Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Call ❯ Entry the Twelth ( Chapter 12 )

Entry the twelfth

 

We appeared in the plain just ahead of the camp, dust swirling around his. As I looked up, I saw guns turning to point at us, soldiers aiming. Slowly, I realized it wasn't us they aimed for, but the reptildra. Walker had already moved to intercept. He stood between the Reptildra and the soldiers. “We are still under attack then?” was all he said, but suddenly, we were pointing our guns at the soldiers.

 

“Lower your weapons fools, and let us kill those things.” A colonel, army, stepped forward.

 

“Those “things” are our friends,” Walker countered.

 

“All reptiles are the enemy. They are just like the one that led the attack on this camp. Same race, same guilt.”

 

“No, that isn't true. We will not stand down.”

 

Stanetly walked up behind Walker. The soldiers tensed. He bent his mouth to Walker's ear and whispered, “Stand down, it would shame us to see you hurt on our account.”

 

“It would shame us more to see you falsely imprisoned after risking and doing so much to see us out of there alive,” Walker whispered back.

 

Just at that moment, a commanding voice shouted out, “What's going on here? Aren't these the people you were supposed to be saving Scorgis?”

 

The colonel jumped, spun, and saluted. “Ge Ge General! I didn't expect you here today?”

 

“I got here sooner than I thought I would. Now answer my question.” The general stepped into view, a medium height, stocky man, bald with a grey mustache, and no beard. He appeared to be asian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, I wasn't entirely sure which.

 

“Um, oh, yes sir. They are harboring two of the Reptilian creatures of the same kind as the one that attacked this camp sir.”

 

“Well they must have a reason!”

 

“We do sir. The Reptildra are divided. These two have been aiding us since the start of this whole mess, sir.”

 

“And you are?” the General asked Walker.”

 

“Walker, Tony Walker, formerly senior grade student at the high school we just escaped from, accepted to the Coast guard academy sir. And this is Corben Cypher, the man that kept us alive while we were out there.”

 

He started in surprise. “You're kids!”

 

“We're teenagers sir, 18 both of us.”

 

“Are both of you, these, Beyonds I've been hearing about?”

 

“Beyonds?” I finally spoke.

 

“People with powers and abilities that go beyond what normal Humans are capable of.”

 

“As far as I know sir, I guess I would fit under that description, but, I'm pretty sure Walker does not.”

 

“Plain old tried and true human, that's me. No offense Corben.” He smiled.

 

I managed a smile in return. “None taken. Um, general Sir, We have wounded, tired, sore, and scared sick people, most of them teenagers. Can we get them to the aid stations?”

 

He slapped his head. “Of course, but I'd like to ask that your two, you called them Reptildra? Your two friends stay here. You may stay too. We need to sort out if we can trust them.”

 

Stanetly stepped forward. “I am Stanetly, Master Guardian of the Order of the Serpent of the Reptildra, and I find I believe you to be an honorable man. I will surrender into your custody, placing faith that truth will out. Neither Walker nor Corben shall interfere.” He looked pointedly at us. His companion stepped forward, and offered the same.

 

The General, Hiro Nakawara as we would later learn he was named, or more correctly in his own tongue, Nakawara Hiro, was taken aback slightly at this, but recovered quickly. “right, Men, Take them into custody. But they are to be treated as honored guests, not criminals or prisoners. Scorgis, Take the refugees to the camp, help them find their families, and get the wounded to the med station.”

 

As I was about to walk off, I saw Leon carrying Rugged, and ran to help. Together, we carried him to the med station. The bleeding had stopped, it was obvious Stone had tried to heal him. I knew she must have tried to restore his arm and failed. I looked back and saw that Tarius was walking with her, talking and listening and offering his support.

 

Once I got to the med tent, and set Rugged down on a bed, I stood by it with Leon and Tarius. “So…”

 

“Yep.”

 

“Definetly. Proves it without a doubt.”

 

“Proves what?” asked one of the patients on the next bed, who happened to be one of the guys that had sometimes hung out at the same table on occasion.

 

“He loved his girlfriend more than his truck.”

 

“Almost didn't believe it.”

 

“Nah, I always knew he had it in him.”

 

“Yeah right, dude.”

 

“You guys are horrible.”

 

Tarius turned to him. “Not horrible, just truthful.”

 

Even Stone cracked a smile at that one, and then fell asleep exhausted at Rugged's bed, the tears finally ceasing to flow.

 

I walked out of the tent and almost straight into Jewels, who smiled at me. “how is he?” she asked. I almost how she knew, then remembered and smiled.

 

“he's fine miss sees the future.” Apparently, I didn't say quite the right thing. She grabbed me in a hug and broke down in tears. “I thought you were going to die. The dream made it look like you would probably die, I was so scared and frightened.” I held her. “it's ok, the future isn't always certain. Jewels, I didn't die, we made it out, well, most of us.” I cried too. I had failed in my promise. I had said I would get them out, and I couldn't. And when things turned into a true mess, and they needed my help the most, I hadn't been able to step up. Walker had. Walker had stepped up and stepped ahead since before he'd arrived at the school. And I started to wonder. But there were other things to worry about.

 

“Jewels, come on, get yourself together, I'll take you back to your tent.”

 

She looked up at me and smiled, one last tear falling down her cheek. “Thanks, let's go. Franky will want to see you.”

 

***

 

As days passed, I found out more and more. Most of us had survived. We'd lost 60 people though, 40 of them students. 40 students who wouldn't return to their families, their sparks gone, their potential to change the world of tomorrow gone. 20 of the refugees, including Sergeant Hikeman, were dead. And the military losses were catastrophic. Out of the nearly 100 soldiers sent, 8 survived. 8 out of 100. Finally, the real horror of this, this War, was hitting me. Prodigy and his paladin's had survived without a single fatality, and the Gull Knights had lost only 3 people.

 

Myself, Tarius, Walker, Reggie, the Major, Prodigy, and Seagull were all called, among other witnesses, to meet with the general, and the above listed except the last two were called also to be witnesses at the Reptildra's trial. Stanetly and his fellow were found innocent, given full right of passage, and a certain measure of diplomatic immunity, as per orders signed by the secretaries of state and Defense. The president and Vice President were dead, and there was too much chaos to decide on a new head of state, so the Cabinet was acting as a sort of emergency parliament, those that lived, along with a small number of senators and representatives.

 

It wasn't long after this that Seagull came to see me. “My sponsors have an offer for you. They understand the power and effect you are the other survivors wield, and they especially value Tarius's technical skills. They're offering production facilities, equipment, and materials to outfit all of you with whatever Tarius can come up with, on one condition. He has to outfit us, the Entire order, with as advanced of tech as he can mass produce, and he has to do it first. I swear I will make sure you can make what you need, but he has to outfit the Order first. And you can outfit the Paladins too, they could use it.”

 

I took the deal to Walker, Reggie, and of course, Tarius. They agreed to it. All of us understood this was not a war to run from, this was a war to fight, and keep fighting, till we had won. Death meant losing, and losing wasn't an option.

 

I was on my way to tell Seagull we accepted when Jewels found me. She looked right at me, and said, “Accept his offer, and don't leave… not till tarius is almost finished.” The last part threw me for a loop, but I nodded.

 

“I will, an I won't. I promise.” I found Seagull about a minute later, and told him, “We accept.”

 

About 130 something of those who had come out of the school, including Jacob, stayed with us on the trip to the Facilities that we had been given. Another 50 left to join the Knights, and 4, among them the Major of all people, claimed they'd had a dream. In each case, Prodigy had known they would have the dream, it seems, and had spoken to each of them. All 4 joined the Paladins.

 

 

“So, this is the place?” I asked as Seagull walked up and stood next to me. A huge, newly constructed Facility, out in the middle of nowhere, but some amazing hidden defenses.

 

“Yep, everything you need is right here. Materials, assembly lines, parts, pieces, computers, design labs, everything.”

 

“I'll need the lab first. I have an idea that will make this whole process smoother.”

 

“What idea is that?”

 

“You'll see. Matt, this way!” Tarius followed one of the Gulls straight to the lab, and got to work. In the meantime, we continued bringing in materials, finding quarters, etc. We had not, in fact, brought everyone right away. Most of us were still back at camp, recruiting, or saying goodbye. Some people were getting married even, fearing if they didn't now, they never would, both soldiers, and civilians.

 

In all this, we had come to this place, isolated, inorder to create weapons with which to fight. To prepare, as it were, for a war we were already fighting.

 

In only took Tarius a few hours to build his first device, which is probably one of the single most ingenius of his creations. It was simple in concept, complicated in design. It was a mind reading device, of sorts. It scanned his brain, copied any and all designs he came up with, and when properly hooked up to the computer system, uploaded said designs to it, so that whenever Tarius was ready it would begin construction.

 

“This will make things easier. Now I just have to think it up, and it goes straight into the computer. I can even edit the designs with this. Alright, Seagull, what do you need first? Weapons, equipment, armor?”

 

“Define armor?”

 

“Tanks, battle suits, things like that. You know, like from that game Hellgate: London, or the Mjolnir armor from Halo. Or even just the stuff most of your guys are already wearing. I can make a couple varieties if you like. Heavy, light, fast, stealth types, melee specialists, defense, explosives, what do you want?”

 

Tarius and Seagull spent a while discussing just what it was the Knights could most use in a standard set of armor. The commanding officers, however, were to be given custom fitted suits with their own special options added in. Seagull's own personal armor was very similar to what would be the standard, but was lighter, so that he could take advantage of his flight powers.

 

I just helped move in the extra equipment, get people sequestered away, and worked my turn on guard duty. After that, I checked in on Rugged, who had demanded he be brought along, with the remains of his truck.

 

`”Dude, I promise you, I'll give it a complete upgrade and tune up, everything. It really will be unstoppable when I'm through with it.” Tarius smiled reassuringly. Rugged nodded.

 

“Alright, dude, but I'm coming with you.”

 

“You would have had to come anyways, how else can I give you a new arm?”

 

Rugged grasped the stump of his right arm, and looked at it, then looked back at Tarius. “A new arm too?”

 

“of course.”'

 

It was the second day there, and Tarius was still going over things. The facility was in motion, piecing together the new armor suits for the Knights, the basic structure of the Paladins, and another baseline suit very similar to the knights to be used by our own Celtic resistance. I was sitting in my quarters, relaxing and listening to some music which had been scrapped together from other playlists and databases that various people had, when my com rang. I got up and hit the button. “Commander Cypher? This is the communications post operator. I've got a message for you from the Refugee camp.”

 

“From who?” I was supremely puzzled, what could warrant a message too me? It couldn't be any kind of emergency, or the operator would be worried or something, or we'd have all been called.

 

“I'll let you here it.”

 

“Corben, this is Viz. I don't understand all the details myself, but I've been asked to inform you. There's a girl here nobody knows, who claims she knows you, and who says she's escaped from New York. She's been demanding to see you, and she's a Beyond Corben. She can like, animate objects, like, all kinds of stuff, like, make it come to life when it shouldn't. She's coming up with Prodigy, who seems to know something about this. I'm not sure what's the whole deal, but they'll be there today or tomorrow, depending on what they run into along the way. Alright, hope everything is fine, and sorry this was a recorded message, I didn't have time for a long conversation or anything. See ya dude!”

 

“Sir? That was the message.”

 

“Yes, thank you. Corben out.”

 

I switched off the button and sat down, wondering exactly what the hell this was about. Who did I know from New York. I honestly could not think of it.

 

They arrived that night, and it scared whatever wit I had left out of me. Walker received them, and I got there late. It was Malix. Of all people, Malix? The instant she saw me, she started towards me.

 

“You! Standing around here, being a little hero, while I'm stuck in New York, me and everyone else not sure how many minutes we have left to live! And now what are you doing?”

 

Walker intervened. “Wait a minute, wait a minute, What happened here, how do you two know each other?”

 

“Rped on the Internet. Now get out of my face.” She snapped at him, then turned back to me. “Well?”

 

“Arming up to fight, so we can do something for all the people endangered by these things. What do you mean trapped?” you got out, you got here, didn't you?” I started getting a little angry myself. “and why are you so mad? Until a few days ago, Me and all the people with me were wondering which second was going to be our last!”

 

“Well, fine… but that isn't what the tv showed! And as for how I got out, it's because I can do this!” she pointed at one of the equipment pieces, and it seemed to come to life, going crazy for a few seconds. She snapped her finger, and it stopped.

 

“What the hell was that,” asked Walker.

 

“I made it come to life. But the spirit wasn't compatible to the object, so it went insane. That's what I can do, put spirits into objects, and then I can command them. I used that to get out of the city.”

 

“Why did you leave?”

 

“Because…,” she looked at Prodigy questioningly, he nodded smiling. “Because I had a dream, and she told me what I had to do. I came here and learned Corben had been there. I got angry because he hadn't gone to help save us in New York. And then Prodigy found me. He wants me to join the paladins. But being Paladin, I'm not sure it's my thing.”

 

I looked at her. “Well, your welcome to join us, if you like.”

 

She eyed me. “maybe.”

 

I headed back inside while Malix was shown the room she was being given. As I walked in, Walker caught up to me, and commented, “Nice girlfriend.”

 

“Malix isn't my girlfriend, she's interested in women, not men.” He face did one of those “ohs” of dawning comprehension, then confusion, and he paused in his step, and I left him behind.