Chapter 2: Chapter 1: Countdown
As I lay there, on the cold hot sand, contemplating if Ive lost. I think seldomly to myself "this was not how I saw my day going" for the first time throughout this fight. I take a quick glance at the damage done, a hole punched into my chest as if a fire ball ripped through me.....a gash across my face as if Moses was trying to part it....and my hands blistered, battered and I'm pretty sure broken...and my favorite knife given to me as a gift shattered by my boots that have seen one too many ruck marches.....and then I remember there's a demonic warrior staring down at me with a shit eating grin and he knows I'm out of options...but I stand. I stand because I refuse to lie on my back and die to some microwaved looking undead ass hole but more so cause there's girl with silver hair terrified shielding children as best she can and if I go down she's the last line of defense for them and I can't go out knowing I didn't try. As a father I can't accept that. As a big brother....as a soldier I have to keep fighting or I'd let down anyone who ever put faith in me. So I attempt to stand once more....my charred wounds scream at me to stop! I feel the sting of sweat seeping into open wounds. My knee buckles but I catch myself and stand up and clench my broken fists. I'm scared, cause the thought I might not see my son goes through my mind, that I won't be able to call my mother the next morning or play another round of smash bro's with my little brothers but I look at this Knight of rust and darkness and roar out "Is that all you got you ugly mother fucker, you can't even finish a fight right! I'm still stan...." and then my world goes silent and I feel myself flying....I see her terrified with hope lost in her eyes and then a scream "Rex! No!" And then blackness devours everything around me.....and then I hear a laugh.
beep! beep! beEp! beep! The corporals alarm annoyingly blared out to the entire bay of soldiers. "Ahhhhhhh why is your alarming going off at 04:30am Astacio!" His squad leader yelled across the bay. "Turn that shit off" many of the others groaned. "My bad guys, was tryna get some running in before our patrol". He threw on his Nike's and headed outside and noticed that there were new but suspicious looking vehicles stationed at their sight, all blacked out as if they were out of some cheesy "men in black" movie and thought "way above my pay grade"
As he starts his run, he throws his head phones, hits play and the first song to play was "sick of me" by GARZI but he can't shake this disgusting feeling that he was being watched. But reminds himself that he's in the middle of no where by the Saudi Arabian border on a bullshit security mission for the national guard in some oil rich sand box called Qatar, the closest thing to dangerous he'd get to see out here would be a camel spider or a rouge camel. A mile and 8 min into his run he receives a text from his fellow team "Naz" which was short for Nazara. 5'8, big dreamy eyes, model figure but a mouth and attitude that make you wonder if everyone should be allowed to speak at times and who at one point was a possible love interest till she started dating one of my closest friends;
Naz: "Where the fuck are you?"
Me: "morning run, everything ok?"
Naz:"they just woke up the whole base, all shifts and fearless leader told us to gear up and get ready for a meeting, head back, that's a order"
Annoyed and dying to tell her to "STFU" I text back a "Roger" and I start hauling ass back. But as he turn I see a silvery purple light in the sky and stare at it mystified and realize it's getting bigger.....and then the sky erupts! The thing I saw goes crashing down into the city of "Al Shikak".....I was in both amazement and horror and nearly half the city gets ripped through and the shockwave of whatever went flying through the sky sends out a thunderous boom....I'm shocked and horrified and just stare and what feels like horrors lasted only seconds and then my phone blows up once more with phone calls from Naz;
Naz: "ARE YOU OK? Please tell me your ALIVE!"
Me: "I'm alive Naz, I'm still here, something fell out of the sky and hit one of the cities near us....it's bad Naz the lights within the city have gone out and I can see smoke all the way out here"
Naz: "Just get back here, were waiting on you, your not gonna believe the shit they're telling us"
I hang up and take one last look at the city and feel nothing but dread, "are the people ok?" Is the only thing that runs through my mind. I turn and start to head back and that unease I felt at the beginning of my run returns to me, someone's out here with me but I'm not sure where. I start to sprint, hauling ass....all my training kicks in. Exhale every left step, deep breaths through my nose, keep going, don't stop. Focus on getting back. My arms swing slicing through the air and I cut that original time I ran earlier in half. Exhausted and dripping in sweat I approach our site expecting the night shift guards, my friends, who leave the gate open for me for my routine run to be there but I see cloaked 2 figures, totally unrecognizable, looking like Sith Lords at some Star Wars convention...they draw their weapons on me....now I'm a 11 Bravo, a infantrymen for those who don't know army talk and also a massive fan of Call of duty. So I know weapons fairly well. These things looked like something out of a Micheal Bay film. I throw my hands showing I'm not a threat and then 2 figures also appear behind me...which confirmed my earlier suspicions of me being tailed but they're winded...I'm guessing when I broke out into my sprint they couldn't keep up. I guess all that extra PT "Enouchs" gave us payed off.
They closed in on me with their weapons solely focused on me. I look them up and down, grey cloaks over black and leather gear and a weird cross with a sword driven through it as some symbol on them.
Rex: "Hey guys I'm no enemy, I'm Corporal Astacio, team leader of 4th squad, 2nd platoon"
They keep closing in on me and the thought of my chances of winning this fight cross my mind. I calculate their distance, their weight, heights, and what's around us. "I can blow passed ass hole A on the right and get behind him so they won't fire on me but chances of that are slim, engaging in hand to hand is out the question.
I let out a breath and decide to make my move and then a yell from behind the soldiers spams out at us. It's my platoon Sargent and probably the most hardcore looking ginger I've ever seen. Looking like something out of the dark ages. Firery red hair, a scar that rips down his face like a lightning bolt through his eye. And just a insane amount of scars and tattoos. The soldiers stand down immediately and pop to attention. The man speaks with a voice that sounds like tires rolling on gravel;
"Stand down lads, sorry about that my boy. They're just doing their job. I gave the order to tail you, wasn't sure why anyone would be up at this hour and would leave the base so I had my men tail you. They call me Craxe, I've taken command of this post. It's nice to meet you Corporal Rex Astacio, 23 years old, born October 31st, 1996, 6'2, 185LBs, 4 major surgeries pertaining to your synus, shoulder, left knee and skull, a close-quarter combat Specilist and a possible bronze star recipient, son of Mary and Frank, father to Jrayden Astacio, engaged 3 times but never married, B positive, grew up in Camden, New Jersey, struggled to stay off the streets and not be like your older brother, eldest of your mother's 3 sons unless you consider your fathers first"... he saw my fist clench and my eyebrows narrow..."don't worry I've read enough to have the general idea of who you are. Quite the resume you have my boy."
I stand there, confused, angry and impressed. He listed things I didn't even disclose to the army and they failed to find out. I look at Sargent Todd and he gives me a stare he's given me a 1000 times before over the years, a stare that tells me "calm down, there's more than you can handle, just shut your face and listen" I give him a knod and throw my attention back at Craxe
Me: "So what's next?"
Craxe: "well your late for my meeting my boy, we were waiting on you considering your the one who saw that thing fall out of the sky"
Me: am I in trouble?
Craxe: of course not, your just gonna Tell is what us what you saw during the meeting
Me: and if I refuse?
A look of dread falls on Sgt Todd's face, a look of fear. I've known this man for years and never saw him turn so pale in the face. Craxe looks at me with a evil grin, teeth that look like razors and that scar of his seemed as if it lit up briefly for a second and then he responds;
Craxe: "I'll kill you and everyone here"
I've dealt with murderers, terrorist, people you would call monsters since I was a kid and I never felt the amount of killer intent that man directed at me with those words. Something inside me shuttered, as if my soul itself tugged at me to shut the fuck up. I lowered my head and clenched my fists....he defeated my resolve with a sentence....
"I'll comply" I said, feeling like a whole bitch....
I get dressed and make my way to the conference hall, these crucible guys were everywhere and they just give me the weirdest vibe. While I was getting dressed I decided to look these guys and all I could find out about their group "Crucible" was that they were a private military organization that has had dealings with the Vatican and armies across the planet. As for what they've done I couldn't find out a thing not even who ran it. Even tried Facebook on that Craxe guy and was just another dead end, realizing I was dragging this out I headed towards our conference hall and saw all 4 squads sitting there
Enouchs: "Well thanx for joining us finally princess"
I stare at my former squad leader with a look of "Fuck you" but I know he's just giving me jabs to lighten the mood in the room. Enouchs was my mentor, my big brother. Someone I looked up to and admired. If there was ever someone you needed to get a job done he'd be your guy.
Me: "good morning to you too Sargent"
Sgt Todd yells at the room to shut our faces and yells to the squad leaders to check if all are present so he can give Craxe the floor. I take a seat with my squad and Naz jabs me in my rooms "next time you make me worry I'll stab you". All squad leaders give him a thumbs up and Craxe begins;
Craxe: "Good morning lads, I know your all wondering what's occurring but something unprecedented has decided to smack us all in the mouth this morning. What were about to discuss dates back decades possibly even more. I am Field commander Craxe, one of the four leaders of Crucible. Top researchers and governments across the planet have tried their best to keep tabs on the phenomenon but with our limited technology through out the years it wasn't always the easiest.
He raises his hand and hits a remote which starts a slide show.
Craxe: we first took notice of these things back in 1984, space shuttle Discovery and STS-41D launched from Kennedy Space Center went on their first maiden voyage of Discovery. The mission deployed three satellites and extended the 102-foot Office of Application and Space Technology solar wing, also known as OSAT-1 -- a demonstration of large, lightweight solar arrays for future facilities in space. When they turned on the satellites the astronauts at the time caught a glimpse of images that were only passing by the outside of our solar.
Craxe clicks to the next slide and entire rooms holds their breaths, words of awe, shock and even laughter burst out. Craxe stares back at us and we all go silent. I sit there confused but Enouchs speaks up for us.
Enouchs: it looks like it has angelic wings bursting out of a beam of light, why is that?
Craxe: cause it clocked in at a speed we had never imagined we'd seen in our life times.
Craxe begins to go through more images that continued from that year to the present. We saw images of skirmishes of fleets, beings that looked like angels battling demons were seen throughout them and then something worse came into the screen.
Naz "what the fuck is that!? A planet with a arm?"
Craxe: were not sure honestly, the top researchers at nasa have trying their best to figure that out. Mostly due to the fact that image was taken last week. It's the biggest thing we've ever seen moving through space that we've caught and it's not just one. The 2 seem to be clashing as the fleets themselves trail behind them. They seem to be chasing and heading our way and that's where you come in my boy.
Craxe stares at me with his cold eyes, eyes that seem to just stare into your soul. It sends a chill down my spine but I stand and turn towards the room.
"This morning on my run something fell out of the sky and wiped out half of Al shikak. It was a silvery purple object. That's all I know I'm sure you all felt the shockwave as I did"
Everyone in the room look at one another as if they finally cleared up what it was, but a look of dread began to set into the room as well. Craxe looks towards one of soldiers to take over and sits down. The character stands and takes off its helmet to show a Woman with raven colored hair and sun kissed skin, a cross shaped scar by her left temple and one of the worse cases of resting bitch face I've ever seen. She speaks to the room, I am Templar Scarlett she what were about to discuss is crucial to our mission, heed it, it may save your life today. She turns towards the screen and clicks to the next slide;
Scarlett: whatever has fallen into the city, it's been giving off weird readings. Satellite imaging can't even get close enough to it but what she shows us next disturbs us even more.
We see images of people dead in the streets....people gasp....we'd all seen combat but bodies severed layed out in the streets....buildings burning...it looked like something you'd seen in a apocalyptic film...
Scarlett: We were able to get a image of something but were not sure.....
She sighs and tells us to determine for ourselves what it is. A image of a tall black figure with a skill like face fills the screen....And even as a image something inside me screamed at me "it's death"
Craxe gives a knod at Scarlett and then to Todd.
Todd: Alright guys it's a lot to take in but uncle same tasked us with going in there securing possibly retrieving it. We're not sure where exactly it is but were assuming where ever the crater is, is where our objective is. The 4 squads will be tasked alongside crucible teams, they're in charge of the operation. This operation is breaking international agreements but uncle same wants whatever the fuck fell out the sky and we have to deliver.
A look of disgust was on Sgt Todd's face as he told us that. You can tell he argued his case but failed, it was one of those "shut up and do as your told" orders the army likes to throw out but this didn't sit right with anyone. The squad leaders sat there with their fists balked looking at the floor but Enouchs spoke up;
"We got this guys, remember your training, we'll be having drinks by the end of the night. Let's get out there and help who we can and come back safely"
He gave a sense of hope as always and it helped motivate a lot of us. We proceeded to gear up and were informed that 1st and 3rd platoon were inbound to assist us. I was tasked with the super dreadful cutie "Templar Scarlett" which I couldn't help but accept she was a total knockout but likely a "Black widow" who would be my demise if I didn't keep my guard up. On top of them basically taking over they also gave us some new gear for the occasion, it looked strong but way lighter than you'd expect. It made me wonder just who was funding these guys. I grabbed my knives and especially the knife Keyla gave me for our anniversary back when we were a thing. As much as I hated her for what she did she was still the mother of my son and honestly just felt like home when I held it. I felt like Superman with a S on my chest. It reminded me I had someone waiting for me whenever I wanted to quit. We meet up outside and make our way to the vehicles to head to the city. Enochs waves me down and I run up to him. "Don't do anything stupid please, let's all come back in one piece and don't try flirting with her, you look like a puppy staring at a bone"
"That obvious?" He rolls his eyes and jabs me. "Seriously be careful, I don't want to tell Jray his dad died cause he was stupid, don't put that burden on me" I look back at him and say thank you. He's always been able to bring me back down to earth and remind me of the gravity of things. "We got this, just make sure you keep up old man"
Scarlett yells to form up and I jog over. She breaks down our tasks and how she's in charge.
"We're not there to help civilians, animals or anyone unless they can give us information on where our objective is. If you disobey my orders, consider your life gone. We will not fail"
The Crucible soldiers snap to attention doing some weird nazi salute and I can't help but smirk. Scarlett stares daggers at me and I wink at her and say "I look forward to working with you, never met a Templar" She also rolls her eyes; just don't slow us down. Craxe put you under me cause he felt you had a idea of the general direction of the object and some of you have actually impressed him so he tasked some you with some of his best.
"Gee I guess I'm flattered"
We load up and head towards the crying city. On the car ride there I catch Scarlett and the other crucible guys praying I think with these weird sword shaped crosses.
"What are those? And what are you guys doing?"
Scarlett: We are of the faith. Christians who have devoted ourselves to the church in body and spirit. You should pray as well for our good fortune
"Sorry beautiful but I'm a atheist, have been for a while"
Scarlett: odd, your file shows your mother is a consistent follower of the faith and you were brought up in many catholic schools
"Things change, you guys really did your homework on me huh?"
Scarlett: don't flatter yourself, we were tasked with knowing your entire unit inside and out.
She turns towards the window and goes back to her prayers. I sit there wondering if I should have brought my phone but decide to hold my knife. Keeps my nerves at bay, i don't know what imma expect but the image of that skull faced monstrosity keeps popping into my head .
The driver tells us we're 10 min out from our drop off point and that we'll be proceeding by foot. It's crazy to think a city buzzing with life looks as if it was deserted. I point my M-4 rifle towards some of the bodies to see if I can pick up any thermal signatures, having a thermal hybrid scope courtesy of crucible came in handy after all but the heat signatures were throwing me off. Everything seemed as if it was scorched to ash. It didn't make sense.
We go into a wedge formation and start moving into the city, we go 200 meters in and hear a roar that sent chills down my spine, I turn 180 degrees and drop to a knee. I see a Skelton like figure with barely any flesh on it, burning with crimson flames in its eyes, it locks on to me and the others all focus in on it. Just were about to fire we hear more screeches resonating all around us. More of them were closing in on our position. In the middle of the city block we some solid sized buildings to our back we open fire on these things. Our 5.56 rounds ripped through them as if they're made of paper but their numbers just keep pouring in. A thought of dread starts to loom over us, sweat starts to build, my minds moving on overdrive cause I can't even compute what I'm facing right now, forced thoughts start to rampage in my mind; "they're not human" "will I become like them?" "Is it a infection? Zombie virus? WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!? We burn through half our ammo, our aim and movements begin to look sluggish. One of the crucible guys gets attacked from behind and they swarm him. I stare at the event in horror and start whacking at these guys with my M-4 to get off him but it's too late, one of them bites into his neck, I try to pull one off him and it's skin just breaks off, one of the soldiers pulls me back saving me essentially. Scarlett breaks off and kicks the door of the building to our rear in. "GET THE FUCK INSIDE" Me and Scarlett slam the doors shut and the others go to find whatever they can to barricade the door. I pause for a moment and can hear my heart banging against my rib cage....Thump...thump...thump...and soon come to realize it's whatever those things outside are banging on the door...I turn towards Scarlett with tears in her eyes and it dawns on me....she just lost one of her own...the other 3 with us are standing there with their heads down and I hear sniffling and crying....and Scarlett cries out;
"He didn't deserve that....we've all been together since we were children....Samuel why did you have to go.....I'm so sorry..."
She then stares daggers at me...
"Don't you dare mock us"
I'd never Scarlett...I'm sorry I couldn't save him...She takes a deep breath and slaps the side of her face with both hands, tears building in her eyes.
"We have to get moving, But corporal what's that in your hand?"
It dawns on me I was still holding whatever I accidentally pulled off one of those things...we examine it and it's a Fitbit....a 2020 model....and then it dawns on all of us....those things were the citizens of the city.....I get light headed and feel as though a panic attack was going to set in on me for the first time...."this Cant be possible, those weren't humans.." Scarlett walks up to me and slaps my face.
"Get your shit together, we still have a mission"
Annoyed and oddly aroused I look at and her and knod; "your right, lets go" as we begin to pack up and move we hear something shift upstairs, we draw our weapons and aim at the staircase. Scarlett pulls out her and performs some weird scan, utilizing tech I've never seen before...I want to ask what it is but don't think it's the right time....
Scarlett: "We have 4 body signatures upstairs. Human. Breathing normally with accelerated hearts rates but could be due to fear, were going to split up. Brody and Jeremiah you 2 will locate and sucre the back exit, the Corporal and myself will take upstairs, keep coms open and only radio in if you must"
They nod their heads and move out. "They don't say much do they?" I ask.
Scarlet: Only rank of Templar and above have the right to free speech. They only speak when necessary.
I want to ask more questions but we creep closer to the room where we heard the nose. We have weapons at the ready but then I notice a shoe on the floor of a child. "Scarlett hold on" I wave her down to lower her weapon.
"Hey it's ok, were US army, were here to help. I'm corporal Astacio, I know you have children here with you, please come out" A woman stands up....least I think she's one...she has silvery hair and purple eyes and face markings that I've never seen before. She's shielding 3 children but they look normal. Scarlett draws her weapon and I get in front of her. "What the fuck are you trying to do?"
Scarlett: "she's not human, look at her! For all we know she's one of those things outside!"
Me: We don't know that and she's protecting those kids, stand down. I won't repeat myself.
Scarlett: "remember whose in charge here"
She puts her weapon at my chest, I pay attention to her breathing, her stance, I look for any type of disruption to her flow to get ready to strike but then one of the children speak up.
"Um excuse me mister? My names Ahmed"
Me and Scarlett look at one another one more time and she lowers her weapon.
Scarlett: "were moving in 5 with or without you"
She dead eyes me one more time and then walks out and the stupid thought of "god she's hot" runs through my head again. The kid speaks up again and I direct my attention towards them;
Ahmed: are you here to help us?
Me: not exactly lil buddy, something fell from the sky and we came here to figure out what it was.
As soon as I said that all these kids looked at each and then the silvery haired lady and speak in Arabic. I've been deployed and taken some classes time to time so I could kinda understand what they said, it was along the lines; "not only are those monsters after her but even the army...."
Ahmed : what are you guys going to do with what fell?
The kids hug around her tightly, scared, as if they're tryna shield her from me. "Guys Easy, I'm not a enemy. Can you please just tell me what happen?" Ahmed goes on to tell us how this woman crashed into city from the sky and something radiated off of her. Ahmed happen to be driving with his parents and sister when they saw the boom. Shortly after the impact something awakened in the desert where she flew over. A figure with the face of a skull began breathing fire and infecting everyone it slayed. As they fell they arose shortly after....Ahmed went on to explain how some police and others fired at the figure but nothing seemed to hurt it. People began to panic and Ahmed and his sister got separated from their parents. Running amping they chaos they ended up where the object fell, Ahmed goes on to say that the girl stood there scared and confused. He saw those Skelton like things approaching her and ran towards her and took her hand, they've been hiding building to building everything since.
"So does she speak?" I ask.
Ahmed: no she hasn't said anything I don't think she knows how to. She seems lost but she trusts us.
"Ahmed is it ok if I speak to her?"
Ahmed: go for it, she doesn't seem scared of you as she was with the dark soldier lady
"Hi. I'm corporal Astacio but my friends call me Rex" I gestured out my hand and she sniffed it. I looked at her confused and she murmured out "rex". Her voice sounded like a auto-tuned Britney Spears song but the kids all smiled and hugged her tighter. Ahmed spoke up, "she can't speak to us for some reason but she understands us". I sat there bewildered but we didn't have time to worry about this, considering what's outside. Ahmed so when she fell from the sky, is that what caused those things outside to come to be?
Ahmed: no. They came from outside the city. It was one, a big one with a white face. As the police and army tried helping everyone affected by the crash, a loud roar came from outside the city. My mom showed us the news and they were filming the thing attacking people. Those it attacked got back up different. She didn't understand why but she said we had to leave, she called my father who was a cop but he never responded. When we tried driving out the city is when we were attacked. We found her wondering the streets, my mother dragged her into the car but then those things swarmed us, my mother pulled out in front of this building and yelled at us to get inside and hide and we've been here since her.
Rex: Ahmed.....I'm so sorry. Have you seen your....before I could ask his eyes filled with tears already told me what I needed to know...and it felt like a knife twisting at my side. I'm actually curious as to why you can speak English so well.
Ahmed: our mother actually works at the US embassy here and taught us how.
Rex: your mother sounds like a ama...
A giant explosion occurs sending us sliding across the floor into the wall. We felt the entire building shaking just from the roar outside. The alien girl covers her ears and balls up and looks at Ahmed and then me. Harmed speaks up, "it's here, the white face". I stand up feeling like I got smacked by a car. And then my radio goes off;
Scarlett: REX WE NEED TO GO NOW! That thing outside blew away a quarter of the building on accident. It's the one controlling those things outside. It's looking for something.
And then it all clicked together.....I looked at the girl and realized it was her. I hit my radio.
Rex: "scarlet we'll make our way to yo...."
Another shockwave sends the building falling to the left with us in it and we crash into the adjacent building
EVERYONE OUT THE WINDOW, jump into the other building now! I smash the window with my rifle sending the glass crashing out, clearing it for the kids. I grab Ahmed little sister and toss her across and then her brother next, then the silver haired E.T. Soon followed them. I hoped over just in time as the building we were just in gave way and I shuttered hoping Scarlett made it out. When I looked outside it was as if someone erased the bottom of the building with a swing. It didn't make sense, there was no type of weapon that could do such a thing and then I saw it....the white faced monstrosity...I ducked before it could see me but I felt it's eyes just glued to our direction and out of nowhere I hear a rifle go off. I look over and it's Scarlett and the others. Another team of soldiers joins in as well, Enouchs hits the radio "we'll back you guys up, hammer this thing now!"
I want to join in but realize that I can't let these civilians fall pray especially on the off chance that it's goal is to kill....and then it dawned on me she didn't even have a name yet. I shout over to her "HEY YOU, your names Nova till I can figure out who you actually who or what you are" you guys are staying with me. I grab Ahmed sister and pull out my side arm, throwing my M-4 on my back prior to that. We're going, I have to get you guys out of here. We make our way downstairs but before that I look out the window one last time to see how the others are holding out and they're winning to my surprise. Enouchs and his team were able to determine that hitting the burning corpses in the heart or head put them down permanently. Which honestly annoyed me cause of it was him if all people who had to figure it out, my jealousy aside the monster in the back was just watching. Still looking around for whatever it wanted and then it locked onto me and I felt as though I was frozen in place. I kept trying to move, I was mentally yelling at my body to budge and it wouldn't. I was stuck, I couldn't even breath, the little girl falls from my arm and starts to cry. I felt like some kind of force was gripping my entire body at every inch. I felt my lungs struggling to gasp....my eyes straining....I'm screaming in my head and then Nova touches me and I'm free. I drop to my knees terrified out of my mind wondering what the fuck was that. She puts a hand on me and all the stress, fear and pain I felt just went away. I couldn't explain it. I was at peace, it was such a warm embrace. This was something that was far beyond me. Something that we just weren't ready for.
I look back outside and notice the others had engaged "White face" but their rounds couldn't reach him. It was as if they melted before they even made contact. It looks back my way and I'm stuck again but this gave Enouchs the opportunity he needed. He jumped up and smashed a Rebar coated in concrete into its face damaging it. Followed up by Scarlett hitting a C-4 trigger causing a neighboring buildings portions to crash on it. And that's when it dawned on everyone that it can't melt away things with a high melting point. But we pressed our luck too much and "White face" lashed out. It sung its arm with a velocity of such killer intent it blew a lot of the soldiers away some distance. It leapt and crashed into our building, I dove towards Nova and the kids hoping to shield them and then everything went white. A explosion rocked the local area.
I awoke moments later on the floor, wondering what happen and why I didn't have any damage done to me and I see that Nova threw up some kind of barrier just in time but that explosion wiped out the building and more. I look around in horror hoping Enouchs, Scarlett and the others were ok and nova put her hands on me and somehow...they weren't thoughts but something was telling me on the inside that they were alive and ok. And then that annoying roar returned and I looked over and I was surprised....."white face" was smaller. Feminine looking even. What the fuck just happen....And then I stop and think; Maybe when it released that attack it lost its size due to losing its energy. It's weaker. I should stand a chance.....boy was I wrong.
"Nova protect the kids, I'll handle White face." She looks back at me frightened and I throw a thumbs up and smile. "Don't worry I got this". And before I could turn and face little miss terror she blitzed me and layed a direct blow to my chest, my armor brought to you by Crucible absorbed majority of the impact and only sent me flying a few feet. White looked back at me surprised when I stood back up, she strikes some nearby concrete and rips through it as if to confirm her own strength. "Looks like you didn't only lose your size but some strength, you went from ripping apart buildings to barely able to put down little ol me". White Faced rusher in once again but I was ready, I delivered a sound elbow to her temple right as soon as she went in to strike with the same attack, I capitalized while she was in shock and throw me leg behind her footing and judo slam the shit out of her and chant "UP TOWN" as her neck smashes into the pavement. But I don't let up, as she looks up at me and deliver a killer double stomp into her face which sank her skull further into the pavement but I felt some serious heat at the bottom of my boots and leapt away to reassess the situation. White Face rose and just stared at me but steam began to rise out of her, heat was coming off of her, I assumed her powers were returning and realIzed I had to end this quickly. I drew my knife, and admired it, a trench knife where the base fused into the blade making one solid blade. It was perfect for striking, cause even if my opponent dodged the strike the blade would likely catch them. I went at her with killer intent. This time I lead with a blitz and sliced her throat clean across and felt her flesh sear open followed up by a series of combination strikes. A solid knee to the face and then another judo slam. I felt as though I was winning but pain started to take over, my hands were searing, the top of my knee was burnt as well. Assuming my adrenaline was dying down i started to feel the pain from my strikes. Her body was as hard as granite, her flesh healed from my slashes. She was letting me attack cause she knew it was hopeless. Fatigue was setting in, "come on think, what would Enouchs do?" And then it dawned on me that White Face couldn't melt away things with high melting levels...concrete! But there was just small chunks of debri around us....White Face realized what I was doing and began to chuckle in that distorted whaling voice of hers...it sent chills down my spine but I had to stand my ground and then it happens again when we lock eyes...I can't move...and she bounces. She mimicked the attacks and combinations I performed on her right back to me but I couldn't breath. Every strike seared into my flesh, she was pummeling into me as she was trying out for the drum line, she grabs my right hand with my blade and crushes it shattering my knife and then I see it and that thought from the meeting creeps back into my head..."Death" her fist ignited with a flame and it bore directly into my chest, the heat from it cauterized my wound which kept me alive but the pain...I let out a scream that echoed from my very soul and as I looked up I saw 2 giant figures in the sky engaged into combat.....was the pain making me delusional? Was I seeing things? But the pain brought me back to what was happening to me and I realized I could move again, I look at White face who has my hanging from her fist that's embedded into me and I spit what saliva and blood I had in my mouth into her face and smile....She slashes straight down my face with a single finger tearing through my right eye and the corner of my mouth and then tosses me to the floor as if I were some piece of trash.
I lay there, on the cold hot sand, contemplating if Ive lost. I think seldomly to myself "this was not how I saw my day going" for the first time throughout this fight. I take a quick glance at the damage done, a hole punched into my chest as if a fire ball ripped through me.....a gash across my face as if Moses was trying to part it....and my hands blistered, battered and I'm pretty sure broken...and my favorite knife given to me as a gift shattered with some parts of it embedded into my hand by my boots that have seen one too many ruck marches.....and then I remember there's a demonic warrior staring down at me with a shit eating grin.....White Face...and she knows I'm out of options...but I stand. I stand because I refuse to lie on my back and die to some microwaved looking undead ass hole but more so cause there's girl with silver hair terrified shielding children as best she can and if I go down she's the last line of defense for them and I can't go out knowing I didn't try. As a father I can't accept that. As a big brother....as a soldier I have to keep fighting or I'd let down anyone who ever put faith in me. So I attempt to stand once more....my charred wounds scream at me to stop! I feel the sting of sweat seeping into open wounds. My knee buckles but I catch myself and stand up and clench my broken fists. I'm scared, cause the thought I might not see my son goes through my mind, that I won't be able to call my mother the next morning or play another round of smash bro's with my little brothers but I look at this Knight of rust and darkness and roar out "Is that all you got you ugly mother fucker, you can't even finish a fight right! I'm still stan...." and then my world goes silent and I feel myself flying....I see her terrified with hope lost in her eyes and then a scream "Rex! No!" And then blackness devours everything around me.....and then I hear a laugh.
"What a failure you are, couldn't even keep your word to her." I open my eyes to a entirely different location.....it looks like camden my old neighborhood. I search around for that voice and see this weird fat Angel looking dude in weird armor just floating above my head. "Is this how your worlds warriors carry themselves? On their backs? In defeat?" I stare at him confused. Not sure what to make of it, why was I here and then I remember White Face and terror takes hold of me...the location were in goes black and the figure....floating there nonchalantly speaks again...."you lost my boy, you fought your best but skill, knowledge and tactics are useless in the eyes of overwhelming power. Your dead"
I look at him with rage in my eyes, "what the fuck do you mean I'm dead? I can't die! Nova and the kids need me! My friends are out there with that thing! My son....Jrayden needs me...I promised I'd be there for me...that I wouldn't be like my dad, that I'd always be there to show him, teach him.....this isn't fair...I drop to my knees and tears flow down.....as they hit the floor, earth shows up below us and it's in utter chaos. The planet is damaged, hurricanes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and more occurring all over it. Some sort of substance has drenched the planet and I can see fleets of those ships we saw in the meeting crashing into multiple parts of the world.....I look back up at the angel and demand to know what's going on....
"Ah your seeing the events that have occurred to your planet just as we speak. You see I was a former general for the Angelus, we are what you could say are your gods. But that's not important, I came here to protect Nova, I helped her escape our corrupt empire but they and the rebels were tracking us. I tried to hold them off and like you I lost my battle. The finishing blow delivered to me caused your planet to dive into the state it's currently in. My "spirit" awakened your planet and reconnected with the universe. It's going through a rebirth. But that won't matter if the Angelus get their hands on my granddaughter. So I will make a deal with you. You have lost your soul, the moment you died it left our realm. You can't go back without one.
I shudder and come to the realization that I actually did die....I could feel that he was telling the truth. Wherever we were, it was my space. I could feel the truth of his words seep into me. I stand up and look at him, "help me get back, please. I will protect Nova. Just tell me what do I need to do?"
The Angel looks at me and smiles, his gray skin ever the disturbing sight. You will accept my "Soul". I stare back at him confused. You see you humans are unique. We angels cannot weaponize souls as you do. The 10 guardians were gifted with "souls" from our ancestors that were passed down to the greatest of warriors. With this you can return but once you accept it, you will be bound to it and it bound to you. Your soul may be lost forever but with this you will arise stronger than you ever were before. But that's only if it accepts you.
Without any hesitation; "give it to me!, I don't have time to waste here!" He stares back at me. "Your just going to trust me, not question my motives? Or what I want in the deal?" I stop and think for a moment and respond. "It doesn't matter, I have too much to do to worry about the what if's. I can feel you want to protect Nova, you died trying to help her. I don't know about your people or what they want with her but I promised her I would win and not just for her but for those who matter most to me I have go back, so I'll accept whatever consequences I must.
The old angel smiles at me and begins to flow red.....I only ask that you become Nova's champion. Protect her on her journey till the end of time and help decide her path. The road ahead of her will have its tribulations, beings that raised your people want to use her to rewrite the universe and bend it to their will. Do you accept Rex Astacio?
I lock eyes with him. "I said yes already, you have my word. I'll become her champion"
"I, Sariel of the Crimson bestow you one of the ten souls of eden." As he speaks the red that enveloped him begins to shrink and Sariel disappearing as he chants on. "The Red Champion rises again and in you. Arise to a new world and step forth once more"
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