Strangers are really rare to know fully regardless of personality, not even truly sure in how they can think of them.


    But yet, Logan feels something special about her.


    Just who is she? I never thought I could meet a being as gentle as someone I can meet one day. It''s hard to tell even in war...and is she actually telling us the truth? I''m just wondering...


    --------------------------------------------------------------------


    40 minutes later, the radar of the helicopter started to blip many times, meaning that life forms have been found.


    "We get new signals! Life forms found!" Seiner says.


    "Alright! Finally some new friends for this great group!" Tania exclaims.


    "CHROME TRUCK RETURN!" Seiner yells again, this time the helicopter became wire-frame again and later a chrome box again. The four heroes land safely on the ground from a surprisingly high altitude.


    "OK, now where are those people?" Seiner asks.


    "Maybe these are the ones we are looking for! Wait..." Tania replies in a confused manner while looking around aimlessly until she spotted something peculiar, which made her curious smile to drop.


    A pack of troops appears to walk by in the forest, looking somewhat familiar...


    "Zlocan Knights?" Amira whispers. Even with all the powers that she gained, she could only truly wonder if she feels worthy enough to take them down in one go, least of any previous knight she just encountered


    To ensure they don''t get caught as the Zlocans get nearby, Logan looks around at his surrounding, looking carefully at what to do in a situation like he''s in. Changing gaze after gaze, he then shifts to something didn''t expect. He quickly raises his hand, pointing to a nearby large rock that could cloak them from being spotted. Others followed the order and duck under the roc.


    The Zlocu slowly approaches the sound of the voice, slowly coming to Logan''s hiding place. Logan and his team prepare their weapons to attack if they get closer. The Zlocan knights are one step forward in finding them.


    But as they were about to turn around to find them, two grenades land near their feet.


    Logan and the team notice what it is, and soon try to go prone. The Zlocans, however, try to run from them.


    BOOM!


    The blast knocks the Zlocan Knights to the point of near death, some even losing some legs or arms from the resulting explosion. Most of the Knights stand silently afterward.


    They get up from the rock to check the corpses if they''re alive or dead, they must be really cautious in trying to inspect if they''re worth interrogating or not.


    "Are the four of you OK?" a familiar voice yells from the distance.


    "Yes, we are! But who are you? Come here, we are not the enemy!"


    The man who tossed the grenades the Zlocu is none other than Jackson himself, still packed up from the latest incident at night. He soon fixed his gaze to the warriors who then comes out of hiding while slightly putting a defensive stance.


    "Hey now. I am an ally, not an enemy. Just drop that stance of yours, please? Anyways, Jackson Bairman is the name. You may not know me, but I''m just one hell of a legend among the military, the Navy SEALs actually. And now here I am, busting everything I meet that threatens all innocent. Say, you must be the geeky legends I suppose?" Jackson says.


    "Hey Hey, where are not geeks, we are the legends of the universe! We have a power that you can''t possibly imagine, not like you, you, you legend..of..hunting...Seals right? Gosh." Tania says.


    "You obviously have no idea what a Navy SEAL is right?! You''re missing out the best!"


    "Yeah, I heard of them. They are the strongest warriors of the sea for the Yanks, but now, we don''t know if they can stop this war on this planet by themselves. Eh, whatever they feel like." Seiner replies.


    Jackson could only sigh, for all the bravery they can put them, they''re just Human after all.


    "Yes, most of the bravest ones that I know have been wiped out during the invasion, but someday, these aliens will know the hard way of messing with a SEAL."


    "Let''s introduce ourselves, shall we? I''m Logan Preaker, leader of the Earth Warriors, he''s Seiner Butch, the brain of the group, she''s Amira Dhorian from planet Sorania and she''s Tania Maestas, the girl with crazy ideas."


    "Huh? Me with crazy ideas?" Tania replies.


    "Why yes, look at your staff, right?"


    She then used it to summon a peculiar spell...a brief chocolate rain in the form of a small cloud hovering above her.


    "Still geeky," Jackson says in an unimpressed tone.


    Tania could only throw a fit as she soon made the cloud disappear.


    "Now, I have to ask. Sorania? That is another planet if you''re correct about it...that means she is not one of them right? Or am I truly wrong?" Jackson says as he then aims his gun at Amira.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "No, I''m not. Are you Humans really that judgmental on people you don''t know?"


    "Well, we only saw ones for a month. Only saw a couple of how they look like, yet you look a bit identical to them yet you''re not...maybe for now I''ll keep a close watch on you, but still, it''ll be my pleasure to protect you."


    "I wish the same thing could be said for my people."


    "What''s wrong?


    "The Zlocu destroyed my world, the same ones that are attacking this planet, and now, my brother and I are the last of them. But if it wasn''t for Logan and these kind people, I would feel more alone than I was."


    "I''m sorry to hear that Amira, well if it''s true...Anyways, are you trying to look for someone or something?"


    "We are finding recruits for our group that it''s destined to save the universe from the hands of the Zlocu. For what we saw, I think you''re welcome to join this group where you can feel like a warrior again." Logan replies. Jack in response only turns away from them, looking down while staying silent.


    He''s wondering many times, but the one that''s sticking on his head is simply this; does he really think he deserves a second chance if he screws up once more? He lost his team last night because of his actions...he''s sure he won''t afford to lose Lucy.


    After a moment of silence, he eventually turns his attention back to the warriors.


    "I...I would like to accept that, but under one condition, you must help me to find a friend that has been captured. And make sure you''re tough enough to survive."


    "Who is it?" Logan asks.


    "It''s about Lucy Henderson. She was alongside me trying to fight off the Zlocu, but yesterday when we were looking for other survivors and scouting a patrol, the Zlocu ambushed us and she got captured, all because I couldn''t control my rage in seeing innocents die. I lost part of my group when it happened. She may know the secrets of a site that is at them moment classified for you. I may not look for direct help from the likes of you, but I guess, a try is always a try." Jackson said as he soon extends his hand towards Logan.


    Logan hesitates for a moment. Is he just a dangerous straggler, a truly former soldier or something else? Whatever the case, it''s necessary for him to meet new people and see if they can be trusted.


    In the end, he makes his choice.


    "OK, deal!" Logan says as he shakes Jackson''s hand.


    "I''m glad to hear that, but we need to find clues about her whereabouts."


    Amidst the conversation, a Zlocan knight started to crawl to a place while groaning in pain, the group notices this and approaches the knight to interrogate him. It startles him while trying to break away from him while being shoved into a tree from Jackson himself.


    "Now tell me, have you seen a girl with glasses and looks like a reporter?!" He asks in a ferocious tone.


    "Ugh, you mean the one we captured recently?! Ha! She is in the north camp, but soon she will be extracted to Area 51 for Inquisisation! You''ll never reach her in time!" the Zlocan says smugly. Even with his helmet on, one could notice his smug smile a mile away from it.


    Nostrils flaring out, eyes wide open, Jackson then knocks the Zlocan knight out cold with his fist right in front of the face as hard as he could. The impact so great the shards from the visor are later embedded in his hands.


    "How can we reach the north camp in time?! We can''t do it on foot! And where''s the goddamn transport!?" Jackson exclaims in anger as he stomps on the knight with his foot three times.


    "Take it easy old man, I got this," Seiner says as he takes out one of his chrome boxes, pressing the button to reveal the model of a helicopter.


    "What''s that?"


    "CHROME COPTER ACTIVATE!"


    Seiner yells as he tosses the box to the ground and transformed into a helicopter. A peculiar and advanced design worth of beauty, with the basis of the Super Stallion. This mostly paralyzes Jackson for a brief while.


    "Oh! Did that box just turn into a helicopter? And a Super Stallion no less?! Well, I''ll be damned..." he exclaims in surprise while staring at it.


    "Enough talk, let''s head out to that camp and rescue Lucy Henderson!" Logan says as he and the others board the helicopter.


    ------------------------------------------------------


    "North Camp" 10:20 PST


    The camp is, in fact, Beale Air Force Base now turned into a Zlocan base. The famed aircraft stationed on the base has now been replaced by Zlocu walkers, tanks, and ships.


    The occupation also meant that some nuclear missiles are in possession of the Zlocan forces.


    Inside in one of the airfields, there was a chained person in the wall between old planes.


    That persons had orange plastered hair with a puffy tail, pink eyes, glasses, a green heart earring, red sharp neck-wear, a camera around its neck, black dress vet, a light yellow long sleeve shirt and blue pants. It was Lucy Henderson, the captured reporter. She looked a bit dirty but she still looked fine.


    The gates of the airfield suddenly start to open, revealing four persons entering.


    The first person is the sadistic Raven, then Dakrin Cavendish, then Yamja Tomentradi and Jane Worren. The Inquisitors.


    "So, look what we have here. A woman who tried escape from the righteous ones, an act of absolute cowardice and opposition. Lastly, a woman who comes from the far away land of Scotland, the land of the brave and yet you tried to escape from us, how ironic. Now tell me, where is the base of the UEF?" Raven asks.


    "Eh, Ye think ye can break me?! Ah can stain various ways of torture, not even the'' aggressive ones can make me give!" Lucy says. Even in chains, she''s still brave enough to withstand the torture she''ll receive. Not caring a damn about what she''ll endure.


    Dakrin then punches her in the face two times very hard. Even then, the bruises are not enough to drag down the brave lady, as she stares down to the Inquisitors.


    "Yeah right, you may stand fists but I bet you can''t stand mine, the fists of the powerful warrior!"


    "I don''t think so pretty boy, I think we need something else rough to make this human bitch talk. Let''s see if my precious will handle it." Yamja said while taking out her knife and slashing her arms, making them bleed extensively and wince in pain. But even so, for Lucy, she could still resist the pain. Pressuring her arms to not feel the pain of the cuts.


    "Hahaha, not even your blades can break me. yoo''re just a bunch of fools that don''t have standards towards a lady!" She continues to taunt them. Indeed, not even the force of blades can force her out.


    "I know that this is something you don''t want to endure, but you need to relent Lucy, sometimes it is for the safety for you to stay alive without suffering too many wounds. And I know that you think that as a fellow countryman, I could help you but I''m not. Too much of self-worthlessness should make you learn about how the world should work." Jane says in a harsh but fair tone.


    "Ah ken jane, but still, mah loyalty is for the good of mankind an'' e''en Ah main die tryin'' toresist, nobody can break a good girl like, a great mukker says ''at! nae unlike yer words, ye grottie mercenary."


    Raven then pulls its claws out, proceeding to slash most of Lucy''s chest, she groans in pain but she still could withstand it, pressing her arms as hard as she can.


    "Everyone breaks Lucy, pain is a tool used to solve everything, pain is the tool that makes everyone beg for mercy. It is the feeling that makes you feel that you are becoming an honest person, a person who is willing to sacrifice everything for its own survival. After all, it makes you into an absolute warrior, it is the most natural thing for a Human being Lucy."


    "Kiss...me... ass, Raven." Lucy retorted before fainting. Despite her injuries, it''s clear that she will be standing on her feet no matter what. She''s a reporter, most do survive despite everything.


    -----------------------------------------------------


    Far away, the chrome copter was approaching from the distance, the rescue is going well at the moment, at least for now. They still need their time to reach Lucy and rescue her.


    "Beale Air Force Base? This''s the camp?!" Seiner asks as in a shocked manner.


    "The Zlocu attacked in large numbers, especially since our armed forces in California started to dwindle, and thus, the Zlocu faced little resistance as they occupied the Western coast. Many good men were lost that day..." Jackson replies in a quiet yet almost strenuous tone, clenching his fists and all. And even if he''s quiet enough, one can notice the fury present in his words.


    "And it''s not just that, I watched my home being occupied them, not to mention seeing my family and friends die while being taken as a prisoner...I was a prisoner once...I won''t be ever again, not to any monster." Logan replies. also almost in the same tone as Jackson.


    "Such hatred..." Amira says in a worried tone. Her hands near her waist.


    Logan turns around to face her, his once wide eyes turn narrow once more, his slight grimace turning into a frown as well. Even if she simply looks on her, he could tell why she said that. Jackson''s expression remains the same, not even turning his attention to her. They truly know it...they don''t want to be defined by such horrible emotion...but in war, even good men can be consumed by anger, no longer knowing if they could be capable of positivity again.


    "Oh, cheer up my lovelies. I know there will be something puffy enough to cheer ya up after this!" Tany says, trying her best to cheer them up.


    "Hello, it''s time for stealth mode!" Seiner says as he presses a button on the cockpit. The helicopter suddenly turned invisible.


    "How are we supposed to rescue her without being seen while we land?" Amira asked.


    "Uh....Watch this?"


    Seiner then presses a button while trying to figure out most of it. Although invisible, the chrome copter''s wings suddenly transformed into laser guns, machine guns, and missiles, ready to fire in combat.


    "This is where the fun begins..." Seiner then presses a button, and the copter''s weapons started to fire in a very wild manner, destroying many vehicles in its path.


    --------------------------------------------------------


    "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Dakrin shouts angrily while tilting his head to see the chaos.


    "An attack, it seems one of your friends brought reinforcements, right?" Raven asks the awakening Lucy, now recovering from the fainting. She manages to open her eyes long enough to see the spectacle of a lifetime. She even smirks at the implications of it.


    "Maybe he didn''t call them....but I''m pretty sure Jackson will kick your asses away..!" She says in a faint yet defiant tone.


    Dakrin then knocks her out cold.


    "I suggest we kill this bitch to make sure that they don''t get her in time!"


    "No, we will not, we''ll settle this in a face to face duel," Raven responds.


    "But Raven!"


    "Listen to him Cavendish, you will obey him just as we do!" Jane says while interrupting him.


    "OK, whatever, if only I was in charge of this..."


    The Chrome copter enters the hangar and it became a chrome box again called by Seiner.


    "So, the reinforcements just arrived to rescue this escapee, and it seems that one of them is the one particular being that I''ve searched for some time..." Yamja says, all while pointing to Amira.


    "This time, I''ll end the deed!" Yamja then pulls out two grips with no blades in sight, she then presses some buttons on the hilt, revealing dark red light blade.


    Amira, who at the moment was preparing bravely for battle, soon turned to an anxious expression, as her eyes widened and started ventilating heavily. She almost stood back, almost in a panicked state.


    "You...you... you''re the one who killed them..."


    "Why yes, proud daughter of the Royal Soranian family, I''m deeply aware that there are some matters that need to be settled. And that''s what gonna happen today, sweet Ammy!"


    Amira still continues to ventilate heavily, as the image of her parents being killed in front of her before escaping flashed in her head. After a moment of hesitation, she activates her laser sword and points the tip towards.


    "No...I''ll do the deed, I''ll make you pay for what you did to my family!"


    Dakrin notices Logan''s Coraggio sword, watching with great interest yet some envy in it compared to his metallic sword.


    "You sword looks cool young man, but its power is not compared to my Dynami!"


    "Don''t count on it too much!"


    "Enough talk, let''s fight," Raven says.


    A battle ensues, Logan and Dakrin fought each other with their swords, parrying, blocking and slashing were most of their actions.


    Parrying one strike of Dakrin, Logan then knocks him with the tilt of the weapon to the head, but he could recover quickly recover and proceeded to block a strike from Logan, blocking near his head while trying to fend off each in a locked clash.


    Logan''s sword movements are almost professional. Quickly changing each stance between the Italian fencing of the rapier style or the Kendo style of the Katana, he can keep up at ease with Dakrin. Dakrin on the other hands mostly uses random swinging techniques with his sword, indicating a lack of proper training.


    "Who do you think you are, the next William Adams?!" Dakrin snarkily asks.


    "I trained in both continents to prove that combats with swords don''t need boundaries!"


    "Keep talking, jackass!"


    Logan then pushes Dakrin away as he soon twisted the sword off his hands.


    "No fighter is pure without his sword. And by your actions, you''re not worth it."


    "Shut the hell up!" Dakrin then kicks Logan in the leg which nearly makes him flinch, but he regains composure quickly, as soon he faces down upon Dakrin who strikes at him once more.


    Raven fights against Seiner and Jackson with most of their weapons, that ranged from guns, lasers, melee weapons and even special devices that involved gadgets. Although none of them managed to hit each other, they prove their skills and abilities to each other.


    "What''s better? American or British style?" Seiner asks while using his laser pistols against Raven who keeps dodging.


    "Human style is the better answer!" Jackson replies.


    "And the better piece of mongrel that you are," Raven replies.


    "We''ll show you how is it done!" They both said as they rushed towards in trying to strike him, but he quickly and swiftly dodged both and uses his elbows to knock them out. Surprisingly, they quickly got up as soon they received the attack. And of course, they would just get started on what they know best.


    "We''re not done yet!" Seiner says as the golden guns soon turn into electric tonfas with golden plates and soon rushes towards Raven.


    Yamja and Amira fight fiercely with their laser blades, striking each other furiously, one to avenge and one to complete her mission, its like if the Soranians and Zlocans were mortal enemies for a long time.


    Amira is for the most part on the defensive, trying her best to not get hurt by the sadistic Zlocan, but Yamja''s attacks were more than meets the eye, as she attacks from each side of the body while Amira tries to counter. It was something painful for her, especially with her missing brother.


    "So princess, enjoying your time in murdering thanks to Humans?"


    "You''ll...EAT THOSE WORDS!!" She roars as she launches a telekinetic wave against her, which sent some items flying away.


    Yamja, however, is unfazed as she formes a barrier around her, proving she''s not one to be taken easy.


    "My stomach''s full, so no." She then rushes towards with her swords and making a series of attack that cuts most of Amira in her arms. It''s a huge pain for her, but she keeps on going.


    "How about if YOU do, sweet Ammy?" She says as she pulls a grin, a wicked one as her she grits her teeth, looking like ones from a wild beast willing to eat every last piece of their prey.


    Tania and Jane fight each other, demonstrating their contrast of magic and technology, they dodge most of each other''s attacks but still prove powerful enough to impress each other.


    Tania launches some rock catapults towards Jane, but then she dodged every one of them through her agility and skills alone. She fires back with her Walther, but Tany counters by summoning some Umbrella shaped ice structures, slightly enough to detain the bullets. This baffles Jane like no tomorrow.


    "Young girl, is it really proper to use a gentleman''s object for a fight like this?"


    "Gentleman this, bitch!"


    She then summons a giant fire boot aimed to stomp her. But as usual, Jane has some tricks beneath her sleeve. She pulled a knife from her belt and hurls it towards Tania in the abdomen.


    "Never underestimate the British."


    But as soon the knife was about to reach her, a box came in the way and struck the knife on impact. It also curiously hits Tany in the end, causing the giant fire boot to disappear. She then approached her as she soon held her chin tightly.


    "You don''t impress me, darling."


    But as soon she pulls out her gun and aims it towards her, she could feel something hitting in her back. It was none other a bunch of gloves that started to pinch her back in a painful way, which catches her off guard.


    "You were saying?!" Tany snaps back at her, now with a confident smile, but before she could continue she notices a particular event that also turns Jane''s attention away from her.


    Logan eventually knocks Dakrin out of the fight by swiftly hitting him in the hands near the hilt, causing it to bleed highly, disabling him from the fight, and then a nice headbutt in the face for good measure. Logan is, in fact, victorious from it, even if he was pained by the impact.


    "You know, now I picked a good reason in not to play football..."


    However, he soon knows the work is not done yet as he notices two of his allies off guard, he then rushes forward to save them.


    Seiner and Jackson keep on with the defensive, Jackson is trying to recover from his injuries while Raven unleashes a beatdown to Seiner, having blocked every move of his like if he fully knows them. Now Seiner''s lying on the floor, almost weakly because of the said beatdown.


    "You shouldn''t have tried to defy us back then...I thought you learned your lesson back then." Raven says while stomping him on the chest. But before he could stomp him some more, Logan rushes in time while activating his rapier form, Raven also detaches his blades and hits Logan''s blade in time, hitting almost his chest. They''re locked on with each other.


    "And you...willing to defend the weak as well?"


    "You should know already!"


    "Hmm...but perhaps can you be strong enough to witness this?" Raven asks while turning his to another direction. Logan does so, his once confident face now turns into horror for something he never expected to see so soon.


    Amira is almost on the brink of defeat, on her knees, bleeding profoundly as Yamja was about to deal with the final blow. All while caressing her cheeks slowly.


    "How expected from a Soranian. So much peace, so little time for war. Pathetic, I guess your brother is much better without you. Now, any last words, sweet Ammy?"


    Soon, the ground starts to shake from Amira''s place, as she was dog-piled in the floor, the others take notice of it and soon stop fighting, gazing at the shaky ground between Amira and Yamja. After some silence, something came out of Amira''s mouth, and each other word made the shaking greater. This attracts the nearby warriors and Inquisitors, who stare down in expected fear yet doubt.


    "Just....where...is...my...BROTHER?!!!!"


    The loud and agonizing scream from her eventually causes a huge shockwave which sends most of the people flying away from her, and then landing painfully on the floor while other objects fall. The Inquisitors are hurled towards the far side of the hanger, with Dakrin and Jane hitting the metal pipes near the wall, knocking them unconscious, while Yamja is hit from the wing of an F-16 that hurled away as well, heavily knocking her out. Raven was the only one who stood still, using his boots that had spiked which stuck to the ground to resist the blast of Amira''s anger.


    But not even Amira is satisfied, as she soon collapses on the floor, exhausted and nearly on the brink of death. Logan and the others rush towards them, all worried about her well-being. Tany uses her magic to cure Seiner and Jackson before getting near Amira.


    "Amira, can you hear me?" Logan asks anxiously.


    "Hang on Logs, let me handle this! Curatio!" Tany says as she casts a spell that causes most of Amira''s wounds to heal, all the cuts and bruises disappearing. But she couldn''t wake up just yet. Logan in response could do nothing but hold her hand tightly while breathing a bit rapidly and looking at Amira with at st.


    "Why isn''t she waking up?" Logan asks.


    "Maybe...she needs to time to heal up?"


    "How long?" He asks once more as gently holds her hand.


    "Calm down, my young man. All survivors need their time to wake up once a battle is over...." Jackson says as he comforts him.


    "OK..."


    Raven, unfazed at all this, proceeds to pick the remaining Inquisitors, and in fact, withdrawing.


    Jackson notices him and then aims his gun towards Raven.


    "Where the hell do you think you''re going?!"


    "I''m just trying to at least give you a favor. We thought you were nothing more but superficial weaklings seeking attention, but It appears that we''ve just found our match, this will make an interesting turn in this war after. But it means that we won''t hesitate to kill you. Farewell, "Earth Warriors", next time, you won''t have any mercy or draw from any of us, or the Zlocu."


    Raven''s boots then start to ignite, making him fly away from the hangar through one of the holes, it was their big battle, a draw as he said. But the team doesn''t really care anymore.


    "It''s over, but we will meet again, someday...Amira...?" Logan says in a very tired tone.


    Thankfully, Amira opens her eyes, much to Logan and the others'' relief. She also saw that Logan was holding her hand, which makes him turn away in shyness.


    "Did...did we..." Amira asks in an exhausted tone.


    "Yes, Amira. We won. At least for now. Raven and the others escaped."


    "I see...but my brother''s not here it seems...It can''t feel him here. Nor I can feel anywhere. I don''t know if..." She says a tear fell down her face, but Logan quickly swipes it away as he holds her tenderly.


    "Remember...keep up hope for him, know that."


    "I''ll try...Logan."


    Jackson smiles briefly at such notion. Tany smiles as well purely in joy. Seiner, of course, is the exception. Jackson then approaches the plane where Lucy was hanged, as he immediately rushes for an emergency while untying her from the chains.


    "Lucy! She''s hurt. Did she managed to not break to the interrogation...?" Jackson said in a shocked tone as she soon holds the unconscious body of Lucy herself.


    "Let''s hope she resisted. Also, she looks badly hurt, she needs a medic now. We need to find a hospital before she dies from her wounds." Amira says.


    "Uh, guys...?" Tany asked as she points to herself with her two hands.


    Logan thinks for a moment, then smiles nicely at the implication.


    ------------------------------------------------------------


    An hour passes by and Lucy awakes in the Chrome copter, surprisingly looking fine and well.


    "Wha...where am I?" She asks.


    "Oh, Lucy! You''re safe now..." Jackson says in a relieved tone.


    "Jackie? Is that you?"


    "Yeah, yeah."


    Lucy only chuckles for a bit, almost heartedly, before making a small slap to Jackson''s cheek.


    "That''s for yesterday, reckless bugger...but you''re at least fine, and that''s fine as well..."


    "Yes...I will try to compose myself next time, patience is a virtue they say."


    "I''ll be the judge of that, Jackie...but you''re here at least..."


    Jackson simply nods in agreement.


    "Now..who healed me up? I''m feeling like I''m born again."


    "I did! I''m Tania, the magical school girl who has many powers including healing! She''s Amira the alien, he''s Logan the leader, I''m glad that you are OK!"


    "An alien, HERE?! this is outstanding''! Ah knew ''at mah folks back at home were wrong. And what if she''s the enemy!?!" She said as she tries to grab her.


    Fortunately, Jackson grabs her in time to contain her.


    "Hey hey, just keep it easy for now, Luce..."


    "As if, and if she turns out to be the one I think then I''ll give you both a bad time!"


    "Please be patient, dear Lucy...just be glad that you''ve found something new," Amira says.


    "SHE CAN SPEAK AS WEL!? TELL ME!! TELL ME IF THERE''S MORE OR ELSE IM GOING TO SKELP YER WEE BEHIND!"


    "Wee...behind?"


    But before Luce could do anything else, Tany shoves a piece of chocolate into her mouth while grabbing her tightly near her waist. She chews down what she has while still looking the same as she looks at Amira.


    "There, feeling better lovely?"


    "Better!" She says, her tone and facial expression still the same. "But anyways...whoos'' piloting thes piece of scrap?"


    "Its Seiner boy, he''s in the cockpit, he''ll be glad to see you alive!"


    Lucy gets up and went to the cockpit to see Seiner.


    "Ye ur pilotin'' this? You''re so yoong to drive"


    "Yes, I am."


    "So, what do you name this thing, anyway?"


    "The Chrome copter."


    "''That is so queer."


    "Shut up."


    "Awe rite. so, which place are we going?


    "Some place the Zlocu may not find us. Say, did they got something from you?"


    "They tried to find out where th'' base was, a base located near th'' safe one. But luckily, ye arrived just in time just as they were about to blow my head off and going bloke in hell afterward."


    "Pfff, as if. Now, I think you should tell Logan about it since he''s recruiting people for the group."


    "Got it." Lucy then leaves the cockpit and approaches Logan to talk to him.


    "Yoo''re recruitin'' people right?"


    "Yes, I''m looking who are willing to stand the Zlocu. Me, Seiner, Amira, and Tania are the first members of this group, we are looking more to gain strength and to prove that we are not weak, would you accept?"


    "I do, Logan. Before what happened at the Airfield, I wasn''t sure if you had potential to fight these alien bastards, the one took away most of your families, including mine. All of us in fact. But what you did to someone even if you had to kill somebody when you had the chance shows that you have great potential to become a great leader. Being willing to care is something we always value, and you have shown it nicely." Jackson says.


    "Well in that case...I''ll have to agree with Jackie here, but only if that BLOODY alien doesn''t do anything bad, otherwise, I''ll drag Jackson away from you...or not, maybe I''ll be the best leader!"


    "Wow, take it easy ma''am, just be pleased you''re with allies for now, OK?"


    "Hmph...what now?


    "Right now, we need to find more survivors, more brave warriors for this war."


    "Like how many?"


    "As much as we can find I guess."


    "Well, after that, we later find the UEF base somewhere this region, they''ll provide greater help to our quest to save Earth," Jackson says.


    "Where it can be found?" Amira asks.


    "It''s somewhere the north of California, and here I''m hoping my good friend is still alive and willing to help us out."


    "Who''s that friend?"


    "An old friend in the army days...sort of."


    "Goodu! Anyways, time for rest, tomorrow is another day." Tany says while yawning for a bit.


    "Yes. Can we rest now, babe?" He said as he holds Lucy in his waist with her head.


    "Yeah, I''m tired now...sweet Jackie..."


    Logan, Jackson and the others started to sleep except for Seiner, who was still driving the Chrome Copter towards a safe zone in the sunset. The journey still continues.


    The more the manpower, the greater the path to victory. But also the path for a better tomorrow for mankind.

 Chapter 6 - The Lady and the Cowboy

    August 14th, 19:45 PST


    It''s another night in the Nevada desert, Area 51 still looks heavily patrolled and militarized. A hover ship starts to land on the helipad. The four inquisitors came out of the hover ship, looking all injured and dirty, coming from the aftermath of their first battle against the Earth Warriors. On the entrance a person is present. Caucasian as he can get, with a rugged beard and bald. One with a supposed watered honor as he holds a rusty police badge on his trench-coat.


    Jason Garreth, a former cop from New Mexico is now part of something much worse.


    "I guess your faces and dirt means that you failed?" He asks.


    "Why of course Mr. Genius! We could have the chance to get the information but these idiots came in and ruined everything!" Yamja replies as she swipes most of the dirt in her face in frustration.


    "What kind of idiots, you say?"


    "Ones that are worth the fight, Jason. Not to mention, it seems that that dark-skinned soldier has gathered unexpected allies in his fight against us. Not bad I presume." Raven says.


    "Jackson, you mean? Ah, that Negro will later understand that we are people that shouldn''t be messed up with." Jason replies as he smirks at the revelation.


    "Now now, no time to rush, we must heal ourselves for tomorrow. Not to mention, a good addition to this squadron of the Inquisition, and you may be needed, Jason."


    "Pretty much! You must help us to get vengeance against these idiots for defeating us!" Dakrin said.


    "Patience Dak, you just met them recently and yet you look like shit now."


    "Enough talk, our Kujar is waiting for us," Raven says.


    They enter the building, where they walks until they settle on a huge computer room, full of screens containing images of Zlocu activities across the universe, including Earth. There''s a lot chattering across the room, from operators communicating with their spies or some people having a chit-chat.


    The presence of Raven alone is enough to gather the attention of most people present in the room. As one then approaches him while kneeling and holding both hands near their chest.


    "The Kujar  is waiting for you, sire." the kneeling Zlocan knight said.


    "Good, onscreen," Raven says.


    One of the screens started to show a face that wore a grey mask with red lines, it''s none other than Malgan itself, all dressed up like a typical emperor.


    "Is everything under control, Head Commandant Raven?" Malgan asks.


    "No. On our verge of achieving victory, The Guardians started to intervene in our conquest. Earth and the remaining planets regained their equipment to stand a chance against you. Maybe you should have reconsidered your choices in who you should pick a bone before spilling more blood."


    "Nonsense! I thought that the Guardians have gone dormant for a millennia because they thought they no longer needed all living beings! They may have written the rules but I''m gonna write new ones which they won''t deny!"


    "That just sounds too defiant, remember that you are just a simple being, not a god, people can''t transform into gods with simple power," Jane replies.


    "Forgive her for that rude answer daddy, she doesn''t know the true potential of your rule, you will soon become a god to everyone!" Yamja says.


    "Well said my little doll, but remember, if you want to become my successor, you must prove your skills to your enemies, especially Humans and weak races."


    "Yes daddy!"


    "Now where was I? Ah yes. Raven, you have to make sure that more humans are recruited in the inquisition if we need to defeat the "traitors. we must drain their numbers to ours."


    "Right now, we have 500 inquisitors in our command, isn''t that enough?"


    "Not QUITE! In fact, we need to reach at least thousands if we need enough reserves for the next battles, we need to make sure the CP forces come to halt in our conquest, and we will show them that we are still the strongest even with the intervention of the Guardians!"


    "Those are very strong words to hear Kujar, but there is an obstacle in our path, a group called the Earth Warriors. They were initially nobodies, but now they are warriors that can match us, maybe they gained their powers from the Guardians. Their ideology of uniting survived Humans trapped in the occupied zones may endanger our task."


    "Is that so? Then either they will join us or die. Alas, it''s too early to think about it. We can talk later Raven. Until next time and good luck my little Y."


    "Understood."


    The screen later turns black, indicating the broadcasting has ended.


    Jason looks at the group again, this time with a puzzled look on his face.


    "Are you certain about the use we can be for your precious Empire?" Jason asks.


    "Everybody knows that Humanity is only bent on killing just to survive. They won''t care if the others unworthy of their goals will perish in their paths. These warriors will soon how fruitless it means fighting together." Raven says.


    "But what are we-"


    "Just you know, the strongest will be kept alive and rule the planet as long you leave us alone. No one should ever dare to cross the Zlocu and no one will."


    The statement makes Jane frown a bit, deeply knowing the implications of it.


    "With that said, let us focus on what we need to do at hand now. We need to ensure that the recruits serve us well, no weakness, no cowardice. That''s the way of the Inquisitors."


    August 15th, 11:59 PST


    Deep within the Californian forests, there''s a nearby small camp holding a lot of prisoners, where they''re tied up to poles on their backs, with only their white shirts and blue pants. The Zlocan Knights patrol every corner of it, observing any kind of suspicious activity and such and see if they should kill or subdue.


    Ten in total are tied up. Young and old, some men and women. But one man, in particular, is in there. A half bald middle-aged man who nonetheless has a fit body like a man who will never give up on his career. His scarred face with bruises and cuts, yet he maintains dignity and integrity through his eyes which don''t blink.  The man is no other than the cop who saved Tany back when she ran away from the forest.


    And his fellow members all wait for something that may decide their fate forever.


    One Zlocan, likely an officer, approaches the group of prisoners, who can only stare at him defiantly.


    "As you may all know, we, the Zlocans, tried to convince you that your old ways should come to an end and be part of something better, a chance for rebirth. But, we should have known better. All endurance yet no courage, stubborn yet no pride, defeated yet shameless, unworthy traits for people calling themselves warriors. Well, let me remind you this, the only one truly deserving of being a warrior is one who knows when to put the right foot for a passage, because the wrong one will lead to catastrophe. And that will be your punishment." the officer says.


    As he says this, the officers can only look down defiantly. Their gazes being solely focused on the officer himself as he speaks those words. They don''t give a damn about what supposed Alien lecture they''re given, Human lectures are what they truly need.


    A Zlocan Knight then comes to the prisoners, her handgun loaded with enough ammo to likely kill all prisoners in go.


    "Usually, it''s been known from many armies that all the prisoners must be executed at the same time, likely to spare the pain of the rest seeing their comrades falling one by one. But since you have done nothing more but rejecting salvation of the new order and what it stands, then we shall test how much you can lock your emotions away." the officer says as the Knight aims her gun at one of the former cops.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Pressing the trigger, one bolt impacts the head of the first former cop, leaving a bloody yet darkened mark on his face.


    The other cops, including the old man, try their best to remain unfazed, likely to prove what the Zlocu expect them to do in the end.


    But as the executioner continued her ordeal and the number of prisoners dwindles, something much more is felt among the cops.


    Two young policemen blink rapidly while breath deeply as their deaths await, while the old one slowly turns away to another side and closes his eyes. For a cop, it''s their duty to protect the common citizen, to deliver justice for those who deserve it and punish the ones who endanger any life in the town. That''s supposed to be the true meaning of being a cop.


    But now, all that feeling and duty that allowed most of them to live with the job, it''s all gone. No people left to protect, no strength to carry out justice, not even the will to do anything.


    Everything that they''ve founded based on justice and security, all left to tatters.


    Only three left, and right when she fires, the watery liquid could be seen in the young cop''s eye, all before departing from this world. The next one, a female, breathes rapidly as much as she can before she too meets her hand.


    And as for the old man himself, he''s at least fortunate enough to keep the last moments in his life shrouded with nothing but darkness, likely as a way to leave more peacefully as death comes by.


    The Knight readies the gun, maybe it''s time to say goodbye and give thanks for their services.


    Or is it?


    SCWAFF! SCWAFF! SCWAFF!


    Three arrows come by, picking the heads of three Zlocans present, including the executioner and the officer, which then fall down to the ground.


    SCWAFF!


    Another shooting arrow comes by, this time hitting the old man''s ropes which breaks apart. Even though he''s briefly freed, he knows that something much more to deal with the Zlocans.


    The Zlocans start to gather around and aim their rifles everywhere in the forest in a state of panic and emergency. The attack was sudden and unprecedented, not to mention, the arrow''s user couldn''t be found when they fired the arrows.


    The Knights kept looking near the woods for something suspicious, quietly approaching it while two guards approach the old cop and one points his gun near his head, likely as a way to keep him from moving. Thankfully for him, he could only smirk at them now that his supposed time got delayed for an unspecified time.


    There''s at first no progress of the attacker until...


    "Oh tally-ho! Oh tally-ho!" a voice can be heard, a distinctly female one, emerging from one of the trees.


    She''s dressed up in a long brown robe covering most of her body and face while walking aimlessly and waving her hands.


    "Freeze! Don''t move!" one of the Knights says as they notice her and approach her, their guns still locked at her.


    "Oh, you officers? Very good. I''m lost at the moment, would you please if you kindly escort me to-" she says while changing directions continuously without batting an eye to the Zlocan Knights. One of them roughly starts shoving her in frustration.


    "Human scum like you is trespassing in this restricted area, so we''re taking you into custody."


    "Human scum? Oh boy, you guys surely really to make up some good acting in this place, never thought it would be a good geeky place to meet!"


    One of them then points a gun directly at her face.


    "Say another word and you''ll be beyond dead!" he says in a furious tone.


    "Whoa whoa, take it easy dude...I''m just a happy fellow who needs some help, that''s all." She says, in a joking tone while noticeably smirking. This, of course, makes the Knights more furious as they all start aiming their guns at her.


    "This is your final warning..." another one says, this time with a sterner tone.


    A brief silence happens, the hooded lady then finally stops changing directions aimlessly and stands still near one of the knights. All ready to lock on, it seems that more unfortunate and naive fellows will get affected by the crossfire of war and suffering. Something nobody wants to.


    After a minute of silence, the hooded lady then starts smirking again.


    "Gotta warn you though..." the lady says, this time in a serious tone.


    This provokes one of the Knights to fire at her, but she grazes the laser bolt and strikes one of the Zlocans in the head.


    She starts to thrust her left elbow back to one of the Knights while taking cover from behind said Zlocan from the laser bolts that are firing at her. One of them tries to grab her but she quickly grabs his hand and lifts it while turning around, proceeding to hurl him towards one of the knights which knock them out. One of them then grabs one of their electric knives and rushes towards her. Again, she then outsmarts him by raising her leg vertically and using the heel, she pounces the opponent down to the ground.


    The Zlocan knights try to get up and regain composure, but before they could know it, the hooded figure throws her robe away towards them, revealing the full figure of the mysterious fighter. A dark-skinned woman with a face as beautiful as an angel, black hair with shiny cyan eyes, a slim body and an armor worthy for the greater warriors of the Middle East. She unsheathes her sword that''s in her belt, revealing none other than an elegant form of the Iranian Scimitar blade. She then rushes forward to the Zlocans, slicing down each one in every limb she can see and easily cut while leaving orange trails of blood in the ground.


    The officer, looking from afar, has never looked so impressed with his life of seeing such a powerful warrior in his life. But like with every warrior, some just want to do it in a dirty way.


    One of the guards pulls one of their guns to aim towards the female warrior, only for the officer to quickly grab the hand and snap it intensively, causing the Knight to scream in pain. The other one tries to shot him, but he quickly grabs the blaster gun and shots the Zlocan first before proceeding to shot the disarmed Zlocan as well.


    Quickly unraveling from the ropes, he then starts heading inside the building which seems to be housing something. But he has no key, so he uses the gun to blast the hell out of the doorknob and enter inside.


    More Zlocan reinforcements come by as they try to beat her with their Zlocan sword technique but to no avail. Her technique of one-handed Razmafzar quickly catches them off guard from the unexpected quick moves of the blade.


    One of them tries to jab at her but quickly swings her blade horizontally to block the strike, which then proceeds to use it to her advantage by stabbing at the Zlocan''s chest.


    She front kicks one of the attacking Zlocans which she proceeds to slice the head off while quickly grabbing the blade to enter the two sword stance.


    Two of them try to attack by swinging their blades to an unprotected spot, but she quickly blocks them with her two swords, which takes it to her advantage by slashing the Knights repeatedly. It now appears that there''s nothing left in the zone, as she quickly kneels with one of her legs with carving her scimitar to the ground.


    "Never assume anyone based on what they look like." she proclaims, likely as a response from what she warned them.


    However, a nearby Zlocan patrol heard the commotion and headed out to the camp, reaching in time to aim their weapons at her.


    But before they could do anything to fire...


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Seven gunshots can be heard, and this time it hits the knights in vital parts like the heart or the head. It ends up killing them. Curiously enough, the woman only looks forward to the one of who fired the guns instead of looking at the dead bodies. The person who did it? No one other than the old cop himself, with his two Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolvers, likely that belonged to either him or one of the fallen cops or just from something he found inside. He''s also wearing a black jacket as well. He twirls his guns while dropping some of the bullets in the aftermath of the battle.


    The lady can only give him a dry look of amusement with her rosy face as she approaches him near the house where he found his equipment back.


    "Son of a gun..." the officer says quietly.


    "I presume that you never expected this kind of action before?" the lady asks.


    "All bullets and mayhem, yes. But aliens and ladies from the east...helluva times no."


    She chuckles.


    "Well, I got the show you unexpectedly wanted," she says.


    "But still, ain''t half bad at all. Looks like first-swathe to me in fact. Actually, not at all from such broad that could be just be any pilgrim passing around here."


    She then frowns, likely feeling the unintentional insult of it.


    "Eh, guess cowboys really need to get some manners after all."


    "Whoa hey, just some nice chitty-chatting with you, nothing much more." he replies in an apologetic yet cocky tone.


    "Not as far as I presume that you could be more than that. Oh, forgot to ask, what''s your name, good cowboy?" she asks.


    "Wolfen. Eddie Wolfen. A cop with nothing left."


    "Well, Wolfen Eddie Wolfen, I''m Malak Al-Zadi, enchanted to meet you." the woman says.


    "Malak...you''re from India?"


    "Iran."


    "Close enough."


    Malak then chuckles in response.


    "Well, if you''re a cop who pretends to be a cowboy, then be aware that I''m the new Persian fighter of this century because old-school never felt so good like never before."


    "Old-school, yeah...quite a way of living something that was enjoyable before."


    "If you put it that way, Wolfie. But be aware that regardless, be thankful that our sweetest god gave us the chance to become more powerful than we can possibly imagine."


    Eddie only grumbles in response. Maybe he''s not that into spiritual beliefs or something similar. At the very least, he''s not angry at least.


    "So, what brings you here in California?" Eddie asks.


    "Well, it''s kinda a long story to tell, but to summarise it, Iran went to hell, moved to Seattle, the USA goes to hell, I won''t have any of it, trained hard and embarked on a personal crusade of mine."


    "Mm-hmm..."


    "Also, I apologize if-"


    "No need to. There''s always the thought that we have all shit in the world to allow us to save everyone. But let me tell ya if that''s the case, then the sacrifice for all good would be meaningless...yeah, you get the point."


    "Hmm...Now, think we should team up in this? Just one ant alone isn''t enough to hold off a large herd. I think...it''s better if increase our herd as well."


    "Well, if you put it that way, then deal. So, what can we call ourselves for now?"


    "Hmm, since we may have erased all trace of what happened here and nobody may know who we were...I think being the enigma would be quite beneficial."


    "Hey, good one! The enigma duo!"


    "Enigmatic action all the way, baby," she says dryly once more.


    "Well then. Enough jibber-jabber, I''ve found some things inside that good ol''house that could be useful for our next quarrels. Not to mention, that handy truck over there, we can give it a good time to use it."


    "That''s very weird to think of, but, sure thing."


    They then started to pack most of the supplies and equipment found in the house and load into the truck.


    After five minutes of loading cargo, it now seemed that they have been loaded on board.


    "OK, bailing time!" Eddie says as he enters the truck in the driver''s seat, Malak is the co-pilot. Using the keys, he ignites the truck and proceeds to drive off to a distant part of the forest.


    Strange mind alike can make unexpected allies, and these could be as beneficial to any group that can create miracles. Or maybe not? Who knows, cowboys and amazons are something that couldn''t notice or even thought of for an official statement.

 Chapter 7 - Brotherhood

    August 15th, 22:00 PST


    The night, always a place to encounter someone''s inner self. Especially in a forest, where the lush sounds of nature can keep a living being in pure serenity, free of any skepticism, or at least suited to meditate them.


    There''s the house where the Warriors are taking a rest from today''s work. Military, independent, it didn''t matter what jobs these people had before the invasion, all that mattered for them is that they have the chance to fight for something that binds them in ways people may or may not know.


    But even with binding, what can truly make them united?


    There''s just one of the group who isn''t asleep in their bed. Most warriors are in there, all for one exception. Amira Dhorian is not there.


    Sitting alone in a tree branch of a medium-sized tree, she looks deeply into the horizon. With a long, unsettling gaze is prominent in her, almost if the horizon is something she''s looking for while her hands are held together. Maybe for Humans? Nature? Can anything come in there? It''s something that isn''t known for sure by many.


    She then lowers her face, her eyes almost closing and letting out a short yet noticeable sigh from her mouth.


    Beings like her may need a certain someone to give her company. Everybody needs a friend in life after all.


    "That''s some view, righty?" a particular voice said next to her.


    It''s no other than Tany herself, fully dressed in her white pajamas and her blue staff in her left hand.


    Amira gets startled for a moment, briefly covering herself from her from the surprise, not have known if it was a Zlocan or Human intruder after all.


    "Tany? Shouldn''t you be...?"


    She yawns in response before replying.


    "Just wanted to look for some apples for breakfast for the next day like today, until I''ve noticed someone took an early leave for bedtime...And I found the culprit! Nah, just kidding, I''m just happy nothing happened to you!"


    "I see..."


    For a brief pause between the two girls, Tany then comes up with something as she looks at her once more.


    "Ami...there''s something I need to ask you. And I quickly apologize if it upsets you in any way."


    "I wouldn''t. Go ahead and let out what your soul desires...Oh, you mean of what I''m thinking of this so far?"


    "Wha?! Cheating again!?"


    Amira could only wholeheartedly chuckle in response after using some of her telepathic technique.


    "Sorry, I''m usually impatient when it comes to such questions."


    "Okie then, but for the next question, don''t try to read it again!"


    "OK. Well, quite honestly...I still feel unsure. You people so far are a mixed bunch, like collected fruits in a huge nest, all varied in many ways and unsure which one is best suited for your betterment. But...I even feel the doubt in the supposed kindness of certain people, even Logan and you."


    Tany carefully continues to hear out, but this time with a rosy glance on her face. Never she expected such melancholic tone from her.


    "Humans...are too difficult for me to get. Their absence from the galactic records didn''t help. But it especially goes to my brother...I''m not very sure if he will truly accept and trust you...I''m not sure if I will as well."


    "Well, if you put it lightly, we''re the beings that are around in the best days in some way. And even if shown otherwise, we''re still a good bunch if one looks deep down for all the mistakes."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I mean think about it. You know all the peppy talks and fun that maybe all you living beings have when it comes to socializing? You know about the cute forgiveness and love as taught by a handful of people who seek the way of peace for ourselves? Well, that''s what we''re here for! Not the easy way, but still one worthy to take. It taught us of how we, despite our years of petty squabbling, are still needed among each other and can fully gain trust when we truly need to. And if you knew something similar for the space fellas out there...then we, probably a whole lot, are more easy to approach than you can imagine."


    "But, even so..."


    "Ahh, light up, sweetie. Don''t mind that good ol'' cranky Seiny and others like him, maybe he''s just jealous of the fact there''s someone advanced here...but maybe he''s something else, I dunno, but you still get it, righty?" she says with her tone being a bit more cheerful.


    "Well...now that you say it, maybe being with you will bring a certain and hopefully, healthy future for all races out there. Alone, I didn''t still understand, but now, I think I''m starting to get it thanks to you."


    "Ahh, no probs sweetie, it''s what I did with my dearly friends!"


    "Friends...the nicest of words to exist indeed. Now, shall we?"


    "Ahhhh yes, getting late for another day...oh, and if you like, we can share a bed, or would you like to try with-"


    "Eh?! Oh no no, I''m still comfortable alone for now."


    "Awwwww. Well, hope this will bring the sweet dreams you need, dear friend."


    "Sure will."


    Amira then descends from the tree while Tany is teleported back to the ground. With one last stretching, they all come back inside for their nice sleep of another day.


    --------------------------------------------


    August 16th, 09:34 PST


    Approaching a faraway camp in the wilderness, the Earth Warriors are walking down to a village, hoping they can find something.


    And near one of the houses, lays a familiar truck from before...


    "Ugh, we walked here for hoors an'' yet we can''t find'' something yet!"


    "Patience Lucy, you should notice that the Zlocu captured or killed most of the people in this area, probably the remaining are hiding somewhere in those buildings," Jackson says.


    "Amira, will you be able to find them?" Logan asks.


    "Let me try."


    Amira then puts one of her fingers on her forehead, meaning she''s trying to communicate with somebody. After a moment of silence, she later opened her eyes.


    "I feel... Something unknown. Not sure if its friend or foe, it''s on that...cabin over there."


    "Really? Is that all you can get?" Seiner asks.


    "I''m still too young to use my other powers Seiner, my telepathic powers can only reach beings, not identify them as friend or foe, although it can evolve as I grow older, remember that."


    "OK, whatever you say!"


    "Let''s hope it''s a friend because I really want to take a good rest after walking and walking for hours, and I don''t want to walk thousands of more!" Tania says in an annoyed tone.


    The group then goes towards the cabin, but just as they were about to open the door, a Zlocan spaceship fly nearby.


    "Zlocan ship, take over!!" Jackson yells as the rest of the team started to hide behind the cabin.


    The Zlocan airship then drops 70 Zlocan knights, 35 Inquisitors, and 2 walkers to the ground. The Zlocan airship then fled the scene. The Inquisitors look like a typical militia, all-military gear with a dash of civilian caps or scarfs. Their shoulders are wearing white stripes with a swastika in the middle. Probably one of the worst bunch that any American can encounter.


    "Damn bastards, jist ruinin'' th'' perfect chance tae fin'' a survivor!"


    "Stay calm Lucy, once they reach the cabin, we will strike with our own strength," Jackson says.


    The troops are walking around the area, inspecting every corner of the place with their weapons and even around some bushes. It all seems directionless for them.


    "Search around the perimeter of this area, you go to those cabins there, the rest of us will search here, understood?" a Zlocan knight says while he pointed his finger to the south.


    "Yes sir, moving on now." says one of the inquisitors.


    The Zlocan soldiers slowly approach the cabin our heroes are hiding from behind, the tensions slowly rise among them as the enemy approaches. All aiming their rifles in every corner of the zone, ready to shoot whatever they could encounter in their path. And of course, to fulfill a sick fantasy in their mind.


    "Get...Ready..." Logan says quietly.


    The heroes started to ready their weapons as the Zlocan knights started to get closer to them.


    "Set...NO-''''


    But just about as they''re going to attack, a window breaks apart, and somebody jumps from there.


    Without warning, somebody jumps in the air from the roof of the house, landing next to a Knight who is nearly aiming his sight to the heroes. The figure, being revealed to be none other than Malak herself slices the knight''s arm and head, killing him. She then starts to attack some Zlocan knights with the sword that she wields for her own combat intent.


    "What the he-'''' says a Zlocan knight before he''s pushed aside by the door which comes from the cabin. Gunshots are heard, killing nine Zlocan knights, the person comes outside as the battle rages on. It''s Eddie Wolfen, now ready for more with his two revolvers. He swirls them wildly while tossing many of the bullets into the sky and then shooting and reloading every time they fall down.


    "Whoa hey now, who are these guys?!! Are we on an action movie set?!" Tany yells in amazement.


    "No need to speak now, we must attack! CHARGE!" Logan says as he and the others come out of hiding and start to fight the Zlocan knights.


    The battle''s a very tough one, as each fighter uses every skill they know.


    Logan slashes some of the enemies with his sword, Seiner fights with his laser blades, Amira uses her telekinesis and her red light blade against the Zlocan walkers, Tania kills some enemies with fire and wind spells, all in small and large scales people could imagine. Jackson dodges most of the bullets and manages to strike back with some of his weapons like pistols or rifles he knows from the Navy. Lucy fights with her yellow knife and her fists which was something she learned in the streets.


    The remaining members of the Zlocan and Inquisitor patrol, in a state of a panic, couldn''t resist any further in what was going, so in a fit of terror...


    "RUN!!! RETREAT!! GO ANYWHERE WE SHOULD GO AND HIDE!!!!" The Zlocan leader shrieks as the others withdraw from the area as well, with injuries and such.


    "Whew, that was a pretty close one," Jackson says.


    "You can say again for a hundredth time, my darling," Lucy says as she leans near his shoulder out of exhaustion.


    "There there. sweet Scottie..." Lucy could only snicker at the statement.


    Eddie then holsters his magnums back to his holster, all while standing unflinchingly in the zone where the battle ended. His stance and looks could make people think he''s a time traveler from the Old West. Well, far from it. He just deeply admires every aspect of it.


    "Well, all that ruckus and they still couldn''t try to shoot a fish in a barrel!" Eddie says.


    Malak then approaches him with a sly smile.


    "Every tainted soul doesn''t deserve a place on a battlefield."


    Eddie could only roll his eyes from such archaic yet obvious statement. As he soon lowers his head in annoyance.


    "Ah, quit the jibber jabber."


    "Hey, thought you kinda loved some Iranian poetry, but I guess it''s not the time."


    Eddie then sees Tany, as his expression of determination turned into surprise. His eyes widen and jaw dropped. It''s something he never thought about for a long time but now it did.


    "You! Yes, you girl, I... know you. I can certainly tell! Yes!"


    "Oh I know you too, you are...the cop that saved my life! BRUCE WILLIS!!!" Tania yells with joy.


    "Young girl, If I was, I would have saved you from a burning plaza but I didn''t."


    "Oh...so Clint Eastwood! Make our day, please!"


    "Ah, shot!"


    "Wait...you know her?" Malak asks.


    "Not quite, I''ve just met her some days ago, but I remember her face very well, I saved her life from these stupid aliens."


    "You saved her?" Logan asks incredulously.


    "Of course I did boy! There is a reason why I pointed at her! Or ya think that I''m just a senile old guy who doesn''t even how one can know what a stray dog is by walking at 4 O'' clock in the morning, do ya!?"


    "Hey hey! Quit the chatter you two! Anyways, we haven''t introduced ourselves yet, I''m Tania Maestas, the magical school girly girl!"


    "Magical school girly girl?! School!? GIRLY?!!! Hahaha! Hohoho! Hehehe! Huhuhu! That''s the geekiest title I''ve ever heard! You''d serve well for a kids show! Hahahaha! Haha!"


    "Excuse me??!"


    "Oh sorry, it''s just too funny, right? Anyways, I''m Eddie Wolfen, the Californian detective with a great sense of Justice, now a protector of the innocent in these lands with the help of this brave woman."


    "I''m Malak Al-Zadi, the modern female Persian warrior. At your service for the battle."


    "Modern Persian warrior...what are you, some kind of Feminist poser?" Seiner asks incredulously.


    "Hey, mind that sweet tongue of yours, boy. Always know the rules of courtesy in front of a lady."


    Seiner is taken aback with an embarrassed expression. He could even hear Tany snickering at such statement, but luckily for her, he could restrain it at ease but not before mouthing off...


    "Keep laughing...!"


    "Ah yes indeed, Seiner. Keep it like a gentleman! Or a knight! Or...whatever. Well, I''m Logan Preaker, leader of the Earth Warriors, he''s Seiner Butch, the scientist of the team and this is Amira Dhorian, one of the last of the Soranians."


    "And the other Soranians you say? And are you-" Eddie asks.


    "Just my brother, the others died on my planet. And no...I''m not the enemy...just please"


    "Oh my, I''m sorry to hear that doostam, but we''ll make sure that their deaths would not be in vain. A kind spirit should always find a way to enlighten those dear to them...at least if you''re not into LSD." Malak says.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Thank you so much, Malak. Also, what''s LSD?"


    "It''s better for you to not know..." she cautiously yet humorously states as she caresses her hair gently.


    "Anyway, I have a question, What are you doing here?" Eddie asks.


    "We are traveling across the country, trying to find people who have the capabilities to fight against the Zlocan forces. All we need is at least enough members of this group to later enlist to the UEF armies that are stationed nearby." Jackson says.


    "You''re telling me that you want me and Malak to join this militia group of yours!? To later join the army?! Hahaha! Don''t make me laugh! Especially since you don''t look too professional enough to join the UEF as you say!"


    "Watch it, Ed! You need to understand that it doesn''t matter if we look professional or not. What matters is our heroism." Logan retorts.


    "Heroism? Tell me, young boy, what heroics did you and your group did?"


    "Well, they saved mah life while Ah was bein'' tortured."


    "Is that all? That''s just not enough! What I need for heroics is to do something more than rescuing people, something like, destroying important enemy equipment like factories or weapons. I and Malak were on our way to infiltrate an abandoned factory that turned into an experimentation facility. I knew that from some recovered prints from the place we and Malak met. If I and Malak would join your group, then you need to show yourselves how to fit you are to join a professional group by coming to that factory and discover something important. Whaddya say? Deal or no deal?"


    There''s a brief silence between the two groups for a moment. Logan, in fact, looks frustrated as such statement, clenching his fists in a tenuous manner. He knew he wants more of a Humanist approach to trust each other, but then again, compromises should be done in order to achieve it.


    "Those words were not very nice but if that''s true, then we accept the challenge, Ed," Logan says.


    "That''s kind of a stupid deal but I''ll go with it anyway," Seiner says.


    "Oh yay, more adventures to enjoy! More enemies, more friends, this so joyous!" Tania yells with excitement.


    "Now now Tany, no need to get overexcited over everything. You need to understand that this is a fight and fights are no fun." Amira replies


    "Fur a reporter ''at went tae a thousand places, Ah woods agree wi'' Tany but oh well, Ah guess thes is serious to handle."


    "Girls, enough chit-chat, let''s go," Logan says as they begin their travel to the factory.


    ----------------------------------


    The factory turned facility is located on a hill, inside a lot of activity is taking place, the downstairs chamber was filled with tubes containing test subjects being experimented, some of them looked normal, others not. On the other room, there was the brainwashing room, where captured people experienced torture under the hands of Inquisitors themselves so they can become inquisitors, screaming and grunting is the sound that was mostly heard and the room, blood is seen anywhere in that room. In there, Raven and his four Inquisitors where present, they approached a guy strapped in a bed, this man had blonde puffy spiked hair, black eyes, black dagger earrings, and a lean build yet athletic enough to keep in shape. He''s Andrei Olegovich, fellow cossack in custody.


    Entering the room are three particular people, probably ones suited for the job. They''re Dakrin, Jason, and Raven. They approach where Andrei is strapped in.


    "So how are you sleeping beauty, was your rest well? Well, I guess yes, because your charming princes is nowhere." Dakrin taunts.


    "Dumayesh'', ya nakhozhu eto smeshnym, ty idiot?" Andrei replies in Russian.


    "Even if your words are not in our tongue, you still don''t understand how capable we are on this planet stupid Ruskie. Ever since the end of the previous world war, your country has been trying to maintain a fragile union with other countries they attacked, but ultimately, that attempt resulted in failure because of the Zlocu. They are not invading us, they are making Earth a better place, exterminating the ones that have been polluting this planet with ideas like unity and peace, but now with them, we''re gonna restore Earth as it should be." Jason retorts.


    "Humans are different and diverse Jason and deserving to work together but jokes like you aren''t supposed to control it anyways..." Andrei replies weakly.


    "Humans only accept other kinds of people for the purpose of their own interests, they only accept other people just to please themselves," Raven responds.


    "And now with you here, we will reformat you to make you into an obedient person to us," Jason replies.


    "You think so? You must learn that my spirit will never break for the likes of you, if you want to kill me for not turning on to you, it will be fine by me."


    "Really? Well, it seems that you''re gonna eat those words when we inject you this." Jason then shows a syringe with a pink liquid inside.


    "Chto eto?"


    "Something that will make you into one of us, I heard that this substance can alter the system of the brain, it will erase most of your traits from your original persona, making the process of inquisisation easier. Anyway, Andrei, say goodbye to your ideas."


    "YOU WILL NOT WIN!!!" Andrei yells as Jason injects the substance into him.


    ------------------------------


    Outside the factory, the Earth Warriors, Eddie, and Malak are near, ready to infiltrate the place.


    "So this is the factory you were talking about? Looks rather easy." Jackson says.


    "No need to get cocky Jack, you haven''t seen the inside of the factory yet," Eddie replies.


    "OK, now the deal is that we must infiltrate the factory to get something important and if we succeed, you will join our group right?" Seiner asks.


    "Indeed yes Seiner, but first, we need to find out what''s inside so we can think our plan through. Amira, you and Lucy will go check the place, take this view-enhancing glasses and investigate what''s also beyond OK?" Logan says.


    "Understood, Lucy, grab my arm, you''re gonna experience a bird flying."


    "Whit?"


    Suddenly, Amira started to fly at a high altitude, carrying Lucy with her as she shouts in amazement and surprise, holding on to her as hard as she can without dropping much of the things that she has.


    "YOU''RE TOO FAAAAAAAAAAAST!!"


    Luckily the flight wasn''t that long as the distance to the factory was but one-minute flying. Amira and Lucy landed on the windshield of the factory where it could be seen from outside.


    "A BIRD?! MORE LIKE A GODDAMN EAGLE!"


    "Hehehe, sorry about that. Well then, let''s start to check."


    They put on their view-enhancing glasses to see what''s inside.


    "Checking, checking, checking, hmm I see many people working in this factory, Zlocans for most of the part, anything interesting?"


    "Let me see... bide there''s somethin'' on ''that office on th'' left side, near the'' elevator, located between a bridge."


    "Scanning... It''s the inquisitors, 5 of them, they are checking something on the computer...Likely reading important documents their allies sent."


    "Good. now let''s check the'' other rooms... Oh god... tubes containin'' humans."


    "Test subjects? That''s despicable to hear, I swear we''ll free those humans from their cruelty. Oh no... A-a-a tortu-re chamber, many humans... suffering..."


    "Now that''s somethin'' interestin'' tae see. Now shut that bawling of yours, it''s not necessary for them to see that face of yours...."


    "OK."


    Amira takes Lucy again in her back and flew back to the team to inform them. But while she did so, her expression still keeps with one of her fearful discovery that she just saw.


    "Now that you made it, tell me, what are they doing? Chocolate?" Tania asks with no sense.


    "Dumbass girl... DO YOU really think we came here for a chocolate factory?!" Seiner angrily replies.


    "No no! I was just asking, I mean, there can be anything on that factory right, right?


    "There is Tany...but it''s...," Amira replies.


    "What does it have?" Malak asks.


    "Death... and cruelty... These poor souls..." Amira then starts to tremble.


    "Calm down Amira, whatever there is, we will do anything to save these persons," Logan says as he consoles her.


    "Please, anything but being a crybaby. Also, not only ''at, their is also likely important info located on a computer upstairs."


    "Info you say Lu? I guess this will be very tricky to do, Eddie we''re ready." Jackson says.


    "Good, if you are worthy of leadership then let''s go!"


    All the group nods in agreement as they started to wear jetpacks made by Seiner. They adjust it carefully so they can be well-placed in their backs without much dislocation. Tany, however, it''s in a bit of hassle due to her unfamiliarity with the jetpack. Seiner, irritatingly, puts it rightfully in its position, albeit roughly while giving her a dirty look, eyes narrow and eyebrows lowered and such. Finally, they head off to the factory.


    -----------------------------------


    Inside, Andrei is lying unconscious on the bed for a moment after the injection by Jason Garreth, he wakes up in a dizzy sensation, almost numb because he doesn''t feel anything with his body, albeit initially. After a brief pause, he touches the metal rail of the bed to see if he''s fully in control, but suddenly, his whole body starts to become metal after touching that part. He starts to panic for a moment because of the sudden transformation, attracting the attention of Zlocan knights.


    But later, he takes advantage of the situation by breaking free from the bed and punches the Zlocan knight so hard it knocks him out, the other knights notice this and start to shoot at Andrei, but not even the laser rays can make damage to the metallic Russian. From the energy of the laser rays, he even creates a type of aura energy which he shoots red beams from his hands, causing further deaths to the Zlocans present in the room before returning to his normal flesh, this makes the tortured patients cheer. Impressed by his newfound powers, he''s now determined to save other people in the factory from death.


    "Hey, comrade? Mind if you can tell me where that freaking switch is to free the poor bastards?"


    The patient points to the east, which is a simple switch. He pressed the switch and all of the patients leave their beds on their way to freedom, taking the Zlocan weapons on the ground while running at the door.


    "Navernoye, vesel''ye tol''ko nachalos''!"


    -------------------------------


    Outside the factory, the group starts to notice that the inquisitors are hearing the alarm and leave to check out, all while the Knights around the facility scatter up to contain the uprising.


    "Wait, is that Jason Garreth?! I thought he was out of the day after I uncovered his crimes back in 2025!" Jackson says incredulously.


    "Jason Garreth, a disgrace to law and order...that lucky bastard has it once more!" Eddie growls.


    "Here''s the plan people, we must get to the office and check confidential documents from Zlocan activities and free the prisoners, let''s go!" Logan says as he and others started to break the window and jump to the other platform.


    They rush to the office when they started to check every part of the room, lockers, tables, safe-locks, anything. Seiner starts to check the computer, scanning from any interesting file or secret he can find inside. Whether he encounters some sort of block from the system, he uses one of his pads which connects to the system. With his advanced technology, it deciphers every password to each file and cracks when it does. He continues searching until he finds something in particular.


    "Hey, there''s something interesting you need to see!"


    "What is it? A message from a computer?" Tania asks.


    "Of course, look at this, an email sent by... Kedris Horiq."


    "Kedris Horiq, the general of the Zlocan army...the deadliest of all generals," Amira says.


    "We shall see about that, anyways, gotta save it now for future use," Seiner says as he inserts the drive into the computer and clicks on the file that details Kedris'' mail.


    "Seiner make it quick! Yamja, Dakrin and Jason Garreth are coming and very fast!" Jackson says.


    "Just nearly there! Nearly... DONE!!" Seiner quickly takes the pen-drive from the computer as the three Inquisitors break-in.


    "So, we meet again idiots, ever since my first defeat, I''ve been waiting for the rematch to come and now this my opportunity to do it!" Dakrin taunts as he unsheathes his sword.


    "That''s what you''re gonna think! Jackson, Lucy, Malak and Eddie, hold them off while Amira, Seiner Tania and I go find some survivors to rescue, give everything you got to defeat them!" Logan says.


    "Us? But why, young boy?" Eddie asks.


    "Because I want to show you that we can be heroic as you want us to be."


    "Prisoners, information, anything from here could make you heroic. Now go, boy!"


    Logan and his three friends then jump from the office and proceed to go the test chamber.


    In there, the group is terrified at the sight of trapped subjects, especially at the ones that have been horrifically modified. Amira is more or less in shock in what she sees.


    "Amira, keep your cool, they''ll make it fine," Logan says to her, trying to calm her down.


    "Golly! These persons look very infernal, but at least there are those that remained normal as ever, right, right?" Tania says.


    "Why are you even here?" Seiner snarks.


    "Keep it cool you guys, we need to find the switch that will liberate these poor souls, then we go back to the other four."


    Suddenly, a loud noise could be heard, the door on the right side of the chamber is blown away by an explosion. In there, Zlocan knights rush in, ambushing Logan and his team.


    "IT''S A TRAP!!!" Tania yells.


    "No need to fear Tany, you used your powers before, we can use them again to kick those guys asses, let''s rock it!" Logan says.


    Then the Earth Warriors start to fight off the Zlocan ambushers. So far, they''re doing an impressive work in holding them back. Slicing, hitting and blocking every attack they make against them. Suddenly, as Logan was slashing some Zlocan soldiers, one Zlocan sneaks behind him and prepares to kill him, only for Andrei to jump off from a platform and knock out the knight by punching him in the jaw with his fused metal hand, hard enough to break it apart. Logan notices this and is taken aback by his appearance.


    "WHOA! Colossus? No. Just...are you an ally or enemy?!"


    "I''m asking the same thing, comrade."


    "Did you cause the alarm to go off?"


    "Yes, I was the one who freed the poor friends from the torture chamber, now I was going to free these ones- LOOK OUT!" Andrei yells as he notices a Zlocan behind Logan but he manages to slash the knight from behind.


    "A close one so you''re an ally after all! Now listen, we must work together to free the test subjects from here, we must find the switch."


    "Was doing that as well! Eh, ain''t we the common bunch after all?"


    "Well, to put it lightly, maybe..."


    Seiner and the others approach him, surprised at Andrei''s presence.


    "Who the heck is this guy?" Seiner asks.


    "I''m Andrei Olegovich, the Russian prisoner turned liberator of this place. I assume you are poor souls who turned into warriors too?"


    "100% affirmative, Rusito! Now, where''s that switch for these persons who want their mommas back!" Tania says.


    "It must up the balcony in front of you, over there." He said as he pointed to the place where the switch was located.


    "Thank you, Andrei, you have my gratitude for saving us and leading to us a clue."


    "Nyet problem, thank you for showing up in time too."


    But before they could move on, Andrei glances towards Amira and briefly stops Logan from moving, as he starts staring at her.


    "An...An alien? With you!? I mean, I don''t know that the Aliens look like behind their masks, but oh dear lord, she has looks of smoking beauty!" Andrei compliments gently, all while making a sly smile on his face and eyes almost narrow.


    "But I''m clear..." she replies.


    "Oh sorry, dear girlie, just a slip in my mind. I bet you''re one to be followed after all. Now that I think of-" Logan then puts his hand on Andrei''s shoulder.


    "Just...follow my lead and stop embarrassing yourself."


    Logan and his team later goes to the desk console and proceed to press the switch that holds the subjects captive. The test tubes go empty and the subjects awake from their sleep, now running with the sense of freedom in their minds, others picking up the Zlocan weapons as well.


    "These souls... finally can now be happy and free at last after a long-suffering," Amira says as she puts her head on Logan''s shoulder.


    "I''m glad to hear that, now let''s go back to the others."


    "Oh hey there! Please tell me! What''s your race called" Andrei said while looking at Amira. Too curious to know her after all.


    "...A Soranian."


    "Soranian ehhh...no, let''s kick ass for the moment. I''ll know more of you later."


    ------------------------------------------


    Back in the office, everything looks tattered and ruined, the fighters, although having only fought 10 minutes of combat they are showing signs of big injuries, especially Eddie Wolfen and Dakrin Cavendish, the latter who''s lying unconsciously under the care of Jane. Malak, in particular, tries to parry Yamja''s attack to no avail all while she swings her blades erratically, then Malak sprints forwards to thrust her blade towards Yamja, but she jumps backward and lands where Raven is, who''s in a locked match against Jack and Lucy. Even with their wounds, they still do their best to hold off against Raven. Lucy tries to stab Raven in the wrist but quickly grabs her and hurls her towards a wall. Jackson tries to do the same but is attacked by Yamja''s lightning


    Eddie Wolfen is lying on the ground while the others continue to fight, Jason proceeds to come closer to Eddie.


    "Your attempts at protecting your friends have failed, in fact, you only make matters worse with the fact that you have a black friend in your team. How pitiful. Now its the time for you to pay for polluting mankind with such people."


    He aims the gun at his face, Malak notices, almost in a state of panic, sprints forward to save him but it''s stopped by Jane pulling a gun in front of her.


    "Make one move and you''ll perish alongside him."


    Malak grits her teeth while breathing heavily. Never is she encountering such position where she can do nothing but watch. Still holding her battle stance, she looks carefully everything around her while thinking what she may do. At first, she looks she may not get what she wants after all, her eyes closed and lowering her face as a bow of defeat. But then she snappily opens them and starts smiling.


    "Time''s up now."


    The other look in confusion in response to what she said, what could it be that made say that. Well...


    "No, you don''t, Jason!" a familiar voice can be heard as it some glass breaks apart from behind Malak.


    It''s Logan as he jumps in the air and kicks Jason in the face, the other proceeds to help the other ones who have been injured, fighting off against the Inquisitors. Jane quickly grabs Dakrin and retreats near Yamja and Raven.


    "You succeeded?! But how?!" Jason asks in a frustrated tone.


    "Far too complex for you to understand!" Seiner replies.


    Logan then quickly uses his Rapier form and uses some quick thrusts against Raven, but Yamja then intervenes by blocking most of them, but can still keep with them. Logan tries to thrust again, but Yamja uses her lightning to shock him apart. He''s hurled towards a locker but quickly regains his composure.


    "Anything else?!" she angrily asks.


    Amira then quickly appears by moving in front of Logan. As she does so, she quickly observes the position the Inquisitors are, a nearby window where the fall leads to a long fall. Noticing this, she uses her telekinetic powers to push the other Inquisitors away to the other side of the factory, ending the battle, once again victorious.


    "Damn you all!!!" Dakrin shouts as he falls down.


    "Whatever you say, pretty boy! As long as we care for others, we prevail over you! And now we must have a celebration party for this!" Tania says victoriously, but not before noticing the injured Eddie, Jackson and Lucy. Seiner uses one of his kits to clean off the injuries from Lucy and Jackson, Tany''s priority is Eddie after all.


    "You OK Eddie old man? Some wounds...hang on, here comes the magic doctor." Tania says as she healed Eddie.


    "Ughhh, I don''t feel well, huh? Tany is that you? You healed me..."


    "She did Ed. This girl has blessed powers for the good of mankind." Malak says.


    "Blessed, as IF!" Seiner snarks again.


    Of course, everyone ignores him for that.


    "So...I guess was wrong about you, after all, Logan, you are worthy leading me and Malak to battle after all."


    "Not just me, the others did well in making this operation a success, including Andrei, the Russian that freed the prisoners. This group is more than an alliance. We''re a brotherhood, we are together because we share the same ideals of freeing our planet from tyranny, we are together because we have hearts, together because we care for others."


    "That''s some kind words of you Logan, allow me to join your group as well," Andrei says.


    "Who are you, pretty boy?" Malak asks slyly.


    "Uhh...I''m Andrei Olegovich, some former stranded dude who just had some weird today but now willing to start anew. Perhaps you''ll be a good deal after all the ones I''ve had in my whole life."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Not the time, too tired anyway."


    "Oh well, brotherhood for the win!" Tania yelled excitedly. But of course, Seiner sighed at this moment of school girl cheerfulness in war.


    "Heh, I understand your excitement of being part of a brotherhood Tany. Now, even if we were supposed to be 10, I guess we have enough manpower to join the UEF cause. Anyone agrees?" Logan asks


    "We are, dear Logan. Golly for you!" Lucy says.


    "Yes. Earth Warriors, let''s go! And sorry for the cheesiness!"


    "But first I do know something fishy...I meant the girly Alien here...can you-" Andrei asks suspiciously yet in a flirty way.


    "Better tell that when we reach the quarters, man. The time for the ladies comes later you know." Jackson said approaching him.


    Logan and the rest of the team proceed to leave the factory behind, becoming abandoned again. Feeling whole now, they feel the chance to prove themselves to the government and show hope can still exist in the world.


    Little they knew, the Inquisitors are watching from a hill, surprisingly having survived the fall. All injured yet still determined to fight back for one more day. Perhaps many more.


    "So you must be asking yourselves, why didn''t you stop them when they freed all test subjects? And why didn''t you defend yourself when she made that attack!?" Darkin asks in a demanding tone towards Raven.


    "That factory was nothing than a decoy to show their level of threat to us, and by looking at it, it seems that my expectations were correct. These "Earth Warriors" are really worth fighting against. But even then, they have yet to see the true potential of the Inquisitors and the Zlocu Empire himself, we have more surprises waiting and I''m pretty sure that none of them will survive those surprises. Or maybe, in fact, they won''t survive them together. Because nothing ever does. Also, Jason intentionally lied to Andrei so we could carry out our plan, and he did rather very well...Now, phase two of it."


    "ALL OF THIS FOR A PLAN!?"


    "You''re too much of a loud mouth to keep shut anyways if told, just like most Humans."


    Dakrin tries to raise his hand to strike towards Yamja, but he''s too injured to even move it. He then simply groans in frustration as he walks away, the others leading suit. But Yamja, in particular, seems the happiest, grinning as large as she can while quietly laughing at what the plans will implicate towards the warriors as a whole. It doesn''t matter if she''s not in a stable state, for now, all she cares is the ends after all.

 Chapter 8 - What Measure is a Non-Human

    16th Day of the Virgo Stage, 99:45 OVT


    In the deepest reaches of space, one is certain that somewhere out there, there''s life. It doesn''t matter what kind of life it is, it''s presence is what matters the most. With all the stars seen in every bit of it, it''s seen as something peaceful and serene for a living being, perhaps for a Human as well. As one can certainly imagine, it sure looks like it, but not the way many believe.


    It''s believed that space is like an ocean. Somewhere where the direction is aimless when it needs to,  a paradise for explorers and curious travelers...but a living hell to stranded ones.  A careful mind is always needed for these two scenarios if needed. But now...it would need a very keen eye to watch for yourself or others.


    Amidst the everlasting stars, a humongous spaceship is present.  It has a cylindrical-like ship with rough-edged structures around it while being held by two rings, one horizontally and one vertically. The cannon is one big round barrel. Alongside the huge ship is the large fleet surrounding it, hundreds of battleships, in various shapes and forms with a distinctive red and black lining around them.


    The bulk of the Zlocan''s conquest of dominance at hand, overseeing the many parts of the milky Way galaxy. With even the presence of a tiny combat ship, not even the remains are guaranteed to be left.


    Inside, it feels like one giant palace or even city, with crew-members working their guts out in every assignment they can get. Firepower, training, technicality, the usual stuff when managing a huge place like this one. And whether it''s fun or not depends on the Zlocan''s definition of enjoyment...something probably not worth touching on.


    In a large room, groups of Zlocan guards positioned left and right stand still while holding their pikes steadily while awaiting someone who has a very important presence in the empire. The gate opens steadily, revealing an incoming large figure.


    With the huge stature, grandiose armor worthy of any king and one mask that''s able to impose fear anywhere it goes, Malgan''s presence indicates the start of something that can equal to be coronated of worthy praise. Even though said praise can''t be felt with something like Malgan.


    In front of Malgan there''s a large table present, with more than 40 posts in it, even though for now they''re empty.


    Some moment of silence passes on, almost nothing. That is until Malgan himself swings his large staff and loudly hits the floor with it.


    "I welcome the vassals of the empire for a grand gathering," he says with an imposing tone.


    Within seconds after the statement, holograms begin to emerge from each seat, each one revealing a different person, likely one reserved for such seat. Male or Female, young or old, the sight of each type of person could be seen by the holograms of the Zlocan high command beginning their reunion, with their grand decorated suits and armor, while others wearing elegant suits with a hint of beauty to show.


    "Oh grand kujar, it''s an honor to see you once more," one of the men says, a general from the looks of his uniform.


    "Indeed, your face will be the symbol synonymous with the new era that the galaxy awaits," another one says.


    "Pretty compliments, but not understandable enough to see what''s beyond the face." Malgan retorts.


    "Indeed. Who can forget the wondrous actions you''ve made in the name of the empire?" a female minister says.


    "Then name them, fellow vassals."


    "The 42nd and 66th directives, the most successful operations that made sure that your vision will come true for the galaxy. 300 planets have undergone such directives and now 150 had been successfully carried out. Soon, there will be fewer weaklings to take notice on, present or not and more of their outdated and symbolic richness and culture to replace," a young Zlocan man says.


    "Splendid."


    "The re-education program to make sure that all living beings found to leave their weakness behind and accept us as their new savior and you will guide them. Who thought that one such program ensures that many will leave their weakness behind?"


    "A great feat indeed!"


    "Last but not least, your successful campaign  in the Scutum-Centaurus Arm which managed to annihilate a chunk of the so-called Coalition, leaving a large chunk of their forces on the run and almost leaving us unopposed."


    "Yes, very well my people. With the correct use of power at hand, I can make the unlimited power that the galaxy desired of, with not a sign of peace in sight, and then, we shall take our own ways beyond the Milky Way so we can create the perfect universe. Fellow vassals, a new universe is at hand and I will be the new god, a true one!"


    The people then start clapping from his statement and from making themselves proud of knowing the kujar well. And no one cared if he could be the new god, as long as they serve him well, all will be fine.


    "Now, let''s check the situations in some sectors. Firstly, what''s the current situation in Terra, Commandant Muzli?"


    "Well...it''s contained for now...but there''s something complicated," he says.


    "What do you mean...complicated?" Malgan replies, this time with a quieter tone as the others look on him.


    He calmly keeps his posture, but it''s clear from his constantly pressing hands that there''s something up on him that makes him nervous.


    "I''ve just gained recent reports from the Inquisition in their operations...you already know about the captured one, but there''s been a raid to one of the facilities for the test subjects of the 42nd Directive, leaving everyone on the run their whereabouts are unknown."


    "A successful countering of the directive?"


    "Y-yes, my kujar..."


    "...Bring me to Raven, now." Malgan says, this time with a more restrained angrier tone.


    "Yes, my kujar."


    The hologram then vanishes for a brief second, until a new started to activate in its place, revealing none other than the main Inquisitor himself.


    "You summoned me?"


    "May I request you about what the commandant just report-"


    "Yes. But you needn''t be worried because I have the plan on hand to make sure that the possible spark of rebellion will be put down." Raven interrupts.


    "A plan...something involving the Human group?"


    "Affirmative. Recent encounters with a growing group indicate the presence of one of the last Soranians left, a girl to be exact. They seem working fine so far, but that''s only just because they''ve met and believed that her looks are a sign that they''re on their side, almost looking distant to you. But, you may have heard of this great flaw from many beings. It''s called tribalism, right?"


    "You mean when all people oppose another because they''re not them, you mean?" an elderly Zlocan general asks.


    "Quite precise. I''ve conducted a long study on the race''s actions through the years and in every disaster or calamity that happens, the first usual action to come up in their minds is scapegoating. When someone not part of them gets involved or is present in such calamity, then the outsider will take the most blame, and soon if said outsider gained friends...well, a rift guarantees it. And with a rift, teams are split apart. And with a team split, regardless of powers, the huge numbers will overrun them. And without a team, there will be nothing to fear for a long time."


    "...Quite an excellent plan there, Raven. Because of it, I''ll spare the life of Commandant Muzli for now given your plan...but if that plan doesn''t go as you intend to..."


    "The commandant is the one responsible for it. Our priorities are our own, and the Zlocans theirs. You know how much the handling of a planet can lie on a commandant and you know how they should handle any force present on their planet."


    "You are correct."


    "Raven out." Raven''s hologram vanishes, Muzli appears once more.


    "Commandant Muzli...ensure that your appointment is of good use or else you''ll find the mistake of misusing it."


    "It shall be proven, my kujar."


    "Very good. This war has gone in our favor for a long time, but if there''s a spark that will spread across the galaxy, then all decisions on your fates are by myself. But if you dare..."


    "No no, we won''t fail you grand Kujar, the vassals have done well so far!" one general says.


    "Indeed, we served you well and always will!" another general says, this time a female.


    The others could only nod or just confirm their absolute loyalty to him.


    "Just as I knew. Remember, with great power?"


    "Comes great victory!" the whole conference says in unison. Malgan could only chuckle in response.


    "You will obey me...and you WILL follow me, to the new dawn of a new era...."


    ----------------------------------


    August 16th, 23:09. PST


    Back in the Warriors'' safe house, the dusk has settled from the long battle. The warriors have gathered many unexpected warriors in the path that will be likely enough for an attracting attention of the remnants of the world governments. They may not have the looks of an effective force, but there''s always something beyond first impressions that people could imagine.


    But perhaps, that won''t be the case as usual.


    Logan, Tany, Lucy, Andrei, and Amira are sleeping inside the house while Malak, Jackson, Eddie, and Seiner invigilate outside the house in the case for something suspicious coming for them.


    So far, nothing.


    Seiner taps his left foot two times, while Jackson leans towards one of the wood pillars of the cabin, Eddie, and Malak simply holds their weapons steadily while trying to keep a straight face in their task.


    Surely, a handful of fun could be needed but that may not be necessary.


    "Guess we beat ''em good, right? Maybe a nap may be needed now." Eddie says.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, remember not getting too drawn to a comfortable rest or else you''ll let your guard down,"Malak replies slyly at him.


    "Got that right then, heh!" Jack says.


    "Ehmm, people still want to take the worst of it then..."


    "Oh is not that bad, dear Eddie. Just be glad that you''re with fellow people now, otherwise, you''re as deadbeat like a penniless loner."


    "Ah, drop it, no need to be reminded again!"


    "Well, being part of a nation that''s been feeding mouths for some time after the war may not give you the best impression, but yeah..." Jack replies.


    "Americans these days..." Seiner mutters in the quietest tone he could think of.


    "And Iranians?" Malak slyly replies while leaning near Eddie, apparently, her hearing is much keener than everyone could think of.


    "Gaah! I...you know that I''m not the one into such silly conversations and tease, it''s not my appetite in this dang life."


    "Well, you seem quite sharper in attitude, but not sure if that could give you the best of friends," Malak replied in a snarky manner.


    Seiner presses his lips together while frowning like no tomorrow and adjusts his glasses in a rushed manner.


    "...Not funny then. Well, moving on then."


    "Say boy...what did you do before this hellhole?" Eddie asked.


    "Studied at Harvard, all the fields in scientific notations even though my father worked for the justice system...nothing special."


    "Harvard...top class citizen then. Well, a cop is a top class I guess, but I find it crap anyways." Eddie says.


    "Well, we ain''t got nothing special either...I mean a job in security in there and such, well, common citizens is what we are. Or maybe except for that alien girl who we may know more of her, and probably beyond the being we''ve just seen in the recent days." Jackson says.


    "I''d rather prefer to drown myself in mud instead of seeing more of her. I don''t think she''s that trustworthy enough with us or to know about more Aliens."


    "Already so judgy? Come on, pretty boy." Malak says.


    This makes Seiner blush and turns his gaze away from Malak while Eddie and Jack chuckle in amusement.


    "Haven''t you embarrassed me enough, lady?!"


    "Well, yeah, I''ve noticed you''ve been too hard on her as far as I can tell, so you need to cheer up a bit to her for now. Otherwise, you''ll get another handful of my mouth."


    While they continued to speak, the door opens up, revealing a figure with a nice green sweater, yet it''s unusually short. And the person''s skin is nothing more but grey. It''s none other than Amira who just woke up for some reason.


    Seiner immediately notices her as the others keep up with the conversation.


    "What you''re doing now, Amira?" Seiner asks.


    Amira gets a bit startled and turns in surprise for someone having seen her again while the rest are asleep.


    "Being a sleepwalker now, cutie Alien?" Malak asks.


    "Huh? Oh, not that...it''s just that even if I want to, I can''t sleep, not just yet."


    "It''s because of your brother, right?" Jackson asks.


    "Yes...and no."


    "And to enjoy the good ol''nature? Won''t complain if that''s the other part...for an Alien." Eddie says.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Well...maybe so."


    Seiner simply nods, albeit condescendingly.


    "You know...this planet is very similar to other ones I''ve visited right before the war. All lush and green and filled with life in any form. And the most important duty for the inhabitants is to take good care of such beauty while it lasts. But regardless, seeing this place with so much green made me wonder why Earth wasn''t properly checked back then. Just maybe...just maybe."


    Malak then chuckles in response.


    "Kindred fauna, isn''t it?"


    "Just a good rocket to travel to the stars will convince me, otherwise, ain''t following any of it," Eddie replies.


    "Heh, stubborn old man..." Jackson snarkily retorts.


    "Say again?!"


    "Just being honest, man."


    Eddie then stomps his foot in frustration while Malak and Jack chuckle in amusement, while Seiner gazed at them shyly, quite interesting to see from him.


    "Hmm, Humanity is really worth interacting after all."


    "Don''t forget that we can be a rosy bunch sometimes, gal," Jackson replies.


    "Well, you can put that way even though it''s more than that- I mean, pfff, whatever," Seiner says, this time with a bit more curious side coming out of him.


    "Seiner? You''re feeling unusual today, man."


    "Nothing, just carry on."


    "Mm-hmm. Now, another question Amira, is there something else we have in common with beings in the universe as far as we''re concerned? Just wanting to know, that''s all." Jackson asks.


    "Well...if there''s something else that I can think of...there''s so much I would like to-"


    But before she could think of another comparison, he stops right when he sees behind his teammates a figure that rises from the bushes, wielding a rocket launcher, which makes her gasp in horror.


    "Wait, did you find out something terrible, Amira?" Eddie asks.


    "Wait, the position of her eyes...IT''S AN ENEMY SOLDIER!" Jackson yells as he pulls his gun from his holster and proceeds to shoot the target many times in various parts of his body.


    He''s killed right in time as was about to pull the trigger to fire the rocket, which the impact of each bullet caused him to jerk his arm upwards while it fired the rocket, hitting a nearby tree branch.


    VOOMP!


    The burning leaves and branches fall onto the wood house, in which the small fire causes it to spread around it.


    "The others! Get them out now!" Jackson says.


    "Reinforcements!" Malak yells as she notices a Zlocan patrol coming by from the shadows and proceed to open fire on the group. Malak swiftly dodges every laser bolt in her way by taking cover near one of the wood planks near the stairs while Eddie and Jackson take cover in nearby trees or bushes, pulling out their guns to fire back whatever they can.


    "Not the usual evening party, eh Malak?" Eddie says.


    "I don''t remember any of them having laser bolts for shit!" Malak replies


    "But still better than a crazy man with a hockey mask around?"


    "Oh shut up and keep shooting the bastards!"


    She then pulls her bow and plants some arrows near the lock locator. She aims carefully near one of the firing positions of the Zlocu patrol, while breathing profoundly, useful when aiming carefully with a bow and arrow.


    After breathing profoundly again and dodging some of the fire, she closes her for a brief moment, all with an almost unflinching stance.


    "Let the almighty tame my sights to defend the helpless...let them take my bow to the poisoner of said helplessness...I too shall tame their hatred...for that..."


    SCHWAFF! SCHWAFF! SCHWAFF! SCHWAFF!


    The four arrows then fire away from the locator, flying rapidly as they could from the force of the pull.


    They all hit four of the Knights hiding among the bushes.


    "Peace will be found."


    Malak eventually puts her arrow on her back again, thinking it''s all over.


    Some other Zlocan Knights come out as well, trying to aim their blasts to Malak.


    But before they could know it.


    BANG! BANG!


    Two are struck down by bullets and fall dead.


    All coming from both Jack and Eddie themselves.


    The former simply holster it back to his belt, the latter blows the smoke away from the barrel, starts twirling the revolver around until he holsters it back with style.


    "Ain''t we a good pack, right Jacko?" Eddie says.


    "A bit of a start, but damn right we shall be."


    The door opens from the fiery house, Logan, Tany, Lucy, and Andrei come out rapidly from it while grabbing their bags containing important objects to them while Seiner and Tany escort them to safety.


    "Who played with fire for this?!" Tany yells.


    "I swear to you it was an accident..." Jackson replies sheepishly while covering his gun with his hands.


    "Accident or not, you''re still naughty enough for me to give you a hundred ways to ground you, but since we''re on war, that won''t serve much!"


    "More escape, less grounding comrades! Also, I wonder which ride should we pick..." Andrei says.


    "Easy boy, we all can travel with this piece of beauty that can take us to anywhere as we like!" Eddie proudly says as he points towards the truck he and Malak used when they first met.


    "Don''t you think Seiny''s cool boxes might be better?" Tany asks.


    "Bah! We don''t some garbage technology right now!"


    "Come on, don''t you think it would be faster, you old geezer?" Malak asks.


    "I say we go with this beautiful truck! And when I say so, I say so!"


    Eddie then tries to approach the truck itself to open the cargo door, but then a huge laser blast is fired from above and impacts the truck, causing it to explode massively, with enough force to push Eddie back in the ground while the others watch in shock. It''s a Zlocan Earth fighter flying from above and then flown back to an unknown place.


    "Guess we should hurry up!" Logan yells.


    Malak then picks up Eddie from the ground while he grumbled irritatingly at the destruction of something that he oddly loved. After brushing off some of the dirt in the suit, Eddie then comes up with something.


    "The garbage will do..."


    "Glad you said so,  CHROME TRUCK GO!"


    He then tosses one of his boxes to the ground, digitizing into the shape of a large firefight truck enough to pack a handful of people.


    "Alright, let''s hop in before that fighter comes again to blow us up!" Jackson says.


    "Hey, ye sure they''ll be that many? Don''t get too rushy Jackie, we all know how silly it is for hundreds to catch just one tiny thing?" Lucy says.


    "I...think we should be less worried about hundreds of planes..." Logan says as he watches in the sky with his eyes widened enough to show the whites, while slowly grabbing Amira''s hand who as well was watching with shock in what she''s seeing.


    High above in the sky, not one or two or four or even ten lights can be seen, just 108 flying above the sky.


    A brief pause of uncertainty happens, then...bright lights start to alight from the lights.


    "DRIVE!" he yells to Seiner as they all enter the truck while packing their things inside it. Seiner then frantically hits the pedal at full speed, quickly accelerating into a road while the lights dropping are eventually revealed as missiles that start hitting every part of the zone around. More are fired by the Zlocan fighters as they try to drop all their payload to burn the forest to the ground.


    Seiner''s frantically turning at every turn by dodging the missiles or the fire around that''s spreading quickly. Steering from every fiery obstacle, he uses everything he knows from personal knowledge for their survival. He makes a turn to left while dodging an explosion which rocks part of the vehicle, hitting some of the passengers.


    "Can''t you drive any better, boy!?" Eddie shouts.


    "I''m a-was a student, not a freaking chauffeur!"


    He keeps on turning from different directions, dodging any laser bomb dropped by the planes. Even if they''re not hit, the blast still causes a lot of shaking to the truck. The road''s also trashed hard, meaning that they still need to keep up with the heavy damage while traveling around.


    Evading after evading, still no scratch. Seiner keeps on driving on the road while turning from every blast that appears, quickly saving the team each time.


    Soon after, all it remained is the spreading fire in the forests, no bombs have fallen by now.


    "The bombs...they''ve stopped dropping," Malak says as she observes the landscape.


    "Good, we can all proceed without any further interruption at all," Seiner replies.


    At that moment...


    KABOOM! KABOOM!


    Two more bombs drop, far away but noticeable enough. The blast was strong enough to shatter the road in pieces, leaving nothing more but a messy hole in its place.


    Seiner could only groan in frustration.


    "Those Zlocans will surely get a damage bill of a lifetime once we capture them!" Jackson yells.


    "Any other route to safety then!?" Tany asks nervously as she clings to Amira, much to her confusion.


    "...Better hit another type of terrain then!"


    He then turned away from the road and enters to the bushes, where the nearby Kinney Reservoir is located while quickly evading the trees.


    "Are you crazy, Seins!?" Tany yells in a scared tone.


    "Crazy is an informal term, try innovative!"


    The truck then gets closer to the riverbank, where something seemingly crazy is going to happen to the crew.


    "We...we''re screwed as all hell!" Eddie says as he and the rest of the crew cover most of their heads and nearby fellows for the incoming impact.


    Just as it''s about to hit the water, some propellers emerge from the back of the truck, and as soon it hits the water, the bus stays afloat in spite of the size. The propellers start spinning, causing the bus to continue its track, this time in the water.


    "Hey, comrade...innovative you said? I once knew an old amphibious vehicle like this. You''d better innovate your words." Andrei says.


    "Who the hell cares?"


    "Well, simpletons in need."


    "HEY!!" Tany yells back.


    "OK people...let''s relax for now. I mean, we should get a moment of peace at least, don''t we?" Logan says.


    "If you insist, Logan..."


    Seiner hits the pedal again, as the truck starts navigating across the river, gently but safely. The hundreds of Zlocan craft eventually vanished, leaving the sky in a dark orange-ish glow from the fire in the forests.


    Arriving at the nearest river bank on the other side, the truck digitizes once more into a cube.


    The team turns towards the fiery forest. All glowing brightly while smoke spread across the sky, reflected even in their eyes. Never such attempt in life would lead to such drastic measures in eliminating their enemies.


    And thus, there are more reasons for heroes to oppose such soldiers.


    "The Zlocs really wanted some payback, isn''t it?" Jackson says.


    "If you can call it payback anyways mate, something a feral beast will never stop in pursuing its prey, one way or another or something," Lucy replies.


    "Still, we''ve managed to get most of our resources which will be useful in our trips while we head out to another safe place. And maybe head out to the border of the remaining government forces if  there are any." Logan says.


    "Nah, you know that guys who served in forces like me would always stand still with all bruises and cuts it can get," Jackson replies.


    "Old veterans as well!" Eddie also adds up.


    "Let''s just say...warriors in general, one simple word is enough." Malak quips.


    "Heh, well yeah," Logan says as he chuckles briefly.


    "But remember Logan, be fully aware of the surroundings next time, especially with Amira."


    "My-my apologies..." Amira replies with a shamed tone as she lowers her head towards Malak.


    "Don''t worry Amira, I''m sure that next time there won''t be no mistakes around us in the same level as before...now that I''ve found the root of the problem," Seiner says...his gun aiming at her with a scowl on his face.


    The others gasp in shock, never expecting in seeing Seiner holding something like that towards a teammate. Days be damned, never such action shows how even in their greatest moments, fear is something always that''s with them.


    "Gotta second that," Lucy replies, pulling out one of her knives aggressively. She points at her, her eyes protruding and hard.


    "Seiner? Lucy? Why are you...Is it because of my...?" Amira says in a tearful tone, as her eyes turn puffy and almost watery, starting backing up from them slowly in a shaky rhythm, slowly shaking her head. All that far, and yet for all the love she''s seen so far, it''s clear that acceptance from others outside their race is not fully there yet. She knows it, yet she tried to deny it.


    Why...why are you doing this? I thought you could help me? I thought...I thought...


    She continues to do so only to be stopped by Logan who simply steps in front of her while extending his hand rapidly to shield her. This is accompanied by his dazed look and wide yes.


    "Yes. It''s something that I''ve suspected all along. Today just confirmed it."


    "You mean a spy!?" Eddie says as he points his gun towards her, also glaring at her for the "revelation". All of them seemed eager to pull the trigger for something they don''t know.


    "Is this for real?" Andrei says, looking painfully at what''s happening.


    "Guys, stop this instant!" Logan yells back as loud as he can, his tone being something that even Jack is taken aback by it.


    Seiner, of course, is not amused, all while continuing to glare at them.


    "Stop this, you say? How about if you STOP your nonsense about her?! You know it''s common sense that it could have been HER that they were able to find us!"


    "And it should be common sense that there''s always something else to blame based on other things other than her race! She''s proven herself already that she''s pretty much different from any Zlocan we''ve encountered. They could have simply tracked us. You should''ve already dropped it!"


    "But she''s something we barely know, young lad. Are you really putting your life at hand with someone you''ve just met a few days ago? No! Now stand aside." Lucy says coldly, still holding her knife roughly.


    "I won''t let any of you meanies hurt her!" Tany says as she shields Amira as well with her staff. Even while lifting her chin, one couldn''t help but feel that she doesn''t want another fight to happen like that, less one that involves serious accusations.


    "Tany, I too should implore you this, stop being such an idiot and be an-" Seiner says in a growling tone.


    "NO! I already know the feeling of being scapegoated for something you''re not even part of and yet others do so merely because of being different! I won''t allow such tragedy to repeat among good friends today!"


    "As someone whose religion and people who worshiped it who experienced similar griefs, I too stand with Logan. The nature of the difference between the looks of beings and how long we''ve known each other has been always misused from time to time, even in this century. I won''t allow for such tragedy to repeat as well!" Malak says as well in a firm tone, simply extending her arm to shield Amira. Her expressions show that she won''t take it lightly as well.


    "Yes, Luce. You know how much both of our people suffered from similar circumstances,  so please, stop this bullshit!" Jackson says as well, aiming his gun while standing next to Amira, self-defense but still.


    "Count me in too! Things like this are what made me isolate myself from others, made myself run away in knowing what''s else  in this world, but not anymore!" Andrei says angrily as well, clenching his fist while standing in front of Amira.


    Three versus five for one person, not the perfect combination for a squabble.


    "You...you''re already putting yourself at risk in what you''re doing. Do you really think that by the virtue of having a different demeanor from the other race implicate that we should try the same with other ones out there?" Seiner asks furiously.


    "And what if her bunch was a war-mongering one as well? Was her own civilization war-mongering as well?" Eddie also angrily asks.


    "Y-y-you''re wrong! You Humans...you think you really know what''s outside of your own planet?! And think that you have the high ground in this? Your own values...they can be just the same as all other beings out there! But look now! Are you even content with staying alone from the space community if this war ends if you put me down!?" Amira says, her tone being shakier while tears fall down from her eyes.


    Eddie, in particular, stands in shock in what he hears, as he soon starts to shake up from Amira''s words.


    "Yes, Ed. Don''t you feel any shame in looking like the typical cop of this nation, or what many has seen from many years?" Malak asks sternly.


    "No...My whole life was to protect people and make them happier and safe until I was no longer needed. But from your words alone...it reminds of all the times in the past where I saw nothing but separation from others. No joy or unity, all solely for being different to each other. I tried for many years to prevent that mindset...but right now, it seems that they may say...a chance will be always needed to set things right."


    He then lowers his gun, ashamed of what he just realized from Malak''s word, surprising Lucy and Seiner as they turn their gazes towards him.


    Malak smiles in response.


    "A good reason to have met you then."


    "You...you''re falling to her tricks?!" Lucy says bewildered.


    "No. He found out in what should be done. Lucy, from everything I''ve heard from you, even it if was for a good reason, that''s no reason to not trust people forever. Scotland or America, we''ve all suffered a lot in recent years, and for that, I''m aware how hard it is to understand the motives of the other groups as well. But still. Isn''t because trust is what ensured our progress and survival? Always try to believe in each other for the best instead of believing in the worst. Let this time be one of understanding please."


    "Yes...please...know that I still want...to know you...dear Humans."


    Lucy hesitatingly lowers her knife down, her expression one of restrained sadness yet glare slightly remained.


    "You too?! Don''t you make me!" Seiner yells, his tone getting angrier.


    "Seiner, listen! I know you have reasons to not believe in others because of something that relates to them and not knowing who they are. And to be honest for a moment...I too doubted Amira at first in the days we''ve met her, not even sure if I should really trust her. But seeing what we''ve done today...would it be really necessary if I should continue doubting her? Knowing her...there''s perhaps more things in common we may have among other beings in the universe. In every way, I could have tried in what you''re just doing...but I''m not the one to always think the lowest of people." Logan says in a stern yet nearly sad tone.


    "But...the truth...where''s the truth of it? Do we really know if there''s really something else than this Alien conflict?!"


    "Does it matter, Seiny boy? Don''t you know that one of the best feelings in the world is to have a friend? Most say that everyone needs a friend. So she needs one, no, many! We learn through friends in what''s true or not! And that allows to give us proper judgment in what could bind us for greater fun and for the best tomorrow that we can have! So please, for her sake...this is something that we should really be better at for many years like Logey said."


    Seiner could only stare in silent, still with a defiant glare but one filled with noticeable doubt. His eyes almost shaky, with his hands, affected as well.


    "Seiner...whatever you may be...I can feel that you hold something...it''s not hatred...do you really have hatred? For me? Or for the Zlocu?" Amira asks in a broken tone while still in tears.


    Seiner grits his teeth, growling as well while breathing heavily from her question, nostrils flaring heavily and roughly grabbing his gun, he''s surely one determined person to hold up his ideals. His index finger almost ready to pull the trigger.


    "Come on man..." Logan pleads quietly, his eyes narrowing. Despite what''s happening, he still wants to seek out another olive branch towards them. Peace is all that he seeks out, it''s what he wants to see from fellow Human beings. It doesn''t matter if it''s hard for him to convince them, he''ll try out to the very end.


    A minute passes by, Seiner starts breathing normally and closes his mouth while still aiming his gun at her, albeit now less shaky.


    He then lowers it slowly, his head turning down as well while his eyes narrow down.


    Is...this really worth it? S-should I keep up with this?


    Why?! WHY!?!!


    "Seiny?"


    "...Guess just another mishap on my part. Better keep going then." Seiner replies, his tone suddenly turning into his normal self. And yet, many could see something odd on Seiner.


    The others are perplexed at such attitude...was it really Seiner?


    "Guess we should try to..." Andrei says as he too walks away.


    The others do so as well, all except Logan and Amira, the latter still in tears from what happened. Almost kneeling down while sobbing hard. She never wanted this.


    "Logan...I thought..."


    Logan then gently embraces her while shedding some tears of his own as well and trying to calm her down.


    "Being Human is something so complicated...but with time, we can turn it into something we all want. And Amira...whatever happens like this again...I won''t hesitate to do anything to defend you...that''s my promise..."


    "Logan..." she says, her voice still broken from her sobbing.


    After some minutes of embracing, Amira then breathes normally again as her tears stop rolling but the eyes still remain red.


    "Let''s go...we mustn''t wait for the next step of this."


    She nods as they start walking away.


    For every distrust, comes faith.


    For every accusation, comes defense.


    For every hatred, comes love.


    For each cycle, comes the result.


    And as of that day, a cycle has been broken, for now.

 Chapter 9 - The Missing Spark

    August 18th, San Jose, Occupied Zlocan territory. 20:30 PST.


    In the dark night outside San Jose, the dim lights from the city can be seen. Likely due to the heavy attacks from the Zlocu, most of the city''s remains have been left in ruins or reconstructed into prison centers, as the vigilance towers above them show. Outside downtown, there''s a gigantic wall surrounding the city up from the north to the south and as well to the east and west side. The wall has a dark grey color in it with red neon grids stretching around the wall. It has 16 pillars in the top of each side, also having railguns placed at the top. In the ground, there''s a door located in the center of each wall, a huge horizontal one which surprisingly no guards on sight. But still, it appears that there are no intruders passing by. Lastly, between the border of each side, there are the massive pillars that are heavily bulky in shape compared to the rest of the structure, with the center of it having a cubic red light.


    Clearly, Zlocans have prepared much more than expected for Humanity.


    Near the mountains of the east side, seven F-35s planes fly by. They''re colored black with stripes between the two wings. They''re flying in the classical V formation that most planes have. In front of them lies the city of San Jose surrounded by the wall.


    An attempt at heroism it seems?


    "This is Whiplash 1. San Jose is in our sights now." one of the pilots says, his plane set on sight to the city itself.


    "Good. Getting any visual on the wall?" another voice replies, this time from the command base.


    "Yes, sir. And as you said, carrying out the operation on nighttime will surely turn the tables for our liberation campaign. Their radar won''t pick us up."


    "Good. Make sure that once all the cannons are disabled, destroy the cores for each wall on the east side, that way we''ll get through."


    "Understood. Whiplash squadron, ready the maneuvers for the attack, we''re gonna blast the Zlocan bastards up away to their homes!"


    They accelerate slightly in accordance with the other, all while ready to deploy their payload while heading towards the railguns themselves.


    "This is gonna be huge!" a wingman says.


    "Wait, I''m getting readings from the cannons. What the hell?" another wingman replies in a shaky tone.


    FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~


    A laser blast is fired from one of the cannons at high velocity, quickly shooting down two of the planes while being shattered into pieces. The laser is like a huge line fired across from the barrel in a reddish light.


    "Whiplash 3 and 5 are down! All units, evasive maneuvers!" the leader yells as the plane disband the formation and spread out across the place. However, the other cannons start to fire as well, their blasts quickly shooting down the other two planes as well, leaving only three standing.


    "Shit! Whiplash 4 and 7 are down too!" a wingman says.


    "Damn it...these Zlocs are smarter than expected. Whiplash 2 and 6, let''s head out towards-"


    But then the flight lead alongside another wingman gets shot down by one of the lasers as well, unwillingly distracted from the range of the cannons.


    "Oh god, oh man! Whiplash lead and 2 are down! Colonel, send back-up please!"


    Alas, he too doesn''t get the dignity to survive for so long, as he too meets his end at the hands of advanced security measures. With the debris itself falling to the ground in fiery flames.


    "Whiplash 6? Whiplash 6, do you read me?! Come in! Whiplash 6!"


    Silence is all that the Colonel hears out, the same one who gave out the orders to strike.


    "Gentlemen...I''m afraid we''ll have to delay the operation for the second time. Second airstrike attempt ineffective. Casualties...."


    He then lets out a resigned sigh before answering what the men least expected to hear out.


    "Seven brave men."


    Unknown location, 21:09. PST


    Meanwhile, two men enter a room which is dark, until they turn on the lights near the door, revealing a huge room which contains a large table with at least 50 chairs and a lamp illuminating every post the table has. Later, a computer screen turns on, revealing a logo with the UN version of Earth but surrounded by six stars. Later, an image of the world map is shown, with two visible colors, blue and red, each marked in certain territories around the world. The blue ones are the territories that are free from Zlocan control, while red shows countries under Zlocan control. Shockingly, the Zlocu controls most of Earth.


    One man has grey-white hair with a mustache and glasses with brown eyes, shining as one man''s determination for justice. He''s Hans Kaufer, supreme commander of the UEF armies. The other man has slightly tan skin with brown eyes and a firm body build, a face with some sunken eyes, his composure it''s still visible. His name is John M.B Walker, the main commanding officer of the UEF ground troops worldwide.


    "You said something about an operation carried out overnight, right colonel?" Hans asks.


    "Yes...an absolute failure like the previous one."


    "Hmm..."


    "I don''t know sir. I mean, it''s been two weeks already, they''ve taken many parts of the planet, thousands are pouring into the surviving nations and can''t hold out for too long unless there''s more territory. And even with our equipment back, the troops aren''t in high spirits."


    "And what about the victories you gained right when we gained the equipment back?"


    "They''re just small, an everyday thing that no one can bat an eye. I''d like to wish that-perhaps, people could feel hope from them...but they don''t. They always something bigger."


    "I''m not surprised. War doesn''t surprise anyone, it never does. "


    "But still, whatever it''s from a god or aliens, we really appreciate such intervention."


    "Yes, but still. Weapons alone are something that is not guaranteed to go for victory."


    "Hmm, good point. Do we have to find something stronger than a gun to end this war? Appeasement and treaties are no longer options in this conflict."Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "But remember the pen-"


    "The pen is worth jack-shit now. The sword is what we need right now, and we need lots of men who need to wield it."


    "Hm-hmm. First, off John, let''s look at the past. Ever since the first war happened which who the hell cares what it was anyways, a new type of being was born, a warrior. Warriors are people who are willing to show off their skills, courage, loyalty, and mentality towards their allies and foes, the strongest type of person ever known to all beings for now. But there is one question that''s always was with us and nobody answered. Who must have the title of "Warrior"?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Think carefully, are soldiers really the only ones to be called warriors? There are people that can also fight with these traits too, but is that enough?"


    "Certainly, a warrior is just a warrior just as you say, but how strong they are is what matters. You just simply can''t send out some random farmer or dreamer around the nation and put them in the fight just because they want to be warriors and it''s their first time. You know that''s the best sign in becoming cannon fodder. But, if there''s one thing I really don''t like from them, it''s that they just throw up in front of everything they fight for and die as martyrs that people aren''t asking at the moment, because at this fu-"


    And just before he could finish swearing, John is interrupted when a radio transmitter started to ring on Kaufer''s seat. Kaufer presses the button, stopping the noise.


    "What is it?"


    "Commander Kaufer! We have good news for the benefit of mankind! British troops stationed in the occupied zones report that Zlocan presence near the border is starting to dwindle."


    "Dwindle? How much is the damage?"


    "According to the reports, Beale Air Force Base, which was occupied by the Zlocans is reported to have been destroyed under unknown circumstances. The thermal signals found on the debris retrieved suggests that the attack was carried out with heavy weaponry."


    "How is that even possible?! Not even stolen weaponry scattered across the country could take down that base single handled!" John yells back.


    "It may, however, the evidence is undeniable. But that''s not all. A factory that is rumored to hold test subjects, likely handled by the Zlocans, has been reported to be completely deserted, meaning someone must have freed the subjects and exterminated the Zlocans in the area. It seems that there is a presence of an effective force, this is a great miracle for all of us. If we can find this group, then we can turn the tide of this war


    "That''s quite good to hear. One last thing, Sergeant Ortega, if there is anything new related this group, then contact me again."


    "Understood."


    "But what about the recent forest fire? Any report of the perpetrators? Could it involve such group?"


    "Not sure, but seems likely. Over."


    Kaufer then lets go of the button near the radio transmitter. John couldn''t believe what he just heard, as his eyes widened as his body quickly tensed. He then proceeds to shake his hands after hearing what he just heard.


    "What is it, Hans?"


    "John, I''m assigning you to F.O.B Jefferson, I need you to make sure you find this new group of warriors. We are about to find something great, the spark that will light up people''s spirits and ensure that the darkness of the invaders is put down for good in this world."


    August 19th, 11:30. PST


    In the forests of California, there''s heavy rain, many drops of water fall on the ground, each one sounding more and wetter. Along the way, the Earth Warriors are walking around the rain, with a strong wind blowing while being covered by a rock umbrella made by Tany. Certainly, most of them are not amused as they cover themselves with anything they have.


    "Are you sure this is the right path, Jackson? We must find a very secure place from this rain." Logan says.


    "I know these paths more than my whole life, both normal and military Logan, you can trust me for sure, man."


    "Yeah, but at least we can enjoy the beautiful sounds of the drops, right?" Malak says.


    "I rather listen to a pop group than this stupid rain. It interrupts my mood!" Seiner retorted angrily.


    "Please Seiner, we are at least not fighting, this rain and the wind is the most relaxing thing we can get on this journey," Amira said.


    Seiner could grumble silently while still keeping his gaze on the road.


    "It cood be relaxin'', that is unless we are walking in this bloody and blistering rocky umbrella..." Lucy said.


    "Ahhh, you complain a lot lot lot! This is best the umbrella I could think of you know! If it wasn''t for this umbrella you could be soaked kittens now!" Tany replies while waving his staff around the group, nearly causing small pieces of dirt falling on them.


    "Couldn''t any prettier girl get anymore clumsier?" Andrei asks.


    "Clumsy?! ME?!"


    "Forget it, just my imagination..."


    "Yeah we appreciate that little gal, but you must know that we''ll be covered in dirt because of this dang rocks ye know!" Eddie complains.


    "Well, allow me to sway them away," Amira says as she extends her hand outside, using it to throw most of the rocks backward with her power. It saved most of the annoyance but Eddie and Seiner could still be heard grunting in annoyance.


    "Cranky bunnies! Why nobody likes my magic?! Alright, stand back dummies, I''m gonna stop this rain with the greatest spell I can summon!"


    She then goes out of the rock umbrella while the others watch. Tany then makes some movements with her staff, then she lifts it upwards, sending a huge bolt of lightning towards the sky. Suddenly, the rain stopped.


    "Jesus almighty! how did you manage to change the weather....girl? I mean, you could give the forecast men nightmares in their jobs" Andrei replied flabbergasted.


    "Hahaha! Now you see that my magic is not ba-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Tany says as she starts to be shocked by the same lightning she sent before. Everyone''s shocked, except Seiner, who gave a rather disapproving look.


    "Not even your lightning favors you Tany. In other words, you suck." Seiner says.


    "Why~?!" Tany yells with a long sentence no man could think of when it comes to frustration.


    "I''m still feeling the strong wind! What''s the meaning of this?" Malak asks.


    "The thing is, this wind is like a group of strong people working together, give them a strike will only make them lose one thing belonging them but it doesn''t stop them that easily, they always have a second solution for a problem. It always existed ever since our beginnings, Malak." Logan remarks.


    "Nice lecture boy, now I have one for you: we got rocks flying to our faces like people throwing garbage at us like in poor Woodstock!" Eddie replies.


    "Yadda yadda yadda! I need to look nice tomorrow, I want to stay at the magical school girl, not the magical bum girl! And you Seiner man, you offend me again with your tramp and sloppy insults and I will spank you with a handmade palm out of ice!"


    "WHY YOU..."


    "No time to talk guys, we have to seek a place to hide now!" Amira says.


    They ran away still with the rock umbrella above them while Tany summoned water splashes to wash from the lightning, unwillingly shocking herself sometimes.


    They ran until they found an abandoned house near the river. They settle in there for a night. The reason is so they can rest because they are on a search of the UEF base Jackson said. His directions are a bit spotty, but he can make it through by some means.


    10 hours later


    Inside the house, most of the team was sleeping except for Logan and Seiner who were standing outside, Malak who was praying before going to bed and Tany who was taking a shower.


    "Seiner...about yesterday..."


    "Why are you insisting, Logan? You need to understand that people with great thoughts need to reserve themselves from such softness in this conflict, and I can''t stand too much softness, especially Tany who is still sounding like a squeaky parrot. Not to mention Amira...for reason, she''s part of something that I rather hold back."


    "I understand that Seiner, but still, would it matter if you could think of how being cold to your allies who are with you, fight with you, feel about it?"


    "I just recently met them, why treat them like if they were people you knew for a long time? You must be too rushed in hanging out with them you know."


    "Is not being rushed Seiner, it''s showing kindness and gratefulness, you should have these two traits, every good soul needs it!"


    "But what purpose does these two have in moments like this? Slaughter, genocide, killings? Sometimes people need to push their moral limits in order to accomplish something, even if they aren''t truly faithful to be part of these ideals. That''s why you need to grow up from trusting too much, even Amira from now."


    "I won''t repeat myself, young man," Logan says in a sterner tone.


    "Then let her prove it later."


    "Ugh...You know, sometimes, these three actions are not necessary for us in this conflict, in fact, it never will be done by people like us, Seiner. You know that."


    "That isn''t what matters now Logan, what matters is that we have to keep ourselves stable and concentrated in this conflict, our actions are what important in this war, NOT our personalities OR ideals. Now if you excuse, it''s time to sleep, there no need to further prolong this conversation like yesterday."


    "Right... Well, good night Seiner."


    "You too."


    The men return inside the house, being ready to take a nap, because as they know, tomorrow it will be their test of integration towards a higher organization in the war.


    "Good night boys," Malak says.


    Even to this day, Seiner couldn''t feel a softer stance towards trust.


    Does it truly stem from what the Zlocans did?


    Could it be personal upbringing?


    Not many would like to answer such question.


    Perhaps in war, questions should be best answered...when it''s all over.

 Chapter 10 - Will of the Outsiders

    August 20th, 08:40 PST


    Dawn passes by, with the sun shining brightly more than ever. Their rays are reflected brightly in Logan''s sword and some of Seiner''s boxes. The shining brightness of these objects was enough to reflect the rays of light in most of the room. Bright enough to awake the people present in the cabin. They look tired and has taken aback from the sunlight. Yet, despite that, they''re still pleased in seeing such beautiful sight of any place in the universe.


    Soon they packed up and continued, the group walked miles and miles from the designated place, they seem tired but they are well determined to reach the base.


    1 hour, 10 minutes later.


    "So this is the place huh?" Seiner asks.


    "If my memory of the coordinates serves me right, yes," Jackson says.


    "Goody good! Now finally we can see the remaining jolly people in the world! And then kick the Zlocan sorry butts with their sorry regrets!" Tany said.


    "Better yit, we can celebrate by drinkin'' a lot of scotch!"


    "Logan, are you sure that these humans we are about to encounter will accept me? What if they think I''m a sp..spy?" Amira says as she stood beside him.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll convince them that you are a different alien from the Zlocans."


    "Don''t get so naive Logan, if a common dude could try to accuse her of that, imagine how higher-ups will..." Andrei replies.


    "Still, I''ll try."


    "Well, what are we waiting for? Let''s meet up with the rest of mankind now!" Eddie says as he started to run towards the base.


    "Eddie! Wait for us! They might suspect you!" Malak says as she and the others too started to run.


    They run as fast as they could until suddenly, a bullet grazed the ground, just a few steps from Eddie''s foot, likely coming from a sniper rifle.


    "DON''T MAKE A QUICK MOVE OR ELSE," a familiar voice says on the megaphone.


    "Wow wow wow! What the flipping hell? Why would anyone shoot at me?! Hey, asshole! I''M HUMAN! NOT AN EVIL ALIEN, GET IT!? CAN''T YOU SEE DIFFERENCE FROM THE SKIN?!!!"


    "WANT TO LIVE? OBEY MY ORDERS, I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HUMAN AND AN ALIEN, YOU ARE TRESPASSING WITHOUT PERMISSION IN THIS ZONE! AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU''RE NOT A SPY EITHER!"


    "That voice...hold on, let me handle this!" Jackson says as he steps Eddie aside.


    "Hey Hey! What did I teach you a long time ago man? About not shooting towards friendly people unadvised?!"


    "THAT VOICE? IS THAT... THE ONE AND ONLY LEGENDARY SEAL?"


    "And that is the one and only greatest army man I ever knew in my whole damn life?!" The one who dragged me and my men from extinction and repaid the favor during the war?!"


    "AND THE ONE MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO A GODDAMN JOB RIGHT?! WHY ITS YOU! JACKSON GODDAMN BAIRMAN!!"


    "JOHN M.B GODHELL WALKER! NO TIME NO SEE EH MAN? STILL TRYING TO BE THE BEST PATRIOT?!"


    "AND ARE YOU TRYING TO CHEAT DEATH A LOT OF TIMES EVER SINCE?!"


    "YEAH!!!" says both men in unison at the top of their lungs.


    "They... know each other? How unexpected," Seiner says.


    "That is unless you are in the armed forces comrade," Andrei says to him.


    "SO TELL ME, MY GOOD O''L JACK? DID YOU HEARD THAT A LOT OF ZLOCAN ACTIVITY HAS STARTED TO DWINDLE RECENTLY?"


    "Yes! I know that because these people and I were the ones responsible for it!"


    "THOSE PERSONS THAT ARE ALONGSIDE YOU? THOSE COSPLAYERS? ARE YOU SHITTING ME AGAIN?!"


    "No sir, he''s telling you the truth! We are the ones you must be looking for!" Logan says as he steps in in front of Jackson.


    "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?"


    "I am Logan Preaker, leader of the Earth Warriors, the ones who are willing to the fight the Zlocans and the Inquisitors! He fights with me, and soon we will fight with you!"


    "INTERESTING...ALRIGHT, EARTH...WARRIORS OR WHATEVER SUPERHERO NAME YOU HAVE, STEP FORWARD TO THE ENTRANCE, I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE UEF. AND ANOTHER QUESTION."


    "Yes?"


    "TO THAT...YES, YOU''RE HEARING RIGHT, THE ALIEN GIRL...IS SHE A SPY OR NOT?"


    "Definitively not! She''s from another race, destroyed by the Zlocans!"


    "TELL ME...HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN HER?"


    "Almost a week?"


    "A WEEK!? HAS SHE DONE SOMETHING UPSETTING?"


    "She was accused of being a spy by our teammates but is solved now!"


    "CHECKED HER BACKGROUND?"


    "ALMOST! But please sir, there''s no need to go overload in checking a foreign being, trusting her is the best thing she would like to get!"


    "HMM...I''LL CONSIDER MORE OF IT, BUT SHE CAN PASS NOW."


    A brief static feedback could be heard, indicating that the mic that John was using is now put down.


    "Understood. So, see Amira? I convinced them that you are not one of them, at least...for now, I believe, hopefully."


    "Still, my dearest thanks, Logan," Amira says as she caresses Logan''s cheek. This made Logan''s cheeks glow a bit of a reddish color, stepping back for a bit while chuckling in a lighthearted manner.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Don''t you think...that''s a bit early...?"


    "Such love birds I see?" Malak asks amusingly.


    "Love birds...us? Uhmm......." Both Logan and Amira ask in unison as they first turn to each other and stare for a brief while.


    "Come on now, it''s not that hard to deduce, hmm?"


    "Could be a touching one for everlasting years though?" Lucy asks.


    "Moving on, please?" Amira asks embarrassed.


    "Yeah, let''s not waste any more time on this and let us get moving!" Jackson says.


    The group approached the gate of the base, which was the size of the Berlin Wall. After a moment of silence, the gate opened, revealing Walker himself.


    "You already know my name so I''ll keep this brief, I''m the main commanding officer of all ground troops of the United Earth Forces, or UEF for short. For the ones who never heard of us let me explain. When the Zlocu managed to conquer must of our planet in two weeks, it became clear that having many nations around the world, even powerhouses like NATO or the SCO fighting alone against the aliens would not work, their numbers are too big for us alone to handle it. In response, the remaining governments on Earth decided to unify all military alliances around the world to turn it in the organization we are now."


    "That easily?" Seiner says.


    "Yep, quite unfortunate indeed. Still, if anything, seeing you here could lead us in seeing what else we can have for the war. Now, all of you will accompany me in the truck so I could lead you to my office while seeing what we have in store in battle. Sounds good?"


    "Yes!" The Earth Warriors say in unison.


    "Well, follow me."


    Entering the truck, he then drives off from the main gate while taking it across the complex. Inside, they saw things like many would expect from a military complex. Tanks, soldiers, planes, even new generations machine walkers, it didn''t matter how modern they are. All it matters is to fight. Nothing more, nothing less.


    The truck later exits the structure and goes driving around the base until they stop at the command building.


    "Now, I will show you the ones who are leading this brave group to victory, hop off now!"


    "Wow man, these UEF guys surely are really surprising makers, the Zlocans are definitively going rock bottom with these weapons that they have!" Eddie says.


    "I rather differ Eddie, there''s always something stronger than a gun in wars, this one is no different," Amira says.


    "And that is?"


    "You already know it," Logan says while glancing at him.


    Eddie pauses for a moment, then nodded briefly before moving on.


    The group follows Walker in the building where they go to an elevator, after a few minutes waiting, they go inside a room, it seems to be Walker''s office. Unusually a large one, with a handful of portraits hanging on the walls and some desks around as well.


    "For some colonel like you, you seem to clean up nicely for a stressing war like this. Can''t argue with it though." Malak says.


    "Do I look like a nerd at all?"


    "Rhetorically speaking...maybe."


    "Well, anyways as you can see. I''m the ground command officer of this alliance. The one who''s running the bones for us is a Commander known as Hans Kaufer. A fine German gentleman I must say. With almost over forty years of military experience across the globe. Of course, even he needs others to do the rest of the work on his behalf, hence why he enlisted high-ranking officers for each continent. America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, you name it."


    "Officially ranked?" Andrei asks dryly.


    "Hell no. You think they''re random actors hired for grandiose performances worthy of millions?


    "Well, they surely could have to spend it on the costumes. Who knew they''ll look at conventions."


    This makes the others chuckle in response from his dry humor. John, of course, being the exception as he only stares at him, smiling hardly while his eyes narrow.


    "Now listen to me you little shit...this is boot camp, not a goddamn retro-convention. The ones on board are the best of the best of the greatest best officers of the goddamn military, looks be DAMNED. And as you may know, I''m mostly lenient but I could ensure that tongue of yours is properly trained for authority figures. Or if that won''t work, then I''ll-"


    But before he could continue, a beeping noise started to ring. It comes from John''s desk. The computer to be exact.


    "What now?" John then clicks on one of the buttons of the computer, the sound stops and the computer shows on screen a person which is none other than Hans Kaufer.


    "Greetings Colonel John."


    "Commander Kaufer, god, did you knew that I was about to call you so I can show it to the folks I found?"


    "Why yes, I presume. Anyways, have you found the ''force'' we are looking for?"


    "Yes sir, these are the ones." he points at the Earth Warriors, Kaufer gives an incredulous look on his face.


    "Are you trying to get a really good promotion Colonel? All that I''m seeing are cosplayers that lost their track."


    "Absolutely not sir, Jackson is part of them, I know him for a long time, which means that THEY are the one we''re looking for."


    "If that''s the case, then show me the leader of such group."


    "I am sir!" Logan says.


    "You, young man?"


    "Yes, I''m Logan Preaker, and we, the Earth Warriors will be of great support to you all."


    "Earth Warriors? Interesting name. Tell me Logan, who are the other ones accompanying you?"


    "Sure, this guy is Seiner Butch, the brains of the team, this one is Amira Dhorian, a friendly alien that comes from planet Sorania, which has been destroyed by the Zlocans, this gal is Tania Maestas, the goofy but formidable magician, you already know Jackson Bairman though, this one is Lucy Henderson, the Scottish reporter but with fists with great pain, this one is Malak Al-Zadi the modern Persian warrior, this one is Eddie Wolfen, the retired cop from California and this guy is Andrei Olegovich, the Cossack shape shifter, Our appearances may not impress you but we hold a lot of potential for you."


    "It is indeed, young man. But keep in mind that in most unusual moments like this, it''s that physical demonstration of people like you should be shown to us. And given the dire situation, I must say a great display of strength from you is needed. Colonel John, at two hours time, you''ll begin testing the people you consider unusual for battle and see if they''re enough for combat. Send it to me and I''ll see if they''re capable enough for our next operation."


    "Operation? Which one?" Eddie asks.


    "Home Alone. The first step in retaking the States from Zlocan hands. We''ve already attempted in breaching the defenses of the southern cities which as of now, has inflicted losses on our side. We''re trying to find ways to break through, but it appears that you guys are the ones who could give us the spark to victory. To inspire people to keep on fighting no matter what. But as I have mentioned before, a little testing is needed."


    "I see now. Still, we won''t let you down, Herr Kaufer. It''s our most united will that will allow us to break through any obstacle," Logan replies.


    "Indeed. Oh, I almost forgot. The Alien being...can you get a bit closer?"


    "Me?"


    "Yes. Just checking you clearly."


    She then approaches near John''s desk while he steps backward from her.


    "Hmm, for all things considered in the world, there are indeed more curious things in the Universe. But with every curiosity comes the need to be careful, because, in any moment, a danger could emerge from such curiosity and endanger innocent ones. Do not take this harshly, but I believe you could need some extra testing as well."


    "T-T-testing...?" she asks nervously.


    "Just checking up how you can be trustworthy, don''t worry too much about it, young being. But at the same time, we could learn more if the Alien races out there could provide us with a greater insight of them in years to come once it all ends. Colonel, I''m giving you the responsibility to handle every activity carried out with her. At the same time, however, in any case of difficulty beyond your reach, then speak to me and I will see what I can do. Is it clear?"


    "Affirmative."


    "Good. Remember, a time for hope is needed. Make use of it to make it real."


    By saying these words, the screen then turns black, indicating the transmission from Kaufer has ended.


    Despite the commander''s reassuring words, Amira still felt uneasy about what''s to come to her as she clings to Logan.


    "Hey now. It''s gonna be some checking on you and see what you can be made of, alright? No need to be scared," John says reassuring her.


    "But-but..."


    "I said don''t be scared. That is all you need to stay calm."


    "Just be sure of it, Colonel. Just please be sure of it." Logan says interrupting, his voice turning a bit sterner, which makes the rest of the team turn their attention to him.


    "Do I make myself clear, young man? He stated it clearly, she''s now my responsibility even though you met her first. It''s my responsibility from now to check every aspect of her, and my responsibility for her well-being. If you like to...then feel free to share such responsibility under my command."


    Logan simply responds by staring at him, frowning while pressing his fists tightly. The others look at him worriedly, is he really gonna lose it?


    "Promise me please..." he says in a whispering tone this time.


    "I said don''t worry about it, that is all. Now, to move on from this, allow me to check on your barracks, shall we?"


    The group then follows John leads which outside his office. It''s a normal approach, at least on the surface. Amira is clinging again to Logan''s arm, holding it tighter than ever.


    What could possibly happen next? Could the relations between Alien species improve at all? Or is it another signs of Human mistakes repeating once more?

 Chapter 11 - Wake Up, Get Out There!

    August 20th, 22:30 pm PST


    On San Jose, somewhere inside an office building, there are Zlocan Knights working in each post, likely checking the status of the railguns and other activities. Guns and other equipment are stacked next to the walls and some boxes. Not to mention, Zlocan banners displayed in the windows. Everyone present in the room all goes to their business like is something usual for them ever since the invasion.


    The door starts to open, Suddenly all of them take a stand, staying put with the arrival of a Zlocan with green eyes, white groomed hair, short beard, and a mustache. A man as old as the deepest military tactics ever known to the Universe, a warrior of any principle. He walks straightly while the Zlocans bowed down before him.


    Raven is present in the room as well, likely being the CO of the area as well.


    "Well well well, I guess the so-called Phantom General has arrived with his grazing reputation among us, any recent inconvenience general Kedris Horiq?"


    "Quite nothing Commandant Raven, except for the recent events that happened to you and your inquisitors, everything is going smooth and well."


    "Indeed. As long as the wall is operational, Humanity won''t further advance into our territories and with the sinking morale, we''ll be victorious."


    "Yes indeed. Yet, I''ve heard of something that''s been disturbing your own group, isn''t it right?"


    "You mean the Earth Warriors."


    "Earth Warriors? Quite odd yet catchy at the same time. How dangerous are they?"


    "Didn''t you heard it already Kedris? Beale Air Force Base and the facility fell because of these warriors...and yet, it seems that they''re not together for too long now."


    "What? What do you mean?"


    "We''ve carried out an operation, one deadly enough to make the Humans blame the alien for what they did thanks to their own nature. You may not worry about them for too long."


    "Very well...but are you truly sure they''re divided now?"


    "If they were they could attack us at any moment and they''re not, so it''s unnecessary to think about it."


    "Could be, but still. One cannot underestimate the valiant efforts a race can have in wars. One must be vigilant in their actions at any moment or else it will come back to bite you hard. You could understand."


    "For me, I don''t consider it applicable to Humanity, it''s just a waste of time."


    "Remember, Raven. Don''t try tempting it."


    "You still need to understand more."


    "I think the same for you...moving on, are you going to stay here?"


    "Negative, my inquisitors have other matters to handle in their hands, I do not wish to be part of two operations at the same time. But still, I wish you the best of luck Kedris if anything happens. And don''t forget to use the tactic."


    Kedris could only stare in silence from Raven''s words, breathing slightly calm yet in a hard way as well while clenching his fists.


    "Something of that matter?"


    "No...still, thank you for your time, commandant."


    With such words, Raven simply nods then moves to the door of the other side, leaving the room while two nearby knights prepare to escort him out of the building.


    Kedris then frowns while crossing his arms over the back while turning around to look at the window. His fists still clenching as hard as he could. Even without flinching, Kedris couldn''t help but feel something so big that he couldn''t think through if he truly can get out of it.


    A general''s duty is always to ensure the pride and morale among their troops are kept strong and intact, to ensure a push for victory needed for them. It''s supposed to mean a sign of fatherly care, a second home, all made for them only. But sometimes...not all homes may share the same rules.


    He looks carefully at what''s outside. On one part, a convoy of Zlocan mechs patrolling the roads which are locked between a fence. On the other side of each fence, it''s where many people are lined up, moving forward in line while being observed by Zlocan Knights, some even push other Humans in moving forward. Tired, starving, sick, hopeless, it''s all the prisoners'' feelings while moving forward. Many are even amputated in every limb. Not to mention, some tortured enough to look skeletally thin and left to rot on the floor. Every trace of what they once knew and loved in life, all hold like it was in their hands, all stripped away with extreme prejudice.


    He then looked to the left side, a nearby park. What was a once green and peaceful place, but now, it took a turn for the worse. Metal chutes placed to each other with the lids being wide open. A cargo truck driving nearby approaches said box, lifting the push pedal upwards. From it, it dropped a handful of corpses. Corpses of many shapes and forms.


    All Human-looking.


    Perhaps wickedness is not an exclusive thing for Humans after all.


    And the only thing Kedris could do is to keep on looking. He feels he should do something, but as his duty as the top Zlocan general...he must follow all of it, no matter what ideals he holds for himself.


    "General...the troops are waiting for you in the plaza. They''re awaiting orders," a nearby Zlocan knight said while approaching him.


    Kedris'' only answer is nothing more but absolute silence aside from clearing his throat. Nonetheless, his expression remained the same, as one worthy statue. All generals need the face of statues because it will help them mask their own thoughts safely, to prevent them to get plagued with doubt, doubt of what to follow. But can Kedris'' hold up for too long?


    "General?" the Knight asks again, this time with a more concerned tone.


    Kedris eventually turns back, facing not the Knight but the exit itself. He quietly starts walking away from the room, his fists still closed. The Knight, without any further questioning, started to follow him, but while doing so, he looked down to see of Kedris'' hand. He sees carefully inside the closed fist, an orange liquid could be seen falling from said hand. A bit more fall down as well. Not long after, he opens it, revealing the palm covered with the aforementioned orange liquid, the drops still falling down.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Just keep up the pace...that''s all you need," Kedris says before the Knight could even ask. The Knight, knowing his role, complies.


    Just how long he should keep up? Just for how long?


    FOB Jefferson, August 21st, 09: 23 AM PST


    The day is set.


    Can the Warriors prove themselves on now?


    In one side of the base, there''s a three-layered building that has three sides in an X-shaped form. Each being as long as a hangar bay. While on the outside they look identical, the inside is far more different than people could imagine.


    One is almost purely white, with black lines around the walls, the ceiling as tall as a hangar and highly illuminated. The aesthetic is almost something it came from 50 years into the future yet it''s there right now. A small door is on the lower side with a window next to it. There''s almost nothing except for ten circular pods on the floor in the center. The other is more or less a dimly lit room with dark brown walls, the room being mostly an obstacle course with obstacles and other elements used for a training course until at the top of a block where there lies solitary computer. There are some rocky pads on the south side, a metal doorway on the floor located on the east part and some huge air fans on the north side. The doorway entrance and exit are located near the rocky pads. The last one is similar to the first one, only this time purely white and very sleek in design. With a visor hanging on a pole.


    Up-above near the ceilings of each room there are two-decked windows which have a large command room that oversees all other rooms as well. Computers and monitors are also present in the room. The door opens, revealing John, Jackson, Lucy, Eddie, Andrei, and Malak entering. John then sits in one of the chairs at the center of the complex, overseeing the monitors of each of the three rooms.


    The doorways of each room then open, revealing four particular people entering. The one entering the first room is Logan, the second one is Seiner alongside with, curiously enough, Tany. the last one is Amira and the last one, of course. They all look firm yet tidy, uncertain yet confident enough to know what to do.


    John taps into the microphone, then press the button as he leans his face to the mic, ready to announce what''s to come.


    "Let me say this to start, we all know that you''re supposed to show us why we should trust you and rely on you for our battles. Henceforth, we''ve decided to use this place as the perfect course for your test or some crap like that. In order to give each person the time they get and seeing how the others are performing in comparison, I''ll arrange the test based on the order of each candidate, as well for the presence of one volunteer who needs some testing as well. As such, the actions of all participants will be recorded and transmitted live in this room as well as the others. Without dragging on any further, let''s start off with Logan."


    A giant screen then turns on, revealing the footage of Logan''s room, catching every move and action he makes. With the clear quality, it should make it easier to see what they''re doing. After all, every note of an important test should be taken in every extreme detail.


    Logan looks up a table that contains four pairs of swords, a katana, a rapier, a broadsword and a dagger, the most common weapons in close combat. Logan immediately picks up the katana then swings it around on both sides with his right hand until he holds the grip with his two hands. He moves his left foot forward, slightly behind his right one while keeping both feet parallel and hips straight forward. A peculiar stance for anyone who practices with a katana. He holds this stance while being a few feets inch away from the line which indicates the passing limit of where to move. In this case, it''s the aforementioned closed holes which contain some objects inside.


    "Cool moves! Oh, I mean, very well. You''ve shown your handling of the katana. Now, let''s start off with the dummies. You have to test out your skills with your swords when it comes to attacks and how long you can keep up because afterward...you''ll soon find out. You ready?"


    Logan simply nods in accordance with what he said.


    "Good, let''s begin."


    John then presses some buttons on the console, which makes the holes to open up, in which some grey-skin wax dummies with lines around each part of the body, lined up in a horizontal formation.


    "When one of the lines start to glow, that''s the chance to strike, so stay focused."


    Logan simply stares at the dummies while holding the katana and standing near the line, he''s waiting patiently, waiting for the moment to strike. Breathing slowly yet calmly, his grip on the katana still tight yet serene. Almost like being at peace. Yet in times like this one, it''s pretty hard to tell. A minute passes by, almost nothing. Is it ready?


    A blue vertical line then glows near the head of the dummy right in front of him, he nearly sprints forward while swinging his sword vertically towards the dummy''s line, which combined with the speed of the swing, hits rapidly before Logan''s foot could reach the line. Then another line glows horizontally in the dummy''s chest, making Logan swing his sword in said stance and hit the dummy in its position. The other dummies then start to change position when they start to rotate, making many lines around the body to glow. This prompts Logan to quickly swing his sword at one of the dummies'' hand, then towards the other''s pelvis, then the other''s neck and so on, all with more or less rapid succession. The veins in Logan''s arms are noticeable, as well as making slow breathing after performing each strike. From the control room, the team looked in awe and amaze at Logan''s abilities, John included.


    "Alright then...double the speed!" he said as he pulls one of the levers that connect to Logan''s room. The dummies then start rotating a bit more rapidly, almost returning where they were before. Logan readies his stance once more. The dummies arrive with the lines glowing once more and with quick precision, Logan manages to hit them in rapid succession. Even if there''s a bit of sweat coming from his body, he still has it.


    "Very well then...but now, it''s time you face the best way possible in what you know best..." John quietly says as he pushes one of the buttons which makes the dummies stop. What could Logan face now? Standing steadily, his stance nearly the same as he had, what could it be now?


    Logan glances to the reflection of his sword, seeing something slightly faint yet visible in it. Something coming near him. The figure then swings a blade towards him but he manages to strike back by parrying the blow. The attacking swordsman has dark skin, light blue eyes, black wavy hair, and beard, wielding a very long Kilij. A peculiar warrior it seems. He then continues to fight with the swordsman, evading slash after slash from each movement while parrying as well. But before he could continue, someone swings not one but two blades towards him. It came from behind him, likely where the bearded man was. It''s a woman with dark brown wavy hair and auburn eyes. Despite this, the woman responded with a smile and laugh, as she continues to strike with her dual blades. Logan can keep up well in spite of the man''s constant thrusting of the Kilij and from the woman''s low slicing below the knees. Logan uses every trick he knows from his training to keep up. Logan keeps on blocking, clash after clash, until all three clashes the tip of their blades to each other upwards. A brief pause then happens between them as they stared fiercely towards each other. Eventually, they lower their blades while making bows to each other while the woman attaches the two blades together, forming a two-bladed sword.


    "So that''s the Kilij, a deadly sword used by the bravest of the bravest in all dynasties of Turkish nations. Not to mention a two-bladed European blade..." Logan says with a sheepish yet satisfied tone.


    "The Katana, wielded by the ones who are worthy of courage and skills, used by not only the Japanese but also the ones who are brave enough to use it. And it appears we just saw one today," the man says.


    "But no matter what their origin is, it all means to one thing, they all make part of a warrior, a nice, powerful warrior worthy of this world." the woman says.


    "So it''s said...I''m Logan Preaker."


    "Berat Sahin, Turkish volunteer." the man says as he pats Logan on his shoulder.


    "Valentina Silva, expert Chilean sniper, and swordsman who fights for what it''s right. A pleasure to meet you here mister."


    "So...did I-"


    Berat then chuckles heartedly while he pats him once more.


    "You do play the role of chivalrous knight pretty well, don''t you? It''s not bad actually, it''s more than necessary that we could need for the world. It''s nice to see such thing still exists, my darling," Berat replied in a gentle way.


    "In short, yes you did Logan, you truly have the strength and spirit that makes up a warrior. And can confirm the others are proud as well," John replies back.


    "So congrats fellow hombre, just the first of probably the next bunch of warriors to have in our army."


    "I guess so...what group you guys belong to though?"


    "Once you all finish the test, you''ll find out for sure."


    Logan may have managed to make a big impression for the UEF as a whole, perhaps more so than he could possibly imagine with his years of training with kendo still intact.


    But could the rest fare better?

 Chapter 12 - Tough Love

    50 Minutes before the test.


    In the warriors'' quarters, where the room is more or less big enough to contain nine people to sleep in, there''s been a lot of speculation about what will happen during the tests. They have proven themselves among one another in being capable to fight for a grand battle, to be able to rely on another and such. But a bigger task relies on the decision of the government itself for them to fight for them. It''s usually a warrior''s test to prove how much worth they can be for the world..and how much they can be valued as heroes. It''s pretty unknown to guess at this point, at least for many people in need. But still, one wonders how huge the chances can be.


    Inside, Jack, Lucy, Malak, Eddie, and Andrei are tugging their bed-sheets, dressing up, and organizing their things so they can be prepared to see the test. Jackson and Malak seem the most eager ones for it, as their own smiles show how much worth they''re gonna see from the group. Andrei could only bear a slight smile on his face. Nonetheless, still proving how much warmness the guy feels for them.


    Eddie though wasn''t so sure, simply looking at both of them with a doubtful look on his face.


    "You''re putting up a lot of faith in those fellas, and I gotta tell ya, it''s way too much."


    "Oh, relax good cowboy, one is certain that a hero is certain to pass such tests," Malak replies.


    "Da, or else they might be just random beggars in costumes after all but aren''t," Andrei says.


    "They''re way too clean, Ruskie fella."


    "Analogies, dude."


    Jackson could only chuckle in response, all while patting on his shoulder heartily.


    "One should always know when there''s more than just the suit because if it truly was, they could making millions of it to make us stronger. But nope, whoever gave them might be too generous or lazy to give it to us."


    "Well, not for Tany gal! I just wish she could be less cliched in her looks because otherwise, we''re feeling like over-excited geeks."


    Malak chuckles as well, albeit for another reason other than his embarrassment.


    "I''ve seen a lot of pots talking to kettles these days, but you? You''re making way too much steam compared to other kettles!"


    Eddie could only grumble in irritation, he doesn''t like being picked on after all.


    "Shut yer big-ass mouths!"


    This only makes the rest except Lucy to chuckle a whole lot more. Even so, one can''t help but feel a bit of good-humored meeting around there. Perhaps a good time is really needed after a day of tension.


    Lucy, however, looks very distant. She doesn''t glance at any of them or trying to say something. All she did was standing beside Jack while they goofed around. He notices this, then he starts tapping on her shoulder.


    "What''s the matter Luce? Aren''t you excited for the good times?"


    Lucy''s only response is silence and a short sigh. Yet, it wasn''t a silence out of anger contempt, it''s almost one of deep uncertainty...even worry. Jackson notices this and frowns while wrinkling his brows. The others take notice as well as they all look on Lucy''s silent state.


    "Alright, I know what yoo''re thinking. Am I still th'' crabbit bitch of this crew?" she says sternly.


    "But Luce, don''t you have any-"


    "Of course I do have a bloody confidence on the warriors. But I believe they''re taking it as a huge game. Everything from them, I feel they don''t have th'' brain suited for war yit...especially Amira..."


    The others could only stare in worry from such statement, especially Malak, who''s feeling something close to Amira as of recently. Eddie and Andrei only look mildly worried while Jack''s in shock, his eyebrows now drawn together, his neck now feeling a bit stiff and his muscles slightly strained.


    "Luce...What do you mean?"


    "Think about it! Ya know I''ve been told by the boy of how I should try to accept her more even though she''s a being out of this world. We should know her more, yes, but that girl...there''s something from her that doesn''t feel reit. What she has...it''s like one big devil trapped inside her, one when unleashed one day, it could be a dire event for us all. And with the way she handles her feelings..." she says quietly, all while bitting the lips briefly from the pause.


    "I know feelings are dangerous and risky, Lucy, but at the same time, they''re not to be taken into account in how to deal with someone and we treat them, at least not always. A being''s soul grows based on how they''re surrounded by the environment around them, and if they''re not given the right growth, then it greatly taints the soul. And what you''re suggesting can''t be good for her, especially since you''ve not spoken to her ever since that day." Malak says while stepping forward.


    "She deserves it for a good reason. I can''t be the one to try and encourage sweet talk to her, less when it comes to approving her worldview. Because of such feelings from her, I believe that the best way to keep her safe from both myself, the rest and the others is to make sure I''m away from her for a while, something you should try the same."


    Most of the group gasp in shock, all with dazed looks on their faces with widened eyes. Especially Jackson and Malak who by now are sticking in what Amira''s been through.


    "Luce...what the hell?"


    "It''s for her own good. I know she may not want it, but for the safety of all of us and to make sure she''s not a baby to carry over, she should face it. I won''t mind if you don''t agree with what I do anyway, but I''ll stick to it. It''s the best option I can think of."


    "How bout properly training her for Human interactions, eh? You know one''s growth isn''t always based on how big their circle is but how you shape like they said," Eddie replies back, almost angry.


    "Or just starting being a friend, you know you Scottie...simple as that," Andrei replies as well.


    "You laddies are too soft..."


    "But you should get over it, Luce..."


    "You know what? I''m just gonna shut my mouth just for you because you''re all that blabbering about being gentle with her because it''s becoming a scunner for you in having this haver."


    "If you insist...if only you could your heart a bit more..." Malak quietly whispers while turning her glance away from her.


    Some people in the world believe that to better let someone see something that they''ve been doing wrong for a long while is to put them in harsh conditions, all for their betterment. But a heart can''t be always the same when it comes to handling things out of their reach. It''s not a simple fact of whether trying to go soft or harsh is the right solution, or when to make it right for a certain being. Perhaps an act of improvement isn''t always a well-defined one as most people may assume nowadays.


    Present Time


    Fresh from his training, Logan already did well in managing his skills with his sword, especially when it came to the arrival of soldiers like Berat and Valentina. The UEF seems to have hired larger talent than expected. Probably the biggest assistance they''ll get. John, looking from above, feels amused in what he sees, spouting a big smile from what he witnessed.


    "Now, let''s move on to the next course which involves the opposites that drove nerdy fantasies for years, scientific Seiner and magical Tany...yeah, sorry. Now, for you two, You''ll have to pass obstacle courses with lots of traps along the way, fire traps, water traps, rock traps but no wind traps, fortunately. And way up to the center, there''s a computer in which Seiner will have to try to use it to let us know that he has passed and will pass on to our records of another successful access. Hope you understand, OK? And remember, you''ll only have ten minutes to complete this."


    Tany waves with both arms while spouting a smile on her face, Seiner has simply his arms closed while nodding a bit rapidly, likely in irritation from Tany''s eagerness.


    "Heh! Alright then. Now...LET THE GAMES BEGIN!"


    An alarm starts to sound in the site, indicating the start of the test. The floor for the most part of the arena descends, leaving only the platforms that lead to the computer post. Both warriors spring rapidly to one of the platforms, which is separated from a gap to the other platform nearby, meaning that jumping may be necessary. But it''s not entirely safe, as the ground below is one huge hellfire. A flow of lava, bursting slightly low for now but still dangerous to pass through.


    "Hey Seiny boy, don''t you think of using those cheating boots to pass this silly obstacle!"


    "Didn''t you heard already what he said?! We should use what we have to pass through!"


    "Yes, but you know a test can be much better if it''s hard enough, so let''s try a grandiose way to get through!"


    "Then what do you suggest?"


    Tany then starts to think about it while pacing forward and backward while placing her index finger near her lips, humming thoughtfully while Seiner stares at her, his brows all raised up and a huge frown on his face while breathing slowly yet heavily.


    It goes on for like a second, she''s still thinking deeply about what to do.


    "Oh! I get it now! Since fire contrasts with water, then I should clear a path through this hole with water!"


    "Oh yeah? And can you freeze it as well after you do?"


    Tany falls silent for a moment, her smile stuck while she turns around and staring awkwardly at Seiner. This startles Seiner, who then proceeds to grab her shirt and pull it near him.


    "You''re a magic user, don''t you know already the spell of ice?!"


    "I think I''m not on the level to do so yet..."


    Seiner groans heavily in frustration while holding his head steadily yet roughly while also stomping his foot to the ground two times. Tany could only keep up smiling nervously at such statement while her "friend" vents his frustration outside of him.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Combining our powers will be enough then...enough to contain me from this at least."


    "Okay Seiny Boy, tell me tell me!"


    "I''m going to combine two elements that can make up water and turn the temperature down to make ice. Then you''ll use your water splash to land near the other side of the platform, the largest one you can think of. Once that happens, I''ll take the shot, understand?"


    "Okie Dokie, my genius boy!"


    Seiner pulls out three mini-capsules from his belt, two with an "H" letter with two blue lines and another with an "O" letter with a silver line. He inserts them on the sliders of the gun and pulls the barrel down, which activates a greyish blue line around it. He also pulls a cylinder around the barrel, making a sound similar to one of a cracking iceberg.


    "Wait for my signal..."


    Tany nods, she holds her staff steadily while awaiting for Seiner''s cue. Seiner aims his gun carefully near the other side, calculating the probable distance that could make a bridge, one hard enough to sustain footsteps to cross to the other side.


    One minute passes by, almost nothing until...


    "Tally-ho!"


    Tany swings her staff which creates a large water splash that covers part of the hole and the sides of both platforms. Seiner, knowing his chance, fires the gun at the position where the water splash lands near the platform. The icy looking bullet impacts the water splash, causing it to freeze entirely. The space around it is a huge one, one enough to let people through without breaking too much.


    Without further hesitation, Seiner and Tany quickly pass from the icy bridge and pass to the other side of the platform. They check the timer above, two minutes have passed. Still with much time left.


    "Oh, we did it Seiny boy, doing things together does indeed create wonders!"


    "Whatever, let''s get going..."


    They run off to another platform, one long bridge for the other side which is the water pad, separated into two distinct platforms like the fire pad. They stop near the edge of it, not sure if it''s safe to swim on it.


    "Can we...?" Tany sheepishly asks while smiling nervously towards Seiner.


    "DON''T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" he yells at the top of his lungs, briefly startling Tany who steps for a bit from his anger. Maybe she was a bit too considerate of taking that kind of approach.


    He knows it well, looking very deeply into the water with his eyes lets him know how deep is the water pool is. It''s a pretty deep one, to say the least. Even though they can swim, there''s something from Seiner that restrains in swimming on it. Perhaps it''s something related to what Tany suggested earlier.


    "This is something much better than the silly head of yours!" he takes something from his belt, a seemingly small black tile that could be small enough to fit on the center of his own hand. This makes Tany look carefully at it with amusement, leaning her head near Seiner''s hand while being in awe for some reason.


    "Something so especially special bout that tiny little tile?"


    "Watch," he says as he tosses the tile to the pool of water, landing right in the center of it. For a moment nothing happens with such tile until it three times its original size, almost large enough to cover part of the pool. Tany turns to Seiner, her face as rosy it can get while spouting a large grin on her face.


    "What other goodie surprises do you have...?"


    "Ask later, we only have seven minutes left for the bloody test!" he says while quickly grabbing her arm and running to the space between the two platforms and the water pool, landing on the huge black which it staggers for a bit on landing, it retains the balance caused from the impact, enough to ensure for Seiner and Tany to pass the other side. Seiner grabs the black tile from the water pool, eventually morphing back into its miniature form, putting it back to his pocket. Afterward, he looks to Tany with a look of disapproval on his behalf.


    "Next time, I''ll do that thing alone...let''s move on."


    "Uhm, okie?"


    They run forward to the next platform, almost nearby to the one where the computer is located, almost a few inches away from them. The penultimate platform appears to be fairly normal, being just one huge metal floor with nothing interesting so far in it.


    Stopping for a second, the duo starts to observe the floor for anything suspicious, Seiner kneels down while Tany crouches down while pacing her head left to right to spot for anything suspicious.


    "Why does this look so deceiving...?" Seiner asks while observing.


    "Oh well, nothing else to see I guess!" Tany says as she rapidly stands while going back to the objective again.


    But before Seiner could do the same, the metal floor suddenly opens abruptly, causing both warriors to fall down to the shaft while shrieking from the surprise. Then, a large gust of wind erupts from the shaft, sending both warriors flying sky high. It comes from two large wind fans below the shaft.


    "I WASN''T EXPECTING THIS TECHNICAL TRAP!" Seiner yells while floating in the air from the wind wave.


    "I THOUGHT THERE WON''T BE ANY FAIRLY FAIR CHEATING!"


    "GOT ANY PLAN, TANY!?"


    Before she could say it though, the wind from the fans disappear, causing them to fall down again to the hole, screaming again. And again, like the first time, the fans activate one more to blow the warriors away and send them floating up in the air, startled and desperate like before.


    "PLEASE DON''T HIT ME FOR THIS, SEINY BOY! IT''S FAIRLY IMPORTANT ANYWAY!" she says as she grabs her magic staff up in the air and proceeds to spin it around a couple of times and then putting it near back, which confuses Seiner.


    "OH, PLAYING WITH YOUR BLOODY STAFF YOU MEAN?!"


    "WIND RAVEUS!" she swings the staff forwardly which summons another gust of wind appearing from behind, with enough force to push them both away from the gust of wind from the wind fans below the shaft, coinciding at the moment when the gust of wind from the fans stopped. They land a bit rough on the other side of the platform where the trap door was. The doors where it contains the wind fans close down, indicating a pass from the obstacle. The warriors get up to regain their composure and though they''re a bit dazed from the impact, they''re unharmed from it, much to Tany''s relief as she happily swings her staff around her waist. Seiner, of course, could only stare at her with a scowl on his face.


    "Moving on...you''ll get spared this time around."


    "Okie! Now, it''s only one obstacle left with four minutes left for this silly test to end!"


    The path to the last obstacle is nearby, but like the last one, looks relatively harmless, a huge floor which leads up to the computer on the other side. But one needs to be careful as usual when it comes to confronting other dangers as usual.


    "GO FOR IT SEINY BOY!" Tany says as she excitedly grabs Seiner''s arm and runs as fast as she can to the other platform where the computer is located.


    "DON''T RUSH IT UP, YOU IDIOT!" he angrily replies as he stops on the tracks by sliding his feet near the floor, which makes Tany stop for a bit. She''s initially puzzled at why he did it, maybe being paranoid as all hell, but before she could do anything, the ground floor of the platform explodes in a circular shape, which is repeated four times for the other parts of the floor. The gaps are almost wide enough to guarantee a difficult task of jumping through them to get to the computer.


    "Who authorized this!?" Seiner angrily asks.


    A laugh could then be heard nearby, one that''s very different from the warriors or even John, a deep-husky sounding laugh it is.


    "Part of the testing course, fella, don''t you know that?" a voice replies cockily, with the same tone as the laughter heard from a side of the building. Both Tany and Seiner turn to the origin of the voice, it comes from a tall man with a blue and green UEF combat uniform, only has one brown eye on his right side, the left one with an eyepatch. A dark-yellowish skin with a yellow mohawk and heavily structured face and muscular body, sitting on a lonely part of the platform where most didn''t notice, all while holding a detonator in his right hand.


    "Who the hell are you?!"


    "Algerian explosive specialist: Mehdi Kateb. Right now, you only have 3 minutes left to pass this through and you may lose if you start wasting time in knowing somebody else."


    "Lose!!? I''ll show you what a loss can be for you!" Seiner angrily says while starting to run as fast as he can to jump to the other platforms through the gaps, Tany tries to stop him by grabbing him but it''s no use as he gets too far away from her to grab him while he jumps in a high altitude from the other side of the platform to the other. He repeats this step the other three times from the shattered platform until he finally reaches to the other side of the said platform where the computer is located. Seiner, thinking of himself pretty confidently, starts pointing at his himself to indicate his supposed superiority, which makes Tany frown but Mehdi smirks while that happens.


    "Heh! Guess you UEF guys need to practice more on their tactics!" he says before running off to the computer, a slightly modern looking one with an attached keyboard and everything that forms up a computer. He sits on the chair near the table, proceeds to start the main system on, which leads to the main screen showing a page which says;"Congrats! You''ve won the test, now, fill this up with your name, state your reason for fighting and be part of the UEF for the fight for Earth!" Seiner scoffs in response while smirking at it.


    "Can''t expect much from child''s play."


    He then starts typing some of the information from him and what he can do for the UEF. It''s all going well, until...


    The computer flashes to pitch black, then turns on again to reveal the symbol of a skull with a red visor on the right side of it with some lipstick on the lips, with a caption below that says; "Chcesz spr¨®bowa? mocniej?"


    "The bloody hell is this?!"


    "Just some minor distraction," a voice can be heard as well, this one a distinctly female voice with a thick accent. Seiner turns around in response to see where it comes from, all to see if he can find her somewhere but to no avail.


    "I''m mostly someone that you can call "anyone", yet I''m not here at the moment. Someone you can see me yet can''t. A part of you is now at risk as I liberate your secrets away to the outside. Somone you can try to catch yet never find when not trying hard enough. What am I?"


    Seiner''s only response is bitter silence, all he could watch now is simply the screen still looking the same from what he''s seeing. After some moment of doubt, he starts smirking again while grabbing something from his belt. It''s his trustworthy tablet, used to decode most things in computers like he did back in the factory, but also takes out a mobile device which can be connected to a computer of some sorts, the only thing showing is an antenna with the broadcast waves.


    "Some tosser thief who may not have studied enough tactics?" he asks as he starts typing on the tablet, with some codes appearing on the screen, indicating some breaching on the computer''s systems. The computers start to static, slowly turning back into the page where he was before the computer got hacked. He continues typing rapidly while also using his other hand to type on the computer to fill out the details. It all goes normally until the computer screen slowly starts to get on static again while numerous windows pop-up showing a restriction on the system.


    "Tossers aren''t known for using their computers well, my true self is one that can handle the creations of this century quite handily and may provide ways of securing your own self. What am I again?"


    Seiner responds by activating the phone next to him, the antenna turning green while the captions; "INTERFERENCE ON. LV: 3", causing the computer pop-ups to vanish while the static remains for a bit. Outsmarting an equal seems to be Seiner''s forte after all, as he keeps on smirking while filling up the remaining details of the form while still typing sometimes with the tablet as well and keeping a close eye on the phone as well. The pop-up windows on the computer start appearing again, albeit this time, they''re contained enough to keep the said computer working while it''s happening.


    "You''re quite a crafty one after all, and yet all I do is return the favor, so wypas!" the girl replies almost in a seductive tone.


    "If if it''s what I think it is, then be ready to bite them back!"


    Finally, for all the efforts and struggles he''s been pulling, he sents out the form to the supposed admin, all while just one minute and 59 seconds left. Some moment of silence passes by, the countdown still continuing, did Seiner missed an important detail of something? Or some minor delay?


    "Well...to please you for once, the answer''s a hacker...happy?"


    The girl can only giggle for a little in amusement, not expecting someone like him to pull off the answer to her riddle.


    "What a nice guesser that you are."


    A window in front of Seiner then lifts up, revealing the "culprit" of his misfortunes on his computer. A short-haired black girl with a greenish tone, a monocle-like device on her right eye, hazel eyes and of course, the red lipsticks on her mouth. And knowing what she did, the answer is clear in what her equipment is. And right after that, the countdown timer eventually stops, reaching to 44 seconds maximum.


    "And a lucky one with that pretty girl as well, I suppose..."


    "What the?!-Just who are you?!"


    "Celina Galat, top Polish hacker. You must be the top British hacker."


    "Not really...just my hobby and some increased skill..."


    "I see now...and I''m sure Mehdi will impress you a lot more. His fiery passion will leave you with wonders on the way."


    "How lame...but let me ask-"


    "Yes, Berat and Valentina are also with us...we''re part of something that you may like, similar in having your own brother."


    "B-broth-brother...? Brother? Brother...?" he says while his usual tone surprisingly falls, now turning one of pure insecurity as breaths slowly.


    "Something of the matter?"


    "Never mind...just who the hell-"


    "Success! Nice work people, you''re the fourth ones to pass this great test after 69 failed attempts. I gotta say, you''re giving off a nice vibe so far, which impresses me. Now, next one will be that Alien girl; Amira Dhorian she says and then your worth will be proven!" John says while interrupting Seiner and as the floor eventually rise again to attach themselves to the other platforms, making the place whole once more. This makes Tany run towards Seiner, who starts pulling one of his ears while dragging him away from her. Her eyes wide enough to reveal the whites of them, nostrils flaring heavily while she glares at him like no tomorrow.


    "YOU STUCK-UP MEANIE!! WHY ARE YOU TAKING ALL THE GLORY FOR YOURSELF JUST RIGHT NOW!? AREN''T WE THE CUTIE NEW FRIENDS ENOUGH FOR YOU?! I WILL TEACH YOU GOOD ONCE DEAR AMI FINISHES HER CUTE TEST!"


    "For the love of..." he sheepishly replies. Celina and Mehdi both chuckle in response.


    Two of the four-man warriors have passed, but even with the supposed superiority to one another, there''s the one undeniable truth that the true success comes with the assistance of fellows in need.


    But when there''s that, there''s also the matter of when someone can handle a pressure for something so big...

 Chapter 13 - Hurtful Heart

    Both Logan and Amira see the duo completing the test while they are watching it in their rooms. Seeing carefully in what they do gives them a bit more of confidence in what they''re capable of and how they''ll do it. Heroes always need the moment where they''ll get recognized for something they''re capable of.


    Logan, particularly, can''t feel any better, with his chin high, calm demeanor and a smile on his face. The others like Berat and Valentina look with interest, wondering if the team will be near their caliber in the war. Amira simply stands alone, watching while tilting her head to the side and gazing carefully. She''s already seeing how much Humans can try their tests for a greater good, but now, it''s now the turn of an Alien to turn a new chapter in evolving Human history.


    Nearing the endgame of the second test, Logan still holds out his breath, waiting to see how successful the test is going to be for them.


    "You guys are some peculiar fellows just now, right?" Berat asks while standing behind him.


    "How peculiar?"


    "Well, the way you''ve practiced your skills, something so great even if you''re not part of any military in some way. Kinda sweet to think about it."


    "Yeah, I mean, we''ve seen a few guys in armies trying to pass these sorts of tests, but not to the level we''re seeing right now. Or maybe it''s just a godly coincidence after all," Valentina says as she chuckles in amusement.


    "Well, one can know the ways to pass on something regardless of the field, man..."


    "But still not as fantastic like now. Hehe, you still play up quite well for a modern knight, don''t ya?" Valentina asks with her eyebrows raised.


    "Anyone can be fantastic in their own way."


    Berat could only chuckle in response while patting him once more on his shoulders while carefully caressing the right side of Logan''s head.


    "I''m kinda liking you, dear boy."


    Logan chuckles embarrassingly in response.


    An alarm blares around the site, indicating the end of the second test from Seiner & Tany. Logan sighs in relief with a relaxed tone. His own wishes are starting to come true, just maybe.


    "Success! Nice work people, you''re the fourth ones to pass this great test after 69 failed attempts. I gotta say, you''re giving off a nice vibe so far, which impresses me. Now, next one will be that Alien girl; Amira Dhorian she says and then your worth will be proven!" John says on the intercom.


    "So, that Alien chick you guys have...is she...?" Valentina asks while sneakily approaching behind Logan.


    "She''s... a unique being...I guess?"


    Valentina simply looks at him with her arms crossed with a smirk while Berat leans near his face, his eyes narrow and focused on Logan himself. Logan blushes in response backs away for a bit.


    "Ohohoho! You actually like her, don''t you? And hiding something like a little mouse?" Berat asks.


    "Eh!? Well, maybe as a friend, that''s all!"


    "Then why looking red like an apple now?" Valentina asks.


    "There''s a simple explanation for that...!"


    "And that is...?"


    Logan can''t help but to grimace and wince at the whole thing, like being teased for a high school date of some sort, probably not the prom queen, but perhaps a bit too close to it.


    "OK, are you done teasing the little boy?" John asks on the intercom again, making both Berat and Valentina shift their focus on him from afar, simply nodding in agreement while Logan turns away while giggling nervously...before being pulled back to see the screen by Berat, spouting a large smirk on his face.


    The other warriors notice and they start to chuckle in amusement to Logan''s "secret". Even as an adult, he can''t help but still feel like a kid once more.


    "Are you done?" John asks while smiling in a restrained way, almost looking forced.


    The warriors nod in agreement as well, maybe a bit nervously in doing so.


    "We''re still having fun, my John," Jackson says.


    "Well, this one WILL be triple the fun...just watch and learn," John blinks to him before continuing to put his head near the microphone once more.


    "Now...I think this is gonna be a tough one if you put that way...honestly, I shouldn''t say it but just to make you safe anyway. There''s a headset in that pole which when implanted on your head, it recreates the room into a close holographic projection of the place where the user feels peace the most. Once done, they''ll get to experience a bit of peace until their emotions are challenged. How challenged you ask? Find out soon. Better not spoil it or else the fun is going to be ruined...and I don''t really like ruined fun you know. Alright now, Amira Dhorian...you can begin."


    Amira slowly walks towards the pole containing the mind-reading headset, which is hanging from a wire near the pole. Every step for her feels a bit cold, barefoot or not. Almost as cold from every icy place she has ever known in her life. But this is not the common cold...but almost something like a cold for her inner self. She doesn''t change glance to anything else, all the focus is towards the electronic headset itself. It''s almost like if her most inner secret will be revealed, to see what lies beyond the Alien face, the face they''ve tried to seek ever since they heard of them for the beginning of time.


    She reaches to the pole, carefully grabbing the headset away from the wire. She carefully touches every part of it while turning it as well, like something wonderful she''d never expect in her life.


    "Look, it''s simple "Earthling" technology if you''re interested to know, mind putting it on now?" John asks, which Amira coincides by putting it near her forehead, in which some of the cables around it are placed in some parts around her forehead as well.


    "That device detects the brainwaves inside you, the cables will make use of what your brain''s thinking when you''re at your most peaceful state...Now, close your eyes."


    She does so, all breathing slowly and gently, which is a way to keep a relaxed state for herself. She does it a handful of times to achieve it.


    "Drift all the recent thoughts away...give in to your deepest dreams...enveloping you like a lovely bird nest...no divergence shall set your mind apart...because you are the one in control...filled with peace...and love..." those are the words John used as way to continue the relaxation state for the user, all the peaceful words he can find to set the user at peace.


    Amira''s heartbeat is felt in every second she can think, every second when she can move, even every second when she can speak, all to try her best to resonate the words inside her.


    To be in tranquility.


    To be reunited.


    To be purified.


    To be loved.


    The answer will be near her.


    "Now...rise up...to your wish."


    Amira slowly opens her eyes, having been enveloped by darkness for a moment to cleanse her mind away from all memories. The first sight she sees makes her mind and soul allure in pure joy.


    Large, green, thick trees spread across the place, an alluring, natural blue sky that is alive as all life on Earth, the sound of wet drops around the riverbank near her. The fields spread across like the most beautiful plant life of all life forms. A sunray spread to illuminate the beauty of everything that inhabits the place, to bring pure life and joy for the forest to enjoy. Various forms of birds flying across the sky to prosper their shared life among other living beings. All beauty that makes a forest is found now.


    Amira slowly smiles at the sight she sees, turning around to see every bit of beauty in sight while taking off the mental headset. Pure awe dominates her as she walks for a bit to see every beauty of the forest she can see. Even though it''s an Earthling''s forest, she can''t help but feel a sense of familiarity with it. Truly, Earth may not be alone in the beauty of nature after all.


    "Feeling something...?" John asks calmly.


    Amira turns towards John''s direction, which she simply replied by putting her fingers near her forehead. John''s confused at first in what she does until he starts to freeze for a moment when his eyes widen at something. He''s like he''s hearing something from her even though she''s not supposed to see him. Yet, it all reached to a simple message


    Our lives, even distant, can share a common beauty after all...John.


    John simply nods his head in response even without a smile, maybe something to agree universally it seems.


    "Let me wait until I see the rest of it...but yeah."


    The rest of the team more or less respond with kindred joy as well, they too feel a well-deserved union between distant races and such.


    Amira, for once, is somewhere like home, somewhere where she can see what she can remember, perhaps more so than Stanislaus Forest. All symbolize with her smile, which gets as bright as it can get while releasing extending her arms wide open to "touch" all the nature she sees. Happiness''s inside her for once.


    "Pretty place, eh?" a voice asks in the distance. A masculine one it seems.


    "Well, as pretty as low-budget it can get," another voice replies. This time a feminine one.


    "Uh? Who said that?"


    Amira turns around to see who''s in the room just now, she felt alone for a moment, but now people just came in?


    "Right here, sweetheart," the male voice replies, making Amira change her gaze directly to the source of the voice. It comes from a tall man leaning near a tree with short, groomed black hair, dark green eyes, a cigar in his mouth and the standard soldier uniform of the UEF, only with a red maple leaf on the center. It looks like a special costume designed for him.


    "Yeah, just your typical handsome guy on the flesh. Walter Carter is the name."


    "Walter...Carter?"


    "What are you, some idiotic parrot or something?" the female voice rudely asks, sounding like it comes behind Amira, prompting her to turn to her back. The girl is medium-sized, pink soaked hair with a ponytail, sea green eyes, a pair of goggles and a peculiar metal-chained armor with a smiley pin near the chest.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Before you ask, it''s Ji Ae Gang or whatever shit you can call it."


    "Who are you, dear Humans?"


    "We? We''ll be your best teachers in a lifetime, for an Alien anyway," Walter says.


    "Yeah, just because of your shiny prettiness doesn''t mean it''s a set to go indicator to join the bloodbath, especially when it comes to your head inside of you."


    Amira is puzzled, simply leaning her head back and forth side by side, her eyes narrow and her left-hand touching her cheek.


    "My...my head?"


    Walter simply stares back at her with his arms crossed and narrowed eyes, tapping his arms with his finger.


    "Yeah, we want your pretty head for a collection of pretty much all prettiest heads in the world."


    "Is my head that good?"


    Ji-Ae smacks on her back in response.


    "Idiotic bitch! He means it internally!"


    "Sorry..."


    "Don''t be a hosser with that sorry in here...I''m not the one who takes that crap lightly, lady."


    "B-but, shouldn''t you try to teach me properly at least?"


    "Haven''t you listened? You. Are. On. Earth. We do whatever crap that we can."


    "You really need to-"


    "Really need to pull up that spine of yours, that''s what we''re going to do now in this field," Walter rebukes rapidly while tossing the cigar on his mouth away.


    "AKA: Combat training for crappy cowards."


    Amira slightly flinches at the sound of such words, while she faced harshness from the words of others, it wasn''t to the level of what she''s hearing now, her eyes widen as she to pull herself together.


    "You''re not serious, right?"


    "Stop playing dumb already...or have you forgotten what dear John tried to tell you?"


    Amira pauses for a moment, thinking about John said earlier before the test started. She tries to search for it, to see if what''s John wants. She comes up with the answers, which prompts her to shake her head in disbelief.


    Is that his own idea of training? Since when the did Humans favored this?!


    "I don''t know what John''s been thinking...could Humans like you really pull off from such training?"


    "Shut your shit. Humans are capable of mostly anything, honey, just as simple it can get for you...now I want to see if an Alien can pull off the same like the three out of forty recruits that passed through for now."


    "Now, if you whine more about it, the beating''s gonna pay double...now, do you understand what we mean?"


    Amira slowly nods shakingly, never does she want to experience something like what''s happening at the moment, less so when it comes to withstanding verbal aggression.


    "OK, now we can start this shit just fine!" Ji-Ae then pulls two Chakrams near her back, the metal with a dark silver shine in it. Walter pulls a black stick out of his belt, looking a bit big enough to fit into his hand, until he starts pressing it hard, causing some black particles to form up around both edges of the stick, with the upper one starting to take a large curved shape with edges around it, similar to the blade of an axe. A peculiar type of axe.


    Amira pulls her laser blade out of her belt, turning it on to reveal the red glow coming out with the elegant shape of a sword. Walter, however, could only chuckle condescendingly.


    "You think this will be child''s play? Well, these blades are packed with laser-resistant nano-machines that could make up a good day! Now..." Walter begins to rush forward Amira while holding his axe in his right hand, jumping to the air while swinging his axe vertically near Amira''s direction. She dodges it by pulling back backward with the use of her wings. But before she could do anything, Ji-Ae tosses her chakrams in Amira''s direction, flying in a zig-zag direction near her. She swings her blade to block it, but the strength of the Chakrams nearly push her away hard while the Chakrams return to Ji-Ae''s hands.


    "Come on, the first step already!? Just keep it up!" Ji-Ae then furiously charges towards Amira, quickly swinging them near her face until she blocks them with her sword once more. Ji-Ae, however, won''t give up so easily as she soon starts drubbing her weapons on Amira''s sword, slightly weakening her grip on it with each hit. Amira retaliates by parrying Ji-Ae''s strike near the center of each Chakram. But before she could do something, Walter leaps on her side, prompting her to evade the attack but barely, as part of the blade hits on Amira''s shoulder armor.


    "Still a hosser! Try harder!"


    He continues to strike again with his axe, trying to hit Amira as much as he can with Ji-Ae following suit. Amira still keeps up to block their attacks from them, but with each blow, she feels like every bit of strength is fading out.


    Quickly striking vertically, she barely ducks the strike while rapidly back-tracking from Ji-Ae''s sudden throw again. None involved in trying to hit them.


    "Now tell me, pretty Alien...what''s your origin and purpose in life?" Ji-Ae asks as she strikes Amira while she blocks back.


    "Sorania...Tucana Quadrant..former princess of the grand kingdom from my family, supposed future queen until it was all destroyed by the Zlocu...my brother''s missing..."


    "Oh, a missing brother? How cute, just like all lovely brothers in the world."


    "He''s what left of the Soranian culture apart from me in the Universe..."


    "And by that, you mean you don''t love him? Very well," Walter replies as he continues to strike her down with his might.


    "I do! I truly want him back! To be safe from all the suffering!"


    "And will that happen by being a crying bitch?"


    Amira winces in response to such response while still trying to block the attacks from them.


    "I can work out...to be stronger...to be with those who understand me!" Ji-Ae slaps her in response to such words while trying to strike again. She''s shaken up as she starts backing down little by little.


    "Blah blah blah! Friendship! It''s power! Shut up with that bullshit!"


    "Not to mention...I bet he may be on his last breath...thinking about what he could have done better if the Zlocu didn''t show up. But here''s the twist, honey, he''s angry, not at the Zlocu, but to you!" Walter says.


    "You''re wrong!" Amira responds with an almost broken tone as she desperately tries to hold on a bit more, but gets punched in the chest by him in response.


    "Angry for the fact that his pathetic, piss-moaning, tone-deaf, useless, piece of shit sister that didn''t gain the courage to come to rescue him! He wishes you were never his sister!"


    They soon start intensifying their attacks, as they madly drub to her blade in every way while she tries to block them out but starts losing energy to keep on the defensive, almost not pulling back like she was trying to.


    "Don''t you want your brother!?! You want to come home that there''s left with him to be with all sunshine and rainbows!?! Then swing that blade harder, you slow freak!"


    "Now hold on Walty, I don''t think she can even try, even a grandmother in a wheelchair can swing that blader better than her entire race!"


    "E...no...ugh..." Amira quietly whispers while trying to fight back tears, all while a windy aura starts surrounding her.


    "Oh! You want to quit now! Then fine! Quit and you''ll be given a great job of a street bum! A street bitch bum to be exact, with not even her friends loving her anymore, all with that stupid ideal of hers of pacifism!"


    "No wait, no Human will ever love a weak bitch like you! Not even your dear warriors truly love you at all, pathetic Amira!"


    "Enough!" she says with her rising voice, the windy aura getting more intense around the room that causes all the things around her to shake up violently, but the duo doesn''t even care, all they care for now is drubbing and attacking violently at her, with some slapping for extra measure of training.


    "Enough? ENOUGH?!! Is that all you have to say for now!?! THEN IT''S OFFICIAL! YOU''RE THE WORST LIVING BEING IN ALL THE UNIVERSE! A BEING BENEATH EVEN CONTEMPT AND SHAME! WISHED TO HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN!!"


    "YOU''RE SO DISGUSTINGLY WEAK FOR A LOW SHIT THAT EVEN YOUR OWN MOM REGRETS HAVING GIVEN BIRTH TO YOU!"


    "ENOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!!!"


    The force of the scream is so powerful, so ear-piercing and so trembling that the aura surrounding her unleashes a large wave. It''s powerful enough to push Walter and Ae Gang away from her, sending them flying rapidly to the nearest wall.


    Powerful enough to shatter the headset and the pole into many pieces while being also thrown away, causing the room to revert back to its original state.


    Powerful enough to break all the glass from the windows above the ceiling, and even managing to form a huge dent of the protective glass from John''s room and caused everyone inside to take cover from the potential impact.


    Powerful enough to even reach the other surrounding rooms and break the windows from the other rooms as well.


    Walter and Ji-Ae are about to be accidentally killed until two inflatable giant cushions pop from the walls, hitting both of them in time with a softer surface.


    Everyone''s in shock, the Warriors, the other members and even John himself can''t help but in look in shock and horror over what happened. Even though the force seen back in Beale Air Base was strong, it''s no longer compared to what they''re seeing now. Jackson and Malak, in particular, are in a stiff posture while trying to get up, still trying to know how powerful the wave was. Lucy can only grimace in response to what happened while setting her gaze on the group, her arms crossed as well.


    "I told ya," she says with a very strict tone. Jackson couldn''t do anything but to simply hang down his head in shame, maybe what she suggested is the right method after all even if they don''t want to.


    Logan is in huge disbelief, looking with a pained gaze, a stiff neck and wrinkling his brow as he starts to breathe in a slow yet rapid succession, as he tries to think well of the situation. Berat and Valentina can only simply watch in worry while Berat approaches Logan, tapping him on the shoulder softly to cheer him up, but to no avail.


    "Amira..." Logan quietly whispers in a sad tone. "How could these...?" he asks in disbelief as well. Berat can only try his best for now.


    "Don''t sweat it too much, dear man...these two are the best for it, it''s we have from any person in the world."


    "Why not others as well?"


    "I swear to you man, we didn''t have much choice for it either...even so, these two aren''t fully suited on the inside."


    "The world is so big...so wide...yet there''s so few of the best for this..."


    "I''m sorry, Logan."


    "Say that to Amira...perhaps she''ll need to hear it more than anyone else."


    Berat is taken aback by Logan''s words. He at first saw a marvelous yet chivalrous knight of the modern ages, something for people like him and Valentina try to look up for. Yet, they should know better in what to expect from the internal heart of such knight. And maybe simple words may not mend it enough.


    The force of the wave also causes Amira to collapse on her knees, almost losing consciousness as she tries to breathe properly again. Tears fall down from her face as she tries to get up but she''s too weak to do so, still in shock over what happened as she looks on both trainers as they get up from the floor and start approaching a bit roughly. Amira can only continue shedding tears while trying to regain her composure as she''s still on her knees.


    "I''m sorry...I''m sorry...I''m so sorry..." those are the only words coming out of Amira in her broken state as they approach. Walter and Ji-Ae, in spite of some injuries in some parts of their body, bleeding from their mouths and still messy from the impact still manage to reach her position. Eventually getting near to her, glaring massively while tightening their eyes in front of her. Amira could do nothing but simply hang down her head while continuing to cry, maybe expecting what she has it coming. It appears so until Walter simply taps her head, albeit only slightly.


    "Well...that''s one hell of an attack to be honest...but be thankful this is just training, because otherwise..."


    "You''ll be thankful that your pretty friends won''t be there when it happens."


    "And one last thing...the other people you''ve seen in the other tests? They''re with us as well, call us GoD Squad if you like."


    "Guts so scary that it can make the devil shit his pants you know."


    Amira does not reply at either word, still in her fallen state of mind, still lost with herself. Both simply shrug in response while turning away from her.


    "It happens, can you stop now? No? Then better not show your ugly face to us ever again."


    Silence falls in both rooms, as John starts to think of what to do next. The others clearly succeeded but he''s not sure about what to think of Amira for what happened. He''s after the one assigned to supervise her after all, yet, he''s aware of what needs to be done for the next situation. He turns to see what the others are thinking of it, but their saddened or indifferent state could not help well in what to do. He takes a special focus on Jack, one of the best he ever met. His eyes narrow down while focusing on his state, thinking carefully about what he may do next. Jackson raises his face to gaze at John as well, who soon mouths some words that couldn''t be audibly heard as he returns to the machine as he presses a button. Jackson can only look in a confused yet saddened state of what he just said, maybe something horrible for the team yet it''s the best it could be achieved. Even in friendships, one must make hard choices for the best outcome needed.


    "John..."


    John shakes for a bit in what he''s about to say, shaking his head for a bit, until he does.


    "Everyone...we all know that the people we''ve seen have shown some potential, the potential for a future hope and life needed to push on...but among them...there is the girl, Amira. Her status so mysterious, yet, what we''ve seen today from her will mean that some measures may have to be taken to ensure nothing like that happens to anyone else. But, as they say...Damned if you do, damned if you don''t...I''m afraid for this decision...but for the safety of both ourselves, the community on Earth and even herself...she''ll be contained in custody for further study, that means she won''t be with you all for now."


    Everyone couldn''t believe what they just heard. Something some of the warriors dreaded to happen, something they didn''t want to share the fate like every poor victim did...and yet, she will be even more alone than she could think of. Jackson, Malak, and Eddie are the ones who can''t truly believe it. The mouths hanging open as they shake their head in disbelief, with their shoulders dropping.


    "Why man...why...?"


    Tany covered her mouth as she looks on with circles forming under her eyes that look watery for now, almost looking she''s about to cry. Even Seiner can''t help but stare down at the screen to the screen showing Amira still on her knees, his cheeks feeling hollow while holding his stomach, even removing his glasses while looking down, sighing in shame.


    Logan, however, may have the worst of it. He''s clenching down on both hands, which they''ve been that way since hearing John''s statement. Berat looks down to see his hands, wondering why he''s shaking them so hard. He finds out how, they''re showing to start dropping some blood to the ground, the hands clenching tremendously while they shake almost agitatedly as they hold up the blood sustained in his hands. Sobbing can be heard from him, tears falling down from his face even with his eyes closed down.


    I tried so hard...I tried everything to let you feel safe and loved...to trust Humans...your new friends...I tried everything...I failed you Amira...hope you can...

 Chapter 14 - Evaluative Attachments

    August 21st, 18:47. San Jose. PST


    The city is following something unusual today, as a large crowd gathers around the city hall with a heavy Zlocan presence. The Knights see the actions of every citizen as they''re put in a cue around a stage in the center of a plaza, with their rifles and swords giving them the power to keep them in line, with the walkers'' presence as well. Most of the citizens look sullied, battered up and pale, likely from having spent some days in abject rule from the Zlocu for a week, some even looking distant from the Zlocans in contrast to the restrained fear of the others. With that and the seemingly impassable wall, it seems the citizens won''t see a real light anymore. Everything from their lives taken away, now serving as prisoners for a peace-hating race, and even though they may have achieved similar things, they still wonder if they can really stomp that low for a living being.


    Near the dome outside the main building, ten Zlocan knights are guarding up the entrance of the building, with some Zlocan banners hanging near the walls. They''re likely waiting for someone as they stay put for a moment, usual for most soldiers on something important. Kedris walks nearby, reaching to the guards standing outside the dome. They respond by saluting him with their left hands near their chests, all in unison. Kedris then stops near a podium, which makes the Knights put their hands back in holding their rifles.


    "Citizens of San Jose, it is the utmost...pleasure to bear witness to one of the rituals committed by the Zlocan race as of now. It is one of the biggest...steps to ensure that a living will become a stronger one, one able to thrive to survive for an eternity, one capable to survive all obstacles in their paths...and the ones who know their worth in existence. That is the way of the Zlocu. But to further prove...how Humanity will demonstrate the step and... to make sure how you will live with it to survive, allow me to present you one of the main men that is...to be thanked for this step of our culture. A man worthy...of many words. Let the Major, Abbie Perlman, deliver the way."


    Another man walks by, one that is wearing a grey suit with a black tie. He has black short hair, cyan eyes, a medium stature that resembles like an average businessman and a face for it as well. Smiling highly from his own presence, he gets to the podium, where he gets ready to deliver a "pleasing" speech to the audience. Abbie Perlman may know the way.


    "With warm and friendly greetings to you all, I''m pleased to announce that as the first Human to show the Zlocan ritual to greatness, we''ll be seeing another great step for all of us. We know that Humanity has its own share of traditional rituals that could be enlightening, charming or just some show to entertain, which is the case a lot, even in America. And of course, by wondering if there''s much more space for the tiny bunch at home. Yeah, it''ll be great, that''s for sure, we''ve wondered a lot. But well, to our embarrassment, we found the answer on the hard way, and oh boy, what to pay a lot for it you know. The Zlocu is just like that one stern teacher back in school, you know, always teaching us the hard way of things but only for something better for everybody, yeah, I''m pretty grateful compared to the donkey and elephant shitheads from before, but now a new age will come to America thanks to them. Oh, did I just get distracted? Sorry sorry, I always get carried over but it''s just some small happy mistake, just like every innocent kid with the toys and the what, heh! Alright now, this last part of the ritual, simply known as "Warrior''s Advent", will be done by the first Humans to do it, Inquisitors of course. American ladies and gentlemen, please a grand applause to the great men for this great ritual." he says while making some rapid applause with his hands. Some of the audience proceeded to do the same, albeit in very restrained and force way, even forcing smiles. They don''t want anything with it, but as of Zlocan law, they have to.


    Two persons walk by, all dressed in black vests and ammo-packs around it. One is a dark-skinned, bald woman with hazel eyes and puffy cheeks. The other is an Asian man, bald as well. Yet looks very familiar, perhaps the same one who "joined" Yamja back in Area 51?


    "Here are the two great men for the ritual, Donna Winters from Arizona and Thomas Li from Oregon. Look at the brightest candidates today, future examples for all American children out there to look for. Well, maybe most won''t remember much but their spirits will there for them. Hopefully enough. Yeah, these men managed to get through all the grueling tests worthy to make a being stronger, whether it''s in the body, the brain and even the heart of, probably more than anyone else so the universe can properly prosper, at least when we all get out of our cute little blue dot for the stars. Yeah, they''re pretty great, probably will make their mommas proud even in death. But you''re wondering, will they be picked based on a simple choice? Well, I''d like to say yes because its more logical...but the Zlocu had different methods of evaluation for fellas. And they''ll show you now, but please don''t get too disturbed, it''s their custom after all."


    Two Zlocan guards who accompanied the two to the stand suddenly grab Donna from behind, holding her arms tight and almost to the point of not having any control of them. She tries to shake them off as hard as she can but it''s useless. Thomas is shaky, almost avoiding eye contact with Donna while remaining continuously blinking. They put Donna near him while she growls at them, looking into his eyes as she looks narrow-eyes to him, probably knowing what to expect from it.


    "Now you see, some felt that poor Donna just slagged a little bit in her tests even though she passed them, and when such blunder occurs, the one who performed excellently will have to make a painful yet ultimately necessary choice to his partner. And that is fellow American friends, death by choking. Dear Donna, you did well great girl, but you should have more control in the objectives the Zlocu gave to you, so please don''t take it hard, and no hard feelings as well, please. Now Thomas my boy, carry out the deed please."


    Thomas still avoids eye contact with either person while breathing heavily, perhaps he was trained well enough to keep himself and his soul alive, if barely. But sometimes, keeping up a facade is dire enough to taint someone''s soul. After some moment of hesitation, he turns around to see Donna face to face, her fearful eyes making her want to see Thomas as just a man doing what needs to be done, but such severity cannot be contained enough to make such distinction.


    He tries hard as well, but in the end, survival could override every other need for a Human being. Especially for Thomas, first by being falsely convinced of what his fate may hold and how the supposed final test will be. Even for all what he wanted, he only can feel nothing but sorrow in what''s upon him.


    Even Kedris feels the opposite of most Zlocans, simply having his eyes closed while letting out a quiet sigh.


    "Come on Tommie, you don''t wanna disappoint your new fellas, do ya? Just do it and feel free for once."


    Some moment of hesitation passes on from him, still trembling for what he may do, all while Donna stared at him with a shaky face, narrow eyes and his lips being bitten. She really wants him to think otherwise, that hey may pass through.


    Unfortunately, Thomas starts to extend his hands towards Donna''s neck and starts to press it as hard as he can, all while he closed his eyes, ashamed of what he''s doing. With her arms crossed, she can do nothing as she raggedly gasps for air, gulping as fast as she can to absorb more oxygen and tries to scream, but the force of the strangulation is so strong, she doesn''t have enough oxygen for it.


    Gagging violently, eyes wide enough with fear in them, her body pacing rapidly to take some oxygen back and heart beating too fast, Donna''s suffering seem to extend for some time, her last moments filled with the fact that she was to be strangled all just to make sure someone else passes the test as she did. Survival may be a selective tool after all.


    After a minute of violent choking from Thomas and struggle, Donna leaves her mouth wide open while letting out a small yet noticeable gasp for air, her now sullen eyes left wide open as the last bit of life from her now leaves. With nothing left to do with her, he releases his grip from her neck, making her lifeless head to hang down. Thomas then tries to put his hands near her head one more time, near the eyes, but his hand is slapped back by one of the guards that held Donna.


    "Weaklings do not deserve respect, dead or alive," he says in a stern tone while he and the other guard drag Donna''s lifeless body away.


    Thomas, trying his best, attempts to put a face that could ensure a man could be seen a strong one over the one he killed. But even if he tried, it''s no use as the citizens pretty much know of how he feels on the inside...but with the Zlocu with them, they can''t do anything as they falsely applaud to Thomas'' deed instead of showing opposing silence.


    "Now everybody, give a well-deserved applause to our boy, Thomas! You have done well, son. Now let''s hope you can put up these skills for good use in the Inquisition."


    All what Thomas can do is to simply leave in silence, enough for him for today, and probably all days.


    But far away from the hall, in an abandoned building, someone''s aiming at Debbie''s head with the sniper''s scope, an AS50. The figure is wearing dark clothing all over it, armor vest, beret, mask, pants, and shoes. Even their eyes are covered with red visors. Some inspection later, the figure puts its hands near the ear.


    "Target in sight, waiting for the next objective."


    1 hour later. Fort Jefferson. 19:49Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    In the warriors'' barracks, everything seems quiet yet a bit uncertain, most of the warriors are on a table checking a laptop, likely Seiner''s computer on whatever they found. Could be a vital source or something else entirely.


    "Some long distance turrets capable of firing at not just a long distance but also at high speed even at night, hmm, could be the reason why the UEF suckers were unlucky in trying to get one of their eggs in their basket," Eddie says, standing behind Malak.


    "Well, could it be our chance for it?" Jackson asks.


    "Just wait for more mate, just trying to spot a hole in the laser defenses...the more I work on it, the faster I may find out," Seiner says as he looks carefully on the computer while typing on the keyboard.


    While this is going on, Logan is sitting alone in his bed, looking down with narrow eyes that look nearly watery with a frown on his face. Never did he expect to have a burden that could strike so much on the inside, something that he''s been willing to try out for a living being to learn more. Whatever made him grow up like that, it''s something strong enough to make the decisions he has done in the present...But even with good intentions, not having told Amira enough of Human nature led to the near-fatal test on the previous day. And now, she''s in custody. Logan only believes that he himself is to be blamed for her situation, made her naive in her test. He wishes he can do more, wanting her to be happy in her new world. But now, he''s unsure if she truly will be after what happened.


    All he can do now is to look down in shame, knowing that only John has the power in what to decide for her, whether they like it or not.


    Luckily, a bit company for him may be needed now, as Tany approaches him, slightly crouching and leaning her face in front of him to get something out of him while she slightly smiles. Logan doesn''t react to it, but he still knows she''s there.


    "Still sad, dear Loggie?"


    "Not sad...just disappointed with myself...I wish I could just..."


    "Ahh. I know why you feel like that...she''s been a good friend for most of us in all these days. I''m too saddened by what happened to her, and if only I can give those meanies a spanking for messing her up!"


    "I wish I could...but it wouldn''t make any difference in what happened...all of this..."


    "Oh, Loggie..."


    "Maybe we may not be suited for the galactic community if we win after all..."


    Tany frowns for a bit, knowing well of how hard it must be for him. A lonely outlook coming from him, one in which even with new Humans to met, it may not be enough to quell his deep desire to help another living being. He truly wants to try.


    Tany then leans back while putting her hand on Logan''s hair while she locks her eyebrows. Even if she''s sad, she would do anything to make her friends feel relieved and alive once more. That''s her job after all.


    "Just tell me, do you think she may hate you now?"


    Logan quickly raises his head in response, his tone suddenly changing into a surprised one.


    "W-what? Why would she?"


    "Just wondering...with all that blue mood of yours, it''s likely that you''re wishing for a whole lot more for her, and probably she expected more of you, which sucks a lot, but it can''t be helped when you feel it...but let me tell ya, she may know it was a mistake, but still try to learn more from you. You know true friends do that, right?"


    Logan''s eyes grow wide, not having realized sooner in thinking about that. He grew too accustomed to giving near-perfect lectures to people he meets, almost to the point he may have forgotten for second chances. And yet, he knows well in what perfection can mean for them, and it''s better to not put it to use.


    "You''re right...I''ve let this burden get the best of me, almost making me give up on her...but I know that I shouldn''t...because of second chances to make someone better than it was...thank you Tany."


    "Anything for my dear friends, Loggie."


    Logan smiles in response, whether he''s with Amira or not, he''ll still have his friends on his side, willing to do anything for each other and to ensure they''re happy.


    "Calling to Barracks 12, any of the warriors that are available report to me on the second floor. We need urgent help in regards to the outsider," John says on the megaphone which can be heard across many parts of the bases.


    Knowing what it means, Logan quickly gets up and starts approaching the door, with Tany following suit. The rest, however, aren''t doing the same, perhaps too focused on studying the defenses of the wall. Lucy is the only one to notice and leaves the team for a moment.


    "Logan, Tania...before you go, keep this in mind...tell her that if she wants to be with us, laddies...then she should grow up properly instead of keeping up on being a bairn. That way, she''ll be properly part of us, understood."


    "We will...but we won''t do it like that."


    "Eh? What do ye mean?"


    "She already had enough time being given a cold lecture from these two already...we will not worsen it."


    "But don''t you see how she works?!"


    "We do, but you know pretty well in that not everyone will accept such method for their betterment. Not even Aliens...she''ll be given as she needs to."


    "Do ye even have the experience for it, laddie?"


    "Did you had one in feeling for others?"


    Lucy falls silent for a moment, being taken-aback from Logan''s question as she staggers for a bit. Maybe it''s really the time where she knows that her method won''t work out, even in her emotional state. The other stare in confusion over the brief scuffle between Logan and Lucy, wondering if the rift will continue.


    But in the end, she simply lowers her head and waves her hand away, indicating that they may go in peace in which they do so. She approaches back to the others, all looking surprised yet a bit angry at her actions.


    "Now you know in what you''re dealing with, dear Luce...but you''ll know it may work out," Jackson says while trying to reassure her, but she simply focuses on looking at the computer for more details from Seiner. She''s not in the mood to continue after all, because if she reveals more, it will be stressing for her to do so, so a rest may be needed.


    Walking down on a straight-lined corridor, Logan and Tany are following the path leading up to John''s location. Logan, in particular, looks a bit concerned. His narrow eyes and rapid walking mean that he really wants to gain the chance to teach her once more and needs to be done quickly. Perhaps he really needs it, as the cold around inside is too much for him to bear and needs something to thaw it. Tany looks worryingly at him, unaware if Amira may do the right thing that she thinks once they arrive. Logan has a lot to explain after all.


    Reaching to particular corner with two standing guards and John near a large window and a door with many locks to it, metallic ones in fact. John notices the incoming duo, all with a concerned look on his face.


    "So you''ve arrived. Good timing in fact, given that we''ve tried to use all methods to get Amira to talk but in every one of them, she''s been reduced in the corner of the room and being unresponsive to everything we ask or tell her. Not to me, or the soldiers, or even psychologists. Also, where are the rest?"


    "Just with their usual chitty-chat, only I and Loggie have the time for it and in a good one as well! And If these two meanies arrive, then I will give them-" Tany says in a furious tone until he gets interrupted by John himself.


    "Walter and Ae Gang were simply doing what they needed to do. I know it''s not what you wanted to see, or what you wanted for her to endure, but it''s their job, and they should carry it out. No exceptions whatsoever."


    Tany glares at John silently while clenching her fists in anger, she doesn''t care in what excuse he may give for condoning their behavior, she won''t take it lightly at all.


    "As I was saying, I guess you came here because of Amira, right?"


    "Yes, Mister Johnny. I really don''t want to see a sad friend in a moment like this, I don''t like to see my friends in a blue mood at all..." Tany says in a sudden sad tone. Even if she''s angry at John, comforting Amira is the main priority at the moment.


    Logan simply nods slowly as well while looking down.


    "Indeed. Knowing you, it may be the way we''ll get to know more about her. You can take your time as you like, she may surely need it from you." John then passes a card to the hole near the locks, a light turns green, indicating it''s been unlocked as the sound of the locks separating quickly can be heard. The door then opens, revealing a grey colored room with nothing but Amira inside unless they bring in something more. Amira''s near the corner on the right side of the room, curled up with while covering her eyes away. She also lacks the armor that she has, only having the cyan tube top and skirt. Logan and Tany quietly enter the room as they feel every bit of cold in the room and from themselves as well, something they never wanted but happened.


    The sight of Amira makes Logan''s eyes almost watery while frowning, with Tany simply trying to keep up a smile on her face. No matter what, she keeps up with it, it''s the best trait of her.


    "Amira..." Logan quietly says, all while keeping her space between themselves and her. His voice in a shaky tone almost sounds like he''ll cry.


    "Ammi..." Tany says as well.


    These calls, in fact, make Amira slowly lifts her head up, now being able to see the ones that can truly warm her heart from the sadness inside of her. Looking at them, her once formerly empty expression begins to warm up, her eyes widening from the sight she''s seeing, culminating with a smile on her face, and eventually gets up to properly see them.


    "Logan...Tany...you''re here."


    "Yes, my dear friend!" Tany says happily as she runs towards Amira and hugs her tightly while laughing with joy at seeing that her friend is fine now. Logan too starts to smile while approaching her, trying his best to hold back his tears.


    "These meanies aren''t here now, only me and Loggie! The best for you!"


    "Maybe...just maybe, but the others?"


    "Ah, just busy with their shticks and such, but don''t worry, they still think for you, perhaps even Seiny-boy!"


    Amira can only giggle quietly yet happily from such words, and surprisingly, smiles a bit more when seeing Logan. This surprises Logan for a bit, as his eyes widen from the fact that she didn''t react angrily at him for not teaching him enough. But it seems that she really knows when to understand someone. Especially for a Human.


    Logan approaches her while trying to keep his face straight, a bit nervous but confident enough to face her. He then holds her near his arms


    "Amira...I''m really sorry if I didn''t teach you enough for Humanity...I got carried away from my positive thoughts and told you about Human potential...I should have told you more on when to know from identifying Humans to form bonds with and those who don''t...yet you don''t seem to be mad..."


    "Why should I? I know that you just wanted me the best of me...I felt afraid...I didn''t want to talk to everybody because I was afraid...and yet I''m not angry...a mistake is simply a mistake...and even though it lead to all this, I''m still willing to listen..."


    "Yeah...hear me out...if necessary, try to strike back at the attacking Human, but later on, the chance to know the Human''s goodness can still be there...just use it in the appropriate moment...the ones visiting you will bring you no harm unless shown, but don''t get too drastic with it...will you try?"


    "Anything for a dear Human...I will..."


    Logan simply smiles from such response as he moves her head near his chest, caressing her hair while still keeping her in his arms. Tany follows suit by caressing her hair as well. Amira couldn''t feel anymore happier for it. Even if they may leave later, she''ll know that they''ll be there for her, her warm heart, her warm vision.


    A true smile comes when someone who truly cares about such person comes.


    And like a flower who can only bloom beautifully in the sun, such persons can bring the being to its fullest potential in life.


    And with every try, comes the potential to grow more.


    And with every potential, comes the future in what the person will eventually become.

 Chapter 15 - Scales of Inner Anger

    August 21st. 23:45. PST


    Amira''s sitting on a metallic chair near a table, looking down with her fingers crossed. Ever since what she''s been told by Logan, she thought of her second chance to be proven worthy of Humanity itself. Regardless of who may come, she will try hard to not lose her composure this time, least of causing yet another ruckus in the base. Yet for all this, she feels very distant to everything around her ever since being taken into custody, something lifeless isn''t always a safe environment for someone like her. She relished on the open environment which is what she went for most of her life, something that could fill her heart and mind so much to feel something alive. But in a closed room...who can? Perhaps getting used to it will be sufficient enough for her.


    A beeping sound is heard outside, indicating that the door''s been unlocked. Slowly opening, a woman with hazel colored hair, tanned skin, and black eyes slowly walks in. She is wearing a white coat and a pair of glasses as well, probably who was the one to test on Amira but couldn''t and now she can, likely expecting for her being more talkative to other Human beings for now. She sits in one of the metal chairs near the table, all while Amira slowly looks up in front of her. Her eyes almost narrow and a bit sleepy.


    "Good evening, Amira...Dhorian. I am Doctor Rubi Corazon, a specialized psychologist for people, or if you like to be in general, living beings who are in need to be more evaluated with their psyche. Don''t worry, I will just try to be as patient as I need to be and as well trying to study more of you, well, for a new Alien at least."


    Amira simply leans her head back and forth while keeping her gaze on her, with her mouth almost hanging open.


    "Ehm, you know what I mean, right?"


    "Conversation...you mean, knowing more of me?" Amira asks.


    "Exactly. But in this case, to suit the patient''s needs, I''ll let you pick three of the following tests that will test your psyche and emotions. One is the empathy test, the word association test, and the anger test. One of them will let me know how much your mental health is and depending on the severity, I''ll think of solutions for the well-being of yourself. Want me to explain each of them briefly so you can understand?"


    "I think...I''ll pick empathy."


    "Empathy, I see. You want to prove that Aliens can feel, or just yourself?"


    "Just...I just want to try. Just want to."


    "Hmm...better get started then."


    Rubi then checks up some papers near her bag, finding the ones suitable for the test. She grabs a handful, three or four to be exact, stapled together and puts them on the table.


    "I''ll ask you this set of 60 questions reserved for the test. If you hesitate for more than a minute, then I''ll have to stop it in the question you''ve been asked. That''ll mean there''s something in this question that may trouble you or something. But still, you''ll keep it cool, OK?"


    "OK..."


    "Good girl. Now please pay attention to it. #1. You are in a forest, drifting around the place in all bushes around it and-"


    "Excuse me?"


    "What is it?"


    "What''s the forest? Is it a familiar one?"


    "Just a hypothetical question, the place doesn''t have any relevance to the question in any sense."


    "And why am I in there?"


    "Who knows, exploring, trying to be alone, discover a fancy treasure, whatever you think when you go there. You look down and see a hawk, slowly trying to get on its feet to-"


    "A hawk?"


    "...Ever heard or saw a flying creature with wings?"


    "Yes..."


    "Same type of species. That''s all."


    "To be exact...I think I saw some birds like it before. Now I truly understand..."


    "The hawk''s wings are torn down, the reason why it can''t fly, trying to crawl its way out from a riverbank, looking for someplace to be safe."


    "I''ll place it on the ground out of the river."


    "What?"


    "Just place it outside danger...just to be safe."


    "And how do you intend to save it?"


    "Using what I have."


    "And what do you have?"


    "You said yourself it was a hypothetical question...if the forest is not specified, then how to save it won''t be as well."


    Rubi presses her pen for a bit while trying to look away from her. She never thought that she could corner her with a quick ironic rebuttal for one of her questions. Amira seems to amp up what she has after all.


    "Wow...never thought that logic would work so well after all. But well, I think you''re doing pretty well so far. But remember, there''s much more we may see from your emotions. Shall we continue?"


    "Yes."


    "#2. Describe in single words of what things come to your mind when you think about your family."


    "F-family...?"


    "Yeah."


    Amira shakes her head for a bit while slightly looking down and breathing slowly. Maybe a question too close to home, hers that is, and proves to be harder as she slightly raises her head with her almost sullen yet with a shed of life on it.


    "...Happiness...Love...Respect...That''s..pr-probably..."


    "It''s alright now...what you said is enough for an answer, but perhaps a bit too much for you isn''t it?"


    "Can we...please move on?"


    Rubi simply nods as she reads on to the next question while extending her left hands to Amira''s, lightly tapping it in which she notices. She still breathes slowly from the resulting question, maybe it was too soon for her to ask.


    "You''re very peculiar, Amira Dhorian...I have a good feeling at the moment in what life holds for you...don''t be afraid."


    "I...will try...for Logan and..."


    "It''s better if you do it for yourself. Self-esteem is what makes a...living being feel truly full and happy for everything and everyone. I''m not trying to say that you should ignore anyone you care about and leave them behind, only that you should hear their words carefully and use them to better yourself."


    "Even if they''re meant to help you out enough to devote to them?"


    "If it''s what they believe then yes. But knowing yourself better is a choice worth picking."


    "...O-OK..."


    "Just stay calm, please. It''ll be fine."


    -------------------------------


    Back in the warriors'' room, John is present among the others alongside Seiner who is writing something on a piece of paper. Logan and Tany are back as well, seeing the results which were discovered by Seiner itself. A correct calculation is something vital for the progress of a battle, and perhaps Seiner''s could be proof of it.


    "So you''re telling us that the prime reason all the previous strikes that got shot down is because of the range and velocity of the laser strike? You''re way out of it you know," John says with his arms crossed and giving a long gaze at Seiner.


    "Ohoho, think about it John, while all of you were dedicating into fiddling with crap for hours and the Zlocu grow steadily on their grip in the States, I''ve been doing some homework that can solve it," Seiner replies with a smirk on his face.


    "Then tell us, genius du-whatever, what have you come up with?"


    Seiner then hands him the paper that is scribbled with calculations and trajectories from the laser strikes of the wall, with some observations as well.


    "When I observed the footage from a spy satellite of yours, I''d thought that something was up on the laser''s speed and the way it shot down the planes. From what I''ve studied before, most planes tend to travel at a speed of 1234mph or 2000km per hour, and it seems that combined with the advanced capabilities of the wall, the laser can fire with a speed of around 19.9 knots per second, probably faster than most usual lasers. With that in mind, I believe that by using the speed of the Chrome Copter which is actually pretty fast at 1500mph, which equals to 2414km per hour. Using that speed will allow us to evade their attacks long enough to disable their defenses and pave their way to victory."


    "So, in order words, we fly like crazy and blow up each of the damned laser guns from above the walls before they cause more trouble, then destroy the cores holding the walls to pave way for the troops...is it right, Seiner?" Andrei asks.


    "Young boy...ever heard of the word reckless?"


    "Whoa now, Seiner has already passed one of the tests that you supervised, dear John, one which almost anyone can''t pass. I mean, Celina''s all good with that all techno thing and look who beat her," Jackson replies as he gets close to him.


    John still keeps his arms closed while letting a sigh. Such type of plan is pretty much incredulous in his face to be carried out, and how much it can be successful compared to the other strikes which have been airstrikes both on day and night. After thinking for a moment of what it can mean, he turns his attention to the team again.


    "Listen, I''ll take whatever you say and hope for the best...I''ve already told most of the troops that we will carry out a full-scale attack almost tomorrow morning, but only an hour after you left. We want to make sure you''re right picks for this war after all. I mean, we''ve already tried our best options to spark the light of hope...we would really want to see if you''re that spark that we think of."


    "Our souls'' strength will make sure it will become true, John. Always believe in the best, or else what you fear will come to ya," Malak replies.


    John simply smiles in response. He too would like to see that turning true. He starts to walk away from the group, heading towards the door. But before he can reach it.


    "John...will Amira..." Logan asks quietly, almost cracking. Despite the tone, John doesn''t turn his gaze to him.


    "You people are good enough for your skills...you know what about I said about her, and I still believe she''s too young to understand the ways of Humanity. Therefore, she''ll stay. Understood."


    "Yes..."


    "Good."


    He opens the door then leaves as it closes. Now it''s only the warriors again. Most of them sigh in relief over the fact that their mission has been approved while Tany smiles highly, how they may inspire the people to rise up once more and to show that heroes still exist. Truly something to be relieved about.


    Logan, however, is a bit more reserved about, simply looking on the team normally without smiling.


    "Come on, man. John''s always careful in which person he can handle, no need to push too much about it."


    "I understand..."


    "If ye do, then...then..." Lucy can only sigh as she removes her glasses from her eyes. Even with her stance intact, she feels something in what Logan said to her beforehand. "Just don''t make that hard oon it. Think about the Braw things he may dae to her. I guess..."


    "Not bad, dear Luce pie."


    "Oh, boil yer head."


    Jackson chuckles in amusement from her expression even if it was a harsh one. The others look in amusement as well.


    "Just think well of it, boy. It may help ya a lot than you think about it," Eddie says.


    "Ohhhh, and meee?" Tany sheeplishly asks.


    "Ehh, guess the same thing."


    "I think it''s getting late now, team...we must give our best for this fight, OK?"


    "Sure thing," Malak says.


    Andrei and Lucy nod their heads in approval.


    Jackson and Eddie give double thumbs up at him.


    "We''re gonna prove''em what we''re made of," Seiner replies as she clenches his fist while raising it.


    "I''m so excited for the greater fun!"This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Heh...we''ll do our best this time."


    7 hours later.


    Outside, John is near a hangar with lots of helicopters around it, both combat, transport and a mix of both, and all set for battle. Quietly pacing back and forth from left and right, he seems that the Warriors are taking a bit of their time in getting ready. After all, all the time needed to prepare for the best is always needed, no matter how long it can be.


    "You think these pricks are gonna lit the way to victory? You''re getting your chances up, you know," A voice says, a familiar Canadian one it seems.


    "They''re not pricks, Walter. They may seem unknown but what they have is something we really need. And I don''t want this to become a measurement of your manhood right now."


    "Well, it can be helped if the rest contributes to it. A type of support is always needed in times like this, darling. Or just a bit of kicking some nice asses, is that right, guys?" Berat replies.


    "But we''re not the main freaking attraction!" Ae Gang replies.


    "Quit it! Pay attention to Berat anyway."


    GoD Squad are holding their current arsenal of weapons ready to for battle. Walter has a Winchester 1887 Trench Model on his back and an M4 rifle attached as well, Berat has his trust Kilij sword as usual, Celina has two pair MP5Ks holstered near her waist, Valentina has her PSG-1 Sniper rifle on her back as well, with Mehdi carrying an explosive belt with a STINGER on his left hand and a halberd on his right one, and Ae Gang wields HK121 Machine and her trusty Chakrams in her belt. All of them seem to be ready as well for battle, and as well to show what Humanity is made of. And yet, still waiting.


    "Hey...they must be near now," Celina says.


    "How''d so, querida?"


    "I...hear the footsteps, rapid ones at least."


    She is right, as the footsteps can be heard closer, revealing to be the Earth Warriors all geared up for battle. Slightly panting from their speed, they stand firm in front of John while he smirks amusingly.


    "Sorry for being late, my man...just had some...complications for a certain ditz in finding her, how do I say it...shoes."


    "Hey! It''s not like if mine is that hardy hard to find! They just mesh well with the silly darkness in the room!"


    "But you could have asked for a bloody flashlight!" Seiner replies.


    "There was a flashlight all the time, Seiny boy?"


    He only groans in frustration while the others lightly chuckled from her response, GoD squad included.


    "So, mind me if you can introduce me to these freaks?" Walter asks.


    "Well, Walty, you may know better...but I present you the following guys. Andrei the ruskie, Malak the old-school amazon, Eddie the old-school cowboy, Lucy the reporter, Jack my friend, Tany the silly schoolgirl in war, Seiner the genius, and their leader, Logan Preaker. The Alien that you know or heard is still in custody, and will only join when I said the research is enough."


    "Serves that bitch well for almost messing us up," Ae Gang says while snarling, something that Logan notices as he breathes steadily, almost wide eyes and a very deep scowl on his face. He may not really like working them, but it''s an option for them for now.


    "Ohhhh, looks her boyfriend just got a tiny bit-"


    "Please, shut up, lieutenant Ae Gang," John says as he swiftly raises his hand while lifting his index finger to indicate his order, in which Ae Gang does so. Walter, however, seems to catch something else from Logan.


    "Logan Preaker...Wait, that name, I''ve heard of it."


    "From what?" Logan asks.


    "Don''t you remember, back in 2019, when all hell was loose in the states and many turned into prisoners, among them saw the strength to rise up and cut the asses off the worst scum ever existing on Earth...yet no medal!? I''d say screw the authority who didn''t bother to find those pieces of scum and when we return we gave you one for real!"


    "I''d rather have one of mud..."


    "Hey! What''s wrong with being a hero? Don''t you feel like one already?"


    "I''m not...not yet...not officially at least..."


    "Now if this is for what I did for the girl-"


    "Shut up...JUST shut UP!" Logan shouts after a briefly restrained reaction, causing the other to be taken aback by his outburst. Breathing rapidly with his eyes almost wide, there''s something that didn''t need to be touched.


    "Logan...he''s your ally for now. If it''s something that bothered you, then drop it for now," Malak says as she tries to approach him, gently touching his shoulder to calm him down.


    Logan keeps on breathing aggressively until it steadily slows down to a normal breathing, lowering his head as he looks up with his eyes.


    "I''m...I''m sorry Malak...It''s just, that what happened...no...better not talk about it now."


    "Whatever, just don''t get all nuts over my face again, or I''ll break yours. Simple as that."


    "Alright, knock it off people! Well, this is it, the big one. The shit-stopper, the moment where everyone is getting their fighting spirits up to eleven for a new tomorrow, one in which the meaning of being a Human being will be redefined once more. And the moment we will rise up once more! But first, I must get you a transport so you can reach in time. You and GoD Squad may need."


    "Heh! no need to worry Colonel, I have already a transport at my disposal," Seiner says as he showed one of the chrome cubes.


    "CHROME COPTER ACTIVATE!"


    He tosses the chrome box to the ground, forming the Sea-Stallion-style helicopter. Just like Jackson beforehand, John and the others look in awe over the sudden morphing of a familiar military vehicle they have known for many years.


    "What the- who gave you this shit?" he incredulously asks.


    "Someone who knows our potential," Seiner says as he smirks.


    "Odd...OK. Here''s your first objective, find a way to disable the turrets and the wall to open a path for the troops. Then, if possible, kill or capture the "major" of the city, Abbie Perlman. Freaking anarchist wannabe who believes he''s the next step for America. As if! Oh wait, I have to go, my troops need to see me. I wish to you all the best!"


    "Alright, bye bye goodie colonel! Hohoho! We''re going to have a very fun time in San Jose, we''ll make them run for their mommies and do their 50-page punishment of writing "IM A BIG LOSER" Get it, GET IT?"


    "Let''s think of their punishments for later, but anyways, let''s go," Logan says as he and the others board the chopper. It''s slightly large enough to contain all the people inside, yet feels a bit cramped for them to sit in comfortably.


    "Remember! In one hour, we''ll deploy the troops and see if you made it!"


    "Don''t worry brother, we''ll get it done as usual."


    "You''d better make it so with those people, Jack." John then salutes to him before the helicopter''s door closes, the rotor blade starts to activate slowly as it starts to ascend from the ground and fly off towards San Diego.


    "Good luck people...you''re our only hope for now."


    San Jose. 07:39. PST


    On the east side of San Jose, the Chrome copter was arriving nearby, ready to commence the assault on the wall before the rest of the forces arrive to help them out. Nothing more but a fitting to let the sun rise once more, a fitting day indeed.


    "We got a lock on the guns. Now sit tight mates, this is gonna get a bit rough like a monster truck."


    Seiner presses a button and some jet engines emerge from the chrome copter itself.


    "Come on Seiny boy! I wanna see some fireworks now of the meanie Zlockies!"


    "Cut the jibber-jabber, ya noisy girl!" Eddie replies to her as he holds tight of one of the handles of the copter.


    "Heads up! Getting readings from the laser! Once I hit, the fun''s gonna start for real!" Seiner says as he carefully reaches the button, carefully placing it in his finger so when the time comes, the fun may really start. Just as it approaches steadily, Seiner keeps his eyes locked on the button that may do something related to the engines.


    "If you try something funny, then I will rip down your-" Ae Gang says.


    "NOW!"


    FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII


    With the combined firing of the turret towards the helicopter, Seiner presses the other button, causing the engines to ignite and thrusts the helicopter way faster than a usual one, fast enough to even dodge the laser. Inside, the whole team is trying their best to hold on tight from the massive speed of the helicopter.


    "HERE GOES ONE!!"


    He presses a button on the handle, causing a large barrage of missiles to fire rapidly, all hitting the railgun massively. With enough hits, it explodes massively.


    "FIRST RAILGUN IS DOWN! NOW UP TO THE NEXT ONE!" Seiner then turns the copter downwards aiming at one of the cores, quickly firing the laser blasters coming near the rotor blade. The force of the blasters is strong enough to disable the core, in which by shutting down, causing most of the grid lines around the wall to be disabled except for the connected core. Flying to the right side, he quickly aims the other core with the same guns and receives the same result as the previous core. Only this time, the disabling of the other core causes a huge part of the northern side of the wall to vanish digitally.


    The gate of freedom is now open.


    "OH YEAH!! JOHN, THE NORTHERN WALL IS DOWN! I REPEAT, THE NORTHERN WALL IS DOWN!"


    ---------------------------------------


    Hearing from the inside of a transport helicopter, hearing such news makes John and the other soldiers start cheering for their first victory, quickly raising their weapons in the air while smiling greatly from they''ve heard.


    "WOW! It seems that someone took care of a part of the wall already, this means that we are now ready to kick the Zlocan asses! Are you all ready, gentlemen?!" John asks with his raised voice.


    "YES SIR!!!" the soldiers exclaim as they raise their weapons in the air.


    "Excellent! Now, time to give those bastards a taste of our bravery and pride! Keep ''em going warriors!"


    --------------------------------------


    "OH YES! TURNING AROUND FOR MORE!"


    Quickly flying in the same lower direction from the place where they shot down, Seiner quickly pushes some buttons which unleash large missiles which strike the other cores from the eastern side, causing it to vanish as well.


    "TWO MORE!"


    "FLY SLOWER, DAMN IT!!!" Walter exclaims as he tries to regain his composure


    "DON''T GET US KILLED NOW!!, BROTHER!" Jack shouts as well while holding on from the speed of the helicopter.


    While it reaches to the southern side, a pair of turrets emerges around the core, starting to fire the chrome copter itself.


    "WHOA NELLY!" Seiner exclaims as he makes some twists and turns around the turrets, mostly dodging most of the laser fire from the turrets and dodging the fire from railguns as well as he ascends in altitude.


    "HEY ZLOCKIES, YOU''RE TOO SLOW!"


    Seiner fires a barrage of weaponry again towards both the railgun and the cores as he flies around them. Now, only one last wall remaining.


    "JUST A BIT MORE!"


    By making one last flight around the western wall, Seiner quickly takes aim at both cores, locking them on his computer and ready to fire.


    "TIME FOR YOUR SHOCK THERAPY!" Seiner then launches two pairs of missiles to both cores, in which they both end up striking at the center of the glass from each core, seemingly looking harmless.


    "Seiner! Did your missiles ran out of fuel?!" Eddie asks.


    "JUST WATCH!"


    The missiles then explode with an electric shockwave which disables the power of each core, causing them to vanish as well.


    They are all down now, the path to freedom is about to begin.


    "ALL RAILGUNS DOWN! WELL, NEW OBJECTIVE, LOGAN: KILL THE BASTARDS!" Walter shouts.


    Seiner then flies near the southern part of the city, where Zlocan knights are guarding the place. They all set their weapons to fire at them, but they too suffer from the same barrage of the Chrome copter''s arsenal. The survivors start to scatter around the area to find a place to defend themselves.


    "This may be good...it''s time to teach the Zlocans a lesson, right Seiner?" Logan asks.


    "Yes! CHROME COPTER RETURN!"


    The Chrome copter returned to cube form, while the Earth Warriors and GoD Squad make a descent into the ground, landing unharmed. Mostly on their feet, while Tany herself user staff to descend slowly while holding it with one hand like an umbrella.


    "Can I say it? Please!" she asks.


    "Not now, gal," Eddies replies.


    She then lands near him, proceeding to smack him in the head for a bit.


    "I was for real! That was getting old ye know!"


    "Hey now buddies, no need to get at each other''s throats right up now. Alright, what now?" Andrei asks.


    Logan simply observes the city as he analyses the possible places in where to strike. After carefully gazing for a moment, Logan turns to the team.


    "We''re splitting up. Jackson, Lucy, Malak, Eddie and Andrei, regroup with Colonel Walker'' group and provide assistance as they arrive from the eastern side. GoD Squad will head towards the city hall to kill or capture Abbie. Me, Seiner and Tany are gonna fend off Zlocan forces coming to your way while finding prisoners, understood?"


    "We will do it Logan! And we''re counting on you as well. Good luck!" Jackson says as they run off to regroup with John and his group.


    "You''d better not screw it up, assholes." Ae Gans scoffs.


    "Come on now darling. You know how amazing that boy has with his vehicle?" Celina says as she leans near her.


    "No time to waste, let us get going for victory. I wish you luck as well, my buddies!" Berat says as he and the others run off towards the city hall for their mission.


    "OK, now, ONWARDS!!"


    Logan, Seiner, and Tania then rush to battle towards a line of people being held as prisoners and chained up to a fence. The civilians look in awe as their saviors come in.


    "Intruders! Stop them!" an officer says as he and other troops open fire on them.


    The three manage to fend each of the strikes in many ways. Logan with his rapier, Seiner with his chrome shield and Tany with her rock shield. Logan quickly leaps towards Seiner''s shield to jump towards the group of Knights who were just attacking. They try to strike back but are quickly slashed apart from Logan''s rapier. Another Knight who''s observing drops his weapon and starts to kneel down in front of him while whimpering nervously. The civilians cheer on him and the others as they approach to liberate them.


    "A miracle finally came! Thank goodness for everything!" a woman says as she shakes Logan''s hand.


    "It''s the Human thing after all, my dear. But first I need to know, do you know where there are holding other people hostage or prisoner?"


    "That building over there, a former bank. You have to go to the basement to get through, but please be careful."


    "Will do. Alright guys, to the building!"


    They all head towards the building that is located in front of them. Quickly approaching the gate, Seiner raises his hand to signal them to stop for a moment as he puts a bomb near the lock of the door that appears to be sealed. Quickly pressing one of the buttons they all take cover behind the pillars from the entrance.


    "Explosion''s imminent! Cover your hears!"


    The bomb then explodes, quickly shattering the door while some groaning can be heard from the inside. A bit strong it seems?


    "You''re gonna give Q a run for his own money!" Logan says.


    "Oh shut up already and let''s get going, mate!"


    "Yeah! Let''s go for more fun!"


    They all head inside the building, where most of the rumble from the door can be seen, all while some of the Knights are crawling on the floor from their injuries of the explosion. They all head towards the elevator, which has three floors, the second one, the ground one and the one leading to the vault. Seiner quickly presses the one leading to the vault, which makes the doors of the elevator close while an alarm blares on the outside.


    Seiner quickly grabs his pistol while Tany checks her staff curiously and Logan holds his Rapier ready for something.


    "Once we see enemies in sight, give it all you got to get through and free them all, OK?"


    They nod in response, of course they will.


    "Now, get ready!"


    Readying their weapons with their stances, they all prepare for a battle to liberate more innocent people that they can imagine. Now reaching the vault as indicated by the chime, the door opens and they soon rush away from it, but no one seems to be present at the moment, at least until Seiner spots a person rushing to a door that leads to the money. They all run off to the direction of the running man, all leading to the room where most of the money is stored. Logan reaches for the doorknob to open it, the force of the opening being so sudden that it startles the running man who''s a human male, causing him to fall down from a rail behind him.


    What they checked, however, was something beyond their deepest nightmares, as all three gasp in shock in what they''re seeing.


    People chained up while being whipped, beat up and cut apart, Human organs being harvested to a different room, some having their eyes gouged out with the fingers of torturers and other kinds of atrocities enough to make even the toughest killer reconsider their hobbies.


    Logan, however, seems the most affected, as he starts to tremble highly, breathing heavily and eyes wide enough to reveal the whites and gritted teeth at the sight he''s seeing.


    No...It can''t...No Logan...control yourself...


    Some guards spot them and aim their guns at them. Tany and Seiner take defensive stances to get ready for the fight, but not Logan, he''s still staring down at the guards.


    "DROP THEM!" a guard says.


    Logan...is all in the past now...IS ALL IN THE PAST!! DO NOT...DO NOT GIVE IN!!!


    "Those people...What have they done to you...?" Logan says quietly all while holding the grip of the sword very tightly and the breathing becoming more rapid and heavier. This makes the sword''s form change into the Katana form.


    "I SAID DROP THEM!"


    NO!!! GET OFF ME!! GET OF ME!!!


    "You think you''re superior...ALL MIGHTY!?!! THE RIGHT TO CONTROL IN WHO IS HUMAN AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT TYPE OF RACE?!!"


    "LAST CHANCE TO BACK DOWN!"


    "Loggie...?"


    Logan slowly raises his sword up in the air as he takes a stance to attack at the Zlocan guards. His face, instead of one like the calmest wind, it''s one of a boiling volcano about to erupt, a limit about to be surpassed.


    "Then now...EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR KIND MUST DIE!!!" Logan then leaps highly from the rail of the floor while using his Kendo stances and screaming at the top of his lungs. The guards try to open fire but Logan lands quickly slicing off the heads of the guards he sees, which alerts the other to his direction.


    "Logan! What are you doing, mate?!"


    "Loggie!"


    Logan ignored their calls as he starts cutting down each Zlocan and Inquisitors he sees in many painful ways by either slicing heads in half, cutting off arms entirely and stab them repeatedly in their hearts while quickly evading the fire from them and continuing to scream. With his rage has reached its pinnacle, nothing can defeat him at the moment.


    "I WILL KILL YOU!!! DIE WITH YOUR WRETCHED EXCUSES! BURN!! IN! HELL!!! DIE! DIE!!! DIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"


    More troops come in, but right now, nothing seems to be stopping Logan''s rampage, nothing at all, continuing to slash down every armed foe he sees, even surrendering ones.


    The others leap down from the rail as well, all trying to follow Logan in an attempt to stop his violent rampage that may cost the lives of many civilians.


    "LOGAN! STOP RIGHT NOW!!"


    ------------------------------------------------------


    F.O.B Jefferson, 08:40 PST


    While Amira was meditating alone for a moment, she quickly snaps her eyes as she gets up to think about what she just saw all while trying to breathe normally. Perhaps she was feeling something beyond her reach. Even if it''s not her brother, then it could be?


    Logan? Logan...are you alright? Logan?! Logan!

 Chapter 16 - Peoples Will

    August 22nd. Tijuana, Mexico. 16:39. PST


    Tijuana, Mexico. A city formerly riddled with crime and human trafficking. In recent years, these problems started to diminish and peace seemed to return to the city. Unfortunately, this all changed when the Zlocu arrived and ravaged everything. But now, the city looks worse than the Zlocan takeover, half of the city is deserted and half of the buildings gone, with explosions holes, rubbles and bodies scattered across the streets A battle is raging on between the Zlocan troops and various rebels which have launched an uprising against the former.


    The streets filled with militias and gangs banding together against Zlocan occupation with everything they have. The odor of gas fills most of the streets from the destroyed vehicles, the air being a huge cacophony of gunfire, explosions and hellish screams that many won''t ever, ever forget.


    And even so, things are looking grim for the rebels. The technologically advanced forces of the Zlocu are pushing them back hard, driving some into quickly surrendering to them, others fighting bitterly until their last breath. Whether it was because they''re holding for the hope of their city being free one day or not is another matter.


    And even if it will be free, will it recover the beauty it once had?


    In Libertad neighborhood, between an armed school and pair of destroyed building blocks,  a huge firefight between a Zlocan battalion and a militia is happening. A Zlocan Walker is opening fire on a block where thirty-five rebels are hiding and taking cover from it. There enough walls from the blocks to give the rebels enough time to take cover from the fire, all while dodging the ruble and grazing laser blasts in each angle.


    One such soldier, a man with Reddish short hair, squinting hazel eyes and a fair skin worthy of any beautiful Latino, all he''s wearing is an armor vest while strafing at the Zlocans with his G3 rifle through a wall.


    "Laureano! You''d better provide some nice lead to the carajos out there!" a voice says, it''s a feminine one. A woman with brown, straight hair,  round amber eyes, set charmingly within their sockets and a  scar reaching from the right side of the forehead, running towards the left side of her lips and ending on her upper lip. A fearsome warrior it seems.


    "What?! There''s enough shit to care of with our weapons already, Amanda!" he says while continuing to cover fire to their troops.


    "Make a way please, we won''t last long if we waste all of our ammo!" a male soldier says.


    "But how do we outsmart these idiots without wasting our precious ammo!?" an elderly officer replies.


    "I don''t know, pull grenades out of our asses?!" Amanda replies as she growls under her breath.


    "They don''t do shit anyway, better to pick those spicy bottles but still don''t do shit!" Laureano replies.


    "Then let''s find some good shit to use!"


    As they continued to cover fire, Amanda stops for a second while going to check on something with her rifle near her hip, briefly glancing at the emptiness of the building while trying to shift her attention away from the fire and while trying to make her eardrums as resistant as they can from the noises.


    "Hold...Hold your fire!"


    "Amanda!?" Laureano asks bafflingly


    "Trust me! I said hold your fire! I know what to do with this! And trust me...it will be the useful shit you''ve been looking for."


    "All men, hold your fire!" the elderly officer orders as he raises his hand to signal the troops. They all comply with it, causing the entire zone to be silent once more.


    The Zlocans looking confusingly stare at the place, with the troops accompanying the walker looking on while glancing at each other over the odd move from the rebels.


    "Hmm? Did they ran out of weapons or what?" one Knight asks.


    "Well, it''s obvious that they''re trying to surrender. A sudden silence is a sign of it," another Knight replies who is a female one.


    "Don''t be so sure, you know knows Humans are known to be very tricky to deal with according to reports from the Coalition''s archives. Let''s find them! The rest of you keep an eye on us," the pilot of the walker says.


    They start to slowly walk towards the zone of the building blocks where the rebels are hiding, all aiming their rifles steadily at them.  Any opponent the Zlocans face, they will all exterminate them with great prejudice and judgment.  Even the ones staying in position from the school aim steadily at the position of the rebels, all to carry out their orders with precision.


    Near the block, the rebels are positioned to the nearest corner they can find on every side of the building, all ready to do what should be done when the Zlocans come nearby.


    The troops enter the ruined block, ready to check what''s coming. It''s all silent, almost nothing but the sound of dropping rocks and wet drops around the building.


    "DROP ''EM!"


    They start tossing a handful of smoke grenades to the ground near the Zlocan troops, all of which cause them to start aiming their rifles at the rebels but it gets too foggy to see anyone.


    "Damn it! An ambush!" a Zlocan knight says.


    "Ignore the smoke! Just fire whatever you can!"You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The troops start to open fire on the rebels with all they can in spite of the smoke, trying to achieve what their commanders told them to achieve a part of the battle in Tijuana.


    "Bingo," Amanda whispers as she sprints from her position near a wall, quickly firing her rifle near the Zlocans'' position, taking them down one by one in rapid succession, where even the others aren''t quick enough to react in time from the attack.


    "Atta girl! Alright boys, blow up that piece of metal!" Laureano says as some rebels get out from the walls as some hold some AT4 rocket launchers whom they proceed to get in position to get a clear fire from it.


    "Wait, boys, got one more thing to play!" Amanda says as she jumps while tossing her rifle near the hull, jumping high enough to reach the walker''s leg while holding on to it as it turns on both sides, trying to get a clear shot in what''s going on. Quickly reaching atop of the walker''s hull, Amanda quickly grabs her rifle while the hatch opened just in time for the Zlocan pilot to come out and try to shoot her, only for her to quickly use the butt of her rifle to knock the Zlocan down, hitting him hard enough to be knocked out cold.


    "Amanda? Going for another trick of yours?" a rebel asks.


    "Let my ni?a do what she will do...I know how much she can think of things like this," the elderly officer replies.


    Inside the cockpit, Amanda takes a look around it to familiarize for a moment. All almost identical to a modern tank, except that there''s a monitor in front of the pilot''s seat that allows them to observe the battle while using the machines around them to coordinate the battle.


    "Hmm, few common beings can share this kind of thing, aren''t we?" Amanda mutters as she sits down to the pilots'' seat. Quickly reaching to the pedals near her feet and gaining a hold of the two control sticks near the cockpit. Moving the right one makes the gun in front of the mecha to move to each side and up and down. She briefly touches the trigger which some of the laser blasts from it to a nearby wall.


    "Well, I''ll be lucky..." she then moves the left one which makes the hull of it to change direction between left and right. With the combined movements of some of the pedals, it moves back and forth while changing to different directions, barely hitting walls and such while keeping the balance of the walker.


    "Now, to the finest touch!" Laureano says.


    Amanda, in spite of the initial clumsiness, starts to smile from her newfound skills with the walker, quickly getting a grip on the control sticks as she starts to turn around to the exit of the building. Facing near the entry of the school next to it, the Zloca knights look confusingly as to why did the walker start to walk back to their position.


    "What''s up, freaks!?" she starts to open fire from the turret, killing most of the knights standing in the area. While this is going on, another Zlocan battalion accompanied by a tank nearby notices the assault.


    "What''s going on?! Why''s the FCX9 attacking our very troops!?"


    "Must be some rogue inside of it."


    "Then let''s take it down!"


    They all start to open fire at the Walker manned by Amanda, but she manages to turn in time to open fire at the group, killing most of the team. The tank fires one of its shells to the walker, hitting a bit hard to cause it to stagger back. Nonetheless, Amanda can still find a through it as she looks around the control stick to see if there''s another function for her to use.


    While it all seems hopeless, she eventually finds the answer when she presses one of the triggers from the control stick, this time firing a large-pulse laser blast from the cannon located near the hatch. A blast so strong it completely obliterates the Zlocan tank into a fiery wreckage.


    Soon most of the rebels emerge from the building to give a stand to Amanda whose wits and skills enabled the group a good victory for them. Cheering and clapping can be heard from the crowd surrounding Amanda as she opens the hatch. Even in occupation, the spirit of the Mexicans lives on.


    "Another great victory for our dearest Amanda!"


    "We knew we could rely on you!"


    "So, this is the good shit we''ve been looking for after all. Another goddamn good impression after all, querida," Laureano says as he gently caresses Amanda''s hand.


    "Oh, you sly devil, Laurie..." another soldier mutters.


    "Hehe! Alright now, all we have to is to regroup with our comrades around the other side and try to give all the support we can. A path to victory always needs a handful of steps, all we need to do is to follow the next one, and that is by-" the elderly officer says before Amanda notices something in the sky, something mysterious yet at the same time, a menacing feel can feel from it.


    "What the hell?"


    "Something so dark in the sky...wait...it''s a..."


    Some flashes in the sky appear, in which by closer look, Amanda can now see what they really are once they get closer, with her eyes widening and the body suddenly having the urge to move out of the way.


    A pair of incoming missiles.


    "Take goddamn cover!!" Laureano shouts as he and the others start to run away from the walker. where the missiles are fired upon, with Amanda following suit by jumping off and running away as well. As they run off, the missiles impact the walker, causing it to explode massively with some of the pieces flying off to many parts of the neighborhood.


    But that''s not the end of it. The flying object starts to fire a barrage of machine gun strafing around the area. It hits many of the rebels who were trying to take cover while injuring others as well.


    Amanda, Laureano, the elderly officer and a handful of others take cover near a platform near the school, where most of the gunfire didn''t stick out.


    After crouching down for a moment, they move away for a bit to check if it''s gone.


    It all appears to be secure now.


    When in fact...


    "It''s coming back! Run boys!" The flying object flies nearby once more, firing again its deadly barrage in which kills the injured rebels on the ground, likely an extra measure in ensuring they get out alive from the battle.


    By looking closely at the object moving at high speed, Amanda could see what it is.


    A highly advanced Hind with a handful of modifications around it.


    And to finalize the entrance of such attack, the door opens while the helicopter flies to the skies once more, in which five figures are seen descending from it.


    "These cabrones...killing our own precious people...people with hope! Don''t they have enough to kill already!?" Laureano shouts while holding his fist tightly and flaring his nostrils as he proceeds to grab his gun, only to be taken back by Amanda.


    "Don''t go yet!"


    "I don''t give a shit if I can handle them myself!"


    "Stop being such a fool! You want to get murdered like the rest of your comrades did?" the officer interrupts.


    Laureano stands silently from his words, such state of mind won''t do anyone''s favors at all. And sometimes the best time to fight is when the mind is rational.


    "We should split up! All of you return to the buildings, I''ll get cover from Amanda and Laureano!"


    Most of the rebels do as he says as they all enter the building while the rest head towards the school.


    Firmly landing on the ground, which causes a bit of a shockwave to come out enough to cause some smoke. Once it clears, it''s none other than the infamous Inquisitors, all ready to give some trouble once more.


    "I guess I should say, this would make some good target practice," Jason says while holding a large Pecheng machine gun in his hand.


    "Be mindful of it, soon they''ll know how to become proper Humans once this is done. Jason, Dakrin, Lucy, you take care of the guys on the blocks. Yamja and I will have some matters to deal with here," Raven says while detaching his claws from his hands.


    "With pleasure."


    Both Inquisitors then head out to their objectives, ready commit in what could yet another thing that''s better not told.


    Not many horrors can be told at all.

 Chapter 17 - The Objects of the God of War

    F.O.B Jefferson. 08:40 PST.


    Logan? Logan...are you alright? Logan?! Logan!


    Amira stands up to keep herself calm while still trying to record what she just heard. The cries of anguish of Logan, ones combined with rage, aren''t something for her to ignore. Even if she''s in custody, she''s well aware of how much Logan needs help, and the ones from Seiner and Tany may not be enough to quell it.


    Yet she''s locked inside a room, guarded by two soldiers. How on Earth will she manage to get out of it?


    If I''m kept in custody for too long...I may lose my friends. No, it doesn''t matter what the other Humans may do next, I have to save them.


    She then places her left hand near her forehead and closes her eyes. It will help her out in seek how to escape. Seeing beyond the soldiers from the outside, she sees some plant pots, chairs, and metal tables stationed around the room and the corridor outside. She changes her focus on the lock of the door, one which while it''s a simple one, it''s tightly shut, almost to the point that it can only function with an I.D card of a member of the base.


    Changing her focus on the right guard''s pocket is his I.D card. The perfect chance for it.


    But how is she going to get it?


    She focuses on one of the tables near the door, one with wheels and packs of paper sheets in it. The joint confusion of hurling a table to smash the door and the moment the guards leave, she''ll use with her Mirai technique to detach the I.D card from the collar and use it to her advantage. But if it fails...she may have to resort something risky for her ideals, even though Logan taught her otherwise. Maybe the latter option could be more suited.


    She reaches out with her hands aiming at the guards located outside the room. Steadily motioning her fingers while trying to get a hold of them. By fully grasping the extent of the Norai''s powers, they make contact through the guards'' heads. They slightly notice it when they feel something entrailing them, almost if something caught them.


    Then, she claps her hands steadily, the force of the movement being enough to drag the guards to each other, knocking themselves out from the force of the mutual collision.


    She leans near the window to see the result. Even though it was a necessary action, she can only sigh while using her left hand on her forehead again while closing her eyes.


    My deepest apologies, dear Humans...I have a friend to save...


    She then tracks the I.D card from the knocked guard of the right, steadily detaching it from the collar. Steadily levitating it near the card reader near the door. With one swipe, the door is unlocked. She opens the door and leaves the room where she was locked in. But before leaving to the other room, she gazes to the knocked soldiers once more, her eyes almost narrow while looking at the palm of her hand.


    To love is her nature, that''s for sure. But sometimes, a measure should be taken as a step in fulfilling a goal, no matter the cost.


    Tapping her forehead with her hand once more, she starts seeing visions of what it seems to be the location of both her saber and armor, something important for her to use. It''s located in John''s office on the second floor.


    Now knowing her destination, she heads to the exit where it leads to one of the corridors with many different ones as well inside the main building. She heads to the left, where the route to the stairs of the second floor is located. She starts running as fast as she can, filled with determination and a sense of friendship that she has for others, never to be ignored. Even though the corridors and hallways are quite open, she still feels a sense of unease of feeling something that could catch her and send her back, hence the rapid sprint.


    But just as she''s about to reach the stairs, the alarms blare inside the building, as loud to be heard across the whole building. It appears that she''s in such a rush that she can''t even consider trying a stealthier approach or even bother in checking her surroundings. She didn''t mind though, all she cared for is continue to run as she climbs up the stairs and turns left on the corridor where her equipment is located.


    She uses her power once more to check the lock on the door, but to her surprise, it''s open. Was John in such a rush that he didn''t even bother to check if the door was locked or not? Or extreme overconfidence? Perhaps even the best military geniuses need a lesson in checking their own things in time before something awry happens.


    She shifts her gaze to a black, medium-sized locked box where her items are stored.


    At first, she staggers for a bit while looking down. Using much of her brute force it''s up to no good. Yet at the same time, she knows what needs to be done.


    She reaches out with her hands, using the fullest extent of her powers to pull the gate away. Continuously joggling her hands strenuously. Even when she winces for a bit from the strength she''s using, she still feels the need for the deed. No matter the metal, the power of the Norai is one like no other.


    She then pulls the lock away at full force, enough to send it flying back to a wall. Heading towards the box, she grabs both her armor and the saber which was kept away. But before she could do anything with them, she hears some footsteps outside the room.


    Soldiers.


    "She''s in John''s room!"


    "Alright, men! Set for stun!"


    "It''s time for her to behave properly with Humans lessons!"


    Amira can''t believe what she''s hearing, not believing in the words they''re uttering. Backing down for a bit while breathing steadily yet heavily, looking back and forth on both sides in what to do.


    Then she looks behind her, it''s a window to the outside. The perfect chance it seems.


    She quickly puts her battle armor on and holsters her saber around her waist while quickly opening the rail. She crouches down for a bit, ready to make a leap with the force of her wings, even though they feel a bit numb from being in captivity for a while.


    "Stun grenade!"


    Hearing such words, she quickly leaps outside the room, the force of her wings fluttering around with great force that she''s able to escape from the stun blast. Once it''s all cleared out, the three soldiers storm in with their rifles to check if Amira got affected. To some degree of surprise, it didn''t.


    They head towards the window where Amira escaped, all while an Asian soldier pulls out a walkie-talkie from his holster.


    "Inform John that the Alien subject just escaped custody from F.O.B Jefferson. I repeat, inform John that the Alien escaped, and she seems to be heading to San Jose."


    "How can we help?" the soldier on the other end asks.


    "Make sure you find her and bring her back unharmed. If anything, don''t use excessive force."


    "Wilco."


    "Good, make it work. Now, let''s establish a perimeter around the base with the remaining members so she can be escorted properly when she returns. Sounds good?"


    "Sir!"


    "Now move it up!"


    The soldiers then leave the room to head towards the other parts of the base and form some defenses when Amira arrives. Even if she has escaped, they''ll make sure her return will be done properly in Human terms.


    While this happens, Amira continues to fly away from the base and heads to the direction of San Jose.


    Hang in there Logan and friends...I''m coming.


    -------------------


    Underground Bank. Same time.


    The containment room is thrown into chaos as Logan continues his slaughter. Cut down bodies littered on the floor, accompanied with the gory remains of the test subjects that were being held as prisoners, and some dry blood found in the floor as well. Some of the Zlocan personnel are even starting to run away from Logan''s wrath. And at the same time, Seiner and Tany rushing to contain Logan but the other knights are proving too much for them to ignore, as they hold out from a Zlocan attack from the other side of the room, using everything they have to their advantage.


    "You mean to kill us all, Human bastards?!" a Zlocan says as he aims his rifle towards a rampaging Logan while the others flee.


    "You''re a reason why you deserve to be exterminated!"


    He then fires at Logan, only for him to deflect all the laser bolts from it, and proceeds to cut down the rifle, his arms and finally his head in many pieces. With his eyes wide open, flaring nostrils like no other and growling with some foaming coming out of his mouth, Logan has his mind clear. He screams once more as he rushes towards the other Zlocans and Inquisitors who are running towards the room that holds some prisoners.


    "I''LL KILL YOU ALL!!! I''LL KILL YOU IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS!!!"


    "All of this in the name of Human justice and rights? You''re pitiful!" a female Zlocan Knight says before she''s beheaded by Logan.


    "S...stop...Mercy! Please, NO!" another Zlocan says before he gets stabbed in his right eye, then gets part of his head sliced off from the slash.


    Logan then slowly approaches a cowering, helmetless Zlocan who''s shedding some tears while bowing down and shaking tremendously.


    "Mister...please...just please...have mercy..."


    Logan ignores such words as he raises his sword up in the air...but before he could land the slash, a laser bolt is fired and hits his right arm, causing him to quickly cover it up for the injury while staggering back for a bit.


    The direction came from a Zlocan Knight, accompanied by others to support their comrade in need.


    "You lay even a finger on any of us, and we''ll break down on every bit of yours!"


    Logan slightly tries to raise his sword again while still rapidly breathing. But, he starts to slowly breathe slowly if a bit exhausted, his chin quivers while his eyes get watery. He even starts to back down for a bit.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Friendship and protection...you have them too...?"


    The Zlocan then rushes towards Logan while pulling his knife from his belt and stabs Logan near the abdomen. Logan kneels down as he winces in pain from the stab, then tries to cover his injury with his left hand while his right one still heals from the laser blast. Logan looks up to the Zlocan who''s pointing his knife towards him. Even so, all he can do is staring at him.


    "I''m...I''m so sorry...I''m so sorry..."


    "Stop talking big, Human scum. You think that a simple heartfelt apology is going to absolve you from your crimes, isn''t it? Ever since you killed more than enough for the thirst of your Human "justice". Now, say your last prayers!"


    But before he could stab him again, a pair of metal balls fly by near the two Zlocans and land near the Zlocan guarding the prisoners, and before they can do anything, they explode with shock electricity, causing to the Knights to be electrocuted before eventually passing out.


    "Who threw that?" the Zlocan says before he gets knocked out by a flying rock hurled at him on his head, dropping out cold. The cowering Zlocan stays in his position while the ones who did such actions, Seiner and Tany arrive at the scene. Tany holds Logan for a bit, seeing some of his injuries in his arm and abdomen, she proceeds to use Curatio on him, healing them almost instantly, yet Logan still has his low state as he keeps breathing slowly while looking down.


    "Loggie? What happened my dear Loggie?"


    Logan doesn''t respond. His eyes still feeling empty and watery as a lonely being. Something so hard from the Zlocan who defended the other may put something that he didn''t want to see for so long.


    Meanwhile, Seiner releases the prisoners that were locked down in the room. He then puts his index finger near his ear plug.


    "John, this is Seiner Butch, we''ve managed to eliminate the Zlocan control near the bank in Japantown and secured the hostages. Requesting immediate containment of the area."


    "Copy that. Pretty sure you boys have a damn fine job for it. Also, forces near the downtown are closing in near the city hall, we recommend immediate reinforcements to the area unless reported otherwise," John replies.


    "We''ll be on our way, just hang in there. Over."


    Seiner lowers his hand away from the earplug while the hostages are coming out of the room. Most look a bit raw-boned from the time spent underground, some with lots of bruises and cuts in some parts of their bodies, some hard enough to make them limp while trying to walk away. Another refresher to start anew, but a slow one it seems.


    Seiner turns his gaze to Logan while walking in a tense manner, his chin is high and his eyes are tightened, almost as looking down on a criminal. But how much Logan can be compared to a criminal?


    "Logan...care to explain what the hell was that for?"


    "I...I couldn''t..."


    "Just spit out!"


    "My memories...all those bodies...all that bloodshed...if an olive branch can''t take care of it..."


    "I get it now, this is a war we''re in, but what those memories that you have you should just toss it instead of clinging to it madly."


    "Seiny!"


    "Don''t get started you too, idiot. Why don''t just accept that a grown man needs to-"


    "Who gives a damned damn of what a man should feel!? Loggie right here didn''t feel right for a moment...and now he needs his company, a company of friends."


    "It''s alright, Tany, I think...I should just talk about it later-no-maybe the right time," Logan says as he gets up and slowly swipes the water in his eyes away but still feeling pouty.


    "You''d better explain that excuse of yours..."


    "And what judgment you may give me?"


    "Judgment is best reserved for someone who may be as well deserving in such state of mind to the point you don''t know what does it mean being Human. I think you don''t need one just yet."


    "But yet you-"


    "Amira''s on her own terms and you know that."


    Logan stands silently for a moment, shaking for a bit from Seiner''s response while Tany still holds to him. Even if he tries to keep the composure, it would be clear that it may not be for long.


    "There are some things that are better known once you know beyond the distinction of belonging to something. Something far more beyond a moral standard, Seiner."


    "Maybe."


    "Let''s move on. Walter needs us."


    "Sounds good then."


    "Loggie..."


    They leave the underground floor of the bank, ready to meet up with Walter and GoD once more. Nonetheless, Logan still has some distress in his movements. What can happen on something so personal can''t be removed that easy it seems.


    -------------------


    50 minutes later. City Hall


    The battle in the district is one beyond measure. Tanks rolling in and providing some defensive shield for the ground troops for the UEF, some succeeded, some weren''t so lucky. Personal carriers and turrets are also scattered across the zone, prying for the control of the place. Even with Zlocan technology, a mixture of Human tactics and expertise enabled them to heavily push the Zlocan occupiers from the zone. However, the toll can''t be ignored. Some are hiding out in terror from the fight while others are dragged down to safe zones to be properly healed, either with minor or grave injuries.


    In the Zlocan post around the hall, a handful of Knights and Inquisitors are holding their position from UEF fire. Most are taking cover from the fire while trying their best to counterattack at them. Among them, Thomas is the one leading the defense from the hall, having taken a defensive position near the entrance while commanding the troops and being assisted by some Zlocans around him.


    "Keep the rocking going guys, you know how valuable this place can be for our operations. And be quick to summon any resource left at our disposal," Thomas said.


    "Our resources have been wrecked beyond recognition, commander," a Zlocan officer replies.


    "Then keep shooting god-damn it! Just keep on shooting if you want to live!"


    "That''s it? That''s all you need to say? No diversions or anything?"


    "It''s...it''s everything we need to do after all."


    "Then let''s hope it can be done."


    -------------------


    Walter and his comrades are covering behind, trying to cover some fire at the Zlocan troops while keeping casualties to a minimum. Walter, with his heavily modified M16A4 rifle, is blasting most of the Zlocan troops from far away, while Valentina is sniping with her M93 sniper rifle at a relative mid-range. Even with such range, she''s capable of taking down a handful of Zlocans from afar. From every shot, her composure remains stable, like a quiet vulture getting ready for its prey. The others like Ae Gang and Berat are also covering fire from their positions, using between sub-machine guns and heavy machine guns.


    "Well shit, never thought they''ll be tough as nails!" Ji-Ae exclaims.


    "Nails are pussies when it comes to pounding," Walter replies.


    "To be honest Walter, it''s better to keep dirtiness shut when it comes to them, don''t you think?" Valentina replies


    "Screw that shit!"


    "Better try out something better next time, Valy," Celina says.


    "If I could, then a proper dictionary would tell me."


    "Alright...how many bullets left? Mine''s almost done."


    "I''m almost out of bullets, Walty..." Berat replies.


    "I''m running out of enjoyment, damn it!"


    "Don''t have enough magazines left to get ''em this far," Valentina says.


    "Unless by a miracle I make something to refill ammo with my cool stuff, then I''m out as well," Celina replies.


    "Hey, just got two rockets left but I''m not sure if it will take the bastards down in time!" Mehdi replies


    "Well, either was have something or we''re totally boned."


    Everything seemed to veer into a difficult stage for them. Even with the tank at their disposal, it''s a bit too damaged to continue to operate into the battle, and even if the Zlocans are getting low on numbers, they still seem to hold on strongly in their outpost.


    It all seems hopeless. But as in any battle, there always comes a bright mind to solve something in their favor.


    "Now hold on a sec, Mehdi. Two rockets you said, ain''t that right?"


    "Well, yes."


    "And you know what we do in case if the bullets are all "dried" up?"


    "Ohhh, don''t you mean?" Berat asks as he leans closer to him.


    "Oh hell yes! Melee Mode!" Ae Gang yells.


    "But, how can try that if their firepower is outpowering us?" Celina asks.


    "Easy dear fistik, I think I''m getting a hang of what the man, Walter wants us to do. And that is to kick ass and take the ultimate glory."


    "Pretty much indeed, my dear Berat."


    "But captain, don''t you think you''ll get yourself-" a soldier tries to ask Walter.


    "Slow down kiddo, I''m far suited for this kind of job than you think. Now, on the count of three, we''ll start cutting up their asses in no time. Ready?"


    Berat and Valentina unsheathe their swords while preparing their stance for combat.


    "One."


    Ae Gang pulls her Chakrams from her holster while Mehdi takes a hold of his halberd located on his back.


    "Two."


    Walter then pulls his black nano stick as well, making the materialization into a long, black axe that used once and will use again.


    "THREE!"


    Within the blink of an eye, Mehdi leaps sideways, firing the two rockets from the launchers he has from both hands. The missiles explode near the defense lines established between the entrance of the city hall and its outskirts. The force of the explosions is so strong that it knocks backs the ones nearby and injuring most of them, while also causing smoke which clouds anything beyond the entrance. The ones not affected by the blast try to check what happened while mobilizing to recover their fallen comrades.


    "Are the Humans that foolish enough to throw such flimsy toys to scare us?" the Knight besides Thomas asks.


    But just as they''re about to continue fighting as they recovered the rest, a figure leaps from the smoke, one holding two particular Chakrams in an X-shaped form with her arms. Ae Gang''s time comes now, as she throws the two Chakrams into the Zlocan Knights, beheading four of them while cutting the limbs of others.


    But before the other Knights could counterattack, one of them gets stabbed in the leg, wincing heavily in pain until getting knocked out cold with the elbow. The weapon from the figure is nothing other than a Sai, belonging to Celina herself as she stands up and deflects the blaster fire from the other Zlocans while using her agility to strike the Zlocans in vital points in their bodies.


    "They''re using personal combat now? Heh, then let''s show them a taste of Zlocan melee as well!" a Knight says as he and the other draw their Seroi swords from their holsters and get ready to attack.


    Two knights rush towards Celina herself, but just as they''re about to swing their swords away to Celina''s back, they clash with a blue blade, the one from none other than Valentina herself. Locking themselves with swords, Valentina then swings her double-bladed katana around the Knight''s sword, striking it with swift moves that disorient both Knights. Taking advantage, she separates the hilts the double-bladed Katana and uses them to impale them both, dropping dead as she pulls the sword away. Valentina taps on Celina''s shoulder as she smiles.


    "I could have taken care of them myself."


    "I couldn''t let you in being alone."


    Celina heartily chuckles from her statement before taking their battle stance once more as they rush further into the place. Some heavily armored Zlocans take out their axes from the back, ready to strike as well. But as soon as they approach the other members, another figure jumps in the air with a huge halberd, hammering it towards the heavy knights that it slices one knight in half vertically, leaving the huge chunks of organs and intestines falling on an orange pool of blood. Mehdi then plunges the halberd into the other knight''s head, quickly cutting it half which leaves parts of the exposed brain to fall down. He then shakes the halberd to sweep the chunks of Zlocan parts away from it while the blood remains plastered on the blade of it and cracks his neck a few times.


    "May I ask for something better?" he asks before rushing to get some more.


    "Oh god, it''s no use!" Thomas yells as he watches the carnage from afar, shaking up extremely while trying to hold his gun steadily.


    "Think about it, Human. Once they get closer, use the easiest way to solve a conflict because it''s the best you do."


    "But sir-"


    "Just do it what I told you or else you''ll die, slowly and painfully up your deepest thoughts that won''t escape you even in death."


    Thomas can only sweat rapidly while trembling fast from the sight. All such training, and now reduced to this.


    Some Zlocan knights are fighting off the others as well, using their best maneuvers and agility to gain the upper hand against them.


    One, in particular, strikes his sword against Valentina herself, who blocks every move of his while trying to strike back as well.


    He''s about to swing a bit more, all until his hands all get cut off from a Kilij sword from Berat himself who then elbowed him to the ground. The one behind him tries to rush towards them, only to be sliced in half by Walter himself.


    "Aren''t you getting tired already, you lazy lumberjack?" Valentine asks.


    Walter turns around briefly while holding his axe with one hand while aiming it like it was a gun. It''s towards a group of three Zlocans who are rushing with their swords and shields wildly. But before they can reach him, he pushes something in the middle of the grip, which causes the eye of the axe to lift up, releasing a burst of bullets that fires three times, greatly tearing down the trio limb to limb until their last breath.


    Walter blows the smoke from the hole away, eventually hatching itself again.


    "True warriors never get tired. Tiredness is for pussies anyway," Walter quips as he holds his axe. Berat joins him as well as they overlook the corpse-filled landscape, with Celina, Valentina, Mehdi and Ae Gang joining as well.


    With all the blood encrusted in their blades and some of their armor, their narrow-eyed expression and nonchalant behavior showed the true extent of warriors suited for war, ones destined for greatness.


    The soldiers from afar look in awe from they saw, some with jealousy to say the least, but for them, it''s like the greatest Herculean soldiers just came to life in the modern world. A much-needed desire for them.


    "These people...are they even Human?" a soldier asks


    "Maybe so...such extraordinary strength, something outside from any part of the world. "


    "I didn''t matter what the training records show, they seem to be born to battle after all. Complete confidence in fact."


    "Maybe they''re the children of the god of war? By paying no heed of slaughtering their own people, they''ll ensure the payback is as strong as it can get."


    Whatever the rank, gender, nationality, or even religious, words are uttered around over the usefulness from G.o.D Squad from the UEF soldiers. Even though it''s just their fourth battle, they already gained a large fame across the military.


    Whether it''s to ensure the memory sticks with them forever, all to reach an even larger legacy of the warrior or just to fight, it''s surely a great show deserved for the best.


    But from such strength from them, there''s the cost of something valuable to Human life, one which deserves to make it worth existing.

 Chapter 18 - Whos To Judge?

    Arriving near the City Hall with the Chrome Bike, the trio oversees many things that are widely present in war. dismembered and charred corpses of both sides littered on the ground, the rubble of some buildings around them, burning wreckage of the vehicles that were destroyed in combat, and the familiar stench of the fuel of the vehicles can be felt as well. With all the scenery around as Seiner drives, they keep on looking forward without turning around to see what''s surrounding them. Yet at the same time, something unpleasant sat for all of them, something that was less than they''re expecting. They try their best in not to cling to it...but it''s hard to shake it off.


    Not when there''s the loss of life.


    Not when pieces of beauty are crumbled.


    And not when Earth is reaching the brink of extinction.


    Not a single emotion being swayed away.


    Arriving near the street outside the hall and meeting up with the soldiers, Seiner re-digitizes the Chrome Bike in its bike form again.


    "Hey, what took you guys so long?" a soldier asks.


    "Shit happened," Seiner replies.


    "Ah, well sucks to be you for a bunch of rookies. By setting yourself straight next time and there won''t be any time wasting at all," another one replies, this time a female one.


    "Oh, quit your blabbering, meanie! There''s one thing when it''s really just screwing around for screwy things and there''s...hurt feelings!" Tany replies as she approaches the soldier before getting yanked off by Seiner away from her. She chuckles in response.


    "Oh my darling, if only you know the rules a bit better than that thick head of yours believes."


    "That''s irrelevant right now, just please..." Logan says in a quiet tone.


    The soldiers could only simply exchange gazes at each other while keeping their frowns in front of the trio. There''s one thing they can care less, and that''s the use of emotions in battle. Many interpret differently but it''s said to be a vital factor when winning something.


    The soldiers then turned around as they hear some murmuring behind them, all while observing the battle happening near the hall. They start approaching to see what''s going on, with the trio following suit.


    What they see is the aftermath of G.o.D Squad show of power, a way to show that even under Alien threat, Humanity won''t let themselves to be taken as slaves for anything and anyone else in all existence. Around them are the chopped off corpses left in their wake, which is the perfect result of it.


    "And speaking of setting thing straight, you guys should follow these ones a bit more. They know how to teach those sons of bitches in how not to mess with Humanity," the female soldier says as she smiles brightly.


    "Hell yeah! They can get-like-some load of fans and money if they gain all the fame for saving us, I mean, we need more heroes these days!" another one replies.


    "Well, pave the way to them after all!" the female soldier replies as she chuckles alongside the others. The same can''t be said with Logan and his team, however. All they do is to stare at the aftermath of the battle while the members of GoD squad get up to fight some more. This time with the remaining guards outside including Thomas.


    Their frowns are as deep in what they perceive in what they see. What is the meaning of that "heroism"? Did it really need to change?


    "We should know better..." Logan quietly mutters.


    "Oh quit dicking around, you know in which ones to rely on!" the male soldier retorts.


    "But what''s the value of it? The bloody value?" Seiner asks, still not changing his gaze to her.


    "Kicking ass!"


    "Then you''re gonna need a bigger brain."


    "Stow it, dude. It''s better if we keep ourselves from such idiocy." the female soldier says as she raises her arm between Seiner and the other soldier who was about to punch him. He''s lucky, at least for now.


    "I wanted to see Seiny kick ass though," Tany replies while swinging her staff around it.


    "Kicking them properly you mean."


    "Nah!"


    Seiner can only grumble in frustration as he crosses his arms and closes his eyes while turning away from her. Logan could only stare blankly at the sight of it. He then lowers his head as he closes his eyes while placing his right hand on his chest, pressing it hard as he can.


    Father...Mother...Can I truly be the one to understand what is heroism...and to be a warrior?


    ---------------------------


    Near the entrance, the trembling Thomas is too nervous to even lift a finger, his eyes overly damp and rapidly blinking. The Zlocan next to him pushes him to the ground and kicks him in the chest as well which causes him to whimper as he tries to defend himself from the Zlocan.


    "I should have known better. We could have gotten someone who''s more useful than a spineless fool like you! So get lost now!"


    He steps outside the entrance, his gaze focusing mainly on G.o.D Squad who stand there with their weapons. The Zlocan Knight has both his rifle and his sword sheathed on his belt.


    "I never thought you Humans would come this far, maybe a little too much. Consider me lucky in being impressed by you, but you still have much to learn about being a worthy being."


    "As if! I believe it''s species like you who deserve more teachings!" Ji-Ae replies.


    "Hypocritical as usual it seems."


    "Don''t bother with such excuses. All that matters is to mop the dirt away in our home no matter what, asshole," Walter retorts back while extending the eye of his axe towards the Zlocan. Even from such action, the latter remain motionless from it while still holding to his rifle. He chuckles for a bit while starting to hold the rifle with just one arm.


    "Nice joking. Always the good one when it comes to people who think who can do anything. But if that''s the case, then how about if you try this?" he then pulls a green box with a red switch on the upper left part of it. The moment the squad takes notice of it, their eyes widened and soon take aim towards the Zlocan holding the dreaded thing.


    "Yes. Make one step closer towards me and I''ll push this detonator that''ll blow the place sky high, killing not just all of us in the vicinity, but also a handful of prisoners and other men inside, including the governor. And before you ask, this is, of course, the order from the Zlocan generals in case if something goes awry for us."


    "Amazing. Putting such an ugly guy in charge for you yet you consider him expendable. Anything lower from you?" Valentina says.


    "Mister Perlman is a weakling. Ever since "taking" office all he did was just making chats and then having his cohorts do his bidding for the sake of the "people" and to "defend" them, yet he stayed inside watching everything while enjoying his luxuries without even lifting a finger. A true warrior always tries to accompany the ones who are part in achieving what they want together, to stay together until the bitter end. He lacked it, and you too will."


    "Does blowing your brains out mean the other way around?" Mehdi asks.


    "Whatever you say, you cannot prevent the demonstration of the Kujar''s will! No matter if all of us die, his vision will still come true and show Humans the true price of defying us! And soon afterward, the Zlocu will gain the dominance they deserve, no matter any type of delay, WE will gain it!"If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    But before he could press the trigger, a loud bang is heard, and suddenly, it enters near the Zlocan''s forehead. Splattering some orange-ish blood and some chunks of the brain out to the ground while leaving a bloodied mark from it. After some brief pause from the sudden attack, the Zlocan slumps down slowly while dropping the detonator to the ground. The corpse stands there as the blood from the bullet hole oozes to the ground.


    The origin of the bullet attack? None other than Thomas himself, holding his pistol while slowly standing up again, still trembling up while clutching up to his chest.


    The other members change their gaze towards him, impressed by the action he just took. Even on their side, someone still took the time to demonstrate how he still has his right place for the fight.


    Walter then slowly approaches towards him while holding his axe to his back with a smirk on his face, his eyes focused on him. Thomas still holding on to his wound but smiling gently at the sight of his savior, probably a well-needed rest for him.


    "Well, what do we got here, a scared boy turned hero? Well, I kinda like you now. Yeah, you heard me right, you can come over my house and screw my sister."


    Walter extends his fist right in Thomas'' abdomen, making an impact and hitting it very harshly yet almost swift from the reaction time from him.


    The force so strong it makes Thomas spit some blood from his mouth and fall over to the ground again, writhing from the heavy punch Walter gave to him.


    "You fucking traitor, you think we''re stupid enough to forget about it? We at the UEF won''t tolerate any desertion at all."


    "But...but...I just..."


    "I don''t give a goddamn shit of your sob story. I''m pretty sure you already committed enough crimes towards anyone who wanted to do the right thing. Even now, yours isn''t even right."


    "Walty, don''t you think-" Berat says as he approaches but Walter raises his palm without changing his gaze at him.


    "Not now my babe, any enemy deserves a nice punishment."


    "Sir...please..."


    "Face it kiddo, no matter how much you insist, we won''t, and never will take kindly to deserters to our race. We already had enough trouble among ourselves, and I am not letting a goddamn reminder of it to be with us when the fight continues, so you can suck it up."


    "Sir..."


    "You''re boring me now. Hope you''re ready for momma when you come to visit her this instant. Oh, and one last thing."


    "W-what?"


    "Get that crybaby face off now once I hammer this down. Now, see ya."


    Walter then points his ax with the eye on it. The lid opens, once again prepared to unleash the fire. Thomas is sobbing uncontrollably as he holds to his leg with the axe near his forehead. He attempted with reason, everything with it to convince others. But alas, once in a side, always in the side they said. And now Thomas may learn it hard.


    Or will he?


    "HOLD IT!" a voice shouts as a laser bolt hits Walter''s axe, causing him to be shaken off for a bit. He turns around to see the source of the one who tried to shoot him.


    Seiner Butch himself. Logan and Tania standing behind him while aiming his gun at him.


    "One simple act of being with the enemy is not the reason to become the executor at once. You, sir, are not making the right way to conduct this person''s fate or anything to his well-being."


    "So what?! You know what any goddamn traitor deserves in history no matter the reasons. So shut up and-" Walter retorts


    "That alone won''t cut it. For a person to make something that a general sentiment sees as deplorable lies on the intent itself and how much it needs to be understood and be justified."


    "Who do you think you are? An amateur "working" for the people? We are the real ones. You''re just lost in childish fantasies of doing it "right" which is horseshit anyway."


    "No. I''m a guy who in the fateful day against my will, I thought that everything that went through me was undesirable, not part of what I wanted to nor to even try in knowing better. Especially with guys like these...yet even if they seem undesirable to me, I know for sure that they are widely needed to protect on what the world stands for. I myself was part of something of the same and faced the same problem that you did, not caring for the proper law and such. And who''s to say I''m the real good one here? I even treated the alien-no-Amira harshly because of her status, yet now I see how much misjudgment may be affecting her. And right now, I won''t let misjudgment take another precious thing as well."


    "What''s so precious about a deserter?!"


    "Just listen to him! You, what''s your name?"


    "T-Thomas Li...just a civilian...turned into a soldier out of my will ever since Area 51..."


    "Any crime rap on you?"


    "Negative..."


    "He just got one."


    "That won''t count! As you can see, he...he unwillingly joined it because the Zlocans had no other way for many of us, especially him. We saw what the Human Inquisitors can be capable of, and how even measures to make sure they don''t make harm is necessary...but not when there''s a shred of reason in why."


    "Seiner...are you trying to be...?" Celina asks.


    "That man doesn''t deserve any execution just now. Not until he''s officially judged for his actions by the high command. They''ll know the fate holding for him. And in that process, listening, reasoning and speaking out is what will ensure such fate for him and any other on trial. That is the true meaning of a judgment, Walter."


    "One in which true warriors know," Logan replies.


    "And one where the goodies can live happy with proper order," Tany replies as well.


    Walter gritted his teeth while still holding his axe near Thomas and the nostrils flaring heavily.


    He lives to fight, yet at the same time, knows the orders for a war.


    He wants satisfaction, but not at the cost of what could benefit him.


    The other members of GoD Squad watch attentively at both members, especially with Berat and Ji-Ae watching over them, with the former holding his left hand in his chest while his eyes get narrow, the latter with a scowl with her arms crossed.


    After a stand-off between the two groups, Walter makes his decision. He presses a button near the center of the back of the handle, causing the eye to close down and then holding it near his back once more. He has a scowl on his face while doing so, but once something it''s done, it sticks that way.


    Thomas runs away from him towards the trio, quickly hugging Seiner while shedding tears and gasping for air. Seiner is taken aback for a bit, looking down back and forth between his buddies and him. Yet at the same time, he pats him gently.


    "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much! But are you sure I''m gonna be...?"


    "They''ll decide. But regardless of it...just, eh, maybe hold some relief in knowing someone is there for you. That''s something Human after all."


    Thomas stands there silently for a moment but slightly smiles in response to it. He may finally get some rest that he needs.


    But just as he''s about to release him, Seiner starts to shake for a bit, his head especially while trying to putting himself under pressure.


    "Seiny?"


    Seiner raises his head in front of them while being a bit stilted, his eyes now growing on a golden-hue once more.


    Soundness Brass


    After his moment of paralyzis, he regains composure, shaking his head as he regains his senses from the brief glow in his eyes.


    "OK...I think I should go now..." Thomas says as he walks away from him. The group of soldiers awaiting him proceed to handcuff him and escort him away to another zone. This time though, he doesn''t resist or tremble, he just normally walks away.


    Walter approaches Seiner, still with the scowl on his face.


    "You''re lucky today. But next time you''re not around, I''ll blow someone''s brains out. Got it, kiddo?"


    "Then let''s hope it''s a worthy blowing then," Seiner replies while smirking in response. This makes Logan and Tany chuckle for a bit, even some of GoD Squad.


    "Piss off..." he leaves him while going back to his Squad, all while Berat holds him near his arm around the neck.


    "Remember to be gentle, right? Always the good lesson to learn."


    "I don''t give a shit about that."


    "Ohohoh Walty. Gentleness is the best way to avoid a mistake for your whole life."


    "Eh. Once this ends, let''s go to a strip club."


    "If you insist..."


    "Hey, me and Cely won''t miss that out either. Right dear?"


    "Right on."


    Mehdi and Ji-Ae can only groan profoundly while accompanying them as well. Arms crossed and such.


    "Now, onto governor Perlman himself, shall we guys?" Logan asks.


    "Oh yeah!" Walter replies.


    But before they can act, a helicopter is heard ascending by from the rooftop of the main building, a Bell 206 with black and white markings around it. And a familiar logo near the engine.


    "Oh shit! Don''t tell me it''s taking off with Perlman inside!" Ji-Ae exclaims.


    "Hang on now, I''ll take care of it," Mehdi says as he takes out one of his rocket launchers and aims at it.


    But just before he can fire, a bullet trail impact the cockpit of the pilot, which causes some cracks on the window as well. The helicopter then trails out of control, starting to fall near the street outside the city hall. Some moment of self-controls briefly occurs, but it ultimately culminates in the helicopter crashing to the street nearby, causing it to explode as well.


    "...Why did someone have to steal my kill? WHY DID THAT SOMEONE HAVE TO STEAL IT?!!"


    "Who the hell cares? At least that bastard is dead as coal now." Ji-Ae replies.


    "Eh, could be a local sniper team around the area? That I wonder."


    Walter then holds his hand near his earplug.


    "Raton 1, I never thought you could take position over that quickly to take down Perlman. I must say, congrats."


    "What are you talking about, GoD Lead? We''re still stationed at Japantown covering enemy fire. It must be some stray shoot or something," the voice says.


    "Are you shitting me?"


    "Negative."


    "This is strange. Keep on your job, at least the target is down."


    "OK, over."


    Walter puts his hand away from the earplug, looking down while turning his head around.


    "Whoever did that shoot must be some sort of expert marksman or a vigilante around here with their own war. But in the meantime, we should focus on recapturing other parts of the city, understood team?"


    "Yes, Walter!" they reply in unison.


    "Good. Now let''s head to the south. You warriors head to the east if you like, there''s more of the kiddie stuff in there suited for you."


    "Understood...?" Logan sheepishly replies.


    GoD Squad then walks away from the site, running away as fast as they can.


    "See ya around, my boy!" Berat says.


    "Hope you idiots make something good for once later on..." Ji-Ae snarls.


    Now the trio is left alone once more, now heading towards the eastern part of the city to accomplish further objectives. However, the presence of a third group still seems to linger in both of them. Logan, in particular, takes some interest in what was unfolded


    A lonely marskman...seems there are more warriors than expected.


    --------------------------------------


    Near the building, a cloaked-red googled figure stands by, holding his large sniper rifle like the last time when they spotted Perlman.


    "This is Vistro 1. The target is down, I repeat, the target is down," the soldier says.


    "Good work. Now head back to base to get your reward. It seems that as long as we keep ourselves well hidden in the shadows, this pointless war will come to an end."


    "Yes, mister. Returning now."